worlde For indeede according to the flesh which the worlde hath taken on it Augustine according to that that was borne of the virgin according to that which was taken of the Iewes which was nayled to the tree that was taken down from the crosse that was lapped in linnen that was laide in the graue that was manyfested in the resurrection You shall not alwayes haue mee with you Why so Because hee was conuersant according to his bodily presence fourtie dayes with his disciples and leading them by seeing but not by following he ascended into heauen and is not here For hee is there and sitteth at the right hande of the father and is here for the presence of his maiestie hath not departed And otherwise according to the presence of his maiestie we haue Christ alwaies but according to the presence of the fleshe it was well said vnto his disciples but me ye shall not haue alwayes Of the fruite of the ascension FVrthermore wee must speake of the fruits which faith doeth lay holde vpon by the ascension of Christ And first of all like as our iustification is ascribed vnto the resurrection so the proceeding and continuing of the same iustification is ascribed vnto the ascension and that two manner of wayes first because in the same bodie which was accurssed in our sinnes he could not ascende into heauen vnlesse first he had beene fully in our name iustified from them For euen like as hee coulde not haue risen into life if there had but one of our sinnes remayned vnsatisfied for and vnlesse all beleuers had ben iustified in him whose person tooke vppon him when hee shoulde bee condemned in them so much lesse coulde he haue entred into that same high light wherevnto there was no way whither no impure thing coulde attaine yea where God doeth shewe himselfe to be seene of the blessed Angels vnlesse he had beene fully iustified for our sinnes and we in him when he ascended thither in our name Iohn 14 The holy Ghost shall reprooue the worlde of righteousnes because I goe to the father and you shall see me no more For like as it was not lawfull for the high priest to enter into the holy of holiest without bloode for his owne sins and the sinnes of the people Heb. 3.27 so that same true sanctuarie had not beene open to Christ to wit that same entrie into heauen vnlesse first he had satisfied for our sins which he had taken vpon him Heb. 1. verse 2. and 9. verse 7.11.12 Therefore whiles Christ doth enter into that same sanctuarie not made with handes heauen it selfe by his owne bloode it is a sure demonstration and thereby the world is conuinced that euerlasting righteousnesse is brought by Christ as Daniel had foretolde And surely the Apostle Ephes 4. doeth lay out that same ascension of Christ as a publike testimonie of our iustification as it were in a triumph to be beholden of the eyes of our faith When he ascended on high he led captiuitie captiue gaue giftes vnto men Surely he led not captiuitie with him into the heauens that is to say death sin for neither is there any place there for sinne death What then That same ascension was as it were a publike testimonie of sinne ouercome and of damnation taken away and of righteousnesse obteined and of full victorie Againe that same entrie into that high sanctuarie is not onely a testimonie of our righteousnes but also that same abiding in the same sanctuarie and shewing of himselfe before the Father is an euerlasting continuance of the same righteousnes to wit whiles by the vertue of his onely one sacrifice being iustified for euer from our sinnes he appeareth there in our name that we might be esteemed righteous perpetuallie in him and to the ende hee might giue giftes vnto men to wit the giftes of the holie Ghost amongest which the Apostle doth speciallie commende faith whereby he doth engraffe vs into him selfe as members vnto the head and doth applie his benefites vnto vs Ephes 4. vers 12.13.15.16 But of this same shewing of Christ before the Father there will be a more fit place when we shal entreate of the sitting at the right hand of God How the death resurrection ascension and sitting of Christ at the right hand of GOD make to the iustification of faith BVt nowe seeing before mention was made of our righteousnes in the death and resurrection of Christe some man will demande not without cause by what waie and meanes the death resurrection and ascension and the sitting at the right hand of God doth make to the iustification of Faith I. The obedience of the death of Christ is the thing it selfe that is imputed to vs to righteousnesse For that satisfieth for our sinnes neither is there any thing wanting to this obedience as Christ saith It is finished