Testament in his bloud Luke 22.20 Now doe but briefly collect these points together seeing without Christ we shall perish for euer because without Christ we haue no sauing right to our naturall ciuill gracious or glorious life because all sauing good comes vnto vs by couenant and Christ is the Couenant of his people therefore it is necessarie that we be in Christ Thirdly to conceiue this yet more fully I shall shew you how many waies we may be in Christ How many waies wee may be in Christ To speake then to this point we may be said to be in Christ three waies First by Ordination and appointment in Baptisme for God hath ordained Baptisme to be the outward signe and seale of our putting on Christ Gal. 3.27 and to be the outward meanes of our grafting with him to the similitude of his death and resurrection Rom. 6.5 For the laying on of water doth signifie and seale our buriall with Christ and the wiping of it off our resurrection which because it is conditionall in respect of the effectuall working of it to wit so farre forth as we shall when we grow to yeeres of discretion manifest our effectuall faith by making the right vse of Baptisâ—e that is keepe the couenant which we publikely enter with God in it Rom. 11.22 therefore it admiâ—teth of a cutting off and standeth or falleth as the condition is obserued Secondly we are in Christ by Acceptation for God doth account of vs as in him he being the prince of our saluation and that generall root and stocke which stands in the roome of the whole Church before God In which respect as the whole Church being the body of Christ is called Christ 1 Cor. 12.12 Beâ—ma in manud ling. lâ—at cap. 2. ex Keckerm so likewise and that not by the fond conceit of the vnlearned may Christ be signified by the name of the Church as well as other members when Paul saith The Church is the pillar and ground of truth 1 Tim. 3.15 As the first Adam was the generall root of mankind and stood in the nature and name of all mankinde before God and receiued and lost all the indowments of his nature both for himselfe and vs so also was it and is it with the second Adam he is the root and head that stands in the roome of all his Church to pay for them and purchase for them Thirdly we are in Christ by Contract and couenant not onely by outward contract which is outwardly and solemnly made in the face of the Church in Baptisme and renewed in the Lords Supper but by inward contract whereby God doth marrie vs vnto him for euer and whereby God being the God of vs and our posteritie after vs the Children of beleeuing parents are holy 1 Cor. 7.14 Hosea 2.19.20 Of this the Prophet speaketh in the name of Christ I will marrie thee vnto me in righteousnesse and in iudgement and mercie and in compassion I will euen marrie thee vnto me in faithfulnesse and thou shall know the Lord alluding it may be to the coniugall knowledge of man and wife and signifying that we shall haue spirituall communion with God and through the worke of the Spirit bring forth fruit vnto God Looke as therefore man and wife doe become one flesh and are concorporated either into other by vertue of that contract and couenant of God betwixt them made Prou. 2.17 and that actuall knowledge which they haue either of other so those that are thus giued vnto the Lord as the Apostle speaketh are one spirit and are so vnited vnto Christ 1 Cor. 6.27 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that there is a mutuall fellowship betwixt him and vs in three things First in Natures be being made partaker of the humane and we of the Diuine Nature Secondly in Goods 2 Pet. 1.4 he being made sinne for vs and wee the righteousnesse of God in him Thirdly in Estates 2 Cor. 5.21 Rom 6.5 â—â— l. 2.9 20. â—â—l 3 1. 〈◊〉 â—â— 6 we being grafted into the similitude of his death and hauing the old man crucified with him and being risen with Christ and fitting with Christ in heauenlâ— places and Christ suffering with vs and being honoured with vs as Christ saith He that heareth you heareth mee and hee that despiseth you despiseth me according to that of the Psalme Psalme Thine enemies haue reproched thee O Lord because they haue reproched the footsteps of thine anointed Thus haue I opened the first part of the doctrine of the Text namely the partie who is spoken of Hee that is in Christ. God stirre vp our hearts aboue all things to be thankfull for Christ through and with whom we haue this estate Wee can with some sense and feeling be thankfull vnto God for those mercies we receiue with our senses Oh that our hearts would be alike if not more inlarged for those which we receiue with our soules by faith To come now vnto the second point