also to the former part of the Apostles speech in the afore-saide chapter concerning the comming of Christ to iudgement with the resurrection of mens bodies and the immortality of the soule speaketh holy Iob in the 19. of his booke with a confident and perfect hope thereof saying * I am sure that my Redeemer liueth Iob 19 25 26 27 and that he shall stand the last on the earth And though after my skin wormes destroy this bodie yet shall I see GOD in my flesh whom I my selfe shall see and mine eyes shall behold and none other for me though my raines are consumed within mee The aforesaide S. Paule likewise comforting the Thessalonians with the remēbrance of the resurrection of the body and last Iudgement saith thus * I vvould not 1. Thes 4 13. 14. 15. 16 c. Bretheren haue you ignorant concerning them that are a sleepe that ye sorrow not euen as other which haue no hope For if we beleeue that Iesus is deade and is risen euen so them which sleepe in Iesus vvill God bring with him For this say we vnto you by the worde of the Lorde that vvee which liue and are remaining at the comming of the Lorde shall not preuent them which sleepe For the Lord himselfe shall descend from heauen with a showte and with the voyce of the Archangell with the trumpet of GOD and the dead in Christ shall rise first Then shall we which liue remaine be caught vp with them also in the Clowdes to meet the Lord in the ayre and so shall wee euer be vvith the Lord. By the testimony of vvhich places it plainely appeareth that at the last iudgement there shall not onely bee a generall raysing vp of all mens bodies which from the beginning of the vvorld haue already departed out of this life but also a suddain changing of all mens bodies then liuing on the earth which change shal be vnto them in sted of death And then shal the saints of God presently after the finall sentence frō Christ our Iudge pronounced enter both body soule into endlesse pleasure the wicked both body and soule into eternall paine ¶ of the vncertaine time of the last Indgement §. 1. NOvv for that the time of this day is vncertaine the houre of Christes comming vnknowne our Sauiour himselfe his beloued Apostles haue therefore vouchsafed to leaue behind them many forewarning speeches as a very necessary meanes to make vs more wary watchfull of the same Affirming that suddainly * and in an houre that we think not Math 24. 44 will the sonne of man come But of that day and howre saith Christ Math 24 36 knoweth no man no not the Angels of heauen but my Father onelie But as the dayes of Noe were so likewise Math. 24 37 38 39 shal the comming of the Sonne of man be For as in the dayes before the floode they did eate drinke marry and giue in marriage vntill the day that Noe entred into the Arke and knewe nothing vntill the flood came and tooke thē all away so shal also the cōming of the sonne of man be Likewise also as it was in the dayes of Luke 17 28 29 30 Lot they eate they dranke they bought they solde they planted they built but in the day that Lot went out of Sodome it rained fire brimstone from heauen and destroyed them all After these ensamples shal it be in the day when the sonne of man is reuealed At that day he that is vpon the house Luke 17 31 his stuffe in the house let him not come downe to take it out and hee that is in the fielde likewise let him not turne backe to that he left behind Then two shall be in the fieldes the one Math. 24 40 41 42. shall be receiued the other refused two women shall be grinding at the Mill the one shall be receiued and the other shal be refused Watch therfore for yee know not what houre your Maister will come Whether at euen or at midnight at the Mar 13 35 Cock-crowing or in the dawning Of this be sure saith Christ that if the Math 24. 43 44. good-man of the house knew at what time the thiefe would come hee woulde surelie watch not suffer his house to be digged through Therfore be ye also readie for in the houre that ye thinke not will the sonne of man come If thou wilt not watch saith hee I vvill Reue 3 3 come on thee as a theefe thou shalt not know what houre I will come vpon thee §. 2. These and sundry other such like speeches are set down in the New-Testament as admonishments to forewarne vs caueats to make vs careful how we spend our time least at that houre wee be found with the fiue foolish Virgins vnprouided For * the day of the Lord will come as a theefe 2 Pet 3 10. in the night in the which the heauens shal passe away with a noyse and the elements shal melt with heate the earth with the works that are therein shal be burnt vp Seeing then that all these thinges must be 2 Pet. 3. 11. 21 13 14. dissolued what manner of persons ought we to be in holy conuersation godlines looking for and hasting to the comming of the day of God by vvhich the heauens beeing on fire shall be dissolued and the elements shall melt with heate But vvee looke for newe heauens and a new earth according to his promise wherein dwelleth righteousnesse Wherfore beloued seeing that yee looke for such things be diligent that yee may bee founde of him in peace without spot and blamelesse c. And take heede to your selues least at Luke 21 34 any time your harts be oppressed with surfetting and drunkennesse and cares of this life and least that day come on you at vnwares For as a snare shall it come on all them verse 35 36 that dwell on the face of the vvhole earth VVatch therefore and pray continually that ye may be counted woorthy to escape all those thinges that shall come to passe and that ye may stand before the Sonne of Man And those things that I say vnto you I Mar 13 37 say vnto all men vvatch For blessed is that seruaunt whom his Math 24 46 Maister when he commeth shall finde so dooing ¶ Of Christ Why hee came into the world and of the profit vvee haue by his Death Resurrection and Ascention IOHN 17. verse 3. To know GOD and Iesus Christ whom he hath sent is life euerlasting ¶ Of Christ. c. §. 1. AT sundry times and in diuers manners Heb 1 1 2 saith the Apostle God spake in the old time to our Fathers by the Prophets in these last dayes hee hath spoken vnto vs by his Sonne vvhom he hath made heire of all things by whom also he made the worlds Who beeing the brightnesse of the glorie
verse 3 4. and the ingraued forme of his person and bearing vp all thinges by his mightie word hath by himselfe purged our sinnes and sitteth at the right hande of the Maiestie in the highest places and is made so much more excellent then the Angels in asmuch as hee hath obtained a more excellent name then they For vnto which of the Angels said he at Heb 1 5 any time Thou art my sonne this day begate I thee And againe I will be his Father and he shall be my sonne Or vnto which also of the Angels said Heb 1 13. he at any time Sit at my right hande till I make thine enemies thy foote-stoole §. 2. By this man namely Christ vvere all Colos 1. 16 17. things created vvhich are in heauen and which are in earth things visible and invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers All things were created by him and for him and hee is before all things and in him all things consist Hee is the heade of the bodie of the verse 18 19 20. Church hee is the beginning and the first begotten of the dead that in all things hee might haue the preheminence For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulnes dwell and by him to reconcile all things vnto himselfe and to set at peace through the blood of his Crosse both the things in earth and the thinges in heauen Wherefore God hath also highly exalted Philip. 2 9. 10 11. him giuen him a Name aboue euery name that at the Name of Iesus euery knee should bow both of things in heauen and things in earth and things vnder the earth And that euery tongue shoulde confesse that Iesus Christ is the Lord vnto the glorie of God the Father For in him dwelleth all the fulnesse of Colos 2 9. the God-head bodily And in him are hidde all the treasures of Colos 2. 3. vvisedome and knowledge Vnto him is all power giuen both heauen and in earth Math. 28. 18 For the Father loueth the Sonne and Iohn 3 35 hath giuen all things into his hand The Father iudgeth no man but hath Ioh 5 22 23 committed all iudgement vnto the Sonne because that all men shoulde honour the Sonne as they honour the Father In his hand also are the keyes both of hell Reu 1 18. and of death And hee likewise hath the key of Dauid Reue. 3. 7. which openeth and no man shutteth and shutteth and no man openeth §. 3. VVherefore if any man be willing to Iohn 14 6. come vnto God our Sauiour Christ declareth himselfe to be the Way the Truth and the Light and that no man commeth vnto the Father but by him Hee is the doore by him if any man enter Iohn 10 9 in he shall be saued and shall goe in goe out and finde pasture He is the true light which lighteth euery Iohn 1 9 man that commeth into the world He is that preuailing seed of the woman Gene 3 15. which vvas promised in Paradise by God the Father vnto Adam that hee shoulde breake the head of the deuill He is that spirituall Rock of whō all our 1 Cor. 10. 3. Fathers did eate and drinke He is acknowledged and openly confessed Mark 5 7. by his greatest enemy to be the Sonne of the most high God Yea hee is confirmed by a voyce from Math 3 17 heauen to be that beloued sonne in whom God the Father is well pleased Hee is that sonne whom Dauid vvilleth Psalm 2 12 vs to kisse and embrace least he be angry and we perrish from the right way Hee is the Lord of Lordes and King of Reue 17 14 Kings and they that are on his side are called and chosen and faithfull Hee is the Lambe of God which taketh Iohn 1 29. away the sinnes of the world Hee is that kinde louing Samaritane Luke 10 34 which healed the wounded man that was found in the high-way halfe dead He is that gentle and compassionate Soueraigne Math 28 27 which freely forgaue his seruant the tenne thousand talents that hee owed vnto him He is that cheefe corner stone vvhich Acts 4 11 the Iewes counting themselues builders refused He is the Mediatour of the Newe-Testament Heb 12. 24. He is the end of the Lawe for righteousnesse Rom. 10. 4. vnto euery one that beleeueth Hee is the onely Mediatour betweene 1. Tim 2. 5. God and man He is both the power of God and the 1 Cor. 1. 24. wisedome of God He is our wisdome and righteousnesse 1 Cor. 1. 30 sanctification and redemption He is that Lord of life whom God hath Acts 3. 15. raised from the dead Hee * is our peace And the * Prince of Ephe. 2. 14. Heb 2. 10. our saluation He is the Sheepheard and Bishop of our 1 Pet. 2. 25. soules He is the Vine we are the branches Iohn 15 5 Heb 6 20. He is our high-priest for euer after the order of Melchisedecke Hee is our Aduocate vnto God the Father 1. Ioh 2 1 Hee is the reconciliation for our sinnes 1 Iohn 2 2 not for ours onely but also for the sinnes of the whole world Finally hee is the Authour and finisher Heb 12 2. of our fayth For without him we can do nothing Iohn 15. 5. §. 4. If any man thirst saith Christ let him Iohn 17 37 come vnto mee and drinke Hee that beleeueth in mee as sayth the verse 38 Scripture out of his belly shall flowe riuers of water of life I am the light of the world hee that followeth Iohn 8 12 mee shall not walke in darknesse but shall haue the light of life I am the bread of life hee that commeth Iohn 6. 35 to me shall not hunger and he that beleeueth in me shall neuer thirst I am that liuing bread which came down Iohn 6 51 from heauen of whom whosoeuer eateth hee shall liue for euer I am the resurrection the life hee that Iohn 11 25 26. beleeueth in me though he were dead yet shall hee liue and whosoeuer liueth beleeueth in mee shall neuer die ¶ Of Christes comming into the worlde and the seuerall causes thereof §. 1. WEe when vvee were children saith the Apostle were in bondage Gala 4 3 4 5. vnder the ordinaunces of the world But when the fulnes of time was come GOD sent foorth his Sonne made of a vvoman made bond vnto the law to redeeme them which were bond vnto the law that we through election might receiue the inheritance that belongeth vnto the naturall sonnes §. 2. Man liued in the worlde for a time saith S. Augustine without the Lawe written Augustine to teach him that he was not a law to himselfe and a certaine time vnder the Law to make him finde by proofe
