sonnes in the vniuersities for the benefite of Gods Church for very fewe of greater calling dedicate their sonnes as Anna did Samuel to the Lords ministerie when they see that learning vertue and religion are not preferred and rewarded for learning vertue and religions sake and that as Aristodemus of Lacedemon saide money money is the mā without money either giuē to corrupt patrōs or corrupt brokers the Churches allowance is very hardly come by Lent shrift is found fault with long ago but sure I am that the shriuing or rather shauing of the Churchemen as it is more costly then Popishe shrift so is it in some sorte as greate an enemy to Gods religion as that trumpery was If that which I haue set downe in my Treatise of the Sacramentes or in this booke can not worke the good I meane the vnfained conuersion of suche as eyther haue or doe poll the Church let them remember that euen the popishe sort howsoeuer they are wide both of white butte in many weighty pointes of Gods religion doe both mislike and condemne the giuing and taking of money or pensions for cleargy liuinges and thinke it a very absurd thing as it is indeed that anie patrone because he hath right according to the lawe to present a fitte man shoulde pull away either the whole or the least part of the churches prouision Secondly that the time will come when these gracelesse cormorances shal sing this song with the king of Babilō vocetur Daniel sende sende Dan. 5. 1. King 13. Exod. 8. for a godlie preacher with the king of Israel Orapro me c. O man of God pray that my withered hād may be restored with the king of Egypt Orate dominū vt auferat ranas Moses and Aaron pray ye to the lord that I and my people may bee rid of the frogges Let thē remēber I say that the time wil come whē they shall sing this sōg with these vngracious princes howsoeuer they either haue or doe poll godlie mē of the churches maintenāce T. Liuius lib. 42. If. Q. Fuluius vncouering the one halfe of Iunoes tēple that he might couer another tēple in Rome with the same tiles was greatly both misliked condemned by thē of Rome for his fact if they told him that Pyrrhus and Annibal would not haue faulted so and that the pulling of the tiles from priuate mens houses had bin too much therfore frō the Church was intollerable if they caused the tiles of Iunoes temple to be sent home againe may not such as either garnish their houses or themselues or both with the spoyle ruine of Christiā churches be iustly both misliked condemned may they not be truely tolde that the Egyptians Philistines would not spoile the Temples of their idols and that the Churches mayntenance is too holy and precious a thing for them to laye their fingers on and may they not bee iustly called on to returne home againe not the tyles of Iunoes Temple but all that which belonges to the maintenance of almighty Gods religion 1. Sam. 6. The Philistines when they sent Gods Arke from them Luke 19. sent it with a gift Zacheus of Iericho did offer fourefold restitution if he had iniuried any man The Churchemen desire not any ouerplus and vsurie of them which eyther haue or doe poll the liuings of the Church onely they desire restitution of the principall that is of their owne To conclude if Churche-pollers haue any sparke of Gods feare religion in thē Ier. 13. if they be not as the black moore which cannot change his skin or as the Leopard which cannot chaunge his spots if they honour our gracious Prince if they loue this noble Church kingdome if they haue Englishe mens hearts if they beleeue that there is a heauen for Gods seruants a hel for Churchrobbers thē let them not vse Gods Church Plin lib. 1◠chap. 62. as the young vipers doe their damme that is breake the bodie of her but let them change their monstrous course and if it please them not to be good to the churchmen let them be good to themselues remember that the wyld asse Iere. 2. though shee snuffe vp the winde at her pleasure is foūd in her moneth if it like them not to fauour themselues Tertul. ad Scap. let them be good I will not say to Carthage as Tertullian said to the president of Carthage in another case but to the Church of God Ephe. 53 which is Christs both body spouse betweene which church his maiesty bicause there is a very sure and inseparable knot it is most certayne that the iniurie done to the Church reacheth to Iesus Christ the head and bridegroome of the Church before whose iudgement seate we must all appeare and receiue according to that we haue done in this body whether good or euil 2. Cor. chap. 5. ⧠A Table of suche points as are contained in this Treatise 1 VVHat the visible Church is why it is called vniuersall 2 Without the Churche there is no saluation 3 The preaching of Gods worde and the sincere administration of the Sacramentes are the essentiall markes of Christes Church 4 Godly and learned ministers must be freely and bountifully prouided for 5 We may not forsake Gods Churche though there bee euill men or blemishes in it 6 There is but one onely true Church 7 The estate of the Churche in the time of grace is much better then the estate of the Church eyther before or vnder the lawe 8 They are not alwayes the Churche which vaunt themselues to be the church 9 The visible Churche consisteth of good and bad 10 The particuler Churches are mixte of the elect and reprobate but they are not called Gods Churches but for the electes sake 11 The external estate of Gods church is subiect to many chaunges in the worlde therefore Gods Church is not alike visible at all times 12 The visible church must not be tied to any place or persons 13 Gods church cannot be quenched 14 God hath his Church alwayes in earth 15 The reprobates are not of the Church 16 Succession of Bishops is not an infallible argument of Gods church 17 Antiquitie is no sure argument of Gods Church 18 Euerie vnitie is not a sure argumēt of the true church neither is euery discorde a sure argument of a false church 19 Multitude is not an infallible argument of Gods church 20 The church is not to be measured by the external shew 21 None which are or haue beene alients from the Church of God are to bee admitted rashly into it 22 Gods Church may erre 23 The Church is not perfect in this worlde 24 The Church of Rome hath and may erre 25 They may not be accompted Schismatikes whiche forsake the Churche of Rome 26 The Church must be built vpon the word of God 27 The Churche is knowen by the worde of God 28 Iesus
and yet he bragged that he had the Gospel The Donatists did carry the signe of Christ against Christ Aug. Epist 61 did bragge of the Gospel against the Gospel The old Emperours of Rome after their cōquests of cities had the mappes of those cities caried about in their triūphs the Papists after the ouerthrow of Christes Church vse in their triumph the name of the Church the Churche but they haue as much right to the name of the Church Dan. 5. as the Babylonians had to the holy vessels of the temple of Ierusalem after the ouerthrow of the City Ierusalem 9 The visible Church consisteth of good and badde BEfore Christ shal be gathered all nations Mat. 25. ver 32. and he shall separate them one from another as a shepheard separateth the sheepe from the goates c. If the sheepe shal not be seuered from the goates before the day of iudgement it is manifest that the badde and good are mingled together in the visible Church vntil that time The visible Churche is compared to a net Mat. 13. Mat. 3. 2. Tim. 2. wherein there are good and badde fishes to a floare wherein there is wheate and chaffe to a fielde wherein there is both wheate and tares to a greate house wherein there are vessels of golde and siluer and vessels of wood and earth Mat. 25. and to ten virgins whereof fiue were wise and fiue foolish In external assemblies the badde are mingled with the good so it was in Salomons Temple at the marriage feast Mat. 22. Gen. 4. Gen. 9. Gen. 16. Mat. 26. 