himself Paul an Apostle not c. and universal Commission Go Galat. 1.1 Matth. 28.19 teach all Nations says our Saviour No Pope of Rome is so And as Saint Peter was a Minister of the Gospel we all equally succeed all the Apostles And it 's certain That the Foundation of the Church is such as against which there can be no prevailing but the Popes have been prevailed against over-run with horrid sins some of them giving their Souls and Bodies to the Devil for the obtaining to the Popedom as their own Historians record it of Silvester the second and others But I forbear to rake in that puddle any further They say That our Saviour gave to Peter the Honor to be the Foundation while he said to him Thou art Peter and upon this Rock I will build my Church Matth. 16.16 But indeed no such thing appears in those words for our Saviour said not Non dixit Tu es Petra sed Tu es Petrus nec dixit Super te aut Super hunc Petrum sed Super hanc petram Thou art the Rock but Thou art Peter nor said he Upon thee or upon this Peter but Vpon this Rock in reference to Christ himself or to the Confession made by Peter concerning Christ And so the Fathers do generally expound it Hear Saint Austin He said not Thou art the Rock but Thou art Peter Non dixit Tu es Petra sed Tu es Petrus Petra autem Christus Retract l. 1. Simeoni quia credebat in Christum petram Petri nomen largitus est In loc Super hanc petram i. e. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 super hanc fidem confessionem In loc but the Rock is Christ And so Saint Jerom ' He gave to Simon the name of Peter because he believed in Christ the Rock And so Saint Chrysostom Vpon this Rock that is upon this Faith and Confession And though sometimes the Prophets and Apostles are said to be the Foundation yet it is but with respect to the Fundamental Doctrine of Christ which they delivered in their Preaching and Writings And in this sense Saint Peter is sometimes by the Faithers said to be a Foundation and we deny it not but it was no more then belonged to the other Apostles as Saint Cyprian says plainly Hoc utique erant caeteri Apostoli quod fuit Petrus De Unit. Eccl. This certainly were the other Apostles that Peter was He adds indeed The Primacy was given to Peter Primatus Petro datur Ib. but he speaks onely de primatu ordinis non gradus of the Primacy of Order not of Degree 3. In that Christ is the onely Foundation of the Church hence we learn That the Fathers before Christ were also built upon the same Foundation together with us Acts 15.11 in that they were saved by the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ even as we Christ was then preached unto them and believed on by them So says our Saviour John 8.56 and 5.46 Acts 10.43 Abraham saw my day and was glad And again Moses wrote of me So says Saint Peter To him bear all the Prophets witness c. yea He it is that was the Marrow and Substance of all the Rites of the Ceremonial Law they pointed at him and he was figured by them 1 Cor. 10.3 4 so says the Apostle They did all eat of the same spiritual meat and did all drink of the same spiritual Rock that followed them and that Rock was Christ and therefore when Christ came they ceased The difference between them and us is onely in the different manner of Administration Lib. I. c. 23 as we have heard before The Enemies then of Christian Religion have no cause to object Novelty to it nor shall the Jews need to be shy of receiving Christian Religion concerning Salvation by Christ crucified for fear of leaving the Religion of their Forefathers for their Religion was the same with ours now As Saint Austin plainly affirms it Res ipsa quae nunc dicitur Christiana Religio erat apud antiquos nec defuit ab initio generis humani quousque Christus veniret in carne unde vera Religio quae jam erat coepit appellari Christiana Retract l. 1. The thing it self says he which is now called Christian Religion was among the Ancients nor was it wanting from the begining of Mankinde till Christ came in the flesh whence the true Religion which then was began to be called Christian 4. Hence we may see in all the variety of Opinions that are in the World who do and who do not hold the Foundation And to say nothing of Anabaptists Pelagians and others look we especially at the Controversie between us and the Church of Rome whether of us hold the Foundation they say they do we say we do But it will be fully cleared by the point in hand The Doctrine of Christ is the onely Foundation whethersoever therefore of us hold this Doctrine sincere and incorrupt they may truly be said to hold the Foundation Now as for the Papists it is sure That they hold it not for howsoever in word they profess the Creed and the Decalogue yet in deed they overthrow both In Particulars it were easie to be infinite They maintain the Worship of Images against the direct letter of the Decalogue they make some sins venial in their own nature without respect to the Mercy of God and the Merits of Christ They brag of their own Merits Perfection and Satisfactions They deny Christs sole Oblation while they offer him up dayly in the Mass They worship the Pope as God and Antichrist for Christ They subject the Word of God to the Power of the Pope In a word They so deprave the Worship of God and the Religion of Christ that if the Apostles should return again to the Earth they would finde little among them but meer illusions and for Christianity Paganism covered over with the name of Christianity And all this may with much ease be made plain by comparing the Tenets of the Councel of Trent with the several Branches of the Fundamental Doctrine of Christ recorded by the Prophets and Apostles in their several Writings But I forbear As for us Protestants it 's also manifest That through the Mercy of God we have kept and do keep the Foundation the pure Voyce of the Law and the incorrupt Doctrine of the Gospel concerning Christ Grace and Faith and the Worship of God according to the Scriptures It 's true that there is among us a grievous Rent some are called Calvinists some Lutherans and even on both sides some giving way to immoderate heat not becoming Brethren have not spared to cast Criminations and Aspersions each on other as if on the one or other side the Foundation had been left and forsaken and as if the Questions agitated between us were Fundamental But the truth is as some more moderate Divines and among the rest Paraeus have
reclaim us by his Word and the invitations to Repentance which we finde therein let us by such invitations be prevailed withall and by afflictions and chastisements which he inflicts upon us Let us now harken to that of the Prophet Micah 6.9 Hear the Rod and who hath appointed it and let us now return Think what small good hath accrued to you by any sin so shall there be joy in Heaven for you and admirable good will accrue unto you by it therefore accept of that counsel which Saint Peter gave to the Jews Repent and be converted Acts 3.19 that your sins may be blotted out CHAP. XIV Christ and a Stone CHrist is thus frequently resembled in Scripture Hear the Kingly Prophet thus speaking of him The Stone which the Builders refused Psalm 118.22 is become the head stone of the corner And we hear this by Saint Peter applied unto Christ This is the Stone Acts 4.11 which was set at nought by you Builders and is become the head of the corner Hear that Evangelical Prophet thus speaking of Christ Thus says the Lord Isai 28.16 Behold I lay in Sion for a foundation a Stone a tried Stone a precious corner Stone a sure foundation c. And hear Saint Peter applying this to Christ Wherefore says he it 's contained in the Scripture 1 Pet. 2.6 Behold I lay in Sion a chief Corner-stone elect precious Isai 8.14 Hear the same Prophet again He shall be for a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence to both the Houses of Israel And this also is applied by Saint Peter unto Christ 1 Pet. 2.8 And a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence even to them that stumble at the Word And so by Saint Paul who having said of the Jews That they stumbled at that stumbling stone Rom. 9.32 33 adds As it is written Behold I lay in Sion a stumbling stone and a rock of offence And we hear our Saviour applying to himself that Prophesie of David Did ye never read in the Scripture The Stone which the Builders rejected is become the Head of the Corner Mat. 21.42 44 And afterwards he adds And whosoever shall fall on this Stone shall be broken but on whomsoever it shall fall it will grinde him to powder Yet Christ is not called a Stone as being like a stone in all things as neither is he in all things like to a Lion or like a Lamb but in some things he is like to them all He is not like to a Lion for cruelty but for courage nor like a Lamb for weakness but for meekness And so for the Particular in hand he is called a Stone yet he is not like a stone for all things 1. He is not liveless as stones are He can say of himself John 14.6 11.25 5.26 I am the Life and I am the Resurrection and the Life And As the Father hath Life in himself so he hath given to the Son to have Life in himself And I am he that am alive Rev. 1.18 1 Pet. 2.4 and was dead and behold I am alive for evermore And Saint Peter calls him a living Stone yea He is the Fountain of Life to all the Members of his Mystical Body both of spiritual Life in this World and of everlasting Life in Heaven by him also we are made lively Stones Verse 5 2. He is not senselesse as stones are strike a stone and it feeles not it complaines not much lesse is it sensible of or complains for the greatest strokes that are or can be given to any other stones It s not so but far otherwise with our blessed Saviour he was sensible of all the wrongs and indignities that were offered to him in his Life and in his Death he could say My soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death he could say Matth. 