that is the Pope and Popish Prelates whereas the Scriptures are written but with inke and paper These traditions they make of three sorts e D. Bysb contra Pâ—rk de Trad. 1. Diuine deliuered by Christ himselfe 2. Apostolicall deliuered by the Apostles 3. Ecclesiasticall deliuered by the Church 1 Diuine 1. Concerning diuine traditions if they bee truely such we most reuerently and religiously receiue them but wee acknowledge none for such but onely those doctrines of faith of Gods worship which are either expresly or by necessary coÌ„sequence contained in the old new TestameÌ„t For although we know and acknowledge that f Bulling de ver Dei the substance of the old Testament was deliuered among the Patriarches from hand to hand by tradition from Adam to Moses and of the new till it was penned by the Apostles and Euangelists g D. Abbot cont Bysh de Trad. as some thinke for eight as others for twenty as others for fourescore yeares yet wee teach that when God had taken the custody of his owne tradition to himselfe by selecting and inspiring choise vessells of grace to commit them to writing least the streames of truth should haue beene polluted by running through the muddy channells of mens mouths then the Church was bound to receiue nothing for diuine truth but what is contained in the Scriptures or necessarily deduced therefrom and firmely grounded thereupon As when God had conueighed the whole light of the world h Gen. 1.3 which before was dispersed in the first dayes creation into the body of the Sunne i v. 14. c. created the fourth day then he would haue the Moone and Starres to deriue their light from thence and the whole earth to be therewith enlightened so though in his first plantation of his Church God did for a time continue the knowledge of his truth by immediate reuelation thereof vnto some chosen men which might deliuer it to his Church from hand to hand yet now since he hath conueighed the whole light of diuine truth into the Canon of the Scripture hee will haue all the Pastors and members of the Church to deriue their light of sauing knowledge and true faith from thence onely so that the doctrine of the Scriptures is now the onely diuine Tradition 2. Touching Apostolicall Traditions wee acknowledge them likewise for diuine if they vnderstand thereby 2 Apost Trad. that diuine doctrine which the Apostles first preached then wrot in the Scriptures as the pillar and foundation of our faith of which S. Paul speakes a Cor. 11.23 Accepi a Domino quod tradidi vobis I haue receiued of the Lord that which I haue also deliuered vnto you c. b Gal. 1.11 12. for the Gospell which was preached of me I receiued it not of man nor was taught it by man but by the reuelation of Iesus Christ And this is the holy and diuine Tradition which c Iren. li. 3. c. 1. Ireneus d Cypr. Epist 74. c. Script est Cyprian and other auncient Fathers speake of contained in the Euangelists Apostolicall Epistles and Acts of the Apostles all which are written Scriptures of the new Testament This diuine and Apostolicall Tradition we call with Tertullian The rule of truth 1 Regula veritatis Tertul. 2 Doctrinae Cypr. 3 Rectitudinis Basil 4 CredendoruÌ„ agendorum Dyonis Carthus and with Cyprian The rule of doctrine and with Basill 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The rule of right or straight rule of perfection and with their owne Carthusian The rule of faith and manners or of all things to be beleeued and practised for wee constantly auerre with Cyril e Cyril Catech. Hierosol That the securitie of our faith ariseth from the euidence and demonstration of the diuine Scripture so that no man presume aboue that which is written 1. Cor. 4.6 Also we reuerently receiue such Apostolicall Traditions as haue their ground in Scripture though not expresly f Act. 20.7 as the celebration of the Sabboth on the first day of the week g Apoc. 1.10 the Baptisme of Infants c. 3 Eccles Trad. 3. Touching Ecclesiasticall Traditions wee receiue for such First those doctrines of faith which the ancient Primitiue Counsailes haue determined against Haeretikes hauing their ground in Scripture as that there is a Trinitie of persons in the vnitie of the diuine essence and that the Sunne is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is consubstantiall and coaequall with the Father c. yet we dare not say with daring h Enchiâ— controv c. 1. Costerius That the first foure generall Counsailes are to bee receiued as we receiue the foure Gospells Secondly those rules which the Primitiue Church hath set downe for order and comelinesse in the seruice of God yea a Perk. de Trad. we acknowledge that the present Church hath power to make Canons to that purpose so they bee consonant to the generall Canons of the Scripture namely 1. That they tend to b 1 Cor. 14.26.40 decency and order 2. To aedification 3. That they be free from superstition 4. That the