that is the predicate or that which is spoken of him that is in Christ A new câ—eature namely That he is a new creature consider with mee two points First What this new creature is Secondly Why hee that is in Christ is a new creature What it is For the first either wee may call it a new man 1 Pet. 3 4. which is called by Peter The hid man of the heart for the word creature is taken by Iesus Christ for man Marke 16.15 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as when he saith to his disciples Preach the Gospel to euery creature that is to men who by an excellencie are called creatures they being the most excellent of all the sublunary workes of Gods hands or wee may call it A new creation as the word seemeth to be vsed by Paul otherwhere Rom. â— 2◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when he saith The whole creation groaneth and this the rather because it is a difficult worke and farre aboue all created power yea it is more difficult than to create a world it hauing all cursed powers againsâ— it and therefore the Holy Ghost speaking of the creation of the world Psal 33.6 saith By the Word of the Lord were the heauens made Psal 8.3 and againe When I behold the heauens the worke of thy fingers Psal 102.25 and againe The heauens are the worke of thy hands as if the greatest strength that was put to that worke was but the power of a hand But speaking of the purchase and procurement of this new creation he saith Luke 1.51 He hath shewed strength with his arme Esay 9.6 and the gouernement is vpon his shoulder and againe A body hast thou prepared mee Hebr. Yea and he hath made his soule an offring for sinne Esay 53. as if his bodie and soule must be imployed in this worke whereby he would signifie the difficultie of this worke All which may easily teach vs
be moued by it to cleaue to God and his goodnesse in the assemblie of the Saints Thus much of the first motiue of Dauids desires There is yet another motiue whereby he did prouoke himselfe to loue Gods house 2 Matter of direction in it and that is matter of direction to be found there implied in these words To inquire in his Temple As if he should say There I may consult with God and know what is best for me to beleeue and doe It may be Dauid had reference to that holy oracle Psal 28.2 towards which to helpe his faith he held vp his hands in prayer but yet Gods house is an ordinary place of inquiry also I went vnto the sanctuary of God saith the Psalmist then vnderstood I their end and was satisfied Psal 73.17 For if we must heare the word of God not as the word of man but as it is indeed the word of God 1 Thes 2.13 then how hath it not power to bring vs all manner of content and satisfaction in those necessary scruples that may arise in our soules If I should say of Gods house as of those riuers in Transiluania wherein there are found lumpes of gold which weigh a pound weight then I make no question but it would be a motiue strong enough Why should it bee lesse when I say that there we may inquire seeing this is the way to get wisdome whose merchandise is better than siluer Pro. 3.13 14. and whose gaine is better than gold Thus we haue considered Gods house in the type now in the truth You must know that Dauids desires reached further than his owne time As when he desired the waters of the Well of Bethlehem his desires reached as some thinke to our desires after Christ borne at Bethlehem who is called the desire of the Nations so when in banishment or other distresse he desires Gods house his desires doe reach vnto ours after the Church of God the body of Christ Lay therefore downe this ground from hence that We must haue earnest desires to be of the true Church of God Mallem esse membrum ecclesiae quà m caput imperij That Emperours heart must be in euery one of vs who said I had rather be a member of the true Church than the head of an Empire To vrge this consider these foure points First that in the Church onely the fountaine of the house of Dauid is opened vnto vs for sin and for vncleannesse Zach. 13.1 Mat. 1.21 because Christ is the Sauiour of his people It is said of one of the Canary Ilands that it hath no water to be found in it yet that through the prouidence of God the people want none for there doth grow a certaine Tree which is couered with a misty Cloud whereby it becomes so moist that it abundantly drops downe water to suffice both man and beast Such a Tree of Life is Iesus Christ vnto his Church for though he be clouded and couered with the vaile of infirmity yet to his Church which hath fellowship with him by faith hee doth drop downe the sweet liquour of grace for grace to the refreshment of their