sit at the right hand of God hovve Christ sitteth theâ— and vvhat he dothe ANd thus now to sit at thâ— right hand of God is eueâ— as much as to be in rest that to say al wretchednesse miserâ— set aside to liue in a godly life to be partaker of eternall ioy Now that this word to sitte vsed in Scripture for rest the places declare In the. 4. boke Moises it is wrytten thus shaâ— your brethren go to war woâ— ye sit here And in Micheas euâ—ry one shal sit vnder his vine and figtree c. Mani mo such places ther be Wherfore now whaÌ„ the scripture saithe that the lord Iesus sitteth at the right haÌ„d of his father it vnderstaÌ„deth it chefely of his humaine nature which he he toke vpon him that the same being discharged and free from al trauaile and misery of man is now all in ioy partaker of the kingdoÌ„ euerlasting Thus saithe also Rufinus in his exposition of the Crede to sit at the right hand of the father is coÌ„uenient for the manhead receiued which is receiued thorow a mistery For to ascribe that to the diuine nature it is vnseemely as though it had a seate in heauen but of the humaine nature it is properly vnderstand and spoken And the like yet did holy s Peter teach afore Rufinus time aâ— it is to see in the Actes But now might one ask whaâ— doth the son at the right hand oâ— the father Must he alway sittâ— there be asmuch as made fast and bound vnto it Answere The Lord Iesus after his humaine nature that he tooke vpon him which he put not froÌ„ him in heauen hath now eternall ioy with his elect he as the head with his members ruling reigning with all faithfull beleeuers for euermore Wherof we shal speaâ— more afterward A very superfluous vnprofitable question also is it whaÌ„ one will so curiously inquire know what God doth in heauen For God wil only teach vs with his holy worde that he liueth ruleth eternally in the glory of his heauenly father Holy Augustin saithe also in the booke De fide symbolo To go about for to seke and inquire where and howe the body of our Lord is in heauen it is a poynt of nice people bringeth no profit Only we ought to beleue that he is verely in heauen For truly it standeth not with our weaknes to comprehende and discerne the priuity of the heauens but it besemeth our faith to haue the worthy glorious body of the Lord in highe and worthy estimation Hetherto Augustine CHAP. 10. That Christ sitteth at the right hand of God by his humanity but circumscribed in place and is not euery vvhere NOw though the heauenly honor glory be high and may not be expressed yet thâ— place where he dwelleth is certaine the bodye that is in heauen can not be euery where For the right hande of God in and after this first signification thereof is not infinite Els must al faithfâ—â— beleuers also they that are saued be euery where seeing they are with the sonne of God who is taken vp into heauen For the Lord himselfe saithe nowe from henceforth shall I be no more in the worlde but they are in the world I come vnto thee VpoÌ„ this he saith father they whome thou hast geuen vnto me I will that where I am they also be with me that they may see my glorye which thou hast geuen me Item he that doth me seruice let him folowe me and where I am there shal also my seruaunts be Seing now that our soules oure bodies also after the resurrection of the flesh shal be in heauen as in a place certain it foloweth that the body of the Lord which into heauen is taken vp hath also a place certaine in heauen and that the right hand of God in this signification can not be euery where In this vprighte matter let it trouble no man that is read in s Paul how that Christ ascended vp aboue al the heauens by meanes whereof a curious body mighte peraduenture conclude if Christ our Lord be taken vp aboue the heauens then can there no place certain be ascribed vnto him seing there is no place aboue or with out the heauen Neither ought it to offend any man that is wrytten how that vnto Christ ther is geueÌ„ a name which is aboue al names Or that Paule sayth howe that no eie hath sene neither any eare heard nor is come into the heart of man what god hath prepared vnto them that loue him For the scripture of God thorow out doth witnes constantly and sure that Christ Iesus is taken vp into heauen sitteth at the right haÌ„d of his father Wherby it is out of dout that the Apostle thought not to set Christ wihtoute heauen but therefore proponeth he the matter with so high excellent wordes to shew and declare vnto vs that the body of our lord which afore was despised and shamefulli defaced is now in the supreme highest glorye that meaneth he where he saythe aboue all heauens For who â— dothe thorowly consider that placâ— of Paule to the Ephesians findeth that Paul hath set two parte of his oratioÌ„ the one against thâ— other For first he saithe thus that he ascended what meaneâ— it but that he also descended fiâ— into the lowest parts of the earth Against this setteth he nowe hâ— that descended is euen the samâ— also that ascended vp euen â—boue all heauens Therfore is here the one set â—gainst the other namely to deâ—cend into the lowest parts of tâ— earth to ascend aboue all heâ—uens But who would heere coâ—clude Christe ascended into the lowest partes of the earth Ergo he had no place vpon earth For euery man vnderstandeth well that Paule with these words minded to declare the true comming of the Lord vpon earth the great humility mekenes of our lorde Iesus Christe Therefore who wold theÌ„ in the other part of the oration conclude Christ asceÌ„ded vp aboue all heauens Ergo he is not in heauen or in anye other place For is there also any one place without the heauen Who vnderstandeth not now that Paule here minded to say nothing else thaÌ„ that which he vttereth more plainly to the Philippians he hathe exalted him on hie Anâ— thoughe this highe or heauenlâ— honor be greater and more glorâ—ous then any mannes tonge caâ— or may expresse yet the heaueâ— is and doth remain stil the dweâ—ling of the faithful and thereforâ— is it a place certaine Wherfore after my plaine anâ— simple vnderstanding whych iâ— not curious I beleue constaÌ„tly that the glorified body of Christe iâ— ascended vp aboue all heauens that is aboue al coÌ„pace or spherâ— height of heauen so euen iâ— heauen that is in the dwelling â— the faithful and ther remaineth and is not as they say passed bâ— on the
bodye which nowe is deuided parted in his members and ioyntes remaineth that is he shall haue true flesh blud bones synewes ioynts members c. CHAP. 15. The maner hovve the bodies shall rise againe and the kinde that they shall be of BVt to the inteÌ„t that this â—ay yet be more plainly vnderstand I wil nowe tel howe oure bodies shall rise what nature and kinde they shall be of in the resurrection At the ende of the world shall the Lord come with great maiesty vnto iudgement and shall declare and shewe him selfe in and with a righte true essenciall body Hether also to shal he be brought shal stand in the clouds of heauen that al flesh may se him Yea al men that are vpon earth shal beholde him and know him by his glory In the mean season also shall he send his Archangel to blow the trompe Then shall all the dead heare and perceiue the voice and power of the sonne of god And so al men that died from the first Adam shal immediatly arise out of the earth And al they that liue vntil the last day shall in the twinkling of an eye be changed And thus all men euery one in hys owne flesh shal stand before the iudgement seâ—te of oure Lorde Iesus Christ and shall wait for the last sentence and iudgement of the Lord which sentence being geuen quicklye and withoute delay shall call one part into heauen and thrust out the other into hell This fashion and maner of the resurrection haue not I imagined of my selfe but written it al out of the Euangelists scriptures of the holy Apostles For thus we reade The powers of heauen shal moue in the last time and then shall appeare the signe of the sonne of man in heauen then shall all the kinreds of the earth mourn they shall see the sonne of