A treatise of the divine promises in five bookes : in the first, a generall description of their nature, kinds, excellency, right use, properties, and the persons to whom they belong : in the foure last, a declaration of the covenant it selfe .../ by Edvvard Legh ...

3. PROMISES ETERNALL.

• Promises Eternall
  • 1. Against damnation.
  • 2. For Salva∣tion.
    • 1. Pas∣sages to it.
      • 1. Death, comforts against the
        • fear of
          • First, Death.
          • 2. Vn∣timely death.
      • 2 Burial.
      • 3. Resurrection.
    • 2. Per∣formā∣ces of it.
      • 1. Glorification in part, of our soules.
      • 2. Last judgement.
      • 3. Glo∣rificati∣on of the whole man both soule and body.
        • Pro∣mi∣ses.
          • 1. Of e∣ternal life both in soul & body.
          • 2. For the glory of hea∣ven.

THE FOVRTH BOOKE. (Book 4)

CHAP. I. Eternall Promises.

1. Against Damnation. The godly shall be delivered from eternall Confusion and Damnation.

YEe shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end, Esay 45.17. Rom. 9. * 1.1 33. and

10 11. 1 Pet. 2.6.

GOD will deliver the soule of the righteous from the pit. Job 33.28. Ps. 86.13.

There is no condemnation to them that are in CHRIST IESVS, Rom. 8.1. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of GODS elect? It is GOD that iustifieth, ver. 33.

They are delivered from the wrath to come, 1 Thes. 1.10.

Blessed is he that hath part in the first resurrection, on such the se∣cond death hath no power, Rev. 20.6.

He that overcommeth, shall not be hurt of the second death, Rev. 2.11.

CHAP. II.

2. For Salvation.

• 1. Passages to it.
  • 1. Death.
    • 1. Comforts a∣gainst the fear of death.
    • 2. Feare of un∣timely death.
  • 2. Buriall.
  • 3. Resurrection.

1. Comforts against the fear of death.

HE that will beare with comfort the pangs of death,* 1.2 must labour to die in faith, that is, he must lay hold of the promise of GOD touching forgivenesse of

sins and life everlasting by CHRIST. All these (saith the HOLY GHOST, Heb. 11.13.) died in the Faith: viz. Abel, Enoch, Noe, Abraham and Sarah, all laying hold of the promise of life by CHRIST: So Iacob, Gen. 49.18. by Faith rested on the mercy of GOD, and by hope he waited for his salvation.

Thou shalt not be afraid of de∣struction when it commeth, Job 5.21. Death be it never so bit∣ter or painfull, shall not be a∣ble to seperate us from the love of GOD, Rom. 8.28, 38. S^t. Stephens violent death was but a sweet sleepe, Act. 7.60. Iohn 11.11. It is but a sleeping in JE∣SUS, 1 Thes. 4.14. The grave is called a bed of rest, Esay 57.2. CHRIST hath pul'd the sting out of death for all the godly,* 1.3 Esay 25.8. Hos. 13.14. 1 Cor. 15.55. and tooke away the strength of it by his death, Heb. 2.14, 15. The righteous hath

hope in his death, Pro. 14.32. it is gaine unto him, Phil. 1.21. for he is delivered by death from ma∣ny and great evils. 1. Sin,* 1.4 Rom. 6.7. He shall never offend GOD more: 2. Those miseries which fol∣low sin, Esay 57.1, 2.3. The temptations of the Divell Rev. 12.8.4. The opposition and vexati∣on of the world and flesh,* 1.5 Rev. 14.13. Eccles. 4.1, 2. It is to them obstetrix immortalitatis, a passage to immortality, 2 Cor. 5.1, 4. a sturdy Porter, that opens hea∣ven gates unto him.

See 1 Cor. 3.22. & 15.26. Psalm 37.37.

2. Comforts against the feare of untimely death.

Thou shalt come to thy grave in a ful age, like as a shocke of corn commeth in, in his season, Job 5.26.

The number of thy dayes will I ful∣fill, Exod. 23.26. The Lord will pre∣serve him and keepe him alive, and he shall be blessed upon the earth. Ps. 4.

1.2. With long life will I satis∣fie him and shew him my salvation, Ps. 91.16.

2. Buriall.

It is a kind of blessing pro∣mised by GOD to his Saints, to be buried. 1 King. 14.13. 2 King. 22.20.