soules Secondly that the Father Sonne and holy Ghost doth onely dwell in the Church All other companies of men whatsoeuer are but the sties of Satan yea though the courts of Princes Ezek. 48. Es 45.14 But the name of Gods City is The Lord is there yea Aethiopia Sabaea and Egypt shall say God is in her Apoc. 1. yea Christ is in the middest of the seuen golden Candlesticks and when his father and his mother sought him sorrowing they found him in the Temple to teach vs where we should finde him euer after to wit in the true Church of God Thirdly that our being in and of the Church is that thing alone which can comfort vs in all our seruice and secure our hearts that it shall be acceptable to God Who were those that were rewarded with the euening penny but those that laboured in the Vineyard to the end of the day There were many heathens that laboured well yea Mat 20. so well that they shall condemne many thousands of Christians that come short of them in ciuill righteousnesse yet they had no true comfort because their seruice was not to the true God nor in the Vineyard of the Church Lastly the Church is often compared in the Scripture to the Kingdome of Heauen Mat. 13. and that both in respect of distance the men of the world being as farre in goodnesse from the men of the Church as heauen from earth and in respect of influence the Church deriuing her ministeriall helpes to a new generation to all within her reach and fathome as also in respect of the Churches imployment from God to bee none other but the gate of Heauen as Iaacob said of Bethel and a nursery for the Kingdome of glory Now would it not be an vnspeakable comfort to be assured that wee liue in the Kingdome of Heauen I know that we haue many troubles and vexations of spirit many fightings within and terrours without but what can they hurt our happinesse so long as we are in the Kingdome of Heauen Vse Let euery one of vs therefore consider diligently with our selues these foure grounds and as wee doe finde the truth of them so let vs bee carefull to further our desires with them to the true Church of God What will it auaile vs to be of that company wherein wee cannot bee assured that there is the fountaine of the house of Dauid Will it profit vs to ioyne our selues with that society wherein there is not God and Christ in grace as well as in power Can we looke for any good in those assemblies where is not the Kingdome of Heauen and wherein if we worke we cannot looke for Gods penny No surely Quest Will you aske me then how you shall know your selues to be of that Church that so your soules may still goe after it as the Spouse of Christ Ans I answer you shall know it three waies Transire in Christum 1 By your head 2 By your coapting and fitting to be vnited to him 3 By those ligatures and ties whereby you are knit vnto him 1. First wee shall know our selues to bee of the true Church if Iesus Christ be the head of that Church whereunto we cleaue we are sure that that is the true Church whereof Iesus Christ is the head but we cannot be certainly assured that that is it which hath the Pope to be another princely spirituall and monarchicall head no though but ministeriall First we are sure I say that that is the true Church whereof Iesus Christ is the head For first Christ hath all things subiected vnto him for the Churches sake As hee is God he hath all things subiected vnto him for his owne sake as Mediatour he hath a purchased subiection for his Churches sake Ephes 1.22 23.
as the Apostle saith God hath put all things vnder his feet and hath giuen him to be the head ouer all things to the Church which is his body Secondly Christ hath most perfectly whatsoeuer may be most necessary for the life and saluation of his Church It pleased the Father that in him should all fulnesse dwell Col. 1.19 2.9 Iohn 1.16 and out of his fulnesse we all receiue grace for grace he being made of God vnto vs wisdome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption 1 Cor. 1.30 Apoc. 9. Ioh. 10 27 28. Eph. 5.26 Rom. 8. He doth redeeme the Church by his bloud preserue it by his power instruct it by his Word renue and lead it by his Spirit Thirdly in all the controuersies betwixt God his creatures and the Church shee hath none to answer for her to pleade her cause and procure her peace Es 9.6 Eph. 5.23 but onely Iesus Christ the Counsellor and Prince of peace as the wife her husbâ—nd Fourthly Christ doth the duty of a Head that is giue spirituall sense by the sauing vnderstanding of spirituall things and motion by giuing strength and power to walke in them Yea he doth knit and ioyne the parts together to him by merit and spirit Eph. 4.16 and giue