did cast abroad the indignation of his wrath vppon his enemies and infinitly surpassing Sampson in strength ouercame the gates of hell hee became that iust one which iustifieth many and that perfect redeemer who hauing been a faithful mediator on earth raigneth now as a glorious high Priest Heb. 1.3 king and Prophet in Heauen as exalted for these iniuries done vnto him and iustified also by the glory bestowed on him The third poynt of this mysterie is that God manifested in the flesh and iustified in the Spirit hath been also seene of Angels It appeareth by the sacred storie that euen the damned Angels or vncleane spirits saw the sonne of God manifested in the flesh Mat. 4.1 For we reade that not only satan their head tempted him in the wildernes but that a whole legion of foule feends acknowledged him to be the sonne of God Luk. 8.28 and iudge of the World Wherefore euen the euill Angels sawe Iesus our Lord as the seede of the Woman who should breake the head of the Serpent as a Champion to wrestle or incounter with them last of all as a conquerour by his power and strength to ouercome them But either only or chiefely Saint Paul meaneth here that the Elect Angels saw Christ as visible GOD or as both GOD and man These heauenly spirites from the very beginning of their creation enioyed in deede the presence of the second person in the Trinitie Esa 6 3. yea and they worshipped him as their GOD and King neuerthelesse they wanted the visible spectacle of the glorie here spoken of vntill the time of the Lords incarnation and manifestation to the World and iustification by the Spirit But when once the Father brought his first begotten into the World and presented him in the flesh as a mirrour of all wisdome mercie iustice and perfect excellencie then the Angels in the sonne whose person godhead from the beginning of their creation they beheld continuallie saw that humaine nature and glory Ephe. 3.10 which before was neuer subiect vnto their view Heb. 1.6 For they saw now the inuisible word to become visible God they perceiued also the world to be made subiect not vnto them but vnto man Heb. 2.5 6 7 8 9. euen the mediator between God and man that second Adam Iesus Christ After this manner at the last in fulnes of time the sonne of God being presented vnto the view of the Elect Angels they saw him as their ioye as may appeare in that they sang at his birth Luk. 2.13 they saw him as their Lord vppon whom they ascended Ioh. 1.25 descended they saw him as the head of the bodie of the Church Heb. 1.14 whose members they serue last of all they saw him as the mercy seate toward which they turne their faces continuallie Exo. 25.17 18. And who is there now which remembring that solemne day of Christ his incarnation beholding the Pageant as I may say of his humaine nature whereat the very Angels gaze and assemble to conclude considering the progresse as it were of the Lord from Heauen to earth together with his returne from earth to Heauen where the Angels continually behold his face and now enioy his bodily presence would not skip for ioy with Iohn the Baptist crie out with Elizabeth inlarge his tongue with Zacharie magnifie the Lord with the Virgin Marie desire to bee dissolued with Simeon and prouoke not onelie his owne soule but the Angels to praise GOD with Dauid for presenting such a spectacle to the view of his creatures and reuealing his sonne both vnto men and spirites When as the common people of any countrey or kingdome first vnderstanding the kings intēt to make some progresse or to solace and shew himself abroad afterward vpon this occasion resort or flock to the place where hee passeth by or may best be seen there doo see his Maiesties face or heare him vtter a few words herein they thinke a great part of their happines to consist and hereof they boast full oft one to another not without iust cause For certainely the very countenance and presence of the gracious soueraigne carieth with it the Maiestie of God himselfe the honour of an Angell the glorie of the sunne the comelines of the moone the brightnes of a Start the blessing of the dew the fruit of a tree of life and to speake in one Word the price of a peerlesse pearle Now thē when as the immortall king the ruler of all princes presented himselfe to the view of shepheards wise mē Galileans inhabitants of Ierusalem diuers other of his meaner sorte of subiects albeit they saw his face but for a little time or heard his words but for a short season this was a iust cause to them of singular comfort and a great signe of his fauour yea as a day or time of high solemnitie But doth not then the magnificence of the Lord on the one side and the happines of the Angels on the other much more appeare herein that since they as peeres of the heauēly kingdom were first assēbled drawn vnto their prince Christ Iesus putting on him the nature of man and comming into the world they haue not ceased to beholde and enioy his corporall