this for I know not how to complement I am and ever shall be in all hearty affection Your servant RALPH WINTERTON ¶ To the Translatour of GERHARDS APHORISMES DO Let the Antichristian Clergy keep Their Owl-ey'd Laitie pris'ners in the deep And horrid shades of everlasting night Whil'st thy cleare beams more illustrious light Disperse these clouds of Language and display The close-drawn Curtains of thy new-born day Shine forth bright Lampe chase these shades of night Truth seeks no corners Errour baulks the light ED. BENLOVVES ¶ TO THE READER concerning the Authour and Interpreter of this Book BEhold choise Aphorismes here like rings beset With Pearls lockt up in this rich Cabinet If worth not number doth commend the store Viewing but one me thinks I need no more Yet in this volume many hundreds dwell And every one 's a volume to live well Each leafe's a perfect book each line is such Each part 's enough yet not the whole too much Gerhard his Aphorismes like starres do shine Thou giv'st them lustre let me call them thine Most bright themselves by thee they shine most bright As if the sun had borrow'd greater light Apollo needs not to renew his fame Who twise is made immortall by thy name DOVE WILLIAMSON Fellow of Kings Colledge Upon the Golden chain of divine Aphorismes AS no such Maladie so no such Balm Like that which can the souls distempers calm What soul is not diseas'd How hard to finde A salve to cure diseases of the minde This Winterton hath found Who but he knew That such an herb in Gerâ—ards Herball grew No Empirick no Chymicks daring Heart Who sets poore Nature on the wrack of Art Descri'd such med'cines Sure in this he can Approove himself a true Physician Each Aphorism's an antidote to thee 'Gainst the old Serpents sting the book may be A Garden richly stored in which place Grows the true Hearts-ease and the Herb of Grace These now translated are because t is guest That plants translated oft times thrive the best He then undoubtedly thrice happy is Who being immur'd from men can chuse out this Garden to be his prison Who would disdain Thus to be fetter'd in a Golden Chain ROBERT NEVVMAN Fellow of Kings Colledge MOst men that put forth Books have thiâ— main art First for their Credit then their better Mart With Title faire with fine Inscription To deck their work their onely Minion This man forsooth with Amaltâ—ea's Horâ— Doth of his Book the Frontispice adorne This writes A Honycombe A third doth call His works the Pandects as comprising all The Muses here the Reader waiting stand There is an Enchiridion for his hand Such Titles serve to please the Readers eye And strangers do invite the books to buy But yet alas within what do they finde Scarce ought that can content or ease the minde The Pandects having all cannot the Will The Enchiridion scarce the Hand doth fill The Hony cloyes The Horn is quickly drie At best The Muses do but sweetly lie Take then into thy hands Gerhard divine Who saving doctrine hath in every line He in his text more truth doth comprehend Then others Titles vainly do pretend In him all Authours are both new and old Fathers and School-men faithfully enroll'd If all these Authours severally do please How then shall he who joyntly hath all these HENRY WHISTON Fellow of Kings Colledge WHo list to glance a gentle look Upon The Golden Chain this book As in a Crystall first may see The secrets of Eternitie Such as in Time should come to passe Decreed by God before Time was Such as transcend the Hearts desire And onely Silence can admire But next doth entertain the sight An Emblem of our wofull plight He that ere long Heav'ns darling was Gods Archetype Mans Looking-Glasse Which being dim'd Nature no more To its first brightnesse could restore He that enjoy'd so rare a blisse Made happy with a Paradise Behold him now cast out from thence Disrob'd of milky Innocence Poore naked man naked alas Who onely cloth'd with fig-leaves was But Jesse's branch our souls arraid And wrapt our sinnes in mercies shade Since when is ceast that fatall strife Of tree of Knowledge and of Life One Book contains them let one breast Reade know enjoy Eternall rest THOMAS PAGE Fellow of Kings Colledge ¶ The TRANSLATOUR To the Reader THis book when first I read It pleas'd me well I sought another There was none to sell. When others read it They were of my minde They sought as I for what they could not finde Had not it been by me interpreted For ought I know it might have perished Was 't not great pitty that a book so good By English Men should not be understood I challenge nothing but what is mine own Had not one been I never had it known 'T was Mr. Carew that did give it mee I in plain English Reader give it thee He lov'd good books and often turn'd them ore I think no young man of his time had more He liv'd as if he lookt alwaies to die And died to passe to immortalitie I flatter not A dead man I commend Who godly liv'd and made a godly end He 's now with God in blest eternitie But late was one of our Societie He was my friend whilst we did live together And once my friend he is my friend for ever READER This book was Gerhards Carews Mine Now 't is a common good and therefore Thine The Contents of this Book In VERSE BEfore Time was â—ere are divine decrees Fulfill'd in Time and after Pâ—omises To be fulfill'd when Time shall cease to be And in its place succeed Eternitie Reader Behold the Worlds Nativitie And Adam in his happy Infancie He was created at the first Upright His Understanding filled was with Light His Will with God's did hold Conformitie And his Affections kept good Harmonie Yet such â—e was that he might stand or fall He fell We feel 't In him we perisht all His Understanding Will Affections All Lost what they had at their Originall His Understanding was depriv'd