The Last Battle of the Soul, Religious tract 1 · Part 6

The Last Battle of the Soul · Religious tract 1 · Part 6

p. 748THE SIXT DAYES Conference. of Heauens Glorie.

The Pastour.

ACcording to my promise Sir, I am heere come againe for to see what it shall please God to doe with you at last, waite constantlie on your God: **NoteHis mind is to doe you good in the latter end: I earnestlie now desire to know what the meditation of the last judgement hath wrought into your heart this night bygone.

The sicke Man.

**NoteExcept that a man bee well occupied in the day, his heart in the night will swarme with worthlesse & witlesse thoughts: Sathan the lord of p. 749the night, is euer busie by secret foisting in of corruptions into mans thoughts, to justle out of his heart all holie and heauenlie meditations,

All this night it seemeth vntounto me that I heard the shrill sound of the last Trumpet sounding most fearefullie the Alarum of the Resurrection at the second and sudden comming of our Lord: All Saintes and Angels seemed to bee present at that great Iubile.

I thought in my sleepe that I saw the Sonne of man enuironed with innumberable Charets of fyre comming downe with vnspeakable pompe, Glorie and Majestie, I thought him more glistering than the Sun, while he sbineth in his greatest force: Mine eyes were dazeled with the brightnesse of his Beames: All thrones made roome vntounto his Throne: Mine heart was neuer so rauished as it hath bene this last night by-past.

In the thoghts of mine heart in the p. 750night, while deepe sleepe falleth on mā, Iob. 4. 13.Job 4:13there came into my memorie some passages of Scripture concerning heauens glorie, wherof most gladlie I desire now to heare: The Apostle S. Paul speaketh of this with great2 Cor. 4. 162 Cor 4:16 power, Wee faint not, said hee, but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day: There bee some other good words following, but my memorie faileth mee.

The Pastour.

I shall helpe you Sir in that matter: The verse following is, For our 2 Cor. 4. 172 Cor 4:17light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for vsus a farre more exceeding and eternall weight of glorie.

The sicke Man.

These bee the words indeede, I finde great difficultie in these words, I pray you to make them cleare: What is that to say, Though the outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

p. 751The Pastour.

The interpretation of these words is, that the corruption and decaying of the outward man by diuerse crosses and calamities, Servit renovando homini interno, is a meanes for the renewing of the inward man, y^t we may grow in godlinesse: By the outward man is vnderstood the bodie: By the inward the Spirit & the mind: By the weakening of the bodie the Spirit is made strong.

The sicke Man.

But what say yee of these words, that our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is said, to worke for vsus or to cause vntounto vsus an exceeding and eternall weight of glorie? Is that the merite and worth of affliction?

The Pastour.

The Romane Church expounds it so, y^t by such afflictions men merit euerlasting glory: Indeed the words in the original seeme much to fauour y^t exposition: The wordes are these, p. 752foreign Cauficit parie operatur nobis, that is, Causeth or worketh that glorie.

**NoteBut it is certaine, that affliction y^• is light, & for a moment both light & short, cannot be properlie a cause of an euerlasting and infinite …ight of glorie: A moment cannot be the mother of eternitie: That which is so light can neuer bring out an infinite weight: But God who is infinite in po…er, maketh affliction a meanes for to bring vsus vnt… glorie as good works are via reg… causa reg… di, Bernard▪the way to the Kingdome, but not the cause of reigning, so through the way of manie tribulations wee must enter into Gods Kingdome.

The Scripture is the best interpreter of it selfe: Abraham who was the Father of the Faithfull, was not justified either by his doinges or his sufferings: If Abraham were justified Rom. 2. …Rom 2by workes, hee …th whereof to glorie, but not before God.

p. 753**NoteShame shall come vponupon him who glorieth of that whereof hee may not glorie before God: I darre boldly glorie before God, of his merciemercy, and of my Lords merits, but to glorie of mans righteousnesse a monstrous Isa. 64. 6.Isa 64:6cloth, is an abomination before GOD: **NoteIf sufferinges and calamities could efficientlie cause & merit that infinite weight of Glorie, how did S. Paul reckon, when heeRom, 8. 18 said, I reckon that the sufferings of th… present time are not worthy to be cōpared with the glorie which shall bee reuealed in vsus? This maketh the matter cleare that our light afflictions of a moment cannot efficientlie and meritoriouslie purchase vntounto vsus an exceeding and eternall weight of glorie: they are indeed good meanes wherby our Soules are fitted and furthered in the way to Glorie.

The sicke Man.

I euer hold that the surest ground that a man be little in his own eyes▪ p. 754Sinfull flesh cannot bee too humble before God: **NoteThat Religion which giueth greatest glorie vntounto God, & casteth mans own worth most down, hath the clearest marke of trueth: Daniel pointeth at this while hee saith, O Lord, righteousnesse belongeth Dan. 9. 7.Dan 9:7vntounto thee, but vntounto vsus confusion of faces▪

I am now satisfied in the exposition of these wordes, wherein I did euer finde much difficultie.

Now Sir, if your memorie serueth you, can yee tell what is said, by the Apostle in the Chapter following? I remember that some notable thinges there be spoken of immortall Glorie.

The Pastour.

Indeede in the beginning of that Chapter there bee notable wordes, For wee know, saith the Apostle, that 2 Cor. …. 1.if the earthlie house of this Tabernacle were dissolued, wee hauehave a building of God, an house not made with sand, eternall p. 755vers. …in the heauens: For in this wee groane earnestlie desiring to be clothi… vponupon with our house, which is from heauen. vers. 3.If so bee that beeing▪ cloathed, wee shall not bee found naked▪ For we that vers. 4.are in this Tabernacle doe grone, being burdened, not that wee would bee v… cloathed, but cloathed vponupon, that mortalitie might bee swallowed vp of life▪ vers. 6.&c. While wee are at home, in the bodie, wee are absent from the Lord▪ &c. Wee are confident and willing rather to vers. 8.bee absent from the bodie, and to bee present with the Lord.

The sicke Man.

These indeede bee the words: I could neuer well vnderstand them, doubtles they be words full of comforts, for these that are looking for a better Life: I pray you Sir, to giuegive mee the exposition thereof.

The Pastour.

Indeede Sir they want not great difficultie, neither doeth that which I say make for the doctrine of papists▪ p. 756who affirme that the Scriptures are obscure, and therefore must not bee reade by the common people.

**NoteIt is by reading that men purchase vnderstanding: The Doctors themselues before they read are ignorant, neither was it euer heard that Scriptures was abused so much by the common people, as by▪ these who are most Learned: Where heare wee that the Merchand, the Artifan or rurall men beginne Heresies? **NoteAre not they forged in the vnsanctified braines of these in who are lodged the oppositions of science 1 Tim: 6. 20falsely so called: It is oftest seene that throgh Philosophie and vaine deceit: Col. 2. 8.Col 2:8The Soule of man are spoiled & not by ignorance of the simplest sort.

There is none obscuritie in Gods Word, that should debarre the people young or olde from the reading of it: **NoteThe Letter which my God hath written vntounto me, I may open it, and read it, and see what my Fathers p. 757will is: The Spirite of God in S. Iohn, leading his hād, hath set down these wordes, I write vntounto you, Fathers; 1 Ioh. 2. 131 John 2:13&c. I write vntounto young men, &c. I write vntounto you little Children▪ &c. Who hath power to forbid any man to read the Missiue Letter which his God hath written vntounto him▪ Moreouer, there is such a Light in Gods word, that will make a blind man to see: **NoteThe light of the Sun will shew and discouer hid things in darknesse unto him who hath eyes▪ but cannot make a blind man to s… ▪ But the light of Gods word Meira… Psal 19. 8.Ps 19:8Hena…m facit ut oculi videant, it maketh the eyes for to see: In that Psalme also it is said, That the Law of the Lord maketh wise the simple: Psal. 19. 7.Ps 19:7It is a great ignorance for Papist Doctors to close & claspe their Bibles from the hands of the ignorant & simple ones, seeing by this word the simple are made wise, It is written to the euerlasting praise of the men of Berea▪ p. 758that after Paul had preached, they searched the Scriptures, for trying of his Doctrine: These be the words of their praise.

These were more noble than these in Act. 17, …1Acts 17:1Thessalonica, in that they receiued the word with all readinesse of minde, and searched the Scriptures daylie, whether these thinges were so.

**NoteAs for difficulties, we acknowledge that there bee many and great in Scripture, but as for that which is absolutè & simpliciter absolutelie & simplie necessarie for our Saluation, it is clearelie set down in Scripture: if there be any difficulty in one place that which is there obscure will bee made cleare in some other parte of Scripture: This much by the way concerning the obscuritie of Scripture.

Now to come to the wordes of S. Paul: In the first verse it is said, For wee know that if the earthlie house of this Tabernacle were dissolued, wee p. 759hauehave a building of God, an house … made with hand, eternall in the ….

Some after this manner expour… these words after that this body like a Taber n…ele is takē away from … Soule, the Soule shall bee in a be… estate, euen in euerlasting Glorie … to the Heauens.

The French marginall note vpō this, is y^t that eternall house in the he … is the bodie after the resurrection… **NoteSo long as we are here in the sinfull bodie, the bodie is but like a Tubernacle, vnconstant; weake, fra… ▪ But in the heauens, it shall be like … house that is constant; firme, strong: So corpus & gloriosa ejus conditio, the bodie and its glorious estate in th… opinion of some is heere called … house, by that house then wee must vnderstand the glorie that is prepared for the Sainctes in he iuen, which for its constancie and commoditie … called an house: According to th… p. 760the Apostle in the secōd verse saith, That wee groane earnestlie desiring to bee cloathed vponupon with our house which is from heauen: That house from heauen, is that Glorie which is from heauen.

Others of the Learned interpret that worde Superindui to bee cloathed vpō vt siquis ind…tus est thorac… ▪ Piscator.& superinduitur pallio: Pu…o autem sic. Explican…um ex versa 4 Sancti capiunt corpore c…lesti it … indui, vt no… prius exvantur corpore mortali…sed superinduantur c…lesti S… immortali▪ hoc est … per … trans…tationem absorbiator … ab immortalitate.

Thus would hee say, That the Sainctes beeing huing at the end of the world, desired not to cast their mortall bodies from them▪ but desire them to bee changed and cloathed aboue with immortalitie▪ Mortalitie is one … which must be put off, that immortalitie may bee put on▪

p. 761Others thinke that there be mention heere made of a double cloathing: Alijs placet, saith Beza, primam Beza.vestem dici Christi justitiam, alteram vero illius justitiae praemium quorum sententiae nolim praejudicium afferre, the one they make to bee the righteousnesse of Christ, the other the glorie purchassed by that righteousnesse.

**NoteS. Ambrose speaking of these words, In this wee groane, &c. If so bee that beeing cloathed, wee shall not bee found nacked, saith, Vt haec sit sententia destruendum quidem hoc tabernaculum S. Amb.morte sed ita tamen ut non p… reat: Imo ut corruptibilitate deposita restituatur nobis immortalitate induendum. That is, The Tabernacle of this bodie shalbe dissolued by Death▪ not so y^t it shal perish, but that all corruption being taken away, it may put on incorruption, euen euerlasting glorie. For if the bodie did perish, then in that case the Soule should bee naked: p. 762Now while wee are in the Tabernacle of the bodie, beeing burdened with sinne and corruption, wee grone, not desiring to bee vncloathed, that is altogether to want our bodie, but that putting off the corruptions of the bodie, wee may bee cloathed with immortalitie of life, which shall swallow vp mortalitie with all cumbers and inconuenients whatsoeuer.

**NoteThe Soule of man hath an ardent desire to bee clothed with immortality, but hath not will to want its bodie, without which it thinketh its selfe naked: according to this the Apostle saith, In this we groane earnest lie desiring to be cloathed vponupon with our house, which is from Heauen, That is, With glorie and immortalitie fast & firme like an house: If so bee that beeing cloathed, wee shall not bee found naked. That is, Shall not want the cloathing and couering of our bodies.

p. 763The sicke Man.

My braine is so sore troubled y^t I cannot bend my Spirits so high for the vnderstanding of these things which are so far aboue my reach: Happie is hee who with Dauid is not exercised Psal. 131. 1.Ps 131:1in great matters which are too high for him.

Lord, inlighten my mistie minde, Aprayerand make mee to know thee and thy Son Iesus Christ, and him crucified: Lord also helpe mee in the knowledge of all that may increase the knowledge of him into my Soule.

I hauehave heard you Sir at large vponupon the last judgement, and all the proceedinges thereof: Yee hauehave also cleared some difficulties which this night did runne into my minde: Nowe lest vaine thoughts should draw mine heart aside vntounto toyes, let …t please you to turne your purpose concerning the joyes of Heauen.

**NoteWhile I did behold but the out…id of Heauen, mine heart was euer rauished p. 764at the sight of that Tapestrie, embroydred like most glorious Arrasse cloath: O what Glorie muste bee within▪ where the Lord himselfe is with all his endenized Citizens of glorie: Let me heare you a little▪ therevpon: There by the grace of my God, I hope to bee within a little space, O what place of perfection and blisse my Soule longeth to dwel into that azured Palace. Let mee heare of its Glorie.

The Pastour.

**NoteThe prince of PhilosophersAristot. lib. 1. de coelo. most subtile in Naturall Science, speaking of the heauens, said, That it was much to get any little knowledge therof: All his knowledge c…ld reach no further but from motion to motion, till hee come▪ to the fi…st Mouer, who by the force of his Almightie arme turneth about these relestiall bodies: **NoteBut hee knew no more the great Mov …, th…n yee would know a man a … vp…n p. 765the toppe of an Hill displaying a… Ensigne or Standart: While the Mouer were casting his Standart, yee might perceiue the motion of a Banner, and by that motion yee might easilie judge that there bee a Mouer, and yet for all that be ignorant, not knowing the man who is the ca… of all the motion, whether he were your foe or your friend.

**NoteThe Pagans saw the motions of the heauens, as wee see the shaking of a tree moued by the winds: I see the Tree shaken and the Branches rushing one vponupon another, I heare also the noyse, I also know that the Mouer is that which wee call the Wind: But whence this mouer commeth Ioh. 3. 8.John 3:8and whether it goeth, or what moueth it, no earthlie tongue can tell.

**NotePagans which hauehave not Gospel writtē in quicke Letters by the dead knowledge of Nature, will come from ens to ens that is, from beeing p. 766to being, till they come to ens entium him that is a Being, which causeth all beeings: From motions men in nature will come to motions, till they clime vp to Primus motor, the first Mouer: **NoteOn him will they looke as a man in an high Feuer, to whome this man & that man will say, Know yee mee? know ye mee? The sight of the braine is so dazeled, that it is paine & much labour but to heare these three words, Knowe yee mee▪ **NoteBraine sicke Nature can by no meanes know God, till the Feuer of nature bee cooled with Grace: After that the coole of Grace hath broght a sweate wherwith the Soule is purged from the rotten humours of iniquitie, then the Soule becommeth like a man after a Feuer, come to himselfe againe: **NoteAccording to this it is said o… the Forlorne, that heLuk. 15. 17Luke 15:17 came to himselfe after that hee was cooled of his foolish Feuer. Till we come to our selues by Grace, wee p. 767shall neuer be able to know the Lord by Nature: All that the most wise Pagans culd doe by the whole helpe of Nature was to come from beeing… to him that is the cause of all beeing, and from motion to the first Moue…: **NoteBut who that Mouer was, the feuerof Nature made their braine so giddie that they could not discerne him.

