euidently be declared and more fully concluded That trueth wherein is showed and whereby is prooued that God hath been manifested in the flesh iustified in the spirit seene of Angels preached among the nations beleeued in the world and receiued vp in glorie is great by one assent and without all coutrouersie The mysterie of godlynes is that truth wherein al these things are shewed and whereby they are demonstrated The mysterie of godlynes therefore is great by one assent and without all controuersie The last part of this reason hath in the beginning of this sentence been set down which ought not to seeme strange vnto any namelie that the conclusion is set in the first or second place seeing this is an vsuall thing both in the Scriptures and in all good Writers The middle part of the proofe is contained and expressed in the conclusion of this sentence which now we are to proceede vnto and consider The first part of the sillogisme is included in the last words of the verse going before wherein was affirmed that the whole Church of God vpholdeth this excellent truth Now although the Apostle had not insinuated any such matter as that the trueth which testifieth or proclaimeth such wonderfull and profitable things as here are set down is great by one assent or without controuersie yet this is so cleare a a point that it seemeth to bee written with the beames of the sunne not to neede any further speach or proofe To the end then we may not goe about to light a candle where it shineth clearely brightly but be led forward as it were to perfection and to the ende wee may the better vnderstand this chiefe principle of Christian Religion God hath beene manifested in the flesh let vs a while consider the nature of the heauenly godhead As cōcerning the power wisdō Rom. 1.19 Maiesty of the godhead it is in some part or sort made known vnto vs by the creatures and especially by the Scriptures Wherefore whosoeuer shall say with Pharaoh Exod. 5.2 I knowe not God shall shew himselfe herein a lier or a prophane person But as touching the nature or form of the Lords being 1. Tim. 6.16 it is a thing so incomprehensible in it selfe that men are by no meanes able fullie to vnderstand it yea without Christ they cannot saue onelie in small measure darke manner conceiue what it is For that knowledge of God which is conueighed into mē onelie by certaine titles giuen him or by the creatures is bur such a cōceauing of his Maiestie as the patternes of things in this world Rom. ◠20 leade the minde vnto and ingender As for example when the Lord is called the Lord of Hosts in this title we rather see his works than him or if wee see him in any measure it is by the helpe of earthlie creatures by comparison as it were not simply by himselfe Againe when we conceiue him as perfectly wise iust mercyfull Act. 14.16 17. wee rather rife to the knowledge of his effects than of his being by the consideration of these vertues which being in men by measure are properties and qualities onelie howsoeuer being in GOD without measure they are things essentiall Exod. 3.14 Now as touching the great titles of Iehoua the eternal I am or I will bee and such like whereby God in scripture is often called they shew by those creatures which are substances mouing and subsisting in the World Reu. 1.4 that the Lord hath a being by himselfe and for himselfe but that he is a perpetuall infinite vnchangeable glorious essence cannot so well be gathered by the sight of fraile 1. Per. 1.24 mutable and base creatures as is manifested by Christ Iesus The gospel of Iohn 1 18 Heb. 13.8 both God and man who is the same to day and to morrowe and for euer and in whome the whole Godhead dwelleth bodily Neither in deed ariseth vnto man any sparke of sound comfort at all Ephe. 4.18 out of the beholding of the nature of the godhead alone Rom. 2.1 as it is seuerally or confusedly considered by it selfe without Christ but rather so glistering a light and flame is able to cause the most strong and piercing eye in the world to dazle and the most hardie and valiant hear to quake for horror Wherefore we are alwaies when wee turne our fight toward the Godhead with a certaine reuerent and discerning spirit to looke vpon three persons hauing their being therein as vpon three Sunnes in one Mat. 2.19 it I may so speake with that profound diuine Nazianzen who oft most singularly writeth of this matter all of the same nature glorie eternitie and perfection The first of these persons is the father Mat. 3.17 who as he is without all beginning so this person caused from eternitie the two other persons Heb. 1.3 and this father worketh from himselfe by his sonne and by his spirit The second person is the sonne who as he was eternally begotten by the person of the Father only Ioh. 3.16 Heb. 1.3 so from him as the fountaine being himselfe as the streame hee worketh by the holy Ghost as the conduit pipe if that I may so speak and by earthly things in some rude sort shadoweth out these heauenly which nothing in the World can fully or in all respects represent or expresse Ioh. 15.26 The holy Ghost is the third person in trinitie proceeding from the Father and the sonne working from them both immediatlie by himself in such sort as that not onely he quickeneth the whole worlde but sanctifieth the whole Church For he euen he replenisheth with graces the Angels he inspireth the Prophets hee teacheth the Lawgiuers wisedom Basil ho. mil. de side he sanctifieth the Ministers of the word he maketh Captaines valiant he absolueth the innocent hee aduaunceth those that are modest hee worketh gifts of healing hee reuiueth the dead hee looseth the captiues hee maketh strangers children by adoption It he finde a beleeuing Publican he maketh him an Euangelist If he be in a Fisher man he frameth him to be a Diuine If he get a repentant persecutor hee appoynteth and fashioneth him to bee an Apostle of the Gentiles a preacher of the Gospell an elect vessell By him the weake are made strong the poore rich the ignorant and those which are void of eloquence become euen wiser than the wisest Al the which workes with infinite more are also wrought by the Father the Son 1. Ioh. 5.17 and not onely by the holie Ghost but as these three persons are distinct in properties which cannot be communicated to each other as the Father in that he is vnbegotten the Sonne begotten the holy Ghost proceeding so they differ in the manner or order of their workes which in common they put into execution 1. Cor. 8.6 seeing the Father beginneth the worke from himselfe the Sonne worketh it from the
