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
enioy in the life to come with Christ in heauen of which I cannot make any explanation further then vnder such metaphoricall termes as the Scripture vseth onely to let vs see a glimpse of that glory which we shall enioy fully as when it is called a u Luke 12.32 Kingdome for our raigning there a x Act. 3.21 refreshing for our comfort there a y Reuel 14.13 rest for our quiet there a z Luke 23.43 Paradise for our pleasure there a Iohn 14.2 the house of our Father b Psal 16.11 the fulnesse of ioy the c Matth. 25.21 ioy of the Lord d Reuel 21.10 the holy Citie e Heb. 12.21 the heauenly Ierusalem f Rom. 3.23 the glorie of God Abrahams g Luke 16.21 bosome h 1. Cor. 2.7 our glorie i Luke 1.9 our peace k Dan. 12.2 our eternall happinesse such as l 1. Cor. 2.9 neither eye hath seene nor eare hath heard nor euer entred into the heart of man For if S. Paul m 2. Cor. 12.3 being rauished in spirit could not vtter what he saw there how can we expresse what God hath reserued for present faith and future sight as we n 2. Cor. 5.7 walke by faith and not by sight o Colos 3.1 Let vs seeke it and set our affections vpon it as vpon the p Matth. 6.21 onely treasure of our hearts since q Mic. 2.10 this is not our rest who r Heb. 12.13 hauing here no continuing Citie must looke for one to come that ſ 1. Cor. 13.10 when that which is perfect is come then that which is in part may be done away But in the meane time since we finde now what this perfection is which our Sauiour speaketh of to wit a true conformitie vnto himselfe in that which is perfect not personall but communicable both in the way of grace not only as it is prescribed by the Law but performed by the Gospell in the nature and actions of the regenerate and in the life of glory let vs diligently search the depth of this latter question how farre can any man here liuing proceede in this perfection The latter Question how farre here A maine point of perfect knowledge easily found by the due consideration of the three-fold estate of man in this world as first in his nature secondly in his fall thirdly in his new birth For first in his nature he was created t Eccles 7.31 good u Gene. 1.26 Ephes 4.24 according to Gods Image of holinesse and righteousnesse yet is he not therefore any way with God to be compared in perfection For x Esay 45.9 woe vnto him that striueth with his Maker y Iob 4 17.18.19 Shall mortall man be more iust then God Shall a man be more pure then his Maker Behold he put no trust in his seruants and his Angels he charged with folly How much lesse in them that dwell in houses of clay whose foundation is in the dust 1. Conclusion which are crushed before the moth Therefore our first conclusion is this we can neuer attaine to the inherent perfection of Christ as he is either God or man not as he is God because so he is infinite and z Beda in axiomat there is no proportion betweene the infinite Creator and finite creatures not as he is man because though he be like vs so yet here we come farre short of him who is vnchangeable in his innocencie where we in Adam receiued only grace by which we might not haue sinned if we had would but not that grace by which we would not or could not haue sinned being made with a free will either to good or ill that he might shew thereby saith a August lib. de Corrept grat cap. 11. c. S. Augustine first what mans free will can doe and then what the benefit of his grace and iudgement of his iustice can Secondly in his fall he is wholy corrupted and become so b Psal 14.3 abominable that his very best parts yea and all his c Esay 64.10 righteousnesse is but as filthy rags 2. Conclusion So that if Christ prescribe perfection from the Law our second conclusion is that wee can neuer attaine to that legall perfection since it requireth so much and we can performe so little or nothing that the Apostle maketh it an axiome d Rom. 3.19 By the deeds of the Law there shall no flesh be iustified in his sight Thirdly in his new birth he is but as in store aut germine in the bud or flowre e Heb. 5.13 a milke-sop babe altogether vnskilfull in the Word of righteousnesse foreslowed by the flesh in spiritual proceedings f Rom. 7.23 the law of his members rebelling against the law of his minde and leading him captiue vnto the law of sinne which is in his members And therefore hence we