heauen shall he thunder vpon them the Lord shall iudge the ends of the world and shall giue power vnto his king and exalt the horn of his annointed Therfore whoso beleeueth stedfastly in him he is already translated into life eternall Through this beleef was Enoch and Elias taken vp quick into heauen to remain happy with him for euermore Gen. 5 24. For it is said Henoch pleased God for he walked with him and was no more seen for God tooke him away so was Eliah while hee walked with Elisha taken by a whirlwind into heauen 2 King 2. 11. whose spirit was so setled on this heauenly Godhead that he knew before that he should be taken vp when as he said to Elisha 2. King 2. 9. What shal I do for thee before I be taken from thee Neither must we think that there is any other mediation to be made for vs by angels saints or elementall creatures of what sort soeuer than our owne spirituall confession and liuely protestation for after we duly conceiue what a God he is by him our temporall life that beleeue shall be translated into euerlasting life This is the fountaine of nature and nature it self the author of antiquity Dan. 7. 22. and the ancient of daies whose word is truth whose being is inuariable and whose place is perfection He made man the most excellent creature on the earth whom he created in honor Gen. 2. 15. and placed in pleasure According to his owne image made he him Gen. 1. 27. that hee might be glorified in him and gaue him dominion ouer all his creatures in earth This then is to be beleeued of vs that as we remained in him and his power before all worlds were made and before our first father Adam was created so when he shall take this life from vs that he hath giuen vs and bereaue vs of this earthly stewardship that we shall return again to that euerlasting place wherin we were first elected and prepared before the world was made or any foundation laid therof Adam fell by misbeleef to death by neglecting the first caueat that God gaue him who soon by the inticement of the woman sinned extremely by eating of the only forbidden tree of the garden Gen. 3. 6. both being circumuented by the subtilitie of satan the prince of darknes Neither are we our selues free from that corruption which he wrought vnto vs his posterity yet God to keepe his owne image from desperation hastned to promise him life again Gen. 3. 15. if he would harken vnto it which no doubt Adam laid hold on being contented for to leaue the pleasure that he had in this world only hoping for life in the world to com Gen. 2. 23. For he named his wife Euah life foreseeing that she should be the mother of life and that her seed should bruse the serpents head which he counted a sufficient reuenge vpon his deadly enimy Isai. 27. 1. In what day the Lord with his mighty sword should visit the piercing serpent yea that crooked serpent and slea the dragon in the sea and he most assuredly beleeued that it should happen though in his daies he might not see it Deut. 3. 28. Euen so trauelled Moses for the rest he saw not for the good of his posterity the Israelits 2. Sam. 1. and likewise Dauid warred for the peace of Salomon 1. King 1. Therfore let men be wise and take heed of surfetting in too much pleasure of this world least they be wholy disinherited of the world to com We see how glad Adam was to imbrace this little branch of life wheras before he made no reckoning of the whole body which he enioyed His beginning was happines but by his disobedience hath left a cursed inheritance to all nations of the earth Wherefore it is not ynough for vs to continue in the state wherin we were first borne albeit it had been blessednes in him so to haue done for then we abide still as children of wrath Col. 3. 5. 6. But seeing so many so little alter from their nature let vs all bee circumspect and looke about vs how to escape this prison of ignorance the bait of satan as the part of a wise man is to see both before and behinde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hom. II. not too much besotted with the security of the present time Let vs therfore looke back and consider by our fall from whence our redemption is to com then with a liuely faith indeed lay hold of it as did Adam and the rest of the holy fathers which before the law or any ordinances were made receiued the comfort of the holy Ghost hauing an entire hope of the continuall grace of the same God For from thencefoorth Adams conscience dwelt in the Lord so that he beleeued in God the father almighty maker of heauen and earth And this was a true faith in him bicause he had no other father but God who was almighty for he made him of nothing he made also heauen and earth earth to bring foorth creatures and heauen to nourish them vnto mans vse Therfore we rightly say Our father or I beleeue in God the father almighty maker of heauen and earth For euery mans faith is knowne vnto himselfe and another mans faith is to him vncertaine This beleefe brought life vnto him that was dead likewise Noah his beleefe was the same in the arke such was Abrahams when he would haue offered his only sonne Isaac in whose seed the blessing of all nations was hoped for Gen. 12 3. according to the promise and the like in many other which for breuity I recite not Exod. 4. 30. as Moses by his wondrous miracles in the land of Egypt in so much as he excelled al the wit 2. King 6. 6. magick of that land Elisha made iron to swim in the water with many other which became true prophets of things to come so immortall was their beleef in those daies that their daily bread was the heauenly cogitation of this eternall subiect Matt. 6. 11. the infinity of power happines strength and honor the recorder of his owne hand-work the register of all that is done the cause of all things that shall happen We haue in respect of him no maner of being no presence no life no perfection our being is inconstant for man is vnstable in all his waies Our presence is of no abiding Psal. 39. 5. for he hath made our daies but as a span long To conclude our actions and cogitations are so peruerse and wicked that it might repent the Lord of our redemption as it repented him that he made man Gen. 6. 7. And a very smal number should enter the ark and be saued That poore life which we haue is no more to be respected than death it self seeing it withereth as the lilly in all his glory Our greatest perfection is but extreme
so the son also quickeneth whom he will And the father iudgeth not but referreth all iudgement to his sonne bicause all should honor the sonne as the father and they that honor not the sonne as the father honoreth not the father that sent him So whosoeuer heareth his word and beleeueth in him that sent him shall not com vnto condemnation but hath passed from death to life for as the father hath life in himselfe so hath the sonne To beleeue cannot be to seek honor one of another but of God alone and his son Iesus Christ for when Moses stroke the rock Exod. 17. 6. seeking honor of the children of Israel saying Hear now ye rebels shall we bring you water out of the rock Here for not sanctifieng the Lord in the presence of the Israelites and for honoring themselues in the Lords miracle both Moses and Aaron were cut off from the hope they had to see the land of promise If Moses being a faithfull leader of the Lords owne host and an approoued seruant of the mighty God Iehoua fell by disobedience into arrogancy Exod. 17. seeking his owne honor more than Gods and was so seuerely punished oh that men would but think how fearful a sentence that was by which he was depriued of forty yeeres hope and the fauour of so long trauel which was so sore in the wildernes How much more terrible shall our iudgement be if any way we decline or fall away from a sincere and perfect beleef which we haue had in God the father and his sonne Iesus Christ or if we beleeue not the word that testifieth of him and through which we see him daily Moses had but a meer hope of things to come which things we haue seen through faith and we are strongly to abide therin giuing all honor to the sonne as to the father in whom we beleeue by whom we liue haue our being Iohn 6. 37. This only sonne of God Iesus Christ is the bread of life the true sabaoth or rest the very top and end of Iubiles let vs study to enter into this rest His meat is to doe his fathers will and let our sustenance be to follow him and doe his will and let vs not labor only for the meat that perisheth but for the meat that dureth euerlastingly which the sonne of man shall giue vnto vs for him hath God the father sealed and the work of God is to beleeue in him whom he sent his sonne This is the rock that followed the host and the rock wherupon the Lord hath founded his church this is Gods rock and the rock of the All-sufficient Iohn 10. 20. he and the father is one And whosoeuer liueth and beleeueth in him shall neuer dy Iohn 11 26. he shall gather togither into one the children of God from all corners of the earth by his death and passion He is the sonne of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world Nomb. 21. 9. this is he that was to be lifted vp Iohn 3. 14. and exalted aboue all heauens Lord who beleeueth our report and vnto whom is thine arme reuealed And Lord who shall dwell in thy tabernacle Psal. 15. and rest vpon thy holy hill Euen he that leadeth an vncorrupt life and doth the thing that is right For this is the vine and his father is the husbandman and the branch that beareth not fruit in him he cutteth off and euery one that beareth fruit he purgeth that it may bring foorth more So must we abide in him and he in vs for as the branch cannot beare fruit except it be in the vine no more can we except we abide and dwell in him Let vs therfore pray for the peace which is in him for the peace of Iesus Christ the sonne of God is greater than the afflictions of the whole world Let vs be of good comfort Iohn 16. 13. he hath already conquered the world Psal. 2. and let vs kisse the son least he be angry and so we perish euerlastingly for if his wrath be kindled yea but a little blessed are all they that put their whole trust and confidence in him for the father hath put all things in subiection vnder his feet Psal. 2. and giuen him the vtmost parts of the earth for his possession OVR LORD He is the soueraigne Lord of the whole earth and inspireth the harts of kings and princes according to his wisedome hee aduaunceth the humble and putteth down the mighty from their seat he filleth the hungry with good things and the rich he sendeth empty away He is the faithful steward that giueth his fathers people meat in due season he blesseth all them that call vpon him in his fathers name Psal. 7. This is the welbeloued Salomon the prince of wisedom whose daughters goings are beutifull the ioints of her thighes like iewels the work of a cunning man her nauell as a round cup full of liquor her belly as an heap of wheat compassed about with lillies her brests as two yong roses that are twins her neck as a tower of Iuory her eies as the fish-pooles in Heshbon by the gate of Bath-Rhabbim her nose as the tower of Lebanon that looketh toward Damascus her head as scarlet and her haire as purple He is the spirituall Salomon his faire daughter Psal. 8. the Church which also is compared to a vineyard that bringeth foorth fruit euen a thousand folde He is the Lord that the prophet Dauid spake of and whose victory he foresaw Psal. 110. saying The Lord said vnto my Lord sit thou on my right hand till I make thine enimies thy footstoole This is the horn of our saluation in whom our fathers trusted and were counted iust Hebr. 11. as it is manifest in the epistle to the Hebrues where a whole chapter is spent in reciting their faith the learning wherof I refer to the diligence of the reader seeing it is a full record of all the ancient fathers beleef This is the Lord of al mankind for he hath purchased vs all by the offering vp of his body and sheading of his blood to free vs from these links of sinne wherin we are intangled through Adam And therfore he hath now full power to say Math. 25. Com ye blessed of my father and inherit euerlasting life or go ye cursed into vtter darknes where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth And as we were then bound with the chaines of sinne growing in our carnall bodies stirring vs vp to do the will of the flesh so are we at this day being rid out of those bands by the death and passion of our Lord bound likewise to him in spirit to serue and obey him as obedient seruants looking for no reward by desert but by his meer fauour and mercy inheritance with him of life eternal Therfore is he Lord ouer kingdoms and nations and there is no higher power than that which the
