is come the second time they that are in their graves shall arise and come forth of their graves as I said before in which they have laine according to that in Job 5. 28. Where Christ saith Marvell not at this for the houre is comming in the which all that are in the graves shall heare his voice and shall come forth they that have done good unto the resurrection of life and they that have done evill unto the resurrection of damnation You will say Are these graves spoken of here the graves that are made in the earth yea that they are and for a further proof of the same look into Dan. 12. 2 Daniel there speaking of the same thing saith And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall arise or awake some to everlasting life and some to everlasting contempt or damnation I shall not stand here to dispute any distinctions of the resurrections only prove that the dead shall arise and that is a clear truth from the Scriptures Acts 10. 42. Rev. 20 11 12 13 14. and 1 Thes. 4. 16. 1 Cor. 15. 52. the dead shall be raised 2. He shall call all men and women to an account for all their close sinful thoughts words and actions then will the secrets of all hearts be made manifest Then shall all thy adulterous and theevish and covetous idolatrous and blasphemous thoughts be laid open according to that saying Their consciences also bearing them witness and their thoughts the mean time or while accusing or else excusing one another Rom. 2. 15. But when why in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ ver 16. see also 1 Cor. 4. 5. Therefore judge nothing before the time what time is that why when the Lord comes what will he do He will bring to light the hidden things of darknesâ—â— that is all those cunning close hidden wickednesses that thou in thy life time hast committed yea he will make manifest the counsels of the heart that is the most hidden and secret things that are contrived and plotted by the sons of men Then shal all the midnight whoremongers be laid open with all their sins Then thou it may be who hast committed such sins as thou wouldst not have thy Neighbour thy father thy wife thy husband or any one else know of for thousands then thou shalt have them all laid open even upon the house tops Luke 12. 1 2 3. Then thou that hatest Gods children his waies his word his spirit then thou that makest a mock at Jesus of Nazareth his second coming then thou that livest in open prophaness or secret hypocrisie then I say will be such a time of reckoning for you as never was since the world began then you that shall die in your siâ—s will cry to the mountains fall on us and cover us from the face of him that sits on the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb which Lamb is the man Christ Jesus Joh. 1. 19. And ah my friends if the very looks of God be so terrible what will his blows be think you Then if all thy idle words shall be accounted for as it is written But I say unto you that every idle word that men shall speak they shall give an account thereof in the day of judgement Mat. 12. 36. and also all thy filthy actions shall be then regarded in such sort as thou shalt receive a just recompence for them And know saith the Scripture that for all these things God will bring thee into judgement Eccles. 11. 9. Then Thou that are an unbeliever shalt be sure to fall under the judgement for all thy sins first thou must give account Secondly thou must fall in the judgement Oh my friends there are hot daies acoming for all those that are found out of the Lord Jesus Behold saith Malachi the daies come that shall burn as an oven and all the proud yea all that do wickedly shall be as stubble and the day that cometh shall burn them up saith the Lord of hoasts and it shall leave them neither root nor branch The day of judgement will burn like an oven and all that have not the righteousness of Christ upon them shall be as stubble Ah friends put a red hot oven and stubble together and what work will theâ—e be even the one will burn and destroy the other 3. When Christ doth come the second time another end of his coming will be to purge out all things that offend in his Kingdom Mat. 13. 41 42. Then shall the son of man send forth his Angels and they shall gather out of his Kingdom all things that offend and them that doe iniquity and shall cast them into a furnace of fire there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth There are many things that doe offend in his Kingdom now namely the lukewarm professor he doth offend first the Lord secondly his people But then thou lukewarm offending professor shalt offend the Church of God no more Secondly the loose professors do also offend God Christ and his Church First he scandals the Gospel by his loose walking and naughty carriages Secondly he doth make the world blaspheme the name of God by the same Thirdly he grieves the hearts of Gods people Phil. 3. 18. But know that thou also shalt be taken away from offending any more God Christ and his Saints and thou shalt have weeping and gnashing of teeth for thy thus offending Mat. 18. 6. 7. 4 Another end of Christs second coming is to cut of all the ignorant persons that are in the world There is a generation of poor souls that do think to be excused for their ignorance Alas saith one I am a poor ignorant man or woman and therefore I hope that the Lord will have mercy upon me We cannot say others do as such and such and will the Lord condemn us And thus poor souls as they are in the broad way to destruction least they should misse of the way to hell do swallow down by clusters that which will poyson them body and soul for ever and ever But you will say What will not the Lord have mercy on ignorant soules Ans. Not on those who live and die in their ignorance He himselfe hath said Esay 27. 11. Because it is a people of no understanding therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them and he that formed them will shew them no favour Again Paul also in that 2 Thes. 1. 8. saith that when Jesus Christ shall come to judge the world he doth come to take vengeance on all them that know not God and that obey not the Gospell of our Lord Jesus Christ. But ye will say who are those ignorant persons that shall find no favour at that day or how doth the ignorance discover it selfe I shall only mention three or four sorts of men and leave thee to the Scriptures which if thou read them diligently will
blood there was no remission Secondly seeing Jesus Christ â—he son of the virgin Mary was and is the Christ of God and that Salvation came in alone by him for there is salvation in no other Acts 4. 12. then how are they deceived that think to obtain salvation by following the Convictions of the Law which they call Christ though falsely when alas let them follow those convictions that do come from the law and conscience set on worke by it I say let them follow all the Convictions that may be hinted in upou their Spirits from thaâ— law they shall never be able to obtaine salvation by their obedience to it for by the law is the kuowledge of sin Rom. 3. 20. And It is not of workes least any man should boast as those fond Hypocrites called Quakers would do And again If righteousness comes by the law then Christ iâ— dead in vaine Gal. 2. 21. Buâ— that no man is justified by the workes of the law it is evident for the just shall live by faith Gal. 3. 10. Which living by faith is to apply the Lord Jesus Christ his benefits as birth righteousnesse death blood resurrection ascension and intercession with the glorious benefits of his second comming to me as mine being given to me and for me and thus much doth the Apostle signiâ—ie saying The life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God whe loved me and gave himself for me Gal. 2. 