with faith beleeuing that euerie promise Heb. 4.2 and threatning of the word shall surely come to passe After such a forte the people in Nehemiah his time heard the word both read Nch. 8.1 c. opened and applied by Ezra and the Leuits For then whilst the Lawe was in reading the cares of all the people were attent in the time of praier they lifted vp their hands and bowed downe their bodies Finally when the threatnings of the word were applied by Preaching they fel a weeping and when againe they were comforted by their teachers they reioyced But now although our attention and reuerence should exceede theirs Heb. 2.1 as the Apostle sheweth yet it is farre behinde the same Nay what confusion and irreuerence almost in euery congregation it not to be seene amongst vs Doe not vsuallie O irreligious times some talke in the midst of the exercises of Religion some run out of the Church before the Sermon be ended some sleep in their pewes some turne the eyes of all vpon them by their strange and masking appatell Finally almost all shew some signe of neglect or contempt of the word of God or other But to let these passe the true Christian heater will not onely bee carefull to heare the word in a right manner but to resort therunto with an holy intent and affection For as Salomon sheweth Pro. 21.27 The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination vnto the Lord how much more when he offereth it with an euill mind The Christian then desireth the sincere milke of the Word not to cauill at it no nor to knowe it onelie but to growe thereby This if it were considered 1. Pet. 2.2 as it ought to bee would make those who often resort to the hearing of Sermons not onely talkers Iam. 2.26 but practisers of Religion not onely discerners but haters of sinne Psal 119.104 not onely such as delight in good exercises but performers of holie dueties Psal 119.9 not praisers onelie of their teachers in wordes but commenders of them by their liues and conuersations 2. Cor. 3.1 2 For in deede he is the best hearer which washing his specks and spottes by the Lawe of libertie is by hearing transformed into the image of Christ and hee most commendeth his teacher whose heart and life is written and grauen with the letters of faith and repentance Now to come to the last point or note of the excellencie of the Gospell it is affirmed here to bee great by one assent True it is in deed that a great number of prophane people make no account of the Gospell being either Dogges or Swine Mat. 7.6 despising and abusing pearles and holy things But as concerning the true members of the Churche euerie one of them with heart and hand subscribeth to this Doctrine so that according as Esay notablie expressing this matter hath foretolde This man saieth I am the Lordes Esay 44.5 and this man calleth himselfe by the name of Iaacob another writeth with his hand I am the eternals and nameth himselfe by the name of Israel Euident it is also 1. Tim. 4.1 that manie Heretickes haue oppugned and doo denie the verie articles of our faith But what the instruments of Satan say or gainsay is not to be regarded This is that which here our Apostle would declare namely that al the Lords faithful seruāts messengers haue with one voyce receiued and published and are with their liues and bloud ready to seale the truth of the Gospell To conclude it cannot be denied that there are diuers truthes in the word Ro. 14.1 2. which true Christians with one consent yeeld not alwaies vnto For either they vary one from another in the exposition of some places of Scripture or they differ in iudgement about questions of lawfulnes or vnlawfulnes 1. Cor. 14.31 32 33. of order or disorder 1. Cor. 7 8 9 10 11. chapters or they dissent in some inferiour points of trueth If I maie so speake which yet are not to bee oppugned Mat. 5.19 yea are by all meanes on the contrarie side to be imbraced Exo. 10.26 held fast and preferred before golde or siluer or the whole World But oftentimes it is to be seene that euen those who in interpretations of certaine sentences in the word Act. 15.39 and in opinions touching things lawfull or vnlawfull differ furthest asunder concur and consent together most nerely and fully in the Articles of the faith the principles of the Gospell and all the fundamentall grounds of Christian Religion Whereby it appeareth that the vnitie of the members of the Catholick Church consisteth not in thinking the same things alwaies or liking the same persons but in the generall consent Ephe. 4.13 which is giuen vnto the mysterie of Christ Iesus In deede all are to labour to the vnitie of the spirit to iudge and speake euen al one thing 1. Cor 11.19 but in this world such a perfect knot shall neuer be knit But although Christians disagree sometime in affections or opinions yet there is alwaies among them sound vnitie in deede Ro. 12.4.5 because they maintaine one maine veritie Neither by reason of diuisions which must be and haue been in al ages among beleeuers and professors of the Gospell is there iust cause giuen vnto any to departe from the Church of GOD or to doubt whether there bee at all any certaine sauing trueth or to saye there are such dissentions in the World that a man cannot knowe what to beleeue The Virgin Marie Simeon Luk. 1 2 3. chap. Elizabeth and the Disciples saw the sauing and the certaine trueth when the sinagogue of the Iewes erred euen touching the Messias and was diuided into diuers most pestilent and contrarie sects The Christians in the daies of the auncient Fathers sawe the truth and walked in the right way when the Arrians Eutichians and such other Heretickes spread their poyson throughout the whole world Now then to doubt whether there bee any certaine trueth whē the articles of the faith are receiued by one assent and the Churches of England France Scotland Har. con apolo eccl Angl. and the Lowe Countries subscribe vnto the Doctrine of the Gospell and when manie Martyres haue of late sealed the Doctrine of faith with their bloud yea diuers liuing Martyrs confirme the same by word and deede is to call into question whether there be a Sun in the Skie and to doubt whether it shine in the firmament at noone day Thus wee see the former parte of this sentence laide open before our eyes wherein that excellencie of the Gospell is by sixe wordes plainelie affirmed the which in the second part of this verse is confirmed or prooued effectuallie by sixe forcible reasons All these arguments together with the former words may briefelie be cast after this sort into one frame of proofe whereby the whole matter intreated of in this sentence may yet more
