in such danger seeing that if Princes be Hereticall and persecute the godly theire Ministers must follow them and afflict and punish them or loose theire places for when those that cleaue to Gods Word and contend for it are examined they must confesse the truth though it cost them theire liues as our Sauiour here did for when Pilate saide Art thou then a Kinge Iesus answered thou saiest that I am a Kinge af if he saide and I can not I must not dâ—nie it For To this ende was I borne and for this cause came I into the world that I should beare witnesse vnto the truth That is indeede to confirme the Truth and euery clause of it whereof this of his Kingdom and office is one with his blood to witnes and seale the truth of it with his blood for though he knew that to confesse this would cost him his life yet he considers that to this ende he was borne and for this cause he came in the world that he should beare witnesse to it with his blood 1. Tim. 6.13 and therefore Saint Paul saith that he witnessed a good confession before Pontius Pilate Sealed as ye see with his blood Tolet. in Ioan. VXIII Vt veritatem Dei oftenderet regnum Dei manifestarer ac tyrannidem Diaboli dolos ejus detegeret to make his witnesse the more effectuall Seeing indeede he came into the world as Tolet saith that he might shew the truth of God and manifest the Kingdom of God and discouer the tiranie of the deuil and his deceits whereby he deceiueth men whether by his owne suggestions or by his Ministers the teachers and maintainers of idollatrie errours For to this purpose the Sonne viz. the Word the Truth of God was manifested that he might destroy the workes of the deuill He came to confound all theese in this that he came to beare witnesse vnto Gods Kingdom vnto Gods Truth whereby all theese are confounded and those also that liue as if they were borne to noe other ende and for noe other cause came into the world then to flatter daube and temporise with sinnes and errours or which is as bad frowardly to contest against the truth with sophisticated arguments praeuaricating shifts for that they might all be sure of it and repenting receiue and confesse the Truth in all things he heere inforceth the certaintie of it with a kinde of ingemination or reinforcing of his asseueration to the Soules of men as if they could neuer enough marke remember this point saying to this ende was I borne and for this cause came I into the world that I should beare witnesse vnto the Truth O thou eternall and almightie Sonne of God Heb. 1.2 by whome he made the worlds thou heyre of all things the brightnes of thy Fathers glorie and the expresse Image of his person thou that thoughtest it noe roberie to be held equall with God surely it was for some greate ende that thou wast borne of a Woman for some greate cause that thou camest in the World Lord let vs know it let vs heare it ô thou Kinge of Saints that wee neither despise nor slight and neglect it thou tellest vs with a witnesse and a deere witnesse it was to thee for thou sealest it with thy most pretious blood shed in the greatest paines the greatest sufferings that euer any felt in this world to see if yet wee will receiue the truth and the loue thereof 2. Thess 2.10.11 that wee may be saued and not be giuen ouer to beleeue a lye for this cause was I borne and for this cause came I into the World that I should beare witnesse vnto the Truth Some man will say If it were to this ende that he came and thus sealed the truth what Christian is there that will not receiue the loue of the Truth that will not in all matters of faith and saluation heare his voice obey it and so receiue his testimonie I answer thou hearest him affirme it and reinforce it what then needes further witnes Luk. 19.10 for if thou say The Sonne of man came to seeke to saue that which was lost That is by shewing them Gods Truth and bearing witnesse to it and so loosing the prisnors bound and lost in the prison of sinne errour * Sedebas o homo in tenebrosis vmbra mortis per ignorantiam veritatis sedebas vinctus catenis delictorum Bernar. de ordine vitae Nos de Adam caeci nati sumus illo illuminate opus habemus Aug. in Ioan. trac 34. Act. 26.18 Mar. 10.46 Gal. 4.4 and ignorance Ioh. 12.48 He came a light into the world that whosoeuer beleeueth on him should not abide in darkenesse but should haue the light of life to make them children of the light God sent him for a light of the Gentiles Isa 42. but that was to open theire eyes and to turne them from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan vnto God that they may receiue forgiuenesse of sinnes and inheritance amonge them which are sanctified through faith that is in him Not otherwise The Sonne of man came to minister and giue his life a ransom for many but that was to minister the Word and to witnesse that his death was a ransom for many to seale that truth in his blood God sent his Sonne made of a Woman to redeeme them