20. Againe Seeing Gods Christ which was with him before the world was John 17. ver 5. took upon him flesh and blood from the Virgin Mary who was espoused to Joseph the Carpenâ—er and in that humane nature yielded himself an offering for sin for it was the body of his flesh by which sin was purged Col. 1. 22. I say seeing the son of God as he was in a body of flesh did bring in salvation for sinners and by this meanes as I said before we are saved even by faith in his blood righteousness resurrection c. How are they then deceived who own Christ no otherwise then as he was before the world began who was then without flesh and blood for he took that in time of the virgin Gal. 4. 4. Heb. 2. 14. I say they are wickedly deluded who own him no otherwise but as he was before the world was For in their owning of him thus and no otherwise they do directly deny him to be come in the flesh and are of that Antichristian party which John speaks of Joh. 4. 3. v. Every Spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the 〈◊〉 is not of God and this is that sprit of Antichrist whereof you have heard that it should come and even now already it is in the world Now because the enemy doth most notably wrest this Scripture as they do others to their own damnation I shall speak something to it and therefore when he saith every Spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God his meaning is Every spirit that doth not confesse that that Christ that was with the father before the world was did in the appointed time of the father come into the World took on him a body from the virgin and was very man as well as very God and in that body of flesh did do and suffer whatsoever belonged to the sons of men for the breach of the holy law of God and impute his glorious righteousnesse which he fulfilled in that body of his flesh to the soules that shall believe 〈◊〉 what he hath done and is a doing in the same body And that this is the mind of the Spirit of God consider First he himself saith handle me and see for a Spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have when his disciples had thought he had been but a spirit Luke 24 39 40. Now that in this flesh he died for sins consider secondly that Scripture which saith Who his own selâ— that is the Christ that was born of the Virgin did bear our sins in his own body on the tree See Col. 1. 22. in the body of his flesh saith he to present you holy and unblameable unreproveable in his sight Now that he arose again from the dead with the body of flesh wherewith he was crucified consider that forenamed Scripture Luke 24. 39 40. spoken after his resurrection Now that he went away with the same body from them into heaven consider that it is said And he led them out as farre as Bethany and he lift up his hands blessed them it came to pass while he blessed them he was carried from them carried into heaven Lu. 24. 50 51. This is the meaning of those words therefore Jesus Christ is come into the flesh that is Jesus Christ hath come in the flesh that he took of the Virgin hath brought us who were enthralled to the law the divel and sin to liberty and that by his obedience and death For asmuch then aâ—â—h children were 〈◊〉 of flesh and blood saith the Scripture he Christ also himself took part of 〈◊〉 same Wherefore that though death 〈…〉 desirâ—y him 〈◊〉 had the power of 〈◊〉 that is the devill and deliver them who through feare of death were all their time subject to 〈◊〉 Heb. 3. 14 15. For he was delivered for our offerâ—es and was raised again for our justification Rom 4. 25. For he even that man through the power of the eternal Spirit did offer up himself without spot to God and thereby oâ— by that offering obtained eternall redemption for us Heb. 9 12 14. And therefore I say again and again look to your selves that you receive no Christ except Gods Christ for he is like to be deceived that will believe every thing that calls it selfe a Christ. For mâ—â—y saith he shal â—ome in my name and shall deceiue many Matth. 24. 5. Now having spoken thus much touching the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ I shal according to the assiistance of the Lord Jesus proceed and shall speak somthing of his Godhead Birth Death Resurrection Ascension and Intercession together with his most glorious and personal appearing the second time which will be to raise the dead and bring every work to judgment Eccles. 12. 14. ANd first I shall shew you that he is very God Co-eternal and also Co-equal with his Father 2. That by this Son of Mary which is equal with his Father the world was made 3. That he in the fulnesse of time was made of a woman made under the Law to redeem them them that were or are under the Law that is was borne of a woman And in our nature for he made himselfe of no reputation and took on him the forme of a servant and was made in the likenesse of men and in our stead he did fulfill the Law in point of Justification Rom. 10. 4. and was crucified for our
sign that his coming doth draw nigh even at the doors 3 The love of many waxing cold is another signe that it is nigh even the comming of Christ And how cold is the love of many at this day They that were hot two or three year agoe are now grown lukewarm and cold They are cold in love to the Lords appearing they are cold in the profession of the Gospel They are cold in love to the Saints they are cold in the worship of God Yea very cold which is a notable Demonstration that the comming of the Lord draweth nigh 4. The Stars falling from heaven That is profe â—ors falling from the faith which once they professed is another signe that the comming of the Lord is at hand And how many professors doe you see now a dayes fall from the doctrine of God and his Son Jesus Christ as though there were no such thing as a world to come and no such thing as a Lord Jesus Christ and his second coming 5. Many poore souls will go on in their profession with lampes without oyle just before his second comming And the Lord knowes that most of the professors of this generation are such kind of professors yea very foolish professors which is another sure signe that the comming of the Lord drawes nigh 6. When the time of Christs second comming is at hand there will be but a very little faith in the world And the Lord knowes that there be many who are now as high as Lucifer that at that day for want to faith will be thrown down to the sides of the pit even into the very belly of Hell 7. Another signe of Christs second comming is the carnall mindednesse of the most of the world and the very carriages of almost all men now living do discover this truth to be at this day fulfilled and know that when they shall say peace and safety then sudden destruction comes and they shall not escape 1 Thes. 5. 1 2 3 4. 8. Before Christs second comming there shal come many fals Christs and false Prophets and shall shew great signes and wonders to seduce if it were possible the Elect. And is not this more cleerly fulfilled in our daies then ever it was especially among those men called Quakers who being as persons whose consciences are seared with an hot iron and they being sealed up unto destruction do some of them call themselves Christ and shew great signes as their Quaking and such a legall holiness as makes the simple admire them and wonder after them which shewes the comming of Christ to be very nigh 9. Before Christs second comming there shall come scoffers into the world walking after their own lusts and if ever this Scripture was fulfilled it is fulfilled on these men called Quakers For they are the men that at this day make a mocke at Christs second comming which shall be from heaven without and therefore saith the holy Ghost these Mockers shall be such as shall say where is the promise of his comming for since the fathers fell a sleep all things continue as they were See 2 Pet. 3. 