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A15859 Speculum Christianum or, A Christian suruey for the conscience Containing, three tractates of that eminent, graue, and learned diuine, maister Hierome Zanchius. 1. Of the end of the world. 2. Of the perseuerance of the saints. 3. A summarie abridgement of his protections. Englished for the good of Gods church, and for a warning to wicked and impenitent men. By H.N.; Speculum Christianum. English Zanchi, Girolamo, 1516-1590.; Nelson, Henry, fl. 1614. 1614 (1614) STC 26121A.7; ESTC S111786 125,039 404

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the things that are of God and to refute their reasons it is not worth the labour for wee haue nothing to doe with those Philosophers Others who deny that this world shall once haue an end are certaine Atheists and mockers of things diuine of whom Peter This know first 2. Pet. 3. v. 3. that in the last dayes shall come mo●kers which will walke after their owne lusts and say where is the promise of h●● comming For since the Fathers dy●d all things continue alike from the beginning of the Creation But th●se mens blindnes or madnes rather is refelled by the euident certaintie of the word of God S. Augustine t●m 2. ep 42. ad fratres Mandarenses doth thus dispute Al other things which the Holy Spirit in th● Scriptures by praediction foretold came to passe accordingly as the first comming of Christ the destruction of Hierusalem And the same Spirit in like manner hath foretold of the future end of this world of Christs second comming Therfore certainely it shall come to passe The argument indeed of these mockers doth Peter thus con●ute ver 5. For this they willingly know not that 2. Pet. 3. the heauens were of old and the earth that was of the water and by the wa●●● by the word of God ver 6. Wherefore the world that then was perished ●uerflowed with the water ver 7. But the heau●ns and earth which are 〈◊〉 a●● kept by●he same word in store and reserued vnto ●ire against the day of condemnation and of the destruction of vngodly ●en Thus much Peter The meaning of which words I wil make plaine because those mocking spirits doe endeuour from the continuing state of the world to proue the perpetuitie thereof and doe deride the word of God Peter doth ouerthrowe their argumentation by this reason The world as by the word of God it was of the waters and by the waters so also by the same word of God when indeede it seemed so good vnto the Lord being drowned with the same waters it perished and came to an end and after by the same word of God it was restored againe This Historie was most apparent and a thing most famous and of most certaintie vnto the whole World Therfore by the same Word of God as in the first turne by water so secondarily by fire when it shall so please the Lord it may bee dissolued and haue an end The Lord foretold the future end of the world and that himselfe would come the second time therefore this World must haue an end and the Lord will come For now are reserued these Heauens and Earth vnto fire for the day of iudgement and perdition of the vngodly wherefore from the continuing state of the world the consequence holdeth not That the world is vncorruptible and shall neuer haue end For that also before the Flood it lasted long and yet afrer for all that perished and euen by such things as from whom it had it originall and was supported that is by the waters so by fire an other Element of the World the same world shall be destroyed The third sort who vouch the perpetuity of the world are some who are neither absolute Philosophers which are destitute of the sacred writings neither yet scoffers and contemners of celestiall things but both men fearing God and most expert of holy writ of which kind amongst others was Philo Iudaeus Hee left a boòke written with this Title 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ● Of the corruptible state of the world in which treatise he laboureth to make good by sundry arguments that the world is incorruptible But if Philo had in this sence vnderstood the world to bee incorruptible for that neither it should vtterly be dissolued into nothing nor yet changed into a worse estate we likewise would haue condiscended vnto him For we likewise acknowledge out of the word of God the renouation of the world and in the future a new Heauen and a new Earth And so certainely seemeth Philo to haue holden by his explanation whereby he declareth what he meant by the name of corruption For thus he holdeth in the entrance of his booke pag. 645. