of Christ The Passion of Christ is that part of his obedience when hee in body and soule sustained the wrath of God against sinne Heb. 9.26.28 and 10.11 Dan. 9.24 Esay 53.5 The parts of the Passion of Christ are the suffering of manifold euils euen presently from his birth to the institution of the holy Supper and that solemne and most grieuous Passion in the end of his life The manifold euils from his birth to the institution of the holy Supper are either of the body or of the soule The euils of the body were both pouerty dangers of life and also diuers infirmities He sustained pouertie Mat. 8.20 and 21.1.2 and 27.55 Luke 9.58 that he might enrich vs with heauenly gifts 2. Cor. 8.9 The manifold daungers of his life were these for which he was both led into exile Matth. 2.14.15 and also he did often yeeld for a time to the furies of the enemies Mar. 3.6.7 Iohn 7.1 and 11.53.54 The infirmities of the body Heb. 5.2 were hunger Mat. 4.2 and 21.18 and thirst Ioh. 4.8 wearinesse Iohn 4.6 teares Iohn 11.35 The euils of the soule were both ignorance and temptations as also sadnesse and ignominie For Christ knew not certaine things vntill he knew them by feeling Mat. 11.13 he knew not the day houre of iudgement Mar. 13.32 Of the temptations of Christ His temptations were the assaultes of the deuill and his ministers by which they did endeuour to seduce him to sinne Mat. 4.1 or else to confound him and lay him open to reproch Matth. 22.35 or to cast him into danger of life Mat. 22.15.16 But he was therfore tempted that he might helpe those that are tēpted Heb. 2.17.18 4.15 Also that he might teach vs by his example how we ought to meet with and resist the temptations of the deuill and his instruments His sadnesse was that whereby his soule was heauy and troubled Iohn 12.27 His ignominies were manifold vniust accusations and slanders Mat. 12.24 Mar. 11.19 reproches reuilings Iohn 8.48 His base account and neglect Mar. 6.3.4 reiection contempt and that truely among his owne Hitherto of the euils which Christ suffered from his birth euen to the last and solemne acte of his Passion That last and solemne act of Christes Passion comprehendeth both his striuing in the garden and his betraying as also his iudgement Of the striuing of Christ in the garden The striuing of Christ in the garden was that whereby he did terribly striue with the most vehement feeling of Gods horrible wrath against sinne and with the horrour of Gods curse Mat. 26.37 so forward Out of which he at the length scaping conquerour he brought so to passe that death should no more be fearefull vnto vs. The parts of his striuing are both the feare and trouble of the soule The feare of Christ was that he feared more and more that horrour hanging ouer him Heb. 5.7 The trouble of his soule was the sadnesse of his soule whereby it was most grieuously touched with sorrow anguish and griefe Mat. 26.37.38 The effectes of his striuing were his affectionate and earnest prayer and his sweating of bloud The affectionate and earnest prayer of Christ was that whereby he asked of his father the taking away of that horrour Matth. 26.39.42.44 Christes sweating of bloud was when sweat as it were drops of bloud did fall on the earth Luke 22.44 Thus farre concerning the striuing of Christ now concerning his betraying His betraying was this whereby Iudas Iscariot that vnfaithfull disciple receiuing thirty peeces of siluer for an hire deliuered Christ to the Princes of the Priestes and to the elders of the people of the Iewes Matth. 26.47 and so forward Thus much concerning the betraying of Christ Christ was drawen into two sorts of iudgement to the iudgement of the Priest and of the ciuill magistrate In the former false witnesses being produced in vaine he was at length by Cayphas slandered and condemned for blasphemy Mat. 26.57 and so forward The ciuill iudgemēt is two fold the one before Pilate the other before Herod by whō Christ was sent backe again to Pilate who at the length condemned him to be beatē with rods and to be crucified Now therfore Christ was condemned that he might redeeme vs from eternall condemnation His beating with rods is set downe Mat. 27.26 His crucifying is that wherby he was fastned on wood or on a crosse that he might take the curse of the law from vs vpō himselfe As it is written cursed is euery one who hangeth on a tree Mat. 27.38 Mar. 15.27 Luke 23.33 2. Cor. 13.4 Heb. 13.12 Iohn 19.18 Hitherto concerning the passion of Christ now concerning his death and those things which followed his death namely his burying and descending into hell The death of Christ is part of his obedience when commending his soule to his father hee gaue vp the ghost on the crosse to ratifie his Testament and to loose the feare of death Heb. 9.15.16.17 and 2.14.15 Of the burying of Christ The burying of Christ is that whereby his body was layed into the new tombe Mat. 27.59.60 Mar. 15.46 Actes 13.29 1. Cor. 15 4. Christ was buried for foure causes 1. That it might appeare that he was dead indeed 2. That hee might bury our sinnes with himselfe 3. That we might with him be buried to sinne Rom. 6.4 4. That he might sanctifie our sepulchres Of Christes descending into hell The descending of Christ to hell is the very last degree of Christes humiliation when he was kept downe in the graue vnder the bondes of death three dayes and three nightes as though he had bene vtterly ouercome Actes 2.24.27.29.30 Psal 16.10 Ephes 4.9 Mat. 12.40 The end of this is that he might abolish the sting of hell 1. Cor. 15.55 Hitherto concerning Christes humiliation now concerning his exaltation Conce Christes exaltation Christes exaltation is his state in which he was caried vp into the highest and vnspeakeable glory Luke 24.26 Phil. 2.9 That doth comprehend both his resurrection and manifestation of himselfe fourtie dayes vpon the earth and also his ascension into heauen and his sitting at the right hand of God his father Of Christes resurrection Christes resurrection is that whereby he hauing ouercome death and the dominion thereof by his owne diuine power he rose againe the third day from the dead and liueth with God for euermore 2. Cor. 13.4.1 Pet. 3.18 Rom 6.8.10 and 14.9 There are foure endes and vses of the resurrection of Christ 1. That he by his resurrection hath ouercome death to the intent that he might make vs partakers of his righteousnesse which by his death he hath purchased for vs. Rom. 4.25 1. Pet. 1.1 Thess 1.10.3.4.5.21 1. Cor. 15.16.17.54.55 Or that he by his resurrection hath fully confirmed to vs the redemption righteousnesse purchased for vs by his death 2. That the deuill and death being ouercome he might rule ouer the dead and the liuing Rom. 14.9 3.
