and stronger the right hand then the left And therefore more commonly more fitly we vse the right parts then the left and finde them pliable and able to many matters to which the left doe vs little steede or none at all and we holde it a preposterous and vnorderly peruerting of natures course and an vnsightly thing when by euill custome a man hath his left hand more easie and readie for his vse then his right hand is And this strength of the right hand the holy Ghost hath relation vnto when to set foorth the speciall power of God exercised in any glorious worke it expresseth the same as performed by his e Psal 98.1 118.15.16 right hand as in infinite places of Scripture we may obserue In ciuill vse it is a matter of honor to be set at the right hand He that sitteth at the princes right hand is deemed to be next in honour to the Prince And in this regard f 1. King 2.19 Solomon sitting on his throne caused a seat to bee brought for his mother comming vnto him and set her at his right hand And vnto this alludeth that speech concerning the spouse Psal 45. a Psal 45.9 At thy right hand did stand the Queene in a vesture of gold c. Whereby is imported the singular honor that Christ doth vnto his spouse the church Whether way soeuer we vnderstand the right hand Christ sitteth at the right hand of God in all most full brightnesse of the glory of God and in all soueraignty of power and dominion ouer all creatures both in heauen and earth so that the godhead in the man Iesus Christ ruleth and gouerneth all things administreth guideth mainteineth the church purchased by his bloud and to be short executeth all iudgement by his hand Whereupon it is said Iohn 5. b Ioh. 5.27 The father hath giuen him power to execute iudgement in that he is the sonne of man and Act. 17. c Act. 17.31 He will iudge the world in righteousnesse by that man whom he hath appointed The man Iesus Christ saith Iohn 17. d Ioh. 17.5 Glorifie me O father with thine owne selfe with that glorie which I had with thee before the world was The man Iesus Christ saith Math. 28. e Math. 28.18 All power is giuen vnto me both in heauen and earth Of Iesus Christ concerning his manhood it is saide f Eph. 1.20.21 Ephes 1. God hath set him at his right hand in heauenly places farre aboue all principalitie and power and might and dominion and euerie name that is named not in this world onely but also in that that is to come hath made all things subiect vnder his feete c. And againe Phil. 2. g Phil. 2.9 God hath highly exalted him and hath giuen him a name aboue euerie name that at the name of Iesus euery knee should bowe both of things in heauen and things in earth and things vnder the earth c. Behold this is our Sauiour It is not without cause that we put our trust in him who is able to doe all things for vs because h Math. 11.27 Iohn 3.35 What comfort we haue by Christs sitting in heauen in our flesh all things are committed vnto him And thus hath God exalted and honoured our nature and flesh in the person of Iesus Christ that wee may not doubt now but that there is a way prepared for vs into heauē seeing that our flesh is sitting at the right hand of God Let it not dismay vs that our flesh is here subiect to the crosse tribulation that it is afflicted with hunger thirst worne out with trauell and labour dried vp with weeping and teares vexed with sicknes and paine fainted with heat deadded with colde tortured and slaine with fire and sword cast into the pit and consumed to dust and ashes Iesus Christ in this flesh of ours endured hunger and thirst was humbled and afflicted with fasting and weeping was exercised with sorowe and paine he was buffeted with fistes scourged with rods pricked with thornes pearced with nailes wounded with speare appaled by death shut vp in the graue and yet the same flesh nowe sitteth in heauen at the right hand of the maiestie of God And in what condition a Tertul. de resurrect carnis Pignus totius summae illuc quandoque redigendae As a pledge saith Tertullian to assure that the whole remainder of our flesh shall one daie be brought thither Whereupon he notablie inferreth Feare not flesh and bloud yee hane in Christ taken possession of heauen and of the kingdome of God or if any denie heauen to you let them denie Christ himselfe to bee in heauen O sonne of God the euerlasting brightnes of the glorie of God what was there in corruptible flesh that should mooue thee to haue that respect vnto it that thou shouldest thus lift vp the dust of the earth and exalt it aboue the highest heauens what coulde flesh profit thee or do thee good that thou shouldest vouchsafe vnto it so great a blessing But this was his mercie and loue towards vs when there was nothing in vs that might deserue his loue that wee might learne to honour him that hath so highly honored vs and might vnderstande that these bodies of ours redeemed with his most precious bloud and called to the hope of so great glorie are of more sacred and precious account then that they shoulde be prostituted vnto sinne and made brothell houses of filthines and vncleannesse and abused to be made the iustruments for the performing of our vnlawfull and sinfull desires It shoulde be alwaies a strong reason to mooue vs to the sober and holy vsage of our bodies to remember that Christ in our flesh sitteth in heauen and our bodies are appointed to sit with him for howe shall we thinke them to be meete for heauen if wee by wilfull sinne disgrace them and make them viler then the earth The maiestie of Christ sitting at the right hande of God an assurance of safetie both to the Church in generall and to all the members thereof 10 Now this height and maiesty and power of Iesus Christ serueth also to giue vs comfort and assurance of safety in all dangers both of the church in generall and in speciall of our selues In the shakings of the world in the totterings and staggerings of empires and kingdomes in the mutations and alterations of states and common wealthes in the middest of the whirlewindes and stormes and tempests of troubles at the sight whereof the world standeth amazed and vnder the burthen whereof it groneth yet Christ still sitteth at the right hand of God and in all things interposeth his hand and by his diuine prouidence and wisedome so gouerneth all things that howsoeuer things seeme to goe by hap and at all aduenture without the stedfast guiding of any directing hand yet indeede there is not so much as the moouing of a foote
