Clause 6

Testimonies out of the Prophetes and Apostles

Psalme 110. Iehouah hath saide, sitte at my right hand, vntil I put thine enimies as a footestoole vnder thy feete. Iehouah shal send out of Sion the rodde of thy strength: rule in the middest of thine enemies. Also, the Lorde hath sworne, and it shall not repent him, thou art a Priest for euer after the order of Melchisedech. And Christ teacheth in Matth. 22. towardes the end, that this prophecie is to be vnderstoode of him. And Christ being adiured of the high priest, confesseth himselfe to be both the sonne of God, and that he will ouercome his enimies sitting at the right hand of God. Matth. 26.63, 64. And the high priest answering said vnto him, I adiure thee by the liuing God, that thou tell vs whether thou be Christ that sonne of God: Iesus saith vnto him, thou hast saide: Neuerthelesse I say vnto you, hereafter shal you see the sonne of man sitting at the right hand of the power of God & comming in the cloudes of heauen. The fulfilling of that prophesie of Dauid concerning the sitting at the right hand of God is extant in the 16. of Marke, After the Lord had spoken vnto them, he was receaued vp into heauen and sitteth at the right hand of God, and Act. 2. ver. 33.36. & 5. ver. 31. and so that same stone refused of the builders was made the head of the corner. Act. 4. ver. 10.11.12. Which stone cut from the mountaine without handes, goeth to the right hand of God to breake al the rest of the kingdoms: but his kingdome shal stand for euer. Dan. 2. ve. 44.45. And Paul in Ephes. 1.18.19.20. That ye may know what the hope is of his calling, and what the riches of his glorious inheritance is in the Saintes: and what is the exceding greatnes of his power towards vs which beleue according to the working of his mightie power which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him vp frō the dead, and set him at his right hand in the heauens.

To what end sitting at the right hand of God the Father almightie is added to his ascension into heauen

The scope or principal end of Christe his ascension is already set foorth: to wit, that Christ ascended into heauen not onely that he might there enioy euerlasting felicitie, as the Angels doe and all blessed men: but that hee might sit at the right hand of God, which farre exceedeth the dignitie of Angels and of men, as he witnesseth in the Epistle to the Heb. Ca. 1.13. For vnto which of the Angels saide he at any time, sit at my right hand, til I make thine enimies thy footstole? Nowe seeing God is not a bodily substance, & therefore hath neither right or left hande, at which Christ should stand or sitte; it is manifest that these wordes and manner of speeches, are taken from men and worldly thinges: by which holie thinges answering in some sorte, our infirmitie might be liuely set before our eyes & explaned. For in verie deede men to whome they graunt or giue either equal honor, or that which is nexte vnto themselues, they are wont to place them at their right hand, that in this verie thing they may testifie that honour, 1. King, 2. Psal. 45.

What the sitting at the right hand of God the Father is

That same sitting at the right hand of God the Father is the exaltation of Christe in his kingdome and priesthoode: to wit, that nowe he administreth his kingly and priestly office, not as before in infirmitie and miserie, but in a manifest & heauenlie maiestie & glory. Therefore then thou doest truely beleeue in Christ his sitting at the right hand of God the father almightie, when thou beleeuest that he doth entreate for thee in heauen in high glory, and that he doth gouerne his kingdome with a mighty power, so that he doth heare thee, doth more effectually endue and defend thee with the spirite of consolation and wisedome, then if he were yet in the earth, and shoulde speake with thee. Act. 5.31. Him hath God lifted vp with his right hand to be a Prince and a Sauiour to giue repentance to Israel and forgiuenes of sinnes: And Ephe. 1. He hath raised him vp from the dead, and sette him at his right hand in the heauens farre aboue all principalitie, and power, and might, and domination, and euerie name that is named, not onely in this world, but in that which is to come: and hath made all thinges subiect vnder his feete, and hath appointed him head to the Church it selfe ouer all thinges, which is his bodie, euen the fulnesse of him which filleth all in all thinges. Also to the Hebrues 8. verse 4. 1. Peter 3. verse 22. By these places it is plaine that the Scripture nameth the sitting at the right hand of God, not that same administration of the kingdome and priesthoode; which for the voluntarie abasing of Christ was weaker and more obscure: but that same perfect gouernement, honour, and glorie of Christ, which was free from all infirmities openly manifested and declared: into which then the first entrance was, when he arose againe from death, ascended into heauen, and there in an vnspeakable glorie, declared himself to be Lord of al creatures in the sight of all holie Angels and men.

