souereigne Kings Quéenes yée swéet Lordes and Ladies yee loouing Fathers and mothers yée wise Maisters mistresses yee obedient sonnes and daughters yée diligent and dutiefull seruants and maides reioyce and be glad and behold your king and precious Sauiour Christe ryding into Ierusalem lowly and humbly and now aryse and lyft vp your eyes of repentance to heauen and reioyce and beholde how hée is ready to come in all glory and maiestie with all the powers of heauen to crowne you with glorious and heauenly glorification Therfore cast of from your hartes the euill mantell of pryde disdaine arrogancie haughtines vnmercifulnes frowardnes sinne and vnrighteousnes and put on the mantel of Christes humblenes lowlynes mercifullnes goodnes holynes and righteousnes that you may mé ete Christe with ioy and receiue the incorruptible crowne of eternall glorie for thus saithe the Lord I will set his dominion in the sea and his right hand in the floodes he shall call mee Psalme 89. thou art my Father my God and my strong saluation and I will make him my first borne higher then the Kings of the earth Esay 55. my mercy will I keepe for him for euermore and my couenance shall stand fast with him his seede also will I make to indure for euer and his throne as the dayes of heauen of whome hée sayeth My seruaunt whome I will giue for a witnesse Esay 52. prince and captaine to the people will I keepe to my selfe hee is myne elect in whome my soule is pacified I will giue him my spirit that hee may shewe foorth iudgement and equitie among the Gentiles hee shall not be an outcryer nor high mynded his voice shall not bee heard in the streates a brused â—eede shall hee not breake and the s moking flackes shall hee not quench but faithfully and truely shall hee giue iudgement hee shall neither bee ouer seene nor hastie that hee may restore righteousnes to the earth for I the Lord hath called the in righteousnes and do lead the by thee hand therfore will I also defend and giue thee for a couenaÌ„t of the people and to be the light of the Gentiles that thou mayest open the eyes of the blynde let out the prisoders and them that fit in darknes out of the doungeon house In this the Prophet foretelling that Christe shoulde come in the fleshe death shewe that by his meanes only wée shall bee brought to an attonment and peace with GOD the Father expressing the perfectionn of looue and pleasure which GOD the Father hath in his sonne Christe béeing one selfe same nature in another according to Mathew Math. 3.17 This is that belooued Sonne in whome is my delight and according to the saying of the Prophet Dauid in the second Psalme Thou art my sonne this day haue I begotten thée and héerin wé e learne that if Christe is so béeloued of God béeing God according to the fortie nine Psalme the Father of heauen saith to his sonne God Thy seat shall be for euer and euer then how muche are wée bound to looue so beloued a God and Sauiour to vs giuing him all the praise honor and thankes euermore lyfting vp pure hands for so great treasures of vertue and goodnes for his cléernes of trouth and iudgement for the light and brightnes of his moste holy and blessed doctrine for his aboundant swéetnes of his excéeding and bountiful loone toward vs moste miserable sinners in that hée of his meere mercie and goodnes hath broughte vnto vs redemption and delyuerance out of the bondage of sathan sinne and death calling vs to holynesse of lyfe thereby by imitating him to be made by righteousnesse the sonnes of God and pertakers of the euerlasting kingdome And further the Lord saith My seruant shall deale wis ely therfore shall he be magnified exalted and greatly honored like as the multitude shall meruaile at him because his couÌ„tenaÌ„ce shal be so deformed and hard fauoured aboue the sonnes of men yea he shall haue neither beautie nor fauour wheÌ„ we look vpoÌ„ him there shal be no fairnes in him we shall haue no lust vnto him hee shall be the most simple and dispised of all which yet hath good experience in sorrowes and in firmities but wee shall reckon him so vile and base that we shall not regard him how be it of a trueth hee only takes away our infirmitees Whervpon consider according to Paule that Christ dooth make him self of no reputation and taketh vpon him the shape of a seruant and became lyke vnto man and was found in his apparell as a man and that he abasing him self in respect of all worldly wisdome was of the wis e according to the wisdome of this world dispised scoffed and s corned at hée béeing him self verry wisdome it self and the fountaine therof and he being beautie it self and the Author of all beautie and fairnes woulde shewe him selfe without beautie and fauour to condemne the vanitie of fleshly beautfe and extoll the excellencie and woorthines of the spirituall and heauenly beautie of the soule wherfore O yée Children and Daughters of men yee are become so nyce so arogant and coy because of your faces and so proude of your beauties Come from your vaine looking glasses The contempt of fleshly beautie and beholde héer I offer vnto you the bright shyning glasse of all excellencie euin Christe your King and Sauiour the Author and Giuer of all beauties and godlynesse to beholde him béeing without fauoure and fairnesse beeing lowely mé eke and most humble being simple and not gorgeous how hee condemned and dispised your vaine fleshly pleasure and gaynes euen in the cleere example of his owne person giuing you himselfe for a rule that you reioice not in apparell nor vainely conceaue of your vaine flesh and outward comlines of nature but onely in the beautie of your soules by adorning and decking your inward man with all spirituall rayments of holines and precious ornaments of righteousnes which will neuer decay whereas the flesh and all that pertaine to his furniture is as S. Peter saith as grasse and all the glorie of man is as the flower of grasse Pet. 1.1 the grasse therof withereth and the flower fadeth away but the word of God endureth for euer Moreouer the prophet saith that we shall dispise him and yet he beareth our paine Esay 53. and we shall so contemtuously thinke of him as that we shall iudge him as though he were plagned and cast downe of God wheras he notwiths tanding shal be wounded for our offences and smitten for our wickednes for the paine of our punishment shall bee laid vpon him and with his stripes shall we be healed hee shall be pained and troubled and shall not open his mouth he shall be led as a sheepe to be slaine The prophesie of Christes death yet shall he be as stil as a lambe before the shearers and not open his mouth he s hall be had away his cause not
shal according to the first of the Actes come againe downe vpon mount Oliuet Zacharie 14. and according to Zacharie Hee shall stande vpon mount Oliuet the mount of the eternall light that lieth vpon the East side of Ierusalem Place of Iudgement And the mount Oliuete shall cleaue in two eastward and wes tward so that there shall be a great valley and the half mount shall remoue toward the north and the other toward the south and thither wee shall flye into the valley of the Lords hilles where the Lord shal be and all his Saincts with him and this is the valley of Iosaphat which Ioel speaketh of saying Let the people ryse and get them to the valley of Iosaphat Ioel. 3. for there will I set sayth the Lord and iudge all heathen round about and there shall bee many people in that day of the Lord in the same valley appointed when the Lord shall roare out of Sion and cry out of Ierusalem that the heauens and earth shall quake withall and the sun and moone shal be darkened and the starres withdrawe their light and then shall we knowe that the Lord our God dwelleth vppon the holy mount Sion and that Ierusalem is holy inhabited for euer more And thus sayth Esay the sunne and moone shall bee ashamed Esay 24. when the Lord of hoastes shall come with his hie heauenly hoast from abooue to rule the people at Ierusalem vppon mount Syon And now beholde how Iesus our eternall king iudge béeing thus come downe from the toppe of all heauens with an heauenly company of beautifull bright Angells and goodly creatures triumphing with the glorie of all celestiall pompe Reue. 20. Is sitting according to Iohn in the great white seat from whose face flyeth away bothe the earth and heauen their place no more found And there bothe great and small stand before GOD ready to be rewarded with his glorious and euerlasting kingdome saying blessing honour glorie and power bee vnto him that sitteth on the seate and to the Lamb for euermore And thus our omnipotent and glorious King our mercifull Sauiour and Iudge hath stretched foorth his glorious and omnipotent throne and seate of maiestie vpon the valley of Iosaphat the blessed valley of GOD where all thinges in heauen and in earth are gathered before him to iudgement where hée openly sheweth foorth his woorthines and pretiousnes glittering lyke to a Iasper or Sardine stone which stones are moste cleare and of a moste florishing purenes without corruption being of propertie and nature of so excellent a vertue Reue. 4. as to kindle the harts and myndes of the beholders to ioy and also to animat and stirre vp their spirits to delight mirth and gladnes and so in superabundant measure of vnspeakablenes doothe Christe appeare vnto vs moste graciously sitting vppon his tribunall seate houlding his court regall with all fleshe there glistering so with incōparable endlesse brightnes and purenes of glorie as to kendle all harts excedingly and abooue all that may be thought to the praysing lauding and magnifying his moste excellent and renowned maiestie And there was about his seat thousand thousands saying with a lowde voice worthie is the Lamb that was killed to receiue power and riches and wisdome and strength and honour and glory and blessing And this seat was bordred about with a goodly and heauinly Raine-bow lyke a Smaradge as with a moste precious ring representing the riches of Gods promises to be performed and the blessednes of his promises touching election and his iudgements touching distruction to be like as the raine-bow is roūd and with out end so them to be without end for euer and as the Smaradge is durable Esdras 4.5 so the promises and iudgement of God shall indure for euer according to Esdras God lykneth his iudgement to a ring And now ahout the seat are twentie and fower seates and vpon the seate twenty and fower Elders sitting clothed in amiable white Garments being the raines of righteousnes and robes of iuss tice hauing on their heades crouwnes of golde beeing made kings royall préestes vnto God and Iudges of the trybes béeing the Patriarches and twelue Apostles according to Daniell I loked till the seates were prepared till the olde aged set them down according to Mathew Mathew 1◠Christ sayd vnto his Apostles yée shall sit vppon twelue seates and iudge the twelue trybes of Israell whereby wée see the great glorie power and dignitie with whiche the Lord dooth adorne his messengers and Apostles withall that they shall accompanie our eternall God and king Iesus Christe vpon his maiesticall throne of Iudgement to manifest the excellencie of Gods treuth in open iudgement iudgeing the enemies of Christe Whereby wee may well perceiue the woorthines of our glorie to be great if wee so liue that we may be found acceptable in the sight of God thereby to be made the sonnes of God glorified with glorious bodies like the Apostles euermore accompaning with Christe him selfe in his new Cittie of Ierusalem his moste blessed kingdome And now out of the seat proceeded lightnings and thundrings and voyces the first béeing the glistering and lightning streames of Gods mercy towards the godly the second beeing the dreadfull thundering fearefull s ound of Gods iudgement toward the wicked and the third beeing the heauenly voyces of the Angells and Saincts praysing lawding magnifying God in his omnipotent goodnes and glorie as at the byrthe of Christe the Angells and multitude of heauenly souldiers stood before Christe in vision to the Shéep-heards according to Luke lawding God and saying Luke 2. Glory be to God on high and peace on the earth and with men reioycing And the glorious Throne of GOD is full of all power glorie and honour according to the saying of Ieremie Whose Throne is moste glorious excellent and of moste antiquitie which dwellest in the place of our moste holy and blessed rest And according to the saying of the Prophet Danyell His Throne was lyke vnto the fierie flame and his wheales as the burning fire and there drewe forth a fierie streame and went out from him béeing the mighty and eternall blases of Gods goodnes Daniell 7. mercy and iudgmēt to the great ioy and gladnes of the righteous to beholde and to the wunderfull terrour feare and dread of the wicked to see abyde and indure and thus replenished with all excellēncie and gloriousnes is this seat of iudgement That there are seuen shyning Lamps of fire burning before the seat béeing the seuen spirits of God shewing a goodly faire and cleare light and a pure cleare expressing of the clearnes of almightie GOD béeing the heauenly witnes of the euerlasting treuth of God and béeing for euer present before his Throne there giuing heauenly honour and prayse to our omnipotent God sitting in his glorious throne of maiestie and before the seat is a sea of glasse like throwgh shyning christall being the
mercie had made his promise to Abraham that we should be bles sed in his seede through a redeemer Whereupon the Lord to shew the imperfection of the law touching the giuing of life and saluation The imperfection of the law and perfection of promise And the more to declare the perfection and power of his promise in Christ that in it consisteth the gift of power to obtaine the inheritance of euerlasting life and blessednes doth confirme many yeares after the law giuen his foresaid testament vnto Moyses saying Deu. 18. The promise made to Moises I will raise them vp a prophet from among their brethren like vnto thee and I will put my words in his mouth and hee shall speake vnto them all that I shall commaund him and whosoeuer will not hearken vnto the words which he shal speake in my name I will require it of him according to Iohn he that heareth my words saith Christ and beléeueth Iohn 5. on him that sent me hath euerlasting life Luk â—… and who soeuer stumbleth at that s tone shall be broken for saith Christ Iohn 10. I am the good s hepheard that gaue his life for the sheepe and my sheepe heare my voyce And moreouer after a long distinction of time the Lord not vnmindfull of his testament raised vp his faithfull seruant Dauid to be king ouer Israel being of the loynes of Abraham of whose seede he promised that a branch of righteousnes should arise and sit in his seate The promise to Dauid s aying to Dauid by the prophet Nathan Kings 2.7 Thy house and thy kingdome shall endure without end after thee and thy seate shall be stablished for euer according to Esay Esay 9. vnto vs a childe shall be borne a sonne giuen vpon whose shoulder the kingdome s hall lye and he shall sit vpon the seate of Dauid Esay 11. for there shall come a rod forth of the kindred of Iesse and a blossome out of his roote the spirite of the Lord shall light on it he shall smite the world with the sword of his mouth with the breth of his lips shall slay the wicked Righteousnes shall bee the girdle of his loynes truth and faithfulnes the girding of his reynes Ezech. 