dissemble or take away the confirmation of faith But here masking wholy vnder a vizard of the Anabaptistes Infants saith he who while they are in baptizing crye struggle either vnderstand what is doing or not yf they doe not vnderstand neyther doe they beleeue and are in vaine baptized then the Anabaptistes preuaile yf they vnderstand then are they willfull sinners sacrilegious then againe the Anabaptistes preuaile Indeed the stage-man playeth his part cunningely But what if with an armed dilemma as he termeth it I should lykewise say The Iesuite that writt this is eyther a good man or a cauiller If a good man he should not so haue tyed then wee haue the better if a cauiller he should not be beleeued then againe we haue the better Is not this the like reason Either horne and part of the Iesuites dilemma is deceiptfull and in the former there is a double fallacy First froÌ„ that which is but partely true he concludeth as if it were simply and wholy true as where he reasoneth thus Infants do not vnderstand ergo they do not beleue it is true of the actes and vse not of the possibilitie of beleefe I meane that possibilitie not which wee haue by nature but by grace of that promise I will be thy God the God of thy seede Secondly he disputeth from that which is no cause as if it were a true cause thus Infants do not actually beleeue ergo they ought not to be baptized For the cause of baptizing of infants is not the actuall vnderstandinge or beleefe of infants but the promise pertaining vnto them as being children of the couenant Church as Peter wittnesseth Let every one be baptized in the name of Iesus Christ c. because to you and to your children is the promise made In the latter part of his argument is the same sophisme Infantes when they are to be baptized cry struggle often vse mishapen distorted motions But why is it because they striue against the sacred action of baptisme no but because some other thinge grieueth them as that they endure some passion paynefull to their tender infancye But what thinkes the Iesuit of those Infants which were vnder bloudy circumcision what thinkes he of Abraham an oldeman of the males of his familye of the Sichemites was there thinkes he no struggling no mishapen or distorted motion Or why should he rather terme infants sacrilegious then he doth his Vestal Nannes who in tune of their confession penance and communicating so lessoned by the Eâ—â—ers do often let fall many à tender teare who in sacred actions vse more misshapen motions then the Preist at Masse nay did the Iesuit himselfe never weep for devotion in saying Masse and so proue himselfe sacrilegious Bellarmineâ— so great a Doctor me thinke should be a shamed of so childish trifles Here what Austin sayth of this matter Wheras infants striue as much as they can by cryes shrinkings it is not imputed vnto them all their resistance is accounted nothing c. because they know so little what they doe that they are not thought to do it the like vnto this we may read in his 23 Epistle in his 4. booke 25. Chapter of Baptisme against the Donatistes In the end he dismisseth Luther with this fruÌ„p I pray 〈◊〉 what Gospell Apostle or Prophet did he euer read that Sacraments of the new Testament were seals of the worde of God was it belike in the Gospell of Saint Luther But where as he sayth were seales of the worde of God for were seales of the promise of grace it is but a cunning peece of forgery thereby to make vs seeme to repose all the authority of Gods worde on the Sacraments which we before haue refuted Thus he presumes to pul a dead lyon by the beard whose very lookes were he liuing he durst not abide But I pray Sir tell vs first in what Gospell you read that Sacraments are not seales of the promise of Grace nor confirme our faith but that they bestowe grace that they iustifie sanctifie if they be of the old testament by vertue of the very actioÌ„ of the receiuer if of the new by the worke done eveÌ„ without faith or any good inteÌ„t or motioÌ„ of the receiuers wheras contrary-wise the scripture speaketh playnly that Circumcision profittethâ— them that keepe the lawe but to the transgressors thereof it is vncircumcision Those which beleeue and are baptized shall be saued Wee must examine our selues 〈◊〉 so eate of this holy bread In what gospell I saye reade you this Belyke in som Layolan or GregorioÌ„ Calendar Now one the other side hearken where Luther hath reade that sacrameÌ„ts are seals of the promise of grace God sayth of circumcision That it may be a signe of the couenant betweene me and you But Paule interpreteth this couenant to be grace the righteousnesse of fayth Of the Passeover That bloud shall be vnto you for for a signe vpon those houses where yee are that seing that bloud I may passe over you But this Passeover did signifye the grace of Christ Of Baptisme Baptize all nations in the name that is in the authority commaundemâ—nt steede of the father the sonne the holy Ghost And Arise wash away thy sinnes And Baptisme is the washing of new birth Baptisme saueth vs. not that wherewith wee wash away the filth of 〈◊〉 but that whereby with a good conscience we make request vnto God Of the Lords Supper This cup is the new testameÌ„t in my blood Also Doe this in remembrance of me This if you vnderstand you haue the thinge you sought for namely where in scripture Sacraments of both lawes are said to be seales of grace For why as you vse to say should sacraments of the new testameÌ„t be of worse conditioÌ„ theÌ„ those of the old if you do not vnderstand you are not worthy to be called a maister in Israel which know not that naturally it belongeth vnto all sacraments to signifie seale vnto the faithfull some promise of grace Listen farther vnto the Fathers of the Church as Basil who confesseth plainly what you deny impudeÌ„tly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is For baptisme is the seale of saith And Tertullian speaking of baptisme in this sort This washing is a seale of our faith And Austen who termeth the sacraments certaine visible seales of heauenly thinges Do you not now blush at your owne question Where red Luther this So dismissing Luther he settes vpon Zwinglius taking vpon him to lash for sooth scourge his opinion That Sacramentes are signes of engadging our selues vnto God But we haue already proved that here the Stage-maÌ„ doth but play the caviller At the length rouzing himselfe more terribly against Caluin Betweene Luther saith he Caluin this is the difference that whereas hath â—ake the
if we yeeld to their devise we must without exception condemne all those whom any chance shall hinder from baptisme how great so ever bee their 〈◊〉 whereby Christ himselfe is possessed And in his Antidot 〈…〉 saith he that the vse of those helpes of our salvaâ—â—â—n which Christ hath giuen vnto vs may be said to be necâ—â—â—â—ry 〈◊〉 there is opportunity of receiving 〈◊〉 Howbeâ—â—â—he faithfull are alwaies to bee admonishâ—â— that the necessary of a sacrament is none other the◠〈…〉 wherevnto the power of God is not to 〈◊〉 Indeede there is no good man whose 〈…〉 tremble at that 〈◊〉 The SacrameÌ„ts ARE THINGS SVPERFLVOVS c. These are his word which thoroughly retort and refell the 〈…〉 But children are borne holy therefore they need not be baptised whence enâ—â—â—th a contempt of baptisme Nay rather contrarywise because they are borne holy that is sons and heires of the covenant they had neede be baptised For saith Calvin elsewhere they are not received into the church by baptisme for any other reason but because before they were borne they did appertaiâ—e vnto the body of Christ Otherwise the children of Christians ought no more to be baptized then the children of Turkes Wherefore Peter exhorteth the lews to be baptised in the name of Iesus Christ Wherefore because saith he the promise was made to you and to your children This therfore is the reason why baptisme is due vnto our children and not vnto the children of Turkes because they from their mothers wombs are childreÌ„ of the promise which these are not Wherefore the contempt of baptisme cannot ensue on that which vnto the godly is the chiefe motiue of desiring and ministring baptisme neither neede we to feare least that should turne to the destruction of soules wherevpon is grounded the especiall comfort of parentes children togither with the iust desire of baptisme And if the Iesuite proceed therefore to accouÌ„t the baptisme of childreÌ„ vaine because the infants of the church even from their birth are reckned in the covenant let me intreate him to learne of his maister Lombard that baptisme is a sacrament of remission of sinnes before graunted through faith But O heavy sentence pronounced by the Maister of Sentences Infantes dying vnbaptised though in carrying vnto baptisme are damned O not onely pernicious but impious also and cruell divinity of the Iesuites enthralling God vnto elements chaining his power with absolute necessity wil he nil he vnto signes and sacraments condemning no lesse bloudily then impiously vnto hel many thousands of infantes who without any faulte of theirs coulde not bee baptized yea although they be adiudged by Christ himselfe vnto the kingdome of heaven I know the authority of Austine is here pretended who writ that infantes dying vnbaptised must needes be damned but to milde and gentle damnation And if they so applaud this error of that most holy learned Father why doe they not as well mainetaine an other of the same Fathers altogither relying on the same 〈◊〉 that infantes likewise without receiving the 〈◊〉 sâ—pper cannot bee saved Heerevnto they force Saint Ambrose but the learned not without good cause doe rather thinke that Prosper was the author of those books wherein this is found then Ambrose For what Ambrose thought may appeare by his oration of the death of Valentinian as also how godly is the iudgement of Bernard concerning the godly not baptized God be mercifull vnto me For I cannot desparre of saluation for want onely of the water of baptisme I can not accoumpt faith vaine I can not confoud hope or forgoe charity especially it onely impossibility not contempt forbidde that water Last of all the Iesuite inueigheth against the opinion of Caâ—uen as impious But why because saith he it maketh the sacraments false the minister sacrilegiouse Gea himselfe altar as it were pertured For if a sacrament be a diuine oath seale wherby the promise of eternall election is sealed then as often as it falleth out which is very often that the reprobate are baptized euen so often is coÌ„meth to passe that the wordes of the sacrament are false God himselfe altar in the mouth of the minister This iniurious vntruth is more sharpe shamelesse then all the rest whose bull-warkes notwithstanding builded forsooth on the seales not of preseÌ„t grace but onely of election already past we haue sufficiently battered The rest is answered in a worde that sacraments do promise and seale vnto vs the grace of God if they be in their right vse which is not when they are received by the reprobate This only might suffice to cause the Iesuites cavill to vanish like smoake before the winde Howbeit I am content to answere more distinctly A sacrament doeth not become false though sometimes it bee in vaine ministred vnto the reprobate making shew of faith For in it selfe it stil remaineth a seale of grace though not vnto theÌ„ because they beleeue not as the sonne howsoever in it selfe glorious and glistring yet shineth it not vnto the blinde because they see not For it is a signe conditionall so offering and sealing grace vnto vs that withal on our parts it requireth faith conversion which whosoeuer bring not with them it neither bestoweth nor sealeth vnto them any thing neither is it vnto them a sacrameÌ„t that is a seale of grace through their owne fault for it is no vse but an horrible abuse of a sacrament to be received of the reprobate without faith The scripture every where teacheth that nothing can be accounted a sacrament without the vse therevnto appointed by God If thou be a transgressor of the law thy on cumcision is made vncircumcision And This is not to eate the Lordes supper And he which offereth an oxe is as if he offerea a dogge The baptisme of Simon Magus was a true sacrament but not vnto him for his hypocrisie as Peter witnesseth Thou hast no part nor fellowsh pâ—nth businesse for thy hearte is not right That sop in the Lords supper was a true sacrament but poison to Iudas not because in it selfe it was evill but because the evill man did evilly receiue that which was good To conclude by Lombard his owne confession baptisme is alike holy whether ministred vnto the good or evill therefore alike true But will you cal Peter sacrilegious because to Simon Magus a reprobate but professing the Apostolique faith he in Gods name ostered grace and to his power sealed it by baptisme But this he did not absolutely but with conditioÌ„ if he truely beleeued as Phillip said vnto the Eunuch thou maist bee baptised if thou beleeue withall thy heart If therfore he did not truely beleeue he sealed nothing vnto him as rightly faith your friend Lombard The visible baptisme did nothing profit Simon Magus because he wanted the invisible Moreover he discharged his duety which was not to search the secrets of hearts or sounde the vnmeasurable gulfe of Gods predestination but
