Phil. 2.16 For the sonnes of God shine as lights in the world holding forth the word of life Especially the faithfull ministers of the word whom Christ therefore calleth e Mat 5.14 the light of the world And if their f Reu. 2.5 candlesticke be set vp in a setled and flourishing Church great and glorious is the light thereof especially in the holy assemblies and most principally in generall counsels A faire way-marke and a forcible inducement to way-fairing men to bend their course that way But yet all this cannot make one true beleeuer g Quis enim imponat mihi necessitatem vel colendi quod nolim vel quod velim non colendi Lact. lib. 5. de vera sap cap. 14. Religionis non est cogere religionē quae sponte suscipi debet non vi Tertul. ad Scapulam No authority of the Church can command faith in a man vnlesse h Hos 2.14 Cathedram habet in coelo qui corda docet Aug. God speake to his heart muchlesse doth it giue truth to the word They both are the proper worke of the same i Sicut Christus legis prophetarum impletio est ita spiritus Evangelij Chrisost 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Basil in ps 95. spirit of truth expressed in the Scripture impressed on the heart of euery true beleeuer k 1. Iohn 5.6 It is the spirit that beareth witnesse because the spirit is trueth l 1. Cor. 14.37.38 Wherefore if any one thinketh himselfe to be spirituall let him acknowledge the things that are written even the scripture to be the word of God But if any will be ignorant let him be ignorant still m 1. Corinth 14.23.24.25 The comming together of the whole Church in some place suppose it be in counsell or for diuine service occasioneth one that beleeueth not or that is vnlearned to come in but it is the word there preached that entereth into him and convinceth him and iudgeth him that openeth the secrets of his heart and then falling downe on his face he worshippeth reporteh that God is in them of a truth n Euangelio non crederem nisi me Catholicae Ecclesiae commoueret authoritas August The Church being more sensible may happily first moue a man but o Ego solis canonicis Scripturis sine vlla recusatione debeo consensum Idem August contr Pelag. de natura grat 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ego in sola Scriptura acquiesco Theodoret Dial. 1. c. 6. the Scripture being most certaine doth at last resolue every beleeuer They who liue in some low bottome may take notice that the Sunne is risen by the shining thereof vpon some high and eminent Church but who so getteth vp thither sees the Sunne it selfe risen and perceiues with his owne eyes that hee is in the hemisphere of light and sayth as the men to the woman of Samaria p Iohn 4.42 Now I beleeue not because of thy saying I haue heard it my selfe and know it indeed that it is the word of life q 1. Ioh. 5.9 If we receiu the testimony of men the testimony of God is greater r v. 10. He that beleeueth hath the Testimony in himselfe he that leeueth not hath the testimony against himselfe because ſ Iohn 12.48 the word that hath beene spoken that shall iudge him at the last day In the meane time Christ the Testator hath appointed some with power and authority in his Church to publish and require his word The Administrators and overseers as administrators and ouerseers to his Will and Testament The ministers of the Gospell are to administer the the same with the Sacraments as the t 2 Cor. 5.20 Ambassadours of Christ and u 1 Cor. 4.1 stewards of the mysteries of God hauing charge * 1 Tim. 4.16 Act. 20.28 to looke to themselues and their doctrine and to all the flock ouer which the holy Ghost maketh them ouerseers For the commission once giuen by Christ to the Apostles was not to cease with them but to continue euen x Mat. 28.19.20 so long as the precept bindeth and as his promise supporteth which is vnto the worlds end Wherefore they ordeined others by laying on of hands to succede them in that office and ministery with power also to doe the like so to deriue the same by a perpetuall succession to all posterity y Per ministros dispares Dei munus aequale est quia non illorum sed ejus est August contra Crescon lib. 3. c. 6. loquitur de Bapt. Now though the ministers of the Gospell be all of the same order with equall power to administer yet are they not all of the same degree as ouer-seers But some are in higher place z 2 Tim. 5.22 Tit. 1.5 to ordeine Elders a 1 Tim. 1.3 to charge the Pastours to teach no various doctrine b ch 5.19.20 to heare and to censure them c Tit. 1.11 to stop their mouthes and to silence them d ch 3.30 And after the first and second admonition vtterly to reiect a man that is an hereticke Who hauing this speciall power of Iurisdiction reserued to them for e 1 Cor. 14.40 decency and order sake are therefore called Bishops by an excellency that is f Speculatores Inspectores Vid. Duaren de sacr Eccl. minist ac benef lib. 1. cap. 7. ouerseers Besides these whose speciall office is in the Gospell God hath also ordayned the civill Magistrate from the beginning g 1 Pet. 2.13.14 whether the King as supreame or the governours that are sent by him h Custos vtriusque tabulae Vid. Duarenum de sacr Eccl. Minist ac benef l. 1. c. 5. 6. to administer his Law and to ouersee the due performance and execution thereof with power of life and death according to the Lavv of Nature euer in force i 1 Pet. 2.14 for the punishment of euill doers for the praise of them that doe well Whereunto all Nations euen by the light of Nature haue submitted k V. 13. but wee must submit our selues to euery ordinance of man for the Lords sake l Rom. 13.4 The Magistrate is the m Hoc jubent Imperatores quod jubet Christus quia cùm bonum jubent per illos non jubet nisi Christus Aug. ep 166. Minister of God to thee for thy good if thou doe that which is good but if thou doe that which is euill bee afraide for hee beareth not the sword in vaine These two ministrations the one ciuill the other Ecclesiasticall doe by mutual offices as the Law and the Gospell jointly and mutually support one another for the building vp of the body of Christ his Church and kingdome The * Vos Episcopi estis corum quae in Ecclesia sunt agenda ego verò episcopus extra Ecclesiam a Deosum constitutus Constantinus Imperator vt refert Eusebius in ejus
the just shall liue by his faith The state of Grace for it shall bee vnto him according to his faith which is of life from God the father in Christ Iesus his sonne our saviour by the Holy Ghost quickning the Holy e Habet popusus Dei plenitudinem suam quāvis magna pars hominū salvantis gratiā aut repellat aut negligat in electis tamen praescitis atque ab omnium gegeneralitate discretis specialis quaedā censetur vniversalitas vt detoto mundo totus mundus liberatus de omnibushominibus omnes homines videantur assumpti Ambr. de vocat Gent. lib. 1 c. 3. Catholique Church which is his body f Eph. 1.23 the fulnesse of him that filleth all in all A life of grace here by reconciliation and communion with God and a life of glory hereafter thorough the forgiuenesse of sinnes and resurrection of our bodies to eternall life The g 1. Pet. 3.7 grace of life in Christ worketh in vs a life of grace by his spirit For the sanctifying graces of GOD rest not in the habit but are in action h 1. Thess 1.3 The worke of faith the labour of loue the patience of hope i Heb. 11. By faith A bell by faith Abraham by faith every one of the holy men in the cloud of witnesses did some notable worke which did evidēce their faith to be indeed as they professed k v. 16. Wherefore God was not ashamed to be called their God l Iam. 2.22 Faith wrought with their works for m Heb. 11.6 without faith it is impossible to please God n Iam. 2.22 by workes was their faith made perfect For the perfection of vertue consists in action So must o c. 1.4 Patience haue her perfect worke p 1. Ioh. 3.18 So must loue be not in word neither in tongue but in deede and in trueth q Iam 2.15.16 If a brother or a sister be naked and destitute of dayly foode and one of you say vnto them depart in peace bee you warmed and filled notwithstanding you giue them not those things which are needfull to the body what doth it profit r 20.26 Faith without workes is dead and so is loue no faith indeede but a bolde presumption no loue indeede but a meere pretence ſ Iam. 2.18 Shew mee thy faith by thy workes but do thy workes before God in faith By faith our selues are iustified before God by good workes our faith and profession are iustified and approved vnto men For thereby it appeares that wee are in the faith and that our faith is in God t Tit. 3.8 This therefore is a faithfull saying that they which haue beleeued in God bee carefull to maintaine good workes u Iam. 2.26 For as the body without the spirit is dead so faith whithout workes is dead also And if our faith be dead whereby wee liue how dead are we * Iud 12. twice dead plucked vp by the roots x Rom 3.4 5. C. We are justified by a liuely faith sayth Saint Paul y Iam 2. We are not iustified by a dead faith saith St Iames wherefore little children z 1. Iohn 3.7 Let no man deceiue you saith St Iohn Hee that doth righteousnesse is righteous even as hee is righteous a 1. Tim 1.14 Now the grace of our Lord is exceeding abundant with faith and loue which are in Christ Iesus b 2. Pet 1.3 According as his Divine power hath giuen vnto vs all things that pertaine vnto life godlines through the knowledge of him that hath called vs to glory and vertue Now although the whole Church and euery true member thereof whom the Father hath chosen whom the Sonne hath redeemed whom the Holy Ghost hath effectually called through sanctificatiō sprinkling of the bloud of Iesus bee holy in Gods account although God bee glorified in his Saints here vpō earth by their blessed cōmunion with him with all men in loue wherby they are also highly dignified in a manner diefied c 2 Pet. 1.4 being made partakers of the divine nature so that they doe far excell al the world besides d 1 Iohn 5.19 that lieth in wickednes e In hac vita multi sine crimine nullus vero esse sine peccatis valet Greg. in Moral Vae etiam laudabili hominū vitae si remota misericordia discutias eam Aug. l. 9. confes c. 13. Nemosine peccato Negare hoc sacrilegium est Solus enim Deus sine peccato est Confiteri hoc Deo immunitatis remedium est Ambros in Ps 118. v. vlt. yet whē all is done we beleeue confesse that we haue stil need of farther grace mercy euen the forgiuenes of our sins if by any meanes we may attaine the resurrection of our bodies to eternall life Wherfore as on the one side f 1 Iohn 1.6 If we say that wee haue fellowship with God walke in darknes we lye doe not the truth So on the other side g V. 8. If we say that we haue no sin wee deceiue our selues and the truth is not in vs. But if we confesse our sins he is faithfull and iust to forgiue vs our sins to cleanse vs frō all vnrighteousnes If any man think that being of the Church in the cōmunion of Saints hee needeth not the forgiuenesse of sins to the last let him also raise his own body frō death to life h Phil. 3.20 21. But wee looke for the Sauiour the Lord Iesus Christ who shall change our vile body that it maybe fashioned like vnto his glorious body inheriting eternal life Which begins so soon as we beleeue i Iohn 5.25 for the houre is come that the dead heare the voice of the son of God they that heare it liue neuer ends nor shall euer be quite interrupted by sin nor death k V. 24. For he that beleeueth hath euerlasting life shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death to life The briefe of all is The praise of the glory of Gods grace that l Habak 2. The iust shall liue by his faith which the Prophet Habakucke receiued of God like as Moses receiued the Law namely vpon his watch-towre with expresse charge m v. 2. to write it and to make it plaine on tables And the Apostle hath giuen vs the constat thereof purposely n Gal. 3. comparing the two covenants together o v. 11. That no man is justified by the Law in the sight of GOD it is manifest For the Iust shall liue by faith p v. 12. And the Law is not of faith but the man that doth them shall liue in them q Rom. 3.27 Where is boasting now It is excluded By what Law By the Law of workes Nay but by the Law of faith r 1 Cor. 1.31 That according