determine in a third conclusion two things first 3. Conclusion 1. Part. that we are not yet come to the perfection of life being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 framed or fitted towards it but not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fastened in it For now g 1. Iohn 3.2 wee are the sonnes of God and yet it doth not appeare what we shall be For being yet in growing we are not at our last period of perfection the end is the last and best thing saith the Great h Aristotel lib. 2. Physic cap. 3. Philosopher for as the good Father i Iustin Martyr q. 113. Iustine Martyr giueth the reason The perfection of God is in God and no other beeing can increase it because when we are come so farre then shall we rest Secondly that therefore 2. Part. since we are yet in continuall motion our perfection present is only of the way Euangelicall wherein we are alwayes bound to walke k Heb. 6.1 forward from the beginning of the doctrines of Christ For we are but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the disposition not in the habit perfect quoad l M. Perkins vpon Mat. 5.48 partes according to the seuerall parts of perfection but not quoad gradus according to the seuerall degrees thereof as a sucking childe is a perfect man in regard of his substantiall parts although he is not yet at his full growth So m Psal 101.2 DAVID walked within his House with a perfect heart and yet hee n 2. Sam. 11.2 sinned therein with Bath-shebah so o 2. Chron. 17.15 AS A his heart was perfect all his dayes yet the high places were not taken away so Saint PAVL p Philip. 3.12 was conformable but not alreadie perfect Omnes imperfecti sumus ibi perficiemur vbi omnia perfecta sunt saith S. q August hom 34. ex 50. hom cap. 9. AVGVSTINE We are all vnperfect there shall wee be perfected where all things are perfect For Modò
ANTICHRIST ARRAIGNED In a Sermon at Pauls Crosse the third Sunday after Epiphanie WITH THE TRYALL OF GVIDES On the fourth Sunday after TRINITIE By THOMAS THOMPSON Bachelour in Diuinitie and Preacher of Gods WORD PHILIP 3.2 Beware of Dogges beware of euill workers HILAR lib. contra Arianos Aurentium Lusit quidem ille verbis quibus possit fellere Electos sed patet impietatis tantae professio LONDON Printed by William Stansby for RICHARD MEIGHEN and are to be sold at his Shop at Saint Clements Church ouer-against Essex House and at Westminster Hall 1618. To the High Noble and most vertuous CHARLES Prince of Wales Duke of Cornewall Earle of Chester and Heire Apparant to the Crowne and Monarchie of Great BRITTAINE his Gracious LORD All happie increase of Grace and Glorie heauenly and earthly from GOD the FATHER and from our Lord IESVS CHRIST MOst Gracious and most hopefully Puissant Prince Place may yeeld much preiudice against the personall performance of any good actions to those mens conceits who make custome a vertue with the blinde Pharises thus taunting at NICODEMVS a John 7.52 Art thou also of Galilee search and looke for out of Galiee ariseth no Prophet But such sinister thoughts God in his prouidence so graciously preuenteth that as the Sunne shineth in euery Climate and fruits are there found proportionable to the measure of celestiall influence shed downe by the Spheres-orbicular motions and light to the same place so Christ is preached euery where and pious plants are there discouered answerable to that measure of sauing Grace which God in his mercie by the vniformely working motions of his free Spirit and light of his Truth vouchsafeth to send them as Peter said in his Sermon to CORNELIVS b Act. 10.34.35 Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons but in euerie Nation hee that feareth GOD and worketh righteousnesse is accepted with him My hearts true comfort is then well setled by a full assurance of right good acceptance in offering to your Gracious Highnesse this small reward of a poore Prophet since the place whence it commeth is priuiledged from preiudice it being your Highnesse owne Principalitie of Wales For albeit some c Iohn Penrie against the vnlearned Ministers in Wales to the Right Honourable Lord Henrie Earle of Pembroke Lord President of the Marches of Wales Schismatically-rash Censurers in times past layd an heauie aspersion of a Galilaean barrennesse vpon this Countrie for want of Prophets and Prophets Children therein yet God bee thanked their complaint