in the Scripture or Sacramentum in the Fathers straightway they being of a light credit beleeued that therby was meant a Sacrament and therefore besides our two currant sacraments which Christ himselfe instituted they haue coyned fiue other which are counterfait making them al to be in number seuen wherin they shewe themselues guiltie of high treason against the diuine maiesty of God in daring to be so bolde as presumptuously to counterfait his sacred seales and sacrilegiously to take vpon them the person of God himselfe in robbing Christ of his Honor and making newe Sacraments in his Church and to conclude in ignorantly abusing this word contrarie to the true sense and meaning therof For if that were certaine that Mysterium shuld alwaies signifie a Sacrament Misterium that should there be manie more Sacraments then they themselues make sith the same is so often vsed in the olde and new Testament but especially in the Gospell for then should the kingdome of God be a Sacrament Mar. 4.11 and the calling of the Gentiles a Sacrament Rom. 11.20 the preaching of the word a Sacrament Eph. 6.19 The iniquitie of Antichrist a Sacrament 2. Thess 2.7 Faith a Sacrament 1. Tim. 3.9 The name of the whore of Bablyon a Sacrament Apoc. 17.5 And finally Godlinesse in this place a Sacrament And many more besides these which we cannot stand to repeate because in the Greek they are said to be mysteries which how absurd and foolish it is those whom God hath induced with a wise hart of vnderstanding and knowledge may easily perceiue and discerne And how iniurious they are against vs in calling vs Sacramentaries for syncere vsing and rightly receiuing the Sacrament of the Supper according to Christs owne institution and instruction when as they rather deserue the same name in stamping out by the mint of their owne braine more and other Sacraments then our Sauiour ordained in his Gospell as we worthely also tearme them sacrificers in that they seeme daily to offer in their Idolatrous masse a bloudy sacrifice propitiatorie both for the quicke and the dead But the vnskilfull and superstitious Papists make not so honourable account and holy regard of this word Mysterie and that for want of iudgement in the reading of the Scriptures and the Fathers for vnto them may it be said in this respect as our Sauiour in the Gospell vnto the Scribes and Pharises in the like Ye erre not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God as on the contrarie part the vulgar sort doe prophanely and irreligiously abuse the same in tearming their vile and illiberall artes their Mechanicall sciences Manuall craftes by the name of Mysteries they both running into extreamities the one in enhauncing it too high the other in debasing it too lowe when as indeede to keepe the golden meane we are to deeme so high of it as to iudge it to be some heauenly and supernaturall thing and therefore according to the phrase of the Scripture and meaning of the holy ghost we are to learne to call anie difficult and diuine secret by this name as our Apostle tearmeth Godlinesse in this place signifying hereby not onely generally that the whole Scripture and the word of God contained both in the olde and new Testament is a mysterie in this sense and therfore likened of Hierome not only to a shallow fourd wherein a lambe may wade but also to a deepe sea wherein an Elephant or Tyger may swimme Whereupon our Sauiour in respect of the profunditie thereof willeth vs Iohn 5.39 to search the Scriptures the word in the Greeke which he there vseth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying a diligent seeking and enquiring being a Metaphore or borrowed speech taken from Didoppers or duckers vnder the water which flock not aloft but diue downe to the bottome to finde and fetch any thing vp called in Lattin Vrinatores ab vrino which is deriued of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or els from Miners which doe not pare the ground but digge deepely manie fadomes into the earth for the gold siluer pearles precious stones or other mettals and minerals which there lurke lie hid As our Sauiour calleth the Doctrine of the Gospell the mysteries of the kingdome of heauen Mat. 13.11 and therefore in another place he telleth his Disciples that he had manie other things to speake vnto them which were as then too heauie to carrie and too hard to bear away for them which were not as yet able and stable pillours of Christs Church but weake and young nouices in Gods house for there is not onely in the Scripture milke fit for babes which are vnexpert in the word of Righteousnes but also strong meate which belongeth to them which are of age and perfect which through long custome haue their wits exercised to discerne betweene good and euill as the Apostle Heb. 5.13.14 Wherupon Peter also he saith of the Epistles of Paul a part of this Scripture that there are manie things in them that are hard to bee vnderstood which many peruert euen to their owne damnation for as in humane learning and secular arts and sciences there are manie matters verie hard to be known and learned as the Axiomes of the Logitians the Principles of the Mathematitians the Aphorismes of the Physitians the Maximes of the Lawyers the Problemes of the Philosophers the Emblemes of the Poets euen so are there in the Diuine knowledge of godlinesse manie difficult things to be vnderstood the Apocrypha of the olde Testament the Apocalips of the new Testament and as prophane Authors make mention of the leaues of the Sibyls the Oracles of Apollo the riddles of Sphinx which no block-headed dunces like Dauus but onely pregnant wits as Oedipus can expound and declare So are there in the holy writers manie darke speeches and hard sentences as the Prouerbs of Salomon and the Parables of our Sauiour the visions of Esay Ezechiel and Daniel and the Reuelations of Peter Paul and Iohn which passe in obscuritie Democritus depths