OVr Sauiour Christ the onely head & Br [...]de-groome of the Church, ha­uing in the for­mer part of this allegorie, vnder the metaphoricall & borrowed termes of Wise Virgins, that were inwardly called, furnished with sauing faith and godlinesse, and watchfully expected his comming: and vnder the appella­tion of Fool [...]sh virgins, that were hypo­crites and temporizers, called onely outwardly, and contenting themselues with the outward profession and blaze [Page] of faith and godlinesse, the pith and substance whereof they wanted, des­cribed and depainted vnto vs the estate and condition of the visible Church, (wherein amongst the beleeuers are intermingled hypocrits, and onely see­ming Christians) he doth in this tenth verse set downe their contrary euents and iudgements: for the Wise Virgins, the sincere and vndissembling Christi­ans went with Christ to the wedding, that is, they were receiued into heaven, & vnto the immediate fellowship & pre­sence of Christ, but the foolish virgins, voide and destitute of iustifying faith and inward holinesse, were shut out, that is, debarred from entring into the kingdome of heauen, and consequent­ly adiudged and cast into hell. Where­vpon our Sauiour exhorteth all men to watch, and carefully to waite for his comming to iudgement: least being vnready at his comming, they be shut out from the heauenly marriage: vn­to which dutie they are so much more to attend, because that they know not [Page] the day, nor the houre wherein hee will come; Thus much of the dependance and order of the text.

Now according to the difference and diuersity of persons, viz. the wise virgins, and the foolish, their diuers and different euents and iudgements, are to be obserued and handled.

In the wise virgins, three heads or points are to be considered First their contract with Christ (in these words) wise virgins. Secondly, their readinesse and fitnesse therevnto in these termes, they that were ready. Lastly, the con­summation of the marriage in these words, Went with him to the wedding. Of all these points I will speake in or­der, and afterwards (God assisting) pro­ceed to propound and handle the most different estate & iudgment of the foo­lish virgins. In the cōtract diuers points are contained. As first, that there is such a contract betwixt Christ and his Church. Secondly, the forme & nature of it. Thirdly the benefits & preroga­tiues of it: lastly the vses of the doctrin.

[Page] Touching the contract, that there is such a contract betweene Christ and the Church, it is plaine and demon­strable by sundry places of Scripture. The Lord by the ministery of Esaias the Prophet, whom he sent vnto Eze­chies to comfort him and his people against the blasphemies and threat­ning speeches of railing Rabsaketh, the seruant of the King of Assur thus sti­leth and saluteth the Church. This is the word that the Lord hath against him. The virgin, the daughter of Syon hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorne; the daughter of Ierusalem hath shaken her head at thee, Isay. 57. 22. The Church is distinguished and adorned with the title of Virgin. Because shee was consecrated and espoused to God alone, and his true worship; as a virgin to her onely bridegroome or husband. Likewise Psal. 45. 10. Hearken O daughter and consider & incline thine eare, &c. So shall the King haue plea­sure in thy beauty for hee is thy Lord and worship thou him. Heere Solomon [Page] representeth Christ, and King Pharaoes daughter that was married to him, the Church of the Gentiles espoused and affianced to Christ. Thirdly the Lord by Hosea speaketh; I will marry thee vnto me for euer, I will marry thee vnto mee in faithfulnesse. Hos. 2. 19. 20. In the Canticl [...]s, the Church by force of this contract maketh claime to Christ, saying; My beloued is mine, and I am his, &c. Cant. 2. 16. Paul shewing his vnfeigned affection to the Corinthians, who in part (missed by false Apostles) began without cause to distaste him, maketh this protestation. I am iealous ouer you with a godly iealousie, for I haue prepared you for one husband to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 2. Cor. 11. 2. In the Apocalyps the Church is called Virgins that are not defiled with women, Apoc. 14. 4. and the Lambes Wife or Brid [...]. Chap. 19. 7. and Chap. 21. 2▪ All these places euince and de­mo [...]strate a spirituall coniunction and contract betweene Christ and the elect. Lastly, not to dwell long vpon [Page] authorities, Saint Iohn most notably & manifestly in the allegorie of the Vine and the branches, Iohn. 15. 1. 2. 3. 4. shadoweth and setteth out vnto vs, the nature of the coniunction, for as the Vine doth yeeld and communi­cate life and nourishment to the bran­ches, and the branches receiue and par­take it from the Vine: so Christ the noble Vine, that hath life in himselfe, and of himselfe, and that is full of grace and truth, doth infuse and com­municate spirituall life, comfort and grace vnto his seuerall members; and the Church being ingrafted into him, draweth and receiueth the same from him by the hand and instrument of faith.

Whereas therefore the true Church of God, consisting aswell of marryed persons as vnmarried, yea for the grea­test part in all times and ages of those that bee marryed; thus the holye scriptures, and experience and prac­tise of all pure and holye Churches doe testifie; is in respect of their sound [Page] faith onely, and firme hope in Christ, and sincere loue; stiled by the name of Virgins: it serueth to check and condemne the error of the Church of Rome, who from these and like places of Scripture taketh occasion, and would needs prooue, that virginitie and single life, is a state in it selfe farre more holy and acceptable before God thē mariage, yea that it is meritorious and a type of the perfection of eter­nall life▪ and here-vpon they forbid their Bishoppes, Ptiests, Deacons, Monkes, Iesuits, &c. to marry, tolle­rating notwithstanding and allowing the Stewes, concubines, hatlots, and all manner of vncleannesse. They vrge and commend Virginity, with as much conscience and equity, as the theefe doth truth, the drunken man sobriety, and the glutton abstinence. For it is notoriously knowne to the world, not onely what vnchaste hearts they carry, and in what lusts they burne; but how filthily they liue, that amongst the rest would be accounted the most holy & exquisite.

[Page] But briefly to refute their error, wee thus prooue, that virginity is not a state more holy in it selfe before God then marriage, much lesse meritorious. First God in the old Testament, and Christ in the New, allowed and permitted marriage to Priests, Prophets, Patri­a [...]kes, Apostles, Euangelists and Mini­sters▪ aswell as any others. If there had beene any vnholinesse in their marri­age, or virginity estate for them, so in­comparably better or more necessary, God in his wisedome would haue o­therwise ordered it. Secondly, marri­age is honorable in all men, it hath his chastity, it is for the comfort of man, the medicine of incontinence, the meane to preserue the world, and the seminary of the faithfull, therefore in it selfe not inferiour to a single life.

Thirdly, if single life were so holy and meritorious a state before GOD, as they would make it, then all vnmarri­ed persons should be so. But the exam­ples of Absolon, Adoniah, & Iudas, &c. euince the contrarye. Secondly, it [Page] should bee without the least taint of concupiscence. Thirdly, the Scriptures would auerre and auouch it. Fourthly, albeit virginity and single life in times of generall persecution be more to be wished, and more conuenient then marriage; yet then Paul rather wish­eth that all men in respect of the time present were such, then commandeth and inioyneth them. 1. Cor. 7. 7. For he leauerh them to their liberties▪ And this occurrence of affliction and trou­ble, seemeth to bee a principall cause why Bishops & Ministers so sparingly were married in the Primitiue church, for some 200 yeares after the Apostles decease. Lastly, I conclude with Saint Augustine; Melius est humile coniugi­um, quàm superba virginitas.

Secondly, in that the true Church is called by the name of Virgin, 2. Obser. in re­spect of her sound faith, and pure af­fection to Christ: wee are first admo­nished hereby to beware of, and to shunne, as the very plague or poison of our soules, the dangerous and dam­nable [Page] errous and heresies of al Papists, Turkes Anabaptists, Schismatikes, P [...] ­gans & [...]. For these like a gangrene & cankar eate into & corrupt our soules, they put out the light of our vnder­standing and wound the vitall parts of spirituall life. Mathew 6. 23. 2. Pet. 2. vers. 2. 3. Apoc. 13. verse 7. and 8. 2. Thessa 2. vers. 9 and 10.

Secondly wee must entirely and vn­fainedly loue Christ. Ioh 21. Hee must be our loue as Ignatius saith [...], that is that Christ his loue was crucified: he alone must haue our hearts. Pro. 23. ver. 26.

We must account al things but losse and dung in comparison of gayning him Phil. 3. 8. Hee is the pretious mar­garite or pearle, wee must sell all that we haue to purchase it. Mat. 13. 46. Fi­nally our loue or affection to Christ, his word and Sacraments must bee so feruent, so fi [...]y and so vehement that no water should quench it, nor the floudes drowne it, and we should greatly con­temne al substāce in respect of it. Cant. 8, 6, 7.

[Page] This meeteth with those that haue a forme and shew of godlines;Vse. yet they would serue God and Mammon, two cōtrary maisters if they be worldlings, or if they be licentious, they are [...]. 1. louers of pleasures more then God. Wherfore let vs auoide all hipocrisie and loue Christ sincerely, for as Christ himselfe is simple & sin­cere in his nature, and in his promises, loue and workes, towards vs, so let vs labor in some good conformity to be­haue and carry our selues to him.

And thus much touching the first branch viz. that there is such a contract and of the vses of it.

2. The second point to be considered in this spiritual cōtract or vnion, is the definition, nature and forme of it.

This contract therfore is that mistical & spiritual, yet real & substantial vnion & coniunction between Christ and the Church, whereby they are made one flesh, and by special compact & consent haue right & interest one in another, yea & abide and dwel one in an other.

[Page] In the clearing and manifestation hereof▪ three particulars are to bee handled, first that this coniunction is onely spirituall, not naturall, or carnall. Secondly, that it is reall and substan­tiall, and lastly the order and manner of it is to be touched.

It is mysticall and spirituall, first be­cause the persons betweene whom it is made, viz. Christ (as man) and the Church militant, are farre distant in place, and therefore it cannot bee any naturall or carnall coniunction.

Secondly, because the meanes and manner of working it are spirituall, it needs must be spirituall also. Now it is wrought & effected not by nerues, bonds, [...]inews, as this naturall con­iunction betweene the body and the soule is caused, but by the spirit of Christ, which he sendeth from heauen into vs; and by our faith, stirred vp by his spirit, whereby we send it vp againe to him: so that this coniunction must needs bee as spirituall, so relatiue and mutuall. First therefore that Christ [Page] sendeth his spirit into vs, and that the same spirit that dwelleth in his man­hood, and filleth it with all graces aboue measure, is deriued thence and dwelleth in all the true members, rai­sing vp and working in vs faith and strength whereby we apprehend him▪ loue whereby wee affect him, and all other graces needfull for euery mans saluation, it is pregnantly prooued by these places of scripture following▪ and the like. Hee giueth vs of his spirit and hereby wee know that he dwelleth in vs and we in him, Iohn 4. 14. God hath sent forth the spirit of his sonne into our hearts which crieth Abba father Gal. 46. Lastly the church is the habi­tation of God. Eph. 2. 22. and the temple of God. 1. Cor. 6. 19. Secondly our faith ascendeth vp to Christ. Acts. 7. 56. doth incorporate vs into him. Ephes. 3. 12. 17. and hereby wee both liue and dwell in him, Galath. 2. 20. But this our faith is spirituall and in­uisible, for wee walke by faith and not by sight, 2. Cor. 5. 6. And faith is the [Page] ground of things that are hoped for, and the euidence of things which are not seene. Heb. 11. 1. 2.

Obiect. But some perhaps will ob­iect, that wee feed vpon Christ in the Sacrament, we indeed eate his flesh & drinke his bloud. Iohn. 6. 55. 56. Ergo our vnion is not spirituall. &c.

Ans. Albeit, wee really, corporally and substantially receiue, partake of, and eare the elements and outward signes, namely the bread & the wine, according to Christs institution in me­mory and representation of his body broken and his bloud shed, and yet wee receiue and feede vpon Christ by faith. For not euery one that eateth the bread and drinketh the wine in the Lords supper doth feede vpon Christ, but onely the true beleeuers; who feed of him both in the Sacramēt and also out the Sacrament as may ap­peare. Ioh. 6. 17. 51.

Secondly as the Fathers in the time of the Law did all eate the same spiri­tual meate (that we do) and drinke the [Page] same spirituall drinke, but they did it onely by faith, which apprehendeth things to come as present, (for Christ was not then incarnate, much lesse was he dead,) euen so we receiue and par­take of Christ, that is spiritually by faith and not carnally and substantial­lye, as the Papists imagine. 1. Cor. 10. 3. 4.

Thirdly Christ is now in heauen & there contayned,Ioh, 6. 26. and his body there glorified, therfore cannot he be eaten carnally, corporally, substantially, for hee is many millions of miles distant hence. Secondly His body is impassible & not subiect to any such indignities. Thirdly then Iudas and all reprobate and wicked men who receiue the Sacrament of Christs body and bloud, should bee saued, for they that eate of the bread of life liue for euer. Ioh. 5. 57. They that eate his flesh & drinke his bloud dwell in him & he in them. vers. 56. But they doe not feede vpon the bodie and bloud of Christ be­cause they want the mouth and [Page] stomack of faith, to receiue and digest it. Iohn. 6. 63.

Lastly, the elements of bread and wine retaine both their names and natures, euen after the words of con­secration, as is perspicuous and eui­dent by the Scripture. 1. Cor. 1. 26. 27. 28. 29. And herevnto accord the an­cient Fathers, as Augustine, Theodoret, Tertullian, Cyprian, Chrysostome, yea and some of later times among the Papists, as Gela [...]ius and Bertram.

Ergo. Christ is not there bodily pre­sent, neither is the bread and wine conuerted substantially and really into his body and bloud, therefore as the absurd doctrine of transubstantiation is an inuention of later times, and here ouerthrowne: so must it needs also follow that our coniunction with him in this mortalitie must needs bee alto­ther spirituall.

The second thing to be considered in the diffinition, is, that albeit this contract and vnion is not feigned, supposed, imagined, or by touching [Page] and commixion: yet it is a true, a reall and a substantiall vnion, for wee are substantially vnited to him; our body, to his body, our soule to his soule, and our whole person to his whole person, so that we are flesh of his flesh and bone of his bones. Eph. 5. 30.

