resemblances of vertues which although they are praised in the courts and iudgement places of men yet before the heauenly tribunall they are of no moment to deserue righteousnesse Yea more they are sins because whatsoeuer is done without faith that is without acknowledgment trusting in the Mediator is sinne Rom. 14.23 Therefore what kind of will is remaining in a man not regenerate A will altogither euill namely which doth with a prone inclination make hast to sinne for man is not depriued of will but of the soundnesse and goodnesse of his will Therefore Bernard speaketh thus Simply to vvill commeth from mans nature to vvill vvickedly commeth from corrupt nature to vvill vvell from supernaturall grace But doth not mans vvill freely encline to euill If free be opposed to compulsion or violent constraint in this case man is caried to commit sinne freely that is of his owne accord voluntarily and with earnest desire and so there is in him free vvill to euill a Iam. 1.14 Pruu 2.24 But if free be opposed to seruitude or necessitie certainly man enclineth to euill not freely but necessarilie and so mans will is seruile and thrall but so as this necessitie and slauerie is voluntarie So the will of a man vnregenerate is a Seruant and it is also free in diuers respects a seruant because of the necessitie of sinning free in regard of his will Iohn 8.34 Whosoeuer committeth sinne is the seruant of sinne and verse 38. If the sonne shall make you free you shall be free indeed Therefore if he shall not make free the will shall be a seruant not free and therefore more truly it shall be called seruile or slauish vvill not free vvill For by whomsoeuer a man is ouercome to him he becommeth slaue 2. Pet. 2.19 but if a man become slaue vnto sinne he is no longer free Hovv stands the vvil of man in his conuersion is it meerrly passiue or actiue also In respect of grace which commeth from without a man and preuenteth him the will in as much as it is not yet begonne to be regenerate is meerely passiue as the clay in the hand of the Potter a Rom. 9.21 because all his strength concerning spiritual and heauenly things is extinct by which he might prepare himselfe to grace or of himselfe receiue it being offered or by his naturall strength turne vnto God or wil desire or follow after that which is good acceptable to God for we are all dead in sin b but the dead man is only passiue in respect of his quickening yea moreouer the will is not only dead but also it is stubborne of it selfe and of it selfe and by it selfe q Epes 2.1 Colos 3 12 it cannot choose but resist being not moued kindled by God c Iohn 6. Therefore Dauid faith Psal 51.12 Create in me O God a cleane heart But in respect of the time in which the conuersion it selfe is wrought the will is not like a stocke but whilest it is healed and cured by the holy Ghost it is also actiue that is the will in the act of conuersion is not idle and void of all sense and motion as an Image but followeth the holy Ghost who draweth it For at the same instant God cause vs both by grace to will and to will indeed that is he mooueth and bendeth our wils and causeth vs to will indeed but yet so as all the whole efficacie of the action dependeth vpon Gods spirit Heereupon Aagustine lib. de Gratia lib. arbitrio cap. 2. It is certaine that we will when we will but he causeth vs to will who worketh in vs to will Therfore Phil. 2.13 It is God who worketh in vs both the wil the deed where Will is not vnderstood of the substance of the will but of a newe qualitie How is that to be vnderstood which Christ speaketh Ioh. 6.44 No man commeth to me except the father draw him Not so as if the will in the act of conuersion that is when the party conuerted is begon to be draweÌ„ by the word holy spirit did like an enemie make resistance neither is the case alike as when euil spirits vse the members of bodies possessed by them For we do not beleeue against our wils because faith is a knowledge in the mind and an assent in the heart but because of vnwilling God maketh vs willing of resisting consenting of sluggish lasie persons God maketh vs to become runners In which sense is that saying of Chrysostome to be taken God indeed draweth saith he but he draweth so as the partie is willing Act. 26.19 I was not disobedient to the heauenly vision What therefore be the causes of our conuersion The efficient cause and effectuall by it selfe is one namely the Holy Ghost of which it is saide Ezech. 