most accurate describer of Genealogies leaves out the Father and Mother of Melchisedeck that he might be a type of Christ to Abraham and all others For Christ considered simply as God had no mother and simply as man he had no father not that Melchisedeck had no generation though not in the Genealogy Heb. 7.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vid Arab. caten c. 31. fol. 67 c. 30. fol. 66. at a. For we may find in some Eastern writings that he was the son of Heraclim the son of Phaleg the son of Eber. So sometime that is set before which is done afterward to stir up our diligence to search as 1 Sam. 16.21 Saul entertaineth David and loveth him and chap. 17.55 Saul enquireth whose son he is So there is great difference between Moses Genealogy from Shem to Abraham and of Lukes from Abraham to Shem in which we find two Nachors Gen. 11. and two Canaans Luke 2.34 c. So Heber to be the son of Nachor whom Moses sets down for the son of Selah which differences may be reconciled by comparing the Hebrewes account with the Grecists or Greek Jewes who very likely have made the mistake So by the Genealogy of Matthew Jacob is Josephs father and by St Luke Heli is his father but Iacob was his naturall father and Heli his father in law Mat. 1. Luke 2. by having Mary to his wife The doctrine of Scriptures also seems to vary but doth not and is reconciled by distinguishing as St Paul saith faith only justifieth and St Iames saith works justifie that is faith only justifieth by applying Christs merits to the soul but faith alone justifieth no mans christian profession but that is justified by works in the sight of men and faith it selfe is also approved by them These differences do vindicate the Scripture from any politike or crafty design that the authors had to impose upon men a sounder beleefe by continuing all circumstances most precisely without any appearing difference 3. R. Moses B. Maimon As for any diversities of readings in the Text and Margent of the Old Testament there be waies and books of directions enough to reconcile them the marginall notes being put down by the members of their great Synagogue Manasseh B. Israel his Conciliator vet Testam R. Isaac Jacob and Elias Levits a modern Jew who made the consignment of the Canonicall books such as was Daniel Ezra Haggai Zacharie and Malachi and that not because the Text was doubtfull but for some mystery Mathe. But we find divers books rejected by some Churches Phila. If they rejected them upon reason no doubt other Churches found as great reason to receive and hold them and I know not why one reason should not prevaile with you to hold them as well as the other to doubt of them I know Ecclesiastes is condemned by some as a book maintaining Epicurisme but it is rather Solomons recantations in the beginning crying down all for vanity and in the end concluding the summe of mans duty Others takes the Canticles for a love-ditty made to Pharaohs daughter but many of the expressions of it are not competible with womanhood nor beauty Cant. 7.4 It is rather a spirituall song full of Antiphona's and Responsories betwixt Christ and his and his Church Rab. Abr. Aben Ezra in cant cap. 1. The Jewes that best knew their own Canon say that it is abominable to think that this book treateth of venereall matters Indeed it is the rarest and most excellent not only of many which Solomon made to whit as some say 1005. but also the best of any other in sacred writ because it containeth in it doctrin of all sorts Porphyr So some say the Prophecy of Daniel is but an history written after the things there written were done namely in the time of Antiochus but indeed the book was delivered to King Alexander by Iaddus the high Priest 150. years before that time Others refuse the Epistle to the Hebrewes because it hath not the name of the author set to it They may as well reject the Book of Iudges and Ruth But this Epistle was alwaies received in the Greek Church as for the Latine Church it makes too bold with Scripture to put in or to dash out of it at her pleasure So some have questioned the Epistle of St Iames and Peters second Epistle and Iohns third Epistle yet upon debate they have been received and therefore now the lesse to be doubted Mathe. But some regard Scripture not to be the word of God the more for the Canon John 1.1 1 John 1.1 John 6.63 For they say the Word of God is God himselfe and that Christ the Son of God is the Word and that Gods word is Spirit and life not the letter for the letter killeth Phila. You may easily answer these thus Ask them from whence have they these arguments against the written Word but in the written Word If they allow not the written Word from whence they have these to be the word of God their arguments against the written Word are nothing If they do allow it so to be then they make God to fight against himselfe We know that a word of God there is that may be called himself As 1. The Word essentiall in the divine mind Genesis 1. as when God said i. the Trinity said or determined Let us make man This word cannot be any thing but God nor divided from God no more then thoughts can be from our minds 2. Hence is the Word personall and so Christ is the word begotten before all worlds by whom the world and all things were made and he is called God 3. Hence is the Word prophorical or enuntiative which God giveth by his spirit divers waies to men as by visions dreams inspiration and by an audible voice this is not called properly God though the fountain of it the holy Spirit be God The first of these words is immanent and consultative The second is emanent and generative The third is proceedent and communicative and therefore communicates Gods will declaratively to certaine men who spake and wrote as they were inspired by that divine spirit whose writing the Scripture is and is as improperly called God as God may be called the Bible The fourth is the word operative or efficacious Gods spirituall benediction of it to us But these men must pretend to some hidden way to make the world wonder a while and at last to smile at their simplicity who are not content to hear God speake in his word but must turn the word into God himselfe and so make him or it a kind of Idoll Mathe. But men doubt it because their translations are differing Phila. Either the Scriptures must be translated or else are never like to be known to the world abroad 2. They must be translated as every language will bear or else they will not be well understood Vid. Preface to Ecclus Now being so done
