Text purposely intendeth.
Heere is then the thirde Doctrine of this verse, that Christ dyed and rose not in vaine, but to this end, and to this very cause, to get a soueraignty ouer all the Electe, which either had liued, or did then, or should afterward liue in the world; all which, by good right, are subiect to him, as to their Lord, to be ruled and kept vnto salua∣tion in heauen. Which as it teacheth the Church of both Testaments to be but one, vnder one Lord of both: and that it comprehends vniuersally the Saintes before the law, vnder the law, & vnder grace; all which make one bodie, and one family, whence the Church is intituled Catholike: so withall we learne, that the benefits of this Lord, as remission of sinnes, righteousnesse, adoption, saluation, &c. reach no lesse to such as wer before Christ, thē to them, who since Christ do liue, Ro. 3 25. Hebr. 9, 15. And moreouer, that they which be alreadie dead in his Faith, shall certainly be raised to heauenly glory, for so much as Christ is not Lord of the dead (as they bee dead) but as they are appointed to be aliue, for he is the Lord of all the liuing, Math. 22, 32.
Furthermore, that there is great comfort vnto all the true seruants of God, inasmuch as both in life and death they haue a mighty and louing lord to care for them, to preserue and safegard them till hee haue crowned them. And finally, by this consideration they ought to keepe themselues from mutual discords and dissentions, liuing together in a peaceable and brotherly fashion: which as it is agreeable to the minde and will of their Lord, so it will tend much to his honour, and to the credite of our Christian profession: and that especially, if remembring that they are vnder his authority and rule, they take not leaue to liue as they list, but to his will and honour who hath brought them out of the power of darknes, to whō for sin by the righteous iudgment of God, they were en∣thralled and captiuated, Acts 26, 16. Let them studye to serue him whose they are, after Pauls example, Acts 24,