Two fruitfull and godly treatises, to comfort the afflicted viz. 1. Of the heauenly mansions. 2. The praise of patience. The first contayning the description of the house of glory: the second the loue of patience, to endure all tribulations and affliction to obtaine that heauenly kindome full of sweet consolation for the godly. By Mr. William Covvper, Bp. of Galloway. Cowper, William, 1588-1619. This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A19513 of text S118545 in the English Short Title Catalog (STC 5943). Textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. This text has not been fully proofread Approx. 194 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 156 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. EarlyPrint Project Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO 2018 A19513 STC 5943 ESTC S118545 99853752 99853752 19147 2240889978

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Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A19513) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 19147) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 577:07) Two fruitfull and godly treatises, to comfort the afflicted viz. 1. Of the heauenly mansions. 2. The praise of patience. The first contayning the description of the house of glory: the second the loue of patience, to endure all tribulations and affliction to obtaine that heauenly kindome full of sweet consolation for the godly. By Mr. William Covvper, Bp. of Galloway. Cowper, William, 1588-1619. [8], 308 p. Printed by T. S[nodham] for Iohn Budge, and are to be sold at the great south-dore of Pauls, and at Britaines-Bursse, London : 1616. Printer's name from STC. Each sermon has separate dated title page. Imperfect: leaves O1-3 lacking; supplied by photostat from Bodleian Library copy. Reproduction of the original in the Folger Shakespeare Library. eng Sermons, English -- 17th century. eebo Two fruitfull and godly treatises, to comfort the afflicted: viz. 1. Of the heauenly mansions. 2. The praise of patience. The first contayning the des Cowper, William, 1616 312 34734 2739 0 0 0 0 0 788.56 F The rate of 788.56 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the F category of texts with 100 or more defects per 10,000 words. 2003-07 Assigned for keying and markup 2003-07 Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2003-09 Sampled and proofread 2003-09 Text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-10 Batch review (QC) and XML conversion
TO ●…HE RIGHT ●…OBLE , VER●…VOVS , AND ●…ODLY LADY , MARY , Countesse of MARRE . Right Noble LADY :

AS Pearles are of greatest price , when they are most rare , so is ●…tie most worthy to bee ●…ised , when they be but few who practise it . O●… Noah in the old world : o●… Lot in Sodome : one I●… among Gentiles : one Sim●…on in Ierusalem : one N●…codemus among Pharisi●…one Ioseph in the San●…drim : one Esther in 〈◊〉 Court : one Iudith in 〈◊〉 Citie : one Abigail in 〈◊〉 Familie , are of more wo●… and waight in the Balla●… of God , then many thousa●… of others . I speake not thi●… if our time were reduce●… that scarsitie , for of all s●… and sexes of people ( ble●… be the Lord for it ) we 〈◊〉 many conscionable pr●…sers of that word of G●… ●…hereof they are professors . ●…t in respect of the rem●…nt of the world , are they 〈◊〉 few , that our fault were ●…eat , if such as are good , ●…ere not incouraged to be ●…tter , by such good , as wee ●…rough grace may minister ●…to them .

For this cause haue I pre●…nted this little Treatise to ●…ur L : as vnto one belon●…ng to the generation of ●…em that seeke the face 〈◊〉 God : Wherein I hope not ●…ely to be seconded by the ●…timonies of all the godly ●…at know you , but that the ●…its of your Faith also , ●…ene of such as see your selfe , shall free me of all i●…putation , which malignant murmuring mouthes of aduersaries can make vnto m●… This threefold tyred Ga●… land of flowres , euery one 〈◊〉 them transcending aboue 〈◊〉 other , iustly belongs v●… your L : Nobilitie , Vertu●… and Pi●…tie ▪ Nobilitie of ●… high degree as any subie●… of this Land can acclaim●… yet Vertue surpassing N●…bilitie , and Pietie supere●…nent aboue both . These ●… pray God daily to encre●… in your L : that Grace mu●…plyed vpon you in this li●… may lead you to that pro●…sed Crowne of glory , 〈◊〉 ●…ared for all Saints , in the ●…ansions of our Fathers ●…ouse : whereof now tur●…ing me to speake , I humbly ●…ake my leaue : And rests

Your L : in Christ Iesus W. B. of Galloway .
IOHN 14. 1. 2. 3.

And Iesus said to his Disc●…ples : Let not your hear●… be troubled : Yee beleeu●… in God , beleeue also in m●…

2 In my Fathers house ar●… many dwelling places , i●… it were not so , I woul●… haue told you . I goe t●… prepare a place for you .

3 And though I goe to prepare a place for you , I wi●… come againe and receiu●… you vnto my selfe , th●… where I am there you ma●… be also .

A TREATISE of the Heauenly MANSIONS . My help is in the name of the Lord .
IOHN 14. 1. And Iesus said to his Disciples : Let not your hearts be troubled : Yee beleeue in God , beleeue also in mee .

AT this Chapter These words containe : 1 A Comfort : 2 A Confirmation of it . begins the Legacie , or latter Will , of our ●ord Christ Iesus , and ●ontinues to the eighteene . In the entry thereof , hee first comforts his Disciples against the fear● of all euill which may trouble them : and next by strong arguments confirmes the Comfort . In In the Comfort are three circumstances . the Comfort three Circumstances are to be considered : First , who giues it ? Christ Iesus : Secondly , to whom ? to his Disciples . Thirdly , the Comfort it selfe ; Let not you● heart be troubled , proponed , as you see , by 1 First circumstance , hee who giues the Comfort is Christ . way of Exhortation .

Out of the first Circumstance appeares th● superabundant loue o● Iesus toward his owne . He is now entring to his ●…loudy Passion , which troubled him sore , yet he cares not for himselfe , all his care is for them , that they should not be troubled . O what a loue ! No such loue in the world , as our Lord hath shewed vs . where shall we finde the like of it ? Many examples of rare loue haue wee in holy Story , in the common , yea , and in nature also ; but none like this : Here is a loue , the length , the breadth , the height , the depth whereof none is able to comprehend .

Iuda offered himselfe a The offer of Iuda for Beniamin . seruant to Ioseph , that Beniamin might go free Ionathan perilled his life , and The loue of Ionathan to Dauid . Of Arsinor to her children . quyted his kingdome for loue of Dauid . Arsinoe interposed her selfe betweene the murtherers weapons that were sent by Ptolomie her Brother , to kill her Children ; shee embraced them in her armes , and turned her body about to receiue the strokes giuen out fo●… them , and in the midst o●… bloudy wounds shee receiued in their defence she kissed them : her loue was great , her power small , she could not keepe them from cruell death ●…he Pellican not onely Of the Pellican to her young ones . ●…edes her yong with her ●…ne bloud , but with in●…ncible constancy abides ●…e flames of fire for their preseruation . Naturalists ●…rite , that they who seek ●…e Pellican for a prey , ●…uing found the Nest ●…erein her young are , ●…dle a fire round about 〈◊〉 Videt Pellicanus ignem , Pierij hier . ●…us non ignorat vehemen●…m , audacter accedit , ar●…rem in singula membra ●…etrantem sentit , neque loco ●…ouetur , exuritur pene ●…a , neque tantillum quidem ●…sternatur , patientissim á●…e constantia vigens , saluti filiorum intenta potius , quasuae mortis genere omniu●… atrocissimo conficitur : T●… Pellican sees the fir●… knowes very well the v●… hemencie of it , yet fly●… boldly vnto it , seeking b●… the motion of her win●… to extinguish it , she feel●… the burning heate wi●… intollerable pain pierci●… all the parts of her bod●… yet flyes not from it , b●… with great patience e●…dures it , rather mindf●… of the safety of her yon●… then carefull to saue h●…selfe from so painefull death .

These are indeede examples of strong loue in All these are examples of rare loue , but not comparable to the loue of Christ toward vs . the creature , but as I said , this loue of Iesus ouercomes them al : he came in the shape of a seruant , to make vs free-men : he was content to be bound , that his Beniaminites , that is , the sonnes of his right hand , might be restored to their Father : he keeps the kingdome as heire and onely begotten Sonne of the Father , and giues the kingdome to vs conque●…ed by him , as our Goel & ●…insman , who hath redeemed our inheritance : he ●…eceiued in his blamelesse ●…ody the stripes which were due to our sinnes : He hath borne our infirmities , Esay 53 4. 5 and carryed our sorrowes : he was wounded fo●… our transgressions , and broken for our iniquities , th●… chastisement of our peac●… was vpon him , and with hi●… stripes are we healed . He●… is that Good Shepheard who gaue his life for hi●… Sheep ; he is that true Pellican , who saw the fieri●… wrath of God burning about his young ones , an●… cast himself into the middest therof , that he might quench it ; hee knew the terrour thereof , yet hee fled it not ; he longed with great desire to eate that ●…t Passeouer , albeit hee ●…ew it would be a sup●…r of sowre hearbs vnto ●…m ; for loue of those ●…ho are his , hee forgot ●…mself , when Iudas came 〈◊〉 betray him , and the ●…en of war to apprehend ●…m , he made no shift for ●…mselfe : If yee be seeking Iohn 18. 8. ●…us , I am hee , let these goe ●…ir way . And here when ●…e is to vndergoe his ●…ublesome Agonie , all ●…s care is to comfort ●…em that they should ●…t be troubled .

Sure it is , we can neuer quite this kindnesse of our Lord , yet at least 〈◊〉 We cannot requite this loue , yet should we remember it . vs remember it with su●… thankfulnesse as we m●… All the words of the Lo●… should be kept in o●… minde : so Dauid did 〈◊〉 Psal. 119. haue hid thy promises in 〈◊〉 heart : so Mary laid vp ●… Luke 2. 19. words of the Angell her hart : no place to k●… Manna without putr●…ction , but the Arke ; a●… no place to keep the w●… All the words of our Lord should be laid vp in our hearts , but specially the words of his last Legacie . with profit , but the h●… But as kindly Child●… remember most carefu●… the words of their Fat●… deliuered on his dea●… bed : so should wee 〈◊〉 words of our Lord v●… ●…d vnto vs , when he was ●…ing to dye for vs . Na●…rall men keepe the Le●…cie or Testament of ●…eir fathers , wherein pe●…shing portions of tran●…torie things are bequea●…ed to them , they will ●…ot rest till it be confir●…ed : and shall not wee ●…cke vp in the Cabinet ●… our heart , the Testa●…ent of our Lord , wher●… 1 Pet. 1. the right of an inheri●…nce that fades not is as●…ned vnto vs ? he leaues 〈◊〉 not any corruptible ●…ing : not the moueables ●… the sons of Keturah , nor Gen. 25. 6. ●…et the portion of Esau , Gen 27. 39. the fatnesse of the earth 〈◊〉 these the Iewels he leaues vs , Peace I leaue with you Ioh. 14. 27. my peace I giue vnto you this the tenour of his Le●…gacie or last Will , Father●… Iohn 14. 27 I will that they whom tho●…hast giuen mee , be where 〈◊〉 am with me , that they m●… behold the glory which th●…hast giuen mee . O what 〈◊〉 comfort is here ? the Father saith vnto the So●… Aske of me what thou wi●… Psal. 2. 8. and I will giue thee : th●… Sonne declares his will i●… his Legacie , Father I wil●… yea , assures vs of his Fathers will , Feare not litt●… Luke 12. flock , it is your Fathers wi●… 〈◊〉 giue you the Kingdome . Here is our right , here are he Charters of our hea●…enly inheritance : happy ●…re we if we lay them vp 〈◊〉 our hearts , and giue no ●…est vnto our soules vntill ●…ee haue the confirma●…ion of them past , and sea●…ed by the Spirit of A●…option , assuring vs that ●…hey are ours .

The second Circum●…tance 2 Second circumstance , to whom is this Comfort giuen . To his Disciples . leades vs to consi●…er , to whom is this com●…ort giuen ? To his Disciples : ●…ot to the twelue onely , ●…ut as afterward the Lord expounds himselfe ; ●… pray not for these alone , but for them also who sha●… beleeue in me through thei●… word . This Legacie the●… pertaines not to th●… twelue Disciples onely first preachers of th●… Gospell after Christ Iesu●… but belongeth also to a●… that to the worlds en●… shall beleeue in Chri●… through their word , an●… by beleeuing shall b●…come his Disciples : b●… vnto none other . Th●… Vnder the name of Disciples are comprehended not the twelue onely , but all beleeuers . consolations of the Gospell are not for euer●… man : the Gospell is preached to many , but th●… peace proclaimed by i●… lights vpon none but th●… ●…ildren of peace . New ●…ne is not for old bot●…s , and the glad newes 〈◊〉 the Gospell euery man ●…th not an eare to heare ●…em , nor a heart meete receiue them ; When you Mat. 10. 12. 13. ●…e into an house salute the ●…e , and if the house be ●…rthy , let your peace come ●…pon it ; but if it be not wor●…y , let your peace returne ●…nto you . And againe ; If Luke 10. 6. ●…e sonne of peace be there , ●…ur peace shall rest vpon ●…m , if not it shall returne 〈◊〉 your selues . Take heede The consolations of God are not for euery man . 〈◊〉 your selues ; we preach ●…eace in the name of Ie●…s , our Commission is sure , but not common t●… all : if you be the childre●… of Gods good-will , our ble●…sing of peace shal rest vpon you ; if not , you m●…heare it , but shall not 〈◊〉 partakers of it : There Esay 57 21 no peace , saith my God , the wicked . But as Ie●… answered Iehoram wh●… 2 Ki●… . 9. 22 he demanded , Is it peac●… What peace ? said the othe●… What hast thou to doe wi●… peace ? Such is the me●… sage that commeth fro●… the Lord vnto all the wi●…ked . The same Gosp●… that commeth from t●… Lord with abundance 〈◊〉 blessing to those who a●… ●…s owne , bringeth with ready vengeance against 2 Cor. 10. 6. 〈◊〉 disobedience . The ●…mme of all is , eyther ●…nder your selues belee●…ng and obedient Disci●…es to the Lord Iesus , or ●…oke not to receiue any ●…rtion of the consolati●…s which he hath left in ●…s Legacie .

Let not your heart be troubled .

THE third Circumstance 3 Third circumstance , the Comfort it selfe sufficient against all feare of euill which may trouble vs . is in these words : and it containes the Comfort it selfe ; Le●… not your heart be troubled I haue fore-warned yo●… of many things which 〈◊〉 know are grieuous vnt●… you : I haue told you o●… my suffering , that one o●… my Disciples will betra●… me , and that the best o●… them will deny mee , an●… that I my selfe must go●… from you , and whither 〈◊〉 goe you cannot com●… now . These heauy spee●…hes did ( no doubt ) asto●…ish and confound them , ●…nd cast down their harts ●…to the gulfe of excee●…ing sorrow : and there●…re comes hee in here to ●…ise them vp againe and ●…mfort them . But how●…euer the occasion of ●…is Doctrine ariseth of ●…e former premonitions , ●…et we may espie in them compleat consolation , ●…uen vnto vs by our ●…ord , against all that may ●…ouble vs .

There are two euils , ●…e feare whereof trou●…les men : first , the feare of sinne ; next , the fear●… Two things men feare , Sinne and Death . of death , and that which followes it . The wicked in their life time feare nothing more then death ●… Sinne they feare not ; yea●… it is a pastime to them to do●… Prou. wickedly : onely they feare Death and Iudgement they cannot eschew it , al●… their care is to delay it . In Wicked men feare nothing more then death , till death come , then are they vexed with feare of their sinne . their death by the contrary , they feare nothing so much as their sinne now they flye death , a●… the center of their sor●… rowes ; then they sha●… seeke it , as the remedie o●… their remorses . There i●… no death so horrible which they would not ●…illingly imbrace , proui●…ed it might free them ●…om the conscience of ●…eir sin ; yea , they would ●…e content to be smothe●…ed quick ; Mountaines fall Reuel . ●…pon vs and couer vs .

But the godly in their But the godly in their life feare nothing more then their sinnes . ●…fe feare nothing so much ●…s their sinnes : they ●…ourne for former sins , ●…nd with good Ezekiah , ●…ecount them in the bitter●…esse Esay . of their soule : they ●…ght against present sins , ●…anding with the armour ●…f God vpon them , and ●…rough his grace ouer●…ome it : they are in continuall feare of sinne t●… come ; if it renew the for●… they are still making preparation to resist it . An●… And therefore feares no death when it comes . therefore they feare n●… death , at least are not ●… uercome with the fea●… thereof ; they defie it , the prouoke it , they preue●… it ; I meane , they know will come , but ere it con●… they desire it , and are pr●…pared for it ere it be pr●…pared for them . Sime●… sight makes them sing ●… meons Song ; Now Lor●… let thy Seruant depart●… peace : and they resol●… with S. Paul , I desire to dissolued that I may be wi●… Christ . But indeed fearefull is their estate , who at one time haue to fight ●…oth against the terrours of sinne , and horrour of death . It is a godly po●…icie in the spirituall warfare , to diuide your enemies ; first ouercome your sinnes , vanquish them ere ●…he forces of death can ●…oyne with them ; so shall ●…ou not be afraid to en●…ounter with death ; for Death is a biting Serpent , ●…nd Sinne is the sting ●…ereof : take the sting from the Serpent , and without danger you may ●…mbrace it . Take Sinne away , and Death shal n●… be terrible .

Against both these ●…uils Compleat Comfort against both these feares giuen here . the Lord Iesus he●… furnisheth vs with sufficient comfort : against th●… feare of sinne hee sets th●… buckler of Faith , whic●… is able to quench the fie●… darts Ephes. 6. of the Diuell , in thes●… words , Yee beleeue in Go●… beleeue also in mee . Again●… the feare of death , th●… graue , and all that may follow them , hee sets th●… meditation of these heauenly mansions prepare●… for vs : and in respect o●… both , premits the comfortable Exhortation , Le●… ●…t your heart bee trou●…ed .

For vnderstanding No exemptions from trouble promised to Christians . ●…hereof wee must con●…der two things : first , ●…at our Sauiour here ●…omiseth vs not exemp●…on from trouble : next , ●…at hee requires not we ●…ould be without all ●…nse of trouble . The first ●…euident , he hath plainly ●…ld vs , In the world you Chrisost. in . Mat. hom. 7 ●…all haue affliction : If any ●…an will follow me , he must ●…ke vp his crosse & follow ●…ee . It is a prettie obser●…tion of Chrisostome , so ●…one as our Lord was ●…orne , Herod persecuted him and slew him in 〈◊〉 members , the innoce●… infants ; so soone agai●… as he was baptised , Sat●… tempted him : to teach ●… that if wee be such Ch●…stians , as in whose he●… Christ is conceiued a●… formed , wee must loo●… for persecutions fro●… men , for tentations fro●… Satan . As a shadow fo●… lowes the body ( saith M●…carius ) so Vbi Spiritus , 〈◊〉 Macar . hom . 15. Neyther is it required that Christians should haue no sense of their trouble . persecutio & pugna . T●… second is as cleare : if 〈◊〉 should be without sen●… of trouble , where we●… the praise of Patience ? fo●… what commendation is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 suffer that which grie●…eth thee not ? this were ●…orse then Stoica 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , is beastly stupiditie , not ●…mmended for a vertue , ●…t condemned for a ●…ce , Thou hast stricken ●…em , and they haue not ●…rrowed .

But the meaning of the But onely that their hearts be not ouercome of trouble . ●…xhortation is , howso●…uer it be that sore trou●…les be abiding you , and ●…at the sense of your ●…ouble will be grieuous 〈◊〉 you also , yet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Let ●…ot your heart be sha●…en and perturbed with 〈◊〉 , so that you quit your comfort and confiden●… in mee . Here then is t●… victorie of a Christia●… that no trouble can ouercome his heart : his goo●… may be stolne , his na●… be slandered , his bo●… may be killed , his co●…science may be racked his heart may be shak●… and sore moued , but ca●…not be remoued , becau●… The inuincible heart of a Christian cannot be ouercome with inward tentations . it is fixed on the Lord , h●… Spirit dwels in it , and b●… secret grace vpholds i●… Inward temptations cannot do it , vnder these it 〈◊〉 the voice of Saints , whic●… once was vttered by patient Iob. Iob , O Lord , thoug●… thou wouldst s●…ay me , yet wil I trust in thee : and by the Apostle , We are persecuted , 2 Cor. 4. but not for saken ; wee are in doubt , but wee despaire not ; we are cast down , but we perish not ; we are afflicted on ●…uery side , but not left in distresse : the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies such straitnesse of place , as out of which ●…here is no forth comming : the godly may be ●…raited with trouble , yet neuer so , but that they ●…aight for an issue : some●…me they are without ●…ense , but no time altoge●…her without hope of bet●…er .

