oberit Omne desiderium eorum Christus praesens implebit we shall not onely taste how sweet God is but we shall be filled and satisfied with a wonderfull sweetnesse then nothing shall be wanting vnto vs nothing shall hurt vs because Christ by his presence shall fill all our desires V. Be not therefore deceiued for if ye haue not the beginnings of eternall life in this barren wildernesse of your pilgrimage ye shall neuer come to the compleatness thereof in the pleasant and fruitfull land of your rest wherof it is written k Ps 25.13 His soule shall lodge in goodness and his seed shall inherite the earth Obiect not the words which wee reade in the first Epistle of S. Iohn l Ioh. 3.2 It doth not yet appeare what we shall be for he speaketh of the full manifestation and fruition of our blessednesse of the beginnings whereof he writeth in that same Chapter m Vers 14. We know that we haue passed from death vnto life because we loue the brethren Euen as Christ affirmed * Ioh 5.24 Verily verily I say vnto you He that heareth my word and beleeueth in him that sent me hath euerlasting life and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death vnto life Consider and see how by faith in Christ by loue to our brethren for Christ we haue already eternall life and blesse God who hath giuen you faith and loue CHAP. III. I. OVr first comfort and blessednesse in this world is the forgiuenesse of our sinnes II. Which is declared by the example of David III. Who affirmeth that mans blessednesse is the forgiuenesse of his sinnes IV. The same is verified by the example of a woman which was a Sinner V. To obtaine this first degree of blessednes we must be reconciled with our brethren VI. Laudable custome of the Primitiue Church to end their publicke prayers with a kisse VII We must weepe and pray to God one for another for our ownselues VIII Exhortation I. Our first comfort therfore the first degree of eternall life or of our blessednesse in this world is forgiuenesse of sinne Because our first misery is sinne Ye haue heard that eternall life is in God ye heare Isaiah saying a Isa 59.2 Your iniquities haue separated between you and your God And your sinnes haue hid his face from you that he will not heare If then a man be separated from God as he is by sinne his life is gone his blessednesse is lost misery is become his portion and death his inheritance wherfore he cannot be restored to his blessednesse but by forgiuenesse of sin wherby he is reconciled with God receiued againe into his fauour inlightned with the brightnes of his countenance quickned with his life blessed with his grace graced with all his blessings This is the first gate of heauen This is the first entrance into the kingdome of glory Blessed should we be if we could be without sinne Seeing that cannot be because b Iam. 3.2 in many things wee offend all blessed are wee if our sinnes be forgiuen vs. This is known of them onely that know what sinne is and whose eyes godly sorrow changeth into fountains of teares making their hearts to sigh their eyes to weep their tongues to cry incessantly for forgiuenes of sinne which was neuer refused to any that did aske it with a contrite and broken heart Can yee name me one among so many millions of sinners who did weepe before God and lost his teares Who did offer his supplication to the Father of mercies with a sound and single spirit and was reiected Saith he not that c Isa 66.2 He will looke to him that is poore and of a contrite spirit He hath said it and who wil say that he must not or will not doe it II. Which of you is ignorant of Davids sin Was it not most hainous in it selfe Was it not exceeding sinfull horrible aboue measure in such a man who was so many wayes beholden vnto his God Who can tell vs better then himselfe how hatefull it was He confesseth in the fiftie and one Psalme that by it he had lost the fauour of his Sauiour and fallen from the heauen of all felicitie into the hell of all misery and therefore feeling the damnation wherein he was ingulsed and desiring to recouer the saluation which he had lost he maketh with moaning and mourning this true confession to Nathan whom the Lord had sent to rebuke him d 2 Sam. 12.13 I haue sinned against the Lord. And knowing that a confession made to a mortall man was not sufficient to repaire one offence committed against the immortall God he rūneth straight to the throne of grace he couereth his bodie with sackcloth hee sprinckleth dust and ashes vpon his head hee taketh the apparell the countenance the words of a prisoner at the Bar of a malefactor condemned to die He cryeth with many teares to his Iudge e Psal 51.1 Haue mercie vpon me O God Scarcely is the word out of his mouth when God who knew the desire of his heart blessed him with this comfortable answer vttered by a man but proceeding from the bowels of mercie from mercies owne selfe The Lord also hath put away thy sin Thou shalt not die Then his heart was filled with ioy then his bruised bones were healed and moistned with the marrow of gladnesse then his face shined then his eyes were two glistering diamonds between his browes Then he leapt then hee triumphed then he sang When I sinned I was miserable Now my sinnes are forgiuen me and I am blessed III. Then f Rom 4.6.7.8 he described the blessednesse of the man vnto whom God imputeth righteousnes without workes saying g Psal 32.1.2 Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiuen whose sinnes are couered Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sinne h August in Psal 31. Conc. 2. He saith not blessed are they in whom no sinnes are found but whose sinnes are couered Sinnes are they couered They are abolished If God hath couered our sinnes noluit aduertere he would not behold them Si noluit aduertere noluit animaduertere If he would not be hold them he would not take notice of them Si noluit animaduertere noluit punire if he would not take notice of them he would not punish them Noluit agnoscere maluit ignoscere Hee would not know them he choosed rather to forgiue them Oh consider I pray you this example and this saying of David He had great store of riches he was mightie in force he ouerpeered all men in wisedome God had put on his head a crowne of fine gold he was peaceable at home victorious and triumphant abroad he had wise Captaines valiant Souldiers faith full Serjeants obedient Subjects His children were like Oliue plants round about his Table no worldly Commodities were wanting to his desires and loe they are dung vnto him Loe he
