my mouth shal speake truth and wicked is abhomination to my lips All the words of my mouth are in righteousnesse and there is no-nothing froward or peruerse in them They are all plaine to him that vnderstandeth and right to them that finde knowledge e Pro. 8.6.7.8.9 out of these this Rule is gathered That such as haue vnderstanding do know that the Scriptures are not so darke and crooked and peruerse or froward as men do make them neither do they at all crosse one another And therefore the answer is that that of Lazarus is a parable noting thus much that howsoeuer Gods children are esteemed miserable and wretched here and rich men set light by them yet hereafter their estate shall bee so different as that wicked men would change their mindes if it were possible but then it will be too late And in a word The necessitie distresse hunger thirst and such like miseries of Gods children are onely in seeming The truth is they are euer in a maruellous comfortable estate howsoeuer their aduersaries iudg no according to their iudgement of the estate of Gods children shall they be iudged at the last day For they do indeede account them a cursed company of People worthy of all shame and reproch They oppresse them draw them before iudgement seates mock them rent their garments from them withdraw from theÌ„ al succor and do scarse account them worthy of the licking of their dogges yea they keepe them as much as in them lieth from the means of life or comfort And in this sence are they sayd to be destitute hungry thirsty naked sicke strangers in necessitie distresse in heauinesse sorrowfull poor yea most miserable but here obserue the Loue of God These tyrants that shall bee damned and perish eternally at the last day for handling the Saints thus and for not stretching out their hands to releiue them f Mat. 25.41.42.43 These bloody Tyrants that thinke they do God seruice through their blindnesse when they kill the Saints g Io. 16.1.2.3 and speake hard things against them h Iude 15. They are deceiued for though the Saints are troubled on euery side yet are they not distressed though perplexed yet not in despaire though persecuted yet not forsaken cast downe but not destroyed i 2. Cor. 4.8.9 They are as sorrowfull yet alway reioycing as poore yet making many ritch as hauing nothing yet possessing all things k 2. Cor. 6.10 yea they take pleasure in infirmities in reproches in necessities in persecutions in distresses for Christs sake l 2. Cor. 12.10 And when such Tirants thinke they are in great heauinesse then doe they greatly reioyce m 1. Pet. 1.6 n Mat. 5.12 yea they are exceeding glad so that they reioyce with Ioy vnspeakeable and full of Glory o Luc. 6.23 1. Pet. 1.7.8 for they can bee abased and they can abound they haue learned in what estate soeuer therewith to be content yea they possesse the hundred-fold gaine of godlinesse a 1. Tim. 6.8 notwithstanding the bloodiest persecutioÌ„ of their most raging aduersaries Yea in all they are more then conquerors and though they are slaine all the day long and are accounted euen as sheepe appointed for the slaughter yet in all this they know God is faithfull and the issue shall bee his glory and their euerlasting good b Rom. 8.28 And so you see clearely that the promises of God are yea and Amen in Christ Iesus and peruerted Scriptures doe not darken them a Iot to such as walke by Faith and not by sight c 2. Cor. 5.7 Continuance Lastly that wee may truely though not fully see this beginning of Heauen vpon Earth and the excellency of the estate of Gods children euen whiles they are yet on Earth Let vs consider what the Scripture speaketh of their safetie and assured continuance in this condition Thus the Scripture speakes plainely They that trust in the Lord shall neuer be remooued but abide for euer d Ps 125.1 Also hee will not suffer thy foote to be mooued and hee that keepeth thee will not sleepe e Ps 121.3 And hauing described an inhabitant of Sion or a Iustified childe of God The Prophet Dauid affirmeth by the holy Ghost That he shall neuer be mooued f Ps 15.5 Also our Lord himselfe had said that whosoeuer heareth and doeth his sayings is like vnto a wise man which built his house vpon a Rocke And the raine descended and the flood came and the winde blewe and it beate vpon that house and it fell not for it was founded vpon a Rocke g Mat. 7.24 25. And Luke writeth his wordes thus whosoeuer commeth to mee and heareth my sayings and doeth them I will shewe you to whom hee is like Hee is like a man which built an house