17. for I will take s aith the Lord a braunch from an high Cedar tree and wil set it and take the vppermost twigg and yet is but tender and plant it vpon an high hill that it may bring forth twigges and be a great Cedar tree so that all maner of foules may abide in it and make their nests vnder the shadow of his braunches And out of this branch came the virgine Marie springing out of the Cedar tree which is the tribe of Iuda the vttermost twigg is Christ who vpon the hil of Sion did bring forth twigs his twelue apostles and disciples which became a great Cedar tree that is a mightie congregation of the faithful church of Christ the al maner of foules which is that there should be of all sortes of people the should abide in Christs doctrine and build their nest of saluation on him according to Esay Kings ond Princes shall arise and worship the holy one of Israell who is a pledge for the people and helpe vp the earth againe and chalenge the scattered heritage and shall say to them that are in darknes come into the light and to the prisoners go forth and shall gather to his kingdome all nations be they neuer so farre wherby doth appeare that such is the gift of the promise that all nations shall be blessed thereby that such is Christes calling that the people of all lands where soeuer shall partake of the faith of the Gospell so that it is apparant that euery inhabited corner of the world shall receiue the doctrine of the faith before the end of the world according to Mathew Math. 24. this glad tidings of the kingdome shall bee preached in all the world for a witnes vnto all nations and then shal the end come for saith Esay the people that dwell in darknes shall see a great light and vpon them that dwell in the land of the shadow of death shall it shine that the knowledge of the Lord shall bee full vpon the earth as the water of the sea floweth ouer the earth for the Gentiles shall inquire after the roote of Iesse and the Lord shall gather together the dispersed of Israel and the outcastes of Iuda and then shall men reioyce before God as men make mery in haruest for saith hee I will stretch out my hand to the Gentiles and set vp my token to the people for Kinges shall be thy nurcing fathers and Queenes thy nurcing mothers Esay 9. and all they that thinke a scorne of him shall be confounded for behold he bringeth his treasure with him and his works goeth before him hee shall feede his flocke like and heardman Esay 49. he shall gather the lambs together with his arme and carry them in his bosom and kindly intreate them that beare young wherein the prophet foretelleth the power vertue and excellencie of Christ that though he came in the humilitie of the flesh yet such was his miracles his works and his treasures of goodnes as would allure animate and inflame al men toward him and besides that so precious was his conuersation so pure his demenure so louing his humanitie so excellent his disposition so good in his doings and so flowing in holesome doctrine as that he is a most amiable and precious Adamant to draw men to his kingdom yea and in manner to constraine them to loue him which neuer knew him yea such is his gentle intreating like a louing father to his sonne like a carefull shephard ouer his sheepe like a good henne that gathereth her chickens vnder her wings so he is tender ouer man And therefore beware that we shew not our selues vnthankfull For when the children of Israel were cleane gone astray froÌ„ God as shéepe without a shepheard then the Lord mindfull of his promise to Iacob said Esay 27. I will root Iacob againe and Israel shall be greene and beare flowers and fill the whole world with her fruit Esay 35. then shall the desert and wildernes reioyce and the wast groundes florish like a lilie Esay 44. And I will power waters vpon the drie ground and riuers vpon the thirstie and shall giue waters in the wildernes and streames in the desert that I may giue drinke to my people whom I haue chosen to praise me By this wee see des cribed as in a metaphor how farre the spirituall water of Christes doctrine shal extend it selfe in al bountifulnes ouer all the world that the wildernes desertes and drie groundes being the barbarous rude and sauage people of all places shall haue offered vnto them the water of the streames of the fountaine of Iacob the gospell of Christ to wash away there vncleannes
honor the Father that who soeuer heareth Christes woâ—des and beléeue on him that sent him Ihon. 5. hath euerlasting lyfe and shall not come to damnation but is scaped from death vnto lyfe for he only hath the keyes of hell and death and shall iudge the quick Reue. 1. and the dead at the appearing of his kingdome were all shall be brought before the iudgement seat of Christe Tim. 2.4 and euerie one giue accountes of him self to God for the time is come that iudgement must begin at the house of the Lord consider therefore what kynde of people we ought to bée in conuersatioÌ„ of lyfe Pet. 14. séeing the righteous iudgement of God shall be opened which will reward euery man with prayse honor and immortalitie that hath cuÌ„tinued in good dooing Rom. 2. and vnto them which hath béen sinfull disobeying the trenth following iniquitie shall come indignation and wrath tribulation and anguish vpon the soule of euerie man that doe euill for there is no parcialitie with God but dooth iudge without respect of persons according to euerie mans woorkes as shall appeir at the great day of the Lord when God shall iudge the secretes of men by Iesus Christe according to the Gospell when we must appeir â—e before his glorious and shining maiestie that euery man may reape according as he hath sowen Heb. 4. whereuppon wée are moste carefully to looke into our owne selues knowing that our soules shall be wayes vpon the ballance by that moste true and righteous Iudge whose eyes are as a flame of fire that sercheth out the ground of our hartes and knoweth the seceret mouings of our myndes iudgeth all the thoughts and intentes of man to whome all things are naked bare neither is there any creature inuisible in the sight of him who will not fayle to to recompence euery man according to his wayes and according to the frutes of his counsels and imaginations Now then that this generall cytation of our infallible apperaÌ„ce before that Court regall which God will holde with all fleshe is so apparent wée should perswade that the knoweledge héerof is moste forcible to strike into our hartes a trembling feare and dread of our Lord God who is a consuming fire to all that doe continue in wickednes so that it behoueth vs not to make lighte accompte of so great and fearfull a matter and it standeth vs vppon not to bee necligente and carelesse of the order and maner of our liues séeing it toucheth our Soules so neare the quicke as that by the conuersation of lyfe in this world the marke and garland is so set before vs that if wee run the race of this life Math. 2.5 like to the fiue good Virgines hauing prepared in our selues in the grace of Christ that lamps of righteousnes sanctifying the Lord God in our harts by good conuersation in Christe then wee shall accompanye Christe or bridegroome in the great day of his comming shall go in with him to the wedding and to the inioying of our new heauenly Ierusalem which is to coÌ„e down froÌ„ God from heauen preparhd as a Bryde for her husband Roue 19. béeing rayes with the goodly raines of the righteousnes of Saincts for the mariage of the vndefiled Lamb and for the glorious companie of the holy elect who then are happie that they are called vnto the lambes supper ther crowned with the garland of glorification Otherwise if wee run the race of this lyfe like the fiue foolish Virgines not respecting the rule of righteousnes nor imbracing the Oyle of gladnes brought to vs by Christes Gospell but wallowing in wickednes and so seek after our fleshly lusts warldly vanities then we must be shut out from this heuinlie wedding and throwen down from the face of God from his Sanctes into that dreadfull darcknes where all are wrapt in sorrow wot made the dampned children of cursed sâ—â—haÌ„ Phil. 2. for which cause we ought to watch pray knowing not what day or hours the sonne of man shall come therfore we ought to watch pray woorking out our salâ—â—â—â—â—◠〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—es t that our misdéeds seperate vs from our God and our sinnes hide his face for â—â—er from vs. Wherfore ye Prachers cry out the voice of heauines the lamenting cryes of dolefulnes which shall come vnto the wicked lyuers vnlesse they repent and yée Preachers sound out the voice of ioy of mirth and gladnes that shall come vnto the godly people and thou hart faint not and thou hand slack not to vtter foorth and wriâ—â— how the gates of heauen staÌ„d open night and day for penitent sinners for the faithfull godly and righteous people to receiue them into blessednes and shewe thy self a watchman to awake with this voice all the people round about out of the sléeping bed of sinne blowing into the eares of deafe sinners wretched worldlings fleshly lyuers vicious walkers and wicked dooers how hell gates doe gape very wide â—n moste dreadfull maner to swallowe vp vngodly and wicked men Num. 16. O how did the Isralites tremble and quake when they did se the earth open and s wallow vp Corath Leui. 10. Dathan and Abyron with all that they had that they went down quick to hel O how did the Isralites tremble and shake when a consuming fire came out from the Lord and cons umed Nadab and Abihu the sonnes of Aaron Num. 11. then come hither yée Inhabiters of the earth and behold with gushing teares with sorrow and terrour with sobbes and sighes the day of vengeance with much more terrour of the gates of hell gaping and gas ping in most hydious monsterous and horrible manner to swallow by 〈◊〉 diffent 〈◊〉 and again con sider how the Isralites did saâ—â—â—â—or â—â—are when â—â—â—re of the Lord did burne among them and consumed the vtter mo ste of the hoast Exo. 19. Deut. 4. and how againe they shaked for dread when the Lord came down vpon mount Sinay with tempest sound of the trump speaking out of fire baâ—nnow come hither all ye people of the Lord beholde the day of the Lord for he coÌ„meth to take vengeance reward yea he coÌ„meth him self lyke a goldsmiths are 〈◊〉 the heauens shall perish the elemeÌ„ts melt the earth all the 〈◊〉 withâ—â—â—â—â—e according to Paule who saith that Thess 2. â— Hee shall come with his mightie Aungels in flaming fire rendring vengeance vnto them that know not God and to them that obey not the gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ which shall be punished with euerlasting damnation from the presence of the Lord and from the glorie of his power when he shall come to be glorified in his saintes and made maruelous in all them that beleeue therefore harken vnto this voice with sorrow of thy sinnes and remember this day with trembling and repenting knowing how miserable those sinners were that continued in wickednes and
and washe you cleane and cleanse your corrupted harts by washing away your euill thoughtes wicked lusts and sinfull déedes in the blood of Christe by true repentance and newnes of lyfe least you be cast hedlong from the inheritance of heauinly pleasure into the filthie lake of perpetuall sorrowe and miserie and all yée Inhabiters of the earth striue against sinne and cast from you the fellowship of Ipocrisie enuy pryde couetousnes with all other sinnes and cut of from your hartes the cloisters of euill thoughtes and the braunches of wicked imaginations that you may bee found woorthie at the great day of the LORD to bee translated into the kingdome of glorie Wherefore consider the terrour of the day of iudgment and beholde how all kyndreds dooth stand shaking and be wailing before the highe Iudge that it may inforce vs to teares for to thinke on that daye when shall bee séene that moste great lamentable and euerlasting seperation departing of the elect from the dampned and this departing shall be such as that the one parte shall be cast into hel Mark 9. into the fire that neuer shal be quenched out of which no wéeping teares can restore vs where sayth Mark that the worme dyeth not and the fire neuer goeth out when shall be fulfilled that heauie voice Wo be to you that are riche Luke 6. for you haue therein your consolation woe bee to you that are full for you shall hunger woe bee to you that now laugthe Math. 11. for yee shall waile and weepe and theÌ„ shall bee heard that voyce of terrour and wretchednesse saying Woe bee vnto thee Châ—rasin Woe bee to thee Bethsaida whiche so little regarded and estéemed the Myracles and the Doctryne doone in thee which if they had bene done in Tyre and Sydon they would haue repented in sackcloth and ashes Therefore I say to thee it shall be easier for Tyre and Sydon at the day of iudgement then for you And wo be to thee Capernaum which art lift vp euen to heauen being so proud thou shalt be brought downe into hell for if the miracles and doctrine done in thee had bene done in Zodome they had remained vndestroyed till this day therefore it shall be easier for the land of Zodome in the day of iudgement then for thee wherefore beware ye carelesse people howe you refuse the doctrine of Christ least you heape to your selues an hard iudgement at the day of the Lord make ye readie that you may go vp to the house of the Lord Esay 2. and to the house of the God of Iacob and walke in his pathes for Christ hath told signes wonders and tokens of his comming And he hath sent you many a Ionas to recall you to repentance and to teach you his doctrine of saluation therefore turne to God least that Nyniuie rise in iudgement against you and the woe of Bethsaida ouertake you for as it happened in the time of Noye so shall the comming of the sonne of man be they eate they drank they married wiues and were married Luk. 17. euen vnto the same day that the floud came and destroyed them all like wise also as it chanced in the daies of Lot they eate they dranke they bought they sold they planted they bilt and euen the same day that Lot went out of Zodome it rayned fire and brimstone from heauen and destroyed them all And after these examples shall it be in the day when the sonne of man eppeareth and then two shall be in bed the one receiued the other forsaken two grinding at the mill the one receiued the other forsaken Therefore harken O earth and ye indwellers of the earth to this terrible day of the Lord yea cast off your mantle of securitie and slacknes and open your blunt hartes and dull eares giuing a carefull eare to the sentence which the Apostles doe giue Matth. 19. Matth. 25. that shall sit with Christ in iudgement saying take cast the vnprofitable seruant into vtter darknesse And Iohn Paul saith That all vncleane persons that worke abominations Reuel 21. 1. Cor. 6. and lyes the fearefull vnbeleeuing murtherers whoremongers sorcerers Idolaters couetous drunkardes extortioners theeues weakelens cursed speakers enuious persons continuing to death without repentance from the bottome of the heart shal haue their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death for as the trée falleth so doeth it lie whereupon beware ye wicked worldlings sinners the delay and hold off froÌ„ time to time driue off froÌ„ true repentance amendment of life least your sinnes lie heauie vpon you and your heart grow hard in these sinnes can not repeÌ„t and so heape to your selues the treasure of wrath against the day of vengeaÌ„ce according to the prophesie of Enoch Saint Iude. saying behold the Lord shall come with thousands of saints to giue iudgement against all meÌ„ to rebuke all that are vngodly among them of all their vngodly deedes which they haue committed of all the cruell speakings which vngodly sinners haue spoken against him TheÌ„ shal the Lord cry with a loud voice Reuel 14. like a lion that roareth vnto his angels to thrust in the sharpe sicle and gather the clusters of the earth and to cut downe the grapes of the earth the wicked and sinfull people and cast theÌ„ into the great winefat of his wrath and the winefat is troden wtout the citie of new IerusaleÌ„ yea it is trodeÌ„ in the place of extreme darknes in the hideous dungen of hel in al horror of bloody sorrowes for the reward of sinne is death and hell where it stincke with brimstone that cannot be abodden where behold with piteous eyes how the soules of the dampned bewayle in woe where all mirth and ioye are turned to woes where all songes and musicke are wooes where feasting and banketting be woes where daunsing and loue toyes be wooes playes and pastimes be woes and where golde and siluer and all gay things of this worlde are chaunged into wretchednesse and woes And of all other this is the most dreadfull woe Eâ—trenseâ—â—â— which is the depriuation of hope from comming out of those wooes And thus the miserable dampned soules are euermore tormented with fire and brimstone and the smoke of their tormentes ascendeth vp for euer and euer And neuer haue rest day and night and they crye piteously to the Lorde and hee heareth not and though they neuer cease from teares yet the Lorde regardeth them not And then they knowe when it is too late that all worldly thinges are vanities and miseries and they woulde repent and it helpeth not and thus they weepe and wayls in dolourouse tormentes and gnawe their tongues in most rigorous paine And so in great burning they drink of the cup of Gods intollerable wrath and heauie displeasure and indignation and they still burne and neuer are burned they seeke death and death
