they who most presume of their workes whilest they liue are glad if they haue the grace to dye in the faith renouncing all merit of workes to fly vnto the throne of grace for mercy h Iud. 20. v. 21. And yee beloned saith Saint Iude building vp your selues on your most holy faith praying in the holy Ghost keepe your selues in the loue of God looking for the mercy of our Lord Iesus Christ vnto eternall life Yet is not our saluation the lesse certaine because the finall accomplishment thereof is expected by hope and is not presently put into our owne hands For as our faith is so is our hope i Heb. 11.1 faith being the ground of things hoped for and the reason of the hope that is in vs both of them therefore are firme and sure because built vpon the rocke Christ Iesus k Mat. 16.18 Vpon this rocke as Saint Peter beleeued and confessed Thou l v. 16. art Christ the sonne of the liuing God the holy catholicke Church is built m v. 18. against which the gates of hell shall not preuaile but that euery true member thereof liuing and dying in the communion of saints shall notwithstanding sin death attaine by forgiuenesse of sinnes and the resurrection of the body eternall life And therefore n Rom. 5.2 wee reioice in hope of the glory of God as if wee had already attained To beleeue and hope as a Christian is not as the termes are vulgarly vsed and may perhaps sound in prophane eares to haue an vncertaine opinion and doubtfull expectation which indeed can bee no better in the things of men subiect to falshood and vanity But it is to be certainely assured fully perswaded and firmely resolued o 2 Tim. 1.12 knowing whom wee haue trusted that he is able to keepe that which wee haue committed to him against that day No weake nor vncertaine hold but p Heb. 6.19 an anchor of the soule both sure and stedfast entring into that which is within the vaile whither the fore runner euen Iesus is entred for vs. Faithfull hope is such an assurance q Rom. 8. as Saint Paul professeth by the helpe of Gods spirit knit together and firmely bound vp with that r 28.29.30 golden chaine of the certanity of saluation in Christ Iesus Wherevpon with a bold confidence he bids defiance to all the enimies of grace ſ v. 33. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect c. I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angells nor Principalities nor powers nor things preset nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any creature shall be able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. As our faith and affiance is more and more fixed in God thorough Iesus Christ by his spirit and approued vnto him by loue in well doing so is t Si quis credit etdiligit bene agendo prae ceptis obtemperando efficit vt etiam speret se ad id quod credit esse ventutum August de doctor Christ l. 1. cap. 37. the assurance of our saluation more and more confirmed in vs. For true u 1. Tim. 4.8 godlinesse hath the promises both of this life and of that which is to come Of this life * Mat. 6.33 Seeke ye first the kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof and all these things shill be administred vnto you And for the life to come x Pl. 50.23 To him that ordereth his conuersation aright will I shew the saluation of God Therefore as wee beleeue so wee pray in hope which is our last refuge that our heauenly Father who knoweth whereof we stand in need will in his ordinary prouidence giue vs things needfull for this life to whom hee hath giuen grace first to seeke his kingdome and the righteousnesse thereof y 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Est autem duplici honoris muneris genere homo affectus quod ipsesolus poenitentiâ veniam peccatorum impetrat et eius vnius corpus quamvis mortale caducum aeternll immortale redditur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quorum alterum quod ad corpus pertinet propter animum alterum quod ad animum propter corpus consecutus est Nemesius lib. de natura hominis c. 1. And that he will freely and fully forgine vs our daily sinnes and trespasses of his meere grace in Christ Iesus remembring whereof wee are made to whom he giues this grace for his sake to forgiue one another Farther wee beleeue and pray in hope that he will guid and keepe vs ever hereafter by his spirit in the way everlasting though it please him to lead vs thorough manifold temptations and that he will deliuer vs in the end from all evill even from death it selfe and from him that hath the power thereof that is the Divell by the resurrection of our bodies to the eternall praise of his kingdome power and glory in the life to come z The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me Thy mercy