from the holy commandement delivered vnto them I will not compare the true Christian to a tree in the kingdome of Congo called by the Portugalians f Arbor tristis The sorrowfull tree because it neither buds nor blossomes nor brings forth fruit but in the night and in the day is without fruit flowers or leaues as if it were dead for the Christian is like vnto the Palme-tree which is greene both day and night though his godlinesse shineth more brightly like a Diamond in the night of his aduersitie then in the day of his prosperitie But well may I compare those painted Christians to the herbe called Heliotropium or Turnesol be cause it turneth with the Sunne both arising and going downe For so long as prosperous dayes shine vpon them they follow Christ who is t Mal. 4.2 the Sun of righteousnesse But if to put his children to a triall of their faith he hide himselfe for a little while in a darke night of persecution forthwith they turne their backes vnto him and forsake him Great and wailefull is their losse Neverthelesse the Church findeth in it a great gaine in weeping for them matter of ioy for her selfe For what are they but super fluous and vnprofitable u Ezech. 5.1.2 haire of the mystical body of Christ which he burnes with fire or scattereth in the wind when he taketh a rasour to trimme the head and the beard of his Church but x Ezech. 22.18 brasse tinne yron lead drosses which are euaporated vanish away in stincking pestilent smoak when y Mal. 3.3 the refiner and purifier of the sonnes of Levi taketh his gold and his siluer to melt and purge them in the furnace of triall but the scum which the Cauldron of the Church casteth out when it seeths and bubbles at the fire of persecution but a Psal 1.4 chaffe which the winde driueth away when the Lord taketh b Mat. 3.12 his fann◠in his hand a broome to sweepe and purge throughly his floare but c Ioh. 15.1 the fruitlesse branches of the true vine which the heavenly Vine-dresser takes away and casts into the fire of his indignation but d August in Epist Iohan. tract 3. Non de carne mea praecisi sunt sed pectus mihi premebant cum inessent c. ill humours which lay heavie vpon the stomacke of the Church but noisome and rotten deiections which shee avoyds into the iakes of the world when the Physician of the soule hath giuen her to drink a bitter potion in the cup of tribulation When such filthy excrements are euacuated she is not so grosse so swollen and puffed vp as she was but shee is more healthful Finally what are they but like vnto woodden legs or to a Creple-mans staffe which when he is cured of his disease he casteth away and not only looseth nothing of his owne but also receiueth a benefit and thankes God that they are not more behoouefull vnto him CHAP. V. 1 OVr first comfort in heaven is that wee shall be without sinne 2 The second that we shall be free from all miserie 3 The third that our faith and hope shall bee changed into the reall possession of the thing beleeved and hoped for 4 What shall bee then the blessednes of our soules 5 And of our bodies 6 Eternall life more fully described by seven circumstances 7 Then the wicked shall see the glory of Gods children who also shall see the torments of the wicked and praise God incessantly 8 Exhortation praier I. AS at the marriage e Ioh. 2.10 in Cana of Galilee all the wine was good but that which was given last was the best so all those comforts whereof I have spoken are most excellent but the last which God giveth to his children at the last day of their lives and which he shall fill to them in the unmeasurable bowles of his infinit mercies at the last day of the world surpasseth them all Our comfort and our blessednes is now that our sinnes are forgiven us our comfort our blessednes shall be then that we shall be without sinne f Rev. 14.13 Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord they rest from their labours Their first their last their most continuall and toilsome labour is their sinne from it they rest And therfore the holy Apostle g Rom. 7 24 desired to die that his blessednes which consisted onely in forgivenesse of sinne by death might bee changed into the blessednesse of abolishment of sinne for then there shall bee no sinne because there shall bee no inticement no allurement to sin h Rev. 21 27 There shall in no wise enter into the holy City any thing that defileth Nothing is able to defile us but sinne and therefore to it wee shall say in that day Get thee hence stād without i Rev. 22 15 For without are dogs and sorcerers and whoremongers and murderers and idolaters and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie What is sinne but a lie What is a sinner but a lover but a maker of lies But within are they of whom it is written k Esay 60.21 Thy people shall be all righteous they shall inherit the land for ever the branch of my planting the work of my hands that I may be glorified O Lord l Psalm 118.9 20 open to me the gates of righteousnes I will go into them and I wil praise the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord into which the righteous shall enter I wil praise thee for thou hast heard me and art become my salvation II. Our comfort and our blessednes is now that when m Rev. 17 4 the Whore of Babylon drinketh unto us in the cup of her abominations