God Spâ—c Europ In hoc eorum omnis flamma est in hoc uruntur inâ—â—ndio Hence they burn up Bibles tanquam doctrinam peregrinam as strange doctrine Enâ—bir loc com cap. Eâ—â—les Hence they censure S. Paul as savouring of heresie and could finde in their hearts to purge his Epistles Eckius is not afraid to say That Christ did never command his Disciples to write but to preach only Bellarmine saith the Bible is no more then commonitorium a kinde of store-house for advice Hosius saith Ipsissimum Dei 〈◊〉 That the Popes interpretation though it seem never so repugnant to the Scripture is neverthelesse the very Word of God The Councel of Basil answered the Hussites requiring Scripture-proofs for such doctrines as were thrust upon them that the Scriptures were not of the being of the Church but of the well-being only that traditions were the touchstone of doctrine and foundation of faith And blasphemed the name of God The truth of God contained in the Scriptures What a devil made thee to meddle with the Scripture Act. and Mon. said Stephen Gardiner to Marbeck They tell us of divers that have been possest by that means and assure us that â—uâ— condemnation is so expresly set down in our own Bibles and is so clear to all the world that nothing more needs hereto then that we know to read and to have our eyes in our heads Alex. Cook at the opening thereof Verse 10. Vpon the scat of the Beast This City of Rome which was never yet besieged since it became the seat of Antichrist but it was taken and shall be again shortly to purpose And his kingdome was full of darknesse It appeared to be so as motes appear in the Sun-shine by the clear light of truth shining upon it A Scotish mist is here already fallen upon a piece of his Kingdome and what further service God hath for their and our armies to do against the Pope in Ireland or elswhere 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we expect and pray God grant us good agreement among our selves and then much may be done abroad And they gnawed their tongues Being as mad with malice as Boniface the 8. was of discontent who being suddenly taken prisoner at his fathers house by Sarah Columnus his mortall enemy Turk hist 126. and brought to Rome laid up in the Castle of S. Angelo within 35. daies after most miserably died in his madnes renting himself with his teeth and devouring his own fingers Verse 11. And blasphemed the God of heaven As they did in 88 when the Spaniards gave out That Christ was turned Lutheran And as Faux the Gunpouder-traitour did when he told those that took him that not God but the devil had brought to light and to naught that desperate design Lonicer theatr histor Thus they set their mouths against heaven and their tongue walketh thorow the earth as if Augustus Caesar were dealing with some god Neptune or the three sons trying their archery at their fathers heart to see who can shoot nighest What an execrable blasphemy is that of John Hunt a Roman Catholike in his humble appeal to King James in the sixth Chapter of that Pamphlet See D Sheld mark of theâ— Beast The God of the Protestants is the most uncivil and evil-mannered God of all those who have born the names of gods upon the earth yea worse then Pan god of the clowns which can endure no ceremonies nor good manners at all And repented not This leopard Chap. 13.2 can never change his spots because they are not in the skin but in the flesh and bones in the sinews and most inward parts Tigers rage and tear themselves at the sound of a drum and at the smell of sweet spices so doe these savage Papists when called to repent Verse 12. Vpon the great river Euphrates i. e. Upon whatsoever yet hindereth the destruction of spirituall Babylon and the comming in of the Jews as the Turkish Empire c. That the way of the Kings Christians say some who are Kings in righteousnesse and come from the East or from Christ That day-spring from on high Luk. 1.78 Others understand this Text of the Jews who are most of them in the East dispersed thorow Turkie Tartary the ten Tribes especially and China Junius saith Tartars of Tothar a remnant or residue That which is called the land of Sinim Isa 49.12 may probably be meant of China which if it be the meaning there may be many of the Jews whose conversion we daily expect and pray for See Isa 11.15 16. Zach. 10.10 11. Verse 13. Three unclean spirits Spirituall fathers as the Papists call their Jesuites who seek to subject all to the Pope and the Pope to themselves being ultimus diaboli crepitus as one speaketh Arist denat animalium the last attempt of a daring devil These are the Popes Janizaries bloud-hounds vultures whose nest as Aristotle saith cannot be found Aristoph yet they will leave all games to follow an Army because they delight to feed on carrion Like frogs For their filthinesse impudency loquacity with their continuall brekâ—kâ—kex coax coax Come out of the mouth That is By the counsell and command by vertue of that vow of Mission whereby the Jesuites are bound to the Pope to go whither he shall send them about whatsoever attempt he shall enjoyn them Yea if their Governours command them a voyage to China or Peru without dispute or delay they presently set forward Hence haply they are called spirits Verse 14. The spirits of devils Or breathing devils Working miracles Lying wonders 2 Thess 2.9 Vnto the Kings of the earth The Popes Nuncio's Legats a latere and other emissaries stir up the spirits of Princes to embroil the world with wars for the upholding of his tottering greatnesse but all in vain The greatest impostors have ever been the greatest Courtiers The Arrians in their age and of them the Jesuites learned it And of the whole world Papists shall call in the help of forraign Princes out of Asia Africa America to suppresse the heretikes as they call them But with evil successe for they shall associate themselves only to be broken in pieces Isa 89. Exorientur sed exurentur Rev. 9 18. The mountain of the Lord shall be lifted up above all mountains These auxiliaries shall speed no better then those subsidiary Syrians 2 Sam. 10.18 19. Verse 15. I come as a thief Who gives no warning See the Note on Mat. 2.44 Blessed is be that watcheth The prophecy is here interrupted as Gen. 4.18 to fore-waâ—n and fore-arm the Saints Luke 12.37 8 43. they are three times said to be blessed that watch Verse 16. And he gathered God hath an over-ruling hand in that which the frogs of Rome do at the Courts of Kings and ordereth the disorders of the world to his own glory Called in the Hebrew Armageddon That is They shall receive a famous foil such as Sisera
just and right is he And mightest overcome Maist be pure Psal 51. saith David Zacah in the Syriack is used for overcoming Vincit veritas dare non dignis res magè digna Deo est Verse 5. Is God unrighteous Such heart-boilings there were in the rejected Jews And Iob said little lesle till God over-hearing him steps as it were from behinde the hangings and takes him up for it Iob 38.2 Who is this saith he that talketh thus How now Verse 6. I speak as a man q. d. Is there not such language heard in some mens hearts Verse 7. For if the truth of God Here the former objection is repeated explicated and more fully answered that every month might be stopped Lomelius Ferunt ranas lampade supra lacum in quo tumultuantur appensâ illius sulgore repercussas conticescere So gain-sayers are silenced when the truth is thorowly cleared Verse 8. As we be slanderously reported So are the reformed Churches by the black mouthed Papists See the abatement of Popish brags by Alex. Cook the Preface Eudaemon Ioannes against Casaubon Calvino-Turcismum c. Whose damnation is just In the yeer of grace 1525. a Monk of Berline in Germany who in the Pulpit charged St Paul with a lie was suddenly smitten with an apoplex whiles the word was yet in his mouth â—cultel Annal. and fell down dead in the place on S. Stevens day as they call it Verse 9. That they are all under sin who le evil is in man and whole man in evil Homo est inversus decalogus Man by nature is no better then a filthy dunghill of all abominable vices His heart the devils store-house throne nest His eyes great thorow-fares of lust pride vanity c. His life a long chain of sinnefull actions a web of wickednesse spunne out and made up by the hands of the devil and the flesh an evil spinner M. Whate'y his new birth and a worse Weaver Verse 10. As it is written What the Prophets had said of some particular people or person is here applied to the whole race of mankinde because by nature there is never a better of us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eras Adag Verse 11. None that seeketh That seeketh and fetcheth him out of his retiring-room as she did Mark 7.24 25. Verse 12. Become unprosimble Or rotten nasty stinking as the Hebrew hath it Psalm 14.3 The old world was grown so foul that God was forced to wash it with a deluge Verse 13. The poison of Aspes Of that sort of Aspes that spit their venome farre from them upon the by standers Pâ—yaâ—es There is a great deal of such vermine and venome in that new found world of wickednesse the tongue Iam. 3. It is easie to observe that S. Paul here making the anatomy of a naturall man stands more on the organs of speaking then all other members and sheweth how his tongue is tipped with fraud his lips tainted with venome his mouth full of gall his throat a gaping grave his tongue as a rapier to run men thorow with and his throat as a sepulcher to bury them in As for the Asp they write of her That whereas her poison is so deadly that the part infected cannot be cured Io Wover â—â—nd 8. c. 23. but by cutting off succurrit periclitâ—â—tibus benignior natura noxiosissimo animali caliginosos obtutus dedit Aspidi saith Psiny hebetes oculi dati coâ—que non in fronte sed in temporibus habet Verse 14. Full As a ship that hath it's full fraught and lading 〈◊〉 Verse 15. Swift to shed bloud As Paul till God stopt him in his cursed career Verse 16. They minde nothing but mischief Verse 17. They are restlesse and troublesome Verse 18. There is no fear of God This is set last as the source of all the former evils Verse 19. Guilty Culpable and such as cannot plead their own cause without an advocate Chrysost Verse 20. Therefore by the deeds of the Law This is directly against Popish justification by works merits c. Those misled and muzled souls did worse then lose their labour that built religious houses Act. and Mon. fol. 1077. Pro remissione redemptione peccatorum pro remedio liberatione animae in eleemosynam animae pro salute requie animarum patrum matrum fratrum sororum c. These were the ends that they aimed at as appears in stories Verse 21. But now Since Christ came Verse 22. Vpon all So that none shall hinder their happinesse Verse 23. All have sinned The first man defiled the nature and ever since the nature defileth the man Adam was a parent a publike person a Parliament man as it were the whole country of mankinde was in him and fell with him Short of the glory of God i. e. Of his image now obliterated or of his kingdome upon the golden pavement whereof no dirty dog must ever trample It is an inheritance undefiled 1 Pet. 1.4 Verse 24. Being justified freely Because the Apostles word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is expounded by Varinus to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 therefore Thammerus will needs conclude from this text that God by justifying us doth but pay us for our pains give us what we have earned Coelum gratis non accipiam saith Vega. Opera bona sunt Coeli mercatura saith another Heaven is the purchase of good works By the redemption That is By faith applying this redemption wrapping her self in the golden Fleece of that Lamb of God Verse 25. To be a propitiation Or a covering in allusion to the Law where the Ark covering the two Tables within it the Mercy-seat covering the Ark and the Cherubims covering the Mercy-seat and one another shew'd Christ covering the curses of the Law in whom is the ground of all mercy which things the Angels desire to pry into as into the paterne of Gods deep wisdome For the remission of sins Gr. For the relaxation or releasment of sins 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as of bonds or fetters Verse 26. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To declare Gr. For a clear demonstration or pointing out with the finger Verse 27. Where is boasting then c. A certain sophister would hence prove the authority of the Church He read the words thus by a mistake of their short-hand-writing Vbi est gloriatioâ— Ecclesia est for exclusa est Verse 28. A man is justified by faith Here St Paul shews himself a pure Lutheran and is therefore sharply and blasphemously censured by some Jesuites for a hot-headed person who was so transported with the pangs of zeal and eagernesse beyond all compasse in most of his disputes that there was no great reckoning to be made of his Assertions Yea he was dangerous to read Speculum Europae as savouring of heresie in some places and better perhaps he had never written Four years before the Councel of Trent Cardinal Conturenus asserted the doctrine of
