the glorious gouernment of all thinges of Christ sitting at the right hand of God the father in the heauens and especially of his Church of which he is the head if youre highnes I say by his mercifull acceptation an elect and noble member of his do conceiue any spirituall gladnes in the middest of these miseries of the Church whereby God doth alwaies exercise your highnes faith this certainly shal be my greatest desire and the matter of all our ioy The Lord Iesus continue your highnes who haue by so many meanes so fauorablie comforted me in this sicknes and chiefly with that same excellent gifte of God I meane with that cleare well water to inrich the same againe with all kinde of blessinges together with all your posteritie to the aduancement of his glorie and the consolation of Gods children Amen vntil that same eternal sonne of God fill vs with ioye gathered together vnto himselfe into heauē with that same sweete and euerlasting sighte of himselfe your highnes I say with all that call vppon his name lead vs to those foūtaines of euerlasting waters Amen Faithfull is he that hath promised he wil bring it to passe Giuen at Heydelberge the 19. day of March Anno D. 1576. Your excellent highnes his most boūden Gasper Oleuian minister of Gods worde To the youth addicted to true godlinesse health c. THou hast vnderstodde most dearely beloued youth and flower of the Church the purpose of this my little worke by the preface to the most noble Elector Palatine onely it remaineth that thou take it with the same hande wherewith it is reached vnto thee that is with the right hand and not with the left That shal be done if I shall acheiue my purpose and by the grace of God shall kindle many from amongest you to the feruent study of the holy scriptures Surely I my selfe being but yet a boye was wōderfully kindled with a desire both of learning teaching others concerning God in outward shew vpon very small occasion but indeede vpon very great for I fell vpon the writing of a certaine excellent learned man where almost euen to this purpose he exhorteth youth there is nothing more excellent saith he than for men to teache others concerning God as touching the creation of mankinde of mans fall into sinne of reconciliation and restoring of him againe through the sonne of God that same promised seede of the woman that shall bruse the head of the serpent c. These seemed to me altogether religious and holy sayings and it pleased the Lord by these wordes to kindle in me the sparkes of a feruent desire both of learning and in time to come of instructing others either in the schoole or in the Church For I set before mine eies the company of young men in the schoole also the flocke of learners in the Church What can be more notable thought I then to haue there before me not onely young men but also hoare headed husbandmen who together with thy selfe are banished frō paradise for sinne like Adā til the earth who for their old age are reuerend and as fathers many women also who are as mothers if the Lord will haue thee to speake his word vnto these and to instruct them of God of the creation and preseruation of the worlde of the subtiltie of the serpent deceauing man of the promised saluation by the seede of the woman what can be more comfortable what can happen vnto thee more to be wished for of God seeing without the knowledge of these thinges men liue more miserably than brute beasts The Lord continually after that time nourished these sparks in me by his holy spirit and by the reading of the holy scriptures I was then a boye of fifteene yeres olde and a little before for studies sake sent to Paris by my parents But to what ende speake I these thinges so familiarly I speake as a young man to young men hoping that it will come to passe that those things which were not of small moment in my minde will likewise in your mindes kindle the sparkes which may engender that earnest desire aswell of learning as of teaching And so much the more whē you shall perceaue your selues not only prouoked by my example but also God giuing you grace holpen by this my little labour For although before I was sixteene yeres old whē I was sent to Paris I had some direction by my schoolemaisters who yearely before Easter did expounde vnto vs in the schoole called Treuiror the passion of our Lord Iesus Christ and were wont according to the measure God had giuen them to conferre the figures of the olde Testament with the accomplishing thereof by the passion of Christ a thing very comfortable which afterwards by the grace of God opened vnto me the whole scope of the scriptures yet notwithstanding that handleading was more dark obscure by reason of the multitude of mens traditiōs in which Christ dead raised vp againe was wrapped darkened in the popedome so that I coulde not well vse that light which by the conference comparing of those figures and the fulfilling of the thinges themselues I did see to shine in the passion of Christ But yet for all that that same weake foreknowledge in his time God blessing it wanted not his excellent fruite But here dearely beloued youth you shall see Christ dead and raised vp againe without any mazes of mens traditions so liuely set before your eies that by the sure and vndoubted propheticall and apostolicall worde as it were by the hand yea as by a light shining in a dark place being brought vnto him you may knowe him truely to be the same who was made vnto vs of God to be our wisedome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption as it is written All that glory let them glory in the Lorde 1. Cor. 1. and that we are compleate in him to the Coloss 2. Last of al for asmuch as the vnthankefulnesse of the world doth driue away and feare many both from learning and teaching goe to shall not Christ punish the worlde for this vnthankefulnesse If he remaine faithfull ought not this to satisfie vs Christ the Lord of heauen and earth will not suffer you seruing him to be altogether destitute of necessary things but he that prouideth seede to the sower he also will prouide bread for foode I haue oftentimes thought of that same saying of Christ Luk. 22. When I sent you without bagge and scrippe and shoes wanted ye any thing his disciples aunswered Nothing yea they did not once remember whether they should neede any helpe for their iourny executing of their office The same Christ yet liueth raigneth God for euer who hath the hearts of all in his hands that he may do good to all faithfull pastors euen as he had commanded be it that he spake neuer a word to the widowe of Sarepta that shee should giue foode to her seruant Elias
2. verses 9.10 wherefore God lifted him vp on high hath giuen him a name which is aboue euery name That at the name of Iesus euery knee should bowe both of things in heauen and things in earth and things vnder the earth And that euery tongue should confesse that Iesus Christ is the Lorde to the glory of God the father See the first to the Corinth From thence he shall come to iudge both the quicke and the dead 1. vers 2. Acts 9. vers 14. He hath power to iudge both the quicke and the deade and so he is priuie to all the thoughts sayings and doings of men and not onely that but also he is most iust and mightie to execute sentence 1. Cor. 4.5 Iudge nothing before the time vntill the Lorde come who will lighten thinges that are in darkenes and make manifest the counsells of the heartes Io. 5. He hath giuen all iudgement to the sonne that all may honour the sonne euen as they honour the father Mat. 3. His fanne shal be in his hande and he shall purge his floore and gather his wheate into his garner but will burne vp the chaffe with vnquenchable fire To discerne hypocrites from the faithfull is the onely worke of God and to gather these into heauen and to thrust downe the other into euerlasting fire is also the onely worke of God The holy ghost also in whom we beleeue I beleeue in the holy Ghost Christ himselfe giueth which is a notable testimonie of his euerlasting godhead Ioh. 1. vers 23. This is he that baptiseth with the holy ghost Acte 2. compare the 17. verse I will powre out saith God of my spirite c with the. 33. vers He hath shed foorth this which you now behold and see Iohn 16. verse 7. and cap. 20. vers 22. He hath chosen vnto himselfe a catholique or an vniuersall Church The holy Catholique Church from among all mankinde Iohn 13.16 I know whom I haue chosen and in the 15. chapter You haue not chosen me but I haue chosen you that ye goe and bring forth fruite and that your fruite remaine Also in the 10. Chap. vers 16. and Chap. 11 vers 52. He was present with this Church euen from the beginning as the euerlasting king and priest thereof Heb. 13. vers 8. Christ yesterday to day for euer Also the 1.3 vers 19.20 and the 1. Cor. 10. Thou art a priest for euer after the order of Melchisedeck and Heb. 7. ver 3. To this church from the beginning he reuealeth the father himselfe Mat. 11. No mā knoweth the father but the sonne and to whom soeuer the sonne will reueale him Also 1. Pet. 1. vers 11. He quickeneth this Church from euerlasting death Io. 5. vers 25. He will haue his Church holy vnto him and separated from idolaters and from those which professe not faith and repentance and therefore he directly opposeth the worshippe of himselfe in the Church against the worshippe of false Gods 1. Cor. 10 14. My beloued fly from idolatry that I may speake more wisely Iudge you what I say The cuppe of thankesgiuing whereby we giue thankes is it not the communion of the bloode of Christ And a little after Vers 19 20. What therfore do I say that the Idol is any thing or that which is