and fornications not the health but the death of our soules God strengtheneth us with n Esa 11.2 the spirit of might which maketh us to say to him o Psalm 73.27 28 Loe they that are farre from thee shall perish Thou hast destroied all them that goe awhoring from thee but it is good for mee to draw neer to God I have put my trust in the Lord God that I may declare al thy works Our comfort and our blessednes is now that when our enemies make us to drink great bowles of salt teares in stead of wine we drink stoutly and are not drunk and stagger not any way from our profession when they bait us they cannot abate us when they presse us they cannot oppresse us when they cut the thread of our mortall life vvee rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory because we know that God will knit and fasten our soules to the thread of immortalitie which his owne hands have spun Our comfort our blessednes will be then that p Rev. 21 4. God shal wipe away all teares from our eyes and there shal be no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither shal there be any more pain q Rem
happy is that people that is in such a case happy is that people whose God is the Lord But woe and alas is to us now and for evermore The Church also shall see and know al her persecuters and having all teares wipt from her eyes shall sing r Rev. 5.9 a new song which shall never waxe old even Å¿ Rev. 15.3 Exod. 15. the song of Moses the servant of God which shall bee continually in their mouthes to praise God the Lamb who hath guided them by his strength thorow the red sea of bloody persecution and planted them in the mountaine of his inheritance in the Sanctuary which his hand hath established IIX Deare brethren what shal we render unto the Lord our God for so many comforts which hee hath already bestowed upon us and for this last comfort which he hath prepared for us t Aug. de verbis Apost sâ—â—th 16. Praedestinavit antequaÌ„ essemus vocavit cùm aversi essemus iustificavit cùm peccatores essemus glorificavit cùm mortales essemus He did predestinate us before wee were hee called us when our backes were turned unto him hee iustified us when wee were sinners hee glorified us when we were subiect to death This last benefit is but begun in us in this world we looke for the accomplishment thereof in the world to come where God shall be unto us u Bern. in Vigil nativit Domini sâ—â—m 5. omne iucundum omne utile omne honestum whatsoever is delectable profitable and honest and therefore whatsoever our hearts can desire x Aug. ibid. In his quae iam habemus laudemus Deum largitore In his quae nondum habemus tenemus debitorem Let us then I pray you praise God for that which wee have received and trust in him as in a most sufficient debtour of the rest which is to be received Debitor enim factus est non aliquid à nobis accipiendo sed quod ei placuit promittendo for hee is become our debtor not by receiving any thing from us but by promising that which of his owne good pleasure he is willing to give us And because y Idem de Symbolo ad catech lib. 3. cap. 11. Si in cor hominis non ascendit cor hominis illuc ascendat the things which hee hath prepared for us cannot ascend into our hearts let our hearts ascend unto him with whom they are For that effect let us now even now purifie our hearts for every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure 1. Ioh. 3.3 Yea let us lay downe willingly this present transitorie life that wee may attaine to the other which is eternall for by the small losse of this life wee enter into the glorious joyfull possession of the other O God z Idem Confess lib. 10. cap. 22. Ipsa est beata vita gaudere ad te de te propter te ipsa est non est altera The onely blessed and eternall life is to reioyce to thee in thee of thee for thee there is no other life Remember me O Lord with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people O visite me with thy salvation that I may see the good of thy chosen that I may reioyce in the gladnesse of thy nation that I may glory with thine inheritance O eternall God Psal 106.4 5. O Father of mercies heare our prayers which wee powre out before thee that we may froÌ„ henceforth and for evermore sing unto thee Davids song Thou hast turned from me my mourning into dancing thou hast put off my sackecloth and girded mee with gladnesse Psal 30.11 O Father of Christ heare us for Christ thy Sonnes sake to whom with thee and the holy Ghost be all glory honour and praise both now and for evermore Amen FINIS
others which have no hope he forbiddeth you not to be waile your dead for it is impossible to fight against the motions of nature Did not u Gen. 23.2 Abraham the father of the faithfull mourne and weepe for Saâ—ra Did not x Gen. 50 1.10 Ioseph weepe upon his dead father and kisse him did not all his sonnes bury him with a very great and sore lamentation Did not y Num. 20.29 all the congregation of Israel mourne for Aaron thirty dayes Did a Deut. 34.8 they not weep for Moses as many dayes Did not David weepe for b v 2. Sam. 1.17 Saul for x 2. Sam. 3.32 Abner and for his sonne y 2. Sam. 18.33 Absalom and did not our Lord Iesus Christ a Ioh. 11.35 weep for Lazarus Did not b Act. 8.32 the devout men of Ierusalem make great lamentations over Steven Did not c Act. 9.39 the Christian widdowes of Lydda weepe for Dorcas when she was dead V. The thing which the Apostle forbiddeth is weeping such as is the weeping of the Gentiles which is immoderate because they have no hope One of them seeing hee must needes pay the last tribute to nature go the way of all the earth as he was dying made an heavy mone for his soul saying d Spartiani Adrianus Animula vagula blandula Hospes comesque corporis Quae nune abibis in loca Pallidula rigida nudula Nec ut soles dabis iocos O my restlesse my gentle my sweet soule soule which hast been a friendly guest and companion of my body O how wanne how cold how bare and empty is the place whither thou must now goe neyther shalt thou hereafter make me merry The rest had no better hope if they spake not so they thought no lesse But we know that e Ioh. 5.24 hee that beleeveth in Christ hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death unto life therefore we must not weepe for our dead immoderately as Gentiles doe but moderately as Christians doe In f Ier 9.17 18. Ieremiah his time there was an heathnish custome among the Iewes Praficae mulieres to hire mourning women who were accustomed to take up a wailing for their dead and that g Chrysost ad Popul Antiochen homil 69. 