A Celestial Looking-Glass to Behold the Beauty of Heaven
The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A19494.0001.001
Project Note
This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.
This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.
Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.
However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.
This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.
Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org
The Author to the Reader.
I Beseech you to peruse this little Book of my own making: imprinted at my own cost & charges. Which I humbly entreat you to accept at my hands: not weighing the worth, but respecting my good will. And deal therein (in your virtuous disposition, and Christian love and charity ) as God shall move your mind.
I. A. Minister and Preacher of God's Word.
A CELESTIALL Looking-glass: To behold the beauty of Heaven.
Directed unto all the Elect Children of God, very briefly composed, and authentically penned, that it may be effectually gained.
PSAL. 87.3.
Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God.
PSAL. 107.43.
Who so is wise, will ponder those things.
LONDON, Printed by Nicholas Okes, 1621.
TO THE RIGHT HONOrable, truly Noble, virtuous, and most worthy Lady, the Lady CATHERNE, Marchionesse Buckingham, wife unto the right Honorable GEORGE, Marquess of uckingham, Viscount VILLERS, Baron of Whaddon, Lord High Admiral of England, &c. grace and peace from God the Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ.
R Ight honorable and virtuous Lady, so far forth as the holy Scripture maketh mention of the Titles, Magnitude, Ioyes, and Eternity of heaven, (the which I have here entreated of) or any other divine matter whatsoever: so far I may be bold, either to speak, write, or entreat of, and no further; for the secret things belong unto the Lord, but the revealed belong unto us, and to our children forever, Deut. 29.29. But yet it may be thought great boldness in me, that am altogether vnacquanted or known unto your Honor, being a Minister, and Preacher of God's Word, to presume to shroud from the prejudice of contempt, this my small and unlearned Treatise, Intituled, A Celestial Looking-glass, to be patronized under your Honors protection, being a Lady of such dignity and virtue; (and so in some sort I do myself acknowledge.)
Yet as the Lord hath adorned you among other religious Ladies, with whō ye shine as a clear Lamp of light in the world, through your unfeigned love, and sincere profession of the Gospel, (whereby you are an honor not only to your house, but unto your whole degree and Sexe:) which as it is a sweet testimony to your own heart, that you are beloved of God, and hath made you far and near honored of all those that love God: so also as your religious zeal towards God's Word doth exceed your honor or Greatness, it likewise maketh me very confident, that it will excuse my boldness; the rather, because I have received the ground of my work from the direction of the word of God: but the method I submit to the correction of man, and am sorry it is no more worthy your honorable view. But although it be rawly comprised in a few scattered leaves, and as rudely composed in a sort of scribled and unlettered lines, as the fruit of whose outward husk being unpolished, may seem unpleasant; yet (no doubt) the inward kernel once tasted, and well digested, may prove cordial, and right fruitful.
Right Honorable, and Christian devoted Lady, like as the Moralists showeth me, that where only the quality of the affection, and not the quantity of the present, is to be attended, Modicum non differt à magno, it is no matter whether the present be great or small. So was it with Alexander, , who received a few harsh lines of verse from Choerilus; Artaxerxes a handful of water from poor Sinaeta, and our Savior Jesus Christ the poor widows mite.
In like manner I am loath to trouble your Honor with a treatise of long circumstance, lest I should fear you with the loss of time, and so make an end before I begin. But if the good liking of this Mite of my poor labors, could win the hope of your favor, to entreat you with patience, to peruse the same: and withal, vouchsafe to grace me with your honorable acceptance, to patronize this small work, which I in all dutiful manner, with as tender affection (as ever mother or nurse gave their breasts to their children, or the Pelican peckt out her blood to feed and cherish her young) do here as kindly dedicate and present: then shall I (if God spare me life) be comforted and encouraged under so worthy a favorer, to proceed in the like studies, and according to my bounden duty, incessātly with all humility pray to Amightie God, for his glory, not only to preserve your Honor in all happiness, to continue you honorable upon earth, but also to be far more adorned, to reign with a Celestial Crown of glory in the Kingdom of heaven.
Your Honors in all Christian duty to be commanded: I. A.
An Apology of the Author to the Reader.