Father by the spirit the holie Ghost perfecteth it from them both by his owne immediat hand and last stitch as it were But because the name of God in this place as elsewhere in the scripture is restrained to the second person in the Trinitie namely the Son withdrawing our eyes frō the two other persons and onely fixing our sight vpon this lampe of all our ioy and garland of our comfort let vs consider a little longer his eternall generation or begetting For when here it is said that God hath been manifested in the flesh the meaning of the Apostle is not that either the father or the spirit euer tooke our nature on them but onely that Christ the naturall and eternall sonne of God taking to himselfe the seede of Abraham was subiect vnto all humane infirmities sinne ouely excepted After the like manner by this our Apostle is the name of God being common to all the three persons so vsed in the Acts as that it is onely meant of the second person when he willeth the Elders of Ephesus to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his owne bloud Act. 20.28 But I say before wee come to consider the conception or birth of Christ the which had a beginning in time order requireth that in the former place we view his heauenly generation or begetting from alleternitie The author of the Epistle to the Hebrewes calling this second person the brightnes of his fathers glorie Heb. 1.3 declareth that euen as the Sunne in the Skie naturallie begetteth the bright beame so GOD the father not onely of his will but by nature begat his Sonne the bright beame of this glorie The same Apostle calleth also the Sonne of God the grauen image of his fathers person euen as the Lord himself in Exodus termeth him the Angel in whom his name is written Exo. 23.21 no doubt because the person of the Father is wholly imprinted in expressed by the person of the Sonne In some such like sense by our Paule to the Colossians Col. 1.15 hee is termed the image of the inuisible God his father whom indeede hee doth so resemble and so liuelie represent in all respects that rather he seemeth the same with his father than like vnto him being herein vnlike vnto naturall children of this world in that they in part only are like vnto their mortall parents but he in eternitie nature and vertue is whollie like or rather one with his heauenly father Wherefore Iohn in his Gospell fitlie calleth him the onely begotten of his father Ioh. 1.18 of whom onely as he was begotten so was he begotten after an only manner and therfore he loueth him with an onlie loue and in him onely is well pleased In this respect Salomon in that excellent booke of the Prouerbs very elegantlie nameth this sonne the daylie delight or ioye of his father affirming that he is one Pro. 1.30 which nourisheth and cheareth vp or sporteth before him continually as being frō all eternitie the sweet word in his bosome such a louely branch of beautie and flower of delight as that it is impossible that any earthly parents should take such pleasure in the sweet lookes most wittie speeches or vertuous actions of their onely childe as the eternall GOD is well pleased or solaceth himselfe in this his sonne Howbeit this eternall generation also euen of the Sonne or Word being viewed in any shape of glorie or other nature than of man Esa 6.5 is able to make the Prophet Esay himselfe crie out Woe is me for I am cut off seeing I am a man of polluted lips And that the manifesting of this second person vnto man in any shape of glorie or power rather offereth him occasion to stande a loofe of than to draw nere to God it may appear by that caueat which the sonne of God giueth Moses appearing into him in a fierie bush come not neere to this place To the end then Exod. 3.5 that wee might haue the greater boldnes and an accesse vnto the throne of grace full of hope and confidence it pleased God who is by nature inuisible to be manifested in the flesh as here the Apostle speaketh For had the sonne of GOD remayned still for euer onely an inuisible person flesh and bloud neuer could or would with comfort haue approached to so glorious and infinite a Maiestie which it had most grieuouslie offended Gen. 3.8 wherein it perceiued no signe or pledge of reconciliation Or had he taken on him the nature of Angels which neuer he did although by reason of the execution of his office hee sometimes in called in scripture by the name of an Angell well might the elect Angels haue endured his presence or triumphed exceedinglie or the damned spirits which left their standing places lift vp their heads to some hope but as for men they should still haue remained in despaire and perplexitie who both haue been oft amased troubled aboue measure Heb. 2.17 Luk. 1.12 when heauenly powers or principalities haue appeared at any time vnto them alway were only reuiued with this hope that Christ should not take vnto him the nature of Angels but the seede of the woman the seed of Abraham and the seede of Dauid Or againe had the Lord spoken vnto vs by the voyce of thunder Heb. 12.18 or reuealed himself in the light or otherwise been manifested in the shape of any creature the nature of man hauing offended would not well be satisfied nor yet could bee restored Finally had he taken vnto him the noble nature of Adam or put on him that princely condition which man had before his transgression dust and ashes might with greefe haue remembred whēce it had fallen but such sound comfort or strong hope as now we feele Heb. 2.17 