Church be not ouerburthened with the multitude of them Trad. Papist But if by the Churches Traditions they vnderstand the Canons of their latter Counsailes which were but conuenticles or confaederacies against Christ and his truth for the maintenance of Papall Hierarchy and wherein all the Bishops were the Popes sworne seruants and directed by him as by an Oracle what to doe and decree or the decrees of their Popes some of which haue beene Idolatrous some haereticall and some superstitious or if vnder that name they would thrust vpon vs euery Fryers dreame rotten reliques base costome and idle ceremony of the Romish Church then we reiect their vnwritten Traditions as sandy foundations to build our faith vpon and means to lead vs into a sea of errors and vncertaineties wherein there is neither banke nor bottome And such Traditions as these bee the sandy foundations whereon they build many articles of their Romish Creed namely priuate Masses halfe Communions Transubstantiation adoration of the host of Images and reliques Innocation of Saints and Angells Purgatory and the Popes transcendent authoritie in things Ecclesiastical and temporall For c Andrad in Orthodox Explicat Conc. Trident. li. 2. one of their owne plainly confesseth That many points of their Romish faith would reele and totter if they were not supported by Traditions And this is the reason why they refuse their triall by the Scriptures and thinke d Conference betweene Dr. Feately and M. Fisher. Christ and his Apostles both incompetent Iudges and partiall witnesses for the decision of their cause Yea Bellarmine their great Goliah saith peremptorily a Bell. li. 4. de ver dei non scripto c. 12. That it was not the proper end of the Scriptures to bee rule of our faith and that they are at the best but Regula partialis non
consolatarie sermoÌ„ to his Disciples before his passion this being his Primum salue or first welcome to his Apostles after their election to the Apostleship and that his vltimum vale or last Farewel vnto them immediately before his passion 1. Praef. Conc. How excellent a sermon this was it is euident First by the Preface or exordium thereunto for it was deliuered In a selected place (k) Mat. 5.1 namely a mountaine that the sublimitie of the place might shew the excellencie of the matter Ver. 2. 2. To selected auditors namely his twelue Apostles and the choisest Disciples and in an especiall and singular manner intimated First by his preparation thereunto (l) Luc 6.12 for he spent the whole night before in prayer which must needs imploy some consequence of great importance Secondly By his gesture of sitting (m) Aug de Ser. Dom. in Monte. Quod pertinet ad dignitatem magisterij implying both the dignitie of the speaker who is (n) Mat. 23.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the great Doctor of his Church and the weight of the matter Thirdly by the Euangelists phrase of opening his mouth which implies not onely our Sauiours earnestnesse intention both of heart and voyce in speaking but the excellency and diuine perfection of his doctrine He who is 1. f Ier. 24.6 The eye of God by which he looks downe vpon his Church for good and not for euill 2. g Esay 53.1 The Arme of God whereby hee doth both sustaine and imbrace it 3. h Esay 48.13 1 Pet. 5.8 The hand of God whereby he hath laid the foundation of the earth in the worke of Creation and pluckt his sheep out of the mouth of that roaring Lyon the Diuell as Dauid did his fathers sheepe out of the iawes of the Lyon i 1 Sam. 17.35 paw of the beare in the worke of Redemption 4. The Face of God in whom as in a Christall glasse we may behold a Heb. 1.3 the brightnesse of his fathers glory and â—xpresse Character of his person b Ioh. 14.9 He that hath seene me hath seene the father 5. The mouth of God whereby hee doth both c Cant. 1.2 kisse his Church with the kisses of his loue and instruct it with his heauenly Doctrine heere opens his mouth as a fountaine of liuing waters to refresh the thirsting soules of his Disciples as earst hee opened the rocke of stone for the refreshing of the fainting bodies of his Jsrael d Psal 105.31 so that the walles gushed out and riuers ran in drye places 2 Materia conc 2 By the substance or matter of this Sermon which whosoeuer shall considerately read and marke shall finde therein e Aug. in loc perfectum vitae Christianae modum a perfect rule or direction for a Christian life tending to true happinesse and perfection f Mat. 5.48 Analisis Conc V. 3. A. v. 3. ad 13. Be yee perfect c. For therein Christ shewes vs first the Marke at which wee must ayme namely true blessednesse in Gods Kingdome 2. The Steps or Degrees whereby wee must ascend vnto it namely humility mourning for sin meeknes c. for the eight beatitudes are as so many steps of that g Gen. 28.12 mysticall Ladder of Jaacob whereby we must climbe vp vnto Heauen 3. The Guides to conduct vs thither namely A. v. 1. ad 17. the Ministers of the Gospell who are both the Salt of the earth to season vs with the heauenly Salt of Grace and the Light of the World to guide our feete into the way of peace that we may make straight steps to the h Apoc. 21.2 new Ierusalem and heauenly Sion 4 The Norme or Squire to rule out this way vnto vs namely the Law of God the rule of Charity and i Col 3.14 band of perfection which our Sauiour by his diuine exposition cleeres from Pharisaicall glosses and corruptions A. v. 17. ad finâ—m Cap. 5. 