man can vnderstand it The Christian by course hath residence in three houses The first was his mothers wombe there hee soiourned by moneths The second is this world wherein hee ◅oiourneth by years The ◅hird is heauen wherein ◅re the euerlasting Taber◅acles and there the chri◅tian shall dwell for euer Of this comparison will ◅ppeare the glory of our ◅hird house wherof who ◅o pleases to reade more ◅s likewise of that com◅ort we haue of this that God the Father of our Lord Iesus is also become ◅ur Father in him may ◅ee it at greater length in ◅ur treatises on the eight ◅o the Romanes and Defiance of Death The third circumstance is in the word Mansions and it imports the endurance and eternity of that house and them which dwell in it it is no soiourning house no place for pilgrimes but our mansion place The earth is stable and moues not yet all things in it are in a continuall motion wee neuer stand in one estate from the womb our course is to the graue without any resting The heauens are againe in a perpetuall motion and yet aboue them hath the Lord prepared our mansion That petition of the Church is a meet prayer ◅r vs O thou whom my ◅ule loueth shew me where ◅ou ◅eedes and rests at the ◅one day Here the Lord ◅edes vs but heere the ◅ord rests n̄ot heere is ght but not the light of ◅e noone day No no ◅e Sunne in his meridi◅ light extends not so ◅rre the morning twight as the lightsome ◅ory of our mansions ◅ceeds the greatest glo◅ man can haue in his ◅lgrimage As the great ◅ies of Campania seeme ◅t litle cottages to them who stand on the top◅ the Alps as the moo◅ couereth her selfe with pale vale and shineth n◅ at all in presence of t◅ Sunne so all the beau◅ and glory of this eart◅ shall vanish when that gl◅ry of the Sons of God sh◅ be reuealed Miserable worldlin◅ haue no care of a place ◅ these mansions as if could be obtained wit◅ out care but beyond ◅ measure they care for t◅ place of their pilgrimag◅ as if their care could pr◅cure the continuan◅ thereof What greater fo◅ ◅y then this Suppose thy ◅ossessions were as sure ◅s the earth to remaine with thee and thine after ◅hee to the worlds end ◅rt thou also sure to remaine with them No in ◅ne houre wherein thou ◅ookest least for it it will ◅e told thee O foole this ◅ight they will take away ◅hy soule from thee But in truth thy posses◅ons are most vnsure ◅hey came from another ◅and vnto thee thinkst ◅hou so to tedder and re◅eiue them that from ◅hee they shall not passe ◅o another S. Paul his Epithite for riches is to be marked Trust not in vncertaine riches Salomon attributes wings vnto them if they flee not tow◅rd thee thou wert not able to reach vnto them and if they will flee from thee thou art not able to deteine them Dauid compares them to a flowing water which as it hath ◅ filling so also an ebbing which none is able to stay Fluxa est diuitiaru◅ natura And Basile writing on that place called them to be of a flowing nature possidentes torrent◅citius praetereunt ac dese◅ unt they runne by their ◅ossessors like the water ◅f a swift running riuer ◅nd forsakes them If ye ◅oe to the land-ward ye ◅hall see the field which ◅elongeth to one this ◅ay rendred vnto the ◅ossession of another the ◅ext morning If ye en◅r into cities how many ◅ames from seuerall Ma◅ers hath the houses ther◅f changed since they ◅ere first builded if ye ◅oke vnto gold and sil◅er goes it not from one ◅and to another like wa◅r that hath the one way ◅d cannot long be kept in the hand Nazian ze◅ compared them to a ball which young men tosse◅ too and fro and is now i◅ the hand of one and in◅ continent in the hand o◅ a◅other We liue in a time whe◅ in as Iob saith we may s◅ the portion of many curs◅ vpon earth If the