world chalenge the name of the Church to them selues and thinke that none but they are y e Church The Muscouites likewise brag that they are the Church The Pope of Rome and his fauorers defend with fire and sword howe the Catholique Church is with them Epicures they passe for no religion but that which serueth for their pleasure and idlenes Betweene manie Iewes and vs there is great controuersie about the Messiah of whom who so conceiueth amisse without al doubt he is not of the true Church but vnder the kingdome of Satan We for our parts hauing learned the same out of the word of God doe acknowledge and confesse Iesus the sonne of Marie the virgine borne at Bethlehem à citie of Dauid according to the foresaiengs of the Prophets in the yeeres after the worlds creation 3962. Augustus the Emperor then raigning and afterward put to death vnder Pontius Pilate this Iesus I saie we confesse to be the true Messiah to be verie God and verie man the true mediator betweene God and man and the onlie Sauiour of al mankinde in which respectes we serue him and worship him This Iesus did manie Iewes both acknowledge and worship at such time as he liued in this world which thing Iosephus doth testifie in these wordes Then liued Iesus à wise man if yet we maie cal him à meere man without sinne he was à worker of strange miracles and à teacher of those which gladly do receiue the truth and had manie followers as well Iewes as Gentiles This Christ was he whome notwithstanding that Pilate had iudged him to the crosse being accused by the chiefe of our nation yet ceassed they not to loue him who from the beginning had so done For the third daie he appeared quicke vnto them in so much that by the inspiration of God they fore-told this and other things of him and euen til this daie the stocke of Christians so called of him decaieth not But verie manie Iewes as at that time so now euen of meere enuie do not acknowledge as we do this Iesus to be the Messiah Of which some do vtterly denie that the Messiah is yet come others cōuicted by the scriptures prophets about the time of the comming of the Messiah do in deede confesse that the Messiah is come and was borne vnder Herod yet saie they he is hid for the sinnes of the people and that as some report in Zion with the Angels as others beyond the Caspion mountaines and as others that he goeth à begging about the world and shal manifest himselfe at the pleasure of God For seeing so many prophecies of the Prophets do agree together vpon that time the learneder sort of the Iewes of that age were throughlie persuaded that in their time the Messiah should come Whereof it came to passe that many by occasion of the tyme professed them-selues to be the Messiah when afore that time no man went about the same Among which was one Iudas the Galilean Ioseph Benzara who was bold vnder the name of the Messiah to rebell against Adrian the Emperour whom verie manie Iewes did followe but the end declared his vanitie So was one Barcozibas a skilfull captaine by reason of his often victories supposed to be the Messiah In which opinion many stood a long while til at last he also was punished by Adrian for his wickednesse I ouerslip those whom Foelix the gouernour of Iudea punished For it was a common thing at that time the which the Prophets assigned to the birth of Christ to seduce the people especialy seeing they beleeued the Messiah should come for none other intent than by force of armes to bring other nations vnder his subiection By which meanes they should abound in al kind of pleasures and store of al things the Israelites then liuing being brought againe into their natiue and promised countrie Seeing now the Iewes haue so grosse an opinion concerning the end of the comming of the Messiah they do nothing differ from the verie swine and Lions whereof those delight to wallowe in the mire of filthie lust and these mightily to suppresse other beastes that theie alone may seeme to beare the swaie Whose pestilent errour is condemned through-out the whole Scripture For the whole scripture doeth testifie how the Messiah shall appeare not to wage battell with men like some Hercules or great Alexander but according to the first promise to set-vpon the olde serpent to abolish sinne death to repaire the image of God in man which through sinne was put-out and to rewarde his owne that is the faithful with euerlasting righteousnes immortalitie that so being ioyned to God in perfect loue theie might be happie and blessed wherin the true and proper end of man doetli consist But the better to arme our selues against the deceiptfull Iewes obey we the wordes of our Lord Christ saying Search the Scriptures there are they which testifie of me And Peter saith We haue a most sure word of the Prophets to the which ye do well that yee take heede as vnto à light that shineth in à darke place But that we may the more soundly and substantially refel the Iewish errour let vs include the whole matter within the compasse of one argument on this four me He alone without all controuersie of certaine truth yea and by the confession of all men is the true and onlie Messiah to whome all the prophecies of the Prophets doe point and to whome properlie whatsoeuer by Moses and other holie Prophets of God hath ben fore-told of the Messiah doth agree But the prophecies of al the Prophets doe point vnto Iesus the sonne of Marie the virgine and to this Iesus alone whatsoeuer by Moses and other holie Prophets hath bene fore-told of the Messiah doth agree Therefore none but Iesus the sonne of the virgine Marie is the true and onlie Messiah The Maior none will denie The Minor is in controuersie betweene vs and the Iewes which if we once shal proue both the error of the Iewes wil be manifest and our faith confirmed And seeing as Augustine saith The strength of religion consisteth in this howe al things which fel-out in Christ haue bene fore-told we wil shew in fewe words howe al the oracles of the Prophets doe agree to Iesus Christ alone and to none other and then afterward we purpose to refute such things as the blinded Iewes doe obiect vnto vs. Iesus Christ in the reigne of Augustus the Emperor was borne of the vnspotted virgine in Bethlehem à citie of Dauid Here as Luke recordeth both the time the place the mother and the stocke of the Messiah borne are declared and all these doe answere vnto the fore-saiengs of the Prophets The time was signified by Iaakob the patriarch The scepter shal not depart from Iudah nor à law-giuer from betweene his feete vntil Siloh come and the people shal be gathered vnto him
vnto Christ that as they should finde the lawe fulfilled in him so they should be made partakers of the promised mercie And therefore this promise of mercie hath one conditiō fro the law without Christ to wit touching y e fulfilling of y e law another in Christ name lie of faith wherbie the end of the law which is righteousnes is obteined So that as manie as beleue haue righteousnes which is as much as y e law requireth Wherof the promise of mercie is ratified and confirmed to them and this is that couenant whereof the 25. Psalme doth speake Al the pathes of the Lorde are mercie and truth vnto such as kepe his couenant and his testimonies that is as another Psalme doth expound it Mercie shal compasse him that trusteth in the Lord. The mercie then of GOD is moderated according vnto the rule of iustice when it is exhibited to such as repent For this iustice of God is à perpetual rule that as he wil condemne such as be rebellious without al pitie and mercie so he wil of his infinite mercie saue as manie as turne vnto the Lord. This rule of God his iustice is to be thought vpon when we reade in the Psalmes that Dauid praied God that he would heare him for his righteousnes ◠For three thinges together came into his minde namelie the promise of mercie the free pardon of his sinnes and the price wherebie the iustice of God is satisfied namelie by the sacrifice of his Sonne for he is vniust that hauing receiued à raunsome wil not set free the captiue and by the merite of Christ wherebie we are iustified before God being conuerted vnto him through faith Whence it is that if he should not heare them which repent and forgiue their offences he should be vniust as one that dealeth against the rule of his own iustice that denieth his promise that would accept no ransome nor regarde the righteousnes of his sonne wherebie he did merite fauour for vs. So that Dauid after his adulterie murder and betraieng the hoste of God did craue mercie and remission of his sinnes through faith and among other reasons brought this in for one That thou maiest be iust when thou speakest that is that men maie confesse thee iust for keeping thy wordes whereby thou promisedst pardon to as many as repent CHAP. 33. 1. Of Christe his wonderful obedience to his Father for our saluation 2. The fruite thereof NExt vnto the mercie of God we are to consider the wonderfull obedience of Christ which would vouchsafe to take our cause vpon himselfe and feele the wrath of God to deliuer vs from eternall death Of this obedience Paule vnto the Philippians on this wise Who being in the forme of God thought it no roberie to be equal with God but he made himselfe of no reputation and tooke on him-selfe the form of à seruant was made like vnto men was found in shape as à man He humbled him selfe became obedient vnto the death euen the death of the crosse Here Paul entreateth of the vnspeakeable obedience of the sonne of God and because equals cannot properly be said to obey one another but inferiors their betters Paule sheweth howe the sonne beeing of one essence and power with the Father did humble him selfe taking to himselfe the nature of man wherein he became obedient to the Father euen vnto the death of the crosse And in the 10. Chapter of the Epistle vnto the Hebrues out of the 40. Psalme Because it is vnpossible that the bloud of Buls and Goates should take away sinnes Wherefore when he commeth into the world he saith Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not but à bodie thou hast ordeined me In burnt offeringes and sinne offeringes thou hast had no pleasure Then I saide Loe I come In the beginning of the Booke it is written of me that I should do thy will O God Isaiah 53. He was offered euen because he would But with this obedience how agreeth that prayer thrice repeated in the garden O my Father if it be possible let this cup passe fro me neuerthelesse not as I wil but as thou wilt This praier seemeth to import that the wil of the sonne differed yea and was contrarie also to the Fathers wil. For the Fathers wil was that he should drinke of the cup which he had prepared And the sonne desireth that the same cup if it were possible might passeawaie This obiection is aunswered by the wordes of our Lord afterward in the same Chapter vttered The spirit in deed is willing but the flesh is weake So that what he would not through y e weaknesse of the flesh the which naturalie without offence dreadeth death the same he wold through the willingnesse of the spirite wherbie he was obedient to the Father And thus doth Cyril also distinguish the same when he saith That the passion of the Crosse was not voluntarie to Christ and againe was voluntarie for the fathers wil and for our saluation you maie easilie perceiue by this praier O my Father if it be possible let this cup passe from me For as the word of God is God and naturalie the verie life no man wil saie that anie waie he feared death but beeing made flesh he permitteth fleshe to suffer that which belongeth to flesh and therefore as verie man he dreadeth death standing at the dores Here an other question doth arise what obtained Christ by his praieng The Epistle vnto the Hebrewes maketh answere He was hearde in that which he feared for the paines of death being remoued awaie he ouercame those conflictes The fruite of this wonderful obedience of the sonne of God is our iustificatton and saluation As by one mans disobedience saith Paul manie were made sinners so by the obedience of one shal manie be made righteous The Apostle highlie extolling this obedience doth saie Christ when we were yet of no strength at his time died for the vngodlie Doubtlesse one wil scarse die for a righteous man but yet for a good man it maie be that one dare die But no tongue can vtter nor minde conceaue howe greate the obedience of the sonne of God was who deriued the wrath of God vpon himselfe and put himselfe into our place to suffer the paines due vnto vs for our saluation Christ hath redeemed vs from the cursse of the lawe when he was made a cursse for vs. Againe He hath made him to be sinne for vs which knew no sinne that we should be made the righteousnes of God in him CHAP. 34. 1. The greeuousnes of the paines which Christ endured for our sakes 2. What theie signified WIth this obedience would be considered both the greeuousnes of the pain which the sonne of God endured for our sakes both in minde and in bodie and also the reproche against his person The griefe of minde Christe doth testifie when he