up some to maintain the cause of his truth As Arnoldus de nova villa a Spaniard who held in his time That the devill had seduced the world from the truth of Christ That the faith then commonly taught was the faith of devils That Christian people were led by the Pope to hell That the Cloisters had no charity and falsified the doctrine of Christ That the Ministers did not well to mix Philosophy with Divinity That masses are not to be celebrated nor that Priests ought to sacrifice for the dead All which the Protestants hold Gulielmus de Sancto Amore a Master of the University of Paris applied all the texts of Scripture that make against Antichrist to the Pope and his Clergy and proved the Friers to be false Prophets and writ against their wilfull poverty shewing that Christ when he said Mat. 19.21 Go and sell all thou hast and give it to the poor did not intend actuall but habituall poverty namely that we should not impoverish our selves when no need requireth but that in our affections we should be ready so to do when the confession of Christ and his glory shall require it that then we be ready to leave all for his sake So say the Protestants also But this man was condemned for an heretick and exiled and his books burnt So Laurence an English man and a Master of Paris 1300. and Peter John a Minorite and Robertus Gallus a Dominican Frier wrote that the Pope was Antichrist and Rome was great Babylon and that the Pope was an Idoll that had eies but would not see the abominations of his Church for desire of riches So the Protestants hold likewise Robert Gostred Bishop of Lincoln would not admit at the Popes command for an Italian boy to be one of the Prebends of his Church but writ to him that it was a devilish sin to defraud the people of the preaching of the Word by setting those in place that could not perform the Ministeriall office but only take the milke and wooll of Christs sheep He prophecied in his sicknesse that the Church should not be delivered from Romes Aegyptian bondage but by a bloody sword So think the Protestants Marsilius Patavinus affirmed that the Pope had not authority over other Bishops much lesse over the Emperour 1400. lib. defens pacis and that the Pope and the Clergy should be subject to Magistrates and that the head of the Church is Christ and that he never appointed any Vicar to be universall head thereof that Bishops ought to be chosen by the Clergy and that the marriage of Priests is lawfull and that St Peter was never at Rome that the Church of Rome is a den of theeves and that Popish doctrine leads to eternall death So hold the Protestants also Michael Cesenas Provinciall of the Grey Friers writ against the Popes pride and supremacy and cals him Antichrist and Rome Babylon the great whore drunk with the blood of the Saints that there were two Churches one of the wicked very flourishing wherein the Pope reigned the other of godly men afflicted over whom Christ reigned So hold the Protestants This man had many followers The Pope cursed him and burned many of them as they did also the Protestants John Wickliffe a Professor of Divinity in Oxford in King Edward the thirds time wrote many learned books of Logick and Philosophy Morality and Divinity and of the speculative Art He discovered the error of the Papists about Sacraments and so made himselfe many enemies But he had many friends and followers beyond the seas as John Huss and Jerome of Prague In whose defence fifty four Nobles of Moravia writ sharp reprehending the popish party for taxing Bohemia and Moravia with heresie Mr Moor. And many Nobles of England about the year 1385. did maintain Wickliffs doctrine namely Lord Montague Lord Clifford Earle of Salisbury Lord Latimer and Nevill Mathe. What were the points of Wickliffs doctrine Phila. That the substance of bread and wine remained in the Sacrament of the Altar after the words of consecration 2. That it is not found that Christ instituted or confirmed a Masse 3. That it is presumption to affirm that the children of the faithfull dying unbaptized are damned 4. That in St Pauls time there were but two orders of Clerks namely Elders and Deacons 5. That the causes of divorcement for spirituall consanguinity or affinity are not founded on the Scriptures 6. That he which is in the Church most serviceable and humble is Christ neerest Vicar in the Church militant 7. That if extrme or corporall unction were a Sacrament neither Christ nor his Apostles would have omitted it 8. That whatsoever the Pope commandeth without a cleare deduction from the Scriptures is to be accounted hereticall 9. That it is folly to beleeve the Popes pardons 10. That it is not necessary to beleeve the Church of Rome to be the supreme head of other Churches 11. That a Priest may preach the Word of God with authority from the Pope 12. That the Church of Rome is the synagogue of Satan nor is the Pope the Vicar of Christ nor of his Apostles 13. That if any man enter into a private Religion he is made thereby the more unfit to serve God The Protestants follow these positions John Huss the Bohemian followeth Wickliffe in time and doctrine for which he was burnt by the Councill of Constance though he was promised safe conduct His great offence was that he appealed to Jesus Christ which they took for a contempt of the Apostolike See Some report of this good Martyr that though they burnt the Goose for so Huss signifieth yet out of his ashes should rise a Swan so Luther signifieth that should trouble them worse then he had done So Luther did indeed Jerom of Prague died also as did John Huss about the year 1415. Hieronymus Savonarala an Italian Monk was a great adversary to the popish Clergy yet preaching nothing but the plain word of God as touching 1. The free justification in Christ through faith 2. That the communion ought to be administred in both kinds 3. That popish pardons were of no effect 4. Denied the Popes supremacy 5. Preached against the filthinesse of the Cardinals and Clergy 6. That the Keies were not only given to Peter 7. That the Pope did neither follow the life nor doctrine of Christ and that he attributed more to his own pardons then to Christs merits and therefore was Antichrist 8. That the Popes excommunications are not to be feared and he that doth fear them is excommunicated of God 9. That auricular confession is not necessary All which he stood unto with two Friers who were all three hanged openly and then burned And now began the Art of Printing which did ruine the Pope more then preaching Martin Luther was by the speciall providence of God called forth to fight the cause of truth against the Pope even out of the Cloister of Augustinian Friers in the