famous and glorious over all the kingdomes of the earth for the many strange eventes and wonderful miracles shewed amongst them behould wee set this 〈◊〉 natioÌ„ now grown base coÌ„temptible troden vnder foot of the very out casts of the earth and in the very mid-day and noone-light of their prophecies so bestiâ—lly and blockisâ—ly blind that the consideratioÌ„ of this their example is able to moue and stir vp evil men I say not vnto laughter or indignation but rather to stâ—â—ke into their harts a dreadfull horror of the like iudgement Nowe that the contempt and neglect of sound doctrine touching God and our salvation is the cause of so great mischiefes miseries wee haue for testimony the voice of the prophets and of Christ himselfe Ioh. 3. 43. I am come in my Fathers name and yee receiue me not if another shall come in his owne name him will yee receiue I omit the rehearsall of other examples that one of the late most flowrishing and happy kingdome of England I will touch in a word not only because the example is exceedinge lamentable but because also there is none so very a childe in all this Auditory in vvhose time it chaunced not For of late yeares that kingdome and Countrey of Englande beeing endowed and beautified with the profession of the Gospel in the happy Reigne of King Edwarde the VI. the Churches and schooles of learning being nobly â—ounded honorably enriched religiously ordered the king himselfe though but 16. yeares of age yet so farre aboue the hope of his yeares indued with such singular piety â—dmirable learning and all Princely vertues that in all that glorious kingdome nothinge might seeme more glorious then the king and governour himselfe that kingdome of late yeares was inferiour in perfect happinesse to no nation of the earth But â—o on the suddaine through the vntimely decease of that most noble Edward a Prince of so great hope the Popish tyrannicall dominion reentered this kingdome and tooke ful possession thereof wasting and spoiling with imprisonments banishments fire and sword the most famous churches of that Realme taking some of the best renowned for learning and integrity of life without all respect either of age sexe or dignity and torturing them with fiery flames and other punishments of like barbarous cruelty and scattering and dispersing others towardes all partes and corners of the earth It is now the fifth yeere since this scourge these calamities haue leine heauy on this land and oppressed the same I rather acknowledge and bewaile our owne offences then take on me to censure the defaulteâ— of others Howbeit the report of English exiles is yet 〈◊〉 in mine eares wherin they much complained of and bewailed the ingratitude security loathing of the Gospell which had overtun their whole countrie And do we then seeme to regard our good estate we enioy more theÌ„ they I would we did When Pilate had mingled the bloud of the Galileans which he slewe with the sacrifices Vnles yee repent saith Christ yee shall all perish The tumultes and downe falles of Empires and kingdomes wherwith the church is shaken are open conuersant before our eies and threateÌ„ and menace vs some bitter scourge The Turkish cut throtes gape on vs ready to dâ—vâ—ur vs striuing by maiâ—e force to take Christ from amoÌ„g vs and by â—nâ—rusion to seate their profane Mahomeâ—â— stâ—ede of Christ in our churches of whome reporte goeth that they daily withdrawing Chritian youth vnto their bâ—asphemouâ— filthy Paganismâ— and sheading and suâ—king the bâ—oud of our aâ—â—es and kinsfolke threaten and attempt farther irruptions and inuasions on our boâ—ders That execrable sincke the Courte of Rome curseth and banneth vs crying out Away with vs that wee may be rooted out from of the earth heresies dâ—ily bud and blossome both within and without the Church and the erroures and corruptions of truth crept into the Church are beyond all number And verily nowe is that time when vnles the Lord reserue a â—eede vnto vs nought remaineth but that we should become as Sodom and Gomorrah O then let vs not be so iron harted let vs not be so bitter enemies of our owne soules that we regard not these Gods merciful visitations and threatnings of more sharper iudgements to ensue O let vs seeke the Lord while he may be found let every one take caâ—e of his owne salvation and beare in minde whatsoeuer thinges concerne the same so that if the frame of nature should on a suddaine be dissolved we may be ready cheerefully to meet the Lord in the aire this comming in glory These things which I haue hitherto spoken coÌ„cerne all in generall but more particularly vs that professe the studies of learning For it is the common consent of all that ever either founded or governed schooles or euer were conversant in them or would that others should frequent them that they who are here brought vp shoulde become not only more learned but better maÌ„nered also then other men Which trueth being so evident they describe a schoole to be A company appointed by GOD of such as teach and learne sciences meete necessarie for mankinde both touching God and other good things that the knowledge of God amoÌ„gst men be not cleane abolished that the Church be continued and preserued that manie may be made heares of life eternal that discipline be maintained and that men may enioie other honest commodities issuing out of the artes We therefore shoote wide and misse much of the mâ—â—ke we aiâ—e at vnlesse we holde it for certaine and true that our earnest and diligent endevour in these schooles and nuâ—ceâ—es of Christ Christianity must bee employed not so much for this ende that we may be the more fraught vvith humane and divine learning but rather that being beautified and adorned with all laudable behaviour towards men and holinesse to the Lord may be found acceptable in the sight of God and men And it is a truth apparaÌ„t in the Church that all the exhortations vnto civill vertues without the doctrine of piety is nought else but an estraying and swarâ—ing from God true godlinesse perfect iustice and assured salvation For the holy Ghost hath pronounced this sentence that whatsoever we doe not with intent thereby to glorifie GOD whatsoever vvee doe not in the name of CHRIST whatsoever is not of faith it is all even altogâ—ther sinne VVherefore vvere the doctrine of the Church secluded from our schooles we should not only not be able to teach or learne any thing that belongeth to true and entire vertue such as GOD requireth of vs But that small portion and remainder we haue should make vs of evill men worse and more impious and that indeed not by the increase thereof so much as by the decrease and defect of those spirituall and supernaturall qualities without which nothing is holy nothing wholsome vnto vs. And heere although the consent of men wise and iudicious may satisfie
the minde in chusing and therfore compreheÌ„deth both faculties that is to say of vnderstanding and will 3 Free-wil therfore is a facultie or power of willing or nilling chusing or refusing without constraint of its owne proper motion or aptnesse to either of both which the vnderstanding telleth is to be chosen or refused 4 Two things therfore there are which are coÌ„moÌ„ to that free wil which is in God that which is in reasonable creatures the first that they doe al things with deliberation and counsel or by helpe of the vnderstanding shewing the obiect the second that the will of its owne accord and naturall force without constraint willeth or nilleth that which the minde hath conceaved 5 But the differences betweene that freedome which is in God that which is in the creatures are three the first is in the vnderstaÌ„ding because God from al eternity doth most perfectly vnderstand and beholde all things neither can be ever be ignorant of any thing or any way erre in iudgment the second is in the will because Gods wil is ruled bowed or dependeth of no other cause theÌ„ of it selfe but the wils of Angels and men are in such sort the causes of their owne actions and motions that neverthelesse by the secret counsell of God and his power and efficacie ever and every-where present they are mooved to the choice or refusal of obiects either immediately by God or by instruments and meanes sometimes good sometimes bad such as it best pleaseth God to vse and it is impossible for them to do any thing without the eternall and immutable counsell of God The thirde is both in the vnderstanding and also in the wil because God as he knoweth all things immutably so also he hath decreed from everlasting willeth immutably all thinges which are done as they are good and permitteth them as they are sins but as in creatures the knowledg iudgmeÌ„t of things is mutable so also is their will 6 This liberty in meÌ„ is lost by sin but beginneth to be renued in ouâ— regeneratioÌ„ shal be perfectly restored in the life eternal So that the 4. divers estates of meÌ„ which are distinguished in time doe make 4. degrees therof 7 The first degree of liberty was in our nature before the fall wherein our will was fit to perfourme her whole obedience to Gods law yet not so confirmed but that being tempted by the divell vvith some shew of good it might fall from that obedience by its owne proper motion 8 Yet because the creatures perâ—isting in obedience cannot be but by confirmation from God mans will did yeeld vnto temptation in deed willingly but withal necessarily and being fallen into sinne lost that libertie vnto God which it had to make choise of evil or good and being turned from retained only liberty or freedome to evil 9 Therfore the second degree of liberty is least of al which is nature decaied but not as yet regenerat wherin though there be a wil fit to perform the external discipline of the law yet because it cannot so much as begin the internal spirituall obedience without which al external works eveÌ„ the best in shew are sin condeÌ„ned by God the wil leaveth not to chuse freely but yet it caÌ„ chuse nothing but sin because of inherent corruption and turning away from God 10 The third is in man renued but not as yet glorified in whom the will vseth her libertie freedome partly to wel doing partly to evil doing For because it is regenerate by the holy Ghost it is againe inclined to obey God but because this regeneration is not yet perfect there remaine yet some evil inclinatioÌ„s wherfore it begiÌ„neth indeed spiritual obedieÌ„ce pleasing god but caÌ„not perfit it in this life but then and so farre it doth well and persevereth in that which is good when as far as it is guided and gouerned by the holy Ghost 11. The fourth degree is the chiefest and most perfect in the life eternall or after our glorification wherin our will shall be able to vse her liberty onely to that which is good and not to choose that which is evill because of our perfect knowledge feruent loue of God thorow inclinatioÌ„ to righteousenesse and hatred of sinne and perpetuall direction of the holy Ghost 12. This doctrine of free will must needes bee retained in the church that so the cheifest most perfect libertie and immutabilitie effectinge all good in vs may be attributed onely to God as the first cause all excuse may be taken from sinners and to the end that being trewly humbled before God by knowledge of our miserie corruption we may of him alone craue the preseruation and perfiting of our saluation and being coÌ„victed by testimonies from God himselfe may the rather be mooued to faith and obedience to his worde 12. OF FAITH 1. This worde faith taken in his largest signification doth implie a certaine and sure knowledg by proofe of such witnesses as are thought vnlikly to deceaue 2. In the doctrine of the church there are foure sortes of faith mentioned an historicall a temporary a miraculous and a iustifying faith 3. Historicall faith is a knowledge perswaded of the truth of such thinges as are set downe by the Prophets and Apostles 4. Temporarie faith is a knowledg of the doctrine of the church together with ioy conceaued vpon knowledge of the truth or other true or seeming good things without applying the promise of grace to him that beleeueth and therefore without trew conuersion or final perseuerance 5. Miraculous faith or a faith wherby miracles are wrought is a sure knowledge by special revelation of Gods will of working some miracle at his request or prediction by whome it is to bee wrought 6. Iustifying faith is that knowledge wherby a man doth strongly perswade himselfe of the truth of all Gods word reuealed vnto him assuring himselfe that the promise of Gods grace through Christ pertaineth vnto him and in confidence of this fauour of God towardes him overcommeth all sorrowe and feare 7. For this confidence of iustifying faith is a motion of our will and heart composed of ioy in the certaintie of Gods present grace towards vs hope of future deliverance from all evill 8. There is therfore no faith but that which is grounded on the revealed will of God 9 The holy Ghost worketh all faith is vs either by the voice of heauenly doctrine or by immediate revelation 10. But wheras it is the wil of God ordinarily to kindle cherish confirme faith in vs by the doctrine of the church all are bound to hearken meditate theron 11. Many hypocrites in the church haue hade temporarie faith historicall faith and faith of miracles is common to the good and evill iustifying faith is in this life giuen onely to all these that are elected to eternall life 12. Iustifying faith doth alwaies comprehend in it historicall faith but is not alwaies
