assaulted by Satan and his instruments let all the people of God pray for their constancy patience successe of their ministery for their deliuery and preseruation and then no doubt the ministers shall speede and prosper the better and the comfort of their perseruation shall redound to the people And I am left alone Herein Elias if we diligently heed the story and time wherein he prophecied who a little before thought that he had conuerted most of the Israelites and now he thinketh that they haue vniuersally reuolted from true religion wee are taught that the most excellent seruants of God haue their errours and infirmities one while they conceiue ouer-well of men and another while ouer-ill Act. 15. ver 37.38.39 1. Vse If so rare and singuler men these many times erre and are deceiued let no man presume too much of his owne knowledge learning and iudgement but walke humbly and alwayes suspect his owne ignorance and weakenesse and let him iudge rashly or ouer-hastily of no man but reserue all secret iudement to God If none for the present ioyne with him in the open defense of Gods worship or if none such be knowne yea if they should all forsake him as all forsooke Paul when he was conuented before Nero let them not bee discouraged but goe on boldly trusting in God and the goodnesse of their cause and God will assist strengthen deliuer yea and glorifie them God being on a mans side who can be against him nay he hath more with him then against him and other mens generall Apostacie or starting aside from their dutie and obedience cannot possibly depriue him of his crowne for hee shall liue by his faith and the more temptations and discouragements hee findeth to hinder him the greater will be his praise preferment and exaltation in the end But what saith the answer or oracle of God to him i. We must rather in this Apostacie of the Church attend what the Lord the God of trueth saieth then rest vpon the coniecture of Elias â— haue left or reserued to my selfe i. I haue preserued from death and idolatry 7000. men i. a great number of men women and children for seauen a set number is put here as in other places of Scripture for one indefinite or vncertaine number that haue not bowed their knees to the image of Baall i. that haue not polluted themselues with idolatry no not so much as in outward gesture and action Euen so at this present time i. in the time of the new Testament there is a remnant i. a small remainder of Iewes in comparison of those that perish through the election of grace i. whom God of his grace and fauour hath elected to euer-lasting life and which shall be saued by faith in Christ. Questions out of the 4. 5. verses Doth the Church of God neuer faile or cease to be vpon the earth An. No for albeit many times and in many places the church ceaseth to be visible conspicuous and glorious yet the true Catholicke and inuisible Church which consisteth onely of the number of the Predestinate and Elect euer was is and shall be and shall alwayes remaine in the world in one place or other For first it neuer failed when it was brought to the greatest extremities but at length it hath alwayes lifted and put forth her head out of the darkenesse where-with it was oppressed Secondly Christ his kingdome is eternall and shall neuer end but shall last and indure for euer when other kingdomes shall bee ouerthrowne destroyed and extinct Thirdly Gods couenant made with the Iewes and Gentiles viz. that hee will be their God and the God of their seed is euerlasting and vnchangeable therefore there must needs be some in whom the couenant must bee ratified and accomplished Lastly Gods promises cannot lye and his power can doe althings and God doth nourish and preserue the church by his word and prouidence when impietie and idolatry euery where preuaileth 2. Que. Had God any church and people in the middest of the darkenesse of Poperie when tyrants and false Teachers laboured vtterly to roote it out An. Yes as may especially appeare Apoc. 12.16 where the woman the Church flying into the wildernesse i. to places vnknowne to the aduersaries had a place prepared of God that they should feed her there a thousand two hundreeh and three score dayes i. they were nourished by ordinary meanes by hearing some true things of their owne Teachers and partly by learning true faith and doctrine of other better teachers partly by reading the holy scriptures and by meditating and musing of it by themselues and by conferring with others Secondly the Papists had some things that appertaine to the true Church as Baptisme albeit not altogether purely administred the Scriptures the Apostles Creede the Commandements the Lords prayer and a certaine ministerie Thirdly in the ruinous state darkenesse and Apostacie of a Church the very reading and repeating of the word yea the very sound and report of it is by Gods extraordinary working sufficient and effectuall to saue all those whom God will haue saued Act. 11. v. 20. 