3 4 5 6 7. and there you shall see their mocking and the reason of it Read and the Lord give thee understanding But because I would not have thee think that I speake at randome in this thing Know for certain that I my self have heard them blaspheme yea with a grinning countenance at the doctrine of that mans second comming from heaven above the stars who was borne of the Virgin Mary Yea they have told me to my face that I have used conjuration and witchcraft because what I preached was according to the Scriptures I was also told to my face that I preached up an Idoll because I said that the Son of Mary was in heaven with the same body that was crucified on the Cross And many other things have they blasphemously vented against the Lord of life and glory and his precious Gospel The Lord reward them according as their work shall be I could have hinted in many other things which Christ and his Apostles have shewed to be signes of his comming But I shall commend the holy Scriptures unto thee which are able to make the man of God perfect in all things through faith in the Lord Jesus Now you have also the manner of his comming how iâ— shall be most notably laid down in the Scriptures I shall 〈◊〉 in a few things touching it as first He will come when there is but very few looking for his comming When they shall sâ—y peace and safety then sudden destruction commeth 1 Thes. 5. 1. 2 3 which sudden destruction will be at his second comminâ— for that is it which the Apostle spake of in those three verses Then will all the world be caught at such an unexpected time that it will come upon them even as a snare commeth upon those creatures that are caught in it As it is written Luke 21. 35. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earâ—h Which is all on a sudden before they are aware 2. He commeth with all his saints and Angels Then will the Lord descend from that heaven into which he now ascended as it is written in 1 Thes. 4. 16. Then will be come and all his Saints with him as Jude saith in his Epistle v. 5. Then shall Abell and Enoch Noah and Abraham David and Job Peter and Paul together with all the Saints which have been now are or hereafter shall be and they shall sit on the throne with the Lord Jesus Christ as in Mat. 19. 28. Before whom shall all the Nations of the world be gathered as it is written Joel 3. 12. Let the heathen be wakeneâ— or raised out of their graves Dan. 12. 2 and come down to the valley of Jehoshaphat for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about Which never was yet accomplished though it shall certainly be in in Gods time to the astonishment everlasting damnation of all those that shall continue mocking or sinning against God and his Christ. 3. He shall come in flaming fire when he doth come again he will come in such a manner as will make all that shall be found in their sins rather seeke to creepe under a mountaine then to meet the Lord of Glory Rev. 6. 15 As Esay saith For behold the Lord will come with fire and with his Charets like a whirlwind to render his anger with fury and his rebukes with flames of fire Esay 66. 15. To execute judgement upon all and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him Jude 15. as I shall shew farther by and by And therâ—fore in the next place I shall shew you what shall be done when he is come First When Christ
the one and the way to escape the other Now if the Lord shall do thee any good by what I have spoken I hope it will be a meanes to stir me up to thank the Lord that ever he did use such a sinner as I am in the worke of his Gospell And here I shall close up what I have said destring thee 〈◊〉 thou be a Christian to pray for him who desires to continue Thy Servant in the Lord Jesus Christ though less then the least of all Saints JOHN BUNYAN For as much as many have taken in hand to set forth their several judgements concerning the Son of the Virgin Mary the Lord Jesus Christ and some of those many having most grosly erred from the simplicity of his Gospel it seemed good to me having had some knowledge of these things to write a few words to the end if the Lord will souls might not be so horribly deluded by those several corrupt principles that are gone into the world concerning him NOw that there is such a thing as a Christ I shall not spend much time in proving of only I shall shew you that he was first promised to the Fathers and afterward expected by their children But before I doe that I shall speak a few words concerning Gods fore-ordaining and purposing that a Christ the Saviour should be and that before the world began Now God in his own wisedom and counsel knowing what would come to passe as if it were already done Rom. 4. 17. He knowing that man would break his commandements and so throw himselfe under eternal destruction did in his own purpose fore-ordain such a thing as the rise of him that should fall and that by a Saviour Eph. 1. 4. According as he hath chosen us in him meaning the Saviour before the foundation of the world That is God seeing that we would transgresse and break his commandement did before chuse some of those that would fall and give them to him that should afterward purchase them actually though in the account of God his blood was shed before the world was Rev. 13. 8. I say in the account of God his son was slain that is according to Gods purpose and conclusion which he purposed in himself before the world was as it is written 2 Tim. 1. 9. Who hath saved us and called us with an holy calling according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ before the world began As also in 1 Pet. 1. 20. where the Apostle speaking of Christ and the redemption purchased by him for sinners saith of him Who verily was fore-ordained before the foundation of the world but was manifest in these last dayes for you who by â—â—m doe believe in God that raised him from the dead God having thus purposed in himselfe that he would save some of them that by transgression had destroyed themselves did with the everlasting son of his love make an agreement or bargain that upon such and such terms he would give him a company of such poor soules as had by transgression fallen from their own innocency and uprightnesse into those wicked inventions that they themselves had sought out Eccles. 7. 29. The agreement also how this should be was made before the foundation of the world was laid Tit. 1. 2. The Apostle speaking of the promise or covenant made between God and the Saviour for that is his meaning saith on this wise In hope of eternal life which God that cannot lye promised before the world began Now this promise or covenant was made with none but with the son of God the Saviour And it must needs be so for there was none with God before the world began but he by whom hee made the world as in Prov. 8. from v. 22. to v. 31. which was and is the Sonne of his love This Covenant or Bargain had these conditions in it First that the Saviour should take upon him flesh and blood the same nature that the sonnes of men were partakers of sinne onely excepted Heb. 2. 14. Heb. 4. 15. And this was the will or agreement that God had made with him And therefore when he speaks of doing the will of God Heb. 10. 