36.26 I will giue you a newe heart a newe spirit wil I put in the middest of you and I will take the stonie heart out of your flesh and I will giue you a fleshie heart and will make you to walke in my commaundements The instrumentall cause or meanes is the word of God Rom. 10.17 Faith is by hearing and hearing by the word of God by which word being read heard and thought vpon the Holy Ghost becommeth regularlie effectuall enlightning the minde and turning the will The subiect of Conuersion is the vnderstanding and will of man which notwithstanding is saide also to concurre not to the conuersion but in the conuersion because no conuersion is wrought without the thing to be conuerted but in that regard that it is mooued not of it selfe but by the Holy Ghost that being driuen forward thereby it worketh of vnwilling becoÌ„ming willing it willeth For the will is not onely the subiect of Gods operation which the spirit of God worketh in the elect but it is also such an instrument which beeing renewed and mooued by the Holie Ghost doth it selfe also worke together with it and mooueth it selfe What manner of free will is there in a man regenerate It is partly to good partly to euill How to good Because the Holy ghost reneweth by the word of God mans nature onely in part and therefore that will which before was seruant becommeth free only in part that is because a new lâ—ght and knowledge of God is kindled in the minde and in the will and heart new inclinations and motions agreeing with gods law that so man being caused by God to worke may himselfe also worke As Iohn 6.45 Euerie one that hath heard and learned of the father commeth vnto mee Phil. 2.13 It is God who worketh in you both the will and the deede How is there in them a free will to euill 1. Because Regeneration is onely begunne in this life not perfected by regeneration is to bee vnderstoode a a 1. Cor 13 9 12. 2 Cor. 11 9 renewing of minde will and affections and the reliques of the flesh or of sinne do alwaies remaine
Repentance The most proper signification of all which answereth to the true exposition of the Hebrew word and is more rightly called Resipiscentia aftervvit then poenitentia forethinking What manner of thing is it It is a true conuersion of our life vnto God proceeding from a sincere and serious feare of God whereby the sinner leauing the foolishnesse of sinning returneth to himselfe or rather to GOD and changeth the former opinion of his minde for the better VVhat call you conuersion or turning to God The transformation or renewing of the soule it selfe not touching the essence as Illyricus dreamed but concerning the qualities inherent in the same whereby putting off the oldnesse thereof it bringeth forth fruites of workes answerable to the renewing of it which they call regeneration or spirituall renouation wherby the image of God being defiled in vs by sinne and wanting nothing but the vtter blotting out is againe reformed and fashioned anew in vs. Eph. 4 2◠Bee ye renewed in the spirit of your minds and put yee on the nevv man vvhich after God is made that is after the example image of God created in righteousnesse and true holines Col. 3.9.10 Put yee of the old man vvith his vvorks and put on the new man vvhich is renevved in the knovvledge of God after the image of him that created him Also the Scripture calleth it the circumcision of the heart Ier. 4.4 Breake vp your fallovv ground and sovv not among the thornes And Be circumcised to the Lord and take avvay the foreskinnes of your hearts And Eze. 18.30.31 Bee conuerted and repent of all your iniquities and make you a nevve heart and a nevv spirit VVhat is the efficient cause of Repentance It is God himselfe Lament 5.21 Turne thou vs O Lord and vve shall bee turned and shall bee saued Ier. 31.18 Turne mee O Lord and I shall bee turned for after I conuerted I repented Eze. 36.26 I vvill giue you a nevv heart and I vvill put a nevve spirit vvithin you Act. 11.18 The Church praiseth the goodnesse of God because hee had giuen repentance to the Gentiles vnto saluation And Paule 2. Timoth. 2.25.26 commaunding the Ministers to bee patient towarde vnbeleeuers saith If at any time GOD vvill giue them repentance vvhereby they may come to amendment of life out of the snare of the diuell And Ephe. 2.10 wee are saide in respect of Regeneration The vvorkmanshippe of God created vnto good vvorkes vvhich hee hath prepared that vve should vvalke therein For hee treateth heere of grace and not of nature against Pelagius and against the Semipelagians who faine that nature onely weakned is helped by grace 2. The Holy Ghost who affecteth and moueth the hearts a Act. 15.18 Whereupon also hee is called the spirit of regeneration and sanctification Tit. 3.5 Not by the vvorkes of righteousnesse which vvee had done but according to his mercie hee saued vs by the vvashing of the nevv birth and the renevving of the holie Ghost that is which the Holy Ghost bestoweth and