The Amendment of Life, Book 4 · Chapter 13
The thirteenth cauſe of amendment, deriued of this ſaying of Ieſus Chriſt. The kingdome of heauen is at hand. Chap. 13.
THis ſaying of Ieſus Chriſt, The kingdome of heauen is at hand. may be referred: firſt, to the kingdom of glory, which we waite for in heauen: Secondly, to the renewing & reſtauration of man: and thirdly, to the preaching of the goſpel. And indeed, the kingdome of heauen conſidered in theſe three points,Gen. 3.23. did truely at the comming of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, come very neere vntounto man. As concerning the kingdome of glory that is in heauen, we know that our firſt parents Adam and liue, when they had tranſgreſſed the commaundement of God, were driuen out of the garden of Eden, alſo that God placed the Cherubins on the eaſt ſide of the garden, with a flaming ſworde continually mouing, to keep the way to the tree of life. Then God, thereby hauing ſhewed that man was put forth and baniſhed out of heauen and life euerlaſting, by the building of the tabernacle, and afterward of the temple in Hieruſalem, gaue vntounto his people ſome figure of a paſſage into heauen, through the Meſsias that was to come. For in that the people remained in the porch, & might hauehave no acceſſe into the holy ſanctuarye,Exod. 28.9. the figure of heauen, God gaue them to vnderſtand that they were vnworthy to come in: but in that the high prieſt once in the yeere, did enter with the twelue names of the twelue tribes, vponupon his ſhoulders and his breaſt: God thereby ſignified, that when Ieſus Chriſt, figured in this high prieſt, ſhould come, he by his death ſhould open vntounto them the gate of heauen, and ſhould enter thereat, not for himſelfe onelie: but as it were carying his people in with him. And thereupon at the death of Chriſt, the vaile of the Temple that ſeperated, and did hide the holy Sanctuary, did cleaue and rent to the bottom,Mat. 27.51. Heb. 9.8. thereby to ſhew that the way of heauen was now open to the members of Ieſus Chriſt, which was not before reuealed: as the Apoſtle ſaieth to the Hebrews. Thus did the kingedome of heauen beginne to be at hand.
2 Yet drew it nearer when Ieſus Chriſt riſing from death, aſcended into heauen. For as the high Prieſt, entring into the holy Sanctuarie, vponupon his ſhoulders and breſt, carryed the twelue names of the twelue tribes of Iſrael: So Ieſus Chriſt entred not alone into heauē, but we alſo with him, as ſaith Saint Paule,Eph. 2.5. That God quickened vsus together with Chriſt, and raiſeth vsus vp together, and made vsus ſit together in the heauenlie places in Ieſus Chriſt. And in an other place the ſame Apoſtle ſaieth. If we be children, we are alſo heires, euen the heires of God, and coheyres with Ieſus Chriſt. And this he ſayeth, to aſſure vsus,Rom. 3.17. that Ieſus Chriſt hath ſo taken poſſeſsion of heauen, that it is not onelyonly for himſelfe, but alſo for vsus his coheyres. As if vponupon the confiſcation of an inheritance common to many brethren, when the prince afterward maketh a releaſe, the eldeſt brother taketh the poſſeſsion, for aſſurance that himſelfe and his bretheren are reſtored to their goods & the ſame is an aſſurance to the coheires with the eldeſt, that in the perſon of their eldeſt brother themſelues are put in poſſeſsion of the inheritance common to them all. Thus did the kingedome of heauen draw neare at the comming of Ieſus Chriſt: and this is it that he firſt wiſheth vsus to note for our amendment, when he ſaith, Amend your liues, for the kingdome of heauen is at hand.
