prosperous Commaunder Alexander the great brought into subjection the greatest paâ—t of the earth then knowne But what beast what fowle must this Papisticall Aâ—tichrist be How many feete must he haue How many wings Who in much lesse then halfe this time shall bring under his yoake and raigne over many moe Countries and people then ever Antichrist â—new Is it possible in reason that any who hath not pluckt out his eyes should thinke the Pope Christ his subject nay Deputie who opposeth and exalteth himself aboue all that is called God Doth he not challenge to be unto the Vniversall Church an head to giue influence a Monarch to giue Lawes nay a Spouse to giue and receiue benevolence so that to be subject to the Pope is of necessitie to salvation nay doth he not usurpe and with all tyrannie maintaine a Monarchicall Omnipotencie Surely that judgment mentioned by Tertullian is fallen upon them They beleeve without Scriptures that they may beleeve against Scriptures We evidently see the Prophesie of the Apostle fulfilled in them Because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved therefore God hath sent them strong delusions that they should beleeve lies that all they might be damned which beleeved not the truth But the Popish Faction aâ—firme that they cannot bee accounted heretickes because they haue never beeâ—e convicted nor condemned by a generall Councill But first it is suâ—ficient conviction to proue an hereticke that his errour is manifestâ—d unto him by the Scripture unlesse wee will thinke Simon Magus no hereticke untill hee was dead and rotten because no Councell before his death condemned his errours Againe the Papists maintaine things openly interdicted in generall Councels Thus they use defend in their Pope the title of chiefe or highest Priest censured and forbidden by the 3. Councell of Carthage so also the worship of Angels is by them stiffely maintained yet condemned plainly by the Apostle in the old heretickes Colos. 2.18 and after by the Councell of Laodicea They set up images in Churches prohibited by the Councell of Eliberis But what hope is there that this harlot will reforme any errour who in her head Paul 4. in his Epistle to Gropper condemning certaine abuses doctrines as being such which could not by that way that is by Scripture be defended yet never reformed any either abuse or doctrine nay who in her whole representatiue bodie the Councill of Trent is not ashamed to confâ—sse that Christ ordained and distributed to his Apostles non conficientibus not adâ—inistring the Sacrament both bread and wine and cannot deny but that it was so continued in the primitiue Church yet take upon themselues power to determine that whole Christ the true Sacrament is received in the bread alone and that the Church hath authoritie to alter this institution of Christ with a most brasen face challenging right to change any thing in the Sacrament excepting the substance and so consequently denying the bloud of Christ reprâ—sented and presented in the Cup to be of the substance of the Lords Supper Let every soule try here his claim to this true blessing Two notes â—re here offered unto us by which we may come to an infallible knowledge of our estate 1. How art thou disposed to that word of God which cals thee out of thy sinne be it either some gracious promise or sharpe reproofe how standest thou affected to it The word is a fire to melt and soften the iron heart of man that it may be fit to receiue the impression of Gods image Thus Iosiah melted the hearts of Gods people tremble at his voyce and when they profit are pricked in hearing Either thou standest in the way of sinners or else it is thus with thâ—e Amaziah can with some patience heare and follow the commaund but hate the reproofe of the word Ahab can approue and obey the counsell of God in ordering his Armies but hates Michaiah who would order his conversation according to the rule of God Oh! then considâ—r how thou art disposed to the rebuke of Christ as Moses who preferred it before the treasures of AEgypt or as Herod who beheaded his messenger How ofâ—eÌ„ hast thou heard that gentle reprehension joyned with a gracious invitaton O yee disobedient children returne and I will heale your rebellions doth thy heart then answer Behold we come unto thee for thou art the Lord our God we lie down in our eonfusion and our shame covereth us Hast thou lamented with Ephraim Thou hast corrected me and I was chastised Convert thou me and I shall be converted for thou art the Lord my God Surely after I converted I repented c. Thus doe these heires of happinesse they will lament they will mourne as for an onely sonne they will abhorre themselues and lye downe in ashes 2. Examine thy estate by thy care and endeavour to rise after thou art slipt and fallen Dost thou consider thy wayes and turne thy feete into the testimonies of the Lord Dost thou make hast and delayest not David strucken downe with that sinne of adulterie and murder and benummed with so many blowes of Satan lay a while as dead but when the rebuking voyce of God called unto him and testified Thou art the mâ—n how soone did hee awake from his swoone and expressed a whole world of griefe in one word I haue sinned As thou hast fallen with that Saint so hast thou risen with him and renewing strength hast fortified thy selfe and