effecteth 3. The administring or fellow working causes are the ministers of the word Act. 26.17 I send thee saith Christ to Paule to the Gentiles that thou maist open their eies that they may turne from darknesse to light And. 1. Cor. 4.15 in Christ Iesus I haue begotten you through the Gospell 4. The instruments are the Word and Sacraments Ier. 23.29 Is not my vvord euen like a fire saith the Lord and like an hammer that breaketh the stone Is Repentance the effect of the preaching of the Lawe or of the Gospell Wee must distinguish betweene the accusation of sinne and the preaching of repentance for the former appertaineth vnto the Lawe and maketh a preparation for the latter and the latter is proper to the Gospell for remission of sins But vvhich is the Antecedent invvard immediate and nearest cause of repentance It is the feare of God through the meditation of Gods iudgement to come before which we must all appeare Act. 17.30 God admonisheth all men euerie vvhere to repent because hee hath appointed a day in vvhich hee vvill iudge the vvorld in righteousnesse 2. Also by the punishments alreadie inflicted or present wherby sinners are admonished that worser punishments doe hang ouer their heads vnles they repent betimes as it is said 1. Cor. 11.32 When we are iudged wee are chastised of the Lord because we should not be condemned with the world And Luk. 3.9 The axe is now laid to the roote of the trees Euery tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruite is cut downe and cast into the fire 3. But chiefely the feeling and consideration of the goodnesse of God doth stirre vp in vs that sorrow which the Apostle calleth sorrow according to God or godly sorrow 2. Cor. 7.10 Which sorow breedeth repentance vnto saluation whereby we abhorre not onely the punishment but euen the sinne it selfe wherby we vnderstand that we displease God A notable example whereof are the teares of Dauid euery where set downe in the Psalmes VVhich are the principall causes of repentance i. what things ought to prouoke vs to the hastening of our repentance 1. Their certaintie of our life we must therefore watch pray because wee know neither that hower nor that day least wee bee sodainely ouerwhelmed with Gods iust iudgement Matth. 25.13 2. By the dangerous delaying of repentance there is gathered together a storehouse or heape of our manifold sinnes and of the wrath of God and of punishments Rom. 2 5. Thou after thine hardnesse and heart that cannot repent heapest vnto thy selfe wrath against the day of wrath and of the declaration of the iust iudgement of God 3. The offence of the Angels for as they reioyce at the repentance of sinners Luc. 15.7.10 So without doubt they are grieued for their impenitencie 4. The dangerous alienation from God and finally induration for the longer repentance is deferred the more difficult it becommeth Pro. 22.6 A young man walking according to his way euen when he is old will not depart from it And late repentance is seldom true repentance 5. An euill conscience then which nothing is more grieuous nothing more miserable 6. The stumbling block wee lay befoe others and the guilt of their sin Hence is that commination of Christ Luk 17.1 Wee be to the man by whome offence commeth 7. The depriuation of the ioyes of the holy Ghost and of spirituall comforts 8. The delights of Sathan For the sinnes of men as one of the auncient writers hath saide are the delicates or dainties of the Diuell 9. The thinking of the tragical examples vpon the impenitent as the Angels that fell the Sodomites the Egyptians the Iewes the Churches of the East and other impenitent sinners How many parts are there of repentance or regeneration The Apostle 2 Cor. 7.11 reckoneth seauen 1. Care namely of amendment 2. Defence or excuse or clearing our selues frō other mens guilt 3. Indignation of the sinner namely against
the Lord doth manifest his power by him h Exo. 18.17 2. Againe he is called water Iohn 3.5 Vnlesse a man be borne a new of water and the spirit he shall not enter into the kingdome of God And 7.18 He that beleeueth in me as saith the Scripture riuers of water of eternall life shall flow out of his belly Now this he spake of the spirit because it cooleth vs it quencheth our spirituall thirst i Ioh. 4.14 it watereth vs being emptie of all the iuice of life and maketh vs fruitfull it washeth away all the filthinesse of our hearts and like water is poured into the beleeuers as it is said I will poure out of my Spirit Ioel 2.28 and Esa 44.3 3. He is called fire as Math. 3.11 He that shall come after me he shall baptise you with the holy Ghost and with fire From the effect because he purgeth out all the drosse inflameth vs to the feare of