A27107:261
The practice of piety directing a Christian how to walk, that he may please…
The practice of piety directing a Christian how to walk, that he may please God / amplified by the author
A27107:261
The practice of piety directing a Christian how to walk, that he may please God / amplified by the author
No title page in the transcription: set from the catalogue record.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1. Because the holy Scripture see•s to intimate so much in plain words, aI wi• gather all Nations into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and plead with them there.b Cause thy mighty one to come down, O Lord, let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there will I sit to judge a• the heathen round about. Jehoshaphat signifieth, the Lord will judge. And this Valley was so called, from the great cvictory which the Lord gave dJehoshaphat, and his people over the Ammonites, Moabites, and inhabitants of Mount Seir. Which victory was a type of the final victory, which Christ, •he supreme Judge shall give his Elect over •ll their enemies in that place, at the last •ay, as all the Jews interpret it. See Zech. •. 4, 5. Psalm 51. 1, 2, &c. all agreeing ••at the place shall be thereabouts.
1. Because the holy Scripture see•s to intimate so much in plain words, aI wi• gather all Nations into the valley of Jehosha•phat, and plead with them there.b Cause thy mighty one to come down, O Lord, let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there will I sit to judge a• the heathen round about. Jehoshaphat signifieth, the Lord will judge. And this Valley was so called, from the great cvictory which the Lord gave dJehoshaphat, and his people over the Ammonites, Moabites, and inhabitants of Mount Seir. Which victory was a type of the final victory, which Christ, •he supream Judge shall give his Elect over •ll their enemies in that place, at the last •ay, as all the Jews interpret it. See Zech. •. 4, 5. Psalm 51. 1, 2, &c. all agreeing ••at the place shall be thereabouts.
2. Because that as Christ was thereabouts crucified, and put to open shame; •• over that place his glorious Throne •hould be erected in the Air, when he ••all appear in Judgment, to manifest his Majesty and Glory. For it is meet that ••st should in that place judge the world with righteous Judgment, where • himself was unjustly judged and con•mned.
2. Because that as Christ was therea••uts crucified, and put to open shame; •• over that place his glorious Throne •hould be erected in the Air, when he ••all appear in Judgment, to manifest his Majesty and Glory. For it is meet that ••st should in that place judge the •orld with righteous Judgment, where • himself was unjustly judged and con•mned.
3. Because that seeing the Angels shall • sent to gather together the elect from the •••r winds, from one end of heaven to the ⟨p. 80⟩other; it is most probable, that the place whither they shall be gathered to, shall be near Jerusalem, and the Valley of Jehoshaphat; whicha Cosmographers describe to be in the midst of the superficies of the Earth; if the termini à quibus be the four parts of the world, the terminus ad quem must be about the Centre.
3. Because that seeing the Angels shall • sent to gather together the elect from the •••r winds, from one end of heaven to the ⟨p. 80⟩other; it is most probable, that the place whither they shall be gathered to, shall be near Jerusalem, and the Vally of Jehoshaphat; whicha Cosmographers describe to be in the midst of the supersicies of the Earth; if the termini à quibus be the four parts of the world, the terminus ad quem must be about the Center.
4. Because the Angels told the Disciples, that as they sawb Christ ascend from Mount Olivet, which is over the Valley of Jehoshaphat, so he shall in like manner come down from Heaven. This is the opinion ofc Aquinas and all the Schoolmen, except Lombard and Alexander Hales.
4. Because the Angels told the Disciples, that as they sawb Christ ascend from Mount Olivet, which is over the Vally of Jehoshaphat, so he shall in like manner come down from Heaven. This is the opinion ofc Aquinas and all the Schoolmen, except Lombard and Alexander Hales.