mee Namely the comming of * the holy Ghost c. Iohn 14 26 §. 12. And when Iesus had spoken these things vnto his Apostles to the intent they might as well be eye-witnesses of his Ascention as records to the worlde of his Resurrection while * they beheld he was taken vp Acts. 1. 9. for a clowde tooke him out of their sight And for further suretie hereof then the bare sight of their eyes onely though that alone were of it selfe aboue all other most sufficient they heard with theyr eares the very same thing which they saw with theyr eyes further affirmed vnto them by tvvo heauenly witnesses for while they looked stedfastly after him towards heauen as hee went * behold two men stoode by thē in Acts 1 10. 11. white apparrell which also said Yee men of Galilee why stand yee gazing into heauen This Iesus which is taken vp from you into heauen shall so come as yee haue seene him goe into heauen Thus much onely to prooue according to the Scriptures the Passion Death Buriall Resurrection and Ascention of our Sauiour Christ VVhom * the Heauen Acts 3 21. must containe vntil the time that all things be restored vvhich GOD hath spoken by the mouth of all his holie Prophets since the vvorld began ¶ Of the seuerall benefites which wee haue by the Death Resurrection and Ascention of our Sauiour Christ. §. 1. AS by diuers places in the Booke of GOD we finde it manifestly affirmed that there is only but one God which alone by his owne almightie power hath made Heauen and Earth the Sea all that in them is So from the selfe same sacred Scriptures it may plainlie bee proued by the speech of the Apostle that there is onely but one Mediatour betweene God and man namely the man 1 Tim. 2. 5. 6. * Christ Iesus who gaue himselfe a raunsome for all men to be a testimonie in due time Hee alone died for our sinnes according 1 Cor. 15 3 4. to the Scriptures and he was buried and rose againe the third day according to the Scriptures Yea hee died for all that they vvhich 2 Cor 5 15 liue should not henceforth liue vnto themselues but vnto him which died for them and rose againe §. 2. Christ that he might kill death saith S. Augustine Augustine was clothed with death for death coulde not die but in life euen as that which is sower bitter dieth not but in that which is pleasant and sweet And as Elizeus made the yron to swim Cyrill which naturally sinketh so Christ by his death brought vs backe from the gates of hell which deseruedly we should haue entered Hee also by his owne death hath destroyed Heb. 2 14 15. him that had the power of death that is to say the deuil and hath deliuered all them which for feare of death remained all their life time subdued vnto bondage Yea he by his comming hath abolished 2 Tim 1 10 or put away death and brought life and immortalitie vnto light through the Gospell §. 3. O Death where is thy sting saith the 1 Cor 15 55 56 57 Apostle ô graue vvhere is thy victorie the sting of Death is sinne the strength of sinne is the Lawe but thankes be vnto God which hath giuen vs victory through our Lord Iesus Christ For hee onely deliuereth vs from the 1 Thes 1 10. wrath of God to come And to him also giue all the Prophets Acts 10 43. witnesse that through his Name all that beleeue in him should receiue the forgiuenesse of theyr sinnes §. 4. VVee were not redeemed as S. Peter 1 Pet 1 18 19 20. affirmeth with corruptible things as Siluer and Gold from our vaine conuersation which we receiued by the traditions of the Fathers but with the precious bloode of Christ as a Lambe vndefiled and without spot which was ordained before the foundation of the world but was declared in the last times c. VVho his owne selfe bare our sinnes in 1 Pet 2 24 his bodie on the tree that we being deliuered from sinne shoulde liue in righteousnesse by whose stripes we were healed For hee hath taken on him our infirmities Esay 53 4. and borne our paines He was wounded for our transgressions Esay 53 5 hee was broken for our iniquities The chastisement of our peace was vpon him and with his stripes we are made whole All wee like sheepe haue gone astray verse 6 we haue turned euery one to his own way and the Lord hath layde vpon him the iniquitie of vs all Yea God hath made him which knewe 2. Cor. 5 21. no sinne to be sinne for vs that we should be made the righteousnesse of GOD in him And those things which GOD before Acts 3 18 had shewed by the mouth of all his Prophets that Christ shoulde suffer the same hath hee fulfilled Yet was his death voluntary and not of Augustine constraint §. 5. Mankind laboureth in this world saith Bernard S. Bernard of a three-folde disease his birth his life his death The first vncleane the second sinfull the third dangerous but Christ by his cōming brought vnto vs three remedies Hee vvas borne hee liued he died His birth refined ours his life instructed ours his death ouercame ours And as a strong corrasiue layd to a sore Ierome eateth away all the rotten and dead fleshe so Christes death beeing applyed to the hart of a penitent sinner by fayth weakens consumes that corruption of sin which cleaueth so fast vnto our natures dwelleth within vs. §. 6. It was very needfull saith S. Augustine Augustine that Christ the sonne of God should both become man die for vs for two causes First to satisfie Gods iustice Secondly that hee might fulfill the truth of Gods VVord vvhich had saide That man eating the forbidden fruite shoulde die the death For surely if the sonne of God had not Beza come into the worlde in our nature sinne onely excepted and died vpon the Crosse to appease the wrath of God for mans offences wee should yet remaine subiect to eternall death and damnation But he hath loued vs hath giuen himselfe Ephe 5. 2 for vs to be an offering a sacrifice of a sweet smelling sauour vnto God Yea hee hath loued vs and washed vs Reue. 1 5. from our sinnes in his owne blood Hee also hath redeemed vs from the Gala 3 13. curse of the Law whē he was made a curse for vs. And hee likewise beeing rich for our 2. Cor 8. 9. sakes became poore that wee through his pouertie might be made rich §. 7. Christ saith S. Peter hath once suffered 1 Pet 3 18. for sinnes the iust for the vniust that he might bring vs to God and was put to death cōcerning the flesh but was quickned in the Spirit Yea euen when Christ suffered death Epiphanius
be searched out He only hath immortalitie dwelleth in 1 Tim 6 16 the light that none can attaine vnto whom neuer man saw neither can see He is Alpha and Omega the beginning Reue 22 13 and 1 8. and the end the first and the last which is and which was and which is to come euen the Almightie §. 5. Before me saith the Almightie there was Esay 43 10 11 13. no God formed neither shall there be after me I euen I am the Lord and beside me there is no Sauiour Yea before the daie was saith he I am and there is none that can deliuer out of mine hand I am the first and I am the last saith the Esay 44 6 Eternall without or besides me there is no other God I am the Lord that made all thinges that Esay 44 24 spred out the heauens alone and stretched out the earth by my selfe Yea I saith the euer-liuing God haue Esay 45 12. made the earth and created man vpon it Surely my hand hath layde the foundations Esay 48 13 of the earth and my right hand hath spanned the heauens when I call thē saith he they stand vp together §. 6. Vnderstand therfore this day cōsider Deut 4 39 as Moses saith in thy hart that the Lord our God he is God in heauen aboue vpon the earth beneath there is none other Hee is God of Gods Lord of Lords Deut 10 17 a great GOD mightie and terrible which accepteth no persons nor taketh rewarde who doth right vnto the fatherlesse widdow and loueth the stranger giuing him foode and rayment Yea the Lord our God as the same Moses Deut 6 4 saith vnto Israell is Lord onely And there is as the Apostle truelie affirmeth 1 Cor 8 4 none other God but one Though there bee that are called Gods 1 Cor 8 5 6 whether in heauen 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 all things and we in him and one Lord Iesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him ¶ Of the mightie power of God §. 1. THE Lord raigneth saith Dauid Psal 93 11 is clothed with maiestie the Lord our God is clothed and girded with power Who is like saith he or may be compared Psal 113 5 vnto the Lord our God which hath his dwelling on high Which couereth himselfe with light as Psal 104 2 3 4 5. with a garment and spreadeth out the heauens like a Curtaine VVhich layeth the beames of his Chambers in the waters and maketh the clowdes his Chariot and walketh vpon the winges of the wind Which maketh his spirits his messengers and a flaming fire his ministers Which giueth the Sunne for a light to Iere 31. 35 the day and the courses of the Moone and of the starres for a light to the night Which breaketh the Sea when the waues thereof do roare His Name as saith the Prophet is the Lord of Hostes Hee as the Psalmist saith is high aboue Psal 113 4 all Nations and his glory aboue the heauens Hee hath prepared his throne in heauen Psal 103 19 and his kingdome ruleth ouer all Hee by his power hath placed the earth Lactantius vpon her firme foundations And he hath set bounds about the vvaters Iob 26 10 vntill the day night come to an end §. 