70. profane custome was in the Church in S. Chrysostomes dayes It is now banished out of the Church But that w eh we doe is not much unlike unto it wee teare our faces with our nails we pull the haire out of our heads we rend our clothes wee yell wee roare wee howle like beasts and shew indeed that wee are without hope so great hypocrites or that we consisider not what wee are doing Chrysostome said that h Ex ostentatione potius ambitione inani gloria sunt c. there is more ostentation ambition and vaine glory than true sorrow in such weeping for a man may weep bitterly in his closet and not make such a shew Yea in such weeping there is great shame and great offence offered to our most holy religion For how shall we speak of the immortality of the soule to them which beleeve no such thing how shall wee perswade them to beleeve i Tertull. de Resurrect Carnis Fiducia Christianorum resurrectio mortuorum the rising again faith of Christians when by such yelling wee make them to beleeve that death is as horrible unto us as unto them for they heed not what we beleeve but what we doe And how shall we our selves contemne death if wee shew so great impatience when our friends die IV. Hearken then and learne how to weep for the dead doe yee consider death as it is k Rom 6.23 the wages of sin Weep Consider it also as it is through Christ l Ioh. 5.24 a passage to life and weep not Doe ye consider how your dear friend whom ye loved so tenderly is by death become so ugly and loathsome that ye are constrained with m Gen. 23.4 Abraham to bury him out of your sight lest he become suddenly a stinking carrion Weep CoÌ„sider also that through Christ his grave is made a Doctor unto him and weepe not Doth experieÌ„ce make you to say that by and by he shall bee dust and ashes Weepe But send for faith and it will tell you that though hee sleep now in the dust of the earth n Dan. 12.2 he shal awake to everlasting life according to the comfortable saying of Christ to Martha o Iohn 11 25 26 I am the resurrection and the life he that beleeveth in mee though he were dead yet shall he live And whosoever liveth and beleeveth in me shall never dye For in that blessed day of the resurrection of the righteous Christ p Phil. 3.21 shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body Heer is the comfort of your faith The Pagans speaking of a dead man were wont to say q Scal. Castigat in Festum verbo AbitioneÌ„ FUIT He was because they were without hope for the time to come But your r Rom. 5 5. hope which maketh not ashamed teacheth you to say ERIT He shall be They said also m Tert. de testimonio animae adver Gent. c. 4. Abijt iam sed reverti debet Hee is gone but he will come again not shewing that they had any hope of the resurrection as Tertullian deemed but seeking Euphemisms fair words having a sense repugnaÌ„t to their mind to shew that they esteemed all dead men to be lost In that same sense they said VIXIT He did live and therefore they called him n Ibid. Cúm alicuius defuncti recordaris miselluÌ„ vocas cum miserable If yee consider your dead brother as departed out of this life because of sinne say He did live and weep but knowe ye not that o 1. Sam. 25.29 his soule is bound in the bundle of life with the Lord his God Therfore say VIVIT Hee liveth say Hee is blessed and weep not p Rev. 14 13 For blessed are the dead that die in the Lord. Beleeve yee not that they are past from death to life Wherefore then weep ye Will ye bee injurious to our Lord Iesus Christ Will yee deny the vertue of his death Will ye forsake the merit thereof Knowe yee not that his death is to us which beleeve the death of our death and the life of our life Then weep not O but he was my loving husband she was my vertuous wife thou hast had some losse weep but thy losse is their gaine They are gone to the marriage-supper of the Sonne of God and it is written Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage-supper of the Lamb. These are the true sayings of God Therefore weep not Alas hee was mine onely sonne the heire of all my goods and now alas to whom shall I leave them
is loathsome vnto vs without the fruition of those things which we loue The Diuels and the damned liue in hell But that life is called Death because all the euils which they would gladly shake off fall thicke and lye close together vpon them and all the goods which they desire most earnestly with groanes and sighs flee away from them T is a liuing death a dying life Therefore Dauid asketh a Psal 34.12 what man is he that desireth life And loueth many dayes that he may see good Take good from life And men will chuse death to be freed of life In the state whereof we speake we see good because in it we see God b Psal 36.9 with whom is the fountaine of life and in whose light we see light c August de verbis Apostoli Serm. 6. Omnino non mesatiaret Deus nisi promitteret mihi seipsum Deum c. Certainely God could neuer satisfie me if hee promised not to giue himselfe vnto mee For whatso euer God promiseth vnto thee 't is of no value without himselfe what is the whole earth What is the whole Sea What is heauen What are all the starres What is the Sun what is the Moone what the Hostes of Angels without him I know him to be the creator of all those things Ipsum sitio Ipsum esurio