maÌ„ come in the cloudes of heauen with power greate glory And he shall send his Angels with the great voyce of a troÌ„pet they shal gather together his chosen froÌ„ the foure winds from the one end of the world to the other c. Herevnto adde that he spake in Mathewe Iohn And Paul in the first to the Thessalonians saithe This say we vnto you in the word of the lord that we which liue are remaining in the comming of the lord shall not come before theÌ„ which slepe For the Lord himself shall descend from heauen with a shout the voice of the Archangell â— trompe of god And the dead iâ— Christ shal arise first Then shaâ— we that liue remaine be caught vp with them also in the clouds tâ— mete the lord in the ayre And sâ— shal we euer be with the Lorde Furthermore to the Corinthianâ— saith Paul behold I shew you mystery We shal not all sleepe but we shall all be changed anâ— that in a moment in the twinâ—ling of an eye at the time of thâ— last trompe For the trompe shaâ— blowe and the dead shall rise incorruptible and we shal be changed For this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortall must put on immortality This is nowe the maner of the resurrection of oure bodies in what nature and kind they shall rise againe But in the resurrection they shall thorow the power of God be made immortall incorruptible For the Apostle saith expresly the dead shall rise againe After that he saithe this corruptible mortall must put on incorruption and immortality In the which words the terme this poynteth directly as wyth a finger to oure liuing and humaine body And so Iob saide euen I my selfe shall see him none other Wherfore our bodies after thei be risen againe from death shall remain euen in their own right state substance as afore Yea euen the very same men shal kepe still theyr nature kind as they did afore sauing that they which afore time wer subiect to frailti shall from thence forth be pure clean perfect immortal of a sincere and purified nature subiect and obedient vnto the spirite Such bodies raised froÌ„ death did the olde wryters call glorified purified or glorious bodies that according to the doctrine of the holy Apostles Albeit ther wer some which abused that word and therfore made the veritye of the bodies void of none effect beginning to dispute of glorified bodies as of the pure substaÌ„ce estate of a spirite Whereof we shall speake shortly if God will. CHAP. 16. That Paule spake rightly of a glorified body and vvhat a glorified body is and vvhat a naturall BVt nowe wil I declare that Paule did rightly wel vse this worde glorious or glorified body euen as it is truli in it self For to the PhilippiaÌ„s he sayth Our dwelling is in heauen froÌ„ whence we loke for the sauiour eueÌ„ Iesus Christ the lord which shall change our vile earthy body that it may be fashioned like vnto his own glorious body according to the working wherby he is able to subdue all things vnto himselfe In thys sentence thou haste that terme glorified body thou hast also of what nature and kinde the glorified body shal be namely whole and as the body of Christ that rose againe from death And thus shal it not be a body vtterly made voide or brought to nothiÌ„g or altogether turned into a sprite therefore hauing no roume place incoÌ„prehensible and inuisible but it shal be an vprighte very true humaine body as it is sufficiently declared afore where I spake of the true resurrectioÌ„ of the lord In the which place we vnderstande that whan the Lordes disciples thought they had sene a spirit whan they saw the Lorde he said vnto them a spirit hath not flesh bones as ye see me haue Handle me and see for it is euen I my selfe The Lord also after his resurrection set before them some fashion or euidence of hys glorification namely whan he was transfigured before them And at that time remained the right essenciall substance of the bodye but in forme and fashion it was altered in that it became glorious So staÌ„deth it plainly he was transfigured and not that he was made voyde or broughte to nothing or altered into another substance Thus saith Paule also he shall change our body c. Wherfore euen the righte true substance of the glorified bodye shall remaine still As for the change or alteration it shal be in the infirmities that happen vnto vs So that whan the body taketh vpon it the glorification and immortality they shal be wholly remoued and fall away Howbeit this shal be more euident and plain to vnderstand if it be thorow and with diligeÌ„ce considered and declared what this worde glory or glorification meaneth For transfiguration glory glorification is one thing So saith holy Augustin in his boke against the Arrians To bring to glory to make glorious and to glorify are .iij. vvordes yet is it but
the things which God hathe prepared for theÌ„ that loue him these wordes I say muste not be referred to the place of those that are saued For they are wrytten of the vnoutspeakable greatnesse of the ioye as the whole text of the wordes sufficiently doth declare Brefely forasmuch as it is opâ— and manifest vnto vs that the Lord Iesus Christ after his nature that he toke vpon him is a very true man in glory It foloweth that the true humain body of Christ hath his owne place whereof I hauâ— hetherto spoken so much not with out cause namely to the inteÌ„t alâ— godly persones may know thaâ— this is a place certain prepareâ— for them in heauen and that theâ— may constantly beleue that in heauen they haue a brother namelâ— the Lord Iesus Christ Touching the frute of the Ascension of oâ— lord I shall more largely speak of it afterward CHAP. 11. An other signification of sitting at the right hand of God by vvhich maner of sitting Christe is euery vvhere sitting there in such sorte after his Godheade THus come I againe to the former part what the righte hand of God signifieth is called It is taken in the scripture for strength protection power and for the incompreheÌ„sible honor or glory And therefore it is wrytten thy right hand Lorde is become glorious in power thy right hand hath al to dashed the enemy Item in the Psalme Thou hast geueÌ„ me the defence of thy saluation thy right hand also shal hold me vp Moreouer The right hand of the lord hath the preheminence the right haÌ„d of the Lorde bringeth mightye things to passe After this signification of the right hande soundeth the name to sit to rule to gouerne to defend to behaue hiselfe as a prince or Regent diligently in his office faithfully to execute the same For in the thirde boke of the kings saithe Dauid Salomon shall sit vpon my seat shall reigne after me And so in the Psalme he saithe the Lord said vnto my Lord siâ— thou at mi right haÌ„d til I make thine enemies thy foote stoole And Paule saith Christe muste raigne till he hath put all his enemies vnder his fete Item in the Prophet Zachary behold the man whose name is the braunch and he that shal spring vp after him shall build vp the temple of the Lord yea euen he shall build vp the temple of the lord he shal beare the praise he shal sit vpon the Lords throne haue the domination A priest shal he be also vpon his throne This kinde of speche is taken of the vse and custome of Kings and Princes which haue their Deputies to whom they frely geue all auctority to rule and gouern Euen so is Christ in whoÌ„ the father will be honored thorow his authoritye power is it his pleasure to rule He is takeÌ„ vp to the right hand of the father that is to saiâ— to haue the dominion or gouernance in heauen in earth anâ— this commission is geuen hyâ— faithfully to execute to be lorâ— and gouernor of all things Thus the right hande of Goâ— is infinite neither mai it be shâ— in for Gods mighte powerâ— incomprehensible the kingdoâ— of Christ also whych is euerlâ—sting is a kingdoÌ„ of al worlde so is he of one substaÌ„ce of oâ— power honor with the fatheâ— not bounde to one place but euery where who in all thing ruleth and worketh seing he not only a very true man but â— so the very true God after â— maÌ„hode finite but after his godhead infinite and incomprehensible