separating themselues from the holie father the popes church VERIL. I denie the consequent bicause that separation or schisme was necessarie and godlie For either it was a singular calling as Iohn the baptist departed from the ordinarie power or else they did it for the vniuersall commandement of God which bindeth and compelleth all men that they must depart from the companie which imbraseth wicked doctrine and false worshippings according to such commandement as this is Fuge idola and Non habebis deos alienos coram me Exod. 20. Thou shalt haue none other gods but me This vniuersall commandement is greater and of more force than a singular calling therefore all men must willinglie obeie it FALSIL. What is the cause that Turkes Iewes Infidels and manie Christians are not partakers of Christs benefits but are damned VERIL. The cause is they cannot aâ—â—â—e vnto themselues the benefits of the sonne of God by faith which is the redéemer of all men Et dedit vitaÌ„suaÌ„ redemptioneÌ„ pro multis 2. Cor. 1. And gaue his life a redemption for manie 1. Tim. 2. Matt. 20. Exod. 15. and it was prefigured in the deliuering of the children of Israell But they being reprobates contemne these things and as it were cast awaie from them the sonne of God blaspheming him as the Turkes Iewes and manie others doo which beare the onelie names and outward shews of Christians but in their déeds and actions they are woorse than Pharisies that outwardlie séeme to blesse him with their mouths and cursse him with their liues and manners Therefore they are not heard of God when they aske of him FALSIL. Whatsoeuer saith Christ ye shall aske the Father in my name Iohn 16. he will giue it you If I aske a kingdome of him he will giue it me Bicause he is true VERIL. The minor is not true And distinction may be vsed in answering hereof For though that God be the author and giuer of euerie good and perfect gift both spirituall Iacob 1. and bodilie yet he giueth them and bestoweth them on such as pleaseth him when where and in such sort and quantitie as it best séemeth to his good and fatherlie prouidence So that we must not appoint him either the time measure or meane of his gifts but in all causes whatsoeuer we must tarrie the leasure of the Lord Qui benedictus est in omnibus vijs suis Psal 145. sanctus in operibus Which is blessed in all his waies and holie in all his workes And as his giftes be in number infinit in quantitie vnmesurable and in nature euerie one most excellent good both spirituall and corporall so he bestoweth them alwaies vpon his both spirituallie and corporallie Spirituallie for the furniture and beautifieng of the mind and soule of man as faith grace will wit memorie learning cunning and science And corporallie for the endowing and encreasing the outward happines of the bodie of man as helth beautie strength riches power and possessions In all which petitions made for the gifts of God we must follow the generall rule that our sauiour Christ hath prescribed vnto all flesh saieng Primùm quaerite regnum Dei iustitiam eius Matth. 6. adijcientur vobis omnia haec First séeke ye the kingdome of God and the righteousnes therof and all these things shall be giuen you meaning thereby that we shall haue all worldlie things the easier and with lesse trauell Then we must aske nothing hurtfull to the right of the church wherby the seruice of God shall be diminished our neighbour or common wealth impaired nor anie thing that should be an hinderance to our owne saluation To aske a kingdome when we cannot well guide our owne priuate estate we shall offend God because we haue not to appoint him the measure of his giftes happilie hurt the condition of manie hazard our owne soules Therefore we must content our selues with our owne calling remembring the holie Apostles saieng 1. Tim. 6. Quastus magnus pietas cum sufficientia Godlinesse is great riches if a man be contented with that he hath For 1. Cor. 7. Vnusquisque donum suum proprium habet ex Deo Euerie man hath his proper gift of God and he dooth sometimes as it were bridle and hold backe his seruants from committing sinne and wickednes togither with the world by the bit and bridle of scarsitie and penurie knowing bicause he is the searcher of the hart reines that if some might haue their harts desire and might enioy the fruit of their owne inuentions they would ignorantlie seeke their owne destruction by excesse Therefore it is written Rom. 8. Penuriam multo meliùs feras quà m saturitatem A man may better awaie with penurie than with saturitie God that made man knoweth what is in man and what estate is best for euerie man FALSIL. Wherefore doo the philosophers saie that mans will is cause of his owne miseries VERIL. Bicause men willinglie though vnwares procure to themselues manie miseries as for example Antonius at Rome willing to wage warre against Augustus was causer of his owne harmes 2. Reg. 11. King Dauid by taking