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duty_n	church_n	true_a	visible_a	1,038	5	9.2291	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A19326	Doctrinall and morall observations concerning religion vvherein the author declareth the reasons of his late vn-enforced departure from the Church of Rome, and of his incorporation to the present Church of England : teaching, maintaining and defending the true Christian Catholike and apostolike faith, professed by the ancient primitiue church, most conspicuous in the outward vertues and constant sufferings of many holy bishops and other good Christians, glorious in the crowne of martyrdome / by Iohn Copley ...	Copley, John, 1577-1662.	1612 (1612)	STC 5742; ESTC S299	195,885	256

light of Scriptures Psal 119. vers 10.4 Psal 119. vers 18. vnto thy Lord God Lucerna pedibus meis verbum tuum lumen semitis meis Thy word is a lampe vnto my feete and a light vnto my path And againe Open thou mine eyes that I may behold wonderous things out of the Law 11 Yet thou art to haue great care that thou make not this rule longer than it is nor shorter for this is forbidden by Christ himselfe speaking against such a one saying I protest vnto euery man that heareth the words of the prophecie of this Booke Apoc. 22.18 19. if any man shall adde vnto these things God shall adde vnto him the plagues that are written in this Booke and if any man shall take away from the words of the booke of this prephecie God shall take away his part out of the Booke of life and out of the holy Citty and from the things which are written in this Booke This fault of adding to the Books of holie scripture is very notorious in the Church of Rome as I haue duly obserued Ses 41. For the Councell of Trent addeth to the Canon of the old Testament diuers Apocriphall Books which must be beleeued as Canonicall Scriptures as namely Tobias Iudith Hester and the two bookes of the Macchabees Esdras Wisedome and Ecclesiasticus all which are learnedly proued to be Apocriphall by the right reuerend Father in God my Lords grace of Canterburie in his answer to master Doctor Hill his eight reason Num. 3. sequent the consideration whereof made me plainely conclude that heerein the Church of Rome giues great and apparent occasion for any to iudge that she erreth and consequently not to heare her voice thus vttering falshood for trueth giuing equall authoritie to the Apocriphall Bookes with the holy canonicall Scriptures CHAP. VII Containing an obseruation how the Ministerie of the true Church of Christ is the meanes of teaching the true sense and vnderstanding of Scriptures where and when it hath a visible and externall gouernement ALthough I haue cleerely discouered The externall ministe rie of the Church an ordinarie meanes to know the true sense of Scripture that the sacred Scriptures are the chiefe infallible rule of faith and most sufficient in the precedent obseruation yet could I not rest satisfied till I found also a meanes for the simple and vnlearned to ground their faith vppon because Deus vult omnes saluos fieri ad agnitionem veritatis venire God will haue all to be saued 1. Tim. 2.4 and come to the knowledge of his trueth And as well as he in the gouernment of his creatures hath his end to which he designes them so also by his wisedome he doth most prudently substitute subordinate means for the full accomplishment of such his designements now therefore how those that are neither able to reade the scriptures or though they be able haue not sufficient skill and knowledge to consider the circumstances of Texts and by the analogie of faith not learned enough to find out the true meaning of the Scriptures nor haue the gift of interpretation as many and most haue not whereupon arise many deprauations of Scriptures how such should be directed in the right vse of the rule of Scriptures in finding out the right meaning of them I thought it a matter of great weight wel to discouer and by the declaration thereof to affoord a stay to weake consciences in this behalfe In the scrious discussion of which point it pleased almightie God so to second my carefull Labours and indeuours herein as that I receiued ful satisfaction in mine owne iudgement by this conclusion namely That the most ordinary externall direction left by God especially to direct vnlearned men in the finding out of the true sense and meaning of the Scriptures is the ministerie of the true visible Church of Christ assisted by the holie Ghost and the Church in this respect is called 1. Tim. 3.15 Matt. 5.14 The pillar of truth and the ministers thereof The light of the world 2 And therefore as master Harding himselfe confesseth True vnderstanding of Scripturs only in the Church Doctor Hard. con●ut of the Apologie of the Church of England fol. 36. Mester Celuine admonisheth very well That it is especially to be noted that out of the Church there is no light of the sound vnderstanding of the Scriptures But the inconsiderate Doctour maketh a verie fond inference vpon this ground saying This ground being laid on which each part must sland and be tried in crow no more against vs boast your selues no more we feare not the iudgement