God to loue and kindnesse both of God and our neighbour and hath other effects like vnto fire 4. He is called Seed 1. Iohn 3.9 He which is borne of God hath his seed in himselfe because by his power as it were by seed the faithfull are renewed and are made new men that being dead to sinne they may liue to God 5. He is called the annointing b 1. Ioh. 2.27 Psal 45.8 and the Oile of gladnesse the speech being borrowed from the custome of annointing which was vsed in time of the law to signifie the fragrant smell and spirituall sweetnesse of the gifts of the spirit What doth the holy Ghost dwell in the hearts of the beleeuers onely by his gifts or also by his Essence Yea euen by his Essence yet not extensiuely or as it were a part of the essence of things as the Manichees and others dreamed but intensiuely so farre forth as he is euery where present as he is God and in the efficacie of his presence Rom. 8.11 The Spirit of him that raised vp Iesus from the dead dwelleth in you And Ioh. 14.23 Christ saith We shall come vnto him and make our abode with him For we may not thinke that he bestowes his gifts so vpon vs that he himselfe should be in another place but he is present with his gifts both to the whole Church and euery particular elect gouerning and quickning them both within and without 1. Câ—â—int 6.19 Your body is the temple of the holy Ghost which is in you And â— Cor. 13.13 The communion of the holy Ghost be with you all What doctrines are contrary to this 1. The heresie of the Pneumatomachoi who denie the holy Ghost who do of set purpose oppose themselues and impugne the holy Ghost of which stamp was Samosatenus who called the holy Ghost the power of God hauing no person and the simple action of God in the hearts of men 2. Macedonius who affirmed the holy Ghost to be not a Lord but a seruant and a Minister and that he was not the Creator but a creature and by the name of Spirit was onely signified those new motions which God stirreth vp in the regenerate abusing that place Psal 51.12 Create a new heart in me O God and renue a right spirit in my bowels Where the name of Spirit is vsed for the created gifts of the Spirit 3. Seruetus who imagined that the holy Ghost was nothing else but the power of God infused into euery creature whereby they moue and liue which Philosophers call Nature 4. The errour of the latter Grecians who denied that the holy Ghost proceedeth from the Sonne 5. The blasphemie of Campanus and certaine other Anabaptists who cried out that the holy Ghost tooke his beginning as soone as Christ was glorified abusing that testimonie Iohn 7.39 As yet the holy Ghost was not giuen because Iesus was not yet glorified Where it is manifest that the Euangelist speaketh not of the person but of those admirable gifts which were powred out vpon the Apostles in the day of Pentecost as also in that saying of the Disciples of Iohn Act. 19.2 Yea we haue not so much as heard whether there be any holy Ghost or not 6. The errour of those who denied him to be adored with one and the same faith and inuocation with the Father and the Sonne The fourth common Place of the holy Scripture What is the holy Scripture called THe Scripture putting one name for another is vsed for the writings of the Prophets and Apostles which the companie of the faithfull doth religiously vse for the instruction in godlinesse And it is called holy because being deliuered of God it containeth holy things necessary vnto eternall life And in the same sense it is called the written word of God and the vnappealable Iudge of all controuersies in religion a Esa 8.20 Luk. 16.29.31 Who is the Author of it God himselfe who did commit his will vnto writing by men called immediatly of himselfe and inspired by the holy Ghost as * As his penmen and publike notaries his seruants at hand 2. Pet. 1.21 For the Prophesie was not at any time brought by the will of man but the holy men of God spake as they were moued by the holy Ghost Hereupon all the Prophets do with one accord repeate this The mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Esa 58.14 These things saith the Lord Ezec. 12.25.28 2. Tim. 3.16 The whole scripture was giuen of God by inspiration 1. Cor. 2.13 Which things we speake not in the words which mans wisedome teacheth but which the holy Ghost teacheth Wherupon depend the adiuncts of the Scripture as the authority the excellency the truth and fulfilling of them which is as necessary as it must needs be that God is true Whence also it comes to passe that the Scripture alone is to be beleeued for it selfe of it selfe is worthy to be beleeued neither is it subiect to the censure addition diminution or alteration of Angels or men a Deut. 12.32 Reu. 