The Rocke of Religion CHRIST NOT PETER As it was deliuered in certaine Sermons vpon Math. 16. ver 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20. Summarily contracted out of that which was more largely handled in the Parish of S. Antholine by George Close the younger one of the Readers there Other foundation can no man lay then that is layd vvhich is Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 3. 11. LONDON Printed by A. Mathewes for Mathew Law 1624. TO THE RIGHT Worshipfull Sir Thomas Middleton Knight William Eyres Doctor of Physick and others the Parishioners and Christian minded Auditory of the Parish of St. Antholine Grace Peace and Saluation in our beloued and blessed Sauiour IESVS CHRIST RIGHT WORSHIPFVL AS the Beloued Apostle S. Iohn besides his generall Epistle to the whole Church directed his two particular to two seuerall Disciples a 2 Iohn ver 1 2. one a Noble worthy and Elect Lady and an other to a faithfull friend b 3 Ioh. ver 1. Gaius a man very hospitall saluted by Paul as his c Rom. 16. 23 Host and of the whole Church at Corinth whom hee had d 1 Cor. 1. 14 baptized and is dignified by Saint Luke to haue been e Acts 19. 29. Pauls companion in his trauels and iourney and was taken prisoner with him at Ephesus in the tumult raised against him both being great fauourer of the Ministers and louers of the Gospell the Euangelicall Apostle chiefely reioyced that they prospered and walked in the trueth and veritie of the Gospell so vnto the painfull Preachers of the Word ariseth great ioy to see the Faith and Loue of the people of God towards his Word and Ministers and prouoketh them to expresse a reciprocall loue to them in seeking to aduaunce the trueth of Religion whereunto they finde them so diligently and dutifully inclined Which consideration hath moued mee to publish these my poore Labours and to commend them to your Protection that haue heard and can best witnesse what hath beene sincerely laboured therein And though I feare not in these dangerous times the malicious scandals of Aduersaries which will by calumniations oppresse the Trueth but was pressed by the loue of some Friendes which are Louers of the Trueth not to suppresse what I had publiquely professed for the maintenance of the Trueth I was at last by their Christian perswasions induced to commit to the Presse these my poore endeauours wherein I haue laboured to expresse the trueth in a Question so much controuerted and oppugned by the Aduersaries of the Truth I confesse it was a double spurre vnto mee to incite mee to giue you contentation when I considered your good likings to haue this Doctrine in these troublesome times of our Churches oppugnation to bee publiquely professed and maintained in the face of Gods enemies which with their blustering breath would at one blast blow downe both our Church and Common wealth and would haue them wholy theirs or none at all Herein on the contrary part you haue in your good acceptations and aduancing this Doctrine greatly approoued your care and zeale to the seruice of God and his true Church as your loue and loyaltie to your King and Common wealth which by the opposite endeauours of our aduersaries are fearefully shot at My purpose and proceedings heerein haue not reached in any absolute manner to decide all the poynts of this our Controuersie and by all Authenticall Authors and ancient Fathers of the Primitiue church or moderne Writers to discusse this Question which many others of great learning and experience haue abundantly performed but onely in an ordinary Audience and vulgar Exercise to prooue out of the Canon of holy Scriptures how faithfully our Doctrines are thence deriued and drawne out for confirmation of what wee hold and confutation of whatsoeuer our Aduersaries haue dreamed to the contrary For this indeed is the Touch-stone of Trueth whereby all pure and counterfeit mettals are to be tryed and wherein as well the olde as the new Writers haue principally laboured to bring all Controuersies to bee discussed The whole current of the Scriptures haue no better nor almost any other ground for their confirmations or confutations in converting gainsayers to the Faith and conuincing Infidels and Heretiques The eloquence of Apollos was an ornament to the Doctor but the authoritie of the Scriptures was the Firmament of his Doctrine who is sayd to haue mightily and publiquely confuted the Iewes f Act. 18. 28. prouing by the Scriptures That Iesus was the Christ I shall therefore intreat the Readers of this poore and plaine Discourse especially such as were the Auditors of those Lectures with the Bereans to examine the truth of the Doctrines according to the Marginall Quotations out of the Scriptures which to auoyde prolixitie I haue there set downe without such Amplifications as according to that time and due exigence of that Exercise I more at large opened and dilated And so commending you to the Word of Gods grace which is able to build you further with dayly and heartie Prayers to God for the increase of your Christian Faith in the knowledge of his will and loue of the Truth commit my selfe to the fauourable acceptance of religious and iudicious mindes passing by the carping obloquy of criticall Censurers Your Worships in the Lord GEO CLOSE Iun. The Rocke of Religion CHRIST Not PETER MATH 16. Vers 13 14 15 16 c. Now when Iesus came into the coasts of Cesarea Philippi he asked his disciples saying Whom do men say that I the Sonne of man am And they said Some say John Baptist and some Elias others Ieremias or one of the Prophets Hee said vnto them But whom say ye that I am Then Simon Peter answered and said Thou art the Christ the Sonne of the liuing God THis sacred Sripture compriseth summarily the Doctrine of the most Catholicke Religion contained in Peters Confession concerning the knowledge of Christ who is poynted out to be a Ephes 1. 22. the head and foundation of his Church and vs his members and therein is also shewed with what Keyes the Kingdome of Heauen is opened or shut vnto vs. More particularly this holy Historie relateth a Conference which our blessed Sauiour had with Peter and all the Apostles b Mark 8. 27. vpon the way as they trauelled towards Cesarea Philippi which somtime was called Pannaeas it is distinguished therby from an other Cesarea neere Joppe formerly called Straton which Herod the Great this Philips father builded fortified with a Castle in honour of Augustus Caesar by whom he was aduanced and surnamed it Cesarea This heere mentioned Philip the Tetrarch of Jturia imitating his fathers flattering example as well in honour of himselfe as the then Romane Emperour Tyberius builded and beautified and called it Cesarea Philippi afterwards it was againe inlarged by King Agrippa and by him called Neronia in honour of Nero. Doct. It is ancient and vsuall with worldly men to endeauour