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. For corruption is called an exchange into a better state It is likewise called the totall extinguishing of a thing in being which then necessarily is termed a thing without existence For as of nothing nothing is made that is naturally so neither can nothing be dissolued into nothing Philo had read the Psalmes and Prophets who writ of this matter but if he followed any other ●e●s● the godly Christians doe not accord with him For the testimonies of Scripture are most cleare touching the end of the world Psal 102 In the beginning thou l●●ds● the foundation of the Earth and the Heauens are the worke of thy handes they shall peris● but thou endur●st they 〈◊〉 shall wax● old as doth a garment and as a v●stimen thou shalt charge th●● and they shall be changed but thou art the same and thy yeares shall not faile Mat. 5. Til Heauen and Earth shall passe away one iot or title shall not p●rish of thy la● 2. Pet. 3. That day of the Lord shal come as a thi●fe in the night wherein the Heauens shall passe away with a noyse the Elements shal melt away with fire and the Earth and all thinges therein shal be burned Againe the Heauens by burning shal be dissolued and the Elements shal melt away with heat but we looke for new Heauens and a new Earth according to his promise Thus Saint Peter Therefore this first Capitall poynt is to be vouched That this world as in case now it is shall finally come to an end that is be changed into a better condition and God only to be vtterly voyd of all variablenes or change To what purpose then tendeth this doctrine S ● Peter teacheth 2. Eph. 3. Seeing saith hee all these things shal be dissolued what manner of men ought we to be in holy conuersation and duty of piety expecting and ha●ting vnto the comming of the day of the Lord. The Argument is this in effect The Heauen and Earth shall bee renewed at the comming of Christ How much more therefore ought we to be renewed who presse on to meet Christ at his comming Therefore we are to endeauour for a perpetuall renouation and to adhere in heart to God onely who alone is vtterly vnchangeable as for other thinges they ought to be had in contempt because they all shal bee changed and shall all finally haue an end For this purpose out Apostle made mention first of the vanity of this world then he added Now are the last times that is where in is instant the comming of the Lord Christ And why these things that contemning the world and then auoyding those Antichrists we being fortified in the Apostles doctrine might watch and liue sobe●●y and iustly alwayes prepared to go meet Christ at his comming The second Capitall
poynt is whether we can attaine to know when the end of the world shall be It is a case manifest whether wee be all led with a desire to know when the end of the world shall be For this affection euen the Saintes were taken withall the Prophets and Apostles Of Daniel it is manifest in Cap. 12. After that he heard of the Angell that is of Christ touching Antichrist and what thinges should be accomplished in the end of the World hee asked the Lord saying verse 8. O Lord what shall be the ●●d of these things as for the Apostles it apeareth Mat. 24. Act. ● Lord when shal these thinges be Therefore it is a naturall inclination in all to desire the knowledge of thinges to come specially when the end of the world shall be Now the question is whether this can be knowne of vs The Lord Iesus taught that it no way can be knowne when he said Of that day that houre no man Mat. 24 knoweth no not the Angels of Heauen but the father onely knoweth that is the certaine time wherein these thinges by me foretold to you shal come to passe the father only know eth yet in all ages there haue beene some and that in the Church of Christ who haue giuen out it might be knowne some indeed certainely and they haue presumed to determine therevpon a certaine number of yeares such is mans presumption from the first vnto the second comming of Christ others probably and in such sort as that in searching this time they did contend that no great error could follow and therefore they vsed sundry coniectures whereby they assayed to determine in some fort how much time as yet remained vntill the next comming of Christ Although verily there be great difference betweene the ●●merity of the one sort and curiosity of the other yet as the one is vtterly to be disprooued and condemned so the other for my part I cannot giue approbation vnto For true p●ety requireth that we bee certaine indeed that the end of the world shall bee and that the Lord will come but when that is what either day or moneth or yeare or age both it shall be and hee shall come we must of necessity confesse ingenuously our ignorance and that by no meanes it can be knowne according to the doctrine of Christ And therefore according to the Commandement of Christ let vs watch and pray expecting daily and hourly our Lord Iesus Christ being alwayes prepared with our lampes burning with the light of faith and filled with the oyle of good workes to goe out to meet him But let vs now consider what haue beene the