had yea aboue his sweete sonne Isac whome he loued as his owne life notwithstanding faithfully did Abraham preferre the loue of his almightie God and maker aboue the life of Isac offering him in sacrifice to the Lorde for which cause the eternall creatour to make his promise more certainely to sticke fast in Abraham and in all his posteritie sware by him selfe shewing that there was no God but him selfe saying in Genesis Gen. 22. â— Because thou hast not spared thy only son Isaac to offer him a sacrifice to me I will blesse thee and multiplie thy seede as the starres of heauen and as the sande vpon the sea side and in thy seede shall all the nations of the earth bee blessed because thou hast obeyed my voyce And thus the most merciful god although he cast Adam for his transgression out of Paradise and also destroyed the worlde for sinne yet he sheweth againe the voyce and promise of comfort that hee hath not cast vs off but hath giuen his gratious goodnes to the worlde that all nations through the seede of Abraham should be blessed according to that of the prophet Them I haue created facioned Esay 43. and made for mine honour And nowe the more to iustifie his true promise it is apparent that hee establisheth the foresaide testament to Is aac the first figure of Christ Gen. â—6 by whome all nations are sanctified Saying to Isac I will be with thee and blesse thee The promise for vnto thee and to thy seede will I giue all these countries and through thy seede shall all nations of the earth bee blessed becaus e that Abraham harkened to my voice and kept my ordinances commandements statutes and lawes wherein we are to learne how al our blessednes came of God the father of al goodnes to whom we ought alwaies to be thankefull framing our selues through his grace to be like Abraham in beleeuing and equall with him in obedience and ioyned with him in righteousnes that we may receiue the like praise and honour as God maketh mention of him to Isaac therby to obtaine as Paule promiseth the eternall ioye the praise honour and immortalitie that is due to them that continue in good doing and seeke eternall life Rom. 2. And finally God to seale vp the fulnes of his couenant the more and more to helpe and strengthen our weake harts of beliefe and to allure the children of promise to a fixed hope of his grace and goodnes The promise to Iacob doth reiterate his testament to Iacob that he being the seede of Abraham and Isaac that he shall be the well of liuing waters and that out of his loynes shall come the fountaine of all heauenly blessednes and the water of life grace goodnes saying The land which thou sleepest vpon Gen. 26. will I giue thee thy seed and thy seede shall be as the du st of the earth thou shalt spread abroad west east north and south and through thee and thy seede shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed according to Esay E say 43. I will bring thy seede from the east and gather them togeather from the west I will say to the north let goe and to the south keepe not backe but bringe me my sonnes from farre and my daughters from the ends of the world for all nations shall came in one and bee gathered in one people Gen. 35. for the Lorde saide againe vnto Iacob thou shalt be called Israell grow and multiplie for people and a multitude of people shall spring of thee yea and kings s hall come out of thy loynes and the land which I gaue Abraham and Isaac will I giue vnto thee and vnto thy seede after thee Thus the almightie God of our fathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob did seale the earnest of the inheritance of his euerlasting blessednes and kingdome in Christ with his holy spirite of promise made to our first fathers that he should come of the seede of Abraham according to the flesh by whom we should receaue redemption and saluation therby to be made partakers of Gods glorie And now furthermore after the proceedins of time that the seede of Iacob called Israell was increased to a great kindred of people and holden in bondage in the land of Egypt The Lord most mercifull and mindfull of his promise made to our forefathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob that he would be good vnto their seede raised vp among them Moyses a captaine and prophet that should deliuer and lead his people Israel out of Egypt into the land of Canaan which before he had giuen to Abraham and his seed for an euerlasting possession and this through Gods mightie hand who made a waye in the sea and a foote path in the mightie waters which brought forth the chariots and horses the host and power and drowned theÌ„ in the red sea And then brought his people vnto mount Synay in the wildernes where he gaue them the lawe figured in s tones shewing forth his wonderfull power that they did all tremble for feare and coulde not abide it for the people stood vnder the hill and the hill burnt with fire euen vnto the middes of heauen