awaie Vrias wife procured himselfe manie calamities Thus oftentimes mans wilfull mind is his owne miserie for that they are snared with pleasures and voluptuous liuing without Gods spirit as fishes are taken with the bait FALSIL. He calleth vpon the true God which calleth vpon one God maker of heauen and earth which is almightie wise iust good The Turkes and the present Iewes doo call vpon one God maker of heauen and earth which is almightie iust and good Therefore they call vpon the true God and shall be heard VERIL. I denie the minor because the Turkes doo call vpon their idoll yea rather I may saie they doo call vpon nothing For they doo not call vpon that God which is the father of our Lord Iesus Christ or which is the father the sonne and the Holie-ghost the which God hath manifested or opened himselfe in his word And because they doo not call vpon God in faith and knowledge of our mediator they are not heard for Christ saith Iohn 16. Nemo venit ad patrem nisi per me No man commeth vnto the father but by me Againe Iohn 14. Quicquid petieritis patrem in nomine meo dabit vobis What so euer ye shall aske the father in my name he will giue it you Therefore Turkes and Iewes doo erre from God two waies in essence will wherof without Christ our mediator there can be nothing rightlie determined FALSIL. What are the true principall causes of death and other the calamities of mankind VERIL. There be two causes the first and principall cause is sin which Adam committing departed from God and afterward spred into all men that is to saie the infirmitie of our corrupt nature and inclination to all euill The second cause is Rom. 5. the tyrannie of the diuell increasing by
Luc. 10. Qui vos audit me audit He that heareth you heareth me FALSIL. Tell me I praie you are all christian men priests or no VERIL. Yea that they are trulie For as euerie one regenerate by the participation of water and the Holie-ghost is called a Christian of Christ so by him he is made a king and a priest Apoc. 1. as it is written Fecit nos reges sacerdotes patri suo He hath made vs kings and priests to his father And hereof S. Peter calleth vs Regale sacerdotium 1. Pet. 2. A roiall priesthood For by Christ we haue right and authoritie to preach the word of God yet euerie man in his calling We haue right libertie to call vpon God according to this saieng Inuoca me in die tribulationis Call vpon me in the daie of trouble Againe Quicquid petieritis patrem in nomine meo dabit vobis Whatsoeuer ye aske the father in my name he will giue it you We haue also power and authoritie to offer vp sacrifice of praise and thankesgiuing Propitiatorie is pacifieng Gods wrath For no mortall man can offer vp a propitiatorie sacrifice because that honor onlie belongeth to Christ our high bishop and Lord. There are fiue kinds of christian mens sacrifices a troubled spirit the sacrifice of righteousnesse the sacrifice of praise or the calues of our lips confessing the name of God the sacrifice of beneficence and communion and our owne bodie which is a reasonable sacrifice The prophet Micheas asked the Lord what acceptable thing he should offer vnto him His answer was I will shew thée O man what thing is good and what the Lord requireth of thée Vtique facere iudicium Mich. 6. diligere misericordiam humilem ambulare coram Deo tuo Namelie that thou doo right loue mercie and walke humblie before thy God But touching them which are called priests amongst vs now adaies you shall vnderstand that they are so called for thrée causes First because they are dedicated to Christ togithers with other Christians and are rightlie called priests because and in as much as they are true Christians Next in imitation of the people of Israell which called them priests that were occupied in the ministerie of the word of God and in the sacrifices of the law and this honor was onelie granted vnto the tribe of Leuy Thirdlie it pleased the holie fathers the successors of the Apostles to adorne before others with this worthie sacerdotall title those which teach the word of God minister the sacraments and declare vnto men that sinne death and damnation are abolished by the onlie sacrifice of Christ our high priest The old priests of the lawe did offer vp beasts but the Apostles and other priests of Christ and his gospell doo as it were slea men and offer vp a liuelie sacrifice to God by the gospell S. Paule testifieth that he made the like sacrifice when he slue the Gentiles with the sword of the gospell Rom. 15. Vt fieret oblatio acceptabilis Deo sanctificata per spiritum sanctum That the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable to God sanctified by the Holie-ghost The papists would so make a sacrifice of a sacrament But the papisticall sacrifice is plaine sacrilege for it was not ordeined to teach Christ and to slea men to God by the sword of the gospell but to offer vp Christ for the quicke and the dead by that