3 The auncient fathers could neuer diſcerne this kingdome but a farre off and very obſcurely. God promiſed to Abraham, Iſaac and Iacob, the land of Canaan: Not that they ſhould ſettle their minds vponupon the fat of the earth, but that it might be to thē as an image of this kingdome of heauen, wherto they ſhould aſpire.Heb. 11.13. But ſaieth the Apoſtle, They are all dead, and receiued not the promiſes, but ſaw them a farre off, and beleeued them, and receiued them thankfully. And this he meaneth, not ſimply by the land of Canaan, but principally by the opening of heauen & approching of this kingdome of heauen, fulfilled at the comming of Ieſus Chriſt. Howe neare then is this kingedome of heauen commen vntounto vsus, by the comming of Ieſus Chriſt, in reſpect of them? ſith he toke poſſeſſion both for himſelfe and vsus: whom alſo we cannot behold in the fruition of this heauenly kingdome, but we muſt withall behold our ſelues with him, becauſe he is our head, and keepeth his members vnited to himſelfe, and our ſpouſe, who communicateth with vsus all his goods? in which ſence Saint Paule alſo calleth vsus Burgeſſes of heauen. Doth not Ieſus Chriſt therefore, when he ſaieth Amend your liues, iuſtly alledge this reaſon, For the kingdome of heauen is at hand? Epheſ. 2.19.And in deed, If Abraham, Iſaac, Iacob, the Prophets,Iohn 8.56. and the reſt of the faithfull before the comming of the ſonne of God in the fleſh, whileſt the kingdom of heauen was yet ſo farre from them and from their view: did notwithſtanding reioyce, as it is written of Abraham, and accounted themſelues Pilgrims and ſtrangers in this world, and lyued deuoutly, righteouſly and religiouſly: to be ſhort, did amend their liues, as aſpiring to this kingdome of heauen: How much more earneſtly ought we to feele in our ſelues that we are ſtrangers & pilgrims vponupon the earth, whereto his kingdome is come ſo neare that we do therein behold Ieſus Chriſt and our ſelues with him? Howe much rather (I ſay) ſhould we be euen rauiſhed to aſp re to this kingdome, which we ſee open, by denying the world & the fleſh: and all that might keepe vsus backe: that by amending our lyues we might increaſe in faith, louelove, holyneſſe, & in eueryevery good thing that might be vntounto vsus as a path, a Chariot & horſe to tranſport vsus really into heauen? When winter is ouer, the nearer that the Sun draweth vntounto vsus, the more doth the earth, being warmed by the heat therof, fructifie. And the longer that the dayes are, the more worke may we do. Euen ſo the nearer that the kingdome of heauen doth draw vntounto vsus by the cōming of Ieſus Chriſt, eſpecially by his aſcention into heauen, the more ſhould we be heat in the louelove of God and charity to our neighbors, to bring foorth the more fruite of holines, & be the more adicted to al good works.
4 Secondly, we are to conſider the drawing neere of the kingdom of heuen in the reſtauratiō & renewing of man. Whē Chriſt died for our ſins,Rom. 4.25. Rom. 6. Heb. 2.14. & roſe againe for our iuſtification when by dying he mortified our old man, & by riſing againe, raiſed vsus vp into newnes of life: when by his death he deſtroyed him that had the empire of death: did he not by deſtroying this kingdome of Satan, bring the kingdom of heauen nearer vntounto vsus? And in deed this kingdom of heauen was neuer ſo neare our fathers, & other the beleeuing Iews in old time. Wel had they the promiſe that the ſeed of the woman ſhould bruſe the ſerpents head: but we do ſee the performance thereof in Ieſus Chriſt, who by his death hath ouercomen the deuill and the power of Hell. Well had they the paſcall lambe to figure vntounto them that for the auoyding of eternall death, they muſt be waſhed in the bloud of Chriſt: But as Iohn the Baptiſt euen with his finger pointed to this Lambe Ieſus Chriſt, ſaying Behold the Lambe of God that taketh away the ſinnes of the world: Iohn 1.2….ſo this lambe did afterward really ſhed his bloud for the remiſsion of our ſinnes, to free vsus from eternall death. Well did they ſtay and ofter innocent beaſtes in ſacrifice, as it were laying their ſinnes vponupon them: that by their death ſignifying the death of Ieſus Chriſt to come, they might hauehave as it were an aſſured pledge of the remiſsion of their ſins, & conſequently, hope of life. But there was not as yet any payment or ſatiſfaction for ſinnes: And therefore theſe ſacrifices were as it were bonds with ſureties, wherein man, the principall debtor,Coloſſ. 2.14. acknowledgeth the debt, & Ieſus Chriſt vndertooke as a pledge and ſurety.