art become even impregnable on that side The more foule thy sinnes are the more are thy teares and sorrow the more thy loue to thy gracious Lord pardoning such and so many offences Obserue every where this disposition in the Saints and happy art thou if thou canst finde it in thy selfe But thou shalt see Ahab humble himselfe in sackcloth but still proudly and rebelliously disposed in heart Thou shalt heare the sinner say They haue stricken mee but I was not sicke they haue beatâ—n mee but I knew not when I awoke therefore will I seeke it yet still If it be thus with thee if thou confessest thy sinne with thy lippes but forsakest it not in thy heart how shouldest thou find mercy If thou tremblest for feare of judgement as Felix and yet nourishest in thee a corrupt heart and puttest off the word I will heare another time what art thou better nay how much worse then that Heathen Consider what strâ—ames of teares flowed from the eyes of Mary Magdalen What fire of loue burned in her heart How did Paul humble himselfe in respect of his persâ—cution How ardent his loue to Christ flaming out in all his actions Thus will thy heart be affected thus thy actions directed if thou art in the same estate Here come under reproofe 1. Those rebels which wilfully set themselues to resist the word of God and put it from them Two sorts may we
a tongue which having tasted the bitternes of sinne lifts up as bitter and lowd a cry Purge me with Hysop and I shall be cleane wash me and I shall be whiter then snow and shall I not heed such a warning I will heare the rod and who hath appointed it When he poureth forth the oyle of comfort into thy wounded heart bruised and broken with repentance Take words to thy selfe and say This is that glorious Comforter whom my Saviour hath sent to dwell in me and speake peace unto me that he might be a seale and earnest of his promises and that inheritance purchased with his blood This oyle he brings to my bleeding soule in that horne of Dauid an horne taken from his Altar consecrated and fitted by that holy Annointing I will therefore open my sores unto him and call upon him O Lord heale me for my bones are vexed When thou art exhorted to walke in the good path and to run in the way of Gods commandements thus meditate It is the onely true Way who hath giuen me his Spirit to leade me and he now cals vpon me by the voice of such a Guide who conducts me no farther nor faster then himselfe by his owne example goeth before me and shall not I hasten my slow feete and spurre on my dull affections to follow Yes certainely I will say unto him Let thy good spirit lead me into the land of righteousnesse Draw me and I will run after thee O enlarge my heart and I will runne in the way of thy Commandements In all thy course let this thought of thy Guide never depart from thee but commune thus with thine owne heart what is there that should stop me in this way What is there that should not rather incite and hasten me Shall I say I have great possessions promoted to some high oâ—fice increased in children keepe a great familie and burdened with many affaires both publike and private But how farre did this my Guide exceed me in all outward blessings Yet I find that every where he useth them as so many cords to pull on his heart with more force to the practice of Godlinesse Should I complaine of discouragements trouble contempt poverty affliction What a shame were this to me when I heare him professing They had almost conumed mee upon earth but I forsooke not thy precepts The proud have had me exceedingly in derision yet have I not declined from thy Law I am small and despised yet doe I not forget thy statutes Trouble and anguish are come upon mee yet are thy Commandements my delight Follow therefore cheerfully so good a Leader and learne of him in riches to be rich in good workes in poverty to be poore in spirit to imploy all thy power to adorne and beautifie the Temple of God within thee and when thou art despised by worldly Michals for thy zeale and cheerfulnesse in Gods service to be more vile and low in thine owne eyes 2 Reâ—utation Let us here not so much refute as detest and accurse those Popish blasphemies concerning this and other Scriptures Surely though a reverend opinion and speech of the written Word be not ever an infallible signe of a faithfull Christian yet an un-reverend aestimation contemptuous and disgracefull speech is a sure argument of infidelity and Atheisme The Ancients received the Scriptures as the Iudge sent from heaven and the voyce of Christ which they durst not censure but by which they censured all other writings yeelding to the Canonicall Scriptures and to them alone an un-deniable consent Thus Origen thus Austen And above other Scriptures they wonderfully extolled the Psalmes affirming the Prophet was a most sweet and delightfull companion of our journey relieving and helping all sorts that travaile this way becomming all to all men that there is nothing which we may not learne in the Psalmes that such as with a faithfull and serious mind exercise themselues in the Psalmes are in a manner fellowed with the Angels of God Thus Nazianzen Austen Chrysostome Bernard Now how they which boast so much of Antiquitie and the onely Church agree with the Ancients and with the true Church we may perceive in this particulars It is