The Hope of the Faithful, Part 1
¶The firste parte of THIS BOKE, INTITLED THE HOPE OF THE FAITHFVL, vvhichwhich entreateth of the Reſurrection and Aſcenſion of Chriſte, vvith the frute and commoditye therof.
THE FIRT CHAPTER. ¶The Contents of this boke, and the Authors purpoſe.
COnſidering that, by the Euangeliſts, and by all the Apoſtles, ther is nothing written more diligently, then touching the reſurrection of our lord Ieſus Chriſt: my purpoſe is, ſome what more largely to talk of the ſame, and of the glorious aſcenſion of his body into heauen: Item of the reſurrection and aſcē ſion of oure owne bodies: of the damnation of vnbeleuers, of the hope and eternall life of ye bleſſed. And this I mind to do, only vntounto the honor, laude & praiſe of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt: that the miſtery of the holy goſpell may be ſet forth & opened to the commoditye & edifying of the faithful, and that of eueryevery man it mai be plainly vnderſtanded, howe greate things are prepared and geuen vsus of Chriſt. This mater alſo doth ſpecially belong to the declaration of the holy Goſpell, foraſmuch as the beſt frute of ye goſpel is conteined and taughte therin. Therfore if I wryte ought heerein more largely, I doe nothing that concerneth not my purpoſe. Yet I intende alſo to kepe a meaſure, & not to open eueri thing, that hereof might be wrytten, but only that which is cheefeſt, & moſt neceſſary of all.
CHAP. 2. That the Lord verely aroſe vvith his body.
THat our lorde Ieſus Chriſt, with his owne very true body, did verely ariſe from ye dead, it ſhalbe expediēt afore al thīgs to teſtify & proue. Therefore let the firſt witnes, euen our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt hīſelfe, come forth now and beare vsus recorde out of the Prophets, concerning hys true reſurrectiō.Math. 12. Like as Ionas (ſayth he) was three dayes and three nights in the whales belly, ſo ſhal the ſon of man be three dayes & three nights in the hart of the earth. Nowe did not the fiſh caſt vp to the dry land ani other for Ionas, but euen ye ſame Ionas himſelfe, whome he had ſwalowed. Therefore the verye ſame true bodi of the Lord alſo, that was buried, aroſe againe. Which thing the holye Apoſtle Paule minding perfectly to expres, ſaid:1. Cor. 15. firſt of all I deliuered vntounto you (or taughte you) that which I receiued: how yt Chriſt died for our ſinnes, agreing to ye ſcriptures: and yt he was buried, and that he roſe again the third dai, according to the ſcriptures.
Lo, what can be ſpoken more euident and plain? He that died for our ſinnes, and was buryed, euen he himſelfe the very ſame roſe alſo againe. Of this now it foloweth, that the very true ſubſtancial body of our lord did riſe againe: for euen the ſame died & was buried. But to the entent yt it mighte the ſoner be beleeued, Paul the holy teacher declareth furthermore, yt he ſpeaketh this according to the contentes of ſcripture, and that the ſame was taughte in the ſcriptures afore, meaning vndoutedly the lawe & the Prophets.
Neuertheleſſe, we will nowe bring forth the true and euident teſtimonies of the Angels, who in Marke,Math. 28. Marke. 16. Luke. 24. Luke and Mathew, ſpeake vntounto the wemen yt came to the ſepulchre: Ye ſeke Ieſus of Nazareth, him that was crucified. Why ſeeke ye the liuing among the dead? He is riſen, he is not heere. Beholde the place wher they had laid him. Remē ber howe he ſpake vntounto you, while he was yet in Galile, ſaying, that the ſon of man muſt be deliuered into the hāds of ſinfull mē, and be crucified, & the thirde day riſe againe. Therefore goe quickly, and tel this to his diſciples, yt he is riſen from ye deade. And beholde he ſhall goe before you into Galilee: ther ſhal ye ſe him, as he himſelfe tolde you.
Theſe are the wordes of the Angels, which (if al circumſtā ces be thorowly well cōſidered) do plainly declare, that the very true body of the Lord did verely ariſe from the dead. The wemē come & ſeeke the body of ye lord, deſiring to annoynt it: therefore the queſtion is, touching the body of Chriſte. The Angels alſo ſpeake of ye true body of Chriſt, & make anſwer, ſaying: Ye ſeke Ieſus of Nazareth. Whervnto they adde diſtinctly, him yt was crucified. Now are we ſure that his very true body was crucified and died. He (ſay they) namely that died, euen Ieſus of Nazareth, the ſame is become aliue againe. Why ſeke ye the liuing among the dead? The lord died of a truthe, but deathe muſt not hauehave dominion ouer him, nether muſte his body putrify or corrupt, as other mens bodies doe, according as holy Dauid ſayde before:Pſalme. 16. Afore hand, I ſawe God alwayes before me: for he is on my right hand, that I ſhuld not be moued. Therfore did mi hart reioyſe, and my tong was glad. Moreouer alſo my fleſh ſhal reſt in hope, becauſe thou wilte not leaue my ſoule in Hell, neither wilte thou ſuffer thy holy one to ſee corruption. Thou haſt ſhewed me ye wayes of life, thou ſhalt make me ful of ioy wt thy coūtenance: and at thy right hād, ther is pleaſure for euermore.
Theſe words extend wholely vntounto Chriſt, according as the .ii. excellent Apoſtles,Actes. 2.13. namely Peter in the ſecond, and Paul in ye 13. of the Acts, do declare. Out of the Angels wordes alſo is it com into the articles of ye crede, as we all cōfeſſe wt theſe words: he roſe again from ye dead. This word (from the dead) doth truly expreſſe the death and reſurrection after this ſenſe. He died, as other men alſo doe, according to the law of nature. And euen in ye ſame fleſhe, which he therefore toke vpō him that he might die, receiued the immortalitye and toke it vntounto him againe. Therefore ſay the Angels: he is riſe… again. But that thing riſeth no vp, which fel not afore: therfore euen the ſame bodye of Chriſte, that fell in death, is from death riſen vp againe.