sacrificed to Idols is any thing yea this I say that that which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to diuels not to God and I would not that you should haue felowship with diuels Ye cānot drinke the cup of the Lord the cup of diuels ye cānot be partakers of the Lords table of the table of diuels Do we prouoke the Lord to anger Are we strōger then he The communion of Sainctes He communicateth himselfe with the Sainctes that is with all the elect and he dwelleth in them howsoeuer they are throwne out of the world Iohn 14 vers 23. I and the father will come and make our abiding with him And in the 15 chap. vers 1.4 Also 1. Cor. 12. ver 12. For as the body is one and hath many members and all the members of the body which is one though they be many yet are but one body so is Christ Ephe. 3. That Christ may dwell in your hartes through faith Gala. 2. vers 20. Now I liue no more but Christ liueth in me Also Iohn 17. vers 23. and 26. He entreth into league and fellowship with the Church by the ministerie of the word and sacramentes he is present with it euen from the beginning of the world and remaineth present vnto the end 1. Cor. 10. Let vs not tempte Christ as some of them tempted and were destroyed of Serpentes Also 1. Pet. 1. vers 11. Matt. 28. Loe I am with you alwaies to the ende of the world He instituted baptisme the seale of the couenant and would haue vs no lesse baptised in his name then in the name of the father of the holy ghost making promise of saluation to them that beleeue and are baptised Matt. 28. vers 19. Mar. 16. vers 16. Collo 2. verse 9 10 11. Acte 8. vers 16. and chap. 19 vers 5. Now it is both blasphemie to be baptised in the name of any creature and it is onely proper vnto God to make promises of saluation and to fulfill them Wherefore also Christ is he which baptiseth with the holy ghost Mat. 3 verse 11. Act. 2. vers 18 32. He instituted the sacrament of thankesgiuing for the diuine worship of himselfe in the place of the Paschall as he saith Do this in remembrance of me Wherefore also Paule calleth it the cuppe of thankesgiuing whereby we giue thankes And concerning the seale of the newe Testament he speaketh thus This is the newe Testament in my blood Now it is the same Lord or Hoastes that had promised a newe Testament who confirmeth the selfsame by his death Ierem 31. vers 33. and Hebrewes 9. vers 17. The forgiuenes of sinnes which he not onely deserueth by his death but also giueth by his owne power is also a notable testimonie of the Godhead of Christ I beleeue the forgiuenes of sins For he iustifieth all his elect from the beginning of the world Act. 15. vers 10.11 Whie tempte ye God laying a yoake vpon the Disciples neckes that neither our fathers nor we were able to beare but by the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ we beleeue to be saued euen as they doe Iohn 8. vers 56. Psal 110. The Lord hath sworne and will not repent him Thou art a Priest for euer after the order of Melchisedeck By and for this Priest were sinnes alwaies forgiuen to the beleeuers Now that he doth forgiue sins by his owne power he confirmeth by a miracle Matt. 9. But that you may know that the sonne of man hath auctoritie in earth to forgiue sinnes then he saith to the man sicke of the palsey Arise take vp thy bed and go
into thy house And in Ioh. 13. he saith Vnlesse I wash thee thou shalt haue no part with me The resurrection of the flesh The resurrectiō also of the flesh is a worke of Christ as also the inward renuing to euerlasting life Iohn 5. vers 2. and 28. As my father raiseth vp the dead and giueth them life so also the sonne giueth life vnto whom he will And the howre shall come that all that are in their graues shall heare his voyce c. Also Iohn 6. vers 39.40 and in the 11. chap. I am the resurrection and the life he that beleeueth in me though that hee were dead hee shal liue whosoeuer liueth and beleeueth in me he shall not die for euer By Christ shal be fulfilled that of Hoseas Death is swallowed vp in victorie O death where is thy victorie c. 1. Cor. 15. vers 55.57 and in the same Chapiter verses 45.48 And Christ himselfe giueth euerlasting life And life euerlasting Ioh. 1. Life was in him Ioh. 10. I giue eternall life vnto my sheepe neither shall they perish for euer neither shall any man take them out of my hande I and the father are one All these thinges which we haue rehearsed according to the order of the description of God and the articles of the faith seeing they are of that sorte as can agree to none but onely to God they plainly conuince Christ to be God by nature What daunger there is to be feared if we beleeue not in the sonne as in the true euerlasting God of the same substance with the father THe truth it selfe sheweth a most present daunger Ioh. 3. He that beleeueth in the sonne is not iudged or condemned but he that beleeueth not is iudged already because he beleeueth not in the name of the onely begotten sonne of God And in the 8. Chapiter You are from hell I am from aboue You are of this worlde I am not of this worlde therefore I haue said vnto you that you shall dye in your sinnes Moreouer it is said in the 1. Ioh. 2. vers 23. Whosoeuer denieth the sonne hath not the father Also in the 2. Ioh. vers 9.10.11 And in Ioh. 16 vers 3. Therefore the holy Ghost hath forewarned vs by the Apostle Peter that we should take heede of these deceauers 2. Epist Cap. 2. There were also false Prophets amongest the people as also there shal be false teachers among you who shall bring in deadly heresies denying the Lorde who hath bought them hasting vnto themselues a swift damnation and many shall followe their condemnation Nowe the Lorde who hath bought vs is Iesus Christ very God and man as the scripture witnesseth Acts. 20. God hath redeemed his Church through his blood Nowe therefore if so be that any do not beleeue that he is the true God that hath in mans nature shed forth his blood he denyeth the Lord who hath bought him Testimonies prouing the Godheade of the holy Ghost that he is a person and the true euerlasting God and not any motion or thought or any other thing that is created 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 THat the holy Ghost is subsisting and God by nature first of all it is shewed by the creation Genes 1. And the spirit of God moued it selfe vpon the face of the waters In which words it is attributed to the holy Ghost that he wrought together in the creation of all with the father and the sonne The creation is most clearely attributed vnto him Psal 104. Sende forth thy spirit and they shal be created and thou shalt renue the face of the earth Therefore the scripture affirmeth that the holy Ghost is Iehouah which is most plaine out of the 6. of Isay and the 28. of Acts vers 25. Isay 6. And he said Iehouah of whom before in the same Chapiter Seraphim had cried Holy Holy Holy Iehouah Lord of hoasts Goe and say vnto this people in hearing heare you and vnderstand not and in seeing see you and knowe not These same wordes which the Lorde spake Paule Acts. 28. saith that the holy Ghost spake Very well saith he spake the holy Ghost by Isaias the Prophet vnto our fathers c. Therefore the holy Ghost is Iehouah The same is also plaine by other places Ierem. 31. This is the couenant that I will make with the house of Israel After these daies saith Iehouah I will giue my lawe into their hearte c. Nowe the Epistle to the Hebrews Cap. 10. vers 15. affirmeth that these same wordes of the lord proceeded from the holy ghost The holy ghost also himselfe witnesseth vnto vs. For after he had foreshewed This is my couenant that I will make with them c. The which also Ioel affirmeth Cap. 2. whom Peter also citeth and expoundeth that he may shewe them as plaine effectes of the holy Ghost which are altogether belonging to the power of the godhead I wil saith Iehouah powre out of my spirit vpon all flesh and your sonnes and daughters shall prophesie And these thinges which are alledged now to shew that the holy Ghost is God the creator by them also is shewed that he is an vnderstanding essence euerlasting good righteous mercifull most free of an infinite power and most constant truth neuerthelesse let vs yet see also certaine testimonies seuerally concerning those thinges that are attributed vnto him which as they onely agree vnto God so they plainly proue the holy Ghost to be very God That the holy Ghost is an vnderstanding essence euerlasting and which giueth vnderstanding it plainly appeareth out of the 61. of Esai The spirit of the Lord Iehouah is vpō me for that Iehouah hath anointed me to preach vnto the milde he hath sent me Luk. 4. Christ teacheth that he is he vpon whō is the spirit of Iehouah for that he anointed him But to anoint inwardly as Christ properly is anointed and by his owne power to send to preach glad tidinges and to giue power to preach glad tidinges aright is a work of a person truely subsisting vnderstanding and of the euerlasting God Also it appeareth by his effectes which are rekoned vp in the 5. to the Galathians that he is also good iust pure mercifull most free and in deede as God communicating his giftes vnto other The fruites of the spirit is loue ioy peace gentlenesse benignitie goodnesse faith softnesse of spirit and temperance And surely the same Apostle teacheth that the holy Ghost is the worker of these and therefore God 1. Cor. 12. There are diuersitie of giftes but the same spirite And there are diuersitie of administrations but God is the same that worketh all in all But the manifestation of the spirit is giuen to euery man to profitte withall For to one is giuen by the spirite the worde of wisedome and to another the worde of knowledge by the same spirite And a little after But all these thinges worketh one and the same spirite distributing to euery