father hath giuen him He is the holy one that dwelleth in the praises of Israel Psal. 22. 3. in whom our fathers trusted and were deliuered his therfore is the kingdome power Math. 6. 13. and glory for euer and euer Amen He is the Lord of hosts that now fighteth for the house of Israel whose fight let vs manfully vndertake commending our weake forces to his mighty protection Psal. 18. for he is a sure rock of defence in all his waies WHICH WAS CONCEIVED BY THE HOLY GHOST BORN OF THE VIRGINE MARY This especially doth confirme our beleef in Christ Iesus his only sonne in that he was conceiued by the holy Ghost All spirituall conception is from God the father of spirit and life whose works are all miracles in our cleerest sight but this comprehension of our sauiour was meerly spirituall therfore he truly descended from God the father of spirit for before they cam togither she was found with child and that which was conceiued in her was of the holy Ghost Math. 1. Before the morning sprang Messiah had the dew of his birth and before the womb of his mother was made he was knowen who hath been is and shall be all one with the father the same whose yeeres endure for euer although the heauens passe and waxe old as doth a garment He is Michael the Archangel of the couenant high sacrificer of the heauenly Ierusalem and he that buried Moses vsing the words of Iehoua S. Iude. The Lord rebuke thee sathan Here the Papists are seen extremely doting when they make the virgine Mary the queen of heauen and the speciall means by whose praiers and aduocation they attaine to saluation as if of necessity there must be both king and queen which absurd conclusions might by Homers diuinity be sufficiently reproued and corrected when he saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hom. II. which is to say A gouernment of many is not good let there be one king Which words although he spoke them not diuinely yet our experience telleth vs that it was skilfully aduised concerning a Common-wealth In saying thus they abrogate the power of Christ and his authority in heauen and make the Trinity imperfect in vnity of Godhead the persons not hauing equal relation each to other they giue vnto Mary that which pertaineth vnto Christ all one with God conceiued by the holy Ghost of his father Wherfore it is he that remaineth still our King our Iudge and Sacrificer whose kingdom is infinit whose iudgement is irreuocable and his priesthood hath none end Saint Iohn saith If any man sinne we haue an aduocate with the father 1. Iohn 2. 1. Iesus Christ the iust and he is the propitiation for our sinnes But in that he was born of the virgine Mary he was a fleshly body to stand for the redemption of all flesh yea of his owne mother whom he reproued of ignorance when she said Why hast thou dealt thus with thy father and me we haue sought thee with heauy harts He answered How is it that ye haue sought me know you not that I must go about my fathers busines but they vnderstood not Which sheweth that she was of the earth earthly and now sleepeth no doubt with her fathers waiting for a glorious resurrection of an immortall body by the intercession of her owne Iesus to whom all power is giuen both in heauen and earth as it is said Blessed is the fruit of thy womb for thou hast brought foorth the sauiour of our soules the true Emanuel God-with-vs For he came in flesh to take away the sinne of the flesh and is also in spirit to continue with al them that beleeue in him for euermore Neither may we imagine any other wight in heauen or earth woorthy to be beleeued in besides the three persons in vnity for as the sonne is aduocate with the father and the father and sonne all one so the holy Ghost being of them both conueieth vs vnto them by an assured faith that we may be with Emanuel which is God with vs for euer He was called Emanuel long before by the prophet Isai A virgine shall conceiue a sonne and she shall call his name Emanuel SVFFERED VNDER PONTIVS PILATE WAS CRVCIFIED DEAD AND BVRIED The prophet Dauid spake of this his passion Psal. 22. 16. saying Dogs haue compassed me and the assembly of the wicked haue inclosed me they pierced my hands and my feet He submitted himselfe to the hands of Pontius Pilate for he knew his hower was euen then com and that his kingdom was not of this world Iohn 16. otherwise as he saith his soldiers would haue fought and not had suffered him to be deliuered into the hands of men Seeing then his time was com in which all things should be fulfilled according to his fathers will he besought of his father the cup to wit of bitter anguish might passe from him and lifting vp his eies to heauen Iohn 17. said Father the hower is com glorify thy sonne that thy sonne may glorify thee When he was to be betraied by the child of perdition Iudas Psal. 110. and knew it how great was his patience when as he reprooued him not but told him What thou doest Iohn 13 27. do quickly Pontius Pilate was a Roman vnder whose hands Christ suffered shewing that as the Romanes had alwaies persecuted the lowe Ierusalem the true Church on earth so that the Lord should iustly continue his wrath in them and that they might remaine in a perpetuall curse they also persecuted him whom the world was not woorthy of the high Ierusalem the spirituall Church Which example of cruell tyranny hath euer since beene found in them and shall be doubtlesse euen to their owne destruction But they will say Pilate was commanded to crucify him againe and againe and he excused him not guilty true wherfore Pilate was so much the more guilty of his death bicause he could find no fault in him For when the power to loose one was in him and not in the Iewes Iohn 19. 10. as he said to him Knowest thou not that I haue power to crucify thee and power to loose thee to them he had tried Christ to be guiltles yet willing to deserue the applause of the Iewes and the fauor of Caesar cleane against his owne conscience to his vtter condemnation to death he loosed Barrabas a notable murtherer Acts. 3. 14. and executed that most iust king of peace and righteousnes to euerlasting life It is like this manner of cruelty will not be left among the Romans vntill a finall desolation the end of affliction come vpon them according to the prophecy of Balaam Nomb. 24. 24. Ships shall come from the coasts Kittim Lord of Italy or Romania and subdue Ashur and vanquish Heber and he to say that Kittim shall come to destruction a most plaine prophecy not yet sufficiently noted for our defence against them By Ashur
therfore in these words consisteth the perfection of the church the members of Christ which is the rock and foundation therof For had not the Iewes had a perfect warning of redemption to come through the Messiah sauiour of the world and the full meanes therof and of all that he was to perform for the saluation of mankind how could they take notice of their redemption or be iustly condemned for misbeleef for they that liued in the time of Christs humanity were to see that which their fathers hoped for If then we will further know what ought the substance of our faith to be I answer in a word Our faith ought to be the haruest of our fathers hope so that we beleeue that we haue receiued that which they hoped for so through one faith in one Iesus they and we are both saued Isai. 53. 8. Who shall declare his age for he was cut out off the land of the liuing Heer my purpose was to shew that this article might safely be vsed without aduātage to the Papists or offence to such as I before meant Therfore as we now see with our eies and beleeue that Iesus the true Christ came and finished his pilgrimage heer on earth being the only begotten sonne of God conceiued by the holy Ghost born of the virgine Mary crucified according to the prophets so what he was to do he himself declared to the fathers in spirit insomuch that they also saw their saluation by the eie of faith which they had in the same Messiah Colos. 1. 18. the first born of the dead and of al things to haue the preheminence He is the reconciliation of all the world and euen as his father spred the heauens and adorned them and created the earth and sea with all the implements so is the sonne commaunder of all and the beginning and end of all things are in his hand he is made iudge of all flesh comming as it were in the meane time to reconcile the limits and to constraine all nations to worship him He was made all one with the father the beginning of the world and the last end must ply vnto him from whom al sentence of ioy eternall or perpetuall misery shall proceed and to this end he preached in spirit long before he was incarnated Gen. 6. 3. The Lord said And my spirit shal not alwaies striue with flesh and his daies shall be an hundred and twenty yeeres 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is to say 1. Pet. 3. 19. By which also he went and preached to the spirits in prison which were somtime disobedient when the long suffering of God waited in the daies of Noah while the ark was in making Your father Abraham reioiced to see my daie Ioh. 8. 56. and he saw it and was glad Suppose saith Peter 2. Pet. 3. 15. that the long suffering of the Lord is saluation euen so our brother Paul according to the wisdom giuen to him wrote vnto you Doest thou the same Rom. 2. 3. and thinkest to escape iudgement and despisest thou the riches of his bountifulnes and patience and long sufferance not knowing that the bountifulnes of God leadeth to repentance Wherfore as by one man sinne entred into the world Rom. 5. 