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A43607 Syntagma theologicum, or, A treatise wherein is concisely comprehended, the body of divinity, and the fundamentals of religion orderly discussed whereunto are added certain divine discourses, wherein are handled these following heads, viz. 1. The express character of Christ our redeemer, 2. Gloria in altissimis, or the angelical anthem, 3. The necessity of Christ's passion and resurrection, 4. The blessed ambassador, or, The best sent into the basest, 5. S. Paul's apology, 6. Holy fear, the fence of the soul, 7. Ordini quisque suo, or, The excellent order, 8. The royal remembrancer, or, Promises put in suit, 9. The watchman's watch-word, 10. Scala Jacobi, or, S. James his ladder, 11. Decus sanctorum, or, The saints dignity, 12. Warrantable separation, without breach of union / by Henry Hibbert ... Hibbert, Henry, 1601 or 2-1678.; Hibbert, Henry, 1601 or 2-1678. Exercitationes theologiae. 1662 (1662) Wing H1793; ESTC R2845 709,920 522

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Idolatry For whatsoever is undertaken for Religion sake as an honor unto God beside the command of God is plain Idolatry therefore altogether unlawful Again All religious distinction of place is taken away once Christ is come The Veil of the Temple is rent in the midst Worship God in holiness and 't is now no matter where we worship God Paul and Silas prayed and praised God at midnight in the prison 1 Tim. 2.8 Act. 16. I will therefore that men pray every where lifting up holy hands without wrath or doubting Pray every where for every where where thou prayest God is present by his grace He is over thee he is under thee he is before thee and behind thee he is on every side of thee We cannot say now as once Jacob said Surely God is in this place and I knew it not but Surely God is in this place and every place and I know it and I know that therefore I must worship God in this and every place He that thinks otherwise is procul à Jove far from God Where two or three are gathered together in my name there will I be in the midst of them saith our Saviour In medio virtus The power of the most High will stand in the centre of them that are gathered in his name be where it will God will not contend for place Bring him a good heart any where and it 's all he requires at our hands My son give me thy heart It is likewise unlawful in the End because going to the earthly Jerusalem or Rome or other places ordained for the like Superstition by Antichrist they think to merit the Heavenly Jerusalem But I am assured they are never the neerer it by going thither or any other the like place These Vagabonds for so I may term them that run from place to place in that manner steal from Christ to adde to Superstition Life eternal is in the hands of Christ and therefore his gift And they going another way to foot out their salvation foot it the wrong way for Christ is the onely way Joh. 14.6 I am the way the truth and the life Furthermore It is unlawful because it is done to the Reliques and Images of dead men They think to live by the dead they shall have but a dead life on 't Thus while they go to do homage unto the dead they rob the living God of his honor by the way For they expect a remission of their sins by the intercession and merits of those dead whose Reliques or Images they trudge so to adore And whereas they run to the custom of the Church it is very false the true Church of God never used it For Pilgrimage undertaken to the Reliques of the Dead was not used in the Primitive Church until three hundred years after Christ and that unto Images six hundred years only by some but both condemned for dead services Lastly It is unlawful because it is profitable neither to body or soul neither of them that wander thus with aking heels nor others it tends no way to Christian edification there is no goodness in it Therefore such fruitless trees are to be rooted out of Gods growing Temple And thus much for the false doctrine of Papists grounded on these words but falsly but idly I went up to Hierusalem Their other doctrine is That Peter had the Supremacie of Paul because the Text saith he went to see Peter Here we may observe the absurd dealing of the Adversary who to patch up their ragged coat of Popery do fain quidlibet ex quolibet as if to be visited doth argue a Primacie And here the Rhemists as one calls them Gagling Geese make a distinction of Visitation He went not up say they to see him in a vulgar manner but for respect and honor of his person and of duty and as Chrysostom noteth the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to import to behold him as men behold a thing or person of name excellency or majesty Chrysost These are their very words Indeed that he came of honor and reverence to him may be easily granted but every reverence argues not a superiority for reverence saving their reverences may be done to equals They say again he did it as his duty but there is no such matter This can be as soon denied as affirmed He came about his office and authority in preaching For he was equal in honor unto him saith a Father and again saith the same Chrysost That blessed man went not to learn any thing of him nor to receive any correction but only to see him and honour him with his presence Ambrose tells us Ambros he went to see Peter for affection of Apostleship that Peter might know that the same licence was given unto him that he himself had received and hence he is called his Fellow-Apostle and had a Fellowship in the Colledge of the Apostles as well as Peter As for that place so often quoted by them Mat. 16. Thou art Peter and upon this rock c. It proves not a superiority in another above the rest of the Apostles For as one saith of that place All the Logicians in the world cannot conclude in lawful Syllogism out of the words of that Chapter That any greater authority was granted to Peter than to every one of the Apostles A primacie of order and promptness of faith cannot be denied him but none of dignity And here the Rhemists again play upon the name Peter signifying a Rock a Stone hence they make him to be the Foundation of the Church and therefore the Principal Apostle If they mean his Person they are far deceived If his Confession Thou art Christ the Son of the everliving God we agree Hence saith one on these words Thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church calling a Rock as I think saith he the unmoveable Faith of the Disciple Again If they say that he is the whole Foundation away with that blasphemy they take away Christ the onely Foundation for stedfastness I say for stedfastness for this Foundation Peter did shake fearfully when he denied Christ and he had been ground to powder and fifted as wheat had not Christ prayed for him and make the rest stand for cyphers The Apostles are pillars of the Church and what dignity hath one pillar in a Church more than another Not onely Peter but James and John were called pillars of the Church Gal. 2.9 And when James Cephas that is Peter and John who seemed to be pillars Again the twelve are called twelve foundations Rev. 21.14 Speaking of the new Hierusalem the wall of the City had twelve foundations and in them the names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb. Hence saith Tertullian Tertul. all the Apostles were stones So might Papists say were they not stones Thus we see that Peter had not a Monarchical preheminence of honour above the Apostles Therefore not above Paul
albeit he was his senior Apostle Both of them are called Eodem titulo fundatores Christiani nominis founders of the Christian name Peter among the Jews Paul among the Gentiles And one presumes to call Paul maximum or summum Apostolum the greatest or highest Apostle The reason may be this because he had more revelations than all of them And here the Rhemists because they would not have their foundation pul'd down upon such terms grow to that malapertness that they affirm that the greatest soveraignty in Gods Church Revel 3.7 attributed unto Christ is given to Peter in these words I have the key of David that openeth and no man shutteth and shutteth and no man openeth Whatsoever ye bind in earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever ye loose in earth shall be loosed in heaven It in truth is such blasphemy as a godly man of our Church saith as Peter would have rent his clothes if he had heard any man attribute so much unto him For Christ hath the key of David as the onely true Messias which openeth and no man shutteth shutteth and no man openeth This Key can no man have except he were a Messias Besides the words are in the Plural number whatsoever ye bind whatsoever ye loose And thus you have the true doctrine concerning these two false doctrines to my poor ability wherein you see not onely the absurdity of the doctrines but also the absurd grounding of them on these words I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter I would not be curious because saith the Philosopher Accurate refellere stultas sententias stultum est It serves first to teach us not to build our faith on a staggering foundation such as man is Christ was faine to pray to God that Peters faith fail him not Other foundation can no man lay 1 Cor. 3.11 than that which is laid which is Jesus Christ. To it let us cleave and not cleave it And secondly whereas Peter is called a rock and the Apostles rocks as they have the true rock in them Christ Jesus It teacheth us to put no difference in respect of authority between them but to give equal respect unto all of them Thirdly all of us are rocks as long as we make this confession Thou art the Son of the ever living God Aug. Sweet was St. Austins Application upon Peters confession which I apply unto every one Endeavour that thou mayest be a rock therefore seek the rock not without thee but within thee thy act is thy rock thy mind is thy rock Let thy house be builded upon this rock that it may not be beaten with any storms of spiritual wickedness Faith is this rock faith is the foundation of the Church if thou be a rock thou shalt be in the Church because the Church is upon a rock All Apostolick and Christian men are rocks saith another This Papists might see were they not rockt asleep on Peter and had not dreamed as a Pope had aut Caesar aut nihil for these words I went up to Hierusalem to see Peter To see him as a friend as a companion not as his Master not as King of the Apostles as Papists would have it but not as God would have it The last part and point here is the time o● Pauls residence with Peter he adode with him fifteen dayes Fifteen dayes to be better acquainted with him Ipse aspectus boni viri delectat Senec. Hierom. Gods children the children of light should delight in the company of one