and that in one vndeuided person he conteineth very true God and man King and Lorde of al things For S. Peter saith Christe is at the right hande of God gone vp into heauen aungels mighte and power being subdued vnto him Item Paule to the EphesiaÌ„s God the father raised vp Christ from the dead and hath set him on hys right hande in heauenly things aboue all rule power might and domination aboue al names that are named not in this worlde only but also in the world to come And hath put all things vnder his feete and hath made him aboue all things the head of the congregation which is his body the fulnes of hiâ— that filleth al in al things Thâ—â— much concerning the right haÌ„â— of god and concerning heauen that is the place certain or dweling of the blessed in the which also our lord Iesus with his body hath his mansion and seat CHAP. 12. The frute and commoditye the corporall ascension of Christ bothâ— that he doth novv for vs and in that wâ— learne by it AFter this from heÌ„ce fortâ— will I speake of the fruiâ— and profit of the corporal ascension of our Lord Iesus Christ of his seat and place at the righâ— haÌ„d of his father Afore al thiÌ„gs we must knowe that our Lorde ascended vp with his very true body that he as mediator betwene God man being very God maÌ„ himself high priest in his owne teÌ„ple might be before his heauenly father make intercession for vs wholy take vpon himself our necessities grefes For Paul saith to the Hebrues Christ is not entred into the holy places that are made with hands whych are similitudes of true things but is entred into the very heauen to appear now in the sight of God for vs Herevnto al so pertein other sentences or testimonies of Iohn in his first epistle Item of Paul to the Romaines wherin he saith According to the same did our Lorde ascend vp bodely that he with hys flesh taken vp into heaueÌ„ might stay direct vpon the holy goâ— all worshipping and Gods seruice of those that are his For â— corporal worshipping dothe frâ— hence forth please him but such as is done to his spiritual body He saith in the gospell of Iohn the pore haue you alwaye wyâ— you and whan you wil you mâ—â— do theÌ„ good but me haue ye nâ— alway Hereunto also serueth saying of Paule althoughe wâ— haue known Christ after the flesh yet know we him so no more Moreouer the Lord with his resurrectioÌ„ hath taught vs that we also shuld lift vp our mindes into heauen seking no saluation at all vpon earth seing that heauen is our right natiue country Therefore oughte we to vse the world as though we vsed it not and to directe all oure care and thoughte vnto heauenly things For Paule sayth to the Colossians set your affectioÌ„ on things which are aboue not on thiÌ„gs which are on earth For ye are deade and your life is hid wyth Christ in god Item to the Philippians our dwelling is in heauen from whence we loke for the sauior eueÌ„ Iesus christ our lord Christ also with his ascension into heauen thought to declare vnto vs his power and mighte wherin consisteth our strength our power richesse triumphe against sinne death world deuil and
in thinâ— hart that God raised him vp from the dead thou shalt be saued Tâ— the Philippians he sayth more ouer I count al things but lossâ— for the excellent knowledge sake of Iesus Christe Out of all this is there yet another thing concluded namely that not onli life is restored vnto vs but also that in the resurrection of the Lord the immortalitye of the soule is grounded faste and sure For so sayth the lord himself in the gospell I am the resurrection and the life he that beleueth on me thoughe he were deade he shall liue and whosoeuer liueth and beleueth on me shall neuer die Yet another frute also receiue we out of the resurrection of the lord namely that we are assured out of doute euen as if we had receiued wryting seale therof that our owne bodies likewise shal rise from death forasmuch as in the true resurrection of the body of Christ oure resurrection hath a fast and vmnoueable grounde For Paule sayeth Christe rosâ— from the deade is become thâ— first frutes of them that sleepe Foâ— by one maÌ„ came death by onâ— man came the resurrection of â— dead For as by Adam all die by Christ shal all be made aliue but euery one in his own order â–ª The first is Christe then they are Christes c. Now he that iâ— the first can not be alone the heaâ— also shal not forsake the meÌ„ber â–ª Seing then that Christ the head â— risen it must needes folow thaâ— we also as members muste riâ— again For euen in the same placâ— doth Paule conclude if the deaâ— rise not again theÌ„ is not Chriâ—â— risen againe And finally oute of the wordes of the holye Apostle Paul we learn that thorow the ensaÌ„ple of Christe that was raised vp we are not onli prouoked to take vpon vs a new life but that we also thorowe the power of Christ are renued that we mighte leade an innocent and holye life And thus haue I breefely compreheÌ„ded and declared the principall frutes of the resurrection of the Lorde CHAP. 6. Of the true Ascension of the Lordes body that arose a bodye and no Spirite and of his place vvhether hee vvent to be in MOreouer it shall be exdient to know to what place the true body of the Lorde was caried or came whether it was laid in the earthe againe or vanished away or turned into the nature of the Godhead or otherwise chaunged into a sprite In this poynt we affirm thus The right old Christian faith the vpright holy scripture the auncient Doctrine of the Christian church doth teach hold and coÌ„fes that Iesus Christ very goâ— and maÌ„ hath not laid away noâ— mixt together nor yet put of hiâ— natures the godhead the maâ—hode but that he kepeth stil bothe natures in theyr properties vâ—blemished that he ascended vâ— to heauen very true God maâ— For so we knowledge and confes in the Crede he ascended vp to heauen We finde also in the gospell of Marke so then when the Lord had spoken vnto them he was receiued into heauen sitteth on the right hand of god Item Ruffinus an olde wryter who hath declared the articles of the faith saith he asceÌ„ded into the heauens not thether where the worde that is God was not afore for he was euer stil in heauen and continued in his father â—ut thether wher the word that became man sate not afore Yet â—il we declare this more plainâ—y out of the gospel of Luke wher â—t is written thus and he led theÌ„ out into Bethanie lifte vp hiâ— handes and blessed them And â— came to pas as he blessed them he departed from them and waâ— caried vp into heauen Nowe if thou ponder euery thing heere thorowly thou muâ—â— needes acknowledge and beinâ— ouercome wyth the truthe thoâ— must nedes confesse that the very true body of the lord was nâ— layd away neyther turned intâ— the nature of the godhead but hâ— a very true maÌ„ who at one tiâ—â— is but in one place ascended aâ— was taken vp into heauen as â— to one place He led them outâ— saith he Who I prai the. Eueâ— the Lorde Iesus whiche vnto than by the space of forty daies had in very deede truely shewed himselfe vnto his disciples that he was risen from the dead with a very true essencial body Euen he the very same that had taken vnto him a true bodi led his disciples out vnto Bethanye froÌ„ thence brought he them farther to Mount Oliuet And in the same place lifting vp his handes no doubt bodely humain hands yea with the prints tokens of the woundes he blessed them â—amely his disciples that is he saluted them as the maner is of â—hose that take their leaue of vs And so departed he from them â— set his body corporally in heauen as in one place For afterward it foloweth yet more plaiÌ„ he departed from them that is he was caried into heauen For to be caryed may heare be spoken only of the body and in suche sorte departed he from them that his body was froÌ„ the earth taken vp into heauen And though all this be euidenâ— and plain in it self yet by the Euangelist Luke in the Actes oâ— the Apostles it is set forthe anâ— opened more manifestly For afore all things he testifieth that thâ— Lord arose with his owne true