The Happiness of the Church, Biblical commentary 6

The Happiness of the Church · Biblical commentary 6

p. 253HEAVEN-GATE: OR, THE PASSAGE TO PARADISE.

REVELAT. 22. 14. in fine.

And may enter in through the Gates into the Citie.

IF we supply these words with the first word of the verse; Blessed; wee shall make a perfect sentence of perfect comfort. Blessed are they that doe his commandements, that they may haueright to the tree of life, And may enter in through the gates into the Citie.

In the whole there be

Premises.

Promises.

The Premises qualifie vsus; we must be such as are Blessed; and who are they? Qui praestant mandata; that doe his commandements. The Promises crowne vsus, and these are two. 1. That wee may hauehave right to the tree of life; euen that which, Reu. 2. is in the middest of the Paradise of God. Reu. 2. 7.Rev 2:7From whence the Angell with a flaming sword shall keep p. 254all the reprobate. 2. Et per portas ingrediantur ciuitatem; And may enter in through the gates into the City. When without shall be dogs, and scorners, &c. whosoeuer loueth and maketh a lie.

To the last words of the verse, I hauehave bound & bounded my discourse. Wherein I finde three points readily offering themselues to be

considered

Motus, Motion. Enter in.

Modus, Manner. Through the gates.

Terminus. Place. Into the Citie.

So there is a threefold circumstance.

Quid. What, an Entrance,

Qua. How, through the gates.

Quò. Whither, into the Citie.

The Motion. Enter in.

They are blessed that enter in: Perseuerance onelyonly makes happy. Our labours must not cease, till wee can (with Stephen) see these Gates open, and our Sauiour offering to take vsus by the hand, and welcome our entrance. We know who hath taught vsus, that onelyonly continuers to the end shall be saued. It is obseruable, that in the holy Spirits letters sent to those seuen Churches, in the second and third chapters of this Booke; all the promises runne to Perseuerers; Uincenti dabitur, To him that ouercomes shall it be giuen. Nec paranti ad praliim, nec pugnanti ad sanguinem, multo minus tergiuersanti ad peccatum, sed vincenti ad victoriam. Nor to him that prepares to fight, nor to him that resists to bloud, much lesse to him that shewes his back in cowardice; but to him that ouercomes to conquest. Demas seeing this warre, ranne away; fell backe to the security of the world. Saul made himselfe ready to this battell, but he durst not fight, glory and lusts carried him away. Iudas stood a bowt or two, but the High Priests money made him giuegive ouer; and the Deuill tooke him captiue. But Paul fought out this combat euen to victorie; though aaGal. 6. 17.Gal 6:17he bore in his body the markes of the Lord Iesus. bb2. Tim. 4. 7.2 Tim 4:7I p. 255hauehave fought a good fight, I hauehave finished my course, I hauehave kept the faith. Therefore now there is laid vp for me a crowne of righteousnesse, which the Lord, the righteous Iudge, shall giuegive mee.

This is a good life, saith Bern. Mala pati, et bona facere; et fic vsque ad mortem perseuerare. To suffer euill, to doe good, and so to continue to the end. Some came into the Vineyard in the morning, some at noone, others later: none receiued the Penny, but they that stayed till night. Augustine affirmes this to be almost all the contents of the Lords Prayer; ccAug de bon… Perseuerantia. cap. 2.Hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdome come, thy will be done. Wherein wee desire that his Name may alwaies be sanctified, his Kingdome alwaies propagated, his will alwaies obeyed.

Indeed this grace perfects all graces. Wee beleeue in vaine, if our faith hold not out to the end. Weeloue in vaine, if our charitie grow cold at last. We pray in vaine, if our zeale growes faint. VVee striue in vaine at the strait gate, if not till we enter. Venire adreligionem est vera deuotio; sed non religiose viuere vera damnatio. To come to the truth of religion is true deuotion; not to liue religiously, is true damnation. Man is naturally like a horse that loueth short iourneyes; and there are few that hold out. Whence it comes, that the last are often first, and the first last. dd1. Cor. 9. 2….1 Cor 9:2Know ye not that they which runne in a race, run all; but one receiueth the prize? He that hath a good horse can goe faster vp a hill, then downe a hill. He that hath a good faith, doth as quickly ascend the Mount Sion, as the wicked descend to the valley of Hinnon. If men would as strongly erect themselues vpwards, as they direct their courses downewards, they might goe to heauen with lesse trouble, then they doe goe to hell.