26.38 Joh. 18.14 If I have spoken well why dost thou smite me yea even now in his glorified condition he is sensible of all the wrongs that are offered to his Church and the members of it he cries out to Saul persecuting the Saints Saul Saul why doest thou persecute me Act 9 4 The head in Heaven out of the reach of his enemies cries out for his members on earth yet liable to the effects of their malice And this is no small comfort to us in the midst of all evils to which we are subject that we have an Head and High Preist Heb. 2.18 so merciful and compassionate But yet he is called a stone because he is like a stone 1. In general for strength Job 6.12 This is eminent in stones and therefore holy Job could say Have I the strength of stones much more is this eminent in our blessed Saviour he is called by the Prophet Isa 9.6 Rev. 1.8 The Mighty God and the Lord God Almighty nothing could or can prevail against him to hinder him from doing his pleasure either for the preservation of his Church or for the confounding of his enemies Not in the time of his greatest weaknesse could any the greatest enemies that he had have done ought against him without his leave therefore he said Joh. 10.18 No man takes away my life from me 2. In Particular I. There is lapis angularis the corner stone and that is Christ and besides the places already alledged the Apostle plainly affirms it Jesus Christ Eph. 2.20 saies he being the chief corner-stone And this not without cause if we consider the use of a corner-stone which is that it joynes together the two sides of a building so in and by Christ there is a conjunction of divers things 1. In Christ there is a conjunction of Heaven and Earth God and Man Creator and creature finite and Infinite these two so different are in Christ made one Person as by means of the corner the two sides of a building become one building 2. In the Church by means of Christ there is a conjunction of Jewes and Gentiles both are made one and held together by Christ as the Head of both they are in and by him made one Body Eph. 4.4 2.15 Vers 19.21 Joh. 10.16 Matth 7.75 one New Man one City one Temple one Sheepfold under one Shepherd II. There is Lapis fundamenti a stone for a Foundation as a Rock upon which the House being built stands impregnable against all oposition of waves winds Isa 28.16 Matth. 16.18 and rain And so Christ is by the Prophet called a sure Foundation and so Christ saies of himself Vpon this Rock I will build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it where our Saviour speakes of himself the subject of Saint Peters confession 1 Cor. 3.11 And Saint Paul acknowledges Christ the onely Foundation and justly for as the Foundation upholds the building so Christ upholds the Church And this is one of the reasons given by the Author of that imperfect work
himself alone set upon other things besides God so that as the Apostle says That Covetousness is Idolatry Col. 3.5 Eph. 5.5 and the covetous person an Idolater so may it be said of the rest So that even among our selves this Chastity of the Dove is much wanting the more is our shame But Though Israel play the harlot let not Judah sin Hosea 4.15 though most men in the World be so vain as to hunt after other Lovers yet let it be our wisdom to rest content with God alone and cleave fast unto him Give to him alone the Worship that is due to him impart it not to any besides him Pray to him alone do Adoration to him alone love him alone and none else except it be in him and for him Love not the World 1 John 2.25 nor the things of the World rejoyce in him alone let our desires be onely after him Matth. 10.28 Fear not him that can kill the Body but fear him who is able to destroy Soul and Body Trust in the Lord with all thy Heart Prov. 3.5 Exod. 15.11 and so in the rest Who says Moses is like to thee O Lord among the gods And plainly Deut. 33.20 There is none like to the God of Jesurun None therefore so well deserves or can lay so just claim to the Worship of the Soul as this great God And think not now of dividing the Heart between God and any Creature He says My Son give me thy Heart Prov. 23.26 not a part of it bigger or lesser but thy whole Heart A King can endure no Partner in his Kingdom nor an Husband in the Love of his Wife nor God in our Hearts If we say of our Hearts to God as David to Mephibosheth concerning his Lands Thou and Ziba divide the Lands 2 Sam. 19.29 30 God will not fail generously to answer as Mephibosheth did Nay let him take all By thoughts of dividing the Soul and the Worship of it between God and the Creature we shall quite exclude him CHAP. VIII The Church and an Hill THe Church is frequently in Scripture set forth by Mount Sion and the Resemblance holds between the Church and an Hill in these Particulars I. In respect of the firmness of the Church Saint Chrysostom takes knowledg of this Particular 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Merito mons est Ecclesia quod sit firma stabilis nec possit conquassari Sicut enim non potest mons labefactari ita nec Dei Ecclesia To. 3. in Psa 9. Deservedly says he is the Church likened to an Hill because it is firm and stable and cannot be broken to pieces As an Hill cannot be cast down so neither the Church of God No power of men nor yet of Hell can so far prevail Mat. 16.18 It 's the assurance of our Saviour The gates of Hell shall not prevail against it Particular visible Churches may be prevailed against and so may fail as we have seen by sad experience of many famous Churches in Asia Africa and other places but the whole Church never failed The glory and splendor of the Church may be much eclipsed and the numbers of it much decreased yet still a Church hath been When the Arian Heresie prevailed most in so much that the whole World lamented that it was turned Arian yet there were some Catholique Bishops and Catholique Christians that held the Faith of the Consubstantiality of the Son with the Father and these were the Church And in the Times of the Roman Apostasy when it prevailed most in the World even then were some that did profess and maintain the Faith of Christ and the purity of Gods Worship against the Heresies and Idolatries of the Church of Rome and sealed the Truth of God with their blood and these were the Church then The grounds of this stability of the Church are two 1. The Power of God the Builder and Founder of the Church for what Men or Devils being of finite power can prevail to throw down the Building of this God whose Power is infinite for Job 9.4 who ever strengthened himself against God and prospered 2. The strength of the Foundation upon which the Church is built Christ a Rock Matth. 