bâ—dy and that by the space of 4â— daies with many tokens euideâ—ces he plainli proued declarâ— his resurrection vnto the Disciples And immediatly he addeth therevnto that euen the very same body was taken vp into heauen For whan he had spoken these things saith he while they beheld him he was takeÌ„ vp on hie and a cloud receiued him vp out of their sight Lo the Lord was taken vp yea euen in their eye sight was he taken vp on hie so that a cloud receiued his very true body away froÌ„ the sight of their eyes I beseche you what can be more aptly or more conuenientli spoken of an essencial body It foloweth farther in the Euangelist Luke and while they loked stedfastly vp towards heauen as he went mark that wel beholde two men stode by them in white Apparell which also sayd ye menne of Galilee why stand ye gasing vp into heauen This same Iesus who is taken vp from you into heauen shal so come euen as ye haue seene him go into heauen Wherfore oure Lord Iesus is departed vp into heauen with his own true essentiall body yea euen with the same which he raised vp from the dead For euen with the same very true humaine bodye shall he come again vnto iudgement according as the Lord himselfe sayd the Prophet Zachary whose words s Ihon aledgeth They shal loke on him whoÌ„ they haue pearsed Thus I truste it is sufficiently proued and declared that the Lord Iesus with his own very true bodye which he raised from deathe is gone vp into
heauen But to the intente that no man mistake this worde heauen or otherwise imagine any thing that is darke or not vnderstaÌ„d wherby the simple being in erroure may scase know at the last wher heauen is or where Christ hath his dwelling It shal therfore be nedeful brefely to declare what the heauen is and that the Lord with his own true body doth dwell in heauen as in one place For heaueÌ„ is a certain assured place and not only a name declaration of the estate being in heauen Therfore whan it is sayde Christ is gon vp into heauen it is not so much as only to say he hath taken vpon him an heauenly estate or being but also he dwelleth bodely in heauen as in one place CHAP. 7. The diuers significations of this vvord Heauen as it is vsed in scripture THis worde Heauen in the scripture is vsed diuers and sondry waies First for the wholâ— firmament which is called thâ— heauenly host or beutifull apparell of the heauens Hereof haâ— thou recorde in the eighte anâ— ninetenth Psalme It is taken also for the ayre which is aboue vs as the Prophet sayeth he couereth the heauen with clouds to prepare rain for the earth Hereof coÌ„meth it that the foules which flie in the â—ire are called foules or birdes of heauen that is to say birdes â—n the aire Item heauen also is vsed for a seat habitatioÌ„ or dwelâ—ing as the Lord hath prepared his seate in heauen and ye shall not sweare by Heauen for it is Gods seat And though God be â—nfinite can not be compassed â—bout with any place as the moste wise Salomon saide The heauens and the heauens of all heauens are not able to conteine thee And howe should then thâ— house doe it that I haue builded Yet the scripture calleth the heuen that is aboue vs a dwelling â— God which dwelliÌ„g is ordeinâ— for all faithfull vertuous belâ—uers and is named the heaueâ— This doth Paule witnesse saâ—ing we know that if our earth mansion of this dwelling werâ— destroied we haue a building â— God an habitation not made â— hands but eternall in heauen Here is now heauen taken fâ— the kingdom of God for the kinâ—dome of the father or ioy eteâ—nal life which is peace and reâ— The heauen I say is a seat aâ— dwelling of the faithfull or bleâ—sed beleuers a determinat place also into the which the lord Iesus was receiued when he was taken vp into the heauen And this dothe the scripture plainly declare vnto vs namely the aboue â—s ther is a certain determinate place prepared for vs. For Luke saith he was receiâ—ed vp on hie and a cloude toke â—im vp away out of their sighte Item and while thei loked stedâ—astly vp towardes heauen the Angels saide this same Iesus which is taken away from you â—nto heauen shal so come eueÌ„ as â—e haue sene him go into heaueÌ„ â—ho is so ignoraÌ„t now that he â—otteth not where heauen is or the clouds or into which heauâ— the Apostles loked so stedfastâ— Besides this the holye Aposâ— Paule sayth also our conuersaâ—on freburgership or dwelling in heauen from whence we loâ— for the Sauioure euen the Lâ— Iesus Loe in heauen saythe â— Apostle is oure dwelling â— which heauen I pray you â—â— in the same whence we loke the sauioure Now is it euidâ— from whence we wait and loâ— seing that the Apostle sayth agâ— we which shall liue and remaâ— shal be caught vp with them â— in the cloudes to mete the Lâ— in the air and so shall we eueâ— wyth the Lord. He saith also in another place if ye be risen againe with Christe then seke those things which are aboue wher Christ sitteth at the right hand of god And therfore is the Lord Iesus gone vp into the heauen that is aboue vs and namely into that sure certaiÌ„ place which is prepared for the blessed And in the same heauen as in a sure certain place doth Christ now dwel bodely Of this opinion also was holy Augustine as in dede it is righte agreeable vnto holy scripture His words are fouÌ„d in the boke ad Dardanum de praesentia Dei. Holye Fulgentius in the seconde booke that he wrote vnto King Trasimundus is earnest to bring euery maÌ„ vnto this vnderstanding that the humaine kind nature of Christ which now dwelleth in heauen is circuÌ„scribed in one place With him aâ—so accordeth vniformly the holy martyr Vigilius whose testimony I wil now omit and come againe to the holy scripture The Scripture minding tâ— shewe what is become of the body that rose againe from death and ascended vp and where hâ— hathe his dwelling saith simplâ— plainly he sitteth at the righâ— hand of God the father almigâ—tye Thus nowe is the bodye 〈◊〉 Christ come to the right hand God there sitteth he But heere shall it be expedient to declare what the right hande of God is and what it is to sit at Goddes right hand CHAP. 8. VVhat Gods right hand is and to vvhom it is referred FIrst the right hande of God is not referred vnto god him self but vnto men that are on the right haÌ„d So that first the right hand of God dothe signify the eternal saluation and the place of those that be saued This did holi Augustine teach whose words I may well alledge forasmuche as he also doth confirme proue his opinion by the diuine and holye Scriptures In his booke de Agone Christiano he sayth we ought not to heare them that deny the sonne to sitte at the righte hand of god For they say hath god the father also a right or lefâ— side as bodies haue Nether dâ— we vnderstand that of the father For with no bodelye proportion can God be described or comprehended As for the right hand oâ— the father it is nothing els but eternall saluation which he shaâ—â— geue to al godly faithfull beleuers In like manner is the left hande rightly taken for the euerlasting damnation that shall comâ— vpon the vnbeleuers So that nâ— of God but of the creatures â— must be expounded that is writteâ— of the right left hand For euen the body of Christ also which is the church shall come to the right hand that is into saluation as the Apostle saithe to the Ephesians he hathe raised vs vp together with him made vs sit together with him among them of heauen For though oure bodies as yet be not there our hope neuerthelesse is there already The same holy Augustin saith also further in the boke De fide symbolo By the right hand saith â—e must be vnderstand the highest saluatioÌ„ wher rightuousnes peace ioy is like as the gotes also shal be set on the lefte hande That is by reson of theyr sins wickednesse they shal come into great calamity troble misery All these are the wordes of holy Augustine CHAP. 9. VVhat it is to