But he that at eueryevery sleppe, lookes at eueryevery stoppe, and numbers his perils with his paces, either turnes aside faintly, or turnes back cowardly. They that goe wandring & wondring on their iourney, are at the gates of Samaria, p. 256when they should enter the gates of Ierusalem. God saith, I will not leaue yòu, Heb. 13. Will you then leaue GOD? Heb. 13. 5.Heb 13:5One told Socrates, that he would faine goe to Olympus, but he distrusted his sufficiencie for the length of the iourney. Socrates told him; Thou walkest eueryevery day little or much, continue this walke forward thy way, and a few dayes shall bring thee to Olympus. EueryEvery day eueryevery man takes some paines; let him bestow that measure of paines in trauclling to heauen; and the further he goes, the more heart he gets; till at last he enter through the gates into the Citie.

Bernard calls Perseuerance the onelyonly daughter of the highest King, the perfection of vertues, the storehouse of good Perseuerantia est vnica summi Regis filia, vi…tutum consummatio, totius boni rerepositorium, virtus sine qua nemo videbit Deum. Beru.works; a vertue without which no man shall see God. There is a last enemy to be destroyed, Death: we must hold out to the conquest euen of this last aduersary. Which if it conquer vsus by the Sting of our Sinne, shal send vsus to the dores of hell: if we conquer it by our Faith, it shal send vsus to the gates of this Citie, Heauen. Lauda nauigantem cum peruenerit ad portum. All the voyage is lost through the perilous Sea of this world, if we suffer shipwracke in the Hauen; and lose our reward there, where we should land to receiue it. What get we, if we keepe Satan short of ruling vsus with his force many houres, when at our last houre hee shall snatch our blisse from vsus? The runner speeds all the way, but when he comes at the races end to the goale, he stretcheth forth his hand to catch the prize. Be sure of thy last step, to put forth the hand of faith then most strongly; Ne perdatur praemium tantis lob…ribus quaesitum; lest the reward be lost, which thou with much labour hast aymed at.

It is not enough Quaerere coelum, sed acquirere; non Christum sequi, sed consequi. To seeke heauen, but to find it; not to follow Christ, but to ouertake him, not to be brought to the gates, but to enter in. eeMath. 7. 22.Matt 7:22Many will say to Christ in that day, Lord, Lord, hauehave we not prophecied in thy p. 257Name? But ffLuk. 13. 25.Luke 13:25the Master of the house is first risen, & hath shut to the doore. Either they come too soone, before they hauehave gotten faith and a good conscience; or too late, as those foolish Virgins, when the gate was shut. If then wee hauehave begun, let vsus continue to entrance. Cuiusque casus tantò maioris est criminis, quantò prinsquam caderet, maior is Isidor.er at virtutis. EueryEvery mans fault hath so much the more discredite of scandall, as he before he fell had credite of vertue. Let vsus beware that we doe not slide; if slide, that we do not fall: if fall, that wee fall forward, not backward. aaProu. 24. 16.Prov 24:16The iust man often slips, and sometime falls. And this is dangerous; for if a man, whiles hee stands on his legges, can hardly grapple with the deuill: how shall he do when he is falne downe vnderunder his feete? But if they doe fall, they fall forward, as bbEzek. 1. 28.Ezek 1:28Ezekiel; not backward, as cc1. Sam. 4.1 Sam 4Eli at the losse of the Arke: or they that came to surprise Christ, Iohn 18. ddIoh. 18. 6.John 18:6They went backward and fell to the ground.

Cease not then thy godly endeuours; vntill Contingas portum, quò tibi …ursus erat. Say we not like the woman to Esdras, whether in a vision, or otherwise, when he bade her goe into the Citie. ee2. Esdr. 10. 18.That will I not doe: I will not goe into the Citie, but here I will die. It is a wretched sinne, saith August. after teares for sinne not to preserue innocence. Such a man is washed, but is not cleane. Quia cōmissa flere definit, et iterum flenda committit. He leaues weeping for faults done, and renues faults worthy of weeping. Think not thy selfe safe, till thou art got within the gates of the Citie. Behold thy Sauiour calling, thy Father blessing, the Spirit assisting, the Angels comforting, the Word directing, the glory inuiting, good men associating. Go cheerfully, till thou enter in through the gates into the Citie.

The manner. Through the gates.

Not singularly a Gate, but gates. For Chap. 21. the Citie is said to hauehave ffReu. 21. 12.Rev 21:12twelue gates. On the East three gates, on the North three, on the South three, and on the West three. p. 258To declare that men shall come from all the corners of the World, ggLuk. 13. 29.Luke 13:29from the East, and from the West, from the North, and from the South; and shall sit downe in the Kingdome of GOD. These Gates are not literally to be vnderstood, but mystically; Pro modo intrandi, for the maner of entrance. The gates are those passages, whereby we must enter this Citie.

