The Life Everlasting

glorious a state, ought to regard but a little, all the troubles and labours which he endures for the name of Christ. Yet this does not the wicked sort consider; but it seems to be a matter of no weight unto them, that they submit their soul unto the bondage of innumerable miseries, and suffer the same to be mastered with the flames of naughty lusts.

They do not make any account of having their body once free, and discharged from natural necessities; as men that judge it a thing impossible, because they measure the power of God by the course of those things, which continually be brought forth, and be here among us. But contrariwise the godly, which by virtue of the resurrection do hope for that most excellent gift (to wit, that neither death, nor yet other natural infirmities may be able to do anymore displeasure to the body) must bend their whole endeavour to rid their minds from the tyranny of vices and affections; whereby they may be more and more confirmed in the hope of recovering of a free body, wherewith the mind may be clothed, that now through Christ hath gotten the victory over lusts and sins, which by means of the body and the flesh do oppress the spirit. And this let us desire of the eternal God, and most merciful father, that he will vouchsafe to bestow upon us at his own appointed time, and that through the merit of our Lord Jesus

Christ, for that immortal desire's sake, wherewith we wish after his kingdom. And this we would desire with all speed to be done, so that his glory and honour might be made more famous and known.

The Life Everlasting We who here living in the church by the spirit of Christ, have obtained remission of sins; and when we have attained unto regeneration in felicity and glory, what either can we or ought we

afterward wish, but that it be granted us to live evermore joyfully, contentedly, and happily in God through Christ? And although such a state is for many causes very greatly to be desired; yet all the parts of that happy life must be referred to two good things; the first has respect unto the soul; and the other unto the body. Touching the which this I will say briefly, that it will come to pass, that all labours, griefs, miseries, and sorrows, which we are compelled to suffer in this unhappy vale shall cease from the same. And this is it, which is said in the Apocalypse; that God will wipe away all tears from the eyes of his saints: neither shall there remain to them any more sorrows, lamentations, sighs, or wailings. Wherefore our body shall merely be renewed, according as we treated in the article of the resurrection. Unto which sentences declared this we add; that there is a lively and effectual example in the resurrection of Christ, what manner of heavenly properties our bodies shall have. It is evident also, even in sundry of his actions, when he was conversant in this passable state of life, what time as he showed miracles even in his own body.

He entered into the place, where the apostles were, the doors being shut. He walked upon the waters of the sea, and sank not. He was lifted up into the air, or rather ascended into heaven: as we have above confessed. And he offered himself to be seen and felt of his disciples. Besides this, when his will was neither to be seen, nor yet to be caught hold of by any man, he so ordered his body, as neither the one nor the other happened otherwise, than it pleased himself.

As in Nazareth, when they endeavoured to throw him down headlong from the mountain; or when they went about to stone him in the temple. Again, when he rose up and went out of the sepulchre, which the soldiers kept, he would not be seen. No more would he be seen upon mount Tabor, wherein his body being transformed, became bright like the sun. And we are not any way forbidden to hope, but

that our bodies shall probably be adorned with those qualities in the life eternal. For it seemeth altogether convenient, that the members should be like unto their own head. Wherefore, if any man have a fleshly care of his own body, he dealeth unwisely, to obey it in those things which manifestly strive with so blessed an end. He ought rather, for that favour, wherewith he is endued by the grace of God, to yield the same body of his to the obedience of the spirit; by whom it shall at the length be quickened and carried up into so excellent a state. In consideration whereof, Paul decreed; that Those things, which we presently suffer, are not worthy of the glory, which shall be showed to us: And as in the same manner, Christ disputing of eternal life, said; He that will find his life, shall lose it.

In the which place, under the name of life; he meaneth this natural life; the which whosoever withdraweth from mortification, and the cross laid upon him by God, and doth attempt with highly dishonouring of Christ and his name, to repulse danger and temporal death from it: then doth he verily lose it, although he determine with himself to find it, and to recover it. For he despoileth it of those properties, which otherwise it should perpetually have in that eternal felicity with Christ. But the spiritual and true Christians, which by the judgment of the world are thought to betray their own life, while they make over-small account of the same, taking great and infinite perils in hand, yea and willing death for Christ's sake: these (I say) as Christ most truly testifieth, in losing of their soul, do in very deed find and most certainly obtain the same. And that is most aptly expressed in the similitude of a grain of corn, which unless it should first become rotten in the earth, it would never give out flower or fruit, framed in the order of an ear of corn.

But let us proceed, and see, in what thing the spirits of the blessed may rest themselves in that state, whereof we have spoken. They that

be justified by Christ, although that, even in this life, they have settled their desire to love God with all their heart, with all their soul, and with all their strength; and so long as they acknowledge, they be very far off from doing that, which they ought to do, they must needs be disquieted with exceeding sorrow. How pleasant a thing (think we) will it be to them, that they shall be able to satisfy their desire, so just, so excellent, so great, and so long desired of them? Then we shall be endued with this gift, that we shall offend him no more: we shall be delivered from the servitude of sin, and from our domestical enemy; namely, from the assaults of the flesh, seeing the same shall be at peace with the spirit. We being constrained with the bonds hereof, cannot fulfil the law of God. But in that state we shall love

God with all our strength, and more than either ourselves, or whatsoever else is in the world. Neither shall that flesh let us anything, from the true and perfect love of our neighbour: he undoubtedly shall have no need of the duties of this life, but yet we shall love him, in that we shall no less be desirous of his felicity than of our own.