O Wretched man that I am! What am I, that dare undertake (being but dust and ashes, worms meat) to enter into a description of the sacred and Coelestiall Kingdom of heaven? which is in all things inscrutable, and unsearchable, and in all respects infinite. It exceedeth the power of our Eloquence, & the capacity of our Intelligence, in so much, that no mortal man can comprehend it.
Much less that I, of men one of the meanest, of a defiled heart, and polluted lips, of weak memory, and of a shallow understanding, should attempt and presume to define or describe the unspeakable Ioyes or secrets of heaven.
Yet for as much as the Lord's Pen-men have, according to our capacity, described in sundry places, diverse particulars of the heavenly blessedness; I have briefly, according to the rules of sobriety, collected and considered the same for our instruction and comfort. And as the authority of the speaker or writer is lost, when as the voice and life is not affected with the work it self: I do therefore heartily desire all those (although unknown unto many) that shall either read, or hear this short and brief Coelestiall Looking-glass, and gather comforts unto their souls our of these my labors, to pray unto our Lord Jesus Christ for me, to give me his grace, and direct me with his holy Spirit, that what I either preach or write, I may both in life and doctrine express and perform the same unto my lives end: that whilst I endeavor to raise others, I may raise myself from all my sins, to the glory of God's holy name, and the salvation of my own soul. Amen.
I. A.
Qui cessat esse melior, cessat esse bonus.
He that ceaseth to be better, ceaseth to be good,
A Coelestiall Looking -glass, to behold the Beauty of Heaven.
O F all the works of God, Heaven is the most ancient; it was made at the beginning of the world, and it was the first of all God's works: the felicity thereof cannot be imagined, neither the blessings numbered: so incomparable as cannot be equalled; of such value as none can comprize it, so great ae cannot be measured, and of such eternity, as never can be ended,
The very name of heaven to all is lovely, because it is a haven for rest, a Paradise for pleasure, a City for beauty, a Kingdom of state, a Crown of glory, a Throne of Majesty, & life everlasting: it is desired of all, hoped for of many, but only enjoyed of the best.
All religions aim at it, the wicked do wish for it, the Jews expect it, the schismatiques seek for it, the Turks would enjoy it, and the Papists think to merit it: But the true Protestant, the regenerate Christian, by faith and repentance, begs it, and he through the merits of Jesus Christ shall enjoy it.
As Heaven is the highest place, the Throne of God, the Court of the great King, the mighty Jehovah: So it is the Citty of safety, the harbor of the Just, the peculiar people, the regenerate Christians, the Children of Light, the Elect by God's Preordination, where all are Kings, and heirs with Christ, invested with glory, crowned with Majesty, clothed with security, decked with delights, replenished with pleasure, garnished with all graces, adorned with beauty, furnished with the best company, and flourishing with the flower of all Nations.
The chiefest reasons that the understanding of mortal man can comprehend to the describing of God's Kingdom, are specially these four:
First, by the Titles.
Secondly, by the Magnitude.
Thirdly, by the Ioyes.
And fourthly, by the Eternity.
Heaven is described by the titles. To set forth heaven more fully to our understanding, it hath diverse glorious Titles, and names in the holy Scriptures: it is called an heavenly Kingdom, a blessed and everlasting Kingdom, a Celestial and heavenly Jerusalem, a Kingdom of glory, a Throne of Majesty, a Paradise of pleasure, the glory of God, and life everlasting.
In the Kingdom of heaven are three sacred and most blessed orders or dignities: The first of them is Supercelestiall, containing Cherubims, Seraphim, and Thrones : The second Celestial, containing Dominions, Principalities and Powers : The third Subcelestiall, containing Virtues, Arch-Angels, and Angels.
John, to show unto us in some measure, the unspeakable glory of heaven, describes the place under the name of a great City; comparing it with the most precious things of this world; inuironed round about with a great wall for the safeguard of the Citizens.
The wall is made of Jasper, to note the riches thereof: in the wall are twelve gates, which do open unto every quarter of the world, signifying the willingness of heaven to accept the Elect in every place, on every side, and from every Country and Nation.