5. he saith a body hast thou prepared me as according to thy promise Gen. 3. 15. which I was to take of a woman and in it I am come to do thy will O God as it is written of me in the volume of thy Book v. 7. 2. The Saviour was to bring everlasting righteousnesse to justifie sinners withal Dan. 9. 24 25. The Messias or Saviour shal bring in everlasting righteousnesse and put an end to iniquity as it is there written To make an end of sins and to make reconciliation for iniquity and to bring in everlasting righteousnesse This I say was to be brought into the world by the Saviour according to the covenant or agreement that was between God and Christ before the world began which God that cannot lye promised at that time Tit. 1. 2. 3. He was to accomplish thâ—â— everlasting righteousnesse by spilling his most precious blood according to the terms of the covenant or bargain and therefore when God would shew his people what the agreement was that he and the Saviour had made even before the Covenant was accomplished and sealed actually See for this Zach. 9. where he is speaking of him that should be the Saviour v. 11. And as for thee also meaning the Saviour by the blood of thy Covenant or as some render it whose Covenant is by blood which is all to one purpose I meaning God have sent forth the Prisoners out of the pit wherein there was no water The meaning is this As for thee also seeing the covenant or bargain that was made between me and thee before the world was is accomplished in my account as if it were actually and really done with all the conditions that were agreed upon by me and thee I have therefore according to that agreement that was on my part sent forth the prisoners and those that were under the curse of my Law out of the pit wherein there is no water seeing thou also hast compleatly fulfilled in my account whatsoever was on thy part to be done according to our agreement And thus is that place to be understood in John 17. â— I pray for them I pray not 〈◊〉 the world but for thâ—se thâ— thou hast given me which I coâ—venanted with thee for thiâ— they were and thou gavest thâ— me but on such and such coâ—â—ditions as are before mentioned Zach. 9. And again Acâ—cording as he hath chosen us 〈◊〉 him that is in Christ beâ—â—â— the foundation of the world thâ— we should be holy and withâ—â— blame before him in love Noâ— seeing this was thus concludâ— upon by those that did 〈◊〉 well to the soules and 〈◊〉 of poore sinners after 〈◊〉 world was made by them aâ— after they had said Let â— make man after our own imâ—â—â— after
our likenesse Gen. 1. â— And after man whom Goâ— had made upright had 〈◊〉 transgression fallen from thâ— state into which God at 〈◊〉 placed him and throwâ— himselfe into a miserable coâ—â—dition by his transgression then God brings out of his love that which before he and his Son had concluded upon and begins now to make forth that to the world which he had purposed in himselfe before the world began Eph. 1 4. 9. 2 Tim. 1. 9. Now the first discovery that was made to a lost creature of the love of God was made to fallen Adam Gen. 3. 15. where it is faid I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed and her seed which is the Saviour Gal. 4. 4. it shall break thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel This was the first discovery of the love of God to lost man This was the Gospel which was preached to Adam in his generation in these words was held forth to them in that generation that which should be further accomplished in after generations 2. Another discovery of the love of God in the Gospel was held forth to Noah in that he would have him to prepare an Ark to save himself withalâ— which Ark did type out the Lord that was to come and be the Saviour of those whom he before had covenanted for with God the Father And God said to Noah the end of all flesh is before me Make thee an Ark of Gopher wood Gen. 6. 13 14. And Chap. 7. 1. The Lord said unto Noah come thou and all thy house into the Ark for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation 3. God breaks out with a further discovery of himself in love to that generation in which Abraham lived Gen. 12. 3. where he saith And in thee that is from thee shall Christ come thorow in whom shal 〈◊〉 the families of the earth be blessed This was also a further manifestation of the good will of God to poor lost sinners and through this discovery of the Gospel did Abraham see that which made him rejoyce Ioh. 8. 56. 4. When the time was come that Moses was to be a Prophet to the people of his Generation then God did more gloriously yet break forth with one type after another as the blood of Buls Lambs Goats Also Sacrifices of divers manners and of several things which held forth that Saviour more clearly which God had in his own purpose decree determined to be sent for these things the types were a shadow of that which was to come which was the substance Heb. 9. 9. 10. Heb. 10. 1 5 6 7. Now when these things were thus done when God had thus signified to the world what he intended to doe in after times presently all that had faith to believe that God would be as good as his word began to look for and to expect that the Lord should accomplish and bring to passe what he had promised what his hand and counsel had before determined to be done Now Abraham begins to look for what God had promised and signified namely that he would send a Saviour into the world in his appointed time which thing being promised Abraham embraces being perswaded of the certainty of it as in Heb. 11. 13. and this did fill his heart with joy and gladnesse as I said before for he saw it and was glad John 8. 56. 2. Jacob also while he was blessing his Sons concerning things to come breakes forth with these words I have waited for thy salvation He was also put in expectation of salvation to come by this Saviour 3. David was in earnest expectation of this which was held forth by types and shadowes in the law for as yeâ— the Saviour was not come wâ—ich made him crie out with a longing after it O that the salvation of Israel were come out of Sion Psal. 53. 6. and again O that the salvation of Israell were come out of Sion Psal. 147. The thing that David waited for was not in his time come though before his time it was promised which makes him crie out O that it were come that it were come out of Sion Where by the way take notice that the true Salvation and Saviour of Israel was to come out of Sion that is out of the Church of God touching the flesh as it is written A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren like unto me Deut. 18. 15 18. And againe I have laid help upon one that is mighty I have exalted one chosen out of the people Psal. 89. 19. And Rom. 9. 5. Whose are the fathers of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came whâ— is over all God blessed for ever Christ as concerning the flesh did come of the fathers 4. Isaiah did prophesie of this that God would thus save his people yea he breaks forth with these words But Israel shal be saved with an everlasting Salvation Isa. 45. 17. He also tels them how it shall be accomplished in that 53. Chap. Yea he had such a glorious taste of the reality of it that he speaks aâ— though it had then been actually done 5. In the dayes of Jeremie this that God had promised to the fathers was not yet accomplished in cap. 23. 5. he saith behold the dayes come saith the Lord that I will mark it was not yet done but I will saith God raise unto David a righteous branch and a King shall reign and prosper In his dayes Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely And this is his name wherewith he shall be called The Lord our righteousnesse 6. He was also to come in Zacharies time Zach. 3. 