Heraclitus darknesse Aristophanes cloudes Platoes members Aristotles meteors and Metaphysicks and Scipioes dreame and which no naturall man by the helpe of reason but only the spirituall man by the gift of wisedome can conceiue and perceaue as our Apostle before So that I say not onely generally in regarde of the whole Scripture Godlines is Godlinesse here called a mysterie but also particularly in respect of these speciall mysteries hereafter named and set downe in their order whereof the chiefest is the first euen the greatest mysterie of all others vpon which all the other depend as consequences and coherents euerie one of them containing in them matter of great maruel and wonder in the eies and eares of flesh and bloud incredible and impossible surpassing the reach of humane reason and surmounting the mediocritie of mans wit as shall bee shewed at large when we come seuerally to discourse of them And thus much of the former part of this definition of Godlinesse that
fables as shadowes of some other truth as that these mortall creatures supposed Gods and Idolles of the Gentles were in a manner conuerted into such brute beasts by their vncleane actions Againe we finde in the holy scriptures that Satan transformed him selfe in to an Angell of light 2. Cor. 11.13 that the true Angels of God haue oftentimes takeÌ„ vnto them the shapes forms of men in which they haue appeared when they haue beene sente from Heauen downe into the earth and whereby they haue not only spoken vnto men but also eaten and druncken with men Yea we shall reade in the ould Testament and new in manie places that the Lord God himselfe appeareth vnto his saints and seruants in diuers semblances and fashions but especially in the forme of fire As when he appeared vnto Moises in the flame of a firie bush Exo. 3. Vnto the Children of Israell when he led them throughe the wildernesse in a Pillour of fire Exod. 13. and vnto the disciples and Apostles when the Holy Ghost descended in the shape of fire clouen tounges whervpon Austin vseth these words Hoc enim ele mentum est magnum sacramentum De Symb ad Catech lib. 3. cap. 9. As also the Lord some times to haue shewed himselfe in other formes as God the Father in the shape of a man when he came to Abraham sitting at the Oake of Mamre Gen. 18. And God the Holy ghost in the forme of a Doue when he appeared to Iohn Baptist after Christs baptisme Math. 3. But none of these before mentioned did keepe those shapes and seÌ„blances which they tooke or seemed to take vpon them but forsooke them immediately after they had perfourmed what they would by that meanes But our Sauiour Christ Iesus wheÌ„ he was thus manifested in our flesh he tooke it not vpoÌ„ him for a time but perpetually euen to be our eternall mediatour both God and man world without end and to continewe a preist for euer after the order of Melchesidecke And here we are to note how properly the Apostle writeth when he here setteth downe that God was manifested in the fleash and not the Godhead speaking as the logitians say in the contract but not in the Abstract being true in the one as appeareth but not in the other as in the Contract because it containeth in it the whole person of Christ consisting of both natures but not in the Abstract for that it considereth the seuerall nature of his diuinitie only which in noe wise can be manifested in the fleash nor be confounded with his humanitie vnlesse we will runne into Eutiches errour and thinke that his manhood was not taken only but also absorpt and consuÌ„pt of his Godhead which is a foule Heresie so that it appeareth euidently what maner of manifestation this was Now therefore only in a word or two lette vs speake of the forme it selfe into which god is here said to be manifested so to passe on to the nexte branche of this misterie because we haue dwelt verie loÌ„g in this alreadie which forme is here said to be in the fleash that is in humaine nature As that which was immortall inuisible incomprehensible and infinite should take vnto it a kind of nature which was mortal uisible comprehensible and finite yea which might be seene touched and handled and like vnto vs in all respects sinne only excepted not by conuerting the Godhead in to manhood but by conioyning the humaine nature to the diuine vniting them both in one person of Christ our mediatour euen as Iohn 1.1 witnesseth that which we haue hard that which we haue seen which we haue looked vpon our hands haue handled of the word of life neither tooke he any other fourme either of any Creature vpon the earth or of any power in heaueÌ„ noe not of any Angell but of the seede of Abraham onely Heb. 2.16 And why because as the Apostle in the same chapter rendreth the Reason for as much as the children were partakers of flesh bloud he also himselfe tooke likewise parte with them Vers 14 Here then flesh is not taken for the naturall vitiousnesse of mans corruption as it is often times taken in the scriptures especially in the Epistle to the Romanes for the vnregenerate parte of man contrarie vnto the spirit for then should our Sauiour Christ be subiect vnto sinne as we are which were blasphemie to affirme but for the whole naturall and true essence and substance of a mortal man both of reasonable soule and of humaine fleash subsisting and not of body only least we fall into the Erronious opinion of the Apollinarists And thus much of this maine branche of this greate misterie now of the nexte Iustified in the spirite As this is an annexioÌ„ vnto the words going before so is it an amplification of the former misterie as if the Apostle Paule had said although Christ the sonne of God and God himselfe was manifested in the fleash as he hath set downe more at large Phil. 2. Yet did th◠〈◊〉 most glorious shine and signe of diuine power and Godhead manifestly appeare and shew fourth it selfe which here is called spirit as the same is expressed more plainely