4. 7 12 21. He that loueth God must loue his brother also according to his commaundement and these two bee commonly if not alwayes conioyned as twinnes of one birth t Colloss 1. 4 Philem. 5 vers 1 Thes 1. 3. Faith towards God and Loue towards the Brethren 3. Text. My Church By Church here is vnderstood that Societie and communion of Saints u 1 Cor. 12. 11 12 27. which are knit together by faith in Christ and fellowship amongst themselues w Eph. 4. 12 13. by participation of Gods diuine Word and Sacraments which are the soule and sinewes of this body and are quickened by his Spirit x Deut. 14. 2. the voyce and word of God is the outward meanes whereby wee are called and gathered into an holy body y Exod. 19. 5 6. Rom. 4. 11. and we receiue the Sacraments as Seales of the grace and couenant betweene God and vs whereby he assureth vs z Deut. 26. 18 19. that hee will bee our God and we thereby bind our selues to be his people and to liue vnder his obedience and lawes a 1 Pet. 1. 15. Luke 1. 75. in holinesse and righteousnesse whereunto wee are called and Saint Paul writing to the Romanes doth not call them the Church but elegantly and significantly implyeth them to bee members of it when hee saith b Rom. 1. 6 7. They are the called of Iesus Christ and called to be Saints For that is The VVord and Sacraments are the infallible markes of the true Church the end of our vocation that we being chosen and called out of the world by the voice of Gods Word should bee an holy and precious people vnto him Ecclesia is therefore deriued from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to bee chosen or called out of one Societie into another out of the kingdome of darknesse into light out of the world into the seruice of God and are seperated vnto that end that we might no more serue sinne in the lustes of our former ignorance but by faith to serue Christ as our Head that hath called vs as also to serue one another as mutuall members of the same body so the faithfull of the Iewes and Gentiles being conuerted by the preaching of Peter and the other Apostles c Acts 13 14 2. 38. to 42. Acts 5. 11 12 13 Became a Primitiu◠Church liued together in one place continued in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship in common prayers in breaking of Bread that is communicating Gods holy Sacraments and this Saint Luke calleth the Church saying d Acts 2. 41 There was daily added to the Church such as should be saued These markes of the Church are euidently and euery where described and set foorth in the Scriptures but the markes of the Romish Church are not there to be found First their pretended Antiquitie cannot warrant the later Nouelties of their Churches inuentions Secondly their Vniuersalitie is too straightly restrained and pinned vp within the limits of their Citie and Territories Thirdly their Visibilitie fayleth when it falleth out that Elijah cannot see any face of a Church but crieth out that e 1. Kin. 19 10. Rom. 11 ◠4. he is left alone when yet God had a great people knowne to himselfe howsoeuer inuisible to the Prophet Augustine that learned Father and worthy Disputer durst affirme against their Visibilitie of the Church Quod aliquando Ecclesia fuit in solo Abraham c. That sometimes the Church visible was onely in Abraham Noah Lot Elijah c. Fourthly and for that marke of Succession of Bishops no way grounded on the Scriptures is as hardly to bee prooued otherwise then as Annas and Caiphas were Aarons successors in a broken and interrupted disorder neither called nor practising Gods Religion as Aaron but Simonists Sectaries prophane hypocries mis-interpreters corrupters of Gods Word and bloody murderers as likewise haue succeeded in Peters pretended Chaire at Rome Sadducees Monothelites Heretikes Sodomites and such disordered Chaire-masters as poynteth them out rather to bee the succeessors of Simon Magus for their Simonies then of Simon Peter for his singlenesse and sinceritie Let the Romanistes then returne from their pontificall portlinesse to the paterne of Peters pietie let them surcease f 1 Pet. 5. 2 3. to rule as Lords ouer Gods heritage feed the flocke of Christ of a willing mind and not for filthy lucre that we may find and acknowledge some similitude of their succession in the Apostolicall Chaire when we shall finde the Word of God there sounding out and his Sacraments worthily and without humane additions duely administred otherwise if they misse these markes we shall be so farre from acknowledging their Sea of Rome to be the Catholike or Vniuersall Church that wee shall doubt whether they be any particular Church of Christ or members of that mysticall body whereof hee is the onely Head and their false Prophet that teacheth lyes shall be but the g Isai 9 15 taile as the Prophet Isaiah speaketh which being out of conformitie with the body is a deformity to the whole body striuing to be another head with Christ produceth a monstrous and mishapen body of the Church with two heads as indeed they carry like Ianus two faces vnder one hood a shewe of holinesse in their mouthes but hollownesse and hypocrisie in their hearts and the woe denounced against the Pharises and Hypocrites by Christ himselfe shall fall vpon them for their merited portion for they h Matt. 23. say and doe not lay heauy burthens on other mens shoulders but will not touch them with one of their fingers doe all things to be seene of men garnish their garments with representations of holinesse loue the chiefest seates in Synagogues and assemblies and will be called and accounted the only Rabbies Doctors and Fathers of the Church they take away the Key of knowledge and shut vp the Kingdome of Heauen neither entring themselues nor suffering those that would deuouring Widdowes houses vnder colour of long prayers blinde guides and leaders of the blind professing blind ignorance for the mother of their Deuotion straine at a gnat and swallow downe a Camel make more account of a fasting day or holy-day than to commit murther of Princes and grosse Idolatry painted Sepulchers which haue all thinges outwardly beautifull make cleane Cuppes and Pottes but inwardly are full of briberie excesse rottennesse and corruption garnishing the Tombes of the Apostles and Martyres and haue martyred many that would haue imitated the doctrine and doings of Christ and his Apostles by these Emblemes Christ hath already decyphered them by these Markes wee shall vndoubtedly know them to bee the successors of the Pharises and indeede if Peter now could see his pretended successors hee might say as once Almighty God in derision said of Adam after his transgression i Gen 2. 22. Behold how the man is become as one of vs or Simia quam similis turpissima bestia
the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ u 1 Cor. 3. 12. in whom only consisteth the whole strength of the building though weake wood and timber be built thereupon so as looking into our selues and the examples of Gods best beloued Children yea Peter himselfe after this promise how foulely they haue falne we may euer finde cause of feare and distrust but lifting vp our eyes vnto God the stablenesse of his counsels and certaintie of his promises we may rest safely in confidence of his word which hath said w Ios 1. 5. I will not leaue thee nor forsake thee x Iohn 5. 24. hee that beleeueth in him shall not perish for euer He it is that doth nourish the holy fire in vs and keepes vs vnto the end y Iohn 13. 1. for whom hee loueth he loueth euerlastingly z 1 Ioh. 3. 9. and the seede of God abideth in the elect that being borne of God they sinne not vnto condemnation a Rom. 8. 1. for there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus which walke not after the Flesh but after the Spirit Christ prayed for b Luke 22 31. Peter and he prayed also for vs c Ioh 17. 2. 12. 