O Lord endureth for ever Forsake not the workes of thine owne hands Bread the a Lev. 26.26 staffe of life Our daily bread being the most necessary of all temporall things implies the rest It was God his decree that in b Gen. 3.19 the sweat of our browes wee should eat our bread and it is the Apostles iniunction in the name of the Lord Iesus c 2. Thes 3.10 that if any man will not work he shall not eat wherevpon hee exhorteth every one d V. 12. with quietnesse to worke and to eat his owne bread Although it bee our bread our owne bread yet it is Gods gift without whose blessing e Ps 127.2 it is in vaine to rise vp early and so late to take rest to eat the bread of carefulnesse f Iam. 4.2 Yee lust and haue not yee kill desire to haue and cannot obtaine yee fight and warre and yet yee haue not because yee aske not yee aske and receaue not because yee aske amisse that you may consume it on your lusts which should bee for our dayly and necessary vse Some haue not of their own to eat g Ps 128.2 But thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands O well is thee and happy shalt thou be others haue not the h Eccles 4.8 power to eat of their own either not the health or not the heart i 5.19 this is also the gift of God And he giues it power to k Ps 104.15 strengthen mans heart and to sustaine our life from day to day Therefore it is called l 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 6.11 daily bread adsubstantiall or supersubstantiall bread because being digested into our bodies it adds daily beyond its owne nature and substance thorough the blessing of God to our substance what the labour of life daily consumes What is there in
not onely as the great prophet expounding it aright and giuing the true meaning thereof against the vaine glosses of the Scribes and Pharises nor yet farther as the great high priest making satisfaction for our transgressions thereof but as the soveraigne Lord and King hee ratified it a royall law for euer And therefore in the Apostles commission he gaue them expresse charge to teach them Age Marcion omnesque iam commiserones coodibiles eius Haeretici quid audebitis dicere Resciditnè Christus priora praecepte non occidendi non adulterandi non furandi Ter. aduersus Marcion l. 4. c. 36. whom they baptised o Mat. 28.20 to do whatsoeuer he had commanded them Now wee know what commandement they gaue vs by the Lord Iesus the very same things in substance as Saint Paul reckons them vp 1. Thess 4. and elswhere which had beene formerly given in command by Moses were at first writtē in mans heart to know to do were ever acknowledged due by the light of nature Wherof they were very careful being tēder least by any means their doctrine of grace by p Rom. 3.31 faith should in that respect be misconstrued Wherefore the law remaines the perpetuall rule of our duty The Case whereby we should liue vnto God his glory though it be now altogether vnsufficient for our safety q Rom. 8.3 being weake through the flesh r Rom. 3 v. 19. Now we know that what things soever the law sayth it saith to them who are vnder the law from the which none are exempt Iew nor Gentile Christian nor Heathen that euery mouth may be stopped and all the world become guilty before God For by the deedes of the Law there shall no flesh be iustified in his sight Which wee are taught euer to acknowledge to the praise of the glory of his justice and mercy in the latter part of the prayer First that being shut out for the present from the tree of life in the Paradise of GOD whereof wee might haue eaten and haue liued for euer we now justly stand bound ouer vnto death liuing only vpon sufferance and begging our bread from day to day Secondly the guilt of sin by Natures admonition doth continually gaule our consciences with c Ipsa confusio verecundia quae semper turpitudinum castra sequuntur quasi crudelissimi carnisices conscientiae lacessunt improperant peccatori instant quasiquaedam Eumonides agitatrices furiae reprehensionis stimulos cordi saucio offigentes Ipsa se malitia praejudicat punit Arnold Bonaeval de operibus sex dier cap. 16. shame sorrow and feare whilest we doe nothing but trespasse one an other and all against GOD transgressing his righteous Law whereby our life is lost and death the forfeite and penalty of natures bond is a debt due by vs which we can not avoyde nor recouer vnlesse God shew mercy and forgiue Thirdly praying against temptations wee acknowledge that euery thing in the world which should haue beene for our wealth is now by Gods just proceedings become vnto vs d Quibus accedendo animae consentiendoque quam invexere sibi adjuvant servitutem sunt quodam modo propriâ libertate captivae Boeth