another Cursed is their company that takes pleasure onely in the company of the cursed But godly is their company that loves the company of the godly Fifteen dayes to conferre with him he had no need of great instruction and therefore tarried but a short time with him fifteen dayes Hence we learn that the most learned may not despise to confer with any of his rank albeit he should excel him in gifts This is a fault and must be mended This conference argues also a mutual consent That both of them were of the same mind and agreement This teacheth the Ministers of Gods Word to be always at an agreement in their opinion and albeit there may arise some difference in matters indifferent yet cleave to the foundation be sure that be not shaken or called into question for the foundation of God is sure How should their people ever be at quiet when their shepheards are at variance and ods No strife no wrangling must take place in Christian hearts lest their hearts be consumed in strife and wrangling Ministers as they are messengers of peace so Ministers of peace and therefore never to fall out Pulchrum est concordia cordis oris Moreover he sets down how long he stayed fifteen dayes to shew the absurdity of those false Apostles that thus vexed his soul For how was it possible that he could learn the Gospel of them in so short a space Where we may observe That it is no easy matter to be a Minister of the Gospel This learning is not so easily attained unto Therefore it is a grosse errour of some that no sooner put off the name of Sophister but puts on the name of Minister If they can reckon up Aristotles five Predicables on their fingers ends presently they fall to predication or preaching It were better wait a while hast makes wast saith the Proverb 〈◊〉 longer and fare better Rome was not built in a day no more can it be 〈◊〉 down in a day Thou mayest thunder against it è Rostris but it is not so soon wasted except thou come well provided Thy fourteen years and thy seven years is time too little to furnish thee be not therefore high-minded but fear but labour but wait a while Fifteen dayes Hierome observes a mystery in the fifteen dayes and if it can be found out in fifteen dayes or in fifteen years it is a mystery These are his words Hoc mysterio hebdomadis ogdoadis futurus Gentium Praedicator instruendus erat This mystery is comprehended under the number of seven and eight Seven indeed is called numerus sacer quietarius sacer because it consists of three which is numerus Dei and four which is numerus mundi numerus virtutum cardinalium quietarius because the seventh day is the Sabbath day the day of rest the seventh year the year of rest so in the seventh moneth the trumpet was to sound to the Jubile after so many Sabbaths as make up seven times seven years Levit. 25. which makes forty nine years So eight is called primus numerus and summus in harmonia Thus I have spelled put together who can I cannot And therefore rather than I will be vainly curious in seeking out a mystery where under correction I think there is none I leave this seven and eight at six and seven For all mysteries are wrought by Gods extraordinary and special providence But Paul's abiding here with Peter fifteen dayes
hast found favour with thy Saviour the Son of God This is that disciple commonly called the disciple whom the Lord loved into whose hands as a sure pledge of his love as Potipher did to Joseph finding favour in his sight he made him overseer over his house and all that he had he put into his hands Gen. 39. he committed I say unto his charge as with the rest of the Apostles the oversight of his house his Church so especially to him alone upon the cross making himself ready to appease the wrath of his Father the protection of his mother as if he had said love me love my mother for behold thy mother John 19. Now the same exhortation that I used before I use again this third time be ye followers of him also as he was of Christ Jesus and ye shall be gracious and graciously accepted in the sight of God Set these three before you for example and ye shall be supplanters of sin and able to trip up the devils heeles and prevall with God for a blessing ye shall be stones like Davids pebble slung at Goliath able to dash Satan that he shall not have a word to speak against you or power to hurt you you shall be the gracious children of the most high in a word ye shall be as they were Pillars in the Temple of God And thus I come to the description of these three Apostles James Cephas and John who seemed to be pillars It was Christ's question whereunto shall we liken the Kingdom of God Mark 4. or with what comparison shall we compare it According unto which frame another whereunto shall we liken the Apostles of Christ or with what comparison shall we compare them I omit many that of Shepheards that of Overseers or that of faithfull Stewards in Gods house and such like onely I insist on this in the text Pillars who seemed to be Pillars The Apostles then whom I may rightly terme Gen. 32.2 as Jacob did the Angels that met him Gods hoast are like unto pillars in this first viz. Pillars are not the foundation but laid on the foundation Here then observe that neither Peter nor any of the Apostles nor altogether can be truly called fundamentum Ecclesiae Dei the foundation of Gods Church it is Christ's own prerogative royal to be the foundation the head of his people Psal 18.2 hence saith the Anointed of the God of Jacob the Lord is my rock my fortresse and my deliverer 2 Sam. 22.1 Cor. 3.11 for who is God save the Lord and who is a rock save our God Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid which is Jesus Christ so that we need not go to Rome to seek a foundation for we are built upon the foundation that is the doctrine of the Apostles and Prophets Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner-stone Eph. 2.21 22. agreeing with that Isa 28.16 Behold I lay in Zion a chief corner-stone elect precious in whom saith the Apostle farther all the building fitly framed together consisting of Jew and Gentile whom Christ the corner-stone knits together groweth into an holy temple in the Lord. This Temple is made of stones 1 Pet. 2.4 5. and stones like Christ living stones not like Nabal whose heart is said to have died within him and to become a stone stone-dead but they are living-stones full of life and spirit to whom coming as unto a living stone disallowed indeed of men but chosen of God and precious ye also as lively stones are built up a spiritual house an holy Priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ Thus the Church of God is all stone-work therefore strong and firme as appeareth verse 6. but by faith he that believeth in him shall not be confounded True it is Rev. 21. Immota manet According to the Ven tian Motto Nec fluctu nec flatu movetur that the wall of the New Hierusalem is said to have twelve foundations and in them the names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb but the meaning is mystical One foundation and twelve names written thereon one Christ preached by the twelve Apostles therefore called twelve foundations not twelve distinctly and severally but one with twelve names As Paul saith like a wise master-builder I have laid the foundation so might the rest of the Apostles say and thus in number twelve indeed but one If this satisfie not put a distinction between the first and principal foundation and second and lesse principal these are Pillars fixt on the first improperly called foundation The Apostles again are like unto Pillars sustinendo aedificium Domini in supporting the Church of God that spiritual edifice Wisdom saith the wise man in the Proverbs hath hewen her out seven pillars Prov. 9.1 according to the sevenfold operation of the Spirit which Saint Bernard reduceth unto these Fear Piety Knowlege Counsel Fortitude Understanding Wisdom Christ the Wisdom of the Father so termed hath hewen him out twelve Pillars twelve Apostles for the strengthning for the supporting of his Church by the sevenfold operation of his Spirit Dagon the god of the Philistines cannot stand 1 Sam. 5. troubled with the falling-sicknesse while the Ark of God is present So these false brethren Paul's accusers down they must with a vengeance in the presence of these three pillars wherein was written the Law of the Lord as Gods ten Commands in the two tables of stone 2 Sam 7.12 And here they shew themselves to be Eben-ezers stones of help such as Samuel set between Mispeh and Shen Therefore be strong in the Lord. Strong Pillars they were Veritatem confirmando errores refutando these were the Apostles acts as ye may find in the Acts of the Apostles I name one place for all and for all one man Paul Acts 9.22 But Saul increased the more in strength and confounded the Jewes that dwelt in Damascus and hence they are called Saviours Saviours shall come upon Mount Sion Obadiah 21. This is it that Paul saith of a Bishop that he must be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and convince the gainsayers Tit. 1.9 't is not sufficient to resist Satan and his complices stedfast in the faith as the Apostle Peter exhorts 1 Pet. 5.9 but there must be a conquest Rev. 3.12 there must be a conqueror Him that overcometh will I make a Pillar in the Temple of my God That this be done persiste vinces stand stedfast and thou shalt overcome Resist the Devil and he will shew you a paire of heeles he will flie Be ye stedfast and unmovable Many Pillars susteined the Tabernacle whose Chapiters and Bases were of gold the middle part were done about with silver The golden Chapiters and Bases set forth Christ the silver part the Apostles and the faithful Columnaes si fueris in firma fide argentea si divini fueris usu instructus Sermonis faith