2. Pet. 2 Cain sacrificed as well as Abel C ham was in the Arke as well as Iaphet Agar was in Abrahams house as well as Sara Iudas was in Christes company as well as Peter And euill Angels were in heauen till they were cast our from thence When we see any which seemed to vs goodly members sometimes of the Church to become enemies to Gods religion and the verye murrayne of the Church we may not be discouraged 2. Tim. 2. For we must remember that the Church is a great house and that if they had been of vs they should haue continued with vs 1. Iohn 2. that many wolues are within the visible Church and lastly that mens sinnes as fire couered with Ashes are hidden for a time but afterward appeare in their colours So did the sinnes of Cain Iudas Cham Saul Demas many others Question Why wil almighty GOD haue his Church consist of good and badde Answeare Aug. Epist 205. That the good may be exercised and tried as gold in the fornace that Gods loue may appere more notably which for a very little wheate spareth for a time great store of cares The Sodomites were spared because of Lot Gen. 19. Acts 27. the Egyptians because of Ioseph they which were in the ship because of Paule Obiection The Churche is the Communion of Saints therefore it hath not both good and badde in it Answere The meaning is not that all whiche are assēbled in the Church are truly sanctified but rather that there is no true communion no true holinesse but in the Church calling it as we commonly vse by the best part 10 The particuler Churches are mixt of the elect and reprobate but they are not called Gods Churches but for the elects sake The visible Churche for the electes sake is called the house of God 1. Tim. chap. 3. ver 15.1 the piller ground of truth this cannot be giuen properly to reprobates hipocrits For to be an hipocrite piller of trueth cannot stand together The Church is the spouse of Christ onely for the elects sake Ephe. chap. 5 ver 30. For wee are members of his body of his flesh of his bones By which words of the Apostle as the straight and neere knot betweene Christ the bridegroome the Church his spouse doth notably appeare so it were strange dealing to shut the reprobates hipocrites within that compasse I confesse that Christ is said to be the propitiation for the sinnes of the whole world 1. Iohn 2. but he is so called because of the wheate that is Aug. Epist 4 8 Gods elect which is dispersed throughout the whole world A heape of wheat though it haue chaffe amōgst it is not called a heape of chaffe but a heape of Corne because it is a heape by reason of the Corne. A tunne of wine though it haue lees in it is called not a tunne of lees but a tunne of wine because it is a tunne by reason of the wine No man did euer call that the fielde Mat. 13. wherein the tares appeared with the wheat a field of tares but a field of wheate because it was sowen with wheate In like sort the visible Church though it consist of good and badde is and must be called Gods Church because of the elect When we say that the vyne yeeldeth wyne for the vse of man we meane not the dead and withered but the fruitful braunches of the vine In like case whatsoeuer is spoken of the church is so to be referred to the visible Church that it belonges to the elect onely not to the reprobates and Hypocrites 11 The externall estate of Gods Churche is subiect to many chaunges in the world therefore Gods Churche is not alike visible at all times Psal 80. GOds Churche is sometimes compared to a flourishing vine whiche filled the land and whose boughes were like the goodly cedars and sometymes to a vyne destroyed by the wild bore Aug. Epist 4◠and eaten vp by the wild beasts of the field It is compared to the moone which appeares not alwayes alike vnto vs yet neither the moone is destitute of light from the sunn nor the Church of the light of gods spirit frō the sonne of righteousnes Christ Iesus In Enos tyme the face of the Churche was beautiful Gen. 4. Gen. 7. but afterward it was shut in Noes family as in an Arke In the kingdom of Dauid religion flourished 2. Sam. 6. the Church was very glorious but after his time there was a great Eclipse and Gods Church was vnder a blacke cloude In the time of the captiuity in Babylon Read Dan. Nehem. Ezra the estate of Gods Church was very miserable but after the captiuity was ended and the Iewes returned to Ierusalem vnder Zorobabel the City was buylt the Temple was repayred the true worshippe was restored and the Church of GOD was very faire in the eyes of the Israelites In what case was Gods Churche when the horne that is the Emperors of Rome made battel against the Saints Dan. chap. 7. ver 21. preuayled against them In the time of the Pharisies Sadduces c. Gods church was in a strange pickle but Christ at his comming raysed it as it were from death and put life into it and made it very beautiful Since that
time popish darknes more then that of Egypt couered the face of the earth But in many kingdoms dominions thanks be to God Moses rodde hath eatē vp the roddes of the Egyptian sorcerers the Lords Arke hath cast the Philistines Dagon to the ground the sound preaching of the Gospel hath broke the necke of Popery Because Gods Church is not alwaies so visible it is wel compared to a bunch of grapes hanging vnder a fewe vine leaues after the grape gathering to an oliue remaining vnder the leaues after the oliue tree is shaken to an eare of Corne standing after haruest to the sun vnder a blacke clowde Esay chap. 49. ver 21. Gods Church is called desolate and barrē not because it is forsakē of almighty GOD but for that it appeares not alwayes in the world yet Gods church both hath shal be alwaies visible as it consists of true visible members for it is not an imaginary thing Obiection My spirit which is vppon thee my words whiche I haue put in thy mouth Esay chap. 59. vers 21. shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seede nor out of the mouth of the seed of thy seede saieth the Lorde from hence foorth euen for euer Therefore Gods Church shal be alwaies apparantly visible in the world Answeare The argument folowes not and is like vnto this The scepter shall not departe from Iuda Gen. chap. 49. vers 10. vntill Silo that is the Messias come therefore there was no interruption of that visible Scepter This is a weake argument yet it is as strong as the other My reasons are these The Scepter of Iuda was not visible conspicuous when the Israelites were in captiuity seuentie yeeres at Babylon After their returne from that captiuity the Asmonits which were not of the tribe of Iuda translated the kingly authority to themselues Where was all this while the visible succession of the scepter in the tribe of Iuda Wee must aunsweare that the reliques of the Scepter of Iuda was in the stocke of Isay Esay chap. 11. vers 1. though it seemed for a time to be altogether withered In like sort it may be truely sayde that although the face of Gods Church hath byn obscured and the visible succession interrupted that Esayes Prophesie stands sure true For a thing may not be said therefore not to be at all because it is not after this or that sort Question Where was the Protestants Church two hundred yeeres agoe Answeare It was hidden in the Papacie as wheate vnder a great deale of chaffe For of that little seede is growne vp a goodly haruest and of a few sparkes a comfortable fire thanks be to God hath appeared It was in the handes of wicked husband men which killed the Lords seruants cast the sonne and heyre out of the vineyarde and did their best to kill him Besides who knowes not that there should be a departing from the faith and that Antichrist should sitte as God in the temple of GOD and deceiue all the world 2. Thess 2. This Antichrist we take to be the Byshoppe of Rome not meaning any one singuler man but the succession of Bishops there since their Apostasie from Gods religion and this interpretation is substantially proued by some excellēt men of our side during all this time of darkenesse and tyranny coulde Gods church appeare beautifully in the world Was it not with the woman in the wildernesse Apoc. 12. Mat. 2. 