secoÌ„d of duties toward our neighbor but so that the former immediatly the latter is mediatly referred to God 2 Whereas the first coÌ„mandement chargeth vs to haue for god only the true god manifested in the church it doth especially coÌ„prise the internal worship of God which coÌ„sisteth in mind will hart 3 The principal parts or points of this worship are these true knowledge of God faith hope loue of God feare of God humility before God patience 4 God may in some sort bee knowne of the creatures namely as far forth as it pleaseth him to reveale himselfe to every man 5 There be two sorts of knowledge of God one simply absolutely perfect whereby God onlie knoweth himselfe that is the eternal father son holy Ghost know themselues one an other vnderstaÌ„d wholy most perfectly their whole infinit essence maner of being for none but an infinit vnderstaÌ„diÌ„g caÌ„ perfectly know that which is infinit the other in the creaturs wherby angels men do indeed vnderstaÌ„d the whole entire nature maiesty of god as being most simple but not wholy that is they vnderstand it only so far as he revealeth it vnto them 6. That knowledge of God which is in the creatures if it be compared with that wherby God vnderstandeth and knoweth himselfe is to be accoumpted imperfect but if we respect degrees therof some of it is perfect some imperfect not simplie but in comparison that is in respect of the inferior or superior degree 7. That is perfect wherby the blessed angels men in heauen know God by excellent vision or beholding of minde as much as is sufficieÌ„t for coÌ„formitie of the reasonable creature with God Imperfect is that whereby men knowe God in this life lesse then they might and therfore by Gods commaundement ought by benefit of their creation 8. Imperfect knowledge is of two sorts Christian or theological philosophical Christian knowledge is that which is learned out of the doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles Philosophical is that which is gathered from principles naturally knowne and the beholding of Gods workes in nature 9. Christian knowledge is of two sorts Spiritual or true liuely powerfull and sauing and Literal The spiritual is a knowledge of God and his will kindled in our mindes by the holy Ghost according to the worde and by the word causinge in our will and heart an inclnation and studie to knowe beleeue practize more and more those thinges which God in his â—â—rd commandeth vs to know beleeue and do The 〈◊〉 is a knowledge of God either reteined from the creation or afterwardes wrought in our mindes by the holy Ghost through the worde of God which is not accompanied with a mans desire of conforming himselfe therunto 10. Both spirituall literal knowledge is either immediate whâ—ch by instinct of the holy Ghost without ordinarie meanes or mediate which is wrought of the holy Ghost by hearinge reading and meditating on the scripture 11. The ordinarie meanes of knowinge God and that which is presciâ—bed vnto vs by God is by studie and meditation of the scriptures and therfore we must by this meanes labour to come to the knowledge of God and therefore not desire and expect from God some extraordinarie immediate enlightning except of his owne accord he offer it vnto vs and confirme it by sure certeine testimonies 12. But although God hath declared in his word how farre in this life he would be knowne of vs yet naturall testimonies of God are not superfluous because they condemne the impiety of the reprobate and confirme the saluatioÌ„ of the elect and are therfore everie where alledged by God in scripture and must be considered by vs. 13. But withall this we must be perswaded of them that they are indeede true and agreeâ—ble with Gods worde but yeâ— they are not sufficient to the true knowledge of God 14. Besides although natural testimonies doe not teach any thinge false of God yet men without the light of Gods word conceaue out of them nothing but false opinions coÌ„cerning God both because those testimonies do not shew so much as is deliuered in the worde as also because men by reason of their natiue blindenesse and corruption doe mistake misinterpret and manie waies corrupt even these verie testimonies which by natural iudgment might be vnder-stoode 15. And therfore in the first commaundement is forbid de and condemned all ignorance of such things as God hath proposed vnto vs for to know of him in his worde and in his workes as well of creation as redemption of the church also all errors of such as imagine either that there is no God as the Epicures or manie Gods as the heathen the Manichees the worshipers of angels dead men other creatures the witches the superstitious those that put confidence in creatures or those which imagine a God diverse from him which hath manifested himselfe in the church as philosophers Iews MahometaÌ„s SabelliaÌ„s ArriaÌ„s SamosateÌ„s Pâ—cumatomachians and the like which do not acknowledge that God which is the father eternal with his sonne and holie spirit coeternal XX. OF THE SIXE FIRST COMMAVNDEMENTS IN the first precept is coÌ„mauÌ„ded the immediate internal worship of God wherof the principall parts are true knowledg of God faith hope loue of God feare of God c. as in the the 3 and 10 section of the title going next before besides all this herein is forbidden contemp of God vnbeliefe doubtfulnesse and distrust in God temporarie faith apostasie carnal securitie tempting of God desperation doubt of deliuerance from sin and eternall life hatred of God inordinate loue of our selues and the creatures servile feare pride vainglorious hypocrisie impatience rashnesse 2. The second precept is a rule of our whole worship of God that wee worship not God with any kinde of worship besides that wherewith he coÌ„maunded himselfe to be worshipped wherfore it commaundeth the true forbiddeth al the fained and false worship of God especially idols and images made to represent and worship God also negligence of magistrates whereby images or other instrumentes which either doe or may easily serue to idolatrie are tolerated in places subiect to their authoritie much more the worship of theÌ„ also hypocricie and prophanesse 3. The thirde precept requireth that externall worship which everie man ought to performe that is the furtherance of the true doctriue touching God lawfull swearinge zeale for Gods glory if forbiddeth omitting wearines and corrupting the doctrine concerning God neglect of his glorie blasphemie denyal or dissemblinge the truth vnseasonable confession abuse of libertie in things indifferent scandals in life and members neglect of praier prayer made after an evill manner or not the true God or not lawfully ingratitude denyal neglect and abuse of Gods benefites refusall of necessarie otâ—es peâ—urie idolatrous vnlawfull rash swearinge vnconstancie of lightnesse in defence of Gods glorie and erringe zeale 4. The fourth precept containeth that externall worship
of God which is publique in his church or the preseruation and vse of the ministrie that is publique preaching and studie of religion administration and vse of the sacraments publique praier honor obedience dew to the ministerie that is a mainteining of the ministerie and spirituall sabbaoth which is obedience to this doctâ—ine It forbiddeth neglect of the duty of teaching corrupting and maiming of doctrine neglect of exhortation to vse the sacraments and their lawfull administration contempt of doctrine and curiositie in searching things not necessarie conteÌ„pt and prophanation of sacraments neglect of publique praier hypocriticall presence at them such recital of theÌ„ as is vnprofitable to the church with drawing others froÌ„ the ministerie abolishing the ministerie calling ther vnto men vnworthy errors about the vse of the ministerie conteÌ„pt of ministers disobedience to the ministerie ingratitude or harde dealing against the ministers neglect of schooles and schollers 5. The fifte precept commaundeth civile ordeâ— or mutuall duties of men betweene superiors and inferiors wherof some are peculiar to pâ—rents as nourishing defenc instruction and domesticall education of their children to teachers as scholastical discipline and instruction to magistrates as commaunding the discipline of the whole decalogue and putting the precepts therof in executioÌ„ by defending the innoceÌ„t punnishing offenders ordeining and executing politique lawes in common weales of maisters as to commaund their families that which is iust to giue rewardes and gouerne by domisticall discipline of such as are honorable for age or authoritie as to direct others both by examples and advise inferiors as honor that is reuerence loue obedience gratefulnesse mildnesse towards superiors Other some are commoÌ„ to all men as vniversal iustice and iustice particular distributiue diligence loue of parents grauity modestie gentlenesse Ther-fore it condemneth in parents neglect or loosenesse of education neglect of defence or foolish zeale for children In parents and teachers neglect of instructioÌ„ corrupting too much indulgence or fauor too much crueltie In magistrates slouth and tirannie in maisters granting too much libertie vniust commaundes defrauding men of their dew hyre or rewarde too much roughnesse in men of authoritie foolish couÌ„sell light and euill manners neglect of yonger sort or others whom they may help or correct in inferiors defect of reuerence loue obedience gratification mildnesse or excesse when more of these is attributed vnto them then the lawe of God doth permit But in all omitting of dutie disobedience eye-service error or respect of persons in distributing offices honors or rewardes slouth busie curiosity want of loue to parents vniust indulgence towards children ingratitude vniust gratification lightnesse pride immodesty arrogancie shew of modestie too much rigor severity too much gentlenesse 6 The sixt precept provideth for the safety of our owne and others life and body therefore commandeth particular iustice hurting no man gentlenesse mildnesse quietnesse coÌ„mutatiue iustice in punishmeÌ„ts fortitude humanity mercy friendship It forbiddeth vniust harming the life or body of our selues or others too much pitty wrath vniust anger desire of revenge strife cruelty respect of persons turbulency vniust gratificatioÌ„ for quietnesse sake cavill vpon too strict law private revenge fearefulnesse inhumanity hatred of our neighbour inordinate loue of our selues reioicing in other mens harmes waÌ„t of pitty in mens miseries lightnesse or inconstancie in contracting or dissolving friendship cousenage OF THINGS INDIFFERENT 1. OF humaine actions some are in their owne nature good or evill some indifferent 2 Of their owne nature good are such as be expressely commaunded by God which wee must needes doe according to the intente of the lawe rightlie vnderstoode 3. Evill in their owne kinde are such as are expressely forbidden in Gods lawe 4. Indifferent are such as are neyther commauÌ„ded nor exhibited by God 5. These may either be done or omitted with sinne or without sinne 6. They are sinnes when they are either done by the vnregenerate or of the regenerate but with scandall offence of themselues or others 7. They are no sinnes when they are done of the regenerate without scandal 8. They are necessarie to be done when they cannot be omitted without scandal 9. Therfore of themselues they are lawfull and good but yet indifferent and arbitrarie by accident they may be evil and vnlawful or necessary XXII OF MANS IVSTIFICATION BEFORE GOD. 1. That righteousenesse wherby we are iustified before God is the fulfilling of Gods lawe 2. Legal iustice is the fulfilling of the lawe performed by him which is named iust 3. Evangelical iustice is the punnishment of our sinnes which Christ endured for vs freely imputed by God to them that beleeue 4. Since the fall of man no man besides Christ alone in this life is iustified before God by the righteousenesse of the lawe 5. Wee are iustified onely by faith in Christ 6 And yet the righteousnes of the law must in this life be begun in al that will be saved XXIV OF THE SACRAMENTS Publiquely disputed at Heidelberg the 23. of August Anno. 1567. 