5 In this ſence did Ieſus Chriſt in his death, make ful paymēt for the ſins of al the elect, & conſequently alſo of thoſe that liued vnderunder the firſt teſtament, as the Apoſtle ſaith: which alſo S. Paul vnderunder the ſame cōſideration, termeth the former ſins:Coloſſ. 2.14. Heb. 9.15. Rom. 3.24. not that they were not pardoned to the beleeuing Iews: But becauſe vntil that day there was no price laid downe for the ſatiſfaction of Gods Iuſtice. And in that ſence dothe the ſame Apoſtle ſay that he nailed thoſe obligations to his croſſe, as hauing then ſatiſfied & diſcharged the ſame. And therefore were the expiatorie ſacrifices, circumciſion, with other like ordenances of the law aboliſhed at his death. Neither could they hauehave been kept as neceſſary, but that they would ſtill hauehave been witneſſes that Chriſt ſtood yet bound. Beſides not content to hauehave by this abolition (as it were) canceled theſe obligations, he hath alſo ordeined Baptiſme and his holy ſupper to be vntounto vsus as it were authenticall acquittances and witneſſes of payment made.
6 It is likewiſe the benefite for the which he cōmandeth vsus to amend, adding this reaſon: For the kingdome of heauen is at hand. For it is as if he had ſaid. Behold this is the time that I will breake the ſerpents head, and deſtroy him that hath the empire of death: and baniſh the prince of the world. Now do I goe to make payment for al the ſins of the elect: to crucifie the old man, that he may no longer raigne in them: to purchaſe for them newneſſe of life: To be ſhort, to reeſtabliſh them in ſtate requiſit & cōuenient for the children of God. Is not the kingedome of heauen then very neere at hand? Amend therefore: for it is time that you feeling your iuſtification and attonement to be made with God, ſhold be at peace in your conſciences: ſhould renounce the deuil, the fleſh, the worlde, and your ſelues: mortifie the olde man who is crucified with me, and become new creatures by vertue of my reſurrection. But if contrariwiſe you remayne hardened in your ſinnes, and will not giuegive ouer and mortifie the ambition, pride, couetouſnes, fraude, whore dome, inſolencie, dronkennes, ryot, hatred, enuy, malice, and other corruptions, and doe not amend by growing in al good workes: ſhal you not ſo much as in you lyeth, quench the kingdome of heauen that is in you, and with moſt villanous ingratitude tre…d vnderunder foote this incomprehenſible benefit heere offered. The heathen that neuer heard ſpeaking hereof, for their continued impenitency, ſhall be iuſtly cōdemned: The Iewes, who had ſome knowledge, albeit obſcure and a farre off, ſhalbe more grieuouſly puniſhed, becauſe, they did not amend: But you to whom this kingdome of heauen is neare at hand, vnleſſe ye amend, ſhall incurre a condemnation without compariſon more horrible and fearefull. And the beleeuing Iewes, who neuer ſawe this kingdome of heauen but from far off and obſcurely, and yet as the Apoſtle ſaieth to the Hebrewes did beleeue it and reioyced, and walking in the feare of God did amend:Eph. 3.9. ſhalbe your iudges, to your confuſion.