That he by the power thereof might stirre vs vp to a new life Rom. 6.4 Coloss 3. 1. Ephes 2.5 4. That the resurrection of our head is a pledge to vs of our glorious resurrection 1. Cor. 15.12.13.14 Rom. 8.11 The conuersation of Christ vpoÌ„ the earth fourtie dayes after his resurrection was done to that end that he might most certainly confirme his resurrection so that no man might doubt of it Actes 1.3 Of Christes ascension into heauen The ascension of Christ into heauen is that whereby in body he was visibly lifted from the earth and was receiued vp into heauen Mar. 16.19 Actes 1.9 Iohn 14.2 The heauen into which Christ ascended The heauen into which Christ ascended and into which he will take vs Christ himself teaching vs it Ioh. 14.2 is the house of his heauenly father in which there are many dwelling places the throne of God the place of ioye and it is not euery where but in the highest heaueÌ„s it is a place as 2. Chron. 6.21 And therefore we beleeue that Christs body is not now on earth much lesse euery where but in heauen Actes 13.21 yet Christ shal be with vs euen to the end of the world by his Godhead grace and spirit Mat. 28.20 There are three endes of Christes ascension 1. Because he doth make intercession for vs before his father in heauen Heb. 9.24 and 10. 19. 1. Iohn 2.1 Rom. 8.34 2. Because we haue our flesh in heauen that we by that as by a certaine pledge might be confirmed that it shall come to passe that he which is our head may lift vs his members to himselfe Iohn 14.2 and 20.17 Ephes 2.6 or else that he might prepare a place for vs that where he is we might be also 3. Because he doth fill the Church with his spirite and vnspeakeable power and beautifie it with diuers giftes Iohn 14.16 and 16.7 Ephes 4.10.11 Psal 68.19 or else because he sendeth vs the holy spirite in steed of a mutuall pledge Hitherto concerning Christes ascension now concerning his sitting at the right hand of God the father Of Christes sitting at the right hand of God The sitting of Christ at the right hand of God his father is the highest degree of Christ his glory whilest he doth possesse all power ouer all creatures in heauen earth that the father might both worke and gouerne all things immediatly by him Psal 110. Actes 2.30 and 3.21 and 7.56 1. Cor. 15.27 Ephes 1.20 Phil. 2.9 Heb. 1.34 Mat. 28.18 That is attributed to the person that is to say not to one nature of Christ seuerally but euen to whole Christ God and man For when the kingly office of Christ is noted by it it ought to be taken of the whole person or of both natures And Christ sitteth at the right hand of God his father not euery where but in heauen as the Scripture plainly testifieth Heb. 8.1.4 Eph. 1.20 Col. 3.1 Acts. 3.21 Heb. 1.3 And that not till after his ascension Mar. 16.19 1. Pet. 3.22 The difference betweene the ascesinon and sitting of Christ at the right hand of the father And the ascension of Christ into heauen is one thing his sitting at the right hand of God his father is another thing 1. Because his sitting is the end of his ascension for therefore Christ ascended to heauen that he might sit at the right hand of his father 2. Because Christ doth perpetually sit at the right hand of his father but he ascended but once in heauen 3. Because we shall also ascend into heauen but we shall not sit at the right hand of God Hitherto concerning the person of Christ now concerning his office Of the office of Christ The office of Christ is to bestow on the elect all things which are required to eternall saluation This office doth ioyntly belong to both natures in the person of Christ Iohn 6.3.53 Heb. 9.14 Actes 20.28 And as that dutie belongeth to both natures so also the effectes that is to say Of the 〈◊〉 of the â—â—â—â—â—tour the workes of the office are attributed to Christ accorrding to both natures Heb. 3.2.3.4.5.6 and 9.14 Actes 20.28 But in the performing of euery effect or worke some things doe pertaine to the diuine nature other some to the humane nature 1. Pet. 1.18 and 2.24 and 3.18 For although euery effect or worke of the mediatour be one because the person of the mediatour is but one yet to the effecting of this worke there doe concurre two operations that is to say two actions one of the Godhead another of the manhood the Godhead doing those things which belong to the Godhead the maÌ„hood doing those things which belong to manhood as the worke of a man is but one but in performing it there doth concurre the action both of the soule and body the soule doing those things which beloÌ„g to the soule and the body doing those things which belong to the body And as the natures and properties of the same remaine distinct so also the actions and operations of the natures so that either of them doth seuerally worke that which is proper to it namely the word working that which belongeth to the word the flesh accoÌ„plishing that which beloÌ„geth to the flesh The offices of Christ are three his Prophecie Priesthood and Kingdome Psal 110. Heb. 7.2.3 and 13.20 Of the prophecie of Christ The Prophecie of Christ is perfectly to deliuer the whole word of God to men Heb. 1.1 Iohn 1.16.17.18 Esay 61.1 Therefore he is called the chiefe Prophet teacher Apostle of our confession Heb. 3.1 Of his Prophecie there are two partes namely the foreshewing of things to come and doctrine Of doctrine there are two parts the laying open of the Gospell and the true interpretation of the law The laying open of the Gospell is the first part of Christes doctrine when he did lay open the secret counsell and all his fathers will concerning our redemption Iohn 1.18 and 15.15 Mat. 11.17 The true interpretation of the law is the other part of Christes doctrine when he expounded the true meaning of Gods law Mat. 5.20 and so forward Thus farre concerning the Propheticall office of Christ now concerning his Priesthood Of Christes Priesthood The Priesthood of Christ is to performe the workes of a Priest Heb. 5.10 Of Christs Priesthood there are two parts the expiation of sinne intercession to God Of the expiation of sinne The expiation of sinne is the first part of Christes Priesthood when Christ offering to God his father the onely sacrifice of his body did pay the punishment for the sinnes of the elect to redeeme them from all the power of the deuill 1. Pet. 2.24 and 3.18 Esay 53.12 1. Iohn 2.2 Rom. 3.25 Heb. 10.12 Whereupon also it is called redemption As also the satisfying for sinnes And that is done two wayes by merite and by a powerfull working Of the merite of Christ The merite of Christ