Farre lesse can outward Farre lesse can it be ouercome with outward . tentations doe it 〈◊〉 Though the earth should b●… moued , and the mountaine●… fall into the bottome of th●… Psal. Sea , yet the Christian keeps his comfort , God i●… my help , and my hope , & m●… strength , in trouble ready to b●… Greg. moral . lib. 31. found . Vir Deo subditus no●…uit inter transeuntia star●… aduersis non frangitur , prosperis non eleuatur , hab●…enim pondus desuper ins●…dentis , timor scilicet Dei illum cohibet : A man subiect to God knowes ver●… well to stand in the mid●… of transitorie things : he●… is not broken by aduersitie , nor puft vp with prosperity , the weight of ●…im that is aboue him , ●…eepes him equall and ●…onstant in euery estate , ●…o wit , the feare of his God restraines him .

And this inuinsible This inuincible heart of a Christian is not from himselfe , but from Christ dwelling into it . ●…eart flowes not from a●…y strength that is in ●…an : How weake a crea●…re the strongest man is , ●…ay bee seene in Peter ; ●…ppose a pillar of the Church , the voyce of a ●…amsell shooke him , and ●…ade him deny his Ma●…er : All our strength is ●…eere , that Christ dwells 〈◊〉 our harts by Faith , and he who craues of vs tha●… our heart should not b●… troubled , keepes it himselfe , & defends it agains●… all that will assault it : we●… preuaile by the power o●… Rom. 8. Philo de sacrificijs Abelis & Cains . his might , and throug●… him are made more the●… conquerours . It is obserued by Philo , the heart and the hornes , or brain●… Why the hornes & the heart were not offred vnder the Law . were neuer offered in th●… Law leuiticall , with th●… sacrifices , for they are th●… fountaines & secret arke●… wherein lurkes , and ou●… of which floweth all impiety , but what euer wa●… in the type , this is in th●… truth . As the heart is by nature , the Lord will not ●…ue it , yet till the heart 〈◊〉 renewed and giuen to ●…e Lord , hee will accept ●…thing can come from ●…an : this is the maine sa●…fice , My Sonne giue me ●…ne heart : This is the se●…et sanctuary wherein ●…od will dwell , and with●…t which hee will not ●…ell at all . This is the But now God will haue no Sacrifice without the heart ●…rt of Sion , and city of ●…auid , which must bee ●…ongly kept , or else the ●…manent city cannot be ●…eserued : therefore the ●…rd Iesus , arming his ●…sciples against trouble , ●…gins first at the heart ; let not your heart be troubled . Magnum enim fort●… dinis fundamentum est , Cyr. in Ioan. cap. 14. mus non turbatus , ani●… autem nondum supernaf●… datus gratia , timidus , & stabilis nimium est . A g●… ground of fortutude i●… heart not troubled , therwaies it not beestablished with heaue●… grace is out of meas●… fearefull & instable : the fore the Apostle when blesseth the Philippia●… Phil 4. prayes , that the peac●… God which passeth all ●…derstanding , may prese●… their hearts : so shall ●… the heart be troubled . But here it is demaunded , Seeing our Sauior was troubled himselfe , how saies he to vs , let not you hart be troubled ? how requires our Sauior of vs that we should ●…t be troubled , seeing was troubled himselfe ? testifies this same Evangelist , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Now is my ●…le troubled : and a●…in , when Iesus had said ●…ese things , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Iohn 12. 27. Iohn 13. 21 hee was troub●… in the spirit : & more significantly is the same ●…pressed by S. Marke , Mar. 14. 33 ●…en hee entred to his a●…ny in the Garden , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , hee began to be a●…nished , and transported : the words impor●… strange motion , & scarly vtterable , which sense of that wrath ●… to our sinnes , wrou●… in the Lord .

The answer is , the trouble The trouble of Christ far different from ours . of our Lord was fa●… different from ours , b●… in the end , & in the maner or measure there for hee was troubled , the end hee might kee●… vs that we should not troubled with that trouble which was due to ●… sinnes . 1 In the end thereof . Other Physitian to cure the deadly dise●… of their Patients , prep●… a bitter potion for the ●… may well taste it themselues , but the Pati●… must drinke it out : our Physitian per●…ing well that the bitcup of wrath would ●…e consumed vs , drank ●…t himselfe , and leaues more to vs , but to tast O wonder ! the Physi●… drinkes out the por●… , and the Patient is ●…ed ! He suffered for ●…faction of his Fathers ●…ce : we suffer not for ●…faction : away with ●… presumption to ●…ke our sufferings can satisfactory : We sufonely that we may be made conformable to h●… death . Againe , as for th●… 2 In the mesure therof . measure hee dranke o●… the full cuppe , dregs an●… all , of that wrath due ●… our sinnes . It would ha●… confounded Angell an●… Man to haue drunke that cuppe , as our Lo●… himselfe said to the so●… of Zebedeus , Can ye drin●… of that cup whereof I m●… drinke ? No , it is imposble : None but hee tro●… the wine-presse of ●… wrath of God : Let ●… flesh be silent heere , a●… reserue him his ow●… glory .

And this comfort ha●… of his trouble , beside satisfaction of his Fa●…rs iustice , and our reconciliation with him , greater the trouble of The greater Christs trouble was , the lesse cause of trouble haue we . ●… Lord was , the lesse ●…se hath his Saints to troubled in their suffe●…gs with him . No mar●… Martyrs in the midst of horrible deaths ●…e triumphed , aboun●…g Christs trouble makesmartyrs triumph vnder trouble . with glorious ioyes : ●…s easie to swim where ●… head is borne vp : the ●…ters of Marah bitter be●…e , are made sweet now the crosse of Christ Ie●… : why then may not his ●…ts willingly drinke of ●…m ?

And now to conclu●… this first point of t●… comfort proponed way of exhortation as ●… began it , let vs remark t●… louing care of Iesus t●… ward his owne , that prouides the comfort or uer the trouble co●… Sometime the Lord giues comfort before the trouble come . These three things m●… wee obserue in God working with his Sain●… Sometime he giues the comfort before troub●… sometime comfort trouble , alway comfo●… after trouble . Sometim●… I say , the Lord prepar●… them with comfort before the trouble com●… ●… Elias got a double dinner before his forty daies ●…sting , and Iacob at the ●…er Iaboc was confirmed ●… wrestling with God , ●…fore hee encountred ●…th Esau , and the three ●…isciples , Peter , Iames , ●…d Iohn saw the glory of ●…r Lord transfigurated Mount Tabor , before ●…ey saw his bloudy ago●… in the garden .

Sometime again in the Sometime he giues comfort in the midst of trouble . ●…ddest of trouble the ●…rd furnishes strong ●…nsolations : Potiphar put ●…seph in the prison , but ●…od went with him to ●…e prison , this made the prison more pleasant t●… him , then had been Putiphar his palace . Nebuchadnezzar caused the three children to be cast in th●… fire , but the fourth liketh son of God he saw walking with them . What comfort haue wee hee to make vs patient in affliction , since in our trobles God the Father protests that hee is troubl●… with vs : the Sonne in li●… manner complaines th●… he is persecuted when are persecuted , and S. ●…ter witnesses , that the ●…ly ghost is euill spoken by such as speak euil o●… ●…r Christs sake , I may be ●…old to say in name of all ●…e children of God , they ●…aue found by experience , that there is more ●…y in Christs crosse , then ●…l the crownes of the World without Iesus Christ , are able to afford .

And thirdly , wee are But alwaies comfort after trouble . ●…er sure that the end of ●…ouble to a Christian is ●…mfort , trouble may abide the Euening , but ioy cometh Psal. 30. 2 Thes. 1. 7. in the Morning . It is ●…ighteous thing with God render rest to them that Psalme ▪ Heb. 12. ●…e troubled with vs . Our ●…ares are the seed of ioy , Blessed are they who sow i●… teares , for they shall reap in ioy . No chastisement sweete for the present but afterward it brings th●… quiet fruit of righteousnes●… to them who therby are exercised . After that our Sauiour was tempted in th●… wildernesse , Angels ca●… and ministred to him : an●… after his agony in t●… garden , an Angell appeared from heauen comforting him , such shall be t●… end of all the troubles his Saints .

●…e beleeue in God , beleeue also in mee .

FOllowes now the confirmation Confirmation of the former comfort wherein . of the comfort conteined in the proceeding exhortation . First against the terrors of sin , ●…ext against the terrours ●…f death , arma quippe his ●…inistrat Iesus Discipulis ●…is , quibus queant omnia ●…perare aduersa , for in Cyrill . in Ioan. ●…ese few words our Sauiour furnishes armor to is Disciples , by which ●…ey may be able to ouercome all contrarie ●…ings whatsoeuer . Against sin our Sauio●… sets the bulwarke , or rather 1 Faith in Christ is set against the fear of sinne . as the Apostle cals i●… the Buckler of Faith , whi●… is able to quench the fie●… darts of the Diuell . As th●… Ephes. 6. Israelites stinged with fi●…ry serpents in the wildernesse looked vp to the typicall brazen serpent , an●… were healed : so doe ye li●… vp the eyes of your sou●… to the true Sauiour , an●… your sinnes shal not be able to trouble you .

Where it is to be marked , how he ioynes the Faith respecteth all the three persons of the blessed trinitie . two , ye beleeue in Go●… beleeue also in mee . Th●… words may be read eith●… ●… the Indicatiue moode , Creditos , or the Impera●…ue Credite : but the sense ●… the same . Faith in any ●…ne of the persons of the ●…lessed Trinity , necessari●…y imports faith in the ●…ther two : for albeit the persons be three , the essence is one .

And againe , there is ●…o comfort in the Father , without the Sonne , ●…eyther can any beleeue ●… him , and through ●…eleeuing come to him , ●…ut by the Sonne , for ●…ee dwelleth in light in●…ccessible , whom none ●…an know till the sonne , who is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , the brightnesse Hebr. 1. 3. of his glory , and i●… graued forme of his person reueale him . Yea wit●… out the Sonne , he is a consuming fire , but in hi●… hath proclaimed himselfe to be wel pleased . Doub●… lesse , if wee saw cleere●… how the three persons ●… the blessed trinity conc●… ioyntly in the worke ●… our saluation , as we ma●… see , if wee looke right●… in the mirror of the Gospell , it would rendre vnto vs vnspeakeable consolation . But of this , he who pleases may ▪ read our Treatise of the Baptisme of Christ .

This place serues to A proofe of Christs diuinity against Arrians . ●…ooue the Diuinity of Christ Iesus . Ye beleeue in ●…d , beleeue also in me : quod ●…n consequeretur si Chri●…s non esset Deus , the consequence saith Augustine●…ere ●…ere not good , if Christ ●…ere not God : but this Aug. in Ioan. tract. 67. ●…llowes very well , credi●… in Deum , credite etiam illum , cui natura est non ●…pina esse aequalem Deo , ●…netipsum exinaniuit for●…m serui accipiens , non ●…men formam Dei amit●…ns , Ye beleeue in God , ●…eleeue also in him , whose nature it is , and no●… robbery to be equal wit●… God , hee humbled him selfe , accepting the form of a seruant , not amittin●… the forme of God .

But it is needlesse he●… But Atheists rather in this age are to be encountred with , pretending Faith which they haue not . to encounter with Ar●…ans ; their heresie is burie●… and I will not open th●… Sepulchre to offend th●… Saints of God with th●… loathsome and stinkin●… smell thereof . I wish th●… age were as quyt of Atheists , who come to th●… Church as Achab we●… to the Campe , changing their garment , but no●… their heart . Euery ma●… ●…ow prattles of Faith ; & ●…ath it in his mouth , I beleeue , but all hath not ●…aith , saith the Apostle . ●…aith is a rare iewell : a ●…ewell I call it , for whatsoeuer thou touchest by ●…aith , it becomes thine ●…wne , but so that it Faith is a rare Iewell no larger then Election . ●…uches nothing but the ●…wne proper obiect , to ●…it , that whereunto the ●…romise of GOD in his ●…ord directs it : and a rare ●…well I call it , because it no larger then Election , it may be common to ●…any in respect of pro●…ssion , but proper to ●…aints onely , in respect of participation . Many are called , few are chosen , & vnto these few elect onely , is i●… giuen to beleeue . It may be confirmed by learning & long experience , but ●… not at the first begotten by any of those , Sentit●… antequam discitur , we fee●… Cyp. lib. 2. Epis. 2. it before we can learne i●… nec per mor as temporum lo●…ga agnitione colligitur , se●… compendio gratiae matur ā●… hauritur . And it is wrogh●… by rypening grace , no●… by length of time , no●… greatnesse of knowledge ▪

That therefore wee be not deceiued in so great ●… matter as is faith , the only remedy giuen vs heere against No comfort against sinne , and wrath , but by true Faith , and what need we haue to try it . the guilt of sin , and ●…errour of the wrath to ●…ome , let vs ponder that ●…recept , try your selfe if you ●…e in the faith . There is a ●…ith which S. Paul calls ●…nfeined , to distinguish it ●…om faigned faith , called 2 Cor. ●…uely and laborious , to distinguish it from that which Iames calls a dead faith . ●… there were but one kind ●… faith , & euery man had , 2 Tim. 1. ●…ere needed no such pre●…pt , try if ye be in the faith , ●…ut since it is not so , it ly●…h Iam. 2. euery man in hand , to ●…oke to himselfe , that he ●…mbrace not a false faith , in stead of the true , a fained faith for a sincere , 〈◊〉 dead and idle faith , for 〈◊〉 liuing & laborious faith .

Leauing to discusse a●… Faith three manner of wayes described . length of Faith , wee wil●… shortly consider the nature , and the threefold operations thereof . S. Pau●… 1 It is a subsistance of things hoped for . cals it , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , A reall subsistanc●… of things hoped for : an●… so Faith is called not formaliter , but effectiue , because it maketh things 2 It is an euidence of things not seene . hoped for after a sort to be present . Againe , he●…cals it , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , The euidence o●… Aug. in Ioan. tract. 68. things not seene ; Fide●… ●…redit quod non videt : nam 〈◊〉 vides , non est Fides ; Faith ●…eleeues that which it ●…ees not : now wee walke 2 Cor. 5. ●…y Faith , after this wee ●…all walk by sight ; when ●…ght shal come Faith shal ●…ease . Thirdly , hee cals it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Heb. 6. 19. The Anchor four soule sure and sted●…st , 3 It is the anchor of our soule which holds vs fast that we driue not away with the winde of tentations . which entreth into ●…at which is within the ●…aile . This world is fi●…ed by the Spirit of God ●…y a Sea weltring and ●…ormy , our soule and ●…onscience in it is likened to a Ship tossed to and fro with many contrary windes of restlesse tentations : the Anchor which keepes vs stedfast that we be not driuen away with the winde , and preserue●… vs sure that we sinke not vnder the waues , is ou●… Faith : the Rocke whereupon it fasteneth the gripes thereof , is abou●… within the vaile , the Lord Iesus : the Cords or Cables that holdeth sure together the Ship and the Anchor , are the promises of Gods mercy made with this three-fold vniuersalitie , of all sinnes , all times , all persons , Repen●…ance intervening . This funiculus triplex qui non ●…cile rumpitur : that three●…ld cord , which is not ●…fily broken : were the ●…ormes of our life neuer 〈◊〉 deadly , wee haue this ●…omfort , we may be mo●…ed , but cannot be remo●…ed : we may be sore tos●…d , but cannot suffer ●…ipwracke , our Anchor fastned not vpon sand 〈◊〉 slipping ground , but ●…pon the Rocke , it will ●…t come home to vs , but ●…ill draw vs home vn●… it .

Therefore Philo speaking of Faith , called Faith how commended by Philo. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , The onely su●… seale and infallible goo●… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , The sola●… Philo lib. de Abrahamo . of our life : 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , The fuln●… of good hopes : 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , The auer●… of euils : 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but the bringer of good . The learned rec●… Defined by Scult. Theologs expresse t●… nature of Faith by t●… definition ; Fides est fi●…cia Scultet . idaea concion . in Deum plane filia●… concepta ex agnitione Ch●…sti , & amore Patris , 〈◊〉 homo in amplexum Dei r●… & ait Abba Pater : Fa●… a filiall confidence in ●…od , conceiued of the ●…owledge of Christ , and 〈◊〉 th●… loue of the Father him , whereby man ●…nneth vnto God , and ●…yeth vnto him Abba ●…ther .

Of this is euident the In faith there is a twofold working power . ●…o-fold operation of ●…ith : first , there is in faith apprehending vertue , 1 An apprehending Vertue . 〈◊〉 which the beleeuer re●…iues and applyes to ●…selse Iesus Christ , as is offered in the Word 2 A randring vertue . ●…d Sacraments . Second●… there is in Faith a ran●…ing vertue , ( so to cal it ) ●…hereby the beleeuer goes out of himselfe int● the Lord . By the fir●● Christ becomes ours : b● the second wee resig● our selues vnto Chris● and become his : Qui cr●dit in Deum , transit ●● Deum ; the phrase in m●● significant manner imports thus much , that who beleeues in God passeth out of himse●● into God , hee become● partaker of the diuine n●ture : Pet. hee liues not an● more in himselfe , b●● Christ liues in him , an● makes him say with t●● Apostle : Now thankes ●● to God I liue , yet not I , 〈◊〉 Christ liueth in me : for by ●ith he being planted in ●hrist Iesus draweth sap 〈◊〉 grace from him , which ●akes him to become ●●ch as Christ is , and to ●●nder vnto him the fruit 〈◊〉 his owne plantation , ●ost acceptable to him .

These then are the two These are the two hands of Faith , by the one it giues , by the other it receiues . ●●nds of Faith : by the ●●●st it receiues from God , ●y the second it giues vn●● God : this is a point ●●t commonly marked 〈◊〉 this age : many would ●●●ioyne these two , which ●od hath conioyned to●●ther , as if Faith had but ●●e hand for receiuing , and not another for giuing : they thinke ther●… is no more but to receiu●… mercy from God , forgeting that by the sa●… Faith they must rend●… sonne-like obedience t●… their Father . This is n●… Faith , but presumptio●… Infidelis fiducia , faithle●… confidence . For why , b●…leeuest thou that God become thy Father ? a●…prehendest thou him be so in Christ ? then sh●… They who haue not the rendring vertue , had neuer the appehending vertue . mee that thou hast re●…dred thy selfe to be 〈◊〉 sonne : let mee see his mage . Naturall Fathe●… beget children like vn●… themselues , and shall our ●…eauenly Father bring ●…rth children to another ●…age , then his owne ? Be ●…hamed O you licenti●…s liuers , to call God ●…ur Father : Out of your ●…ne mouth shall yee be ●…dged . If I be a Father , Mal. 1. 6. ●…here is mine honour , saith ●…e Lord of hosts , vnto you ●…at despise my name ? No , 〈◊〉 , your answere is that ●…hich our Sauiour gaue ●…nto the Iewes ; Yee are Licentious liuers are proued to be without true Faith . 〈◊〉 your Father the Diuell , ●…cause you doe his workes . ●…r canst thou say , I be●…eue in Iesus , who in thy ●…fe doest not expresse the vertue of Iesus ? Hee is powerfull Sauiour : th●… Angel gaue the reason 〈◊〉 his Name ; He shall be ●…led Iesus , because he sau●… his people from their sinn●… thou art yet in thy si●… thou canst not say wi●… the Apostle , I was a percuter , Cor. I was a blasphem●… but now thankes bee God I am another thi●… Such I was , but now I 〈◊〉 Tim. cleansed : thou art still●… same man thou we●… there is no change of t●… manners , and art still 〈◊〉 eased vnto the death . 〈◊〉 all those that came Christ in the Gospel , no●… went away as they came : ●…me came blinde , and ●…ent away seeing : some ●…me lepers , and went a●…ay cleansed : some para●…ique , and went away ●…nfirmed : some posses●…d with euill spirits , and ●…ent away deliuered : ●…ou art not as one of ●…em , thou hast not ●…ught him , thou hast not ●…uched him , thou hast ●…awne no vertue out of ●…m ; the Physitian hath ●…t cured thee , how then ●…st thou , I beleeue in Ie●…s ? thou art not planted him ; for all that are in ●…m , get vertue from him , which workes in the●… the similitude of his ow●… life . Here is the miser●… of this age , that a cou●…terfeit Faith is currant ●…mong many , who co●…tent themselues with it , 〈◊〉 if it were a true faith .

Verse 2. In my Fathers house are many dwelling places : If it were not so , I would haue told you . I goe to prepare a place for you .

HItherto haue 2 Comfort confirmed against the feare of Death . we been comforted against the feare of ●…ne ; followes now com●…t against Death . Wher●… the Lord confirmes vs ●…ainst the offence wee ●…ght conceiue of his ●…ath , and against the ter●…rs might arise of our ●…ne death , and that which may follow it .