was causelesse since not to rifle vp any olde Rowles and Registers of the Ancient Brittaines great endeuours and good proceedings in all holy Learning and deepe Literature God no sooner sent the beames of his Gospell to shine vpon this Hemisphere of the Reformed Church of Great Brittaine but presently Wales was as well as other places of this Kingdome comforted with the warmth of this heauenly Light conueyed thereinto euen through the hard stormes of those Antichristian Persecutions in former times by the faithfull Ministerie of blessed d Bishop Farrar Rawlins White and other at Glocester Worcester c. burnt Martyrs and glorious Confessors and now continued yea and mightily encreased by the faithfull paines of zealous Pastors our Right Reuerend Fathers and pious Presbyters who e Iohn 5.35 like shining and burning Candles haue so cleered these Coasts of the Clouds of Popish Ignorance that Wales is like Galilee in the dayes of Christ Iesus The f Mat. 4.16.17 people which sate in darknesse seeing great light A full proofe whereof your Graces Highnesse daily findeth by the growth of godlinesse in Persons of all sorts by the loyall obedience of all true-hearted Subiects and by the constant obseruance of all good Orders set downe most intirely by those most Honourable Godly and Prudent Sages of his Maiesties Councell within these Marches of whose sincere Gouernment and Guidance of this your Highnesse Principalitie I must needes say as I finde the Lord the Searcher of all hearts knowing that I lye not in the wordes of EVRIPIDES g Euripid. in Antiope apud Tholosanum lib. 〈◊〉 de Rep. cap. 1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 By the sentence of these men the Cities are well inhabited and so is the House also they are helpfull to Warlike affaires For these fiue yeeres together I being called through Gods meere Prouidence by the sole care and fauour of a most Worthie h Sir Edward Herbert Knight of the Bath Personage for all deepe Learning and truely tryed valour to his immortall honour into this parcell of GODS true Vineyard can testifie with all boldnesse the happie successe of those true paines which God hath in his mercy blessed to the comfort of vs his poore Seruants that we labour not in vaine i Iohn 4.36 reaping and receiving wages and gathering fruit vnto life eternall The liuely strength of which great encouragements hath and doth animate me Gods poore Creature to spend all spare time from the ordinarie execution of my necessarie Function in preaching GODS Word vpon the Lords Day and at other fit seasons in writing out and publishing such of my Sermons as are iudged by my Hearers to bee most profitable that what was lost in hearing may by reading be recouered and what was well heard might better bee holden by the Example of the olde k Vid. Danaeum cap. 20. Prolegom in Mâ—nor Prophetas Prophets and the Apostles of Christ who preaching much yet penned no more then what Gods Spirit thought fit and profitable for the present and to future Ages And so vpon this settled resolution which I trust in God good men will iudge truely honest I fastened my Studies for some time vpon this Sermon preached long since yet freshly desired to bee published for their benefit by diuers godly Learned especially for that our Antichristian Aduersaries seemed much discontented that their Pope should be arraigned and adiudged to bee that Great Antichrist and themselues to be prooued so plainly Antichristian euen open Rebels to Christ and Christian Princes whereas as they thinke in the Theorique part Andreas Eudaemon hath answered our obiections and for the practique their loyaltie is approoued in the sight of GOD and Man Indeed this Argument is the very roote of all the differences betweene them and vs vpon which after so many Great Learned Men I doe not presume to deliuer more then hath beene said but only to refresh the Memories of the Learned with a new Method of olde matters both replying vpon Eudaemon where he seemeth to presse and explayning the miserie of our enslaued Countrymen vnder the Pope Al which I most humbly present to your Highnesse as to whom the execution of most things here mentioned may chiefly belong for the rooting out of Antichrist and vtter extirpation of the Romish Babylon since what God hath begunne by the Gracious hand of our most Learned Wise Godly and Puissant Soueraigne for