**NoteWhen all the Clergie of Athe… into that Famous Colledge of Gre…, had sought out this God, to feele … …. …. 27▪…, and finde▪ him, they wandred … and downe in their imagination… … Sodomites about▪ Lots …, Gen. 19. 11Gen 19:11no… beeing able to finde it: All their … knowledge which was but … …, could no wi…e reach vn…o him: For this cause they set vp an … into their moste learned Citi… with this in…tion written into great Letters▪ TO THE … ▪ … Act. …. 23…

* Behold, where the true God p. 768was vnknowne, euen in the Citie where Socrates, Plato▪ and Aristotle… ▪ the great lights of Nature had reached publicklie▪ The verticall point… all their knowledge could I neuer reach vntounto the borders, nay not vntounto the base of the Gospel: **NoteBehold and see where Science was to be sold in greatest aboundance, there was a profession of the ignorance of the true God written vponupon their Altar in great Letters, for by the greatnesse of the Letters, to declare the grosse dulnesse of their ignorance.

**NoteHee who knoweth not God, were hee neuer so learned, what can hee speake of Heauen▪ … **NoteWhat should Heauen it selfe bee without the presence of God, but like a Citie laide wast, or like an olde Dungeon not inhabited, where Iim andIsa. 34. 14▪Isa 34:14 Zijm resort?

**NoteAs for vsus▪ blessed bee God, we know that there is a God into the Heauens, the sight of whose backe p. 769Exod. 34. 33Exod 34:33partes made the face of Moses so to shine, that no eye vndazeled culd behold him: What a Majestie must this bee whose backe-partes printed such a light into the face of a man, that no man could behold the face of a sinner stamped with a second impression? This is he who as Scripture teacheth dwelleth into an inaccessable 1 Tim. 6. 161 Tim 6:16light, of which a learned Pagan hauing seene some light impression, not in the face of Moses but onelie into the face of Nature, said a great word,

**NoteLumen est vmbra Dei, Deus est lumen luminis.Plato. polit.

All light which wee see is but a duskie shadow of God: **NoteBut God, is the Light of light, a liuing Light▪ the Life of light, the Sunne that shineth to the world aboue, and the Candle of Heauen: Christ the Sunne Mal. 4. 2.Mal 4:2of righteousnesse in Heauen shall bee without any shadow of the Earth▪ which is the cause of ou… night: Hee p. 770shalbe a Sun which shall shine continuallie both round about and in all the partes of the Heauen, for there Reuel. 21. 25Rev 21:25shall bee no night there: For to come thither man should bee content toMatth 5. 29.Matt 5:29 pluck out his right eye, euen his sweetest bosome delights.

The sicke Man.

Mine hearte is wained from the louelove of the base lump of this Earth.

I desire to heare some-thing more cōcerning these celestiall buildings, which Scripture calleth, euerlasting Luk. 16. 9.Luke 16:9Tabernacles, the resting place of all created desires: Seeing there after Death wee must sojourne eternallie, let mee hea…e of the Glorie of these heauenlie Mansiōs prepared for Gods most precious jewels: **NoteO these blessed burnished vauts all beset with diuineMal. 3. 16Mal 3:16 Dyamonds: Let mee heare a description of that Palace.

The Pastour.

The matter is high, Our creeping wordes of Babel cannot reach to the p. 771ancles of such loftie matters, are but Iob. 8. 9.Job 8:9of yesterday, and know nothing: As I know I shall in my stammering tong and mussling speech doe what I can for to allure you to the louelove thereof.

As for the structure, furniture and beautie of that Palace of our God, it is wonderfull: By no skill can any mortall hand chalk them out: There is that blessed Bridegroomes chamber garnished with an azured Curtaine which is embrodered and spangled with starres of light, as with golden studs, whose beautie no mortall tongue is able fullie to expresse: **NoteWell may wee say and sing of that Citie that which Dauid sang of its figure: Glorious thinges are spoken of Psal. 87. 1.Ps 87:1thee, O thou Citie of our God, nay, let mee rather say of the figured Citie, such glorious things are in thee, that they cannot bee spoken, O thou Citie of our God.

**NoteAll the glories we see without p. 772are but sparkles of these infinitlie bright blazing perfections, which are within, euen things which eye neuer sawe, eare neuer heard, and which cannot enter into the heart of man: One said verie well▪

**NoteRes verae sunt in mundo invisibili, in mundo visibili vmbrae rerum.

That is, In Heauen the invisible world is the substance of thinges indeede, but in this visible world on earth is nothing but shadowes of thinges, which are lesse than accidents.

**NoteThe greatest glorie that wee see in the out-side of the Heauens is but a vaile that couereth the glorie that is within, as the Badgers skinnes couered the Arke of glorie and the Exod. 26. 15Exod 26:15Tabernacle: **NoteBut because wee are in this world as childrē in y^e wombe, wee cannot conceiue what can bee without this world, wee hauehave made a great conception, if wee can conceiue p. 773that it cannot bee conceiued, wee muse well of Heauen, if while wee muse we bee amazed, counting all joye, pleasure, profite, and prefermentPhilip. 3. 8Phil 3:8 below to be both losse & doung in comparison of thinges that are aboue which infinitlie goe beyond all created comprehensions: If these who goe downe to the deepes see the Psal 107. 23Ps 107:23wonders of the Lord, what wonders shall they see who are in the hights of eternitie? What rest can a man looke for till hee bee into the Heauens? **NoteThere the blasts of winds, and tempests of tongs & terrours of Cōscience are not: there the Church the Lords Lillie is no more amongCan. 2. 2. the thornes: There the heart of man is no more greiued nor ouer clouded with lowring Melancholie, all is in peace within: All is calme & cleare. **NoteThere is day without night, heauens without cloudes, mirth without mourning joy without sorrow, and beautie without blemish.

p. 774**NoteAll good thinges muste abound there, where God shall bee All in all: When wee shall bee there, our God shall enlighten our minde, and shall giuegive our will its will without controlement: Then shall no man say, I doe the euill that I would not, Rom, 7. 19and doe not the good that I would doe: nay, but wee shall doe all the good wee would, beeing in no wi…e troubled with the euill wee wouldReuel. 14. 13.Rev 14:13 not: Then shall wee rest from all our labours, refreshed vnderunder the euerlasting shadowes of Christ, that mostCant. 2. 3Song 2:3 pleasant Apple Tree, whose fruite is sweete to the taste: Nothing in a word shall bee inlaking that may rejoyce all the senses of our body without, & all the faculties of our Soules within: All the Godlie these blessed Denizens of Heauē shall euer in a Quire sing the praises of the Lambe▪ Halleluiah Reuel. 19. …Rev 19Halleluiah vponupon the loud Cymbals, Harpes, Organes and Timbrels of God.

p. 775**NoteO Lord, one day in thy Court is better Psal. 84. 10Ps 84:10than a thousand else where said the Psalmest, speaking but of y^e figure of heauen: Is it so of y^e figure of heauē: what shall it be thē to be in heauen it selfe? euen in these new heauens Let it be but the tenth better, according to that one day in Heauen, shall bee better by ten thousands times than y^e best day y^t euer man did see on earth▪

**NoteThere is no serenitie below▪ which is not ouer clouded with some dumpes of heauinesse, while the flesh is vponupon the Soule it shalbe sorrowfull: Pure & sincere joys cannot dwel in the valley of teares in this muddie mortalitie: One day aboue is more bright and better than tenne thousand below: Is it so of one day in Heauen? Mercifull God, what shall it be thē of these dayes without number, euen of that euerlasting of dayes, euen that eternal day of light, life, & libertie, cleare without all g… mie clouds of sicknes & of sorrows▪ **NoteO for a sight of the light of that p. 776countenance a light of continuance which no mistie vapour shal for euer bee able to ecclips: O Day neuer to be darkened with a following light! O euer fresh pleasures which no sorrow shall bee able to fret, waste, or weare out! O Eternitie, Eternitie, neuer to hauehave an end! O that faire heritage! vntounto all these that are there, The lines are fallen in pleasant places.Psal. 16. 6.Ps 16:6

**NoteIf wee had heartes to belieue, the thoughts of such Glories should waine our heartes from the milkie transitorie trashes below, which worldlings dreame to bee an heauen, not to bee changed with any such preached pleasures: O when shall our Soules get them, with the Spouse to these high Mountaines of Myrrhe Cant. 4. 6Song 4:6and hills of frankincense!

**NoteThe consideration of this happinesse made Ignatius a Scholer of S. Paul, to defie all the tormentesHiero in Catologo…. that cruell Burrios could inuent for the tormenting of his bodie: Fire, Gallowes, beasts, said he, Crushing of my p. 777bones, quartering of my members, breaking of my bodie: Let all the torments of Sathā seaze vponupon me together, I care not for them, so that I may enjoye my Lord and his righteousnesse. O that all the thoughts of our heartes were made subordinate and contributarie to such spirituall and diuine desires.

The sicke Man.

O Lord, in the multitude of thy thoughts within mee, thy comforts delight my Soule. Cōtinue your speach I pray you concerning the beautie of the Heauens within which is the Presence-Chamber of the great King.

The Pastour.

**NoteS. Iohn describes it with such wordes as men are able to vnderstand or imagine: The vnderstanding of man concerning the beautie of a Place, reacheth no further, than to Gold, Glasse, Crystall, Pearles, and precious stones, which indeed are nothing but like Coales, or drosse in comparison of these heauenlie bodies.

p. 778* Before that the man of God beganne to declare what hee had seene of Heauen, hee said that there came vntounto him an Angel that carried him away to a great & high mountaine, & shewed him the great Citie the holie Ierusalem a type and figurePsal. 87. 3.Ps 87:3 of Heauen: Glorious thinges are spoken of thee, O Citie of our God, euen of thee Ierusalem.

Because that Ierusalem was a type and figure of Heauen I shall first speake a little thereof.

As for the earthlie it was a Citie in Iudea builded as some thinke by Melchisedec: Otherwise it was called, Salem, and Iebus or Iebusi: After that, it was called Aelia, from Aelius Hadrianus the Emperour, who builded a part thereof, and enuironed Mount Caluarie, Christes Sepulchre, and Golgotha with a wall.

This Citie had two parts, the vpper part and the lower: The vpmost part thereof with the Temple was p. 779builded vponupon mount Moriah.2 Chr; 1

**NoteBecause in this Citie the Lord had his residence and did shew himselfe more familiarlie than into any other part of the world, it was called The perfection of beautie and joye of the Lam. 2. 15Lam 2:15whole earth: It is written that in circuite & compasse it was foure miles: In forme it was foure square, hauing twelue gates: Ioseph recordeth thatIoseph. 7 Booke chap. 3. it was Dauid that first called the Citie Ierusalem: In the time of Abraham, said hee, it was called, Solyme: Some also say, that Homere called it Solyme, which in the Hebrew tong, saith Ioseph, signifieth a Fortresse.

Thus much concerning the earthlie Ierusalem, which now is in bondage with her Children, the most cursed Citie in the world, since that desperate voyce of blasphemie was heard in it, His blood bee vponupon vsus and Ma…h. 27. 1…vponupon our Children.

The sicke Man.

That is a fearefull desolation.

p. 780The Pastour.

Great was that desolation: It is called, The abomination of desolation, Matth. 24▪ 15Matt 24:15a desolation abominable, or foresignified by an abomination.

The sicke man.

I remember well of these words of that Gospel: This I remember that Christ did speake them with a Nota, Who so readeth let him vnderstand: Often while I did reade these words I found my selfe secretelie accused of negligence, in that I tooke paines to vnderstād the saying which Christ desired the Reader to vnderstand, I pray you Sir let mee vnderstand the words.

The Pastour.

The wordes are these, When yee Matth. 24 15Matt 24:15therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the Prophet, stand in the holie place, (who so readeth let him vnderstand)▪ Then vers. 16let them which are in Iudea, flie into the mountaines.

p. 781The wordes of Daniel are these,Dan. 9. 6.Dan 9:6 And after threescore and two weekes, shall Messiah bee cutte off, but not for himselfe: And the people of the Prince that shall come, shall destroy the vers. 27.Citie, and the Sanctuarie, and the ende thereof shall bee with a floode, and vntounto the end of the warre desolations are determined: And hee shall confirme the Couenant with many for one weeke, and in the midst of the weeke hee shall cause the oblation and the sacrifice to cease, and for the ouer▪ spre… ding of abominations hee shall make i… desolate, euen vntill the consummation, and that determined shall bee powred vponupon the desolate. These bee the wordes of the Prophet, of which Christ said, Who so readeth, let him vnderstand.

**NoteThe meaning is this: By this foreign abomination of desolation, The most learned vnderstād that Romane armie, which vnderunder Vespasian and Titus, fearefullie wasted p. 782the land of Iudea, & sacked y^e Citie of Ierusalem: It was said, To stand in the holy place that is, in the holie Land of Iudea neare vntounto Ierusalem the holie Citie: In these wordes Christ foretold of the ruine of that Citie, according to Daniel who of before had particularlie set downe the time: Thus as yee see the Romane armie was called, The abomination of desolation that is, Abominatio desolans seu vastans, abominablie destroying. This is more cleare in S. Luke, When yee shall see Ierusalem compassed with Armies, then know Luk. 21. 20Luke 21:20that the desolation thereof is neare: When that destroying and abominablie desolating Armie compassed that holie Citie, then did the abomination of desolation stand in the holie place: **NoteSome of the Learned interpret this abomination standing in the holie place, to bee that profanation of the Temple, Collocata ibi Aquila, & multis patratis quae per p. 783legem non licebant: vnde etiam m…x sequutum est Templi & vrbis & geni… excidium: By placing therein the Eagle the Romane Ensigne, and by doing diuerse other thinges forbidden by the Law, wherevpon the desolation of Temple, Citie, and of Nation did ensue.

The sicke Man.

I thinke now y^t I vnderstād by you y^t which by reading hitherto I hauehave not vnderstood: What other thing could ensue, but an abomination of desolation where the Messiah was cut off? If for the blood of Cain vengeance was to be taken on the murtherer seuen-fold, & for the blood ofGen. 4. 15Gen 4:15 L…mech, if his brags were true, seuentie Gen. 4. 24.Gen 4:24and seuen fold, what vengeance must bee taken vponupon the shedders of the Blood of God? which not onelie with the blood of Abel did cryGen. 4. 10Gen 4:10 vntounto God from the ground, but also from the heauens, wherein the Sun cloathed in doole & wrapped for a space p. 784in his mourning weede would not looke vponupon that creature wherevpon his Master was slaine?

But for to leaue this Ierusalem which is now abominablie desolate: Let me heare something of the spirituall Ierusalem.

The Pastour.

**NoteThe spirituall Ierusalem is called, Ierusalem which is aboue▪ & alsoGal▪ 4. 26.Gal 4:26 the Citie of the liuing God, the heauenlie Heb. 12. 22Heb 12:22Ierusalem, and also the holie Ierusalem descending out of heauen from Reuel. 21. 10Rev 21:10God.

The sicke Man.

Thinke yee that in all these passages of Scripture Ierusalem bee taken after one sense.

The Pastour.

I answere that the spirituall Citie Ierusalem in Scripture is taken two wayes, either for the Church below, wherein God as in a Citie calleth the Godly to immortalitie and happinesse: Or it is taken for the heauens p. 785where the Godlie actuallie possesse that which they had heere but in hope. In the first sense the Church militant on earth is called Ierusalem Gal. 4. 26.Gal 4:26aboue, and the heauenlie Ierusalem.Heb. 12. 22Heb 12:22

The sicke Man.

Seeing by that Ierusalem is vnderstood the Church heere below, wherfore is it called, Ierusalem aboue, and the heauenlie Ierusalem? I thoght euer that such a Ierusalem did signifie the heauens.

The Pastour.

**NoteIt is called, Aboue and heauenlie, because all the true Godlie the denizens thereof, minde the thinges that are aboue: Though their bodiesCol. 3. 1.Col 3:1 bee heere, their heartes are into the Heauens. For our conuersation, as S. Paule saith, is in heauen. ForPhilip. 3. 20Phil 3:20 this spirituall exaltation of heartes, the Church in the New-Testament is called▪ The mountaine of the Lords house established in the top of the mountaines exalted aboue the hill.

p. 786**NoteOne speaking of this Ierusalem which S. Paul. called Ierusalem aboue, Gal. 4, 26.Gal 4:26the mother of vsus all, noteth quickelie these things.

