this Temple of God The glorie of the Church surelie is verie great in that the heauenlie wisedome that is the word of God is committed to her in that God heareth her praiers and protecteth her continualie in that she hath alwaies bin inuincible notwithstanding all her afflictions and troubles in that she hath bin famous both with prophecies and miracles in that she hath excelled with manie heroical virtues finalie in that she is appointed to be the heire of eternal life Nowe at the greatenesse of this glorie none can sufficientlie wonder And yet it is more wonderful than al this that the diuine maiestie to wit the Father the Sonne the holie Ghost doth vouchsafe to elect and to consecrate the heart of man for their habitation and there to dwel according to the promise of Christ If anie man loue me he wil keepe my worde and my father wil loue him and we wil come vnto him and wil dwel with him See nowe what à great difference there is betweene the Church of God and other assemblies The Church of God is the Temple of God but other assemblies are in deede the houses of diuels As therfore nothing is more delectable nothing more cleane nothing better nothing more holie than y t is so there is nothing more abhominable nothing more filthie nothing worser nothing more prophane than these assemblies are Not without cause then did Dauid with great admiration breake into these wordes Glorious thinges are spoken of thee O citie of God The consideration of this glorious condition of the Churche should be à good cause to stirre-vp al men to ioine thēselues vnto the Church of God But alas such is the blindnes such is the foolishnes of mans hart that verie few are moued with y e glorie of the Church and manie taken with pleasures delightes riches and promotion can no whit beholde this glorie What puritie is required to be in the Churche maie appeare in that she is taken-for and called The holie Temple of God For as a Temple made by man and consecrated to God should be cleare from idols and al vncleannesse that men therein maie meete syncerelie to serue the Lord through saith according to Gods worde for which cause our Sauiour Christ caste the biers and sellèrs out of the Temple of Ierusalem saieng Mine house shalbe caled the house of praier So euerie Christian that he maie be an holie Temple of God must be separated from the prophane Gentiles haue no place for idols vncleanes within him that al the powers both of his mind bodie maie cōsent trulie syncerelie to serue the Lorde God and finalie that with vnfaigned repentance he maie throwe-down himselfe before the Maiestie of God and rise-againe through confidence in the gratious promise so in the feare of God by mortification of the flesh and quickening of the spirite goe on forwarde dailie more and more vntil he attaine vnto the marke he shooteth at And although none can be cleare from al sinne while he liueth in this world as aboue also I haue touched yet who so reteineth faith and à good conscience is iudged pure holie before God and that in two respectes First by the imputation of the holines of Christ secondlie by inchoation of obedience Wher-of it is that in respect of the vngodlie vnpenitent persons the godlie before God are counted for moste holie for most pure and perfect without al spot or wrinckle For God imputeth not the remnants of sinne vnto them but looketh-vpon them as theie are cloathed and adorned with the righteousnes of his sonne Iesus Christ. Nowe the Church being the holie Temple of God God is necessarilie to be serued in the same and that purelie and holilie And this seruice is à worke commanded of GOD done through faith principalie for the glorie of God Then that this seruice maie be pure holie it is required first of all that the worke of the seruice be holie that is prescribed by the word of God and infected with no humane or diuelish additions For so the Lorde by the Prophet Ieremie doth saie Walke in my commandementes and not in the commandements of your fathers And that the workes commanded by men are not the seruice of God of thēselues the Prophet Isaiah teacheth when he saith In vaine theie worship me teaching for doctrines mens preceptes And Paule in plaine wordes condemneth al such traditions of man Hence therfore let vs conclude à most certain rule No seruice pleaseth God but what he ordeineth commendeth to vs in his word Secondlie vnto the pure and holie seruice of God it is required that the minde and conscience of the worker be holie and pure For when the minde is vnpure it is abhominable whatsoeuer a man doth although to outward shewe it seeme to be à right holie worke exacted by the lawe of God and although there be greate vse therof among men according to that of Paule vnto Titus Vnto the pure are al thinges pure but vnto them that are defiled and vnbeleeuing is nothing pure but euen their mindes and consciences are defiled Theie professe that they know God but by works theie denie him are abominable and disobedient and vnto euerie good worke reprobate And how the minde of man is made pure by faith it is manifest For by faith as witnesseth the Apostle the heartes be purified not because faith of it selfe can doe so but for that by faith the bloud of Christe is applied by the sprinckling wherof our hearts be cleansed from dead workes Thirdlie that the seruice of God maie be holie and pure it is required that the end of the worke be pure and holie that is that without al hypocrisie with à simple heart thou set the glorie of God before thine eies that is that thou do whatsoeuer thou doe onelie because God hath commanded the same to be done whō thie minde is with al thine affection mind wil and life to glorifie A worke so done is à pure and holie seruice of God And although the worke it self be apparent for the most part in y e eies of men verie base yet it is a spiritual seruice of God because it is the work not of y e flesh but of the spirit before which is proposed the glorie of God And that theie who shal violate this holie temple of God shal not escape scot-free this threatning of the Apostle doth declare If anie man doth violate the Temple of God him wil God destroie But this Temple is violated by idols and vncleanes that is by erroneous doctrine superstitious worshippinges schisme by wickednes and prophanes of life who so is guiltie of anie one of these vices doth violate the Temple of God What then shal we saie of the Pope who ouerwhelmeth the doctrine of the Gospel with y e dreames of Monkes who bringeth infinite superstitions into the
the shipwrack of à good conscience dissembling giuing of offence and exercising of crueltie in his office committed to him of God most righteouslie punished Nowe Dauid being in banishment and hauing no power with other good men at the high feast to come vnto y e tabernacle wherein the Arke of the Lorde was and there to praie and offer sacrifice with à troubled and pensiue heart he calleth into minde the difference betweene the Church wherein God publikelie is worshipped and called-vpon and other companies of men what so euer without the feare of God and withal by à prophetical spirit is carried more aloft into the contemplation of the Church of Christ vnder the New testament à certaine shadow wherof was the old tabernacle as the Epistle vnto the Hebrues doth witnes In this exile in this cogitation inlightned with y e spirit of prophecie he is caried by great force of mind both into admiratioÌ„ of y e felicitie of y e true Church wherin God freelie is called-vpon and worshipped and also into consideration of his owne wretchednesse as one to whome there was no entrance into the Church of God and companie of good men As if anie of vs liued among the Turkes or other prophane people he would out of doubt more deepelie thinke vpon the felicitie of the true Church and also deeme them of all others to be most happie which might at certaine and appointed times come with other good men vnto the hearing of Gods word vnto praier and to the receiuing of the sacraments Wherefore being admonished by the example of Dauid a banished man for his wickednesse let vs learne to be more circumspect through an others harme let vs beware that we shut not our selues from the gathering together of the Saintes by our sinnes by earnest and vnfeigned repentance turne we awaie the wrath of God which warlike tumults dissention in religion and infinite wickednesse reigning euerie where doth plainelie shewe lâ—angeth-ouer our neckes So oft then as we reade this Psalme let vs call these two things into mind first the felicitie of the Church wherein the word is purely preached and God syncerelie worshipped then the miserable case of such as maie not with other good men glorifie God in the congregation of the Saints Last of all whether this place be written by Dauid him selfe and so deliuered to the sonnes of Korah to be song or whether the sonnes of Korah in the name of Dauid did write and sing the same as the Hebrues are vncertaine thereof so leaue we the same in doubt For it is ynough for vs to acknowledge the spirit of Christ to be the true auctor therof and to be written for our instruction and consolation CHAP. 2. The principal pointes contained in the first part of this Psalme THE first part of this Psalme comprehended in the foure first verses distinguisheth the true Church from other coÌ„panies of men sheweth whence it springeth howe dearelie God loueth the same also howe entirelie on the otherside it loueth God where it maie be sought what markes it hath howe happie it is with what seruice it worshippeth God and finalie howe it shal continue euerlastinglie and be immortal Nowe in order let vs consider the verses of this part and seueralie vnfolde which confusedlie we haue noted CHAP. 3. 1. The summe of the first verse of this Psalme 2. who is the Lord of hostes 3. what is his armie and victorie Vers. 1. O LORD OF HOSTES HOW AMIABLE ARE THY TABERNACLES IN these wordes the Psalmist principalie doth shew both which is the true Church and whence it is and how pretious in the sight of God The true Church is y t whose maker is the Lord of hostes the which he loueth most entirelie But for the better discoursing of al these points we are in order to opeÌ„ three things First who is that Lord of hostes which is mentioned in this place Then for so much as manie congregations of men and those much differring each from other doe vsurpe the title of the Church we must diligentlie coÌ„sider who be they which falslie take to themselues this name and which is the true Church Last of all whie the true Church is so amiable and deare to God or to the Lord 〈◊〉 of hostes Who then is the Lord of hostes whie doth he cal him selfe the Lord of hostes And what is the vse of this matter being knowne Out of certaine places of the Scripture we wil gather who is the Lord of hostes whereof the Psalmist here maketh mention In the second of Samuel it is said Dauid prospered and grewe for the Lord of hostes was with him And Psalme 59. Euen thou O Lord God of hostes These two testimonies doe shewe if we marke the Hebrue text howe that God which is one in essence and three in persons is the Lord of hostes For in the former place the proper name of God taken from his essence namelie Iehouah is put in the latter the plural number Elohim whereby à pluralitie of persons as the Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost is signified But that we should not thinke there be anie moe persons than three the Prophet Esaiah teacheth vs when he saith And the Seraphims cried one to an other and saide Holie holie holie is the Lord of hostes So that this title is proper to the whole Trinitie Notwithstanding bicause the second person in the Godhead namelie y e euerlasting word or Sonne of God was sent to breake the strength of Satan for y e redemption of mankinde this great title is giuen to him in manie places as in the 24. Psalme Who is this King of glorie The Lord of hostes is the King of glorie Here doubtles Christ a figure of whome was the arke of the couenant is signified to be that glorious King And in the Prophet Esaiah the Lord of hostes is saide to dwell in Zion which certainlie must be vnderstood of Christ. Nowe the Scripture ascribeth this glorious name to Christ because he is the chiefe captaine in the citie of God against the citie of Satan that is in the Church against the world and the diuel For he alone is as the most mightie so the chiefest hed and captaine of al armies both celestial and earthlie And therefore in the forementioned psalme he is called The Lord mightie in battell For he is not idle but fighteth couragiouslie he yeeldeth not but ouercommeth he fleeth not but triumpheth and that not for his owne cause but for the whole citie of God And therefore in the 72. psalme the chiefest honour is ascribed to him Blessed be his glorious Name for euer and let al the earth be filled with his glorie Yet gathereth he an hoste to him selfe not because he is weake of him selfe and of smal power but for that he wil communicate his owne glorie after a sort with his soldiers But what be those armies In
example he inuited to the praieng-vnto and worshipping of that God alone euen the onelie and true God which had both giuen à lawe and ceremonies to the people also brought the Iewes out of the land of Egypt But this was it which troubled y e Iewes for that he caled God his Father whom had he denied hee should haue bin like to them that is à liar The third thing which theie obiect is the abrogation of the lawe wherein they make à loude lie For he alone both fulfilled the lawe himselfe and corrected the abuses of the Pharisies yea and alwayes euen to the death of the crosse was subiecte to the lawe The fourth whereby they saie how he spake against y e traditions of y e fathers is most vntrue But what fault is it I pray you to reprehend impietie to condemne superstition and to speake against such thinges as are manifestlie against the worde of God Is it such à crime to blame the peruerse opinion of the Pharisies whereby they place the traditions of men before the commaundementes of GOD especialie when the Lorde himselfe doth saie Walke ye not in the ordinances of your fathers walke in my statutes Saith not the Lorde by the Apostle They worshippe me in vaine teaching for doctrines the commaundements of men But this was one and à principal cause of crucifieng Iesus the Messiah fearing traditions being abolished least they themselues shoulde come into contempt among the people leese not à little of their auctoritie and so by little and little come into decaie The fifth crime is that our Lorde shoulde violate the Sabbaoth the which also is most vntrue For as the true rest of the Sabbaoth is to cease from sinne and to rest in God so the true workes are they which make vnto the abolishing of sinne and promoting of Gods glorie as were the deedes of healing which he wrought vpon the Sabbaoth And in verie deede there can be no more excellent à worke than to helpe man at his extreme necessitie If it be not lawful vppon the Sabbaoth to heale shal it therefore be lawfull to kil à man Is it lawful to drawe out an Asse falen into à pitte and shal it not be lawful on the Sabbaoth by the worde and power of God to heale à man But this people haue neither ende nor measure in slaundering The sixt crime which they laie to his charge is I can destroye this Temple and builde it againe in three daies The occasion of which his wordes was this The Iewes had required à signe of Christ of his zeale and power he therefore according to the manner of the Apostles and of his owne too sheweth them no friuolous temporarie or base signe as they required but à great à wonderful and an euerlasting signe of the resurrection of his bodie whiche should be the third daie after his death which bodie of his was more truelie and aptlie the Temple of GOD than that stonie one of Ierusalem For therein dwelleth à more proper and present God The seuenth crime which theie obiect to our Lorde is that he cast-out diuels in the name of Beelzebub the chiefe of the diuels Which fault by strong argumentes he remoueth from himselfe Matth. 12 and Luke 11. But afore I shew how the faithlesse Iewes do blemish the miracles of Christ I will in fewe wordes declare what is meant by diuine miracles Next I wil briefelie shewe y e markes wherebie the diuine miracles of Christ and of the saintes are distinguished from fained miracles of magicians and diuels For the diuel as one that hateth God and would gladlie turn vs from God by al possible meanes both by him-selfe and his ministers the magicians doth emulate the workes of God and especialie miracles because he seeth howe that thing commeth neerest vnto the diuine power which is aboue nature And therefore as by his owne natural force he is mightier so in the knowledge of the virtues and operation of thinges more skilfull than man he easelie beguileth our senses to deceaue and bring vs from the truth Diuine miracles are such as God worketh which are therefore called miracles because theie bring men into admiration For first theie bring men into the admiration of Gods power wherebie miracles are wrought Secondly through the power of God men gather that the person which doth miracles both is sent of GOD and also bringeth Gods worde for confirmation whereof miracles are shewed as moste euident demonstrations Thirdly through this consideration faith is conceaued in the minde of the doctrine albeit the maiestie of the doctrine doth exceede the reach of reason Fourthlie of credit to the doctrine springeth in the hart à confidence of the promise of y e good things which are brought by the doctrine Fiftlie who so beleeue the doctrine and hope for the promise they do loue and praise God And by miracles as it were by the hand they are led vnto the faith of their condition which is to haue felowship with God and in him to obteine an euerlasting blessednesse for euermore Sixtlie because euerie signe is à signe of somthing signed faith seeketh the analogie comparison betwene the signe and that is signed and so by comparing them together of earthlie gathereth heauēlie spiritual things of visible For the diuine miracles of Christ aboue al haue spiritual significatiōs the which y e aptlie they may be aplied shold be reduced vnto more euident sentences of scripture and notable examples that the spiritual interpretation may be agreeable to faith and consent with the principle groundes of our religion yea and also haue euident examples wherebie the matter is painted out as it were The reason whie Christe and good men would confirme their doctrine to men by miracles is this It was verie meete that faith which is of matters that exceede mans vnderstanding should be confirmed by such things as are aboue nature and contrarie vnto the vsual course of the same that men with their outwarde eies beholding such thinges to be brought to passe as exceeded the power of nature might be stirred-vp to the beholding with the internal eies of the minde that is to the beleeuing of those thinges which are beyonde reason As therefore the thinges which are subiect to reason neede no demonstration that an vndoubted faith may be giuen to them so diuine and celestial by miracles as by certaine heauenlie proofes do deserue credite Nowe the cause why at this daie miracles are not wrought in y e eies of men as they haue bin Augustine sheweth when he saith Neither be these miracles permitted to indure vnto our daies that the minde maie not alwaies seeke after visible thinges and so by the longe vse of them mankinde would waxe colde which through their noueltie was inflamed Neither ought we in these daies to doubte that theie are to be credited who when theie preached those things which
Mediators doe vnderstand such patrons as by their own merites worthines maie purchase to vs the fauour of God For this is à common principle among them that men liuing in earth do need patrons in heauen in as much as theie are vnworthie to appeare in the sight of God By which saieng beside that theie bereaue Christ our Mediator of his honor theie make themselues guiltie of threefolde impietie For first while theie make the dead intercessors for the liuing theie doe runne beyond the limits of Gods worde and foole hardilie are carried into damnable darkenes and vpon the steepe mountaines of Hel. From whence to returne backe and to aspire aloft that is à labour and à sore paine But what à prophanenes this is the godlie alone do marke who know that darknes is there where the torch of Gods word is not born-afore who know that al is abhominable which God hath not decreed and who consider that al which dust and ashes doth inuent in religion without the direction of Gods worde doth proceede from Satan Secondlie when theie teach howe we must depend vpon the merites of saintes theie depart from the true foundation of saluation and seeke another foundation to builde their saluation vppon without the worde of God For seeing that mortal man by his owne merite can not attaine saluation it is impossible that the merites of Saintes should bring saluation vnto others which merites for al that the Pope faineth to be the treasure of the Church which he dispenseth not gratis but according to their disbursing who acknowledge the Pope to be the treasurer of the Church Thirdlie in forging such fained patrons to themselues theie are drowned the more deepelie in darkenes For theie departe from the first commandement and with cursed impudencie cal vpon Saintes driuen therunto by the diuel himselfe who hath brought into the world the inuocation of Saintes and that for these causes First to bereaue Christ of his honor Secondlie to make the saintes infamous Lastlie that in time to come theie maie bee partakers of his eternal paines who in this life doe cal vpon saintes The fourth The Popish masse is laide open for filthie lucre sake For theie not onelie doe sel Masses for the redemption of soules out of purgatorie but also make them common to be bought for the obteining of anie thing In which of sinns manie sinns do meete together of which I wil recite à few that with à perfect hatred we maie abhor y e most filthie lucre of the Masse For first this gaine striueth against the foundation of our saluation which is free mercie For by grace saith Paul are ye saued throgh faith that not of your selues it is the gift of God Not of workes least anie man should boast Secondarilie it abolisheth the Lordes supper For who is so blind but maie see how it is farre from the Supper of Christe to seeke filthie gaine therebie which supper the Lord would haue to be à notable argument of his inward loue toward the Church and à testimonie of the redemption of the Church by his death which free redemption of his beloued spouse he sealeth in his supper Thirdlie this huÌ„ting after gain doth vtterlie ouerthrow the Prophecies of the prophets concerning y e benefites of the Mediator of the Newe Testament Ho saith Isaiah euerie one that thirsteth come ye to the waters and ye that haue no siluer come buie and eate come I saie buie wine and milke without siluer and without monie By water wine milke the prophet vnderstandeth the benefites of the Gospel which he pronounceth are freelie bestowed For as our bodies are nourished by bread wine water and milke so our soules are nourished and susteined by the doctrine of the Gospel by the holie Ghost by the sacraments and other such free giftes of Christ. Fourthlie the buieng and selling of the Popishe Masse doth make miserable men drunke with carnal confidence For by paieng monie for this feigned purgation as it were for an effectual medicine theie persuade them-selues that theie driue-awaie al diseases of the soule and that without faith repentance And because by Masses purchased theie trust theie be armed against the diuel and death theie goe-on the more boldlie in wickednes and dailie become the more obstinate Fiftlie this gaine of Masses is the ground of Purgatorie For to make their Masses the more vendible the Priestes did teach howe there was a Purgatorie of soules after death wherein the soules of the dead should be deteined vntil theie were purged sufficientlie from the spots of sinnes committed in this life And therefore Masses were appointed to be solde to them who desired that either them selues or their friendes might be deliuered from the fire of purgatorie wherebie theie fained that the paines of purgatorie were brought-out Hencâ— the Patrimonie of Peter as theie cal it was exceedinglie encreased And hence it is that the goodes of miserable men are translated from the true heires vnto balde Priestes and Monkes Sixthe this gaine of the Masse and subtiltie of the Romane baude is the strength of the Papacie that is of the Antichristian kingdome And therefore maruel it is not though the Papistes doe so fiercelie contend and fight for their altars For theie feare much that their chimneies would fal downe if their altars were once ouerthrowen The fifte It is abhominable idolatrie to worship à peece of bread in y e place of Christ. For as à litle aboue we haue touched also the Priest after y e mumbling of the historie concerning the institution of Christ doeth firste of al adore the bread himselfe and then lifteth the same vp that the people maie worshippe it For the Papistes be persuaded that by the virtue of the mumbled wordes of the instituted supper the elementes of breade and of wine be transsubstantiated into the verie bodie and bloode of the Lorde which they lay open to be adored but verie erroneouslie For this transsumbstantiation so stiflie defended by Thomas is contrarie to the nature of a sacrament For as in baptisme it is required that the substance of water doe remaine which while it is sprincled according to Christ his institution is à right sacrament and with that water after à secret sort the verie bloode of Christ whereby the inward man is washed from wickednes yea and putteth-on Christ himselfe is present So it is required that in y e supper of the Lord the substance of breade and wine doe remaine which being reached-forth and taken after the institution of Christ are à verie sacrament and with that bread wine after à secret sorte the verie bodie and bloode of the Lorde whereby the inwarde man is nourished fed and refreshed are present So that before the vse whervnto they be ordeined bread and wine are no more à sacrament than is the water of baptisme And therfore it is as great madnes to worshippe the breade and wine as if Ã