21. Iohn 4.28.29.40.41 42. Rom. 10 18. Lastly God hath his Church and seed euen in Babylon albeit in faith and affection separated and disioyned from her Apoc. 12.7 and these the Dragon maketh warre with Likewise Apoc 18.4 where Gods people are exhorted to come out of Babilon c. ergo there were some elect and some of Gods people there Quest. Therefore may not we perswade our selues that many of our Ancestors and fore-fathers were saued in the middest of Poperie An. Yes doubtlesse as well as in the corrupt and Apostaticall time of Elias for nothing hath in the Papacie befallen the Church which hath not befallen vnto it in times past Secondly besides the reasons expressed in the answer to the former question many of them kept and held the principles and foundations of faith and so rightly enformed their children seruants and families therein Apoc. 13.8 Thirdly there haue beene some that haue alwayes and openly by preaching writing and disputation opposed and set themselues against the corruption of error Apoc. 11.3.4.5.6.11 12. and this is also manifest by Illyricus his catalogue of the witnesses of the truth Fourthly many thousand children Baptised and so holy dyed in their infancie and child-hood before they could be infected and poysoned with the pestilence of error and so were saued Fiftly God pardoneth many faults and infirmities in his children whose hearts and mindes are right with him Mal. 3. v. 17. Lastly many of our Ancestoâ—â— albeit transported with the common invndation of error did before the end of this life repent of their sin and vtterly renounce and disclaime their owne merites and all confidence in them and relied vpon Christ onelie by true faith and so were saued Q. Why doth God sometimes suffer his Church to bee brought into such affliction darkenes extremities that the
outward face of it cannot be seene and discerned A. For two causes first because the world the wicked is altogither vnworthy of the fellowship of Gods Saints and the ministery of the word and therefore God hath most iustly depriued them of it Secondly God for the preseruation of the Church will haue it sometimes to bee secret and vnknowne for otherwise the world seeing it would inuade and destroy it Apoc. 12.6 Q. Is it not lawfull yea and sometimes expedient for a true and sound Christian for the auoding of offence and the preseruation of his life to dissemble his religion and to goe to Masse and Idoll seruice A. No for first it is not sufficient for vs to keepe our mindes free from assent vnto and from approbation of idolatry but wee must keepe our bodies vndefiled also 2. Cor. 7.1 Secondly God created and Christ redeemed both soule and body therefore wil be serued with both Thirdly God requireth not only the beliefe of the heart but also the confession of the mouth yea and the outward gesture and action also Rom. 10.9 Luk. 9.26 otherwise wee play the Hypocrites and God will discouer and detest vs. Forthly the offence that Idolaters conceiue is by them taken and not by vs giuen and therefore we are not in this regard to respect them at all Math. 15.12.13.14 And if we should communicate with them in their Idolatrous worship we should both harden them in their error and destroy or at least weaken the faith of others touching preuention of danger we must vse no vnlawful means to diuert it but commit our selues and cause vnto the power prouidence and goodnesse of the almighty who will dispence and dispose of all things for our good and knoweth how to deliuer vs. Lastly in respect of maintenance of Gods glory our liues yea if neede should require our saluation should not be deare and pretious vnto vs. Apoc. 12.11 and it is giuen vnto the true members of the Church as a speciall priuiledge not onely to beleeue in Christ but also to suffer for him I haue reserued vnto my selfe It belongeth vnto God only to preserue his church and children