20 24. and for all that should beleeue in his name that none of his might be lost neither is any able to take them out of his Fathers hand which is stronger and greater then all and loueth vs in Christ as hee loued him before the foundations of the world were laid against these the gates of Hell cannot preuaile for they haue the Lords priuie Seale not seene nor knowne to men but d 2. Tim. 2. 19 the Lord knoweth his Vse 2 Secondly this Doctrine iustly impugneth that error of the Romanists holding opinion that the visible Church and the pretended successors of Peter cannot erre whereas the contrary is apparantly verified in the Scriptures that Peter himselfe did erre and therefore though it bee true that the inuisible Church that is the elect of GOD cannot erre finally yet the visible Church consisting both of good and bad may erre as appeareth through the whole History of the Bible and in the primatiue times particular Churches haue erred witnesse Corinth Galatia Philadelphia Pergamus c yea the Church of Rome it selfe whether wee regard the Head or the Body hath grieuously erred First as touching the Head Romish Bishops haue erred and diuers of them became Heretickes Scismaticks Antipopes Negromancers Sodomites and what not Marcellinus sacrificed to the Idols of the Gentiles Leberius was an Arrian Nicholas changed the decrees of Iohn the two and twentieth Gregory of Pelagius Innocentius of Gregory yea in those things which belong to faith Cardinall Ragusanus proueth that the Pope may erre and did in the great Schisme at Rome Cardinall Cusanus affirmeth the Pope may fall from the faith the Councell of Basill auoucheth that the priuiledge of not erring belongeth not to the Popes more then other Bishops Secondly and as for generall Councels which haue a more liuely representation of the whole Church and where the Bishops of Rome haue been present may yea they haue erred one repealed the Actes and Decrees of another and there can bee no correction without errour the Councell of Nice defended Images that of Constantinople was against them the third Councel of Carthage saith that he is Antichrist that calleth himselfe an vniuersall Bishop the Councell of Rome and Trent say and maintaine the contrary therefore except there be more Truths then one Councels may erre and the Pope may erre and consequently the whole visible Church may erre and the truth is e Isa 9 17. many hypocrites making a great shew of godlinesse haue fallen away from grace and the truth of the Gospell become Apostatates in faith and Satanists in conuersation and yet the Church standeth For f Rom 3. 4. Psal 116. 1â— Titus 1. 2. Hebr 6. 18. let God be true and all men lyers in his truth it standeth and Satan a lyer from the beginning cannot ouerthrow it g 2 Thess 2. 9. Antichrists deceiueable delusions and lying wonders cannot preuaile against it Verse 19. And I wil giue vnto thee the keyes of the kingdome of heauen and whatsoeuer thou shalt bind vpon earth shall be bound in heauen and whatsoeuer thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heauen Vpon such a sure and grounded confession of Peter proceedeth a twofold promise of Christ 1. as is formerly laid down that hereupon he will lay an vnmoueable foundation of his Church that the gates of hâ—ll should not bee able to preuaile against it 2. that he would for the gouernment thereof commit to his Apostles and Ministers the Spirituall keyes of the kingdome of heauen with a power to bind and loose in such manner as he would ratifie in heauen their proceedings in earth according to the tenure of his Commission wherby hee had so authorized them to execute his power in his Church In these wordes obserue two things First Datum The donation wherein consider 1. who is the giuer 2. to whom 3. what was giuen Secondly Applicaum The Application in these wordes whatsoeuer thou shalt bind on earth c. Doct. Concerning the first in as much as hee saith I will giue it teacheth vs That Christ is the giuer of the keyes who onely had this power from heauen as the heire of God the Messiah and Mediatour betwixt man and God who h Heb. 2. 3. Psal 8 6. 1 Cor. 15. 27. Iohn 17. 2. Phil. 2. 9 10. put all thinges in subiection vnder him in heauen and earth and so the Apostle affirmeth that Christ first receiued this power from God his Father to bee made the head of his Church and onely had right to giue and communicate such power vnto his Church thus Christ expresseth it in the Gospel i Math. 11. 27. 28. 18 19. All power saith he is giuen me in heauen and in earth and thereupon he groundeth his commission to send his Apostles into all the world this point is not onely verified by apparant and plentifull texts of holy Scriptures but euen our aduersaries in words not greatly contradict it howsoeuer in their practice and in effect they haue paralelled sundry of the Saints with him as the Turkes and Infidels haue wholly dethroned him and placed their false prophet and abominable idole Mahomet before him and aboue him but because they deny the principles of faith and religion wee will not contend nor spend much time in disputing with them but willingly acknowledge and subscribe to the Soueraignty and absolute power of Christ as disposer of all things in heauen and earth Vse And let the true Church and Spouse of Christ heare and obey his voyce and deriue her subordinate power from him alone which hee then promised and afterward gaue vnto her to execute for him for wee must note that he then instantly gaue not Note 1 but speaking in the future
any but Idolaters which will fall downe and worship him whereas contrarily when Christ perceiued such an ambitious inclination in his Apostles of Lording ouer their brethren hee forthwith b Luke 22 24 to 30. forbad such affectation of Pope-like domination and sent them to climbe by humilitie and innocency at the lowest step of the ladder to exaltation that so they might attaine greatnesse aboue the rest when they had bin most seruiceable to the rest and then hee would appoynt them a Kingdome as his Father had appoynted him c Iohn 18 36. which was not of this world as himselfe clearely witnessed and expressed and howsoeuer the Pope liketh to haue the Keyes vnder his girdle yet hee liketh better of the two Swords that by them hee may â—eepe all men vnder his girdle and to speake the truth in the one as well as the other the Romish Church is driuen to a constrained construction of the words of our Sauiour Christ and turneth the Keyes which were spirituall into a temporal sword of Authoritie and the Swordes which were temporall into spirituall iurisdiction of his Ecclesiasticall Censures and Excommunications d Luke 22. 36 38 50. It is true that Peter did rashly attempt to draw and vse his temporall sword and was commanded to sheath it againe for such weapons his Master needed not which might haue more then twelue Legions of Angels to deliuer him and destroy his enemies if he had aymed at such defence of himselfe or offence of his enemies but the e Math. 26. 51 52 53 54. Scriptures could not so bee fulfilled for hee foretold of his Passion and that persecutions should so rage that a man should need to f Luk. 22. 36 38 sell his coat and buy a sword and when the Disciples by a mis-interpretation and in a carnall sense thought hee had meant a materiall weapon they told him they had two swords he replied that it was enough for that conflict Hence the Pope hath drawen out his two swords spirituall and temporall and vseth one of them as a fooles dagger which is often drawne out and in vpon slight occasions excommunicating and absoluing hourely for petty offences and the other is made like the tyrannicall Turkes Semiter which being once vnsheathed cannot bee put vp till it be made g Apoc. 17. 