that were vnder the Law and thereby Seruants obnoxious to sinne death that they might receiue the adoption of sonnes but that is by receiuing the Word the Truth who to as many as receiue him Ioh. 1.12 giueth power to become the Sonnes of God euen to them that beleene on his Name viz. on the Word by letting them * Chap. 8.32.34.36 Character of a Christian pag. 325. c. know the Truth that the truth might make them free and free indeede from sinne Satan errours snaring scruples c. There is noe true freedom but what the Truth giueth and it must needes be true if the Truth giue it As he there saith If the Sonne therefore shall make you free Ye shall be free indeede Thereby shewing himselfe to be the Truth as Augustine proueth on Ioh. 17.17 Sanctifie them in thy Truth thy Word is Truth August in 10. trac 108. To this Truth he bare witnesse and this Truth freeth beeing beleeued knowne and receiued with loue So was it with the Corinthians who beeing inriched in all knowledge Paul saith the testimonie of Christ was confirmed in them 1. Cor. 1.6 which that wee might so receiue and obey in all that it teacheth and euery part of it he bare witnesse to it with his blood Which therefore indeede is called the blood of the Testament sealed confirmed and dedicated in blood Heb. 9.18.19 Wherevpon neither was the first Testament dedicated without blood For when Moses had spoken euery precept he tooke the blood of Calues and sprinckled both the booke and the
presumpteous sinning they heare his voice they may not nor will not soe neglect hearing holy life as presuming vpon praedestination to say desperately Si Saluabor Saluabor there is noe danger of that because they not knowing the secret counsaile of God who are elected in Christ to be called iustified sanctified and glorified and who not looke to the meanes heare his Word pray and giue all dilligence to follow it in holines of life that soe themselues and others also may know the tree by the fruite which is to make theire calling and election sure to themselues but howsoeuer both the one and the other shew that they only are of Christ be they here or elswhere that heare his voice as he saith Euerie one that is of the Truth heareth my voice As wee haue many liueing in our Church and pertaking with it in some outward ceremonies and seruices who for diuers respects would haue some men thinke theÌ„ Protestants yet are in heart and faith Papists abborring those doctrines of our Church which dissent from Poperie soe may Christ haue some of his elect in the Church of Rome that by that litle light they get of the Scriptures perceiue the errours of that Church and abhorre them and there may be some such in the citie of Rome it selfe when it is ready to be destroied to whome he crieth come out of her my people but where euer they be you heare he saith Euerie one that is of the Truth heareth my voice Which may serue to answer them that would proue the Church of Rome to be a true Church of Christ because he hath people in her when indeede the Inquisitors when they finde them proue them to be rather of our faith and soe of our Church and religion Yet doe I not excuse them that holding our faith and religion in theire hearts outwardly professe poperie Christ would haue it otherwise and therefore calls to them to come out of Babel to liue where they may with more safety confesse him the Truth which indeede is to haue Gods * Charac of a Christian pag. 245. 282. Rom. 10.10 Mat. 10.32.33 marke in the forhead For with the heart man beleeueth to righteousnesse and with the mouth confession is made vnto saluation Whosoeuer therefore shall confesse me before men him will I confesse before my Father But whosoeuer shall denie me before men him will I also denie before my Father Which things should methinks fill all our Church Papists with horrour espeâ—ially some greate ones who would seeme to be true Protestants and for fashion sake come somtimes to Church and say ouer the prayers which some Papists thinke are not repugnant to theire Religion yea heare some mens sermons but it is that they may the better hold places and offices get the more trust in greate imploiments and counsels that soe pretending many matters for the good of our Religion they may the better vnder such colourable pretences practise and secretly carrie them to the furtherance of the Popish cause Theese are such as seeme to admire the outward rites and all the most gaudie vestments ceremonies because indeede they loue litle else in the Church would haue more of them and more neere to poperie euen such gay shewes as in Mr. Cosens set vp in the North. Yet some of the Clergie are soe fond as to crie out for litle or nothing else but the seruice the ceremonies outward habbits and Musick pretending that by pressing the vse of such things they shall the sooner draw Papists to come to Church but not to be there conuinced for points controuerted must not be preached to discouer