What fruite the faithfull receiue by that same sitting of Christ at the right hande of God, or rather by that exaltation of Christe in his kingdome and priesthood

First concerning that same exaltation of Christ in the priesthood, those that are in league with God, doe reape from thence this consolation: that they knowe that this couenant of grace by the intercession of this mediator kept and maintained euerlastingly, as it appeareth, Hebr. 8. verses 6. and 12. the which intercession is the shewing of him selfe before the face of the father, that the efficacie and strength of that sacrifice once offered vp for all, might continually be in force: and this same perpetuall will of keeping it, in this Mediator, is agreeable with the will of the Father, accepting that same sacrifice once offred vp for an euerlasting reconciliation, and approuing this endeuor in the mediator of maintaining it according to the oathe: Psalme 110. The Lorde hath sworne, and it shall not repent him, thou art a prieste for euer after yᵉ order of Melchizedek: or that I may speake a little more largely: First all the confederates doe reape this fruite in the exaltation of Christ in the priesthode, that they know that the Mediator of this euerlasting couenant is entred into that same sanctuarie not made with handes, the verie heauen it selfe and is exalted to the right hand of God, that continuallie and without any interruption, and that euery moment he may appeare an intercessour before the father for vs: and so may maintein that same couenant once established for euer, and may confirme it by his intercession in the heauenly throne of his Maiestie.

I. The testimonies of the euerlasting conseruation of this free couenant, appeare in the eight to the Hebrues, verse 6. But now our high priest hath obteined a more excellent ministerie, in asmuch as he is the intercessor of a more notable couenant, which is ratified by more excellent promises, &c. Also in the 7. to the Hebrues, And that not without an oath, for these are made priestes without an oath: but this is made wtth an oath by him that saide vnto him, the Lorde hath sworne, and it shal not repent him, thou art a priest for euer after the order of Melchisedech. By so muche is Iesus made a suretie of a better Testament, for among these many were made priestes by reason that death suffred them not to endure; but this man because that he endureth for euer, hath a perpetuall priesthod. By which he is able also perfectly to saue those which come to God through him, euermore liuing to make intercessiō for vs.

II. Concerning the appearing of Christe in the sight of God for vs, and the perpetuall vertue of the sacrifice of Christ once offered vp, it is written Hebru. 9. verse 24. Christe entered into a sanctuarie not made with handes, which is a patterne aunswering vnto the true sanctuarie; but into heauen it selfe, that he may appeare nowe in the sight of God for vs. And Heb. 10. ver. 22. This man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sinnes, sitteth without any interruption, that 〈◊〉 for euer, at the right hand of the Father.

III. As touching the will in the sonne of mainteining it, and of the Fathers will in accepting of it, the oath doth witnesse, whereof God will not repent him: and consequently neither will it repent the sonne of receiuing the office of being an euerlasting Sauiour, Psal. 110. Rom. 8. Who shal laie any thing to the charge of God his chosen? It is God that iustifieth, who shal condemne? It is Christ which is dead: yea rather which is risen againe, who is also at the right hand of God: who also maketh request for vs. Out of which wordes that same constant will in the sonne of keeping vs before the sight of the Father, which Paul comprehendeth in intercession, is vnderstoode: and which answereth vnto the will of God, whereof he spake before, It is God who iustifieth. Therfore the faithful, they cannot doubt of that euerlasting reconciliation with God, aswell because that same euerlasting office of reconciling is laide vpon Christ: as also because Christ executeth the same with moste highe power and glorie, preseruing it fully and perfectly euerie moment, without any or the least interruption that may bee; so that worthily enioying such a patrone, we maie vndoutedly trust that none can come foorth which either dare accuse or condemne the faithfull, that we may trust I say, that the least accusation that may be, can not be admitted before that same high priest in so great glorie making intercession for vs, whether it be of Sathan, of the conscience or of sinne: so that that same glorious intercession of Christe doth truely perfourme vnto vs that God hath promised by Esaie the Prophet: I haue taken away thine iniquities as a cloude, and thy sinnes as a litle cloude: turne vnto me because I haue redeemed thee. Also Chapter 60. verse. 1.