almost incredible how basely and despitefully they speake of the Oracles of God Let me cleare this point a little 1. They aâ—firme the Scriptures mistie and darke despising that woe pronounced on those who call light darkenesse and darkenesse light nor once fearing in evident termes to contradict the Spirit of truth who so often cals it light 2. They obscure it by many Apocryphall and humane writings which as the Moone under the Sunne mingled with the word of truth make a fearefull Ecclipse in the Church commanding those Bastard writings to be received as the Genuine with aequall authority and estimation 3. They have set up an earthly Meteor exhaled from their own braine to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 another counterfeit Sunne to confront the true in pretence to supply the defects of it This is their Traditions in word equaling but in deed preferring them before the Scripture 4. The better to depresse the splendour of it they haue laboured to hide it under a bushell under the veile of an vnknowne tongue And of many other haue they chosen the Vulgar translation as Authenticall which of all the rest is knowne and by some of their own confessed to be the most barbarous spotted and defectiue commanding it under censure of Anathema to be received and in no pretence whatsoever in any thing rejected 5. They affirme the Scripture is no further a light then it shall please the Pope to kindle and light it up by his breath and interpretation defining that whatsoever hath the holy Fathers exposition hath the very word of God though he know not whether it doe nor how it can possibly agree with the word expounded peremptorily decreeing that no man presume to receive it in any other sense then the holy Mother Church interprets it whose Prerogative it is to unfold it 6. With monstrous impudence they dare maintaine that the strength of all former Councels and if of all then of that Councell also which was held by the Apostles and all Doctrines depends upon the authority of the present Church Lastly they reproach and revile it that it is a nose of waxe a Lesbian or leaden rule that it may be well defended as godlily spoken that the Scriptures without the Churches authority is of no more force then AEsops fables and there the same Hosius stickes not plainely to say that the Scripture should have little waight with them without the Churches authority Nay a Priest in a controversie with my selfe blasphemously averres which testimony of Iesuiticall doctrine I will ever keepe by me that the Scripture was not written by the command of God nor of set purpose but by chance I have seene
of a whole Province so we distinguish the Greeke and Latine East and West Churches some lesser as the Church confined to any one Citie the Churth of Rome the Church of Corinth and some private shut up in one familie see Rom. 16. 5. Philem. 2. There is also a distinction of a true Church which continues in all fundamentall truth delivered by Christ and his Apostles or false which declines to some hereticall doctrines and departs from the foundation either from that rule of faith or manners Thus as the Marcionits Arrians Macedonians c. erring in matter of faith concerning the Godhead or manhood of Christ or concerning the blessed Spirit So the Nicolaitans maintaining filthy and promiscuous lusts were false Churches howsoever they were sound in divers other points of Christian doctrine Now the Congregation here mentioned cannot be stretched to any other but either the invisible or tryumphant Church 3. Lastly the just are those Saints of God which being justified by the blood of Christ are also sanctified by his Spirit So the sense is Howsoever here on earth wicked Atheists heretickes and hypocrites may come in sheepes cloathing and not onely creepe into the flocke but also rule and tyrannise in the visible Church yet as they are no members of the true invisible Church so when that great Shepheard shall separate the goats from the sheepe these wolues in sheepes cloathing shall bee uncased and cast out into their owne place with dogges Proofe Mat 25. ver 31. to the end Revel 21. last ver and 22. 14. 15. The grounds are 1. In the nature of sinners Truth and lies vertue and vice cannot stand together As therefore in the creation there was a separation of light from darknesse so in this perfect renovation 2. From the nature of the Iudge who is of pure eyes and cannot endure sinne but is a consuming fire to such 3. From the time It is the season when Christ shall wipe off all spots and wrinkles from his Church but these are spots and blots in the Assemblies 2 Pet. 2 13. Ephe. 5. 27. Here therefore is manifestly taught us that no sinner that is no man liuing in wilfull sinne and maintaining it in his practise is or can be a true member of Christ or his Church but indeed a very spot and blot in it Truâ— is it that as a field is called a corne field wher there is much and perhaps more weed then good graine and a heape of corne where there is more chaffe not from the greater but better part so a Congregation where many Atheists and hipocrites are miâ—gled with the faithfull is called a true church though indeed those are but as ill humours in the bodie rather griefs then any parts of it They were not of us they were not all of us see Math 7. 