This comfort proceedes This comfort proceedes by three degrees . by three degrees In the first is proposed meditation of the man●… Mansions which are i●… our Fathers house . Th●… comfort meetes our fea●… this way ; if death afra●… you , if the graue see●… horrible to you , if it yerksome to rememb●… that which Iob hath ; E●… 1 The first degree of comfort against death and the graue , is the meditation of heauenly mansions . it be long I must make 〈◊〉 bed in the darke : I will 〈◊〉 to corruption thou art 〈◊〉 father , and to the wor●…yee are my brethren and ●…sters ; lift vp your minde looke ouer this stream at seemes to carry all ●…ay with it , cast your ●…es vpward to my Fa●…ers House where many ●…ansions are : Death ●…all not be able to de●…ure you , the graue shall ●…t detaine you from ●…ese euerlasting Taberna●… where the place of ●…ur rest and Mansion This is the first degree the Comfort , and is ●…ntained in these words . Death a compend of all crosses hath need of the greater consolation . As Death is the way of flesh , so is it the com●…nd of all crosses : in it ●…e soule naturally is ●…ubled with feares , the ●…dy with paines . It is the last enemie , which g●… thereth all forces mi●…tant vnder it , to the la●… battle . It is with vs as was with Israel when th●… came out of Egypt , o●… nation of the Egyptia●… pursued them , but wh●… they entred into Cana●… seauen nations of Can●…nites ioyned their forc●… to hold them out . In o●… life euery man hath h●… seuerall crosses and tenttions : one hath health 〈◊〉 body , but wrestleth wi●… pouertie , not hauing 〈◊〉 feede his body : anoth●… hath abundance , but hat●… not his health to vse i●… some want sight of their eyes , but heare well e●…ough : others see , but ●…eare not at all : one is ●…ained in his outward flesh , another with some ●…ntestine disease : in one ●…here is a whole body , but 〈◊〉 wounded Spirit . If in If it be difficult to beare one crosse in our life , how shall we beare many concurring in our death without preparation . ●…ur life wee gather not ●…trength against one crosse or two , how shall ●…ee endure in death to ●…ight with them all ? Wert ●…hou neuer so rich , poore ●…nd naked thou must goe to the graue ; arme ●…hee against pouertie , ●…earne to want those things which thou hast , before they be taken from thee : were thy sight as quicke as the Eagles it shall waxe dimme , They Eccles. 12. 3. shall waxe darke that looke out at the window : the strong men shall bowe themselues , and the grinders shall cease , &c. Thy senses shall faile thee , yea , thy heart also , thy beautifull flesh must putrifie & rot , thou must goe to the house of Verse 5. thine age ; and all that are thine shall for sake thee . In a word armtes of sorrowes , Lam. 2. 22. feares and terrours , as in a solemne day , shall be gathered round about thee . And therefore great need haue wee to arme our selues a●…ainst that day of battel , ●…nd specially to lay vp in ●…ur hearts these consola●…ons of God , which our sauiour here leaues vs in ●…is Legacie .

In this first degree of The first degree of comfort hath in it foure circumstances . ●…he Comfort foure cir●…umstances are to be con●…idered : first , who is this ●…e cals his Father : second●… , what is his Fathers ●…ouse : thirdly , what are ●…hese mansions : fourth●…y , what is meant here by ●…any mansions .

As for the first , the ●…ame of a Father is either ●…ttribute to God indefinitely , and so is common 1 First Circumstance , who is this whom Christ calleth his Father . to all the three person●… of the blessed Trinitie , in which sense , among the rest of the stiles giuen vnto Iesus , hee is called , a●… euerlasting Father ; an●… Esay 9. then the relation respect The name of Father how it is attributed to the three persons , and how to the first person onely of the blessed Trinitie . eth all his creatures : o●… else particularly it is ascribed to the first person and then the relatio●… doth principally respec●… Christ , and that in bot●… his natures . Secondly ; al●… the children of his good wi●… to whom by grace i●… Christ he is become a father . Most comfortable i●… this for vs , that he who i●… ●…he Father of our Lord ●…esus Christ by an vn●…eakable generation : for ●…ho can declare it ? is also ●…ecome our Father in ●…im : I ascend to my God , ●…nd your God ; to my father , ●…nd to your father . And ●…hen wee pray hee hath ●…ommanded vs to call ●…pon God as vpon our ●…ther ; yea , he hath sent owne his Spirit into our arts by whose secret in●…rmation we are taught ●…ith filiall confidence to ●…y vnto him , Abba Fa●…er . Happy time for vs , ●…at so wee may call him .

The second Circumstance leades vs to a consideration 2 Second Circumstance , what is this he calleth his Fathers house ▪ Esay 66. 1. 1 Kin. 8. 27 of his Fathe●… house ; The heauen ( sait●… the Lord ) is my throne , an●… the earth is my foot-stool●… where then is his house yea , as Salomon saith , T●… heauens , and the heauens ●… heauens are not able to co●…taine him : the Lord is uery where , exclud●… from no place , includ●… in none : to them in h●… How hee hath a speciall house , whose presence is euery wher , in earth , in hell , in heauen . hee shewes his terrour , t●… them on earth he shew●… his goodnesse , to them i●… heauen hee sheweth h●… glory , what then is th●… hee calleth his Fathe●… house ? This speech ●… borrowed from the manner of Kings , who albeit the whole Kingdome bee theirs , yet haue they some place of residence , which more properly is called the Kings house : euen so by this house , which our sauiour calleth his Fathers house , is vnderstood that place of glory wher●…n he shewes his secret & most familiar presence to his Saints : this is the house 2 Cor. 5. not made with hands , but eternall in the heauens : this is the Citie hauing a foundation , Heb. 11. 10 whose builder and maker is God : this is the Citie which needeth not Sun Reu. 21. nor Moone . This is the Paradise of God , the inner A commendation of our Fathers house Court of the palace of God , the heauen of heauens , the holy of holiest . S. Pau●… calls it , the third Heauens ; hee saw it , but could not reueale the glory of it ; he contents him to tell what it was not , but takes not in hand to tell what it was ●… he describes it negatiue , wee shall know it when wee shall see it ; till then no heart of man can vnderstand it . The Christian by course hath residence in three houses : The first was his mothers wombe , there hee soiourned by moneths . The second is this world , wherein hee ●…oiourneth by years . The ●…hird is heauen , wherein ●…re the euerlasting Taber●…acles : and there the chri●…tian shall dwell for euer . Of this comparison will ●…ppeare the glory of our ●…hird house , wherof who ●…o pleases to reade more , ●…s likewise of that com●…ort we haue of this , that God the Father of our Lord Iesus , is also become ●…ur Father in him , may ●…ee it at greater length in ●…ur treatises on the eight ●…o the Romanes , and Defiance of Death .

The third circumstance 3 Third circumstance what is meant by Mansions , to wit , indurance to all eter●…tie . is in the word Mansions , and it imports the endurance and eternity of that house , and them which dwell in it : it is no soiourning house , no place for pilgrimes , but our mansion place The earth is stable and moues not , yet all things in it are in a continuall motion , wee neuer stand in one estate : from the womb our course is to the graue without any resting . The heauens are againe in a perpetuall motion , and yet aboue them hath the Lord prepared our mansion . That petition of the Church is a meet prayer ●…r vs ; O thou whom my Cant. 1. ●…ule loueth , shew me where There the great shepheard resteth and feedeth his flocke , but not here . ●…ou ●…eedes , and rests at the ●…one day . Here the Lord ●…edes vs , but heere the ●…ord rests n̄ot ; heere is light , but not the light of ●…e noone day . No , no , ●…e Sunne in his meridi●… light , extends not so ●…rre , the morning twight , as the lightsome ●…ory of our mansions ●…ceeds the greatest glo●… man can haue in his ●…lgrimage . As the great ●…ies of Campania seeme ●…t litle cottages to them who stand on the top●… the Alps , & as the moo●… couereth her selfe with pale vale , and shineth n●… at all in presence of t●… Sunne , so all the beau●… and glory of this eart●… shall vanish , when that gl●…ry of the Sons of God sh●… be reuealed .

Miserable worldlin●… Folly of worldlings who seeke their Mansions , where they cannot remaine . haue no care of a place ●… these mansions , as if could be obtained wit●… out care , but beyond ●… measure they care for t●… place of their pilgrimag●… as if their care could pr●…cure the continuan●… thereof . What greater fo●… ●…y then this ? Suppose thy ●…ossessions were as sure ●…s the earth to remaine with thee and thine after ●…hee to the worlds end , ●…rt thou also sure to remaine with them ? No : in ●…ne houre , wherein thou ●…ookest least for it , it will ●…e told thee , O foole this ●…ight they will take away ●…hy soule from thee .

But in truth thy posses●…ons Their portion on earth came from one & shall goe to another . are most vnsure , ●…hey came from another ●…and vnto thee , & thinkst ●…hou so to tedder and re●…eiue them , that from ●…hee they shall not passe ●…o another . S. Paul his Epithite for riches is to 1 Tim. 6. be marked , Trust not in vncertaine riches . Salomon attributes wings vnto them ; if they flee not tow●…rd Prou. thee , thou wert not able to reach vnto them , and if they will flee from thee , thou art not able to deteine them . Dauid compares Psal. them to a flowing water , which as it hath ●… filling , so also an ebbing which none is able to stay . Fluxa est diuitiaru●… Basil. in Psal. 11●… . Worldly possessions are not permanent , but in a continuall fluxe . natura . And Basile writing on that place , called them to be of a flowing nature , possidentes torrent●…citius praetereunt ac dese●… unt : they runne by their ●…ossessors , like the water ●…f a swift running riuer , ●…nd forsakes them . If ye ●…oe to the land-ward , ye ●…hall see the field which ●…elongeth to one this ●…ay , rendred vnto the ●…ossession of another the ●…ext morning . If ye en●…r into cities , how many ●…ames from seuerall Ma●…ers hath the houses ther●…f changed , since they ●…ere first builded ; if ye ●…oke vnto gold and sil●…er , goes it not from one ●…and to another , like wa●…r that hath the one way ●…d cannot long be kept in the hand . Nazian ze●… Nazian. de hom. vilitate . compared them to a ball which young men tosse●… too and fro , and is now i●… the hand of one , and in●… continent in the hand o●… a●…other .

We liue in a time , whe●… In this age the earth spewes out her inhabitants . in , as Iob saith we may s●… the portion of many curs●… vpon earth . If the nett●… possesse not their pleasa●… place , and the thorne the●… Iob 24. 18. Tabernacle , as was threa●…ned Hosea 9. 6. by Hosea , and is see●… vpon many ; yet at lea●… their owne place misknow●… Iob. them , and they leaue th●… riches vnto others . Th●… thinke their houses shall co●…tinue Psal. 49. 10 and calls their lands ●…y their names : thus their ●…ay vttereth their folly . It ●…ay be the Lord dealeth ●… with some in mercy , ●… he caused Goshen to cast ●…ut Israel , that he might ●…ring them to Canaan : so To some it may be done in mercy , as Goshen cast out Israell . ●…e Lord to chase his own ●…nto heauen , maketh the ●…rth to forsake them . But ●…re vnto many , it is the ●…arefull recompence of ●…eir sinnes , that wrath ●…hich the fundamentall ●…nnes of their house , hath ●…ndled long agoe , breaeth now out into a flame ●… deuoure them , accor●…ing to that threatned curse . The land shall sp●…out Leuit. 20. the inhabitants : f●… men haue stopped th●… eares at the word of t●… Lord , therefore now do●… hee meane himselfe to t●… workes of his hands : h●… hath offred a place in t●… heauenly Mansions vn●… men , which they haue ●…fused , choosing rat●… with losse of heauen ●… seek a possession on ear●… that which God off●… them in heauen , they ●… not haue , and that wh●… But vnto many , this earthquake is a plague proportionable to sinnes . they would faine ha●… vpon earth , hee suff●… them not to enioy . T●… Lord hath smitten ●… earth , and it trembles , he ●…ath shaken this land with fearefull earth-quake : ●… many of all estates cast ●…ut from their ●…ncient ●…ossessions , hath not bin ●…und in many hundred ●…ares before vs . And yet ●… this great worke of ●…e Lord , men are not ●…akened to learne the in●…bility of things that ●…e heere , and to prouide ●…lace for themselues in ●…ese enduring Mansions , ●…ereunto our Sauiour ●…re calleth vs .

The last circumstance heere , that the Mansi●… are many , noting vnto vs two things . Fir●… 4 The fourth circumstance is what meanes the many mansions , this imports . Heb. 12. Reuelat. 7. 9 the largenesse of amplitude of that place : ne●… the comely order that ●… there . As for the first , it cleare , innumerable Ang●… dwell there ; and bes●… them , a great multitu●… which no man can num●… of all Nations , Kinreds , p●…ple , 1 The largenes or amplitude of that place . and tongues , but th●… is roome enough , and ●…ficient for all .

Againe , it notes ●… 2 The comely order of that place , without confusion . comely and decent or●… of that house , there ●… be no confusion there ▪ earthly assemblies , w●… great multitudes of p●…ple gather together to old any pleasant specta●…e , one of them is an im●…ediment to anot●… : it ●…all not be so there . The ●…omane Emperors raised ●… ample Amphitheaters a circular forme , that ●…eir people sitting round ●…out , might haue a com●…odious sight of such ●…easant spectacles as ●…ere exhibited vnto them : ●…heir seates ascended by ●…grees , that one of them ●…ould not hinder the ●…ht of another ; these ●…ere onely erected as oc●…sion serued , and lasted ●…t a time , till at length ●…mpeius the Great caused to be built a great & pe●… ma●… Amphitheate●… of such huge quantity that Plinius testifies , fui●…id Plin. lib. 36 cap. 15. opus maximum omni●…quae vnquam fere huma●…manu Panciro●… rerum mem. lib. 1. facta sunt , it was t●… greatest worke that eu●… was wrought by the ha●… of man , and therefore ●… Emperour Nero , to sh●… to some Nobles of G●… many the statelinesse Rome , brought them this Theatre replenis●… with the people of Ro●… If wormes of the ea●… haue done so nobly ●… giue contentment to th●… Subiects , what shall ●… expect from the Lord our ●…od ? O what a glorious ●…mphitheatre is that Of that glorious Amphitheatre wherin al Saints sit in a circle , & God in the middest . ●…herein all the Saints of ●…od shall sit in a circle , ●…d the Lord and the ●…ambe , and the seauen●…ld spirit shall haue their ●…rone in the middest of ●…at circle , as one com●…on obiect of vnspeakea●…e delight , and pleasure them all .

Vpon earth there are Many glorious assemblies of Saints vpon earth , but one of them knows not another . ●…ny glorious assemblies the Saints of God , but ●…e of them knowes not ●…other in the face , they ●… distinguished by seue●…l countries , and in one countrey by seuerall ●…ties , and in one city by seuerall Churches : yea , i●… one house they are distinguished by seueral chambers : but it shall not 〈◊〉 so there , all the dispers●… Saints of the Lord sh●… there be gathered together into one , they sh●… haue full ioy in the Lo●… their God , and mutu●… ioy euery one in another Per charitatem fiet vt qu●… Aug. in Ioan. tract . 67. It will not be so in heauen . habent singuli commune 〈◊〉 omnibus : If Adam kne●… his Euah , whom hee h●… neuer seene before , a●… Peter , Iames & Iohn kn●… Moses and Elias in 〈◊〉 ●…ansfiguration , what shal ●…inder why the Saints of ●…od shall not know one ●…other there , euery one 〈◊〉 reioycing in another , ●…at al their contentment ●…all rest in the Lord , in ●…hose face is that fulnesse ●…ioy , which shal aboun●…ntly satisfie them all ?

The ancients vpon this Degrees of glory obserued by Ancients out of this place . ●…ace obserues degrees of ●…ory . Distinguet Deus quo ●…isque sit honore , qua man●…ne dignus : God sitteth 〈◊〉 the middest of Gods , ●…at is , in the middest of ●…em that shall be saued , ●…scerning and distingui●…ing Nazi . orat . 5. de filio . what honour , and what mansion place i● due vnto euery one . 〈◊〉 domo patris mei mansion● Elias ibid. in Nazian. multae sunt , hoc est dignitatum , & conditionum discrimina : In my Father● house are many mansions , that is , differences o● dignities , and estates : n●● enim dixisse dominum p●tare debemus multas es● mansiones respectu discriminis locorum , sed ordin● donorum ; for we are no● to thinke that our Lor● said , there are many mansions in respect of the di●ferences of places , but i● respect of the order o● gifts . When the Sunne shineth , all men doe not ●qually enioy the light ●hereof , but euery man ●ath his owne delight in 〈◊〉 according to the facul●y of his sight ; so should ●ee esteeme of that light , ●ae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 est , which ●euer goeth down , Quā●rem per multas mansio●s discrimen honoris san●orum significatur : where●re by many mansions ●e different honour of The obiect of ioy is one for all Saints , the manner of fruition different . ●●ints is signified vnto vs . 〈◊〉 is true , saith Augustine 〈◊〉 respect of the obiect , all ●●ioy one thing , & there●●re in that parable , al the ●●bourers in the vineyard are serued alike with on●… pennie : quo vtique denar●… Aug. in Ioan. tract. 67. vita significatur aeterna , 〈◊〉 amplius alio nemo viui●… quoniam viuendi non est d●… uersa in aeternitate mens●…ra ; sed multa mansiones si●… nificant diuersas in vna v●…ta aeterna dignitates : 〈◊〉 which penny eternall l●… is signified , wherin one●… ueth no more or long●… then an other , becau●… in eternity there are n●… diuers measures of liuin●… but many mansions si●…nifies diuers dignities 〈◊〉 one and the same etern●… life ; which yet shall 〈◊〉 without any murmurin●… ●…r grudging , or sense of ●…ant in any , for all shall ●…e filled , and fully con●…ented . Nec erit inuidia Aug. ibid. ●…iqua imparis claritatis , ●…oniam regnabit in omni●…us vnitas charitatis : Nei●…er shall there be a●…ong them any enuy for ●…nequal glory , for in them ●…l shall raigne the vnity ●…f Charity . Sic enim quisque●…iam ipse habet , cum amat 〈◊〉 altero , quod ipse non ha●…et ; for after this manner ●…uery man hath that ●…hich he hath not , when ●…e loueth in another that ●…hich he hath not .

But how euer it be , sure we are of a great glory , Yet this will import a proportion between that glory , and man his merits . yea , an infinit weigh●… of glory , and of comel●… order in that house o●… glory : God grant our car●… may be rather in feare & trembling , to prepare ou●…selues for it , then curious●…ly to enquire the secret●… of it , which as yet are no●… reuealed . One thing hee●… we must remember , tha●… different degrees of glor●… importeth not any pro●…portion betweene tha●… glory , & man his merits Indeed , the different degrees of paines in hell , ar●… according to the different deseruings of men●… for Death is the wages of ●…nne : but the opposition ●…olds not to say , Eternall ●…ife is the wages of our workes : the Apostle changeth his speech , and saith ; But eternall life is the gift Rom. 6. ●…f God , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ●…reely giuen of his fa●…our .

And albeit the Anci●…nts In what sense Ancients som times vse the word of meriting . sometime vse the ●…ord of meriting , yet that ●…herby they signifie one●…y obtaining and not de●…eruing , as the Papists in●…erpret it , is euident of ●…hat one place among ●…any of Augustine : Nos ●…ero fratres , qui nullis praecedentibus meritis de inferni Aug. de resur . Ser. 3. carcere , & tenebris aternae noctis meruimus liberari : There is meriting Papisticke merits disproued by the Father Augustine . without merits , that is , obtayning without merits . Hitherto tends the like of his speeches , all of them disclaiming deseruing , none of them condemning good working : Ne meritis suis tribuat , si Aug. de nupt. & concup . lib. 2 cap. 17. ad eandem massam quisque pertinens , gratia liberetur , sed qui gloriatur , in Domini glorietur : Let no man attribute this to his owne merits , that hee , pertayning to that same masse of sinne wherein all mankind is inuolued , hath bin deliuered from by grace , but let him that glorieth glory in the Lord. Si ergo Aug ad Bonifac lib. 1. cap. 20. ad honorem gratiae pertinemus , non simus ingrati tribuendo nobis quod accepimus : quid enim habemus , quod non accepimus ? If therefore wee belong to the honour of grace , let vs not be so vnthankefull as to attribute that vnto our selues , which we haue receiued : for what haue wee that we haue not receiued ? Quaere dona mea , Aug. de verb. Apostol. Serm 8. ●…bliuiscere merita tua , quia ●…i ego quaererem merita tua , ●…on venires ad dona mea : Seeke my gifts , forget thy merits : for if I sought thy merits , thou shouldst not come to my gifts . And againe , intreating that place of the Apostle●… Henceforth is laid vp for●… me a crowne of righteousnesse , hee turnes him by an Apostrophe to the Apostle , and speakes in this manner ; Giue me leaue , ●… know nought to be thine ▪ but that which is euill ●… Cum ergo corona●… Deus merita tua , nihil aliud coronanisi dona sua : When Go●… crowneth thy merits , h●… crownes nothing by hi●… owne gifts . And mos●… ●…earely , Deus impijs reddit ●…uod debetur in poena , pijs ●…onat quod non debetur in ●…atia . The Lord renders ●…at punishment to the ●…icked , which is their due ●…y deseruing , but of ●…ace giues that to the ●…dly , which hee is not ●…ebt-bound to giue .

