delivereth to his masters sonne Commandes from his master he bringing his message doth command her and yet his condition is inferior to her The whole body For opening the true meaning First wee must know what is meant by the Whole body Secondly in what regard the Church is sayd the body To the first a whole body sometime is put absolutely conteyning the head under it as well as other members Secondly a whole body is put respectively for that whole frame of the body which consisteth of all members beside the head and thus alwayes it is used in the Scripture for the body is spoken of as distinguished by opposite relation from the head now when the body is spoken of as a distinct thing from the head the head cannot then be comprehended under it thus here the whole body increaseth Christ our head hath all fullnesse Christ therefore is not meant in the whole body Againe Christ is not head of the whole body consisting of Himselfe and His members for Christ is not His owne head but God GOD is the head of Christ 1 Cor. 11.3 This is to be marked against some Papists that say they make not the Pope head of the whole body but of the mysticall body which standeth of men Christ excepted and this they thinke not absurd But Christ Himselfe is not the head of the whole body in that former acception but onely of His body mysticall beside Himselfe Some againe thus reason He that is head of a whole body he is head of a body having a head beside him for else say they it were not a whole body But Christ is head of a whole body beside Himselfe The first part is false or the second if not rightly understood according to the distinction above named Christ is head of a whole body not absolutely called whole as comprehending a head within it but respectively so called because it is whole for a body distinguished apart from the head For the second thing a body may be sayd the body of one two wayes 1 In respect of the whole Person in whom it had or hath being thus we say of one buryed here lyeth such an ones body meaning the whole body that had the personall being of it in such a man 2 The body is sayd to be the body of one in regard of reference it hath to the head as a distinct eminent part distinguished from it thus we say such a man is dangerously wounded in his body but his head is not touched Now though we have our mysticall being from Christ yet the Scripture calleth us his body for the respect we have to Him as our head as being another more eminent part who with us maketh up that whole mysticall man Christ Iesus And therefore Christ is as properly sayd to be our head as we His body Now though this or that body may be sayd such a persons body yet the person cannot properly be sayd the head of such a body These things being premised to exclude Popish errors and to helpe us in the true conceaving of this matter wee will come to the doctrine First then we see Doct. That in Christ mysticall there is nothing but the head giving growth and the body receiving growth from him This is to be marked for where is the Pope found the head giving growth he is not his owne men grant that he cannot infuse any grace he hath no influence of this nature then he is not the head in which the Church groweth for the body of the Church growing he will not be of the body for he that will be the head of a body is not of the body To say a head is properly a head of a body and properly a part of the same body is a contradicton as no subject can bee truely made a King and yet remaine a subject he must then bee found in that body whereof the Divell is head for here is no roome for him 2 Marke hence Doct. That even for the whole multitude of believers there is sufficiency in Iesus Christ the whole body those who lived in all times before us have found him every thing unto them Abraham saw his day afarre off and rejoyced what place soever they live in his virtue reacheth them Alas then Vse what meane any to looke unto others then Christ Shall not hee who hath brought all the Saints from the beginning of the world to that growth they have attained that doth quicken every believer through the face of the earth shall not he be sufficient for thee It is as absurd as if the little finger for by fiction we will lend it reason should thinke that soule not enough to quicken it which not withstanding did give to the whole frame of the body besides it The not beholding this with the eye of faith doth make so many rest unsatisfied in Christ 3 By joynts and bands furnished and knit together Obser That before we can take spirituall growth from Christ Doct. we must be knit unto Him and furnished from Him Even as the naturall members of the body can receive no growth if they be not coupled to the head and if it have not supply of nutriment and that faculty of nourishing and encreasing sent forth into it So if we bee not so knit to Christ and have not his Word outwardly and His virtue inwardly to make us grow by it we can never take increase in Him Life is in Christ saith Saint Iohn 1 Ioh. â— 12 but when we come to have Christ we have this life Wee must first have CHRIST get into him by faith true it is that there are branches in Christ which are dead and fruitlesse but as I sayd before they are not ingrafted into Christ by true faith but tyed on him by the string of an outward profession Wherefore wee must hence bee exhorted to get into Christ as ever we looke for benefit by Him Vse 4 Marke hence Doct. That every true believer groweth up in Christ He doth not stand at a stay or goe backe 1 Pet. â— â— but groweth from faith to faith 2 Pet. â— 18 As new borne babes desire the sincere milke of the Word that yee may grow thereby We must grow in grace Let him that is righteous bee more righteous still and he that is holy let him be more holy still Having such promises let us grow up to perfect holinesse 2 Cor. 7.1 Even as in Nature she groweth from that which is lesse perfect to that which is more perfect So in grace the LORD doth leade us by degrees on to perfection What a deformity is it in Nature when one is a dwarfe and groweth in yeares but not in stature So here before GOD an old Christian in yeares but a babe in knowledge and grace Wherefore such as fall from their first love may suspect themselves Vse 1 such as count it a part of commendable constancy still to be the same and esteeme it greene-headed new
because He doth worke them only but because He doth conserve them in us Christ doth not leave His worke when He hath made it as a Carpenter leaveth his house when it is built but that is true he speaketh Ioh. 5.17 My Father worketh hitherto and I worke That Hee did though without labour put forth His power in the preserving of all things for all things that have not being and moving of themselves but from another they cannot be nor move longer than that first cause doth preserve them in it As let us beare up a thing that cannot stand of it selfe longer than we hold it up the thing cannot but fall So take a thing that moveth not of it selfe make it move while you stirre it stirreth cease your motion it standeth still So all these things they have not being of themselves and moving of themselves but from God and therefore longer than God doth beare them up and move them they cannot consist in either Take for comparison the aire this is not light of it selfe as we see in the night yet it is inlightened by the Sunne with day-light when the Sunne therefore commeth and continueth the ayre waxeth light continueth so while it continueth and returneth to darknesse when the Sun setteth So God being the fountaine of being and motion which are not of themselves doth begin these things doth make them stand in their state and if He should totally withdraw himselfe they would returne to nothing Now this doth first much make unto the dignity of this our dread Soveraigne Vse 1 What is the glory of a King but to maintaine numbers depending on him to make King-like provision to carry after a sort their kingdomes on their backes and beare up all their Countries yea to support forren States as our dread Lady of blessed memory did the Low-countries Geneva c But if this be so full of renowne how then is He to be extolled that beareth up the whole frame of Heaven and earth and all the hoasts of them How blessed are they that have so mighty an Emperour over them This letteth us see what cause wee have