man seuerally as he will Loe he had saide before There are diuersitie of administrations but God is the same that worketh all in all afterwards shewing that the same holy spirit is God himselfe he saith All these things worketh one and the same spirit distributing to euery man seuerally as he will That he is true and that as God looking into the heartes and trying the thoughts it is taught in the 5. of the Acts. Peter said Ananias why hath Sathan filled thy heart that thou shouldest lie vnto the holy Ghost and by and by he addeth Thou hast not lyed vnto men but vnto God And that he proceedeth from the father and the sonne not as a created motion or mouing but as a person existing vnderstanding and of the same essence with the father the sonne Christ teacheth in Ioh. Cap. 14. vers 26. Now that same holy spirit the comforter whom the father shall sende in my name he shall teach you all things and shall put all these things into your minde which I haue said vnto you But this belongeth onely to God 1. Cor. 2. vers 10.11.12 He iustifieth and sanctifieth the Church aswell as the sonne 1. Cor. 1.6 1. Pet. 1. and renueth it to euerlasting life Ioh. 3. baptiseth into the same body 1. Cor. 12. He dwelleth in the beleeuers and raiseth them vp from the deade Rom. 8. If his spirit who hath raised vp Iesus from the dead dwell in you he will also quicken your mortall bodies by his spirit dwelling in you And verily he dwelleth in vs as in his owne temple Therefore the holy Ghost must necessarily be the true God 1. Cor. 3. vers 16. Doe you not knowe that you are the temple of God and that the sptrite of God doth dwell in you c. Now in the 2. Cor. cap. 6. he saith Ye are the temple of the liuing God as God hath saide I will dwell in them and walke there c. Out of all which it is vnderstoode that the holy ghost is the true and euerlasting God What daunger there is if we beleeue not in the holy ghost IF any beleeue not in the holy Ghost he neither beleeueth in the father nor in the sonne and so manifestly beleeueth not in God forasmuch as the father and the sonne cannot be knowen and be beleeued of vs vnlesse the holy ghost reueale it who proceedeth from the father and the sonne and is of the same essence with both 1. Io. 4. ver 14. So therefore we must determine that if any man haue not the spirite of Christ the same is not his Rom. 8. But if any knowe not the holy Ghost neither also hath he it Iohn 14. The worlde can not receaue the holy Ghost because it seeth it not neither knoweth it Therefore he that knoweth not the holy ghost he is not of Christ But you knowe him saith Christ because he abideth with you and shal be in you That the father the sonne and the holy ghost are three distinct persons and yet that they are one and the same substance THerefore those former being dispatched to witt that the father the sonne and the holy ghost are thinges subsisting of themselues vnderstāding c. it foloweth also that we teach that they are incōmunicable or rather distinct Gene. 1. In the beginning God created the heauen and the earth and the spirite of God moued it selfe vpon the face of the waters And God said Let there be a light and the light was made Mat. 3. The trinitie of the persons is plainly described to witt the sonne clad in mans nature and baptised then the holighost in a bodily forme as it were a doue descending downe from heauen abiding vpon the sonne Lastly the father pronoūcing with a cleare voyce out of heauen This is my beloued sonne in whō I am wel pleased Also Mat. 28. ver 19. Ioh. 8. vers 16 17 18. Also cap. 14 Now I will aske the father and he will giue you another comforter that hee maie remaine with you for euer And 15.26 But when that comforter shall come whom I will send vnto you from the father that spirite of truth who proceedeth from the father he shall witnesse of me Also cap. 16. vers 7. Further that these three persons are one diuine essence these places witnes Deut 6. Heare Israel Thy Lord thy God is one God And 32. See I am one and there is no other God besides me Psal 18. Who is God besides the the Lord And who is God besides our God 2. King 5. I know for a suertie saith Naaman Syrus that there is no other God in all the earth but onely in Israel Isai 42.43.45 and 48. Iohn 10. I and the father are one And the 14. Beleeue me that I am in the father and the father in me Esai 6. Seraphin cried Holy Holy Holy the Lord of Hoastes The voyce Holy thrise repeated setteth foorth the Trinitie of persons and the word Iehouah the vnitie of the essence Matt. 28. Going foorth Teach ye all nations baptising them in the name of the father and of the sonne and of the holy ghost It is verie certaine that we are baptised into the faith and worship of one God But that there is mention made of three to witte of the father of the sonne and of the holy ghost in the selfesame is noted the Trinitie of persons in the vnitie of substance 1. Cor. 7. vers 11. 1. Iohn 5. There are three which beare witnesse in heauen the father the word and the holy ghost and these three are one Now whatsoeuer thinges haue beene spoken before of the Godhead of the sonne and of the holy ghost they doe also proue the same thing to witte that these three persons are one euerlasting God For neither the father were an euerlasting father vnlesse he had a sonne from euerlasting and coessentiall or of the same substance with him neither were the Sonne the onely begotten sonne of the Father vnlesse he were of the same substance with him neither were the holy ghost the spirite of the father and sonne proceeding from both vnlesse it were coessentiall with the father and the sonne What fruite we receiue by this that we know and beleeue the father of our Lord Iesus Christ the sonne and the holy ghost to be the onely true and eternall God and that there is no other God FIrst of all forasmuch as this is the true felicitie that we should know the true God because God doth communicate himselfe vnto vs through the knowledge of himselfe and forasmuch as our bodies and soules were created and redeemed with a great price to this purpose that they might be the temples of the liuing God in which he might be praysed we know that this is truly and indeede fulfilled in vs through the knowledg of the true God of the father the sonne and the holy ghost as Christ promiseth Iohn 14.16 I will aske the father and he shall giue vnto you another
viuification or quickening because as Christ is iustified from our sinnes by rising againe and therewithall is quickened so he that beleeueth in Christ is both iustified and quickened as the Apostle teacheth Ephes 2. vntill the 11. verse Therefore Paul Rom. 5. calleth the same iustification of life and opposeth it to the fault of condemnation and maketh an antithesis or matching of contraries betwene sinne that raigneth to death and the righteousnes of Christ which whosoeuer receiue they raigne in life verses 17.18.21 And in deede so as not onely Christ worketh in vs not onely that same newe life but also Christ is that life himselfe as him selfe saith I am the way the trueth and the life Iohn 14.6 And Gala. 2.20 Nowe I liue no more But Christ liueth in me Viuification therefore is the seconde fruit of the resurrection of Christ to wit for that Christ himselfe alwayes liuing is become our life through faith and because by the vertue which we drawe from our heade Christe through the spirite of faith we arise in this life into newnes of life that by liuing purely and holily wee might wholy consecrate our selues to the will of God This thing the Apostle teacheth Col. 3. If yee be risen with Christ seeke those thinges that are aboue where Christ is sitting at the right hande of God Care for heauenly thinges and not for earthly For this cause also the selfe same Apostle saith Rom. 6. that We are planted into the similitude of the death of Christ that being partakers of his resurrection we might walke in newnes of life In which wordes he not onely setteth out the resurrection of Christ as an example for vs to followe but also especially teacheth that this thing especially wrought in vs that by the vertue of the resurrection of Christ wee might rise agayne into a newe life Of the third fruit of the resurrection of Christ The thirde fruit which is ioyned with the second is the assurance of our perseuerance in faith and of full victorie against sinne and death For euen like as Christ dyeth no more but liueth the life which neuer can faile for in that he is dead he is once dead to sinne but in that he liueth he liueth to God death shal haue no further dominion ouer him Rom. 6. so they that are engraffed into Christ through faith do drawe out of him a spirituall life from which they can neuer fal and which no not in the verie separation of the body and of soule can bee extinguished as Christ saith If any man keepe my word he shall neuer see death Iohn 8.51 Therefore seeing the faithfull liue this life of Christ in an entrance or beginning the force and nature whereof shed into their minds from Christ is such as it can neuer altogether die they are also assured of the full consummation and perfecting of it The selfe same thing also Peter teacheth 1. Epist 1. Blessed be God and the father of our Lord Iesus Christ who of his great mercie hath begotten vs into a liuely hope through the resurrection of Iesus Christ from the dead And verse 4. 