purged by the cleere fountanes of our Sauiour that is by the worde of God Touching the efficacie of which worde of God Dauid speaketh to this effect The Lawe of the Lord is vndefiled refreshing the soules The testimonie of the Lorde is sure and giueth wisedome vnto the simple The statutes of the Lord be right and reioice the heart The commandement of the Lord is pure and giueth light vnto the eies This commendation of Gods word although it be but briefe if you respect the wordes yet is it verie large if you consider the lessons and consolations comprised in the same Which commendation may of right be opposed againste al the furious iudgementes of Epicures Politians Hypocrites and Sycophantes The partes of which commendation are eight al maruelouslie discerning betwene the word of God philosophical or humane doctrines The firste saith he The Lawe of the Lord is vndefiled that is the word of God both in it selfe is pure as that which proceedeth from God himselfe the most pure fountane and also maketh those to bee pure who giue credite therevnto But mans doctrine seeme it neuer so neate and so cleere yet is it not in al respectes cleane neither can it make men cleane The Philosophie of Socrates so bewtified by Plato maie seeme of right before al other Philosophical doctrines to be the best For it containeth verie manie good right sentences concerning God his prouidence and end of man yet is it foulie defiled wheÌ„ Plato by lawes alloweth an vncleane communitie and by deed coÌ„firmeth more horrible wickednes than is of vs to be vttered And therfore both Socrates Plato wheÌ„ they endeuor of one side to purge the soule of maÌ„ on the other theie defile the same with an abhominable wickednes But the word of God or the sound of the Gospel as it is in al respectes pure so it maketh the soule of him who by a liuelie faith embraceth the Gospel pure and perfect it deliuereth him from erronious opinions it replenisheth him with sound iudgement and by the Spirite of Christ raiseth-vp pure affections to which when the wil doth assent the actions both internal outward as most cleere riuers from à most pure fountaine do issue-out The second It refresheth the soules saith Dauid The soules of men are withered with à most grieuous thirst neither can theie be comforted or refreshed before theie haue drunke of the healthful springes of Israel which is the worde of the Gospel For the conscience of sinne doth euermore augmeÌ„t the thirst which nothing but the liquor of the Gospel doth mitigate or take-awaie Of this water the Prophet Zechariah speaketh when he saith And in y t daie shal there waters of life go-out from IerusaleÌ„ that is y e word of the gospel which is that to the soule of man which the most fresh and cleere water is to him that thirsteth Of this speaketh our Lord in y e fourth of Iohn whosoeuer drinketh of the water that I shal giue him shal neuer be more a thirst but the water that I shal giue him shalbe in him à wel of water springing-vp into euerlasting life The third The testimonie of the Lord is sure that is the word of god is no deceiteful testimony coÌ„cerning the wil of god to man-ward For as the voice of the lawe doth witnes that God without respect both of persons of natioÌ„s wil throw together with the deuils his enimies al obstinate impeniteÌ„t sinners into euerlasting darknes tormentes So the voice of the gospel doth testifie how God for his Sons sake wil receiue al men be theie neuer so egregious sinners into his fauor againe that theâ—e may be nuÌ„bred among the heires of eternal blessednes if so be that they beleeue the gospel and with à liuely faith rest vpon the Son of God who hath giuen himselfe à raÌ„some for the sins of the world In respect of this vnchangable rule of God his wil coÌ„mended to vs in his word the word of God is caled Sure the word of the gospel Truth as when it is said The truth shal make you free For the gospel which is the word of truth doth offer Christ the deliuerer of whome it is written If y e son shal mak you free ye shalbe free indeed The 4. it giueth wisedome vnto the simple The wise meÌ„ of this world know nothing of God his wil as they should they vnderstaÌ„d not throughly his works which are to recite the chiefe his wisedome in creating of man his iustice in the fal of maÌ„ his mercie in repairing of maÌ„ his merciful goodnes in conuerting of à sinner theie are ignorant of the difference betweene the houshoulde of God and other sectes theie are ignorant of the waie both to auoide eternal miserie and to obteine euerlasting happines and they be ignorant of the manner howe to serue God which for the most part doth consist in the feare of God whose wisedome is infinite But euen simple ones through the sound of the gospel attaine this wisedome whereas the greatest and most mightie of the world doe miserablie ouerthrow themselues by their selfe wisedome For the word of the Lorde spoken by the Prophet Iremiah shal stand for euer They haue reiected the word of the Lord and what wisedome is in them The fifte The statuts of the Lord be right This saying is to be opposed against the destinies fained out of Zeno his schole For it giueth to vnderstande howe God is no accepter of persons buâ— indifferent to al according to the rule of his decree Hee will doubtlesse the saluation of al men but through the knowledge of the truth As it is written God he wil haue al men shalbe saued and come vnto the knowledge of the truth He wil also that al impenitent persons without respect of any shal vtterlie perish The sixt They reioice the heart This effect of the Gospel is the chiefest good thing which can betide mankinde in this life No doctrine of man can tel how to heale the wounds of conscience For he which is guiltie in his minde of any grieuous crime carrieth about with him day night à witnesse and an accusing conscience which can bee helped by no Philosophie at al. But the sound onelie of the gospel it is that applieth the good plaster and the most present remedie to the wounded conscience while it testifieth howe Christ died for our sinnes and is risen-againe for our iustification how Christ is the ende of the Lawe for righteousnes vnto euerie one that beleeueth And howe Christ calleth those which labor vnto himselfe as vnto the Physition to which he promiseth helpe and that gratis For he as Augustine both godlie and rightly doth saie hath made our offences his offences that his righteousnesse might be our righteousnes So that when our consciences be sprinkeled with the blood of Christ as theie are when wee beleeue in him then are theie purified
whereof à wonderful ioie of hearte doth insue that with Dauid we maie saie Mine heart and my fleshe doe reioice in the liuing God The seuenth The commaundement of the Lord is pure This is to be opposed to the Papists who by certaine diuelish subtilties doe entangle the worde of God therebie to terrifie men from the reading of the same They say the letter that is as they falselie expound it the literal or grāmatical sense whereas for al that it is most true doth kil and the spirite that is the allegorical interpretation approued of the Pope doth quicken But the holie Ghost here by Dauid doth affirme the contrarie while it pronoūceth the word of God to be cleere bright and pure which indeede is verie true as touching those things belonging vnto the foundation of Christianitie be altogether necessarie vnto saluation The eight It giueth light vnto the eies This decareth how mās nature without the word of God inlightning is altogether blind as that which carrieth-about with it darkenes to wit doubting of God carnal securitie distrust false praier of the mind doubting and flieng from the Lord with infinite other motiōs swaruing from the law of God But the world perceiueth not this blindnes but rather hath it in admiration and price for the smale shadowe of outward discipline whereas the Church admonished by the voice of God his word doth acknowledg and bewaile her offences and beggeth of God newe light righteousnesse and life In this praier and meditation of the Gospel the eies of the minde be more and more inlightened so that the Sonne of righteousnesse it selfe euen Christe doth gloriouslie arise in their heartes by whose brightnesse we are ledde from endelesse miserie vnto eternal life and blesseenesse Dauid casting an eye vnto this most comfortable fruite of God his worde not without good cause cried-out in this verie Psalme on this wise More to bee desired is the Lawe of God than golde yea than much fine golde Sweeter also than honie and the honie combe And in an other Psalme I haue had as great delight in the waie of thie testimonies as in al riches Here he runneth feeling the burden of his sinnes that he may be vnloaden of them as it is in à certaine Psalme Out of the deepe place haue I called vnto thee ô Lorde c. Herevnto in his troubles he betaketh himselfe according vnto this sentence In mine affliction it is my comfort that this worde doth quicken me In prosperitie also he flieth here vnto I wil runne saith he the waie of thie commandements when thou shalt inlarge mine hearte At his neede it counsaileth him as in these wordes Thie testimonies are my delight and my counsailers In matters of great importance with Kinges and mightie men of the world it ministreth wisedome vnto him so saith Dauid I wil speake of thie testimonies before Kinges and wil not be ashamed Aainst the stumbling blocke of the crosse it strengtheneth him from falling when he considereth the prosperitie of the vngodlie My feete were almost gone my steppes had welneere slipte For I freated at the foolish when I sawe the prosperitie of y e wicked c. Then thought I to know this but it was too paineful for me vntil I wēt into the Sanctuarie of God then vnderstood I their end Surelie thou hast set them in slipperie places and castest them downe into desolation At the point of death he seeketh life from thence as witnesse these wordes I wil neuer forget thie preceptes for by them thou haste quickened me O Lorde thīe worde endureth for euer in heauen Because life and happines promised by the worde shal endure for euer To be briefe out of this worde Dauid learneth the manner both howe to escape euerlasting miserie and also to obteine the eternal felicitie blessednesse wherevnto man at the first was created and afterwarde redeemed by Christ. Seeing nowe the puritie the necessitie the cōmoditie the glorie and the fruite of God his word is so great and so sweete that it can ioine vs to God the soueraigne good thing in whom we shal euerlastinglie be blessed at what time as we haue atteined the ende of our condition doubtlesse theie highlie are to be commended which bestow à portion of their goods and riches to the maintenance and propagation of Gods word in the Church For theie doe wel consider that this ende to al and euerie man according to his condition and state is proposed namelie to aduance the glorie of God Which thing theie before others doe best accomplish who studie to vpholde the ministerie of the worde in schooles and temples Now what diligence you noble Sir haue bestowed on this behalfe manie doe knowe and theie confesse whome at this daie you liberallie bring-vp both in this Vniuersitie and also in other forreigne schooles to the ende that in these Churches of Denmarke there maie be fit ministers frō time to time which maie sounde-foorth the pure doctrine of the Gospel And assuredlie this is trulie to loue our countrie not onelie while we liue to adorne the same but after we are dead also to leaue it the better to our posteritie Wise mē do greatly cōmend the Attike oath in which these words among other were I wil fight both for religious for prophane causes and that alone and with others and wil leaue my countrie not the worser but the better and more ample to the posteritie How much more are we bounde so to doe that are coūted the Citizens of the Church of Christe the most noble countrie of the righteous whose honour is more glorious than was that of Athens which the Turkes now possesse And therefore à farre greater glorie it is to leaue this most worthie coūtrie I meane the Church of God not the worser but the better and amplified to posterities which theie doe who by their wealth doe mainteine and promote the studies of true doctrin of good arts Such an indeuor was in Dauid when in à song he saide howe he loued his countrie because of the Church that was therin Because of the howse of the Lord saith he I wil procure thy welth This howse which is the Church of God he preferred before the most glorious Palaties of earthlie Princes when he saide A daie in thie courtes is better then à thousand other-where I had rather be à doore-keeper in the House of my God than to dwel in the Tabernacles of wickednesse Which Psalme whereout these words are taken because it conteineth à notable commendatiō of God his Church stirreth-vp vnto the loue of the worde laieth before our eies the benifites depainteth the glorie of the Church and sheweth the scope proponed therevnto which is eternal blessednesse I thought good the last yeare publiquelie in our schoole to expounde the same therebie to inuite the youth vnto the loue reading and meditating of the heauenlie worde which is as à burning torch to guide vs in
the first place and order are placed those celestial spirits which in respect of their seruice which they do to their King are called Angels For they are al ministring spirits saith Paul for their sakes which shal be heires of saluation Because while this world doth last there shal be Angels attending vpon the busines of the kingdome of Christ which notwithstanding is not the end of their nature but a temporal seruice But after the general iudgement with the elect of God hauing attained à perfect conquest they shall euerlastinglie triumph-together The number and office of those Angels no man hath more plainlie expressed than Daniel did who beheld them Thousand thousands ministred vnto him and ten thousand thousands stoode before him The fight and victorie which the Lord of hostes and his Angels haue got is described in the Reuelation on this wise Michael and his angels fought against the dracon and the dracon fought and his angels But they preuailed not neither was their place found anie more in heauen And the great dracon that old serpent called the diuel and satan was cast out which deceiueth al the world he was euen cast into the earth and his angels were cast-out with him Then I heard à loud voice saieng Nowe is saluation in heauen strength the kingdome of our God and the power of his Christ for the accuser of our brethren is cast-downe which accuseth them before our God daie and night But they ouer come him by the bloud of the Lambe and by the word of their testimonie Touching Michael which is saide in this place to be the captaine of the warre it is the Sonne of God our Lord Iesus Christ as mai◠be gathered both out of Daniel and also from the etymologie of the name For Michael is as much as Who is like God The Angels therfore following the conduction and standard of Michael that is the Lord of hostes are celestial spirits In the second order of these armies are godlie teachers waging battel with the kingdome of the dracon that is of the diuel and with his angels y t is with defendors of idols and blasphemies Such in times passed were Moses Ioseph Daniel the Prophets and the Apostles and manie godlie Ministers of the word in the Church afterward Whose weapons are not carnal but spiritual For so doth Paul saie We do not war after the flesh For the weapons of our warfare be not carnal but mightie through God to cast downe holdes casting downe the imaginations and euerie high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God and bringing into captiuitie euerie thought to the obedience of Christ that is the weapons of godlie teachers in the Church be the verie word of God the power of the holie Ghost in the word and earnest praier In the third order of the Lordes hoste be godlie hearers of the word who for Gods glorie and their owne saluation fight against the flesh sinne the world and the diuel Their war and weapons in the Epistles vnto the Ephesians be described on this wise For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities against powers and against the worldlie gouernors the princes of the darkenes of this world against spiritual wickednes in the hie places For this cause take vnto you the whole armor of God that ye maie be able to resist in the euil daie and hauing finished al things stand fast Stand therfore and your loines gird about with veritie and hauing on the brest plate of righteousnes And your feete shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace Aboue al take the shield of faith wherewithal ye maie quench al the firie dartes of the wicked and take the helmet of saluation and the sword of the spirit which is the word of God And praie alwaie with al manner praier and supplication in the spirit Or in fewer wordes as Paul in an other place writeth Fight à good fight hauing faith à good conscience which some haue put awaie and as concerning faith haue made shipwracke In the fourth place be euerie particular man in his vocation Exod. 38. it is said that the women did assemble and came together at the doore of the Tabernacle that is they did those things which were enioined them to doe Euerie man therefore fighteth vnder the banner of Christ when stoutlie in y e feare of God he doth those things which in respect of his calling he is bound to do Then both teachers and hearers also be the good soldiers of the Lord when they doe their duties godlie and diligentlie After which sort we maie iudge of all other callings warranted by the word of God Herevnto if you thinke good you maie ad à fift order namelie y e celestial armie or hoste as the Sunne Moone and the Stars the which are therefore saide to be the hoste of the captaine Christ because after their facion they reproue darkenes declare the glorie of Christ and prouoke both Angels and men by their example as it were to glorifie God euermore Nowe of those things which hitherto we haue spoken of y e Lord of hostes of his fight armies and victorie there is a double vse For as they confirme comfort and encourage the godlie fighting vnder Christ the captaine so do they throw downe terrefie and confound the wicked Wherefore being admonished let vs ioine our selues through faith and obediēce to Christ the captaine and with true puritie of minde to these vnspotted spirites beeing thoroughlie persuaded that he which fighteth an honest fight in faith and à good conscience shal receaue an incorruptible crowne of glorie which Christ our Lord capitane and champion hath promised to vs. For as true victorie consisteth in the blood of the Lambe and worde of the testimonie so they who are sprinkled with this blood which is then done when we beleeue in Christ according to the word of the testimonie shal trulie obteine victorie CHAP. 4. 1. Against those which wil be counted and yet are not the true Church 2. particularlie against the Iewes that what soeuer things were written of the Messiah by Moses and the Prophets are fulfilled in Christ. NOwe for so much as manie assemblies of men vsurpe y e title of the Church for that was it which we proposed in y e second place we are diligentlie to consider who be they which will needs be called and yet be not the Church and also which is the true Church of God that al other congregations auoided we maie ioine our selues to the true Church The Iewes supposing the Messiah whome as yet al in vaine they looke for to pertainè vnto them alone doe proudlie contemne al other congregations and hoast-abroad howe they are the true Church of God The Mahomets or Turkes because their dominion is verie great which they haue in the
world chalenge the name of the Church to them selues and thinke that none but they are y e Church The Muscouites likewise brag that they are the Church The Pope of Rome and his fauorers defend with fire and sword howe the Catholique Church is with them Epicures they passe for no religion but that which serueth for their pleasure and idlenes Betweene manie Iewes and vs there is great controuersie about the Messiah of whom who so conceiueth amisse without al doubt he is not of the true Church but vnder the kingdome of Satan We for our parts hauing learned the same out of the word of God doe acknowledge and confesse Iesus the sonne of Marie the virgine borne at Bethlehem à citie of Dauid according to the foresaiengs of the Prophets in the yeeres after the worlds creation 3962. Augustus the Emperor then raigning and afterward put to death vnder Pontius Pilate this Iesus I saie we confesse to be the true Messiah to be verie God and verie man the true mediator betweene God and man and the onlie Sauiour of al mankinde in which respectes we serue him and worship him This Iesus did manie Iewes both acknowledge and worship at such time as he liued in this world which thing Iosephus doth testifie in these wordes Then liued Iesus à wise man if yet we maie cal him à meere man without sinne he was à worker of strange miracles and à teacher of those which gladly do receiue the truth and had manie followers as well Iewes as Gentiles This Christ was he whome notwithstanding that Pilate had iudged him to the crosse being accused by the chiefe of our nation yet ceassed they not to loue him who from the beginning had so done For the third daie he appeared quicke vnto them in so much that by the inspiration of God they fore-told this and other things of him and euen til this daie the stocke of Christians so called of him decaieth not But verie manie Iewes as at that time so now euen of meere enuie do not acknowledge as we do this Iesus to be the Messiah Of which some do vtterly denie that the Messiah is yet come others cōuicted by the scriptures prophets about the time of the comming of the Messiah do in deede confesse that the Messiah is come and was borne vnder Herod yet saie they he is hid for the sinnes of the people and that as some report in Zion with the Angels as others beyond the Caspion mountaines and as others that he goeth à begging about the world and shal manifest himselfe at the pleasure of God For seeing so many prophecies of the Prophets do agree together vpon that time the learneder sort of the Iewes of that age were throughlie persuaded that in their time the Messiah should come Whereof it came to passe that many by occasion of the tyme professed them-selues to be the Messiah when afore that time no man went about the same Among which was one Iudas the Galilean Ioseph Benzara who was bold vnder the name of the Messiah to rebell against Adrian the Emperour whom verie manie Iewes did followe but the end declared his vanitie So was one Barcozibas a skilfull captaine by reason of his often victories supposed to be the Messiah In which opinion many stood a long while til at last he also was punished by Adrian for his wickednesse I ouerslip those whom Foelix the gouernour of Iudea punished For it was a common thing at that time the which the Prophets assigned to the birth of Christ to seduce the people especialy seeing they beleeued the Messiah should come for none other intent than by force of armes to bring other nations vnder his subiection By which meanes they should abound in al kind of pleasures and store of al things the Israelites then liuing being brought againe into their natiue and promised countrie Seeing now the Iewes haue so grosse an opinion concerning the end of the comming of the Messiah they do nothing differ from the verie swine and Lions whereof those delight to wallowe in the mire of filthie lust and these mightily to suppresse other beastes that theie alone may seeme to beare the swaie Whose pestilent errour is condemned through-out the whole Scripture For the whole scripture doeth testifie how the Messiah shall appeare not to wage battell with men like some Hercules or great Alexander but according to the first promise to set-vpon the olde serpent to abolish sinne death to repaire the image of God in man which through sinne was put-out and to rewarde his owne that is the faithful with euerlasting righteousnes immortalitie that so being ioyned to God in perfect loue theie might be happie and blessed wherin the true and proper end of man doetli consist But the better to arme our selues against the deceiptfull Iewes obey we the wordes of our Lord Christ saying Search the Scriptures there are they which testifie of me And Peter saith We haue a most sure word of the Prophets to the which ye do well that yee take heede as vnto à light that shineth in à darke place But that we may the more soundly and substantially refel the Iewish errour let vs include the whole matter within the compasse of one argument on this four me He alone without all controuersie of certaine truth yea and by the confession of all men is the true and onlie Messiah to whome all the prophecies of the Prophets doe point and to whome properlie whatsoeuer by Moses and other holie Prophets of God hath ben fore-told of the Messiah doth agree But the prophecies of al the Prophets doe point vnto Iesus the sonne of Marie the virgine and to this Iesus alone whatsoeuer by Moses and other holie Prophets hath bene fore-told of the Messiah doth agree Therefore none but Iesus the sonne of the virgine Marie is the true and onlie Messiah The Maior none will denie The Minor is in controuersie betweene vs and the Iewes which if we once shal proue both the error of the Iewes wil be manifest and our faith confirmed And seeing as Augustine saith The strength of religion consisteth in this howe al things which fel-out in Christ haue bene fore-told we wil shew in fewe words howe al the oracles of the Prophets doe agree to Iesus Christ alone and to none other and then afterward we purpose to refute such things as the blinded Iewes doe obiect vnto vs. Iesus Christ in the reigne of Augustus the Emperor was borne of the vnspotted virgine in Bethlehem à citie of Dauid Here as Luke recordeth both the time the place the mother and the stocke of the Messiah borne are declared and all these doe answere vnto the fore-saiengs of the Prophets The time was signified by Iaakob the patriarch The scepter shal not depart from Iudah nor à law-giuer from betweene his feete vntil Siloh come and the people shal be gathered vnto him
of which Isaiah in his 50. Chapter I gaue my backe vnto the smiters and my cheekes to the nippers I hid not my face from shame and spitting After that he was hanged on wood or vpon the crosse For manie times among the Fathers saluation hath come by woode The image and prophecie of this wood was in the arch of Noah and in the wood which Moses threwe into the most bitter waters wherebie they became most pleasant By this figure the virtue of y e crosse of Christ is notablie depainted For as the most bitter waters by the wood throwen there-into were made most sweete and pleasaunt so nothing is there but wil be most comfortable to vs if the wood of Christ his crosse namelie faith on Christ crucified be added as à sause But à more excellent figure is in the wood wheron the brazen serpent was hanged For as Moses at the cōmandement of God in y e wildernes set-vp on high to y e view of al the Israelites the brazen serpent which hong vpon wood y t such as were wounded to the death of serpents might be healed therby So Christ was lifted vp vpon the wood and shewen as it were to al nations that as manie as were wounded vnto the death by the old serpent the diuel might be saued looking and trusting on him So then Christ hong on the crosse and was made à cursse for vs to redeeme vs from the cursse of the serpent which he through sinne brought vpon mankind Therefore it is written Curssed is euerie one that hangeth on tree After this manner Paul vnto the Galathians applieth the type to y e truth Here y e humanitie of Christ seemed most vile worser than the basest sort of men in so much as his verie friendes and familiars did flie awaie being dismaied and abashed Whereof it was prophecied in à psalme But I am à worme and not à man à shame of men and the contempt of the people And in the 88. psal Thou hast put-awaie mine acquaintance far fro me and made me to be abhorred of thē Yea at that time he which was the fairest among men so lost al grace of beautie that it was à verie hard thing to know him according to the prophecie of Isaiah Beholde my seruant shal prosper he shal be exalted and extolled and be verie hie As manie were astonied at thee his visage was so deformed of men and his forme of the sonnes of men so shal he sprincle manie nations the Kings shal shut their mouthes at him for that which had not bene tolde them shal they see and that which they had not heard shal they vnderstande And afterward He hath neither forme nor beautie whē we shal see him there shal be no forme that we shoulde desire him Hee is despised and reiected of men he is à man ful of sorowes and hath experience of infirmities wee hid as it were our faces from him and was despised and we esteemed him not Lo howe playnlie the Prophet hath fore-tolde how it should come to passe that the Iewes in respect of his vile punishment whereof themselues were the autors shoulde contemne the Messiah The high Priestes and the princes of the people spake il and rayled of him nodding their heades at Iesus fastened to the crosse as the Prophet Hosea prophecied I haue redeemed them yet they haue spoken lies against me And Psalme 22. They gape vpon me with their mouthes as à ramping and roaring Lion Againe Doges haue compassed me and the assemblie of the wicked haue inclosed me And again Psalme 35. They had me in derision and gnashed their teeth at mee Zecharie also prophecied of his handes side that were pearced Chapter 12. They shal looke vpon him whome they haue peirced And Psal. 22. They peirced mine hands and my feete In his extreeme tormentes he cried My God my God whie hast thou forsaken me Which thing long afore was fore-told by Dauid in y e 22. Psalme which Psalme is as it were à certain Epitome of y e passion of Christ. When he was about to yeld vp y e Ghost he vsed y e words of Dauid who carried à type of Christ himselfe Into thine hands Lord I commend my spirit as it is in the 31. Psalme His hanging betweene theeues was also foreshewed by the Prophet Isaiah in his 53. chapter where he saith He was counted with the transgressors How Christ praied for his crucifiers Isaiah in the same chapter fore-telleth He bare the sinne of manie and praied for the trespassers As Iesus was vpon dieng there was darkenes ouer al the lande as though the sunne would haue lost his light when as notwithstanding the Moone was at the ful The earth also terriblie did quake according to the prophecie of Ioël The Sunne and Moone shal be darkened and the starres shal with-drawe their light The Lord also shal roare out of Zion and vtter his voice from Ierusalem and the heauens and the earth shal shake And Amos in his 8. chapter doth say And in that daie saith the Lord God I wil euen cause the sunne to go downe at noone and I wil darken the earth in the cleere day The Lord was crucified without the gate euen as the sacrifice that was brought without the campe for the purgation and sanctifiing of the people by the whole multitude of the sonnes of Israël as may appeare Num. 19. For the red kowe in the sight of all was killed and of the blood thereof and of the ashes and water purgations were made Vnto the speedinesse of the Lords punishment who was taken about night and led vnto the hie Priestes the next morning earlie carried vnto the iudgement hal of the president and at noone crucified belongeth the figure of the paschal lambe wherof Christ also is oftentimes called à lambe But that it maie the better appeare howe the bodie aunswereth to the shadowe and the trueth to the figure let vs compare one thing with an other For that paschal lambe doth much resemble our Sauiour Christ yet as the shadowe the bodie and the type the truth 1 As therefore that Iewish lambe was à male of à yeere old and that without spot so Christ à full and perfect man was without sinne 2 As the houses which were sprinckled with the blood of the paschal lambe preserued the inhabitor from destruction so they whose consciences are sprinckled with the bloode of Christe the immaculate lambe shal bee free from the punishment of sinne which is damnation 3 As nothing of the paschal lambe might be eaten that was either rawe or boiled or sodden in water but that which was rosted with fire So there was no part of the Lords bodie but was rosted with great flames of sorowe 4 As the children of Israel