12. and death by sinne so death went ouer all men for vnto the time of the law was sinne in the world but sinne is not imputed while there is no law Gal. 3. 17. The law fower hundred and thirty yeeres after the promise cannot disanull the couenant God gaue the promise to Abraham but death reigned from Adam to Moses euen on them also that sinned not after the maner of Adams transgression which was as a figure of the second Adam Seeing then before the law all men were dead in sinne without any hope of iustification to eternall life it was most needfull that the Gospell should be preached vnto them 1. Pet. 4. 6. Wherupon it seemeth Saint Peter continueth his speech of preaching to this end was the Gospell preached also to the dead that they might be condemned according to men in the flesh but might liue according to God in the spirit Now this is plaine that whoso were vnder the law were condemned by the law according to the flesh By this all men vnder the law were iudged by the law But seeing the dead were before the law howbeit many righteous men to whom the promise was giuen were iustified by faith they were not to be iudged or condemned by the law but by the spirit of Christ that preached vnto them while they were in the prison of death that they might beare fruit in the resurrection also otherwise should they be born without adoption in Christ at all like as the cloudes are congealed and melt againe to nothing or as the wind passeth through the aire and no man marketh it so without law or grace should they perish without conscience which the Atheists now adaies would soon graunt But their iudgement long ago is not far off 2. Pet. 2. 3. and their condemnation sleepeth not They are wels without water and clouds caried about with a tempest to whom the black darknes is reserued for euer Now if we doubt that Christ did preach in the spirit before he came in the flesh let vs consider the Epistle of Saint Iude Iude. vers 9. where is said touching blaspheming of authority Yet Michael the Archangel Christ when he stroue against the diuell about the body of Moses durst not blame him with cursed speaking but said The Lord rebuke thee Mark then this Michael was a cheef Angell yea more than an Angell Apoc. 12. 5. as the Reuelation sheweth also There was a battell in heauen Michael and his Angels fought against the Dragon and the Dragon and his angels fought but they preuailed not neither was their place found any more in heauen And the great Dragon that old serpent called the Diuell and satan which deceiueth all the world he was euen cast into the earth and his angels were cast out with him Heer Christ the seed of the woman brused the serpents head This Michael is the man-child that was borne to rule all nations with a rod of iron Psal. 2. 9. and break them in peeces like a potters vessell Diuers times is this Michael spiritually mentioned through the old and new Testament Dan. 10. 12. Lo Michael a cheef prince holpe me and there is none that holdeth with me Dan. 10. 22. but Michael your prince Dan. 12. In that day shall Michael stand vp the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people And in the same place Lo Michael one of the cheef princes cam to help me Wherfore it is to too absurd for vs to think that a king hauing banished an offender for punishment into a most desolate place of the world to remaine there for euer would himselfe go after to obteine greater power ouer him For what
Iesus which is taken vp from you into heauen shall so come as you haue seen him go into heuen Abraham receiued three Angels with the presence of God Gen. 18. 2. Lot receiued two Angels as messengers from God of his saluation in the absence of the Lord Gen. 19. 3. for the Lord sent them to destroy the city In such places is the office of the Trinity to be marked and most diligently considered Likewise that he ascended it appeereth by S. Lukes words Luk. 24. 51. And it came to passe that as he blessed them he departed from them and was carried into heauen into that ancient and euerlasting house of his father where the riches and treasure of Christs kingdome lay where neither rust nor moth could corrupt nor theeues break through and steale which is the farthest height of heauen and aboue all heauens that we can imagine as is abouesaid Let vs not therfore be gazers woonderers or strangers to the things that ought to be most familiar vnto vs. For nothing appeereth plaine to them that know not God and him whom he sent our sauiour Iesus Christ. HE SITTETH AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY Who being the brightnes of glory and the ingrauen forme of Gods person and bearing vp all things by his mighty word Heb. 1. hath by himselfe purged our sinnes and sitteth at the right hand of his fathers maiesty in the highest place Ephes. 1. Heer commeth to passe the spirituall prophesie of Dauid saying The Lord said vnto my Lord sit thou on my right hand till I make thine enimes thy footstoole which is to say at the right hand that ruleth all the wolrd this is the right hand that shall find out them that hate him Psal. â—1 8. strong is his hand Psal. â—9 and high is his right hand The right hand of the Lord hath the preheminence Psal. 118. the right hand of the Lord bringeth mighty things to passe Dauid being a prophet and speaking vnto men was to vse the phrase of men and also to allude vnto the manners and power of men for all the preferment that hath been among men hath been to place authority on the right hand seeing all actiuitie worthines prosperity readines and facility consisteth in the right hand of a man This was the reason of Dauid his figuratiue speech to make men vnderstand the preheminence of the most High wheras indeed God is all spirit and hath no communion with flesh as it is already prooued His right hand is a threatning hand to them that hate him but it entertains them kindly that loue and worship him in spirit and true holines as doers of his will and obseruers of his commaundements Which thing the prophet slacked not when he said Lo I com for in the book of life it is written of me shewing his election by the holy spirit Yet why doth he so stedfastly affirme that it is written of him c surely his owne soule told him For saith he Psal 40. I desired to do thy good wil O my God yea thy law is within my hart and I say thy right hand Psal. 44. thine arme and thy cheerfull countenance saueth and defendeth all such as thou fauorest Againe Psal. 18. thy right hand hath staied me and thy louing kindnes made me grow I beheld the Lord alwaies before me saith he and he is at my right hand Acts. 2. there shall I not be shaken By this we may well perceiue the worthines of Christ receiued by his father into that holy place into which he entred a sacrificer for sinne once for all so there is one God one mediator betwixt God and man Iesus Christ. Wherfore lift vp your harts vnto the Lord let your soules be lifted vp on high yea and fly vnto heauen as a bird with a most cheerfull note and a new song praising God and saying Hosanna in the highest which is to say Saue vs O thou that dwellest in the most high FROM THENCE HE SHALL COME Euen as the men of Galile saw him go Acts. â— 11. and he shall come riding vpon Cherub Psal. 18. 10. and flying vpon the wings of the wind Behold he will come with his fan in his hand Math 3. 12. and he will make clean his floore and gather his wheat into his garner but he will burne vp the chaff with vnquenchable fire Wherfore shall hee come thence TO IVDGE THE QVICK AND THE DEAD Now Gods throne is a firy throne whose comming to iudgement no man knoweth who at his comming shal baptise with the holy Ghost and with fire comming suddenly as a theef in the night or as a maister whose return the seruant knoweth not least the wicked should be forewarned to flee from the anger to come and aduaunce themselues concerning the aduantage of this life therfore they shall giue account to him that is ready to iudge both the quick and the dead 1. Pet. 4. 5. Iudge nothing O people of the earth before the time vntill the Lord commeth who will lighten things that are hid in darknes and make the counsels of the hart manifest and then shall euery man that doth so haue praise of God Christ commanded his Apostles to preach that he was ordained of God a iudge of quick and dead Saint Paul saith I witnes before God and the Lord Iesus Christ that shall come againe to iudge the quicke and the dead at his appeerance and his kingdom 2. Tim. 4. which is to say when his kingdome shall come that we daily pray for in the Lords praier in which kingdom the Lord make vs partakers of his sonnes inheritance euen as we growe in him vnto the house of the liuing Amen I BELEEVE IN THE HOLY GHOST Heer againe is the first tenor of our confession repeated to wit I beleeue in which ought to haue relation wholy and seuerally to the three persons only least we make a confusion of all as some do which take it literally without discerning the sense at all but saying in haste I beleeue in the holy Ghost the holy catholike church the communion of saints c. Heer the simple except he be taught cannot vnderstand but that he beleeueth in the catholike church and in the communion of saints c. so far foorth as in the holy Ghost or in the other two persons but of this point anon more at large I beleeue in the holy Ghost Why I beleeue in the father and the sonne as is abouesaid and the holy Ghost is all one with the father and the sonne for he proceedeth both of the father and the sonne and with the father and the sonne togither is glorified therfore I equally beleeue in the holy Ghost as in the father or the sonne or as in both father and sonne For bicause the holy Ghost is exempted from neither it pertaineth to each one and to both alike The holy Ghost was the father and