1 GOd from the beginning did ioine vnto his promise of Grace certaine signes or rites which are in the church vsually called sacrameÌ„ts The proofe recited by the respondent afore disputatioÌ„ after the ancient custome of the vniversity From Adam there haue beene sacrifices which God ordained because they pleased him Circumcision vvas commaunded vnto Abraham By Moses the sorts rites of sacrifices were encreased and other ceremonies added vvhich endured vnto Christ who ordained and substituted in their steede baptisme and the mysticall supper of the Lord. 2 The sacraments are signes of the eternall covenant betweene God and the faithfull that is they are rites commaunded vnto the church by God and added to the promise of grace that by them as by visible and assured testimonies God may signifie vnto vs and witnesse that according to the promise of the gospell he doth communicate Christ and al his benefits to them vvhich vse these signes in a liuely faith that so hee may confirme vnto them a confidence assurance of this promise and the church by these visible markes may be distinguished from al other sectes publiquelie professe her faith gratefulnes towards God continue encrease the memory of Christs benefits and be bound and provoked to mutuall loue and charitie vnder one head Christ Iesus The proofe This definition is expreslie set downe Gen. 17. 11. Exod. 20. 10. 31. 14. Ezech. 20. 12. Ye shall keepe my sabbaths c. That rites were commanded vnto the church by God it appeareth by induction also the rites are added vnto the promise as visible signes thereof Because the rites of all sacramens doe not only signifie our duties toward God but especially principally Gods benefits towardes vs as circumcision signifieth remission and mortifying of sinne Deut. 30. 6. Col. 2. 2. 11. sacrifices and the Passeover the killing and eating of Christ 1. Cor. 5. 7. Ioh. 1. 19. Heb. 8. 9. 10. Neither doe we only
is called the Lords supper not because it must needs be solemnised onlie in the evening or at supper time but because it was instituted by Christ in the last supper that he made with his disciples before his death The Lords table it is called because therin the Lord feedeth vs. The sacrameÌ„t of the bodie and bloud of Christ because therein are these thingâ— communicated vnto vs. The Eucharist because therein are solemne thanks giuen vnto Christ for his death and benefits towardes vs. Synaxis or assembâ—â— because it must be celebrated in assemblies and meetings of the church It is also amongst ancient wrighters named a sacrifice because it is a representation of that propitiatorie sacrifice which Christ perfourmed on the crosse with an Eucharisticall sacrifice or sacrifice of thaÌ„ksgiuing therefore 2 The Lords supper is a sacrament of the newe testament wherein by commandement of Christ the bread and wine is in companie of the faithful distributed and receiued in remebrance of Christ that is that Christ maie witnesse vnto vs that hee feedeth vs vnto eternâ—ll life with his bodie and bloud giuen and shed for vs and we render vnto him solemne thankes for these benefits 3 The first principal end vse of the Lords supper is that Christ may thereby witnesse vnto vs that he died for vs and with his body and bloude feedeth vs vnto eternal life that by this witnessing he may cherish and increase in vs our faith by consequent this spiritual feeding The second is a thanks-giving for these benefit of Christ with a publique solemne profession of them and our duty towards Christ The thirde is a distinction of the Church from other sectes The fourth that it may be a bond of mutuall charitie amongst Christians seeing they are all made members of one bodie The fite that it may bee a bonde and occasion of frequent assemblies of the church seeing Christ would haue one bread and one cup to be distributed amongst many 4 Hence hath the Lordes supper that first vse which is a confirmation of our faith in CHRIST because CHRIST himselfe by the hand of his Ministers reacheth dealeth vnto vs this bread and cuppe in remembraunce of himselfe that is that by this token and signe as by a visible word hee may admonish vs that he died for vs and that he is vnto vs the meate of eternal life whilest hee maketh vs his members and because he annexeth a promise vnto this rite that he will feede with his owne bodie and bloud such as eate this bread in remembraÌ„ce of him when he said This is my bodie and because the holy Ghost by this visible testimony moueth our minds and harts with more certainety to beleeue the promise of the gospell 5 There is then in the Lords supper a twofold kinde of food and drinke one externall visible and earthly namely the bread and wine the other internall invisible heavenly namely the body and bloud of Christ there is also a twofolde eating and receiving the one externall visible and signifying which is the corporall receiving of bread wine that is such a receiving as is perfourmed by the handes mouth and corporall senses the other internall invisible and signified which is the fruition of the death of Christ and a spirituall engraffing vs into the bodie of Christ that is such an eating as is not performed with the hands and mouth of the bodie but by spirit and faith Lastly there is a twofold minister of this foode and cup one externall of the externall foode and cup which is the minister of the church deliuering to vs with his hand the bread wine the other an internal minister of the internal food and cup which is Christ himselfe feeding vs with his owne body and bloud 6 The signes and elements serving for coÌ„firmatioÌ„ of our faith are not the body bloud of Christ but the bread and wine for the body bloud of Christ are receiued that we may liue for euer but the bread and wine are receiued that we may bee confirmed in the certaintie of that celestiall food and more and more enioy it 7 Neither is the bread changed into the body and the wine into the bloud of Christ neither are the bread and wine abolished that so the bodie bloud of Christ may succeede in their places neither is the very body of Christ substantially present in the bread or vnder the bread or where the bread is but in the lawfull vse of the LORDS supper the holy Ghost vseth this signe and Sacrament as an instrumente to stirre vppe faith in vs whereby he dwelleth in vs more and more and ingraffeth vs into Christ making vs become iust for him and by him to gaine everlasting life 8 But when Christ saith This that is this bread is my bodie and this cup is my bloud it is a sacramental or metonymicall kinde of speech whereby is attributed to the signe the name of the thing signified that is we are taught that the bread is the Sacrament or signe of Christs bodie that is doth represent and witnesse that Christs body was offered for vs on the crosse and giuen to vs for foode of eternal life and is therefore an instrument of the holy Ghost to continue increase this foode in vs as Paule saith The bread is the communion of Christs body that is that thing whereby we are made partakers of Christs body and else where We haue al drâ—nke of one drinke into one spirit The same is meant wheÌ„ it is said that the bread is called the body of Christ by similitude which is betweene the thing signified and the signe namely because the body of Christ nourisheth our spirituall life as the bread the corporall life and because of the sure connexion of receiving the thing and the signe in the lawfull vse of a sacrament And this is that sacramentall vnion of the bread the body of Christ which is expressed by the sacramentall speech not that local coniunction which by some is devised 9 As therefore there is one body of Christ properly so called and an other sacramental which is the bread in the Eucharist or Lordes supper so also the feeding on Christs body is of two sortes the first sacramentall which is an external corporal receiving of the signe namely the bread wine the second real or spirituall which is the receiving of the body of Christ and it is to beleeue in Christ and by faith dwelling in vs by his spirit to be engraffed into his body as members ioyned to the head and branches to the vine so to be made partakers of the life death of Christ Wherby it appeareth that they which teach thus are falsely accused as if in the Lords supper they did admit nothing besides the bare and naked signes or participation of the death of Christ or his benefits or the holy Ghost alone excluding
and so almost to nothing to their owne great greife and the publique damage of the church How often and how grieuously doe Nazianzen Austin and Ambrose confesse that they haue takē these withdrawings and callings awaie from their studies They truely deale more wisely so they be not over stricte which imitate that same Basilius the Greate and Chrysostom For they so closely betooke themselues to their function that they preuented all such withdrawings as are wont eyther rashly or without respect of dutie to be imposed vpon learned men They saw well that if you admit these importune saluters at the first they will afterward challenge it as a right to be troblesome to good men by their example provoke other men to the same importunitie but that you shoulde provide for best if at the first you tooke some care prevented these vncourteous curtesies In this sort therfore did this good soule do seruice to God and the church or else tender his owne health Thou rather art churlish ô thou importune mā whosoeuer thou art which vncurteously desirest that which Vrsinus of curtesie might of duty ought to deny It is folly not to excuse him that is busied in affaires of the church but not pardon him that tendereth the health of his owne bodie is in humanitie both contrarie to the lawe of charity Although to come to the last part of my speech this our deere brother was not so hindered but that whē he was vnable to lift his handes his tongue stambering his iawes almost closed vp almost panting gaspinge for breath did yet attend to these studies duties For whē his strength failed the iuice bold in his body was decaied how often did hee thinke of this our Schoole How often did he cōplaine that he was idle amidst that painfull buisinesse of his infirmitie sicknesse How reasonablie did he persist in those wrightings he had vndertaken vntill that soule which coulde bee conquered tamed by no afflictiōs begā to fleete flie out of his brokē cōquered tamed corps ô blessed is that faithfull and wise seruant whom his Lord when hee commeth shal finde so doing happie is that man whose God is the Lord And that this man of famous memorie our beloued freind is now in that hill of Sion in the citie of the liuing God in the heauenlie Hierusalem amongst myriads of Angels in the companie church of those first begottē which are gathered into a heuēly armie with the iudge of al flesh with God the spirit of the iust that are now perfited with the mediator of the New testamēt Iesus Christ the sprinkling of the bloud of our saluatiō both those argumēts which before I vsed namely those heauēly gifts of wir faith hope study of pietie charitie humanitie and all other duties and curtesies do evidently confirme as also that most happy ende which hee made doth certainly demonstrate For not to speake of this that his soule long since lived vnto God was dead vnto this wretched and miserable world for so I speake holilie with Christes Apostle of an holy thing when mention was made vnto him of faith hope charity resurrection life glory and eternall happinesse Lord how did he assent applaude sweetelie smile at it how did he cast vp his eies to our Redeemer to whom as he had long before cōmended himselfe so also he did at length surrender his soule most peaceably so was wafted out of