and digged deepe and laide the foundation on a Rocke and when the flood arose the streame beate vehemently vpon that house and could not shake it for it was founded vpon a rocke h Luc. 6.47 48. So of the whole Church it is written vpon this Rocke will I builde my Church and the gates of Hell shall not preuaile against it i Mat. 16.16.18 Now because in this Scripture we reade that hee saide Thou art Peter vpoÌ„ this Rock c. The name Peter signifying a stone hence there are some would haue the Church to be built vpon Peter others vpon Peters confession Both these are deceiued howbeit the lat-seeme to come somewhat neerer the trueth and their errors especially of the former sort is as was the errors of those false witnesses that stood vp against Christ and testified That if they would destroy the Temple at Ierusalem which was fortie and sixe yeeres in building he would raise it vppe againe in three dayes whereas it is euident he spake of the Temple of his Body So doe these apply that to Peter and to Peters confession which was but a voice which shold be applied to Christ himselfe who â—s indeede the Rocke as hee is expressely called by Paul where hee writeth thus Our Fathers did all eate the same spirituall meate and did all drinke the same spirituall drinke for they dranke of the spirituall Rocke that followed them and that Rocke was Christ l 1. Cor. 10.4 So also the same blessed Apostle writing of the Saints hath these wordes Yee are built vppon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Iesus Christ himselfe being the chiefe corner stone m Eph. 2.20 Also the same Paul writeth thus other foundation can no man lay then that which is laide which is Iesus Christ n 1. Cor. 3.11 And let vs adde to all these that of the Prophet Isaiah where it is thus written He that walketh righteously and speaketh vprightly he that despiseth the gaine of oppressions that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes stoppeth his eares from hearing of blood and shutteth his eyes from seeing euill he
glorified Saints and blessed Patriarches holy Prophets glorious Apostles triumphing Martyrs chast Virgins louing Angels Where I shall haue plentie without want health without sicknesse honour without disgrace peace without trouble strength without weakenesse courage without feare loue without hatred ioy without sorrow light without darknesse beautie without deformity safety without danger knowledge without ignorance life without death all good without any euill Yea this blessednes is so great that the more I conceiue of it the shorter I come to comprehend it Yea if it were possible that the glory and excellency of the meanest Saint in heauen were to bee knowen vnto the Sons of men it would rauish them so as that there would remaine no spirit in them so wonderfully would it astonish and amaze them oh how blessed then is my condition may a child of God say That of one so poore I shall be so inriched of base I should become so honourable of despised so respected of deformed so beautifull so oppressed persecuted and afflicted so free so glorious and triumphant a Conquerour And am not I then in a most blessed condition hath not God dealt richly with me by whose spirit I am perswaded firmely of such Happinesse of which I haue already tasted aboundantly yea my present condition if there were no other I would not exchaunge with the Crownes of all the Kings in the world so bountifully hath God dealt with mee yet I must confesse that the time was I could not conceiue of Happinesse at all in this Life which now I so plentifully enioy and so surely hold as that I knowe all the powers of Hell shall neuer preuaile against me oh how hard a thing was it to mee in former times in blind times of my Ignorance to be mooued to Repentance it was exceeding harsh vnto me but now blessed be God I am so well acquainted with the rich inheritance of the Saints in light that if Repentance were againe to bee taken vp though it were a thousand tlmes more difficult then it was yet could I vndergoe it for the happinesse which I doe already enioy how much more for that fulnesse of happinesse which I shall enioy in the Heauens Neither doe I any longer meruaile as I haue done why the Saints haue so willingly vndergone such sharpe and fiery trials as they haue done yea haue gloried in them and accounted it all Ioy when they haue fallen into diuers trials or why the Prophets and Apostles and other Preachers of Righteousnesse before and since haue cryed so earnestly for Repentance and doe daily