Heauen is often said to hauehave a Gate. hhMath. 7. 13.Matt 7:13Striue to enter in at the strait Gate, saith Christ. iiPsal. 24. 7.Ps 24:7Lift vp your heads, O yee Gates, and be ye lift vp yee euerlasting doores; saith the Psalmist. kkGene. 28. 17.Gen 28:17This is none other but the house of God, and this is the Gate of Heauen, saith Iacob. There must be Gates to a Citie: they that admit vsus hither, are the Gates of Grace. So the analogie of the words inferre; dooing the commandements is the way to hauehave right in the tree of Life: obedience and sanctification is the Gate to this Citis of saluation. In a vvord,

The Temple had a gate called llActs 3. 2.Acts 3:2Beautifull. Act. 3. But of poore beauty in regard of this Gate. Of the gates of the Sanctuary spake Dauid in diuerse Psalmes with louelove and ioy. mmPsal. 100. 4.Ps 100:4Enter into his gates with thanksgiuing, and into his courts with praise. This was Gods delight. nnPsal. 87. 2.Ps 87:2The Lord loueth the gates of Zion, more then all the dwellings of Iacob. This was Dauids election to be a ooPsal. 84. 10.Ps 84:10Porter, or keeper of the gates of Gods house; rather then dwell in the Tents of wickednesse. This his Resolution; ppPsal. 122. 2.Ps 122:2Our feete shall stand within thy gates, O Ierusalem. Salomon made two docres for the entring of the Oracle: they were made of qq1. King. 6. 32.1 Kgs 6:32Oliue trees, and wrought vponupon with the carnings of Cherubins. The Oliues promising fatnesse, and plenty of blessings; the Cherubins holinesse and eternitie. These are holy gates; let eueryevery one pray with that royall Prophet, rrPs. 118. 19. 20.Ps 118:19Ps 118:20Open to mee p. 259the gates of righteousnesse: I will goe into them, & I wil praise the Lord. This is the Gate of the Lord, into which the righteous shall enter.

In briefe, we may distinguish the gates leading to this Citie, into two; Adoption and Sanctification. Both these meet in Christ, who is the onelyonly gate or doore, vvhereby we enter Heauen. ssIohn 10. 9.John 10:9I am the doore, saith our Sauiour; Ianua vitae, the gate of life: by mee if any enter in, hee shall be saued.

Adoption

Is the first Gate. ttRom. 8. 15.Rom 8:15We hauehave receiued the spirit of Adoption. Without this passage no getting into Heauen. The inheritance of glory cannot be giuen to the children of disobedience: they must first be conuerted, & adopted heires in Christ. The Grace of God is two-fold. There is Gratia gratis agens; and Gratia gratum faciens. This second grace, which is of Adoption, is neuer in a reprobate: not by an absolute impossibilitie, but by an indisposition in him to receiue it. A sparke of fire falling vponupon water, ice, snow, goes out: on wood, flaxe, or such apt matter, kindles. Baptisme is the Sacrament of admission into the Congregation; of Insition and Initiation, whereby vve are matriculated, and receiued into the motherhood of the Church. Therefore the sacred Font is placed at the Church-doore, to insinuate and signifie our Entrance. So Adoption is the first doore or gate, whereby wee passe to the Citie of glory.

This is our new Creation, whereat the Angels of heauen reioyce. Luke 15. At the creation of Dukes or Earles, Luke 15. 10.Luke 15:10there is great ioy among men: but at our new creation, Angels and Seraphins reioyce in the presence of GOD. Our Generation was A non esse, ad esse: from not being, to be. But our Regeneration is A malè esse, ad benè esse, from a being euill, to be well; and that for euer. Through this gate we must passe to enter the Citie; vvithout this, p. 260death shall send vsus to another place. No man ends this life well, except he be borne againe before he ends it.August.

Now if you would be sure, that you are gone through this gate; call to mind what hath been your Repentance. The first signe of Regeneration is throbbes and throwes: you cannot be adopted to Christ without sensible paine, and compunction of heart for your sinnes. The Christian hath two Birthes, and they are two gates: hee can passe through none of them but with anguish. Both our first and second Birth begin with crying. Our first birth is a gate into this world: our second is a gate into the world to come. There is some paine in both. For this vvorld but little ioy after the paine; for the other, after short sorrow eternall glory.