6. he laieth the cause foundation of a liuely hope in the mercie of the father resurrectiō of Christ because as Christ after that hee arose in our name by the mercie of the father he alwaies liueth so hope also hath a permanent and indurable life in him partly regeneration being begone and partly it loketh for it in that same full consummation and finishing In the first to the Ephesians verses 19.20.23 there is a notable place most fit and agreeable vnto this doctrine to wit that God doeth shewe foorth that selfe same power in vs whiles he giueth vs faith which hee wrought and declared in his sonne when he raised him vp from the dead and that same substantiall word it selfe to be that which filleth all in all thinges The same also 1. Pet. 1. verse 3.5 2 Cor. 4.14.16 And from hence floweth that same certaintie concerning full victorie against sinne against the assaultes of sathan and death For like as that euerlasting worde in flesh which it tooke and which in it owne power it raised from the deade Iohn 10. ouercame our sinne imputed vnto him death so also that same euerlasting worde shall not cease dwelling by grace in the faithfull but vtterly to abolish in those also the remnauntes of sinne and death already ouercame by his vertue and power 1. Corinthians 15. vers 54.57.58 1. Iohn 5.4.5 For by no other vertue and power but by the verie same whereby that euerlasting worde in that receiued lumpe ouercame our sin and death we know also according to the promise the same worde also working in vs that wee shall vanquishe and ouercome Io. 4. Because he is mightier that is in vs then he that is in the worlde This certayntie of our perseueraunce in true faith and of a full victorie through faith bringeth to passe that we take all thinges from his hande whether they be thinges prosperous or full of aduersitie being fully persuaded that all those thinges doe hasten the fruition of that same victorie which now is gotten for vs by Christ 1. Cor. 15. Thankes be to God who hath giuen vs victorie through our Lord Jesus Christ The same is in the 2. Cor. 4.15 Concerning the last fruite of the resurrection of Christ SEing that not only our soules but also our bodies are mēbers of our head Christ through the bonde of the spirit of faith 1. Cor. 6. ver 5. 15. Rom. 8.11 therefore in the resurrection of our heade Christ our bodies haue a certaine pledge and seale that they are not onely raysed vp from sinnes in this life as was shewed in the second fruit but also the selfe same bodies which are yet mortall haue both nowe the right of euerlasting life and through that same quickening spirit of Christ are repaired to the fruition of him and to true immortalitie in the end of the world and that in the selfe same state and condition with the glorious body of Christe Phil. 3. Who shall transforme our vile body that it may be fashioned like vnto his glorious body according to that effectuall working whereby hee is made able to subdue all things vnto himselfe 1. Cor. 15.49 As we haue borne the image of the earthly Adam so shall we heare the image of the heauenly The last fruit therefore of the resurrection of Christ is tha◠immortalitie is adiudged vnto vs from God himselfe made in the raysing vp of the Messiah and offered vnto vs by the Gospell and sealed by the spirite of Christe 2. Tim. 1.10 Who hath abolished death and hath brought life and immortalitie vnto light thorough the Gospell To the Ephesians chap. 1. In which Christ also you haue hoped hauing heard the worde of trueth euen the gospell of your saluation in which also after that ye beleeued ye were sealed with the holy spirite of promise whiche is the
contemners of so great long suffering patience and so shal drowne sathan as Pharaoh with all his armie in euerlasting destructiō but he shal bring in his confiderats fully deliuered from al tyrannie of the wicked into that same true heauenly inheritance as into the lande of promise to which Paul would haue vs to loke whē he saith as often as ye shall eat of this bread drinke of this cup ye shal shew forth the Lords death vntil his comming againe Why the comming of Christ is not so feareful vnto the faithful FIrst the cause doth cōfort the faithful for which he shal come to iudge Now the chiefe end of the cōming againe of Christ to iudgement is the glorifying of the Church that is to say that sinne and death being fully ouercome and the enemies of the kingdome being adiudged by the iust iudgemēt of Christ to euerlasting paine and so all offences and impediments remoued which did let the glory of the sons of God God might appeare without any let fully perfectly glorious in his saints Eph. 5.1 Cor. 15. Christ setteth this same cause or rather ende scope before our eyes whilest he calleth that day the day of redemption Secondly the very person of the iudge doth take frō vs al feare For euen for this cause the father hath deliuered al iudgmēt to the son as he is the sonne of man that he might make our consciences quiet take from vs all terror of condemnation Ioh. 5.22.27 Both because that now we beleeue that he shall be iudge and also because we shal behold him with our eyes in whose body our sinnes are cleansed and all the curse taken away Heb. 9.28 Tit. 2.13.14 Last of al the commandement promise of Christ doth free deliuer vs frō al feare The cōmandement is plaine in Luk. 21. Whē ye shal see these thinges come to passe be of good comfort lift vp your heades Math. 24. It shall come to passe that yee shall heare of wars and rumors of warre but see that yee he not troubled for these things must be The promise is plaine in third of Ioh. He that beleeueth in the son is not iudged or cōdēned And cap. 5.24 1. Thes 4.14.17 cap. 5 ver 9.10 Ioh. 17. ver 22.24 yea let that promise be cōsidered which is in 1. Cor. 6. doe yee not knowe that the sainctes shall iudge the worlde And a little after bee yee ignorant that it shall come to passe that wee shall iudge the Angels And surely seeing all the Articles of the faithe are deliuered for our consolation it must needes be that this article also of iudgement is deliuered not to shake but to confirme and establishe our faith Howe we ought to make our selues readie to iudgement WE must prepare our selues to the iudgement of Christ by faith and a good conscience that is to say by a faith which leaneth vppon a fast and sure foundation and by the fruites of faith which doe beare witnesse of it and with which it is exercised Nowe the foundation of faith is not our merite neither in whole nor in part but of Christ alone who deliuereth vs from the wrath to come 1. Thess 1. For no man can lay any other foundation then that which is laide alreadie to wit Iesus Christ 1. Cor. 3. The which also is manifestly vnderstood by the wordes of the iudge himselfe For first he saith Come ye blessed of my heauenly father Nowe wee are not blessed by or in our selues but by Christ by whome we are both deliuered from the cursse and also adopted to be sonnes of the meere good will and free purpose of God Galat. 3. Ephesi 1.2 The iudge further addeth Possesse for an inheritance the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the worlde If an inheritance then no merite If prepared from the beginning of the worlde then not gotten by vs which yet were not And these things concerning the foundation wherevppon our faith leaneth Nowe after that I am assured through faith that I am one of the sheepe of Christ which he hath redeemed not with golde and siluer but with his owne blood I must endeuour that I may haue those same markes where with by his spirite hee is wont to marke his sheepe to wit fruits worthie repentance which are that I feede Christ being hungrie and giue drinke vnto him being thirstie in his mēbers that I receiue Christ by hospitalitie in strangers c. But the faithfull rest not vppon these workes of thankefulnesse like as also they shall say in the iudgement Lord when saw we thee hungrie and thirstie and gaue meate drinke vnto thee But they shall onely reste vppon Christ who is made vnto them of God wisedome righteousnes sanctification and redemption 1. Cor. 1. To these fruites and exercises of faith belong sobrietie calling vpon the name of God and watchfulnesse For it is a precious deceit of sathan whilest he persuadeth men that that same iudgement is yet farre off or that there is no neede euerie houre or moment to looke for it when as notwithstanding the comaundement of Christe and the doctrine of the Apostles require speciall watchfulnesse Luke 21. Matth. 24. verse 44.45 1. Thessa 4. vers 15.17 and chapter 5. verse 1.2 1. Pet. 3. Besides these the looking for iudgement doeth admonish the faithful that aboue all thinges they take heede vnto themselues least they defile their bodies or their soules with the idolatrie of Antichrist or with the like that they vnderprop their mindes with patience concerning which matter there are extant graue admonitions Mat. 24. ver 24.25 Apo. 14. ver 7.7.11.12 chap. 18. ver 4. To conclude wee must keepe a good conscience in al things euen vntil the Lord shal come who shall make manifest the secretes of darkenes shal lay open the coūsels of the hart 1. Cor. 4.5 So Paul saith Act. 24. In this therefore I exercise my selfe that alwayes I may haue a conscience without offence before God and men THE THIRDE part of the Creede I beleeue in the holy Ghost Testimonies out of the Prophets and Apostles Ioel 2.28 And it shall come to passe afterward I will power out my spirit vpon all flesh your sonnes your daughters shal prophecie your olde men shall dreame dreames and your yong men shal see visions yea and vppon the seruants and maidens in those days I will powre out my spirit and I will shewe wonders in the heauen in the earth blood fire pillers of smoke the sonne it selfe shal be turned into darkenes the moone into blood before the great terrible day of the Lord come And further it shal come to passe that whosoeuer shall cal vpon the name of Iehovah shall be saued for in Mount Syon and Ierusalem shall be deliuerance as the Lorde hath saide and in the remnant whome the Lorde shall call Actes 2.16.17 But this is that which was spoken by the Prophet