the sonne before the world the sonne was the holy Ghost and the fain the world the father is the holy Ghost and the sonne in the world to come The concentricall Trinity being thus Father Sonne Holy Ghost whose might authority and power shal be at that time all one ouer them that shal be baptized with the holy Ghost and with fire for now euen to day is the holy Ghost labouring in the harts of men to win them vnto the father and the sonne Wherfore harden not your harts as in the prouocation in the day of temptation in the wildernes Happy shall the wise virgins be which are found with oile in their lampes not trusting to borrow in the busie day of all flesh when none can lend Wherfore good brethren be not as the foolish virgins the sleeping disciples the sluggish seruants or as the busie Martha but haue care to choose the better things during the time of the flesh that the holy Ghost may find a resting place in your soules to bring you to euerlasting life Math. 11. 5. Then shal it be said The blind receiue their sight the hault go the lepers are clensed the deaf hear the dead are raised vp and the poor receiue the gospell Mark 14. 38. Take heed watch and pray least ye enter into temptation Mark 13. 33. Take heed watch and pray for ye know not when the time is For Christ saith Iohn 14. 16. I will pray the father and he shall giue you another comforter that he may abide with you for euer the spirit of truth whom the world cannot receiue bicause it seeth him not nor knoweth him but ye know him for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you I will not leaue you comfortlesse I will come to you yet a little while and the world shall see me no more but ye shall see me bicause I liue ye shall liue also And in the same place following Christ saith These things haue I spoken vnto you being present with you but the comforter which is the holy Ghost whom the father will send in my name he shall teach you all things and bring all things vnto your remembrance which I haue told you and so foorth to the end of the chapter And in the next chapter But when the comforter shall com whom I will send vnto you from the father euen the spirit which proceedeth of the father he shall testifie of me and ye shall be witnesses also bicause ye haue been with me from the beginning And againe Christ saith I tell you truth it is expedient for you that I go away for if I go not away the comforter will not com vnto you but if I depart Iohn 15. 26. I will send him vnto you and when he is come he will reprooue the world of sinne of righteousnes and of iudgement of sinne bicause they beleeue not in me of righteousnes bicause I go to the father and ye shall see me no more of iudgement bicause the prince of the world is iudged Iohn 16. 7. I haue yet many things to say vnto you but ye cannot hear them now howbeit when he is come which is the spirit of truth which will lead you into all truth for he shall not speake of himselfe but whatsoeuer he shall hear that shall he speak and he shall shew you the things to come he shall glorify me for he shall receiue of mine and shall giue it vnto you To this place may be applied the Lords words spoken by the prophet Ioel Ioel. 2. 28. I will powre out my spirit vpon all flesh your sonnes and your daughters shall prophesy your old men shall dreame dreames and your yoong men shall see visions and also vpon the seruants and vpon the maidens in those daies wil◠I powre my spirit Whosoeuer therfore shall call vpon the Lord with a contrite hart dooing the works of the spirit and not of the flesh he shall be saued For in mount Sion and in Ierusalem shall be deliuerance as the Lord hath said and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call The holy Ghost is a diuers gift vnto the chosen to som the gift of prophesie to some the interpretation of toongs as Saint Paule saith touching spirituall gifts 1 Cor. 12. Brethren I would not haue you ignorant wherfore I declare vnto you that no man speaking by the spirit of God calleth Iesus execrable also no man can say that Iesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost Now there are diuersity of gifts but the same spirit and there are diuersity of administrations but the same Lord and there are diuersity of operations but God is the same and worketh all in all Now the manifestation of the spirit is giuen euery man to profit withall for to one is giuen by the spirit the word of wisdome to another the word of knowledge by the same spirit and to another the operations of great works and to another prophesie and to another the discerning of spirits and to another the diuersity of toongs and to another the interpretation of toongs Now all these are the body of Christ and members seruing to seuerall vses in the church of God as some for apostles some for prophets some for teachers some to do miracles some for healers some for helpers some for gouernors some for linguists and some for interpreters This gift lighteth on the chosen in many shapes it came vpon the sonne of man in the likenes of a doue Acts 2. 3. it came vpon the Apostles in the form of clouen toongs like fire it came vpon disciples at Ephesus Acts 19. 6. that neuer before heard of the holy Ghost by Pauls laying hands on them How the faithfull may be assured of this gift let them read the eight chapter of the Epistle to the Romans concerning the hope patience and prosperity of this gift which will something ease the tediousnes of this treatise Therfore kind reader take it in woorth that I so often send thee to the spring it selfe for the water that is most sweet and fresh the carriage not far and the burden easie albeit I will not omit to lay downe in this place the fruits of the flesh and the fruits of the spirit for they rebell ech one against the other the operations of both are contrary For the works of the flesh are adultery Gal. 5. 19. fornication vncleannes wantonnes idolatry witchcraft hatred debate emulations wrath cōtentions seditions heresies enuie murther drunkennes gluttony and such like which things whosoeuer doth exercise he shall not inherit the kingdom of God But the fruit of the spirit is loue ioy peace long-suffering gentlenes goodnes faith meeknes and temperancy against which there is no law Thus much I thought good heer to mention that ye may haue in this Enchiridion as it were a marriners compas to passe by for as by it we recouer a direct course againe after many stormes and at last
come to a safe port so if by the weaknes of the spirit you wend with the tempest of the world doing the will of the flesh then haue you also before your eies the points of hope patience and prosperity the direct course vnto the holy land where ye shall arriue and anchor more safe than sowls in their nests Luke 9. 58. or foxes in their holes yea or any treasure in the depth of the earth for all such things in the day of iudgement shall shew foorth their owne property and be reuealed vnto the eies of the liuing at which day shall be the haruest wherunto the tares also are reserued as well as the wheat This is the land that is more worth than all kingdoms heer is the plentifull field that multiplieth so manifold this is the field of hid tresure Math. 13. the pearle of great price the draw-net that gathereth of all kinds the fruitfull senuy and the sauory leuen The heires of this kingdom shall shine as the sunne thus much concerning the comforter that guideth the chosen to saluation Now touching the catholike church If we beleeue in the catholike church we bring a curse vpon vs for the church are the members of Christ their head not cleer from sinne bicause the old man remaineth yet in them and saith the prophet Cursed is the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arme One man may haue a sympathy with another vntill perfection shall come by grace Also if we beleeue in the catholike church we lessen the power of God our father of Christ our sauiour and of the holy spirit our comforter to whose power no perfection is wanting for it made vs perfectly it saueth vs assuredly and most intirely releeueth and comforteth vs daily Which creation saluation and consolation the holy catholike church so far relieth on as is needfull for any one member of the same should we presume then to be made holy bicause they are holy or saints by beleeuing in the holy members of the church or will we all be catholikes one by one bicause we all make one catholike church No there is no saint but he whom the spirit sanctifieth nor any catholike but the church which is the composition of many members into one catholike and perfect body of Christ the head through the holy Ghost the spouse of the Annointed Psal. 45. The holy city of God Ierusalem came downe from heauen prepared as a bride trimmed for hir husband Apoc. 21. 2. I will shew the bride the lambes wife read the whole chapter Concerning the new citie Ierusalem the church holy catholike or vniuersall on earth This is the vineyard of red wine Isai. 27. 2. that the Lord hath kept so daintily and watred euery moment least any assaile it This hath the Lord set as a signe on the mountaines for all the inhabitants of the earth Isai. 18. 3. that when he bloweth the trumpet they might heare yea vpon mount Sion bloweth he and the most base and vile nations repaire vnto his name Isai. 26. 1. This is the strong city whose bulworks are saluation and in whose wals consisteth the whole strength of Iudah This church hath none other foundation but Christ and the faith which we haue in him 1. Cor. 3. 11. the true rock that followed the host Math. 16. Wherfore we are Gods laborers 1. Pet. 2. 4. his husbandry 1. Cor. 10. 4. and his building If any man lay other foundation than this Exod. 17. 6. the fire shall try of what sort it is Num. 20. 10. and if any mans work abideth he shall receiue wages but if his work burne he shall lose his labour Againe know ye not that ye are the temple of God and the spirit of God dwelleth in you This much hath shewed that we are the very temple of God founded vpon Iesus Christ of which the holy Ghost is minister and dwelleth in vs. Which temple if any man destroy God the builder will destroy him for the temple of God is holy More concerning this point read the whole third chapter of the first Epistle to the Corinthes this temple of the Lords was sanctified in old time yea euen when he dwelt in no house 2. Sam. 6. 6. but walked in a tent or tabernacle leading his seruant Moses though the wildernes with the children of Israel euen as a shepherd leadeth his sheep Such was his tender mercy toward his possession at that time that in fower hundred and fowerscore yeeres he dwelt in tents and tabernacles and his arke remained within the curtaines Then Salomon built a temple for his name against the comming of Shiloh then to be sent Iesus Christ the very foundation wals and borders of the catholike church gathering togither a communion of saints by the holy Ghost a most comfortable minister in the same Therfore there is no catholike but the Lords building which is the common passion of the members of Christ. And we are not to beleeue in the catholike church of which our selues are members but we beleeue that we be of the catholike church and that we are part of the Lords husbandry and building vpon his sonne Iesus Christ the rock euen the foundation that was reuealed by God the father vnto Peter For when doubt arose who he should be Peter confidently answered Thou art that Christ the sonne of the liuing God and Iesus answered and said vnto him Blessed art thou Simon the sonne of Ionah for flesh and blood hath not reuealed this vnto thee but my father which is in heauen and also I say Thou art Peter and vpon this rock will I build my church and the gates of hell shall not ouercome it Heer met I somthing concerning the catholike errors of the Popish church that make PETROS PETRA PETRA ROMA and ROMA CATHEDRA PETRI which in a word may be easily confuted for Peter at the pronuntiation of the words Thou art Peter c. was in the coasts of Caesarea Philippi Tetrarchae far from Rome neither was it euer spoken of by any testimony now of sixe hundred yeeres old that Peter was at Rome only a new opinion of that church hath of late inueterated Concerning the word Rock all rocks of saluation are spiritually taken Psal. 18. 3. as Dauid saith The Lord is my rock and my redeemer And in another place it is said Tzuri shaddai My rock is the all-sufficient but this is meant of our sauiour a rock of saluation seeing vpon it he will build his church a temple not made with hands therfore of necessity must this rock be taken spiritually as a reuelation of God from heauen to Peter of his sonne Iesus Christ which was the faith of Peter when he said Thou art the annointed the sonne of the liuing God And vpon this faith will Christ build his church so sure as vpon a rock neuer to be mooued Psal. 123. for they that trust in the
