he quite forgot the day of his martirdom holy S. Hilary having spent 70 yeares in devout contemplation was yet afraid of the Judgment-day the Remembrance Job 23. 15. of that day was Jobs trouble and terrour if these be in such a case ad quos Index to whom the Judg appeares in mercy what shal they doe contra quos against whom he comes in Iudgment if starres of such a magnitude beginne to twincle what dimnesse will there be then in those of a lesser body if such pillars shrinke under the burthen what will become of slender tressles surely they'lbe crush't in pieces if this be done in the sappy greene tree what will be done in that which is more zere dry my advice shall be that of Moses to the Israelites be ready on the third day and on the third day when it was morning there was thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud upon the Mount and the sound of the Trumpet exceeding lowd so that all the People that were in the Campe were afraid though there be many dayes Exod. 19. 15. assigned to Man yet there are three dayes in especiall his birth life and death that of his ingresse into the world progresse in the world egresse out of the world but this last day is the third day looke to that day aboue all dayes stand ready for it then it is that God who formerly came as a loving Father will appeare as the great Judg both of heaven and earth then shall be heard the thunderings of accusations then shall be seene the very flashy lightning of hell fire in the consciences of most men then shall the thick Cloud of their sinnes interpose betwixt them and the throne of grace the Trumpet shall sound the aire shall rattle the noise shall be the awakening of all flesh in so much that the very elect who are within the campe of Gods predestination shall be afraid what then will become of them which are without the Campe such as never tooke up armes against the common Enemy they shâ—ll then stand amazed at the barre being accused by the Heavens and the Earth and all the Creatures therin coÌ„tained convicted by a Jury of Heavenly Earthly Inhabitants the blessed Saints and Angels their consciences pleading guilty in stead of a Conscintia mille testes thousand witnesses then doth the Devill sinne the world and the flesh cry out for sentence to be pronounced against the Offenders at the barre which is no sooner desired but performed Go ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devill and his Angels a sentece most fearefull because intolerable because irrevocable intolerable because of the quality of the punishment pinching cold scorching heat more greevious then the cursed water to the suspected woman that caused her thigh to rot her belly to swell and made her detestable to all the People ibi erit fletus c. there shall be Num 5. 18. weeping for the fire that shall never be quenched gnashing of teeth for the worme that never Paines of hell intollerable dyeth if wee be sick here in this life wee may haue soft beds to lie on Phisitions to advise our health friends and kindred to come by way of comfortable visits though all these faile yet there is to be had a good and gracious God to haue mercy on us one that will lay his hand under our heads and comfortably support us but there 's no soft beds but fire the most cruell of all other elements to wallow in and not a drop of cold water to coole the scorched tongue no Phisition to advize but Devils to torment no God to haue mercy on us but hell and dispaire to seaze upon us thus shall it be with them that forget God miserable shall they be at their first ingresse into hels torments there to heare the yelling the howling the crying of damned spirits there 's no comfort no solace no ease no helpe but horror and vexation on every side Bern. Med. cap. 19. alwayes burning yet never consumed alwayes dying and never dead the best sights and cheefest companions shall be Legions of damned ghosts and furies the dyet and fare shall be pinching hunger and famine the drinke shall be lakes of fire and brimstone Rev. 14. 10 mingled with the pure wine of Gods wrath and to make up the meale there shall be musick too curses shall he the Hymnes houling the tunes blasphemy the ditties lachrymae the notes lamentation shall be the song and shricking the straines sighs sobs and teares shall bee the dolefull descant and division the Purple Rayments shall there be flames of fire the hand shall there be seared the heart wounded the eyes blinded the eares dulled the feet scorched and Paena sensus all the body utterly confounded this shall be the state of the body in that day but shall the soule go free No It was to the body as Simeon to Levi a brother in iniquity and shall therefore participate of punishments with the body The memory shall call to mind that which is past the understanding shall consider that which is present and doth shall joyne together to disquit themselves then shall it be thought upon how many good motions have beene neglected how often God knocking at the doore hath beene disregarded what joyes are Paena damni lost what sorrowes are found how easily they might have beene avoyded and how impossible it is to abtayne the least mitigation this of all is the greevous punishment of the damned in hell hitherto I have shewed but the skirts and suburbs of hell but this is the entrance within the walls and the very gates of hell that punishment of the body was paena sensus a payne sensible enough but this of the soule paena damni though it be but a privative punishment yet it hath a miserable positive effect if ever misery deserved weeping of eyes if ever losse deserved Horresco referens gnashing of teeth this is the misery that there shall be No losse like the losse of Gods favour never any comfortable fight of the blessed face of God and this is the losse that there shall be an exclusion from all society with saints and Angels if when the Arke of God was taken old Eli was so overtaken with griefe that he fell backward and dyed what a losse shall they be at that have lost the presence 2 King 14. of God Adam did but Gen. 2. 15. see the apple to be good for the taste but to be turned out of Paradise he found it very distastfull what greater griefe even in this life then to live in Mâ—sheck and Psalm 84. sojourne in the tents of Kedar it was Davids well day so to do can the Israelites be merry in their Captivity there 's no musick with them Psalm 127 they cannot sing under a strange king their harpes hang upon the willowes as sad and silent as themselves