8. where he saith For behold I will bring forth my servant the Branch 7. He was not come in the time of Malachy neither though he was indeed at that time neer his comming For he saith himself Behold I will send my Messenger meaning John the Baptist Esay 40 v. 3. Luke 1. 76. and he shall prepare the way before me And the Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to his temple even the messenger of the Covenant whom ye delight in Behold he shall come saith the Lord of Hosts 8. Old Simeon did also wait for the consolation of Israel a long time Luke 2. 25. where it is said And behold there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon the same was a just man and devout waiting for the consolation of Israel That is waiting for him that was to be the Saviour as is cleer if you read with understanding a little farther And it was revealed to him by the Spirit that he should nâ—t see death before he had feeâ— the * Lords Christ ver 26. And thus have I in briefe shewed you 1. That there is such a thing as Christ. 2. That this Christ was promised and signified out by many things before he did come 3. How he was waited for and expected before
transgreâ—â—ions 1 Cor. 1. 23 24 25. 4. That very body of the sonne of Mary which was crucified did rise again from the dead after he had been buried in Josephs Sepulchre that he in that very body ascended up into heaven and in that very body shall come again to these ends 1. First to judge the quick and the dead 2. To receive his Saints to himselfe 3. To passe eternal condemnation on his enemies These things in brief I shall touch upon according to the wisedom given me And therefore that Christ is very God I shall first prove by plain texts of Scripture 2. From the testimony of God Angels and men witnessed by the Scriptures 3. By several Arguments drawn from Scripture which will prove the same clearly 1. Then to prove it by the Scriptures though indeed the whole Book of Gods holy Scripture testifie these things plainly to be most true yet there be some places more pregnant and pertinent to the thing then others and therefore I shall mention some of them As first minde that in Prov. 8. v. 22 c. and there you shall finde him spoken of under the name of Wisedome the same name that is given him in 1 Cor. 1. 24. I say in that place of the Prov. above mentioned you shall find these expressions from his own mouth The Lord possessed me in tho beginning of his way before his works of old I was set up from everlasting from the beginning or ever the earth was when there was no depths I was brought forth while there was no fountaine abounding with water Before the mountains were sâ—tled before the hills was I brought forth While as yet he had not made the Earth nor the fields nor the highest places of the dust of the world When hâ— prepared the Heavens I was there when he set a compasse upon the face of the depth when he established the clouds above when he strengthened the fountaines of the deep When he gave to the Sea his decree that the waters should not pass â—his commandement When he appointed the foundations of the Earth then was I by him as one brought up with him And I was daily his delight rejoycing in the habitable parts of the Earth and my delight was with the Sonne of men Also John 1. 1 2. you have these words spoken of Christ In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God The same was in the beginning with God As also in Heb. 1. 2. the Apostle being about to prove the Sonne of Mary to be very God saith He hath in these latter daies spoken to us by his Sonne which sonne is the sonne of Mary as in Matth. 3. But saith the Apostle Heb. 1. 8. to the Sonne he saith Thy Throne O God is for ever and ever a Scepter of righteousnesse is the Scepter of thy Kingdome Again in John 17 5. you have the words of the sonne of Mary for it saying And now Father glorifie thou me with thine own selfe with the glory that I had with thee before the world was Again he himself saith before Abraham was I am And again I and my Father are one And in Phil. 2. 5. the Apostle saith Let the same mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus who being in the form of God thought it â—o robbery to be equal with God but made himselfe of no reputation and took on him the forme of a servant and was mâ—de in the likenesse of men Also Rev. 2. 8. Christ himselfe saith I am the first and the last which was dead but am alive And thus have I quoted some few Scriptures to prove that the Sonne of Mary is the true God 2. I shall give you the testimony of God himselfe touching the truth of this viz. That Christ the Sonne of the Virgin is the true God And first see Zach. 13. 7. and there you shall finde these words Awake O Sword against my Shepherd and against the Man that is my fellow saith the Lord of Hosts In this place the Lord doth call that Man his fellow which he doth not doe to any meer creature Again in Maâ— 3. 17. he calls him his beloved sonne saying This is my beleved Sonne in whom I am well pleased And in the foresaid place of the Hebrews Cap. 1. the Apostle advancing the Lord Jesus brings in this question To which of the Angels said he at any time thou art my Sonne Ver. 5. But to the Sonne he sâ—â—h ver 8. Thy Throne O God iâ— for ever and ever And this farre of the testimony that God himselfe hath given of the Son of Mary Jesus Christ. 3. The Angels do shew that he is God first in that they do obey him 2. in that they worship him 1. That they obey him is clear if we compare Rev. 21. 9. with Rev 22. 6. In the first of these places we finde that there came one of the Angels of the seven vials which had the seven last plagues and talked with John He came not of himselfe for in that 22 Cap. ver 6. he saith The Lord sent his Angel to shew unto his servants the things that must be done Now in the 16. verse you may see who this Lord God is He saith there I Jesus have sent mine Angel to testifie these things in the Churches * I am the roâ—t as well as the Ofspring of David and the bright and morning star I say this obedience of the Angels doth testifie that Jesus which is the Sonne of Mary is the true and very God for they do obey God only Secondly The Angels doe shew that the sonne of Mary is the true God in that they do not onely obey him but worship him also yea they are commanded so to doe Heb. 1. 6. where it is wriâ—ten When he bringeth his first begoâ—ten into the world he i e God saith And let all the Angels of God worship him viz. the sonne of Mary Now the Angels themselves command that we worship none but God Rev. 22. 8 9. When John fell down to worship the Angel the Angel said See thou doe it not for I am thy fellow-servant worship God Now if the Angels should command to worship God and they themselves should worship him that by nature is no God they should overthrow themselves in commâ—â—ding one thing and doing another and so lose their own habitations and be shut up in chaines of darknesse to be punished with everlasting destruction from God himselfe at the great day And thus much concerning the testimony of Angels touching Jesus the Sonne of Mary the Sonne of God yea very anâ— true God Isa. 9. 6. Now followeth David hiâ— testimony among other of thâ— Saints who witnesse Jesus the Sonne of Mary to be true God and that you may finde in Psa. 110. 1. where he saith The Lord said unto my Lord sit thou on my right hand till I make thine enemies thy footstoole Also Isaiah in the 9. Chap.
