but disswade him as the Fox in the Fable did the other beasts from that bootie which you mean to make your own Now the least suspition of losse either of profit or gain by the work of reformation is ground enough in these men of malice and madnesse against it If the covetous and deceitfull tradesman cannot put off his ill commodities at a deare rate nor the oppressour buy in his neighbours land and houses and so depopulate whole Parishes the Usurer make benefit of his money with the greatest advantage of interest if not more then the Statute allows him but that he must be checked by the preaching of the Gospel Authoritie must curbe him by more stricter prescriptions then ordinarie then hee 'l have none of it but oppose it what possibly he can deal with the messengers of this news as the master and mistresse of the b Act. 16.19 damosel possessed with a spirit of divination did with Paul and Sylas when some hopes of their gains were gone bring them to be scouraged and never left them till they saw them in prison c Vers 20.21 These men say they do exceedingly trouble our Citie and teach customes which are not lawfull for us to receive neither to observe That Lydia was converted and the Apostles lodged in her house troubled them not their preaching to the Assemblies gathered by the water-side and their bringing every day new disciples unto Christ were no motives to incense them comparable to the losse of their private gain Thus was it here at Ephesus when Demetrius perceived the ruine not so much of the goddesse Diana as of his own gain and commoditie in making of silver shrines he sets the whole City in a tumult But what stand we in rehearsall of old examples saith d Gualther in Act. cap 18. Gualther seeing in our dayes covetousnesse doth chiefly hinder and stop the course of the truth The Bishops of Rome blinded with desire of lucre flie all kind of reformation the same saith he bindeth Princes and the Nobilitie unto Antichrist in that they perceive the Popes and Bishops may maintain many of their kinsfolks with Ecclesiasticall goods and livings which otherwise may go for rascals and be fain to labour and toil with their hands The same maketh Merchants Customers Souldiers and all States of men offended with the Gospel because they see if the Gospel be received such trades of waxing rich as many use in these dayes cannot stand It was a sad complaint which the Lord by Jeremie made against the people in those times e Ier. 6.13 from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousnesse and from the Prophet even unto the Priest every one dealeth falsely I would to God the like complaint may not justly be taken up in our times that there were not amongst us f Isa 56.11 greedy dogs which can never have enough g Ier. 5.31 Prophets that prophecie lies and Priests that receive gifts in their hands h Isa 56.11 All looking to their own way every one for his gaine from his quarter Such as Micah speaks of who i Mica 3.11 teach for hire and divine for money while they bite with their teeth and i. while they find the sweetnesse and have to feed upon all is peace they cry peace to the feeders But if a man put not into their mouths i. satisfie not their appetite and desire they prepare war against him as if he were an enemie to God and man Oh what abundance of time-servers be there amongst us which will soothe up greatnesse in errours and labour to maintain the errours of the times against all reformation for their own advantage which are ready to embrace any religion so that by it they may procure their own private gain Oh where is the zeal of the Primitive Christians in the first reformation when for the good of the Church and the maintenance of the Gospel they sold their possessions What is become of the forwardnesse of the blessed Israelites when they offered so m 100. thousand pound sterling of gold and 35. thousand 470 oddepounds of silver besides brasse and other things Willet in Exod cap. 38. quaest 10. plentifully to the Tabernacle that Moses was driven to publish a n Exod. 36.6 restraint o Chap. 35.23 lawne and p Chap. 38.8 looking-glasses then furthered the building the people for that purpose were content to part both with their profits and pleasures it were great pitie that these now should prove impediments to hinder it Yet the truth hereof is so apparant that where men are wholly set upon their own private respects they fear not to oppose either the good of the Church or the commonweal And thus of the first sort 2. The superstitious who are so q Longe diversacarnificina pietas Lactant. opposite to the reformation that look what the one erects the other dejects what the one makes the other marres It s observed by r Weemse treat of foure degenerate sons Sect. 3 some that Religion hath two extreames s 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Atheisme and t 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Superstition between which as Tertullian noteth