of the sacramentall vnion is the ioyning together of the outward action with the inward action For in the right vse of the Sacrament the offering and receiuing of the signe and thing signified is ioyned together the offering receiuing of the sign indeede is bodily by the hand of the minister but the offering and receiuing of the thing signified is spirituall through true faith by the haÌ„d of Christ himselfe For a Sacrament is not onely an earthly and bodily action but a heauenly and spirituall action also in which not only the earthly matter which is on earth but also those things which are in heauen which are in God and which are in the hearts of the faithfull are present with vs. And the holy spirit ioyning vs together with Christ doth couple vs euen we being most farre asunder as in regard of distance of place much more nearly and straightly then either the soul is ioyned with the body or the vine with the braunches Hitherto concerning the parts of the couenant of the Sacrament of Grace the ends follow Of the ends of the Sacrament of the couenant of Grace There are seuen ends of the Sacrament of the couenant of Grace 1 That it might be a remembraunce of Gods benefits both already offered and hereafter to be offered that is to say that it might put the faithfull in minde of Christs benefites eyther already bestowed or hereafter to be bestowed on them So the Passeouer was a remembrance not only of the deliueraunce out of Egypt already past but also of the deliueraunce to come by Christ So the holy Supper is a remembrance not onely of our redemption made vpon the erosse but also of that which is to be performed when he shall come to iudge the quick the dead and shall fully deliuer his elect from sin and all their enemies Luk. 21.28 2 That our faith might thereby be increased exercised and strengthened 3 That by it we might be stirred vp to thanksgiuing for the benefit of our redeÌ„ptioÌ„ 4 That it might be a bond of mutuall loue and concord in the Church that is to say that by the partaking thereof we might more and more be bound amongst our selues in mutuall loue for we that are many are one bread and one body 5 That it might be the bond of publicke meetings of the preseruing of the ecclesiasticall ministery Exod. 12.16 1. Cor. 11.20 6 That it might be a note of our profession whereby as by a cognisance the Church is discerned froÌ„ infidels Exo. 12.45 So by circuÌ„cisioÌ„ the Iews were discerned froÌ„ the GeÌ„tiles As all vncleane men were to be kept from eating the things offered to God this threatning being added that whatsoeuer vncleane man did eat of them his soul should be cut off froÌ„ his people Leu. 7.20 euen so no vncleane or vnbeleeuing man ought to vse the Sacrament of the couenant of Grace 7 That it might be a witnesse of our confession and society with the church The sixt end pertaineth to the whole Church but the last end pertaineth to euery beleeuer He that shall not be circumcised his soule shall be cut off froÌ„ the people of God Whosoeuer vseth not the Sacraments wheÌ„ he may he sheweth that he is not a member of the Church and the companion of our confession For the Sacrament is a witnesse which testifieth that he who vseth the Sacraments doth pertaine to the company of the church that he is a member of the Church and that he hath fellowship with it Whosoeuer in any congregation vseth the Sacrament he by this vse doth testifie that he embraceth the confession of that company and that he hath fellowship with it Thus farre concerning the ends of the couenant of grace Of the Sacraments ef the couenant of grace in the old Testament The Sacrament of the couenant of Grace is two fold of the old Testament or of the new The Sacrament of the old Testament is that which before the coÌ„ming of Christ was instituted for the Church of the old Testament Gen. 17. Exod. 12. 16.15 17.6 1. Cor. 10.1.2.3.4 The Sacraments of the old TestameÌ„t were either ordinary or extraordinary Ordinary Sacraments were those which did ordinarily and alwayes pertaine to the Church of the old Testament Genes 17. Exod. 12. And they were two Circumcision and the Passeouer Of circumcisioÌ„ Circumcision was a Sacrament of the old Testament by which all the males amongst the people of Israell circumcised in the foreskin of their flesh were ingraffed into the couenant that God made with Abraham Gen. 17.10.11 Ios 5.2 Rom. 4.11 The parts thereof are two the foreskin and the outward action in the Circumcision Genes 17.11 The foreskin was a signe that our nature is corrupted that men are borne guilty in this carnall generation and therefore stand in neede of the regeneration and renewing which was to come by â—he blessed seede who should bruise the head of the serpent and in whom all nations should be blessed The outward action in Circumcision was two fold the one of the minister administring Circumcision the other of a faithfull man receiuing Circumcision Gen. 17.9.10 Rom. 2.19 4.11 The action of the minister administring Circumcision was two fold the laying open of the institution of Circumcision and the Circumcision of the foreskin The Circumcision of the foreskin was a signe of the Circumcision of the heart that is to say of iustification by faith Rom. 4.11 of forgiuenesse of sinnes and of regeneration Deut. 30.6 The action of a faithfull man receiuing Circumcision was two fold the receiuing of circumcision and thankesgiuing The receiuing of Circumcision was that wherby a faithfull man through the circumcision that was done by the haÌ„ds of the minister did put off the foreskin of the flesh to signifie that he put off from him the sinnes of the flesh Col. 2.11 Rom. 4.11 Thankesgiuing was done by the parents and kinsfolkes in stead of the infants being circumcised Thus farre concerning circumcision now concerning the Passeouer Of the Passeouer The Passeouer was a Sacrament of the old Testament whereby the faithfull hauing eaten the Paschall Lambe were put in minde of their deliuerance out of Egypt whether it were bodily already past or spir uall and was to come Exod. 12.1.2.3.5 11. The parts of the Passeouer were two the Paschall Lambe and the action pertaining to the vse thereof The Paschall Lambe The Paschall Lambe by a spirituall signification did note Christ the lambe of God taking away the sinnes of the world 1. Cor. 5.7.8 10.3 The action in the Passeouer was eyther of the minister or of the receiuer The actioÌ„ of the Minister is two fold both the laying open of the institution of the Sacrament of the Passeouer and also the offering of it to men Exod. 12.3.4.5.21 The laying open of the institution of he Sacrament of the Passeouer is commanded Exod. 12.26.27 The offering of the Paschall Lambe to others