was euer delighted to bee vvith the sonnes of men hath spoken in diuerse manners at sundry times at first in personall appearances f Praeludia incarnationis Tertul the forerunnings of his incarnation afterwards by his forewitnessing spirit in the Prophets for g Revel 19 10 the testimony of Christ Iesus is euermore the spirit of prophesie and now at last in the flesh as was promised from the begining Hee is the Word in substance whereof the Scripture is the utterance The vnbeleeving Iewes cavilled with Iesus h Iohn 8.13 that his testimony of himselfe was not good i v. 15. iudging of him after the flesh and according to their manner k c. 5.44 vvho receiued honour one from another and sought not the honour that comes from God But as Christ then proved himselfe to bee the Word incarnate The intent of Scripture so doth the Scripture proue it selfe to bee the vvord written l Iohn 7.18 Hee that speakes of himselfe seekes his owne glory but hee that seekes his glory that sent him the same is true and there is no vnrighteousnes in him So did Christ seeke the glory of God vnto the death so doth the Scripture throughout For it is the maine scope both of the law and of the gospell and of all that haue spoken or written the word of God For they speake not in their owne names in any vaine-glory but in the name of the Lord thus saith the Lord and they conceale not their faultes and infirmities that God only may haue the glory of his owne word Which though it be sometimes n Num verò Deus mentis vocis linguae artifex disertè loqui non poterit Imò verò summa providentia carere fuco voluit ea quae diuina sunt vt omnes intelligerent quae ipse omnibus loquebatur Lactant plaine is alwaies o Ps 19.8 pure though sometimes darke is alwayes p Heb. 4.12 powerfull in all respects most q Institui animum intendere in Scripturas sanctas vt viderem quales essent et ecce video rem non compertam superbis neque nudatam pueris sed incessu humilem successu excelsam velatam mysterijs August l. 3. confes c. 5. maiesticall Againe r Iob. 5.3.4 I receiue not testimony from man saith Christ but these things I say that yee might be saved Indeede in matter of judgement where there is a claime of right a strickt proceeding in law ſ Deut. 17.6 Ioh. 8.17 euery vvord shall stand in the mouths of two or three witnesses t v. 15. c. 5.45 But I iudge no man saith Christ So for the Scripture first of the old Testament u Rom. 15.4 Whatsoeuer thinges were written aforetime were written for our learning that wee through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might haue hope And for the Gospell in the New Testament w Ioh. 20.31 These things are written sayth Saint Iohn that yee might beleeue that Iesus is the Christ the Sonne of God and that beleeuing you might haue life through his name Wee may bee sure all this is not forged by any creature man or Angell good or bad for none that hath any feare of God durst arrogate to himselfe such power authority as is proper to God alone and no Deuill nor instrument of his would euer speake so much good of God and x Nulla alia scriptura nisi ista immediatè ducitad vitam beatam quae sola est vita simplicitet quia mortem neseit Lyranus in prolog in SS bibl so much for our good to his glory in our saluation It is our part therefore to giue him the glory that we may reape the benefit y Iohn 3.33 Hee that hath receiued the testimony of Christ hath set to his seale that God is true but he z 1. Iohn 5. that beleueeth not hath made God a lyar because hee beleeueth not the record that God gaue of his Sonne And this is the record that God hath giuen to vs eternall life and this life is in his Sonne It were vnreasonably foolish for vs in this case to demand farther proofe of God his word because it is a case not of iudgement but of couenant and that of his free grace for our only benefit not for any advantage to himselfe and that vpon this onely condition that wee truely beleeue and accept it a Ioh. 5.24 Hee that beleeueth shall neuer come into condemnation b Ioh. 3.18 Hee that beleeueth not needeth no more iudging hee is already condemned in himselfe because hee hath not beleeued For therefore his sinne remaineth for the which the law condemneth Will condemned malefactors stand vpon it to haue the King proue his pardon before they will accept it c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. Tim. 1.15 This therefore is a faithfull saying worthy of all acceptation that Iesus Christ came into the world to saue sinners Let him receiue it that can saying I am the cheife For the consent of Scripture The consent in Scripture it hath in effect bin declared already the summe whereof is that the Law and the Prophets giue testimony to Christ foretelling what he should doe d Ioh. 5.39 Search the Scriptures saith he for they testifie of me e Quibus Dominus testimonium perhibet tanquà m testibus suis Aug. l. 2. contra ep Gaudentii c. 23. And he againe giues testimony vnto them performing what they forespake of him f Ioh. 5.36 The workes saith hee that the Father hath giuen me to finish the same workes doe witnesse of mee For all things were foretold of him g Ioh 13 19. that when they came to passe wee might beleeue So that the two Testaments giue h Nà m quia latorem duo testamenta per vnum pacta Deum in Christo copulat vna fides Lex antiqua novam firmat veterem nova complett In veteri spes est in novitate fides Sed vetus atque novum coniungit gratia Christi mutuall testimony one to the other in Christ and both giue testimony of him and he to them like i Exod. 25.18 c 37 8. 9. Nonne tanquam duo Seraphin clamant adinuicem concinentiam laudis altissimo Ita duo testamenta fideliter concordantia sacratam concinunt veritatem Deo Aug. ep 119 ad Ianuar as the 2. Cherubims ouer the mercie seate point with their wings one to the other and both looke downe into the Arke of the couenant They in the Old Testament k 1. Pet. 1.12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 minister the thinges which are now reported vnto vs by them that haue preached the Gospell vnto vs with the Holy Ghost sent downe from heaven which thinges the Angels desire to looke into l Eph. 3.9.10 Even the mystery which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God who created all thinges by Iesus Christ which now by the
die excitatum atque in saecula manens Greg. Nazianz orat 43. it s 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 698. as the temple of his body excelleth the body of the the temple as much as a spirituall house of liuely stones excelleth a materiall house of earthly stones as much as the Church Catholike excelleth the narrow compasse of Iury. At this time by meanes of these and the like predictions which could not but bee generally rumored abroade the desire of all nations was kindled and the expectation of all people was awakned k Pluribus persuasio inerat antiquis Sacerdotum literis contineri eo ipso tempore fore vt valesceret Oriens profectique Iudaea rerū potirentur Tacit Hist lib. 5. Percrebuerat Oriente toto vetus constans opinio esse in fatis vt eo tempore Iudaeâ profccti rerum potirentur Sueton. lib. 10. It was common throughout that part of the world that the Lord of the whole world should come forth of Iudea as the Heathen writers together with Iosephus doe witnesse whose testimony in this case cannot be suspected Now the time was come that the desire of all nations should come in whom they should all bee blessed l Malach. 3.1 And the Lord himselfe whom they sought came suddenly into his temple even the Angell of the couenant whom wee delight in m Luke 2.28 c. Wherevpon the just old Simeon hauing Christ in his armes sang his Nunc dimittis Lord now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace for mine eyes haue seene thy salvation which thou hast prepared before the face of all people to bee a light to lighten the Gentiles and to bee the glory of thy people Israell For this was their glory and the glory of their Temple that n Rom. 9.4 to them pertained the adoption and the glory and the covenants and the giuing of the Law and the service of God and the promises Whose are the fathers and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came who is ouer all God blessed for euer Amen Many other things were foretold of him that should come which were accordingly fulfilled in Christ Iesus o Act 7.24 For all he Prophets from Samuel those that follow after as many as haue spoken haue likewise foretold of these dayes Whos 's other predictions of temporall things also were all generally subordinate to things spirituall and eternall in Christ Iesus So it pleased God to temper them together as the promise of an abundant seede to Abraham and the gathering of the Gentiles in him the promise of the land of Canaan and of an heauenly kingdome the perpetual succession of Davids race in the kingdome of Israel and the eternall kingdome of Christ in his Church the prophesie of the Iewes deliverance from their captiuity and of the generall resurrection Christ his prophesie in the Gospell of the destruction of Ierusalem and of the end of the world p Prophetiae in vicem sibi tempora concinunt vt aliquādò ex futuris praeterita aliquandò ex praeteritis futura probētur Greg. praef in Ezech. that by the event of these temporall things in their seasons they and wee might be the better assured of the eternall to be fulfilled in the end and that by the hope of things eternall we may be comforted howsoeuer it goeth with vs in the meanetime Is it not the word of God who speakes things and they are so Hee foretold things to come in the old Testament but by the