2. 24 25. Therefore c. 15. He that by his own power commandeth the raging Sea must needs be the true God Job 38. 10 11. Prov. 8. 29. But this did Jesus the sonne of Mary Mark 4. 39 41. Luke 8. 24. Therefore c. 16. He that is the wisedom power and glory of God must needs be the true God But Jesus the sonne of the Virgin is all these as 1 Cor. 1. 23 24. Heb. 1. 1 2 3. Therefore Jesus the son of the Virgin must needs be true God as well as man The next thing that I am to proâ— is this Namely That by â—â— Jesus Christ the sonne of thâ— Virgin the World was made And here I shall be brief â—â—ving touched on it alreaâ— Only I shall lay down someâ— the Scriptures that hold for this to be a truth and sopâ— to the next things that Iâ—tend to speak of ANd therefore in the fâ—â— place see Heb. 1. 1 2. whâ— the Apostle is speaking of â—â— Sonne of God which Soâ—â— was borne of the Virgin Mâ—â— according to these Scriptâ—â— mentioned before Matth. 18 to 23. Luke 2. Matth. 3. â— where God himself saith Tâ— is my beloved fonne c. Tâ— Sonne of God saith the Apâ—stle by whom God hath spoken to us by him also he made the Worlds And Col. 1. the Apostle speaking of the deliverance of the Saints saith Who hath delivered you front the power of darknesse and translated you into the Kingdome of his dear Sonne in whom we have Redemption through his blood even the forgivenesse of sinnes And is that all No but He is also the image of the invisible God ver 15. The first born of every Creature And in ver 16 17. By him were all things created that are in heaven and that are in earth visible and invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were created by him and for him And he is before all things and by him all things consist Also Heb. 1. 10. it is thus written of this Sonne of God Christ Jesus the sonne of Mary And then Lord in the beginning hast laid the foundations of the Earth and the Heavens are the work of thy hands And again John 1. and the first nine verses the Evangelist or Apostle speaking of the Son saith In the beginning was the Word which Word was the Son Rev. 19. 12 13. This Word or Son was with God and the Word was God All things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made In him was life and the life was the light of men And the light shined in the darknesse and the darknesse comprehended it not But in the ninth verse of this first Chapter of Joh. it is written That was the true light which lighteth every one that cometh into the world Now seeing the Lord hath brought me thus farre and because the Quakers by wresting this Scripture do not onely split themselves upon it but endeavor also to split others I shall therefore before I proceed any further ' speak a few words to it and they are these that follow The Apostle in these nine first Verses or most of them is speaking of the Divinity or Godhead of the Sonne of Mary and shewing that he made the World Now in this ninth verse he speaketh of Man as he is in his comming into the world and not as he is a regenerate person Now every man as he comes into the world receives a light from Christ as he is God which light is the Conscience that some call Christ though falsly This Light or Conscience will shew a man that there is a God and that this God is Eternal Rom. 1. 20. This light doth discover this Eternal God by his works in the world for saith the Scripture before named The invisâ—ble things of him meaning God from the Creation of the world are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made even his eternal power and Godhead This light also will reprove of sinne or convince of and make manifest sins against the Law of this Eternal God So that man before he is regenerate is able by that light to know that sins against the Law are sins against God as is manifested in the unconverted Pharisees who as Christ told them had neither the love of God nor the word of God abiding in them John 5. 38 42. yet knew sins against the Law to be sins for they were offended at a woman for committing adultery which act was forbidden Mat. 5. 27 28. by the Law and tiâ— said also they were convicted of sinne by their own consciences John 8. 7 8 9 10. Again the Apostle writing to the Corinthians and admoniâ—hing them to walk orderly 1 Cor. 11. 14. turnes them to nature it selfe saying Doth not even Nature it self teach you c. This Light surely is that wherewith Christ as he is God hath enlightned every man that commeth into the world which doth convince of sins against the law of God Therefore as the Apostle saith Rom. 1. 20. They are left without excuse That is they have their own conscience that doth shew them there is a God and that this God is to be served and obeyed and the neglect of this will be sure to damn them though the obedience to the Law will not save them because they are not able to make a full recompence to God for the sins that are past neither are they able for the time to come to yield a fall conâ—inâ—al and compleat obedience â—o the law of this Alm◠〈…〉 finite and Eternâ—l 〈…〉 as many as are of 〈…〉 of 〈…〉 for it is written Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the Law to doe them But that no man is justified by the works of the law it is evident For the just shall live by faith Gal. 3. 10 11. But now though Christ as he is God doth give a light to every one that cometh into the world which light is the conscience as they themselves confesse yet it doth not therefore follow that this conscience is the spirit of Christ or the work of grace wrought in the heart of any man whatsoever for every one hath conscience yet every one hath not the spirit of Christ For Jude speaks of a company of men in his days who had not the spirit of Christ Jude 19. These be they who separate themselves saith he sensual having not the spirit Yea Heathens Turks Jewes Pagans Atheists have that also that doth convince of sinne and yet are so farre from having the spirit of Christ in them that it is their great delight to serve their lusts this world their sinnes whereas the Apostle saith plainly If Christ be in you the body is dead because of sinne but the spirit is life for righteousnesse sake So that those who are alive to their sinnes have not the spirit of Christ. Nay let me
the body are absent from the Lord 2 Cor. 5. 6. but now if the man Christ were ascended into that heaven within them he would neither be absent from them nor they from him but in that he is absent from them touching his bodily presence and they from him touching the same it is evident that that heaven into which he is ascended must needs be without above the clouds 4 Consider that that heaven into which the man Christ is ascended must contain him till the time of restitution of All things as in Acts 3. 21. into which heaven he hath been ascended above sixteen hundred years by computation And I am sure there is not a Saint that doth live in this world half so long before he fall asleep and be gathered to his fathers so that that heaven into which he is scended is not within but must needs be that above the clouds But 5. Consider that he that ascended from his Disciples was a man with flesh and bones not a spirit only for handle me and sâ—e saith he for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see me have Luke 24. 39 50 51. verses Now let the Adversaries shew by the Scriptures that there is any place in them called heaven that is able to contain a man of some four or five foot long the space of fifteen or sixteen hundred years besides that therefore it must needs be that heaven without which is above the clouds and Stars 6. Consider That heaven into which the Lord Jesus that man is ascended must not contain him alwaâ—es for saith the Apostle 1 Thes. 4. 16. The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of an Archangel So that there is another descending from that heaven into which he is ascended and his descending from that heaven is to this end namely to take his people to himself as it is v. 17. so that it is clear that it is not any heaven within thee into which the Man Christ that was born of the Virgin Mary is ascended but it must needs be that heaven without which is above the clouds 1. If thou consider that the place into which he is ascended even the heaven into which he is entred is the same place where all the the deceased Saints are in their Spirits Therefore saith Paul I desire to depart and to be with Christ which is better Now Paul did not in this place Pâ—il 1. 