out side of heauen For the truthe witnesseth euidently where I am ther shall also my seruaunts be Nowe shall the seruauntes of God be in heauen not without or aboue the heaueÌ„ that is to say in no place For Paul the chosen maÌ„ of god saithe to the Philippians oure dwelling is in Heauen from whence we loke for the sauior c. plainly also euidently doth the true worde of God declare that the heauen into the which Christ ascended is a place certain for the Lord saithe in my fathers house are many dwellings if it were not so I would haue told you I goe to prepare a place for you And if I goe to prepare a place for you I wil come to you again receiue you euen vnto my self that where I am there you may be also Here in dede could nothing bâ— brought forthe more mete conuenient to oure purpose For thâ— thing that we now treate of is thâ— heauen which is the dwelling natiue country of the blessed anâ— which here is called a dwelling or mansion or place yea a dweâ—ling place in the house of Goâ— the father Who is now any moâ—â— so malapart or arrogaÌ„t as to vâ—dertake to deny that heauen is place For thus saithe the Lorâ— In my Fathers House alreadâ— there are many mansions thâ— not only I but al mine also haue a place and dwelling If it were not so then had I told you that I wold goe to prepare the same for you But now it is not needefull seeing they be prepared alredy wait for you Wheras I now go away and must be from you a litle seson it is not that I wold prepare mansions for you for they are prepared already but that I thorowe my death may make the way for you into Heauen and open the strete to the said dwelling Now to the intent no maÌ„ shal say that we haply haue a place in heauen as men but Christ hath not so a place therfore doth the truthe of god plainly expresse that the place wher christ is is a place in dede For he sayeth I will take you vnto me yea not onely vnto me but vnto my self For immediatly vpon the same doth he yet add it more plaine That wher I am there you may be also Christ then as a very true miâ— is in Heauen as in one place wherfore it foloweth that we aâ—so shall be in Heauen as in oâ—â— place certaine This the truth sayth therfore must it needes 〈◊〉 euen so can be none otherwisâ— The same also doth the human kinde and nature require whicâ— God as Augustine saith did eâ—due with immortality but tooâ— not away the nature and kinde The Seleucians or Hermians denyed our sauiour Christ after the fleshe to sit at the right hand of the father But the true faithfull beleuers haue euer still confessed and taught that the very true body or fleshe of our Lord dothe sit at the fathers right hand For verely if the bodi and flesh of our Lorde haue not his place geuen him or if that be withdrawne from him then is this the plaine meaning that our Lorde had no true body For holy Augustine saith and saith right take all roume place from the bodies that they haue no place to be in and then are they no where if they be no where then are they nothing at all As for the place of Paule to the Philippians in the seconde Chapter it teacheth nothing at all that with the exaltation and ascension of Christe any thing is withdrawn from the nature humaine or that we oughte to speake nothing more of it or that we shuld or mighte ascribe no name and place vnto it but like as with y words goiÌ„g before which serue much to the matter he thoughte to expresse the lowest humilitye of Christ euen so is it nowe hys minde with very honorable and hie excellent words to set forthe his glory Yea he declareth himself in the words folowing and saith in the name of Iesus shall all knees bow bothe of things that are in heauen of things that are on the earth and things that are vnder the earth And thus hath the father exalted the name of Iesu aboue all names euen in shewing and declaring that Iesus is the same whom al they that are in heaueÌ„ vpon earth and vnder the earthe ought by right to know worship and feare as Lord of al things creatures yea that all things shuld confesse that Iesus is the lord to the praise of god the Father For verely we muste needes knowledge that Iesus Christ is lord yea lord of all things king defender redemer of like power and honor with the Father Which thing extendeth not to the fathers derogatioÌ„ or dishonor as the Arrians folishly thought but to the great glory of the father The Lord saith himself in the gospel the father hath coÌ„mitted all iudgement vnto the sonne bicause that all meÌ„ shuld honor the sonne euen as they honor the father He that honoreth not the son the same honoreth not the father which hath sent him Moreouer there he saithe and now glorify thou me O father with thine own self with that glori which I had with thee or euer the world was From the beginning had he the honorable name of god which is glorious and far excellent aboue all names Now thorow the incarnation and by reason of the contemned and despised crosse of Christ the godly honor in Christ was thoughte to be somewhat darkened But that did the father restore bring to glory in that he raised vp his son from death and tooke him vp into heauen And thus gaue he him a name which is aboue all names for so he declareth that he is Lorde of all things Holy Peter also a felowe helper of S. Paule in the seconde chapter of the Actes of the Apostles did in like maner vtter the same For after he hathe opened declared the true resurrection of our Lorde Iesus Christ from deathe his glorious ascention into heauen he saith so therfore let all the house of Israel knowe for a surety that God hath made this same Iesus whom ye haue crucified Lord Christ And to be shorte Paule by the name of Christ that is aboue all names vnderstode the blessed name of God the Lord which can not be vttered and is aboue all names But seing our Lorde is a true man like as he is also very God both together and hath with the glorification not put of the kinde and nature of man nether consumed it thorow the godhead therfore remaineth he stil a true creature that is a very true man therfore may he also right wel be named after the same nature and hath likewise a place certaine Finally as for the words of the Apostle Paule the eye hath not sene and the eare hath not hard neither haue entred into the heart of man
hell For he ascending vp on high led captiuity captiue and whaâ— he had spoiled the ennemies hâ— gaue gifts vnto his people anâ— endueth them yet daily with spiritual riches Therefore sitteth hâ— now on highe to the intent thaâ— with his owne strengthe whicâ— he daily bestoweth vpon vs hâ— may regenerate vs into a spirâ—tual life quicken vs with his holy sprite garnishing his church that is to say the faithfull wyth manifold gifts of thanks defending them against all euill suppressing the terror of hys ennemies but preseruing and sauing vs as those that truely do honor and worship him For he as hauing the victorious triumph is the king sauioure and heade of all faithfull beleuers Finally also with his resurrection he hathe prepared vs a place made the way opened it into heauen Thus in heauen hath he placed the true maÌ„ that we mighte haue an assured true testimoni that our flesh also shal rise againe and that the whole perfect man with body and soule shal be caried into heauen For meÌ„bers shal be like vnto the heat Therfore as the cloud toke vp the very true body of the Lord yeâ— euen the whole perfecte manne Christ so shal all godly persons be taken vp into the air to mete the Lorde that they may liue with Christ their Lorde head for euermore For Paul saith the dead in Christ shall arise first Theâ— we which liue remain shalbâ— caught vp with them also in thâ— cloudes to meete the Lorde iâ— the ayre and so shall we euer bâ— with the Lord. Item to the Hebrues by thâ— meanes of the bloud of Iesu wâ— haue free entrance into the holâ— place by the new liuing way which he hathe prepared for vs thorowe the vaile that is to say by his flesh Vnto this meaning agreeth very wel the godly and excellent sentence of the old ancient wryter Tertullian who in the booke of the resurrection of the flesh saith thus Christ which is called the arbiter and mediator betwene God and men hath of the same that is set and committed vnto him of both reserued al so vnto