suffered for me We are all as an unclean thing Isa 64.6 Luk. 17.10 and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags When ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you say we are unprofitable servants Rom. 3.20 We have done that which was our duty to do Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight The Church true and false Ecclesia WHen the Original world was overwhelmed with waters Ecclesia Coetus est hominum è turbâ reliquorum mortatium ●vocatus advitam aeternam none were saved but such as were in the Ark when Sodom was burnt with sire none were saved but those of the family of Lot when Jericho was destroyed none were preserved but those which were in the family of Rahab These are figures shadowing to us that when the Lord comes to cut down the wicked to cast them for ever into the wine-presse of his wrath Salvation shall belong to the houshold of faith even that family whereof God in Christ Jesus is the Father Ecclesia 1. Invisibilis 2. Visibilis But when we say Extra Ecclesiam non est salus it is not ment of a visible but of the invisible or universal Church which is the whole company of the elect in heaven in earth and not yet born for the visible Church or particular Congregations it may be said there are many Wolves within and Sheep without Therefore it is not satisfactory to us to be gathered out of the general masse of mankind into the fellowship of the Church visible but we must examine how we are in the Lords floor whether as Chaffe or Corne for a day of winnowing will assuredly come wherein the Lord shall gather his good Corne into his Garner and the cast Chaffe into unquenchable fire Many would deal with the Church as Amnon with his sister Tamar first ravish her then defile her and then turn her out of doors The Church of God in this world is like a man of war at sea whose Master is Christ whose Mast his Crosse whose Sails his Sanctimony whose tackle patience and perseverance whose cast-peeces the Prophets Apostles Preachers Premuntur justi ut pressi clament clamentes exaudiantur exauditi glorificent Deum Quint. Cur● 1.8 whose Mariners the Angels whose Fraught is the souls of just men whose Rudder is Charity whose Anchor is hope whose Flag in the top of her is Faith and the word written in it is this Premimur non opprimimur we are cast down but we perish not 2 Cor. 4.8 The Church Militant is sometime fluctuant as the Ark of Noah sometime movable as the Ark in the Wildernesse sometime at rest as the Ark in the Temple In persecution in removes in peace What is the colour of the Church saith one but black her armes but the Crosse her song but the note the oppressed servant in Aristophanes sung I suffer affliction For the world is a Sea a threshing-floore a Presse a Furnace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Church the Ship the Wheat the Grape the Gold and afflictions the winds the waves the flaile the fire O thou afflicted tossed with tempest and not comforted Isa 54.11 Yet Built upon the rock that the gates of Hell shall not prevail aaginst Mat. 16.18 And Glorious things are spoken of thee dicta praedicta O City of God Psal 87.3 Saints The word signifies a thing or person separated or set a part from common 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and dedicated to a special especially a holy use Holinesse in the general nature of it is nothing else but a seperation from common and dedication to a divine service such are the Saints persons separated from the world and set apart unto God The Church in general which is a company of Saints is taken out of and severed from the world The Church is a fountain sealed and a Garden inclosed so also every particular Saint is a person severed and inclosed from the common throng and multitude of the world 2 Cor. 6.17 Or thus A Saint is an holy one or a person called to holinesse having the perfect holinesse of Christ put upon him by imputation of faith and the quality of imperfect holinesse poured into his heart by the spirit of sanctification Unless even ancient professors saith a Divine look very well to themselves they may take a great deal of p●ins and when all com● to all after all their praying fasting hearing c. they may be found to be nothing in the world but men that walk after the flesh that is according to the refined and well educated Principles of old Adam Men may be Ishmaels brought up in Isaach's family and yet be built upon Mount Sinai when all is done Now the way that God judgeth of all men is as they are the Children either of the old or of the new Adam and not as men do according to such a proportion of strictness in their lives for the Pharisees went beyond many weak Professours in common righteousness Saints therefore are not to be judged according to some kind of holinesse they may come up to but according to the Principles they walk by either as they walk according to the flesh or according to the Spirit And thus Paul distinguisheth Saints and others 2 Cor. 5.16 Saints are called Eagles for their 1. Delight in high flying 2. Sharp-sightednes and stedfast looking into the sun of righttousness 3. Singular sagacity in smelling out Christ and resenting things above 4. Feeding upon the bloody sacrifice of Christ Mat. 24.28 Saints must walk in a divers way to a world of wicked people as Noah did really reproving their darkness by his light Solus ipse diversâ ambulavit viâ Chrys their pride by his lowliness their vain-glory by his modesty their ostentation by his secret devotion Not onely Planet-like keeping a constant counter-motion to the corrupt manners of the most but also shining forth fair with a singularity of heavenly light spiritual goodness and Gods sincere service in the darkest mid-night of damned impiety True Saints of God are earthly Angels So Chrysostom calleth Paul Angelum terrestrem And Dr. Taylor Martyr blessed God that ever he came in company with that Angel of God John Bradford A●● Mon. Saints may be called Heaven and that in a double respect 1. Because God is said to dwell in the Saints they are his habitation And wheresoever God dwells he makes a Heaven 2. Because the Saints not onely those of Heaven but they on earth have their conversation in heaven Phil. 3.20 So that as carnal and earthly minded men are called earth because their hearts and conversations are fixed to the earth so spiritual and heavenly-minded men may be called Heaven because their hearts and conversations are fixed in heaven Thus Saints are glorious wonderful magnificent Princes in all lands of an excellent spirit more excellent than their neighbours A Crown of glory a
royal Diadem higher than the Kings of the earth greater than the four famous Monarchies c. And yet these worthies of whom the world is not worthy these precious sons of Zion comparable to fine gold these Jewels of Jesus Christ which are his very glory 2 Cor. 8.23 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Forti animo mala fer nec his miser esto dolore Are counted the off-scouring of all things esteemed as earthen Pitchers shamefully slighted and trampled upon with the feet of insolency and cruelty Howbeit as stars though we see them sometimes in a puddle though they reflect there yet have their scituation in Heaven so Gods Saints though in a low condition yet they are fixed in the Region of happinesse The Saints that are in the earth Psal 16.3 The excellent Foundation There is 1. Fundamentum fundatum Eph. 2.20 2. Fundamentum fundans 1 Cor. 3.11 The first is a scriptural foundation the doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles the other is a personal foundation Christ himself Be sure to adde practice to these Mat. 7.24 Fundamentals are few in number Certa semper sunt in pu●is Tertul. but many in vertue Small in sight but great in weight Every particle of truth is precious as the filings of gold neither may we alter or exchange a letter or syllable in Fundamentals Built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Ephes 2.20 Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone Rome Rome hath left her seaven mountains to plant her self in Campo Martio Lips de Mag. Rom. lib. 3. Cap. 11. who lyes as it were entombed in her own ruines Lipsius cannot so much as trace the ancient tract of he● walls So in respect of her state Ecclesiastical that which was the garden of Eden is now over-grown with weeds and the Daughter of Zion is now become the Whore of Babylon Rome of Christs Spouse is become the strumpet of Sathan of the school of Simon Peter whose being there is yet questionable the school of Simon Magus of the Temple of the Holy Ghost a cage of impure spirits She calls her self Queen but Hierom the purple Whore Once the Church of Rome wrote her lawes in milk but now she writes them in Sunday letters Prayers and teares were once her weapons but now fire and sword And if in shew of peace she turn he● destructive instruments into mattocks it is but to play the Pioner and make way for death Roma radix omnium malorum It is the City that is mounted on seven hills and cannot be hid but is apparently discerned and described to be the great City Babylon the seat of Antichrist The sweetest wine turns into the sowrest vineger the whitest ivory burnt into the blackest coale So about the year 1414. Theodoricus Vrias in Germany Iohn Man● lo● com 226. an Augustine Fryar complained not without cause Ecclesiam Romanam ex aureâ factam argenteam ex argenteâ ferream ex ferreâ terream superesse ut in stercus abiret Yea Diput de Rep. l. 1. c. ●● Matchiavel observed that there was no where lesse piety than in those that dwelt neerest Rome If Franciscus de sanctâ clara and his fa●tors were the wisest men under heaven and should live to the worlds end they would be brought to their wits end before they could accomplish this works end to make a reconciliation betwixt Christ and Antichrist betwixt Rome and us for what concord hath Christ with Belial They can never fall in or make musick in one Quire For grosse Idolatry or for fundamental errours onely must we seperate Corruption grew so great in the Church of Rome that it justly occasioned first the Seperation of the Greek Churches from the Latine and then of the Reformed Churches from the Roman And Bellarmine bewails it that ever since we cryed up the Pope for Antichrist his Kingdom hath not onely not increased but hath greatly decreased Dent. on Apoc. 9.11 Certainly the date of her reign is almost out and the time draweth on apace wherein both she and her King Abaddon shall be laid in the dust Esto procul Romà qui cupis esse pius Roma vale vidi satis est vidisse c. Rome hath fallen culpably and shall fall penally Sibylla long since foretold this Tota eris in Cineres quasinunquam Romà faisses in the eight book of her Oracles The ruine of Rome must be like the ruine of Jericho which can never be re-edefied There was something surely in that which we have read that when the warres began in Germany Anno 1619. A great brass image of the Apostle Peter that had Tu es petrus c. fairly embossed upon it standing in St Peters Church in Rome there was a great and massie stone fell down upon it and so shattered it to pieces that not a letter of all that sentence whereon Rome founds her claim was left whole so as to be read saving that one peece of the sentence Aedificabo Ecclesiam meam I will build my Church which was lest fair and entire True it is no easy thing to overturn the Kingdom of Antichrist which like an huge tree hath taken deep root in the earth for many ages and men need not marvel that it is so long a cutting down Especially if we consider that the Lord will still have his Church in combate here in this world to shake it from security Again the Lord for the sins of the Church and want of care of through Reformation in those to whom the Lord hath detected their abominations stayeth the good speed of this glorious deliverance Besides the Lord will have the destruction of Antichrist and his Kingdom wrought by leisure that so man may make due regard and consider of so great a work Yet let us cast our eyes upon Gods word and promise and firmly beleeve if Agag be to be slain God is raising up some Samuel to do it Yea let us cast our eyes on Gods work already and we shall see him gone a great way in the accomplishing of his word Whereby we may strengthen our saith in that which remaineth For how hath the word preached discovered him to be that man of sin detecting his fraudes and impostures with which for many ages he deluded the blind world How are his Bulls and Excommunications which in former ages seemed to shake the Kingdomes of the earth esteemed but as wind Moreover how have all the reformed Churches shaken off with detestation his Antichristian yoke and usurped power over the Scripture Church mens Consciences c. And how have many Princes already disclaimed and despised his clawes over them Keeping from him those summes which were wont to warm his holinesse kitchin c. I might also adde how weak all their endeavours and meanes are to prevent finall ●uine viz. Sophistry Knotty distinctions to hide and delude the plain sense of Scripture threatnings treacheries Machivilian contrivances warres treasons murders Massacres Powder-plots
