Gowlart in Catal. test veritatis others yet shall yee not find the purest Age of the Church free from some one Heresie or other either going before that Great Antichrist according to that Catalogue made of them with a sound Confutation by f Iâ—en aduers haer lib. 5. Irenie g Tertull. in praescrip aduers haer cap. 46. Tertullian h Epiphan in Panâ—rio Anacephalaeos 1. Epiphanius i August lib. de haer ad Quod vult Deum to 6. Augustine k Philastr lib. 1. Philastrius l Theodorit lib. 4. haeret fabular Theodorite m Isidor lib. 8. Etym. cap. 5. Isidore n Nicetas lib 5. thesaur Orth. sid Nicetas o Harmenopul lib. 9. tom primi Iuris Graeâ—o Râ—mani Harmenopulus and p Danaeus in August Zegedâ—n in tabul c. other such or following after as his dregs or relikes retained in the Church of Christ by some Reformers of Idolatrous abuses too much deuoted to pretended Antiquities through the subtiltie of Satan who will haue the Prouerbe verified Vbi vber ibi tuber Fatnesse breedeth filthinesse as Tertullian r Tertull. lib. 4. contr Marcion cap. 5. The vse of this doctrine Reproofe of Brownists well obserued Faciunt fauos vespae faciunt Ecclesias Marcionitae Waspes make Hony-combes and Marcionites make Assemblies For as we say in England Where God hath his Church the Deuill will haue his Chappell § XXXI Wherefore in mine opinion our Schismaticall Brownists ground their stiffe Apostasie from our Church of England vpon a very shaken and weake foundation when Å¿ Barrow and Greenewood in their Examinations and Fran. Iohnson in his Answere to H. J. and T. C. they pretend Hereticall corruption growing in the Church although it bee not of the substance of the Church q Apulâ—ius lib. 4. Florid. to bee the onely cause of their departure from vs as if that a particular visible Militant Church could bee free from all corruption For first why is it said to bee Militant but onely because wee in it and it by vs t Ephes 6 1â— Wrestle not against flesh and bloud but against principalities against powers against the rulers of the darknesse of this World against spirituall wickednesse in high places Secondly where shall this spirituall Combat be fought wherein u Galat. 5.17 The flesh rebelleth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh so that wee cannot doe the things that wee would Out of the Church it is not where all is flesh neither yet in Heauen where all is Spirit It must bee therefore in the Church as yet Militant here vpon earth wherein the x Prou. 24.16 iust man falleth into smart because of sinne for so the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cadu doth note a relapse into a double mischiefe y Vid. Merâ—er Remum Wilcocks in locum first of sinne because of infirmitie and then of punishment inflicted by GODS iudgement for their recouerie seuen times a dâ—y and riseth againe For as a Garment newly washed will gather by vsing more filth againe which must bee wrung out by washing continually till the Garment be worne so iust men fully purged by the bloud z Heb. 12.21 of sprinkling that speaketh better things then that of ABEL euen a 1. Iohn 1.7 clensing vs from all sinne while they liue in this World by the weaknesse of the flesh are spotted with sin against which the bloud of Christ is alwayes effectuall and of comfortable force whiles they daily and duely dippe and bathe themselues soule and bodie therein by their liuely faith and vnfained Repentance as Hierome b Hieroâ—ym Epist c 6. ad Rusticum expounding the fore-alleaged words of Salomon saith Si cadat quomodo iustus si iustus quomodo cadit Sed iusti vocabulum non amittit qui per poenitentiam semper resurgit If he fall how is he iust If he be iust how doth hee fall But hee loseth not the name of a iust man who alwayes riseth againe by Repentance I know that as the Apostle c Ephes 5.25 27. saith Christ loueth his Church Ob. and gaue himselfe for it that hee might present it a glorious Church not hauing spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should bee holy and without blemish Sol. But this is spoken not of a particular visible Congregation set to warrefare hero on earth but of the vniuersall Church of Christ whose glory in this world is inward and inuisible as the o Psal 45.13 King is glorious within For if it bee outward and shining in the true perfection thereof then it cannot appeare in this scandalizing world wherein the p Reuel â—0 8 Deuill rageth by the raigning of Antichrist but in the world to come in which the Saints now militant shall rest from their q Esay 40.2 warfare then accomplished r Rom. 8.23 they enioying the glorious liberty of the sonnes of God being Å¿ 1. Iohn 3.2 then made like vnto him and seeing him as he is I cannot but grant Ob. that it is our dayly dutie t 1. Cor. 5.6.7 to purge out the old leauen that we may be made a new lumpe as we are vnleauened But are wee now therefore without any leauen Sol. Why must wee then purge it out Surely wee are said to be vnleauened two wayes first by the free imputation of Christs righteousnes vnto vs through faith as therefore it is said u Rom. 8.35 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Chosen It is God that iustifieth Secondly by the true working of the holy Ghost in vs according to the seuerall measures and degrees of our sanctification by which Gods Image is dayly renued in vs more and more till wee obtaine our measure in glorification as the Apostle x 2. Cor. 3.18 expresseth it most plainely in these words We all with open face beholding as in a Glasse the glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image from glory to glory euen as by the Spirit of the Lord from the glory of Creation to the glory of Iustification and by this from the glorie of Faith to the glory of sight and in this from the glory of Grace by which wee are the sonnes of God to the glory of Glory by which we shall bee like him Thus Anselmus y Anselm in 2. Cor. 3.18 glosseth this place intimating what some z Aquin. 2. â— q. 184. art 20. Schoolemen and other a Danaeus p 5. Isagog lib. 2. c. 45 Steph. Zâ—gâ—dâ—n tab de Perfectione Vrsin Catechism part 3. q 114. good Diuines of late well note vnto vs that since there is a double perfection the one inchoatiua begun in this life called perfectio viae the other consummata finished in heauen partly after our naturall death in the soule alone but fully in the whole man at the
the detection of that Man of Sinne Your Graces Highnesse in Hereditarie imitation may finish in due time to the Glory of God in maintenance of Truth and your owne eternall Honour by settling Gods people in this happy healthfull and orderly peace The God of Power and Grace so blesse your Excellencies Highnes with all the rich Endowments of his holy Spirit that with the full encrease of all true Honour your Grace may passe many many good dayes here on Earth in all Peace and Godlinesse with the sealed assurance of endlesse Happinesse in the heauenly Ierusalem with the general Assembly and Church of the First-borne in Iesus Christ Amen Your Highnesse most humbly deuoted daily Oratour THOMAS THOMPSON TO ALL THAT HATE ANTICHRIST Light in sauing knowledge and perseuerance in holynesse through IESVS CHRIST GOod Christian Reader I must bee bolde to aduertise thee concerning some passages in this tripled Treatise wherin thou shalt find three maine points of Theologie handled as plainely and as fully as I could The first part is define Saeculi of the end of the World an Argument apt for the Atheists to muse of both in the Doctrine informing their mischieuously misse-led vnderstandings and in the vses reforming their manners The second part of Antichrist whom I prooue to bee the Pope both by artificiall demonstration and by testimonie of Ancient Fathers and of later Writers digested into a pannelled Iurie to cast the Pope What either Sanders Bellarmine Pererius Viegas or Eudaemon haue obiected in any point of the Controuersie I haue to my power satisfied vsing the