iudgements of men touching the time of the end of the world and the comming of the Lord. In the times of the Apostles some there were who said although the day and hower of the Lords comming could not be knowne yet that the day of the Lord and end of the world could not at that time be far off others that this was newly reuealed others said that this was the Apostles doctrine others did endeuour to perswade this by reasons and coniectures but the Apostle did surprise such saying I beseech you 2 Thes 1. euen by the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ and by our assembling to him that yee bee not suddenly mooued from your minde nor troubled neither by spirit nor by word nor by letter as it were from vs as though the day of Christ were at hand The Apostle teacheth that these Impostors vsed three practises for perswasion that the Lords day was hard at hand First Reuelations for that they certainely know this by the spirit of Reuelation Secondly reasons and coniectures therfore he saith or by w●●● Thirdly counterfet letters and restimonies of the Apostle But what saith the Apostle that yee be not suddenly moued away as though the day of the Lord were at hand for that vnlesse 〈◊〉 departure come first c. hee taught that first there must be a generall Apostasie or as others will haue it a defection of the Roman Empire and Antichrist to bee reuealed with 〈◊〉 Kingdome before the day of the Lord shall come But how long after the comming of Antichrist shall succeed the end of the world and the day of the Lord 100. 1000. or moe yeares the Apostle hath not taught but why for that neither himselfe knew according to that of that day and houre c. Beholde Ma● 24. what was bruited abroad in the Apostles ages euen amongst the beleeuers touching the end of the world And that these men were deceiued the thing it selfe teacheth After the Apostles times there were not wanting euen some who did limit a certain number of yeares vntill the second comming of Christ and end of the world Amongst the prophane Gentiles it was vulgarly bruited as a Diuine Oracle That the Christian Religion after Christ began to be honoured should continue only for the space of 365. yeeres and then presently to haue an end Saint Augustine relateth this Tom. 5. de Ciuitate Dei lib. 18 c. 53 and sheweth how false this was cap. 54. And because after the end of Christian Religion vpon the Earth forthwith an end of the world shall be therfore some Christians perswaded by this Oracle were of opinion That after these 365. yeares were expired presently the end of the world shold be But it is apparant how fouly these likewise were deceiued In Cyprians time who flourished after Christ about the yeare 250. it was credibly held that the end of the world was at hand this is cle●●e out of Cyprians Epistles And which is more in a little Treatise ad For●●natum in an exhortation to Marty●dome if it bee Cyprians in the beginning pag. 244. these words are read Six thousand yeares are 〈◊〉 compleat since the Diuell did impugne man Although the book be not Cyprians yet is it plaine what was the opinion held in the Church with many touching the end of the World at what time this booke was published that is to say That then were 6000. yeares begun to bee accomplished and so consequently the end of the world instantly to draw neere But how fouly they also erred the thing it selfe declareth In Lactantius his time who was famous about the yeere after the birth of Christ 317. what opinion was maintained in the Church 〈◊〉 euident by his Institutions lib. 7. cap. 25. The whole expectation saith he s●●l of the end of the World seemeth not aboue the space of 200. yeares In the time of Augustine Hierome and such others that many were of opinion the end to be hard at hand appeareth by Aug. his bookes To. 5. de ciuit D●● lib. 18. c. 53. he reporteth some to haue determined from the Ascension of the Lord vnto the end of the world 400. yeares others 500. others 1000. But Augustine doth de●ide them all and refutes them by the saying of the Lord Christ Act. ● It is not yours to know the seasons which
Daniel 2. 7. The case thus standeth The foure Monarchies are described so that one doth succeed another The first is the Monarchy of the Chal●eans and Assyrians the second of the Persians the third of the Graecians the fourth of the Romans Those foure Monarchies beeing ruinated that is three of them vtterly desolate and the fourth as into seuerall parts diuided into seuerall Kingdomes Dan. cap. 7. prophecieth That a little hor●e shall arise amongst those ten other former hornes that is one Kingdome more potent and strong then the rest which shall vtter great things c. And when that Kingdome signified by one horne shall come to a consummate power so that it will thinke it selfe to alter times and lawes then presently shall bee the iudgement