These gates are made of pearls, and every gate is a pearl undivided, without blemish: They are ever open, signifying security, to receive with welcome, all that enter in.
At those gates are twelve Angels, whose names are written upon the gates, and they are the twelve Tribes of Israel. They are porters to keep out all strangers, and to admit with welcome all Citizens. Every gate hath a porter, to show vigilancy: Every porter is a Tribe, to show the dignity: Every porters name is on the gate, to the end that everyone should execute his own charge.
The wall wherein those gates are, hath twelve foūdations, to betoken a sure & firm established groundwork. In those foundations are writ̄ the names of the Lambes twelve Apostles, implying, that the foundation of the City is laid upon the Rock of Faith.
The foundations of the wall of the City are garnished with all manner of precious stones.
The first is Jasper, to figure prosperity; the second Sapphire, in sign of truth; the third a Chalcedony, to note perfection; the fourth an Emerald, in to-of victory; the fifth Sardonix, implying security; the sixth Sardius, to demonstrate fidelity; the seventh Chrysolite, to express purity; the eight Berill, to mark out content; the ninth a Topaz, alluding unto plenty; the tenth a Chrysoprasus, to design beatitude; the eleventh a Iacinth, to speak of Eternity; the twelfth an Amethyst, to manifest love. And thus is the wall garnished, to show us the treasure and felicity thereof.
The City it self is all of pure gold, both the buildings and streets are gold, shining like clear glass: the light of this City is Christ: from his seat proceedeth a river as clear as Crystall; on both sides the banks grows the tree of Life, that yields continual fruit; it beareth twelve times every year, twelve manner of fruits, to represent the quantity, and variety of the pleasures and joys of heaven: of which river and fruits all the inhabitants may eat and drink their fill.
The river is never drying, nor the fruits failing, for the Lord maintaineth the same. There is no winter to nip the fruits, no summer to consume the water; nor fall of the leaf to disgarnish the tree of his beauty: There is no heat to vex, nor cold to grieve, no hunger nor thirst, no malice nor strife, no anger, no pride, no dissimulation nor deceit, no covetousness nor griping, no whoredom or uncleanness, no swearing or profaning, no disobedience.
There is no cosener to collogue, no parasite to dissemble, no foe to fight, no inferior to yield obedience, no foreigners but brethren, no strangers but all of the household of faith, Children of one holy Father, coheirs with Christ their elder brother.
They shall not need the help of any Doctor for Physic, nor any Lawyer to plead for their right: the whole Kingdom is their own, and their Letters patents of Donation are recorded.
This is the principal inheritance of the Saints, and the habitation for all the Elect children of God, prepared for them from the beginning of the world.
To conclude this point, make us, O Lord, to be of the number of them whom thou hast ordained to reign with thee in thy heavenly Kingdom: write us in the book of Life, that we may be in the assembly of thy righteous Saints : and give us grace to be sorrowful for our sins, fearful of thy Judgments, thankful for thy benefits, lovers of thy mercies, and mindful of thy presence; that we may be diligent to please thee, have grace to know thee and hope to embrace thee, through the merits of Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
Secondly, Heaven is described by the Magnitude.
AS Heaven is a most glorious Kingdom, so it is a most spacious and large place: the Angel measuring the same, findeth it to be every way 12000. furlongs, every which furlong having in it twenty five Geometrical paces, eight of them doth make a mile, which is five thousand foot: So that these twelve thousand furlongs, are made fifteen thousand miles, which being made square by addition, there are thrice so many, for the other three parts, or three squares of the City.
This is that large Kingdom which containeth the innumerable multitude of all the Elect children of God. Thousand thousands do minister unto him, and ten thousand times an hundred thousand, do stand about the seat and Throne of God: Of every Tribe of Israel were sealed twelve thousand: and great multituds which no man could number, of all Nations, and Kindreds and people: and the Inhabitants of heaven exceed in number the stars in the firmament, or the sands by the Sea shore.