life haue sealed the trueth of God euen with their verie bloode who more worthie of credite the spirit of Satan in the hardened Iewes or the spirit of Christ who the 50. daie after the resurrection of the Lord by à visible testimonie bare witnesse of the resurrection kingdome and power of Christ What madnes is it sooner to beleeue the forged lies of the Iewes than the diuine workes of Christ whereby the Apostles did confirme the resurrection of the Lord To be briefe the sepulchre the disciples the Angels the holie Ghost the power of Christ in the heartes of the righteous and the preseruation of the Church against the marueilous rage of diuels and Tyrantes do plainlie prooue y t our Lord Iesus Christ is risen from the dead And therefore abhore we the most impudent lie of the Iewes and let vs looke for the comming of our Sauiour from the cloudes euen for Iesus Christ whom we worship as our redemer Now let vs come vnto these foure things which they saie are not fulfilled in Iesus whō we acknowledge serue as y e true Messiah which foure thinges we confesse were fore-told concerning the Messiah by y e holie Prophets of God who without great sinne are not to be suspected of vntruth in their words The first thing therefore which they obiect is concerning the time of the comming of the Messiah The true Messiah saie they shal come in the last daies But y t Iesus whō ye acknowledg to be y e Messiah did much preuēt he last dais For it is aboue 1567. yeeres since hee was borne Therefore that your Iesus is not the Messiah The maior they proue by the saieng of the Prophet Isaiah who in his second chap. speaketh after this forme of the time of y e Messiah It shal be in the last daies that the mountaine of the house of the Lord shal be prepared Lo how shamefully y e blind Iewes do offend here contrarie to the very right rule which they make thēselues and y t is this Who marketh not what is written both afore after in books he peruerteth the words of the liuing God For had they here cōpared y e prophecie of Isaiah with y t prophecie of Daniel wherin as it were with à finger by most euident words y e time of the comming of the Messiah is pointed-vnto surely farre otherwise theie would haue defined the last dayes A daie is vnderstoode three manner of waies First for the time wherein the sunne is ouer our Horizon which the Astronomers cal an artificial daie Secondlie it is taken for the space of 24. houres from y e rising of the sunne vnto the rising-againe of the same and that is called à daie natural Last of all some certaine time ordeined decreed and appointed for some speciall thing in which sense the Prophetes vnderstand it manie times Therefore when the Prophet saith In the last daies he noteth the last times that is the last age of the world distinguished frō the other ages not so much by à certaine and described number of yeeres as by à separation of thinges done in the same So did Elias distinguish the worlde into three times or ages when he saide Two thousand voide two thousand the Lawe two thousand the Messiah And therefore according to the computation of Elias the last time of the worlde is the space of two thousand yeeres Read the Chronicles of Philip Melancton Againe the last daies are oftentimes taken by the prophets for the last time of the Iewish kingdome and nation in Palestine So that the sense of the Prophet is this it shal be in the last daies not of worldlie time for who should haue reaped anie benefit by fauour so long put of surelie verie few but in y e last daies of prophecie of y e kingdom of y e Priesthod which three things ceased when y e sacrifice of Christ was finished A vaine fiction therefore is it of the Iewes which they make about the time of the Messiah inuented contrarie to their verie conscience But this they faine to delude such as are ignorant of the maner of the scripture in distinguishing times The second thing which they obiect is about y e form of the kingdom of y e Messiah promised which they verie impudentlie contend agreeth not with our Messiah Vnder the Messiah saie they shalbe no warres neither among men nor among the beastes of the feelde but soueraigne peace the mountaines being made lowe and the vallies exalted that al thinges may be streight and plaine But this we see not hitherto come to passe And therefore the Messiah is not yet come To prooue the Maior they bring foorth these and such like places of the Prophetes They shal breake their swordes into mattockes and their speares into sithes nation shall not lift-vp à sworde against nation neither shal they learne to fight anie more And in the 11. chapter of the same prophet Isaiah The wolfe shal dwel with the lambe and the leopard shal lie with the kid and the calfe and the Lion and the fat beast together and à litle childe shal leade them And the kowe and the beare shal feede their yong ones shal lie together and the Lion shal eate strawe like the bullock And the sucking child shal plaie vpon the hole of the aspe the wained child shal put his hand vpon the cokatrice hole Then shal none hurt nor destroie in al the mountaine of mine holines for the earth shal be ful of the knowledg of the Lord as the waters that couer the sea To which effect the Prophet Micah cap. 4. entreateth Isaiah likewise addeth Euerie valleie shalbe exalted euerie mountaine and hil shalbe brought low By these manie moe such like prophecies concerning y e manner of the gouernmēt of the Messiah the blinde foolish Iewes doe cōclude y t Iesus the sonne of the virgin Marie is not y e true Messiah promised by y e Prophets But against these let vs oppose an immoueable foundation whereof we will conclude that such thinges as corporaly be ascribed ought spiritualie to be vnderstoode through comparing earthlie with heauenlie thinges The foundation is this The kingdome of the Messiah is not an earthlie but an heauenlie spiritual kingdom which maie be gathered by the first promise made of y e Messiah to come For the Messiah was promised that he should come to destroie the kingdome of Satan For thus it is in the firste promise The seede of the woman shal breake the serpentes head that is the Messiah shal destroie the workes of the diuel namelie sinne and death and restore to man y e image of God which through sinning he had lost that is as Daniel doth interpret y e same shal bring-in euerlasting righteousnes and blessing vpon such as acknowledge him to be King And therefore it is
written In thie seede shal al the nations of the earth be blessed Of this ground we doe firmelie conclude that whatsoeuer by the holie Prophetes of God is fore-tolde touching the raigne of the Messiah after the similitude of an earthlie kingdome ought to be applied by waie of comparison according to the manner of à spiritual kingdome to signifie that in the kingdome of Christ there should be equalitie concorde and wonderfull peace peace I meane agreeing to the kingdome of Christ namelie à spiritual peace and that in and among such as by true faith receiue Christe into themselues Which spiritual peace is signified by the concorde of the beastes whereof the Prophetes doe speake For it is too too foolishe to thinke y t the office of the Messiah is to change the natures of thinges as to make the Lion laie-awaie his crueltie or the Aspe and Cokatrice their poison So then vnder these figures the Prophets doe signifie howe men that are fierce bolde and cruel as Lions if once theie take vpon their shoulders the easie and light yoke of Christ that is doe imbrace the doctrine of Christ and through faith depende vpon him must needes laie-awaie their lionish nature and conditions and so dwell peaceablie and louinglie with sheepe that is with milde and simple ones hauing on each part through faith of Christ put-on loue and howe the Mountaines namelie the chiefe among the people laying-aside hautinesse of minde must suffer them-selues to be made equal to them of lowest degree And that there should be no such worldlie peace as the Iewes dreame of the 110. Psalme which was written of the Messiah doth testifie where among other things it is said Be thou ruler in the middes of thine enemies which thing we see to haue come to passe in Christ who euen among his most extreme cruel enimies hath à Church the which he protecteth and defendeth against the rage of all tyrants and diuels For this prophecie doth firmelie abide The seede of the serpent shall bruise his heele that is of the Messiah and of the Church The thirde thing which the Iewes obiect is the place of his scepter that is of his kingdome or court of the Messiah The Messiah saie theie shal haue his Palace in mount Zion But that Iesus whome you take to be the Messiah possesseth not one foote of ground there Therefore that Iesus is not the promised Messiah The Maior theie confirme by à saieng in the second Psalme I haue set my King vpon Zion mine holie mountaine And in the 4. of Micah The mount Zion shal be the house of Iehouah the people shal flowe vnto it Here againe the miserable Iewes doe vnderstand that carnalie which the state of the Messiahs kingdome doth proue ought spiritualie to be taken The mount Zion mysticalie doth signifie the Church which is therefore called mount Zion because the kingdome of the Messiah there beginneth according to the wordes of Isaiah in his second chapter For the Lawe shal go forth of Zion and the worde of the Lorde from Ierusalem For it is the phrase of the Scripture to name the whole from the original as the Iewish people is called Israel in respect of their beginning After which manner Zion is saide to be the palace of the Messiah because the Messiah began there his kingdom Againe as Ierusalem maie two waies be vnderstoode spiritualie and earthlie so maie the earthlie Zion wherebie the heauenlie is figured which is the palace of the Messiah our Lord Iesus Christ. And that the prophecie either of Dauid or of Micah concerning the mount Zion and earthlie citie Ierusalem maie not carnalie be vnderstode the Prophecie of Daniel in his 9. Chapter doth plainlie shewe where it is saide And the people of the Prince that shall come that is the hoste of the Emperour Vespasian shal destroie the citie the sanctuarie and the end thereof shalbe with à flood vnto the end of the battel it shalbe destroied by desolations Nowe for so much as the euent doth answere to this prophecie of the vtter destructiō of the citie Ierusalem the vanitie of y e Iewes is manifest enough which place y e palace of the Messiah in the earthlie mount Zion The 4. thing which the brainsicke Iewes do obiect is about the people of the Messiah which theie saie can be none other than carnal Israel That theie thinke to be the proper inheritance of y e Messiah to it onelie theie wil stand in it that the promises were made But miserablie theie both are deceaued and do deceaue I confesse the verie carnal Israelites were chosen before al other nations and was called the peculiar people of God But wherefore I beseech you For their merites and worthinesse Not so But that there might be à people that might kepe the lawe of God in whome and from whom the Messiah might be borne In consideration of which excellencie of God Dauid saith in the 147. Psalme He hath not dealt so with euerie nation neither haue they knowne his iudgements But what Hath God changing his minde taken to him selfe the idolatrous Gentiles and refused the Iewes Surelie the counsaile of God is vnchangeable for he is faithful in his promises but he hath à condition of faith and obedience annexed And therefore because of their incredulitie the Iewes are castawaie For they haue despised the worde of God and rebelliouslie reiected the Messiah sent vnto them for their welfare which thing doubtles the Prophetes concealed not from vs. What is that which the Prophet Isaiah in his tenth chapter doth say Though thy people ô Israel be as the sande of the sea yet shal the remnant of them returne What is more euident than this prophecie Hath not the euent plainlie agreed to these wordes But how commeth it about that they are not conuerted Whose faulte is it The same Prophet sheweth wherein it lieth whose wordes let vs heare I haue spreade out my handes al the daie vnto a rebellious people But whence came that rebellion Surelie from nothing els but euen because they were offended at the basenesse of the person of the Messiah Which thing the same Prophet fore-saw would come to passe For thus he saith Beholde I laie in Zion à stumbling stone and à rocke to make men fal and euerie one that beleeueth on him shal not be ashamed Mine aunswere then vnto the obiection is Israel is the people of the Messiah which is verie true being vnderstod of the true Israel which is not of the flesh but of the promise But Israel of the promise is euerie one which beleeueth which thing in holie scripture is declared by sundrie types and figures Ishmael and Izhak were borne of one father Abraham Esau and Iaakob of the same father Izhak But as Izhak and Iaakob for the promise sake are reputed for the seede without anie respect
had vnto the prerogatiue of the fleshe so euerie one which beleeueth the promise is counted for the seede as Paul in the 9. 10. and 11. chapters vnto the Romanes doeth at large and euidentlie prooue For in these three chapters the Apostle handleth the same argument which we doe in this place And therefore I send-backe the hearers vnto Paul who by strong argumentes refuteth the erronious definition of Israel and confirmeth the true which in times passed was shadowed in the olde Testament Whereof the Apostle concludeth howe there is none ods howe there is no difference betweene the Iewe and the Grecian For he that is Lord ouer al is right vnto al that cal-vpon him For whosoeuer shal cal-vpon the name of the Lorde shal be saued Therefore without any respect had either vnto nations or persons the Lorde without acceptation of persons is liberal vnto al. For he is the God not of the Iewes onelie but also of the Gentiles who as he reiecteth al disobedient ones so of his meere mercie he receiueth such as flie vnto him according to the vnchangeable rule of his eternal decree As touching the vocation of the Gentiles into the place of the disobedient Iewes the Prophet Hosea in his 2. chapter did fore-tel I wil saie to them which were not my people Thou art my people and her beloued which was not beloued And it shalbe in the place where it was saide vnto them Ye are not my people that there they shal be called The children of the liuing God And touching that which the Iewes obiect of the ignominie of y e crosse wherby they are offended it is by the testimonies of the Prophets sufficientlie confuted aboue where we entreated of the passion victorie resurrection and ascension of our Sauiour into heauen Nowe the cause whie the incredulous Iewes doe detract from the authoritie of the Euangelistes and saie that they write contraries springeth out of that verie puddle of impietie whēce their other toies do arise For in the ground and summe of matter they differ at no time but the difference appeareth in circumstances onelie But the more plainlie to answere vnto y e obiection of the Iewes I wil adioine to this place y e words of Ludouicus Viues which are these But saith he doe these foure to wit Euangelistes differ at anie time among themselues To this question Iohn Chrysostome aunswereth on this wise Smal disagreeing in the Gospels sometime doe offer argument of the trueth least otherwise they might seeme to haue written of composition if in al respectes they shoulde agree Iohn the Apostle was at Ephesus at that same time when Paul was yet neither maketh mention of other in their Epistles neither did they meete much and talke-together seeing they were sufficientlie enough taught instructed and armed as it were of the spirite of God that they might not be thought after they had communicated-together one after an others counsel to haue preached Christ but according to the doctrine of Christ himselfe and reuelation from heauen so that in the principles summe they disagree no whit as that Christe is the sonne of God borne of the virgin Marie and that he worked miracles taught to contemne this worlde to beleeue to loue both God and man that he called all men vnto euerlasting happinesse and suffered died rose againe ascended into heauen sitteth at the right hande of his father and shal come to iudge the quicke and the deade These thinges with one voice and with one minde they doe constantlie reporte and teach Albeit in circumstances which the Grecians cal Perestaseis the which alter not the substance of matter they differ sometime One sheweth à thing brieflie another more at large One telleth howe two were healed another howe three One at the comming out at the gate another at the going in Which thing falleth-out manie-times because the miracles of Christ were so manie that those thinges which in deed were diuerse we think are the same by reason of some resemblance which they haue together and so it falleth-out in the wordes and sentences of doctrine Christe vttered the same things in diuerse places diuerslie One telleth what he saide on this wise others what he said in that place after another forme to speake plainelie they gather peeces of the sermons and wordes of Christ which maie make for our instruction and welfare CHAP. 6. Howe and wherein the Iewes doe blame our Lord and Sauiour Christ with à cleering him from the same HEre foloweth howe the Iewes inspired of the diuel the father of all vntrueth doe most impudentlie and cursedlie blame our most holie and innocent Christ that which they laie against him is this First as theie saie because he made himselfe the sonne of God equal to the Father Secondlie for that he adhorted men to the worshipping of another God Thirdlie for abrogating the law of Moses Fourthlie because he spake against the traditions of the fathers Fiftlie for violating the Sabbaoth Sixtlie for saieng he could destroie the Temple of God and builde it in three daies Laste of all because he cast-out diuels thorough Beelzebub the cheefe of the diuels See what enuie loe what a minde peruerted can doe when men are drowned in the gulfe of malice Who seeth not that these miserable wretches which dread not to contende against God himselfe are to be pitied rather than confuted yet brieflie let vs answere to euerie particular crime Touching the first we maie confesse that he acknowledged himselfe to be the sonne of God equal to the Father But what wise men will saie it is à lie to confesse the truth For if this be à fault then shal à lie be à commendable thing which no man will grant that maketh account of the lawe of nature Doe not the Prophets in manie places of the scripture ascribe the name Iehouah to the Messiah saith not Isaiah in his sixtie chapter The Lord shal arise vpon thee and his glorie shal be seene vpon thee Hetherto belongeth the saieng of the prophet Ieremiah wherin he is called the Lord our righteousnes And the Lord him-selfe out of the 110. Psalme declareth howe the Messiah should be nor onelie à man but also à God when he saide The Lord saide vnto my Lord sit thou at my right hand But the errour of the Iewes doth here-of arise because theie marked not howe the office of the Messiah was to pacifie the wrath of God to beare the punishment of the sinnes of all mankinde to be present in al places to beholde the heart to heare the groanes of such as cal-vpon him which thinges doubtlesse are not the workes of anie pure creature or finite nature But of this matter we haue spoken more at large in another place The second concerning the worshipping of another God as it is à newe inuention of the Iewes so it is moste false For both by word and
whereas the wicked in the meane while are in paine expecting the euerlasting torments of the righteous iudgement These thinges therefore are not contrarie the soules of the godlie are with Christ in heauen and the vngodlie in paine and that an vniuersal iudgement shal be where the righteous shal receiue perfect glorie and the reprobate eternal torments after the soules come againe into their bodies Notwithstanding although by these such like arguments the Epicures are conuinced of y e state of the souls after death yet are they not quiet but they proceed in asking and they vrge as they thinke verie grauelie The Iewes saie they affirme how their lawes be Gods lawes the Saracens euen the maior part of mankinde preferre theirs the Muscouites defende their religion to the death the Papistes they glorie of primacie and succession and therefore they cal themselues Catholikes blush not to tearme al other heretikes yee Lutherans also stand to your religion neither doe ye agree verie wel together In this confusion of iudgements what is to be done who are to be credited We haue sufficientlie alreadie shewed the vanitie of the Iewes Saracens Muscouites as touching the Papistes and vs heare vs both conferre waigh with iudgement the reasons of vs both marke which of vs doe drawe our argumentes out of the fountaines of our Sauiour and whiche out of the filthie puddle of mans inuentions so shal you easilie find out the trueth and the waie to iudge aright But if this shal seeme tedious vnto thee stinke thou as thou wilt in thine owne filthines what thou gettest therby thou shalt one daie find If it plese you behold your end in the 37. and 73. Psalmes Nowe concerning the dissension betwene ourselues it ouerthroweth not the trueth of the foundation which al of vs in à manner with one consent defend And thus much against the Epicures For I thinke it not good to spend anie moe wordes to swine And therefore once againe I turne my selfe vnto men CHAP. 12. 1. Of the true Church what it is 2. Whence it is 3. Howe gouerned and defended c. WHat is the true Church The Tabernacles of the Lorde of Hostes as our Psalme defineth That is the true Church is that which of the Lorde is both gathered gouerned and protected which harkeneth vnto cleaueth and is obedient to the Lord of hosts which hath y e Lord of Hostes dwelling in it which is in a strange countrie in banishment tending towardes her countrie by folowing her captaine Christ. These thinges are so linked-together and folowe of the first that no waie theie can be separated First therefore the true Church is gathered by the Lord of Hostes. For he by his worde gathereth to him selfe out of mankinde à Church according to that Go ye into al the world and preach the Gospel to euerie creature He that shal beleeue and be baptised shalbe saued but he that wil not beleeue shalbe damned For seeing without the Church there is no saluation by the worde of the Gospel men are caled with-out respect of nations and persons out-of the kingdome of darkenesse vnto the kingdome of light that is vnto the Church receaued by faith whervnto y e outward signe Baptisme is added as it were a watchworde of warre whereby theie are admonished of the purging which is made by the holie spirit after à certaine secrete manner as our Lorde doth teach in the 3. Chapter of Iohn of thinking vpon holines continualie of the crosse and glorie of the Church of death and resurrection from death of the true God which is the Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost which true and onelie God theie are bounde being receaued into the Church to worship with true holinesse both here in this world after the resurrection for euermore This true Church in the first Epistle of Iohn and also in the Apostolical Creede is caled The communion of Saintes that is the felowship of al men that are sanctified in Iesus Christ through the holie Ghoste This sanctification is then wrought when we beleeue the worde of the Gospel and by à liuelie faith rest our selues vpon the Lorde of Hostes which is Iesus Christe And that the true Church is as we saie it maie be proued by that notable example of our Father Abraham For he at such time as he was in Chaldea heard the voice of the Lorde and obeied him being caled out of Hur of the Chaldeans from the companie of idolaters he seuered separated himselfe from the wicked world both in heart in wil in faith in obedience toward God and in confession Where-vnto the name of the Church doth fitlie agree For as the Grecians caled that companie which by à common crier was called from the other people to heare the minde of the Senate à Churche so the Apostles take the Churche of Christ for that companie of men which by the preachers of the worde are called from the kingdome of Satan to the hearing and folowing of Christ and to the seuering and separating them-selues from the wicked world and swarmes of the reprobate both in heart wil faith obedience towardes God and in confession So that whosoeuer disioineth himselfe from the prophanitie of the worlde and by faith ioineth himselfe to Christ with à purpose truelie to serue him he is à member of the Church and à partaker of al the good thingâ— of Christ. And although greate is the weakenesse of al men and manifolde flames of wicked affections do often arise yea in the verie godlie against which in spirite theie doe contend yet he abideth in the Church is holie whosoeuer keepeth faith à good conscience or à good purpose For as the conscience beeing wastâ—d shipwracke is made of faith so where there is à good conscience there is faith by which we enioie the most excellent of al treasures euen the righteousnes of Christ wherebie we please God Neither must we thinke vpon anie difference here either of nations persons or sexe For faith maketh al alike as touching the right of the kingdome And although diuers and sundrie be the giftes yet serue theie al for the vnitie of the Church This vnitie of the true Church gathered out of manie and sundrie nations as it were into one house or familie is excelentlie shadowed by à Pome-granate tied to à bel For as in the Pome-granate vnder one outward barke manie granes are inwardlie vnited-together so infinite people of the Church are couered vnder the vnitie of the Church the which agree together through true charitie albeit in giftes and caling theie are distinguished The bel annexed signifieth the voice of such as preach the Gospel wherebie the members of the Church are gathered as it were into one bodie This true Church seeing it is the tabernacle of the Lorde of Hostes is gouerned and protected by him so that the gates of hel that