helpe of our owne good Writers as Bishop Iewel Doctor Whitakers Doctor Abbats Doctor Willet Doctor Sharpe Tilenus Peter du Moulin Gabriel Powel and Master Brightman with other more ancient strong men of our Israel that I might as neere as possibly I could abridge their large Volumes into a Manuell Only I wish thee well to marke the vses of this point the former of which will notifie the miserie of our English Papists together with the Villanies of the Trayterous Iesuites and Seminarie Priests the latter will informe thee of what course God in his most Gracious Prouidence tooke to bring in this happie Reformation of Religion professed in this Church of Great Brittaine together with an answere to all those exceptions which Papists haue vsed to scandalize our Profession of truth The last is of Heretikes going before and following after Antichrist briefly discouered in the forme of a short motion to Princes Prelates and other Peeres for an order against them The second part is the largest and so giueth title to the whole Discourse which I seriously commend to the blessing of God for the helpe of his Elect in knowledge and holinesse and withall prefixe for their readier finding out of the particulars this Catalogue or Table of the seuerall Contents expressed in euery Section thus The first part §. I. 1. WHy IAMES IOHN were called Boanerges Sonnes of Thunder 2. The distinction of Saint IOHN his Writings 3. Why the first Epistle was called Catholica §. II. 1. The scope and summe of what the Text yeeldeth obseruable §. III. 1. The Diuision of the whole Text into seuerall parts §. IIII. 1. Why Time is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an houre 2. What is meant by the last houre 3. The six periods of the worlds age 4. PAVL and IOHN reconciled about the last day §. V. 1. There shall be an end of time 2. How the world is said to be established for euer 3. The world not of long continuance 4. The change of the world according to two opinions 5. The manner of this change is an hidden secret §. VI. 1. The end is euen at hand 2. The signes of the last end set downe in Scripture 3. The complement of those signes in these latter dayes §. VII 1. The first vse of this Doctrine is for sobrietie in opinion and life 2. Why the time of the last day is not reuealed 3. Mans presumption therein 4. ELIAS and NAPIER iustly corrected §. VIII 1. Sobrietie of life 2. We must not make haste to be rich 3. Rich mens miserie 4. We must be sober in expences 5. The absurd change in liuing by Gentlemen Citizens §. IX 1. The Second vse is to watch and pray 2. What watching is 3. Good Rulers are to watch ouer their Charge The second part §. X. 1. THe Prophecies of Antichrist set downe in Scripture 2. The causes of these Prophecies 3. The order and method of this discourse §. XI 1. The litteral name of Antichrist 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. BELLARMINE and EVDAEMON confuted §. XII 1. The mysticall name of Antichrist in these letters 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 666. 2. The sundry applications of these letters to diuers names 3. The absurd dealing of Papists in this name 4. The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what 5. The nominall description of Antichrist §. XIII 1. The efficient cause of Antichrist principall and lesse principall §. XIIII 1. The materiall cause of Antichrist 2. Whether Antichrist bee one onely person or a succession of Apostates 3. Our reasons prouing a succession in Antichrist 4. The Rhemists make for vs. 5. EVDAEMONS exception fully answered 6. IRENAEVS and AVGVSTINE are on our side 7. MALDONATVS also for vs in the meaning of IOH. 5.43 8. Antichrist no Iew nor of the Tribe of DAN §. XV. 1. The former cause of Antichrist 2. Antichrist an Heretike denyeth all the Creede 3. Antichrist most wickedly breaketh all the commandements 4. Antichrist his character couetously imprinted 5. Antichrist his false myracles 6. Antichrist his cruell warres against the Saints 7. Antichrist in the middest of the Church visibly militant 8. Antichrist his residencie in the Citie of Rome 9. Antichrist his beginning and growth till sixe hundred yeeres after Christ 10. Antichrist must continue in some sort till Christs comming §. XVI 1. The finall cause of Antichrist §. XVII 1. The Reall and causall definition of Antichrist §. XVIII 1. MAHOMET is not Antichrist by BELLARMINE proued against IODOCVS CLICHTHOVEVS §. XIX 1. The Pope of Rome is that Great Antichrist before defined 2. The litterall name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 agreeing to the Pope 3. The mysticall name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fitly applied to VITALIANVS c. 4. The course of edifying the Church was changed by VITALIANVS his bringing in of the Latine seruice §. XX. 1. The Pope is all one with that Antichrist in the cause efficient 2. CONSTANTINE his Donation forged §. XXI 1. The Pope agreeth with Antichrist in the materiall cause 2. The hollow Chayre and Pope IOAN proued 3. How the succession of Popes is to be taken §. XXII 1. The Pope is that Antichrist in the formall cause 2. The Pope is an Heretike denying the Creede 3. Instances of his Heresies deliuered for doctrines è Cathedrà against euery Article of the Creede truely proued from the testimonie of their owne Writers and rightly reprooued by the holy
by the Spirit when they fight so much against the true working thereof by denying those Truthes which the Spirit doth testifie in the Word and deluding those Workes which the Holy Ghost effecteth in the conscience for comfort by strengthening the assurance of life eternall But why doe I vrge Grace to those who either refuse it or receiue it in vaine their hearts and consciences being hardened and feared They doe not onely grieue the Spirit The ninth Article infringed 1. By false members of the Church but abuse the Bride that is the holy Catholike Church and the Communion of Saints the subiect of the ninth Article first by accounting both x Bell. lib. 3. de Eccles Militante cap. 4. Heretikes and Reprobates to bee members thereof when my Text saith plainely y 1. Iohn 2.19 They were not of vs and our Sauiour himselfe saith z Iohn 15.6 If a man abide not in me he is cast forth as a branch and withered and men gather them and cast them into the fire and they are burned For as Saints are the members of Christ so are the wicked the members of the Deuill saith a Am. in Psal 37 Ambrose secondly 2. By holding the Church to bee onely visible by b Bell. lib. 3. de Eccle. Milit. c. 11 making the Catholike Church to bee visible onely when Dauid saith that c Psal 45.16 the Kings Daughter is all glorious within and our * Luke 17.24 Sauiour that the Kingdome of God is within you For because one part of this Catholike Congregation is Triumphant now in the Heauen of the Blessed secluded from our eyes and the other part scattered into a warfare here vpon Earth some secretly amongst Iewes Turkes and Heathen others openly in a visible particular Church wherein yet the best part are the fewest and knowne to God onely therefore the good men d Interrelig Caesariana c. 9. apud L. Osiand in Epitome hist Eccles Centur. 