2. There is a GOD saith Cicero which Cicero doth rule and gouerne all thinges which maintaineth the course of the Starres the changes of times the alteration order of all things beholding both Sea and Land Who also plainely seeth both the liues and doings of all men that dwel vpon the earth and whatsoeuer else hath any being in the vvorld The same God is our God as Baruch Baruch 3 35 the Scribe saith and there shal none other be compared vnto him For hee it is vvhich hath prepared the Baruch 3 32 earth for euermore hath filled the same with foure-footed beastes Hee it is which by his ovvne almighty Mar. Bucer power hath created all kinde of creatures and by his wonderful prouidence they liue and are preserued Yea hee as Daniell saith is the liuing Dan 6 26 God remaineth for euer his kingdome shall neuer perrish and his dominion shall be euerlasting Hee also it is which rescueth deliuereth verse 27 and he worketh signes and wonders in heauen and in earth VVhen hee sendeth out the light it goeth Baruch 3 33 and when hee calleth it againe it obeyeth him with feare The starres also shine in their watch and verse 34. reioyce and when hee calleth them they say Heere wee be and so with cheerefulnesse they shewe light vnto him that made them §. 3. He that formeth the Mountaines sayth Amos 4 13 Amos and createth the winde and declareth vnto man what is his thought vvhich maketh the morning darknesse and walketh vpon the hie places of the earth the Lord God of Hostes is his Name Nahum 1 3 He hath his way in the whirle-wind and in the storme and the Clowdes are the dust of his feete Psal 104 32 He looketh on the earth it trembleth hee toucheth the Mountaines and they smoake Esay 40 22 Yea hee sitteth as Esay sayth vpon the circle of the earth the inhabitants of the whole world in comparison of him are as it were a companie of Grashoppers Hee stretcheth out the heauens as a Curtaine spreadeth them out as a Tent to dwell in verse 23 24. Hee bringeth the Princes to nothing maketh the Iudges of the earth as vanitie As though they were not planted as thogh they were not sowen as though their stock tooke no roote in the earth For as soone as he bloweth vpon thē they wither and fade away as the stubble doth in a whirlewind Hee also is wise in heart and mightie Iob 9 4 in strength For vvho as Iob saith hath been fierce against him hath prospered Hee remooueth the Mountaines and they verse 5 6 7 8. feele not when hee ouerthroweth them in his wrath he remooueth the earth out of her place that the pillars thereof doe shake He commaundeth the Sunne and it riseth not he closeth vp the starres as vnder a signet Hee himselfe alone spreadeth out the heauens and walketh vppon the height of the Sea c. He doth great things and vnsearchable Iob 9 10. 11 12 yea meruailous thinges without number Loe when he goeth by mee I see him not and when hee passeth by I perceiue him not Behold when hee taketh a pray who can make him to restore it Or who shal say vnto him What doost thou For all Nations before him are as nothing Esay 40 17 and they are counted to him lesse then nothing and vanitie §. 4. Againe The Lord our GOD as Dauid
make whole and there is none that can deliuer out of mine hand I destroy the tokens of the Soothsayers Esay 44. 25 and make them that coniecture fooles I turne the Wisemen backward and make theyr knowledge foolishnes I forme the light and create darknesse Esay 45 7. I make peace and create euill I the Lord saith hee doe all these things §. 8. Our God is in heauen faith Dauid and Psal 115. 3 he doth whatsoeuer pleaseth him The heauen is his seate and the earth is Esay 66. 1. his footestoole Hee remaineth for euer his throne is Lam. 5 19. frō generation to generation * And there 1. Sam. 2 2. is no God like our God For hee as Salomon saith hath the Wisd 16. 13 power of life and death he leadeth down euen to the gates of hell and bringeth vp againe §. 9. God that made the world and all things Acts 17 24 25. that are therein saith the Apostle seeing that he is Lord of heauen and earth dwelleth not in Temples made with hands neither is he worshipped with mens hands as though he needed any thing seeing he giueth to all life and breath and all things For in him we liue and mooue and haue verse 28. our beeing Yea hee as Plato saith by his almighty Plato power is in all things and in euery part of the world by his prouidence all things are preserued gouerned and moued and hee himselfe is of none other either mooued or gouerned but is the first incomprehensible mouer The eyes of all things waite vpon him Psalm 145. 15 16. and he giueth them theyr foode in due season hee openeth his hand and filleth with his blessing euery liuing thing But if he hide his face they are troubled Psalm 104 29. if hee take away their breath they die and returne to their dust For in his hand is the soule of euerie lyuing Iob 12. 10. thing and the breath of all mankind §. 10. The earth is the Lords saith Dauid and Psal 24. 1 all that therein is the world is his and so are all they that dwell therein Prosperitie and aduersitie life and death Ecclus 11 14 15. pouertie and riches come of the Lorde Wisedome and knowledge and vnderstanding of the Lawe are all of the Lord loue and good workes come of him For hee only is the Authour of all goodnesse Hermes and the giuer of all good gifts Yea euery good and perfect gift as Saint Iames. 1. 17. Iames saith is from aboue and commeth downe from the Father of lights with whō is no variablenesse neyther shadowe by turning For the diuine nature and substance of Aristotle God suffereth neither change nor end because as Aristotle truly sayth it is both immutable and infinite §. 11. To come to preferment also is neyther Psalm 75. 6 7. from the East nor from the West nor yet from the South but the Lorde as Dauid saith is the Iudge hee putteth downe whō he will and hee setteth vp whom hee pleaseth It is the Lorde that giueth and it is the Iob 1 21 Lord that taketh away euen as it pleaseth the Lord so commeth things to passe §. 12. VVe read in the second booke of chronicles that when Asa King of Iudah was 2. Chron. 14 9 10 11. vrged to giue battaile against an Armie of tenne hundred thousand Ethiopians first before he beganne the fight hee made his humble supplication to the Almighty and in his prayer to shewe that the conquest consisted not in the great companie of his enemies souldiers but only in the might power of him that made both heauen and earth he said Help vs ô Lord our God It is nothing with thee to saue with manie or with no power helpe vs ô Lorde our God for we rest on thee and in thy Name saith hee are wee come against this multitude Ionathan likewise venturing by stealth 1. Sam. 14 6 to set vppon the Philistians garison at vnawares and beeing accompanied with none but onely his Armor bearer for his better encouragement he told him that it was not hard with the Lord to saue with many or with few For the victorie of the battell dependeth 1. Mac. 3. 19. not on the many thousands that are in the host but the strength commeth from heauen And is onely at his pleasure to be disposed whose power as * Iudith saith standeth Iudith 9 11. not in the multitude of Souldiers nor his might in strong men As may more at large be perceiued by reading the happy successe which folowed the enterprises of the aforesaide King Asa and Ionathan the Sonne of Saule against theyr enemies §. 13. Another example also concerning the power of Almightie God in this poynt is set downe in the booke of Iudges where Iudges 7 12 Gedion beeing appointed by the Lord to goe fight against the Midianites which were so mightie an host that as the Text sayth they lay in the valley like a company of Grashoppers and theyr Cammels were without number as is the sand by the Sea-side for multitude mustred vp an Armie Iuges 7. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. of thirty two thousand men And when he had done thus the Lord God called vnto him and said Gedion the people that are with thee are too many for me to giue the Midianites into theyr handes least Israell make their vaunt against me say Mine hand hath saued me Now therefore saith the most Mightie proclaime in the audience of the people and say Whosoeuer he be that is timerous or fearefull let him returne and depart Then saith the Text there departed of the people twentie two thousand and ten thousand remained And the Lord called againe vnto Gedion and sayd The people are yet too manie bring them therefore downe vnto the water I will try them for thee there and of whom I say vnto thee this man shal goe with thee the same shall goe with thee and of whomsoeuer I say vnto thee this man shall not goe with thee the same shall not goe So Gedion according as he was commaunded brought downe the people to the water and the Lord said vnto him As many as thou shalt see to lap the water with theyr tongues as a dogge lappeth put thē by themselues and euery one that shal bow downe on his knees to drinke put them likewise apart Now among those tenne thousand that came to the water to drink there was found but onely three hundred which lapped the vvater by putting their handes to theyr mouthes by which 300. men God most miraculously saued Israel deliuered the Midianites into their hands So that both by this example the former that sentence of our Sauiour is verified where hee sayth * The things which Luke 18 27 are vnpossible with men are possible with GOD. And surelie as Plato sayth hee alone is Plato most worthy to be taken for