and there was the sound of a troump voyce of words tempest Deu. 4. darknes cloudes and mist and the Lord spake out of fire and declared his couenant and ordinance Exod. 19. and so terrible was the sight that appeared that Moyses said I feare quake And thus the law was giuen with great feare Exod. 34 and with great glorie for the children of Israell could not behould the face of Moyses for the glorie of his countenance with out a vayle which in Christ is put awaye for if the ministration of the lawe which is to condemnation bee glorious Cor. 2.3 much more doth the ministration of the spirite of promise vnto righteousnes exceede in glory And thus the law which began many hundred yeares after the promis e was added because of transgression as a schoolemaister to teach what sinne ment and not that it could giue life Gal. 3. or disanull the promise made to Abraham for the promise by faith in Iesus doth bring the inheritance and not the law which doth conclude all things vnder sinne for by the déedes of the law shall no man be iustified before God Rom. 3. but are iustified fréely by grace through the redemption that is in Christ Iesus who is the iustifier of them that beleeue in him after the example of righteous Abraham Wherefore the Lord to discouer our filthy nakednes and corruption brought by the sinnes of Adam did giue vs the law that therby we should come to the knowledge of our infirmities vices wretchednes which raigneth in our earthly members thereby knowing our state by the first Adam to be miserable and falne into the daungerous house and prison of al vncleannes being most wretched without hope vnlesse God of his
of our selues for it is the gift of God and commeth not of woorkes Ephe. 2. least any should boa st him self for we are his woormanship created in Christ Iesus vnto good woorks that wee shoulde walke in them so that none can looue Christe in purenes of hart but that of verry force hée will walke in good woorks as thinges that are vnpossible to bée seperated from him that is sanctified with the spirit of adoption and grace for as Christ is the fountaine of all holynes and righteousnes and of all grace and goodnes so it must needes followe that whome Christe hath sanctified with his Spirit that they must of necessitie doo the woorkes of grace and righteousnes so long as they labour and indeuour to be renued and confirmed in the spirit of grace which wée receiuing and takeing of Christe must of force confesse that without it wée haue no power to crucifie our fleshe and to resist sinne and therfore by it wée haue power to mortifie our earthly members and to doo the woorkes of righteousnes whereby it is moste euident and plaine that by the grace giuen by Christe through faith wée may assuredly and boldely perswade our s elues that wee are only iustified and saued Therefore saith Peter Pet. 1.1 blessed be God the father of our Lord Iesus which through his aboundant mercie begat vs againe to a liuely hope by the resurrection of Christe from death to inioy an inheritance immortall and vndefiled reserued in heauen for vs after which the prophets inquired and searched prophesying of the grace that shuld come vnto vs by the spirite of of Christ which testified before of the passions that should come vnto him and the glorie that should follow after for by Christ we are made spirituall and not carnall whose spirite doth certifie our spirite that we are the sonnes of God and heires annexed with him who was ordained before the worlde was made that by him our faith and hope might be in God so that our iustification come not by the deedes of the law but by the faith of Iesus Christ according to Paule Thess â—â— God hath from the beginning chosen you to saluation through sanctifying of the spirite and through the beleeuing of the truth whereunto he called you by the gospell for Christe is the end of the law to iustifie all that beleeue Rom. 8 Gal. 6. walking not after the flesh but after the spirite for what soeuer a man soweth that shall he reape if he sow in the flesh hee shall of the flesh reape corruption but if he sow in the spirite he shall of the spirite reape life euerlasting for they that are Christes Gal. 5. haue crucified the flesh with the appetites and lustes thereof for Christ hath called vs to holynes and not to vncleannes and hath called vs out of bondage into libertie from the curse of the law vnto grace from darknes to light from death to life from the spirite of feare to a liuely hope from a earthly mansion to an heuenly kingdome from transitorie glorie to euerlasting glorification therefore stand grounded and established in faith not moued away from the gospell but stand fa st in the liuely hope to obtaine the glorie that commeth by Christ Rom. 8. being vnfainedly pers waded that there is no damnation to them that are in Christ Iesus walking after the spirite and hauing their conseruation in heauen For Christ our sauiour sitting