And the Apostle Rom. 5. doth set the obedience of Christ against our disobedience II. The resurrection from the dead is a publike testimonie and demonstration both of Christe his righteousnes and ours to wit that Christ is iustified from all our sinnes and we also likewise in him for otherwise if there had remained but one sinne vnpunished he could not haue arisen And this is that same confident demanding which our conscience maketh to God through the resurrection of Christ whereof Saint Peter entreateth in his 1. Epistle Chapter 3. But we haue spoken more of this matter in his place III. The ascension is the proceeding continuance of his righteousnesse First because in his owne bodie that was accursed in our sins he could not ascend in our name I say into that high glorie vnlesse he had bene fullie iustified from our sinnes and we likewise in him who are ingraffed into him through faith Hebrues 1. verse 7. IIII. Nowe that same ascension and entrance into that highe sanctuarie is not onely a publike testimonie of our righteousnesse but also the sitting at the right hand of God that is that abiding of his and perpetuall shewing of himselfe before the face of the Father in that same highe glorie is the continuing of the euerlasting righteousnesse of Christ and of ours like as we haue taught and shal afterwardes teach more fully in the article of sitting at the right hand of God Paule setteth downe all these degrees in the eight Chapter to the Romanes Who shall laie any thing to the charge of God his chosen It is GOD that iustifieth who shal condemne It is Christ which is dead loe the matter for which we are iustified from accusation and condemnation the death of Christ yea or rather which is risen againe which is an vndoubted token that that same death of Christ which he tooke vpon him was sufficient for the full absolution and forgiuenes of our sinnes otherwise he must haue abiden in death who is also at the right hand of God which yet is a greater testimonie that the captiuitie of sinne and damnation is
vers 9 That same worde is the onely begottē sonne of the father and the co-eternal image of the father His onely begotten sonne Io. 1. We haue seene his glory as the glory of the onely begottē of God To the Hebr. 1. who being the brightnes of his glory the light from the light and very ingraued forme of his person of his substance and bearing vp all things by the worde of his power Our Lord. c. And he is the Lorde of all creatures but chiefly of the faithfull or of the Church Io. 1. He was in the worlde and the world was made by him but the worlde knew him not he came amongest his owne and his owne receiued him not Before he came into the world he was a subsisting person and Dauids Lord from which Christ maintaineth his diuinitie in the 22. of Mathew saying What thinke you of Christ whose sonne is he they say vnto him Dauides he saith vnto them how then doth Dauid in spirit call him Lord saying The Lord said vnto my Lord sit at my right hand till I make thine enemies thy footestoole If therefore Dauid call him Lord how is he his sonne Also Luk. vers 1. verses 16.17.43 and vers 76.77 And thou childe Iohn Baptist shalt be called the Prophet of the most high For thou shalt goe before the face of the Lorde to prepare his waies thou shalt giue the knowledge of saluation to his people Malach. 4. vers 5. Io. 1. This is he that commeth after me that was before me c. Io. 20. vers 28. Thomas answereth him my Lord and my God Acts 16. vers 31. and Chap. 18. vers 10. Who was conceaued by the holy Ghost So Christ was conceaued by the holy Ghost that being before that substantiall worde and by himselfe subsisting he tooke our flesh Philip. 2. who being in the forme of God thought it no robbery to be equall with God but he made himselfe of no reputation taking vpon him the forme of a seruante Hebr. 2. He tooke not the natures of Angels vpon him but he tooke the seede of Abraham Io. 6. I am that bread of life which came down frō heauen Io. 16. I went out from the father came into the worlde c. and 1. Timot. 3. Great is the mysterie of godlines God is manifest in the flesh Borne of the virgine Mary The Prophetes foretolde that this man which is borne of the virgine should not be a man in such sort as should subsist of himselfe as Peter and Paule but the true God to witte the second person bearing and vpholding that humaine lumpe into the vnitie of the person knitte vnto him Isay 7. Beholde a virgine shal be with childe and shal bring forth a sonne thou shalt call his name Immanuell God with vs. And in the 9. A childe is borne vnto vs A sonne is giuen vnto vs and the principalitie was vpon his shoulders and thou shalt call his name wonderfull counseller the mightie God father of eternitie and prince of peace Ierem. 