which wee will not bee seene to performe our selues for wee bee commaunded the contrary that wee compel and command so many as we can to the obseruation of the Saboth which if wee doe not their sinnes no doubt run euery Saboth vpon our score here be guiltie of spirituall murther all such maisters as retaine seruants like horses and mules in a barbarous kinde of seruitude on the Saboth from the publike meanes of their saluation Let all such remember the speciall charge of God directly sent vnto them in this Law Eph. 6.5.9 Col. 3 21. Tit. 2.9 1. Pet. 2.18 and remember that they haue a great Lord in heauen whose wrath is as a consuming fire Punishments for the breach of the Saboth are these Punishments for breach of Saboth Floods in faires with vs. Scaffols falling to the destruction and hurt of many in stage-plaies Some punished to teach the rest But not al to shew there is a day of iudgement First by the Law of God in old time as wee may reade Num. 15.32 death of body Secondly by old Councels excommunication that those which denie their presence to the Church in earth by wilfull negligence may bee euer cut off from the assemblie of the righteous Thirdly wee haue had in the time of fayers on the Saboth day diuers great flouds to the losse of goods and life in many places and this sinne wee retaine of the Italians which make their sunday a day of market Fourthly many times at beare bayting the falling of scaffolds wherby men women and children haue lost some their liues some their limbes and the women with childe haue not beene spared as is yet fresh in the memorie of wise men within the space of twentie yeeres and certainely these were punished to be examples of admonition to the rest although all dyed not let none therefore gather that either they perished by chance of rotten posts or such like or that God did punish them that were slaine and hurt at their pleasures for some other cause but rather thinke that they which dyed perished for that sinne and that the residue are but reserued to a day of iudgement The tryall and examination of the conscience First consider well and examine thine owne heart as beeing set before the throne of the iustice of God whether thou hast at all times reuerently and honourably thought of the Saboth and of the publike ministrie of the word and Sacraments 2. Cor. 5. which God in wisedome hath appointed to be the holy meanes of thy saluation if thou canst not find this humble submission and reuerence of these diuine exercises in thine heart thy conscience pleads guiltie and this Law condemnes thee Secondly whether thou hast prepared thy selfe to meet to the Lord on the Saboth for the diuine maiestie and presence of God the father the Son and the holy Ghost doth fill the sanctuarie and doth reioyce in the holy assemblies of his Saints I say examaine thy selfe of thy preparation by reading meditation prayer conference if thou hast neglected this dutie thy Conscience cries guiltie and this Law condemnes thee Thirdly whether hauing vsed a Godly preparation before thou didst also religiously attend obserue the word of god both read and preached with such reuerence and meekenes as if thou hardest Christ himselfe read and preach vnto thee if thou hast not respected this dutie thy conscience cries guiltie and this law condemnes thee Fourthly Cares whether thy Soule hath not wandred about the cares of this life during the holy exercises on the Saboth that albeit thou wast present in body yet thy minde was so distracted that thy soule was absent and receiued no blessing by any of the holy exercises of the Saboth if thy conscience crie guiltie this Law condemnes thee Fiftlie whether thou hast bestowed this day wholy in diuine exercises as thou art commanded namely in hearing reading meditation conference for the better vnderstanding of things heard and receiued by the publike ministrie if thou hast neglected this dutie thy conscience cries guiltie and this Law condemnes thee Sixtly and because this Law giues speciall charge concerning the familie our sonnes and daughters men seruants and maide seruant inquire whether on the Saboth thou hast not respected these both to bring them also to the holy assemblies and by priuate conference to cause them to vnderstand the things they haue heard so instructing them in the knowledge of the truth that they may learne also the true sanctification of the Saboth if thou hast neglected this dutie thy conscience cries guiltie and this Law condemnes thee Seauenthly inquire whether after the exercises of the Saboth thou hast remembred the poore and the sicke to releaue the one and to comfort the other if thou hast neglected these duties thy conscience cries guiltie and this law condemnes thee The Minister of Christ Eightly inquire if thou bee the minister of Christ with what care and conscience with what feare and faith