The same tenor of Do●…rine In like manne●… they are disproued by Bernard . is kept by Bernard 〈◊〉 many places , namely , 〈◊〉 that notable Treatise ●… hath of that foure-fold ●…bt , wherein man stands ●…lieged to the Lord. Bern. de quadrup . debito . ●…rst , thou art oblieged 〈◊〉 him , as vnto thy Crea●…r , when thou hast giuen him the whole seruice o●… A notable discourse of a fourefold debt wherein manstands debtor to the Lord . thy soule and body , tho●… hast giuen but his due●… because he created them●… Secondly , thou art debter to him as vnto th●… Redeemer , who hath redeemed 1 For his Creation . thy life by suffering death for thee : wher●… with wilt thou pay th●… debt ? If thou saist tho●… 2 For his Redemption . wilt pay it with good se●…uice , how can that be●… seeing all thy seruice ●… not able to pay thy fir●… debt . Cum Christo dona●…ro quicquid sum , quioqu●… possum , nonne istud est sic●… Stella ad Solem , gutta ●… fluuium : When I ha●… ●…iuen vnto Christ all that ●…am , all that I can , al is not ●…ke a Starre in compari●…n of the Sunne , or like 〈◊〉 droppe in respect of a ●…iuer . There is yet a 3 For his former sinfull life . ●…ird debt vpon thee ; Exi●…nt à te praeterita peccata ●…a , futuram vitam tuam : ●…hy former sinnes re●…uires of thee a better ●…e in time to come . See●…g thou hast but still one ●…ing to pay all thy Cre●…ters , Nunquid ( vt vulgo ●…citur ) de vna filia duos ●…tuisti facere generos ? ●…ilt thou , as the Pro●…erbe is , make two sons 〈◊〉 law of one daughter ?

Beside these there is ●… 4 For the hope of eternall life . fourth ; thou desirest t●… possesse that Citie , o●… which it is said , Glorio●… things are spoken of thee , ●… Citie of our God : and t●… haue a roome in the●… heauenly Mansions th●… are in thy Fathers house●… Nonne ad hoc emendend●… totum te , & quaecunque , ●… vndecunque contrahere p●…ter is dare oportebit : Mu●… thou not for buying an●… obtayning of this , giu●… thy selfe , and all tha●… whatsoeuer , or howsoeuer thou art able to ge●… it , and yet when tho●… hast done all , The afflicti●… Rom. 8. 18. ●…ns of this present time are ●…ot worthy of that glory to ●…e reuealed . Wilt thou And shall man be so impudent as to think he may satisfie all these creditors with a halfe-penny . ●…hen be so impudent , Vt ●…inutum tuum etiam ad hoc ●…onquirendum vel ●…udeas ●…umer are : that thou darest ●…e bold to lay out thy ●…alfe-penny to conquere ●…is also , seeing it is in●…aged by iust debt to so ●…any before ? Quis ergo ●…icet se nimium egisse , cum ●…ec mille simae , imo nec mini●…ae debitorum suorum par●… valeat respondere ? Let ●…apists blush & be asha●…ed to heare this ▪ in their ●…aine confidence they ●…ry out , of the fulfilling of the Law , of the doin●… Let Papists blush , for no man is able to pay the thousand part of his debt . of workes of supererogation , which is more the●… the Law requires , & th●… they can merit eterna●… life by the worthinesse●… their workes . There ●… the answere of Berna●… vnto these men : Who 〈◊〉 this , that dares say he h●… done that which hee shou●… or more then he should , s●…ing no man is able to ans●… the thousand , nay , not 〈◊〉 least part of that which he debt-bound to doe ?

If it were not so , I would haue told you .

HEre is a confirmation The comfort giuen vs is the greater because it is told from him who is the true and faithfull witnesse . of the first degree 〈◊〉 the Comfort : It is no ●…ine word I haue spoken 〈◊〉 you , it is true , and you ●…all finde it so ; if it were ●…t so , I would haue told ●…u . If wee would reape ●…e fruit of this Comfort , ●…ee must consider who ●…e is that giues it : hee is ●…lled the faithful witnesse ; Reuel. 1. 1 Ioh. 5. 20. ●…e true one : God hath gi●…n vs a minde to know him who is true . What his ser●…nts spake of our Lord and his glory , they spa●… with a warrant : Wee f●… 2 Pet. 1. 16 lowed no deceiuable fa●… when wee opened to you●… power and comming of 〈◊〉 Lord Iesus Christ , but w●… our eyes , wee saw his M●…stie . What himselfe spa●… hee spake out of certai●… knowledge : and w●… now hee speaketh in 〈◊〉 eares , wee shall one 〈◊〉 see it with our eyes . rael sung it of old ; As ●… Psal. haue heard , so haue we s●… Neyther can so much be told vs as afterward we shall see . in the Citie of our God : a●… so shall we ; yea , wee sh●… see much more then e●… we heard : for the glo●… of these Mansions ●…ngue is able to expresse , ●…e shall be forced to con●…sse with that Queene of 1 King . 10. ●…eba , that the halfe of ●…e glory of our Salomon●…s ●…s not told vs in our ●…ountry . Iames●…d ●…d Iohn got but a transi●…rie glance of that glory 〈◊〉 Mount Tabor : if a ●…nce of it did so rauish ●…em , how shall the full ●…ht thereof replenish vs , ●…ely let vs pray with ●…t sweet Singer in Is●…ll ; Psal. 106. 4. 5. Remember mee O ●…rd with the fauour of thy ●…ple : visit mee with thy ●…uation , that I may see the ●…icitie of thy chosen , and reioyce in the ioy of thy people , and glory with thine inheritance .

And here againe is to The perfection of Christs Propheticall office , hee hath left nothing vntold , needfull for vs to know . be obserued the perfection of Christs Propheticall office : what he hat●… told vs is true , and he hath left nothing vntol●… which is needfull for 〈◊〉 to know , that — wee ma●… be saued . So witnesse●… S. Iohn ; Many other sig●… Iohn 20. 30. 31. did Iesus in presence of 〈◊〉 Disciples , which are 〈◊〉 written in this Booke : 〈◊〉 these things are written t●… we might beleeue that Ies●… is the Christ , the Sonne God , and that in beleeu●… ●…ee might haue life through is name . With him agrees ●… . Paul , who protests hee ●…ad deliuered to the El●…ers Acts 20. 27 of Ephesus , the whole ●…ounsell of God : and yet it recorded of him , that ●…hen he opened his cause 〈◊〉 the Iewes and Brethren ●…f Rome , Hee preached to Acts 28. 23 ●…em concerning Iesus , out ●…f the Law of Moses and of ●…e Prophets : yet are the ●…duersaries so shamelesse 〈◊〉 to affirme , that though ●…ow the Euangelists and ●…postles be ioyned with ●…oses and the Prophets , ●…et in all their writings ●…e counsell of God , concerning our saluation 〈◊〉 not to be found . And grant that any point needfull to saluation were not reuealed by him , what Angel or man were able to reueale it ?

But admit it were a●… they say , that all thing needfull for vs to know were not told vs by ou●… Lord and his holy Pe●… men . Who is hee that able to reueale that whi●… the great Angell of t●… Couenant , the Doct●… & Prophet of his Chur●… hath not reuealed ? T●… last Booke of holy Scr●…ture , is the Booke of t●… Reuelation , it is come fro●… the right hand of that ●…ler , who sitteth on t●… Throne . S. Iohn saw closed with seauen seal●… ●…nd he mourned , because ●…one in heauen nor in ●…arth were able to open ●…t , yet the Lambe opened ●…t , which if hee had not ●…one , the Proclamation made by the Angell wit●…esseth , that none was ●…ble to haue done it . This ●…ame may wee say of all ●…he remanent Bookes of ●…oly Scripture ; the Lamb ●…ath loosed to vs the Seales of them all : hee ●…nely hath opened and ●…euealed them vnto vs . And if any part of the ●…ounsell of God needfull ●…o be knowne for saluati●…n , be yet vnsealed & not reuealed to vs , I pray them tell vs who is he i●… heauen or in earth , wil●… do that which the Sonne of God hath left vndone●… It is a blasphemie again●… the Sonne of God , to say hee hath not taught v●… that which is needfull fo●… vs , or that any other shal●… come after him to reueal●… that which our Lord hath not reuealed vnto vs .

And no lesse iniuriou●… The perfection of his Priestly office is no lesse certaine . Heb. are they in this , that they dare derogate from the sufficiencie and perfection of his Priestly office . Hee hath offered himselfe once , and once onely , and that for all his owne , a ●…ropitiatorie sacrifice , for the full satisfaction of his Fathers Iustice : yet are not they ashamed to say , that hee hath satisfied for vs onely in a part , & that which hee hath not done must be supplyed by our owne satisfactions , or of others for vs . But if these ●…gnorant men had but a taste of that bitter cuppe which our Sauiour drank for our sinnes , the horror whereof made him to sweat a bloudy sweat , they would feele and be forced to confesse that it were impossible for any creature to make satisfaction to diuine Iustice fo●… the smallest sinne tha●… euer was committed by man . Neyther can thi●… blasphemie be excuse●… by this pretence , that ou●… workes and sufferings be●… come satisfactory by th●… vertue of Christs merit●… for the meriting and satisfactorie power of Chris●… is personall ; Hee hath by Heb. 1. 3. himselfe purged our sinnes Hee transferres to hi●… Our Lord transfersto his Saints the benefit of his merit , but not the vettue of meriting . Saints the benefit of his merits , but not the power of meriting : that is the glory of a Sauiour , which hee reserueth to himselfe and will not giue to ano●…her . And as it is perso●…all , so it is perfect : hee ●…ath in such sort done his worke for vs by him●…elfe , that he hath not left ●…ny part thereof to bee one or supplied by ano●…er : for which wee haue ●…at most cleare testimo●…ie of the holy Oracle : ●…ee is able perfectly to saue Heb. 7. 25. ●…l them who come vnto ●…od by him . Woe therfore ●…ill be vnto them , who are say that hee saueth ●…ot perfectly , but in a art.

Thus haue we finished he first degree of the comfort , with the confirmation The conclusion of this first degree of Comfort . thereof : wherei●… wee see our Sauiour pre●… seth to draw vp our hart●… and allures vs to follo●… him vnto his Fathe●… house . It is the mann●… of Bridegroomes to see●… their Bride in the hou●… of her Father , and th●… to carry her home to t●… house of their Father : ●… did our immortall H●…band vnto vs , he sent ne●… ther Angell nor Arc●… angell for vs , as Isaac se●… Eliezer to bring Rebe●… from Padan Aram : su●… was his loue , hee ca●… himselfe , and sought v●… ●…e found vs not worthy Wherein we may see how our Lord after the manner of earthly Bridegroomes , hauing sought and marryed vs in our Fathers house , doth now inuite vs to goe with him to his Fathers house . ●… be loued ; for wee were ●…owned in debt , filthy ●…d loathsome Lepers , ●…ead in sinne and trespas●…s , yet his loue ouercame ●…l these impediments ; ●…ill entertainment got ●…ee in our Fathers house , ●…orse then Iacob got from ●…aban ; they spitted on his ●…ce , they buffetted his ●…eeks , they scourged him ●…nd crowned him with ●…ornes ; yet still his loue ●…uer-came all , and he pa●…iently suffered till hee ●…ad relieued vs from our ●…ebt , cleansed vs from ●…ur filthinesse , clothed vs with change of raymen●… and married vs vnto hi●… selfe , then he ascended o●… high , and inuites vs t●… follow him , and goe wi●… him to his Fathers hous●… where hee promiseth 〈◊〉 better entertainement Here they gaue him Euill entertainement got our Husband in our fathers house , but better abideth vs in his Fathers house . crowne of thornes , the●… he shall giue vs a Crow●… of glory : here they spi●…ted on his face , there h●… Father shall imbrace v●… and kisse vs with the kiss●… of his mouth : here the●… made him a companio●… of theeues , there he sha●… make vs a companion o●… Angels . He longs to hau●… vs where himselfe is ; hee prayes the Father wee may be there to see his glory ; he cryes in louing manner vpon vs , Come to mee , I will refresh you : In my Fathers house there is roome enough for you ; Come and see , O daughter , hearken and consider , and Psal. 45. 10 11. incline thine eare , forget also thine owne people , & thy Fathers house , so shall the King haue pleasure in thy beauty . Oh that we might answere the Lord with that voyce of true Israelites captiued in Babel : If I Psal. 137. 5. 6. forget thee O Ierusalem , let my right hand forget ( to play ; ) if I doe not remember thee , let my tongue cleaue to the roofe of my mouth : if I preferre not Ierusalem to my chiefe ioy : We are heere in a strange land , shall we forget Our Sion and Ierusalem which is aboue . Alas , that wee are bewitched with the pleasures of Babel , and do not long as we should to see our Fathers house , that wee may be for euer with the Lord .

I goe to prepare a place for you .

THe second degree of 2 The second degree of the comfort , is a consideration of the right wee haue to these heauenly mansions . the comfort is in these words : the disciples and others his Saints might haue said , Lord , it is ioyfull for vs to heare of thy Fathers house , and of the many Mansions which are in it ; but what is that vnto vs ? what right or interest haue we in it ? To this doubt , the Lord opposeth this second degree of comfort ; wherein that which hee spake generally in the first , hee applies particularly to them : the Mansions of my Fathers house are for you and such as you are : I shall make you a right vnto them ; for this cause came I into the world ; for this cause goe I vnto my Father , that I may prepare a place for you .

This comfort is most Without this , the first degree of comfort could not availe vs . And why ? necessary : for what auails it vnto vs to heare of the ioyes of that life to come , and of the glory of that kingdome , vnlesse wee know , that it belongs vnto vs ? The wicked heareth tell of it , but shall euer see it , yea , they may st of the powers of the life come , but shal neuer en●…y them . These are cur●…d with a curse more ●…arefull than that of the ●…amaritan Prince , hee beleued not the word of ●…e Lord , spoken by Eli●…a the Prophet , that Saaria then straited with ●…amine , shold haue plen●… of victuall vpon the ●…orrow ; thou shalt see with 2 Kin. 7. 2. ●…ine eyes , but shalt not eat ●…ereof , said the Prophet . ●…o is it with the wicked , ●…ey shall see the Sonne ●…f man come in his glory , ●…ut they shall not be with him : yea , they shall 〈◊〉 banished from his pr●…sence , they shall see t●… godly at the right ha●… of Iesus , but shall not ●… gathered with them . T●… is their curse ; from t●… which , the Lord prese●… vs .

In this second deg●… Foure words to be considered in this second degree of comfort . these foure words are ●… be considered . First sai●… our Sauiour , I goe , nam●…ly , to my Fathers hou●… Secondly , wherefore ? ●… prepare . Thirdly , what ●… prepare ? A place . Fourt●…ly for whom ? for you .

The first word then 1 The first word , I goe . I goe . Our Sauiour ca●… to the world but tarri●… Our Sauiour came into the world , but tarried not in the world . not in the world ; two ●…d thirty yeares liued he ●…on earth . Now he hath ●…cended on high , and ●…th by example & word ●…ouokes vs to follow ●…m : he is that great Ea●…e which fleeth ouer his ●…ung , fluttering with ●…e wings , alluring vs to ●…ee after him : hee calleth ●…on vs by his word , My ●…ople , Come out of Babel , ●…me out of Egypt , ye are ●…t in bondage there , ye ●…e oppressed there : Rise , ●…d follow me , Come and ●…e the beauty of my Fa●…ers house . Is it not a shame for vs to lye back and linger in this iourny Most part among vs hau●… liued as long as our Lor●… yea , many twise as long shall we still desire to li●… long in this absence fro●… him ? It was promised b●… Esay , that vnder the kingdome of Christ , there sh●… Esay 65. 20 be no more a child of yeare●… Since hee hath lent most part of vs to liue heere a longer time then he took to himselfe , it is shame for vs to desire more . nor an olde man that ha●… not filled his daies . An●… these Fathers who sa●… the day of Christ , but a fa●… off , were ioyfull to dy●… that they might enioy him . Thus is it saide o●… Isaac , that he died full ●…daies ; and shall not we , t●… whom this day of our ●…ord hath shined more earely , long to be dissoled , that we may be with ●…ur Lord . I grant long ●…fe is one of God his pro●…ised temporal blessings , ●…ut it is a far greater bles●…ng so to liue , that thou ●…e content to die : so to ●…se the daies which God ●…ath lent thee , that thou ●… and not in neede of any ●…ore , spending euery day 〈◊〉 if it were thy last day , ●…ke Israell in Egypt , with ●…ynes girded vp , and thy ●…affe in thy hand for the ●…urney , euer looking and ●…nging , when the Lord shall command thee 〈◊〉 remoue .

Againe , it is to be o●… As the death of our Sauiour , so the death of Saints is but a going to our Father . serued that our Sauio●… speaking of his death , c●… it a going to his Fathe●… S. Luke calls it the time 〈◊〉 his assumption , namely , 〈◊〉 into heauen . If we co●… consider this , it wo●… banish from vs the pr●…phane feare of deat●… There is one family , sa●… S. Paul , whereof God the Father , part of th●… Family is in heauen , an●… part is vpon earth . As ●…rusalem was distinguish●… into two cities , the supe●…or , and inferiour , so is t●… Church : The superior ci●… hath in it the compa●… of Saints triumphant : ●…e inferiour consists of ●…e company of Saints ●…ilitant , yet both make 〈◊〉 but one family . Now ●…en , since our death is 〈◊〉 other thing , but a pas●…g from the lower ●…use , vp into the higher , 〈◊〉 the transplanting of a ●…ee from one part of the ●…ords vineyard to a bet●…r , why shall we grudge it . But of this more ●…ay be seen in our Trea●…es of the eight to the ●…omanes , and defiance to ●…ath .

The doctrine of th●… Comfortlesse is the doctrine of the church of Rome concerning ▪ death . Stepmother-Church o●… Rome comes far short o●… this comfort : the deat●… of her children they call●… downe-going to an hou●… in hell , to wit , Purgatory not an vpgoing to our fathers house in heauen ▪ 〈◊〉 comfortles religion ▪ Phisitians are they of no value : miserable are the●… who are blinded by them Their religion tells the that in thy life-time tho●… canst not be sure of saluation , and in death it assures thee thou must g●… into purgatory , the pain●… wherof differeth nothing from the paine of hell , ex●…ept that it is of shorter ●…ontinuance , and there ●…eedes them with vaine ●…opes that they wil bring ●…hee out againe , but can●…ot tell thee when . If thou ●…ue thy soule O man , ●…ust not in such deceit●…ll trumpery , hazard not ●…y soule downe-ward , ●…ee that religion which ●…rofesses this for a princi●…le , For the death of her children shee defines to be a down . going , not an vp-going to the house of our father . that it cannot make ●…ee sure of saluation . If ●…ou wouldst haue rest to ●…y soul belieue in Christ , ●…enounce thy selfe , con●…nt thee with his merits , ●…e instructed by his word , there thou shalt learn●… that it belongeth vnto al●… his redeemed , which he●… spake vnto one : This nigh●… thou shalt be with me in Paradise . From the place o●… our Pilgrimage al that di●… in the Lord , goe by 〈◊〉 straight course to Paradise , they know no Purgatory . Vbi euolauerit Macar . hom. 22. corpore anima si rea sit , p●…testates tenebrarum eam ●…ripiunt , Sanctis vero ast●… Angeli qui eorum anim●… ad suam partem pertra●… So soone as the soule flieth out of the body , if be guilty , the powers 〈◊〉 darkenesse carries it vi●… lently with them as their prey , but the holy Angels carries the soules of holy men vnto their place , as they carried Lazarus his soule into Abrahams bosome : no word heere of any mid-place , and no lesse cleare in this point is Nazianzen . Credo omnem Nazi . orat . 24. in ●…audem Caesarij . animam Deo charam , posteaquam corporis vinculis soluta hinc excesserit , hilarem ad dominum suum conuolare , & beatitudin●…m reconditam imaginatione quadam percipere . I beleeue that euery soule beloued of God , so soone as it is loosed from the body , flyes ioyfully vnto the Lord , and there enioyes that happines which in heauen is laied vp for it .