23. I will reare vp to Dauid a righteous braunch and he shall raigne king and shall prosper c. And this is his name whereby they shall call him Iehoua our righteousnesse Miche 5. And thou Bethlehem Euphrata although thou be amongest the thousands of Iehudah out of thee shall there come forth vnto me which shal be the gouernour of Israel and his generations shal be from olde and from the daies of euerlastingnes Coloss 2. vers 9. In him dwelleth all fulnes of the Godhead bodily He suffred vnder Pontius Pilate He confessed before Pontius Pilate vnder whom he suffered that his kingdome was euerlasting and that therefore he came into the worlde that he might giue testimony of the truth Io. 18. vers 36.37 and Acts 4. vers 25.26.27.30 When the same iudge iudged him there is fulfilled that prophecy in the 11. of Zachary Mat. 27. And they tooke thirty peeces of siluer the price of him that was valued whom they of the children of Israel valued And they gaue them for the potters fielde as the Lord appointed vnto mee That which the Lorde foretolde of the children of Israel prising him then when the couenant was to be taken away and the people to be forsaken which he signified by the breaking of the staffe which was called the staffe of meekenes or rather the staffe of ioye But in Christ God manifested in the flesh this full disanullance being at hande yea in all circumstances it was fulfilled by a wonderful prouidence Crucified Crucified Zach. 12. vers 10. They shal looke vnto him whō they haue pearced This Iehoua saith of himselfe and Iohn saith that this was fulfilled in Christ Cap. 19. vers 37. And the 1. Cor. 2. vers 8. If they had knowen they had not crucified the Lorde of glory Acts. 3 vers 15. Ye haue slaine the prince of life Dead Dead The Testament was to be confirmed by the death of the Testator Now the Testator was God Hebr. 9. vers 16.17 And Cap. 8. vers 8.9 Acts 20. God hath purchased the Church vnto himselfe hy his owne bloud Buried descended into hell Oze 13.14.15 Buried descended into hell God saith I will redeeme them from the power of hell I will redeeme them from death I will be thy death O death O hell I wil be thy destruction This was partly fulfilled by Christ and shall partly bee fulfilled hereafter as the Apostle teacheth 1. Cor. 15. vers 55.56.57 Therfore Christ is true God he rose also by his owne power He rose from death the third day Rom. 1. vers 4. Io. 2. vers 19. Destroy you this Temple and I will reare it vp againe in three daies And Cap. 10. vers 17. 18. I lay downe my life that I might take it againe No man taketh it from mee but I laye it downe of my selfe I haue power to lay it downe and power to take it againe That he is the true God that ascended into heauen The third day he rose againe from the dead the Apostle plainly teacheth in the fourth to the Ephesians verses 7.8 9. To euery one of vs is grace giuen according to the measure of the gifte of Christ wherefore he saith when he ascended vp on high He ascended into heauen he led captiuitie captiue Io. 3. vers 13. No man ascendeth vp to heauen that is to say by his owne power for others ascend being drawene but he that hath descended from heauen And Io 6. vers 36. and vers 62. Also in the 16. Cap. vers 28. He sitteth at the right hand of God the father almightie He sitteth at the right hand of God and is worshipped of Angels and men Hebr. 1. To which of the Angels hath he euer saide sitte at my right hande In the same place all the Angels of God shall worshippe him And 1 Pet. 3. vers 22. to the Ephesians 1. verses 20.22.23 to the Philippians
can receiue any hurt of thē but so farre as God being their moderator shall vouchsafe to giue thē place who maketh that same hurt to worke together with him their good Ps 27.1.3 psa 91. He shall couer thee with his winges and vnder his winges thou shalt be safe His truth is thy shield and helmett Thou shalt not feare for the feare of the night Also Psal 118. vers 6. Rom. 8. vers 31.38 So Dauid humblie beholding the nature of God hopeth that Simeies railinges should turne to his good 2. Sam. 16. vers 12. Perhappes the Lord will behold my affliction and render me good for his cursing this day By what a wonderfull prouidence was Paule saued with all the rest that were in the shippe with him where euen in the middest of the waues of the sea and in roaring of the windes al things to the shew were confused there appeared euident and vndoubted printes of the diuine prouidence which draue the shippe thither whence they might safely escape Acte 27. which thing