thou hast sanctified the Lords Saboth in the preaching of Gods word and administration of the sacraments for he is accursed that doth the Lords work negligently wherefore if thou hast beene negligent in thy dutie thy conscience cries guiltie and this Law condemnes thee Ninthly whether thou hast admitted any knowne wicked sinners to the blessed Communion without any admonition that they may bee reclaimed to grace and to vnfained repentance that they prophane not the holy misteries of Christ and whether thou hast not sorrowed deepely in heart if any such haue past if thou hast neglected these duties thy conscience cries guilie and this Law condemnes thee Tenthly whether thou hast sought and endeauored to plant in the hearts and mindes of all in thy charge with all thy might the cheefe grounds of holy religion which wee call the Catechisme which euery man is bound to learne and know perfectly if thou hast neglected this dutie thy conscience cries guiltie and this Law condemnes thee Eleauenthly whether any playes or fighters bee suffered in Church or Church-yard or in any other place appointed for gods holy worship such as by authoritie may restraine these enormities do not their cōsciences cry guiltie Twelftly If thou hast any way impaired or infringed the right of Churches the maintenance of Gods publike ministrie orintermedled with the benefices Mal. 3.8 Rom. 2.22 tithes and anuities of Churches due to the ministers of Christ which attend the charge of soules thou hast committed sacriledge and thy conscience cries guiltie and this Law condemnes thee 13. lastly whether thou hast spēt the Saboth or any part of the Saboth in the workes of thine ordinarie calling or in lawfull recreations games or in feasting dicing dauncing or in any such exercises lawfull or vnlawfull if thy conscience crie guiltie this Law condemns thee and thou art in the hand of God to receiue sentence euery day houre and minute The fift Law Honour thy Father and thy Mother Verse 12. Tremel
by the 23. Psalme on this manner When the great shepeheard of our soules our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ shall haue fed vs well in the greene pastures of his word when we haue druncke well of his sweete waters the graces of his spirit when by his word and spirit hee hath couerted our soules when hee hath well trayned and schooled vs in the pathes of holinesse and true righteousnesse then beegin wee to make this comfortable conclusion of faith in our hearts The Lord Iesus Christ is my true Sauiour and shepeheard of my soule 3. Conclusions of faith against 3. kindes of feares commō to all the faithfull 1. Feare of wants 2. Feare of death 3. Feare and doubt of election and perseuerance Psal 15.1 And out of this argument wee conclude three other conclusions of Faith first I am well assured I shall neuer want any thing that is good for my body and soule Secondly I shall not feare that is bee oppressed with feare in the valley of the shadow of death euen when death it selfe approcheth Thirdly against all doubts of election and grace of perseuerance Doubtlesse kindnesse and mercie shall follow me for euer that is I shall liue in Gods fauour and Church on earth for a time and in heauen for euer Thus by degrees wee grow vnto that comfortable assurance of Faith and to that sweet * Rom. 5.1.2 reioycing in hope of the glory of God And yet when a man is come to this ripenesse and perfection of faith this man otherwhiles may bee so weake in the apprehension of Gods mercie and in the assurance of the pardon of sinnes specially if either hee hath liued in grose sinnes before his conuersion or hath fallen to anie one after grace receiued that albeit grace and peace bee offred most comfortably both by the outward ministrie of the word and the inward working of the spirit vnto the conscience yet the assurance of grace and the spirit of adoption seales not the pardon till a man bee well humbled and hath renued his repentance albeit the Lord long before hath past the graunt of the pardon of those sinnes vnto him Dauids example cleeres this vnto vs The Lord pardons his grieuous sinnes of Adultrie and Murther this is published by the Prophet and put as it were into his hand and heart yet hee is not comforted in the assurance of the pardon nor receiues the blessed seale of adoption before he had long exercised and humbled his heart in repentance Confer 2. Sam. 12.13 with the 51. Psalme Quest 11. What are those things which a Christian must of necessitie beleeue and in beleeuing professe and confesse in the visible Church of God before his people and before his enemies men and Angels Ans To beleeue with the heart brings a man to the assurance of righteousnesse Rom. 10.10 and to professe with the mouth is the way to saluation Wee are to beleeue all and euerie word of God specially the promises of the Gospell which are