justification by faith alone in a just tractate and was therefore soon after poisoned Cardinal Pool is thought to have been sound in this point Bellarmine reproves Pighius for consenting to Luther herein whom he undertook to confute and yet Bellarmine himself with his tutissimumest doth as much upon the matter Magna est veritas valebit Great is the truth and shall prevail Verse 29. Is he the God of the Jews only That is Doth he justifie the Jews only For he is their God only whom he justifieth 〈◊〉 Now men are said to be justified effectively by God apprehensively by faith declaratively by good works The School-men are very unsound in this capitall Article of Justification and are therefore the lesse to be regarded Nam quae de gratia Dei justificante scolastici scribunt commentitia universa existimo saith Cardinal Pighius who is therefore much condemned by Bellarmine but without cause Verse 30. And uncircumcision All by one way lest he should seem not to be one but alius alius Verse 31. We establish the law Which yet the Antinomians cry down calling repentance a legall grace humiliation a back-dore to heaven grieving that they have grieved so much for their sins c. CHAP. IV. Verse 1. As pertaining to the flesh THat is As touching his works v. 2. called also the letter cha 2.27 and the Law a carnall commandment Heb. 7.16 Verse 2. But not before God Who when he begins to search our lacks as the steward did Benjamins can finde out those out theeveries that we thought not of bring to minde and light those sins that we had forgot or not observed When he comes to turn the bottome of the bag upwards it will be bitter with us Abimelech's excuse was accepted and yet his sinne was chastised Gen. 20.6 Verse 3. Abraham beleeved God Latomus of Lovan was not ashamed to write That there was no other faith in Abraham then what was in Cicero Joh. Manlij loc conc p. 490. And yet our Saviour saith Abraham saw my day and rejoyced so did Cicero never Another wrote an apology for Cicero and would needs prove him to have been a pious and penitent person because in one place he hath these words Ibid. 481. Reprehendo peccata mea quod Pompeio confisus ejusque parâ—es secutus suerim A poor proof Hoc argumentum tam facile diluitur quà m vulpes comest pyrum Verse 4. Now to him that worketh Yet it is an act of mercy in God to render to a man according to his works Ps 62.12 Exo. 206. Gods kingdom is not partum but paratum Mat. 25.34 not acquired but prepared But of debt Not so indeed Rom. 11.31 but according to the opinion of the merit-monger who saith as Vega Coelum gratis non accipiam Verse 5. His faith Yet not as a work nor in a proper sense 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Arminius and Bertius held but as an act of receiving Christ Verse 6. Vnto whom God imputeth Ten times the Apostle mentioneth this grace of imputed righteousnesse in this Chapter Yet the Papists jear it calling it putative righteousnesse so speaking evil of the things they know not Manlij loe com p. 494. Stories tell us of a Popish Bishop that lighting by chance upon this Chapter threw away the book in great displeasure and said O Paule an tu quoque Lutheanus sactus es Art thou also a Lutheran Paul But if the faith of another may be profitable to infants at their baptisme as Bellarmine holdeth why should it seem so absurd a thing that Christs righteousnesse imputed should profit those that beleeve on him The Jews indeed at this day being asked Whether they beleeve to be saved by Christs righteousnesse They answer That every Fox must pay his own skin to the flaier Thus they reject the righteousnesse of God Rom. 10.3 As their Fathers did so doe they Act. 7.51 The Lord open their eyes that they may convert and be saved Verse 7. Are covered Sic velantur ut in judicio non revelentur So covered as that he never see them again but as the Israclites saw the Egyptians dead on the shore Verse 8. Imputeth not Chargeth it not setteth it not upon his score 2 Cor. 5.19 Verse 9. Cometh this blessednesse This is the third time that the Apostle avoucheth the universality of the subject of justification For this he had done once before Chap. 3.23 and again cha 3.29 30 31. Verse 10. In circumcisiâ—n As the Jew would have it No such matter Verse 11. A seal of the righteousnesse Circumcision is called a sign and a â—eal by a Dectour of the Jews more ancient then their Talmud Zohar Gen. 17. That righteousnesse might be imputed How foolish is that inference of Thammerus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that because the word here used to signifie imputed comes of a word that signifies reason therefore the righteousnes of faith must be such as a man may understand and comprehend by reason Verse 12. Walk in the steps That herein personate and expresse him to the life as Constantines children saith Eusebius did their father Verse 13. Heir of the world That is Of heaven say some 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Canaan say others the pleasant Land more esteemed of God then all the world besides because it was the seat of the Church As man is called every creature Mark 16.15 the Church is called all things Col. 1. So Canaan is called the world and Tabor and Hermon put for the East and West of the whole world Psal 89.12 Verse 14. Faith is made void See the Note on Gal. 3.12 and 5.2 Verse 15. No transgression sc Is imputed by men where there is no law written See Chap. 5.13 Verse 16. It is of faith Fides mendicâ manu Verse 17. Who quickneth the dead As he doth when he maketh a man a beleever Ephes 1.19 he fetcheth heart of Oak out of a hollow tree and a spirituall man out of a wilde-asse-colt See both these metaphors Job 11 12. Verse 18. Who against hope c. Elegans antunaclasis propter speciem contradictionis saith Piscator Spes in terrenis incerti nomen boni spes in divinis nomen est certissimi saith another Verse 19. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He considered not Gr. He cared not for his own body c. he never thought of that Verse 20. Giving glory to God Confessing and exalting God as Luk. 17.18 giving him a testimoniall as it were Ioh. 3.33 with Deut. 32.4 Verse 21. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Being fully perswaded Gr. Being carried on with full sail and going gallantly towards heaven Verse 22. See the Note on Vers 5 6. Verse 23. For his sake alone But for our instruction and encouragement Rom 15.4 See the Note there Verse 24. That raised up Iesus And with him all beleevers Col. 3.1 Rom. 6.4 Verse 25. Who was delivered c. Not that his death had no hand in our justifying but
Christ by his Gospel subdued the Britans whom the Romans with all their force could never subdue as Tertullian observed Britannorum â—nacâ—â—ssa Ramanâ—â—â— Câ—risto 〈◊〉 subâ—ta 1 ere Verse 19. So that from Jerusalem Chrysostome observeth that Plato came three times to Sicily to convert Dionysius the tyrant to morall philosophy and could not But Paul fet a great compasse converted many souls planted many Churches And why Christ sat upon him as upon one of his white horses and went forth conquering and to conquer Revel 6.2 Verse 20. Lest I should build Lest I should seem to doe any thing unbeseeming the office of an Apostle There is a decorum to be kept in every calling Verse 21. But as it is written In obedience to this divine oracle the Apostle preached to those that had not heard yet neglected not those that had Verse 22. For which cause By planting Churches and preaching where was more need Verse 23. These many years The Romans were converted to the faith betimes Verse 24. For I trust to see you Ipse aspectus viri beni delectat saith Seneca There is a great deal of sweetnesse in the society of Saints and much good to be gotten thereby Sometimes saith a grave Divine though we know that which we ask of others as well as they doe yet good speeches will draw us to know it better by giving occasion to speak more of it wherewith the spirit works more effectually and imprints it deeper so that it shall be a more rooted knowledge then before For that doth good that is graciously known and that is graciously known that the Spirit seals upon our souls Verse 25. To minister unto the Saints The highest Angel in heaven may not hold himselfe too good to serve the Saints Verse 26. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It hath pleased them It hath not been squeezed out of them as verjuice is out of a crab but freely and chearfully they have contributed Verse 27. Their debters they are And so are we to pity and pray for them See my True Treasure Sect. 2. chap. 7 Verse 28. When I have sealed That is Safely delivered as if it were under seal This fruit This sweet ripe fruit of their faith and love their alms Verse 29. In the fulnesse of the blessing Christ may use one of lesse grace to doe more good then one of more for there are diversities of operations as well as of gifts 2 Cor. 12.6 but usually he delights to honour those of most sinicerity with most successe 1 Cor. 15.10 Verse 30. For the Lord Jesus Christs sake This is one of those passages in S. Paul then the which there can nothing possibly be imagined more grave divine excellent saith Beza That ye strive together Even to an agony as the word imports 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Spirituall beggery is the hardest and richest of all trades as one laid Learn of this great Apostle to beg praiers with all earnestnesse Act. and Mon. fol 1565. Ibid. 1499. Pray for me I say pray for me I say quoth father Latymer Pray for me pray for me for Gods sake pray for me said blessed Bradford Verse 31. That my service which c. One would have thought that the Apostle coming with alms to them should easily have been well accepted but he saw cause to seek God for such a mercy sith it is he alone that fashions mens opinions and gives favour and kinde acceptance Besides wisdome he gave Solomon honour Verse 32. Be refreshed See the Note on Rom. 1.12 and on 2 Ioh. 12. Verse 33. Now the God of peace A sit attribute for the present purpose It is a commendable policy in Christians when they pray to propound God to their minde in such notions and under such titles as whereby they may see in God the things they desire of God CHAP. XVI Verse 1. Servant of the Church A Diaconisse to minister to the sick as 1 Tim. 5.9 not a praedicantisse to preach or have Peters keys at her girdle D. Bastwick against Independ Verse 2. As becometh Saints Who are great Princes States in all lands Psal 4 and to be observed accordingly even worthy of God 3 Ioh. 6. Verse 3. Salute Priscilla She is first mentioned haply as more forward then her husband in the best things So was Manoahs wife and Nazianzens mother Verse 4. Who have for my life A rare example Dan. hist 231. Fast friends are in this age for the most part gone on pilgrimage said one once and their return is uncertain Verse 5. The Church that is in their house The house of George Prince of Anhalt for the good orders therein observed is said to have been Ecclesia Academia Curia The first fruits of Achaia The first that received the Gospel there A singular commendation a sweet happinesse Gods soul hath desired such first ripe fruits Mic 7.1 such primroses Verse 6. Greet Mary c. It is profitable that men of great parts and place should preserve their memory with others though it be but in a salutation for it may be a means to fire up affection to godlinesse in such whom they so remember Verse 7. Who are of note Noble notable Christians old experienced gray-headed Disciples 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christianity findes or makes us honourable Verse 8. Greet Amplias Piety is no enemy to courtesie It doth not remove but rectifie it Verse 9. Our helper in Christ A sweet sign to him that his name was written in the book of life Phil. 4.3 Verse 10. Approved in Christ An high stile far beyond that of the great Turk with all his big-swoln-titles Verse 11. My kinsman In the flesh but more in the faith that surest tie Verse 12. Who labour in the Lord Though not so much as Persis did Cic. deorator yet doth he not defraud them of their due commendation Prima sequentem honestum est in secundis tertiisque consislere Every man must not look to excell let him be doing as he is able Verse 13. His mother and mine His by nature mine by affection The Apostles parted with parents and friends at home found them abroad Verse 14. Salute Asyncritus c. Nothing is said of these for haste perhaps or else because they were as one saith of Iesse the father of David Viri probi honesti minùs â—amen clari Good honest men but not much noted Or lastly for that the Apostle had no very good opinion of them as he seems not to have had of Demas Colos 4.14 who yet would needs be one in the Apostles register there a place he will have though it be the last place Hermas here mentioned was reputed by some of the Ancients to be the Authour of that Apocryphall book called Pastor wherein he dealt not so fairly and faithfully in relating what he had received from the Apostles being sublestae fidci author Verse 15. And Olympas Viri nomen non mulicris The name not of a
on 1 Pet. 3. Heb. 13.17 It is a vile thing saith one to vex our Ministers by our obstinacy yea though they were not able to make so full demonstration yet when they reprove such things out of a spirituall jâ—alousie and fear that they corrupt the peoples hearts they are to be heard and obeyed Verse 17. I praise you not q. d. I discommend and dispraise you The Corinthians were in many things faulty and blame-worthy St Paul deals plainly and freely with them and would not therefore take their offered kindenesse 2 Cor. 12. lest he should be ingaged to them and by receiving a curtesie fell his liberty Verse 18. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There be divisions Gr. Schismes rents yea and that about the Sacrament of the Lords Supper that bond of love thorow Satans malice Now there can be no greater sinne committed saith Chrysostome Hom. 11. ad Ephes Lib. de unitate Ecclesie Oecol ad frat in Suevia then to break the peace of the Church Cyprian saith It is an inexpiable blemish such as cannot be washt ost with the bloud of martyrdome The errour of it may be pardoned saith Oecolampadius in his Epistle to the Lutherans of Suevia so there be faith in Christ Jesus but the discord we cannot expiate though we should lay down our lives to doe it Verse 19. There must be heresiâ—s Therefore much more schismes which also for most part do degenerate into heresies as an old Serpent into a Dragon In the time of Pope Clement the fifth Frederick King of Sicily was so offended at the evil government of the Church that he began to question the truth of the Christian religion But Arnoldus de villa nova confirmed and setled him by this and such like places of Scripture Offences must come there must be heresies c. God having so decreed and fore-told it May be made manifest As they are now if ever in these shedding and discriminating times So in the Palatinase they fell to Popery as fast as leaves in Autumn Verse 20. This is not to cat c. When the Lords Supper therefore is not rightly administred it is no longer his especially if the substantials thereof be omitted As in those Sacrifices Hos 9 4. Their bread for their soul shall not come into the house of the Lord that is the bread for their naturall sustenance He speaks of that meat-offering Levit. 