effectuall power to euery pâ—rt to doe its office Yea he so farre doth these good offices for his Church as her Head that as the head cannot be taken from the body without the certaine death and ruine thereof so as it is well said without Christ the Church is nothing else but as a dead carkasse Thus Christ being the vndoubted Head of the Church we may be sure that that is the true Chruch whereof hee is the Head Secondly wee cannot bee assured that that is the true Church whereof the Pope is the head and that vpon these grounds First we haue no assurance that Iesus Christ requires a Deputy in this world to wit as Mediatour for wee know that a Deputy serueth to supply the absence of the principall whereas Christ is alwaies present by his word spirit Mat. 28.20 Ioh. 14 16. Totum Christi secuâ—â—â—m esse essent aâ—c Act. 3.21 Totuâ— Christus secundum â—sâ—â— pâ—rsonâ—e Act. 2â— 28 Ioâ—â—â—â— If you say that he is absent in respect of bodily presence I confesse that if you respect the whole essence of Christ his body is in Heauen and the Heauens must containe him till his comming againe but if you doe respect the whole person of Christ of whom when the Scripture doth speakâ— it doth attribute that vnto whole Christ which is proper to either nature so we say that Christ is present with vs though his body be in Heauen because we are not without the blessed communion and fellowship of the diuine nature Neither to his sufficient presence doe we neede his body now for though the Kings body bee onely at the Court yet is he a sufficient head for gouernement vnder God of his whole Kingdomes as his body politike Secondly we cannot be sure if Christ were altogether absent that any man in the world by vertue of any coined diuine anointing is able to supply his place For though as God the Kings and Princes of the earth are his Deputies to see his lawes obserued and to execute his iudgements because he hath made them so yet as Mediatour and Head of the Church he hath none partly because he hath made none Heb. 7.24 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and partly because his office is such as passeth not from one to another For euery worke of a Mediatour is a compound worke issuing from two natures concurring in the same action as the carued worke of Aholiab and Bezaleel was the issue of their bodies and soules in which respect there is required a strength aboue any created power Thirdly because the Papists say that the Pope is not the head of the Church in such a soueraigne and principall manner as Christ but the Ministeriall Head ouer the whole Church vpon earth therefore I adde this that we cannot be sure that a deputation of any inferiour gouernment and ministery is put ouer to any one man whatsoeuer For there are three things which doe hinder our through perswasion in this point First that Christ doth reserue euen outward administration in his owne power For it is he which sendeth forth his word and spirit which hath ordained a ministery fitted Euangelists Pastors Doctors whence he is called the Arch-shepherd It is he who assisteth his ministery with power and hath prouided the trumpet and sword of the magistracy to call and to dissolue counsels to summon and to disparcle armieâ— to defend his Church so farre as it is good for her from Satan the liar by heresie and Satan the murtherer by persecution Therefore what need haue we of a ministeriall head Secondly that there is no ministeriall head but must worke ministerially that which the principall head doth principally For else it is but a rotten head such as the Wolfe found in the caruers shop without wit or braines But no mortall man nor Angell can doe that which Christ our head doth because the office of his headship is executed by two natures concurring in one person Christ as I said before Thirdly Christo sâ—cluso that then there should be a Lordlike power ouer the whole Church vpon earth out of Christ in some creature which cannot be For ye know what Paul saith There are many diuisions or diuersities of ministeries 1 Cor. 12.