she suffereth in the middest as Christ betwixt the two theeves onely both prove her mortall enemies the one acknowledging no good to worship any way the other will worship God her own way of these it s an hard matter to say which is the worst and greatest enemy to Religion or Reformation yet the latter hath been so accounted and amongst other causes for these two 1. Because Atheisme leaves a man to sense to Philosophie to naturall piety to Laws to reputation all which are some kind of guides to morall vertue though Religion were not But Superstition dismounts all and prescribes a law to it self a form of worship which if God will not accept he shall have no obedience at all 2. Because Atheisme did never disturbe States but contracted it self with civilitie and subordinate obedience tumult and division for Religion were evils unknown to the heathen because they all served one devill under divers names and forms and for their pettie quarrels amongst their u Mulciber in Troiam pro Troja stabat Apollo puppet-gods these differences were soon taken up at a Tavern and reconciled over a cup of wine But Superstition is alwayes in garboiles it hath no w Superstitione imbutas aniâ—as nunquam quiet is esse potest Cicero 1. de finibus rest evermore causing uproares bringing government into disorder and endeavouring the confusion of Commonweals For proof hereof we need not go far for instance what hath more undermined these Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland then the treacherous plots of superstitious persons what more endangered the ruine of the true reformed Protestant Religion within these his Majesties Dominions established what hath more raised and fomented jealousies betwixt the King and his people what
wayes 1. By a generall Humiliation 2. By a particular Reformation 1. By a generall humiliation When all of us from the highest unto the lowest shall like the o Ionah 3.5 6. Ninivites present our selves before God in sackcloth and ashes and ply him with our sighs and teares our fastings and prayers which are p Haeâ— sunt arma coelestia quae stare perseverare fortiter faciunt hoc sunt munimenta sptritualia tela divina quae protigunt nos Cyprâ—an Eâ—â—â—â— 1. the spirituall weapons wee alone can trust unto and the proper armour of a Christian Souldier to fight against the fearfull combinations of the Churches powerfull and vigilant enemies The Lord requires this at our hands when we desire great things to be wrought for us he must and will be sought unto in the use of this meanes At all times we ought to q Macah. 6.8 walke humbly with our God in times of prosperitie in times of greatest joy but especially in such times as these now this grace is chiefly called for when our crying sinnes have awakened Gods justice and broken the Viall of his anger over our heads insomuch that the drops of bloud hang hoovering in the ayre like clouds of vengeance ready to breake downe upon us when the darke and mistie fogges of wickednesse are gathered together from sundry places threatning some great tempest of thundring and lightning insomuch that wee have just cause to feare a black and dismall day a bloudy day of invasion and utter desolation neere at hand Now if ever wee have need to humble our selves that if possible the strong winde of our devotions together with the swift gale of our sighes and teares may cleare the skie and so dispell those cloudy vapours in such sort as that they shall not fall upon us This is the course proposed unto us the most effectuall meanes for the averting of judgement and the obteining of mercy This will flie to the Heavens and peirce the clouds and not be terrified with the height nor yet frighted with the frownes of justice therefore the Saints in their greatest streits and strongest oppositions have betaken themselves unto this meanes The r Iudg. 20.26 Israelites when they were distressed for the murther of their men which were slaine by the Benjamites went up to the house of God and there spent an whole day in weeping fasting and prayer Å¿ 2 Chro. 20.3 Jehosaphat commanded a publick fast to be kept when the enemies of the Jewes invaded his Kingdome So did t Nehem. 9.1 Nehemiah of purpose to turne away the vengeance which might justly have befallen them for marrying of strange wives This kinde of humiliation was exercised by u Exod. 34.28 Moses w 1 King 19.8 Elias and our x Mat. 4.2 Saviour Christ at such times as when great matters were to be attempted by them It is that which in these dangerous times of ours both God our King and Countrey have called upon us to performe The glistering ornaments of Courtly robes have already been changed into mourning weeds The great King of England as sometime the King of y Ionah 3.6 Ninive hath arose from his throne and stript himselfe of his costly rayment the Princes the Nobles and Peeres have already moystned this way with their teares and put on with all their force of zealous prayers You in the Citie and wee in the Countrey have sate in ashes and girded our selves with sackcloath how farre wee have prevailed the God of heaven onely knowes My charitie gives me to thinke that in the great and solemne dayes of your humiliation you humbled your selves z 2 Chron. 