First by our Apostle Romans 1.4 when he saieth that he was declared mightily to be the son of god touching the spirit of sanctification by the resurrection from the deade as being one notable and notorious action of his supernaturall vertue Secondly by Peter 1.3.18 by an other semblable acte euen the worthy worke of his passion As that he was put to death according to the fleash but was quickned in the spirit And thirdly Iohn 1.14 that the word became fleash and dwelt amongest vs and we sawe the glorie thereof as the glorie of the only begotten sonne of the father full of grace and truth So that to iustifie in this place is not to make or pronounce one Righteous or iust which is not so indeede as this word is taken Luke 16.15 in those words of our Sauiour vnto the Pharisies Ye are they which Iustifie your selues before men but God knoweth your harts c. And Luke 18.14 in that conclusion of the parable and difinitiue sentence of our sauiour between the Pharisie and the publican wheÌ„ he saith that the one departed â—oÌ„ rather Iustified theÌ„ the other And finally as it is taken so often in the Epistle to the Romans where our Apostle handleth that cheife pointe of our Religion euen our Iustification but especially Chap. 3.28 In those words Therfore we coÌ„clude that a man is iustified by faith without the workes of the lawe But this word here signifieth to approue shewe forth or declare a man to be such an one by certaine signes and sure tokens by infallible Arguments and euident demonstrations such as cannot be refelled or refuted As Psal 51. in those words of the Prophet Dauid Against thee alone O Lord haue I sinned and done this euill in thy sight that thou mightest be iustified
which is not a follower of him and how to follow him euen in all his vertues as first in his humilitie as he commandeth vs himselfe Learne of me for I am meeke c. Mat. 11. the place mentioned before and euen so to humble and submit our selues one vnto another as if occasion require to doe the most base dueties and seruices that can be each to other as he himselfe did when he washed his Disciples feete and enioyned them to doe the like Saying Ioh. 13.14.15 If I then your Lord and Master haue washed your feete ye ought also to wash one anothers feete for I haue giuen you an example that ye should doe euen as I haue done to you Secondly in suffering aduersitie and bearing the crosse as he himselfe likewise warneth vs in the Gospell Saying He that will be my disciple let him take vp his crosse and follow me To which also Peter exhorteth vs saying For Christ also suffered for vs leauing vs an example that we should follow his steps 1. Pet. 2.21 Thirdly in loue as he himselfe likewise requireth Ioh. 15.12 This is my commandement that ye loue one another as I haue loued you Finally least I dwell too long in this point in all the workes of charitie in all the deeds of mercie in all the fruits of the spirit that we may be holy as he is holy righteous as he is righteous and perfect as he is perfect although not aequaliter as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is altogether vnpossible yet similiter and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as farre foorth as lieth in vs that we may grow vp to a perfect man euen vnto the measure of the age of the fulnesse of Christ Ephes 4.13 And thus much of the person of the chiefe Shepheard Now of the time when he will bestow and we shall receiue the reward mentioned in the words following that is when hee shall appeare There are two commings or appearings of this chiefe Shepheard The first in humilitie the second in maiestie the first in pouertie the second power the first grace the second glorie first to be iudged secondly to iudge the first to die the second to restore life the first is gone and past the second is comming and approacheth of which our Apostle in this place and not of the other Which second comming is called by diuers and sundrie names in the Scripture according to the diuers and sundry effects and fruits benefits and blessings which we shall reape and receiue thereby As sometimes it is called the kingdome of God as Luke 17.20 because then the spirituall heauenly and euerlasting kingdome shall be restored to Israel when as our Sauiour shall shew himselfe to be the king of heauen and earth and shall haue an Archangell sounding a trumpet before him as his herauld or harbinger and the rest of the Angels euen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the author to the Heb. an whole troupe of heauenly souldiers which shall attend vpon him as his guard when as he shal make all the elect and faithfull his subiects and admit them free-denizens and fellowe citizens with the Saints yea when as they shall as heires and heires annexed with Christ possesse inherite and enioy that kingdome which God the Father prepared and gaue vnto them God the Sonne purchased and appointed vnto them and into the which God the holy Ghost recorded and enrowled them which kingdome hath these foure surpassing priuiledges and prerogatiues besides many other liberties immunities and franchises euen those foure last articles of our creed First the communion of Saints secondly remission of sinnes thirdly resurrection of the body and fourthly life euerlasting Cuius pax charitas lex veritas modus aeternitas as Austin the peace whereof is nothing but charitie c. Secondly it is called the day of Christs comming Mat. 24. and Luke 17. because that then our Sauiour shall not only be with vs in spiritual presence presidence as hitherto be hath beene since the ascension of him selfe and the descension of the holy Ghost but shall come both in person and spirit both in bodie soule both in his humanitie and in his diuinitie of which comming of his Austin hath these words Veniet tanquam rex gloriosus è Palatio tanquam sponsus speciosus èthalamo c. Thirdly the great day in many places of the Scriptures