16.18 upon this Rock I will build my Church says our Saviour that is upon Christ the Rock the subject of Saint Peters Confession and thereupon he infers therefore Mat. 7.24 The gates of Hell shall not prevail against it for so the House built on the Rock stood impregnably against all assaults of rain and floods and winds and the reason is given Verse 25 because it was built on a Rock This affords great comfort to the Church against all her Enemies Thou O Church of God hast many Enemies Satan that Prince of Darkness and his under-agents Hereticks on the one side and Schismaticks on the other side and many wicked and profane men in the World Psalm 137.7 and these are cruelly bent and full of malice against thee crying Raze it raze it even to the Foundation thereof and 83.4 Their aim and endeavor is That the Name of Israel may no more be had in remembrance and oft they are armed with great secular power but yet fear not God is with thee he that built thee will uphold thee and as Hezekiah said for the comfort of his Subjects against the Assyrian Army 2 Chro. 32.7 8 There are more with thee then with them with them is an arm of flesh but with thee is the Lord thy God And thou art built upon Christ the Foundation therefore all opposition made against thee to remove thee out of thy place shall never prevail against thee And let all Enemies upon this ground be advised to desist from their cruel attempts against the Church Who would undertake to wash the Black-moor or any other labor in vain Such will your endeavors be in this kinde as if a man should undertake to remove an Hill out of its place for so is the Church an Hill firm and stable it shall stand and remain when ye have done the worst that ye can do yea your endeavors are against God who hath founded this Hill the Church and against Christ the Rock upon whom it is founded and consequently against your selves and ye can expect no other issue of your attempts in this way but ruine to your selves Desist therefore in time if ye love your selves II. In respect of propinquity and nearness to Heaven as the Hills in regard of their height are nearer to Heaven then other lower parts of the Earth so is the Church so are godly Christians the Members of the Church nearer to God then any other people under Heaven and God nearer to them Eph. 2.13 then to any others The Apostle speaking of the Ephesians as they were Gentiles before they were converted to the Faith of Christ says They were far off but speaking of them after their
sexta aetate in plenitudine temporum missus est Filius Dei qui factus est homo sub lege ut nos a peccato morte liberaret Adam was created on the sixth day so in the sixth Age in the fulnesse of Time the Son of God was sent who was made man and under the Law that he might free us from sin and from death 2. Post creatum Adamum die sexto secutum est Sabbatum quo Deus quievit ab operibus suis sic post missum Christum hac sexta aetate nullus praeterea Servator expectatur novissime enim per Filium locutus est Heb. 1.2 sed Sabbatum aeternum expectandum est De Creat part 3. l. 1. c. 1. p. 605. 2. After Adam created on the sixth day followed the Sabboth in which God rested from his works so after Christ sent in the sixth Age no other Saviour is to be looked for for now in the last dayes he hath spoken by his Son Heb. 1.2 but an Eternal Sabboth is to be expected by us CHAP. III. Christ and Abel compared OF this hear S. Austin Abel the younger brother was slain by his elder brother Occiditur Abel minor natu à fratre majore natu Christus occiditur caput populi minoris natu à populo Judaeorum majori natu ille in Campo iste in monte Calvariae contr Faust Manich. l. 12. c. 9. namely Cain and Christ the head of the younger people namely the Gentiles was slain by the elder people the Jewes Abel in the field Christ in the mount Calvary And a little after he addes The voice of the blood of Abel cried to God from the earth Vox sanguinis Abelis ad Deum de terra Clamavit habet magnam vocem sanguis Christi Maledictus est Cain à terra maledictus est populus Judaeorum infidelis ab Ecclesia Ibid. c. 11. and the blood of Christ hath a loud voice Cain was cursed from the earth and the incredulous people of the Jewes is cursed from the Church Christ and Seth. The storie of the Fathers c. p. 43. Broughton makes the comparison thus The name Seth signifies foundation and Christ is the rock and sure foundation of his Church Seth was begot in the image of his father Adam and Christ is the very character of his fathers person Heb. 1.3 The story of the Fathers c. p. 49. Christ and Lamech not that Lamech that was of Cains family but another of that name who was of Seths house of a far different nature Broughton makes the comparison thus His name signifies striken or heart-wounded And he was so called in respect of some inward sorrow that he should bear for the afflictions of the sword And Christ was both outwardly stricken and inwardly wounded Outwardly when in the open Hall he was buffeted scourged and spit at and upon the Cross peirced both hands feet and sides Inwardly when he was reviled with blasphemous speeches at his death and when instead of drink to comfort him they gave him gall and myrrhe mingled together but most especially when his guiltlesse soul did suffer torments to redeem our guilty souls from the tryal of Satan Christ and Henoch Broughton makes the parallel thus The history of the Fathers c. p. 54. Henoch was a Prophet for he prophesied of the destruction of the world by the floud and Christ was a Prophet and prophesied of the destruction of the world Henoch walked with God and Christ did the will of his Father The dayes of Henoch were as the dayes of the Sun 365 yeares according to the dayes of the year a day for a year And Christ is the bright Sun of justice whose dayes are as the dayes of the Sun Christ and Methuselah Broughton makes Methuselah a type of Christ in regard of his name The name The history of the Fathers c. p. 65. Methuselah signifies spoile-death or spear-death And Christ both died Rom. 14.9 and rose again and revived that he might be Lord of quick and dead And he suffered death Heb. 2.14 that by his death he might overcome him that had the power of death Christ and Noah Sicut Noe sic Christus bibit de vinea sua illum calicem qui transire non potuit dormiit in passione sua ita nudabatur carnis mortalis infirmitas Contr. Faust Manich. l. 12. c. 24. Of this hear St. Austin also As Noah so Christ drunk of his Vineyard that Cup which could not pass by him and so the infirmity of his mortal body was discovered The History of the Fathers c. p. 56 Broughton thus compares Christ and Noah Noah was a Preacher of Righteousness and Christ was the true Preacher of Righteousness Dan. 9. Noah found grace before God and Christ grew in favor with God and man Luke 2. Noah was a King Prophet and Sacrificer and so was Christ CHAP. IV. HItherto I have set before you the Types of Christ that lived before the Flood now follow those that lived after the Flood before the giving of the Law upon Mount Sinai Christ and Melchisedech It is plain that the Scripture makes Melchisedech a Type of Christ for both it was in the Old Testament foretold that Christ should be a Priest after the order of Melchisedech Psa 110.4 and our blessed Apostle noting the accomplishment of that Prophesy Heb. 6.20 Heb. 7.1 3 4. affirms That he was made a Priest after the order of Melchisedech and then he proceeds in many words to set out and describe this Melchisedech from whence many of the Divines of the Reformed Church have taken knowledg of many resemblances between Christ and Melchisedech Among the rest Goulartius takes knowledg of these Melchisedech was both King and Priest Melchisedech fuit Rex sacerdos talis revera est Christus unus fuit Rex pacis justitiae Talis est Christus unus revera Proponitur Melchisedech spectandus ut principio fine carens cum nec pater nec mater nec majores nec mors ejus describantur talis revera est silius Dei sacerdos nimirum aeternus quatenus Deus sine matre ineffabiliter genitus quatenus homo sine Patre ineffabiliter conceptus Melchisedech ratione sacerdotii fuit ipso Abrahaemo superior utpote quem decimavit cui ut sacerdos benedixit talis revera est Christus a quo pendet ipsius Abrahami omnium credentium sanctificatio atque adeo quem ut omnium autorem colere venerari omnes debent An. in Cypr. p. 182. col 2. Sicut ille Abrahae milites refecit ita Dominus relinquendo Sacramentum coenae Dei Patris exercitum Ecclesiam inquam suam perpetuo restaurat Annot. in Cypr. p. 505. col 2. init and such indeed is Christ alone He was King of Peace and Righteousnesse such indeed is Christ alone Melchisedeck is set out to be considered as