could not arise vnto vs by that gay garment Wherefore our Sauiour being in the forme of GOD and accounting it no robberie to be equall with God that the fruit might bee ours the suffering his hiding as it were for a time the brightnesse of his Marestie not regarding the Angels which had fallen would in his wonderful mercie and vnspeakable humilitie put on him not the forme of any other creature not Adams royaltic but the ragged coate of a poore seruant Psal 2.5 yea the weaknes and vilenes as it were of a worme Oh Psal 22.6 what is that which now I doo behold What the grauen image of Gods owne person Maiestie printed within mine earthlie filthie stampe molde What the brightnes of the heauenlie glorie and excellencie dimmed and darkened with my frailtie and infirmitie What the eternall and most blessed sonne of the highest to become a worme and no man an outcast of the people a contempt of the nations What the Angell in whom the name of God is written passing ouer the Angels which had offended and leauing them all in the chaines of darknes notwithstanding
of the scare of God The sonne of God being thus indued with the gifts of the spirite aboue measure being sent annoynted sealed and consecrated to the office of a Sauiour the whole Godhead dwelling in him bodilie finallie he louing his Church most entirelie as the same Prophet testifieth at the last put on righteousnes as a breast-plate Esa 59.17 and an helmet of saluation vpon his head yea armed himselfe with the garments of vengeance for clothing and araied him selfe with zeale as with a cloake Whereby may further be gathered after what sort in this place and in what respect the Messias beeing God and man is said to be iustified by the spirit In summe thus much is ment that the power of his Godhead being contrarie in regarde of exceeding glorie to the weake nature of his manhood but ioyned therwithal did not only inable him fully to performe the work of our saluation but declare him to bee a perfect King Priest Prophet the fountaine of wisedome righteousnes sanctification and redemption True it is indeede 1. Co. 1.30 that although in the daies of his flesh our Sauiour lined most innocentlie wrought many miracles spake and taught as neuer any did yet the wicked who were in those daies reiected condemned him Neuerthelesse as the sacred storie declareth not onelie wisedome was iustified of her children but the same stone Luk. 20.17 which the builders refused was by the father made the head corner stone yea the sonne in three daies builded vp that tēple where of Salomons temple was but a tipe finally the innocent lise the heauenly doctrine the wonderfull signes the singular gifts of our Sauiour wherewith he was indued without measure prooued proclaimed to all the world that euen that glorious spirit rested on him 1. Pet. 3.18 19. which preached vnto the disobedient in the time of Noah and which not only reuined him Rom. 1.4 when he had been dead concerning the flesh but quickeneth all the elect to faith obedience Rom ◠11 and eternall life Albeit then the weakenes of the flesh of Christ was such that he seemed to be the most abiect of all mē yea rather a worme than a man as before we haue heard yet the glorie of his spirite was so great on the contrarie side that thereby he was declared not to be a meere man or an Angell but the sonne of God and perfected vnto all the particular workes of a sauing Prince or redeemer He tooke vnto him the seede of Abraham The story of the gos pel but in this seede were all the nations of the earth blessed Compassed he was in his mothers wombe but Iohn the Baptist at his presence sprang in Elizabeths bellie Laide hee was in a cratch but worshipped therein by the wise men of the East Hee was baptized in Iordan but he baptized with the holie Ghost and with fire Hee was hungrie but hee fed many thousands subiect to sleepe but he caused the windes and waues to couch tribute hee paid but out of a fish hee wept for Lazarus but he raised him from the dead O rare most royall O sweete bountifull Sauiour whether should I rather wonder at thy sufferings or at this thy glory Surely at the sight of thy mercie I stand astonied Iudas selleth thee for a little paltrie siluer but thou redeemest the world with thy most pretious heart bloud O when I think vpon that night wherein thou wast betrayed when I conceiue in minde thy sweates like clots of bloud rolling from thy bodie downe vnto the ground when I beholde the officers which kept thee beating thy neck and smiting thy tender face when I look on the red furrowes which Pilates cruell whip made on thy back when I feele the print made in thine hands and feete with the nayles when I see thy veynes and sinewes streyned and racked on the Crosse I plainely perceiue it was not without great cause that thou didst request thy heauenly father to let so bitter a cup passe from thee if it had been possible But when I view the burden of the sinnes of the whole World laid on thy shoulders when I mark the curse of the Lawe seasing on thine head when I perceiue the wrath of thy Father consuming all thy bones when I obserue the executioners stripping thee out of all thy garments when I note the Iewes with mocks and mowes deriding thine afflicted estate when I consider satan and the feends of hell in the malapart souldiers the crooked herauld Pilate and the vnrepentant malefactor assaulting thy faith I cannot but cry out O wonderfull redeemer what a spirit of courage and long suffering rested on thee Now last of all when I heare thee crie My God my God why haste thou forsaken mee when I peere into thine heart pearced vnto the bottome with the Speare of a prophane Souldiout when I gaze on thy breath flying out of thy bodie when I prie into the graue where thy body was layd when I thinke on thine aboade in the earth for the space of three dayes and three nights reckoned in some sorte after which manner and according to which time Ionas sometimes lodged in the belly of the Whale how doo I maruell that thy father did not rather suffer the whole world to perish than thee his natural some more precious than a thousand worlds to tast or sustaine one of the Ieast of these indignities But here by appeareth the vnspeakable mercy