nett◅ possesse not their pleasa◅ place and the thorne the◅ Tabernacle as was threa◅ned by Hosea and is see◅ vpon many yet at lea◅ their owne place misknow◅ them and they leaue th◅ riches vnto others Th◅ thinke their houses shall co◅tinue and calls their lands ◅y their names thus their ◅ay vttereth their folly It ◅ay be the Lord dealeth ◅ with some in mercy ◅ he caused Goshen to cast ◅ut Israel that he might ◅ring them to Canaan so ◅e Lord to chase his own ◅nto heauen maketh the ◅rth to forsake them But ◅re vnto many it is the ◅arefull recompence of ◅eir sinnes that wrath ◅hich the fundamentall ◅nnes of their house hath ◅ndled long agoe breaeth now out into a flame ◅ deuoure them accor◅ing to that threatned curse The land shall sp◅out the inhabitants f◅ men haue stopped th◅ eares at the word of t◅ Lord therefore now do◅ hee meane himselfe to t◅ workes of his hands h◅ hath offred a place in t◅ heauenly Mansions vn◅ men which they haue ◅fused choosing rat◅ with losse of heauen ◅ seek a possession on ear◅ that which God off◅ them in heauen they ◅ not haue and that wh◅ they would faine ha◅ vpon earth hee suff◅ them not to enioy T◅ Lord hath smitten ◅ earth and it trembles he ◅ath shaken this land with fearefull earth-quake ◅ many of all estates cast ◅ut from their ◅ncient ◅ossessions hath not bin ◅und in many hundred ◅ares before vs. And yet ◅ this great worke of ◅e Lord men are not ◅akened to learne the in◅bility of things that ◅e heere and to prouide ◅lace for themselues in ◅ese enduring Mansions ◅ereunto our Sauiour ◅re calleth vs. The last circumstance heere that the Mansi◅ are many noting vnto vs two things Fir◅ the largenesse of amplitude of that place ne◅ the comely order that ◅ there As for the first it cleare innumerable Ang◅ dwell there and bes◅ them a great multitu◅ which no man can num◅ of all Nations Kinreds p◅ple and tongues but th◅ is roome enough and ◅ficient for all Againe it notes ◅ comely and decent or◅ of that house there ◅ be no confusion there earthly assemblies w◅ great multitudes of p◅ple gather together to old any pleasant specta◅e one of them is an im◅ediment to anot◅ it ◅all not be so there The ◅omane Emperors raised ◅ ample Amphitheaters a circular forme that ◅eir people sitting round ◅out might haue a com◅odious sight of such ◅easant spectacles as ◅ere exhibited vnto thē ◅heir seates ascended by ◅grees that one of them ◅ould not hinder the ◅ht of another these ◅ere onely erected as oc◅sion serued and lasted ◅t a time till at length ◅mpeius the Great caused to be built a great pe◅ ma◅ Amphitheate◅ of such huge quantity that
punishment to the â—…icked which is their due â—…y deseruing but of â—…ace giues that to the â—…dly which hee is not â—…ebt-bound to giue The same tenor of Doâ—…rine is kept by Bernard 〈◊〉 many places namely 〈◊〉 that notable Treatise â—… hath of that foure-fold â—…bt wherein man stands â—…lieged to the Lord. â—…rst thou art oblieged 〈◊〉 him as vnto thy Creaâ—…r when thou hast giuen him the whole seruice oâ—… thy soule and body thoâ—… hast giuen but his dueâ—… because he created themâ—… Secondly thou art debter to him as vnto thâ—… Redeemer who hath redeemed thy life by suffering death for thee wherâ—… with wilt thou pay thâ—… debt If thou saist thoâ—… wilt pay it with good seâ—…uice how can that beâ—… seeing all thy seruice â—… not able to pay thy firâ—… debt Cum Christo donaâ—…ro quicquid sum quioquâ—… possum nonne istud est sicâ—… Stella ad Solem gutta â—… fluuium When I haâ—… â—…iuen vnto Christ all that â—…am all that I can al is not â—…ke a Starre in compariâ—…n of the Sunne or like 〈◊〉 droppe in respect of a â—…iuer There is yet a â—…ird debt vpon thee Exiâ—…nt à te praeterita peccata