22.18 It alone is without all error b Mar. 16.24 and we are bound to beleeue it alone vpon the bare affirmation thereof by it alone all opinions which all men shall reade c Deu. 17.9.10 Esa 8.20 Mal 2.7 Act. 17.2 are to be confirmed and to be decided d Iosu 1.8 Iob. 5.39 Act. 17.11 This alone is perfect and containeth all things necessary vnto life eternall e Psal 19.8 Luke 16.29 Ioh. 15.15 Act. 20.20.27 2. Tim. 3.16 17 Lastly it is firme and constant f 2. Pet. 1.19 How manifold is it Two-fold for it is deuided into the old and new Testament or into the doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles which is contained in the Canonicall bookes Which bookes be called Canonicall All those which being indited by the holy Ghost were either written or allowed by the Prophets and Apostles that these alone might be the rule and direction of faith and good workes by which all other doctrines are to be weighed
should come to passe foure hundred yeares after c Gen. 15.13.14.15 Act. 7.6.7 The promise made of the erecting of the Empire and kingdome in the tribe of Iudah d Gen. 49.8 The foretelling that the Gentiles should a long while after be called to the gracious couenant of God e Esa 45.22 of the destruction of Ierusalem f Esa 22.1 Ezec. 15.6 2. King 24.14 Dan. 9.26 Mat. 24.2 of the returne of the people out of the captiuitie of Babylon g Ier. 12.15 25.11.12 of the acts of Cyrus for the good of the Iewes which are set downe Esa 45.1.2 The foretelling that Iosias king of Iudah should slay the Priests and should burne mens bones vpon the altar of Bethel which was foretold 333. yeares before Iosias was borne and 359. yeares before it was performed h 1. King 13.2 2. King 23.15 Those famous Prophecies of Daniel concerning the foure Monarchies and the succession of them of Antichrist and his doctrine of the end of the world i Dan. 7.17 12.2 and such like of the comming and death of Christ k Dan. 9.24.25.26.27 All which could neuer be forseene by the wit of man nor be gathered by naturall causes and yet they were all proued most true by the certaine euent of them 3. That maiestie of the Spirit to be adored which euery where shineth clearely in the Scriptures vnder that rude and plaine simplicitie and humilitie of words l 1. Cor. 2.4 4. The power of the Scripture that it hath in the minds of men 1. in the conuersion of a man when as the Scripture sendeth foorth a certaine secret force wherby a man is affected and inwardly moued and so transformed into a new man m Heb. 4.12 Psal 119.111 Act. 13.12 2. In time of affliction when it doth enkindle in our hearts a liuely and firme consolation that at length men should preferre the holy Scripture before all they do enioy neither will they suffer themselues by any kind of affliction no not by death it selfe to be withdrawne from the same as we haue plaine example in the Martyrs by whose bloud it was sealed 5. That deadly and irreconciliable hatred wherewith the diuell and the world do persecute the doctrine of the Scripture wheras they can brooke other doctrines though neuer so absurd and impious 6. The inuincible certaintie thereof that against so many stratagemes of the diuell and so many outrages of the world it abideth firme and by a wonderfull successe gets the victorie To which purpose is that we reade 1. Machab. 1.59 That when Antiochus had giuen in charge that all the holy Scriptures should be burned yet continually after that they peeped foorth of their dennes and not long after being translated into the Greeke tongue were spread ouer the whole world 7. That most sweet harmonie and wonderfull consent betweene all the parts of doctrine taught by Moses the Prophets Christ the Euangelists and the Apostles 8. The wonderfull calling of Moses n Exo 2.7.10 3.2 Act. 7.20 of the Prophets o Amos 7.14 of the Apostles of whom the most were vnlearned and simple men which had not bene brought vp in the schooles of men and learned that there which they taught to others who did so skilfully dispute of heauenly mysteries vpon the sodaine c Act. 2 11. 