errours they might adde that they shall thereby get some doubtfull freinds if not secret enemies and gaine as much by it as of old the Church of Rome did before the yeare 420. by imitating and vsing some rites of the heathen the sooner to winne them to embrace Christianily the issue whereof was this that God soe abhorred theire temporising that he suffered them in few yeares to be ouer flowen by a flood of Gothes Vandals and Alanes c. The Lord God deliuer vs from such an inundation of Papists I reade of some that were to be ouercome and conuerted by the sword that comes out of Christs mouth Reu. 19.21 But of none by shewes musick and ceremonies Yet I will not say that other reformed Churches that haue fewer Ceremonies gaine more conuerts but this I may say that they get such as are more sincere constant and faithfull to Church and State and further to all such Church Papists who it seeme for an aduantage get dispensations to be present at some of our Churches and Sermons that they are not Protestants vnlesse theire hearts hold the Protestant faith that if they thinke Poperie to be the true Religion why doe they not openly professe it espetially seeing they are not troubled in England for theire Religion but haue indeede to much libertie vse of it or if they doe not how can they hope in the day of iudgment to looke Christ in the face with comfort for he that is the Truth saith Mark 8.38 Whosoeuer shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinfull generation of him shall the Sonne of Man be ashamed when he commeth in the glorie of his Father If theese men were of the Truth they would not only be present at the preaching of it but also heare and obey it soe as truly to seeke the Kingdom of God yea and therewith all the promised and commaunded Ruin of Rome Antichrist and theire supporters which hinder Christs raigne and not the things which are contrarie For he saith Euerie one that is of the Truth heareth my voice Thus then though there be many Religions in the world opposing one another some in one thinge some in another yet there is but one of them of the Truth namely that alone which in all matters of faith and saluation heareth his voice who is the Truth Lately in my hearing one iestingly asked a Popish newes-monger how it went with the Catholicke Cause He in some anger more pride answered ye haue many Religions but I hope that now ye shall haue but one It was asked him if he would be of that one he replied I that I will It was asked him what Religion that was he answered The booke of common praier and the Articles One answered him wee hold with the booke of common prayer with the Articles but not after the sense of the Arminians proued to be peruerted wrested and absurd by Doctor Carlton late Bishop of Chichester in a booke abouemencioned dedicated to the Kings Maiestie And indeede whether all things be in them in that perfection that should be or noe both the one and the other send vs to the Truth of God reuealed in scripture oblige vs to be of it The booke of common praier saith that wee assemble and meeke together to heare his
Germanie who in mans sight were but weake in respect of theire aduersaries and yet maintaining the preaching of the Gospel and the expulsion of Poperie were maruelously defended and prospered King Edward the Sixth expelled Poperie out of his Kingdom maintained furthered the preaching of the Gospel and though he were but a child how yet did God blesse and defend him from his mightiest enemies Queene Marie leauing the Kingdom Popish Queene Elizabeth againe excluded Poperie See the thankfull Remembrance commanded the preaching of the Gospel punishment of Popish Preists for theire seditious intrusion and yet though she were but a Woman and found the Kingdom in weake estate and had at her entrance greate aduersaries as the Pope Spanie France yea Scotland also besides discontented Popelings and Rebels in her owne Kingdoms of England and Ireland yet she cleauing to Gods cause and maintaining it with all her heart was not only miracalously defended from al forraigne enemies and homebred Conspirators but also acheiued many glorious Victories and grew a terrour to her mightiest aduersaries so truly doth God seeke theire Kingdom that sincerely seeke his as Dauid did And here let noe man obiect the late losses that protestant Princes Kingdoms prouinces haue sustained An obiection of late losses with the Reason of them For if the Word of God had in theese later times beene countenaneed preached and furthered with that sinceritie and zeale of aduancing Christs Kingdom and receiued with that affection ioy reuerence and obedience and that the Princes of the reformed Churches had all stucke to Gods cause and to one another as zealously now as in those former times theese damages could not haue befallen them It is saide of Hezechia that in euery worke 2. Chro. 31.21 that he began in the seruice of the howse of God and in the law and