6 drunken with the blood of the Saints as our times haue seene and doe feele by lamentable experience two such swords as Christ spake of and the Apostle shewed forth are not enough for him nor all the swords of two Kingdomes Italy and Spaine But many Princes swords must rage against their owne bowels to vphold this their Romish Idole whose Image they haue adored as a God for pardoning their sinnes The h Iudg. 9. 8. noble Vine and Oliue would not leaue their goodnesse and sweetnesse to vsurpe a dominion ouer the Trees as this base i Verse 15. Bramble dare attempt but his reward shall be to perish with the Sword of Gods Word and to bee k Apoc 18. 6 serued with like plagues of blood and warre as he hath serued others And as for mis-interpretation of metaphoricall phrases as we see the Apostles before they were taught of Christ misconceiued his Parables vnderstood not what Leauen he spake of nor what Keies or Swords he meant yet now let vs looke into the Popes Library and heare his Interpretations Our Papistes they say are honest men and will bee tryed by themselues let vs therefore see what their Church Champion Bellarmine Bellar. de Rom. Pont. lib. 5. ca. 3. will maintaine for Catholike and Canonicall in this poynt his words be these Ex Scripturis nihil habemus nisi datas Pontifici Claues regni Caelorum de clauibuâ— regni terrarum nulla fit mentio Out of the Scriptures saith hee wee finde nothing giuen to the Pope but the Keyes of the Kingdome of Heauen but of the Keyes of the Kingdomes of the Earth there is no mention at all and so farre we need not care much to agree with them Secondly others interpret the Keyes to bee nothing else but Munus docendi Euangelium the Office of teaching the Gospell wherunto for our owne part we so consent that we thinke it yet falleth short of the full scope thereby intended for administration of Discipline as well as Doctrine in the Church of God which matter because it would require a more ample and exact discourse than is perhaps fitting for this place time and Auditory I will passe by also and referre them that are desirous of further resolution in that Argument to that which is purposely written of diuers concerning the same and the rather because I would not haue the sores of our Church fresh launced and ripped vp and therefore omitting these mis-interpretations which are peccant and vnsound either in defect or in excesse let vs come precisely to vnlocke the true meaning of the Keyes The Metaphor of Keyes is borrowed from that Instrument which we commonly vse in opening or safe locking vp of things appropriated to our owne priuate vse and commoditie and so the sense of the Keyes is diuersly taken in Scripture First the Keyes are taken for matters of trust and authoritie committed to some more worthy person of trust as a Steward to dispose of whatsoeuer is needfull in an household And so Ioseph had the Keyes of l Gen. 39. 4 Potiphar m Verse 22. the Gaoler and n Cap. 41. 40 41. Pharaohs house that is a power to order the affaires of the prisoners and family So it is in this sense vsed when the Lord threatned to depose Shebnah and to preferre Eliachim to be chiefe Steward in the house of Hezekiah Hee saith that he would o Isay 22 22 lay vpon his shoulder the Key of Dauid that he should open and no man should shut c. which in the precedent verse himselfe expoundeth saying vnto Shebnah I commit thy power into his hand which is vnderstood by the Key of Dauid Secondly it is likewise sayd That p Apoc. 1. 18. Christ hath the Keyes of Hell and Death that is a power as a Iudge to condemne and punish delinquents against his Lawe temporally and eternally Thirdly Satan as a tormentor and executioner vnder Christ to execute his Iudgements vpon the damned is sayd to haue q Apoc. 9. 1. and 20. 1. the keyes of the bottomlesse pit that is power and authoritie to execute Gods Iudgements vpon the reprobates as Aretius interpreteth it Dispensator hic est poenarum diuinitas ordinatarum a dispenser saith hee of the Iudgements ordained from heauen by God and thereunto Brightman accordeth ioyning the Pope with the Deuill as an Executioner of Gods Iudgements vpon them which haue fallen from the truth and stedfastnesse of their faith vnto lyes and delusions and these Keyes Antichrist may well place in his Armes to denotate his power ouer Apostatates and back-sliders from the truth and ancient faith of the
the binding and loosing which God in all ages hath exercised in his Church by the Ministery of Moses and all the Prophets as by his Apostles in the time of grace and of the Gospell so we safely conclude that the power to forgiue or retaine sinnes is not properly giuen to men k 1 Cor. 9. 18. cap. 2. 5. 3. 6 7. but to the word of God and his diuine Sacraments whereof men are but the Ministers to plant and water to teach exhort reproue and correct but the effect is of God which giueth power to his Word and Sacraments as the Sunne to mollifie waxe and harden clay to minister the l Acts 10. 44. 2 Cor. 3. 3 6 8. spirit of grace or Satan to possesse reprobates And to conclude and close vp this poynt of the Keyes whether we vnderstand the Doctrine or Discipline of the Church or both as it may bee safely so extended yet wee ascribe vnto God the effectuall power onely to loose or retaine sinnes Vse 1 But let no man despise the Ordinance of God in the administration of his Word and Sacraments or the iust censures of the Church for the contempt of any of them God himselfe reuengeth as an indignitie done vnto himselfe and so the excommunicate person shut out of the Church by Paul and the Congregation was sayd to be deliuered to Satan who hath great dominion ouer vnbeleeuers and contemners of Gods word and holy Ordinances and there were many fearefull examples in the Primitiue Church of diuers excommunicate persons taken with frenzy and ouertaken with strange iudgments wherby God wrought a feare in the Church to offend presumptuously against his Ordinances So m Actes 5. 3 5 11. Ananias and Saphira censured by Peter for their hypocrisie were immediately strucken to death and cut off by a consteruation of the body from the grace of life and by an eternall malediction of the soule from the life of grace And also n Act. 8. 20 21 Simon Magus being discouered and cut off from the Church was filled with all iniquitie and returned to his Sorceries and the Deuils seruices againe o 2 Sam. 7. 15 1 Sam. 13. 14. and 15. 26. and 16. 14. and 19. 23. Saul being denounced by Samuel to be cut off by the sentence of God an euill spirit possessed him who notwithstanding when he was in the Assemblies of the Church Prophets did also prophesie with them It is safe therefore to bee in the Assemblies of Gods Saints where the Spirit of God hath his residence on the contrary it is a fearefull thing to bee in the Congregations of the wicked p Num. 16. 21 24 30 32. 27. 3. as the complices of Corah Dathan and Abiram which were swallowed vp into destruction and went downe quicke to hell with them To be cast off from God which raigneth in the Assembly of the Saints q 1 Cor. 5. 