dient even unto death: yea, the very death of the cross. Wherefore, God hath both advanced him to the highest state of honour; and also given him a name above all names: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of all things in heaven, earth, and hell."

But although he be already gone up into heaven, nevertheless, by his nature of Godhead, and by his Spirit, he shall always be present in his church, even to the end of the world. Yet this proveth not that he is present among us in his body. For his Godhead hath one property, his manhood another. His manhood was created, his Godhead uncreated. His manhood is in some one place of heaven; his Godhead is in such sort each-where, that it filleth both heaven and earth.

But to make this point plainer, by a similitude, or comparing of like to like. There is nothing that doth trulier, like a shadow, express Christ, than the sun, for it is a fit image of the light and brightness of Christ. The sun doth alway keep the heaven, yet do we say, that it is present also in the world; for without light there is nothing present, that is to say, nothing to be seen of any man, for the sun with his light fulfilleth all things. So, Christ is lifted up above all heavens, that he may be present with all, and fully furnish all things, as St. Paul doth say.

But as touching the bodily presence of Christ here in earth (if it be lawful to place in comparison great things with small), Christ's body is present to our faith; as the sun, when it is seen, is present to the eye: the body whereof, although it do not bodily touch the eye, nor be presently with it together here in earth; yet is it present to the sight, notwithstanding so large a distance of space between. So, Christ's body, which at his glorious going up was conveyed

from us; which hath left the world, and is gone unto his Father; is a great way absent from our mouth, even then when we receive with our mouth the holy sacrament of his body and blood. Yet is our faith in heaven, and beholdeth that sun of righteousness, and is presently together with him in heaven, in such sort as the sight is in heaven with the body of the sun or in earth the sun with the sight. And as the sun is present to all things by his light; so is Christ also in his Godhead. Yet neither can from the body the light of the sun be sundered; nor from his immortal body the Godhead of Christ. We must therefore so say, that Christ's body is in some one place of heaven, and his Godhead every where: that we neither of his Godhead make a body, nor of his body, a God.

Master. I see, my son, thou art not ignorant, after what sort Christ is rightly said, to be from us in body, and with us in spirit. But this one thing would I know of thee. Why Christ our Lord is thus conveyed away from the sight of our eyes, and what profit we take by his going up to heaven?

Scholar. The chief cause thereof was to pluck out of us that false opinion, which sometime deceived the Apostles themselves: that Christ should in earth visibly reign, as other kings and ruffling princes of the world. This error he minded to have utterly suppressed in us, and that we should think his kingdom to consist in higher things. Which thing he therefore thought fitter, because it was more for our commodity and profit, that some such kingdom should be set up, as the foundations thereof should rest upon our faith. Wherefore, it was necessary that he should be conveyed away from us, past perceiving of all bodily sense; that by this mean our faith might be stirred up, and exercised to consider his govern

ment and providence, whom no sight of bodily eyes can behold.

And for as much as he is not king of some one country alone; but of heaven and earth, of quick and dead it was most convenient that his kingdom should be otherwise governed, than our senses may attain unto. For else he should have been constrained, sometimes to be carried up to heaven: sometimes to be driven down to the earth: to remove sometimes into one country, sometimes into another and, like an earthly prince, to be carried hither and thither, by divers change of chanceable affairs. For he could not be presently with all at once, unless his body were so turned into Godhead, that he might be in all, or in many places together: as Eutyches, and certain like heretics, held opinion.

If it so were, that he might be each-where present with all, at one very instant of time; then were he not man, but a ghost: neither should he have had a true body, but a fantastical: whereof should have sprung forthwith a thousand errors: all which he hath dispatched by carrying his body up whole to heaven. In the mean season he, remaining invisible, governeth his kingdom and commonwealth, that is, his church, with sovereign wisdom and power. It is for men to rule their commonwealths by a certain civil policy of men; but for Christ and God, by a heavenly godlike order.

But all that I have hitherto said containeth but a small parcel of the profit, that we take by the carrying up of Christ's body into heaven. For there are many more things, that here might be rehearsed, whereof large store of fruit is to be gathered. But especially this may not be left unspoken: that the benefits are such and so great, which come unto us by the death, rising again, and going up of Christ, as no tongue either of men or angels is able to ex

know my

press. And that you may mind herein, I will rehearse certain of the chief: whereunto, as it were two principal points, the rest may be applied.

I say therefore, that both by these and other doings of Christ, two commodities do grow unto us; the one, that all the things, that ever he hath done for our profit and behoof, he hath done them, so that they be as well our own, if we will cleave thereunto with stedfast and lively faith, as if we had done them ourselves.

He was nailed to the cross; we were also nailed with him, and in him our sins punished. He died and was buried; we likewise with our sins are dead and buried, and that in such sort, that all remembrance of our sins is utterly taken out of mind. He is risen again, and we are also risen again with him; that is, are so made partakers of his rising again and life, that from henceforth death hath no more rule over us. For the same spirit is in us, that raised up Jesus from the dead. Finally, as he is gone up into heavenly glory, so are we lifted up with him. Albeit, that these things do not now appear, yet then shall they all be brought to light, when Christ, the light of the world, shall shew himself in his glory, in whom all our bliss is laid up in store. Moreover, by his going up are granted us the gifts of the Holy Ghost; as Paul doth sufficiently witness (Eph. iv.).

The other commodity, which we take by the doings of Christ is that Christ is set for an example unto us, to frame our lives thereafter. If Christ hath been dead; if he hath been buried for sin; he was so but once. If he be risen again; if he be gone up to heayen: he is but once risen, but once gone up. From henceforth he dieth no more, but liveth with God, and reigneth in everlasting conti nuance of glory. So, if we be dead; if we be buried

to sin; how shall we hereafter live in the same? If we be risen again with Christ; if by stedfast hope we live now in heaven with him: heavenly and godly things, not earthly and frail, we ought to set our care upon. And even, as heretofore we have borne the image of the earthly man; so, from henceforward let us bear the image of the heavenly.

As the Lord Christ never ceases to do us good, by bestowing upon us his Holy Spirit; by garnishing his church with so many notable gifts; and by perpetually praying to his Father for us: like reason ought to move us to aid our neighbour with all our endeavour; to maintain, as much as in us lieth, the bond of charity. And to honour Christ our Lord and Saviour; not with wicked traditions and cold devices of men, but with heavenly honour and spiritual, indeed most fit for us that give it, and him that shall receive it even as he hath honoured and doth honour his Father: for he that honoureth him, honoureth also the Father: of which he himself is a substantial witness.

Master. The end of the world, holy Scripture calleth the fulfilling and performance of the kingdom and mystery of Christ, and the renewing of all things. For says the Apostle Peter (2 Pet. iii.), "We look for a new heaven and a new earth, according to the promise of God; wherein dwelleth righteousness." And it seemeth reason that corruption, unstedfast change, and sin, whereunto the whole world is subject, should at length have an end. Now, by what way, and what fashion of circumstances, these things shall come to pass, I would fain hear thee tell?

Scholar. I will tell you, as well as I can, according to the witness of the same Apostle; "The heavens shall pass away like a storm: the elements shall melt away the earth and all the works therein shall