Moreouer, they name alſo the place where he was laide, to expreſſe perfectly, that ye very true body was riſen, ſaying: beholde the place, wher they layed him. The mortall body of the Lorde hath his certaine place, yea his owne place (that the Logicians cal, Vbi, that is to ſay, where) in the which he was laide. And as he now is become immortal, he hath his own place againe. For if the bodye that was raiſed vp, were eueryevery where, then had not the Angels ſayde: Beholde the place wher they laid him. Yea, they had not bene able to ſhewe any one place, wher he was not if the immortall body muſt be eueryevery where. But now they ſhew a place, in the which the immortall body was not, and that with plaine expreſſe wordes, ſaying: he is not heere. Of this nowe it foloweth, yt the body of Chriſte. which is but in one place, did verely riſe again. In the goſpel o… ſ. Iohn alſo the ſepulchre cloths wherin the Lord was wrapt (as the hed cloth, & that which was about his body) are mencioned as ſtrong teſtimonies of the bodi riſen vp: which clothes Pete… and Iohn did perfectly ſee. Furthermore, the Angels proue his very true reſurrection out of th… word of god, and ſay, remembe… what he ſaide vntounto you while h… was yet in Galilee: the ſonne o… man muſte be deliuered into th… handes of ſinfull men. &c. Wit… theſe wordes will they inſtructe vsus, that the ſonne of man, a very true body, is truly riſen againe. They ſay moreouer: go quickly, tel the diſciples, that he is riſen from death. Now was the body dead, and (as all mens bodies, yt die) laid in the graue. And euen ye ſame body was made immortall, & roſe again from the dead. He ſhall go before you into Galilee, yea before you ſhal he goe, wt a true bodi that moueth from one place to another: there, as in a certaine place, ſhall ye ſe him. Ye ſhal ſe him I ſay: for with a viſible & palpable body is he riſen, as ye are told by the Lorde himſelf, who can neither lie nor deceiue.
CHAP. 3. Appearings of the body raiſed vp.
HEreunto extende the manifold appearings or opē ſhewings of Chriſt, mencioned by the Euangeliſts. In Mark it is wrytten thus:Mark. 16. whan Ieſus was riſen early the firſt day after the Sabbothe, he appeared firſte to Mary Magdalen. To whom in the goſpel of Iohn, he ſayth: goe to my brethren and tel them:Iohn. 20. I go vp to my father and your father, to my God and your God. Now whan ſhe came to the diſciples, ſhe tolde thē that ſhe had ſene the Lord, & that he had ſpoken ſuche things vntounto her. In Mathew he meteth the wemen, and ſayeth: All haile. Fear not,Math. 28. goe and tell my brethren, yt they go into Galilee, there ſhall they ſee me. In holy S. Luke is mē cion made of two appearings. The firſt when he ſhewed himſelfe to the two that went to Emaus,Luke. 24. & opened vntounto them the true reſurrection of hys bodye. The ſecond, whā they were gon againe from Hieruſalem, they came to the Diſciples, minding to ſhew them, and to geue them to vnderſtād, what they had ſene and hard. Then preuented they them, and ſaid: the Lord is truly riſen in deede, and hath apeared vntounto Simon.Luke. 24. Nowe while they were talking of ſuche things among them ſelues, Ieſus ſtode in the middes of them, and ſaid: peace be vntounto you. But whan they ſawe him, they were ſore afraid, thinking yt they had ſene a ſpirit, or ſome other viſion. Thē ſaid the lord vntounto them: why are ye troubled: And why doe thoughtes ariſe in your hartes? Behold my hands and my fete.
CHAP. 4. The body of Chriſt roſe again, not a ſpirite but a true body.
NOwe that no man ſhould thinke it to be another body, which he had not afore his reſurrection, he addeth thereto immediatly: It is euē I my ſelf. Handle me, & ſee: a ſpirite hath not fleſhe & bones, as ye ſee me hauehave. And wyth that ſhewed he them his hands and his fete.
With this euident teſtimony of the Lord,De agone Chriſtiano. cap. 24. was S. Auguſtine moued, boldly to ſaye, that they ought not to be heard, which deny the body of the Lord to hauehave riſen againe, as it was layed in the ſepulchre. For if it were not ſo, he wold not hauehave ſaide to his diſciples after the reſurrection: Handle me and ſee, for a ſpirite hath not fleſh & bones, as ye ſee me hauehave. Now is it as much as to rob God of his honor, if anye man wold thinke, that the lord, who is the truth it ſelf, had in any thing, that he ſpake, not ſayd the truthe. &c. Thomas was not there, when ye Lord ſhewed him ſelfe aliue vntounto his diſciples: but whan he came againe, they told him with greate ioy, what they had ſene & heard. Neuertheleſſe he thoughte it had not bene as they ſpake, and he ſayd: except I ſee in his hands the print of the nailes,Iohn. 20. & put my finger into the holes of them, and my hand into his ſide, I will not beleeue it. Therfore after .viii. days, whan the diſciples were aſſembled together againe, & Thomas with them, Ieſus commeth in, while the dores wer ſhut, and ſtandeth in the middes among them, and ſaith: peace be vntounto you. Afterwarde ſayde he vntounto Thomas: reache hither thy finger, and beholde my handes, put thy hande here alſo and lay it in my ſide, & be not faithleſſe, but beleuing. Thomas anſwered and ſaid vntounto him: my Lorde, and my God. For S. Paule alſo in the firſte chapter of the Epiſtle to ye Romaines doth out of the reſurrection of the Lord,Rom. 1. proue the god-head thus: which was borne of the ſeede of Dauid after ye fleſh, and euidently declared to be the ſonne of god after the ſpirit that ſanctifieth, and by that he roſe again from the dead, namely Ieſus Chriſt our lord. What cā be ſpoken more plaine, more euidēt or more certain? For freely did the Lorde ſette before their eies his body, which was hāged vponupon the croſſe, that they might ſee it & handle it. For the body was pearſed with nails, and marked with the printes therof. Oute of this now it foloweth, yt the lord with his true bodye did verelye riſe again, and not a ſpirit. And further, the Lorde alſo ſheweth himſelfe vntounto the ſeuen, whych then were in Galile, fiſhing at ye ſea of Tiberias. The Euāgeliſt addeth likewiſe thervnto,Iohn. 21. that it was not expedient for any of the Diſciples to aſke him who hee was: for they knewe that it was the Lord. In the .28. chapter of Mathewe, the eleuen Apoſtles ſaw the Lorde,Math. 28. and worſhipped hī, as it is declared afore. Some think, that the ſame was the excellent appearing, yt Paul ſpeaketh of, ſaying: Afterward was he ſene of moe then fiue hundred brethren at once:1. Cor. 15. of whom many are aliue this day, but ſome are a ſlepe (or dead.) And in ye ſame place dothe the Apoſtle make mention yet of two moe appearings, ſaying: after this was he ſene of Iames, then to al the Apoſtles. And laſte of all he was ſeene of me, as of one that was borne out of due time.