now in the right hand of God in his maiestie Ephe. 1. was before the world was by whom wee are predestinated heires according to the purpose of him that worketh all things after the purpose of his owne will that through his gospell should be brought life and immortalitie to all that do beleeue in his sonne Iesus Christ the seede of promise to Abraham who now is declared openly whom we looke for to come shortly in the glorie of his Father and all holy Aungels with him in all power and maiestie And that all eies shall see him and they also that pearsed him so that al kindreds of the earth shall mourne when they behold Christ comming in the cloudes Reu. 1. to reward euery man according to his deedes therfore it behoueth vs to watch and pray and to become new creatures thereby making our election sure by holding fast his gospell in a stedfast faith by walking after righteousnes that we may ouercome and be found faithfull at the appearance of Christ comming in glorie that we also may be crowned with glorie ioyfully saying Blessed is the kingdome that commeth in the name of him Mark 11. that is Lord of our Father Dauid Hosanna in the highest Ephe. 1. BLessed be God the Father of our Lorde Iesus Christ which hath blessed vs with all maner of spirituall blessings in heauenly things by Christ according as he had chosen vs before the foundation of the world was laid that we shoulde bee Saintes through loue who ordained vs before through Christ to be heires vnto him selfe according to the good pleasure of his will to the praise of the glorie of his grace wherewith hee hath made vs accepted through the beloued Iesus by whom wee haue redemption through his bloud euen the forgiuenes of sinnes according to the riches of his grace Therefore to him be all honor and glorie world without end Amen THE GLORIOVS and beautifull garland of mans glorification CAP. 2. How man shall bee chaunged at the sounde of the laste troump from mortalitie to immortalitie and from an erthly nature to an euerlasting nature and appeare before the iudgement seat of Chris t to be rewarded according to his deedes eyther with eternall reproufe or els with euerlasting glorification SVch is the eternall ordenance of the Almightie God touching our saluation in his Sonne Iesus Christe that all men ought too knowe that as by a man came death so by a man come the resurrectioÌ„ of the dead for as by Adam all dye so by Christe shall all bee made alyue according to Iohn Iohn 5. The houre shall come in the which all that are in their graues shall heare Christes voice and shall come foorth they that haue done good to the resurrection of lyfe and they that haue done euill to the resurrection of dampnation Esdras 22. as the Lord sayd by the Prophet Those that be dead will I rayse vp againe from their places Daniell 12. bring them out of their graues and they that sleepe in the dust of the earth shall awake some to euerlasting lyfe Acts. 17. some to perpetuall shame and reproufe as it is in the Acts that the Lord hath appointed a day in the which hée will iudge the world according to righteousnes by that man Christe whome hee hath appointed and hath offered faith to all men after that reysed him from death to whome saieth Iohn the Father hath coÌ„mitted all iudgement because that all men should honor the sonne euen as they
his children to be thy brethren Therfore learne looue pacience and mercy by Christe that in whatsoeuer estate you be to bee therewith contented holding fast the faith and patience of Christe Phil. 4. béeing assuredlye perswaded that the ready and compendious way to come vnto Gods fauour is to looue and imbrace Christe and his woord with a pure and faithfull hart and to loue one an other for if we loue one an other sayeth Iohn God dwelleth in vs and his looue is perfect in vs Iohn 14. for he that loueth God mu st loue his brother also though he be an enemie for sayeth Christe looue your enemies blysse them that cursse you doo good to thē that hate you Math. 5. and in so dooing we shall follow the example of our sauiour Christe and be Gods Children in conuersation of holynes and goodnes And thus Christe the Author and finisher of our redemption hauing performed his Fathers will by preaching first him selfe the Commaundements of his Father and by diuers signes wounders and miraclrs done according to his will to confirme the power of his Father Heb. 5. did in his fleshe offer vp prayers and supplications with strong crying and teares vnto him that was able to saue him from death and was also heard because of his godlynes and now vpon the Crosse yéelded vp his soule into the hands of his Father who reysed him from death and he is ascended vp to heauen and is set on the right hand of the Maiestie of the Father according to the saying of the Prophet The Lord sayd vnto my Lord sit on my right hand till I make thy enemies thy footestoole Wherby conceiue how Christe béeing promysed afore by