of life the graue the putting off of mortalitie and corruption To be short b Esa 11.9 There shall be nothing to hurt or to destroie in all the mountaine of the Lordes holinesse c Ioh. 10.28 nothing to pull the sheepe of Christ out of his handes but d Rom. 8.28 all things worke togither for good and for the best to them that loue God And why so Because all the enimies of Christ that is to say all our enimies are become his footestoole and in him a footestoole vnto vs. And thus shall Christes enimies serue for his vse for the vse of his Church vntill the daie come that that which is heere prophecied shall be perfectly fulfilled when all the enimies of Christ nowe alreadie ouercome shall be vtterly destroied and abolished when there shall be none to tempt vs none to trouble vs when sinne shall bee quite done awaie when e Reuel 20.10.14 the diuell and the beast and the false prophet and death and hell shall bee cast into the lake of fire that burneth for euer when f Reu. 7.16.17 20.4 God shall wipe awaie all teares from the eies of his when they shall hunger no more thirst no more when the sunne and heate shall no more light vpon them and there shall be no more death nor sorow nor crying nor any more paine but g 1. Cor. 15.28 God shall be all in all 15 To conclude h Psal 74.3 God will for euer destroy euerie enimie that doth euill to his sanctuarie all tyrants persecutors oppugners of his Church Howsoeuer they seeme to haue power in their handes euen at their owne will yet Christ sitteth aboue them at the right hand of God they shall be made his footestoole confusion shall be their portion as in al ages God hath shewed and will shew vnto the end and specially in the end as remaineth further to bee spoken at the ende of this Psalme God the father graunt vnto vs for his welbeloued sonne Iesus Christ his sake the grace of his holie spirit whereby through the knowledge of his holie word we may framed to the obedience of his holy will that wee may serue him faithfully and truely according to his commandement the whole course of this life that when it shall please him to take vs out of this mortall life we may be made partakers of that eternall life and blessednes which he hath promised in the world to come through the same Iesus Christ our Lord. To God the father God the sonne and God the holie Ghost be all honour glorie praise dominion might maiestie and power both nowe and for euermore Amen The second Sermon the same day in the afternoone Verse 2. The Lord shall send the rod or scepter of thy power out of Sion be thou a ruler or beare thou rule in the middest of thine enimies IN the former Sermon wee haue seene the sonne of Dauid installed and enthroned to the seate and maiestie of his kingdome In this second verse is set foorth the meanes whereby and the maner how this kingdome is founded and established Foure things to be obserued in the second verse First therefore we are to obserue from hence what it is whereby the subiects of this kingdome are gathered vnto Iesus Christ and gouerned vnder him which is the rod or scepter of his power Secondly from whence this scepter proceedeth the Lord shal send it Thirdly whence it hath his gooing foorth out of Sion Fourthly what successe and worke it hath he thereby beareth rule in the middest of his enimies 2 Now we see Christ heere brought in imperiall maner bearing his scepter in his hand for the scepter is one of the ensignes of princely maiestie The scepter an ensigne of princely maiestie Monarches and kings are woont to weare in their hand a rod or scepter in token of soueraigne and roiall authoritie and thereby to import that they in respect of whom they are kings are vnder their power and subiect to their stroke Thus therefore Iesus Christ whom God hath exalted and lifted vp to bee the Monarch and Lord of the whole worlde and hath assigned vnto him all power both in heauen and earth is saide to haue his scepter whereby hee doth exercise and declare his power for the building vp and gouerning of his Church Which scepter is called in the Psalme a Psal 45.6 the scepter of his kingdome whereby namely he exerciseth and administreth his kingdome And that we may vnderstand what this scepter is it is called also b Esa 11.4 the scepter or rod of his mouth which in the same place and elsewhere is termed also c ibib 2. Thess 2.8 the breath of his lips the breath of his mouth Now what is it that proceedeth from the mouth and is formed with the breath but only the word The word of Christ therefore is the Scepter of his kingdome The Scepter of Christ is his word The word of of Christ why called the Scepter of his power And it is here called the Scepter of his power because therein appeareth his might and power working great and wonderfull things beyond the opinion and expectation of the world Which we may obserue both in the course and passage that this word hath had through the world and in the speciall effects and works that it hath wrought and doth worke in this passage The power of Christ appearing in the passage of his word through the world 3 We see how in the beginning it went forth as the Sunne no power could hinder the going of it It was put into the mouthes not of Philosophers and Oratours but poore fishermen and tentmakers and toulegatherers and by their hand being men of no commendation to the world subdued more nations to the kingdome of Christ then sword and battell could euer bring in subiection vnto the great Empire of Rome The world did striue against it and it ouercame the world the Scepters of Princes strooke at it to beate it downe and Princes scepters gaue it way whether they would or not They bound the preachers of it but it selfe was as the winde which cannot be bound nor stayed from his course Neither policie nor strength could hinder it but that it ouerthrew their customes cast downe their idols stopped the mouthes of their oracles and wrested from their deuils a confession of the power of God and so went on with victory and triumph till it had set vp the kingdome of Christ in the vtmost coastes and borders of the earth And haue not our own eies men and brethren seene the experience hereof in these latter times when Emperors and Princes and Popes and Prelates and the multitude of the world labored to put out the the light of the Gospell beginning againe to shine amidst the darkenes of Popery and by all their labour could auaile nothing They had countenance and counsell and strength they persecuted the professers of
of the church the new increse and supply thereof from time to time in them who are newly a Iam. 1.18 begotten by the word of truth and b Ioh. 3.3.5 borne againe c Tit. 3.5 by the washing of the new birth and by the renewing of the holy ghost to become of Adams children the children of God and people of Iesus Christ Who for that are called d 1. Ioh. 2.12 little children and e 1. Cor. 3.1 babes in Christ and f 1. Pet. 2.2 new borne babes that are to be suckled with the milke of the word of God that they may grow thereby Of whom this prophet elsewhere speaketh when he saith g Psal 22.31 They shall declare his righteousnesse vnto a people that shal be borne and againe h Psal 102.18 This shal be written for the generation to come and the people which shal be created shall praise the Lord. Where he prophecieth of a generation and people to be created and borne not by the creation and birth whereby we are men but whereby we are according to the phrase of the Apostle i Eph. 4.24 new men and k 2 Cor. 5.17 Galat. 