Luke the Euangeliſt, in the beginning of the Actes of the Apoſtles, hath in maner collected all the probations together.Actes. 1. The Lorde (ſayeth he) ſhewed himſelfe aliue vntounto his apoſtles after his Paſſyon, and that by manye tokens, appearing vntounto them forty dayes, and ſpeaking of the kingdom of God. S. Peter alſo, inſtructing Cornelius in the Faithe of Chriſt,Actes. 10. ſaid: we are witneſſes of all thyngs, which he did in the lande of the Iewes, and at Hieruſalem, whō they ſlue & hanged on tree. Him God raiſed vp ye third day, and ſhewed him opēly, not to all the people, but vntounto vsus witneſſes, choſen before of god for that intent: which did eat and drinke with him after he roſe frō death. With theſe plain probations & teſtimonies (as I ſuppoſe it) it is euidētly declared, and ſufficiently ſhewed, yt our Lord Ieſus Chriſt with his owne very true body, which hāged on the cros, did vereli riſe from the dead. As touching the glorificatiō, I ſhal ſpeake therof, when I come to ye reſurrection of the bodies: and there will I ſhew more, that the glorification dothe nothing miniſhe the veritye or truthe of the body, read the ſixt chapter.
CHAP. 5. The frute of the Reſurrection of Chriſte.
NOw I wil declare the occaſion, whye I hauehave wt ſuche diligence, and ſo earneſtly preaſed vntounto this, yt Ieſus chriſt wt his true body did truly riſe againe. That is, how profitable & neceſſary it is, ſo to beleue, and what frute the true reſurrection of Chriſt doth bring & engender vntounto vsus. And albeit that hereof, as of a plentiful treaſure, muche might be ſpoken: yet wil I comprehend it all in a ſhort ſumme. Thoughe we be cōplete & made perfecte thorowe the deathe of Chriſt, while the iuſt iudgemēt of god is ſatiſfied, the curſe takē away, & the penalty recompenced and paid: Yet ſaith Peter, we are borne again, thorow the reſurrectiō of Ieſus Chriſt, vntounto a liuīg hope. For like a chriſt with his reſurrection ouercame death, ſo ſtandeth alſo ye triumph & victory of our faith in ye reſurrection of Chriſt. Therfore thorowe his death is ſinne taken away, by his reſurrectiō is rightuouſneſſe brought againe. For how could he wt his death, hauehave deliuered vsus frō death, if he himſelf had of death ben ouercome? Or how could he hauehave obteined the victory for vsus, if he had bene deſtroyed in the battell himſelf? Therfore thorow death is death diſcomfited, and with the reſurrection is life to vsus reſtored.
Hereof commeth it that Paul ſayth: if Chriſt be not riſen,1. Cor. 15. then is your faith in vaine, and ye ar… yet ſtill in youre ſinnes: and ſo they, that be a ſleepe in Chriſte, are loſt. And to the Romaines Chriſt (ſayth he) was deliuered vp for our ſinnes,Rom. 4. & roſe again… for our iuſtification.
Heerevnto ſerueth it alſo, yt h… wryteth in the.Rom. 10. 10. Chapter. I… thou confeſſe ye lorde Ieſus with thy mouth, and beleeue in thin… hart, yt God raiſed him vp from the dead, thou ſhalt be ſaued. T… the Philippians he ſayth more ouer:Philip. 3. I count al things but loſſ… for the excellent knowledge ſake of Ieſus Chriſte. Out of all this is there yet another thing concluded, namely: that not onli life is reſtored vntounto vsus, but alſo that in the reſurrection of the Lord, the immortalitye of the ſoule is grounded faſte and ſure. For ſo ſayth the lord himſelf in the goſpell:Iohn. 11. I am the reſurrection and the life: he that beleueth on me, thoughe he were deade, he ſhall liue: and whoſoeuer liueth and beleueth on me, ſhall neuer die.
Yet another frute alſo receiue we out of the reſurrection of the lord: namely that we are aſſured & out of doute, euen as if we had receiued wryting & ſeale therof, yt our owne bodies likewiſe ſhal riſe from death: foraſmuch as in the true reſurrection of the body of Chriſt, oure reſurrection hath a faſt and vmnoueable grounde For Paule ſayeth: Chriſte roſ… from the deade,1. Cor. 15. & is become th… firſt frutes of them yt ſleepe. Fo… by one mā came death, & by on… man came the reſurrection of … dead. For as by Adam all die, by Chriſt ſhal all be made aliue but eueryevery one in his own order▪ The firſt is Chriſte, then they are Chriſtes. &c. Now he that i… ye firſt can not be alone: the hea… alſo ſhal not forſake the mēber▪ Seing then yt Chriſt the head … riſen, it muſt needes folow, tha… we alſo, as members, muſte ri… again. For euen in ye ſame plac… doth Paule conclude: if the dea… riſe not again, thē is not Chri… riſen againe. And finally oute of the wordes of the holye Apoſtle Paul we learn,Rom. 6 Colloſ. 3. that thorow the enſāple of Chriſte, that was raiſed vp, we are not onli prouoked to take vponupon vsus a new life, but yt we alſo thorowe the power of Chriſt are renued, yt we mighte leade an innocent and holye life. And thus hauehave I breefely comprehēded and declared the principall frutes of the reſurrection of the Lorde.
CHAP. 6. Of the true Aſcenſion of the Lordes body, that aroſe a bodye and no Spirite, and of his place vvhether hee vvent to be in.
MOreouer, it ſhall be exdient to know, to what place the true body of the Lorde was caried or came: whether it was laid in the earthe againe, or vaniſhed away, or turned into ye nature of the Godhead, or otherwiſe chaunged into a ſprite. In this poynt, we affirm thus: The right old Chriſtian faith, the vpright holy ſcripture, & the auncient Doctrine of the Chriſtian church, doth teach, hold, and cō fes, that Ieſus Chriſt, very go… and mā, hath not laid away, no… mixt together, nor yet put of hi… natures, the godhead & the ma… hode: but yt he kepeth ſtil bothe natures in theyr properties v… blemiſhed, & that he aſcended v… to heauen very true God & ma… For ſo we knowledge and confes in the Crede: he aſcended vp to heauen. We finde alſo in the goſpell of Marke: ſo then, when the Lord had ſpoken vntounto them,Marke. 16. he was receiued into heauen, & ſitteth on the right hand of god. Item Ruffinus an olde wryter (who hath declared the articles of the faith) ſaith:Ruffinus. he aſcēded into the heauens: not thether where the worde, that is God, was not afore (for he was euer ſtil in heauen and continued in his father) …ut thether wher the word, that became man, ſate not afore. Yet …il we declare this more plain…y out of ye goſpel of Luke,Luke. 24. wher …t is written thus: and he led thē out into Bethanie, & lifte vp hi… handes, and bleſſed them. And … came to pas, as he bleſſed them he departed from them, and wa… caried vp into heauen.