vndoubtedly from thencefoorth brought great securitie to Paule against all the hurt of all creatures and then especially when he must come before Nero and should wey with himselfe with how greate prouidence of God contrarie to his owne determination and counsaile he was brought thither Moreouer he conceiued greater securitie for the time to come by his deliuerance in his first defence as he writeth in the 2. Tim. chap. 4. No man assisted me but all forsooke me the Lord lay it not to their charge but the Lord was present with me and strengthened me that through me the preaching should be fulfilled and all the Gentiles heare And I was deliuered out of the mouth of the Lion And the Lord will deliuer me from euerie euill worke and will keepe me to his heauenly kingdome to whom be glorie worlde without end Amen This is euen that couenant that the faithfull that are confederate to God the creator haue also necessarily with all creatures because without the will of the creator they cannot somuch as moue whereof Hoseas speaketh in the 2. chap. THE SECOND PART CONCERNING THE sonne and our reconciliation And in Iesus Christ Testimonies out of the Prophets and Apostles ESay 9. A childe is borne vnto vs A sonne is giuen vnto vs whose gouernment shal be vppon his shoulder his name shal be called Wonderful Counsailor the mightie God father of eternitie Prince of peace Matt. 1. She shal bring forth a sonne thou shalt call his name Iesus For he shall saue his people from their sinnes Furthermore all this is done that that might be fulfilled which the Lord hath spoken by his Prophet saying Beholde a virgine shall be with childe shal bring foorth a sonne and thou shalt call his name Emanuell which is if thou interprete it God with vs. Luk. 1. The Angel saith vnto Marie thou shalt call his name Iesus This man shall be great and shall be called the sonne of the highest And the Lorde God shall giue him the seat of Dauid his father he shal raigne ouer the house of Iacob for euer and of his kingdome there shall be no ende Why we beleeue in Iesus Christ the only begotten sonne of God WE beleeue also in Iesus Christ the onelie begotten sonne of God First because the sonne of God is of one substance glorie together with the Father Io. 1. We sawe his glorie as of the onely begotten sonne of the father Therfore in the first Chapter to the Hebrues he is called the brightnes of his glorie and engrauen forme of his person Ioh. 10. I and the Father are one Further because the Father hath commanded that we beleeue in the sonne Psalm 2. Kisse ye the sonne And in the end of the same Psalme Blessed are al they which trust in him Also This is my beloued sonne in whome I rest heare him Nowe we so heare the sonne expounding the commandement and promise of the father Io. 6. This is the wil of that my father who hath sent me that whosoeuer seeth the sonne and beleeueth in him should haue euerlasting life And I wil raise him vp in that last daie And in the 14. of Ioh. he saith Ye beleeue in God beleeue also in me And this is so seuerely commanded that a most greeuous punishment is denounced against such as refuse the benefite offered in Christ He that beleeueth not the sonne shal not see life but the wrath of God abideth vpon him Io. 3. Also the 8. Vnlesse you beleeue that I am he ye shal die in your sinnes And the 1. Io. 2. Therefore I confesse that I beleeue in the sonne of God verie God begotten of very God before all worldes To the Hebrues 3. Prouerb 8. And that from my hearte I submitte my will to this commandement and promise of the father that I am throughly persuaded although I be a wretch that yet for this eternal sonne of God I am indeede receiued neither would he I should adde this the greatest sinne to my great and manifolde sinnes that I should reiecte the sonne of God freely offered but that his desire is that with all my soule I should resist all vnbeliefe and should deliuer my selfe altogether deuoide of saluation to be saued to this sonne forasmuch as our heauenlie father hath so commanded Why the sonne of God is named Iesus THe sonne of God manifested in the flesh is named Iesus because he hath saued vs through his desert and yet still saueth vs by his power from all our sinnes Mat. 1. Acts 4. Hebr. 7 Nowe the fruite that comes vnto me by this knowledge is this Seeing God that can not lie Tit. 1. hath giuen this name Iesus from heauē to his sonne manifested in the flesh that is to saye of a sauiour I knowe and vndoubtedly assure my selfe that he fully and perfectly saueth me wholy both in soule and body and in this faith I call vpon him As often as I heare therefore the name of Iesus I ought to remember