of Sight And Darknesse did succeed in place of Light His Will fell from the first Conformitie And tended altogether to Obliquitie His jarring did Affections disagree And Discord did break off their Harmonie His Body which disease none knew before Let in diseases now at every Pore His Body made Immortall for to be Became now Subject to Mortalitie And thus he was depriv'd of Endâ—esse joyes And plung'd into Eternall Miseries By Nature such are we which from him come Blinde Crooked Froward from our mothers wombe Conceiv'd in sinne Borne in iniquitie Acting in Life a Sinnefull Tragedie We for our Parts deserve no other due But Death and that of Soule and Body too But God of his meer Mercie Promised The Womans Seed should break the Serpents head He gave his Law a Glasse for man to see His Spots and Stains and his Obliquitie He gave his Law a Rule for man to be
not onely the punishment and cause of sinne but it is also sinne it self 52 For there is in it disobedience and rebellion against the dominion and law of the minde August lib. 5. contra Julian cap. 3. 53 Neither hath the veice of evil concupiscence place in the inferiour faculties of the soul onely but also in the superiour 54 For the will of a man not yet regenerate is prone to evill and to vanities 55 Amongst the works of the flesh these are reckoned Heresies Idolatrie Strife Variance c. Gal. 5.20 56 From whence we may gather evidently That the Flesh is to be taken for the whole man such as he is since the fall without the grace of God and regeneration 57 By Originall sinne the whole nature of man was most intimately and inwardly corrupted But yet we must distinguish between the vice and the very substance of man For the substance of man is the good work of God and Nature 58 Sinne is an evil Adjunct or evil present with me saith S. Paul Rom. 7.21 Therefore it is not any thing consisting or subsisting of it self 59 Men are conceived in sinne Therefore they are not very sinne itself 60 The whole man is the subject of originall sin with all the powers of the soul and members of the body 61 Originall righteousnesse was not onely an equall and just temperament of the body but also a rectitude of all the powers of the soul and an intrinsecall ornament 62 So Originall sinne which succeeded in the place of originall righteousnesse is not any diseased qualitie of body but an infection of all the powers of the soul. 63 For Habit and Privation are to be considered with reference to the same Subject 64 This evil is propagated by carnall generation 65 Therefore Man since the fall is flesh because he is born of flesh John 3.6 He is by nature the childe of wrath Ephes. 2.3 By being born then he contracts sinne for which he becomes the childe of wrath 66 Whosoever therefore are born of parents according to carnall generation are also guilty of originall sinne 67 Therefore even the children of the faithfull and those that are born again bring this originall sinne and pollution with them into this world 68 For it is Regeneration and not Generation that maketh Christians August 3. de peccat merit remiss cap. 9. 69 Men are made and not born Christians Tertull. in Apol. cap. 17. 70 Onely He was born without sinne who without the seed of man was conceived by the Holy Ghost in the wombe of the Virgin 71 He is not infected with the pollution of sinne who was born holy and sanctified from the sanctified wombe of the Virgin 72 To the participation of this priviledge and dignitie that is To be free from Originall sinne we do not admit the blessed Virgin herself 73 We say That the glorious Virgin Mary conceived by the Holy Ghost not That she was conceived by the Holy Ghost We say That a Virgin brought forth not That she was brought forth of a Virgin Bern. Epist. 174. ad Lugdun 74 Some effects of Originall sinne are onely punishments some are both punishments and sinnes 75 Punishments are both Temporall and Eternall as sundry calamities innumerable swarms of diseases temporall death the wrath of God eternall damnation 76 Punishments and sinnes both are evil motions of concupiscence damnable desires of the heart and an heap of actuall sinnes 77 The pravitie of originall sinne draws us headlong into vice Cassiodor in Psalm 118. 78 The number of these actuall sinnes are in respect of us altogether numberlesse For who can understand his errours Psalm 19.12 79 The bloud of Jesus Christ cleanseth all those that beleeve from all sinne both Originall and Actuall 1. John 1.7 80 With which we are sprinkled in Baptisme which is therefore called the holy and saving laver or the washing of regeneration Tit. 3.5 81 Unto which Regeneration Renovation or renewing is added as an inseparable companion though it be not altogether absolute and perfect in this life 82 For if there were a perfect renewing in Baptisme then would not the Apostle say That the inward man is renewed dayly Aug. 2. de peccat merit remiss cap. 7. 83 Knowing therefore the extreme corruption of our nature let us send up our prayers and sighs unto Christ our Physician to renew us every day more and more till at length we be perfectly renewed in the life to come which is eternall CHAP. X. Wherein are contained Theologicall Aphorismes concerning FREE-VVILL That is The Power which is left in man since the fall 1 THe poyson of Originall sin hath quite overrun and inwardly infected all the powers and faculties of man 2 Whereupon there must needs follow great Detriment and Decrement or losse and decay in them all 3 The Powers and Faculties of man are chiefely to be estimated by the Reasonable Soule which was created after the Image of God 4 The Faculties of the Reasonable Soul are two a Mind to know and understand and a Will to elect and choose 5 From the concurse of these two faculties ariseth that which