of the holie Scriptures nay it is your selues that feare this iudgement for your owne conscience telleth you that on this ground you are the weaker side Jnstit lib. 4 cap. 8. num 7. hee forgot that master Caluine said Let this be a firme axiome That no other word of God is to be had to which place must bee giuen in the Church than what is maintained first in the Law and Prophets then in the writings of the Apostles neither is there anie way of teaching in the Church of God but by the prescript and rule of his word If master Harding had well obserued this hee would not haue made such an inference or affirmed that the Protestants feare this iudgement but rather would haue concluded as I doe That since both stand vpon the outward ministerie of the true Church let vs seeke the true Church of Christ and hauing found it The deuties of the true church then heare and follow her doctrine teaching according to Scripture and out of Scripture 3 The due obseruation whereof sheweth That the true visible Church is to represse the deprauations of Heretickes and partly to informe those that are vnlearned and to exercise euen the obedience of those that are learned and by the externall ministerie of teaching the true sence of Scriptures is to giue directions and is duetifully by her members to bee heard and followed Which assertion I find not to make either for the present Church of Rome or of Engl. or any other particular Church till it bee prooued which of them is the true Catholike Ancient and Primitiue Apostolike Church teaching the sound Doctrine of the first pure and vntainted ages whereof I am to speake in the Chapter following CHAP. VIII Containeth a fundamentall obseruation how that consormity of doctrine with the ancient doctrine of the Primitiue Church may bee a good meanes in these latter ages to know the true Church of Christ. AFter that I had thus discouered both the most sufficient rule of faith to be the canonicall and true Scriptures and the most ordinarie externall meanes to find out the true sence to be the ministerie of the true Church Antiquitie a good inducement to the true Church I could not yet giue sufficient contentment to my vnderstanding vntill such time as I had found out also

beene of such an auaricious disposition as is too frequent amongst many I could haue prouided sufficient meanes to haue supplied my present wants in the case I now stand in whereof I may truly say Amici mei proximi mei aduersum me approprinquanerunt steterunt My louers and friends haue approached against mee and haue stood aloofe from mee Therefore since my carriage amongst you euen in the errors of that Church was such as might beseeme the dutie of a good Shepheard let this moue you to thinke that God hath blessed my sinceritie so much as to accept it in his sight for the greater benefit of my conuersion vnlesse you see a change and alteration in my life and conuersation as I thanke God I feele none my selfe but rather an abettrement by the religion I am come vnto esteeme it the worke of God and make your benefit of it for your owne soules good through Gods mercie who draweth vnto him as much by example as by any other meanes Therefore I beseech you consider well these my obseruations and turne to the true Catholike faith whereof you are ignorant but in name and pretended claime 5. And you beloued Christians of England who are right professors of the Gospell and by it of the true auncient To all true Catholikes of England Catholike and Apostolike Faith not onely in style but also in truth let me be so bold with you as to exhort and encourage you in your profession to shew your selues thankefull vnto Almightie God you haue the Word of God frequently and with great care ministred amongst you you haue also the Sacraments instituted by Christ himselfe according to his institution applied vnto you for the comfort of your soules you are freed by Gods grace from the treditions and inuentions of men you haue the diuine Seruice towards God in your owne Tongues to your comforts and not in vnknowne Languages you are deliuered by Gods grace from the flauish bondage of the Popes gouernment and are blessed vnder the sweete and milde regiment of a gracious Prince who purchaseth by his sweete mercifull disposition your loues and procureth vnto you peace and happinesse free from ciuile warres and mutuall contentions Forget not therefore these sauours and benefits which by the bountifull hand of God are poured downe most abundantly vpon you which others want out of Gods especiall fauour and mercie Be not I say vngratefull for such inestimable blessings least ingratitude to God should suddainely depriue you of them and bestow them vpon others that will shew themselues more thankfull for them For ingratitude is the onely bane of Christians which soone bereaueth men of all Gods fauors and therefore rightly Bernard calleth it Bernard super Cantic Ventus vrens fontem siccans pietatis rorem misericordiae fluenta gratiae A parching winde drying vp the fountaine of pietie the deaw of mercie the streames of grace Take heede that your vnthankfulnesse for Gods benefites draw not that exprobation against you that Moyses iustly