himself the adding to of the fleshe for an earnest peny of the whole summe For like as he hath left vs the pledge of the sprite euen so contrariwise hath he receiued of vs the earnest peny of the flesh and caried it vp with him into heauen a true euidence or pledge that he will bring thether also the whole summe bodye soule c. For this great and highe benefite declared vnto vs by hys diuine mercy without oure deseruing be laude and praise honor and thankes vnto oure King our victorious Triumpher head and Redemer euen our Lord Iesu Christ from hence forth now and for euermore Amen ¶ The second part ENTREATING OF our bodies CHAP. 13. Of the true Resurrection of oure Fleshe NOwe commeth it to the poynt that we must also speake of the true raising vp of our bodies or resurrection of this our flesh for the same foloweth out of the resurrection and ascension of oure Lorde Iesus Christ This worde to rise vp as Tertullian De Resurrectione carnis declareth extendeth to nothing more theÌ„ vnto that which was falne For nothing caÌ„ arise saue onely it that fell For when a thing was falne and standeth vp againe we say it is risen for asmuch as this terme to rise vp hath a relacion S. Paule vseth the word Anistemi which signifieth to erecte to rise vp to set vp againe and to stand Egeromai ex hypnou I rise vp and awake froÌ„ slepe The Hebrues vse the worde kum which signifieth not onli to rise vp but also to endure to continue and to remaine vpright For in the booke of Iosua we read the childreÌ„ of Israel coulde not stande before their enemies that is they might not endure continue before them Furthermore in the boke of Genesis euery thing was destroyed that remained that is whatsoeuer there was and stode vprighte or erected it selfe vpon the face of the earthe Heereof it commeth that to stande vp and to rayse vp is called the immortality or the euerlasting and perpetuall continuance of the soule As whan the Lord saith in the gospel of Iohn I will raise him vp at the last daye For if by the last day the houre of euery mans death be vnderstand then dothe the Lord raise vp that is he preserueth the soule in the state that it dieth not neither perisheth in death nowe if by the last day be vnderstand domes day then raiseth he vp the body from the earth at the laste daye in the generall iudgement Therfore the words to stand vp raise vp signify eyther the conseruation of a thing which is that it be not destroyed and pearishe or else the restoring of a thing that was fallen to hys right case and estate againe CHAP. 14. Our flesh or body it self shal rise againe though it be hard to beleue and vvhat the flesh or body is NOwe will we speake also of these termes fleshe body or corps We beleeue the resurrection of the body or flesh The scripture commoÌ„ly calleth it the resurrection of the dead to declare euidentli that the resurrection must not be referred to the soule nor to the spirite but directly vnto the body and to the fleshe Cyprianus or Ruffinus sayth that the church towardes the West did expresse knowledge the article in the holy Apostolical Crede after this maner I beleue the resurrection of the flesh And so they added ther vnto manifestly this term the to the intent that no man should vnderstand any other flesh saue only the same natural and essenciall flesh which we cary about So saithe Augustine also in the boke of the Articles of the Crede that same visible which properly is called fleshe shall without all dout assuredly rise vp againe Me thinketh that Paule the Apostle minded to poynte vnto the fleshe as with a finger and therefore sayde this corruptible must put on incorruption With the terme this poynteth he as with a finger vnto our fleshe Holy Hierome forceth and coÌ„pelleth Iohn the bishop of Hierusalem to confesse and knowledge the resurrection not onely of the body but also of the flesh and sayeth the flesh and the body are two things Euery flesh is a body but euery body is not fleshe namely a wal is a body but flesh it is not For fleshe is properly called a substaunce of blonde synowes bones and vaines set together As for a body though the name thereof also be vsed for flesh and most part for a substance that may be sene or handled yet it betokeneth sometime a subtile state that can neither be handled nor sene As namely the aire But at all times it hath bene a hard thing for man to beleue that the bodies which are buried resolued to corruption shuld wholely without imperfection or blemishe be brought againe and restored Therfore
of the worde the right foundation and grounde of godlinesse As if he woulde say forasmuche as the true head article of saluation is found in me For like as the rote geueth al vertue sap vnto the tre euen so is the matter of the resurrection of the dead thorow Christe the cheefest greatest and true principal poynt of the worde and affaires of god Repent therfore sayth Iob for wrath handleth or dothe nothing righte but rather prouoketh god vnto vengeance The prophet Esay in his twenty sixe chapter doth testifie the Resurrection 〈◊〉 this maner Thy dead shall â—â—e euen with my body shall they arise Stand vp be glad ye that rest or dwel in the duste for the dewe of the herbes is thy dew the ground of tyrants shalt thou cast down Thy dead O god sayth the prophet shal liue nameli the soules of those that for thy sake are slaine and that haue worshipped thee Neuertheles their bodies shall not preuent my body in the Resurrection but at the last iudgement or vpon domes daye shall they rise againe with my body Likewise saith also S. Peter that the soules of suche as died afore time do liue with god but with the fleshe they shal be iudged as other men Therfore did the holy Prophet Esay beleue confesse the general resurrection of all bodies at the last day In the which Resurrection he openly knowledgeth that his own bodi also shal rise againe Afterward bringeth he in an Archangell blowing the troÌ„pet and saying stand vp be glad ye that rest in the dust To rest in dust is nothing els but a description of mans body For the soules and sprites do not rest or lie in dust but the bodies are buried therin become dust Therfore meÌ„ according to the substance state therof wherin they rise againe are called inhabyters and Iâ—â— dwellers of dust or suche as rest in duste The declareth he with a similitude how our bodies that putrify and corrupt shal thorowe the power of God from deathe and corruption be easely raised vp againe The power of god that chargeth commaundeth vs to rise vp from death doth he compare to the dew which whaÌ„ it falleth downe quickeneth and reuiueth the dead herbes Likewise also dothe the power of God to oure dead bodies which it quickneth and raiseth vp again Contrary to this he setteth another sentence saying the earth of tyraÌ„ts that is the bodies of tyrantes â—halt thou raise vp O God but â—hou shalt cast them downe that â—s thou shalt ouerthrowe them â—nto hell and eternall paine Moreouer touching the true â—esurrection of oure bodyes the â—ision of the Prophet Ezechiel â—s so euident and plaine that it â—s not nedefull to speake oughte â—herof And of this haue we many teâ—timonies and witnesses in the Prophets whych mighte heere â—ell haue serued but seing it is not necessary I haue because of shortnesse omitted them now will I come to the sentences of the new Testament The Lord saith Verely verely I say vnto you the houre shal come and now it is that the deade shal heare the voice of the son of God and they that heare it shal liue And immediatly after he saith the houre shal come in the which all they that are in the graues shall heare his voyce and shall come forth Now is it manifest that neither the soules nor sprites but the bodies are in the graues And if other bodies shoulde rise vp for oures what needed he alwaye to make mencion of the graues But to the inteÌ„t that he immediatly in the gospell mighte declare the euident plain vnâ—oubted resurrection of oure boâ—ies he forthwith by his mighâ—y and wonderfull power raised â—p Lazarus froÌ„ death who now â—id stinke