Luk.t~ fO· A~.t.g. Spb.;.B. Rom.Jf, ,.,. ~ , Chrifts ofthe [reede. Afcenfion. eingthewitneffesofhisafcenfion,whic~were A 1 to thy heart this benefit ofChri!t. He< is afhis owne difciples in the mount ofOhues at cended vp to heanen to leade captme,and to Bcthanie, and none but they. Now it may be vanqudh the duJel! and all Ius angels, vnd~r demaunded, why hee would not haue all the whom thou l.1e!tbound, and that no~onlpil whole nation ofrhe !ewes to fee h1m afcend, h1~felfe,but m h1s members. Now.the1fthou that fotheymight know that he wasrifenaw!ltbecomeatru~membcrofChu!t, hew!IJ gaine, and bdeeue in hi111• .Anfw. The reafon free thee from th1s b~mdage. Ther.efore take may beethis:it was his good pleaforethatthe heed how thou contmue!t longer In thy olde pointsoffaith and religion, wherofthis artifinnes, and m thy grolfe1gnorance: andfeemg de is one, lhould rather belearned by hearing Chrdt hath madea wayto hberty;letvs feeke then by feeing. Indeed Chril\s owne difciples to come out ofth1s fpmtuall bondage: !lee IS were taughtthe fame by fight, that they might afcended for th1send and purpofe to free vs the better teachotl!ers which lhould not fee; fromlt; therefore 1fwe refufe th1s benefit,our whereas now the ordinarie meanes to come /\ate will be the more damnable. Aman !Jes by faith is hearing. bound hand and foot in adarkc dungeon, and The vfes to bee made ofChrifrsafccnfion, the keeper comes & fets open the pnfon dare are oftwo forts · fome are comforts to Gods B and takes offhis bolts, and biddes him come Church and people, and fame are duties. The out;ifhee refufeand f•y that he is well, may it comforts are efpecially foure. The firfl isthis: no_r bee thought thathe IS a maddeman, and Chril\ Icfusdid afcend vpto heauen, tokad< wlilany befone for h1scafel No furely.Well, captiltitiu:~ptiue, amoll: worthy benefit. By r~is is the fiatc ofall impetlitent linners.They captiNiti<is meant,finneandSatanwhichdid& he fall fetttred and bound vnder the powerof do leademencaptiue intoperdition: fecondfinne & Satan,and Chri!tit is who is afcended lydwhand thegraue, which held him captiue mto heauen to vnloofe them ofthis bondage: and in bondage for the fpace of three daies. he hath fet open the prifon dore,and hathvnAnd he leadcsthern alcaptiu• two waies: firft !Qcked our fetters: if wqefufe to come our, ig himfelfe, in that he began histriumph vpon & lie /\ill in our fins, there remaineth nothing thecrolfe, as I haue lhewed, & continued the for vs,b.uteueda!tingthraldome.Let vs therfame till hisvery afcenfion: fecondly, in allhis fore in the feare ofGod, ifwe haue care of members, becaufe by his mighty power being ourown foults,receiue & imbrace this benefic· now afcended, he doth liibdue&weakeo the which redoundSVQtO vs by Chril!s afcenfion. poweroffinne& Satan;whichhe manifefreth Secondly, in that Chri!t is afcended to hea. euery day by killing the corruption of their C uentolead~captiuefinneandSatan, hereisa natures,and the rebellion oftheir flelh. Butit goodconfolation for a! thofe thatareafflicted may be demanded, how Chril\ doth leade his in confcience for their fins. Thue is no man enemies captiue, confideringthe diuell reigns in this caG: but he hath great caufe to feare.yet euery where,and the world,and death & hell. mull he not be dlfcouraged. For Chrift by his Anf Chril\s victoryoutr his and ourenemies afcenfion like a n0ble capt.1inc bath taken fin hath fiue degr<es. Fir!t,itis ordainedby God; and Satan prifoners,and bathpinniqned them fecondly,it is fore-told; th!tdly it is wrought.; fal\,fo as all the pvwer they haue,is in Chri!ts fourthly,itisapplied;lal\ly,it isacomplilhed. hand:& therefore for thiscaufealthm,gh they· The ordainingofit was before all worlds:the a~e futfered to exercifc and afflict vs, yet by fore·tcllmgol!t was mall the agesofthe olde h1s gracethey fhall ncuer be able ropreuaile attl\ament: the working of it was vpon the gain£! vs. Therefore wee may faldy call our crolfe,and afterward: the applying hath bene care vpon God,and not fcare ouermuch. fincc the beginning of the world more or Hence alfo wee may learne a third dutie. lefle: and it is cnely in part in this life; that There is no man that knoweth what fin meawhile Chril\ is bruifingofthe head of Satan, neth, and what the blood ofChri!t mean<th heagainemaybruifch!Sheele: theaccop!ifh. D but in regard of the corruption ofhis own; mcnt fhall not be before the la!! iudgemenr. nature, hewill fay wirh'l'aul, that hee is folde From thiS great benefit bellowed on Gods vnder finne,and in regard theteofwill cry out R.om. 7· Church,there arc manydunes to bee learned. withhim alfo 0 wretchedman that 1 flm-1 who ~~rfe , 4 . firfi, her~ is an_infiruction fOr al_l ignorant ]hall deli1ur m: from rhisbody ofdeath?yea itwill perfons & 1mpemrenr !inners, wh1ch abound make hishart tobleed withm him. Now what among vs in euery place,whofotuerthey bee, lhall he doe inthis cafe?furely let him rememthatliue in the.blindnesoftheir mindes, and berthe end ofChrills afceufion, which is to hardnes ofthm hearts; they mull know this, vanqui01 and fubdue the rebellion of his na- _;hat they are .captiues and bondilaues offin ture, and labour to feele the benefit thereof: and Satan, ofhell, death, and condemnation: and then he !hall no donbt finde, that Chril\ & let no man flatter himfelfe ofwhael\ateor willdijJo/ueinhimthnrorki_ofthedi,Je/1 &tr<<d , !oh.;. degree foener he be(for it is Gods trurh,)ifhe SaMnvnderhidfeete. And thus alfo rhofe rhat 8 hauc not repented ofall his finnes, bee asyet feele in themfdues the law of their members Rom. J6, IS no betterthen aferuant ora vaaall,yea a VC• rebelling again!! the Jaw ofthtir minde mu!! '\ 10 ' rydrudgeofthe dmell. Now then,what wilt come to Chri!t,& he wil hdpe and free'them. thou doe 111 th1s.caCe? The bellthing is, to lay The fccond bmefite of Chrif!s afcenfion is Y . that
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