bestowe life and saluation vppon none vnlesse by the sentence of the lawe hee be pronounced righteous and also without respect of persons to adiudge so manie to the cursse and wrath of God and to eternall paines which haue not yeelded pure perfect and cōtinual obedience to the lawe This right of the law is conteined in the promises threats added to the lawe of God And the summe thereof tendeth vnto these two sayinges of Moses Curssed be he that confirmeth not all the wordes of this lawe to doe them And The man which doth them shal liue in them that is as God condemneth the transgressor of the lawe so hee doeth iustifie the fulfiller of the same For as to bee condemned is by God through the accusement of Moses or the law the verie conscience of man bearing witnesse againste him named to be guiltie for transgressing the lawe to bee pronounced vniust and to bee adiudged to eternal death as accursed of God So to be iustified is by God through the quitance of Moses or the Lawe the verie conscience of man excusing him to bee named not guiltie for fulfilling the lawe to bee pronounced righteous to be adiudged to eternall life as blessed of GOD and that in respecte of the couenant betweene GOD and man This being set downe I will propose à demonstration whereby it shall appeare that no mortall man since the fal of our first parentes can legalie be iustified before the tribunal seat of God Iesus Christ onely excepted who is both God and man pure from all sinne absolutelie righteous according to the law And the demonstration is this Whosoeuer doeth perfectlie fulfill the lawe of God is righteous by the lawe and heire of eternall life by the promise of God And contrariwise hee that doeth not fulfill the lawe is accurssed and subiect to the wrath of God and to eternall paines according to the sentence of the lawe But no man since the fall of our first parentes Christ onelie excepted was euer found that coulde fulfill the lawe of God Therefore no man is righteous by the sentence of the lawe and heire of eternal life by the couenant of God but Christ alone who beeing free from contagion of sinne did perfectlie fulfill the lawe but all other besides him are by nature subiect to the cursse to the wrath of GOD and to eternall tormentes The maior is proued from the extreme right of the lawe that is from the promises and threateninges of God his lawe And this no man will denie as apparent by the worde of God but the minor is in controuersie For both the Pelagians and the Papistes doe reiecte the minor as vntrue but theie builde not both vpon the same foundation Pelagius because hee tooke-awaie originall sinne and taught how sin was sent-ouer to the posteritie of Adā not by propagation but by immitation onely ascribed to the power of man y t theie could by their natural strength of them selues fulfil the lawe of God and by the merites of good workes attaine euerlasting life And forsomuch as erroneouslie hee supposed that Christ was à meere man and yet for all that yeelded perfect obedience to the lawe hee concluded that other men likewise if they woulde might obserue the lawe and thereby be iustified and saued But howe weake yea howe false the foundation of Pelagius is the scripture in manie places doeth euidentlie declare For in that hee saith howe sinne is sent-ouer to the posteritie of Adam by imitation onelie it is most vntrue as Paule in his first Chapter vnto the Romanes doth most cleerelie teach where he handleth this verie argument namelie that wee are guiltie not by imitation but by propagation As by one man saith hee sinne entered into the worlde and death by sinne and so death went ouer all men forsomuch as all men haue sinned Againe Death raigned from Adam to Moses euen ouer them also that sinned not after the like maner of the transgression of Adam Are not these wordes quite contrarie to the saying of Pelagius which imagineth that sinne is sent-ouer by imitation onely Againe By the offence of one manie are dead that is all which were borne of Adam according to the common lawe of birth Againe through one which sinned death and condemnation came thorough one offence vnto condemnation Againe By the offence of one death raigned through one And again by the offence of one the fault came on al mē to condemnation by one mans disobedience manie were made sinners What can be spoken more plainelie Dauid also hee saith Behold I was borne in iniquitie and in sinne hath my mother conceaued mee Here Dauid speaketh not of à certaine sin of his parents as though the worke of marriage were à sinne which is wel knowē to be the holie and lawfull ordinance of God but of the contagion whereby we al y e sort of vs are both conceaued and brought into the world polluted because of the offence of our first parentes in whome the whole nature of man is corrupted and guiltie Therefore vnto the Ephesians Paul saith Wee were by nature the children of wrath so wel as others The foundation therefore of Pelagius being taken awaie the building wherevpon he had builded doth of it selfe come vnto the groūd So that when Pelagius doth argue thus We are borne without original sinne and onelie by imitating sinful Adam we are made guiltie therfore by the power of nature we can fulfil the lawe the Antecedent is constantlie to be denied as that which is contrarie both to the course of the whole scripture to the iudgement of al good writers And whereas the saide Pelagius doth affirme that Christ was onelie man not God too and yet notwithstanding yeelded ful obedience to the lawe and therefore others also maie fulfil the same it is à friuolous argument and ouerthrowne by the consent of the whole Scripture For the whole Scripture doth commend Christ God and man to vs saith he is the onelie sauiour testifieth that he is the beholder of heartes and acknowledgeth him to be present in all places Now y e Papists which also denie the minor of our argument builde vpon another foundation to wit vpon à false definition of God his lawe For with the Pharisees theie thinke that the lawe doth onelie restraine the hande as theie saie and requireth onelie outward ciuil workes which when men doe theie saie how theie are iust before God and doe merit by their obedience eternal life original sinne being abolished through the death of Christ. And therefore theie define the iustification of the vngodlie to be à remissiō of sinnes and à perfection of good works But how vane and friuolous this toieng of the Papistes is first the Law it selfe which brideleth concupiscence doth shewe Secondlie Paul compareth the Lawe of nature of men together as things cleane contrarie We know saith he that the law is
whereas the wicked in the meane while are in paine expecting the euerlasting torments of the righteous iudgement These thinges therefore are not contrarie the soules of the godlie are with Christ in heauen and the vngodlie in paine and that an vniuersal iudgement shal be where the righteous shal receiue perfect glorie and the reprobate eternal torments after the soules come againe into their bodies Notwithstanding although by these such like arguments the Epicures are conuinced of y e state of the souls after death yet are they not quiet but they proceed in asking and they vrge as they thinke verie grauelie The Iewes saie they affirme how their lawes be Gods lawes the Saracens euen the maior part of mankinde preferre theirs the Muscouites defende their religion to the death the Papistes they glorie of primacie and succession and therefore they cal themselues Catholikes blush not to tearme al other heretikes yee Lutherans also stand to your religion neither doe ye agree verie wel together In this confusion of iudgements what is to be done who are to be credited We haue sufficientlie alreadie shewed the vanitie of the Iewes Saracens Muscouites as touching the Papistes and vs heare vs both conferre waigh with iudgement the reasons of vs both marke which of vs doe drawe our argumentes out of the fountaines of our Sauiour and whiche out of the filthie puddle of mans inuentions so shal you easilie find out the trueth and the waie to iudge aright But if this shal seeme tedious vnto thee stinke thou as thou wilt in thine owne filthines what thou gettest therby thou shalt one daie find If it plese you behold your end in the 37. and 73. Psalmes Nowe concerning the dissension betwene ourselues it ouerthroweth not the trueth of the foundation which al of vs in à manner with one consent defend And thus much against the Epicures For I thinke it not good to spend anie moe wordes to swine And therefore once againe I turne my selfe vnto men CHAP. 12. 1. Of the true Church what it is 2. Whence it is 3. Howe gouerned and defended c. WHat is the true Church The Tabernacles of the Lorde of Hostes as our Psalme defineth That is the true Church is that which of the Lorde is both gathered gouerned and protected which harkeneth vnto cleaueth and is obedient to the Lord of hosts which hath y e Lord of Hostes dwelling in it which is in a strange countrie in banishment tending towardes her countrie by folowing her captaine Christ. These thinges are so linked-together and folowe of the first that no waie theie can be separated First therefore the true Church is gathered by the Lord of Hostes. For he by his worde gathereth to him selfe out of mankinde à Church according to that Go ye into al the world and preach the Gospel to euerie creature He that shal beleeue and be baptised shalbe saued but he that wil not beleeue shalbe damned For seeing without the Church there is no saluation by the worde of the Gospel men are caled with-out respect of nations and persons out-of the kingdome of darkenesse vnto the kingdome of light that is vnto the Church receaued by faith whervnto y e outward signe Baptisme is added as it were a watchworde of warre whereby theie are admonished of the purging which is made by the holie spirit after à certaine secrete manner as our Lorde doth teach in the 3. Chapter of Iohn of thinking vpon holines continualie of the crosse and glorie of the Church of death and resurrection from death of the true God which is the Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost which true and onelie God theie are bounde being receaued into the Church to worship with true holinesse both here in this world after the resurrection for euermore This true Church in the first Epistle of Iohn and also in the Apostolical Creede is caled The communion of Saintes that is the felowship of al men that are sanctified in Iesus Christ through the holie Ghoste This sanctification is then wrought when we beleeue the worde of the Gospel and by à liuelie faith rest our selues vpon the Lorde of Hostes which is Iesus Christe And that the true Church is as we saie it maie be proued by that notable example of our Father Abraham For he at such time as he was in Chaldea heard the voice of the Lorde and obeied him being caled out of Hur of the Chaldeans from the companie of idolaters he seuered separated himselfe from the wicked world both in heart in wil in faith in obedience toward God and in confession Where-vnto the name of the Church doth fitlie agree For as the Grecians caled that companie which by à common crier was called from the other people to heare the minde of the Senate à Churche so the Apostles take the Churche of Christ for that companie of men which by the preachers of the worde are called from the kingdome of Satan to the hearing and folowing of Christ and to the seuering and separating them-selues from the wicked world and swarmes of the reprobate both in heart wil faith obedience towardes God and in confession So that whosoeuer disioineth himselfe from the prophanitie of the worlde and by faith ioineth himselfe to Christ with à purpose truelie to serue him he is à member of the Church and à partaker of al the good thingâ— of Christ. And although greate is the weakenesse of al men and manifolde flames of wicked affections do often arise yea in the verie godlie against which in spirite theie doe contend yet he abideth in the Church is holie whosoeuer keepeth faith à good conscience or à good purpose For as the conscience beeing wastâ—d shipwracke is made of faith so where there is à good conscience there is faith by which we enioie the most excellent of al treasures euen the righteousnes of Christ wherebie we please God Neither must we thinke vpon anie difference here either of nations persons or sexe For faith maketh al alike as touching the right of the kingdome And although diuers and sundrie be the giftes yet serue theie al for the vnitie of the Church This vnitie of the true Church gathered out of manie and sundrie nations as it were into one house or familie is excelentlie shadowed by à Pome-granate tied to à bel For as in the Pome-granate vnder one outward barke manie granes are inwardlie vnited-together so infinite people of the Church are couered vnder the vnitie of the Church the which agree together through true charitie albeit in giftes and caling theie are distinguished The bel annexed signifieth the voice of such as preach the Gospel wherebie the members of the Church are gathered as it were into one bodie This true Church seeing it is the tabernacle of the Lorde of Hostes is gouerned and protected by him so that the gates of hel that