2.5 appointed for a spirituall use yet called the bread for their life or livelihood because God esteemed it no other then common meat So Jer. 7.21 in scorn he cals their sacrifice flesh c. Verse 21. Every one taketh Eateth and communicateth with those oâ— his own sect and faction only not staying for others Such among the Philippians were those of the concision Chap. 3.2 that made divisions and cut the Church into little pieces and sucking Congregations making separation Verse 22. What Have ye not houses Here he abolisheth their love-feasts for the disorder that fell out therein The Greek Church neverthelesse retained them but the Roman Church laid them down as Justin Martyr witnesseth Verse 23. For I have received Rectumest regula sui obliqui The Apostle seems to rectifie them by reducing them to the first institution The same night c. It was his last bequeath to his Church for a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Ignatius hath it a soveraign both purgative and preservative This is my body En praeclaram illam consecrationem Behold that goodly consecration saith Beza for the which the Shavelings say that they are more holy then the very virgin Mary For that Mary only conceived Christ but they create him Beza in confess 241. Whereunto the Virgin might well reply That she carefully nourished Christ whom they cruelly devour Dost thou beleeve said the Doctour to the Martyr that Christs body and bloud is in the Eucharist really and substantially I believe saith he Act. and Mon. that that is a reall lie and a substantiall lie When Cranmer was brought forth to dispute in Oxford Dr Weston Prolocutour thus began the disputation Act. and Mon. fol. 1300. Convenistis bodiè fratres profligaturi detestandam illam haeresin de veritate corporis Christi in Sacramento c. At which mistake divers learned men burst out into a great laughter Verse 25. He took the Cup See the Note on Matthew 26.27 Verse 26. Ye do shew We need no other crucifix to minde us of Christs passion Till he come There shall be a Church then and the pure worship of God till the worlds end maugre the malice of tyrants and heretikes Verse 27. Shall be guilty Because they profane the holy symbols and pledges of Christs blessed body and bloud These are in some sense as guilty as those that spit upon Christs face or that spilt his bloud As the Donatists that cast the holy elements to dogs or as that wretched Booth a Bachelour of Arts in S. Johns Colledge in Cambridge who being Popishly affected at the time of the Communion took the consecrated bread and forbearing to eat it B. Morton Instit of the Sacr l. 5. c. 3. convey'd and kept it closely for a time and afterwards threw it over the Colledge-wall Not long after this he threw himself headlong over the battlements of the Chappel and so ended his life Verse 28. Let a man examine A Metaphor from Metallaries or Lapidists as they try their mettals or precious stones and do it exactly that they be not cozened so here men must make an exact scrutiny And so let him eat After preparation participation The Heathens had their caena pura the night before their Sacrifices The Russians receive children after seven years old to the Communion saying Breerwoods Enquit 135. that at that age they begin to sin against God But can they say that at that age they can examine themselves and receive preparedly Chrysostome calleth the Lords Table that dreadfull table 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Ancients call the Sacraments dreadfull mysteries Verse 29. Eateth and drinketh damnation He that came in without a wedding-garment on his back went not away without fetters on his feet He was taken from the table to the tormentours Gods table becomes a snare to unworthy receivers they eat their bane they drink their poison Henry the seventh Emperour of Germany was poisoned in the Sacramentall bread by a Monke Pope Victor 2. by his sub Deacon in the Chalice and one of our Bishops of York by poison put into the wine at Sacrament God will deal with ill communicants as Job 20.23 They will speed no better then Amnon did at Absoloms feast Verse 30. Many are weak The mortality at Corinth began at Gods house and that for unworthy communicating God will be sanctified of all that draw-near to him He loves to be acquainted with men in the walks of their obedience and yet he takes state upon him in his ordinances and will be served like himself or
Greek imports 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hebrais ut Exod. 8.14 Cartwright Whereupon an Expositour noteth Ordinatim res in Ecclesia faciendae Order must be observed in the Church CHAP. XV. Verse 1. And wherein ye stand A Military term as Martyr noteth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Satan overthroweth the faith of some 2 Tim. 2.18 and by this very engine wherewith he assaulted these Corinthians ib. So that the Apostle was fain to make Apology v. 19. to make a barricado Verse 2. By which also ye are saved Eternall life is potentially in the word as the harvest is potentially in the seed or as the tree is in the kernell or sience Jam. 1.21 If ye keep in memory Helimiteth the promise of salvation to the condition of keeping in memory what they had heard Tantum didicimus quantum meminimus said Socrates Many have memories like nets that let go the fair water retain the filth only or like sives that keep the chaff let go the corn If God come to search them with a candle what shall he finde but old songs old wrongs c. not a promise or any sword of God hid there for things of that nature they are like Sabinus in Seneca that never in all his life could remember those three names of Homer Vlisses and Achilles But the soul should be as an holy Arke the memory like the pot of Mannah preserving holy truths Verse 3. First of all Christ is to be preached with the first as being the prora puppis of mans happinesse Joh. 16.14 It is the office of the holy Ghost to take of Christs excellencies and hold them out to the world What then should Ministers the mouth of the holy Ghost do rather Verse 4. According to the Scriptures Which both fore-shewed and fore-shadowed it in Adams waking Isaac's reviving as it were from the dead Josephs abasement and advancement Samsons breaking the bars and bearing away the gates of Gaza Davids being drawn out of the deep Daniels out of the den Ieremies out of the dungeon Ionas out of the belly of hell Mat. 12.39 c. Verse 5. Seen of Cephas Adam died and we hear no more of him But Christ shew'd himself after death in six severall apparitions for our confirmation Verse 6. Above five hundred The number of beleevers then were greater then some would gather out of Act. 1.15 Those 120 may seem to have been Chieftains such as that any one of them might have been thought meet to succeed Iudas in his Apostleship Verse 7. Seen of Iames This is not mentioned in the Gospel as neither that of Peter v. 5 Verse 8. One born out of due time Quasi malo astro abortus adversante natura coactus One that deserved to be rejected as that forlorn Infant Ezek. 16.4 5. Verse 9. I am the least of the Apostles Not come to my just bignesse as one born out of due time and not without violence Not meet to be called True humility as true balm ever sinkes to the bottom of the water when pride like oil ever swims on the top Verse 10. I laboured more abundantly See 2 Cor. 12.23 Rom. 15.19 George Eagles Martyr in Q. Maries daies for his great pains in travelling from place to place to confirm the brethren was sirnamed Act. and Mon. fol. 1823. Trudge over the world Might not St Paul have been fitly so sirnamed Not I but the grace of God So those good servants Luke 19.16 Not we but thy talents have gained other five and other two c. Let God have the entire praise of all our good Verse 11. So we preach and so ye beleeved A happy compliance when the hearers affections and endeavours doe answer the affections and endeavours of the preacher as here and at Ephesus Act. 20 31-37 When people deliver themselves up to the forme of doctrine Rom. 6.17 and are cast into the mould of the Word Verse 12. No resurrection More then that of regeneration Math. 19.28 that estate of the Gospel called a new heaven and a new earth 2 Pet. 3.13 the world to come Heb. 2.5 that resurrection already past ◠Tim. 2.18 that first resurrection Revel 20.5 Verse 13. Then is not Christ risen But of Christs resurrection there were many both living and dead Witnesses as the earth-quake empty grave stone rolled away cloathes wrapt up c. Verse 14. Then is our preaching vain Never was there any such imposture put upon the world as Christianity if Christ be yet in the grave Verse 15. False witnesses of God For they might safely say with Ieremy Lord if we be deceived thou hast deceived us Verse 16. Then is not Christ raised And so Gods decree is cassated Act. 13.33 with Psal 2.7 Verse 17. Ye are yet in your sins Rom. 4.25 If he had not been let out of prison our debt had remained upon us But God sent his Angel to roul away the stone as the Judge sends an officer to fetch one out of prison and to release him And this is the strength of our Saviours reason Ioh. 16.10 The Spirit shall convince the world of righteousnesse that I am Jehovah their righteousnesse because I go to the Father which I could not have done unlesse you were acquitted of all your sins Verse 18. A sleep in Christ The Germanes call the Church-yard Godsaker because the bodies are sowed therein to be raised again The Greeks call them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sleeping-houses The Hebrews call the grave Bothchaijm the house of the living Iob cals it the Congregation-house of all living Job 30.23 As the Apostle cals heaven the Congregation-house of the first-born Heb. 12.23 Verse 19. Most miserable Because none out of hell ever suffered more then the Saints have done Verse 20. The first fruits c. As in the first-fruits offered to God the Jews were assured of Gods blessing on the whole harvest so by the resurrection of Christ our resurrection is ensured Verse 21. By man came also c. Gods justice would be satisfied in the same nature that had sinned Verse 22. Shall all be made alive The Saints shall be raised by vertue of the union with Christ to glory the wicked shall be dragged to his tribunall by his Almighty power as a Judge to be tumbled thence into hell-torment Verse 13. At his coming As in the mean time their very dust is precious the dead bodies consumed are not so destroied but that there is a substance preserved by a secret influence proceeding from Christ as a head Hence they are said to be dead in Christ who by rotting refineth them Verse 24. Delivered up the Kingdome Not his essentiall kingdome as God but his oeconomicall as Mediatour Verse 25. Till he hath put And after too but 1. Without adversaries 2. Without any outward means and ordinances Verse 26. That shall be destroied It is already to the Saints swallowed up in victory so that they may say to it as Jacob did to Esau Surely
have not laid up two pence for I never cared for the things of this world Luther never found himself once tempted to covetousnesse And herein I could wish we were all Lutherans Verse 15. Act. and Mon. fol 789. Spend and be spent If like clouds we doe sweat our selves to death so souls may be brought home to God it is a blessed way of dying The lesse I be loved This is many a good mans grief but his reward is neverthelesse with God The nurse looks not for her wages from the childe but from the parent Verse 16. Being crafty I caught A blessed craft a high point of heavenly wisdome Dan. 12 3. It is written of the fox that when he is very hungry after prey and can finde none he lieth down and faineth himself to be a dead carcase and so the fowls fall upon him and then he catcheth them Saint Paul hungering after the souls-health of his Corinthians denies himself to gain them Verse 17. Whom I sent unto you It is said of the Pope that he can never lack money so long as he can hold a pen in his hand he can command it and have it But Saint Paul could not skill of those arts Verse 18. In the same spirit Who worketh with his own tools only and is ever like himself in all the Saints through whose whole course godlinesse runs as the woof doth thorow the web as the spirit doth thorow the body In the same steps With an upright foot Gal. 2.14 in Christ Col. 2.6 as Christ 1 Joh. 2.6 Verse 19. That we excuse our selves And so yeeld a fault I speak before God The witnesse of mine innocency Job 16 19. Gen. 20.6 For your edifying Whilest ye conceive no ill opinion of us which like muddy water in a vessel might cause the most precious liquour of our doctrine to run over Verse 20. Mimus And that I shall be found Crudelem medicum intemperans aeger facit We delight not to fling daggers at mens faces but if men be not told their owne and that with some sharpnesse they will on in sinne to their utter ruine Sharp waters clear the eye-sight and bitter potions bring on sweet health A weak dose doth but stirre bad humours and anger them not purge them out so it fareth with sinnes Lest there be debates envyings c. K. Edward the fourth the night before his death said to his kinsmen and friends I remember it to my grief that there hath bin discord amongst you a great time not alwaies for great causes but poor mistakings c. Some Daniels hist of Engl 2.0 like Salamanders live alway in the fire like trouts they love to swim against stream like Phocion they think it a goodly thing to dissent from others Verse 21. That have not repented Impenitence maketh sinne mortall saith S. John 1 epist 5.16 or rather immortall as saith S. Paul Rom. 2.5 It is not the falling into the water that drowns but lying in it Gods people may sink once and again to the bottome but the third time they rise and recover by repentance CHAP. XIII Verse 1. Of two or three witnesses SO he calleth his threefold admonition Gods Word neglected will one day be a swift witnesse against the contemners Moses shall accuse men Joh. 5.46 Gods Word lay hold on them Zech. 1.6 and stick in their hearts and flesh as fire thorowout all eternity Ier. 5.14 Verse 2. I told you before Sed surdo fabulam no telling would serve turn Many are so wedded and wedged to their sins that nothing will sunder them but an extraordinary touch from the hand of heaven Verse 3. A proof of Christ speaking in me The Church is Christi docentis auditorium saith Bernard the place wherein he ordinarily teacheth who hath his school on earth though his chair in heaven Sebolam babeâ— in terris cathedram in coelis Aug. Verse 4. Crucified through weaknesse i. e. Ex afflicto ejus statu as Gal. 4.14 as having voluntarily subjected himself to all sorts of sufferings for our sakes Verse 5. Examine your selves The finall triall of our eternall estate doth immediately and solely appertain to the Court of heaven Indeed the disquisitive part belongs to us the decisive to God Prove your own selves Redouble your diligence in this most needfull but much neglected duty of self-examination an errour here is easie and dangerous hence the precept is doubled So Zeph. 2.1 Excutite vos iterumque excutite as Tremellius renders it Verse 6. But I trust that ye shall know Whereas they were ready to retort that they were no reprobates he should well know let him see that himself were not one I trust ye shall know saith he that we are no reprobates counterfeits or unapprovable opposed to approved verse 7. Verse 7. Though we be as reprobates viz. In your esteem The good heart is content to vilifie yea nullifie it self so God may be glorified and his people edified let him be a footstool or what ye will â—pist ad Spalat to help Christ into his throne Prorsus Satan est Lutherus sed Christus vivit regnat Amen saith Luther Let me be called a devil or any thing so Christ may be exalted Verse 8. For we can doe nothing A temporary many so fall away as to persecute the truth that he once professed and the Ministery that he once admired Never fals a Saint so farre in his greatest relapses Lat. Seruâ— afore â— Edward Bishop Latimer tels of one who fell away from the known truth to mocking and scorning it yet was afterwards touched in conscience for it Beware of this sinne saith he for I have known no more then this that repented It is a very dangerous precipice Verse 9. Even your perfection Or Your restauration or joynting again 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 His meaning is saith Beza That whereas the members of this Church were all as it were dislocated and out of joynt they should now again be joyned together in love and they should endeavour to amend what was amisse amongst them either in faith or manners Verse 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And not to destruction Unlesse by accident or if to the destruction of the flesh it is that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus 1 Cor. 5.5 See the Note there and on 2 Cor. 10.8 Verse 11. Finally Gr. That which yet remains to say more and then an end Be perfect Or Peece again Be of one minde For matter of opinion Live in peace For matter of affection The God of love The authour and fautour Verse 12. With an holy kisse A custome proper to those times See the Note on Rom. 16.16 and on 1 Cor. 16.20 Verse 13. All the Saints salute you Sanctity is no enemy to curtesie it doth not remove but rectifie it Verse 14. The grace of our Lord A friendly valediction or fatherly benediction A COMMENTARY OR EXPOSITION Vpon the Epistle of S.