5. Lastly, When Christ is set in his gloriousd Throne, and all thee many Thousands of his Saints, and Angels, shining more bright than so many Suns in glory, sitting about him; and the Body of Christ in glory and brightness surpassing them all: the Reprobates being separate and remaining beneath upon the earth (for the right-hand signifies a blessed, the left-hand a cursed estate) Christ will first pronounce the sentence of absolution, and bliss upon the Elect: First, because he will thereby increase the grief of the Reprobate that shall hear it. Secondly, to show himself more pro•e tof mercy than to Judgment. And thus from his Throne of Majesty in the Air, he shall (in the sight and hearing of all the World) pronounce unto his Elect, Come ye blessed of my Father, and inherit the ⟨p. 81⟩Kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world, &c.4
5. Lastly, When Christ is set in his gloriousd Throne, and all thee many Thousands of his Saints, and Angels, shining more bright than so many Suns in glory, sitting about him; and the Body of Christ in glory and brightness surpassing them all: the Reprobates bei•g separate and remaining beneath upon the earth (for the right-hand signifies a blessed, the left-hand a cursed estate) Christ will first pronounce the sentence of absolution, and bliss upon the Elect: First, because he will thereby increase the grief of the Reprobate that shall hear it. Secondly, to shew himself more pro•e tof mercy than to Judgment. And thus from his Throne of Majesty in the Air, he shall (in the sight and hearing of all the World) ponounce unto his Elect, Come ye blessed of my Father, and inherit the
Come ye] Here is our blessed Union with Christ, and by him with the whole Trinity
Come ye] Here is our blessed Vnion with Christ, and by him with the whole Trinity
Blessed] Here is our absolution from all sins, and our plenary Endowments with all Grace and Happiness.
Of my Father] Here is the Author, from whom by Christ proceeds our Felicity.
Inherit] Here is our Adoption▪
The Kingdom] Behold our Birth-right and Possession.
The Kingdom] Behold our Birth-right and Poss•ssion.
Prepared] See God's Fatherly Care for his chosen.
From the foundation of the World] O the free, Eternal, unchangeable Election of God!
For I was hungry, &c.] O the goodness of Christ, who takes notice of all the good works of his Children to reward them! How great is his love to poor Christians, who takes every work of mercy done to them for his sake, as if it had been done to himself: Come ye to me, in whom ye have believed, before the saw me, 1and whom ye have loved and sought for with so much devotion, and through so many tribulations: Come now, from labour to rest, from disgrace to glory, from the jaws of Death, to the joys of eternal Life; ⟨p. 82⟩For my sake ye have been railed upon,2 reviled and cursed. But now it shall appear to all those cursed Esau's, that you are the •rue Jacobs, that shall receive your heavenly Father's blessing; and blessed shall you be. Your fathers, mothers, and nearest kindred forsook and cast you off,3 for my truth's sake, 4which you maintained; but now my Father will be unto you a Father, 5and you shall be his Sons and Daughters for ever.6 You were cast out of your lands and livings, and forsook all for my sake and the gospels; but that it may appear that you have no• lost your gain, but gained by your loss, instead of an earthly inheritance and possession, you shall possess with me the inheritance of my heavenly kingdom; where you shall be for love, sons; for birth-right, heirs; for dignity, kings; for holiness, priests; and you may be bold to enter into the possession thereof now, because my Father prepared and kept it for you ever since the first foundation of the World was laid.
For I was hungry, &c.] O the goodness of Christ, who takes notice of all the good works of his Children to reward them! How great is his love to poor Christians, who takes every work of mercy done to them for his sake, as if it had been done to himself: Come ye to me, in whom ye have believed, before ye saw me,
Immediately after this sentence of Absolution and Benediction, every one receiveth his crown, which Christ the righteous Judge pu•s upon their Heads,1 as the reward which he hath promised of his Grace and Mercy, 2unto the Faith and good Works of all them that loved that his appearing. 3Then every one taking his crown from his head, shall lay it down (as it were) at the feet of Christ; and prostrating themselves, shall with one heart and voice, in an heavenly sort and consort say, Praise ⟨p. 83⟩and Honour, and Glory, and Power, and Thanks be unto thee, O blessed Lamb, who sittest upon the Throne, wert killed, and hast redeemed us to God by thy Blood, out of every Kindred, and Tongue, and People, and Nation, and hast made us unto our God, Kings and Priests, to reign with thee in thy Kingdom for evermore. Amen.
Then shall they sit in their Thrones and Orders, 1as Judges of the Reprobates,2 and evil Angels, by approving a•d giving testimony to the righteous Sentence and Judgment of Christ the Supreme Judge.