King Henry the eighth to imitate his successors by abolishing his authority in England Now then to your third Question How Reformation went on after King Henry the eighth I have shewed you though that King did write against Luther and abolished the Popes power yet he persecuted the Protestants and those that professed Luthers doctrin of which there were many by reason of his books dispersed in England Luther himselfe was much troubled The Pope sends forth his roaring Bull against him he answereth it and appeals to the next generall Councill But his doctrine was very acceptable to good Christians generally though in some points they differed from him He died in Islebia in the County of Mansfelt Febr. 17. 1546. where he was born Mathe. How thrived the Protestant Religion after Luther Phila. Beyond the seas fell out great troubles A Councill was called at Ratisbone to end controversies of Religion but no agreement and so the Emperour referred the controversie to the next generall or provinciall Councill of Germany but still the popish side desired to suppresse Luthers doctrine but yet decrees against Protestants were suspended yet the fire of malice broke out against them for Henry Duke of Brunsick invaded their Cities the Duke of Saxony resists him in the name of all the Protestants confederate at Smalcaldy and won all his dominions The Emperour and the King of France make peace and both covenant to join to restore the Romish Religion which cost France and Germany great troubles for the King of France sent Minerius Governor of Provence against the Waldenses of whom you have heard who dwelt in some part of that Countrie as in Merindol and Cabriere They of Merindol for fear fled into the woods He spoiled and burned their Towns left desolate Cabriere was delivered upon composition but yet none were spared but some killed in Churches some burned in barns some smothered in caves others sent to the Gallies others starved in the woods But God strook Minerius with a sad disease a fire scorched him within his limbs rotted made bloody urine and died in torments The Emperour Charls the fifth by policy suppresseth these Princes that upheld the Protestants as the Duke of Saxony and others as the Landgrave of Hesse About the year 1546. when the Councill of Trent was gathered to convene where the Emperour and the Pope made a league against the protestants and the Pope gave 200000 Crowns to make war against them to the Venetians and maintained an army for a while to cut them off The Emperour laboured hard with many of the Princes to submit to the Councill of Trent as also the free Cities and in hope they would he desired that the Councill of Trent which was carried from Trent to Bononia might come to Trent again which they refused upon which the Emperour disanulled all they did at Bononia and said he would take care of Religion himselfe And to this end consulted with Princes and Bishops about it who drew out a book of Reformation called Interim to which few would consent and many fled away to other Countries because they would not allow it As Musculus preacher of Ausburgh fled to Switzerland Brentius from Suere to the Duke of Wirtembergh Martin Bucer and Paulus Fagius from Germany to England The Pope himselfe would not allow it without correction because it allowed the marriage of Priests and the use of the Sacraments in both kinds though it maintained the rest of the Roman Religion But especially the City of Magdeburgh withstood the book nor acknowledged the Councill of Trent Mathe. How went things now in England Phila. King Edward the sixth now reigning the masse was there forbidden by Parliament and a Book of Common Praier set forth in the English tongue with an order of administration of Sacraments Bonner Bishop of London and Gardiner Bishop of Winchester for their obstinate defence of Romish doctrine were imprisoned But King Edward dying Queen Mary let them out and made great havock of the Protestants and restored the Popes supremacy and the masse in England and got the Parliament to crave absolution of the Pope and Cardinall Pool to absolve the Realm See Fox his Martyrology She neither spared Bishops Ministers nor common people nor spared those who had set her forward to obtain the Crown Her persecution was sharp but God shortned it by her death and Queen Elizabeth whose death was intended succeeded her Mathe. How thrived the Protestants cause now in England and other Countries Phila. In England popish Religion was abolished and the Popes supremacy disanulled King Edwards profession followed Anno 1. Eliza. and his Book of Common Praier allowed again by Parliament But Ferdinand the Emperour succceeding Charls the fift would endure no alteration of Religion and Henry the second King of France would not admit it neither but moved persecution but he being killed by the splinter of a spear at Tilting Francis the second his son succeeds and marrieth Mary Queen of Scots of the Guisian Family which Family endeavoured to abolish the Protestant Religion in France and sent an army into Scotland too for the same purpose which by the aids of Queen Elizabeth was forced to retire This King of France by the advice of the Guisians called a nationall Councill at Orleance under colour to settle Religion But there the Prince of Condie was seized upon and accused of practise against the King But this King shortly died and the Prince of Condie was cleared by a Parliament at Paris and young King Charls the ninth was committed to the care of the Queen Mother and the King of Navar. These governors appoint a disputation by the advice of the States of the Realme at Poyssie 1561. which was four years before Calvin died where Theodore Beza preacher of Geneva and Peter Martyr and Marlorat and the protestant party had the better and the popish side as the Cardinall of Lorain and others concluded with them that Christians do eat in the Sacrament spiritually by faith the body of Christ which died for for us although the Doctors of Sorbon would not agree thereto and so that disputation broke off After which the number of protestants increased and much fear there was of uproars But the Queen Mother assembled the estates at St Germane and made an Edict in January that the professors of the reformed Religion should assemble to hear sermons without the Town and unarmed which grieved the Guisian and popish faction who sought to get the King and Queen Mother into their hands and prevented the King of Navar from the reformed Religion upon hope to have the Kingdome of Navar restored to him againe by Philip King of Spain at the Popes mediation In the mean time the Duke of Guise raiseth an army First Civil war in France and murdered 1500. hundred poor unarmed protestants at Church in the Town of Vassiace neer Champaign Then came to Paris and seized on the King and Queen Mother at Forteblew and