And as Adams whole person was really and substantially coupled with the whole person of Eue. So is it be­twixt Christ and the Church. He is the head and we the members, hee is the husband, and we the wife.

Now in that this contract and v­nion is reall and substantiall,Obs. it is also indissoluble and eternall. For first the Lord saith by Hosea (as I haue before mentioned,) I will marry thee vnto mee for euer. Secondly Christ his power is infinite, and none can take any out of his hands, Iohn. 10. 28. Thirdly, his loue is constant, whom hee loueth hee loueth to the end. Iohn 13. 3. Fourth­ly the sauing graces of his spirit, the proper endowments of his elect, are without repentance and irreuocable. [Page] Rom. 11. 29.

Fiftly Christ is an effectual and con­tinuall mediator vnto God his Hea­uenly Father for them. Luke. 22. 32. Heb. 7. 25.

Lastly if any true and liuely mem­ber of Christs body should bee lost, then either Christ should want either power, loue, or wisdome, to preserue and saue it, but hee wanteth none of them: or els his body should be may­med and vnperfect, which can neuer bee, for it is his fulnesse. Ephesians. 1. 23. and hee will in the life to come make it vnto himselfe a glorious Church Without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing. Eph. 5. 27.

Vse. Therefore let euery man trie by the touch-stone of Gods word, whether he feele the spirit of God in lightning and renuing him, and faith purging his heart, and firmely ap­prehending and applying Christ with­all his benefits vnto himselfe, if hee finde himselfe in this estate let him thanke GOD and by the continuall [Page] and serious vse of the worde, Sacra­ments, prayer and practise of good workes, maintaine and confirme it, for doubtlesse hee is a true member of IESVS CHRIST, ingrafted into him, and shall thus continue for euer. For these are not the workes of flesh and bloud, and meere Na­ture, but of the Spirit of GOD and grace.

The third thing in the deffinition to be explained is the Order of the v­nion, touching which wee are to note that the Church is first vnited vnto the body and flesh of CHRIST. Se­condly to his soule, and lastly to his God-head, and so to his whole per­son: and therefore the Scriptures commonly speake of first, & propound Christs humanity vnto vs and after­ward his deity. Rom. 1. verse 3. and 4. Chap. 9. ver. 5. and 6.

The reason herof is, because we can­not bee vnited vnto his deity but by his flesh, wherin hee wrought our re­demption, for the humane Nature [Page] of Christ is as it were a doore to let vs into the communion of his deitie, and the conduict pipe of deity to conuey and deriue it vnto vs. And as in the sacraments, the true-beleeuers doe by the outward signes and symboles as by instruments receiue the thing signified viz, Christ and his merits: so they also by the meanes of his humanity, are made partakers of his God-head, and so are vnited vnto him.

The third thing to be considered in this: contract, is the rare and royall be­nefits and prerogatiues, that hereby flowe and redound vnto vs. First wee haue from Christ, and from his merits and sufferings, the foundation and be­ginning of our new birth and being: he is the roote, and wee are the plants, he the Vine and wee the branches: of his fulnesse we all receiue grace for grace: finally, we are in him, who is made vnto vs of God, wisedome and righteousnesse, sanctification and redemption, Ioh. 15. 2. Iohn. 1. 16. 1. Cor. 1. 30. Ier. 2 [...]. 5. 6.

Secondly, we being contracted vnto [Page] Christ our head and husband, are in­teressed in and partakers of all his roy­alties and benefits so far forth as may be, (the proportion and difference be­weene the husband and the wife bet­ing retained) for from the fountaine of his God-head and conduit of his hu­manity, are deriued vnto us, his righ­teousnes; santification, triumph, glory. From Christ wee haue, redemption through his blood, euen remission of our sinnes according to his rich grace, by his sufferings we are [...]reed and deliuered from the guilt of our sinnes and the feare of condemnation, & by his obedi­e [...]ce to the Law imputed to vs we are accepted as iust before God and fit for eternall life. 2. Cor. 5. 19. 21. Apoc. 12. 1, Now what an vnspeakable benefit is remission of sinnes, which sinne draw­eth vpon vs all temporall and eternall plagues & can be by noe other meanes obtained then by our coniunction with him Psal. 32. 1. 2.

Thirdly communicating with Christ in the vnion of nature, we also (in some [Page] proportion and similitude are parta­kers of his propheticall, priestly, and Kingly Office. We are made prophets to confesse him and to teach and com­fort others, Priests to mortyfie sinne, to suffer for Christ, to offer sacrifices of praise & thankesgiuing vnto him, and to consecrate our selues, soules and bo­dies wholy vnto him. Rom 8. 39. Apo. 1. 6. 1. Peter. 1. 9. Wee are Kings to fight against the world, the flesh, and the Deuill, and by faith in him to ouercome them. 1. Iohn. 4. 5. And here wee receiue that right in whole, and dominion in part which we wholy lost in Adam. Math. 19. 28. 1. Cor. 6. 2. 1. Tim. 4. 4. 5.

Fourthly all Plagues, Aduersities, Crosses, Punishments, are made but only temporary and fatherly correc­tions vnto vs, tending to our correc­tion, and not our destruction, and they are medicines to cure our infir­mities and not meanes to increase our miseries. Heb. 12. 6. 10. 11. Pro. 3. 11. Apoc. 3. 19.

[Page] Fiftly wee haue all the Angells of GOD in this life for our good to at­tend vpon vs and to defend vs. Heb. 1. 14. 2. Kings. 6. 16. 17. Psal. 34 7. And in the life to come, especially by reason of this neere and admirable coniunc­tion with Christ our head and hus­band, and because we are made kings to rule with him, we are & shalbe supe­rior to the Angels, for there is no such coniunction betwixt his nature and theirs as betweene his and ours, nei­ther shall they raigne as Kings with him in the life to come as the Saints shall; Apoca. 2 verse. 26. and Chap. 3. verse. 21.

Sixtly Satan cannot indite and condemne vs, for as no man can sue the wife in the lawe, the husband liuing and not giuing his consent▪ Soe CHRIST our husband liuing and alwaies iustifying vs, who shall condemne vs? Romans 8. 33. 34. or who shall seperate vs from his loue? verse. 35.

[Page] Lastly when the husband, especially being a mighty Monarch is highly of­fended, the wife may and hath free ac­cesse vnto him when none other can or may haue the like liberty; So may and hath the true Church free acces [...]e vnto Christ by praier when the wick­ed are debarred from him, and cannot or dare not approch neere to him.

Thus much of the benefits and priuileges.

Now in the last place follow the ma­nifold vses of this contract and vnion.

1. Vse. First seeing our vnion with Christ is Reall and substantiall and con­tinueth for euer, (for we are made one flesh with him, bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh) Heb. 2. 14. Eph. 5. 30. Ergo he still (albeit he be glorified) re­teineth the essentiall parts of a true hu­maine body, the quality is onely alte­red, but the substance and dimentions remaine, for otherwise we could haue no fellowshippe with him, and so the foundation of all our comfort should [Page] be rased and ruinated. And therefore here is condemned the absurd and grosse errour of them that defie Christs humanity by making it infinite, omni­potent & knowing al things, and ours only finite and circumscribed in power place and knowledge, whereas be­tweene that which is finite, and that which is infinite there can be no such vnion and substantiall coniunction.

Secondly we must labour & endeuor alwaies to continue in this vnion and communion with Christ, and not de­parte an haires breadth from him; for remayning and abiding in Christ wee finde all comfort, refreshment and peace; and being out of him we runne head-long into all euill; for euen the Godly themselues, being out of it, and the efficacy of it but alittle, feele themselues as it were tormented with a flame of fire. Psalm. 77. 2. 3. Iob. 6. verse. 1. 2. 3.

Wherefore we must beware of and shunne all Idolatry, errour, atheisme, fornication, vncleanesse, drunkenesse, [Page] schisme, and all other raigning sinnes whereby we dissolue and cut in sunder this vnion.

Thirdly by reason of this misticall and straite coniunction betwixt Christ and the Church, hee hath a simpathy and feeling of all their wants and miseries, & though now he be exalted to the highest degree of glory in hea­uen yet doth he in nothing (as world­ly men in their exaltation vsually for­get & neglect their old & poore friends & acquaintance) remit and abate of his care and compassion towardes his poore and afflicted members in earth, but hee succoureth them in all their extremities, imputeth and rewardeth any good done vnto them as done to himselfe, and censureth and reuengeth the wrongs and indignities offered them as done to his owne person.

Hence wee learne diuers lessons and duties. First we in all our afflictions and necessities must flee vnto him and to the throne of grace, in con­fidence and assurance of faith, and [Page] wee shall find rest vnto our soules and helpe in time of need. Math. 11. 26. Heb. 4. 16. For as Philo said to the Iewes his country men, when he could find no fauour with Caius the Ro­maine Emperour) Vbi deficit humanum praesidium, ibi necesse est inciperem diui­nū auxilium, that is, where mans helpe fayleth, there Gods must needs begin.

Secondly wee must doe all possible good to Gods Saints, wee must com­fort his bowells, shew them all kind­nesse, and supply their wants, for then are we liuely and feeling mem­bers, and Christ will take notice of all the comfort wee yeeld them, and re­ward and regard it both in this life & in the life to come, bee the offices of charity neuer so meane so they be vn­fained, Mat. 25. 35. 36. 40. Luk. 21. 34

Thirdly me must take heed that we neuer grieue, wrong, vexe, and perse­cute Gods deere seruants and saints; for then wee doe but fight against God, kick against the pricks, touch the apple of GODS owne eye. Zacha. 2. 8. [Page] grieue hi: spirit, and procure to our selues many Iudgments, and if we are and continue in the number of open & professed enemies we besides tem­porall plagues most iustly, draw vpon our selues eternall vengeance.

The last vse is, that being ioynd and united to Christ the fountaine of all good workes, we wust contend and en­deuour to conforme our selues to his example and bring forth timely and plentifull fruits of piety, charity, and iustice. Phil. 1. 11. Tit. 2. 14 Psal. 13.

The second section.
They that were ready.

NOw (as order requireth) we are to treat and dispute of the fitnesse & preparation that ought to be in the true Church of Christ and is required of [...]hem against his second comming: For as these wise Virgins were before-hand prepared in faith, grounded on­ly vpon the scriptures and relying vp­on [Page] Christs only merits, in feruent loue and sincere affection to Christ, and in hearty desire and earnest expectation of his comming: so must we also, if we would be assured of our contract and vnion which Christ in this life, and en­ioy his glorious presence and haue perfect fellowshippe with him in the world to come; trimme prepare and make ready our selues against the so­lemnization of the marriage: and therefore it is said in the Apocalyps; the marriage of the Lambe is come and the bride hath made her selfe ready. Apo. 19. 7.

And so they are presented as a chast Virgin vnto one husband Iesus Christ. The truth and necessity of this prepa­ration is plainely and plentifully set forth in the scriptures, whether we r [...]spect Christ as the princypall and in­ward trimmer of the Bride, or the mi­nisters of the word as his agents and instruments, or the B [...]ide her selfe, as the proper subiect of it. First Christ trimmeth his spouse the Church, and [Page] therfore the holy company of his elect are sayd to come downe from heauen, prepared as a Bride trimmed for her hus­band. Apoc. 21. 2. that is, purged from all corruption, GOD through Christ doth make vs meete to bee partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. Col. 7. 12. Christ sanctifieth & clenseth his Church by the Washing of water through the word, that he may make it vn­to himselfe a glorious Church, without spot or wrinckle &c. Eph. 5, 26, and 27. The graces that Christ bestoweth vp­on her are as chaines to adorne her, as Myrrh, Incense and the spices of the Merchants to persume her, as Purple and Skarletto clothe her, & as pretious Iewels to beautifie & enrich her, final­ly shee as Queene standeth, at his right hand in a vesture of the gold of Ophir, Psalme 45, vers. 9.

More particularly Christ trimmeth and prepareth his spouse. First by offe­ring and affording vnto her the means and ministery of grace and saluati­on, as the Preaching of the worde, [Page] Ephesians 4, 11, 12, 13. the seale of the Sacraments. Mathew 28, 19. 1. Corinthi. 1, 23, 24, 25, 26. Herevnto may be added troubles, crosses, and af­flictions, which albeit in their owne nature they bee euils and plagues for sinne, yet the quality and property be­ing altered by Christ his death; they are made meanes to humble vs, medi­cines to purge vs, sowre sauce to make vs to relish better the Heauenly foode of our soules, bridles to curbe and restraine vs from sinne, and spirituall directers to guide vs to the Kingdome of hea­uen.