4 5 11. is to bee cast vnto Satan which rageth out of the Church Let such as neglect the publique Assemblies of Christian Congregations or reiect the word of God or his diuine Sacraments there ministred consider how fearefully they offend against God and their owne soules which refuse to vse that Key whereby the kingdome of grace heere and of glory hereafter is so effectually opened vnto them The Keyes of the Kingdome of Heauen Doct. In that the Word of God is called the key of the kingdome of Heauen it teacheth vs the great power and efficacie thereof being as Augustine affirmeth Potens Instrumentum the powerfull Instrument for the encrease of Gods Church and Kingdome It is most true that this great power promised was as graciously performed by Christ vnto his Apostles which brought greater workes to passe by this their Ministery in conquering the whole world and subduing the consciences of men to the obedience of God than all the Potentates and prudent men of the earth were able by their power and policie to performe Demosthenes among the Greekes and Cicero among the Latines renowned for their Eloquence Solon for his wisedome Aristides for his Iustice Plato for his diuine Philosophy Aristotle for his profound knowledge Alexander for his Prowesse Caesar and Pompey for their power famous in their generations in all the world yet neuer attayned any such conquest ouer Satan or the world as these poore Preachers Fishermen and Fishers of men brought to passe by the vertue of these Keyes and Commission of Christ wherby they surpassed all Conquerours for the vniuersall largenesse and constant continuance of Christs kingdome vpon earth Let Tamberlaine the Tartar and the Turkish Ottomans boast of their great Atchieuements yet they came short of the bounds of their Territories as Christes Kingdome was inlarged from Sea vnto Sea vnto the endes of the earth of these it was prophesied and by these it was performed r Psal 19. 4. Luke 1. 3â— Rom. 10. 18. Their sound went out into all the world and their voyce vnto the endes of the earth It is a false bragge of Turkish or Romish Emperours Iupiter in Coelis Caesar regit omnia terris for they neuer had any Empire of comparable extent with this nor of answerable subiection themselues were Lords of men and slaues of vices and it was truely verified which the dogged Diogenes tolde Alexander That he was not a Conquerour but a drudge of the world hee ouercame not the world but the world ouercame him and hee was a slaue to so many Lords as hee was subiect to vices Pride Excesse and Drunkennesse ouerthrew him and his kingdomes were diuided and fayled in the next Generation but of this King and Kingdome it is sayd Å¿ Isai 53. 8. Act. 8. 33. Who can tell his Generation Mans Lawes and subiection extended but to the body goods and estates of men in this world t 2 Cor. 10. 4 5 Christes Kingdome is ouer Satan Sinne Death Hell and Damnation and ouer the Soules and Consciences of men u Hebr. 4. 12. to bring euen the most rebellious thoughts of the heart into subiection vnto God yea it preuailed mightily against all the powers of the world w Apoc. 17. 14. which by most grieuous persecutions set themselues against it but it was no more possible for them to suppresse it then x Apoc 7. 1 to stay the winds that they should not blow vpon the face of the earth or that the breath of God should be restrayned It is recorded by Ruffinus Ruffin lib. 2. Cap. 5. that when the Christians in Edessa a Citie of Mesopotamia were banished by the Emperors commaundement yet they had their meetings in the Fields Woods and by the Riuers to heare and practise the Word of God wherewithall the Emperour being enraged strucke the Captaine with his fist in fury demaunding why he did so permit them the Exercise of their Religion contrary to his Edict and Commaundement Wherevpon the Captaine vpon the next day resolued to dispatch them but beholding
nobis indeed but Iack-an-apes to a man what should we multiply profes in so plaine a matter to proue them k Math 7. 15. wolues in sheepes cloathing making hauocke of the flocke hauing l Gal. 1. 8. another Gospel than Paul or Peter taught and therefore accursed other Mediators besides Christ and aboue to command him and so much derogating and abasing the dignitie and authority of Christ m 1. Tim. 2. 5. Heb. 12. 24. 7 25. Iohn 10. 7 8 our sole Mediator Intercessor and Sauiour that plainely pointeth and painteth them out to be Antichrists Note All this while we dispute of the works of the vssible Church wherein notwithstanding may be Wheate and Chaffe Sheepe and Goates true Professours and Hypocrites but the inuisible Church hath her inuisible markes as Gods prescience and election n 2. Tim 2. 19. the Lord knoweth who are his faith in the heart o Acts 16. 14. all such shall be saued whose hearts the Lord opened to beleeue the Gospel regeneration and renewing by the holy Ghost vnto sanctimony righteousnes loue sobrietie and all vertues p Rom. 6. 5 6 8. 2. to 15. fashioned to the image of Christ and God which was defaced by Adams transgression and our owne actuall rebellion making vs dead in trespasses and sinnes but q Colloss 2. 22. 2. 13. â— 9. 10. Gal. â— 24 Ephes 2. 1. 2. 5. 12 by Christ through faith are renewed made new men new creatures aliue vnto God adopted Children of God receiuing the Spirit of God as the pledge of our adoption and inheritance of these we cannot iudge truely because Hypocrites haue a maruailous resemblance to the children of God r Math. 7. 21 Luke 13. 25 26 they prophesie worke Miracles heare Gods word fast pray professe build Synagogues and performe many outward resplendent good workes so as Salomon could not by any outward thinge discerne the Reprobate from the Elect f Eccles 9. 2. 3. it apeareth saith hee that it commeth alike to all to him that sacrificeth as to him that sacrificeth not t Mich. 6 7. Hypocrites sacrificed thousands of Rams and streames of Oyle yea they offered the fruite of their bodies for the sinne of their soules and the Pharises u Luk 18. 11. c. can boast of many good workes when yet w Math 21. 31 penitent Publicans Harlots and sinners goe into Heauen before them Saint Paul as touching the Law liued x Phil 3 5 6 vnblameably when as yet he was no member but a y 1. Tim 1. 13 Persecutor of the visible Church till hee was called and conuerted by the voice of Christ z Rom 2. 17. 25 c. 1. Cor 10. 1 â— 5. and hee reasoneth strongly against them which boast themselues to bee the Church and people of God because they haue the outward tokens and Testimonies of the Church a Gal. 4 22 23. 28 20 37. 9. Abrahams seede are the children of Promise but in Isaack not the carnall progeny which persecute the Children borne of the spirit b Rom. 2. 25 26 c. outwardly Iewes but in truth are not their circumcision for want of faith becommeth vncircumcition and the eating of the Pasouer with leauened hearts did polute it and brought the wrath of God vpon them as c Acts 8. 13. 18 to 23. Simon Magus was acursed after he had receiued the outward Sacrament of baptisme and was full of the gall of bitternesse hypocrisie and all iniquitie d 1. Iohn 2. 19. many are in the Church which are not of the Church as e Mat. 13. 27. Tares and Wheat f Cap. 25. 32 33. Goates and Sheepe g Cap. 13. 48. 49. Fish good and bad are drawne together into a visible Church out of the Sea of this world but the good shall be preserued and the reffuse cast away and reiected foolish Virgins h Matt. 25. 