lib. 5. pros 1. an occasion of falling For it is iust with God to e Fiunt eadem peccata peccatorum supplicia praeteritorum suppliciorum merita futurorum Aug. l. 5. c. 3. contra Iul. Pelag. punish vs by the same things wherby we haue offended him whilest through lust we take to heart all occasiōs of sin as tinder takes fire vse all means with rage and fury as fire doth fuell to accomplish our owne destruction These are the f 2 Tim. 2.26 snares of Satan vvherein hee taketh men captiues at his pleasure these are the chaines and fetters of darknes whereby he leadeth thē on that they g Psal 69.27 fall from one vvickednes to another and neuer come into the righteousnes of God without his speciall grace and mercy Thus h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Ioh. 5. v. 19 Heb. 2 14. he that hath the power of death that is the Deuill being Gods executioner holdeth men captiues through the feare of death all their life long and all the long life of eternall death vnder the power thereof i Psal 49.14 which gnaweth vpon them like sheepe that lye in Hell where the worme dieth not and the fire neuer goeth out Yet howsoeuer it fare with vs God neither will nor can be defeated of his glory who k Eph. 1.11 Non fit praeter cius voluntatem etiam quod fit contra ejus voluntatem Aug. Enchiric 100. worketh all things wonderfully after the counsell of his owne Will euen whilest hee suffereth them to doe what l 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cùm enim sit potestas natura liberae potestatis nihil neque naturae necessitate neque legis sanctione facit Nemesius lib. de naturâ hominis c. 38. possibly they can against the Lavv of his revealed will prescribed vnto them For he will get Himselfe glory vpon the proud and haughty and vpon all that forget God as he did vpon m Exod. 14.17 Pharaoh and his Hoste in their just confusion and vtter destruction So that the very n Rom. 3.5 vnrighteousnesse of men will they nill they shall commend the righteousnesse of God o V. 7. vvhilest the truth of God doth more abound through their lye vnto his glory And by his speciall grace and providence this generall defectiō shall turne in the end to the advantage of his Elect in the advancement of his glory Who knoweth to bring light out of darkenesse and good out of evill p Rom. 9.22 What if God vvilling then to shevv his vvrath and to make his povver knovvne suffered at the first and q Quod non statim in peccatores vindicat patientia est non negligentia Non isle patientiā perdidit sed nos ad poenitentiam reservavit Aug. de verbis Apost Serm. 35. endure still vvith much long suffering the vessels of vvrath fitted to destruction And that hee might make knovvne the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy vvhich he had prepared vnto glory CHAP. II. The Couenant of Grace The Articles and Authors of Grace The Sonne of God the Mediatour The Sonne of man The offices of Christ The grace of our Lord Iesus The spirit of Grace Preventing Grace The state of Grace The praise of the glory of Gods Grace How shall we be saued and God be glorified by vs BY grace we are saued through faith The articles and authors of Grace whereby God is glorified For wee by faith receiuing the benefit giue him the * Eph. 1.6 praise of the glory of his grace whereby he prevents vs wherein he accepts vs wherewith he succours vs hauing first brought saluation vnto vs will finally bring vs to salvation according to the articles of
the just shall liue by his faith The state of Grace for it shall bee vnto him according to his faith which is of life from God the father in Christ Iesus his sonne our saviour by the Holy Ghost quickning the Holy e Habet popusus Dei plenitudinem suam quāvis magna pars hominū salvantis gratiā aut repellat aut negligat in electis tamen praescitis atque ab omnium gegeneralitate discretis specialis quaedā censetur vniversalitas vt detoto mundo totus mundus liberatus de omnibushominibus omnes homines videantur assumpti Ambr. de vocat Gent. lib. 1 c. 3. Catholique Church which is his body f Eph. 1.23 the fulnesse of him that filleth all in all A life of grace here by reconciliation and communion with God and a life of glory hereafter thorough the forgiuenesse of sinnes and resurrection of our bodies to eternall life The g 1. Pet. 3.7 grace of life in Christ worketh in vs a life of grace by his spirit For the sanctifying graces of GOD rest not in the habit but are in action h 1. Thess 1.3 The worke of faith the labour of loue the patience of hope i Heb. 11. By faith A bell by faith Abraham by faith every one of the holy men in the cloud of witnesses did some notable worke which did evidēce their faith to be indeed as