Christ who by their oathes and wicked practices crucify the Lord of life againe Math 24. 25. These are the nobility or rather ignobolity of this great Princes Court subordinate unto these are many infernall Officers all children of disobedience too many have advanced Ephes 2. 3. his diabolicall throne in their hearts two shall be in a bed two in the feild two at the mill there 's halfe in half for the Devill one taken the Luke 8. 15. other forsaken Matth. 16. The seede of Gods sacred word fell upon foure sorts of ground and but one of them good that 's great oddes three to one three for that infernall Cur one for Gods kingdome The Devil hath too many Servants three to be tyed up in sheaves and burnt with fire unquencheable one to be gathered into Gods granary Luke 8. again there was tenne Lepers cleansed nine of them clave to their ingratefull Mr. one onely returned thankfully to his heavenly preserver here 's nine to one Luke 17. 15. Nay Solomon found not one in a thousand nay there was not found in all Jerusalem one man that executed Judgement and sought the truth Jerem. 5. 1. there was once but eight persons in all the world yet there was one that set up the Devils throne in that smal company Gen. 7. Nay the whole world lyeth in wickednes Joh 5. 19. So potent so great so large a jurisdiction hath this blacke prince of the aire this prince of the world and darknesse Ephe. 8. Lastly as the Devill is a roaring Lyon a Murtherer a Prince So he is also an accuser of the faithfull Rev 12. 10. The Devil an accuser of the faith full he spares no time from accusing for sinne but that which hee employeth in temptation to sinne or inflicting punishment on the sinne committed he is the first mover to sinne and the first accuser for sinne he busieth himselfe only in preferring bils of inditement against sinne to the Judge of heaven and earth who will not suffer it to go unpunishe how like an Informer doth he lye sculking and prying into the closest of mans heart that he might be able to lay that sinne to his charge which he himselfe tempted unto thus dealt he with our first parents and this is his dealing with all the world at this time thus did he accuse Job unto God Doth Job serve God for nought Job 2. There is none that can be free from his most unjust accusations Is it so then Is the Devill a roaring Lyon Doth he compasse the earth seeking whom he may devoure well for all that he is but can is eaten a ligatus a dogg tyed up in a chayne latrare potest mor dere non potest well may he barke bite I am sure he cannot All the world was indeede cowd out by his power till Christ first broke his head in the wildernesse but now the meanest Christian through Christ that helpes him is able to make a jest of him Phil. 4. 13 and hell too One of the sages of Greece said that it was better to have an army of sheepe with a Lyon for their Captaine then a Company of Lyons with a sheep for their leader what though thou art a filly sheepe thou hast the Lyon of the of Judah for thy Commander it is he that hath broken both the head of his power and policy at once I am sure he cannot hurt thee Is the Devill a Murtherer doth he by sinne seeke to take away thy life spirituall doth he by Scandalous defamatory reports go about to deprive thee of thy life morall doth he by some malicious plot or other labour to put out thy life naturall feare him not what though he kill thy body he shall not kill thy Math. 10. 28. Soule the Lord of life will deliver thee and blessed shalt thou bee when men speak al manner of evill of thee for his name sake Math. 8. 7. Is the Devill a Prince of the ayre God of Heaven is above him hath he a large power what though it be so it is for all that limited hath he many sworne slaves attendant on him doth he rule in the children of disobedience both he and they are at Gods command and when they have dominered to the height then will that King of Kings and Lord of Lords by his unlimited power clap them up in Everlasting chaynes of darkenesse Jud. 7. Lastly is the Devill an accusar of the faithful what though God is the God of truth he is a lyar Job 8. 44. cannot the children of God come to stand before the Lord but he must stand perking up amongst them ready to upbraide them Job 1. 6. Doth he never rest from Gods elbow to give information and to file up bills of accusation what of all this Christ sitteth at the right hand of God interceding for thee cancelling those hand writings of sinne and Sathan who then shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect Marke 16 15. it is God that justifieth Rom. 8. 33. and for this accuser Col. 2. 14 Psalm 68. 8. prâ—jectus est he is cast out by the bloud of the Lambe Rev. 12 11. Death and the Devill are now swallowed up into victory 1 Cor. 15. captivity is now led captive that Leviathan who maketh the deepe to boyle Death Sinne and the Devill conquered by Christ like a pot hath now an bâ—oke cast in his nose and his jawes are pearced with the angle Job 40 21. Christs humanity was the bait which he nibled at many a time in the wildernesse and Isid Hispal Sent. lib. 1. elsewhere but not perceiving the hooke little thinking of his Divinity was catcht in the conclusion nay Christ did not leave him so but chaced him downe to those chambers of death the grave they are not now any longer prisons but dormitoryes sweete places of repose for the Saynts departed thus by the death of Câ—rist the last Enemy is destroyed too thou art not now captive to death the sting is taken out the death of Saynts 1 Cor. 15. 1 Thes 3. 14. Phil. 3. 11. Gen. 5. 24. Phil. 1. 23. is called a sleepe a change that of Enoch was a translation that of Eliâ—h an assumption S. Paul called it a dissolution every thing altereth its property where Christ sanctifyeth hee by the bitternesse of his death hath sweetned the extremity of ours the life gave himselfe to death where as men are usually buryed after they are dead Christ after his death layd death in the grave and hell in hell the lake was buried in the lake now hâ—ll where is thy victory thankes bee given to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 15. 57. I have now shewed thee what the Devill is how ravenous for his prey how cruell in his intendments how potent in mischeife and how false in his accusations what neede hast thou then to stand upon thy guard doe but guird
he did but confesse and the iniquity of his sinne was forgiven consolamini populum meum saith God himselfe comfort yee comfort yee my people and speâ—kâ— comfortably to Jorusalem and cry unto her that her warfâ—re is accomplished that her iniquity is pardoned Esay 40. 1. here 's comfort upon comfort but wherein lyes it first in speaking comfortably unto her then telling her that her warfare is ended but the cheifest comfort of al was that her sinnes were pardoned but what man is it that hath this comfort hee that sitteth downe in the dust who is it that shall bee Job 5. 9. thus refreshed the heavy and Math. 4. ult weary laden whose sinnes shall bee thus pardoned the Penitent mans who shall find ease to their soules those that are in affliction nay let but the wicked for sake his way and God Esay 53. 7. will abundaâ—tly pardon him too shall the wicked upon his repentance bee abundantly pardoned then much more he that suffereth for Righteousnesse Math. 5. sake hee is the vessell that God will powre consolation into it is hee that shall be anoynâ—ed with the oyle of gladnesse it is hee only that in the end of a paynfull harvest shall bring home his she aves rejoycing consider then seriously Ps 126. 5. these things with thy selfe see now whether these afflictions that God hath laid upon thee have brought thee on thy knees for mercy if they have here 's comfort in thy troubles here 's refreshment for thy heavy heart here 's ease to thy penitent soule lastly here 's pardon and that in abundance for all thy sinnes committed what can I say more to make thee happy here 's mercy abounding and comforts surrounding sinnes forgiven and the pardon sealed with the blood of the Lambâ— Christ Jesus which shall never bee disanulled but this is not all the pardon of sinne is but an entrance into the perfection of grace which brings in the fifth consolation That God Fifth consolation will perfect the work of grace in all his children What by our selves is defiâ—ient in God is sufficient God will perfect the great work of deliveverance that which was before imperfect is now through him made perfect who is perfection it self God commanded Israell that they should not feare any thing for saith he I am thy Lord and God I will strengthen thee yea I will helâ—e thee yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousnesse here 's a Esay 41. 