for the appointment of the Tribute says he the Persians called Darius an Institutor Cambyses a Lord Cyrus a Patron because says he he was most gentle and studyed to deserve well at their hands So was Christ an example of mildeness Mat. 11.29 13. The Kingdom of Cyrus was of a large extent 13. Cyri Regnum amplissimum Xenophon lib. 3. ubi Nationes ferme eaedem nominantur quae Act. 2.9 10 11. de Regni ejus amplitudine etiam Esaias c. 45. v. 14. Ita Regnum Christi amplissimum utpote nullis locorum spatiis definitum as Xenophon testifies of it lib. 1. where almost the same Nations are reckoned up of which we read Acts 2. and so the Prophet speaks of it Esa 45.14 So is the Kingdom of Christ most ample and large as not having any bounds 14. God called Cyrus in Righteousness 14. Cyrum vocavit Deus in justitia Esa 45.13 Itidem Christus juste vocatur nec enim sibi ipsi honorem hunc tribuit c. Heb. 5.5 Esa 45.13 and Christ was called in Righteousness for he took not this Honor unto himself c. Hebr. 5.5 15. God gave Cyrus for a Light to the Gentiles 15. Cyrum dedit Deus in lucem Gentium Esa 42.6 ut scirent ab ortu Solis ad occasum non esse Deum praeter Jehovam Esa 45.6 Ita Christus lumen Gentium Luc. 1.78 2.32 Esa 42.6 That from the rising of the Sun to the fall thereof men might know that there is no God but Jehovah Esa 45.6 So is Christ the Light of the Gentiles Luke 1.78 and 2.32 16. 16. Cyrus missus ad aperiendum oculos caecorum ad educendum è clausura vinctos Esa 42.7 vel ad captivitatem dimittendam Esa 45.13 sic Christus emisit vinctos de lacu in quo non est aqua Zach. 9.11 Scult Idea Concion in Esa 42. Cyrus was sent to open the eyes of the blinde and to bring the Prisoners out of Prison Esa 42.7 or to dismiss the Captives Esa 45.13 So did Christ send the Prisoners out of the Pit in which there was no Water Zach. 9.11 Thus is Cyrus owned by this learned Divine as a Type of Christ and that justly it being most true that Zanchy says Liberatio Babylonica per Cyrum typus Redemptionis per Christum Detrib Elohim lib. 5. cap. 4. That the Deliverance of the Jews from Captivity in Babylon by Cyrus was a Type of the Redemption of the Church by Christ Christ and Zerubbabel Of this hear Saint Jerom Zerubbabel who was of the Tribe of Judah of the linage of David was a Type of our Saviour who truly built the ruined Temple that is Zorobabel de tribu Juda i. e. de stirpe David descendens typus fuit Salvatoris qui vere destructum aedificavit Templum i. e. Ecclesiam reduxit populum de captivitate tam de veteris Templi lapidibus quam de novis qui prius fuerant impoliti aedificavit Ecclesiam idem de reliquiis populi Judaici de gentium multitudine Deo Patri extruxit Tabernaculum Et sicut Zorobabel in Babylone natus est sic Dominus in confusione hujus seculi To. 3. in Agg. 1. the Church and brought the People from Captivity and built the Church as well of the stones of the old Temple as of new stones which were before unpolished and raised up a Tabernacle to God the Father both of the remainders of the Jewish Nation and of the multitude of the Gentiles And as Zerubbabel was born in Babylon so our Lord was born in the Confusion of this World He adds If ye respect the History Zerubbabel is one who was of the Kingly Tribe Quantum ad historiam pertinet alter est Zorobabel de tribu regia alter Jesus de tribu sacerdotali Quantum autem ad intelligentiam spiritalem unus idem est Dominus noster Salvator Rex magnus Sacerdos cujus typum secundum id quod Rex erat portabat Zorobabel secundum id quod Pontifex erat portabat cognominis ejus Jesus qui est filius Josedech quod in lingua nostra vertitur in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Deus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. justus justeâ—â— enim sanctus Deus Pater Deus Filius non est in eo iniquitas Estque vere Jesus magnus Sacerdos cui omnes Dei Antistites comparati parvi sunt nihil ut sicut est primogenitus omnis creaturae sic Princeps sit in universis Sacerdotibus Ibid. and Jesus or Joshua another who was of the Priestly Tribe But if ye look at the Mystery our Lord and Saviour is one and the same a King and a great High Priest of whom as he is a King Zerubbabel was the Type but his name-sake Jesus or Joshua as he was a Priest who is the Son of Josedech which in our language is turned into Jah that is God and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is just for God the Father is righteous and holy and so is God the Son and there is no iniquity in him And Jesus indeed is a great High Priest in comparison of whom all other Priests of God are small or nothing that as he is the first begotten of every Creature so he may be the Chief of all Priests CHAP. XVI HItherto we have seen how our dear Saviour was typified or fore-signified in the Old Testament by Persons from Adam to Zerubbabel now take we notice how he was then typified by Things of which I shall give you account in order shewing how all those things did typifie and were fulfilled in our blessed Redeemer Christ and Noah's Ark. Broughton makes this Parallel to stand in two things Of the ten first Fathers p. 69 70. 1. The Ark had a Door by which Noah and his Houshold entered into it to the saving of themselves And Christ is that Door by whom we enter into the Holy of Holies to the saving of our Souls 2. The Ark rested upon the Mount Ararat which is a Mountain in Armenia and signifies Take away fear And Christ is that Ararat upon whose shoulders if we rest we shall be safe and shall not need to fear what Men or Devils can do unto us Christ and the Paschal Lamb. Hear Lactantius Deus percussurus Aegyptios ut ab ea plaga immunes faceret Hebraeos praeceperat eis ut agnum candidum sine macula immolarent signum liminibus suis de sanguine ejus imponerent Itaque cum Aegyptiorum primogeniti una nocte interiissent Hebraei soli signo sanguinis tuti fuerunt non quia pecudis cruor tantam in sevim gerebat ut hominibus saluti esset sed imago erat rerum futurarum Agnus enim candidus sine macula Christus fuit i. e. innocens justus sanctus qui ab eisdem Judaeis immolatus saluti est omnibus qui signum sanguinis i. e. crucis qua
fulnesse of time actually send Christ into the world to become man and so to suffer Death for our Redemption 2. He is the Foundation of Faith or Doctrine and this is to be understood by a Metonymie of the subject for the adjunct Christ being put for the Doctrine of Christ that is the fundamental Doctrine of Christ which consists not of those Theological Conclusions needful to Divines for their peculiar Profession Irenic p. 149 but of those Catholick Articles which concern the Catholick Faith needful to be known and believed of all to salvation the ignorance of which is damnable and the obstinate and pertinatious denyal of which makes an Heretick as Paraeus speaks learnedly which Fundamental Doctrine is the intire and incorrupt Doctrine of the Law and the Creed contained in the Writings of the Prophets and Apostles And this Foundation Moses and the Prophets began to lay in the old Testament and the Apostles did perfect it in the new Testament by their Preaching and Writings In which respect the Church is said to be built upon the Foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Eph. 2.20 And both waies the comparison holds well between Christ and a Foundation namely in regard of the use of a Foundation which is to uphold the Building making it to stand firm and to keep it from ruine so the house built upon the Rock stands firm against all opposition Matth. 7.25 Let the rain descend the stoods come and the winds blow yet the house stands and is secured from falling Of such use is our blessed Saviour and that in both respects 1. As a Foundation of Salvation Christ sustaines the whole Church by the merit of his Death and Passion by the power of his Divinity and the efficacy of his Intercession and Spirit he Justifies Sanctifies and preserves it making it able to hold out against the gates of Hell Matth. 16. Psal 125.1 so that it shall be as Mount Sion which cannot be removed but abideth for ever Not all opposition of enemies shall hinder the Salvation of the Church I give my sheep saies our Saviour eternal life Joh. 10.28 and none shall be able to take them out of my hand 2. As a Foundation of Faith or of Doctrine all superstructures so farre forth hold good as they hold correspondence with the Fundamental Doctrine of Christ but if any Doctrine cross and thwart the Doctrine of Christ taught by the Prophets and Apostles it presently falls to the ground 2 Sam. 5.3 4. as Dagon before the Ark And in this respect St. John having given that advise 1 Joh. 4.1 Believe not every spirit but try the spirits whether they be of God or no brings in the Doctrine of Christ as the rule of tryal Vers 2. saying Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God and every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh Vers 3. is not of God and this is that spirit of Antichrist c. But yet Omne simile est etiam dissimile because no things are so like one to another but that there is some dissimilitude between them know we therefore that though Christ resembles a Foundation in regard of the main use of it yet Christ differs also from an ordinary Foundation and namely in this that the Foundation of an earthly building is lowest but Christ the Foundation of the Church is on high and above it St. Austin takes notice of this difference and gives the reason of it He moves the question How is Christ both the Foundation