learning of the Aegyptians but their learning consisted rather in the hieroglyphick emblems then in letters And though there were Magicians and wise men among them before Josephs time Psal 105.21 Gen. 41.8 yet they are said to learn wisedome of Joseph and might also of the Patriarchs being in Aegypt four hundred years who had by tradition the sciences from Sheth which afterward might be called the learning of the Aegyptians who at that time had the Israelites in bondage and so took the name of learning to themselves But these books of Moses are most clearly divine and authentick declaring an history from the Creation for two thousand years forward with excellent revelation of divine oracles which teach men to know the true God 3. They be the word of God because it treateth of those works which are proper only to God and of which none can give evidence but the spirit of God and such as are inspired therewith As of the creation of the world the preservation and destruction of it the restauration of it again the qualifying of the Church with divine Oracles and religious services typicall and spirituall morall ceremoniall judiciall honouring it with unparalleld miracles declaring mans eternall redemption and by prophecies of the state of the Church to the worlds end Mathe. This proofe being taken only from Scripture will not suffice some who beleeve them not for their own sakes Phila. It is true such therefore may be confirmed of the truth of them from prophane writers who testifie of their truth and antiquity if they had rather beleeve such then the Scriptures themselves the Fathers or Ecclesiastick writers For many prophane Authors attest what is written in them as Homer and Plato and others Homer Plato Ovid. Hieron Aegypt Berosus Epolemus Plut. in l. ratio brutorum Vid Euseb l. 9. c. 34. de prop. Evangel Lactan. l. 4. c. 6. speak of the Creation others of the long lives of the Patriarchs as Ephorus and Alexander the historian before the flood others of the drowning of the world others of the Tower of Babel as Alydenus so Damascenus of Abrahams travels Plutarch of Noahs Dove so Pliny of Moses miracles Diodorus Siculus of Moses and Strabo with much reverence as well as Dionys Longinus The Sybils prophecied of mans Redeemer Suetonius in the life of Nero speaks of Christs miracles and Pliny of the wise mens star Macrobius of Herods massacring the infants of Bethelem Mathe. All this proves only the historicall part to be true Phila. If we beleeve the history to be a divine truth we cannot well doubt of the doctrinall part being interserted one with another and both of them equally attested by divine miracles both of Moses the Prophets and Christ and his Apostles which miracles being from the divine power would never have been produced to attest false doctrines in Scriptures therefore the Scriptures in doctrine as well as in history is the word of God But beside the rare modification of them sheweth them no lesse For though they transcend reason yet they deliver nothing contrary to right and pure reason nor any thing contrary in nature though things above nature Again the doctrinal part of them is agreeable to the nature of God is who Goodness Righteousnesse Love and Truth and Holinesse yea they discover to man all his secret corruptions which is the property only of God to do nor doth it in any thing contradict it selfe being rightly understood though written by divers men in divers ages and therfore surely were indited by that one eternall Spirit who is Unity in Verity as wel as Unity in Trinity Farther it shews man a way to be saved from sin and damnation without annihilating the Justice of God or making his mercy degenerate into fond pitty for want of satisfaction to his justice and this surpasseth the wisedome of Angels and men yea the effects of it are divine for it brings rest to a troubled mind which no book else can do and satisfieth mans knowledge in things worthy of faith and affords as much and more reason why we should beleeve them then any book beside Therefore the wisest and soberest men of all ages have consented to it and thousands of godly Martyrs have sealed it with their pious lives and constant deaths Vid. Martyrol Mathe. I pray give me some proofe that the Scriptures have as much reason and more to be beleeved then other writings Phila. 1. Because we can find no just exception against the Writers in regard of their abilities or their integrities and upon the same ground we beleeve all other Historiographers But if you say you know not whether those are the Authors of the books that are entitled to them as Moses and Paul I say you have as much reason to beleeve that as that any ancient writer is the Author of his own book 2. We may rather and ought rather to beleeve them then others not only because of the excellency of their matter as I said before but also because the Authors of them had no selfe interest in writing these books as either of gain or glory favor or the friendship of men nay they were content with labor and travell poverty and persecutions scorns and infamy misery and death Therefore certainly they be the Word of God Cyril 10. and so to be beleeved To call the Authors of them into question were to outdo Julian the Apostate who would not deny that Luc. Philo. and scoffing Lucian who did not deny Paul to be the Author of the second Epistle to the Corinthians twelfth chapter though he scoffs at his professed extasie Indeed they may challenge as much beleefe of their authors in this point as any writing both because they have been so successively delivered continually so mentioned and generally so acknowledged by all parties Mathe. Doth God declare himselfe in all the books of Scripture alike Phila. No but in some more historically as in the five books of Moses In some more my stically as in the Prophets In some more clearly as in the New Testament but in all instructively both for faith and manners perfectly and sufficiently Mathe. Why are some called Canonicall and some Apocryphall books Phila. They are called Canonicall which are the rule of faith and manners namely for us to beleeve and practice and they are numbred by the Church to begin with Genesis and to end with the Prophet Malachy for the Old Testament And the New Testament begins with St Matthew and ends with the Revelation of St John And all these are the subject of our faith but not all for our practice Mathe. Why so Phila. Because many precepts in it are temporall as the Ceremoniall Law some for the Jewes particular state only as the Judiciall Lawes the equity whereof we may observe though not according to the letter as we are bound to observe the charity which is the end of them though not the exact severity So many holy men had dispensation
