Aphorismes of Christian religion: or, a verie compendious abridgement of M. I. Calvins Institutions set forth in short sentences methodically by M. I. Piscator: and now Englished according to the authors third and last edition, by H. Holland.

XIII.

That God proposed and promised to the fathers not an earthly, but heauenly beatitude, may appeare by these argu∣ments: Frist, because they were called by the a 1.1 promise of the Gospell, wherein it is euident that men are called vnto an hea∣uenly b 1.2 felicitie. Secondly, for that they had the samec 1.3 Sacramēt with vs, the same I say, in signification, that is, seales of the same grace. Thirdly, for that God vouch∣safed to make these holy fathers parta∣kers of his word, whereby soules are d 1.4 quickened, and men are lift vp vnto the hope of life euerlasting. Fourthly, for that God promised those fathers that he wold be theire 1.5 God, that is, that he would be not onely the God of their bodies, but also & principally the God and Sauiour of their soules for euer: and therefore he promised to knit their soules vnto himselfe in righ∣teousnesse, that he might make them par∣takers of life f 1.6 euerlasting. Fiftly, for that God in his couenant testified, not onely that he was now their God, but also pro∣mised

that he would be their God for g 1.7 e∣uer: in which promise assuredly the hea∣uenly felicitie & life euerlasting is plainly signified vnto vs. Sixtly, for that God promised also that he would be the God of their h 1.8 seede after them, that is, of the po∣steritie of them after their death, for their sake and for their comfort. Seuenthly, for that God i 1.9 professed of Abraham, Isaac & Iacob after their death, that he is their God. Eightly, because those holy fathers were exercised with many and great k 1.10 mi∣series in this life: whereby it is manifest, that they waited and looked to receiue at Gods hand, not an earthly but an heauen∣ly rest and happinesse: otherwise they should be frustrate of their hope, and so deceiued by the oracles and diuine pro∣mises of God. Ninthly, for that Paule to the Hebrues testifieth, that Abraham, Isaac and Iacob, did by faith l 1.11 abide in the land of promise as in a straunge coun∣trey, looking for, desiring, and minding their heritage, and Citie, and countrey in heauen. Tenthly, for that if these fa∣thers had not expected the complement

of Gods promises in heauen, they had bin more blunt and m 1.12 voyde of vnderstanding then very blockes: for that they so egerly sought after these promises, for the which there could be no hope that euer they should be performed on earth. Eleuenth∣ly, for that those fathers Abraham, Isaac and Iacob n 1.13confessed that they were stran∣gers in the land of Chanaan: and there∣fore we must necessarily vnderstand, that the o 1.14 promise made of God vnto them cō∣cerning that land, may not principally and properly be vnderstood of that land, or of any earthly happinesse to be enioyed in that place, but of life euerlasting, as si∣gnified by type and figure. Twelfthly, for that those holy fathers would be p 1.15 buried in the land of Chanaan, to retaine the seale or Sacrament of eternall life which God had giuē thē. Thirtenthly, for it is ve∣ry apparant, that those holy fathers in all their q 1.16 desires & purposes set euer before thēselues the blessed state of eternall life. Fourteenthly, for that Iacob being euen ready to die, professed that he expected the

saluation of the Lord, that is the Lord had promised, and should giue him: and then could he not r 1.17 looke for in this life, be∣cause that anon after he died & departed from the same. Fifteenthly, for that the Prophets testifie, that the couenant made with the fathers was s 1.18 spirituall, and there∣fore that life euerlasting was promised vn∣to thē therin. Sixteenthly, because Christ promising eternall life to his Disciples, saith they should t 1.19rest with Abrahā, Isaac and Iacob. Seuenteenthly, for that Peter u 1.20promising that Euāgelicall benediction, that is, remission of sinnes and life euerla∣sting, to the faithfull Iewes of his time, he made them herein equall to their fathers. Eightenthly. For that Christ in hisx 1.21 resur∣rection raised vp many of the Saints with him vnto life euerlasting: and therfore, be∣cause there is one & the like reason of all the elect, the rest also shalbe aduanced in due time vnto the kingdome of haeuen. Nineteenthly, for that those holy fathers had the selfe same spirit ofy 1.22 faith we haue, therefore they were as well as we regene∣rate vnto the hope of eternall life.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Rom 1.2. Rom. 3.21.
• b 1.2

  Ephe. 1.13 2. Thess. 2.14
• c 1.3

  1. Cor. 10.3. and 4.
• d 1.4

  1. Pet. 1.23
• e 1.5

  Leui. 26.12 Math. 22.32.
• f 1.6

  Psal. 144.15 Psal. 33.12. Haba. 1.12. Deut. 33.••9.
• g 1.7

  Gen. 17.7.
• h 1.8

  Ibid.
• i 1.9

  Exod. 3.6. Math. 12.32.
• k 1.10

  Gene. 4.8. Gen. 6.7.8.9. Gene. 12.13. &c. Gene. 26.27. Gene. 28.29. &c.
• l 1.11

  Heb. 11.9.1••0
• m 1.12

  1. Cor. 15.19.
• n 1.13

  Gen. 47.9. Psal. 39.13.
• o 1.14

  Gen. 15.18
• p 1.15

  Gene. 47.29.30. Gene. 50.24.
• q 1.16

  Psal. 119.166. & 174.
• r 1.17

  Gen. 49.18
• s 1.18

  Esa 51.6. Iob. 19.25. &c Iohn. 13.15. Esa. 66.22. &c. Da. 12.1. &c.
• t 1.19

  Math. 8.11
• u 1.20

  Act. 3.25.
• x 1.21

  Mat. 27.52
• y 1.22

  2. Cor. 4.13 Gene. 15.6. Hebr. 11.