and my sword shall eate flesh for the blood of the slaine and of the captiues when I begin to take vengeance on the enemy And to make yet a little more manifest the might of our God and his preuailing power against the disturbers of his peoples peace the Prophet Dauid after his victories obtained in foure great battailes which 2 Sam 2â— hee had with the Philistians declareth the same most pithilie in the second booke of Samuell by the description of a tempest saying In my * trouble did I cal vpon the 2. Sam. 22. 7. Lord and cry to my God and hee heard my voyce out of his Temple and my cry did enter into his eares Then the earth trembled quaked the verse 8 9. 10 11. c. foundations of the heauens mooued and shooke because hee was angry Smoake went out of his nostrils consuming fire out of his mouth coales vvere kindled therat He bowed the heauens also came downe and darknesse was vnder his feete He rode vpon the Cherub and did flie and he was seene vppon the wings of the wind He made darknes a Tabernacle rounde about him with waters gathered together in thicke clowdes At the brightnesse of his presence the coales of fire were kindled the Lord thundred from heauen the most High gaue his voyce hee shot arrowes and scattered them to wit he sent lightning destroyed them The chanels also of the Sea appeared and the foundations of the world were discouered by reason of the rebuking of the Lord thorow the blast of the breath of his nostrils c. §. 21. By the which speech of the Prophet sundry other like precedent places to this purpose euery Christian Reader may indifferently perceiue the power of his Preseruer and by often contemplating the same be the better encouraged according to the example of holy Ieremie boldlie to confesse his Makers almightines saying There * is none like vnto thee ô Lord our Ierem 10 6 God thou onely art great and thy Name is great in power VVho woulde not feare thee ô King of verse 7 8. Nations For vnto thee appertaineth the dominion Among all the Wisemen of the Gentiles and in all theyr Kingdoms there is none like thee but altogether they doate and are foolish For the stock is a doctrine of vanitie But thou ô Lorde hast euer had great strength might and who can withstand Wisd 11. 18 19. the power of thine arme For as the small thing that the ballance wayeth so is the world before thee and as a droppe of the morning dewe that falleth downe vppon the ground Thine ô Lord is greatnes power and 1. Chro. 29 11. glory and victory and prayse for all that is in heauen and in earth is thine Both riches honour come of thee and 1. Chro. 29 12. thou raignest ouer all In thine hande also is power and might and in thine hand it is to make great to giue strength vnto all ¶ Of the Wisedome of God §. 1. WHere saith Iob is Wisedome Iob 28 12 13 14. to be founde Or where is the place of Vnderstandings habitation Surely no man can tell saith he how worthy a thing Wisedome is neither is shee to be founde in the Land of them that liue The deepe saith shee is not with me the Sea saith shee is not with mee Shee cannot bee gotten for the purest verse 15. 16 gold neither may the price of her be valued with any siluer She shall not be bought with the wedge of the gold of Ophir noâ— vvith the precious Onix nor the Saphir No Golde nor Christall may be compared verse 17 18 vnto her neither shal her exchange be for plate of the finest Golde For perfect Wisedome is more worth then any Golde or Pearles c. From whence then coÌ„meth Wisedome Iob 28 20. 21. and where is the place of Vnderstanding Seeing shee is hid from the eyes of all men liuing and from the foules of the ayre Destruction and Death say VVee haue verse 22 23 24 c. heard the fame of her with our eares but it is GOD that vnderstandeth her way he knoweth her place For hee beholdeth the ends of the world and looketh vpon all that is vnder heauen VVhen he wayed the windes and measured verse 25 26 27. c. the waters when he set the rayne in order and gaue the mighty floods a lawe then did hee see her then declared hee her prepared her and knew her And vnto man he sayd Behold to feare the Lord is Wisedome and to depart froÌ„ euill is Vnderstanding §. 2. There is one wise saith Sirach euen the Ecclê° 1 8 9 most high God the Creator of all things the Almightie the King of power glorie and maiestie of whoÌ„ men ought to stand greatly in awe vvhich sitteth vppon his throne Hee is the Lord that hath created Wisedome through the holy Ghost Hee hath seene her numbred her and measured her He also hath powred her out vppon all verse 10 flesh according to his gift and hee giueth her aboundantly vnto theÌ„ that loue him It is likewise the lord our God alone that by wisedome as Salomon saith hath layd Prou 3 19 20. the foundation of the earth and stablished the heauens through vnderstanding By his knowledge the deepes are broken vp and the clowdes drop downe the dew Hee onely as S. Augustine saith is the Augustine Author of all perfect wisedome knowledge and he of his goodnes giueth wisedome vnderstanding vnto whoÌ„ it pleaseth him Science as Aristotle saith may be had Aristotle by diligence but wisedome and discretion commeth from God For hee giueth vvisedome out of his Prou 2 6 mouth commeth knowledge and vnderstanding Yea all wisedome commeth from God Ecclus 1 1 and hath beene euer with him and is with him for euer §. 3. Wisedom as Sirach saith hath been created Ecclus 1 4 froÌ„ the beginning and the vnderstanding of Prudence from euerlasting Shee is the mother of beautifull loue of Ecclus 24 20 21 feare of knowledge and of holy hope In her is all grace life and truth and in her is all hope of life and vertue For shee as Salomon saith is the breath Wisd 7 25 of the power of God a pure influence that floweth from the Almightie therfore can no defiled thing come vnto her Yea Shee is the brightnes of the euerlasting verse 26 light the vndefiled mirrour of the maiestie of God the Image of his goodnesse Shee beeing one can doe all things and verse 27 beeing stedfast herselfe shee reneweth all and according to the ages she entereth into the holie soules and maketh them the freendes of God and Prophets For GOD loueth no man but him in verse 28 whom Wisedome dwelleth Wherefore if any man lacke Wisedom Iames 1 5 let him as the Apostle counselleth aske it of God
Iohn 3 3. saith Christ hee cannot see the kingdome of God That is as our Sauiour himselfe expoundeth it Except that a man bee borne of Water and of the Spirit hee cannot enter into the kingdome of God That which is borne of the flesh is flesh Iohn 3 6 and that that is borne of the Spirit is Spirite A man can receiue nothing except it be Iohn 3 27. giuen him from heauen §. 17. Why doe men then presume so much Augustine of the possibilitie of nature saith S. Augustine seeing it is wounded it is â—â—angled it is troubled it is lost It behoueth vs rather truly to confesse it then falsely to defend it For in our flesh the euill lurketh and Bullenger out of vs iniquitie ariseth Whereupon the Apostle in his Epistle to the Romaines saith * I know that in mee that is in my Rom 7 18 19. flesh dwelleth no good thing For to wil is present with mee but I finde no meanes to performe that which is good For I do not the good thing which I would but the euill which I would not that doe I. Also it furthermore seemeth that the verie coÌ„sideration of this our weake sinfull nature where-vnto we are yoked was the only cause which enforced the same Apostle within 5. verses following vehemently to breake forth into these speeches saying O wretched man that I am vvho shall deliuer Rom 7 24. mee from the body of this death But comforting recouering himselfe through faith in his Redeemer he presently maketh this reply in the next verse after saying * I giue thanks vnto God through Rom. 7 25. Iesus Christ our Lord. For hee deliuereth vs from the wrath of 1 The. 1. 10 God to come And GOD hath giuen vs the victorie 1 Cor. 15 57. through him Yea the victory is wholely gotten in his Augustine Name that hath taken man vpon him and hath liued without sinne that in him and through him being both the Priest the Sacrifice remission forgiuenes of sinnes should be obtained and giuen That is to say by the Mediatour of GOD and Man that man Iesus Christ by whom the purging of our sinnes beeing made wee are reconciled vnto God For men bee not seperated from God but by sinnes whereof the purging is not made or which are not purged in this life by our owne vertue and strength but by the mercie of God by his pardon clemencie and not by our own power For the same small vertue and strength that is called ours is graunted and giuen vnto vs by the mercifull goodnesse of Almightie GOD. Thus much onely to shewe vvhat Man is of himselfe by nature ¶ Of the shortnesse and vncertaintie of Mans life §. 1. IT followeth next to be coÌ„sidered what the life of Man is and so consequently how short and vncertaine the same To beginne therefore first with Mans life vve finde in the fourth of S. Iames that the Apostle doth not there compare or liken it to smoake but plainly saith * It is euen Iames 4 14. a vapour or smoake that appeareth for a little time and afterward vanisheth awav We read also in the second Booke of Samuell that the subtile woman of Tekoah pleading with King Dauid for the reconcilement 2. Sam. 14. 4 of his sonne compareth the life of Man to no better thing then water spilt vppon the ground which being once down can neuer be gathered vp againe Besides the Prophet Esay with the afore-said S. Iames S. Peter doe all three agree in one sentence about the life of man Esay 40 6. lames 1. 10. 1. Pet. 1 24 saying * All flesh is grasse and the glorie of man is as the flower of grasse Euen as a flower of the fielde so florisheth Psalm 103 15 16. Man for the winde goeth ouer it and it is gone and the place thereof shall know it no more §. 2. Man that is borne of a woman saith Iob Iob. 14 1 2. is of short continuaunce and full of trouble hee shooteth forth like a flower and is cut downe he vanisheth also as a shadow and continueth not The daies of his life are determined the Iob 14 5. number of his monthes are known to thee ô Lorde thou hast appointed him his boundes beyonde the which hee cannot passe §. 3. The time of Mans life saith the Psalmist Psal 90 10 is threescore yeeres and tenne and if they be of strength foure-score yeeres yet their strength is but labour sorrow for it is cutte off quickly and we flee away If the number of a Mans dayes doe amount Ecclê° 18. 8 to an hundred yeres it is very much And no man liuing hath any certaine knowledge of his death But euen as fishes when they think theÌ„selues Ecclesi 9. 12 in most safetie are taken vvith the hooke and as birdes are caught in a snare when they thinke nothing lesse so death suddainly smiteth men in an euill season when * Granado they are least mindfull of any such matter §. 4. Now if we consider by the authoritie of these few former places onely what and hovve short the life of Man is seeing the longest terme thereof according to the saying of the Psalmist passeth not threescore and tenne or foure-score yeeres for all the rest if any mans life be drawne a little longer is but labour and sorrow and Granado abate out of this saith Granado the time of our infancie vvhich is rather a lyfe of beasts then men and withall the time that we spend in sleep at which instant we haue not the vse of our sences and reason vvee shall finde that this life of ours is a great deale shorter then it seemeth vnto vs. For wee cannot well reckon the time of our infancie for any part of our life because the life of infancie when we are not yet come to the vse of reason which only sheweth vs to be men is as it were the lyfe of a young Goate that goeth wantonly about leaping and skipping in diuers places at pleasure And especially because we plainly perceiue that in all that age there is nothing either learned or doone that may well beseeme the dignitie of a man And as for the time we spend in sleepe that may much lesse bee counted any part of our life seeing it is the coÌ„mon custome of men to sleepe the third part of the day and night which is eyght vvhole howres VVhere-vppon it followeth by thys account that the third part of our life is consumed in sleepe and so consequently that during that time we doe not liue Besides all this if wee doe compare thys life of ours with the eternitie of the life to come which endureth euerlastingly we shall finde that it vvill scarcely seeme so much as a minute Very well therefore and aduisedlie did that Philosopher write vvho likened the life of man to lightning which coÌ„tinueth Crates but a