great in respect of the greatnesse of our Sauiour that then commeth the great King of glorie the great Lord of heauen and earth againe great in regarde of the great thinges that shall be done that day and finally great of it selfe greater then any of the feasts of the Iewes then the feasts of Tabernacles Penticost or Easter which were but shadowes and significations of this great day Yea greater then the great high and solemne holy daies of Christians greater then the day of the Incarnation Passion or Resurrection of our Sauiour Fourthly the latter day oftentimes in the Gospel wherein we must take our dernier adewe after which there shall be no other day which shall be neither artificiall day nor naturall day but an eternal day a day without night wherein shall be a light without darknesse wherein shall neither Sunne shine nor Moone giue light nor starre appeare but only the brightnesse of the glorie of God the last Sabaoth of Sabaoths the day of that euerlasting Iubile wherein all men shall rest from their labours receaue continuall quiet and liue in perpetuall peace for euer and euer Fiftly the time of cooling or refreshing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 3.19 wherein after we haue sweat and swounke in this toilesome and troublesome world and beene scorched in the purgatorie of this life in the parching heate of persecution we shal be cooled and comforted refreshed and reuiued againe not only with the fresh holesome ayrie wind of the holy Ghost but with the sweete springing water of the mercie of God with which not only the tips of our tongues shall be cooled which was all that Hel-burnt Diues did desire but our whole bodies and soules shall be sprinckled with Sixtly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 3.5 the day of wrath and of the declaration or reuelation of the iust iudgement of God As first the day of wrath of the effect in respect of the wicked and reprobate who shall then finde and feele the Lord to poure out the terrible effects of his furious affection of anger vpon them when as he shall shewe himselfe to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 harde and austere as the slothfull seruant said of him euen a seuere iudge and a consuming fire as it is Heb. 12.20 out of Deut. 4.24 whose fierie wrath so hoatly inflamed against them they shall not be able then to quench no not with streames of drerie teares and flouds of bitter flittings And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the day of the Reuelation of the iust iudgement of God because that then our Sauiour will declare and reueile himselfe to be
shall receiue differeth from all other crownes in two respects signified by these two adiuncts annexed vnto the same by the Apostles As first in that it is a crowne of glorie and secondly in that it is incorruptible Aristotle affirmeth in his Ethickes vertue to bee only bonum landabile making 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be the adiunct thereof but his felicitie to be bonum honorabile making 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be the adiunct of it as farre surpassing vertue and all other things in the world But our Apostle goeth farre beyond the philosopher in promising a blessednesse to the elect and the faithfull which farre surmounteth this Ethick and Ethnicke happines not a gift of honour but a guerdon of glorie that as the giuer thereof is called the king of glorie and the place where this shall be bestowed is tearmed the kingdome of glorie and as his spouse is also glorious within and as his Angels in heauen sing nothing els but glorie to God on high and and his Saints on earth but glorie be to the Father and to the Sonne c. and as nothing but glorious things are spoken of his Citie so he giueth nothing els but a a crowne of glorie We reade of Princely crownes Royall crownes Imperiall crownes and we heare of the Popes Triple crowne and all these for matter and mettall of fine pure golde for forme and fashion most curiously wrought according to the skill and cunning of the Artificer pollished and garnished with flower-deluces and pomgranets with other varieties embelished and enameled with most flourishing and Orient colours beautified and beset with precious stones and pearles of great price But none of all these is like to this crowne of glorie which he hath prepared for the elect For if the streets of the Citie of God be of pure golde and shining christall and the walles of the same of precious stones and the gates thereof of pearles whatshal the crowne belonging to this kingdome be who is able to expresse the glorie of it or to what glorious thing in the world may it be compared I must needes crie out and say with the Poet putting my selfe to silence Ingenium fateor transcendit gloria doni Materia vires exuperante meas If I had the tongue of men and Angels I were not able to discipher it asit deserueth for sooner shall a man measure the heauen with his spanne hold the winde in his fist ande containe the maine sea in a vessell then declare the excellencie of this crown which is not onely a crowne of glorie but hath diuers other titles of preheminence giuen vnto it which all shall be partakers of which are possessours of the same As 2. Tim. 4.8 It is called a Crowne of righteousnesse by the imputation and participation of our Sauiours righteousnesse And Iames 1.12 the Apostle tearmeth it as also Iohn Apocal. 