to cleave unto our LORD IESUS CHRIST Vse 2 and to kisse His beloved Sonne seeing that we have our being in Him all our good is in His hand We see in what respect we have such from whom we have our maintenance who support the small matter of state we have in the world How much more should we win and keepe to us His favour that susteineth life being yea though we see Him not giveth us our lots and maintaineth our portion This strengtheneth our faith on Him touching our preservation Vse 3 Hee that upholdeth all the Creature shall he be unable or unwilling to underprop our weake soules and stablish them in every good way Saint Paul strengtheneth the weake Christian thus He shall be confirmed for God is able able indeed Shall He that carrieth up the whole world not be able to support thy poore spirit Lastly Vse 4 we must learne to acknowledge God as the upholder of the being of things the preserver and chiefe worker in all this ordinary course of Nature God maketh the Sunne to rise God raineth on the just and unjust Psal 134.7 8. For God calleth the Sunne forth Esay 46.26 And though vapours dissolved are meanes of raine yet God chiefly doth prepare and worke it in them whatsoever the second causes doe God doth it much more for these are but instruments to Him the Sithe cannot be said to cut downe grasse so properly as the Mower nor these causes to doe any thing so properly as God who doth it by them VERSE 18. And He is the head of the body the Church who is the beginning the first borne from the dead that in all things he might have the preeminence NOw he commeth to describe His Person as in relation to the Church which he setteth downe 1 Generally He is the Head of the Church 2 Particularly in regard of a particular preeminence which he had in respect of the dead with the consequent of it The first fruit and first borne of the dead that in all things He might have the preeminence First then wee see Obs that CHRIST hath not Lordship over the Creatures only but over the Church also which doth still according to the scope in the whole description intended amplifie the excellencie of His Person the Church is the Lords peculiar select treasure though all the earth bee His besides how great therefore is hee that hath not the Lords dearest possession excepted from him Secondly Obs for our selves marke hence What kinde of Head is given us of God even such a one as is God with the Father the Lord of all the Creature the Creator of Angels eternall the upholder of all the Creature He it is that is made of God the Head unto us His Church So Ephes 1.22 Who is farre above all Principalitie and power and might and dominion and every name that is named not onely in this world but also in that which is to come under whose feet all the Creature is put He is our Head given of God Which doth argue the exceeding love of the Father unto us in giving us such a mysticall Head an Head of pure gold indeed if we may allude to those words of the Spouse This must teach us to rest only upon Him as our Governour Vse 2 inward and outward as an all-sufficient store-house of all grace for us We must not supply Him with vice-ministeriall heads How needeth Hee one in His roome who is not only present but beareth up and moveth all the Creature It is true that CHRIST doth admit though present the ministery of men with Himselfe yea when Hee was in His man-hood upon the earth He did associate such as laboured under Him giving them calling but a ministeriall Vice-roy through His visible Church is a thing the Scripture nor sound Antiquitie acknowledge not But CHRIST His manhood is absent As if Kings cannot governe all their Countreyes though their Persons be at their Court onely How much more our King who is with us in Spirit where two or three are gathered in His Name Secondly there can be no ministeriall head for the work of ministery CHRIST hath bestowed not upon Popelike monachs but upon Pastors and Teachers Eph. 4.11 Againe none is able to doe these things which the nature of an head inforceth as to quicken us to governe us by internall influence which when the Papists confesse no man can doe why should they inforce an head under CHRIST as Kings have viceroyes under them for a Lord Deputy can doe what the King in person should doe but no man can doe what the Head of the Church is to doe Againe the Wife is next in authority to the Husband the Church visible is the spouse of Christ not one man but the whole Church hath all authority next to Him Is it fit the Wife should be kept
under the government of a flagitious servant such as the Papists grant Popes may be Let us therefore take heed that while we set up other heads then Christ over the Churches we doe not reject this glorious Head Iesus Christ from ruling over us as the Israelites when they refused that Aristocraticall governement in which God ruled and would have a King like other Nations the Lord chargeth them not only to have cast off Samuell but himselfe and what is more foolish then to thinke it needfull to have a visible universall high Priest on earth because CHRIST is in heaven invisible to us touching His corporall presence should the people of Israell have erected another High Priest to themselves when Aaron was at any time in the Holy of Holies where he was not visible to them so we stand here below in the entry our High Priest is but gone into the Holiest Sanctuary and we though His Divine nature be with us will set up another Sooner shall the heaven have two Suns then the Church two heads and though metaphorically one may be said to be the Head of a Church for the name of God Himselfe is thus Communicable yet in proper analogy none can be so termed For then the Church might be said His body properly which is such sacriledge as He I thinke in whose forehead blasphemy is written dare scarce commit A double head and a double husband become not the Church the latter is not for her honesty the former fitteth not to decency Thus much who is over us 2 Marke from this Observ that He is called the Head of His Church what neere compassionate and beneficiall superiority or authority that is which Christ hath over His Church He is the Lord of all Creatures yea the hellish fiend must bow the knee to Him But He is not an head to every creature if we take it in that proper analogicall accommodation which the Scripture looketh to in this terme The head hath the highest place and power in the body but yet it is so intimately conjoyned with every member so amiable and beneficiall a superiority that the like cannot in nature be shewen For first looke at the head it is by sinewes and other ligaments straitely conjoyned to every member so is Christ through the spirit of faith coupled with us Secondly from this union the head commeth to have a sense if any part be disturbed so hath Christ He knoweth how to compassionate our infirmities Saul Saul why persecutest thou Me Thirdly the head what ever it hath hath in a sort for the good of the body The perfect comlinesse of the head is the ornament of that body whereof it is the head the body being but a deformed trunke if the head be remooved Againe the sense and motion which are originally in the head as a fountaine they are derived from it to every member Fourthly The head giveth full direction to the other members So Christ is our glory He quickeneth us He giveth us direction both inward and outward We see then that His superiority He hath is most intimate fellow-feeling and commodious unto us Which first doth let us yet farther see what cause we have of thankesgiving who are come into His kingdom Vse 1 who is rather an head unto us then a King over us as the head is to the body To have a powerfull wise King is a great guift but to have one who is rather Pater then Rex Patriae is greater but to have one who should so affect his subjects as to condole with the poorest of them this were a miracle This must breed willing subjection to CHRIST our Lord Vse 2 looke at the members of the body doe they feele it a burthen to doe that which the head directeth to This must strengthen our affiance towards CHRIST Vse 3 that He will not faile to take notice of our griefes to succour and direct us That is a blockish head which can goe on in a Stoicall dedolency when the members are ill affected yea it must assure us that we shall have direction and protection from him Marke Obs 