by faith and yet this is by a spirituall presence not by a locall or bodily presence or placing by a Sacramental presence and such as belongeth to a couenant not by a naturall presence the body bloud of Christ are present by such a kinde of presence as faith requireth would haue not as the bodily mouth such a one as the spirit requireth and not the letter such a one as the purpose of Christ calleth for not a Capernaiticall interpretation and therefore rather we should by our minde be caried vp into heauen then to haue the blessed and glorious flesh of our Lord Iesus Christ pulled out of heauen vpon this miserable earth to imagine his inuisible descending into the bread and againe his ascending into heauen after the holy supper is celebrated Hitherto concerning the earthly matter in the holy Supper now concerning the outward action The outward action in the Lordes supper as in other Sacraments is two fold one of the minister that administreth the Lords supper and another of a faithfull man vsing the holy supper The action of the minister that administreth the holy supper is two fold the sanctifying of the bread and wine and the administring of it Of the sanctifying of the bread The sanctifying of the bread and wine is an action of the minister whereby according to the commandemēt of Christ he ordaineth the bread and wine to a holy vse The reciting of the words of the institutiō and promise is done for the blessing of the bread and wine that is to say that of the cōmon bread wine they might be made holy signes of the body bloud of Christ Which consecrating sanctifying and appointing of the bread and wine to a holy vse was called of old writers a change that is to say such a chaunging as belongeth to Sacraments Of the change belonging to Sacraments Which chaunging of the earthly matter is not a change of the substāce as the Papists erroniously affirme but a change of the end because the bread wine are no more common meat and drinke but serue to a holy end and vse For the mysticall signes Theod Dial. 2. euen after sanctifying doe not loose their owne nature Paul after the blessing calleth the bread still bread The administring of the earthly matter is the other part of the ministers actiō wherby he administreth the earthly matter in the holy supper And that administring is two fold partly of the bread partly of the wine Of the administring of the bread there are two parts the breaking and the distributing Of the breaking of the bread The breaking of the bread is an action of the minister whereby is signified that the bodie of Christ was no lesse certainely offered and broken on the crosse for me then I with my eyes see the bread of the Lord broken for me The distributing of the bread is an action of the minister whereby is signified that the body of Christ is as certainely offered to me as the bread broken is certainely offered to me Of the administring of the wine there are also two parts the powring of the wine into the cup and the distributing of the cup. The powring out of the wine is an action of the minister whereby is signified the shedding of the bloud of Christ done on the crosse The distributing of the cup is an action of the minister whereby is signifyed that the bloud of Christ is as certainely giuen vs as the cup is certainely deliuered vnto vs. Thus farre concerning the action of the minister now concerning the outward action of a faithfull man vsing the holy Supper The outward action of a faithfull man vsing the holy supper is two folde the receiuing of the bread and wine and thankesgiuing The receiuing of the bread and wine is an action of a faithfull man vsing the holy supper wherby he eateth the bread and drinketh the wine to signifie that he doth as certainely by faith eate the body of Christ and drinke his bloud as hee doth certainely with the mouth of the body eate the bread and drinke the wine out of the cup. To eate the body of Christ is to be made a partaker of the benefites of the couenant of grace that is to say of reconciliation iustification and regeneration in Christ of adoption c. Abraham did eate the flesh of Christ before that by his owne substance he had any being in his manhood We eate the flesh of Christ no otherwise then Abraham did neither are wee made partakers of the flesh of Christ otherwise then Abraham was Ioh. 6.51 1. Cor. 10.16 This eating is onely spirituall because it is done by faith and the spirite Whereby it appeareth that the beleeuers only doe eate the body and drinke the bloud of Christ the reprobate doe not because they haue no faith Now the flesh of Christ in that respect only that it was slaine and dead for vs is eaten to quicken the godly the bloud of Christ onely as it was shed on the crosse is drunke for the forgiuenesse of our sinnes For although Christ being once dead and raysed from the dead dyeth not anie more and so is not now any more in the state of humiliation but of glory yet the Sacraments leade our faith to the sacrifice of Christ performed on the crosse as Christ sayth Doe this in remembrance of me and Paul sayth As oft as you shall eate of this bread and drinke of this cuppe yee shall preach the death of the Lord vntill he come Hitherto concerning the receiuing of the bread and wine now concerning thankesgiuing Thankesgiuing is an action of a faithfull mā vsing the holy supper by which through true faith he thinketh speaketh of Christs death to his praise 1. Cor. 11.26 Thus farre concerning the parts of the Lordes Supper now concerning the preparation of a faithfull man before the vse thereof Of the preparation of a faithfull man before the vse of the holy supper The preparation to the vse of the holy Supper is two fold inward and outward The inward preparation is spiritual which consisteth in a mans examining of himselfe or in trying his owne worthinesse or vnworthinesse The worthinesse and vnworthinesse of those who come to the holy Supper and the effects of them both are two folde either of the person or of the vsing The worthines of the person is faith or the righteousnesse of Christ imputed by fayth which whosoeuer hath they are worthy guests receiue this food to eternal saluatiō Therfore the worthines of the person cōsisteth in faith alone and the effect of it is the escaping of eternall punishment The vnworthines of a person is infidelity wherewith whosoeuer are possessed they are vnworthy of this table and receiue to themselues iudgement and eternall damnation The worthinesse of the vsing is true reuerence inward and outward forgiuenes loue a serious bewayling of sinnes repentance the meditation of the benefites of Christ the