prouoke to repent and turne vnto God For surely they haue knowen and do know perfectly that such a blessed condition will followe not onely in this Life but in that which is to come And to conclude let me be heard amongst my Countreymen Sticke not at Repentance what if it fill your hearts with sorrow your head with care your eyes with teares your chambers with complaints yet I know and you shall finde a recompence euen here yea and a full reward hereafter The Lord open our eyes that we may see and our eares that wee may heare and our hearts that we may vnderstand for certainely this is trueth which is here laide downe for the God of trueth hath spoken it in his owne wordes And so desiring a blessing vpon your reading as I found vpon my selfe writing in that God made me an able Minister of the truth â— faithfull disposer of what I know â—d doe yet vnderstand for your â—d and desiring that the Church â—y be built vp the Gospell floâ—ish that Sathan may be disaduantaged our aduersaries conuerted trueth maintained loue euery where encreased I doe ende ascribing to our God all glory honor power praise thanksgiuing might maiestie wisedome riches and dominion by Iesus Christ now and for euermore FINIS
HEAVENS IOY OR HEAVEN BEGVN VPON Earth Wherein there is discouered more plainely then euer formerly The happy and surpassing glorious estate of a Iustified Person or a Saint on Earth Also that greater happinesse at the day of Iudgement And a small tast of that greatest and most glorious Estate prepared for vs in the highest Heauens Also the Writer will bee ready to defend what is here written against all opposers whatsoeuer PHILIP 4.13 I can doe all things through Christ that strengtheneth me LONDON Printed by T. C. and B. A. for Iohn Harrison and are to be sold in Pater-Noster-Row at the signe of the Golden Anker 1616. TO THE READER BEloued Reader if thou be desirous of Nouelties here 's Newes worth thy hearing It is the Report of the Scituation the Beauty and comlinesse of a Citizen of Newe Hierusalem which I shall shewe thee the rather I doe attempt it because of the slanders that generation of Hypocrites doe cast vpon this Citie They doe tell thee faintly that here is much good to be found but when thou hearest their vncertaine relation and viewest their tottred Habite and considerest their leannes and how much they are distracted it makes thee much to question the trueth of their Report They tel thee they are inhabitants of it And if thou question further of the qualities of those Citizens Thou shalt heare them say they all are Peacemakers Ioyfull Holy Wise bold Rich and Humble people But when thou takest a viewe of their Pride seest their Pouertie perceiuest their feares obseruest their folly knowest their filthinesse considerest their heauinesse and are acquainted with their contentions This I say makes thee to question the trueth of their report Wherefore in hope of thy desire to get this Possession I was emboldened to rehearse what by experience I knowe and by diligent triall I vnderstand of that Royall Citie Thou shalt haue nothing here but wordes of trueth and sobernesse and that which thou thy selfe shall finde written in the Booke of Life And because there are many inhabitants of this City that being but newly entred are scarce acquainted with the Glory Maiestie the Content Riches Wisdome and safetie it affoords I haue desired to impart to such what they may finde if they proceede in the course they haue well begunne And I doe the rather endeuour it that as men are holpen by reading to discouer counterfaite Trauellers so men may be assisted to find out the false brags and vaine boastings these Hypocrites doe make and howbeit I knowe some of them will learne by this Booke the more craftily to deceiue and wil be able better to colour their estate to others yet knowing also that Heauen shal reueile such iniquitie and the God of vengeance will take vengeance of the abuse of such paines I commend it to the protection of that most Powerfull God and rest yet a while Faults escaped in Printing Pag. 3. marg b 4. 16. line 23. earth p. 9. f Ps 38. p. 11. m Heb. 10.18 p. 13. t 57. 19. p. 15. l. 7. an vn p. 16. a 1. 