3 Who they are that have Christ so neere so beneficiall to them viz. the Church that is such only who are truely faithfull who shall one day be presented glorious in the heavens such as shall at length have salvation by Him There are in the visible Church many who are by outward profession members of Christ but if they have not learned Christ as the truth is in Christ they shall be found not to be of His body though they seeme so a while A glasse eye may be so set into the head that one would take it verily to be a naturall part of the head yet it hath but an externall insition which art affordeth and is nothing lesse then the naturall eye So many are externally by the Sacrament and externall profession tyed to Christ which are not native members and have no spirituall combination with Him Nay if like some temporisers thou dost get some quicknance of the spirit of Christ yet not such as purifieth the heart bringeth thee above all things to rejoyce in Christ Iesus thou art not of His body nor a true member having Him thy head but art like a wenne or warte mole or such like thing which hath a life in the body but is no member of it Wherefore as you would have any benefit by Christ Vse labour to come into this body not to be as wennes and wooden legges but to be living members such as have Christ living in you teaching you by His spirit to thinke speake and doe all things it is good being members of good Corporations which have good endowments priviledges and Charters but there is not a body like to this which hath all the unsearchable riches of IESUS CHRIST given it in which onely there is salvation That nothing is betwixt Christ and His body Obs 4 and that all the Church is his body and every one in the Church a member of the body not a substitute head unto it Where then shall we find the Pope let him take heed least while he strive to be a secondary head he doe not deprive himselfe of roome in the body out of which there is no salvation I know a Papist will say that the Pope as he is referred unto Christ is a member of the body but as he is referred to men subjected to him he is a head under Christ Answer that every one is a member we reade it and therefore beleeve that any one is a head to all but Christ we reade it not and therefore reject it Beside it is likely that betwixt Christ and the visible Church Saint Peter should have come in thus God is Christs head Christ of the Spirits with Him and Saint Peter and his successors the Churches head but this is no where found yea the contrary God over Christ Christ over the Church the Churches above Cephas Objection Emperours are
supremum numen Yet the Councell of Laodicea condemned it in them and what did the King in Daniel require to be esteemed the highest GOD No but to have a divine worship more than humane which yet Daniel would rather dye than yeeld unto Religious worship is not capable of subdivisions as but one GOD so but one religious worship all other worship is Charitatis as Saint Augustine saith not Servitutis such as we worship one another with not religious Saint Augustine doth not distinguish religious worship into 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as two kindes of it but worship in generall into religious every degree whereof is Latria and into humane which he calleth Dulia Servitus corporis non animae such as subjects give their Prince servants their masters who are over them but according to the flesh therefore can have but an externall worship done to them In the second place Vse 2 let us not religiously adore any Creatures Revel 19.10 the most excellent are but our fellow servants If any subjects doe looke at some noble personage about the King with honour and acclamation a little more than usuall though farre lesse than that the King receiveth is it not derogatory to the highest Majesty Even so we cannot enter the least degree of honour above that which is civill due to fellow Citizens with us but so much as is above proveth detracted from the LORD's glory to whom all religious worship entirely belongeth Intruding into these things he hath not seene This hath the force of an argument Hee that voucheth matters hee hath no knowledge in you are not to passe for such a ones sentence But these doe so Obs then Doct. What is the property of a false deceiver to speake that he hath not certainely knowne The Apostles of Christ they often interlace this as a circumstance winning credit and testifying their fidelity The things wee have seene doe wee shew unto you Thus Saint Iohn in his first Epistle Chap. 1.1 So Saint Peter ◠Pet. 1.20 Yea our SAVIOUR telleth them that he spake nothing but what he had seene and heard from the Father So all the servants of GOD testifie nothing which they doe not by faith discerne in the Word of GOD. But false teachers will broach the speculation of their owne braines tell things as CHRIST speaketh in their owne name which they have not received and learned from GOD But as thus it is generally erred of false teachers So they then runne into this fault principally when through curiosity and metaphysicall speculation they will runne into descants of their owne imagination in nice points not contenting themselves to be wise within those bounds which God hath revealed in His Word To which vice the Popish schoole is exceedingly addicted for what hidden point of the divine Trinity have they not determined What things about offices gifts order of Angels have they expressed as if they had been amongst them as they are called Scraphicall and Angelicall What is in Heaven or Hell that they have not particularized I so farre as to set downe the smells the dinnes the nature of the fire as if they had come thence locally But you will say Object when may we know that a man speaketh things he hath not knowne nor seene When he voucheth any thing in GOD's truth or worship Answ any matter of beliefe or practice without the Word of GOD for then he is and needs must be in the darknesse of his owne naturall reason which discerneth not things spiritually perceived As these vouched a point of worship which GOD's Word had not taught As no man knoweth what is in another Countrey unlesse hee goe to it or have true information from it So no man can tell what is in Heaven till GOD take him thither or send word hither to informe us for here is no third Not to let ungrounded subtilties dazle our eyes Vse 1 seeing the truth is they have no being but in the phantasie of those who imagine them Let us be wise Vse 2 not so much to looke what is said by false teachers as to consider how they prove it Let us take heed of this arrogancie in God's matters Vse 3 and not speake that we have not seene by faith in His Word Not that we may not speake things which wee know but weakely but wee must not speake any thing which in some measure wee have not warrant for from the truth of God for Saint Iohn preached of CHRIST when he knew Him not so fully as afterward he did Passed up by his fleshly minde Obs What is the cause of vouching Doct. yea of diving into hid things viz. Pride Let none be high minded let none be wise above that which is written But one may aske in what standeth this Pride Answ In leaving the direction of GOD's Word and following the dictamen or suggestion of our owne reason How doth he condemne himselfe that taketh upon him being a novice to make conclusions of an art he never entered And what a Pride is it for some ignorant schollar to put by the direction of his Tutor or Schoole-master So for us in these things which are onely taught of God not to respect the Lectures read to us in His Word or by His Vshers in whom He teacheth for us who are borne altogether rude and ignorant of the Kingdome of heaven that is as ignorant of saving knowledge in heavenly matters as any beast is in civill affaires for us to set downe determinations beyond our element VERSE 19. And not holding the head from which all the bodie by joynts and bands having nourishment ministred and knit together encreaseth with the encrease of GOD. NOw he commeth to the third Argument Such as hold not CHRIST the Head you are not to stand upon their condemning of you These that teach you worship of Angels hold not Him who is sufficient for all the body of His Church Ergo. The verse containes two things 1 The state of these Sect-masters in as much as they did not hold CHRIST 2 The description of CHRIST our Head from His efficacie in all His members In which three things are set downe 1 What groweth in CHRIST the Head viz. the whole body 2 How it commeth to grow viz. being furnished and coupled by joynts and ligaments unto the Head 3 The growth it selfe groweth with the encrease of GOD. Before we enter the verse observe thus much That looking to the Creatures for helpe and grace Doctr. doth make us fall from CHRIST Such as are worshippers of Angells hold not CHRIST if saith Saint Paul ye will be justified by your owne working CHRIST will profit you nothing He is dead in vayne And this is most true in the Roman Church where amongst Saints and Angells CHRIST can have little roome little respect in comparison It is with faith and religious service so that they cannot be lent unto any other but they are made one with it and are