33.12 greatly before the God of your Fathers and cryed a Ionah 3.8 mightily unto him with holy eagernesse yee devoure those fasts and are well content with the austeritie of that pious penitence It is the comfort of your soule to be perswaded you shall prevaile with God the very thoughts of the continuance of his frownes upon you were enough with b Gen. 4.5 6. Cain to make you cast your countenance downe to the ground If successe prove not answerable to your hopes there is yet required a greater measure of humiliation c Joel 2.16 Let the Bridegroome goe forth of his Chamber the Bride out of her Closet Let every man humble himselfe in his own familie betwixt himselfe and his own Spirit himselfe and his own houshold no further I durst not warrant you as to assume that prerogative to your selves by gathering when you please an open assembly to sanctifie a publick fast to call to sackcloth mourning before the Magistrate have decreed it this were to deny Caesar his due to prescribe a service contrary to the president of many d 1 Sam. 7.6 2 Chron. 20.3 Ezra 8.21 Hest 4.16 1 Kin. 24.8 Ioel 3.15 Scriptures and to teach a point of discord and confusion which within a Christian Common-wealth must carefully be avoyded onely with your selves in your own private domesticall charge if need require weekly use the benefit of this meanes e Psal 55.17 Cry aloud unto God evening and morning and at noone f Gen. 32.24 26. Wrestle with him as Jacob did never let him goe untill you have obtained the blessing be your resolution as the Shunamites was when shee spake to Elisha g 2 Kin. 4.30 As the Lord liveth I will not leave thee And if through the continuance of his anger the time shall require it you may in a godly and modest manner as humble remembrancers solicite Authority for a more frequent dispatch of this dutie and in your private devotions desire the Lord to move their hearts to proclaime that which shall be truly pleasing in his eyes that a whole burnt offering might be made unto the Lord from the highest to the lowest a solemne dedication of every person and state throughout the whole Kingdom that so every one in generall may more frequently concur and agree in seeking remedy against our eminent danger oh what a pleasing sacrifice will this be unto God how may it prevaile with him to cause him to alter his purpose change his determination concerning our destruction Jacobs submission to b Gen. 33.3 4. c. Esau altered the purpose of Esau and prevailed with him it caused his very bowells to yearne he was not the man that he was before our submission hath ever annexed the melting and relenting or to use the Scripture phrase the i Isa 63.15 sounding of the k Ier. 31.20 bowells of the Lord How resolved soever he was to destroy Ninive as appeareth in the Message of the Prophet l Ionah 3.4 Yet fortie dayes and Ninive shall be destroyed upon their generall humiliation it is said m Vers 10. God repented of the evill that he had said that he would doe unto them and he did it not So afterwards to peevish Jonah n Cap. 4.11 Should not I
purposing to go unto Macedonia and Achaia and so to visit and confirm the Churches of the Philippians Thessalonians and Corinthians and after thence he meant to go to Jerusalem and so to Rome to bestow also some gift of the spirit upon the faithfull there and to receive mutuall consolation of their belief then at the same time this uprore began whereby his purpose of visiting the Churches was for a time prevented From whence divers things might be observed As 1. The holy purposes of Gods children are many times hindered of their execution our intendments come not alwayes to accomplishment though they concern the better things e 2 Sam. 7.2.5 2 Chron. 17.1.4 David would have built an house to the Lord but he was not permitted and St. Paul more f Rom. 1.13 oftner have visited the Romanes had he not been g Dei jussu as Chrysost and Theophil understand it inhibited It s a common speech and yet no oftner spoken then experience makes it true h Pro. 16.9 Man may purpose many things but God disposeth all things i Ier. 10.23 the way of man saith the Prophet is not in himself neither is it in him that walketh to direct his steps We many times promise to our selves Multa magna many things great things we plot contrive and commence them yet all dies like Jonahs k Ionah 4.7 gouard when we should expect their refreshings unlesse the Lord put to his seal and stamp of approbation Therefore as it may teach us an holy reservation in all our intendments to submit our wils unto God saying l Hebr. 6.3 this will we do if God permit and leave unto him the disposition of all our purposes since neither tongue can