5 The crooked by-pathes which wee must shunne if wee will keepe vs in the right way to true blessednesse and not turne to the right hand or the left and thâ—se are many as tâ—ere is but one right way to a place but many by-waâ—es namely Cap. 6. a. v. ad 19. A. v. 19. ad finem cap. 6. 1. Hypocrisie in doing our good workes to be seene of men 2. Worldly Sollicitude in laying vp our treasure in Earth not in Heauen preferring the seruice of man before the seruice of God and caring more for the perishing vanities of this life then the Kingdome of God and his righteousnesse C 7 a. v. 1. ad 6. 3. Vncharitable censuring of our Brethren and ouercurious prying into their motes V. 6. whilst we see not our owne beames 4 Prophane trampling vnder our feet like dogs and Swine the precious pearles of Gods holy word and Sacraments and rending those that bring them vnto vs with the cruell teeth of malicious obloquy A. v. 15. ad 21. 5. Listning to false Prophets which are rauening wolues in sheepes clothing sâ—eking vnder the faire pretences of humility truth simplicity and sincerity to prey vpon deuoure the soules of Christs sheepe 6. Omission of holy duties namely of feruent prayer whereby wee should aske A. v. â— ad 13. seeke and knocke at the gate of mercy and a serious endeuour to enter in at the straight gate and goe on in the narrow way that leads vnto saluation v. 21. c. for as much as a bare verball profession will not serue the turne at the last day Not euery one that saith vnto mee Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdome of Heauen but he that doth the will of my Father which is in Heauen c. 3 Conclus conc 3 By the conclusion wherein there is an Emphaticall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seeming to limit these words of my Text to this Sermon onely as containing the summe and substance of the whole Bible but they may fitly haue a more generall reference to all the words of Christs heauenly doctrine deliuered to his Church and recorded in the sacred Scriptures And the Euangelist addes V. 28.29 when Iesus had ended these sayings the people were astonished at his Doctrine c. for hee was the true Orpheus who by the melodious harmoâ—y of his heauenly Doctrine drew the rocks woods and wilde beasts after him that is men of rocky and hard hearts as the Pharisies and as sauage in sinfulnesse as the wilde beastes namely Sadduces and Publicans a Luk. 6.17 Ioh. 6.2 who flocked from all quarters of Iudea Samaria Galile c. to heare his diuine doctrine and behold his Almighty miracles which they saw and heard with astonishment and admiration saying neuer man spake like this man b Cap. 7.46 These words are the conclusion and application of this diuine Sermon for this wise master builder doth not onely lay the foundation
and raise the walles but roofes the top and perfects the building this heauenly Husbandman doth not onely plant and sow by doctrine but water by Application that the seed may yeeld the more copious increase as he doth elsewhere a Ioh. 13.17 Jf yee know these things blessed are yee if yee doe them Wherein the b 1 Pet. 2.25 chiefe Shepheard and supreame Bishop of our soules teacheth all his subordinate Pastors especially in these dayes wherein there is c Beza much science but little conscience to bend thâ—ir endeauours rather d Bern. ad imbuenda corda quam exprimâ—nda verba to reforme mens liues then either to tickle their itching eares or informe thâ—ir curious vnderstandings and to seeke not so mâ—ch e Phil 2.21 the things that are their owne that is their owne vaiâ— glorious applause by curious straines of wit or painting ouer their Sermons with the Vermillion of humane Eloquence as the things that are Iesus Christs by certefying mâ—ns Consciences and conuersations and seeking to bring home many sheepe to Christ his folde many soules to his Kingdome Otherwise those croking Frogs of Rome I meane the Iesuites and Seminary Priests which now more then euer swarme in our Coasts like the Grashoppers and Caterpillers of f Ex. 10.12 Egipt will still get ground of vs while we seeke to please mens eares and they to worke vpon their consciences the strongest band to tye men fast to God and his sacred truth and so in time the Israelitish Prouerbe may be inuerted to our great shame and the scandall of our Religion h g 1 Sam. 18.7 Dauid hath but his 1000. and