new he brings thē to passe For q Rom. 1.16 the Gospell is the power of God vnto saluation to every one that beleeueth The power of the Gospell effecting that in vs which it tels vs. The glutton in the Gospell was perswaded that r Luke 16.30 if one might come from the dead his brethren would beleeue him though they did not hearken to Moses and the Prophets Behold Christ risen from the dead how by vertue of his quickning spirit in this word of life he gaineth every where infinite beleeuers and so recovereth them from death to life Behold so many ſ Ipse modus quo mundus credidit si consideretur incredebilior resurrectione viz mortuorum invenitur Incredibile est mundum rem tam incredibilem credidisse Incredibile est homines ignobiles infirmos paucissimos imperitos rem tam incredibilem tam efficaciter mundo in illo etiam doctis persuadere potuisse Aug lib. 22. de Civ Dei c. 5. c. 8. Quisque adhuc prodigia vt credat inquirit magnum est ipse prodigium qui mundo credente non credit Aug. l. 22. de Civ Dei c. 8. witnesses come from the dead all giuing testimony to the word of God The Gentiles t Luke 1.79 who sat in darkenesse and in the shadow of death and sinners of all sorts who had u Eph. 2. c. 3.19 beene dead in sinnes and trespasses alienated from the life of God and past feeling Never did the word of any man or any oracle gaine that generall credit and beget such a new life in men so holy so happy nor all that ever men and angels could speake did make such a blessed change throughout the world as the Gospell hath done and that by most vnlikely meanes and motiues A few simple plaine illiterate men telling plainly what they must loose and what they must suffer in the world whosoever would imbrace their doctrine Neither could the most obstinate vnbeleeuers potent adversaries and desperate enemies of the Gospell though they conspired and practised against it never so maliciously ever bee able to suppresse or withstand the mighty power of God his word but it certainely prevailed to their vtter ruine and confusion Neither is it therefore any preiudice to the power authority of God his word although it obtaineth not the same effect with all men x Is 55.10 For it never returnes void but effecteth that for which it was sente y 2 Cor. 2.16 being the savour of life vnto life in them that are saued and the savour of death vnto death in them that perish z C 4.4 In whom the God of this world hath blinded the mindes of them which beleiue not least the light of the glorious gospell of Christ who is the image of God should shine vnto them a Esdras 4.41 Great is the truth and it prevaileth Now is the effect shewes the vertue of the cause but giues it not so doth the Church The Church the professed company of beleeuers giue testimony but not authority to the truth of God his word b 1. Tim 3.15 For the Church is the pillar of truth not that the truth of God his word relyeth on the Church but because the Church is inlightned by the word of truth whereby it reflecteth light againe vnto the word being in the world as c Exod. 13. the pillar of light that went before the Israelites in the wildernesse d
of life and out of the Holy City and from the things that are vvritten in this booke BOOKE II. CAP. I. THE STIPVALATION of Faith by â—â—e Sacraments The answer of a good conscience toward God The Creed The Sacraments Baptisme Poedobaptisme Anabaptisme Confirmation and penance Communion No transubstantiation Participation by faith Communion in loue The law conditioned The covenant indissoluble How is the covenant transacted betwixt God and vs BY the word of God on his part The Answere of a good conscience as hath beene declared in the two Testaments which being accepted on our parts by faith that worketh by loue and resteth in hope is mutually sealed and confirmed on both sides by two Sacraments a Heb. 4.2 The word preached profiteth not vnlesse it be mixed with faith in them that heare it nor faith professed vnlesse it worke by loue in them that haue it nor haue we then attained but rest still in hope of the glory of God to be revealed in vs. Faith in a larger sense and not vnvsuall implieth the other graces being a full assent to the word of truth accepting the grace offered in the Gospell vpon trust answering the law by loue which is the fulfilling of the law and the end there of For b 2. Tim. 1.5 the end of the commandement is loue out of a pure heart and a good conscience and faith vnfaigned Which when all is done expecteth the full accomplishment of the promises but of the law and of the Gospell in hope a Heb. 10.36 waiting with patience that after we haue done the will of God we may receaue the promise Thus we stipulate with God b Rom. 12.2 proue his will what is that good that acceptable and perfect will of God and c Ioh. 3.33 set to our seales that God is true * Rom. 1.17 And thus the righteousnesse of God is revealed from faith to faith From the truth of God a faithfull creatour to our faith in him his vnworthie creature And in vs from one degree of faith to another vntill we receiue the end of our faith euen the saluation of our soules The faith more especially is that whereof we make confession THE CREED saying I beleeue in God c. according to the Apostles Creed So it is called not only because it agrees with the Apostles doctrine being the very summe and substance thereof and might happily be d Russinus in Symbol Isiod l. 2 de Eccl. officiis c. 23. Aug. ser 131 Ambr. ser 38. agreed vpon by themselues as the absolute e 2. Tim. 1.13 forme of sound words and the rule of the f 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Athan. erat 4. coutrà Arianos analogie of faith but principally because it is the very forme of the g 1. Tim. 6 3. words of our Lord Iesus Christ the great h Heb. 3.1 Apostle and high Priest of our calling Which besides his generall doctrine he seemes to haue expresly committed in trust to the Apostles in the very same order instituting the two Sacraments to bee administred by them and their successours in his Church for euer i Eph. 2.20 Which is built vpon the foundation of the Apostles Prophets Iesus Christ himselfe being the head corner stone a Regulam veritatis immobilem per baptismum accepimus Iraen adv heres l. 1. c. 1. Baptisme in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost takes vp the former part of the Creed to the holy catholique Church which is holy being b Eph. 5.26 sanctified and cleansed with the washing of water by the word And it is catholike admitting all commers by baptisme as the Lord appointed saying c Mat. 28.19 Goe teach all nations baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost * Vid. Martin procatech tract 4. Which part of the Creed being at first expressed in those few words and aunciently so vsed in baptisme was after enlarged with more articles especially concerning the second person by occasion of heresies that did arise The supper of the Lord which the Apostle calls d 1. Cor. 10.16 the Communion beginning with the communion of saints includes it and the articles following For Christ instituting this sacrameÌ„t cals e Mat. 26.28 the cup the blood of the New Testament saying expresly that it was shed for many for the remission of sinnes and for the other two benefits of communion in the body and blood of Christ namely the resurrection of our bodies and life everlasting St Iohn reports them plainely from Christ his owne mouth saying a Ioh. 6 5â— whosoever eateth my flesh drinketh my blood hath euerlasting life and I will raise him vp at the last day as he doth in like manner speak of our regeneration by baptisme c. 3. For S. Iohn onely of all the Evangelists doth not expresly report the very institution it selfe of the Sacraments but insteed thereof as it seemeth the spirituall graces intended by them Christ therefore himselfe is the author and finisher of our faith Who gaue vs his word by the Apostles wherevpon we beleeue according to their Creed the b In ea regula incedimus quam ecclesia ab Apostolis Apostoli à Christo Christus â— Deo tradidit Tertul. de praes c. 14. badge and cognisance of the Church catholike and Apostolike for ever c 2. Cor. 4.13 So they beleeued and therefore so spake and wee hauing the same spirit of faith doe also beleeue therefore so speake And so it must bee in the couenant of grace for God will write it in our hearts Euery man must haue as it were by heart the copy of grace the evidence of his saluation the charter of life the counterpane of the couenant betwixt God vs as it were a duplicate of the proued will of God to produce the same for himselfe in his owne person assenting to the truth and consenting with the Church rather then barely to alledge God his word for it although the word of God be the ground of our faith for hee may alledge the word that never beleeues it or else perverts it as they that are d 2. Pet. 3.16 unlearned and vnstable doe to their owne destruction But the iust shall liue by his faith Vpon these tearmes the couenant passeth by a Sacramenta mutuambabent relationem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mutuall stipulation The sacraments betwixt God and vs in the sacraments which are certaine b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fidelia seu pignora b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ipsasacrificia per quae faedera intercedente iureiurando sanciebantur b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Homer Iliad 2. mysticall acts and deeds thereof on his part by his word and institution and on our parts by faith and acceptilation As in ciuill contracts besides the bookes drawen and agreed vpon there