23. mean the enjoying of Christ only in the spirit for that he enjoyed in a great measure when he spake these words but he speaks of a dying and a being with Christ after this life is ended as is clear if you compare the 20 21 22 23 24. 25 and 26 verse together being absent from him while he was here in the bâ—dy 2 Cor. 5. 6. for whilst at homâ— in the body we are absent from the Lord. So that that heaven into which the Man Christ is ascended is not into his Church on earth but into heaven without above the clouds and the Stars And this David doth propheâ—ie of Psal. 47. 5. where he saith God is gone up with a shout the Lord with the sound of a Trumpet Now Christ as God meerly could not go up being no lesse in one place then in another but as God man or in his humane nature he went up as will clearly appear Epes 4 8 9 10. where he speaketh of his triumâ—h over all the enemies of his people at his resurrection and ascension into heaven above the clouds 8. When Christ doth descend from that heaven into which he is now ascended his Saints and he will meet one another just in the air according to the Scripture 1 Thes. 4. 16 17. for saith he the Lord shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the Archangel and with the trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first that is they shall come out of their graves and then we which shall be saved alive at that day and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Pray mark here a little and see what heaven the man Christ is ascended into and see if it be not the heaven without above the Sun Moon and Stars When Christ and his Saints do meet the second time together the one ascends and the other descends the one is caught up in the clouds towards heaven the other descends from heaven towards the earth and they must needs meet one another just in the air that is between the heaven and the earth So then the one coming from heaven and the other from the earth and their meeting being in the air which is between heaven and earth is an undeniable demonstration that that heaven into which the man Christ is ascended must needs be that heaven without above the Sun Moon and Stars And thus much touching the Son of Mary his ascending up into the heaven without above the clouds Acts 1. 9 10 11. Acts 3. 21 1 Pet. 3 22 In the next place Now I shall prove the intercession of the man Christ Jesus to be in the heaven that I have been speaking of though some have mocked at it and others have called it jugling whose names here I shall not mâ—ntion only I shall admonish them that they doe not blaspheme the truth and Sonne of God in his intercession I shall quote some of the Scriptures that hold out this truth and so passe on And first of all see Psal. 16. 4. where David prophesying of the intercession of Christ saith their sorrowes shall be multiplyed that husten after another God speaking of the wicked their drink offerings of blood will I not offer nor take up their names into my lips Now compare this with Heb. 8. 4. where he saith If he were on earth he should not be a Priest And Heb. 9. 24. For Christ is not entred into the holy places made with hands meaning the temple which Solomon built which are figures of the true but into heaven it selfe now to appear in the presence of God for us Wherefore he is able to save to the uttermost them that come to God by him seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them Heb. 7. 25 But you will say is there a man made mention of here Yes for the Scripture saith Ther is one God and one Mediatour between God and men the Man Christ Jesus And in that 8. to the Heb. made mention of before where the Apostle is speaking of Christs priestly office as he is in the heavens compared with other Priests that are on earth he saith v. 3. for every high Priest is ordained to offer gifts and Sacrifices wherefore speaking of Christ it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer For if he were on earth he should not be a Priest seeing there
The Lord of that of these servants shall come in a day when they look not for him and in an hour that they are not aware of and shall cut them asunder appoint them their portion with hypocrites and there shall be weeping and gnashin of teeth 5. Then what doth this speak to the Lords own people surely this that they should be in a watchful posture Mark 13. 37. Watch therefore over your own hearts least they should be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkeness and the cares â—f this life and so that day come upon you unawares for as a snare shall it come upon all the dwelleâ—s upon the face of the earth as it is in Luke 21. 34 35 36. 2. Watch over the Devils temptations Oh have a care in the first place least by any meanes as the Serpent beguiled Eie so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ And the rather because at this day he is very busie with his doctrines and his ministers trying all waies if by any means he might deceive you with fair speeches and inticing carriages with a fair shew in the flesh yet denying the Lord and refusing to be justified by the blood of Jesus the son of Mary the son of God Watch I say over the Divel touching doctrines for he labours as much this way as any way for he knows if he can but get you to lay a rotten foundation he is sure of you live as godly in your conceit as you will and therefore it is worth your observation in that 24 of Mâ—â— when Christ is speaking of the signs of his coming he breaks forth with a warning word to his Disciples to beware of false teachers ver 4. the very first words that he answers to a question that his Disciples put to him is this Take heed that no man deceive you Again ver 11. And many false Prophets shall arise and shall deceive many And in ver 24. he saith again for there shall come or arise false Christs and false Prophets and shall shew signs and wonders in somuch that if it were pâ—ssible they should deceive the very elect 3. Take heed that he doth not deceive you in point of worship that he make you not slight any of the ordinances of God for if he do he will quickly make way for another temptation 4. Take heed that you also have not your lamps to trim when the bridegroom comes if you have you many paradventure be ashamed and blush before him at his coming 1 Jo. 2 last ver Therefore content not your selves with a profession of Christ and no more for the divel may deceive yea doth deceive a professing people many time And if he will deceive a professing generation he must come in this manner first under the name Christ secondly with a fair shew in the flesh of outward holinesse Gal. 6. 12. Thirdly he must come with good words and fair speeches Rom. 16. 18. Now though he come to drunkards swearers whoremongers theives liars murderers and covetous persons in his black colours yet if he will come to deceive a profeâ—sing party he must appear like an Angel of light And the reason why souls are deceived by him in these his appearances is because they are not able to distinguish betwixt the Law and the Gospel the convictionâ— of conscience by the Law only and convictions by the spirit but do though they professe the Lord Jesus give eare to every wind of doctrine and being unstable as Peter saith do fall into the temptations of the Divel in wresâ—ing the Scripture to their own destruction 2. Pet. 3. 16. In a word you that have not yet laid hold on the Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life lay hold upon him upon his righteousnesse blood resurrection ascension intercession and wait for his second coming to judge the world in righteousness Acts 17. 31. And you that have laid hold I say to you lay faster hold on your Lord Jesus Who so hath â—ares to hear let him hear Matth. 13. 43. Now that thou mayst the more clearly understand my faith in the doctrine of Gods dear son I have thought good to hold forth again the doctrine in the former Treatise by way of Question and Answer as followeth Qu. Seeing there are many 〈◊〉 Christs gone out into the world according as was prophesied of in former times Mat. 24. 5 23. by the Lord himself And seeing if we be saved we must be saved by a Christ for he that misses of him saith the Scriptures cannot be saved because there is no way to come to the father but by him as it is written Joh. 14. 