from Idolatry sinne and temptation euen then when the greatest number perish Hosea 13.9.2 Pet. 2.9 Rea. The reason hereof is because it is not in the power and ability of any mortal man to saue himself but it must proceed from the power and promise of God onely Vse It condemneth all conceite of our owne excellency and presumption which wee see how God correcteth in his owne deare children as in Dauid Peter and others 2 Vse Secondly in all temptatious and dangers we must depend onely of Gods omnipotency goodnesse and mercie and by earnest praier and supplication craue assistance and strength from God who will denie vs nothing thaâ— we aske in faith and in his Sonnes name Luk. 11.13 Ioh. 15.16 Ioh. 5.14 To my selfe 7000. Hence we learne the perpetuitie and euerlasting continuance of the true Church of Christ vpon the earth vnto the worlds end Math. 28. vers 19 and 20. It is not in the power and policy might or malice of the diuil and all his instruments whether tyrants or Seduceâ—â— and false Prophets to roote it out and extinguish it It is built vpon Christ and the gates of hell cannot preuaile against it it is the mount Syon that shal neuer be remoued and the ship tossed and turmoiled in the waters billowes tempests and windes of this malignant world and yet shal neuer sinke Math. 8. vers 25. and 26. Reason For Gods couenant is an euerlasting couenant his mercie endureth for euer his truth shal neuer faile towards the Church he is alwaies with them to the end of the world is both able and ready to helpe and releeue them in all dangers and difficulties The vses hereof are manifold and most comfortable 1 Vse We must learne hence neuer no not in the most dead desperate and declining state of the Church with Elias rashly to condemne it for if the most Eagle-eyed sharpe-sighted Prophets haue beene deceiued herein much more may wee that are in so many respects so farre behind them and inferior to them 2 Vse We must not bee daunted and disheartned much lesse despaire of Gods Church and the preseruation of a seed and remnant when the Godly are diminished yea and sometimes non inuenti sunt and the wicked braue it out tyranize ouer the Church and are exceedingly multiplied for many that seeme good are but hypocrites and dissemblers and the Godly themselues albeit liuing amongst vs are not alway knowne vnto vs. It is proper to God onely to know the heart and to know his 2. Tim. 2 19. and God in the corruptest estate of a Church that can bee immagined reserueth a remnant to himselfe 3 Vse In this case wee must walke by faith and not by sight and iudge not by the outward apparence wherein the wisest and the best may be and are oft deceiued but iudge by the written word and where that determineth not to suspend our opinion and reserue secret iudgement vnto God who wil further manifest the truth in his good time Deut 15.15 Which haue not bowed their knees to Baal From the authoritie and force of this place I obserue That the Godly must not in the least things expresly forbidden consent vnto and communicate with Idolatry no not in the outward gesture of kneeling kissing gazing bodily presence Daniel 3.15.16.17.18 The first reason hereof is because wee are to make a conscience of all Gods commandements and to abstaine from all appearance or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. kinde of euill Secondly they that carelesley assent and yeeld vnto that which is apparently euill are many times and may be drawen vnto greater cuills and sinnes euen as he that walketh to neere the pit-brinke or riuers side may sometimes fall in and be drowned especially if God to punish his rashnesse and presumption leaue him to himselfe as he left Aaâ—on and Peter for the time Vse Hereby the wisdome zeale and practise of those Christians is highly commended who choose rather to hide themselues in Denâ—es Caues Mountaines yea and wander vp and downe in sheepe skinnes and in goates skinnes being destitute afflicted and tormented then in Churches and the Groues of Idolatry to shew any countenance by any out-ward gesture or behauiour 2 Vse It condemneth the fearefulnesse and hypocrisie of such who thinke it sufficient if they haue as they say faith in their hearts and keepe their consciences to themselues and so outwardly communicate with Idoll and false worship but the commandement of God the practise of Christ the Prophets Patriarkes Apostles Confessors Martirs and of all sincere Churches is directly against it 3 Vse Thirdly we must bee so farre from condemning Gods blessed seruantes and martyrs for tendernes of consience and scrupulosity herein that wee must our selues