23. Hence called as before spots and blots The reasons also confirming this truth are apparent For first every member is and cannot but be of the same nature with the head monsters are they which haue the head â—f one kinde the bodie or any member of an other the head of a man the foote of an oxe But the nature of Christ is the divine nature pure and holy freâ— from sinne therfore also his members haue by in fluence from him been changed into the same diuine nature in that they fly the corruption which is in the world through lust 2. Pet. 1. 4. see also Heb. 7. 26. Secondly he cannot be a member of Christ who by the ordinances of God powerfully working on him by the Spirit is not renewed and changed He that beleeueth and is baptised is saued but he that beleeveth not is damned We are buried in him by baptisme the Gospell preached begets us in Christ But the Gospell and baptism where they are made effectuall by the worke of the Spirit clense and wash from sinne and bring to us that sanctification whereby we are purged Iohn .15 3. Eph. 5. 26. Thirdly sinne doth not onely separate from Godâ— Esa. 59. 2. but when it is in dominion divides us utterly from the government of Christ makes his sweet and â—asie yoke griâ—vous and loathsâ—me If we are members of Christ he is our head and King but where sinne hath dominion Christ his sceptre hath no place 2. Howsoever wolves in sheeps clothing may creepe into the flock of Christ of which Christ hath given us warning Mat. 7. 15. and the Apostle Act. 20.29 30. yet they shall certainly be uncased not onely in the finall iudgement where their hipocrisie shall be stript nakâ—d before all the world and their filthines bared to every eye but here also so farre that the Elect of God shall cleâ—rely discâ—rne and avoyd them as Math. 7. 16. God will lay open their falshood and discover their dissembling see Ierem. 29. 20. 21. 22. 23. Neither is any thing in scripture more evident then this dealing of the Lord who whensoever such Foxes haue entred among his people hath stirred up some eminent person and filled them with singular gifts to resist them least the faithfull might be deceived and drawn away by their hypocrisie Thus God opposeth Moses and Aaron against Iames and Iambres Elias and Elizeus against the Priâ—sts of Baal Iâ—remiah against Hananiah Ahab and Zedekiah Christ and his Apostles against the Scribes Pharises and Iewish false teacheâ—s Thus afterwards as haeretikes began to spring in â—he church hâ— raised up many faithfull pastors to cut downe their lies and display their hypocrisie which is evident in the storie of the Church and eminent this way was that holy Augustine who was called and indeed was the mall of heretickes The reasons also are cleere and plaine First and espâ—cially the loue of God to his Church who as he hath sent his sonne to bring them out of the power of darkenesse and the shadow of death so also hath given his Spirit to guide and lead them into all truth and his word as a touch-stone to try these spirits whether they are of God Secondly The vigilancie and care of those whom God hath set as watchmen who being not hirelings but faithfull Pastors doe not flie when they see the wolfe but giue warning to the sheepe Thirdly There is a spirit of discerning Philip. 1. 10. which God poures out to the faithfull in divers measures according to their place which they hold in the body of Christ to some more to some lesse to all some so that even babes to whom S. Iohn writes may try the spirits whether they are of God 1 Ioh. 4. 1. For even these comparing the doctrine of these hypocrites either with the Scripture or the rule of faith written by God in their hearts and finding the disagreement can refuse and abhorre it see 1 Ioh. 2. 19. 20. 21. Here is offered a very fit occasion to lay open the hypocrisie of that false Church and her apostacie which challengeth to be not onely the true but
alone Church and Spouse of Christ True it is that as the body of that Antichristian Synagogue is covered with sheepes clothing so the head hath put on the front of the Lambe Rev. 13.11 but indeed the body when it is stript easily discovers it selfe to be the beast and the head when it speakes in the doctrine proclaimes the Dragon You shall know these false Prophets which come in sheepes clothing by their fruits that is by their teaching which is the proper fruit of a Teacher They teach perverse things saith the Apostle Acts 20. 30â— to draw Disciples not after Christ but after themselues How by their traditions and vaine inventions they haue made the word of God of no effect may appeare by these few points of their religion But first let us remember that Pietie consisteth either in inward or outward duties to God the one being as the soule the other as the body of religion Of the first those are principall knowledge loue feare of God faith in him and his word Of the second Prayer hearing the word administration of the holy mysteries and right observation of the Sabboth Now how grossely the Papists in their doctrines haue perverted all these parts of Gods worship may very briefly appeare to them who will duely consider it For knowledge they deliver that hellish proposition Ignorance is the mother of devotion to which their other doctrines and practise are squared labouring to hold the mindes of their people in grosse darkenesse and therfore not onely forbidding on great penalties the common acquaintance and use of scriptures but affirming that he is a friend to heretikes who maintaines an ordinary reading of Scripture nay that it is pernicious and impious For loue they haue utterly broken the bond of spirituall marriage First by that Saint-adoration deifying holy men and allowing them Altars prayers c. Secondly also by their digressing and wilfull departing from the word and Ordinances of Christ which is a manifest breach of loue Ioh. 14. 