they no place at all in determining of the second point Who is this great Antichrist because they liued before the time wherein that great Antichrist who lurked in those Fathers dayes vnder a mysterie was to be detected disclosed and found to sit at Rome and by his deeds to fulfill all those Prophecies which the holy Ghost had deliuered concerning him in the Scriptures So that our holy Brethren who yet expect a more full expressement of Antichrist in some one particular vile Monster that should if it were possible surpasse the Pope in villany are not so much against vs as they seeme to bee in show seeing it is not any good liking they haue of the Pope whom they confesse to be Antichrist but onely the iust detestation of so wicked a Monster as is Antichrist that draweth them to imagine the further deferring of his most dangerous and accursed approach They are in hope Wee are in faith and both in loue They expect a farre off Wee behold euen at hand the end of all these miseries by the fore-past reuealing the present rage and raigning the future happy ruine of Antichrist and his Kingdome now settled in Rome Wee agree both in the maine not much differing in the Bye As wee yeeld to them in the iust execration of the odious nature of this abominable Antichrist so farre as they prooue what they speake from the Scriptures euen so in like manner are they bee they neuer so learned and wise with patience and loue to heare and to iudge vs their deare Brethren speaking with some knowledge in true zeale concerning the maner of the reuealing of Antichrist which they hold yet to be in futuro We finde to be fully finished in praeterito in praesenti both in times before and now If any x 1. Cor. 14.30 31. thing bee reuealed to another that sitteth by let the first hold his peace For yee may all prophesie one by one that all may learne and all may be comforted y Homer 2. Odyss 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 weake men combined may worke much good since z Ouid. quae non prosunt singula multa iuuant what one cannot many may Proofes of our Assertion from the ancient Fathers § XXVII And yet I speake not this in diffidence of our cause For wee want not the authoritie of ancient Fathers either prophesying beforehand or zealously publishing vpon his appearance that the Great Antichrist is alreadie come and the Pope of Rome is hee I will produce no Babes but onely such as without exception are either produced by a Canis Catechis cap. de nouiss quaest 3. Canisius and b Coccius tom 2. Catholicism lib. 10. art 30. 1. Prophesying before Coccius as if they were on their side or else registred for eye-witnesses by good Historians For those who beforehand prophesied of Antichrist and of his seat or kingdome agree vpon these two points The first that Antichrist shall sit at Article 1 Rome rearing vp his Kingdome vpon the ruines of the Romane Empire For to this Article speaketh First Tertullian when c Tertullian in Apâ—loget cap. 32. hee saith that Christians pray for the safetie of the Romane Empire because by the course thereof the great Persecutions which must come by Antichrist are put off and hindred Secondly Cyrill of Hierusalem when d Cyrill Hierosolymitan Catechesi 15. hee saith that Antichrist shall violently take vnto himselfe the power of the Romane Empire Thirdly Ambrose when e Ambros in 2. Thes 2. hee saith that Christ shall not come till the Romane Empire faile and Antichrist appeare who must kill the Saints giuing libertie to the Romanes yet vnder his owne name Fourthly f Chrysost hom 4. in 2 Thes 2. Chrysostome followed by g Theophylact. in 2. Thes 2. Theophylact h Oecumenius in 2. Thes 2. Oecumenius and i Radulphus Fluuiac lib. 18. in Leuit cap. 1. Rudolphus Fluuiacensis when both he and they after him ioyntly affirme that Antichrist by trecherie must destroy the Romane Empire The second that Rome is Babylon the proper seate of Antichrist which shall be destroyed before the end of the World For to this Article Article 2 speaketh First Tertullian who in full assurance of what he speaketh oftentimes k Tertullian lib. in Iudaeos cap. 9. lib. 3. in Marcion cap. 13. vseth these words Babylon in our Apostle Saint IOHN beareth the figure of the Citie of Rome therefore great and proud by her Kingdome and a destroyer of the Saints Secondly Hierome who liuing at that time when Rome was wholly Christian vnder