2.10 a Crowne of life because those that haue the same shall be partakers of life eternall and finally Apocalips 12.1 a Crowne of starres because they that shall receiue this crowne shall shine as the stars for euer and euer Not to speake of other crownes not found in the Scriptures but in the Fathers as of the crowne of virgins the crowne of Doctours the crowne of Martyrs and the triple crowne which Augustine mentioneth in his 243. Epistle to Cyrill being tolde thereof by Hierom himselfe whom he there saith he saw and talked withall in his vision because I deeme Auguistin not to be the Author of that Epistle so I doubt of the truth of these things because we haue no euidence of them in the written word We leaue therfore this Adiunct and come to the next which is that this is not onely a crowne but also an incorruptible crowne Our Apostle hauing vsed here in this reward which he promiseth and propoundeth a metaphore or borrowed speech taken from wrastlers and champions from their manner of crowning after they haue lawfully striuen and vanquished nowe notwithstanding he seemeth to shew a difference in this word betweene this crowne and their crowne in that this is incourruptible but theirs to be subiect to corruption notably amplifying the excellencie of the reward Likewise the Apostle Paul doth the like but more fully following this Metaphore 1. Cor. 9.25 Euerie man that trieth maistries abstaineth from althings and they doe it to obtaine a corruptible crown but we for an incorruptible crowne The word which our Apostle vseth in the Originall is verie significant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is which cannot perish or vanish weare or waste away being a Metaphore taken from flowers which after they be gathered doe soone and sodainly wither fade away or from the bodies of men which by labour are enfeebled by age decayed and by sicknesse consume away and not only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying hereby that not only all other crownes but also all other things should be corrupted and come to nothing and only this to continue for euer and therefore farre excelling all other rewards whatsoeuer For what is there in the world so sound and substantiall that is not transitorie and subiect to corruption Gold the most solid mettall of all others yet in time it weareth away The Adamant though otherwise not to be broken by Goates bloud mouldreth in pieces Yea the sunne shall be darkened the moone shall loose her light all the powers of heauen shal be shaken and the heauens themselues shal wax olde as doth a garment according to that of the Poet Tempus edaxrerum that is as our Beaucleark interpreteth it Eld eateth al things onely this thing this reward this crowne remaineth and abideth for euer All other things whatsoeuer whether they be rich araie siluer golde iemmowes or iewels either the mothe freateth or canker corrupteth or theeues breake through and steale them Let vs therefore laie vp onely this treasure in heauen ayme onely at this crowne seeke onely this glorie labour onely to reape and receiue this reward for this treasure is onely sure this pleasure onely sincere this reward onely remaining this crowne onely incorruptible finally this glorie onely euerlasting Tigranes king of Armenia said of his roial golden crowne considering the heauie burden of his chargeable gouernment that to weare and beare a crowne was not so happie as honourable nay so honourable as hard and that therefore if it were to take againe he would not vouchasafe to stoupe for it if he found it lying on the ground But this Crowne of which our Apostle speaketh and the chiefe shepheard giueth cannot be tearmed hard because our Sauiour often offereth and profereth the same now doth promise and hereafter will performe it vnto vs and yet withall honourable for it is a crowne of glorie yea and happy too because it maketh vs happy and blessed yea and euerlasting happy because it is an incorruptible crowne and that therefore all men of euerre degree state and condition young and olde
my law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts I will be their God and they shall be my people and they shall teach no more euerie man his neighbour and euerie man his brother saying Know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest c. And lastly not to heape vp too many places to this purpose that of Ioel. 2.28 alleadged by Peter Act. 2.17 And it shall be in the last daies saith God I will powre out of my spirit vpon all flesh and your sonnes and your daughters shall Prophesie c. As thus the Prophets so our Sauiour in the Gospell Ioh. 14.26 where he setteth downe both the cause and the effect As the Apostle in this place But the comforter which is the holy Ghost whem the Father wil send in my name he shall teach you all things and bring all thinges to your remembrance which I haue toulde you And the 15.15 Henceforth call I you not seruants for the seruant knoweth not what his maister doth but I haue called you friendes for all things that I haue heard of my Father haue I made knowne vnto you Againe 16.13 Howbeit when he is come which is the spirit of truth he wil leade you in al truth And euen our Apostle himselfe in this selfesame chap. that which he heere affirmeth with all asseuerance ver 27. when he saith Ye neede not that any man teach you but as the same annointing teacheth you all things First because as Aug. saith Nihil scire est bruti omnia scire solius Dei quaedam vero scire quaedam nescire hominis These Christians being therfore but men they could not knowe all things Againe they being but Babes as Iohn tearmeth them oftentimes in this Epistle that is new plants in the garden of the Lord young scholers in the Schoole of Christ tender nouices in the house of God and late conuerts to the Gospell such as were freshly Catechised in the Articles of the faith and rawly instructed in the first principles and rudiments of Christian religion who because they could not brooke strong meates were faine to be fed with milke as yet and therefore could not haue such a depth of knowledge as to vnderstand all things being herein not vnlike to the Hebrewes of whom the Apostle saith Heb. 5.12 and 6.1 that they were so farre from perfection that they had need be taught the doctrine of beginnings And againe how could these men know all things when as the verie Apostles of our Sauiour themselues although they had been Christs continual Disciples and were daily taught of him both publikely and priuately by the space of three whole yeares and more bewraied themselues oftentimes in the Gospell to bee meerely and miserably ignorant in many matters and misteries of the common saluation yea euen after they had receiued this ointment that is were inspired with the holy Ghost As Mat. 16.6 when as our Sauiour giuing them a caueat to take heed and beware of the Leauen of the Pharises and Saduces they ignorantly misunderstood him to haue spoken of the materiall leuen of bread and not of the spirituall leauen of false doctrine and heresie Againe when as they could not vnderstand that plaine parable of the tares but must needs haue our Sauiour to expound the same vnto them Matth. 