In hoc quod dicitur sursum, originis altitudo.Hugo Card.

Quod Ierusalem, Pacis multitudo.

Quod mater, Foecunditatis amplitudo.

Quod nostrum omnium, Charitatis latitudo.

It is called Aboue from the highnesse of its Kinred a…d pedegree.

It is called Ierusalem from aboundance of peace.

It is called Free from its great liberties.

It is called … Mother because of its fruitfulnesse.

It is called the Mother of vsus all to teach vsus charitie and louelove.

Are wee not all the Children of the Church our Mother? Why then as Ioseph said to his brethren, See that p. 787Gen. 45. 24Gen 45:24yee fall not out by the way.

The sicke Man.

I hauehave often heard of Ierusalem; that most famous Citie of the Land of Iurie, but I could neuer well know wherfore it was so called Bethlehem, Bethel, & Bethauen, are easilie known by their significations, viz. House of Bread, house of God, & house of wickednesse: But as for Ierusalem I vnderstand not its signification.

The Pastour.

**NoteLearned men are of diuerse opinions concerning the name thereof: Some thinke that it bee so called from Iebus, which was its name while the Iebusiens dwelt there: Hierom thinketh that it is so called from foreign a Greeke word, which signifieth holy, according to this in Scripture it is called, The holie Citie: others are ofMatth. 27 53Matt 27:53 the opinion that Sem the sonne of Noah called it Salem, that is Peace, and that Abraham called it Iehouah I…eh, The Lord will prouide or see: p. 788Gen. 22 14Gen 22:14Thus at last Salem & Iireh put together by Dauid; made Ierusalē, that is, Vision of Peac: while it was called Salem, Heb. 7. 2.Heb 7:2Melchizedech was King thereof called by the Apostle, King of Salem.

The sicke Man.

Let mee heare a little of the situation of that Citie, and of that Land of Canaan.

The Pastour.

From Britaine it lyeth toward the South East: One calleth it Centrum & terrae vmbilicus, y^e Center & nauell▪ of the Earth: In it were two moūtaines of great renown, mount Sion & moūt Moria: Sion like an halfe Circle asAbricho mijas. writters record, did lye at the South side of Ierusalem: On it was builded the strongest Fortresse of the Citie: There before Dauid's tyme was the strong Hold of the Iebusites, so strong as they thoght, that blind & lame mē Sijah, ariditas.were able to keepe it against whomsoeuer: This Mountaine was higher than all the rest: Sion signifieth drynesse, p. 789because the Hill was dry without any myre or dirt.

As for mount Moriah, this was the Hill wherevpon that Temple was builded: Then Solomon beganne t… 2 Chr. 3. 12 Chr 3:1build the house of the Lord at Ierusalem in mount Moriah: The ground wherevpon that statelie House did stand, was that threshing floore of Ornan y^e Iebusite, which Dauid wold buy from him for the full price: The occasion was this; Dauid hauing caused number the people, the Lord was exceeding wroth, so that in reuenge, hee sent out his Angel who killed with the sword of Pestilence threescore and ten thousand men: At last Dauid lifting vp his eyes, saw the Angel betweene the heauen and the earth, with a drawne sword, stretched out ouer Ierusalem; which hauing seene, hee and the Elders1 Chr. 21 16.1 Chr 21:16 of Israel cloathed in sacke▪cloth, fell vponupon their faces: At that tyme Ornan with his foure Sons, while they p. 790were threshing Wheate, saw also the vers. 20.Angel, and hid themselues: Dauid vers. 26.vpō that occasion bought the floore, and offered Sacrifices with prayer, and God answered him by fyre vponupon the Altar of brunt offering, and so God was pacified: After Dauids death Solomon builded the Temple there: It signifieth the feare or doctrine of GOD,

The sicke Man.

Let mee heare a little of that glorious Temple.

The Pastour.

It was seuen yeares in building:1 Kin. 6. 21 Kgs 6:2 The length thereof was threescore cubites, and the breadth thereof twentie cubites, and the hight thereof thritie cubites, all the stones were readie for the wall before they were brought thither: So that there was neither Hammer, vers. 7.nor Axe, nor any toole of yron heard in the House, while it was in building.

Those that write of this Temple p. 791diuide it in three parts: First toward the West was Sanctum Sanctorum, 1 Kin. 6 161 Kgs 6:16the Holie of holies, called also the Oracle. This by a vaile was diuided from all the rest: At the death of Christ this Vaile was rent from the top to the bottome: Before that no man might enter into it but the hig… Priest, & that but once in the year…, not without blood: There stood the Heb. 9. 4.Heb 9:4Arke wherein was the Pot of Mannah, and Aarons Rod, and the Tables of the Couenant.

The sicke Man.

While I was a Scholler I heard that passage confronted with another, which declareth that neither the Mannah nor the Rod were in the Arke but onelie the Tables.

The Pastour.

Indeede it is written that theExod. 16. 34Exod 16:34 Mannah was layed vp before the Testimonie or Arke: In another place it is plainlie said, There was nothing in the Arke saue the two Tables of stone: p. 7921 Kin. 8. 91 Kgs 8:9So indeede in that passage of the Epistle to the Hebrewes the Greeke word foreign signifieth juxta beside the A…ke.

The second roome of the TempleHeb. 9. 2.Heb 9:2 is called by the Apostle, The first, That is the first part of the Tabern… cle: Not first in dignitie, but in regard of entrie, if it bee compared with the Holi…st or Oracle▪ This part is called Sanctum & Sanctuarium, &See Pisc. in the Heb. 9. 2Heb 9:2 foreign Sancta, which word some of the Learned take to bee corrupt as also foreign for foreign: In this middle roome was the Candle sticke and the Table of the Shew-bread, and the Altar of incense The third parte of the Temple toward the East, was the Porch called Atrium: Heere stood the Brasen Altar wherevpon the burnt offerings were burnt sub dio, vnderunder the open aire, as some think on this altar was kept that fire which came downe from Heauen: Heere2 Chron. 7 …2 Chr 7 stood also the Molten sea; set vponupon twelue Oxen. &c.

p. 793The sicke Man.

I hauehave heard concerning mount Sion and mount Moriah, and of the holie Temple with great contentment: Now I intreat you to let meMatth. …. …. heare of the mount of Oliues, while Christ was nigh vntounto the Mount, hee sent his Disciples into a Village for to bring him the Asse, whereon heevers. …5 rode thorow Ierusalem the day the little Children cryed, Hosanna, Hosanna.

The Pastour.

Indeede this Mount is well renouned by Christes often resorting vntounto it: While hee was sitting vponupon the mount of Oliues, hee taught hisMatth. 24. 3…Matt 24:3 Disciples most diuinelie concerning the destruction of Ierusalem, and the signes preceeding, as also of the end of the world, & of the signes of his comming to Iudgement: It was vponupon the mount of Oliues that Christ told Peter that before the Cocke cre… Ma…. 14. 30twise hee should deny him thrise: It was p. 794to the mount of Oliues that he came out of Ierusalem, after his last Supper,Matth. 26. 30Matt 26:30 for Matthew saith, That after they had sung an Hymne, they went out into the mount of Oliues: It was at the descent of the mount of Oliues that Christ said, That if men should holde Luk. 19. 40Luke 19:40their peace the stones would cry ou… his praise.

It was in Gethsemane a valley at the roote of the mount of Oliues Matth 26. 36Matt 26:36where Christ suffered the bloodie agonie: While hee there in a colde night did sweate blood, there the Disciples slept: With himselfe hee tooke a part Peter, Iames, and Iohn, Mark. 14. 33 34.Mark 14:33to whom hee said, My Soule is exceeding sorrowfull vntounto death, tarrie yee heere and watch: There the Lord fell on the ground, praying, that if it were possible the houre might passe from him: all this befell to our Lord at the roote of the Mount of Oliues: At last from the mount of Oliues ourAct. 1.,Acts 1 Lord ascended vntounto Heauen.

p. 795As for the Mount it selfe, it is so called, because of y^e Oliue trees which grew there in great aboundance. S. Augustine calleth it, The mountain… of vnction, because of its great fertilitie: Others calleth it, the mountaine of health, because of diuerse Herbes good for Physicke, which growe there. Ierom writteth that vponupon this mount the red Cow was burnt, whoseNumb. 19 2.Num 19:2 ashes were prepared by the Priest… for separation and purification.

This Mount was s…uate toward the East from Ierusalem, some thing more than a mile, between it & Ierusalem runneth the Brooke Kidron.

The sicke Man.

Mine heart is sore wounded to heare of these places which hath bene so renouned by y^e pen of God.

I hauehave heard of Sion, & of Moria, and of the mount of Oliues: Now let mee heare of Hermon.

The Pastour.

The Hill Hermon is also made glorious p. 796by Gods word, wherein mention is made thereof.

The heauens are thine, saith thePsal. 89. 11 vers. 12.Ps 89:11 Psalmest, the earth also is thine: The North and the South thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoyce in thy Name: Dauid speaking of brotherlie louelove and of the communion of the Sainctes, compareth it to the oyle that ranne downe vponupon the beard of Aaron: To this hee subjoyneth, As the dew of Hermon, and as the dewe that descended vponupon the Psal. 133. 3Ps 133:3mountaines of Zion: In the Song ofCant. 4. 8Song 4:8 Solomon mention is made of Shenir and Hermon.

This Hill hath three names, the Iewes call it Hermon, the Amorites Deu. …3. 9.Deut 3:9call it Shenir, and the Sydonians call it Sirion: Moses by the figure Syncope, t…king out two Letters, calleth it Syon: From Aroer to Arnon, saith he,Deut. 4. 48Deut 4:48 euen vntounto mount Syon, which is Hermon. This Mountaine is thought by some to bee higher than mount p. 797Syon that is in Ierusalem: It is neare the Iordan, not farre from the mountaines of Gilboa where King Saul was slaine.

Some will it to bee called Hermon from Heren res devota, a thing consecrate to God or to an holie vse.

The sicke Man.

There is a passage in the Psalme concerning Hermon whereof I know not well the sense. O my God, saithPsal. 42. 6.Ps 42:6 the Psalmest, my Soule is cast downe within mee: Therefore will I remember thee from the Land of Iordan, and of the Hermonites from the hill of Missar, or the little hill.

The Pastour.

These wordes want not difficultie: In our poesie they are turned after this manner,

And thus my Soule within mee, Lord, doeth faint to thinke vponupon

The Land of Iordan, and record, the little hill Hermon.

In the French paraphrase it is after this manner,

p. 798Car t'ay de toy souuenance

Depuis out…e le Iordain,

Et la froide demourance

De Hermon, pais ha…tain:

Et de Mizar antre mont, &c.

In the French paraphrase made by Beza, & also in the English and French versions it is turned, the hill Missar which is some other hill lesse than Hermon as the Hebrew word doth import: In my judgement our paraphrase is not so correct as the French, for Hermon was not a little Hill as our meter calleth it, but as it is esteemed by the Learned was higher than mount Sion.

By the Land of the Hermonits the Learned vnderstand that hillie space of the countrey where is mount Hermon, and by Missar they vnderstand some other parte where there be little hils towards the border of Israel; as Iunius expoundeth: ByIunius. these three places of the Psalme, viz. The Land of Iordan, Hermon, and p. 799Missar, are vnderstood, saith hee, three diuerse Borders of the Land of Israel: The Riuer of Iordan bordering at the East, Hermon at the North towards vsus, and Missar these other little hils bordering at the South.

In the Papists version these be the wordes of the Psalme,

Memor ero tui de terra Iordanis, & Hermonoim a monte modico, That is, Fro… the little hill Hermonoim: whether that bee mount Hermon or no…,Bellarmin on the 42. Psalme. saith one of their most learned inte… preters non liquet, I cannot tell.

The most part of these that wri… mount Hermon, thinke that there were two mountaines of this name: The one was beyond Iordan neere vntounto Libanus towards the Northeast, distant from it an hundrethOf Ierusalem. twenty & two myles. The other was neere to mount Tabor towards the North From Ierusalem: It is from Ierusalem to it but about fourty myls: of this the Psalmist seemeth to speak p. 800where hee saith, Tabor and Hermon shall rejoyce in thy Name.

The sicke Man.

It rejoyceth my Soule to heare the names of things which were said to rejoyce in God: Now speake of Tabor.

The Pastour.

Tabor is mons rotundus & sublimis, Hieron.a round and high mountaine, lying towards the North from Ierusalem about fiftie myles: It is esteemed to bee one of the chiefe Hils that are in all the Land of Candan, both for highnesse and fruitfulnesse: Some esteeme that it bee foure myles and more of hight: It is decored with all sorts of Herbes and Trees: S. Ierome speaking of it saith, Ex omni parte finitur aequaliter, it is an exceeding round Hill into the partes of Galilee. Of this Mount frequent mention is made in Scripture: In Ioshuah weeIoshu. 19. 2… see that it bordered the lotte of the Land of the tribe of Issa…har whose p. 801coast reached vntounto Tabor: It wasIoshu. 19. 22 neere vntounto Tabor where Deborah &Iudg 4. 6.Judg 4:6 Barak ouerthrew the Armie of King Iabin with his Captaine Sisera: For Barak beeing vponupon the Mount with his men of warre by the counsell of Deborah hee went downe from moun… vers. 14.Tabor, and tenne thousand men after him: It was vponupon this Mount that Zebah & Zalmunna the Kings of the Midianites slew the brethren of Gideon: Iudg. 8. 18Judg 8:18What manner of men, said hee vntounto them, were they whom yee slew a… Tabor? It was at the plaine of Tabor … Sam. 10. 3where Saul after hee was anoynted by Samuel, met the three men going to Bethel with Kids, Loaues, & wine.

This Hill was so steepe and so strong, that Ieremie from thence took his comparison, saying, That Nebuchadnezar King of Babylon should ouerthrow Pharaoh and his Armie, though they were as Tabor among the Ier. 46. 1…Jer 46:1mountaines.

It is the opinion of all, that vponupon this p. 802Mount Christe was transfiguredMatth. 17. 1.Matt 17:1 when Moses and Elias came downe and con…erred with him touching his sufferings.

The sicke Man.

From Tabor proceede to Carmel Ier. 46. 18Jer 46:18by the sea▪ I finde within mee great heauinesse of heart, while I thinke vponupon these places where God once did shew so many tokens of his louelove:

The Pastour.

I finde also mine owne bowels moued with a mourning r…otion: Oh, that that people had beene wise: O … their example may teach vsus to feareRom. 11. 21Rom 11:21 to offend so great a Majestie: If God hath not spared the naturall branches, wee should not bee high minded, but should feare: If wee continue not in his goodnesse, hee will also cut vsus off. But to the purpose.

As for Carmel it is the name of a Citie in the tribe of Iuda Maon, Carmel, Ioshu. 15. 55and Ziph were Cit…es there.

It is also the name of that most p. 803fertile mountaine which had a valey most fruitfull lying hard by it: For its fertilitie in Scripture language, all fertile places are called Carmel: The flourishing estate of ChristesIsa. 35. 2.Isa 35:2 Kingdome is called, The excellencie of Carmel. It is not farre from P… lemais, neere vntounto the Sea, for which cause the Prophet Ieremie called itIer. 46. 81Jer 46:81 Carmel by the Sea.

It was at mount Carmel where Elias 1 King. 18. 201 Kgs 18:20by his prayer made fire to come downe & consume his sacrifice with y^e water in the ditch, wherby he confounded y^e Priests of Baal, & proued the Lord to bee God by fire: It was vponupon the top of this mountaine where1 Kin. 18. 421 Kgs 18:42 Elias cast himselfe downe vponupon the Earth, putting his head betweene his knees when his seruant spyed the Cloud like a mans hand arising out of the Sea.