the deepe sea of this world into a most pleasāt harbour of salvation and rest euen the bosome embracings of our heauenlie father Who is there heere I beseech you amongst vs that wil not religiouslie crie out for ioy and wish together with me O let my soule die the death of the iust and let my ende be like vnto his For he truely saw he saw by liuelie faith heauen open vnto him Christ the Prince and perfiter of our faith sitting at the right hand of maiestie in the heauens incomparable glory provided for him the whole companie of that heauenly church welcomming him lastly all making to saluation since he did so quietly yeeld vp his soule vuto God the Creator and Father of spirits that so hee might liue with him eternallie This then is that soule noble and worthy auditors this is that sanctified soule and acceptable to God which to our great losse is of late daies takē from vs although as sometimes Cyprian and Ambrose saide wee haue not lost it but sent it before purposing our selues in good time to follow We haue not lost but repaied him as Epictetus warneth vs. For he which gaue him hath required receiued him backe againe Why then do we mourne for him whom we haue not lost We lament that so sweet and fit an instrument of Gods glorie is receiued backe from vs we lament this foreshewing of euil hanging ouer vs and now ready to befall vs we lament the present ouer-flowing of wickednes iniustice and al perfidious dealing which commonly preuaileth so much the more as it perceiueth these meanes of protection and saluation to be taken from vs. For haue we not reason to lament the losse of that instrumēt of whom it is sin to conceale any thing that may worthily be spoken in commendation I know right well noble auditors that many here present are able to speak more to this purpose then I either haue done or can do For that dailie familiarity which you had with our Vrsine hath enriched you with store of matter and variety of learning with eloquence But seeing of duty deserte I haue yeelded you the first place in this matter and you haue vouchsafed me the second you wil also I hope willingly pardon me for substituting in my roome a Diuine to speake of a Diuine and attribute vnto this man that which himselfe spake sometimes of Athanasius the stoute mainetainer of the truth and Antagonist of errors He was the Lords faithful laborer a man of God the reconciler of men the trompet of truth the pillar of the church Gods true champion constant in the faith of Christ most fit for defence against poisenous heresies who though he were peaceable moderate in all things yet could hee neuer patiently endure that for quietnesse sake God should be betraied but was a vehement warrier and an invincible Herioicke spirit in this case cōmending some moderately chastising others correcting some mens coldnesse bridling others heate providing for some that they fall not labouring that others which were fallen might be raised againe simple of maners divers in discharge of many duties wise of talke wiser in vnderstanding wherefore he so liued was so instructed and so instructed others that as his life manners might be a list limit to vpright dischardge of the like dutie so also his opinions may bee examples as it were authenticke lawes of faith and religion All this I may wel speake in commendation of this our Divine which
them by the ordinance and appointment of God in a word they deny that they are ordained to stir vp nourish confirme our faith But they maintaine that they are the causes of grace in vs that they bestow grace vpon vs that they are the instruments of iustification that of themselues they effect grace iustification and sanctification by the very worke done that is by the naturall power and vertue of the sacramental action it selfe thereunto appointed by God or as others wil by the power of God assistant to the things signed according to covenant euen without faith or in warde motion of the receiver And this force and efficacy they attribute onely to sacraments of the New Testament as for those of the Olde some there are which leaue vnto them only the bare and naked signification of iustification others besides that doe also yeeld the effect of iustification but only in regarde of the worke of the worker that is in respect of the devotion and desert of the vser And here againe some except circumcision as iustifying through the vvorke done others reckon it with the rest And this is that stale stuffe of the olde schoolâ—-men which these late iuncketters haue nowe againe sumptuously dressed and dished out to the world for delicates Especially Bellarmine the Arch-sophist of this age doth flatter himselfe in these follies that he is fully perswaded he can obscure the cleere sunne-shine And therefore insolently and ill-beseeming the duty of so great a disputant he slaundereth taunteth our Doctors most of them now dead neither shewing nor obiecting to them falshood or paralogismes in their proofes but onelie with scorne and disdaine giving them the lie the lie which strange manner of disputation is now taken vp for a fashion amongst those railers But the most worthy Divines Whitaker Danaeus Sibrandus the rest haue now so discovered the folly of that most insolent man that even the lesuites themselues are ashamed of their Galiah and beginne to repent them of his too great liberty vsed in disputation He hath prefixed before his second Tome of disputations which lately hee set forth about the sacraments A Satyricall Declamation or Libelling speech wherein he professeth that he will play Stage-part and represent vnto his Romish auditory a spectacle not vnpleasant concerning the furious contentions of Heretiques His maine purpose therein is to oppose our Doctors betweene themselues each against otheâ— and by his vpstart sophistry to de barre vs the speciall vse of the Sacraments namely the seaâ—ing of the promise of grace and strengthning of our faith But how perversely he dealeth I haue here thought good briefely to declare First of all he goeth about to shew out of Luther Carolostadius Melancthon Zwinglius and Calvin that the worde Sacrament hath beene by diverse and those our wrighters partly received partly reiected As if the Schoole-men themselues did neuer doubt or dispute about the originall signification propriety and vse of a Sacrament And if at any time our wrighters haue seemed to make question of the worde yet it is a cleere case that by consent of all it hath beene hitherto receaved in our churches and retained vnto this day without controversie Wherefore that which he speaketh of Luther and Melancthon is plainely frivolous The opinion of Carolostadius a man gauled by Luther none in a maner haue followed With Zwinglius he doth manifestly cavil For he indeed could haue wished the word Sacrament had never beene receaved by the Germanes but why truely for no other reason but because he detesteth the horrible abuse of a Sacrament in swearing thereby a thing alasse to familiar with the Germanes As for Calvin that he should little allowe of the word and reprehend it yet not accompt it a matter worthy the striuing about it is an impudent devise of the Iesuits which without shame hee might babble out in his theater at Rome froÌ„ wheÌ„ce Calvines Christian Institution is exiled They who with iudgement shal read the whole 13. Section wherevnto afterwardes the Iesuit pointeth shall see that Calvin doth not reprehend the word but the subtility of Sophists who out of the signification of the Latin word do impugne the confirmation of our faith by Sacraments Then comming to the nature of a Sacrament he bringeth forth vpon the stage Luther Zwinglius and Calvin as it were skirmishing there-about betweene themselues saying that Luther would haue the Sacramentes to be only testimonies ordained by God for the stirring vp of our faith Zwinglius certaine engadgings of our selues vnto God lastly Calvin ioining as it were both opinions into one would haue them to be signes of Gods loue towardes vs sealing our faith and testimonies againe binding vs vnto Godlinesse And this is the conflict But indeede the Iesuite would faine shew his auditors a fault where none is The consent of Calvin Luther in this point is so evident that it needes no proofe That the opinion of meâ—re tokens and markes of our binding and profession is by way of cavill fathered on Zwinglius the Iesuite himselfe afterwardes vnwittingly witnesseth where he writeth that the opinion of Carolostadius and the Anabaptistes touching meere tokens of our profession hath beene as wel by others as by Zwinglius confuted and almost quite buried And this that he writeâ—h is true For Zwinglius both elsewhere and also in his booke wrighten to the Princes of Germany doth plainly enough expouÌ„d himselfe wrighting after this manner The verie signes are so ordained by Christ himselfe that even by their analogie and proportion they prevaile very farre in leâ—ding vs vnto the thing present by faith and contemplation And afterwardes more plainely The Sacraments are not in vaine for they shewe vs the saluation giuen by God thither they â—ourne our thoughts continually EXERCISE OVER FAITH which immediatly they promise drawe vs to brotherly charity And whilest all this is don one the same Spirit worketh in vs who inspiringe somtymes without meanes somtymes with meanes draweth whither how farre and whom it pleaseth him Thus farre Zwinglius Now whâ—t could haue ben spoken more clerely touching the consent betweene Luther and Caluin then that SacrameÌ„ts were ordained for this end namely to leade vs by similitude proportion vnto the thing present by faith to declare vnto vs our saluation to turne our thoughts to exercise our faith and to be meanes and instruments of the holy Ghost Is this of Sacraments to make meere tokens markes of our Profession obligation vnto Christ and his church the Iesuite doth openly wrong our Doctors Neyther doth he stay here but hath a farther fling at euery of them by course He exclaimeth on the opinion of Luther that sacraments strenghthen our faith as so absurd that nothing possibly could be devised more absurd And why I pray Because forsooth that is the vse of miracles for this is the sume of all he saith But absurd
is the Iesuite himselfe who therefore remoueth the Generall Difference from one Kind because it agreeth with the other whereas he caÌ„not be ignorant that General Differences are coÌ„monly indifferently in all their Kindes Is not this the generall vse of all diuine signes to put men 〈◊〉 mynde of Gods pleasure benefites and to seale vnto vs the certainety of our faith in his promises for therfore doth God â—incke those signes with his word that so he might prouide for our weaknes confirme vnto vs his promises Yf the Iesuite make doubt hereof let him ouer-runne the scripture from the first Sacrament or immortality in Paradise vnto the last signes of â—he small comminge of Christ he shall finde they agree all in this as well vniuersall as particular as well those that were deliuered in things naturall as miraculous as well ordinary as extrâ—ordinary But I hope he will not deny that a miracle is a diuine signe Lombard himselfe can teach him that a Sacrament is one sorte of diuine signes Miracles therfore sacraments agree in this vse but that miracles are seales either of the whole doctrine in generall or of some certaine promise Sacraments onely especially of the promise of grace Neyther makes it to the purpose that he saith miracles are of themselues knowne depend not any way on preaching that Sacraments are not vnderstood vnlesse they be confirmed by the testimony of the word 〈…〉 speaketh 〈◊〉 the force of miracles is vaine They may indeed of themselues strike into 〈…〉 but they can no more of them selues teach confirme that heauenly doctrine whereof they are seales then can the Sacraments without declaration of their doctrine Besydes how followes this 〈…〉 themselues do not seale vnto vs the promiâ—es as 〈…〉 they do not at all seale theÌ„ Suppose miracles haue force efficacy of themselues that hinders not but that Sacraments also may haue their force efficacye by the appointment of God For both naturall miraculous and also voluntary signes doe signifie though in one sorte the flame be signified by smoake in an other the power of God by miracle in a third the promise of grace by sacrament After this he scoffes at that comparison as foolish wherein our wrighters lyken the worde to Princes Charters oâ— Letters Patentes and the Sacrament to their seales maintaining the contrary that the word rather should be called the seale of the sacrament theÌ„ the SacrameÌ„t the seale of the worde And why so Because saith hee as the seale without the