Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

0f t h e ;aye., o f heauen. 879 Vnto there teftimonies we might adde diners reafons; as §Sell{. y. fira,feeing the Lord doch in this world give his gifts and Viser :rea /en: graces in a diuers and vnequalproportion,to fome a greater, to Polo that and to others a lcf c meafure,it is more then probable that he ebere arediner: wil accordingly sue veto the Saints a diners measure and degreeo/glary, g and /omtobie. proportion ofglorie and fclicitie, in the kingdonie of hea- ilionsanfwered. uen,when as he wil reward and crowne there his gifts accor- ding to his gracious and free promifes : and this our Sauiour Luke tg.t 6.57.. Chriti feemech to intimate in the parable : where the Lord maketh his faithful feruant, who by wel vfing his ten talents had gained other ten,ruler over ten cities; and according to the fame proportion, he glued) veto him, who with his fine talents hadgained flue more, the gouernment of fine cities. Againe, the punifhments ofthe wicked and reprobate Thal be diners in theirmeafure and proportion, according to the qualitieof their finnes; in whichrefpe& our Sautour Chrift faith, that it (hal be eafier for Sodom and Gomorrah in the Matth.to.r f. day ofiudgement, then for that citiewhich contemneth the preachingofthe Gofpel; and for Tyre and Sidon, then for Corazin and Bethfaida, whowere not conuerted by Chrifis do&rine &miracles.For whereasit may be obie&ed,tharthe reafon followeth not, becaufe the wicked are punifhed for their finnes,but the faithful are not faued for their merits,but by the obedience,rigghteoufneffe,and death ofChrift,which equally appertaineth to al the faithful : To this I anfwere, firft, thatGod hath not only in general promifed veto all e- ueriafting life, for the death and merits of gift, but alfó that he will of his free grace,and inñnitbountie reward men according to their own works which they haue done in the flefh; for fo the Apoffle faith, that we noril l appeare before the judgement reate of ChriF1, that emery man may reccimethes.Cor.f.ro; things which are done in his bodie,according to that he bath done, enherberit begood or euitl. Secondly, howfoeuer euerlafting life belongcth to al them who haue their part and intereft in the death and obedienceofChrift, yet for as much as there are diuerlly applied,by fome more weakely, by others more flrongly, according to the diners meafore and degree of their faith; fo anfwerabiìe there diuers degrees,1hal haue nero