the Lords and consider that narrowe is the way that leadeth to saluation and broade the way that leadeth to destruction for which cause be vigilant in all good conuersation and wel doing that you may keepe your selues in the narrowe path of Christ that you may find grace mercie in time of néede that when his glorie appeareth you may be merry and glad touching the which remember among many examples the forcible example of Dâ—â—es who being puffed vp with all wealthy prouision of lands and goodes liuing in the pleasure and securitie of this worlde Luke 16. regarded not goodnesse righteousnesse and mercie but contemned the poore so liued according to his owne froward thoughts and â—â—â—â—eites shewing no pitie and that 〈◊〉 to poore Lazarus â—â—â—â—ning to his gate for 〈◊〉 who had a true and patient heart to 〈◊〉 and miserie of life in this world And 〈◊〉 how this poore wretches 〈◊〉 to God was caryed into Abraham 〈◊〉 riche man for his wicked life 〈◊〉 heart is adiudged to hell torments and that he being in the burning 〈◊〉 of tortures and 〈◊〉 and beholding Lazarus as ioy â—â—d neuer after 〈◊〉 so much as one drop of 〈◊〉 scalding in the breaking 〈◊〉 take hee s to your selileâ— ye wealthy citizens ye rich gluttons voluptuous liuers couetous worldlings vncharitable hearts stiffs stomackes and vnmercifull people knowing that after that day repentance is too late so that be mindfull to lay vp treasures in heauen where neither theeues breake in nor mothes corrupt Matth. 6. that when the day of the Lord commeth thou maist find fauour to be in the bosome of Abraham with Lazarus in the euerlasting habitatioÌ„s and scape the danger of Diues torments where it is vnpossible euer to come out againe or euer to be released froÌ„ the horrour of woes therefore deceiue not thy selfe with the 〈◊〉 of a counterfet faint and cold repentance but put on true sineers faithfull repentance with a stedfast amendment of life making no longer delay least the arrowes of death or the sudden comming of the day of the Lord doth come vpon thee vnawares and so be found vnprouided like an vnprofitable seruant deseruing to be cast into darknes to whom the Lord shall say in his wrath Esay 3.1 it is ye the haue burnt vp my vineyard therefore depart froÌ„ me ye wicked whereby be ye mooued and stirred vp inwardly in your hearts knowing that it is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the liuing God to sup the cuppe of his indignation when he shall say woe be to their soules which shal be heauily rewarded Esay 31. For the Lorde commeth saith Esay with â—â—â—e his charet shal be like a whirle wind that he may recoÌ„pence his vengeance in his wrath and his indignation in the flame of fire Esay 66. for the Lord shall iudge all flesh with the fire and with his sword for the hande of the Lorde shal be knowen among his seruants and his indignation among his enemies and I wil saith the Lord gather all people and tongues with their workes and imaginations and they shall sée my glorie for the Lord will hold his court regall with all flesh and then it shal be said Happie are the godly for they shal enioy the fruits of their works and labours but woe to the vngodly for they shall be recompens es after their euill deedes Oseas 7. and then at that day the Lorde shal say as in Oseas woe be do them for they haue forsaken mee they haue sowen winds therefore they shall reape a storme they must be destroyed for they haue set me at naught they haue plowed wickednesse and therefore shall reape the fruite of sinne which at that day of iudgement is the bitter paines of hell and damnation wherefore crucifie your earthly and fleshly members and s eeke for grace to replenish your heartes with heauenly thoughtes and deedes saying with Saint Iohn Reuel 1. He commeth and all eyes shall see him and they that pearced him and then all kindreds shall wayle Reuel 6. And heauen shall vanish away like a scroule when it â—â—â—olled together and all mountaines and Isles shall be mooued out of their places and the Kinges of the earth and the great men and the mightie men and the rich men and the captaines and euery bonde man and euery free man shall hide them selues in dennes and rockes of the hilles and say to the rockes and the hilles fall on vs and hide vs from the presence of him that sitteth in the seat and from the wrath of the Lambe for the great day of his wrath is come and who can endure it Esay 2. For then saith Esay shall men creepe into the holes of stoue and into the caues of the earth from the sight of the fearefull Iudge and from the glorie of his Maiestie when he shall make him vp to shake the earth Nowe sée what a dreadfull day of trembling this is and howe feare shall ouertake all men high and lowe euen with vtter lamentation and despaire when the Lorde at that day which is at hande shall according to Micheas Mich. 1. come downe and treade vpon the high thinges of the earth and cleaue the heauens asunder that the mountaines shall consume vnder him Thess 1.4 and the valleyes rent in pieces according to Paul The Lorde shall discende from heauen with a shoute and the voyce of the Archaungel trumpe of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first and then shal wee which remaine be caught vp with them also in the cloudes Cor. 1.15 to meete the Lord in the aire for the trumpet shall blowe and the dead shall rise incorruptible and we shal be chaunged in a moment and in the twinckeling of an eye at the sounde of the last trumpet for this corruptibilitie must put on corruptibiltie and this mortalitie must put on immortalitie then death shal be coÌ„sumed into victory for now the time is the though you be scattered to dust and ashes or in the waues of the sea and wrapt in the corners of the earth dennes of hell yet can you not escape froÌ„ God for euery place shall giue vp all their dead at the voice of Christ the iudger of the quicke and the dead Reue. â—0 and then shall the bookes bee opuned and the dead iudged of those thinges which are written in the bookes according to their deedes When according to the Scripture shall the names of the righteous be manifest and also the names of the vngodly with their woorks be declared wherfore put on the garmnets of God that yée may bee found to prayse and honor when Christe our high king of kinges commeth to iudgement when all knées shall bowe giue accoÌ„ptes to God Iohn 5. for which cause it néerly behooueth vs to walk in
the way of godlines and to follow Christe setting our affection in heauen that according to Paule when Christ which is our lyfe shall shewe him self that wée also may appeare with him in glory therfore saieth Iames Coloss 3. be yée patient vnto the comming of the Lord and settle your harts in goodnes Ieames 5. for the comming of the Lord draweth nigh when wée shall see him as hee is and bee lyke him made by him the sonnes of God who shall chaunge our vile bodies to be facioned lyke to his glorious body that wée shal enioy the fruition of his euerlasting tabernacle heauenly Ierusalem at his apperance againe to s aluation wherunto hee called vs by the Gospell to obtaine the glorie that commeth of our Lord Iesus Christe for Christe dyed for vs that wee should be partakers of his kingdome and haue our names in the booke of lyfe as s ayeth the Apostle wée shall be deliuered from this bondage of corruption into the glorious libertie of the sonnes of God Rom. 8. according to Christ s aying I am the resurrectioÌ„ and life he that Iohn 12. beleeueth in mee yea though hee were dead yet shall hee lyue and whoso euer lyueth and beleeueth in mee shall not dye for euer according to Luke Luke 20. They which be made woorthy to inioy the kingdome of the world to come and the resurrection from death can dye no more for they are equall to the Angells and are the sonnes of God for saith Christe Reue. 2 3. He that ouercommeth and is faithfull to the end I will giue him to eate of the tree of lyfe whiche is in the midst of the Paradice of God and he shall haue a crowne of lyfe and shall not be hurt of the second death but haue his name in the booke of lyfe and be a piller in the temple of my God and shall sit with me in my seate and this is the victorie that ouercoÌ„meth the world euen our stedfast and vnfeigned faith in Iesus Christe by whome GOD hath giuen vnto vs eternall lyfe and to bee glorified by him at the day of his appearance when the misterie of Gods will shall be opened in his sonne Iesus Christe at his comming at the end of the world at which time shall be performed that all that haue done well shall go into euerlasting lyfe and all that hath done euill into euerlasting dampnation Therfore let vs fight the good fight of faith and walk as children of the day waiting with stedfast hope for the adoption and fruition of the heauenly kingdome that wée may méete him ioyfully comming in the cloudes and receiue the garland of glorification crown of eternall lyfe Iohn 1.5 and so be clothed with our heauenly mansion and translated into his kingdome there receiuing the glorious garments of immortalitie and the blessednes of our new IerusaleÌ„ where beholde loe wée shall shine as bright as the sunne beames béeing in all glorie in the presence of the brightnes of our omnipotent and resplendant GOD. To the obtaining of the high rewarde whereof watch and pray that your conuersation may be according to the Gospell and therefore let this be your watchman while you heare do lyue to think 〈…〉 Saint Ierome that whether you eate or drink or what so euer elles you dooe that moste dreadfull Troumpet soundeth in your eares Aryse you dead and come vnto Iudgement O Lord God almightie which art and wast and art to come who art Alpha and Omega to thee be all prayse Reue. 7. honor and glorie and all power and dignitie be ascribed to the almightie maker sitting vpon the seate and vnto the Lamb for euermore for now all thy people are gathered togither in thy sonne Iesus Christe that the misterie of thy holy will may be declared Ephe. 1. beeing called by the troump of the Arch-angell to come vnto the mouÌ„t SioÌ„ and to the citie of the liuing God the celestial Ierusalem and to an innumerable sight of Angels Heb. 12. and vnto the congrogation of the first borne soÌ„nes which are written in heauen and to God the iudge of all and to the spirits of iust and perfect men to Iesus the mediator of the new Testament Phil. 3. who dooth change our vile bodies to be facioned like to his glorious body therfore to thee be prayse honour and power world with out end AMEN THE GLORIOVS AND BEAVTIFVL GARlande of mans glorification CAP. 3. The mysterie of the glorious comming of Christ at the end of the worlde and howe he shall sit in his glittering seate of Maiestie in all brightnesse of glorie power and dominion And where and howe all thinges both in heauen and earth shall be gathered together in Christ and see his glorie and in him our glorification EXcellent was the coÌ„ming of God when in his glorie like shining fire he came downe vpon mount Sinai where Moyses brought the people out of the tentes to meete the Lorde so marueilously descending downe vpon the hill which burnt with fire eueÌ„ vnto the middes of heauen Exod. 19. and the Lorde spake vnto them with his mightie thundring voyce out of fire Deut. 4. that it was exceeding fearefull and also so wonderfull glorious that wheÌ„ Moyses had talked with God the people were not able to beholde the glistering beautie and brightnesse of Moyses face Exod. 34. But nowe howe shall his glorie bee exalted in the highest what time he shall make him vp to shake the earth in the ende of the worlde when the appearance of his comming shall exceede in all greatnesse of power and might according to Micheas Micheas â— The Lorde shall come out of his holy place Micheas 1. and come downe and â—â—eade vpon the high things of the earth that the mountaines shall consume vnder him and the valleyes cleaue asunder And then the Sunâ—â—e and Moone shall be ashamed at his glorious face of incomparable clearenesse brightnes from which all the beautie glorie and pompe of this world shall flée away into rebuke dishonour not able to endure the perfection of his beautie and incomprehensible pureness e before whome it consumeth to nought perish and vanish away for euer and thâ—â— O how Christ shall glister in the magnificence of his omnipotent kingly maiestie in the preheminence noe of dignitie aboue dignities that all the glorie of kings kingdomes shall giue place and vanish at his mightie appearance not worthy to endure the glorie of his coÌ„ming before which they waste and fall into emptines and he shall shew him selfe from the top of the high heauens with such triumphant power of vnspeakeable glorie dominion and might that from his presence shall â—â—â—â—away â—eâ—rth heauens and their place no more souÌ„d for he shall shake the earth againe remooue â—â—â—ne away those things which haue ended their course wheÌ„ the powres of heauen the vniuers al frame of this world shal
appointed place for all the new chaunged creatures frō corruption to immortalitie to stand vpon before the glory of God it is so translucident as that it semeth that the eternall power of Gods eternall remēbrance omnipotent might hath fixed it with the vertue of such a meruelous cōprehension the lyke as a a glass e expresseth the vision of a mans face shape so this expresseth the apperance of euery mans déeds woords thoughts and imaginations in shewing the verry face of euerie mans conscience euen in the very circute he stands vpon so that the powre of God shall make all things that were since the beginning to be as present in most manife st maner shewing the treuth of all things before his Angels saincts therfore ought we to be careful to kéep a good cōscience Reue. 4. seing nothing is so hid that shall not be reuealed and in the midst of the seat round about the seat are fower beastes being the fower goodly cherubins of God ful of eyes before behind represēting the state of our new Ierusalē of all the elect of God the first beast being like a Lion signifiing glory to those which béen valiant to fight with stout faith corage in the defence of the Lambe and his Gospel The seconde was like a calfe which prefigured a crowne of glorie to them which liued a sincere life and offred them selues to the sacrifice of martirdome death for the Lambes sake The third had the face of a man shewing the token of glorie to all them which openly with voyce and tongue by preaching teaching and writing had perfourmed the will of God to his praise and glorie The fourth beast was like an Eagle which euer setteth her face to the Sunne and hath pure eyes to beholde the brightnes thereof and this represented an assured signe of bles sed life to all them that haue liued in true penance of heart lifting vp the pure eyes of faith to God and placing their conscience in true righteousnesse and purenes of heart euermore towarde Iesus Chri st and thus the good people are at that dreadful appearance to iudgement comforted in hope and gladnesse by beholding these Cherubims representing the signes of happinesse Reuel 4. And these beautifull beastes had no rest day night saying Holy Holy Holy is the Lorde God Almightie And when those beastes or goodly Cherubims gaue honour glorie and thankes to him that sate on the seate which liueth for euer and euer the twentie and foure Elders that sit in iudgement with Christ fel down before him that sate in the throne worshipping him that liueth for euermore and cast their crownes before the throne yeelding to him all honour to whome it is due knowing that they haue nothing but that they haue receiued Saying Thou art worthy Lord to receiue glorie and honour and power for thou hast created all thinges and for thy willes sake they are and were created And about the throne was the voyce of many angels praising magnifying the Lord with most heauenly melodie in all excellencie and sweetenesse Reu. 4. And the twentie and foure Elders fell vpon their faces and worshipped him that liueth for euermore shewing thereby that when the Lorde s hineth foorth the excéeding highnes and greatnesse of his glorious face and maiestie that all his goodly creatures do cast downe them selues as not able to abide the brightnes thereof And thus consisteth the mysterie of the royal maiestie of Iesus Christ comming to iudgement at the latter day and of his most glorious sitting in his puisance power and glorie in his seate regall hauing all thinges according to the wil of the Father gathered before him The similitude of whose glorie appeared to Ezechiel Ezech. 