1. King 19. and with Christ and his parents in Egypt Elias did thinke that himselfe remayned alone of all Gods children in the time of Achab and Iezabel but there were seuen thousād besides which bowed not their knees to Baal If Elias which was a holy prophet was farre shorte and wyde in this reckoning and account of Gods seruants is it not both possible likely that the enemies of our Churche are greatly ouerseen in the numbring of our Churches 12 The visible Churche must not bee tyed to any place or persons 1. Sam. 4. ALmighty God was serued in Silo vntill the death of Heli but when Gods religion was defiled by the wickednes of the priests vnthankfulnes of the people Silo was destroyed Iere. 7. The children of Israel saith Hoseas shall sit many dayes without a king Hos 3. ver 4. and without a Prince without an offring and without an altar and without an Ephod That is to say they shal haue neyther king to gouerne them nor priest to teach thē Gods religion If the Churche were tyed either to place or persons no such thing had fallen out amongst them Bethel was Gods house but after that it was defiled with idolatry superstitiō it was called Bethauen that is the house of iniquity Ierusalem was a famous Church and enriched with heapes of Gods benefites it was Gods sanctuary and the seat of the kingdome priesthood which were most precious iewels it was the fountayne of Gods religion as it were the starre of the world The Lord had so great delight in Ierusalem that he did as it were bynde himselfe to it Psal 132. ver 14. this is my rest saieth the Lord for euer here will I dwell for I haue a delight therein But because they of Ierusalem dishonoured God trode his religion vnder their feet liued mōstrously went about to quenche the doctrine of the prophets with the blood of the prophets almighty God did set them at nought gaue them ouer as a pray to their enemies For Ierusalem was taken ouerthrown their stately temple was destroied according to the prophesies of Christ and Ieremy Math. 24. Iere. 26. by Titus the sonne of Vespasian so that Ierusalem which was sometimes a goodly Theatre of Gods glory is at this day a notable monument of his iudgements The Churche of Rome was sometimes a famous Churche in the West Rom. 1. 6. 16. chap. and was greatly commended by Saynt Paule in the Epistle to the Romaines but nowe it is an enimye to the weighty poyntes of religion contayned in that Epistle The Church of England is a goodly Church It hath pleased God to powre his blessing vpon it with a full horne The particulers of Gods fauour are written in so great and faire letters that he that runnes may reade them If our thankfulnesse to his Maiesty appeare in our liues he will multiply his blessings vpon vs. If we faile in performing this duetie that is to say if we professe religion only for a fashion and vse it as a cloake to couer our Church polling oppression and other foule actions GOD will sweepe vs with the besome of destruction If we thinke that the viserd of godlinesse and religion will serue the turne and stand as a wall between vs Gods heauy iudgementes wee are in a grosse errour For if Moūt Sion and the temple of Ierusalem coulde not deliuer the Israelites from
the chief corner stone that is the foundation of the Church Vpon this rocke I will builde my Church Mat. chap. 16. verse 18. Aug. lib. 1. retract cap. 12 By this word rocke Christ vnderstandeth himselfe whō Peter cōfessed The Apostle Peter cannot be the foundation of the Church for Peter was mortall and the foundation of Gods Church must be immortall 29 What the Catholike Church is The catholike Church is the number of all Gods elect which haue been from the beginning of the world and are nowe presently in the worlde and shal be vntill the ende of the world 30 The Catholik Church is not visible AL the elect whether they be in earth or in heauen do belōg to the Catholike Church But all these cānot be seen of vs. Christ when he vttered these woordes vpō this rock I will build my Church did meane that Church Mat. 16. which should be vnto the end of the world but that church is not visible If the Catholike Church were now visible it were vnproperly said in the creed I beleeue the Catholike Church for inuisible thinges are beleeued and not those which are seene They therefore which say that the Catholike Churche is visible eyther beleeue not that whiche they confesse in the Creede or speake otherwise then they beleeue whiche is a grosse absurditie I confesse that the particuler churches of Corinth Ephesus Thessalonica were visible in Paules time not onely because they of whome these Churches consisted were visible but because of the order and externall forme of those Churches which order and externall forme are the cause why the Churches are visible 1. King 19. The seuen thousand of whome Almightie God spake to Elias albeit they were visible in that they were men yet they were not in the visible Church otherwise Elias had seen them A fewe of Gods elect are called the Church but yet the inuisible Church not because 2. Tim. cha 2 verse 19. we do not see the elect but because wee do not descerne with our eyes who are Gods elect for GOD alone knoweth who be his FINIS ⧠A godly and shorte Treatise against the foule and grosse sinne of oppression Written by Robert Some Oppession maketh a wise man madde Ecclesiastes chap. 7. verse 9. To the Reader IT hath pleased an Englishe Papiste to giue out in print that the Church of Rome doth both teach and require actuall restitution and that our Church doth neither His speech of vs is verie slaunderous my treatise against oppression is argumentes inough to confute him If they of Rome teach and require actuall restitution it is no woorke of supererogatiō they do no more but their duties If wee shoulde faile in this cleare point we deserue great condemnation at almightie Gods hands I confesse that a man is good and therefore iustified in Gods sight before he doth good workes but with all I set downe this that good works doe followe him that is truely iustified and that such as haue oppressed or iniuried any man shal not be pardoned at Gods handes vnlesse they make actuall restitution if they bee able to doe it If any require proofe of this I refer him to this Treatise of mine against oppression A table of such pointes as are contayned in this Treatise 1 What oppression is 2 It is not lawefull for any man to oppresse another 3 They which haue done wrong vnto or oppressed any must make actuall restitution 4 It is the dutie of the Magistrate to deliuer the oppressed out of the handes of the oppressour 5 The Magistrate looseth nothing by deliuering the oppressed 6 Oppressours shall bee grieuously punished 7 Oppressours haue no religion in them A godly Treatise against the foule and grosse sinne of oppression Question VVHat is Oppression Answere It is vniust deailng vsed of the mightier either by violence colour of lawe or any other cunning dealing against such as are not able to withstande them The ground of this definition is conteined in these places of scripture Micheas chap. 2. verse 1.2 1. Thes chap. 4. vers 6. It is not lawfull for any man to oppresse another Giue vs this day our dayly bread Mat. chap. 6. verse 11. Euery christian desires God to giue dayly bread that is all thinges necessarie for this life both to him selfe and to others therefore no christian is priuiledged to spoile another of his necessarie food If one of vs must pray for the good of another one of vs may not pray vpon an other Eccle. chap. 34 verse 23. Hee that taketh away his neighbours liuing is a murtherer Thou shalt not desire thy neighbours house his fielde c. Deut. 5.21 If wee may not desire his house or land then we may not spoile him of his house or land Mich. chap. 2.1.2 or inclose that ground wherby the poore either by right are or by right ought to be relieued If thou meete thine enemies oxe or his Asse going astray thou shalt bring him to him againe If thou see thy enemies Asse lying vnder his burden wilte thou cease to helpe him thou shalt helpe him vp with it againe Exod. 23.4.5 Almightie God commaundeth vs to deale wel with our enemies Asse therefore we may not by vndoing our neighbour or spoyling him of any part of his lande or goods make him an Asse and send him a begging Hee that oppresseth the poore reproueth him that made him c. Pro. chap. 14. ver 31. It is a grosse sin to reproue the maiestie of God therefore it is a grosse sinne to oppresse the poore It was one of the sinnes of Sodom not to reache out the hande to the poore Ezech. 