The second fruite whereof we be partakers by this exaltation of Christe in the priesthoode

The second fruite is, that we dare both with a full faith, & as I may say, with a full mouth aske and looke for from God all good and healthful thinges: forasmuch as we are members of that priest, who with so great power and glorie maketh intercession for vs, beeing surely persuaded, that his glorious intercession will swallowe vp all our vnworthinesse, and get vnto vs vnspeakeable grace: and so that wee shall receaue for and through this Bishop, all those good promises which we aske, Hebru. 10. verses 19.20. &c. Seeing therefore brethren that we haue libertie to enter into the holie place by the bloud of Iesus, by the new and liuing way which he hath prepared for vs through the vale, that is his flesh: and seeing wee haue an high priest gouernour ouer the house of God, let vs draw neare with a true heart, and with an vndoubted perswasion of faith, our heartes beeing pure from an euil conscience: and our bodies being washed with pure water let vs holde the confession of our hope not wauering, for he is faithful who hath promised. Also to the Philip. 4 verse 6. Be nothing carefull, but in al thinges let your request be shewed vnto God in prayer & supplication with giuing of thankes, and the peace of God which passeth all vnderstanding shal preserue your hearts and minds in Christ Iesus. We haue therefore this plentiful fruite, that in all thinges which we haue to doe with God, we haue such an ouerseer of the house of God, and such an intercessour, as in whose fauour the Father wil giue vs all thinges, and therefore he is called, Heb. 2. a faithfull Bishop in those thinges which he hath to doe with God: and in the thirde to the Heb. verse 2.5.6. & Heb. 4. verse 14.

The thirde fruite

That we offer vp our selues, and all good thinges whiche wee receiue for and by this high Bishop, for sweete and acceptable sacrifices to GOD, in all thinges giuing thankes vnto God by this Iesus Christe: and which by and for the Sonne he accepteth to his glorie, and bringeth to passe that they serue for it, Apocalip. 5. verse 8. The foure and twenty elders fell downe before the Lambe, euery one hauing harps and golden vials full of sweete odours, which are the praiers of Saintes. And Rom. 12. I beseech you brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye giue vp your bodies a liuing sacrifice, holy and acceptable vnto God, &c. 1. Pet. 2. verse 5. Yee also as liuing soules, be ye builded vp into a spirituall house and holy priesthood, to offer vp spirituall sacrifices vnto God by Iesus Christ. Wherefore also it is conteined in the scripture, Behold I put in Syon a chiefe corner stone, elect and pretious: he that beleeueth therein, shall not be ashamed. And Hebru. 13. verses 15.16. also to the Philip. Cap. 1. verses 11. and 12. filled with the fruites of righteousnesse which are in you by Iesus Christ to the glorie and praise of God.

The fourth fruite

Forasmuch as the faithfull are members of Christe making intercession for them in high glorie, he doth not onely through his intercession make their sufferinges holie, but also glorious in the sight of God, Psal. 116. verse 15. Pretious in the sight of God is the death of his meeke ones. Also in the Psal. 56. verse 9. and Philip. 2. verse 17. Yea and though I be offered vp vpon the the sacrifice and seruice of your faith, I am glad, and reioyse with you all. For the same cause also be yee glad and reioyce with me. Therfore the suffrings of the Church are wonderfully sanctified and made glorious, through this high Bishop making intercession in glorie. To be short, what soeuer things were plainely and magnificently instituted of God, concerning the priesthoode of the olde Testament, and the sacrifices, and were done according to that spirituall patterne yᵗ was shewed to Moses in the mount, we haue yᵉ full truth and perfect fruit to euerlasting consolation in the priesthod of Christ: not only as he administred it in humilitie, wᵗ so great power, yᵗ by one oblation he made perfect for euer those that were sanctified: but also in that he liueth alwayes to this end, to make intercession for vs, and so bringeth to passe, that we alwayes enioye the fruite of his sacrifice, and the trueth of all those thinges which were promised of God by the figures of the olde Testament. Therefore when we read the Scriptures of the olde Testament, we ought to lift vp our mindes hither: I say to this priest, perfourming that vnto vs euerie moment in high glorie, that God had promised by the mouth of the prophetes, and by those visible ceremonies. For what so euer thinges are written, they are written for our learning, Rom. 15.4. For example sake, Exod. 39. that the high priest did beare vpon his shoulders the names of the tribes, and did beare those twelue pretious stones before his brest entring into the sanctuarie, in remembrance of those twelue tribes of Israel, that Christ executeth at this day with great glorie: He hath vs the true Israel alwayes in his brest and fresh memorie before the sight of God as pretious stones. To be short we shal knowe and perceaue the full fruite of the exaltation of Christ in his Priesthood in euerlasting life with wonderful admiration, when in presence we shall beholde that same exaltation of our high priest in glorie: euen as the high priest himselfe prayed Ioh. 17. Father, those that thou hast giuē vnto me, I wil yᵗ they be with me where I am, that they may beholde that same glorie which thou hast giuen vnto me.

