CuAP.l. upon the Epiflle of JAM E s. VERS.rz. rran.Gated ,approved, Rom. I 4·~1 8. Approved ofman, 'tis J'ox.tp.@-. So 1 Cor. I I. 19. That ~~'Y-I[J.ot, they which_are approved may 6e made m•mifeft, fo here, when he is made or found approved, that is right and found in the faith; 'cis ametaphor taken frommettal.r, ~hofe excellencie is difcerned in the fire. 8r , . He foal receive J That is, freely ; for though none be crowntd Without flriving, 2 Tim. 2.). Yet they are not crowned for firi. ving , as in the Scripture 'cis faid in many places, God will give every man ac~or1ing to hu wer{z, yet no~ for his work_, for fuch . pa[ages do only tmply (as Ferm a-~< Paptfi: alfo granteth) that as ,. · Ft'l;tr m evill works ihall not remainunpunijhed, [o neither lhal good works Mat. m cap. b dd • 16.¥.~1. eunrewar e • · v4Crown of ltfe J 'Tis ufuall in Scripttire to fet fonlnhe gifts of God by aCroWn; foriletime3 to note the honour that God puteth upon the creatures, Thot.t haft crowned him with glory and honour, Pfal. 8. 7· Sometimes to note the All-fufficienrie of Gods love, 'tis as .t crown, on every Gde there are experiences of it, fo 'cis faid, Pfal. 103. 4· He crowneth thee with loving f<!n4nefs'and tender mercies : but mofi ufually 'cis applyed to the heavenly efiate, 1:. ~arely eo note the honour of it , as a crown is the Emblem of Majefiie,and fo it noteth that Imperiall and kingly dignity to which we are advanced in Chrifi, Luk§ 22. 29. I appoint unto you a J(zngdome , & my (.tther bath appointed unto me; Chrifi thatleft us ~he crojfe, hath left us his cr:ownalfo: one, of Chrifts legacies f() the Church u his owrJ crojfe_; therefore Luther faith, Ecclejia eft lu.res crucis, the Church is heir of the croiJe; fo you fee in this place be faith J'utTE-3-ntJ.l, I do by Will and Tefi:ament (fo the word · Ggnifieth) qifpofe aKingdome to you: and that's one reafon why heavenly glory is exprefi by a crown. 2. To note the endlefs and perpetual fulnefs that is in it; roundnefs is an emblem of plen– ty andperpetuity, there is fomewhat on every fide, and there is no end in it: So Pfal. I 6, I r. In thy prefeYfce is fulnefl of joy, and pleafures for evermore. 3. To note, that 'tis given after il:riving ; ·rwas a reward ofConquefi:, there was aCrown fet before thofe that ran_a race: To which ufe the Apofi:le alludeth, I Cor. 9. 24, 2). They which run a race, run all, but one receivet~ the pri:z:.e: So rPJn, that ye may obtain; Now they do it to ob.tain a corraptible crown, but we an incorruptible : that is, in the races and iftbmiclz games neer Corinth, the reward was pnely fome gar- . M · land
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