7 We are furthermore to conſider the preaching of the Goſpel, ſignified alſo by this kingdome of heauen. Ieſus Chriſt ſaieth. Ʋerily I ſay vntounto you, among them that are begottē of women, aroſe not a greater then Iohn Baptiſt, Heb. 11.notwithſtanding he that is the leaſt in the kingdome of heauen, is greater then he. He doth not heere meane that the leaſt in the chriſtiā Church ſhal either in piety, or in glory in the kingdome of heauen, excel Iohn Baptiſt: but that they ſhalbe greater Prophets then he: that is to ſaie, that they ſhalbe able more amply, perticulerly, and euidently to ſpeake of eueryevery thing that concerneth our redemption & ſaluation in Ieſus Chriſt. And indeed, what euident & aſſured knowledge hath there been reuealed to the Chriſtian Church, concerning the perſon of Ieſus Chriſt that he was conceaued by the holy Ghoſt: borne of the virgin Mary: very God and very man: likewiſe of his offices: that he hath receaued the anoynting of the holy Ghoſt to be our Prieſt, king & Prophet. Conſequently, of his ſufferings, death, reſurrection, & aſcentiō into heauē: of the certitude of our iuſtification, & ſaluatiō not by workes, but by grace, & by the merits of his death. Moreouer how the Goſpel of ſaluation was directed to the Gentils, wherby there was reuealed to the world a miſtery & ſecret,Mat. 11.11. which as S. Paul ſaith, hath from the beginning, been hiddē in God, cō teining a wonderful wiſedome, then reuealed to the Angels. And albeit the ancient fathers we…e neuer deſtitute of the ſpirit of God: Yet had they it not euer without cōpariſon ſo plentifully as it hath bene communicated by the preaching of the Goſpell.2. Cor. 3.8. And therefore doth S. Paul call it in excellency, the ministery of the ſpirite: And Ieſus Chriſt termeth it regeneration, Mat. 19.28.as whē he ſaith to his Apoſtles, ye that hauehave followed me in regeneration, ſhall ſit vponupon twelue thrones. Truely therefore in regarde of the preaching of the Goſpell Ieſus Chriſt did ſaye, that the kingdome of heauen was at, hand, and that therefore we muſt amend. As indeed,Mat. 19.28. what excuſe may we pretend, if hauing ſuch a ſonne of light before our eyes, we be neuertheleſſe giuen to the workes of darkeneſſe? What an ingratitude will it be in vsus, who by nature are Gentils, if when the kingdom of heauen is thus come vponupon vsus, by the preaching of the Goſpell, we make no accompt thereof, neither hauehave any care to amend our liues according to the cōmandemēt of Ieſus Chriſt? how mightily wil the deuil poſſeſſe vsus, vnleſſe by the miniſterye of the holy ghoſt he be expelled, to the end to make roome for the kingdome of heauen in vsus?
8 Ieſus Chriſt ſaith, The men of Niniue ſhall riſe in iudgement with this generation, and condemne it: for they repented at the preaching of Ionas, and beholde a greater then Ionas is heere. Againe,Mat. 12.41.42. The Queene of the ſouth ſhall riſe in iudgement with this generation, and ſhall condemne it: For ſhe came from the vtmoſt partes of the earth to heare the wiſedome of Salomon: and beholde a greater then Salomon is heere. Woe thē be vntounto vsus, if hearing the Goſpel of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt,Rom. 13.12. we doe not obey his commandement and amend. It is now time that we ſhould ariſe from ſleep, ſaith S. Paul, for now is our ſaluation neerer then when we beleeued, by the preaching of the goſpell, and were before vnbeleeuers. The night is past and the day is come, let vsus therfore cast away the works of darknes, and put on the armour of light, ſo as we walk honeſtly as in the day, not in gluttony and drunkennes: &c.