Nowe if thou ponder eueryevery thing heere thorowly, thou mu… needes acknowledge, and bein… ouercome wyth the truthe, tho… muſt nedes confeſſe, that the very true body of the lord was n… layd away, neyther turned int… the nature of the godhead: but h… a very true mā, who at one ti… is but in one place, aſcended a… was taken vp into heauen, as … to one place. He led them out… ſaith he. Who? I prai the. Eue… the Lorde Ieſus, whiche vntounto than, by the ſpace of forty daies, had in very deede truely ſhewed himſelfe vntounto his diſciples, that he was riſen from the dead with a very true eſſencial body. Euen he, the very ſame that had taken vntounto him a true bodi, led his diſciples out vntounto Bethanye, & frō thence brought he them farther to Mount Oliuet. And in ye ſame place, lifting vp his handes (no doubt, bodely & humain hands) yea with the prints & tokens of the woundes, he bleſſed them, …amely his diſciples: that is, he ſaluted them, as the maner is of …hoſe that take their leaue of vsus. And ſo departed he from them, … ſet his body corporally in heauen, as in one place. For afterward it foloweth yet more plaī: he departed from them: that is, he was caried into heauen.
For, to be caryed, may heare be ſpoken, only of the body: and in ſuche ſorte departed he from them, that his body was frō the earth taken vp into heauen.
And though all this be euiden… and plain in it ſelf, yet by the Euangeliſt Luke,Actes. 1. in the Actes o… the Apoſtles, it is ſet forthe an… opened more manifeſtly. For afore all things he teſtifieth, yt th… Lord aroſe wt his owne true b… dy: and that by the ſpace of. 4… daies, wt many tokens & euide… ces, he plainli proued & declar… his reſurrection vntounto the Diſciples. And immediatly he addeth therevnto, yt euen the very ſame body was taken vp into heauen. For whan he had ſpoken theſe things (ſaith he) while they beheld him he was takē vp on hie: and a cloud receiued him vp out of their ſight. Lo, the Lord was taken vp: yea euen in their eye ſight was he taken vp on hie, ſo yt a cloud receiued his very true body away frō the ſight of their eyes. I beſeche you, what can be more aptly or more conuenientli ſpoken of an eſſencial body?
It foloweth farther in the Euangeliſt Luke: and while they loked ſtedfaſtly vp towards heauen as he went (mark that wel) beholde, two men ſtode by them in white Apparell, which alſo ſayd: ye menne of Galilee, why ſtand ye gaſing vp into heauen? This ſame Ieſus, who is taken vp from you into heauen, ſhal ſo come, euen as ye hauehave ſeene him go into heauen. Wherfore oure Lord Ieſus is departed vp into heauen, with his own true eſſentiall body: yea euen wt the ſame which he raiſed vp from ye dead. For euen wt the ſame very true humaine bodye ſhall he come again vntounto iudgement, according as the Lord himſelfe ſayd, & the Prophet Zachary,Math. 26. Zach. 12. Iohn. 19. whoſe words ſ. Ihon aledgeth: They ſhal loke on him, whō they hauehave pearſed.
Thus I truſte it is ſufficiently proued and declared, that the Lord Ieſus, with his own very true bodye which he raiſed from deathe, is gone vp into heauen. But to the intente that no man miſtake this worde (heauen) or otherwiſe imagine any thing, yt is darke or not vnderſtād, wherby the ſimple being in erroure, may ſcaſe know at the laſt wher heauen is, or where Chriſt hath his dwelling: It ſhal therfore be nedeful, brefely to declare, what the heauen is: and that the Lord wt his own true body doth dwell in heauen, as in one place. For heauē is a certain aſſured place, and not only a name & declaration of the eſtate & being in heauen. Therfore whan it is ſayde, Chriſt is gon vp into heauen, it is not ſo much as only to ſay, he hath taken vponupon him an heauenly eſtate or being: but alſo, he dwelleth bodely in heauen, as in one place.
CHAP. 7. The diuers ſignifications of this vvord, Heauen, as it is vſed in ſcripture.
THis worde (Heauen) in the ſcripture, is vſed diuers and ſondry waies. Firſt for ye whol… firmament, which is called th… heauenly hoſt, or beutifull apparell of the heauens. Hereof ha… thou recorde in the eighte an… ninetenth Pſalme.Pſal. 8.19.
It is taken alſo for the ayre which is aboue vsus, as the Prophet ſayeth: he couereth the heauen with clouds,Pſal. 146. to prepare rain for the earth. Hereof cōmeth it, that the foules, which flie in the …ire, are called foules or birdes of heauen, that is to ſay, birdes …n the aire. Item, heauen alſo is vſed for a ſeat, habitatiō or dwel…ing, as: the Lord hath prepared his ſeate in heauen, and:Pſal. 103. Math. 5. ye ſhall not ſweare by Heauen, for it is Gods ſeat. And though God be …nfinite, & can not be compaſſed …bout wt any place (as the moſte wiſe Salomon ſaide:3. Reg. 8. The heauens, and the heauens of all heauens, are not able to conteine thee. And howe ſhould then th… houſe doe it, yt I hauehave builded? Yet the ſcripture calleth the heuen yt is aboue vsus, a dwelling … God: which dwellīg is ordein… for all faithfull & vertuous bel… uers, and is named the heaue… This doth Paule witneſſe, ſa… ing, we know,2. Cor. 5. that if our earth manſion of this dwelling wer… deſtroied, we hauehave a building … God, an habitation not made … hands, but eternall in heauen.
Here is now heauen taken f… the kingdom of God, for ye kin… dome of the father, or ioy & ete… nal life, which is peace and re… The heauen (I ſay) is a ſeat a… dwelling of the faithfull or ble… ſed beleuers: a determinat place alſo, into the which the lord Ieſus was receiued, when he was taken vp into the heauen. And this dothe the ſcripture plainly declare vntounto vsus, namely ye aboue …s ther is a certain determinate place prepared for vsus.
For Luke ſaith: he was recei…ed vp on hie,Actes. 1. and a cloude toke …im vp away out of their ſighte. Item, and while thei loked ſted…aſtly vp towardes heauen, the Angels ſaide: this ſame Ieſus, which is taken away from you …nto heauen, ſhal ſo come, euē as …e hauehave ſene him go into heauē. …ho is ſo ignorāt now, that he …otteth not where heauen is or the clouds, or into which heau… the Apoſtles loked ſo ſtedfaſt… Beſides this, the holye Apoſ… Paule ſayth alſo: our conuerſa… on,Phillip. 3. freburgerſhip or dwelling in heauen: from whence we lo… for the Sauioure, euen the L… Ieſus. Loe in heauen, ſaythe … Apoſtle, is oure dwelling. … which heauen, I pray you? … in the ſame whence we loke the ſauioure. Now is it euid… from whence we wait and lo… ſeing yt the Apoſtle ſayth ag… we, which ſhall liue and rema… ſhalbe caught vp with them … in the cloudes,1. Theſſ. 4. to mete the L… in the air, and ſo ſhall we eue… wyth the Lord.