of God thy father as also thine own exceeding loue fauor toward mākinde yea moreouer the glory of the spirit which rested on thee that thou wouldst endure such torments for thine enemies that thou wouldst by thy Crosse crucifie the Worlde by thy death kill sinne by thy buriall put the Lawe into the graue by thine enduring of the curse bestowe a blessing by thine aboad vnder the ground take away the sting of the graue finallie by all thy sufferings satisfie for all our sinnes and conquer him who hath the power of death Heb. 2.14 to wit the Diuell Now hereby it is euident that he of whom we speake was not onely man but God not only the sonne of man but the sonne of GOD not onely a seruant but the Lorde not onely a shepheard but a Prince of peaces finallie the way the truth the life the vine the head of the church and that iust one who was iustified by the spirit For had there been in Christ Iesus any dram of sinne or corruption nay had there not been in him all fulnes of power and holines so many crimes and transgressions being laide to his charge and imputed vnto him before the tribunall seate of Almightie GOD and such principalities and powers pursuing and assaulting him neither could he haue been acquitted as an innocent person nor escape as a stronger champion than all his aduersaries But because there was no guile found in his mouth and his own right hand being able to saue him hee
did cast abroad the indignation of his wrath vppon his enemies and infinitly surpassing Sampson in strength ouercame the gates of hell hee became that iust one which iustifieth many and that perfect redeemer who hauing been a faithful mediator on earth raigneth now as a glorious high Priest Heb. 1.3 king and Prophet in Heauen as exalted for these iniuries done vnto him and iustified also by the glory bestowed on him The third poynt of this mysterie is that God manifested in the flesh and iustified in the Spirit hath been also seene of Angels It appeareth by the sacred storie that euen the damned Angels or vncleane spirits saw the sonne of God manifested in the flesh Mat. 4.1 For we reade that not only satan their head tempted him in the wildernes but that a whole legion of foule feends acknowledged him to be the sonne of God Luk. 8.28 and iudge of the World Wherefore euen the euill Angels sawe Iesus our Lord as the seede of the Woman who should breake the head of the Serpent as a Champion to wrestle or incounter with them last of all as a conquerour by his power and strength to ouercome them But either only or chiefely Saint Paul meaneth here that the Elect Angels saw Christ as visible GOD or as both GOD and man These heauenly spirites from the very beginning of their creation enioyed in deede the presence of the second person in the Trinitie Esa 6 3. yea and they worshipped him as their GOD and King neuerthelesse they wanted the visible spectacle of the glorie here spoken of vntill the time of the Lords incarnation and manifestation to the World and iustification by the Spirit But when once the Father brought his first begotten into the World and presented him in the flesh as a mirrour of all wisdome mercie iustice and perfect excellencie then the Angels in the sonne whose person godhead from the beginning of their creation they beheld continuallie saw that humaine nature and glory Ephe. 3.10 which before was neuer subiect vnto their view Heb. 1.6 For they saw now the inuisible word to become visible God they perceiued also the world to be made subiect not vnto them but vnto man Heb. 2.5 6 7 8 9. euen the mediator between God and man that second Adam Iesus Christ After this manner at the last in fulnes of time the sonne of God being presented vnto the view of the Elect Angels they saw him as their ioye as may appeare in that they sang at his birth Luk. 2.13 they saw him as their Lord vppon whom they ascended Ioh. 1.25 descended they saw him as the head of the bodie of the Church Heb. 1.14 whose members they serue last of all they saw him as the mercy seate toward which they turne their faces continuallie Exo. 25.17 18. And who is there now which remembring that solemne day of Christ his incarnation beholding the Pageant as I may say of his humaine nature whereat the very Angels gaze and assemble to conclude considering the progresse as it were of the Lord from Heauen to earth together with his returne from earth to Heauen where the Angels continually behold his face and now enioy his bodily presence would not skip for ioy with Iohn the Baptist crie out with Elizabeth inlarge his tongue with Zacharie magnifie the Lord with the Virgin Marie desire to bee dissolued with Simeon and prouoke not onelie his owne soule but the Angels to praise GOD with Dauid for presenting such a spectacle to the view of his creatures and reuealing his sonne both vnto men and spirites When as the common people of any countrey or kingdome first vnderstanding the kings intēt to make some progresse or to solace and shew himself abroad afterward vpon this occasion resort or flock to the place where hee passeth by or may best be seen there doo see his Maiesties face or heare him vtter a few words herein they thinke a great part of their happines to consist and hereof they boast full oft one to another not without iust cause For certainely the very countenance and presence of the gracious soueraigne carieth with it the Maiestie of God himselfe the honour of an Angell the glorie of the sunne the comelines of the moone the brightnes of a Start the blessing of the dew the fruit of a tree of life and to speake in one Word the price of a peerlesse pearle Now thē when as the immortall king the ruler of all princes presented himselfe to the view of shepheards wise mē Galileans inhabitants of Ierusalem diuers other of his meaner sorte of subiects albeit they saw his face but for a little time or heard his words but for a short season this was a iust cause to them of singular comfort and a great signe of his fauour yea as a day or time of high solemnitie But doth not then the magnificence of the Lord on the one side and the happines of the Angels on the other much more appeare herein that since they as peeres of the heauēly kingdom were first assēbled drawn vnto their