Secondly Christ trimmeth his spouse by the continual and effectual in wor­king and efficacy of his blessed Spirit. For without this all the outward meanes should bee onelie for conuict­ment of men, and for their more iust condemnation, and not for conuersion or consolation) for by it hee alone gi­ueth the encrease. 1. Cor. 3. hereby he epeneth mēs vnderstanding to vnderstād the scriptures, Lu. 24. ve. 32. he openeth [Page] their hearts (as hee did Lydias) to at­tend vnto good doctrine. Acts 16. ver, 14, he cōuerteth their hearts as he did the heart of Cornelius: & all that heard the words with him. Ac. 10. ve. 44, here­by he leadeth them into all truth. Iohn 16. 13, he dwelleth in them. 1. Cor. 3. 16, he regenerateth them. Ioh. 3. 5. &. 8 finally he comforteth & strengtheneth them. Ioh. 16. 8, in that he is the prin­cipall in trimming and preparing the Church his spouse, and that vnlesse hee giue grace and successe al other meanes (albeit neuer so good & holy) be vaine and frustrate, it must teach ernestly and continually by praier, to desire and en­treat the Lord, to prepare vs: to make vs meet for his kindome, and to make the ministery of his word and Sacra­ments, and all other good means pro­fitable and effectual vnto vs, & herein wee must say with the Church in the Cantikles, arise O North and come O South, and blowe on my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out: and (then) let my beloued come to his garden, and eate [Page] his pleasat fruite. Cātickles 4. v. the 16. The instrumentall trimmers, adorners of the Bride are specially and most sin­gularly, the ministers and Preachers of the word. For these doe with Paul la­bour to present their congregation as a chast Virgin vnto one hul band lesus Christ 2. cor. vers 1. 2. They haue the ministery and embassie of reconciliati­on committed vnto them. 2. cor. 5. ver. 18. They are the Preachers of faith & repentance Mark. 1. ver. 15. Math. 3 2. Act. 26. 20. They haue the keyes and authority subordinatly vnder Christ to binde and to loose, to remit and to retaine. Mat. 16. 19. Ioh. 20. ver. 23. fi­nally they are the outward organes & meanes of illumination, conuersion and saluation as may appeare. Act. 26. 18. 1. Tim. 4. 16. 1. cor. 1. 21. Hence it is that Philip must teach and conuert the Enuch. Act. 8. 35. Ananias, Paul: Paul Lidia; and Peter Cornelius. Act. 9. 10. 11. Act. 16. 14. Act. 10. ver. 7. and 3. 4

The vse hereof is to teach in no wise to neglect, despise or distast the Prea­ching [Page] of the worde, and other Holie meanes of our Saluation (as many and most do vpon the perill of their owne saluation) but vse them with all care, reuerence diligence and constancy.

And therefore what a shame is it for most men, yea what an occasion to aggrauate their condemnation that they will for supplie and obteyning of earthlie foode, prouision and ad­uancement, trudge, and trauaile farre and neere, almost to euetie market and faire, and in the meane time neg­lect the foode of their Soule: suffer it to pine, and to perrish, they are more churlish to it then Nabal was to Da­uid: more without compassion then the rich glutton was to Lazarus, and more hard hearted and mercilesse then the Iayler to innocent Paul and Sylas, who put them into the dungeon or in­ner prison, and locked their feete fast in the stocks. Act. 16. 24.

[Page] And thus much of the principall preparer of the Bride, and al­so of the instrumen­tall.

Thirdly the subiect or person that is thus prepared of Christ and his mi­nisters, that is also as a voluntary and vnderstanding creature, by remouing the bar and incumbrances of infideli­ty, idolatry and impenitency: and by vsing and frequenting all the holie meanes of begetting, confirming and increasing the sauing graces and gifts of God: is this spouse of Christ, the Church, the elect, the beleeuers, and (in a worde) all that desire and seeke to be saued. For these are often and continually warned and perswaded in the Scriptures: to watch, Marke 13. verse 35, 36. to bee sober, and to watch vnto prayer, 1. Peter 4, 7. and to haue feruent Charity a­mongst themselues. verse 8. to repent. [Page] Act. 17. ver. 30. to purge themselues. 1. Iohn. 3. 3. to put on the brest-plate of faith and loue 1. Theff. 5. 8. and hope of saluation for an helmet, ibidem. to be­ware of surfeting, dronkennes and the cares of the world Luke. 21. 34. to waile yea sigh & mourne for the redemption of their bodies. Rom. 8. vers 20. 21. 22. 23. To vse the world and all things there­of, as though they vsed them not, 1. Cor. 7. 27. to feare God and giue glo­ry to him Apo. 14. vers. 7. to make an eccho and cry with the Bride in the Apocalyps, come euen, so come Lord Ie­sus Apoc. 22. vers. 14. & 20. and lastly at the discerning of the neere approch of Christ by the accomplishment of the last signes such as are the ruine of Romish Babilon, the conuersion of the nation of the Iewes in the kingdome and countries into which they are dis­persed, the roaring of the Seas and waters &c. reioysingly to looke and li [...]t vp our heads because our (full) re­demption draweth neare Luke. 21. verse. 28. Apoc. 19. 7. This espoused virgin or [Page] Bride therefore, must of necessity be­ing stirred vp and assisted by the spirit of GOD, and hauing the meanes of grace so abundantly ministred vnto her, get the wedding garment (of faith and holines) Math. 22. vers. 11. 12. 12, make her selfe ready Apoc. 19. verse. 7. to desire to bee dis [...]olued and to be with Christ Phil. 1. 23. and to ende­uour to be acceptable to him. 2. Cor. 5. Reasons and arguments further to induce and perswade her hereunto are these first the transceudent and incom­parable dignity and maiesty of the person, to whom she is contracted, and to whome, she is to bee married, and that is Iesus Christ, the Kings sonne, the King of Kings: and Lord of Lords: the naturall heire of heauen and earth; the mighty Iehoua: the euerlasting fa­ther he that hath all power in heauen and earth; and God hath so he ighly exalted him at his right hand and giuuen him a name aboue all names, that at the name of IESVS should euery knee bow of things in heauen, of things in earth, [Page] and things vnder the earth, Philip. 2. vers. 9. 10.

Wherefore if King Pharaoes Daughter being wedded to earthlye Salomon, must hearken vnto him, con­sider and incline her eare. Yea forget her own people, & her Fathers house; Psa. 45.Psa. 45. 10. verse 10. how much more must euery good Christian, espoused & affianced to the heauenlye Salomon IESVS CHRIST our Sauiour, performe these duties.

And if the Maides and Virgins that went in by course and appointment to great King Ahashuerash, that raig­ned from India vnto Aethiopia, ouer a hundred and twenty seauen Pro­uinces, Hester. 1. verse. 1. were be­fore hand sixe moneths, purified with Oyle of Myrrhe, and sixe moneths with sweete odours, Hester. 2. vers. 12. So much more must the members of the Church, before they shall or can en­ioy CHRIST IESVS his presence in glorye; not for a fewe dayes or mo­neths; [Page] but all the dayes of their life, they must purge, sweeten, and pre­pare them-selues; for hee alone is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, and no power or Ma [...]estie in earth can compare with him. And by our coniunction and marriage with him, wee shall bee exempted and freed from all euills what-so-euer, and pos­sessed with all good things vnspeak­ably for euer-more.

Secondly, by the strange iudge­ments of Almighty GOD, especially in the foure or fiue yeares last past, whether generall, or more particu­lar, wee ought, as by so many voyces and signes of our omnipotent GOD preaching from heauen vnto vs (and almost at the end of the world) teach­ing and exhorting men to seious re­pentance, and to bee mooued and stirred vp more speedily, and speci­ally to prepare our selues to meete GOD in the waye, wee must sub­mit and humble our selues before him, [Page] forsake our sinnes, giue glory to him; and entreateth him by prayer and by repentance, to quench the fire of his begun wrath and indignation. For it is an vndoubted truth, that if to all our other sinnes there be adioyned security and deadnesse of heart, that punish­ments from God are both hastned and doubled: and the remouall and cea­sing of one plague, is nothing else but the occasioning and beginning of an­other, as we may read in Exod. against Pharao and the Aegyptians, Chap. 8. 9. 10. 11. in the 4. of Amos against the Israelites, and in the 15. 16. 17. chapters of Iohns Apocalips against▪ Antichrist, and the experience of former and later times in many countries doth verifie it. Herevpon Gods destroying Angell; and his kil­ling Arrowe, the consuming pestilence hath (not long sithence) destroyed so many thousands in this Iland, and yet is not ceased. All the foure Elements which otherwise would fight for vs, haue beene armed against vs; First the ayre, partly by his often Eclipses por­tending [Page] perhapps the eclipting and darkning of the glory and soundnesse of the truth, and other temporall euils, partly by prodigious and vnvsuall stormes and tempests, giuing warning of the wrath to come. Secondly the fire by consuming and burning so many houses and habitations within these few yeares: seemeth to presage eyther the fire of the last iudgement, or else some fearefull and strange euent. Thirdly the Seas and waters in diuers parts of the kingdome, haue most horribly roared, swelled, broken their banckes; and encroached vpon the maine land, and firme continent, so terrified the people the beholders, and done so much harme. Adde here­vnto the vnwonted, sudden, and won­derfull invndations of Riuers and Brookes, as though like vnto the men of the olde world wee all deser­ued to bee drowned. Lastly the earth by his moouing and shaking sensibly perceiued in many places, hath decla­red the Lord to bee angrie, Psal. 18. 7. and seemeth [Page] to proclaime against vs that wee are vnworthy to liue vpon it, wee must generally and particularly returne vn­to him, by vnfained repentance; and then they shall bee but fatherly cor­rections, and gentle warnings vnto vs. But if wee persist and insist in our sinne and securitie, then let vs be­ware and feare least they bee but the beginning of (further) euills. And euen Herodotus an heathen histo­rian diuinely speaketh: Cùm Deus pu­niturus est gentem vel vrbens, prodigiis id priùs solet significare. That is, when God will punish a Nation or Cittie, he vseth to giue significatiō of it by prodi­gies▪ & this doth the destructiō of Icru­salem and the dispersion of the nation of the Iewes, witnesse and warrant plainely vnto vs.

Thirdly, the approaching and neer­nesse of the day of the LORD, must bee a Trumpet to fore-warne and waken vs, and as the voyce of thun­der to terrifie vs from our securitie, and to compell vs to watch and pray, [Page] that wee may bee accompted wor­thy to escape all these things that shall come, and that wee may stand before the sonne of man. Luk. 22. verse 36.

Signes and fore-runners of our Sa­uiour IESVS CHRISTS second comming already fulfilled, are these, not onely the destruction of Ierusa­lem, and the Temple of GOD ma­nye hundred yeares agoe accompli­shed, but more specially, the disco­uerie, reuealing, and the decaye of the Romish Antichrist, that false Pro­phet, and King of the Locusts, with­in this foure score and sixteene yeares last expired. 2. Thessalon. 2. verse. 8. Apoc. 17. verse. 16. and his ruine and the ouerthrowe and vtter desolation of his Babylon and Metropolis sure­lie is at hand, as the Scriptures fore­shew it to come to passe. Apoc. 18. verse. 8. For their sinnes of Idolatry, of filthy and abhominable liuing, of the bloud-shed of so many millions of GODS elected saints, of most horrible and vnmatchable conspira­cies [Page] and treasons against Christian Kings and states, as their most exe­crable and damnable plot of powder treason, wherein they purposed at one blowe to haue blowne vp and destroi­ed, both our most excellent and migh­tie Soueraigne, the most hopefull Prince Henry, together with all the honorable personages, and the state of the kingdome there assembled, doe to their publike and eternall shame, (amongst infinite other their villa­nies) demonstrate, are (as it were) come to the full: and GOD hath (in part) and will remember their ini­quitye.

Adde herevnto their shamelesse cor­rupting and mangling of the writings and volumes, both of the ancient Fathers, and also later writers, yea those of their owne faction, as Ianse­nius, Ferus, Bertram, &c. togither with the burning of so many olde copies: both of the ancient and also of the later writers of their owne, that in ought made against them.

[Page] Lastly, their late, yet most lewd, lying, sophisticall and hellish doctrine of Aequiuocation, shifting euasions, and mentall reseruations, when they are called into question before ciuill Ma­gistrates, doth by their Bookes and practise euince.

A third signe, already in great mea­sure fulfilled, is the aboundance and shamelesse defence of sinne, deadnesse, & dulnesse of heart, whereby men are neither sensitiue of their sinnes, nor aware of Gods iudgements; and want of true faith on the earth; as may bee discerned by so much Atheisme and Hypocrisie, Luk. 18. 8. so little inuocation of Gods name, so horrible and vsuall Blasphe­mie, and such vile practises of iniustice and oppression: wherefore CHRIST that sitteth on the [...]lowde, must needes shortly thrust in his Sickle and reape: for the Grapes of sinne, and the har [...]est of iniquitie is ripe.

A fourth and dreadfull signe and fore-runner of the last iudgement: are strange Meteors, Comets, new, or [Page] blazing starres which haue beene euidently seene and noted,Luke 21. ver. 11. as anno Christi, Math. 4. 7. 1572. and anno 1577. many Countries and kingdomes, beyond the Seas anno 1604 and 1605. a­bout the beginning of October in 17. degrees of Sagittarius shinyng forth gloriously after the sunne set­ting; in figure and colour not vn­like vnto that which thirtie and two yeares agoe was seene in Cas­siopeia, without beard our tayle, rounde, pure and bright, so that ma­nie of the learned thought it to bee Venus Starre and the most excel­lent Astronomers, in the beginning of it, tooke it also for the euening Starre: Keckermanus, Disp. Philos. Extraord. pag. 373. and 406. adde herevnto a late Comet appearing Northwest, 1607.

Vse. 1. The noting, seeing and con­templation of these and the like fearefull and ominous signes and occurrences, should driue and drawe [Page] to feare almightie GOD,Isa. 47. 13 and 14. and stand in awe of him, that causeth and send­eth them; as Lodowicke the first Em­perour the Father of Charles the great answered one Edmund and As­trologer, that abusing wordes of Scripture, exhorted him not to feare the Comete which hee then sawe: let vs not feare the Comete sayth hee, but the creator of it, and let vs praise his clemencie, who doth vouchsafe by such iudgements to remember vs of, and to reprooue vs, for out dulnesse and sluggish­nesse.

Secondly let vs (taking also as à praesagium and forerunner of the last daie) bee aduertised and induced heereby to prepare our Lampes, to furnish the Oyle and to make rea­die for our Lord IESVS CHRIST at his comming, that we may goe with him vnto the marriage and enter into his ioye. Amen.