8. p. 17. l. 4. Heads p. 22. s Phil. 2.6.7.8 p. 26. l. 22. learne that p. 27. l. 1. were redeemed p. 31. l. 23. soule p. 41. l. 4. is euident p. 47. c Mat. 26. p. 48. d. Rom. 10.10 p. 50. l. 3. this caused p. 61. l. 23. blot out all p. 63. l. 4. translated p. 98. c Isa p. 90. l. 19. willing but by p. 98. l. 17. store p. 99. l. 9. As if p. 103. l. 27. forth for trouble p. 119. i Ps 16. p. 122 l. 1. them p. 127. l. 11. b Iohn 14.3 p. 154. l. 17. as blessed p. 159. l. 5. for God read good If it be not wel pointed the next Impression may helpe that There is a little Booke called Christs Kingdome discouered which is worth thy reading HEAVENS IOY OR HEAVEN BEGVNNE VPON Earth THis small Treatise of Hell being fitted for the presse it was thought fit by the learned examiner that it should not passe alone but that as much at least of Heauen should be added to it that as the reader should be driuen by Iudgements so hee might also be drawne by Mercies to turne vnto God by true vnfeigned Repentance Now therefore that what is expected may be performed here shall also be obserued the same order as neere as may be that was before obserued As first that there is a Heauen or place of Blessednesse Secondly what this Heauen is Thirdly where it is and shall be Fourthly for whom it is prepared Lastly how long it shall continue And first That there is a Heauen This albeit none can denie when they doe behold the glorious firmament so wonderfully adorned and beautified with a bright and great light for the Day a glorious though lesse light for the Night so trimmed and decked with a many of glittering Starres each differing from other in Glory this cannot but enforce all wise men to conceiue of a higher place and farre more excellent then this is yet because nothing doth so well satisfie the Conscience as the wholesome words of our Lord Iesus Christ let vs see it made euident by plaine Scriptures as where it is written That Christ is not entred into the holy places made with hands but into Heauen it selfe now to appeare in the presence of God for vs. a Heb. 9.24 Also at the last day it is written that the Lord himselfe shall descend from Heauen b 1. Thes 4. Also where we reade that the Apostles looked vp stedfastly toward heauen at our Lords Ascension it is written That two men stood by them in white apparell which also saide yee men of Galilee why stand yee gazing vp into Heauen This same Iesus who is taken vp from you into Heauen shall so come in like manner as you haue seene him goe into Heauen c Act. 1.10.11 Also the Saints that are persecuted on eath are willed to Reioyce and to be exceeding glad yea to leape for Ioy because their reward is great in Heauen d Mat. 5.11.12 Luck 6.23 Againe it is written Thaâ— Ioy shall be in Heauen ouer one sinner that repenteth more then ouer ninetie and nine iust persons that neede no repentance e Luc. 15.7 Also wee reade that in the resurrection They neither marry nor are giuen in marriage but are as the Angels of God in Heauen f Mat. 22.30 And this shall suffice to proue that there is a Heauen Now to shewe what this Heauen is This is the great difficultie which doth amaze all that shall endeuour to expresse it heare they all come short this is that which is so surpassing Glorious and so Excellent as that no heart can conceiue nor tongue expresse much lesse any pen describe or set forth the wonderfull and vnsearchable excellency thereof as it is euident by that the Apostle speaking out of the Prophet of the beginnings of it euen here saith Eye hath not seene nor
of Christs kingdoms flourishing he saith In that day there shall be a roote of Iesse which shall stand vp for an ensigne to the people to it shall the Gentiles seeke and the Rest shall bee glorious Å¿ Isa 11.10 And the same Prophet in another place â—aith thus from the Lord Behold I â—reate the fruite of the lips Peace Peace to him that is a farre off and to him that is neare saith the Lord and I will heale him t Isa 57.13 Also speaking of the Church The Lord by that Prophet saith thus Behold I will extend Peace to her like a Riuer u Isa 66.12 And this is that Peace which our blessed Redeemer speaketh of where he saith Peace I leaue with you my Peace I giue vnto you not as the world giueth giue I vnto you let not your hearts be troubled neither let it be afraide x Io. 14.27 Here this Peace is directly opposed to the feares and terrors the trouble and disquiet of such as haue it not Hence it is that such as hearken to wisedome are promised to dwell safely and to be quiet from feare of euill yea this is manifest in Dauid when he had once ouercome he could say Returne to thy Rest O my soule for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee And turning him to the Lord he saith Thou hast deliuered my soule from Death mine eyes from teares and my feete from falling y psal 116 7.8 In this comfortable estate was Hezechiah