wrighting hath his force and not the wrighting without the seale so the word of God euen without sacrament hath very great authority the Sacrament without the worde none at all But twise ridiculous and foolish is the Iesuite first in attributinge force to the seale without the wrighting none to the wrighting without the seale secondly in making the worde a seale because of it selfe it hath authority For tell me Bellarmine what force hath the Popes leaden bull or what doth it seale vnto you being plucked from his pardon and if you deny that the wrightings charters are acknowledged without their seales I answere that this is neither generally nor of it selfe true Did you neuer see any billes hand-writings acquittances or rescriptes of Princes ratifyed without their seales The wrightings even of good men much more of Princes most especially of God himselfe haue and deserue sufficient authority in themselues as appeareth in times past how the wrightings of Emperors were wont to bee confirmed rather by markes subscribed then by waxen seales But by accident that is by reason of the fraile faith life of man it is now come to passe that wrightings though confirmed by many seales are scarsely sure enough Now what folly is it in you of the word to make a seale because without any sacrament it is of sufficient authority whatsoeuer is in it selfe authenticke will you presently take that for a seale A seale is the visible signe of any writting whose vse is not so much to adde authority as to ascertaine vs of the truth Such a signe is not the word of God But it is more fitly compared vnto wrightings because therein God instructeth his Church in his will doth as it were bequeath vnto it certaine goods or good things It hath in it selfe authority from God the author the sacraments are thereunto added as seales not as you suppose that from them it might receiue authority but that by them God might strengthen our feeblenesse infirmity For they are visible pictures or rather the promises themselues attired in certaine ceremonyes as it were visible wordes as Austin pretely termeth them because they picture and present vnto our eies those benefites which the vvorde soundeth vnto our eares But more credit is giuen to a thinge seene then onely heard Thirdely he cavilles with Luther in this sorte If a sacrament were nothinge els but an instrument to stirre vp and nourish â—aith in vs why are infantes mad men and men asleepe sometimes baptized in the Church But why doth he not lykewise make a question of belles churches altars let your church if it will baptize madde men and men asleepe as for infantes of the church of Christ we answere that they indeed although wanting the vse of reason are notwithstanding baptized because of the commaundement and promise of God But you will saye they do no beleeue ergo baptisme confirmes not their faith Deny not what you know not They beleeâ—e not as men of age ergo beleeue they not at all yf this be true why may not this also be as true they are not reasonable as men of age therefore they are not reasonable at all To them is promised the holy Ghost workinge faith in vs to them is promised the grace of the couenantâ— the kingdome of God And although actually they do not beleeue yet why may they not as well by inclination beleeue through grace as by inclination they sin through nature As therefore they beleeue so baptisme is vnto them a seale confirming their faith But who sayd a Sacrament was nothing else but an instrument to stirre vp nourish our faith there are more vses of a Sacrament besides this But admit baptisme doe not confirme fayth in insants yet it will confirme them when they are come to age For the fruit of baptisme is not restrayned to one moment witnesse Austen Lombard himselfe Yet are they to be baptized that their adoption regeneration may be sealed vnto theÌ„ and they distinguished from Infidels which things as they are not to be accounted nothing so truly we doubt not but that through baptisme they are imparted sealed vnto the infantes of the church not as you teach because of the worke don but in regard of the Institution appointment of Christ Thus therefore the Iesuite seeth how the baptisme of Children doth not
Sacraments testimonies or scales of Gods promise Luther will haue that promise to be of present iustificatioâ— Caluin of eternall election And least he should 〈◊〉 to say an vntruth he cites a place out of Calâ—â—n Antidor conciliâ— Sess 6. ca. 5. as if he should there say that infants are baptized not to the end they might be receiued into adoption of the sonnes of God but that vnto them the promise of life might be sealed vnto whome before by grace of predestination it pertained And out of the 7. Session and 8. Canon as if there hee should wright that the right end and vse of sacraments is this to ascertaine vs of the eternall adoâ—tion grace whereunto before the foundation of the world we were predestinated Thus farre the Iesuite but all impudently without shame For Caluin in neither place speaketh one â—ote of eternall electioÌ„ or the grace of predestination Only in the former this he saith Insants are for this reason baptized because they are heires of the promise For vnlesse the promise of life did before pertaine vnto theÌ„ that man should prophane baptisme whosoeuer did but minister it vnto them In the latter these are his wordes Allthough baptisme be the hand-wrighting of that mutuall obligation which is betweene God vs yet the especiall vse thereof is to assure vs of free remission of our sinnes and perpetuall grace of adoption But is this to deny that sacraments are seales of the promise of preseÌ„t iustification Is this to restraine sacraments onely to thinges past as namely to the grace of electioÌ„ But this is Bellarmines trust and fidelity in citing the wordes and sentences of the Fathers and our Doctors Such are his two whole volumes of disputations namely a rude rable of false quotatioÌ„s which if the learned shall vouchsafe in courtesie to examine they shall soone see this doubtie disputant left as as dry as a kexe But to the purpose That the sacraments are seales of our eternall election although I deny not but that in the lawfull vsing and worthy receiuing of them it is most true yet remember I not that Caluin hath any where thus written nay the Vbiquitaries of our daies slander Caluin Beza as maintainers of a cleane contrary error to witt that they vtterly deny the sacraments to be seales of our election which also is altogether false But the simple naked truth of Calvines doctrine is this Sacraments profite beeing vsed a righte and doe exhibit seale and confirmâ— grace vnto the worthy receiuer not in regard eyther of the worke wrought or the deserte of the worker but in respecte of the promise of God instituting or ordaininge them as also through the faith of the worthy receiuer And here by grace he vnderstandeth euen our saluation it selfe together with all the precedent causes meanes and consequentes thereof such as are our free election remission of sinnes regeneration sanctification and life eternall So that by the name of grace he coÌ„priseth both grace past and already giuen togither with that which is preseÌ„t and to come but especially that which is there in the sacramente exhibited and present For euen our election before the world was is sealed and and assured vnto vs by the sacraments not as it is from aleternities decreed by God or as a thing done heretofore and past but as the present and constante decree of God reuealed in the Gospell concerning our saluation in Christ and by the same sacramentes everlasting life is confirmed not as a future good but as already we haue takeÌ„ possession thereof by faith For confirmation of this truth I could produce an infinite number of testimonies out of Caluin his Christian institution but it shall suffice to refute the Iesuite by the couÌ„ter-poyson of his CouÌ„sels Can 7. on the sacraments Caluin saith thus God in the sacrameÌ„ts doth promise grace not only of election but also of iustification Can. 4. Sacramentes are seales of the Gospell And can it bee denied but that the Gospell is a promise of actuall present iustification by faith Can 8. In baptisme God washeth vs by the bloode of his son by his spirite doth regenerate vs. In the sacrament of the supper he feedeth vs with the body and blood of Christ Can 7. of baptisme this is a principall part of baptisme that is assureth us of free remission of all our sins what is this els but present sustification and these may serue to coÌ„vince the Iesuit of a militious slaÌ„der coÌ„cerning the seals of our electioÌ„ that Calvâ—â— vnderstandeth them not onely of things past But who seeth not his absurd collection that if the Sacraments may goe for seales of our eternall election that then they shall not be seales of present iustification Are not election iustification subordinate and consequents one of the other so farre are they from abolishing one the other that the contrary should rather be infered they are seales of our eternall election therefore of iustification present grace For iustification is so proper naturall an affecte of election that there can be had no certainty of the latter without assurance of the former For they who are iustified in Christ are also chosen to him before the foundation of the world Whome God hath prâ—destinated these also hath he called iustified and glorified Now then let the Iesuite with open mouth exclaÌ„e on Caluins opinion as false absurde dangerous and impious And why forsooth false Because saith he Caluin contrary to that which the Scripture teacheth restrayneth Sacraments only vnto the thinge past namely to the grace of election But this cauill is already refuted And why absurde Because saith he he reacheth that by the Sacraments the promises are sealed vnto our consciences yet that infantes are lawfully baptised which noyther haue vse of reason nor conscience But we haue already sufficiently proued that neyther infantes borne in the Church of beleeuing parentes are altogether voyde of reason oâ— faith if we respecte the promised grace although actually they haue neyther the faith nor reason which is in those of riper yeares nor that baptising of Children confirmation of their faith by Sacraments is therfore to be differred because they doe not beleeue seeing of the Sacramentes there are other endes purposes whereunto they are ordained But why pernicious and dangerous Because he teacheth that the children of the faithfull are borne iust and holy and hath perswaded many that the sacraments are not necessary vnto the receiving of the grace of Christ Whence it is come to passe that many contemne the said sacraments and in the meane while the soules of many infantes never purified by the saving vvaters of baptisme abide in perpetuall corruption And is it in deed pernicious to teach that the children of the faithfull are borne holy that is not straungers but heires of the covenaÌ„t according to that promise I will be thy God and the God of thy seede That