God and his holy Prophets in the holy Scriptures to come of the seede of Abraham as perteining to the fleshe Psalme 19◠and declared to be the sonne of God with power of the holy Ghoste that sanctifieth was borne of the Virgin Mary by the imbracing of the holy Ghos te the holy Virgin being eternally appointed to this great mistery to be the Mother of Iesus for the inuisible power of the Godhed did ouer s hadowe the whole body and mynde of the most holy Virgin without any hurt or detriment of her chastitie so that the worke of his conception was not of man but of the holy Ghoste by the in comprihensble power of insperation for saieth the Lord by Esay Esay 7 Beholde a Virgin shal be with chylde and shall bring foorth a sonne and they shall call his name Emanuel God with vs and so the Angell sayd to Ioseph that which is conceiued in her is of the holy Ghoste shee shall bring foorth a sonne and thou shalt call his name Iesus Math. 1. for hee shall saue his people from their sinnes hee shall be great called the sonne of the highest and sonne of God and the Lord shall giue vnto him the seat of his father Dauid and hee shall reigne ouer the house of Iacob for euer and of his kingdome shall be no end Luk. 1. euen as hee promised to our fathers Abraham and his seede for euer So that wée haue such an Aduocate with the Father Iesus Christe the mercifull as hath put down through his death and passion the deuill that hath the Lordship ouer death and hath s poyled rule and power and triumphs ouer them in his owne person and hath nayled the cursse of the law to his crosse and hath caryed captiuitie captiue vp to heauen beeing their set down on the right hand of God Colloss 2. being able to saue them that come to God by him séeing he euer lyueth to make intercessiō for vs Heb. 7. who with one offering made perfect for euer thē that are sanctified Heb. 10. Wherfore wee may clearely as by the light of the Sun beames sée conceiue that they doe lay another foundation then the Apostle Paul dooth héere lay that teache the people to vse any other Aduocat or intercessor then Chist or to vse intercessors to Christe which euermore is him self an intercessor for vs whōe we know apparently by euident scriptures that he liueth and is with God in glory their making intercession for vs able to doe it by power of his victory and because he euer liueth and was ordayned to that eternall misterie for it is written that the whole kingdome doe lye on his shoulders the paines of our sins rest vpon his woundes and stripes and our whole redemptiō is only by him so that it repugneth against Christes glory who is crowned with glory and honour for suffering death for vs to offer intercession and meditation to Saincts to pray to Ladies and Churrh-roodes and to wāder a pilgrimage to offer to picturde images of Sainctes which is strong delusion and horrible abhomination and verry stubble and straws of a strauge foundation of erronious doctrin perniciously sowen amōg the people which the Lord in one day shall consume with fire And besides séeing wée are made perfect with one only offering made by Christe him selfe through the spirit that sanctifieth Heb. 10. then consider from what foundatiō those vain erronious masses doe come and be not deceiued with thē for Christe hath once offered him selfe a sufficient sacrifice for vs the iust for the vniust for to bring vs to God whose blood clenseth vs from all sinne for Christe hath deliuered vs from the cursse of the law and was made accursed for vs that the blessing of Abraham might come vppon the Gentles Gal. ◠Therfore let vs be thankfull and pray only vnto God by Christe and vse no other intercessors of our owne conceites imagined Pet. 13. but let vs consider how much God setteth out vnto vs his aboundant looue that while wée were enemies sinners his only begotten sonne Iesus should dye for vs being killed as perteining to the fleshe quickned in the spirit who thus suffered for vs to reconcile vs to God and yet did no sinne neither was there guyle found in his mouth who when hée was reuiled Pet ◠reuiled not againe when hée suffered hée threatned not but patiently cōmitted and delyuered the only cause vnto him that iudgeth righteously and thus his owne self bare our sinnes in his body on the trée that wée should bee delyuered from s inne and lyue in righteousnes Esay 53. for whosoeuer dooth truely and purely looue Christe and imbrace the faithe of his Gos pell can not but doo the woorkes of righteousnes and obedyence lyke to righteous Abraham otherwise perswade thy conscience and be not deceiued in thy conceit but that thy looue to Christe is colde faint and brickle if thou hast imbraced the knowledge and faith of the Gospell and yet doost not the woorkes of righteousnes and holynes for then thou art yet carnall and not spirituall hauing not yet crucified the olde Adam wherfore consider that by grace wée are made safe through faith and that not