vttered against the vnthankfull Iewes checking them for their foolishnesse saying O wicked and peruerse generation O foolish and vnwise people Deut. 32. v. 6. doest thou render these things vnto the Lord Is not he thy Father who hath possessed made and created thee As though he should say Are these the thanks thou yeeldest for so many benefites affoorded thee Thou rendrest euill for good which is the highest degree and greatest kinde of malice It is a point of equitie to render good for good it is a part of perfection to render good for euill but to render euill for good is a part of the greatest peruersenesse and ingratitude that can be Take ye heed therefore of this vnthankfulnesse least yee incurre the iust imputation and punishment of a wicked and peruerse generation To the end therefore both you and my selfe may enioy still these blessings of Almightie God and by our thankefulnesse in this world arriue vnto greater blessings in the next out of a true desire hereof I will conclude with Saint Paule a true Conuertite through Gods singular mercie Bonum autem facientes non deficiamus tempore enim suo metemus Galat. 6. vers 9. non deficientes And let vs not be wearie in well doing for in due season we shall reape if we faint not These wordes of Saint Paule are fit for vs who exhorteth the Galathians to the workes of holinesse the true effects of a iustifying faith Wherein the Apostle performeth the part of a prudent and wise Husbandman who to keepe his workemen and labourers from slouth and to encourage them to goe stoutly forward in their paines without fainting putteth them in minde of the fruitfull haruest that will follow that strengthened with the ioyfull hope of gaine they may willingly continue in the toyle of their worke For so Saint Paule knowing all Christians to be labourers and workemen in the field of Gods Church and that it is as proper for them all to doe the workes of vertue and sanctitie as it is for the birdes to flye to the end they may not be tyred out with the heate and burden of the day nor be wearied with the toyle of tribulations and sufferings of any temptations and so giue ouer good workes but perseuere to the end and period of their liues he propoundeth vnto them the great fruit that shall bee reaped at Haruest after all their vertuous deedes and all sufferings in any persecutions when for their teares they shall reape ioy when for earthly wants they shall enioy store of heauenly treasures when for all the valiant combats against the world the flesh and the diuell in the constant confession of their faith before God and man Heauen shall be their reward and glorie their crowne O happie end which shall end with endlesse eternitie Therefore euen so to you all and to my selfe with earnest desires of Gods blessing for my conclusion I will instate once againe Saint Paul saying Let vs not be wearied in well doing for in due season wee shall reape if wee faint not By the expectation of which glorious reward let vs be encouraged against all either corporall or spirituall oppositions to stand faithfully in defence of the Gospell of Christ to the confusion and stopping the mouthes of all that shall contradict vs Which God graunt wee may doe with true religious hearts to the glorie of his most holy Name with loyall affections for the safetie of our dread Soueraigne and with mutuall charitie for the euerlasting combination of our hearts in Christ Iesus Amen FINIS Errata FOl. 6. line 6. reade the whole Parenthesis thus not considering the great store and plentie of hereticall nouelties foretold by our Sauiour himselfe in the Scripture vnder the parable of Cockle and Tares ouer-sowed by the enemie man after the sowing of good seede when men were asleepe fol. 53. line 1. reade vpon this rule f. 68. l. 27. r. iustifieth although not without good workes line 28. works cannot iustifie f. 153. l. 20. r. was carried into c. f. 159. l. 9. r. that Antichristian f. 163. l. 1. r. words of consecration f. 187. in marg r. Tractat. de Indulgen c. 1. f. 217. l. 20. r. and the bed vndefiled f. 138. l. 17. r. it is easie and facile f. 238. l. 21. r. that you are f. 234. l. 19. r. the Church l. 25. r. by the mightie strength and power of all these l. 27. r. estraied soule f. 230. l. 34. r. of the Diuell l. 35. r. to this of England f. 227. l. 24. r. he shall not be c. f. 19. l. 12. r. and chiefely the neerer f. 40. l. 19. r. whereunto we must take heed f. 97. l. 14. r. that is a Papist f. 101. l. 22. r. of no conscience in matters of importance l. 28. r. And ye haue left the f. 103. l. 9. in marg r. agree well together f. 104. l. 4. r. moneths prisoner f. 109. l. 8. r. perinde ac si Deus foret f. 110. l. 25. r. to be enclosed vp againe so f. 111. l. 1. r. in Spaine depended l. 18. r. glorie of men f. 112. l. 34. r. varietie of vertues f. 113. l. 8. r. they are like f. 117. l. 35. r. Canus f. 118. l. 5. r. forged f. 120. l. 11. r. pretie things f. 128. l. 6. r. confederats to entertaine the stage while the liues and f. 124. l. 31. r. we may doe the better f. 133. l. 15. r. Chap. 12. f. 230. l. 25. r. to be verified f. 234. l. 25. r. by the mightie strength and power of all these chaines