Saul his 10000. Pardon therfore my plainnesse Right Honourable c. If I striue that my doctrine may be deliuered h 1 Cor. 2.4 rather with the euidence of the spirit and power then with the enticing words of mans wisedome and eloquence for my desire is not to please carnally nor to tickle the eares of the curious but to win those that are truely religious to a constant perseuerance in truth and godlinesse and I wish that wordes may be vnto you as nailes and goads fastned by the masters of the Assemblies to pricke you forward to good workes i Eccles 12.11 and make you cleaue fast to Christ and his truth continually Concerning the sense of the Text I finde a difference among Interpretors 1 Some by this house built on a rocke vnderstand the Christian Church in Generall built on the rock of Christian Doctrine which is called a 1 Tim. 3.15 The House of the liuing God Of this House 1. Christ Iesus is the chiefe corner stone b Eph. 2.19.20 2 The Prophets and Apostles foundation stones and 3 The faithfull liuing stones made a spirituall house c â— Pet. 2.5 4 The two opposite walles are the Iewes and Gentiles 5 The foure corners of the House are the foure Euangelists 6 The Pillars are the Prelates of the Church 7 The Windowes wherâ—by the light is conneyed vnto it are the Pastors and Doctors of the Church 8 The Dore is Christ Iesus the dore of the sheepe d Ioâ— 10.7 9 The Curtaines wherewith this House or holy Tabernacle of God is adorned are the Precepts of the Law and Promises of the Gospell 10 The Table of this House is the sacred Scripture holy Eucharist 12 The spirituall meat set vpon this Table is Christ e Ioh. 6.31 the celestiall Manna the bread of life broken to vs in the Word and Sacraments 13 The Vessels of honour appertaining to this House are f Rom. 9.22 23 the Vessels of mercy prepared vnto glory and the Vessels of dishonour are the Vessels of wrath prepared to destruction For the visible Church is like h Gen. 7.2 8.7.8 Noahs Arke which contained both cleane and vncleane Beasts and had in it as well the greedy Rauen that flying out of it neuer returned againe as the harmlesse Done which out of the Arke found no rest for the soale of her foot but with an Oliue branch in her mouth returned to the Arke againe This was figured in i Gen. 4.1 Adams family Typ Eccl visib which had in it a bloody Cain as well as an innocent Abel k 9.18 c. in Noahs which had a cursed Cham as well as a blessed Shem and Japheth l 21.9 in Abrahams which had a persecuting Jshmael as well as a persecuted Isaack and in Isaacks m 25.33 which had a prophane Esau selling his Birthright for a messe of Pottage as well as a godly Iacob that obtained the Blessing n 27.27 But the wicked Jn vnitate Ecclesiae non corporis Eccl. Alexan de Hales although they bee in the vnity of the Church visible yet not in the vnity of the Churches body mysticall or if they be it is but as corrupt humours are in the body naturall which must be purged out before the body can be healthy and strong but not as sound sollid and substantiall parts of the same body For of those that liue in the visible Church there are three sorts 1 Some are members thereof by Profession only 2 Others both by profession and affection for the present but not in resolution 3 Others both by profession affection and resolution hauing their hearts fast knit vnto God for euer And of Professors there bee foure sorts 1 Some professe the Cnristian faith but not wholly and intirely as Heretickes 2 Others professe the whole sauing truth but not in vnity as Scismaticks 3 Others professe the whole truth in vnity but not in sincerity nor with a resolute and vndaunted constancie as temporizing hyppocrites Exposit 2 and all these 3 sorts build vpon the sand 4 Others professe the whole sauing truth in vnity and sincerity and with an irrefragable constancie and these only build vpon the rocke a Mat 25.2 Exposit 2 2 Other Interpretors vpon this place vnderstand not the Church in generall but the particular members of the Church whereof some are wise some foolish builders as elsewhere a Mat 25.2 they are compared vnto wise and foolish Virgins 1 The wise Builders are they that both by hearing and practising build their faith on the rocke Christ and his sacred truth whose faith neither the raine of prosperity can corrupt or â—eaken nor the flouds of aduersity vndermine nor the winds of diabolicall suggestions shake downe and ouerthrow because the foundation on which they are built is immoueable namely the rocke Christ and his sacred truth 2 The foolish builders are they that by bare hearing without due practising build their false temporary faith vpon the sands of humane traditions or their owne vaine fancies and superstitions which euery win of vaine doctrine storme of affliction or tempest of temptation may easily ouerthrow because it is built on the sand and the fall of such buldings and builders will be great because they fall finally