The sicke Man.

O but mine heart bleedeth to remember of these holie places wherin p. 804is nothing now but desolation.

The Pastour.

We hauehave to pray with Moses, ThatPsal. 90. 17.Ps 90:17 the beautie of the Lord our God be vponupon vsus: All these beauties of Canaan are past and gone: That glorious Ierusalem, is razed and sacked with all her pompe: Invndations of woes are vponupon that Land which once did flow with Milke and Honey, the land hath spewed ou… its habitants: All this should bee for to teach vsus to minde these better things which are aboue: While that Land was at its best it could not containe the shadowes of these pleasures that are aboue.

Melle fluit terra hoc promissa & lacte redundat.

Ast ea quo sursum est nectare & Ambrosia.

This hauehave I thus Englished.

With honey milk that holy Land, did richlie ouerflow:

But Nactar sweete and Ambrosie, aboue doe richlie grow.

p. 805While wee remember of that peoplesRom. 11. 21Rom 11:21 desolations, let vsus bee instant with God, that hee would call them in: They hauehave stumbled not that they should fall, but that by their fall Saluation m…ght come to vsus for to prouocke them to jealousie: If they abide not in vnbeliefe they shall be graffed in: Let vsus be earnest in prayer for them: While they had court with God, they were careful for vsus Gentiles: In their familiaritie with God, theyCan. …. 1. spake of vsus and for vsus: Wee hauehave a little Sister, said they, What shall wee doe with her in the day shee shall be spoken for: The sincere Iewes euer groned for the fulfilling of Noa… Gen. 9, 27.Gen 9:27prophecie, that God would perswad Iaphet to enter into the tents of Sem.

LORD of thy merciemercy bringA prayer back Sem that he may remaine with Iaphet in the Church of God, Amen.

The sicke Man.

I hauehave heard sufficientlie concerning the earthlie Ierusalem, & diuerse p. 806parts of the holie Land, & that with griefe of heart, because in that Land where God once was well knowne, now the enemies of God dominire: The cry of Christs Blood is yet still against it, so that it hath spewed out the ancient inhabitants. Lord, make all Nations by its example learne to stand in awe to prouoke so great a Majestie.

Now let vsus come to that Ie…usalem which is aboue, the Palace of the great King, where God is seene of his Sainctes face to face: In what place of Scripture is mention made of it?

The Pastour.

In the two last Chapters of th… Reuelation that heauenlie Ierusalem is described.

The sicke Man.

How can that bee, seeing it is said that Iohn saw that heauenlie Ierusalem descending out of heauen from Reuel. 21. 10.Rev 21:10GOD.

p. 807The Pastou….

As Ierusalem Gods Church heere Gal. 2. 6.Gal 2:6below is call…d Ierusalem which is aboue, because her heart is in heauen with a great desire to bee there: So Ierusalem the triumphing Church aboue may bee said, To descend out of Reuel. 21. 16Rev 21:16heauen, because of the great desire they hauehave to see vsus all well heere below: Daylie they pray in Heauen for the Sainctes heere fighting on earth vnderunder the bloodie Banne… of Christ Iesus: **NoteThey pray fo… them all in generall, which cannot bee without great affection descending from the reflexe of their louelove toward our God: If by some Angel they heare the report of the conuersion of sinners, there is great joy… Luk. 15. 7Luke 15:7in Heauen: That good will and affection they beare vntounto the Sainctes below, in Scripture language is called a descending out of Heauen.Reuel. 21. 10Rev 21:10

The sicke Man.

O but ae I thinke that Citie must be glorious!

p. 808The Pastour.

No glorie is comparable to that which is there: That Citie is called an holie Citie: Holinesse is theMatth. 27 53Matt 27:53 chiefest beautie that is: This was good Moses his prayer, Let the beautie Psal. 90. 17Ps 90:17of the Lord our God bee vponupon vsus, that is true holinesse.

**NoteThis most excellent beautie of the heauens, is typified by the most bright glauncing of precious stones: Her light, saith S. Iohn was like vntounto Reuel. 21. 11Rev 21:11a stone most precious, euen like a Iasper stone cleare as Crystall, two creatures colour greene and cleare, most pleasant for the sight of the eye.

By all this this Citie had twelue gates, and at the gates twelue Angels, whom I may well call Coelestes Ianito…es, the blessed doore keepers of Heauen.

The building of the wall was of Iasper, and the Citie was pure Gold vers. 1….like vntounto cleare Glasse: **NoteThe foundation stones which are laid in our p. 809buildings are but of the commonest sort: But all the foundation stones of this Citie vnderunder whose Vaults wee sojourne here, are most precious, stones as Iasper, Saphir, Chaleedonie, Emerald, vers. 19Sardonix, Sarduis, Crysolite, Berill, vers. 20.Topas, Iacinct, Amethyste: If such glorious stones bee the foundation stones, what glorie must bee aboue in the Palace top, where is the busking of Beautie?

As for the gates, The twelue gates vers. 21.were twelue Pearles, eueryevery seuerall ga… was of one Pearle: Wonderfull gates of wonderfull Iewels, for who euer on Earth sawe a Pearle so great as an Apple? **NoteBehold and wonder how the greatest doore of Heauen should bee of one Pearle.

As for the streetes of the Citie they were pure gold as it were transparent vers. 21glasse: **NoteThis Glasse one calleth it,

Aliquid auro nobilius quodAret. in Apocalip non est inrerum natura.

p. 108That is, Some thing more precious & excellent than gold, which thing is not in this worlde to bee found.

O mercifull God, what stupiditie is this in man, that hee cannot so feruentlie louelove this God, who hath builded for his Soule & bodie such a pleasāt Palace where he shal sojourn for euer in most happy immortality! O mercifull God, what a deadnesse & dulnesse is this in our spirits, that we cannot but after many reasons & arguments be content to remoue fromIob. 4. 19Job 4:19 these our sinfull Tabernacles of clay for to goe dwell with our God in his golden Citie & Palace of siluer, whereReuel. 21. 21Rev 21:21 the Lord for euer shall feast vsus withCant. 8. 9Song 8:9 the joyes of his countenance among these purer Spirites, his excellent Ones the Angels of glorie!

The sicke Man.

It is certainelie a great blindnesse: Lord, put the eye salue of Grace to our carnall & naturalleyes, y^t our sightReuel. 3. 18Rev 3:18 p. 811beeing cleared thereby wee may get some glimpse of these Palaces and Pleasures that are aboue: O Lord, hoise vp mine heart, & raise it out of the muck of this earth: mak the relish of Heauen to dash out of mine heart all earthlie desires.

It is marueilous how the Soule of man shuld be such a stranger to heauen: **NoteWhen I consider howe the Soule that diuine proportion, so noblie furnished with powers of great e…euation, euen of most high contemplation, should so deba…e it selfe among myre and dirt, not hauing a face to behold the heauens, it putteth mine heart into a wonderfull maze: What can a Soule find either in heauen or earth, except God alone which is able to satisfie the desires of its so wide Capacitie?

**NoteO the beautie of these celestiall buildinges, all Gold and Azure▪ But rather O the beautie of GOD himselfe in whose presence is the greatest glorie of that painted Palace! p. 812O the beautie of beauties of him whose mercifull presence shuld turne the hels of paine into heauens of Psal. 16. 1…Ps 16:1pleasures for euermore! O let the beautie Psal. 90. 17Ps 90:17of the Lord our God bee vponupon vsus: * O what a fickle follie is this for man to losse eternitie of happinesse for the minute of a miserable life, in worldlie pleasures wherein is more sensible paine; than joye that can bee enjoyed!

But to follow out our purpose intended concerning heauens glorie: I hauehave Sir alreadie heard of the beautie of that Citie, nowe let mee heare of its Boundes: None as I thinke shall bee there troubled for want of Elbow-roome.

The Pastour.

* O the vnspeakable bounds that bee there: S. Iohn saith that it was measured with a golden reede: TheReuel. 21. 15Rev 21:15 measure thereof as the word of God testifieth, was Twelue thousand furlongs, vers. 16.which is more than fifteene p. 813hundreth myle: Numerus indefinitus pro definito.

A Citie greater in boundes, than who should joyne together in one that great Niniuie, Paris, Rome, London, Venise, Alexandria, Constantenople, and that great Alcaire, or Babylon a citie containing in circuite foure hundreth foure▪score furlongs: Nay, joyne all the Cities of the world together in one, and they shall in no way bee comparable vntounto this Citie of our God, as it is …et downe in the Cart of the Reuelation.

Let a man behold the Cart of the world, and in it hee shall easilie couer with his hand all the bounds of Europe: But behold how the Heauens in that Cart of God occupie more than fifteene hundreth myles.

What I pray you, is all this Earth in comparison of these heauenlie Mansions, but an hand-breadth in comparison of fifteene hundreth myles? **NoteWhat wonder seeing as p. 814the most learned Philosophers hauehave obserued, the least fixed conspicuous starre which feemeth to bee but a golden naile fixed into this seiled house containeth the greatnes of the earth eighteene▪ fold: Others of the greater sort are esteemed to bee more than an hundreth sold greater than the whole earth.

It is most certaine that if the whole bodie of the earth were where a star is, it should not appeare so great as that little blacke spot that we see into the Moone: Nay, certainelie though an hundreth Earthes as great as all this were joyned in a cluster or in one masse, they should not there appeare so great as a little more in the Sun: for seeing a star which is of such a bignesse and such a brightnes, seemeth to bee but a sparkle; as much of earth as would come to the greatnesse of a starre, beeing corpus opacum, a bodie darke and duskish shuld not in any way bee able to bee an p. 815object for our sight heere below.

**NoteFye on foolish Atheimse that will not looke vp to the Heauens for to consider what an Arme it can bee which turneth about with a continuall whirling Bodies of such a quantitie.

The sicke man.

Oh, that wee could vnderunder▪value our selues as wee should, to acknowledge our stupiditie: **NoteHee is not a man indeede but a beas…, that can not say and thinke with that wise Agure, Prou. 30. 2Prov 30:2Surelie I am more brutish than any man, and hauehave not the vnderstanding of a man.

The Pastour.

Oh, that wee were wise, for wisedome Prou. …. 11is better than Rubies: Oh, that wee were wise, for the man that wandreth Prou. …1. 16Prov 1:16out of the way of vnderstanding, shall remaine in the congregation of the dead: Wee are such muddie worldlings that wee cannot thinke of that immortalitie of pure and refined pleasures that are aboue.

p. 816The sicke Man.

But to the purpose: Is there not a Temple in Heauen wherein the Sainctes conueene for the seruice of their God?

The Pastour.

S. Iohn saith, That hee sawe no Reuel. 21. 22Rev 21:22Temple therein, for the Lord God Almightie and the Lambe are the Temple of it.

The sicke Man.

I vnderstand not howe the Lord God can bee said to bee the Temple A Godlie Prayer.thereof. O Lord, sette bounds and limi…s to my curiositie: Let the louelove of thy selfe hauehave the preheminence in swaying all my desires.

A Temple or Church properlie signifie a particular house appointed for Gods seruice: for so it is that such an house should not bee in heauen: But the Lord himselfe ▪ shall bee to all the Sainctes in steede of such an house▪ The Temple is a place properlie for offering vp of sacrifices for p. 817instruction of ignorants, for comforting of these that are afflicted.

**NoteTo declare vntounto vsus that there shall bee no neede of such thinges the Scripture teacheth that there shall bee no Temple, but that the Lord and the Lambe shall bee the Temple, that is, shall bee in steede of sacrifice, instruction, comfort, joye, & all other good things vntounto his owne, so that hee shall bee All in all: No created Spirit is able to conceiue & wade thorow such mysteries.

The sicke Man.

The summe of your discourse, as I perceiue, is that though that Citie want a Temple, God himselfe by his presence shall bee in steede of all thinges which are helpefull vntounto vsus heere: But it would seeme by another place of the Reuelation, that in the Heauen there is a Temple: There was giuen mee a reede like vntounto a rod, saith S. Iohn, and the Angel stood saying, Reuel. 11. 1.Rev 11:1Rise and measure the Temple of God.

p. 818The Pastour.

**NoteBy that Temple is to bee vnderstood the Church of God on earth, as the most Learned esteeme.

**NoteThey also thinke that this Calamus mensorius measuring Reede. is the rule of holie Scriptures, wherby Sectes, & Heresies are discerned from the trueth of Religion.

By this Temple heere I say, Wee must vnderstand the Church of Christ, according to this it is said to the Faithfull, Know yee not that yee 1 Cor. 3. 161 Cor 3:16are the Temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? The hearts of all the faithful are a Temple which God hath consecrate vntounto himselfe for his Spirit to dwell in.

The sické Man.

O my God, keepe still mine heartA godlie Prayer. in an holie spirituall temper: Soften and season it with the dew of thy Grace: Inlighten the eyes of my mistie minde, that beeing made quicke and nimble, they may sharplie p. 819discerne, and with a liuelie vigour apprehend their blessed object euen God himselfe, the Soueraigne felicitie of my Soule: O Lord of immortalitie, make heauenlie meditations only to lodge into mine heart which may bread therein thoughts of a more noble and spirituall temper then ordinarlie arise and are fostered in earthlie minded men 'who drinke vp iniquitie like water and feede vponupon it as the horse Leech vponupon corruption.

The Pastour.

The Lord giuegive eare to your desires: Oh, that wee could consider how our drousie thoughts, and dull affections are so glued vntounto the vvorld as though Eternitie of happinesse were lodged vponupon earth, and the short time of pleasures had its residence onelie in the Heauens: Such follies and fancies by the subtilitie of Sathan, are moulded into vnstable and vnhallowed braines. p. 820There is a secret influence of folie from the corruption of our Nature, whereby except that Gods Grace stand in the gap and debarre it, all the wisedome of God shall seeme to bee but follie vntounto the Soule of man.

The sicke Man.

The Lord giuegive vsus wisedome in all things.

But to follow our purpose, seeing wee are now speaking of that heauenlie Ierusalem, I would gladlie heare you declare the differences that are betweene the heauenly and the earthly Ierusalem.

The Pastour.

There bee many notable differences worthie our obseruations:

1. **NoteThe earthlie was builded into dust, and now it hath the salt of Gods curse sown vponupon it: The other hath its foundation into the Heauens blessed for euer.

2. That which is below had not a gate for euerie Tribe neither were p. 821all Israel free Denizens therein. **NoteBut as for the Citie aboue, The gates thereof, said Ezekiel, shall bee after Ezek. 48. 31Ezek 48:31the name of the Tribes of Israel: The name of the Citie from that day shall be IEHOVAH SHAMMAH,vers. 35. The Lord is there: S. Iohn saith, That hee saw this Citie enuironed with a wall both great and high with twelue Reuel. 21. 12Rev 21:12gates, and at the gates twelue Angels, and names written thereon, which are names of the twelue Tribes of the Children of Israel.

3 That which was earthlie was abhorred by the Gentiles, and at last by them destroyed, and now by Turkes possessed and subdued: **NoteBut as for Ierusalem aboue, The Nations of them which are saued, shall walke in Reuel. 21. 24Rev 21:24the light of it, & the Kings of the earth doe bring their honour & glorie into it.

4 These of the earthlie Ierusalem could not see without the light of the Sunne by day, and of the Moone by night: It behoued them to hauehave p. 822fire and Candles in the night time as in any other Citie: **NoteBut to Ierusalem Isa. 60. 19Isa 60:19aboue, God hath said, The Sun shall no more bee thy light by day, neither for brightnesse shall the Moone giuegive light vntounto thee: But the Lord shall bee vntounto thee an euerlasting light, and thy God thy Glorie: Thy Sunne shall no vers. 20.more goe down neither shall thy Moone with-draw it selfe; for the Lord shall bee thine euerlasting Light.