4.13 The wonderfull conuersion of Paule being before a professed cruell and bloudie enemie to a new man d Act. 9.3 c and that all these had no regard of their owne honor and profit but onely the glorie of God and of Christ and of the saluation of men 9. The perpetuall consent of the whole Church and of all the godly the space of so many ages ouer the face of the whole world farre and neare in imbracing and keeping the Scripture 10. So many and so famous miracles as well of the old Testament which Satan was neuer able to imitate no not in anie resemblance as the raising vp of the dead e 1. Kin. 17.22 2. King 14.33 13.21 the deuiding of the sea and of the riuers f Exod. 14.21 Ios 3.15.16 the staying and going backe of the Sunne g Ios 10.13 2. King 20.11 as of the new Testament which the Iewes themselues cannot denie as Iosephus beareth witnesse li. 18. cap. 4. although the Iewes at this day affirme that the miracles of Christ were done by I know not what superstition of the word Schem hamphoras least they should be constrained to confesse the truth and to acknowledge Iesus the sonne of Marie to be the Christ 11. The matter of the Scriptures which containeth doctrine euery where heauenly and fauoring of no earthly thing In it alone is propounded the pure and perfect law of God h Deu. 4.6 7.8 Psal 19.9 that alone shewes that meanes of saluation which doth not resist the glorie and most perfect iustice of God and satisfieth the consciences of men 12. The forme because there doth appeare manifestly the dispensation of the wisedome of God ordered and disposed 13. The most lamentable ruine of the persecutors and haters thereof What is the true vnfallible note wherby all men of sound iudgemēt do acknowledge that doctrine to be the doctrine of the true God Because that doctrine which doth teach vs to seeke the glorie of one God and of him alone in whole and euery where and to cleaue vnto him out of all doubt that doctrine is the doctrine of the true God i Prou. 16.14 1. Cor. 10.31 Jerem. 9.31 1. Timot. 1.17 Ioh. 7.18 8.49.50 5.43 44. 12.43 Gal. 1.10 Phil. 1.9.11 But onely the regenerate do rest in it as that that bringeth saluation and the doctrine of God with full assurance of their heart But how shall we answer them who aske how we know that Moses the Prophets and the Apostles were the authors of those writings which are published vnder their names and whether there was euer any such Moses or no That such a question is not to be vouchsafed an answer but rather to be punished for it is as much as if any man should aske whether there were euer any Plato Tullie Aristotle whose writings are daily conuersant in the hands of all men Seeing that before Moses his time we reade not that there was any word of God written how did God all that time reueale his will vnto men Either by oracles pronounced by the mouth and voice of God himselfe to his seruants a Num. 12.8 or else by Vrim and Thummim that is light and perfection which God gaue to Moses to put it into the breast-plate of the high priest b Exod. 28.20 but what they were and of what fashion no man knoweth Or else by visions and resemblances which the Lord offred to the eyes or mind of them that were waking c Ier. 1.10.11 or else in dreames sent of God to them that were asleepe
administratioÌ„ of the Sacraments But yet the spirits are to be tried that is by a Metonymy those which say they are indued with the spirit of god whether they be of God 1. Ioh. 4.1 which cannot be done more certainly by any thing then by the scripture to which the Lord commandeth the triall of spirits to be conformed a Deut. 13.1 2.3 4 neither must we harken to the words of the false Prophets b Ier. 23 19 By what name were they wont to cal the definitions of Synods Canons which then especially haue authority are as lawes whosoeuer contemns violates them must vndergo the politicke punishmeÌ„t inflicted by the magistrate so soon as they are ratified coÌ„firmed by the chief magistrat but before they are not auailable by reason of politicall punishment although they be by reason of censure Do such constitutions bind the conscience before God No truly by themselues for that they are humane and mutable yet notwitstanding being once set downe to violate or contemne them with safe conscience no man can both in respect of scandalizing others as also by reason of contumacy but euerie one is tied faithfully to obserue them and that with a free conscience e 1 Cor. 10.28 29 but so as it may be done without scandall that is so that the weaker brethren be not offended and when vpon iust causes we be hindered sometimes it is lawfull to omit them our consciences being not offended VVhat is the ende of this power In generall the glorie of God and the edification of the Church to vs saith Paule 2. Cor. 10.8 13.10 is power giuen to edification not to destruction but the end of Synods is the assertion of the pure doctrine of God comprehended in his word against the heretickes and the constitution of Ecclesiastical gouernment in respect of the diuerse circumstances of time place and persons VVhat effect or vse haue they Order and Decencie d 1. Co. 4.40 Order whereby the presidents and publishers of the gospell haue a certaine rule in their actions and doe accustome their auditors to obedience and in a well gouerned estate of the Church peace and concord is kept Comelines whereby