13.36 Notwithstanding our Sauiour had tolde them before that they might marke the better that it was giuen vnto them to know the misteries of the kingdome of heauen but to others it was not giuen verse 11. Againe when as our Sauiour telling them apart by the way as they iournied with him Behold we go vp to Ierusalem and all things shall be fulfilled to the sonne of man that are written by the Prophets for he shall be deliuered vnto the Gentiles and shall be mocked and spitefully intreated and spitte vpon and when they haue scorned him they wil put him to death but the third day he shall rise again They notwithstanding vnderstood none of these things and this saying was hidde from them neither perceiued they the things which were spoken Luke 18.31.32.34 besides many other infirmities wants and errours which were too long to rehearse and by which they made our Sauiour and their Master ashamed of them euerie where mentioned in the gospell yea and the chiefest among them euen Peter and Iohn who were accounted pillars euen by Pauls confession Gal. 2.9 First for Peter although Aug call him Aries gregis Dominici euen the bell-weather of Christs flocke yet what saith the same learned Father of him reckening vp his negligences and ignorances if not greater scapes and fowler faults saying Cum in mari titubasset cum Dominum carnaliter à passione reuocasset cum aurem serui gladio praecidisset cum ipsum Dominum ter negasset cum in simulationem postea superstitiosam lapsus esset De Agone Christiā cap. 30. And for Iohn also although he leaned on Christs breast of which as a learned father saith he squeesed out much matter of profoūd wisdome and knowledge and is called the diuine as being the chiefest Diuine of all other next vnto our Sauiour Christ Iesus himselfe And therefore resembled also to an Eagle for soaring aloft aboue the rest of the Euangelists to the highest misteries to the kingdome of heauen Yet how euidently did he togither with his brother Iames declare his ignorant arrogance or his arrogant ignorance when as he asked of Christ to sit either on his right hand or on his left in the kingdome of heauen neither knowing what hee generally asked nor vnderstanding particularly what it is to be on Christs left hand Mat. 20. And afterwards when as he so grossely erred not once but twise euen in the middest of his Reuelations in not knowing an Angel from Christ Iesus himselfe and therefore would haue worshipped the creature for the Creator Apoc. 19.10.22.8 Moreouer the verie Angels themselues knowe not all thinges although they be called Cherubins in the Hebrew and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of their perfect absolute knowledge aboue all other creatures as it is manifest Ephes 3.10 where it appeareth that the fellowship of the mysterie which from the beginning of the world had been hid in God was but now that is in Christs time and not before made knowne vnto powers and principalities in heauenly places yea and Christ himselfe is said by the Apostles not to be seene of Angels but after a while euen after his manifestation or incarnation in the flesh and then iustified in the spirit then seene of Augels c. 1. Tim. 3.16 Furthermore when as our Sauiour Christ Iesus himselfe as he was man knew not all things as he confesseth of himselfe in the Gospell That of that day and houre speaking of the last day of his second comming to iudgement knoweth no man no not the Angels of heauen but my Father onely Matth. 24.36 and as Marke hath neither the sonne himselfe 13.31 And
iustification of Christs diuinitie and his declaration to be God what greater then the testimonie of elect Angels what greater matter then the publishing of the Gospell the conuersion of the Gentiles and the ascention of our Sauiour Farre greater then any mysteries that were before time mentioned in the olde Testament then the creation of the wide world then the inundation of the earth then the deliuerance of the Israelites out of Egypt then the promulgation of the Lawe and the returne of the Iewes out of the captiuitie of Babylon which are all notwithstanding great miracles and most meruailous in our cies And as this misterie is great first in respect of the cause and secondly in respect of the matter both for quantitie and qualitie not onely generally but also particularly as we haue shewed at large So thirdly is it called great in respect of the effect thereof for that it maketh them great which vnderstand and beleeue this mysterie which make vse and take profit by it As first generally Godlinesse this mysterie made Moyses verie great in the land of Egypt in the sight of Pharaos seruants and in the sight of the people Exod. 11.3 This made Dauid haue a name like the name of the great men that are in the earth 1. Chron. 