they professed k v. 16. Wherefore God was not ashamed to be called their God l Iam. 2.22 Faith wrought with their works for m Heb. 11.6 without faith it is impossible to please God n Iam. 2.22 by workes was their faith made perfect For the perfection of vertue consists in action So must o c. 1.4 Patience haue her perfect worke p 1. Ioh. 3.18 So must loue be not in word neither in tongue but in deede and in trueth q Iam 2.15.16 If a brother or a sister be naked and destitute of dayly foode and one of you say vnto them depart in peace bee you warmed and filled notwithstanding you giue them not those things which are needfull to the body what doth it profit r 20.26 Faith without workes is dead and so is loue no faith indeede but a bolde presumption no loue indeede but a meere pretence ſ Iam. 2.18 Shew mee thy faith by thy workes but do thy workes before God in faith By faith our selues are iustified before God by good workes our faith and profession are iustified and approved vnto men For thereby it appeares that wee are in the faith and that our faith is in God t Tit. 3.8 This therefore is a faithfull saying that they which haue beleeued in God bee carefull to maintaine good workes u Iam. 2.26 For as the body without the spirit is dead so faith whithout workes is dead also And if our faith be dead whereby wee liue how dead are we * Iud 12. twice dead plucked vp by the roots x Rom 3.4 5. C. We are justified by a liuely faith sayth Saint Paul y Iam 2. We are not iustified by a dead faith saith St Iames wherefore little children z 1. Iohn 3.7 Let no man deceiue you saith St Iohn Hee that doth righteousnesse is righteous even as hee is righteous a 1. Tim 1.14 Now the grace of our Lord is exceeding abundant with faith and loue which are in Christ Iesus b 2. Pet 1.3 According as his Divine power hath giuen vnto vs all things that pertaine vnto life godlines through the knowledge of him that hath called vs to glory and vertue Now although the whole Church and euery true member thereof whom the Father hath chosen whom the Sonne hath redeemed whom the Holy Ghost hath effectually called through sanctificatiō sprinkling of the bloud of Iesus bee holy in Gods account although God bee glorified in his Saints here vpō earth by their blessed cōmunion with him with all men in loue wherby they are also highly dignified in a manner diefied c 2 Pet. 1.4 being made partakers of the divine nature so that they doe far excell al the world besides d 1 Iohn 5.19 that lieth in wickednes e In hac vita multi sine crimine nullus vero esse sine peccatis valet Greg. in Moral Vae etiam laudabili hominū vitae si remota misericordia discutias eam Aug. l. 9. confes c. 13. Nemosine peccato Negare hoc sacrilegium est Solus enim Deus sine peccato est Confiteri hoc Deo immunitatis remedium est Ambros in Ps 118. v. vlt. yet whē all is done we beleeue confesse that we haue stil need of farther grace mercy euen the forgiuenes of our sins if by any meanes we may attaine the resurrection of our bodies to eternall life Wherfore as on the one side f 1 Iohn 1.6 If we say that wee haue fellowship with God walke in darknes we lye doe not the truth So on the other side g V. 8. If we say that we haue no sin wee deceiue our selues and the truth is not in vs. But if we confesse our sins he is faithfull and iust to forgiue vs our sins to cleanse vs frō all vnrighteousnes If any man think that being of the Church in the cōmunion of Saints hee needeth not the forgiuenesse of sins to the last let him also raise his own body frō death to life h Phil. 3.20 21. But wee looke for the Sauiour the Lord Iesus Christ who shall change our vile body that it maybe fashioned like vnto his glorious body inheriting eternal life Which begins so soon as we beleeue i Iohn 5.25 for the houre is come that the dead heare the voice of the son of God they that heare it liue neuer ends nor shall euer be quite interrupted by sin nor death k V. 24. For he that beleeueth hath euerlasting life shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death to life The briefe of all is The praise of the glory of Gods grace that l Habak 2. The iust shall liue by his faith which the Prophet Habakucke receiued of God like as Moses receiued the Law namely vpon his watch-towre with expresse charge m v. 2. to write it and to make it plaine on tables And the Apostle hath giuen vs the constat thereof purposely n Gal. 3. comparing the two covenants together o v. 11. That no man is justified by the Law in the sight of GOD it is manifest For the Iust shall liue by faith p v. 12. And the Law is not of faith but the man that doth them shall liue in them q Rom. 3.27 Where is boasting now It is excluded By what Law By the Law of workes Nay but by the Law of faith r 1 Cor. 1.31 That according