the elect is this Come yee blessed of my father and possesse ye the kingdome prepared for you before the foūdations of the world were laid Matth. 25.34 Of the finall sentence pronounced to the elect there are two parts the one concerning the bringing of the elect of the possession of the eternall inheritance and blessednesse the other concerning their glorification Of the glorification of the elect The glorification of the elect is a worke of God whereby he shall with eternall glory adorne all the elect after the generall resurrection of the dead This glorification pertaineth both to the body and to the soule Of the glorification of the body The glorification pertaining to the bodie is in that it shall be made spirituall that is to say because it shall leade a spirituall life free and deliuered from all the spot of the flesh such a one as the spirits themselues do leade furthermore incorruptible immortall lastly conformable to the glorious body of Christ For the bodyes of the godly shall not only be immortall and incorruptible but also strong impassible glorious spirituall 1. Corinth 15. Augustine to Crescentius As the naturall body is not a soule but a body so wee ought not to call the spirituall body a spirit but a body It is of Paul called the spirituall body then not a spirite for the spirite hath not a bodie that is to say flesh bones Therfore the spirite and the spirituall body are not one And Paul doth not say that the substāce of the body shal be changed in the resurrection but the qualities of the body and substance for so he writeth to the Corinthians that this body which is subiect to corruption may put on an incorruptible nature the mortall may put on immortality But sayest thou it shall not haue a matter subiect to perishing Who denieth it Yet it shall not want a matter Hath not euen the heauē an impassible matter void of corruption You except but we shall be like the Angels then we shall not be Angels for our flesh must rise againe and we in the same as Iob sayth shall see God our Sauiour If our bodies shall be changed into spirites then man shall not rise againe because man consisteth of bodie and soule and the bodie cannot passe into the spirite for they do not agree in matter By Paul a spirituall body is opposed to a naturall body but vnderstande by a naturall body a changeable and weake bodie for our bodie ceaseth not to be a naturall body although it be made immortall and impassible for euen the heauen is a naturall body which yet cōsisteth of a nature not passible nor vanishing The glorification pertayning to the soule shal be an enlightening of the soule with the full knowledge of the mysteries of God and with an vnchangeable vprightnes of the will Thus farre concerning the finall sentence to be pronounced to the elect now concerning the finall sentence to be denounced against the reprobate The sentence to be denounced against the rebrobate is this Goe ye cursed into the euerlasting fire which is prepared for the deuill and his Angels Hitherto concerning the generall raysing vp of the dead and the last iudgement now concerning the manifestation of the glory of God to all eternitie The manifestation of the glory of God to all eternitie shal thē be after that Christ shal deliuer the kingdome to God his father and Christ himselfe shall also in respect of his humanitie subiect himselfe to God his father that God the father may be all in all thinges 1. Cor. 15.24.28 Eph. 2.7 Hitherto we haue layd open faith concerning God now concerning the Church The Church is a companie of men professing a certaine religion Religion is a forme of worshipping God Religion The Church is two fold true or false Of the true Church The true Church is a company of men professing the true religion The true religion is that whereby the true God is rightly worshipped And that is onely one And in that alone men shall be saued But the true Church is vniuersall or particular this latter is visible the other inuisible Of the vniuersall Church The vniuersal Church is an inuisible company of the elect only to eternal saluation Matth. 8.11 Ioh. 10.16 Gal. 4.26 And that is also called the kingdome of Christ or of God in the Lords prayer And it is said to be inuisible because the elect cannot be knowne by mās iudgement but they are known onely to God 2. Tim. 2.19 The Lord knoweth them that are his Notwithstanding euery man for his owne part may by certain and infallible signes be well assured that he is elected concerning himselfe indeede he may certainely know it but concerning others he is to hope onely in the Prophets it is called the kingdome of the Messias Also a Lot Ephes 1.11 The lot or inheritance of the Lord to which not onely the Priestes but also the vnlearned pertaine And that is called vniuersall 1 Because it is the generall company of the elect who altogether make one mistical body 2 Because all that beleeue in God and are to be saued must be in this company for without the church there is no saluation 3 Because it comprehēdeth the whole body of the doctrine of the Prophetes and Apostles 4 Because it is dispersed through the whole face of the earth Esa 2.2.3 And it is onely one Ephes 2.14.15.16.17 The head of the vniuersal Church is Christ Iesus alone 1. Cor. 12.27 Ephes 1.22 4.15 5.23 Col. 1.18 2.10 And he hath no neede of a Vicar nor of a ministeriall head But the body of the vniuersall Church is misticall Rom. 12.5 1. Cor. 10.17 12.27 Eph. 1.22.23 4.4.12.16 5.23 Col. 1.15.24 The members thereof are onely the elect 1. Ioh. 2.19 Ioh. 10.14.27.28 And these members are both of the Iewes and also of the Gentiles And both these members are eyther in heauen or on earth Eph. 1.10 They are in heauen who are already departed in the faith of Christ They are on earth who beleeue in Christ and yet liue Thus farre concerning the vniuersall Church now concerning the particular Of the particular Church The particular Church is a visible cōpany of men in any place whatsoeuer who heare the sincere word of God and rightly vse the Sacraments among whom are many euill hypocrites and vnbeleeuers mingled and so shall be to the last day Mat. 13.24.47 Now that it is the true Church of Christ the essētiall notes of the true church do shew The essentiall notes of the true Church are properties by which it may be vnfallibly knowen which particular company being any where gathered together is the true Church of God And these notes are two the sincere preaching of Gods word and the right vse of the Sacraments The sincere preaching of Gods word is that when according to the forme of wholesome words all things necessary to eternall saluation are