10 11 12. gradation of encouragement till all end in perfection here 's a procession from strengthning to helping from helping to upholding man through sinne lyes groveling on the ground with his mouth in the dust God omnipotent steps in and gives him strength having some strength to rise he helpes him up sets him on his legs againe but doth God then leave him to stand to himselfe Alas he would then soone fall no God will perfect the worke begun layes his hand under him and daily by his protection upholds him causing him to grow from strength to strength till be become a perfect man in Christ Jesus Esay that Evangelicall Prophet beginnes one of his Chapters with a divine Rapture Cautate coeli cxulta terra c. Sing O Heavens and be joyfull ô Earth and breake forth into joy ô mountaines let that heavenly quire of Angels chaunt out the prayfes of God let all the Creatures on the face of the earth make up the consort nay if there be any place on the earth nigher to heaven then the mountaines fuller of light then the mountaines if any mountaine better then that of holy Syon let them all come and take a part in this coelestiall song what 's the reason of all this musicall harmony why this general rejoycing God hath comforted his people and will have mercy on his afflicted yet for all this Syon is not contented the Lord ' saith Syon hath forgotten mee thou art deceived O Syon can a woman forget her sucking child that she should not have compassion on the sonne of her wombe yes she may witnesse the exposall of divers spurious issues but yet for all that saith God I will not forget thee for a woman to forget her child is unnaturall but I that am supernaturall will not forget thee let what will come that can come if thou beest forsaken of thy freinds forgotten of thy acquaintance lost to the Gods anger is but for a moment world yet I will bee thy fast friend I will never forsake thee never forget thee I will stick close to thee till I have perfected the great love I have conceived towards thee what though for a small moment I forsake thee yet in great mercy I will gather thee in a little wrath I may Esay 54. 78 hide my face from thee but with everlasting kindnesse will I have mercy on bee here 's wrath but it is a little wrath and that terminated but for a moment what then God will perfect the comforts of his children with everlasting kindnesse and mercy for a little wrath and momentary punishment he will bestow ever lasting kindnesse and favour for ever The Lord saith David will perfect that which concerneth mee the mercyes of the Lord endure for ever forsake not the worke Psal 138. 8. of thine owne hands what is that which God will perfect in David his everlasting mercies when is the time it must be done even in afflictions forsake not the worke of thine hands this it was that made St. Paul fillip off adversity to glory in his infirmity what 's the Reason God saith he is made perfect in my weakenesse here 's Gods 2 Cor. 12. 9 strength made perfect in weakenesse man at the lowest ebbe of misery made the subject of Gods perfection there may be comforts in misery Mans extremity Gods opportunity by the accesse of friends by wholsome counsell c. but miserable comforters are they all and imperfect there 's a mixture in them of carnall corruption every good gifts and every perfect gift comes from above Jam. 1. 17. God is the perfect Operator it No perfection in any earthly thing is he that perfecteth that gracious worke in the heart such perfection cannot be found in nature Philosophy cannot do it Morality cannot Lypsius in his booke de constantia may perswade thy unsetled affections Seneca in his booke de tranquilitate animae may allay thy raging passions Boetius in his booke de consolatione may somewhat raise thy drooping soule these volumes alas are too litle to cover thy No booke so perfect as that of Gods word nakednesse looke for perfection in the word of God there 's holes enough in that rocke to hide thy selfe there 's the true fountaine of purity and perfection it is Gods own word who is perfection it selfe and without all doubt he wil be as good as his word he will make his strength knowne 2 Cor. 12. 9 in
which is to come be impositae set upon the head of S. Paul and not upon his head only but upon all their heads that shall with him fight the good fight of faith then shall be imposed the golden Crowne of Christs approbation Euge bone serve well done thou good and faithfull servant enter into thy Maisters joy joy unspeakeable there is no diving into the depth of it the felicity cannot be imagined the blessings cannot be numbred so incomparable that they admit No joy like that of heaven of no equality the tongve may expresse much the eare may heare more then the eye can see and the heart of man conceive more then all of them yet put all together they cannot apprehend the greatnesse of those joyes eternall here only it is bare Earth that is enioyed under the first Adam but in the second Adam Christ Jesus there 's Earth enlarged every thing that wee enjoy is an essentiall heaven our meate and drinke is manna our cloathing white Robes our Company Angels the Place Heaven there the King is verity the lawes Charity the honor Equity the Peace Felicity the life Eternity there 's joy without sadnesse health without sicknesse light with out darknesse life without death ease without labour wealth without wam an Ocean of all selicity without the least drop of misery Joyes of Heaven in utterable many and glorious things are spoken of thee ô thou City of God whilst I am thus describing the Kingdome of heaven oh that I might with the holy Apostle be taken up into the third heaven and whilst that I shall endeavour to blazon out the blisse of that caelestiall place oh that the light of that glory might shine into my sinfull soule that my thoughts being winged with the contemplations of Angels I might in some sort comprehend the excellency of that glorious place which farre surmounteth every humane estimate oh that I were to parley with those blessed Spirits above those vessels of glory the Saints departed tell mee oh tell mee ye noble Army of Martyrs what is that joy whereof ye are now made partakers that my soule being ravished with the glory thereof my pen might distill the Nectar of comfort to enflame the hearts of all those that shall at this time joyne with mee in this sweete meditation but alas how shall he that ever was in darkenesse be able to describe that light that is so inaccessible how can he that is of the Earth measure the heavens no more surely then he which is a slave by birth and base by his continuall habitation is able ingeniously to describe the mâ—jestick state of Princes if Nichodemus understand not the manner of Regeneration how shall he be able to conceive the excellency of glorification of the infinite happinesse in that coelestiall life how shall I then speake Earthly Jerusalem was pourtrayed by Ezekiel upon a tile so cannot the heavenly Ezech. 