meanes defiling and treading vnder foote the sacrifice of Christ which by his priesthood hath found eternall redemption for it is written Hic autem vnam pro peccatis offerens hostiam in sempiternum sedet ad dextram Dei Hebr. 10. This man after he hath offered one sacrifice for sinnes is set downe for euer on the right hand of God and from henceforth tarieth till his foes be made his footestoole For with one offering he hath made them perfect for euer that are sanctified Therfore the popish priests are verie wicked which impudentlie dare reiterat and eftsoones beginne afresh that which is made perfect for euer by Christ our high priest FALSIL. The scripture reporteth Abraham Noe and Iob with others to be good men and iust But Christ saith Marc. 10. there is none good but God onelie and Christ is true Therefore Abraham Noe and Iob with others are not good men and iust VERIL. I denie the consequent For as no man shineth but by Christ Iesus Iohn 1. which is the true light lightening euerie man comming into this world and beléeuing in him so there is none good godlie and holie but by Christ onelie which is Summum bonum The chiefest felicitie the truth the righteousnes the life wisedome and the word of the father 1. Cor. 1. Qui factus fuit nobis sapientia à Deo iustitiáque sanctificatio redemptio Which is of God made wisedome vnto vs and also righteousnes and sanctifieng redemption Iam vos mundi estis Iohn 15. propter sermonem quem loquutus sum vobis Now you are cleane through the word which I haue spoken vnto you The gospell of Christ Iesus doth clense vs and sanctifie vs if it be receiued in faith Rom. 1. Est enim virtus Dei ad salutem omni credenti For it is the power of God vnto saluation to euerie one that beleeueth Marc. 16. Cui qui crediderit saluus erit Whom who so belieueth shall be saued Iacob 1. So we sée Omne bonum esse à Deo That all goodnes commeth of God which onlie doth purge vs and regenerate vs by his word to be made the sonnes of God of the children of wrath There is none good but whome Gods goodnes doth make good there is none holie but whom God doth make holie there is none vertuous but by Gods vertue No man by nature is good but onlie God which is almightie and omnipotent Man is changed by the spirit and grace of God and is made a good trée righteous holie as man may be good and as it were in a second kind of goodnes not comparable to Gods most excellent goodnes in anie case FALSIL. How manie causes be there of ciuill punishments VERIL. Thrée chiefe causes First the righteousnes and iustice of God which will haue sinnes to be punished with corporall and eternall paines according to the immoueable rule of his diuine iustice His reasonable creatures therefore be bound either to the obedience of GOD their creator or to his punishments Next the publike peace and tranquillitie without the which the gospell cannot be preached neither the church collected togither and preserued in mankind Thirdlie example that others by the punishments of the wicked might be admonished and terrified from the committing of the like sinne FALSIL. The tares in the gospell must not be taken awaie Matth. 13. Adulterers be the same tares spirituallie Therefore adulterers must not be taken awaie VERIL. The consequent is false And
which generall act of the Holie-ghost was after transferred to the Church which he nourisheth by singular meanes and defendeth it Next the holie-ghost spake by the prophets Thirdlie he appeered in the likenes of a dooue at the baptisme of Christ Fourthlie Matt. 3. he was manifested to the disciples in the daie of pentecost in the shape of firie toongs Act. 2. which patefactions are certeine testimonies that the Holie-ghost is an other person than the father and the sonne FALSIL. Christ saith Iohn 16. The Holie-ghost shall lead you into all truth Therefore Christ taught not his disciples all truth but the Holie-ghost will reueale some new things as the masse traditions and worshipping of the papisticall church VERIL. I denie the consequent and answer by distinction for Christ speaketh of the same veritie which is reuealed in his word as he saith in another place Sermo tuus est veritas Iohn 17. quam spiritus sanctus illustrabit Thy word is the truth which the Holie-ghost shall open He speaketh not of those things which God hath not opened to his church in his holie word as to know the time of our deaths when the daie of iudgement shal be or such like the curious searching out whereof is the rashnes of man forbidden by this saieng Scrutator maiestatis opprimetur à gloria The searcher out of the maiestie of God shall be confounded with his glorie FALSIL. What is the certeine note and marke of the presence of the Holie-ghost VERIL. The spirituall or good motions of the hart as is praier and inuocation the loue to heare the word of God and the true imbracing of the same whereas there are no such motions felt there the Holie-ghost is