in our common speech we know when a promise is to any we use to say remember such a one Calv. And hence because the promise was made to David therefore as Calvin observes he is pleased in the midst of the verse in medio virtus here lyes the best part Gods promises But methinks I smell a Papist raising this doctrine out of these words That we are aided by the suffrages of the dead Saints Thedoret Remember David Dead Saints they are that raise it For we do not consider David here barely as Theodoret doth but as one to whom belong'd the promises as I said before I passe over this dead doctrine of the dead and turn back to the words of spirit and life Lord remember David The Kingly Prophet we see prayes to God he goes not to Angels or Saints for they are not as he well did know to be invocated Psal 73.25 Wherefore David saith whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee And again Ex profundis out of the deeps have I cried unto thee O Lord. I wonder that the Papists condemn him not of immodesty or presumption but albeit they are so full of modesty it is but Pythagorical that shameless modesty they rob God of his honour No wonder as Corvinus forgot his name they forget their manners But I say Give Caesar what is Caesars Angels are not to be invocated Mat. 4.10 but God alone The Papists distinction of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is meer Sophistry Both services are due to God Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him onely shalt thou serve Moreover Rom. 10. how shall they call on them on whom they have not believed If they call on Saints they must believe in Saints and what is this but to make Christ and his sufferings not to be the compleat object of justifying faith I onely name this Solomon learned otherwise from his father to make God the chief defender of his faith to whom he should pray Lord. Here also I observe a secret confession of Gods love in promising to David of Solomons hope in obtaining God is faithful and ready to promise and as faithfull and ready to perform Solomon both faithful and ready to receive A Looking-glasse for Kings and all others hoc facite vivite do the like and live Four divinity Lectures or Lectures of divine morality for Kings spring from Solomons Petitioning to the Lord in this manner drawn together from the contents of his Petition First that Church and Kingdom are in the hand of God to be disposed of as pleaseth him The most High ruleth in the Kingdom of men and giveth it to whom soever he will He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords By me Ksngs reign saith Wisdom Kings are Gods Vicegerents here on earth Dan. 4.32 Revel 19.16 who beare the stamp of the divine Majesty they are in his stead his servants Populum gubernando saith Thomas notwithstanding his other paradox Pro. 8.15 Therefore advisedly he runs not to man he seeks not to get a Kingdome by violence or by the strength of flesh and blood for there is no King saved by the multitude of an host Rom. 13. he trusteth not to the broken reedes of Egypt cursed is he that trusteth in man he learn'd this lesson from his father that vain is the help of man vain also the help of Princes Jerem. 17.5 Put not your trust in Princes but the name of the Lord is a strong tower Thus he acknowledgeth Gods supremacie Lord. Secondly as the first establishing of Church and Policie is in Gods power so is it he that causeth a flourishing Church and Policie As he gives the being so also the welbeing Except the Lord build the house they labour in vain that build it Psal 127. Arena sine culce indeed it may well be called Labour in vain except the Lord keep the City the watchmen wake but in vain This was Davids song for his son Solomon That King therefore that will have a flourishing Church and Common-weal must pray to God for it with all humility and submission This is via regia a Kings high-way Solomon hath chalk't it out Here observe his voluntary allegiance to God Lord. Thirdly Kings sons are to have a special care of the charge that their fathers leave behind with them as Solomon had here of Davids Therefore they must pray and do all that can be done for the welfare of their subjects so that they must not be slack in matters of Religion but very zealous it is that unicum necessarium David hath lead him the way the zeal of thy house hath eaten me up and Solomon was not far behind him he follows the tract And good reason The Crown can never be kept without good subjects the subjects can never be good without true Religion Solomon prayes for both and that is the next way to get both And David Peace be within thy walls Psal 122. and prosperity within thy Palaces the effect of both Both these Care and Zeal jump together in one peacefull King to root out Idolatry and plant true Religion What follows Peace and Prosperity Fourthly here is an Emblem of his hope joyn'd with innocency this made him pray to the Lord with heart of grace He knew the Articles If thy children will keep my Covenant and my testimony then their children shall sit upon the throne for evermore He found himself yet to have a good conscience for God will not hear the prayer of the wicked Therefore his innocence confirmed his hope Yet afterward he fell away whether wholly or no we conclude not uncharitably of him with the Papists whereby the bond was forfeited 1 King 11. the promise disanull'd and yet God was more merciful than he sinful for the Lord would not take all the Kingdom from Solomon nor his seed for Davids sake Mat. 1. Neither was Davids seed being in captivity quite cut off for Christ descened from the line of David according to the flesh and hence is called the Son of David and now reigns for evermore according to Gods promise and so is Davids Lord. This I touch by the way It is requisite then that Kings should have care to serve God continually in the integrity and innocencie of their heart If they fall from God God falls from them and then he will either rend their Kingdoms as he did Solomons or pull down both King and throne and lay their honour in the dust If not but that they will keep Gods Commandments and maintain Religion as David did as David shall they prosper all the dayes of their life This Solomon intended and in this intent cried he Lord remember David In these words again do but observe Solomons Sampson-like faith he presseth God with his promise his faith works upon that Since God was so gracious to promise Solomon
in the translation of the word Gnuunotho Austin Hierom and Theodoret with almost all the Papists translate it omnis mansuetudinis ejus but Luther Calvin Tremelius and others translate it Cum totâ afflictione ejus So Arias Montanus a Papist Cum universa ejus afflictione ad verbum cum omni affligi ejus we follow the last But to leave off words and come to the matter it is manifest by these words that David had many afflictions yet he was the beloved of the Lord his darling so was Christ yet from the Cradle to the Crosse was he afflicted of whose troubles Davids here were types Therefore Gods dearest children are subject to afflictions they are Gods messengers to bring them to him messengers of life not of death of love not of hate for the Lord chasteneth whom he loveth David was afflicted by Saul and his followers before he had possession of the throne and after he was sole Monarch placed in the throne many were the troubles that attended on him Thus Kings are not exempted from being afflicted Among his manifold troubles this one is recounted the inward care he had of finding out a sit and convenient place where to build a Temple for the Lord. This we may perceive in the verses following he was tost too and fro with many difficulties inwardly perplexed and all for Gods glory Constantine the great was of his mind for no sooner did he conquer Maxentius and Licinius by which victory he ended the Persecution moved in the East and West Churches but he caused Bishops to be consecrated Churches to be built and then the Church of God began to flourish which before was almost drown'd in the red sea of bloody persecution for some hundreds of years I might be infinite in reckoning up the Godly Acts in this kind of Kings and Governours which outward acts shew the inward love they bore to God and true Religion Here is mention made of Davids afflictions to shew the truth or certainty of promise as if they had been therewith seal'd and sign'd Which proves that he endur'd all these troubles because he had so fair promises of God Therefore to whom God doth give comfortable promises no trouble or anguish should annoy him but he should willingly undergo all tribulations for the promise sake It was not for his afflictions that God made him this promise it was gratis Lastly Davids afflictions are put down for an example to incite others to suffer the like To comfort them and to assure them that albeit they suffer never so many troubles that it would seeme impossible that those promises should be accomplished yet should they put their trust and hope in God who out of stones is able to raise up children to Abraham As Solomon prayed thus in his own behalf so let us as the Apostle commands make intercession for Kings and those which are in authority Lord remember our David CHARLES the second by the grace of God King of Great Britain France and Ireland defender of the Faith c. Thou who art the King of Kings make him a King over many Kings thou who art the King of peace guide