[Page] Thirdly the consideration of infinite losse, detriment and torment that will follow (if wee doe not in this life, the time of grace and reconciliation pre­pare our selues) must driue and com­pell vs herevnto, for they shalbe ex­cluded out of Heauen, and bee punni­shed with euerlasting perdition, form the presence of the Lord, and from the glorie of his power. 2. Thess. 1. 9. and the shall haue their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone. Apoc. 21, ver. 8, and the smoke of their torment shal ascende euermore and they shall haue no rest day nor night, Apoc. 14. vers. 11. Wherefore if the former argument cannot like an heauenly Adamant and Loadstone drawe vs to preparation, (as this Argument is most effectuall & preualent with the regenerate,) yet let the threatning of damnation, like a terrible thunderclap, or a great peale of ordinance rowse & awake vs from sinne, and driue and enforce vs to make our selues ready. And if the feare hereof in very Reprobates, can worke [Page] so far forth as to compel Simon Magus to desire Peter, and Iohn to pray to the Lord for him, that none of the things that they had spoken might come vpon him, Act. 8. 24. and when Paule dispu­ted of Iudgment, it could make Faelax to tremble. Act. 24. 26. much more must it preuaile with those that make a better profession, and waite for eter­nall redemption.

Lastly our Sauiour Christ, and Paul &c. by this argument endeuoured to awaken the secure. Mathew 23. 33. 2. cor. 5. 11.

And thus much in generall of the person that is to be prepared and to pr [...]pare her selfe.

Now that we may proceede more orderly in this point, and the reader may take the more benefite, and pro­fit by it. We are first to propound the principall heads of this preparation, and Secondly the proper and set time of it. The principall heads are these [Page] foure, faith in Christ; Secondly purity and innocency of life. Thirdly the du­ties of charity and good workes, and lastly a feruent desire, and huely hope in the patient expectation of the con­sumation of the marriage.

The first head is faith, which is no­thing els but a perswasion of the fauour of GOD towardes vs in Christ, or as Saint Paul to the He­brewes defineth it, the [...] or substance of things hoped for, it is called a substance, not for that in very deede it doth subsist, and hath a­beeing, but because it doth present, and as it were set before our eyes that which is promised by GOD. Hebrewes 11. 1. Apoc. 1, 8. and it is [...] that is a demonstration of things not seene; the worde signifieth properly a conuin­cing of the conscience, for faith doth so conuince him that doubteth hee can doubt no more, not otherwise then if hee sawe them with his bodily eyes, and herevnto is to bee referred [Page] that saying of Christ. Thomas because thou hast seene thou hast [...]eleeued, but blessed are they that haue not seene, and (yet) haue beleeued. Ioh. 20. 29. Ther­fore sayth that giueth vs an assurance of the accomplishment of Gods pro­mises, whether corporall, or spiritu­all, temporall, and eternall, must needs bee the first, and the principall part of this preparation: this is the entry dore whereby wee are admitted vnto God, and into his house. Ephe. 3, 12. without this it is impossible to please God for hee that commeth vnto God must beleeue Hebre. 11, 5. and what soeuer is not of faith (that is done in a consciona­ble knowledge of Gods will) is sinne Ro. 14. 23. faith is the eye of the body, if the eye be single id est the faith sincere, thēal the body shal be light: but if the eye be darke id est the faith corrupt, & vnsound, then the whole body is dark, so that neither hand, foote &c. can ex­ecute and performe his function. This faith is the stomach of the Soule to attract, digest, and conuert into good [Page] bloud, and norishment, the Heauenly food of Gods word, & if it either want appetite, to desire, power to digest, or strength to retaine &c. the whole bo­dy must needes by degrees languish, and decay: finally it is the roote, founda­tion, and the instrumentall cause of our iustification, regeneration, victory ouer sinne, and satan, peace of conscience, and eternall saluation. col. 2. 5. 6. Ephe. 6. 16. Act. 15, 9. 1. Iohn. 5. 4. Rom. 5. 1. Mar 16. 16. Ioe. 3. 15. 16.

Thus wee see by the properties, ef­fects, and vses of faith it is necessary, & there can bee no preparation accepta­ble to God without it; wherefore if we want it, wee must vse the meanes to get, and obtai [...]e it: and if wee finde our selues possessed with it, wee must then preserue, cherish and norish this holy flame with the knowledg [...] of Gods word, with the vse of the Sacra­ments, by conference, by meditation, by prayer, by practise of good workes, and by hope, expecting, and waiting for the ende of it, euen the saluation [Page] of our soules. For first our faith through the frequency and violence of temp­tations, is often fore assaulted and weakened, and therefore it had neede be repayred and confirmed.

Secondly onely that faith that vsual­ly doth growe and encrease, is the sa­uing, and liuely faith, and shall neuer be extinct, for defect of oile; nor pine away by any spirituall consumption, but continueth firme, and vnmoue­able, and obtaineth the promises Eph. 4. 11. 12. 13.

Lastly if faith haue not (as before specified) his continuall supply of food, it will faile as the wine did at the mari­age in Cana of Galil, if it be not no­rished, and preserued, it will wither like the corne sowen in the stony ground for want of moisture, and it wilbe lost as we see how it was in the foolish virgins at the Bride groomes comming, and that argued that it was not true faith in existence; but onely in apparence, and that it was rather an opinion then a deepe impression: for [Page] otherwise the faith of Peter, and so of Gods elect, shall not faile, and the gifts of God (namely that directly concerne saluation) are without repentance. Luk 22. 32. Rom. 11. 19. neuer extinct, or taken away.

But that neither with the igno­rant, nor with the hypocrites, nor yet with the Papists and other here­tikes wee content, and deceiue our selues with a mocke faith▪ an historicall and temporary faith, or with a crackt, and erronious faith, insteed of that which is sauing, and iustifying, we must found and search our soules, whether wee bee Orthodoxe, and vncorrupt in the principles of faith, whether we rest wholy vpon the right obiect, whether it be ioyned with particuler applicati­on, and lastly whether we discerne and find in our selues the inward & outward signes, and euidences of it, for then vn­doubtedly wee haue that faith that iu­stifieth the sinner, purgeth the heart, engrafteth vs into Christ, and saueth our soules. But of these, and the like [Page] particulers briefely, and in order.

Principles and foundations of faith are these, preaching of the word of God, is the ordinary and principall meanes of saluation. Rom. 10 14. Christ is both God and Man in one person, per­fect GOD and perfect man: man to suffer and dye, and satisfie for sinne in our nature that had offended, and God to support his humanitie, to giue effi­cacie and power to his doctrine and miracles, and to adde infinite merite and desert to all his actions, and suf­ferings. Thirdly, onely faith is the hand and instrument to apprehend, and apply CHRIST vnto vs with all his blessing [...], and so to iustifie vs.

Faith is like the eye, which albeit in the acte, and vertue of seeing, it is alone: yet not solitarye and alone in the bodye, but ioyned to other parts: so faith, albeit it alone iustifieth vs before GOD, yet it is not solita­rie, and alone, but alwayes according to the proportion of it accompanied [Page] with holy life and good workes. Gal. 5. verse. 6.

There are onely two Sacraments which Christ instituted, and left vnto the Church, Baptisme the sacrament of our new birth, and entrance into chri­stianity, the outward signe whereof is Water: and the Lords Supper, the sa­crament of our growth and perfect nourishment, and encrease in Christi­anity, the outward signes and matter whereof are Bread and Wine, remai­ning both Bread and Wine for sub­stance, both in the sacramentall vse of them, and afterwards as Paul maketh it manifest. 1. Cor. 11. 26. 27. That no man performe and fulfill the lawe, and therfore no man is to hope and looke for righteousnesse and saluation by that obedience which hee sheweth to the lawe, Rom. 8. 3. Gal. 2. 15. 16. That we cannot make satisfaction to God for the least of our sinnes, but that Christ alone hath most fully, and onely performed it. 1. Pet. 2. 24. Apoc. 1. 5. 6. That the saluation, of all that beleeue [Page] is certaine and infallible, not onely in Gods decree, but also to themselues, Rom. 8. 38. Heb. 10. 22. and therefore that the opinion of the Papists is wic­ked, which make faith vncertaine, and so holde our saluation to bee doubt­full.

That all doctrine necessary to sal­uation is contained in the Scriptures, so that nothing is either to be added to it, or detracted from it, Deut. 4. 2. Apoc. 22. 18. 19. Gal. 1. 8.

That the knowledge of the Scrip­tures are necessary for all sorts of peo­ple for their saluation, and therefore that they ought to read them, that they may thereby learne and vnder­stand, what God would haue them to beleeue, and doe, Iohn. 5. 39. Mar. 12. 24. Math, 22. 29.

That God alone is to be adored of vs, and that no part of diuine wor­ship is to bee giuen vnto any creature, Math. 4. 10.

That holinesse of life, & good workes as effects, and consequents of faith, [Page] and the way wherein wee should walke, Ephes. 2. 10. is necessarily required of all that will be saued, Hebr. 12.

That the Sacraments are onelye signes and seales of righteousnesse, and not causes of saluation, and there­fore our saluation doth not so depend vpon them, that they that want them must needs bee damned, whereas our saluation consisteth onely in Christ his merits, Marc. 16. 16. which none can dispoile and dismantle vs of.

That Christ his body was but once conceiued of the substance of the Vir­gin Mary, and cannot bee made of any other matter, and that CHRIST hath onely one body, and therefore it is not made of Wheate bread (as the Papists say it is dayly) for it is not the seede of Dauid, and bread is not the flesh of the Virgin.

That the humaine nature of Christ is now onely resident, and contained in heauen, and therefore it is not to be adored in earth, Acts. 3.

[Page] That the whole force, vertue, and efficacie of our saluation, and redemp­tion, is in the onely, and once offered sacrifice of CHRIST, Heb. 10. 12. 14. and that this sacrifice could bee offered of none but Christ, who was to be a Priest for euer.

Lastly (to omit diuers other arti­cles, which bee more plaine, and con­fessed) it is a foundation of faith, to know, beleeue, and hold, that then im­mediatly after the dissolution from the body, the soules of the righteous are carryed by the Angels into hea­uen,Luke. 16. vers. 22. and the soules of the wicked and impenitent, are carryed by the diuill into hell: and that the same bodyes with all their perfect partes, and de­mensions shall for substance bee raised vp by CHRIST at the day of iudg­ment, Iob. 19. 25. 26. Of this maine and principall article many are igno­rant, or at least not iuditiously and soundly perswaded, as may appeare by the examinatiō of the ignorant people [Page] both in their sicknesse, and otherwise. These heads, & foundations viz. they that shall either with Atheists deny al, or with the Church of Rome deny, or by consequence ouerthrowe most of them, or with the common, or vulgar protestant bee ignorant of them; can­not possibly (for the time present) haue true faith, for faith can no more then a temple, a house, or any other edifice bee without his many grounds, and foundation. Wherefore if we erre, or bee ignorant in these, or in the like principles of faith, let vs by diligent hearing of the word, reading of the Scriptures, and Orthodoxe bookes, by consulting the Godly learned, and by earnest prayer to GOD for illumina­tion and vnderstanding, seeke to bee better informed, and resolued.

The second point to bee conside­red, is whether Christ with his onely merites, and obedience bee the onely Obiect of our faith, so that in matter of saluation wee vtterly disclame, and renounce all other feined merites, sa­tisfactions, [Page] intercessions of men, and Angells, for Christ alone is our perfect redeemer, and mediator. Act. 4. 12. Heb. 7, 25. Phi. 3.

The third point, whether our faith doe not onely rest in abare and naked knowledge, and history of Christ, (as the fayth of the deuills, and reprobates doth) but also apply, and appropriate Christ, yea and enclose (as it were) him, and all his merits vnto them­selues, and their owne saluation: for as without vse, and application of the weapon there is no defence, or anoy­ance: without vse, and application of medicine no cure, without vse, and ap­plie of meate and drinke, no continu­ance of life, without putting on of ap­parell no warmth, or hiding of our vn­seemly partes, without acceptance, and perticuler acknowledgement of the Kings generall pardon, there is no forgiuenesse: so vnlesse we apply and appropriate Christ with all his obedi­ence, and merites vnto our selues wee haue no comfort; helpe, and benefit by [Page] him wee do ebut beate the ayre, run at randome, and shoote at the rouers.

Wherefore to conclude this point, wee must say with Dauid, O Lord my strength and my redeemer, Psal. 19. 14. Iob. 20. ve. 21. and with Thomas the Apostle, My Lord and my God, and with the Church in the Can­ticles my welbeloued is mine, and I am his. Cant. 2. 16.

Fourthly we are a little to consider, & take a view of some pregnant, & re­markable signes, and effectes of true faith, whereby (as by certaine trusty in­telligencers) we may be informed, and certified whether we haue true fayth, or not.

First it is one signe of a beleeuer to ioyne, and associate himselfe to those assemblies and those people wherein, and amongst whom the true, & sincere worship of God is professed, and esta­blished: for in the 2. of the Acts of the Apostles it is sayd the Lord added to the Church from day to day such as should be saued. Act. 2. 47. And it is a note of perdition for a man to forsake the holy [Page] assemblys, & so to withdraw himselfe and his faith from GOD. Hebrewes. 10. 25. and 39.

Thomas absenting himselfe from the Apostles and their fellowship but some eight daies, or there abouts was so hardned in vnbeleife that he would not beleeue the testimony, and asseue­ration of the rest of the Apostles that told him that Christ was risen, except hee might see the print of the nailes, Ioh. 26. ver. 25. and put his finger into the print of them, and put his hand into his side, and had not CHRIST beene so mercifull vnto him, as to condescend to his infirmitie, and withall to molli [...]ie his heart hee had perished in his obstinacie. What then is to bee sayd of them that seldome, that neg­ligently, yea that neuer come in­to GODS Chamber of presence to heare the blessed Preaching of his word, and to pertake of the Heau [...]nly Manna of the Sacraments, surely they are in a most dangerous and des­perate case.