â—…a futuram vitam tuam â—…hy former sinnes reâ—…uires of thee a better â—…e in time to come Seeâ—…g thou hast but still one â—…ing to pay all thy Creâ—…ters Nunquid vt vulgo â—…citur de vna filia duos â—…tuisti facere generos â—…ilt thou as the Proâ—…erbe is make two sons 〈◊〉 law of one daughter Beside these there is â—… fourth thou desirest tâ—… possesse that Citie oâ—… which it is said Glorioâ—… things are spoken of thee â—… Citie of our God and tâ—… haue a roome in theâ—… heauenly Mansions thâ—… are in thy Fathers houseâ—… Nonne ad hoc emendendâ—… totum te quaecunque â—… vndecunque contrahere pâ—…ter is dare oportebit Muâ—… thou not for buying anâ—… obtayning of this giuâ—… thy selfe and all thaâ—… whatsoeuer or howsoeuer thou art able to geâ—… it and yet when thoâ—… hast done all The afflictiâ—… â—…ns of this present time are â—…ot worthy of that glory to â—…e reuealed Wilt thou â—…hen be so impudent Vt â—…inutum tuum etiam ad hoc â—…onquirendum vel â—…udeas â—…umer are that thou darest â—…e bold to lay out thy â—…alfe-penny to conquere â—…is also seeing it is inâ—…aged by iust debt to so â—…any before Quis ergo â—…icet se nimium egisse cum â—…ec mille simae imo nec miniâ—…ae debitorum suorum parâ—… valeat respondere Let â—…apists blush be ashaâ—…ed to heare this in their â—…aine confidence they â—…ry out of the fulfilling of the Law of the doinâ—… of workes of supererogation which is more theâ—… the Law requires thâ—… they can merit eternaâ—… life by the worthinesseâ—… their workes There â—… the answere of Bernaâ—… vnto these men Who 〈◊〉 this that dares say he hâ—… done that which hee shouâ—… or more then he should sâ—…ing no man is able to ansâ—… the thousand nay not 〈◊〉 least part of that which he debt-bound to doe If it were not so I would haue told you HEre is a confirmation of the first degree 〈◊〉 the Comfort It is no â—…ine word I haue spoken 〈◊〉 you it is true and you â—…all finde it so if it were â—…t so I would haue told â—…u If wee would reape â—…e fruit of this Comfort â—…ee must consider who â—…e is that giues it hee is â—…lled the faithful witnesse â—…e true one God hath giâ—…n vs a minde to know him â—…ho is true What his serâ—…nts spake of our Lord and his glory they spaâ—… with a warrant Wee fâ—… lowed no deceiuable faâ—… when wee opened to youâ—… power and comming of 〈◊〉 Lord Iesus Christ but wâ—… our eyes wee saw his Mâ—…stie What himselfe spaâ—… hee spake out of certaiâ—… knowledge and wâ—… now hee speaketh in 〈◊〉 eares wee shall one 〈◊〉 see it with our eyes rael sung it of old As â—… haue heard so haue we sâ—… in the Citie of our God aâ—… so shall we yea wee shâ—… see much more then eâ—… we heard for the gloâ—… of these Mansions â—…ngue is able to expresse â—…e shall be forced to conâ—…sse with that Queene of â—…eba that the halfe of â—…e glory of our Salomonâ—…s â—…s not told vs in our â—…ountry Iamesâ—…d â—…d Iohn got but a transiâ—…rie glance of that glory 〈◊〉 Mount Tabor if a â—…nce of it did so rauish â—…em how shall the full â—…ht thereof replenish vs â—…ely let vs pray with â—…t sweet Singer in Isâ—…ll Remember mee O â—…rd with the fauour of thy â—…ple visit mee with thy â—…uation that I may see the â—…icitie of thy chosen and reioyce in the ioy of thy people and glory with thine inheritance And here againe is to be obserued the perfection of Christs Propheticall office what he hatâ—… told vs is true and he hath left nothing vntolâ—… which is needfull for 〈◊〉 to know that wee maâ—… be saued So witnesseâ—… S. Iohn Many other sigâ—… did Iesus in presence of 〈◊〉 Disciples which are 〈◊〉 written in this Booke 〈◊〉 these things are written tâ—… we might beleeue that Iesâ—… is the Christ the Sonne God