6.15 new creatures hauing l Ezec. 36.26 a new hart giuen vnto vs and a new spirit put into the middest of vs our stony hart being changed into an hart of flesh and m Heb. 9.14 our consciences by the bloud of Christ purged from dead works that we may serue the liuing God Such are the youth that the prophet speaketh of in this place And hereby we are put in minde of our second natiuity and birth whereby we are made members of the church of Christ and called to become children againe children as n 1. Cor. 14.20 concerning malitiousnesse children in o Mat. 18.3.4 humility simplicity innocencie that whereas being in time past a Luc. 16.8 children of this world we b Eph. 2.2.3 haue walked according to the course of this world in fulfilling the will of the flesh and of our owne minde we may being now c Gal. 3.26 the children of God d Rom. 6 4. walke in newnesse of life and liue e Eph. 4.18 the life of God and f Phil. 2.15 as the sonnes of God be blamelesse and pure and without rebuke g Math. 5.16 shining by our good works as lights in the middest of the froward and crooked nation of the world Yea further we are to be remembred that as youth as young children are still growing in stature and strength and discretion vntill they come to ripe and perfect age so we after that we are once new borne vnto Christ should likewise be still encreasing and growing in those things that belong vnto a christian life in vertue in holynesse in faith in h 2. Pet. 3.18 grace and in the knowledge of Iesus Christ that i Psal 84.7 going thus from streÌ„gth to strength we may be euen k Phil. 1.11 filled with the fruits of righteousnesse and in the end attaine l Eph. 4.13 vnto the measure of the age of the fulnesse of Chist 20 Now of this new birth and the fruits and effects thereof the solemnitie of this day may giue me some occasion to speake being as we call it new yeeres day wherein we celebrate the remembrance of the circumcision of Christ and that m Col. 2.11 in him we also are circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands that n Eph. 4.22 putting of the body of the sinnes of the flesh and the old man which is corrupted through deceiueable lusts we may be renewed in the spirit of our mindes and put on the new man which according to God is created in righteousnesse and true holynesse But of this I spake vnto you more at large the last yeere by occasion of the words of the Apostle o 2. Cor. 5.17 If any man be in Christ he is or let him be a new creature The particulars whereof happely you remember not but remember that which is the generall that from yeere to yeere from day to day you stil goe forward to become new creatures in Iesus Christ Say with the Apostle and let vs be carefull that of our selues we may truely say it p ibid. Old things are past behold all things are become new And surely in this state of our new birth all things are set before vs vnder the name of new things q Mat. 26.28 a new testament r 〈◊〉 13 34. a new commandement Å¿ Reu. 3.9 a new song t Reuel 2.17 a new name u Heb. 10.20 a new way x Reuel 21.2 a new Ierusalem y â— Pet. 3.13 new heauens and new earth Nowe what an vnâ—eete thing is it that when all things are new for our sakes we our selues shoulde remaine old Nay let vs also become newe and by our conuersation let vs make it appeere that wee are new borne and what we haue neglected heeretofore let vs now beginne to amend with the beginning of a newe yeere and be carefull heereafter to a Eph. 5.16 redeeme the time that the encrease of our yeeres may be the encrease of our comfort and may further vs in the assured hope of that life where there shall be no change of yeeres but one new yeere to continue for euer and euer The multitude that shoulde be borne vnto Iesus Christ as the drops that cannot be numbred 21 But to come towards an end concerning this ofspring and youth which I haue spoken of the prophet saith that they shal be as the dew from the wombe of the morning First for their multitude for that as the drops of heauen cannot be numbred so the people of Christ shal be assembled vnto him in multitudes without number accordingly as Saint Iohn in the spirit saw it come to passe when as beside the remnant of Israel he beheld a b Reuel 7.9 great multitude which no man could number of all nations and kindreds and people and tongues standing before the throne and before the Lambe clothed with long white robes and palmes in their hands and crying with a loude voice saluation commeth of our God c. So that although in comparison of the multitude of the world the church of Christ be but c Luc. 12.32 a little flocke and d Mat. 7. â—4 few there be that enter into life euen as the grapes after the vintage a few here and a few there and as after e Esa 17.6 the shaking of the oliue tree there are two or three vpon one bough and foure or fiue vpon another seldome to be found yet in themselues they are according to the promise made to Abraham as f Gen. 13.16 15.5 the stars of heauen that cannot be numbred and g Heb. 11.12 as the sand by the seaside And therefore let it not discourage vs that the chaffe seemeth to hide the corne and
that God is alwaies ready to yeelde vs fauour and grace comming to him in his name How may we comfort our selues in affliction and distresse lifting vp our eies to heauen and saying He sitteth in my behalfe at the right hand of God who is able to doe all things for me His eies are alwaies ouer me his care is alwaies for me his mouth is neuer shut from soliciting and pleading my cause with God the father There is nothing so grieuous in my sinnes but his bloud is able to acquit it nothing so high in the gifts of God but his intercession is able to obteine it He hath taken me to be his he wil not suffer me to perish but will preserue and keepe me for euer God the father grant vnto vs c. The fifth Sermon Vers 5.6.7 5 O Lord he that is at thy right hand shall wound euen kings in the day of his wrath 6 He shall iudge amongst the heathen he shall fill all with dead carkeises he shall wound the head ouer great countries 7 He shall drinke of the brooke in the way therefore shall he lift vp his head THese verses serue for declaration of that that we read in the first verse For heere is shewed howe Iesus Christ set vp in the maiestie of his kingdome exerciseth his power for the confusion of them that refuse him for their king and denie to stoope vnto his scepter vntill that be performed which is there promised that all his enimies shall bee made his footestoole This is the generall drift of these wordes but more particularly we may obserue heere set foorth concerning Iesus Christ the seueritie of his wrath What points we are to obserue in these three last verses the extent of his gouernment his authoritie of iudgement the prosecution of his victorie and after all accomplished his triumph and glory Of all which I will speake as the course of the wordes themselues doth giue occasion 2 As touching the first the prophet in the fift verse turning his speech to God the father speaketh to this effest O Lord he to whom thou saiedst sit thou on my right hand c. after that thou shalt haue exalted him to that fulnesse of maiestie and power shall in the day that he shall appoint for the execution of his wrath strike through and wound with a mortall wound not onely the viler and baser sort and as it were the common souldiers but euen the captaines themselues yea the very kings potentates of the world whosoeuer they be that shall oppose themselues against him refuse to yeeld their neckes to the bearing of this yoke A double end of Christs sitting at the right hand of God Where at the first sight there is giuen vs occasion to consider a double ende of Christs sitting at the right hand of God The one concerneth the saluation of his faithfull people the other the destruction of rebells and