which is noted Verse 23. not onely by the creatures vsed in the Lords Supper but by them rightly vsed according to his appointment as soon after he doth further alledge And for this cause was it that they met vnto the Lords table euery first day of the weeke according to that of S. Paul 1 Cor. 16. Euery first day of the weeke when yee are come together to break bread c. And this custome lasted long as Basilius the great and others doe testifie Basil Epist. 21. And thus the true marks of the Church are manifest without any suborning or glosing or wresting of sacred writings But as for these of antiquity visibility succession consent c. if these shall passe for certaine and perpetuall markes see what absurdities will follow heerevpon Mâ—rkes of the Church set downe by Romanists refuted First tâ—e Church is only marked out vnto the learned and to such as haue beene long exercised in Ecclesiasticall histories a long time no simple person or barbarous can possibly come to the knowledge heereof for how should these know such things seeing that they depend vpon history large and much different in regard of the variety of writers some affirming some denying some reporting this way some that the same things Now the Church hath euer beene marked so as that supposing the admittance of the written word of God it hath beene knowne to the simplest though all writings of record made by man should haue beene burnt Secondly the primitiue Church in the Apostles dayes and their successors must by this reckoning haue been without any certaine marke whereby to bee knowne there being neither antiquity nor vniuersality nor succession in those times and the like might bee said of Abrahams time and Moses and Aarons c. Thirdly the Church of the Pharisees must haue beene the onely true Church of God in Christs time for they onely could plead antiquity c. they onely could alledge the consent of their Elders and succession of high priests for many yeares Whereas none of these absurdities will follow if wee acknowledge the Word and Sacraments the markes of Gods Church the simple may know it as well as the learned it is a marke common to the Apostles times these the Pharisees all heretiques are soone detected Again say that no such grosse things would follow heer vpon where haue you any testimonies for antiquity c. to be marks of Gods Church I am sure that in the most worthy of credit yee haue none at all Whereas the Lord himselfe giues plentifull testimony in his word to the other marks the name of this very Creed is an ancient monument of the Fathers of the Churches consent heerein viz. their calling it Symbolâ—m a badge or cognizance as who should say that the doctrine in this Symboll contained is a certain marke in theÌ„ of whomsoeuer it is receiued of Gods Church If any man shall yet stick because we doe not know who interpreteth the Scriptures truly receiues them according to the meaning of the holy Ghost so of the Sacraments O let not this be any hindrance to our receiuing of the truth because most are so vnripe in their vnderstanding and so vnacquainted with Gods Spirit Iam. 1. For if we aske more vnderstaÌ„ding to know this the Lord will giue it vs if we aske his Spirit to direct vs to his own meaning Ioh. 14. he wil giue it also Moreouer we haue for helps this analogie or rule of faith to trie the truth by wee haue the forme of baptisme and of administring the Lords Supper plainly set down so that a discreet ordinary Christian may be sure when they are rightly vsed and when the faith is truely preached We haue the burthensome traditions of men plainely condemned Math. 15. Gal. 3. Gal. 5 17. Rom. 3. Gal. 4. the loue of Iewish of superstitious Ceremonies expressely censured Idolaters and Image worshippers adiudged to the pit of Hell workes in the case of iustification excluded and grace magnified him that seeketh to set vp himselfe aboue Gods that is Kings and Emperours pronounced Antichrist outward things vilified 2. Tim. 3. Marc. 7. Ioh. 4.20 Math. 10. and spirituall seruice commended will-worships disgraced doers of works supererogatory pronounced vnprofitable seruants persecutors detected as woolues c. If this will not serue to resolu vs but with Thomas we wil stil be doubtful let vs pray for some more special certificate the Lord sure wil vouchsafe vs his speciall fauor as he did Thomas according to our infirmity And let not weake Protestants be so vnstable as to be carried away herewith when they haue begun in the spirit to end in the flesh when they haue liued in the Church of God by reuolting to die out of the same Many cauells more wold be met withal about the promise of Christs building his Church vpon the Petra a rock of the constant remaining of this Church of his being present here alwaies to the end of the world to saue them from errour and to leade them into all truth of telling the Church in the case of offence which they say must needs therfore euer be visible on the contrary side of the noueltie of our Church our vnlawfull ministry in detracting from the first reformers c. but I haue been too long already for this briefe treatise and therfore will referre the reader to the learned writings of others of this argument purposely where hee shall finde them like chaffe blowne away by the spirit