He ſaith alſo in another place: if ye be riſen againe wt Chriſte,Colloſ. 8. then ſeke thoſe things which are aboue, wher Chriſt ſitteth at the right hand of God. And therfore is the Lord Ieſus gone vp into the heauen that is aboue vsus, and namely into yt ſure certaī place, which is prepared for ye bleſſed.
And in the ſame heauen, as in a ſure certain place, doth Chriſt now dwel bodely.
Of this opinion alſo was holy Auguſtine, as in dede it is righte & agreeable vntounto holy ſcripture. His words are foūd in the boke ad Dardanum de praeſentia Dei. FulgentiusHolye Fulgentius in the ſeconde booke that he wrote vntounto King Traſimundus, is earneſt to bring eueryevery mā vntounto this vnderſtanding: that the humaine kind & nature of Chriſt, which now dwelleth in heauen, is circūſcribed, & in one place. With him a… ſo accordeth vniformly the holy martyr Vigilius, Vigilius.whoſe teſtimony I wil now omit, and come againe to the holy ſcripture.
The Scripture, minding t… ſhewe what is become of the body, that roſe againe from death and aſcended vp, and where h… hathe his dwelling, ſaith ſimpl… & plainly:Chriſt ſitteth at the right hand of God. he ſitteth at the righ… hand of God the father almig… tye. Thus nowe is the bodye … Chriſt come to the right hand God, there ſitteth he. But heere ſhall it be expedient to declare what the right hande of God is, and what it is to ſit at Goddes right hand.
CHAP. 8. VVhat Gods right hand is, and to vvhom it is referred.
FIrſt, the right hande of God is not referred vntounto god him ſelf, but vntounto men, that are on the right hād. So that firſt the right hand of God dothe ſignify the eternal ſaluation, and the place of thoſe, that be ſaued. This did holi Auguſtine teach, whoſe words I may well alledge, foraſmuche as he alſo doth confirme & proue his opinion by the diuine and holye Scriptures. In his booke de Agone Chriſtiano, Auguſt. de agone Chriſtiano. cap. 26.he ſayth: we ought not to heare them, that deny the ſonne to ſitte at the righte hand of God. For they ſay, hath god the father alſo a right or lef… ſide, as bodies hauehave? Nether d… we vnderſtand that of the father For with no bodelye proportion can God be deſcribed or comprehended. As for the right hand o… the father, it is nothing els but eternall ſaluation, which he ſha… geue to al godly & faithfull beleuers. In like manner is the left hande rightly taken for the euerlaſting damnation, yt ſhall com… vponupon the vnbeleuers. So yt n… of God, but of the creatures … muſt be expounded, yt is writte… of the right & left hand. For euen the body of Chriſt alſo, which is the church, ſhall come to ye right hand, that is, into ſaluation, as the Apoſtle ſaithe to the Epheſians:Ephe. 2. he hathe raiſed vsus vp together wt him, & made vsus ſit together wt him among them of heauen. For though oure bodies as yet be not there, our hope neuertheleſſe is there already.
The ſame holy Auguſtin ſaith alſo further in the boke De fide & ſymbolo. De fide & ſymbolo. cap. 7.By the right hand (ſaith …e) muſt be vnderſtand the higheſt ſaluatiō, wher rightuouſnes, peace & ioy is: like as the gotes alſo ſhalbe ſet on the lefte hande. That is, by reſon of theyr ſins & duplicate page duplicate page wickedneſſe, they ſhal come into great calamity, troble & miſery All theſe are the wordes of holy Auguſtine.
CHAP. 9. VVhat it is to ſit at the right hand of God, hovve Chriſt ſitteth the… and vvhat he dothe.
ANd thus now, to ſit at th… right hand of God, is eue… as much, as to be in reſt: that to ſay, al wretchedneſſe & miſer… ſet aſide, to liue in a godly life, to be partaker of eternall ioy Now that this word (to ſitte) vſed in Scripture for reſt, the places declare. In the. 4. boke Moiſes it is wrytten thus: ſha… your brethren go to war,Num 32. & wo… ye ſit here?Mich. 4. And in Micheas: eu… ry one ſhal ſit vnderunder his vine and figtree. &c. Mani mo ſuch places ther be. Wherfore now, whā the ſcripture ſaithe, that the lord Ieſus ſitteth at the right hād of his father, it vnderſtādeth it chefely of his humaine nature: which he he toke vponupon him, that the ſame being diſcharged and free from al trauaile and miſery of man, is now all in ioy, & partaker of the kingdō euerlaſting. Thus ſaithe alſo Rufinus in his expoſition of the Crede:Rufinus. to ſit at the right hand of the father, is cōuenient for the manhead receiued, which is receiued thorow a miſtery. For to aſcribe that to the diuine nature, it is vnſeemely, as though it had a ſeate in heauen: but of the humaine nature it is properly vnderſtand and ſpoken.
And the like yet did holy ſ. Peter teach afore Rufinus time, a… it is to ſee in the Actes.Actes. 2.3.
But now might one aſk wha… doth the ſon at the right hand o… the father? Muſt he alway ſitt… there, & be aſmuch as made faſt and bound vntounto it? Anſwere.
The Lord Ieſus, after his humaine nature that he tooke vponupon him, & which he put not frō him in heauen, hath now eternall ioy with his elect: he as the head wt his members ruling & reigning with all faithfull beleeuers for euermore. Wherof we ſhal ſpea… more afterward.
A very ſuperfluous & vnprofitable queſtion alſo is it, whā one will ſo curiouſly inquire & know what God doth in heauen.
For God wil only teach vsus wt his holy worde, yt he liueth & ruleth eternally in the glory of his heauenly father. Holy Auguſtin ſaithe alſo in the booke De fide & ſymbolo: De fide & ſymbolo. cap. 6.To go about for to ſeke and inquire, where and howe the body of our Lord is in heauen, it is a poynt of nice people, & bringeth no profit.
Only we ought to beleue, that he is verely in heauen. For truly it ſtandeth not wt our weaknes, to comprehende and diſcerne the priuity of the heauens: but it beſemeth our faith, to hauehave the worthy & glorious body of the Lord in highe and worthy eſtimation. Hetherto Auguſtine.
CHAP. 10. That Chriſt ſitteth at the right hand of God by his humanity, but circumſcribed in place, and is not eueryevery vvhere.
NOw though the heauenly honor & glory be high, and may not be expreſſed: yet th… place where he dwelleth, is certaine, & the bodye yt is in heauen can not be eueryevery where. For the right hande of God, in and after this firſt ſignification thereof, is not infinite. Els muſt al faithf… beleuers alſo, & they that are ſaued, be eueryevery where, ſeeing they are with the ſonne of God, who is taken vp into heauen. For the Lord himſelfe ſaithe:Iohn. 17. nowe from henceforth ſhall I be no more in the worlde, but they are in the world, & I come vntounto thee. Vpō this he ſaith: father, they whome thou haſt geuen vntounto me, I will that where I am, they alſo be wt me, that they may ſee my glorye which thou haſt geuen me.