Lord as mount Sion cannot be mooued the gates of hell shall not preuaile against the building on this rock for the true faith in Christ shall continue for euer yea euen as an euerlasting building that the fire neither wasteth nor consumeth There was no cause why Peter should haue receiued a speciall blessing but in regard of his reuelation from God for it is said Happy art thou bicause my father hath shewed thee this Vpon this rock will I build my church and the gates of hel shall not preuaile ouer it and I will giue thee the keies of the kingdom of heauen and whatsoeuer thou bindest on earth shall be bound in heauen and whatsoeuer thou loosest on earth shall be loosed in heauen Indeed Christ shewed that he himselfe had the keies when he saith very comfortably to Iohn Fear not Apoc. 1. 18. I am the first and the last him that Isai prophesied of which am aliue and was dead and behold I liue for euer and euer verily I haue the keies both of death and hell And in another place Let him that hath eares hear what the spirit saith vnto the churches and write to the angell of the church in Philadelphia Apoc. 3. 7. these things saith the true and holy one that hath the key of Dauid who openeth and no man shutteth who shutteth and no man openeth And in the next verse I know thy works behold I haue giueu before thee an open gate and no man can shut it bicause thou hast little power and thou hast kept my commandements and not denied my name The key of Dauid is manifested vnto vs when he saith Open ye euerlasting doores and the king of glory shall com in Heer was his faith as a key and therfore called the key of Dauid He foresaw the lion of the tribe of Iuda that came of the root of Dauid the lambe of God who was the only in heauen and earth that could open the book and loose the seales Heerby we see that Christ only openeth Apoc. 5. 5. and no man shutteth and shutteth and no man openeth It is plaine by testimony of scripture that there is but one key to open heauen to mankind and that is Christ the king of glory who is entred in and there is no other door-keeper but he Therfore wheras our sauiour saith I will giue thee the keies of the kingdom of heauen that is to say the spirituall knowledge to preach my word which thou didst but now testifie in these words Thou art the annointed the sonne of the liuing God The knowledge heerof is to the beleeuers a key of entrance to life eternall but to the wicked and reprobate vnbeleeuers a key of exclusion to condemnation for euer and such is the binding vp of the faithfull as sheaues into the barne and the loosing or vndoing of the wicked as the stubble to be burnt in vnquenchable fire Otherwise if Christ had giuen him his owne whole authority on earth or had made him porter of the kingdom of heauen no doubt he himselfe in a verse or two after as it seemeth might had lost his inheritance in heauen for if Peter had been able to haue disswaded him Christ had not gone to Ierusalem nor suffered much of the high priests and elders nor been slain nor the third day risen againe Wherby it seemeth that he was as great an enimy to saluation as might be when he said Go not master haue pity on thy self it shall not so com vnto thee Heer fell he so extremely in faith that he receiued a greater rebuke for ignorance Math. 16. 23. than euer Iudas did Get thee behind me sathan for before it seemeth he made him a companion thou art mine offence thou sauorest not of the wisedom of God but of the wit of man wherfore now I am to thee as Isai prophesied Isai. 8. 14. a rock of offence 1. Pet. 2. 8. a stone to stumble at But admit he had been the iustest man that euer was and so liued vntill he should go the way of the fathers yet was not his righteousnes inheritance for it came from God and he could leaue nothing to his posterity that claimeth more than his authority by succession thus much concerning the catholike church THE COMMVNION OF SAINTS I beleeue that there is communion of saints and that I my selfe am one of the communion elected by the spirit through faith in Christ. THE FORGIVENES OF SINNES I beleeue also that there shall be a forgiuenes of sinnes through the passion of Christ as is already shewed by his passion THE RESVRRECTION OF THE DEAD I beleeue there shall be a resurrection of the dead and that I shall rise againe with glory vnto life euerlasting These last articles I handle not in this place bicause each of them is already seuerally prooued in my treatise All that remaineth is to conclude my purpose which was to shew the nature of beleeuing that by the faith of his owne hart euery man is saued what he is to beleeue in the cause why and lastly the vnspeakable comfort that euery true beleeuer hath by his faith in God the father God the sonne and God the holy Ghost to whom be all power ascribed both now and euermore Amen FINIS
imperfection when as the works of God in beginning middle and end are absolutely perfect for euer His beginning endeth his mean time both beginneth and endeth his beginning is a momentary end and there is no other mean time with him Is it then ynough to say I BELEEVE IN GOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY MAKER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH In no wise for although we are bound to beleeue so much yet is it not all that is required of vs for the very Iews beleeued thus much whose beleef was to be saued They saw the saluation of the Lord a far off through remorse in conscience considering their fall and the wickednes of mans thoughts all day long Adam their father had lost his state of knowledge they therfore remained in ignorance sinfull and their whole hope was to be grounded vpon the comfortable promises of that God and otherwise it had been hard for them to haue conceiued in their minds so great an eternity and such an immortall happines But God bereauing man his image of that honor which he once affoorded him which is to say the inheritance of a paradise would not vtterly destroy him but rather make him by a liuely faith to await for a blessed estate to abide for euer yea for euer and euer As Adam being first in the adoption of blessednes and life and consequently we all by him became accursed and died made vs accursed and to dy daily and as he by the almighty Gods meanes hoped to regain his saluation so we particularly ought to scan the meanes of his saluation to keepe our fraile flesh from desperation to comfort our guiltines of death and to keep vs from euerlasting damnation His meanes was the comfort of a victory wherin he reioiced as a giant to run his course Psal. 19. 5. and he did most constantly beleeue that as God promised so he should vanquish his most subtile and deadly enimy What could more win the hart of man thā such a promise Sundry such promises from age to age were reuealed to his posterity Gen. 9 26. As to Noah Blessed be the God of Sem. To Abraham Gen. 17. 6. I will multiply thee as the stars of heauen when as yet he had no child and his wife was old To Dauid by the prophet Nathan I will be his father 2. Sam. 7. 14. he shall be my sonne if he sin I will chasten him with the rod of men but my mercy shall not part away from him as I tooke it from Saul whom I haue put away before thee and thine house shal be established and thy kingdom for euer before thee thy throne shall be established for euer Ier. 33. 14. In that day I will cause the branch of righteousnes to grow vp vnto Dauid and he shall execute right iudgement in the land then shall Iuda be saued and Ierusalem dwell safely and he that shall call her is the Lord our righteousnes For thus saith the Lord Dauid shal neuer want a man to sit vpon the throne of the house of Israell This is the good then which the Lord will performe vnto the house of Israell and vnto the house of Iuda These were all most delightfull promises still to stay the hart of man in his owne saluation Isay. 7. 14. yet receiued Isay a greater light when he vnderstood the name of this conqueror Dan. 9. 24. but Daniell the greatest comfort to whom the precise time of victory and blessing to all the world was foretold which was in the comming of Messias which we call CHRIST the annointed Iesus that was promised the sauiour of the world These men were reuiued by meer promises but we being adopted heires of their hope do exceed their faith in beleeuing in this Iesus for we conclude with Peter Matt. 16. 16. that he is the sonne of the liuing God Wherfore we say AND IN IESVS CHRIST to be vnderstood euery mans Iesus or Sauiour that beleeueth whom Iesus or Iehoshua the sonne of Nun sauiour and captain of the Israelites prefigured long before that as he led Moses people into the promised land and sustained them in all their iourneyes so shall this Iesus defend and keep vs that call and trust vpon him from all subtile and malitious inuentions of satan and the world whatsoeuer and most couragiously carrie vs through this vale of misery to a promised land of rest a paradise wherin he himselfe is Lord and they that will not endure patiently the calamities vexations and variety of this iourney to rest shall surely haue their reward with the murmurers of Israell and the ten wearied and vncomfortable spies of the land of Canaan which might not see the land againe that they had once without cause blamed Numb 13. 29. to hinder Gods decree And no doubt with their false reports greeued many thousand soules and had not the Lord put into the harts of Iosua and Caleb his valiant seruants to speak the truth many surely might haue perished in infidelity but the Lord found Caleb as a hart harty and couragious not fearing death who was therfore rewarded with a second youth Ioshu 14. 11. both in strength and wisdome his youth came againe vnto him and his age returned forty yeeres answering well the question of regeneration or second birth made by Nicodemus to our true Iosua Iohn 3. 4. or sauiour in the Gospell to still and pacify the grudging mutiny of the people which the false spies had raised through the host Iosua was to them a shepheard signifying our shepheard Iesus that guideth vs to heauen The blind Iewes maketh saluation in this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saue vs where they haue both in word and sense Iesus yet will it not agree with their consciences to say Iesus saue vs but the cause of their wilfull error in this point is that they may couer many sinnes with one excuse For to say he came not vtterly denieth his condemnation to be by them it denieth that he was crucified by them it denieth that they so wickedly pierced him it denieth that they gaue him gall and vineger to drink it excuseth their buffering mocking and scourging of him their spitting at him their crowning of him with thornes and generally whatsoeuer else they did despitefully vnto him But when these things were alleaged to them and the certainty of his comming to be iust in the fulnes of time prooued they began wheras before they skilfully contended with bashfulnes to plead their own ignorance in the prophets standing amazed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hom. II. as stags at a gaze they say they be the sons of Abraham Christs owne kindred which Iohn Baptist answereth Say not with your selues Matth. 3. 9. that we haue Abraham to our father for God euen of these stones can raise children vnto Abraham Matt. 8. 11. And againe Many shall come from east and west and rest with Abraham Isaac and Iacob in heauen but the children of