9 This kingdome of heauen is at hand, and dayly gathereth vponupon vsus in two maners, which for a concluſion wee will heere adde. Firſt, all faithfull beleeuers doe know and are aſſured, that at the ſeparation of the ſoule and the body, the ſoule ſhalbe exalted into heauen with Chriſt. Now as dayly this ſeperation doth by death drawe neerer and neerer to the faithfull, ſo doth the kingdome of heauen alſo come vponupon them: how carefull therfore ſhould we be to amend our liues, and to prepare our ſelues to make our entry into heauen? the holy Ghoſt proteſteth, that there ſhall enter no vncleane thing,Apoc. 21.27. neither any that worketh abhomination or lyes. We muſt therefore put of all the workes of the fleſh, which are, as S. Paul noteth, adultery, fornication, vncleanneſſe, wantonneſſe, idolatrie, Gal. 5.19.witchcraft, hatred, debate, emulation, wrath, contention, ſedition, hereſie, enuie, murther, dronkennes, gluttonie, and ſuch lyke. And afterward proteſteth, that they which commit theſe things, ſhall not inherite the kingdome of God. Let vsus then beware of delaying of this amendment, leaſt in a matter of ſuch importance we bee ſurpriſed: we hauehave not two ſoules, that we may hazarde one. If the day of death findeth vsus a ſleepe in our ſinnes, woe be vntounto vsus: let vsus remember the ſaying of S. Peter: The end of all thinges draweth neere: 1. Pet 4.Be ye therfore ſober and watchfull in praier. EueryEvery of vsus ſhall in our death finde this end of all things: and indeed let vsus look vponupon a rich man caried dead out at dores, and we ſhall ſee that all is at an end with him, neither hath his body any more then his length of ground.
10 Let vsus therefore remember to be ſober, not in workes of pietie, for in them we cannot be too plentifull, neither in ſinne, for we muſt vtterly abſtaine therefro: wherin then? euen in thinges appertaining to this preſent life,1. Cor. 7.29. by practiſing this admonition of S. Paul. And this I ſay brethren, becauſe the time is ſhorte, hereafter that both they which hauehave wines, be as though they had none: And they that weep, as though they wept not: And they that reioyce, as though they reioyced not: And they that buy, as though they poſseſsed not: And they that vſe this worlde, as though they vſed it not: for the faſhion of this worlde goeth away. And I would hauehave you without care. Here doth he ſhew that the ſobriety whereto S. Peter exhorteth vsus, doth admoniſh vsus that there is drunkenneſſe, not onelyonly of the body, but alſo of the ſpirite. And indeede where Ieſus Chriſt ſaith: See to your ſelues, Luke 21.34.that your harts be not ouercome with gluttony and drunkenneſse, neither with the cares of this life: He doth ſufficiently declare, that there is another kinde of drunkenneſſe, then either with beere or wine: And that is, when the care for the things of this life, whether of warre, or marchandiſe, or of landes and poſſeſsions, of wiues, or of children, doe ſo feaze vponupon and entangle our mindes and affections, that we are diuerted & letted frō that which is required for the ſeruice of God and the ſaluation of our ſoules: if a man riſe in the morning and goe to the Tauerne, and tarry there all day, and at night commeth home drunke, and ſo againe the next day, and the next, and all the weeke long, and neuer thinketh vponupon his famely, but letteth his wife and his children ſit ſtaruing at home, wil we not ſay that he is a drunkard? and in caſe he continue this courſe a monethmonth or two, will we not reporte of him as of a perfect and deſperate drunkard? What ſhall we then ſay of thoſe that doe ſo ſet their harts and mindes vponupon the affaires of this life, that ſo ſoone as they are vp in the morning, they are preſently at the Tauern of thoſe cares, wherein they delight, and whereto they ſo giuegive themſelues, that they care neither for the kingdome of heauen, the ſeruice of God, nor the ſaluation of their own ſoules: which is more during this repaſt at home, their mindes are in their tauernes: yea, and which is worſe, whether they ſpeak to God in their praiers, or that God talketh to them by ſermons, their mindes are ſo wandering, that immediatly they are in this tauerne of worldly cares and affaires, and that ſo deepely, that they neither hear God ſpeaking to them, neither wot what themſelues doe ſay to him: for there is no more but the body that ſpeaketh or heareth, euen a body as it were without a ſoule: for their minde is in their Tauerne. If they then follow this courſe, not one monethmonth, or ſixe, or tenne, neyther one yeere, but ten, twentie, thirtie, yea euen to the death: may we not well call them perfect drunkards? Likewiſe, as to that tauerne that beareth the name to hauehave the beſt drinke or wine, the drunkards will ſooneſt reſort, as ſeeking occaſions to be drunk: ſo theſe ſpirituall drunkards doe ſeeke after townes and places of moſt practiſe, where there is great dooinges, which breede encreaſe of cares, that likewiſe they may be the more drunken in them.