us should quicken us to all duty 2 Our riches of glory are kept for us in the heavens 3 The hearing of the Gospell bringeth us to be possessed of our hopes 4 The promises of the Gospell are infallible and certaine Verse 6. 1 THe Gospell doth visit us not looking after it 2 The faithfulnesse of God in His promises and the piercing force of His heavenly truth 3 The Word of God is effectuall it never wanteth His fruit where it commeth 4 It is good dealing with men to come home to their own experience 5 Before wee can have the fruit of the Word wee must heare the Word 6 Not all hearing no nor all knowing but the true inner powerfull affectionate knowledge is it which is fruitfull Verse 7. 1 ALbeit men are not graced with great titles yet their worke is not in vaine in the Lord. 2 We must speake the best of all but especially of Ministers though not outwardly glorious Verse 8. 1 WE are to speake such things of man to man as may tye them in love more neerely one to another 2 The best intelligence and newes fittest for Ministers to speake and heare of is how it fareth with the soules of the faithfull 3 We are to tell what good things God worketh in our people 4 Our love must be hearty and unfeigned Verse 9. 1 MInisters must not onely teach and admonish but pray for their people 2 We must not delay going to God when occasion is offered 3 We must persevere in Prayer 4 Our Prayers must be fervent 5 We must wish those that are called a blessed proceeding in grace Verse 10. 1 OVr pleasing of God must be in all things 2 We must be fruitfull in good workes 3 We must encrease in the knowledge of God Verse 11. 1 CHristians have need of spirituall strength to walk with God in their spirituall conditions 2 We have not need of strength only but great strength 3 All our strength commeth from the strong God 4 Long-suffering is an argument of great spirituall strength 5 We have need of patience and long-suffering Verse 12. VVE must as well give thankes for the things given us as begge for that we want 2 By nature we are unfit for God's Kingdome 3 That matter God calleth us unto viz an heavenly inheritance must move us to blesse Him 4 Onely Saints shall inherit the glorious inheritance 5 Our inheritance in heaven for substance and nature is light Verse 13. 1 NOne living in the state of darknesse can be inheritours of God's Kingdome 2 Wee are all by nature under the power of the Divell the prince of darknesse and are in all kinde of darknesse 3 It is speciall matter of praise that God hath put us under the government of Christ Verse 14. 1 THe singular love of Christ our King that Hee hath bought us with His bloud 2 The greatest blessing we have by Christ our King is that He doth procure us pardon of our sinne 3 Before we can have any blessing from Christ we must be partakers of Christ Verse 15. 1 IT is matter of praise that we have such an one to be our King and Saviour who is God with the Father 2 It is a wonderfull benefit to us that we are made subjects to such a King as is the Lord lesus Christ Verse 16. 1 THese creatures which we see doe give testimony to the invisible God whom we see not 2 Christ hath just title to the Lordship and inheritance of all the creatures 3 Christ our King is the Creator of all things 4 God hath His places and ministers attending about Him unseene and unknowne to us 5 Our Lord Iesus Christ is the Creator of Angels 6 As by Him so to His honour all the creature was made Verse 17. 1 OVr King is ancienter than all creatures 2 All things are preserved in their being moving and order by Christ Verse 18. 1 CHrist hath not Lordship over the creatures onely but also over the Church 2 We have such a Head given us of God who is God with the Father 3 Christ hath a most neere compassionate and beneficiall superiority over His Church 4 Onely the Church and people of God have Christ so neere and so beneficiall to them 5 All the Church is the body of Christ 6 The dignity of the faithfull in having so neere conjunction with Christ 7 Christ's Resurrection hath speciall priviledge above all others Verse 19. 1 VVHatsoever the man-hood of Christ is advanced unto it is the meere grace of God not the merit of the creature 2 It is an admirable glory to which our nature is exalted that God should dwell personally in our nature and take it to Himselfe so as to be of the substance of His person Verse 20. 1 THat which gave occasion to the incarnation of the Son of God was our enemy-like estrangement from God 2 God followeth froward man 3 Christ must first have the God head dwell personally in Him before Hee can take up the matter betwixt God and us 4 The deare Sonne of God is the worker of our reconciliation with God 5 All our peace is grounded in the bloud-shed of Christ Iesus 6 The Fathers of old were reconciled to God by the bloud of Christ 7 The Fathers were in heaven before Christs Ascension Verse 21. 1 VVE must not only teach in generall but apply in particular the things of the Gospell 2 We must not forget our miserable condition by nature 3 A most miserable condition not to be a member of the visible Church 4 We by nature are enemy-like affected to God and His people 5 Our naughty actions discover our enemy-like affections Verse 22. 1 AS we must looke with one eye downe to our unworthinesse so wee must cast the other up on God's mercies to us 2 The grace of God is most free and large 3 Every one who findes his sinne forgiven in Christ shall one day be made glorious before Him Verse 23. 1 VVHosoever is partaker of the benefit of reconciliation by Christ must persevere founded and established in Christ 2 Wee must bee well grounded and lay a good foundation 3 Hee loseth his hope that is removed from his profession 4 The Gospell hath beene preached thorow the world 5 Paul was a speciall instrument thereof Verse 24. 1 IT is no new thing for the Ministers of Christ to be afflicted for the Gospell 2 The Church loseth nothing but gaineth much by the sufferings of the godly 3 The Church is the body of Christ Verse 25. 1 TThe Ministers of CHRIST are the Ministers of the Church 2 Their ministery is committed to them by the most wise and holy government whereby God governeth the Church His house 3 A Minister must have a care of every part of his charge Verse 26. 1 THe Gospell is a mysterie not to be attained by any wit or learning 2 It is the priviledge onely of the Saints to know the mysteries of the Gospell Verse 27. 1 THe Gospell