Act. 9 39. the poore Widowes who stood weeping for the death of charitable Dorcas 2. 2. Conscien paâ— Peace ioy and solace in your owne soules which is the continuall feast that God himselfe makes for them that feede the hungry c. 3. 3. Honâ—r A good name which while yee liue shall be c Pro. 3.8 health to your nauells and marrow to your bones and when ye dye it shall be a pretious oyntment to embaulme your bodies in the graue d 15.1 as e Ioh. 12.3.7 Maries spikenard embaulmed Christs body at his funerall 4. 4 Gloria aeterna An f 1 Pet. 1.4 c. 5. v 4. inheritance immortall and vndefiled reserued in heauen for you and an immarciscible crowne of glory g Gal. 6 9. Be not weary therefore of well doing for if yee faint not ye shall reape without wearinesse namely loue honour ioy peace and glory both in earth and heauen h Chrys in loc Qui deficit in semine non gaudebit in messe sed si homo non imponat finem operi deus non imponet finem remunerationi Hee that faints in seed time shall faile in haruest but if a man put no period to his perseuerance in well doing God will put no end to the reward of his well doing The 2. generall part The second difference betweene these wise and foolish builders is in the choise of their foundation the first building on a rocke the other on the sand The principall care of a wise builder is to make choise of a firme foundation to build vpon for if the foundation be immooueable the whole building will stand fast and firme but if the foundation faile all the building though neuer so laboriously framed and artificially composed will fall to the ground and come to ruine Now no foundation is so firme and immooueable as a Rocke and therefore no building so strong as that which is raysed on a rocky foundation which will not faile how great a weight soeuer be laid vpon it nor be mooued much lesse be remooued with any gusts of wind force of stormes or violence of torrents whatsoeuer A true Christian therefore that heares Gods word and doth it is fitly compared to such a wise builder that builds his house vpon a rocke Verse 24. I will liken him c. Expos 1. By this rocke a Aug. Hier. Basil c. in loc some interpreters vnderstand Christ himselfe because by the power of his might the righteous that cleaue vnto him by faith and obedience are protected and strengthened against the violence of all temptations afflictions and persecutions In which sence Dauid saith b Psal 18.2 The Lord is my rocke and my fortresse c. 2. Others by this rocke vnderstand the inuiolable and immooueable diuine truth of his Sacred word So Chrys vpon this text c Chrys in loc 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He calls the firme securitie of his owne doctrine a Rocke because vpon a rocke a man may build securely and hereby hee mooues all his Disciples to imbrace his diuine doctrine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jbid. shewing the firme soliditie and immutability therof by the solidity and immobility of a rocke which who so builds his faith vpon shall stand fast d Psa 125.1 like Mount Sion that cannot be remooued but standeth fast for euer But I thinke both these expositions may bee conioyned and by this rocke we may vnderstand both Christ and his Sacred truth for e Ioh. 14.16 c 17.17 as hee is the truth so his word is truth as he is the life and thâ—t aeternall so his words are f c. 6.68 the words of aeternall life And the whole word of truth is nothing els but the reuelation and manifestation of that aeternall word that increated truth Christ Iesus For hee is the pith and kernell of the whole Bible g Apoc. 1.8 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the law and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Gospell h Aug. Q. in Ex. 73. 15. de ciu dei c. 18. Velatus in veteri Testamento reuelatus in nouo in illo praedictus in isto praedicatus veiled and clasped vp in the old Testament vnder obscure Prophesies promises types and figures and opened or reueiled in the new for i Exod 73.9 as the two Cherubins had their faces each to other and both to the Propitiatory or mercy-seat so the two Testaments haue relation each to other and are mutually confirmed one by the other and haue both an eye to one and the same Christ k 1 Ioh. 2.2 who is the Propitiation for our sinnes As Christ onely is that foundation whereon the spirituall building of the Church is raysed in some respects 1 Christus Petra namely first because hee alone is the beginning and fountaine whence all spirituall good originally flowes a Iac. 1 17. Euery good and perfect gift is from aboue and commeth downe from the Father of lights c. and the foundation whereon our confidence hope and expectation of any good which wee expect from God groundeth it selfe b 2 Cor 1.20 for in him all the promises of God are yea and Amen to the glory of God the Father Secondly because all our