Ipsi dico quoniam apud te est sons vitae I thirst after him I hunger after him To him I say with thee is the fountaine of life d Bernard deproemio patr coelest Esse cum deo esse in deo Viuere cum Deo viuero de Deo c. To be with God to be in God to liue with God to liue by God to haue God who is the soueraigne Good is soueraigne blessednesse is life it selfe II. This Life is called Euerlasting because as it cometh of God and is nothing but the enioying of him so it is like vnto him e Iam 1.17 with him there is no variablenesse neither shadow of turning T is so with their life It may grow better and shal be better in the resurrection It knoweth no interchangeable course of seasons T is al at once the spring time of most pleasant sights the Summer all kind of pleasures the haruest of al blessings which feare no withering by the biting frost of a cold mistie winter God is eternall by nature This life is eternall through his grace God is eternall without beginning without ending f Reu. 1.8 which is and which was and which is to come This life hath a beginning but shall neuer haue an end T is rather euerlasting then eternall So is the death of the wicked to whom the great Iudge shall say at the last day g Math. 25.41 depart from me ye cursed into euerlasting fire prepared for the Diuel and his Angels O happy would they thinke themselues if death could cut the thread of their life Woe woe be vnto them h Reu. 9 6. In those dayes men shall seeke death and shall not find it And shall desire to die and death shall flee from them This shall be the fulnesse of their misery that they shall disire to die and know that they shal neuer die But in this shall be the fulnesse of our felicitie that liuing in God we shall know that we shall liue with him for euer and euer * Barnard de modo bene viuendi Serm. 69. Atterna vitaest vitalis ista est mortalis Idem in Psal Qui habitat Serm. 17. Est finis sine sine This life whereby we liue in in those houses of clay is mortall But eternall life is vitall and liuely T is an end without end III. For eternall life is a full and euerlasting possession and fruition of al things which God hath promised vnto vs in Iesus Christ his Son ye may reduce them all to this one i Reu. 21.3 Behold the Taber nacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people God himselfe shall be with them and be their God Or as S. Paul saith in fewer words k 1 Cor. 15.28 God shall be all in all l August de Verbis Apostoli Serm. 16. Quicquid hic quaerebas quicquid hic promagno habebas ipse tibi erit c What is that all in all Whatsoeuer thou didst seeke here whatsoeuer thou didst make great accompt of here his owne selfe shal it vnto thee m Idem concio 1. in Psal 36. That which is gold cannot be siluer vnto thee That which is wine cannot be bread vnto thee that which is light cānot be drinke vnto thee Thy God shall be all vnto thee Thou sha't eate him that thou hunger not thou shalt drinke him that thou thirst not thou shalt be inlightened by him that thou be not blind thousha't be holden vp by him that thou faint not Posssidebit te totum integrum totus integer He entire and whole shal possesse thee intire and whole he shall be al in thee all thou shalt be all in him all Totum habebis Totum ille habebit quia tu ille vnuus eritis Thou shalt haue him all he shall haue thee all because thou and hee shall be one IV. This eternall life which is the possession of all good in God through Iesus Christ and the onely comfort of them which weepe and mourne though it be alwayes one and the same and not of sundry sorts yet it hath some degrees we are now in this land of the dying Viatores Trauellers and way-faring men and in it wee haue the beginnings of eternall life In heauen which is the land of the liuing wee shall be Comprehensores Owners and peaceable possessors of the entire and whole felicitie which GOD hath prepared for his deare ones The Lord Iesus hath he not said in his prayer to his Father n Ioh. 17.3 This is life eternall that they might know thee the onely true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent If eternall life be in the knowledge of God as Christ saith And if o 1 Cor. 13.9.10 we know in part as the Apostle saith we haue alreadie eternall life but in part only till that which is perfect come and that which is in part may be done away or rather swallowed vp in that profound Ocean of perfect blessednesse Now we f Rom. 8.23 haue the first fruits of the Spirit Then we shall haue a most plentifull haruest Now we haue g 2 Cor. 1.2 the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts as a part and therefore a most assured pawne of the totall summe which shall be giuen vs then Now we say one to another h Psal 34.6 O taste and see that the Lord is good Then i Cyprian de Laude Martyrij Ibi non gustabunt quāsuanis sit Deus sed implebuntur et satiabuntur dalcedine mirificâ Nihil deerit nihil
assigneth not blessednes vnto them but vnto the forgiuenesse of sins Therefore let vs cry after him with sweet Bernard i Bernard in Cantica Ser. 23. O solus vere beatus cui non imputauit Dominus peccatum O the onely O the true blessed man to whom the Lord imputeth not sinne For who is without sinne None no not one ALL haue sinned and come short of the glory of God Neuerthelesse who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect T is sufficient to me in stead of all righteousnesse to haue God alone propitious vnto me because to him alone I haue sinned What 's oeuer he hath decreed not to impute vnto men is as if it had neuer beene non peccare Dei iustitia est Hominis iustitia indulgentia Dei Not to sinne is the righteousness of God The righteousness of man is Gods indulgence Gods mercifull fauour whereby hee forgiueth sinne is my blessedness IV. This was the iudgement of a man who had beene an adulterer and a murtherer Such also was the iudgement of a woman whom the Scripture calleth k Luk. 7.37 