speak nor foot move if he should enervate them as sometimes he did m Luk. 1.22 Zacharias his tongue in the Temple and n 1 Kin. 13.4 Jeroboams arme when he would have reacht it out against the Prophet So it may also comfort us in an assured expectation of the Lords defeating the mischievous plots of our malicious enemies he may for a time suffer them but if he hinder the good purposes of his own Saints from execution he will much more defeat and bring to nought o Psal 33.10 the counsell of the heathen and make the lewd intendments and devices of the wicked of none effect 2. How suddenly our hopes may be frustrated St. Paul here thought that all was wel his doctrine had taken good effect amongst them so that not onely many of the people beleeved but he had also gotten many of the chief of Asia to be his friends and therefore doubted not to leave them awhile But see how it fell out illo tempore the same time was this tumult raised So quickly can the Lord turn the tide and make the current of our happinesse to run in a stream of heavinesse When we shall say p 1 Thes 5.3 peace and safetie then may sudden desolation come upon us It is not good to be secure let no man say in pride what David sometimes said in the assurance of faith q Psal 30.6 7. I cannot fall thou O Lord of thy goodnesse hast made my hill so strong But rather let us praise God both for what we possesse and for what we have in hopes and pray unto him that our sins subvert not either If our priviledges be more then of late let our presumption be lesse it s the safest way to possesse more then we brag of He took not his mark amisse that observed it as an old and a sure rule against the Atheist against the worldlings viz. that r Totum perfecte dictum est quod ex partibus substantialibus quantis per se unit is constat Kecker System leg lib. 1 c. 22. the whole cannot be perpetuall whose parts be alterable if Schisme have torn the members the body cannot be found How many sons of Belial are there amongst us who with the wicked Edomites curse the prosperitie of our Zion and gape for the day to cry ſ Psal 137.7 Down with it down with it even to the ground We know they have openly and privately assaulted the peace of our Jerusalem but praised be our God they have received much shame and are likely to receive more for their traiterous and malicious attempts let this make us thankfull and not secure as if the Lord could not stretch out his arme to punish us as well as others Oh for those poore distressed Christians in France Bohemia Silesia Moravia Germany Austria Voltoline who have a long time eaten the bread of unquietnesse miserably wallowing in dust and blood while we have lain upon our pillows of peace and eaten the bread of plentie ah and alas for our distressed brethren in Ireland upon whom many bloodly massacres and inhumane butcheries are daily committed by the Rebels while we remain untouched Let us not be secure there is still a devill and a serpentine breed who finding that the Gospel hath given a wound to the peace of hell are the more busie to give a wound to the peace of the Gospel evermore watching their best opportunities for our disadvantage which may be 3. A third thing considerable from the time when this tumult was raised even then when Paul was purposed to do more good to beat down the holds of Satan and to build up the kingdom of Jesus Christ then even at the same time the devil raised this stir so that we may see the devil ever deals upon the advantage when he knows that his kingdom is but short then he bestirs him most he t Rev. 12.12 hath great wrath because he knoweth that he hath but a short time He maketh use of the present opportunitie and so recompenseth brevitatem temporis gravitate tentationis the shortnesse of his time with the greatnesse of his tentation like a malitious Tenant that perceives his terme to be almost expired does what he can to ruine the house or like a bloody Tyrant that daily suspecting the losse of his usurped soveraignty makes havock amongst his subjects and fals apace to cutting of throats It shall be therefore our wisdom to be the more watchfull as he is grown the more wrathfull But these are not the particulars I intend to insist upon my meditations at this present being onely furnished for the second part and therefore we will passe from the time when it was and so come to reveal unto you the thing what it was 2. Part. 2. St. Luke saith it was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tumultus non medicus non parvus no small stir i. u Pisca Schol. in loc maximus an exceeding great stir The word in the originall to expresse this tumult w Significat propriè perturbationem exprimens naturam seditionum Aret. in loc properly signifies perturbatim or disturbance coming from a x 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 word which importeth a vehement and strong