prince Christ Iesus putting on him the nature of man and comming into the world they haue not ceased to beholde and enioy his corporall presence and now sitting as it were in court or Parliament with him continuallie see his royaltie and heare him speake such speeches as no eare of man hath heard nor heart can conceiue Yes happie sure are all Christians which are subiects to Christ Iesus see him by the eye of faith though not of the body more happie are the Angels which stand euer before him and heare his wisdome Most blessed bee the Lorde God the father which so loued his sonne as to set him one the throne of Israel because the Lord loued Israel for euer and made him king to doo equitie and righteousnes From this loue of GOD it hath proceeded also that Christ Iesus hath beene preached among the Nations The Angels of whome wee sake a little before were not onely beholders of Christ Iesus but Heralds who blazed abroad his armes and proclaymed the mysteries of his conception birth resurrection and ascention Next after Iohn the baptist the Lord himselfe the Angels succeeded the Apostles and seuentie disciples who all were immediately called by our sauiour himself to preach the word to work miracles Luk. 9.1 Luk. 10.1 were sent not to one place or congregation onely but the 12. Apostles to many natiōs the 70. disciples to many cities as our sauiours commaundement and their practise testifieth After these seuentie and besides the twelue Apostles the Lorde extraordinarilie raysed vp and added in mercy to the forenamed labourers in his haruest Euangelists and these againe were of two sorts for some of them penned stories of the gospell Act. 21.8 1 Tim. 4.5 Act. 11.28 as Luke and Marke some onely published the gospell by preaching as Timothie and Phillip At
Luke 7.30 31. refused and contemned by any certainlie such as despise the Lords ordinance the kingdome of GOD against themselues are not to thinke that their paths whether loose or straight either please the almightie or will bring them to happines seeing they leaue the royall and beaten way wherein the faithfull vsuallie walk vnto saluation and which the Lord himselfe hath paued and chalked out vnto that intent and purpose Wherby as the necessitie of the preaching of the word so the excellencie of the mysterie of the Gospel yet further is made manifest vnto vs. The Kings and Princes of this world haue vnder them their deputies and inferious officers in all places of their iurisdiction who determine causes and gouerne those townes and places which are committed vnto their care and charge Euen so Christ Iesus the King of glorie ascending into heauen and leading captiuitie captiue Psal 68.17 gaue gifts vnto men and placed vnder him spirituall Magistrates in his church Indeed the calling of the ciuill Magistrate is not onely such an ordinance of God as both euerie soule ought to be subiect vnto Rom. 13.1 and euerie estate honour and reuerence as the highest and brightest glorie vnder heauen 1 Pet. 2.17 but such a gift of his vnto the Christian Church 1. Tim. 2 2 as that when she enioieth it she enioieth a crown of comfort and assistance when she wanteth it she wanteth a tower of succour and defence Lamen 2.2 Wherefore the eternall wisedome of God touching whō all this while we speak going about in the booke of the Prouerbs to declare what great gifts she hath in her hand to giue to mankind and vseth to bestowe on her Church breaketh out into this speach as on a sodaine By me Kings raigne and Princes decree iustice In the prophesie of Esay Pro. ◠15 the Lord foretelling how bountifullie he would deale with his Church in the last daies Esa 49.23 affirmeth and promiseth that Kings shall bee nursing fathers and Queenes shall bee nursing mothers vnto it But besides the politique gouernment or cruil Magistracie the Lord hath giuen to his Church the order of the Ministerie or state ecclesiasticall that these two callings might be as the two eyes of the world or as the two pearles of the Christian assemblie vppon earth For as this our Apostle testifieth vnto the Ephesians our Sauiour ascending into heauen gaue gifts vnto men to wit as he expoundeth these gifts the callings of Apostles Euangelists Ephe. 4.8 such other ministers of the word The common wealth of Israel then is not without her spirituall Magistrates but she partly hath had partlie hath her gouernours of sundrie sortes as the Apostle declareth Wherein as before hath been affirmed and after shall be made more euident the excellencie of the mysterie of Christ Iesus and also of his ministerie appeareth which is occupied about the soules of men and was cast downe from his treasure house aboue as a most precious Iewell euen then when our Sauiour ascended into heauen But moreouer beholde our heauenlie soueraigne Christ hath sent foorth his embassadors to the Iewes Graecians Scythians Fgyptians Morians Medes Persians yea as here is affirmed vnto all nations among which by thē his name hath been and is proclaymed Nay that which is more the Lords messengers and publishers of his will succeede one another from generation to generatiō remaining in spight of Sathan and of the wicked in all places and ages As for the Monarches or Emperours of this world they vse to send their embassadors not vnto the endes of the worlde or all nations but to some fewe countries and neere vnto thē Their custome is to cause their decrees to be proclaimed only in some Cities or for a fewe daies not from time to time and in all the coasts of the earth But the Lords Legats thus succeeding one another preaching in many countries it commeth to passe that the kingdom of Christ Iesus by the course of the word is hath been and shall be from time to time glorified and inlarged in all places For as further is added in the next argument of the excellencie of the Gospell God hath been beleeued in the world Wherein the mighty power and exceeding bountie of the Lord is further manifested vnto vs. For preaching is a signe of grace offered but faith of grace bestowed of eternall saluation By the gift of faith enemies are made children beggars princes limmes of sathan members of Christ fire-brands of hell Ephe. 3.6 heires of heauen old creatures newe slaues freemen