17. Why the scripture calleth him the onely begotten seeing all we which beleeue are the sonnes of God THerefore the Scripture calleth him the only begotten sonne of God that he may put a necessary difference betweene Christe and all the faithfull For Christ is called and indeede is the onely begotten sonne of God because he is the only euerlasting son of the euerlasting father begotten of the substance of the father before al worlds and therefore is very God in whō we ought to beleeue Pro. 8. Ioh. 1. Now we are called and are the sonnes of God not by nature but by adoption and grace through which God hath vouchsafed to adopt vs to be his children whilest he hath made vs through faith engrafted into his sonne his true and liuely members who otherwise were the mēbers of Sathan and by nature the sonnes of wrath Ioh. 8. Ephes 2. But in meane time that same adoption and name of the sonnes of God is not onely an emptie title but when we are in truth members of the sonne of God we haue by his grace a true communion and fellowship with him in respect of which he is called the first begotten amongest many brethren Rom. 8. And surelie if the Adoption made of men be not a vaine and an emptie title but such an acceptation of another mans childe to be a sonne whereby in truth all the right of sonnes is communicated vnto him as if he were a true and naturall sonne certainly by that same adoption of God whereby we are so engraffed into his sonne that we are gouerned quickened by his spirit we do not onely receaue the title but the full priuiledge and right of the sonnes of God Rom. 8. For he hath giuen this priuiledge dignitie right and power to all as many as haue receiued the Lorde Iesus that they should be made the sonnes of God Ioh. 1. And in the first Epistle of Iohn the first Chapiter That which we haue seene and hearde declare we vnto you that ye also may haue fellowshippe with vs and our fellowshippe or communion is with the father and with his sonne Iesus Christ And these things write I vnto you that your ioye may be full All the faithfull therefore haue not a meane and common couenant but a most excellent couenant with God whilest he will haue his confederates to be in the place of sonnes making thē members of his onely begotten Sonne from whom they are neuer plucked away and regenerating or rather renueing them through his spirit so excelent notable a couenāt I say in euery respect that we may freely say with the Apostle to the Rom. 8. that he that hath not spared his owne sonne but hath giuen him for vs all howe can it be that he should not together with him giue vs all thinges Yea but this same couenant grounded vpon so excellent loue of God towardes vs is so sure and vnmoueable that we may farther say with the same Apostle I am persuaded that neither death nor life nor Angells nor Principalities nor powers nor thinges present nor thinges to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shal be able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. Our Lorde Testimonies out of the Prophetes and Apostles THe Lorde hath said to my Lorde c. Psalm 110. And Matthew 22. verse 42.43 Actes 2 verse 36. Therefore all the house of Israel knowe for a suretie that God hath made him both Lorde and Christe this Iesus I say whom ye haue crucified The end and drift of these words is that being entred into league with so faithful a Lord who hath redeemed them from the power of darkenesse neither with golde nor siluer but with his owne blood making thē his owne peculiar and not onely he so purchased them but he protecteth and preserueth them being so purchased with a speciall care they might safely and with assured confidence of minde committe themselues vnto him yea and yeelde vp themselues to be kept for euer Againe they are also admonished that they are not in their owne power but are bought with a price that both in bodie and soule which are Gods they may glorifie God 1. Corinthians 6. And to the ende all that are confederate and beleeue shoulde willingly suffer them selues to be gouerned of such a Lorde to wit by his worde and by his spirit who to the ende he might haue vs vnder his lordship gouernment was appointed of the father head of the Angels and of all beleuers Conceaued by the holy Ghost borne of the Virgin Marie Testimonies out of the Prophetes and Apostles Genes 3. I will put enimitie betweene thee and the Woman and betweene thy seede and her seede It shall bruise thy heade and thou shalt bruise his heele To the Gala. 4. But when the fulnes of time was come God sent forth his sonne made of a woman c. That the sonne of God must take the nature of man of the stocke of Abraham GEnes 22. In thy name shall all the nations of the earth be blessed Gala. 3. Act 3. in the ende and Luke the 2. That the stocke was restrained to the tribe of Iudah and here somewhat concerning the time that the Messias should be giuen GEnes 49. The tribe shall not desist from Iehudah nor the Lawgiuer from the middest of his feete vntill his sonne come and obedience of peoples be made vnto him fulfilled in the 2. of Luk. ver 1. Where the whole worlde is taxed and therefore nowe the scepter was departed from Iuda when the tribe of Iudah was taxed of Augustus and therefore also Marie together with Ioseph And herevnto belong those prophesies which are to be seene in the 6. of Zacharie ver 11. Take therefore siluer and gold that thou maist make crownes and put them vpon the heade of Iehoschuhh the sonne of Iehosadac the high Priest Thou shalt say vnto him after this manner so saith the Lord God of hoastes in saying Beholde a man whose name is a slippe who shall bud foorth out of his place and hee shall builde the Temple of the Lorde of hoastes Hee I say shall build a temple to the Lorde of hoastes and the same shall beare away comelines and shall sit and beare rule vppon his seat and hee shall be a priest vpon his seat and the counsell of peace shall be betwixt both And let there be crownes for euerie one for Helē for Tobiah and Iedaiah to Hen the son of Zephaniah for a memoriall in the temple of the Lorde of hoastes and they that are farre of shall come and builde in the Temple of the Lorde c. And Ezechiel the 21. So hath the Lorde God of Hoastes saide Remoue awaie the Diademe and the crowne This which is nowe shall not be that I will aduaunce the humble will throw drowne the proude I will ouerturne ouerturne ouerturne it and it shall be no more vntill hee come whose
vanquished so that nowe we are deliuered and iustified through Christ from it which also maketh entreatie for vs whilst he saieth for vs which also sheweth that there is farther a newe confirmation of our faith to be added to the nexte of the free iustification thorough Christe to wit that hee also is at the right hande of God whether he could not haue come vnlesse he had beene iustified from our sinnes and that he entreateth also for vs to wit whilest by the power of that onely one sacrifice he appeareth euerlastingly righteous for vs. 1. Iohn 2 1. And so that same abiding at the right hande of God and shewing him selfe before the Father is a continuing of that euerlasting iustification of ours to the end that there should be no place left for any accusation against beleeuers so full euerie manner of waie is our iustification in Christ so euerlasting and so vnderpropped vpon most sure foundations to the knowledge whereof Paule in the place nowe alledged would leade vs by those argumentes as it were by certaine steppes and degrees Of the second fruite of the ascension THe second fruite is that by his ascension into heauen he hath made vs to sit with him in heauenlie places Ephes 2.6 So that we do not onely in a naked hope looke for heauen but we possesse it in the head and in Christ our brother aswell because that same earthly and bodily pledge which he hath taken of vs full expiation cleansing being made of our sins doth possesse the heauens nowe in our name as also because we our selues doe possesse a spiritual and heauenly pledge receaued againe frō him to wit the spirite of Christ dwelling in vs so by the power of the holie Ghost through faith in the promise of the Gospell we are ingraffed into him And therfore Ro. 10.6.8 The righteousnes which is of faith saith thus Say not in thy heart who shal ascend into heauen That is to bring Christ from aboue c. But what saith it The worde is neare thee euen in thy mouth and in thine heart that is that same worde of Faith whiche wee preache Surely the spirituall first fruites of this doctrine are most sweete For it bringeth to passe by the power of Christ his spirite that now in a certain and vndouted hope in our head Christ we possesse heauen Therefore let vs confirme our mindes in this most profitable doctrine by some most euident oracles of the scripture Christ himselfe nowe about to goe into that heauenly possession in our name speaketh on this sort Iohn 14. In my fathers house there are many abyding places if it had bene otherwise I had tolde you I go to prepare a place for you The same Iohn Chap. 20. I ascend to my father and to your father to my God to your God The Apostle also maketh vs so sure of the certaintie of the earnest and pledge which Christ hauing of vs hath aduanced into the heauens