borne once new borne For it is vnto life eternall which once begunne neuer endeth h Rom. 6.3 Knowe yee not that so many of vs as were baptised into Christ were baptised into his death i v. 9. that as Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more k v. 11. so we once dead vnto sinne are aliue vnto God for euer through Iesus Christ our Lord Wherefore should any then be rebaptised For as for them who l Heb 6. hauing beene once inlightned and haue tasted of the heauenly gift and were made partakers of the holy Ghost and haue tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come if they shall fall away it is impossible to renew them againe vnto repentance and for them in whom though they fall a 1. Ioh. 3.9 the seed remaineth another baptisme is needlesse For by the grace of God remaining in them b Art Eccles Angl. 16. they may recouer and amend their liues Yet are there certaine mysticall acts though c Sacramentis numero paucissimis obseruatione facillimis significatione praestantissimis societatem novi populi colligavit August de doctr Christ l. 3. c. 9. not other sacraments namely confirmation and penance Confirmation and Penance which are appendants to the sacraments and in this case and other like of good vse in the Church for correction and instruction For by the one children that haue beene baptised are confirmed in the faith when they come to age wherevnto they were baptised When themselues assuming the vow of baptisme d 1. Pet. 3.21 stipulat a good conscience towards God and ratifie what was vndertaken for them by their sureties By the other such as are e Vid. 1. Cor. 5 excommunicate or deserue to be debarred the communion hauing any way violated or scandalized the communion of Saints are humbled both for the satisfaction of the Church whom they haue offended and for their owne reformation That hauing renewed their vow in baptisme by repentance they may bee absolued and g Vid. 2. Cor. 2 readmitted to the Communion Which h See the Preface to the commination in the common prayer-booke godly discipline more frequent in the primitiue Church is much to bee wished that it may be againe restored with vs to adde vigor and life to the word and Sacraments For although excommunication for sinne and absolution from sinne be vertually implied in the word and Sacraments for what is preaching but a generall proclamation of pardon to all penitent beleeuers and a publike denunciation of God his curse against obstinate vnbeleeuers And what are the Sacraments but the personall applying of remission and grace to every man in particular and the detaining of them from the Communion but the retaining of their sinnes Yet the positiue sentence of binding and loosing in a iudiciall proceeding is more powerfull with the conscience being Christ his a Mat. 18.18 Ioh. 20.23 ordinance is ratified in heauen where it is rightly administred Our Birth is at once Communion but our life in grace is a continued act and therefore hath continuall need of spirituall nourishment to repaire what is wasted daily by sinne and corruption wherewith we are incombred and for our growth to a perfect man in Christ Iesus Our naturall life consists in the b Vita animae deus est haec corporis hac fugiente soluitut hoc perit haec destituente deo vnion and communion of the body with the soule and our life supernaturall in the vnion and communion of our soule with God which is in Christ who c Iohn 14.6 is the life d Col. 2.9 in whom the fulnes of the Godhead dwelleth bodily By what meanes he became partaker of our mortality flesh and blood by the same hauing conquered sinne and death he makes vs partakers of his immortality and diuine nature imparted in him to the humane and by it to vs. The Church and all the members thereof are in Christ as Eue and all her children were in Adam g Gen. 2.23 flesh of my flesh saith he and bone of my bone That as wee drew corruption from Adam with his nature so from Christ wee deriue incorruption by his grace Nay nearer then so h Eph. 5.30 wee are members of his body of his flesh and of his bones not only deriued from him or new begotten by him but perpetually subsisting in him As the i Iohn 15.4.5 graft in the stocke which yeeldeth vs continuall sap and spirituall nourishment vnto eternall life k Iohn 14.19 Because I liue saith he ye shall liue also At that day you shall know that I am in the Father and you in mee and I in you So dearely hath Christ loued vs v. 20. and so nearely hath hee vnited vs vnto himselfe that he is not satisfied as not inioying himselfe without vs a Eph. 1.23 his body the Church the fulnesse