the feet of our King in the wayes of peace Sit thou in his heart the chief Defender of his faith Councel thou him from above to have mercy on them to whom mercy belongs and to execute justice to them to whom justice Lord discover all plots and conspiracies intended against his sacred Majesty Let them be taken in their own nets that conspire against him Make him careful of thy Church Fill him with Faith Hope and Charity and at last reward him with a crown of glory And grant that ever after his seed may sit on his throne till the coming of the Messias Amen THE WATCHMAN'S Watch-word ACT. 20.28 Take heed therefore unto your selves and to all the Flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood WHosoever shall seriously observe Gods powerful providence in Pauls Conversion may discern an act of great mercy in God and a strange alteration in Paul It was the great mercy of the Almighty that ever Paul was converted to the faith He was a raveming wolf of the tribe of Benjamin using his best endeavours to devour the little flock of God breathing out threatnings against the Christian profession and slaughter against the Disciples of the Lord. Yet God in whose hands are the hearts of all m●n did so suddenly alter his savage disposition and so turn the course of his resolutions another way as for a time seem'd incredible From persecuting the Gospel the Lord won him to the preaching of the Gospel from being a profest Enemy to Christianity to be a strong Pillar of the Christian Religion The time was that his whole aim was bent to the extirpation of the Doctrine of Christ Jesus not a Professor durst hold up his head in his sight his imployment was to find out such and to bring them bound to Hierusalem To this purpose had he Letters framed countenanced by the Great ones and bacht with the chief Authority that his actions might pass unquestioned without contradiction Neither wanted he wit learning and courage to draw his projects into publique view and execution with all dexterity thereby to discharge his warranted Commission with approbation But when he heard that Voice from Heaven Saul Saul why persecutest thou me when he saw the Heavens took notice of his actions he was struck into a maze he trembled exceedingly his courage fell down his heart was astonished and suddenly turns Professor of that faith he erewhile persecuted to the death What before he endeavoured to pull down and trample under foot be took in hand to erect and build up Christ crucified was the subject of his discourse as before the object of his hate for whose sake he was put into as great fears as ever he put others and was subject to as great dangers by others as ever others were by him But in process of time he became a man of so undaunted a spirit as that no threatnings could terrifie him no fierce looks outlook him no power affright him no dangers discourage him from publishing to the world the Doctrine of Peace and Reconciliation through the blood of Jesus Christ call'd then by the Scribes and Pharisees as to this day by the Roman Sectaries Heresie God having thus made him a Chosen vessel to bear his Name before the Gentiles and Kings he went about from place to place preaching That Christ that was crucified was the Son of God Being at length come to Miletus he calls the Elders of the Church together to whom he delivers sundry wholsom Instructions tending to the good of Gods Church committed to their cure This was his Conscio ad Clerum and it was his parting Sermon It begins at the 18. verse of this Chapter and continues to the 36. Part of which Sermon are
ever about him and far most of all for a Church-man Subtile and powerful are they with whom he hath to do the gifts where with he ought to be furnished withall are not to be reputed vulgar yet so are they to be tempered as that they outstretch not the capacity of the vulgar upon occasion His work is not stinted to the Body the Soul is the subject he works upon The dignity therefore of the Soul far exceeds that of the Body And as the commodity arising from their spiritual industry redounds more to the Spirit of a man the finer metal than the Body the baser substance though indeed to both So in a Divine indeed must the Divine habiliments of the mind seasoned and moderated with the grace of Gods holy Spirit that they may work with the more agility and with the greater efficacie and far surpass the best endowments generally of the common sort He hath more precious things in hand than any wherefore his sufficiency must be correspondent to his charge and his care proportionable to his sufficiency Salvation is the end of his intentions and that that crowns his actions Wherefore look about you Tuke heed unto your selves In our selves we must take heed of two things 1. Of our Doctrine 2. Of our Life Take heed unto thy self saith Paul to Timothy and unto the doctrine continue in them 1 Tim. 4. uit for in doing this thou shalt both save thy self and them that hear thee As our life is not contemplative alone spent in the bare speculation of Divine oracles like Moses conferring with God but also practical spent in actions with men pertaining to holiness So we must behave our selves in both with that moderation and convenient wariness as that the one may be an help and furtherer to the other to remove all obstacles that may be prejudicial to the acquiring of the happiness of Eternity both in our selves and others The ornaments of the Priests robe in the old Law Lib. de sacr Altar myst c. 17. were significant intimations hereof as is observed by Pope Innocent It was sumptuously garnished with Onix stones Bells and Pomgranates By the Onix stones are intimated Truth and Sincerity by the brightness of their truth of Doctrine which must be as clear as the Sun by their solidity and integrity of Conversation both springing up out of sound Learning The Bells note our incessant sounding forth the praises of the Lord in his holy Temple by preaching in season and out of season Woe be to me saith Paul if I preach not the Gospel The Pomgranates are signs are symbols of good works The order gives occasion of a further observation There was a Bell and a Pomgranate a Bell and a Pomgranate and a Bell betwixt every Pomgranate figuring how that good works in the Ministerial order must be ever intermingled with good words the matter of these yields matter for amplifying this discourse They were made of pure gold pure metal abstracted from all dross to signifie the necessary concurrence and sweet harmony of an undefiled life and true doctrine both appearing exceeding good to the eye both sounding exceeding well to the ear If all of our Function excel in purity of life and foundness of doctrine then are we all spiritually true Bell-metal Hence it is said by the Evangelist that Christ began to do and to teach whose steps we must follow He did much but he did no sin to shew that our conversation should be blameless and in his mouth was found no guile to shew that we should speak nothing but the truth Take heed of your Doctrine First that it be found agreeable to the Scriptures If any teach otherwise let him be accursed The Word of God is the foundation of revealed Truth whereupon we must build Take heed of vain Philosophy whose precepts may seem specious but in them may be comprehended the doctrine of devils Many turbulent spirits delighting to be pragmatical and factious have obtruded into the Church for doctrine the commandments of men and for their own ends attempt to corrupt Religion and bring in Innovations and new-fangled devices causing an apostasie from the Truth and drawing disciples after them But I trust ye have learned otherwise not to be guided by the ostentation or umbratical shews of any plausible tongue but by the most perfect rule of Divine truth the Word of God Believe it Schismatical wits if not prevented breed an infection in the Church worse than the plague Let the Word of God then be the ground of our proceedings lest we wander out of the way and affirmatively conclude what God denies To this end by Canonical constitutions they are to be duly examined who plead for admittance into Holy Orders that so they may both satisfie themselves by experience and certifie others whether or no they be orthodoxally learned and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 apt to teach Pious therefore was that resolution of a most Reverend Father in God Never to admit any into this holy Function but such of whose Knowledge in Divinity he should receive some competent intelligence The part of a most wise and judicious Prelate The admission of illerate men into the Ministery hath been the bane of our Religion and the disgrace of our Profession as we all well know For where there is no Knowledge the people must perish Gods service and worship must be disregarded There are some are probably suspected of heterodoxal doctrine who upon examination or serious dispute or preaching care should be taken they may be hindred from propagating their inventions Others there are whose Insufficiency is so gross that to hear them speak to the purpose is as great a wonder as it was to hear Balaam's Ass The Church suffereth under both It is most convenient therefore that whoso desire to take this Vocation upon them should have solid Learning and be able to exhort to reprove to instruct the people of God and should solemnly protest to teach and maintain nothing contrary to what the Word of God shall warrant Let us therefore take heed unto our selves that our Doctrine be sound for The Priests lips preserve knowledge Secondly What we teach must be plain as well as found There is no goodness to be hoped no proficiency to be expected by teaching where what is taught is not understood Our speech must not outstretch the common apprehension Prudentibus vicis non placont phalerata sed fortia said Bishop Iewel Bonaventure's words in prenching were not inflantis sed inflammantia Not strong lines but a plain phrase tends to Edification the end of Preaching Many times in difficult Terms lies enwrapt a pestilent Heresie Hereticks at least Novelists coin such obscure sentences as that they may walk unseen as it were in a cloud of obscurity But this is not the way to gain souls to God the plainest manner is the best My speech and my preaching saith Paul was not with enticing words of mans wisdom but in demonstration