is the counsels snares and batteringes whether it be of the worlde or of the diuel cannot preuaile against the same The Church in deede compared to that huge companie of the reprobate and damned diuels is but à verie litle flocke yet continueth it vnmoueable against the force and power of all aduersaries whatsoeuer For notwithstanding manie citizens of the Church be murthered and put to sundrie tormentes yet is not the Church abolished therbie but in death it selfe theie get the victorie while theie keepe their faith and confession For precious in the sight of the Lorde is the death of his Saintes as that which is the gate vnto euerlasting blessednesse Therefore was it wel saide of Augustine The men of this worlde are vnhappilie happie but the Martyrs were happilie vnhappie For theie were for a time vnhappie but happie for euer The Prophet Isaiah compareth the Church to an Iland in his 2. Chapter For as an Iland placed in the sea although it be beaten with many a cruel storme and tempest that arise yet abideth inuincible because the Lord hath set à bound to the Sea which it cannot ouerpasse so the Church abideth safe notwithstanding manifold storms do beate vpon the same For the Lorde of Hostes defendeth and protecteth it who wil not suffer tyrants to vse more crueltie against y e same than it can wel indure or shalbe good for it As often therefore as we heare how the tyrantes of the world doe spoile the Church and murther the members of the same let vs comforte our selues with this cogitation the Lord of Hostes can not forsake his tabernacle which he hath made but wil by his diuine power and presence defende the same and withal praie we vnto this Lorde that he wil not suffer vs to be tempted aboue that we be able to beare Moreouer this Church as it is gathered by the word of God so wil it faithfulie reteine y e same without al corruption It knoweth how Christ alone is to be harkened vnto in the ministers of the Gospel And that is it which the Lorde him-selfe doth saie My sheepe heare my voice for theie knowe not the voice of strangers This is à special note wherebie the Church of Christ is distinguished from other assemblies By whiche we are admonished to shunne false-christes and false-prophetes euen as we would the verie diuel him-selfe For this alwaie is the scope of Satan namelie that despising the voice of the Lorde we should hearken vnto him For as he enuironed our first parents by sophistrie and deprauing the worde of God so alwaies he laboureth to entrap the Church after the same sorte and maner And therfore it standeth vs vpoÌ„ aboue al to listen-vnto the voice of our sheepheard despising the voice of strangers by whom the diuel speaketh So then when the Papistes doe bid vs to heare them let vs answer that Christ our shepheard hath commanded to heare his voice onelie and to content vs there-withal This voice of our shepheard is comprehended in the writinges both of the Prophetes and Apostles and that not obscurelie but plainelie as touching the ground of our saluation When the Pope doth bid thee to cal vpon saintes shunne him as the serpent which by his lie cast our first parentes vnto the death For it is contrarie to the wordes of our sheepeheard who saith Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him onelie shalt thou serue Againe Cal vpon me in the daie of trouble and so of the rest For a godlie minde is neuer at quiet vnlesse it heare this voice and be truelie persuaded that thus saith the Lorde of hostes Againe this Church forsomuch as it harkeneth onelie vnto the voice of the Lorde of Hostâ—s it cleaueth to him and obeieth him none beside Others folow other masters some cleaue to worldlie riches and pleasures manie are carried-awaie with the tempestes of their owne affections that theie make smal account of the Church of Christ but the true Church possesseth all the treasures of riches in Christ alone for which cause it cleaueth-to and obeieth him it knoweth howe it was saide of their master Be not ye caled Rabbi for one is your doctor to wit Christ. To him alone therfore it seeketh according to the wordes of the Church in the 73. psalme As for me it is good for me to draw neare to God I haue put my trust in the Lord God that I maie declare al thy workes But seeing others that are not in the Church of God to their certaine condemnation doe folowe other masters theie do more and more estrange them-selues from God as in the same Psalme it is saide Loe theie that with-drawe themselues from thee shal perish thou destroiest al them that go a whoring from thee But what is it to cleaue vnto the Lorde of Hostes It is by faith to be espoused and by hope confession and obedience according to his worde to be ioined to him For as by faith we receaue him as our beloued spouse and are ioined to him So by hope confession we continue in him as it were depending to a trustie anchor Whereof we are carried-into his commendation esteeming of al thinges of no price in respect of the obedience we owe vnto him Therefore when the godlie for confession of the Gospel are compelled to change their aboade and see their substance to be seased-vpon let them take consolation from hence looke not so much vpon the present worlde as for the euent the ioieful euent to come which theie shal find if so be theie abide constantlie in the faith and confession let them thinke howe there shalbe à righteous iudgemeÌ„t wherin as theie that cleaue to y e Lord by faith confession shal finde the words of the Psalmist true saying As for me it is good for me to drawe neere to God so such as turne themselues from God by incredulitie and renouncing of confession shal crie-out howe theie are most miserable let them thinke howe confession is necessarie according to this saieng With the heart man beleeueth vnto righteousnes and with the mouth man confesseth vnto saluation Finalie let them thinke this is an earnest coÌ„mandement of God Flie froÌ„ idolatrie Besides for so much as this true Church is the tabernacle of the Lord of Hostes it hath doubtles the Lorde of hostes dwelling in her And therefore not without good cause is she tearmed the temple of God in the Scriptures Hitherto belongeth that of Paule Know ye not that ye are the temple of God and that the spirite of God dwelleth in you If anie man destroie the temple of God him shal God destroie For the temple of God is holie which ye are Hence therefore maie be gathered how greate the glorie of the Church is what puritie is required to be in the same how religiously it should serue God and what punishments be prepared for them who shal prophane
man woulde worship the water either to be sprincled vpon à man to be baptized or sprincled alreadie and reserued for worship sake Nowe whereas the Papistes doe attribute to the reciting of the wordes of the supper virtue to transsubstantiate to speake as they do the elements surelie they haue learned that of the Magicians and witches rather than of Christ. For he alone it is and none other that by his diuine power worketh in the supper by the hands of his ministers reacheth to vs when wee doe communicate his verie bodie and his verie blod after an vnsearchable maner And wheras in reformed Churches the ministers of the Gospel doe pronounce the historie of the institution of the supper with à loude voice in à knowen tongue they doe it not that anie virtue by that reciting shoulde passe-ouer into the elementes but otherwise for à most holie and profitable purpose For they know nothing is more comfortable to the godlie than to heare the historie of the instituted supper which containeth the causes of the institutiō and commendeth to them the greate loue betweene Christ and his Church And therefore as the Papistes by mumbling with themselues the wordes of the supper commit hainous sacriledge by keeping close the doctrine of Gospel the summe whereof is contained in the historie of the institution of the supper So doe I iudge it an intollerable thing sorelie to be punished if anie woulde celebrate the Lord his supper without repeating the historie of the same taken either out of the Euangelistes or out of Paul Here some perchance wil arise saie in the celebration of the supper in the reformed Churches y e bread is cōmonlie adored euen as in y e papacie Herevnto I doe thus answere If anie in our Churches do worship the bread and the cup he sticketh as yet in à papistical error from which he is to be reuoked by the godlie ministers of the Gospel Then I distinguish betwene the worship of the bread and the reuerence towarde the maiestie of Christ present in the supper which reuerence we do testifie by bowing the knee and by outward gestures of the bodie while we are occupied in the celebration of the supper The which reuerence as I iudge it laweful and godlie and commended to vs by the Apostle Paul so I doe thinke the worship of the breade and of the wine is wicked prophane both because we haue no cōmandemēt to doe without which à godlie minde can appoint nothing in religion and also because it is meere presumption as that which is not cōtent with that vse of the sacrament which the Lorde requireth The sixt It is contrarie to the institution and nature of the Lorde his supper that one seueralie by himselfe shoulde haue à banket without moe communicants For thus doeth Paul saie When ye come together into one place this is not to eate the Lordes supper For euerie man when they shoulde eate taketh his owne supper afore Againe as no man can baptise himselfe alone So neither is it lawful for à priest to minister the Lordes supper priuatelie to himselfe alone If then this Lordes supper be not à priuate banket surelie in vaine do those sacrificers vaunt howe with fiue wordes they can pluck-downe the bodie of Christ from heauen vpon their altar For y e bodie blood of Christ is onelie in y t place where the institution of Christ is maintained and the communion according to the institutiō It is needful then that at the least there be one to minister and another to receaue The seauenth By the helpe of this masse the kingdome of Antichrist which was erected by the diuel is augmented established For the storehouse of al vngodlie worshippings whereby the kingdome of Antichrist is vp-holden is the masse Which therefore the more forceablie doeth deceaue because it hath à forme quite contrarie to y e nature therof For it seemeth goodlie whereas nothing is more abhominable The eight The application of the masse for the dead y t they maie be deliuered frō purgatorie is à meere diuelish inuention For no man is forgiuen without he haue faith wherfore they most horriblie deface the glorie of Christ which do faine that that offering doth merite that remission of sinnes for the deade Furthermore al which depart out of this life doe depart either in faith or without faith In in faith they are blessed according to that Blessed are the dead which die in the Lorde And Peter saith The end of faith is the saluation of soules But if they die