and the Head Quomodo Christus fundamentum caput est cum fundamentum solet deorsum esse caput autem sursum Resp Ideo fundamentū domus deorsum ponitur quia pondere suo deorsū versus fertur nisi sit quod sustineat tota cadit quia tota ad terrā vergit Rebus ad ima tendentibus in imo ponitur fundamentum Ecclesia autem Dei in imo posita tendit ad coelum fundamentum ergo nostrum ibi positum est Tom. 8. in Psal 30. seeing the Foundation uses to be below and the Head above To this he answers Therefore the Foundation of a house uses to be below because by the weight of it it is carried downwards and except it hath something to bear it up it falls down because it wholly verges towards the earth for things that tend downwards the Foundation is laid below But the Church of God being here below tends to Heaven and therefore there is our Foundation laid Hence we may learn many things 1. See the sad condition of them that do ground their hopes for salvation on any other besides Christ either on themselves or on any other on their own merits or the supererogatory works or sufferings of others we see that Christ onely is the Foundation of Salvation how do they therefore at once dishonour the Lord Jesus Christ and prejudice themselves that shall build their hopes of happinesse upon any with neglect of him they deprive him as much as in them lyes of the honour of being the onely foundation of the Church and their hopes for Salvation must needs be as the house built upon the sand no sooner the rain descends Matth. 7.27 the floods come and the wind blowes but instantly that house falls So these may haply for the present bear up well but let Satan be set loose upon them and set upon them with his temptations instantly their hopes will vanish and come to nothing 2. See the horrid blasphemy of the Church of Rome making Saint Peter and in his right the Pope the Foundation of the Church whereas we are taught in the Scriptures that Christ is the onely Foundation that is or can be laid how then St. Peter and consequently the Pope for these are directly contrary each to other Again the Church of the old and new Testament is but one Church and so can have but one and the same Foundation but St. Peter cannot in reason be said to be the Foundation of the Church of the old Testament therefore neither of the new And if St Peter be the Foundation of the whole Church then of himself which is most absurd he is a part of the building therefore not the Foundation of the whole Lastly the Foundation of the Church must be perpetual not failing else how shall the Church stand but St. Peter is not so he is dead almost 1600 years since They say he is perpetuall in his Successors but 1. This is absurd for they say because it s sayd to thee Matth. 16. and Thou therefore it cannot include all the Apostles but St. Peter onely and yet shall these singular particles include so many Popes 2. It s false for Saint Peter as an Apostle had no Successors the Pope of Rome succeeds not Saint Peter in his Apostleship the Apostles had immediate Calling as Saint Paul says of
is not ashamed to be called their Father even their Souls are redeemed with Christs precious Blood they have the Spirit comforting them and the Angels ministering unto them let not us contemn them It 's burden enough to them That worldly and wicked men despise them either for their Poverty or for their Piety let not us by despising them also increase their burden They are weak but they are Christians and their weakness calls for Pity not for Contempt They are less honorable yet they are useful Let us take heed lest God punish our proud despising of them by bringing us into such straights as that we should be enforced to crave the help of those whom in respect of their weakness or mean place in the Church we have formerly so much slighted 4. Let those Members that are of least note in the Church not either be disheartened in themselves or envy others whom they see to be better gifted or set in more eminent place in the Church then themselves Have they not this or that Gift yet they have others Have they not so high and eminent a place in the Church yet a place they have and Members they are and this may comfort and uphold them Let us hear the Apostle speaking to this purpose If the Foot shall say because I am not the Hand 1 Cor. 12.15 16 17 I am not of the Body is it therefore not of the Body And if the Ear shall say because I am not the Eye I am not of the Body is it therefore not of the Body If the whole Body were an Eye where were the Hearing And if the whole were Hearing where were the Smelling If they have not so excellent Gifts or in so great a proportion as others have yet they have those Gifts and that proportion of Gifts which God saw fit to furnish them withall for all these gives the self-same Spirit dividing to every one severally as he will Verse 11 They are not set out for such noble employments nor have they so high a place in the Church as others yet they have such place as God saw fit to allot unto them for God hath placed the Members Verse 18 every one of them in the Body even as it pleases him Therefore be content and humble though you see your self to come never so much behinde others The Lord General of the Army hath power to dispose of his Soldiers to several Offices stations and employments as he sees fit and the Master of the Family his Servants to their several Offices and shall this power be denied to God in and over his Church yea hath another more excellent Gifts then thou hast for kinde or measure know That the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every one to profit withall Verse 7 As the King puts his Alms into the hands of his Almoner that he may distribute them to the poor and as some great personage puts a stock of Mony into his Stewards hand for the uses of the Family As therefore the poor have an interest in the Kings Alms put into his Almoners hands and as all in the Family have an interest in the stock of Mony committed to the Steward so the whole Church is and thou in particular art interessed in all the Abilities which God hath given to any others Why then shouldst thou envy any whom thou seest to be so preferred Rather thank God who hath so admirably furnish'd others for thy benefit and for the good of the whole Church 5. Let us all sympathize with the Church and the several Members of it 1 Cor. 12.26 So do the Members of the natural Body as the Apostle tells us And so let us both in good and evil Rom. 12.5 This is required of us Rejoyce with them that rejoyce and weep with them that weep Hear we or know we ought of the Desolations of the Church abroad Let not us be like to them of whom the Prophet complains That they did lie upon Beds of Ivory Amos 6.4 5 6 and stretch themselves upon their Couches and eat the Lambs out of the Flocks and the Calves out of the midst of the stall and chanted to the sound of the Viol and invented to themselves Instruments of Musick like David and drunk Wine in Bowls and anointed themselves with the chief Ointments but they were not grieved for the Afflictions of Joseph Too many such there be but let such as are guilty take knowledg of and tremble at the Threatening there annexed Therefore shall they go captive with the first that go captive Verse 7 and the Banquet of them that stretched themselves shall be removed Rather therefore let us imitate that godly Courtier Nehemiah of whom we heard before Or hear we of the prosperous estate of the Church Though we our selves for our own particulars lie under the Cross never so much yet let the knowledg of the Churches prosperity make us in a manner to forget our own sorrow CHAP. VI. The Church and a City built on an Hill OUr Saviour speaking of the Church makes use of this Resemblance A City says he set upon an Hill cannot be hid Matth. 5.14 I grant that there our Saviour hath respect especially to some chief Members of the Church that is the Preachers of the Word and the Teachers of his People yet so that it 's true in some sort of the whole Church that it 's a City and a City on an Hill And the Author of that imperfect Work upon Saint Matthews Gospel among Saint Chrysostoms Works observes this Resemblance to hold in sundry Particulars Civitas est Ecclesia Sanctorum The City says he is the Church of Saints 1. A City consists of Citizens And the Citizens of this City are all the Faithful Cives omnes fideles Turres ejus Prophetae sicut enim de turribus jacula contra omnes hostes jactantur sic de libris propheticis contra vanas Gentilium fabulas contra insanas haeriticorum disputationes salutaria veritatis proponuntur exempla Portae ejus sunt Apostoli quia per illos totus populus intrat ad fidem Muri ejus sunt doctores de quibus dicit propheta Isa 60.10 filii alienigenarum aedificabunt muros tuos quia ex Gentibus vocati facti sunt sacerdotes Ecclesiae gubernatores Sicut muri enim omnem Gentilium haereticorum impetum ipsi suscipiunt qui tanquam arietibus quibusdam sic assiduis persecutionibus feriunt clerum i. e. murum Ecclesiae Haec ergo civitas posita est super montem i. e. Apostoli prophetae caeterique doctores fideles aedificati in Christo Mons enim Christus est de quo propheta dicit Dan. 2.35 implevit universam terram Chrysost Comment in N. Test To. 2. hom 10. and so Saint Paul of the Ephesians having embraced the faith of Christ saies that they were fellow-Citizens of the Saints Eph. 2. Vers 19. Citizens then they