him all things consist They would soon fall asunder had nor Christ undertaken to uphold the shattered condition thereof by the word of his power Verse 18. And he is the head See the Note on Ephesians 1.22 Verse 19. In him should all fulâ—esse In a vessel or treasury an emptinesse may follow a fulnesse not so here See the Note on Joh. 1.14 Verse 20. To reconcile all things That is all the Saints who are worth all better then all more worth then a world of wicked men Heb. 11.38 The Jews have a saying That those seventy souls that went with Jacob into Egypt were as much as all the seventy Nations in the world What account God maketh of them in comparison of of others See Isa 43.3 4. Verse 21. Enemies in your minde Haters of God Rom. 1.30 and so God slaiers 1 Ioh. 3.15 Omne peccatum est Deicidium Verse 22. To present you holy and unblameable By his righteousnesse imputed and imparted though most interpreters expound this text of sanctification and not of justification or future perfection Verse 23. Grounded and setled When faith bears fruit upward it will take root downward and make a man as a tree by the rivers side and not as the chaffe in the fanne Psal 1.3 4. or as the boat without ballast Preached to every creature That is to every reasonable creature mar 16.15 Though to many we preach to no more purpose then Bâ—de did when he preached to an heap of stones these are unreasonable creatures 2 Thess 3.2 Verse 24. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 non 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vicissim â—ur um impleo And fill up that which is behinde Christ suffered much for Paul it is but meet therefore that Paul should suffer somewhat for Christ All our troubles are but the slivers and chips as it were of his crosse When the Jews offered our Saviour gall and vineger he tasted it but would not drink He left the rest for his Church and they must pledge him not to expiate sin but for their triall and exercise For his bodies sake For the confirmation of mens mindes in the truth of the Gospel Verse 25. According to the dispensation What a horrid blasphemy therefore is that of the Jesu tes who stick not to tell the people in their pulpits That S. Paul was not secure of his preaching but by conference with S. Peter nor that he durst publish his Epistles Spec â—urop till S. Peter had allowed them Verse 26. But now is made manifest God hath now opened his whole heart to his Saints See the Note on Rom. 16.25 and on Mat. 4.16 Verse 27. The hope of glory All the Saints are said to worship in the altar Revel 11.3 because they place all their hope of life in Christs death alone Verse 28. Whom we preach Ministers do not only preach of Christ but preach Christ that is they give what they speak of As the Manna came down in the dew se doth the spirit in the Ministery of the Gospel Verse 29. I also labour striving Labour to lassitude strive even to an agony Good Ministers are great pains-takers and God that helped the Levites to bear the Ark 1 Chron. 15.26 will help his servants by his spirit working in them with power CHAP. II. Verse 1. For I would that ye knew LIttle do most men know what uncessant care and pains their faithfull Ministers take for their souls health But we would they should know it and know those that labour among them and are over them in the Lord and to esteem them very highly in love for their works sake 1 Thess 5.12 13. Verse 2. That their hearts may be comforted Ministers are sonnes of consolation whiles by them God maketh the heart to hear of joy and gladnesse Ps 51.8 and createth the fruit of their lips peace â—eace c. Isa 57.19 Being knit together No such comfort upon the earth as in the communion of Saints it differeth from the happinesse of heaven but in degrees only Of the full assurance of understanding Such as was that of S. Luke chap. 1.3 See the Note there Verse 3. In whom are hid What so great a maker is it then if we be obscured and our good parts not so noticed Pers Vsque adeone scire tuum nihil est c Christ was content his treasures should be hid In maxima sui mole se minimùm ostendunt stellae All the treasures of wisdome Out of Christ then there is no true wisdome or solid comfort to be found The depth faith It is not in me and the sea saith It is not ith me Job 28.14 The worlds wizards cannot help us to it Ier. 8.9 Nescio quomodò imbecillior est medicina quam morbus saith Cicero concerning all Philosophicall comforts The medicine is too weak for the disease Verse 4. With entising words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 With probable and persuasible speeches It is not safe for simple men to hear heretikes for though they may think themselves able enough to answer them yet they have a notable faculty of perswading the credulous and lesse cautelous The Valentinian-hererikes had an art to perswade before they taught Tertull. The locusts have faces like women In the year 497. Pope Anastasius second seeking to reduce the heretike Acacius was seduced by him Verse 5. Your ordâ—r and the stâ—dfâ—stnâ—sse Faith and order that is doctrine and discipline faith one These two make the Church fair as the Moon clear as the Sun and terrible as an army with banners Cant 6 10. The stedfastnesse of your faith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gr. The firmament of your faith As in the first creation so in the new creature there is first the light of knowledge Secondly The firmament of faith Thirdly Repentant tears and worthy fruits as sea 's and trees c. Verse 6. So Walk ye in him Continue well affected as ye were at your first conversion fall not from your own stedfastnesse 2 Pet. 3.17 Happy is he that can say in a spirituall sense as it was said of Moses that after long profession of religion his sight is not waxed dim nor his naturall strength abated Verse 7. Abounding therein with thanksgiving Thankfulfulnesse for smaller measures of grace gets more Essicacissimum genus est rogandi gratias agere Plin. Panegyr Verse 8. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lest any man spoil you A Metaphor either from sheep stealers or plunderers Seducers plunder men of their precious souls They take them prisoners 2 Tim. 3.6 They make merchandize of them 2 Pet. 2.3 or bring them into bondage smiting them on the face 2 Cor. 11.20 I brough Philosophy In the year of Christ 230. the Artemonites a certain kinde of heretikes corrupted Scripture out of Aristotle and Theophrastus turning all into Questions as afterwards the Schoolmen also did that evil generation of dung-hill Divines as one calleth them Tertullian not unfiâ—ly faith That the Philosophers were the Patriarchs of
A great mercy Optimum solatium sodalitium Verse 12. Epaphras who is one of you See Chap. 1.7 and the Note there That ye may stand perfect In his absence especially for then the devil is most busie as he was with the people when Moses was but a while in the Mount Exod. 32. Verse 13. And them that are in Laodicea A Minister must be like the Sun that shineth not only within it's own oâ—b but iâ—lightneth all round about it and within the reach of it Verse 14. And Demas he will needs be one and is but without any title of honour as the rest He began to be suspected and he afterwards proved an utter apostate and as Dorotheus saith an Idol-Priest at Thessalonica Verse 15. Salute the brethren Christianity is no enemy to courtesie It removes not but rectifies it The brethren which are in Laodicea There God had his remnant there Christ was Amen the faithfull and true witnesse and there there were such as by a new creation of God were begotten again even among to carâ—â—ssâ— a multitude Revol 3.14 There remain in Constantinople at this day above 20. Churches of Christians and in Thessalonica above 30. besides very many Churches abroad in the province c. Breerw Enquir Chytrae de statu Ecclesiar The whole countrey of Asia the lesse wherein stood Colosse Laodicea and Hâ—erapolis is now under the power and superstition of the Turk yet no doubt God hath his remnant there Verse 16. Reade the Epistle from Laodicea Other good books then must be read as well as the Scriptures yet not idle pamphlets and love-toies These should be burnt as those curious books were Act. 19. Verse 17. And say to Archippus Archippus was a Pastour of the Laodicean Church So that before S. Johns time in Pathmos they began to cool That thou fulfill it By preaching the Word in season out of season c. and so doing the work of an Evangelist fulfilling his Ministery 2 Tim. 4.2 5. This to do the people were to excite their Pastour yet with all due respect and reverence to his office 1 Tim. 5.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 An Elder must not be lashed or jerked with the scourge of the tongue as a puny but intreated as a father Verse 18. Remember my bonds To pray for me and minister to me c. This he here inserteth as his last charge that they may the better remember and practise it Something we should leave with those we love that may stick by them and stand them in stead when we are gone or have done with them A COMMENTARY OR EXPOSITION Vpon the first Epistle of S. Paul to the THESSALONIANS CHAP. I. Verse 1. Paul and Silvanus OTherwise called Silas Act. 15.40 as Iehoshuah the high-Priest is called Ieshua Ezra 3.2 and 5.2 it is not therefore unlawfull to abbreviate names Unto the Church of the Thessalonians Thessalonica the chief City of Macedonia is now known by the name of Saloniks and is under the Turk For the plantation of a Church here see Act. 17.1 2 3 c. Breer Enquir P 68. together with the Notes there There are 30 Churches of Christians in it at this day and but three of Mahometans Verse 2. We give thanks to God Thus he beginneth most of his Epistles with thanksgiving This being held to be the first that ever he wrote to any of the Churches The beginning of his strength as Reuben Jacobs first-borne and the excellency of dignity Genesis 49.3 Verse 3. Remembring without ceasing A good memory is required to assiduity in praier All the faculties are exercised and the whole man hard wrought Your work of faith We believe not without much conflict When faith goes about to lay hold on Christ the devil raps her on the singers and would beat her oft Hence the believer hath such ado to believe And labour of love Every mans love is as his labour is Heb. 6.10 Therefore also love and labour are of one root in latin because love is diligent and laborious And patience of hope To wait the accomplishment of Gods promises Thus every Christian vertue hath it's proper distinctive character to difference it from that which is counterfeit In the sight of God True grace will stand to Gods triall which false grace cannot abide as Alchy my gold cannot passe the seventh sire nor doth it comfort the heart as true gold doth Verse 4. Knowing brethren beloved of God Knowing it by the judgement of charity not of infallibility He that believeth hath the witnesse in himself 1 Job 5.10 But the white stone the new name and the hid man of the heart are not certainly known to any but to such as have them Howbeit holy men in some degree are known one to another to make the communion of Saints the sweeter Strong confidence one may have of anothers salvation but no certainty either of sense or of science much lesse of faith or immediate revelation Verse 5. For our Gospel came not Hence he collects their election according to Act. 13.48 The Ministery sent to a place is an argument of some elect there A husbandman would not send his servant with his sickle to reap thistles and nettles only As ye know what manner The Church is endued with the spirit of discerning and Ministers should approve themselves spirituall in word and conversation 1 Cor. 2â— 10. Verse 6. Followers of us and of the Lord The Apostles walked in Christ Col. 2.6 as Christ 1 Job 2.6 their lives were a Commentary upon his life 1 Pet. 2.9 Received the word in much affliction Opposition is as Calvin wrote to the French King Evangely genius the black Angel that dogs the Gospel at the heels To preach saith Luther is nothing else but to get the ill will of the world With joy of the boly Ghost Which bore them up above all persecutions as blowne bladders beare a man up aloft all waters Verse 7. So that ye were ensamples Gr. Types moulds paterns of piety to those that were in Christ long before them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A brave commendation and not every mans happinesse Affliction to some is like a growing ague or as a warm rain to garden-herbs that maketh them shoot up sensibly in one night Verse 8. For from you sounded out A vobis dissâ—matus est sermo Remigius commenting upon this place telleth us that the Apostle here speaketh some what improperly by saying Diffamatus for Divulgatus This man knew not belike that S. Paul wrote in Greek and not in Latine So great was the ignorance of that ninth age The Greek word importeth that from the Thessalonians the word of the Lord sounded out as a trumpet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and resounded as an Eccho A vobis ebuccinatus est serâ—â— Domini So Vatablus rendereth it So that we need not to speak A good people may ease their Pastour of a great deal of pains Verse 9. What manner of entring in c.