17.8 This also made Daniel of great reputation with the people Dan. 13.64 Euen as Alexander Pompey and Constantine the great so called for their great Artes atchieuements but particularly this great mystery of the Gospel this manifestation of God in the flesh for so saith our Sauiour whosoeuer shall obserue and teach anie of the commandements of the Gospell the same shall be called great in the kingdome of heauen Mat. 5.19 And especially the precept of humilitie and therein to follow the president of our Sauiour and be as a little child Humilitie the same shall be the greatest in the kingdome of heauen 18.4 This made Iohn the Baptist great as the Angell foretolde that he should be great in the sight of the Lord Luk. 1.15 and not onely great but the greatest Prophet that was borne of women And yet such and so great is the effect of this misterie that it maketh him that is the least in the kingdome of heauen to bee greater then he 7.28 This made Marie great as she confesseth her selfe saying he that is mighty hath magnified me and therefore her soule magnified the Lord as it is in her Magnificat Luk. 2. Is this mysterie then of Godlinesse considered either generally or particularly Great that we may adde an edge to that which hath been spoken great in respect of the soueraigne Author thereof which is God great in regard of the subiect matter therof the word and will of God finally great in respect of the soule sauing effect therof to be great in the kingdome of heauen Then if thou wouldest be brought to God if thou care for thine owne saluation it thou desire euerlasting blisse renownce all other false religions forsake all other vain professions make account of no other fond mysterie there is but one way without wandring and that is Christ but one veritie without errour and that is the Gospell but one life without death and that is in heauen This great mysterie in this text is that life this truth is that veritie and this Godlinesse is that way Haec via sine deuio haec veritas sine dubio hac vita sine taedio as saith a learned Father To this mysterie let all new inuentions vnwritten verities and humane doctrines giue place the Cabala of the Iews the Alcaron of the Turke the obscurities of the Gnosticks the profundities of the Valentinians the illuminations of the Catharists and the traditions of the Catholiks all which must needs vanish away as the mistie cloudes before the sunne and be scattered as the dust before the winde and finally be consumed as the rods of the charmers of Egypt by Aarons Rodde euen as all the Oracles of the Heathen ceased at the comming of Christ and all the religions were put to silence by the preaching of the Gospell and the euill spir it s of Sathan which possessed men were throwne out by the power of the spirit of the holy Ghost To this religion therefore only ought all the faithfull christians to giue their assent and consent which no Tyrant could euer extinguish were he neuer so mightie or malitious nor hereticke confute were he neuer so learned or subtile nor anie enemy conuince were he neuer so powerfull or politicke which may be for a time yclouded or ecclipsed but shall neuer wholy loose her light and pressed and depressed for a while but shall neuer finally be oppressed and lastly may be assailed and assaulted but neuer vtterly vanquished To conclude therefore leaue all other Doctrines and cleaue onely to this mysterie forsake all other professions and betake thy selfe onely to this Godlines cast away all other falshoods and holde fast this truth and let neither the buffetings of Satan the baites of the flesh the pleasures of sinne nor the golden apples of the world cause thee to let go thy holde but holde it fast for euer euen to the end God manifested in the flesh Thus much of this great mysterie of truth or godlinesse as it is here generally defined of the Apostle now of the particular parcels and branches thereof in their due order But first of the maine branche out of which the rest doe grow and flow contained in these words Man hauing lost his first perfection forsaken his former puritie and made himselfe subiect to corruption in the beginning breaking Gods commandements euer after transgressing the lawe of the Lord and neuer ceasing to sinne in thought word deed not onely our first parents the Authors of our iniquities causers of our infirmities and originall rootes of our pollution but also all the children of men in their generations in all times and ages of the world as being the spawne of those rebels the corrupt fruites of such rotten trees the bitter water of vnpure fountaines 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 foules of the same feather birdes of the same brood sinners of the same stampe sinning sonnes of sinfull parents according to that prouerbe of the Prophet The fathers haue eaten sower grapes and their childrens teeth are set on edge For as the Apostle Paul saith out of the Psalmist There is none righteous no not one there is none that vnderstandeth there is none that seeketh after God they haue all gone out of the way they haue been made altogither vnprofitable there is none that doth good no not one c. Rom. 3. And as the Prophet Esay From the sole of the foote vnto the crowne of the head there is nothing whole therein but wounds swellings and soars full of corruption 1.6 And finally as the Lord God himselfe All the imaginations of the thoughts of mans heart are onely euill continually Gen. 6.5 And therefore man to deserue nothing els but condemnation