5 In the earthly Ierusalem, often in place of Iustice was a seat of malice: **NoteBut in the new Ierusalem euill judges shall hauehave no sitting, but the Throne Reuel. 22. 3.Rev 22:3of God and of the Lambe shall bee in it Psal. 129. 4Ps 129:4an appointed seat, for the righteous Isa. 28. 17Isa 28:17Lord who shall lay judgment to the line and righteousnesse to the plummet.

The sicke Man.

O but my Soule is going to a pleasant Palace: O thou my Soule rejoyce within mee, that God hath prepared such pleasures for thee: O how ami…ble are thy Tabernacles, O p. 823Psal. 84. 1.Ps 84:1Lord of hostes: Mine heart is in heauen:Psal. 87. 3.Ps 87:3 Glorious things are spoken of the…, O thou Citie of our God.

The Pastour.

It is certaine that mans heart can not conceiue the beautie of these buildings within: **NoteIf the house of God on earth seemed so pleasant to King Dauid that hee counted this the one thing hee would seeke, that hee might dwell into it, what shall wee thinke or say concerning Gods Palace in the Heauens? One thing, said hee, hauehave I desired of the Lord, that I will seeke after that I may dwell in the Psal. 27. 4.Ps 27:4house of the Lord all the dayes of my life, to behold the BEAVTIE of the Lord.

Lords merciemercy, what dulnesse and deadnesse of heart is this, that wee seeke not after the same? should not this be our one thing? euen our onelie hearts desire to dwell with God aboue, for to behold that BEAVTIE of the Lord, these euer g…eene pleasures p. 824in his celestiall arbours.

**NoteThere is nothing heere below which can bee sufficient for to expresse the image, nay, not the shadowe of these things that are aboue: In the most glorious creatures which are below, as Gold, Glasse, Crystall, Pearles, and precious Stones, we may see some thinges like shadowes of these glorious thinges aboue: But there is no creature heere which can carrie to our imagination the shadow let bee the image of the glorie that is vp into that Holie of holies: O but God is wonderfull in counsell and excellent Isa. 28. 29Isa 28:29in working: But our Soules are so sleepie and sluggish that they cannot consider: **NoteThe fancies and folies of the earth bring vsus quite out of conceite with celestiall pleasures: Alas, in the best of vsus the seedes of grace lye buried vnderunder the thornes shamefullie ouertopped by them: The little dramme of goodnesse in our hearts is waighed down p. 825with weightie talents of wickednes: a mighty streame of earth…y thoghts and worldlie desires lik a Torrent carieth our Soules down the hill from all heauenlie contemplations: The clawing flatterers of our worldly affections whisper vntounto vsus that it is good for vsus to bee heere.

The sicke Man.

The Lord subdue the master sinne A prayerwhich like a Ring-leader and head of all wickednesse, maketh all our purest conceptions of heauen to be come moodie and drumlie.

O Lord, let thy graces in mee beeA prayer presentlie vp in armes for to remoue all such earthlie mindednesse from mine heart, by the power of thy diuine Armerouse vp this drousie soule, that it may seeke thee afresh by a renewed act of Faith and Repentance: Make mine heart to detaste all earthlie pleasures which are but rotten at the heart: Kindle in mine heart a louelove of thy Palace aboue, stirre vp p. 826all my desires with a foretaste of the pleasures that are there; that finding the comfortable relish thereof I may most willingly desire to be dissolued and to bee with Christ in the heauens for euer: O Lord, in stead of all meanes both outward & inward, supplie mee aboundantlie with the presence of thy Spirit: Waine my Soule from the louelove of the earth, that thou may winne it to the louelove of the Heauens.

O happie they who studie to pietie and puritie for no vncleane thing shall bee able to enter into these mansions.

O Lord, let vsus not bee like these who A prayerafter that they hauehave seemed to disgorge their stomackes most filthilie with the Dogge, swallow vp their owne vomit againe: O shelter mee and saue me from the vnsoundnesse and vnsettlednesse of a deceitfull heart, that I lash not out into the excesse of supperfluitie of wickednesse: now p. 827while wee are speaking of the heauens, make all the louelove of the earth hencefoorth to bee cryed downe into my Soule.

The Pastour.

Lord, heare thou in Heauen: I am rejoyced that while we are speaking of the heauens, the Spirite of grace furnisheth you with such heauenlie prayers which would hearten any man, to runne thorow hell to Heauen, except that hee bee of the number of these who thinke it but a tricke to goe to hell.

The sicke Man.

I pray you now Sir, to continue into that purpose concerning the glorie of Heauen, for it affecteth much my Soule: Your powerfull speach maketh my minde to stay in a feeling meditation vponupon these beauties that are aboue.

**NoteIf I heard not such good purpose, my mind would either feede vponupon dull and fruitlesse melancholie, p. 828or else should gade and runne ryot in reuellings and in a world of foolish and fond imaginations.

**NoteThe thoughts of man cannot runne long without rubor interruption in Spirituall things, except that God in merciemercy both support them outwardlie and sinew them inwardlie by the finger of his Spirit: The hearts of men are so light in their gading that moste easilie are they moued to glide ouer the best things, and either swinishlie to wallow infilthinesse, or furiouslie to follow these whose whole pregnancie of witte is spended vponupon trifles: Thus mirrilie they passe away that tyme wherein they should redeeme the time that is past.

I wish that mine heart by your discourse were confined to celestiall meditations: Proceede now I pray you where yee left at last.

The Pastour.

My speach was that all the most p. 829glorious creatures that wee can either see aboue or below are lesse thā shadowes, types or figures, of things that are within the Heauens.

**NoteIn them as in a Glasse we see weaklie the invisible things of God: As a man not beeing able to face the Sun beholdeth him in a Basen, full of water, and yet not without some dazeling of his sight: That weakened light will mak his eyes to water, and teares to trickle downe: If the glory of one of Gods seruants be so glistering in robes of light, that no man can behold him but into the glasse of another creature, and that also with great paine. It is certaine that God must put many moe creatures betweene himselfe and vsus, that the glorie of his beames beeing weakened by diuerse reflexes from one creature to another, man with his weake tender eyes may looke vponupon his light.

**NoteIf a man cannot beholde the Sunne in the day, hee may in the p. 830night behold his beames vponupon the bodie of the Moone: If his sight yet cannot suffer that, hee may behold him in his second reflexe by beholding the Moone in a glasse: If as yet his sight dazle, there is a third and weaker reflexe: By another glasse thou may gette the reflexe of that glassen reflexe.

**NoteCertainlie there must bee manie reflexes of Gods brightnes from one creature to another, before that his invisible things can bee seene by vsus: What glorious beames of Gods face thinke yee be these which shine within that highest Heauen called, Coelum Empyrium, the fierie Heauen? not that there is fire, but because (as the most Learned thinke) it is purer than al the other heauens as much as the fire is purer than the other Elements: O what shining brightnesse of God is to be seene there where all is more glauncing and cleare, than that fire which Moses saw in the Bush.

p. 831**NoteLet vsus come down from thence to behold the glorious Stars y^e twinckling eyes of Heauen, laughing vponupon the godlie with their celestiall smyles: O these bright and peerelesse Pearles. Let vsus from thence come downe to the two great Gouernours of the dayGen. 1. 16Gen 1:16 and of the night from thence descend to the cleare pureaire so glauncing with the light of the Sunne as if it were all of Azure: Come downe yet, and vnderunder that are Aquae limpidae, the cleare waters, the mother of Pearles and of precious gold, for the weakest eye there is terra opaca that thicke da…ke, duskish, and lumpish masse of earth which a bleare eyed Leah, may behold, for in it to see without watering eyes the invisible thinges of God, were it by looking vponupon a Lillie, or a Rose or vponupon a Snaile or a Snaike.

**NoteBehold the goodnesse of God, who hath sette his creatures by degrees in distance from the place of p. 832his inaccessible light that thereby the bleared eyes of men may get some glimpse of the shadowes of his invisible thinges which are of truest worth.

**NoteBut O, O, O, what a glorie and matchlesse fairenesse is there where God the King of Glorie is seene face to face O the glorie of the God-head: The knowledge of the least sparkle of that glorie is not attainable by any carnall capacitie.

**NoteBecause of that brightnesse that was in Moses his face by the reflexe of that Light which hee had seene but in IEHOVAHS backe partes, it behouedExod. 34. 33Exod 34:33 him to couer his face with a Vaile when hee came for to speake vntounto men: Was the skinne of the face of a sinner so inlightened with bright beames from the Back of God, that no man could behold it, nor looke toward it till it was couered with a Vaile? How many Vailes must God put betweene his face & ours, p. 833lest we should be dazeled with his glorie? I take all the circles of y^e heauens, the Fire and Aire aboue vsus to bee as many obscuring Vailes which the Lord hath cast betweene the Glorie of his face & the eyes of sinful man: **NoteAnd yet in the Sunne hee hath fastened such a sparkle of his glorie, that by his heate & his brightnes, he will cause man the king of creatures to bee ashamed to behold him: Hee will cause him flie vntounto the shadowes, and goe with Gogle eyes of Glasse, for to saue his eyes of flesh from the reflexe of his beames thogh blunted vponupon the darke and duskie element of the earth: See how mans sight is so weake that it cannot abide an earthlie blunted reflexe of that celestiall creature.

What shall I say more of the heauens which are so farre aboue vsus? **NoteLet vsus come downe and learne humilitie at the feete of creaturesAct. 22. 3.Acts 22:3 below as at the feete of a Gamal… p. 834euen in this elementare▪ Region of corruption: **NoteBehold there is such a whitenesse into the snow which is but frozen and congealed blacke water, that it will mak the dull sight of man so to dazle, that when hee is entered into his owne house, hee is not able to know the faces that are his owne, yea, many by such brightnes, at last hauehave lost their sight: Let mee yet come to an obscurer bodie: The small printed Letters which wee read must be darkened with y^e blacknesse of inke; and yet because the whitenes of the Paper scattereth so the sight, it must bee gathered with the greenish colour of glassen Spectacles.

**NoteNow I pray you, how should man behold that passing glory of his God, who cannot behold the whitnesse of Paper but with borrowed eyes of Glasse?

Let men heare learne in his weaknesse to bee humble, and to reuerence p. 835him that hath made so many creatures, which for brightnesse he is not able to behold: **NoteIf poore man cānot behold the apparrell of Gods creatures clothed with light, or with colours not seene without light: If such a little glaunce is able to dazle his sight, how should hee bee able to behold the King of creatures, euen the great Creator him selfe; whose backe partes are brighter than tenne thousand Sunnes.

Because of this great weaknesse caused into man by sinne, man is remoued farre from the presence of this King, lest hee should bee destroyed by the brightnesse of his beames: **NoteIf while the Sunne shineth with his beames darded directlie down, y^e creatures are so parched with heate below that they are constrained to gaspe, what should become of vsus, if Gods glorie should appeare at our verticall point without the interposition of many other p. 836creatures betweene him and vsus? If a little sparkle of his Glorie in the Sunne many thousand myles from vsus, maketh a man to faint, sweate, and gaspe, what should become of vsus, if God himselfe the consuming Heb. 12. 29Heb 12:29fyre should approach vntounto vsus? If the Sunne which seemeth to bee but of an hand-breadth hath such light and heate, what should it bee if all the heauens were inlightened like the Sunne? Though all the heauens were turned into a Sun, they should not be of such brightnesse as are the backe-parts of IEHOVAH: The Sun Exod. 33. 23Exod 33:23with all his light and heate may mak the face of man more obscure and duskie, but cannot inlighten it: But the backe partes of God, printed such light into the face of a man, that for brightnesse no man could behold it.

**NoteMercifull God, what stupiditie is this in man, that hee will not consider what a Majestie this must bee, whose obscurest parts are more p. 837bright than the Sunne, and who with all is not confined with natural dimensions, as with breadth or length, but is aboue the Heauens infinitlie with infinite bounds and brightnesse the least sparkle whereof is more bright than if the whole Heauens were wholie tarned into a shining Sunne.

**NoteIf men knew the pleasures that are there, they wold not losse them for y^e painefull pleasures, or rather vnpleasant paines of this sinfull life: Alas, that we are so carelesse of the attainment of such a weight of glorie: Alas, that wee gaze so greedilie vponupon the painted and varnished vanishing glorie of things below which all perish with the vsing.

**NoteIf men knew what relish is into these dainties that are aboue prepared for the Sainctes, they would not so glut themselues with the swinish …uskes of earthlie thinges, but would reserue their lust, for that whereof there is no loathing: Fye on men p. 838that for follie should losse such an inheritance that fadeth not away.1 Pet. 1. 4.1 Pet 1:4

**NoteIn this world wee hauehave Bethel the house of God, but aboue is Peniel the place of Gods face, wherein are pleasures for euermore: Below allPsal. 16. 1…Ps 16:1 pleasures ebbe and flow with discontent and comfort: But aboue is an euerlasting full sea of joyes which could neuer enter into the heart of man: VnderUnder the Law God was hid vnderunder a vaile: In the Gospel wee see him in a glasse: But in heauen2 Cor. 3. 18.2 Cor 3:18 we shall see him face to face, and that indeede euen as hee is.

The sicke Man.

Mine heart by these wordes is possest with a secret louelier auishment: Continue I pray you to declare what more beaucie is within that Paradise: **NoteLet me heare of these pleasures, which the Sainctes there hauehave in the presence of their God, and what bee the order and chiefe ornaments of that Palace, what bee the p. 839attyre of these y^t follow the Lambe, & what be the forme of their feasting at table with Abraham, Isaac, & Iaacob.

The Pastour.

**NoteSuch things are transcendent to all the wits of Nature and to all created inuentions: It is good that wee beware to launch too farre into such a boundlesse and bottomelesse Ocean.

**NoteWhat is the compasse of mans braine little like a Nut-shell, that it should containe conceptions of that which is infinit? God who killed the Bethshemites for looking into his Arke, and reproued the Galileens 1 Sam. 6. 191 Sam 6:19gazing vp to the Heauens, will not allow men to pierce and prye curiouslieAct. 1. 11.Acts 1:11 into his misteries which surpasse all created capacitie: **NoteOur greatest wisedome shall bee to wonder at that which passeth the reach of all reason and reuelation: **NoteIt may well content the most curious Soule to bee of Gods Court though it be not of his secret Counsell: **NoteIn nothing p. 840mans reason appeareth more reasonable, than to cease from reasoning in that which is aboue his reach.

The matter is heere so high that all words forsake mee as it were confessing that they are neither fit nor able to expresse such wonderfull misteries: **NoteAs the heauens could not bee measured but with a Reede of gold, so cannot these heauenlie things bee declared but in the golden language of heauen which our sinfull mortalitie can neither speake nor vnderstand: **NoteIt is dangerous for man to be curious to learne what God esteemeth not necessarie to teach: Man must not hauehave eares to listen where God hath not a tongue to speake, Gods silence should teach all men sobrietie in searching.

In that royall Palace of pleasures aboue without doubt bee comfortes & contentments, yea, and such, I am perswaded, as greater the Sunne and Moone the two eyes of Heauen neuer p. 841saw: What say I greater? The image of such thinges could neuer enter into the heart of man.

**NoteIn my judgement all the Godlie at the first sight of heauens glorie shall bee like men in a dreame: As it is written of Gods people, When the Lord brought againe the captiuitie of Zion, wee were like them that dreame: All such glorie, beautie, and pleasurePsal. 126. 1Ps 126:1 shall bee things so excellent and beyond expectation that for a space they shall seeme to the Saincts incredible, for a space in my judgement the Godlie shall bee like these that dreame, wondering how so great a glorie can possiblie bee.

My minde is now dazeled with such high considerations.