here to relate Sed exorto Evangelij jubare sagaciores ut spero principes ad nutum Romani Orbily non solvent subligacula saith one Verse 5. Remember ye not Satan usually hides from us that which should help us But as the soul should be as it were an holy Ark so should the memory be as the pot of Manna preserving holy truths for constant use Verse 6. What with holdeth c. viz. The Roman Empire which had its rise raign and ruine whereupon the Popedome was founded and grew to that excessive greatnesse that it laboured with nothing more then with the weightinesse of it lest Verse 7. Doth already work In those ancient Apostates and Antichrists S. â—ohn complaineth of Tertullian condemneth the Bishops sprouting ambition in these words I hear that there is a peremptory edict set forth alate Pontisex scilicet maximus Episcopus Episcoporum dicit This he called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Thus saith the chief-Priest the Bishop of Bishops c. Odi fastum illius Ecclesiae saith Basil Vehicalis insidentes circumspecte vessiti epulas curantes prosu at c. I hate the pride of that Western Church Ammiaâ—us Marcellinus a Heathen Historian sharply taxeth the roman Bishops of his time for their pride and prodigality How stifly did Gregory the great oppose Iohn of Constantinople for affecting the title of Universall Bishop And yet how basely did the same Gregory collogue with Phocas the Emperour that himself might be so stiled Zonaras This Phocas a wilde drunken bloâ—â—y adulterous tyrant advanced the Bishop of Rome Gregories successour to the primacy and was therefore slaughtered by Heracliut who cut oft his wicked hands and feet and then his genitals by piece-meal Vntill he be taken out of the Way That is The Roman Emperour have removed his seat to Constantinople that Româ— may become the nest of Antichrist In mari bistor Ioannes de Columna writeth That Otho Emperour of Germany thought to have â—uated himself at Rome as former Emperours had done and began to build him there a stately palace But at the earnest importunity of the Romans he gave over that design the like had been attempted 300 years before by Constans nephew to Heraclius Theophanes Zonaras â—iâ—â—enuâ— Genebr Chron. but could never be effected This was by a singular providence of God saith Genebrard a Popish Chronologer that the kingdome of the Church prophecied of by Daniel might have it's seat at Rome If he had said that the kingdom of Antichrist prophecied of by S. Paul and S. Iohn might have it's seat in that City seated upon seven hils he had said the very truth he had hit the nail one the head Verse 8. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And then shall that wicked Gr. That lawlesse yokelesse masterlesse monster to whom in the Councel of Lateran 1516. one year only before Luther stood up to reform there was granted plenary power over the whole Church which was never setled upon him in any former Councel Pope Nicolas the first said Dist 96. That he was above law because Constantine had stiled the Pope God But the very glosse derides him for this inference With the spirit of his mouth i.e. With the evidence of his word in the mouths of his faithfull Ministers Vide catalogum Testium veritatis Bellarmine confesseth to his great grief Lib 3 de Papa Rom cap. 11. that ever since the Lutherans have declared the Pope to be Antichrist his kingdom hath not only not increased but every day more and more decreased and decaied With the brightnesse of his coming At the last day The holy City shall they tread under foot fourty and two moneths Rev. 11.2 that is as some compute it till the year of grace 1866. But that 's but a conjecture Verse 9. After the working of Satan Who as Gods ape works effectually in his and by his agents upon others By corrupt teachers Satan catcheth men as a cunning fisher by one fish catcheth another that he may feed upon both And lying wonders The devil is ashamed saith the Jesuite Gretser to confirm Luthers doctrine by miracles But he that now requireth miracles to make him to believe is himself a great miracle saith Austin Verse 10. And with all deceivablenesse Popery is nothing else but a great lie a grand imposture a farrago of falsities and heresies It is not without cause that the Centurists say Cent. 10. cap. 11 That all the old heretikes sled and hid themselves in the Popish Clergy Because they received not the love This is the great Gospel-sin punished by God with strong delusions vile affections just damnation Verse 11. Strong delusion Gr. The efficacy of orrour Wolph memâ—lect As in those at Genoa that shew the Asses tail whereupon our Saviour rode for an holy relique and perform divine worship to it And in those that wear out the marble crosses graven in the pavements of their Churches with their often kissing them Spec. Europ The crucifix which is in the city of Burgus the Priests shew to great personages as if it were Christ himself telling them that his hair and nails do grow miraculously which they cut and pare monethly and give to Noble-men and holy reliques The Jesuites confesse that the legend of miracles of their Saints is for most part false but it was made for good intention and herein that it is lawfull and meritorious to lie and write such things Spanish pilgâ— to the end the common people might with greater zeal serve God and his Saints and especially to draw the women to good order being by nature facile and credulous addicted to novelties and miracles Verse 12. That they all might be damned Levit. 13.291 Heresie is the leprosie in the head which is utterly uncurable and destroies the soul See Rev. 19.21 Had pleasure is unrighteousnesse These are delivered up to that dead and dedolent disposition Ephes 4 19. loosing at length all passive power also of awakening cut of the snare of the devil who taketh them alive at his pleasure 2 Timothy 2. ult Verse 13. But we are bound c. Lest they should be discouraged with the former discourse the Apostle tels them that being elect they cannot be finally deceived So the Authour to the Hebrews Chap. 6.9 Zuinglius after that he had terrified the wicked was wont to come in which Bone vir hoc nihil ad te This is nothing to thee thou faithfull Christian We cannot beat the dogs but the children will cry and must therefore be stilled and cheared up And belief of the truth That is of Christ the object in the glasse of the Gospel Verse 14 To the obtaining of the glory This is the end of faith as faith is of effectuall calling Verse 15. Stand fast Though never so many fall from the faith Falling stars were never but Meteors Hold the traditions Hold fast by these that ye may stand the faster Verse
very 6. Gravity is such an Elixar as by contraction if there be any disposition of goodnesse in the same mettall it will render it of the property So that Deacons wives cannot be otherwise then grave and gracious having such husbands as is above described Verse 12. Husbands of one wife c. See the Notes on Verse 2. and 4. Verse 13. A good degree Or a fair step to a higher order i. e. to a Bishoprike or Presbytership And great boldnesse in the saith The peace of a good conscience and the plerophory of faith This those that are faithfull in the Ministery shall be sure of the former preferment they may possibly fail of Verse 14. Hoping to come unto thee And to be an eye-witnesse of thy diligence whereof I doubt not joying in the mean while and beholding your order and the stedfastnes of your saith in Christ Col. 2 5. Verse 15. In the house of God See here the dignity of the Church and the duty of Ministers which is to be faithfull as stewards in all Gods house But what mean the Papists so to cry up the Church even above the Scriptures as the Councel of Basil did by their Cardinal Cusanus in answer to the Hussites nay above Christ himself as Hosius and others Can they mean honestly quoth that Martyr A â—â—and Mon. fol. 1478. that make so much of the wife and so little of the husband â— Bastard children are all for their mother and are called by her name c. Verse 16. And without controversie Learned Cameron beginneth this verse at those words before The pillar and ground of truth and confessedly great is that mystery of godlinesse God manifested in the flesh Câ—mer de eccl p. 278. c. It being a usuall form of speech among the Jews as he proveth out of Maimonides to preface these very words The pillar and ground of truth to any speciall doctrine touching religion God manifested Out of the bosome of his father out of the womb of his mother out of the types of the law c. CHAP. IIII. Verse 1. Speaketh expressely VErbis non disertis solùm 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sed exertis Abroad and aloud that it may be heard all the Church over Some shall depart from the faith As did the ancient heretikes the Papists in whom all the old heretikes seem to have fled and hid themselves and the present prodigious Sectaries with their opinionum portenta our modern Antitrinitarians Arrians Antiscripturiâ—s Anabaptists c. Doctrine of devils Vented by Satans emissaries and instruments About the time of Pope Hildebrand letters were disperst up and down that were said to be sent from hell wherein the devil gives great thanks to the Popish Clergy for the great multitudes of fouls that by their seductions came thronging to hell more then ever in any age before Mat. Paâ— iâ— Hist an Dom. 1072. Verse 2. Speaking lies in hypocrisie It was grown to a common Proverb A Frier a lier One of them undertook to shew a feather of the wing of the Angel Gabriel The Pope to honour and encourage Tyrone the Rebel sent him but who will believe it a plume of Phoenix feathers The poor people are perswaded to believe that the thunder of the Popes Excommunication bath so blasted the English heretikes that their faces are grown all black and ugly as devils their eyes and looks gastly their breaths noisome and pestilent c. that they are grown barbarous and eat children blaspheme God and all his Saints c. Having their consciences seared There 's more hope of a sore then of a seared conscience a dead and dedolent disposition Ephes 4. a heart that hath contracted a kinde of hoof Verse 3. Forbidding to marry Papists forbid some to marry at any time as the Clergy all at some times and that not as a precept of conveniency but necessity and holinesse In Anselms time cursed Sodomitry and adultery passed free without punishment where godly matrimony could finde no mercy Act. and Mon. fol. 1061. Ibid. 790 The Cardinal of Cremona after his stout replying in the Councel of London against the married estate of Priests was shamefully taken the night following with a notable harlot They hold that it is far better for a Priest to keep many whores then to have a wife This say they is the heresie of the Nicolaiâ—ns To abstain from meants As the Papists superstitiously do upon certain daies when to eat an egge is punished with imprisonment c. Qui autem to tam diem Dominicam vacat temulentiae scortu aleae audit bellow homo Schol. in epist ad episc Basil saith Erasmus But he that spends the whole Lords-day in drinking dicing and drabbing is let go son a good-fellow Which God hath created He made the grasse before he made the beasts and the beasts before man that all might have food convenient for them Verse 4. If it be received with thankesgiving Whilest we tast the sweetnesse of the Creatour in the creature and are stirted up thereby to praise his name Doves at every grain they pick look upwards as giving thanks The Elephant is said to turn up towards heaven the first sprig or branch that he seedeth on c. Birds chirp and sing to their maker Verse 5. By the Word Of permission Act. 10.15 and of promise a new right purchased by Christ c. And praier For his leave and blessing that staffe of bread c. This is to eat to the Lord Rom. 14.6 to imitate Christ Mat. 14. Paul Act. 27 35. Samuel 1 Sam. 9.13 Verse 6. Nourished up in the Words Such are fittest to be made Ministers as have been well bred and inured to the reading of the Scriptures as have sucked in holy learning together with their mothers milk Verse 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Make a fair excuse But refuse Gr. Shift them off set them by say thou art not at leasure to attend to them hast no time to lose upon them Poter as has horas non perdidisse said Pliny to his nephew You might have found you somewhat else to do Exercise thy self 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Te nuduÌ„ exerce Lay aside thine upper garments as runners and wrestlers use to doe and bestirre thee lustily See Heb. 12.1 Verse 8. For bodily exercise presiteth little Somewhat it doth if rightly used toward the strengthening of the body preserving of the health subduing of the slesh c. But godlinesse is profitable to all things Plutarch The Bâ—bylonians are said to make 360. severall commodities of the Palm tree but there is a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a thousand benefits to be got by godlines Godly persons are said in Latine Deum colere because they are sure by sowing to the Spirit to reap of the Spirit life everlasting Gal. 6.8 Besides that in this world they shall obtain joy and gladnesse outward and inward comforts but sorrow and sighing shall