A Sinner She came to the Pharisees house where Christ was The Pharisees of all men were most affectionate to the Law l Gal. 3.24 The Law is a pedagogue to Christ m Rom. 10.4 who is the end of the Law for righteousnesse to euery one that beleeueth See the wisedome of the woman when shee is in the Pharisees house shee goeth not to him who taught who beleeued that man is saued by the righteousness of the Law She said in her heart with David n Psal 51.3 I acknowledg my transgression my sinne is euer before mee I haue transgressed the Law I find no good workes in my life which hath bin so lewd that I dare not trust in it Therefore O Pharisee I am come to thy house but not to thee Thou speakest of perfection of righteousnesse thou preachest of rewards thou bragst of merites I cry to my God o Psal 130.3.4 If thou Lord shouldest marke iniquitie O Lord who shall stand But there is forgiuenesse with thee that thou mayest he feared My misery is my sinne my blessedness is his mercy I haue need of forgiuenesse I come to craue mercy I haue hoised the sailes of my faith towards the only haven which God hath ordained for sinners I flie to the port of Salvation where the stormie windes of the law tearing asunder the mountaines and breaking in pieces the rocks before the Lord blow not where the still and small voice of the Gospel refresheth the conscience which thirsteth after thee O my God like a drie land I am come ô Pharisee to him who p 1 Tim. 1.15 is come into the world to saue sinners of whom I am chiefe He is in thy house He is not of thy house So she thought so hâ—â— hart spake Out of hand she runneth to her Sauiour And to apply to her with the alteratioÌ„ of two words that which S. Chrysostome hath written of the woman of Canaan * Chrysost tom 2. Ex varijs in Matthaum locis homil 16. See the wisedome of the woman Shee intreats not Iames shee prayeth not to Iohn shee goeth not to Peter shee looketh not to the company of the Apostles shee sought not a Mediatour In stead of them all she tooke repentance with her for companion which was to her in stead of an aduocate and so she goeth straight to the Soueraigne Spring for this saith she is he come downe from heauen for this hath hee taken our flesh for this was he made man that I may be bold to goe vnto him In the heauens aboue the Cherubims tremble before him the Seraphims feare him and here below a Whoore goeth vnto him She speaketh not she cryeth not with her mouth as the Woman of Canaan did q Mat. 15 22. Haue mercy on mee O Lord thou sonne of David Her humility spake for her She stood at his feet behind him Her godly sorrow for sinne cryed aloud vnto him She washt his feet with teares and wiped them with the haires of her head Her loue was a most ardent prayer She kissed them she anointed them with oyntment each of those actions was a sensible prayer O Lord O sweet Iesus haue mercy on mee Thou art come into the world to haue mercy on sinners O sonne of God haue mercy on me Thou hast taken our flesh thou art become that which I am to haue mercy on sinners O sonne of Dauid haue mercy vpon mee Thou art still that which thou wast thou art become that which thou wast not Now thou art both in one person O Immanuel O God and man haue mercy on me Woman what ayles thee What cause hast thou to weepe Iudge by Christs answer to her weeping prayers what was the cause of her praying teares r Luk. 7.48.50 Thy sinnes saith he are forgiuen For her sinne she wept because her sinne was her misery Her sin was forgiuen her because forgiuenesse of sinne was her felicitie Simon the Pharisee made vnto him a feast of flâ—sh filled vnto him cups of wine The Lord had no stomacke for Simons meate no thirst for his drinke This woman like vnto Å¿ Gen. 27.9 Rebecca who could make sauourie meat to Isaac such as he loved knowing that t Ioh 4.34 his meat and drinke was to comfort and to saue repenting sinners filleth vnto him a bowle of teares mingled with faith and he pledgeth her in u Psal 116.13 the cup of salvation saying vnto her Thy faith hath saued thee Goe in peace Deare brethren if this day wee weepe as this sinner did our fasting will bee feasting to Christ our teares will be his drinke If we cry to God as David did x Psal 6.1.4.8 O Lord rebuke me not in thine anger Returne O Lord deliver my soule oh saue me for thy mercies sake The Lord will come and speake to our soules and wee shall returne home saying with David Depart from mee all ye workers of iniquity for the Lord hath heard the voyce of my weeping V. I say if ye pray so the Lord will heare you If ye weepe so the Lord will comfort you If yee trust not in the prayers one of another If ye rely not vpon the prayers of the Church but if euery one pray for himselfe Heed what I say I doe not forbid you to pray and to weepe one for another for I haue taught you that the Saints did weepe and pray when their brethren sinned did not God say to Iobs friends y Iob. 42.8 Goe to my servant Iob and offer vp for your selues a burnt offering and my servant Iob shall pray for you for him will I accept He commanded them to goe to Iob whom they had offended and to require his prayers He commanded them also to offer vp for themselues a burnt offering to teach vs three most profitable lessons The first that