therefore is likewise pernicious which the Apostle teacheth If the roote be holy the branches also are holie And the vnbeleeving wife is sanctified by her husbande else were your children vncleane but now they are holy And this is the chiefe comfort of godly parentes that they knowe that both branch and roote are sanctified that is that they their children may from their mothers wombe plead priviledge in the covenant with God by vertue of the free promise made vnto them and their seed after them But they are by nature the sonnes of wrath Who knowes not that Calvin teacheth both that they are the sonnes of wrath in regard of nature and sonnes of the covenant in respect of grace according to that of Saint Peter Yee are the sonnes of the Prophets nall election that then they shall not be seales of present iustification Are not election iustification subordinate and consequents one of the other so farre are they from abolishing one the other that the contrary should rather be infered they are seales of our eternall election therefore of iustification present grace For iustification is so proper naturall an affecte of election that there can be had no certainty of the latter without assurance of the former For they who are iustified in Christ are also chosen to him before the foundation of the world Whome God hath prodestinated those also hath he called iustified and glorified Now then let the Iesuite with open mouth exâ—â—aÌ„e on Caluins opinion as false absurde dangerous and impious And why forsooth false Because saith he Caluin contrary to that which the Scripture teacheth restrayneth Sacraments only vnto the thinge past namely to the grace of election But this cauill is already refuted And why absurde Because saith he he teacheth that by the Sacraments the promises are sealed vnto our consciences yet that infantes are lawfully baptised which neyther haue vse of reason nor conscience But we haue already sufficiently proued that neyther infantes borne in the Church of beleeuing parentes are altogether voyde of reason or faith if we respecte the promised grace although actually they haue neyther the faith nor reason which is in those of riper yeares nor that baptising of Children confirmation of their faith by Sacraments is therfore to be differred because they doe not beleeue seeing of the Scramentes there are other endes purposes whereunto they are ordained But why pernicious and dangerous Because he teacheth that the children of the faithfull are borne iust and holy and hath perswaded many that the sacraments are not necessary vnto the receiving of the grace of Christ Whence it is come to passe that many contemne the said sacraments and in the meane while the soules of many infantes never purified by the saving vvaters of baptisme abide in perpetuall corruption And is it in deed pernicious to teach that the children of the faithfull are borne holy that is not straungers but heires of the covenaÌ„t according to that promise I will be thy God and the God of thy seede That therefore is likewise pernicious which the Apostle teacheth If the roote be holy the branches also are holie And the vnbeleeving wise is sanctified by her husbande else were your children vncleane but now they are holy And this is the chiefe comfort of godly parentes that they knowe that both branch and roote are sanctified that is that they their children may from their mothers wombe plead privilege in the covenant with God by vertue of the free promise made vnto them and their seed after them But they are by nature the sonnes of wrath Who knowes not that Calvin teacheth both that they are the sonnes of wrath in regard of nature and sonnes of the covenant in respect of grace according to that of Saint Peter Yee are the sonnes of the Prophets of the covenant That is spoken against the Pelagians denying originall sinne this against the sophistes tying grace to the sacraments neither of these is perniciously taught because either 〈◊〉 according to scripture Let Calvines Christian institution be searched and his Commentary on those words of Saint Paule we are all by nature the sennes of wrath Thence may the Iesuite and Selneccer and Hunnius and all the rabble of Calvines adversaries learne that originall sinne is as naturall vnto vs as poison to a serpent yet neverthelesse the children of the faithful are a seede blessed even from their mothers wombe Or if it like them better let them heare and reconcile David confessing of himselfe Behold I am borne in sinne and my mother coÌ„ceived me to inquity And yet else-where he comfortes himselfe in this manner On thee haue I depended from the time wherein I was borne and from my mothers wombe thou art my God or God himselfe coÌ„plaining in this sort of mans nature The thought of mans heart is wicked from his childhood and yet Ieremie witnessing Before I framed thee in thy mothers belly I knew thee before thou camest out of her womb I sanctified thee Thus the Iesuite sees in what respect Calvin saith that infantes are borne holy namely not simply and wholy but in some sort I shall hardly beleeue vnlesse the Iesuites shewe it that it is found in Calvin that they are borne iust For in this life it is not all one to be holy and to be iust Now whereas hee patcheth this vnto the rest that Calvin hath perswaded many that the sacraments are not necessary vnto the receiving of the grace of Christ and that therevpon hath followed the conteÌ„pt of baptisme with the destructioÌ„ of many souls this is partly a cavill partly a plaine sophisme A cavill that Calvin should altogither deny the necessity of sacrameÌ„t a sophisme in imputing to his doctrine the contempt of baptisme which the Iesuite faineth to haue ensued therevpon Indeede he doth not binde God and grace vnto the sacraments nor falsly placeth in theÌ„ an absolute necessity as do these Sophisters His purpose is only with Bernard to condâ—ne not the absence but contempt of sacramentes But is this to persuade many that sacramentes are not necessary Heare I pray you what himselfe hath written of this matter in his â—â—stitution Now saith hee even hereby it appeareth that their conceit is to be cassiered who adiudge all that haue not beene baptized vnto eternall death c. The promise of God is manifest whosoever beleeveth in the sonne shall not see death nor come into iudgment but is already passed from death into life Which I would not haue so taken as if I meant that baptisme might be contemned without offence for I am so farre from excusing this contempt that I affirme the league and covenant of God thereby to bee violated and broken thus much it suffiseth to proue that it is not so necessary that we must needes thinke him damned who shall be debarred all meanes and opportunity of obtaining it But
signifie that in scripture we are taught that GOD promiseth or performeth vnto menne either before or since the manifestation of Christ in the flesh and what he requireth againe of them and for what cause 9. Which also the scripture intendeth professing to teach Christ 10. For whatsoeuer is therin deliuered eyther it pertayneth to the trew knowledge of Christs person or his office 11. The differences betweene the doctrine delivered in scripture and the religions of other sectes are these First in the doctrine of the trew church is taught the whole Gospell of Christ but other religions either knowe it not at all or to their owne errours ioyne some part thereof whose vse they neyther know nor conceaue 12. Secondly in the doctrine of the Prophets Apostles is delivered the whole lawe of God that rightely vnderstoode other religions cutt of the cheife points therof namely the trew knowledge and worship of God or the first table of the commaundements and the internall and spirituall obedience of the second table retaininge onelie a parte therof namelie the precepts of Disciplines or externall and civill duties towardes men 13. But though even they also doe boast and glorie of the trew God and his worship yet doe they erre from him for 3 causes First because naturall testimonies are not sufficient to the knowledge of the trew God Secondly because vnto theÌ„ men ioyne many errors of their owne Thirâ—ly because for want of the light of Gods worde they vnderstaÌ„d not even those thinges which in word they truely professe but corrupt them with an evill interpretation 14. Either they commaund onely so much touching affâ—ections and inclinations disagreeing with the secoÌ„d table as may serue to bridle them which is but a parte of this doctrine or they doe accuse and condemne all or els they doe not so much accuse and condemne them as doth the doctrine of the church 15. Other sectes admit approue some things against the externall obedience of the second table God by his iust iudgment giuing them over into a reprobate sense 16 We pronouÌ„ce the doctrine of holy scripture to be true not for the authority of the church but because we know it was delivered vnto vs by God 17 That it is from God we know by testimonie of the holy Ghost in the hearts of the godly by our deliuerance from sinne and death whereof this only religion doth assure vs by the puritie integritie of the lawe which is founde onely in the church by the prophecies and the fulfilling therof by miracles proper only to the church by the antiquitie of this late vpstarte newnesse of others by the consent and agreement of everie parte in this doctrine and the disagreement in others by the hatred of Satan and all the wicked against this doctrine by the miraculouse preseruation defence therof against the Diuell and the worlde by the punnishmentes inflicted vpon the enemies therof by the constancie of martyrs and confessors who had sure comforte euen in death by their holy life by whom it was deliuered and spread abroade 18. No opinion of God or his will and worship must be receaued which is not set downe in scripture we must so faâ— giue credit to other doctors of the church as they confirme their doctrine out of the prophets and apostles 19. This is not only proued by testimonie of holie scripture whereby we are commaunded in cases of religion to depende on it alone but also by the nature definition of faith and the worship of God both which must needes be grounded on Gods worde also by the perfectioÌ„ of this propheticall apostolicall doctrine and by the diverse callings of Prophets apostles other doctors teachers of the church 3. OF THE CERTAINETIE AND AVTHORITIE OF HOLIE SCRIPTVRE 1. It is certaine that onely this doctrine of religion which is coÌ„teined in the bookes of the prophets apostles is deliuered by God himselfe doth not only nor principally relye vpon the authoritie of the church but most especially vpon the testimonie of God the scripture it selfe 2. The first and principall argument wherby this authoritie of holy scripture is established amoÌ„gst vs is the witnesse of Gods holy spirit in the hearts of the faithfull 3. This witnes as it is peculiar to the godly so it only causeth vs in true faith to embrace the doctrine of the prophets apostles all the rest may be vnderstood even of them which are not regenerate and do indeed conuince or forceablie perswade vs of the truth of this doctrine but except we haue also this witnesse of the spirite they can neuer moue our mindes to embrace and giue credit to them 4. The seconde argument is because this doctrine only sheweth men the causes of evill deliuerrance from sinne death agreeing with the perfect iustice and goodnes of God and also satisfying our consciences 5 The third because only the doctrine of the prophets and Apostles retaineth Gods law entire pure but all other Religions frame vnto theÌ„selues Gods and their worship without any authoritie from God and approue many things contrary to the law naturally knowne vnto vs. 6 The fourth because history and experience doth witnesse that the eveÌ„t hath answered those predictions which haue beene heere and there set downe in scripture 7 The fift is the miracles added to this doctrine 8 The sixt antiquity because this religion vvaâ— the first and hath continued the same from the beginning of the world vntill this day 9 The seventh the consent and agreement of all parts of this doctrine betweene themselues which is not in other religions 10 The eighth is the hatred of Satan and all the wicked against this doctrine 11 The ninth is Gods preservation and defence of this doctrine against all his enemies 12 The tenth the punishment of such enemies as persecute or corrupt this doctrine 13 The eleventh the constancy of Martyrs and confessors Tertullian The bloud of Martyrs is the seed of the church The Martyrs of the church differ from othersâ— in multitude 2 in alacrity cheerefulnesse in vndergoing dangers death it selfe 3 the defenders of wicked doctrine suffer when they are convicted of errors but the godlie are by tyrannicall force carried awaie to punishment 14 The twelfth their holinesse of life by whom it was delivered and spread abroad farre exceeding the vertues of heathen men and such as followed other religions 15 Seeing therefore this only doctrine of religion is true and Divine no opinion can binde our consciences to beliefe or obedience which is not established by testimonies of holy scripture rightly vnderstood but no opinion disagreeing therewithall is to be so much as receiued OF GOD AND THE TRVE KNOWledge of him 1 MAn being destitute of the true knowledge of God is most vnhappy 2 It is no true knowledge of God which agreeeth not with Gods own opening of himselfe nor is ioined with true loue and feare of God 3