ratione praedita 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quidninominet quispiam eum filium Dei Arrian epise l. 1. c. 9. sons of God y Iames 1.17 who is the Father of lights And againe wee are his sonnes by grace who of his owne will z Iames 1.18 begat vs by the word of truth through faith in his Sonne a Iohn 1.12.13 For to as many as receiue him to them he giues power to become the sonnes of God euen to them that beleeue on his Name which are borne not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God Who for his part failes not to provide for our good both in the course of nature and in the state of grace For if an earthly father knowes how to provide good things for his children how much more doth our Father which is in Heauen b Acts 14.17 vvho neuer left himselfe vvithout vvitnes doing good And if hee make c Mat. 5.45 his sunne to rise on the euill and on the good and send raine on the iust and on the vniust hee will certainely cause the d Mal. 4.2 sunne of righteousnesse to arise and e Es 60.1 shine vpon his gracious children and will f c. 44.3 send downe sweete dewes of his spirit into their hearts And g Rom. 8.32 he that hath giuen vs his Son how shall he not with him giue vs all things also Nay our heauenly Father preuents vs with all good things both of nature and grace and all to this end that we should haue the good nature or the grace to vse all to the praise of his glory Which whilest we principally intend wee may be well assured that in the end wee shall be no loosers both because our true happinesse consists naturally in the h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Deus salutaris est sed bonumipsum salutare Arrian Epict. l. 2. c. 8. Summum amare bonum summa est beatitudo August epist 111. ad Iulian. fruition and admiration of Gods glory according to the covenant of nature i Levit. 18 5. Rom. 10.5 doe this and liue and also because the glory of God is ingaged vpon the saluation of his faithfull people by the covenant of grace k Habak 2.4 Rom. 1.17 The Iust shall liue by his faith In assurance whereof the faithfull children of God haue beene well content The true Zelotes of God's glory not onely to frame their liues to his glory but to lay downe their liues for his sake putting the last adventure of their soules that they could make in well-doing l 1 Pet. 4.19 into the hands of God a faithfull Creatour The Lord Himself m Phil. 2.6 being in glory equall with God the Father that without robbery was willing to be abased in the forme of a seruant to the pit of hell that the will of GOD might be done on earth by man for the redeeming of his Kingdome in vs to the glory of his holy Name For although the flesh was weake which for the time put him in a terrible agony yet he soone resolued being strong in the spirit n Luke 22.42 Not my will but thy will be done * Iohn 12.27.28 Now is my soule troubled and what shall I say Father saue mee from this houre but for this cause came I to this houre Father glorifie thy Name And at this marke of our high calling his zealous Saints resolued by his grace through faith presse hard in hope and loue Abraham was content to submit so farre to the will of GOD as to o Gen. 22. sacrifice his sonne Isaacke whom he loued and with him for ought that appeared his owne and all mens expected happinesse For the promise that in his seed all the Nations of the earth should be blessed was before restrayned to Isaacke p Gen. 21.12 Heb. 11.17.18 In Isaacke shall thy seed be called Only he beleeued that God was able to raise him vp from the dead q V. 19. from whence also he receiued him as in a figure Moses wished to be r Ex. 32.32 rased out of the Booke of life rather then that God should not maintaine his owne glory in the safety and prosperity of his people Israel whereon his glory lay ingaged Iob resolueth in his greatest affliction ſ Iob. 13.15 though the Lord slay me yet will I not forsake him The three children Shadrach Mesach Abednego were resolute not to giue the glory of God to Nebuchadnezzar in his golden image whatsoeuer came of them though they perished t Dan 3.17.18 Our God say they whom we serue is able to deliuer vs out of thine hands O King and hee will deliuer vs but if not bee it knowne vnto thee O King that wee will not serue thy gods nor worship thy golden image which thou hast set vp St Paul was content to be u Rom. 9 3◠Anathema from Christ for his brethrens sake not in mere naturall affection to them though it were great but in a feruent zeale of Gods glory which now might seeme to lye at stake with thē Because x V. 4. to them belonged the adoption the glory the covenant And generally all the new borne which onely are the true borne children of God seeme to bee of the same minde Christianos dicit Plinius Secundus omnia vitia detestari sanctissimè vivere hoc solum in eis posse reprehendi quod nimis faci è pro Deo suo profundant vitam quodque horis antelucanis furgant ad canendas laudes Christi l. 10. ep 97. ad Traian who reioyce not only in hope of the glory of God but euen in their greatest tribulations y Heb. 10.34 suffering ioyfully the spoiling of their goods yea of their z Heb. 11.35.36.37 liues vvith most exquisite torments because the a Rom. 5.5 loue of God is shed abroad in their hearts b 1 Pet. 1.8 vvhom hauing not seene they loue in vvhom though novv they see him not yet beleeuing they reioice vvith ioy vnspeakable and full of glory Nay euery creature doth euen by nature spend it self to set forth the glory of the Creator in some sort or other To glorisie the creatoris the glory of the creature being then most happy when it can serue best and is most vsed to that end for which it was made c Iob. 12.7 Aske now the beastes and they shall teach thee the foules of the aire they shall tell thee Or speake to the earth it shall teach thee and the fishes of the sea shall declare vnto thee If wee were not dull of hearing might we not perceiue an * Cicero in Somn. Scip. harmony of the Spheares the Earth below with a deepe base in consort to the Heauenly quier euery creature of God bearing his part all cōming in with a full Chorus to
vpon allowance with limitation Thus was he fondly perswaded to preferre his owne vaine affected glory to the glory of God wherein he stood vntill then truly glorious and most happy And so the forbidden tree proued indeed as it was i Ideo arbor illa appellata est scientię dignoscendi boni mali non quia inde talia quasi poma pendebant sed quicquid esset arbor illa cuiuslibet pomi cuiuslibet fructus esset ideò sic vocata est quia homo qui nollit bonum à malo discernere per praeceptum discreturus erat per experimentum vt tangendo vetitum invenirct supplicium Aug. in Psal 70. called the fruite of knowledge of good and evill by mans sinne and transgression For now he learned what it ment by woefull experience who knew not what evill should be vntill he felt it nor what was his own good with God vntill he had k Non solum vt sint dij homines else desierunt sed etiam qui quasi dij erant suam gratiam perdiderunt Ambrol lost it A losse not to himselfe alone but through his default to all his posterity who being in his loynes are l Falso queritur de natura sua genus humanum Salust initio bel Iug. iustly atteinted of his rebelliō because it was the covenāt of nature which he violated And we naturally are not only made guilty of that m In quo erat natura communis ab ejus vitio est nullus immunis Aug. ep 106. ad Paulin Restat vt in illo primo homine peccasse omnes intelligantur quiain illo fuerunt omnes quando ille peecauit vnde peccatum nascendo trahitur quod nisi renascendo non soluitur August contra duas Pelagian ep lib. 4. c. 4. original sin by imputatiō but are by n Peccara parentum alienasunt proprietate actionis nostra sunt contagione propaginis idem l. 6. contra Iulian. c. 4. propagation corrupted with sin or o Peccatum Originarium vitium languor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vetus iniquitas Ignat ep ad Trallian vice originary the polluted issue thereof in al mankind as an p 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 O insirmitatem meam Nam meam dico istam primi parentis infirmitatem Greg. Nazianz. orat 38. he reditary disease infecting the blood and a stigmaticall skarre that cannot bee done away vntill nature it selfe shal be dissolued For after that the man in his person had once viciated our nature hee begate a sonne in his owne q Genus humanum in parente primo velut in radice putruit ariditatem traxit in ramis c. Greg. ep 53. lib. 7. indict 2. likenesse and after his image the likenesse of sinne and the image of corruption r Natura erat seminalis ex qua propagamur quâ scilicet propter peccatum vitiata vinculo mortis obstricta iusteque damnata non alterius conditionis homo ex homine nasceretur Aug. l. 13. de Civ Dei c. 14. And do not wee all sinne if we liue to it after the s Rom. 5.14 similitude of Adams transgression t Liberum arbitrium captivatum non nisi ad peccatum valet Aug. ad Bonifac. l. 3. c. 8. preferring the pleasures of sinne to the law of God v Act 7.51 alwayes resisting the will of God As our Fathers did so do wee x Rom 7.11 For sinne taking occasion by the commandement worketh in vs all manner of concupiscence deceiueth and by it slayeth vs. Thus the law which by the covenant of nature y Rom. 7.10 was appointed to life The Law ever in force is by our transgression and perversnesse become vnto vs z C. 8.2 the law of sinne and of death nature it selfe beeing iudge For the very Gentiles without the law had their a Rom. 2.15 Quos diri conscia facti Mens haber attonitos surdo verbere caedit Occultum quatiente animo tortore flagellum Iuvenal Satyr 13. thoughts accusing or else excusing one another b C. 1.32 knowing the iudgement of God that they who commit such things as are forbidden by the law are worthy of death For the covenant of nature being to do this and liue the not doing thereof but the contrary must needes bee death c pro magnitudine culpae illius naturam damnatio mutavit in peius vt quod poenalitèr praecessit in peccantibus hominibus primis etiam naturalitèr sequeretur in nascentibus coeteris August de Civ D. l. 13. c. 3. ipso facto d Gen. 2.17 In the day thou eatest thou shalt dye the death For our breaking the law could not disanull the law but that it is ever in force to binde vs although never of force to inable vs to performe our duties Nor could the forfet of our bond discharge our debt to God but that his law is ever of force against vs to exact the penalty if there were not a remedy But hath not God abrogated the law of nature by contracting with vs a covenant of grace Nay thereby he hath established the law of an holy life e Exod. 34. v. 28. Deut. 4. v. 13. The words of the covenant were the ten Commandements At the first promise of grace there was a law of perpetuall f Gen. 3.15 enmity set betweene the seede of the woman and of the serpent and in the contract of the covenant with Abraham obedience to God his law is conditioned being implyed in his charge g Gen. 17.1 walke thou before mee be thou perfect But when God establshed that covenant with the children of Israell hee gaue them the law written most authentically with his owne finger in h Exod. 31.18 two tables of stone to bee kept for a testimony of his covenant with them in the i Deut. 10.5.1 Kings 8.9 Heb. 9.4 arke of his gratious k Numb 10.35.36 Psal 24.7.8 presence for ever And by the new testament wherein the same covenāt is renewed as he promised l Ier. 31.32.33 God will put his law in our mindes which was then put in the arke and will write it in our hearts which before was written in stone that wee may serue him in newnesse of spirit and not in the oldnesse of the letter Did Christ Iesus then when he came proue so vnlike Moses of whom he had said m Deut. 18.15 that he should be like vnto him did he set himself so much against Moses as vtterly to dislike and abolish that eternall law which was given by his ministery Nay hee the lord over his owne house wherein Moses was a faithfull servant ratifies the law in every title Saying n Mat. 5.19 whosoever shall breake one of these least commandements and shall teach men so hee shall be called the least in the kingdome of heaven v. 17. For he came not to destroy the law but to fulfill it and he did so