16. tom 1. lib. 2. cap. 68. of that Deuillishly-deuised Interim or hotch-potch religion penned and published by the sole Commandement of Charles the fifth ingeniously confesse that the Church as it consisteth of those members which liue according to Charitie is onely belonging vnto the Saints 3. In affirming that the Church cannot erre and in that respect spirituall and inuisible thirdly in holding that a particular visible Church such as e Bell. vbi supra they call the Church of Rome can neither erre in faith nor faile in state when yet experience sheweth what the Prophet f Esay 1.20.21 said of Ierusalem and the Church of the Iewes the holy Citie is become an Harlot it was full of iudgement righteousnesse lodged in it but now Murtherers thy siluer is become drosse thy wine mixt with water to bee fulfilled not onely in most of the Greeke Churches g Vid. Brierw Enquiries and Knollâ— his Turkish Historie both corrupted with the Heresies of Nestorius and Eutyches and now subuerted vtterly almost by the furie of the Turkes but also in the Church of Rome it selfe by the iudgement h Apud Gowlaâ—tium in Catalog tâ—st Veritat of Petrarch who alluding to the Prouerbe in Samnio nihil Samnij said Et Româ Romae nil reperi mediâ I found nothing of Rome in Rome For the i Mat. 13.38 Deuill is alwaies ready to sow his Tares of Heresie and Iniquitie and the Church through the allurements of the flesh and the World very apt to retaine them whereupon GOD in iudgement many times remooues the k Reuel 2 4. Candlesticke out of his place that as the Moone which receiueth her Light from the Sunne sometimes shineth cleerely when the Sunne-beames are not hindred and sometimes is eclipsed and darkened in the shadow of the Earth interposed betweene the two bright bodies of the Sunne and Moone it is a similitude vsed by good l Sadeel lib. de legitima Ministorum vocatione D. Whitaker de Eccles q 3. cap. 3. arg vltimo learned men borrowing it of m Ambros lib. 4 Hexan cap. 7. August Ep. 80. ad Hesych some Ancient Fathers so the Church which receiueth all her light of Truth from the Sunne of Righteousnesse Iesus Christ sometimes flourisheth in the bright Profession of the Truth not hindered or crossed by the Cloudes of Errour and sometimes lyeth desolate vnder the darke shaddow of Hereticall Opinions interposed by the Deuill betweene Christ and his Chosen Congregation visible which when it once came vnto Christian Princes became greater in Power and Riches saith n Hieronym in vita Malchi 4. By wrong marking the Church with vnproper Notes Hierome but lesse in Vertue fourthly by assigning such notes and markes to the Church as marre her but marke her not some being false markes as the o Bellar. lib. 4. de Eccles mil. cap. 14. power of Miracles for p Tharasius in Concil Nic. 2. Actione 4. ex 1. Cor. 14.22 Signes are done for Vnbeleeuers q Math. 7.21 Autor oper Impers hom 19. many times by such some true but not fitly agreeing to the particular but to the generall onely as Antiquitie and Vniuersalitie for this is the right Catholicisme r Ex regula 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 apud Aristot lib. 1. Poster cap. 4. of the whole Church from the beginning of the World lastly others being both true and fit to a particular visible Congregation but not well vnderstood as Succession which Å¿ Bellar. lib. 4. de Eccles mil. cap. 8. they take to bee personall whereas it is the succession of Doctrine that t Tertullian lib. de praescript aduers haer cap. 21. prooueth a Church to be Apostolicall But what need I so strictly examine their markes They u Vid. D. Whitaker q 5. de Eccles cap. 1. B. Keck rm system theolog lib. 3. cap. 6. make indeed so many that a reasonable man may well thinke that they haue not one true marke amongst them some reckoning foure as Costerus some sixe as Sanders some twelue as Cunerus some fifteene as Bellarmine and some full twentie as Socolouius whereas if this bee a true rule which all the x Hieronym in Psa 133. August lib. 11. de Ciuit. Dei cap. 1. Albert. Magnus Comment in Luc. 13. best Diuines allow for a maxime in Theologie that nothing marketh out a Church but that which maketh vp a Church the Church shall haue but one onely proper and essentiall marke to wit the Word of God effectually preached vnto which if we adde the true administration of the two Sacraments Baptisme and the Eucharist as Seales to an Indenture we haue the full marke of a particular visible Congregation of Christ if besides diuers Ancients wee stand to the iudgement of y Apud T.M. celeber Doctor p 1. Apolâ—g lib. 2. cap. 28.39 c. learned Papists who conuicted in conscience subscribe to this truth deliuered in the z Interrelig Caesarian
one of Pride the other of Securitie of Pride when they thinke to doe Workes t Interim August vbi supra aboue commandement whereas the Law u Psal 19 8. of God is so perfect that if it x Esay 8.20 be not answerable to the Law what wee doe there is no light in vs yea y Matth. 15.9 we worship God in vaine teaching for Doctrines mens Precepts of Securitie when they would haue one so to depend vpon another as vpon his Mediatour when Scripture telleth them plainely That z Psal 49.7 no man can by any meanes redeeme his Brother or giue to God a ransome for him and that when we haue a Luke 17.10 done all that is commanded vs we must say Wee are vnprofitable seruants wee haue done that which was our dutie to doe Ob. For where b Cassander Consultat vbi supra some would cloke this blasphemie vnder the colour of the communion of Saints in which the weaker members are sustained by the stronger as ABRAHAMS c Gene. 20.7 Prayer healed ABIMELECHS Household and Hierusalem d 1. Reg. 15.4 was often saued for DAVIDS sake Sol. They vtterly mistake the question or wilfully abuse the simple ignorāt by casting this mist before their eyes which being cleered by the light of the Gospell may well perceiue their false colloguing if it be but in this since the communion of Saints betweene our selues consisteth not in ministring to others necessities out of our superfluities or Workes as they call them of supererogation but in the vse of graces giuen vs for the benefit of others those graces being only such as whereby one of vs may edifie another alreadie planted in the House of God and not meritorious to procure eternall life for others as they thinke instancing therefore most idly both in ABRAHAMS Prayers which profited ABIMELECHS House in bodie not in soule not by ABRAHAMS communication but vpon Gods only fauour and in DAVID whose merits were not the cause of sauing Hierusalem out of the hands of their bodily enemies but only Gods mercie remembring the Couenant made with DAVID before As therefore the wise e Matth. 25.5 Virgins could not spare any of their Oyle to the Foolish lest they should haue wanted for themselues so the best of GODS Saints cannot spare any whit of grace to others which themselues may haue neede of seeing that as Saint Augustine giueth the f August lib. 83. quaest q. 59. reason Euery man shall giue an account for himselfe neither is any man holpen by anothers testimonie with God to whom the secrets of the heart are manifest and scarsly is any man sufficient to himselfe that his owne conscience may beare witnesse with himselfe Howsoeuer it bee it is an Axiome in PETER t Lombard lib. 1. dist 48. cap. 6. LOMBARD Nullius passione redempti sumus nisi Christi Wee are redeemed by no mans suffering but by Christs But let these second sorts of proud Perfectists now passe for this present Thirdly Swenckfeldians Anabaptists and our English Separatists now soiourning at Amsterdam who u Vid Osiand f. in Enchir. 3. par cap. 6. q. 1. M. Barnards second Booke pag. 93. presume so very much of their owne perfection that they hold two grosse points concerning the visible parts of the Church Militant as first in generall That the true Church must be without Sinners or Hypocrites remayning therein the second in particular that their Churches or Assemblies are such But the falshood of the former is many wayes apparant in holy Scripture first by parable Sol. x Matth. 13.32.38 c. in the field sowne with tares the Draw-net bringing fish vp great and small good and bad in the y Math. 20.10 Kings guests at supper whereof one wanted a wedding garment and in a z 2. Tim. 2.20 great house contayning vessells not onely of gold and of siluer but of wood and of earth some to honour and some to dishonour For all these demonstrate that in a visible Church militant are not onely faithfull children but hypocriticall professors also Secondly by plaine termes as where the Prophet a Esay 29.14 said what our b Matth. 