[Page] A second note of faith is, constant­ly, wisely, and boldly to confesse and maintaine the doctrine of saluation, and all the foundations of fayth when we are therevnto called: For we must beleeue with the heart, and confesse with the mouth. Rom. 10. 10. We must haue Christ his name written in our forheads. Apoc. 14. 1. Wee though we liue wheresathan hath his throne, must keepe Christs name and not deny the faith. Apoc. 2. 13. Whereso [...] it stand­eth vs vpon to looke to our selues, and to beeware that wee bee not daunted with scoffes, and slaunders, terrified with feare of trouble, and persecution, seduced with flattery, ouercome, with false perswasions, and corrupted with offer of profit, and preferment. For if wee bee ashamed of Christ our good Lord, Maister, and Redeemer, he wilbe ashamed of vs, if wee deny him, hee will deny vs before his Heauenly Fa­ther, and all the Holy Angells: and contrarywise if wee confesse, and ho­nour him before men, hee wil confesse [Page] and honour vs. Finally wee are (then onely) made partakers of Christ if wee keepe sure vnto the end [...] [...], id est, the beginning of our as­surance, (or wherby we are vpholden.) Heb. 3. 14.

A third euidence of fayth is to shew and make knowne our dislike, and ha­tred of errour, and false doctrine, yea to set, and oppose our selues against it, so farre forth as our calling will warrant.

Thus Dauid professeth that hee hateth all false waies. Psal. 119. 104. and 128. Thus Paul being at Athens, and seeing the Citty [...] id est that is addicted to Idolatry, it is sayd that the Spirit in him [...] was prouoked to indignation. Acts. 17. 16. and thus the Angell of the Church of Ephesus is commended, because hee could not forbeare them that were euill, because hee did exa­mine the [...]alse Apostles & found them out. Apoc. 2. 2.

[Page] A [...], and that a more inward, and in [...]allible note of faith is with E­zechias, Dauid, Iob, Anna, Gedeon, and others to beleeue, and depend vpon God, euen then when wee haue (for the present) no feeling, and when in trouble we see no meane of deliue­rance, for this is a demonstration that we rely wholy, and only on his helpe, and therefore is most acceptable to his maiesty, yea, if God in our see­ming, and apprehension should wound vs, bee an enemy vnto vs, write bitter things against vs, yea, and kill vs, yet must wee trust in him. 2. Chro. 32. 31. 32. Isay. 38. ver. 2. 3. Psalm 77. 7. 8. 9. Iob. 13. vers. 15. 1. Sam. ver. 15. [...]udg. 6. 13. 2. Sam. 15. 26.

For God many times leaueth his Children without sense, and feeling of present comfort, & that partly to bring them to repentance for sinnes past. Iob. 13. 26. partly to make them knowe themselues for the time present. Deut. 13. 2. 3. partly to preuēt sinnes in time to come. 2. Cor. 12. 7. 8.

[Page] A fourth, note is the gift, & practise of prayer, or the inuocation of Gods name in the only mediation of Christ, for this is a speciall character, and note of an elect of God, whereby he is dis­cerned from an Infidell, or reprobate, and is knowne to bee one of Gods Children. Rom. 10. 14. 1. Cer. 1. 3, 2. Tim. 1. 19. and contrariwise it is a brand of an Infidell, or an Atheist neuer to pray. Ieremy 10, 25. Psalme 14, 4. But that wee bee not decei­ued herein, for ignorant people may mutter ouer, and say by rote certayne prayers, and the hipocrite, may make a goodly shew, certaine rules must bee obserued and heeded.

First that our praiers bee made in knowledge of Gods will, otherwise they are not made in [...]ayth, and so can­not please God. Rom. 14, ver. 4.

Secondly that in priuate we pray not so much by prescript for me, as accor­ding to the present sense, & feeling of our owne wants, & imperfections cra­uing the supply of them.

[Page] Thirdly, that it doe not consist in a few words of course, but bee enlarged as time, and our present necessities oc­casion vs. 1. Sam. 1. vers. 15.

Fourthly, that the matter and sub­iect of our prayers bee chiefely, and in the first place, the aduancement of Gods Gospell and kingdome, the re­mission of our owne sinnes, and the saluation of our soules, and then in the second place to pray for temporalls, and outward things, but alwayes con­ditionally, and with subiecting our wills to Gods will. Math. 26. ver. 39.

Fistly, it must not be only for a brunt vpon a sudden motion, or onely in time of great trouble, but daily, and continually, for thus are wee taught to pray incessantly, and neuer to giue ouer vntill God grant our requests. 1. Thes. 5▪ Luke. 18 7

Sixtly, wee must pray in humilitie, and in vnfained loue to God and men, for the proud mans prayer God reiec­teth, Luke 18. vers. 14. and the mali­tious mans prayer, and sacrifice is [Page] abhominable. Lastly, (not to be tedi­ous,) wee must not pray onely for our selues, and kindred as carnall men (in their manner) sometimes doe, but for the whole church of God vpon earth, and for euery state and condition of Christians, as Kings, Counsellers, Ru­lers, Iudges, Magistrates, the reuerend Prelates, Pastors, Preachers, Ministers, commons, and most earnestly and compassionately, for those whom wee know afflicted, hated, persecuted for the truth, and Gospels sake, or for any good cause whatsoeuer, or where-so­euer.

If thou finde all these signes of faith, or most of them in thy selfc, be thank­full to GOD for them, and which of them thou feelest, and perceiuest thy selfe to bee destitute of, in part, or whole, seeke for the obtaining of it, and if thou bee wholy voyde of them, then it is high time, whiles opportuni­tie serueth, to labour to procure them by all holy meanes. Looke therefore to the maine chance, get and nourish [Page] faith, and thou canst▪ not perish: but want, or neglect thou it, and thou canst not bee saued, I am horum mauis accipe.

To the former notes, and testimo­nies of faith, may very well be added puritie, and innocencie of life, and a liuely hope of eternall glory, for these are certaine and infallible notes of faith, and peculiar effects of it, but of these I purpose to treate distinctly, and more at large in the two next points of preparation, wherof these are bran­ches. And thus much of faith, the foundations obiect, application, and notes of it.

The second principall head in this preparation, is puritie, and innocencie of life and conuersation. This is a nota­ble and peculier worke, and declarati­on of faith, and it proceedeth, as na­turally from it, as the beames from the sunne, the waters from the foun­taine, and the fruites in their season from the fruitfull tree, herevpon fai [...]h [Page] is said to purifie the heart, Acts. 15. 9. faith, and repentance are both prea­ched together, and so ought to bee practised, Mark. 1. 15.

The necessitie of this holinesse, and innocencie appeareth plainely: with­out holinesse, no man shall see God. Heb. 12. [...]4. except Christ washe vs wee haue no part with him, [...]ohn. 13. 8. except a man bee borne of water, and the holye Ghost, hee shall neuer enter into the kingdome of heauen. Iohn. 3. 5. Finally no vncleane thing shall enter into the heauenly Cittie, neither whatsoeuer wor­keth abhomination, or lyes, Apoc. 21. 27. Likewise innocencie and harmlesse simplicitie is a cognizance and badge of them that are prepared for Gods kingdome; for they must bee innocent as Doues, Math. 10. 16. harmelesse as yong children, Mat. 18. 3. without guile in their mouthes, Psalm. 32. 2▪ suffering wrong rather then offering it, and dooing no man iniurye, but labour­ing to doe good to all men; and no maruaile, for beeing borne a new [Page] and cast into a new molde, wee must operari secundum formam renouatam, according to our new nature, so must be our actions; and if wee bee rightly regenerate, the effects that doe retaine the similitude of the cause, must needs entertaine some correspondencie with it.

Secondly, Christ Iesus the vnspot­ted Lambe of GOD, will neuer marry with the Church, vntill shee bee first washed and sanctified, Ephes. 5. 26. 27. and they onely that haue not defiled their garments, idest, corrupted their conscience with grosse and grieuous sinnes, shall walke with Christ in white, Apoc. 3. vers. 4.

Thirdly, being contracted, and in­grafted into Christ, that is, holinesse it selfe, we must not walke after the flesh, but after the spirit, Rom. 8. 1, wee must be conformable vnto Christ his death by mortification, and to his resurrecti­on, by newnesse of life, or else wee are no liuely members of his body, but dead and rotren flesh. It is an axiome [Page] in Philosophy, quo quid propinquius bo­no [...]eo melius, Aristo. 3. Top. wherefore if we be in Christ, and contracted to him, wee must needs be better, for wee are not onely neere him, but of him, and he in vs, and we in him. And that our holinesse and innocencie of life bee not rather in the flowre, then in the fruite, and in pompe more then in proofe, we must sce that it be constant, and encrease; [...] as wee continually, partly by ordinary slips, and infirmi­ties, and partly by spirituall conflicts, & combates, receiue some losse, foiles, decayes; so must we dayly endeuour to strengthen our selues, to repaire our decayes, and to mend our garments, and to regaine, and recouer our losses, And as generatio vnius est corruptio al­terius, so wee must see how by the en­gendering of holynesse, sinne doth decrease; for as one kingdome can­not endure two Kings, so the king­dome of Christ cannot consort with the dominion of Satan.

[Page] Wherefore we must not please, and content ourselues with the out-ward shew of holinesse, or deceiue our selues with the opinion that men may con­ceiue of vs, out-ward shewes are like Sodome Apples, goodly in colour, and appearance, but if a man crush, and open them, they are nothing but powder, or ashes, and as for mens opinion of vs, it is no certaine eui­dence of our inward holines, for Hipocrisie is spunne with so fine a [...], that it can deceiue the most Godly, and iudicious (at least for a long time) in the world, thus Dauid was deceiued in Achitophell his [...]amiliar and counsellor, the Apos­tles in Iudas, and the whole Church in Nicolas, one of the seauen Deacons.

Secondly wee must not onely bee innocent our selues, and holy, and here-vpon thinke wee may endure filthy speach, horrible blasphemye of GODS sacred name, false im­putations laide vppon iust men, o­pen drunckennesse, and notorious [Page] profanesse in others; but we must (if wee haue any dramme, or sparke of grace in vs, or any partickle of zeale for God,) rebuke them, and shew our hatred, offence, and opposition against them. Eph. 5. 11. Herein our loue to God, our hatred of euill, our strength, and resolution in Godlines is euident­ly discryed, and discouered Luke. 23. 41. Act. 14. ver. 14..

Thirdly wee must beware, and shunne ill company and fellowship; for if wee bee not armed with spe­ciall grace, and also most chary how wee come into their company, they will soone infect, coole, and corrupt vs. They are as the pestilent vapor to the apt and open body, as fire to the tynder, as pitch to the hands, as Dalila to Sampson, and as Iesabel to Achab; they are so ready and for­cyble by their ill president, and perswasions to infect, and our na­ture soe weake, and impotent to resist if it bee not alwayes assisted with speciall grace, and the spirir of [Page] God, that the Holiest, the Wisest, the Strongest haue hereby soone beene defiled, and polluted, how much more those that either haue very little grace, or none at all, and that make no con­science, and choise of their company.

The third head, or principall part in preparation is Charity, and the Fruites, and effects of it, charity, or loue is the fulfilling of the lawe. Rom. 13. 10. it is the bond of perfection. Colo. 3. 14. For it knitteth, and bindeth all other ver­tues together, that they be not dissol­ued, and it prefereth them; this chari­tie dependeth vpon the loue of God, and cannot bee in any hethen, the sha­dow of all other vertues (besides this) may bee in Pagans, as pi [...]ty, bountie, modestie, patience &c. but not this, & this doth vnite, and ioyne all the members of the Church together. Fi­nally without this, if wee haue all o­ther rare perfections yet before GOD wee are nothing. Cor. 13. 2. Charity is in respect of the eternity of it grea­ter, yea preferred before sayth, and [Page] hope. 1. Cor. 13, 13. for sayth, and hope determine with this life, but loue abi­deth for euer.

Againe in respect of the obiect, and the visibility of it, it is greater then ei­ther sayth, or hope, for fayth, and hope haue for their obiect only GOD, and Christ, but loue extendeth it selfe to God, and man. Rom. 8. 25. fayth is in it selfe inuisible, but loue, and charity perspicuous, and apparant. Iac. 2. 16. 18. this charity, and loue is not onely in tongue, in promises, and in affecti­on, and welwishing to men, but also in truth and indeede, as 1. Iohn. 3. 18. Charity is bountifull and seeketh not her owne. 1. Cor. 13, 4, 5. it is communicati­uum sui, that is, imparteth that which she hath to others, and here that prin­ciple of Philosophy is verified, bonum quo communius eo melius; the more common it is the more comfortable. It doth not (as many of our inclosers) im­pale, imparke, and hedge in the com­mon groundes, and fields to her pri­uate vse, to the weakening of the [Page] State, and the ruinating of the Com­munalty, but like a fountaine, sendeth, and streameth forth her waters vnto o­thers, shee is so farre (as it is to be fea­red many practise) from appropriating to her selfe in part, or in whole the poore mens stocke, and collection-mo­ny gathered, and giuen for building, or repaireing of Churches, or Townes, that haue beene consumed by fire, that she liberally giueth of her owne. But (to ende this point) the practise whereof should neuer ende. As faith worketh by charity, so there are cer­taine particulers wherin her Offices are most conspicuous, and obseruable. First we must bee lights, and lamps to others by our examples, and not looke who will begin first, as Mathew 5. 16. 2. Cor. 9. 2.

Secondly when our brother offen­deth, we must in charity, and discreti­on admonish him, and not to suffer him to perish in his sinne (as many do) rather deridyng him, then directing him, Mat. 18. 15.

[Page] Thirdly, wee must exhort, and per­swade others to Godlines, and good workes, Heb. 3, 13. Fourthly we must by Simpathy, and fellow-feeling, & es­pecially by words of Scripture rightly vnderstood▪ and well applied, comfort, and cheere the afflicted. 1. Thessa. 5, 14, and therefore wee must not post, and put off, all to the minister, as though it cōcerned not vs at all. Fiftly we must pray for others, and especially for their conuersion, and saluation. 1. Timot. 2. 1 2. and that both publikly, and priuate­ly. And lastly euery man must accor­ding to his ability, & other mens wants and necessities willingly & seasonably impart of his worldly goodes for their releife, Acts. 2. 21. 2. Corinthi. 8. Galla. 6. 10. 1 Iohn. 3, 16. This is the touchstone of many, and most mens religion in these last and worst dayes, for herein they are most fauty and defectiue, but let them that will not doe good with their tempo­ralls, beware least they for omission heereof, iustly bee condemned [Page] with the two rich worldling, in Luke Chapter 12. 17. 19. and Chapter 16. 24, and with infinite others at the day of Iudgement. Mathew 23. 42. 43. 45.