41 be the joyes prepared for the Elect do exceedingly surpasse all humane apprehension obtayned they may be valued I am sure they cannot he in Tully said truly that it is an easier matter to know what God is not then to tell what he is Tully de Nat. deorum lib. 1 so may I say it is much easier to tell what is not in heaven then what is there S. Augustine wrote two and twenty bookes of the City of God how shall I then bring into the last gasp of these my Meditations the unity the plenty the beauty the holinesse the felicity thereof when he himself confessed after all his endeavours all that can be sayd is but a drop to the Sea and a sparke to the fire what is this world to heaven a man may go Sr. Fr. Drake round about it in three yeares and odde dayes it is lesse then a poynt in comparison what is an acre of Land to the world the light of a candle to that of the sunne the life of a child to the yeares of Methusalah what 's the conceyt of a foole to the expeience of Noah who saw two worlds such is the world to heaven such our life to Eternity a thousand yeares in heaven are but as one day O while I write of those joyes eternall how am I silenced faine would I declare them but cannot conceive them I am in a maze when I beginne to thinke of them what then shall I say what shall I write Haven is a place of Rest a City of excellent beauty a Jerem. 6. 16. Rev. 2. 1. 4. 15. Luk. 22. 30 2 Pet. 5. 4 rare Paradice of Pleasure a kingdome of Majesty a crowne of glory and life everlasting O ioy unspeakeable O happinesse unconceiveable O pleasures indurable O triumphs admirable what shal not such a prize as this make thee to fight why dost thou stand still hath the glimmering pleasures and delights of the fading world so benumbd thy limbs and bewitched thy senses that thou can'st not see paine from pleasure misery from majesty deceits from delights for such and no better is the worlds cheifest ioy compared with that of heaven buckle on thy Armour labour very earnestly to conquer subdue thy owne corruptions the words allurements and the Devils temptations he that will reigne must conquer and he that will conquer must fight valiantly then for thy comfort S. John hath chalked out thy way to the Heavenly Jerusalem he hath Rev. 21. found twelve gates in it open day and night to entertaine departing soules repairing thither in the true faith there shalt thou be entertained by the Patriarches Abraham Isaack and Jacob by the Prophets Moses and Elias by the Kings David Hezekiah and Josias by the Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul by S. Stephen and the noble Army of Martyrs by the innumerable society of Saints and Angels a multitude of Heavenly Souldieâ—s shall giue a volley of acclamations at thy entertainment then shall be great ioy in heaven then shall the wedding garment be The Christian Souldiers welcome to Heaven put upon thy body the Ring upon thy finger a crowne upon thy head thus shalt thou be led out to the supper of the Lambe God the Father shall take thee by the hand God the Sonne shall place thee at his owne right hand and God the holy ghost shall fill thee with the graces of his spirit thus shalt thou see the goodnesse of the Lord in the Land of the liâ—ing and thus shall it be with all those that have fought the good fight finished their course kept the faith they shall with S. Paul and all these heavenly spirits receive the Crowne of Righteousnesse which God the Righteous Judg shall give them in that day Thus I haue set before thee life and death blessing and cursing therefore choose life that thou and thy seede may live here 's the horror ofhel Deut. 30. 19. for thy terror the ioyes of heaven for thy encouragement if the intollerable paines of the one will not enforce thee let the unspeakeable happinesse of the other allure thee to fight O the Joyes of the heavenly Canaan O the Riches of those Diamonds that are set in that Crowne which shall impale the brow of every Conquerer loose not then the hold of such a Crowne for a rappe on the fingers vincenti dabitur doe but overcome and thou shalt surely have it to shut up all looke behind thee there is hâ—ll looke before thee there is heaven if thou goest backeward hell will receive thee and if thou stand still hell will overtake thee but if thou runne forward Jehovah will crowne thee which he grant for his mercye's sake for Christ Jesus sake the Captayne of thy salvation and hereunto let all the Church militant throughout the whole face of the Earth say AMEN AMEN Glory be to God on high FINIS Mens workes had faults since Adam first offended And those in these are thus to bee amended ERRATA Epist Dedicat. line 12. read these ibid. l. 34. r. your Counsell Epist Reader l. 10. read I put ibid. l. 43. read from tâ—â—t Pag. 7. line ult read thus pag. 16. lin 21. r. estis p. 18. l. 23. r. him p. 30. l. 15. r. thy wages ibid. l. 18. r. â—et p. 31. l. ult r. hard pag. 32. l. 23. r. Confession p. III. l. 4. r. wine p. 121. l. 14. r. him pag. 125. l. 7. r. inveneris p. 145. l. 3. r. keepe thy selfe p. 162. l. 14 r. forth IMPRIMATUR Octob. 4. 1638. GUIL BRAY.
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vell done thou good and faithfull servant The Christian SOULDIER His COMBAT CONQUEST And CROWNE Agaynst the three Arch-enemies of Mankind The WORLD The FLESH And The DEVILL There is none other that fighteth for us but onely thou O God LONDON Printed by R. H. for J. S. and are to be sold by Bernard Langford at the signe of the blew Bible at Holborn bridg 1639. To his loving and indulgent Mother HELEN MELHUISH The happinesse of this life and that which is to come MOTHER HAving from your breasts received the first nutriture of my body and by your dayly admonition and wholesome counsell a better aliment for the preservation of my soule to whome then could I more fitly dedicate those my younger blossoms of experience next unto God my spirituall Father and the Church my spirituall Mother then to you my carefull naturall Mother the Travayle and payne you endured at my byrth was much and for that I must ever owe you much obedience but what of that had you only brought mee into this miserable world and there left mee sine cognitione dei without the knowledge of a better I had not beene much the better nay farre worse that I have not let the Counsell fall to the ground but by the help of my God made a hopefull improvement let these ensuing lines bee an obedient Testimoniall to your perusal I leave them that the Armour therein mentioned may be your furinture that those evills which the craft and subtility of the Devill or man worketh agaynst you may bee brought to nought that in the end you may receive a Crowne of Righteousnesse shall bee the prayer of Your obedient Sonne E. T. To the Reader READER THis Christian Souldier came but lately to my acquaintance he was me thought at the first sight well qualifyed but some what meanely habited upon further conference had put him into a garb suteable to his condition by way of thankfull Requitall hee related unto me the necessity of undertaking the Christian Combat the use of the Armour therein to bee employed the danger of the adversaries theyr severall Attempts theyr strength and power then shewed the way how to come off with victory lastly used some further motives and encouragements to take up Armes and that to bee done without any further delay the security of these times calls for publication of such discoveryes I have therefore made that common which was delivered to mee in a more private manner Not to hold thee any longer in that to which this but introduceth I bid thee heartily farewell I. Sp. The SUMMONS To take up Armes and that speedily against the three inveterate Enemies of Mankind The WORLD The FLESH And The DEVILL WHosoever thou art of whatsoever degree sex or Condition if thou hast not as yet entred the feild agaynst the common Enemyes of thy salvation let mee advise thee now at this very instant whilst thou art reading this summons to buckle on thy armes and march out speedily it is Arme arme arme high time the Enemyes are growne strong and potent for want of opposition whilst thou lyest sleeping out thy time they have almost entered nay they have allready také possession of thy soule dost thou not perceive how they beginne to smother the thoughts of heaven to quench the good motions 1 Thes 5. 