see one that should sinke when any thing were laid on him we would say hee were but a weake man Which convinceth that valour falsely so called Vse many thinke that valour to challenge the field and cast their gauntlet of defiance downe upon any trifling provocation to sweare GOD out of heaven if any thing crosse them but blinde men discerne not of colours this is notable impatience and weaknesse As a man whom with halfe a finger we may throw downe to the ground is a weake body So thy soule which every thing moveth out of place is a very weake spirit Marke how Long-suffering is an argument of great spirituall strength Obs 2 This is a vertue which maketh us hold out in patience under the continuance of evill on us it maketh Patience have her perfect worke and be at length no lesse than in the beginning it is not counterfeit biting in of anger by two yeares together like as in Absolom but a continuance of true patient bearing our crosse to lift up a quarter of wheat or two were rare strength though one should stand under it but a while but to carry it foure or five miles were a token of ten-fold strength So to beare our burthens any time is a fruit of glorious strength but to carry them at length argueth treble vertue To convince the false estimation of men touching this matter To assure those that long have endured Vse 2 of GOD's strength dwelling in them Now as Paul desireth these three things for the Colossians so he teacheth us thus much Obs 3 That wee have need of these vertues we have need of Patience saith the Scripture Heb. 10.36 need indeed to beare our evils to forbeare and expect the receiving of our good things wee looke for a Porter whose calling is to beare had need of shoulders So we that are called to beare many afflictions had need of patience but wee have no lesse need of long-suffering for so deepe are our staines that they will not come out unlesse we be long dowsed in these waters of afflictions which maketh GOD many dayes continue our evils Now how shal we hold under long afflictions without long-sufferance yea we have need of the joy of the HOLY GHOST No life can last without delight and though to the being it be not so necessary yet it is altogether needfull for the well being of us that like Paul and Silas we sing not able to sleepe for joy To seeke these things Vse we have need of them and may have more it is not good to seeke them when we should use them begge them before Observe how hasty and impatient thou art short-spirited not able to beare any thing Pray the Lord to give thee wisdome patiently to endure his will he will give it and not upbraid thee think how though thou art patient now yet ever and anon it is ready to be crazed yea broken in thee pray for long-suffering treasure up joy against evill houres fire doth well against winter and while thou mayest take it deny thy foolish rejoycing exercise thy heart with godly sorrow Such as sow in teares Psal 126.5 shall reape in joy We live neither having exercise of these things nor feeling want of them nor seeking after them our hearts love to be in the house of vaine mirth woe will be to this security and this laughter shall end in mourning Woe to you that now laugh Luk. 6.25 yee shall weepe VERSE 12. Giving thankes unto the Father which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light THus having laid downe his Prayer he commeth to mention expresly the matter of his thanksgiving which was first named in the third Verse In it two things are to be considered 1 The fact it selfe of giving thankes with the person to whom they are offered of which we have spoken something above Verse 3. 2 The arguments moving him or the things for which he is thankfull The first in those words Giving thankes to GOD the Father The matter is two-fold first a benefit a great good thing given them even an inheritance Part in an inheritance which is set downe with three circumstances 1 Their qualification which maketh them capable this goeth before 2 From the quality of their being fellow-heires with whom they were joyned the Saints 3 From the matter of this inheritance in light The second argument of his thankesgiving is a great evill from which they were delivered in setting downe which 1 Hee sheweth the point or passe from which GOD did deliver them From the power of darknesse 2 The state to which hee brought them and hath translated us into the kingdome of His deare Sonne Now to amplifie the greatnesse of this last benefit he describeth the Sonne first from the effect Verse 14. which is propounded in whom wee have redemption after expounded that is the remission of Sinnes Secondly he describeth the nature of His Person to the nineteenth Verse three wayes 1 As He was in reference to GOD Who is the Image of the invisible GOD. 2 As He was in relation to the creature in generall in those words The first begotten of every creature Verse 15. and sustainer of them Verse 16 17. 3 As He is in regard of His Church And Hee is the Head of the body the Church Then followeth the reason how came this man to be personally GOD the Creator of all things the Head of the Church It pleased the Father that in Him all fulnesse should dwell Vers 19. How come we to have redemption by Him It pleased the Father by Him to bring us to these benefits the benefit is repeated First in generall Verse 20. Secondly with application to the Colossians Verse 21 22 23. Where first he setteth downe what they had their state antecedent Secondly their state present where we have the worke of their reconciliation and the manner of working Verse 21 22. Thirdly to shake off security the condition of all is annexed Verse 23. Whence the Apostle taketh occasion to digresse in signifying his Apostolical affection to them to the eighth Verse of the second Chapter Giving thankes Observe first From his suffixing thanksgiving Obs That we must as well give thankes for the things given us as begge for that we want Many are suiters when any necessity presseth but few returne to give thankes we see it in the ten Lepers one onely returned to give thankes Eaten bread is soone forgotten that we have we take no further thought of but we must remember to couple these together For first in this is GOD's chiefe honour Reas 1 He that offereth praise honoureth me Psal 50. This is forcible to make us speed in that wee intreat Reas 2 a thankfull petitioner hath alwayes gracious hearing We have more cause when GOD hath given us faith c. to give thankes than to intreat Reas 3 for the things we have are more than those we desire the Apostle maketh
obedience which should of grace have that acceptance and the glorious fruit which followed upon them and therefore the Scriptures yea CHRIST Himselfe referres all those benefits to God's grace which upon the death of CHRIST are given us For it was the fatherly love of God which made Him pleased in the death of His Sonne and smell a savour of rest not that the merit of His death did extort so much derigore justiti◠And truly that the second Person should ever be so joyned to our Nature was unspeakable grace the Nature of Angels more excellent than ours found not this favour He tooke not the Angelicall Nature but the seed of Abraham If a King doe but light and rest Himselfe in some meane Cottage it is no small favour But for the immortall God to dwell by indissoluble bond of union personally in such an house of clay as our Nature is sinne excepted it is grace that cannot be comprehended The greater if we consider how that God full of all Majesty and glory by His incarnation thus dwelling in the forme of a servant did emptie Himselfe by vayling under this flesh the brightnesse of His glory We are then hence to learne Vse that all things must be ascribed to God's grace and with CHRIST to rest in this Father it hath pleased thee to give me CHRIST this or that benefit in CHRIST yea to doe all both in me and CHRIST my SAVIOUR to the glory of thy rich grace all must come hither God hath made me good in His eyes for this or that As for the Papists merit even in rigour of justice not onely in gracious fidelity it is prejudiciall to God's grace I think not to be found betweene the Father and the Sonne much lesse betwixt our God and us with whom it were woe if all our merits were not free mercies This in generall Now for the matter affirmed which first is the Qualification of the Person to be a Mediator 2. The work of mediation touching which 3. Things must bee opened 1 How wee are to conceive of the Person here spoken of in Him 2 What is meant by all fulnesse 3 What is meant by dwelling For the first he meaneth the beloved Sonne as Man as of the Person of CHRIST as incarnate the reason is because the Sonne of God absolutely considered as the second Person in Trinity hath all fulnesse not by voluntary dispensation but by naturall necessity in as much as the eternall Father never was nor could be without His eternall Sonne God with Himselfe this thing never was in the power of His free-will For the second you must know that there is in Christ His Person a three-fold fulnesse The first fundamentall the other two following as derived from it The first is the fulnesse of the divine Nature which doth personally dwell with that Man-hood in Christ whence it commeth to passe that this Man is truly called God that is the Man-hood taken into fellowship of the selfe-perfect and eternall Person of the Sonne of God so that it is become as a part of His Person