Felices lachrymae quas benignae manus Conditoris abstergunt O blessed tears which the mercifull hands of the Creator wipe away Then r Rev. 20 14 death and hell shall bee cast into the lake of fire Then we shall with triumphing voices desie death and say Å¿ 1. Cor. 15.55 O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory III. Our comfort our blessednesse now is our faith 'T is our blessednesse that Christ dwels in us and t Eph. 3.17 hee dwelleth in our hearts by faith Now by faith u Now n Aug. de verb. Apost ser 16. as long as wee are in the way now as long as wee are in our pilgrimage now x 2. Cor. 5.6 7 whiles wee are at home in the body wee are absent from the Lord for wee walke by faith not by sight Now we are in the world besieged on all sides with Armies of enemies and y 1. Iohn 5.4 this is the victory that overcometh the world even our faith Then we shall dwell a Cant. 8.14 in the mountaine of spices in the Countrey of Eden in the Paradise of felicity of glory and of joy b Greg. in 7. Psalm poenit Vbi est lux sine defectu gaudium sine gemitu desiderium sine poenâ amor sine tristitiâ satietas sine fastidio sospitas sine vitio vita sine morte salus sine languore Where there is light without any defect gladnesse without mourning desire without pain love without sorrow fulnesse without loathsomenesse safenesse without imperfection life without death salvation without any languishing feeblenesse where wee shall enjoy all felicity with c Heb. 12 22 23 the innumerable companie of the Angels with the generall Assembly Church of the first-borne with the spirits of iust men made perfect For then we shal be citizens of heaven fellows to all the Saints like unto the blessed Angels heires of God joint heirs with Christ Now our comfort our blessednesse is our hope Hope is necessary unto a wayfaring man hope comforteth him in the way A man who is on his journey endureth all kinde of travell so long as he hopeth to come to his journeyes end d Aug. de verb. Apost ser 16. Tâ—llâ— illi spem perveniendi continuò franguntur vires ambulandi Take from him that hope by and by ye shall see him discouraged his strength weakned his journey broken off Wee are all travellers all on our journey to heaven The staffe which upholdeth us the spurre which setteth us forward in the way is our hope e Rom 8.24 25. for we are saved by hope But hope that is seen is no hope for what a man seeth why doth he yet hope for But if wee hope for that wee see not then do we with patience wait for it f Aug. ibid. In this patieÌ„ce the Martyrs were crowned * Desidorabant quod non videbaÌ„t contemâ—ebant quae forebant they desired the things which they suffred in this hope they said g Rom 8.35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ Shall tribulation or distresse or persecution or famine or nakednesse or perill or sword O the strength O the power of hope i 1. Ioh. 3.2 Beloved now we are the Sonnes of God now wee are predestinated called iustified adopted and it doth not yet appeare what we shall be therefore we hope for we know that when hee shall appeare we shall bee like him for we shall see him as he is i. e. we shall enioy him k Bern in fesâ—o omnium Sanctor serm 4. 1. in all his creatures 2. in our selves 3. in his owne selfe for then we shall know the blessed Trinity in its own selfe then with the pure eye of our heart wee shall behold that incomprehensible that unspeakeable glory not l 1. Cor 13.12 through a glasse in a riddle as now in his workes in his Word in his Sacraments but face to face Then we shall no more walk by faith but by sight And m Aug. eod Spes tam non erit quia erit res hope shal bee no more because wee shall enioy the thing hoped for Now m Col. 3.3 4. our life is hid with Christ in God when Christ who is our life shall appeare then shall ye appeare with him also in glory O how glorious is that glory who shall give mee words to utter it aptly Eye hath not seen nor eare heard neither hath entred into the heart of man what brightnesse what sweetnesse what pleasantnes what glory God hath prepared for them that lâ—ve him This is that n Phil. 4.7 peace of God which passeth all understanding o Bern. ibid. Quod ergo nulli datum est expertri nullus conetus affari wherefore that which no man is able to understand let no man go about to utter IV. Yet if yee will suffer me to fumble and to speake of such things as I can since I cannot speake of them as I would ' I le make to you a short description and draw rudely as it were with a coale or blacke inke the first lineaments of the bright-shining light of that glory Man as ye know is framed of two parts of a soule and of a body The wise men of the world say that in the soule there are three faculties or natures which they call reasonable sensuall and cholericke By the first wee reason and discourse by the second we couet meates drinkes all sorts of delights by the third we are angry In the first so long as we are in this world there is knowledge and ignorance for q 1. Cor. 13.9 we know in part In the second there is desire and disdaine In the third there is ioy and anger But in that day r Bern. ibid. implebit Deus rationale nostrum luce sapientiae implebit concupiscibile nostruÌ„ foÌ„te iustitiae c. God will fill our reasonable part with the light of wisedome our sensuall part with a fountaine of righteousnesse our cholericke part with perfect tranquillitie Then wee shall know God with all our minde as wee are knowne of him then beeing filled with his righteousnesse we shall ever love him with all our hearts and still desire him ever bee satisfied with his likenesse and still hunger after him ever rejoyce in his goodnesse and never be weary of rejoycing in him Nihil quippe aut deest semper videntibus aut superest semper volentibus For there nothing is wanting to them who see God alwayes nothing is overmuch to them who desire alwayes This is the blessed comfort wherewith Lazarus is comforted in Abrahams bosome as Abraham said t Luk. 16.25 Now he is comforted V. Mans body is made of the foure Elements of earth water ayre and fire u Ex Bern. ibid. Habebit Terra nostra immortalitatem Aqua impassibilitatem Aer agilitatem Ignis perfectissimam pulchritudineÌ„ Our earth shall receive