is the counsels snares and batteringes whether it be of the worlde or of the diuel cannot preuaile against the same The Church in deede compared to that huge companie of the reprobate and damned diuels is but à verie litle flocke yet continueth it vnmoueable against the force and power of all aduersaries whatsoeuer For notwithstanding manie citizens of the Church be murthered and put to sundrie tormentes yet is not the Church abolished therbie but in death it selfe theie get the victorie while theie keepe their faith and confession For precious in the sight of the Lorde is the death of his Saintes as that which is the gate vnto euerlasting blessednesse Therefore was it wel saide of Augustine The men of this worlde are vnhappilie happie but the Martyrs were happilie vnhappie For theie were for a time vnhappie but happie for euer The Prophet Isaiah compareth the Church to an Iland in his 2. Chapter For as an Iland placed in the sea although it be beaten with many a cruel storme and tempest that arise yet abideth inuincible because the Lord hath set à bound to the Sea which it cannot ouerpasse so the Church abideth safe notwithstanding manifold storms do beate vpon the same For the Lorde of Hostes defendeth and protecteth it who wil not suffer tyrants to vse more crueltie against y e same than it can wel indure or shalbe good for it As often therefore as we heare how the tyrantes of the world doe spoile the Church and murther the members of the same let vs comforte our selues with this cogitation the Lord of Hostes can not forsake his tabernacle which he hath made but wil by his diuine power and presence defende the same and withal praie we vnto this Lorde that he wil not suffer vs to be tempted aboue that we be able to beare Moreouer this Church as it is gathered by the word of God so wil it faithfulie reteine y e same without al corruption It knoweth how Christ alone is to be harkened vnto in the ministers of the Gospel And that is it which the Lorde him-selfe doth saie My sheepe heare my voice for theie knowe not the voice of strangers This is à special note wherebie the Church of Christ is distinguished from other assemblies By whiche we are admonished to shunne false-christes and false-prophetes euen as we would the verie diuel him-selfe For this alwaie is the scope of Satan namelie that despising the voice of the Lorde we should hearken vnto him For as he enuironed our first parents by sophistrie and deprauing the worde of God so alwaies he laboureth to entrap the Church after the same sorte and maner And therfore it standeth vs vpoÌ„ aboue al to listen-vnto the voice of our sheepheard despising the voice of strangers by whom the diuel speaketh So then when the Papistes doe bid vs to heare them let vs answer that Christ our shepheard hath commanded to heare his voice onelie and to content vs there-withal This voice of our shepheard is comprehended in the writinges both of the Prophetes and Apostles and that not obscurelie but plainelie as touching the ground of our saluation When the Pope doth bid thee to cal vpon saintes shunne him as the serpent which by his lie cast our first parentes vnto the death For it is contrarie to the wordes of our sheepeheard who saith Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him onelie shalt thou serue Againe Cal vpon me in the daie of trouble and so of the rest For a godlie minde is neuer at quiet vnlesse it heare this voice and be truelie persuaded that thus saith the Lorde of hostes Againe this Church forsomuch as it harkeneth onelie vnto the voice of the Lorde of Hostâ—s it cleaueth to him and obeieth him none beside Others folow other masters some cleaue to worldlie riches and pleasures manie are carried-awaie with the tempestes of their owne affections that theie make smal account of the Church of Christ but the true Church possesseth all the treasures of riches in Christ alone for which cause it cleaueth-to and obeieth him it knoweth howe it was saide of their master Be not ye caled Rabbi for one is your doctor to wit Christ. To him alone therfore it seeketh according to the wordes of the Church in the 73. psalme As for me it is good for me to draw neare to God I haue put my trust in the Lord God that I maie declare al thy workes But seeing others that are not in the Church of God to their certaine condemnation doe folowe other masters theie do more and more estrange them-selues from God as in the same Psalme it is saide Loe theie that with-drawe themselues from thee shal perish thou destroiest al them that go a whoring from thee But what is it to cleaue vnto the Lorde of Hostes It is by faith to be espoused and by hope confession and obedience according to his worde to be ioined to him For as by faith we receaue him as our beloued spouse and are ioined to him So by hope confession we continue in him as it were depending to a trustie anchor Whereof we are carried-into his commendation esteeming of al thinges of no price in respect of the obedience we owe vnto him Therefore when the godlie for confession of the Gospel are compelled to change their aboade and see their substance to be seased-vpon let them take consolation from hence looke not so much vpon the present worlde as for the euent the ioieful euent to come which theie shal find if so be theie abide constantlie in the faith and confession let them thinke howe there shalbe à righteous iudgemeÌ„t wherin as theie that cleaue to y e Lord by faith confession shal finde the words of the Psalmist true saying As for me it is good for me to drawe neere to God so such as turne themselues from God by incredulitie and renouncing of confession shal crie-out howe theie are most miserable let them thinke howe confession is necessarie according to this saieng With the heart man beleeueth vnto righteousnes and with the mouth man confesseth vnto saluation Finalie let them thinke this is an earnest coÌ„mandement of God Flie froÌ„ idolatrie Besides for so much as this true Church is the tabernacle of the Lord of Hostes it hath doubtles the Lorde of hostes dwelling in her And therefore not without good cause is she tearmed the temple of God in the Scriptures Hitherto belongeth that of Paule Know ye not that ye are the temple of God and that the spirite of God dwelleth in you If anie man destroie the temple of God him shal God destroie For the temple of God is holie which ye are Hence therefore maie be gathered how greate the glorie of the Church is what puritie is required to be in the same how religiously it should serue God and what punishments be prepared for them who shal prophane
verse setteth before our eies the soueraigne happines namelie fellowship with God himselfe this seconde commendeth vnto vs the desire of y e chiefest felicitie in a goodlie example For by nature we are so framed that vnto the good which we knowe we are caried with ful desire couet after felicitie withal our strength that we maie enioie the same which enioieng is the ende both of the knowledge and of the desire In the 119. Psalme the Psalmist doeth often shewe this desire when he saith I haue had as great delight in the waie of thie testimonies as in al riches Againe Thie testimonies are my delight Againe My soule is euen worne awaie by reason of the desire I haue to thy precepts continualie And againe Mine eies haue failed in waiting for thy saluation and for thy iust promise Which thing the 42. Psalme doeth verie liuelie expresse in these wordes As the Hart braieth for the riuers of waters so panteth my soule after thee ô God My soule thirsteth for God euen for the liuing God When shal I come and appeare before the presence of God Therefore as the Hart in hunting flieth being pursued of dogs wearied by a long course and drines with al gredines desireth the fresh waters so the minde of Dauid being now in exile ful earnestlie longed-for the fellowship of the Church of God wherein y e word soundeth and praiers with sacrifices are made For that liuing fountaine is the word of God frō whence true life and liuelie consolations are drawen From the cisternes of man neither life nor substantial comfort can be fetcht Wherefore let vs diligentile note the order For first knowledge goeth-before For as it is rightlie saide That which is vnknowne is vndesired Secondarilie of knowledge ariseth à lust not of the flesh but of the spirite or frō faith Thirdlie this lust by due meanes is carried to attaine to possesse keepe and to enioie the end Here let euerie one examine his owne hart as by à most infallible rule and leuel whether he burne with such à desire as here is described or no and if he perceaue that he doeth not burne with this holy desire of the Church which is the chiefest happines then some inward light is wanting that is he doeth not rightlie vnderstand how amiable this fellowship of the sainctes is in God and among thē selues Therefore let him seeke light wherewithal his minde maie be inlightened the desire of his heart stirred-vp and the darkenes of ignorance and malice expelled-awaie But if he perceaue this burning desire then let him thinke how he is moued with the holie Ghost and let him inflame this desire within himselfe by meditating of the worde and by earnest praier that he alone maie be desired who alone can fulfil the desire that so al the grace which we haue receaued maie be sentback vnto the spring of the right fountaine For man naturalie doth desire both to attaine the good thing which he longeth for and haning attained to retaine and keepe the same But the true and sound felicitie of man is God himselfe Therefore man desireth God who because he is infinite the desire of him also is infinite and cannot be satisfied but with him onlie and hauing him it staieth and ceasseth This desire although it should be in euerie man yet in them onlie it is pure and holie whose heartes are inlightened and whose affections are purged by the light of God To this holie desire and longing both à certaine care of the spirite that we maie attaine the thing which we couet-after and à feare warines and courage of mind against troubles that would hurt is annexed But what meaneth he in saying He longeth yea and fainteth This fainting is not of one that is wearied but one that contendeth nor of one tired but of one that burneth For this holie desire cā neuer be so satisfied in this life but it wil thirst yet more after y e liuing fountaine For continualie this wil be the voice of the Church Beholde God is my saluation I wil trust and wil not feare for the Lorde God is my strength and song He also is become my saluation Therefore with ioie shal ye draw waters out of the wels of saluation And ye shal saie in that daie Praise the Lorde and cal-vpon his name And therefore the Psalmist addeth MINE HEART AND MY FLESH HAVE REIOICED IN THE LIVING GOD. WHat Is not the heart of man euil euen from his youth Is not the flesh defiled Surelie the heart of man before regeneration is peruerse stonie and harde that is disobedient and wil not giue place to the wordes of God The flesh in like sorte before regeneration is the store-house of al manner wicked affections wherebie it ministreth instrumentes to the committing of al impietie and wickednes whatsoeuer How true this is which I saie I wil shewe by two places of the Scripture the former whereof shal teach vs what in trueth we are without the grace of regeneration the latter shal assigne the causes of the same What we are Paul out of the Psalme telleth vs when he saith There is none righteous no not one There is none that vnderstandeth there is none that seeketh God Theie haue al gone-out of the waie theie haue bin made altogether vnprofitable there is none that doth good The reason whie we are such is expressed where the Apostle vseth these wordes I testifie in the Lord that ye henceforth walke not as other Gentiles walke in vanitie of their minde hauing their cogitation darkened and being strangers from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the hardnes of the heart By the hardnes of y e heart he vnderstandeth an extreme nummednes wherebie men are not touched with the sense of their wickednes nor couet after à better state But after regeneration when by y e hand of God the heart is reformed y t is made newe by God himselfe and purified through faith according to that of Dauid Create in me à cleane heart O God and renue à right spirite within me then becommeth it fleshie that is tender and obedient and hearkeneth to the lawes of God then it is the place of newe affections and chiefelie of the feare of God of gladnes and reioicing And therefore in à certaine Psalme it is said Serue the Lorde in feare and reioice in trembling This feare is a childish feare holie and pure and the reioicing is of the spirite When after this maner the heart is enlarged and reioiceth this enlargement and reioicing is shed ouer the whole bodie For seing the hart is the beginning of life in man frō which diuers veines like conduct pipes do cōueie an hot and feruent spirit ouer the whole bodie maruel it is not being enlarged as it falleth out in à ioie to imbrace the obiect if the more subtil vital spirites are spread
taken manie-times for man Thirdlie by the figure Metonymie it signifieth the accidentarie qualitie of man after the fal of our first parents namelie for whatsoeuer is in man without y e grace of regeneration as when it is saide That which is borne of the flesh is flesh Againe Flesh bloud shal not inherite the kingdome of God In which places the worde flesh doth signifie the corruption of nature cleauing to y e flesh through the contagion of original sinne Fourthlie it is taken for the outward shewe or appearance of thinges as when it was saide Ye iudge after the flesh and as when Paul said That I now liue in the flesh I liue by the faith in the sonne of God Nowe the circumstance in the Psalme requireth the firste and proper signification Mine heart that is mine whole minde regenerated by the Spirite of God and my flesh that is my bodie haue reioiced in the liuing God The adiectiue Liuing hath à singular force and Emphasis For therebie the true God is discerned both from the idols of the Gentiles who neither liue nor can giue life and saluation and also from al◠thinges of this worlde which are vncertaine as the fauour of men Therfore in the 146. Psalme it is written Put not your trust in Princes nor in the sonnes of man for there is none helpe in them His breath departeth and he returneth to the earth then his thoughtes doe perish Blessed is he that hath the God of Iaakob for his helpe whose hope is the Lord his God Here he setteth y e God of Iaakob who alwaies liueth against men who both maie die and change their mindes so that who putteth his trust in them buildeth vpon à tottering foundation But God for somuch as he liueth for euer changeth at no time can not deceaue and therfore to reioice in him it is the surest thing And Paul in his 1. epistle vnto Timothie chargeth rich men That theie trust not in vncertaine riches but in the liuing God Where Paul in y t place also opposeth y e liuing God against transitorie riches To conclude God who liueth euerlastinglie is put against al thinges created In him therfore who so hopeth doth reioice shal not be confounded Then by the example of Dauid let vs both by reading meditation contemplation praier and other exercises of godlines stirre-vp ourselues y t with Dauid we maie truelie perceaue this spiritual gladnes both in our minde in our heart and let vs not desist from praier vntil we feele this spiritual exultation within vs. Dauid being in banishment is derided of his enimies and suffereth punishment for his sins yet he vnder this sense of Gods displeasure ceasseth not praieng vntil he finde some taste of this spiritual ioie wherewithal he might comfort himselfe in his troubles Iob in his affliction being both contēned of his own wife laughed to scorne of his friends filled with this ioie doth comfort himselfe and therefore he burst into these wordes I am sure that my Redeemer liueth This comfort of the Spirite haue the holie martyrs of God in al ages opposed against outward paines By whose exāples let vs also learne to feele in our selues the ioie of the spirite abiding in vs. For as Bernard trulie doth saie The vital motions do proue that the mind abideth in the bodie that the spiritè abideth in the soule the spiritual life doth proue A special part of this spiritual life is to feele the Spiritual comfort in the liuing God through Iesus Christ the true life of the Church CHAP. 15. 1. Where the true Church may be found 2. The markes of the same 3. And the triple state thereof in this life The thirde verse FOR THE SPAROVVE HATH FOVNDE AN HOVSE AND THE SVVALOVV à NEST FOR HER SELFE WHERE SHE MAIE LAIE HER YONG ONES EVEN THINE ALTARS Ô LORD OF HOSTES MY KING AND MY GOD. IN these wordes is declared where the true Church maie be sought what be the markes what the confession of the same The sense of this verse is therefore somewhat the more obscure because y e particles of the similitude or comparison are omitted which is an vsual thing among y e Hebrues Thus thē let vs fullie make the cōparison As the Sparow the Swallow and other birdes for he hath put the special for the general doe build them certaine nestes wherein theie keepe foster and feede their yong So thou O Lorde of hostes hast appointed thine altars for nestes as it were wherein by thy word spirite sacramentes discipline thou engenderest nourishest feedest and defendest thy yong ones which are the godlie So that by this comparison is signified not the affection onelie of the Lorde of Hostes toward the Church which affection Christ Matth. 23. applieth to himselfe when he saith Howe often would I haue gathered thie children together as the Hen gathereth her chickens ye would not But y t euerie one also who tendereth his own saluation shold ioine him self to the nestes of God namelie to the meetings of the godlie where y e publike ministerie is For the altars by the figure Synecdoche do signifie y e publike ministerie of y e church the which is a most certaine note of the visible Church Dauid then doth shewe how that congregation is the true Church wherein are teachers and learners of the word of God wherein not onelie the ceremonies appointed of God are in vse but also God according to his word is worshipped and publique confession of the faith is made For these words My King my God are the voice of confidence confession Therefore wheresoeuer these things are there without al doubt is the true Church and the fellowship of Saintes But least anie should erre in this place it is to be noted that the state of the Church in this life is three-folde either an vpright or à troubled or a banished state The vpright state of the Church consisteth of due order of lawful power of authoritie The order is two-fold namelie either of persons or of actions The former is y t which in this place we make the first part of the vpright state of y e church the latter belōgeth vnto power authorite I wil speake therefore now of the order of persons in the kingdome of Christ which is y e church which order the nigher it commeth vnto the forme of the primitiue Church the better more perfect it is and the more it swarueth from that ancient simplicitie the worser and more hurtful it is CHAP. 16. 1. Christ is the supreme gouernour in the Church 2. The diuersitie of persons in the Church of CHRIST FIrst therefore by due order in this spiritual Empire and kingdome of Christe there is one chiefe Monarch euen Iesus Christ who by his word and Spirite ruleth the kingdome receaued from the Father The kingdome of this Monarch is the Church that is the
according to the prescription of their Lorde For this cause Paul doeth name the ministers of the Gospel Disposers of the secrets of God in whome this onelie thing is required That they be found faithful To conclude the summe of al is this The keies of the Church are the word and faith For as the preaching of the word of God concerning y e attaining remission of sins through Christ is one keie to open to shut the kingdome of God which keie hath à double vse One is of one nature which is to open the kingdome of heauen the other is through the default of the hearers to shut the kingdō of heauen And therefore Christ himselfe is to some the sauor of death vnto death and to others the sauor of life vnto life But as he is the sauor of life of his owne nature so is he the sauor of death through the wickednes of men that wil not credite the Gospel So in that verie deede it is but one keie but it hath à double vse So whoso beleeueth through the working of the holie spirite he adioineth faith to the Gospel which is as it were another keie of the kingdome of heauen By these two keies the kingdome of heauen is shut vp and pardon of sinnes obteined Furthermore as Christ Peter Philip Iohn Paul and the other Apostles doe applie this keie sometime to manie together and sometime to one by himselfe So godlie ministers of the worde both publiquelie and priuatelie maie vse this auctoritie of opening and shutting the kingdome of God that is of binding and loasing sinnes For as this binding is an adiudging of that man who beleeueth not the Gospel but serueth sinne and Sathan vnto death and damnation vnlesse he repent So loasing is à setting of him free who beleeueth the gospel from the woeful bondage of sinne and the diuel and à giuing of the most desired libertie in Iesus Christ that being now set-free from death and perdition he maie serue God by righteousnes for euermore Hereby appeareth both the excellencie of this power and also howe it is not tied vnto men as the Pope thinketh but to the ministerie of the worde and that ordinarie regiment is subiect to this power as farfoorth as the Church is guided by doctrine sacraments ceremonies and discipline The iuridical power although it dependeth cheifelie vppon the power of the keis yet because it requireth deliberation and consultation in respect of diuerse circumstances falling out manie times which cannot be cōprehended in general rules I distinguish it from the former power which I called ordinarie The iuridical power consisteth in three thinges to wit in alowing sound doctrine in reiecting false opinions and in exercising ecclesiastical discipline That the catholike Church and euerie mēber of the same haue power to know and to alowe religion it is manifest For both Christ inuiteth al men vnto himself that they maie learne of men and the Apostle send-foorth to teach and God earnestlie requireth the knowledge of his worde without which no saluation can be attained Therefore wicked wretches are the Papistes who keepe-awaie the laie people as they are called from the reading of good bookes and forbid the holie scriptures to be imprinted and reade in à vulgar speech whereby doubtles they doe shewe themselues to be the cruel enimies of mans saluation whome those wordes of our Sauiour should terrifie me thinkes Wo be to you interpreters of the lawe for ye haue taken-awaie the keie of knowledge yee entred not in your selues and them that came-in yee forbad This checke belongeth vnto the Pharisies in al ages who take to themselues the auctoritie of teaching but in the meanetime by corrupting true doctrine and that of meere malice and diuelish hatred they stop-vp the readie waie vnto Christ. An other part of the iurisdiction of the Church is à power to improue and to reiect false and erroneous doctrine as the inuention of diuels Therefore saith Christ Beware of false Prophetes And Take heede to your selues of the leauen of the Pharisies And Paul saith If anie man preach an other Gospel let him be accursed Neither as they thinke doth it make for the Papistes that our Lorde saith The scribes and the Pharisies doe sit in Moses seat Al therefore whatsoeuer they bid you obserue that obserue and doe For in another place our sauiour speaketh of the same Pharisies Let them alone they be the blind leaders of the blind Of which I wil conclude two thinges one is Howe they are to be harkened vnto so long as they sit in Moses seat that is so long as they bring the pure doctrine of Moses The other is how al words whereby we are commanded to obeie the rulers and teachers of the Church haue à condition though vnexpressed namelie how they are to be obeied if so be they teach those thinges which the Lorde hath inioined them to teach that is they are to be obeied if the Lord speake in their mouthes and not that old serpent that seduced our first parents And this also is ment by those words of our sauior he that heareth you to wit vttering my words heareth me The last part of iuridical power is discipline which is à schooling whereby such as be receaued into the Church are gouerned kept in order yea framed to religiō righteousnes modestie and other vertues y e nothing vnsitting for Christians be committed or in fewer words Discipline is an ordering of the life and of manners and à training aswel inwarde of the minde affections and wil as outwarde of the tongue gesture and deedes of men vnto godlines honestie and innocencie of life The partes of this discipline are to namely direction and correction Direction doth gouerne and guid men in the right waie Which direction must bee vsed after to the rule of Gods word according to the lawes of godlie magistrates and according to the examples of good men The rule of Gods worde teacheth what is to be auoided and what to be desired and done The catechisme of children proposeth this rule which more at large is declared in the sermons of the Prophets and Apostles The lawes of godlie Magistrates doe prescribe a rule as maie seeme to bee most expedient in respecte of the differences of ages and callinges Hereof there be some canons made for the discipline of the cleargie and some for the schooling of the common people Examples of good men are as painted rules of the lawes For what the lawes by the rules of Gods worde doe describe and offer to the minde that by notable examples is set before the eies in à manner And therefore Christ doeth saie I haue giuen you an example And Paul Be yee folowers of God as deere children and walke in loue The best waie then of teaching is to shew that by examples which is taught by rules And therefore