and maketh request for vs. Sathan and his Angels are fallen and Augustine haue no Sauiour but Man falling had through the great mercy of God a Mediatour and Sauiour to restore him namely Iesus Christ VVho as he stoode in our roome vpon Ambrose the Crosse and made satisfaction vnto his Father for our sinnes so nowe in heauen hee appeares as a publique person in our stead representing all the Elect that beleeue in him Yea the selfe same Christ vvhich dyed Augustine for vs heere vpon the earth maketh intercession vnto his Father for vs now in heauen And whatsoeuer his request was in our Ambrose behalfe heere on earth the same for substance it continues still in heauen §. 6. Before the fall of Adam saith S. Ierome Ierâ—me man could speak to God face to face but now Christ is his Intercessour And thys worke of intercession is the sole worke of Christ God and man not belonging to any other creature besides either in heauen or earth The worke of Christes Passion serueth Chrisostome as a satisfaction vnto Gods iustice for our offences and is as it were the tempering of the plaister by which wee may be healed but Intercession goeth further for it applieth the same satis-faction of Christ to vs and layeth the very salue to the sore of euerie penitent sinner Besides the vvorke of Christes Intercession Chrisostome or Mediation serueth not onely to preserue all repentant sinners in the estate of grace that beeing once sanctified and iustified they may so continue to the end but it also maketh our workes acceptable in the sight of GOD and causeth him to account them righteous through our faith in Christ §. 7. Christ our Sauiour beeing both our Heb 9 24 high Priest and Mediatour as the Apostle in his Epistle to the Hebrewes calleth him is not entred into the holy places that are made with hands which are similitudes of the true Sanctuary but is entred into heauen it selfe to appeare nowe in the sight of GOD for vs. Not that hee should offer himselfe often verse 25 26. as the High-priest among the Iewes entred into the Holy place euery yeere vvith other blood for then must he haue often suffered since the foundation of the world but nowe in the end of the world hath he appeared once to put away sinne by the sacrifice of himselfe And as it is appointed vnto men that verse 27 28. they shall once die and after that coÌ„meth the iudgement so Christ was once offered to take away the sinnes of many and vnto them that looke for him shall hee appeare the second time without sinne vnto saluation Againe among the Ievves many vvere Hebr. 7 23. made Priestes because they were not suffered to endure by reason of death but this man Christ because hee endureth euer hath an euerlasting priest-hood VVherefore verse 24. 25 he is able also perfectly to saue them that come vnto God by him seeing he euer liueth to make intercession for them For such an High-priest it became vs to verse 26. 27. haue which is holie harmelesse vndefiled separate froÌ„ sinners and made higher then the heauens which needed not daily as those High-priestes to offer vp sacrifice first for his owne sinnes and then for the peoples for that did he once when he offered vp himselfe §. 8. The same Christ likewise being come Hebr 9 11. 12. an High-priest of good things to come by a greater and a more perfit Tabernacle not made with hands that is to say not of this building neyther by the blood of Goates and Calues but by his owne blood entred he in once into the holy place obtained eternall redemption for vs. For if the blood of Bulles of Goates verse 13. 14. and the Ashes of an Heifer sprinckling them that are vncleane sanctifieth as touching the purifying of the flesh hovve much more shal the blood of Christ which through the eternall Spirit offered himselfe without spot to God purge our coÌ„science from dead works to serue the liuing God And for this cause is he the Mediatouâ— of verse 15. the newe Testament that thorowe death which was for the redemption of the transgressions that vvere in the former Testament they which were called might receiue the promise of eternall inheritance For where as is a Testament there must verse 16 17 also be the death of him that made the Testament For the Testament is confirmed when men are dead and is yet of no force so long as he that made the same remaineth aliue c. §. 9. Doubtlesse saith S. Paule one wil scarse Rom 5 7 die for a righteous man but yet for a good man it may be that one dare die But God setteth out his loue towards vs verse 8 9 seeing that vvhile vvee vvere yet sinners Christ dâ—ed for vs. Much more then beeing now iustified by his blood we shall be saued from wrath through him For if when we were enemies wee were verse 10 reconciled to God by the death of his Son much more beeing reconciled we shall be saued by his life And not onely so but vvee also reioyce verse 11. in GOD through our Lord Iesus Christ by vvhom vvee haue novve receiued the attonement For God hath not appoynted vs vnto 1 Thes 5 9 10. vvrath but to obtaine saluation by the meanes of our Lorde Iesus Christ vvhich died for vs that vvhether wee vvake or sleepe we should liue together with him Wherefore if any man sinne wee haue 1 Ioh. 2 1 2. an Aduocate with the Father Iesus Christ the iust hee is the reconciliation for our sinnes and not for ours onely but also for the sinnes of the whole world By him vvee haue redemption through Ephe 1 7 8 his blood euen the forgiuenesse of sinnes according to his rich grace vvhereby hee hath beene abundant toward vs in all wisedome and vnderstanding By him we are made the sonnes of God Iohn 1 12. if wee beleeue in his Name And of his fulnes haue all wee receiued verse 16 euen grace for grace By his blood also wee may be bold to Heb 10. 19 20. enter into the Holy place by the newe and liuing way which he hath prepared for vs through the vaile that is his flesh For we are made partakers of Christ if Heb 3 14 we keepe sure vnto the end the beginning where-with we are vpholden And we are iustified freely by the grace Rom. 3 24. 25. of God through the redemption that is in Christ Iesus whom God hath set forth to be a reconciliation through faith in his blood For the blood of Iesus Christ the sonne 1. Iohn 1. 7. of God clenseth vs from all sinne And without sheading of blood is no Heb 9 22. remission §. 10. Seeing then that we haue a great High-priest Heb 4 14 vvhich is entred into Heauen euen Iesus
of the glory of God Neytheâ— doe weâ—soâ— onely but also vvee Rom 5 3 â— 4. 5. reioyce in tribulations knowing thaâ— tribulatioâ— bringeth forth patience and patience experience and experience hope and hope maketh not ashamed because the loue of GOD 〈◊〉 abroade in our harts by the holy Ghost which is giuen â—nto vs. Thus much for fiâ—â—th onely §. 14. NOwe as we finde true fayth in Iesus Christ to be the chiefe onely means of our iustification so may vvee likewise certainly assure our selues that it is also the very vvell-spring or Fountaine 〈◊〉 whence alâ—â—e all good works â—oe flow For surely it is as much impossible for true â—ayth to be without good workes as it is for a man to speake without a toâ—â—gâ—e to see wanting eyes or to liue lacking a hart Aâ— example further to confirme vs in the vndoubtâ—d truth â—eereof may be read in the story of Zaccheâ—s who had no sooner â—â—câ—iued Christâ—into his house and much mâ—re into his â—art by fayth but presently hee brake forth into these spâ—â—ches saying â— Behold Lord the halfe of â—â—y Luke 19 8 goodâ—â— giue vnto the pâ—ore and if I haue taken from any man by false or vnlawfull meanes â— restore him foure fold Againe vvhat 〈◊〉 it my Brâ—â—heren Iam 2 14. 15 16 17 saith â— Iames though 〈◊〉 say â—ee hath fayth when â—ee hath no works Caâ— that fayth saue him For if a brother or a sister be naked and dâ—stituâ—â— of daily fâ—â—de and one of you say vnto theÌ„ Depart in peace God send you warmnes and foode Notwithstanding you giue them not those things which are needfull to the body what helpeâ—h 〈◊〉 Euen so the â—ayth if it haue no workâ—â— iâ— dead in itselfe But some man might say Thou hast the Iames 2 18 â—aith and I haue workes Shewe mee thy faith out of thy workes and I will shewe thee my faith by my workes Thou beleeuest that there is one God verse 19. thou doost well the deuils also beleeue it and tremble But wilt thou vnderstand ô thou vayne verse 20 21 22 man that faith vvithout workes is dead VVas not Abraham our Father iustified through workes when he offered Isaac his sonne vpon the Altar Seest thou not that the fayth wrought vvith his workes and through the works was the faith made perfect And the Scripture was fulfilled which verse 23 saith Abraham beleeued God and it was imputed vnto him for righteousnes he was called the friend of God Yee see then how that of workes a man verse 24 is iustified and not of faith onely For as the body vvithout the Spirit is verse 26. dead euen so the fayth without workes is dead §. 15. Wee must not yet heere thinke that the Augustine sayings of the two Apostles S. Paule and S. Iames are contrary one to the other where as Paule saith A man is iustified without workes And Iames saith Fayth without workes is vaiâ—e For Paule speaketh of the workes that goe before fayth and Iames speaketh of the vvorkes vvhich follovve after fayth Our Religion likewise doth not discerne Augustine the righteous from the vnrighteous by the lawe of workes but by the lawe of faith vvithout the which euen those works that seeme good are turned into sinnes For vvhatsoeuer is not of fayth is sinne Rom 14 23 And where faith is not good vvorkes is Augustine not The intent indeede maketh a good worke but fayth directeth that intent Besides good workes make no man to be accounted iust or righteous in the sight of God but a man being once iustified by faith doth good workes through loue Also in Iesus Christ neither Circumcision Gala 5 6. auaileth any thing neither vncircumcision but fayth which worketh by loue For like as the goodnesse of a Tree is Luther alwayes knowne by the good fruite which it bringeth foorth euen so the fayth of a godly man is euermore declared vnto the world by his religious obedience towards the law of GOD and his workes of charitie towards his neighbour VVee are iustified therfore by that Beza liuely fayth which doth apprehend all the mercifull promises of God made towards vs in Iesus Christ VVhich fayth neyther sleepeth nor is Beza idle but alwayes awaketh and is continually busied about the performing of some good worke Resting fully perswaded that good Bernard vvorkes are the vvay to the kingdome of heauen though they be not the cause of raigning there ¶ Of Feare §. 