when Isaiah comes vnto him with terrible tidings and that from the Lord telling him That the daies come that all that was in his house that which his fathers had laide vp in store vnto this day should be carried away into Babylon and that the Lord had said that nothing should be left And that his sons which should issue from him and which he should beget they should take away and they should be Eunuches in the Pallace of the king of Babylon At this terrible and dreadfull tydings hee is not disquieted but hee doth manifest his peaceable â—nd most comfortable estate yea â—â—t he had obtained this Peace and â—â—st the inseparable companions â—r effects of righteousnesse by his â—ouing amiable most temperate answer where he saith Good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken And to this he added Is it not good if Peace and Truth bee in my daies z 2. Kin. 20.17.18.19 And is not this and vnspeakeable benefite to haue such a blessed change wrought to haue such surpassing Peace and Rest in this Life If there were no more but this it is worth all the paines we suffer and all the afflictions we vndergoe and yet men are so ouerâ—ome with doubtings and vnbeâ—efe that they struggle not for this Rest and surely the Reason is because â—hey beleeue not the Scriptures To this Peace which passeth all vnderstanding is added Ioy which is vnspeakeable and ful of Glory a 1. pet 18. Thâ— is that ioy of the holy Ghost thaâ— blessed and glorious Comforâ—er Ioy. aâ— it is written The kingdome of Goâ— is not Meate and Drinke but Righteousnesse and Peace and Ioy of thâ— holy Ghost b Rom. 14.17 The difference betweene this and the Ioy of Hypocrites is knowne by these The Ioy oâ— Hypocrites is very short and it dotâ— vanish at length and come to nothing as it is written The triumphing of the wicked is short and thâ— Ioy of the Hypocrite but for a moment Though his excellency mount vâ— to the Heauens and his head reacâ— vnto the Clouds yet he shall perisâ— for euer like his owne dung and theâ— which haue seene him shall say wherâ— is he He shall flie away as a dreame and shall not be found yea he shall bâ— chased away as a visioÌ„ of the night c Iob. 20.5.6.7.8 But the ioy of the Saints is euerlasting as it is written The Redeeâ—ed of the Lord shall returne and â—ome with singing to Sion euerlaâ—ting Ioy shall be vpon their Heards they shall obtaine ioy and gladnesse and sorrow and sighing shall flye away d Is 35.10 Isa 51.11 It shall neuer be taken from them as it is written I will see you againe and your heart shall reioyce â—nd your Ioy no man taketh from you e Io. 16.22 This continually increaseth as it is written that our Lord saith to his Disciples As my Father hath loued mee so haue I loued you continue yee in my Loue. These things haue I spoken vnto you that my Ioy might remaine in you and that your â—oy might be full f Io. 15.9.11 And this is the â—irst difference betweene the Ioy of Hypocrites and our Ioy. Theirs is short or momentany ours euerlasting â—heirs is taken from them ours neuer â—heirs vanisheth ours increaseth A second difference is that the Ioy of the Hypocrite is not accompanied with Peace and Rest for these are alwayes the effects of Righteousnesse And we know that there is no Peace to the wicked for the Lord hath spoken it g Is 48.22 And who knowes not that an Hypocrite is a wicked man in the highest degree But the Ioy of the righteous is alwayes accompanied with Peace and Rest as it is euident where Righteousnesse and Peace and Ioy of the holy Ghost are ioyned together as inseperable coÌ„panions and that very often in Scriptures as where it is written The Kingdome of God is not meate and drinke but Righteousnesse and Peace and Ioy of the holy Ghost h Rom. 14.17 As if it should haue beene saide in more plaine wordes it is not the obseruation of meates and drinkes and such other outward things that discouers vs to bee of the Kingdome of Christ but it is Righteousnesse and Peace and Ioy of the holy Ghost these are indeede the things that makes vs manifest to our selues and others to be Christs subiects also the same Apostle saith to the same Saints Now the God of hope fill you with all Ioy and Peace in beleeuing i Rom. 15.13 Loe heare Ioy and Peace are ioyned together in true beleeuers Also wee being iustified by Faith haue Peace with God and reioyce in hope of the glory of God k Rom. 5.1.2 Also in that excellent Psalme Then are they glad because they be at quiet and so he bringeth them to their desired hauen Heare is also gladnesse and rest Also the Prophet Isaiah speaking of the Church saith Thus saith the Lord behold I will extend Peace to her like a Riuer and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing streame then shall yee sucke and be borne vpon her sides and dandled vpon her knees as one whom his mother comforteth so will I comfort you and yee shall be comforted in Ierusalem And when ye see this your heart shall reioyce and your bones shall flourish like an hearbe m Is 66.12.13.14 Here is Peace and Ioy to the Saints And this is another manifest difference betweene the Ioy