and had line .4 dayes â—n the graue This maruellous â—ct had the lord himself declared â—nto Martha with these words by brother shal rise again TheÌ„â—nswered she I know that he shall â—se in the resurrectioÌ„ at the last â—ny Lo how commen manifest â—nd knowne vnto euery maÌ„ was â—e general resurrection of oure â—odies The Lorde saithe more â—nto Martha I am the resurrection the life he that beleueth on me though he were dead yet shall he liue And euery one that liueth and beleueth on me shall neuer die But what nedeth me to collect so many testimonies of the resurrection of the deade considering that the Apostles were vpon no article more feruent and earnest then vpon this He that will alledge all the sentences witnesses must wryte out almoste the whole new testameÌ„t Luke saith in the Actes of the Apostles with greate power did the Apostles beare witnesse of the resurrection of the Lorde Iesus Christe And in the same boke saith Paul or the hope and resurrection of the dead am I iudged And yet againe for the hope sake of Israel am I bound with this chain In many places hath the holy Apostle Paule brought forth euident ensamples and testimonies of oure resurrection concerning the whych we shall speake in due time He saith moreouer we which liue are alwayes deliuered vnto death for Iesus sake that the life of Iesu mighte appeare in oure mortall bodies What coulde he haue spoken more euident plaine For immediatly vpon the same he saith thus we haue beleeued therfore haue we spoken and know that he which raised vp the Lorde Iesus shall thorow Iesus raise vs vp also Wherefore oure true bodies which now are mortall shall verely rise againe howbeit after the resurrection they shall no more be mortal but iÌ„mortal To these witnesses out of gods word and therfore inuincible I will nowe also adde the testimony of Ihon Damascene The Resurrection sayeth he shall be nothing else but a true coniunction of soule and body and another laudable restitution of it that vvas fallen avvay and brought to naughte Therefore the same body that perisheth is dissolued and falleth a sonder and the very same riseth vp againe vndissoluble For he that in the beginning created man out of the dust of the earth then brought him againe to earthe and duste that he vvas taken of The same I say is mighty and of povver according to his vvorde to raise vp the selfe same man againe from death Thus much Damascenus And truely euery man nowe may wel thinke that God principally for this cause did not create the first man of naughte as he did other things but out of the dust of the earth that as concerning the resurrection of our bodies though they turne to duste and earth againe we shuld haue no doubt Now as I suppose I haue sufficiently and plainly declared that the true flesh of al men yea euen our own body and els none for it yea euen the humain true body shall rise againe from death namely formed and fashioned with his own right proportion measure and property as a true body so that the measure and property of the true
damned and adiudged to eternall death The same witnesseth also S. Hierome in his wryting vppon the last chapter of Esay But no man ought to be moued by suche a folishe and erronious opinion of certaine vnbeleeuers vvhich opinion hathe of all faithfull men beene euer still reiected and cōdemned For the testimonies or vvitnesse of the scriptures vvhich vvholely vvithoute all contradiction are to be credited speake simply and plainly that the punishment and damnation of the vngodly or vnbeleuers is euerlasting and not onely of long continuance as some expound it but so great that it cānot be expressed and so perpetual that it is vvithout end Herevpon for the opening of the matter we will shew mo testimonies Esay saythe thy riuers shall become rozine the dust brimstone the earth burning pitche not able to be quenched day nor night the smoke shall eternally go vp from generation to generation shal there be a destruction neither shall any man be able to walke there in euerlasting eternity The Prophet doubtles speaketh of hel minding with many wordes to declare that the punishment and paine of hell is eternall and without end For firste he sayeth day and night shall it not quenche Then sayeth he farther the smoke shal goe vp still for euermore Item yet more plainly from generation to generation shall there be a destruction namely a dwelling where as is nothing but paine and vndoing And at the end he addeth neither shal any mā be able to walk there in the euerlasting eternity Which is suche a manner of speache that scarce there can be any other founde that more distinctly euidently and plainely expresseth the eternity For what is the euerlasting eternity else but a time withoute ende But to be able to dwel or walk ther signifieth not that no man shall dwel in hel but that it is a lothsome horrible place wherin euery man desireth neither to dwell nor walke Other Prophetes also speaking of the destruction of lands and Cities haue with suche like maner of speche described a very foul and horrible subuersion Therfore woulde the holy Prophet Esay also expresse here nothing else but an euerlastyng lothsomnes that neuer ceasseth In the holy Prophet Daniel it is wrytten thus they that haue instructed the multitude vnto godlinesse shall shine as the starres in seculum in perpetuum for euer and euer Now least that by this word seculum any man vnderstande a long season as an hundreth a thousād or .10000 yeres he addeth therevnto immediatlye inperpetuum that is in to the eternity or for euermore And like as the eternity is appoynted for the rightuous so is there an euerlasting eternity ordeined for the wicked For the Lord saythe plainly They that haue don good shal come forthe to the resurrection of life and they that haue done euil to the resurrection of iudgement Note here the manner of speche to the resurrectiō of life and to the resurrection of iudgement Nowe haue I shewed afore that this saying to rise vp vnto the resurrection of iudgement is asmuche as to rise to a continual stil remaining state in the which the bodies raised vp endure perpetually in torment We finde also the like in the same gospell of Iohn that the Lorde saythe who so beleeueth on the sonne hathe eternall life but he that beleueth not the sonne shall not see life but the wrath of god abideth vpon him Loe what could be more euidently and pithely spoken He shall not see life sayth the Lorde Item the wrathe of God remaineth vpon him If he shall not see life howe shal he then as yonder men say be preserued or saued Item If the wrathe of God abide vppon him then surely the vengeance that is the paine punishment shall not be taken away frō him And note that he saith the wrathe of God abideth yea abideth on him As if he would say the punishment hāgeth vpon him sticketh fast moueth not away altereth not but worketh in the vnbeleuers without ceassing for euermore The Lord saythe all sinnes shall be forgeuen the children of mē and also the blasphemies wherwith thei blaspheme But who so blasphemeth the holy Ghost hathe no forgeuenesse for euermore but is gilty of eternal iudgement For euermore saith he hath he no remission And herevnto he addeth he is in dāger of eternall iudgement that is he shal be punished wyth euerlasting continuall punishment The lord sayth moreouer in the same Euangeliste better it is for thee to enter into lyfe halte or lame then hauing two fete to be cast into hell fire the fire that neuer quencheth wher their worme dieth not theyr fire goeth not oute Wherein he repeateth once againe that the fire neuer quencheth and addeth therto that the worme neuer dieth Wherfore as the bodies euer cōtinue so endureth their worm also perpetually For the worme liueth and is susteined onely of the body or caryon S. Iohn also sayth in his reuelation if any man worship the beast and hys image and receiue his mark in his forehead or on his hand the same shall drinke the wine of the wrathe of God which is poured in the cup of his wrathe And he shall be punished in fire brimstone