is commonly called Free-will 6 Which is a Facultie both of the Minde and the Will For the arbitrement or judgement is of the Minde and the Freedome or Libertie is of the Will 7 Libertie or Freedome is attributed unto the Will first having a respect unto the Manner of Working which is Free and Voluntarie 8 For it is not compelled or violently carried away by any Externall motion neither doth it work onely by a Naturall instinct but it hath an Internall and Free principle or cause of its owne motion 9 This Libertie is a naturall and essentiall propertie of the Will 10 And therefore it was not lost by the fall 11 For the Will did not cease to be a VVill by reason of the fall 12 This Libertie from coaction or necessitie is called Interior Libertie or Libertie in the Subject 13 Therefore the VVill of man in this respect is alwayes free though not alwayes good August in Enchirid. cap. 30. 14 But yet the will of man is so free that still it must needs acknowledge the all-ruling power of God 15 And therefore it is not free from Law and Obligation 17 For God hath imprinted in the minde of man certain Naturall Motions the light and leading whereof the VVill must follow 17 If it follows them it is free 18 For the True Libertie and Freedome is to serve God and to obey his Law 19 In which sense Tullies saying is very good in his Oration for Cluentius VVe are servants to the Lawes that so we may be freemen 20 Therefore as in respect of Libertie or freedome from coaction man hath allwaies free-will yea since his fall 21 So in respect of Libertie or Freedome from obligation man hath never free-will neither had he before his fall 22 Againe this Libertie or Freedome of the VVill is estimated in respect of the
generall rule over all things but This comprehendeth the speciall works of his grace in the Church 90 In the other life shall be the Kingdome of glorie into which all the elect being raised out of the dust shall be received Of which Kingdome Christ make us partakers who is our King blessed for ever CHAP. V. Wherein are contained Theologicall Aphorismes concerning the CREATION and the ANGELS 1 GOd who by Nature is invisible that he might be made known by things visible wrought a work which by the visibilitie thereof might manifest him whose work it is Ambr. in cap. 1. Rom. 2 This work of God wrought in time is is also called Creation 3 Which is nothing else but the production of the whole Vniverse out of nothing in six distinct dayes being wrought by God through the Sonne in the Holy Ghost for the glorie of God and salvation of men 4 The Authour then of Creation is God One in Essence Three in Persons 5 Moreover that Creation of all things is the immediate work of God alone 6 The Father created all things by the Word which as the Evangelist teacheth us is to be understood of the Hypostaticall and consubstantiall Word of God Joh. 1.1 7 The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters Gen. 1.2 That as the Psalmist sheweth is to be understood of the breath of his mouth Psal. 33.6 that is the Hypostaticall and consubstantiall Spirit of God 8 Therefore where Moses calleth the Creatour Elohim it is rightly referred to the Trinitie of Persons 9 Whereas it is said That the Father by the Sonne in the Holy Ghost created all things we must beware that we understand it not of inequality of Essence or Power in the work of Creation 10 For what things soever the Father doth the same doth the Sonne likewise John 5.19 11 But all this ought to be referred to the reall distinction of Persons and the order of working in works ad extra or externall which results from thence 12 The Father therefore created by the Sonne not as by one that worked not or an instrument separate but as by his coëternall and consubstantiall Image 13 And he created all things out of nothing 14 Some things indeed immediately but other things mediately Damasc. 2. Orth. fid cap. 5. 15 And all in six distinct dayes whence it is that the Ancients call CREATION the six dayes works 16 That all things were created in a moment it seems indeed agreeable unto reason but it is against the Mosaicall Scripture 17 On the First day were created the Heaven and the Earth that is the matter of all things to be made rude and without form 18 Light also was created to dispell the darknesse of the deep and to inchoate or beginne the vicissitude or intercourse of day and night 19 That Light without doubt was something obscure And therefore the question concerning the Nature thereof is also obscure 20 On the Second day was the Firmament made that is the whole System or comprehension of the celestiall bodies 21 Above which that there are waters the Holy Spirit speaketh expressely To what use that onely knows he which made them 22 Let us herein beleeve the Scripture whose authority is greater then the capacitie of mans understanding August 2. de Gent. ad lit cap. 4. 23 On the Third day at the command of Almighty God were the waters under the heavens gathered together unto one place and the dry land appeared Gen. 1.9 24 And what are the Bases or foundations of the Earth what are the banks of the Sea They are The Almighty word of God 25 Neither would God have the earth to be unfruitfull but caused it to bring forth every kinde of herb Gen. 1.12 26 And yet not all for the food of man but yet all for the use of man 27 One the Fourth day God set the greater and the lesser Lights in the firmament of heaven Gen. 1.17 28 Which are nothing else but as it were the Chariots of the Light which was first made 29 The starres as well those that are fixed as those which are called Planets or Erraticall do work upon these bower bodies by their motion light and influences 30 What these influences are it is very obscure and past our finding out 31 We must beware therefore that we do not ascribe unto the starres the causes of humane wickednesse seeing that he which made the starres is free from all wickednesse 32 He that is wise shall have dominion over the starres Understand this of true and divine wisdome which consisteth in the fear and sincere worship of God 33 It is not therefore to be called Mathesis but Mataeologie not skill in Astrologie but Vaniloquie to go about by the starres to foretell humane actions and events Scal. Exerc. 