Mercury and then worshipped them for gods and called the daies of the week after their names and so made their superstitions more permanent Mathe. Why do we still retain these superstitious names to our daies and months Phila. By custome that ancient Tyrant which loveth no alteration although for the best otherwise we might find out twelve Apostles to name the months by and the first six Deacons if Nicholas be not liked to name the daies and as many noble martyrs to name the daies by and as many images of notable men actions and things named in Scripture Duhartas to configure with the celestiall constellations on the sphere better then Icarius Dog or Europa's Bull Hercules Hydra or Theseus Trull Since the whole world was made for the Scriptures I conceive it would conduce much to the honour of Christian Religion as it did to Rome to cal some months by the name of their Emperors as July and August But how much more if some parts of Scripture were turned into the text Latin and Greek of Poets and Orators and read in schools instead of the more vain prophane authors surely it would be a means to state verity in the place of vanity and so season tender years that so they might read those prophane books in riper years and not be infected Thus heaven and earth might meet together in one symphony without discord And to add one thing by the way Certainly as this being done would make Religion more setled in mens minds so if the memorable Feast of Christs Nativity had been fastned to the Lords day which by the account of some Chronologers hapned that year to be the 25. of December on which Christ was born the celebration would have been more certainly continued and yet this change could have altered no more the calculation then the difference of Astronomers among themselves about the Epoche of Christs birth some of them differing from others * Mercator Christianus Jos Scalig. Sethus Calvisius against the Quarte decemani 1 2 3 4 5. years Or then the alteration of Easter hath from the time of Constantine the Great who in the great Councill of Nice caused that Easter should be generally kept upon the Lords day and not on the 14. of the month Nisan and therefore made a new Decem novall or Golden number differing from the Roman This constitution continued not above seven years But the contention between the Latin and Greek Churches about it lasted 200. years Then about the time of Justinian the Emperor one Dionysius Abbas drew the Paschall tables which were confirmed by the Councill of Chalcedon that none should keep Easter but according to the Roman account and statute but should be accounted an Heretick and this held till the year 1582. yet they finding that the Equinoctium went back from the 21 of March to the eleventh the Romans corrected their Calender and so there is sometimes 28 daies difference between them and us as 1557. and sometimes 25. daies as in the year 1565. So they reformed their Paschall tables and appointed the Feast of Easter according to the Councill of Nice in Pontus 322. to be celebrated the Sunday after the first full moon that should happen after the Sun entred Aries we see still difference between us and them but yet all conclude it on the Lords day And indeed the very just day of either the Nativity or Resurrection is not much to be stood upon so the Feast be kept 1 Cor. 5.8 Mathe. God having made the world what did he next Phila. He made man of the earth and woman of man and then made them Lords of all he had made as Isa 45.12 I have made the earth and created man upon it And this we know by Scriptures the ground of that most excellent science called Divinity which leads us to the knowledge of God that made us Plutarch in the life of Theseus speaks of some such people called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 least we should imagine our selves sprung up of our selves though many will give more for a Parrat then a Preacher and to a Painter for the picture of their face then to one that can delineate their souls I suppose the reason is because Divinity is no flattering science it shewes our moules and spots where they are As Alexanders Limner did who drew his finger upon his face which he laied there to hide a skar It is the corruption of man that will make more of him that shapes his body in cloths though he deform it than of him that shewes him the God that made his soule and body Like Crates Laertius who gave in his Testament ten talents to his Parasite to his Harlot one 2 Talent is 375. l. to his Cook ten pound to his Physitian a groat and to his Philosopher but three halfe pence And why so little to the best science but because rich men know not the want of philosophy Diogenes though Philosophers know the want of monie They think with Laodicea they be happy enough but consider not that science which shewes them how to live when they are dead Mathe. Doth God immediately make all men Phila. He made the first man immediatly by himselfe and the first woman of the man but all other mediately by them two 1 Cor. 11.12 as the woman is of the man by creation so the man is of the woman by generation by the speciall concurrence of Gods providence It was impossible he should make himselfe any more then the world could For if it were nothing before it was something how could something come out of nothing Nor could any creature make him Pythag. ex nihilo nil fit he being above them both in eminence and excellence consisting of an heavenly and earthly nature his form is a reasonable soule his body upright beholding the heavens Ovid. Metam lib. 1. this body is more curiously made then any other creatures Psal 139.14 15. like unto rich Arras work The anatomy of it convinced Galen of a Godhead It was made in number weight and measure in weight that the earthy body might balast the light and nimble soule in number by the four qualities or temperaments of hot cold moist and dry in measure because at first each of them kept their several proportions though since the fall one invading the other breeds severall diseases A rare body it was being composed of so mean a matter as earth shewing thereby the most excellent skill of the workman Lecham is Lechem But now our flesh is become the bread of worms as Herod Agrippa's body proved not giving glory to God Acts 12.23 Mathe. Wherein doth it appear more excellent then other creatures Phila. Surely as Adams body was more excellent then other mens being Gods immediate worke so no doubt our bodies are more excellent then the common creature Adams body was so because it had in it potentially all the rare qualities which are dispersed now among