and that in beleeuâ—… â—…ee might haue life through is name With him agrees â—… Paul who protests hee â—…ad deliuered to the Elâ—…ers of Ephesus the whole â—…ounsell of God and yet it recorded of him that â—…hen he opened his cause 〈◊〉 the Iewes and Brethren â—…f Rome Hee preached to â—…em concerning Iesus out â—…f the Law of Moses and of â—…e Prophets yet are the â—…duersaries so shamelesse 〈◊〉 to affirme that though â—…ow the Euangelists and â—…postles be ioyned with â—…oses and the Prophets â—…et in all their writings â—…e counsell of God concerning our saluation 〈◊〉 not to be found But admit it were aâ—… they say that all thing needfull for vs to know were not told vs by ouâ—… Lord and his holy Peâ—… men Who is hee that able to reueale that whiâ—… the great Angell of tâ—… Couenant the Doctâ—… Prophet of his Churâ—… hath not reuealed Tâ—… last Booke of holy Scrâ—…ture is the Booke of tâ—… Reuelation it is come froâ—… the right hand of that â—…ler who sitteth on tâ—… Throne S. Iohn saw closed with seauen sealâ—… â—…nd he mourned because â—…one in heauen nor in â—…arth were able to open â—…t yet the Lambe opened â—…t which if hee had not â—…one the Proclamation made by the Angell witâ—…esseth that none was â—…ble to haue done it This â—…ame may wee say of all â—…he remanent Bookes of â—…oly Scripture the Lamb â—…ath loosed to vs the Seales of them all hee â—…nely hath opened and â—…euealed them vnto vs. And if any part of the â—…ounsell of God needfull â—…o be knowne for saluatiâ—…n be yet vnsealed not reuealed to vs I pray them tell vs who is he iâ—… heauen or in earth wilâ—… do that which the
â—…e oppressed there Rise â—…d follow me Come and â—…e the beauty of my Faâ—…ers house Is it not a shame for vs to lye back and linger in this iourny Most part among vs hauâ—… liued as long as our Lorâ—… yea many twise as long shall we still desire to liâ—… long in this absence froâ—… him It was promised bâ—… Esay that vnder the kingdome of Christ there shâ—… be no more a child of yeareâ—… nor an olde man that haâ—… not filled his daies Anâ—… these Fathers who saâ—… the day of Christ but a faâ—… off were ioyfull to dyâ—… that they might enioy him Thus is it saide oâ—… Isaac that he died full â—…daies and shall not we tâ—… whom this day of our â—…ord hath shined more earely long to be dissoled that we may be with â—…ur Lord. I grant long â—…fe is one of God his proâ—…ised temporal blessings â—…ut it is a far greater blesâ—…ng so to liue that thou â—…e content to die so to â—…se the daies which God â—…ath lent thee that thou â—… and not in neede of any â—…ore spending euery day 〈◊〉 if it were thy last day â—…ke Israell in Egypt with â—…ynes girded vp and thy â—…affe in thy hand for the â—…urney euer looking and â—…nging when the Lord shall command thee 〈◊〉 remoue Againe it is to be oâ—… serued that our Sauioâ—… speaking of his death câ—… it a going to his Fatheâ—… S. Luke calls it the time 〈◊〉 his assumption namely 〈◊〉 into heauen If we coâ—… consider this it woâ—… banish from vs the prâ—…phane feare of deatâ—… There is one family saâ—… S. Paul whereof God the Father part of thâ—… Family is in heauen anâ—… part is vpon earth As â—…rusalem was distinguishâ—… into two cities the supeâ—…or and inferiour so is tâ—… Church The superior ciâ—… hath in it the compaâ—… of Saints triumphant â—…e inferiour consists of â—…e company of Saints â—…ilitant yet both make 〈◊〉 but one family Now â—…en since our death is 〈◊〉 other thing but a pasâ—…g from the lower â—…use vp into the higher 〈◊〉 the transplanting of a â—…ee from one part of the â—…ords vineyard to a betâ—…r why shall we grudge it But of this more â—…ay be seen in our Treaâ—…es of the eight to