Aboundance oâ— outward Ritches and â—hat to themselues and their chilâ—ren That this may appeare plainâ—y let vs consider of such Scriptures as doe make it manifest as where it is written Godlinesse is profitable vnto all things p 1. Tim. 4.8 Also Godlinesse with contentment is great gaine q 1. Tim. 6.6 Againe we finde it an expresse promise to beleeuers or such as yeeld willing obedience to Gods Commaundements That they shall haue Raine in due season and their Land shall yeelde her increase and the trees of the field shall yeeld their fruit And their threshing shal reatch vnto the vintage and their vintage shall reatch vnto the sowing time and they shall eate their bread to the full and they shall eate olde stone and bring foorth the old because of the new a Leuit. 26.4.10 Also in another Place it is written of them thus If thou shalt hearken diligently to the voyce of the Lord thy God to obserue and doe all his Commandements which I command thee this Day that the Lord thy God will set â—hee on high aboue all the Natiâ—ns of the Earth and besides many other blessings there mentioned â—here are these The Lord shall commaund the plessing vpon thee â—n the storehouses and the Lord â—hall make thee hlentious in goodâ—esse in the fruite of thy Body in â—he fruite of thy Cattell and in the â—ruite of thy ground The Lord â—hall open to thee his good Treaâ—ure the Heauen to giue the Raine â—o thy Land in his Season and to â—lesse all the worke of thine Hand â—nd thou shalt lend vnto many Nations and shalt not borrow b Deut. 28.1.12 Also it is written At destruction â—nd famine thou shalt laugh c Iob. 5.22 Also â—o Feare the Lord yee his Saints for there is no want to them that feare him The young Lions doe lacke and suffer hunger but they that seeke the Lord shall want no good thing d ps 34.9.10 If such as doe but seeke the Lord shal haue sufficient without want how much more will God opeÌ„ his hand euen wide to such as haue found him and doe walke with him Also The Lord is a Sunne shield the Lord wil giue grace glory no good thing will he withhold from them that walk vprightly e ps 84.11 Also it is one of the promises made to the Saints by Ezechiel That God will cause them to dwell in the Cities and the wastes shal be builded And the desolate Land shall bee tilled whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed And they shal say the Land that was desolate is become like the Garden of Eden and the wast and desolate and the ruined Cities are become fenced and are inhabited Adde to this that where our blessed Redeemer maketh many such promises for the incourgement of his Redeemed ones as where he willes vs to take no thought for our liues what we shall eate or what we shall drinke nor for our bodies what we shall put on Is not the life saith hee more then Meate and the Body more then Raiment Also if hee should say haue I giuen you the more and wil I deny you the lesse Hath your Father giuen you Life and will hee denie food Hath he giuen you Bodies and will withhold Raiment Who clotheth lillyes who feedeth Rauens is it not your Father and are yee not much better then they Doth God prouide so for the worser and will hee not prouide for the better f Mat. 6.25 26.27 And where Peter demaunded of our Lord what they should haue vrging that they hadde forsaken all Our Lord hauing answered theâ— with a peculiar promise addeth also for our instruction Verily I say vnto you Euery one that hath forsaken houses or brethren or sisters oâ— fathers or mothers or wife or children or landes for my names sake shall receiue an hundred fold g Mat. 19.27.29 Luke writeth manifold more in this present time h Luc. 18.30 And Marke hath thuâ— written There is no man that hath left house or bretrhen or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or landes for my names sake and the Gospelles But hee shall receiue an hundred fold now in this time houses and brethren and sisters and mothers and children and landes