2. 3. 10 11 12 c. haue no entaince though they pretend to waite for the Bridegroomes comming but are not religiously prepared as the wise with oyle in their lampes i Mat. 13. 30. when the good wheate is gathered into the garner the chaffe shall be burned with vnquenchable fire so our blessed Sauiour as well in sundry pregnant parables as declaratiue and plaine propositions k Mat. 3. 9. 12. Iohn 8. 39. Gala. 3. 7 16. Cap. 4. 22. 28. Rom. 4. 13 14 would driue vs from this vaine confidence which the Iewes had in boasting they were Abrahams seede and rested vpon the carnall ceremonies of the Law and the materiall Temple and Tabernacle all which the blessed proto-Martyre Saint Steuen largely answereth and confuteth l Act. 7. 2. 44 48 by an history call relation shewing vnto the Iewes that the Temple Law and Ceremonies must giue place to Christ Vse 2 Hauing then so sure a word of Prophesie as the Gospell and holy Scriptures to guide vs let vs which professe Christ neither stagger with Thomas m Ioh. 20. 25. we see and feele such visible and sensible signes n Gal. 3 3 and hauing begun in the spirit seeke to end in the flesh for it is too apparant and palpable that the Romish Religion and markes of their Church are altogether outward and carnall and wholy tende to delight and delude the senses and leaue the soule without any spirituall edification let vs therefore o Ioh. 1. 45. with Nathaniel seeke the Messiah and come to finde him by the guiding of Philip and the Apostles which inuite vs to come and see whom euen him of whom Moses and the Prophets did write Iesus of Nazareth and if hee make a question if any good come out of Nazareth or as the Pharises affirmed that p Ioh. 7. 41 42 out of Galile ariseth no Prophet yet the Scriptures expresse the contrary in both for q Mat. 2 23 Isay 9. 1 2 Luke 1. 26. he shall be called a Nazarite and not onely r Luke 4. 34. the Deuils acknowledge him a Nazarite but Pilate wrote the inscription of his crosse Å¿ Iohn 19. 19. Iesus of Nazareth the King of the Jewes to this Touchstone Christ himselfe directeth vs t Iohn 5. 35. search the Scriptures u Luk. 16. 29. Moses and the Prophets are left to keepe men out of Hell the place of torment and Peter sendeth vs w 2. Pet. 1. 19. to this sure word of prophesie and the beloued Apostle commendeth this assurance of saluation to the elect Lady x 2. Ioh. 9 10. to continue in the Doctrine of Christ without which they are without God that is are no Church at all nor members of Christ Vse 3 To draw then to a conclusion of these words I will build my Church these markes either of a Church or building wee require our aduersaries to shew in their Church which boast of faith and yet debarr the preaching and reading of the word of God
though for our weake capacities it pleaseth Gods spirit so to expresse spirituall powers vnto vs by gates is vnderstood the power of darkenesse the malice might policie and flattery of Satan not only by his owne immediate malice but by the cruell agency of his prophane instruments the World and the Flesh which continually assault the Church of God and try all their power and policy to batter and ouerthrow it but shall not bee able to ouercome it Doct. Whence wee learne that the power and strength of Hell the World Sinne and the Diuell shall not ouercome them that by a true faith are founded on Iesus Christ Reas Because he for them hath conquered Satan Sinne Death and Hell It was Gods blessing promised to Abraham x Gen 22. 17. Cap. 24. 60. that his seede should possesse the gate or strong holds of his enemies and the holy Apostle speaking of the weapons of our warfare y 2 Cor. 10. 4. they are not carnall saith he but mighty through God to cast downe all the strong holds as it were the brasen gates of our enemies Note No man hath any promise that he shall not be tempted and tryed by Satan but that Satan shall not ouercome the beleeuer in Christ the iust man Iob and the most faithfull Abraham the holiest Dauid the wisest Salomon and Peter himselfe were tempted tryed and afflicted but though many were the troubles of the righteous yet the Lord deliuereth them out of all For as the mountaines incompassed Ierusalem so the Lord a Psal 32. 10. standeth about his people that like mount Zion b Psal 112 6 Psal 125 1 2 they cannot be remoued but stand firme and fast for euer they are Gods Vine and therefore hee pruneth and loppeth them but withall hee c Isa 27. 3. so watereth the branches that hee maketh them to beare much fruite Nam vbi spiritus irrigatio defuerit omnis plantatio exarescit where the spirit of God doth not water the plants wither but faith is still a firme foundation built vpon Christ d Iohh 3 16 He that beleeueth in him shall not perish but haue euerlasting life let e Psal 80 13. the wild Boare of the Forrest and the subtle Foxes out of the Wildernesse seeke to roote vp and to supplant the Lords plantation yet they shall not be able to preuaile against it It must needes bee that f Gen 3 15 the seede of the Serpent will pursue the seede of the woman at the heeles yet her true seede shall breake his head and the same is more specially set forth in a vision Reu. 12 3. where Saint Iohn saw the great red Dragon with the seauen Heads tenne Hornes and seauen Crownes vpon his heads watching to deuoure the Child so soone as it was brought forth but God preserued the Child and tooke it vp into heauen and fedde the woman also in the wildernesse which was a liuely â—ype of Gods Church traueling â—o bring forth Children vnto â—im and Satan watching all opportunities to destoy the holy seede yea the Sonne of God himselfe who is yet taken vp into Heauen as all other true beleeuers through him shall be and his Church preserued and nourished for a time in the wildernesse of this World till the time of the full accomplishment of her Pilgrimage when shee shall be g Apoc. 21. 2. trimmed as a Bride to enioy her perpetuall felicitie with her Bridegroome to this agrees the Testimony of Saint Paul h 2 Cor. 4. 8. 9. we are saith he afflicted on euery side yet are wee not in distresse in pouerty but not ouercome of pouerty we are persecuted but not forsaken cast downe but wee perish not Thus Dauid affirmed that i Psal 129. 1. 2. many times the enemies had assayled but neuer preuailed against him for the Lord was with him and Saint Iohn presseth the same point and sheweth the meanes whereby the Church and children of God obtaine the victory k 1 Ioh. 5. 4. 5. all that is borne of God ouercommeth the world and this is the victory that ouercommeth the world euen our faith who is it that ouercommeth the world but hee which beleeueth that Jesus is the Sonne of God this is that which God signified vnto Moses and prepared him to constant perseuerance in the middest of all the Egyptian oppressions when he shewed him the vision of the bush l Exod â— 2. burning in fire but not consumed by the fire nay rather the Church is a fire to burne vp her enemies on euery side as the Prophet Zachary foretold the Israelites when he had reduced them out of captiuitie m Zach. 12. 2. 3. 