as it is written He that glorieth let him glory in the Lord. Which we doe if we beleiue doe as we professe if denying our selues al other means we ascribe the ſ Totum Deo deturqui vosuntatem hominis bonam praeparat adjuvan dam adjuvat praeparatam August Enchir. ad Laurent c. 37. whole worke of our saluation to God alone indeauouring so to liue as may t Tit. 2.10 adorne the doctrine of God our Sauiour in all things and not cause u 1 Tim. 6.1 his Name doctrine any way to be blaspheamed First acknowledging our own naturall vnworthines vntowardlines * 2 Cor. 3.5 who are not able of our selues to think any thing as of our selues wee giue God the praise of his x Hominis bonum propositū adjuvat quidem subsequens gratia sed nec ipsū esset nisi praecederet gratia Aug. l. 2. contra duas Pel. ep c. 9 preventing grace y Phil. 2.13 who worketh in vs both to will and to doe of his good pleasure And then of his z Sine illo vel operante vt velimus vel cooperante cum volumus ad bona pietatis opera nihil valemus Idem de grat lib. arb c. 27. assisting grace if we be willing obey a 2 Cor. 6.1 and receiue not his grace in vaine b Mat. 3.8 but bring forth fruites meete for repentance For by well-doing wee shall shew forth the praises of him c 1 Pet. 2.9 that hath called vs out of darknes into his marvailous light d V. 12. shall thereby occasion others also to glorifie God in the day of their visitation e Iohn 15.8 Hereby God is glorified that ye beare much fruit Againe acknowledging our vnanswerablenesse yet to the grace receiued by reason of our continuall infirmities we giue him the f Majoris prętij beneficium est quod praestatur indignis Salvian l. 4. de gub Dei praise of the al-sufficiency of his grace to saue vs notwithstanding our manifold deficience therefrom whilest g 2 Cor. 12.9 his strength is made perfect in our weaknes Therefore wee glory in our infirmities that the power of Christ may rest vpon vs. And withal confessing our continuall sinnes we giue him the praise of his righteousnes h 1 Iohn 1.9 who is iust to forgiue vs our sinnes though many times hee suffer not malefactors to goe vnpunished i Iosh 7.19 As Ioshuah willed Achan to make confession of the fact to giue glory to GOD. And as Dauid himselfe did saying k Ps 51.4 against thee haue I sinned done this euill in thy sight that thou maist be iustified when thou speakest cleare when thou iudgest Lastly beleeuing the resurrection of the body we giue God the praise of the l Eph. 1.19 exceeding greatnes of his power to vs-ward who beleue m Phil. 3.21 according to the mighty working of his power whereby he is able to subdue all things vnto himselfe As n Ro. 5.17.18.20 Abraham beleiuing God who quickneth the dead against hope beleeued in hope staggered not at the promise through vnbeleefe but being strong in faith gaue glory to God And if we giue him the praise of the glory of his grace o Ps 84 11. hee will giue vs both grace glory no good thing shall he with-holde from them that liue a godly life p Ier. 9. v. 23. Wherefore let not the q 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Basil hom in Psal 33. wise man glory in his wisedome neither let the mighty man glory in his might let not the rich man glory in his riches But let him that glorieth glory in this V. 24. that hee vnderstandeth and knoweth me that I am the Lord which exercise louing kindnes judgment righteousnesse in the earth for in these things I delight saith the Lord. CHAP. III. The Testaments The will of God The word The Scripture That the Scripture is the word of God The intent of it The cōsent in it The old legall Testament The new Evangelical Testament The event of prophesies The power of the Gospel The Church The administrators and ouer seers Scripture the absolute Canon of faith and life VVhat assurance is there of the Covenant of Grace WE haue GOD his Word for it in the Scripture and that in two Testaments both written from his owne mouth and by the direction of his Spirit The covenant of grace being not a bargaine made with God by our owne selues The Will but procured for vs by the intercessiō of a Mediator that through his death he therefore disposeth the estate of life so purchased to the a 1 Pet. 3.7 heires of grace by Will and Testament b Luke 22.29 I bequeath saith he a Kingdome vnto you as my Father hath bequeathed vnto me A Testamēt is a covenāt by wil c Heb. 9.16.17 made good by the death of the Testator who alone prescribes the conditions on both sides because he inables the Executour who prouing the Will stipulates giues his faith by acceptilation For he that accepts the offer vndertakes bindes himself to performe the conditiō So is the estate of grace conveyed by d Berirh Foedus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Testamentum vid. Iun. paral l. 3. in c. 9. ad Heb. ver 15. c. covenant testat or by testament covenanted in which respect the tearmes are promiscuously vsed And the authentike bookes of Scripture being the publike instruments of God his will in writing are called testamēts because they contein the e Quae Deus occulta esse voluit non sunt scrutanda quae autem manifesta fecit non sunt neganda ne in illis illicitè curiosi in istis damnabiliter inveniamur ingrati Ambros l. 1. de vocat Gent. c. 7. perfect will of God concerning vs in Christ Iesus the Gospell declaring what hee will doe for vs the Law what seruice he wil haue vs doe vnto him Whatsoeuer els is mentioned in Scripture whether God's promises or threats of things tēporal or eternall or his works of creatiō or providence his blessings or iudgments or whether the words or deeds of men or angels good or bad all serue one way or other to confirme or illustrat the will of God cōcerning vs in some point of the Law or in some article of our Creed Which two parts of the couenant as it were the condition the obligation haue bin euer the same in substāce though not always in like māner dispensed especially the Gospell by reason of some weighty circūstances The Law was neuer giuen or made positiue without the Gospel neither is the Gospel now without the Law although the old testament be vsually called the Law the new the Gospel because the Law is predominant in the one and the Gospell in the other and the forme of the covenant is in the one logall in
vita lib. 4. cap. 24. magistrate can not giue what himselfe hath not the power of orders to administer the Word and Sacraments But where it pleaseth n Isai 49.28 God to raise vp Kings and Queenes to be nursing Fathers and nursing mothers to his Church they may and will giue leaue to such as are ordained to exercise their ministry in their dominions assisting them and providing for their maintenance o 1 Cor. 9.14 worthy the Gospell of Christ Iesus And they can p Quandò Imperatores veritatem tenent pro ipsa veritate contra errorem jubent qued quisque contempserit ipse sibi judicium acquirit August ep 166 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arist pol. l. 3. c. 11. command their people to heare them to q 2 Chron. 34.32 enter covenant with God by their ministery and to keepe the same at least in the outvvard act and they will not be negligent by all meanes to prouide for the peace of the Church r Rex nolentibus praeest episcopus volentibus ille terrore subijcit hic servituti donatur ille corpora custodit ad morrem hic animas servat ad vitam Hieron ad Heliodor in Epitaph Nepotian The Ministers of the Law haue power ouer mens goods the Ministers of the Gospell haue power to dispense the good things of God They can banish cast out of their coūtryes dominions These can excōmunicate out of the Church of Christ Iesus ſ Mat. 10.28 Iohn 19.10.11 They can kill the body hauing povver giuen them from aboue t 1 Cor. 5.5 These can deliuer ouer vnto Satan the lewde and vngodly such as loue not the Lord Iesus Yet both Civill and Ecclefiasticall Ministers and ouerseers are to doe Scripture the absolute canon of Faith and Life u In his quae apertè in Scriptura posita sunt inveninntur illa omnia quae continent fidem moresque vivendi August de doct Christ lib. 2. cap. 9. Adoro Scripturae plenitudinem Tertul. adversus Hermogen all according to the expresse will of GOD concerning vs in Christ Iesus Whose word in Scripture is the absolute x Sacra Scriptura regula credendi certissima tutissima Bellarm. lib. 1. de verbo Dei cap. 2 § 13. rule and cannon both of faith and life * 2 Tim. 3.16 17. The Apostle saith that all Scripture which then was only the olde Testament being giuen by inspiration of God was x Divinus sermo habet in publico vndè parvulos nutriat servat in secreto vndè mentes sublimium in admiratione suspendat Quasi quidam quippe fluvius planus altus in quo agnus ambulet elephas natet Greg. in praefat in lib. Moral ad Leand c. 4. profitable for doctrine for reproofe for correction for instruction in righteousnesse that the man of God might be perfect throughly furnished to all good workes By it y Iohn 5.39 Christ himselfe was content to bee tryed and the z Act. 17.11 1 Cor. 15.3.4 1 Tim. 6.3 Apostles by the same and by the Gospell of Christ which they preached Nay the Law it selfe before they had the Prophets was the perfect will of God in respect of parts a Ps 19.7.8 The Law of the Lord saith the holy King is perfect converting the soule the testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple And therefore the Prophets themselues were to be tryed thereby b Is 8.20 To the Law and to the testimony if they speake not according to this truth it is because there is no light in them Insomuch that if their doctrine were not agreeable therevnto c Deut. 13.1.2.3 though they confirmed it with a signe and with a miracle that came to passe yet the people had warning not to harken to such for it was but to trye them and to proue them whether they loued the Lord their GOD with all their heart and with all their soule And since it pleased GOD once to expresse his Will by writing d Spiritus Sanctus ita Scripturas sacras modificavit vt locis apertioribus fami occurreret obscurioribus autem fastidia detergeret Nihil enim feré de illis obscuritatibus eruitur quod non asibi planissimè dictum reperiatur Aug. l. 2. de Chr. doct c. 6. the Holy Ghost hath so ordered the matter that almost euery seuerall booke in Scripture is a perfect modell of GOD his Will in respect of parts howsoeuer it pleased God by degrees to reveale his grace euer more and more vntill all was consummate in Christ Iesus as now wee haue it in the New Testament e Gal. 3.15 If it bee but a mans Testament yet if it bee confirmed no man disanulleth it nor addeth thereunto And shall any now f Rom. 12.3 thinking of himselfe more highly then hee ought or g Aeternam igitur legem mundis animis fas est cognoscere judicare non fas est Aug. de vera religione c. 31. presuming to know more then is meete dare to vsurpe authority aboue the Testament of Christ in the Scripture to prescribe against it