with faith beleeuing that euerie promise Heb. 4.2 and threatning of the word shall surely come to passe After such a forte the people in Nehemiah his time heard the word both read Nch. 8.1 c. opened and applied by Ezra and the Leuits For then whilst the Lawe was in reading the cares of all the people were attent in the time of praier they lifted vp their hands and bowed downe their bodies Finally when the threatnings of the word were applied by Preaching they fel a weeping and when againe they were comforted by their teachers they reioyced But now although our attention and reuerence should exceede theirs Heb. 2.1 as the Apostle sheweth yet it is farre behinde the same Nay what confusion and irreuerence almost in euery congregation it not to be seene amongst vs Doe not vsuallie O irreligious times some talke in the midst of the exercises of Religion some run out of the Church before the Sermon be ended some sleep in their pewes some turne the eyes of all vpon them by their strange and masking appatell Finally almost all shew some signe of neglect or contempt of the word of God or other But to let these passe the true Christian heater will not onely bee carefull to heare the word in a right manner but to resort therunto with an holy intent and affection For as Salomon sheweth Pro. 21.27 The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination vnto the Lord how much more when he offereth it with an euill mind The Christian then desireth the sincere milke of the Word not to cauill at it no nor to knowe it onelie but to growe thereby This if it were considered 1. Pet. 2.2 as it ought to bee would make those who often resort to the hearing of Sermons not onely talkers Iam. 2.26 but practisers of Religion not onely discerners but haters of sinne Psal 119.104 not onely such as delight in good exercises but performers of holie dueties Psal 119.9 not praisers onelie of their teachers in wordes but commenders of them by their liues and conuersations 2. Cor. 3.1 2 For in deede he is the best hearer which washing his specks and spottes by the Lawe of libertie is by hearing transformed into the image of Christ and hee most commendeth his teacher whose heart and life is written and grauen with the letters of faith and repentance Now to come to the last point or note of the excellencie of the Gospell it is affirmed here to bee great by one assent True it is in deed that a great number of prophane people make no account of the Gospell being either Dogges or Swine Mat. 7.6 despising and abusing pearles and holy things But as concerning the true members of the Churche euerie one of them with heart and hand subscribeth to this Doctrine so that according as Esay notablie expressing this matter hath foretolde This man saieth I am the Lordes Esay 44.5 and this man calleth himselfe by the name of Iaacob another writeth with his hand I am the eternals and nameth himselfe by the name of Israel Euident it is also 1. Tim. 4.1 that manie Heretickes haue oppugned and doo denie the verie articles of our faith But what the instruments of Satan say or gainsay is not to be regarded This is that which here our Apostle would declare namely that al the Lords faithful seruāts messengers haue with one voyce receiued and published and are with their liues and bloud ready to seale the truth of the Gospell To conclude it cannot be denied that there are diuers truthes in the word Ro. 14.1 2. which true Christians with one consent yeeld not alwaies vnto For either they vary one from another in the exposition of some places of Scripture or they differ in iudgement about questions of lawfulnes or vnlawfulnes 1. Cor. 14.31 32 33. of order or disorder 1. Cor. 7 8 9 10 11. chapters or they dissent in some inferiour points of trueth If I maie so speake which yet are not to bee oppugned Mat. 5.19 yea are by all meanes on the contrarie side to be imbraced Exo. 10.26 held fast and preferred before golde or siluer or the whole World But oftentimes it is to be seene that euen those who in interpretations of certaine sentences in the word Act. 15.39 and in opinions touching things lawfull or vnlawfull differ furthest asunder concur and consent together most nerely and fully in the Articles of the faith the principles of the Gospell and all the fundamentall grounds of Christian Religion Whereby it appeareth that the vnitie of the members of the Catholick Church consisteth not in thinking the same things alwaies or liking the same persons but in the generall consent Ephe. 4.13 which is giuen vnto the mysterie of Christ Iesus In deede all are to labour to the vnitie of the spirit to iudge and speake euen al one thing 1. Cor 11.19 but in this world such a perfect knot shall neuer be knit But although Christians disagree sometime in affections or opinions yet there is alwaies among them sound vnitie in deede Ro. 12.4.5 because they maintaine one maine veritie Neither by reason of diuisions which must be and haue been in al ages among beleeuers and professors of the Gospell is there iust cause giuen