saie The name of the Lord is a strong towre the righteous runneth vnto it and is exalted CHAP. 21. 1. Of sacrifices in general 2. Of the sacrifices among the Iewes what theie were FVrthermore seing the Psalmist in this verse maketh mentiō of altars where God laieth as yong ones the godlie bringeth them vp and altars be appointed for sacrifices I wil adde here-vnto something concerning sacrifices and that especialie for the Papistes who by this place would maintaine their idolatrous altars for masses which the godlie doe knowe is nothing els but a diuelish prophaning of the onelie sacrifice of Christe who by his onlie sacrifice once offered hath made the saintes perfect for euermore But that the more distinctlie wee maie speake of sacrifices I wil entreate first of the Iewish sacrifices then of the sacrifices of the prophane gentiles after that of the Papistical idol that is of the Masse which theie saie is à sacrifice and last of al of Christian sacrifices The Iewes by the commandement of God had two altars in the holie citie Ierusalem neither was it lawful for them in anie place beside Ierusalem to haue anie altars the one was of burnt offeringes and was caled the altar of burnt offering the other was of incense and thereof was caled the altar of incense both of them were figures of Christ. For as the altar of burnt offering did shadowe Christ as à purger of sinne so the altar of incense did figure Christe as he was an intreator and intercessor for man For incense did signifie praier Or as witnesseth Dauid who in his 141. Psal. doth saie Let my praier be directed in thy sight as incense the lifting-vp of mine hands as an euening sacrifice For when that holie man Dauid being driuen into banishment could not bè at the sacrifices which were made at Ierusalem in place of incense he dedicateth holie praiers vnto the Lord who be therefore signified by incense because praiers be of none effect vnlesse theie be lifted-vp with à godlie affection of the minde But omitting altars speake we nowe of the sacrifices of the Iewes that after this maner First let vs define what a sacrifice is then shewe we the causes after that wil wee note the principal kindes and last of al adde some general thinges of the figuratiue signification of sacrifices The definition maie be this Sacrifices of the Iewes were ceremonies of offering giftes and burnt offeringes ordeined of God that either to pacifie God being offended or to testifie their seruice and religion Which sacrifices pleased not of them selues because theie were done but in respect of y e faith of the offerers and thinking vpon the spiritual signification And that these rites were instituted of God both the manifest commandement of God often repeated not in Exodus onelie but also in Leuiticus and also the testimonies wherebie God did testifie howe he liked wel of such seruice doth proue And although before Moses time there was no expresse commandement touching sacrifices yet that God accepted them being offered by the godlie the examples of good men doe witnesse Wherof it maie verie easilie be gathered how theie were commanded albeit no mention be made thereof in the written worde Againe Gods acceptation doth confirme that he was the auctor of them not onelie in tolerating them but also in cōmanding them to be vsed For at foure seueral times the sacrifices of the saintes with fire from heauen were inflamed which surelie was an apparent token of Gods alowing them And y t these sacrifices pleased not of themselues it maie easelie be gathered For what wise man wil think that God wil be pacified with the slaughter bloud burning of beastes set on fire For the faith therefore of the offerers and cogitation of à spiritual meaning theie liked God which thing manie sentences of the Prophetes doe testifie Dauid doth saie For thou desirest no sacrifice though I would giue it thou delightest not in burnt offering And againe Here O my people and I wil speake heare O Israel and I wil testifie vnto thee for I am God euen thie God I wil not reproue thee for thie sacrifices or thie burnt offeringes that haue not bin continualie before me I wil take no bullock out of thine house nor goates out of thie foldes The prophet Ieremiah doth saie I spake not vnto your fathers nor cōmanded them when I brought them out of the land of Aegypt concerning burnt offeringes and sacrifices And again saith Isaiah Heare the worde of the Lorde O Princes of Sodome hearken vnto the Lawe of our God O people of Gomorrah what haue I to do with the multitude of your sacrifices saith the Lorde I am ful of the burnt offerings of rams of the fat of fed beastes I desire not the bloud of Bullocks nor of lambes nor of goates When ye come to appeare before me who required this of your handes to treade in my courts Bring no oblations in vaine incense is an abomination vnto me These sentences do seeme not onlie to be contrarie to y t cōmandement which so often is to be found in Leuiticus but also to condemne the whole Aaronical priesthoode with the altars But for the concilement of these contrarie speeches we wil aleage three testimonies and two examples out of the Scriptures who plainlie shal remoue awaie al doubtfulnes Salomon doth saie The sacrifice of the wicked is abhomination to the Lorde Dauid saith also Vnto the wicked God saide what hast thou to doe to declare mine ordinances that thou shouldest take my couenant in thie mouth seeing thou hatest to be reformed and hast caste my wordes behinde thee And Isaiah after he reprehended y e sacrifices of his people addeth Wash you make you cleane Take-awaie the euil of your workes from before mine eies cease to do euil Learne to do wel seeke iudgement relieue the oppressed iudge the fatherlesse and defende the widowe These places doe plainelie shewe howe the sacrifices of this people were reproued because of the vncleanenes of the heart and il dealing toward man or because of their froward confidence and wicked conuersation For as the hypocrites did offer their sacrifices before God for à recompence so the wicked thoght howe by their burnt-offeringes theie were sanctified albeit theie were touched with no feeling of their sinnes Therefore seeing God commanded sacrifices to be offered that theie might be exercises of godlines surelie the offerers ought to bring vnfeigned repentance and faith without which no maruel it is if the sacrifices were caled abhomination Caine Abel did both offer sacrifices notwithstanding God had respect vnto Habel and to his offering that is vnto his sacrifice but vnto Caine and to his offering he had no regarde Whie so Because Habel bought à faith in the Messiah whome his sacrifice did shadowe wherebie also his obedience in
kingdome of Antichrist haue their priests cōsecrated to offer sacrifices not according to the institutiō of Christ exāple of y e Apostles but partlie by wicked imitation of the old people the Iewes partlie after the custome of the heathen For from both that is from the Iewes and heathen people they haue borowed such thinges as they thought would serue best to the setting out of their toies and fables Therefore I wil speake first of the consecration of Popish Priestes then of the papistical sacrifice or masse last of al of some other thinges which maie be thought middle and indifferent thinges A popish Priest is à person by ointment shauing distinguished from other men ordained both to sacrifice Christ and also to offer praiers and vowes in the masse for the quicke and deade and for other necessities That this is the state of y e Popish priesthood the whole papacie the canon of the masse and the forme of wordes whereby the mitred Bishops are wont to consecrate their sacrificers doe witnesse We giue you saie they power to offer expiatorie that is peace offeringes Hence is it that they brag howe they are mediators betweene God and men and haue power to sacrifice for the quicke and deade Here if according to the Prouerb we wil cal à boate à boate and à spade à spade doubtles the Popish Prieste somuch as in him is doeth spoile Christ of the honor which the heauenlie father by a solemne oth hath confirmed Psalm 110. The Lorde sware and wil not repent Thou art à Priest for euer after the order of Melchi-zedek And the Epistle to the Hebrewes acknowledgeth Iesus Christ to bee the onelie Prieste who by his owne sacrifice once offered hath for euer made thē perfect who are to be sanctified and because of the perfection thereof saith he hath no need of successors as those figuratiue Priestes of the olde Iewes had And therefore the Popish Priesthood doth not onlie fal downe by the worde of God and testimonie of the purer Church but also is cleane contrarie to the Priesthoode of Christ. Pope Gregorie doeth saie Woe be to vs if we enter-in without making à noise that is if wee boast that we are sheepeheardes and be yet but dumme dogs For nothing is lesse tollerable than for him to be deemed à pastor in the Church who doeth not speak and whose voice maketh no noise to edification of the people By these wordes Gregorie doth applie the figure of the olde law vnto the newe Testament For as bels were hanged to the Priestes garmente and Moses doth plainelie commaunde that a Priest come-not abroade without making a sounde So Gregorie wil not haue his Priestes to bee mute but to teach And therein hee meant wel◠notwithstanding he swarued from the truth For as the bels of the legal Priestes had God for their auctor So it shal not bee sufficient for Gregories Priestes to haue à wide and open mouth to iustruct al vnlesse that sound depende vppon the auctoritie of God that is vnlesse they vtter-out pure doctrine as Malachie speaketh of the law The priestes lippes shal preseru knowledge And this was it which the Lorde by the Prophet Ezechiel doeth saie Heare the worde at my mouth and giue them warning frō me For the Lord cannot abid y t they should take à part from his word à part from the dreames of man as it were intermixing corne and chaffe together but he wil haue his owne word without mixture of chaffe to be heard For so he saith The Prophete that hath à dreame let him tel à dreame and hee that hath my worde let him speake my worde faithfulie what is the chaffe to wheate saith the Lorde Here doeth God set à limit or bound for Priestes which they maie not ouer-passe As if he shoulde saie I haue not appointed Prophetes and priestes to the ende they shoulde bring this or that indifferentlie and thrust the same vpon the Church at their pleasure but that they defend y e pure worde and seruice of God which the worde prescribeth For as he compareth the pure worde of God vnto wheate So whatsoeuer men out of their owne braine doe inuent he likeneth it vnto chaffe If then this lawe of God and this limitation of y e power of priests doeth binde al as indeede it bindeth let the Pope shew vs anie word out of the writinges either of the Prophetes or Apostles of the vncting of their Priestes of their shauing of their power to offer Christ for the quicke deade and of their application of the merites of sainctes If the Pope cannot doe this by plaine doctrine without sophistrie surelie we are not bounde neither to his lawes nor to receaue his sacrificers for mediators betweene God and men But they haue à common refuge For they saie priuat masses were instituted by y e Ecclesiastical gouernors of a good intēt haue ben approued by long custome yea by miracles confirmed too As though good intentes had anie place where the worde of God doth not shine Yea foure manner of waies theie make themselues guiltie which of their owne intent which theie cal good doe institute anie diuine seruice without the warrant of Gods worde For first theie are guiltie of apostasie from God For theie go from this commandement giuen out by God himselfe Walke ye not in the ordinances of your Fathers c. but walke in my statutes Againe Theie worship me in vaine teaching for doctrines the commandementes of men Secondlie theie are guiltie of rashnes For what is a more rash parte than to presume to institute diuine seruice contrarie to Gods cōmandemēt Thirdlie theie are guiltie of pride wherewithal God is highlie displeased as though he knewe not wel enough with what seruice to be worshipped Last of al theie be guiltie of others faultes For by their example other superstition dailie doth spring out For men are the more emboldened to heape ethnical superstition together when theie see others doe so before their face Touching antiquitie I doe saie that an euil custome be it for continuance neuer so ancient is naught els than the oldenes of errour The miracles wrought in Masse were doubtlesse the illusions of Satan who by that meanes would confirme idolatrie to the destruction of mankind Wherefore we obeieng the worde and commandement of God which is to be the rule of al our actions let vs auoide the Pope with al his toies and diuelishe inuentions as accursed the rather because despising Christ our onelie priest together with his eternal priesthoode hee faineth à certaine newe priesthod for profite sake to the reproche of Christ. CHAP. 24. 1. Of the sacrifice of the Masse 2. With the abhominations therein conteined 3. A confutation of the arguments which Papistes do alledge to defende their idol the Masse BVt that the matter maie y e more euidentlie appeare let vs see what manner of thing the sacrifice of Papistes
man woulde worship the water either to be sprincled vpon à man to be baptized or sprincled alreadie and reserued for worship sake Nowe whereas the Papistes doe attribute to the reciting of the wordes of the supper virtue to transsubstantiate to speake as they do the elements surelie they haue learned that of the Magicians and witches rather than of Christ. For he alone it is and none other that by his diuine power worketh in the supper by the hands of his ministers reacheth to vs when wee doe communicate his verie bodie and his verie blod after an vnsearchable maner And wheras in reformed Churches the ministers of the Gospel doe pronounce the historie of the institution of the supper with à loude voice in à knowen tongue they doe it not that anie virtue by that reciting shoulde passe-ouer into the elementes but otherwise for à most holie and profitable purpose For they know nothing is more comfortable to the godlie than to heare the historie of the instituted supper which containeth the causes of the institutiō and commendeth to them the greate loue betweene Christ and his Church And therefore as the Papistes by mumbling with themselues the wordes of the supper commit hainous sacriledge by keeping close the doctrine of Gospel the summe whereof is contained in the historie of the institution of the supper So doe I iudge it an intollerable thing sorelie to be punished if anie woulde celebrate the Lord his supper without repeating the historie of the same taken either out of the Euangelistes or out of Paul Here some perchance wil arise saie in the celebration of the supper in the reformed Churches y e bread is cōmonlie adored euen as in y e papacie Herevnto I doe thus answere If anie in our Churches do worship the bread and the cup he sticketh as yet in à papistical error from which he is to be reuoked by the godlie ministers of the Gospel Then I distinguish betwene the worship of the bread and the reuerence towarde the maiestie of Christ present in the supper which reuerence we do testifie by bowing the knee and by outward gestures of the bodie while we are occupied in the celebration of the supper The which reuerence as I iudge it laweful and godlie and commended to vs by the Apostle Paul so I doe thinke the worship of the breade and of the wine is wicked prophane both because we haue no cōmandemēt to doe without which à godlie minde can appoint nothing in religion and also because it is meere presumption as that which is not cōtent with that vse of the sacrament which the Lorde requireth The sixt It is contrarie to the institution and nature of the Lorde his supper that one seueralie by himselfe shoulde haue à banket without moe communicants For thus doeth Paul saie When ye come together into one place this is not to eate the Lordes supper For euerie man when they shoulde eate taketh his owne supper afore Againe as no man can baptise himselfe alone So neither is it lawful for à priest to minister the Lordes supper priuatelie to himselfe alone If then this Lordes supper be not à priuate banket surelie in vaine do those sacrificers vaunt howe with fiue wordes they can pluck-downe the bodie of Christ from heauen vpon their altar For y e bodie blood of Christ is onelie in y t place where the institution of Christ is maintained and the communion according to the institutiō It is needful then that at the least there be one to minister and another to receaue The seauenth By the helpe of this masse the kingdome of Antichrist which was erected by the diuel is augmented established For the storehouse of al vngodlie worshippings whereby the kingdome of Antichrist is vp-holden is the masse Which therefore the more forceablie doeth deceaue because it hath à forme quite contrarie to y e nature therof For it seemeth goodlie whereas nothing is more abhominable The eight The application of the masse for the dead y t they maie be deliuered frō purgatorie is à meere diuelish inuention For no man is forgiuen without he haue faith wherfore they most horriblie deface the glorie of Christ which do faine that that offering doth merite that remission of sinnes for the deade Furthermore al which depart out of this life doe depart either in faith or without faith In in faith they are blessed according to that Blessed are the dead which die in the Lorde And Peter saith The end of faith is the saluation of soules But if they die without faith the sentence of Christ standeth sure He that beleeueth not on the sonne the wrath of God abideth on him So then there is à double waie to wit à waie of saluation which is of the faithful and à waie of death or damnation which is of al such as refuse in this worlde to beleeue on Christ. Where then is purgatorie frō whence the soules by masses be redeemed for monie Notwithstanding albeit the trueth touching the idolatrous masse of Papistes bee not vnknowen to the Church of God yet the Papistes to shew that they haue some ground doe obiect three thinges as buclers for their defence For first they bring-out the deede of Melchizedech Secondlie they oppose à place of Malachie touching the sacrifice to come among the Gentiles with the like Lastlie they doe amplifie the worthines of the people of the new Testamēt But what force they are of let vs brieflie consider The deede of Melchizedech from whence the Papistes do seeke to haue their cause countenanced is thus described Gen. 14. And Melchi-zedek king of Shalem brought-foorth breade and wine and hee was à Priest of the most high God Therefore he blessed him saieng Blessed art thou Abraham of God most high Hence do they most impudentlie inferre that Priestes must offer to God bread and wine for peace offeringes With as good a consequent might one make this argument Philip is in Spaine therefore the sea is sweet For first they doe corruplie reade He offered for He brought-foorth and in place of the particle And they reade For. Wherby they testifie who is their master euē the diuel the corrupter and slanderer of gods worde Secondlie they doe verie naughtilie distinguish the thinges which are to be compounded and mingled the thinges that are to be distinguished For there be two distinct members of the narration in Moses The former is of the king his deed The latter of the priest his deed Melchi-zedek brought-forth bread wine you haue the king and his deed And he was à Priest of the most high God therefore he blessed him Where you haue the priest and his deed Melchi-zedek therefore in bringing forth bread and wine showed himselfe a liberal king whereby he would refresh the wearied host of Abraham And in blessing Abraham he shewed himself a Priest For it was the office of Priestes to blesse the
And therefore à godlie man dwelling among the Papistes maie be at them with à safe conscience if so be the daunger of offence maie be shunned and al suspicion of plaieng with both handes auoided For I woulde not haue à man so to flie Scylla that he fal into Charibdis For these two extremes are alike to be auoided namelie papistical impietie and al suspicion of Epicurisme For he that alwaies doeth auoide the meetinges of men where publike praiers bee made of the congregation seemeth not so much to flie papistical wickednes as to folowe them which are of no religion And therefore I woulde haue the godlie abiding among papistes somtime to be at their morning and euening praiers especialie at those wherein neither inuocation is made of the deade nor their little God of bread is offered to be adored as it doth fal out at the feastes of sainctes and at hie festiual daies as they cal them wherein the perfume of frankēcense is blowen before images Now as touching the baptisme of infants the godlie are to doe two thinges Let them both in heart reprooue the papistical toies wherewithal Baptisme after à sort is contaminated and with reuerence meditate vpon the institution of Christ. Which being done I am of opinion the godlie are excused which either doe suffer their children to be baptised of Papistes or otherwise doe come as witnesses vnto the baptisme of infants Because somwhat remaineth there yet of the institution of Christ. Here what shal we saie of the masse wherin distribution is made both of bread wine Because therein somewhat of Christ his institutiō doth remain shal it be lawful for a godlie man instructed aright touching y e idole of the masse to be thereat to cōmunicate with others For if hee maie be present at the baptisme of the Papistes although it bee foulie defiled with manifolde additions because there is somwhat remaining yet of Christ his institution why shal not the same reason be of strength in the communion of the supper This question although it seeme verie intricate yet I wil plainelie tel what I thinke therof leauing the iudgement to the Church that is the true Christians especialie to such as haue felt the crosse and liued among the pikes First therefore I distinguish betwen the masse and the communion in the papacie For I thinke there is as great à difference betwene the masse and that solemne communion celebrated among Papistes on Easter daie as is betweene heauen and hel For in the masse there doth nothing remaine of Christ his institutiō Wherefore as I iudge the masse abhominable and therefore to be shunned as an idole of Satan so I pronounce that holie which remaineth of Christ his institutiō For it is wickednes to think that so great à thing doth depend vpon the worthines of ministers Because indeed the masse the communion or supper be cleane contrarie actions For the Popishe masse being ended the supper of Christe beginneth So that à godlie man abiding among Papistes is bound to shun the idole of y e masse and maie so that both offence al suspitiō of halting be taken heed-of be at the cōmunion and with the elect of God whereof manie out of doubt doe lurke in the Popedome cōmunicate What Shal it therefore bee laweful to communicate vnder one kinde as they cal it Are not the laie people excluded frō the holie cup of the Lordes blood Manie of our side supposing that consecration as they saie is done by reciting the wordes of the institution of the supper doe iudge it à most hainous offence if anie do cōmunicate vnder one kinde The Popish priestes also do thinke that y e laie people shal not be partakers of the Lords cup for the same cause namelie because y e wordes be not mūbled ouer the cup out of which the laitie are drunk-vnto So y t they thinke y e wine is without y e presence of y e Lords blood Now if the case did so stand y t is if so great à matter did depend vpon y e repetitiō of words rather thā of Christ who in his supper reacheth forth the sacrament of his bodie blood I woulde not haue à godlie man cōmunicate with papistes Wherfore hauing these aduersaries it is hard to pronounce anie thing without offēce yet wil I speake what I doe thinke First of al we must consider that to consecrate is not as the Papistes thinke and halfe-Papistes doe imagine by the pronounciation of certaine prescribed or conceaued wordes on magique wise to make à common and vnholie thing sacred and holie but to consecrate indeed is to separate a thing from à common vse to applie it to an holy vse appointed to God with praise thankegiuing to his name That this is a true definition thereof he knoweth that either wil compare the force of the verbe Cadosh which with the Hebrews signifieth to consecrate with the old custome of consecration or consider both the deed of Christ who instituted the supper and the doctrin of Paul touching the blessing of the bread and cup. Seeing then this matter neither dependeth vppon the virtue of wordes nor is hindered by the malice of men which enuie the godlie the participation of y e cup but dependeth vppon the commaundement institution of Christ who according to his promise wil be among the godlie that cal vpon him and thinke vpon and acknowledge the benefits of his death and resurrection I doubt not but the godlie in the popedome doe take part of the bodie and bloode albeit the popish incantation do not defile the cup. For both he that sanctifieth is the sonne of God and he that reacheth his bodie and bloode by the handes of the ministers is the sonne of God whose diuine power and infinit mercy neither is hindred by y e error of mē nor broken through y e malice of enuious persons who suppresse the recitation of y e words touching the supper But some maie obiect Theie which communicate together doe it that theie maie be one in Christ. For so saith Paul For we that are manie are one bread and one bodie because we are al partakers of one bread But the Papists who bring not faith are without the bodie of Christ. For none is in Christ but through faith And therefore it seemeth howe it is vnlawful to communicate with Papistes I answere in the supper there is a double communion One is of the faithful soule of Christ whereof the same Apostle in that place doth speake The cup of blessing which we blesse is it not the communion of the bloud of Christe The bread which we breake is it not the communion of the bodie of Christ Of this communion theie trulie doe participate which bring faith with them vnto the holie supper The other which dependeth vpon the former is of the brethren communicating among themselues This communion is not hindred either by the
wickednes of the minister or though some one Iudas or other be present For it is à spiritual communion of al the godlie vnder one head yea though theie lurke secretlie among Papistes as doubtlesse manie doe Notwithstanding once againe I admonish that al denieng of the true faith though but fained be taken heede-of But what if one do so abhor Poperie y t by no meanes he dare cōmunicate in y e kingdome of y e Pope shal not à godly housholder who hath a virtuous wife à wel gouerned familie in this case priuatelie in his owne house prepare y e Lords supper for himselfe his Some perchāce wil saie he maie not so do because y e administration of the sacraments doth pertaine vnto the publike ministerie Of this I demande againe whether manie did not communicate in the primitiue Church before anie ordinarie publike ministerie was instituted and before anie temples were erected to meete-together For my part I am persuaded that the houses of manie good citizens were temples wherein godlie housekeepers with their families did receaue the Lordes Supper together and did strengthen one another both with doctrine comfort I therfore distinguish between y e Church wel ordeined betwene captiuitie banishment where the godlie be persecuted There I wil haue nothing detracted from the ministerie but al things to be done according to the ordinance of y e church wel ordained but here that is in the captiuitie or banishment of the Church either vnder the Turke or Pope I do thinke the godlie are blamelesse if theie imitate the examples of the saintes in the primitiue Church Thus we haue written in few wordes our iudgement cōcerning y e vse of the Lords supper in the papacie wherein if anie man be not satisfied I desire friendlie to be admonished For I submit not onelie this our sentence but also whatsoeuer at anie time I haue written or shal write to the censure of al the godlie who do cleaue not so much vnto doutful opinions as to y e manifest truth And therfore I do frēdlie request y t no man would rashlie iudge but first compare my reasons of the aduersaries together Which if any do I trust mine opiniō shal not be improued And I besech God euen the father of our Lord Iesus Christ y t he wold lighten our mindes with his light represse the futie of satan his limes y t persecute y e sound doctrine and keepe vs in true godlines thorough and for Christ his sake that so we maie glorifie him for euermore Amen CHAP. 26. Of the sacrifices of Christians CHristians also which syncerelie professe Christ haue their sacrifices To wit à propitiatorie à sacrifice eucharistical both named of their effects or ends Christians haue à propitiatorie sacrifice not to be offred of thēselues but alreadie offered by Iesus Christ the most high priest Mediator For Christ the prieste hath giuen him-selfe à propitiatorie sacrifice for al men that the father beeing appeased the faithful might for euermore be sanctified through him Eucharistical sacrifice is euerie obedience giuen of Christians to God wherebie as theie acknowledge God to be the fountaine and auctor of euerie good thing so theie testifie their thankfulnes toward him But that this doctrine concerning the sacrifices of Christians knowen to the Church of God alone maie the better be vnderstoode seeme the more comfortable to vs I wil more distinctlie entreate of both kindes For that which particularlie is distinguished is both read with the more pleasure and kept with more profite as Bernard saith In the propitiatorie or expiatorie sacrifice manie thinges are to be considered which do make vnto the plainer exposition of the same Wherfore first of al I wil entreate of the Priest who doth offer this sacrifice Then of the priest-hood and partes thereof Afterward of the couenant For euerie Priest is à suretie of some couenant After that of the application of this sacrifice Last of al of the continual vse of this sacrifice in the cōscience in life and in death CHAP. 27. 1. Of the Priest which doth offer the propitiatorie sacrifice for Christians 2. Of his nature 3. and qualities IN the explication of this first member concerning the chiefe priest of Christians let vs consider what need there was to haue him of what condition he was for person and who he was The necessitie of the priest maie be deemed from hence That al of vs are sinners and subiect to eternal death both through the defection of our first parentes from God and also through our own sinne and guiltines it is wel knowen which thing both the punishment laide vpon vs by the most righteous God and the word of God and euerie mans conscience doth witnes Nowe one of these two must needs come to passe For either we were to perish euerlasting lie or must be reconciled vnto God But because the reconciliation should be righteous that the iustice of God might be satisfied it could not be done without ma◠à sufficient amendes to God for the iniurie he sustained Which amendes was necessarilie to be made by some mediator That as one Adam did caste vs al by his owne sinne vnto death and damnation so there might be some one who by his own merite should reconcile vs to God offended hauing made à recōpence for the trespasse Which Mediator betweene God offended and men offenders is caled à priest For so it is in the 5. Chapter of the Epistle vnto the Hebrues Euerie hie priest is taken from among men is ordeined for men in thinges pertaining to God that he maie offer both gifts and sacrifices for sinnes By this it plainlie appeareth howe necessatie à priest was to reconcile vs vnto God who was displeased But who could giue such à priest whē al mankind was guiltie no man liuing could satisfie no not for him-selfe much lesse for others The most wise God brought-forth à coūsel which man could not giue For he was as he was merciful to take pitie vpon his creature as he was wise to help man least he lost the end wherevnto he was created as he was almightie not to suffer the diuel to exercise euerlasting tyrannie vpon his owne image and as he was righteous not to let sinne go vnpunished Therefore God vttered his most wise counsel wherebie he declared both his soueraigne wisedome and his vncomprehensible mercie and his infinite power and his most absolute iustice Wherefore because the wrath of God against sinners as we are al by nature for we were by nature the children of wrath was greater than à meere man could beare and because the iustice of God did require that some one among men should be the auctor of life as one was of death God of his goodnes gaue such a priest who both could because he was God ought because he was a man born of flesh blood as al other men notwithstāding