Item, he that doth me ſeruice let him folowe me:Iohn. 12. and where I am, there ſhal alſo my ſeruaunts be. Seing now that our ſoules & oure bodies alſo, after the reſurrection of the fleſh, ſhalbe in heauen, as in a place certain: it foloweth that the body of the Lord, which into heauen is taken vp, hath alſo a place certaine in heauen, and yt the right hand of God in this ſignification can not be eueryevery where.
In this vprighte matter, let it trouble no man, that is read in ſ. Paul,Ephe. 4. how yt Chriſt aſcended vp aboue al the heauens by meanes whereof, a curious body mighte peraduenture conclude: if Chriſt our Lord be taken vp aboue the heauens, then can there no place certain be aſcribed vntounto him, ſeing there is no place aboue or wt out the heauen. Neither ought it to offend any man yt is wrytten, how yt vntounto Chriſt ther is geuē a name, which is aboue al names. Or that Paule ſayth,Phillip. 2. 1. Cor. 2. howe that no eie hath ſene, neither any eare heard, nor is come into the heart of man, what god hath prepared vntounto them that louelove him.
For the ſcripture of God thorow out, doth witnes conſtantly and ſure, that Chriſt Ieſus is taken vp into heauen, & ſitteth at ye right hād of his father. Wherby it is out of dout, that the Apoſtle thought not to ſet Chriſt wtoute heauen: but therefore proponeth he the matter wt ſo high & excellent wordes, to ſhew and declare vntounto vsus, that the body of our lord which afore was deſpiſed, and ſhamefulli defaced, is now in the ſupreme & higheſt glorye, & that meaneth he, where he ſaythe, aboue all heauens. For who … dothe thorowly conſider yt plac… of Paule to the Epheſians, findeth yt Paul hath ſet two parte of his oratiō,Ephe. 4 the one againſt th… other. For firſt he ſaithe thus that he aſcended, what meane… it, but that he alſo deſcended fi… into the loweſt parts of ye earth Againſt this, ſetteth he nowe: h… that deſcended, is euen the ſam… alſo that aſcended vp, euen … boue all heauens.
Therfore is here the one ſet … gainſt the other: namely, to de… cend into the loweſt parts of t… earth, & to aſcend aboue all he… uens. But who would heere co… clude: Chriſte aſcended into the loweſt partes of the earth: Ergo, he had no place vponupon earth? For eueryevery man vnderſtandeth well, yt Paule with theſe words minded to declare the true comming of the Lord vponupon earth, & the great humility & mekenes of our lorde Ieſus Chriſte. Therefore, who wold thē in the other part of the oration conclude: Chriſt aſcēded vp aboue all heauens: Ergo he is not in heauen, or in anye other place? For is there alſo any one place without the heauen: Who vnderſtandeth not now, yt Paule here minded to ſay nothing elſe thā that, which he vttereth more plainly to the Philippians:Phillip. 2 he hathe exalted him on hie? An… thoughe this highe or heauenl… honor be greater and more glor… ous, then any mannes tonge ca… or may expreſſe: yet the heaue… is and doth remain ſtil the dwe… ling of the faithful, and therefor… is it a place certaine.
Wherfore after my plaine an… ſimple vnderſtanding, whych i… not curious, I beleue conſtātly yt the glorified body of Chriſte i… aſcended vp aboue all heauens that is aboue al cōpace, or ſpher… & height of heauen, & ſo euen i… heauen, that is in the dwelling … the faithful, and ther remaineth and is not (as they ſay) paſſed b… on the out ſide of heauen.
For the truthe witneſſeth euidently: where I am,Iohn. 12. ther ſhall alſo my ſeruaunts be. Nowe ſhall the ſeruauntes of God be in heauen, & not without or aboue the heauē (that is to ſay) in no place. For Paul, the choſen mā of god, ſaithe to the Philippians:Phillip. 3. oure dwelling is in Heauen, from whence we loke for ye ſauior. &c. plainly alſo & euidently doth the true worde of God declare, yt the heauen, into the which Chriſt aſcended, is a place certain: for the Lord ſaithe: in my fathers houſe are many dwellings: if it were not ſo, I would hauehave told you. I goe to prepare a place for you.Iohn. 14. And if I goe to prepare a place for you, I wil come to you again & receiue you euen vntounto my ſelf that where I am, there you may be alſo.
Here in dede could nothing b… brought forthe more mete & conuenient to oure purpoſe. For th… thing yt we now treate of, is th… heauen, which is the dwelling natiue country of the bleſſed, an… which here is called a dwelling or manſion, or place: yea a dwe… ling & place in the houſe of Go… ye father. Who is now any mo… ſo malapart or arrogāt, as to v… dertake to deny, that heauen is place? For thus ſaithe the Lor… In my Fathers Houſe alread… there are many manſions: th… not only I, but al mine alſo hauehave a place and dwelling.
If it were not ſo, then had I told you, that I wold goe to prepare the ſame for you. But now it is not needefull, ſeeing they be prepared alredy, & wait for you.
Wheras I now go away, and muſt be from you a litle ſeſon, it is not that I wold prepare manſions for you, for they are prepared already: but that I thorowe my death may make the way for you into Heauen, and open the ſtrete to the ſaid dwelling. Now to the intent no mā ſhal ſay, that we haply hauehave a place in heauen as men, but Chriſt hath not ſo a place: therfore doth the truthe of god plainly expreſſe, yt the place, wher chriſt is, is a place in dede.
For he ſayeth: I will take you vntounto me:Iohn. 14. yea not onelyonly vntounto me, but vntounto my ſelf. For immediatly vponupon ye ſame, doth he yet add it more plaine: That wher I am there you may be alſo.
Chriſt then, as a very true mi… is in Heauen, as in one place wherfore it foloweth, that we a… ſo ſhall be in Heauen, as in o… place certaine. This the truth ſayth: therfore muſt it needes … euen ſo, & can be none otherwiſ…
The ſame alſo doth ye human kinde and nature require whic… God, as Auguſtine ſaith, did e… due with immortality, but too… not away the nature and kinde.