in the commandements to seeke his God he did it with all his heart and prospered If then Princes in doeing the things they did haue not donne them with all theire heart but coldy slowly sparingly not timely nor without greate importunitie and that to stop mens mouthes If in policie or for wordly ends they haue conniued at poperie suffered supplies and materials of warre to goe to theire aduersaries in religion thought they might soe far permit helpe to both sides 2 Chro. 26.2.7 or with Asa haue sought and made lauges with the aduersaries of religion and relied on them noe maiuaile if theire defensiue wars at home and theire vndertakings abroade haue not succeeded well which otherwise must needes haue prospered For if Princes that are men be somtime true and firme to those theire confederates of the same religion that mutually seeke the good of each others Kingdom how much more must God needes be alwaies sure to those that sincerely seeke his Kingdom seeing he is Iustice it selfe and Truth it selfe yea almightie therefore of power to doe more for such as cleaue to his cause then Kings can for those that adhere to them Vorâ— 9. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole Eareh toshew himselfe stronge in the behalfe of them whose heart is perfit towards him Thus then the due preaching of the Word doth not make the enemies thereof inuade the Nation that hath the same in esteeme or if it doe God turnes the shame losse vpon the Inuadors thereof to the greater honour of such as stick to his cause sincerely and with true zeale as in England in the yeare 1588. Indeede true it is Maintenance or sufferance of Heresies causeth seditions and inuasions that wheÌ„ Rulers hinder God in his ordinances by suffering the preaching and maintenance of errours as that is plainly repugnant to Christs Kingdom to the raigne of the Word reuealed so hath it much infested and disturbed the peace of all such Kingdoms as haue permitted it I might instance in the Iewes Ioh. 11.48 who beeing in polecie hinderers of the Word and suffering and maintaining the opposers of Christs doctrine came the sooner to destruction Howsoeuer this did the Arrian Heresie in the times of the Emperours Constantius Constans and Valens A short time sufficeth not to recount the troubles seditions wars losses and bloodshed that followed therevpon mentioned by Vincentius Lerinensis * Nee enim tantuÌ„ affinitates cognationes amicitiae domus verum etiam vrbes populi prouinciae nationes vniuersum postremò Romanum ImperiuÌ„ funditus concussum emotum est Vin. cont Haer. cap. 6.1 King 4.24 c. Chap. 11.4.9.14 Chap. 12.15 as an example of Gods iudgments following the Suffererers and Supporters of errour And that not only intestine amonge themselues but indeed the Emperours and Rulers permitting such errours and the ambitious rising of the Popish Primacie together with the intrusion of his authority and heathenish superstition who now began to make the Word of God of none effect with his pretended power traditions God in iustice suffered and sent the Gothes Vandals and other heathen Nations to inuade and spoile the Empire and Churches of Christendom according to that which he did to the howse of Salomon who while he walked in the wayes of Dauid his father had peace prospered and grew rich and mightie but when his Wiues turned away his heart after other Gods the Lord was angrie with him and stirred vp Aduersaries vnto SalomoÌ„ Hadad the Edomite Rezon who did him his KingdoÌ„ much harme also Ieroboam the Sonne of Nebat and finally rent tenne Tribes from Rehoboam his Sonne who hearkened not vnto the people for the cause was from the Lord who vsed this his austere answere as a meanes to punish his and his fathers idollatrie Euen as also in the time of the Iudges Iud. 3.7.8 when the children of Israell did euill in the sight of the Lord forgate the Lord theire God and serued Baalim and other Idols it is saide Vers 12. Chap. 4.2 Therefore the Lord sold them into the hands of theire enemies The Lord strengthened Eglon the King of Moab against Israel The Lord sold them into the hand of Iabin Chap. 6.1 The Lord deliuered them into the hand of Midian Againe Chap. 10.7 Againe He sold them into the hands of the Philistines c. Errours are in effect idols Heb. 13.8 And let noe man say here that the maintenance or sufferance of Heresie is a lesse sinne in Princes then the maintenance or sufferance of Idols For Christ is the eternall and vnchangeable Word of God Iesus Christ yesterday and to day the same also for euer Whosoeuer therefore setteth vp any new or contrarie word against the Word of his grace he setteth vp an idoll to be of men beleeued and reuerenced The errours of Hereticks are strange Gods as a Qui sunt Dâ—j alteni nisierrores extranei quos ignorabas id est noui inauditi Vine Lerien aduer haeres cap. 15 Photinus creditaÌ„ sibi plebem Dei persuadere
