the nations beleâ—â—â—â— in the world and receiued vp in glorie THe drift of the Apostle Paul in this most precious sentence is to moue Timothie to behaue himselfe verie religiouslie and reuerentlie in the church of God as may appeare both in the beginning of the verse immediatlie before set downe in this chapter and in the latter ende of the sixt verse of the next Chapter One argumeÌ„t to this intent and purpose hath bin already brought by him in the last wordes of the former sentence whereof this is the effect seeing the house or Church of God whereof thou art a Minister is not a sinagogue of error or a temple of types figures but a proper pillar of truth thou art as a paâ—â—â—â—â— of thâ— Christian flock to walke verie orderlie religiously and holylie in all respects Another reason tending vnto the selfe same end is contained in this conclusion of the Chapter whereof this is the summe forasmuch as the Gospell is a most excellent mysterie it behooueth thee a steward of such secrets to shew all wisdome and faithfulnes in the course of thy conuersation and in the execution of thy ministerie Now the excellencie of the Gospell is partly affirmed and as it were inlarged by degrees in the sixe first words of this verse being these And that mysteries of godlines is great without doubt partly prooued and confirmed by sixe seuerall reasons in the latter ende of the sentence which reasons are these God hath been manifested in the flesh iustified in the spirit seene by the Angels preached among the nations beleeued in the world and receiued vp in glorie The first note here declaring the excellencie of Christian Religion is the particle or word And the which not onelie as a knot bindeth the former sentence or reason and this together but as an exposition of the last word thereof which was trueth declareth that the maine veritie which the house of God or the Christian Church chiefelie and continuallie vpholdeth is the mysterie of godlines or faith in Christ Iesus It was verie needefull for Paul to expound himselfe after this manner and to insinuate this matter vnto Timothie and in him to all the faithfull Ministers and beleeuers of the Gospell For else they taking through error their markes amisle and thinking the holding of any truth a sufficient proofe or note of this true Church might conclude the Iewish sinagogue or some such like assemblie to bee the house of GOD because therin some truth is kept found or againe they running into another extremitie might rashly condemne some beleeuing and christian churches as the Church at Corinth because cause euen they sometimes erre or dissent about some points of trueth which yet are of lesse importance To the end therefore that all the faithfull may in all times and places and among all persons knowe which is the Lords holy campe resort thereto and remaine therein the Apostle sheweth here that it may alwaies bee discerned by this banner or ensigne of the Mysterie of the Gospell Those congregations then are vndoubtedly the true Churches of God which firmelie hold the articles of faith and soundly acknowledge Christ Iesus to bee the Sonne of God and the onelie foundation of saluation howsoeuer otherwise peraduenture they be farre from spotles perfection Reuel 1.2 3. c. Had not the Churches of Asia much drosse and many cracks Did not the Church of Ephesus somewhat coole and quench the burning lamp of hir former loue Were there not sundry members of the church at Sardis which had names of life on them but wounds of death in them How came it to passe that in the Christian assembly at Pergamus there were such as held the doctrine of Balaam if that the eye therof did not winke or was not fast a sleepe And where was the rodde or shepheards crooke of the pastor of the Congregation at Thyatyra when Iezabel was suffered to deceiue the seruaÌ„ts of the Lord How luke-warme were euen the best waters in all Laodicea when our Sauiour cried out thus against the fountaine of them would to God thou wert either hot or colde These faultes were found in all these Churches yea in the messengers sent vnto them and therefore in the members of them And yet what are these Churches in his account who walked in the middest of them but golden candlesticks What names dooth the giue to the messengers of these congregations but Starres so called by him in regarde of their places and the shining of those graces which were somewhat dimmed but not quite quenched Finallie what promises maketh he or what speeches vseth he to the members of those beleeuing assemblies but that vpon condition that they repented and continued in well doing they should eate of the tree of life feede on the hidden manna rule ouer the Nations and stand as pillars in the Temple of GOD for euer Hee dooth not aduise them to forsake their mutuall fellowship he dooth not denie them to bee members of his bodie because they did not rent themselues from the bodies of their Congregations so diseased and infected he willeth them not to disclaime the eyes which directed them no better he affirmeth not that their