[ CXV] The true Christian's hopes of Heaven.
SR* 1.1 Thomas Bodley, that great advancer of Learning, did give for his Arms three Crownes, with this Posie, Quarta perennis erit; as if he should have said, These three Crowns which I bear in my Coat, are but the difference of my House and Gentry; but, Quarta perennis erit, the fourth Crown which I look for in Heaven, shall be everlasting and immortall. That fourth, though it be but one Crown, yet shall be worth all those three Crownes, yea, three thousand more than such as those are:* 1.2 The fourth shall be eternall. Thus it is, that the men of this world may abound in such things as may make them seem more excellent than their neighbours,* 1.3 may be crowned with Rose-buds, with outward pomp and splendour: But this Crown,* 1.4 if not taken off their heads by violence, will fall of it self by mor∣tality, and then there's an end of all their hopes and honours both together. Now the state of many of the dearest of God's children here in this life,* 1.5 is not usually so eminent and illustrious: they wander up and down in sheep-skins, and goat-skins; are made a by-word,* 1.6 a laughing-stock, the drunkard's song; and instead of roses, they are crowned with thorns, and for the testimony of a good conscience, many times with martyrdome. Yet here's their com••ort, that there is a crown of life, of righte∣ousnesse,