O Israel, how great is the house of God, and how large is the place of his possession. In domo Patris mei multae sunt mansiones, In my Fathers house there are many mansions, saith our Savior Jesus Christ : Whereof this proportion may be made, that as far as the whole world in greatness and compass of place doth exceed the womb of one private womā, so much doth the place of bliss pass all the whole world in greatness and quantity. And as much as a man living in this world doth pass a child in his mothers womb, in strength of body, beauty, wit, understanding and knowledge; so much and so far more doth a Saint in heaven pass men of this world in all heavenly knowledge.
This place is so great & spacious, as if we compare the whole cōpass of earthly things with the multitude of heavenly, all that ever God made besides heaven it self, is but as a prick or small point, or period, being matched with the workemanshippe of heaven.
This is that large and glorious Kingdom of God, which he hath prepared to set forth his glory, and to express unto us his mighty power.
To conclude this point, though heaven be large and great, which no tongue can express; yet straight is the way, & narrow is the gate to go into it: Many seek it, and few find it: for the streitnesse of the way is affliction; y e narrowness of the gate is true contrition; the Suburbs is the Church; & the door is Christ, by whō (if we truly seek) we shall surely enter in. O let us therefore strive to avoid sin, y e our ways may be verity; our paths piety; God's holy spirit our cōductor; his Word our director; Our Faith hold the Anchor, while Grace steeres the Helme: Let our tears be the seas, and our sighs the gales of wind, to arrive at God's heavenly Kingdom; which God hath prepared us; Christ hath merited for us, the holy Spirit doth assure us, and our godly life will witness the same unto us: which the Father of mercy, even for his Son Jesus Christ his sake, forever grant unto us. Amen.
Thirdly, Heaven is described by the Ioyes.
NOw as Heaven is a most glorious place, a Kingdom which hath no end or measure, either in power or glory: So in the same are contained Ioyes unspeakable. As a learned Father saith, that it is an easier matter to know what God is not, then to know what he is: It is much easier to tell what is not in heaven, then to tell what is there: the joys thereof are so great, that all the Arithmeticians in the world cannot number; the Geometricians measure, nor Rhetoricians with all their eloquence utter and express the same: it doth exceed the power of our eloquence, and the capacity of all our intelligence.
Saint Paul was wrapped into Heaven, and saw the joys thereof: & they were so exceeding great, that his tongue was not able to express them: Therefore he saith, that neither eye hath seen, nor ear hath heard, nor the heart of man conceived the greatness of heavenly joys. They which are there wish nothing but they have it before them; they desire nothing but they enjoy it; they dwell in love, they live in peace, and continue in the fruition of all blessedness.
Blessed is their estate, blessed their beginning, their present being, and their never ending: They are crowned with joy and gladness, and remain forever in a most blessed estate. As they have been here members militant, there they are all triumphant, all Kings reigning, and all victoriously triumphing. There the King is Verity, and the law Love and Charity, the honor Equity, the peace Felicity, and the life Eternity.
If Peter said only upon Christ his transfiguration, it is good to be here: O how much more shall the childrē of God rejoice in the Kingdom of heaven, when they enjoy not only Heavens beauty, and the beholding of Christ in his glory, but shall themselves be glorified, and shine as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father?
All the Ioyes, Pleasures, Delights, & comforts that this world can yield, are but shadows, if they be compared unto the true Ioyes in the Kingdom of Heaven. The joys of our bodies shall be infinite, the joys of our souls unspeakable: Our earthly and vile bodies shall be made like unto the most glorious body of the Son of God, like unto the brightness of the Firmament, like unto the Angels, like unto the Sun in his strength.
We shall see God face to face; we shall see him as he is; all the parts and powers both of body and soul, shall be filled with the sight, presence, and fruition of God. As the Lord's glory reflected upon Moses, did make his face to shine upon the Mount : So will our Savior Jesus Christ refine and beautify with the perfection of grace, that they may be like unto his glorious body. It was one of our Sauiors last requests in the behalf of his Church, Father, I will that those whō thou hast given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory. For the glory of Christ is so delightful to be seen, so sweet to be possessed, and so pleasant to be enjoyed; and his continual presence is so joyful unto all the Saints in Heaven, that if the least drop thereof should descend into hell, it would sweeten all the pains of the damned.