vnto vs as the legacies of the last will of Iesus Christ and when we shall haue knowne and beleeued them wee must for our further confirmation and that wee may be discerned from all Atheists and vnbeleeuers learne to make true confession of the faith we hold in that forme we haue most excellently set downe in the Creede commonly called the Apostolicall Symbole or the Apostles Creed Quest 12. Tell me how many Creeds be there and which is the best and what they containe Ans There haue beene many formes set downe since the Apostles time and yet all of one and the same in substance And they may well bee referred to three kindes First generall Creedes receiued with the authoritie and the generall consent of the Catholick Church as the Apostolicall and * Nicene Creede Secondly particular Ruff. 1. ch 5. Creedes either nationall or of particular Churches as of the Church of England France Scotland Thirdly proper Creeds as that of Athanasius and that of Constantine to the king of Persia or of any one man and these we may call the confessions of priuate men The Apostolicall Creed is most worthy most ancient most Catholike and of greatest authoritie commonly called the Symbole of the Apostles Symbolum Apostolorum a Simbole because it is a speciall note to discerne Christians from vnbeleeuers Apostolicall because it was gathered out of the writings of the Apostles and is most consonant with all the holy Scriptures and all other Creedes are but an exposition and enlargement for the better cleering of this This Creed was deliuered in this forme because the conuerts in elder ages which came to professe Christ in their Baptisme were to make answere before the congregation to this question How dost thou beleeue or what beleeuest thou The answere hee made was according to the forme of the Creed I beleeue in God c. This Creede sets beefore in a short view to helpe our memories all whatsoeuer wee are principally to hold and beeleeue concerning saluation And these points here set downe be so necessarie and so linked together that if ye denie any one yee deny all if yee renounce any one yee can not bee saued Againe they are commonly diuided into twelue Articles or branches which for our better edification may be set downe in this forme as followeth 1 I beleeue in God the Father almightie maker of heauen and earth 2 I beleeue in Iesus Christ his onelie Sonne our Lord. 3 I beleeue that Iesus Christ was conceiued by the holie Ghost borne of the Virgin Mary 4 I beleeue that Iesus Christ suffered vnder Pontius Pilat was crucified dead and buried descended into hell 5 I beleeue that Iesus Christ rose againe the third day from the dead 6 I beleeue that Iesus Christ ascended into heauen and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almightie 7 I beleeue that Iesus Christ shall come from thence to iudge the quick and the dead 8 I beleeue in the holie Ghost 9 I beleeue the holie Catholike Church the communion of Saints 10 I beleeue the forgiuenesse of sinnes 11 I beleeue the resurrection of the flesh 12 I beleeue the life euerlasting Amen Quest 13 What are the speciall parts of this Creed Ans This Confession of the Faith hath two principall parts First the confession of our Faith concerning God first the Father Act. 1. secondly the Sonne 2.3.4.5.6.7 thirdly the holy Ghost Act. 8. Secondly the confession of our faith concerning the Church that first it is Catholike Act. 9. Secondly it hath the communion of Saints Act. 9. Thirdly it hath remission of sinnes Act. 10. Fourthly that it shall haue a holy resurrection Act. 11. Fifty that it shall haue euerlasting life and glory Act. 12. Quest 14. First what beeleeue and professe you in this Creed and according to this Creed concerning God Ans I professe and say in this Creede that I beleeue in God the Father I beleeue in God the Sonne and I beleeue
with what feare and trembling with what simplicitie and faithfulnesse of hart they obey and serue their Maisters with what meeknesse of spirit they receiue their admonitions and corrections how they hate eye seruice answering againe fraud theft and to obay their Maisters in things vnlawfull if in any of these thy conscience cries guiltie this Law condemnes thee Ninthly let Magistrates examine well themselues Magistrates how they enter their callings without gifts to discharge them wisdome iudgement courage and the rest before specified what Lawes and Decrees they haue enacted for Religion and Iustice how they haue respected equitie and truth in iudgement how they redresse enormities and sinnes according to their authoritie and place if in any of these thy conscience pleads guiltie this Law condemnes thee Tenthly Subiects must examine themselues how they haue obayed the Magistrates with what conscience they haue construed and obeyed the Lawes and Statutes of the Land whether they haue prayed for their