of a whole Province so we distinguish the Greeke and Latine East and West Churches some lesser as the Church confined to any one Citie the Churth of Rome the Church of Corinth and some private shut up in one familie see Rom. 16. 5. Philem. 2. There is also a distinction of a true Church which continues in all fundamentall truth delivered by Christ and his Apostles or false which declines to some hereticall doctrines and departs from the foundation either from that rule of faith or manners Thus as the Marcionits Arrians Macedonians c. erring in matter of faith concerning the Godhead or manhood of Christ or concerning the blessed Spirit So the Nicolaitans maintaining filthy and promiscuous lusts were false Churches howsoever they were sound in divers other points of Christian doctrine Now the Congregation here mentioned cannot be stretched to any other but either the invisible or tryumphant Church 3. Lastly the just are those Saints of God which being justified by the blood of Christ are also sanctified by his Spirit So the sense is Howsoever here on earth wicked Atheists heretickes and hypocrites may come in sheepes cloathing and not onely creepe into the flocke but also rule and tyrannise in the visible Church yet as they are no members of the true invisible Church so when that great Shepheard shall separate the goats from the sheepe these wolues in sheepes cloathing shall bee uncased and cast out into their owne place with dogges Proofe Mat 25. ver 31. to the end Revel 21. last ver and 22. 14. 15. The grounds are 1. In the nature of sinners Truth and lies vertue and vice cannot stand together As therefore in the creation there was a separation of light from darknesse so in this perfect renovation 2. From the nature of the Iudge who is of pure eyes and cannot endure sinne but is a consuming fire to such 3. From the time It is the season when Christ shall wipe off all spots and wrinkles from his Church but these are spots and blots in the Assemblies 2 Pet. 2 13. Ephe. 5. 27. Here therefore is manifestly taught us that no sinner that is no man liuing in wilfull sinne and maintaining it in his practise is or can be a true member of Christ or his Church but indeed a very spot and blot in it Truâ— is it that as a field is called a corne field wher there is much and perhaps more weed then good graine and a heape of corne where there is more chaffe not from the greater but better part so a Congregation where many Atheists and hipocrites are miâ—gled with the faithfull is called a true church though indeed those are but as ill humours in the bodie rather griefs then any parts of it They were not of us they were not all of us see Math 7. 23. Hence called as before spots and blots The reasons also confirming this truth are apparent For first every member is and cannot but be of the same nature with the head monsters are they which haue the head â—f one kinde the bodie or any member of an other the head of a man the foote of an oxe But the nature of Christ is the divine nature pure and holy freâ— from sinne therfore also his members haue by in fluence from him been changed into the same diuine nature in that they fly the corruption which is in the world through lust 2. Pet. 1. 4. see also Heb. 7. 26. Secondly he cannot be a member of Christ who by the ordinances of God powerfully working on him by the Spirit is not renewed and changed He that beleeueth and is baptised is saued but he that beleeveth not is damned We are buried in him by baptisme the Gospell preached begets us in Christ But the Gospell and baptism where they are made effectuall by the worke of the Spirit clense and wash from sinne and bring to us that sanctification whereby we are purged Iohn .15 3. Eph. 5. 26. Thirdly sinne doth not onely separate from Godâ— Esa. 59. 2. but when it is in dominion divides us utterly from the government of Christ makes his sweet and â—asie yoke griâ—vous and loathsâ—me If we are members of Christ he is our head and King but where sinne hath dominion Christ his sceptre hath no place 2. Howsoever wolves in sheeps clothing may creepe into the flock of Christ of which Christ hath given us warning Mat. 7. 15. and the Apostle Act. 20.29 30. yet they shall certainly be uncased not onely in the finall iudgement where their hipocrisie shall be stript nakâ—d before all the world and their filthines bared to every eye but here also so farre that the Elect of God shall cleâ—rely discâ—rne and avoyd them as Math. 7. 16. God will lay open their falshood and discover their dissembling see Ierem. 29. 20. 21. 22. 