The fountain of Happiness is called by Divines, visio Dei beatifica, the sight of God which maketh us happy. Haec sola est summum bonum nostrum, this only sight of God is our chiefest happiness: which Christ also confirmeth whē he saith to his Father, This is life everlasting, that men know thee the living God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.
In seeing him, we shall know the power of the Father, we shall know the wisdom of the Son, and we shall know the goodness of the holy Ghost; we shall know the invisible nature of the most sacred and blessed Trinity.
This sight of God is the full beatitude and glorification of man: for in seeing him, we shall possess him; in possessing him, we love him; in loving him we shall praise him; and in praising him we shall live and reign with him: for he is the Inheritance of his people, the possession of their Felicity, and the reward of their expectation. He is supereminent above all, superexcellent beyond all, and most abundant in Love to all.
All persons generally have the participation of joy, and everyone in particular the fruition of glory. But this one thing let us consider, that there is a twofold equality of proportion, & quantity of glory, which ariseth not from the Object, Almighty God, which is ever the same; but from man, the subject, which is not in every particular alike capable of glory: Yet happy, and thrice happy shall they be, who shall be partakers of the least of heavenly glory.
They that have least can desire no more, and they that have most, discern no wants in others, but have a contented pleasure with profit; safety with solace, felicity with unity, peace with perfection; and agreement with grace.
Where Christ his righteousness is their holy raiment, and his perfect fullness their joyful contentment: Their drink is the most sweet water of Life, Angels food their delicate nourishment: they shall have the blessing of the holy Trinity, with all the spiritual riches & unspeakable joys of heaven, to be poured upon them.
O who can tell the greatness of this joy? When & where together shall meet the Head and the Body, Christ and his Church, the Prince of peace, and his Spouse : our two old friends our souls and our bodies, shall meet after so many years of separation, with Angels, Arch-angels, Cherubims and Seraphim, Patriarchs, Prophets, Martyrs, Apostles, and all the blessed Saints of God: also fathers and mothers, husbands and wives, masters and servants, brothers and sisters, parents and childrē, neighbors and friends, all shall meet together: what cries and shouts will there be for joy? what clapping of hands and sweet embracements one of another?
O great shall be our joys when we behold our long-desired purchase, which we have so often wished for: and most great shall be our joy, more then ever it was, when we both with body and soul, shall see and behold our Creator as he is; where we all shall think one thing, and all shall sing one song, Halleluiah, Salvation cometh of our God . O we shall not only behold our most blessed Savior who so dearly bought us, but we shall also reign with him, triumph with him, sit in the judgment seat with him, & judge the very Angels with him. O what more hope could be thought upon, except it were to be God's our selves? All the joys, all the riches, all the happiness that heaven containeth, shall be poured upon us. To these joys, to these felicities, and to this blessed Inheritance, bring us, O Lord, for thy dear Son Christ Jesus his sake.
Fourthly, Heaven is described by the Eternity.
As this Kingdom is full of joys unspeakable, so the joys thereof are also eternal: Thy Kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy Dominion endures throughout all generations.
The God of heaven shall set up a Kingdom which shall never be destroyed: this kingdom is life everlasting, this glory is eternal, these joys are permanent, the Crown never fadeth, the Salvation is perdurable, the Inheritance immortal, and the Habitation perpetual.
The Author to the Hebrews saith, We receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken. Saint John heard in Patmos great voices from heaven, saying, The Kingdoms of this world are our Lord's, and his Christ's, and he shall reign for evermore.
Thus God will bestow upon his Saints a glorious, ample, joyful, and a perpetual kingdom, where they shall be joyful in an everlasting joy. The joys of heaven are exquisite, the felicity permanent, and the glory eternal: where faith hath her perfect work in charity, Hope her desired happiness, and love a large scope in everlasting Unity.