1. FEare as Pacuuius saith is a diuine Pacuuius affection or passion of the minde by a feeling regard conducting vertue to all the actions of the soule It groweth from an vndoubted beleefe in GOD and maketh a man carefull to lead his lyfe pleasing in the sight of his Creator But before I enter any further into the discourse of this Vertue I am to enforme the Reader that there are two sorts of Feare The one Seâ—uile or slauish the other Fâ—liall or chyld-like The Seruile or slauish feare is that which euery bond-man beareth to his bodilie Maister or wicked offenders to wise Iudges This feare is also a defect of the minde and a harmefull hinderance to all vertuous resolutions killing courage by cowardise and pietie through distrustment It many times causeth the tongue to controle the hart and maketh the mouth to marre the meaning of the minde It teacheth men to talke according to the time and enforceth faint-harted subiects to sooth the sinnes of their Soueraigne Like vnto those people of whom Plutarch Plutarch speaketh Whose hearts saith hee harbour hatred against an vngodly Tyrant for his bad gouernement yet notwithstanding with the labour of their lyps they neuer cease fearefully to flatter him in his folly to the end hee should not hurt them But the Filiall or Chyld-like Feare vvhereof I onely meane in this place to speak is a diuine chastiser of euill in it selfe hauing in it such force that it causeth concupiscence to flie and maketh a man to abstaine from all sinne and wickednes It dependeth not on hate but on loue not resembling the feare of seruaunts but the feare of sonnes not like the trembling and despayring feare of * Saule when sathan in 1 Sam 28 19 20 the forme of Samuell fore-told him how little awhile he had to liue But rather like the reuerent and religious feare of Dauid * when hee kept Abishaâ— his Captaine froÌ„ 1 Sam 26. 9 killing the Lords annoynted This 〈◊〉 feare as wee finde in diuers places of the holy Scripture hath alwaies been a guide vnto the godly to direct their dooings and a Tutor to teach them the perfect pathway to eternall felicitie §. 2. Plato the Prince of Phylosophers affirmeth Plato that this excellent feare was so excellently excelling in the harts of the Heathen that in Sparta they built a Temple to true Feare in which they daily vsed to burne thevâ— first sacrifice
offences out by repentance which hee hath coÌ„mitted and cease to renew those sinnes againe which he now is sorry for For those sinnes shall neuer be condemned Leo. in iudgement which were purged before with confession true repentance Neither is Iesus Christ any longer theyr Cassiodoruâ— Iudge but their Aduocate vvho accuse themselues by their owne confession So that confession ioyned with true contrition Augustine openeth the gates of heauen and stoppeth the mouth of hell §. 11. Satisfaction beeing the third last part Augustine of repentance is cheefely to cutte off the causes of such sinnes as in former time we haue loued not to cherrish henceforth by suggestions any entrance into them For wee doe not truly satis-fie although Gregory wee cease from iniquitie vnlesse wee persecute by opposite bewailings the euils which heere-to-fore wee haue most affected endeuour with all our might daily to with-stand all such kind of pleasures as prouoke men to sin and wickednes Wee ought also to vnderstand that in Phil. Mel. the worke of true repentance satis-faction is to be made three seuerall waies First vnto God to wit when through faith and confidence wee humbly present our selues in prayer before him and earnestly intreate his maiestie that he will vouchsafe to accept the passion and death of his Sonne Christ as a perfect full and sufficient satisfaction for all the sinnes which we haue committed Secondly satis-faction is to be made vnto the Church after Excommunication for such offences as we haue done testifying thereby both in the sight of God and man our humble submission and vnfained repentance Thirdly satisfaction ought to be made vnto our neighbour or brother if we haue any way wronged him either in vvord or deede namely thus hee must be recompensed by confessing the fault vnto him and restitution must likewise be made according to the damage we haue done him otherwise our repentance is greatly to bee suspected of hipocrisie if beeing able we make not recompence by restitution Againe in making satis-faction the reconciliation Chrisostome ought to be equall to the precedent offence and thou oughtest to bee as ready to lament as thou wast to offend And as thine intent was before to offend such also ought now thy deuotion to be in repenting For according to the greatnes of thy sinnes ought the greatnesse of thy greefe sorrowe to be and as thy delight and loue was before to those things which were euill so ought now thy hatred lothing to be against those things vvhich are euill §. 12. Vnderstanding novve by these fevve former speeches vvhat true repentance is * Let vs according to the counsell which Lament 3. 40 41. the Prophet Ieremie giueth search try our wayes and turne againe vnto the Lord. Let vs lift vp our harts with our hands vnto God in the heauens Yea let vs as Erasmus willeth returne Erasmus againe vnto the Lord our God with hartie sorrow and true repentance humbly confessing before him the faultes which vvee haue committed and earnestly desiring of him that hee vvill alvvaies heereafter so strengthen vs with his grace that wee may daily more more dutifully becom obedient to his holy will euer study to please him our whole life time following For if we acknowledge our sinnes God 1 Ioh 1 9. is faithfull and iust to forgiue vs our sinnes and to clense vs from all vnrighteousnes Hee that hideth his sinnes shall not prosper Prou 28. 13 but hee that confesseth forsaketh them shall haue mercie Wherfore if the testimony of thine own Pacuuius conscience doe at any time accuse vexe or trouble thee for any euill conceiued or done confesse thy fault speedily deferre not the time dally not with God but bee earnestly repentant trust in his mercy and seeke not to hide thine iniquity from him so will he haue compassion on thee not impute sinne vnto thee Besides when thou truly repentest and askest pardon of God for thine offences Boâ—tius then cannot thy sinnes disquiet thee nor haue any power to hurt thee But vvhen thou art vnrepentant and ceaâ—est to call for mercie then thy sinnes rage ouer thee and cry dailie vnto God for vengeance against thee Also the sinne that is not foorth-with Gregory clensed and purged by repentance doth speedily draw on another with his weight Sleepe not therefore without repentance Plato for thy sinnes done and past §. 13. It behooueth a man so to liue saith Basill Basill that hee looke for death euery howre and to be alwaies in a readines for the comming of death For as God findeth thee to bee when he Gueuara calleth thee so will he iudge thee And as the tree falleth so shall it be taken Eccles 11 3. vp Trouble not thy selfe then with taking Sâ—crates thought how thou maist liue long but rather be careful to liue well and forasmuch as thou arâ— vncertaine in what place Death abideth foâ— thee be thou ready prepared in eacâ— placâ— to mâ—â—te him Let not thy â—eaâ— be layde downe to rest Isidore before thou hast considered how thou hast bestowed the day past If thou hast vvell done giue thanks to God if otherwise repent and aske him forgiuenesse Also if thou intend to doe well deferre Plato it not till to morow for thou knowest not what may chaunce vnto thee this night Neuer trust too much to time for it suddainlie Hermes deceiueth them that trust thereto Thinke not that another time vvill be Rauisius soone enough for thee to repent if thou now feele thy conscience touched with the remembrance of thy sinne For although we finde that God in many Gregory places of his holy Word hath promised pardon to the penitent yet we no where read that euer hee promised to morrowe vnto a sinner §. 14. Certainly saith Aurelius those men Mar. Aurel. doe liue very euill that are alwaies beginning to liue well forasmuch as theyr often beginnings doe make theyr liues still more and more vnperfect Well therefore saith Zenophon that to Zenophon see is a small matter but to fore-see is a token of good wit And the difference betweene a wise man Diâ—genes and a foole is this the one is prouident to preuent an euill before it come the other wisheth for remedy when it is too late As may for example more plainelie be perceiued by reading the different doings of these two men following Baltazar the king of Babel as Daniell affirmeth euen in the time of his banquetting amongst his Dan. 5. 5. 6. thousand Princes perfectly discerned the hande of a man writing vppon the plaister of his wall and was greatly for the time terrified thereby insomuch that the verie ioynts of his loynes were loosed his countenaunce changed his thoughts troubled and his knees smote one against the other for feare of Gods iudgements Yea by Daniels diuine interpretation
mee they will persecute you also If they haue called the Maister of the Math 10 25 house Beelzebub howe much more them of his houshold But all these thinges will they doe vnto Iohn 15 21 you for my Names sake because they haue not knowne him that sent mee Yea the time shall come that whosoeuer Iohn 16. 2. killeth you will thinke that he dooth God seruice Notwithstanding blessed are ye if you 1. Pet. 3. 14. suffer for righteousnes sake For vnto such appertaineth the kingdome Math 5 10 of heauen Yea blessed are yee when men reuile Math. 5 11 12. you and persecute you and say all manner of euill against you for my sake falselie reioyce and be glad for great is your reward in heauen for so persecuted they the Prophets which were before you §. 5. Let not saith he your harts be troubled Iohn 14. 1. yee beleeue in God beleeue also in me In the world ye shall haue affliction but Iohn 16 33 be of good comfort I haue ouer-com the world And feare not them which kill the bodie Math. 10. 28 Luk. 12 4. 5 and after that are not able to doe any more but rather feare him which is able to destroy both body soule in hell yea I say vnto you feare him For what shall it profit a man though Math 16. 26 hee should winne the whole world if hee lose his ovvne soule or what shall a man giue for recompence of his soule VVho-soeuer therefore shall confesse Math 10 32 mee before men him will I confesse also before my Father which is in heauen But vvho-soeuer shall denie mee before verse 33 men him will I also denie before my Father which is in heauen Who-soeuer likewise shal be ashamed Luke 9. 26 of mee and of my words of him shall the sonne of man be ashamed when hee shall come in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy Angels §. 