24. For the feare of God the very bond of our Covenant Ier. 32. 40. first they haue made it in vaine by the traditions of men Esay 29. 13. Secondly in place of that filiall feare knitting our soules to him in reverend loue they plant an hellish feare of God in the hearts of their people to be afraid to approach unto him by prayer as being a great King and a rigide observer of all that is amisse For faith they haue wholy unsinued it not onely in teaching faith and prayer of faith to creatures as a right object of both but delivering no other faith then that which is common to many reprobates and Devils For that second kinde their invocation of Saints asking of them whatsover a creature should aske of God the neglect and contempt of the word setting up against it the false light of their traditions perverting the Sacraments despising the Sabboth a sinne so notorious among them and maintained make evident what religion they professe and whence they had it But especially obserue their rejecting of Christ in all his oâ—fices as King as Priest and Prophet allowing him indeed the names but detâ—acting in effect the power and exercise of these dignitiâ—s from him For first whereas the Lord God hath given us onely Christ to be his King over us the head Monarch of his Church Psal. 2. 6. Ephe. 1. 22. 23. Col. 1. 18. and absolutely interdicted all â—itles and exercise of Lordly authoritie to his very Apostles they doe not onely ascribe full power to the Pope over the universall Church on earth nay under the earth also namely that which they dreame to be in a purgatorie yea even of that which is in heaven for they take upon them to commaund Angels but also call him openly and justifie those titles the head the Monarch and Spouse of the whole Church Nay saith Bellarmine Hee is the supreame head to giue outward influence of doctrine faith and Sacraments Secondly for the Priesthood of Christ they abase that perfect sacrifice and whereas the Scripture so highly prefers it before the Leviticall they as low depresse it by the same argumentâ— namely the frequent and indeed infinite repeatings of it and to supply it they adde their owne satisfactions and merits whereby they remoue temporall punishments and haue invented a new sacrifice of Christ unbloodie and a new priesthood of Masmongers Thirdly whereas Christ is our onely Prophet or Teacher Mat. 23. 8. so that men and Angels are accursed who bring any other doctrine they haue so tied the eare of the Church to the tongue of the Pope that they do not only ascribe unto him an uâ—erring power in teaching but most brasenly affirme that if the Pope should erre in commanding vices or forbidding vertues the Church were bound to beleeue that vice were good and vertue naught So is their practice for whereas God pronounceth surfeting and druâ—kennesse to be sinnes excluding from life they affirme that eating of flesh in Lent though in all sobrietie is a greater sinne then it the breach of the Popes more heinous rebellionâ— then the breach of Gods commandement Thus to burne in lust is a filthy and hatefull sinne in the sight of God they teach that marriage in a votarie is greater so that when God commaunds they which cannot containe let them â—arrie this command of God in their votaries they call and maintaine a sinne a very great sinne so to liue in burnings in a votaâ—ie which is a foule sinne in Gods account is not onely with them an holy estate but full of merit and superâ—rogation Thus their doctrines the fâ—uit of false Teachers discover them so that those blind ones from whom the God of this world hath concealed the â—ight of the Gospell excepted every one sees through their grosse hypocrisie Certaine is it that all those doctrines wherein they differ from us haue neither suâ—ficient ground from the scriptures but are devises and traditions of men nor haue any aime to the glory of God but wholy tend to the advancing of the Pope and enriching his Treasurie and Clergie Heere that blockishnes of people some hellishly ignorant some obstinately wilfull is to bee rebuked who though they liue in open and confessed sinnes and rebelliously maintaine themselues in that course neyther reforming nor purposing to reforme themselues nay hating and scorning the name of reformation so desperately impure that they laugh out the name of puritie yet still suppose themselues members of Christ and such as shall stand in the Congregation of the iust There are many who imagine themselues free from those grosse and apparent sinnes of the time or at least from that measure which they see or suppose to see in others and consider themselues in the fâ—attering glasse of their owne partiall opinions as being no common drunkards swearers whoremasters theeues oppressours nay keeping their Church well living honestly among their neighbours and by them esteemed