and Christ to raigne for euer And this horne which shall arise out of the Roman Empire they interpret to be the Turks Kingdome Thus therefore they gather Three Monarchies are vtterly extirpate the fourth Monarchie also is extinct because it is diuided into diuers parts Now the horne that is the Turkish Empire began to break out about the time of Hera●lius ●or at that time Mahome● began to raigne And this Kingdom of Turkes is now welnigh growne to the greatest height he preuailleth against the Saints and in a maner he doth make account that he hath power to change lawes and times When this shal come to passe then shall come the Ancient of daies Therefore the time is but short vntill the second comming of Christ shall be My answere is this If they vnderstand that lesse time now remaineth then before that is most true If also that which is remaining they shall affirme to be very little in comparison of the eternitie of the Kingdome of Christ this like wise wee will assen● vnto as most certainely true But if they should vnderstand a little remainder of time to be behinde that is that there is yet behinde either a hundred two hundred or three hundred yeares c. I say that nothing can be concluded from these places of Daniel which are diuersly expounded by interpreters For that I may follow the vsuall interpretation first he describeth in the second chapter the foure Monarchies and concerning the Empire of the Romans he prophecieth fiue things first hee setteth out the power thereof That verily as iron it should surprise all other Kingdomes then the di●ision thereof that is to say it should be diuided in it self thirdly the crueltie and fiercenesse thereof that without regard of consanguinitie or alliance it should not respect the bands thereof by reason of crueltie fourthly the variable calamities and ruines that is that it should bee afflicted with sundry Massacres and specially intestine or homebred dissensions and warres Fiftly the continuance thereof that although being diuided into many parts as it were ●wo feete into ten fingers it should be broken in peeces in respect the ●eere w●re of clay yet because the plants thereof were of iron it should endure euen to the second comming of the King of Heauen But after that Daniel had thus disputed of the Romane Empire presently he adioineth a prophecle of the Kingdome of Christ I say That Christ should so dai●ely ruinate all those Kingdomes and he alone should raigne for all eternitie And he prophecieth of the double comming of Christ of 〈◊〉 which was in the flesh with the preaching of the Gospell and of that which shall be in glorie And of the first he saith And in the daies of those Kings the God of Heauen shall set vp a Kingdome which shall 〈◊〉 be demolished He doth not say After the daies of those Kings but in the daies of those Kings c. For the Kingdome of Christ was raised 〈◊〉 vp on the Earth when as yet the Romanes reigned and did gouerne the world and endured almost six hundred yeares the Romanes ●●a●ing rule euen vnto the times of 〈◊〉 us and doth still and shall continue euen to the end of the world Afterward hee saith of the second comming of Christ when hee shal deliuer vp the Kingdome to God his father all enemies being put vnder his feet finally whereas thou ●●dst see that the stone cut out of the mountaine without handes doth breake in peeces Iron Brasse Clay Siluer Gold the great God did intimate to the King what should follow after these thinges Thus the Prophet And thus readeth and expoundeth that most learned man Oecolampadius citing withall Saint Hippolitus who saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The stone which shall quell and crush the Image in peeces is Christ who filleth the Earth comming frō Heauen and bringing iudgement to the world But in this place is put downe no praescription of time from the first vntil the second comming of Christ wherefore out of this prophesie which is in the second Chapter of Daniell nothing can bee concluded concerning the end of the world whether it shall bee from that time within a hundred or two hundred or more yeares Although as others would haue it the more sincere explanation of that place would bee if it should bee vnderstood not so much of the vprising of the person of Christ as of his Kingdome and the progresse thereof throughout the whole world vnto the end therof and of the endlesse continuance of the same for so it is interpreted of Daniel himself in the same Chapter But by this tenor what can then be collected touching the definite time of the end of the world the Kingdome of Christ as it was propagated by the preaching of the Gospel throughout the whole earth so likewise withall did it ouerturne the Empire of Rome that is the fourth Monarchy with the Idolatries thereof as also now the Image of that Monarchy the Kingdome of Autichrist it doth and shall continue to ouerthrow to the end of the world vntill it be totally abolished For it is infallible that the end of the world shall not be before the whole Kingdome of Antichrist be abolished as the Apostle teacheth Thes 2. 