persuasion of the most Sacred and irrefragable authority of diuine truth stayeth it selfe on him alone as being the onely c Mal. 2.5 Angell of that great couenant of life and peace which God hath made with his Church in him reuealed it to his Church by him d Eph. 2.14.16 17. who is our peace-maker and peace-preacher and our peace and the onely inditer of the Sacred Scripture e Luc. 1.70 who spake by the mouths of all his holy Prophets which were but f Pâ—al 45.1 the pens of this ready Writer in which respects the Apostle saith truely g 1 Cor. 3.11 Other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid namely Christ Jesus and on this rocke or foundation the Apostles themselues and their doctrine were founded or els h Act 5.37 as Gamaliel saith both they and it would quickly haue come to nought and fallen to ruine 2. Doctr. Apost So in some other respects i Eph. 2.19 20. the doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles is called the Churches foundation Christ Iesus being the chiefe corner stone First because they were the first that by their doctrine laid the Churches foundation and conuerted Infidells to the Christian faith Secondly because their doctrine receiued immediately from God by most vndoubted reuelation without mixture of errour and now left recorded vnto vs in the Sacred Scripture is the infallible rule of faith to all succeeding generations and that most sure immooueable and rocky foundation vpon which the faith of all Christians may and doth most sâ—curely stay it selfe Therefore Saint Iohn saith k Apoc. 21. â—4 The wall of the city of God hath twelue foundation
stones and in them were written the names of the Lambes twelue Apostles And herein Peter had no preheminence aboue the rest except a primacy of order onely for a Suâ—er omnes â—quo Eccles fortitudo solidatu◠〈◊〉 in Joâ— li. 1 Saint Hierome saith thâ— Church is aequally founded on the doctrine of all the Apostles for these words b Mat. 16.18 Tu es Petrus super hanc Petram aedificabo Ecclesiam were not spoken personally to Peter but generally to all the Apostles who as well as Peter did beleeue and confesse the same faith though in token of vnity they were vttered to one which in vnity did appertaine to all the Apostles c Vnus pro multis vnitas pro â—niuersis Aug. in Psal 88. in whose names Peter alone made this confession Moreouer not Peters person or place but the faith which he confessed is that rocke on which the Church is built as both the whole streame of the Fathers and the generall counsell of Chalcedon doe testifie Vide Aug. de ver dom Ser. 13. Hil. de Trin li. 6. Chrysost inc 16 Mat. Theod. in Cant. Pag 235. Ambros in cap. 2. ad Eph. Epist in Appendice Conc. Chalced 13. Seeing therefore he was called d Aug Retract li. 1. c. 21. Petrus a petra from that rocke of faith which he confessed Thou art the Christ the Sonne of the liuing God which faith the rest of the Apostles held taught and confessed as well as he and sealed it with their blood wee may truely inferre with S. Jerome e Hieron in Amos li. 3. c. 6. that in this respect they were rocks as well as he whereon the Church is founded Yea f Petrus gessit personam Ecclesicut Iudas inimicorum Christi Aug. in Psal 108. S. Aug. saith farther that Peter in confessing Christ and receiuing the power of the keyes sustained the person not onely of the Apostles but of the whole Church Militant as Iudas did of the Church malignant g Jdem 50. in Ioh c. 12. Vnus malus corpus malorum significat quomodo Petrus corpus bonorum corpus ecclesiae As one Iudas signified the whole societie of the wicked so one Peter the whole company of good men the body of the Church Therefore from those words of Christ to Peter Thou art Peter c. who represented not the Apostles onely but the whole Christian Church confessing the same faith it cannot bee inferred that S. Peter and his successors are that rocke on which the Church is founded Those therefore that build their faith on that foundation of the Prophets and Apostles whereof Christ is the chiefe corner-stone by beleeuing confessing and practizing are those wise builders here specified which build their houses on a rocke For the entire and sincere beleefe profession Nota Eccles infaâ—â—bilerâ— and practise of those supernaturall verities which God hath reuealed in his Sonne Christ by the ministery of the Prophets and Apostles and that in veritie is an infallible note of the true Church and of a true member of the true Church All other notes without this are false and counterfeite and may deceiue vs. Notae fallâ—biles 1 Antiquitas 1. Antiquitie without truth is nothing els but a Cypr. epist 74. 