not and such as are without these good féelings are no true members of the church according to that saieng Rom. 8. Qui non habet spiritum Christi non est eius He that hath not the spirit of Christ is none of his 2. Reg. 11. Iohn 18. except they doo returne to God by repentance and conuersion as Dauid Manasses Peter and such other did which receiued againe the Holie-ghost by repentance and faith that was put awaie from them by their falles contrarie to their owne conscience FALSIL. What is the office of Christ VERIL. First Christs office is by his preaching to open to vs and his church his fathers eternall will Next to offer him selfe vp a sacrifice to his father for the redemption of all the world and to deliuer his vniuersall church from death sinne and the tyrannie of the diuell FALSIL. Act. 12. Nero killed Paule Herod killed Iohn and Iames Therefore Christ deliuereth not his church giueth hir no peace nor victorie against hir enimies VERIL. Christ giueth vs the eternall victorie which hereafter we shall behold And now we haue the victorie also howbeit we can not see it with corporall eies for the church is preserued though the diuell rage and horriblie inuade it God defendeth it maruelouslie without anie mans power or strength as the father himselfe saith Seruabo vos non in arcu Ose 1. nec in gladio sed in Domino Deo vestro I will not deliuer you through my bowe or sword but in the Lord your God that is in my sonne which is your Lord and your God Also God saith in Zacharie Ego ero igneus murus vester Zachar. 2. I will be to you a wall of fier round about FALSIL. When began the kingdome of Christ in mankind VERIL. The kingdome of Christ or the presence of the sonne of God was in mankind streightwaies from the beginning of the making and receiuing of man among the fathers prophets and the godlie people of the old Testament as Irenaeus saith Semper adest 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 humano generi The word that is the sonne of God was alwaies present with mankind Also S. Paule saith Christus hodie heri Hebr. 13. in omnia secula Christ yesterdaie and to daie and the same continueth for euer the author of truth and goodnes FALSIL. The taking awaie of an other mans thing against the owners will is theft Matth. 21. Christ commanded the asse and hir colt to be brought vnto him and that against the owners will Therefore Christ did not well VERIL. The minor is to be denied Christ was the superior Lord of this people although he vsed not that his externall power and right bicause he came to be made a sacrifice for our sins yet notwithstanding he had power ouer this people as he himselfe saith Dominus hijs opus habet Matth. 21. The Lord hath néede of them Againe he tooke not awaie the asse against the owners will but with his good will when the disciples had alleged vnto him the cause of taking hir awaie declaring their message which the Lord gaue them in charge to doo FALSIL. When shall the kingdome of Christ which is the collecting of his church end VERIL. In the last daie when as the Apostle saith 1. Cor. 15. Regnum patri suo tradet He shall deliuer vp the kingdome to his father ouercomming all his enimies and his churches as sin death sathan hell all tyrants for then shall we see the verie sonne of God which is corporall he will bring vs vnto his father there shall he present his church before his eternall father then shall we beginne to see and know the father visiblie whose fruition is eternall life In the meane season the kingdome of Christ is named in vs bicause it dwelleth in vs by his ministerie And trulie therefore is his word sent vnto vs for he is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 both in respect of vs and of his father also And the Apostle here speaketh of Christs kingdome in this world 1. Cor. 15. whereby he congregateth his church together and dooth mightilie defend it by his infinite power and mercie without corporall violence FALSIL. The minister of the gospell ought not to vse corporall violence Christ vsed corporall violence in whipping the biers and fellers out of the temple Iohn 2. Therefore Christ did not well VERIL. This may be answered thrée waies First I denie the minor bicause Christ mooued not sedition neither vsed corporall violence Act. 5. But as Peter killed Ananias and Saphira his wife without corporall violence yea God him selfe quicklie destroied them so Christ here saieth Zelus domus tuae comodit me Psal 69. The zeale of thine house hath eaten me that was a certeine diuine force and indignation enflamed with the loue and desire of the affirming and propagation of the honor of God Secondlie I answer to the minor As the minister of the gospell ought not vse corporall violence truelie but in his owne house so Christ did well in casting out of these chaffering hucsters out of the temple Iohn 2. bicause it was his house and his place Thirdlie Christ is not onlie a minister of the