2. But who is able to determine of the time when the Kingdome of Antichrist shall totally come to an end Hee that can effect the one may likewise performe the other Besides some there bee who would haue the prophesie of Daniel in no case to bee vnderstood of the second but onely of the first comming of Christ and so also that which in the 7. chapter and therefore this to haue beene the counsell or purpose of God to giue signification to Nabuchadnezar what Kingdomes should succeed and which should be the last of all that is the Kingdome of Christ and that to continue perpetually all others being ruinated But how long it should endure vpon the face of the Earth is not heere debated neither that God intended by Daniel to giue notice vnto vs thereof seeing it was not his pleasure no not by his sonne to reueale it According to this interpretatiō nothing can be dēuised more fondly then out of this praediction of
will long 〈◊〉 for that 〈◊〉 cannot long retaine the false app●rance of gold Sound graine do●● endure the flaile and the fanne but the chaffe with a little ventila●i●● will bee scattered into the ayre A naturall colour is more permanen●● counterfet is easily descried A t●●● friend will not relent euen in aduersitie but a false dissembler will change with euery winde Great is the stabilitie of truth on euery hand for the germane Disciples of Christ are solide and firme neither are they easily altered by sorrowfull lots but such as are dissemblers are not constant no not in time of peace 〈◊〉 loc de Patientia ca. Quod sit patientia pag. 757. Faith temporarie is not true faith Therefore clearely I haue made demonstration That perpetuitie is such an essentiall propertie of true faith as that vnlesse it be perpetuall it cannot bee or bee called true faith A description of true faith FAITH therfore is a vertue or efficacie the same liuely and perpetuall freely infused into the hearts of the Elect that is ours from the Father for Christ his sake by the Holy Spirit whereby we beeing perswaded that whatsoeuer is proposed in the writings Propheticall and Apostolicall to bee the word of God we embrace totally the Lawe and the Gospell with an in●ubi●●●e and constant assent as the true word of God and in such sort wee doe receiue them as that by the Law we doe verily acknowledge our sinnes feele the wrath of God despaire of our owne strength and are affected with a sound desire of the Mediator who may take away our sinnes pacifie Gods anger minister strēgth to vs for auoiding of sinne and the obseruation of Gods Lawe and by the Gospell we may truely acknowledge Iesus to be very Christ God and Man one Mediatour and together with the Father and the Holy Spirit common to both our ●●uiour and the same for perpetuitie● and so acknowledged doe 〈◊〉 him and in all our necessities doe call vpon him our whol confidence and hope of the remission of our sinnes saluation and life eternall being setled and defixed vpon him alone and being perpetually affected with the loue of him we may continually bend our studies for to doe his Lawe and that partly that his Name may be for euer glorified by vs partly that wee may testifie our selues to be the children of God by perpetuall obedience partly to conclude that so many as possibly wee can wee may bring not onely by our tongue but also by the sanctimonie of our whole life vnto Christ and confirme such as are wonne more and more in his faith This is my description of faith and that plenarie and composed of all his causes and principall effects the singular parts whereof are in a manner formerly proued First that it is a vertue or efficacie and therefore a certaine habite as formerly is manifested in the first partition of faith where faith was diuided into Habite and Act. And it is vulgarly held in opinion That Faith Hope and Loue be termed Vertues Theologicall And not onely Bucer but likewise many other doe often so define faith as they call it to be a gift of God and a worke of the Holy Spirit in the minde of the Elect whereby they beleeue the Gospel of Christ Therfore there is a discrepance between the gift whereby we beleeue and the very motion of the minde and action of beleeuing Nay more in Disput Ratis●onensi pag. 443. the same Bucer doth ratifie that definition of faith wherein it is said That Faith is a vertue celestiall and freely infused Againe pag. 445. hee concludeth the definition of faith saying Faith therefore whereby wee beleeue God and are iustified what can it be else but that efficacie celestially inspired that doctrine and testification of the holy Spirit wherby wee embrace and willingly receiue