23. Neither is any thing in scripture more evident then this dealing of the Lord who whensoever such Foxes haue entred among his people hath stirred up some eminent person and filled them with singular gifts to resist them least the faithfull might be deceived and drawn away by their hypocrisie Thus God opposeth Moses and Aaron against Iames and Iambres Elias and Elizeus against the Priâ—sts of Baal Iâ—remiah against Hananiah Ahab and Zedekiah Christ and his Apostles against the Scribes Pharises and Iewish false teacheâ—s Thus afterwards as haeretikes began to spring in â—he church hâ— raised up many faithfull pastors to cut downe their lies and display their hypocrisie which is evident in the storie of the Church and eminent this way was that holy Augustine who was called and indeed was the mall of heretickes The reasons also are cleere and plaine First and espâ—cially the loue of God to his Church who as he hath sent his sonne to bring them out of the power of darkenesse and the shadow of death so also hath given his Spirit to guide and lead them into all truth and his word as a touch-stone to try these spirits whether they are of God Secondly The vigilancie and care of those whom God hath set as watchmen who being not hirelings but faithfull Pastors doe not flie when they see the wolfe but giue warning to the sheepe Thirdly There is a spirit of discerning Philip. 1. 10. which God poures out to the faithfull in divers measures according to their place which they hold in the body of Christ to some more to some lesse to all some so that even babes to whom S. Iohn writes may try the spirits whether they are of God 1 Ioh. 4. 1. For even these comparing the doctrine of these hypocrites either with the Scripture or the rule of faith written by God in their hearts and finding the disagreement can refuse and abhorre it see 1 Ioh. 2. 19. 20. 21. Here is offered a very fit occasion to lay open the hypocrisie of that false Church and her apostacie which challengeth to be not onely the true but
alone Church and Spouse of Christ True it is that as the body of that Antichristian Synagogue is covered with sheepes clothing so the head hath put on the front of the Lambe Rev. 13.11 but indeed the body when it is stript easily discovers it selfe to be the beast and the head when it speakes in the doctrine proclaimes the Dragon You shall know these false Prophets which come in sheepes clothing by their fruits that is by their teaching which is the proper fruit of a Teacher They teach perverse things saith the Apostle Acts 20. 30â— to draw Disciples not after Christ but after themselues How by their traditions and vaine inventions they haue made the word of God of no effect may appeare by these few points of their religion But first let us remember that Pietie consisteth either in inward or outward duties to God the one being as the soule the other as the body of religion Of the first those are principall knowledge loue feare of God faith in him and his word Of the second Prayer hearing the word administration of the holy mysteries and right observation of the Sabboth Now how grossely the Papists in their doctrines haue perverted all these parts of Gods worship may very briefly appeare to them who will duely consider it For knowledge they deliver that hellish proposition Ignorance is the mother of devotion to which their other doctrines and practise are squared labouring to hold the mindes of their people in grosse darkenesse and therfore not onely forbidding on great penalties the common acquaintance and use of scriptures but affirming that he is a friend to heretikes who maintaines an ordinary reading of Scripture nay that it is pernicious and impious For loue they haue utterly broken the bond of spirituall marriage First by that Saint-adoration deifying holy men and allowing them Altars prayers c. Secondly also by their digressing and wilfull departing from the word and Ordinances of Christ which is a manifest breach of loue Ioh. 14. 24. For the feare of God the very bond of our Covenant Ier. 32. 40. first they haue made it in vaine by the traditions of men Esay 29. 13. Secondly in place of that filiall feare knitting our soules to him in reverend loue they plant an hellish feare of God in the hearts of their people to be afraid to approach unto him by prayer as being a great King and a rigide observer of all that is amisse For faith they haue wholy unsinued it not onely in teaching faith and prayer of faith to creatures as a right object of both but delivering no other faith then that which is common to many reprobates and Devils For that second kinde their invocation of Saints asking of them whatsover a creature should aske of God the neglect and contempt of the word setting up against it the false light of their traditions perverting the Sacraments despising the Sabboth a sinne so notorious among them and maintained make evident what religion they professe and whence they had it But especially obserue their rejecting of Christ in all his oâ—fices as King as Priest and Prophet allowing him indeed the names but detâ—acting in effect the power and exercise of these dignitiâ—s from him For first whereas the Lord God hath given us onely Christ to be his King over us the head Monarch of his Church Psal. 2. 6. Ephe. 1. 22. 23. Col. 1. 