preaching or writing are called and chosen and faithfull Ioh. 3.8 Called of God whose Spirit bloweth where it listeth * 1. Cor. 12.11 psa 8. mat 21. Luk. 19.40 Reu. 1.6 Diuiding to euerie man seuerally as he will and who out of the mouths of Babes and sucklings ordaineth strength and who would make the Stones to speake if theese should hold theire peace And let noe man obiect theire basenes for he hath made them Kings and preists vnto God his Father and soe much the fitter for this worke They are also Chosen by him For ye see youre calling brethren 1. Cor. 26.27 28.29 saith Paul to the Corinthians how that not many wise men after the flesh not manie mightie not many noble are called But God hath Chosen the foolish things of this world to confound the wise the weake things of the world to confound the mightie c. That noe flesh should glorie in his presence They are also faithfull they doe not bauke the cause of God and for the richers or honours that theese Kings or theire fauorits or the Beast or seducers ofter them they doe not call euill good and good euill put darkenesse for light nor light for darknesse that is errour for truth and truth for errour Isa 5.20 nor doe they iustifie the wicked for a reward and take away the righteousnes of the righteous man from him but with the psalmist they speake the truth that is in theire heart * Reu. 14.5 In theire mouth was found noe guile And with Paul they set themselues against seducers as he against Elimas Act. 13. that sought to turne away the deputie from the faith and to peruert the right way of God And when some of theese Kings and States are conuerted From poperie to Christ that is when a tenth part of the citie seated on many waters fell from the Church of Rome to the Gospell Reu. 11.13.15 or soone after it is saide The Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall raigne for euer and euer Because not the Beast but the Word doth now gouerne Soules in them They therefore that are protestant Princes and foe haue giuen theire names to Christ against Antichrist should draw theire swords and not suffer any of theese Kingdoms prouinces or cities to be woÌ„ne againe by the sword or seducers from Christ to poperie but rather indeauour to winne from the Beast and his vpholders and as soone as may be to execute vpon the whore the iudgment written seeing such honour haue all his saints Psa 149.9 Reu. 17. and it is saide they shall make her desolate and naked and burne her with fire and herein they are saide to follow Christ the warre therefore is not bloodie and vniust for it is saide there chap. 19.14 vers 11.13 In righteousnes doth he iudge and make warre and his name is called the Word of God and that the armies followed him vpon white horses clothed in fine liâ—en white and cleane and consequently the blood of theese his enemies doth not defile them for they follow the Word of God and fight for his Kingdom who is the Word against these that oppose the Word and make him and his Kingdom of none effect with theire traditions and errours Therefore though peace can neuer be sufficiently commended yet it can not be good to haue peace with her nor with those Kings that fight her battailes to support and propagate her Kingdom espetially when they are in those warres as in theese dayes striueing to bringe all to her obedience Reu. 19.6 When Rome which is the greate whore is burned a greate voice is heard Saying Alleluia for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth Whereas before not the Word but she gouerned the Soules of thousands in matters of faith and saluation And will they then be slack in giueing theire weapous moneies labours and counsailes to this worke the Papists and theire Princes are not so in theire warres against vs to bringe vs to the Popes obedience Wee are to remember what Christ saith He that is not with me is against me Epis Winton Tortura Torti in Epist And therefore as a greate Prelate saide in a like case This cause is of that kinde where when a man gathereth not with Christ he scattereth with Christs aduersarie where vnlesse one deliuer the faith neither shall he deliuer his soule Also when the common cause is brought into danger let no man be a spectatour but euery one an actour and when the cause of all men is handled there with all power and labour with all studie and indeauour to skirmish stoutly for it And herein in what low state soeuer a man be yet let him be a Christian. Aug. de peecat merit 18. And as Augustine saith Neither is there any midle place for any man that he can be with any other then the deuil who is not with Christ That also is true of Princes in this case of warre They that are with him are called and chosen and faithfull They are not like the children of Ephraim who beeing armed and carrying bowes turned back in the day of battaile Reu. 17.14 Psal 78.8.9 See Character of a Christian Pag. 217. they doe not on euery flight occasion desist and start aside like a broken bow Or which is all one they doe not trust the managing of theese wars and the counsailes thereto belonging to such as are newters lukewarme or temporising Arminians much lesse to any that are apparantly Popish and so will sooner betray forces and counsailes or bringe them to nothing then rightly vse them against the Beast or his supporters but they are like good Souldiers of Christ watchfull and carefull to doe this worke or see it donne with all zeale and diligence and like the Aduersaries they trust none to be commaunders or councellours herein but such as they finde by experience to be truly zealous in the cause of Religion whatsoeuer they doe this way in the worke of the Lord 2. Chron. 