are 2. A City hath Towers and the Towers of this City the Church are the Prophets for as from the Towers Darts are shot against all enemies so from the bookes of the Prophets examples of truth are set forth against the vain fables of the Heathen and against the wild and unsound disputes of Hereticks 3. A City hath gates And these gates of the Church are the Apostles because as by the gates men enter into the Cities so ' by the ministery of the Apostles the whole people namely of Jewes and Gentiles enters into the faith of Christ 4. A City hath Wals and these Wals are the Doctors of the Church of which the Prophet saies The Sons of strangers shall build thy Wals because being called from among the Gentiles they were made Priests or ministers and Governours of the Church for as the Wals of a City so these undergo the violence of Heathens and Hereticks who by frequent presecutions as by so many battering-rams batter the Clergy these Walls of this City the Church To which add 5. A City hath Priviledges and Immunities which are common to all and belong onely to them that are free of the City And no lesse hath the Church her Priviledges and Immunities which equally and alike belong to all the members of the Church Act. 10.34 be they Jewes or Gentiles high or low rich or poor male or female bond or free for God is no accepter of persons and are proper and peculiar to them If any be strangers from the Church they have nothing to do with any of these Priviledges Would any know what these Priviledges are Let him consult with the Apostles Creed and there shall he finde these recorded 1. Communion of Saints of holy men and Angels with God and of holy men and Angels mutually among themselves by vertue of our Communion with God we have liberty to Pray to God and by prayer to receive from God all needful blessings for soul and body in this life and no less by this Communion with God have we hope to live for ever with God in glory and happiness everlasting By vertue of our Communion with the Angels we share in the benefits of their ministration in all kindes in this life and hereafter we shall be like the Angels sharing with them in the glory of Heaven By vertue of our Communion with holy men we have an interest in their prayers and in all the abilities with which God hath furnisht them and shall live together with them in Heaven A rare priviledge 2. Remission of sins by which upon our unfeigned repentance we are freelie for Christs sake absolved and acquitted from the guilt and punishment of all our sins though never so many though never so great A rare Priviledge happy is he that hath it for so saies the Psalmist blessed is he Psal 32.1 whose iniquity is forgiven c. 3. Resurrection of the body and Life Everlasting Resurrection to Life Everlasting though the body falls in death yet it shall be raised again though in death the soul takes leave of the body for a time yet they shall meet again and be reunited And not onely so for this shall be common to all men the bodies of all shall be raised and in all there shall be a reunion of soul and body but whereas to some there shall be a Resurrection of Damnation Joh. 5.29 to the Church it shall be a Resurrection to Life whereas some shall rise to shame and everlasting contempt all the true members of the Church shall awake to everlasting Life Dan. 12.2 Lastly it s observed here by the forenamed Author that this Citie is set upon an hill that is the Apostles Prophets and all other Doctors of and Faithful in the Church are built upon Christ who is the onely Foundation for Christ is that Mountain of which the Prophet saies Dan. 2.35 That it filled the whole Earth And this sense is pious But yet I conceive another thing rather to be intended by our blessed Saviour in this place namely that as a City built upon an Hill cannot be hid but is conspicuous and seen a farre off so neither can the Conversation and Actions of the Church and the members of it be so secretly carried but that it will come to the cognizance and knowledge of others so that if it be pious God shall be honoured by it and from any sinful and scandalous behaviour of the members of the Church it cannot be but that God shall be dishonoured by it as Saint Paul saies Through you is the name of God blasphemed among the Gentiles Rom. 2.24 See the high preferment of all Godly Christians in that they are made members of the Church and so free Denizons of this great City of God who counts it not a great matter to be a Freeman of some great City in the World so it was counted to be a Citizen of Rome they that were so gloried not a little in it they that were not so thought it not much to purchase it with a great summe of mony much more is it an honour to be members of the Church for what City in the World hath Priviledges and Immunities comparable to the Priviledges of the Church named before Blesse God for this high Honour and Preferment and as he hath honoured you so be ye careful to honour him and fearful to do any thing that may tend to His dishonour avoid all scandalous sins especially Phil 1.27 and Let your conversation be such as becomes the Gospel and as our Saviour enjoynes us Let your Lights so shine before men that they seeing your good Works Matth. 5.16 may glorifie your Father that is in Heaven CHAP. VII The Church and a Dove SO our Saviour speaks to his Church Open to me Cant. 5.2 my sister my love my Dove my undefiled So he speaks of her My Dove my undefiled is but one Cant. 6 9 she is the onely one of her Mother Saint Bernard observes two particulars in which the Church resembles a Dove The Church saies he Ecclesia columba est quia innocens est quia gemens est In Cant. ser 62. is a Dove 1. Because the Dove is innocent and harmless and indeed this to be eminent in the Dove appears by that passage of our Saviour Be innocent as Doves Matth. 10.16 which implies that the Dove is eminently innocent as the Serpent is the wisest of the beasts of the field Gen. 3.1 whom our Saviour wills his hearers to be like in wisdome so is the Church so are all godly Christians the members of the Church innocent and harmlesse they can finde in their hearts to suffer wrongs to put up injuries but they cannot with patience think of wronging others This is one thing by which David describes a member of the Church the question being Lord who shall enter into thy Tabernacle Psal 15.1 Vers 3. c. the answer is in
feed and clothe you He wants not will to do it for he hath given that assurance That they which fear God Psalm 34.10 24.1 shall not want any thing that is good for them and he wants not power for the Earth is the Lords and the fulness thereof Let this comfort you against the fear of want though never so poor though thy estate be never so scanty yet fear not God knowes how to provide for thee he can lengthen out thy scanty portion as he did the handful of meal in the barrel 1 King 17.12 14.15 2 King 4 1.7 and the little oil in the cruse of that Zareptan widow or as he did that oil of the poor Prophets widow or he can lessen thy charge or if it be a time of dearth he can suddenly send plenty as he did to Samaria 6.25 where ere while the famine was so great that an Asses head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver and the fourth part of a cab of Doves dung for five pieces of silver and soon after the plenty was so great 7.16 that a measure of fine floure was sold for a shekel and two measures of barly for a shekel or at least Exod. 17.6 1 King 17.6 he that commanded the rock to furnish the Israelites with water and the ravens to bring meat to Eliah is able to enlarge the heart and to open the hand of the most hard hearted man to refresh you with the fruits of their bounty trust in God then onely use the meanes which God hath appointed but take no indirect courses to feed thy body And if now thy heart shall suggest such thoughts to thee as these but then how shall I be provided for Gen. 22.8 answer thy distrustful soul as Abraham his Son