of the Sacrament as before is proued in the former question Mat. 26. 26. Take eate this is my body Luk. 22. 19. This is my body which is giuen for you Answ 1. I haue before proued that these words are spoken in an vsuall Sacramentall phrase figuratiuely and not properly Secondly they cannot be spoken but figuratiuely because Christ himselfe spake these words He willed them not to eate his naturall body which body was visible before them Had he his owne body in his hand and euery one of his Twelue Apostles the same in their mouthes then were there thirteene bodies of Christ at one time at the table twelue in their hands and mouthes and one sitting apparantly before their eyes One body cannot be in so many places at once as before I haue proued And what a little body must this be which Christ held in his owne hand which he did breake and which euery of the Apostles did put in their mouthes Thirdly The words must needs bee figuratiuely vnderstood now if we consider the time when Christ spake them to wit before his Passion when as yet his body was not giuen nor his bloud shed Fourthly Christ spake figuratiuely when hee deliuered the shop Mat. 26. 28. Then why more properly in the one then in the other Fiftly The end of Christs instituting this Sacrament shewes it to bee figuratiuely spoken For it was for a remembrance of him Luk. 22. 19. But if this vpon the words of consecration had beene his very owne bodie it could not be called properly a remembrance of him for wee remember by signes things absent and not things themselues present for so the signes were needlesse 1. Cor. 10. 16. The cup of blessing which we blesse is it not the communion of the bloud of Christ The bread which wee breake is it not the communion of the body of Christ 1. Cor. 11. He that eateth and drinketh vnworthily eateth and drinketh iudgement to himselfe not discerning the Lords body Answ 1. Here is no proofe for transubstantiation but that the Bread is Christs body and the Wine his bloud by the receiuing whereof wee receiue Christs very body and bloud But how Sacramentally spiritually by faith and such as come not prepared to this holy Sacrament as they ought eate and drinke vnworthily not making a difference of this bread and wine representing Christ from common bread and wine or a common banquet which is a grieuous sinne All this wee doe acknowledge neither doe we deny the bread to be the bodie of Christ or the wine his bloud but yet euer in a Sacramentall speech figuratiuely and not properly For if the signe be the very thing signified indeed then were there no Sacrament for it is an outward signe of an inuisible grace Now there being as is proued no transubstantiation then it followes that there is no adoration of the Sacrament in that respect nor therein offered any vnbloudy sacrifice for the quicke and the dead XXV Proposition That prayers are to be made vnto Angels and Saints departed Confuted by their owne Bible 1. FOr Angels their owne Bible telleth vs that the Angels themselues forbid worship to be done to them Reu. 19. 10. and 22. 9. And so Saint Paul taught that they should not be worshipped Col. 2. 18. Now prayer to them is worshipping of them and that in a great degree Secondly for Saints departed the Virgin Mary or any other they are not to bee prayed vnto for they know not our particular estates here Abraham hath not knowne vs and Israel hath beene ignorant of vs Esa 63. 16. The dead know nothing more Eccles 9. 5. Iob. cap. 14. 21. speaking of the dead saith Whether his children shall be noble or vnnoble he shall not vnderstand How vaine is it then to pray to them Touching either Angels or Saints their Bible alloweth vs not to pray vnto them I. It teacheth euery where wheresoeuer there is either a commandement to pray or an example of any holy man of God praying that the same is made vnto God For commandement Psal 49. 15. Inuocate me in the day of trouble who is very ready to heare Esay 64. 24. Mat. 11. 28. Come vnto me saith Christ and promiseth them that come vnto him that hee will not cost forth Iob. 6. 37. Iames saith Aske of God chap. 1. 5. There is no commandement to pray to any other in all the Scripture For examples Abraham called vpon the Name of the Lord so Isaac Iacob Moses Iosua Samuel Dauid and all the rest No instance can be giuen to the contrary in either precept or example II. The Apostles desired to be taught to pray Luk. 11. Now Christ in his perfect forme of Prayer taught them and in them all vs to pray aright And it is against praying to Saints and Angels in the Preface Our Father which art in Heauen First this is against all Shee Saints for we cannot call the Virgin Marie nor any woman-Saint Father Secondly this is against all Angels for they bee not our Fathers but Fellow-seruants as they confesse Reuel 19. 10. Thirdly this is against all Hee-Saints departed for they be our Brethren and in Heauen but one Father Matth. 