vnto any to departe from the Church of GOD or to doubt whether there bee at all any certaine sauing trueth or to saye there are such dissentions in the World that a man cannot knowe what to beleeue The Virgin Marie Simeon Luk. 1 2 3. chap. Elizabeth and the Disciples saw the sauing and the certaine trueth when the sinagogue of the Iewes erred euen touching the Messias and was diuided into diuers most pestilent and contrarie sects The Christians in the daies of the auncient Fathers sawe the truth and walked in the right way when the Arrians Eutichians and such other Heretickes spread their poyson throughout the whole world Now then to doubt whether there bee any certaine trueth whē the articles of the faith are receiued by one assent and the Churches of England France Scotland Har. con apolo eccl Angl. and the Lowe Countries subscribe vnto the Doctrine of the Gospell and when manie Martyres haue of late sealed the Doctrine of faith with their bloud yea diuers liuing Martyrs confirme the same by word and deede is to call into question whether there be a Sun in the Skie and to doubt whether it shine in the firmament at noone day Thus wee see the former parte of this sentence laide open before our eyes wherein that excellencie of the Gospell is by sixe wordes plainelie affirmed the which in the second part of this verse is confirmed or prooued effectuallie by sixe forcible reasons All these arguments together with the former words may briefelie be cast after this sort into one frame of proofe whereby the whole matter intreated of in this sentence may yet more
the nations beleâ—â—â—â— in the world and receiued vp in glorie THe drift of the Apostle Paul in this most precious sentence is to moue Timothie to behaue himselfe verie religiouslie and reuerentlie in the church of God as may appeare both in the beginning of the verse immediatlie before set downe in this chapter and in the latter ende of the sixt verse of the next Chapter One argumeÌ„t to this intent and purpose hath bin already brought by him in the last wordes of the former sentence whereof this is the effect seeing the house or Church of God whereof thou art a Minister is not a sinagogue of error or a temple of types figures but a proper pillar of truth thou art as a paâ—â—â—â—â— of thâ— Christian flock to walke verie orderlie religiously and holylie in all respects Another reason tending vnto the selfe same end is contained in this conclusion of the Chapter whereof this is the summe forasmuch as the Gospell is a most excellent mysterie it behooueth thee a steward of such secrets to shew all wisdome and faithfulnes in the course of thy conuersation and in the execution of thy ministerie Now the excellencie of the Gospell is partly affirmed and as it were inlarged by degrees in the sixe first words of this verse being these And that mysteries of godlines is great without doubt partly prooued and confirmed by sixe seuerall reasons in the latter ende of the sentence which reasons are these God hath been manifested in the flesh iustified in the spirit seene by the Angels preached among the nations beleeued in the world and receiued vp in glorie The first note here declaring the excellencie of Christian Religion is the particle or word And the which not onelie as a knot bindeth the former sentence or reason and this together but as an exposition of the last word thereof which was trueth declareth that the maine veritie which the house of God or the Christian Church chiefelie and continuallie vpholdeth is the mysterie of godlines or faith in Christ Iesus It was verie needefull for Paul to expound himselfe after this manner and to insinuate this matter vnto Timothie and in him to all the faithfull Ministers and beleeuers of the Gospell For else they taking through error their markes amisle and thinking the holding of any truth a sufficient proofe or note of this true Church might conclude the Iewish sinagogue or some such like assemblie to bee the house of GOD because therin some truth is kept found or againe they running into another extremitie might rashly condemne some beleeuing and christian churches as the Church at Corinth because cause euen they sometimes erre or dissent about some points of trueth which yet are of lesse importance To the end therefore that all the faithfull may in all times and places and among all persons knowe which is the Lords holy campe resort thereto and remaine therein the Apostle sheweth here that it may alwaies bee discerned by this banner or ensigne of the Mysterie of the Gospell Those congregations then are vndoubtedly the true Churches of God which firmelie hold the articles of faith and soundly acknowledge Christ Iesus to bee the Sonne of God and the onelie foundation of saluation howsoeuer otherwise peraduenture they be farre from spotles perfection Reuel 1.2 3. c. Had not the Churches of Asia much drosse and many cracks Did not the Church of Ephesus somewhat coole and quench the burning lamp of hir former loue Were there not sundry members of the church at