that he saith in the second of the Ephesians that God hath made vs to sitte with Christ in heauenly places Againe of sending that same earnest or comforter vnto vs Christe speaketh thus in Ioh. 16. I speake the truth vnto you it is profitable for you that I goe for if I go not that same comforter shal not come vnto you Peter also witnesseth of this same earnest already sent in Actes 2. also Paule in 2. Cor. 1. Who hath sealed vs and giuen the earnest of his spirite in our heartes And most plaine of all other places in the 2. Cor. 5. See also Tertullian in his booke of the resurrection of the flesh where amongest other thinges he writeth thus This Iesus called the Mediator of God men of the trust of either part committed vnto him doth keepe the pledge of the flesh in himselfe as the earnest of the whole summe For like as he hath left the earnest of his spirit with vs so also he hath taken of vs the earnest of the flesh and hath aduanced into heauen the pledge of the whole summe hereafter to be brought thither Be quiet therefore O flesh and bloud you haue vsurped both heauen the kingdome of God in Christ or if they denie you in Christ let them also denie Christ to be in heauen who haue denied heauen vnto you Of the thirde fruite THe third fruite is that Christ therefore sitteth in the highest heauens that through his power shed into our hearts from thence he may drawe vs from these earthly and carnal things present and may quicken them and lift them vp to desire and meditate vpon heauenly and spiritual thinges to come Philip. 3. Our cōuersation is in heauen from whence we looke for our Lorde Iesus Christ He sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almightie Testimonies out of the Prophetes and Apostles Psalme 110. Iehouah hath saide sitte at my right hand vntil I put thine enimies as a footestoole vnder thy feete Iehouah shal send out of Sion the rodde of thy strength rule in the middest of thine enemies Also the Lorde hath sworne and it shall not repent him thou art a Priest for euer after the order of Melchisedech And Christ teacheth in Matth. 22. towardes the end that this prophecie is to be vnderstoode of him And Christ being adiured of the high priest confesseth himselfe to be both the sonne of God and that he will ouercome his enimies sitting at the right hand of God Matth. 26.63 64. And the high priest answering said vnto him I adiure thee by the liuing God that thou tell vs whether thou be Christ that sonne of God Iesus saith vnto him thou hast saide Neuerthelesse I say vnto you hereafter shal you see the sonne of man sitting at the right hand of the power of God comming in the cloudes of heauen The fulfilling of that prophesie of Dauid concerning the sitting at the right hand of God is extant in the 16. of Marke After the Lord had spoken vnto them he was receaued vp into heauen and sitteth at the right hand of God and Act. 2. ver 33.36 5. ver 31. and so that same stone refused of the builders was made the head of the corner Act. 4. ver 10.11.12 Which stone cut from the mountaine without handes goeth to the right hand of God to breake al the rest of the kingdoms but his kingdome shal stand for euer Dan. 2. ve 44.45 And Paul in Ephes 1.18.19.20 That ye may know what the hope is of his calling and what the riches of his glorious inheritance is in the Saintes and what is the exceding greatnes of his power towards vs which beleue according to the working of his mightie power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him vp frō the dead and set him at his right hand in the heauens To what end sitting at the right hand of God the Father almightie is added to his ascension into heauen THe scope or principal end of Christe his ascension
is already set foorth to wit that Christ ascended into heauen not onely that he might there enioy euerlasting felicitie as the Angels doe and all blessed men but that hee might sit at the right hand of God which farre exceedeth the dignitie of Angels and of men as he witnesseth in the Epistle to the Heb. Ca. 1.13 For vnto which of the Angels saide he at any time sit at my right hand til I make thine enimies thy footstole Nowe seeing God is not a bodily substance therefore hath neither right or left hande at which Christ should stand or sitte it is manifest that these wordes and manner of speeches are taken from men and worldly thinges by which holie thinges answering in some sorte our infirmitie might be liuely set before our eyes explaned For in verie deede men to whome they graunt or giue either equal honor or that which is nexte vnto themselues they are wont to place them at their right hand that in this verie thing they may testifie that honour 1. King 2. Psal 45. What the sitting at the right hand of God the Father is THat same sitting at the right hand of God the Father is the exaltation of Christe in his kingdome and priesthoode to wit that nowe he administreth his kingly and priestly office not as before in infirmitie and miserie but in a manifest heauenlie maiestie glory Therefore then thou doest truely beleeue in Christ his sitting at the right hand of God the father almightie when thou beleeuest that he doth entreate for thee in heauen in high glory and that he doth gouerne his kingdome with a mighty power so that he doth heare thee doth more effectually endue and defend thee with the spirite of consolation and wisedome then if he were yet in the earth and shoulde speake with thee Act. 5.31 Him hath God lifted vp with his right hand to be a Prince and a Sauiour to giue repentance to Israel and forgiuenes of sinnes And Ephe. 1. He hath raised him vp from the dead and sette him at his right hand in the heauens farre aboue all principalitie and power and might and domination and euerie name that is named not onely in this world but in that which is to come and hath made all thinges subiect vnder his feete and hath appointed him head to the Church it selfe ouer all thinges which is his bodie euen the fulnesse of him which filleth all in all thinges Also to the Hebrues 8. verse 4. 1. Peter 3. verse 22. By these places it is plaine that the Scripture nameth the sitting at the right hand of God not that same administration of the kingdome and priesthoode which for the voluntarie abasing of Christ was weaker and more obscure but that same perfect gouernement honour and glorie of Christ which was free from all infirmities openly manifested and declared into which then the first entrance was when he arose againe from death ascended into heauen and there in an vnspeakable glorie declared himself to be Lord of al creatures in the sight of all holie Angels and men What fruite the faithfull receiue by that same sitting of Christ at the right hande of God or rather by that exaltation of Christe in his kingdome and priesthood FIrst concerning that same exaltation of Christ in the priesthood those that are in league with God doe reape from thence this consolation that they knowe that this couenant of grace by the intercession of this mediator kept and maintained euerlastingly as it appeareth Hebr. 8. verses 6. and 12. the which intercession is the shewing of him selfe before the face of the father that the efficacie and strength of that sacrifice once offered vp for all might continually be in force and this same perpetuall will of keeping it in this Mediator is agreeable with the will of the Father accepting that same sacrifice once offred vp for an euerlasting reconciliation and approuing this endeuor in the mediator of maintaining it according to the oathe Psalme 110. The Lorde hath sworne and it shall not repent him thou art a priestâ— for euer after the order of Melchizedek or that I may speake a little more largely First all the confederates doe reape this fruite in the exaltation of Christ in the priesthode that they know that the Mediator of this euerlasting couenant is entred into that same sanctuarie not made with handes the verie heauen it selfe and is exalted to the right hand of God that continuallie and without any interruption and that euery moment he may appeare an intercessour before the father for vs and so may maintein that same couenant once established for euer and may confirme it by his intercession in the heauenly throne of his Maiestie I. The testimonies of the euerlasting conseruation of this free couenant appeare in the eight to the Hebrues verse 6. But now our high priest hath obteined a more excellent ministerie in asmuch as he is the intercessor of a more notable couenant which is ratified by more excellent promises c. Also in the 7. to the Hebrues And that not without an oath for these are made priestes without an oath but this is made wtth an oath by him that saide vnto him the Lorde hath sworne and it shal not repent him thou art a priest for euer after the order of Melchisedech By so muche is Iesus made a suretie of a better Testament for among these many were made priestes by reason that death suffred them not to endure but this man because that he endureth for euer hath a perpetuall priesthod By which he is able also perfectly to saue those which come to God through him euermore liuing to make intercessioÌ„ for vs. II. Concerning the appearing of Christe in â—he sight of God for vs and the perpetuall verâ—ue of the sacrifice of Christ once offered vp it is written Hebru 9. verse 24. Christe entered in â—nto a sanctuarie not made with handes which â—s a patterne aunswering vnto the true sanctuâ—rie but into heauen it selfe that he may apâ—eare nowe in the sight of God for vs. And Heb. 10. ver 22. This man after he had offered one â—acrifice for sinnes sitteth without any interruption that 〈◊〉 for euer at the right hand of the Father III. As touching the will in the sonne of mainteining it and of the Fathers will in accepting of it the oath doth witnesse whereof God will not repent him and consequently neither will it repent the sonne of receiuing the office of being an euerlasting Sauiour Psal 110. Rom. 8. Who shal laie any thing to the charge of God his chosen It is God that iustifieth who shal condemne It is Christ which is dead yea rather which is risen againe who is also at the right hand of God who also maketh request for vs. Out of which wordes that same constant will in the sonne of keeping vs before the sight of the Father which Paul comprehendeth in intercession is vnderstoode and which answereth vnto the will of God