captiues conquerours yea more than conquerours in Christ Iesus Now herein the riches of God mercie further appeare that Christ Iesus is beleeued not in a corner of the world but throughout the world I will make mention saith the Lord by the Prophet of Rahab and Babell among them that knowe me behold the Philistian with him of Tire and the Aethiopian is borne there Psal 87. And of Sion it shall be saide many are borne in her and he euen the most high shall establish her The Lord shall count when he writeth his people this man is borne there Selab This assemblie of the faithful people of all times places and sorts of persons called in the Scripture not Rome but heauenlie Ierusalem is that Catholicke or vniuersall Church which Gal. 4.26 whosoeuer hath not his mother on earth cannot haue GOD his father in heauen Part of this Church is alreadie in the highest heauens triumphing parte of it warfaring heere on the earth belowe parte of it neither in heauen nor on earth as yet but hereafter to bee first in this world secondlie in the world to come The triumphant beleeuers are hidden in the heauens the pilgrim beleeuers beeing mingled as yellowe corne with chaffe on earth are scant discerned the beleeuers to bee borne haue no being saue in the loynes onely of their forefathers Faith is a thing not grounded on sense or reason God is inuisible Christ was a crucified person is withdrawn from vs as concerning his bodilie presence the spirite is secrete the world is wide men are wicked tyrants rage yet GOD hath been beleeued is beleeued and shall be beleeued in the world O depth vnsearchable O glorious mysterie The vse hereof is that euerie one trie whether hee haue that annoynting that seale Ephe. 4.27 2. Co. 1.22 that earnest ponie and that witnes of the spirit in him or no which if he finde he is to bee more thankfull to God for it than if he had receiued the greatest benefite in the world besides If he feele not to sobbe and sigh and pray that God would testifie to his spirit that he is his father and bestow on him this good and heauenlie gift rather than any earthly blessing whatsoeeuer But chieflie he is to forsake his euill course of life Esa 1.16 to walke with God and man in the vprightnes of his heart
which grace going before the peace of hart will vndoubtedlie follow after arising from the sight of the generalitie and largenes of Gods promises Heb. 8.10 and the experience of Gods daylie mercies Psal 77. and knowledge of the mysterie of christ Iesus here extolled Ephe. 3.18 The last point of this mysterie or proofe of the excellencie thereof is that God hath been taken vp inglorie It was more than a miracle that the worme before spoken of should returne to life and that the second Ionas lying three daies three nights not aliue but quite dead in the belly of the earth did breake the yron bands of the graue and stand vpon the grounde yea in diuers places preach this Gospell to his disciples Luk. 24.13 after that he was risen againe from the dead Act. 1.9 But what was it then that his flesh should mount vppon the clowdes as it were vppon an horse Heb. 1.3 What was his entrance into the tabernacles not made with hands Psal 97.7 what was the Angels worshipping of him the fathers enstalling him in a throne at his right hand Certainlie the glorie of the resurrection of our Sauiour seemeth not to bee glorious in regarde of that exceeding glorie into which he is exalted by his ascention farre aboue all powers and principalities and all creatures whatsoeuer Now here wee may behold the sonne of GOD leading captiuitie captiue giuing giftes vnto men teaching vs as Eagles to mount aloft sitting by the father as the next person by whom he gouerneth the Churche prouiding and dressing as it were many Tabernacles for the elect and preparing a tribunall seate to returne to iudge the earth Wherefore as his ascending into heauen was exceeding glorious so his descending thence shall yet much more abound in glorie For then hee shall appeare vnto the eyes not of a few but of all flesh Rom 1.7 not in the contemptible shape of a base seruant but in the bright and dreadfull maiestie of the King and Iudge of the whole world Act. 1.11 At that great day the day of Doome or Iudgement knowne onely to GOD but which cannot be far of from men these writs to wit the Sun darkned Luk 21.25 Mat. 24.11 the moone bloudy the starres trembling the planets falling down shall goe abroad to summon the inhabitants of the earth vnto the court where in all causes shall be ended all confusion of this world shall bee corrected Then oh where shall the amazed people and chayned prisoners either fast their footing or hide their heads Luk. 24.16 2. Pet. 3.10 when tottering Heauens and trembling earth with toring sea arresting them before the Tribunal seate of the sonne of God the clowdie roabe of the reuenging Iudge shall terrifie the eyes both of mortall wightes and diuels 1. Thes 4.16 And will not the last Trumpet blowne with the blast not of a man but of that Archangel cause the eares of the creatures to tingle and burne when it shall sound a dolefull and fearefull alarum Yet againe much more dreadfull must needes bee the smokie fire 1. Thes 1.8 which as breathed out of the nostrels of the angrie Iudge shal cause the Elements to boyle the townes and Cities of the world to bee turned into ashes the faces and skinnes of men to be changed as into tinder Then then the graues Reu. 20.13 14 the waues the pittes yea hell it selfe also as the generall iay lours of the whole World shall bring foorth their dead and buried prisoners to receiue their finall doome at this solemne sessions Thus all sortes of people arrained at the barre and gathered by the Angels as by sericants or officers shall by them with their hands Mat. 13.49 and billes or swordes as it were be held and hemmed in on euery side Here now the scrowles of mens consciences as euidences Reu. 20. â—â— must needes bee vnfoulded the books spoken off in the Reuelation shall also be vnclasped and openlie read After that all mortall wights haue thus been gathered together then shall a separation bee made of them by the Iudge Mat. 10.32 by whom they shall bee deuided into two sorts Elect and reprobate and placed at his two