of Gods truth for that the rock vpon which the Church is built is not Peter 1. Cor. 3.11 but Christ for other foundation then Christ can no man lay S. Paul plainely teacheth againe his promise of the holy Ghost Obiections answered of being present with his Church vnto the worlds end proueth nothing for any particular place but for the persons of true beleeuers according to that When two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them and these shall not be suffered to fall lie in damnable heresies but be led by the Spirit into all truth lastly his bidding Tell the Church proueth no more but only that where the true Church of God is formally gouerned by excommunications and other censures for sinne there obstinate and otherwise incorrigible offendors are to be complained of this discipline is to be exercised against them For if it proueth the being of Gods true Church visible alwaies it must also proue it in al places else when any person is thus grieued how shall we come to the Church to complaine and thus this rule shall remaine still vnperfect For our ministery and Church it is sufficiently iustifyed before it much matters not how lately the word began to be purely preached and the Sacraments rightly administred so that it now be so amongst vs this maketh vs a lawfull ministery and the true
impatient Zipporah SecoÌ„dly what fitter time can be to impose names then when we begin to bee we are first borne and then haue the common name of man then we are borne againe and haue the speciall names of Christians The second thing in the answer the persons that giue the name Godfathers and Godmothers True it is that Parents were alwayes wont to propound the name Ioseph directed by the Angell told what the name of Jesus should be Zachary of his sonne Iohn and ordinarily Abraham Moses Ioseph in Aegypt also Hannah named Samuel Rachel Ioseph But the Godfathers following the direction of the parents haue vsed a long time to propound the name in publique when Iohn was to be circumcised it is said They call d his name c. But his parents had the greatest stroke in determining the name Obiections against Godfathers answered One writing against our custome herein alledgeth the Councell of Nice Can. 30. Let no faithfull man name his children by heathen names and that of Baronius My Parents called me Tarrâ—chus and out of Dionysius that the Priest was wont to aske the name at the Church doore and hence endeauoureth to proue that Parents and not Godfathers are to name their children neither at the time of baptisme but before for which he further addeth that they which were Adulti were wont to come before their baptisme and put their old names in the Register Vnto which I answere First that of the Councell of Nice is a meere forgery there being but twenty Canons in all or two and twenty at the most Secondly admit it to be true and that which followeth it is no more then we confesse that Parents haue or ought to haue the chiefest stroke in the names of their owne children Lastly for the Adulti holding their own names it might be through conniuency in some particular Church at some time onely For it is most euident that Godfathers were vsed amongst Christians euen in the Primitiue Church Higinus Bishop of Rome and Martyr speakes of them in his fift Decretall who was but 140. yeeres after Christs incarnation and the best reformed Churches doe allow of them One a learned Doctor of Germany defends this vse vpon these reasons * Zanch. in Eph p. 580. Reasons why Godfathers are vsed 1. It is not against the Scriptures 2. It is most ancient 3. It proceeds from loue of the parents procuring them of them vndertaking 4. It is to the benefit of the Infant if the Parents dye 5. It is an helpe vnto the Parents to which may be added that it is a meane to encrease mutuall loue amongst neighbours when they shall performe this duty one for another 3. The third thing in the answer is the addition Wherein I was made a member of Christ c. Which is not so to be vnderstood as though the outward washing of water did make the baptized partaker of these so excellent benefits for it is true of the Sacraments of the new Testament which was sayd of them of the old It is impossible Heb. 10.4 that the blood of bulls and Goats should take away sinne And in another place Circumcision auaileth nothing but a new creature Gal. 15. That the same may be said of Baptisme see in the Pharisies comming to Iohn his Baptisme O generation of Vipers saith hee Luk. 3.7 who hath forewarned you to flie from the wrath to come Where hee sheweth baptisme to be a meanes of escaping Gods wrath after an implicite manner but withall requires vertue which being away baptisme auaileth not And our Lord hauing commended baptisme to all excepteth yet saying He that belieueth not shall be damned The case herein is diuers Mark 16.16 First in those that are of ripe yeeres and vnderstanding there is required of them a due disposition of repentance and faith actually performed by and in themselues But in Infants it is enough that they pertaine to the Couenant being bornâ— in the bosome of the Church and presented to the participation of gracious adoption by vertue of the Faith of their Parents The right vnderstanding then of this is that in our baptisme we are