enemies The one yeeldeth great comfort and assurance of hope and the doctrine thereof is proper to them that beleeue in Iesus Christ and incline their eares to his words and apply their feete to walke in his waies to whom it cannot but yeelde great matter of confidence towards God to bethinke themselues that they haue such an high priest and mediatour as sitteth at the right hand of God in so great acceptation with God in the height of the glory of God in all souerainty of power and dominion ouer all creatures both in heauen and earth Why should I doubt but that my praiers are heard of God when he that sitteth at the right hand of God is there alwaies ready to intreate for me Why should I feare least my sinnes condemne me when he that sitteth at the right hand of God is ready to pleade his satisfaction for my sinnes What can the deuill do against me when he fighteth for me that sitteth at the right hand of God He is my redemption and life that sitteth at the right hand of God and therefore how shall death or hell be able to doe me harme Who will accuse me when as he hath acquitted me who will condemne me seeing he hath sealed a pardon for me To be short it is riches in pouertie health in sicknesse ioy in sorow safety in danger life in death faithfully to remember and hartely to imbrace Iesus Christ sitting at the right hand of God the father Blessed is the man whose hart Iesus Christ possesseth by this faith but he that accepteth not of this great grace by faith and obedience of the gospel vnhappy is he and thrise vnhappy howsoeuer according to the course and condition of this world he seeme to be most happy 3 For Christ as to his that receiue and loue him he is gratious and louely Christs sitting at the right hand of God full of terrour to rebellious and vnthankfull men and sitteth at the right hand of God for their defence and safety so to them that vnthankefully refuse him or rebelliously fight against him is full of terrour and feare full of wrath and rigour and sitteth at the right hand of God to be reuenged of them wounding and killing and not sparing euen the very kings and monarches of the world that are not reconciled vnto him He is not onely a lambe to saue but also a lion to destroy He hath not onely a scepter to gouerne but also a sword to kill a Psal 2.10 Be wise now therefore saith Dauid O ye kings vnderstand ye that are iudges of the earth Kesse the sonne least he be angry when his wrath shall sodainly burne blessed are they that trust in him but woe to them that haue despised him a Mat. 3.12 He hath his fanne in his hand saith Iohn Baptist and he will purge or make cleane his floore and gather his wheate into his garner but the chaffe he will burne with vnquenchable fire And who are this chaffe but the wicked and vngodly but sinners and vnbeleeuers and hypocrites who in the field of this world and in the floore of the church liue and grow togither with the good corne with the faithfull and iust securely flattering themselues for that they haue place to grow in the Lordes vineyard whereas in the meane time to God-ward they are vnprofitable and good for nothing bringing foorth no good fruite being void of faith and a good conscience yeelding no true deuotion no sound obedience vnto Iesus Christ when notwithstanding they honest and grace themselues with the profession of his name Vnto them Christ shall adiudge a portion in the fire that neuer shal be quenched He shall say at the last day not onely b Mat. 25.34.41 Come ye blessed inherite the kingdome but also Go ye cursed into euerlasting fire c 2. Thess 1.7 The Lord Iesus saith saint Paul shall shew himselfe from heauen with his mightie Angells in flaming fire to render vengeance vnto them that know not God and that obey not vnto the
them to serue his turne as who hath it in his hand to destroy them at his owne will The maiestie of Christ shoulde more affect vs then the power of earthly princes And therefore the maiesty and power of Iesus Christ should much more affect and moue vs then all the power and greatnesse of earthly princes and the feare of him should be stronger to conteine and hold vs within the bounds of duety and faithfullnesse towards him then the feare of any secular power should be to remooue vs from the same a August in Psal 75. Terribiles sunt reges saith saint Austen sed super omnes terribilis qui terret reges Kings are greatly to be feared but he is fearefull aboue all that maketh kings themselues afraide If we feare kings because they can destroy vs how much more shall we feare him that is able to destroy kings Earthly kings can but destroy our bodies neither can they do that but when as the Lord will giue them leaue but this king hath power ouer bodie and soule and is able when he will to destroy both b Mat. 10.28 feare not them saith Christ that kill the bodie and are not able to kill the soule but feare him that is able to destroy both soule and bodie in hell fire 7 Againe it is to be obserued how the prophet setteth downe a certaine time determined by Iesus Christ for the execution of his wrath A day appointed for the execution of the wrath of Christ For this is imported in that that he saith In the day of his wrath Wherby he calleth vs to patieÌ„ce to a quiet contented expectation of the reuealing of the Lords hand that we take it not amisse if the Lord do not so soone manifest his wrath against his enimies as we desire and looke for We see it oftentimes fall out that the enimies of Christ and his church infinitely storme and rage against his name and Gospell and yet in the meane time all thinges goe with them according to their owne desire They murther the righteous and innocent and wash their feete in the bloude of them that giue anie testimonie vnto the faith of Christ and the Lorde in the meane time maketh as if he saw it not and holdeth his hand as if he cared not what were done by them This sometimes wee woonder at and are amazed in our mindes to see that God suffereth those thinges to bee done to poore innocent soules for his sake and doth not straightwaies drawe his sworde and bring foorth his weapons for the reuenging of their cause But the prophet willeth vs alwaies to consider that the Lorde hath appointed a daie for the manifesting of his wrath against his enimies which as in wisedome and iudgement hee hath determined so in wisedome also hee will obserue and keepe the same In the meane time their courses are not vnknowen vnto him but he appointeth both which way and how far they shall goe and disposeth their goings to good ends and vses howsoeuer the same be not alwaies apparant to our eies But that which the Lord hath appointed they cannot passe they cannot goe beyond it where he hath set thenet they shal be taken where he hath digged the pitte they shall certeinly fall and shall not escape the plague that he hath prepared for them Howsoeuer therefore they reioyce in their present successe against the iust and comfort themselues in the assurance of their owne estate as if heauen and earth were sworne to serue their will yet as Dauid saith a Psal 37.13 the Lord laugheth them to scorne because he seeth that their day is comming the day that shall strip them of all their glory and turne their light into darkenesse and giue them the