6. Deerely beloued saith S. Peter thinke 1. Pet. 4 12. it not strange concerning the fierie tryall which is among you to prooue you as though some strange thing were come vnto you But reioyce in as much as yee are partakers verse 13. of Christes sufferings that when his glorie shall appeare yee may be glad and reioyce For vvee must through many afflictions Acts 14 22 enter into the kingdome of God And all that will liue godly in Christ Iesus 2. Tim. 3. 12 shall suffer persecution §. 7. If yee be railed vppon for the Name of 1. Pet 4 14. Christ blessed are you for the Spirit of glory of God resteth vpon you which on their part is euill spoken of but on your part is glorified But let none of you suffer as a murtherer 1. Pet 4 15. or as a theefe or as an euill dooer or as a busie-body in other mens matters But if any man suffer as a Christian let verse 16. him not be ashamed but let him glorifie God in that behalfe For it is better if the will of God be so 1 Pet 3 17. that yee should suffer for well-doing then for euill doing And the lesse iustice that a godly man Tremelius findeth at the handes of the vngodly the more comfort shall he receiue in cōscience at the mercifull hand of God §. 8. My sonne saith Sirach submit not thy Ecclus 4 27 28. selfe vnto a foolish man neyther accept thou the person of the mightie But striue for the truth vnto death and defende iustice euen to the losse of thyne owne life and the Lord thy God shall fight for thee against thine enemies Be fauourable to all men be likewise in Socrates subiection to al lawes but aboue al things fulfill the will of God rather then the will of man For a righteous and godly man hauing Pet. Ramus in him the spirit of zeale and constancie neuer feareth in his afflictions the crueltie of any man but vvill boldlie to the death stand vnto the truth And forasmuch as hee knoweth that Rauisius almightie God is the truth and that truth is GOD hee likewise wisely considereth that he which departeth from the one departeth from the other But hee that eyther for feare of punishment Hemingius or else in hope of a Tyrants fauour forsaketh the truth before men vpon earth leaueth the most certaine promise of perpetuall felicitie for an vncertaine assurance of short-lasting vanitie and by seeking to deliuer his body from danger cloggeth his conscience with griefe and his soule with sorrow §. 9. If then thou be desirous to liue euerlastingly Gueuara faint not at any time vnder the burden of thine afflictions neither be thou mooued from thy hope of heauens helpe through the multitude of thy miseries but patiently put thy trust in the promises of Gods mercie and pray often for such perseuerance as may bring thee to eternall blessednes In all thy troubles stand vnto the truth Plotinus and commit thy selfe in thy greatest necessitie wholy altogether to the most high and mighty GOD neyther fearing them that threaten nor beleeuing thē that speak thee faire but trust in him alone that is most kinde and compassionate true of his promise and able to make both his vvord and worke good For more wisedome is it that a man for Hermes his soules sake shoulde suffer death then lose his soules happines for the loue of this life Blessed therfore is the man that endureth Iames 1 12 tentation for when hee is tryed hee shall receiue the crowne of life vvhich the Lorde hath promised to them that loue him §. 10. The peaceable and blessed life of the Bernard godly saith S. Bernard is in heauen and is onely to be attained vnto by faith patience and perseuerance For as without fayth it is vnpossible to Hillarius please God so without patience and perseuerance no man shall see God And although indeede the death of the Basill bodie by diuers meanes for diuers causes be vnto many men very tedious and bitter yet the death therof for the testimonie of Gods truth is vnto the godly man most easie most ioyfull most sweete and most delectable because he seeth through the eye of fayth the present performance of all Gods heauenly promises made vnto him in his holy word if he zealously continue constant in the veritie of his Christian profession §. 11. Thou therefore my sonne saith Paule vnto Timothie suffer affliction as a good 2. Tim. 2. 3. 4. souldiour of Iesus Christ No man that warreth entangleth himselfe with the affayres of this life because hee would please him that hath chosen him to be a Souldiour And Christ beeing our Captaine hath Rauisius called vs by the voyce of his Gospell to a spirituall warfare The foes against whom wee must continually fight are fleshlie assaultes worldly wickednes and the deceits of the deuill
him as with a shielde The wicked shall see the same be angry Psal 112. 10 hee shall gnash with his teeth and consume away §. 12. Feare the Lorde therefore yee that be Psalm 34 9. his Saints for nothing vvanteth to them that feare him The Lyons doe lacke and suffer hunger Psal 34 10. but they that seeke the Lord shall want no manner of thing that is good Neither shall any euill happen vnto the Ecclê° 33. 1. man that feareth him but when hee is in tentation the Lord will deliuer him and keepe him from harme For his eyes are ouer the righteous and 1 Pet 3 12 his eares are open vnto theyr prayers Hee knoweth the dayes of vpright men Psal 37 18 theyr inheritance shall be perpetuall §. 13. Hee also preserueth the state of the Prou 2 7 righteous is a shield to them that walke vprightly They shall not be confounded in the Psal 37 19 perrillous time and in the dayes of famine they shall haue enough For his eye is vpon them that feare him Psalm 33 18 19 and vpon them that trust in his mercy to deliuer theyr soules from death to preserue them in the time of dearth Yea his eyes haue respect vnto them Ecclê° 34 16 that loue him hee is theyr mightie protection and strong ground a defence from the heate and a shadow for the noone day a succour from stumbling and a helpe from falling §. 14. They that put theyr trust in him shall Psal 125. 1. be euen as the mount Sion which cannot be remoued but remaineth stedfast for euer They shall florish like a Palme tree and Psal 92. 12. shall spread abroade like a Cedar in Lebanon They shall inherite the land and dwell Psal 37 29 therein for euer They shall still bring forth fruite in their Psal 92. 14. age and shall be fat and florishing §. 15. The man that serueth him shall be accepted Ecclê° 35 16 with fauour and his prayer shall reach vnto the clowdes His prayer shall pierce thorowe the Mart. Bucer clowdes and preuaile mightily in the presence of his Maker That which a wicked man feareth shall Prou 10 24 come vpon him but GOD will grant the desire of the godly For a good man getteth fauour of the Prou 12 2 Lord but a man of vvicked imaginations will the Almightie condemne He respecteth not the speech of vngodly Iohn 9. 31 persons when they pray vnto him but if any man be a vvorshipper of him and obedient vnto his will him he will heare For as hee himselfe is all goodnes so loueth Plato hee all those that loue goodnes and as hee can haue no euill in himselfe so can he not away with the workers of iniquitie §. 16. They that trust in the Lord shall vnderstand Wisd 3. 9. the truth and the faithfull shall remaine with him in loue for grace mercie is among his Saints and hee regardeth his elect His secrete is reuealed to them that feare Psal 25. 14 him and his couenaunt to giue them vnderstanding Hee is euer-more mindfull of those men Theophilact that make his Word the guide vnto theyr waies and neuer ceaseth to succour his seruants which through faith confidence continually cleaue vnto him For he alwaies loueth them that loue his Lyra. law and bestoweth many benefites on the man that maketh his coÌ„maundements his daily meditation §. 17. Hee highly regardeth euery one that beleeueth Origen in him and will in time performe what-soeuer hee hath promised vnto the faithfull Hee will most certainly graunt vnto the Euagoras godly all things that are needfull for theyr life present And at his pleasure hee will make the Virgilius penitent to reioyce greatly in his loue and mercie He will also be fauourable to the righteous Eugenius in the time of theyr affliction And be ready to heare the cry of the confident Hillarius when-soeuer they call vpon him Yea before they call hee will aunswere Esay 65. 24. and whiles they speake or whiles they are thinking what to speake hee will heare them By all vvhich former speeches most plainly according to the saying of the Psalmist it appeareth That * they which Psalm 119. 165. loue the lawe of the Lord shall haue great prosperitie and shall haue no hurt That they vvhich obey and serue him Iob. 36. 11. shall end theyr dayes in prosperitie and theyr yeeres in pleasures And that the man that is faithfull shall Prou. 28. 20 abound in blessings §. 18. Taste yee then and see how gracious Psal 34 8. the Lord is blessed is the man that trusteth in him Yea blessed is the man whose strength Psal 84. 5 is in the Lord and in vvhose hart are the vvayes of God Blessed is euery one that feareth the Psal 128 1. Lord and walketh in his wayes For to them that thinke on good things Prou. 14. 22. shall be mercie and truth And as many as in this world endeuour Phil. Mel. to liue vprightly shall after death be receiued of God into euerlasting glory §. 19. A booke of remembrance saith Malachie Mala. 3. 16. is written before the Lord for all them that feare him and that thinke vpon his Name Many sorrowes shall come vnto the vngodly Psal 32 10 but hee that trusteth in the Lord shall be compassed with mercie He will honour them that honour him 1. Sam 2 30 but whosoeuer despiseth him shall of him be despised Hee hath alwayes a speciall respect vnto Pet. Lomb. the godlie and will neuer suffer any that serue him to want theyr reward For the righteous Lord loueth righteousnes Psalm 11 7 his countenaunce doth behold the iust VVhen they cry hee heareth them Psal 34 17 deliuereth them out of all theyr troubles So that theyr hope shall neuer come to Gregory confusion but prosper euen in the time of perrill and lay sure hold on heauen as the cheefest harbour of theyr perfect happinesse §. 20. Hee that walketh in iustice saith Esay Esay 33 15 and speaketh righteous thinges refusing gaine of oppression shaking his handes from taking of gifts stopping his eares from hearing of blood and shutting his eyes from seeing euill Hee shall dwell on hie his defence shall verse 16. be the munitions of Rocks breade shall be giuen him and his waters shall be sure Hee shall receiue a blessing froÌ„ the Lord Psalm 24 5 and righteousnesse from the God of his saluation For the Lorde preserueth all them that Psal 145. 20 loue him Hee delighteth in them that feare him Psal 147. 11 Hee careth for all those that haue confidence 1. Pet. 5. 7 in him And no good thing will hee with-hold Psal 84 11 from them that walke vprightly §. 21. Hee that walketh in his integritie is iust Prou 20.