15.8 Sauiour seconded This people draweth nigh vnto me with their mouth and honoureth mee with their lips but their heart is farre from me these are Hypocrites and where the Apostle c Gal. 2.5 signified what we shall still find true that false brethren brought in vnawares came in priuily to spye out our libertie which wee haue in Christ Iesus that they might bring vs into bondage and these were glosing Heretikes for d 1. Cor. 11.19 there must be Heretikes amongst you that they which are approoued may be made manifest among you Thirdly by necessary consequence in reason for if the parts be not sound the body is not whole and intire the Church is the bodie whereof all true Professors are members But the best of these members are crazed by corruption as was Dauid e 2. Sam. 11.2 by Adulterie Peter by dissembling f Gal. 2.15 euen after the great descent of Gods Spirit and so the best men that haue in them flesh How then can the Church bee so intire as they would make it As the g Cantic 2.2 Lillie amongst the Thornes so is my loue amongst the daughters pricked and pained by manifold h Matth. 18.7 offences which must needs come while shee is in this world where the i Reuel 12.12 Ephes 2.2 Deuill so rageth and raigneth by open persecutions or secret seductions Fourthly by Histories of all times For in Adams House which was the first Church there was a k Gene. 4.1 Cain in Noahs a l Gene. 9.24 cursed Canaan in Abrahams a m Gene. 21.6 mocking Ismael in Isaacks a n Heb. 12.17 prophane Esau in Iacobs a o Gene 49.3.4.5 rude Reuben and Simeon and Leui brethren in euill but what should I instance further The Church of Israel in the best dayes thereof neuer wanted corruptions or corrupt caitifes as false prophets filthy priests wicked rulers and worse people if we may beleeue the good Prophets bitterly inueighing so many times against them Nay in the Church of Christ what Age wanted Heretikes or what faithfull company was euer void of Hypocrites The Apostles had a p Iohn 6.70 Iudas the seuen Deacons had a q Act. 6.2 Nicholas the Samaritanes a r Act. 8.21 Simon Magus but I neede goe no further since the continuall reformation which is to be sought for in all true Churches doth intimate corruptions therein to be hatched I know the Church is ſ Cantic 1.4 faire Ob. and t Ephes 5.26 made glorious without spot But first it is so by Christ not of it selfe Secondly this beautie is perfected in glory not in grace Sol. I know Ob. we are commanded to separate our selues u 2. Cor. 6.14 Ephes
Scriptures and ancient Fathers in a large discourse worthy the perusing by all louers of true Faith 4. The Pope as Pope is a most wicked transgressour of euery Commandement in the Decalogue 5. Speciall records of the Popes vile acts and deedes against the whole Law of God gathered out of the Popes owne Historians Schoolemen Canonists Casuists and Ceremonials 6. The Pope imprinteth the Character of Antichrist vpon Princes and Priests and all other sorts of people 7. The Pope doth coozen the world by lying wonders 8. SANDERS BELLARMINE and other Papists answered touching the Miracles of Antichrist 9. The Popes crueltie against Gods Saints 10. Rome Antichristian the Popes place of Residence 11. The Pope and that Great Antichrist haue all one beginning growth continuance and ending 12. When Rome shall fall in all likelihood §. XXIII 1. The end why God so long doth suffer the Pope §. XXIIII 1. The forme of the Demonstration gathered from all beforesaid and proouing the Pope to be that Great Antichrist §. XXV 1. The first exception against the Demonstration fully answered 2. How is the Gospell preached throughout the world 3. How the Romane Empire is said to stand at this day §. XXVI 1. The second exception from the iudgement of some Protestants denying the Pope to be that Antichrist fully and truely satisfied 2. How we are to take the words of the ancient Fathers in this question of the Great Antichrist §. XXVII 1. The testimonies of the Fathers prouing the Pope to bee that Great Antichrist two wayes 2. First by way of Prophecie declaring two maine points First that Antichrist shall sit at Rome vpon the ruines of the Romane Empire so Tertullian Cyrill Hierosolym Chrysostome Theophylact and Rodolphus Fluuiacensis alleadged by Coccius Secondly that Rome is Babylon the proper seat of Antichrist and to bee destroyed before the end of the World so Tertullian Hierome and Lactantius 3. Secondly by way of open verdict and proclamation where the Pope is put vpon a Iurie of twelue good men and true whereof foure are 1. Kings and Emperours 2. Archbishops and Bishops 3. Abbots and Monks together with a supply of a Decem Tales if any of the former should be challenged 4. The sufficiencie of these testimonies warranted First by three specialties the Pride the Schismes and the filthy liues of Popes Secondly by the iudgement of the Popes owne Dearlings viz. BELLARMINE and BARONIVS §. XXVIII 1. The first vse of this doctrine is to bewaile the misery of our English Papists 2. The manner of their bondage to the See of Rome 3. The dealing of Iesuites and Seminarie Priests 4. The outragious Conspiracies against our most Gracious Soueraignes the Kings and Queenes of England 5. No Papist as a Papist is a true Christian 6. No Papist as a Papist is a good Subiect 7. The suspicious courses of Papists in taking the Oath of Alleagiance most plainely detected §. XXIX 1. The second vse of the doctrine is to reioyce heartily for our gracious deliuerance from Antichrist 2. The double meanes by which God deliuered this Monarchie of Great Brittaine from the tyrannie of Antichrist 3. The libertie wee enioy now vnder our most Gracious Soueraigne Lord King IAMES 4. The Popish obiections made to scandalize our Profession of the Reformed Religion fully satisfied by declaring three things First how Temporall commodities are deare or cheape Secondly Vpon what grounds our departure from them standeth Thirdly in what case our fore-fathers were liuing in and vnder Popery 5. An Exhortation to our Iudges for the strict execution of our Lawes and Statutes made against Iesuites Seminarie Priests and Popish Recusants The third part §. XXX 1. THe diuers acceptions of the word Antichrist 2. There must alwayes be Heretikes in the Church militant till the comming of Christ to Iudgement §. XXXI 1. The vse of the former doctrine is iustly to reproue the Separatist the Brownists whose grounds and reasons are fully examined and their wickednesse discouered §. XXXII 1. All Heresies haue a necessary dependance vpon that Great Antichrist 2. What Heresie is 3. The Hereticall forerunners of Antichrist 4. The reliques of Antichristian Heresies maintained by some priuate spirits in the bosome of the Reformed Churches §. XXXIII 1. The vse of this doctrine is threefold to direct First the Ministerie to fight by the Word against Antichrist and Heresies Secondly the Magistracie to cut off Heretikes by the Temporall Sword Thirdly the People of God not to murmure at the Execution of Iustice but rather First to prayse God for His Maiesties great zeale in defending Gods Truth against all Heretikes Secondly to pray God for the strengthning of His Maiesties heart and arme against them Thirdly to auoyd them and flee from them that be Enemies to our Christian peace 2. The conclusion of all in a briefe recapitulation with a short Prayer for the Comming of Christ. And now my deare Brethren take in good part my poore endeuours wholly bent and imployed for the good of his Elect in the Seruice of his Church wherein I labour as a weake and vnworthy Minister of Gods Word It may be some will require an Index Alphabeticall of the Contents But that Table should be framed by the Leaues and Page and I am farre from the Presse Only therefore marke the method and your memories will bee an Index sufficient for finding out any matter in this Booke contained Reade all before you for your better vnderstanding Trust mee not before you try mee in the pith of my proofes not taken vp at the second hand but sought and brought out of the Store-house it selfe of holy Wisdome to wit the Canonicall Scriptures the Ancient Fathers and other good Authours of humane Learning God open their eyes and touch their hearts that are otherwise minded God increase and strengthen our faith who are right minded that in the peace of Hierusalem our hearts may bee comforted with a full assurance of euerlasting happinesse in Iesus Christ AMEN From my Studie in Mountgomerie in Wales this sixth day of Ianuarie being the Feast of EPIPHANY Anno Dom. 1618. Your Brother in the Lord Christ Iesus Thomas Thompson ANTICHRIST ARRAIGNED THE TEXT IS 1. Iohn 2. 