full reward of b Zepha 2.10 their pride whereby they haue reproached the iust and magnified themselues against the people of the Lord. Let vs therefore in this be halfe submit our selues vnto the wise dome of the Lord and not prescribe vnto him when or how he shall glorifie himselfe in the deliuerance of his people or in the destruction of his enemies And seeing the impieties and blasphemies of the wicked conteine far more wrong and offence vnto the maiestie of God then they can doe vnto vs and yet he is content in respect of himselfe to for beare and to defer his wrath let vs not maruell that he is so slow in the mainteining and instifying of our cause that vseth so great sufferance and patience in his owne The day of wrath sâ—â—ially to be vnder siood of the day of iudgement or the ast day 8 But this day of wrath as it hath relation vnto all those daies of particular iudgements wherein God in this world from time to time taketh open reuenge vpon wicked men and persecutours of his church so it must be extended also to that c Reuel 6.17 great day of wrath wherein shal be the consumation and full accomplishment of all iudgment Which saint Paul calleth also a Rom. 2.5 the day of wrath and of the declaration of the iust iudgement of God and saint Peter b 2. Pet. 3.7 the day of iudgment and of the destruction of vngodly men Which is therefore specially so called because God shall then in speciall manner make his iudgement to appeare vniuersally vpon all the wicked so that there shal be no deniall of his hand For now although the wrath of God doe oftentimes light vpon the wicked in such sort as that plainly men that haue eies may discerne vpon them the hand of the sonne of God whom they haue dispised yet the world wilfully blindeth it selfe and will not behold or acknowledge therein the work of God but rather impute all to mishap and fortune and ouersight and therefore through hardnesse of hart feare not to goe forward in the same waies wherein they haue seen others to fall before them Thus children tread in their fathers steps and successours follow the cruelties and vngodly courses of their predecessours without any doubt or feare at all of their vnexpected and fearefull end Although therefore that God doe thus set foorth his iudgement by many dreadfull examples euen in this life yet it is to the most as if he iudged not because men will not take it to be his iudgement Againe albeit many there be that are thus made spectacles of the wrath of God in this world yet many there are also that seeme to goe to their graues in peace as if God had taken no notice of them or vnderstood not what they had done against him Prosperitie and honour accompany them to their end and the world cannot discerne but that they are blessed and happie men But that day of iudgement shall reforme all this errour when as they that now refuse to see or to acknowledge the power and worke of God in those executions which hee performeth in this world shall haue their eies opened to
they the neerer vnto euerlasting life surely nothing at al because they were without Christ who only is the ladder by which life descendeth from God to vs we ascend to liue with God The necessitie of the knowledge of Christ And heereby we may see how necessarie a thing it is for vs to vnderstand the mysterie of Iesus Christ not thinking it sufficient as many doe historically to knowe and formally of custome to celebrate the memorie of his birth and death and resurrection and ascending into heauen but searching out the fruites and effects thereof enquiring after that grace and saluation which he hath brought vnto vs therby that so we may know what cause we haue of this solemne reioycing and our reioycing may be not onely according to the flesh and outward man but much more inwardly in spirit and conscience whilest that being assured that Christ is our Lord we finde in him comfort of peace towards God and of the forgiuenesse of our sinnes and certaine hope of the fauour and loue of God towards vs both in life and in death by that mediation and attonement that he hath wrought Christs demeaning and abasing of himselfe to make attonement for vs. 5 Which attonement that he might worke he woulde become of the sonne of God the sonne of Dauid both waies a kings sonne according to his Godhead the sonne of the great king of heauen and earth according to his manhoode the sonne of king Dauid but yet both in his birth life and death far demeaned beneath all kingly state the tabernacle of Dauid being now fallen downe onely the ruines thereof remaining the branches and armes of that goodly tree being now cut off only the roote or stump left as it were in a drie and barren ground Marie his mother of the house of Dauid is maried to Ioseph of the house of Dauid also but of no better state but a poore carpenter and of so small estimation that in the citie of Dauid for his wife yea being with childe great with childe yea traueling with childe and childe bearing he coulde finde no better entertainement but that the mother must be chambered in a stable and the childe cradeled in a cratch or manger as if they had beene to base to receiue that common curtesie that in such a case is vouchsafed to the meanest and other mens horses were to be thought woorthie of as good place as they The profitable learning of Christ beginneth at his humiliation and weakenes 6 Now heere are we to beginne in the learning of Christ if we will learne him fruitefully and to our comfort If we beginne at his maiestie it will confound vs if we first looke to the brightnesse of his glorie it will blinde our eies his terrors shall make vs afraide and wee shall not dare to come vnto him And therefore some whilest they haue immediately fastned their eies vpon the highnesse and maiestie of Christ sitting at the right hand of God haue beene discouraged and driuen away from him wheras he is our only mediatour to bring vs vnto God haue deuised and set vp other mediators to bring them vnto him This was the errour of Poperie which embraced the storie of Christs incarnation and death but neuer taught the vse thereof and left men in an opinion as if Christ according to the maner of earthly princes were of that austeritie and statelinesse that they might not presume directly to come vnto him but must vse the solicitation and intercession of other saints that were neere about him But from this error we shall be free if we begin with Christ where we ought to doe We must acquaint our selues with him in his weakenes and then he shall not seeme dreadfull to vs in his strength we must be conuersant with him in his humility and that shall minister vnto vs boldnesse to go vnto him in his glorie If we scorne to sitte with him in the stable and to learne of him in the manger if we neglect the comfort that we should receiue by his humbling abasing of himselfe for our sakes the beames of his glorious light sitting now in the maiestie of the godhead shall seeme vnto vs as flames of fire readie to consume vs if we approch vnto him As therefore we know how we our selues are borne little and weake and so grow from infancie to childehood and from childehood to ripe age and full strength euen so must Christ haue his beginning and proceeding in vs. We must embrace him swadled