malefactors or ought else belonging to a Magistrate as to do what they do The which if it should be granted who sees not but that the end would be no other then a vast anarchie and confusion both in Church and commonwealth whereupon must unavoidably follow not onely an opposition to reformation but a speedie subversion both of Religion and State For if every man saith d Si suoquisque feratur impetuÌ„ non plane uniâ—as erit sed magis confusio Bern. in Cant. serm 49. Bernard shall be carried according to his own motion after that spirit which he hath received and do flie upon every thing indifferently even as he is affected and do not hasten to it by the judgement of reason while no man is contented with the office assigned unto him but all will attempt all things alike by an indistinct administration it will not be an unity but rather a confusion God for bid then that any of those who wish well to Zion should be found in the least respect to hinder the building of the walls of Jerusalem what though things be much amisse as I beleeve no State in later ages more c See the Remonstrance lately set forth by the House of Commons corrupted we that are inferiour persons must lament it shew our dislike and detestation of it both in publique and private sigh and pray for redresse of it and as occasion serveth and our condition and calling permitteth soberly and discreetly put those in mind of it to whom the reformation belongeth as our Knights of the Shire Burgesses and such like are from all severall parts of the Kingdom chosen for this purpose but we must not take their office from them to reform it this were as was said afore rather to oppose and hinder then any wayes further the Reformation And thus have I done with my first Use the Use of reprehension Vse 2. Vse 2 A second Use may be for Information and so it may serve 1. To acquaint us with the estate and condition of Christs Church militant here upon earth it hath evermore been subject to opposition no age from the beginning of the world till this present but shews as much if we consider her oeconomically while she remains in a familie or naturally being dispersed through the countrey of the Jews or ecumenically dispersed through the whole world we shall find that she never had any long setled vacation from these turbulent stormes of opposition 1. While she remained in Adams familie righteous Abel a principall member was unnaturally f Gen. 4.8 murthered by the bloody hand of his elder brother here began the tempest against this boat and little bark of Jesus Christ and so it continued under the families of Abraham Isaac and Jacob. 2. Afterward when farther disperst yet onely limited to the Nation of the g Psal 147.19 20. Joh. 4.22 Jews she was still exposed to eminent danger as in the time of Moses tyrannized by Pharaoh distressed in the wildernesse and diversly tempted before she could take possession of the Land of Promise and then what with the Philistines Ammonites Midianites Babylonians Persians c. in one day of faire weather she had an whole yeer of stormes and tempest 3. Last of all under the times of the Gospel since the times of Christ being now enlarged to all the Gentiles not one or two Nations of them but all the world her opposition hath been much more increased being afflicted as h Loc. com tit de persecut verae Ecclesue Luther out of Austin observeth by a threefold oppression one violent by persecuting Emperours another fraudulent by subtill heretiques and a third both violent and fraudulent by pestilentiall Antichristians Amora prius in nece Martyrum c. saith i Serm. 33. super Cantic Bernard her opposition or oppression in the beginning was great by the persecution of Tyrants afterwards greater by the conflict of Heretiques but now greatest of all by the dangerous positions and practises of Antichrist in the Kingdom of Popery whose k Dr. Boys Exposition of proper Psalms Psal 110. very Masses are sometimes for massacres and their sacred sacrifices offerings of blood Every one of these like those three regiments which came out of the l 1 Sam. 13.7 Camp of the Philistines though taking severall wayes one to Ophrah another to Bethoron a third to Zeboim yet came all with a purpose to destroy as those times which immediately followed Christ wherein Stephen was stoned Peter was imprisoned c. and those wâ—â— after followed which endured for the space of three hundred yeers the monuments of which dayes and Ecclesiasticall Histories do abundantly shew how that a man could no sooner make profession of his faith but he was either o Eutch Ecclesiast hist li. 1. ca. 8. maimed racked or scourged or burnt to ashes or drowned in the Sea or hanged on the gallows or sowed in the p Sulp. Severus lib. 2. Tacit. li. 15. cap. 10. skins of wild beasts and so cast to the dogs or burnt in the night for lights or made away by some means or other with more exquisite and more tragicall torments if that be possible then the Perilli of our time have invented to gratifie the Romish Phaleris Surely then Bellarmine