18. Babes it is the last time and as yee haue heard that Antichrist shall come euen now are there many Antichrists whereby we know that it is the last time 19. They went out from vs but they were not of vs for if they had beene of vs they would haue continued with vs. But this commeth to passe that it might appeare that they are not all of vs. 20. But yee haue an oyntment from him that is holy and yee haue knowne all things IAMES and Iohn the sonnes of Zebedee most Honourable right Worshipfull and dearely beloued men fathers and brethren in our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ are called by our Sauiour a Marke 3.17 Boanarges sonnes of thunder because of the powerfull voice of their preaching saith b Nazianz. 19. Gregorie
promised to the perseuerant vnder this good precept o Reue. 2.10 Be thou faithfull vnto death and I will giue thee a Crowne of life The Reall and full definition of Antichrist § XVII The efficient the matter the forme the end now all put together will openly discouer what is this Great Antichrist to wit a man by ordinarie substitution succeeding another in a kingdome raised vp by Satan vpon the ruine of the Romane Empire and the liberalitie of Christian Princes through the pleasures of the world who being in opinion an Hereticke and a most wicked man in life couetously seeketh to imprint his Character vpon all men whomsoeuer coozeningly endeuoureth to doe signes and wonders and cruelly persequuteth in bloodie massacres the Saints of God in the middest of the Church sitting at Rome growing mysteriously in the Primitiue time but from the sixth hundreth sixtieth and sixth yeere after Christ openly manifest till his vtter destruction at the end of the world both for the blinding of the reprobate and the triall of the elect to the glory of God Eculmo spicam By the halfe you may know what the whole tale meaneth For by this definition thus prooued in all points we may easily perceiue what now in the second place we are to make search for Who is this Great Antichrist § XVIII Some The second Question Who is this Great Antichrist The first opinion as Iodocus Clicthoueus p Clicthou Commentar in Damascen l. 4. ca. 27 reporteth thought that this Great Antichrist was that Seducer Mahomet and his succeeding bloud-suckers Saracens and Turks But Cardinall q Bellar. lib. 3. de Pontif. cap. 3. Sanders Henriq Viguer c. Bellarmine together with all our other Papists which I could as yet euer read concerning this matter vtterly reiect this opinion as most false being indeede conuicted by the strength of Truth For first Mahomet and the Turkes had neuer any place of residence in the middest of the Church at Rome secondly hee neuer was a Prince Ecclesiasticall thirdly he could not by any reason bee accounted for an Heretike or an Apostate from that faith which hee neuer professed fourthly although hee began to raigne in Arabia r An. Dom. 623. vt Genebrard lib. 3. Chronolog much about the time when Antichrist did manifest his rising at Rome yet he neuer made himselfe an vniuersall Bishop and the Vicar of Christ as Antichrist did And therefore some other must be found out to be Antichrist The second opinion and the Truth The Pope is that Great Antichrist Proofes are two 1. From the Names 2. From the Nature or causes of Antichrist From the name are two 1. Literall 2. Mysticall The Literall Name § XIX Who I pray you then can this Antichrist be but Pontifex Romanus the Bishop or as they commonly now call him the Pope of Rome For both his name and his nature agree so fitly vnto that which we haue noted of the Great Antichrist that we may well conclude them to be both one so truly and fully as that now the Pope of Rome is the onely Great Antichrist and the Great Antichrist is only the Pope The name of both is litterall and mysticall The litterall name is Antichrist by which although the Pope bee not called totidem sillabis in those same sillables yet in the same sense he beareth that name if we marke the true Etymologie of the word Antichrist since first hee is so opposite vnto Christ Iesus both in doctrine and life as we shall finde hereafter in the application of the formall cause And secondly since he is commonly called by his chiefest Å¿ Bell. in praefat Tom. 2. ad Sixtii 5. Azor. in dedicat Tom. 1. ad Clem. 8. Flatterers Christi in terris Vicarius Christ his Vicar on earth ouer the Church of which being but t Extrauag Cömun lib. 1. tit 8. cap. 1. vbi sic Ecclesiae vnius vnicae vnum corpus vnum caput non duo capita quasi monstrum Chrisâ—us viz. Christi Vicarius Petrus Petrique successor c. one onely there is but one body one Head not two heads as if he were a Monster to wit Christ and Christs Vicar PETER and PETERS successour c. But howsoeuer they may cauill against this application of the litterall name the mysticall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 included in the number 666 more plainely agreeth vnto the Pope For who raigneth in Latio but only u Ex fictâ— Constantini donatione vide Laur. Vallam the Pope who maketh the Scriptures translated into the Latine tongue The mysticall name to be onely the Authentique Word of God but x Con. Trident. sess 4. decret 2. the Romish Pope onely who forbiddeth the vse of the Liturgie in any other language saue the Latine tongue onely but only the y Con. Trident. sess 22. can 9. Pope Yea marke how this mysterie of this name is made plaine For at that very time when the yeeres after Christ came vp to the number of sixe hundred sixtie and sixe Vitalianus a Musicall Pope notwithstanding through z Jn bello Longobardico inter Imperator barbaros vid. Ottonem Frisingens lib. 5. cap. 11 the misery of the time when hee liued there was more neede of praying then singing yet a Fascicul Tempor compilata historia Platina Balaeus Valero in Vitalian Magdeburgens Câ—nt 7. c. 6. Osiander Câ—nt 7. lib. 3. cap 10. brought into the Church singing of the Seruice the vse of Organes commanding that the Canonicall houres the Hymnes and other Ceremonies should onely bee celebrated in the Latine tongue A matter of mayne consequence since thereupon ignorance arose amongst all people now lulled as it were asleepe by the confused noyse of many voyces in an vnknowne tongue and vpon that ignorance an easie admittance of many grosse opinions if it carried the colour of aduancing deuotion although it was no better as their case then stood then b Act. 17.23 the Altar erected to an vnknowne God And therefore where some c Bell. in Apolog. pro Resp ad Reg. cap. 12. of our Aduersaries mocke at this our applying of this number to Vitalian Ob. since hee was in their opinion a zealous good man in whose time there was no such innouation or change in the Church as we pretend We answere for Vitalian Sol. that his goodnesse shall bee iudged of at the great Day of the Lord In the meane time we know that d 2. Cor. 11.13 14. Sathan himselfe is transformed into an Angell of light and his ministers as the Ministers of righteousnesse For secondly concerning the innouation and change which fell out to bee in the dayes of Vitalian Vitalian himselfe was the onely cause thereof by those his Ordinances for playing and singing Latine Hymnes in the Church since thereby e Luke 11.52 the Key of Knowledge was hidde when common people f Vide Polydor.