without faith the sentence of Christ standeth sure He that beleeueth not on the sonne the wrath of God abideth on him So then there is à double waie to wit à waie of saluation which is of the faithful and à waie of death or damnation which is of al such as refuse in this worlde to beleeue on Christ. Where then is purgatorie frō whence the soules by masses be redeemed for monie Notwithstanding albeit the trueth touching the idolatrous masse of Papistes bee not vnknowen to the Church of God yet the Papistes to shew that they haue some ground doe obiect three thinges as buclers for their defence For first they bring-out the deede of Melchizedech Secondlie they oppose à place of Malachie touching the sacrifice to come among the Gentiles with the like Lastlie they doe amplifie the worthines of the people of the new Testamēt But what force they are of let vs brieflie consider The deede of Melchizedech from whence the Papistes do seeke to haue their cause countenanced is thus described Gen. 14. And Melchi-zedek king of Shalem brought-foorth breade and wine and hee was à Priest of the most high God Therefore he blessed him saieng Blessed art thou Abraham of God most high Hence do they most impudentlie inferre that Priestes must offer to God bread and wine for peace offeringes With as good a consequent might one make this argument Philip is in Spaine therefore the sea is sweet For first they doe corruplie reade He offered for He brought-foorth and in place of the particle And they reade For. Wherby they testifie who is their master euē the diuel the corrupter and slanderer of gods worde Secondlie they doe verie naughtilie distinguish the thinges which are to be compounded and mingled the thinges that are to be distinguished For there be two distinct members of the narration in Moses The former is of the king his deed The latter of the priest his deed Melchi-zedek brought-forth bread wine you haue the king and his deed And he was à Priest of the most high God therefore he blessed him Where you haue the priest and his deed Melchi-zedek therefore in bringing forth bread and wine showed himselfe a liberal king whereby he would refresh the wearied host of Abraham And in blessing Abraham he shewed himself a Priest For it was the office of Priestes to blesse the
wickednes of the minister or though some one Iudas or other be present For it is à spiritual communion of al the godlie vnder one head yea though theie lurke secretlie among Papistes as doubtlesse manie doe Notwithstanding once againe I admonish that al denieng of the true faith though but fained be taken heede-of But what if one do so abhor Poperie y t by no meanes he dare cōmunicate in y e kingdome of y e Pope shal not à godly housholder who hath a virtuous wife à wel gouerned familie in this case priuatelie in his owne house prepare y e Lords supper for himselfe his Some perchāce wil saie he maie not so do because y e administration of the sacraments doth pertaine vnto the publike ministerie Of this I demande againe whether manie did not communicate in the primitiue Church before anie ordinarie publike ministerie was instituted and before anie temples were erected to meete-together For my part I am persuaded that the houses of manie good citizens were temples wherein godlie housekeepers with their families did receaue the Lordes Supper together and did strengthen one another both with doctrine comfort I therfore distinguish between y e Church wel ordeined betwene captiuitie banishment where the godlie be persecuted There I wil haue nothing detracted from the ministerie but al things to be done according to the ordinance of y e church wel ordained but here that is in the captiuitie or banishment of the Church either vnder the Turke or Pope I do thinke the godlie are blamelesse if theie imitate the examples of the saintes in the primitiue Church Thus we haue written in few wordes our iudgement cōcerning y e vse of the Lords supper in the papacie wherein if anie man be not satisfied I desire friendlie to be admonished For I submit not onelie this our sentence but also whatsoeuer at anie time I haue written or shal write to the censure of al the godlie who do cleaue not so much vnto doutful opinions as to y e manifest truth And therfore I do frēdlie request y t no man would rashlie iudge but first compare my reasons of the aduersaries together Which if any do I trust mine opiniō shal not be improued And I besech God euen the father of our Lord Iesus Christ y t he wold lighten our mindes with his light represse the futie of satan his limes y t persecute y e sound doctrine and keepe vs in true godlines thorough and for Christ his sake that so we maie glorifie him for euermore Amen CHAP. 26. Of the sacrifices of Christians CHristians also which syncerelie professe Christ haue their sacrifices To wit à propitiatorie à sacrifice eucharistical both named of their effects or ends Christians haue à propitiatorie sacrifice not to be offred of thēselues but alreadie offered by Iesus Christ the most high priest Mediator For Christ the prieste hath giuen him-selfe à propitiatorie sacrifice for al men that the father beeing appeased the faithful might for euermore be sanctified through him Eucharistical sacrifice is euerie obedience giuen of Christians to God wherebie as theie acknowledge God to be the fountaine and auctor of euerie good thing so theie testifie their thankfulnes toward him But that this doctrine concerning the sacrifices of Christians knowen to the Church of God alone maie the better be vnderstoode seeme the more comfortable to vs I wil more distinctlie entreate of both kindes For that which particularlie is distinguished is both read with the more pleasure and kept with more profite as Bernard saith In the propitiatorie or expiatorie sacrifice manie thinges are to be considered which do make vnto the plainer exposition of the same Wherfore first of al I wil entreate of the Priest who doth offer this sacrifice Then of the priest-hood and partes thereof Afterward of the couenant For euerie Priest is à suretie of some couenant After that of the application of this sacrifice Last of al of the continual vse of this sacrifice in the cōscience in life and in death CHAP. 27. 1. Of the Priest which doth offer the propitiatorie sacrifice for Christians 2. Of his nature 3. and qualities IN the explication of this first member concerning the chiefe priest of Christians let vs consider what need there was to haue him of what condition he was for person and who he was The necessitie of the priest maie be deemed from hence That al of vs are sinners and subiect to eternal death both through the defection of our first parentes from God and also through our own sinne and guiltines it is wel knowen which thing both the punishment laide vpon vs by the most righteous God and the word of God and euerie mans conscience doth witnes Nowe one of these two must needs come to passe For either we were to perish euerlasting lie or must be reconciled vnto God But because the reconciliation should be righteous that the iustice of God might be satisfied it could not be done without ma◠à sufficient amendes to God for the iniurie he sustained Which amendes was necessarilie to be made by some mediator That as one Adam did caste vs al by his owne sinne vnto death and damnation so there might be some one who by his own merite should reconcile vs to God offended hauing made à recōpence for the trespasse Which Mediator betweene God offended and men offenders is caled à priest For so it is in the 5. Chapter of the Epistle vnto the Hebrues Euerie hie priest is taken from among men is ordeined for men in thinges pertaining to God that he maie offer both gifts and sacrifices for sinnes By this it plainlie appeareth howe necessatie à priest was to reconcile vs vnto God who was displeased But who could giue such à priest whē al mankind was guiltie no man liuing could satisfie no not for him-selfe much lesse for others The most wise God brought-forth à coūsel which man could not giue For he was as he was merciful to take pitie vpon his creature as he was wise to help man least he lost the end wherevnto he was created as he was almightie not to suffer the diuel to exercise euerlasting tyrannie vpon his owne image and as he was righteous not to let sinne go vnpunished Therefore God vttered his most wise counsel wherebie he declared both his soueraigne wisedome and his vncomprehensible mercie and his infinite power and his most absolute iustice Wherefore because the wrath of God against sinners as we are al by nature for we were by nature the children of wrath was greater than à meere man could beare and because the iustice of God did require that some one among men should be the auctor of life as one was of death God of his goodnes gaue such a priest who both could because he was God ought because he was a man born of flesh blood as al other men notwithstāding
doe not refuse his medicine For he from the bosome of the father doth bring the moste comfortable doctrine of the Gospel concerning the remission of sinnes which being pardoned and quite abolished neither hath the lawe in vs any thing which he may condemne nor the diuel nor death ouer vs anie power at al. This doctrine of the Gospel is called the mysterie hid from the wise of this world and is thought of them to be foolishnes But to the miserable and afflicted sinners it is the wisedome of God whom it hath pleased by the foolish preaching of Christ crucified to saue such as beleeue Therfore we must shew in à worde or two what this doctrine of the Gospel is that this part of the priesthoode of Christ maie be the more comfortable vnto vs. Christ in the 24. of Luke proponeth the sūme hereof in these wordes It is behoueful that repentance and remission of sinnes be preached in my Name among al nations Therefore the Gospel is à general preaching of the remissiō of sinnes which theie attaine who repent and that through the Name that is through the merites of Christ. And although this definition as I saie doth contein the sūme of the matter yet the better to conceaue the greatnes of the benefit of Christ our Priest I wil set-downe another more at large The Gospel is an vniuersal preaching of Christ our Priest wherein tidings is brought of deliuerance from the wrath of God from the cursse of the lawe and from euerlasting damnation and remission of sinnes saluation and euerlasting life is proclaimed to al such as beleeue in the sonne for his owne merites according to the promise made in olde time to the fathers that the glorie of God his goodnes maie be commended euermore and besides that such as be deliuered through Christe maie bring forth fruites worthie the Gospel and at the length enioie euerlasting life This definition of the Gospel taken out of sundrie places of the scripture doth teach howe the Gospel in deede is à good and ioieful message without which doubtlesse we should perish in euerlasting miserie The partes of this definition for so much as else where we haue explicated them I wil not anie more stand vpon them in this place The summe of al is this that by nature we are miserable cōdemned slaues but by grace which the Gospel preacheth blessed righteous free and heires of eternal life through Iesus Christ. Christ the sonne of God himselfe brought this doctrine out of the bosome of the Father and proposed the same to our first parentes after their miserable fal into the snares of the diuel For thus he saith The seede of the woman shal bruise the head of the serpent This he sounded by the ministerie of Noah before the floud For Peter doth affirme that Christe by the spirite went preached vnto the spirites that are in prison because of their froward rebellion against y e spirite of Christ preaching to them This afterward he vttered by the Prophets as the same Peter doth witnesse This after his incarnation he preached also three yeares and an halfe This he commanded to be blowen abroade by his Apostles into al the worlde which also he confirmed afterward with manifolde signes By his doctrine as he hath alwaies preserued so doth he preserue and euen vntil the end of the world wil preserue the Churche against the gates of hel he wil blesse it and giue the holie spirite and euerlasting life to as manie as beleeue this doctrine But on the other side horrible damnation hangeth-ouer their heads who giue no credite to this doctrine so confirmed both with signes and with wonders and with manifolde virtues and by the holie Ghoste For as it is in the Epistle vnto the Hebrues if the worde spoken by Angels was stedfast and euerie transgression and disobedience receaued à iust recompence of reward howe shal we escape if we neglect so great saluation Let vs therefore as the same Epistle warneth take heede that we let it not slip CHAP. 29. 