sides the right hand the left After these things Christ first shall pronounce sentence on the chosen saying to them Mat. 25.34 Come ye blessed of my father possesse as heires the kingdome prepared for you before the foundations of the world were layd Then placing the Elect on thrones 1. Cor. 6 2. as benchers together with him to iudge the World he shall pronounce the sentence of condemnation on the reprobate saying to them Departe from mee yee cursed into euerlasting fire Mat. 25.41 which is prepared for the diuell and his Angels Thus shal al men for euer enioy their due reward the second life or the second death And Omortall men what do ye then meane so to loue the world as if it neuer should haue an end O vngodly wretches and enemies to all piety in these daies as prophane as Esan yea more prophane vngodly than hee or Herod euer was will ye needs fulfill the iniquitie of your fathers graund-fathers great graund-fathers Well then proceed to worship stockes and stones to heare Masses and to creepe to Crosses cease not to sweare dayly hourely continually falsly vainely proudly blasphemously as yee doo without controlement braue it sport it feast it loyter it or if yee will do something labour drudge run and ride on the Lords sabaoth as your manner is disdaine despise curse murmur and rebell against your magistrates teachers parents masters superiours imbâ—ue your hearts hands tongues and weapons in innocent bloud sparing neither bodies good names nor soules of old fathers men women little children bath your selues in daintines wantonnes idlenes drunkennes hunting hanking carding dicing and all kindes of pastime vnderpin your houses with the bones of your poore tenaunts neighbours brethren kinsfolke lay the foundations of them on their carcases hang theÌ„ about with theÌ„ir skinnes yea and with the skinnes of their wiues and children a goodly kinde of tapisterie plaister them with their entralles paint them with their bloud wash them euery day with their teares To conclude O crooked and peruerse generation trample vnder your feete the precious bloud of GOD manifested in the flesh iustified in the spirit seene of Angels preached vnto the Nations beleeued in the world receiued vp in glorie but knowe that for all these things hee shall come vnto iudgement Neuerthelesse as concerning those vnto whom the mysterie of godlines seemeth without doubte very great vnto whom Christ Iesus is the only treasure in the world who indeauour with vprightnes to obey his lawes and word there is no cause why they should quake to thinke on his returne to iudgement but rather great reason why they should pray come Lord Iesus Reu. 22.20 come quickly For seeing he hath shed his
precious bloud for you will he or can he pronounce a bloudie sentence against you Is it credible that the head which laide it selfe down for the body wil adiudge his members vnto torment Should the spouse bought with a price aboue gold orsiluer and loued more entirely than any treasure be afraid to see hir most amiable husbands face Is there no more fauour or tender affection in an elder brother than to deale with boanes of his boanes flesh of his flesh rigorously Will a gracious King rather cruelly slay his subiects crauing pardon than shew his mercy in sauing and aduancing them to honour Was the Sonne of GOD sometimes so carefull a shepheard as to seeke that which was lost and will hee not preserue that which he hath found To conclude therefore he was first manifested in the flesh and after receiued vp in glorie that whosoeuer beleeue in him should not perish but haue life euerlasting and bee made Kings and Priests with him for euer obeying the Lorde without resistance seruing him without corruption gouerned by him as by a glorified priest and Prophet without such temporall meanes as now are in vse yea as are very necessarie and profitable for the faithful warfaring heere on earth But at that time shall tongues cease and prophesie be abolished 1. Cor. 13.1 and Christ Iesus shall deliuer vp to his Father the temporall part of his rule 1. Cor. 15.24 which now he exerciseth not onely in the world but in the Church For now he instructeth his people by the Ministerie of men then they shall not need any such teachers now he feedeth them by outward Sacraments but then hee shall bee the onely Lambe and bread of life now he fighteth against or resisteth satan but then he shall so breake his head that hee shall fully conquer him Finally now hee is to come to iudge the world and to raise vp the dead but hereafter hee shall cease from these workes Neuerthelesse still he shall remaine the light glorie Reuel 21.22 23. and flower of the temple gouerning both Angels and men immediatlie by his person and his spirit Thus Elect creatures shall as members be vnited vnto God and God shall bee all in all euen the Father to whom with the Sonne and the Spirite three persons and one heauenly Maiestie bee all praise and glory both now and euer Amen Amen Rom. 11.33 O ther deepenes of the riches both of the wisdome and knowledge of God how vnsearchable are his iudgements and his waies past finding out FINIS A request to the Chri stian Reader GEntle Reader I have herein onelie drawne the picture of Christ Iesus after a rude and simple manner as it were with a peece of chalke or with a coale But if thou shalt seeke him in the Ministerie or preaching of the worde and the Lord withall shall cause the day starre to arise in thine heart thou shalt see him so liuelie painted before thine eyes beholde him so clerelie as in a Cristall glasse that thou shalt be transformed into his image from glorie to glorie not continuing in sinne because grace dooth abound for thou hast not so learned Christ but putting off the olde man Ephes 4. and putting on the new man which is created according to God in righteousnes and true holines No more vnto thee whosoeuer thou art which louest Christ Iesus at this present saue onely thus much let him be the treasure of â—hine heart Manie say oh if one would cause vs to see good oh Iehoua lift thou vp the light of thy countenance on vs. Psalm 4.7 Then shalt thou put greater ioye into our heart than of the time wherein their corne and new wine have beene increased Farewell