it is said The third part of all other Heretikes § XXX EVen now there are many Antichrists The Exposition of the latter part concerning many Antichrists which are Heretikes whereby wee know that it is the last time As the name of Christ in Scripture is taken either particularly for the Messiah himselfe or generally for those who are either his Types forerunning as were all the Prophets Priests and Kings liuing vnder the Law of all whom it is x Psal 105.15 said Touch not mine Anointed or Deputies following being consecrated to his Seruice by the vnction of his Spirit the Church with all the faithfull therein contained being therefore called by the Name y 1. Cor. 12.12 of Christ so the poysonous name of Antichrist is vsed by the Holy Ghost either particularly for the great Fox himselfe as the Article expresseth in this Text before or generally for all his cubs together who either forerunne him as Types or shaddowes in the first sixe hundred yeeres after Christ or else succeed him as his Deputies or Lieutenants seeking to maintaine his standing in those particular visible Churches out of which he was eiected by the force of Gods Word as we find the word vsed in all those places where the name of Antichrist is put either in the plurall number as in my Text or in the singular number collectiuely for any one Seducer whatsoeuer he be as where Saint Iohn saith z Ioh. Ep. 2.7 He that is such an one is a Seducer and an Antichrist For as the Types and Deputies of Christ are so called not onely because of the outward anointing but also for the inward and true ministration of the Grace of Christ vnto them Who a Coloss 2.19 hold of the head whereof all the bodie furnished and knit together by ioynts and bands increaseth with the increasing of God because they b Coloss 2.9.10 are complete in him who is the head of all principalitie and power receiuing c Iohn 1.16 of his fulnesse grace for grace euen so the forerunners and followers of this wicked Beast which is the Great Antichrist carrie the name and marke of their Master not onely because of that outward opposition which they all make against Christ by seuerall wayes but also for that inbred communion betweene them by which the forerunners prepare the way for Antichrist through the secret transfusion of their Poyson into the Papall Sea which through the strength of stomake doth perfectly digest it and deliuer it to such Sectaries as depending wholly vpon that See through the vigour of their venome with the Pharises in the Gospell d Math. 23.15 compasse Sea and Land to make one of their profession whom being so made they stuffe him vp with stubbornenesse and line him through with all manner of lewdnesse to make him twofold more the childe of perdition then themselues So that Saint Iohn from the multitude of these men thus opposed to Christ doth most aptly demonstrate the approch of the last times vnder this true forme of argument When Antichrist shall come it is the last time But Antichrist is come Therefore it is the last time For the name of Antichrist hath the same signification in both the Premises noting thereby vnto vs a bodie of Heresie intirely consisting of an vnhappy head and many bad members forerunning or following the approch of their head by opposing themselues against Christ Iesus and his holy Congregation either in faith or manners euen as both Augustine and Aquinas with all the approoued Writers both of Papists and Protestants whom I could yet see or peruse expound this place whence now concerning Heresie The doctrines drawne from this Text thus expounded The former the verie soule of Antichrist we may learne these two most certaine Problemes the former that from the first comming of Christ in the flesh vntill his last comming to Iudgement in this last Age of the World there shall alwayes be Heresies crept into the Church of Christ Militant here vpon Earth The latter The latter that all those Heresies whatsoeuer they be shall alwayes haue some necessarie dependance vpon the Great Antichrist The former prooued The former point appeareth true first from the Scriptures in e Math. 13.30 the Parable of the tares which must grow amongst the wheate vntill the Haruest For God to f Rom. 9.22 shew his wrath and to make his power knowne suffereth with long patience the vessels of wrath prepared to destruction secondly from the strength of a double Reason the first of necessitie since Heresies are if not essentiall yet very proper markes of these last times wherein all things g 2. Tim. 3.13 grow worse and worse as well in faith as in manners the wicked deceiuing and being deceiued For h Luke 18.8 when the sonne of man shall come shall he find faith on the Earth The question implyeth this negatiue i 2. Thes 3.2 All men haue not faith And k Luke 17.28 as in the dayes when LOT came out of Sodome so shall it bee in the dayes of the Sonne of man then there were l Gene. 18.32 not tenne Righteous for whose sake the Citie might haue beene saued as now and hereafter there shall be scarce any that may be thought worthy m Mat. 24.12 Charitie cooling and Iniquitie abounding The second of vtilitie which the Apostle deliuereth when hee saith n 1. Cor. 11.19 There must be Heresies also among you that they which are approoued may be made manifest among you For it must o Math. 18.7 needs be that offences come but woe to that man by whom the offence commeth Because as in a Fornace the Gold is purged but the drosse consumed so God permitteth Heresies alwayes in the World that the faithfull by their tryall may bee truely purged when the wicked by their wilfull Apostasies shall bee knowne as Tertullian p Tertullian de praescript aduersus haeres cap. 1. therefore said very well Haereses ad hoc sunt vt fides habendo tentationem habeat etiam probationem that is Therefore are heresies that faith by them hauing a triall might receiue an approofe For turne yee thorow all the Histories Ecclesiasticall either written by the ancient Fathers and Orthodox Scribes the Churches Pen-men q Euseb lib. 10 histor Eccles Eusebius r Sozomen lib. 9 Sozomene Å¿ Socrates lib. 7 Socrates t Theodor. lib. 5. Theodorite u Prosper in appendice ad Chronolog Euse Prosper x Victor in historia Vandalica Victor y Euagrius lib. 6 Euagrius and z Alij vt Epipâ—an Schol. lib. 1 part hist. Nicephor lib. 18. other such or digested into Centuries for distinction of times by the a Magdeburg tom 10. Magdeburgenses b Baron tom 10 Baronius c Osiand Epitome pa. Centur. 16 Osiander d Bisciola Epitome Baron tom 3. Bisciola and e Alij vt Illyricus
Decret apud Binnium tom 1. Eusebius because Christi vice Legatione sunguntur in Ecclesiâ In stead of Christ they execute an Ambassage in the Church For it is Augustine his double Rule k August in 〈…〉 Omnis Antistes â—sâ—â—hristi Viâ—ius Euery Bishop is Christs Vicar and l Idem 〈◊〉 q. 106. Homo Impertum Dei habens quasi Vicarius Dei est Man hauing Gods Dominion is as Gods Vicar How can the Pope then be Christs Vicar when Christ hath not made him so neither doth hee behaue himselfe as a Vicar or Vicegerent but as a Lord-Royal when yet his own Law is That m Ioâ— 22 Extrauag Con. lib. 3 tit 2. cap. 5. ad init the Vicar of Christ should coÌ„forme himselfe to the acts of Christ For thirdly is hee not entituled Caput Ecclesiae The Head of the Church Is not this Christs Free-hold whereupon he so vsurpeth And yet how can hee be a Vicar of Christ and the Head of the Church For as that Titular Patriarch of Antioch spake in the Councell of Basill n Joh. Patriar Antioch in append Concil apud Binnium tom 3. pa. 2. Caput esse denotat praeeminentiam quam Minister non habet supra Dominam To be Head noteth a preeminence which the Seruant hath not aboue his Mistresse Ob. Yes say they o Rhemists in 1. Eph. §. 