1. Of sacrifice the second part of Christ his priest-hoode THe second part of Christ his priesthod is to offer sacrifice Which sacrifice of Christ is takē somtime generalie somtime specialie When it is taken generalie it comprehendeth al whatsoeuer Christe our Priest hath either done or offered to the father for our welfare As al his workes are perfect odedience to the lawe voluntarie death and passion and continual intercession with the Father That obedience towarde the lawe is à certaine parte of his sacrifice it is aparent because therebie he maketh vs righteous before God Of his passion and death the Epistle vnto the Hebrues doth entreate when it affirmeth that Christe offered himselfe for our sinnes and by his blood purged our consciences His intercession and praiers in the 5. vnto the Hebrues are called oblations For thus it is written In the daies of his flesh he did offer-vp praiers and supplications with strong crieing and teares vnto him that was able to saue him from death For these three to wit his perfect obedience of the lawe his passion and his intercession mutualie by à certaine order as effectes of their causes doe depend each of other contrariwise For in that he was holie pure yea moste perfectlie righteous according to the lawe his voluntarie obedience in the crosse was of power to purge al the sinnes of men because he was obedient to the father euen vnto the death of y e crosse his praiers doe preuaile for the Church euerlasting lie who therfore is the onelie intercessor because he and none beside gaue himselfe a ransome for al men as Paul doth testifie This consecution or gathering together of Christ his merites doth notablie appeare in our sanctification For by the merite of his death he doth so purge vs from sinne that if so be we beleeue we doe appeare no more guiltie in the sight of the father as Isaiah fore-tolde of him in his 53. Chapter Surelie he hath borne our infirmities carried our sorrowes Againe He was wounded for our transgressions he was broken for our iniquities By the merite of his obedience to the lawe he doth cloth vs that we maie appeare righteous before God not through our owne but throgh his righteousnes imputed vnto vs. For so doth Paule saie vnto the Romanes Chapter 5. As by one mans disobedience manie were made sinners so by the obedience of one shal manie also be made righteous Both which merites to wit of his passion and obedience to the lawe Paul comprehendeth ththese words Christ was made vnder the law that he might redeeme them which were vnder the law For whereas there is à double sentence of the lawe one of malediction and of death for not fulfilling the lawe whereinto we doe runne through sinne another of blessing that is
therefore rightly doth y e Church saie He is the verie lambe of God who hath taken awaie the sinnes of the worlde who by his death hath destroied death and repaired life by rising againe And Ambrose So great was our sinne that vnlesse the sonne of God had died for vs the debters of death wee coulde neuer haue beene saued Wherefore when it is said that the sonne of man hath redeemed vs through the merite of his passion à worke of an infinite price and valor is named to wit the worke of the Sonne of man who is verie God too when it is said howe the death of Christ is à satisfaction an infinite price is proposed euen of that man who also is the onelie begotten Sonne of God And although the God-head neither suffered nor died for howe can it bee that either an vnchangeable thing shoulde suffer or an immortall thing suffer death yet the eternal person which is God hath suffered yet not in the diuine but in the humane assumed nature which coulde suffer Therefore Paul doeth saie God hath purchased the Church with his owne blood And Peter affirmeth how Christ hath suffered in the fleshe that is in the humane nature in soule and bodie And the Epistle vnto the Hebrewes doeth saie that Christ tooke part of bloode and flesh that he might destroye through death him that had the power of death that is the diuel signifying plainlie thereby howe the diuinitie coulde not suffer but flesh did and because the diuine nature could not suffer he tooke y t which could suffer And Theodoret doth saie He therfore tooke flesh that through it which coulde suffer that which could not suffer might sustaine punishment Therefore in respect of the vnion of the diuine and humaine nature in one person the price and merite of Christ his suffering is infinite for time valor and efficacie For if you respect the time it extendeth vnto all ages vnto all generations of men If you marke the valor it is able to purge the sinnes of all mankinde if the efficacie the force thereof is euident in al and with-drawen from none which doe heare the gospel and by faith repent For the death of Christ doeth abolishe alike the sinnes of Adam and of Euah and of Peter and of Paul and of such as haue bene since the time of Christ. And this is it which is saide in the Reuelation where hee is called The lambe which was slaine from the beginning of the worlde As sone therefore as our first parentes gaue credite to this promise The seed of the woman shal bruise the serpentes heade by the power of Christ his death which was then appointed to be in the ende of the world they were iustified sanctified and redeemed from eternal death By this faith Iob erected himselfe in the extreeme miseries when hee saide I am sure that my redeemer liueth And of Abram it is written Abram beleeued the Lorde and hee counted that to him for righteousnesse And Dauid was persuaded his adulterie and murder coulde be washed awaie by the merite of Christe his bloode when hee saide Purge me with Hysop and I shall be cleane And therefore in an other place he saith With the Lorde is mercie and with him is great redeemption It is great in deede because it is infinite and can not bee conteined within the bounds of anie time or estimation So that the vertue of Christ his death extendeth vnto all times and to al ages and is of sufficient force to wipe al the sinnes of al mankinde Because it is the death not of à simple man but of that man who also was the onelie begotten Sonne of God and à verie God too deliuered vnto death for our sakes as Paule doth saie Hee spared not his owne sonne but gaue him for vs all to death CHAP. 36. 1. The horrible ingratitude of man toward God for the so infinite price of his redemption 2. The causes of mans ingratitude with remedies for them THus howesoeuer wee see both of what price the death of the sonne of God is and also for whō Christ the Lorde of glorie hath suffered nowe on the otherside let vs consider howe alas vngratefull the maior part of mankinde is for the same For the Iewes Turkes and manie prophane people can not abide so much as to heare the name of Christ. For the Iewes blinded with enuie couetousnes and ambition doe interprete the benefite of Christ to be their hurt The Turkes possessed with Mahomets furie like mad men are carried tyrannicallie to abolishe the name of Christ. Manie barbarous nations with the auncientnes of error as it were with a leprosie polluted will not permit the gospel to bee founded Others vnder the name of Christe and pretence of religion to fight vnder the ensigne of satan and endeuour by the blood of saincts to hinder the course of the gospel as doth the Pope the Cardinals the mitred Bishoppes Abbats and al the rablement of y e Antichristian kingdome Manie are altogether indifferent looking for the euent that they rise-vp to that part which hath the better hand Who although they becounted gospellers and called defenders of the faith yet in trueth they bee meere Atheistes such as measure the felicitie of man by honor auctoritie wealth and pleasure Among these although some do couer the prophanenesse of their minde by à certaine outwarde ciuilitie◠yet the most part doe imitate Nero and Heliogabalus more truelie thā Christ of whō they haue their name Of this extreeme ingratitude of the world the Lord by the Prophete Isaiah complaineth on this wise I haue nourished and brought vp children but they haue rebelled against me The oxe knoweth his owner and the asse his masters crib but Israel hath not knowen my people hath not vnderstande This ingratitude also the Lord bewayleth when he saith Howe often woulde I haue gathered thy children together as the henne gathereth her chickins vnder her winges and yee would not Againe where hee saith Manie are called but few are choosen By which saying the Lorde both commendeth the infinite mercie of God inuiting all men vnto the knowledge of his sonne that by him they maie be saued and reprooueth the intollerable blindnes and ingratitude of verie manie men who as if they were mad laie violent hande vppon the Phisition that woulde heale and set vpon him as if hee were an enemie rendring for life and celestial promotion offered death and euil wordes This ingratitude is by so much the greater as the benefite is greater that is contemned So that it is worthie the euerlasting hatred of all the chaste Angels and electe of God If you respect y e heaps of wicked men smal is the nūber of them which esteeme the benefites of Christ as they ought Who I beseech you can sufficientlie bewaile with teares this phrensie of mē But of force it must be some detestable euil thing which can with-draw
bodie for euermore Whence this same confidence of the healed and quiet conscience doth arise the epistle vnto the Hebrewes teacheth where it is saide We are assured that we haue à good conscience in al things desiring to liue honestlie Therefore as the cause foundation of à good conscience is not our owne worthines for by nature wee are sinners and vnworthie nor merites for of our selues we deserue nothing but death nor anie vertue of our owne for al our righteousnes is as filthie cloutes but euen meere faith in Christ which purgeth it by his bloode from dead workes through whome we haue peace with God So the purpose of the same is in all thinges with all men and in all actions to walke vprightlie namelie by declining from that which is euil and doing that which is good For continualie it thinketh vppon à newe life in Iesus Christ it alwaies detesteth the coate defiled of the fleshe and euermore delighteth in that white garment which in Baptisme is put on For al wee that are baptized into Christ haue put on Christ. Which thing Dauid in the spirit did beholde when he said Wash me and I shal bee whiter than snowe to wit through the ornament of righteousnes of the Messiah as with a most white garment being first purged from sinne through his bloode Of this faith and conscience that sinne is blotted-out ariseth a care of wel-doing in Dauid according to that I haue applied mine heart to fulfil thy statuts alwaie euen vnto the end And Paul saith Fight à good fight hauing faith à good conscience In the whole course of this life wee maie beholde à goodlie and an especial vse of the sacrifice of Christ not onelie in aduersitie but also in prosperitie In aduersitie there is none so good à remedie as y e sacrifice of Christ. For as aduersitie doeth put thee in minde of thy sinne either lurking or manifest so the sacrifice of Christ apprehended by faith doth certifie thy conscience both of the forgiuenes of sins whereof ariseth spiritual comfort in al affliction and also of the conformitie of the elect with the son of God For so it hath pleased the wisedome of God that he wil haue his elect like to his sonne but in the crosse and also in glorie And this Paul affirmeth saying If we suffer with him we shal also raigne with him Hitherto also maketh the imitation of Christ his example in the crosse which Peter commendeth vnto vs in these wordes Christ suffered for vs leauing vs an ensample that we shoulde folow his steppes Read mine annotations vpon the 2. chapter of the first epistle of Peter In prosperitie there is more daunger For albeit aduersitie do bring-done manie yet prosperitie doth puffe-vp moe According to this of the Poët The minds of man through prosperitie waxe wanton often-times Againe The minde lifted-vp through