of him that filleth all in all b 1. Cor. 12.13 And as all the members being many are one body so also is Christ namely his Church Of which communion wee haue this other Sacrament c Poculum immortalitatis quod confectum est de infirmitate nostra veritate diuina habet quidem in se vt omnibus prosit sed si non bibitur non medetur Prosp in responsione ad obiectionem Vincentianam The cup of blessing which wee blesse No transubstantiation d 1 Cor. 10.16 is it not the communion of the blood of Christ The bread which wee breake is it not the communion of the body of Christ For we being many are one bread and one body for wee are all partakers of one bread Bread still though consecrated yea and receaued For it is the e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 communion not the f Not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 commixtion or confusion of his body with the bread as if they were kneaded together nor the g Nor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seu 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 translation of the bread into his body as if the one were supplanted by the other But it is the h But 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 communion of his body by a common vnion of them both in the sacrament which doth necessarily consist both of the outward signe and inward grace Whereof there is such a i A 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nazianz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theodoret. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Macarius hom 27. reciprocall relation and mutuall coniunction in a sacrament by diuine institution that they necessarily concurre as integrant parts thereof without either of which it is no sacrament And therefore to signify their neare and intimate vnion they vsually haue one an others k Solet res quae significat cius rei quam significat nomine nominayi August quaest 57. super Leuit. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Talis est praedicatio
haue borne the image of the earthly so shall wee beare the image of the heauenly o V. 26. The last enimy that shall bee destroyed is death and that by the resurrection of our bodies to eternall life p Rev. 21.4 When God shall wipe away all q Faelices lachrymae quas benignae manus conditoris abstergunt teares from our eyes there shall bee no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there bee any more paine for the former things are passed away which were temporall the life to come shall bee r Dies iste quem tanquam extremum reformidas aeterninatalis est Sen. ep 102. Idem ep 24 Moriar Desmam alligari posse desinam aegrotare posse definam mori pesse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quod interim morimur ad immortalitatem morte transgredimur nec potest vita aeterna succedere nisi hinc contigerit exire Non est exitus sed transitus temporali itinere decurso adaeterna transgressus Cypr. de mortal eternall A life of glory to the children of God * Life euerlasting and glorious The lowest degree whereof doth infinitly exceed the greatest glory of this world Looke how much the life of a perfect man enioying all outward happinesse in this beautifull and goodly world excels the condition of a weake poore and wretched Embrio shut vp in the wombe a closse and darke habitation so much infinitly much more doth the eternall ſ Cuius rex veritas cuius lex charitas cuiuo modus aeternitas August ep 5. ad Marcellinum life of glory in the highest heauens excell this life and all the glory of this world Nay as much as the life of Grace in the assurance of God his favour and speciall loue excels all worldly profits pleasures and preferments so much and infinitly much more doth the fruition of Gods glorious presence excell this present state of grace For this consists in vsing the meanes then wee shall enioy the end of all our desires and endeavours It is vsually expressed by such things as we know and most esteeme a crowne a kingdome a paradise a citty of gold and pretious stones life ioy glory t 1. Cor. 2.9 but eye hath not seene nor eare heard neither haue entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that loue him Such as they who had but a vision thereof in Christs u Mat. 17. transfiguration would gladly haue made their abode in the admiration thereof for euer such as * 2. Cor. 12.2.4 he who was wrapt into the third heauens hauing heard might not vtter such wherewith we may well x Rom. 8.18 reckon that all the sufferings of this present world are not worthy to bee compared y 2. Cor. 4.17 an exceeding and eternall waight of glory Wherein though all the Saints of God shall haue z Ps 16.11 fulnesse