Isaac My Son my soul God will provide 4. The same Author in the same place adds yet another particular namely this as a master of a Family hath a care to defend his Family to the utmost of his power against all enemies that would do them wrong he promises to defend Jerusalem against the Forces of Senacherib he defended the Hebrews in Egypt against the rage of Pharaoh he defended the three Children against the fire and Daniel against the Lions and Jeremy against the Princes and false Prophets and Eliah against Ahab and Jezebel and so others So still its true that the Psalmist hath As the mountains are round about Jerusalem Psal 125.2 so the Lord is round about his people as a wall of fire and a defence This affords comfort to the Church and the members of it against all enemies bodily and ghostly men or devils they indeed plot and act against all and seek to do you all mischief possibly but fear them not compare together your enemies and your defender your enemies are Creatures your defender is the infinite Creator and how shall the finite creature be able to prevail against the infinite Creator Isa 51.12 13. hear now what God saies Who art thou that thou should'st be affraid of a man that shall dye and of the Son of man that shall be made as the grasse and forgettest the Lord thy maker that stretched out the Heavens and laid the foundations of the Earth consider this and be comforted And well may enemies from hence learn this point of wisdome to desist from their cruel plotting and acting against the Church and against godly Christians the members of the Church what do ye but plot and act against the Family the protection of which God hath undertaken and consequently against God their defender and now how can ye hope to prevail in these your designes yea what do ye other then act against your selves and bring ruine upon your selves for thus hath it happened to all enemies of the Church in former times Pharaoh Saul Senacherib Herod and with all the Heathen and Arian Emperors As therfore ye love your selves desist hands off II. As the House is put for the Fabrick so the Church is like unto an House in these particulars Heb. 3 4 1. Every house saies the Apostle is built by some man Every house hath a builder and so hath the Church and the builder is God and Christ Opus ad extra indivisum for the building of the Church is a work towards the creatur◠and therefore common to all the three Persons and so our Saviour saies I will build my Church Matth. 16.18 and so Saint Paul saies ye are Gods building namely built by God 1 Cor 3.9 Then must the Church needs be firm and stable and stand impregnable against all opposition for how is it possible that any opposition should prevail against Gods building 2. In the building of any house there is as one chief builder so other under-workmen so in the building of the Church as God is the cheif builder so there are under-builders and they are the ministers of the Gospel of whose ministry God is pleased to make use for the building of the Church whether they be extraordinary called and sent of God immediatly not of man nor by men as Apostles Prophets Gal. 1.1 Eph. 4.11 Evangelists or ordinary ministers called of God by men in the way of the Church as Pastors and Teachers or Pastors that is Teachers the former word being Metaphorical the latter the plain word for all these the Apostle saies Eph. 4.12 they were given for the edification of the body of Christ that is for the building up of the Church 1 Cor. 3.10 of which the Apostles laid the Foundation others scil the ordinary ministers in the several times of the Church build thereupon See the honour of the ministerial function and the high preferment of those whom God immediatly or mediatly by the Church laies out for and calls to this Sacred function for behold whereas God is the great Architect these also are builders of the Church and so workers together with God 1 Cor. 3.9 How ill do they that cast scorn and contempt upon them whom God hath so preferred how shall they answer it let them know what our Saviour saies He that despises you Luk. 10.16 1 Thess 4.8 despises me and him that sent me And Saint Paul in the like manner He that despises despises not man but God and yet there are many who undervalue them as uselesse and unnecessary but their sin is great As for us we may well scorn in an holy manner such contempt and say with the Apostle seeing we have received this 2 Cor. 4.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 honos onus that is such a ministery therefore we faint not neither for the difficulty of the work nor for the scorn which men cast upon us And seeing honour and burden as the Latine words have great likenesse go together let the honour which God hath put upon us move us with all willingness to undergo the burden and cheerfully to
set our selves to the work We are builders by our office let us be building up the house of God and let it not discourage us that there is great opposition made and like to be made against this building but accept we of that encouragement Vp and be doing and the Lord shall be with you 3. Every house well built hath a Foundation and so hath the Church its Foundation and that is Christ 1 Cor. 3.11 Other Foundation saies the Apostle can no man lay then that which is laid which is Jesus Christ But of this before In aedificio lapis lapidem portat quia lapis super lapidem ponitur qui portat alium portatur ab altero Sic in sancta Ecclesia unusquisque portat alium portatur ab alio Super Ezech. l. 2. hom 13. 4. In a Building as Gregory the great well observes one stone bears another because one stone is laid upon another and that stone which bears one is born of another So in the holy Church every one both bears another and is born of another As then we desire to approve our selves to be indeed parts of this spiritual Fabrick let us thus carry our selves according to that charge of the Apostle bear ye one anothers burden Gal. 6.2 wherein we are stronger then others let us bear the infirmities of the weak if we have more knowledge then others bear with their ignorance if we be more settled in a right and sound judgment bear with them who are in any error through seduction if we have more command of our Passions bear with the frowardnesse and waywardness of others not to let them alone in their infirmities to be mastered by them but seek to recover them yet not dealing rigidly with them G l. 6.1 nor condemning and censuring them as castawaies but with a spirit of meeknesse having compassion of them as the Apostle advises yea hear we the Apostle Jude 22. we that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak he doth not speak of it as a businesse of conveniency Rom. 15.1 but as of a duty of absolute necessity There was a time when we our selves were as weak as any others and then others were fain to bear with us being therefore become strong let us now bear with the infirmities of the weak yea as strong as any of us are we are yet prone now and then to bewray such weaknesse that we shall stand in need to desire others to bear with us therefore we are also to bear with the infirmites of others for this is the law of equity propounded by our Saviour What ye would that others should do to you Matth. 7.12 do ye also the same to them yea as the Apostle saies thus doing we shall fulfil the law of Christ Gal. 6.2 even the law of charity for of this the Apostle saies 1 Cor. 13.4 7 that it suffers long and beares all things 5. The resemblance between the Church and an house holds in the use of both An house is built for some man to dwell in and the Church is built for God to dwell in it ye are built saies the Apostle for an habitation of God by his spirit Eph. 3.22 Psal 132.13 14. And so saies the Psalmist of Sion The Lord hath chosen Sion and hath desired it for his habitation This is my rest for ever here I will dwell c. See here the great dignity of the Church and of all godly Christians the members of the Church in that they are built up to be an habitation for God to dwell in who is infinitely greater for glory and majesty then all the greatest Potentates of the earth And yet in the entertainment of one of them were it but for a day yea for an hour we would judge our houses not a little graced how then are we graced in that the great God who is higher then the highest hath made choice of us to be his dwelling place in which he will delight to abide for ever Jerusalem was the glory of the world in regard of that famous Temple in which God himself was specially present and no lesse are Christians glorious creatures in whom God dwels so constantly It was the glory of Benjamin Deut. 33.12 that the God of glory dwelt