11 This is an exceſsiue and moſt pernitious drunkenneſſe, yet ouer common among chriſtians, and therefore let eueryevery man examine him ſelfe, that knowing it, he may amend. And indede, ſith the kingdome of heauen doth dayly approch to the faithfull by death, we are in duty to beware, according to Chriſts admonition, that our harts be not ouercome with this drunkenneſſe of cares, leaſt that day ouertake vsus in that drunkennes, vnreadye and vnprepared to expect this kingdome of heauen, in aſſurance & ioy. Let vsus take heede that we doe not wittingly abuſe our ſelues, ſaying: When I hauehave attained to ſuch wealth, or to ſuch dignity, I wil take my eaſe, and come forth of this tauerne to ſerue God: Firſt, it is an ordinary courſe, that the more beere or wine that a man drinketh, the more he may, and the more the drunken man drinketh, the more drunke he will be. Euen ſo the more wealth and dignitie that thou haſt, the more ſhalt thou find thy cares to encreaſe: and the more they encreaſe, the more drunken in them thou wilt be. Secondly, we muſt take great heed, that when God calleth vsus to repentance and amendmēt, we appoint him no time.Proſper in his Sent. out of Aug. Sent. 71. He, ſaith S. Auguſtine, that hath promiſed forgiuenes to him that repenteth, hath not promiſed another day to him that deferreth his amendement.…ſius in … Hebrew & …bian apo…. lib. 1. Among the ſentences of the wiſe men that liued among the Iewes after their return from the captiuitie of Babylon, we reade of one Eleazar, the ſonne of Hircanus, who being demanded when it woulde bee time to repent and amende: aunſwered, One daie before death. And when the other replied that no man knew the daie of his death, he ſayd: Beginne then euen to daie for feare of failing.
12 Inaſmuch then as dayly we expect not onelyonly death, but alſo the day of iudgement, & that in that reſpect the kingdome of heauen commeth two ſolde vponupon vsus, that we may the more earneſtly be moued to our duty to amend, let vsus remember this ſaying of Ieſus Chriſt.Mat. 24.43. If the good man of the houſe knew at what watch the theefe would come, he would ſurely watch, and not ſuffer his houſe to be broken. Therefore be ye alſo readie, for in the houre that ye thinke not, will the ſon of man ſurely come. And therefore he addeth, Bleſsed is that ſeruant whom his master when he commeth ſhal finde doing his dutie. And this is alſo repreſented vntounto vsus in the parable of the virgins, For the fooliſh ones that tooke no oyle in their lamps were ſhut from comming in to the marriage,Mat. 25. but the wiſe that had made their prouiſion, came in. Sith therefore that the kingdome of heauen is at hand, let vsus amend our liues, and make good prouiſion of holy oyle, increaſing in the knowledge of God, in faith, louelove, holynes, and all other good works: let vsus in time put on our wedding garments, that when the bridegrome commeth, if it be ſo dainly, as himſelfe hath warned vsus, we may be readie and prepared to enter into the marriage with him. Neither let vsus forget, that as Ieſus Chriſt doth aduertiſe vsus,Apoc. 22.20. It ſhall as a ſnare come on all them that dwell on the face of the earth. And as he addeth, Let vsus watch and praie continually, that we may be accounted worthie to eſcape all theſe thinges that ſhall come to paſse, Luke 21.34.and that we may ſtand before the ſonne of man. Your ſelues doo know perfestly, ſayth S. Paul, that the daie of the Lord ſhall come euen as a theefe in the night. 1. Theſ. 5.2.For when they ſhall ſaie, Peace and ſafetie, then ſhal come vponupon them ſodaine deſtruction, as the trauell vppon a woman with child, and they ſhall not eſcape. And then to comfort the faithfull hee ſayth, But ye brethren are not in darknes, that that day ſhould come vponupon you, as a theef, ye are all the children of light, and the children of the daie. And thereupon he alſo taketh occaſion to exhort them to theyr duties, ſaying: Therfore let vsus not ſleep as doo other, but let vsus watch & be ſober, putting on the breſt plate of faith and louelove, and the hope of ſaluation for an helmet. Let vsus beware that we folow not the euill ſeruant, who ſeeing that his maſter was long in comming, ſaide in himſelfe that he wold not come, & therupon gaue himſelf to work wickednes.Mat. 24.48. But as Ieſus Chriſt addeth, His master comming at an houre when he looked not for him, cut him off and puniſhed his iniquitie and incredulitie.