Sanctification

Is the second gate. Make your calling and election sure, saith Peter by a holy life: aa2. Pet. 1. 112 Pet 1:11For so an Entrance shall be ministred vntounto you abundantly, into the euerlasting kingdome of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ. But bbReu. 21. 27.Rev 21:27there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth; neither whatsoeuer worketh abomination, or maketh a lie. Therfore Paul prayes the cc1. Thes. 5. 23.1 Thess 5:23God of Peace to sanctifie vsus wholly. Holinesse is the way to Happinesse; Grace the gate of Glory. But some may obiect frō that of Paul, that this Sanctification must be totall and perfect: but who can come so furnished to the gate? therefore who can enter the Citie? I answer; There is required onelyonly Sanctificatio viae, non Patria; such a Sanctitie as the gate can afford, though farre short of that within the Citie. The Schoole distinguisheth vvell. It must be communiter in toto, & vniuersaliter in singulis partibus; but not totaliter et perfectè. This Sanctification must be communicated to the whole man, and vniuersally propagated to eueryevery part: though it hauehave in no place of man a totall perfection. Indeed Nullum peccatum retinendum est spe remissionis. No sinne is to be cherished in p. 261hope of mercy. But wee must striue for eueryevery grace vve hauehave not, and for the encrease of eueryevery grace wee hauehave. Quaerendum quod deest bonum, indulgendum quod adest. Let vsus make much of that we possesse, and still seek for more; ddPhi. 3. 14.striuing to the marke. And yet when all is done, Profectio haec, non Perfectio est: Wee hauehave made a good steppe forward, but are not come to our full home. But stil, Lord be mercifull to me a sinner. And Enter not into iudgement with vsus.

Now sith this gate stands in our owne Heart, giuegive me leaue to describe it: and that briefely, by

Lowe.

Heauen is well called a ee2. Cor. 5. 1.2 Cor 5:1Building not made with hands: for it differs both in Matter and Forme from earthly edifices. For matter, it is Eternall, not momentany: for maner, fabricked without hands. Great Mannors on earth, hauehave large answerable Porches. Heauen must needes be spacious; when a little starre fixed in a farre lower Orbe, exceedes the earth in quantitie: yet hath it a lowe gate, not a lofty comming in.

They must stoope then that will enter here. ffLuk. 1. 53.Luke 1:53He hath filled the bungry with good things, and the rich hee hath sent empty away. The rich in their owne conceits, and proud of their owne worth, shall be sent empty from this gate. Zaccheus climes vp into a Sycamore tree to behold Iesus: but when Iesus beheld him got vp so high, he said, Come downe Zaccheus, Luke 19. Make haste, and come downe. Luke 19. 5.Luke 19:5Whosoeuer will entertaine Iesus, must come down. The haughtie Nebuchadnezzar, that thinks with his head to knock out the starres in heauen, must stoope at this gate, or hee cannot enter. Be you neuer so lofty, you must p. 262bend. Gods honour must be preferred before your honours. It is no discredite to your Worships to vvorship GOD.

Little.

Christ calls it a ggLuk. 13. 24.Luke 13:24narrow gate. They must be little that enter; little in their owne eyes, slender in the opinion of themselues. hhMark. 10. 15.Mark 10:15Whosoeuer shall not receiue the kingdome of God as a little child, he shall not enter therin. Samuel to Saul; ii1. Sam. 15. 17.1 Sam 15:17When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the Head of the Tribes of Israel? When Iesse had made all his Sonnes passe before Samuel, he asked him if none remained yet; Iesse answeres, Yes a little one tending the flockes. kk1. Sam. 16. 111 Sam 16:11Fetch that little one, saith Samuel: for wee will not sit downe till he come. That little one was hee. Sayes the Angell to Esdras, 2. Esdras 7. ll2. Esd. 7. 7.A citie is built, and set vponupon a broad field, full of all good things. Yet the Entrance thereof is narrow. This is spatiosa & speciosa Ciuitas; A citie beautifull and roomthy; yet it hath but a narrovv wicket, a little Gate.

Alas, how will the surfeted Epicure do to enter: whose gluttonous body is so deformed, that it moues like a great Tunne vponupon two pots? What hope hath an Impropriator with foure or fiue Churches on his backe, to passe this little gate? The bribing Officer hath a swolne hand; it will not enter; and the gowtie Vsurer cannot thrust in his foote. The factious Schismaticke hath too bigge a head: the swearer such forked blasphemies in his mouth, that here is no entrance. Pride hath no more hope to get into the gates of that Citie aboue; then there is hope to cast it out the gates of this City below. Much good do't with earthly Courts: for it must not come into the Courts of Heauen.