vnto Christ that as they should finde the lawe fulfilled in him so they should be made partakers of the promised mercie And therefore this promise of mercie hath one conditiō fro the law without Christ to wit touching y e fulfilling of y e law another in Christ name lie of faith wherbie the end of the law which is righteousnes is obteined So that as manie as beleue haue righteousnes which is as much as y e law requireth Wherof the promise of mercie is ratified and confirmed to them and this is that couenant whereof the 25. Psalme doth speake Al the pathes of the Lorde are mercie and truth vnto such as kepe his couenant and his testimonies that is as another Psalme doth expound it Mercie shal compasse him that trusteth in the Lord. The mercie then of GOD is moderated according vnto the rule of iustice when it is exhibited to such as repent For this iustice of God is à perpetual rule that as he wil condemne such as be rebellious without al pitie and mercie so he wil of his infinite mercie saue as manie as turne vnto the Lord. This rule of God his iustice is to be thought vpon when we reade in the Psalmes that Dauid praied God that he would heare him for his righteousnes ◠For three thinges together came into his minde namelie the promise of mercie the free pardon of his sinnes and the price wherebie the iustice of God is satisfied namelie by the sacrifice of his Sonne for he is vniust that hauing receiued à raunsome wil not set free the captiue and by the merite of Christ wherebie we are iustified before God being conuerted vnto him through faith Whence it is that if he should not heare them which repent and forgiue their offences he should be vniust as one that dealeth against the rule of his own iustice that denieth his promise that would accept no ransome nor regarde the righteousnes of his sonne wherebie he did merite fauour for vs. So that Dauid after his adulterie murder and betraieng the hoste of God did craue mercie and remission of his sinnes through faith and among other reasons brought this in for one That thou maiest be iust when thou speakest that is that men maie confesse thee iust for keeping thy wordes whereby thou promisedst pardon to as many as repent CHAP. 33. 1. Of Christe his wonderful obedience to his Father for our saluation 2. The fruite thereof NExt vnto the mercie of God we are to consider the wonderfull obedience of Christ which would vouchsafe to take our cause vpon himselfe and feele the wrath of God to deliuer vs from eternall death Of this obedience Paule vnto the Philippians on this wise Who being in the forme of God thought it no roberie to be equal with God but he made himselfe of no reputation and tooke on him-selfe the form of à seruant was made like vnto men was found in shape as à man He humbled him selfe became obedient vnto the death euen the death of the crosse Here Paul entreateth of the vnspeakeable obedience of the sonne of God and because equals cannot properly be said to obey one another but inferiors their betters Paule sheweth howe the sonne beeing of one essence and power with the Father did humble him selfe taking to himselfe the nature of man wherein he became obedient to the Father euen vnto the death of the crosse And in the 10. Chapter of the Epistle vnto the Hebrues out of the 40. Psalme Because it is vnpossible that the bloud of Buls and Goates should take away sinnes Wherefore when he commeth into the world he saith Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not but à bodie thou hast ordeined me In burnt offeringes and sinne offeringes thou hast had no pleasure Then I saide Loe I come In the beginning of the Booke it is written of me that I should do thy will O God Isaiah 53. He was offered euen because he would But with this obedience how agreeth that prayer thrice repeated in the garden O my Father if it be possible let this cup passe fro me neuerthelesse not as I wil but as thou wilt This praier seemeth to import that the wil of the sonne differed yea and was contrarie also to the Fathers wil. For the Fathers wil was that he should drinke of the cup which he had prepared And the sonne desireth that the same cup if it were possible might passeawaie This obiection is aunswered by the wordes of our Lord afterward in the same Chapter vttered The spirit in deed is willing but the flesh is weake So that what he would not through y e weaknesse of the flesh the which naturalie without offence dreadeth death the same he wold through the willingnesse of the spirite wherbie he was obedient to the Father And thus doth Cyril also distinguish the same when he saith That the passion of the Crosse was not voluntarie to Christ and againe was voluntarie for the fathers wil and for our saluation you maie easilie perceiue by this praier O my Father if it be possible let this cup passe from me For as the word of God is God and naturalie the verie life no man wil saie that anie waie he feared death but beeing made flesh he permitteth fleshe to suffer that which belongeth to flesh and therefore as verie man he dreadeth death standing at the dores Here an other question doth arise what obtained Christ by his praieng The Epistle vnto the Hebrewes maketh answere He was hearde in that which he feared for the paines of death being remoued awaie he ouercame those conflictes The fruite of this wonderful obedience of the sonne of God is our iustificatton and saluation As by one mans disobedience saith Paul manie were made sinners so by the obedience of one shal manie be made righteous The Apostle highlie extolling this obedience doth saie Christ when we were yet of no strength at his time died for the vngodlie Doubtlesse one wil scarse die for a righteous man but yet for a good man it maie be that one dare die But no tongue can vtter nor minde conceaue howe greate the obedience of the sonne of God was who deriued the wrath of God vpon himselfe and put himselfe into our place to suffer the paines due vnto vs for our saluation Christ hath redeemed vs from the cursse of the lawe when he was made a cursse for vs. Againe He hath made him to be sinne for vs which knew no sinne that we should be made the righteousnes of God in him CHAP. 34. 1. The greeuousnes of the paines which Christ endured for our sakes 2. What theie signified WIth this obedience would be considered both the greeuousnes of the pain which the sonne of God endured for our sakes both in minde and in bodie and also the reproche against his person The griefe of minde Christe doth testifie when he
price giuen for our redemption And this doeth Iohn meane when hee nameth him the iust But fiue thinges heere must bee considered which wil open y e better this part of christ his priesthood touching the intercession The first is how Christ is to be caled vpoÌ„ after two waies to wit As the giuer of al good thinges with the father and the holy Ghost For when we are bidden to praie vnto God Christ is verie god of equal maiestie power both with y e father the holy ghost hee is to be honored euen as God When it is said therfore Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God him onelie shalt thou feare that worship and feare is commanded which is of that God who is in essence but one and three in persons For seeing the essence of the diuinitie is but one in number and vndiuidible it must needes followe that the worship ascribed to God must apperteine to the persons which are of one the same essence Againe because the workes of the diuinitie vnto things without as Augustine saith are vndiuided it foloweth that the seruice of inuocation is vndiuided This worship of one God to wit the Father the Sonne and the holie Ghost dependeth vpon the patronage of à mediator without whome there is no waie open vnto God Besides Christe is to be praied-vnto as à Mediator and intercessor that for his sake we maie be heard and that hee maie intreate the Father for vs and that he maie carrie our grones and praiers vnto the eternal Father according to that saieng Thou art à Priest for euer after the order of Melchisedek Therefore it is wel saide O Sonne of God make thou intercession for vs with the eternal Father I doe begge in thie name that thou wouldest begge of the Father that it maie be giuen me Eusebius doth saie The great Bishop of the whole Church euen Iesus Christ the onelie begotten sonne of God taking all men with a cheereful countenance and lifted-vp handes à sweete smelling sauor and sacrifices without either bloud or bodie doth offer them to the celestial Father and the God of al creatures he first worshipping yeelding due honor to the Father after-ward praieng him to abide pleased and gratious alwaie to vs al. Furthermore whereas the saintes doe seueralie cal-vpon the persons of the trinitie somtime vpon the Father somtime vpon y e sonne and sometime vpon the holie Ghost as Melancton in his forme of praiers doth shewe theie parte not the vndiuidible vnitie of the diuine nature neither exclude theie one person while theie name another but theie doe both acknowledge the vnitie of the Godhead because theie knowe that God alone is to be called-vnto and confesse à distinction and equalitie of persons do worship the distinct proprieties of persons in the worke of our saluation Hereof the primitiue Church did direct their praier vnto the three persons of the Trinitie in this forme of wordes Lorde haue mercie vpon vs Christ haue mercie vpon vs Lord haue mercie vpon vs. A triple confession therefore of the Church is in this praier One is of the vnitie of the God-head against the Grecians and Barbarians who brought-in à multitude of Gods Another is of the distinction of persons and of their equalitie in one diuine essence against Arrius and others The thirde is of the distinction of the properties of the diuine persons in working the mysterie of our saluation For although it be rightlie said that the workes in his creatures are vndiuided yet are not y e properties of persons to be confouÌ„ded the Father saueth the sonne saueth the holie Ghost doth saue Behold the vndiuided workes of the Trinitie in sauing vs yet the father saueth by giuing his sonne the sonne saueth by obeieng the father by suffering and by intercession and the holie Ghost saueth by regenerating and sanctifieng So then the properties are diuers in the same worke of saluation Therfore the distinct inuocations of the Father of the sonne of the holie Ghost admonish vs of these hie matters And who so at this daie doe finde fault with these formes do hide poison in their minde and secretlie do either inuade the difference equalitie of persons or confound y e properties of persons in y e mysterie of our saluatioÌ„ SecoÌ„dlie in this place it wold be considred how Christ is y e mediator intercessor either in respect of his humanitie onlie or in respect of his diuinitie onlie or in respect of both together The master of the senteÌ„ces in our daies too one Stancar an Italian do saie y t Christ was à mediator in respect of his humanitie onelie Osiander on the other side saith he was a mediator in respect of his diuinitie But here necessarilie and afore all thinges this rule must not be forgotten That the names of Christ his office agree neither to the diuine nature onelie nor onelie to the humane but to the whole person which is God and man For y e Sonne of God did therfore take mans nature vpon himselfe that he might be the sauiour of man according to both natures Moreouer the epistle vnto the Hebrues ascribeth the priesthod to Christ according to both natures And although he suffered and died onelie in his humane nature and by the power of his diuinitie ouercame death yet the benefite of redemption à part whereof intercession is toucheth the whole person otherwise that diuine nature had neuer taken mans nature into à personal vnion But whereas it is obiected None is mediator for himselfe Againe None is intercessor with himselfe The answere is easie These thinges are true in one respect where the person is simple But here à difference must be put betwene the Godhead sending the Sonne which was sent The sonne in that he was sent is à priest Therfore both à mediator and an intercessor Therefore the person sent is the mediatrix with the Godhead sending Hereunto agree the testimonies of y e Fathers Chrysostome saith Neither could man alone be mediator because it was for the mediator to talke with God Cyril And Christ is the Mediator of God and man Because in that one God and man are conioyned Ambrose That he might be the mediator of God and man Christ Iesus was God and man because in God he was man and in man God that through both he might be à Mediator Thirdlie it is to be knowen that through the intercession of Christ we haue theÌ„ accesse vnto the Father when we abide in grace thorough faith For in vaine do they pretend the intercession of Christe and in vaine doe they vaunt of the talke with God who are destitute of faith For it is necessarie that they be members of Christ which wil cal vpon God aright Therefore saith Paul Beeing iustified by â—aith we haue peace towarde God through our Lorde Iesus Christ. By whom also we haue accesse through faith vnto this grace wherin
And although this couenant be ratified onlie to such as be called and doe beleeue yet least we should thinke that the Fathers before the incarnation of Christe were destitute of the grace of the newe couenant it is good that we make a better and a more distinct explication of this doctrine so necessarie to be knowne First therefore and aboue all we must constantlie beleeue that in al ages euen from the fal of our first parentes the waie to be saued both was and is yet one and the same to wit by the Priest Christe alone of whose righteousnesse theie be partakers and be saued whosoeuer beleeue in him So that as touching the purgation of sinne and attainement of euerlasting life there is but one perpetual couenant or testament of God whereby God doeth binde himselfe to pardon such as doe â—lee vnto Christe And although if you respect the expresse worde there is no mention of this couenant concerning remission of sinnes before the Lord entered thereinto with Abraham yet the thinges themselues which appertaine vnto the substance of this couenant were verie wel knowne to the Fathers before the floud By the thinges I meane both the promise of the restoring of man through Christe and also the faith of this promise For the promise in GOD and the faith in man are the substantial partes as I maie saie of this couenant The couenant betweene GOD and Abraham was this I wil establish my couenant betweene me thee and thy seede after thee in their generations for an euerlasting couenant to be GOD vnto thee and thy seede after thee And somewhat afore in the same Chapter there goeth an oath of GOD Beholde I make my couenant with thee that is as truelie as I liue I wil establish my couenant c. Here first of al would be considered y e matter or foundation of this couenant which is y e promised seed by whose merit intercession there is an attonement made betweene God and men Wherefore whatsoeuer good thing the Lorde doth promise it is ratified in the Sonne who hath reconciled vs and the Father together God was in Christ saith Paule and reconciled the world to him selfe not imputing their sinnes to them and hath committed to vs the worde of reconciliation And for this cause this couenant is called by Isaiah the couenant of peace Secondlie we should cal into mind y e wonderful humilitie of God whereby the diuine maiestie so debaseth it selfe of meere benignitie and good will to manward hauing consideration of our humane frailnesse that not onlie he doth simplie promise free benediction to miserable and wretched sinners but also bindeth himselfe by couenant that we may knowe his fatherlie goodwil to vs ward Thirdlie the immutabilitie and constancie or perpetuitie of this couenant confirmed by an oath would be thought-vpon Whereof the Epistle vnto the Hebrues doth saie When God made the promise vnto Abraham because he had no greater to sweare by he sware by him selfe saieng Surelie I wil abundantlie blesse thee and multiplie thee marueilouslie He addeth à reason saieng So God willing more abundantlie to shewe vnto the heires of promise the stablenesse of his counsel bound him selfe by an oath that by two immutable things wherein it is vnpossible that God should lie we might haue strong consolation which haue our refuge to hold-fast the hope that is set before vs. Fourthlie we are to weigh the largenes of the couenant entred-into with AbrahaÌ„ namelie howe it extendeth vnto the seede of Abraham and that for euer and euer But what is that seede of Abraham Paule both in the 4. and 9. chapters vnto the Romanes and also in the 3. vnto the Galathians defineth the seede of Abraham to be euen al those of what nations soeuer which doe walke in the steppes of the faith of Abraham that al which beleeue the promise of grace as Abraham did Fiftlie when it is saide howe this couenant was entered into with Abraham and his seede for euermore it is meant that God bestoweth immortalitie to such as are linked to him in coÌ„federacie For if by death we should perish the perpetuitie of the couenant could no way stande Nowe on the other side the faith of Abraham and of his seede aunswereth to the couenant of God For when God bindeth himselfe to vs by couenaÌ„t to giue saluation he bindeth vs withall vnto faith and vnto newe obedience which cannot be separated from faith And therefore God saith to Abraham Walke before me to wit in faith and be thou vpright that is serue me syncerelie and preferre obedience toward me before al things This obedience through his faith Abraham declared when he was readie most willinglie to sacrifice at the commaundement of God his beloued sonne Isaac whome he loued aboue al the world Whereby it maie easilie be gathered that the endeuouring of the minde obtaineth the praise of perfection before God Moreouer as this eternal couenant of God with the Church hath for foundation and substance the promised seed So being shadowed by sundrie types in the old lawe at the length it was fulfilled by the comming of Christ into the world and confirmed with the bloud of Christe For the remembrance and ratifieng whereof Baptisme and the Lordes supper be instituted For as Baptisme is a couenant of a good conscience with God depending vpon the bloud of Christ whereby it is purged from dead workes So the Lordes supper is a commemoration of the same couenant touching our redemption established by the bloud of Christ. And therefore it is called the cup of the new Testament or cup of the couenant Wherfore you maie rightlie define this eternal couenant of God if you saie It is a couenant of attonement betwene God and men wherby both God and men are bound together God for his part promising yea by oath remission of sinnes and euerlasting life for the merits of Christe by whose bloud this couenant is confirmed men for their parts do both accept the promise through faith and also doe not onlie promise but also shewe due obedience through their faith Which being so it maie be asked whie in the scripture mention is made of a double couenant or testament namelie an old and a new For both the Lord by the Prophet Ieremiah doth saie so and the auctor also of the Epistle vnto the Hebrues staÌ„deth vpon that same grouÌ„d Behold the daies come saith the Lord that I wil make a new couenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Iudah Not according to the couenant that I made wiâ—h their fathers when I tooke theÌ„ by the hande to bring theÌ„ out of the lande of Egypt c. But this shal be the couenaÌ„t I wil make with the house of Israel After those daies saith the Lord I wil put my lawe in their inward parts and write it
the righteousnes thereof 4. Of the sacraments how manie theie are and what theie signifie THe sacrifice of Christ is applied both by the worde by faith and by the sacrament but diuerslie For by the word which is written in the heart by the holie spirite it is offered as by the hand of God By faith beeing conceaued of the word through the holie spirite it is receaued as by the hand of man And by the Sacraments as by the seale of God it is signed For he that beleeueth the preaching of the Gospel wherbie the benefite of Christ his sacrifice is offered by faith which is à worke not of nature but of grace in man he receaueth Christe wholie together with his benefites which benefites are sealed by the sacramentes as that holie Apostle Paule doeth teach Wherebie it appeareth how needeful the ministerie of the worde is as that which is ordained from heauen to offer this incomparable treasure to vs this is it which the Lorde saith Preach the Gospel to euerie creature Againe Teach al nations This ministerie the Apostles deliâ—ered by the handes as it were to posteritie and from them it is come vnto vs and shall not be abolished while this worlde shal endure although Satan with greate rage do persecute such as syncerelie do sound-out the Gospel And therefore it is our partes if we loue our saluation to heare to vnderstand to loue the worde of God to meditate ther-vpon al our life long yea and to beleeue the same and to liue thereafter that at the length we maie come vnto the desired end of happinesse For Dauid in the beginning of his Psalmes sange not in vaâ—e when he sange on this wise Blessed is the man who doeth meditate in the lawe that is in the doctrine of the Lorde daie and night But wherefore is he blessed Because the meditation of the worde worketh two thinges First that thou neither listen vnto the counsels of the wicked nor stand in the waie of sinners nor sit in the seate of the scorneful Secondlie that thou become like à tree planted by the riuers of waters that wil bring forth her fruite in due season vntil thou attaine vnto verie happines it selfe And therefore it is added in another Psalme Blessed are al that trust in him But on the other side where this worde of the Lord is neither loued nor hearkened vnto nor thought-vpon nor beleeued nor done man by litle and litle is wrapped in the counsels of the wicked carried violentlie into the waie of the sinners and at length blasphemeth God and al religion and becommeth à plaine epicure so that at length he feareth not in his hart to saie There is no God although the lieng toung saie otherwise And so he proueth like à tree planted in moste horrible filthinesse and diuelish mud to bring forth fruite meete for death damnation according as it is written in à certaine Psalme Theie be corrupted and abhominable in their waies And that deseruedlie For y e contempt of this word wherbie Christ himselfe doth offer himselfe vnto vs doth highlie offend God yea and bringeth vpon the contemners themselues and vpon their posteritie too blindenes or a reprobate minde al maner wickednes and filthinesse as Paule in his first Chapter vnto the Romans teacheth at large And in another Chapter the same Apostle doth saie Because theie receiued not the loue of the truth and therefore God shal send them strong delusion that there should beleeue lies And the euent in manie nations where Christ himselfe and the Apostles haue preached doth aunswere to this prophesie of Paul touching the punishment of such as contemne the worde of God Neither be the Turkish warres anie thing els but verie tokens of Gods displeasure for the contempt of his worde And therefore let vs be more circumspect by the harmes of other men and esteemâ— we greatlie the benefite of God who hath deliuered to vs his pure worde wherebie he doeth offer this infinite grace and benefite of the sacrifice of his sonne by whose merite we be deliuered from the power of sinne and death and endued with eternal righteousnesse and glorie Secondlie in the application of the sacrifice of Christ it is required that euerie one of yeeres doe beleeue For as the worde doth offer So faith which commeth by hearing of the worde doth receaue Christe wholie with al his merites and beleeueth that al sinnes be forgiuen for the sacrifice sake of the Sonne of God And therefore in the Christian Creede it is saide I beleeue the forgiuenes of sinnes that is I doe knowe and am firmelie persuaded that God according to his promise wil receaue me into fauour because of the sacrifice obedience of his Sonne and wil not impute my sinnes to me anie-more but vtterlie blot and forgiue yea and remember them no more For faith is not a wauering opinion but à certaine knowledge of the free promise and à firme confidence that sinnes be forgiuen for Christ his sake This faith as touching the certaintie thereof dependeth both vpon euident testimonies of the Scriptures vpon parables and vpon approued examples but as touching confidence it resteth onelie vpon the merite of Christ. Paul after Dauid saith Blessed are theie whose iniquities are forgiuen and whose sinnes are couered Blessed is the man to whome the Lord imputeth no sinne And Christ doth saie Sonne be of good comforte thie sinnes are forgiuen thee And to the ruler of the Synagogue the Lorde saith Onelie beleeue And to the woman which had an issue of bloud Thie faith hath made thee whole Among manie parables that is notable which is in the 18. chapter of Matthewe of him which did owe tenne thousand talentes and hauing not wherewith to discharge he was of meere grace forgiuen the debt Hitherto belongeth also the parable of the two debters and of the prodigal sonne Among examples the most excellent is of the Theefe whose sinnes were forgiuen him without anie merites either going-before or comming-afterward I omit Dauid Manasses Peter Paul Magdalene and others With this faith of the remission of sinnes two thinges are continualie ioined which although theie differ from the faith of the remission of sinnes yet can theie be separated at no time And theie are to speake with the Apostle Grace and Gifte of which I wil speake more distinctlie that we maie the better consider what à great blessing faith of the free remission of sinnes is Grace in this place is the verie iustification of à beleeuing man and from the cause is so caled For Paul in the 5. Chapter vnto the Romanes doeth saie so where he compareth sinne and grace together The iudgement came of one offence vnto condemnation but the grace of manie offences vnto iustification And As by the offence of one the fault came on al men to condemnation So by the