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or administrations but the same or one Lord. So that as it is with Kings who are neuer out of their kingdomes though there are diuers officers vnder them yet there is but one in whom there is Regall power and that is the king himselfe so in this kingdome of heauen vpon earth the Church I meane though there are diuers offices yet hee keepes the royalty in himselfe which if he haue put ouer vnto another it must either fasten vpon him sloth or at the least ease to put the burthen of gouernment vpon a weaker persons shoulders or it must make vs say that hee hath done a needlesse thing to make a substitute in his own presence to doe that which is impossible 4. Lastly if Iesus Christ were absent and it were possible that there could be a deputy yet wee cannot bee sure that the Pope is he And of this I shall giue you foure grounds of suspicion First because it standeth vpon improbable interpretations such as can neither arise properly nor figuratiuely such as cannot be deriued by any succession to confirme the doctrine which they now hold concerning their great head They say that God said to Peter Thou art Peter and vpon this rocke will I build my Church and to thee will I giue the keies of the kingdome of heauen and againe feede my sheepe Therefore they say he said to Peter as their new doctrine concludeth I make thee Vicar and
mother of whoredomes hath this name written in her forehead A Mysterie 2. Thess 2.7 Apoc. 17.5 This apostacie of Rome held communion with the true Church still Hodiè effusum est venenum in ecclesiam and when prosperitie like poyson was powred out vpon the Church she tooke aduantage vpon the deadnesse of mens hearts to make her owne gaine and while men were either diuerted by other occasions or rocked asleepe in the cradles of ease profit pleasure honour or blinded with the outward splendor and glorie of her whorish and hypocriticall attire to sowe tares in stead of good wheat which yet was neuer so closely carried but that some faithfull men still obserued her and opposed her in euerie age as hath beene shewed by diuers Du Plessis his Mysterium iniquitatis White his Way who still lye vnsatisfied though her policie and tyrannie still did crush them to her power Oh therefore seeke not truth at Rome where you haue so good causes to doubt that the true head is not yea know of old that truth hath sought for succour in Cloysters and could finde none seeke it therefore at home where the true head Christ is calling vs from our dead sleepe of sinne Pauli Ferrij Schol. ortho Spec. pag. 102. giuing vnto vs the habit of faith for our sanctification the act of faith to receiue Iesus Christ for our iustification the spirit of adoption to seale vs vnto the day of our redemption Ob. Be not scarred with this bugbeare that we confesse that a Papist so liuing and so dying may be saued and therefore the truth is good enough amongst them Sol. For you must vnderstand it of those that are in the Antichristian state not of it and chained with ineuitable ignorance hauing the key of more distinct knowledge kept from them by tyrannie and policie and doe forsake their popish grounds as it is said that the Bishop of Chichester that then was would haue had Gardner to doe when hee did comfort him vpon his death-bed with Gods promises and with free iustification in the bloud of Christ Fox Martyrol To whom Gardner did answer What my Lord will you open that gap now then farewell altogether To me and such other you may speake it but open this window to the people then farewell altogether Thus likewise Bellarmine after his large discourse of that confidence which we may draw from our workes layeth downe this proposition as his last sanctuarie Propter incersitudâ—nem propâ—iae iustiâ—iae periâ—uâ—um manâ—s glorâ—â— tutissiâ—iâ— est siduciâ—m totam in sola Dei miscâ—i cordia et benâ—gnitate reponere that By reason of the incertaintie of our owne righteousnesse and the danger of vaineglorie it is most safe to put our whole trust and confidence in the mercie and bountie of God alone Now if Papists shall doe in truth and sinceritie of heart as these say renouncing the trappings of the whore of Rome though they die in the Popish Church they being chained in the fetters of Rome they may giue a good ground for the iudgement of charitie to worke vpon concerning their saluation with GOD. Neither be ye moued with this which they so often bellow out against vs That our truth was not knowne before Luther for though for many of our negatiues whereby we doe deny their false nouelties there was no vse of them though the Spirit of God foreseeing the mysterie of Antichrist left sufficient ground for them in the Scriptures yet we willingly disclaime all that cannot draw a longer pedigree than Poperie Thou art of yesterday saith the Pharisie to Christ Before Abraham was I am saith Christ to the Pharisies So may our truth say in respect of Luther It appeared more plentifully in his time not otherwise than a cleere morning after a darke and drowsie night no otherwise than faire weather after a tedious storme no otherwise than health after a lingring sicknesse And if it seemed to be new wee may thanke the Church of Rome for it which so preuailed with our improuident fathers through