31.21 with Hezechiah they doe it with all theire heart and like those first conuerts in the Acts who did things with gladnes and singlenes of heart Act. 2 46 Thus faithfull are they that are with Christ in his warres against the Beast and his adherents But to leaue the further prosecution of this point to a Treatise of Romes Ruin Notwithstanding all theese things and diuers others that might be alleadged to this purpose the Papists without any greate resistance of auxiliarie forces haue acheiued many notable victories and greatly triumph in the Prouinces and Cities they haue reduced to the Romish obedience In diuers Kingdoms Prouinces and Cities where the Gospell of the Kingdom hath beene freely preached where the Word hath raigned they haue in a manner excluded him and his Kingdom and subiected the people to Popish superstition errour and seruitude so that though Christ be now in his
forbidden espetially when Pelagian Popish errours are set vp against them and driuen in like the sharpe point of a wedge to make the thicker ende that is the whole thicknes and breadth of Poperie to follow If a Towne or Castle be beleaguered a breach made doe not men run to it and maintaine that place of all others shall any man be blamed for so doeing and if any whether Gouernour Captaine or Citizen shall forbid them and vnder some pretext commaund them to laie downe armes and quit the place is he not counted trecherours to the Towne and King thereof So is it in Gods Church and Kingdom beseiged by Hereticks who shoote at the faith and make greate breaches Tit. 1.11 2. Tim. 2.17 subuerting whole howses for theire word doth eate as a gangrene But for the maintenance of the Truth and the keeping of Gods fauour to the people that hold it fast the Lord saith Hoâ— 6.6.7 I desired the knowledge of God which of old some hindring Luk. 19.41 There saith he haue they dealt trecherously with me Christ shewes that to manifest the mysteries he taught is to make men know the things that belonge to theire peace that when they are hid from theire eyes sedition and ruin follow taking away the key of knowledge causeth trouble and that the Iesuits know to well Besides the Apealer drawes the sword of errour sets vp vnsound tenets of free will praedestination falling away and the like imprudently * See Bishop Carlton Exam. of the Appeal pag. 62.137.149.225.231.233 peruerts the Articles for his tenets and then he and his faction get it held fit that theese things should not be disputed and written against as curious desperate c. that so he and they may preuaile carry his and such like doctrines away vndiscouered vnuanquished by the Word Whereby intime as Bishop Carlton obserued Idem pag. 126. in place of Communio Sanctorum may creepe in Apostasia and all our religion might in like sort be lost and sunke into Poperie The late Duke theire honoured Lord while he liued to such ends as it seemes fauoured theise theire opinions and deuotions though perhaps he did not well vnderstand them and willingly suffered none to be preferred but such as would maintaine them or conuiue at them Which could not but be pleasing to the Countesse his Mother and her Preists and hence it came that he beeing greate in this World and able to aduance men to honour offices and wealth wanted not Schollars and Courtiers to fight by disputes reasons for theese errours Who can thinke but that he would strengthen himselfe in Court and Vniuersities with such men and theese beeing by his meanes engaged in the cause while he liued to saue theire owne stakes and reputations vphold it what they can now he is dead though it be against the honour of God against Christ the Word and his Kingdom yea and against the truest honour of theire Royal Maister whose honour they pretend to seeke and whome they would seeme to loue and against the peace and strength of his Kingdoms by them thus dangerously diuided and weakened in themselues Here yet let vs not to much wonder that so many wise and learned men of our time should be so far ouercome by theese preferments and hopes as to consent to theese doctrines or conniue at them For hopes of preferment and gifts blinde the eyes of the wise Men are apt * Ioh. 10. Phil. 2.21 Sunt quidam Ecclefia propofiti de quibus Paulus Apostolus dicit sua