1. 10. appearing in a great cloude full of fire which with his glistering lightened rounde about and in the middes of the fire all cleare And nowe after that the Lord hath opened the whole mysterie of the will of the heauenly father set the elect vpon his right hande the wicked and cursed on his left hauing sealed vp the whole nomber of his chosen then according to Iohn Reuel 7. the foure Angels which he saw stande on the foure corners of the earth holding the foure windes shall blowe and consume this vniuersall worlde with consuming fire which then was disfigured at the comming of Christ that there shall be no more of the first heauen Reuel 21. earth and sea and then at that blast shall the cursed fall with the Deuill and his Angels into hell the Lord saying depart ye cursed and on the other side shall be a newe heauen and a newe earth euen newe Ierusalem the glorious kingdome of God prepared for the elect before the beginning of the world come down from God when he shall say Come ye blessed inherite the kingdom prepared for you of my father O howe ioyfull shall then the s aints be with Christ in Sion to whome paradise is thus opened plenteousnesse of heauenly benediction made readie the trée of life graunted the ioy of immortalitie imbraced and the Garlandes of glorification enioyed when the Lord shall so louingly say to his righteous people that haue runne the race in this life in the path of godlinesse saying Come ye blessed be ye clothed with your heauenly mansion come take the fréedome of your newe eternal citie your glorious habitation And beholde for euermore your God of glorie and partake the incomprehensible shining of his euerlasting beautie and brightnesse and now take the freedome of all inestimable ioyes with the vnspeakeable aboundance of all sweete reioycing for euer Therefore let this animate thée to heauenly conuersation of life that thou maist make thy election sure whereby thou mayest be crowned with this glorious garlande of euerlasting felicitie ioye and blessednesse worlde without ende AMEN Ephesians 1. ALlaude and praise be vnto the God of our Lorde Iesus Christ the father of glorie who hath giuen vnto vs the spirit of wisedome and hath lightened the eyes of our mindes that we may knowe what the hope is whereunto he hath called vs and how rich the glorie is of his inheritance vpon the Saintes and what is the exceeding greatnesse of his power to vs warde which beleeue according to the working of that his mightie power which he wrought in Christ when hee raysed him from the dead and set him on his right hande in heauenly things aboue all rule and power and might and dominion and aboue euery name that is named not in this worlde onely but also in the worlde to come and hath put all things vnder his feete and hath made him aboue all things the heade of the congregation which is his body the fulnes of him selfe that filleth all in all things to whom be all honor glorie Amen THE GLORIOVS AND BEAVTIFVL GARlande of mans glorification CAP. 4. Of the euerlasting ioy of our glorification giuen vs by
and true that it would moue any hart willingly to die for the Lambs sake and to suffer all afflictions rather then declyne from the companie of these heauenly Ladies which leadeth to eternall saluation Then these virgins pointed a righteous man farther to the top of Sion and there hée might sée and come to the company of them that were got vp to this fourth golden staire in Iacobs house walking boldely in perfect stablenes of all righteousnes vpon the pure glaciall sea of perseuerance patience long suffering and immutablenes as men s hewing them selues able to stand by the grace which was now giuen them and to abyde the batell to the end obteining the victory then were they redy ioyfully to enter to the high goldeÌ„ stair there to stand with the elect before Christ hauing garlands palmes of victory in their hands for a moste beautifull and glorious 5. Victory by fayth and bright Queene did sit vpon that transfulgent stayre thrusting out her heauenly hand being godly victory accompaned with eternall gladnes drawing them vp that had perseuered to the end into the glaciall sea of glorie before the Lamb Saying now come sée with Esay GOD sitting in his glorious seat and also Esdras vision performed Esay 6. When Esdras saw vpon the mount Sion a great People whome hée coulde not number and they praysed the Lord with songs of thanksgeuing and in the mid st of them Esdras 4.2 there was a young man of an high stature more excellent then all they and vpon euerie one of their heades hée set a crown and was euer higher and higher and the Angell sayd to Esdras that they were those that haue put of the mortall clothing and haue testified and knowledged the name of God vnto death therfore are now crowned and receiue the reward of immortalitie he which crowneth them and giueth them the palmes in their handes is the sonne of God whome they haue knowledged in the world and therfore they receiue glorious garments of the Lord which now beholde how Christe dooth performe it saying to you all that hath ouercum and béene faithfull vnto death in his name Reue. 3. come take you the crown of lyfe and sit with me in my seat of glorie And thus these Princes of Righteousnes dooth perswad euerie man by godly conuersation of lyfe to preace forward to obteine the mark appointed the high calling in Christe euen the very beautifull rewarde of eternall glorification For which cause that goodly Virgin and vndefiled Lady called the light of the Gospell came foorth in her golden Charriot to passe thorow out all the world saying I must go gather all Nations be they neuer so farre vnto Christe And then shée sayd Ary se ye Kings and Princes and worship the holy one of Israell who biddeth you that bee in darknes to coÌ„e into the light that you may se glorious IerusaleÌ„ the Tabernacle that neuer shall remoue for the glorious maiestie shall there bee present among vs. Therefore vp and come to the hill of the Lorde Esay 35. and to the house of the God of Iacob that you may walke in the light of the Lorde And then she passed through the middes of heauen with an euerlas ting testament preaching to all the inhabiters of the earth saying Seeke the Lorde all yee meeke hearted Sophon 1. ye that worke after his iudgoment seeke righteousnesse s eeke lowlines that ye may be defended in the wrathfull day of the Lorde Esay 66. for the hande of the Lord shall be knowrn among his seruants and his indignation among his enemies For which cause walke as it becommeth you according to the Gospel of Christ in true holinesse and purenes of conuersation that you may be found to laude honour and glorie at the great day of resurrection And then she did set vp righteousnesse in the balance and iudgement in the weightes saying Thus standeth it betweene the righteous people and the vngodly as followeth and therefore be carefull to make your election sure Esay 3. THe righteous shall enioye the fruites of their labours and studyes but wooe be to the vngodly and vnrighteous for they shall bee heauily rewarded after their workes Psalme 1. Blessed is the righteous man whose delight and exercise is in the Lawe of the Lorde for he is like a trée planted by the water side whose leafe shall neuer wither for the Lorde dwelleth among them that are righteous But as for the vngodly they are as chaffe that shall not be able to stande in the iudgement neither the sinners in the Congregation of the righteous for the way of the vngodly shall periâ—h Psalme 11. The Lorde loueth the righteous and his countenance beholdeth the Iust but the vngodly and him that delighteth in wickednesse doeth his soule abhorre yea vpon the vngodly and the vnrighteous persons he will raine fire and brimstone storme and tempest this shall be their portion to drinke Psalme 34. The eyes of the Lorde are ouer the righteous and his eares are open vnto their prayers and though great be the troubles of the righteous yet the Lorde deliuereth them out of all But the countenance of the Lorde is against the wicked and hee will destroy the vngodly and vnrighteous man Psalme 37. The Lorde knoweth the dayes of the righteous and their inheritance shall endure for euer but as for the vngodly they shall perishe for the armes and power of the vngodly shall be broken but the Lorde vpholdeth the righteous Psalme 37. The Lorde loueth the thing that is right and neuer forsaketh the godly but will haue them kept and preserued for euermore but the vnrighteous shall be punished and the seede of the vngodly shall be rooted out Galathians 6. The Righteous doeth walke after the spirite and therefore shall reape life euerlasting but the wicked doe fulfill the lustes of the flesh and sowe carnally and therefore shall reape destruction Psalme 112. The Righteous shall be had in euerlasting remembrance he shall not be afraide for any euill tidinges his heart standeth fast and beleeueth in the Lord but the wicked shall consume away and the des ire of the vngodly shall perish Esay 28. The Lorde of hostes shall be a ioyfull crowne and glorious Garlande to the remnant of his righteous people Esay 14. but he shall make the generation of the wicked to be without honour for euer Malachie 4 The daye commeth that shall burne as an Ouen and all that doe wickednesse shall be as the strawe but vnto them that feare God and seeke righteousnesse shall be health and saluation and they shall be preserued vnder the winges of the Sonne of righteousnesse Reuel 22. Blessed are the righteous for they shall taste of the wood of life and enter the gates of the holy Citie of newe glorious Ierusalem but the wicked and euill dooers shal be shut out and not suffered to come to the holy Citie Matthewe 25. Vnto the Righteous the Lorde
righteousnes vnto eternall life That all that beleeue in him walking after the spirite and not after the fleshe might be pertakers of his heauenly kingdome and made the sonnes of God For which cause to the better confirmation of our faith and hope of saluation It is requisite to shewe the ordenance and promyse of God from the beginning touching our iustification in his sonne Iesus Christ that thereby wée may be stirred vp by the great goodnes of god for to séeke by Christe Cor. 1.2 the riches of his glorious inheritance vpon the Sainctes Ephe. 11. hée béeing ordained thereto of God before the beginninge of the worlde was made vnto our glory Touching whome in this Booke of mans glorification wée must especially looke vnto Christes two coÌ„mings séeing that hée is the Author and finisher of our redemption and hath adopted vs to be the sonnes of glory by appearing once in the fleshe to put sinne to flight by the offering vp of him self to death whome the Father raysed vp to lyfe and is entred into heauen to appeare now in the sight of God for vs and shall come againe to chaunge our vile bodyes Phil. 3. to be facyoned lyke to his glorious body Wherfore in that wée haue such an high Aduocate in heauen by whome wée haue an incorruptible crowne of blessednes propounded and set before vs Let vs walke woorthy and laudable vnto God according to the grace giuen vs in Iesus Christe that wée may obteine the rewarde thereof And now to consider the purpose of the heauenly Father how hée hath blessed vs in all manner of heauenly thinges by Chris te according as hée hath chosen vs that wée should be Saints through the beloued Iesus It followeth that wée kéepe alwayes a ioyfull remembrance that as the glory of the last house or teastament of God was greater then the first so is it in the manner of the two commings of Christ for first hée came in the humilitie of the fleshe to be to vs a sauing health béeing borne of the Virgin Mary by the woorking of the holy Ghoste very man and mortall and yet the same very GOD and immortall who béeing in the shape of God and equall with God Collos s â— Phil. 2. in whome dwelleth all the fulnes of the Godhead bodyly yet did he neuerthelesse make him self of no reputation takeing vpon him the shape of a seruant and became lyke vnto man and was founde in his apparell as a man humbling him self to all obedience for though hé e were Gods sonne yet learned hée obedyence Heb. 5. by those things which hée suffered and was made perfect Ihon. 1. and the cau se of eternall saluation vnto al that obey him according to Iohn In the beginning was the woord and the woord was with God and the woord was God and this woorde was made fleshe beeing the lyfe and light of men giuing power to all that beléeue in him to be the sonnes of God for it pleased the father to send his sonne in the sinfull fleshe béeing without sinne and by sinne dampned sinne in the flesh and loused the woorkes of the deuill Rom. â— Whome he maketh heire of all things béeing the brightnes of him self bearing vp all thinges with the woord of his power for so it was the will of the Father that in him should all fulnes dwell Heb. 1. and that in him all thinges should haue their béeing that hée might be all in all Thus the Almighty Creator hath performed his blessed promyse Collossians â— when hée sayde that the séede of the Woman shall breake the Serpents head and when long after he sayd vnto Abraham vnto thy séede will I giue this land Gen. 3. for one that come out of thine owne body shall be thyne heire and thy seede shall bee as the starres in number And Abraham beléeued the Lord and it was imputed to him for righteousnes Gen. 15. And also the Lord sayde againe to Abraham when he was 89 yeare olde I will make my couenant betwéen mée thée and will multiply thé e excéedingly for behold my testameÌ„t is with thée that thou shalt be a father of many nations my bond betwéen mée thée thy séed after thée shal be an euerlasting testament Gen. 17. I wil be good to theÌ„ giue theÌ„ the land wherin thou art a stranger euen all the lande of Canaan for an euerlasting possession and wil be their God for Saâ—a shall beare a sonne and thou shalt call his Name Isac and she bare Abraham a sonne euen the same season which the Lord had appointed Thus it pleased the Almightie God to choose vs and not we him shewing foorth hereby the abundancie of his loue and mercie in that he hath mercie vpon theÌ„ which are not yet in the worlde and in that he declareth his great goodnes in multiplying his louing kindnesse towarde those that are present and to them that are past and to them that are to come for after that Adam thorough sinne brought in the corruption of nature that the euill seede of wickednesse was sowen in all mens hearts whereby death raigned by meanes of sinne then this darnell and cockle of vice and iniquitie did grow ripe in the first generations of Adam that they walked after their owne stubborne and fleshly will neglecting Gods goodnes That the Lord was thereby prouoked to bring his water floud vpon the world and destroy all mankind except Noye and his houshold And then after that the ofspring of Noye was againe multiplied to a great people by processe of time they waxed also vngodly and wicked but the Lord had giuen his raine bowe for a couenant that he would neuer destroy the world with watermore And then the most highest did choose him a man from among them whose name was Abraham whom he loued and to him onely God shewed his wil and made an euerlasting couenant with him promising him as is aforesaid that he will neuer forsake his seede and so in his old age gaue him Isaac the first testimonie of Gods promise and couenant begun so faithfully performed in Christ Iesus to the ioy and comfort of man in that we see euidently that God is righteous and true and hath giuen vs an assured hope of our election that by that onely seede of Abraham we shal enioy the euerlasting possession of that new blessed land of Canaan the first lande of promise Therefore this record we must beare in our selues that God is true and that what hee do or say can no man change what he promiseth he can not but perfourme And nowe the more to confirme this ioye faith hope which Abraham our first father of beliefe had to God in respect of the birth of Isac and prosperitie of his seede The Lorde to our example tryed whether righteous Abraham would beare an immutable minde towardes his God to loue him aboue all the dearest thinges which he