What the exaltation of Christ is in his kingdome, which is the other part of the sitting of Christ at the right hand of God

The kingdome of God is the restoring of saluation through the worde and spirit in the elect, descended from a most wise and mightie heade Christ, and a defence against the enemies. This kingdome when it was in this worlde, beganne in humilitie, as he saith, repent & amend, for the kingdome of God is at hand. The exaltation therefore in this kingdome is that same placing in highest degree of honour, to the end the sonne may shew himself openly before the Angels, & blessed men in great light to be the king and heade of all the elect, and by shedding his power euen vnto vs with a greater efficacie then when he was in his body in the earth, he may restore and repare life and saluation by the worde and spirit in his electe, and may defend thē against al enemies. Eph. 1.21.22 The father hath placed Christ at his right hand in the heauens far aboue all power & principality, & might and dominion, & euery name that is named not in this worlde onely, but in that which is to come, and he hath made all thinges subiect vnder his feet, and hath appoynted him to be heade ouer all thinges to the Church which is his bodie, and the fulnesse of him which fulfilleth al in al things: Ioh. 16.7. I speak the truth vnto you, it is expedient for you that I goe away: for vnlesse I goe, that comforter shall not come vnto you: but if I depart, I will sende him vnto you. And this was because it was so appointed by God his decree, that Christ being exalted in his kingdome, should sende him.

What fruits, we are partakers of by the exaltation of Christ in his kingdome

Like as Christ was borne and died for vs: so also he sitteth at the right hande of God for vs. Nowe the first fruite is, that onely Christians doe rightly knowe God, call vppon him, and praise him. For therefore the father placed Christ at his right hande, that hee might be acknowledged, worshipped and praised, both of Angels and men, as their onely God and Lorde. And contrariwise God doeth abhorre all other worshippes which are not directed vnto Christ, in whome onely hee will bee acknowledged, called vppon, and praysed. Peter inferreth, Acts 2. of the sending of the holy Ghost; out of the testimony of Dauid concerning the sitting of the Messias at the right hand of God: Therefore let all the house of Israel knowe for a suretie that God hath made him both Lorde and Christ, this Iesus I say, whome ye haue crucified: And Phil. 2.9.10.11. Wherefore God hath also highlie exalted him, and giuen him a name aboue euerie name, that at the name of Iesus shoulde euery knee bow, both of thinges in heauen, and thinges in earth, and thinges vnder the earth, and that euery tongue should confesse that Iesus Christ is the Lorde vnto the glorie of God the father. And Psa. 97. ver. 7. Apo. 5. ver. 7.9.12.13. 1. Cor. 1. ver. 2. Act. 7. ver. 59. & cap. 9. ver. 14.