immortalitie and shall not returne unto earth againe Our water shall be glorified with impassibilitie and shall not be subiect to any passion or sufferings which may hurt and grieve us Our aire shall have such agilitie and promptnesse * Aug de Civit. dei lib 22. cap. 30. Certe ubi volet Spiritus ibi protinus orit corpus that it shall quickly carry the body wheresoever the soule will have it to go Our fire shall be beautified with the most wonderfull light of all fairenesse If the x Exod. 34.29 30. skin of Moses face after he had beene fortie dayes with God in MouÌ„t Sinai shone so brightly that the people was afraid to come nigh him how brightly I pray you shal shine the bodies of the Saints when they shal be transported by the holy Angels unto Mount Sion and enlightened with the glorious light of the face of God shining upon them night and day world without end The Lord Iesus himself saith that y Mat. 13.43 the righteous shall shine foorth as the Sunne in the kingdome of their father And the holy Apostle saith that z Phil. 3.20 21. wee looke for the Saviour the Lord Iesus Christ who shall change our vile body that it may bee fashioned like unto his glorious body In his transfiguration which was but a praeludium of his glorification a Mat. 17 2. his face did shine as the Sun his rayment was white as the light If such was the glory not onely of his body but of his raiment also when hee was upon earth how wonderfull and glorious is his body now in heaven And if our bodies are to be like unto his in glory what hart can conceive what speech can expresse the greatnes of that glory How radiaÌ„t glittring shall then be the beams of the glorious bodies of all the Saints together when each of us shall bee so glorious So then saith S. Bernard allegorizing the words of the psalm a Psalm 72.19 The whole earth shall bee filled with his glory b Bern. ibid. So will GOD fill our soules when in them shall bee perfect science perfect righteousnes perfect ioy So the whole earth shall bee filled with his glory when the bodie shall be incorruptible impassible nimble and fashioned like unto his glorious body VI. But what is all this that I have said or can say of eternall life It is as if I should paint the fair light of the Sun with the blackest coale O the last comfort of the Christian man how blessed art thou ô blessed life of them that hunger and thirst after thee how comfortable art thou for the thing which we shall enjoy in thee for the meanes for the measure for the time for the certainty for the place for the companions of that coÌ„fortable blessednes of that blessed comfort The thing shall bee God himselfe c Ber. Deus omne bonum summum bonum God who is all goodnes God who is the soveraigne good Now wee make our mone with David and say * Psalm 42.2 23. My soule thirsteth for God for the living God when shall I come and appeare before GOD But as Lyranus saith upon the sixt chapter of S. Iohn Is status est vita aeterna ut faciat tuÌ„c Deus ut videamus quod credidimus manducemus quod esurivimus habeamus quod amavimus desideravimus Eternall life is a state wherein God will make us to see that which we beleeved to eat that for which wee were hungry to have that wch wee loved and desired The means shall be no means wee shall enjoy him by himselfe immediately As Saint Iohn saith that d Rev. 22 22 23 hee saw no Temple in the heavenly Ierusalem for the Lord God Almightie and the Lamb are the Temple of it and the City saith he also had no need of the Sun neither of the Moon to shine in it for the glory of God did lighten it the Lamb is the light thereof The measure shall bee e Luke 6 38. good measure pressed downe and shaken together and running over given into our bosome For f Bernard Deus futurus est intellectui plenitudo lucis voluntati multitudo pacis memoriae continuatio aeternitatis nam quicquid olim inchoavit praeparavit gratia tunc absolvet perficiet gloria God shall bee to our minde fulnesse of light to our will multitude of peace to our memory continuatioÌ„ of eternity then whatsoever grace hath begun in us glory will make it perfect The time shall not be g Aug. in Mat. sor 17Vbi sunt dies bow nec multi sed uâ—â—s Dies ille nescit ortum nescit occasum illi diâ—â— non succedit crastinus quia non pracedit tum besternus many daies but one A most wonderfull day A day which hath no rising no setting A day which is not followed by another because another day is not gone before it h Psalm 30.5 Weeping soiourneth in the evening but singing commeth in the morning We are now in the evening of our misery and therefore weeping sojournes journes with us wee shal be then in the morning of our felicity Then i Mal. 4.2 the Sunne of righteousnes shall arise unto us Sunne whereof the Prophet saith k Esay 60 20. Thy Sun shall no more goe downe neither shall the Moone withdraw it self for the Lord shall bee thine everlasting light the daies of thy mourning shall bee ended The place shall be new heavens and a new earth wherin dwelleth righteousnes If this heaven which we see enamelled with so many bright glistering starres be so glorious if this earth which is diapred with such a pleasant and profitable diversity of so many creatures and is inhabited by sinners be so faire how glorious will the new heavens bee how faire will the new earth be which are prepared to be the blessed habitation of righteous men The certainty shall be most certaine l Aug. do civ Doi l. 12 c. 13. Quomodo enim vera beatitudo est de cuius nunquam aeternitate confiditur for that cannot be true blessednes of the eternity whereof we are not assured The companions shall bee all the blessed Angels and all the Elect who then shall knowe one another even as in the transfiguration m Mat. 17 4 Peter knew Moses Elias whom before hee had never seen the n Luke 16 23 rich man being in hell knew Lazarus in Abraham's bosome VII O wonderfull dispensation of the justice and mercies of the Lord our God! o Chrysost in ep ist 3. ad Cyriac. Episc The tyrants and persecuters shall see know God's deare children whom they martyrized and p Sap. 5.4 5. whose life they accounted madnesse and their end disgrace infamy Seeing and knowing them they shall groane with anguish of spirit and say with the sobs of too too late repentance q Psal 144.15