Gouernours and haue patiently borne the wicked set ouer them of God for their chastisement euery subiect not respecting these duties his conscience pleads guiltie The sixt Law Question 118. THe sixt Law is this Thou shalt not murther what is the meaning of this Law what duties bee here commanded and what sinnes are forbiden Ans First these two Lawes following fitly follow one an other first for that the one is often the cause of the other Adultry and Intemperancie breed many quarrels and murthers secondly for that Adultrie or defiling of a mans wife is next in degree to the sinne of Murther thirdly for that a heart full of compassion and loue and a chast heart goe euer together Againe the Lord is large in the fiue former commandements but short heare first because the light of nature is not so darkned in vs concerning these as in the former therefore hee vseth most words where most need is secondly for that wee are more hardly drawne to the obedidience of the first Table thirdly for that the obseruation of the first Table puts a new life into vs for the obseruation of the second The Heathen were very blinde concerning God neither did they know the depth of these Lawes of the second Table Our Lord and Sauiour Christ is the best expositor and preacher of this Law who himselfe expoundeth it in these words Mat. 5.21.22 Ye haue heard that it was said vnto them of old time Thou shalt not kill but whosoeuer killeth shall be culpable of iudgement But I say vnto you whosoeuer is angry with his brother vnaduisedly shall be culpable of iudgement And whosoeuer saith vnto his brother Raca shall be worthy to be punished by the counsell And whosoeuer shall say foole shall be worthy to be punished with hell fire In this exposition of our Sauiour Christ wee may learne many things but first generally let vs obserue these two things First how hee doth taxe and reprehend the pharisaicall glosse and interpretation of this Law Their interpretation was onely of the externall act of murther saying whosoeuer killeth shall be culpable of iudgement and this exposition of externall murther they vrge by authoritie of the auncients saying that thus the learned Fathers vnderstoode this Law saying you haue heard that is by Scribes and Pharises sitting in Moses seate by Auncients that is old Rabbies and Teachers culpable of iudgement saying whosoeuer killeth wittingly or vnwittingly willingly or vnwillingly he shall bee apprehended and adiudged in iudgement whereby is meant the inferiour courts of iustice which were kept in all parts of Iewrie and here they did qualifie and corrupt iustice and lessen punishments often contrary to Law Wee see by these few examples how corrupt the iudgement was of the Iewish Rabbines as Mat. 15. and how Christ cals them back to the Law and Prophets Thus by degrees the Fathers since Christ fell from the Gospell at last came the Schoole men and set vp Antichrist Secondly hee giueth vs his owne true interpretation of the Law where hee teacheth vs clearely that there are three kinds of murther worthy of three kindes of iudgements or punishments First the murther of the heart which is anger vnaduised for all anger is not condemned There is a Godly anger in christian zeale the whetstone of fortitude this murther to say no more is worthy your iudgement that is your correction and punishment yee doe inflict in inferiour courts Secondly the murther of the fierce countenance with addicion of some foolish word in contempt with an euill gesture and behauiour of countenance mouth tongue head hand or such like Now for this contempt of thy brother saith Christ to say no more of this kinde of murther it is worthy to bee punished by a * This Court was for the greater offences here he meaneth the synedrion in Ierusalem a court of seauentie two iudges counsell that is in an open consistorie euen in your highest courts Thirdly the next kinde of murther which the Pharises and world count light and small is the murther of the tongue whosoeuer saith Christ shall reprochfully call his brother a foole this man I tell you deserues euen the torments of hell Wee see then by the words of the best interpreter what the scope of this Law is namely the preseruation of the life and person of man for this Law striketh at the root of cruelty a sinne deepely setled in the corrupt heart of man The meaning of this Law in few words is this Thou shalt not any way greeue offend or hurt thy neighbour in his person part or whole soule or body Neither shalt thou omit any dutie of mercy or labour of loue for the good comfort health peace and welfare and continuall preseruation and saluation of thy neighbour during life And that this interpretation must be of inward sinnes as well as of outward contrary to the Pharises the Disciple testifieth with his Master saying 1. Iohn 3. He that hateth his brother is a murtherer And