or to dictate any thing h Lacte gypsum malè miscetur Irenaeus l. 3. adversus haeres c. 19. Quod de Scripturis authoritatem non habet eâdem facilitate contemnitur quâ probatur Hieron in Mat. 23. besides it as the absolute will of GOD to binde the conscience with necessity to i 1 Pet. 5.3 domineere ouer GODS heritage to smite his fellow-seruants and to vsurpe dominion ouer the faith k Deut. 17.18.19.20 The King sitting vpon his throne was bound to haue a copy of the Law of GOD with him and to reade therein all the dayes of his life that hee might learne to feare the Lord his God to keepe all the words of his Law and his Statutes to doe them that his heart might not bee lifted vp aboue his brethren and that hee might not turne aside from the commandement to the right hand or to the left And for the Ministers of the Gospell l 1 Tim. 6.3.4.5 if any man teach otherwise and consent not to wholesome words euen the wordes of our Lord IESVS CHRIST and the doctrine which is according to godlinesse he is proud knowing nothing and is destitute of the trueth supposing that gaine is godlinesse from such vvithdravv thy selfe m Gal. 1.8.9 Nay if any preach any other Gospell though an Angell from Heauen let him bee accursed n Revel 22.18.19 I testifie to euery man saith S. Iohn for conclusion of all his testimony is true that if any man shall adde vnto these things God shall adde vnto him the plagues that are vvritten in this booke Canon amussis neque additionem patitur neque ablationem Theophilact in 3. c. ad Philipp and if any man shall take avvay from the vvords of the booke of this Prophesie God shall take avvay his part out of the Booke
borne once new borne For it is vnto life eternall which once begunne neuer endeth h Rom. 6.3 Knowe yee not that so many of vs as were baptised into Christ were baptised into his death i v. 9. that as Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more k v. 11. so we once dead vnto sinne are aliue vnto God for euer through Iesus Christ our Lord Wherefore should any then be rebaptised For as for them who l Heb 6. hauing beene once inlightned and haue tasted of the heauenly gift and were made partakers of the holy Ghost and haue tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come if they shall fall away it is impossible to renew them againe vnto repentance and for them in whom though they fall a 1. Ioh. 3.9 the seed remaineth another baptisme is needlesse For by the grace of God remaining in them b Art Eccles Angl. 16. they may recouer and amend their liues Yet are there certaine mysticall acts though c Sacramentis numero paucissimis obseruatione facillimis significatione praestantissimis societatem novi populi colligavit August de doctr Christ l. 3. c. 9. not other sacraments namely confirmation and penance Confirmation and Penance which are appendants to the sacraments and in this case and other like of good vse in the Church for correction and instruction For by the one children that haue beene baptised are confirmed in the faith when they come to age wherevnto they were baptised When themselues assuming the vow of baptisme d 1. Pet. 3.21 stipulat a good conscience towards God and ratifie what was vndertaken for them by their sureties By the other such as are e Vid. 1. Cor. 5 excommunicate or deserue to be debarred the communion hauing any way violated or scandalized the communion of Saints are humbled both for the satisfaction of the Church whom they haue offended and for their owne reformation That hauing renewed their vow in baptisme by repentance they may bee absolued and g Vid. 2. Cor. 2 readmitted to the Communion Which h See the Preface to the commination in the common prayer-booke godly discipline more frequent in the primitiue Church is much to bee wished that it may be againe restored with vs to adde vigor and life to the word and Sacraments For although excommunication for sinne and absolution from sinne be vertually implied in the word and Sacraments for what is preaching but a generall proclamation of pardon to all penitent beleeuers and a publike denunciation of God his curse against obstinate vnbeleeuers And what are the Sacraments but the personall applying of remission and grace to every man in particular and the detaining of them from the Communion but the retaining of their sinnes Yet the positiue sentence of binding and loosing in a iudiciall proceeding is more powerfull with the conscience being Christ his a Mat. 18.18 Ioh. 20.23 ordinance is ratified in heauen where it is rightly administred Our Birth is at once Communion but our life in grace is a continued act and therefore hath continuall need of spirituall nourishment to repaire what is wasted daily by sinne and corruption wherewith we are incombred and for our growth to a perfect man in Christ Iesus Our naturall life consists in the b Vita animae deus est haec corporis hac fugiente soluitut hoc perit haec destituente deo vnion and communion of the body with the soule and our life supernaturall in the vnion and communion of our soule with God which is in Christ who c Iohn 14.6 is the life d Col. 2.9 in whom the fulnes of the Godhead dwelleth bodily By what meanes he became partaker of our mortality flesh and blood by the same hauing conquered sinne and death he makes vs partakers of his immortality and diuine nature imparted in him to the humane and by it to vs. The Church and all the members thereof are in Christ as Eue and all her children were in Adam g Gen. 2.23 flesh of my flesh saith he and bone of my bone That as wee drew corruption from Adam with his nature so from Christ wee deriue incorruption by his grace Nay nearer then so h Eph. 5.30 wee are members of his body of his flesh and of his bones not only deriued from him or new begotten by him but perpetually subsisting in him As the i Iohn 15.4.5 graft in the stocke which yeeldeth vs continuall sap and spirituall nourishment vnto eternall life k Iohn 14.19 Because I liue saith he ye shall liue also At that day you shall know that I am in the Father and you in mee and I in you So dearely hath Christ loued vs v. 20. and so nearely hath hee vnited vs vnto himselfe that he is not satisfied as not inioying himselfe without vs a Eph. 1.23 his body the Church the fulnesse of him that filleth all in all b 1. Cor. 12.13 And as all the members being many are one body so also is Christ namely his Church Of which communion wee haue this other Sacrament c Poculum immortalitatis quod confectum est de infirmitate nostra veritate diuina habet quidem in se vt omnibus prosit sed si non bibitur non medetur Prosp in responsione ad obiectionem Vincentianam The cup of blessing which wee blesse No transubstantiation d 1 Cor. 10.16 is it not the communion of the blood of Christ The bread which wee breake is it not the communion of the body of Christ For we being many are one bread and one body for wee are all partakers of one bread Bread still though consecrated yea and receaued For it is the e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 communion not the f Not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 commixtion or confusion of his body with the bread as if they were kneaded together nor the g Nor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seu 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 translation of the bread into his body as if the one were supplanted by the other But it is the h But 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 communion of his body by a common vnion of them both in the sacrament which doth necessarily consist both of the outward signe and inward grace Whereof there is such a i A 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nazianz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theodoret. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Macarius hom 27. reciprocall relation and mutuall coniunction in a sacrament by diuine institution that they necessarily concurre as integrant parts thereof without either of which it is no sacrament And therefore to signify their neare and intimate vnion they vsually haue one an others k Solet res quae significat cius rei quam significat nomine nominayi August quaest 57. super Leuit. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Talis est praedicatio
therefore his will is a law to vs and our obedience is true loue vnto him And weebeing many are thereby knit together in one body holding the vnity of the spirit in this bonde of peace Wherefore as wee vowe in baptisme that we will keepe Gods holy will commandements and walke in the same all the daies of our life so by this other sacrament wee renew the same vow so often as wee receiue it repenting our sinnes past the transgressions of that righteous law resoluing and stedfastly purposing thorough Gods grace to leade a new life in all thankfull obedience vnto him and true loue and charity amongst our selues Wherevpon we receaue the blessed sacrament of Christs body blood most deepely binding our selues thereby to performe the same and in the assured faith of Gods grace and helpe that wee may walke in the strength of this spirituall food the way of life by the law prescribed vnto vs. When first the couenant was confirmed by Moses with the Israelites at Horeb The Law conditioned God gaue them the law they accepted saying a Exod. 19.8 all the words which the Lord hath commanded wee will doe and be obedient And when he renewed the same couenant with them in the land of Moab they gaue their faith that they would obey And so doe wee b Deut. 26.17.18 They avouched the Lord to be their God and so doe we the Father Son Holy ghost and God auoucheth the holy catholike Church as then he did them to be his people They promised to walke in his waies and to keepe his commandements and his iudgements as they expected his blessing c c. 27. they bound themselues with an oath and with a curse all which in effect wee likewise doe to liue as becometh his saints euen as wee expect his mercy to forgiue vs our sinnes and the power of his grace to bring vs to ternall life Wherevnto we binde our selues by vow and consignation and as it were by contesseration in the sacraments The law was not only giuen and required by God but approued accepted by them in their hearts to doe it as their mouthes professed In which respect Moses said d Deut. 30.14 the word is very nigh thee in thy mouth and in thine heart that thou maist doe it Howbeit they breake their faith giuen and their spirit was not stedfast with God a Ps 78.37 Their heart was not right with him neither were they stedfast in his couenant But now hauing renewed his couenant as he promised b Gal. 3.7 with the children of Abraham that are by faith the holy catholike Church that they shall be his people and that he will be their God c Ier. 31.33 Lex dei in cordibus scribitur non quia per naturam praeventa sit gratia sed quia per gratiam reparata est natura August de ver a innocent cap. 258. hee puts his