6. Behold saith he I will make Ierusalem a Cup of poyson vnto all the people round about her and an heauy stone for all that lift at her to teare them though all the people of the earth be assembled against her in that day I will make the Princes of Iudah like coales of fire among the wood and like a fire-brand in the sheafe and they shall deuoure all the people round about on the right hand and on the left as is there further and more at large prophesied for the corroberation and consolation of Gods afflicted Church Vse 1 The first vse is for consolation great is the securitie of the godly I say securitie not carnall whereby the feare of God is shaken off but spiritual wherby the feare of damnation is ouercome for wee must vnderstand that all these glorious and assured promises of God are not to be extended to work or breed in vs any carnall securitie but a carefull watchfulnesse ouer our waies and works and to worke out our saluation with feare and trembling to cleaue stedfastly vnto the foundation and the Rock Christ otherwise o 1 Cor 10 12. let him that thinketh hee standeth take heed lest hee fall as the Israelites did which had receiued those excellent prerogatiues that God chose them as his precious treasure aboue all nations of the earth gaue them Sacraments and Ordinances of his owne Institution fed them with Manna the bread of heauen made them drinke of the spirituall Rock Christ that followed them and guarded them with a pillar of fire and a cloud night and day to direct and protect them in their way and yet for their stubburnnesse and rebellious hearts ouerthrew their carkeises in the wildernesse hereunto tend those frequent exhortations in the Scriptures that the Beleeuers which professe Christ p 2 Iohn 8. should take heed that they lose not the good things bestowed on them q Apoc. 2. 25. 3. 11. to hold fast that they haue receiued r Heb. 12. 15. to take heed that no man fall away from the grace of God and that we Å¿ 1 Thes 5. 19. quench not the spirit but to cherish the good sparkes of Gods grace giuen vnto them which is called t 2 Pet. 3. 18. growing in grace and in
tense I will promiseth to giue that power vnto his Apostles there were many things reserued till after his ascention and the Disciples were appointed k Luke 24. 49 Acts 1. 4. to wait and attend at Ierusalem for the accomplishment of Gods promise in sending downe the holy l Iohn 14. 26 15. 26. 16. 7. Ghost after the ascention of the Sonne of God to enable and furnish them with meet gifts for the execution of that charge which hee had imposed vpon them It is also further to bee obserued Note 2 that it was Christs free gift I will giue saith he not sell hire out oâ— lend but as it is with God in all things m Math. 10. 8. freely to giue that those which receiue his gifts should not sell or reâ—ayle them as n 2 King 5. 20 26. Gehazi and o Act. 8. 18. 19 Simon Magus for gaine as is too too apparant the Peters pretended successours make great and abominable trafique in merchandizing the church keyes in pardoning and retaining sinnes for money excommunicating absoluing for their best aduantage but leauing them to sell what Christ freely gaue let vs proceed to the consideration of the second particular circumstance namely to whom these keyes were giuen I will giue to thee Quest Here a question may bee mooued whether the keyes were giuen to Peter alone or to him with the rest of the Apostles Sol. This doubt I haue already in part resolued hauing largelie prooued that as Christ propounded the question to them all in generall and as Peter made confession in the name of all so Christ made this promise in the name of all as is most liuely exemplified Matth. 18 verse 18. where it is euident that what he doth here promise vnto Peter he doth there make good vnto all the Church saying whatsoeuer you bind on earth shall bee bound â— heauen c. Wherupon Aretius Bonum hoc commune non personale quod hereditario iure ad certos pertineat The donation of the keyes and exercise of that spirituall power is not personally tied to one man but is a gift common to the whole Church as also Origen Chrysostome Cyril and many others affirme especiallie Augustine Qui Petrum ecclesia typum facit quae in Petro claues acceperit Whose opinion is that the power of the keyes was not a personall gift neither promised to Peter alone much lesse that these keyes should be tyed by an hereditary succession vnto one particular Sea or Seat as the Papists dreame but to omit these friuolous disputes seeing the Apostles receiue the keyes from Christ we may thence obserue Doct. That the authority of the Ministers calling is deriued from Christ as from the head and the Lord of the Prophets vnto his Apostles and Ministers Matth. 23. 34. Luke 11. 49. Ephes 4. 11. 1. Pet. 1. 11. Reuel 22. 6. Isaiah 6. 8. 9. Matth. 28. 19. Gal. 1. 10 11 12. Vse Vnto the Ministers of God it sufficeth for an exceeding consolation p 2 Cor. 5. 18 19 20. that they haue God the author of their calling whose Ambassadours they are and though the world neither regard them nor reward them yet they being found faithfull dispensers of Gods diuine mysteries shall expect their reward from him that put them in office and sent them who will one day say to euery faithfull Steward q Math. 25. 21 23. Come thou good and faithfull seruant enter thou into thy Masters ioy I doubt not but the Ambassadours of Princes which are messengers of peace finde such acceptance of those to whom they are sent of such a gratefull message that they are not sent away empty and vnrewarded of the common enemy for their message sake which is r Rom. 10. 1 5. Isai 52. 7. so ioyfull to heare of peace after a long and wearysome warfare but because their places require them oftentimes to denounce warre it is no maruâ—ile if their message bee vngratefully accepted and rewarded Yet is their reward with God their king that sent them whose subiects they are and must execute his designes whether they be good or euill vnto men and what indignity soeuer is done or offered vnto them their mightie King will shew himselfe a mightie reuenger thereof who in one sense and sentence hath said Å¿ Psal 105. 15 Touch not mine annoynted and doe my Prophets no harme for the iniury done vnto Dauids Embassadours when they came peaceably to the King of Ammon was reuenged as done vnto the king himselfe this is a principle which the Law of Nature all Nations allow and ought to maintaine If t 1 Kin. 13 4 6 Ieroboam dare stretch out his hand to strike Gods Prophet and Messenger God will smite him that hee shall not bee able to pull in his arme againe without the Prayer of the Prophet which was stretched out against the Prophet and persecuting Iezabel which u 1 Kings 19. 2 vowed to haue the Prophets head w 2 Kings 9. 33 37. was made dogs meat and cast out as a carion carkeise her selfe For such vengeance is Gods iudgement threatned and foretold aforehand by the Prophets and howsoeuer Iehu be Gods Executioner to performe it yet it is euer annexed that it came so to passe according to the word of the Lord which hee spake by the mouth of his Prophets And so much for the second branch wee come now to shew what was giuen which is here said to be The keyes of the kingdome of heauen The metaphor of Keyes which in part hath bin formerly handled is diuersly taken yea rested and drawen by constrained Interpretations to the aduantage of that cause which diuers haue diuersly fancyed to make for them and for the building of their Hierarchy euen an earthly Tabernacle which x Math. 17. 4 Peter sometimes would haue made rather then an heauenly kingdome which God himselfe hath appoynted to be y Mat. 6. 33. aboue all things sought for and established First they that by Keyes vnderstand Principalitie to be giuen to Peter aboue the rest and ouer the whole Church and would crowne him and his Successors with an Emperiall Diadem to exercise as well spirituall iurisdiction as to haue ciuill and temporall authoritie ouer Kings and Princes haue much mistaken the word Keyes which are not vsuall for Kings but Porters to carry and vsurpingly inlarged Christs commission z Luke 12. 13 14. who himselfe would neither be made a King nor intermeddle so much in secular affaires as to diuide Inheritances betwixt two brethren much lesse giue away kingdomes from the right heires and owners to strangers and bastards So the vsurper Satan from whom the Pope-kings or King-popes may more rightly claime that power doth falsely affirme that a Mat. 4. 9. Luke 4. 6 7. all the kingdomes of the world are his and giuen vnto him and he giueth them to whom he will which yet he will not giue nor promise to giue vnto