The Seleucians,The Seleucians error. or Hermians denyed our ſauiour Chriſt after the fleſhe to ſit at the right hand of the father. But the true faithfull beleuers hauehave euer ſtill confeſſed and taught, yt the very true body or fleſhe of our Lord dothe ſit at the fathers right hand. For verely if the bodi and fleſh of our Lorde hauehave not his place geuen him, or if that be wtdrawne from him: then is this the plaine meaning, that our Lorde had no true body. For holy Auguſtine ſaith, and ſaith right: take all roume & place from the bodies, that they hauehave no place to be in, and then are they no where: if they be no where, then are they nothing at all. As for the place of Paule to the Philippians in the ſeconde Chapter, it teacheth nothing at all, that, wt the exaltation and aſcenſion of Chriſte, any thing is withdrawn from the nature humaine, or yt we oughte to ſpeake nothing more of it, or yt we ſhuld or mighte aſcribe no name and place vntounto it: but like as with y• words goīg before (which ſerue much to the matter) he thoughte to expreſſe the loweſt humilitye of Chriſt, euen ſo is it nowe hys minde, with very honorable and hie excellent words, to ſet forthe his glory.
Yea he declareth himſelf in the words folowing, and ſaith: in the name of Ieſus ſhall all knees bow,Phil. 2. bothe of things that are in heauen, of things that are on the earth, and things that are vnderunder the earth.
And thus hath the father exalted the name of Ieſu aboue all names,The name of Chriſt is aboue all names. euen in ſhewing and declaring, that Ieſus is the ſame, whom al they that are in heauē, vponupon earth, and vnderunder the earthe ought by right to know, worſhip and feare, as Lord of al things & creatures: yea, & that all things ſhuld confeſſe, yt Ieſus is ye lord, to the praiſe of god the Father.
For verely we muſte needes knowledge that Ieſus Chriſt is lord, yea lord of all things, king, defender & redemer, of like power and honor with the Father. Which thing extendeth not to ye fathers derogatiō or diſhonor, as the Arrians foliſhly thought:Arriani. but to the great glory of the father.
The Lord ſaith himſelf in the goſpel:Iohn. 5. the father hath cōmitted all iudgement vntounto the ſonne, bicauſe that all mē ſhuld honor the ſonne, euen as they honor the father. He that honoreth not ye ſon, the ſame honoreth not the father which hath ſent him.
Moreouer there he ſaithe: and now glorify thou me, O father, with thine own ſelf,Iohn. 17. with yt glori which I had with thee, or euer ye world was. From the beginning had he ye honorable name of god, which is glorious and far excellent aboue all names.
Now thorow the incarnation, and by reaſon of the contemned and deſpiſed croſſe of Chriſt, the godly honor in Chriſt was thoughte to be ſomewhat darkened. But that did the father reſtore & bring to glory, in that he raiſed vp his ſon from death, and tooke him vp into heauen. And thus gaue he him a name, which is aboue all names: for ſo he declareth, yt he is Lorde of all things.
Holy Peter alſo, a felowe helper of S. Paule, in the ſeconde chapter of the Actes of the Apoſtles, did in like maner vtter the ſame.Actes. 2. For after he hathe opened & declared the true reſurrection of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt from deathe, & his glorious aſcention into heauen, he ſaith: ſo therfore, let all the houſe of Iſrael knowe for a ſurety, that God hath made this ſame Ieſus, whom ye hauehave crucified, Lord & Chriſt. And to be ſhorte: Paule by the name of Chriſt, that is aboue all names, vnderſtode the bleſſed name of God the Lord, which can not be vttered, and is aboue all names.
But ſeing our Lorde is a true man, like as he is alſo very God both together, and hath with the glorification not put of the kinde and nature of man, nether conſumed it thorow the godhead: therfore remaineth he ſtil a true creature, yt is, a very true man, & therfore may he alſo right wel be named after the ſame nature, and hath likewiſe a place certaine.
Finally, as for the words of the Apoſtle Paule (the eye hath not ſene, and the eare hath not hard,1. Cor. 2. neither hauehave entred into ye heart of man, the things which God hathe prepared for thē that louelove him) theſe wordes, I ſay, muſte not be referred to the place of thoſe, that are ſaued. For they are wrytten of the vnoutſpeakable greatneſſe of the ioye, as the whole text of the wordes ſufficiently doth declare.
Brefely, foraſmuch as it is op… and manifeſt vntounto vsus, yt the Lord Ieſus Chriſt after his nature yt he toke vponupon him, is a very true man in glory: It foloweth, yt the true humain body of Chriſt hath his owne place, whereof I hau… hetherto ſpoken ſo much, not wt out cauſe: namely, to the intēt al… godly perſones may know, tha… this is a place certain prepare… for them in heauen: and yt the… may conſtantly beleue, yt in heauen they hauehave a brother, namel… ye Lord Ieſus Chriſt. Touching the frute of the Aſcenſion of o… lord, I ſhall more largely ſpeak of it afterward.
CHAP. 11. An other ſignification of ſitting at the right hand of God, by vvhichwhich maner of ſitting Chriſte is eueryevery vvhere, ſitting there in ſuch ſorte after his Godheade.
THus come I againe to the former part, what the righte hand of God ſignifieth, & is called. It is taken in the ſcripture for ſtrength, protection, power, and for the incomprehēſible honor or glory. And therefore it is wrytten: thy right hand, Lorde,Exod. 15. is become glorious in power, thy right hand hath al to daſhed the enemy. Item in the Pſalme: Thou haſt geuē me the defence of thy ſaluation,Pſal. 18 thy right hand alſo ſhal hold me vp. Moreouer:Pſal. 118. The right hand of the lord hath the preheminence, the right hād of the Lorde bringeth mightye things to paſſe. After this ſignification of the right hande ſoundeth the name to ſit, to rule, to gouerne, to defend, to behaue hiſelfe as a prince or Regent diligently in his office, & faithfully to execute the ſame. For in the thirde boke of the kings, ſaithe Dauid:3. Reg. 1. Salomon ſhall ſit vponupon my ſeat, & ſhall reigne after me. And ſo in the Pſalme he ſaithe: the Lord ſaid vntounto my Lord, ſi… thou at mi right hād,Pſal. 110. til I make thine enemies thy foote ſtoole. And Paule ſaith: Chriſte muſte raigne,1. Cor. 15. till he hath put all his enemies vnderunder his fete. Item in the Prophet Zachary:Zach. 6 behold ye man whoſe name is ye braunch, and he, that ſhal ſpring vp after him, ſhall build vp the temple of the Lord, yea euen he ſhall build vp the temple of the lord: he ſhal beare the praiſe, he ſhal ſit vponupon the Lords throne, & hauehave the domination. A prieſt ſhal he be alſo vponupon his throne. This kinde of ſpeche is taken of the vſe and cuſtome of Kings and Princes, which hauehave their Deputies, to whom they frely geue all auctority to rule and gouern. Euen ſo is Chriſt, in whō the father will be honored, & thorow his authoritye & power is it his pleaſure to rule. He is takē vp to ye right hand of the father, that is to ſai… to hauehave the dominion or gouernance in heauen & in earth: an… this commiſſion is geuen hy… faithfully to execute, & to be lor… and gouernor of all things.