19. of the spirit they are ready to advance theyr owne Diabolicall thrones in thy heart sinne beginnes to reigne Rom. 6. 12. 7. 23. in thy mortall body the 〈◊〉 of the members rebels agaynst that of the spirit thy understanding is darkened thy will instead of conformity to Gods is growne rebellious all the facultyes both of body and soule are ready to yeild themselves weapons of unrighteousnesse to sinne is it not high time Rom. 6. 13 then to look about thee and greive not that holy spirit that Ephes 4. 30 hath marked thee out to a better designe thou hast in thy Baptisme received prest mony to fight under Christs banner and to continue his faythfull Souldier to thy lifes end didst thou not there promise Catechisme in the booke of Com. Prayer and vow to forsake the Devill and all his workes the pompes and vanityes of the wicked world with al the sinfull lusts of the flesh this was the end of thy Baptisme let mee tel thee plainly it is great pity that ever that Sacramentall water should have wet thy face if thou shouldst now forget the end of thy Christian calling who made thee a Christian thou wast not Non natus sed factus Christianus borne so no naturall worke I am sure hath done it Christianity growes not on the bitter Roote of Nature thou art therefore called of God to bee a Christian thou art called of Christ to bee a Christian Philip. 3. 14. Souldier S. Paul gloried more as hee was a Christian by calling then as an Apostle by his function hence it is that a Christian calling is the confluence of all happinesse if it G. Nazianzen were possible to contract all the excellencies that are in Excellency of the Christian calling Math. 13. 45. most eminent callings the same are to be found in Christians A Christian is that Mercator gemmae hee that selleth all hee hath and trafficks for the Pearle a Christian is the Right Souldier that fighteth the good fight 2 Tim. 4. Rev. 5. 10. a Christian is that Royall Priest that is made unto God who shall reigne on the earth lastly hee is the man that fits on the white horse which had a bowe and a Crowne given him better then the Crownes of Kings and Princes Rev. 6. 2. these Heathens were surely foolish that called Christians poore Originalls but of yesterday a fond people they were that thus judged not to speake of Crownes put but in priviledges of Christians the honors which attend on Christians they will be found unspeakable what is like unto that of talking with God walking with God bearing the Gen. 17. 3. Act 11. 26 Gen. 4. 22. 1 Tim. 6. 12. Rom. 8. 15 name of Christ fighting under his banner entertaining the spirit into our hearts excellent also are the Priviledges that attend on Christians the comfort 1 Pet. 1. 8. 1 Tim. 1. 5 1 Thes 1. 6. of joy unspeakable peace of conscience joy in the Holy Ghost as S. Paul hath is concerning the Jewes to whom belong the adoption and Rom. 9. 4. the glory and the Covenants and the giving of the law and the Dignity of Christians service of God and the Promises hence it is that they are 1 Pet. 2. 9. stiled 〈◊〉 generation a Royall Priesthood an holy Nation a peculiar people if it bee thus whilst we are in the Race how glorious will it bee 1 Cor. 9. 24. when wee have finished our Course if it bee thus in the Combat what will it bee in 2 Tim. 4. 7 the Conquest if there
didst offend so good a God so gratious a father adde unto faith patience unto patience godlinesse unto godlinesse brotherly kindnesse with brotherly kindnesse love for if these things bee amongst and abound they will make you that you never shall be idle 2 Pet. 1. 5. 6. c. Iob. had Job 42. 10. many encounters but the perseverance to the end was the Crowne of all S. Paul had many stripes endured much imprisonment stoning shipwrack though every foote of ground hee trod was a mine to blow him up yet for all that not a Crowne but then when hee had fought the good fight of faith when hee had finished his Course then with joy hee stretched out his hand for the Crowne hence-forth sayth hee is layd up for me a Crowne of Righteousnesse quid tu 2 Tim. 4. 8. Paulo acceptior Dost thou thinke to have it without a Victory it cannot bee vinceâ—â— dabitur it is only for them that conquer for them that continue to the end Then comfort thy selfe in this that thou art not bidden to fight but for a prize not to labour but for wages though God might enforce thee yet hee invites thee when hee calls thee to it it is for a Reward if it bee to repentance hee will ease thee if to affliction he will give thee patience if to suffer with him then thou shalt bee sure to reigne with him and if to perseveronce then thou shalt have a Crowne of Righteousnesse which God the Lord will give thee in that day and not only to thee but to all them that love his appearing and continue to the end there is a sublimit as â—â—atiae as well as gloriae faith â—ove patience charity may bee in theyr height but perseverance is the top of all that sets the Crowne upon thy head that only lyes at the threshold of heaven non qui pugnat habet victoriam non qui currit habet palmaÌ„ sed qui perseverat coronatur Finis coronat opus it is he only which endureth to the end shall be saved The excellency of this sheild of faith is that it doth The excellency of the sheild of faith not only cover the body but is also a meanes to preserve and keepe the other peeces of Armor from danger what is the breastplate of Righteousnesse without the sheild of faith without faith all thy good workes all thy Righteousnesse will bee as nothing whatsoever Rom. 14. 23. Gal. 11. 12 is not of faith is sinne It is faith only that justifies by the merits of Christ and not by the workes of the law O the excellency and efficacy of faith It is stronger then Lyons by it Daniel closed up their devouring jawes it is stronger Dan. 6. 21 Dan. 3. 5. then fire not a hayre of the three children was touched nor any part of their cloathes singed it is stronger then water when that Elisha the Prophet made the Iron to swim 2 King 5. 6 R. B. faith is that powerfull favourite of heaven it hath speedy accesse to Christ A man may be dumbe overwhelmd with horror of conscience and as it were even stifled by Sathan or by reason of some great sinne not able to speake for himselfe yet where faith resides prospectabit ex altissimo sanctitatis suae Jehova God will looke downe from his Ps 102. sanctuary that hee may heare the mourning of such as be in Captivity and deliver the children of death nay hee will do thus much if there be but singultus fidei a sob or a sigh of faith nay which is lesse if but a pant of faith present it selfe I will up saith the Lord helpe them set them Ps 12. at rest nay which is least of al though the pulse of faith beat not atal though David be like The very panting of faith prevayleth with God a deafe maÌ„ which heareth not or as one that were dumbe not opening his mouth yet God will looke downe upon him in mercy as hee did upon the poore man sick of the Palsey Faith is the Covenant Math. 19. 