But no lesse cruell and But more comfortles and cruell are they when they send down infants vnbaptized , to a house of hel , baptised by themselues and called Infernus non baptizatorum merciles are they toward young children dying without Baptisme : for these , if the want of Baptisme be not supplied by martyrdome , they condemne to another house of hell , which they cal●… infernus non baptizatorum the hell of such as are no●… baptized . Our Sauiour commanded to bring th●… young children , and sai●… of such is the kingdome 〈◊〉 heauen , but these new doctors will banish young ones from him , and grant them no place in his kingdome . S. Paul saith , that children of beleeuing Parents are holy , being born within the Couenant ; but the Pope sends them downe to a house in hell , for want of the seale of the Couenant : But because they still bragge of Antiquity , we wil let you heare the voyce of Antiquity plainely against them . This cruell opinion is condemned by Augustine .

First , of this purpose Augustine writes in this manner . Proinde respuendi sunt a corde Christiano , qui putant ideo dictum multas esse mansiones , quod extra regnum coeloru●… erit aliquid , vbi maneant beati innocentes , qui sine Baptismo ex hac vita emigrarunt , quia sine illo in regnum ●…alorum intrare non poterunt . Therefore they are to be reiected , yea , spewed out of a Christian heart , who thinke , because our Sauiour sayes , there are many Mansions , that therefore without the kingdome of Heauen , there is some place , wherein blessed innocents , dying without Baptisme shall remaine , because without it they Let Catholique Romanes consider what fals●… Catholicks they are in Augustine his minde . cannot enter into the kingdom of heauen : Haec ●…ides non est fides , quia non ●…st vera & Catholica fides : This faith is no faith , because it is no true Catho●…ique faith . Dare ye so di●…ide the house of our Father , that some Mansions therof ye make to be in the kingdom of heauen , others of them without the kingdom of Heauen ? Absit vt ●…ui volunt habitare in regno ●…oelorum in hac stultitia ve●…int habitare vobiscum : Far ●…e it from vs , that they who would dwell in the kingdome of heauen , should dwell with you in this foolish opinion .

With Augustine agreeth With Augustine agreeth Bernard . Ierem. 1. 5. Bernard : I read , saies he , that the Lord spake of Ieremie , Before thou came out of the wombe , I sanctified thee : And of Iohn the Baptist , Qui ex viero , Dominum in vtero sensit , who in the womb of his owne Mother Elizabeth was touched with a feeling of his Lord , in the wombe of Marie the blessed Virgin ; Bern. Epist. 174. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 had fallen out ( 〈◊〉 ●…ee ) that any of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 died in the 〈◊〉 , meaning of Ie●… or Iohn , who will say , being thus sanctified by the Spirit , that they should haue beene condemned ? Hee that pleases to heare more , let him ●…urne ouer to his 77. Epi●…tle , written to Hugo de Bern. ad Magi. Hug. de sancto victore . epist. 77. ●…ancto victore , because ●…ome new vpstart of that ●…ime had taken in hand to ●…roue the absolute neces●…ty of Baptisme out of ●…hese wordes of Iesus to ●…icodemus , Except a man Iohn 3. 5. ●…e borne of water , and of the Not the want , but the neglect and contempt of baptisme is preiudicial to saluation . ●…pirit , hee cannot enter into ●…he kingdome of Heauen . ●…ernard there improues ●…hat sence , and by forci●…le reasons euinces , that it is not the meaning of Christ in that place , establishing this conclusion , that the want of Baptism cannot be pr●…iudiciall to saluation , Tantum si aqu●… non contemptus sed sola prohibeat impossibilitas , prouiding it be not the contempt thereof , but impossibility to get it , that causes the want of it . And to Ibid ▪ Papists teaching otherwaies are declared long since by the fathers to be affirmers of new inuentions . strengthen his iudgement hee bringeth in the consent of auncient Fathers that were before ▪ him . Mirror si nouus iste nouarum inuentor assertionum et assertor inuentionum inuenire in hoc rationem potuit , quae sanctos latuit pa●…res Ambrosium & Au●…ustinum , nam si nescit , v●…erque profecto idem sensit , quod fatemur , et nos sentire . Legat librum Ambrosu de ●…orte Valentiniam , & Augustini de vno bap. smo , lib. 4. I maruell saies he if this ●…ew inuentor of new as●…ertions , and assertor of ●…nuentions could find out ●… reason for his new opinion , which was vnknown to the holy Fathers , Ambrose and Augustine , if he be ignorant of it , let him know that both these were of that same minde concerning this point , wherof I am , let him read the booke of Ambrose o●… the death of Valentiman and Augustine his fourth booke of one Baptism●… These are the wordes o●… Bernard ; Let Papists be ashamed to lurke vnder the shadow of Antiquity , since they are assertors of nouelties , and such nouelties as haue beene by diuers ancient Fathers so plainely condemned , long before ou●… time . The second word in the second degree of confort is . To prepare .

The next word here is , of preparing , I goe ( saith our Sauiour ) to prepare : This leads vs by the hand to take vp the greatnesse of that glory : for it must be a great glory which is prepared by the Lord . And this will appeare the better by a twofold comparison : first , of the works of God with the workes of man : next , of the works That it must be a great glory which God prepares , will appeare . among themselues . As for the first , when men of great power make preparation some great thing answerable to their power is expected of them . I 1 By comparison of the workes of men with the workes of God . cease to speake of those workes , whereunto the luxurious humours of men haue carryed them without necessitie or any good vse ; as the Pyramides , the Labyrinth , and Plin. lib. 36. cap. 14. Sphynx of Egypt , the temple of Diana , the Sepulchre of Mausolus , the wals of Babell , the Capitoll of Rome , and many moe . Of all which it is true which Panciroll speaketh of one Panciroll . de 7. mundi miraculis . of them ; Nulla alia aedificandae Pyramidis causa fuit , quam vana & stulta ostentatio , vt scilicet nec pecunia ipsa , nec etiam plebs otiosa esset : There was no other cause why the Kings of Egypt builded their Pyramides , one whereof was twentie yeares in building , three hundred and threescore thousand men continually working therat , no other cause ( saith hee ) was of all this vnprofitable labour , but a vaine and foolish ostentation , that neyther their money nor their men should be idle .

But these , as I said , I Noah was an 120. yeare preraring the Arke , at length he finished it a vessell of huge quantitie . ●…eaue , and turne mee to holy Scripture . Noah was an hundred and twentie years preparing the Arke . No doubt , as the Lord commanded him to build ●…t , so his wisedome directed him how to build it . Here was a long preparation , and it produced a great worke : it behooued to be a great vessell , there were but eight reasonable soules in it , Noah the Father , Iaphet , Sem and Cham , his three Sonnes , with their wiues , but beside these , it contayned all kindes of creatures , beasts of the earth , birds of the ayre , male and female . Of what huge quantitie it was , may appeare by this ; the Floud continued for Gen 7. 11. the space of a yeare and tenne dayes : for it began in the sixe hundred yeere of Noah , the second Moneth , and seauenteenth day of the Moneth , the earth was not dry , ney●…her did Noah come forth Gen. 7. 13. 14. 15. ●…ll the sixe hundred and ●…ne yeare , the second Moneth , the twentie sea●…enth day of the Moneth . ●…ow from the time the ●…rke began to rest on the oppe of the Mountaines ●…f Ararat , it was a quarter Gen. 8. 4. 5. ●…f a yeare wanting seauen ●…ayes , before the toppe ●…f any mountaine was ●…eene . Of this appeares ●…hat a huge Vessell it ●…as .

Againe , great prepara●…on Dauid and Salomon made long preparation for building the temple . was made by Dauid●…nd ●…nd Salomon for building ●…f the Temple : seauen yeares was it a building ; at this worke he had continually tenne thousand men that by course hewed wood in Lebanon : 2 Chron. 2. 18. fourescore thousand Masons that hewed stones in the mountain , threescore and tenne thousand that bare burdens , three thousand and sixe hundred Ouerseers or Masters of The work was a wonder of the world , for where great men make great preparation , great workes are expected to follow . the worke ; and it was a great worke , the Kings of the earth maruelle●… & were astonished when they saw it . The second Temple built after the Captiuitie , was nothing comparable to the first It is true Haggie prophe●…ed that the glory of the ●…cond house should ex●…eed the glory of the first ●…ouse ; but that was not 〈◊〉 respect of the building , ●…ut in respect of the per●…nal presence of the Son ●…f God , who taught in ●…at Temple : yet was this ●…cond Temple so great a ●…orke , that the Disciples ●…ondred to see the stones ●…ereof , and Titus when ●…ee destroyed it , turned ●…im to his Captaines and ●…yed , Pugnauit hodie pro ●…obis Deus , ô Commilitones : God hath this day fough●…en for vs , O fellow souldiers : for hee perceiued the strength of that hous●… greater then that hee was able to destroy it , if th●… Lord had not bin agains●… it . Thus you see whe●… men of power make grea●… preparation , there fo●…lowes great workes ,

Ahasuerus made a grea●… Ahasuerus after long preparation made a royall banquet . Esth. 1. 4. feast to all the Princes 〈◊〉 an hundred twentie an●… seauen Prouinces , for n●… other end , but to she●… the riches and glory 〈◊〉 his Kingdome , and th●… honour of his Maiestie fo●… the time it lasted , to th●… Princes an hundred an●… fourescore dayes , to th●… common people it lasted seauen dayes . The place ●…as the court of the Gar●…en of the Kings Palace ; ●…he Tapestrie was of white , greene , and blew , ●…astned with cords of fine ●…innen and Purple , in sil●…er Rings and Pillers of Marble ; the beds were of Gold and siluer , vpon a ●…auement of Porphyre , ●…nd Marble and Alaba●…er If so great things be done by men when they prepare them for it , what shall wee looke for from our God ? and blew colour . If 〈◊〉 great works were done ●…y a worme of the earth , ●…o shew the greatnesse of ●…is Maiestie , what shall ●…ee looke for from the Lord our God ? how great must that glory be , whic●… is prepared by himself for his Saints of all 〈◊〉 Prouinces , not to indu●… for a time , but for eu●… and euer ?

Secondly , if wee sha●… 2 It appeares by the comparison of the workes of God among themselues . compare the workes 〈◊〉 God among themselues wee may lay this for ground , that the inuisib●… workes of God are alwa●… most excellent : some 〈◊〉 his Creatures are vnde●…standing Spirits onely without flesh ; such as t●… Angels : some are fl●… only without vndersta●…ding , the one is subiect 〈◊〉 sense , not so the other , b●… how farre doth the one excell the other ? Yea , in man who consists of a ●…oule and of a body , doth ●…ot the inuisible soule far excell the visible body ? And seeing this visible Seeing his visible works are so glorious , his inuisible workes must be much more glorious . world , the place of our ●…oiourning , is so beautifull as we may behold it , what shall wee thinke of that inuisible Palace , the place of our endlesse habitation ? The great Cities of Campania seeme but little cottages to them who stand on the toppe of the Alpes , and when we shall once be exalted to the mountaine of our GOD , the most stately and gorgeous building which are now , shall appeare nothing at all ; yea●… as the Moone coueret●… her selfe with a pale vail●… at the brightnesse of th●… Sunne , so shall all the glory of flesh evanish , whe●… that glory of the Sonne of God shall be reuealed ▪

But here may be demanded , Our mansions in respect of Gods decree were prepared before the world . Mat. 25. 34 how saith o●… Sauiour , I goe to prepare●… place for you ? Was it n●… prepared before the fou●…dation of the world ? Co●… ye blessed of my Father , 〈◊〉 herit the Kingdome prepred for you from the fo●… dation of the world . The answere is , both these are ●…rue : it was prepared before , and yet is preparing But in respect of the execution of the decree , they are still in preparing . ●…till . Distinguish the de●…ree from the execution ●…f the decree : in respect ●…f the decree it was pre●…ared , in respect of the ●…xecution it is preparing ●…et . And this prepara●…on stands in these three ; ●…st , in possession : se●…ndly , in intercession : ●…irdly , in effectuall ope●…tion .

For the first : Christ Ie●…s And this preparation stands in these three . hath ascended vnto heuen to possesse it for 〈◊〉 and vnto vs , to sease our nature in that conquered 1 In possessing vs in these mansions places . Tertul. de resur . carnis . Kingdome . O●… this Tertullian , in name o●… all the Saints , gloryeth i●… this manner : Quemadmodum nobis aharabonem Spiritus reliquit , ita à nobis a●…rabonem carnis accepit , & vexit in Coelum pignus totius summae illuc quando●… redigendae : Securae esto●… caro & sanguis , vsurpast●… enim Coelum & Regnum Dei in Christo : As t●… Lord hath left behind him vnto vs , the earne●… of his Spirit , so hath h●… taken from vs the earnest ●… our flesh , & carried it in●… heauen , as a pledge th●… the whole summe , namely , all that are his , euen in their bodies , shall come thither also : therefore O flesh and bloud be glad , and rest in assurance , for thou possessest that Kingdome of heauen already in thy head , the Lord Iesus Christ .

The second point of 2 In intercession for vs , that wee may haue the place there , which hee hath merited . this preparation is his Intercession for vs : Christ is not entred into the holy places which are made with hands , and are similitudes ●…f the true Sanctuary , but ●…s entred into the very heauen , to appeare now in the ●…ight of God for vs . Thus then prepares hee that place for vs , when by his continuall Intercession hee prayes that the plac●… may be asigned vnto euery one of vs , which he●… hath merited vnto vs●… The typicall high Pries●… And this intercession is not generall but particular for euery one of his Saints by name . had the names of all th●… twelue Tribes of Israe●… vpon his brest , when he●… appeared before God t●… pray for them : but ou●… high Priest knowes particularly by name all h●… Saints , for whom hee i●… terceeds : I haue called th●… Esay 43. 2. by thy name , for thou ●…mine . Yea , not one●… knowes hee our person●… but all our seuerall infirmities : For we haue not an Heb. 3. 15 high Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities , but was in all things tempted in like sort , yet without sinne .

And lastly , this preparation 3 In effectuall operation , by which hee drawes vs vp to these Mansions prepared for vs . stands in his effectuall operation in vs , according as hee promised ; And I , if I were lift vp from the earth , will draw all men vnto mee , to wit , all that are mine . Then prepares he that place for vs , when by his attractiue vertue hee drawes vs vp vnto it : Parat quodammodo Aug. in Ioan. tract. 68. mansiones , cum mansionibus parat mansores : The Lord after a sort ( saith Augustine ) prepares a mansion place , when hee prepares them who shold remaine in it . Ita Domine , para quod paras , nos enim tibi paras , & t●… nobis paras , cum locum paras , & tibi in nobis , & in te nobis ; tu enim dixisti , Manete in me , & ego in vobis : Euen so , Lord , prepare that which thou art preparing , for thou preparest vs to thy selfe , and preparest thy selfe vnto vs , when thou preparest a place for thy selfe in vs , and for vs in thee ; for thou saidst , Abide yee in mee , and I in you . Iohn 15. S. Peter ioynes these two together ; An inheritance 1 Pet. 1. 4. 5 kept in the heauens for vs , and whereunto we are kept by the power of God through faith . This is for our great comfort , that hee who hath prepared that Kingdome for vs , prepares vs for it : hee hath ascended on high , and is now drawing vs vp after him . We In the Mystical body all the life is in the head , and hee will not faile to draw all his members after him . speake it of the naturall body , where the head goes through , it will draw the whole body after it : this is much more true in the mysticall body ; for whereas in the naturall body there are moe vitall parts then one , in the mysticall there is no vitall part but the head : so long as there is life in the head , and that shal be for euer ; for Christ is now risen from the dead , and can dye no more , the members shall not want life . Such as are in him feeles vertue flowing from him , to draw them vp to himselfe , to renew and prepare them for these new Heauens , wherein dwelleth righteousnesse , and into the which no vncleane thing can enter . Aboue all things let vs take heede that wee finde this attractiue vertue in our selues : for thereby shall wee know that our Lord is preparing a place for vs in these heauenly Mansions .

Now that our Sauiour Limbus patrum altogether elumbat , can finde no footing in this place . saith , I goe to prepare a place for you : we haue shewed ●…n what sense hee saith it . And therefore they are farre mistaken who abuse this place , to proue , that the way to the heauenly Mansions was vnpassa●…le , and heauen inaccessi●…le before the resurrection & ascention of Christ : ●…o affirme the Prolocu●…ors 〈◊〉 on Heb. 9. v. 8. for Babell , that the Patriarkes & other good men of the olde Testament , were in some other place of rest before the comming of Christ , and not in heauen ; and namely , that they were in a place called Limbus Patrum , which in their mind is the vppermost house of hell . A strange opinion , as if there could be any rest but in heauen , or that soules could haue rest in any house of hell . And with this they abuse another place of the Apostle to the Hebrewes , The way Heb. 9. 8. into the holiest of all was not yet opened , while as yet ●…he first Tabernacle was standing .

For answering whereof Another place vindicate from the h●…nds of Papists which they would abuse to proue that none of the godly before Christ , went into heauen . we must know , that the Apostles purpose there , is ●…o declare vnto the Hebrewes , that the seruice of the Leuiticall Priest-hood & first Tabernacle , could not of it selfe , giue saluation , but figured that saluation which comes by the bloud of the high Priest . Now albeit the Leuiticall seruice of it 〈◊〉 could neyther saue Priest nor people , yet so many of them as were spirituall , and in vsing of the Typicall sacrifice , looked by the eye of faith vnto the true sacrifice , beleeuing remission of sin●… through the bloud o●… Christ , these were saue●… by faith in Christ t●… come , no lesse then we are saued by faith in Chris●… that is come . And where the Apostle saith , the way●… to heauen was not open during the time of the first Tabernacle , it doth not import , that the way to heauen was closed all that time , but that it 〈◊〉 not manifested then 〈◊〉 made so clearly apparen●… as now it is by the comming of Christ : for the Apostle vseth not the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , which signifieth The difference of the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , declares the way was open then albeit not so cleare as now . to open that which was closed , but hee vseth the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , which signifieth to make manifest and cleare a thing which is darke and obscure . Now there is a great difference betweene these two ; to say that the way of heauen was obscured with shadowes & couerings , which were remoued by Christs comming , and the way to heuen more clearly manifested ; and to say , that the way and dore of heauen was closed & locked vp before , til Christ came and opened it : and therfore the Iesuites themselues are forced to translate this word as I haue alledged ; The way of the holiest was not yet manifested . They had the same Couenant of Grace that wee haue , but they had it infolded & couered with figures and shadowes , we haue it outfolded and clearely proponed without figure or shadow . The Sunne before his rising sends out a light , whereby any man that hath eyes may see the way wherein he should walke , but when it riseth , it brings with it a greater light , whereby the way is more clearly manifested . The Lord Iesus before his in carnation sent out a light , which shewed the way of saluation to so many as were appointed for it , and by that light they walked vnto it ; but much more clearely hath hee manifested it by his owne comming . These words are abused , when another sense is inforced vpon them .

When Moses testifieth of Henoch , that hee walked with God , and hee was no more seene , for God tooke Gen. 5. 24. 2 Kin. 2. 11. When the Scripture saith , God tooke vp Henoch & Eliah into heauen , if the doctrine of the Romish Church be true , it must be said , they were carried downe to a house in hell . him away . The Doctors of Rome must make this Commentary vpon it , God took him away , that is , tooke him downe to an house of hell called Limbus Patrum , or else they must renounce their opinion : and where the Spirit of God saith , that Elijah went vp by a whirlewinde into heauen , these babling builders of Babell will haue it expounded this way ; that hee went downe to Limbus : When Lazarus dyed , his soule was carryed by Angels into Abrahams bosome : now say they that the ●…lace called Abrahams bosom ●…osome is now in heauen , ●…ut before Christs death ●… was a place in hell , Limbus Patrum . But I pray ●…ou what reasonable man ●…ill thinke that holy An●…els carry the soules of ●…en vnto another place ●…en that wherein they ●…well themselues ? Origen Origen . in Iob. ●…riting on that place of ●…b , And naked shall I re●…rne , saith in this manner ; I shall returne thither , ●…here Adam and the rest ●… mine elders are gone ; ●…here the tabernacles of the ●…ghteous are , the rest of the faithfull , the consolation o●… the godly ; where Abrahams bosome is , and th●… company of Angels , the kingdome of Christ , where i●… light , life and glory , and th●… sight of God . Darest tho●… say these things are to b●… found in any house o●… hell ? Fie , that they are not ashamed to maintain such false and ridiculou●… fables .