quaerentes noÌ„ quae Iesu Christi quid est â—ua quaerentes non ChristuÌ„ gratis diligentes non Deum propter Deum quaerentes temporalia commoda sectantes â—ucrâ—s inhiantes honores ab hominibus appetentes quisquis est talis inercenarius est August in Ioan. Tra. 45. like Hirelings to seeke theire owne not the things which are Christs who saith Ioh. 5.44 How can ye beleeue which receiue honour one of another and seeke not the honour that commeth from God only they seeke theire owne not the Kingdom that is not of this world But if it were of this World then they would seeke it Our Sauiours owne Disciples left him for a short time and made him say If my Kingdom were of this world then would my Seruants fight that I should not be deliuered to the Iewes who accuse him and his doctrine of peruerting the Nation His Seruants did not then fight for him by arguments or otherwise to cleare him in this therefore he concludes But now my Kingdom is not from hence As if he saide that all my Seruants leaue me and neither fight for me by sword or word it is manifest that is not of this World nor praeiudiciall to Caesars this argues it is not from hence that they looke not for any thinge by it here in this World He had told them that the Princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion and authoritie ouer them But it shall not be so amonge you but that they should be deliuered vp Mat. 20.25 Mat. 25.9 killed hated and betraied for his names sake Therefore now they leaue him and fight not for him any way to rescue him Which proued that his Kingdom was not from hence who hereby inferreth that in the Kingdoms of this World Seruants and Subiects will fight in hope of the riches and honours they afford to theire defenders And here let not Papists brag to much of theire late acheiuments by sword or practises whereby they daily subiect many to the Pope For if our religion haue beene weakely theires thorowly maintained it argues that ours is of Christs Kingdom not from hence theires of this World and of Antichrist and that therefore Princes and Preists fight for them and not for Christ because they haue riches honours and such worldly rewards to giue them for theire Seruices as one proueth at * Relation of the Religion vsed in the West large Neither is it any such strange thinge that the Iesuits and other of theire Clergie and Church who effect theese things should goe in the way of Kain perish in the gainsaying of Core and be cast away by the deceitfulnes of Balaams wages Here therefore not to speake of the many greate Countries Prouinces Kingdoms titles dignities and other rewards that the Church of Rome hath conferred on such Princes Captains and Souldiers as haue defended them and theire cause with the Sword such as were Pepin Charles his Sonne and diuers other her Champions wherein yet she hath still cut large thonges out of other mens hides I will passe by that part of theire auarice pride and arrogancie who not content to get to themselues and theire Monasteries Orders by fables and flatterie the greatest part of the riches and Lands in the Kingdoms of this World haue taken on them to take the verrie Kingdoms themselues with theire titles and proffits from the right owners and giue them to
neither lie nor aequiuocate he knew noe sinne neither was any deceite in his mouth and in this case keepe silence he might not he must needes confesse the truth because that was for the honour of God his Father for whome he ruled and therefore not to haue acknowledged this Kingdom was to haue denied his Fathers Kingdom and right to rule all men therefore he addeth that he was borne to beare witnesse vnto the Truth Yet that he might not in the least measure be guiltie of his owne death he thrice affirmed that his Kingdom was not of this world and consequently not praeiudiciall to Caesars nor to the right he chalenged in the temporall Kingdom and that Pilate well vnderstood when in that sense he saide Art thou then a Kinge for when in that sense Iesus answered thou saiest that I am a Kinge as * Pilaâ—um credisse Christum Regem esse non tameÌ„ ejus regnum aduersarium esse regno Caesaris sed pertinere ad quandam singularem Iudaeorum religioneÌ„ id probat quod perseueranter euÌ„ Regem appellauit Ecce Rex vester Regem vestrum crucifigam Iesus Nazarenus Rex IudaeoruÌ„ Tolet. in 10.18 Ioh. 19.4 vers 6. Vers 7.12 one that talked more of it then Christ did Pilate went out againe and saith to the Iewes I finde in him noe fault at all and Luk. 23.14 Ye haue brought this man vnto me as one that peruerteth the people and behold I haueing examined him haue found noe fault in him touching those things whereof ye accuse him Noe nor yet Herod for I sent you to him and loe nothing worthy of death And after when they cried not him but Barabas he when he had scourged him went foorth againe saying I bringe him foorth to you that ye may know that I finde noe fault in him Why then did he against law