23. 8 9. In the Petitions which Christ willeth vs to pray for they cannot be made to any of them We cannot say to them Hallowed be thy Name Thy Kingdome come Thy will be done in Earth as it is in Heauen Can we say to them Giue vs this day our daily bread Forgiue vs this day our trespasses Leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill In the conclusion for may wee ascribe to them and say Thine is the Kingdome the power and the glory for ouer Amen Now if we cannot aske of them these things nor ascribe to them kingdome power and glory without horrible idolatrie and sacriledge then either Christ taught not sufficiently in this Prayer to whom and what to pray for or else if he did then no Saints or Angels are to be prayed vnto III. Their Bible maketh onely Christ the meanes betweene God and vs For first it telleth vs but of one Mediatour One God and also one Mediatour of God and men 1. Timoth. 2. 5. Who this one is it also telleth vs euen the Man Christ Iesus 1. Timoth. 2. 5. And further teacheth that he is our Mediatour both of redemption Heb. 9. 12. and of intercession Rom. 8. 34. Heb. 7. 25. neither doth their Bible make any other Mediatour in either of these respects vnto God for vs saue Iesus Christ alone Secondly their Bible telleth that no man commeth to the Father but by Christ Ioh. 14. 6. Thirdly that we haue a promise to be heard if wee aske the Father in his Name Ioh. 16. 23. Fourthly that Christ foreshewed that his Disciples should aske and pray his Father in his Name Ioh. 16. 26. Fifthly their Bible exhorts vs therefore to goe to him Heb. 13. 13. to offer vp our prayses and so our prayers by him Heb.
hauing thus fallen how can they alledge him to proue perfect obedience For perfection is not in one point or in all for a time but in the same for euer Thus we see that there is no perfection of obedience in any to keepe the Law Therefore is there no workes of supererrogation for they that boast of these must bee in all perfection obedient to the Law first and then doe more then God commandeth either expresly or deriuatiuely For reasons against this point see Moulins his Buckler of faith pag. 173. 70. Sect. and Doctor White his last Booke pag. 521. Sect. 2. to pag. 534. Scriptures obiected for workes of supererrogation answered Matth. 19. 21. If thou wilt be perfect goe and sell all that thou hast and giue to the poore c. Answ 1. Christ here teacheth not that a man may in this life attaine to perfection to doe all that God commands and more too For first he had taught the contrary Luk. 17. 10. Secondly in Mark 10. 21. Christ leaueth out the word perfection and telleth him plainly that he lacked one thing Thirdly Saint Paul for all his excellencies and his manifold sufferings for Christ 2. Cor. 6. 4 10. yet hee did not attaine to perfection Phil. 3. 12. But here Christ speaketh to the vainely conceited yong man who as Austin in Epist 89. saith answered more arrogantly then truely and as Basil saith gaue false testimonie of himselfe when he said he had kept all these to wit all the Ad Hilarium lib. 4. de linquendis facultatibus commandements from his youth vp saying What lack I yet as if he had lacked nothing when he was apparantly couetous Mar. 10. 22. To suppresse this excesse of pride and to discouer his folly Christ thus speakes to him and not to set out a new Doctrine and way to perfection not contained in the Law Secondly these words are not a bare counsell as some conceit because it is said if thou wilt For this kinde of speaking notes not the thing spoken of to bee euer in a mans libertie and pleasure to doe or not to doe for so then should we not be tyed to Gods commandements for thus hee speakes in vrging to the obedience of them in verse 17. of this Chapter and Deut. 28. 1 15. it is said If thou wilt or if thou wilt not So in Esa 1. 19. These words imply not the libertie of choise but rather the desire of the minde to attaine to some thing yet lacking as by comparing Matthew here with Mark chap. 10. 21. it may appeare Thirdly the words giue vnto the poore are plainely a commandement This is a duty commanded and the Law requireth the works of Charitie and Almes to be giuen to the poore This is no counsell left to mans free choise to doe or not to doe as these places shew 1. Tim. 6. 17 18 19. Heb. 13. 16. to striue to perfection is commanded also Matth. 5. 48. Heb. 6. 1. 2. Cor. 7. 1. increasing more and more 1. Thes 1. 10. and 4. 1 10. 1. Pet. 2. 2. 2. Pet. 3. 18. Act. 20. 32. So it is not in our libertie to stand at a stay but we are tyed and bound to grow in grace in knowledge in faith and in good workes Thirdly Goe and sell all that thou hast This also is a commandement for it hath the forme of a commandement Goe and sell And though it be not an ordinary commandement to binde all yet was it a commandement to this young man for the present to try him and to discouer him as Gods commandement to Abraham to sacrifice his sonne Gen. 22. Seeing therefore that these words containe in them Commandements and not a bare counsell this place is nothing for arrogantly conceited works of supererrogation Fourthly if it were granted to bee a counsell yet being Gods counsell it is not best to our libertie to doe or not to doe for God who is great and wonderfull in counsell Esai 28. 