ye not then defiled with the contaminating and for did customs of the world but as ye are separated from all others to an holy emploiment so do not ye degenerate but let your light so shine before men that they seeing your good works may glorifie your Father which is in heaven Know that the eys of all men are fixt upon you If covetousness pride luxury drunkenness or any other vice reign in any of you if any of you be of a dissolute life whose conversation is not ruled by the doctrine ye teach ye are but miserable creatures Be assured Pope Innoc. lib. 3. de S. Altar myst that Quisquis sacris indumentis ornatur honestis moribus non 〈◊〉 quanto venerabilior apparet hominibus tanto indignior redditur apud Deum saith one God contemns him and will reward him according to his work For It is not every one that cries Lord Lord that shall enter into the kingdom of heaven but only they that do the will of my Father saith Christ Take heed therefore to your lives If you preach well and live ill you do but build with one hand and pull down with another And thus much for the Caveat as it respects our selves Now of the Caveat briefly as it respects the Church of God Take heed to all the flock c. A Minister hath the custody of many souls and if any perish through his means he is liable to Gods judgments As therefore we come provided with Knowledge so with a resolution to propagate and diffuse it Knowledge in the best of us not communicated to the building up of the Church in holiness is like costly materials prepared for the erecting of some sumptuous building yet to no use the loss whereof is irrecoverable It stands us upon therefore to be instant in season and out of season to be Instructers of the flock committed to our charge both in doctrine and manner of living The reason hereof rendred in my Text is substantial in that we are made Overseers of the flock The word interpreted Overseer is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hence saith one Nomen Episcopi plus sonat oneris quàm honoris But I take it here in a larger signification than it is commonly used All Ministers are Overseers of that Flock the charge of whose souls is committed to them They are their Spiritual Tutors unfolding unto them the secret mysteries of Divine knowledge They must inform them if ignorant reform them if erroneous reprove them if dissolute confirm them if weak in the faith They are called Watchmen to watch for their souls salvation that they be not carried away with every wind of dectrine that they run not into absurd enormities but that they hold fast the profession of the faith in holiness and righteousness all the days of their lives They are called Pastors whose calling is to use all diligence to feed their flock and protect them from eminent mischiefs by a careful foresight or present needful power The Symbole of this say some is the Bishops Crosier the Spiritual Shepherds staff which is acutus in fine ad pungendum pigros rectus in medio ad regendum debiles retortus in summo ad colligendum vagos sharp in the end to prick up the slothful and make them nimble right in the midst to govern the weak but crooked in the top like a hook to gather the dispersed or such as go astray They are called Gods Stewards whose office is faithfully to provide all things necessary for his family They are called the Light of the world whose property is to discover things hid in darkness They by their knowledge dispel the clouds of ignorance by their holy conversation the works of darkness All things that are discovered are made manifest by the light for whatsoever doth make manifest is light hence they shew the house of Judah their sins Eph. 5 13. and the house of Jacob their thrnsgressions They are called Stars Fixt in the right hand of God tanquam in firmamento suo as in their heaven Stars have their light from the Sun so you not originally from your selves but derivatively from the Sun of Righteousness Your knowledge proceeds from the revelation of Jesus Christ who was in the bosom of the Father and must be communicated to the world And to this end they move perpetually about the world so ought you about the Church that all therein may be partakers of the light of life Wonderful are the effects and powerful the operation that the Celestial bodies have by their influences upon the Elements and upon those things compacted by them So questionless the effects wrought by the powerful preaching of the Gospel which is the power of God unto salvation by such whose conversation is in heaven as Divine stars are far superior unto them The operation I am sure more effectual because more spiritual For as the Stars beget life in things void of life and cause vegetation by their heat So they by their precepts beget saith in those that are dead in sins and trespasses which is the soul of the soul by which we live unto God for Faith cometh by hearing and the just lives by his faith Furthermore by the propagation of the Gospel by preaching the Church of God grows and all therein as tender plants and trees of righteousness bring forth the fruits of eternal life Lastly The fixt Stars candem sempet inter 〈…〉 disstantiam they keep the same proportion of distance to each other The like harmony must be among us that all of us together may declare the glory of God They are called Angels to whom God hath given charge over his people to protect them Heb. 1. ult For as they are ministring Spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation so are Ministers wherefore saith the Prophet How beautiful are the feet of those that bring the glad tidings of peace What shall I say more They are called Fathers All these names import labour in them to whom they are ascribed So that great must be the pains that we must take with the Flock the Church of God over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers A word to the people I beseech you brethren to know them which labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you and to esteem them very highly in love for their work sake 1 Thess 5.13 Apud Graecos majori in honore babebantur Philosophi quàm Oratores Illi enim rectè vivendi c. Lactantius The Grecians gave greater respect to their Philosophers than to their Orators because these taught them how to speak but those how to live well And s●ffer the word of exhortation Heb. 13.22 God must send ere man can go And here is Gods care of man his love to man God comes not in his own proper person He speaks not in his own proper voice So great is the Majesty of the one that
Divine the Trinity that Paul should be an Apostle of Jesus Christ Three such whose same for the eminency of their spiritual endowments spread far and wide Three such whose wisdom by reason they were more familiar with Christ than the rest was haply of an higher straine These were the three disciples which he cul'd from the rest to go with him up into the mountain where he was transfigured Q. Elizabeths Motto was Video Tacco Cambd. Eliz. to whom at his coming down he said see ye tell to no man the vision until the Son of man rise from the dead Mat. 17. These are the three that attended on him when he restored the dead maid to life Luk. 8.51 And two of these Cephas and John were with him in the extremity of his agony when he said my soul is sorrowful even unto death Mat. 26.38 Now severally of each name a little more than naming them First James James of Jacob which imports a supplanter of him I may say Judg. 8. as Zeba and Zalmunnah said of Gideou as is the man so is his strength Strong in faith vindicating the truth from the blowes of the adversary Hence rightly named Justus doing justice a work of righteousness towards God towards the man of God Towards God while like a good King he seconds a defender of the faith towards the man of God Paul whilst he acknowledging Paul's gifts to be the gifts of God protects him as himself from the rage of false brethren and giving the definitive sentence on his side like a Patron of truth A true testimony of his love to Christ This was he that was called the Lords brother tyed unto him with a true-loves-knot indissoluble by force of either man or Angel good or bad And here you find him maintaining his brothers right against these white devils hypocrites false brethren Let me exhort you then to be followers of him as he was of Christ Jesus Supplant sin Satan the wicked enemies of God of man and ye shall be Israels prevalent with God Cephas followes this was Simon Peter Joh. 1.42 thou art Simon the son of Jonah Difference between Cephas and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thou shalt be called Cephas by interpretation a stone And Mat. 16. blessed are thou Simon Barjonah I say also unto thee thou art Peter and hence proceeds the Papists paradox that Peter is the head of the Church but there is no such matter Christ is the onely head Christ is the onely foundation Christ is the onely head Quantum inter stellas ●una minores Ephes 5.23 for God hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be head over all things to the Church Eph. 1.22 Hence he is compared to an husband as the husband is the head of the wife so Christ is the head of the Church Christ is the onely foundation for no other foundation can any man lay than that is laid which is Christ Jesus 1 Cor. 3.11 This subtle invention of the Papists was thrust in among the other false heads of their Religion to make that stumbling-block unto us I mean the Pope head of the Church without sense without reason but since he is a stumbling-block unto the true professors of Christ the Captain of our salvation Heb. 2. and a dead head I will grace him onely with the title of a block-head being spel'd and put together Here all the nimble chop Jesuites more in words than in substance labour in vain to prove Peter prince of the Apostles let them put on their considering caps and weigh these things in the balance of the Sanctuary the Word of God I would send them no farther than to the two verses before the text together with the text where we find Paul for gifts of the Spirit to be equal with Peter and the rest where James is prefer'd before Peter where James Cephas and John are called Pillars equally where Paul's territory doth extend farther than Peters as the Gentiles the Jewes And thus I give them a Mittimus to the Pope with a flea in their eare Thus much by the way I will prosecute it no farther leaving it to those more parts who as Jael did by Sisera can hit the naile in the head down to the ground Judg. 4. This name must have his note Cephas or Peter it signifies a rock or a stone as rocks or hard stones are wont to be laid in the foundation of any building so the faith of Peter and of the whole Church doth stay upon Christ the firm and unmoveable rock upon whom the whole Church is bullded As he is Cephas a stone so Simon one that is attentive one that is obedient both fruits of faith by it he walked on the sea and sunk not like a stone by it he confessed Christ to be the Son of the living God after the resurrection he was demanded of Christ thrice to feed his sheep to feed them with the Word and Sacraments thrice bidden because haply to be done in the name of three the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost he fed Christs