in all duty to be commanded Thomas Drâx CLARISSIMO Viro doctrina pietate praestanti Domino Clementi Throgmortono equiti aurato gratiam pacem omnia prospera QVanquam eques or natissime quidanâ— pij eruditi homines de futura illa generalique Iudaica nationis vocatione propter diuturnam eorum Apostasiâ—m virulentum contra Christum Euangelicam veritatem odium vel desperârunt vel valdè saltem dubit ârunt veruntatem Divus Paulus eorum errorem disertè damnat pluribus maximi ponderis argumentis plenam Iudoeorum conuersionem sub finem saeculi futuram disputat euincit Primo ipse cum sit Israelita suae conuersionis exemplâ— ostendit eos non esse in vniuersum abdicatos Secundo ex Dei praescientia id est praedestinatione fauore Deuâ— reliquias quasdam Fidelium sibi semper reseruare manifestum facit Tertiò ex similitâ—dine suorum temporum cum temporibus Eliae Deum in densissimâ—s ecclesiae tenebris corruptissimo illius statu suos electos habere alere conseruare declarat Quartò Gentium zelum sanctissimum exemplum Iudaeos tandem ad sanctam eorum aemulationem prouocaturum ex aduerso numerosissimam illam Iudaeorum vocationem mundum illuminaturam hominum languescentem fidem exuscitaturam demonstrat Quintò Apostolus vbique per occasionem proprium ministerium exornando aliquis ex illis conuertere seruare contendebâ—t Sextò Dei foedus cum Israelitarum patribus initum eius vocationem dona in Electis perpetuitatem immutabilitatem induere testatur Septimo quum vocatio saluâ— omnium Electorum ex sola miserecordia Dei pendeat Iudaeos aeque ac Gentes seruari posse persuadet Octauo ex Deâ— omnipotentia coruÌ„ vocationis spem probabilitatem colligit Postremò innumerabiles Iudoeos post plenitudinem Gentium in Ecclesiam ingressam Euangelium amplexuros euidentissimis scripturis confirmat Haec cum ita se habeant eaâ—â—d institutionem vsum nostram transferamus Primò hinc discimus quemadmodum fusius in Epistola ad splendidissimam comitissam docuimus Deo licere pro liberrima sua voluntate absolutissima potestate Eligere reijcere indurare vel conuertere quòscunque voluerit Secundò puram Dei misericordiam in Gentium vocatione elucere at feueram eus institiam in communi Iudaeorum abiectione tantùm conspici Quapropter Dei gratiam gratis animis praediceâ—uâ— digne Euangelio ambulemus Dei iudiâ—ra time aâ—â—s a Iudaeorumâ—ncredulitatâ— â—ncredulitatâ— horrendis blaspheâ—â—js vsuris contempâ—â— Christi reliquisque peccatis abhorrendo caneamus Vltimo nostris assiduis ardentissimis precibus corum conuersionem promoueamus syncerae doctrinae obedientia luce eos lucrifacere studeanius Cùm igieâ—â— haec materies vir nobilissime tam sit admirabilis omnibus Christianâ—s tam necessaria censui in publicum emittere tuae etiam non tam erudiâ—ae censurae quà m clementi patrocinio committere Quum â—nim Tu propter religionis puritatâ—m Theologiae accuratam cognitionem Dialectica Philosophicae scientia praestantiam â—is ornatissima in Dei Ecclesia Cedrus in familiae tuae ordinatissima disciplinâ Dauid Iosua in nostro Warwicensi agro publicae â—ustitiae lumen non potes quin praecepta moniâ—a consilia eò dirigentia laeto libenti amnio excipias Denique cùm pater tuus antiquâ— nobilitatis beatissimae memoriae vir iamque in Coelis triumphans me in vita suâ summâ beneuolentiâ complexus sit confidò certè te cùm sis eius non solùm bonorum sed etiam eximiarum virtutum haeres iustissimus velle me non modo charitate quadam complecti verum etiam lucubrationes meas vtcunque approbare Quod profectò expectans humillime expetens hic dicendi quidem sed tui colendi finem numquam facio Iehoua opt Max te omnibus externis internis dotibus ornamentis cumulet perpoliat tuos pios conatus prouehat tibi tuisque longaeuam in terris faelicitatem tandem aeternum in Coelis gaudium triumphum largiatur Couentriae 1608. Tuae dignitatis studiosissimus THOMAS DRAXE verbâ— Dâ—i Minister A Table conteyning the number of the Questions which are by occasion propounded and resolued 1. CAn Gods couenant with his Elect bee made frustrate through mans vnbeleife Neg. page 2 2 Whether that Gods fore-knowledge doth distinguish the elect from the Reprobate affir pag 3 3 Whether that the idolatrous Iewes in Elias his time sinned in demolishing altars seeing