The last point, and branch of the preparation is hope, desire, and expecta­tion of the marriage, and the glorie, and ioye of it, and herevpon it is that hope is called the Anker of the Soule, sure, and steadfast, to stay, and sustaine vs in all stormes, and tempestes of temptations, Hebre. 6. 19. yea the king­dome of Heauen, which wee waite for, is called, A blessed hope. Titus. 2, 13. this hope of eternall glorie), is a notable meanes to stirre vp men to purge, and reforme themselues. 2. Iohn 2. 3. with the expectation of which blisse, wee must comfort one another. 1. Thesalonians 4, 17. and wee must both in temporall, and spiri­tually tryalls not growe impatient, as the rebellious Iewes that could not expect, and stay for Moyses fortie [Page] daies, but would needes in the meane time play the Idolators; but with the woman of Canaan, after a first, second, and third repulse hope still Mat. 15. 27. 28, we must with the Creeple, in Iohn sometime before wee be cured waite thirty eight yeares. Ioh. 5. 5. 7. Wee must with Abraham against hope, be­leeue vnder hope, Romans 4, 8. And as the Iewes patiently (many of them) waited in hope of the accomplish­ment of Gods promises many yeares, both their deliuerance out of Egipts tirranny, and afterwards out of Babi­lons captiuitie, yea and expected, and desired many hundred yeares the In­carnation of Christ before that they in their posterity enioyed it: so must we also tarry the Lords leasure, in pa­tience, and in hope fustaine our soules. Psal. 37, and waite all the daies of our pilgrimage vntill Christ come vnto vs by death, or the last iudgement, for our full, and finall redemption. Shall the husbandman waite for the pre­tious fruite of the earth, and haue [Page] long patience vntill hee receiue the first, and the latter raine, and shall not wee bee much more patient, and settle our hearts, seeing the com­ming of the LORD i [...] so neere. Iam. 57, 8.

To this hope wee must annexe, and adioyne an earnest desire, and ardent prayer; as for the accom­plishment of other promises, so spe­cially for the second comming of our LORD and Sauiour IESVS CHRIST.

Hence it is that wee are tought to pray thy Kingdome come, Mathew 6, 10 to hasten vnto the day of the comming of GOD, 2 Peter 3, 12. to desire to bee cloathed with immor­talitie, yea, to si [...]h for it. 2. Co [...]inthi. 5. 9 We must say come LORD IE­SVS, come quicklie, Apoc. 22. 19. 20. How long LORD IESVS, how long? Apoc. 6. 10. 11. Wee must with the creatures [...] that is care­fully, and desirously looke for. Romans 8. 19. as hee that out of a prison [Page] grate, or casement, putteth forth his head to behold a farre off him that is expected.

Reasons in briefe to kindle and en­crease this hope, and desire of this so­lemnization, and per [...]ect coniunction with Christ, are especially foure: First the example, and feruent desire of the creatures, who albeit they be sin-lesse, yet because mans sinne hath corrup­ted them, and doth continually per­uert and abuse them; they in their kinde feruently desire to bee freed from this bondage, and to bee restored into the glorious lib [...]rtie of Gods chil­dren; much more wee that haue re­ceiued the first fruites of the spirit must long and looke for a farre more glorious estate. Roman. 8. 19. 21. 22. 23.

Secondly, the infinite miseries, trou­bles, persecutions of the world, and the vanitie, ticklish and sickle estate, and mortality of all things herein con­tained, must stirre vp our hearts desire, and expectation of full redemption, [Page] and glorification, Phil. 3. 20. Heb. 13. 13. 2. Cor. 4. 8. 9, 17. Collos. 3. 1. 2. 3. to this purpose doth the triumphant Church in heauen, (in a generall sort) desire the end of the world, that the Lord may iudge, and auenge their bloud that was shed vpon the earth, Apoc. 6. vers. 10.

A third reason, and that more prin­cipall, is that an end may bee put to all sinne, and wee may haue perfect victo­rie ouer it, yea, and treade downe Sa­tan vnder our feete; for then we shall be deliuered frō all the relicks, stumps, root [...]s, and remainders of sinne. 1. Cor. 15. 55. 56. Rom. 16. 20. Apoc. 3. 4. and 19. 8. Whereas in this mortalitie, wee dayly, and euery moment, sinne against, and offend our GOD, breake all his commandements, and prouoke his an­ger, and pull downe many iudgements vpon vs. Rom. 7. 17. 18. 19. and 23 24. Gala. 5. 17. yea all our obedience, and our best actions, are tainted with sinne, and so vnperfect, Isa. 63. Tit. 3. 5. 1. Cor. 13. 10. 11,

[Page] Lastly, the fruition and enioyment of Christ his glorious presence, and perfect fellowship, must be a forcible, and effectuall meanes to confirme our hope & enflame our desire, Phil. 1. 23. Hebr. 11. 25. 27. for here is the banquet that neuer endeth, the mariage that lasteth for euer, the triumph that is perpetuall, the absence and remouall of all euill, and the presence and pos­session of all good; but hereof wee must speake more at large in the third generall section.

Here,Vse. 1. by this doctrine are condem­ned all Sadduces, Athe [...]sts, Nulli-fidians, and Scorners of Christs comming, who because they walke by sense, and not by faith, by reason, and not by Scrip­ture, and follow their owne lusts; and will not bee ruled by the line of Gods word, deny, and deride the doctrine of the resurrection, Christs second com­ming, heauen, and hell, as 2. Pet. 3. 3. 4. 2. Tim. 2. 17. 18.

Secondly,Vse. 2. here are reproued, and conuinced all Epicures, Libertines, loose­liuers, [Page] and all worldlings, and voluptu­ous persons, who albeit they in worde deny not any Article of faith, as the former did, and doe; yet they denie the power of all religion in their hearts, and so liue as though there were neither God nor diuell, heauen or hell, louing riches more then re­ligion, and pleasures more then pietie. 2. Timot. 3. 45.

Vse. 3. Thirdly wee shall by obser­uing and noting the measure & quan­titie of our hope, and desire of Christs comming, &c. iudge of, and discerne the quantitie of our faith; for these being necessary effects of faith, if they be great and liuely so is our faith, and if they bee weake or dead, so is our faith; for the tree is knowne by the fruites, and the cause by the vndoub­ted and proper effects of it; And thus much of preparation, and the princi­pall parts of it.

Now we are to come to treat of the speciall opportunitie, and time when, both this generall, and particuler pre­paration [Page] is to be made, & that is onely the present time, and this present life, whiles the day, the light, and the truth lasteth, and while the meanes, and mi­nistery of grace, reconciliation, and sal­uation are offered, and continue, Titus 2. 10. Gal. 6. 10. Ioh. 9. 4. Ioh. 12. 35. 36. 2. Cor. 61. before our hearts be harde­ned with the long custome of sinne, and so they become vncurable, Hebr. 3. 13. Acts. 28. 27. whilest C [...]rist knocketh at the doore of our hearts. 3. 20. before the night commeth. Iohn. 9. 4. and the doore bee shut, Luke. 13. 25. for in the graue, in death, and hell, noe praysing of GOD, and no time of repentance, and reconciliation, as Isay. 38. Luke. 16. 24. 25. the Bride must trimme her selfe in this life. Apo. 19 7.

Now must the wedding garment bee prouided, Math. 22. 11. this life is the time of grace, for the ministerie of re­coneiliation is onely here. 2. Cor. 5. 18. 1. Cor. 15. 24. and 28. Ephes. 4. 11. 12. 13. for at the daye of iudgement [Page] it shall wholy cease. Lastly, Christ for­giueth sinnes (onely) in earth, Luk. 5. 24. and the Apostles, and so the mini­sters of the word in al ages succeeding them, binde and loose, retaine, and remit sinnes in earth, Math. 16. 19. Iohn. 20. 23. wherefore we must seeke the Lord [...]hiles he may be found, and in the sixe dayes of this life, prouide vs of the heauenly Manna, that wee may keepe with him an euerlasting Sabboth in the highest heauens.

Here is ouer-throwne that vile and damn [...]ble doctrine of the Popish pur­gatorie, who imagine, and teach that the soules of many are temporallye tormented in Purgatorie flames, and that they may bee eased and released of their torments, by the prayers and intercessions and satisfactions of the liuing, and specially by the pardons of the beast, I meane not Nebuchadnezar transformed for seauen yeares into a beast, but the Pope eternized for one; whereas first, this late coyned doct [...]ine is iniurious and derogatorie to Christ [Page] his all-sufficient satisfaction, who dyed (onely) once to put away sinne, Heb. 9. 26. Hebr. 7. 25. and in all places of scripture, merite, satisfaction, and re­demption, is onely ascribed to his bloud, to his stripes, to his sufferings, both in soule immediatly, and also in body ioyntly and apart, &c. Secondly, he that beleeueth is saued,Vse. 1. and he that beleeueth not is cōndemned already, viz. in the decree, and by the word of God▪ Iohn. 3. 8. Thirdly, who-so-euer repenteth not, and beleeueth not, dy­eth in his sinnes, and so vndoubtedly perisheth, Iohn. 8. 21. Ezechi. 18, 24. Luke 13. 3. 5.

Fourthly, the rich glutton making intercession to Abraham in behalfe of his fiue bretheren found no fauour, but receiued a iust repulse & reproofe, Luke. 16. 29. 31.

Fiftly, Dauid whiles the child borne in adultery liued, prayed for his life, but as soone as it was dead, then hee ceased p [...]aying, and fasting for it, for hee knew it would not auayle. [Page] 2. Sam. 12. verse. 22. 23.

Lastly, the penitent thee [...]e that suffered with Christ, and neuer had done good, vpon his serious repen­tance, and firme faith, albeit wrought miraculously at the last houre, had a promise made him to bee that same daye with CHRIST in Paradice, Luke 23. 43. which Saint Paul enter­preteth to be the third heauen. 2. Cor. 12. 3. 4. beeing compared together. Now if any man had gone to purga­torie fire, and should there be further p [...]rged and prepared, no doubt he had beene one, sed haec hactenus de questuo­sissima papistarum fabula.

Vse. 2. Secondly, seeing that there is no libertie, and peace of conscience vntill men repent, Prou. 18 14. and no actuall pardon, and that the time to repent, a [...]d prepare our selues, is onely this life, which is short, momentary, & transitory, and wherein, the children dye as well as the ancient, yong-men as well as the olde, the strong and lu­stie, as soone, and as sodenly, as the [Page] weake, it must learne, and schoole vs in no wise to deferre our repentance, and time of preparing our selues, but to begin betimes, and to hold on to the last breath.

For first we are bound,1. Reason. and comman­ded to serue God in spirit, and trueth, and that all the dayes of our life, Luk. 1. 74. 75 ergo, we must not put and post of all to old age, not knowing whether we shall euer liue to it, or not.

Secondly our iourney to heauen be­ing long,2. Reason. the preparation great, and the time very short and vncertaine, we must bee wise, and redeeme it, and re­pent when we may.

Thirdly, we must with Salomon, Io­sias, Timothy, Ioseph, and others, serue God in the dayes of youth, and in the floure of our age, when our memory is most apt and firme, our vnderstanding most sharpe, our sences most liuely, & we may best lay the foundation of an holy and comfortable old age, thus are we commanded and exhorted, Eccles. 13, 1. Psal. 119. 9. Psal. 78. 6. 7. and it is [Page] their greate commendation. Tit. 1. 4. 2. Tim. 1. 5. 2. Epist. Ioh. 4. 1. Ioh. 2. 12. 13, 14. Whereas otherwise they that neglect, and omit to reconcile them­selues vnto God in their best time, & in the daies of their child-hood, and youth grow in time senceles, and bru­tish, and hard hearted, and are iustly forsaken of God in their old, and im­potent age, that had no care, and con­science to feare, obey, and serue him in their youth.

Thirdly it is seldome, and rarely seene, that men that haue liued all their life, and spent all their golden dayes (as they call them) in superstiti­on, sinne, and vanity, should vndoubt­edly turne vnto God in their old age. It is more wonderous then vsuall, and there are onely some examples of it in Scriptures to keepe the aged from dispaire, but they are very fewe and rare, that we should not (as most doe) presume to much of it.

Lastly of all ages, olde age (if it bee not before rooted, and grounded in [Page] fayth, in loue, and in the practise of Godlinesse) is of all ages the most vn­apt, and vntoward, to performe these duties, to begin, and lay the foundati­on of repentance, and to make it ready for Christ. Wee may in this case in some sorte say, Can a man bee (new) borne when he is old, can he enter into his Mothers wombe againe, and bee borne, Iohn 3. 4. not being ignorant, and mis­vnderstanding the doctrine of rege­neration, as Nicodemus; but onely in another sense affirming that time to be the most vnfit. And there is suffi­cient reason for it; for in olde age the memory decayeth, the strength fay­leth, the senses are infeebled and wast, then are the euill daies of sorrow, and labour, of payne, and aches, then the daies, and yeares approch, when men shal say that they haue no pleasure in them. Ecclesi. 12, 1, 2. then sathan is most e­gar, and busie, knowing right well, that then he must loose all, or gaine all, wherefore let vs with the wise Vir­gins prepare our selues whiles wee [Page] haue time, let vs walke in the light whiles the light shineth, and seeke the Lord whilst wee may finde him. Isay▪ 55. 6. 7. Which GOD grant. A men.

The third Section.
Then, they that were ready &c.