The third word here , is 3 The third word in this second degree of Comfort is , A place . what goes he to prepare A place . Not a place o●… punishment , but as he●… said before , A mansion place , a place of euerlasting rest and ioy . Still th●… comfort rises by degrees . O what a mercy is this ! ●…f a place were assigned to ●…s according to our deseruing , the earth would ●…ot beare vs . It is the ●…urse of the wicked when ●…hey dye , they goe downe Acts 1. 25. ●… their place ; so was it with Iudas : and when ●…entence shall be giuen ●…ut against them , the ●…rth shall open & swallow them ; but the com●…assion Gods great mercy , that man shold haue a place in heauen . of the Lord , and ●…assion of his Christ , hath ●…eed vs from this miserable condition . For our ●…nne we were cast out of ●…arthly Paradise , and yet the Lord out of his loue hath giuen vs a place in the heauenly Paradise : The Angels lost the plac●… of their habitation there , & shall neuer recouer it , bu●… man is raised vp into thei●… roomes , to sit with Chris●… Ephes. 2. 6. in the heauenly places .

But the last word compleates 4 The fourth and last word is , For you . the Comfort , fo●… you : I goe to prepare a pla●… for you . It were no matter of comfort to heare o●… that place , and of th●… great preparation mad●… in it , if it were not for vs for as wee shewed in th●… beginning , our Sauiou●… here vnderstands not th●… twelue Disciples onely , when hee saith , I goe to prepare a place for you : there is one of the twelue ●…ath no place there ; Iudas Acts 1. 15. went to his owne place , and many beside the twelue that shal haue place there , ●…s afterward our Sauiour expounds himself . Alway Particular application of Gods promises , is necessary for our comfort . wee see it is not sufficient ●…or true consolation to haue a generall sight of eternall life , but a particular application of the promises thereof is necessarily required in vs . And this is the very essentiall difference which distinguisheth true iustifying faith from all other kind●… of faith whatsoeuer . Th●… Papists mistake it farr●… when they teach there i●… no more in faith then Notitia Coster . enchir. cum assensu , a knowledge with assent . For Papists mistake far the nature of Faith , when they take from it this particular application . suppose thou knowe●… the promises of eterna●… life , and assentest to them also , that they are true i●… the generall , if thou ha●… not the assurance ( which iustifying Faith renders that they are thine , wha●… comfort hast thou ? Th●… damned Diuels know & confesse the Son of God they know his word ●… true , both his promises●… mercy , and threatnings ●…f iudgement ; but they ●…re sure that mercy belongs not to them , and iudgement cannot goe by them , therfore they tremble saith S. Iames : where ●…f they thought and assented not to the truth of Gods word , it would not moue them at all , neither would they tremble for ●…he iudgement more then they reioyce at the mercie . Thus haue these reprobate Spirits , an assen●…ing knowledge , then the which no more is in the Papists faith , according to their owne doctrine .

And thus they mistaking From this they fal into another inconuenience , to deny that a man in this life can be sure of saluation . the nature of Faith●… are forced to fall into an●… other in conuenience , tha●… in this life no man can b●… sure of saluation , vnlesse it be by extraordinary reuelation . Indeed for them it is necessary to affirm●… this ; for it is impossible that their Religion can giue any man assurance of saluation : and therefore hath their Counsel●… of Trent decreed in this Consil. Trid. Ses. 6. Can. 5 manner : Si quis dixerit h●…minem renatum teneri exfide ad credendum , se cert●… esse de numero praedestinatorum , anathema sit : If any man say that a regenerate man is bound of faith ●…o beleeue that hee is certainely of the number of ●…hem who are predestinated to life , let him be accursed . This is their comfortlesse Doctrine . That a regenerate man may be and is sure of saluation is proued against the Counsell of Trent .

But as hee who liues , ●…eeles life sensibly , and ●…an say , I liue : and hee who hath a Iewell in his ●…and which others see ●…ot , can say confidently ●… haue it : so the regenerate man iustified by ●…aith , hauing receiued the ●…pirit of Adoption , called , The earnest of our inheritance : Ephes. 1. 14. The witnesse of God who witnesseth to o●… 1 Iohn 5. 10 Spirits that we are the so●… of God : The seale of Go●… Rom 8. 16. by whom wee are sealed against the day of redēptio●… Ephes. 4. 30. can as certainly say th●… I haue it . And albeit many are deceiued concerning it , to thinke with t●… Math. fiue foolish Virgins th●… haue that which th●… haue not : is it therefo●… reason to affirme that ●… are deceiued , and no●… can be assured ?

Considering that regenerate For hee hath all these rights & sureties of his heauenly inheritance . men haue all the●… securities of their heauenly inheritance giuen th●… from the Lord : fi●… Charter ; secondly , Confirmation ; thirdly , Sea●…ing ; fourthly , Possession . 1 A Charter giuen him by the Lord . Our Charter is the word of the Lord , and promises made vs in the Gospell of grace . There ●…s one clause of our Charter , As the Father hath appointed Luke 22. 29 a Kingdome to mee , ●…ol appoint it to you . There ●…s another ; Feare not little Luke 12. 32 ●…ocke , it is the Fathers will ●…o giue you the Kingdome . If reprobate man or Angell would quarrell ( as no doubt they will in the day of tentation ) our ●…ight to the kingdome of heauen , wee should haue such principall clauses o●… our Charter , registred i●… our hearts , to produce against them , that would disturbe our peace .

Secondly , we haue th●… 2 A confirmation past thereupon . Lords Confirmation pa●… vpon our Charter . O●… this speakes the Apostle ●… So God willing more abundantly Heb. 6. 17. 18. to shew vnto t●… heyres of promise , the stabilitie of his counsell , ha●… bound himselfe by an oa●… that by two immutable thing●… wherein it is impossible th●… God should lye , wee might haue strong consolation . T●… Lord hath not only spoken the word , but hat●… confirmed it with an ●…ath , to shew to the heires ●…f promise , these are regenerate men , the stabili●…e of his counsell : let the aduersaries marke this . Beside this , the death of ●…e Testator hath inter●…ened , and hath subscri●…ed the Testament with ●…is owne bloud , and confirmed it in our hearts by giuing vs his owne Spirit , as his witnesse , his ●…arnest and his owne seale assuring vs that the promised saluation is ours . And therefore S. Paul speaking to the Corinthians 1 Cor. 1. 6. saith , The testimonie of God hath beene confirmed in you . Truth it is , many in our dayes , know this Charter , and can speake of it , who haue not the testimonie thereof confirmed in their hearts , but sure his Saints elected , called , and iustified haue it .

Thirdly , wee haue our 3 A seasing conformab●…e to his Charter . Seasing giuen vs , when his seruants , Preachers of the Gospell , as his Deputies and officers , in his name , seases and infefts vs in his promised Kingdome : and this is done vpon earth , so oft as they deliuer vnto vs in the holy Sacrament , that ●…read which is his body , ●…hat wine which is his ●…loud . A donation reall ●…s made to vs of Christ , and of all that which hee hath conquered vnto vs , that which generally is proposed in the word , particularly is applyed in the Sacrament to euery true , penitent , and beleeuing receiuer : for it is not a naked signe or symboll which there is put into our hands , but an effectuall exhibiting instrument of Christ Iesus , and of all that by his death he hath merited vnto vs .

Last of all , we haue possession 4 Possession . of it , not onely as wee said hath hee carryed our nature into the heauens , & possessed it there , but hee hath deliuered to vs the keyes of the Kingdome , Faith and Prayer , by the which , when wee knocke , hee openeth , and giues vs euen in this life , an entrance to it , that we may after a sort view and behold the glory thereof , as Moses from the top of Pisgah viewed Canaan : & this is a present pledge of that future redemption of the possession abiding vs hereafter , when we shal●… more fully inioy it then ●…ow we can .

Thus haue wee seene in And yet no man hath this assurance at all times in a like measure . a part what sure and vndoubted warrants , Saints called and iustifyed , haue of their saluation ; yet it is to be obserued , that this assurance continues not with them alway in a like measure : they are many a time exercised with doubtings , & desertions , for their greater humiliation : but this is sure , true Religion approues no doubting , farre lesse prescribes it , but rather improues it , and by strong arguments taken out of the word , strengthens Faith , and remoueth all causes of dubitation furnished by infidelitie . But that I may eschew repetition , he that lists may read this matter entreated at greater length on the eight to the Romanes , where we haue also proued that Saints called once by grace , and iustified by Faith , are sure of finall perseuerance .

Verse 3. And though I goe to prepare a place for you , I will come againe and receiue you vnto my selfe , that where I am , there ye may be also .

FOllowes now 3 The third degree of comfort against death is the consideration of the meanes by which we shal be aduanced to our heauenly mansions . the third degree of the Comfort . The ●…isciples yet might haue ●…aid ; Lord , it is a great ●…omfort to heare of the ●…any Mansions which ●…re in thy Fathers house , greater yet to heare that ●…hou wilt goe and prepare them for vs ; but this this is still the matter o●… our feare , we are clothe●… with mortall and corruptible bodies , which shortly must be turned into dust and ashes , and with in them wee haue sinful●… soules , how shall we the●… be able to inherit these Mansions ? To this ou●… Sauiour answeres ; I wil●… come againe and receiue you , that where I am , there yee may be also : your ascending vp to the mansion places of my Fathers house , is not a worke to be done by you , or by the power of nature : it is a work to be done by me , I will receiue you , and no It is the worke of Gods power , and not our owne . power of the gr●…ue , of the earth , nor of hell shall be able to hold you from mee . For this cause when the Apostle had prayed for the Ephesians , that God would open their eyes Eph. 1. 18. 19. and let them see the riches of that glorious inheritance prepared for the Saints , he subioynes incontinently another prayer , that God would open their eyes to see that exceeding greatnes of his power toward vs that beleeue . These two are requisite for our compleat comfort : first , to know the greatnesse of that promised glory : next , to know that the great power of God will bring vs vnto it , Hee will performe his promised kingdome .

I will come againe . ] This Christ his second comming acknowledged by Angels . is an Article of our faith , acknowledged by Angels : Yee men of Galile , why stand yee gazing into heauen ? This Iesus which is Acts 1. 11. taken vp from you , shall so come , as yee haue seene him taken vp into heauen . Beleeued by Saints ; Vnto Heb. 9. 28. Beleeued by Saints . them that looke for him shall hee appeare without sinne the second time vnto saluation : but scorned by mockers , according to the prediction of S. Peter , There shall come in the last 2 Pet. 2. 3. Scorned by mockers . times mockers , which will walke after their lusts , and say , Where is the promise of his comming ? But as the Apostle hath in that same Chapter ; The Lord is not Vers 9. slacke as concerning his promise . Hee kept precisely the time of his first comming : when the Scepter departed from Iudah , then Shiloh came : and no lesse peremptorily wil he keep the time of his second comming . Indeede it is hid from vs , & men when out of their owne coniectures they determine of it , expose Christian religion to the ludibry of the vnbelieuing .

Alwaies as the Fathers As the Fathers vnder the law longed for Christs first comming , so should we for the second . 1 Cor. 1. 7. and Saints vnder the old Testament longed for his first comming , Abraham , Iacob , Simeon , and the rest , so should wee for the second ; Wait for the appearance of our Lord Iesus : wee should loue it ; for , there is a Crowne laid vp 2 Tim. 4. 8. for all that loue his appearing : we should pray for it ; Thy Kingdome come : and with the Church in the Reuelation ; Euen so , Reuel. 22. come Lord Iesus . Let scorners mocke on , We know whom we haue beleeued : & the Lord help our vnbeliefe . Such scorners mocked Noah when hee was making the Arke ; but when they weltred in the waters of the Deluge , their folly reproued them . Such scorners mocked A warning for ●…corners . Lot , who told them of the burning of Sodome ; but when their carkasses were scorched with the fire , then they vnderstood it was not a vaine word . The scorners of our time will not learne to be wise by their example : but sure it is , the word of the Lord shal take hold vpon them : and it is daily seen so , though the day of Let it be as long to the day of the generall doome as they think , yet the day of their particular doome is not far off . their generall doome be delayed , yet the day of their particular doome comes vpon them sooner then they lookt for , which cutteth downe their bodies with strange and vnexpected iudgements , & drawes their soules to vnder-lye a wrath whereof they neuer dreamed . Alas , that miserable and foolish man cannot think vpon this . I suppose ( saith Augustine , thou wert able to prolong the day of iudgement , or that it should be delayed as long ●…s thou thinkest thou wouldest haue it delayed , Quantum vis diem iudicij Aug. de temp. ser 96 ●…rolonga , nunquid vltimū●…iem tuum : id est , vitae tuae , ●…uo exiturus es de hoc cor●…ore producturus es in 〈◊〉 : yet art thou able to prolong the day of thy ●…eath ? nay , not an houre . The certaintie and manner of Christs second comming .

But indeede , as that ●…ame ancient saith , that day of Iudgement which wicked men scorne now , ●…hall assuredly come ▪ Ven●…urum est iudicium illud , quod modo rident impij . The first comming of our Lord was obscure and secret , the second shall be open , glorious , and manifest , all flesh shall see him : Occultum oportebat Aug. de temp. ser. 174. eum venire , vt iudicaretur , manifestus autem veniet vt iudicet : Si prius manifestus venisset , iudicare manifestum quis ausus fuisset ? He came first in obscure and secret manner , that hee might be iudged , but hee shall come in a knowne & manifest manner , that hee may iudge : If at the first hee had manifested himselfe , who durst haue iudged him ? For as the Apostle saith , If they had knowne , they would not haue crucified the God of glory . If other things long before Seeing other promis●…s made by God are fulfilled , why shall wee 〈◊〉 the promise of his 〈◊〉 comming ? prophe●…ied concerning his first comming and the propagation of the Church , were not now ful●…illed , there were some reason to think , that the promises of his second comming should not be fulfilled also . It was promised that in the seede of Abraham all nations should be blessed : and that the church of Christ shold be spread throughout the whole earth , A paucis dicebatur , à multis Aug. de temp. ser. 109. ridebatur : It was spoken by few , but scorned by many , yet is it now accomplished . Si quae ante millia annorum praedicta sunt iam videmus impleta , qui●… dubitamus etiam haec ventura , quae nunc annuntiantur ? Seeing these things which were fore-tolde many thousand yeares since , we see them now accomplished , why doubt we that these which now are promised , shall in like manner be performed ?

And receiue you vnto my A promise of our resurrection and vpta king to our heauenly mansion . selfe . ] Here our Sauiou●… more particularly occurs to that dubitation , which our infidelitie sends out ; How is it possible for vs ▪ after that the graue hath turned vs into dust , to rise againe , & goe vp to these promised Mansions ? our Sauiour answereth here , I will receiue you , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , I will take you to my selfe : who shall be able to hold you from mee ? You are No creature shall be able to detaine vs when our Sauiour shall come and require vs . the price of my bloud , what creature can detaine you out of my hands when I shall come to require mine owne ? S. Iohn saw this in a vision , which here is promised in this prediction : And I saw the Reuol . 20. 12. 13. dead , both great and small , stand before God , and the Sea gaue vp her dead ▪ which were in her , & death and hell ( or the graue ) gaue vp their dead which were in them . And this is also clearely expounded by the Apostle S. Paul 〈◊〉 The Lord himselfe shall descend 1 Thes. 4. 16. 17. from heauen with 〈◊〉 shout , and with the voice o●… the Arch-angell , and wit●… the Trumpet of God : & th●… dead in Christ shall ris●… first : then shall wee who liu●… and remaine , be caught v●… with them also into th●… clouds , to meet the Lord i●… the ayre , and so shall we euer be with the Lord . Th●… word the Apostle vsethi●… passiue , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , wee shall be rauished vp : ●…o our rising and vpgoing shall not be by our owne power , but by the power of our God : no weakenesse therefore in our selues should make vs to distrust it . Thus haue we The Articles of our Resurrection and Ascention hath been firmly beleeued by Fathers of all times . here confirmed vnto vs , ●…he certaintie of the resurrection of our bodies ●…nto eternall life , which because man naturally di●…trusteth , how the worthy fights of elder times haue laboured to proue it , by Scripture , reason , examples , similitudes , whereof ●…e who pleases may read also that which wee haue written on the eight to the Romanes .

Concerning it Iusti●… By Iustin Martyr . Martyr reasoneth in this manner : Aut non potest Iustin. quaest. Graecan ▪ de resurrect. Deus resuscitare mortuos , aut hominibus hoc est incommodum : Eyther the Lord is not able to raise the dead , or resurrection is vnprofitable for man ▪ To say the last is ridiculous , to say the first is impious . Nam si 〈◊〉 Deo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , vtique & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : Seeing it was not impossible to God to create man , why shall we think it impossible to raise him , which is a new kinde of ●…reation ?

And after the same man●…er By Irenaeus . reasoneth Irenaeus ; Qui ex nihilo potuit nos ●…eare , potest & resuscitare : ●…e who made vs of nothing , is also able to raise Iren. lib. 5. cap. 5. 6. 〈◊〉 from the dead . Si caro 〈◊〉 est vitae capax , multo 〈◊〉 ibi : Seeing flesh in ●…is earth is capable of 〈◊〉 , much more shall it 〈◊〉 capable of life there . 〈◊〉 mors ante expulit vitam , 〈◊〉 magis vita restituta ●…ortem expellet : Seeing 〈◊〉 hath expelled life , much more shall life re●… expell death . Verbum Dei non factum fuisset caro , Iren. lib. 5. cap. 13. si caro non saluaretur : The Word had not bin made flesh , if flesh were not to be saued .

Tertullian proues it by By Tertullian . reason ; Creare car nem potuit Deus , ergo & 〈◊〉 God was able to create flesh , therefore also able to restore it . Non 〈◊〉 Tertul. de resur carnis . igitur separari in mercede ▪ quas opera coniunxit : They cannot be disioyned in the reward , whom God hath ioyned in the work ▪ He proues in like manner the possibilitie thereof by the examples of the Day and night , by the Change of the apparitions of the Moone , by the vicissitude of Summer and Winter , by the fall of the leafe of 〈◊〉 tree and flourishing of 〈◊〉 againe , by the Phoenix . And that as the Lord may doe it , so also that he will doe it , he proues it at ●…ength by arguments taken from his Iustice and his truth .

Epiphanius proues it by By Epiphanius . ●…he assumption of Henoch and Elias : by the example of Abraham , who begat childe when hee was lead : by the example of ●…saac , restored to life after Epiphan de resur . mo●…t . ●…hat hee had laid downe his head vnto death : an●… the Rod of Aaron , whic●… flourished after that 〈◊〉 long time it had been withered , and the life v●… getatiue departed from i●… as also by sundry testimonies of Scripture .

Pisida vseth to confirme By Pisida . it , that argume●… of the Apostle : If in th●… life onely wee had hope , we were the most miserable And againe , O foole , th●… which thou sowest is n●… quickned except it dy●… From this that Fathe●… learneth man to reuerence Pisidae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the resurrection' 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : For who ( saith hee ) bringeth sowne Corne out of the bowels of the earth , & raiseth it againe after that it hath beene buryed in a graue ; yea , makes it to multiplie after that it hath beene rotten ? And where ( saith Doubts concerning our resurrection resolued . hee ) it is obiected , How can this be , mans body being so many times changed into the substance of other creatures , as it hath & may fall out ? The fish deuoureth a man , another man eateth the fish , the wilde Bore againe deuoureth that man , the Dogs deuoure it , the Rauens feede vpon the Dogs , and at length the Rauens are turned into dust : hee passing after this manner through so many other kindes then his owne , how shall he be restored vnto that which hee was ? To this answereth Pisida , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For all this ( saith hee ) the body of man abideth within the owne bounds , stamped as it were , and sealed in the hand of the Creator who made it . Little bals or pickles of By Greg. Nyssenus . Quick siluer , being dispersed into the earth , mixe Greg. Nyss. de opificio hom. not themselues with any of another kind , but if any man gather them , of their owne accord they runne together into one , saith Nyssenus . Yea , if a skilfull Gardner hauing sundry sorts of seedes confounded , and mixed through others in his hand , can discerne one from another , and reduce and gather euery one of them to their owne kinds , why shall wee thinke it impossible for the Lord , who hath the whole earth in Pugillo , in his fist , to discerne the bodies of his Saints one of them from another , and from all other creatures whatsoeuer .