with persecutions and in the world to come eternall life i Marc. 10 29.30 Now that these promises doe extend or stretch euen to our children is euident where it is written I haue beene young and now am olde saith Dauid yet haue I not seene the Righteous forsaken nor his seede begging bread Hee is euer mercifull and lendeth and his seede is blessed k ps 37.25.26 And it is also written Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord that delighteth greatly in his Commaundements his seede shall be mightie vpon Earth the generation of the vpright shall be blessed l ps 112.2 And wee reade that blessed is euery one that feareth the Lord and that walketh in his wayes For thou shalt eat the labour of thy hands ô well is thee and happy shalt thou be Thy wife shall be as the fruitful vine by the walles of thine house thy children like oliue plants round about thy table Also it is a promise to the Saints That they shall not labour in vaine nor bring foorth troubles for they are the seede of the blessed of the Lord m Is 65.23 and their of-spring with them So that you see it most manifest that the children of God shall neuer want any good thing for themselues or their seede and how can it be that they should seeing they haue the promise of God Yea of the God of Trueth The God that cannot lye a Deu. 32.4 Tit. 1.2 Obiect But some obiect that Gods children haue bene destitute yea that the Ministers of Christ are approued by their patience in distresses and necessities And that some shall be throwne to hell at the day of iudgement because they haue not releeued the hungry thirsty naked sick imprisoned and wandring Saints And Lazarus say they was a begger Answ Note For the better and more speedy answer of these and all other such obiections against such plain Scriptures as are before set down Obserue alwayes this rule that the the plainst the most in nuÌ„ber are euer to be regarded and other Scriptures that are more obscure and darke to be suspected the reason of this rule is that the word of the Lord is pure and cannot admit deminishing or addition as it is written Euery word of God is pure adde thou not vnto his words lest hee reproue thee and thou bee found a Liar b Pro. 30.5 And let God be true and euery man a liar c Rom. 3.4 The testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple d Ps 19.7 Also Wisedome saith Heare for I will speake of excellent things and the opening of my lips shall bee right things for
and I knowe my selfe to be in Christ by that I am a newe creature And when I take a viewe of my Folly and ignorance how brutish I haue beene it doeth euen couer mee with blushing and shame and when withall I doe call to minde what aboundance of wisedome I haue obtained since Christ became my wisedome yea when I consider Gods wonderfull liberalitie in opening to me his treasury of wisedome and knowledge and bidding mee aske what I will this doeth many times amaze me and wonderfully astonish mee that so vile a person as I am should bee trusted with Treasures of such value and Pearles of such price I doe thinke thus with my selfe what am I that I should be so regarded as that my mouth should be made a Well of Life my lippes should know what is acceptable that they should feede many and that other should seeke the Lawe at my mouth That such Wisedome and Spirit should be giuen me that all mine aduersaries should not be able to gainsay or resist oh blessed be my God for euermore oh let my tongue neuer cease to sound foorth his prayses and to tell of his louing kindnesse from day to day And when I looke without me me thinkes the Communion of Saints doeth rauish me the feruent Loue which we haue amongst our selues whereas I was once a companion of Murderers such I meane as vnaduisedly would breake out into anger wrath and rage disclose secrets breake couenants carry tales to shedde blood amongst whom though I sometimes blessed my selfe yet was my condition fearefull for I could expect nothing but death euery day such was the vncertaintie of any staiednesse in their familiaritie But now I am a Companion of the Sonnes of Peace All my Familiars are Peacemakers wee are one an others Keepers Many wholesome exhortations Louing instructions and Amiable reprooffes doe passe betweene vs. Manie are the feruent Prayers we put vp one for another yea all that wee haue we account not our owne in one anothers necessitie Our Loue is not in word and in Tongue but in deed and in Truth It is continually increased and doeth daily Flourish Oh what comfort is it to meete in