Sardis which had names of life on them but wounds of death in them How came it to passe that in the Christian assembly at Pergamus there were such as held the doctrine of Balaam if that the eye therof did not winke or was not fast a sleepe And where was the rodde or shepheards crooke of the pastor of the Congregation at Thyatyra when Iezabel was suffered to deceiue the seruaÌ„ts of the Lord How luke-warme were euen the best waters in all Laodicea when our Sauiour cried out thus against the fountaine of them would to God thou wert either hot or colde These faultes were found in all these Churches yea in the messengers sent vnto them and therefore in the members of them And yet what are these Churches in his account who walked in the middest of them but golden candlesticks What names dooth the giue to the messengers of these congregations but Starres so called by him in regarde of their places and the shining of those graces which were somewhat dimmed but not quite quenched Finallie what promises maketh he or what speeches vseth he to the members of those beleeuing assemblies but that vpon condition that they repented and continued in well doing they should eate of the tree of life feede on the hidden manna rule ouer the Nations and stand as pillars in the Temple of GOD for euer Hee dooth not aduise them to forsake their mutuall fellowship he dooth not denie them to bee members of his bodie because they did not rent themselues from the bodies of their Congregations so diseased and infected he willeth them not to disclaime the eyes which directed them no better he affirmeth not that their teachers are none of his Ministers their Sacraments no Sacraments vnto him because his order was not obserued or executed and because certaine Balaams and Iezabels were mingled in the assembly with his seruants Yea on the contrarie side notwithstanding all these wants neglects disorders offences and blemishes whatsoeuer he alloweth and accepteth the good things which were in any professors and calleth these assemblies golden candlesticks as before hath been shewed concluding that whosoeuer hath an eare is to heare what the spirit speaketh vnto the Churches so that look what iudgement our sauiour Christ Iesus gaue touching the Churches of Asia the same are all Christians to haue of the Churches of Europe not one of which is without some spot or wrinckle Wherefore let euery one take heede how hee leaueth our assemblies and Christian congregations in this 〈…〉 â—ast going about to be more 〈…〉 than the rule more bright than the sunne more right handed than the right hand it selfe to conclude more perfect 〈◊〉 the word of God whilest he â—â—â—â—â—efull and endeuoreth to auoide one extremetie through ignorance or blinde zeale hee runne into another Now if those reuolters which so wander on the right hand as that they condemne our Christian Congregations which receiue and acknowledge the great mysterie of Christ Iesus here spoken of cannot be excused neither are to be iustified in regarde of their error or rash separation notwithstanding that they neither denie any of the Articles of faith nor fall downe before stockes or stones what is to be said of those recusants on the contrarie side and as it 〈…〉 â—he left hand which art such 〈…〉 to Christ Iesus that Antichrist is vnto them all in all and that they embrace the mysâ—â—â—â—â— of all iniquitie and blasphemâ—â— euen the abominable and
himselfe in his epistle to the Philippians who saw no doubt into this mysterie as farre as any mortall man hee professeth that he had not yet attained this knowledge neither was perfited Phil 3.12 but that he did follow after the same to apprehend it The wise Agur also intreating of this matter not onely confesseth that hee had not learned this wisdome or knowledge of holie things but demaundeth the question Who hath ascended into Heauen Pro 30.1.2 c. and descended thence Who can gather the winde in his fist Who can binde the Waters in his garment Who can establish the borders of the earth What is the name of such a one and what is his sonnes name In the which words as it seemeth that great clarke or Prophet intendeth to shew not onely that none knoweth the father but the sonne and he to whom the sonne will reueale him but that none perfectlie knoweth either of thē both as may appeare in that he saieth there is not any which can measure or rule these great creatures or elements namely the earth the waters and the ayre in that he asketh what the name of the Father and of the Sonne is Seeing now the mistery of the gospel is so great yea in alrespects so excellēt it behoueth the dispēsers therof with great care conscience to execute that holy ministery whervnto they are set apart For how els shall they bee able to answer in any respect vnto that honorable functiō whereunto they are called Yea how can they but staine and pollute the peerlesse pearle committed to their trust to keepe and carrie It behooueth them therefore first of all as wise builders 1. Cor. 3.10 chiefelie and especially to lay