the kingdom the Iewes shall be cast into vtter darknes where shall bee weeping and gnashing of teeth What then can their proud linage and alliance helpe them when for not beleeuing aright in the Messias they fal daily into condemnation Now againe to return to our own farther instruction from whence commeth our help and our saluation euen from the Lord that hath made both heauen and earth or from the father Lord of heauen and earth Matt. 11. 25. This Iesus came from heauen was made flesh of the virgin Mary begotten of his father before all worlds he is very God as touching his father and very man as touching his mother wherby he might vndertake manhood and ioin it vnto his Godhead and becom a fit messenger about his fathers busines as he answered the propitiations for them I must go about my fathers busines Luk. 2. 49. to prooue that he was the true root of Ishai Isay. 11. 1. and the seed of Abraham Luke 3. Saint Luke laieth downe the line of his manhood to God reckoning all his fathers till Adam Saint Mathew sheweth his diuinity and the succession of his right vnto the kingdom Matth. 1. as it was said Isai. 8. 14. A virgin shall conceiue a sonne and thou shalt call his name EMANVEL God with vs. This is that seed of the woman that was to bruise the serpents head and to take the prey out of the diuels iawes which meanes of redemption by the ey of faith the holy fathers foresaw He therfore is not to be thought Iesus the sonne of Nun Iosh. 1. 1. nor Iesus that was called Iustus Col. 4. 11. Paules work-fellow nor Iesus the sonne of Sirach Ecclus. 50. 27. but Iesus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which was called Christ the annointed Matth. 1. 16. to shew the title of his earthly honor the other name declareth his authority in heauen by his fathers spirituall and euerlasting inheritance but of the name Christ is hereafter to be spoken This name was giuen by his father to the end that men might beleeue in him being sent and not be deceiued by any other professed Iosua therfore was it told Dan. 9. 24. Messiah shall be slaine euen the Lords Christ or annointed And to make the blinde Iewes more inexcusable the very day and hower of his death was fore-shewed by the prophet He was called Iesus of his infinit saluation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Matth. 1. 21. for hee shall saue his people from their sinnes Like as if he should make those which the Lord hath called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 none of his people 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his especiall people or turne the Lords fearfull and terrible words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I will not haue pity 1. Pet. 2. 10. into ruhhamah I will haue pity on For such is the vertue and force of his reconciliation with his father This was the very lamb of God that wrought Israels saluation he shall make crooked pathes straight a bruised reed shall he not breake euen so patiently went he as a sheep vnto the slaughter not opening his mouth Oh how vnspeakable seemeth this patience to vs his followers when the least occasions the greatest in this respect being nothing can withdraw our most heauenly and deuout cogitations of spirit to the most earthly and sensuall wil of the flesh Which plainly discouereth our vnwilling seruice of God our vrged obedience towards him our most vndutifull expectation of him our idle hands in his vineyard our dull eares in hearing him and whatsoeuer else we neglect which generally is the time pleasing of vs all Wherfore good brethren serue him as ye ought willingly obey him liberally humbly attend on him be not found idle in the vintage nor as deafe adders stopping your eares at the voice of the charmer charm he neuer so wisely neither harden your harts as in the day of prouocation or in the day of temptation in the wildernes and let vs learne to serue the world euen as it serueth vs which is euen then to loath it when it seemeth most amiable then to refuse it when it most desireth vs and then to fear it most when it most fawneth vpon vs. But what crosses can the frailty of mans flesh abide or from what will or earthly pleasure can it abstaine truly not the least although it were to win the euerlasting ioy of heauen Notwithstanding Iesus warneth vs to suffer reproches for his sake Math. 5. 11. adding blessednes to our patience and also he willeth vs to com vnto him all that are weary and heauy loden Math. 11. 28. and he will refresh vs. Likewise he saith vnto vs Take on my yoke and learn of me for I am meeke and lowly in hart and ye shall finde rest for your soules Recording the prophets exhortations to the people of Ierusalem in these words Ier. 6. 16. Take heed to the ancient waies of your fathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob which is the good way walk therin and you shall find rest for your soules This is the saluation that the prophet Dauid so much delighted in Psal. 69. For saith he God will saue Sion and build againe the walles of the city of Iuda and they shall dwell there and inherit it and the seed of his seruants shall inherit it and they that loue his name shall dwell therin Iesus was sent not only a sauiour to the Iewes that faithfully receiued him bicause they were his owne kindred but also vnto them that were without yea euen the Gentiles As it is said Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for he hath raised vp a mighty saluation for vs in the house of his seruant Dauid to be a light to lighten the Gentiles and a glory to the people of Israel and to perform the oth which he sware to our forefather Abraham that he would giue vs. There may we well vnderstand and mark that he was sent a deliuerance to all nations that they whosoeuer should call vpon him might be deliuered from the feare of their enimies ghostly or bodily to wit the outragious threatnings of Satan or any opprobrious comminations of this world This was the saluation that Simeon prophesied of and receiued comfort by Luke 2. when he said Lord now lettest thou thy seruant depart in peace for mine eies haue seen thy saluation and likewise Maries thanksgiuing Luke 1. when she said My soule doth magnify the Lord and my spirit reioiceth in God my sauiour It seemeth the prophets had no greater comfort than still to be foreshewing of this sauiour the redemption of the world as their prophecies mention Isai. 1. 2. 3. In that day the highest mountaine shal be prepared and exalted aboue all hils and all nations shall flow vnto it and many people to wit the Gentiles shall go and say Com let vs go vp to the mountaine of the Lord to the house of the God of Iacob
Iailor saying Do thy selfe no harmme we are all heer and lastly by the admonition of Paul and Silas to saluation wishing him to beleeue in the Lord Iesus Christ and both he and his house should be saued wherupon both he and his house were baptized out of hand and were saued For our owne sakes I thought it not amisse to lay downe the strong faith of this so soon-conuerted Iailor before as it were a meer stranger to christianity to incite vs to a more stedy conuersation in our owne profession likewise the faith of the Centurion is to be noted Math. 8. by our sauiours approbation saying Not in Israel haue I found the like faith So the faith of the two blind men that cried incessantly Math. 9. Sonne of Dauid haue mercy vpon vs who euen as Christ bad them beleeued his power and receiued their sight With many other like places in scripture to fortify our weak faith to extinguish infidelity and root out Atheisme throughout the whole body of all Christian churches Wherfore let vs say It is Iesus that we follow he is our master we fear not and not mistrust at euery little tempest of this world when the wicked rise vp against vs Psal. 2. 1. imagining vaine things Peter failed of faith at the beginning of the wind wherby he began to sink but then that the Lords saluation might seem more manifest he cried Lord saue me and he passed safely Heer the Lord made the very floods a sufficient rock to build his church vpon for through his faith he passed them as on the firm ground Now that Iesus was called Christ the true Messiah or annointed whom the Lord annointed with the oile of gladnes aboue his fellowes Heb. 1. 9. foreshewed in all ages from the beginning of the world vntill he came to be annointed the most holy Dan. 9. 24. Neither among men is there any other name giuen vnder the cope of heauen by which we can be saued he being the end of Iubiles or ioyfull yeeres the sealing vp of all prophesies visions miracles and of all ceremonies whom the Lord annointed with glory and honor Heb. 2. 7. and set him ouer the work of his own hands The Paschall lambe being now offered vp once for all Ioh. 1. 29. He was called the annointed Ioh. 3. 6. bicause it was the manner of the Iewes coronation and election both of kings and priests it pertained vnto him for he was their lawfull king apparent whom the wise men from the East visited to worship at Ierusalem Math. 2. 1. saying Where is he that is borne king of the Iewes Mich. 5. 2. Thou Bethleem art little to be among the thousands of Iuda yet out of thee shall com the ruler in Israel whose goings foorth were from the beginning euerlasting that is to say out of the house of bread shall proceed the bread of life food for our soules vnto euerlasting life Our fathers did eat Manna and died but whoso eateth of this Manna shall liue for euer Psal. 110. 4. As he was also high sacrificer after the order of Melchizedek it pertained vnto him but the Iewes receiued him not as king bicause he was Iosephs sonne and a Carpenter and came not like a king in white raiment neither as a sacrificer bicause he was to imitate Melchizedek in his priesthood and not Aaron Neither did their blinde harts conceiue that the law should be changed and dreamed of none other priesthood but Aarons when as in deed Melchizedek was a figure of the true Messiah as in a large prophecy is expounded Isai. 9. 6. by the prince of peace for Melchizedek was king of Salem Gen. 14. 18. Sem and Melchizedek are both one who for his vprightnes might be called the king of righteousnes Malchi-zedek Hebr. 7. 1. and for his antiquity without father and without mother without beginning or end of daies His birth was vnserchable bicause he was born before the flood and his end of daies not seen bicause he out-liued all his owne posterity of the next age Therefore saith Noah Blessed be the God of Sem Gen. 9. 26. and God will perswade Iapheth to dwell in the house of Sem. So the priesthood of Melchizedek remained in Sem that had this blessing of God Gen. 14. 