251. 34 On the Fifth day was the Water replenished with Fishes and the Aire with Fowles Gen. 1.22 35 Out of water God produced the things which cannot live within the water and the things which cannot live but in the water which is an Argument of his Almightie Power and Wisdome 36 The Sixt day was the Birth-day to all terrestiall living creatures and to Man himself likewise Gen. 1.24 25 26 27. 37 All which were created for Man and Man for God 38 No Creature had ever been hurtfull unto Man yea rather all the Creatures had been at Mans service had not Man sinned August lib. 3. de Gen. ad Lit. cap. 15. 39 Man by not doing his bounden duty and service to his Creatour lost the dominion which was given him over the Creatures 40 God being about to create man called as it were a Councel before hand because he was to create a living creature capable of reason and counsel 41 After that all other things were created God in the last place created Man because he was to be the Epitome Centre Abridgement Complement and Perfection of the whole Vniverse 42 Man was made in the Earth and of the earth but not to the earth and for the earth but he was made to Heaven and for Heaven 43 God which is the Creatour of Heaven and Earth would end his work in Man Therefore he rested when he had made Man 44 He made all things I say for Man insomuch that the very Angels themselves farre superiour both for Nature and Dignitie do at Gods appointment minister as servants unto Man 45 And what wonder is it that God made all things for Man when as for Man even God himself was made Man 46 Moses describeth not the Creation of the Angels but ye◠notwithstanding he doth not exempt them from the number of the creatures 47 There is more subtiltie in enquiring then fruit in finding on what day they were created 48 In respect of their Nature which is incorporeall they are called Spirits and in respect of thei◠Office they are called Angels 49 They are indeed Spirits but yet they are not Simple as God is 50 For their Esse and
Essentia Actus and Potentia Nature and Actions are in them distinguished 51 Sometimes they appeare in bodily shapes and yet they are not corporeall For they are but the Forms Assistent and not Forms Informant of the bodies which they assume 52 The Angels understand by Species as well Connate as Superadded 53 Which Knowledge of the Angels is called Vespertine unto which is added that which is called Matutine by which in the light of the Word they are said Intuitively to know all things 54 But what can the Intellect of poore man that crawleth upon earth know or conceive concerning the Intellect or understanding of the Angels 55 Alas we know not the manner of our own knowledge And why do we begin to babble like children about the knowledge of the Angels 56 Neither are the Angels endued onely with understanding but also with power And therefore they are called Vertues and Powers 57 But yet this Power of theirs is finite as is also their Essence 58 They are Finite not by circumscription of any bodily place but by designation of a certain Vbi 59 Some say that the Eternity of God is the Measure of the Angelâ— Scal. Exerc. 359. Sect. 7. 60 This is to be understood of the Measure of Perfection and not the Measure of Duration 61 That there are certain Hierarchies or Orders amongst the Angels we deny not But that we are able to know what they are That we deny 62 The Order of the Angels is onely known unto him that did ordain them 63 Whom we shall hereafter behold face to face when we shall be equall unto the Angels Luke 20.36 64 All the Angels were created by God good and perfect For from him which is good and perfect nothing can proceed but that which is good and perfect 65 But some yea a great part of them by a voluntary fall fell away from that goodnesse in which they were created 66 Which fall of the Angels what it was seeing that the Scripture sayes nothing of it who shall declare it The Ancients dispute that it was either Pride or Envie 67 The evil Angels fell without all hope of recovery But the good Angels are confirmed in goodnesse and freed from all fear of falling 68 Which Confirmation of theirs was not the Adequate and due reward of any merit but the free gift of God rewarding beyond all condignitie 69 From the Confirmation of some of the Angels in goodnesse and the obstinatenesse of others in malice there arise contrary works on both parts 70 The good Angels are praising and lauding God and sent as ministring Spirits for the good of men 71 The Angels are present with us for good to protect us and to fight for us Bern. Serm. 10. in Psalm 92. 72 The number of the Angels is innumerable as concerning us 73 How the Angels conferrâ— and discourse one with another let them discusse and determine who are present at their conferences and discourses 74 The Divels by the subtiltie of their nature and their experience for time and also by superiour revelation may foreknow some things but yet not all 75 They may do many things to be admired but they cannot work Miracles properly so called 76 They do what they can by Gods permission They do not what otherwise they can at Gods prohibition 77 And this is such as it is The description of the first work of God which was wrought in time that is the Creation whereof there can be no other moving cause given but onely the superabundant riches of his goodnesse Damasc. 