Thinke, O sinners; you cannot goe with these oppressions, with these oathes, frauds, bribes, vsuries; with these wickednesses into the gates of this Citie. You must p. 263shift them off, or they will shut you out.

You heare the Properties; the Parts are now to bee considered; and these are foure. The foundation, the two sides, and the roofe. The Foundation is Faith. One of the sides, Patience. The other, Innocence. The Roofe, Charitie.

Faith

Is the foundation. Coloss. 1. Be ye grounded and setled Colos. 1. 23.Col 1:23in the Faith. Credendo fundatur, saith Augustine. It is grounded in faith. All other graces are (as it were) built on this foundation. Credimus quōd speramus: quod credimus & speramus, diligimus: quod credimus, speramus, & diligimus, operamur. What we hope; wee beleeue: what wee beleeue and hope, we louelove: what we beleeue, hope, and louelove; wee endeuour to attaine. So all is built on Faith.

Hope on faith; Nulla spes increditi: it is impossible to hope for that wee beleeue not to be. Charity on faith: why should a man giuegive all to the poore, vnlesse hee belieued an abundant recompence? Repentance on faith: why else suffer we contrition for sin, if we beleeued not remission of sinne? Temperance on faith: why forbeare wee the pleasing vanities of the world, but that we belieue the transcendent ioyes of eternity, whereof these harlots would robbe vsus? Patience on faith: why would we endure such calamities with willing quietnesse and subiection, if wee belieued not an euerlasting peace and rest to come? All obedience on faith; that God would accept it in Iesus Christ. If all bee built on faith, I may call it the basis and foundation of this Gate. aaHebr. 11. ….Heb 11Without faith it is impossible to please God: for hee that commeth to God, must belieue that he is, and that hee is a rewarder of them that diligently seeke him. Faith is the passage-way to God: not one of that holy ensuing Legend, entred the City of life without this. He that hath faith shall enter: yea hee is entred. p. 262duplicate page p. 263duplicate page p. 264Iohn 5. bbIohn 5. 24.John 5:24He hath euerlasting life; and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death to life.

Patience

Is one of the Pillars. Hebr. 10. ccHebr. 10. 36.Heb 10:36Ye hauehave need of Patience: that when you hauehave done the will of God, yee might receiue the Promise. That when you hauehave suffered before the gates, ye may enter the Citie. There bee three Enemies that assault the soule, before shee enter the gates; a Lyon, a Leopard, and a Foxe. The Lion is the Deuill, who dd1. Pet. 5. 8.1 Pet 5:8roareth with hideous cryes, and bloudy iawes. The Leopard is the world, which hath a gay spotted hide; but if it take vsus within the clutches, it deuoures vsus. The Foxe is our Concupiscence, bred in vsus; which craftily eeCant. 2. 15.Song 2:15spoyles our grapes, our young vines, our tender graces. Patience hath therfore an armed Souldier with her, called Christian Fortitude; to giuegive repulse to all these encounters. And what he cannot conquer feriendo, by smiting: she conquers ferendo, by suffering. Uincit etiam dum patitur. She ouercomes, euen while shee suffers. Patience meekely beares wrongs done to our owne person: Fortitude encounters couragiously wrongs done to the Person of Christ. She will not yeeld to sinne, though she die. She hath the spirit of Esther to withstand things that dishonour God; ffEsth. 4. 16.Esth 4:16If I perish, I perish.

Innocence

Is the other Pillar. As Patience teacheth vsus to beare wrongs, so Innocence to doe none. Patience giues vsus a Shield, but Innocence denyes vsus a sword. Our selues we may defend, others we must not offend. Innocence is such a vertue; ggAug.Quae cùm alijs non nocet, nec sibi nocet. Which as it wrongs not others, so nor itselfe. Hee that hurts himselfe, is not innocent. The Prodigall is no mans foe, but his owne; saith the prouerbe: but because hee is his owne foe, he is not innocent. hhSen.Triumphus Innocentiae est p. 265non peccare vbi potest. It is the triumph of Innocence, not to offend, where it may.