had yea aboue his sweete sonne Isac whome he loued as his owne life notwithstanding faithfully did Abraham preferre the loue of his almightie God and maker aboue the life of Isac offering him in sacrifice to the Lorde for which cause the eternall creatour to make his promise more certainely to sticke fast in Abraham and in all his posteritie sware by him selfe shewing that there was no God but him selfe saying in Genesis Gen. 22. â— Because thou hast not spared thy only son Isaac to offer him a sacrifice to me I will blesse thee and multiplie thy seede as the starres of heauen and as the sande vpon the sea side and in thy seede shall all the nations of the earth bee blessed because thou hast obeyed my voyce And thus the most merciful god although he cast Adam for his transgression out of Paradise and also destroyed the worlde for sinne yet he sheweth againe the voyce and promise of comfort that hee hath not cast vs off but hath giuen his gratious goodnes to the worlde that all nations through the seede of Abraham should be blessed according to that of the prophet Them I haue created facioned Esay 43. and made for mine honour And nowe the more to iustifie his true promise it is apparent that hee establisheth the foresaide testament to Is aac the first figure of Christ Gen. â—6 by whome all nations are sanctified Saying to Isac I will be with thee and blesse thee The promise for vnto thee and to thy seede will I giue all these countries and through thy seede shall all nations of the earth bee blessed becaus e that Abraham harkened to my voice and kept my ordinances commandements statutes and lawes wherein we are to learne how al our blessednes came of God the father of al goodnes to whom we ought alwaies to be thankefull framing our selues through his grace to be like Abraham in beleeuing and equall with him in obedience and ioyned with him in righteousnes that we may receiue the like praise and honour as God maketh mention of him to Isaac therby to obtaine as Paule promiseth the eternall ioye the praise honour and immortalitie that is due to them that continue in good doing and seeke eternall life Rom. 2. And finally God to seale vp the fulnes of his couenant the more and more to helpe and strengthen our weake harts of beliefe and to allure the children of promise to a fixed hope of his grace and goodnes The promise to Iacob doth reiterate his testament to Iacob that he being the seede of Abraham and Isaac that he shall be the well of liuing waters and that out of his loynes shall come the fountaine of all heauenly blessednes and the water of life grace goodnes saying The land which thou sleepest vpon Gen. 26. will I giue thee thy seed and thy seede shall be as the du st of the earth thou shalt spread abroad west east north and south and through thee and thy seede shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed according to Esay E say 43. I will bring thy seede from the east and gather them togeather from the west I will say to the north let goe and to the south keepe not backe but bringe me my sonnes from farre and my daughters from the ends of the world for all nations shall came in one and bee gathered in one people Gen. 35. for the Lorde saide againe vnto Iacob thou shalt be called Israell grow and multiplie for people and a multitude of people shall spring of thee yea and kings s hall come out of thy loynes and the land which I gaue Abraham and Isaac will I giue vnto thee and vnto thy seede after thee Thus the almightie God of our fathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob did seale the earnest of the inheritance of his euerlasting blessednes and kingdome in Christ with his holy spirite of promise made to our first fathers that he should come of the seede of Abraham according to the flesh by whom we should receaue redemption and saluation therby to be made partakers of Gods glorie And now furthermore after the proceedins of time that the seede of Iacob called Israell was increased to a great kindred of people and holden in bondage in the land of Egypt The Lord most mercifull and mindfull of his promise made to our forefathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob that he would be good vnto their seede raised vp among them Moyses a captaine and prophet that should deliuer and lead his people Israel out of Egypt into the land of Canaan which before he had giuen to Abraham and his seed for an euerlasting possession and this through Gods mightie hand who made a waye in the sea and a foote path in the mightie waters which brought forth the chariots and horses the host and power and drowned theÌ„ in the red sea And then brought his people vnto mount Synay in the wildernes where he gaue them the lawe figured in s tones shewing forth his wonderfull power that they did all tremble for feare and coulde not abide it for the people stood vnder the hill and the hill burnt with fire euen vnto the middes of heauen and there was the sound of a troump voyce of words tempest Deu. 4. darknes cloudes and mist and the Lord spake out of fire and declared his couenant and ordinance Exod. 19. and so terrible was the sight that appeared that Moyses said I feare quake And thus the law was giuen with great feare Exod. 34 and with great glorie for the children of Israell could not behould the face of Moyses for the glorie of his countenance with out a vayle which in Christ is put awaye for if the ministration of the lawe which is to condemnation bee glorious Cor. 2.3 much more doth the ministration of the spirite of promise vnto righteousnes exceede in glory And thus the law which began many hundred yeares after the promis e was added because of transgression as a schoolemaister to teach what sinne ment and not that it could giue life Gal. 3. or disanull the promise made to Abraham for the promise by faith in Iesus doth bring the inheritance and not the law which doth conclude all things vnder sinne for by the déedes of the law shall no man be iustified before God Rom. 3. but are iustified fréely by grace through the redemption that is in Christ Iesus who is the iustifier of them that beleeue in him after the example of righteous Abraham Wherefore the Lord to discouer our filthy nakednes and corruption brought by the sinnes of Adam did giue vs the law that therby we should come to the knowledge of our infirmities vices wretchednes which raigneth in our earthly members thereby knowing our state by the first Adam to be miserable and falne into the daungerous house and prison of al vncleannes being most wretched without hope vnlesse God of his
and wickednes so that it is manifest that the Church of Christ is tyed to no particular place or kingdome but is freely dispersed throughout the whole world wherby it appeareth that the Papists do worke against the streames of Iacob to stop the riuers from the thirstie And now againe the Lord saith Esay 43 44 I will power O Iacob my spirite vpon thy seede and mine increase vpon thy stocke they shall growe together like as the grasse for there shall spring out of them a captaine prince which the Lord shall chalenge to him selfe Iere. 30. Eâ—ay 6. Iere. 33. Es ay 49. who shall open the prison to them that are bound and he is the glad tydings to the poore who shall bring redemption to the captiue and res tore Israel and set vp his honour in Iuda and in Dauids stoole that all nations shall honour him yea kings and princes shall arise and worship this holy one of Ifraell By which the prophets conclude that although we know all the law of Moyses and bee carefull in keeping it yet wee are in prison and bondage to death without we imbrace Christ and preferre him aboue the law and aboue all workes as the onely doore to enter into Gods rest for he doth open the prison wherein we were tyed to damnation by the fetters of Adams corruption who hath the keyes of hell and death according to Esay vnto Sion shal come a redeemer yea the Lord said I will lay a stone in Sion a costly corner stone Esay 59. Esay 28. Zach. Dan. 2. a sure foundation that who so put his trust in hem shall not bee confounded And saith he behold I will hew him out and take away the sinne of the land in one day As saith Daniel there was hewen a stone without handes that smote the image and became a great mountaine which fulfilleth the whole earth so that it is vnpossible to obtaine glorification vnlesse we imbrace this precious stone of Sion neither is it possible for the great Image of the first or laste monarchy of Babylon to withstand or hold back the power of this stone of Sion by whose force the pompe of the Image of Rome shall be broken like an earthen pot that flyeth in many peeces although it please the Lord to suffer that romish beast still to beare a sway among those children which be as Esaw that make light of the birth-right of the eternall kingdome giuen onely by Christes gospell and not by the traditions and fancies of men And therefore that last Image of Babilon must bee shaken a sunder that promiseth other meanes and more waies to winne euerlasting life then onely by this corner stone Wherefore as pure gold is tryed from counterfect by the touch so all ye that feare damnation trye the traditions of that Image of Rome by reading the pure gospell with feare and reuerence to God and with care of your soules health and you shall finde that the gospell which is the true touch of truth will bring thee home againe from the darke dales of Rome to the bright mountaine of Sion of whom the Lord said by Ieremie I will set vp the righteous braunch of Dauid that shall set vp equitie in the earth that Iuda shall be saued Iere. 23. and Israel dwell without feare and they shall call him the Lord our righteous maker for saith the Lord I wil giue you an heardman Iere. 3. after my owne minde which shall feede you with wisedome that Ierusalem shall be called the Lords seate Esay 2. for the law shall come out of Syon and the word of God from Iesalem And therefore we must desire onely to be fed with the wisedome that proceede from this our heauenly heardman imbracing no other word of doctrine but that which he gaue vs from Ierusalem being his pure gospell builded vpon the Apostles and prophets for saith Paule the holy Scripture is able to make the wise to saluation through the faith which is in Christ Iesus Timoth. â— â— And therfore beware least you be spoyled through Philosophy and deceitfull vanitie and through the traditions of men Col. 2. and ordinances after the world and not after Christ for the Lord said by Ieremie I will make a new couenant with the house of Israell that is Iere. 31. I will plant my lawes in their inward parts euen in their hartes and will be their God and from thence forth shall no man teach his brother or neighbour saying know God for they shall all know me from the lowest to the highest according to Ioel Ioel. 2. I will power out my spirite vpon all flesh and your sonnes and daughters shall prophesie your olde men shall dreame dreames and your young men shall see vis ions yea vpon those daies I will powre out my spreit vppon s eruants and Maides Whereby wée may gather that such is the power of the Gospell of Christ and promise of our redemption and saluation that neither the contrary powers of Sathan nor the obstinat malicious or barbarous tyranie of men hath powre to withholde it at the tyme appointed from the people of God for the Lorde hath spoken it that it shall spread ouer the world and that his spyrit shall enter into all fleshe It is against the prophesie of Ioel to hold the Scripture in an vnknow on language So that it is great repugnauce to the ordenaÌ„ce of God to holde back the frute swéet taste of the Gospell from the people by concealing it vnder a cloke of an vnknowen language strange tounge which is a vaile that hydes the face and brightnes of the glory of the Gospell of our saluation from the people that desyre to knowe it sée it and ought to come vnto it as the vayle did hang before Moyses face because the childreÌ„ could not behold the glory of his countenance which God gaue by geuing the law but now we are able through the gift of the spreit of Christ who hath takeÌ„ away the vaile from Moyses giueÌ„ an opeÌ„ fountaine of cléernes to behold the trueth of his gospell of saluatioÌ„ in that it is the Lords bountifull blessing that all flesh should fele the operation of the holy spreit to come to to his waters buy his milke wine witout mony and mony worth which is his gospell that féedeth and nuris heth like milke gladdeth cheareth the hart like wine so that héerby is cléerly condeÌ„ned cast to the ground the traditions of papistrie that lock vp the word of God in an vnknowen language that none can come to Gods holy water without mony or mony worth such is the darnel cockel of their traditioÌ„s as to worrow Chris tes shéep to wrap theÌ„ in blindnes wheÌ„ notwtstanding it ought to be that the gospel should be opened plain manifest and vnclocked that the saying of the prophet may be fulfilled both soÌ„nes daughters maids
seruants to prophesie which is with vnders tanding to offer vnto God by Christ the sacrifice of lande the frute of those lippes which confesse his name Wherfore it is apparent that it is the duety and part of princes and gouernours to follow herein the example of Iehosaphat causting the word of god plainly to be taught among their subiects in the mother language as Moyses law was to the children of Israell And it is the duetie and charge of the pastors and ministers to imploy al their diligence to manifest the holy will of God according to the scriptures by teaching and instructing that euerye where the scripture may be fulfilled according to the prophecie of Ioel and Ieremie that sonnes and daughters can prophesie and the law written in their hartes so that it standeth you vpon to haue care of your soules Coloss 2. Mich. 3. that no man make you shoote at a wrong marke Wherefore Micheas thus prophecieth of the dewe of the gospell of Christ saying In the latter daies the hill of the Lords house shall be set vp higher then anye mountaines and the people shall prease vnto it the multitude of gentils hast to it for the law shal come out of Syon and the word of God from Ierusalem and reforme the people of farre countries Nath. â—â— for out of Bethlem shal come the captain which shall be the gouernar in Israel whose out going hath beene from the beginning and froÌ„ euerlasting he shal stand fast giue food in the strength of the Lord in the victorie of the name of the Lord his god when they bee conuerted he shal be magnified to the farthest parts of the world Wherby it is declared that in spite of all the aduersaries the tread downe the holy sanctuarie of true righteousnes will they nill they the promise which God gaue to Abraham that all nations should bee blessed in his s eede shal by Christs passion extend to all parts of the world to the praising glorifying of god And likewise Esoras doth plainely foretell the ioyfulnesse of Christes comming in his humanitie saying O ye heathen Esdr 4. â— looke for your shepheard he shal giue you euerlasting reste for hee is nighe at hande that shall come in the ende of the worlde be readie to the reward of thy kingdom for the euerlasting light shall shine vpon you for euermore Flye the shadowe of this world receiue the ioyfulnes of your glorie I testifie my sauiour openly O receiue the gift that is giuen you and be glad giuing thanks vnto him that hath called you to the heauenly kingdome In this he sheweth how much he is inflamed with the glad foresight of the sauiour that shuld come kindlyng the hartes of the Gentiles to the expectation of heauenly rewards Wherein he is able to rauish all mens hartes with exceeding ioy in pronouncing the glad tidinges of such a blessed sauiour comming that bringeth the rewardes of glorie and euerlasting life to al that will receiue and imbrace his gospell And seing the comming of Christ in the flesh was ioyfull and filled the world with the oyle of gladnes and treasures of grace and goodnes how much more we now looking for him to come in the end of the world in the glorie of his father in all power to giue the rewardes of glorification and eternall life ought to awake and arise vp from all worldly and fleshly vanities and prepare our hartes to holines and righteousnes that with the aboundant ioy of a pure faith and a cleere and a stedfast hope we may meete our sauiour comming in the cloudes And touching Christes