old testament we haue alreadie prooued before That there is a difference in the number and forme of rites appeareth by an induction For in the new testament it is plaine there are but two because no other ceremonies having a promise of grace annexed are commanded by Christ That sacraments of the olde testament shewe Christ to come of the newe alreadie come it is manifest by their interpretation delivered in scripture whereof we spake in their definition They differ in plainenesse because in the new testament are fewer and those signifying things alreadie fulfilled in the olde there are more rites and those shaddowing future thinges all whose circumstaunces were not yet knowne Lastlie by induction it appeareth that the old were commaunded onelie to Abraham and his posteritie and their servauntes the new to all even as manie as will be members of the church as Genesis the seventeenth Everie man childe of eight daies olde amongest you shall bee circumcised in your generations as well hee that is borne in thine house as he that is bought with monie of anie stranger which is not thy seede Exod. 12. No stranger shall eate thereof Math. 8. Teach all nations baptising them c. 15 Both Sacraments and preching of the gospel are Gods worde which hee exerciseth tovvardes his church by the Ministers because they teach offer promise vnto vs the same communion of Christ and his benefites and are external instruments of the holy Ghost wherby he moveth our hearts to beleeue and therefore maketh vs partakers of faith in respect of Christ and his benefits Neither yet is the working of the holy Ghost tied vnto these sacraments nor doe they at al profit but rather hurt such as with faith do not apply them to themselues as the very words rites do signifie The proofe That the Ministers do all in GODS name in administration of sacramentes and that by the sacraments God doth signifie that is teach offer promise vnto vs the communion of Christ we shewed before in our second proofe Whereupon followeth this other conclusioÌ„ that the holie ghost therby moueth our harts to beliefe For because sacraments are a visible promise they haue the same authoritie to confirme faith in vs as hath a promise made by word Whence also followeth a third coÌ„clusioÌ„ For that which serveth to kindle stir vp faith in vs the same also serveth to the receiving of the communion of Christ because wee haue this communion through faith The breade is the communion of Christ bodie Baptisme saveth vs c. And yet the holy Ghost doeth not alwaies by them confirme our faith because neither by the word doth it alwaies kindle faith in vs as the examples of Simon Magus and infinite others doe shew That the vse of sacraments without faith is hurtfull is alreadie prooved in the eleventh proposition 16 The word and the sacraments differ because the word signifieth gods wil towards vs by speach the sacraments by gesture by the worde faith is begun and confirmed by the sacraments onlie faith begun is confirmed the word euen without the sacraments doth teach and confirme which the sacraments doe not without the word without the knowledge of the word they that are of ripe years cannot be saued but without the vse of sacrameÌ„ts if it be not by contempt men may be both renued and saued the word is to be preached to the vnbeleeuing and vvicked the church must admit to the sacraments only such as God will haue vs account members of the church The proofe Sacramentes without the worde going before doe neither teach nor confirme our faith because their signification is not vnderstood but by preaching or expounding them by the word neither can a signe confirme any thing but what is before promised This maie be proved by example of the Iewes who either did or die obserue those ceremonies abolishing or not vnderstanding the promise of grace and of Christs benefits Men of yeares cannot bee saved excepte they haue knowledge of the word either by teaching after the ordinarie way or by revelation after an extraordinary waie Because Hee that beleeveth not in the sonne is alreadie iudged Ioh 3. 18. Faith is by hearing hearing by the word of God Rom. 10. 17. But without sacraments they maie be saued because though by some necessarie occasion they be hindred from them yet may they beleeue as the theefe on the crosse or if they be infants they may be sanctified according to the measure of their yeares as Iohn in the wombe of his mother manie other infants which died before the daie of their circumcision The word also must be preached to the wicked because it is ordained for their conversion The sacraments must be administred vnto theÌ„ which are to bee acknowledged for members of the church because they are instituted only for the vse of the church Act. 8. 17. If thou beleevest thou maist be baptised 17 This is common to Sacrameâ—ts and sacrificer that they are workes commanded of God to bee done by vs in faith but yet a sacrament and a sacrifice do differ because by a sacrameÌ„t God doth signifie and witnesse his benefits which he performeth vnto vs but by sacrifice we perfourme and offer our obedience vnto God The proofe That sacraments are workes commanded of God to be done by vs in faith wee haue shewed in the 1. 2. 3. and 10. proposition Both are mentioned Heb. 11. 4. By faith Abel offered vnto God a greater sacrifice then Caine c. That Sacraments are signes of Gods will towards vs it is prooved in the second propos 18 And therefore the same ceremonie may haue the nature of a sacrament of a sacrifice because thereby God giving vnto vs visible signes testifieth his blessings and benefits towards vs and wee by receiving them doe likewise testifie our duty towards him The proofe This is manifest by the Pascal lamb and other sacrifices also by the sabbaoth which were an obedience commanded by God whereby the godlie did worship him and shew themselues gratefull to him withall were signes of Gods benefits which they receaved by the Messias So baptisme is a profession of Christianisme and a signe wherby Christ witnesseth that we are washed in his bloud The Lords supper is a thankesgiuing for the death of Christ and an admonition that we are quickned for and by his death are made his members and shall as bide in him for ever AN ANSWERE TO SOME ARGVMENTS against the Sacraments Certaine obiections against the afore-said propositiâ—ns of Sacraments with short answeares of Vrsinus therevnto taken in a publique disputation Anno. 1567. 1 OBiection against that part of the seconde proposition Sacraments are signes of the eternall covenant The signes of an eternal covenant are eternal But these signes are not eternal Ergo neither is the covenant eternall The proofe of the maier denied is In relatiues one being taken away the other also is taken awaie Aunswer to the rule whereby the
bee preached even to the vnbeleeuing Christ forbiddeth vs to cast peaâ—les to swine and dogges Therfore the wicked must not be admitted to the hearing of the word preached Ans To the antecedent by dogs and swine are not meant simplie he wicked but such enemies as mecke persecute the doctrine barking and impugning it like dogs and treading it vnder foote like swine Against such this argument were of force XXIV OF BAPTISME 1. Baptisme is a sacrament of the new testameÌ„t whereby Christ witnesseth to the faithfull being baptized with water in the name of the father of the sonne and of the holy Ghost that all their sinnes are forgiuen them the holy Ghost giuen vnto them and themselues ingrassed into the church and bodie of Christ and they againe professe that they receaue these benefittes of God therfore euer after will and must liue to him and serue him And this same baptisme was begun by Iohn Baptist and continued by the Apostles this only was the differeÌ„ce that he baptised men into Christ which should suffer and rize againe but these into Christ which had suffered was rizeÌ„ 2. The first end of Gods institutioÌ„ of baptisme is that God herby might signifie witnesse that by the bloud and spirit of Christlâ—â—â— doth clense those that are baptized from their sinnes and engraffeth them into the bodie of Christ and maketh them partakers of all his benefits 3. The second is that baptisme may be a soleÌ„ne receauinge or enroulinge of men into the visible church of Christ and a distinction therof from al other sectes 4. The third that it may be a publique soleÌ„ne profession of our faith in Christ of bindinge our selues to faith in him obedieÌ„ce towards him 5. The fourth that it may be an admonition of our plunging into afflictions and our risinge and deliuerance out of them 6. Baptisme hath by Gods commandement the promise of grace a certaine power to seale and witnes annexed by Christ vnto these rites rightlie vsed For Christ by the hand of his ministers baptâ—zeth vs as by their mouth he speaketh to vs. 7. There is therfore in baptisme a 2 fold water one external visible earthly which is the elemeÌ„tary water the other internal uisible heaueÌ„ly which is the bloud spirit of Christ there is also a twofold washing the on external visible signifying naÌ„ely the sprinckling or powring on of water which is corporal that is receaued by our bodily parts 〈◊〉 the other internal invisible signified namely remissioÌ„ of our sins by Christs bloud shed for vs our regeneration by his spirit our beiâ—◠〈◊〉 grafted into his body which is spirituall that is is received in spirit by faith Lastly there is a two fold minister of baptisme one external of external baptisme which is the minister of the church baptising vs in water with his hand the other internall of internal baptisme which is Christ himself baptising vs with his bloud and spirit 8 Neither is the water turned into the bloud or spirit of Christ neither is the bloud of Christ present in the water or in the same place with the water neither are the bodies of such as are baptized sprinkled invisibly therewithal neither is the holy Ghost in substance or vertue more in this water then elsewhere but in the lawful vse of baptisme he worketh in their heartes which are baptised and spiritually doth wash and sprinkle them with the bloud of Christ and vseth this external signe as an instrumeÌ„t as a visible word promise to vphold stir vp the faith of such as are baptised 9 Therfore when baptisme is said to be the washing of regeneration or to saue vs or to wash away our sins it is meant that externall baptisme is a signe of the internall baptisme that is of regeneration salvation and spirituall washing that this internall washing is ioined with the external whensoever baptisme is lawfully vsed 10 Yet is sinne an baptisme so abolished that we are freed from the guilte of GODS anger and eternall punishment and regeneration is begunne in vs by the holy Ghost the reliques of sin remaine in vs to the end of this life 11 But all and only the renued or the regenerate baptised to those endes for which baptisme was instituted by Christ do lawfully receiue baptisme 12 The church lawfully ministreth baptisme to all and onelie those whom it ought to recken in the number of such as be renued and members of Christ 13 Whereas also infants of Christians are of the church whereinto Christ would haue al that pertaine to him bee receiued and registred by baptisme and therefore baptisme is now in steede of circumcision whereby iustification and regeneration and receiving into the church were sealed by for Christ as yet to come as in baptisme by and for the same Christ already come as well to infantes as to those of riper yeares pertaining to the seed of Abraham and whereas no man can forbidde water that they should not be baptized which haue receiued the holy Ghost clensing purifying their heartes truely those infantes must needs bee baptised which either are borne in the church or together with their parents come over to the church 14 As the promise of the gospell so baptisme also receiued vnworthily that is before conversion is firme and procureth salvation to such as repent and the vse thereof before vnlawful is now made vnto them lawfull 15 Neither doth the wickednes of the Minister make the baptisme vaine of no force if it bee done into the faith and promise of Christ therfore the church ought not to rebaptise eveÌ„ those that haue bin baptised by heretiks but to informe them in the true doctrine of Christ and baptisme 16 And as the covenant once begun with God remaineth perpetually stedfast to such as repent even after their sinnes from that time committed so also baptisme once receaved confirmeth those that repent in remission of sinnes for all their life and therefore ought neither to be â—terated nor deferred to the end of life as if on that condition onlie it did clense vs from our sinnes if we coÌ„mitted no more after we were once baptized 17 But all that are baptised with water vvhether infantes or aged are not made partakers of the grace of Christ For Gods eternal election and calling to the kingdome of Christ is free 18 Neither are all excluded from the grace of Christ which are not baptised vvith water For not the want but conteÌ„pt of baptisme excludeth from the convenant made by God with the faithful and their children 19 And whereas the administration of Sacraments is a part of the ecclesiastical ministery they which are not called thervnto and especially women must not presume to take vnto themselues authoritie of baptising OF THE LORDS SVPPER Disputed in the Coll. of Wisdome the 2. of May Ann. 1575. 1 ONe of the Sacramentes of the new testameÌ„t