Constantius Iulian and Valentinianus the First yet in foresight of future Apostasie therein there beginning vnder a Mysterie but afterward openly to be complemented very l Hierony tom 1. Ep. 17. ad Marcellum Ep. 151. ad Algosiam qu. 11. in Praefat. ad translat Dydimi de spirit Sanct. Omnia secund Editionem Parisiens 1609. often termeth that Citie Babylon and the purple Whoore spoken of in the Reuelation wherein sometimes hee was an inhabitant Now this cannot bee spoken of Babylon in Mesopotamia which then was desolate and where Hierome neuer liued Thirdly Lactantius who m Lactant. li. 7. Instit cap. 25. alluding to the Sybilline Oracle saith that when that head of the World shall fall and beginne to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is but a street or Impetus for it is deriued either of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sluo or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 traho who can doubt but that an end is at hand vpon all humane affaires and vpon all the World The words of the Sybill to which he alludeth are these as learned n Xistus Betuleius in Annot. in Lactantium Betuleius doth cite them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Rome shall bee a street and Delus vnknowne c. But let vs leaue these Prophesies and come to performances For Antichrist did no sooner appeare in his likenesse but God in his mercie to wards his Elect sent forth his faithfull Witnesses of euery sort Publishing his present approach by open Verdit to publish abroad vnto the World that the Mystery was reuealed and Antichrist was then come and seated in Rome It is odious to say it and idle if wee prooue it not Therefore that Papists especially in England may at length see and marke how their Pope was reputed off in former times euen before Iohn Wickliffe spake against him in Oxford the Pope shall haue faire play his Cause shall bee tryed by a Grand Inquest of twelue good men and true according to the o Sir Thom. Smith de rep Anglor l. 2. c. 18. onely most laudable custome of the Common-wealth of England whereof foure shall be Kings and Princes foure shall be Arch-bishops A Iurie Impanneled and Bishops and foure shall bee Abbots or Monkes Behold now the Prisoner standing at the Barre who because hee is become a Peere in the World shall
he strongly purgeth by violent Physicke his sicke Patient so our Magistrates and Ministers Gods Superintendents vnto this charge are first to labour by all gentle meanes to winne these stray and wandring Wights in p Gal. 6.1 the Spirit of meeknesse since q Prou. 25.14 a soft tongue breaketh the bone as Saint Paul r 1. Cor. 4.21 wished to come to the Corinthians not with a Rod but in Loue. For it lighteneth before it thundreth God sent his Prophets before hee sent his Plagues and all to see if they would Å¿ Iere. 7.25 18.16 repent of their sinnes that hee might repent of his punishments But if they bee so stubborne that warning will not serue then draw out the Sword You good Men of the Sanedrin denounce by censure Ecclesiasticall and Yee Great Men of Millo strike home and wound t Psal 68.21 the hairie scalpe of euerie one that goeth on still in his trespasses For you must u Luke 14.14 compell them by force of Law to enter you being Gods Lieutenants on earth x Rom. 13.4 not to carrie the Sword for nought And therefore as Saint Augustine y August Ser. 33. de verb. do cap. 6. concludeth For is inueniatur necessitas nascitur intus volunt is Outwardly let them find a constraint and inwardly a good will or liking may grow in time For the Spirit z Iohn â— 8 bloweth where it listeth on a Act. â— 5 Saul the persecuter on b Euseb lib. Eccles hist 6. cap. 4. Basilides the tormentor on c Sleidan Comment lib. 21. Vergerius the confuter and so it may worke in those who are brought to the Church by compulsion that of d Esay 65.25 Lyons they may be Lambs of Cormorants be made Doues and of peruerse Papists by the preuenting and assisting grace of God become perfect Protestants willingly now renuing by true repeÌ„tance the couenant first made in their Baptisme to Christ who is their only Teacher and Master as it followeth to be declared now in the Instruction first vnto humilitie in the lowly seruant The third part § IIII. The Disciple is not aboue his Master c Theophylact. in 10. Matth. 