18. and absolutely interdicted all â—itles and exercise of Lordly authoritie to his very Apostles they doe not onely ascribe full power to the Pope over the universall Church on earth nay under the earth also namely that which they dreame to be in a purgatorie yea even of that which is in heaven for they take upon them to commaund Angels but also call him openly and justifie those titles the head the Monarch and Spouse of the whole Church Nay saith Bellarmine Hee is the supreame head to giue outward influence of doctrine faith and Sacraments Secondly for the Priesthood of Christ they abase that perfect sacrifice and whereas the Scripture so highly prefers it before the Leviticall they as low depresse it by the same argumentâ— namely the frequent and indeed infinite repeatings of it and to supply it they adde their owne satisfactions and merits whereby they remoue temporall punishments and haue invented a new sacrifice of Christ unbloodie and a new priesthood of Masmongers Thirdly whereas Christ is our onely Prophet or Teacher Mat. 23. 8. so that men and Angels are accursed who bring any other doctrine they haue so tied the eare of the Church to the tongue of the Pope that they do not only ascribe unto him an uâ—erring power in teaching but most brasenly affirme that if the Pope should erre in commanding vices or forbidding vertues the Church were bound to beleeue that vice were good and vertue naught So is their practice for whereas God pronounceth surfeting and druâ—kennesse to be sinnes excluding from life they affirme that eating of flesh in Lent though in all sobrietie is a greater sinne then it the breach of the Popes more heinous rebellionâ— then the breach of Gods commandement Thus to burne in lust is a filthy and hatefull sinne in the sight of God they teach that marriage in a votarie is greater so that when God commaunds they which cannot containe let them â—arrie this command of God in their votaries they call and maintaine a sinne a very great sinne so to liue in burnings in a votaâ—ie which is a foule sinne in Gods account is not onely with them an holy estate but full of merit and superâ—rogation Thus their doctrines the fâ—uit of false Teachers discover them so that those blind ones from whom the God of this world hath concealed the â—ight of the Gospell excepted every one sees through their grosse hypocrisie Certaine is it that all those doctrines wherein they differ from us haue neither suâ—ficient ground from the scriptures but are devises and traditions of men nor haue any aime to the glory of God but wholy tend to the advancing of the Pope and enriching his Treasurie and Clergie Heere that blockishnes of people some hellishly ignorant some obstinately wilfull is to bee rebuked who though they liue in open and confessed sinnes and rebelliously maintaine themselues in that course neyther reforming nor purposing to reforme themselues nay hating and scorning the name of reformation so desperately impure that they laugh out the name of puritie yet still suppose themselues members of Christ and such as shall stand in the Congregation of the iust There are many who imagine themselues free from those grosse and apparent sinnes of the time or at least from that measure which they see or suppose to see in others and consider themselues in the fâ—attering glasse of their owne partiall opinions as being no common drunkards swearers whoremasters theeues oppressours nay keeping their Church well living honestly among their neighbours and by them esteemed
a strong witnesse for it The grounds or reasons may bee first in God his infinite grace which opens a posterne vnto his favour for those that unfainedly returne unto him and forsake their evill wayes hee covers all their past rebellions and imputeth not sinne unto them Secondly in the Prophet his knowledge of Gods goodnesse as well by an outward and ordinary revelation in the word as by an inward experience in himselfe He had walked in some counsels of the ungodly but yet considering his wayes and turning his feete into the testimonies of his Lord he found mercy and favour The Prophet therefore first knowing blessed is the man whose wickednesse is forgiven to whom the Lord imputeth no sinne Secondly being assured by an infallible and inward experience that when we hide not our iniquitie but acknowledge and confesse our sinnâ— the Lord forgiveth the punishment and compasseth such about with joyfull deliverance upon these grounds builds this certaine truth that the man is blessed who although he haue walked in the counsell of the ungodly yet being reproved stands not in the way of sinners but turnes his feet into the old and good way Gather hence first these instructions Instruction 1. The heart of man as it is in nature is not onely prone to evill but resolute in it resisting all meanes of recalling and hating to be reformed See Psal. 50. 17. Rom. 2. 5. Men will harden their hearts and make them as an Adamant Zechar. 7. 