sacramentally or instrumentally made the children of God and really and truly when we are together baptized with the Holy Ghost if thou beleeue and be baptized thou art made Inheritor of the Kingdome of Heauen and this is ascribed vnto baptisme Joh. 3.5 Except a man be borne of water and the spirit c as conuerting begetting vnto Christ and building men vp in grace is ascribed vnto the Officers of Gods Church Wherefore let no man mistake this matter thinking himselfe safe when he is baptized for he may nay infinite numbers doe notwithstanding perish Baptisme confers not Grace Ex opere operato as the Church of Rome teacheth but euer in men of yeares as they were found in grace they were thought fit to be baptized Read of the Eunuch of Cornelius and his company of the conuerts amongst the Iewes at Peters preaching Act. 8 c. 10 chap. 2. Now then consider whether this be thy case or no Art thou indued with grace Art thou baptized with the Holy Ghost Art thou baptized into Christ Beleeuest thou with all thy heart repentest thou with a true and due compunction If it be thus thou hast put on Christ thou art buried with him by baptisme Rom. 6.2 into his death that like as Christ was raised from the dead so also thou shouldest walke in newnes of life O well is thee thou art a member of Christ and inheritour of Heauen If otherwise thou hast beene admitted to the water in vaine thou art still in thy sinnes But thou wilt say wherefore serues the remembrance of our baptisme then I answere to confirme that grace which is begun in a mans heart if he beleeueth he shall be hereby more confirmed if he be a true Christian hee shall bee hereby registred in the Catalogue of true Christians and all the fiends of hell shall not be able to blot him out againe If it be further demanded how can it be saide of all baptized that they are members of Christ seeing there are many Hypocrites who beare onely the badge of Christ but fight vnder the banner of Sathan I answere that our Church doth not vsurpe the gift of prophecy to take vpon her to discerne which of her children belong to Gods vnsearchable Election but in the iudgement of charity embraceth them all as Gods inheritancâ— and hereby teacheth euery of vs so to beleeue of our selues by Faith and of others by charity St. Paul in his salutations styleth the whole visible Churches to whom hee writes by the title of Saints and yet it is likely that by his extraordinary discerning spirit he could haue differenced the goats of his flocke from the sheepe How much more ought we with our blessed Mother the Church of England at all chastenings presume that sacramentall grace doth like a soule
spirit of Diuination as in the 19. verse they were still inseparably to sticke to the Law of God and not to follow them which doe otherwise and the marke whereby to know these is that they spake not according to this word then the marke of Gods people must needs be this word purely spoken 2 Iohn 10 and taught amongst them Againe S. Iohn saith If there come any vnto you and bring not this doctrine receiue him not to house neither bid him God speed And in the verse before he twice nameth the doctrine of Christ Verse 9 Hee that continueth in the Doctrine of Christ hath both the Father and the Sonne So that if Iohn bee made iudge of the Churches markes the principall shall be the Word the true doctrine taught there Aand to the same effect speaketh Saint Paul Gal. 1.8 Though we or an Angel from Heauen preach otherwise vnto you then we haue preached let him be accursed corrupt preaching is still made the marke of Seducers and then on the contrary side sincere Preaching cannot but bee the marke of Gods people What should I multiply more testimonies in this case Christ himselfe hath plainely taught the same with his Disciples For to what else tend these words against the Pharisies O hypocrites Esaias prophesied well of you Math. 15 7. Verse 9. saying In vaine doe they worship me teaching for doctrines mens precepts Doth he not coâ—demne the Pharisies for their false doctrine to be a false Church and what is this else but to iustifie this as a certaine marke of the true Church viz. true doctrine and teaching out of Gods holy word and what hath beene said of the Word of God the same is true also of the holy Sacraments these rightly administred are further certaine markes of the true Church for these are the seales of Gods word the signes of his couenant whereby he bindes himselfe to be our God and receiues vs to be his people and sure pledges of his loue towards vs which we really haue till we come actually to be possessed of perfect holinesse and glory with Christ in stead of which these are here giuen vnto vs. The Sacraments of old were Circumcision and the Passouer the Baptisme in the redd Sea the water flowing out of the rocke c. which the Apostle reckoneth vp as markes of the Israelites where hee saith that vnto them pertaines the couenants Rom. 9.4 the giuing of the Law and the seruice of God c. And more particularly when he would describe the old Church visible and the true Church of the Iewes for example to the Church that then was hee sets it foorth by these markes They all eat of the same spirituall meat 1. Cor. 10.2 Verse 4. Verse 2. and dranke of the same spirituall drinke for they