The second fulnesse is the fulnesse of Office to which even Christ Man is called of being our Mediator Priest Prophet and King For in regard of his humane Nature now united to the second Person He is as Man called to be the Christ of God that is Anointed Thirdly the fulnesse of created or habituall graces wherewith the divine Nature doth fill the soule of Christ which are not the divine Properties but effects which the God-head worketh distinct from it as the soule giveth the body a life which is not the life wherewith the soule liveth for then when the body dieth the soule should die likewise but is an effect of it Now all of them may be here understood for they are all antecedent qualifications fitting him for this worke which in the next words is mentioned especially the first Now for the dwelling of all fulnesse in Christ Man the later two are in Him subjectively the former viz. the God-head doth dwell in Christ Man not as in the Saints 2 Cor. 6.23 I will dwel with you you are the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the habitation of God of God by the Spirit the Temple of the HOLY GHOST which is onely a dwelling by relation of love and communion of the effects of it in grace nor yet as God dwelleth in the glorified Saints 1 Cor. 15. when God shal be all in al which is likewise a dwelling together in regard of aboundant love manifested in the gift of glory nor any such simple cohabitation but it dwelleth with this man-hood as with a Nature which is taken to Vnity of Person in the Sonne of God and so is through grace become of the substance of the second Person So that He is now as truly said to be Man also as before He was said to be God only Now then the summe is Christ as Man or the Manhood of Christ hath the second Person of Trinity God with the Father and Spirit dwelling personally in it So that this Man-hood is essentially and substantially coupled with the Deity in unity of one selfe perfect and eternall Person Secondly it is anointed with fulnesse of Office and of Created gifts that Christ God-man that every way filled might be a fit Person to work our reconciliation following and to be an Head replenishing His Church which went before First then from the matter we see what an all-sufficient Head we have Looke to thy Nature in heaven Such a man as hath Plenitudinem Potestatis in regard of office full of all habituall graces which our nature can receive farre above all Angels yea full of that never drying Fountaine of life grace and glory it being taken into one Person with God neither could he else bee an Head quickening His Church He that must fill all the blessed Angels and all the redeemed peculiar people of God had need to have the Fountaine of life residing in him Which doth both refute that presumptuous usurpation of the man of sinne Vse 1 I meane the Pope in challenging to be an head of all the visible Church whereas Christ could not be our Head were He not God as well as Man As also it teacheth us our duty Vse 2 both whither to run for supply even hither to the Well-head of grace and life all fulnesse is in Him that we might draw from Him grace plenteously grace heaped on grace Oh blessed are those streames of grace which have this Head of living waters to feed them As likewise it teacheth where to offer prayse for the measure of grace we have received we should be affected as receivers in thankfulnesse to GOD in humility towards men For what have wee that wee have not received Lastly this is very comfortable for if there be such a fulnesse in CHRIST then what though there be abundance of sinne in us and guiltinesse yet there is a fulnesse in Him to remove it and take it away
It is therefore a very comfortable thing to suffer for the truths sake And they that fly it by unlawfull meanes being called to it eschew their owne comfort and in seeking to save their life shall loose it 2 His second reason is because it is for the good of the Church in generall and of them in particular Then the martyrdome of the martyrs in suffering Object merits for them The afflictions of the godly Answ and specially of the Ministers for the truth tends greatly to the good of the Church to the confirmation comfort and good example of it but as for merits it neither needeth any but the merits of CHRIST neither if it did could they availe But the Papists that would wring these things from hence are evidently discovered to be blasphemers of God and of CHRIST His Sonne The Apostle opposeth this everywhere 2 Tim. 2.10 Therefore I suffer all things for the elects sake that they might also obtaine the salvation which is in IESUS CHRIST with eternall glory 2 Cor. 1.6 whether we be afflicted it is for your consolation and salvation And Phi. 1.12 13. He wills them to understand that his sufferings turned to the furtherance of the Gospell his bonds for Christs cause were famous in Court and Country whereof there was this excellent fruit that many of the brethren were imboldened and not as men would thinke discouraged and did more boldly speake the Word Here therefore we are taught Observ that the Church looseth nothing but gaineth much by the sufferings of the godly specially the ministers Which should incourage and comfort us greatly in our sufferings Vse 1 seeing both we our selves and many others reape such fruite thereof And here behold the admirable wisedome and goodnesse of God defeating the plots and turning upside downe the pretences of the Divell and his cursed instruments in their persecutions of the Ministers turning that to the singular good comfort and confirmation of the Church which they intend and directed to their ruine and overthrow Here further observe Obs That the Church is called the body of Christ we are as neerely knit to Christ as the body is to the head so Eph. 1.23 To comfort us who are so neerely knit unto Him Vse 1 bone of His bones and flesh of His flesh How can we perish if He be our head or what affliction can separate us from Him Rom. 8. And ought not this to make us ready to suffer for the Churches sake Vse 2 seeing it is the body of Iesus Christ And if wee ought to doe good and to rejoyce in doing good to the Church though it be by sufferings how much more ought we so to doe when we may doe it without suffering for it VERSE 25. Whereof I am made a Minister according to the dispensation of God which is given to mee for you to fulfill the Word of GOD. HAving thus remooved that which might have beene objected he commeth now to the commendation of his ministery wherein he setteth forth 1 The object and causes of it verse 25 26 27. 2 His diligence and faithfulnesse in the execution of it verse 28 29. The object of his ministerie is here noted to be the Church whereof hee saith of which Church I am become a Minister In which words he resumeth that he had said in the end of the twenty third verse for the twenty fourth verse is interposed to prevent an Objection The Ministers of CHRIST Observ are the Ministers of the Church which Church is the body of CHRIST this company of men this selected and choyce company as the Word translated the Church 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth signifie such as labour in the worke of the Gospell and none but these these are given of Christ for the repayring and building up of the Church Eph. 4.11 12. Wherein appeareth the great dignity of the Church Vse 1 and the great account God maketh of it who hath given His best guifts to men to doe them service for their salvation the rest of the world having no portion in these men nor in their guifts or labours It sheweth the great account Ministers ought to make of their people Vse 2 and the great care they ought to have of their edification being of so great account with God and committed to their charge How unkinde and unnaturall a thing it is for this Church or any member of it Vse 3 to molest and persecute these ministers given of God in His great love to doe them good even to bee His blessed instruments to save their soules The causes of his ministery are two The efficient The causes of his ministery are two The end The efficient is the dispensation of GOD given him Observ whereof the meaning is that his Ministery was freely committed unto him by the most wise and holy government of GOD wherewith He governeth His Church as His owne house so much the Word dispensation signifies and