the promise of the Gospell that lyeth hidde in it that he through his merite hath saued me from my sinnes and by his power mortifieth the remnants of sinne in me vntill he fully deliuer me from them that he also quickeneth me through his holy spirite and that he euerlastingly keepeth for me that same saluation purchased with so great a price 1. Pet. 1. and so he beareth that worthy name for my sake which was giuen vnto him by the father from heauen that he might shewe the truth of his name in truth and effectually aswel in my saluation as in the saluation of al beleeuers He is faithful that beareth that notable name of sauiour and he that hath promised shall doe it Christ Testimonies out of the Prophets and Apostles TO the Sonne he saith Thy throne O God Psal 45. is for euer and euer thy scepter a right scepter the scepter of thy kingdome Thou hast loued righteousnesse and
to God peace to the earth A good wil in men Like as therefore in times past when Salomon by the commaundement of God was annoynted there was publike ioye amongest the people of God because they knewe that God woulde doe them good and defend them by the hande of a king so also we when wee heare out of the worde of God that our Lorde Iesus is Christ that is that same annoynted of the lorde we ought together with the Angels to be filled with an exceeding ioye of minde being surely persuaded that euen in this verie thing that the heauenly father hath appointed and in verie deede giuen his owne sonne Christ that is annointed to be our king that he doeth openly from heauen declare that hee by this sonne will become the euerlasting restorer and defender of his Church Why Christ was annointed not onelie to be king but also Priest IT followeth that we declare whie he was not onely annointed to bee a king but also a Priest The reason is because the kingdome of Christ was so to bee established that he must satisfie for euer the righteousnes of God and so this begonne peace promised grace might staie vppon a sure and sound foundation Now the foundation is the euerlasting priesthood of Christ that is that same gift which not onely by commaundement but also by solemne oth in a wonderful wisedome and mercie is from the father laide vpon this certaine person whereof these are partes First the prayer of so great a person most pure and most holy together with a sacrifice matchable with the sinnes and wickednesses of all beleeuers Io. 17. Heb. 7. the other the shewing of himselfe before the face of the father in the heauens after this sacrifice is offered vp Hebr. 9 vers 24. Because it was ordained of God by an oath and by an vnchangeable decree of God which we may surely trust to that Christ should shewe himselfe to witte his owne bodie and soule taken into the vnitie of his person in which all our sinnes were punished without ceasing before the face of the father that alwayes the efficacie of that Sacrifice once offered vp might florish and be of force before the father Of the profite that we take by this that Christ was anointed to be a priest THe chiefe profite is that I haue a certaine person which hath sacrificed for mee and continually maketh intercessiō for me that the force of his intercessiō made sacrifice offred vp in earth might alwaies be of force in the sight of God as it is saide in the Psalme 110. The Lorde hath sworne and will not repent him Thou art a Priest for euer Nowe an euerlasting priest is not without an euerlasting vse and fruite of his priesthoode towarde his faithfull But wee will speake more aswell of the kingdome as of the Priesthoode in the article of sitting at the right hand of God Why also was he annointed to be a Prophet THe reason why hee was annointed to bee a Prophet is because that same priestly kingdome in which euerlasting righteousnes and peace should florish was to bee established by the scepter of his worde that is by the preaching of the Gospell and in the power of the spirite whereby he was annointed And truelie so was it foretold by Esay The spirit of the Lord is vpon me because he hath annointed me that I should preach glade tydinges vnto the power he hath sent me that I shoulde heale the contrite in heart as our Lorde affirmeth in the 4. of Luke that it was fulfilled in him Therefore hee saith vnto Pilate that his kingdome was not of this worlde that he came into the worlde that he might giue testimonie vnto the truth I vnderstande Christ therefore so to be annointed a Prophet that hee being sent out of the bosome of his heauenly father in mans nature was annointed with the fulnes of the holy Ghost that being ful of grace and trueth hee might cleerly and manifestly set forth vnto vs