that they were set vp in places vnlawful affir ibid. 4 Whether that the Church can erre in matter of faith and doctrine affir ibid. 5 Whether that the Church of God doth euer faile vpon earth neg p. 11 6 Whether that God had any church or people in the darke mist of Popery affir p. 12 7 How our forefathers were then taught and saued p. 13 8 Why God doth many times cause his militant church to be inuisible p. 14 9 Whether a Protestant may dissemble his religion and so go to idoll seruice neg ibid. 10 May a man seeke for iustification and saluation and not obtaine it p 23 11 Doth God harden the Reprobate Distinct. ibid. 12 How doth God harden the wicked ibid. 13 How can God be said to blinde the Reprobate seeing that he offereth the meanes of illumination to many of them p. 28 14 Whether that Dauid Paul Elias did sinne or not in vsing imprecations against wicked men neg p. 32 15 Whether that wee may lawfully vse imprecations and pray against Gods and our enemies Affir per distictionem p 33 16 In what respects and with what cautions wee are to pray against our enemies ibid. 17 Can the true church of God and the members of it fall away from the fauour and grace of God neg p. 40 18 Are they excused before God that by their vnbeleife and vnthankefulnesse occasion other mens conuersion neg ibid. 19 Can the fall of the Iewes which is an euill be an accidental cause or occasion of the conuersion of the Gentiles affir p. 44 20 Whether that a minister can bee properly said to conuert soules affir per distinc p. 46 21 How can the calling of the Iewes bee the reuiuing of the world seeing that Christ shall hardly finde faith on the earth at his second comming p. 50 22 Whether grace and holinesse can come by generation and succession neg p. 51 23 Whether the Iewes be not in many prerogatiues more excelent then vs Gentiles affi p. 52 24 Can the true members of the Catholike church become infidels neg p. 56 25 Who they be that fall away from the church and the communion of it p. 57 26 How are men engraffed into the church ibid. 27 Is or ought a man to doubt of Gods fauour and loue or no neg p. 65 28 Can â—eare and assurance of saluation consist together aff per dist p. 66 29
and condemne the couetous idle worldly vitious vnteaching dumbe absent and negligent ministers who because either they do not Gods worke at all especially in preaching or els execute their functions very negligently are subiect and lie open to Gods curse and are to answere for the damnation of so many soules as perish through their default Hier. 48.10 Ezek. 33. vers 6. and 8. Acts 20 26.27 2 Vse Secondly ministers neglecting all other by-matters that nothing concerne them and the hunting and hauking after worldly goods and glory must striue with all diligence to performe their duties and to make this their onely scope and marke to spread Christ his gospell farre and neere and so to conuert and saue soules 2. Tim. 4. ver 2. and 3. Act. 26. ver 18. V. Which are my flesh and chap. 9. ver 3. my brethren my kinsmen Out of these words the instruction naturally ariseth viz. the spirit of Christ doth not make men stockes and blockes or bereaue them of naturall affection for these are of God they are in themselues good and without the helpe and ministery whereof we can neither truly serue God nor performe the duties of righteousnesse and loue to men but it rather causeth and confirmeth them This sympathy and indulgent affection appeared most notably in Christ Iesus in weeping ouer the Cittie Ierusalem and bewayling the aproching ruine of it it manifestly also discouered it selfe towards Mary his Mother whom hee so much respected and had such a prouident care of and here it as in other places appeared most eminently in Paul who with the often hazard of his owne life labored the Iewes conuersion Vse Let vs haue a due regard to procure good spiritual and corporall to our country and kinsfolkes for this both nature and religion requireth and commendeth If nature bind vs to prouide for and doe good to our parents children and kinsfolke much more must grace and religion bind and vrge vs to care for their spiritual good and comfort And might saue some of them Obs. 2. We learne here that the preaching and ministerie of the gospell is not a matter onely of ciuility credit or a bare letter but the power of God the worlds saluation the immortall seed and to the Elect the sweet sauor of life vnto life Act. 13.46.47 2. Cor. 2.16 1. Pe. 1.23 and this it was that specially exalted Capernaum to Heauen and filleth citties and townes full of spirituall ioy Acts 8.8 The reason hereof is because God hath annexed a promise therevnto and is effectuall and powerfull hereby to draw and saue all that belong vnto him Mat. 28.19.20 â— 1 Vse It condemneth the Swink-feldains and the Atheists of the world that thinke the word preached is not of force and power to conuert any for they looke vnto the outward sound and letter onely and not to the poweâ— and promise of God who worketh effectually in it and by it in all them that belong vnto him Romanes 1.16 1. Cor. 1. ver 24. 