on the top of the mountains Isa 2.2 and all Nations shall flowe unto it So in the sixt age God did fulfill it by setting up Christ who being lift up drew all men to him for this little stone Dan. 2.34 grew into a great mountain and filled the whole earth that is with his doctrin and Church He the highest for eminency and his Church by universality Aaron was chiefe Priest so was Christ but yet of a Kingly line which Aaron was not Aaron took not this office upon himselfe of his own will but was called of God so was Christ consecrated of God Heb. 5. â— and appointed to be a Priest after the order of Melchisedeck Aaron was washed and Christ unspotted holy harmlesse and undefiled and separate from sinners Heb. 7.26 He was anointed with holy oile and Christ with the holy spirit by which he was a sweet savour to God The next shadow is Joshua whose name in Hebrew is all one with Jesus in Greek Joshua as appeareth Heb. 4.8 in these words If Jesus that is Joshua had given them rest It signifieth a Saviour Mat. 1.21 Now this man did type forth Christ 1. Because he lead Israel to Canaan and was their Captain as Christ was the Prince of our salvation and therefore cals himselfe Ioshua 5.14 the Captain of the Lords hoste i. of all those that fight under his banner of the crosse and are not ashamed of their profession 2. He typed forth Christ by circumcising all that were to enter into the land so Christ doth all Christians by a circumcision spirituall putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ whose efficacy lieth hid in Baptisme Col. 2.11 12. which takes off the shame of our naturall Aegyptian bondage 3. He presented Christ who will one day dispossesse the earth of all wicked persons that the meek may possesse the earth promised Mat. 5.5 And as Peter saith we look for a new earth wherein dwels righteousnesse and in the mean time by the power of his death doth slay those Canaanites Origen Josh Lect. in Trop Perizites and Jebusites that are within us in part till he come again as God did once from mount Paran to Israel Deut. 33.2 from his holinesse and happinesse to divide the people Hab. 3.3 6. Jude 14. and then shall our spirituall enemies be trod down for ever The next was Sampson Sampson a word derived of Shemesh His Sun Indeed he shined more brightly then any of the deliverers so did Christ the Sun of righteousnesse above all Mal. 4.2 2. He was a Nazarite of Nazar because he was separated from common things as the Razor and Wine Num. 6.3 4 5. So Christ was Heb. 7.26 separate from sinners Rom. 12.2 so are all in Christ separate from the common course of the world for Christ was not called a Nazarite from the Town Nazareth where he lived except by mistake but from his calling ceremoniall to answer to Sampson his type For it is not to be found in the Prophets verbally that Christ should be called a Nazarite but in his personall type Sampson Judg. 13.15 And therefore St. Matthew rather alludes to the common mistake of the people that he should be called a man of Nazareth rather then to his ceremoniall office a Nazarite according to our English translation but in the Syriach it is Naisareth of Naisar to observe or keep as indeed the Nazarites did their vow with all strictnesse And so from the City the place of his dwelling the people fulfilled a prophecie unwittingly as well as Caiaphas and the souldier that pierced his side fulfilled that of Zach. 12.10 Yea Pilate himselfe cals him in his superscription Jesus that Nazarite in the Greek Nazarenus in loco in merito 1. sanctue vel mundus quia pecetum non ficit Isid Etym. lib. 7.2 he meaning the City But the Spirit that guided him intending the office ceremoniall of Christ of which Sampson was a figure prophetically spoken of in the book of Iudges and made good in Christ conceived at Nazareth Again the Spirit came not upon Sampson till he was a compleat man so Christ did not shew himselfe till thirty years of age and after Iohns Baptism Sampsons first victory was over a Lyon so Christs over Satan that roaring Lyon Mat. 4. Vid. Aug in Psal 70. that seeks whom to devour 1 Pet. 5.8 Then next he overcomes the Philistins First with the Jaw bone of an Asse So Christ by the despised simplicity of preaching overcame the world 1 Cor. 1.18 21. though the Preachers of it are derided and ridden of the world for it like Asses Secondly he rising from sleep carried away the gates of Azza upon his shoulders So did Christ rising from the grave carry away the gates of hell and death and lead captivity captive Thirdly he was taken in Dalilahs lap so was Christ in the bonds of poverty and weaknesse as the name Dalilah signifieth Sampsons lock was cut off and his strength decaied But Christ herein exceeded for he laied down his strength willingly by which he made the souldiers before fall backward John 18.6 and this out of love to his Church though an adulteresse Sampson was flouted Christ was mocked But at last Sampson at his death pulled down the house of Dagon upon their heads Judg. 17.30 and so slew more at his death then in all his life and so did Christ when he cried it is finished on the crosse and bowed his head then was sin death and hell quelled at once though not triumphed over till his resurrection The next type was Iehoshuah the High Priest to Iudah Iehoshuah after their return from Babylon at the rebuilding of the Temple Zach. 3.1 He is likened to a branch and a stone verse 8 9 10. and Christ is called the branch ver 8. and a stone laied before Jehoshuah so is Christ the corner stone laied before the Priests upon which they must build the Church Satan stood on the Priests right hand but was reproved so he thought to get the upper hand of Christ but was vanquished Iehoshuah was a brand pulled out of the fire so was Christ when he satisfied the consuming fire of Gods wrath saying It is finished He was clothed in filthy garments and so was Christ with our sins that knew no sin in himselfe Againe glorious garments were given him and those taken away so Christ having satisfied for our sins mortality is put off and glory and immortality put on The next type of Christ was Cyrus though an uncircumcised King Cyrus whom God calleth his shepherd Isa 44.28 and cap. 45.1 his anointed We are to observe 1. His Name 2. His Country 3. His Office His Name was Cyrus Compounded of Caph and Rosh which in Hebrew signifieth as an Head and so he was a politicall head of Israels return from the captivity of Babylon which he decreed in the