No testimony is more sweet to the conscience then this: iiEsa. 38. 3.Isa 38:3Remember, O Lord, how I hauehave walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart. So Iob: My heart shall not condemne me for my dayes. Blessed soule thus comforted: it smiles at the frownes of earth, and dares stand the thunder. Though there bee no Innocency, but reioyceth to stand in the sight of Mercy: Yet thus in the middest of iniuries it cheeres it selfe: O Lord, thou knowest my innocence. The wicked kkPsal. 73. 6.Ps 73:6couer themselues with violence as with a garment: therefore confusion shall couer them as a cloake. But llMath. 5. 5.Matt 5:5Blessed are the meeke: for they shall inherit the earth. That part of the earth they liue in shall afford them quiet: and their part in heauen hath no disquiet in it. Si amouean…, admouentur in locum, à quo non remouentur in aeternum. If they be mooued, they are moued to a place from whence they shall neuer be remoued. mmPsal. 26. 6.Ps 26:6I will wash mine hands in Innocency: so will I compasse thine Altar, O Lord. If Innocence must leade vsus to the Altar on earth; sure that must bee our gate to the glory of heauen.

Charity

Is the Roofe. nnAug.Diligendo perficitur; lo… makes vp the building. oo1. Cor. 13. 13.1 Cor 13:13Now abideth faith, hope, and charity: but the greatest of these is charity. It is a grace of the loueliest Countenance, and longest Continuance. For Countenance, it is amiable; all louelove it. The poore respect not thy faith so much as thy charity. For Continuance; faith and hope takes their leaues of vsus in death: but charity brings vsus to heauen-dore, & vshers vsus in to glory. ppHugo de laud. Charitatis.I know not what to say more in thy praise, O charity; then vt Deum de coelo traheres, & hominem ad coelum eleuares. Then that thou didst bring downe God from heauen to earth, and dost lift vp man from earth to heauen. Great is thy vertue, that by p. 266thee God should be humbled to man, by thee man should be exalted to God.

You hauehave the Gates described: Let vsus draw a short conclusion from these two former circumstances; and then enter the Citie.

The Summe.

There is no entrance to the Citie but by the Gates: no passage to Glory, but by Grace. The qqReu. 21. 12.Rev 21:12wall of this Citie is said to be great and high. High; no climbing ouer: Great, no breaking through. So Christ saith; rrMath. 6. 20.Matt 6:20No theefe can breake through and steale. Therefore through the gates, or no way. ss1. Cor. 15. 50.1 Cor 15:50Corruption doth not inherit incorruption. This corrupted man must bee regenerate, that hee may bee saued: must be sanctified, that he may be glorified. Babel-builders may offer faire for h…uen, but not come neer it: the Gyants of our time, I meane the monstrous sinners, may imponere Pelion Ossae, lay rebellion vponupon presumption, treason vponupon rebellion, blasphemy vponupon all: as if they would sinke heauen with their loud and lewd ordinance, and plucke God out of his Throne: but hell gapes in expectation of them. This Gate is kept, as the gate of Paradise, with a flaming sword of Iustice, to keepe out tt1. Cor. 6. 9.1 Cor 6:9Idolaters, Adulterers, theeues, couetous, drunkards, reuilers, extortioners, and other uuReu. 22. 15.Rev 22:15dogges of the same litter; from the kingdome of God.

Some trust to open these gates with golden keyes; but bribery is rather a key to vnlocke the gates of hell. Let Rome sell what she list, and warrant it like the Seller in the Prouerbs; It is good, it is good. Yet it is naught; but were it good, God neuer promised to stand to the Popes bargaines. Others hauehave dream't of no other gate, but their owne righteousnesse. Poore soules, they cannot finde the gate, because they stand in their owne light. Others thinke to passe through the gates of other mens merits: as well one bird may flie with another birds wings. For all p. 267those hote promises of the workes of Saints for their ready money, they may blow their nailes in hell.

OnelyOnly grace is the gate. aaAug. Serm. 136. de Temp.Per portam Ecclesiae intramus ad portam Paradisi. Wee must bee true members of the Church, or the dore of life will be shut against vsus. Heauen is a glorious place, therefore reserued for gracious men. Admittuntur ad spiritus iustorum, non nisi iusti. bbHeb. 12. 23.Heb 12:23To those spirits of iust men made perfect must be admitted none, saue they that are iustified. Kings are there the Companie: none of base and ignoble liues can be accepted. Heauen is the great White Hall, the Court of the high King; none are entertained but Albi, such as are washed white in the bloud of Christ; and keepe white their owne innocence. Vngracious offenders looke for no dwelling in this glory. You that hauehave so little louelove to the gates, are not worthy the Citie. If you will not passe through the gates of holinesse in this life, you must not enter the Citie of happinesse in the life to come. Thus wee hauehave passed the gates: and are now come to

The Citie.