Ioel And it shall be in the last day saith God I will powre out of my spirite vppon all fleshe and your sonnes and your daughters shall prophecie c. Esay 59.20 21. And the redeemer shall come to Syon and vnto them that turne from iniquitie in Iacob saith Iehouah and I will make this my couenant with them my spirit that is vpon thee my words which I haue put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of the seed of thy seed saith the Lord frō hence forth euen for euer Ioh. 14. verses 16.17.18.19 c. I will pray the father and he shall giue you an other comforter that hee may abide with you for euer euen the spirite of trueth whome the worlde can not receiue because it seeth him not neither knoweth him but yee knowe him for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you I will not leaue you fatherles but I will come to you yet a little while and the worlde shall see me no more but ye shall see mee because I liue ye shall liue also At that day shall yee know that I am in my father and you in me and I in you Manie moe testimonies were aledged when wee entreated of the trinitie The meaning of this article I Beleeue that the holy Ghost is verie true euerlasting God and of the same substance together with the father and the son and yet notwithstanding a person distinct from both as proceeding from them both And therefore forasmuch as he is verie God I place my confidence and trust in him as in the father and in the sonne and I trust in him that he will worke al that in me being emptie of all good that hee himself hath promised in his word for which cause he is sent of the father the sonne Now his effectes they are many and diuerse For first of all he is giuen that he may witnes the loue of the father in our hearts Gal. 4. that he may lighten the eyes of our minde with the knowledge of Christ that through faith he may so engraft me into Christ as a brāch into the vine may make me a partaker of Christ al his benefits Ioh. 15. This coniunction with Christ his benefits which the holy ghost doeth worke in vs the scripture doth expresse with great force when he saith that the holy ghost doeth sprinkle vs with the blood of Christ 1. Pet 1. doth make vs members of Christ 1. Cor. 6. doth feede vs with Christ Ioh. 6. doth make vs drinke of Christ 1. Cor. 10. the 12. and doth build vs vpon Christ Eph. 2. In which the office and end of the holy ghost giuen vnto vs is shewed that through faith it may most neerely knit vs vnto Christ and may work the like things both in the mēbers head seing it is the same spirit that is to say the very same life glory Rom. 8. I beleeue that the holy ghost as the true very God wil worke these thinges in me which he hath promised vnto me that beleue euē as these his peculiar epithetons names do declare that he is the water flowing vnto euerlasting life Iohn 4.7 A water which shal cleanse me Ezek. 36. 1. Corinthians 6. An annoynting which shal remaine in vs 1. Iohn 2. the seale and earnest of inheritance in all which it is promised vnto vs that he is giuen vnto vs to comforte vs in all aduersities to helpe vs in our infirmities to make intercession for vs with sighes and grones that can not be expressed forasmuch as we knowe not to pray as we ought and so that he be our true comforte or aduocate who suffereth not vs to be destitute of his counsaile and helpe but handleth our cause himselfe to the ende he may be in vs and remaine with vs for euer Iohn 16. To him I trust to him I wholy deliuer my selfe to be gouerned comforted and quickened in the father and in Iesus Christe his sonne who through the holie Ghost make their abiding with vs. The applying of this doctrine to the couenant of grace THat same euerlasting couenant that God hath stricken with Abraham the Sonne of God in mans nature taken of the seede of Abrahā hath confirmed by satisfying the righteousnes of God perfectly in manner as I haue confessed in the former articles of faith Nowe it resteth that the holie Ghost engraffe vs into Christ through faith the true seed of Abraham and so powre out that blessing promised to Abraham and his seede vpon vs and by the earnest of an euerlasting inheritance Paule saith in the third to the Galathians that in the Gentiles the blessing of Abraham is extant in Christ Iesus that we might receaue the promise of the spirit through faith And a little after Now to Abraham and to his seede were the promises made he saith not to the seedes as speaking of many but and to thy seede as of one which is Christ Also And if yee be Christs then are yee Abrahams seede heires by promise And Rom. 9.8.2 Cor. 1.21.22 How the holy Ghost is giuen and howe we know whether we haue it or no. THe holy Ghost is giuen by the ministery of the Gospel as by an ordinary meane Gal. 3. This onely would I learne of you receiued ye the spirit by the works of the lawe or by the hearing of faith preached Also Ephesi 1. verse 13. and 1. Cor. 12. verse 13. Now thou shalt knowe by the working of the holy Ghost that thou art a partaker of the holy Ghost For euen like as thou seest not the winde but dost feele his operation so the holy Ghost is knowen by his working as Christ teacheth Iohn 3. These are the principall and chiefe workes of the holy ghost in vs faith inuocation grones 1. Cor. 12. No man can say Lord Iesus but by the holy Ghost and the 2. Cor. 4. because we haue the same spirit of faith according to that which is written I beleeue and therfore I speake so we also beleeue and for that cause we also speake Ro. 8. Because we are sonnes therefore God hath giuen the spirit of the sonne into our heartes by which we crie Abba Father And in the same place The spirit maketh intercession for vs with grones that cannot be vttered Besides these the being displeased with our selues and the hatred of sinne or rather the battell against sinne is a sure and vndoubted token that we haue the holie Ghost that we are ingraffed into Christ For the flesh fighteth not against it selfe Rom. 8. There is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Iesus which walke not after flesh but after the spirite THE FOVRTH PARTE OF the Creede I beleeue the holie Catholike Church the communion of Saintes Testimonies out of the Prophetes and Apostles GEnesis 9. God enlarge Iapheth that he may dwell in the
fruition shall follow saying Verily verily I say vnto you he that heareth my wordes and beleeueth on him that sent me hath euerlasting life and shal not come into iudgement but he hath passed from death to life Iohn 5. vers 24 The Apostle out of the Prophete Esay 1. Cor. 1. doeth so shadowe out the full fruition and the enioying thereof as which can not be comprehended by any thought or vnderstanding in this life whiche the eye hath not seene c. There is a notable picture of it in the Apocalips chapter 21. where amongest other thinges he saith I haue not seene a temple in it for the omnipotent Lorde is the temple thereof that is the lambe Neither doeth this citie neede sunne or moone to shine in it For the glorie of God hath enlightened it and the lambe is the light thereof For God to whome in Christe wee shall then bee so fully ioyned and knit as the fountaine of all goodnes that beyond him there is nothing to be desired to the ende wee might bee truelie happie as hee saith to the father of all nations and so to all beleeuers Genesis 15. I am thy greate rewarde and Psalme 16. Dauid saith Iehouah is my portion This fountayne doeth plentifully powre out it selfe vppon vs after the resurrection of our fleshe as the Apostle teacheth that God shall bee all in all The scope or vse of this Article THe scope is that the faithfull may knowe that their full and stayed felicitie is not in this earth and that he that hath begune his worke in vs wil also perfect it Of which knowledge there is a threefolde vse First the remembrance of our departure hence into euerlasting life to that same chiefe high good will not suffer our heartes to bee fastened here to these earthly thinges as the Apostle sayth 2 Corinthians 5. And therefore we are alwaies of good comforte and wee knowe that seeing wee are straungers in body wee are hardely absent from the Lorde for wee walke by faith and not sight but we trust and rather desire to depart out of the body and to goe to dwel with the Lord. And for this cause we endeuour that both dwelling departing hence we may bee acceptable vnto him So in the 8. to the Rom. wee our selues which haue the first fruites of the spirite do grone with our selues waiting for the adoption that is the redemption of our bodies 1. Pet. 1. passe the time of your abiding here in feare hee calleth it an abiding here but not a dwelling The seconde vse is patience and constancie For this same full felicitie is propounded to be beleeued to this end that the faithfull when they shall marke that same taste of happinesse which they feele by the first fruites of the spirit and shall perceiue