Christ that broke the covenant made between himselfe and the Emperour yet afterward he recalled all that he done and cursed the Emperour who was fain to resign his priviledge for peace sake Next succeeded Gelasius the second without the Emperours consent Henry the fifth Then followed Calixtus the second who compelled the Emperour to yield to his election and ordained that the people should not put away any of their Bishops for their life time Then followed Pope Honorius the second in whose time one Arnulphus came to Rome and preached against the Clergies errors pride and avarices for which they secretly drowned him Innocentius the third succeeds In his time the people grew weary of the Popes Tyranny resolved to be governed by consuls This Pope therefore made an ordinance that whoever laid violent hands upon any of the Clergy he should be excommunicated and not absolved by any man but the Pope only And also Pope Eugenius by cursings and force brought all the Senators of Rome under subjection to himselfe and to receive such into their society as he thought fit Adrian the fourth that was choaked with a flie as he walked made the Roman people submit themselves absolutely to his government Frederick the first Emperour held his stirrop yet he excommunicates the same Emperour Alexander the third succeeds who would not appear at any Councill The Emperour Frederick the first called to decide the stickling between him and Victor for the Popedome and therefore Victor was chosen but Alexander fled into France and in a Councill at Claremount excommunicated the Emperour and Victor After Victors death Frederick the Emperour led an army to Rome This Pope excited all Princes to persecute the Waldenses Pope Alexander flieth to Venice Otto the Emperours son followeth him but encountring the Venetians contrary to his Fathers command was taken captive and so for his sons redemption he was fain to go to Venice and crave the Popes absolution in St Marks Church where kneeling down this proud Pope set his foot on the Emperours neck saying Psal 91.13 thou shalt tread upon the Lion and the Dragon In this Popes daies Thomas Becket Bishop of Canterbury was slaine in his own Chappell by some of King Henry of Englands followers But he purged himselfe before the Pope who because he found the Kings anger was the cause thereof he enjoined Henry that he should hinder no appeals to Rome and that none should be declared King of England without the Popes consent Now England begins to be chained by Rome In this age which was about the 1200 years after Christ it pleased God to give more divine light to many men to see and discern Christ from Antichrist and to professe it openly and practically as well as many other Doctors had done in writing The chiefe of these was one Waldus a Merchant of Lyons in France who seeing one of his company in their walking fall down dead he laied it so to heart that he repented earnestly of his former life and became very charitable to the poor and studious of the Scriptures and also to instruct his own family and others that came to him in those tenets which the Protestants afterward held and hold still For which the Bishops that adhered to Rome threatned them with excommunication but they went on and endured much persecution Mathe. I pray what were their tenets Phila. The same which the Protestant now hold As 1. That only Scripture is to be beleeved in matters pertaining to salvation and that it containeth all things necessary thereunto 2. That there is but one Mediator for man to God i. Christ Jesus and Saints are not to be invocated as mediators 3. They denied purgatory and masses sung for the dead rejected traditions as unnecessary to salvation 4. That constrained fast daies difference of meats superfluous holy daies variety of orders of Priests Friers Nuns hallowing of creatures vowes and pilgrimages and humane ceremonies were to be abolished 5. They denied also the Popes supremacy over all Churches States and governments and denied that any degrees should be received into the Church save Bishops Priests and Deacons 6. That the Church of Rome is Babylon and the Pope Antichrist Also they rejected the Popes pardons 7. They allowed the marriage of Priests 8. And they that hear and beleeve the true word of God are the true Church 9. And the communion was to be eaten and not reserved for shew or worship Many of them for these opinions endured persecutions by Pope Alexander the third who excited all Christian Princes to persecute them with fire and sword Third persecution by the Roman Christians Mathe. What other Popes persecuted good Christians Phila. Innocentius the third who did excommunicate King John of England because he would not admit Stephen Langton to be Archbishop of Canterbury approved by the Pope and brought him so far under his power that he was faine to resigne his Crown to the Pope and receive it back again from him for the paiment of a thousand Marks by the year Honorius followed who excommunicated the Emperour Frederick the second who at his coronation had bestowed great gifts upon him yet because he did but expostulate with Thomas one of the sons of Innocentius the third who fled to the Pope about his treason this Pope excommunicates him Honorius the third succeeds and the excommunicates the said Emperour also Gregory the ninth succeeds him and he excommunicates the Emperour Frederick because going against the Turks he returned into Europe to recover himselfe of his sicknesse Innocentius the fourth likewise excommunicated the Emperour Frederick and deposed him and gave away his Empire to William Count of Holland Then followed Alexander the fourth who excommunicated Marfred King of Sicily and burnt the books of one William desancto amore because he writ against the order of begging Fryers Next was Vrbanus the fourth who gave the Kingdome of Sicily from Marfred to Charls Duke of Anjou together with Apulia to be held of him from the Pope by a quitment so Sicily became the Frenches however all afterward destroied by the Sicilians in the time of Pope Martin the fourth Clemens the fourth succeeds him in place and manners He made the said Charls King of Jerusalem paying 40000. crowns yearly to the Chair of Rome He caused him to slay Marfred and the son of Conrade who came into Italy to claim his right and title Next followed Gregory the tenth who interdicted the Church of Florence from all divine service And after him Pope Nicolaus the third took from Charls King of Sicily whom his predecessors bad advanced Hetruria and the dignity of being a Roman Senator and did bring Flaminia Bononia and Ravenna from under the Emperours subjection to himselfe Martinus the fourth succeeded who took the said Charls into favor again but restored to him nothing but the title of a Roman Senator He excommunicated Peter the King of Arragon for laying claim to the Kingdome of Sicily to which