principally is called Antichrist 2. Thess 2.7 and that false Prophet Reuel 16.13 In this place especially two things are to be considered first Antichrist himselfe secondly the Church of Antichrist Concerning Antichrist himselfe the question is both what he is who he should be That Antichrist is a man exercising a kingdome the head of the vniuersall Apostacy or falling away from the fayth and professing the name of a Christian indeede but yet setting himselfe both against Christ and the doctrine of Christ hauing a double and supreme power to wit a spirituall and secular boasting himselfe with deceaueable signes and miracles an inchaunter making a compact with the deuill an idolatrer an hypocrite a blasphemer ambitious and proude lawlesse leading a single life and forbidding marriage and yet hee himselfe a filthy fornicatour and adulterer a Sodomite and that whoore of Babylon abstayning from certaine kindes of meates and yet giuen to riotousnesse couetous cousening men of their money wily giuen to vanitie alyer cruell a tyrant a persecuter murtherer of the Saints vaunting himselfe as God and lifting vp himselfe against all powers and maiesties both in earth and also in heauen arrogating to himselfe the deuine power and absolute dominion of Christ by a double and fourth fall that is to say by the Romaine Monarchie out of the rubbishes thereof by litle and litle rising and increasing by the power forcible working of Sathan in the citie compassed with seuen hils that is to say at Rome and in the temple of God that is to say in the Church but he shall be discouered in the last times of the world and at the length by the glorious comming of Christ shall vtterly be abolished 2. Thess 2.3 Dan. 7.8 Reuel 17.1 18.3 13.11 and euery where throughout the Reuelations Thus farre is shewed what Antichrist is now who it is THAT ANTICHRISR IS THAT POPI OF ROME euen as both the Canon lawe and also the liues and actes of the Bishoppes of Rome doe expressely shew Thus farre concerning Antichrist himselfe now concerning the Church of Antichrist The Church of Antichrist is the Church of Rome falsely called Apostolicall and Catholike wheras it is indeede an Apostaricall Church that beast and indeede disguising it selfe and which doth represent the liuely image of the Monarchy of the Romaines heretofore defaced of their gouernement power honour and seat among all Nations Reuel 11.7.8 and 13.3 and so forward and euery where in the Reuelations and experience also doth watnesse the same Of this Church there be two parts to wit the head and the members The head of this Church of Antichrist is Antichrist himselfe the Pope of Rome the sonne of perdition and minister of the Dragon The members of it be eyther the Clergie or the Laiâ—y The Clergy are those vncleane spirits comming out of the mouth of the Dragon of that beast and false Prophet Reuel 16.13 Of them there be three orders Cardinals false Bishops and the filthy heape of Canonists scholemen and Monkes Cardinals are those vncleane spirits comming forth of the mouth of the Dragon of that beast and false Prophet who goe to the Kings of the earth and of the whole world honored by that Antichrist of Rome with a Cardinals hatte and sent out that euen like frogs by their clamorous and vnpleasant craking they might be importunate which all men to the intent they may gather them to the battle against God Reuel 16.13.14 False Bishops are vncleane spirits coÌ„ming out of the mouth of the Dragon of that same beast false Prophet who for a great price do buy their cope at Rome and haue speciall iurisdiction both ciuill and ecclesiasticall That heape of Canonists Scholemen and Monkes are vncleane spirites comming out of the mouth of the Dragon of that same beast and false Prophet euery one according to his place vnderpropping the sea of Rome by murders and lyes But amongest the Monkes those newe Monkes now adayes haue the cheifty who by a false name are called Iesuits whereas they are indeede Esauites or Iebusites So much concerning Antichrist now concerning false Christs False Christs are dissembled enemies of Christ who vaunt themselues to be Christ Matth. 24.26 Mar. 13.21 Luk. 17.23 Such were Simon Magus Bencocab Dauid Gorgius who was burnt at Basill The end of the first Booke of the partitions of diuintie THE SECOND BOOKE of the definitions and partitions of Diuinitie framed according to the rules of a naturall Methode by Amandus Polanus of Polansdorfe Of good workes THE second part of the word of God is concerning good workes that is to say which prescribeth and commandeth what works are to be done by the faithfull that so men may performe thankefulnes due to God for the deliuerance from sin and eternall death Phil. 1.27 Iam. 2.20 Tit. 3.8 Good workes are workes commanded by God which are done of a true faith to the glory of God alone Rom. 14.13 Heb. 11.6 And yet they are before God neither righteousnes it selfe nor any part of righteousnes neither haue they any whit of merit in them Esa 64.6 Rom 3.28 Ephes 2.8.9 Luk. 17.10 Euery singular good worke hath two sins set against it the one as disagreeing the other as contrarie Of hypocrisie The former of them is hypocrisie that is to say a fayning of godlinesse and honesty or if you will a new found godlinesse the workes whereof doe seeme to haue some affinity and agreement with good workes and therefore they doe oftentimes delude men with a shew and nearenesse of goodnesse but in very deede are diuerse from them eyther because they are not commaunded by God but are fayned and coÌ„manded by men vnder the opinion of vprightnes or although they are commanded by God yet they are done of hypocrisie either to deceiue others or for the shewe of godlines after the manner of the Pharises Although sometime there may be more differeÌ„ces or disagreemeÌ„ts then one But the sinne which is opposed to a good work as contrary therto is that which is simply contrary to it And euen as the summe of our faith is comprehended in the Creed of the Apostles so the law of God is the direction and rule of good workes Both the adioints and also the kindes of good workes are to be considered Of the adioynts of good works The adioynts of good works are two fold some if we respect God and some if we respect men If we respect God they are two fold that is the childlike feare of God and subiection that we owe to God Of the childlike feare of God The childlike feare of God is a feare of the anger and iudgement of God against sin whereby we are stirred vp reuerently to obey God and flie sinne Or else the childlike feare of God is that whereby we feare as the chiefest euill of all least we displease God through disobedience Psal 5.8 Such a feare is in the elect and it consisteth in three things First