presence and now sitting as it were in court or Parliament with him continuallie see his royaltie and heare him speake such speeches as no eare of man hath heard nor heart can conceiue Yes happie sure are all Christians which are subiects to Christ Iesus see him by the eye of faith though not of the body more happie are the Angels which stand euer before him and heare his wisdome Most blessed bee the Lorde God the father which so loued his sonne as to set him one the throne of Israel because the Lord loued Israel for euer and made him king to doo equitie and righteousnes From this loue of GOD it hath proceeded also that Christ Iesus hath beene preached among the Nations The Angels of whome wee sake a little before were not onely beholders of Christ Iesus but Heralds who blazed abroad his armes and proclaymed the mysteries of his conception birth resurrection and ascention Next after Iohn the baptist the Lord himselfe the Angels succeeded the Apostles and seuentie disciples who all were immediately called by our sauiour himself to preach the word to work miracles Luk. 9.1 Luk. 10.1 were sent not to one place or congregation onely but the 12. Apostles to many natiōs the 70. disciples to many cities as our sauiours commaundement and their practise testifieth After these seuentie and besides the twelue Apostles the Lorde extraordinarilie raysed vp and added in mercy to the forenamed labourers in his haruest Euangelists and these againe were of two sorts for some of them penned stories of the gospell Act. 21.8 1 Tim. 4.5 Act. 11.28 as Luke and Marke some onely published the gospell by preaching as Timothie and Phillip At
shed his bloud for him As for the holy spirit Rom 8.32 Psal 16.7 and 116.1 which hath bestowed the riches of his grace on him he must of necessitie both loue and reuerence his Maiestie and so consequently acknowledge feare loue Iam. 4.12 and trust in one true GOD in three persons Now seeing the Christian hath but one Master Prophet or lawgiuer hee will not for all the goods in the world once bow the knee to Antichrist neither wil he receiue any inuentions or traditions of mā 2. Cor. 6.11 which apparantlie are contrarie to the doctrine of Christ Iesus Moreouer seeing that prince gouerneth him whose kingdome can not be shaken Heb. 12 2◠he hath a power of seruing God with shamefastnes and warines whereby it commeth to passe that he banisheth othes and blasphemies out of his mouth neither taketh he the grace of God in vaine but when he vseth the Sacraments beholdeth the creatures or heareth the word 1. Th. 2.13 suffereth all these as wholesome medicines to haue in him due operations Againe in as much as his heauenly captaine hath brought him into the Lords rest he is so farre off from prophaning the Sabaoth day by absenting himselfe from the publique exercises of religion or by working or loytering Heb. 4.8 9 10. that euery day is to him as a sanctified Sabaoth inwardly exercising himselfe from time to time in praying and practising the will of God labouring not to walke in his owne way Esay 58.13 nor to speake a vaine word To conclude he maketh conscience of despising any superiors whosoeuer Col. 3.18 c. of not gouerning his inferiors aright of being angrie quarrelling Mat 5.22 c. and fighting of being intemperate or vnchast in gestures speeches diet and apparell of couetousnes sloth vnthriftines and deceipt of slaundeting lying teuiling taunting yea euen of desiring wishing or thinking euill because not onely a vertue of mortification Col. 3.1 2 3 4 5. but a power strength of sanctification preserueth and guideth his soule and body And is not this then the best and the chiefest godlines in deede yea is not this the onely right and excellent manner of seruing of God Rom. 12.1 Now hereby it appeareth that poperie is but a counterfaite of pietie and not so much as ◠patterne thereof as was the Iewish policie or order of seruing God That heresie as the foolish woman spoken of in the Prouerbes is very full of words and motions Pro. 9.13 with questions about the true worship of GOD which it knoweth not Oh how zealous are the massemōgers about their vnbloudy sacrifice which hath cost so much bloud They acknowledge a sacrifice it is wel and sacrificing priests such are al Christians and an altar it is true wee haue a sacred sanctuarie Christ Iesus But the bread forsooth must be turned into the body of Christ and his body must be offered vp againe a shaueling must be the sacrificer such a one who as if he were a worker of feates can turne about in a circle and occupie his fingers about making crosses cast his armes all abroad lift them vp and pul them downe againe mumble vnto himselfe and by and by speake vnto others with a loude voyce whisper a while to the bread and thē break out into a shrill note or song But to let such popish and apish toyes passe true godlines consisteth not as hath been shewed either in humane traditions or wil worship or in bodily exercises 1. Tim. 4. ◠as abstaining from meates drinkes sleepe or such humbling of the body as it is separated from the mortifying of the soule 2. Tim. 3.5 nor in a bare profession of the trueth but in faith in Iesus Christ and obedience to his lawes both inwardlie and outwardly performed The fift poynt to be considered by vs in this commendation of the Gospell is that the mysterie of godlines is great excellent or notable It is first of all very great in fame and renowme according as the Prophet sheweth when going about to intreat of the mystery of the incarnation the sufferings and the glorifying of the sonne of God hee crieth out twice in one Psalme O Lorde how excellent is thy name throughout the world Psalm 8. 