IN these wordes the solemnization, and consumation of the mariage be­twixt Christ, and the wise Virgins, (or true Church) is contrayned, and it doth deuide it selfe into foure partes, viz. First what this solemnization is. Secondly the place where; Thirdly, the priui [...]dges and prerogatiues of it. Lastly, the vse, and application of it.

The so [...]emnization, or consummation of the marriage is the glorious, and perfect state of the elect after the re­surrection, when they in the highest Heaues shall with their eyes behold CHRIST, haue fellowshippe and [Page] liue with him, and raigne with him for euermore, being perfectly confor­mable vnto him, and to his will, both in body, and soule. Phil. 1. 23. Mat. 25. 34. 1. Thess. 4. 17. Apo. 7. 15. 17. 21. 2. 3. 4. Iohn. 17. 21. In this description two points are to be explained and expoū ­ded, first the dignity, and comfort of this communion, and coniunction with Christ in glory. Secōdly the perfestion, and glorification of the Bride, and Vir­gin both in soule, and body.

First touching the coniunction, and marriage, and the excellency of it, the continuall sight▪ & company of Christ, the Sonne of right cousnesse and foun­taine, of all fellici [...]e, shall minister per­petuall, and vnspeakeable ioy and comfort to all Gods Saints, for they shal no more walke by faith, (as in this life) but by sight: they shall no more darkely behold GOD in the glasse, and ministery of the worde [...], or in the spectakle of the creatures, but see him face, to face, they shall in the Imperiall, and Maiestica [...]l [Page] Court, and Pallace of Heauen see God, as he is. 1. Ioh. 3, 2. 1. Cor. 13, 12 namely they shall so farre forth be­hold Gods Maiesty, and the perfection of his glory, as a finite creature, albe­it glorified, is capable off; they shall see him as hee is, but not how infinite hee is▪ 1. Timo. 6. 16. And as for Christ Iesus their redeemer, husband, and head, they shall (as Iob speaketh,) see him with these same, and no other eyes, Iob. 19. 25. 26. They shall follow him wheresoeuer hee goeth. Apoc. 14. 4▪ they shall see his face, and his name shalbe in their for-head, Apoc. 22. 4. Finally the tabernacle of GOD shalbe with them, and hee will dwell with them, and they shalbe his people, and GOD himselfe shalbe their GOD with them, Apoc. 22. 3. Now if the sight, salutation, and company of man, and Wife, Father, and Children, Kinsfolke, and acquaintance, friends and welwil [...]ers, that are farre distant, and haue beene long absent one from another, bee so admirably gratefull [Page] and so wonderfully delightsome, how much more desirable, maruelous, and vneffable will the continuall sight, and fruition of GOD the Father,2. Cor. 12 Christ the Sonne our redeemer, and the Ho­ly Ghost our comforter bee vnto vs in the Parliament, and Throne of Hea­uen? And if Moyses that onely talked, and had conference with GOD in the Mount but fortie dayes, was so glorious in his face, at his discent, and returne, that the Children of Israell could not, or durst not behold it, Exo. 3. 4. ver. 3. 5. how much more vnspeakably Maiesticall, and glorious shall they bee that haue fellowish, (not as sinners with GOD on earth for a fewe dayes) but as per­fectly sanctified in the Pallace of Hea­uen for euermore?

Herevnto in the second place, I may well adioyne the mutuall, ioyfull, and vnutterable communion with all Angells, Archangels, Patriarks, Prophets, Fathers, Apostles, Euange­lists, Confessors, Martirs, and all the true Saintes of GOD, of all de­grees [Page] for euermore, who, by how many degrees, and in how many properties, especially in knowledge, in Holinesse, and loue, they exceede, and excell all mortall creatures: so much more rare, and incredible comfort shal they by their mutuall fel­lowshippe, communicate one to ano­ther. They shall not be ignorant one of another, nor strange, and suspected one to another, much lesse, false, and hollow; as in this worlde, partly by reason of ignorance, partly by reason of hypocrisie, and partly by reason of humane infirmities it commeth often­times to passe, but they shalbe all one, in will, and consent, liuing, and louing together in perfect harmony of con­corde, and charity.

Vse. The consideration hereof must cause vs to shun, decline, and abhor ill, and contagious company, (what in vs lyeth) and to haue our hearts, and mindes inflamed, and possessed with a longing desire to bee dissolued, in the time appointed, and to enioy the [Page] most blessed fellowshippe of GOD, of the Lambe, and of all the Saints, and Angels in glory for euermore.

The second partickle to bee made lightsome, and vnfolded is, the perfec­tion, of the glorified soule, and the body.

Touching the soules iust and per­fect men, they now after their disso­lution from the body, are replenished with infinite ioye, and triumph in the Heauenly Ierusalem. Luke. 16. 25. Hebre. 12, 22, 23. Math. 25. 21. 23. but their ioye shalbe much more encrea­sed, when the soules shalbe reunited to their bodies, Phil. 3. 20. and when the whole number of GODS elect Saints are accomplished, and come in, Apoc. 6. 10. 11. Heere they shall in Quires, and companies, mutually, and eternally magnifie, and praise the Lord (as afterwards I will more fully shew (when I come to speake of the rest of their prerogatiues.

Secondly in the minde, & vnderstād­ing their shalbe no error, ignorance, dulnes, but cleere iudgemēt & perfect [Page] wisedome, 1. Cor. 13. 12. for wee shall be in perfect light, and the wisdome of GOD shall manifest it selfe vnto vs: secondly in the will and affections, there shall bee no extasie or distemper, but perfect righteousnesse, integritie, perfect loue of God, and his saints, a [...]d Angels, and absolute conformity to Gods will. Lastly the body it shall be a bright, glorious, beautifull, strong, nim­ble, perfect, and in [...]orrupt instrument, ha­bitation, and receptacle of the glorified soule. It shall be so bright and glorious, that it shall shine forth as the sunne, and shall send forth beames of light, Math. 13. 43. It shall rise a glorious bo­die, 1. Cor. 15. 43. It shall bee like to Christ his body, ergo, no doubt most glorious, Phil▪ 3. 20. Some glimpse, taste, and representation hereof, wee haue in the transfiguration of Christ, whose garment was white and glist [...] ­red▪ Luke. 9. 29. it was very white as snowe, so white as no Fuller can make vpon the earth, Marke, 9. 3. In Moses and Elias that appeared to our Sauiour [Page] in glory, Luke 9. 31. and in the sundry and glorious apparitions of Angels in the old, and in the beginning of the new Testament. It shall bee a strong body, for it shall rise againe in power, and not in weakenesse, as 1. Cor. 15. 43. It shall be a nimble body, as well able by the proper forme of it, to ascend, as to descend, as may be collected out of 1. Thes 4. 17. Math. 22. 30. Phil. 3. 20. compared together; It shall bee a beautifull and goodly body, because it is and shall be a vessell of honour, as Rom 9 33. Lastly, it shall bee perfect, and incorrupt, because as there is no fault, defect and deformitie in it, so it shall be a spirituall body, 1. Cor. 15. 44. spirituall, not because the substance shall bee changed, for glorification taketh nor away the trueth, and de­mensions of a naturall body, but be­cause it needeth none of these out­ward and earthly supplyes, and helpes of meate, drinke, apparell, sleepe, rest, mariage, Phisick, light, &c. for Christ shall bee in steed of all these vnto it, and [Page] supply all. 1. Cor. 15.

Vse. 1. The first vse that ariseth from the consideration and meditation of the body and soule ioyntly glorified is, a notable comfort for Gods chil­dren, that for the time present, liue obscurely, and in great contempt, in no regarde and reputation, traduced and troubled in euery place, for they shall see the Lord, & haue immediate fellowship with him, and shall shine as the sunne in a cleare skie.

Vse. 2. In any bodily defect, weake­nesse, sicknesse, ache, paine, vlcers, de­formitie, lamenesse, and maimednesse, we are not to be discontent, and offen­ded, but endure them patiently; For first they are but fatherly corrections, and trials, Heb. 12. 7. and 8. Secondly they are but temporary. Thirdly, the dearest and holyest of Gods children, are as well subiect to them, and beare their portion in them as much as any, yea much more then other, Psal. 73. vers. 5. & 15. Lastly, they shall be taken all away, and eternall glory, and per­fection [Page] shall succeed in their place.

And thus much of the explanation, and description of the mariage: what it is.

The fourth Section.

THe priuiledges and prerogatiues of this mariage, remaine to bee consi­dered, and they are principally foure: first a perpetuall and solemne sabboth, which the saints of God shall inuiola­bly obserue in singing the new song of their redemption, Apoc. 14. 3. they with one voyce and heart shall singe, and acknowledge that Christ hath re­deemed them to God by his bloud out of euery kindered, and tongue, and people, and nation, Apoc. 5. 9. and hath made them vnto their God, Kings, and Priests, and in the 7. chap. 10. 11. 12. they shall found forth this [...], or thankes­giuing: and they cried saying, saluati­on commeth of our God that sitteth vpon the throne, and the lambe, and they shall fall before the throne on their faces, [Page] and worship God saying, Amen, praise, and glory, and wisdome, and thankes, and honour, and power, and might, be vnto our God for euermore, Amen. Finally their voice shalbe like the voice of great [...]aters and as the vyoce of strong thun­der, saying halleluia, our Lord GOD all mighty hath raigned, Apoc. 19. 6. more-heareof [...] may read, Isai. 66. 22. Apo. 21. 3. Apoc. 11. 17. but this Sabboth shalbe without peculier Preist, for all shalbe preists vnto God, it shalbe without Temple, or Ceremonies, for God, and the Lambe are the Temple of it, and shall supply these occasious.

Wherefore seeing that there is an eternall rest in Heauen, and that our Sabboth, which according to Christ his institution, the Apostles practise, & the custome of the vinuersal Church, we keepe the first day of the weeke in memory, and honour of Christs resur­rection, is a tipe, and representation of it, it must reach vs to obserue it, both incorruptly touching the out-ward forme, and spiritually touching the [Page] the inward disposition of our mindes, and hearts, or els we shall neuer keepe it in heauen, for God will neuer ho­nour vs in Heauen Luke. 9. 26. vnles we honour him in earth, and neuer perfect vs in heauen, vnlesse by the workes of sanctification wee begin it heare, Apoc. 20. 6. 7.

The second priuiledge, and prero­gatiue is the actuall, and eternall in­heritance, and possessing of the new heauen and the new earth, part of the dowry, & ioynter of the Saints. 1. Pet. 1. 4. Apo. 5. 10. 2. Pet. 3. 13. Rom. 8. 21. 22. Math. 5. Now whether they shall sometimes by locall motion, and bodily presence, (albeit some new, and learned writers out of the. Apoc. 5. 10. and Apo. 21. 8. 2. Pet. 3. 13. before named, and from the nature of a glorified body that can both, ascend, and discend at his plea­sure, doe collect, and would conclud it) or which is more probable, and likely by vision, and heauenly contemplation, and noe absurdite, for if Saint Steuen being on earth and hauing noe doubt [Page] his eyes, for the present clarified, looked vp into Heauen, and saw Christ sitting on the right hand of God. Act. 7. ver. 56. why may not a glorified body by his glorified eyes, and the aire, and skye, being also purified looke downe from Heauen, and contemplate the Earth &c. But because this poynt is difficult, and the knowledg of it, is ra­ther coniecturall then certaine, wee must bee content to bee ignorant of it, vntell the day, when all secrets shalbe made manifest; and let vs in the meane time make some vse of the point as most may concerne vs; Here is matter of consolatiō for poore Christians, that either neuer actually possessed any worldly goods, lands, or liuings, as Lazarus, and others, or haue beene with the religious Hebrewes, by the enimies of the truth dispoiled, and depriued of them, Heb. 10. 34. or els by the men of the earth, whose portion is (as it is to be feared) in most, or ma­ny of them (only) in this life, and that enclose, and hedge in, al to themselues [Page] and their proper vses, vnmercifully turning men out of home, house, and liuing; well let them possesse, their soules in patience, and in faith, and hope, apprehend and waite for it, for they shall one day inherite the new Heauen, and the new Earth, they shall haue roome enough, and larg demaines when their enimies repi­ning at it, shall remaine foreuer excluded, and excomunicated from them, and it.

The third preuiledge is that the Godly then compleatly, and per­fectly, and [...] shalbe all kings, preists, Prophets, Apoc. 5. 10. and so partake of Christ his dignity, and of­fices, As Kings they shall raigne with Christ, and triumph ouer Satan, and all the wicked, yea, and treade them vnder their feete Rom 6. 20. Mal. 4. 3. As Preists they shall eternally praise God, and the Lambe for the redemp­tion of his people. &c. and perfectly o­bey his will Apoc. 22. 3.

And as Prophets they shal (as far forth [Page] as is possible for a finite, and circum­scriptible creature) knowe GOD, and see him, and exquisitely vnderstand all things that shall concerne their felici­tie. 1. Ioh. 3. 3. 2. Cor. 12.

Vse. Wherefore if euer wee looke, and hope to be Kings, Priests, and Pro­phets in Heauen, let vs as spiritually, so conscionably practise these offices in earth: for the practise of them in this life, and in the life to come differ not in essence, and substance, but onely in place, and degrees, let vs then as Kings rule, and raigne ouer [...]ur affections, and desires, and gouerne our familyes (like so many little Churches) in the feare of GOD. Let vs as Priests consecrate our selues, soules, and bo­dies to Christ, and his worship, and seruice, and pray continually to GOD in behalfe of our selues, and our do­mestiques. Lastly, let vs as Prophets, labour to bee rich in the knowledge, and vnderstanding of Gods will, and so (to our vtmost power, and skill) im­part, it (as occasion, and our calling [Page] shall require) vnto others, especially to those of our owne family. Gen. 18, ver. 17. 18. The fourth priuiledge of the Saints in glory is their glorious, and perpetuall triumph, and perfect victory o­uer sinne, death, hell, satan, and his an­gels, and all the reprobate whatsoeuer. Sinne, and death, and hell shalbe a bolished, and cease foreuer. 1. Cor. 15. 55. 56. 57. & in respect of the God­ly bee destroied, as Apoc. 20. 14. Anti­christ, and his members shall no more assaulte, and persecute vs, for the beast, and the false Prophet shall be cast aliue into the lake of fire burning with brimstone, Apoc. 19. 20. and all the members, and worshippers of the beast shall drinke of the pure wrath, and [...]ee tormented in fire, and brim­stone before the Holy Angels, and be­fore the Lambe. Apoc. 14. 10, 11. they shall goe forth, and looke vpon the Carcases of the men that haue trans­gressed, Isa. 66. 24. Finally the Saints shall treade downe sathan, and all their enemies vnder their feete, [Page] Rom. 16. 20. and shall stand before the Throne, and before the Lambe cloathed with long white robes, (Uiz. of purity, and inocency,) and hauing palmes, (in signification of victory) in their hands. Apoc. 7. 9.