prosperitie remembreth neither death nor what may happeÌ„ nor anie measure at al. What then shal à godlie man doe in this case Foure things he shal doe First let him waie with himselfe the things which are called prosperous in this world and consider what they are in them selues Secondarilie let him thinke what a perilous thing it is to enioie prosperitie if the mind be not godlie disposed Thirdlie let him compare al the coÌ„modities of this worlde with the blessednes to come which Christ hath purchased for vs by his death and last of al let him aduisedlie consider whether it be more behoueful to enioie prosperitie of this life with hazard of the soule than to renounce them if occasion serue for Christ his sake Therfore seeing our flesh is ticled like à wild horse beginneth to winch by prosperitie let à godlie man thinke with himself first howe vncertaine brittle mortal temporal fleting transitorie y e prosperitie of this world is which manie enioieng at their hartes desire be for al that in verie deed most miserable secondlie let him thinke y t it hath more deceipt than pleasure For the pleasure which ariseth thereof is like à serpent murthering the soule counsailing proudlie and vaâ—elie euen the spirite of couetousnes and gluttonie This serpent lurking in the most secrete corners of the minde seeketh not but euen destruction Whereby it is apparent that prosperitie doeth more hurt the minde than doeth aduersitie the bodie Thirdlie let a godlie man thinke with himselfe that so great ods there is betweene the felicitie which Christe hath purchased for his beloued and the prosperitie of this world as is betweene a minute of an houre and eternitie betweene death and life betweene miserie and happines For as the prosperitie of this life dependeth vpoÌ„ a reed so the happines promised in Christ is vpholden by the euerlasting trueth of God that it is vnpossible that they shoulde bee deceiued of their hope which continue in the feare of God vnto their liues ende Fourthlie of these things let a godlie maÌ„ gather how it is a much better and blessed thing to renounce worldlie goods as far as godlie christianitie they stand not according to Gods word thaÌ„ for theÌ„ to bring the soule into y e danger of damnation To conclude that wee bee neither puffed-vp nor carried-quite from God by prosperitie there is no such thing as to call into minde the humiliation of the sonne of God vppon the crosse who therefore was humbled that he might exalt vs if so be we do humble our selues vnder the mightie hand of God and are not ashamed of the crosse of Christ. For whosoeuer exalteth himselfe shal be brought lowe and he that humbleth himself shal be exalted We are therefore to take special heede least our flesh through prosperous successe of things do deceaue and kil vs being taken with a certaine baite For that serpent which beguiled Euah of his subtiltie snatcheth euerie occasion to withdrawe vs from Christ and setteth vppon the principal part of man to destroie it with prosperitie And therefore saith Paul Brethren you see your calling howe that not manie wise men after the fleshe not manie mightie not manie noble are called For to the destruction of man sathan abuseth these three things namelie wisedome power and nobilitie of which springeth both the pleasure of the bodie and the pride of minde which if the foolish once get they think themselues happie and blissed meÌ„ So then against this tentation oppose y e crosse of Christ without which al wisedome is but meere foolishnesse all might is but weakenesse all nobilitie is but ignominie and all pleasure is but the food of death For al these mixed with too much bitternes haue an ende with this life If therefore thou wouldest haue true wisedom true might true nobilitie true pleasure and glorie seeke them in Christ alone thou shalt find in whom are hid al the treasures of celestial restes To conclude at the point of death the sight of the prieste Christ
want of good thinges feare of greater miserie I answere we must distinguish betweene the waie vnto happines and the ful fruition of the same While we liue in this worlde we are in the waie either towarde endlesse miserie or eternal blessednesse but our bodies being raised againe we shalbe either euerlastinglie miserable or euerlastinglie blessed And thereof the state of our life is saide to be either happie or wretched in respect of the euent For which cause there is no truer happines of this life than that which beginneth euerlasting happines no truer miserie than y t which leadeth vnto euerlasting miserie Wherfore Christ saieing y t such as mourne are blessed and y t such are blessed as suffer persecutiō for righteousnes sake speaketh of them which are in y e waie to euerlasting blessednes which afterward thei shal perfectlie inioie whē toge with the sonne of God with whome theie haue suffered in the death theie shal reigne in heauen Wherebie it is apparent what those phrazes of speech doe meane in which godlie men are called blessed namelie because theie are in the waie and go-forward vnto that happines which theie begin in this world Therefore saith Dauid Blessed are they which are vpright in the waie And for instruction sake there maie foure steps of this waie be set-downe of which in order we will entreate The first steppe is to haue and to heare the worde of God that is the Lawe and the Gospel of Iesus Christ. By the one namelie the Lawe we learne how miserable we are through sinne which hath separated betweene vs and our God the fountaine of true happinesse by the other to wit the Gospel howe blessed we shal be here-after if we hearken vnto the worde which pointeth vnto Christ the onelie waie to blisse Without this step none be he neuer so wise neuer so mightie so noble so rich so at heartes ease and pleasure can attaine so much as à smal hope of blessednesse Wherefore when the Lorde saieth Blessed are theie which heare the worde of God and keepe it And Dauid Blessed is the man which doth meditate in the Lawe of the Lorde daie and night Againe Blessed are theie which keepe his testimonies and seeke him with their whole heart theie doe point vnto this first steppe vnto blessednesse Philosophie and the wisedome of this world be it highlie commended yet what is it being compared to this worde which directeth vs vnto euerlasting happinesse Philosophie and worldlie wisedome what else can it do than rule this transitorie which wee cal the natural life which is contained within à verie smal compasse of time But heauenlie wisedome sheweth vs the life of grace which is immortal and the beginning of happinesse Hence then we maie see and weie the worthinesse of the doctrine of the Church which sheweth the waie vnto eternal life blessednes to al men But humane reason is much deceaued here For when it seeth manie nations of men at this daie to want the worde of God it forgeth destinies and is carried-awaie with Stoical imaginations so that contrarie vnto Gods worde it thinketh that God is an accepter of persons and wil not the saluation of al men but onelie of à fewe When this was obiected to Paul he made this answere Haue theie not heard No doubt their sound went-out through al the earth and their words into the ends of the world So that the Gospel hath sounded ouer the whole earth wherebie God doeth testifie that he would haue all men to be saued But manie at this daie neither haue neither doe theie heare the Gospel That is verie true But the reason our Lord yeeldeth where he saith The kingdome of God shalbe taken from you and shalbe giuen to à nation which shal bring-forth the fruites thereof The cause hereof in this place is expressed plainlie to be the extreme ingratitude of men toward God For when he offereth them saluation theie doe kil his ministers and abuse Christe with contumelious speeches And therefore iustlie he doth punishe them in taking the meane of saluation from the vngrateful So that the nations of men which haue not the worde of God shold not bring destinies into our mindes but these two thinges rather First that the displeasure of God against the contemners of the Gospel is verie greeuous whereof it is that oftentimes he suffereth his worde vtterlie to be taken from the vngrateful and their seede after them who together with their parentes doe foster vngodlinesse in their heartes Secondlie that being made more warie by the example of others we shewe our selues thankefull to God for his Gospel bringing forth fruites worthie the Gospel which vnlesse we doe we shal as theie are and perchance more greeuouslie be punished which thing we maie learne by the parable of the vine Nowe in what sorte we are to strengthen our mindes against Stoical imaginations touching particulars we haue else-where declared especialie vpon the 9. Chapter vnto the Romans and vpon the first vnto the Ephes. Neither do I meane that the Word simplie is à step vnto blessednes but with an adiunct namelie when it is beleeued For vnlesse we giue credite vnto the worde when we heare in the same the sound of the Gospel is to vs euen the sauour of death that is the verie waie vnto euerlasting miserie not of it owne nature but through our default and cursed ingratitude And that the knowledge of the word faith are to be ioined-together in the first step our Lord sheweth when he saith This is life eternal that theie knowe thee to be the onelie verie God and Iesus to be Christ whom thou hast sent For knowledge comprehendeth both an vnderstanding out of the worde and faith also proceeding from knowledg Therefore when it is saide Blessed are theie which heare the word must be vnderstood with a condition of faith Nowe whie the hearers of the worde and beleeuers are blessed Paul teacheth when out of the 32. Psalme he saith Blessed are theie whose iniquities are forgiuen Howe so Because theie which beleeue the word of God offering free reconciliation haue remission of sinnes theie which haue remission of sins be righteous but the righteous shal liue euen by the sentence of the Lawe an euerlasting life which theie begin in this world theie which liue an euerlasting life are blessed therefore such as beleeue the Gospel are blessed as theie which are now in the right waie and goe on toward happinesse The second step is through obedience toward God to proceede in the waie according to the rule of the worde and spirite of faith This doth Dauid meane when he saith Blessed is the man that feareth the Lorde and delighteth greatlie in his commandementes Againe Blessed are those that are vpright in their waie and our Lord when he said Blessed are the meeke blessed are the peacemakers blessed are the