2 of all Evangelicall promises it is the hand that must bee reached out to receive all blessings Christ exacts it only Christ appropriates all to faith he lookes quite through patience and charity upon faith faith is the Mother of all these Androgothemos in the 11. of the Hebrewes faith giveth name to Christians it sets the stampe on the metall by the stampe of Caesars image the coyne was knowne to whome it did belong by the impression of saith a beleever is knowne to bee Gods peculiar Act. 15. 9. by faith the heart is clarifyed and cleansed by faith being dead thou art revived by faith thou art regenerated and Ephes 2. 8. borne agayne by faith thou art justified preserved and thy Ro. 3. 28. soule eternally saved by faith thou art raysed from sinne to newnesse of life by faith thou knowest God and art blessed of God lastly by faith thou mayst through Gods assistance expel the Devil and malignant encounters and so in the end having fought the good fight attayne everlasting Salvation an inheriance that never fadeth nor never will decay Ths 1. 58. but will endure for ever The fift weapon is the Helmet of hope or salvation take The fift weapon of gods armory the Helmet of salvation A Helmet in warres is res per necessaria more then ordinarily useful it doth not only keep off darts that might otherwise be offensive but makes him that wears it looke the Enemy in the face couragiously and to goe on victoriously Even so he which trusteth to this Helmet of hope marcheth on undaÌ„tedly against all the Assaults of the flesh the world and the Devill it makes him looke death in the face assuring himselfe of victory it makes him invincible in the day why called the Helmet of hope First Reason Heb. 6. 9. of triall it is called the Helmet of hope for two Reasons First because Salvation is the mayne end of thy hope which thou doest stil expect and wayt for It is called Anchora animae Hope is the Anchor of the soule by which itlayeth fast hold on Christ therefore it is that the Apostle couples both together Thes 5. 6. and for an Helmet the hope of Salvation intimating that Salvation is the end of our hope and confidence Secondly Hope is a meanes Second Reason to obtaine Salvation it is one of those steps which thou must climbe to Heaven by by Hope wee are saved Hope will cause Ro. 8. 24. thee to rest assured of Gods protection The Mariner having cast Anchor lyes downe and sleepes securely so he that hath cast the Ancor of his Hope in Heaven whose hope is in the 1 Cor. 15. 19. Lord needes not then to feare any thing but may say and that as confidenly as ever David did I will not be afraid of ten thousand of men that have set
part sweare neither by heavan or earth nor by any other oath let thy toung be made the numpet of gods glory let thy communication be yea yea and 〈◊〉 so thou â—â—alt not fall into condemnation Math. 5. 34. To summe up all if the Ring-leader of all those â—roopes that Lust the Ring-leader of all the troopes is lust whether it be fornication uncleanes or wantonnesse shall set upon thee take notice that he is a deadly dangerous Enemy he that is lead by him shall set himselfe against God the Father who ought to be gloryfied in his body 1 Cor. 2. 20. Secondly against God the sonne as he is head of the Church Thirdly agaynst God the holy Ghost in regard of his body whose Temple it is 1 Cor. 6. 19. Fourthly against the Church no such thing saith Thamar to Ammon ought to be done in the Church 2 Sam. 13. 12. Fiftly against the Common-wealth Jerem. 23. 10. The sinne of lust aggravated Sixtly against the Party whose Chastity is violated Levi. 21. 7. Sevently against freinds his owne body whose vessell is to bee possest in holinesse and not in the lust of concupiscence 2 Thes 4. 4. here it is that many are visibly marked in the faces and are never without an Almanack in their bones Eightly agaynst his owne good name he that committeth Adultry shall find dishonor and his Reproach shall never he taken away Prov. 6. 34. Lastly agaynst his owne soule whoredome and wine have taken away their hearts Hos 4. 11. thus runnes hee on like a foole to the stocks for correction Prov. 7. 22. and so hee is excluded out of heaven Rev. 21. 8. Is it so then walke honestly as in the day not in chambering and wantonnesse Rom. 13. 13. the Corinthians held lust to bee such an indifferent Wicked men make a mock of sinne adversary that at the last they swallowed downe incest how common lust hath beene with the Romanists let the discovery of the dissolution of Abbyes testifye Erasmus observing it to bee usuall amongst great ones tearmes it Lusus magnificus the Noblemans Recreation what duels have beene about a base prostitute that 's the cause why such a fogge hath lately overspread us as for thy part when thou seest this man doe this or that if hee be patronus causae he shall be socius poenae and thou shalt never burne the lesse in hell for having such company then pray more earnestly refrayne bad company thus did Joseph or if thou chance to fall into such demeane thy selfe so that thou mayst bee like fish keeping it selfe fresh in the midst of salt water Secondly looke to thy Eyes else the Enemy will creepe in at those winÌ„dowes thus Job Job 31. 1. made a Covenant with his eyes have a care of reading Iascivious bookes viewing wanton pictures freqâ—enting stage playes c. Thirdly cast off Idlenesse The way to shun lusts that 's the pillow of lust for hee that is busy in his calling shuts the doore upon many a wicked temptation Lastly meditate on Gods Iudgments fast often make good use of what hath beene all ready discovered thus goe on and prosper I wish thee good luck in the Lord up and bee doing and the Lord God of heaven be with thee The third grand Enemy to The third Grand Enemy the Devill Mans salvation is the Devill his dominion is great the other two the world and the flesh are under his command whereas the one is within thee and the other without thee so this is alwayes about thee the holy spirit of God hath set him out by divers names and titles but more especially hee is tearmed 1 A roaring Lyon 1 Pet. 4. 8. 2 A Murtherer Joh. 8. 44. 3 A Prince of the Ayre Eph. 2. 3. 4 The accuser of the faythfull Rev. 12. 10. First hee is a roaring Lyon The Devil a roaring Lyon seeking whome hee may devoure and very fitly is hee called a Lyon for what the world can not doe by alluring objects and 1 Pet. 1. 