the proffered promise of remission of sinnes Vertue likewise is it called of the Philosophers which maketh his subiect good so Tull●● de finibus Vertue is that efficacie whereby the thing whereof it is a Vertue is made perfect Now Faith truely maketh him good and perfect whose heart it possesseth for i● maketh men ●ust it purifieth the heart c. Therefore it is a vertue Secondly liuing and perpetuall These likewise being two qualities essentiall to Faith expressing the nature thereof were before demonstrated cap. de fide Thirdly infused This is added that difference may bee put betweene vertues either by nature ingraffed or attained by study and those which are giuen from Heauen aboue Fourthly from the Father This is annexed to giue notice from whence as from the first fountaine faith issueth that is from our Father for hee is the fountaine as of Diuinitie so of all vertue and all good Iames 1. Euerie good giuing and euery perfect gift is from aboue descending from the Father of Lights Fiftly for Christ his sake For no good thing is conferred vpon vs but ●or Christ And hee by his Passion me●●●ed to the Elect as saluation and life eternall soe also Faith whereby they receiue saluation a●● life Sixtly by the Holy Ghost That the immediate and officaci●●s cause efficient of faith in vs may be expressed and that it may be vanderstood that the outward preaching of the word sufficeth not the force of our free wil as the Pelagiā supposed but that the inward operation of the holy spirit is necessary to beget faith in vs. For as the loue of God is spread abroad in our hearts not by free will which ariseth out of vs as saith Augustine but by the spirit which is giuen vnto vs so also faith is infused into our heartes by the holy Spirit and not by freewill Seauenthly freely That all our merit may bee excluded and that faith may be acknowledged to be a free gift of God as the Scriptures do in euery place testifie Eightly into the hearts of the Elect. For true faith is peculiarly ●●uen to the Elect as both Augustine and Bucer do teach euery where according to the scriptures therevpon it is called by Paul the faith of the Elect. Neither doth it only possesse the mind but principally the heart Ninthly that is ours That is adioyned That euery of vs might beleeue that hee is of the number of the Elect and that wee should not repute our selues secluded out of their society Tenthly whereby wee are perswaded that that which is proposed c. This is the first effect of Faith infused that it should perswade that to be the word of God which indeed is the word of God heerevppon it is termed of the Gr●cians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of perswading For we cannot receiue and assent vnlesse we be first perswaded that it is the word of God Eleuenthly The whole both Law and Gospell this is the matter of faith wherevppon it is occupied For faith doth beleeue not only the Gospell but also the law to bee the word of God and it doth receiue and embrace as well the
accuse God of iniustice that he beblindeth them A summe of the Treatise concerning the Redemption of the Church by Christ and the certaintie of our Praedestination and saluation comprised in twenty nine Positions TERRENE or earthly Hierosoleme was a Type of the Church of Christ and such things as most ordinarily fell out therin were figures of such things as were to come to passe in the Church of Christ 2 Therefore the deliuerance of Hierosoleme accomplished in the time of Esaias whereof Esai 9. was a Type of the Deliuerance of the whole Church to bee made by Christ 3 As in that Terrene Hierusalem there were grieuous darknes that is calamities so most greeuous are the darknesses that is calamities both terrene and spirituall into which partly the Church of God did fall presently after the sin of Adam partly wherewith it is dayly pressed 4 As that Hierusalem by the Angell of the Lord through the great power of God found deliuerance insomuch as that the Prophet saith truely To the people ●alking in darknes hath the light appeared so the Church of God by Christ was in part once deliuered in part dayly more and more is freed from her darknesse the diuine light by degrees dispelling the darknesse thereof vntill in the end which shall bee at the end of the World she● bee deliuered from all aduersities and enemies 5 And although there were more Israelites which were besieged of the enemies then Iewes yet not they but onely these were deliuered so though there bee much more Reprobate then Elect yet the Deliuerance made by Christ did not appertaine to the Reprobate but to the Elect so that the Prophet truely admiring spake thus Thou hast multiplyed the Nation but hast not encreased the ioy 6 For Christ according to the purpose of his Father for the Elect onely that is for those who according to the eternall Election should beleeue