appointeth His Ministers as overseers and stewards thereof GOD is the Lord the Church is His house the ministers His stewards the Word and Sacraments the foode and rayment which they must from God minister to their brethren and fellow-servants This should make the Ministers wise and faithfull Vse 1 happy is that servant Mat. 24.46.47.51 whom when his master shall come shall finde so doing 1 Cor. 4.2 It is required in stewards that a man be found faithfull But if that evill servant say in his heart my master deferreth his comming and shall beginne to eate and drinke and to smite his fellowes the Lord of that servant will come in a day that hee thinketh not and will cut him in pieces and give Him his portion among hypocrites And this should make the people diligent and dutifull in receiving their spirituall foode and rayment as from God at the hand of those that are appointed stewards and overseers for them Heb. 13.17 that they may doe it with joy and not with griefe for that is uncomfortable indeede to the minister and unprofitable to the people Of this dispensation he saith That it was given to them-wards or for them His ministery doubtlesse was given for the use and behoofe of the whole Church for his commission as of the rest of the Apostles was generall Goe teach all Nations Mat. 28.20 2 Cor. 11.28 c. and he professeth the care of all the Churches lay upon him howbeit having now to doe with the Colossians he applyeth it to them affirming that it was given him for them as if it had beene for them alone teaching Obs That the Minister should have such care of every part of his charge as if his Ministery had beene committed to him for their behoofe and profit onely and that every one pertaining to a Ministers charge every family and every person should make such use of their minister as if he had received his ministery for them alone And great reason there is of this latter
savoring of the flesh 6 Whatsoever is meerely grounded on tradition and what is carnall and sensuall in GODS service is contrary to Christ Verse 9. 1 THis must make us rest in CHRIST onely as all sufficient that we know Him GOD blessed for ever 2 All the fulnesse of GOD is communicated with CHRIST as man the whole entyre Nature of GOD. 3 Not created gifts or miraculous effects of the divine nature are united with Christ man but the deity it selfe the fulnesse of it 3 The same singular Nature is in all the three persons 5 The manner of GODS dwelling in CHRIST man is personally so as that GOD the Sonne is thereby become personally man Verse 10. 1 CHrist man doth send out all the streames of grace and good things to all His members in that the fountaine dwelleth in Him 2 Being in CHRIST we receive all kinde of graces and benefits that wee lacke nothing 3 The dignity of CHRIST who is all to us is this that He is the chiefe above all the creatures Verse 11. 1 AN excellent meane to hold us fast to Christ is to remember what great evil of sin He hath subdued for us 2 Christ hath given us a spirituall Circumcision 3 No outward action of the hand of man reacheth to the clensing of the soule 4 Sin and grace is to the soule as apparell is to the body 5 Spirituall circumcision standeth in putting off all our corruptions 6 The soule of the naturall man is clad with sinne 7 Wee must forgoe not some part of our corruption but the whole body of sinne 8 Our masse of corruption containeth many sinnes 9 IESUS CHRIST it is who worketh in us this spirituall circumcision Verse 12. 1 VVHat Circumcision was to the old people that Baptisme is to us 2 From our union with CHRIST dead and buried we come to have the body of sinne crucified 3 GOD doth unite us with CHRIST even by our Baptisme 4 To consider of our resurrection which we have through CHRIST is a forcible motive to make us cleave to Him 5 Faith on Christ maketh us rise to new life 6 The omnipotent action of God which raised Christ from the dead is it that begetteth faith in us Verse 13. 1 OVr quickning in CHRIST is such a benefit which we must not quickly have done with and lightly passe over 2 Ministers must amplifie to their people the benefits bestowed on them 3 Sinne both originall and actuall is the death of the soule 4 The life of a naturall man is even a death in trespasse 5 Our course in actuall sin doth sinke us deeper and deeper in death 6 We are farre from being prepared to receive the grace shewed us by God when we are quickened to beleeve 7 The way to bring men to acknowledgement of GOD's grace with thankfulnesse is to make them see what they were when God first shewed it 8 All beleevers have a new life in and through Christ 9 In order of nature first we have pardon of sinne before we have the life of grace begun in us 10 God the Father Son and Spirit doe properly forgive sinne 11 God's pardon is of meere grace to us 12 We must remember what God hath done for us while we shew to others the things bestowed on them 13 The grace of God in forgiving our sinnes is exceeding large Verse 14. 1 NOt onely our sin which is our debt is answered but whatsoever may shew any thing against us is done away in Christ 2 By Christ the ceremoniall Law is taken away 3 The Iewish ceremonies as they were purely legall were as bills testifying the debt of the people before God 4 Christ by suffering on the crosse hath abolished these things Verse 15. 1 GOd doth set us free from the power of Satan before we are made alive in Christ 2 God in Christ hath crucified and disarmed Satan 3 Christ in His death made a scorne of all the power of darknesse and exposed them to open shame Verse 16. 1 VVE must not make account of mens sinister judgements as any way giving place unto them 2 To put no difference in meats for conscience sake or religious respect is no sinne 3 Such as doate upon Mosaicall rites are ready to condemne such as are not done right in them Verse 17. 1 THe legall ceremonies were shadowes of that is done in Christ and His Church Verse 18. 1 FAlse teachers are led with a spirit of arrogancie which maketh them usurpe judgement over others 2 The naturall man doth judge and condemne what doth not agree with him 3 Our softnesse and pusillanimity doth make us subject too much to take to heart mens sinister judgements 4 Wicked deceivers will seeme to stand for vertue and challenge those that are truly godly as wanting it 5 Adoration of Angels and Saints masketh under the vizor of holinesse 6 All religious worship of Saints or Angels is unchristian 7 The property of a seducer is to speake that he knoweth not 8. The cause of vouching and diving into hidden things is Pride Verse 19. 1 LOoking to the creatures for helpe and grace doth make us fall from Christ 2 We have not many but one Head 3 In Christ mysticall there is nothing but the Head giving growth and the body receiving growth 4 For the whole multitude of beleevers there is sufficiency in Christ 5 Before we can take spirituall growth in Christ we must be knit to Him 6 Every true beleever groweth up in Christ not stands at a stay 7 It is God who maketh us as begin so grow in grace Verse 20. 1 CHRIST by His death hath freed us from the Ceremonies of the Law 2 True Christians must not live in that Christ dyed to take away 3 Gods children live out of the world while in it Verse 21.22 1 MEn are exact in outward observancies who know not the power of godlinesse 2 Hard to forgoe old rites to which we are accustomed 3 Bodily observancies profit nothing 4 We are not to give credence to any thing not taught in God's Word Verse 23. 1 VIce and error may have a shew of truth and vertue 2 Will-worship hath a plausible shew of wisdom 3 Lowlinesse of minde argueth wisdome 4 False teachers will make a shew of humility 5 To keepe the body in subjection argueth wisdome 6 False teachers make shew of mortification 7 Exercises much regarded with men are of no esteeme with God 8 Bodily externall things are not of worth with God The end of the Doctrines A COMMENTARY VPON THE SECOND Chapter of Saint PAUL to the Colossians COLOS. Chap. 2. VER 1. VERSE 1. For I would yee knew what great fighting I have for your sakes and for them of Laodicea and for as many as have not seene my Person in the flesh WE have had from the three and twentieth Verse of the former Chapter from the end of it a digression the summe whereof consisteth in declaring Paul's calling Secondly his executing this calling Vers 28 29.