in the manger and grow vp with him euen from his cradle and childehood and continue the decourse of his whole life and see therein how as Hilary saith a Hilar. de Tri. lib. 2. Omnes naturae nostrae contumelias transcurrit He ranne through all the contumelies and disgraces of our nature We must behold him b Esa 53.2 without forme or beautie c Psal 22.6 a worme and no man the scorne of men and contempt of the people poore and despised in meaner state then the d Math. 8.20 foxes that haue their holes and the birdes of the aire that haue their nests whereas he had not where to rest his head e Esa 53.3 a man full of sorowes hauing great experience of infirmities worne and spent with watching fasting and traueling continually bearing the reproches and gainsayings of proud men bought and solde by treacherie and falshood calumniously and slanderously accused condemned spitted at crowned with thornes in mockerie and derision nailed to a crosse accounted with theeues and murtherers pearced with a speare imprisoned in the graue The beholding of these things shall prepare and fortifie our sight that with eagles ere 's without dazeling wee may looke vpon this f Mal. 4.2 sunne of righteousnesse now shining in his strength For we thus conceiue that Christ hauing vndergone all these things for our sakes and being ours in his birth and in his life and in his death is ours also now that he is raised againe from the dead and g Rom. 8.34 that he sitteth at the right hand of God to make intercession for vs and therefore that h Heb. 4.14 hauing so great an high priest for vs entred into heauen and i ibid. 9.24 appearing in the sight of God for vs euen Iesus the sonne of God wee may with boldnesse goe vnto the throne of grace to receiue mercy and to finde grace to helpe in time of neede And thus shall we be enabled to beare k 2. Thess 2.8 the brightnesse of his comming and l Luc. 21.28 to lift vp our heads for ioy that our redemption and full deliuerance is at hand when other men shall be at their wits end with perplexitie and feare and shall say m Apoc. 6.16 vnto the mountaines and rockes fall vpon vs and hide vs from the presence of him that sitteth vpon the throne c. Now then let Marcion the heretike obiect that
those infirmities and weakenesses those afflictions and indignities that we haue spoken of are matters not beseeming or befitting the glorie of God and and we will answere with Tertullian a Tertul. cont Marcio lib. 2. Totum Dei mei penes vos dedecus sacramentum est humanae salutis All that you account the reproch and disgrace of our God is the sacrament or mysterie of mans saluation It is for mans behoofe whatsoeuer he vndertooke vnwoorthie of himselfe b Hilar. de Trinis lib. 2. Humilitas eius nostra nobilitas est contumelia eius honor noster est saith Hilarie The humbling of him is the ennobling of vs his reproch is our honour This is the foundation whereupon we builde our selues to heauen in this humiliation and weakenesse of Iesus Christ are conteined the infinite riches of grace and life What was the occasion of Christs abasing and bumbling of himselfe 7 But what was it in man that caused the sonne of God to take vpon him this disgraced and dispised state It was namely the sinne of man Woonderest thou that such indignitie should befall vnto the sonne of God Remember thy selfe humble thy selfe before the Lord and say It was my sinne that caused the Lord of glorie to take vpon him reproch and shame There could not be found in heauen or earth any other expiation of my sinne but that the sonne of God must demeane himselfe to suffer things vnwoorthy of God to make attonement betwixt God and me And when thou art come so far goe on yet and say Shall I cherish sinne in me that brought all this wrong vpon the sonne of God Shall I thinke lightly of that iniquity and vncleanesse which was so great with God that nothing could satisfie for it but the bloud of his onely begotten sonne Shall I bestow my life and daies in vanity and vnrighteousnesse which I vnderstand was so deerly bought to he halowed vnto God Thus I say we should bethinke our selues and with such meditations busie our selues this solemne tune which now we see specially in the greatest houses not without great sinne wholy in a manner destinated to excesse of vanity and folly of wild and vnbrideled behauiour as if we rather kept the prophane and licentious festiualls of Bacchus and Apollo then a wholy remembrance of Iesus Christ 8 Hitherto we haue seene the humbling of Dauids Lord now let vs see his exaltation and glory The exaltation of Christ to sit at the right hand of God For vnto him thus humbled God the father is brought in saying sit thou at my right hand c. Whereby is signified the lifting vp of the man Christ to the participation and felowship of the maiesty and glory of God and to all height of dignity power primacy ouer all creatures both in heauen and earth The sequel of humiliation and glorie both in Christ and and vs. In which consequence of humility and glory in the person of Iesus Christ we see what our way must be to that heauenly glory and blisse which we desire For we must be made a Rom. 8.29 like vnto the image of the sonne of God not onely in the end but also in the meanes and way that leadeth thereunto We must be humbled with him that with him we may be exalted we must b 2. Tim. 2.11.12 suffer with him that we may raigne with him we must die with him that we may liue with him we must c Heb. 13.13 with him be partakers of reproch that with him we may be partakers of glory we must with him beare the crosse and crowne of thornes that with him we may weare the crowne of euerlasting life If we refuse his company in the one he will exclude vs from being partners with him in the other As it is said of Christ the head d Luc. 24.26 These things ought Christ to suffer and so to enter into his glory so it is said of vs that are the body e Act. 14.22 By many tribulations we must enter into the kingdome of God As Christ was f Heb. 2.10 consecrated the prince of our saluation through afflictions so our g 2. Cor. 1.6 saluation is wrought in enduring the sufferings of like afflictions But there is comfort of these tribulations and sufferings for that they conteine the hope and assurance of so blessed reward inasmuch as therein h Rom. 5.2.3 we reioice vnder the hope of the glory of God And therefore as Christ i Heb. 12.2 for the ioy that was set before him endured the crosse and despised the shame so must we looking vnto him as the author and finisher of our faith with willing mindes when the Lord will beare the k 2. Cor. 4.17 momentary and light affliction of this time as which bringeth an excellent and an eternall waight of glory whilest we looke not vpon the temporall things which are seen but vpon the things eternall which are not seen 9 The reward of glory that is here assigned vnto Iesus Christ hauing now gone through all his sufferings and accomplished the worke and seruice of our redemption is to sit at the right hand of God The fulfilling whereof Saint Marke declareth telling vs that after his resurrection hauing spoken vnto his disciples a Mar. 16.19 he was receiued into heauen and sate at the right hand of God Which is an honour peculiar vnto the sonne of God The highest angels