flock for at one Sermon he converted three thousand hearers he healed the man that was lame from his mothers womb be killed by the power of the Word two scab'd sheep Ananias and Saphira his wise for lying unto the holy Ghost he healed Aeneas sick of the palsie he raiseà Tabitha from death to life he convinc't Simon Magus of his Sorcery And as the best were and are not without their faults no more was he without his Three times together denied he Christ wherein rather than in any thing else the Pope succeeds him and therefore Antichrist But Peter wept bitterly for his lapsus linguae 2 Sam. 25. Antichrist is not touched with grief but rejoyceth in what he doth therefore as Abigail said of Nabal so Lof him As his name is so is he These things being known because as Paul speaks of other things they were not done in a corner made him wonderful in the eyes and eares of all and therefore counted a grand Pillar of the Church Here we find him receiving Paul into his fellowship with heart and hand with the rest of the Apostles Now give me leave to exhort you to be followers of him as he was of Christ Jesus Herein shall you shew your selves to be attentive and obedient to the heavenly voice and hereby you are made precious stones knit to the rock Christ Jesus in the new Hierusalem now here and above hereafter in glory Now I come to John Luke 1. which is as much as gracious to whom I may apply that salutation of the Angel to the Virgin Mary haile thou that art highly favoured the Lord is with thee blessed art thou among women So haile thou that art highly favoured or graciously accepted or much graced the Lord is with thee blessed art thou among the sons of men for thou hast found favour with God thou
blessed consequences of Christ's Life and Death Pag. 41. Why Christ died Pag. 53 Of the Three Persons in the Deity largely Pag. 67 68 forward Inferences from the Spirits dwelling in our hearts Pag. 76 77 Christian society should be delightful Pag. 92 Songs of Degrees Pag. 113 Doctrine what must be preached Pag. 122 forward E. FRults of Christs Exaltation Pag. 15 16 The malignity of Envy Pag. 35 Ecclesiastical peace Pag. 36 Christ Exalted according to both Natures Pag. 57 forward Six Evidences of the Spirits dwelling in our hearts Pag. 73 74 No easie matter to be a Minister of the Gospel Pag. 92 An Emperors duty Pag. 121 F. WE may come confidently to God us to a Father Pag. 80 Not build Faith on a staggering foundation Pag. 92 The Soul naturally subjected to Fear Pag. 95 96 Several Fears Pag. 96 forward Benefis of holy Fear Pag. 98 forward Two causes of Fear Pag. 99 The uses Pag. 100 forward Foundation of the Church who Pag. 147 forward G. GOD the All-wise and gracious Moderator Pag. 5 Grace for grace how Pag. 10 11 Of Gods Glory at large Pag. 19 20 What Glory due to God from man imports Pag. 20 21 Gods Good-will how superabundant Pag. 43 44 In what particular acts expressed Pag. 45 forw Comfortable inferences thence deduced Pag. 46 The Spirits mission into our hearts a great gift Pag. 68 69 God and the Holy Spirit not unequal ibid. Heart governed by the Spirit Pag. 74 God is Christs Head how Pag. 111 God alone to be invocated Pag. 114 Grace inherent and actual Pag. 139 Concerning Grace at large Pag. 150 forward H. HOw Christ is Holy Pag. 11 12. How Harmless ibid. The benefits of Christ made higher than the Heavens Pag. 17 18 Honour to God wherein it consists Pag. 22 23 24 Heart the Metropolis of the Soul Pag. 34 Humiliation of Christ a work of power mercy justice Pag. 48 forward Wherein it consists Pag. 51 forward Holy Ghost called a Spirit why Pag. 63 64 Spirit of the Son why ibid. Heart principally desired in man Pag. 72 It 's the seat of the Spirit proved Pag. 72 73 Head of the Woman is Man in what respects Pag. 107 Hear the word how Pag. 133 134 I. JEsus a reverend Name Pag. 6 Indignities put upon Christ Pag. 7 8. His intercession Pag. 9. Not for all promiscuously ibid. Fruit of it Pag. 10 Justice and Mercy Pag. 21. Both to be admired Pag. 22 Justification Pag. 41 Illumination of the understanding Pag. 73 A Christian least reason to be idle why Pag. 84 forward Satan gets great advantage by it Pag. 85. Idleness reproved Pag. 87 Vse of it Pag. 88 Insufficient Ministery the evil of it Pag. 132 133 James unde Pag. 145 John what it signifies Pag. 146 K. KIngs their duty Pag. 113 116 117 Four Divinity-Lectures for them Pag. 115 Not exempted from afflictions Pag. 117. To be prayed for Pag. 118 L. LOve God how Pag. 23. Gods love to Mankind Pag. 63 64 Livelihood from the Spirit Pag. 75 76 What love should be betwixt Ministers Pag. 89 Ministers must take heed to their lives how Pag. 126 Gospel why called a Law Pag. 129 130 A perfect Law ibid. A Law of liberty Pag. 130 131 In what language Ministers should deliver their message Pag. 132 M. THe first Man was the first order'd Priest Pag. 3 Mans recovery is by a Mediator Pag. 4 Of Gods Mercy Pag. 39 The Mediator must be both God and Man Pag. 50. forward Mission of the Spirit Pag. 70 Plotters of Mischief Pag. 87 Man is the womans head Pag. 106 forward Ministers improvidence fatal to the Church Pag. 120. Ministery an hard task ibid. Must look to themselves how Pag. 121 Neither spare for love nor fear Pag. 123 124 How called and why Pag. 126 forward Merits confuted Pag. 41 42 N. TO Number our days what Pag. 86 O. THe Offence committed must be purged away by the Nature offending Pag. 5 God added an Oath to the Covenant of grace and peace why Pag. 6 7 Oblation of Christ in the Heavens Pag. 9 Obedience to God internal external largely Pag. 22 23. How qualified Pag. 24 25 Excellency of Order Pag. 103 Offices mutually to be performed by man and wife Pag. 109 forward P. DIgnity of Christ's Priesthood Pag. 7 A double comfort from the purity of our High-Priest Pag. 13 Christ a Pattern for our imitation Pag. 14 Peace fourfold wrought by Christ Jesus Pag. 26 27 How made Pag. 27 28. Peace of a good Conscience amply described Pag. 30 31 32. Peace pressed Pag. 33 34 The Spirit of the Son is a Person why Pag. 66 67 And distinct why ibid. And the third and last Person how ibid. Pilgrimage some kind lawful Pag. 8 Papists false Inferences refuted ibid. forward Apostles are Pillars Pag. 91 Perfection absolute not here Pag. 98 Promises strongest Arguments Pag. 116 Ten Persecutions Pag. 124 125 Perseverance Pag. 135 Practice Pag. 136 Saints estate perfect and imperfect how Pag. 140 forward Protestants whence Pag. 141 Peter the signification Pag. 146 Paul what imports Pag. 151 forward Q. OF Quenching the Spirit Pag. 77 R. ROme's Sacriledge Pag. 10 Righteousness of Christ efficacious to us Pag. 13 14 Resurrection of Christ Arguments proving it Pag. 59. Necessity of it Pag. 60 61. Ends of it Pag. 61 62. The Conclusion Pag. 62 63 Regeneration Pag. 73 Religious hearts in a continual awe of God Pag. 96 Reading and Meditation to be joyned Pag. 134 Remembrance Pag. 135 136 Our Religion how founded Pag. 149 S. THe Son of God must be made the Son of Man Pag. 5 Sufferings of Christ the reason Pag. 8 Christ separate from sinners how Pag. 14. Made sin for us how Pag. 21 22 Benefits by Christs sufferings Pag. 29 Sanctification Pag. 43 None by nature excepted from sins contagion Pag. 43 Sufferings of Christ were incessant Pag. 51 Some specialties Pag. 52. Necessity of them Pag. 53 forward And Effects Pag. 55 forward The Application Pag. 56 Sons of God what Pag. 81 Spirit of truth and of lying Pag. 83 States how guided Pag. 116 Religion the soul of them ibid. Scripture to be compared with Scripture Pag. 134 The Spirit to be supplicated for Pag. 135 Saints two sorts Pag. 138 forward Saul what signifies Pag. 151 T. MYstery of the Trinity Pag. 68 Time an account to be kept of Pag. 84 Precious ibid. Will not be stayed Pag. 85 How we must make account of it ibid. Time must be redeemed Pag. 86 V. CHrist undefiled in the whole course of his life and why Pag. 13 Vbiquity refuted Pag. 17 Vnion with Christ Pag. 73 Vniversality of the Church Pag. 105 Voice of God daunting Pag. 127 128 Vnion must be amongst Ministers Pag. 152 W. CHrist born of a Woman why Pag. 5 6 The Word made flesh how Pag. 13 Divine Worship Pag. 25 26. largely God to be worshipped every where Pag. 90 The merciful project of Gods Eternal Wisdom Pag. 47 Bitterness to Wives discovers it self how Pag. 110 forward Word to be looked into accurately Pag. 131 FINIS
body whereof Christ is the head Be we then exhorted as sensible of being in the presence of God to the love one of another which as learned Scaliger defines it Appetitus unionis Scaliger Exercitation a desire and inclination to a quiet union Charity is the soveraign preservative of peace and nothing makes us more like God than it saith one As all things are fill'd with his goodness so the universal is partaker of the good mans spreading love Let me also dehort from malice and envie which is a grand enemy to peace Invidia siculi non invenere Tyranni majut tormentum the Sicilian tyrants never invented a more cruel a more cursed torment Give it no countenance no harbour for it ever thirsteth after revenge and attributes to it self what belongs to God vengeance It is like Vipers wine which being drunk will never leave working until it discover it self and those intestine humours that depend upon it by stirring up strifes for hatred stirreth up strifes Prov. 10.12 Pliny Nat. Hist lib. 8. cap. 28. Mark the monstrous nature of this unnatural humour whereas all plants and other creatures have their growth and increase to a period and then their declination and decay except only the Crocodile Dalington in his Aphorism who ever groweth bigger and bigger even till death as Plinie did observe So saith ingenious Dalington have all passions and perturbations in the mind of man their intentions and remissions increase and decrease except only malicious revenge for this the longer it lasteth the stronger it waxeth and worketh still even when the maligne humour of avarice and ambition are setled or spent And would you know how this Crocodile-like sin growes bigger and bigger I will tell you It is Galens observation Galenus ' that when a humour is strong and predominant it not only converteth his proper nutriment but even that which is apt for contrary humours into its own nature and quality Of like force is this strong and wilful vice it not only feeds upon agreeable motions but makes even those reasons which are strongest against it to be most for it and so swells immeasurably big If therefore any one be troubled with this malady whereby this peace of Christians is disquieted I will give him a receipt of a medicine taken out of St. Cyprian which will cure him Venena fellis evome Cypr. lib. de Zelo livere discordiarum virus exclude purgetur mens quam serpentinus livor infecerat amaritudo omnis qua intus insederat Christi dulcedine leniatur Disgorge thy self of the poyson of thy gall cast out the venome of discords purge thy mind which is infected with serpentine envie and let all bitternesse which setled in thy heart be gently mittigated with the sweetnesse with the meeknesse of Christ Jesus It is the voice of God Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart Levit. 