24 Theophilact expounding this place vnderstandeth it prouerbially spoken of any Master and any scholler because so long as they are schollers they are inferiour to their Masters for when once they become better they are no more their schollars as f Apud Cic. lib. 9. Ep. sam Ep. 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 many schollers are better then their Masters But this interpretation is somewhat too generall because albeit it be true in euery Master and Scholler as they are so correlata yet the article here is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 declaring with an emphasis or vehemencie who properly is that Master to wit as g Beda in 6. Luc. Beda h Strab. in glâ—ss ordin Strabus i Stella in Luc. Stella and k Aquin. in Catena Marlaorat the whole streame of learned Interpreters haue deliuered Christ Iesus himselfe noted by the article 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For so he applieth it to himselfe when vpon this very speech he inferreth l Mat. 10.24.25 If they call the Master of the house Beelzebub how much shall they call them of the household Yea and he plainely auoucheth m Matth. 23.8 one is your Master euen Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—lle Doctor or ille Ductor that Teacher or that Leader of Israel far surpassing those who by a speciall commission from holy Iehoshaphat n 2. Chro. 17.6 taught the people and had the booke of the Law of the Lord with them and went about throughout all the Cities of Iudah and taught the people They were sent out by an earthly Potentate but he o Iohn 16.28 came downe from the King of Heauen They were directed by the booke of the Law but he was that onely true p Iames 4.12 Law-giuer himselfe they went throughout all the Cities of Iudah only but he preached the Gospell in all q Matth. 4.25 Palestina to wit in Gallie and Samaria as well as in Iudaea only to gather into one folde r Matth. 15.24 the lost sheepe of the house of Israel to whom he was sent So that his Disciples be they neuer so well furnished with grace and power either extraordinarie as were Å¿ Ephes 4.11 Apostles Prophets and Euangelists or ordinarie as Pastors Doctors and other good Christians had and stil from him may haue can neither be superiour nor equall vnto him who did but either send them as t 2 Cor. 5.20 Ambassadours in his stead or call them as lost u Luke 15.4 sheepe into his solde Wherefore hence wee learne a most certaine truth that Christ Iesus was is The Doctrine and euer shall be the sole supreme Teacher Leader Head and Master-builder of his holy Catholike Church and of all and euery member therein conteined For so Scripture Reason 1. Regula and Fathers doe demonstrate Scripture vnder these two heads of places as first where he is called the corner stone prophetically by Dauid saying x Psal 118.22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner For our Sauiour y Matth. 21.42 applieth it vnto himselfe to the iust conuiction of the contemning Iewes and St. Peter z Act. 4.11 feared not to vrge it beâ—ore the Elders in the Councell as the only pregnant place to proue Iesus to be Christ becauâ—e the a Esaâ— 11.10 Rom. 15.12 Gentileâ— as the Iewes shall â—rust in him being as S. Paul saith built vpon b Eph. 2.21.22 the foundation of the Apostles and the Prophets Iesus Christ himselfe bring the chiefe Corner sâ—one in whom all the building fiâ—ly framed together groweth vnto an holy Temple in the Lord. Secondly where he is intitulâ—d the c Ephes 1.22 Head ouer all things to the Church the d Ephes 5.23 Head of the Church as the man is of the wiâ—e For hereby is signified a full preeminence in regard both of honour since as the head is the chiefest part of the body naturall so is Christ the Head e Coloss 1.18 of the body the Church euen the beginning the first borne from the dead that in all things hee might haue the preeminence and of helpe which hee comfortably affordeth vnto al the other members of this his mysticall body whatsoeuer they be by due ministration of spirituall grace according to their seuerall necessities that in him they may be full and want nothing as all the f Colos 2.9.10 fulnesse of the Godhead dwelleth in him bodily and we are complete in him who is the Head of all principalitie and power For whatsoeuer saith g Ambros in Col. 2. Ambrose any thinketh great in any man he shall finde more in Christ because all haue from him as members from the head yet is he alwayes