A godly and learned exposition or commentary upon the three first chapters of the…A godly and learned exposition or commentarie vpon the three first chapters of the…

And lest any should doubt, what is meant by the City of God, Christ here described it: first, by the resemblance thereof, calling it Jerusalem: because that City, in regard of the Temple especially, was a figure of the kingdom of heaven. Secondly, he calleth it, the new Jerusalem: that is, the place of the triumphant Church, even the highest heaven: Which is not called new in respect of being, for it was from the beginning; but in respect of the manner of revealing and manifesting it. for in the old Testament, the New Jerusalem was revealed to the ⟨p. 195⟩Jews only, and that obscurely: but under the kingdom of Christ, it is more fully revealed not only to the Jews, but to all the world. Thirdly, he addeth that it doth now descend out of heaven from his God. Therein answering to an objection; for it might be said, this temple of God in heaven is so far off, that we cannot ascend or attain unto it, how then shall we come thither? Christ answereth, that this new Jerusalem cometh down from God out of heaven. Quest. How (will some say) can heaven come out of heaven? Answ. As Paul saith of Christ, that he was crucified among the Galatians before their eyes, because his crucifying was so lively represented unto them in the Ministry of the Gospel. So here, heaven may be said to come down from God out of heaven, in regard of the preaching of the Gospel, which doth most visibly represent and set open heaven unto us, that Gods people may enter therein: by the faithful embracing whereof, we become citizens with the Saints, and of the household of God, Ephe. 2.19.

And lest any should doubt, what is meant by the Cittie of God, Christ here described it: first, by the resemblance thereof, calling it Ierusalem: because that Cittie, in regard of the Temple especially, was a figure of the kingdome of heauen. Secondly, he calleth it, the new Ierusalem: that is, the place of the tryumphant Church, euen the highest heauen: Which is not called new in respect of being, for it was from the beginning; but in respect of the manner of reuealing and manifesting it. for in the old Testament, the New Ierusalem was reuealed to the ⟨p. 195⟩Iewes onely, and that obscurely: but vnder the kingdome of Christ, it is more fully reuealed not only to the Iewes, but to all the world. Thirdly, he addeth that it doth now descend out of heauen from his God. Therein answering to an obiection; for it might bee said, this temple of God in heauen is so farre off, that wee cannot ascend or attaine vnto it, how then shall we come thither? Christ answereth, that this new Ierusalem commeth downe from God out of heauen. Quest. How (will some say) can heauen come out of heauen? Answ. As Paul saith of Christ, that hee was crucified among the Galatians before their eyes, because his crucifying was so liuely represented vnto them in the Ministerie of the Gospel. So here, heauen may be said to come downe from God out of heauen, in regard of the preaching of the Gospel, which doth most visibly represent and set open heauen vnto vs, that Gods people may enter therein: by the faithfull embracing whereof, we become cittizens with the Saints, and of the household of God,