19. and he blessed Abraham Gen. 14. 20. who paid him tithe of all Thus much of Iesus which was called Christ in whom we also beleeue of whom his disciples first receiued the cognizance of Christianitie in Antiochia where they were presently persecuted by Herod Such Herods haue been euer vntill this day but they are such whose darknes vanquisheth their light Let vs therfore be euer glad to say We haue found the Messiah Ioh. 1. 41. which is the Christ. To this end therfore God sent his onely begotten sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life He it is that declareth God Ioh. 1. 18. for he is in the bosom of his father for this Christ is sent a sauiour to the beleeuers of saluation but to the vnbeleeuers a speedy iudge of condemnation which shall be thus they saw the light and being ashamed of their ill works Gen. 3. 8. hid themselues in darknes the mother of all errors and vntruthes for truth loueth the light and the light doth glorify it HIS ONLY SONNE Math. 3. 17. This is my welbeloued sonne in whom I am well pleased Psal. 118. 22. this is the head corner stone that ioineth togither the building of Iapheth and Sem. Iohn 3. 35. The father loueth the sonne and hath giuen all things into his hands He that beleeueth in the sonne hath euerlasting life Iohn 7. 38. and out of his belly shall gush floods of liuing waters Deut. 18. 15. but he that obeieth not the sonne shall not see life and the wrath of God abideth in him Iohn 4. 14. this is the well of waters springing vp vnto eternall life that whosoeuer drinketh therof should not thirst againe Now to wit what the thing is that we worship and beleeue in It is the only sonne of God begotten of his father before all worlds spiritually for God is spirit and to be worshipped in spirit and truth And as the Iewes beleeued that this Messiah the son of God should com so we must know and beleeue that he is com they refused him in the flesh and we may not plead IGNORAMVS in spirit let our spirits then be guided with knowledge otherwise our beleef is no beleef for no credit can be giuen to an vncertain hope Wherfore Iohn 5. 39. let vs search the scriptures for in them we thinke to haue eternall life and it is they that testifie of him otherwise but a few by ignorance can be excused Rom. 15. 4. bicause these things are written for our learning and aedification As the father raiseth vp from death and quickeneth
admiration of it But we thinke and contend that it is ynough to acknowledge Christ our redeemer and to beleeue in him whom the father hath sent we are much deceiued to call that ynough which is in due respect nothing For the diuell acknowledged Christ to be the sonne of God which the Papists are alwaies ready to obiect when we argue iustification by faith but the text saith that he confessed him with trembling So then before we can acknowledge him our redeemer we must of necessity learne how we became bound and before we can rightly beleeue in him whom the father hath sent we must needs vnderstand some warning of his message which most often and breefly is repeated throughout the body of the old Testament Then must we try whether he came according to the fulnes of time wherin the father promised to send him and afterward when he is come whether his message be of God or not he himselfe exhorteth vs to make trial These seem good ground-works to build our faith vpon for as it is required in vs to beleeue so is it most expedient for vs to know him in whom we do beleeue bicause it separateth vs from death to life as before I alleaged For example Christ saith to the theef Luk. 23. 43. This day shalt thou be with me in paradise and againe of himselfe Father into thine hands I commend my spirit But concerning his body it died in the flesh for it was wrapped in linnen and laid in a tombe by Ioseph a iust man of Arimathaea and Nicodemus according to the manner of the Iewes Luk. 23. 52. and buried and to manifest that his body was dead after the maner of men the women prepared sweet odours and ointments and rested the Saboth day Nicodemus might heer see a cleerer sight of the second birth than he had before neither was his buriall an illusion to deceiue mens sight for the Iewes would not be mocked but commanded a watch and sure fastening to the doore least his disciples should steal him away keeping in mind the words that he spake vpon the earth Math. 27 64. Within three daies I will rise Thus haue I concluded his passion the manner of his passion and also his buriall which was according to the law HE DESCENDED INTO HELL Heer commeth the article that drew me to this whole discourse for that I saw the learned somthing at ods about it yet so as all both the one and the other did firmly hold it necessarily inserted in our Christian faith Neither wil I take vpon me heer so much to reconcile the learned which diuersly allow of it as to debell the vnlearned opinions which admits it not at all holding it a superfluous and needlesse article to be taught among Christian families It is somthing strange when clownes exceed in sophistry This kind of men had rather be followed as Christs of a new church than follow Christ as disciples of the true Church It behooueth them therfore in whom remedy consisteth speedily to redresse such erronious errors least some other soone after should deny that hee ascended into heauen Acts. 23. wherby a sect of Saduces might arise amongst vs Math. 27. denying any resurrection at all and so the latter error become greater than the former Now therfore concerning the misconstruing of these words then touching the abiection of them and lastly how to vnderstand them both in their vtmost force and also how they were first ment in the primitiue Church as appeereth by the indifferency of the penners of them But as concerning his descending or going downe no man I know will deny this word that hath any feeling of the ascension and going vp which is most manifest by Saint Pauls Epistle to the Ephesians which reciteth the prophet Dauids words mentioned in the Psalmes Ephes. 4. 8. Thou art gon vp on high Psal. 68. and hast led captiuity captiue thou hast receiued gifts for men yea euen the rebellious hast thou led that the Lord God may dwell there praised be the Lord which ladeth vs daily Selah But Saint Paules allusion is this that he ascended and captiued captiuity and gaue dwelling places to men Now insomuch that he ascended saith he what is it but that he descended first into the lower parts of the earth and he that went downe is he that went vp aboue al heauens to fulfill all thingâ— If therefore he had been to go downe to the place of the damned as some will he must had descended into the lowest part of the earth as he went vp to the highest heauen for his depth ought to had been answerable to his height nay 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vnder all the earth as he ascended 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aboue all heauens Reason will that as the Lords glory wherwith he glorified his sonne is aboue all heauens for they were made by him and they are the work of his owne hands and waxe old as doth a garment and shall passe and melt away like wax euen so the damned are to haue their portion below all the earth by opposition Seeing as happines and vnhappines are extremities so are their habitations most extreme and remote one from the other which cannot be in places to be discerned by flesh except we will deuise to make purgatories in the concauities of the earth as Papists haue done or our eies more sharp than Moses eies were For arguments sake then I conclude this that seeing the state of the damned is permanent for euer it is not to be changed by a new creation 2. Pet. 3. 9. For there shall be a new heauen and a new earth so that this heauen which we see is as a vaile before our eies to keep vs from the sight of God whose face would be so glorious that we should not be able to look vp for he appeered in a flame of fire Exod. 3. 6. which God our sauiour maketh himself vsing his fathers owne words shewing Exod. â—2 â—2 that it is he that sitteth on the firy throne this earth but a bar to defend vs from the outrage of the damned spirits which would consume vs with horror and there were no helpe for vs. But for the places of Gods existence and of the euerlasting prison the diuine scripture in no language hath affoorded names except circumstantiall or metaphoricall nay God himselfe hath forborne to name the place of the happy or vnhappy and much lesse was man able to perform it for he neuer went and came againe Neither in our sight can any proper resemblance be made of it Therfore let vs thinke of Christs descension that he went first into the lower parts of the earth which Saint Paul alluding Ezechiels words Ezec. 32. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 writeth in these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is all one as to say What is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth Heer he said
SAINT PETERS ROCKE Vnder which title is deciphered the faith of Peter the foundation of the Church Christs sacrificehood and the comfort of the holy Spirit Done by Alexander Top Gent. Printed 1597. To the reuerend father in God Doctor Lions Bishop of Cork Rosse and Cloin in Ireland A. T. wisheth prosperitie and grace euerlasting COnsidering your Lordships zeale to the truth due respect of the Gospell and vnfained loue to the professors I presumed to publish this small worke vnder your Lordships protection partly bicause it was begotten in that country partly bicause the country beareth but little fruit of the scripture but principally and especially to gratifie your Lordship for many fauours The subiect is easie yet not learned often red seldom marked obserued of many yet vnderstood of few But seeing the leuell of all controuersie is to hit the truth whose champions ye all are and by you all arguments must die or liue I appeale vnto your L. for my iust defence or your Lordships better aduise The spirit of grace illuminate your L. vnderstanding London March Anno 1597. Euer your Lordships to command Alexander Top. To the Reader GEntle Reader I haue for thy vse and comfort framed as neere as I could the deriuation of the Christian faith and that thou maist the better vnderstand my meaning heerin knowe that as the Creede was a thing most breef and learnedly composed in the prime time of the Church from many places of scripture so my purpose was to make a true dissipation of the articles disposing them to the places from whence they were first taken to the end that from henceforth thy faith should not he grounded vpon bare words but vpon knowledge of these scriptures so materiall for saluation My paines is free freely vse it God giue grace in all points Farewell A. T. SAINT PETERS ROCKE I BELEEVE First I thinke it needfull to expound this word BELEEVE then to shew the vse of it and lastly to what end it is vsed of the beleeuers The word seemeth of a compound and proper signification deeper than meere English can vnderstand for it meaneth therein or thereby throughly to liue wherein we do beleeue yeelding vp the possession of all