2. Orthod fid cap. 2. 78 For God wrought his works not out of any indigencie but of his meere beneficencie Nothing is added unto him by our praises but he is manifested unto us by his works Euch. lib. 1. in Gen. 79 He is the Finall Cause of the Vniverse in respect of his Goodnesse the Exemplarie Cause in respect of his Wisdome and the Efficient Cause in respect of his Power Thom. 1. q. 46. art 1. 80 Therefore the Glorie of God is the Vltimate and chief end of Creation and the good of Men is the Mediate and secundary end 81 God which is Good yea Goodnesse it self did all things well and made all things good whatsoever he made To him be praise honour and glory for ever and ever Amen CHAP. VI. Wherein are contained Theologicall Aphorismes concerning the PROVIDENCE of GOD. 1 GOD which is Almightie is not onely the Creatour of the Vniverse but also the Vpholder Conserver and Governour of the same 2 He did all things well and doth guide and govern all things well whatsoever he at first made 3 As nothing was made but by Gods creating Essence So nothing is able to stand or endure but by his conserving Power Ansel. in Monol 4 Gods upholding supporting and governing all creatures is usually called Gods Providence 5 Concerning which Nature it self giveth an evident testimony But the Holy Scripture giveth a testimonie much more evident 6 The Laws therefore of true Religion do proclaim it that All things have their being and existence and are governed by the Providence of God Euseb. 6. de praepar Evang. cap. 5. 7 Now the Providence of God consisteth in these three things His Foreknowledge his Purpose and his Administring and Governing all things 8 Which is expressed by Hugo de Sancto Victore after this manner In the Providence of God we must consider his Knowledge directing his Will commanding and his Power exequuting 9 His Foreknowledge is a most present and cleare sight of all things past present and to come 10 God in a moment fixed and not sliding stable and immoveable and not successive beholdeth all things clearly alltogether all at once 11 God by the propertie of his Eternitie excludeth all space and distinction of time 12 As God is not said properly to Remember that which is past so neither is he said properly to Behold afarre off the things which are to come For to him all things are present 13 The things which are known are mutable transitorie and successive but the vision of him that knoweth knoweth no change alteration or succession Polycrat lib. 2. cap. 21. 14 By this knowledge all things are known unto God better then they are unto themselves 15 God beholdeth himself in â—imself and all other things likewise in himself For from him and in him are all things 16 This knowledge of God is immutable But yet notwithstanding some things unto which Gods knowledge extends it self are in themselves mutable 17 All things are Necessary by a necessitie of Consequence but not by a necessitie of the Consequent 18 For it cannot be unknown unto God who is Omniscient which way the force of action in causes or Agents working contingently and freely will incline 19 Yet God by this his Vision doth not inferre upon them any absolute necessitie For then should they not be free and contingent Agents 20 It is a most greivous and hainous sinne to make the Providence
way of Inherence 31 Immortalitie was a part of that divine Image For God created man to be immortall and made him to be an Image of his own Eternitie Wisd. 2.23 32 That death of the body unto which we are all subject since the fall of Adam is not the naturall condition of man But it is derived upon us as a punishment for the wickednes of his transgression 33 It is not a debt due unto our nature as it was at first created by God but it is our just merit and wages for falling away from God 34 At what time man opened the gate of sinne unto Satan knocking death entred in upon him and so passed upon all men Rom. 5.12 35 That immortalitie unto which man was created as likewise the whole Image of God was a naturall and internall propertie of the humane nature 36 In the body there was a most exact harmonie of all the qualities and it was governed by the soule which was created after the Image of God unto immortalitie 37 As therefore since the fall VVee are by nature the children of wrath Ephes. 2.3 So before his fall the first man was by nature the Son of grace and life 38 But the Degree of Immortalitie which was in our nature at the first institution and the degree that shall be at the perfect restitution are farre different the one from the other 39 The Immortalitie of the first man was That hee had power not to die but the Immortalitie of the Elect shall be hereafter That they cannot die August 6. de Gen. ad lit cap. 25. 40 And further seeing that Immortalitie is a part of the divine Image from hence it is apparant That even in the body of man there is some glimpse of the divine Image 41 The comlinesse of the clay did argue also the beauty of the soul. Bern. Serm. 24. Sup. Cant. Col. 564. 