6. Acts 4. 12. How therefore is the knowledge of the true Christ to be attained unto that we may be saved by him Answ. Indeed to know Christ Gods Christ is as the Scripture saith the one thing necessary Luke 10. 42. without which all other things will avail nothing And therefore I shall according to the Scriptures first tell you what Gods Christ is and secondly how the knowledge of him is attained unto And therefore first Gods Châ—ist is true God and true man That he is true God is manifest by that Scripture in Isaiah 9 6 where it is said to us a child is born to us a son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellour the mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of peace also 1 Joh. 5. 20. And we are in him that is true saith the Apostle even in his son Jesus Christ this is true God and eternal life see Heb. 1. 8. Joh. 1. 12. Rom. 9. 5. Joh. 20. 28. But Secondly that he is 〈◊〉 Man see again Isa. 9. 6. where it is said Vnto us a Child is born unto us a Son is given and compare it with Mat. 1. 21. where it is said And she shalt bring forth a Son and thou shall call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins see John 1. 14. And the word was made flesh 1. Tim. 3. 16. God was manifested in the flesh These two Scriptures are expounded by Heb. 2. 14. where it is said Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood he also himself likewise tooke part of the same that is of flesh and blood see Rom. 8. 3. and compare it with Luke 24. 39. where Christ saith Behold my hands and my feet that it is I my selfe handle me and see for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as ye see â—e have And he doth often call himself by the name of the Son of Man Mat. 24. Mat. 16. 13. to signifie that he is very man as well as very God Qâ— But why was he true God and true man Answ. He was true man because man had offended and Justice required that man should suffer and make satisfaction and so it is written 1 Cor. 1 5. 21. For since by man came death by man
went or ascended up into heaven If you compare Luke 2â— v. 39 40 41 42 43. with the 50. and 5â— verses of the same Chap. you may cleerly find it so to be And therefore if he come againe in like manner he must come againe with the same body wherewith he was crucified Object But you will say The Scripture saith he that descended is the same that ascended which to me say you implies none but the spirits ascending Answ. For answer We doe not say as I said before that it is another that ascended but the very same That is the very same Christ that was with the father from everlasting did come down from heaven That same Christ also that came down from heaven did ascend up thither again only he descended without a body from heaven and took flesh and blood upon him from the Virgin And though he descended without a body yet he the very same Christ that descended without a body the same did ascend again with a body even that very body that he took of the virgin Mary See Luke 24. from 39 to the 51. verses Now let me give you a Similitude for it is warrantable for both Christ and his Apostles did sometimes use them to the end soules might be the beâ—ter infâ—rmed The similitude is this Suppose there come into thine house a man that is naked and without clothing though he go out of thy house againe well clothed yet the same man that came in without clothing is the same man also that goâ—s out of thy house though very well clothed Even so it is in this case The Lord Jesus came into the wombe of the virgin â— Spirit Mat. 1â— 18. but he came out of the womb clothed with a body and went up into heaven again clothed with a body Compare Luke 24. 39. with Act. 1. 11. and Act. 2. 30 31. Now also I shal lay down some few things to be considered for the better clearing of it 1. Consider that he did say to his Disciples that he would go away from them Joh. 14. 3. Joh. 16. 7. yea saith he I go and prepare a place for you and then I will after a long time come again and take you to my selfe that where I am that is whither I am going there ye may be also Now I say If Christ had not gone from his Disciples for that was his meaning touching his bodily presence I say if he had not gone away from them in respect of his bodily presence he had said more then he had performed which is horrible blasphemie once to assert Which going of his is his going into heaven See 1 Pet. 3. 22. Secondly consider that there it was that he was to receive the promise of the father Luke 24. 49. 50 51. which promise was the shedding forth in an abundant manner the blessed Holy Ghost And for this see Act. 2. 33. Therefore being by the right hand of God which is in heaven exalted and having received of the Father the promise of the holy Ghost he hath shâ—d fâ—rth this which ye now see and hearâ— For David is not ascended into the heavens but he saith himselfe The Lord said unto my Lord Sit thou at my right hand till I make thine enemies thy footstoole Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly for t is very tâ—ue that God hath made that same Jesus whom you have crucified both Lord and Christ. Thirdly Consider that if he were on earth he could not be a Priest Heb. 8. 4. Now the man Christ Jesus is a glorious Priest Heb. 7. 24. in the heavens Heb. 9. 24. And therefore he is able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by him seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them That man v. 25. Fourthly If he be not gone into heaven both his own and his Apostles doctrine is false yea the witnesse of the Angels also 1 Pet. 3. 22. Act. 1. 9 10 11. which to think were damnable infidelitie in any man Fifthly Know that he is gone in oâ— heaven because the Scriptures say he is which is the very truth of God spoken by his holy Apostles and Prophets yea holy men of God spake them as they were moved by the holy Ghost Sixthly Consider If thou sayest that that man is not gone into heaven then thou must also conclude that he is still in the grave and if so then thou sayest that the Prophets Apostles Angels Christ God and all are lyars who have testified these things in the Scriptures for glorious truths Isa. 26. 19. Acts 10. v. 40 41 42. and 13. v. 30 34 36 37 38. Acâ—sâ— 9 10 11. And as the Apostle saith of himselfe and the rest of the Apostles and ministers of Jesus Christ And we are found false witnesses of God because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ whom he raised not up if so â—e the dead rise not But now is Christ risen and become the first fruits of them that sleep For as by man came death by Man came also the resurrection from the dead 1 Cor. 15. 15 20 21. Secondly now I am to prove that he is above the clouds and the heavens my meaning is he is above the lowest heavens for there are 3 as appears in 2 Cor. 12. 1 2 3 4. I knew a man in Christ saith Paul there caught up into the third heaven now Heaven in Scripture is taken sometimes metaphorically and sometimes properly First metaphorically it is taken for the Church and people of God as in Rev. 12. 12. Secondly properly it is taken for the material heaven where the Sun Moon and Stars are placed as in Genesis 1. v 8 14 15 16 compared together above which heaven Jesus the Son of Mary is ascended Therefore I pray you consider with me a little and first that when he went into this heaven into which he is gone he went AWAY from his Disciples as it is written If I go not away the comforter will not come so that he did not go into a heaven within them in his person and humane nature If so he must needs go into that heaven without above the clouds and the Stars Gen. 1. 8 5 16. 2. Consider he was caught away in a cloud yea and was caught upwards from them as it is Acts 1. 9 10 11. and carried away into heaven yea and his disciples stood gazing or looking up after him into heaven which heaven must needs be that above the clouds 1. If you consider the posture of the Disciples they looked upwards after the cloud that did take him away 2. Consider the manner of his going it was in a cloud 3. He was received out of their sight 4. And so received up into heaven which heaven must needs be above the clouds where God is in his special presence But further 3. Consider that those believers that are alive at this day in