* 1.63. Resurrection. Promises of our Resurrection.

He which raised up the LORD JESUS, shall raise up us al••o by JESUS.

The Covenant of GOD is of force with us, as we lie in the dust of the Earth, Mat. 22.31.32.

He keepeth the very bones of his Saints, Ps. 34.20.

All that are in the grave shall come forth, they that have done good unto the resurrection of life, John 5.28, 29.

I will raise him up at the last day, John 6.39, 40, 44, 54.

See 1 Thess. 4.14, 16. Rom. 8.11. Dan. 12.2. Esay 26.19.

CHAP. III.

2. Performances of it.

• 1. Glorification in part, for the soule.
• 2. Last Judgement.
• 3. Glorification of the whole man both soule and bo∣dy.

Promises. 1. Of the Glorification of our soules.

GOD promiseth to trans∣late the soules of the godly into his heaven∣ly kingdome when they die.* 1.7

This is implyed in the Para∣ble

where the Angels carry up Lazarus soule into Heaven,* 1.8 Luke 16.22. This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise, Luk. 23.43. Which Paradise the Apostle Paul expoundeth to be the third heaven, 2 Cor. 12.1, 2, 4.

He that overcomes shall inherit all things. See Rev. 3.21.

2. Of the last Judgement.

* 1.9 The godly have boldnesse and confidence at the day of judgement.

When these things begin to come to passe, then shall we look up and lift up our heads, because our redemption draweth nigh, Luk. 21.28.

* 1.10Vnto them that look for CHRIST shall he appeare the second time without sin unto salvation, Hebr. 9.28.

When CHRIST who is our life shall appeare, then shall we also appeare with him in glory, Colos. 3.4.

He shall say to them of his right

hand, Come yee blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdome pre∣pared for you from the foundation of the world, Matth. 25.32, 34. See ver. 40.

3. Glorification of the whole man both soule and body.* 1.11

Promises of the glorification of our bodies.

The LORD JESUS shall change our vile bodies, and make them like his glorious body, Phil. 3.21. The bodies of the Saints shall shine as the brightnesse of the firmament, and as the stars. Dan. 1 2.3. Yea as the Sun for ever and ever.

Promises. Of eternall life in both soul and body after the day of judgement.

Then we shall be ever with the LORD, 1 Thess. 4.17.

Whosoever beleeveth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life Joh. 3.16.

I give unto them eternall life, John 10.28.

He that beleeveth on the Sonne, hath eternall life,* 1.12 Joh. 3.36.

He that believeth and is bapti∣zed shall be saved, Mark 16.16. Act. 16.31.

The gift of GOD is eternall life through JESUS CHRIST our LORD. Rom. 6.23.

See John 6.40. and 20.31. 1 Joh. 2.23. John 5.24. 1 Joh. 5.11, 12, 13. Joh. 17.3. 1 Pet. 1.3, 4. Tit. 3.7. Rom. 5.10, 17. Rom. 8.13. Gal. 6.8. Matth. 5.8, 12. and 19.29. Matth. 25.34, 35, 46. 1 Tim. 6.17, 18 19.

The Promises of GOD, as∣sure us of everlasting happinesse and glory in the Kingdome of Heaven. I know, saith Job 19.25. (relying upon GODS pro∣mises) that my Redeemer li∣veth.

2 Cor. 5.1. & 4.14.

Faith apprehendeth the pro∣mise of eternall life, hope expe∣cteth it, love thankfully enter∣taines it, and all other graces are quickned and strengthned by it.

Promises. For the glory of Heaven.

In thy presence is fullnesse of ioy, at thy right hand there are plea∣sures for evermore, Ps. ••6.11.

We shall have fullnesse of ioy, e∣verlasting ple••sures: A swift flowing river and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of plea∣sures. Psal. 36.8. We shall 〈◊〉〈◊〉 no more, 〈…〉〈…〉 Rev. 7.16. GOD will wipe away all tears from our ey••. Rev. 21 4. We shal sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob, in the kingdome of heaven, Mat. 8.11. as at a banquet: we shall then be as the Angels of GOD, Matth. 22.30. Nay like CHRIST himselfe, 1 John 3.2. We shall be made confirmable to the image of his Sonne,* 1.13 Rom. 8.29. and be With CHRIST, John 14.3. and behold his glory, Joh. 17.24. & 12.26.