They that have received here small things for a time, shall receive there great things forever: they that have been faithful here over a few things, shall be made there rulers over many things: they that have suffered sorrow here for a short time, shall enter into joy there forever, which is called the joy of the Lord: They that have believed in God, shall rejoice in his presence forever: they y t have lived in his fear, shall live without fear of any enemy forever: they that have kept holy the Lord's Sabbaths here, shall there keep holy day forever: they that have honored their Parēts, Ministers, Masters & Magistrates, shall be honored of God and Angels forever: they that have chastised their bodies and suffered with Christ Jesus, shall be endued with the light of everlasting immortality, and reign with him forever: they that have loved their neighbors shall be beloved of God forever: they that have mourned & sorrowed, and truly lamented for their sin, shall receive Crowns of glory forever: they that have watched & prayed in the night, & fasted in the Bridegroom's absence, shall now rest in the day that hath no night, and be richly feasted in the Kingdom of God forever: They that have labored in the Lord's Vineyard, shall there receive the penny of eternal bliss forever: they that have overcome the World, the Flesh, and the Devil, shall triumph in eternal glory with Christ, and his holy Angels forever: and they that have here wrung their hands for sorrow, shall there clap their hands for joy, forever more.
This shall be the blessed estate of all God's Saints, that shall dwell in the kingdom of God forever.
These considerations caused the Patriarchs, Prophets, and the Saints of the old world to long for, & desire that eternal, sweet, & most joyful inheritance of God's heavenly Kingdom. Toby, Job, and Elias, wished thenselves in that Kingdom: Paul desired to be dissolved, and be with Christ. Solomon counted all the glory of his Kingdom but vanity, and the continuance thereof but as a weed. David lamenteth y t he is so long kept away frō this glorious & eternal Kingdom: Woe is me, (saith he) that I am constrained to dwell with Mesech, and to have my habitation among the tents of Kedar. And again, Like as the Hart desireth the water brooks, so longeth my soul after thee, O God, my soul is athirst for God; yea, even for the living God: O when shall I come to appear before the presence of God? And again he saith that he should utterly have fainted, but that he did rest in hope of a better Kingdom, and believed verily in short time, to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the Living.
Why did Abraham forsake his own natural country, and his fathers house, and to go out he knew not whither? Why did Moses forsake Egypt, and refused to be called the son of Pharaohs Daughter? Why did so many Saints, and holy men & women, leave their ancient houses and riches, and wander up and down in wildernesses & in mountains, and in dens & caves of the earth? Surely for this cause: they had respect unto the recompense of the reward, that was Regnum Dei, the Kingdom of God: they counted their Country but banishment, and a cursed vale of misery; their worldly glory but vanity; their dwelling and abode here but a Jail, a prisō, or a dark dungeon; their pleasures but sorrow, mourning and tears: and all their doings were to this end, that they might enjoy a better Inheritance, that is, this glorious kingdom of Almighty God.
This is the Inheritance whereof the Apostle speaketh, Proposito sibi gaudio sustinuit crucem, He suffered affliction for the joy that was set before him.
This is that precious pearl and treasure, which the Merchant found in the field, and sold all that he had, and bought it. This is that Inheritance, in respect whereof S. Paul esteemeth all the world as dung. The same Inheritāce for which Ignatius, that godly Martyr, biddeth this price; Fire, gallows, beasts, breaking of bones, quartering of my members, crushing of my body, all the torments of the Devil together, let them come upon me, so I may enjoy the treasure of Heaven.
Thus you see, that our Summum bonum, our chief good thing; our Vltimus finis, our last farewell; our Terminus ad qu • m, the end whereunto all our actions, endeavors, hopes and desires do tend, and bend, is that we may live forever.
And so the end of all our preaching, the scope of all our hearing, the fruit of all our believing, the effect of all our knowledge, and the main point of all our profession, is, to live, that we may enjoy this everlasting Kingdom.
To conclude, and briefly end, (though God's kingdom of glory, and the glory of God's kingdom hath no end:) The Lord in his mercy correct our present sinfulness, erect our further weakness, and direct our future frailty; that we may earnestly desire, advisedly search, truly know, and perfectly fulfil all things that may please him, whereby we may walk uprightly in his ways, and live truly in his Love, to our comfort and his glory; that in the end we may obtain that long desired and beautiful Diadem, wherewith he crowneth his Elect; and reign with him in his everlasting Kingdom, to behold the delightful countenance of his most glorious Majesty, & to be filled with the exceeding sweetness of his most blessed presence, which is life forever.
The Author to the Reader.
Nonne Deus eras via?