other Leaguers at Paris were mad for the death of the Duke of Guise and railed at the King raised mony for wars against him and the Doctors of Sorbon declared the people of France free from their obedience to the King and so might take arms against him Upon this the Parliament at Bloyes dissolves and the King prepares to suppresse the rebellion at Paris To this purpose he took truce with the King of Navar by whose forces he discomfited the Leaguers and intended to besiege Paris but the Leaguers prevented him by procuring Frier Jaques to kill the King who did it in his chamber with a knife while he read a letter the Frier brought him This was done in that chamber say some wherein the massacre at Paris was formerly plotted this King being then Duke of Anjou and chiefe in the plot Mathe. How fared it then with the Protestants Phila. Henry the third before he died of that wound the Frier gave him which was not many hours after declared the King of Navar lawfull successour who after his funerall confounded the Leaguers in many Battels July 25. 1593. But he then began to halt in Religion for the Doctors of Sorbon and divers Bishops prevailed with him to hear masse in St Dennis Church But still the Leaguers hated him and sent one Peter Burrier to slay him by the instigation of a Capuchin Frier a Priest and a Jesuite but he was prevented Upon this the King published his declaration prescribing a months liberty to all that would come in and submit to his government but else they should afterwards find no favour from him By this means many Towns yielded to him and at last Paris it selfe which he entred so peaceably that within two hours the shops were all set open as if no wars had been But the wicked Leaguers again plotted his death by one John Castil Decem. 27. 1594 who came into the Kings chamber at the Louver among the Presse and strook at the King with a knife who stooping in taking leave of his Lords was strook by it on the right cheek and one of his teeth cut out This traitor as he confessed was a scholar of the Jesuits French Hist p. 874. and executed and the Jesuits banished out of France This King received many of his enemies into favour as the Duke de Mayenne and Nemours and enterteined peace with King Philip of Spain by the Popes mediation This King escaped many treasons plotted against his life And yet 1604. restored the Jesuits again and afterward admitted them to go into Navar and Berne to the great discontent of the Judges and Officers of that Country yet 1606. this King made speciall good orders in the behalfe of the reformed Religion confirming the Edict of Nantes 1598. concerning their pacification But this halting between two opinions did not certainly please God for though he suffered the Protestants to have a nationall Synod at Gap concerning their doctrin and discipline and therein to declare the Pope to be Antichrist foretold by the word of God and made it one of the Articles of their confession yet taking no warning by that stroke given on his mouth formerly he was strook to the heart by a cursed villain one Frances Ravillac riding in his Caroch even the next day after his Queens coronation day moved thereunto as he confessed by no other reason but because the King maintained two religions in France and by reading the book of Mariana the Spanish Jesuite and Bellarmins book of the Popes temporall power which books by a decree of the Colledge of Sorbon and by sentence of the Parliament were burnt as also Jasper Scoppius his book containing the same doctrine tending to the subjects rebellion against Princes 1612. This soule fact was suspected to be of the Jesuits plotting however Father Cotton endevoured to wipe off the aspersion yet the Author of the book called Anticotton refused it and proved the Jesuits to be the maintainers of that doctrine and were guilty of this Kings death by Ravilac's own confession to father Aubigny who being examined upon it said that God had given him the grace alwaies to forget what he heard in confession and so he saved his neck by that fine and false excuse But he that cals light out of darknesse brought out of this damnable act more respect to the Protestant and a check to the Pope For now the great chamber called the Tornelle made a decree against the Popes temporall power And the Protestants began an assembly of the reformed Churches at Saumur where Monsier de Bulloin told them from the King and Queen Regent that all their just requests should be favourably answered and whatsoever had been promised should be paied And the Universitie of Paris concludes against the Jesuits and propounds to them by Monsieur Servin four Articles to subscribe 1. That the Pope hath no temporall power over Kings nor can he by excommunication deprive them of their estates or dignity 2. That the Councill is above the Pope 3. That Clergy men ought to reveal conspiracies against the King or Kingdome to the magistrate though it be revealed in confession 4. That Clergy men are subject to the secular Prince or politicall magistrate Mathe. How sped the reformed Religionnow among the Netherlands Phila. They having suffered much misery under Duke de Alva their governor History of the Netherlands who had in his time executed 1860 people beside by wars and tumults as you have heard and Don John of Austria being little better the States Generall called Matthias Arch-Duke of Austria to be their governor He appoints the Prince of Orange for his Lievtenant which much displeased the Earl of Lalain who expected that dignity so that Don John by this discontented siding defeated the Netherlands Army The Duke of Anjou offers aid to the States it is accepted and prospereth against Don John and he is chosen at last Lord of the Netherlands Yet for all these wars and troubles the reformed Religion thrived For notwithstanding the Popes Bull offering pardon of sins and life eternall to all that would take part with Don John against the Prince of Orange yet Amsterdam agreed with the States of Holland and turned all the popish magistrates and Friers Monks and Priests out of the Town and pulled down the images in the Churches and suffered only the reformed Religion to be exercised so they drove the Jesuites and Friers out of Antwerp and granted Churches to the Protestants In Gaunt they whipped and burnt Friers for committing Sodomy At last the Prince of Orange accepts the government of Flanders and in the year 1580. images and cloisters were demolished in Deventer Swool and Vtrich And being the King of Spain would allow no Religion in his dominions but the Roman the General Estates set forth an Edict whereby was declared that the King of Spain had deserted the government of the Netherlands and therefore they abjured him and took a new oath to