poore in spirit to the meeke to peace-makers to such as endure persecution c. But al those and the like sayings are not contrarie to our iudgement if any wil rightlie distinguish betwene y e causes and effectes of iustification the qualities of the iustified For it is one thing to speake of the reward of obedience and of the qualities of those who are alreadie iustified through faith and another thing of the causes of the matter that is of iustification Againe it is one thing to vse the wordes of Bernarde to speake of the causes of gouernement another of the waie to the kingdome Also it is one thing to speake of the essential principles of à thing another of the principles of knowledge But they obiect against vs as à strong buclar the saying of Christ If thou wilt enter into life keepe the commaundementes That is fulfill the lawe I aunswere Christ shewed à most readie waie vnto life euen the keeping of the commaundementes or fulfilling of the lawe But for that the fault is in vs that wee cannot fulfill the lawe Christ is become the ende of the lawe for righteousnes vnto euerie one that beleeueth And this is it which the same Paul saith in another place Through faith wee establish the lawe euen because through beleefe wee obtaine that which the lawe requireth namelie righteousnes The gift which we saide is conioined with the faith of remission of sinnes is the giuing of the holie Ghost whereby the man iustified onelie by faith is regenerated or sanctified that is is mortified quickened and becommeth à newe man purposing thence-forwarde as much as in him is to order his life according to the rule of Gods worde So that this gift is the cause and beginning of à newe life and obedience For wee are not iustified freelie by faith to the ende wee shoulde hence-forth liue to sinne but that deliuered from sinne wee shoulde serue God in righteousnes and holines all the daies of our life For Zacharias in his songe maketh this to bee the ende of the knowledge of saluation concerning the remission of sinns through the tender mercie of our God This ende of iustification Paule setteth in the 6. vnto the Romanes where by most euident argumentes he sheweth that sanctification is ioined with iustification And thus much briefelie touching y e grace of iustification and of the gifte of sanctification the which are linked with the faith of remission of sinnes and can no more be seuered from the same than maie heate from fire or the beame from the sunne Whereby it is apparent that the Papistes offer vs great iniurie in saying that we do abolish good works and loase y t bridles to men because we saie that by faith alone wee are iustified For they marke not howe wee doe put a difference betweene the proper benefite of Christ and our duetie which is ioined with faith But of iustification God willing wee will speake more at large in the exposition of the last verse of this Psalme the sundrie sorts of testimonies which are commonlie handled in this controuersie being distinguished The thirde place in the application of Christ wee ascribed to the sacramentse which not onelie do offer the merites of Christ the priest as the word doeth but also as seales doe assure thē vnto vs if so be the merits of Christ be reteined fast in the harts through faith For as without faith the word doth not applie the merites of Christ so without faith I speake of the elder sorte the sacramentes doe no good The sacraments which Christ hath cōmended to his Church be two to wit Baptisme the Lords supper wherof baptisme is à sacrament of the entrance into Christianitie therefore is but once takē as Christ died but once for vs. For as baptisme is an effectuall token of the death burial and resurrection of Christ so is it à sacrament of the couenant which God entereth-into with the baptized touching y e purging of sinnes and our reconciliation through Christ so is it also à signe of repentance and of the crosse and à testimonie of the resurrection to come And the Lord his supper is a sacrament of the confirmation and conseruation of Christianitie yea and a remembrance of the couenant established through the blood of Christ. Furthermore it is the meate whereby we are spiritualie nourished in the bodie of Christ therefore often it ought to be receaued The summe of al is this that the sacrament of the newe testament is both an externall signe of the couenant concerning our free iustification before God through the sacrifice of Christ and also a testifying and confirmation of the faith righteousnes of Gods people to him warde CHAP. 40. Of the perpetual vse of the sacrifice of Christ both in the conscience in the whole course of our life and at the houre of death AND although the vse of the sacrifice of Christ is wel nigh seene in the application yet the efficacie and power thereof is more apparent when the knoweledge is reduced vnto practise as it were This practise hath place in the conscience of euerie man in the whole course of life at the agonie of death The conscience of each man is stricken sore with a deadlie wounde vntil it bee healed by the application of physike with Christ alone the Physition doeth minister by his worde spirit In which respect he calleth himselfe the Physition of soules So y t when the conscience is stricken with y e remēbrance of sinne it must be healed by the faith of Christ his sacrifice which if it be liuelie it be sprinckeleth the cōscience with the most comfortable balme of the holie spirite wherewithal it is healed made quiet so that now it is iocound and merie and reioiceth as it were in the crosse of Christ whereas before it was troubled and greatlie vexed Whence proceedeth that saying of the triumphing conscience in Bernard Of the remission of sinnes saith hee I haue an vndoubted argument euen the passion of Christ. For the voice of his bloode crieth more shrillie than did the bloode of Habel crying in the heartes of the elect the forgiuenesse of all sinnes For he was betraied for our offences And no doubt his death is of more power and more effectuall to helpe vs than our sinnes to hurt vs. Such à conscience is neither broken with the threates of the lawe for it knoweth howe it is not vnder the law but vnder grace nor yeeldeth to the suggestions of satan for it knoweth howe the Prince of this worlde is alreadie cōdemned nor is moued with the argumentes of reason for it knoweth the power of him which hath promised and therefore glorifieth him To conclude it resteth quietlie in Christ looking for à ful redemption through the comming of the Sonne of God who shal change our vile bodie that it maie be fashioned like vnto his glorious
with his sacrifice taketh awaie all feare of death and maketh à mā no more to dread death than a sweet sleep Whereof it is that a godlie man desireth death euen as à passage out of these miseries vnto euerlasting life Then shal he find the saying of Christ to be true If à man keepe my worde hee shal neuer tast death Hence proceedeth y t willingnes in manie of the Martyrs who had in minde Christ not onelie that died but also y t did rise againe by whose power we shal be raised vnto immortalitie and our soules in the meane space euen vntil the daie of the laste iudgement shal possesse the ioies of heauen with the chast spirits and then ioined to their bodies shal enioie the sight of God immortal glorie for euer and euer And therefore it is not without iust cause said both in the Reuelatiō Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord and also by Dauid Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saincts Thus hitherto we haue spokē concerning the propitiatorie sacrifice of Christians of such things as do seeme to make for the plane declaration of the same nowe wee are brieflie to speake of the other sacrifice of Christians which they cal Euchatistical CHAP. 41. 1. Of the Priestes of the newe Testament howe they be consecrated 2. the couenant betweene God and them 3. The excellencie of the Priesthood 4. What is Eucharistical sacrifice 5. Whie so called 6. The kindes thereof 7. Ministers of the Gospel whie and howe Priestes THE Apostle Peter applied to such as doe conuert both from the Iewes and the Gentiles the promise of the Lorde which is in the 19. of Exodus to this purpose If yee wil heare my voice in deede and keepe my couenant then yee shal bee my chiefe treasure aboue al people though al the earth bee mine Yee shalbe also vnto mee à kingdome of Priestes and an holie nation à peculiar people that yee maie shew-forth the vertues of him that hath caled you out of darknes into his maruelous light Out of these words to omit other places it is manifest that all Christians bee Priestes to offer sacrifices of thankesgiuing and praise vnto God Firste therefore it is to bee noted that as by nature wee bee sinners and the children of wrath So by our owne strength worthinesse and merites wee can chalenge nothing at Gods hande And therefore as by that onelie sacrifice of Christ wee bee reconciled so of his goodnes wee enter into the order of priestes and are consecrated to him for to dedicate our selues and al ours vnto the glorie of God This our inauguration into y e priesthood because it is merlie spiritual internal is wroght by a secrete maner how it maie be declared after à sort by cōparing the truth vnto y e shadow As then they which were to be made priestes out of the tribe of Leui did first of al washe their bodies with water secondlie put vppon them the garmentes appointed of God thirdlie did annoint their heades and fourthlie filled their hands so they which shal be priestes in the newe Testament be spiritual ordained For first the high priest euē Christ doth wash them both with water and bloode Hee cleanseth vs saith Paul by the washing of water throgh the word to wit of God instituting ordaining baptisme Ioh. in the Reuelatiō saith He hath loued vs and washed vs from our sinnes in his bloode and made vs kinges and Priestes vnto God euen his father Secondlie the same Christ adorneth vs with spiritual garmentes much whiter and cleaner than those Leuitical garmentes For so Paul saith Alyee that are baptized into Christe haue put-on Christe And hauing him vpon vs wee seeme white that is righteous and holy in the sight of God Of this apparel the Psalme meaneth where it is said Let thie priests be clothed with righteousnes and let thie saintes reioice Thirdlie theie are annointed not with material fleeting oyle as Leuitical priests but with inward spiritual and immortal Whereof Paul speaketh saieng It is God who establisheth vs with you in Christ hath annointed vs. Who hath also sealed vs and hath giuen the earnest of the spirite in our heartes Of this ointment wherewith Christe annointeth vs we be called Christians and Priests Kinges and Prophets Marueilous is the force of this spiritual vnction For as the nature of the oile wherewithal the Priestes of the olde Lawe were annointed is to shine and to burne so the holie Spirite wherebie we are annointed for Priestes both lighteneth our mindes and setteth our heartes on fire that both the minde maie vnderstand what is good and behooueful and the heart zealouslie couet after the same And this commeth to passe when through faith conceaued by the preaching of the worde we bee rauished wholie with admiration of the great mercie of God who hath called vs out of darkenes into his marueilous light Last of al theie fil their handes that is theie shewe them-selues readie to offer vnto the Lorde For nowe they are no more their owne men but consecrated to God theie surcesse to liue and theie dedicate all the actions of their life vnto the seruice of God And being thus ordained we haue a certaine couenant also concluded betweene God and vs what that is I wil shew out of the words of Malachie The words of the Prophet are these My couenant was with him of life and peace and I gaue him feare and he feared me and was afraid before my name The lawe of truth was in his mouth and there was none iniquitie founde in his lips he walked with me in peace and equitie and did turne manie awaie from iniquitie For the Priestes lips should preserue knowledge and theie should seeke the lawe at his mouth for he is the messenger of the Lorde of hostes And although the Prophete here speaketh of the Leuitical priestes yet it is fitlie applied also to al Christians who are in the sight of God much more excellent priestes being roial than were the Leuitical Out of which wordes of the Prophet the forme of the couenant maie thus be made As the Lorde promiseth life and peace so doth he require also feare through faith For as in al couenantes there is à mutual obligation so here too God promiseth peace and life which two thinges are opposed against the wrath of God and euerlasting death But the partes of the couenant in respect of our selues are manie in this place which naturalie do hang together The first whereof is à syncere feare of God springing of Faith which the Prophete meaneth when he saith The beginning of wisedome is the feare of the Lorde Againe The holie feare of the Lorde endureth for euer The second the lawe of truth in his mouth that is true holie sounde doctrine And although eùerie Christian mà ie not teach
publiquelie yet is it necessarie that all Christians do both knowe and confesse too the doctrine of Christ. The third and there is none iniquitie founde in his lips that is he shunneth false and forged doctrine yea and abhorreth as the pestilence whatsoeuer commeth not from the mouth of the Lorde And therefore Christe saith to all Beware of false Prophetes The fourth He walked in peace and equitie that is he studied to order his life according to the rule of my iustice by keeping peace and equitie with his neighbours And this parte of the couenant Christ also and the Apostles doe applie to all Christians The fifte He turned manie awaie from iniquitie to wit both by word by deede by example this euerie man wil grant al Christians ought to do To conclude as God promiseth life and peace so we are bounde againe to him through faith and obedience Moreouer with the priesthood of Christians manie thinges are ioined which make much for the knowledge of the dignitie and excellencie thereof But the special thinges are which Peter numbreth-vp to wit that Christians are à spiritual house à holie and à roial Priesthood à chosen generation an holie nation à peculiar people and that which passeth al that theie are and be called the children of the liuing God Of this excellent dignitie of Christians Iohn speaketh when he saith To them that beleeue in his name he gaue power to be the sonnes of God Which sentence is both truelie and elegantlie brought into these Verses by Nonnus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is to expresse them in à maner word for worde One happie state of heauenlie blisse to al gaue hee That sonnes of euerlasting God theie might cald bee This honour which none sufficientlie can commend ought both to reclaime vs from al filthinesse vnseemelie for the temple of God vnseemelie for roial priestes vnseemelie for à chosen generation for an holie nation vnseemelie vnseemelie for the peculiar people and sonnes of God and to prouoke vs also vnto the seruice of God continualie to offer acceptable sacrifice to God throgh Iesus Christ. For of right our consecration into the priesthoode of Christ doth require the same Because we are priestes to offer sacrifices not propitiatorie which belonged onelie to Iesus Christ the hie priest but Eucharistical and those perpetual Wherefore as the Leuites at certaine daies appointed houres did offer according vnto the Lawe of Moses and after waited vntil their turne came after the Ecclesiastical ordinance of Dauid So are not Christian priestes to intermitte sacrifice but continualie and without ceassing theie must haue ful handes and offer continual sacrifice vnto the Lorde What is Eucharistical sacrifice The Eucharistical sacrifice of Christians is euerie action and passion commanded of God separated from the prophane actions and passions of the world through saith wherewithall as seasoned with salt it is inflamed and sanctified by the holie Ghoste as by fire from heauen and through the merite of Christe is accepted of God into glorie through y e same Iesus Christ. And this is called an Eucharistical sacrifice from the proper end thereof because it is an oblation of our thankfulnes For being reconciled to God through the propitiatorie sacrifice of Christ we offer to him our obedience we honor praise him and continualie giue him thankes For Christ being apprehended by faith giueth the holie Ghost which createth à newe heart within vs and à willing minde wherebie we offer this our gratefulnes to God Nowe it is necessarie that we consider why our obedience is called à sacrifice For the opening of this phraze wil notablie stir vs vp vnto the studie of obedience So then the workes of Christians are called sacrifices by à certaine relation vnto the sacrifices of the olde Iewes For as theie were commanded from heauen to the Priestes were chosen applied sanctified and accepted so in our sacrifices it is necessarie that there be à commandement à choise an application a sanctificatiō and that they be accepted of God In y e old law it was not lawful to offer à sow or anie vnclean beast by the law but onlie such as were cleane according to the lawe So the workes that Christians should offer must not be vncleane that is either forbidden by the worde of God or hypocritical or superstitious but such as GOD commandeth Therefore the Lorde saith by the Prophet Walke in my statutes Secondlie as the cleane lambe which should be offered was separated from the rest of the flocke So by faith our workes are to be separated from the like workes of prophane people The Pharisee gaue almes so did Cornelius the Courtier yet was the Pharisees almes vncleane the courtiers cleane because through faith it was separated from the almes of the Pharisee Thirdlie as the ceremonial sacrifice was applied to the altar by the hand of the priest beeing laide there-vpon so our workes shal be applied to the altar through Christ by whose handling they are sanctified Fourthlie as those olde sacrifices were consumed with fire from heauen and sanctified and so accepted so our sacrifices through the merite of Christ inflamed by the holie Ghost are sanctified with fire from heauen and are accepted through Christe as Peter saith For seeing al our own obedience is vnperfect in euerie work we offend partlie by omitting somewhat partlie by doing more than we ought for at no time our obedience is perfect and ful it cannot be that our sacrifices of them-selues should please God Wherefore as through the merite of Christ theie are sanctified so also through Christ as Peter saith theie are acceptable For Christ maketh our obedience grateful and deserueth that our obedience both in the crosse also in the lawe of sacrifice is commended So y t our sacrifices please not in respect of any excellencie of merit but throgh Christ in whō God waieth our works y t he maie accept them as most worthie sacrifices For as the faultie sacrifice of the olde people which came to the altar through error touched y e altar was not chāged for a better but was taken as purged and holie by reason it had touched the holie place so our workes albeit theie are verie faultie yet become theie cleane and apte for holie sacrifice and acceptable to GOD through touching our altar Christ who through faith is touched And although the summe of the doctrine of the Christians sacrifices maie be vnderstoode by that wich is spoken yet to make it the more euident we wil more particularlie entreate of them that it maie appeare howe theie agree together and folowe each of other Among the sacrifices of Christians in the first place is the offering of our selues which is done in Baptisme and answereth to the washing which was vsed at the consecration of Leuitical Priestes For through baptisme we are visiblie and sacramentalie seuered from the prophane world
euerlasting wrath and malediction for our sinnes This power of the worde of God Ieremiah the Prophete sheweth by à double comparison in these words Is not my worde like à fire saith the Lord and like an hammar that breaketh the stone Moreouer this contrition of the heart and this humiliation is then an holie sacrifice to the honour of God when through faith it is separated from worldelie sorrowe such as Cains Achitophels and Iudas was and when by the same faith it is laide vpon the altar Christ by whose merite it is sanctified and accepted as we see in Dauid For he in the middest of al his vexations of minde ranne vnto the mercie of God and beleeued howe his sinne was pardoned through the sacrifice of Christ. This kinde of sacrifice proposeth plentiful store of comforte before the eies of miserable sinners which are griued with the heauie burthen of their sinnes For when it telleth the sinner that à contrite and à sorrowful heart is in the nostrils of God as à sacrifice of sweete incense it euidentlie sheweth both that our repentance pleaseth God and that GOD earnestlie requireth the same and that he wil also receiue such as vnfeinedlie repent into fauour againe Let vs therefore beware that with Caine we saie not Mine inquitie is greater then Gods mercie but with Augustine rather Thou liest Caine for greater is Gods mercie then the iniquitie of al sinners And therefore let vs offer vnto God the sacrifice of à contrite and broken hearte contrite with the hammer of the Lawe broken vnder the mightie hande of GOD and let vs beleeue that God for his Christs sake doth trulie pardon such as by true repentance forsake their sinnes Let the sixt kinde of sacrifice be obedience in the crosse and in euerie outward affliction This obedience is likewise adorned with the name of sacrifice that we may knowe how God liketh verie wel thereof For as the obedience of Christ in the crosse was à grateful sacrifice to God so our obedience in al troubles pleaseth God not for it selfe but in respect of faith whereby it is seuered from the punishments of the vngodly is laide vpon the altar Christ through touching of whom it is sanctified and accepted of God So Iob separateth his affliction through faith from the afflictions of the wicked worlde and presenteth it before God and burneth it vpon the altar Christ while he dependeth vpon the merit Christ which he testifieth he did in these wordes I am sure that my Redeemer liueth which were the wordes of Faith whereby Iobs obedience vâ—der the crosse was seasoned as with salte The seuenth sacrifice of Christians maie be of righteousnesse according to that Offer the sacrifice of righteousnesse By righteousnesse I vnderstande both generall and particular righteousnesse whereby the publike welfare is sought The Lord preferreth mercie before the sacrifices of the olde law when he saith I desired mercie and not sacrifice And in the Epistle vnto the Hebrues To doe good and to distribute forget not for with such sacrifices God is pleased Vnder this kind the chastitie of Ioseph is comprehended For Ioseph his chastitie thorough faith differeth from the chastitie of Zenocrates and through the same he bringeth it before GOD and seasoned with the salt of faith he putteth it vpon the altar Christe whereby it is both sanctified and accepted of God and adorned with great rewards The sacrifice of each mans calling occupieth the eight place For when the lawfull calling of euerie man is zealouslie exercised through faith vnto the glorie of GOD and profite of mankinde it is à piece of iustice which God vouchsafeth the name of sacrifice Scipio fighteth for his countrie and also Dauid fighteth for his countrie but Dauids wars enioined him of God differ from the warres of Scipio and for the Messiahs sake promised he beleeueth his warlike paines are grateful and acceptable to God Beside the aboue numbred kindes of sacrifices which are common to al Christians of what state or degree soeuer they be there is one more peculiar to the Ministers of the Gospel Whereof Paule speaketh after this manner Grace is giuen me of God that I should be the minister of Iesus Christe toward the Gentiles ministring the Gospel of God that the offering vp of the Gentiles might be acceptable being sanctified by the holie Ghost Here Paul alluding vnto the mysteries which were ministred by the Leuitical Priestes saith he doth minister the Gospel of God that is doth make him selfe à Priest in the ministerie of the Gospel while he bringeth the hearers of the Gospel from the wickednes of the worlde maketh them to obeie the wil of God laieth them vpon the altar Christ by whose blood theie be purified by whose obedience iustified and by whose spirit theie are sanctified that their sacrifice maie be acceptable to God through Iesus Christ. Nowe seeing the like reason is of al the ministers of the Gospel and the same ende namelie to bring men vnto Christ hauing renounced the vngodlinesâ— of the world that through the holie spirit theie maie be sanctified to the ende their oblation maie be holie and accepted of God through Christ it is manifest that theie maie fitlie be called Priestes by which title both theie themselues are put in minde of the dignitie of their ministerie of the efficacie of the word and of the courage of minde constancie that is required in so greate à place and the hearers to receaue much comfort while theie perceaue that their obedience toward the Gospel is set forth with the title of sacrifice Wherebie we maie vnderstand howe grateful the conuersion of sinners is before God As often therefore as the ministers of the Gospel through sound doctrine either do conuert Infidels vnto Christ or reuoke such as goe astraie or lift vp those which were fallen or coÌ„uince y e obstinate or finalie awake such as are secure and sluggish theie do the office of gods priestes and maie rightlie be caled the priests of God Who as the Leuitical priestes vnder one hie priest so theie vnder one Christ the onlie propiciatorie sacrifice doe solemnize the holie mysteries teaching the Gospel of Christ. But then not afore deserue theie this honorable title when both by sound doctrine and holie conuersatioÌ„ theie set vpon the kingdome of Sathan and builde vp of the temple of God For it belongeth vnto the ministers of God not onelie by words to teach but also by good workes to giue light vnto others that therbie namelie through synceritie of doctrine and innocencie of life as it were by two torches they maie conduct meÌ„ out of y e kingdome of darknes into y e kingdome of light So that theie are as to teach the trueth of the gospel by words so to expresse the same by their liues that outwarlie men maie behold that with their eies in example which by voice is vttered for the edification of their minds For