13 Saint Peter warneth vsus. that in the later daies there will come lyke people, whō he termeth mockers, which will walke after their luſts, & ſaie, Where is the promiſe of his comming? For ſince the fathers ſlept, 2. Pet. 3.3.all things continue alike from the beginning of the creation. But by a notable example he ſheweth, that they doo wittingly and willingly deceiue themſelues in ſuch diſcourſes. For when Noah foreſhewed the floud, and built the arke for his owne ſafetie, the like mockers riſe againſt him, who ſeeing no apparance of the flould for aboue a hundred yeres, thereof concluded, that the world continuing in that eſtate, ſhoulde not periſh, but were ſurpriſed and ſwallowed vp in the floud. Inaſmuch therefore as Ieſus Chriſt commanding vsus to amend, doth affirme that his kingdom is at hand, leſt ſeeming to be long in comming, we ſhould therfore falſly conclude that it will not come, let vsus diligently note what S. Peter addeth, Derely beloued, be not ignorant of this one thing, that a thouſād yeres is with the Lord as one daie, and one day as a thouſand yeres. The Lord is not ſlacke as concerning his promiſe, as ſome men account ſlacknes, God is patient toward vsus, and would hauehave no man to periſh, but would all men to come to repentance. But the day of the Lorde will come as a theefe in the night, in the which the heauens ſhall paſse awaie with a noiſe, and the elementes ſhall melt with heate, & the earth with the workes therin ſhall be burnt vp. Then doth he thereof gather this earneſt exhortation to repentance & amendement of life. Seeing therefore that all theſe things muſt bee diſsolued; what maner of perſons ought ye to be in holy conuerſation and godlynes? Looking for and haſtning vntounto the comming of the day of God, wherein the heauens being on fire, ſhall be diſsolued, and the elements ſhal melt with heat. But we loke for new heauens, & new earth, according to his promiſe, wherein dwelleth righteouſneſse, &c.
14 Albeit therfore it ſeem to our fleſh, that this kingdome is long in comming yet let vsus not ſlacke our amendement,Ioel. 2.12. but let vsus euen this daie conuert and thinke vponupon the ſaying of the prophet Ioel, Euen this daie conuert vntounto me, ſayth the Lord. Wherein he ſheweth that he yet giueth vsus this daie to repent, but aſſureth vsus not of to morrow. Let the remembrance therfore of the drawing neere of the kingdome of heauen induce vsus to amend,2. Tim. 4.8. to the end that in amending we may gather argument to long after the comming of Chriſt, as it is the dutie & deſire of all the children of God.Luke 21.28. And when we ſhall ſee the ſignes of his comming more & more fulfilled, let vsus lift vp our heads & reioyce, becauſe our deliuerance is at hand, and that ſhortly wee ſhallbe gathered and brought into the fruition of his kingdome and eternall glory.
FINIS.
End of the text · Jean Taffin, The Amendment of Life (1595)