and sawe the true and vnfallible signes of his vnfayned repentance hee doubted not to declare from God his pardon and absolution b Verse 13. and that his sinne was taken away This is the binding and loosing which the Prophet Ezekiel speaketh of in his third Chapter from the seauenteenth Verse to the two and twentyeth as also in the three and thirtieth Chapter from the first Verse vnto the tenth and and though this power of binding and loosing was apparantly heere giuen to the Ministers of the New Testament yet the effect thereof was the same in the olde Couenant in Christ and to the beleeuers in him for c Hebr. 13. 8. Hee was yesterday and to day and the same for euer d 2 Cor. 1. 20. In whom all the promises of God are Yea and Amen certaine constant vniforme and for all times and ages alwayes reseruing this power to the Ministers of his Word who are likewise restrayned of all power which is not by the Word for as the Prophet Isaiah speaketh e Isai 44. 26. Hee confirmeth the wordes of his Seruants and performeth the Counsells of his Messengers wherevnto accordeth the saying of the Iust man Iob f Iob 33. 23. If there bee a Messenger to declare vnto man his righteousnesse then will the Lord haue mercie vpon him Thus God bindes all mâ—n to himselfe and men vnto men also for men cannot saue men without God and God will not ordinarily saue men without men If hee will saue Cornelius g Act. 10. 5 22 hee must send for Peter and heare of him words whereby he may bee saued Vse 1 First this serueth to induce vs that as wee honour God so wee should reuerence his Ministers h 2 Cor. 5. 18 19 20. to whom hee hath committed the Worde of Reconciliation Vse 2 Secondly let vs here marke what a reuerend respect both Ministers and people ought to giue to the Ordinances of God exercised in his Church for if they preach Christ as they are commaunded it is not they that speake i Marke 13. 11 Math. 10. 20. But the Spirit of my Father sayeth Christ that speaketh in them And so the people ought to receiue it not as the word of man but of the euerliuing God and so for the Sacraments likewise that wee looke not so much on the outward Elements of Bread Wine and Water which otherwise are things of common vse in themselues but respect chiefly the Institution of God which maketh them holy and consecrated Mysteries by his Word to bee effectuall food vnto our Soules and meanes of Saluation howsoeuer in the things themselues and manner of administring them there seeme great simplicitie which might make them contemptible to carnall men k 2 Kings 5. 12 13 14. as Naaman esteemed nothing of the waters of Iordan to haue any more power then Abana and Pharphar Riuers of his owne Countrey Damascus but when hee did it in the Word of the Lord and by the Ministery of Gods Prophet Elisha then that word ioyned with the Element made it vnto him an holy and effectuall Sacrament and so not euery Lambes blood l Exod. 12. â— 11 13 23 27. but that of the Paschall Lambe which was ordayned by God was a true representation of Christ and a Seale vnto the Church that the Destroyer passeth ouer Gods people which passeth heauy vengeance and destruction vpon the vnbeeleeuing Egyptians and so likewise the promise is not made to euery man that God will ratifie in heauen whatsoeuer hee shall pronounce on earth but this power hee appropriateth to his Ministers which haue a lawfull Calling and Authoritie to preach his Word wherein the effect lyeth and not in the persons of the Ministers or people without the approbation of Christ to whose ordinance the whole honour and efficacie is to bee ascribed Vse 3 Thirdly let vs all heerein learne to iudge wisely betweene the Minister of the Word and the Word of God it selfe from whence the Ministers power is deriued The Ministers are men like vnto our selues sinners weake mortall and must dye but the Word of God is pure strong an immortall seed and endureth for euer It seemeth the people in the Prophet Zacharies time made such obiections against their Prophets to excuse themselues in not obeying them m Zach. 1. 5 6. The Prophets say they are dead as well as our Fathers for all were sinners to whome God answereth by the Prophet and by way of concession graunteth it to be true That their Fathers were dead and the Prophets were dead but yet his word spoken vnto them by the Prophets tooke hold of them and that was not dead but doeth abide for euer and the after Generations sawe the accomplishment thereof in the appoynted time Ieremiah was dead in the time of the Captiuitie but his Prophesie remained and at the end of seuentie yeares they found the due accomplishment thereof Let the Ministers bee weake men mortall and corruptible yet Gods Word still abideth immortall and incorruptible n 2. Tim. 2. 9. The Minister may be restrained bound and in prison but the Gospell is not bound that winde is not restrayned nor in prison o Hebr. 4. 12 but it is still mightie in operation p Apoc. 7. 1. who can stay the raine that it should not fall to moysten the earth Neither can the Word of God more than the Dewe of Heauen bee restrayned but it shall bee dispersed q Isa 55. 10 11 to accomplish his will that sendeth it or as an Arrow which a man shooteth though hee that shot it stand still or dye in the act yet the Arrow flyeth vnto the marke at which it was aymed And it is true that power is giuen vnto them Ministerially to shut Heauen r Apoc. 11. 4 5. 2 King 1. 10. and fire proceedeth out of their mouthes which destroyeth the enemies of Gods Trueth and Grace Note Yet it must alwayes bee vnderstood that this binding and retaining sinnes is onely of impenitent Transgressors of Gods Lawe Å¿ Prou 26. 2. else the Curse that is causelesse shall not come but God may and will blesse t Num. 22. 12 18. 23. 8 20. where Balaam and the false Prophets would curse God promised to Abraham to u Gene. 12. 3. curse those that cursed him whome God had blessed w Gene. 27. 29. and that hee would curse them that cursed Iaakob It shall fare with them as it did with Goliah x 1 Sam. 17. 43. which cursed Dauid in the name of his Gods but Dauids God blessed him and brought the curse vpon Goliah himselfe and all his Gods could not saue him So likewise the Apostle interpreteh his owne meaning and sheweth how Ministers absolue sinners where it is said y Actes 5. 31. That Repentance and remission of sinnes should bee preached in his Name for without repentance in the beleeuer there is no absolution to bee pronounced by the