in him was borne suffered died and rose againe and Mat 1. Ioh. 17. maketh intercession at the right hand of his Father 7 Moreouer the Redemption of the Church by Christ may be considered after foure sorts First in what respect she is totally redeemed before the Father in that Christ died for her for then were all the Elect truely redeemed and reconciled to God Next in as much as by faith shee is made acquainted and partaker of this Redemption for when as the Elect doe yeeld true faith to the Gospell of reconciliation they are said to be iustified and reconciled to God to wit for that they doe vnderstand receiue and embrace the reconciliation perfected by Christ Thirdly in as much as the Church dayly by the same Christ is deliuered more and more from enemies continually besetting them for that though she be daily oppugned yet neuer for all that through Christs defence is she surprised Lastly in as much as all enemies being vtterly dispoiled and euen death it selfe which the Apostle calleth the last enemie so it shall be delivered from all euils as that it shall neuer after haue any encounter with any kind of enemies 8 Now the principall fruit which springeth vp in the hearts of the faithfull by the redemption apprehended is true and solid spirituall and aeternall reioicing before God of which the Prophet also speaketh They shall reioice before thee as men in haruest 9 For the matter of true ioy is when we perceiue by faith the yoke of Sinne Death the Law Satan the World wherewith wee were oppressed to be broken asunder by Christ 10 For none either by their strength or their merit hath deliuered themselues from the yoke of the seruitude of Sinne Death Satan and the Law but Christ onely hath deliuered vs. Therefore our saluation entirely is to be ascribed vnto Christ alone 11 But though it be Christ himselfe which hath obtained victorie to vs without vs against all enemies yet can we not bee partakers of this victorie but as the true Israelites in the voyage against the Madianites wee carry the light of faith in our hearts and haue the trumpet thereof to wit Confession in our mouth as also it is written Ro. 10. With the heart we beleeue but with the mouth we confesse to saluation 12 Furthermore the cause of mans whole Redemption is double One by which and for which this is Christ the Mediatour and Christs merits The other efficiens primarie and principall that is both the aeternall and constant loue of Vaticinia alia aperta alia velaminibus tecta zanch. GOD towards his Church to wit the Elect as also the zeale of his glorie and honour Of the first the Prophet speaketh To vs a child is giuen to vs a Sonne is borne to beare the rule Of the second hee speaketh The zeale of the Lord of Hostes shall doe this 13 Christ doth beare vppon his shoulders the whole principalitie and burden thereof as the Prophet teacheth saying Whose gouernment is upon his sholders Now the Kingdome of Christ is the Church of the Saints therefore all wee faithfull ones are carried vpon his shoulders And whom Christ hath once taken vp to bee borne vpon his shoulders them hee neuer deiecteth downe from off his shoulders according also vnto that Iohn cap. 17. I haue kept those whom thou hast giuen mee Therefore our saluation is secure in Christ 14 The burdens of the principality or Kingdome of Christ are our sinnes but the gouernment with all his burdens is vpon his shoulders Therefore Christ doth beare the sinnes of all the Elect according to Esay 13. that also of the Prophet God hath put vppon him the iniquities of vs all 15 If the gouernment be vpon his shoulders Christ therefore himselfe Esay 9. doth perpetually protect gouerne his Church 16 If the Church be the Kingdome of Christ therefore the Church in respect of her Prince is a Monarchy and hath Christ only their Monarch And hee is an immortall prince and doth continually gouerne his Monarchy Therefore the Church is neuer nor can be without an Head 17 Hierusalem that is the Church is not only deliuered by Christ but also for Christ and that into two sorts first because for the merits of Christ it is redeemed and deliuered then for Christ as the finall cause because therefore the Church is deliuered that is the Kingdome of Christ is freed from the handes of the enemies and daily more and more inlarged that he alone at last himselfe together with the Father may enioy it in Heauen according to that also of the Apostle 1 Cor. 15. Then shall he giue vp the Kingdome of God againe to his father as wee also on the other side shall enioy God and our Prince Christ 18 The fountaine and originall of our saluation is the eternall and constant Loue of God to-vs-ward aeternall for that he hath loued vs to life aeternall not in time but from aeternity before we were borne constant for that whom once hee hath imbraced with that his eternal loue he holdeth on