law in their inward parts and in their hearts he writes it euen the communion of saints thorough faith that worketh by loue For beleeuing in Christ Iesus we doe thereby acknowledge that the Law is holy iust and good Holy in respect of the things commanded else were not wee sinfull who haue disobayed nor needed wee a mediatour Iust in respect of the penalty inflicted else why should Christ haue dyed that wee might be deliuered Good in respect of the end purposed life to the doer Which Christ hath done and liues for euer and wee also by faith in him If the same minde be in vs that was in Christ Iesus to be obedient to the will of God vnto the death d Cant. 8.6 Loue is stronger then death The couenant indissoluble that neither life nor death can dissolue the communion betwixt God his church or any true member thereof Whom hee hath set as aseale vpon his heart as a seale vpon his arme to loue and to defend for euer For so hee saith e Heb. 13.5 I will neuer leaue thee nor forsake thee f c. 6.7 And being willing more abundantly to shew vnto the heires of promise the immutability of his counsell he hath confirmed his word by the sacraments in his blood g v. 8. That by two immutable things in which it is impossible for God to lye wee might haue a strong consolation who haue fled for refuge to lay holde vpon the hope set before vs. We may therefore be bolde vpon it if need be to lay downe our liues for his sake in whom our life is hid with God knowing that euen in death wee shall be more then h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 8.37 conquerours thorough him that loued vs. i Mat. 20.22.23 Can ye drink saith Christ of the cuppe wherof I shall drinke and can yee bee baptized with the baptisme wherwith I shall be baptized And they said we can And hee said yee shall So must all a 2. Tim. 3.12 Act. 14.22 suffer affliction some way or other that will liue Godly It is the portion of our cuppe and calling conditioned by God vndertaken by vs in these sacraments whereby we are assured that b 2. Tim. 2.12 if we suffer with him wee shall raigne with him Wee are baptized into the death of Christ And the holy communion is not only a sacrament of the grace of life vnto vs but a sacrifice of vs vnto God and a protestation of our seruice vnto him euen vnto the death after the example of Christ Iesus In c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Monumenta salutaris passionis Basil in cannonditur 1 Cor. 11.26 commemoration of whose meritorious sufferings with a thankfull remembrance thereof wee c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Monumenta salutaris passionis Basil in cannonditur 1 Cor. 11.26 se◠forth his death vntill he come d Rom. 12.1 offer vp our selues a liuing sacrifice holy acceptable vnto God thorough Iesus Christ consecrating vowing our selues whatsoeuer we are whatsoeuer we haue wholy to his seruice who hath redeemed vs. e 2 Cor. 5.14.15 For the loue of Christ constraineth vs because we thus iudge that if one dyed for all then were all dead and that hee dyed for all that they which liue should not henceforth liue vnto themselues but vnto him that died for them and rose againe f Heb. 13.15 By him therefore let vs offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually that is the fruite of our lips giuing thankes to his name v. 16. not forgetting to doe good and to communicate for with such sacrifice God is well pleased CAP. II. Faith working by loue according to the Lawe The Law established by faith Gods law our prayer Faith in the Trinity denies not the vnity of God Christ the only image of God to bee worshipped by faith in his name By Prophanenesse Hypocrisie Blasphemy the name of God vnhallowed The Christian sabbath of the holy catholike Church The sabbath not
nemine quam diu â—utem augeriopotest profecto illud quod minus est quam debet ex vitio est ex quo vitio non est qui faciat bonum non peccat Aug. ep 29. ad Hier. loue vaunteth not it selfe is not puffed vp seeketh not her owne but generally their works who most stand vpon them are done either in vaine glory or with carnall confidence or in a superstitious opinion of meriting thereby vnto them selues and as seeking their owne good more then the glory of God Wherefore although wee build vpon the c 1 Cor. 3.11.12.13.15 foundation Christ Iesus yet because there is a mixture of trash wood hay stubble with our purest gold siluer pretious stones wee shall suffer losse in our workes and our selues be saued euen so as by fire Againe what congruity is there of d Gratianon est vllo modo si non sit gratuita omnimodo August ep 106 ad Bon. grace e Meritum meum miseratio domini Bernard bomil 61. in canticum cant merit Grace and merit incompetible that workes should merit thorough grace f Rom. 11.6 For if by grace then it is no more of workes otherwise grace is no more grace but if it bee of workes then it is no more grace otherwise worke is no more worke Moreouer good workes are properly such as doe good as almes deedes and the like g Psal 16.2 Now our goodnes extendeth not to God but descendeth from him h Iam. 1.17 from whom cometh downe euery good and perfect gift It is of God his grace if we doe any good for what hast thou which thou hast not receaued All therefore that wee can possibly doe is no more nor so much as wee owe and that by a double bond first of nature now of grace therefore k Luk. 17.10 when all is done we are but vnprofitable seruants and can challenge nothing vpon desert as due debt at the hands of God Lastly if the workes done in grace be good and perfect and may be thought to merit vpon compact with God yet what l Non dignus suisti quem iustificatum glorificaret Aug. de verb. Apost serm 2. Si quis omnem obedientiam impleret tamen omma mala paenas perferret quae cadere possunt in naturam humanam vt Iob non tamen haec condigna erunt gloriae suturae Orig. in Rom. 8. condignity is there in the best of them equivalent in iust price and value to the glory that is prepared for vs The effect cannot exceed the cause But our iustification excells all workes before grace and our finall saluation all workes done in grace m Quod est meritum hominis ante gratiam cum omne meritum noshuÌ„ non faciatin nobis nisi gratia cumdeus coronat merita nostra nihil aliud coronat quam dona sua Sicut enim ab initio fidei misericordiam consecuti sumus non quia sideles cramus sed vt essemus sic in sine quod erit in vita aeterna coronabit nos ficut scriptum est In miserscordia miseratiouibus August ep 105. ad Sixtum praesbyterum as much as grace excells corruption and as the state of glory shall excell this of grace Martyrdome suffering ill with patience for doing well the worst that men can inflict for Christ cause the best that a man can vndertake is not equall in worth to eternall life n Rom. 8.82 I reckon saith Saint Paul as hauing made a iust and exact computation that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory that shall be reuealed in vs. o Cor. 4.17 For the affliction is but light and for a moment which worketh for vs a farre more exceeding and eternall weight of glory It worketh for vs and wee worke by it for p 2 Tim. 2.12 if wee suffer with Christ we shall also raigne with him And wee by q Rom. 2.7 patience in well doing r Phil. 2.12 worke out our saluatioÌ„ as by a means seruing thereunto yet is it not a meritorious cause deseruing the same Which blessed estate because it is proposed afore hand for our encouragement and performed in the end with approbation of our weake indeauours and doth abundantly Å¿ Si accepturus es vitam aeternam iustitiae quidem stipendium est sed tibi gratia est cui gratia est ipipsa iustitia c. August ep 105. ad Sixtum presbit crum recompence whatsoeuer in the meane time wee doe or suffer for his sake that bestowes it therefore it is t Heb. 11.26 called the recompence of reward And yet when all is done it is the free gift of God u Iohn 1.16 who giueth grace for grace * Mat. 13.12 accumulating more grace vpon him that hath more x Ps 84.11 Hee will giue both grace and glory if wee haue the grace to giue him the glory Our greatest perfection is in aiming at it The Christian hope a Per hoc quantum mihi videtur in ea quae perficienda est iustitia multum in hac vita ille profecit qui quam longe sita perfectione iustitiae prosiciendâ— cognouâ—â— August de sp lit c. 36. Haec est hominis â—â—ra sapientia imperfectum se nosse atque vt ita loquar cunctorum incarne iustorum imperfecta perfectio est Hieron lib. 〈◊〉 dial adversus Pel. cv 15. acknowledging our own imperfectioÌ„ to looke for it in hope to longe for it in the mirrour of all pefectioÌ„ Christ Iesus b Phil. 3.12.13 St Paul suffered the losse of all things making no reckoning of them that he might winne Christ yet did not he account himselfe to haue attained or to be already perfect but forgetting the things behinde hee reaching forth pressed toward the marke for the price of the high calling of God in Christ Iesus c v. 14. Let vs therefore as many as bee perfect be thus minded d Heb. 11. All the holy men in the cloud of witnesses liued by faith euery one of theÌ„ did by faith some good remarkeable worke but they dyed also in the faith not hauing receiued the promises but expecting them by faith hope in the grace mercy of God e Act. 15.11 we beleiue that thorough the grace of our lord Iesus Christ we shall bee saued euen as they f Tit. 3.7 Who being iustified by his grace are made heires according to the hope of eternall life g Propter incertitudineÌ„ propriae iustitiae periculum inanis gloriae turissimum est fiduciam totam in sola Dei misericordia benignitate reponere Beliarm de iustificat lib. 5. cap. 7. Quis feratorantem non hominibus sed ipsi domino mentientem qui labijs fibi dicit dimitti velle corde dicit que sibi dimittantur peccata non babere Concil Melcuitan Can 8. And