that same mysterie hidde from the beginning the euerlasting will and counsell of God concerning the redemption of mankinde Iohn 1. The onely begotten sonne which is in the bosome of the father he hath shewed it vnto vs. Furthermore also that the same Christ may effectuallie teach vs to the end of the worlde For which cause hee also hath promised his presence by the office of teaching Beholde I am alwayes with you euen to the end of the worlde Of the fruite of Christes propheticall office THe Lorde Iesus is anointed with the spirite of prophesie to this end that we should by no meanes doubt of the vnchangeable wil of the father towarde vs. Heb. 1. God in times past at sundrie times and in diuerse maners spake vnto our fathers by the Prophetes but in these last times he hath spoken vnto vs by his sonne Further who dareth to say howe shall I knowe the will of God towardes beleeuers seeing the sonne him selfe to whome the minde and will of the father is throughly knowen hath opened the will and promise of the father in the Gospell The other fruite is nowe declared for that it teacheth vs effectuallie to the end of the worlde and transformeth vs into that which we are taught of him 2. to the Corinth 2. vers 17.18 Howe far forth those things which are spoken concerning the office of Christ or of the priestly prophetical kingdome of Christ agree with the doctrine of the free couenaunt BVt same man will say that same priestly kingdome that thou hast said to be established by that same Messias or annointed of the Lord by the scepter of the word and power of the spirite is it not that same euerlasting couenaunt or worke of saluation that standeth in the free forgiuenesse of sinnes and vndeserued gift of the holy Ghost and euerlasting life Yes verilie For that same couenant of saluation made with Abraham was renewed with Dauid and to him was promised out of his seede an euerlasting king who shoulde be the mediator of this couenaunt Psalme 89. And in the first of Luke the Angel saith to Marie This shall be great and he shal he called the sonne of the most high and the Lorde God shall giue vnto him the seate of Dauid his father and he shall raigne ouer the house of Iacob for euer and there shall bee no end of his kingdome And a little after Zacharie the father of Iohn Baptiste being full of the holy Ghost prophecied saying Blessed be the Lorde God of Israel because he hath visited and redeemed his people and hath lifted vp an horne of saluation vnto vs in the house of Dauid his seruaunt as he hath spoken by the mouth of his holy Prophets which were since the world began that it should come to passe that he would saue vs from our enemies and out of the hande of all that hate vs that he shoulde shewe mercie towardes our fathers and be mindfull of his holy couenaunt of the oath
vanquished so that nowe we are deliuered and iustified through Christ from it which also maketh entreatie for vs whilst he saieth for vs which also sheweth that there is farther a newe confirmation of our faith to be added to the nexte of the free iustification thorough Christe to wit that hee also is at the right hande of God whether he could not haue come vnlesse he had beene iustified from our sinnes and that he entreateth also for vs to wit whilest by the power of that onely one sacrifice he appeareth euerlastingly righteous for vs. 1. Iohn 2 1. And so that same abiding at the right hande of God and shewing him selfe before the Father is a continuing of that euerlasting iustification of ours to the end that there should be no place left for any accusation against beleeuers so full euerie manner of waie is our iustification in Christ so euerlasting and so vnderpropped vpon most sure foundations to the knowledge whereof Paule in the place nowe alledged would leade vs by those argumentes as it were by certaine steppes and degrees Of the second fruite of the ascension THe second fruite is that by his ascension into heauen he hath made vs to sit with him in heauenlie places Ephes 2.6 So that we do not onely in a naked hope looke for heauen but we possesse it in the head and in Christ our brother aswell because that same earthly and bodily pledge which he hath taken of vs full expiation cleansing being made of our sins doth possesse the heauens nowe in our name as also because we our selues doe possesse a spiritual and heauenly pledge receaued againe frō him to wit the spirite of Christ dwelling in vs so by the power of the holie Ghost through faith in the promise of the Gospell we are ingraffed into him And therfore Ro. 10.6.8 The righteousnes which is of faith saith thus Say not in thy heart who shal ascend into heauen That