we may be incited by those helpes to pietie and that grauitie may appeare in the handling of pietie VVhat things are repugnant to this Doctrine 1 The errour both of those which ascribe to much and also of those which do attribute too little to the Church 2 The errour of the Nouatians or Catharists who deny pardon to those which are fallen by their confession or to those which are defiled with great offences 3 The Monarchie of the Papacie and tyranny which they haue arrogated to themselues in translating the kingdomes of the world 2 That tyrannicall voyce that the Pope of Rome ought to be iudged of no mortall man and that hee is aboue the councill 3 That vsurping and abusing the keyes and the power of remitting or retaining sinnes at his pleasure 4 That maioritie and supreme power which hee hath taken to himselfe by vertue of succession and of the Church when soeuer hee please in consigning the Canon of Scripture In interpreting the word of GOD and giuing the true sense of the Scripture in forging new Articles of our faith in making lawes and proposing traditions and establishing wicked decrees because as they say that the Bishoppe hath all lawes in the closet of his heart 5. All Ceremonies Popish rites and will-worship repugnant to the word of God 6 That errour that the Church is the rule of all things which are to bee beleeued when as on the contrarie the Scripture alone is the rule of faith 7. A wicked and superstitious opinion of necessity merit and worshippe in the obseruation of humane ceremonies 8. A foolish zeale of Moses law 9. That Sacriledge wherby they driue the laity from the reading of the word of God and doe prohibite Bibles to bee Printed in the vulgar tongue 10. Furthermore that Councils should be assembled and gouerned by the authoritie of the Pope and that such Councils cannot erre 11. That the Church ought to supply the defect of the word written by written traditions which is to attribute more authority and power to the Church then is meete 12 That the Church is eminent in generall Councils and that the trueth remaineth no where but amongst their Pastors 13. That the power of interpreting the Scriptures is in the Councils and that no man may appeale from them 14. That the approbation of the Scripture to be either Canonicall or Apocryphall dependeth on the iudgement of the Church 15. The contempt of constitutions simply for order and decency appointed in the Church 16. The errour of those who in Ecclesiasticall controuersies resting on their owne priuate iudgements opinions do disclaime Synods and all definitions deliuered by Synods The foure and fortieth common place Of the Gouernment and Iurisdiction of the Church where also of fasting What is the third part of Ecclesiasticall power IVdiciarie or Iurisdiction Ecclesiastical altogither to be distinguished from ciuill and is commonly called power and it is another part or kinde of the power of the keyes distinguished from the former for that the first whereof Mat. 16.19 and Ioh. 20.23 which is the office of teaching or of preaching the Gospell committed to the Pastors doth properly appertaine vnto them but this doth belong to the moral discipline of the Church and repressing of offencs commended to the Church which the Graecians cal 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is discipline correction institution wherof Christ speaketh Mat. 18.17.18 If a brother do not heare the Church let him be as a Heathen or Publican vnto thee verily I say vnto you whatsoeuer you shall binde on earth shall be bound in heauen and whatsoeuer you shall loose shall be loosed for the Church doth bind whom she doth excommunicate and she doth loose when she againe receiues men into her society VVhat is Ecclesiasticall gouerâ—ment It is an Ecclesiasticall Paedagogie instituted by the authority of the word of God whereby men being receiued into the familie of Christ they are guided to godlinesse and compelled not to commit any thing vnworthy the Christian profession but those which do offend and are inordinate are reproued chidden and corrected that they may returne into the right way and that euery one may do their dutie according to the direction of the Gospell How manifold is Ecclesiasticall gouernment Twofold Common vnto which all citizens of the Church ought equally to be subiect and proper which is peculier to the Clergie and doth solely appertain to the ministers of the Church to reteine them in their dutie and the common againe is twofold ordinary extraordinary now that is ordinary which alwaies hath the word of God and Apostolicall tradition for his rule and from which it doth neuer decline and is alwaies obserued in the Church How many parts bee there of ordinary