63 Vetustas erroris for we must not so much attend vnto or consider what others haue done or thought fit to be done before vs as what Christ hath done who is before all we must not follow the custome of man but the truth of God for the true antiquity is truth it selfe deriued from Christ b Esa 9.6 the Father of aeternitie 2. Successio 2. Personall succession without doctrinall is but as c Mat. 26.1 c. Caiaphas succeeded Aaron and yet was an enemy to the true High Priest Christ Iesus d Naz in laudem Athanasis Such false Pastors or bad members of the visible Church succeeded the true and good as darknesse succeedes the light or sicknesse health or a tempest faire weather or madnesse the right vse of reason 3. Vnitas 3. Vnity without truth is but a diuelish faction and like that of thieues and rebells an accuâ—sed confederacie and wicked conspiracie against the God of truth e Apoc. 19 16. Who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Such though they combine and v … themselues neuer so strongly are but like f Gen. 49.5 Simeon and Leui brethren in euill or like g Luc. 23 12. Herod and Pilate that vnited themselues in a league of friendship to persecute Christ Iesus 4. Vniuersalitas Vniuersalitie or multitude without truth is nothing for one h 1 Reg. 18.19 Elias teaching and professing Gods truth and truely worshiping the true God of Israel is to be preferred befoâ—e foure hundred Prophâ—ts of Baal though brought vp in Ahabs Court and eating bread at Iezabells table and one i Luc. 23 42. poenitent thiefe confessiâ—g Christ before the high Priests and Elders Scribes Pharises Sadduces and thousands of Iewes persecuting him 5. Nomâ—n Catho Nor the specious titles of holy Catholike Apostolike c for that Church which hath these titles without truth is like a boxe in an Apothecaries shop which without hath the title of a soueraigne antidote written in faire Characters and within is full of deadly poyson Bare titles will not serue the turne for those haeretikes in Saint Bernards time who in truth were Apostatici because they reuolted from the Catholike faith tearmed themselues Apostolici though they could shew no signe of their Apostleship a Ber. Ser. 64. in Cant. and in our dayes Popish Catholikes tearme themselues Catholikes and Iebusites Iesuites and the Synagogue of lust the family of loue Applicat Be not therefore carryed away from the rocke of Christs Sacred truth with any or all those glistering shewes which that painted whore of Babylon makes of antiquitie succession vnitievniue rsalitie or the goodly titles of holy Catholike Apostolike c. for all these are but the b 2 Reg. 9.30 painted face of that whorish Iezabell or her c Apoc. 17.4 golden cup glistering without but within full of the wine of her abhominations and filthinesse of her fornications the truth of Gods word alone is that firme and immnoueable rocke on which euery wise Christian must build the spirituall aedifice of his soule and conscience 1 Petra regenerat 1. This is that rocke out of which wee are spiritually hewen Esa 51.2 that is the Rocke of our regeneration for d 1 Pet. 1.23 we are borne againe not of corruptible seed but incorruptible by the word of God which liueth and abideth for euer 2 Nutrit 2. The rocke of our spirituall nourishment vnto saluation whence doe flowe 1. the waters of life to refresh our fainting soules as e Exod. 17 16. streames of Waters flowed from the rocke in Rephidim to refresh the thirsting bodies of the Israelites 2. The
humors of sinne and so playes the schoolemaster not onely in whipping and scourging vs but also in teaching and instructing vs to know God and our selues and the worlds vanitie and to labour after a more permanent faelicity Whereas prosperitie many times like c Iud. 16 19 â—0 Dalila lulls many a strong Sampson so long asleepe in her lappe of carnall pleasures that she takes from him that wherein his spirituall strength consisteth and betrayes him to that vncircumcised Philistim the diuell So then the worlds musicke of profits and pleasures is but a Syrens song which while it tickles our eares it wounds our hearts and splits our soules vpon the rockes of sinne whereby ofttimes wee make shippe-wracke of our saluation d 2 Sam 11.2 c. Dauid who did cleaue fast vnto God in his troubles in his prosperitie started aside like a broken bow and fell into the fearefull sinnes of Adultery and murther And Peter a Mat. 26.51 Ioâ— 18.10 18 who stoutly defended his master among the swords and staues in the garden basely denyed him when he was basting himselfe by the fire in the high Priests hall b Aug. in Psal 34. Homo victus in Paradiso victor in stercore c Ioq 2.8 Job by his patience was a conquerour on the dunghill and d Gen. 3.6 Adam by his pride was conquered in Paradise Also Romes peace and securitie after the Carthaginian wars were ended did her more hurt than all the former battailes And Saint Bernard saith of the Church e Ber. Ser. 33. in Cant. Amara fuit prius in nece Martyrum amarior postea in conflictu haereticorum amarissima vero nunc in moribus domesticorum intimating that she was more hurt by the licentious liues of her children in the