cowardly passion and die rather then deny the truth Put on that resolution Necesse esse ut eam non ut vivam Duty must be done though I die for it Behold the devil viz. By his imps and instruments whom he acts and agitates Ephes 2.2 But he and his are over-ruled and limitted for he shall cast some of you not all of you into prison not into hell that ye may be tried noâ— destroied and this for ten daiesonly not for any long continnance A crown of life A crown without eares corrivals envy end Verse 11. Shall not be hurt of the second death Shall not be killed with death Bern as ver 23. Death shall not be to him as it is to the wicked a trap door to hell but janua vitae porta coeli an in let into life eternall Verse 12. And to the Angel See the Note on Verse 1. and on Chap. 1.16 Verse 13. Even where Satans seat is There was the Court of King Attalus discedat ab aulâ qui velit esse pius Flee thee away O thou seer for this is the Kings Court Amos 7.13 and there was after wards the seat of the Roman persecuting Proconsuls Qui ab ascensâ—re suo Satana perurgebantur as Bernard hath it Such a seat of Satan is both old and new Rome At Constantinople which was called new Rome Arrius that arch-heretike Sedens in latrina effudit intestina voided his entrails at the stool and left Mahometisme there behinde him as his excrement Yet as at Pergamus also God had a Church so hath he still even at Constantinople the Patriarch whereof Cyril hath lately set forth a Confession of the faith of those Eastern Churches agreeable in all points almost to the Protestant religion but diametrally opposite to Popery Thou holdest fast As with tooth and nail 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or by main strength Who was slain An honour not granted to the Angels of heaven as Latimer was wont to say Verse 14. I have a few things More he might have had but the Lord is not extream to mark what is amisse in his weak 2 Chron. 15.17 but willing people The high places were not removed neverthelesse though that was his fault the heart of Asa was perfect all his daies And to commit fornication Nothing hath so enriched hell saith one as fair faces These were those Balaams-blocks that Israel so stumbled at Verse 15. The doctrine of the Nicolaitans See the Note on Verse 6. In the year 1067. The Popish Synod of Mâ—llain make laws against simony and the heresie of the Nicolaitans by which later they meant Priests-marriage Brutum fulmen novum crimen Verse 16. Or else I will come unto thee He was in the midst of the seven golden Candlesticks before But when he comes to correct he comes out of his place Isa 26.21 and it is a motion that he hath no such minde to Lam 3.33 it is to do his work his strange work Isa 28.21 With the sword of my mouth With fearfull threatnings terrible executions Having vengeance in readinesse for the disobedient 1 Cor. 10.6 Elisha had his sword as well as Iâ—hu and Hazael theirs 1 King 19.17 See Hosea 6.5 Ieremy 1.10 Isa 11.4 Verse 17. Of the hidden Manna That is of Christ whom none of the Princes of this world knew but God hath revealed him to his hidden ones by the Spirit 1 Cor. 2.8 10. with Ps 83.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 and given them to taste of that heavenly gift A white stone In token of absolution With this white stone may the Saints comfort themselves against all the black coals wherewith the world seeks to besmear them If Libanius could say Let Basil praise me and I shall sing away all care who reproacheth me May not we much more say so of Christ It is be that justifieth us who shall condemn us Rom 8.34 A new name Better then that of sonnes and daughters Isa 56.5 The assurance whereof is saith Father Latimer the sweet meats of the feast of a good conscience which is unconceivable and full of glory Verse 18. Who hath his eyes c. See the Note on Chap. 1.14 15. Verse 19. The last to be more This is not every mans happinesse See the Note on verse 4. It is a disputable question saith one whether any Christian except he die soon after his conversion doe go on from strength to strength without some sensible decay of the inward power of that grace wherewith he is indued Verse 20. Thou sufferest that woman Iezabel It is a fault then not only to be active in evil but to be passive of evil Non faciendo malus sed patiendo fuit said the Poet concerning the Emperour Claudius The Kings of the earth are taxed Revel 18. for not rooting out the Romish religion and setting up the truth Verse 21. And I gave her space to repent In space comes grace proves not alwaies a true Proverb They that defer the work and say that men may repent hereafter say truly but not 〈◊〉 The branch that bears not timely fruit is cut off Ioh. 15.2 The ground that yeelds not a seasonable and sutable return is nigh unto cursing Heb. 68. The chick that comes not at the clucking of the hen becomes a prey to the kite c. Verse 22. Behold I will cast her into a bed A bed of affliction for that bed of security upon which she had stretcht her self Amos 64. God hath his season his harvest for judgement Mat. 1.30 Men may expect a time of healing and curing when they shall finde nothing else but a time of trouble Ier. 14.19 One may defer a sore till it be incurable See Ezek. 24.13 Verse 23. And I will kill her children with death All men die saith a Divine descanting upon this text but all are not killed with death As a godly man said that he did agrotare vitalitèr so godly men doe mori vitalitèr He that can so die is fit to die and the contrary O it is a wofull thing to be killed with death Verse 24. But unto you I say Here Christ comes with his fan shedding and shoaling out his own from others that they might not be disheartned when worse men were menaced The depths of Satan That science falsly so called 1 Tim. 6.20 Those profound points which the Impostours professed and pretended to as the Gnosticks who would needs be held the only knowing men the Illuminates and other seducers Verse 25. Hold fast Hold by strong hand 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tugg for it with those that would take it from you Verse 26. And keepeth my works In opposition to Iezabels works q. d. that keepeth himself unspotted of the world that foul lusk that lieth in that wicked one 1 Joh 5.19 Verse 27. And he shall rule them q.d. I will communicate my self wholly to him See Ps 139.6 7 8 9 Mat. 19.28.1 Cor. 6.2 3. Verse 28. I will give him the morning starre
hard with the Church as the Host at Nola in the story made it who when â—e was commanded by the Roman Censor to go and call the good men of the City to appear before him went to the Church-yards and there called at the graves of the dead O ye good men of Nola come away for the Roman Censor cals for your appearance Anton di Guevara for he knew not where to call for a good man alive In the very midst of Popery there were many faithfull Witnesses and more of such as like those two hundred that went out of Ierusalem after Absolom went on in the simplicity of their hearts and knew not any thing 2 Sam. 15.11 Verse 10. Salvation to our God Not to this or that Popish Saint or Mediatour of all whom these triumphers might say as that Heathen once Contemno minutos istos Deos modò Iovem Iesum propitium haâ—eam I care not for all those small-gods so I may have Jesus on my side Verse 11. And all the Angels See the Note on Chap. 5. verse 11. Verse 12. Amen Blessing and glory c. The Angels assent to what the Saints had said and adde much more according to their greater measure of knowledge and love to God Write we after this fairer copy Verse 13. And one of the Elders See the Note on Chap. 5. verse 5. Verse 14 Which came out of great tribulation It is but a delicacy that men dream of to divide Christ and his crosse The Bishop of London when he had degraded Richard Bayfeild Martyr kneeling upon the highest step of the Altar he smote him so hard on the brest with his Crosier-stâ—ff that he threw him down backward and brake his head so that he swounded Act. and Mon. And when he came to himself again he thanked God that he was delivered from the malignant Church of Antichrist and that he was come into the true Church of Christ militant and I hope shall be anon with him in the Church triumphant c. And made them white Other bloud stains what is washed in it this bloud of the spotlesse Lamb whitens and putifies Verse 15. Therefore are they Not for the whitenesse of their robes but because they are washed in the meritoricus bloud of the Lamb. Before the throâ—â— of God A good man is like a good Angel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 alwaies standing before the face of God Shall dwell among them Gr. Shall pitch his tent or shall keep the feast of Tabernâ—cles amongst them or shall hover and cover over them as the cloud did over Israel in the wildernesse so that under his shadow they shall safely and sweetly repose themselves Verse 16. They shall hunger â—o more They shall be as it were in heaven afore-hard having Malorum ademptionem bonorum adeptionem freedome from evil and fruition of good here in part hereafter in all fulnessâ— Verse 17. Shall â—eed them and lead them An allusion to Psal 23.2 where David seems to resemble powerfull and flourishing doctrine to green pastures and the secret and sweet comforts of the Sacraments to the 〈◊〉 waters And Gâ—d shall Wipe away A metaphor from a nurse which not only suckleth her dear childe crying for hunger but also wipes off the tears CHAP. VIII Verse 1. The seventh seal THe businesse or parts whereof are the seven Trumpets that sound a dreadfull alarm against the Roman Empire ready now to be 〈◊〉 for the innocent bloud and upon the instant sait of the Martyrs Chap 6.10 There was silence in heaven That is in the Church on earth often called The kingdome of heaven This half-hours silence was either for horrour and admiration or for attent expectation or as some will have it for religious awe and devotion Christ the high-Priest being now about to offer incense those praiers of the Martyrs Chap. 6.10 there was in the Church as used to be in the Temple at such times Luk. 1.10 a deep silence So among the Romans the people in time of worship were enjoyned favere linguis to spare their tongues And in the Greek Church one stood up and cried 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 peace people leave off your discourses Verse 2. Which stood before God In a waiting posture ready prâ—st to do his pleasure Seven trumpets To be sounded at seven severall times to shew that God suffereth not his whole wrath to arise at once against his creatures but piece-meal and by degrees proving if peradventure they will repent and recover out of the snare of the devil who are taken captive by him at his will Verse 3. And another Angel An Angel after another manner not by nature but by office Christ the Angel of the Covenant For I cannot be of his minde M Brightâ—â— who makes this Angel to be Constantine the odours given him to be the power of calling the Councel the golden Altar Christ in the midst of this holy Assembly the thick cloud of odours the whole matter brought most happily to effect which yet is a pious interpretation Much incense The merit of his own precious passion Heb. 9.24 13.5 Vpon the golden Altar viz. Himself as Chap. 6.9 Verse 4. The smoke of the incense The Saints praiers perfumed with Christs odours ascended that is were highly accepted in heaven Act. 10.4 Exod. 3.9 as well appeared by the answer they had here in the next verse The Church is said To ascend out of the wildernesse of this world with pillars of smoke Cant. 3.6 Elationibus fumi with raised affections and with strong supplications wherein how many sweet spices are burned together by the fire of faith as humility love c. All which would stinke worse in Gods nostrils then the onions and garlick of Egypt did not Christ perfume and present them Verse 5. And filled it with fire of the Altar Fire in token of fierce indignation and from the Altar for Christ came to send fire on the earth Luk. 12.49 Fire and sword Mat. 10.34 through mens singular corruption and obstinacy in not stooping to the scepter of this Kingdome Hence fire and brim-stone storme and tempest A fearfull looking for of judgement and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries Heb. 10.27 From the same Altar Christ praiers go up vengeance comes down Verse 6. Prepared themselves Having got sign as it were by that which Christ did in the former verse they set too in order to sound their trumpets Verse 7. Hail and fire mingled with bloud In stead of the fire of love saith one mixed with the sweet rain of healthsome doctrine and spirit of Christian lenity the fire of contention M Forbes and frosty hail-stones of destruction ruled all Yea so far herein were the Bishops carried one against another as it is monstrous what malice falshood and cruelty they practised especially in the times of Constanâ— Constantius and Valens the Arrian Emperours And the third part of trees Men of maâ—k And all green grasse Meaner men