Now if I had beene with Paul rapt vp to the cc2. Cor. 12. 2.2 Cor 12:2third heauen; or had the ddReu. 21. 17.Rev 21:17Angels Reed, wherewith he measured the wall: I might say something to the description of this Citie. But how can darkenesse speake of that light? or the base Country of Earth describe the glorious Court of Heauen? eePsal. 87. 9.Ps 87:9Glorious things are spoken of thee, O City of God. Glorious Cities hauehave beene, and are in the world. Rome was eminently famous; all her Citizens like so many kings: yet was it obserued, Illic homines more, that men did die there. But in this Citie, there is no dying. Mors non erit vltra. ffReu. 21. 4.Rev 21:4There shall be no more death. I will narrow vp my discourse, to consider in this City only 3. things.

The

Situation.

Society.

Glory.

p. 268The Situation.

It is placed aboue, Gal. 4. ggGal. 4. 26.Gal 4:26Ierusalem which is aboue is free, the mother of vsus all. Heauen is in excelsis. hhPsal. 87. 1.Ps 87:1His foundation is in the holy mountaines. So was Ierusalem seated on earth, to figure this Citie; built on the Quarrey of heauen, Dan. 2. On Saphyres, Emeralds, and Chrysolites, Reu. 21. There is a heauen now ouer our heads, but it shall iiHebr. 1. 11.Heb 1:11vvaxe olde as a garment. It is corruptible, and so combustible. This Citie is eternall; Mount Sion, neuer to bee moued: a kingdome neuer to be shaken. Wee are now vnderunder this lower heauen, then this shall be vnderunder vsus. That which is our Canopy, shall be our Pauement.

The Society.

The King that rules there, is one Almighty God in three distinct persons. Hee made this City for himselfe. kkPsal. 16. 11.Ps 16:11In his presence is the fulnesse of ioy, and pleasures at his right hand for euermore. If hee gaue such a house as this world is, to his enemies: what may we thinke, hath hee prouided for himselfe, and his friends? But will GOD dwell there alone? He is neuer alone: himselfe is to himselfe the best and most excellent company. Neuerthelesse he vouchsafes a dwelling here to some Citizens, and these are eyther Created so, Assumed, or Assigned.

1. Created Citizens are the blessed Angels; who from their first creation hauehave enioyed the freedom of this City. They stand alwaies in the presence of God: they can neuer lose their happinesse.

2. Assumed; those whose spirits are already in heauen. Hebr. 12. There llHebr. 12. 23.Heb 12:23are the spirits of iust men made perfect. They are already in soule taken vp, and made free Denisons of this Citie.

3. Assigned; the Elect that liue in the militant Church, waiting for the day of their bodies Redemption; crying still, Come, Lord Iesus, come quickly. These are Conscripti, mmReu. 21. 27.Rev 21:27written in the Lambes booke of life. Now though we are p. 279not already in full possession; because our apprentiship of this life is not out; yet we are already Citizens. nnEph. 2. 19.Eph 2:19Ye are no more strangers and forreiners, but fellow Citizens vvith the Saints; and of the houshold of God. And we hauehave three happy priuiledges of Citizens.

1. Libertas; Freedome from the Law; not from obedience to it, but from the curse of it. Praestemus quod possumus: quod non possumus, non damnabit. Let vsus keepe so much of it as we can: what wee cannot keepe, shall not eondemne vsus. Liberty in the vse of these earthly things: heauen, earth, ayre, sea, with all their creatures, do vsus seruice. oo1. Cor. 3. 22.1 Cor 3:22Whether things present, or things to come, all are yours: and ye are Christs, and Christ is Gods.

2. Tutela Imperij; The Kings protection, Psalm. 91. Angelis mandauit. ppPsalm. 91. 11.Ps 91:11Hee hath giuen his Angels charge ouer vsus, to keepe vsus in all our wayes. Is this all? No. vers. 4. Hee couers vsus with his fethers, and vnderunder his wings doe wee trust: his tru…h is our shield and our buckler. Our dangers are many in some places, and some in all places: we hauehave Gods owne Guard royall to keepe vsus. They qqHeb. 1. 14.Heb 1:14are sent from God to minister for their sakes, which shall be heyres of saluation. I need not determine, whether eueryevery particular person hath his particular Angell. Saint Augustine hath wel answered, rrE…irid, cap. 59.Quando hoc nesciatur sine crimine, non opus est vt definiatur cum discrimine. Since our ignorance is no fault, let vsus not trouble our selues with curious discussion. Bernard directs vsus a good vse of it. Quantam Bern.debet hoc tibi inferre reuerentiam, afferre deuotionem, conferre fiduciam. The consideration of the guard of Angels about vsus, should put into our mindes reuerence, into our hearts deuotion, into our soules confidence.