5. Hee may bee a Ministeriall Head as the Pope is to the Militant Church here on earth Well be it so Sol. But I demand what Scripture teacheth this For no place is yet to our knowledge brought by any of them for ground of this distinctioÌ„ But to deale kindly with them who so disgrace their Sauiour by magnifying their Pope admit this yet then the Pope hath not to doe with the Church Triumphant being only the Ministeriall Head of the Militant Church neither yet can euery Pope bee a true Head thereof since some Popes are damned creatures in Hell euen p Watsons Quodlibets q. Sixtus Quintus by Bellarmines iudgement and Landus with others of that Ranke whom q Vid. Baron Annal. ad Ann. 900. c. Baronius and r Platina in Lando c. Platina haue censured either for Monsters or obscure Villaines But if they were neuer so good men I maruell how the Church shall liue when the Pope is dead Shall it walke hop-headlesse Poore Church either the Pope is not thine Head vpon whom thy life dependeth as the life of the members is from the Head or else thou maist make a great many Resurrections vpon the enstalling of euery new Pope yea and must be sometimes like the triple-headed Cerberus Absit dicto blasphemia vpon any Schisme Answere these doubts yee Papists or your Pope is no Head of the Militant Church But fourthly the Pope is Sponsus Ecclesiae The Bridegroome of the Church if hee bee not the Head Nay then hee must bee the Head as the Å¿ Ephes 5.23 Husband is the Head of the Wife But who durst call the Pope the Bridegroome to the Church which by Saint t 2. Cor. 11.2 PAVL is espoused and presented to one Husband euen Christ who as the Baptist saith u Iohn 3.29 is the Bridegroome because hee hath the Bride whom hee x Hos 2.19 married vnto himselfe for euer Surely neither Scripture nor Councell nor Father euer gaue this Title to the Pope till a thousand two hundred and fortie yeeres after CHRIST when the Dogge had his day in the very power and houre of darkenesse I meane when Antichrist ruffled in the Councell assembled at y Bellar. reporteth it out of the Sext. tit de Elect. caâ— Vbi periculum Where yet I cannot finde any such word in their new Edition Gregorian Lyons where this Title Sponsus Ecclesiae was giuen to the Pope farre contrarie to Saint Bernards minde who told z Bernard Ep. 237. Pope EVGENIVS that since he was the Bridegroomes friend hee should make no challenge vnto the Bride vnlesse it be to dye for her sake For that were to make the Church an Harlot if She should be espoused to any other since Christ euer liueth because the a Rom. 7.3 Woman which hath an Husband is bound by the Law vnto her Husband so long as he liueth Ob. But may not an Husband haue a Deputie in his absence Sol. To what purpose To beget Children of her Then b Gene. 39.9 Ioseph might without sinne haue layne with his Mistresse But shee was exempted from vnder his hand as the Church is from vnder the power of any Pope Priest or Potentate in respect of her coniunction in Marriage which is only with Christ as she truly professeth c Canâ— 7.10 I am my Beloueds and his desire is towards mee Ob. Where then the Cardinall doth not thinke it absurd in spirituall matters that one spouse should belong to many howsoeuer it is grosse in Temporall causes Sol. Let him know that as Man and Wife are by Marrriage d Gene. 2.23 one flesh so Christ and his Church are by spirituall coniunction e 1. Cor. 12.12 one body of which if the Pope bee not a member he is but a damned creature for f Cybrian lib. de Vuit Ecclesiae out of the Church is no Saluation and if hee be a member then is he not Sponsus the Bridegroome or Head but one ouer whom the Spouse hath a power euen to be his Mistresse because hee is but her Husbands Vicar or Deputie or Steward not to rule ouer her but for her benefit to dispence their seuerall portions vnto her seruants as Thomas g Apud Aenâ—um Syluium lib. 1. de gest Concil Basil ens de Corsellis did learnedly argue this Case before the Fathers in the Councell of Basill Yet fifthly and lastly hee is called and must carrie it cleerely to be so Episcopus vniuersalis The vniuersall Bishop albeit no Scripture euer gaue him or any other Bishop such a name nay nor yet any Father of the Primitiue Church saue h Theodo diac Ischyrion diac Athanas presb in Actione 3. Concil Chalcedonensis three priuate men in the Councell of Chalcedon who intituled Leo the first vniuersall Archbishop or vniuersall Patriarch but if we may beleeue the report of Gregory i Gregor ad Mauritium lib. 4. Ep. 32. Although this name of vniuersall Bishop was in honour of Saint PETER offered by that Councell to the Bishop of Rome yet none of his Predecessours euer tooke it vnto him or gaue consent to vse it For indeede Gregorie himselfe did k Gregor Ep. 36.38.39 lib. 4. Registri many times inueigh against Iohn the Patriarch of Constantinople for vsurping this name of vniuersall Bishop as a name too high for any man and therfore a proud blasphemous and sacrilegious Title for a Minister of Christ Yea and Gratian l Gratian. dist 99. Can 3.4 from the Councell of Afrike and from the following Decree of
as he is a King As a man he serueth God by liuing faithfully but as a King he serueth him by ordaining with force conuenient Lawes commanding iust things and forbidding things contrarie and againe k August lib. 3. contr Cresâ—onium Grammaticum cap. 51. In this Kings as it is giuen them in charge from God serue God in this respect they are Kings if in their Kingdome they commaund good forbid euill not onely pertaining to humane societie but also belonging to diuine Religion Secondly of Isidore l Isidor Hispal lib. 3. de summo bono cap. 53. Hispalensis Princes of this world many times exercise the heights of godlinesse obtained within the Church that thereby they may strengthen Ecclesiasticall discipline and that what a Priest will not doe by speech of doctrine Autoritie may accomplish by terror of discipline And this I hold for caution sufficient in the right vnderstanding of the Regall title which is not giuen in flatterie but acknowledged in his right as next vnder Christ whose seruant he is that so notwithstanding this subordinate power of earthly Princes vnder Christ in the Church as it is visibly militant in this or that Kingdome Countrey of this world yet Christ may be all in all euen m Eccles 5.8 Of Consolation higher then those who are the highest So that thirdly from the fore-spoken-of doctrine we finde to our particular benefit vnspeakeable coÌ„solation because we depending vpon this Foundation this Teacher this Head this Master Christ Iesus shall neuer perish by a finall fall For we shall not fall finally being taught by him in his holy Word our n Psal 119.105 light and o Iohn 5.39 our life being ruled by him through his holy Spirit p 1. Iohn 3.9 his seed and our q Rom. 1.4 sanctifier his teaching his ruling stayeth vs in his Truth from damnable Errours r Iohn 17.17 his Word is that Truth Å¿ Iohn 16.13 his Spirit leadeth to it So that although we liue in this world as in a Labyrinth going euer on but neuer getting out by the blinding and winding wayes of wickednesse yet need we not feare the want of an issue since his Word as a threed will shew vs the way his Spirit our Comforter will strengthen our hearts to encounter the Minotaurus that killing his companion our trecherous flesh and discouering his path-way this wide and wild world we may put him to flight and say with the People returned out of captiuitie vnto his holy Church t Esay 26.1.2.3.4.5 We haue a strong Citie for u Psal 48.3 God is knowne in it saluation will God appoint for walles and bulwarks to cast out our enemies and to keepe vs in compasse Open yee the gates yee x Iohn 10.5 Porters of the Lords house who haue the key y Luke 11.52 of knowledge and whom he hath appointed to carry the z Esay 22.22 Reuel 3.7 key of Dauid for opening shutting for a Iohn 20.23 remitting and retaining sinne that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in through the b Reuel 22.14 gate into the Citie by grace to glory For thou Lord wilt keepe him in perfect peace whose minde is stayed on thee as on the rocke against which albeit c Matth. 7.25 all waues doe dash yet are they done away because he trusted in thee for the Lord neuer d Psal 37.40 faileth them that trust in him Therefore trust yee in the Lord for euer for in the Lord Iehouah who performes what he promiseth to be e Exod. 6.3 knowne by this Name is euerlasting strength As therefore we cannot finally fall so shall we not perish being set on that Foundation being holden of that Head For f 2. Tim. 2.19 the foundation of the Lord remaineth sure and hath this seale The Lord knoweth who are his Can we then be moued out of place by any storme being so well grounded Our vpper parts are safe too for our Head is g Phil. 3.20 aboue that we cannot be drowned in the middest of many waters being h Colos 2.19 knit vnto him by so many ioynts and bands If we be weake in our selues as we are all but flesh yet are we strong in him who first can so saue vs that i Iohn 10.27 none shall be able to take vs out of his hand who secondly will saue vs k Luk. 1.71.74 from the hand of all that hate vs that in peace we may serue him without feare who thirdly as he l Reuel 1.8 is Alpha by preuenting grace will also be Omega by his gift of perseuerance m Phil. 1.6 performing the good worke he hath begun in vs and bringing n Zâ—ch 4.7 Vid. Caluin ibid forth the head stone of his spirituall building in vs with shoutings of his gladsome o Luke 15.8 Angels for our conuersion crying Grace Grace vnto it For by p Ephes 1.8 grace we are saued and not of our selues his q 1. Cor. 15.10 grace is not in vaine in vs wee r Ephes 4 15. growing both so fast and so fully thereby into our head that we cannot be moued Å¿ Psal 30.7 God by his fauour hauing made our mountaine to stand so strong For first are our foes many Feare t 2. Reg. 6.16 not for they that be with vs are more then they that be with them u Rom. 8.31 God is on our side who can be against vs For secondly are our foes mightie Be of good comfort the Lyon x Gene. 49.9 couchant of the Tribe of Iuda who is our shield will y Matth. 