Sadell Stapleton and divers others of that Antichristian sect were much deceived in making q Quicunque florent prosperi ii sunt vera Ecclesia c. vide Bellarm. controver 2. l. 4. c. 4 de not is Eccles prosperitie and outward happinesse a speciall note of the Church of Christ though Austin say whose judgement they refuse not in other things to subscribe unto r Vsque ad hujus seâ—ulifinem inter persecutiones mundi consolationes Dei peregrinando procurrit Ecclesia August de Civit Dei li. 18. ca. 51. so long as the world endureth she will go on but as it were in a pilgrimage between the persecutions of the world and the comforts of God yea though Christ himself compare her to a s Cant. 2.2 Lillie amongst thornes not onely for her beautie surpassing all other Churches and congregations of the wicked but also for her adversitie being assaulted on the one hand by the contentious oppositions of Schismatiques and on the other by the blasphemous propositions of Heretiques openly wronged by cruell Tyrants secretly wringed by backbiting hypocrites These as the Psalmist speaketh t Psal 94.5 break in peeces thy people O Lord and afflict thine heritage And this is the first thing that this doctrine may acquaint us withall viz. the estate and condition of the Church militant 2. To make known unto us that Reformation is neither easily nor suddenly effected the more corruption the greater and longer time for the purgation of it A disease which hath been long a breeding will not presently be cured how much our Church and State is corrupted doth evidently appeare by those manifold grievances that are daily exhibited our
pollutions like beds of Eeles are so knotted together that no lesse then a clap of thunder can dissolue them To prevent Reformation we have great beasts and huge bulls of Bashan that will be pushing and goring sons of Anak who are strongly set to maintain their gainfull corruptions as here Demetrius his Temples of Diana insomuch that there is little hopes of amendment by a voluntarie relinquishing of them unlesse the Lord come with a mightie hand qualifying the Instruments appointed for this purpose as were the brethren of Gideon u Iuâ—g 8.18 each one resembling the son of a King making them strong and aâ—â—â—e like Davids Worthies w 1 Châ—â—n 26.30 31 32. men of valour to turn the wheele of Justice upon the back of the wicked and to smite them that shall oppose it as Sampson did the Philistines both x Iud. 15.18 hip and thigh Experience in the beginning of the reformation in the time of Henry the eight in the violent overthrow of the Abbies doth evidently demonstrate this truth unto us as also under the reigne of that gracious Instrument of Gods glory Edward the sixth in whose time the reformation was encumbred not onely with seditions of the Subjects and umults of the Commons but also with much hurrying and banding of the Nobilitie It was prophetically spoken by that reverend man Robert Gnosted sometime Bishop of Lincolne who lived in the reigne of Henry the third and died in the yeer of our Lord 1253. a man who as y Cambden Britan. ex Matt. Paris Anonym Chronograph Cambdâ—n describes him from the words of one then living was a terrible reprover of the Pope an adviser of his Prince an instructer of the Clergie a maintainer of scholers a Preacher to the people a diligent searcher into the Scriptures and a Mallet of the Romanists This man a little before his death complaining of the wicked courses that were held by the Romanists said the Church should never find any ease from the oppressive burthens laid upon her nor be delivered from the Aegyptiacall bondage she was holden in till her deliverance was wrought In ore gladii cruentandi in the mouth of the Sword all bathed in blood What crueltie and barbarisme these hellish monsters have of late executed and do yet upon our distressed brethren in Ireland is not unknown to most of us in this Kingdom and all to oppose the reformation I do not say that either we or they are of the number of those Saints mentioned in the Revelations which shall z Rev. 7.14 come out of great tribulation having their robes washed and made white in the blood of the Lambe Neither is it my interpretation but a Marlâ—r in Rev. c. 7.14 Marlorates who makes it a periphrasis of the last persecution of the Church by Antichrist which of all others will be the most grievousest to such as are minded to live godlily in Christ Jesus as the last assault of Pharaoh was to the departing Israelites and the last endeavour of nature is to the dying patient though b Veniuntenim omnibus aetatibus nec desinunt quamdiu durat hic mundus Aret. in Loc. others understand it of the persecution and affliction of every age which shall be from the time of Christ to the end of the world But this I am sure of and experience to the great detriment of forreine Nations hath made the truth of it knowne unto us that where Religion setteth an edge upon discontent there not onely