We shall enter into our masters ioy. Matth. 25.21. he saith not, it shal enter into us, but we into it, shewing that the joyes of heaven are so many, that they cannot be

contained in the soule of man.

GOD hath promised us a king∣dome, Mat. 25.34. A heavenly kingdome.* 1.14 Mat. 7.2••. 2 Tim. 4.18. An eternall kingdom, 2 Pet. 1.11. A Crown, a Crown of life, Iam. 1.12. Rev. 2.10. A Crown of righ∣teousnesse, 2 Tim. 4.8. An immar∣cessible Crown of glory, 1 Pet. 5.4. The word [Crowne] represents unto us:* 1.15 1. The perpetuity of that life, for a crowne hath neither be∣ginning nor ending: 2. Plenty, be∣cause as the crown compasseth on every side, so there is nothing wan∣ting in this life: 3. Dignity, eter∣nall life is a coronation day, every Saint shall be a crowned King.

The use of Faith in regard of these promises, is to uphold us with the expectation of that hea∣venly happinesse which is promi∣sed, yea though we be destitute of worldly things and be in many troubles and tribulations, Act. 14.22.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Some doe referre it to the day of judgement when the faithfull shall not be con∣founded or ashamed cum ventris in future, when Christ shall come to judgemēt Glosse inter∣lin, Haym•• But it is more generall, shewing that the faithfull neither in the time present nor to come shall be ashamed. Not to be con¦founded sign••fieth non frustrati, not to be disappointed of the••r hope, P. Matt. And more is under••••ood then said, i.e. shall be con∣firmed comforted and establishe••, Parus.
• * 1.2

  He that will k••ep•• my say∣ing, shall ••ot test of death. Iohn 8.51 that is shall not be over∣whel••ed by ••t.
• * 1.3

  Dying in the Lord. Revel ••4.13 is but a rest from labours, 2 Tim. 1.10.
• * 1.4

  That one happy pang which puls away the soule from the body, doth also pul away sinne both from the soul and body
• * 1.5

  God doth watch over the faithfull for good by his pro••i∣dence, both in life and death, Mat. 10.28, 29, 30 31. Psa. 72.14
• * 1.6

  2 Sam 25. In Christ shal all be made alive, 1 Cor 15 ••••punc; that is shall be rai¦sed by him at the resur∣rection.

  The Cer∣ma••es call the Church yard Godsa∣ker, because the bodies are sowne there to bee raised again: and the Gre¦cians called their Church yards, or places of se∣pulture, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 dormitories, or sleeping places wher the bodies rest, expect∣ing the re∣surrection.
• * 1.7

  The soule of t••e faithfull at the disso¦lution of the body shall go immedi∣ately to hea∣ven.
• * 1.8

  Therfore there is no purgatory. Christ pro∣miseth to the Saints of God af••er death, Life, 1 Tim 4.8 Apoc. 2.10. Iohn 5.24 & 11.25, Rest, Luke 16.25. Apoc. 14.13 Ioy, Mat 3.25.23 Esay 35 10.
• * 1.9

  1 Iohn 4 17 & 3.21. Acts 3 19. Heb. ••.28.
• * 1.10

  There is a promise, 2 Tim 4.8 to these that long for Christs secōd comming, & love his ap∣pearing.
• * 1.11

  Mat. 13.43. See 1 Cor 15 4••, 43.

  Heb. 9.••5. & 11 16. Iam. 1 1••, 5 Iude 20, 21, verse The gl••ry of the body (say the Schoole men, consists first in clari∣ty, Mat ••••.43 2 Impassibi∣lity, 1 Cor. 5 53.

  2 Of the soul consists in the manifest visiō of God which suc∣ceeds faith, 1 Cor. 13.12. 2 In the per∣fect fruition of God which suc∣ceeds hope Rev. 7.16, 7,
• * 1.12

  3 In the per¦fect love of God wh••c•• succeeds of imperfect charity 1 Cor, 13.8.
• * 1.13

  Rev. 21.3. 1 Thes 4 17.
• * 1.14

  1 Pet. 13.4.
• * 1.15

  Sir Thomas Bodley gave for his arms three crowns with this po∣sey, Quarta perennu erit, the fourth shal be eter¦nall.