1. Cor. 1.24 But againe the Gospel is as great in fruite as it is in fame in regarde whereof it is truely called the Power of God vnto saluation the wisdome of God Rom. 16. Ioh. 6.68 finallie the word of life For this is eternall life to know the true God and him whome he hath sent Iesus Chrst The magnificence of this mysterie furthermore appeareth in the figures and types of the Lawe as the tabernacle the temple the red sea the cloude the manna and the redemption of Israel out of Aegipt For if the figures were so excellent what is the body If such glorious things are spoken in the scripture of the types what may be thought of the trueth it selfe To be briefe the spouse in the diuine booke of the song of songs playing if I may so speake the very blab and blazing to al men the secrets of hir loue The Song of Songs 5.10 11. telling that Christ Iesus is white and ruddie the chiefe among ten thousand that his head is as fine golde his lockes curled and black as a Rauen declared plainely and sufficiently witnesseth that this mysterie concerning Christ and his Church is great indeed It is as hath been shewed very great in fame for the sound of it hath gone throughout the world great also in fruit Ro. 16.18 For it maketh wise vnto saluation moreouer great in quality for hereof the types of the law are euen but shadowes 1. Tim. 3.15 but last of all it is furthermore so great in quantity Col. 2.17 that the most skilfull Geometrician in the World is not able to take the measure of it by any meanes for that is altogether infinit Ephe. 3 8. The Prophet speaking of this matter in the Psalme and directing his speech vnto the Lorde sayeth thus Thy mercie O Lord reacheth vnto the heauens Psal 3.6 and thy trueth vnto the cloudes thy righteousnes is like vnto the mountaines thy iudgements are like a great deepe O Lord thou sauest both man and beast In deede our Apostle Paul writing to the Fphesians affirmeth that he prayed for them vnto the Lord that they might bee able to comprehend with all the saints that height length breadth and depth which reacheth to the heauens to the seas to the ends of the earth and the furthest partes of the World But he meaneth not in this his supplication to shew that any is able to attaine vnto the perfection of this knowledge which passeth all knowledge but onely hee wisheth that the Ephesians may haue an abilitie or gift from aboue to see these measures in an acceptable measure for their comfort and the fortifying of their faith For speaking of
Luke 7.30 31. refused and contemned by any certainlie such as despise the Lords ordinance the kingdome of GOD against themselues are not to thinke that their paths whether loose or straight either please the almightie or will bring them to happines seeing they leaue the royall and beaten way wherein the faithfull vsuallie walk vnto saluation and which the Lord himselfe hath paued and chalked out vnto that intent and purpose Wherby as the necessitie of the preaching of the word so the excellencie of the mysterie of the Gospel yet further is made manifest vnto vs. The Kings and Princes of this world haue vnder them their deputies and inferious officers in all places of their iurisdiction who determine causes and gouerne those townes and places which are committed vnto their care and charge Euen so Christ Iesus the King of glorie ascending into heauen and leading captiuitie captiue Psal 68.17 gaue gifts vnto men and placed vnder him spirituall Magistrates in his church Indeed the calling of the ciuill Magistrate is not onely such an ordinance of God as both euerie soule ought to be subiect vnto Rom. 13.1 and euerie estate honour and reuerence as the highest and brightest glorie vnder heauen 1 Pet. 2.17 but such a gift of his vnto the Christian Church 1. Tim. 2 2 as that when she enioieth it she enioieth a crown of comfort and assistance when she wanteth it she wanteth a tower of succour and defence Lamen 2.2 Wherefore the eternall wisedome of God touching whō all this while we speak going about in the booke of the Prouerbs to declare what great gifts she hath in her hand to giue to mankind and vseth to bestowe on her Church breaketh out into this speach as on a sodaine By me Kings raigne and Princes decree