4.11 put to flight the z 1. Pet. 5.8 rampant roaring Lyon of hell yea a Rom. 16.20 the God of peace shall bruise Satan vnder your feete shortly For thirdly haue our foes fought long against vs Be not discouraged their time is the shorter our glory is the neerer and therefore b Reuel 12.12 they rage He that saueth vs seeth them c Psal 59.9 and laugheth them to scorne for d Act. 9.5 kicking so foolishly against the pricks Our teares are put into his bottles our troubles are registred in his booke of remembrance that they may be in fresh suite against our enemies for our comfort and encouragement who shall finde in the end e Rom. 8.23.24 a glorious libertie by the full redemption of our bodies from trouble by death and from death by the comming of Christ vnto Iudgement For here we f Heb. 13.14 haue no continuing Citie but looke for one to come whereinto since in g Reuel 21. â—7 no wise shall enter any thing that defileth he h 1. Iohn 3. â— that hath this hope in him to enter therein and be like him shall purifie himselfe euen as he is pure For this is that conformitie vnto our Master in Christian perfection of which we are now briefely to speake of in
his soule and the x Prou. 19.23 feare of the Lord tendeth to life hee that hath it shall abide satisfied Fourthly in the outward behauiour of body by diligent watching ouer all the whole body and euery part thereof y Rom. 6.13 to giue it vnto God as a weapon of righteousnesse and not as a weapon of vnrighteousnesse vnto sinne since the z 1. Cor. 6.19 body is the Temple of the holy Ghost which is in vs. And so is this New-man a Iames 1.4 perfect and intire lacking nothing if his actions bee answerable to these in-wrought good habits of body and soule Now all the actions of true perfection Euangelicall are reduceable or to be drawne vnto one generall head which is Repentance consisting of b Vid. Rollocum de Vocat efficaci cap. 36. two speciall parts the one called properly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a sorrow after sinne the other 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a true reformation after that sorrow The former is esteemed an action of Euangelicall perfection not as it is a sorrow arising from feare of punishment denounced in the Law against impenitent sinners for that c Rom. 8.15 sorrow is wrought by the spirit of bondage and may bee in Reprobates as in d Gene. 4.7 Cain and e Act. 24 25. Foelix but as it is godly sorrow wrought in our hearts by the f Rom. 8.15 Spirit of adoption onely because God is so dishonoured by our sinnes and so displeased at vs sinners as Dauid g Psal 51.4 lamented saying Against thee thee onely haue I sinned and done this euill in thy sight For h Act. 2.37 this pricking of the heart this i Esa 35.14 chattering this k Matth. 5.5 mourning tendeth to perfection two manner of waies first as it teareth asunder our hardned hearts for our sore-past sinnes that so they may become the l Psal 5.18 Sacrifices of God m Heb. 9.14 purged from dead works to serue the liuing God because God onely looketh n Esay 66.2 on him that is poore and of a contrite heart and trembleth at his Word Secondly as it maketh a man alwaies suspect himselfe vpon the conscience of his owne infirmities which minister seede vnto his sinnes as o Iob. 1.5 Iob did his sonnes and Dauid himselfe saying Haue p Psal 6.2 mercy vpon me O Lord for I am weake for thus hee casteth off the confidence of the q Ierem. 17.5 fleshly arme and trusteth in the Lord his helper and so he seeing his owne spots and staines by the cleere Glasse of Gods Law daily endeuoureth by a liuely faith to wash all white in r Reuel 7.14 the bloud of the Lambe But all this cannot perfect vs without a further proceeding euen vnto the latter part of repentance viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is an action of perfection onely as it is a change first in the minde from ſ 2. Thes 2.11 the beleeuing of errors to the knowledge of the Truth secondly in the will from euill to good t Iude 23. hating that inclining to this thirdly in the whole man who before being u Tit. 1.16 disobedient and to euery good worke reprobate now yeeldeth himselfe vnto all due obedience and seruice of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wholly both in body and in Spirit glorifying x 1. Cor. 6.20 God for they are Gods in all points whiles y Psal 119.8 that hee hath respect vnto all Gods Commandements for euer in that hee desireth but one z Psal 27.4 thing of the Lord which he will seeke after that he may dwell in the House of the Lord all the dayes of his life to behold the faire beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his Temple For although the flesh allure him with subtill baits yet a Gal. 5.24 by crucifying the flesh with the affections and the lusts hee auoydeth the danger of those inticements although the world set blocks in his way yet God maketh b Psal 143.8 his way plaine by induing him c Luke 21.19 with patience to possesse his owne soule and to d Psal 18.29 leap ouer such lets yea albeit the raging Deuill spiting at this perfect man mustereth all his forces of hard temptations either to oppresse him or incumber his way yet e Prou. 15.24 his way is on high to auoid from hell beneath he easily defeateth them all f Ephes 6.14 by the putting on of the Armour of light and the discreete vsing of the same against the brunt of euery temptation according to their seuerall kinds For g Prou. 18.10 the Name of the Lord is a strong Tower the righteous runne into it and is safe hee is called a h Act. 11.25 Christian and in Christ at the end hee i Rom. 8.37 shall bee more then Conquerour when the k Rom. 16.20 God of peace shall tread downe Sathan vnder his feete shortly It may bee that he is stayed awhile from following his course by the heate and height of violent temptations as were l Iudg. 16.21 Samson m 2. Sam. 11.2 Dauid n Math. 26.76 Peter and others of the blessed Martyrs and Confessors as o Niceph. lib. 5. cap. 33. Origen p Platina in Marcellin Marcellinus and that true seruant of Christ q Fox Act. Monum p. 1710 Thomas Cranmer by weaknesse of the flesh yeelding somewhat to sinne but yet he falleth not finally from the faith r 1. Iohn 3.9 the seed of God remayning in him to hold him vp that in the act he should not runne too farre and in the issue he should not be slacke to get himselfe out recompencing his stay by a swifter course afterward with a greater detestation and loathing of sinne and a zeale more inflamed to follow after righteousnesse as we find it true in the foresaid Saints what was promised by ſ Esay 40.27 the Prophet They that wait vpon the Lord shall renue their strength they shall mount vp with wings as Eagles they shall runne and not be weary they shall walke and not be faint For saith the t Psal 6◠13 Vid. ibid. Mollerum c. Lyram c. Psalmist to all the Church militant Though yee haue layne amongst the pots subiect to much danger in darke obscuritie yet for issue out of trouble yee shall bee as the wings of a Doue couered ouer with siluer and her feathers with gold For their wings are their prayers by which they escape especially being both qualified with the meekenesse of a Doue and sinceritie shining like purest siluer and grounded vpon a liuely faith which as feathers flye into the golden estate of glory And thus we see fully what is that which they call perfectionem viae the perfection of the way Now for the second which is perfectio vitae the perfection of life it is that estate of perfect happinesse which the faithfull shall