and conscience scourge him and when they seeing him cried crucifie him he saide againe Take ye him and crucifie him for I find noe fault in him And after when they saide by our law he ought to die because he made himselfe the Sonne of God Pilate was the more afraide and sought to release him But the Iewes cried out if thou let this man goe thou art not Caesars freind whosoeuer maketh himselfe a Kinge speaketh against Caesar When Pilate heard that his desire of freeing Iesus begaÌ„ to stagger though he beleeued that if he had any Kingdom it was not of this world yet as thinking that if he should not proceede it might worke him Caesars displeasure therefore bringing him foorth he saith not now as before behold the man but behold youre Kinge and after shall I crucifie youre Kinge The cheife Preists answered Vers 14. wee haue noe Kinge but Caesar Yet he washed his hands and then with this inducement Mat. 27.24 Luk. 23.23 he willing to content the people deliuered him to be crucified For the voices of them and of the cheife Preists preuailed Whence wee may behold the miserie that oft followes greatnes The miserie of greatnes appearing both in the cheife Preists and Pilate the one carried a way with such extreme enuie implacable hatred that the iudgment of innocencie often pronounced by a Iudge would not satisfie them the other with importunitie and respects of contenting appeasing gratifying others and preuenting complaints to Caesar of suffering another Kinge to an act of iniustice soe much aginst his owne conscience and often reiterated sentence of aquitment A poore fruite to often following the greate and vncessant labours of ambitious climing when for feare or fauour to gratifie or content they are oft faine to punish innocents and acquit men guiltie and wicked and somtime in matters of Christs cause and Religion Yet am I not of theire opinion who thinke a States man can not be an honest man For vnder Godly Kings walking in the right path of Religion as faithfull to theire maker such as Dauid Iehoshaphat Hezekiah Iosias and others they may carrie themselues iustly and doe God greate seruice such Kings moue them not to any act of iniustice nor to maintaine Idols or Heresies much lesse to punish or molest true beleeuers and innocents But if the Prince they serue be an Idolater an Heretick or Wicked they can hardly hold theire places and keepe a good conscience 1. King 21.8 c. For when Ahab raignes Iezabel writes her letters to the Elders and Nobles to subborne false witnesses and to stone innocent Naboth and it is donne Iehu writes to the Elders to kill all Ahabs children and it is donne Diuers Kings were displeased with Prophets and the Nobles wronge them as they did Ieremie and others Ioh. 12.42 Amonge the Cheife Rulers many beleeued on Christ but because of the Pharises they did not confesse him lest they should be put out of the Sinagonge For they loued the praise of men more then the praise of God Act. 24.27 Felix willing to shew the Iewes a pleasure left Paul bound When Iustine the Emperour had depriued the Arrians of those Churches they held in Greece Theodorick King of Italie Liber Pontif. in Iohan. I. sent Iohn Bishop of Rome assisted with Senators to intreate him to restore them if not to tell him he would serue the Catholicks with the like sauce The Pontificall booke saith they intreated the Emperour with teares and preuailed that is to haue wolues restored to the Sheepe Belisarius by the commaund of the Empresse Theodora an Eutichean thrust out Siluerius placed Vigilius in the Popedom that he might according to promise condemne the Councell of Chalcedon and write Letters in confirmation of the Eutichean faith Baron Vol. 7. ann 538. art 20. wherevpon Baronius calls Vigilius a Theefe a Wolfe an Antichrist Ye haue seene that the Easterne Emperours made theire Bishops consent to the Pope in worshipping of Images and at last in Purgatorie Superemacie and other articles and what followed It would be to longe to relate how the Iudges nobles and prelates vnder Emperours and Kings haue made Preists abandon theire wiues and people receiue his other lawes errours when theire Princes in feare or flaterie temporised with the Pope For Prelates nobles and people are naturally prone to fashion themselues into the religion of theire Princes and patrons and that hath made Iesuited Spirits practise to make reformed Princes luke-warme Popish or Arminians 2. King 16.10 For when Kinge Ahaz seeing a strange Altar at Damascus sent the Patterne of it to Vrijah the Preist to make such a one and offer on it he not minding that theese things ought not to haue differed from * Exod. 25 4â— Act. 7.44 the patterne giuen to Moses that noe other things wer to be intruded into the Temple of the Lord refuseth not but doth it be it neuer soe bad Regis ad exemplum totus componitur orbis A wonder therefore it is that men be soe ambitious of these places wherein theire soules are