of ioy and pleasures for euermore yet shall it be in different degrees for there are many and a Ioh. 14.2 diuers mansions in Gods house and different degrees of glory b 1. Cor. 15.41 as one starre differeth from another starre in glory c Dan. 12.3 For they that are wise shall shine as the brightnesse of the Firmament but they that turne many vnto righteousnesse as the starres for ever and ever The estate of glory which wee beleiue and expect in eternall life is not only a well being but a perpetuall and perfect well doing which is to liue indeed in the ioyfull fruition of all good When the most excellent faculties shall bee imploid on the most admirable obiect in the most exquisit manner and abundant measure with eternall ioy and glory It is the grace of God towards vs now to take such notice and to make such account of vs as we beleiue but it shall bee our glory then to knowe him d ◠Cor. 13.12 as we are knowne of him Now we knowe but in part Wee see now in a glasse darkely but then shall we see face to face e 1. Ioh. 3.2 we shall see him as he is f Iob. 19.27 and we shall behold him with these eyes whereby we shall become like vnto him full of glory in our foules and bodies by the manifestation of his glory vpon vs g Exod. 34.30 as Moses face shone when hee came downe from him in the mount h Colos 3.4 Now is our life hid with Christ in God but when Christ who is our life shall appeare then shall we appeare with him in glory So well shall we be and as well shall we doe For as wee shall receaue glory of God in the vision of his glory in Christ so shall we giue all honour and glory to him and as we shall behold him with these eyes so shall we praise him with these tongues i Ps 137.4 Who can sing the song of the Lord now in a strange land But k Ps 108.1.2 when our glory shall awake even this excellent instrument of praising God which is our glory aboue other creatures then l 1. Cor. 13.1 the tongues of men Angels shall be the eternall trumpets of God his glory m Rev. 4.6.8 The foure beasts full of eyes rest not day and night saying holy holy holy Lord God Almighty which was and is and is to come n V. 9. And when those holy ones giue glory and honor and thankes to him that sits on the throne who liueth for euer and euer o V. 10. then also the foure and twenty Elders fall downe before him that sits on the throne and worship him that liueth for euer and ever and cast their crownes before the throne saying thou art worthy O Lord to receaue glory and honour and power And all the Saints shall come in with a full quire singing p Rev. 15.3 the song of Moses and of the Lambe great and marueilous are thy workes Lord God Almighty iust true are thy waies thou king of Saints q Ps 145.10.11 Yea all thy works shall praise thee O Lord and thy Saints shall blesse thee They shall speake of the glory of thy kingdome and talke of thy power For thine is the kingdome power and glory For euer and euer Amen FINIS OXFORD Printed by IOHN LICHFIELD Printer to the Famous Vniuersity For WILLIAM WEBB Ann. Dom. 1628.
bread to make blood flesh and spirits But God giues it vertue and power beyond the nature and substance thereof to doe vs good speaking a blessing on it for our vse m Deut. 8.3 Mat. 4.4 Wherefore man shall not liue by bread only but by euery word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God n 1. Tim. 4.5 Prov. 30.8 And it is sanctified and made convenient for vs by the word of o 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Honestum hoc insuper Deum iâ—itio comae prandii inuocari Diotogenes lib. de sâ—â—ctiltate God and prayer Yet it sustaines vs but from day to day for it is but daily bread and not as the tree of life whereof if the man had eaten hee should haue liued for euer The Manna which God gaue the Israelites from heauen it was but daily bread it would not ordinarily keepe vntill the morrow and p Ioh. 6.49 they that did eat thereof are dead Such is the condition of this life and the things thereof q 1. Cor. 15.19 And if in this life only wee had hope then were wee of all men most miserable Wherefore our r Ioh. 6.27 labour must bee not so much for the food that perisheth but for the meat which endureth to eternall life the supersubstantiall bread indeed Å¿ Cant. 8.7 aboue all the substance of our house t Ps 119.14 and to bee reioyced in aboue all substance Which Christ giues vnto vs for him hath the Father sealed u Ioh. 6.51 I am the liuing bread saith he which came downe from heauen if any man eat of this bread he shall liue for euer Gods prouidence doth not exclude ours in the vse of ordinary meanes but requires it directs and giues a blessing therevnto both in the things of this life and for a