comming in his humanitie it pleased God that he should appeare in the flesh in all meeknes Zach. 9. Iohn 12. Luke 9. Math. 21. Mark 11. lowlines and humblenes of obedience to teach vs the will of his father in all truth of righteousnes according to Zacharie Reioyce O Syon and bee glad O daughter Ierusalem for loe thy king commeth vnto thee euen the righteous and sauiour lowly and simple is he hee rydeth vpon an Asse he will giue doctrine of peace vnto the heathen and his dominion shall be from the floudes to the end of the world and shall be a sauing health to all nations by this consider ye men vpon the earth how worthy Chris t is and how precious a pearle he is in all mens harts and yet to shewe the contempte of this transitorie world and the vanitie thereof and to teache vs the true path steppes of vertue and holynes dooth hé ere make him self to the eyes of all Ierusalem a looking glasse of all low lines and humblenes of hart ryding into the Cittie in all plaines and simplenes sitting vppon an asse as one of no reputation and nothing estéemed but like an inferiour and yet an eternall king a captaine an heauenly Father and sauiour of the world by whoÌ„e we are to note that the true path to vertue and holynes is humilitie obedience and lowlynes for among the conferences of men it is a most accepted thing to common rea son to haue our gouernour our captaine our maister or teacher of whome we are to be gouerned guided or instructed to be gentle humble mé ek louing tractable curteous and mercifull-by that meanes winning drawing our harts voluÌ„tarily to loue him follow him imbrace his will then how much more are we bouÌ„d to god that all the world sleping in their sin wallowing in their wickednes that it pleased him not to coÌ„e vnto vs with the sharpe rod or with the naked or scored sword to the s laughter but to sende his déere sonne Christ in the humilitie of the fleshe to be like vnto vs being such a true gentle captaine guide so louing and bountifull a redemer so humble lowly a tearher so pure of demenor conuersation as that he is the only true lodestoÌ„e of loue to drawe all men which are of them selues stubburn froward disdainfull and wilfull to the louing imbracing of him therby the redier to followe his doctrine of eternall peace saluatioÌ„ to vs ward And therfore beholde the abundaÌ„t loue mercy of god who thus after so excelleÌ„t a meanes seketh to draw vs froÌ„ our earthly corroptioÌ„ and froÌ„ the bdoÌ„age of death to his heuinly grace eternall kingdome we being of our selues a froward generation touching goodnes in the sin did dwell in vs as a common rotto all mankinde if the God of mercies had not sent this our redéemer to clense and wash away our filth and foulenes and therefore let no man boaste of him selfe any thing for wee haue nothing which wée haue not receiued of Christ neither according to the saying of Ieremie Let not the wise man reioyce in his wisdome nor the strong in his strength Ieremie 9. nor the rich man in his riches but who will reioyce let him reioyce in Christe who is our only saluation Wherfore o ye
of our selues for it is the gift of God and commeth not of woorkes Ephe. 2. least any should boa st him self for we are his woormanship created in Christ Iesus vnto good woorks that wee shoulde walke in them so that none can looue Christe in purenes of hart but that of verry force hée will walke in good woorks as thinges that are vnpossible to bée seperated from him that is sanctified with the spirit of adoption and grace for as Christ is the fountaine of all holynes and righteousnes and of all grace and goodnes so it must needes followe that whome Christe hath sanctified with his Spirit that they must of necessitie doo the woorkes of grace and righteousnes so long as they labour and indeuour to be renued and confirmed in the spirit of grace which wée receiuing and takeing of Christe must of force confesse that without it wée haue no power to crucifie our fleshe and to resist sinne and therfore by it wée haue power to mortifie our earthly members and to doo the woorkes of righteousnes whereby it is moste euident and plaine that by the grace giuen by Christe through faith wée may assuredly and boldely perswade our s elues that wee are only iustified and saued Therefore saith Peter Pet. 1.1 blessed be God the father of our Lord Iesus which through his aboundant mercie begat vs againe to a liuely hope by the resurrection of Christe from death to inioy an inheritance immortall and vndefiled reserued in heauen for vs after which the prophets inquired and searched prophesying of the grace that shuld come vnto vs by the spirite of of Christ which testified before of the passions that should come vnto him and the glorie that should follow after for by Christ we are made spirituall and not carnall whose spirite doth certifie our spirite that we are the sonnes of God and heires annexed with him who was ordained before the worlde was made that by him our faith and hope might be in God so that our iustification come not by the deedes of the law but by the faith of Iesus Christ according to Paule Thess â—â— God hath from the beginning chosen you to saluation through sanctifying of the spirite and through the beleeuing of the truth whereunto he called you by the gospell for Christe is the end of the law to iustifie all that beleeue Rom. 8 Gal. 6. walking not after the flesh but after the spirite for what soeuer a man soweth that shall he reape if he sow in the flesh hee shall of the flesh reape corruption but if he sow in the spirite he shall of the spirite reape life euerlasting for they that are Christes Gal. 5. haue crucified the flesh with the appetites and lustes thereof for Christ hath called vs to holynes and not to vncleannes and hath called vs out of bondage into libertie from the curse of the law vnto grace from darknes to light from death to life from the spirite of feare to a liuely hope from a earthly mansion to an heuenly kingdome from transitorie glorie to euerlasting glorification therefore stand grounded and established in faith not moued away from the gospell but stand fa st in the liuely hope to obtaine the glorie that commeth by Christ Rom. 8. being vnfainedly pers waded that there is no damnation to them that are in Christ Iesus walking after the spirite and hauing their conseruation in heauen For Christ our sauiour sitting now in the right hand of God in his maiestie Ephe. 1. was before the world was by whom wee are predestinated heires according to the purpose of him that worketh all things after the purpose of his owne will that through his gospell should be brought life and immortalitie to all that do beleeue in his sonne Iesus Christ the seede of promise to Abraham who now is declared openly whom we looke for to come shortly in the glorie of his Father and all holy Aungels with him in all power and maiestie And that all eies shall see him and they also that pearsed him so that al kindreds of the earth shall mourne when they behold Christ comming in the cloudes Reu. 1. to reward euery man according to his deedes therfore it behoueth vs to watch and pray and to become new creatures thereby making our election sure by holding fast his gospell in a stedfast faith by walking after righteousnes that we may ouercome and be found faithfull at the appearance of Christ comming in glorie that we also may be crowned with glorie ioyfully saying Blessed is the kingdome that commeth in the name of him Mark 11. that is Lord of our Father Dauid Hosanna in the highest Ephe. 1. BLessed be God the Father of our Lorde Iesus Christ which hath blessed vs with all maner of spirituall blessings in heauenly things by Christ according as he had chosen vs before the foundation of the world was laid that we shoulde bee Saintes through loue who ordained vs before through Christ to be heires vnto him selfe according to the good pleasure of his will to the praise of the glorie of his grace wherewith hee hath made vs accepted through the beloued Iesus by whom wee haue redemption through his bloud euen the forgiuenes of sinnes according to the riches of his grace Therefore to him be all honor and glorie world without end Amen THE GLORIOVS and beautifull garland of mans glorification CAP. 2. How man shall bee chaunged at the sounde of the laste troump from mortalitie to immortalitie and from an erthly nature to an euerlasting nature and appeare before the iudgement seat of Chris t to be rewarded according to his deedes eyther with eternall reproufe or els with euerlasting glorification SVch is the eternall ordenance of the Almightie God touching our saluation in his Sonne Iesus Christe that all men ought too knowe that as by a man came death so by a man come the resurrectioÌ„ of the dead for as by Adam all dye so by Christe shall all bee made alyue according to Iohn Iohn 5. The houre shall come in the which all that are in their graues shall heare Christes voice and shall come foorth they that haue done good to the resurrection of lyfe and they that haue done euill to the resurrection of dampnation Esdras 22. as the Lord sayd by the Prophet Those that be dead will I rayse vp againe from their places Daniell 12. bring them out of their graues and they that sleepe in the dust of the earth shall awake some to euerlasting lyfe Acts. 17. some to perpetuall shame and reproufe as it is in the Acts that the Lord hath appointed a day in the which hée will iudge the world according to righteousnes by that man Christe whome hee hath appointed and hath offered faith to all men after that reysed him from death to whome saieth Iohn the Father hath coÌ„mitted all iudgement because that all men should honor the sonne euen as they
droue off from day to day till the floud came vnawares vpon them and ouer whelmed gulled into their throts Gen. 7. and how lamentable the Sodomites were that abode in sinne and wallowed in the lustes of the flesh and pleasure of the world and in the lusts of eating and drinking and vicious life euen till the fire and brimstone came downe from heauen and consumed and burnt them vp mo st â—ufully and heauily but now behold Gen. 19. there is comming a thousand fold more of fire and brimstone of flames of wee of flouds of sorrow and burning plagues of paine at this daye when all the frame of this world shall flye on a fire and the Lord shall say depart ye cursed into euerlasting woe the before turne vnto me saith the Lord and I will turne vnto you and hast to come away yee people from slumbring in sinne Zach. 1. and tarry no longer in your carnall lustes and worldly desires walking with old Adam in filthy and vaine conuersation but awake and rise vp to Christ in holines of life knowing that you are redeemed with his precious bloud as of a lambe vndefiled and without spot that you may be found vnto laud honour and glorie at the appearing of Iesus Christ Pet. 1.1 when ye shal giue accoumptes to him who shall come with all power Pet. 1.4 to iudge the aâ—icke and dead for which cause ye ought to awake out of sinne and sit downe vpon the lap of repentance there making you readie dayly and hourely with the garments of righteousnes the breast plate of faith and loue and putting on the golden helmet of hope the precious badge of your saluation thereby making your calling and election sure that when his glorie appeareth you may be merry and glad and not ashamed Wherfore consider this dreadfull day in which behold how wofull how trembling and fearefull it shall be to see all the borders of the heauens and earth in a raging blaâ—â—ng and consuming fire that wee shall crye vnto the hilles and rockes to fall on vs and how pitifull shall this day be in which all the kindreds of the earth shall mourn with greeuous lamentings and weepings therefore let this consideration enter into the eares of thy heart as the sounde of a terrible trumpet â—â—uddering and shaking thy fleshly man with the remembrance of the groning cryes of the wâ—es in hell and aâ—â—mating thy inward man with the ioyfull voices of blessednes in heauen considering that such is the glorie that the gospell propound of the one side and such is the dreadfull damnation which it threateneth of the other siâ—e as that the one is an eternall kingdome of glorie prepared for the good and godly people the ioy whereof surpasseth the other is a place of horror and a furnace of vnquencheable paines ordained for the wicked into the which they shall be damned and cast from the face of their Gâ—â—â— there remaining swallowed vp into the dreadfull and arke gulphes of hell for euer and euer and there shall continue tormented with fire and brimstone for euer where euerie place and corner is filled with curses and woes and with most heauy lamentations and bewaylinges where alas the heapes of woes the stormes of punishments the raging of spirites the horror of Sathan and the crying of soules may pearce your hartes with the woundes of sorrow to think of the griefes that shal be accompanied with the lameÌ„table damnation of departing from god from his kingdom of heauen whereby it shall make that day of sentence and iudgement of death giueÌ„ by Christ to be most trembling dreadfull and fearefull Notwithstanding there is no cause why any man shuld feare himselfe so that he perseuere in the christian faith good life as a sure refuge and anker He that beleeueth neede not feare although great shal be the feare of the dreadfull day of dome when Christ shall shew himselfe sodenly vnlooked for from an high after the maner of a flash of lightening dreadful to the wicked who shall be cast into euerlasting fire uost amiable louely to the godly persons which shal be called to the feloship of the heauenly kingdome for the Lord will let none of his chosen be away but be shrowded vnder the protection of his Angels for it is written Psal 34. the angel of the Lord tarrieth about them that feare him deliuereth them yea hee will comfort them euen when that sodaine and sore perplexity of mind and earnest des peration shall go as a quauie and wind ouer all nations that the people of the earth shall consume and pine away as peple of an other world for feare of beholding the terrible stroke of God the powers of heuen to moue contrarie to their creation the earth shake and reele the sea boyle and swel with most dreadful roring noise to the dismaing of al mens hartes to behold the whole vniuersall world and al the nature of things ready to be shaken in sunder like an earthen pot when the bright shining s un being the fountaine of the light of the earth heauens shal with sodain darknes couer his face imbraiding the vngodly with their blindnes because they would not see follow imbrace the euerlasting s on lanterne of the world Iesus Christ the moone shal giue no light and the stars fall which hath bene so many hundred yeares fastened to the firmament Then the glorie of the Lord shal come his face burne that no man can abide it Esay 3. and shall set vp the power of his voyce an angrie countenaunce with a consuming fire then the kinges shall vani sh as the scums of the water and shall say to the mountaines couer vs Ose 9. and to the hilles fal on vs fearing the fire of Gods indignation now kindled ouer the whole world doubting to be girded in the flame thereof whereat all the nations of the world shal strike their breastes beholding the signe of the sonne of man which being sâ—ne a vniuersall trepidation shall come vnto all mens hartes when the Iewes shall see whom they haue offended and the Gentiles s hal see the maiestie of the crosse which they laughed to scorne for they shall see the sonne of man whom they dispised comming on high in the cloudes of the ayre with a great armie of Aungels Esay 26. who commeth out of his place to visite the wickednes of them that dwell vpon the earth and who shall abide it for then shall the axe be put to the roote of the trees so that euery tree that hath not brought foorth good fruit shall be hewen downe and cast into the fire when fire and brimstone storme tempest shall be their portion to drinke which obstinate sinners haue heaped to them selues despising the goodnes patience and long suffering of God which meanes he vsed in their life time to call them continually to repentance but then shall