as holy Priests With golden girdles Here an Interpreter gives this note M. Bernard That they which are leud and vicious though never so wise politike rich and valiant shall not be Gods instruments to plague Antichrist and his kingdom This their priestly apparel sheweth also how that these Angels come forth in the Churches cause and for her sake without any other by and sinister respect Verse 7. And one of the four beasts The faithfull Pastours by their divine discourses of the pure worship of God the intolerable tyranny of Antichrist c. stirre up the spirits of Gods servants to set them selves against that man of sinne and to execute upon him the judgement written This honour have all his Saints Psal 149. ult Seven golden vials Vessels of large content but narrow mouths they pour out slowly but drench deeply and distill effectually the wrath of God Full of the Wrath of God Filled out of the cup of his wrath mentioned in the former Chapter Verse 8. And the Temple was filled This shews that God graciously approves and miraculously protects the reformed Churches See Exod. 40.34 35. 1 King 8.10 So he did the Hussites in Bohemia All Germany was up in arms against them Actum jam de Hussitis videbatur Verùm Germani nondum viso hoste Panico terrore perculsi diffugerunt saith the Historian And when things seemed to be in a desperate condition the Germans smitten with a panick terrour fled all away before they had looked the enemy in the face How wonderfully is Geneva preserved in the midst of many mighty enemies What should I speak of Rochel relieved and Leiden rescued both from heaven We of this Nation have lately seen as much of Gods glory and power in our Temple as ever did any Till the seven plagues No Anticristian could understand the end of the present plagues till eaten into a better minde Vexatio dat intellectum CHAP. XVI Verse 1. Go your waies A Proof of the divine calling of the Ministers of the Gospel Pour out the vials See the Note on Chap. 15.7 Vpon the earth Upon Antichrist and his adherenrs Roma facta est ex aurea ferrea ex ferrea terrea said one of her own favourites Verse 2. And the first went They went not all at once Note the patience of God waiting mens return unto him Verse 2. Vpon the earth Antichrists foot-stool his branded slaves A noisome and grievous sore The French disease say some the devils disease say others viz. Spite and envy at the Reformation wrought in Bohemia Germany England c. upon the discovery of the Papists hypocrisie and filthines Verse 3. Vpon the sea The Popish Councel called a Sea from the concourse thereunto from all parts that of Trent especially with their deadly decrees making the traditions of the Church the rule of faith c. Died in the sea As the fishes of Jordan do as soon as they fall into the Mare mortuum and as the fishes in the river Nilus did when the waters thereof were turned into bloud Verse 4. Vpon the rivers c. The persecutours and impostours the Jesuites especially who have lately added twelve new Articles by the authority of Pope Pius 4. raised out of the Councel of Trent and added to the Nicen Creed Seâ— these â— Arâ—ic in thâ— epâ—st prâ—fix 〈◊〉 B Iewels works to be received with others as the true Catholike faith to be believed by as many as shall be saved And those that receive them not are not suffered to live amongst them This is worse then the six Articles in Henry the eighths time that whip with six cords as they cald it Verse 5. The angel of the Waters The same that poured forth his vial upon the waters vers 4 Thou art righteous God 's judgements are sometimes secret Justin l. 1. Val. Max. Act. and Mon. Camden See the Mirrour or Lookâ—â—â—-giassè both sor Saints and sinners set forth by my most loving and highly honoured friend M. San. Clark Pastour and Preacher of the Word at Bennet-Fink London unto whom not only Fâ—give thanks for his help in this publicatioÌ„ but also all the Churches that shall get good thereby alwaies just and so to be acknowledged We shall one day see the reason of all and say as Jehu did 2 King 9 36. Verse 6. For they have shed As Minerius that monster the cruell Duke of Alva bloudy Bonner the Guises and other of the Popes Champions Thou hast given them bloud to drink As Tomyris dealt by Cyrus the Parthians by Crassus the Romans by those Jews that cried out His bloud be upon us c. as our laws do by the Priests and Jesuites and those that receive them proceeding against such as are traitours to the State The putting out of the French Kings eyes who promised before with his eyes to see one of Gods true servants burned The death of Charls the 9 of France authour of the Parisian massacre by exceeding bleeding at sundry parts of his body who seeth not to be the just hand of God upon them This Charles beholding the bloudy bodies of the butchered Protestants in that execrable massacre and feeding his eye upon that wofull spectacle breathed out this bloudy speech Quam bonus est odor hostis mortui How sweet is the smell of a 〈◊〉 enemy and shortly after breathed out his accursed soul Inter horribilium blasphemiarum diras saith the Historian tantum sanguinis vim projiciens c. after the Beza had fore-warned him but in vain by that verse Tu vero Herodes sanguinolente time So Julian Attilas Felix of Wartenburg Henry 3. of France stabbed in the same chamber wherein he then being Duke of Aniou had contrived the French Massacre So let thine enemies perish O Lord. Talia quisque luat qualia quisque facit Verse 7. And I heard another That in the mouth oâ— two witnesses this truth might be established Let God be justified and every mouth stopped Out of the altar Under which lìe the souls of those that were slain for the testimony of Jesus Chap. 6. Verse 8. Vpon the Sun The Popes supremacy say some the Scriptures say others by the light whereof they are laid open to the world dancing naked in a net and yet not seeing their own nakednesse Act. and Mon. fol. 1657. as Mr Philpos Martyr told Chadsey and by the dint whereof Hâ—s 6.5 God smites the earth Isa 11.4 that is the consciences of these Popelings glued to the earth He even hews them by his prophets and slaies them by the words of his mouth Verse 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And men were scorched Or parched scalded roasted This is by accident in regard of the Scriptures for the Lord speaketh peace to his people and his word is good to those that are good Orig. in Num. Homil. 27. Mic. 2.7 But as Origen saith of devils so may we say of Papists there is no greater torment to them then the Word of
crowned the very same day that the year before Daniel he had been banished the Realm No more death For mortality shall be swallowed up of life Neither sorrow 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Properly for losse of friends for we shall inseparably and everlastingly enjoy them We shall sit down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob have communion with them not only as godly men but as such and such godly men And if with them why not with others whom we have known and loved in the body Nor crying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Qualis est in tragaedijs saith Aretius Nor any more pain Or Hard labour for a livelyhood to be gotten with the sweat either of brow or brain For the former things c. The Latins call prosperous things Res secundas because they are to be had hereafter they are not the first things Verse 5. Write for these words are faithfull Though few men will believe them for if they did what would they not doe or sorgo to get heaven Cleombrotus reading Plato's book of the immortality of the soul was so ravished with the conceit thereof that he cast himself headlong into the sea But how many reading this better book of heavens happinesse are no whit wrought upon thereby or in the least measure moved to affect those things above that run parallel with the life of God and line of eternity Verse 6. It is done As the punishment of the wicked Chap. 16.17 See the Note there So the reward of the righteous is performed and accomplished I will give unto him Whereas some good soul might say I would it were once done Have patience saith God I will shortly give unto him that is athirst to drink of that torrent of pleasure that runs at my right hand without any either let or loathing Clitorio quicunque sitim de fonte levarit Vina fugit gaudetque meris abstemius undis Ovid Metamâ— Of the water of life freely But merit-mongers will not have it freely therefore they shall go without it Coelum gratis non accipiam saith Viega Verse 7. He that overcometh Gr. He that is overcoming 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or not yeelding though he hath not yet overcome If he but doing at it and do not yeeld up the bucklers Shall inherit all things Tanquam haeres ex asse All Gods servants are sons and every son an heir Verse 8. But the fearfull Cowardly recreants white-livered milk-sops that pull in their horns for every pile of grasse that toucheth them that are afraid of every new step saying as Caesar at Rubicon Yet we may go back that follow Christ afar off as Peter that tremble after him as the people did after Saul 1 Sam. 13 7. and the next news is They were scattered from him vers 11. These lead the ring-dance of this rout of reprobates and are so hated of Christ that he will not imploy them so farre as to break a pitcher or to bear a torch Judg. 7. And unbelieving Therefore fearfull because unbelieving for faith fears no fray-bugs but why do ye fear ye small-faiths saith our Saviour Verse 9. One of the seven Angels The same likely that Chap. 17.1 had shewed him the damnation of the Whore So studious and officious are the Angels to serve the Saints Heb. 1.14 The Bride the lambs wife Vxor fulget radijs mariti saith the Civilian so is it here Verse 10. To a great and high mountain As Moses was carried up into mount Nebo that from thence he might view the promised land He that would contemplate heaven must soar aloft flie an high pitch c. Take a turn with Christ in mount Tabor and be transfigured Verse 11. Having the glory of God Who putteth upon her his own comelines Ezek 16. as Rachel was decked with Isaac's jewels Even like a Jasper And so like God himself who is set out by a Jasper Chap. 4.3 Clear as Crystall There is no such jasper in nature as is thus clear but such an one must here be imagined Nec Christus nec coelum patitur hyperbolen Verse 12. And had a wall Far better then that of Babylon Indeed this celestiall China needs no wall to divide it from the Tartars this is Arabia Foelix the people whereof live in security and fear no enemy And had twelve gates Thebes had an hundred gates and was therefore called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but nothing so well set and so commodious for passengers as this City with twelve gates Twelve Angels As porters to let in not as swordmen to keep out as the Angel that stood Centinel at the porch of Paradise Gen. 3. Verse 13. On the East three gates The Church is collected and heaven filled from all quarters of the earth Hence it is by one compared to the Samaritans Inne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because it receiveth and lodgeth all strangers that come In the Synagogue there was not lodging for all the Ammonites and the Moabites were excluded the Congregation of Israel But Christ was born in an Inne to signifie that in his Kingdom all may be entertained He is called the second Adam the Greek letters of which name as Cyprian noteth do severally signifie all the quarters of the earth His garments were divided into four parts because out of what coast or part soever we come saith a Divine Christ hath garments to cloath us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and room to receive us There are that have observed that the name of God in all the chief languages consisteth of four letters as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Deâ— Dien Gott c. to intimate that he hath his people in all the four quarters of the earth out of all countries nations and languages Verse 24. And the wall A wall the Church hath about it and a well within it vers 6. A garden enclosed is my sister my spouse a spring shut up a fountain sealed Cant. 4.12 This wall of the Church hath twelve foundations that is Christ the only foundation 1 Cor. 3.11 first laid by the twelve Apostles In whose names also the summe of Christian faith is made up in those twelve Articles of the Creed Discessuri ab invicem Apostoli normam praedication is in commune constituunt saith Cyprian Cyp de symbâ—l Apost l. The Apostles being to be severed into severall Countries to preach the Gospel agreed upon this as the summe and substance of their Sermons It was called Symbolum a sign or badge to distinguish Christians from unbelievers Had twelve foundations Foundation is taken either for Christ 1 Cor. 3.11 Mat. 16.16 or for the doctrine of the Apostles teaching salvation only by Jesus Christ as Ephes 2.20 and here The Papists have lately added twelve new Articles raised out of the Councel of Trent to be believed by as many as shall be saved as above hath been noted Verse 15. Had a golden reed Not those twelve Trent-Articles or any humane invention but