The second and the third fruite

The other fruits are knowen by their ends. For therefore Christ is exalted in his kingdome, that inwardly hee maye enrich his Church, and without he may defend it against enimies, yea and also may bridle those that are deadly and inwarde enemies: the seconde fruite therefore is, that the father for and by this Christ doeth assuredly giue the holy ghost to them that aske it, doeth gouerne and quicken the faithful by the ministerie of yᵉ Gospel, & both beautifieth the whole Church with diuerse gifts: and also giueth to euery mēber so much giftes as are sufficient for the glorie of yᵉ head, for the edificacion of the whole body, and the saluation of that same member: but hee leaueth none of them without necessarie gifts, or letteth them to be emptie, Actes 2.33. Christ exalted to the right hand of God, and hauing obtained of his father the promise of the holy Ghost, hath shed forth this which ye nowe see and heare. And to the Eph. 4.7. To euery one of vs grace is giuen according to the measure of the gift of Christ. And a litle after, He therefore gaue some to be Apostles, and some Prophets, and some Euangelists, and some pastors, and teachers for the repairing of the Saintes, for the worke of the ministery, and for the edification (I say) of the body of Christe, till wee all meete together in the vnitie of faith, and that acknoweledging of the Sonne of GOD vnto a perfect man, and vnto the measure of the age of the fulnesse of Christ. Also, Let vs altogether growe vp in him which is the heade, to wit, Christ, by whome all the bodie fitly knitte and compact together by all the ioynts for the furniture thereof, according to the effectuall power which is in the measure of euerie part, the whole receaueth increase of the bodie, vnto the edifying of it selfe in loue. Christ therefore raigneth vnto vs at the right hande of the father, that powring out the holy Ghost vpon vs, he might be effectual by yᵉ ministerie, and through the spirite might make vs his mēbers, and might aduaunce his spirituall kingdome day by day in vs, vntill he might fully ioyne vs vnto himselfe being perfectly regenerate and washed againe from sinne and corruption, and so he might be God all in all. 1. Corinthians. 15.

The thirde fruite

The thirde fruit is the defense of yᵉ Church against all our enemies, sinne, the flesh, the worlde, tyrantes, diuels: all which our heauenly father calleth the enemies of Christ: and in verie deede he sheweth dayly examples of his power in ouerthrowing them, Psal. 110. The Lorde hath said to my Lord, sit at my right hande, vntill I make thine enimies a footestoole vnto thy feete. Iehoua shall sende the scepter of thy strength out of Sion: rule in the middest of thine enimies. Surely a wonderful consolation that we are his brethrē, yea his members, to whome all power is giuen in heauen and in earth, without whose will & power, neither the Turkes nor antichrist can deuise any thing against the Church, no nor conclude or moue so much as a finger for the executing of their counsailes: so that Christe raigneth in such sort in the middest of his enemies, that he will not be shut out, no not out of their most secrete counsailes. Yea we are the brethren and members of that Christ, by whose most present diuine power, all men are gouerned, and all creatures in heauen and in earth; so that wee may saye with full securitie of minde with the Apostle, Romanes 8. Who shall separate vs from the loue of Christ? shall tribulation? shall anguish? shall persecution? shall hunger? shal nakednes? shall danger? shall the sword? (as it is written, For thy sake are we killed all the day long, we are counted as sheepe appointed to the slaughter) yea but in al these thinges, we are more then conquerours through him that hath loued vs. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor thinges present, nor thinges to come, nor hight, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separat vs from the loue of God, which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. If when Christ raigned in humilitie the diuels were constrained to aske him leaue, howe shall they nowe dare to attempt anie thing against any member of Christ, after that Christ is ascended on high & hath led captiuitie captiue, vnlesse first they shall entreate the Lorde Christ? But faithfull is Christ our Lorde, who shall not suffer vs to bee tempted, aboue that wee shall bee able to beare. 1. Corinthians 10. If then when he gouerned his kingdom in humilitie and great abasement, the sea was still, when he said, Mar 4. be still; What shall be now done, he raigning in high glorie when he wil declare his wil, as were but by a becke, against yᵉ stormes of persecutions? But wee are the members of so great a Lorde, and of Christ, and therefore he not only can, but also will yᵗ which is most healthful vnto vs. And doe not we nowe much more deserue that Christ should vpbrayde no lesse vnto vs then vnto the Apostles (a lacke for sorrowe) that same faintnes of faith, because that in the tempestes of aduersities, in the meditation of so great thinges our faith doeth mount vp no higher? See an example of defence Act. 18. ver. 8.9.