O, O, O, these so vnspeakable beauties that are within that Holie of holies! O the order y^t is there! O the dainties that are on these Tables: OProu. 23. 2Prov 23:2 the Table of that Ruler where all may take of all without, Putting a knife … their throat! p. 842O the apparell of Gods seruāts there: O these fairest flowers which shall decke their garlands of Majestie, O these peerelesse Pearles of price! O these louelie Iemmes! O these celestiall crownes spangled with jewles more glistering than …tarres! O yee Angels and Archangels! O yee all of that heauēly Queire: Cherubins, Seraphins, Princes, Powers, Thrones, Vertues and Dominions, all inflammed with most glorious diuine beames of light! O yee Noble followers of the Lambe all decked with glorie and garlands of immortalitie! O the amazing beauties of these celestiall Mansions! O ye blessed eternized Denizens who liue there into an eternall vnitie of louelove, which no jarres, strife, or debate shall for euer be able to vntwine! O purest Spirits purged from all drossie mood of sinfull mortalitie! O Palace of pleasures wherin Angels & Sainctes all around with celestiall Harpes make all to ring with Holie, Holie, Holie, Halleluiah, Halleluiah, p. 843Halleluiah! O yee purest ple… sures of perfection which no fretting canker of time shall bee able to outweare, or to cancell the owlish eyes of my mind are not able to reach within the bounds of so bright an Horizon: The most I can conceiue is lesse than the least and lightest glory that shall bee there where Soules are solaced without stresse or strife in immortalitie.

**NoteO glorie, glorie, glorie, without any veine of vanitie: Mine heart is rauished and is no more within me.

**NoteWhen the Queene of Shebah came to Ierusalem to see the glorie of Solomon, after that shee had considered1 Kin. 10. 51 Kgs 10:5 the meate of his Table, and the sitting of his seruants, and the attendance of his Ministers, and their app… rell, & his Cup bearers, it is said, That there remained no more spirit in her. All her spirits in a manner ran out of her by the holes of her senses, for to come & sit downe & wonder at the p. 844glorie of the man: Thus wondering shee remained for a space, as if shee had beene amazed, till her stupified spirit returned into her againe: then shee began to speake, It was a true 1 King. 1… 6.1 Kgs 1:6report that I heard in mine owne Land of thine actes and of thy wisedome, howbeit I belieued not the wordes vntill vers. 7.I came, and mine eyes had seene it: And behold the halfe was not told mee: Thy wisedome & prosperitie exceede the fame which I hauehave heard: Happie are vers. 8.thy men, happie are these thy seruantes which stand continuallie before thee, and that heare thy wisedome.

**NoteConsider how the glorie of a man in its greatest not comparable to the glorie of a Lillie, drew the spirite so out of the Queene of Shebah, Luk. 12. 27Luke 12:27that for a space shee was not able to speake: Shee wondered at that which shee saw, but what shee had seene shee could not vtter in words, bu… onelie said in generall, that shee had heard a true report which she could p. 845not belieue vntill shee came, and her eyes had seene it: And nowe whe… shee hath seene, shee declareth that the halfe had not beene tolde her.

Consider well I pray you: **NoteIf the beholding of the glorie of an earthlie Prince so rauished the heart not of a rusticke that will easilie wonder at any thing, but of a Queene, yea, and so that no more spirit remained in her, what should it bee if we should get but as through the gra… one sight thorow the heauens of that great God of Solomon sitting vponupon his Throne?

**NoteIf but for the quarter of an houre wee might see the meate of his Tabl…, and the standing of his seruants▪ & the attendance of his Ministers, Saincts & Angels casting downe their Crownes at his feete, if, I say, wee could see these things as they are this our Spirit shuld be caried toward him wit… such a strong bent affection, tha… … should not tarie within vsus, but being p. 846rauished should runne out of this body of clay for to goe abide with him that made it among pleasures perfectlie abstracted from paine.

**NoteIf God as hee is should appeare vntounto vsus were it neuer so little, the bonds of our bodies should not be able for to fetter so our Soules, but at the first sight of God they with a most flagrant desire should flutter out of sinfull clay, for to enjoye his most amiable presence, wherein are pleasures exempted from all hazard of surprysall.

**NoteThat which I say giueth some light to these wordes which God said to Moses, No man can see my face Exod. 33. 22Exod 33:22and liue: As for the wicked I giuegive this interpretation, that the sight of Gods face shuld kil them▪ as light killeth darknes, or as y^e day is the slaughter of the night: But God who killeth not but quickeneth the killed of his owne chosen, if by them hee were seene in the face on earth they shuld p. 847dye not a violent death, but they should die for louelove to bee at him: At the first sight of his Face their Soules would not remaine any more in clay, but loathing their bodies, they should make haste for to flie toAct. 7 56,Acts 7:56 their God: So soone as Steuen saw the Heauens opened, & the Son of man standing at the right hand of God, his Soule tooke post to the heauens: Albeit the Burrios thought that they chaised it out with stroakes and with stones, yet it is certaine that fra once hee got that sight, his Soule was more desirous to bee out of his bodie, for louelove of Heauen, than the Soule of the most wicked man can bee desirous to abide still within for feare of Hell.

**NoteThere is such an attractiue louelove in Gods countenance, that if the Soule in flesh could once see it, the bodie should not bee able to keepe it any more within, no not for the space of a moment: As the load stone p. 848draweth vntounto it the yron by a secret and vnspeakable draught, so in the face of God there is such an attractiue force, that of neede force the godlie Soule at the first sight of it must flie vp vntounto it: As the Sun by the force of his beames raised vp the vapours towardes heauen, euen so if God would but turne his face to anie Soule, with the least blinke thereof, hee should draw vp that Soule vntounto himselfe like a vapour raised vp by the force of the Sunne. **NoteConsider how the sight but of his backe partes maketh many a well resolued Christian to cry vp vntounto him Cupio dissolvi, I desire to bee dissolued: What is that but the faithfull Soule haling like an Hawke for to flie from the mortall heart as from the hand of a stranger, for to come home to her Lord in eternitie? O thrise happie hee whose name is in the Booke, and whose Soule is in the bundle of life.

p. 849**NoteO the gaine that wee hauehave by the merciemercy of God in the fall of Adam: In Paradise man might liue or die: On earth hee now liueth and must die: But in Heauen wee shall so liue, that wee can no more die: O blessed life of eternitie neuer to hauehave an end into that other world: Oh that wee could spend this life in a sacred violence in pursute of that celestiall crowne of immortalitie: **NoteHappie is hee who keepeth a narrow watch ouer all the stirringes and imaginations of his heart in consideration of that day. **NoteHappie is hee who maketh all his joys & pleasures and all his best beloued thinges below to bee by standers waiting on the seruice of that one thing which onelie is necessarie.Luk. 10. 42Luke 10:42

The sicke Man.

My Soule is so rauished with you… speach that it flutters within mee … haleth to bee away from this mortalitie for to goe dwell into these p. 850heauenlie Mansions with the God of glorie: Our best thinges below in their verie quintessence are defiled with the moode of home bred corruption: All hauehave neede to be renewed in the verie spirit of their minde. Let it please you Sir yet to continue in describing the beautie of Paradise.

The Pastour.

If man o… Earth could belieue the beautie of the Heauens to be in any measure such as it is, hee would bee glad at his heart to forsake the moulding cottages of clay: Seeing the out-sid of heauen is so glorious what must bee the in side? Solomons Temple was a type of Heauen: The further a man went in, he saw the greater beautie: In the out most▪ Cou… was but an Altar of brasse, for the s… crificing of beastes: Into the inward Court▪ stood an Altar of Gold for offering of incense & of sweet persum…s▪ But that which was in most, viz▪ Sanctum Sanctorum the Holie of holies p. 851was all full of Glorie: There God himselfe was heard in a voyce beetweene the Cherubins: There was the Ark called, aa1 Sam. 4. 221 Sam 4:22The Glorie, wherin were the bbHeb. 9. 4Heb 9:4Tables of Gods word, Aarons flourished Rod & the Manna: There was the Word for the instruction of the Soule: There were the Almond floorishes like a pleasant Spring for rejoycing of the eye: There also was Mannah for meate, the type of that euerlasting Soule▪ feast in y^e Heauens Behold a compend of the three most pleasāt seasons of the yeare: First, there was the seed of the word; & after that the Summer flowers of pleasure in the flowrishing Rod: And last there was y^e fruitfull haruish of Manna for meat: In a word in that Holie of holies the figure of Heauen was the Merciesea… the speciall place of Gods residence: But all the beautie of that Temple were not sufficient to expresse the shadowe of these that are aboue the starres.

p. 852**NoteS. Paul after that hee had beene rauished vp to the third heauens got a charge from God that hee should not tell what hee had heard or seene there: Onelie this hee declared after that hee was come downe, that vp into Paradise hee had heard vnspeakable words which no tongue of2 Cor. 12. 42 Cor 12:4 flesh could bee able to pronounce: But though such words had beene speakable the Apostle declareth that it was not lawfull for a man to vtter them.

**NoteAlas, what can the earthlie low creeping wor…s of our highest eloquence expresse of these joyes that are aboue the Heauen of heauens? Hee who with penne and inke would set out the greatnes of that glory which is to bee seene within that blessed Building, should bee as who would foolishlie tak paines to paint the Sun with a coale: In vaine shall a man prease to expresse that which cannot be spokē but into vnspeakable words▪ p. 853Words come shorter than thoghts, and thoughts come shorter infinitly than the thing it selfe.

The sicke Man.

I hauehave heard with great ioye of the vnspeakable glorie of God himselfe, & of the beautie of his Princelie Palace: I desire now to heare some thing more at large concerning the estate of the Sainctes wherein they shall be when they shall dwell with God after the resurrection.

The Pastour.

It is most certaine that they shalbe there into a farre better estate than wee can imagine: **NoteFor if Da…id thought one day in Gods earthly hous… better th… a thousand else where, whatPsal. 84. …0Ps 84 shall it bee when wee shall bee in Heauen, the Citie of our GOD, whereof God is the House and the Temple?

The Saincts shalbe in such glorie there, as that no earthlie tongue can tell: **NoteIf in this world by be: holding p. 854in a glasse the glorie of the Lord, 2 Cor. 3. 18.2 Cor 3:18wee are changed into that same Image from glorie to glorie, what a change shalbee made when we shall see not Gods Image, not in a glasse, but himselfe face to face? If the sight of his Image in the glasse of his Gospel hath such a working power as to change vsus into the same Image heere on earth, what a change shall bee made of vsus in the Heauens, when we shall see God euen as hee is? All the1 Ioh. 3. 2.1 John 3:2 godlie Gods warriours then shall liue in peace and rest: **NoteAs their life on earth was a continuall battell, so shall their life in Heauen bee a perpetuall triumph: Then the winter of their affliction shall bee past: The stormes of their miserie shall blowe no more: **NoteOn Earth joyes and sorrowes are combined together: In Hell is sorrow without any joye: In Heauen shall bee joye without anie sorrow: There they all in bleached coats of righteousnes shall blaze brighter p. 855than the Sunne: God beeing in them shall burne in them as hee did in the Bush: They shall burne but not bee consumed.

While S. Iohn was rauished in the Spirit, he behelde a great multitude which no man could number, all standing before the Lambes Throne cloathed in white robbes which had beene bleached from their blemish by the blood of the Lambe: **Notehauing the testimonie of two Senses, he reporteth what hee saw and heard: With his eyes hee saw them cloathed with Reuel. 7. 9.Rev 7:9white robes and Palmes in their hands: The one was their innocencie, the other was their victorie: With his eares hee heard the songs of their triumph. They cryed, said hee, with a loude voyce, Saluation to our God which Reuel. 7. 10Rev 7:10sitteth vponupon the Throne: With them were Angels & Elders roūd about the Throne, all falling down vponupon their face, and singing, Blessing, and glorie, vers. 10.and wisedome and thankesgiuing, p. 856and honour, and power, and might bee vntounto our God for euer and euer: Then with vncōquerable comforts shall all Christes crouding Turtles bee loueinglie comforted: **NoteThen shall all their sighes bee turned into songs: Then joyes vnspeakable shall fill all their senses without any surfet: Euerie Sense shall receiue more than all mortal hearts can conceiue: **NoteBut which is of all good things the sweetest relish, there shall bee such vnspottednesse of life and louelove among the Saincts as the heart of man here cannot conceiue: EueryEvery one shall rejoyce of anothers wel as much as they shall doe of their own felicitie: The enuious man seeds-man of all strife & debate shall not be there: **NoteAll selfeloue which is of a niggardlie nature enuious of the good of others, shall be quite away, & in the place therof shall come such an heauenlie louelove that shall make all the joyes of Heauen to be common: **NoteAs was in the p. 857primitiue Church so shall bee there, but in greater perfection, a communitie of goods: One shall not say, This is mine or that is thine: But as wee shall bee all in Christ, & Christ in vsus, so shall wee bee all one in another filled one with anothers joye: All state of strife then shalbe farre away.

In Ierusalem aboue an euerlasting peace is within her walls, and perpetuall prosperitie within her Palaces: All the godlie glistering like starres, shall rejoyce one into anothers light: **NoteEuerie one of them by twinkling and be… kning vntounto other with celestiall smiles shall bend all their force for to giuegiveMal. 4. ….Mal 4 glorie to the Sunne of righteousnesse the fountaine of all their light.

**NoteAll Soules there shall bee most wonderfullie beau…fied with internall, externall, and eternall happinesse: There God onelie shall speake peace vntounto his people and vntounto his Sainctes, who shall neuer returne againe to their folies.

p. 858**NoteMans chiefe contentment in the heauens shalbe in louelove, first with God, and then of one with another▪ O these euerlasting streames of contentmentes which shall flowe into these blessed breastes sequestred for euer from all doole and distresse.

The sicke Man.

Lord, make all these thinges to liue freshlie in our memories: My Soule is inflammed with louelove to heare of that louelove which shall bee betweene God and his Saincts and among the Sainctes themselues: Your discourse Sir, with a plausible and pleasant insinuation windeth it selfe into the affections of mine heart: It hath alreadie winne mine heart to him to whome it most justlie belongeth: Blessed bee his Name for euer.

Seeing yee were speaking of that vnspeakable louelove that shalbe between God and vsus, and also among our selues, I pray you to say some thing more concerning that matter.

p. 859The Pastour.

I shall doe what I can brieflie: **NoteAs for God, eueryevery Soule shall louelove him better than it selfe, because it shall then perfectlie know that God hath loued it more than euer it was able to louelove it selfe. As for all the Saints, wee shall louelove them equallie with our selues, as beeing all members of that mysticall Bodie: **NoteThen and not till then shall bee the perfect practise of that second great command the summe of the second Table Luk. 10. 27Luke 10:27which is, to louelove our neighbour as our selues: **NoteIf the Soule of this naturall Bodie in the toyle of our pilgrimage hath such a commande ouer our naturall affections, that it maketh vsus to louelove all the members, and euerie member to worke equallie well for the good of another: O mercifull God, what greater louelove shall proceede from that Spirite of LoueLove, which shall bee in the Heauens, euen the Soule of that mysticall bodie of all the Elect?

p. 860**NoteLooke how much grace surpasseth Nature, and Glorie surpasseth Grace, the Spirit of God which shall animate this bodie, shall so much more straitlie make the members thereof to liue in LoueLove: **NoteThe holier the Soule bee within a man the greater louelove & concord is betweene his members: But if the Soule be not holie, all the members will shortlie discord: The one Hand will cut off the other: The Hand will wound the Heart, or cut the throat; and the Mouth will bite the Fingers: But O, what louelove shall bee then among the members, when our Sanctification shall bee made so perfect, that nothing more can bee added vntounto it! O what louelove, peace and concord shall bee there, where God who is louelove like a more powerfull 1 Ioh. 4. 8.1 John 4:8and noble forme shall in an vnspeakable manner informe all the members of that mysticall bodie! Wee all then shall accord to one thing: All our wils shall bee according to p. 861Gods▪ will: And eue…ie one of our wills with another shall bee like our two eyes whereof the one cannot so soone turne, but the other must follow after it for to behold the same object.