of God by which we do religiously call vppon God Psal 50.18 116.13 To it is opposed an idolatrous inuocation and the omitting of inuocation or sinne An idolatrous inuocation is a sinne when that is called vpon which is not God And of this first is the inuocation or sinne of the Gentiles Turkes Iewes and Papists The omitting of inuocation is a sin when inuocation so straightly commaunded by God is omitted as though God had no need of it Calling vppon God is either prayer or an oath Of prayer Prayer is a calling vppon God by which we aske of God such good things as are necessary for the soule and body and contrariwise do pray that euill things may be remoued Gen. 17.18 24.12 28. 2. â—2 11 Exod. 8.12 1. Sam. 17.19 1. King 8.15 And that 〈◊〉 either the absolute seruice of the deity or prayer proper to the mediator The absolute seruice of the deity is that which is properly directed to the deity and with that also wee worshippe Christ as hee is God and by which we attribute vnto him the honour of omnipotency knowing all things and being euery where present Of worshipping the mediator Christ Prayer proper to the mediator is that worship which is giuen to Christ both in respect of his person and of his office as to that mediator that is God and man For as the acknowledgement of Christ consisteth in the acknowledgement of his person and office so in inuocation we must thinke of Christ after either manner First he is to be called vppon as God the giuer of good things with the Father and the holy Spirite Secondly we must thinke of him as of a mediatour and intercessour for whose sake we beleeue that wee are receiued and heard That worship of the mediatour is one not in respect or degree but in number And as our faith in the acknowledgment of Christ doth put a difference betweene the natures so also in the worshipping of him Therefore he the mediatour is worshipped not for his humanities sake which is created but because of his eternall and omnipotent deity For the deity the Creator of all things is the proper subiect of religious worship and not the humanity because it is a creature Cyrillus writing to Theodosius the king concerning the right faith saith Shall we therefore worship Emmanuell that is God with vs as a man Be it farre from vs for this sinne were a dotage deceipt and errour For in this wee should not differ from those who do worship the creature more then the creator and maker And as faith doth attribute to him according to either nature that which it ought according to the Scriptures so it doth demaund that in the worke of hearing as in the perfection of his duetie and obedience he should worke according to either nature that which is his owne to do According to the deity that he might behold the hearts heare the sighes of his seruants giue the holy Spirite and other good things according to his vnmeasurable wisdome and power But according to the humanity that he might of his own humaine will approoue the prayers and hearings of his people and in that might do that which is proper to him So the Church prayeth Reuel 22.20 Euen come thou Lord Iesus in which prayer it doth aske not that made manifest in his God-head he might come in the clouds but manifested in his humanity and so one and that selfe same Lord Iesus might deliuer and glorifie the Church by his diuine omnipotency or almighty power Thus much concerning the distribution of prayer now concerning the forme of prayer Of all other the Lords prayer is the best forme of prayer The Lords prayer is that which our Lord Christ himselfe hath taught vs. The expounding of the Lords prayer Mat. 6.9 Luke 11.20 Our Father which art in heauen and so forth Of the Lords prayer are foure parts an entrance petitions a confirmation and a conclusion Of the entrance there are two parts the first teacheth vs whom we ought to call vppon namely our father Our father is God Now we call God father for two causes 1 Because he hath begot the sonne to himselfe from eternity to wit Iesus Christ 2 Because he hath adopted vs to be his sonnes for Christ his sake But in our prayers we call him father for three causes 1 That we being about to pray might find a distinction between our inuocation and the prayers of Infidels turning our selues to this God who hath manifested himselfe in his sonne Iesus Christ 2 That a child-like feare and reuerence of God might be stirred vp in vs. 3 That we might pray with confidence certainly assuring our selues that we are heard of God as of a mercifull father because he hath adopted vs to be his sonnes because we are members of Christ because we call vpon him by Christ But we call him our Father for two causes 1 That so we might thinke that we are to pray not only for our selues but for other men also especially for those who are members with vs in the body of Christ sonnes of the same father in heauen 2 That we may pray the more boldly thinking this that the whole Church and euen the mediator as our brother doth pray with vs. This is the first part of the entrance the second followeth The second part is this which art in Heauen That God is in heauen it meaneth that he onely is omnipotent and alone can giue vs those things which we aske of him God truely is euery where Iere. 23.23.24 Esa 66.1 But heauen is as it were the ordinary Pallace of God in which is his throne and the chiefest glory of God doth appeare because God doth most magnifically manifest himself in heauen to the Angels blessed soules Psal 115.16 Psal 19. But these words which art in heauen are added for fiue causes 1 That we might not imagine any earthly and carnall matter of the heauenly maiesty of God 2 That we being about to pray might lift vp our minds from the earth to heauen Psal 25. 121. 3 That we might expect from the omnipotency and almighty power of God what things soeuer are necessary for soule body 4 That we might be mindfull of this that our God hath all gouernment of heauen and earth that he is present euery where and that he heareth and helpeth those that cal on him 5 That we should not direct or tie the worship of God to any place or thing besides his commandement So much concerning the entrance of the Lords prayer the petitions follow The petitions of the Lordes prayer are two fold the three former pertaine to the glorie of God and the three later to our own necessitie The first petition is this I. Petition Hallowed be thy name In it wee aske the hallowing of Gods name The hallowing of Gods name is the glorifying of God And that is done both by true faith and also