mutinies heart-burnings and jealousies but also bloudy frayes and massacres are much to be feared In Rome when the fire tooke hold of the Temple of c ArdebaÌ„t sancti sceleratis ignibus ignes mysta est flammae flamma prophanapiae Ovid. fast lib. 6. Vesta and mingled it selfe with the sacred flame then was the greatest mischiefe done Even so where the wild fire of contention mixeth it selfe with the sacred fire of zeale and both burne within the bowels of the same Church it s verily thought that scarce a river of bloud will be able to quench this direfull flame But the Lord of his mercy in his good time quench these coales of contention that they may never come to smoother the flame of our zeale And this is the second thing which this point may make knowne unto us viz. That reformation is neither easily nor suddenly effected 3. To informe us of the difference betwixt the militant Church here on earth and the triumphant Church in heaven here it is subject to opposition on every side the covetous the superstitious the licentious daily assault it it is in a continuall warfare and therefore called the Church Militant the gates of hell oppose themselves against it i. not onely persecutions and speciall sinnes but all manner of evills sweet or sower faire or fowle of what condition sâ—ever as the e Origen in Math. tract 1. Chrysost cont Gent. Quod Christus est Deus Greg. in 5. Psal paenitent The opbilact in Matth. 16. Hieron Rabon Comm. in Matth. 16. Raynold conf cap. 7. divis 8. learned well observe But in heaven nor Satan nor any other enemy of the Church can enter there to assault it none of all these opposers come neare unto heaven nor covetous nor superstitions nor licentious the Church hath there no disturbance no nor yet noise unlesse it be the Songs of Saints and Angells and the shouts of prayses tuned forth in the sweet melody of Hallelajah which so many glorified voyces shall sing unto God there is nothing but tranquillitie and eternall peace and comfort within those blessed doores There our eyes shall not be dimmed with teares nor our soules surprised with feares nor our hearts dejected with sorrowes nor one eares disturbed with cryes nor our senses distracted with paine There are possessions without impeachment Kingdomes without cares length of yeares with strength of delights greatnesse of state without conscience of corruption love of all without jealousie of any there men shall be good and not persecuted truly religious and not opposed happie and not envied rich and not robbed Kings and not flattered Oh glorious Chuâ—ch triumphant who would be unwilling to be dissolved when it shall seeme good to the divine Providence that he may be translated thither where is freedome from all assaults and oppositions f 〈◊〉 August 〈…〉 Dei cap. 22. Clâ—â—mbrotus reading Platoes Booke de immutalitate animae cast himselfe downe from a Wall and so ended his dayes hoping thereby speedily to come to that blessed estate which is prepared for good men after this life But for all his hast his fact is rather to be lamented then imitated we may desire the fruition of this blessed happinesse in the Church triumphant but we must waite and stay Gods leisure for it possessing our selves with patience in the meane time under the manifold oppositions that wee are here likely to meete withall in the Church Militant And this is the third and
as to shuffle out ours and to bring all to theirs or at leastwise to set us together by the cares that so they may the better work their advantage Which was the plot of Julian the Apostata as St. u Augu. Epist 166. Augustine reports of him having a desire to set all Christendome in combustion cast a fire-ball of contention amongst them by proclaiming libertie to all heretiques and schismat ques to set abroach their damnable doctrine hoping thereby utterly to extinguish the name of Christians True it is we are too too faultie iâ— this kind and whether I may say through the subtiltie of our seducing adversaries or through the too much connivencie of those which hitherto have sate in the seats of Justice suffering the wholsome Laws and Statutes ordained for the suppressing of all heresie and superstition to rust as the w Habemus senatus consultuÌ„ velut gladium in vagina reconditum Cic. orat 1. in Catil Oratour speaketh like swords in the scabards and never draw them forth against the sworn enemies of our Church and State I say whether by means of either of these or as it s most likely by both of them so it is that if you would seek the religion of all Heretiques here you may find them in this Kingdom insomuch that England as sometimes a Member of the House of Commons in a Speech of his hath of late declared is like to turn it self into a great Amsterdam there is amongst us a confusion of religions as there was in Babel of languages Ah and alas that this Land which heretofore hath been a Sanctuarie for true Religion a refuge and shade in the heat of the day