And to this same purpose By Augustine . saith Augustine : Is it not more admirable to see heauenly Spirits bound and detayned in earthly bodies , ( which we know by experience ) then that earthly bodies should be raised vp into heauenly places ? And againe disputing against the Platoniques , who from the naturall waight of the Elements , reasoned , that no earthly body could be in heauen , hee saith ; Aug. de ciuit . Dei . lib. 22. cap. 4. & cap. 11. Quid ergo faciunt terrena ●…ot corpora in aëre , nisi for●…e qui per plumarum , & ●…ennarum leuitatem , dona●…it auium terrenis corporibus , vt portentur in aëre , immortalibus factis corporibus hominum non poterit He who giueth wings to earthly bodies to flye in the aire , can he not giue power to his Saints to mount vp vnto heauen ? donare virtutem , qua etiam in summo coelo va●…eant habitare ? What then doe so many earthly bodies in the ayre , vnlesse yee will say , that he who by wings and feathers , giueth vnto Birds this power to be carryed into the Ayre , cannot giue to the body of man made immortall , that vertue , whereby it may dwell euen in the highest heauens ? And againe saith hee ; Seeing man by his And seeing man makes heauy things to float in the water , cannot our God carry vp heauy bodies to heauenly places ? artifice can make heauie earthly bodies swimme aboue in the waters , why contradict wee the word of the Lord our God , promising to vs that our heauy and earthly bodies shall be carryed vp into heauen , and this mortall shall put on immortalitie , and this corruptible shall put on incorruptibilitie ? yea , our bodies shall be made like to the glorious body of Christ , that is , as Theodoret Theodor. dial. 2. cap. 23. obserueth , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , in respect of qualitie , not of quantitie : for in respect of quantitie our Lord shall exceede vs as farre as the light of the Sun exceedes the light of the Starres . This then is our comfort against the present contemptible state of our bodyes : corruption now hath seased vpon them , the graue for a time gets them in her possession : our enemies doe what they can to vndoe them ; for what else meane they , when not content to burne the bodies of the Saints , they disperse the dust thereof into the waters ? But in despight of them all our Lord shall gather them againe , and fulfill this promise , I will come againe and receiue you .

But shall wee not be receiued before the second This promise of receiuing vs to himselfe is to be vnderstood of our bodies . comming of our Lord ? Doubtlesse the soule immediately after the dissolution of it from the body is carryed the straight way into heauen ; I desire to be dissolued that I may be with Christ : being with Christ followes dissolution . This night thou shalt be with mee in Paradise : So the soule of Lazarus without delay was carryed into Abrahams bosome : but our Sauiour meanes here of our full redemption , of our last adoption , whereby our bodies shall also be raised to enioy their promises : and this the Apostle cals The redemption of the body . Rom. 8. 29.

That where I am , there A three-fold ioyfull vnion abiding vs in that day . yee may be also . ] There is the end of all , to wit , our endlesse fellowship , and euerlasting communion with Iesus Christ our Lord . Where let vs obserue , that in that day there shall be a threefold ioyfull vnion : first , our 1 Of our soule and body . 2 Of our selues with all Saints . 3 Of vs all with the Lord . soule and our body shall be vnited : next , an vnion of all Saints , euery one with another : and thirdly , a blessed vnion of vs all with our head and immortall Husband , where our Lord is , there shall wee be , We shall follow the Reuel. 1●… . 4 Lambe whither soeuer hee goeth . Neuer any more to be diuided from him : thou shalt bee one with thy selfe , and want nothing that is thine ; thou shalt bee one with the Saints , whom now thoū●…ouest in the Spirit ; thou ●…halt bee one with the Lord , and enioy him for euer . There is Celestiall China , which needes no ●…all to diuide it from the ●…artars : this is Arabia foe●…x , the people whereof ●…aue store of all good , ●…hey liue in securitie and ●…eare none enemie . The Ports of that Citie are o●…en night and day , there ●…s none to inuade it : only et vs remember , that no ●…ncleane thing entreth ●…n there . We were borne ●…ncleane , let vs not bide vncleane : For whosoeuer 1 Iohn 3. hath this hope in himselfe , ( that hee shall see God there ) purgeth himselfe , euen as God is pure . The Lord who hath prepared these Mansions for vs , prepare vs also for them , and make vs meet to be pertakers Col. 1. 12. of that inheritance o●… the Saints in light , for his Christs sake : To whom with the Father , and the holy Ghost be praise , honor and glory for euer ,

Amen .
FINIS .

THE PRAISE OF PATIENCE .

BEING A Treatise full of sweet Consolation for the Afflicted .

BY Mr. WILLIAM COWPER , B. of Galloway .

LONDON :

Printed by T. S. for Iohn Budge , and are to be sold at the great South-dore of Pauls , and at Britaines-Bursse . 1616.

TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE , Vertuous , and Godly Lady , Dame Elizabeth Kar , Lady Broughtoun . MADAME :

HAuing neere at one time , brought out these two Treatises , like ●…wo twinnes : the one intrea●…ing of Heauenly Mansi●…ns , the other of Patience . The eldest of these two , I haue committed to the patrocinie of the right Noble Lady , the Countesse of Mar , the second for many reasons , doe I dedicate to your L. Grace hath ioyned your harts together in one holy band of mutuall loue in the truth , which I trust these Treatises may serue some way to confirme , no way to dissolue : for they contend not one with another , as did the two twinnes Iacob and Esau , in the wombe of Rebecca , but rather cherish one another ; yea , without the one the other cannot consist .

The Heauenly Mansions cannot be obtained without Patience : neyther can Patience be preserued without looking to the Heauenly Mansions . The practising ●…f Patience now , leades vs ●…o the full possession of the heauenly Mansions here●…fter . In these I am sure ●…and your greatest comfort , without which all comforts ●…f the world are but deceit●…ll vanities .

It is true , Nature hath ●…ought you out Honourable 〈◊〉 concerning this life , the ●…ister germane of a right ●…oble Lord , The Lord ●…oxbrugh , the Spouse of 〈◊〉 Honourable Knight , Sir Iames Bellenden : but All the glory of flesh is as the flower of the field ; Onely the word of the Lord endureth for euer . And herein is your greatest glory , that by the immortall seed●… of the Word , ye are made the daughter of the liuing Lord begotten againe to an inheritance immortall , vndefiled , and that fadet●… not away . This is one po●… which greatly magnifies th●… prerogatiue of Grace abou●… all the priuiledges of nature that the one euanisheth , th●… other endureth . All coniunction on earth shall suffer dissolution , except onely th●… coniunction of a soule with God in Christ . And this euen in your young yeares hath God taught you by sowre experience . It is now about ten yeares since death diuorced ●…ou from your naturall hus●…and : yet in this time did ●…ot the Lord forsake you : ●…hrough his grace yee haue ●…eene an Abigail to that ●…ouse , whereunto your God did bring you , that is , a mo●…her to it , by wisedome more ●…hen common to your sexe , ●…rocuring the good thereof : ●…nd haue liued like that wid●…ow ANNA , seruing the Lord , confessing him in his Temple , a diligent hearer of his word , to the good example of others who wait for the redemption of Israell . Which ( with many moe ) as hitherto they haue beene euident in you , to your great commendation before the world , so I pray God these , and all other graces of his Spirit , requisit to your eternall saluation , may be multiplyed vpon you for your approbation before the Lord . To whose mercy both now and euer I commend you And rests

Your L : in Christ Iesus , W. B. of Galloway
THE PRAISE of Patience . My help is in the Name of the Lord .
LVKE 21. 19. By your Patience possesse your soules .

THis Exhortation Two parts of this precept . short in words , but rich in matter , renders to vs a two-fold instruction : first , it lets vs see what is it in all our 1 Possesse your soules spirituall warfare the aduersarie pursues , and the Christian hath to defend , to wit , the Soule : next , the armour recommended to vs whereby we may best defend the soule , namely , Patience .

The Soule is the most The soule is the most excellent part of man . excellent part of man ; vnder it , saith Augustine , is comprehended the whole inward man , whereby August . de Eccles. dogmat . cap. 34. this masse of clay is quickned , gouerned , and kept together , changing her names according to her sundry offices and operations in the body : whe● shee quickneth the body , It hath sundry names according to her sundry offices . shee is called the Soule , Anima ; when shee hath appetite or desire to any thing , she is called the Wil , Animus ; for knowledge shee is called the Minde ; for recordation , the Memorie ; for iudging and discerning , she is called Reason . The soule was not made of the Elements as other creatures are , that it being free from composition , might also be free from corruption , whereunto other creatures are subiect . God breathed into man a liuing soule , said Moses , thereby declaring , that hee created a spirituall immortall soule , which he breathed into the body to quicken it .

That the estate of the That the estate of the soule depends not on the estate of the body is cleared . soule depends not on the body , experience proues ▪ for in weake and withered bodies the soule is more quicke and pregnant oftentimes then in stronger ▪ And that it is also of another nature is euident ; for where the body by small things is easily surcharged , and so filled that it can containe no more ; such is the superexcellencie of the soule , that no mortal thing can contain it . It rauished Nyssenus with admiration , when hee considered , Quae sit Nyssen . de opifici●… . hom. cap. 10. interioris nostrae capacitatis amplitudo , in quam omnia per auditum infusa influunt , & in qua visu recepta rerum apparentium simulachra , formis certis depinguntur ? What is the amplitude of our inward capacitie , into the which all things infused by the eare floweth , and wherein the images of all things seene by the eye , are contained and pictured in their owne formes ?

But by the contrary , the good estate and wellfare But by the contrary , the good estate of the body depends on the good estate of the soule . of the body dependeth vpon the good estate of the soule : keepe it , and keepe all ; lose it , and lose all : Nobilem hospitem habes , ô Caro , & tota salus tua dependet de eius salute : O Flesh , a noble Guest hast thou within thee , and all thy good estate depends vpon his good estate : thinke not shame to dishonour thy selfe , that thou maist honour him ; nor to disease thy selfe , that thou maist ease him . Neglect him not because hee is a stranger , but consider diligently , Quid hospitis huius B●…rn . praesentia tibi largiatur : what great benefits thou enioyest by his presence , and what losse thou shalt sustaine by his absence : when hee goes from thee thine eye will see no more then the clay , thine eare will heare no more then the stone , thy body shall lose all the beauty it hath now ; yea , no member thereof shall doe the own office . Et si tantum tibi confert exul , & in terra peregrina , quantum tibi praestabit in patria ? And if thou hast so great benefits by it in a strange land , what shall it doe to thee when it gets thee in her owne Countrey .

Yet such is the beastly The beastly ignorance of many , who knowing all things , which they know by the soule , yet scarce know that they haue a soule . ignorance of man , that albeit hee feeles the life he hath by the soule , and findes by daily experience , that the body loseth life when the soule leaueth it , yet hath he no care of the soule , & doth not so much as remember it once in the day . And therefore our Sauiour who knoweth our soares better then our selues doe , recommends to vs this care , Possesse your soules ; and he teaches ●…ow wee may doe it , by ●…our patience . God is the God of Patience , keepe ●…atience and thou shalt ●…eepe the Lord ; and in ●…eeping him shalt keepe ●…hine owne soule . God ●…wels not in perturbati●…ns , hee comes to his ●…aints as hee came to E●… , 1 Kings 19. 11. 12. not in the mighty ●…ind that rent the moun●…aines , nor in the Earth●…uake , nor in the fire , but ●…ee came to him in a soft ●…nd still voyce : he dwel●…eth Esay 65. 2. with the poore , and ●…im that is of a contrite ●…pirit . As the soule is the ●…ife of the body , ita anima Bern. de vita animae . animae Deus , so God is th●… Aug. de ciuit ▪ Dei , lib. 13. cap. 2. life of the soule : Mors 〈◊〉 mae fit cum eam deserit Deus , sicut corporis cum id de serit anima ; ergo vtriusque id est , totius hominis mor●… est , cum anima à Deo deserta , deserit corpus : ita eni●… nec ex Deo viuit ipsa , ne●… corpus ex ipsa : The death of the soule is , when God leaues the soule , like a●… the death of the body is when the soule leaues it , so the death of both , that is , of the whole man is ▪ when the soule left o●… God leaues the body ▪ for o●… neyther hath the soule life from God , nor the body life from the soule .

In all the battels then In all tentations Sathan pursues nothing but our soule . which Sathan by himselfe or his instruments maketh against vs , the quarrell and question is de anima , about the Soule : It is the soule he pursues , it is the soule wee haue to defend : if hee crosse thee in thy goods , in thy body , in thy name , hee careth not for these , none of these are a morsell for his mouth , Animam tuam quaerit , it is thy soule he seeks , to make it by impatience partaker of his owne condemnation . A cleare example of this we haue in Iob : Sathan by Gods permission If he trouble vs in body or goods , it is to get a vantage of the soule . Iob 1. & 2. crossed him in his goods by Sabeans , Caldeans , and by a fire from heauen : he crossed him in his children , whom he smothered by the ouerthrow of the house wherein they were banquetting : he crossed him in his body with sore boyles , Et cum aperto certamine Greg. lib 3. in Iob. superari se vidit , de ore coniugis iaculum quasi de insidijs intor sit : And when This is cleared by Iobs example . hee perceiued himselfe in open combat to be ouercome , hee secretly threw a dart at him out of the mouth of his wife , as it were by boutgates to ouerthrow him . What hee sought by all this , hee declares it himselfe , to wit , that Iob might blaspheme the Lord to his face : and the same is it , whereat he aymes in all our outward or inward tentations , that he may carry away and captiue our soules by impatience , that he may driue vs to grudging , murmuring and blaspheming of the Lord our The remembrance of this should worke strength aginst tentation . God . I am perswaded if our memories were sanctified to remember this , wee would not suffer our selues to be so easily perturbed , commoued and transported with passions for light offences cast in our way , as commonly ▪ wee are : let vs therefore in all our tentations remember this watchword of our Sauiour , Possesse your soules in patience , what euer losse wee sustaine of any thing that is ours , take heede wee loose not our selues , but let vs doe as Ioseph did , when the wife of Putiphar caught hold of his garment , that she might snare himselfe , hee let the garment goe and saued himselfe . Such things as God giues power to man to take from ●…hee , let them goe : and possesse thou thy soule in patience .

But the manner of A question : how can wee possesse the soule seeing by the soule we possesse all that we possesse ? speech is here to be mar●…ed , seeing by the soule ●…ee possesse any thing ●…hat wee possesse , for by 〈◊〉 , we thinke , wee affect , ●…ee worke ; what is this , ●…hereby wee can possesse ●…ur soules ? For answere , ●…e must know that in the ●…oule of a Christian man ●…here are two contrary ●…arties , one regenerate , an●…ther vnregenerate : light , ●…race , and sanctification in the one : darknesse , corrupt nature , and sinne in the other ; whereby let no man thinke that the soule is diuided or parted into The answere of this question . two halfs ; for it is a simple and indiuisible essence . But as wee see the twilight of the morning , it is neyther full darknesse , as at midnight , nor full light , as in the noone-tide of the day , yet is it one & the same light , though it increase by degrees clearer and clearer till the noone , then it was in the morning : So is it with the soule of a Christian , it is not altogether darkenesse as the soule of the wicked and reprobate is , whose night is not past ; yea , the darknesse of their midnight wil neuer passe , but still it waxeth darker and darker till they come to vtter darknesse . Neyther How in the soule of a regenerate man there are two contrary parties . yet is it altogether ●…ight , as the soules triumphant are , who rest and feede with him whom their soule loueth , in the ●…oone-tide of the day ; but it is throughout all partly regenerate , partly ●…nregenerate . No faculty of the soule is without the remanents of ignorance and sinfull corruption , nor yet without beginnings of knowledge and renouation by grace . And these are the two which S. Paul cals , The new ma●… and the old : sinfull corruption is called the old man , because it was in v●… before renewing grace 〈◊〉 and againe , because i●… waxeth weaker and weaker , till grace vtterly a●… the length abolish it . Thi●… Of this the meaning of the precept is made plaine . then being the estate o●… our soule , the meaning o●… the exhortation is , tha●… we should fortifie the 〈◊〉 part , euer endeuourin●… that light may banis●… darkenesse , Grace in th●… ●…oule may subdue sinfull ●…orruption , and the new ●…an may ouercome the ●…ld man , till at length ●…hat vsurper Sathan bee ●…ully dispossessed , and we possesse our soules as a quiet habitation for the God of peace and of pa●…ience to dwell in .

Againe , seeing the Apostle God is the immediate superiour & possessor of our soules and bodies . 1 Cor. 6. 19 20. speaking to Chri●…tians saith , Ye are not your ●…wne , yee are bought with 〈◊〉 price ; therefore glorifie God in your body and in ●…our spirit , for they are Gods : how are wee commanded to possesse our soules , seeing they are not our owne ? The answere is easie : our immediate superiour and proper possessor of our soules and bodies is the Lord : wee hold them of him , as tenants at his will , not for our selues but for the Lord . As hee is a traitor Seeing we hold them of him , it were treason to render them to his enemie . who renders the Palace or castle of a Prince which hee hath receiued in keeping , to the enemie of the Prince : so is he who casts open the ports of his soule to euery vncleane spirit , & giueth the members Rom. 6. 13. of his body as weapons of vnrighteousnesse vnto sinne . Thus then we are but vnder-possessors of our soules and bodies : as wee hold them of the Lord , so should we hold them for the Lord . Farre be this rebellion from vs , to hold the Lords owne house against himselfe .

Besides this , Augustines He is possessed , and not a possessor , who possesseth not himselfe . ●…bseruation here is wor●…hy to be remembred . Our Sauiour saith not , ●…ossidete villas vestras , sed ●…ossidete animas vestras : Possesse your villages , or Aug. de temp. ser. 223. ●…uch like , but possesse your soules . The men of this world glory in their externall possessions , but ●…s Cyprian said of them : Non intelligunt miseri possederi Cyp. lib. 2. epist. 2. se , potius , quam possidere : These miserable men vnderstand not that they are rather possessed by their riches , then possessors of them . Onely the Onely the Christian is to be esteemed a rich man . Christian is a man of great possessions , and he holds them all by these three graces , Faith , Loue , and Patience : by Faith hee possesseth the Lord , and all his benefits : by Loue hee possesseth his neighbour , and all th●… good that is in him ; he reioyceth in it , as in hi●… owne : by Patience again●… hee possesseth himselfe And without these , thogh thou wert as rich as Craesus , thou art but poore : for what canst thou be said to possesse , who art neyther a possessor of thy selfe , nor of thy neighbour , nor of the Lord thy God ?

This is a necessary doctrine How needfull this doctrine is for this age . for this age , where●…n men are out of measure carefull ; yea , conten●…ious for the smallest ●…hing which is theirs , but ●…ltogether carelesse for themselues : they are ready to resist him that would wound their bo●…ies , and resolute to fight for the least thing which is theirs , onely when the oppressor of the soule inuades it , no contradiction is made to him . Oh that they were wise to ponder that warning of Moses & S. Paul , Attende tibi , take Which careth for a●…y that is theirs , but not for themselues . heed to thy selfe ! art not thou thy selfe much more worth then anything that is thine ? If thou be so carefull for that which thou accountest to be thine , how is it that thou forgettest thy selfe ? Et si August . de temp. ser. 223. tanta suffert anima vt possideat peritura , quanta debet sufferre , ne pereat ipsa ? An●… seeing the soule endureth such labour that it may possesse perishing things , what should it endure , that it perish not it selfe ? O sonnes of men , Quid ●…ern . serm. 4 vobis cum diuitijs , quae nec verae nec vestrae sunt ? si vestra sunt tollite ea vobiscum : What haue yee to doe with these riches , which are neyther true , nor yet yours ? if they be yours take them with you . But still they dreame with that foole , that their soules are full when their bodies are full : Now my soule thou hast enough for many dayes , said hee , but a few dayes proued hee was as poore as his companion , who had not so much as a droppe of water to refresh him .

By your Patience .

FOllowes now the second 2 Second part of the precept , By your Patience . point , wherin the armour is recommended to vs , by which we should keepe and possesse our soules , to wit , by Patience . Nobile vincendi genus patientia : a noble and worthy sort of victory is Patience . And not without cause is The example of God the Father teacheth vs Patience . it recommended vnto vs . We are the Seruants of that God who is called The God of Patience : Quamuis Aug. de temp. ser. 223. nihil pati possit , Patientia vero à patiendo nomen acceperit , patientem tamen Deum fideliter credimus : Albeit hee can suffer nothing , and Patience hath the name from suffering or passion , yet we faithfully beleeue that hee is a How Patience is ascribed to God . patient God . Sicut zelus , sicut ira , sicut poenitentia , ita est in illo Patientia : As Zeale , and Anger , and Repentance are in God , so is Patience in God . Zelat sine liuore , irascitur sine perturbatione , poenitet sine mutatione , ita & patiatur sine passione : He hath Zeale without spight , he hath Anger without perturbation , hee repents without alteration , so also is hee patient without passion . Nam si tanquam nostra , cogitemus ista in illo , nulla sunt : For if wee thinke of Zeale , Anger , Patience , as they are in vs , wee must know that such are not at all in the Lord : yet hee is patient , and causeth his Sunne to Math. shine , and his raine to fall vpon the iust & vniust , Et serui debent ingenium Domini Tertull. ser. de Patientia . sui imitari , and it becomes seruants to imitate the manners of their Lord .