that they are farre of from the full fruition and enioying of it in respecte of the manifold strife which they haue with sundrie tribulations which God vseth as instrumentes to mortifie sinne and to conserue them to the head Christ they shoulde not in the meane season be any whit at al discouraged but turning the eyes of their mindes to that ful happines they should waite with a peaceable minde for the day of the reuelation For so saith Christ Luke 21. Ye shall be hated of al mē for my name sake but an heare of your heade shall not perish possesse your soules through patience And 2. Tim. 2. If any man striue he is not crowned vnlesse he striue lawfully Nowe this same second vse ought specially to arme the ministers of the worde with an inuincible fortitude against the vnthankefulnesse of the worlde to which they doe good against the will thereof against pinching pouertie banishmentes and to be short sundrie daungers that if so be that the courage of their minde be sometimes pressed downe vnder the burthen of calamities they remember that that same great weight of the glory prepared be put in the other scale of the ballance which without all doubt shall so ouerwey it that it shal make that same first to be most light For this cause wee are not sluggish saith the Apostle 2. Cor. 4. but though our outwarde man perish yet the inwarde man is dayly renewed For our light affliction which is but for a moment causeth vnto vs a far most excellent and an eternall weight of glorie Let that same promise also brought by the Angel be alwayes in sight which albeit it be commō to all the faithful as all are prophetes yet it specially is directed to ministers in Daniel cap. 12. And the wise shall shine as the brightnesse of the firmament and they that turne many to righteousnes shal shine as the starres for euer euer Therefore Christ also saith Your reward is great in heauen Matth. 5. Let them also beleeue this themselues which teach others to beleeue The thirde vse is the certaintie of perseuerance in faith that is to say that we beleeue that the Lord will neuer suffer that we shall vtterly fall from grace because he will haue vs to beleeue euerlasting life If I must beleeue euerlasting life I trust not without cause also that I shal be kept in the way As Peter plainly teacheth 1. Epist 1.5 which are kept by the power of God through faith vnto saluation which is prepared to be showed in the last time And 1. Cor. 1.9 God is faithfull by whom ye are called into the fellow shippe of his sonne Iesus Christ our Lorde to him be honor and glorie world with out end Amen FINIS Page Line Fault Correction 60 4  read not enough to saluation 63 6  read embrace him by 67 27  read and doth 29 1 liuing read lying 122 17 povver poore 124 1 same some 137 12  read be both 145 7  read be vpholden 153 16 5.3 53. 153 25  read God made 159 30 5.3 53. 160 1 5.3 53. 185 8 vvhen vvhome 189 26 vexed vrged 198 30 vvorld vvord 205 18  read hauing receiued of vs.
earnest of our inheritaunce whiles we are redeemed into libertie to the praise of his glorie Although therefore wee die yet we shall rise againe into an immortall life because both the right of life is adiudged vnto vs in the raising vp againe of the sonne and wee are ingraffed into this Christ raysed vp as branches vnto the vine both by the outwarde testimonie of the Gospell and also by the inwarde witnesse of the holy Ghost 1. Corinth 15. If Christ bee risen againe we also shall rise againe Hitherto also belongeth it that he calleth him the firste fruits of them that rise againe because the whole haruest of all the faithfull from the beginning of the worlde was sanctified vnto God by the raysing vp of that lumpe which the sonne of God had taken of vs to a blessed resurrection Hitherto also it belongeth that he is called the first begotten from amongest the dead Colossians 1. as else where it shall bee declared more largely Seeing therefore that in raysing vppe of the sonne the right of life is brought to light vnto vs and that same quickening spirite of Christ is giuen vnto vs hauing heard the Gospell that same spirit I say of faith through which not onely our soules but also our bodies are members of our head Christe therefore wee haue an vndoubted pledge in the resurrection of our heade Christe that our bodies are to bee repayred and restored to immortalitie He ascended into heauen Testimones out of the Prophetes and Apostles THE Apostle in the fourth Chapter to the Ephesians citeth a prophecie out of the 68. Psalme concerning the ascension of Christ but vnto euerie one of vs grace is giuen according to the measure of the gift of Christ Wherefore he saith when hee ascended vp on high he led captiuitie captiue and gaue giftes vnto men And the prophecie in the hundred and tenth Psalme of the sitting of the Messias at the right hand of God comprehendeth in it a prophecie of the ascension into the heauens as it were an entrie of that glorious exaltation at the right hande of God the which thing is confirmed by the testimonie of the holy Ghost himselfe by the mouth of Peter Actes 2.34 Since then that he by the right hande of God hath ben exalted and hath receaued of his father the promise of the holy Ghost he hath shedde foorth this amongest you which you see and heare For Dauid is not ascended into heauen but hee saith The Lorde saide to my LORDE sitte at my right hande vntill I make thine enimies thy footestoole So also Markâ— the Euangelist in the sixteenth Chapter ioyneth the entrie with the sitting it selfe at the right hand so after the Lord had spoken vnto them he was receiued into heauen and sitteth at the right hande of God And Christ Iohn 14. foresheweth his ascension into heauen let not your heart be troubled ye beleeue in God beleeue also in mee In my fathers house are many dwelling places otherwise I woulde haue tolde you I goe to prepare a place for you And seeing I goe to prepare a place for you I will come againe and receiue you vnto my self that where I am there you may be also The Euangelists describe a sure manifest fulfilling of these foresayinges concerning the ascension of Christ Marke in the place nowe aledged and Luke in his Euangelicall historie chapter 24. Loe I doe sende the promise of my father vppon you but tarie ye in the citie of Ierusalem vntill yee bee indued with power from on high Now he ledde them out into Bethaniah and lifting vp his handes he blessed them And it came to passe that whiles he blessed them being separate from them heâ— was carried vp into heauen and they worshipping him returned to Ierusalem with great ioye and were continually in the temple lauding and praysing God And in the first of the Actes And when he had spoken these thinges while they behelde hee was taken vp and a cloude tooke him out of their sight and while they looked stedfastly towardes heauen beholde two men stoode by them in white apparell who saide Yee men of Galilie why stande yee gasing into heauen This Iesus which is taken from you into heauen shall so come as yee haue seene him goe into heauen And Peter Actes 3 And nowe brethren I knowe that through ignorance ye did these thinges as also did your gouernours but those thinges which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophetes that Christe shoulde suffer he hath thus fufilled Amend your liues therefore and turne that your sinnes may be put away when the time of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord and when he shall send Iesus Christ which before was preached vnto you whom the heauen must containe vntill the time that all things bee restored which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy Prophets since the world began The meaning of these wordes He ascended into heauen THE meaning is I beleeue Christe who according to his diuine nature was alwayes in the heauens Iohn 1. and 3. after that he had fulfilled the office of ambassage and by the space of fourtie dayes had instructed his disciples concerning the trueth of his resurrection in that same true bodie of his that was taken out of the substance of Marie the virgine that it hanged vppon the crosse was deade and buried that being glorified rose againe that in the selfe same body I say together with a very humaine resonable soule he ascended into the heauens where the seat is of euerlasting felicitie The scripture in the first Chapter of the Actes doeth set out the matter most liuely before our eyes And in an other place he saith the same things that CHRIST departed from his disciples and was lifted vp into heauen Luke 24. that hee went from them Iohn 14. that hee left this worlde Iohn 16. that hee was taken awaye Actes 15. from vs Luke 24. into those same holy tabernacles not made with hands Hebrewes 9. into heauen it selfe Mark 16. that he is there continually and without any interruption Hebrewes 10. that heauen must holde him vntill the time of the restoring of all thinges Act. 2. Howe Christ being absent is yet present BVT if that Christ went from vs hath left this worlde howe is that promise of Christ fulfilled Beholde I am alwayes with you vnto the ende of the worlde Matthew 28. Surely it is so fulfilled euen like as that same other word of Christ was fulfilled Verilie I say vnto you that before Abraham was I am Iohn 8. For like as hee fulfilled that by the presence not of his fleshe but of his diuinitie and yet feared not to say I admit that he vnderstoode it onely of the presence of his diuinitie so also according to his maiestie according to his prouidence according to his vnspeakeable and inuisible grace that saying was fulfilled of him Beholde I am with you alwayes euen to the ende of the