42 If any one ask whether Eve was made after the Image of God or no we answer that the name of Image is taken two wayes 43 Primarily and properly the Image of God was resplendent in the conformitie of the soule and all the powers faculties of man with the Law of God which was common to both sexes saving the diversitie of degrees 44 Secundarily the Image of God was resplendent in that externall priviledge of Dominion and rule the eminencie whereof properly belonged unto the man 45 And that there might be nothing wanting to mans felicity beside the grace of soule and body God added also the grace of place for he gave him his dwelling-place in Paradise 46 Man was created by God partly Spirituall and partly Corporeall Therefore God gave unto him also a twofold Paradise both a Spirituall and a Corporeall 47 The Corporeall or Terrestriall Paradise was a Type and School of the Spirituall and Celestiall Paradise that is great tranquillitie and joy in the minde of man 48 If any man be desirous that we should show unto him in what part of the earth the Corporeall Paradise was situate That we will doe if he will first plainly show unto us the situation of the earth as it was before the floud 49 That the garden of Paradise is yet extant and to be seen then will wee beleeve when any man can bring us a bough or a branch from thence or else demonstrate it unto us upon a good foundation 50 It is certain that Henoch and Elias live in Paradise But in what Paradise Not the Terrestriall but the Celestiall where Christ promised the good thief that hee should be Luk. 23.43 51 There were two trees especially which were a great grace to the garden of Paradise to wit the tree of Life the tree of Knowledge of good and evill Gen. 2.9 52 In the tree of Life there was set before man a Preservative against sicknesse and old age as also a Type of eternall beatitude 53 The tree of Knowledge was mans Temple and Altar and the service which he was to have performed unto God was To abstain from the fruit thereof 54 After mans fall it was so called from the Event For by tasting of the fruit thereof man learnt by wofull experience what a great good he had deprived himself of by reason of his sinne and what a great evil he drew upon himself by his disobedience 55 As concerning the question about the production of souls whether by way of Propagation or by a dayly and immediate Creation we do not dislike the modestie of those which say That it is sufficient for them to beleeve and know whither they shall come by living a godly life although they be ignorant from whence they came August 10. de Gen. ad lit cap. 23. 56 Let me be ignorant of the originall of my soul if so be that I can come to the knowledge of the propagation of originall sinne and the redemption of souls Aug. Epist. 157. ad Optat. 57 If by the Image of God we understand according to the Scripture phrase true righteousnesse and holinesse The Holy Ghost witnesseth that we have lost it and we finde it true by wofull experience 58 For what is Originall sinne but the losse and want of the diâ—vine Image which succeeded in the place of Originall righteousnesse 59 This doctrine concerning the Image of God leads us as it were by the hand that so we may come to the knowledge of Gods mercy and our own misery and further establisheth our hope 60 All laud and praise be given to God the Father God the Sonne and God the Holy Ghost To the Father which created us in Adam after his own Image to the Sonne which merited for us the renewing of that Image and to the Holy Ghost by whom this Image beginneth again to be renewed in us CHAP. IX Wherein are contained Theologicall Aphorismes concerning ORIGINALL SINNE That is The Fall of our first parents and the corruption of nature which followed thereupon and is propagated unto their posteritie 1 THe first man continued not in the integritie and perfection wherein he was created and therefore it descended not upon his posteritie by any right of inheritance 2 He followed the deceitfull perswasion of the Serpent and so fell into sinne and the transgression of Gods commandment 3 In that naturall Serpent the infernall Serpent lay lurking 4 So then the Serpent which by his subtiltie deceived our first parents was disguised For there was a Divell in the shape of a Serpent 5 He sets upon the woman first being the weaker and not to be compared with man for the gift and endowment of wisdome 6 By a treacherous and deceitfull question about the meaning of Gods commandment he sollicits her to a very dangerous kinde of doubting 7 Outwardly with a faigned voice he propounds a question unto her Inwardly he wounds her soul with venomous darts and inspires into her the poison of doubting 8 Afterwards being grown more audacious and bold by reason of his successe he turns Eveâ— doubting into
Heavenly is the Body Bloud of our Lord. Iren. Libr. 4. Cap. 34. 12 That which we see is the Bread and the Cup as our eyes declare unto us but the Bread and Wine which we are to look up unto with the eye of Faith is the Body and Bloud of Christ. These therefore are called Sacraments because in them one thing is sâ—ene and another understood That which is seen hath a Corporeall species or bodily shew but that which is understood hath a Spirituall fruit August Serm. ad Neoph. Bed in 1 Cor. 10. 13 Because therefore Bread and Wine are by Christs own Institution ordained and appointed for this Sacrament Neither of these Elements are to be changed for any other which may have some resemblance with them 14 Nothing can be better here nothing more holy nothing more safe then for us to be content with Christs authoritie alone 15 But as concerning the Bread whether it be Long or Round Great or Small and as concerning the Wine whether it be Red or White It matters nothing to the integritie or Perfection of the Sacrament inasmuchas it detracts nothing from the Institution of the Sacrament 16 The Nicene Canon we exceedingly approve We take not much but little that we may know that these things are not taken for Satietie but for Sanctitie 17 In like manner whether the Bread be Leavened or Vnleavened we think it not much materiall neither do we like of that wrangling and jangling about the Bread which was of old so frequent in the Greek and Latine Churches 18 But yet we following the custome of the Church do use Bread Vnleavened for the example of Christ and many good lessons not to be contemned which the Unleavened Bread doth afford 19 To mingle water with the Wine in the Eucharist we hold it not necessarie forasmuchas there is expresse mention made onely of the Fruit of the vine Matth. 