in thy sayinges and cleare when thou art iudged And Math. 11.14 where our Sauiour saith And wisedome is Iustified of her children meaning himselfe So likwise is it taken Luke 7.20 where the Euangelist declareth that the Publicans iustified God for those things that are exactly perfect and exquisitly absolute without any want or default and therefore allowed and liked of all are saied by a common Phrase of Scripture to be iustified Whereby Paule setteth out vnto vs the might and maiestie of our Sauiour not in outward habit and appearance or in externall pompe or power but in inward spirit and deuine vertue in mightie miracles wonderful workes heaueÌ„ly doctrine most glorious greate and other incomprehensible effects by which word and Phrase the Apostle endeauoreth to take away all kinde of weake diffideÌ„ce or distrust which might any way be conceaued in our harts by taking offence at the lowe and base estate of Christs our sauiours maÌ„hood which seemed to be so vile abiect and contemptible as some supposed him to be only a base and silly man As likewise by spirit in this place is not onely meante that mortified and regenerate partes of man which is contrarie to the fleash as it is vsually taken in the scriptures and especially in the Epistle to the Romans but for what soeuer was and is in Christ extraordinarie supernaturall aboue coÌ„mon manhood and mortalitie As if the Apostle Paule had said although he was cloathed with our fleash combred with our frailties coÌ„passed with our infirmities yet none of these did weakeÌ„ the power of his truth the flower of the glorie of his diuinitie or once derogate from the honour of his maiestie As that although he was verie maÌ„ yet not withstanding he was true God although he tooke vpon him the fourme of a seruant yet he thought it no robberie to be equall with his father Phil. 2.7 for in him remaineth all the fulnesse of the Godhead bodily Col. 2.9 And he was the brightnesse of the glorie and ingrauen fourme of the substance of God his father Heb. 1 3. As it may appeare throughout the whole historie of the Gospell whereby he is described vnto vs to be mighty indeede and in word for so first he approued himselfe to be God in his birth in that he was borne after the common order and maÌ„ner of men his mother being ouershadowed by the power of the most highest and himselfe coÌ„ceaued by the holy ghost Secondly at his inauguration consecraction after his baptisme when as by the â—iuely voice and diuine oracle from heauen he was pronounced and proclamed to be the Sonne and heire apparent of God his father Thirdly in his temptation when â—s he vanquished Sathan in a Monomachie or single combate and made him voide â—uant from him Fourthly in curing al kind of sicknesses and diseases by taking a way both the cause the effect Fiftly in know â—ng both the thoughts and harts of men as â—t appeareth ofteÌ„times in the Gospel Sixtâ—y in stilling the winde calming the sea â—nd in working other strange signes and wonders Seauenthly in his Passion when as the weakenes of his fleash was succouâ—ed and sustained by the strength of his Godhead Eightly in his Resurection in â—hat he was able to laye downe his life and to take it to him againe Ninthly in asceÌ„ding vp into Heauen for as our Sauiour in the Gospell Iohn 3. No man hath ascended vp into heauen but he that descended downe from Heauen euen the sonne of man which also is in Heauen And tenthly in sending downe the Holy Ghost his blessed spirite which proceeded as well from himselfe as from God his father Insomuch that we cannot but confesse and say with Nicodemus the Pharisie that none can doe such things as these except he came from God or except he were God himselfe without question therefore to be iustified in this place is as Athanasius in his booke De surrectione carnis explaineth it Iustitiam habere nâ—â— humano more sed diuina puritate that is to be iust and Righteous in himselfe and 〈◊〉 himselfe not according to humaine qualitie but by a diuine spirit for so signifieth this Hebrue Phrase in this place and iâ— respect of vs being allone with that which our Apostle hath 1. Col. 1.30 that he is bâ—come our righteousnesse redemption sanctification and saluation being the whole and soâ—â— scope and hope of their faith which by thâ— same spirit doe beleeue putte their truâ—â— in him not resting or relying vpoÌ„ any other meane or merrit what so euer And of this iustifiyng had not only our Sauiour Christ the testimonie of his owne spirit euen the Holy Ghost which was a witnesse vnto Iohn the Baptist wheÌ„ he descended downe vpon him invisibly in the forme of a doue Math 3.16 Which heauenly vision was a diuine oracle and siuely voice of God himselfe which the Lord caused to appeare â—nto him that when he knewe not our Saviour it might be as an infallible token to â—iscerne him from all other as he himselfe â—onfesseth Iohn 1.33.34 And I knewe â—im not but that he sente me to baptize with water he said vnto me vpon whome thou â—halt see the spirit come downe and tarrie still â—ne him that is he that baptizeth with the holy Ghost And I sawe and bare record that â—his is the sonne of God But also the spirit of â—he Saints and seruants of God which giueth â—estimony vnto themselues and their owne â—oules that our Sauiour is their Lord and God â—or so saith Paule in the person of all the electe and faithfull 1. Cor. 8.5.6 Though their â—e that are called Gods whether in HeaueÌ„ or in Earth as there be many Gods and many Lords yet vnto vs there is but one God which is the Father of whom are althings and we in him and one Lord Iesus Christ by whom are althinges and we by him againe 1. Col. 12.3 No man can say that Iesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost But to drawe to an Ende for this point and to make our vse of this matter we are heere taught that we should laboure to iustifie our selues both before God and man not externally by carnall and earthly thinges but internally after an heauenly and spiritual manner not with the hypocritical Ieweâ— in Esaies daies 29.13 To drawe neere vnto God with their mouth and honour him with their lippes but in hart to be farre from theâ— And with the Scribes and Pharises in our Sauiour Christs time to be serious obseruers of outward ceremonies and to be far from inward sinceritie Math. 15.8 not superstitiously with the vnfaithfull Iewes and Idolatrous Samaritans to worshippe they know not what nor ignorantly they knowe not how nor blindly they knowe not where but as the true worshippers to worshippe the father in spirit in truth for God is a spirit and they that worshippe him must worshippe him in the spirit and in trueth Iohn 4.23.24 not to