between his shoulders how then is it the glory of Christians that this glorious God dwels in their hearts It must needs then be granted that Christians are glorious creatures and that it may truly be said of them as the Psalmist saies of Sion Psal 37 3 Glorious things are spoken of thee See here also how ill the enemies of the Church provide for themselves for it is the dwelling place of the great God and shall they go unpunisht think we that act violence against it A King being resident in his Pallace if any shall presume to cast dirt on the walls of it or throw stones at the windowes of it to break them its like to cost them dear if they be known how much more will this God avenge the quarrel and right the wrongs done to his Church We hear what Saint Paul saies 1 Cor. 3.17 If any man defiles the Temple of God him will God destroy and no marvel for the same Apostle saies 2 Thess 1.6 It s a righteous thing with God to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you And Joshua could say to Achan Josh 7.26 Why hast thou troubled us God shall trouble thee Nor let any such think to pass hood-winked and so to carry the business as if the wrong done or the wrong-doer should be unknown for the Psalmist can say to God Psal 10.14 Thou beholdest mischief and spight to requite it with thy hand Heb 4.13 And the Apostle can say All things are naked and open to the eyes of him with whom we have to do Ezek. 25.12 13. If Edom speakes against the mountains of Israel saying They are laid waste they are given me to consume God saies I have heard them And it s no less true of acts of violence and the actors of them against the Church that God sees them And hence we may see and learn our duty in three particulars 1. Let us prepare our selves for the receiving of this holy God to dwell in our hearts Accept of the counsel of the Prophet to Jerusalem Jer. 4.14 Wash thy heart from wickednesse God is incomparably holy 1 Sam. 2.2 There is none holy as the Lord He is glorious in holiness Exod. 15.11 Therefore it s most true that the Psalmist saies Holiness becomes thy house O Lord for ever A sober man cannot endure to enter into a Brothel-house nor a neat man to come into a filthy house and can we think that God will be received into an heart uncleansed Hear we how Saint Austin urges this duty If I saies he a mean frail man should promise to come to your house
voluntary Exile and so to reserve themselves for better times yet some of all sorts have undergone the effects of their malice as we may easily see in those ten Persecutions against the Primitive Church in the Persecutions raised by the Arians under Constantius and Valens against the Orthodox Christians and by the Heathens under Julian and to forbear the mentioning of the rest in the Persecutions against the Protestants in those Marian days and so still So that it 's most true and universally true that Saint Paul and Barnabas told the Churches Acts 14.22 That through many afflictions we must enter into the Kingdom of Heaven and that the Apostle told Timothy 2 Tim. 3.12 That they that will live a godly Life in Christ Jesus shall suffer Persecution Reckon then not to pass to Heaven any other way then by taking part in the afflictions of the Church What were it other then folly for a man that enters into a ship to expect exemption from storms when yet storms shall arise against the ship in which he is a Passenger Heb. 2.10 The Prince of our Salvation was made perfect through suffering says the Apostle and shall we think to be made perfect in an easier way The same afflictions says Saint Peter are accomplished in the rest of our Brethren that are in the World 1 Pet. 5.9 and shall we promise our selves an immunity from them The Pirats that invade this ship of the Church are common Enemies to all in the ship and shall we be so foolish as to expect that they should deal more favorably with us then with the rest Then Evils fall heavy when we say with the Fool Non putaram I thought not that such Evils would have happened to me but the expectation of Evils alleviates them Expect them then and then if they come we shall have cause to say I thank God it is no worse then I looked for and if they come we shall say Blessed be God that hath made my way to Heaven easier then I expected And wonder not at it nor let it be an offence to us to hear of or to see great afflictions befalling godly men men of whom the World is not worthy Heb. 11.38 Who wonders to see or hear of a ship setting to Sea to be subject to storms and tempests and meeting with such that the best or the greatest in it to be toss'd up and down and to be Sea-sick This is the case here for the Church is a ship upon the Sea of the World and the best in the Church is a Passenger in this ship And expecting afflictions let us provide aforehand to be fore-armed against them Praemonitus praemunitus as we are fore-warned of them The Mariner setting out to Sea expecting storms and Pirats furnishes himself aforehand with those things that may be of use to him against the one and the other judging it an high point of folly to have them then to seek when he should use them What is more useful to us against Afflictions then the Grace of Patience Ye had need of Patience Heb. 10.38 Luke 21.19 says the Apostle And so our Saviour speaks In Patience possess your Souls Let it be our wisdom therefore to work our Hearts aforehand to a Resolution to bear Afflictions patiently 3. The Resemblance between a ship and the Church holds in the means of the safety of a ship and so of the Church as Saint Jerom hath it in these words God the Father sits in the hinder part of this ship In puppe Pater residet gubernator proram Paracletus servat Spiritus To. 1. lib. de Salomone as the Master and Governor of it to guide its course and the Holy Ghost the Comforter keeps the Fore-ship And moreover for an Anchor necessary also to the safety of a ship God hath given us that blessed Grace of Hope even the Hope of Salvation Heb. 6.19 which says the Apostle we have as an Anchor of the Soul both sure and stedfast of special use to make us stedfast to stand impregnable against and in the midst of all the storms of Persecution raised up against us in the World Oh what Comfort is this to us What assurance shall it not give us of safety against all the opposition which Satan and his Imps make against us and the Church The safety of a ship depends much under God upon the care and vigilancy the skill and courage of the Master Behold the Master and Governor of this ship of the Church is God and his blessed Spirit or God by his Spirit and who is comparable to him for any of these Of his care and vigilancy hear what the Psalmist says Psalm 121 He that keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep As for his skill and wisdom the Apostle doubts not to call him the onely wise God 1 Tim. 1.17 and the Prophet says of him Jer. 32.19 That he is great in counsel and mighty in work and how shall courage be wanting to him to set himself and to defend his ship the Church against all that threaten the ruine of it It 's he says the Psalmist which stills the noise of the Sea Psalm 65.7 the noise of their Waves and the tumults of the People And as for Satan that Arch-Pirat seeking to take or sink this ship though he be a Spirit and therefore of great power against us who are but flesh and blood yet he is nothing to God who is the creating Spirit That which is said of the Behemoth is no less true of him Job 40.18 He that made him can make his Sword to approach unto him Let therefore the power and malice of our Enemies be never so great and their opposition against us never so fierce yet we may comfortably rest upon the assurance which our dear Saviour gives us Matth. 16.1 That the gates of Hell shall not prevail against the Church much less any power on Earth And see the great Mercy of God That whereas the Church in this World is like to a ship on the Sea and therefore subject to storms and tempests he hath given us that blessed Grace of Hope the Hope of Salvation whereby we may be kept steady and not be hurried up and down and driven upon Rocks and Sands to our ruine and wrack And it 's not as other Anchors cast down on the Earth to take hold of that but upwards to God It enters within the Vail Heb. 6.19 says the Apostle it fastens upon God and Christ upon his Power his Mercy his Promise and Faithfulness and therefore it 's a stedfast Hope and a sure Anchor which cannot fail us as not that God on whom it fastens Oh be thankful for such gracious provision Onely now let not this Grace of God be in vain towards us but keep this Anchor charily Heb. 3.6 and hold fast the confidence and rejoycing of this Hope unto the end