16.49 If it be a great sin not to releeue the poore it is a very grosse sinne to spoyle the poore The bread of the needefull Eccle. 34.22 is the life of the poore he that defraudeth him thereof is a murtherer There is a writte in England which beareth this name Ne iniustè vexes that is to say vexe not any man vniustly This is a godly lawe and is deriued frō the lawe of God which forbiddeth and condemneth oppression There are certaine beggers which of purpose keepe their legges sore to gette money by it If they are iustly misliked which gaine by their owne sore legges what deserue they to be thought of whiche gaine by other mens sore legs When thou sellest ought to thy neighbour or buiest at thy neighbours hande yee shall not oppresse one another Leuit. 25. ver 14. This is the will of God that no man oppresse or defraude his brother in any matter 1. Thes 4.6 Therefore men of trade may not gaine by litle measures false weights and false speeches othes nor any mightie men may gaine by cunning dealing by colour of lawe or by vsing any violence whatsoeuer 3 They which haue done wrong vnto or oppressed any must make actuall restitution GOd saith thus vnto Moses speake vnto the children of Israel when a man or woman
Christ alone is the foundation of his Church 29 What the catholike Church is 30 The catholike Church is not visible ⧠A Godlie Treatise of the Church 1 What the visible Church is why it is called vniuersall THe visible church is the cōpany of those which make profession to serue the true God in Christ This visible Church is called vniuersal because it is tyed not to any certaine place persōs or time but is dispersed through the whole worlde and shall so continue vntill the ende of the worlde 2 Without the Church there is no saluation that is to say vnlesse we be of the assembly of Gods children we cannot be saued BEhold darknes shall couer the earth and grosse darkenesse the people but the Lord shall arise vpon thee his glorie shall be seene vpon thee Isa cha 60. ver 2. By whiche wordes it is manifest that onely the Church is partaker of the light of Gods spirit and of the brightnes of his fauour In Mount Sion and in Ierusalem that is to say in the Church shal be deliuerance Ioel chap. 2. ver 32. Therefore without the Church there is no saluation The Lorde added to the Churche from day to day suche as shoulde be saued Actes chap. 2. ver 47. Therefore without the Churche there is no saluation Christ and his Church are most surely linked together for Christ is the bridegroome and the Church is the spouse Ephe. chap. 5. ver 25.29.30 Howe then can any be with Christ which is not with his spouse that is to say in Christes Church Cyp. lib. 2. Epist 8. He cannot haue God to be his father which hath not the Churche to be is mother Cyp. de vnitate Eccle. The Church is called the mother of the faithful because she nourishes them alwayes by the word of truth Noe and his familie had perished in the flood if they had not continued in the Arke Gen. chap. 7. ver 21.22.23 The brāch which is cut from the vine cannot but wither A mās arme which is cut frō his body is quickly without life They whiche are without Gods Church are voyd of Gods spirit whatsoeuer visard of holinesse they put on amongst men Augustine is flat for this Epistle 50. and 152 So is Lactantius lib. 4. chap. 14. 30. When any Popish Heretike vses the name of the Church as an argument to draw vs from the written word we must aunsweare that hee is not ioyned to the Church which is seuered from the Gospell and that whosoeuer setteth vp a Church without the word buildes not a Church but a Hoggescote Question If there be no saluation without the Church what shall become of thē whiche haue not heard of Christ Answere They cannot pretend ignorance for the great booke of the heauens wherein Gods glorie is written in capital letters is opened wide vnto them Psal 19. vers 1. I graunt that the condemnation of such shall not be so grieuous as theirs which haue hearde the Gospell and contemned it notwithstanding they which haue not heard of Christ shall not bee saued seeing they haue in themselues sufficient matter of condemnation I meane first originall sinne and then manye actuall sinnes whiche flow from originall sinne as riuers doe from the spring head Question If there be no saluation without the Church in what case are they which are iustlie excommunicated that is to saye are cut off from the assemblie of the faithfull Answeare They are in a dangerous case for if it be a grieuous thing to bee cast out of a wel ordered common wealth it is more grieuous to bee cast out of the Churche which is Gods common wealth If Dauid when hee was shut from holy meetinges not for any fault of his but by the tyranny of his enimies lamēted his owne case very bitterly preferred the estate of the sparrowe and swallowe before his owne how would Dauid haue byn grieued if he had bin iustly barred from the Lordes tabernacles Psal 84. ver 1.2.3 Besides they which are iustly excommunicated are deliuered to Sathan that is to say are aliēts from Christes kingdom are vnder the power authority of Sathā so were the incestuous Corinthiā 1. Cor. 5. Theod. lib. 5. cap. 18. Theodosius the Emperour vntill they were reconciled to Gods Church The captiuitie of the Israelites was great vnder Pharao in Egypt vnder Nabuchodonozor and Balthasar in Babylon but the captiuitie vnder Sathan goes beyond it for whatsoeuer is bound in earth is bound in heauen Mat. cap. 18 ver 18. The Popes excommunication against our noble Queene and her best subiectes hath not so much groūd in Gods book to stand vpon as the Iewes excommunicatiō had when they cast Christ and his Apostles out of their Synagogues Question If the Popes excommunicatiō against our gracious soueraigne Q. Elizabeth were lawful whether might the subiects of Englande deny their obedience to her Maiestie and depose her from her kingdome Answeare They might not my reasons are these Tiberius was a wicked Emperor yet Christ and Peter payde him tribute Math. chap. 17. ver 24.27 1. Pet. chap. 2 ver 13. Nero Domitian were persecutours of Gods Churche yet the Apostles other godly men obeyed them The Emperour Iulian was a wicked Apostata but the auncient Christians obeyed him Euseb lib. 3. cap. 20. Sozom. lib. 5. cap. 4. Theodosius the Emperour was excommunicated by Ambrose the Bishop of Mediolanū but Ambrose obeyed him euen during the time of his excommunication Theodor lib. 5. cap. 18. If these Emperors were obeyed shall not our gracious soueraigne though she were iustly excommunicated bee duetifully obeyed of her subiectes 2. Thessal 3. ver 15. Are wee commaunded to accompt another whiche is iustly excommunicated not as an enimie but as a brother and shall we not performe the like to our noble prince if she were iustly excommunicated and sure I am that those men are very farre frō performing this duetie to her Maiestie which denie their lawfull obedience vnto her Besides what warrant had Pius the first Gregorie the 13 to discharge the subiectes of England of their allegiance if it bee saide that Saint Peters keyes are warrant inough Platina in Greg. 7. and that Gregorie the 7. had no better when he dealt against Henrie the Emperour nor Gregorie the second Innocentius the fourth Paschalis the 2. when they dealt against the Emperours Leo Fridericus and Henrie the 4. nor Pope Zacharie and Martyn the 4. when they dealt against Childericke the king of Fraunce and Peter the king of Arragonia I aunsweare that Peters keyes though the Pope had good right to thē serue not to giue entrance into or to shut out of earthly kingdomes for they are the keyes of the kingdome of heauen Math. chap. 16. ver 19. And who knowes not that the kingdome of heauen that is to say eternall life is a thing farre differēt from the kingdome of the world Lastly excommunication which is a notable