that theie knowe the celestial doctrine Which doctrine is for that cause tearmed the waie of the Lord because it is to man as à waie prepared of God to goe therebie from death vnto life and from the troubles of this world vnto blessed immortalitie Walke in my commandementes saith the Lorde by the Prophet Againe Blessed are theie which walke in the Lawe of the Lorde Moreouer the knowledge of this waie that is of heauenlie doctrine somtime is powred in by à secrete blast and inspiration from God without the labor and care of man as maie appeare in the Prophetes and Apostles Sometime it is gotten by the labor and paines of man Which labour hath two partes The first and principal whereof is burning and continual praier vnto God that he would direct vs in his trueth teach vs and lighten the eies of our minde For except the Lord build the house theie labour in vaine that builde it The other part is an earnest studie of God his worde and wil. Nowe that men be rightlie framed vnto that studie sixe thinges be necessarilie required of which breefelie we will speake The first is dailie reading of the scripture Which who so wil reade with profite must haue the knowledge both of those tongues wherin the scripture was at the first written without which neither the kinde of speech nor the phrazes can be vnderstoode and beside not onelie Logique to espie the order methode of the matter but the knowledge beside of other artes and especialie of that part of philosophie caled natural philosophie Paul commendeth this studie of continual reading vnto Timothie when he saith Giue attendance vnto reâ—ding The second is an obseruation and collection of the principal pointes of heauenlie doctrine without which the paines in reading is to smal purpose For as in al artes this care is necessarie to him that would be substantialie learned so litle shal he profite in the sacred Scripture which obserueth not the chiefe heads of religion neither bringeth al that he readeth vnto some special common place The thirde is à diligent regard vnto common axioms sentences which are as general rules ministring iudgement in doubtful causes as RhetoriciaÌ„s of general thesees which therefore theie call consultations do iudge of particulars and causes in controuersie Hitherto maketh obseruation of examples from which the determinations of matters in doubt are fetched oftentimes The fourth is à sure reteining of the premises in minde that when occasion serueth theie maie be drawen out of the treasurehouse of memorie The fift is contemplation wherebie as it were at the first sight of the minde we behold the whole course of the Scripture By this we compare thinges like and vnlike together by this we reconcile contrarie places and by this we seeke definitions diuisions distinctions interpretations of obscure places yea and make à constitution of the bodie of doctrine The sixt is tradition of elders This declareth what the holie fathers haue thought of euerie thing This tradition if it be confirmed by the worde of GOD is of authoritie and weight In which respecte wee faithfullie imbrace at this daie the Creede both of the Nicene councel of Athanasius of Ambrose and that which is caled the Apostles Creede because theie are euident groundes gathered out of God his worde But if the tradition be not proued out of the word of God then is it either contrarie to the worde and therefore we abhorre the same as the voice of the serpent that seduced Euah or it is beside the worde and we receaue it in respect of such as deliuered the same out vntil it be drawen into an euil conclusion by the enimies of true doctrine With this knowledge of the heauenlie doctrine there should be ioyned as in al men so especialie in the ministers of the Gospel á liuelie feeling in the heart without which knowledge doth not profite but hurt rather through the fault of man This liuelie sense proceedeth from faith and other motions agreeing to the Lawe of God which the holie spirite stirreth-vp in the heartes of beleeuers And this sense is called the path-waie of God because as God requireth the same so through it we approch and are ioined vnto God And therefore Paule requireth these two thinges namelie knowledge and feeling together wheÌ„ he thus writeth This I praie you that your loue maie abound yet more and more in knowledge and in al iudgement that ye maie discerne thinges that differ that ye maie be pure and without offence vntil the daie of Christ filled with the fruites of righteousnesse which are by Iesus Christ vnto the glorie and praise of God So that the end of knowledge is that we should iudge proue and approue those thinges which are the better and most profitable To feeling is subiect synceritie which is à good coÌ„science before God innocencie of life that we offend no man and plentie of fruits of the righteousnes of faith which proceede from the grace of Iesus Christ and tend vnto the laude praise of God If this liuelie sense with the knowledge of heauenlie doctrine be not in the teachers of the Churche nothing is more cursed in the whole worlde than theie are For when they reproue other meÌ„ for sinning theie condemne themselues when theie lift vp others with comfort theie ouer-throwe themselues when theie teach others themselues are confounded to be short whatsoeuer theie doe in the ministerie committed to their charge it is à testimonie to their owne damnation For theie are verie-like the makers of Noahs arke For as theie when the arke was builded wherin Noah and his familie was saued perished in the floud so these men shal perish in the floud of hel fire when such as gaue credite vnto the worde theie preached shal be saued Wherefore let both them which are in the ministerie and them also which purpose to enter into the same consider howe grieuous the punishment is that hangeth-ouer their heades if the feeling in the heart and their life answere not to their doctrine againe what great glorie is laide-vp for them if theie doe builde the Church of Christ with both hands namelie with doctrine and with example Of whiche glorie afterwarde we wil entreate Moreouer the teachers of the Churche ought to shewe the waie of the Lord to men that goe astraie For which cause theie are called the guides of the flocke in the Scriptures that going-before them both in learning and life theie maie both prepare the waie and animate others to followe them And therefore in the prophesie of Isaiah it is written Go-through goe-through the gates prepare you the waie for the people caste-vp caste-vp the waie and gather out the stones and set-vp à standerd for the people Let preachers therefore of the worde vnderstand that as theie ought to goe before other men both by example of
righteous in the sight of God although before man he beareth the punishment of sinne Beside with inwarde consolation by his spirite he mittigateth present affliction giueth strength to beare y e deserued punishment with à quiet minde And although the crosse seeme in mans eies an odious thing yet is it yea though it be deserued à sacrifice highlie pleasing God as we maie see in Dauid and in the thiefe The thiefe was punished for his enormous wickednes Dauid suffereth affliction for adulterie and murther which hee had committed Notwithstanding both the crosse of that thiefe from the crosse of the other thiefe hanging on the left-side of Christ and the affliction of Dauid from the punishment of Saule differed in respecte of their sorrowfull and repentant heartes which beeing laide vppon the crosse of Christe as vppon an altar it becommeth consecrated and à most acceptable sacrifice before God Of which kinde of crosse reade more in our annotations vpon the 25. Psalme The thirde kinde of crosse is Dokimasie which is à proofe and trial of faith and constancie in confession This Dokimasie is done manie waies so that easilie it cannot bee included within certaine kindes For faith is tried sometime in prosperitie and sometime in aduersitie sometime inwardlie and outwardlie sometime Abraham was tried by banishment by hunger by hazarde of his wife by differring of the promised seede by the barreunesse of his wife by the commaundement to kil his onelie sonne Isaak whom he loued more than his owne life Al these thinges seemed to bee cleane-against that great promise of the land of Canaan and of the seed which should multiplie euen as the sande of the sea But howe escapeth Abraham howe ouercommeth hee these most greeuous tentations Euen by faith alone Hereby hee persuadeth himselfe that God is not onelie true of promise but mightie also to performe the same heereby he glorified God hereby he meteth with the course of nature heereby hee preferred obedience towarde God before the life of his sonne hereby hee strengthened himselfe in all his troubles Ioseph also hee was tried both on the lefte hande and on the right on the left by his enuious brethren by exile by bondage by the inticementes of an vnchast woman by imprisonment c. on the right hande by the gifte of intrepreting dreames by honour fauour of his prince by preferment aboue other Lordes and by his dexteritie in the whole gouernement Notwithstanding he keepeth à streight course declining neither vnto the lefte nor vnto the right hande but through faith onelie persisteth vnmoueable Iob likewise was tried both by aduersitie and prosperitie First with happie successe of his affaires with manie children store of riches and with worshipful friendes afterwarde with the soudden death of his children with losse of his goodes with lothsome botches and boiles with à brawling and cursing wife with lacke of friendes Nowe holie Iob tossed with these tempestes albeit sometime hee seemed to totter yet by faith hee rose-againe and opposed against present miserie that blessed life and happinesse which GOD who can not lie hath promised to his seruauntes For I am sure saide hee that my Redeemer liueth and that I shall rise-againe at the last daie And this is it which Iohn doeth saie That which is borne of GOD ouercommeth the worlde That it maie be à testimonie as Bernard saith of the celestial generation This triall of faith is compared to the triall of golde in the booke of Wisedome As golde is tried in the fire so men are tried in the fornace of affliction And Peter Through manifolde tentations ye are in heauines that the triall of your faith maie be much more pretious than golde For as by the fire golde is tried whether it be pure or no so by the crosse faith is tried whether it bee without al drosse of hypocrisie But what Is not the iudgement of God according vnto y e truth What iustice can it be to afflict men without cause whie Although affliction cōmeth some-time without à manifest fault yet it neuer commeth without cause whie For this crosse of trial hath manie causes those weightie as the trial of faith y t stirring vp of the heare to cal-vpon God to meditate vpon the word of God the sense of GOD his presence in affliction the contemplation of eternal happines the preseruation from greater euils Therefore albeit the crosse of it selfe be euill yet forsomuch as it healeth and driueth-awaie poisō it is necessarie as the auctor of the Epistle vnto the Hebrues teacheth For as myrrhe notwithstanding it be sharpe and bitter yet it healeth woundes and preserueth from putrifaction So the crosse of the sainctes though it bee irkesome to the flesh and greeuous yet it destroieth no◠but healeth rather And as the waters which were verie bitter in Marah after that the woode was throwen therevnto became sweete so there can no crosse happen to the sainctes of God in this life but it becommeth moste pleasant if the woode of the crosse of Christ bee added as à sauce but if that bee taken awaie the waters become bitter and vnsauerie that is euerie crosse is verie sowre and intollerable vnlesse it bee tempered as it were with the crosse of Christ. Manifolde examples of this kinde of trial maie be red in the 11. Chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrewes The last kinde of crosse is called Martyrie Hereby testimonie is borne to the doctrine of the Gospel the ende whereof is that by it as by à seale as it were of God manie maie bee inuited to embrace the religion of Christ. Augustine expresseth the signification of the name on this wise Testimonies in Greke are called Martyria which word we in these daies vse as à Latine worde Whereof it is that wee call such as are humbled for the testimonie of Christ by sundrie afflictiōs and haue foughten euen to the death for the truthes sake such I saie we call not Testes that is witnesses albeit that is their name in Latine but Martyres after the Greekes Nowe the children of GOD are in this worlde tried after two manner of waies by reproches and by tormentes Let vs examine him saide the wicked with rebukes and tormentes And Paul Therefore we labor and are rebuked because wee trust in the liuing God The benefite comming by the martyrdome of y e Saincts Theodoret verie notablie expresseth when hee saith As in time passed the bushe that Moses sawe was not consumed with fire So neither did the weapons of enimies consume Christians although they were mightilie beset round-about of the wicked But rather as after trees be hewen-downe much moe impes doe springe-vp than the bowes were that were cut-off So nowe also after the slaughter of manie godlie men moe did runne vnto the gospell and that daie by daie than euer did yea and the bloode of the slaine bodies was à certaine