is to bring Christ from aboue c. But what saith it The worde is neare thee euen in thy mouth and in thine heart that is that same worde of Faith whiche wee preache Surely the spirituall first fruites of this doctrine are most sweete For it bringeth to passe by the power of Christ his spirite that now in a certain and vndouted hope in our head Christ we possesse heauen Therefore let vs confirme our mindes in this most profitable doctrine by some most euident oracles of the scripture Christ himselfe nowe about to goe into that heauenly possession in our name speaketh on this sort Iohn 14. In my fathers house there are many abyding places if it had bene otherwise I had tolde you I go to prepare a place for you The same Iohn Chap. 20. I ascend to my father and to your father to my God to your God The Apostle also maketh vs so sure of the certaintie of the earnest and pledge which Christ hauing of vs hath aduanced into the heauens that he saith in the second of the Ephesians that God hath made vs to sitte with Christ in heauenly places Againe of sending that same earnest or comforter vnto vs Christe speaketh thus in Ioh. 16. I speake the truth vnto you it is profitable for you that I goe for if I go not that same comforter shal not come vnto you Peter also witnesseth of this same earnest already sent in Actes 2. also Paule in 2. Cor. 1. Who hath sealed vs and giuen the earnest of his spirite in our heartes And most plaine of all other places in the 2. Cor. 5. See also Tertullian in his booke of the resurrection of the flesh where amongest other thinges he writeth thus This Iesus called the Mediator of God men of the trust of either part committed vnto him doth keepe the pledge of the flesh in himselfe as the earnest of the whole summe For like as he hath left the earnest of his spirit with vs so also he hath taken of vs the earnest of the flesh and hath aduanced into heauen the pledge of the whole summe hereafter to be brought thither Be quiet therefore O flesh and bloud you haue vsurped both heauen the kingdome of God in Christ or if they denie you in Christ let them also denie Christ to be in heauen who haue denied heauen vnto you Of the thirde fruite THe third fruite is that Christ therefore sitteth in the highest heauens that through his power shed into our hearts from thence he may drawe vs from these earthly and carnal things present and may quicken them and lift them vp to desire and meditate vpon heauenly and spiritual thinges to come Philip. 3. Our cōuersation is in heauen from whence we looke for our Lorde Iesus Christ He sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almightie Testimonies out of the Prophetes and Apostles Psalme 110. Iehouah hath saide sitte at my right hand vntil I put thine enimies as a footestoole vnder thy feete Iehouah shal send out of Sion the rodde of thy strength rule in the middest of thine enemies Also the Lorde hath sworne and it shall not repent him thou art a Priest for euer after the order of Melchisedech And Christ teacheth in Matth. 22. towardes the end that this prophecie is to be vnderstoode of him And Christ being adiured of the high priest confesseth himselfe to be both the sonne of God and that he will ouercome his enimies sitting at the right hand of God Matth. 26.63 64. And the high priest answering said vnto him I adiure thee by the liuing God that thou tell vs whether thou be Christ that sonne of God Iesus saith vnto him thou hast saide Neuerthelesse I say vnto you hereafter shal you see the sonne of man sitting at the right hand of the power of God comming in the cloudes of heauen The fulfilling of that prophesie of Dauid concerning the sitting at the right hand of God is extant in the 16. of Marke After the Lord had spoken vnto them he was receaued vp into heauen and sitteth at the right hand of God and Act. 2. ver 33.36 5. ver 31. and so that same stone refused of the builders was made the head of the corner Act. 4. ver 10.11.12 Which stone cut from the mountaine without handes goeth to the right hand of God to breake al the rest of the kingdoms but his kingdome shal stand for euer Dan. 2. ve 44.45 And Paul in Ephes 1.18.19.20 That ye may know what the hope is of his calling and what the riches of his glorious inheritance is in the Saintes and what is the exceding greatnes of his power towards vs which beleue according to the working of his mightie power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him vp frō the dead and set him at his right hand in the heauens To what end sitting at the right hand of God the Father almightie is added to his ascension into heauen THe scope or principal end of Christe his ascension