flieth from them and yet are they still in death and shall be for euer and euer and thus they still die and neuer giue ouer vnto death therefore thou sinner amende thy wayes and be obedient vnto God considering these dreadfull tormentes to be the rewarde of sinners for which cause lye downe vpon the bed of weeping and waling wrapping thee in the cleane and newe ayred sheetes of true and pure repentance and couer thée with the faire couerlet of true amendement of life considering that all the afflictions and miseries of this worlde are nothing in comparison to the least that they shall feele in hell for which cause wee ought to tremble from the toppe to the toe saying Woe vnto vs because of offences and sinne if wee repent not and amende our liues therefore let vs turne vnto the Lorde our God without any tarrying being sore afraide of the shrill sound of the trumpet that soundeth out the fearefull Alaran of the wooes of hell And beeing terrified with the sound of the la st trump that shal make all thinges sodainly to fall downe as the walles of Ierico and shall make mens hearts to fayle them forfeare knowing what Saint Peter saith that if the righteous shall scarsely be saued Pet. â— 4 where then shall the vngodly and sinners appeare for if God spared not the Aungels that sinned but cast them downe into hell and deliuered them into chaines of darkenes to be kept vnto iudgement then must we looke for the wrath of God with swift daÌ„nation to be shewed vpon al the vnrighteous and vnpenitent which thing doth cal vs home to examine our conscience seing we cannot halt with God though wee dissemble to the world taking that for a faire lesson Iere. 8. of remembring our duetie to God Esay 1 which he saith by Ieremie that the storke knoweth his appointed time but my people will not know the time of the punishment of their Lord. And againe in Esay he saith that the asse will know his maisters stall but my people wil not know their duetie to me their God which examples do condemne vs of vnkindnes and disobedience to our Lord and shal be witnes against vs of our want of duetie and colde loue as Diues dogge licking Lazarus sores was a witnes against his masters vnkindnes and want of mercie And now let vs turne to the Lord seing we cannot scape the iudgement of God who will come as a theefe in the night when men shall say peace and no daunger then commeth on them sodaine des truction yea hee shall come sodainely as the lightning shineth out of the east in to the west so shall the comming of the sonne of man be yea he s hall treade vpon the high mountaines thinges shall melt vnder him Math. 24. and all and who can abide it yea he shall come as a goldsmithes fire to clense the siluer froÌ„ the drosse Mich. 1. and who can endure it Therefore all harde hartes Zach. 3. froward s tomackes proude lookes stubborn wils and hye mindes shall then weepe and mourn when they sée the signe of the sonne man and all loftie glorious rich or high shall be brought lowe and fall down according to the Prophet The day of the Lord commeth that shal go ouer all pryde and presumption and bring them all down who casteth down the highe lookes of the presumptuous persons and bringeth low the pryde of man Esay 2. and all glorious thinges shall be brought down that day Oh therfore where wilt thou be to get into any rocke or to hyde thee in the ground from the sight of the fearful Iudge and from the glorie of his Maiestie will not serue when beholde the day dooth come in which all shall burn wherat thou shalt wring thy hands with an heauy looke and quake and shake like an aspen leafe and wéepe and waile like a sillie wretch and smyte thy breast with pitious grones and watery ché ekes to see the dreadfull day of dread and the fearfull Iudge of Iudges Wherfore O yée couetous men ye vsurers extortioners and vnmercifull people heare the voice of your watchman what are yée as blocks that heare not are yée as stones that féele not are yée as moules that see not or are yée as Images that feare not beholde the fearfull day of vengeaunce what doost thou say tush where and where is it beholde it commeth as a théefe yea it cuÌ„meth lyke a swift cloude when you shall say peace and no danger then is the iudge at the doore and then of force because yée would not heare in prosperitie sayeth Ieremie you shall wéepe in aduersitie whereat Ierem. 22. Oh how is your countenance chaunged which did looke so stout puffing against your sillie poore neighbour and brother but lo the day is and I see how bitterly you doo wéepe but why wéepe yée what for your goodly houses and gay garments for your groundes your goodes your euidences your golde and your siluer Alas it is turned to fire for beholde sayeth Péeter Iames and Esay you are inforced now to leaue them for they burn and are turned to fire to eate and consume you for now your case is pleaded before all the Angels in the presence of the high Iudge how you haue made you fréends of the wicked mammon where it standeth vpon most manifest euidence Luke 16. and plain confession guiltie or not guiltie of an vnpenitent conscience where if you be found gultie of ill lyfe you are turned of the ladder of heauen and shall fall into the seconde death of euerlasting fire swallowed into hel as the earth swallowed vp Corâ—th Dâ—than and Abyron And yee proud and laciuious yee gluttons yée belly and back pleasers and ye dâ—lcious children of wantonnes who counted it pleasure to liue diliciously for a season what is the world chaunged that I sée you so forlorne and naked hanging down your lippes eyes with such â—â—â—full lookes what doo you want your musicall pleas ures your bankets and chamberings alas they are woormewood and gall for your mirth is turned into heauines and why because the day is come that the powers of heauen dooth mooue the frame therof is crackt and the 〈◊〉 watters make an vntollerable noyse 〈◊〉 of all plagues are ready to be 〈◊〉 the day of fearfulnes in which see and beholde how your chambers of pleasure your soft and swéet beds of lust your tables of bankets your gardens of delight your gorgious apparell with all your wanton delights are turned to fire and brimstone yea they are garglâ—d and fupped vp into the hollow throte and gulfe of hell with Lucifer the father of pryde gluttonie vanitie concupisence and sâ—â—â—e Besides yée Antechrist ye sorcerers witches Idolaters falfe teachers and Ipocrites wher is your goodnes where is your skill and boast that yee looke so fearefully vp to heauen what is the day come vpon you vnawares that the sun looke black the moâ—â— hath
lo st 〈◊〉 â—ight the starres of heauen did fall and the 〈◊〉 â—oor the your spirits â—ring but your 〈◊〉 men and come â—oorth you Astrologers and cast your figures looke to the houses of heauens toâ—â—ther the detriments and degrées of the planets and starres what are you now confounded then beholde saith the Prophet the Lord will destroy the tokeÌ„s of witches and make the southsayers go wrong Esay 44. make the cunning of the wise foolishnes bring the councell of the Magitioners to nought for sayeth the Lord I will destroy the wisdome of their wife and the vnderstanding of their lerned shall perish so that now ye fall to the ground quaking to se the signe of the sonne of man appearing to se the day of fire that is come to trye euery mans woork whereat O how yee lament and cry but what for your spirits and familiars which made you to bee counted cunning men whiche promised you dreames and shewed you vi sions which serued your pleasure to vex men and to bewitche with O beholde sayeth Christ many shall say vnto me in that day Lord Lord Math 7. haue we not in thy name prophisied and in thy name haue cast out deuils in thy name haue done many myracles but sayeth the Lord I will knoweledge to them that I neuer knew theÌ„ depart from me ye workers of iniquitie And now yée Idolaters false woorshpers and Apocrites sée how you doe nothing but wé epe what for your pictures your cerimonies your offerings your golden Ladies your wooden saincts for wante of your masses to eas e you or of bulles frome Roome to pardon preserue you this day beholde saieth Esay they are the strawe and you are the fire you shall burne and neuer be quenched Esay 33. yea all that you haue thus conceiued is stubble strawe and your spirit shal be the fire that it shall consume you and shal be burnt like lime thornes for now confouÌ„ded shal be all woork maisters of errors and shal be turned to fire and smoke and shall burne for euer with that great beast and false prophet which shal be cast into a ponde of burning brimstone Esay 45. Esay 65. Therfore let s uddain fearfulnes run through you to consider the terror and vengeance of this heauie and ferefull day of bitter wrath and indignation and who shall be able to indure it wherfore away with all vanities and so runne your race of lyfe that you may finde mercy at the great day of the Lord so that cleanse your consciences from sinne filthines and buy the milke of heauenly nurishment the wine of heauenly gladnes hope and the garments of righteousnes that you may be filled and clothed with all godly lyfe and conuersation that you may be bolde and and not affeard at the appearing of the Lord in the dreadfull day of iudgement Moreouer yée enuious men reuenger théefe murtherer blasphemer lyar quariler and deceiuer why dooest thou now shake for feare that wunt to be so lusty a thretner so feirce and stout a reuenger against thy poore neighbour or enemie Deut. 32. what art thou become a lump of feare and is the day come that hath shaken a sunder thy ioynts and hart stringes that thou so wretchedly doost wéepe Rom. 12. or why wéepest thou because thou canst haue no more thy mynde to hurt and sting thy neighbour and enemie and so backbyte him alas wretch the direfull day is come that the Lord sayeth vengeaunce is mine and I will reuenge yea the time is come the hée will spend all his arrowes vpon thee and will reward thy enuious reuenging hart euen into thy bosome except thou hast imbraced repentance in time for beholde God sayeth the fire is kindled in his wrath and shall burne vnto the bottome of hel Zache 5. for the flying booke of cursse which was entred into the houses of theues swearers murtherers lyers reuengers quarrellers and malicious sinners is brought foorth that they may bée iudged and thereby consumed being adiudged to be s ectered with chaines of fire and led through the gates of hel to be brent in the pit of burning brimstoÌ„e for euer Wherfore awake quickly out of your s lumbring â—eâ— of sin turne vnto the Lord your God for he is gracioê° and mercifull and redy to pardon wickednes so that you â—â—cuse your hartâ— become 〈◊〉 creatures in holines and purenes working out your saluation with earnest deuotion for consider the dreadefull voyce which the watchemen soundeth of the day of the Lord saying that it shall come as a snare to all them that sit on the face of the earth wherby ye ought to take heede to your selues lest your hearts be ouercome with surfetting and drunkennes with lusâ—es and cares of the worlde and so haue your heartes as it were giued to sinne Therefore repent for the kingdom of God is at hande Matth. 13. which as the Apostle saith is like to a net cast into the sea that gathereth of all kinde of fishes which when it is full men do draw to land and sit and gather the good into vessels and cast the bad away and so shal it be at the end of the world the sonne of maÌ„ shal send foorth his angels and they shall seuer the good from the bad and gather out of his kingdome all that offende and doeth iniquitie and shall cast them into a furnace of fire there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth and then shal the iust man shine as bright as the Sonne in the kingdome of the Father wherein ye are warned carefully to watch and abide in Christ least you be founde cursed children forsaking the right way for which cause arme your selues with goodnesse of life Matth. 2. â— that when he shall s ende his angels with great voyce of trumpet to gather together his chosen from the foure windes and from the one ende of the worlde to the other you may be found profitable seruaÌ„ts and well doing Peter 2.3 For it is written that the heauens shall perish with fire and the elements consume with hearte and the earth burne with all that is therein And seeing that all these things shall thus vndoubtedly perish what maner of persons ought we to be in conuersation godlinesse in righteousnesse and holinesse looking for the comming of that day in which the whole worlde shal be vtterly burnt vp and consumed no doubt seeing that such thinges are most assuredly to be looked for we ought to be diligent so to liue as to be founde true children of the light sprinkled in our heartes with the blood of Christ Heb. 10. from an euill conscience knowing that euery 〈◊〉 that bringeth not foorth good fruite shall be â—ewen downe and cas t into the fire Matth. 7. for Chri st saith That not all that say to me Lorde Lorde shall enter into the kingdome of heauen but hee that dooth my Fathers will which is in heauen whereupon take warning O all ye people of
the inheritance of Christ his Kingdome And the excellent misterie of our eternall Mansion and new glorious Ierusalem in which wee shall dwell the Sonnes and Saincts of GOD for euer THE tyme beeing come that the Lord euen the most mighte God dooth dissend from the hye toppe of the heauens Psalme 50. to call the worlde togither not mynding to kéep silence then shall go before him a consuming fire and a mightie tempest shal be stirred vp round about him when hée thus shall come to call the heauens from aboue the earth that he may iudge his people at which tyme shall God appeare out of Sion in perfect beautie in the high glorie of his Godhed And then shall be performed that all thinges in heauen and earth shall be gathered togither in Christe Ephe. â— and the misterie of the will of the Father declared that Christe our triumphant King and Iudge hauing reigned vntill his enemies be put vnder his féete and hauing put down all rule authoritie and power that death the last enemy is consumed into victorie shall delyuer vp the kingdome to GOD the Father and become him selfe subiecte to God that putteth all thinges vnder his feet Cor. 1.15 that God may bee in all thinges and then the holy Cittie new IerusaleÌ„ commeth down from God out of heauen prepared as a Bryde garnished for her husband that the Tabernacle of God is now with his elect and hée him selfe dooth dwell with them and they shall be his people and God him felf shall be with them and shal be their God for Christe the king of kings will suffer none of his chosen to be away but gather all his Saincts together and so enter with triumphing Ioy into new Ierusalem Therfore lyft vp your heads O yée gates and be lyft vp ye euerlasting dores that the king of glorie may come in with his holie people hauing the palmes of victorie crownes of lyfe and Garlands of glorie in their hands Math. 21. And thus in stead of his humble ryding vppon an asse he with all gloriousnes is accompaned into new IerusaleÌ„ with the eternall Crowne and Scepter of heauenly maiestie takeing possession of Abrahams new land of promise the euerlasting kingdome and inheritance of Gods rest saying to his righteous people come taste the cup of your saluation and imbrace the ioyes the happines the bessednes and vnspeakable glorie which the Father of heauen hath of his great loue here prepared for you in his pallace where now you are fully and absolutely come to the new land of Canaan the euerlasting inheritance and to holy mount Sion and to the Cittie of the liuing GOD the celestiall Ierusalem and to the enumerable fighte of Angels and vnto the congregation of the first borne soÌ„nes which are written in heauen Cor. 1 3. and to God the Iudge of all and to Iesus the mediator of the new Testament and to a kingdoÌ„e immoueable for euer where they are clothed with their heauenly mansion replenished with the glory ioy and blessednes which neither tung can vtter eye hath séene or hart hath thought and thus Christe hath made them the glorifyed sonnes of God and holy and peculiar people a congregation triumphant a kingly préesthoode and a perfect communion of Sainctes assembled togither in all purenes and precious nes with God before the presence of the almightie eternall Father who now sheweth foorth to you the light of his countenace that you shall beholde with ioy vnspeakable his moste glorious godhead his moste resplendent countenance and incomprehensible maiestie synging to him with an heauenly voice and blessed harmony in all abundancie of ioy the songs of praysing God for euer for that hée hath geuin vs the crowne of euerlasting lyfe and the fréedome of his etrenall kingdoÌ„e of glorie where now wée hunger no more nor feele infirmities neither dooth the sunne and moone giue lighte to vs any more for our pretious Lamb dooth dwell with vs Reu. 7. and feede vs and lead vs vnto fountaines of liuing water and our God wypeth all teares from our eyes clothing vs with the plentious ioy of our heauenly mansion new Ierusalem beeing full of mellifluous pleasures where all things are so heuenly that nothing can be better for there dwelleth euerlasting lyfe there groweth the trée of ioy there runneth the waters of helth there is the hidden maÌ„na of heauenly consolation the white stone of gladnes the new names of happines and there is the beautie of the Godhed glory of saincts incoÌ„parable blessednes for euer So that the GOD of all treuth hath performed that which hee spake by Esay the Prophet beeing moste fauourable and gracious vnto Sion saying There shall thyne eyes see new Ierusalem that glorious Habitation the Tabernacle that neuer shall remooue whose nayles shall neuer bee taken out worlde without end and her cordes shall neuer corrupte Esay 33. for the eternall maiestie of the Lord shall there bee present among vs and he shall be our Captaine and king that wee shall walke vpon fayre and beautifull Ryuers and pleasaunt Streames of lyfe where neither gallies rowe nor great shippes saile neither any man there lyeth that sayth I am sick but all euill is taken away from vs who therfore desireth not to dwell in the house of the Lord and to beholde the fair beautie of God and to visit his Temple and to be in his citie in which sayeth Zacharie The waters of lyfe run out of Ierusalem and the Lord him self s halbe king ouer all the earth Zacha. 