·Cbriils ofthe [reede. Afcenfion. fratcofthepeople in thcfe daics, but hewill granr, thatthiJis moll: true which I fay. Be– fidcs,as by this we are brought to alight ofthe dcfpcrate fccurityofthis age : fo we may liit– rhcr lelrneourowne duties. Is Chrifi gone to heauen befo:e-hand to prepare a place for thee?then pr.H'l'ife that which 'P•nl ceacheth ·' Haue thycJuerfotioninh~tmC.Thc: words which rhil. 3· loe vfeth arevery fignificant, & the meaning of zo., thC is:Ycarefree.denizens ofthe city ofGod, ~';.~~i:. & rhe<efore as free-men in Gcds houfe, let all your cares &dutie-s, all your at!:.ire; & doings be inheauen. Inthe world ifa man make purchafe ofan houfe , his heart isalwaies there : there he pulsdowne & builds againe: there he makes him orchards and gardens : there hee B means ta liue.&die. Chrifr Iefus hath bought the kingdomeofheaue for vs(themoll: ble!f:d purchafe chat euer was)& bath paid the dertll: price for itthat r.uer was l'afrl,euC his ownpr~ tious blood:& in this city hchath prepar'd for vs a dwelling place,& made vs free denizesof it:therfore a!ourioy,&alour affairesought to be there. It will be faid,how fhall aman vpon .earth hauo hiscouerfarion in heauen?Anf.W'c mull: conuerfe in heauen, not .in body but in heart: and therefore,though our bodies be on ·earth,y<t cur hearts,ioy & comfort,and a! our meditation mull: be in heauen. Thus mull: we behaue our fdues like good free-men in Gods hpufe. It mull: be far fromvs, to haue our ioy and ourhearts fet on thethings ofthis world. Thirdly,the cofideration ofthis; that Chrill: Iefus hatbprepared a place for vs in heauen, andalfohath trained the way with his owne blood, mull: make euery oneofvs toj/riH'fo enter in at theflnrigbtgate,asour Sauior Chrifr counfelleth vs,L11k_I 3·24· & that as wrafrlcrs do,which ll:riue for lifeand death.Withm this gate is adw<lling,place of happincs readyfor vs. If a man were affored that there were made for him a great purchafe in Spaine or Turkey,fo as ifhe would but comethither, he might enioy it; would hce not aduenture the dangers ofthcfea, andofhisenemiesalfo if necde were,that he might come to his ow~ei' Well , behold Chrill: Iefus hath made a pur– ch~fc for vs in heauen, & there is nothihg re– qmred ofvs,but that we will come &enioy it. Why then 01otdd men refuteauy paiues, or feare in the 'vay?n1ywe mutt firiueroget in:it may be we 01al be pinched in theearrance, for thegate is firait & low; &we mull: be faine to leauc our wealth behindvs, & rhe pleafures of thislife;and enterwe mufl:,though we lho)d be cofrraitaed to !eaue our flefh behind vs,for the purchafe that is madeis worth ten thouGnd worlds.And belides,ifwe Jofeicby faimingin the way our purchafc fhal! be the blackenes of darkncs for euer\vitll the diuel& al his angels; wootherfore would not frriue, thoogh he Jolt Ins ltfe Ill the gltc ? The vrging of this point 1s necdfidltn theft! dates. 1here is fiduing e– nough for worldly preferment, but a mm al· mott muG: goe a!~~-~n the~htway that '---------------- - -- Y 2 kadrth 1
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