29. Ierem. 32. 19. his counsell bindeth and to neglect and despise it is sinne and deserues punishment Psal 106. 13. and 107. 11. Prou. 1. 25. Luk. 7. 30. And therefore vpon Gods counsels they can build no workes of supererrogation 1. Cor. 7. 25. Now concerning Virgins I haue no cōmandement of the Lord yet I giue my iudgement c. He that giueth her in marriage doth wel but he that giueth her not in marriage doth better ver 38. Answ 1. Here is not the word Counsell though they for aduantage so translate it For the word in Greeke which is for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 counsell is not here vsed but another which signifieth a sound and graue sentence and iudgement more then counsell and aduice 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For the Corinthians had written about the matter verse 1. and the Apostle giueth his iudgement what is most conuenient and fitting for the present time verse 26. Secondly this his iudgement hee giueth by the aide and assistance of Gods Spirit verse 40. and therefore were the Corinthians highly to reuerence his iudgement yea and to submit vnto it as being giuen from an Apostle hauing Gods Spirit and one that had obtained mercy of the Lord to bee faithfull verse 25. and had the wisedome of God to iudge what was best to bee done Thirdly by saying he had no commandement from the Lord his meaning is hee had no expresse precept in particular but not that he had no commandement at all For he taught nothing which he had not from the Lord at least included in generall precepts from which by the direction of Gods Spirit hee deduced particulars considering and applying them to the circumstances of times places and persons This the Apostle doth here for Christ cōmanded his to be without worldly carefulnesse Mat. 6. 25 31 34. and to mind heauenly things chiefly ver 33. Now the Apostle at this time grounded his iudgement vpon these precepts and considering the present distresse and troubles of the Church applyed the same to the question of marrying or not marrying as is most cleare in verses 32 33 34 35. So then here is no counsell or bare aduice but his iudgement vpon the question grounded first on Christs commandements and then deliuered faithfully by the guidance of Gods Spirit This place therefore is nothing for workes of supererrogation or for counsels tending as they dreame to perfection Matth. 19. 12. There be Eunuches which haue made themselues Funuches for the Kingdome of Heauen Hee that is able to receiue i◠let him receiue it Answ There are here two things First a commendation of some Secondly a commandement vpon some Out of neither of these can they build their workes of supererrogation Not out of the first First they are to proue that these Eunuches were perfect fulfillers of the Morall Law Secondly that they did this which they did vpon counsell and not of dutie Both which they are to proue before they proue vpon this their commendations their
faith to which he exhorts in verse 23. saying that it is a commandement of God that we should beleeue in the name of his Sonne Iesus Christ Rom. 3. 31. Doe we destroy the Law by faith God forbid but we rather maintaine the Law Answ The whole Chapter is against iustification by workes and for faith and euen in this very verse For what meane these words but to shew that faith by which wee are iustified doth fulfill the Law so as what men would obtaine by the workes of the Law the same they haue by faith in Christ who hath for vs perfectly fulfilled the Law So the Law is not destroyed but by faith established Phil. 2. 12. Worke out your saluation with feare and trembling Answ What meaneth this babbling Babylonian hereby Will he conclude that he which is to worke out his saluation with feare and trembling is not iustified by faith onely Iustifying faith maketh none presumptuous It makes a man put on the Armour of God It so maketh vs confident in God as withall neuer to neglect any good meanes in the way to saluation It maketh vs not high-minded but to feare and to tremble and so to worke out our owne saluation which euer accompanyeth our iustification XXXIII Proposition That no true beleeuer particularly can in this life be certaine of his saluation without a miracle or extraordinary reuelation Confuted by their owne Bible BY their Bible we doe learne and it is cleere First that the vnalterable ground of our saluation is laid in Iesus Christ God hauing chosen vs in him before the constitution of the world Ephes 1. 