Vse. Wherefore the due conside­ration of this last prerogatiue, as also of the former must kindle, and worke in vs, an earnest, and continuall ex­pectation, and longing after our full, and finall redemption, and per­fect glorification. The dutifull wife should not so long, and looke for the returne of her husband, farre, and long time absent, the husband­man so hope, and waite for the har­uest; the Mariner the hauen, the wayfaring-man, his iorneyes ende, the woman in trauell her deliue­rance, the Captiue his liberty, as wee should wish, and waite for, pray for, and expect the time of the marriage, and our consumation.

Vse. If wee would bee perfect con­querers, and raigne, and triumph with [Page] Christ in Heauen, we must in earth take his part against the mighty. Iudg. 5. 23. We must vnder the condu [...]t of our generall Christ Iesus our Heauenly Michaell, as his Angels, and souldiers, fight against the dragon, and his An­gells, and wee shall ouercome by the bloud of the Lambe, and by the worde of his testimony, and by not louing our liues vnto death. Apoc. 12. 7. 11. Fi­nally wee must put on the whole ar­mour of GOD; fayth, hope, consci­ence, confession, and profession of the truth, righteousnesse, and the sworde of the Spirit which is the worde of GOD, Ephesi. 6. 13. And wee must pray con­stantly with all manner of prayer, and supplications in the Spirit for our selues, and for all Saints. &c. And by the right vse, and continuall hand­ling of these, wee shall crucifie the flesh with the affectons, and lustes thereof. Gallathians. 5. 24, wee shal­be able to resist in the euill day, and hauing finished all things to stand fast, and wee shall ouercome sathan▪ [Page] and all his batteries, and temptations; and then after all our fight, contention and victory ended, wee shall in the life to come, eate of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradice of GOD, Apoc. 2. 17. we shall eate of the hidden Manna, Apoc. 2. 17. wee shall haue power ouer nations, vers. 26. wee shall bee cloathed with white araye, and our name neuer put out of the Booke of life, Chap. 35. wee shall be pillers in Gods house, and goe out no more, 16, 12. And to conclude, we shall sit with Christ in his Throne, euen as he sitteth with his Father in his throne, Apoc. 3. 21. which God at length fulfill, and accomplish in vs, for his most deerely beloued sonnes sake, Iesus Christ our onely, and all-sufficient redeemer, and medi­ator, Amen.

NOw we are briefly to consider the place where this marriage shalbe solemnized, and all this glory, ioy, and priuileges eternally possessed, & com­municated vnto vs. The place therfore [Page] is the highest heauens, the throne of GOD, and the Lambe, the heauenly Hierusalem, the Cittie of the liuing God, Paradise, the seates, and habita­tions of the saints, & Angels, the wed­ding chamber: and finally, the new heauen & the new earth. This blessed heauen is a place in respect of substance subiect to no change, and corruption, in respect of quantity, and extent farre exceeding other places, and of suffici­ent capacitie to receiue all the elect of God; in respect of qualities, it is of all places most bright, most glorious, most pleasant: finally it is such a place wher­in no euill can be feared, and no good can be wanting, and in which GOD doth offer himselfe to bee seene of men and Angels face to face; and the humanitie of CHRIST more glo­rious then the Sunne▪ shall bee seene, and bee beheld with vs, euen with our bodily eyes. Apoc. 21. the whole Chapter, and Chapter 22 from the first verse to the sixt verse, Hebrew. 11. Iohn. 14.

[Page] Wherfore fat be it from vs; that vainly looking for a visible Church heere without all spot, or wrinckle in order, and maner, and seeing, and finding it not, proudly, vnthankfully, rashly, and without cause to deuide, and seperate our selues (as is the maner of Schisma­tickes) frō the Church of God, which notwithstāding al other defects, whe­ther in doctrine that is not fundamen­tal or policy. yet firmely and purely re­taineth the scūd Preaching of Aposto­licall doctrine, pure inuocation of Gods name in Christ, and right vse of the two Sacraments, Baptisme, and the Lords supper, for these notes are essentiall, substantiall, and of the life of the Church, other things are out­ward, accidentall, and circumstantial, and rather of the comelinesse, well beeing, and ornament, then, of the simple necessity, and essence of the Church, yet it were to be much wished that the defects were supplied, abuses remoued, & corruptions taken away, but it must bee done by thē who haue [Page] lawfull authority▪ & in order without tumult, and rashnes, and repugnance, cause, and sound ground, In the meane time, it is the dutie of priuate persons to take the benefit of the word, and sa­cramēts with thankesgiuing, least God for their vnthākefulnes in time take it away, and to pray for the amendment of that which is amisse, and patiently expecting it, in the interim to walke in their seuerall callings with diligence, and conscience.

Vse. 2. Seeing all blisse, felicitie, and euer-during happinesse is onely in hea­uen, and not in earth▪ wee must not rest in these temporall and transitorie things of honour, wealth, preferment, beauty, buildings, credit pleasure, de­lights, recreations, outward peace, and prosperitie, neither must wee thinke that true felicitie and happi­nesse consisteth herein; for first all these are vncertaine, and transitorie, as the grasse, vapor, flower, shaddow, they are like Ionas his gourde of one dayes continuance, and are like Reeds, [Page] or rotten posts fayling, and causing them to fall that leane vpon them.

Secondly they are rather (by rea­son of our corrupt nature) fnares, baits, and traps to deceiue, and hurt vs (as infinite, examples euince) thē simp­ly meanes, and instruments of our se­licity, and faluation.

Thirdly they cannot saue our soules, and make vs blessed before GOD, as Solomon acknowledged when hee cal­led them all vanity of vanities, but this worke is proper onely to grace, and GODS speciall mercy in Christ.

Fourthly, they are no especiall, and proper endowments of Gods, Church, and Children, (though sometimes they in good sort enioy them, and pertake of them) for the wicked com­monly possesse them in farre greater measure then the Godly who are ra­ther rich in minde, and in grace, then in these externall, and perishable pro­fits, honours, and pleasures. Where­fore wee must eleuate our hearts, and mindes farre aboue these earthly, and [Page] momentary things, and seeke the things aboue; wee must get vs vp into the mountaine of deuine contempla­tion, and by the eyes of true fayth, be­hold▪ and view our Country the Hea­uenly Canaan: we haue no abiding Ci­tie here, wherefore we must seeke one to come hauing a foundation, Heb. 11. verse. whose builder, and maker is GOD. And as for these worldly, and outward things wee must onely vse them so farre forth as they are lawfull, and are helpes vnto vs for the furthering of of our Iorney, & the aduancement of Godlinesse, and no otherwise; for els it is better that they should perish then wee; and it is farre bet­ter that wee should alienate▪ and withdrawe our mindes, and affecti­ons from them, then that they should seperate vs from GOD (as they doe the most) and depriue vs of the kingdome of Heauen; and in this case if they were as deere, and ne­cessary vnto vs, as our eyes, handes, feete, yea Fathers, and Mothers, yet [Page] we must cut them off, and hate them.

And thus much touching the place.

The fourth and the last branche, is the manifold vses and applications of this doctrine of the heauenly mari­age; first by consideration hereof, wee must be stirred vp, and doe our vtmost endeuour to mortifie, and ouercome all worldly desires, and earthly plea­sures; for otherwise we cannot addict and wedde our selues to these, and withall truely prepare our selues for the comming of Christ: for touching riches, and worldly cares, there is such an antipathy, an opposition betweene them and grace, that the one cannot consist without the other: for as the eye cannot at one instant, beholde heauen and earth, euen so a man can­not serue GOD and the world to­gether, they are so aduerse and con­trarie; And as those places where gold and siluer growe, are in all other respects most barraine, and fruitlesse, [Page] so where the loue of money, riches, and the world doe beare swaye, and preuaile, there true zeale, and sincere godlinesse can neuer▪ bee found; and as touching pleasures, they are the matter, and fewell of euill desires, they are honey mixt with poyson, and they are as Haw-thornes, and bryers, which albeit some-times they beare goodly leaues, and flowers; yet if a man gripe them hard, they will pricke and wound him; wherefore it standeth vs vpon to be wary of them, and when wee vse them, to vse them charily and moderately.

Vse. 2. Secondly, wee must learne hence to bee forward, and constant in well-doing, and still to repaire our ruines, and prepare our selues vntill the last breath; for hee onely that continueth (in godlinesse, and pati­ence) to the end, hee shall bee sa­ued, hee that is found watching and wakefull at his maisters comming, shall be blessed, Luk. 12. 36. 37. and he [Page] that fainteth not in weldoing shall in due time reape Math. 24. 13. Luke. 12. 38. Gal. 6. 9. Otherwise we, if we faile neuer so prosperously, and sinke at the Hauen mouth; if we trauell di­rectly to Heauen, and turne backe al­most at our iorneyes end; if wee doe God good and faithfull seruice in our youth, and afterwards proue faithles, and prefidious in our elder yeares; and finally if we begin in the spirit, and end in the flesh all our former ende­uours labours, and sufferings are to noe purpose, all our righteousnes shal be for­gotten, and we shall die in the sinnes and transgress [...]ns that we haue committed, Eze. 18. 24. Wherefore if the hope of Ransomming worke patience in the captiue, assurance of liberty, and free­dome constant labour, and faithfulnes in the prenrise▪ and seruant; and expec­tation of victory, and spoile, constant resolution, and valowrous courage in the souldier: why should not much more the certaine, and vndoub [...]ed hope, and assurance of this happines, [Page] and eternall coniunction with Christ make, & moue vs to be constant, & vn­moueable in all duty of piety, charity, & Iustice, knowing that our workes are not in vaine in the Lord 1. Cor. 15. 58.

Vse 3. Thirdly the assured expecta­tion of this Heauenly, and glorious vnion must teach vs with the patriarks, Prophets, Apostles, Martirs, Confessors and with all the Saints of God both of former, and also of later time to endure and vnder goe all sicknesses, trials, af­flictions, losses, contempts, and perse­cutions ioyfully, and patiently, Heb. 11. 25. 2. Cor. 4. 16. 17. 18. and Heb. 11. 8. 9. For first they are but momentary, and neuer beyond the date, and terme of this life, secondly Christs yoake is easie and his bu [...] then light▪ Mat. 11. 31. & he wil lay vpon his no greater bur­den, then he will make them able to beare. 1. Cor. 10. 13. But will giue [...] idest an issue, and euasion with the temptation. Lastly GOD will re­compence, and reward these tempo­rary, and transitory euills, and suffe­rings [Page] with an infinite waight of glory in all his Saints. 2. Cor. 4. 17. 18.

Vse. Fourthly the vse of this doctrine serueth notably to mollifie, and miti­gate the sorrowes of death, and all the paines, and pangs of it, for the stinge of it, (viz. eternall condemnation,) is taken away. 1. Cor. 15. ver. 55. 56. Se­condly it is not a plague vnto vs, but onely a temporary correction, nay a narrow wicket, or gate to intromit, and send vs forthwith into the posses­sion of eternall life. Apoc. 14. 13. for if wee bee loosed then we goe straitly to the Lord. Phil. 1. 23. if wee remoue hence wee dwell with the Lord, & are married vnto him. 2. Cor. 5. 8. and (to end the poynt) wee rest from all the labours of this life; and our workes (First the rewarde of them in mercy, and fauour) follow, and attend vpon vs as an honourable guard. Apoc. 14. 13. Wherfore let vs not feare death & dā ­nation, but let vs arme our selues with faith, & hope, & let vs often, & seriously meditate vpon the life to come, & the [Page] glory of it, and wee shall (when the time is come) be willing to die, & die with much comfort, and assurance.

Lastly (amongst many other vses) wee must not mourne vnmeasurably for our friends, and kinsfolkes, or any other that liue, and die in the Lord, for they are with God, & in perfect blisse. And as any man will rather reioyce, then sorrow, if his sonne, daughter, friend, kinsman bee happely, worship­fully, honourably, preferred in mar­riage, albeit hee is otherwise to want their ordinary company, and pre­sence, so should wee rather reioyce that they now are perfited, and most honourably, and gloriously wedded to Iesus Christ, their King, and head, then mourne as they that haue no hope.

It is indeede lawfull, and fit to mourne, for nature, and religion war­ranteth it, but it must bee in measure, and for our sinnes that haue depri­ued vs of them, & for that the Church feeleth and findeth the losse of them, [Page] then for any priuate and carnall re­spect, and herein notwithstanding wee must submit our wills to Gods will, and rather labour to im [...]sitate their excellent and manifold vertues, then to lament immoderately, or ouer-long for their departure; but alas the world knoweth not, nor acknowledgeth good, and godly men. The righteous, and mercifull men, (as wee haue had lamentable experience within these few yeares) of all rancks and callings, dye, they are taken away from the euill, and rest in peace, and no man considereth it in heart, or vnderstandeth it. Isa. 57. 1. and therefore because the world mak­eth no more account of them, and is not worthy of them, GOD most iust­ly depriueth them of their presence and comfort.

And thus much of the solemnization, and the priuiledges and vses of it.