glorious titles and outward splendor and the mysterie of abhominations in the golden cup that their mother truth being iustled out of doores for a time was not at the last when she came againe scarce acknowledged of her owne children Let vs be wiser and acknowledge her though shee come naked and in rags remembring that true but fearefull saying 2. Thess 2.10 11 12. Because they receiue not the loue of the truth that they might be saued therefore God shall send them strong delusions that they should beleeue lies that all they might be damned which beleeued not the truth Thus haue I shewed you how you may know your selues to be of the true Church amongst vs Motiues that so your desires may pant after it As Dauid added two motiues to prouoke himselfe to hunger after the house of the Lord so shall I adde the same to further vs to desire to be and to be still of the true Church amongst vs. The first is the beautie of our Church 1 The beautie of our Church which doth stand in the beautie of that Religion which it doth professe I know that the Papists doe what they can to disgrace it and to make it appeare ougly in the sight of men Ps 45.13 yet though the Kings daughter be all glorious within and her best ornaments without are but needle-worke full of stitches and prickes though the whore do excell in her garish attire the modest and honest woman in which respect it cannot grieue vs that they obiect against vs as the heathens of old did against the lesse ancient Christians the want of glorie in our outward seruice and worship yet I say there are diuers things which make our religion beautifull aboue that which doth so much stand vpon outward feature and proportion First our religion cannot bee disgraced without lying She is a beautifull woman who standeth so for currant except to them who will say White is blacke or that shee painteth and borroweth complexion of Art or the like when it is nothing so so is it with our religion Yee know how often they charge vs and our religion with noueltie when yet we doe relye vpon the first truth to wit the Scriptures So likewise they doe make their blinded disciples beleeue that we hold God to be the author of sinne likewise that it is enough to haue onely faith that the Church failed many hundred yeeres till Luther and Caluine that all is very easie in Scriptures that God forceth vs against our wills without any respect of our consents that we allow no fasting but morall temperance and fasting from sin that we esteeme nothing of Christian workes towards saluation but condemne them as vncleane sinfull hypocriticall that God imputeth the righteousnesse of Christ to iustification though we be not iust as if the righteousnesse of Christ applied by faith did not cure as well as couer
God The third ground whereto the doctrine of this Text is referred is this that True Religion is a mercifull Religion It maketh vs saith Iames here to visit the fatherlesse and widowes in their aduersities Religion is as it were an order and seruice after Gods owne heart who is a God of loue and mercie When God promiseth to giue his people Priests who should pitie them and haue a mercifull care of them he calleth them Priests after his owne heart that is Ierem. who shall be mercifull as he is mercifull Religion therefore being an issue of Gods will and nature it must needs sauour of mercie and compassion Againe the fruits of Religion are Loue Ioy Peace Long-suffering Gentlenesse Galath 5.22 Goodnesse which all are either mother daughter members or companions of that which wee call Mercie And how can Religion be other which is the exercise of a mother The Church is called the Mother of vs all and we know Galath 4. from that ancient iudgement of Salomon that shee who had most affection to the childe was the true mother that the exercise of a mother is mercie Now from this ground I would inforce two things Vse 1 First that euery one of vs must striue to be mercifull as our heauenly Father is mercifull This is that which will assure vs that we are truly religious No mercie no religion God is immediatly mercifull to vs himselfe when he sends his Spirit into our hearts to teach vs correct and comfort vs according to our necessities and hee maketh all the creatures of heauen and earth to be liberall vnto vs and helpfull in some kinde or other and all to this end that we being knit vnto him by true religion may be prouoked to be mercifull also yea we must be so euen vnto the enemies of religion We see many times that no ciuill cause maketh a more seuere and cruel warre than Religion doth When the Reubenites Gadites and Manassites had set vp an Altar by Iordan their brethren thinking that