8. the flesh by its inticing allurements the Devill if hee can will doe by his Lyonlike invasions he is also a roaring Lyon for as a Lyon when hee looseth his prey doth swell and roare for very anger so this roaring Lyon when hee doth but loose or rather when any child of God doth make an escape out of his pawes then hee roares then hee maketh new fetches then hee is ready to fly in the very face of God himselfe how many assaults did hee make upon the patience of Job how many Job 1. crosse blowes did hee give him one in the neck of another if the Sabeans theft and Vers 16. murther of his Cattle and servants cannot moove him then the Chaldeans shall fill Vers 17. up the measure of their theevery if this will not take then the mercilesse flames of fire shall consume his sheepe and remaynder of his Cattle Vers 18. nay the stone and timber out of the wall shall silence his sonnes and daughters in the midst of their eating and drinking onely one shall bee left a live to torment his patience with the sad Relation thereof yet further if none of all these will doe it then hee sets out a higher throate and Nebuchad nezar like heates the oven of his malice seaven times hotter then before he drawes an arrowe out of his owne bosome to shoote at him sets his wife upon him on one side to pervert him and his kinred on the other side to revile him yet for all this Job sinned not with his lippes nâ—r charged God foolishly Job 1. 22. this is that which made the Devill roare aloude The Ezek. 22. 25. scriptures every where set out the roaring of the Lyon to Esay 31. 4. bee extraordinary the Hart thirsteth after the brookes of Ps 42. 1. water the yonge Ravens cry unto God for meate and all Ps 147. 9. other creatures in theyr kindes seeke their meate at Gods hand onely the Lyon hee roares when hee hath no pray and the Devill Amos 3. 4. hee roares too when he hath not some pretious soule or other to feede on nay the Devill is worse then a Lyon The Devil more cruel then a Lyon who if credit may bee given to history spareth those that fall downe flat before him but if hee should once catch thee at that advantage hee would trample thee under his feete and teare thee into a thousand peeces Secondly as hee is a roaring The Devil a Murtherer Lyon so hee is a Murtherer Joh. 8. 44. not a murtherer of one man or of the men of one Towne one City one Kingdome but of the whole world of all Mankind It was the Devils malice that brought Invida diaboli mors intravit Bonavent death into the world it was hee that brought sinne first into the world and sinne ushered in death even eternall death as for thy life naturall how doth this
plague of pestilence in the yeare 1625 and in the last yeares 1636. 1637. besides many others so that now this kingdome sitteth like the Queene of nations every man in peace Rev. 17. 8. under his owne vine and under his owne figtree this is the Lords doings and it is wonderfull in our eyes but to come yet nearer home to our selves I appeale unto any man living that hath not at one time or other had a large taste of Gods protection and deliverance from some danger or other how many had beene swallowed up quick whilst men rose up against them if God had not beene on their side what shall I say then Our fathers saith David Ps 22. 4. trusted in God they trusted and hee delivered them they called upon him and were delivered they trusted on him and were not confounded goe thou thy wayes and doe likewise depend on Gods protection recount what he hath done for thy soule blesse the Lord god of thy salvation who leadeth thee thus with his benefits Ps 68. 19. blesse him in his infinite essence and power blesse him in his unbounded and just soveraignty blesse him in his preservations blesse him in his deliverances take heed of offering hollow observances to the searcher of hearts they that proclamed Christ at Jerusalem had not onely Advice to blesse God for al his deliverances Hosanna in their mouths but palmes in their hands too if thy hand blesse not the Lord thy tongue is an Hypocrite away with the vast complements of vaine formalityes let thy lowd actions drowne the language of thy words for God is thy deliverance hee is the God of thy salvation thus the bitter waters of Mara shall bee made as sweete as hony crosses shall bee made blessings corrections made instructions to fortifie thy selfe against all the deceipts of the world the flesh and the Devill when thou lookest to thy owne fleshly hands there is nothing but discouragement when thou lookest to thy Spirituall enemyes there is nothing but terror but when thou castest up thy eyes to thy mighty God there is nothing but confidence nothing but comfort comfort thee comfort thee therefore ô thou feeble soule send thy bold defiâ—nces to the Prince of Darkenesse heaven is high and hard to reach hell is steepe and slippery thy Flesh is earthly and impotent Sathan strong and rancorous sinne subtle the world aluring all those yet God is the God of thy salvation let those infernall Lyons roare and rampe upon thee let the gates of hell doe their worst let the world be a cheater thy flesh a Traytor the Devill a Tyrant faithfull is hee that hath promised who will also doe it God is the God of thy Salvation blessed bee his holy name world without end AMEN Thus having shewed the use of every peece of Armor belonging to the Christian warfare the furious assaults and subtle carriage of the severall Enemyes the time of their onset and the meanes how to come off with credit I will now use three motives that may stirre thee up to take armes and being in the field to lay about thee First the consideration of death that thou must dye then there wil be no time to fight Secondly to consider the cruell torments of hell that Motives to take up armes they may enforce thee to fight Lastly to consider the Crowne and Reward the joyes of heaven that they may allure thee to fight There is an Act of Parliament First motive in heaven never to be repealed Statutum est omnibus semel mori dye thou must death knocks equally at the hatch of a cottage and the gates of a Palace hee can top the highest Cedar as well as the lowest shrub there is no man but is naturally walking downe to the chambers of death every sinne is a pace thither only Death unavoyable the gracious hand of God stayes him every man living must bee reduced to the first principles of dust and ashes from whence hee was first taken dust thou art and to dust thou must return Is there not an oppoynted time Gen. 3. 19. for man on the earth yea but when is that time hora nihil incertius nothing more uncertaine that 's in Gods hand hee that is the Lord of life hath set the period of thine his omnipotence so contrives all events that neyther Enemy nor casualty nor disease can prevent the houre of his appoyntment there is no holding of the breath if God call for it a Nothing more uncertaine then the houre of death man may have some power over his outward members but none at all over the inward hee may command the eye to see the eare to heare the hand to worke but hee cannot command the heart to move the liver to sanguine the longues to blow breath hee may swallow downe meate but cannot make the stomack to digest it that 's Gods peculiar a payre of bellowes will fall of themselves but never rise to blow againe without assistance the houre glasse will God is the Lord of life runne out of it selfe but never runne againe except it bee turned a man may send out his breath at his pleasure but not take it in againe without God for in his hand is the breath of all mankind Job 12. 10. if that King of feare death bee charged with a warrant from God hee doth not returne with a non est inventus sometimes hee is sent in the night when man is most secure thus hee came upon all the first borne in the Land of Egipt at midnight Exod. 12. 29. sometimes in the height of power thus he came also upon the Egyptians in the midst of all strength whilst they were pursuing the poore Israelites even then when they were in the ruffe of all their glory their charriot wheeles drew heavy and they were all choaked in the red Sea Exod. 14. 27. Sometimes death comes whilst a man is at his Table he comes indeed to many great mens tables but he is welcome to a few thus did he salute Belshazar in the midst of his Cups quaffing in the bowles of the sanctuary Dan. 5. 3. as a surgeon hides his lancet in a sponge or his sleeve that he may the more secretly use it so death hides himselfe sometimes in meate other whiles in drinke sometimes Gen. 7. he lyes under the Table when they of the old world were eating and drinking then came the floud and overwhelmed them in the morning was the King of Israel destroyed Hos 10. 25. the shunamites child dyed at noone 2 King 4. 20. Ezekiels wife dyed in the Evening Ezek. 24. 18. Sometimes death comes as he did upon the Rich foole witha Stulte hac nocte so whether it be in the day or night in the morning or evening in prosperity or Adversity whether full or fasting the time is still uncertayne some are taken away sodainely many in their infancy some in their youth others in age many dye younge