are not high enough to bee partakers of this glorie for b Heb. 1.13 to which of all the angels hath he saide at anie time sit thou at my right hand c. Now this phrase of speech borowed from humane and ciuill vse What is signified by Christs sitting at the right hand of God attributeth vnto Iesus Christ an excellencie both of maiestie and power Maiestie imported first in the very terme of sitting Which is not used is properly to determine any certaine position or gesture of bodie but figuratiuely to note an eminencie of dignitie and honour For to persons of maiestie and honour it belongeth to sit when others stande that are of inferiour place And thus is it oftentimes vsed in the Scripture as touching God himselfe and namely of many places to alleage one Dan. 7. where it is said that c Dan. 7.9.10 the thrones being set vp the Auncient of daies did sit thousand thousāds ministred vnto him ten thousand thousands stood before him Thus the honor which Iesus Christ shall do vnto his saints we finde expressed also by this terme of sitting d Apoc. 3.21 To him that ouercommeth will I grant to sit with me in my throne c. But Christ is not said onely to sit but to sit at the right of God which is neuer affirmed of the saints Now the right hand according to vse of nature signifieth power and strength according to ciuill vse it importeth preheminence and honour The right parts naturally are the nimbler
only b Iam. 4.12 one lawgiuer who is able to saue to destroy and therefore folow the faithfulnes of the Apostle who as Tertullian saith c Tertul. de praescript cont haeret Nihil de suo indulserunt gaue themselues no libertie to prescribe anything of their owne but kept themselues within the limits of that commission wherewith they were sent vnto all nations d Mat. 28.20 teaching them saith Christ to obserue whatsoeuer thinges I haue commanded you Christ the onely iudge by his word to determine all causes and controuersies in his church 11 Againe because Christ is appointed to be the onely iudge therefore are we to yeelde all our causes and controuersies to bee decided and determined by his worde What sentence he pronounceth we are to stand vnto it where he pronounceth no sentence we are to determine nothing In those infinite controuersies and questions of faith and religion wherewith the worlde at this time is so much distracted and diuided it is wished that there were some iudge by whose indifferent sentence there might be resolution of the truth and so all strife and controuersie might be appeased But who shoulde this iudge be but he that of God is appointed to be the iudge amongst the Heathen euen Iesus Christ who although he be in heauen yet from heauen speaketh vnto vs in the word of the Gospel teacheth vs both what to beleeue what to do that we may come vnto him If any man replie that albeit Christin deed to speake in the Gospell yet we haue need of some iudge to tell vs the meaning of Christes wordes because their is question also of the meaning thereof I answere that this is but a wilfull shift of froward men who by question of the meaning seeke to slip away from the words of Christ when his wordes doe plainly declare what his meaning is Surely if the words of Christ be not plaine enough to make his meaning knowne vnto vs we cannot see but that when some man hath set downe the meaning thereof there may againe be required a meaning of his meaning For God oftentimes speaketh vnto vs so plainely in the Scriptures as that no man can better tell vs what his meaning is then he himselfe doth When therefore he speaketh plainely vnto vs and by manifest wordes setteth foorth his meaning surely then to require a iudge to instruct vs of the meaning of his words is nothing else but to dally with God and vnder a vaine pretence to reiect the truth whereof he hath assured vs. Chrysostome could say a Chrysost in 2. Thess ho. 3. All thinges are cleere and plaine by the holy Scriptures whatsoeuer things are necessarie they are manifest And Austen in like sort b August de doct Christ lib. 2. cap. 9. In those things which are plainely set downe in scriptures are found all those things that belong to faith and conuersation of life What can be more definitely spoken to commend vnto vs the sufficiencie and plainnesse of the Scriptures for the deciding and cleering of all necessarie points Therefore to bee short seeing the holy Scripture conteineth those lawes and statutes by which Christ shall iudge vs and he himselfe hath there set downe the sentence whereby we shall either stand or fall by beleeuing or not beleeuing liuing or not liuing as he hath taught vs let vs set aside all other iudges and iudgements and in simplicity and faithfulnesse follow the rule that is there deliuered vnto vs alwaies assuring our selues that whatsoeuer is necessarie for the obteining of euerlasting life Christ speaketh it in the scriptures somewhere so plainly as that we need not feare to take instruction thereof immediately from his owne mouth And although in those heauenly oracles of sacred iudgements there be many things hard to be vnderstood which may exercise the wits and studies of the best learned and giue vs occasion to admire the deepe and vnsearcheable wisedome of almightie God yet many things also there are wherein God a August ep 3. speaketh to the harts not onely of the learned but also of the vnlearned and yeeldeth not onely a deepe for the elephant to swimme but also a shallow for the lambe to wade in the vse whereof we shall easily perceiue that he hath abundantly prouided for our comfort and saluation Onely let vs be carefull daily to exercise our selues in the meditation of the scriptures least that by our neglect those things become obscure and hard which by vse and practise of the word should be otherwise familiar and plaine vnto vs. The papists chalenging vnto themselues to be iudges of the words of Christ and their practise in that behalfe 12 And as for them who not contented with these resolutions and iudgements of Iesus Christ doe challenge vnto themselues to be iudges for the determining of the controuersies of the church let them follow their owne course We see well enough what their purpose and practise is They see the iudgements of Christ to be manifestly against them But they would perswade vs yea they bid a man b Rhemish Test in the argument of the Epistles in generall assure himselfe that if any thing therein sound vnto him as contrary to their church he faileth of the right sense To themselues therefore and to the bishop of Rome they say it belongeth to giue the sense and whilest they giue the sense we may be sure they will make euery thing to serue their turne and nothing to be against them But by their giuing the sense they bring to passe that when Christ speaketh one thing he must meane another and the sense must be a plaine and expresse contradiction to the words Thus when Christ saith c Ye shall not haue me alwaies with you they tell vs that his meaning was not but to be alwaies really present with vs and euery day in the masse to be offered in sacrifice vnto God And this offering of Christ by the words of scripture is plainely gainsaied which telleth vs that Christ offered himselfe but a Heb. 7.27 once and needed not often to offer himselfe that he is b 9.25 gone into heauen not to offer himselfe often because c 10.18 where there is forgiuenesse of sinnes as there is by Christes once offering of himselfe d 9.28 there is no more offering for sinne But all this notwithstanding we must not thinke that it is so meant but that Christ is to be offered often and being gone into heauen doth euery day concur with the priest to offer vp himselfe and that forgiuenesse of sinnes it not so purchased by the death and sacrifice of Christ vpon his crosse but that we must continually haue in the church an offering for sinne Christ saith in words e Math. 26.27 Drinke ye all of this as was before allenged but we must thinke he meant that all shoulde not drinke but the priest onely The word of Christ is that
gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ which shal be punished with euerlasting perdition from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power 4 Let vs remember these things that wee deceiue not our selues in that which wee pretend of our glorying and reioycing in Iesus Christ with great solemnitie wee celebrate his natiuitie and birth wee keepe holy daies we feast it with daintie fare wee braue it with our best attire we forbeare our ordinarie labours and all as in the honour of Iesus Christ But if we despise his Gospell and tread his worde vnder our feete if wee cast his commaundements behinde our backes and refuse to be guided by his direction if vnder pretence of keeping holiday to the Lord we seeke our owne will and folow our owne carnall and corrupt desires and regard no more in our harts but with the Israelites to d Exod. 32.6 sit downe to eate and to drinke and to rise vp to play what is there in that that we do but that which God elsewhere reprooued in them e Esa 29 13.1◠This people drawe neere vnto me with their lippes and honour me with their mouthes but their hart is farre from me Men deceiue themselues and make a way to their owne destruction when they fancie Iesus Christ to be so mercifull a Sauiour as that vnder him they may doe what they will and liue as they list ignorant carelesse consciencelesse sauouring of nothing but of the flesh and of the worlde and yet in the ende be nothing hindered from comming vnto him And this is the common errour of many that liue vnder the name of Christians They call him their Lorde Iesus but liue as if they acknowledged him onely Iesus to saue them Christ not onely Iesus to saue vs but also the Lord Iesus to rule and gouerne vs. and not the Lord Iesus to rule and gouerne them Thus they diuide Iesus Christ and where they list they accept of him and otherwhere reiect him But Christ is not diuided neither will he be Iesus to saue where he is not Lord to rule If wee will receiue him we must receiue him entier and whole a 2. Pet. 2.20 the Lorde and sauiour Iesus Christ. If we denie vnto him that subiection dutifull obedience whereby we should approoue that we take him for our Lord he shall be vnto vs a Lorde indeed and not a sauiour we shall feele his power and not finde his mercie his sword shall ouerrule vs that would not be content to be ruled by his word We remember the sentence of Christ b Luc. 19.27 Those mine enimies that would not haue me to raigne ouer them bring them hither and slare them before me Let vs assure our selues if we yeelde not vnto Christ his kingdome to raigne ouer vs he taketh vs for his enimies and howsoeuer we now call him c Ioh. 1.29 the lambe of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world yet at that great day of his appeering the conscience of our vnfaithfulnesse and rebellion shall make vs to d Renel 6.16 say vnto the mountaines and rockes fall vpon vs and couer vs from the sight of him that sitteth vpon the throne and from the wrath of the Lambe To this purpose Christ hath forewarned vs e Mat. 7.22 Manie shall say vnto me in that day Lord Lord haue we not prophecied in thy name and in thy name cast out diuels and in thy name done many miracles and then I well professe vnto them surely I neuer knew you away from me yee workers of iniquitie And againe f Luc. 13.25 When the goodman of the house is risen vp and hath put to the doores and yee shall begin to stande without and to knocke saying Lord Lord open vnto vs and he shall answere and say I know yee not whence yee are then shal yee beginne to say Lord we haue eaten and drunk in thy presence and thou hast taught in our streetes be shall say vnto you I know you not whence yee are depart from me yee workers of iniquitie If we be workers of iniquitie the Lord of righteousnes hath no place for vs to dwell with him Earthly dignities are no exemptions from the seruice of Christ nor defence against bis wrath 5 Furthermore it is expressed that this wrath of Christ is extended vnto kings and princes that wee may vnderstand that with God there is no respect of persons and that our earthly prerogatiues whereby wee seeme so farre to excell others are no dispensations or charters of libertie that lesse dutie should be required of vs then of those that are inferiours vnto vs. Earthly state swelleth and puffeth vp the mindes of men and in their pride they thinke scorne to be tied to any rules for the ordering of their life They holde it a wronge vnto them to haue dutie vrged vpon them as vpon other men and it must not be expected of them to serue Iesus Christ further then their leisure and liking will giue them leaue But therefore as I haue saied the prophet heere nameth kings as subiect to the wrath of Christ that no height of men may perswade them that they haue any priuiledge whereby they are exempted from seruing the Lord but rather that the highest are most in sight and specially marked of God and in the contempt of Christ are subiect to so much the greater wrath by how much the more it cōcerneth them not onely themselues to be religious and dutifull vnto him but also both by their authoritie and by their example to forward those that liue vnder them to doe honour vnto his name Kings persecuting the church are subiect to the wrath of Christ and shall do no more then he seeth good 6 But yet the prophet heere specially intendeth those potentates kings that professedly oppose themselues against Christ and his Gospell according to that that he speaketh in another Psalme a Psal 2.2 The kings of the earth stand vp and the rulers take counsell togither against the Lord against his annointed Which is applied by Saint Peter in the fourth of the Acts b Act. 4.27 Against thine onely sonne Iesus whom thou hast annointed both Herode and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and people of Israell haue gathered them selues together and is further also to be applied to all other tyrants and persecutours of the church Now hereby the holy ghost would strengthen our mindes against the terrour and feare of the princes and great men of this world that wee may not be ouermuch troubled or dismaied when we see them banding and bending themselues against the church of Christ inasmuch as we know that be they neuer so great they are subiect to the hand of him that sitteth at the right hand of God so that howsoeuer they fume and rage and by their power seeme to threaten ruine to heauen it selfe yet they can doe nothing but as it pleaseth Christ to vse