the â—…omanes and defiance to â—…ath The doctrine of thâ—… Stepmother-Church oâ—… Rome comes far short oâ—… this comfort the deatâ—… of her children they callâ—… downe-going to an houâ—… in hell to wit Purgatory not an vpgoing to our fathers house in heauen 〈◊〉 comfortles religion Phisitians are they of no value miserable are theâ—… who are blinded by them Their religion tells the that in thy life-time thoâ—… canst not be sure of saluation and in death it assures thee thou must gâ—… into purgatory the painâ—… wherof differeth nothing from the paine of hell exâ—…ept that it is of shorter â—…ontinuance and there â—…eedes them with vaine â—…opes that they wil bring â—…hee out againe but canâ—…ot tell thee when If thou â—…ue thy soule O man â—…ust not in such deceitâ—…ll trumpery hazard not â—…y soule downe-ward â—…ee that religion which â—…rofesses this for a princiâ—…le that it cannot make â—…ee sure of saluation If â—…ou wouldst haue rest to â—…y soul belieue in Christ â—…enounce thy selfe conâ—…nt thee with his merits â—…e instructed by his word there thou shalt learnâ—… that it belongeth vnto alâ—… his redeemed which heâ—… spake vnto one This nighâ—… thou shalt be with me in Paradise From the place oâ—… our Pilgrimage al that diâ—… in the Lord goe by 〈◊〉 straight course to Paradise they know no Purgatory Vbi euolauerit corpore anima si rea sit pâ—…testates tenebrarum eam â—…ripiunt Sanctis vero astâ—… Angeli qui eorum animâ—… ad suam partem pertraâ—… So soone as the soule flâ—… eth out of the body if be guilty the powers 〈◊〉 darkenesse carries it viâ—… lently with them as their prey but the holy Angels carries the soules of holy men vnto their place as they carried Lazarus his soule into Abrahams bosome no word heere of any mid-place and no lesse cleare in this point is Nazianzen Credo omnem animam Deo charam posteaquam corporis vinculis soluta hinc excesserit hilarem ad dominum suum conuolare beatitudinâ—…m reconditam imaginatione quadam percipere I beleeue that euery soule beloued of God so soone as it is loosed from the body flyes ioyfully vnto the Lord and there enioyes that happines which in heauen is laied vp for it But no lesse cruell and merciles are they toward young children dying without Baptisme for these if the want of Baptisme be not supplied by martyrdome they condemne to another house of hell which they calâ—… infernus non baptizatorum the hell of such as are noâ—… baptized Our Sauiour commanded to bring thâ—… young children and saiâ—… of such is the kingdome 〈◊〉 heauen but these new doctors will banish young ones from him and grant them no place in his kingdome S. Paul saith that children of beleeuing Parents are holy being born within the Couenant but the Pope sends them downe to a house in hell for want of the seale of the Couenant But because they still bragge of Antiquity we wil let you heare the voyce of Antiquity plainely against them First of this purpose Augustine writes in this manner Proinde respuendi sunt a corde Christiano qui putant ideo dictum multas esse mansiones quod extra regnum coeloruâ—… erit aliquid vbi maneant beati innocentes qui sine Baptismo ex hac vita emigrarunt quia sine illo in regnum â—…alorum intrare non poterunt Therefore they are to be reiected yea spewed out of a Christian heart who thinke because our Sauiour sayes there are many Mansions that therefore without the kingdome of Heauen there is some place wherein blessed innocents dying without Baptisme shall remaine because without it they cannot enter into the kingdom of heauen Haec â—…ides non est fides quia non â—…st vera Catholica fides This faith is no faith because it is no true Cathoâ—…ique faith Dare ye so diâ—…ide the house