dranke of the rocke that followed them And againe They were all baptized in the Cloud and in the Sea vnto Moses And in the Epistle to the Hebrewes comparing the first Tabernacle with the second that is the Church vnder the old Testament with the Church vnder the new he makes the markes of that Church The Candle-sticke Heb. 9.3.4 the table the Shew-bread the golden pot with Manna and Aarons rod sacrifices c. All Sacraments setting foorth Iesus Christ And more specially at the first ordaining of Circumcision the Passe-ouer this is by the Lord assigned to bee the ende of them viz. to bee a signe and marke of his People Of Circumcision hee saith to Abraham This shall be a signe of my couenant vnto thee Gen. 17.11 that is whereby all that would might know him and his posterity to bee Gods people Likewise of the Passeouer The blood shall bee a signe vpon the post of the doore Exod. 12.13 by this Sacrament the very Angell that came to destroy should know where Gods people dwelt and it was a perpetuall signe till Christs comming Verse 27. for their children many generations after must bee still continually instructed heerein Now vnder the new Testament Proofes of the New Testament Marâ— 16.16 two others haue succeeded in the roome of these Baptisme and the Supper of the Lord. Concerning Baptisme the Lord saith Hee that beleeueth and is baptized shall bee saued Heere Baptisme is made a marke of Beleeuers 1 Pet. 3 21. and S. Peter compareth Baptisme with Noahs Arke which was easie to be knowne from other buildings by the floting alone vpon the water so is the Church by true Baptisme and alwayes so soone as any imbraced the Word the first marke of the Church they are exhorted to this second without delay as the Iewes that were at Peters Sermon When they were pricked in their hearts and would know what they should doe Act 2.38 Bee baptized saith hee in the name of the Lord Iesus for the remission of sinnâ—s And this was the next thing that the Eunuch proceeded vnto after he had receiued the word Act. 8. What hiâ—ders me saith hee from being baptized It was the next thing done to Cornelius to the Iaylour and all others of whose conuersion wee read in the holy Scriptures It is true indeed that aferwards some famous men did delay their baptisme vpon some sinister conceit as is to be feared that is left by sinning after Baptisme they should for euer bee cut off from being Gods people Theod lib 4. cap. 12. Athan. Apâ—eg ad Constantin Socr. ib. 5. c. 6. Basil exhort ad baptismum Naz. orat in bap Chrisost hom 1. in Act. Greg orat de non differ bapt though some other reasons haue beene alledged on their behalfe as that Constantine the Great deferred his Baptisme that hee might receiue it at the riuer Iordan where Christ was baptized as saith Theodoret and in the same delay did his sonnes follow him Constans and Constantius and Valens and Theodosius as hath Athanasius Theodoret and Socrates And this was so common that there were Cliniâ—i and Grabatarii so called who deferred vntill their last sicknesse but this was euer misliked by the sincere Fathers who therefore did often inueigh heere against as Basilius Nazianzen Chrysostome Gregory of Nissen c. Lastly for the Sacrament of the Lords Supper the Apostle makes it so certaine a marke of Gods Church that when he would expresse the company of Gods people of which they cannot be which partake of the table of Diuels he saith 1 Cor. 10.11 Yee cannot partake of the Lords table and of the table of Deuills and cannot drinke the cup of the Lord and the cup of Deuills the reason is euident for that the Lords table is a marke or cognizance of Gods people the Deuils table of the Deuills and not long after speaking of corrupt partaking of the Lords Supper when men came together in heart-burnings and contentions he saith 1 Cor. 11.16 Wee haue no such custome nor yet the Church of God as who should say that this is no mark of a true Church
truth by the Scriptures I answer This is a very silly shift indeed for are not the Scriptures translated the very Scriptures of God as well as the Originalls If there be difference of translations it is no more but as if the same history written in a strange tongue should be tolde in English by diuers some expressing it after one manner some after another Now for this little difference in words no man I suppose will say that no certainty can be had of the truth of the thing told by such as are vnskilfull of that tongue but that he may the rather perceiue the truth because they all agree in the matter which they interpret Yet this is not the onely thing that bringeth them to the knowledge of the truth but to the first beginning of knowledge As the people of Samaria were brought first to beleeue in Christ by the report of the woman with whom he had talked but afterwards they professed that they did beleeue not because of her words Iohn 4.42 but for that they had heard him themselues so they acknowledged the truth at the first because they finde it so written in translations but afterwards because they are certified by the Spirit and their faith is not built vpon men as the Church of Rome doth slanderously alledge thus pulling themselues by the eare Obict 5 The Familists and Brownists If it be still further obiected that this iustifieth