Thus the right hande of Go… is infinite, neither mai it be ſh… in, for Gods mighte & power… incomprehenſible: the kingdo… of Chriſt alſo, whych is euerl… ſting, is a kingdō of al worlde, & ſo is he of one ſubſtāce, of o… power & honor with the fathe… not bounde to one place, but eueryevery where, who in all thing ruleth and worketh: ſeing he not only a very true man, but … ſo the very true God, after … māhode finite, but after his godhead infinite, and incomprehenſible, and that in one vndeuided perſon he conteineth very true God and man, King and Lorde of al things. For S. Peter ſaith Chriſte is at the right hande of God, gone vp into heauen,1. Peter. 3. aungels, mighte and power, being ſubdued vntounto him.
Item Paule to the Epheſiās: God the father raiſed vp Chriſt from the dead, and hath ſet him on hys right hande in heauenly things aboue all rule, power, might and domination, & aboue al names that are named, not in this worlde only, but alſo in the world to come. And hath put all things vnderunder his feete, and hath made him aboue all things: the head of the congregation which is his body, & the fulnes of hi… that filleth al in al things. Th… much concerning the right hā … of god, and concerning heauen that is the place certain or dweling of the bleſſed: in the which alſo our lord Ieſus with his body hath his manſion and ſeat.
CHAP. 12. The frute and commoditye the corporall aſcenſion of Chriſt, both… that he doth novv for vsus, and in that w… learne by it.
AFter this from hēce fort… will I ſpeake of the frui… and profit of the corporal aſcenſion of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, of his ſeat and place at the righ… hād of his father. Afore al thīgs we muſt knowe, that our Lorde aſcended vp with his very true body, yt he as mediator betwene God & man (being very God & mā himſelf) & high prieſt in his owne tēple, might be before his heauenly father, make interceſſion for vsus, & wholy take vponupon himſelf our neceſſities & grefes. For Paul ſaith to the Hebrues: Chriſt is not entred into ye holy places that are made wt hands,Heb. 9. whych are ſimilitudes of true things: but is entred into the very heauen, to appear now in the ſight of God for vsus. Herevnto al ſo pertein other ſentences or teſtimonies of Iohn in his firſt epiſtle.1. Iohn. 1.2. Item of Paul to the Romaines,Rom. 8. wherin he ſaith: According to the ſame, did our Lorde aſcend vp bodely, that he, wt hys fleſh taken vp into heauē, might ſtay & direct vponupon the holy go… all worſhipping and Gods ſeruice of thoſe that are his. For … corporal worſhipping dothe fr… hence forth pleaſe him, but ſuch as is done to his ſpiritual body He ſaith in the goſpell of Iohn the pore hauehave you alwaye wy… you,Iohn. 12. and whan you wil, you m… do thē good:Mark. 14. but me hauehave ye n… alway. Hereunto alſo ſerueth ſaying of Paule: althoughe w… hauehave known Chriſt after ye fleſh yet know we him ſo no more.1. Cor. 5.
Moreouer, the Lord with his reſurrectiō hath taught vsus, that we alſo ſhuld lift vp our mindes into heauen, ſeking no ſaluation at all vponupon earth, ſeing that heauen is our right natiue country. Therefore oughte we to vſe the world, as though we vſed it not,1. Cor. 7. and to directe all oure care and thoughte vntounto heauenly things. For Paule ſayth to the Coloſſians:Coloſ. 3. ſet your affectiō on things which are aboue, & not on thīgs which are on earth. For ye are deade, and your life is hid wyth Chriſt in god.Phillip. 3. Item to the Philippians: our dwelling is in heauen, from whence we loke for ye ſauior, euē Ieſus chriſt our lord.
Chriſt alſo with his aſcenſion into heauen, thought to declare vntounto vsus his power and mighte, wherin conſiſteth our ſtrength our power, richeſſe, triumphe againſt ſinne, death, world, deuil, and hell.
For he aſcending vp on high led captiuity captiue, and wha… he had ſpoiled the ennemies, h… gaue gifts vntounto his people, an… endueth them yet daily wt ſpiritual riches.Ephe. 4. Therefore ſitteth h… now on highe, to the intent tha… with his owne ſtrengthe, whic… he daily beſtoweth vponupon vsus, h… may regenerate vsus into a ſpir… tual life, & quicken vsus wt his holy ſprite, garniſhing his church that is to ſay the faithfull, wyth manifold gifts of thanks, defending them againſt all euill, ſuppreſſing the terror of hys ennemies, but preſeruing and ſauing vsus, as thoſe that truely do honor and worſhip him. For he, as hauing the victorious triumph, is the king, ſauioure, and heade of all faithfull beleuers.
Finally, alſo with his reſurrection, he hathe prepared vsus a place, & made the way, & opened it into heauen. Thus in heauen hath he placed the true mā, that we mighte hauehave an aſſured true teſtimoni, that our fleſh alſo ſhal riſe againe, and that the whole perfect man, wt body and ſoule, ſhalbe caried into heauen. For mēbers ſhalbe like vntounto ye heat. Therfore, as the cloud toke vp ye very true body of the Lord, ye… euen the whole perfecte manne Chriſt: ſo ſhal all godly perſons be taken vp into the air to mete the Lorde, that they may liue wt Chriſt their Lorde & head for euermore. For Paul ſaith: ye dead in Chriſt ſhall ariſe firſt.1. Theſ. 4. The… we, which liue & remain, ſhalb… caught vp with them alſo in th… cloudes, to meete the Lorde i… the ayre, and ſo ſhall we euer b… with the Lord.
Item to the Hebrues: by th… meanes of the bloud of Ieſu, w… hauehave free entrance into the hol… place by the new & liuing way,Heb. 10. which he hathe prepared for vsus thorowe the vaile, that is to ſay, by his fleſh. VntoUnto this meaning agreeth very wel, the godly and excellent ſentence of the old ancient wryter Tertullian, Tertullian.who in ye booke of the reſurrection of the fleſh, ſaith thus: Chriſt, which is called the arbiter and mediator betwene God and men, hath, of the ſame that is ſet and committed vntounto him of both, reſerued al ſo vntounto himſelf, the adding to of the fleſhe, for an earneſt peny of the whole ſumme.
For like as he hath left vsus the pledge of the ſprite, euen ſo contrariwiſe hath he receiued of vsus the earneſt peny of the fleſh, and caried it vp with him into heauen, a true euidence or pledge yt he will bring thether alſo the whole ſumme, bodye & ſoule. &c. For this great and highe benefite, declared vntounto vsus by hys diuine mercy, without oure deſeruing, be laude and praiſe, honor and thankes vntounto oure King, our victorious Triumpher, head and Redemer, euen our Lord Ieſu Chriſt, from hence forth now, and for euermore.
Amen.