iustice In the prophesie of Esay Pro. ◠15 the Lord foretelling how bountifullie he would deale with his Church in the last daies Esa 49.23 affirmeth and promiseth that Kings shall bee nursing fathers and Queenes shall bee nursing mothers vnto it But besides the politique gouernment or cruil Magistracie the Lord hath giuen to his Church the order of the Ministerie or state ecclesiasticall that these two callings might be as the two eyes of the world or as the two pearles of the Christian assemblie vppon earth For as this our Apostle testifieth vnto the Ephesians our Sauiour ascending into heauen gaue gifts vnto men to wit as he expoundeth these gifts the callings of Apostles Euangelists Ephe. 4.8 such other ministers of the word The common wealth of Israel then is not without her spirituall Magistrates but she partly hath had partlie hath her gouernours of sundrie sortes as the Apostle declareth Wherein as before hath been affirmed and after shall be made more euident the excellencie of the mysterie of Christ Iesus and also of his ministerie appeareth which is occupied about the soules of men and was cast downe from his treasure house aboue as a most precious Iewell euen then when our Sauiour ascended into heauen But moreouer beholde our heauenlie soueraigne Christ hath sent foorth his embassadors to the Iewes Graecians Scythians Fgyptians Morians Medes Persians yea as here is affirmed vnto all nations among which by thē his name hath been and is proclaymed Nay that which is more the Lords messengers and publishers of his will succeede one another from generation to generatiō remaining in spight of Sathan and of the wicked in all places and ages As for the Monarches or Emperours of this world they vse to send their embassadors not vnto the endes of the worlde or all nations but to some fewe countries and neere vnto thē Their custome is to cause their decrees to be proclaimed only in some Cities or for a fewe daies not from time to time and in all the coasts of the earth But the Lords Legats thus succeeding one another preaching in many countries it commeth to passe that the kingdom of Christ Iesus by the course of the word is hath been and shall be from time to time glorified and inlarged in all places For as further is added in the next argument of the excellencie of the Gospell God hath been beleeued in the world Wherein the mighty power and exceeding bountie of the Lord is further manifested vnto vs. For preaching is a signe of grace offered but faith of grace bestowed of eternall saluation By the gift of faith enemies are made children beggars princes limmes of sathan members of Christ fire-brands of hell Ephe. 3.6 heires of heauen old creatures newe slaues freemen captiues conquerours yea more than conquerours in Christ Iesus Now herein the riches of God mercie further appeare that Christ Iesus is beleeued not in a corner of the world but throughout the world I will make mention saith the Lord by the Prophet of Rahab and Babell among them that knowe me behold the Philistian with him of Tire and the Aethiopian is borne there Psal 87. And of Sion it shall be saide many are borne in her and he euen the most high shall establish her The Lord shall count when he writeth his people this man is borne there Selab This assemblie of the faithful people of all times places and sorts of persons called in the Scripture not Rome but heauenlie Ierusalem is that Catholicke or vniuersall Church which Gal. 4.26 whosoeuer hath not his mother on earth cannot haue GOD his father in heauen Part of this Church is alreadie in the highest heauens triumphing parte of it warfaring heere on the earth belowe parte of it neither in heauen nor on earth as yet but hereafter to bee first in this world secondlie in the world to come The triumphant beleeuers are hidden in the heauens the pilgrim beleeuers beeing mingled as yellowe corne with chaffe on earth are scant discerned the beleeuers to bee borne haue no being saue in the loynes onely of their forefathers Faith is a thing not grounded on sense or reason God is inuisible Christ was a crucified person is withdrawn from vs as concerning his bodilie presence the spirite is secrete the world is wide men are wicked tyrants rage yet GOD hath been beleeued is beleeued and shall be beleeued in the world O depth vnsearchable O glorious mysterie The vse hereof is that euerie one trie whether hee haue that annoynting that seale Ephe. 4.27 2. Co. 1.22 that earnest ponie and that witnes of the spirit in him or no which if he finde he is to bee more thankfull to God for it than if he had receiued the greatest benefite in the world besides If he feele not to sobbe and sigh and pray that God would testifie to his spirit that he is his father and bestow on him this good and heauenlie gift rather than any earthly blessing whatsoeeuer But chieflie he is to forsake his euill course of life Esa 1.16 to walke with God and man in the vprightnes of his heart