2 Vse Let not men despise contemne and reiect the holy ministery but thinke and speake alwaies honorably of it let men herein acknowledge Gods goodnesse towards them and accept of the riches and treasures of his grace hereby offered vnto them For albeit it cannot profit and auaile any thing to saluation without the assistance of the holy spirit Yet by the helpe of it which alwaies accompanieth it in the elect al that are to be saued are ordinarily won Hence no Eunuch conuerted without a Philip no Cornelius without a Peter and no Lydia without a Paul V. 15. For if the casting away of them bee the reconciling of the world what shall their receiuing bee but life from death V. 16. For if the first fruites bee holy so is the whole lumpe and if the roote bee holy so are the branches If the casting away of them viz. i. the greatest part of the Iewes bee the reconciling of the world i. serue and tend to the calling of the Gentles whereby they are reconciled vnto God what shall the receiuing be i. the calling of the fulnesse of the Iewes by which they that before were cast off shall againe be admitted and receiued into the Church but life from death i. a recouery and bringing of spirituall life againe to the Iewes that were so many hundred yeares dead in their sinnes and also their restitution fulnesse shal giue an occasion of quickning to the Gentiles and of enriching many with the knowledege of Christ and saluation so of enlarging Gods kingdome both amongst Iewes and Gentiles and hence by reason of the common felicity shal be the true and perfect â—oy of the world For if the first fruites be holy so is the whole Lump i. For as then when the Israelites had offred the first fruites of their bread and loaues vnto God all the whole Lumpe and rest of the fruites were hereby blessed and sanctified vnto them that they might with good conscience bake knead and feed vpon them Euen so if Abraham Isack and Iacob their stock fathers and founders of their Nation were especially by reason of Gods couenant holie and accepted with GOD so shall the elect of their posterity bee in some sort fauoured for their Fathers sake And if the roote bee holy i. full of the iuice and sappe of grace so shall the branches i. The holie remainers by force of GODS couenant shall receiue and drawe iuice grace and goodnesse from it Q. If the conuersion of the Iewes shal be not onely vnto them but also vnto the Gentiles a spirituall resurrection and life from the dead and this must needes bee a little before Christ his second comming how can this place then agree to and accord with that in Luke where it is sayd But when the Sonne of man commeth shal hee finde faith on the earth Luk. 18.8 and with that towards the end of the world Sathan must bee loosed Apoc. 20.17 and seduce the people of the world Ans. They may very well and aptly bee thus reconciled by distinction That the last times of the world shal be happie in respect of the benefits of Christ and the light of the Gospell and likewise in regard of the gathering togither of the Church of Iewes and Gentiles throughout the world But they shal be vnhappie and miserable by reason of the worlds vnthankefulnesse and the seducement of Antichrist who shall not be wholy abolished before Christ his commming Secondly the number of Atheists Hipocrites Apostataes and prophane persons shall incomparably farre exceed the number of those that truely feare God and sincerely serue him yet that Church shall neuer wholy cease but vnder the tirany of Antichrist there shall remaine not a few that shall rightly call vpon Gods name and all the elect shal be saued whom the Lord out of all the families nations and kindreds of the earth hath marked with a certaine marke of Election and adoption Or thus in that generation or