soueraigne medicine in Gods church is the punishment of the conscience not of goods nor of the body otherwise then by some shame reproch which waites vppon our separation from the Churche of God and so are S. Paules wordes of the destruction of the fleshe 1. Cor. 5. to be vnderstanded therefore they which haue purposed since the Popes excōmunication against her maiestie eyther to hurt her royall person or to depose her from her kingdome as they haue passed the listes and boūds of al excōmunication so their sinne is very grosse exāple very dangerous 3 The preaching of Gods word the sincere administration of the Sacraments are the essential markes of Christes Churche and where these markes are there vndoubtedly the true church is though there bee otherwise in that Church some blemishes IF the Church be the assemblie of the faithful Rom. 10. and faith commeth by hearing and hearing by the worde of God it is a cleare case that the preaching of the worde belongeth to the essence of the visible Church We are taught in Gods booke Mat. 28. that the Sacraments instituted of Christ are the seales of Gods word therfore the Sacraments pertayne to the essence of the visible Church The Churches of Israel and Iuda were therefore Gods Churches because they had Gods law preached circumcision the passeouer which were their Sacramēts administred amongst thē Iosias 2. Chron. 34. 35. chap. that he might plāt Gods Church aright caused the booke of the lawe to be published and a passeouer to be proclaymed Nehem. 8. Ezra 7. Ezra after his returne from Babylon expoundeth Gods law to the Israelites restoreth the true vse of the Passeouer S. Luke setting down the estate of the Primitiue Churche in orient coloures Acts 2. saith that they continued in the Apostles doctrine which is the life of the Church and felowship that is in performing of Christiā dueties one to another breaking of bread that is in the administratiō of the holy supper prayers that is publike prayers in which consisteth the profession of our religiō This excellēt Church had the Apostles doctrine and the holye communion therefore it was the church of Christ If any saye that the Sacrament of baptisme is not here mentioned I aunsweare in a worde that Saynt Luke needed not to mention Baptisme seeyng he speaketh of such as were alreadie baptised 1. Cor. 1. 2. Cor. 1. Galat. 1. The Churches of Corinth and Galatia had great blemishes in them yet because they had Gods truth sacramēts among them they are accompted by S. Paule the Churches of God If the sound preaching of the worde and the administration of the sacramēts are the essentiall marks of Gods church then learned ministers are necessarie for they blow the Lords siluer trumpets Num. 10. put their handes to the framing of the siluer vessels of the temple If Godlie and learned ministers are necessarie and singuler ornaments in the Church of God then schooles of learning and Vniuersities wherein students are made fitte to serue Gods Church are especially to be regarded 1. Sam. 19. 2. King 2. 22. chap. Suche schooles of learning were at Nayoth in Samuels time at Iericho and Bethel in Elizeus time at Ierusalem in Iosias time Caluin in 1. Cor. chap. 14. verse 32. at Corinth in S. Paules time and such are now with vs in Cambridge and Oxeforde If these be vpholden religion flourisheth and consequently Gods blessings increase in the land If these goe to wracke farewel religion and the good estate of the commō wealth But Vniuersities and schooles of learning must needes decay when the students are not prouided for imployed accordingly and preferred and imployed they cannot bee if either the Churches maintenance be pulled away or Church liuings be bought and sold for money or pensions 4 Godlie and learned Ministers must bee freely and bountifully prouided for BEware that thou forsake not the Leuite as long as thou liuest vppon the earth Deut. chap. 12. ver 19. Almighty God commanded the Israelites to haue especiall care of the Leuite therefore they might not vse him like a drudge or send him a begging If the Leuite must be excellently vsed greater regarde must be had of the minister of the Gospell whose calling because it is greater then Iohn the Baptistes Mat. chap. 11. ver 11. is farre aboue the Leuites Gods Church is the piller ground of truth 1. Tim. cap. 3. ver 15. because by the ministery of the word Gods truth is preserued in the Church If the ministerye of the word preserues this precious iewel in the church as the priests did the fire vpon the altar in the time of the law thē they Leuit. chap. 6. which hinder Gods ministery doe robbe Gods Church of inestimable treasure hinder the ministery do they which discourage the learned ministers by powling thē of the churches prouision But if Dauid sending his seruaunts to comfort the king of Amon after his fathers death 2. Sam. 10. tooke in great dudgen the shauing of his seruantes beardes cutting of their garmēts will almighty God take it in good part that his seruants whom he hath furnished with excellent gifts for the cōfort of his church are polled shauē of their maintenance stripped as it were into their shirts and handled as dishcloutes Who goeth a warfare any time at his owne cost Who plāteth a vineyard and eateth not of the fruit therof Or who feedeth a flocke eateth not of the milke of the flocke 5. Cor. chap. 9. ver 7. If they whom S. Paule mentions in this verse are prouided for either of the common charge as the souldier or by the fruit of the vine as the husbandman or by the mylke of the flocke as the shepheard It is most equall that learned ministers should haue large allowance of the churches charge for their warfare vineplanting sheepfeeding doeth as farre passe the others as the precious diamond doth the peeble stone We beseech you brethrē that you know that is haue regard of thē which labor amōg you that ye haue them in singuler loue for their works sake c. 1. The. cap. 5 ver 12 13. If learned ministers must be especially fauoured they may not bee kept from their owne if they must be singulerly loued for their works sake they may not be trodē vpō as the mire in the streets nor spoiled by graceles mē of the churches maintenāce But churchpollers loue churchmē as Philippides did his father when hee cudgeled him Aug. epist 168. and as a rufler in Augustines time did his mother whom hee vsed in like sort most vnnaturally Balthasar the king of Babylon in the middest of a great feast called for the golden vessels which were brought from the temple of Ierusalem they were brought vnto him by his seruauntes The king his princes his wiues his concubines did drinke wine
such measure as Silo had the bare name and face of the Gospel and religion wil not deliuer vs from beyng measured with the lyne of Samaria God be mercifull to this Church land and giue vs grace to be thankfull for his mercies and to be afrayde of his iudgementes The Donatistes in Augustines time did tye Gods Church to a corner of Affrike Ang. Epi. 50. 