better But this is our folly we will either doe all our selues or no thing And commonly we can be content to leaue all to God for the world to come but in the things of this world we will bee our owne caruers Of the two * Luc. 16.8 the children of this world are in their generation wiser then the children of light They will provide for this life and we must provide x V. 9. that we may be receaued into everlasting habitations Wherin finding how short our store comes of such a purchase how vnworthy Gods grace we walk Forgiuenes of sins how ill we deserue thorough our owne corruption vtterly distrusting and disclaiming our selues wee flye againe vnto the throne of grace for pardon of our sins protection in temptations and rescue in the end from all evill Who can forgiue sinnes but God only against whom we sinne and doe euill in his sight For howsoeuer wee trespasse wrong Omniamandata Dei facta deputantur quando quiequid non fit ignoscitur Aug. l. 1. Retrac c. 19. and giue offence one to another which we may and must forgiue so farre as concernes vs yet can no man forgiue the sinne which is the transgression of the law but hee only who is the law-giuer He forgiues y Ps 32.5 the iniquity of our sin z Exod. 34 7. The Lord the Lord forgiuing iniquity transgression and sinne And he forgiues * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our debts the obligations of sinne penalties for sinne to whom we are so much bound in duty and by whose law we stand bound ouer vnto death a Rom. 6.23 the iust wages of sinne b Ps 49.7.8 None can by any meanes redeeme his brother or giue a ransome to God for him For it cost more to redeeme their soules so that he must let that alone for euer c Isa 43.25 But I even I am hee saith God that blotteth out all thy transgressions for mine owne sake and will not remember thy sinnes For when the offence is pardoned the d Impium est à Dto diminidiaem sperare veniam August punishment is remitted because it is the forgiuenesse of our debts the penalties of sinne When Christ cured any of their diseases he vsed to say e Mat. 9.6 Thy sinnes are forgiuen thee For they are the cause of all our maladies the remission whereof is therefore a present and a perfect remedy f Ps 103.3 4. God forgiueth all our sinnes and healeth all our infirmities so that they shall not tend to destruction in eternall death the iust wages of sinne and our due debt for the same g Rom. 5.10 For if when we were enimies we were reconciled to God by the death of his sonne much more being reconciled shall we be saued by his life By whose grace we obtaine the forgiunesse not only of h Rom 3.25 sinnes past before grace thorough the forbearance of God but of our i Quotidianae incuâ— sionis Orabant autem vtiq iam fideles iam apostoli NaÌ„ ista oratio Dominica magis fidelibus datur Si debita illa tantummedò dicerentur quae per baptismum dimittuntur catechumenis congeueret magis orare Dimitte nobis debita nostra Aug. in Ps 142. daily sinnes and trespasses for which he hath taught vs as duely to aske pardon as for our daily bread with faith to obtaine k Rom. 5.16 For not as it was by one that sinned so is the gift for the iudgement was by one to condemnation but the free gift is of many offences to iustification euen so many and so long as we haue grace to beleeue and repent Iustification a terme in law denoting an act of the iudge not any habit in the party iustified being once passed vpon vs in grace l Rom. 8.28 according to his eternall purpose is neuer reversed but standeth more firme then the law of the Medes and Persians howsoever it be often reacted confirmed It was purposed of God to every one of his elect in his counsell from everlasting it was purchased and procured for them in the fulnesse of time by the death and passion of Christ Iesus It is published and proclaimed throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospell it is testified and applied to every penitent beleeuers conscience in the sight of God by his spirit and is sealed by the Sacraments and being apprehended by faith is often m Multò firmior est fides quaÌ„ reponit poenitentia Lactant. l. 5. c. 14. renued by repentance Whereby every poore publican that with true faith and repentance cryes God mercy n Luk. 18.14 goes away more iustified theÌ„ any proud Pharisee that iustifies himselfe o Iob. 33.23.24 And if there be a messenger an interpreter one of a thousand to shew vnto man his righteousnesse in his greatest a gonie and distresse God is gracious vnto him and saith deliuer him from going downe to the pit for I haue founde a ransome for him p Mat. 18.18 Whatsoeuer is loosed on earth it is loosed in heauen for it is God that doth it and