clothing to some he gave his shoes some he helped with houshold-stuff to other-some he ministred wholsome exhortation of good doctrine Ibid 8 11. One poor woman there was brought to bed and had no bed to lie in to whom he brought his own bed himself content to lie in the straw Being taken and put in prison he ministred to all his fellow-prisoners at table being contented himself with a few scraps that they left c. Dr Tailour Martyr made it his custome once in a fornight at least to call upon Sr Henry Doyle and other of the rich Cloth-makers in his Parish to go with him to the Almeshouse and there to see how the poor lived what they lacked in meat drink clothing bedding or any other necessaries Ibid. 1388. The like did he also to other poor men that had many children or were sick Then would he exhort and comfort them and where he found cause rebuke the unruly this was spirituall alms and what they lacked that gave he after his power and what he was not able he caused the rich to minister unto them M Ward of Ipâ—wich his Christ is all in all Davids desire by Rob. Abbot Mr Fox that reports all the former never denied any one that asked him ought for Jesus sake And being once asked Whether he knew a certain poor man that had received succour from him in time of trouble he answered I remember him well I tell you I forget Lords and Ladies to remember such Twice I was saith the same Mr Fox in Bishop Hoopers house at Worcester where in his Common-hall I saw a table spred with good store of meat and beset full of beggars and poor folk And I asking his servants what this meant they told me that every day their Lord and masters manner was to have customably to dinner a certain number of poor folk of the said City by course who were served by four at amesse with wholsome meats And when they were served Ibid. 1369 being before examined by him or his deputies of the Lords-praier the Articles of the faith and ten Commandments then he himself sat down to dinner and not before being as it is else where storied of him Spare of diet sparer of words sparest of time Amadeus Duke of Savoy afterwards made Pope of Rome anno 1440. Ibid. being asked by certain Embassadours whether he had any hunting-dogs to shew them told them they should see them the next day And getting together a great sort of poor folk he set them with him at his own Table on the morrow and said to the Embassadours These be the dogs that I keep daily and wherewith I use to hunt after heaven Hi sunt canes â—â—ei quos aâ—o quoâ—idâ—è c. Fâ—râ— Chroâ—ol Hist hobem Specul belli sacri p 252. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Xenoph Dio in vita M. Aâ—tonini Philosoâ—hi Act. and Mon. fol 958. A like course was taken by Charles the great and by Iâ—go King of Draves and Vâ—neds as Aeneas Sylvius reporteth Of a certain Bishop of Lincolne it is said That he never thought he had that thing that he did not give The same is reported of our Generall Norrice and before them both of Cyrus the King and of Antonius the Emperour Queen Anne Bullen carried ever about her a little purse for the poor thinking no day well spent wherein some man had not fared the better by some benefit at her hand She kept her maids and such as were about her so imploied in sowing and working garments for the poor that neither was there seen any idlenesse then among them nor any leisure to follow foolish pastimes So did Dorcas before her and so before them both Bathsheba or the good houswife that she commends to her son Solomon She laieth her hands to the spindle and her hands hold the distaffe Prov. 31 19 But why this And what need she be so work-brittle being a Queen It followeth in the next words vers â—0 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor yea she reacheth forth her hands to the needy She was of his minde belike that said and suffered for so saying in King Henry the 8. daies That alms should not be given untill it sweat in a mans hand Mr Bradford Martyr counted that hour lost Ibid 765. wherein he did not some good with his tongue pen or purse Ibid. 1457. The young Lord Harrington gave the tenth of his allowance which was a thousand pounds a year during his minority to the poor and other good uses as appeared by his accounts after his death besides what he gave in the way as he walked and travelled The testimony annexed to his funerall sermoÌ„ by M. Stock p. 92 In his life prefixed to his Prototypes by M. Henry Sâ—uddâ—r which he did often and much c. M. Whately also that late painfull and powerfull Preacher of Gods Word at Banbury as he was much in pressing this duty of liberality so himself abounded in works of mercy He set apart and expended for the space of many years for good uses the tenth part of his yearly comings in both out of his temporall and Ecclesiasticall means of maintenance Neither may I here forget that late reverend man of God M. John Ballam Pastour of the Church at Evesham my spirituall father and bountifull benefactour nor yet M. Simon Trappe late Minister of Gods Word at Stratford upon Avon my dear and near kinsman both in the flesh and in the faith Both which out of that little they had for God saw fit to hold them here to strait allowance 1 Cor. 16 2. Mâ—r. 12.41 Proponamus â—â— nobis uâ— Archiâ—â—â—sâ—opun sic Arcbâ—dâ—aâ—enil c. 〈◊〉 bâ—st Christ Plerisque munus â—ulum pâ—â—â—cè offâ—renâ—â—â—uâ— c. Beza in loc Docet Aâ—ido teles liberalitatem metiendam esse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 4. Liheraâ—â—tas non cumuâ—o patri no 〈◊〉 sed largitatatis affectu desiâ—iâ—ur Ambr. Reas 1 who deserved a larger proportion but a rich stone is of no lesse worth when locked up in a wicker casket then when set in a Bishops mitre they laid up by them weekly in store somewhat for the poor of that their little and they were no losers by it The poor mans box is Christs treasury saith a Father And he sits by as an Arch-deacon to see what every man casts into this treasury and with what affection The people Mark 12.41 last in money brasse money saith the Originall somewhat they must doe for none might appear empty-handed before the Lord but they would do as little as might be they cast in saith the Text not silver or gold but brasse-money into the treasury And many that where rich cast in much But the poor widdow cast in more then all the rest saith our Saviour lesse in Arithmeticall proportion but more in Geometricall because all she had And women are noted for more hard and tenacious then men whence in is
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 4.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 7.31 Psal 39.7 Isa 61.6 Glory is in Greek translated riches 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Sam 25.6 Sua cuique civitati religio Laeli est nostra nobis Stantibus Hierosolymis c. Pro L. Flacco The glory of this world is but a blaze This if it were well considered by those ambitious Bishops they would not buy repentance at so dear a rate S. Luke cals all Agrippa's pomp a phantafie S. Mathew all the worlds glory an opinion S. Paul a mathematicall figure that is something in the minde nothing out of it surely in a vain shew walketh every man saith David surely he disquiets himself in vain heaping up riches and by riches honours according to that of Labans sons murmuring against Jacob Gen. 31.1 Of that which was our fathers hath he made all this glory that is all this wealth as the Chaldee expoundeth it for riches make glory get respect Thus shall ye say to him that liveth saith David of rich Nabal for poor men are looked upon as dead men out of minde Hence Tully judgeth the Jews religion to be naught because they were so oft overcome and impoverished but the religion of Rome to be right because the Romans prospered and became Lords of the world Hence Aigoland King of Arragon coming to the Court of Charles the great and promising to be baptized when he saw many poor people expecting alms from the Emperours table and asking what they were was answered That they were the servants of God he speedily returned and desperately protested That he would not serve that God which could no better preferre and provide for his servants But Christs Kingdom is not of this world I know thy poverty Heyl. Geog p. 69. saith he to one of those seven Churches but thou art rich rich in faith in good works c. Isa 43 4. And thou art honourable For since thou wast precious in my sight thou hast been honourable and I have loved thee Vertue is a thousand Escucheons And nothing so ennobles as grace Gen 1.20 21. and being within the Covenant I have blessed Ishmael twelve Princes shall he beget but my Covenant will I establish with Isaac The Nobles of Isael made their staves the ensignes haply of their honour instruments of the common good Numb 21.18 And Whosoever will be great among you let him be your servant Mat. 20.26 Those Nobles of Tekoah are much blamed and blemished for that they put not their necks to the Lords yoke Nehem. 3.1 But Theodosius shall ever be renowned That held it a greater honour to be a member of the Church then Head of the Empire The righteous shall be bad in everlasting remembrance but the name of the wicked shall rot as Beckets now doth Novi bi sancti de veteribus mibi dubium mo veat dixit Bes sarion Dan hist 99. who was so solemnly Sainted by the Pope And yet 48. years after saith the French History it was disputed among the Doctours of Paris whether he were damned or saved And one Roger a Norman maintained That this Saint had justly deserved death and suffered not as a Martyr but malefactour This was to call a spade a spade according to that of the Prophet fore-telling that in the kingdome of Christ Isa 32.5 The vile person should no more be called liberall nor the churl said to be bountifull Honor est in honorante Now in a godly mans eyes a vile person though never so great is contemned but he honoureth them that fear the Lord Equidem pluris jecerim just am commendationðilde unius alicujas pij boni viri quam admira tionem stultam totius multitudinu Rolloc in Joh. 2.28 1 Sam. 2.30 Ruth 4.11 Prov. 8 18. Prov. 22.4 Psal 15.4 And I had much rather saith a worthy Divine Have the just commendation of one godly wise man then the foolish admiration of a whole multitude To be praised of a praiselesse person is no praise therefore the Lord Christ suffered not the devil to confesse him or tell who he was But happy is he that in all things serving Christ is acceptable to God and approved of men Rom. 14.18 This is a Jew inwardly his praise is not of men but of God who bath promised to honour them that honour him and taketh order that they that doe worthily in Ephratu shall be famous in Bethlehem Honour is often promised as a reward of religion and was so performed to David when whatsoever he did pleased the people To Solomon for besides wealth and wisdome God gave him honour It is God that fashioneth mens opinions therefore Paul praies that his service might be accepted of the Saints Rom 15.31 yet was it the bringing of alms and such usually are welcome It is God also that gives preferment Promotion comes neither from East nor West no nor yet from the South where the warm Sun-shine is but from the Lord. Psal And 75.6 yet how many go daily from his blessing into the warm Sunne as we say nay fetch an errand to hell as some of the Popes did for honours and high places No sooner can they hear flattering promises of preferment as it were the melody of Nebuchadnezzars instruments but they presently fall down and worship the Babylonish idol How much better those three children And before them Joseph who would not yeeld to his wanton mistresse though he might have been preferred for it Moses who refused to be called the sonne of Pharaohs daughter and heir of two Kingdoms as some say Origen who was content rather to continue a poor Catechist at Alexandria in daily fear of death Arrianus Maturus caret ambuitu ideo se in equestri gradu teauit cum facitè posset ascendere altissi mum Plin epist l. 3 ep 2. Sardinius Gallus cum posset Senator esse Gartbaginem migravit c. Dro. in vita Claudij Numerianus Grammaticus eum magnos honores opesque c◠sequi potuisset tamen nosuit Ib. in Severo Alsted Chronol p. 382. D. Prideaux Lect. Act. and Mon. fol. 1578. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 then to be ruffling at Court with Plotinus his fellow-pupill who refused to be a Christian Some Heathens have rejected honours that have been offered them for the very cumber and danger that attend them High seats are never but uneasie and crowns themselves oft stuft with thorns Therefore Frederike sir-named the Wise Electour of Saxony when the Empire of Germany was offered unto him scriously refused it Scriously I say and not for fashion only as the Canonists command Bishops to doe when the question is asked Visne episcopare Whereunto the Bishop of Meltins craftily answered Nolens volo volens nolo But did men know the weight of that charge Onus ipsis etiam angelis tremendum saith Chrysostome they would neither be so hasty to get it nor so loth to forgoe it Father Latimer being to resign up his Bishoprick when