it had beene to separate religion presently mustered their forces against them The Iewes and Samaritanes being of diuers religions euen Peter could smell of this naturall crueltie saying Master call for fire from heauen to consume the Samaritanes but Christ crushed it saying Yee know not of what Spirit you are Yea saith Christ speaking of them who shall take his Disciples to taske for religion sake They shall excommunicate you and kill you and in so doing they shall thinke that they doe God good seruice But we must striue against this crueltie and exercise mercie as the proper fruit of religion If we shall beleeue the declamations of the Iesuits they will tell vs that yet wee are not mercifull and therefore they crie out against our crueltie exercised vpon the Pope-holy Catholikes in tearing chopping and burning of them together with the making of their members a prey to the fowles of heauen and the like Is this mercie say they No surely as it is barely looked vpon without searching into the cause Yet when wee doe see many knowne Papists in the Land and none capitally punished but Traitors and when we doe see that such are punished no otherwise than traytours were punished when Popery vsurped vpon vs and when withall we doe consider that we haue no law to put any Papist to death for his conscience sake or if wee haue a law in that ancient Statute of their owne concerning the burning of Heretikes by vertue whereof they consumed vs that yet none of their bodies euer felt those flames when we doe see I say and consider these things we do reioice in our religion finding mercie in it and doe encourage our selues to goe on still both to proceed mildly against them to pitie and to pray for them and by walking holily before them to trie if yet God will haue mercie on them and bring them to know the Truth Vse 2 Secondly Wee learne also from the former ground that wee haue iust cause to suspect that the religion of the Church of Rome is not the true Religion We know that Rome is spirituall Aegypt Apoc. 11. and that shee letteth the corpses of the Saints lie dead in the streets We see that her instruments are fire and sword and that her meanes are power and policie by hooke and crooke as we say Euery time the fifth of Nouember returneth it calleth to our minde enough of this kinde if we could forget the Popes practises against the Emperours We know that their partie would haue destroyed our whole State euen the breath of our nostrils and creame of our Land at one blow Wee see also so farre as their close policie will giue vs leaue the crueltie of their Inquisitions They aske vs where is our religion saue in little nookes and corners of the world We answer that they might soone see if they would for it would burst out as the noone day in the midst of their darkest darknesse if their Holy-houses as they wrongfully call them did not deuoure the professors of it so soone as euer they looke out We see also how many men women young men and maids were by the cursed Idoll of the Masse brought to their buriall in their owne ashes They dare not for their liues lay this their crueltie aside lest liuing so like open and innocent Doues as we doe in respect of their Iesuited Papists they should soone bring their multitudes into a bunch or two after the Vintage or a gleaning after the haruest As therefore Iaacob said of Simeon and Leui Gen. 49.6 7. in whose habitations were the instruments of crueltie so let vs say to Popery Into their secret let not my soule come my glory be not thou ioyned with their assembly Cursed be their wrath for it was fierce and their rage for it was cruell Ob. It may bee you will say Are they not full of workes of mercy in respect of vs Sol. It is true indeed that they are full in shew yet consider with me three things First If wee should neuer so much abound in them if we should exhaust our goods estates lands and liuings yet it would be nothing in their eyes They account them but morall and not religious workes euen such as Heathens doe worke and all because we are not Papists No maruell therefore though they cannot see what good we doe See Doctor Will. Cat. of good W. in the end of his Synop Heb. 6.10 Secondly Blessed be God there are thousands amongst vs of whom according to their abilities we may say as the Apostle to the Hebrewes God is not vnrighteous that hee should forget their worke and labour of loue which they haue shewed toward his name in that they haue ministred to the Saints and yet minister There are many I say whose bowels of mercy doe carry them to counsell the giddy Consule castâ—ga solare remitte fâ—r ora correct the obstinate forgiue the penitent comfort the wounded