19.17 1 Joh. 3.15 Eph. 4.31 32 Homo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nec minum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tremelius of Cranmer he that hateth his brother is a murderer and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him This may somewhat satiate and allay the boiling heat of a revengeful mind Lest then this sin kill your souls following the Apostles counsel let all bitternesse and wrath and anger and clamour and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice and be ye kind one to another tender-hearted forgiving one another even at God for Christs sake hath forgiven you For Christs sake then in the bowels of compassion forgive and forget all offences Cyprian 1. Forgive Demittentur tibi debita quando ipse dimiseris accipientur sacrificia cum pacificus ad Deum veneris saith Cyprian Thy sins shall be forgiven thee of God when thou forgivest other thy sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving shall be acceptable to the Almighty when thou shalt come peaceably before him Xenophon No mercy shall be shewed to them that shew no mercy 2. Forget Xenophon reports of Trasibulus that after he recovered his countrey he ordained 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a forgetfulness of all injuries as indeed not worth keeping in mind the part truly of a generous spirit and heroick disposition which may well befit the best Christian to imitate O let Abrahams speech to Lot beget in every one of us ever hereafter a well grounded resolution of preserving peace Let there be no strife between me and thee for we be brethren saith he Religion tyes us beside reason to keep and maintain the Kings peace on earth if we will have the peace of Kings in heaven I have read of one Archidamus being chosen to decide a controversie between two that disagreed being sworn to stand to his judgment I lay this injunction upon you that neither of you depart this place until ye be reconciled to each other The like charge I lay on all Chistians by authority from heaven that at least ye depart not this life but in peace having your hearts cleansed from the leaven of malice and hypocrisie and filled with Christian amity and brotherly love I charge you as Joseph did his brethren at their departure from him see that ye fall not out by the way Ye are in the way to heaven go close together as hand in hand so heart in heart until you come to your journeys end heaven Now for a conclusion of the point I will use the same prayer for you which Paul did for the Thessalonians 1 Thes 3.12 The Lord make you to encrease and to abound in love one towards another and towards all men And thus much concerning Civil peace The second is Ecclesi astical the peace of the Church which is interrupted either by Heresie or Schisme Gal. 1.8 9. the one breeding dissention in Doctrine the other disorder in Discipline Against the authors and upholders of the first Saint Paul hath pronounced an Anathema If any man preach any other Gospel unto you than that ye have received let him be accursed Against the abettors of the second it is his judicial and Apostolical sentence seperate them from among you As faction divides so infection devours the Church of God if not prevented We who are Messengers of peace ought to walk like Paul and Titus Eodem spiritu iisdem vestigiis in the same spirit touching faith in the same steps touching good life Acts 4.32 It was reported of the Beleevers that they were all of one mind and one heart Oh! I would to God that all of us that bring the message of peace in our mouths who should be the sons of peace and brethren of unity were so affected as to suppresse all pragmatical dispositions in us Beleeve me my brethren fiery spirits apter for innovation than administration become not the servants of Christ Jesus The principles of Religion which Hereticks call into question are infallible grounds where on we should build our faith not disputable points
whereon to found our Phanatick and furious alterations of hare-brain'd opinionists Deut. 27.17 They are like the fixed land-marks in the fields of our earthly inheritance the removing whereof is held accurst The Church of Christ is not to be reputed a common School for Sophisters to wrangle in but for Christs Disciples the faithful to be instructed in The Cannons also and constitutions of the Church concerning matters that are ceremonial and in themselves indifferent are not things to be slighted but to be obeyed God hath enabled the Church with authority to ordain what may tend to good and decent order which none ought to resist and shall any go about to disable it Let the Seperatist who upon such simple reasons as are alledged by him spurrs at the grave authority of the Church take heed that he deprive not himself of the communion of Saints through his sullen segregation and out of a needlesse nicety as one speaks be a thief to himself of those benefits which God hath allowed him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let him take heed be have not a bare shew of piety and deny the power thereof Nothing is more pestilent to the Church of God than froward wilfulness covered with fained holiness the one in disturbing Religion the other in deceiving the professors thereof especially the vulgar sort who judging according to the outward appearance which sometime beguileth the most prudent do verily think the most zealous in profession to be most religious in conversation when alas it is not so We may remember what Christ said of Wolves being in sheeps cloathing and what the Apostle too of Satans transforming into an Angel of light For mine own part I have ever vowed my study to be to studie to be quiet and to submit my self to reverent order I know how dangerous a thing it is to be a Church-rebel The Lord speaking of the Church of the Gentiles Cap. ult 12. said by the Prophet Isaiah I will extend peace to her like a river Who now should dare to stop the current which the Lord hath made and to instinge the peace that the highest hath decreed But to let this passe Besides this the Papists insult and triumph to see those those that professe themselves brethren to be at such deadly fewd among themselves Manasses against Ephraim and Ephraim against Manasses but both against Judah that is in their sense the Puritan against the Protestant the Protestant against the Puritan and both against the Papist Thinking our dissention a sufficient grace to their Church which maketh unity a special mark of verity I find that the end of Schisme is Heresie commonly the end of Heresie Atheisme the end of Atheisme utter desolation and destruction of soul and body And lastly when men through discontent because their brain may not rule cut themselves off from the Church and so transgress the sacred Lawes of Christian sosciety they are spiritually dead It is S. Aug assertion Spiritus humanus nunquam vivificat membra nisi fuerint unitd Aug. de Civ Dei sic Spiritus sanctus nunquam vivificat membra Ecclesiae nisi fuerint in pace unita The soul of man never quickens but those parts that are united so neither doth the holy Ghost but those members of the Church that are at peace together Wherefore as in Solomons material temple all was covered with gold within and without so in Gods spiritual temple which temple we are let all be beautified with love and peace within and without Remember Christs coat was seamless let us not rent it in peices the souldiers did and what they did in it they did against Christ so Qui pacem Christi concordiam rumpit adversus Christum facit In lib. de unitat Eccl. saith Cyprian he that breaks the peace and concord of Christ opposeth Christ the authour of it I have read a speech of Cassiodorus worth noting Non inveniri potest expressior forma conversationes Angelieae quam unitas socialis Cassiodor in Psal There cannot be a more express form or a more perfect resemblance of an Angelical conversation than friendly unity Far be it then from any of our thoughts to fill the Church of Christ with destraction or in the least measure to oppose the peace thereof Lib. de cur● Pastorali for it is most certainly true what Gregory the great saith Si Dei vocantur filij qui pacem faciunt proculdubio Satanae sunt filii qui pacem confundunt If they be called the sons of God that make peace and keep it Osiander questionless they are the sons of Satan that break it that confound it It was Osianders motion which I now make mine we are all one spiritual body let us therefore have all one spiritual mind It is unmeet that they should live at variance on earth who hope at last to meet and live together in heaven To conclude this whole point As those States are likely to flourish where execution follows good advice so is man when contemplation and attention are seconded by good action Contemplation and attention do generate Bernard action doth propagate without the first the latter is defective without the last the first is but abortive Barnard compares contemplation to Rachel which was more fair but action to Leah which was more fruitful Let me therefore for the mercies of Christ Jesus 1 Cor. 1.10 exhort men to practice what I have now propounded With Paul I will beseech you to do it I beseech you brethren by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment With the same Paul I will pray for you Rom. 15.5 6. that ye do it Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like minded one towards another according to Christ Jesus that we may with one mind and one mouth glorify God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. And thus much concerning the third kind of peace that by Christs coming came into the world which is peace one with another The last kind of peace comes now to be treated of which is peace with all Gods creatures of which succinctly After Adam had disobeyed God the creatures began to disobey Adam Enmity attends ever at the heeles of sin Rom. ● The very creatures were sensible of mans apostasy being made subject by his offence unto vanity and therefore did they take their Creators part and turn enemy to rebellious man But as Christ our powerful Mediatour hath by his ever effectual obedience made our peace with God so by the same hath he made our peace with the Creatures All things work together for the good of those that are elect according to Gods purpose The Angels themselves who are the highest eminency and purest quality among creatures are reconciled to them that