161. The Pharisies did tye Gods religion to Ierusalem but they were fowlly deceiued for Gods Church is not tyed to any certayne place but rather to Gods word and sacraments and to godly obedience to his holy Gospel so that wheresoeuer God is truely serued that people is Iuda and Israel that city is Ierusalem that house is Gods house 13 Gods Church cannot be quenched GOds Churche is compared to the bushe which burnt with fire Exod. 3. but was not consumed Gen. 15. it is compared to a firebrand shyning in the middest of a smoaking fornace Gods Church is grauen in the palme of the Lordes hande it is as the apple of his eye it is Gods inheritaunce it is as arrowes in the Lordes quiuer it is a Crowne of glorye in his hande Esay 62. and a royall Diademe in the hand of almighty God Gods Church is like to Camomile which thriues best when it is trodē on to the Palme tree whiche flourishes most whē weight is layd vpon it Tertu ad Sca. Christianity growes fayrest whē it is vnder the crosse Acts 8. The primitiue Church was greeuously persecuted after the death of S. Stephen but it increased the more For whereas the Church before that time was shut vp as it were within the walles of Ierusalem after the dispersion of the godlye by reason of that persecution Samaria and Antiochia became goodly Churches Acts 11. Gods enemies deserue no thāks for this but almighty God doth whiche fetcheth light out of darkenesse life out of death Gods enimies doe what they can to cast Gods Church into the bottom of the Sea but they labour in vayne No man can stay the flowing of the sea nor bynd the wings of the wynd nor darken the beames of the sunne The grayne of mustard seede will be a tree for the byrdes to make their nests in Mat. 13. Gods Churche will be aliue notwithstanding al the subtiltie and violence of the enemies 14 God hath his Church alwaies in the earth CErtayne Paganes affirmed Aug. de ciuit Dei lib. 18. cap. 54. that Christian religion should not continue aboue three hundred sixty fiue yeeres but they were fowlly deceiued Esay chap. 8. The Prophet Esay liued in a straunge time yet he had disciples amongst whō he sealed the law of God The Apostle asking Rom. 11. whether GOD hath cast away his people answeres God forbidde Except the Lord of hosts had reserued vnto vs euen a small remnant Esay 1. we should haue beene as Sodome and shoulde haue beene like Gomorrha that is vtterly destroyed Ezra speakes thus of himselfe the Israelites after the returne from Babylon from the dayes of our fathers haue wee beene in a great trespasse vnto this day for our iniquities haue we our kinges and our priests beene deliuered into the hand of the kinges of the lands vnto the sword into captiuity into a spoyle into confusion of face as appeareth this day and now for a little space grace hath byn shewed from the Lorde our God in causing a remnant to escape and in giuing vs a naile in his holy place that our God may light our eyes and giue vs a little reuiuing in our seruitude For though we were bondmen yet our God hath not forsaken vs in our bondage but hath inclyned mercy vnto vs in the sight of the kinges of Persia to giue vs life and to erect the house of our GOD and to redresse the desolate places thereof and to giue vs a wall in Iuda and in Ierusalem Ezra chap. 9. ver 7.8.9 By whiche wordes it is euident that albeit Gods Church lyeth hid sometimes as it were vnder a blacke cloth yet it is not clearly put out but appeareth agayne Thus saith the Lorde whiche giueth the sunne for a light to the day and the courses of the Moone and of the starres for alight to the night whiche breaketh the Sea when the waters thereof roare his name is the Lord of hostes If these ordinances depart out of my sight saith the Lorde then shall the seede of Israel cease from being a nation before me for euer Thus saith the Lorde if the heauēs can be measured or the foundations of the earth be searched out beneath then wil I cast off all the seede of Israel for al that they haue done saith the Lord. Iere. chap. 31. ver 35.36.37 The summe of these words is this Almighty God will continue the course of the sunne and the moone c. Whilest the worlde lasteth Therefore he will preserue his Church for whose benefite especially the worlde was created And yet wee must remember that the condition of Gods Churche dependes not of the nature of the world or course of the heauens For they shall perishe saith Dauid to Almighty God but thou shalt endure euen they all shall waxe old as doth a garment as a vesture shalt thou change them and they shal be chaunged but thou art the same and thy yeeres shall not fayle The children of thy seruants shal continue and their seed shall stand fast in thy sight Psal 102. ver 26.27.28 Thus saith the Lorde as the wine is found in the cluster and one saith destroy it not for a blessing is in it so will I do for my seruants sakes that I may not destroy them whole But I will bring a seed out of Iacob out of Iuda that shall inherite my mountayne and mine elect shall inherite it my seruants shall dwel there Isa 65. ver 8.9 When almightye God threatens destruction to the people he respecteth the body of the people in whō there is no sincerity but when his maiesty restraynes his punishment he respecteth a smal number which is the seed of the Church The corruption of the visible Church is no hinderance but that almighty God may preserue the Church of his elect Gods promises of the perpetual estate of the Churche pertayne properly to the Church of the elect 15 The reprobates are not of the Church Ephe. 5. TO be of the Church is to be vnited with Christ the reprobates are not vnited with Christ The Churche is the body of Christ Christ is the Sauiour of his body If the reprobates were of the Church that is of Christes body they should be saued as in deed they shall neuer be Christ which is the head of the church Ephe. 4. giueth spirite and life to his church But he giueth neither spirit nor life to the reprobates It is vnpossible for one the selfe same man to be the member of
Christ Cont. Cresc Gram. lib. 2. cap. 21. and the member of the Diuel God forbid that these monsters Augustine speakes of wicked men shoulde be accounted eyther amongst the members of the only doue that is Gods church or enter into the inclosed garden I confesse that the reprobates are may be many times in the Church that is in the assemblies of Gods seruants but of the Church they neither are nor can be truly accounted 16 Succession of Bishops is not an infallible argument of Gods Church IF personall succession not hauing the succession of doctrine ioyned to it as the foūdatiō therof were an infallible marke of the true Church then must we confesse that Gods grace and spirite are tyed to seates and countries which is a grosse absurditie 2. Thes 2. Ordinary and visible succession in the Church may be interrupted For Paul did foretell that there shoulde be a departing from the faith Apostasie and succession can no more stand together thē the Arke and Dagon then Christ and Antichrist Besides the ordinary succession of priests was interrupted in the Israelites church and yet God had his Churche there 1. King 19. I meane them whiche retayning Gods trueth did not bowe their knees vnto Baal When Christ came into the worlde to be our mediatour was Gods Churche to be measured by the visible succession of Bishops Hereticall Bishops might vaunt of succession in very famous Churches Paulus Samosatenus which was a mōstrous Heretike succeeded Godly Bishops in the Church of Antioch diuers Arians succeeded Athenasius in the Church of Alexandria The succession of Bishops both was is continued in the Greeke Church and yet the popish sort wil not allow the churches of Grecia to be Christes Churches because they dissent from the Church of Rome The auncient writers Tertullian Tertul. de praescrip Ireneus when they would confute Marcion and Vallentinus proued that not those Heretikes Iren. li. 3. ca. 2. but themselues had the succession of Gods truth amongest them Whē these godly fathers had made that cleare they set downe the succession and row of Bishops as badges of their victory so that the succession of faith and religion may be truely accounted as the life and soule and the succession of Bishops as the body If personall succession be without the successiō of Gods truth it wants life is a dead and vnprofitable carcase I confesse that the succession of Bishops as a goodly and beautiful building is of great force to allure thē which are alients from the Church to looke into to behold the inward beauty of the church but if the precious iewel of Gods word be wanting the personal succession is like a costly tombe which is beautifull without but is full of dead mens bones within Lib. 4. cap. 43. 