teachers are none of his Ministers their Sacraments no Sacraments vnto him because his order was not obserued or executed and because certaine Balaams and Iezabels were mingled in the assembly with his seruants Yea on the contrarie side notwithstanding all these wants neglects disorders offences and blemishes whatsoeuer he alloweth and accepteth the good things which were in any professors and calleth these assemblies golden candlesticks as before hath been shewed concluding that whosoeuer hath an eare is to heare what the spirit speaketh vnto the Churches so that look what iudgement our sauiour Christ Iesus gaue touching the Churches of Asia the same are all Christians to haue of the Churches of Europe not one of which is without some spot or wrinckle Wherefore let euery one take heede how hee leaueth our assemblies and Christian congregations in this 〈…〉 â—ast going about to be more 〈…〉 than the rule more bright than the sunne more right handed than the right hand it selfe to conclude more perfect 〈◊〉 the word of God whilest he â—â—â—â—â—efull and endeuoreth to auoide one extremetie through ignorance or blinde zeale hee runne into another Now if those reuolters which so wander on the right hand as that they condemne our Christian Congregations which receiue and acknowledge the great mysterie of Christ Iesus here spoken of cannot be excused neither are to be iustified in regarde of their error or rash separation notwithstanding that they neither denie any of the Articles of faith nor fall downe before stockes or stones what is to be said of those recusants on the contrarie side and as it 〈…〉 â—he left hand which art such 〈…〉 to Christ Iesus that Antichrist is vnto them all in all and that they embrace the mysâ—â—â—â—â— of all iniquitie and blasphemâ—â— euen the abominable and
THE Excellencie of the mysterie of Christ Jesus Declared in an exposition or meditation vpon the 16. verse of the first Epistle of Saint Paul vnto Timothie Ephes 3.14 c. For this cause I bow my knees vnto the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ 15 Of whome is named the whole familie in Heauen and in earth 16 That he might graunt you according to the riches of his glorie that yee may be strengthened by his Spirit in the inner man 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith that yee being rooted and grounded in loue 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height 19 And to knowe the loue of Christ which passeth knowledge that yee may be filled with all fulnes of God AT LONDON Printed by Thomas Orwin for Raphe Iackson and William Young 1590. To the two right Honorable sisters the Lady Margaret Countesse of Comberland and the Lady Anne Countesse of Warwicke grace mercie and peace be multiplied from God the father and from the Lord Iesus Christ his sonne SVndrie reasons mooued me most Honourable Madames both to publish this simple treatise and to dedicate the same vnto your Ladyships First of al I wished with Iob that my wordes were written Iob. 11.23 yea that they were imprinted in a booke not for that J longed to bring foorth some new discourse into the world which is pestered with infinit vnnecessary pamphlets and treatises but for that I greatly desired to spread that Doctrine farre and nere wherein onely the fountaine of Saluation and the flower of al sounde consolation consisteth Secondly in these days wherin is so much disorder and distractions I deemed it a most necessarie thing eueÌ„ in open street as it were to point again vnto that Lambe of God which taketh avvay the sinnes of the VVorlde that the simple may knowe what to stick vnto where to begin the building of the spirituall house of their professing the word and seruing God aright Thirdly howsoeuer the fixing of such a rude stock as this homely discourse is in the ground of the Lords orchard is indeed a work of no such art or cunning as whereby the learned may be increased in knowledge yet may it bee a meanes to stir vp some Paules or Apolloes hereupon to ingraft more choice and excellent siens and hereafter to set such noble plaÌ„ts of the tree of life out of which most precious fruites may spring to the benefit coÌ„fort of the Church after that once the Lorde hath powred down his blessing on theÌ„ For indeed the Doctrine of the mystery of Christ Iesus is such a treasure house of al good things and such a root of true eternal happines that wheresoeuer it is taught with wisdome and with power and receaued with reuereÌ„ce obedieÌ„ce there glory will assuredly dwell and remaine Yea there such prosperity shal abouÌ„d in citie couÌ„try that grace faith shal meet together righteousnes and peace shall kisse each other Psa 85.11.12 faith shall bud out of the earth and righteousnes shal looke dovvn from heauen These were Madames the chiefest of those reasons whereby I was brought at last after long withholding this my meditation from the presse to permit commit it thereunto albeit in mine owne opinion most vnworthy to come vnder it but in the iudgement of certaine special friends of mine vnto whoÌ„ a sight