for persecuted professors who have been chased like Bees from their own hives should now become a common receptacle for Atheists Anabaptists Adamites Famalists Neuters Hypocrites luke-warme professors and Popish wanderers can he be safe in the tolleration of all these religions will the Lord hold any Prince or State guiltlesse which permit a pollution of his name as the worship of a false god or the false worship of the true God is a pollution of his Name as himself hath y Ezec. 20.39 declared He is a jealous God and will not endure any rivals z Theod. l. 6. ca. 4. Valentinian the Emperour when his Souldiers had chosen him consulted to have joyned another with him No faith he it was in your power to give me the Empire while I had it not but now when I have it it is not in your power to give me a partner God will have the whole and cannot endure that our hearts should be divided between him and another if we do he will cut us off from the land of the living as he threatneth Zeph 1.5 Is not our Religion the foundation that even beareth up the whole frame and fabrick of State and can it be possible for a building to stand upon three or foure foundations Religion it is the soul which animateth the great body of the Common-wealth and will not that body prove a monster that shall be informed with divers souls The Church and common-wealth have but one center every new motion therefore in the one must needs make a commotion in the other for as one a Revel 12.7 heaven held not Michael and the Dragon in peace nor one house the b 1 Sam. 5.2 3. Arke and Dagon nor one c Gen. 25.22 wombe Jacob and Esau nor one d Ioh. 2.16 Temple Prayer and Marchandizing nor one e Numb 5.2 lampe the clean and leprous nor one f Euseb Eccle. li. 2. ca. 22. bath John and Corinthus no more can this Kingdom an hotch-porch of religions when one Congregation shall be Jews another Samaritanes one Papists another Protestants some calling upon God some upon Angels and Saints creeping to Crosses bowing to Images and so burning in emulation for their severall services as fire and water shall sooner agree then these accord in their judgements and affections about a reformation It was therefore good advice and sage counsell which Maecenas gave to Augustus to punish severally all innovations in matter of Religion g Non solum Deorum causased quia nova quedam numina â—â—â—tales inducentes multos impellunt ad rerum mutationem Non solum Deorum causa c. not onely out of a regard of piety but also for reason of State And h Quod filentium â—ereticis indixerit Niceph l. 12. c. 15. Theodosius is commended for putting all Heretiques to silence Assuredly the body and state is then strongest when the multitude of beleevers like those in the Acts shall be of i Act. 4.32 one heart and of one soul Beware then of sundring and distracting your selves into many religions turn neither to the one hand nor to the other but keep you close to the true Religion I but in these troublesome times you desire to know which is the true I must confesse indeed that we may truly and justly complain with Calvin k Hoc nostrum seculum borrenda quedam sectarum portexta protulit Calvin in 1 Ioh. 4.1 This our age hath brought forth strange monsters of heresies and some none of the worst nor meanest neither out of their just and great hatred to Superstition have overshot themselves and run into extreames Now it is no slight stratagem of Satan as a l Dr. Featly Serm. in 2 Cor. 2.11 learned man yet living hath demonstrated to bring us from one extream to another and so by over reaching against heresie and superstition to wrong the true Religion as St. Augustine in his zeal against the Pelagians who sleightned Baptisme went too far in urging the necessitie thereof pronouncing all children that died unbaptized to be damned and how many are there amongst us saith mine Author who out of hatred of the Antichristian tyrannie condemne all Ecclesiasticall Hierarchy out of detestation of superstitious rites dislike even decent ceremonies in opposition to garish and idolatrous trimming of Temples are brought to disallow all cost in adorning and beautifying Christian Churches This is not the truth In medio consistit veritas errours in doctrine may be in both extreames and truth in the middle As men therefore when they passe over a narrow bridge if they be be not exceeding carefull when the body swayeth or the foot slippeth one way by hastily leaning too far the other they may irrecoverably fall therefore the m Medio tutissinius this middle way is the safest Even so in this case Tertullian to find out the true Religion would have us fix our eyes upon that n Quod Ecclesia ab Apostolis Apostoli à Christe Chrisus à Dâ—o didiâ—â—t Tertul. de praescript ca. 21. 37. which the Church hath received from the Apostles the Apostles from Christ and Christ from God This was that which our Church of England resolved upon in her first reformation in the dayes of Edward the sixth