14. and there shal be but one Lorde onlye and his name shal be but one for then shall he set vp him self aboue the heauens and his glorie shall be aboue all when hée shall make a new heauen and a new earth that men shall goe about the earth as about a golden Paradice or plesant florishing féeld For now IerusaleÌ„ shall be saifly inhabited which was forsaken and is made according to the saying of Esay The Cittie of the Lord moste glorious through all posterities Esay 60. beeing inhabited without any wall yea the Lord him self is to her a wall of fire round about and will be honored euermore in her Where all thinges are full of the shyne of the Lords glorie so that O beholde this phenicall Cittieâ—Ierusalem how shee shall reioyce in hir Children and hir Children shall bee full glad of her whose gates are buylt with Saphire and Smaradge and all the walles with precious stones Toble 13. and in all her streates shall Aleluia be sung where Gods kngdome shall bee vpon her world without end Therfore O children of men so do that you may be Citizens in this citie of incoÌ„parable blessednes for the obtaining wherof Ephes 6. it behoueth you to walke as the children of the day light striuing to ouercome all the lustes of the fleshe the world and the deuil as might hinder you from entring in to so heauenly a
and brightnes of GOD. Therfore ascribe power vnto our Lord and reioyce in him who is so wunderfull in his holy places where he will deck his people with his owne beauty crown them with the glory of an euerlasting kingly préesthood extolling and prays ing God eternally in the highest according to his woorthynes and thus they taste perpetually of the infallable swéetnes of all flowing goodnes incessantly procéeding from God his owne selfe there making mery in all heauenlynes of mirth and reioysing continually before God by imbracing the excellēt shyne and blessed beames of the moste splendent and glorious brightnes of the omnipotent Father O therfore come hether all good people that you may taste the swéetnes of the Lord for the which lift vp your harts to heauen and so run your race as that you may be receiued in to that heauenly habitation with God and his Saincts And besides touching the heauenly misterie of this our eternall Ierusalem and blessed mansion discending downe from God the vision of the glorie of the Lord appearing to Ezechiell Ezeche 1. and 10. doth in ghostly cōprehension as in a cleare glasse represent the figuratiue misterie therof vnder the semblance of the goodly Cherubins for our holy euerla sting Citie shall euermore appeare full of the glistering of Gods maiestie lightning round about wherby the twelue trybes or vniuersall number of the elect possessing Ierusalem according to a quadrate or equilaterall triplicitie of euery side of the Cittie conteyning thrée gates hauing the names of the trybes in order of heauenly deuision which sides represent the fower goodly beastes vnder the quadrat fourme of this Cittie containing The mysterye of the fower beastes 4. and wheeles which Ezechiell saw as vnder fower faces of beautifull beastes or wheeles the whole congregation of the elect as vnder the face of thrée gates on euerie side makeing the radicall number of twelue trybes or twelue Apostels multiplyed in the vertue of it selfe to a perfect number radicall the harmony of the elect and thus these goodly faces of the fower beastes being each side of the Cittie with his blessed saincts shall shine as burning Cressets geuing a cōtinuall glister as it were a lightning for out of their bodies shall proceed the flaming zeale of praysing and magnifying the God of glorie for euer and thus on the foure sides rounde about the similitude of new Ierusalem shall be as a glassie sea mingled with fire shining with the superexcellent glistering of heauenly beautie like the shining of precious stones carued out without hande by the omnipotencie of God that the twelue tribes or whole congregation of the elect being euermore in the citie that howsoeuer the blessed Lambe and glorious hoste of Saintes mooue vpwarde or downeward to the magnifying of the Maiestie of God or falling vpon their faces at the high glistring of the most incomprehensible brightnesse of God the tabernacle or heauenly Ierusalem doth the same also as an heauenly clothing immoueable from them but still conformed in all godly perfection to euery harmonie of consent of the glorious Saintes that if the holy Saintes doe mooue or goe by the guiding of the spirite or Lambe the blessed Citie or tabernacle goeth also for the spirite of life is in the Citie So that the elect are so clothed with their heauenly habitation that neither can they any way be separated from it nor that from them as a kingdome of glorie in s eparable and immoueable from a glorious bodie And this eternall Citie is framed with foure equilaterall sides like the fourme of the Quier and altar of the Temple of old Ierusalem and that in most true perfection of iust harmonie and absolute proportion hauing to looke vpon euery side mos t excellently cohering and according as if one were in another that when one side of the glorified saintes went forward they went all foure and turned them not about according to the dignitie of true perfection for such is the concording of euery part with the whole and of the whole citie with euery parte that if any part mooued all mooued and that with such a motion as the spirite of life did giue which was in the whole Citie or tabernacle and in euery parte of the tabernacle a like and the selfe s ame So that this motion was euer as the swéete voyce of Gods owne mouth did breath being the perfect motion of Gods holy will accordingly as the children of Israel did neuer mooue foorth in passing the wildernesse but by the mouth of God as the cloudie pillar did mooue or stande still before the tabernacle So in most heauenly maner shall it be in our glorified tabernacle or citie that God shall be our Captaine and King leading vs to fountaines of water of life Ezech. 1. And the streetes and winges of this our Citie are so framed without hande by mightie power that one neuer touch another and yet when they moue they turne them not about but eche goe straight forwarde shewing that it conteineth one onely way and motion of most perfect trueth and perfection with all harmonicall concordance of heauenly agré ement And these goodly beastes doe represent the Godly liuers which are accepted before the goodnesse of God and now the maner of their dwelling within their newe Ierusalē is prefigured by the face of a man and Lion Ezech. 1. appearing on the right side of the squared Citie and the face of an oxe and an Eagle on the left side signifying a consimilar expectation that those godly people which like a lyon haue bene vigilant stout strong and bolde in faith to fight and warre in defence of the Lambe and the face of a man sheweth that those which truely and faithfully by confession teaching and preaching haue set foorth the glorie of the Lambe shall possesse the right side of Ierusalem And tho se which like an oxe to sacrifice haue yeelded them selues to martirdome to death or torments for the Lambes sake and those which like an Eagle haue turned their hearts to God as the Eagle doeth alwayes turne her selfe to the Sonne to beholde it shall posses se the left side of newe heauenly Ierusalem being nowe glorified whose feete shineth like glistering scoured metall full of beautie euermore continuing in one selfe same ioy and glorie And nowe the winges and borders are spredde out most beautifully according to Esay the cordes are so laide abroade as that they can not be better Esay 33. and the ma st set vp of such a fashion that no banner or sayle hangeth thereon Esay 40. As also Esay saith The Lorde sitteth vpon the Circle of the worlde and spreadeth out the heauens as a couering and stretcheth them out as a tent to dwell in For nowe euery parte in the whole and the whole with euery parte doeth euermore agree in the selfe same so knit in vnitie and euerlasting peace in one consent of melodie that for euer one parte and
called vnto the supper of the Lambes mariage for they shall dwell with him in his euerlasting Tabernacle and Temple and God will dwell among them Reu. 22. and they shall see Gods face and his name shal be in their forheads and God him self shall bee their light and shall reigne for euermore therfore to him sing prayses world with out end AMEN Esdras 4.2 Take thy number O Sion and shut vp thy purified for the number of thy Children whome thou loÌ„gedst for is fulfilled and sealed in the feast of the Lamb receiuing glorious garments of the Lord therfore O glorious mother Ierusalem imbrace thy glorified Children with all tryumphing gladnes THE GLORIOVS AND BEAVTIFVL GARlande of mans glorification CAP. 5. Of the pure Christall and glassie Sea on which the Elect shall stand before Christ and in this glassie sea true godlines and righteousnes giue the crownes of glory according to whoÌ„ euery man must be directed that desire to staÌ„d ioyfully before Christ to be crowned with the Garlande of glorification * ⎠* THE Lorde God Almightie who went before his people thorough the wildernes that the earth shooke and the heauens dropped at his presence Psal 68. who se glorie Moyses might not beholde neither any earthly and corruptible eye can sée his face and liue Exod. 33. hath promi sed of his great goodnesse and loue that he will haue the righteous in euerlasting remembrance and will be to them a ioyfull crowne and glorious Garlande Therefore reioyce in the Lorde and be glad Es ay 28. that he may put vpon you the garments of health and couer you with the mantell of righteousnesse â—ho saith that he wil decke you like a bridegrome and as a bride that hath her apparell vpon her so he will clothe you with the shining robes of glorification For which cause ye ought to shewe your selues excellent in righteousnesse a planting of the Lorde for him to reioyce in euermore walking in purenesse of conuersation and so holding out to the ende therby to winne the glorious palme of victorie Esay 62. and eternall kingdome of blessednesse Tim. 2 2. for be it that a man striue for a maisterie yet he is not crowned with the victorie except he striue lawfully so ouerrommeth And also they that prooue maisteries to obtaine a corruptible crowne Cor. 1 9. abstaine from all things that shoulde hurte them and hinder them in their enterprise but nowe to you an incorruptible crowne is propounded the ioy of euerlasting life and blessednesse for which cause you ought so much the rather to abstaine from all things that shoulde let you thereto And so runne that you may obtaine the garland of victorie and palmes of glorie for Christ hath not called you vnto vncleannesse of life but vnto holines accordingly as it is written Pet. 1.1 be ye holy because I am holy wherein it is the will of God that you shoulde increase more more in all righteousnes of conuersation according to his Gospel For pure deuotion before God is to keepe your selues vnspotted of the world and to clense your selues from all filthines of the flesh and growe vp to full holinesse in the feare of God for great is the mysterie of godlines wherunto you ought to stirre vp the gift of God which is in you to perfection of righteousnesse walking as obedient children ought to doe to the pleasing of God Wherefore to bring thee into the right way that leadeth to this pure glassie sea of righteousnes thereby to enioy the treasure of eternall life you must walke in the path that leadeth to the house of Iacob in whose seede all the kinreds of the earth are blessed Iohn 10. and there by the holy one of Israel who is the doore you may goe in and be guyded in the right pathe to the heauenly Citie newe Ierusalem in a cleare waye of godly conuersation accompanyed with true Christianitie Golden stayr and at your comming to this doore you shall beholde with the eye of faith foure golden stairs decked with many goodly precious stones of vertue being very faire gryces to goe vpon one higher then another and when you are at the fourth stayre you are come fully into this pure glassie Sea of holinesse godlinesse and righteousnesse and besides when you are come to the ende of the fourth stayre you shall beholde the fift golden stayre more goodly then all the rest most beautifull transfulgent and glorious which bringeth you presently into the Chrystall Sea of glorie to stande ioyfully in the sight of Christ with a palme of victorie and a garlande of glorie in your hande stair 1 Whereof the first golden stayre of Christianitie is To beleeue the holy Scriptures and Gospell of God simply syncerely and truely And this is the first steppe of Christian wisedome stair 2 The s econd staire is to reuerence the worde of God with a pure hart in all obedience diligence to taste how swéete the Lord is and this is the grice of true Religion stair 3 The third staire is to goe forward by the woord of God vnto the meditation of heauenly life hauing your conuersatioÌ„ in heauen froÌ„ whence you look for a sauiour to deck and beutifie you with glorie And this is true holines and godlines stair 4 The fourth goodly stayre is to continue and perseuer in the woord of God and treuth of the Gospell in all stedfastnes of faith loue hope and patience immoueable vnto the end And this is perfect constancie to obtein the victorie and theÌ„ stair 5 the fift transfulgent and high s tayre of beautie to enter into the Christall sea of glorie to stand in the number of the elect that hath got the victorie of the beast of his image of his mark and of the number of his name hauing the Harppes of God and singing the song of Moyses the seruant of GOD and the song of the Lamb who hath made vs meete for his moste glorious and euerlasting kingdome Is by grace in Christe to ouercome and vanquishe the worlde and lustes of the fleshe and spirituall powers by the faith of the Gospel and armour of God and so to depart with the victorie 1. The light of the Gospel and trueth And now at the entring vp vpon this golden grite of Christianitie there standeth a faire virgine of a very pure and cleare countenance clothed with garmeÌ„ts of shining light endewed with vnsearcheable vertues and she speaketh nothing to them that would come vp but as the holy one of Israel hath taught her because vpon his shoulders the whole kingdome doth lye Esay 9. And she is crowned with a crowne beset with the pearles of doctrine trueth knowledge discipline prophecying and preaching And she is called the light of the Gospell Iohn 1. And she is alwayes pronouncing a sweete and heauenly exhortation desiring euery man to heare the trueth of the Gospell and the way to their saluation