The motions of envy, self-pleasing, and of other desires (the which things be very great enemies unto us, and make us the slacker to love our neighbours) shall have no longer abiding in us. But as touching that, which is of greatest importance, and is greatly wished for of all men that be endued with reason and any godliness at all (I mean the knowledge of God) shall then at the last be granted unto us. Indeed it is now, after some sort, given unto men to know God by the evident tokens of things created, by the testimonies of the scriptures, and by inward revelation of the spirit: but there shall be then a full and perfect knowledge. Wherefore saith Paul to the Corinthians; We see

(saith he) through a glass as in a dark speaking. Now there be certain dark sentences laid before us, which the Grecians call "enigmas": then shall it be set forth to be perceived indeed. All veils and covering

shall be removed, that we may penetrate even to the face of God himself, the which cannot be perceived in this life: as God himself verified to his faithful servant Moses, in these words; It cannot be that a man should see me and live. Therefore thou shalt not see my face, but I will cause, that as I pass by, thou mayest see my back part.

But when we be loosed from this mortal state, we without doubt shall be capable of that excellent gift. In the which thing chiefly consisteth that eternal life, as our saviour Jesus teacheth in the Gospel of John;

This is the life eternal, that they may know thee only, the true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. And again he saith; that Abraham desired to know the day of the Lord, and he knew it and rejoiced. And unto the apostles he said; Blessed be the eyes, which see that ye see. I say unto you, that many kings and prophets desired to see that which ye see, and yet it was not granted unto them. In which place we must understand, that Christ spake of his first coming, in the which he had the mortal and passable properties of human nature. But if thou wilt object, that they saw him also after his resurrection, when he was now endued with an immortal and impassible life: I answer, that he had not even as yet gotten the full victory of all his enemies, neither had procured the kingdom to be perfect, peaceable, and sure from all adversaries: such as it shall be by the judgment of Paul, in the first epistle to the Corinthians, When he hath put all his enemies under his feet.

Wherefore, let everyone ponder in his mind, what a felicity remaineth for us, seeing it is admitted, that we shall see him, and shall have experience of our first begotten brother in that glory and triumph: where we shall not only be one with him, but with the eternal father also, with whom he shall make us firmly to abide, as a kingdom won by his own conquest, and governed in an excellent sort; That the same God the father (as Paul testifieth in that place)

may be all in us all. Now then my brethren, what better thing can we desire? How profitable, pleasant, glorious, honest, beautiful, and in every respect good shall it be, that that father and blessed God shall be all in all? These things are not elsewhere to be sought, seeing they are not elsewhere to be attained. Some shadow, proof, and little spark of that blessedness of ours did Peter taste upon the mount: and therefore he wished there to have his perpetual habitation. Thereof had Paul a trial, when he was wrapped into the third heaven, where he heard great mysteries so far removed from the sense of man, as they were unspeakable. The face of Moses so glistered, by reason of the conversation which he had with the divine glory, as the Israelites were not able by any means to behold him. What shall happen therefore unto us, when we have obtained with him the place of children and house-dwellers?

If so be at any time it happen here, that we by any motion of the spirit, read the scriptures; if we pour out our earnest prayers before God, if we lament before him with great zeal for the evil which we suffer, or else be moved inwardly through the effectual preaching of the word: do we not conceive a joy, delectation, and consolation, which surpasses all delights, pastimes and pleasures of this world?

But this is only a beginning of eternal life; whereby nevertheless yet we may conjecture, how pure, perfect, and immeasurable happiness that shall be, which is in the life to come. Touching which, many more things might be disputed; but it is more meet to leave these amplifications to the faith of the godly reader. The which felicity seeing it is the gift of God, which proceedeth not from ourselves, in that God maketh us capable thereof; so are we wont to conceive much more according to the measure which cometh into us. And these sweet conceits of the mind do comfort and refresh us in the calamities of this life: they showing unto us, even in the midst of the storms of this world, the haven of so great a felicity. Unto which we

beseech him to bring us, that by his precious death hath procured it for us. And that it will please him, through his holy spirit, to bring thereunto all such as through him are regenerated by the eternal father: with whom he liveth, triumpheth, and reigneth forever,

Amen.

Here (brethren) you have a short exposition of the particular things belonging to our faith. And as touching those things, which shall be perceived of you to want, I beseech you to allow of these excuses.

One is, that my ability is but small and slender; the other is, for that I mean, in the book which I have in hand touching the true worshipping of God: to supply many wants, which for brevity sake I have omitted. God and the Father make you partakers more and more of his grace in Christ Jesus our Lord! Amen.

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