4. which he wil perfect for whom he hath predestinated them also he hath called and whom hee hath called them also he hath iustified and whom he hath iustified them also he hath glorified Rom. 8. 30. Secondly that Christ hath taken away all and euery cause of damnation and euery thing that might hinder the saluation of such as beleeued in him as to wit sin Hee is made sinne for vs 2. Cor. 5. 21. the curse of the Law he hath redeemed vs from the curse thereof Gal. 3. 13. and from vnder it Gal. 4. 5. the anger and wrath of God for we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son Rom. 5. 10 11 2. Cor. 5. 19. So that there is no damnation to them that are in Christ Rom. 8. 1. Thirdly that Christ is euery thing for vs vnto God our Wisdome Iustice Sanctification and Redemption 1. Cor. 1. 30. yea in Christ we are made the Iustice of God 2. Cor. 5. 21. So that God iustifieth vs with his owne Iustice which cannot bee excepted against Who therefore shall accuse the elect of God or who is hee that shall condemne Rom. 8. 33 34. And if free from accusation and condemnation are they not sure of saluation What is it that letteth Fourthly that no power though they haue many temptations and many combates shall euer finally ouercome them The gates of hell shall not preuaile against them Matth. 16. 18. For in the vertue of God they are kept by faith to saluation 1. Pet. 1. 5. and are in all power strengthened according to the might of his glory in all patience longanimitie with ioy Col. 1. 11. Christ promiseth not to cast forth his Ioh. 6. 37 40 and he holdeth vs that none shall plucke vs out of his hands Ioh 10. 28. Not Satan for Christ hath ouercome him Matth. 4. Heb. 2. 14. Not the world for he hath ouercome it also Ioh. 16. 33. Not false Teachers for it is not possible that the elect should bee induced into errour Matth. 24. 24. meaning totally and finally Not our sinnes for the bloud of Christ hath cleansed vs from all sinne 1. Ioh. 1. 7. and in him we haue redemption the remission of our sinnes Col. 1. 14. Ephes 1. 7. See also Heb. 8. 12 9. 14. Not the terrour and curse of the Law for hee hath fulfilled it for vs and remoued the curse Gal. 4. 5. 3. 13. Not our once being vnder the power of darknesse for God hath deliuered vs from our enemies Luk. 1. 74. and from the power of darknesse and translated vs into the kingdome of the Sonne of his loue Col. 1. 13. Nor Gods once former displeasure against vs for when we were impious Rom. 5. when wee were sinners Christ dyed for vs verses 6. 8. and when we were enemies we by Christs death were reconciled to God verse 10. and haue receiued reconciliation verse 11. Not any thing that may fall out after reconciliation For if when we were Enemies we were reconciled much more being reconciled shal we be saued in the life of him Rom. 5. 10. No not Gods iust deserued wrath for our often falls For if when we were sinners Christ dyed for vs much more therefore now being iustified by his bloud shall wee be saued from wrath by him Rom. 5. 8 9. 1. Thes 1. 10. Not the Law of sinne captiuing vs so as we cannot doe that which wee would but doe often that which wee would not For Iesus Christ shall deliuer vs from the body of this death Rom. 7. 24 25. Not tribulation distresse famine nakednesse danger persecution nor the sword though wee were killed for his sake all the day long For to vs it is giuen for Christ not onely that wee should beleeue in him but also that we suffer for his name Phil. 1. 28. And in all these things wee ouercome because of him that hath loued vs Rom. 8. 37. and because God is faithfull who will not suffer his to bee tempted aboue that which they are able but will also make with temptation issue that you may be able to sustaine 1. Cor. 10. 13. To conclude there is nothing possible that can separate vs from the charity of God in Christ Iesus our Lord. For I am sure saith the Apostle that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers neither things present nor things to come neither might nor height nor depth nor other creature shall be able to doe it Rom. 8. 38 39. For we know that to them that loue God all things co-operate vnto good to such as according to purpose are called to be Saints Rom. 8. 28. And Christ Iesus is able to saue for euer them that goe by him to God Heb. 7. 25. hee being entred into Heauen now appearing to the countenance of God for vs Heb. 9. 24. who is on Gods right hand making intercession for vs Rom. 8. 34. So that it is vndoubtedly certaine that those that bee Christs shall not perish Ioh. 3. 15. nor come into iudgement but passe from death to life Ioh. 5. 24. Fifthly their Bible teacheth not onely these things in the generall but also how euery true beleeuer may particularly be assured that he hath his part in these things and be certaine of his owne saluation and that is by Christs Spirit and by the grace of faith wrought by the same