3. Defensio Legis, the defensiue protection of the Law. Christis our Aduocate. aaRom. 8. 33.Rom 8:33Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods elect? It is God that iustifieth. Wee are impleaded: Paul appeales to Caesar, wee to Christ. The Deuill accuseth vsus, we are far remote: behold, our Counsellor p. 280is in heauen; that will not let our cause fall, or be ouerthrowne. bb1. Ioh. 2. 1.1 John 2:1If any man sinne, we hauehave an Aduocate with the Father, Iesus Christ the righteous.

Thus are we Citizens in present, shall be more perfectly at last. We hauehave now right to the Citie: wee shall then hauehave right in the City. Wee hauehave now a purchase of the possession, shall then hauehave a possession of the purchase. ccIoh. 17. 24.John 17:24Father; I will that they also whom thou hast giuen mee, bee with me where I am, that they may behold my glory. This is our Sauiours Will & Testament, and shall not be broken.

The Company then addes to the glory of this City. We are loth to leaue this world for louelove of a few friends, subiect to mutual dislikes: but what then is the delight in the Society of Saints? where thy glorified selfe shall meet with thy glorified friends, and your louelove shall be as euerlasting as your glory. There be those Angels that protected thee: those Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs, that by doctrine and example taught thee: yea there is that blessed Sauior that redeemed thee. Often heere with grones and teares thou seekest him, whom thy soule loueth: loe, there he shall neuer be out of thy sight.

The Glory.

The glory? Non mihi si centum linguae. If I had a hundred tongues, I was not able to discourse throughly the least dramme of that inestimable weight of glory. The eye hath seene much, the eare hath heard more, and the heart hath conceiued most of all. But dd1. Cor. 2. 9.1 Cor 2:9no eye hath seene, nor eare heard, nor heart apprehended the things which God hath prepared for them that louelove him. Augustine after a stand; eeIn Iohn Hom. 3.Deus habet quod exhibeat. God hath something to bestowe on you. If I say, wee shall be satiate, you will think of lothing: if, wee shall not be satiate, you will thinke of hunger. But Ibi nec fames, nec fastidium: there is neither hunger, nor lothing. Sed Deus habet quod exhibeat. No sooner is the soule within those gates, but she is glorious. Similem p. 281sibi reddit ingredientem. Heauen shall make them that enter it, like it selfe; glorious: As the ayre by the Sunnes brightnesse is transformed bright. Quanta falici tas, vbi nullum erit malum, nullum deerit bonum! How great is that blessednesse, where shall be no euill present, no good absent! This is a blessed Citie.

Men are ambitious heere, and seeke to be free of great Cities: and not seldome buy it dearer then the Captaine bought his Burgeship. But no such honour as to be Denisons of this Citie: whereof once made free, how contemptibly they will looke at the vaine endeuors of worldly men! Thinke, Beloued, yea knowe; how sweet soeuer the gaines of this lower Citie be: it is yet far short of the gaines of heauen. And you will one day say; There is no Citie to the Citie of GOD. Where ffReu. 21. 4.Rev 21:4shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor any more paine. Death with all his Apparitors, that cite the whole vvorld to his Court, sorrow, crying, paine, shall be no more. ggMath. 10. 23.Matt 10:23They shall persecute you from Citie to Citie, saith Christ: till at last we come to this Citie, and then out of their reach.

O that this clay of ours should come to such honour! Well may we suffer it to endure the Worlds tyrannie, and to be afflicted by the Citizens thereof: alas, wee are but Prentises, and they will vse vsus hardly till our yeres be out. When that day comes, we shall be free possessors of this Citie.

You heare now the gate and the Citie, what should you doe but enter? Passe through the gate of grace; a holy & sanctified life; and you shall not faile of the City of glorie. Whither once entred, you shall sing as it is in the Psalme, Sicut audi…imus ita et vidimus. As we hauehave heard, so hauehave we seene in the Citie of our God. VVee see that now which was preached to vsus; yea and tenne thousand times more then euer could be vttered. You shall say to Christ, as the Queene of Sheba to Salomon; hh1. King. 10. 7.1 Kgs 10:7I heard much of thy glory; but behold, the one halfe was not told me. You saw Ierusalem p. 282before in a Mappe; now you shall walke through the streets, and obserue the towres and bulwarkes; fully contemplate the glorie. But my discourse shall giuegive way to your meditation. The ioyes are boundlesse, endlesse: the Lord make vsus free of this Citie.

Amen.