of our Father that some Mansions therof ye make to be in the kingdom of heaueÌ„ others of them without the kingdom of Heauen Absit vt â—…ui volunt habitare in regno â—…oelorum in hac stultitia veâ—…int habitare vobiscum Far â—…e it from vs that they who would dwell in the kingdome of heauen should dwell with you in this foolish opinion With Augustine agreeth Bernard I read saies he that the Lord spake of Ieremie Before thou came out of the wombe I sanctified thee And of Iohn the Baptist Qui ex viero Dominum in vtero sensit who in the womb of his owne Mother Elizabeth was touched with a feeling of his Lord in the wombe of Marie the blessed Virgin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 had fallen out 〈◊〉 â—…ee that any of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 died in the 〈◊〉 meaning of
thou art stillâ—… same man thou weâ—… there is no change of tâ—… manners and art still 〈◊〉 eased vnto the death 〈◊〉 all those that came Christ in the Gospel noâ—… went away as they came â—…me came blinde and â—…ent away seeing some â—…me lepers and went aâ—…ay cleansed some paraâ—…ique and went away â—…nfirmed some possesâ—…d with euill spirits and â—…ent away deliuered â—…ou art not as one of â—…em thou hast not â—…ught him thou hast not â—…uched him thou hast â—…awne no vertue out of â—…m the Physitian hath â—…t cured thee how then â—…st thou I beleeue in Ieâ—…s thou art not planted him for all that are in â—…m get vertue from him which workes in theâ—… the similitude of his owâ—… life Here is the miserâ—… of this age that a couâ—…terfeit Faith is currant â—…mong many who coâ—…tent themselues with it 〈◊〉 if it were a true faith Verse 2. In my Fathers house are many dwelling places If it were not so I would haue told you I goe to prepare a place for you HItherto haue we been comforted against the feare of â—…ne followes now comâ—…t against Death Wherâ—… the Lord confirmes vs â—…ainst the offence wee â—…ght conceiue of his â—…ath and against the terâ—…rs might arise of our â—…ne death and that which may follow it This comfort proceedes by three degrees In the first is proposed meditation of the manâ—… Mansions which are iâ—… our Fathers house Thâ—… comfort meetes our feaâ—… this way if death afraâ—… you if the graue seeâ—… horrible to you if it yerksome to remembâ—… that which Iob hath Eâ—… it be long I must make 〈◊〉 bed in the darke I will 〈◊〉 to corruption thou art 〈◊〉 father and to the worâ—…yee are my brethren and â—…sters lift vp your minde looke ouer this stream at seemes to carry all â—…ay with it cast your â—…es vpward to my Faâ—…ers House where many â—…ansions are Death â—…all not be able to deâ—…ure you the graue shall â—…t detaine you from â—…ese euerlasting Tabernaâ—… where the place of â—…ur rest and Mansion This is the first degree the Comfort and is â—…ntained in these words As Death is the way of flesh so is it the comâ—…nd of all crosses in it â—…e soule naturally is â—…ubled with feares the â—…dy with paines It is the last enemie which gâ—… thereth all forces miâ—…tant vnder it to the laâ—… battle It is with vs as was with Israel when thâ—… came out of Egypt oâ—… nation of the Egyptiaâ—… pursued them but whâ—… they entred into Canaâ—… seauen nations of Canâ—…nites ioyned their forcâ—… to hold them out In oâ—… life euery man hath hâ—… seuerall crosses and tenttions one hath health 〈◊〉 body but wrestleth wiâ—… pouertie not hauing 〈◊〉 feede his body anothâ—… hath abundance but hatâ—… not his health to vse iâ—… some want sight of their eyes but heare well eâ—…ough others see but â—…eare not at all one is â—…ained in his outward â—…lesh another with some â—…ntestine disease in one â—…here is a whole body