45. Ireneus ioyneth together the succession of persons and doctrine If the Papists which haue not succession of Gods truth bragge of successiō of Bishops we may say to their Bishoppes as Tertullian said to Marcion the Heritike Tertul. lib. 1. cont Mar. who are ye when and from whence came yee The succession of Bishops without succession of Gods truth is like a paire of popish beades which hang by a long but yet by a sclender threed That is the true and lawfull succession of Bishops when as lawfull Bishops succeeding one another doe exercise the worke of their ministery 17 Antiquitie is no sure argument of Gods Church THe Iewes consenting that the Messias is not yet come is of greater continuance then popery is but continuance of time cannot make that good in religion which was bad at the first Antiquity if it haue not the salt of Gods word to preserue it doth argue rottennesse and giues an euil sent Your iniquities Esay chap. 65. ver 7. the iniquities of your fathers shal be together saith the Lorde which haue burnt incense vpon the mountaines and blasphemed me vpon the hilles therfore wil I measure their olde worke into their bosome If antiquitye woulde haue serued the turne of the Israelites almighty God might haue bin challenged for punishing their aunciēt idolatry and superstition Ye haue heard that it was saide vnto them of old time thou shalt not kill For whosoeuer killeth shall bee culpable of iudgement But I say vnto you whosoeuer is angrye with his brother vnaduisedly shal be culpable of iudgement Mat. 5. ver 21.22 The pharisies cleared him of murder which had not killed a mā with his hand because the Pharisies alleaged antiquity for their errour our Sauiour Christ refutes them by his owne authority But I say vnto you c. ver 22. There were ill buylders in Pauls time 1. Cor. 3. and such abuses crept into the Lords supper in Corinth 1. Cor. 11. that the Apostle was compelled to say this is not to eat the Lords supper They which reason thus suche a religion is olde therefore it is good may be answered that this argumēt is as cleere as midnight the enchantmentes of Simon Magus Acts 8. 19. chap. the image which came down frō Iupiter the religion of Rome are of great antiquity yet Gods religion is more ancient then any of these Tertul. lib. 1. cont Mar. ◠for truth is older then heresie When we heare any Papist saye I haue byn brought vp in the religion of Rome therfore I will continue in it and will not be wonn frō it we may answere him that wise men haue their seconde thoughtes Euripides in Hippol. Cyp. ad Iubaian ad Quin fratrem de lapsis and that we may not erre alwaies because somtimes we erred that we are not ouercome but instructed whē better things are offred vnto vs that he is not ioyned to the Church which is separate frō the gospel Some of the Popishe sort haue bin cōtent to say if the Church of Rome woulde allow the religion wee haue in England that they would like of it Tichonius a Donatist said of himselfe his fellow Donatists that Aug. Epist 48. which wee wil is holy Tiberius the Emperour put vp a grace in the Senate house of Rome Euseb lib. 2. cap. 2. that Christ might be a God because the Senate denied that grace it is set downe a little after in that Chapter vnlesse God please man he is not allowed for a God In like sorte if our religion had the Popes hande and seale vnto it the Popish sort would allow it because it hath not his holinesse warrant they refuse it Question How can it be that God shoulde suffer his Church to erre so many yeeres Answerre God suffered not his Church to erre so lōg a time but he suffered wicked mē euē by his iust iudgement which beleeued not the trueth that they might be saued to beleeue lyes and haue pleasure in vnrighteousnesse that they might bee damned 2. Thessal 2. ver 10.11.12 18 Euery vnity is not a sure argument of
the true Churche neither is euery discorde a sure argument of a false Church THe Iewes which thinke that the Messias is not yet come haue had vnity many yeres but their consent proues thē not to be Gods Church Acts 19. Demetrius the siluer smith his company in Ephesus were at great vnity for the vpholding of Diana against S. Pauls preaching but that vnity was no argument that they were Gods Church Apoc. cap. 14. ver 8. The Angel saith that Babylon made all nations to drinke of the wine of the wrath of her fornication Therefore the generall consent and vnity of al nations in religion doth not make a true religion The Arrians Nestorians Eutichians the blasphemous Heretikes of the family of loue haue doe consēt in their blasphemous opinions but this consent of theirs prooues them not to be the true Church of God Vnity in the essential points of Gods religion is an infallible argument of the Church of God Euery discord is not an argument of a false church 1. Cor. 1. 11. cha There were dissentions in the church of Corinth and yet God had his church at Corinth The Bishops whiche were assembled in the Nicene counsell against Arrius were at greate variance Notwithstanding they were Gods seruants The East West Churches were greatly deuided about the feast of Easter and yet they were the Churches of God Acts 15 Galat. 2. Aug. Epist 9. There was hot stirre betweene Paule Barnabas betweene Paule Peter betweene Augustine Hierome yet all these were Gods seruants Gods truth sometimes deuideth the faithfull amongest themselues Iohn chap. 6. ver 66. Christes sermon that his flesh was the true meate was an vndoubted truth yet it made a partition between the twelue the other which beleeued in Christ I confesse that Gods spirite is the spirite of peace vnitie This spirit should wholly possesse vs if we were wholly regenerate But the best men are shorte of that 19 Multitude is not an infallible argument of Gods Church Gen. 7. 1. King 19. 22. chap. IN the times of Noe Elias Micheas c. The greater part was the woorse part when the x. tribes did set thēselues against the tribe of Iuda Gods Churche was in Iuda Except the Lord of hosts had reserued vnto vs euen a small remnant we should haue beene as Sodome Esay 1. ver 9 and should haue beene like vnto Gomorrha Whereby it is manifest that Gods Church was very little and that the greater number was the worse Enter in at the straight gate for it is the wide gate broade way that leeadeth to destruction many there be which go in thereat because the gate is straight the way narrow that leadeth vnto life and fewe there be that find it Mat. 7. ver 13.14 If the multitude had byn an argumēt of the Church Christes speech were not to be liked of Christ calles his flocke a little flock Christ himselfe was condemned to death by the greater number of the Iewes Luke 12. Math. 27. It is saide that Satan deceiueth all the worlde Apo 12. and 20. As the greater number is no sure proofe of the Church if they haue not the markes of the Church amongest them so is not the lesse number an argument of Gods church vnlesse they haue the essentiall markes of Gods Church amongest them if they may be come by 20 The Church is not to bee measured by the externall shewe Reioyce thou barren Gal. 4. that bearest no children c If the Apostle out of the prophet Esay call the Churche barren it is a good lesson to teache vs not to measure the church alwaies by the outwarde shew Esay 53. Christe the bridegrome was so afflicted that hee had neither forme nor beautie When the Churches case is such we must remember that it is Christes spouse When the Israelites were in captiuitie at Babylon Ezec. chap. 11 ver 15.16 Gods Churche was in Chaldaea as in a dungeon albeit they which remained in Ierusalem thought otherwise If Gods Church had beene measured by the outward shewe it had been wide with them which were then in captiuitie Cant. 6. I confesse that Gods Churche is saide by Salomon to be faire as the Moone pure as the Sonne But it is so to mens eyes not in the time of persecution but in the time of the peace of the church when as the order in Gods Church is very beautifull Esay 60.9 When we reade in Esay that the ships of Tharsis shall bring to gods churche sonnes from farre and their siluer their gold with them We must not by and by dreame of a golden church as the Iewes doe of a golden Messias but the meaning is that God will greatly aduaunce his Church and set it out with excellent furniture If they of Tharsis deserue great commendation for bringing their owne siluer gold with them to Gods Church I am sure they deserue very little which by cropping the Churches maintenance hinder the building of the spirituall temple For can gods churche be built without skilfull masons and carpenters I meane able ministers and cā they either prouide