withdrawen from CHRIST So that as a Wife yeelding her love and conjugall benevolence to another cleaveth no longer to her husband is one flesh no more with him So a soule bestowing the religious adoration of it here or there doth joyne it selfe with the thing so worshipped and leaveth God This is to be marked against them that are reconcilers Vse 1 that thinke why may they not doe thus and thus and yet cleave to CHRIST well enough yea this doth detect the wicked judging of Papists that will perswade us that this leadeth us unto CHRIST to go to Saints and that honouring them in religious manner we honour Christ in them 2 We must keepe onely to God in Christ Thus much from this that these religiously worshipping Angells held not Christ For understanding the verse We must open some conclusions concerning the head and Naturall body 1 The head is the supreame part in a humane body from which commeth outward direction and inward influence of sense and motion into every member So Christ hath both the soveraignty of outward directing and by his powerfull influence he quickeneth and mooveth all that are his 2 No member hath any thing from the head which is not by joynts and sinewes coupled to the head and by the same bands and joynts furnished from the head So we have nothing from CHRIST till by faith and love we are knit with Him and His body and by the same 〈◊〉 furnished from Him with spirituall grace and heavenly nutriment 3 We must know that the soule from the head doth 〈◊〉 forth a nutritive faculty a vitall faculty which nourisheth and augmenteth every member as the nature of it requireth The first continueth as long as life augmentation till wee come to that perfection of growth which nature affordeth Being come to this augmentation ceaseth about thirty sixe yeares So the quickning spirit from Christ our head doth by all holy meanes nourish every believer and make him grow as his condition requireth and that till he come to be a perfect member of one perfect man in Iesus Christ 4 The last thing to be marked is that a Naturall body groweth up in every part proportionably the hand for a hand the legge with the growth of a legge the toe with the growth of a toe So here all the body thus coupled furnished and wrought upon with the quickning spirit groweth to that perfection in every member which Christ hath appointed The summe is They keepe not to Christ who is an all sufficient head by whose efficacy all that believe on Him being coupled to Him receive all grace needfull and take encrease growing up till they come to perfection with such a growth which God Himselfe causeth in them That wee have not many but one head Doct. not holding the head not Christ and Saint Peter the Scripture knoweth but one head neither was any of His Apostles a head of the Churches for all had alike and the chiefe authority Now if any were a head above others He must have the chiefe alone no other having it with Him thus the Pastor that succeeded Peter at Rome should have beene head over Saint Iohn the Evangelist who lived long after Peter But we neede no better argument then this in the Text. If CHRIST be one head and it is monstrous for a body to have two then the Church hath no other But CHRIST is the head and for one body to have two is monstrous therefore the Church hath no other then Christ The Papists say that a ministeriall and secondary head may be with a principall and it is not monstrous As there may bee a Viceroy under a King yea they say it maketh with the union of the Church to have a visible head and doth no more derogate from Christs glory in being our head then when men are called lights GODS Apostles foundations from Christ who is called the light GOD the foundation the Apostle of our profession For answer First this distinction of a secondary ministeriall head it is contradictory for it is such an essentiall property of a head to be principall and have rule that what is not thus is not a head 2 Who ever heard of any secondary head in a naturall body without deformity now it is a naturall body with which CHRIST doth compare Himselfe in this respect 3 That which is a ministeriall head must doe the worke of a head but that none can doe The worke is double internall or externall influence regiment or direction Of the first it is granted for the other of regiment the Scripture denyeth it to any but CHRIST the Prince of Pastors leaving to all other a power ministeriall onely to serve the Churches as superior unto them Againe the truth is no direction which is dependent is the direction of a head as the hand leading and drawing up the foote directeth it but is not a head to it because the direction of the hand commeth from the principality of the head reported unto it As for those instances First a Viceroy is in a body politique but CHRIST in calling Himselfe a head of his body doth draw the comparison from a body Naturall Againe the proportion is not kept for to have a Viceroy under a King in some Province is one thing but to have a head under a head is another For a head is to the body as a King to the kingdome Now to have another King in a kingdome under the Chiefe is a thing unheard of The union of the Church the Scripture teacheth to depend on CHRIST and His spirit not on a visible head Yea the Grecians continew to this day their rent from the Church and all for the pride of this head Men have many names properly attributed to them and these above repeated but improperly but the names of head and husband the Scripture and all sound antiquity appropriate unto Christ Kings may suffer men to be called Noble Wise Rich but to be called Kings within His Kingdome is not permitted for there is nothing more derogatory from the glory of his Crowne so here c. Let us then cleave to this head CHRIST IESUS Vse and renounce such most lewd usurpation as is detected in the Pope Woe to that body which hath a third thing thrust in betwixt the head and it so that they meete not to close each to the other So it is with the Papists for betwixt Christ and them the Pope hath thrust in so that their immediate conjunction with Christ is hindered and his beneficiall influence intercepted Oh how absurd is it that any but Christ should bee thought head of the Church It is as if the King should put his Queene under the power of a Subject or a mans wife should be made an underling to a servant which never was the Apostles themselves though in their message from Christ they might command the Church in His Name yet in regard of their persons they were under the Churches as a servant who