spirituall senses disposed from all earthly affection of the members by the true mortification in spirit for this syllable be in apposition is no lesse possessiue or effectiue with vs at this day than with the Hebrewes of ancient time 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or BE which alwaies importeth in by or through but far more inwardly of vs to be vnderstood bicause it giueth a most secret meaning to the word it maketh as for example thinke and bethinke adding a very deepe cogitation to thinking get and beget where it hath some speciall conceit in meaning seem and beseem here it makes that which was in outward shew only like it self simple becom a very beautifull creature to the beholders Besides this syllable be that holdeth so small room in a Common-wealth causeth any adiunct to remaine substantially in his subiect as I BELEEVE to wit I am wholy liuing in God the father c. so as quicksiluer confoundeth all other mettals and transformeth their bodies by his liuelyhood so doth this syllable bring a word of common and open sense to a most close and necessarie signification in spirit so that to beleeue argueth a trustie confidence in the essentiall subiect of spirit and for the time of stedfast beleeuing the spirit hath no manner of sympathie with the flesh but the flesh remaineth dead and mortified to all naturall inclination in pleasure or suffering whether it be health or sicknes riches or pouertie loue or hatred cheerfulnes or griefe of hart or any other pleasure or calamitie incident whatsoeuer the communion of the spirit being hereby redeemed out of the prison of flesh and euapored into life eternall For the spirit is no more ruled by the flesh but the flesh by the spirit What then is subiect to this spirituall beleef Ezek. 20. 29. mettals wood or stone as the altar Bamah or such like No you shall not finish that you haue in your mind to do if you serue wood or stone as the heathen Is it mettall not the preciousest of all mettals gold for mightie Emperors haue been deceiued by their golden Idols and haue perished Dan. 3. 1. as Nebuchadnezar by his Image of sixtie cubits high and six broad The Idols stand vp as a palme tree Ierem. 10. 5. but speake not they are born for they cannot goe they can doe neither euill nor good Ierem. 10. 9. fear them not Siluer plates are brought from Tarshish and gold from Vphaz the work of mens hands There shall com out of Bels mouth that Ier. 51. 44. which he hath swallowed vp and the nations shal no more flow vnto it But the wall of Babell shall fall and become an astonishment among nations Can men make gods that are no gods Can their owne hands make them a redeemer or their handy worke saue them No for the beleef of all men being liuely and spiritual cannot liue for euer or be faithfully reposed in such vnprofitable subiects seeing in them there is no blast of life for they neither breath nor smell nor hear nor walk nor speak wherin then can they liue How should they defend a man that trusteth in them but both the caruer and the work perisheth togither What then is subiect to this spirituall beleef A horse bicause he runneth fiercely in the battel or many thousand chariots bicause they seem inuincible or man bicause he can deuise and determin long before nay or princes that so many millions of knees bow vnto these all haue place of life for they both breath smell hear and speak and eeke can go and not be borne yet seeing their bodies be altogither fraile and dissoluble wasting to nothing there is no place for euerlasting life found in them whereupon the spirit of beleef should work much lesse any meanes wherby the grosse nature of man might be iustified Psal. 33. 17. The horse is void of vnderstanding Exod. 14. 28. All Pharaos chariots and confidence perished at once 2. Sam. 24. 1. Dauid was plagued for numbring of his host of eight hundred thousand fighting men whose power and trust was soon abated by affliction This teacheth vs then the vanity of gold the senslesnes of wood and stone the weak defence of horse and chariot nay more Psal. 118. 9. the vtmost safety of an host and the confidence in princes for here Dauid being a king could not saue his host from the pestilence nor his incomparable number worke their Lords securitie wherfore man we see is not the thing to be beleeued in albeit he hath both sense and power in a firme vnderstanding For in nothing but in man is this worke of faith required so that whatsoeuer is aboue man knoweth al things and what so is below him hopeth for nothing One man
many valiant soules to Hades as we say to their last home it is most like he thought of none other torment Now concerning the Christian Latines and such languages as agree in the very words they say DESCENDIT AD INFEROS which is all one with Saint Paules words he descended to them beneath in the lower parts of the earth to wit the dead from whence he was to rise with victory though the Papists by this word would haue that signified which no authority will but their owne naked opinions 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 AD INFEROS into purgatory wherin me thinks they grosly erre seeing the scripture maketh mention of no other punishment after this life for sin than the second death the haruest of all flesh when Christ shall sit in iudgement vpon his firy throne to diuide the goats from the sheep saying Come ye blessed of my father and inherit euerlasting life and to the sinners Go ye cursed into euerlasting darknes where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a construction somthing strange to Grecians that vnderstand not the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with it as if we should say into the house of the graue confirming my former words But the Papists will obiect whither else should he descend being once buried but to the damned which I admit a question and for answer refer them to S. Paules words which are alredy recited What is it but that he descended first into the lower parts of the earth That he descended therfore they confesse and to what place he went this place I know will very effectually prooue vnto them how that he was buried also it is most true as before is shewed therfore he was buried and also descended for Saint Paul meaneth that his descension is all one with his buriall taking the occasion of speech from his ascension Wherby it seemeth that some penners of this Creede haue stuck vpon this article fearing least this word Hell should bring them into an error beyond al authority of scripture while they graunt it to be the place of the damned they durst not admit this article at all but that he was buried and rose again the third day Neither did they see how well the one or the other might suffice both being rightly vnderstood But the forme that we most vse is he was buried and descended into hell where it is penned as two articles being indeed but one which is to say simple truth in that he was buried and Saint Paules argument of the manner when he saith He descended c. Now indeed this word Hell is vsed throughout the whole nation of the Gothes to wit in the countries Sueuia Germania and Saxonia that is Insula Britannica For as far as the Gothes inlarged their territories their language remained still in force therfore in Swedland they say he went downe to Heluet in Germany to Helle in our English which is to say old Saxonish Hell Now concerning the originall deriuation of the word according to the letter it is plainly shewed in derision of the king of Babylon after his death by these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 How art thou fallen from heauen Isai. 14. 12. O hellel the sonne of the morning which is to say Lucifer For as the Painims worshipped the sunne as a God while he shined in his most glorious height so likewise in his absence they abhorred him supposing that in his declination he visited them in the earth And the heathen people at this day that haue not yet known God still obserue the same kind of worship Frō hence it commeth that the word is so disputable with vs. Though the Painims were ignorant of the sunnes course yet they were not ignorant of their owne language for they reserued this word from Isai till their owne christianity so that when they had found another God they made this their Hell to wit Lucifer as before But seeing we better know the course of the sunne we must of necessity hold it to be the graue without any further arguments of places that were neuer heard of Therfore mark the resolution of the speech HE WAS DEAD AND BVRIED AND DESCENDED INTO HELL Now insomuch as he was buried he rose again in that he was dead he rose from the dead insomuch as hee went downe into Hell to wit the secret place of the dead to put off death and to put on life he went vp to heauen the euerlasting seat of life and dwelling place of aeternity And as with the Astronomers there is reckoned among other spheres that which they call CoeLVM EMPYREVM or IGNEVM a firy throne aboue all spheres 1. Tim. 6. 24. the light that none can attaine vnto so would necessity graunt the place of the damned soules to be in opposition far vnder all spheres for no aeternity can continue in changeable bodies whether they be heauenly or earthly but to prooue that this word cannot signify euerlasting punishment and that our sauiour descended into no corruption thus I argue All perfect meanes of saluation was foretold by the spirit of God to the Iewes that they who beleeued or mistrusted might iustly be saued or condemned But all that was prophesied was but of his passion buriall and resurrection therfore was his passion buriall and resurrection the perfect meanes of saluation seeing he himselfe was perfect long before for he had his perfection from his father euer before all worlds And the prophet Dauid saith Psal 16. Thou wilt not leaue my soule in hell nor suffer thy holy one to see corruption that his body should neither corrupt nor perish in the graue so pure was he that he escaped the snares of death Now we are not only to define the word but also to search the authority therof which must be in the scripture and not elswhere In the Bible is found no one word that can signify the state of the happy or vnhappy therfore this word Hell is not meant the state of the damned nor any other corruption than the graue or the state of death Neither is it dangerously penned or vsed as some late vpstart vnlearned haue thought contending that it ought not to be said as part of our Christian faith which obiection aboue is sufficiently answered Indeed Christ neuer shewed any farther article of faith than that he should suffer many things of the elders Math. 16. 21. and of the high priests and scribes at Ierusalem and be slaine and rise againe the third day this was all that he added to the perfection of the church which he promised euen then to build vpon Peters faith which mystery Peter vnderstood not wherfore he became an offence so that he began in spirit and ended in the flesh If any other article had needed Christ would in this place haue added it for the perfection of his church which he had promised to build but all that he added was in the words before recited