great Assemblies in the time of Peace to heare the Word break Bread togither and to ioyne in heartie prayers and praises to our louing Father Also I now doe plainly see that we haue more with vs then against vs For I was wont to consider of the multitude of wicked men in the world and how they bandie themselues and conspire against the Saintes but now I see their attempts are exceeding weake for wee haue our Seate on high and are compassed round with a Wall of Fyre yea the Angels of God as Chariots of Fire and Horses of Fyre doe compasse vs round continually Yea they also beholde our Fathers face in Heauen readie to execute vengeance on our aduersaryes and to beare vs in theyr hands that wee hurt not our foote against a stone Besides all this the Creatures were at enmitie with me the Sunne Moone and Starres in theyr courses the Earth would haue swallowed the Water drowned the Fire consumed me yea the Winde would haue throwne downe Trees and Houses vpon mee the very stones of the Fielde were at oddes with mee the Beasts Fowles and Creaping things at variance The Corne Wine and Oyle these did as it were disdaine or refuse to yeeld me strength whereas now on the contrarie the sweete Familiaritie which is betweene vs is exceeding great The Sunne will not hurt me by day nor the Moone by night the Heauens doe as it were smyle vpon mee the Fire warmes me the water yeelds me moysture the Earth habitation the Ayre refreshing What shall I say Mee thinkes I see the Fire comming from Heauen the Water preparing the Earth opening wide her mouth the Ayre threatning yea all the Creatures mustering themselues and in continuall readinesse to execute vengeance vpon such as shal euer dare to touch me for hurt And all these are accompanyed with aboundance of all necessaries for my selfe and my children and whereas before I was in continuall want in the midst of plenty and euer caring for more though I had enough Now haue I abundance of all thinges with gteat Contentment that hundred fold gaine by Godlinesse yea I can truely say I can be abased and I can abounde I haue learned in what estate so euer therewith to be content Yea I know that I shall neuer want any thing that is good neyther shall my children beg their bread And when to this I can adde the sure continuance of this estate and doe knowe that I shall neuer be remoued neither is my estate subiect to Change but I shall increase not decrease growe not dye goe forwards not backwards flourish decay and that I am in Christ as stable firme and vnmooueable as God is stable firme and vnmooueable this doeth so rauish me with comfort that it drawes teares from mine eyes I cannot but reioyce exceedingly And yet further when I thinke on my estate to come at that day which will be a dreadfull day to the wicked I finde that all this which I haue cald to minde is very little yea scarse a handfull of the whole sand of the Sea in comparison of that blessednesse then to bee receiued Then when our glorious Lord the Lord of Glory shall descend from Heauen with a shout with the voyce of an Arch-angell and which the Trumpe of God when hee shall come most gloriously in his owne Glory his fathers Glory and the Glory of all his holy and mightie Angels attended with tenne thousands of his Saints in flaming fire to be glorified in them When he shal sit vpon the throne of his Glory and all nations shall bee gathered before him and he shal seperate them one from another as the shepherd diuideth his sheepe from the Goates and hauing set the sheepe on his right hand then shall this King of Glory say vnto them on his right hand Come yee blessed of my Father inherite the Kingdome prepared for you from the foundations of the world Then shall I with the rest of Gods redeemed ones passe away with great triumph and in a glorious manner enter those heauenly Mansions to take possession of my euerlasting habitation There I shall see God face to face Yea I shall know him euen as I am knowen Then shall I be like him for I shall see him as he is And when this my corruptible body hath put on Incorruption and this Mortall bopy hath put on immortalitie then shal be fully and perfectly brought to passe for mee and all the elect that which before was truely beleeued That death is swallowed vp in victory And will not this bee a wonderfull and most glorious estate when I shall shine foorth as the Sunne in his greatest glitter and most glorious brightnesse when I shall bee as the Angels in Heauen alwaies beholding the face God Where I shall haue no companions but