God being a spirit his Law must needs be spirituall for the restraining not onely of the hand but also of the heart Wherefore it is euident that in this Law the Lord would cut downe all the causes occasions and secret roots of cruelty which grow in our corrupt nature The Lord would haue our fallow ground plowed and the secret thorns of hatred and mallice digged vp for that these imbred euills are deepely rooted in vs. Quest 119. Set downe a short summe of the speciall sins forbidden and vertues commaunded in this Law Ans The generall sinnes here condemned are these for this respecteth all creatures first want of humanitie or any cruell vsage of any of the creatures for this cause the godly is said to haue respect to the life of his beast Prou. 12.10 secondly want of a prouident fore-sight to preuent dangers which may be hurtfull to man or beast The speciall sinnes here condemned are these either crueltie against our selues first soule murther as to neglect
among Gods people And thē the poore man maried shal be blessed in the Church of God as well as the rich and as for the most part as daily experience teacheth vs more comforted and blessed in his wife and children Of this point Master * The Martyr Hooper speaks on this manner They be worthely condemned that for pouertie foolish vowes or for easinesse of life refuse matrimonie and tarrie in the present danger of fornication of the concupiscence of the flesh c. Lastly the old Pagan Romaines commended mariage in the poorest Secondly the second barre and preseruatiue of a chast life in temperancie and sobrietie in meates and apparell how profitable this vertue is at all times and how needfull also the religious fast and abstinence is for the humbling of our soules and bodies as often as wee bee called and occasioned hereunto all wise men know and haue euer testified with God and his word in all ages And contrarily how fulnesse of meates and excesse in apparell doe so carry men headlong into all loosenesse that they cannot bee contained by any good meanes within the bounds and lysts of a chast life Thirdly the third barre and preseruatiue of chastitie is prayer This is such a holy worke of the spirit of sanctification in vs as can neuer proceede from vs vnto God nor returne vnto vs with comfort but when the heart is purified by faith and our whole bodie and soule and spirit bee kept as chast vessels of holinesse and honour to serue the liuing God So that prayer preserues chastitie and chastitie fits and helps vs vnto prayer Fourthly the fourth barre of a chast life is the societie and companie of the faithfull This the Apostle sheweth saying flee lusts of youth follow after righteousnes faith 2. Tim. 2.22 loue and peace how this may be done is intimated in these words keepe with them which call on the Lord with a pure heart And of this Salomon speaketh Prou. 13.20 he that walketh with the wise shall be blessed but a companion of fooles shall bee afflicted Of this the Psalmist warneth vs by his owne example Psal 119. saying I am a companion of such as feare the Lord. And wee bee often charged at no hand to conuerse with the wicked Psal 1.1 least we be tainted by them for he that toucheth pitch can not be vndefiled and a speciall prohibition is giuen vs to auoid the cōpanie of all vnclean persons Ep. 5.3.4.5 where the Lord assuring vs that such haue no portion of inheritance with Christ in his kingdome he cōcludeth be not therefore companions with them Fiftly the fift barre and preseruatiue of a chast life is to trauell and labour in a calling allowed of God How dangerous idlenes is pestring the Church and common wealth as with many grose sinnes so with the sins of whoredomes and adulteries in speciall manner was before shewed Contrarily the continuall labour of an honest calling doth so exercise body and minde and the whole man that such men specially hauing tasted of godlinesse and hauing put on Christ can not so easily be baited when occasion is offred neither doe they take such thought as the Idle man for the flesh to fulfill the lusts of it Rom. 13.14 Quest 133. Now proceede to the examination of the Conscience Ans Heere for the vse of all that hath beene taught concerning this Law euery man must enter into his owne heart for the diligent examination of his owne Conscience And because Christ hath taught vs that there is an Adultrie of the heart as wee haue heard First inquire whether in any place or time thou hast giuen thine heart leaue to thinke vpon vncleane and filthie matters and motions how farre thou hast intertained and delighted and dwelt on such vnchast matters if thy Conscience herein pleade guiltie of any consent it is the breach of this commandement and this Law comdemnes thee Secondly Inquire whether seeing any woman young or old thou hast burnt inwardly in lust towards her and in this lust hast consented and