the foundatiō Christ Iesus and to declare vnto their people the articles of faith which are the maine and principall pillers as it were of the spirituall building Secondly as the foundation is noble so vpon the same not the wood hay or straw of Rhetoricall Philosophicall or humaine skill or eloquence but the golde siluer and precious stones of a simple graue and spirituall maner of teaching is to be laid Thirdly the affection iudgement of the interpreter of the word ought alwaies so to be sanctified vpright as that in as much as hee dealeth with the Lords oracles he mangle not nor wryth or wrest the Scripture 1. Tim. 2.15 but cut it aright as the priests vnder the law did the things which were offered and sacrificed To conclude seeing an euill ende dooth make the best actions that may be abominable if the Gospell be taught of enuie of vaine glory of flattery Phil. 1.15 or misapplied by such sinister intents or purposes then it is not handled according to the nature or dignitie of so heauenly a doctrine but abused and polluted by mans corruption Likewise as the teachers of the Gospell ought by so much the more faithfully and watchfully deale in the Lords oracles by how much the mysterie of Christian Religion excelleth the pollicie of the Iewes so the hearers of the doctrine of christ Iesus ought by so much the more attentiuely hearken vnto Heb. 2.1 and reuerently receiue the message of their Ministers by how much greater grace is offered vnto them now than was in olde time to the Israelites For if euery transgression and breach of the Law receiued a iust recompence of rewarde how shall they then escape if they neglect so great saluation as is offered in the Gospell They are therefore to know that they are not to heare such as teach any false Christs or denie the foundation of Christian Religion either expressely or by consequence For they are not so much as to goe out vnto them they are not to bid them God speed not to receiue them to house 2 Ioh. 1.10 neither yet to thinke them otherwise than accursed Gal. 8 Secondly they are to heare all those who truely teach Christ Iesus crucified without preferring of persons for outward respects or holding on Paul Cephas or Apollos But especially they are to heare 1. Cor. 3.12 reuerence and ordinarilie to resort vnto those ordinary sufficiēt preachers which the Lord in his prouidence hath placed ouer them Obey saieth the Apostle to the Hebrewes your guides Heb. 13.7 and submit your selues vnto them for they watch for your soules that they may doo this with ioy and not with sorrowe for that is vnprofitable for you But how doo they obey their ordinarie watchfull teachers who do not so much as vse to heare them scant once in a month nay in a twelue moneth We beseech you bretheren saieth Paul to the Thessalonians acknowledge those who trauellamong you 1. Thes 5.12 rule ouer you in the Lord and admonish you and esteeme them more than most exceedinglie as deare vnto you for their work sake Let therfore all so account of their ordinary teachers as Paul aduised the Thessalonians to esteeme those Pastors or Preachers which laboured among them and as the Philippians stood affected toward Epaphroditus their peculiar shepheard whome the Apostle made hast to send back vnto them that they at the very sight of him might reioyce For what Is the Minister bound trowe we Phil. 2.28 and commanded by God ordinarily to teach and to expound the word and is the hearer priuiledged from resorting vnto his sermons diligently Heb. 10.25 and ioyning with him in publique praiers Shall the bloud of the flock be required at the shepheards hands if he bee dumbe or slothfull and hangeth there no woe ouer the head of the sheepe Ezech. 33.9 if they stray out of the folde or refuse to heare the voyce of their shepheard Dooth the louing Wife preferre her Husband in loue before all other how beautifull soeuer Dooth the souldiour waite vpon his Captaine although other in the host be stronger than he Dooth the seruant attend on his Master albeit others are more honorable Finally doth the Child keepe in and like best of his fathers house notwithstanding that there be many which keepe better tables And wil not Christians like best of their ordinarie teachers and cleaue vnto their peculiar and alotted Ministers albeit they perceiue in them some wants or infirmities or see greater graces or giftes shine in the candles or starres of other Churches But moreouer it is not sufficient for a professor of the Gospell to heare vsuallie his true and faithfull shepheard and to proceede no further but he must take heede also what hee heareth as our Sauiour exhorteth Col. 3.16 Yea and after what manner he heareth both him and other hee must heare the Word not foolishlie but wisely applying euerie good Doctrine and exhortation to himselfe not careleslie 1. Thes 2 13 bu◠reuerentie as the Worde of GOD and not of man not senseleslie but with feeling taking a delight therein 2. Cor 7.7 8 9 10 11. and following with affection euerie tune thereof Finally not doubtingly but