26.29 20 But this we hold necessarie That not onely the Bread but the Wine also is to be distributed to all those that come with reverence to this venerable Sacrament 21 Either let them receive the Sacrament in both kinds or in neither For there can be no division of one and the same mysterie without grand Sacriledge 22 Eating and drinking iâ— distinctly instituted and ordained by that wisdom unto which all humane wisdome concerning the inseparabilitie of the Living Bloud from the Living Flesh must give place For here we are not to dispute out of humane reason but we are to look unto the will of Christ who instituted no imperfect Feast but with the meat added drink also Andr. Fric 4. de Reiâ— emend Cap. 19. 23 What God hath joyned together let no man put asunder Matt. 19.6 24 We do not dislike searching out divers Analogies or Resemblances between the Bread and the Body of Christ and between the Wine and the Bloud of Chrst but we must beware that we place not therein all the Sacramentall Office of the Bread and Wine in the Eucharist 25 For herein doth that consist That the Bread in the Eucharist be the Communion of the Body of Christ and the Cup of Blessing the Communion of the Bloud of Christ. 1. Cor. 10.16 26 We hold no Locall Inclosing of the Body into the Bread or the Bloud into the Wine nor any Impanation or Incorporating into Bread nor any naturall Inexistence nor any Delitescence concealement or lying-hid of the Body under the Bread nor any Penetration of two Bodies nor any Capernaïticall Creophagie or eating of flesh which the Capernaïtes did hold 27 For all these are but the dreams of humane Reason being too curious to enquire into the manner of the Sacramentall presence and they proceed for the most part from a lust and desire to calumniate 28 But this we hold according to the Apostle That the Bread in the Eucharist is the Communion of the Body of Christ and the Wine the Communion of the Bloud of Christ. 29 The Forme of this Sacrament consists in the Blessing of the Bread and Wine and in the Distributing of the Bread and Wine so blessed and in the Eating and Drinking of the Bread and Wine so distributed 30 This Sacramentall Blessing consists not in any Magicall conversion of the Bread into the Body of Christ and the Wine into his Bloud by any vertue lying hid in the words 31 But it is a sacred efficacious destinating or setting apart of the externall elements to a Sacramentall use which is therefore called Consecration 32 When the Minister therefore of the Church following the institution of Christ the example of his Apostles concerning which speaketh Gregorie Lib. 1. Cap. 63. in Registro and Platina in the life of Sixtus the first and many others when the Minister I say doth repeate the words of institution saying first over the Lords Prayer we must not in any case thinke that it is a meer Historicall reading of the Text. 33 For First The Minister doth testifie that he neither doth nor hath any will to do any thing according to his own will and pleasure or in his own name but that as the lawfull Steward of the Mysteries of God he doth exequute his function in performing this sacred and solemne action in the name of Christ. 34 Secondly He doth by this meanes set apart the Bread and Wine for an Holy use that afterwards they are no more meere Bread and Wine but the Sacraments of the Body and Bloud of Christ. 35 Thirdly He doth earnestly pray that Christ would be mindfull of his promise and vouchsafe to be present at the Sacramentall action and distribute both his Body and Bloud together with the externall Elements or the Bread and Wine 36 Last of all He doth testifie that by vertue of the Lords institution and promise the Bread in the Eucharist is the Communion of the Body and the Cup of Blessing the Communion of the Bloud of Christ and further doth admonish all those that intend to receive the Sacrament to remember that they are Christs Guests to rely on his words with true Faith to come with due preparation that so they may receive it unto their salvation 37 But thus much we must know That the Scripture doth not in any place say that by consecration or blessing the Bread is turned into the Body and the Wine into the Bloud of Christ. Yea the Scripture is expressely against it 38 And Transubstantiation a thing barbarous both for Name and Nature gathers little strength from the Disputation of some of our moderne writers who thus expound it That the Body of Christ is made of the Bread not as of the Matter as it was made of the flesh of the Virgin Marie but as from a Terme à Quâ— or from whence as Heaven was made of Nothing the Night is made of the Day and the Wine was made of Water 39 For besides that they digresse from the opinion of their predecessors for they held the Essentiall conversion of
the Bread and Wine into the Body Bloud of Christ they do also involve and intangle themselves in very great difficulties 40 For whosoever saith that one substance is converted into another when it onely succeeds in the place thereof he abuseth names 41 Who ever said that Nothing was transubstantiated into Heaven or that the Day is transubstantiated into Night 42 But if the Body of Christ is made of the Bread after the same manner as Wine was made of Water It followes That the Essence of the Bread is converted into the Body of Christ that the accidents of the Bread do perish that the Masse-Priests by the same power do turne the Bread into the Body of Christ as Christ turned the Water into Wine And so they become the Creators of their Creator and Makers of their Maker Stella Clericorum 43 It was a Sacrament that Christ would institute and not a New creation It was the