practised to obtaine thy filthy harts desire if thy conscience cries guiltie this Law condemnes thee Thirdly inquire whether thou hast vsed any lures to fill thine eyes with adultry as naked pictures an vnchast countenance becks signes as painting laying out of haire stage-plaies amorous dauncings strange and whorish attire drinkings feastings and such like if thy conscicence cry guiltie this law condemnes thee Fourthly inquire whether selfe-loue hath so beewitched thee that thou hast thought thy selfe eyther for beautie or other gifts of body or minde to bee the very minion of the world able to allure any to commit filthinesse with thee if thy conscience cry guiltie this Law condemnes thee Fiftly inquire whether thou hast beene infected with the lures of vanitie to fill thine eares with adultrie whether thou hast taken any delight in reporting and remembring thine owne or other mens vncleane practises filthie vnsauerie wanton and whorish speeches amorous lookes songs if thy conscience plead guiltie this Law condemnes thee Sixtly inquire whether thou hast fedde thine owne senses and parts of thy body with any other inticements vnto vncleannesse as the braine by curious and costly confections of strange perfumes to allure thy selfe and others to vncleannes if thy conscience plead guilty this Law condemnes thee Seauenthly inquire whether thou hast liued in a lawfull calling honestly or followed idlnesse or willingly consorted with such by whom thou mightest bee enticed and drawen away to commit filthinesse if thy conscience plead guilty this Law condemnes thee Eightly inquire whether thou hast euer committed any of the grose sinnes of actuall Adultrie or of whoredome or of incest or of those most vnnaturall sinnes of Sodome if thy conscience plead guiltie this Law condemnes thee Ninthly inquire whether thou hast maried for carnall respects for riches beautie and to satisfie thy carnall lusts with idolatry Atheist and such like and not in the Lord whether without consent of parents and parties if thy conscience plead guiltie this Law condemnes thee Tenthly inquire whether in the maried state thou hast beene carefull to keepe the mariage bed vndefiled carefully auoiding all bitternesse and occasion of iarres as also all whorish and immoderate lustes if thy conscience pleade guiltie this Law condemnes thee Eleauenthly inquire further whether thou hast giuen thy selfe any heathenish libertie or counselled others to fall into the sins of polyganie diuorcements or practised or occasioned or wincked at any pollution or vncleannesse which thou mightest by authoritie thy place word or countenance haue restrained if thy conscience plead giuiltie this law condemnes thee Twelftly Inquire with what care and conscience thou hast vsed the good helpes remedies and meanes which God hath giuen thee to preserue thy soule and bodie in holinesse and honour whether thou hast reiected mariage either as vncleane or as an vnquiet state of life whether thou hast carried thy selfe in a sober course of
was the knowledge and hope of the Fathers that liued before Christ concerning the kingdome of heauen but I would also faine know the titles and descriptions of this estate also out of the new Testament beecause I suppose that euery thing is therein reuealed more plainely openly and distinctly seing that as Lex est Euangelium praenunciatum So Euangelium est Lex impleta coelum praenunciatum that is the Law is the foretelling of the Gospell and the Gospell both the fulfilling of the Law and also the foreshewing of heauen Ans Indeede you conceiue aright of the Gospell and therefore it is very profitable to expresse and set downe the seuerall titles of the Elects estate out of the same and I will begin with that of our Sauiour Christ Mat. 5.3 Blessed are the poore in spirit for theirs is the kingdome of heauen Where you see that Christ stileth it by the name of a kingdome Quest 59. But I trust hee meaneth not that they shall be all kings and that there shall be no difference betwixt them but rather they shall haue a kingdome beetwixt them in common and euery one partake of some part but none of them of all Ans His meaning is that euery one shall haue a kingdome and not a part but the whole ioyes of heauen shall follow him without distribution or diuision neither shall any one of them haue any thing in that kingdome priuate but all shall pertake with him therein For this cause sayeth Saint Peter 1. Pet. 2.9 But yee are a chosen generation a royall priest-hood an holy nation a peculiar people that you should shew forth the vertues of him that hath called you out of darknes into this marueylous light And in the beeginning of the Reuelation of Saint Iohn Cha. 1. ver 6. And made vs kings and priests vnto God euen his father to him bee glory and dominion for euermore Amen Vnto these I might adde more testimonies