before the holy Angels before the Lambe And the smoke of theyr tormente ascendeth vp for euermore and they haue no rest day nor night c. And the like is repeated in the .20 Chapter Thus muche of eternal damnatian CHAP. 29. Of eternal life and saluation and that there is an eternall life NOwe resteth that in the end of this boke we collect somewhat oute of the scripture cōcerning euerlasting life and the moste perfect saluation of all elect which is our only expectatiō and only hope that we vndoubtedly looke for and trust to inherite and that thorow the benefite and merits of our Lord Iesus Christe That there is a blessed and eternall life no man cā deny vnlesse he be altogether an enemy of god except there be in him no life at all For if there be no euerlasting life and no euerlasting saluation then is there also no God or thoughe there were one yet were he neither true nor iust seing that vnto all rightuous and faithfull he hath promised eternall life But a God there is who is true and rightuous therfore is there also an eternall life saluatiō which he hath promised to faithfull beleuers This doth holi scripture recorde with these witnesses Dauid saith I beleue and trust to see the richesse of the Lorde And in the gospel the lord saith Come ye blessed of my father possesse the kingdome whyche hath ben prepared for you from the beginning of the worlde Item O thou good and faithfull seruaunt thou hast bene faithfull in a litle I will make thee ruler ouer much enter into the ioy of thy lord Paule also saith if we haue a sure hope in Christe Iesus only in this life then
of the beholding of god it is penned at large in the .112 Epistle which he wrote ad Paulinam Our Lord Iesus saith also in the holy gospell this is the eternall life that they know thee to be the only true God whōe thou haste sent Iesus Christe This knowledge is not only beleefe and the knowledge of vnderstanding but also the present beholding and fruition of God and the fellowship wyth God which after this life shall happē vnto all faithfull beleuers For Paule said we see now thorow a glasse in a darke speaking but then face to face For faithe is a stedfast substance of things that we hope for and as a beholding or sight of God albeit somwhat more darke and not so euident cleare as shall be that whych as a reward of faith shall be geuen to the faithfull in the worlde to come To see face to face is nothing else but to vse enioy haue the fruition of all things presently also to behold the promisse and perfectly to be pertaker therof Therefore sayeth the holy Apostle Iohn yet more euidently dearly beloued we are now the children of god and yet it dothe not appeare what we shall be but we know that whan he shall appeare we shall be like him for we shal see him as he is With the which wordes s Iohn will declare three things namely that euen nowe in this verye present time we are Gods children and therefore also heyres And though this be a great fore deale and an excellent iewel yet the great and vnspeakeable glory that in time to come shall be declared vnto vs hathe not yet appeared For we saith he shall be like him namely oure Lorde Iesu Christe who according to the saying of Paule shall alter and chaunge our frail body that he maye make it like vnto hys owne glorified body Besides this euen as he is shall we see him namely Christ the Lord not onely as man but also as very god Therfore shal we see god as he is namely god as the onely cheefe and highest good in whom we haue al good things For Paule sayth whan all things are subdued vnto the sonne then shal the sonne also be subiect vnto him who vnto him hath subdued all things that God may be all in all And therefore sayde he also in the gospel that they know thee to be the onely true god Not that Christ is not very god but that the mysterie and the intreating of the sonne oure mediator reconciler shal after the iudgemēt be no more so in heauen as it hath ben afore vpon earth But the only God in the holy Trinity shall be of all good the full perfecte sufficiencie to all faithfull For all that we can wishe thinke and desire shall only god geue and be in all things And that is also the meaning and vnderstanding of Paule whan he sayth God shal be all in all And heerevnto serueth nowe the goodly sentence of S. Augustine who sayth thus God shall be the end of al our longing and desire him shal we perpetually see him shall we loue wythoute tediousnesse and grefe and hym shal we praise wythout ceasing For tediousnesse and grefe runneth customably with saturation or fulnesse As for vs we shal with the beholding of God be filled to the bodelye satisfying which filling shal be as little tedious or greuous as we are greued at the waters and riuers that stil run into the sea and yet oute of the groūd of the earthe spring forth againe For the same cōmeth to passe withoute all mens tediousnesse yea rather wyth great ioye and commodity seing they water moisture all things and make thē fruteful And herevnto serue now these testimonies of the scripture the Prophet Dauid sayth in thy presence is the fulnesse of ioy and at thy righthand there is pleasure for euermore that is in the beholding of thee is and consisteth all ioy and in heauen shall euerlasting pleasure be Item in thy rightuousnesse shal I behold thy face and whan I awake I shall with thy likenesse be satisfied Vnto the Lord also sayth the holy Apostle Phil lip Lorde shewe vs the father and it suffiseth vs. Therfore the Poete Marcellus spake very Christianly and well in these his verses HEreof hath God his name truely Because the highest good is he For vvhere he is there is present Much honor and glory excellent And therfore euery pleasant thing That vvater and earth dothe heere forthe bring And vvhat in the aire is beautifull That may delite and be frutefull There is in all that number not one VVhich is not seene at all season VVithin the circle of heauen ivvis VVhere the highest fathers dvvelling is The blessed also and elect shal in the heauenly and eternal coūtry with continuall praise incessantly laude and magnifye the name of God. For whan s. Iohn in his reuelation thought to signify shew this he sayd I hard the voice of many angels which wer about the throne and about the beasts and the elders And I heard many thousands that sang a newe song saying worthy is the lambe that was killed to receiue power and richesse wisedome and strength honor glory and blessing c. Moreouer the same eternall life shal be altogether fre and discharged from all heauinesse sicknesse and temptatiōs wheras temporall ioy rest and welfare of men is mixt with sorowe As also the holye Apostle Iohn dothe witnesse I Iohn sayth he sawe that holye Citie new Hierusalem cōming down from God out of heauen prepared as a bride garnished for her husbande And I harde a great voyce out of heauen saying beholde the tabernacle of God is with men and he wil dwel with them and they shall be his people and God him selfe shal be with them and shal be their god And God shall wipe away all teares from theyr eyes And there shal be no more death nether sorow nether crying nether shal there be any more paine for the olde things are gone And he that sate vpon the seate sayd Beholde I make all things newe And he sayde vnto me wryte for these wordes are faithfull true And herevnto in manner serueth all that followeth after in the .21 chapter to the ende of the boke CHAP. 32. The soules departed vvotte not vvhat they do that are aliue thereby any thing to be disquieted THerfore did holy Augustin also teach that the soules of those that are departed wotte not what they doe which are aliue Yet wil I resite his words Thus sayth Augustine If the soules of those that are departed vvere among the doings of suche as are aliue they shoulde vvhan vve see them in sleepe talke vvith vs and then I vvill not speake of others at the least my good and faithfull mother that by vvater and lande folovved me so farre to be vvith me should novve not forsake me For God forbid that he shoulde haue made that blessed life