thereof hath bin imparted conuenient yea almost necessarie to be published Now as concerning the causes which made mee be so bold as to dedicate this simple treatise vnto your Ladiships they neither are in number fewer than those which induce me to let it come abroad nor lesse weighty in importaÌ„ce First for asmuch as the Lorde hath cast vpon you all kindes of Honour in a manner so that you seeme to stand amidst the multitude of innumerable Christians or members of the Church among vs as Paragons preferred in degree aboue the rest Countesses of excellent and high account me thinketh if any haue gathered an heape of sweet pleasant flowers out of the Scripture for the vse or comfort of the professors of the gospel that such a garland is first to be proffered vnto your right honorable heads must needs best fit most seemely become your noble temples Againe seeing the fauour which you haue vouchsafed to beare and expresse toward mee hath been speciall J thought it my duety to repay some token of thankefulnes first and especially vnto your Ladiships of whome what remembrance J haue and toward whome what reuerence J beare Finally vnto whom how great prosperity J wish J knowe not by what meanes better to declare or testifie than by dedicating a treatise vnto you to giue you occasion both to knowe Christ Jesus more fully and to growe in him more firmely Last of all whereas albeit your estates are full of the riches of Gods mercie yet they are not so free from all aduersitie but that the Lorde of late hath exercised you with such losses and crosses as the Prophets speake of when they mention the tender mother bewailing hir first borne Zac. 12.10 and the louing yoke-fellowe girding hir selfe with sackcloth for the husband of her youth Ioel. 1.8 it may bee that in the mysterie of Christ Iesus through the blessing of the Lorde you shall finde some cordiall powder which shall driue away your dolefull pensiuenesse in some parte yea if you search it throughlie and make it your owne it will vndoubtedlie giue you an Ornament in place of ashes Esa 61.3 4 an oyntemeÌ„t of ioye in steed of mourning a Garment of praise in lievv of a broken spirit that ye may be called the oakes of righteousnes that as the plants of Iehoua yee may glorie that yee may builde the auncient vvast places that ye may restore the old deserts that yee may renew the desolate cities the deserts of manie generations Accept then Christian Madames from thankefull heart and reuerens hand this little booke concerning the excellencie of Christ Jesus presented vnto your Ladiships not for that J ayme at anie preferment or such by-markes as it 〈◊〉 but onely for the causes before alleadged Vouchsafe to protect it with your fauour to pardon the defects and faults therein escaped to conclude to profit by thee mysterie there in described Being now assured you will doe aboue that which is requested J most huÌ„bly commend your Ladiships to the tuition and heauenly blessing of that good God who hath so loued man in his Sonne Christ Jesus as to prepare for him those thinges which neither eye hath seene nor eare hath heard nor 〈◊〉 conceaued 〈…〉 be all 1. Cor. 2.9 〈…〉 〈…〉 P.M. ⧠The excellencie of the mysterie of Christ Iesus 1. Tim. 3. Chap. 16. ver And that mysterie of godlines is great by one assent God hath been manifested in the flesh iustified in the spirite seene by the Angels preachâ—◠〈◊〉 â—mong
the same time were also Prophets raysed vp indued with an extraordinarie gift of foretelling things to come as Agabus But because neither the extraordinarie giftes of such Apostles Euangelists and Prophets were alwaies to remaine in the Church neither coulde their persons beeing mortall continue in the Worlde for euer ordinarie messengers or Ministers of the Gospell called both by GOD and man and allotted to one place were by the Apostles them selues created and ordayned in their time who instructed some of them the Church of Lystra some of Iconium some of Antiochia Act. 14.24 some the Churche of Ephesus Reuel 2 3. chap. some the Church of Smyrna some of Corinth some of Phillippi some other congregations Phillip 1.1 This kinde of Preachers of the Word hauing continued from the Apostles times and beeing to remaine to the ende of the Worlde haue spread the fame of the Gospell so farre and neere and so planted and watred it in their Countries and charges as that not onely by the Apostles Ministerie but hence it commeth to passe that there are many Christians in the Worlde at this day many congregations professing the trueth yea many Countries imbracing Christ Iesus as namely Germanie France England Scotland Denmarke with many other renowned in this respect Wherefore the gospel hath been preached not onely in Iudea but among the natiōs as here is saide neither vnto a few nations but what people almost is there vnto some of whom at one time or other the same of Christ Iesus hath not been brought alter some sort or manner at the least In deed euen before the comming of the sonne of God into the world the Iewes had among them those shadowes which