dayes of her peace than by the bloud of her Martyrs or her conflict with haeretikes Applicat And may it not be truely said of this Church and land that the raine of prosperitie peace and plenty falling not by drops but by full showers vpon it in the late long and happy reigne of our euer to be remembred and thrice renowned Deborah and our now peacefull Salomon hath done more hurt to this building by rotting many beames and rafters thereof than those tempestuous whirle-winds and violent torrents of persecution in Queene Maries dayes for whereas there were then glorious confessions of the truth in the midst of the fire now there be dayly Apostacies from it in the dayes of peace And our moralitie is so corrupted with our long peace and prosperitie that there was neuer more lying and dissembling in Creta swearing and forswearing in Carthage gormandizing in Capua or Semiplacentia drunkennesse in Germany pride in Spaine or wantonnesse in Italy than is at this day in our land as if the vices of all nations did meete here as in their Center or as if our land were the sinke or common sewer for the sinnes of all nations to runne into Shall we thus repay the Lord for his blessings shall we now begin to f Num 11.5 6. loath our Manna that hath thus long fallen dayly about our tents and hanker againe after the flesh-pots of the Romish Aegypt shall we surfet of our quailes and being full fed with Gods blessings g Deut. 8.10 spurne with the heele against him and turne our backes vpon his mercy-seat God forbid Let vs not thus turne Gods grace into wantonnesse and repay him with our foule and crying sins in stead of thankfullnesse for his blessings like the sea that receiues sweet waters from the fountaines of the earth and returnes them salt and bitter least we incurre the curse of the reprobate Iewes a Psal 69.22 23 Rom. 11.9 10. Let their table be made a snare and a trap and a stumbling blocke c. and the things that should haue beene for their weale be vnto them an ocasion of falling 2. Tent. persuas 2. With this tentation of prosperitie I may conioyne the Churches second tentation by the pleasing south-winds of haereticall persuasions because they are most rife in the dayes of the Churches peace With these winds hath the house of the liuing God beene forcibly beat vpon and the ship of his true Church beene violently tossed almost in all ages in the troublesome sea of this world for haeretikes and schismatikes being themselues carryed away with these b Iren. li 3. c 13. three disastrous whirle-winds 1. With the vncleane spirit of error 2. With their owne frenzie whereof they labour 3. Magis studio contradicendi c Cypr ad Demet sect prima quam voto discendi .i. Rather with an itching humour of singularity to contradict the truth than a true zealous humility to learne it seeke to driue others with them into error and so they willfully d Mat. 15.14 blind leade the woefully blinded with themselues into the ditch of destruction But he who is driuen of these winds e Aug. Ti. 1. in Ioh. Mat. 25.30 Non portum sed planctum inueniet shall in the end arriue at no other harbour but where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Applicat And from these disastrous winds our Church is not free now in the dayes of her peace for there swarmes among vs corner-creeping Priests and Iesuites who like subtle foxes seeke to vndermine and roote vp the flourishing vine of this Church and State by f 2. Tim. 3.6 creeping into hovses and leading captiue silly women laden with diuers lusts and silly Ideots apt to beleeue whatsoeuer they tell them without further tryal of their doctrine by the touchstone of truth This kind of fishing they learned from Sathan himfelfe who first g Gen. 3.1 attempted the woman that by her hee might tempt the man vsing the wife as a trappe to catch her husband And from the auncient Gnostikes of whose ring-leader Marcus Jrenaeus reports h Iren. li. 1. c. 9. Maximè circa mulieres occupatus est His principall aime and chiefest businesse was to seduce silly women And as the diuell at first a Cypr. de vnitate Eccl. sect 5 Verbis mendacibus blandiens rudes animas incauta credulitate decepit deceiued the poore innocent soules of our first parents by his lying flattering words praesuming vpon their heedlesse credulitie so they by their lying and flattering words which are b Lact Jnstit li. 5. c â—1 Mella venenum tegentia pills of poyson lapt in hony creepe into the soules of their ouer-credulous Disciples and blinding them with the false vizar of the name of the ancient Catholike Church lead them hoodwinked to their owne destruction Ieâ—uiticaal traps to catch poore soules For first they tell them and that onely truely c Cypr. de vnit Eccles That out of the true Church there is no saluation but all that are out of it must needs perish as all that were out of the arke were drowned in the deluge Secondly they falsly assume