Beside that , we are the The example of Christ teacheth vs patience . Souldiers of that Captain who obtained the greatest victorie that euer was conquered , by patient suffering . The Samaritanes held him at the port , the Disciples inflamed with ire called for fire from heauen , but patient Iesus reproued them ; Yee know not of what spirit yee are . The Pharisees reuiled him , and said hee had a Diuell , but our Lord reuiled them not againe . Iudas came to betray him , and our Sauiour went out and embraced him : O wonderfull Patience ! Quod dolosis proditoris labijs August . de temp. ser. 223. non negauit osculum pacis : that to the deceitfull lips of the false traitor , hee denyed not the kisse of his mouth . The men of warre buffetted him , scourged him , mocked him , but hee like the Lambe , was dumbe before the shearer : so hee who by his word requires Patience , by his example teacheth vs Patience , as that singular grace wherby we are able to get most glorious victory , yea , to become more then Conquerours through him that loued vs .

His Saints in like manner True Christians after Christs example haue aduanced his kingdome by Patience . following the example of their Lord , haue aduanced his Kingdome more by the patient suffering of the shedding of their owne bloud , then euer any Monarch of the world could aduance ●…is Kingdome by the shedding of the bloud of others : Quo acriora supplicia Iust. Mart. in dialogo cum Tryph. in Christianos adhibita fuerint , eo plures alij fideles comparantur , quemadmodum si quis partes Vitis praecidat , vt aliae fructuosiores rursus germinent : The sharper punishments be vsed against christians , the more is the number of faithfull ones encreased : as men cut off the branches of the Vine tree , that others more fruitfull may come in their roome , so is it with the Church Who knowes not saith Cyprian , how the corne of the Church hath brought out most abundant encrease , being watered with the bloud of the Apostles and other Martyres ? Quo plus sanguinis Cyprian de dupl●…nart . effusum est , eo magis effloruit fidelium multitudo , hoc latius sparsit suas propagines illa beata Vitis à Christo stirpe surgens : The greater quantity of bloud The bloud of Martyrs the seed of the church . was shed , the more flourished the multitude of beleeuers , and the more largely did that blessed Vine-tree , springing from the roote Christ Iesus , spread out her branches . For this cause said Tertullian , that Sanguis Martyrum Tertull. est semen Ecclesiae : The bloud of Martyres is the seed of the Church . And this the Aduersary is forced to confesse , that albeit in the Primitiue Church there were as many thousand Christians as were able to haue giuen battle to the persecuting Emperours , yet they had rat●…er ouercome by patient suffering , then violent shedding of the bloud of any other : Ita vere Catholicos Cost . enc●…ir . pia quaedam tenuit misericordia : Such was then the tender compassion of true Catholikes .

But how vnlike the The cruelty of the Romane Church shewes it to be Antichristian . Church of Rome now is to the Church Primitiue , let any indifferent man discerne by their fruits . If they bee the flocke of Christ his sheep , what is the cause their teeth are so bloudy ? Quid Cyprian de simplicitate Praelat . facit in pectore Christiano Luporum feritas , & Canum rabies ? Should the fiercenesse of Wolues , and fury of Dogges be in the breasts of Christians ? Were not such Wolues and Dogges , actors of that Tragicall Murder of Paris , and plotters of the Powder-Treason ? Thus euen their workes doe bewray them . It is a shame to shrowd such beastly crueltie vnder a Christian name : It is a double sinne to couer the iniury Malach. vnder the garment of God . This may well proue them successors to Romane Persecuters , but not to the patient sufferers of the Church Primitiue : Non enim conuenit Erasm. enchirid . militis Christ . Epist. ad Volsium . vt hoc argumento nos Christianos declaremus , si quam plurimos occiderimus , sed si quam plurimos seruauerimus : For it is not an argument to proue our selues to bee good Christians , if wee slay many , but rather if we saue many . If wee be otherwise minded , Fieri potest , vt citius in Turcas degeneremus , quam Turcas in partet nostras pertrahamus : It may come to passe that wee degenerate into Turkes , then draw Turkes to bee of our Religion : For by the shedding of bloud , Fiet vt latius fortasse regnet Pontifex aut huius Cardinales , non vt latius regnet Christus : It may be The Popes Kingdome & his Cardinals may be aduanced by bloud shedding , not so Christs . perhaps that the Popes Kingdome , and of his Cardinals , may be encreased , but the Kingdome of Christ by such meanes cannot be aduanced : but leauing them , wee returne to our selues . Our Sauiour here forewarneth his Disciples of great troubles they were to sustaine for his names sake , the armour hee recommends vnto vs , is not the Sword ; the Pope may vse it , because Peter did it without a warrant , but the watch-word giuen by our Lord vnto vs all is , Possesse your Soule by your Patience : This is the weapon whereby I ouer-came , and this same doe I recommend to you .

As the Thunder ( saies Patience compared to the Laurell tree , which cannot bee Thunderslaine . Plinie ) ouerthrowes any tree but the Lawrell , so persecution and tentation ouercomes any man , but not a patient man . Impatience makes a man a prey to euery one that pursues him , but hee who hath Patience is inuincible . Euery iniury offered to a patient man , returneth backe to him that did it : Eodem exitu , Tertull. de Patientia . quo telum aliquod in pe●…ram constantissimae duritiae libratum & obtusum : No otherway then a dart shot at a hard Rocke , eyther falleth downe blunted , or is beaten backe vpon him , who Impatience the mother of all euill . shot it . Impatientia exhedra est omnium delictorum : Impatience is the receptacle and right lodging place of all sinnes : Malum enim est impatientia boni : For euill is but the impatience of good : who would commit adultrie if hee were patient of Chastitie ? Patientia Ibid. vero Charitatis est firmamentum : Ira , Discordia , Simultas , locum in pectore non habent , in quo dominatur Charitas : But Patience is the sure keeper and stablishment of Charitie : Anger , Discord , Hatred , haue no place in that heart , in the which Charitie ouer-rules : Though all the world were against such a man , hee resteth quiet in his owne minde , and possesseth his soule in Patience .

Where , by the contrary , Impatience driues a man out of his wits . the impatient man at euery light offence is carryed out of his owne wits , and put beside himselfe , and becomes like one who teareth his Iob 18. 4. owne soule , as Bildad spake of Iob. Hee that would see the right Image , and liuely portraiture of an impatient man , let him consider this Historie set downe by Saint Marke : There met him a man , who Mar. 5. 5. 6. had an vncleane Spirit , who had his abiding among the graues , and no man The image of an impatient man . might binde him , no not with chaynes , because that when hee was often bound with fetters and chaynes , hee plucked the chaynes a sunder , and brake the fetters in pieces , neyther could any man tame him . Both night and day hee cryed in the mountaines and in the graues , and strucke himselfe with stones . But here is the great inconsideration of men : A man this way bodily possessed , is pityed of all that behold him : but though hee be spiritually possessed , and oppressed by the enemies of his soule , to raging , railing , blaspheming , whoring , and all sort of impietie , who doth regard it ? Alwayes , to returne great is the praise of Patience , that it makes a man possesser and master of himselfe .

The reason of this is , Patience is neuer alone without the rest of the Graces . because Patience is neuer alone , all the remanent Graces of the Spirit frequent the Palace of Patience , there are they preserued , and entertayned . As vices are linked together , so are Vertues : they march in battle against the spirituall enemie , in comely The order how Graces march in the spirituall warfare . order , after this manner : Truth goeth before , and leadeth them , bearing in her badge , the Lanterne 1 Truth , with Foresight and Feare . of the Word , to shew them the way wherein they should walke against the Prince of darknesse : At the one hand of Truth stands Fore-sight , as in a Watch-tower , euer looking out to discouer the approaching of the enemie : at the other hand stands Feare , with this watch-word in her Banner , Walke circumspectly . In the second rancke after Truth followes Faith foot for foot ; 2 Faith , with Loue and Holinesse . for Faith followes No de●…eiuable Fables : and Faith hath in the right hand the Sword of the Spirit , and in the left , A Buckler able to quench the firie darts of the Diuell . Vpon the right hand of Faith standeth Charitie or Loue ; for , Faith worketh by Loue , and Loue carries in her Banner The complement of the Law : on the other hand stands Holinesse ; for The Heart is purified by Faith ; and Holinesse bea●…eth in her Banner The Image of God . In the third rancke , at the backe of Holinesse stands Humilitie , 3 Th●…se are attended by Humilitie an●… 〈◊〉 Meeknesse . hauing in her badge the similitude of a man mortified and dead with Christ . Beside Humilitie , at the backe of Loue , standeth her sister Meeknesse , bearing in her badge the similitude of a Lamb. In the fourth rancke standeth Patience , Domina & Philo de congressu , &c. regina virtutum : the Lady and Queene of Vertues , 4 Patience bearing the Standard . bearing a high Standard , not vnlike that of of Constantine the Great , hauing in it this name , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , with this Dictum , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , for in Christ , and through him Patience ouercomes at the length . In the fift rancke , at the backe of Patience stands Experience : for , Patience brings forth Experience ; Rom. 5. and Experience 5 Experience with Hope and Fortitude . beareth in her badge an open written Booke , contayning a Register of the Lords manifold former deliuerances : Experience hath vpon the one hand Hope , whose badge is a brazen Piller : and on the other hand Fortitude , in the similitude of an armed man , hauing on his head the Helmet of saluation , and on his body the Brest-plate of righteousnesse , When Patience is sore put at , and somewhat moued out of her place by vehement trouble , shee leanes backe vpon the piller of Hope , and Hope succours her with this Dictum , Spera meliora : From Hope shee lookes ouer , and reades the Booke of Experience , whose first Dictum is , Remember the dayes of old : betweene these two Patience begets Fortitude , by whom the battle is againe renewed . In the 6 Perseuerance . last roome followeth Perseuerance , hauing in her Badge a Crowne holden vp on high with both her hands , with this Dictum , He that perseueres to the end shall be saued . Through all these flyes Prayer like a winged Cherub . Round about all these flyes Prayer . When Truth is sore impugned , and Faith beginnes to faint , Loue languisheth : when Patience is sore put at , and Hope beginneth to houer , or any other of the remanent Graces waxes weak , then Prayer goes vp , as a speedy messenger , to the great Captaine of the Lords Army , Iesus Christ , and procures for helpe to be sent from him , which without failing comes alway in the time of neede . And this is the way whereby the Saints of GOD possesse their Soules in Patience .

Of this it is euident , No true Patience can bee , where Truth , Loue , and Faith , &c. are not . that no true Patience can bee , where Truth , Faith , Loue , and the rest of these Graces are not : and therefore the greatest sufferings of Ethnikes , Heretiques , and others voyd of Faith , Truth , and Loue , are iustly excluded from the praise of Patience : Ethnici multa tulerunt animo forti , nulla tamen cum solida consolatione : Ethnikes haue suffered many things with a strong , or rather an obstinate heart , but without any solide consolation . Curtius a Romane Aug. de ciuit . Dei , lib. 5. cap. 18. Knight armed and vpon horsebacke , precipitated himselfe and his Horse head-long into a gulfe of the earth , for a good , which in his ignorance he supposed might thereby come to the Citie of Rome : this was fury , not Fortitude . And many other naturall men , out of the like madnesse , to shew their magnanimitie and stoutnesse of minde , Patience of Ethnikes is not worthy to be called Patience . haue not onely endured horrible paines inflicted by others vpon them , but haue made an end of themselues by poyson , by fire , and many sorts of cruell death : this is not to possesse their soule in Patience : this is not saith Augustine , magnanimitie , August . de ciuit . lib. 1. cap. 22. but pusillanimitie the Daughter of Impatience , which because it cannot endure , it seekes to eschew that which grieues it . Soli Christiani Cyprian de Patientia . sicut veram Sapientiam , ita & veram habent Patientiam : Onely the Christian as hee hath true Wisedome , so hath hee true Patience . And of all other Patience , beside Christian Patience , that is true which S. Iames speakes of all other wisedome : Aug. de temp. ser. 223. Non est ista Patientia desur sum descendens , sed terrena , animalis , diabolica : cur enim non sit superborum falsa Patientia , sicut superborum falsa Sapientia ? This Patience comes not from aboue , but is earthly , sensuall , and Diuellish : seeing proud men haue their owne false sapience , what maruell they haue also their owne false and deceitfull Patience .

And of this same nature Sufferings of Heretikes in like manner are not to be esteemed Patience . is the Patience of Heretiques : they may make a shew of voluntary Religion in not sparing the body , but seeing they haue not the truth of GOD , how can they haue true Patience ? The Baalites of Idolatrous Israell launcing themselues with kniues : the Gymnosophists of India , who pine and distresse their bodyes with labour not required at their hands : the Poenitentiaries of Rome ( so much boasted of ) who scourge themselues , and spare not their owne flesh : the foure religious Orders of superstitious men among the Turkes , who in hard vsing of their bodies goe beyond these I haue spoken of : yet are they all strangers from this Praise of Patience . Cum ergo vider is Aug. ibid. aliquem patienter aliquid ferre , noli continuo laudare Patientiam , quam non ostendit nisi causa patiendi : quando illa bona est , tunc ista vera est : When therefore thou seest any man suffer any thing patiently , prayse not thou incontinent his Patience , for patient suffering cannot bee commended , vnlesse the cause of the suffring be known : if the cause bee good , then the Patience is good also .

Circumcelliones , a most A sort of Heretiques who soght the praise of Martyrdome by murthering themselues . August . de Haeres . ad quod vult Deum . pernitious branch of the Heresie of the Donatists , were so desirous to obtayne by suffering , the prayse of Martyrdome , that they would throw themselues downe headlong from high places , or cast themselues into fire or water : But Augustine in his learned Disputes , Aug. de temp. serm. 223. pulleth from them the Praise of Patience : Quid miseri faciunt , qui cum non solum impietatis aduersus Deum , sed etiam ipsius , quam in se exercuerunt crudelitatis , luant poenas , insuper & quaerunt Martyrum glorias ? What doe these miserable men , who when they suffer punishment of their impietie toward GOD , and crueltie toward themselues , yet out of such suffering seeke the glory of Martyrdome ? An impatiens passio coronabitur ? Shall an impatient passion bee crowned ? Aut quomodo innocens iudicabitur cui dictum est , diliges proximum sicut teipsum , si homicidium committit in seipso , quod committere prohibetur in altero ? Or how shall hee be iudged innocent , who is commanded to loue his neighbour as himselfe , if hee commit murther in himselfe , which hee is forbidden to commit in another ? Si enim parricida The worst sort of homicide is selfe-murther . eo sceleratior est , quam quilibet homicida , quod non tantum hominem , verum etiam propinquum necat , & quo propinquiorem quisque necat , tanto immanior iudicatur : sine dubio peior est , qui se occiderit , quia nemo est homini seipso propinquior : For , if a parricide be so much the more wicked then another homicide , because he not onely slayes a man , but a kinsman , and the nearer the man bee to him whom hee slayes , the more beastly is hee that slew him esteemed to bee of all men : then out of doubt much worse is hee that slayes himselfe , seeing there is none nearer to a man , then a man himselfe .

But how is this that In what sense Patience is ●…aid to be ours . our Sauiour calleth Patience ours : for so saith hee , By your Patience possesse your soules ? Patience is ours , euen as the Soule is ours , to wit , by the gift of God , wee haue it not of our selues ; Hee is the Father of lights , from whom descends euery good gift . The Pelagians of olde attributed this grace to the power of mans free-will : the Papists of our time affirme the same . But as Augustine said to the Aug. d●… temp. serm. 223. one ; Error iste superbus est : This is a proud error : so say wee to the other . For , what is the Creature wandring from the Creator , vnlesse the Lord bee mindefull of him ; Et eligat eum gratis , & diligat gratis : and Neyther Patience nor any other grace haue wee by the power of our owne free-will . choose him of his free grace , and loue him of his free grace ? Otherwise , Prae cecitate non videt eligenda , & prae languore fastidit diligenda : such is his blindenesse , that hee sees not what hee should choose , and such is his languishing weakenesse , that hee loathes that which hee should loue . Si quis per naturae vigorem bonum Concilium Arasicau ▪ num. aliquod , quod ad salutem pertinet cogitare , aut eligere posse aliquem affirmat absque illuminatione & inspiratione S. sancti , haeretico fallitur spiritu : If any man affirme , that man by the strength of nature , can eyther thinke or choose any good pertayning to saluation , hee is deceiued by an Hereticall spirit . Nulla tibi Fulgent ▪ ad Gallam vid. facultas inesse potest voluntatis aut operis , nisi id gratuito munere diuinae miserationis acceperis : There is no abilitie in thee , eyther to a good will , or a good worke , vnlesse thou receiue it by the free gift of diuine commiseration . Dei est omne Cyp. lib ▪ 2. epist. 2. quod possumus : It is GOD who workes in vs both the will and the deede : Falluntur ergo qui Aug. ibid. Patientiam tribuunt viribus voluntatis humanae , non quas habent ex diuino adiutorio , sed quas ex libero arbitrio : They are therefore farre deceiued , who attribute Patience to the strength of man , not that which hee hath by heauenly helpe , but that which he hath of his owne free will .

But because wee haue Patience a singular preseruatiue to keep the heart in peace . at length spoken of Patience , in our Anatomie of a Christian , wee contract our selues , and shortly conclude this ▪ Our Sauiour hauing forewarned his Disciples of manifold troubles abiding them , armes them against all with this one , Possesse your soules in Patience . Here is a Preseruatiue able to keepe peace in thy heart , and to banish all perturbation . And it serues for all tentations , for all places , for all persons . Are thy tentations immediately from GOD ? remember , In tentations inward immediately comming from God . Psal. 25. 10. member , All his pathes are mercy and truth to such as keepe his Couenant and his Testimonies : his worke can neuer come against his word . The way wherein hee walkes may seeme rough and vnpleasant to thee for a time , but waite thou for the end , and thou shalt see it comfortable . This moued Iob to resolue , Though the Lord would slay mee , yet will I trust in him : and by it Dauid also did strengthen himselfe in great extremitie of trouble , Why art thou cast downe my Soule ? Psal. 43. 5. and why art thou disquieted within mee ? Waite vpon GOD : I will yet giue him thankes . In the beginning of the thirteenth Psalme , how greatly Dauid was troubled yee may perceiue by his owne words , How long , Psa. 13. 1. 5. wilt thou forget mee Lord , for euer ? How long wilt thou hide thy face from mee ? But how comfortable an end his trouble had yee may see by the last Verse : But I trust in thy mercy : my heart shall reioyce in thy saluation . I will sing to the Lord , because hee hath dealt louingly with mee . And if thy trouble come In tentations outward comming from men . 2 ▪ Sam. 16. 11. 12. from men , remember the answere Dauid gaue when Shimei cursed him : and that which our Sauiour said vnto Pilate , Thou couldest haue no power at all ouer mee if it were not giuen thee from aboue . And so knowing it is not man , but God with whom thou hast to doe , Possesse thou thy Soule by thy Patience .

Againe , in all places keepe in minde this warning of our SAVIOVR , Possesse your Soules by your In all places this watch-word should sound in our eares ; Possesse your soule . Patience . Thou knowest not in what place Satan hath laid his snare to entrappe thee , or how sodainely the occasion may arise , which may driue thee to Impatience Arme thee therefore before Euen in our owne houses . it come , and remember thy Watch-word , not onely when thou goest abroad , but euen at home in thine owne house , Sit tibi domus Chrisost. in Mat. hom. 11. tua , quasi quidam Certaminis locus , & palaestra virtutis : There is no place free from the Tempter : when the calme is greatest , then is a contrary winde most to be feared : Suppose thou knowest not from what airth , yet it is great wisdome before the blasts of perturbations breake out vpon thee , to prouide patience , by which thou maist possesse thy soule in peace .

And last , it serueth This watch-word in like manner serues for all estates of men . for all persons and states of men . It is not possible that any man of any rancke , can liue a peaceable life , without this grace of Patience . There is a conscientious Seruant 1 Masters & Seruants . like Iacob , and hee hath a churlish Master like Naball , who defrauded him of his wages : There is againe a simple , and honest hearted Master like Mephiboseth , and hee hath a trayterous Knaue to his Seruant , like Ziba . There 2 Kings and Subiects . is a good King like Dauid , and hee hath a false Counseller like Achitophell : there is againe a faithfull Counseller like Obadiah , and hee hath aboue him an Idolatrous King like Achab. There

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