by good works Therefore the sense and meaning of the first petition is this Grant that we may glorifie thee by true faith and good works We sanctifie Gods name by true faith when we rightly acknowledge God and his workes We sanctifie Gods name by good works both when we worship God aright and also when we desire and labour for vertue and well doing and that to this end that the most holy name of God might not be slaundered through our meanes but rather that other seeing our good workes might glorifie our heauenly Father The second petition is this II. Petition Let thy kingdome come In it we aske the comming of the kingdome of God The comming of the kingdome of God is the gouerning of the Church And this comming of Gods kingdome is two fold either to the whole Church or to the seuerall members of it The cōming of gods kingdome to the whole Church is when God defendeth the Church And that two waies both in preseruing encreasing his owne church in destroying the church of the deuill or sathās synagogue The comming of Gods kingdome to euery mēber of the church is when God doth so by his word and spirite gouerne euery one that he doth subiect them more and more to himselfe and the obedience of his will The sense therefore of the second petition is this Gouerne thy Church and the seuerall members of the Church by thy spirit and word The third petition is this III. Petition Thy will bee done as in heauen so in earth also In it we aske that all of vs might obey Gods will and that all wicked lustes being tamed we might wholly and altogether serue God and that so readily and willingly as the holy Angels in heauen do Will doth here signifie that which is acceptable to God and that also which he therfore requireth of vs. The three former petitions haue been thus expounded the three later follow The three later petitions pertaine to our necessity and that both as in respect of the body as the fourth petition and also as in respect of the soule as the fift and sixt The fourth petition is this IIII. Petition Giue vs this day our daily bread In it we aske the sustentation and nourishment of this temporall life Daily bread is whatsoeuer is necessarie for the vpholding and preseruation of this present life God indeed hath commaunded vs to get it with the labour of our hands but yet we aske it of God because neither our labour neither those thing which are gotten by our labour do or can profite vs without Gods blessing which it selfe also is part of dayly bread But if thou art rich and abounding yet as if thou were needy pray daily for the blessed vse of thy riches thinke that full sellers and full store-houses or chests may be sodenly emptyed except they be kept by the Lords hand yea except the Lord shall season with his blessing the meat and drinke that we take in they that eat shall sterue for hunger they that drinke shall waxe dry with thirst Eze. 4.14 Ye shall eat and not be satisfied Leuit. 26.26 Now we name it our bread indeede and yet we aske that God would giue it vs because that by the gift of God it is become ours neither can any thing be ours or become ours except God giue it We name it our bread that so being content with that we might not desire another mans And we call it our bread and not mine that so euery one might know that he ought to aske bread necessary not for himself alone but for his neighbour also Lastly we aske dayly bread and pray that the same may be dayly giuen vs for foure causes 1 That a distrustfull carefulnesse for to morow might be taken out of our minds 2 That we might remember that for daily bread we haue neede of daily prayers 3 That we might be daily admonished of the shortnes of this our bodily life as though we should liue to day onely 4 That we might not immoderately greedily desire or couet any thing besides that which God hath prescribed The fift petition is this V. petition And forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue those that trespasse against vs. In it we aske the forgiuenesse of sinnes or iustification And when God in his eternall couenant had willingly freely promised vs forgiuenesse of sinnes he hath also bound vs to himselfe by the answering againe of a good conscience to forgiue our brethren So that he is not bound to keepe his promise with vs except we also continue in the obligation couenant or condition to be performed on our part Our forgiuing therefore is not a cause of Gods forgiuing for God first hath freely promised vs forgiuenesse when as yet wee were his enemies and besides he hath bound vs to himselfe to pardon our brethren also The cause can not be after his proper effect But our forgiuing of them is after Gods forgiuing of vs. Therefore our forgiuing is not the cause of Gods forgiuing The assumption is certaine for they only can pardon their bretheren to whom God hath forgiuen their sinnes and by this testimonie we feele in our harts that our sinnes are pardoned vs if wee be fully purposed with our selues from our hearts to pardon all those who haue offended vs. The sixt petition is this VI. Petition And leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill In it we aske both that we our selues may be gouerned by the holy spirite and word least we should fall into sinne And this gouerning is part of our regeneration or sanctification and also deliuerance from euils that is to say from the snares of Sathan from the deceipts of the world and from the entisements of the flesh as causes of sinne Thus hath the second part of the Lordes prayer bene handled the third followeth The third part of the Lords prayer is a cōfirmation which conteyneth three argumēts by which our faith is confirmed that God doth certainly heare our prayers Two arguments are drawen from the adioynts of God the third from the end of hearing The first adioynt of God is this because he is king hauing rule ouer all things The second because he is able who can giue vs all things which we aske The argument from the ende is that he might be praysed and glorified for euer because he is God and a most bountifull and mercifull father Hitherto we haue handled the third part of the Lords prayer the conclusion remaineth The conclusion of the Lords prayer consisteth in one word Amen which is both a wish that those things may be ratified which we aske and also a note of confidence wherby we shew that we are perswaded that God hath certainly heard our prayers Blessing is a peculiar kinde of prayer Blessing and that is whereby we aske good things for other men at the hands of God And that is due to all whether