12. and by no meanes will yeeld to God in his word Some perhaps will object wee may see many wicked men of better temper then so Thus Rehoboam obeyed the word of the Lord by the Prophet Semajah Thus Amaziah hearkened to the voice of God and sent away the Israelites and Herod heard the word gladly reverenced the Preacher of it and did many things But we must know that the action of God bending men to subjection may be double either by a common grace of restraint or particular of the sanctifying Spirit Thus the Lord workes in Heathens I kept thee that thou should'st not sinne against mee bowing them to some kind of yeelding to some parts of his will for the good of the faithfull peace of the Church and other ends best knowne to his wisedome Secondly he plants obedience of faith in his children and brings their wills and affections under the yoke of Christ creating in them a new heart and conforming them to the divine nature But when both of these are wanting doe but obserue how men rush into all impietie breaking thorow all lets never regarding threatnings of the Law of God promises of the Gospell shame of men their own future or present good or hurt no better then mad men worse indeed then bruit beasts CoÌ„sider Pharaoh God coÌ„maÌ„ds him to let his people go serue him he defies God questioÌ„s who he is he sees divers miracles but is moved nothing at all At length his owne Inchanters tell him this is the finger of God hee relents not hee sees himselfe annoied with vermine and his Countrey destroyed yet will not stoope his owne servants intreat him to dismisse them yet still he refuseth when he was compeld to seeke vnto God by Moses and promises obedience no sooner had he rest but instantly breakes promise and furiously threatens Moses At length when affrighted with instant feare death and horâ—our he was enforced to thrust them out of his Land yet presently after he aâ—meth all AEgypt to fetch them backe againe and perisheth but yeeldeth not But he was an Heathen looke then to Professours God shewes the Iewes by a palpable demonstration that they were in his hand as clay in the Potters they deny it not hee cals them to repentance and tels them a plague else was neere them they speake desperatly surely wee will walke after our owne imaginations and doe euery man after the stubbornesse of his wicked heart The Prophet still followes them with admonition they acknowledge him a Prophet a Priest a Wise-man yet obstinately conspire against him and against the word Haue not wee such liue among us Yes thousands of swearers drunkards covetous who stand out against God his word their owne conscience their owne good and happines and scorne all stoppage Neither is there any meanes without the power of God concurring and working with it which can prevaile Are they smitten they fall away more and more they breake out to blasphemie but mend not Are they kindly intreated and waged with blessings The fatter they grow the more they kicke Deut. 32. 15. Seing man is not onely borne in sinne but bred in iniquitie there is now no way left him to come forth unto a blessed estate but onely by the path of repentance turning the heart to God and becomming a new creature See Luk. â—3 3.5 Vnlesse you repent you shall all likewise perish All men naturally are going in the broad way to destruction All haue sinned and are deprived of the glory of God This broad way therefore must bee forsaken and we must entet into that narrow tract if we meane to attaine a blessed estate Certainely as the Israelites could not enter into the Land of promise till those Rebels were consumed among them so till these cursed affections which by continuall rebellion labour to vexe the Spirit begin to die and drop away from us we are not fit to enter into the Kingdome of God Those Galileans whose bloud was mingled with their sacrifices and those who perished by the fall of the tower in Siloam were no greater sinners then others hence that woe pronounced to those vnrepentant sinners Hence our baptisme wherby we are entred into the Covenant of grace is called the baptisme of repentance and as Iohn the Baptist so also Christ begins his sermons The Kingdome of God is at hand repent and beleeue the Gospell Nothing is availeable to this end but the new creature neither iâ—deed can we be in Christ till we are newly created and moulded For repentance is that saving grace of God whereby we are changed and become other men altogether contrary to our former estate The word of God is as a mould in which the image of Christ is liuely graven by the finger of the Spirit into which when the holy Ghost hath cast us we are transformed into the same fashion Read and consider well that similitude where the Gospell is compared to a mirrour in which beholding the image of the Lord we are transformed into the same likenesse The first alteration is in the mind from darkenesse to light Before so perverse in our judgement that wee esteemed spirituall even Gods wisedome as folly but after this new birth we discerne in this folly for so foolish men count and call it no lesse then a divine and heavenly wisdome The second change is