Communion of his Body and Bloud by the externall Elements of Bread and Wine that Christ would institute and not the Transubstantiating of them into an heavenly matter 44 And that it may appeare how little or no foundation there is for Transubstantiation in these Words of Christ This is my Body We will passe by all others heare onely what Biel the Compiler of Schoole-Divinitie saiâ—h concerning this matter 45 Thus saith he Lib. 4. Sent. Dist. 11. q. 1. Art 3. Dub. 1. All Affirmative Propositions in which the Termes signifying Bread and Wine are put in the Nominative case are false As Bread is the Body of Christ That which is Bread is was shall or can be the Body of Christ. He disputes upon the Hypothesis of Transubstantiation Again Those Propositions are true in which the Terme à Quo or From whence that is the Bread and the Wine is expressed by the Ablative case with a Praeposition Ex or De Of or From or the Terme ad Quem or Whereunto that is the Body and Bloud of Christ is expressed by the Accusative case with a Praeposition So then these Propositions if they be found in Scripture are true Of Bread is made the Body of Christ Of Wine is made the Bloud of Christ and these likewise are true if they be found in Scripture Bread is changed converted or Transubstantiated into the body of Christ c. So saith Biel. 46 Therefore down falls all their work which for the rearing up of their tower of Transubstantiation they build upon the words of Christ. For there is not any place to be found in Scripture where Christ saith Of this bread is made my Body Of this Wine is made my Bloud 47 Upon their Transubstantiation the superstructure is The Reposition or laying up Circumgestation or carrying about Adoration or worshipping of the externall Elements Therefore we may passe the same judgement upon them 48 The second Sacramentall action is the Distribution before which goes Fraction or breaking of the bread 50 Whether the bread be broke before the blessing or after it matters not much if so be that it be distributed 51 For the breaking of the bread doth not constitute a peculiar Sacramentall act but it is an act of the Minister preparing it to be distributed 52 Again It neither addes to nor takes from the integritie and perfection of the Sacrament whether the externall Elements of bread and wine be given into the hands or put into the mouthes of the Communicants 53 For we are alwaies to distinguish between the Thing and the Manner of the thing Giving and the Manner of giving 54 The Third Sacramentall action is eating and drinking which hath not respect unto the bread onely and apart or to the wine onely and apart but unto that Bread which is the communion of the Body of Christ and to that Wine which is the communion of the Bloud of Christ. 1. Cor. 10.16 55 This eating is neither meerly naturall nor meerly spirituall but Sacramentall depending on the Sacramentall union of the bread and body of Christ. 56 As therefore the Sacramentall union by which in the true and lawfull use the body of Christ is united with the bread and the bloud of Christ is united with the wine So also the Sacramentall eating and drinking depends on the institution of Christ who is true and omnipotent but it cannot be comprehended by humane reason neither must it curiously be searched into 57 If then thou opposest the spirituall eating to the naturall carnall physicall locall and Capernaiticall then rightly do we say that the eating of the body of Christ with the bread is spirituall 58 But if by spirituall eating thou understandest that whereof John speaketh in the sixt chapter That appertaineth to the fruit of the supper and therefore undoubtedly not to the essence thereof 59 The end of the Holy Supper is set down in these words of Christ Do this in remembrance of me 1. Cor. 11.24 60 Which remembrance hath respect unto the words foregoing to wit How that body is eaten in the Supper which was delivered to death for us and that bloud is drunk which on the altar of the crosse was poured forth for our sinnes 61 From whence it appeareth that the primarie and principall end of the Holy Supper is the confirming of our faith 62 Which comprehendeth in it these fruits That in the true and saving use of the Holy Supper the promise of the forgivenesse of sinnes is sealed unto us That the grace received in Baptisme is confirmed in us That the covenant of friendship and reconciliation between God and Man is renewed in us That we are again ingrafted into Christ and That we are fed with incorruptible food by faith unto everlasting life 63 To speak all in few words These taken and drunk by us make Christ to abide in us and us in him Hilar. 8. de Trinit 64 The bread in the Eucharist is called by Ignatius The Medicine of Immortalitie and an Antidote against the poison of sinne By Basil it is called The viaticum or viand of eternall life and an Apologie which is well accepted before the judgement-seat of God By Damascen it is called The pledge of the kingdome and the life to come 65 Lesse-principall ends we may reckon up many For by the use of this Sacrament we approve unto God our Obedience unto Christ our Thankfull remembrance of his great benefit unto Men our Repentance our Consent in doctrine and our earnest studie and desire after Love and Charitie 66 But that this mystery is either a Propitiatorie or Impetratorie Sacrifice this we utterly deny 67 For there is but one Priest of the New Testament one Propitiatorie sacrifice one oblation 68 Unto the use of the Holy Supper are to be admitted onely Christians and such Christians as can try and examine themselves 1. Cor. 11.28 69 From hence is to be understood what we may judge of notorious sinners which will not try and examine themselves and what also of children and others which cannot try