but 〈◊〉 wounded Spirit If in â—…ur life wee gather not â—…trength against one crosse or two how shall â—…ee endure in death to â—…ight with them all Wert â—…hou neuer so rich poore â—…nd naked thou must goe to the graue arme â—…hee against pouertie â—…earne to want those things which thou hast before they be taken from thee were thy sight as quicke as the Eagles it shall waxe dimme They shall waxe darke that looke out at the window the strong men shall bowe themselues and the grinders shall cease c. Thy senses shall faile thee yea thy heart also thy beautifull flesh must putrifie rot thou must goe to the house of thine age and all that are thine shall for sake thee In a word armtes of sorrowes feares and terrours as in a solemne day shall be gathered round about thee And therefore great need haue wee to arme our selues aâ—…ainst that day of battel â—…nd specially to lay vp in â—…ur hearts these consolaâ—…ons of God which our â—…auiour here leaues vs in â—…is Legacie In this first degree of â—…he Comfort foure cirâ—…umstances are to be conâ—…idered first who is this â—…e cals his Father secondâ—… what is his Fathers â—…ouse thirdly what are â—…hese mansions fourthâ—…y what is meant here by â—…any mansions As for the first the â—…ame of a Father is either â—…ttribute to God indefinitely and so is common to all the three personâ—… of the blessed Trinitie in which sense among the rest of the stiles giuen vnto Iesus hee is called aâ—… euerlasting Father anâ—… then the relation respect eth all his creatures oâ—… else particularly it is ascribed to the first person and then the relatioâ—… doth principally respecâ—… Christ and that in botâ—… his natures Secondly alâ—… the children of his good wiâ—… to whom by grace iâ—… Christ he is become a father Most comfortable iâ—… this for vs that he who iâ—… â—…he Father of our Lord â—…esus Christ by an vnâ—…eakable generation for â—…ho can declare it is also â—…ecome our Father in â—…im I ascend to my God â—…nd your God to my father â—…nd to your father And â—…hen wee pray hee hath â—…ommanded vs to call â—…pon God as vpon our â—…ther yea he hath sent owne his Spirit into our arts by whose secret inâ—…rmation we are taught â—…ith filiall confidence to â—…y vnto him Abba Faâ—…er Happy time for vs â—…at so wee may call him The second Circumstance leades vs to a consideration of his Fatheâ—… house The heauen saitâ—… the Lord is my throne anâ—… the earth is my foot-stoolâ—… where then is his house yea as Salomon saith Tâ—… heauens and the heauens â—… heauens are not able to coâ—…taine him the Lord is uery where excludâ—… from no place includâ—… in none to them in hâ—… hee shewes his terrour tâ—… them on earth he shewâ—… his goodnesse to them iâ—… heauen hee sheweth hâ—… glory what then is thâ—… hee calleth his Fatheâ—… house This speech â—… borrowed from the manner of Kings who albeit the whole Kingdome bee theirs yet haue they some place of residence which more properly is called the Kings house euen so by this house which our â—…auiour calleth his Fathers house is vnderstood that place of glory wherâ—…n he shewes his secret most familiar presence to his Saints this is the house not made with hands but eternall in the heauens this is the Citie hauing a foundation whose builder and maker is God this is the Citie which needeth not Sun nor Moone This is the Paradise of God the inner Court of the palace of God the heauen of heauens the holy of holiest S. Pauâ—… calls it the third Heauens hee saw it but could not reueale the glory of it he contents him to tell what it was not but takes not in hand to tell what it was â—… he describes it negatiue wee shall know it when wee shall see it till then no heart of