those inordinate heady persons the Brownists Anabaptists Familists c. for that in simplicitie seeking for the truth in the Scriptures they do find it to be the doctrine taught amongst them and cannot find ours to be so I answer that they doe fouly deceiue the world vnder the colour of simplicity and religion for that they seeke not the truth but to bring the truth to the fauouring of their conceipts as may easily appeare to such as shall obserue their insolent carriage and lewdnesse which they follow vnder the pretence of conscience Moreouer as Gamaliel well noted vnto the Councell gathered against the Apostles Acts 5.38 If this cousel or this worke be of men it will come to nought but if it be of God yee cannot destroy it So may it be sayd of them If they were of God they should at some time or other haue flourished but in that their worke comes to nought it is a signe that it is of man For they haue long troubled the world and yet they are at this day almost none As their fighting hath beene for shadowes and about no substance so haue these fantasticall Enthusiasts themselues as shadowes vanished away Obict 6 Of Lutherans and Caluinists Lastly if it be obiected that yet it wil remaine doubtfull notwithstanding this rule of the holy Scriptures whether the Lutherans or Caluinists so called be the true Church of God because they both propound vnto themselues to find out the truth hereby both are content thus to be brought to their triall and both do almost flourish alike I answer That howsoeuer the Lutherans be grieuous enemies vnto their brethren especially some more harsh and hot-spirited amongst them yet we doe thinke so well of them in regard of the points wherein we consent together as that wee hold them to be the true Church of God also The onely thing that misleadeth them is that they are addicted too much Iurare in verba Magistri that is to sticke to Luthers teaching who no maruell though he could not see to reforme all things himselfe alone and so were ouertaken with some small errours If they be not so charitably affected vnto other reformed Churches the Lord rectifie both their iudgements and affections in his good time 1. Duty To â—râ—quent the Word Preached Now follow the duties of this faith The first is diligently to frequent the preaching of Gods word and duely to read it because it is Gods voice whereby he calleth vs into the company of his people it is that whereby we must finde out his Church it is that by searching whereof we must finde eternall life 1 Peter 2.2 as saith our Sauiour To this S. Peter exhorteth As new-borne babes desire the sincere milke of the word for this the Bereans are commended vnto this all are by the Prophets and Apostles vrged as hath beene already shewed Other writings without this are but as pits that wil hold no water Wherefore as thou louest thine owne soule suffer not thy mouth to be musled by any massing Priest or thine eyes to be turned herefrom for feare of seeing as â—ue did that which may turne to thy destruction nay looke warily into this word pray heartily that thine eyes may be opened to see the truth lest by turning away thou come to destruction and know it not Ioh. 3.20.21 He that is in the truth seeketh not to haue the mouthes of all others stopped but is willing to let euery man speake and so it will appeare the better that the truth is with him If there be any then that cannot abide that others should bee heard but only themselues what shal we thinke of these men but much more if they cannot abide their chiefe witnesse of which they bragge to be heard speaking Surely we will say their matter is naught it cannot bee otherwise And what shall we thinke then of the Romanists which straightly tie their people from reading any Aduersaries writings yea from the holy Scriptures the chiefe witnesse of the truth Their matter must needes be naught and their workes euill as our Sauiour teacheth He that euill doeth hateth the light neyther commeth to the light lâ—ast his deede should be reprooued but he that doth truth commeth to the light that his deedes may be made manifest that they are wrought according to God 2 Duty To cleaue constantly to the Protestant Churchâ—es The second dutie is to stick inseparably to the Protestant Churches as hauing the true and infallible markes of the Church of God viz. the word purely taught and the Sacraments rightly administred and to account all the faire shews of the Church of Rome in the antiquity vniuersality c. but as the whiting of Sepulchres which inwardly are full of rottennesse and dead mens bones For trees often times seeme a farre off to be men but come neerer and with better light and they are soone discouered what they be So the Church of Rome which is but a trunk or dead tree in respect of the liuing Church of God may seeme the Church by this diuine light and if we be held thus a farre off but come neerer and bring the light of Gods holy word and it will appeare as it is there being no page almost in the Scriptures but some way depraued by their false interpretations none of the Sacraments but so loaden with their superstitious ceremonies as that there is scarce any appearance of their first institution Wherefore whatsoeuer it shall cost vs though all our substance and liues yet let vs