**NoteWee cannot now comprehen… this: For mans reason heere on earth is like a riuen vessell which can not containe the discourse of immortalitie: Our mindes are so drossie & …mpish that they cannot conceiue euerlasting matters.

Wee speake now of LoueLove: O but LoueLove now is litle among men: **Notewe may say of it in this last age▪ as Lot saidGen. 19, 20▪Gen 19:20 of Bel…h▪ Is it not a little one? Though it bee little now, it shall bee great in these dayes: Then shall it defie all sickle and foolish changes.

**NoetIn this worlde belowe three graces dwell into the Soule of man like three sisters, viz. Faith, Hope▪ and Charitie, two of them conv…ye the godlie Soule vntounto the doores p. 862of Heauen, viz. Faith and Hope, but Charitie entereth in: The Lord openeth his Doore to LoueLove: **NoteFaithHeb. 11. 1Heb 11:1 beeing a substance of things not seene, so soone as the Soule commeth to sight, it ceaseth to be, because there is no such substance there: Hope being of things to come, so soone as the future is become present, it hath no more a doe: But LoueLove entereth in, and as fyre posteth vp to fyre, so LoueLove swiftlie flieth to God, for God is LoueLove, 1 Ioh. 4. 8.1 John 4:8and for to speake so, the verie element of Lou… Till LoueLove bee at him it is like a thing out of its element the place of its …ost▪ there shall our soules feede on his LoueLove: In such a feeding they shall bee as if they were euer hungrie and as if they were euer satisfied: **NoteAs the heauens hunger is without any laking, so is its fulnesse without any loathing: **NoteOn Earth as it is said,

Voluptates commendat rarior vsus.

p. 863Single vse maketh pleasures the more agreeable: But in Heauen the more our Soules shal hauehave, the more they shall desire: The more they shall desire, the more they shall receiue: So by an infinite multiplication, joyes, and pleasures, and contentments shalbe heaped vponupon godlie Soules for euer, like fyre in fuell, which, suppone the fuell be infinite, can neuer die out but day lie increasseth, as it were from a sparkle to a flame.

What shall I say more? There shall bee such a fulnesse of all good thinges, that no Soule shall bee able to receiue a greater desire of more: All shall bee content, all shall bee vnspeakablie glorious and made perfect: There shall be no blemish into our bodies, nor sinne in our Soules: Iaacob shall not halt, Mephibosheth shall goe straight, blind Isaac then shall see, & Leah shal no more be bleared▪ y^e deafe shall heare, & the dumbe shall speak: p. 864The lame man shall leape as an Hart, …a. 35. 6.and the dumbe mans tongue shall sing: Then shall these words bee perfectlieEzek. 28. 24.Ezek 28:24 performed, There shalbe no more a pricking briar vntounto the house of Israel or any grieuing thorne of all that are round about them.

**NoteThen shall our wearied Soules find aboue the highest circumference of Heauen, the Centre of our rest.

God then shall bee our Sanctuarie in whom we shall hauehave joye and gladnesse without feare of ending: O folie, folie, folie! Why should we for such earthlie toyes losse such celestiall joyes? **NoteHee that for so little pleasure losseth that which Christ hath bought with so great paines, as said a Father,

Stultum Christum reputat mercatorem.S. Aug.

That is, Hee thinketh Christ to bee a foolish buyer, while indeed he himselfe is a most foolish seller: **NoteWhen one day with prophane Esau he shall p. 865bitterlie repent his bargane, then shall hee know what a pennie-worth hee hath of all his pleasures.

The sicke Man.

Alas, that men cannot consider▪ O my God, master and mortifie all such corruptions within mine heart, that they be not able to lay my soule open to Sathans temptations.

But to proceede in our purpose, what thinke yee shall bee the chiefe exercise of Soules in Heauen?

The Pastour.

It shalbe to sing Psalmes of praise, and to follow the Lambe whether soeuer hee goeth, from East to West, or from South to North.

The sicke Man.

**NoteAlas, that for this pricke of earth men should doe that which shall debarre them from that Palace of pleasure: Our bodies as yee thinke shall not then bee wearied in following the Lambe, were it to goe neuer so farre.

p. 866The Pastour.

O not: **NoteThen shall our Soules bee refined from the drosse of sinne: Then shall wee bee free of all this lumpishnesse of clay caused by sinne, wherewith now wee are both cloyed and clogged: **NoteOur motion then shall bee swifter than the Sunne in his course: As with a…thought our hearts will compasse the Heauens▪ so shall wee goe most swiftlie whether wee desire: As by the motion of the Eye wee looke from East to West, or as the Sunne beames while he ariseth are suddenlie darted from the one end of Heauen to the other, so shall it be of our motion then, for we shall bee carried with the infinite power of God, which shall not be subject to the Lawes of naturall motions below: As for example, here can be no motion without resistance: **NoteAll motions whether from aboue or siō below or ouerthwartlie▪ finde enemies by the way opponing themselues to p. 867that which is moued, as Edom did to the Israelites, saying, Thou shalt Numb. 20 18.Num 20:18not passe by mee: The stronger the opposition bee, the motions are the slower: Man cannot wade thorow waters so swiftlie as runne thorow the aire vponupon the earth, because the partie is stronger which is against him, all things goe so below, but aboue no bodies shall oppose themselues to the Children of God: What euer bee aboue, all shall goe with them, they shall bee like shippes before the winde, carried with a mightie gale: There is nothing heere like vntounto that that shall bee into that celestiall Fabricke.

But not bee curious to diue into such deepes: **NoteThis is certaine, that the Sainctes shall bee carried there with the force of an vnspeakable power, and that without anie wearinesse: They shall runne, saithIsa. 40 31Isa 40:31 the Prophet, and not bee wearie, they shall walke and not faint: What can p. 868these want who beeing companions Psal. 16. 11Ps 16:11of the blessed Angels, shall abide with him in whose face is fulnesse of delight: **NoteThere all our pleasures shall bee so pure that no vncleane inclination shall be able by any juggling feat of conueiance to cogge in it selfe into our heartes any more: O the foolishnesse of mans blind and bewitched heart, that for a moment of toylesome time should losse that Eternitie of joye.

The sicke Man.

Thinke yee that in Heauen wee shall bee of diuerse ages, Children, men, or olde men, as wee were here when wee deceased?

The Pastour.

It is hard to tell wee must not swerue from the wisedome of Gods word: Scripture heere is silent: But seeing Heauen is the place of perfection, it is probable as some Diuins thinke, that in Heauen all shall bee in greatest perfection: Seeing say, p. 869they, that infancie is imperfection and olde age is defection, none of two are conuenient for bodies that are perfectlie glorified: **NoteAs the Sunne taketh the mid course of Heauen, so shall the godlie, who shall shine like Sunnes, abide in the middest beeweene the Poles of all extremities, for there shalbe y^e perfection of Vertue, Age, Stature, Beautie, and of all that shall concerne them: **NoteAll shall bee content, for all shall drinke their filles out of the Riuer of the vnmixed pleasures & perfections of God, which neither Man nor Deuill, the strength of Hell, or length of eternitie shall euer bee able to trouble or make drumlie.

The sicke Man.

There is one thing which earnestlie I desire to know, viz. Whether or not wee who on earth hauehave liued together, and loued one another, shall know each other into Heauen.

The Pastour.

It is thought that so shall be, and p. 870that because of the presence of God, in whom is such a Light that by it wee shail see and know these whom wee neuer did see or know on earth.

**NoteWhen Christ was transfigured Luk. 9. 28Luke 9:28vponupon mount Tabor, down came Moses & Elias whō the Apostles had neuer seene of before: Though they had neuer seene them before that, yet by the light of Christes transfiguration they were so inlightned that they did perfectlie know what they were: If the sight of that figured light, gaue such a knowledge vntounto sinners that they knew these whom they had neuer seene, what shall it bee when all obscure figures and also our sins▪ which maketh all good thinges obscure, shall bee remoued; and God shall bee All in all.

**NoteBut though we should all know one another: as I thinke indeede we shall▪ all these carnall respectes which are heere▪ as of Father, Mother▪ Wife & Childrē, shall all fall from vsus, lik the 2 Kin. 2▪ 132 Kgs 2:13mantle of Elias, before wee enter into p. 871Heauen for to enjoye these Empyrian pleasures which are so far aboue the fadome and reach of all changable mortalitie.

**NoteWee thinke much now of such earthlie respectes which are indeede Coagulum hujus vitae, the verie curding and joyning together of greatest naturall contentments.

But seeing all such things are but things of Child-hoode, they shall not enter into our thoughtes when wee shall bee perfect men into the Heauens, the presence-Chamber of our1 Cor. 13. 111 Cor 13:11 God: When I was a Childe, saide S. Paul, I spake as a Child, I vnderstood as a Child, I thought as a Childe: But when I became a man I put away childish things.

So long as a man is into this world if hee be compared with that which hee shall bee, hee is but a Child, hee vnderstandeth as a childe, hee speaketh as a Child, and hee thinketh as a Childe: All the dearest naturall respects p. 872that are heere, are but childish things: Seeing they are so, when we shall come to Heauen where we shall bee perfect men, they all shall bee put away.

**NoteI will let you see this in a natural figure: In this world we hauehave that which wee call Child hoode, and that which we call the perfection of a man: Now tell me I pray you, should it be seemelie for a graue Senatour sitting before his Prnce, and confering vponupon the most weightie matters of the Kingdome, to beginne and speak what he did with this Child and that Childe, with whom he was wont to ride vponupon Reedes? Would hee beeing a wise man at such a time beginne to discourse how with these little companions hee builded vnderunder a bowre little houses into the sand, or how in their childish conuentions they made their litle feastes of Pieres▪ Nuts, and Apples? Would a wise man thinke ye in the presence of his Prince p. 873put off the time with such purpose▪ No, not.

When the foolish Child is become a wise man, hee speaketh no more as a Childe, neither vnderstandeth hee as a Childe, neither thinketh he as a Childe: Such childish thinges in Heauen shall not so much as once come into his thought, for that were to thinke as a Childe: That which is now in part shall bee done away, at the comming of perfection, which shall bee in that Coronation day.

**NoteBecause we are heere but children, wee cannot now vnderstand the wisedome of the words & thoughts that wee shall hauehave aboue: Languages then shall cease: One shall not speake English, and another French, and another Spanish: That Babylonish confusion of tongues shall bee taken away, and wee all shall speake the Language of the Lambe: **NoteGod then shall speake no more vntounto his people with stammering lippes and p. 874Isa. 28. 11.Isa 28:11with another tongue: Then shalbe no difference of contrie-men or estates, whether they were borne in Asia, Europe or Affrica: There shall it not bee looked to whether they were Kings or Subjects, Masters or Seruants, bond or free.Col. 3. 11Col 3:11

In the Heauens is neither Greeke nor Iewe, Circumcision, nor vncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond or free: But Christ shall bee All in all: **NoteWhat can bee laking vntounto man, where God shall bee vntounto him All in all, yea, and the Soule of his Soule.

As the Soule is in the whole man, & whollie in euerie part, so shall the whole diuinity in y^e heauens informe the whole mysticall bodie, and bee in it whollie, and that into the least member thereof, God beeing All in all: Then, and not till then, we shall Psal. 36. 8Ps 36:8bee satisfied aboundantlie with the fatnesse of Gods house, and drinke of the Riuers of his pleasures, yea and our Soules, shall feast themselues by all p. 875our senses vponupon vnmixed joyes free from the mudde and distemper of all displeasures: In a worde our heartes shall bee fastened to our God with such cords of louelove which no thing aboue or below shall bee able to vntwine.

Heere is our journeyes end, heere is our resting place from our labours Reuel. 14. 13Rev 14:13and toilesome trauels: Heere is absence of all euill, and presence of all that is good: **NoteHeere the Lambe is the Temple, and the Light▪ and the Tree of Life that bringeth foorth fruite euerie monethmonth, euer new joyes without perishing of the olde, euer new pleasures without any loathing of y^e former, euer new light without any darkning▪ euer new life without any dying euer new delightes, without any dolours, euer new Glorie without any grudge, euer new mirth with out any mudde of miserie: * Bodilie pleasures worke a great desire aye till they bee gotten: But spirituall p. 876delights as a Father said,

Cum non habentur sunt in fastidio.Gregor.

Cum habentur sunt in desiderio.

Before they bee gotten they are loathed: But are they gotten? they are loued: **NoteSo long as our Soules are led hoode-winkt in this our moody and mistie mortalitie, wee cannot thorowlie perceiue this.

O that wee had heartes to consider! O that wee could rightlie mind Col. 3. 1.Col 3:1the thinges that are aboue! **NoteO that our hearts were wained frō this our natiue soile, a place of hunger and cold, a place of nakednesse, sicknesse and sorrow, that wee might earnestlie desire to bee into that holie Land, where wee shall feast on the Tree of Life, and drinke of that Crystall Riuer with pleasures for euermore! SoPsal: 16. 1… long as wee are in this our mortalitie wee must bee still looking till our change come, which being onceIob. 14. 14Job 14:14 made wee shall neuer change anie more: **NoteO then the sweetnesse of the p. 877Crowne shall for euer allay the sow…enesse of the Crosse.

The sicke Man.

Mine heart is wonderfullie rauished with such purpose: I finde my Soule silent within mee, that it may hearken and giuegive good heede to that which ye say: Blessed be he who createth the fruite of the lips: O Lord,Isa. 57. 19.Isa 57:19 come & let thy Spirite take houseroume into mine heart.

Now let vsus come to our purpose againe: So farre as I can obserue your minde is that we all shall know one another in Heauen, but without regard to anie carnall consideration▪ whether they were our Father o… Mother, or our Sister?

The Pastour.

It is euen so: **NoetFor if any particular respect should be had to any it should be of a man to his wife, or a wife to her husband, who must leaue both father & mother and cleaue vntounto another for to become one flesh: Yet p. 878so it is that in Heauen, there shalbe no more particular respect betweene them, than these whom they had neuer seene before: The Lord hath made this plaine: The Saducees who scorned the Resurrection, hauing told Christ y^t there had beene seuen brethren in Israel, which all had married one wife one after another, and that last of all, the woman died also: Now said they, In the Resurrection Luk. 20. 33Luke 20:33whose wife of them shall shee bee?

Iesus answered, and saide, The vers. 34.children of this world marie, and are giuen in marriage: But they that shall vers. 35.bee accounted worthie to obtaine that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marrie, nor are giuen in marriage: Neither can they die anie vers. 36.more, for they are equall vntounto the Angels, and are the Children of God, beeing the Children of the Resurrection: **NoteCertainelie at that day none of these seuen brethren will claime any more acquaintance vntounto that woman, p. 879than vntounto her whom they had neuer seene before that day.

**NoteWhat created thing can allure the eyes of y^e creature, where the CreatorPsal. 73. 25Ps 73:25 is visiblie seene as hee is? Whom hauehave I in Heauen but thee? said, the Psalmist: **NoteAs the Sunne by his beames at his first rising darkneth all the glorious stars, of light so y^t they seeme to flie away from his presence quite out of the heauens: So shall the louelove of God hims…lfe like a greater Light darken and dazle all other desires whatsoeuer: No by-respects shall bee able to hinder vsus to hauehave ou… eye to the maine: Wee shall loath all thinges that we may feast on his fac… wherein is fulnesse of joye.Psal. 16. 11Ps 16:11

The sicke Man.

I desire Sir to know of you whether or not there shall bee degrees of Glorie in the Heauens, or if all shall bee alike in honour.

The Pastour.