they who most presume of their workes whilest they liue are glad if they haue the grace to dye in the faith renouncing all merit of workes to fly vnto the throne of grace for mercy h Iud. 20. v. 21. And yee beloned saith Saint Iude building vp your selues on your most holy faith praying in the holy Ghost keepe your selues in the loue of God looking for the mercy of our Lord Iesus Christ vnto eternall life Yet is not our saluation the lesse certaine because the finall accomplishment thereof is expected by hope and is not presently put into our owne hands For as our faith is so is our hope i Heb. 11.1 faith being the ground of things hoped for and the reason of the hope that is in vs both of them therefore are firme and sure because built vpon the rocke Christ Iesus k Mat. 16.18 Vpon this rocke as Saint Peter beleeued and confessed Thou l v. 16. art Christ the sonne of the liuing God the holy catholicke Church is built m v. 18. against which the gates of hell shall not preuaile but that euery true member thereof liuing and dying in the communion of saints shall notwithstanding sin death attaine by forgiuenesse of sinnes and the resurrection of the body eternall life And therefore n Rom. 5.2 wee reioice in hope of the glory of God as if wee had already attained To beleeue and hope as a Christian is not as the termes are vulgarly vsed and may perhaps sound in prophane eares to haue an vncertaine opinion and doubtfull expectation which indeed can bee no better in the things of men subiect to falshood and vanity But it is to be certainely assured fully perswaded and firmely resolued o 2 Tim. 1.12 knowing whom wee haue trusted that he is able to keepe that which wee haue committed to him against that day No weake nor vncertaine hold but p Heb. 6.19 an anchor of the soule both sure and stedfast entring into that which is within the vaile whither the fore runner euen Iesus is entred for vs. Faithfull hope is such an assurance q Rom. 8. as Saint Paul professeth by the helpe of Gods spirit knit together and firmely bound vp with that r 28.29.30 golden chaine of the certanity of saluation in Christ Iesus Wherevpon with a bold confidence he bids defiance to all the enimies of grace ſ v. 33. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect c. I am perswaded that neither death nor life nor Angells nor Principalities nor powers nor things preset nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any creature shall be able to separate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. As our faith and affiance is more and more fixed in God thorough Iesus Christ by his spirit and approued vnto him by loue in well doing so is t Si quis credit etdiligit bene agendo prae ceptis obtemperando efficit vt etiam speret se ad id quod credit esse ventutum August de doctor Christ l. 1. cap. 37. the assurance of our saluation more and more confirmed in vs. For true u 1. Tim. 4.8 godlinesse hath the promises both of this life and of that which is to come Of this life * Mat. 6.33 Seeke ye first the kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof and all these things shill be administred vnto you And for the life to come x Pl. 50.23 To him that ordereth his conuersation aright will I shew the saluation of God Therefore as wee beleeue so wee pray in hope which is our last refuge that our heauenly Father who knoweth whereof we stand in need will in his ordinary prouidence giue vs things needfull for this life to whom hee hath giuen grace first to seeke his kingdome and the righteousnesse thereof y 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Est autem duplici honoris muneris genere homo affectus quod ipsesolus poenitentiâ veniam peccatorum impetrat et eius vnius corpus quamvis mortale caducum aeternll immortale redditur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quorum alterum quod ad corpus pertinet propter animum alterum quod ad animum propter corpus consecutus est Nemesius lib. de natura hominis c. 1. And that he will freely and fully forgine vs our daily sinnes and trespasses of his meere grace in Christ Iesus remembring whereof wee are made to whom he giues this grace for his sake to forgiue one another Farther wee beleeue and pray in hope that he will guid and keepe vs ever hereafter by his spirit in the way everlasting though it please him to lead vs thorough manifold temptations and that he will deliuer vs in the end from all evill even from death it selfe and from him that hath the power thereof that is the Divell by the resurrection of our bodies to the eternall praise of his kingdome power and glory in the life to come z The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me Thy mercy O Lord endureth for ever Forsake not the workes of thine owne hands Bread the a Lev. 26.26 staffe of life Our daily bread being the most necessary of all temporall things implies the rest It was God his decree that in b Gen. 3.19 the sweat of our browes wee should eat our bread and it is the Apostles iniunction in the name of the Lord Iesus c 2. Thes 3.10 that if any man will not work he shall not eat wherevpon hee exhorteth every one d V. 12. with quietnesse to worke and to eat his owne bread Although it bee our bread our owne bread yet it is Gods gift without whose blessing e Ps 127.2 it is in vaine to rise vp early and so late to take rest to eat the bread of carefulnesse f Iam. 4.2 Yee lust and haue not yee kill desire to haue and cannot obtaine yee fight and warre and yet yee haue not because yee aske not yee aske and receaue not because yee aske amisse that you may consume it on your lusts which should bee for our dayly and necessary vse Some haue not of their own to eat g Ps 128.2 But thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands O well is thee and happy shalt thou be others haue not the h Eccles 4.8 power to eat of their own either not the health or not the heart i 5.19 this is also the gift of God And he giues it power to k Ps 104.15 strengthen mans heart and to sustaine our life from day to day Therefore it is called l 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 6.11 daily bread adsubstantiall or supersubstantiall bread because being digested into our bodies it adds daily beyond its owne nature and substance thorough the blessing of God to our substance what the labour of life daily consumes What is there in
haue borne the image of the earthly so shall wee beare the image of the heauenly o V. 26. The last enimy that shall bee destroyed is death and that by the resurrection of our bodies to eternall life p Rev. 21.4 When God shall wipe away all q Faelices lachrymae quas benignae manus conditoris abstergunt teares from our eyes there shall bee no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there bee any more paine for the former things are passed away which were temporall the life to come shall bee r Dies iste quem tanquam extremum reformidas aeterninatalis est Sen. ep 102. Idem ep 24 Moriar Desmam alligari posse desinam aegrotare posse definam mori pesse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quod interim morimur ad immortalitatem morte transgredimur nec potest vita aeterna succedere nisi hinc contigerit exire Non est exitus sed transitus temporali itinere decurso adaeterna transgressus Cypr. de mortal eternall A life of glory to the children of God * Life euerlasting and glorious The lowest degree whereof doth infinitly exceed the greatest glory of this world Looke how much the life of a perfect man enioying all outward happinesse in this beautifull and goodly world excels the condition of a weake poore and wretched Embrio shut vp in the wombe a closse and darke habitation so much infinitly much more doth the eternall ſ Cuius rex veritas cuius lex charitas cuiuo modus aeternitas August ep 5. ad Marcellinum life of glory in the highest heauens excell this life and all the glory of this world Nay as much as the life of Grace in the assurance of God his favour and speciall loue excels all worldly profits pleasures and preferments so much and infinitly much more doth the fruition of Gods glorious presence excell this present state of grace For this consists in vsing the meanes then wee shall enioy the end of all our desires and endeavours It is vsually expressed by such things as we know and most esteeme a crowne a kingdome a paradise a citty of gold and pretious stones life ioy glory t 1. Cor. 2.9 but eye hath not seene nor eare heard neither haue entred into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that loue him Such as they who had but a vision thereof in Christs u Mat. 17. transfiguration would gladly haue made their abode in the admiration thereof for euer such as * 2. Cor. 12.2.4 he who was wrapt into the third heauens hauing heard might not vtter such wherewith we may well x Rom. 8.18 reckon that all the sufferings of this present world are not worthy to bee compared y 2. Cor. 4.17 an exceeding and eternall waight of glory Wherein though all the Saints of God shall haue z Ps 16.11 fulnesse of ioy and pleasures for euermore yet shall it be in different degrees for there are many and a Ioh. 14.2 diuers mansions in Gods house and different degrees of glory b 1. Cor. 15.41 as one starre differeth from another starre in glory c Dan. 12.3 For they that are wise shall shine as the brightnesse of the Firmament but they that turne many vnto righteousnesse as the starres for ever and ever The estate of glory which wee beleiue and expect in eternall life is not only a well being but a perpetuall and perfect well doing which is to liue indeed in the ioyfull fruition of all good When the most excellent faculties shall bee imploid on the most admirable obiect in the most exquisit manner and abundant measure with eternall ioy and glory It is the grace of God towards vs now to take such notice and to make such account of vs as we beleiue but it shall bee our glory then to knowe him d ◠Cor. 13.12 as we are knowne of him Now we knowe but in part Wee see now in a glasse darkely but then shall we see face to face e 1. Ioh. 3.2 we shall see him as he is f Iob. 19.27 and we shall behold him with these eyes whereby we shall become like vnto him full of glory in our foules and bodies by the manifestation of his glory vpon vs g Exod. 34.30 as Moses face shone when hee came downe from him in the mount h Colos 3.4 Now is our life hid with Christ in God but when Christ who is our life shall appeare then shall we appeare with him in glory So well shall we be and as well shall we doe For as wee shall receaue glory of God in the vision of his glory in Christ so shall we giue all honour and glory to him and as we shall behold him with these eyes so shall we praise him with these tongues i Ps 137.4 Who can sing the song of the Lord now in a strange land But k Ps 108.1.2 when our glory shall awake even this excellent instrument of praising God which is our glory aboue other creatures then l 1. Cor. 13.1 the tongues of men Angels shall be the eternall trumpets of God his glory m Rev. 4.6.8 The foure beasts full of eyes rest not day and night saying holy holy holy Lord God Almighty which was and is and is to come n V. 9. And when those holy ones giue glory and honor and thankes to him that sits on the throne who liueth for euer and euer o V. 10. then also the foure and twenty Elders fall downe before him that sits on the throne and worship him that liueth for euer and ever and cast their crownes before the throne saying thou art worthy O Lord to receaue glory and honour and power And all the Saints shall come in with a full quire singing p Rev. 15.3 the song of Moses and of the Lambe great and marueilous are thy workes Lord God Almighty iust true are thy waies thou king of Saints q Ps 145.10.11 Yea all thy works shall praise thee O Lord and thy Saints shall blesse thee They shall speake of the glory of thy kingdome and talke of thy power For thine is the kingdome power and glory For euer and euer Amen FINIS OXFORD Printed by IOHN LICHFIELD Printer to the Famous Vniuersity For WILLIAM WEBB Ann. Dom. 1628.