are their thoughts are upon Jerusalem they cannot forget Syon It was the greatest griefe that ever Tully had to be banished from his native Country though he met with many friends in Greece yet still did he cast his eye towards Italy here was some comfort to meet with a friend in Roma relinqaenda est c. trouble but miserable is the case to be sent with Ovid from Rome to Scythia from heaven to hell from the company of Saints and Angels to the society of Devils and damned spirits this is the losse of all losses and then for aggravation of the punishment to see others sporting themselves toyling the Saints rejoycing themselves mourning their concord their owne discord them exalted above the highest heavens their selves cast downe into the nethermost hell and therefore unto them who in old time were condemned ad lapidiciv as this was some comfort that they neither saw so much their owne misery nor the happinesse of others thus shall the wicked be turâ—ed into hell and all they that forget God but how long shall this state of the damned continue for ever that must needs be a long day that hath no end Eternity of punishment is the hell of hell to all men in misery there is some hopes of an end The marriner when he hath The paines of hell end lesse beene long weatherbeaten hopes for a safe arrivall the Prisoner after much durance for a Goale delivery the Apprentice after a hard service for a freedome the Souldier after much bickering lookes for victory but in hell nulla res nulla spes no hope no comfort at all the bondage there is not like that of Israel in Egypt Exod. 12. 40. to last onely 430 yeares nor like that of the Captivity in Babilon to last but 70 yeares but like that of Israel in Syria never to returne againe from thence there 's no Redemption the greatest crosse that can befall a man in this life is to be cast in prison to loose lands and goods to want the Company of wife and children yet he lives in hope to come out at last or that God will raise up some comfortable supply of mony meate or good counsell but in hell there 's no hope of any end of Punishment if a barne were full of corne and a bird should every yeare fetch one Kernell there were some comfort that in time it would be emptied if a Mountaine twenty miles about should have one shovel fâ—â—ll every yeare taken away it would at last though long first be made a Molehill but hellish torments never have an end their yeares never come out the longer they continue the lesser hope when as many yeares are expired as men in the world starres in heaven as many thousand yeares as there are stones and sands by the sea shore yet still there be ten thousand more to come for the misery shall last as long as God himselfe forever and ever world without end Is that day of the Lord so 1. Cor. 15. terrible in judgment then judge thy selfe betiâ—es that thou maist not in that day be judged is that place of the damned so horrible the society of Devils so comfortlesse the paines to be endured so remedilesse so endlesse what then remaines but to buckle on thy Armour set the world the flesh and the Devill at defiance beate them off keepe them at a distance they are all of them marked out for judgment the world shall with the frame thereof be consumed neither flesh nor blood shall enter into the Kingdome of beaven as for the Devill he is bound in everlasting chaines of darkenesse till the judgement of the great Jude 7. day then shall both he and they and all such as adhere unto them or march under their colours in this life taste of the fulnesse of Gods wrath in torments for evermore joyne thy selfe therfore unto the Church militant strive not so much to know what manner of fire that of â—ell is as how to shun it in all thy doings remember thy end and Eccles 7. then thou shalt never doe amisse in this thy spiritual warfare follow closse thy leader Christ Jesus the Captaine of thy salvation and in all thy prayers joyne in the huâ—ble voyce of the Church In all time of tribulation in all time of wealth in the houre of death and in the day of judgement good Lord deliver mee Even so come Lord Jesus come quickly If the certainty of death Letany and the uncertainty of the houre doth not move thee to buckle on thy Armour yet let the horrors of that great and terrible day and the judgements to be denounced against all faint-hearted Renegado's inforce thee to enter the field if none of these will do it looke up wards there 's a Crowne layd up for every Conqueror let that allure thee this if any thing will doe it Reward is the PluÌ„met that sets all Actions a going especially the Reward of Heaven a crowne of life not that Heaven is a Reward in a proper but analogicall sense it is a great dignation when God doth call that a Reward which is his owne free gift if a man should fulfill all the Commandements yet heaven is more then he hath deserved if saith Macarius I should play the souldier in the Christian combat yet the Reward is far above the tryall if a man should afflict his body a thousand yeares yet one day in heaven goeth farre beyond all his troubles heaven is therefore not of debt but of grace non Remuuer at iâ— laborumsed merces liberalit at is if it be of grace it is no more of workes Rom. 11. 6. doth God then propose heaven as the wages of his bountifull grace what will not a man do to enjoy it what toyle will not the husband-man undergo for a plentifull crop at harvest will not the Souldier march up to the very mouth of a Canon enter a breach lye upon the cold ground pâ—r dieu stand Sentinell exposed to wind and weather and all this to get renowne and credit but what is a good harvest to the Labourer or credit to the Souldier things meerely momentary here to day gone to morrow but whosoever he be that shall but fight the Christian fight and therein vanquish the world the flesh and the Devill with all their temptations provocations and assaults here 's a Heaven is the Conquerors Reward kingdome and Crowne too prepared for him which as it is immutable so it is immortall even a Kingdome Luk. 1. 33. eternall in the heavens 2 Cor. 5. 1. â— Kingdome whereof there shall be no end a Crowne of Righteoâ—sâ—esse no earthly thing comes within the 2 Tim. 4. 8 compasse of it they are not to be found in the texture of this Crowne it is Eternity that makes it up temporals come in only by way of superaddition it is in this life reposita layd up onely for S. Paul but it shall in that