Augustine doeth answere That hauing made earnest prayer vnto God they are by lot to chuse who shal flee and who shal tarie For in so doing both good regard is had for the present state of the Church and also it is wel prouided that when the teachers of the Church be once killed it shall want no ministers for all that to instructe them Sophisters and Sycophantes being puffed-vp with the wisedome of this worlde they subtillie laie snares to entrappe the preachers The scope of whome is that the fountanes of Israel beeing either stopped or troubled that is that the heauenlie doctrine being either vtterlie abolished or depraued with humane or diuelishe deuises the Church whose life is the puritie of Gods worde maie be oppressed Their sophistical arte is fitlie compared to à brawling woman Whome who so hideth hideth the winde and shee is as the oile in his right hande that vttereth it selfe as Salomon saith For the slightes thereof are infinite Whereof it is that hee which would refute al Sophismes doeth like him which woulde take the windes in à net Then what is to bee done Howe are Sophisters to be resisted The Pastors of the Church aboue al thinges must keepe in memorie the strong and euident testimonies coÌ„cerning euerie principal pointe of doctrine from which they must not suffer themselues to be with-drawen by anie sophistrie of man which they shall notablie withstande if they haue ben wel instructed in true Logique SecoÌ„dlie by ardent praier they must beg of God that by his word hee would strengthen them against y e subtile reasons of man least the truth bee wound in by the serpent and so choaked that is that by sophistrie it be neither vtterly ouerthrowen nor at the least depraued Thirdlie they are to eschewe all vnproper kindes of phrases and vnusual of the Church and to content themselues with the simplicitie of speech which the trueth doeth loue Finalie if so instructed they are not yet able quickelie to aunswere vnto all Sophismes let them be contented with the simplenes of doctrine which is euidentlie expressed proued with manifolde testimonies of the scripture agreing-together And the ministers of the Gospel being thus armed they shall easilie beare-awaie the bel from al their aduersaries notwithstanding the subtiltie of the slipperie serpent A notable example hereof I will adde taken-out of the Ecclesiastical historie following the vsual translation What force saith he the simplicitie of faith hath wee doe knowe by those thinges which bee reported to be done there For when for the care of the religious Emperor the Priestes from all partes of the worlde had assembled-together verie noble and rich Philosophers also came thither too mooued through an opinion they had among whome à certaine notable Logician daie by daie woulde mooue great conflictes of disputation to our Bishops men not vnprobablie learned in Logique And great concourse of learned and lettered men there was to heare yet coulde the Philosopher by no meanes bee either brought vnto à blancke or caught from flieng of anie man For by his art of Logique hee so mette with the questions obiected that when hee seemed most of al to be taken as à slipperie Eele hee slidawaie But because God woulde showe that his kingdome consisteth not in worde but in power among the confessors of the trueth à certaine Bishop of à most simple nature which knewe nothing beside Iesus Christ and him crucified was present Who seing the Philosopher to insult ouer those whiche toke our parts bosting himself of his craftâ—nes through the art of disputation craueth of al meÌ„ rome faith he would speak à few words with the Philosopher But they on our sid which knew wel enough the simplicitie blunt speech of this man began to blush somewhat to feare least peradueÌ„ture his holy simplicitie should be made à laughing game amoÌ„g subtile felows yet would not this father desist froÌ„ his purpose but thus began his speech In the name of Iesus Christ faith he harken ô Philosopher vnto the truth There is one God who made both heauen and earth and which gauè life to man whome hee had framed out of the lime of the earth hee hath created all thinges both visible and inuisible by the power of his worde and established them by the sanctification of his spirit This worde and wisedome whom we call the sonne taking pittie vppon the errors of mankinde was borne of à virgine and hath through the passion of his death deliuered vs from euerlasting damnation and by his resurrection hath giuen vs euerlasting life whom also wee trust shall come to iudge all things which we go about Dost thou beleeue this to be true ô Philosopher But hee the Philosopher as though he had neuer learned anie art to gainsay was so astonished throgh the power of the words that he had nothing to saie but only this that he did thinke so that there was none other thing true besid that which he had said Then the old man If thou beleeuest these things to be so said he arise and folow me vnto Demonicus receaue the signe of this faith And the Philosopher turning about vnto his disciples vnto them which came to heare harkeÌ„ saith he ô learned men while I was delt withal with words I to words opposedwords by the art of speech did ouerthrow whatsoeuer was said but when for words power proceeded from the mouth of the speaker words could not resist power nor man preuaile against God And therfore if any amoÌ„g you can of those things which haue ben spokeÌ„ perceaue the things which I do let him giue credite to Christ folow this old man in whoÌ„ God hath spokeÌ„ This storie notablie doth teach by what weapons victorie may be atchiued against Sophisters namely by a certain persuasion or demonstratioÌ„ of y e ground of religioÌ„ by simplicitie of spech by ardent praier y t God maie giue streÌ„gth to his word as though himself did vtter the same by his owne most holy mouth As y e hypocrits I meane stage plaiers are not taken for them which they be but do put-on and represent à strange person or as Augustin saith they hid y t which they are vnder à personage boast in à personage y t which they are not So the scripture by à Metaphor calleth such hypocrites as by external gestures and deedes boaste themselues for sainctes when for al that their minde is prophane and wicked that is when the outwarde man appeareth meeke as à sheepe when the inwarde is rauening like à woulfe For by this image Christ depainted hypocrites Hereof hypocrisie is saide to bee an outwarde faigning of godlines vnder à prophane and wicked mind So that à double sinne is in hypocrisie to wit impietie and lying For which cause their damnation is doubled for they are condemned both as wicked against God and as liers before men Therefore the saying of Aristotle against
spiritual but I am carnal soulde vnder sinne By which saieng he doth signifie that the carnal man as carnall can not yeelde spirituall obedience to the Lawe He calleth him carnal which in another place he calleth à natural man who hath not the spirite as Iude doth interpret the same that is which is not borne anewe by the holie Ghost Thirdlie the Law it selfe requireth à perfect pure and constant loue both of GOD and our neighbour which loue vndoubtedlie is not an external and outward worke but an inwarde and spiritual exacting the puritie of affections which are not to be founde in men that are not regenerated Last of al the interpretation of Christ which he himselfe opposeth against the Pharisees doth sufficientlie confute this dreame of the Papistes Moreouer hauing thus laide open the errors of Pelagius and of the Papistes I wil gather foure demonstrations out of Paul wherewith I wil confirme the minor of our demonstration which is that no mortal man can yeelde no perfect obedience to the lawe of God The first is taken from the common corruption of mans nature For al men from their birth are vncleane and guiltie nowe seeing from an vnpure and stinking fountaine there cannot chuse but issue foule and filthie water it cannot be that an vncleane man can yeelde pure and cleane obedience For so saith Salomon Surelie there is no man iust in the earth that doth good and sinneth not And Iob Who can bring à cleane thing out of filthinesse there is not one For al the sorte of vs do proceede from à sinneful masse For the effecte cannot be better than the cause So that this argumēt is strong Theie which are vncleane cannot yeelde pure obedience Al men by nature are vncleane Christ alone excepted who was exempted from the cōmon law of such as are borne Therfore none can yeelde pure obedience to the lawe of God The second is taken from the general experience or punishment of guiltines in al mē Whosoeuer be subiect to death which is the punishment for violating Gods law theie are breakers of God his Lawe otherwise God should be an vniust iudge for punishing the innocent but now Paul confesseth that the iudgement of God is according to trueth But al men are subiect to death as the to punishmēt for violating Gods lawe which thing the miserable experience of al men from time to time doth testifie Therefore al men are breakers of God his lawe How then can theie be righteous by the lawe The thirde is taken from the testimonies of Scripture which are the verie voice of God both in the Psalmes in Moses the Prophets Euangelistes and writinges of the Apostles In Moses it is written The Lorde sawe that the wickednesse of man was greate in the earth and al the imaginations of the thoughtes of his heart were onelie euil continualie Beholde the fountaine of man his righteousnes Iob saith I know verilie that it is so for howe should man compared vnto God be iustified If he woulde dispute with him he could not answeare him one thing of à thousand The same Iob saith againe If I would iustifie my selfe mine owne mouth shal condemne me And in à certaine Psalme Theie haue corrupted and done an abhominable worke there is none that doth good The Lorde looked downe from heauen vpon the children of men to see if there were anie that woulde vnderstand and seeke God Al are gone out of the waie theie are al corrupt there is none that doth good no not one Againe Who can vnderstand his faultes And againe If thou ô Lorde straitlie markest iniquities ô Lord who shal stand Therfore Dauid praieth on this wise Enter not into iudgement with thie seruant for in thie iudgement shal none that liueth be iustified Salomon also Pro. 20. hath these wordes Who can sate I haue made mine heart cleane I am cleane frō my sin And y e Prophet Isai We haue al bin as an vncleane thing al our righteousnes is as filthie cloutes we al do fade like à leafe our iniquities like the winde haue taken vs awaie The preaching of repentance in the Gospel is à witnesse of the guilt of al mankind And the Lord saith That which is borne of the flesh is flesh From y e Epistles of y e Apostles I wil alleage onlie on testimonie out of Paul who vnto the Romanes writeth after this wise We haue alredie proued saith he that al both Iewes and Gentiles are vnder sinne As it is written there is none righteous no not one There is none that vnderstandeth there is none that seeketh God Theie haue al gone out of the waie theie haue beene made altogether vnprofitable there is none that doth good no not one Their throte is an open sepulchre theie haue vsed their tongues to deceite the poison of aspes is vnder their lippes Whose mouth is ful of cursing and bitternes their feete are swifte to shed bloud Destruction and calamitie are in their waies and the waie of peace theie haue not knowne The feare of God is not before their eies Of these such like testimonies our proposition is proued which is that no man perfectlie can fulfil the lawe of God The fourth is taken from the necessitie and ende of the mediator giuen betwene God and men For if man by his natural strength could haue fulfilled the lawe of God he had not needed à mediator For he had beene righteous by the workes of the lawe and had by the couenant of GOD obteined eternal life For it is the couenant of God If à man doe my commaundementes he shal liue in them But nowe seeing man hath neede of à mediator and reconciler doubtlesse he breaketh the lawe and is guiltie vnrighteous and accursed Therefore the scripture which conteineth either the promise or the exhibition of y e Messiah doth accuse mankinde of sinne and sendeth vnto the mediator pacifier and intercessor Hence Paul fetcheth an argumēt in his second chapter vnto the Galathians when he saith If righteousnesse be by the Lawe then Christ died without à cause that is the Sonne of God in mans nature in vaine did humble himselfe euen vnto the death of the crosse if man by the lawe maie be iustified whereas the Sonne of God tooke the nature of man vpon him that he might abolishe sinne bring euerlasting righteousnesse and therein cause vs to be adopted into the sonnes of God Let the Papistes take the lawe in this place for what part it pleaseth them yet the same conclusion must follow For whether righteousnesse be by the lawe moral or by the iudicial or by the ceremonial or by altogether the same absurditie doth follow namelie that Christ died without à cause If he died in vaine he was also borne in vaine al his benefitie are in vaine By these foure inuincible argumentes the iudgement of the Church which