if it were needefull but I will spare them because I know no man conceiues otherwise of it but that euery saued man and woman shall bee a king and queene and haue all royalty in the kingdome of God although this kingdome bee the Lords and Christs yet it is also the peculiar inheritance of euery one of the chosen Then this taken for confessed what a large meditation of eternall happinesse is herein offred to euery Godly man no lesse then a kingdome is thy hope and assurance my beloued brother So that if soueraintie and rule haue any blessednesse in it there thou shalt haue it if to haue a large territory and liberty the whole compasse of heauen which is many thousand times biggar then the earth shall bee thy dominion If thou wouldest haue companions to further thy ioyes and to remooue from thee slauish thoughts there they shall abound which shall flock vnto thee for thou shalt haue both the true and also fained glory of a king in a true sensible and perfect manner Quest 60. Now you haue made mention of that tell me I pray you according to the Scriptures your opinion how their agreement standeth with the royalty of this world Ans First you must not imagine or conceiue any thing carnally but spiritually and that the maiestie of the world to come put vpon euery righteous mans head doth far excell that which is here put vpon a mortall man for euery king is a mortall man for it standeth not in meate drinke gold siluer horses armes souldiers courtiers pallaces games and such like but in things more glorious then these whereof these are but shadowes and resemblances of no waight or moment And therfore the terme kindome is but a metaphor and borrowed speech to expresse the maiestie libertie authoritie pleasure dignitie power sufficiency and such other prerogatiues of the elect in that place And therefore wee read that as kings are so borne and chosen to their kingdomes so also are the inhabitants or kings in heauen either borne of Christian parents vnder the couenant of grace whereby in right of spirituall blood they haue direct spirituall title to that kingdome of glory and also if they bee not borne vnder the couenant but of Turks Iewes Pagans and Infidels yet in the eternall councell of God they are to bee drawen beside the ordinary manner into this regiment as Dauid to bee a king which was the Sonne of a Shepeheard and as all the kings of Polonia are at this day and the Emperour of Germanie and the king of the Romaines by election and suffrage of others so also doth the Lord conuert them dayly from Iudaisme Paganisme heathenisme heresie papisme and infidelitie to bee kings in this kingdome so that herein they may bee no let or hinderance but that by birth and descent being baptised and by conuersion and calling out of the lost multitude as it were by election God taketh into this glory dayly such as pertaine to euerlasting saluation Secondly wee read in stories and see by experience that kings haue crownes and diadems set vpon their heades as visible tokens and badges of the subiection of their people and of their owne royalty aboue other euen so haue the Elect for wee read in Saint Paul 2. Tim. 4.7.8 I haue fought a good fight I haue finished my course and haue kept the faith from henceforth is laid vp for me the crowne of righteousnesse which the Lord the righteous Iudge shall giue vnto mee at that day and not to mee onely but also to all them that loue his appearing By the crowne of righteousnesse hee meaneth the outward and visible ornament of the righteous least any man should think that the glory of heauen should rest onely in the inuisible content and spirituall satisfaction of the soule and mind the Apostle declareth plainely that there shall be an outward crowne of righteousnesse that is an outward token and badge of eminent glory vpon the heads of euery one of the Elect and that of righteousnesse because many of the kings in this world weare crownes of wrong gotten by treason as Zimri did or by pollicy as Darius did or by might and force as Edward the fourth from Henry the sixt or by any other sinister meanes so as their crownes be crowns of falsehood blood treason tiranny and vsurpation But this crowne of the Saints is a crowne of righteousnesse that is euery way righteous and likely to continue not gotten vniustly for no man can deceiue God not receiued vnworthily for they that weare it by reason that they haue beene the temples of the holy Ghost and haue followed Iesus Christ in the regeneration of this life vndergoing martyrdomes mortifications and many trauels for the Gospels sake are worthily rewarded with this crowne of righteousnesse Thirdly wee read and know that princes haue honour done vnto them not onely of their subiects and such as they rule but also of strangers and receiue gratulations of from forraine princes so also shall it be with the Saints in