instrumentes for the framing setting vp of Almightie gods house when they are kepte fasting from the Churches allowance And is not this the true cause why in many places of this noble lande some such open Gods booke in the body of the church as would be goodly implements ornamentes in the Belfray I will not rub this sore any longer I am very sure that all whiche loue religion do pray heartily for the redresse of this 21 None which are or haue been alients from the church of God are to be admitted rashly into it If Rahab of Iericho and her companie Iosu 6. had been presently admitted into the Israelites assemblie their vncleannesse would haue been easily forgotten but the putting of them apart for a time without the host of Israel was of great force both to make them ashamed of their former behauiour to esteeme the companie of gods people afterward a more excellent benefit Acts. 9. The not admitting of S. Paul at the first amongest the Disciples did teache him to prefer the lowest place in Christs Church before the highest roome in the Sinagogues of the Pharisees and may teach vs not to open the Church dores ouer hastily to euery one without exception Acts. 19. Many which beleeued in Ephesus came confessed shewed their workes before they were ioined to the Church 1. Tim. chap. 3. ver 6. If no man may be admitted rashly into Gods church then no man may rashly be set ouer Gods Church Vnseasoned timber will not serue for a groundesell Hee is not fit to be a Captaine whiche cannot be accounted a souldier No man may be allowed a Prophet which hath not been the sonne of a Prophet 22 Gods Church may erre To erre is to goe
out of that way which almightie God hath prescribed to vs in his holy worde If the Church cannot erre what needed godly and learned Bishops ministers to looke to the Lordes fielde vine and flocke The familie of Sem was gods church Gen. 11. but idolatrie entred into that familie I confesse Gen. 9. that a singuler blessing was giuen to Sem but his posteritie coulde not be keept within their compasse If the Churche was any where in Esaies time it was amongest the Iewes But the Prophet saith that the Priest and the Prophet were not only corrupt in their manners Esay 28. vers 7. Eze. 8. but that they fayled in vision and stumbled in iudgement The flourishing Churches of Asia Grecia Affrica which had the precious treasure of Gods woorde plentifully amongst them are nowe stripped of Christian religion The Church erred before and vnder the lawe and in the time of grace beefore the lawe Gen. 3. Exod. 32. for Adam and Eue erred in Paradise Vnder the lawe for Aaron and the Israelites erred fouly in making a golden calfe In the time of grace for the Churches of Corinth Galatia Acts. 21. ver 20. and the Primitiue Church in Iudea erred about the obseruation of Moses law and otherwise The Churche in Augustines and Cyprians time did giue the holy Supper to infants Chap. 6. ver 3 grounding vpon the place of Saint Iohn but it was a grosse error Let no man deceiue you by anye meanes 2. Thes 2. for that day shall not come except there come a departing first This Apostasie or departing which Paule speaketh of is not in one or two Churches but euen in the body of the whole visible Church The holy ghoste did so prophesie Iesus Christ is the head of the church as of one body This head is vnto the Churche as reason vnto man so farre foorth as the desire of man obeyeth reason and the body of the Church the head of the Church it is wel with man with the Church The Church is as a Moone whiche hath no light but from Christe the sonne thereof When shee looketh towards him shee is bright and cleare the more shee turneth away from him the lesse brightnesse she hath Obiection The Churche is the piller of trueth 1. Tim. 3.15 therefore it cannot erre Answere The argument followeth not and S. Paules meaning is that Gods truth is preserued in the Churche by the ministerie of the worde the reason of this my answere is set downe in these wordes he gaue some to be Apostles some prophets some Euangelistes some Pastors and Doctors for the gathering together of the saints for the work of the ministerie for the edification of the body of Christ that we hencefoorth bee no more children wauering and carried aboute with euery winde of Doctrine Ephe. 4. ver 11.12.14 Obiection The spirit of truth will lead you into all truth therfore the church cannot erre Iohn 16.13 Answere If followeth not It is certaine that Christes Disciples which heard his heauenly Sermons were persuaded very hardly that the Messias shoulde die and they dreamed of a stately kingdome in the worlde both before his death as the sonnes of Zebedeus and after Christes resurrection as all the Apostles Mat. 20. Acts. 1. Our Sauiour Christ least they shoulde bee discouraged because they were not then able to beare digest his speeches comforts them in this sort the spirite of truth will leade you into all truth as if hee shoulde say your capacitie is weake and my speeches will not enter into you but be of good cheere it shall not bee so with you alwaies the spirit of truth shall open your vnderstanding lead you into all truth When we reade or heare that the spirit will leade vs into all truth wee muste not thinke that either the spirit doth lead vs without the word Esay 59. 1. Thes 5. as the Anabaptists teach for the spirite the worde cannot bee seuered or that the Church not bringing the worde for her warrant is in matters of faith Cypr. de lapsu to bee beleeued for hee is not ioyned to the Church which is seuered from the Gospel 23 The Church is not perfect in this worlde THe Gospel is a siue or fanne Matth. 3. which separateth the chaffe from the corne If chaffe were not mingled with the corne this fanne that is the preaching of the Gospell were needles The knowledge of the Church is but in part 1. Cor. 13. Matth. 6. and the whole Churche desires pardon of their sinnes The Church shall not be perfit before the last day but then it shall bee Apoc. cap. 21. ver 10.11.12 Which thing that S. Iohn might set before our eyes hee remembreth that the estate of the heauenly Ierusalem shal be most glorious after the ende of the worlde If wee consider the visible Church in her owne bodie it is farre from perfection For it is compared to a fielde Math. chap. 13 wherein is Wheate and Tares and to a drawe net wherein are good and bad fishes That Church which bragges of perfection in this worlde is a Pharisaicall Church Aug. epi. 48. Such Churches were and are the Churches of the Donatistes Nouatians and Anabaptistes Obiection Whosoeuer is borne of God sinneth not 1. Iohn 3. ver 6.9 Answeare By not sinning S. Iohn meaneth that the regenerate serue not sinne and that sinne raigneth not in them because they withdrawe them selues by Gods assistaunce from sinne and withall their heartes do giue them selues to holines of life It is very true that the faithfull doe sinne that is to say can not liue so holily but that they offende the Maiestie of god so did Aaron Noe Daniel Iob Barnabas Peter and the virgin Marie otherwise shee had not needed a Sauiour The iust mā falleth seuen times Prou. 24. 1. Iohn cha 1 If we say we haue no sinne wee deceiue ourselues c. Obiection Christ loued the Church gaue himselfe for it that he might sanctifie it Ephes 5.25.26 27. clense it by the washing of water through the word that he might make it vnto him self a glorious Church not hauing spotte or wrinkle or any such thinge Answeare This Argument was vsed of the Pelagians in Augustines time Epist 50. 57. Idem lib. 1. retract cap. 19 li. 2. cap. 18 but August saith that the freedom of the Church frō all staines is not in this worlde but in the world to come Besids it is one thing to consider the church in it self another thing to consider it in Christ The Church in it self whether we respect eche mēber of it seuerally or all the members of it ioyntly haue many spottes and wrinkles otherwise it were not true that they are saued by the grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ as the Apostle Peter saith The Church considered in Christe Act. 15. ver 11 1. Iohn 1. Apoc. 1. 1.