Mar. Aurel. those men which be good among so many euils in this life should be greatly honoured with God after theyr death And assuredly it is to be beleeued that Plato all they which in this worlde follow vertue and liue more godly then other men shall after their soule is by the stroke of death departed from theyr body ascend vp into a purer life and dwell for euer in the presence of God Happy therefore are the righteous yea Gueuara double happy are the righteous First for that they shal in this life be blessed in their labours from GOD with aboundance of all things necessary for them Secondly for that they shall be made partakers of Gods endlesse glory in the world to come §. 29. VVhere among many other fauours and inestimable delights from the Maker Hemingius of all things granted vnto them they shall be permitted daily to behold the beautie of all beauties most to bee reioyced in namely the vnmeasurable maiestie amiable countenaunce of Almightie GOD theyr Creator Father and Preseruer According to that sentence of our Sauiour in the Gospell where he saith * Blessed Math. 5. 8. are the pure or vpright in hart for they shall see GOD. Not as wee see nowe for nowe wee see 1. Cor. 12. 13. through a glasse darkly but then shall vve see face to face Nowe wee knowe in part but then shall we knowe euen as wee are knowne §. 30. Then also shall the iust men shine as Math. 13. 43 the Sunne in the kingdome of theyr Father And they that in this world turne many Dan 12 3 to righteousnes shall shine as the starres for euer and euer They shall sit also vvith Christ himselfe Math. 19. 28 in his kingdome vpon twelue thrones iudge the twelue Tribes of Israell Yea they shall iudge the Nations and Wisd 3 8 haue dominion ouer the people theyr Lord shall raigne for euer-more §. 31. Then shall the righteous stand in great Wisd 5. 1. boldnesse before the face of such as haue dealt extreamely with them and taken away theyr labours And vvhen the vngodly see them they verse 2 shall be vexed with horrible feare shall stand amazed at theyr wonderfull deliuerance And changing then theyr mindes and verse 3 sighing through inward greefe they shall say within thēselues These are they whom wee some-time had in derision and iested vpon VVee fooles thought theyr life to be Wisd 5 4 madnesse and theyr end to be without honour But loe howe they are counted among verse 5 the chyldren of God and theyr portion is among the Saints §. 32. Then as Anselmus saith shall all the Anselmus whole company or number of the righteous receiue fully theyr rewarde together from GOD and they shall euery one of them be blessed of him with sundry blessings both in bodie and soule They shall first and formost be blessed The seuerall blessings that the bodies of the faithfull shall receiue in the kingdome of heauen According to the saying of Anselmus in body with such wonderfull beauty that they shall euery way be equall to the Sunne in brightnes and glory Secondly they shal be endued with such agilitie or quicknes that they shall be like vnto the Angels of GOD in theyr speedie moouing Thirdly theyr fortitude shall be so sufficient that no creature what-soeuer shall be able to withstand theyr strength Fourthly theyr libertie shall be so free secure that nothing shall haue any power eyther to hinder or resist them Fiftly they shall possesse perfect health vvithout any manner of greefe or infirmitie Sixtly they shal be throughly filled with an ineffable delight and vvholy replenished with an vnspeakeable aboundance of inestimable ioy Yea euery part and member of them shall be filled with such wonderful sence and feeling of incomparable pleasure and delight that the whole man shall quaffe of the riuer of Gods pleasure and be made drunke vvith the plentie of ioy vvhich hee shall haue in the House of the Lord. Seauenthly they shall be blessed vvith such length and perpetuity of life as shall neuer receiue any end but cōtinue alwaies in eternall ioy and pleasure and endure therein euen with GOD himselfe so long as his life and power lasteth which can neuer come to conclusion nor at any time be diminished §. 33. And as concerning the soules of the The seuerall beatitudes of glorified soules in the kingdom of God According to the saving of Anselmus righteous they shal then also be enriched with as many fauours from GOD as each glorified body hath The first beatitude which shal be giuen them is perfect wisedome for there the soule of euery simple Swaine shall possesse more knowledge vnderstanding then euer did all the Phylosophers or greatest Clarkes in this life The second beatitude or blessednesse of the soule shal be the true amitie vnfayned friendship of one righteous person to another as members all of one body whose head is Christ Iesus the Lord. And in that blessed societie shal neuer be any enuy hatred or discorde but euen as long and as well as any man in that kingdome dooth loue himselfe so long and so well shall he loue euery one else that resteth in the same fellowship with him Theyr third beatitude shall be the concord or agreement which then shal rest betweene the body and the soule of euery Saint that disagreed in this life for they shal then be at peace and vnitie the body shall will as the soule willeth and the soule shall desire as the body desireth so that in all poynts there shall be perfect agreement betweene them Besides this concord shal not onely rest betweene the body soule of euery particuler Saint but also between the whole congregation of the godly for they shal will no contrarieties but all shall will as one willeth and one shall will as all willeth Their fourth beatitude shal be honour for almightie GOD shal then fully deliuer all his Saints from the filthy vlcers of sinne many miseries and infinite infirmities passions where-vnto the corruption of the flesh made them in this vvorlde daily subiect Hee shall heale them restore them to perfect health most mercifully adorne them with the ornament of absolute righteousnes and immortality He shall adopt them for his sonnes and chyldren and shall make them inheritours of his heauenly kingdome and coheires with his best beloued and onely begotten sonne Christ Iesus Theyr fift beatitude shall be power for the righteous shal then be able to doe what they wil because they shal haue the Creator of heauen and earth agreeable in all things to what-soeuer they desire Theyr sixt beatitude shall be securitie that is they shal not onely haue power to doe what they wil and to enioy what pleasure soeuer theyr hart desireth but they shall also be without any feare or doubt of euer losing the same seeing God which is
verse 10 not theyr Cowe calueth and casteth not her calfe They sende foorth theyr chyldren by Iob 21 11 12 13 flocks and theyr sonnes leade the daunce They beare with them Tabrets Harps and haue instruments of musicke at theyr pleasure They spende their dayes in welthines and suddainely they goe downe to the graue They say also vnto God Depart from Iob 21 14 15 vs for we desire not the knowledge of thy wayes VVho is the Almighty that vvee should serue him and what profit should we haue if we should pray vnto him They are licentious and presumptious Psal 73 8 9 boasters They sette theyr mouth against heauen theyr tongue walketh through the earth Loe these are the vvicked yet prosper Psal 73 12 they in the world and haue riches plentifully in possession §. 3. Then thought I saith the Psalmist to Psalm 73 16 17 know this or to vnderstand the reason of thys matter but it was to hard for me vntill I went into the Sanctuary of God then vnderstood I the end of these men Namely how the Lord hath sette them verse 18 in slipperie places casteth them downe into desolation Oh howe suddainly doe they consume Psal 37 19 perrish and come to a fearefull end Euen as a dreame when one awaketh so verse 20. shall God make theyr image to vanish out of the Cittie §. 4. I my selfe saith hee haue seene the vngodly Psalm 37. 35 36 in great power and spreading himselfe like a greene Bay-tree Yet he passed away and lo hee was gone and I sought him but hee could not be found Therefore yet a little while and the wicked Psal 37. 10. shall not appeare thou shalt looke after his place and he shall not be found Doubtlesse vvith thine eyes shalt thou Psal 91. 8. behold and see the reward of the wicked For the Lord hateth all them that work Psalm 5. 5. iniquitie And his face is against them that doe euil Psal 34 16 to cut off their remembrance from the earth §. 5. The vvicked saith Dauid practiseth against Psal 37. 12 13 14 15 the iust gnasheth vpon him with his teeth but the Lord shall laugh him to scorne for hee seeth that his day is comming Though he haue drawn his sword and haue bent his bow to cast downe the poore and needy and to slay such as be of vpright conuersation yet shall his sworde goe thorow his owne hart his bow shal be broken §. 6. My hart saith the Prophet sheweth Psal 36 1. mee the wickednes of the vngodly that there is no feare of GOD before his eyes For hee flattereth himselfe in his owne verse 3 4 eyes till his abhominable iniquity be found out The words of his mouth are vnrighteous and full of deceit he hath left off to vnderstand and to doe good Hee imagineth mischiefe vpon his bed Psal 36 5 hee setteth himselfe vpon a way that is not good and doth not abhor to doe euill He is so proude that hee seeketh not for Psal 10 4 5 GOD hee thinketh alwayes There is no God His wayes alway prosper and the iudgements of the Lord are hie aboue his sight therefore defieth he all his enemies He saith in his hart I shall neuer be moued Psal 10 6 7 nor be in any danger His mouth is ful of cursing deceit and fraude vnder his tongue is misciefe and iniquity Hee sitteth lurking in the theeuish corners Psal 10 8 9 of the streets and in the secrete places doth he priuily murther the innocent His eyes are bent against the poore Hee lyeth in waite secretly euen as a Lyon so lurketh hee in his denne that hee may spoyle the poore And heapes of theÌ„ doe fall by his might Psal 10 10 11. Hee hath also saide in his hart Tush God hath forgotten hee hideth away his face and will neuer see this Notwithstanding God hath seene al his Psal 10 14 dooings For hee from whose eyes no secrete can be hid beholdeth mischiefe and wrong that hee may take the matter into his hands And when hee maketh inquisition for Psal 9 12 blood hee remembreth it and forgetteth not the complaint of the poore But vvill recompence the vngodly according Psal 94 23 to theyr vngodlines and destroy them in theyr owne malice Yea the Lord our God shall destroy them For it is a righteous thing vvith him to 2 Thes 1 6 recompence tribulation to them that trouble his seruaunts §. 7. And though as Salomon saith hand Prou 11 21 ioyne in hand yet shall not the vngodly escape vnpunished But his mischiefe shall returne vpon his Psal 7 16 owne head and his crueltie shall fall vpon his owne pate For the right hand of the Lord shall not 2. Esd 15. 22 spare the vvicked neither shall the sworde cease from them that shed innocent blood vpon the earth §. 8. Knowest thou not this of old and since Iob 20 4 5. GOD placed man vpon the earth saith Iob that the reioycing of the vvicked is short and that the ioy of hypocrites is but a moment Though the excellencie of the vngodly Iob 20 6 7 man mount vp to the heauen his head reach vnto the clowdes yet shall he perrish for euer like his dung they which haue seene him shall say VVhere is hee Hee shall flee away as a dreame they verse 8 shall not finde him and shall passe away as a vision of the night So that the eye which sawe before shall Iob 20 9 haue no more sight of him neither shall his place know him any more His children shall be faine to agree with verse 10. 11. the poore and his hands shall restore his substance His bones are full of the sinne of his youth it shal lie downe with him in the dust §. 9. The riches that hee hath deuoured hee Iob 20. 15 16 17. shal paâ—brake againe for God shall drawe them out of his belly He shal suck the gall of Aspes and the Vipers tongue shall sley him So that he shall no more see the riuers and brookes of hony and butter The things that other men haue laboured verse 18 19 for he shal restore againe shall not eate them vp Great trauaile shall he make for riches but he shal not enioy them And why hee hath oppressed the poore and not helped them houses hath hee spoyled and not builded them Surely hee shal feele no quietnes in his Iob 20 20 21. 22 body neyther shall hee reserue of that which hee desired There shal none of his meate or substance be left therfore none shal hope for his goods When he shall be filled with his abundance hee shall be in paine and the hand of all the wicked shall assaile him According to that sentence of Erasmus Erasmus where hee sayth It pleaseth GOD many times to