The most part are of that opinion▪ p. 880that there shall bee diuerse degrees: their opinion is founded vponupon these1▪ Cor. 15. 411 Cor 15:41 words, There is one glorie of the Sun, and another of the Moone, and another glorie of the Starres: For one star vers. 42.differeth from another star in glory: So also is the Resurrection of the dead, it is sowen in corruption, it is raised in incorruption: **NoteSome of the Learned who esteeme that there shall bee diuerse degrees of glorie in Heauen, think that no such thing is intended in these wordes, but onelie as one Starre differeth from another in glorie, so shall the bodie after the Resurrection differ farre in glorie from the estate wherein it was in this life: according to this it is said, It is sowen in corruption, it is raised in glorie, for to declare the different estate of the godly heere and heereafter.

**NoteFor this assertion concerning degrees of glorie this seemeth to bee most cleare, which is said by Christ to his Apostles: Behold, saide Peter, p. 881wee hauehave forsaken all and followed thee, Matth. 19. 27Matt 19:27What shall wee hauehave therefore? And Iesus said vntounto them, Verilie I say vntounto you, that yee which hauehave followed mee, in the regeneration when the Sonne of man shall sit on the Throne of his Glory yee shall also sit vponupon twelue Thrones, judging the twelue Tribes of Israel.

The sicke Man.

Before yee proceede I pray you to cleare these words, That yee which hauehave followed mee in the regeneration when the Sonne of man shall sitte on his Throne, yee also shall sitte vponupon twelue Thrones: I vnderstand not well what y^e word Regeneration signifieth there▪ To follow Christ in the regeneration▪ what can that bee?

The Pastour.

These wordes bee diuerslie read▪ Some reade them this way, Yee who hauehave followed mee in the regeneration: Others reade them, after this mane… joyning there-with the following words, In the regeneration when the p. 882Sonne of man shall sitte on his Throne, yee also shall sitte: If the words be so joyned, Yee who hauehave followed mee in the regeneration, foreign, the word Regeneration is taken as the most Learned esteeme for the preàching of the Gospel, which Christ brought into the world, whereby a new creation or regeneration of mens heartes and Soules hath beene made in the world: So to follow Christ in the Regeneration is to embrace his Gospel whereby we are regenerate.

**NoteBut in the opinion of the most part foreign Regeneration heere is rather to be joyned with the words following after this manner, In the regeneration they shal sit vponupon Thrones, according to that In regeneration, is as if he had said, In renovatione mundi vel post renovationem mundi in alterò seculo, That is, In the renewing or after the renewing of the World: Indeede regeneration here seemeth …hieflie to signifie the Resurrection p. 883and restoring of our bodies.

The sicke Man.

It would appeare by that saying of Christ in S. Matthew, that the Apostles shall sit vponupon twelue Thrones in greater dignitie than anie others.

The Pastour.

It would seeme so to be: As for Moses, Enos, and Elias, and so many worthie Prophets most glorious instrumēts of Gods grace in this world it would seeme that their glorie there should bee greater than that of common persons: Manie of them Dan. 12. 2Dan 12:2that sleepe in the dust of the earth shall awake: And they that bee wise shall vers. 3.shine as the brightnesse of the firmament, and they that turne many to righteousnesse, as the starres for euer and euer.

The sicke Man.

That & as much is said as well of all the Faithfull as of Prophets & Preachers: thē shall the righteous shine forth Matth. 13 43Matt 13:43as the Sunne in the Kingdome of their p. 884Father: Behold, how all the Righteous shall shine foorth as the Sunne: Likewise, Deborah in her song said▪ Let them that louelove the Lord, bee as the Iudg. 5. 31Judg 5:31Sunne when hee goeth foorth in his might: By this it would seeme that seeing they all shall bee like Sunnes that their glorie shall bee equall.

**NoteMoreouer, let mee reason as I (when I was a Scholler) hauehave heard reason in the Schooles, wee are not saued by anie worth that is in our selues, but onelie by the righteousnes of Christ Iesus: Now for to be saued, a man by Faith must apply vntounto his soule the whole righteousnes of Christ, for Christs righteousnesse diuided cannot saue: Seeing then I a poore Crafts-man or labourer b… my Faith receiue the whole righteousnesse, I receiue as much as Moses, or Elias, Peter, Iames, and Iohn, & so seeing that Righteousnesse is the onelie meritorie cause, I hauing it all by imputation, muste also receiue the p. 885glorie in as great a measure as they: For what can they hauehave, except that righteousnesse, which can deseiue at Gods had any thing that is Eternal? Though a man should giuegive his bodie to bee burnt for the cause of Christ, hee doeth nothing but that which hee is oblished to doe: By this then it would seeme that seeing by the on lie righteousnes of Christ eternall happinesse is merited, and that all that hauehave Faith, must apply vntounto themselues that whole righteousnesse without any diuision, that whosoeuer hath Faith to bee saued, shall receiue as great a degree of glorie as any of the Apostles: Otherwise if ye make difference, ye would seeme to attribute some part of heauens glorie to the worth of mans doings or suff…rings.

The Pastour.

Indeede Sir the m…tter is full of difficulty, many things would seeme to make for that opinion: Particularlie p. 886the Parable of the Talents, for to him that had gained but two Talents with his two, as well as to him who had gained fiue with his fiue, shalbe said, Intra in gaudium Domini, Enter Matth. 25. 23Matt 25:23into thy Masters joye: To all was said alike, Enter into joye: Not thou enter into the greatest joye with thy tenne Talents, and thou into a lower Chamber with thy foure Talents.

**NoteIndeede the arguments are both strong, for, and against both the opinions; yea, so strong that they made a verie learned man after reasoning to and fro, to say,

Vtramque sententiam esse probabilem,Martyr. & habere argumenta ex Scripturis: Neutram tamen ex Scripturis certo confirmari posse.

That is, Both the opinions are probable and hauehave argumentes out of Scriptures, but by no argument out of Scriptures can it bee certainelie prouen that there shall bee degrees p. 887of glorie in a greater measure in some than in others. And therefore, that learned man seeing the matter so vrged with most forcible arguments, leaueth it vndiscussed, as beeing a thing the knowledge whereof is not absolutelie necessare for Saluation: **NoteThere bee manie deepes in Scriptures where the grossest Elephants must swimme: Things absolutelie necessarie for Saluation, are into the plaine shallow foords of the Gospel, where the litle Lambes of Christ may wade ouer for to enter into Canaan: So long as wee are heere, wee know but in part: Multa sunt reservanda futurae scholae: **NoteThere be many things here whereof wee must leaue off the searching out, till from these little Classicke Schooles below wee passe Master into Gods celestiall Vniuersitie aboue: **NoteIt is great wisedome for man to learne heere, Sapere adsobrietatem, To bee sober in his search.

p. 888The sicke Man.

I thanke GOD for this well imployed time: Oh, that all my words had beene from my youth concerning such spirituall purposes: Alas, for euill spent yeares: Oh, that yong men would learne in time to spend well their golden houres: **NoteHappie is hee who weareth out the short time of this sinfull life at the sincere seruice of his God: My Soule now with the pinched forlorne is returning home to the good fare of my Fathers house. HaueHave yee yet any more to say concerning the thinges that are aboue?

The Pastour.

If ye would hauehave a short description of all these things, take it vp in these few words, Eye hath not seene, 1 Cor. 2. 91 Cor 2:9nor eare heard, neither hauehave entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that louelove him.

**NoteNo man can so imagine of such p. 889joye, pleasure, and contentment to bee there, but the thing it selfe shall bee manie stages aboue all humane imaginations: It shall bee our wisedome to imagine that they cannot bee imagined.

**NoteWhen I thinke of that euerlasting and exceeding weight of glorie which… Cor. 4. …7 passeth all vnderstanding, my meditation is dazeled, and my tongue is tacked, the one not beeing able to conceiue, nor the other to describe these thinges, which eye neuer saw, eare neuer heard, and which could neuer enter into the heart of man.

**NoteThis is the godlie mans non vltra, his outmost bounds: There is no created capacitie on earth which can conceiue an euerlasting and exceeding weight of glorie.

The greatnesse of this glorie putteth mee to silence: **NoteSight, and Sense, Feeling and Fruition shall one day teach vsus that which now eye can not see, nor care heare, nor heart conceiue: p. 890So soone as we shall see God as hee is, wee shall know him, and his1 Ich. 3. 2. glorie, as wee are knowne: Then shal we see with our eyes, that which now wee belieue with Faith, which is the substance of thinges hoped for, Heb. 11. 1Heb 11:1& a demonstration or euidence of things not sene: So lōg as we are here in this muddie mortalitie, we liue in a valey of teares, where wee are forced to hange downe our heades, and hange Psal. 137. 2Ps 137:2vp our Harpes, as beeing captiues in Babel: Aboue are the comfortes of Syon, where joyes afresh are infinitlie redoubled.

Now Sir, according to your desire I hauehave spoken at large of this worldes vanitie, and also of the last judgement, and of Heauens glorie, and of Hells horrour: thinke ye that this discourse hath made any motion in your heart, for to make you striue with a stronger straine, to draw neerer vntounto your God?

p. 891The sicke Man.

I thank God from mine heart that mine heart is in another temper and tune, than when yee came first vntounto mee: God by his Spirit in your words, as by a soft & sweete breath hath refreshed my Soule: By Faith my spirituall eye I see nowe Christ the Sunne of righteousnesse arising vponuponMal. 4. 2.Mal 4:2 mine heart with the brightnesse of his beames.

Mine heart now burneth within mee, and panteth with an vnuterable longing for a sight of the face of my God: **NoteNowe, Lord, drawe the Curtaine that some glimpse of joye may yet more clearlie appeare for the recreating of my wearied Soule: O deare Redeemer, no tong can tell how much poore sinners are beholden vntounto Thee, who with a strong Arme hast brought them out of a dry pitte wherein was not a dropZach. 9. 11Zech 9:11 of comfort.

O that deepe and darke dungeon p. 892of sinne that I hauehave beene into! O these blessed beames which my Soule fealeth comming from his countenance! O the Light of that Face which putteth more joye into Psal. …. 7.mine heart, than all the worlde can hauehave when their Wheat, Wine, and Oyle doe most abound.

**NoteO infinite weight of glorie! O pleasures euer to be spoken of though vnspeakeable! O joyes euer to bee thought of, though none heart bee able to conceiue them! O pleasures most pleasant to the eye, though eyes below cannot see them! O, O euerlasting mirth of Musicke! O yee celestiall Tunes, most worthie to bee heard, though eares of flesh cannot heare you! O Tree of Life Reuel. 22. 2.Rev 22:2most sweete to the taste, though sinfull tongues may not taste of thee! O Crystall River proceeding out of the Throne of God and the Lambe, when shall my soule drinke of thee with a full Cuppe▪ **NoteMine heart like an Hart panteth & brayeth after these water brooks:

p. 893Oh, when shall I come and appeare before Psal. 42. 2.Ps 42:2God▪ O my God, keepe mine heart A prayervnderunder some spirituall serise of these blessed delights, till perfectlie I enjoye thee into the armes of my Soule, with the contentment of all contentmentes, then which there can bee no greater.

The Pastour.

It is y^e Lord who with the Eye-Salue Reuel. 3. 18Rev 3:18of his grace hath enlightened your minde: He hath taken out the mots of temptations which of before did mak the eyes of your Soule so to water till they become drumlie: Now Sir yee know full well what it is of God and his goodnesse in the Heauens, where faithfull Soules shall be fed with the bread of Angels and feasted with the daintiest delicates that are aboue.

**NoetThe wicked in this world are like blinde men which eate many moats and flees: They eate them because they cannot sec to discerne them: **NoteAll the knowledge of the wicked is but … p. 894carkase and carion of knowledge: To know God & his Son Christ & him crucified, is the verie marrow & kernell of true happinesse: **NoteA Soule whose eyes y^e Lord hath enlightned with grace, can no more rest off its God, than an element out of its own place: It may well bee detained & with-holden from its place by some stronger power, but no power can make it to rest, till it be there where God hath appointed it to rest.

Your Soule now Sir, is drawing neere vntounto its Rest: The neerer … bee vntounto it, let your motion towards it bee the swifter: **NoteIn this, Grace is like Nature, swiftest at the end of the motion which tendeth vntounto rest.

Vp still with your heart, & rejoyce in your God▪ **NoteHappie are yee who now are flitting from this worlde wherein the sillie Soule as a Ball in a Tenice is tossed from wall to wall, & scourged with the Racket of diuerse p. 895temptations, which by course one after another are readie to catch it at euerie rebound.

**NoteLet your Soule now altogether rejoyce in your Sauiour: That is the only joye which shal neuer be taken from vsus: All other joyes are but li… flying moats in the aire, toyle and toyes, toylesome toyes, For euen in Prou. 14. 13.Prov 14:13laughing the heart is sorrowfull, and the end of that mirth is heauinesse.

The sicke Man.

Blessed bee my Lord for euer: I finde now the beginning of these joyes, which passe all vnderstanding▪ My Spirit hath receiued y^e earnest of immortalitie: **NoteI finde now my Soule in the kindlie temper of a spirituall constitution, which as I am fullie perswaded shall neuer bee troubled with anie moodie mixture of distempered mortalitie, if once this Battell were ended: O the blessed beames of that righteous Sun whichMal. 4. 2.Mal 4:2 shine so brightlie vponupon my Soule▪ p. 896They shall neuer be intercepted by any earthlie interposition of sinfull shadows: **NoteHence foorth nothing shall bee able for euer to …et God & my Soule at oddes: O now nothing shall bee able to affright my Soule any more with dreadfull distempers! to God alone belongeth the glorie.

Well may I say, If the Lord had not Psal. 94. 17Ps 94:17helped mee, it had not failed but my Soule should hauehave beene put to silence.

**NoteI esteeme all the joyes which I feele to be a Cluster of Canaan which my faith lik a trustie Spy hath broght vntounto mee, that thereby I may know the goodnesse of that Land: But because I cannot tell what assaults my Soule may yet suffer, for I finde my former joyes a little ouerclouded: I pray you Sir to conceiue a prayer to God for mee, that the assurance of his pardons may more and more be sealed vp into mine heart that death bee not vntounto mee as a king of feare, but rather as a passage and an entrie p. 897to life eternall: Make earnest requeast for mee, that I die not as the wicked, whose hope doeth perish with their breath, hauing their Soules goared with sinne the sting of 1 Cor. 15. 561 Cor 15:56Death.

O Lord, bring mee an Out. law A prayerby Nature, within the bounds of thy Sheep-folde: Fill nowe my Soule with spirituall and heauenlie inspirations: I hauehave alas, the most parte of my life, beene like roustie yron, vnfitte for anie worke: It hath fared with mee as with the Eye which seeing other thinges, seeth not it selfe▪ nor the face wherein it is fixed: In knowing other things I hauehave remained ignorant of my selfe, a great stranger at home into mine own bosome, from my youth, my Soule sicke of … spirituall dropsie did swell in a conceit of its owne excellencie: Now▪ Lord, wound this pride of life within mine heart, wound it in the head▪ and craze it in the braine: Separate p. 898all iniquitie from mee that nothing wherewith thy Spirit may bee grieued, may harbour in mine heart: VponUpon this earth there hath beene none hoe with my desires, which lik y^e sore crauing Horse-Leach culd say nothing but GiueGive, giuegive: Now, Lord, make my Soule to loath that which I hauehave too much loued, prepare my Soule, emptie it of all that is euill before it come before thy Face, wherein is fulnesse of joy for all SaintsPsal. 16. 1…Ps 16:1 and Angels which are aboue.

Now, Lord, after y^t thou hast cleansed mee by the fierie tryall by beating and battering mine hard heart, let the workman-ship of thine holie hands be to refine me more & more till I become perfectlie a newe creature: O powre this heart into the calmes of thy compassions, that therein as in a mould it may receiue thy liuelie Image: Weede out of mine hearte all carnall and earthlie desires.

p. 899The Pastour.

I blesse the Lord, for such working of his Spirit: According to your desire wee shall bend our knees to God in prayer: While wee are praying, lift vp your heart vntounto God and pray with your Spirit: Set now all your affections in bensell before the Lord: Let vsus all humble our selues heere before our Maker.