couered shining light and those Prophets who spake in their hearing of the Messias to come Moreouer the Gentiles had sometime messengers and Prophets sent vnto them as may appeare in Ionas who preached to the Niniuites but since that Christ Iesus hath beene manifested in the fleshe the Gospell hath both been more plainelie and sullie made knowne to the Israelites than before and generallie in common imparted and communicated vnto other nations For the partition wall hauing been puld downe by him Col. 2.14 that maketh one of two and the bonds of the lawe cancelled by his sufferings who sacrificed himselfe for the whole world al nations were to bee called to the Passeouer which had been slaine and the gerall pardon of forgiuenes of sinnes was to bee offered vnto all sortes of people Well then neither did the Lord suffer the stiffenecked Iewes to be without a great light nor the Gentiles to remaine without the knowledge of Christ Iesus but he caused him to be preached to Iewe and Gentile male and female bond free to shew that he would haue all sorts of people to come vnto repentance and to be saued So that hereby it is euident that the bloud of Iesus Christ speaketh farre more excellent and comfortable things than did the bloud of Abel For what is the voyce thereof but Come vnto me al you which are heauie ladē Mat. 11.28 I wil refresh you Albeit your sinnes were as crimson Esa 1.18 they shall be like to snowe although they were as scarlet they shal be like the wool What intercession maketh it to God the father Ioh. 17.52 but Father forgiue them they knowe not what they doo holie father preserue them in thy name sanctifie them in thy trueth Father it is my will that those whom thou hast giuen me be with me where I am To conclude what things speaketh the bloud of Christ to men but such as are most comfortable and sound to this effect I haue washed away the hainous rebellion and blasphemie of diuers of those Iewes who indeed crucified the King of glorie Act. 2.37 38 but for this bloudie deede vnfainedlie and heartilie repented I haue cleansed and sanctified a whole clowde of penitent sinners among the Gentiles which sometimes worshipped Idols Leui. 18.24 offered their children vnto Molech Deu. 18.11 vsed necromancie followed after southsayers and witches exercised curious Artes Act. 18.19 1. Thes 1.9 were laden with all sorts of impieties and iniquities quite dead in their sinnes Seeing these or such like are the sugred words and promises which the bloud of Christ Iesus speaketh and applieth vnto the heart of his Ierusalem and people how can any distressed and brused soule imagine that the God of mercie will despise the sacrifice of sorowe and mournful supplications which it offereth Who will now adde vnto his other innumerable iniquities this the greatest of all other no to beleeue his Sauiour who hath not onely promised to saue him but confirmed his promise by oth not onelie sworne so to doo but sealed his oth with bloud not only assured in vnder a broad seale but testified it by infinite example To conclude this poynt he which trusteth in the sonne of God 1. Ioh. 5.10 saith Saint Iohn hath that witnes in himselfe he which beleeueth not God maketh him a lier Well if any want faith or the feeling thereof here we see by the Lords ordinance that the preaching of the word is the most principall and most effectuall meanes of ingrafting and nourishing the same For how did so many thousands in the Apostles times come vnto faith Ro. 10.14 but by hearing the glad tidings of the Gospell How did they heare these ioyfull glad tidings but by their teachers preaching among them How did certaine choice messengers and seruants of God preach to the rest and that with so happie successe but by the Lords sending them on his embassage and blessing his owne holy and heauenlie ordinance Priuate persons neither were in auncient times neither now are licensed or permitted by the Lord to bee Prophets Apostles or Pastors to themselues or to another 1. Cor. 12.29 The publique Ministers of the worde are those whom the Lord hath set apart to bee stewards ouer the household of faith 1. Cor. 4.1 his vessells and messengers to carrie and declare the doctrine of faith finallie his vnder-officers to set on the seales of faith Priuate conference priuate prayer priuate reading of the scriptures are indeed verie profitable exercises of faith when they are vsed together with the publike ministerie of the word and continuallie quickened by the same For the preaching of the word is so liuelie and mightie in operation that it is not onely as seede to beget men to saluation but as milke to nourish them in faith and obedience as wine to cheare them in distresse as honie to delight thē as golde to enrich them as a light to direct them but also as a fire to kindle them vnto mutuall conference Luk. 24.32 to earnest praier and to diligent searching of the scriptures But when the publike Ministerie shall bee so seuered from these priuate exercises as the soule is from the bodie and as that it shall wilfullie bee neglected