want of good thinges feare of greater miserie I answere we must distinguish betweene the waie vnto happines and the ful fruition of the same While we liue in this worlde we are in the waie either towarde endlesse miserie or eternal blessednesse but our bodies being raised againe we shalbe either euerlastinglie miserable or euerlastinglie blessed And thereof the state of our life is saide to be either happie or wretched in respect of the euent For which cause there is no truer happines of this life than that which beginneth euerlasting happines no truer miserie than y t which leadeth vnto euerlasting miserie Wherfore Christ saieing y t such as mourne are blessed and y t such are blessed as suffer persecutiō for righteousnes sake speaketh of them which are in y e waie to euerlasting blessednes which afterward thei shal perfectlie inioie whē toge with the sonne of God with whome theie haue suffered in the death theie shal reigne in heauen Wherebie it is apparent what those phrazes of speech doe meane in which godlie men are called blessed namelie because theie are in the waie and go-forward vnto that happines which theie begin in this world Therefore saith Dauid Blessed are they which are vpright in the waie And for instruction sake there maie foure steps of this waie be set-downe of which in order we will entreate The first steppe is to haue and to heare the worde of God that is the Lawe and the Gospel of Iesus Christ. By the one namelie the Lawe we learne how miserable we are through sinne which hath separated betweene vs and our God the fountaine of true happinesse by the other to wit the Gospel howe blessed we shal be here-after if we hearken vnto the worde which pointeth vnto Christ the onelie waie to blisse Without this step none be he neuer so wise neuer so mightie so noble so rich so at heartes ease and pleasure can attaine so much as à smal hope of blessednesse Wherefore when the Lorde saieth Blessed are theie which heare the worde of God and keepe it And Dauid Blessed is the man which doth meditate in the Lawe of the Lorde daie and night Againe Blessed are theie which keepe his testimonies and seeke him with their whole heart theie doe point vnto this first steppe vnto blessednesse Philosophie and the wisedome of this world be it highlie commended yet what is it being compared to this worde which directeth vs vnto euerlasting happinesse Philosophie and worldlie wisedome what else can it do than rule this transitorie which wee cal the natural life which is contained within à verie smal compasse of time But heauenlie wisedome sheweth vs the life of grace which is immortal and the beginning of happinesse Hence then we maie see and weie the worthinesse of the doctrine of the Church which sheweth the waie vnto eternal life blessednes to al men But humane reason is much deceaued here For when it seeth manie nations of men at this daie to want the worde of God it forgeth destinies and is carried-awaie with Stoical imaginations so that contrarie vnto Gods worde it thinketh that God is an accepter of persons and wil not the saluation of al men but onelie of à fewe When this was obiected to Paul he made this answere Haue theie not heard No doubt their sound went-out through al the earth and their words into the ends of the world So that the Gospel hath sounded ouer the whole earth wherebie God doeth testifie that he would haue all men to be saued But manie at this daie neither haue neither doe theie heare the Gospel That is verie true But the reason our Lord yeeldeth where he saith The kingdome of God shalbe taken from you and shalbe giuen to à nation which shal bring-forth the fruites thereof The cause hereof in this place is expressed plainlie to be the extreme ingratitude of men toward God For when he offereth them saluation theie doe kil his ministers and abuse Christe with contumelious speeches And therefore iustlie he doth punishe them in taking the meane of saluation from the vngrateful So that the nations of men which haue not the worde of God shold not bring destinies into our mindes but these two thinges rather First that the displeasure of God against the contemners of the Gospel is verie greeuous whereof it is that oftentimes he suffereth his worde vtterlie to be taken from the vngrateful and their seede after them who together with their parentes doe foster vngodlinesse in their heartes Secondlie that being made more warie by the example of others we shewe our selues thankefull to God for his Gospel bringing forth fruites worthie the Gospel which vnlesse we doe we shal as theie are and perchance more greeuouslie be punished which thing we maie learne by the parable of the vine Nowe in what sorte we are to strengthen our mindes against Stoical imaginations touching particulars we haue else-where declared especialie vpon the 9. Chapter vnto the Romans and vpon the first vnto the Ephes. Neither do I meane that the Word simplie is à step vnto blessednes but with an adiunct namelie when it is beleeued For vnlesse we giue credite vnto the worde when we heare in the same the sound of the Gospel is to vs euen the sauour of death that is the verie waie vnto euerlasting miserie not of it owne nature but through our default and cursed ingratitude And that the knowledge of the word faith are to be ioined-together in the first step our Lord sheweth when he saith This is life eternal that theie knowe thee to be the onelie verie God and Iesus to be Christ whom thou hast sent For knowledge comprehendeth both an vnderstanding out of the worde and faith also proceeding from knowledg Therefore when it is saide Blessed are theie which heare the word must be vnderstood with a condition of faith Nowe whie the hearers of the worde and beleeuers are blessed Paul teacheth when out of the 32. Psalme he saith Blessed are theie whose iniquities are forgiuen Howe so Because theie which beleeue the word of God offering free reconciliation haue remission of sinnes theie which haue remission of sins be righteous but the righteous shal liue euen by the sentence of the Lawe an euerlasting life which theie begin in this world theie which liue an euerlasting life are blessed therefore such as beleeue the Gospel are blessed as theie which are now in the right waie and goe on toward happinesse The second step is through obedience toward God to proceede in the waie according to the rule of the worde and spirite of faith This doth Dauid meane when he saith Blessed is the man that feareth the Lorde and delighteth greatlie in his commandementes Againe Blessed are those that are vpright in their waie and our Lord when he said Blessed are the meeke blessed are the peacemakers blessed are the
watering of the newe plantes springing-vp in the Church So that à Martyr in suffering doeth not suffer for himselfe onelie as Ambrose saith but also for euerie man For himselfe hee suffereth to bee crowned for euerie man hee suffereth to giue them an example For himselfe to his rest for euerie man to their welfare And although the verie feare of GOD onelie bee à sufficient cause why that Martyrs shoulde endure tormentes couragiouslie for the feare of God shoulde worke so that wee must contemne all other feares after the example of y e Apostles who at the first being sharpelie whipped greeued no whit thereat but triumphed sorowed not but reioiced that they were counted worthie to suffer rebuke for the name of Iesus yet the auncient writers doe make foure causes of the same which they mention on this wise The loue of Christ commaundeth Fortitud◠ouercommeth feare Faith confirmeth the mind patience endureth But in à Martyr I require these thinges in order The firste is à firme knowledge and demonstration of the doctrine of the Church the seconde a liuelie faith in Christ the thirde a constant confession and defence of the doctrine the fourth courage of mind to beare the crosse the fifth obedience or patience vnder the crosse the sixte an inuincible hope the seauenth inuocation of GOD to which together with the cause he shoulde commende his soule All which are euident in Stephan the Proto-martyr For neither as Augustine saith can they haue the life of Martyrs who haue not the liues of Christians seeing it is not the punishment but the cause that maketh à Martyr Wherefore the punishment of Anabaptistes and other obstinate heretikes is not martyrdome but a iust punishment due to them by God and the lawes Manie fanatical heads indeede approch without feare vnto the tormentes but it is because they are deluded by Sathan who endeuoreth by their paines to confirme erroneous opinions vnto the destruction of the Church And therefore let vs duelie consider the cause whie we suffer martyrdome least through the delusiōs of y e diuel we be bewitched for to suffer persecutiō to be in prison to be whipped to be kept frō libertie to be killed is no praise but this is praiseworthie to haue a good cause For y e praise consisteth in y e goodnes of cause not in the bitternesse of punishment Neither would I haue anie man for some certaine opinion not contrarie to the foundation of religion to bring himselfe into danger especialie if the iudgementes of the godlie which agree-together in the grounde are diuerse which notwithstanding maie stande without shaking the foundation I meane the article of faith Heere happilie some enquirer of the iudgementes of GOD maie demaunde howe it commeth to passe that God beeing most righteous can suffer his sainctes whome most entirelie hee doeth loue to bee torne after such an horrible sorte and to be mangled and deformed with such contumelies and that of Sathan and his members Heere wee must open the eie not of reason but of faith not the sense of fleshe but of the spirit must be consulted withal that we maie clerelie beholde the trueth and knowe that nothing commeth to the Sainctes of God without his prouidence vnder the shadow whereof they are couered I confesse indeede it is à trim sight for the Diuel to see Abel murthered of his owne brother Daniel cast into the Lyons denne Iob spoiled of his goodes and replenished with botches Steuen to bee stoned yea and all the sainctes with tormentes and shame to bee executed to death But I confesse too that in the eies of God who testifieth that in his sight the death of his Saintes is pretious it is à much more goodlie sight yet not of it selfe but in respect of the euent And therefore both God and the diuel also wil the punishment of the saintes but not both alike but with à diuers affection and purpose For God of mercie suffereth his Saintes to be afflicted but the diuel persecuteth them of malice God that theie maie be crowned the diuel that theie maie be confoūded God as à Father the diuel as à tyran and hangman God for his owne glorie the diuel to his owne confusion Of these causes Augustine speaketh on this wise Euerie wicked man in himselfe hath à will to hurt but yet hath no power in himselfe that he maie hurte that he would he is now accused that he maie through the secrete dispensation of God he is giuen to one to be punished to another to be proued to another to be crowned To be punished the Israelites were deliuered into the handes of strangers because theie had sinned against God To be proued Iob was deliuered to Satan And Iob was proued but Satan put vnto shame To be crowned the Martyrs were tormented of bloudie persecutors And therefore à great deale more happie are the martyrs in their torments than the moste mightie monarches in their delitiousnes riches honour and pleasures Which thing Augustine also doth witnesse when he saith The men of this world are vnhappilie happie but the Martyrs were happilie vnhappie For theie were vnhappie for à time but theie are happie for euer According to the worde of the LORDE Blessed are theie which suffer persecution for righteousnes sake This successe of the Martyrs is notablie described by the Psalmist in these words Theie that doe sowe in teares shall reape in ioie Theie went weeping and carried pretious seede but theie shal returne with ioie and bring their sheaues And hence it is that the holie Martyrs of God doe cast their eies and their minde not vnto the time of sowing and to the purpose of Sathan that would vtterlie ouerwhelme y e Church of God in the streames of blood but especiallie vnto the most ioieful time when the sheaues shalbee gathered together with gladnes and vnto the reuerend prouidence of God who after this maner by his wise counsel wil haue his saintes to be exercised in this life that theie maie be like his sonne both in the crosse in glorie Whence it is that the holie Martyrs of God doe comfort them-selues in the middes of tormentes For theie knowe That light affliction which is but for à moment causeth vnto them à farre more excellent and an eternal waight of glorie that as it is in the Epistle vnto the Hebrues Chastising bringeth the quiet fruite of righteousnes Hitherto maketh that adhortation of Peter Reioice in asmuch as ye are partakers of Christes sufferings that when his glorie shal appeare ye maie be glad and reioice By the remembrance of this prouidence of God let vs strengthē our minds against the offence of the crosse think-vpō à ioiful euent to wit howe theie who in this world beare witnes to Christ shal in y e worlde to come be eternalie blessed with Christ. Furthermore it maie be asked with what seruice are y e martyrs to be worshipped especialie for
so much as we see temples to be erected wherin the names of martyrs and of others are placed and festiual daies ordained in their honor worship Vnto this question out of Cyril where he refelled the slaunders of Iulian I doe thus answere We doe saie how the holie martyrs be no Gods neither haue we vsed to worship them But we praise them with great honor for so much as valiantlie theie haue foughten for the truth and kept the synceritie of the faith And Augustine The examples of the saintes are not set before vs that we should of them be iustified but that following their foote-steps we maie knowe how he hath iustified vs who iustified them Therefore if either temples be erected vnder the names of Martyrs or Feastes bee instituted in their momorie I mislike it not so it be done not for worshippe sake but onelie to retaine themâ—in remembrance and to recite their actes that others maie both thanke God for their constancie and imitate their examples if anie occasion shal seeme to require the same The thinges which Monkes doe tell of martyrs are but meere fables and illusions As that Martyrs at the houre of their martyrdome haue begged of God that so manie as beare their passions in memorie and worship them vpon fasting and ember daies maie be deliuered from certaine diseases Which their lies are so abhominable as nothing can be more For did the holie martyrs make such a request theie were extreame blasphemers of God his holie Name Besides the Papistes doe faigne howe the martyrs of God for three causes are to be worshipped The first whereof is the neede we stand in the second the glorie of the martyrs the thirde the reuerence of God But al these rotten reasons are ouerthrown as it were with a thunder-bolt from heauen by this saieng of the Lord Thou shalt worship the Lorde thie God and him onelie shalt thou serue If then necessitie doe presse thee downe followe the example of Dauid who saith Mine helpe commeth from the Lord which hath made the heauen and the earth For that is the commandement of the Lord Call-vpon mee in the daie of trouble And the truth it selfe doeth saie Whatsoeuer yee shal aske the father in my Name he wil giue it you And whereas theie saie the glorie of Saints is more knowen through calling-vpon them to witte while we obtaine that which we aske by the helpe of them that is open blasphemie and reproch against the sonne of God yea and most filthie idolatrie which all the saintes do abhorre Neither is that of greater force that theie saie the reuerence toward God doth require that a sinner who hath offended God should not approch vnto God himselfe without a patron As though that patron did not suffice whome we haue in heauen euen Iesus Christe the righteous If anie man sinne saith Iohn we haue an aduocate with the Father Iesus Christ the iust And he is the reconciliation for our sinnes and not for ours onelie but also for the sinne of the whole world And therefore the Papistes doe both deceaue and are deceaued of Satan who hath brought the worship of Saints into the world euen vtterlie to abolish or at the least to blemish the office of our onelie Mediator Iesus Christ to make the Saintes infamous and finallie that y e idolatrous worshippers of Saints maie be partakers of his eternal tormentes So then omitting fables and delusions of the diuel let vs imitate the examples of the saintes in al their wel-doing and prepare we our selues to enter into troubles for the truth of God so long as we goe on warfare vpon this earth And that this is the true vse of the memorie of Saintes Augustine also doth witnesse when he saith There is none haue à better waie to instruct the people of God than Martyrs examples are of more force thâ—n wordes and better is it by deede than by voice to teach Besids it is demanded whether it be lawful for any maÌ„ to seâ— himself against tyraÌ„ts which maintaine idolatrie especialie seing that Christians are commanded to obeie euen the cruel For so Peter saith Be ye subiect to your Masters withal feare not onelie to the good courteous but also to be froward This commandement of the Apostle wherby we are commanded to obeie euen the froward is not so to be vnderstoode as though we should obeie them in matters against our saluation but theie are to be followed so long as theie command either such thinges as are honest or thinges against right if so be theie onelie make vs miserable in respect of our bodies not vngodlie in respect of our soules Therfore Polycarp doth â—aie That honour is to bee giuen to the Magestrate which is not contrarie to religion If therfore he command thee to do against religion answere with Peter we ought rather to obeie God than man For we obeie the Magistrat euen because God hath commanded that we should And therefore if he command that which God hath forbidden theie are held excused by the commandement of à superior namelie God and deliuered from obedience to the inferior which is man be he notwithstanding for authoritie mightie But by the waie it is to be noted that tyraâ—tes are to be resisted two manner of waies One is when subiectes doe improue wicked decrees as those three yong-men of whome Daniel speaketh refused to adore the image erected by the tyrant and chose to be cast into the burning fornace rather then theie would obeie the wicked commandement of the Tyrant For this commandement Flie from idolatrie bindeth al men be theie of what state oâ— degre so-euer The other waie to resist tyrantâ— is when subiectes flie vnto their weapons wherebie theie remoue-awaie wicked commandementes Here à question is moued whether it be lawfull for the maintenance of religion to resist tyrans and by sworde to hinder wicked and vngodlie decrees In this place I distinguish betweene them that are vnder one chief head whether he be à King or an Emperor or anie other Monarch For some are subiectes simplie some are Magistrates next vnto the cheef Magistrate theie are caled popular magistrates such were in time passed at Lacedemonia the Ephors at Athens the Demarches at Rome the Tribunes of the people and are at this daie the Septeâ—â—â—irie in the Romane Empire the chiefe Senatorâ— next vnto Kinges in euerie Realme These for somuchas theie are placed of God first to be the keepers of the first and second tables y t is to see that true religion be professed â— and honest discipline in vse then to moderate and if neede require to bridle the raging desires of kinges and monarches when theie set-downe anie thing against the lawes and religion these I saie both maie yea and are bound first by counsel so much as maie be to set theÌ„selues against tyrants and by their wisedome stop their foolish enterprises But
if by theiâ— wise counsel theie preuaile nothing with the tyrants then are theie bound yea with weapons to defend godlie subiectes and remoue-awaie idolatrie restore true religion which thing if theie doe not theie discharge their duties but fraudulentlie And although the Church doeth not encrease by warres yet outward violence which is offered to religion by tyrantes maie by the magistrate placed betweene the cheefe head and priuate men be repelled by force Which thing both nature teacheth and the office of the popular magistrate requireth and the examples of holie men doe confirme wherefore let the magistrates and moderators of the cheefe head haue this saieng of the Lorde before their eies Giue vnto Caesar the things which are Caesars and giue vnto God those things which are Gods CHAP. 4. 1. An allegorical representatioÌ„ of the office of ministers 2. The sundrie significations of the worde Wel or fountaine in the Scriptures AND DIGGETH A WEL. THis fourth member touching the teachers of the Church is an allegorical image of the ministers of the worde This pleasant allegorie doeth admonish vs of manie thinges First it sendeth vs vnto the verie fountaine namelie vnto God himselfe And God is called á well both because he hath al good things from himselfe and also for that he doth communicate from theÌ„ce with his creatures without anie hinderance to himselfe For God ministreth to al lacking nought and receauing nothing of anie man Of this fountaine the Psalme speaketh My soule thirsteth for God euen for the liuing God And y e Lord by the Prophet Ieremiah doth saie My people haue committed two euils they haue forsaken mee the fountane of liuing waters to digge them pittes euen broken pittes that can holde no water And the Lorde in the Gospel calleth himselfe à Well The water issuing from this fountane is both the gift of the holie ghost Therefore saith the Prophet I wil powre-out my spirit vpon all flesh and also the doctrine of the Gospel or the promise of Christ. These are wholesome waters indeede wherewithall the hot and troubled consciences are cooled And y e doctrine puffeth not vp but is spiritual and withal cooleth the heart from the lustes of the worlde inflameth with the loue of GOD. Which wholesome waters Peter calleth the wordes of eternal life when he saith Master to whome shal wee goe Thou hast the wordes of eternal life Therefore in the Reuelation Christ saith I wil giue to him that is à thirst of the wel of the water of life freelie And as this liuing water is offered through the preaching of the Gospel so by faith it is drawen and taken according to the wordes of the Lorde He that beleeueth in me shal neuer thirst Hitherto maketh that saying of Isaiah With ioie shall yee drawe waters out of the wels of saluation And yee shall saie in that daie Praise the Lord cal-vpon his name Secondlie it signifieth that men are altogether vncleane and drie vnlesse they bee watered with the waters of this fountane and bee filled Because no man as Bernard saith is cleane from filth all men haue neede of the well of mercie and with à like desire shoulde hasten vnto this well with Noah Daniel Iob. And the Lorde saith Whosoeuer drinketh of the water that I shal giue him shall neuer be more à thirst Of this water also the Prophet Zechariah did prophecie in these wordes And in that daie shall there waters of life go-out from Ierusalem that is the preaching of the Euangelical doctrine which hauing proceeded from Iudea and Ierusalem shall bee sowed afterwarde ouer the whole worlde Thirdlie it calleth vs back from puddles and cisterns which either haue no water at all or if they haue it is muddie and vncleane yea and infected with poison that is it reclaimeth vs from the doctrines of men and diuels the which doe kill such as drinke thereof with their poison Moreouer Dauid in this allegorical picture hath an eie first vnto the type of the ministerie of the Gospell which is proponed in Genesis where it is saide That out of Eden went à riuer that watered the whole worlde Christ our Lorde is that liuing fountane buried in the earth but from the harte of the earth it springeth à liuing well to water the face of the whole earth that is to refresh so manie as dwel vpon the earth with the most comfortable waters of his Gospel that theie neuer thirst more Secondlie vnto that fountaine of water which issued from the harde rocke and followed the people Which rocke as the Apostle teacheth was à figure of Christ. Whose water did signifie the most delectable liquor of the Gospel Thirdly he had respect vnto the condition of men in his time which dwelled far-of from Ierusalem For theie thorough the vales of â—eares went vnto Ierusalem at the hie feastes and in their tedious iourneie with great labor digged the earth to finde water for the quenching of their thirst And therfore in the spirite sawe how the great paines of the ministers was signified who not without infinite troubles and persecutions should drawe water out of the fountaines of saluation wherebie theie might refresh those which thirst after their soules health CHAP. 5. 1. Howe the teachers in the Church are blessed prosper 2. Their enimies who theie be 3. Whether in the time of persecution theie maie flie or no 4. Comfortes for the Ministers in their conflictes DOVTLESSE WITH BLESSINGS SHAL THE TEACHER BE CROWNED 7 THEIE GOE FROM VICTORIE VNTO VICTORIE THis fift member of the description containeth à promise of blessing for the teachers of the Church of good successe in the ministerie This promise coÌ„prehendeth as most plentiful doctrine so most sweete comfort The doctrine is how the ministerie of the worde should prosper Of this efficacie the Prophet Isaiah speaketh on this wise As the raine commeth down the snow from heauen returneth not thither but watereth the earth and maketh it to bring-forth and bud that it maie giue seede to the sower and bread vnto him that eateth So shal my worde be that goeth-out of my mouth it shal not returne vnto me voide but it shal accomplish that which I will and it shal prosper in the thing whereto I sent it As if he saide The worde of promise which at my commandement ye are to preach shal euermore be of force For as the raine which at my bidding watereth the earth and maketh it fruiteful so that of á litle seede the husbandmen gather such an haruest that not onlie theie feede their owne familie therewithal but also haue sufficient seede for the yeare ensuing so also shal the seede of my worde bee fruitfull and prosper so that the sowers of the worde maie bring-home abundance of fruite Afterward when he addeth They goe from victorie vnto victorie He signifieth how the teachers of y e Church shall
not want enimies whome notwithstanding they shall ouercome through the power of GOD wherewith they are strengthened Moreouer the enimies with whome the souldiers of the Church that is the preachers of the worde do encounter they are the diuel and his garde tyrantes sophisters hypocrits and Epicures Against these enimies the ministers of the Gospell enter into the feelde being armed with spirituall armor of which armor wee haue alreadie spoken The Diuel he laieth snares both for the doctrine and for the life of the ministers of the worde that by either or by both he maie ouerthrowe vs. Against this enimie we are to fight by synceritie of doctrine by innocencie of life and by ardent calling-vppon the Lorde of hoastes Submit your selues to God saith Iames resist the diuel and he wil flie from you And as he is obedient to GOD which giueth credite to his worde and liueth according vnto the same So hee resisteth the Diuel inuading the worde and the life who retaineth synceritie of doctrine liueth innocentlie and calleth earnestlie vppon GOD. But when this thadgeth not well with him that is when hee is not able either to corrupte the doctrine or to marre the life hee flieth and confesseth himselfe to bee ouercome And because hee is much more mightier than man is this promise is deepelie to be engrauen in the heart And he will flie from you that is nothing will hurt you he shall not ouerthrowe you by his subtilties so longe as yee abide grounded vpon faith For faith is the victorie of the world that is of the diuel and of al his warriers But for somuch as there is perpetual warre betweene Satan and the Church of Christ we ought then especialie to be in armes when he seemeth to flie awaie For he flieth not as one without al hope of anie buckling againe but that after an other waie he maie returne out of his ambushes with greater force For as he is vnconstant and craftie and of greate experience so hee setteth vppon the ministers of the Gospell nowe this waie and then an other waie and therebie sometime hee he maketh great slaughter as maie appeare in heretikes of al ages among whome there haue ben manie verie learned godlie men but being snarled and vtterlie blinded with the nets of Satan and arguments of blind reason theie haue yeelded And therefore the souldiers of God and guiders of the Church of Christ wil stand in the fore-fronte against the diuel vnder the banner of Christ keeping faith and à good conscience by all maner praiers and supplications praieng alwaies in the spirite and in watching therin with al earnestnesse that vtterance maie be giuen to them in the opening of their mouth with boldenesse that theie maie make the mysterie of God to be knowen for which theie are sent in embassage Tyrants also theie most furiouslie doe persecute the ministers of the Gospel theie kill and dispatch manie out of the world Notwithstanding they do not so much ouercome as theie are ouercome For as their better part to wit the minde is à slaue to filthie affections So the soules of the godlie in the middes of their troubles doe triumph in ioie For theie both comfort themthemselues with à constant hope of the glorie prepared for them and also with the eie of faith theie do behold the miserable destruction of such as persecute them Of which destruction Dauid speaketh after this wise God shall destroie thee for euer hee shal take thee and plucke thee out of thy tabernacle and roote the out of the lande of the liuing The righteous also shal see it and feare and shall laugh at him saying Beholde the man that tooke not God for his strength but trusted vnto the multitude his riches and put his strength in his malice But I shall be like à greene oliue tree in the house of God For I trusted in the mercie of God for euer and euer And therefore Nero in killing Paul was ouercome of Sathan through whose instigation hee persecuted and slewe the Apostle But Paul was crowned and went from victorie vnto victorie For not onelie hee himself receaued à crowne of righteousnes froÌ„ the righteous iudge but his blood beside was à certaine watering of the Lords feelde wherby the yong plants of the Church doth more more encrease But here springeth à question concerning flight Whether in the time of persecution godlie pastors maie shifte for themselues by flight to auoide the handes of tyrants especiallie seeing at the first showe there be contrarie sayings and exaÌ„ples to in the scripture These places should seeâ—e to be contrarie When they persecute you in this citie flee vnto another And An hireling seeth the woulfe comming and he leaueth the sheepe and flieth The examples Christ fledde into Egypt Paul was let-downe in a basket and so escaped from his persecutors On the otherside both Christ and Paul yea and infinite Martyrs and doctors of the Church haue voluntarilie yeelded themselues into the handes of tyrants The contrarietie of these sayinges and examples maie easilie be reconciled if we marke the causes wel He that by fleeing seeketh his owne and not the things which are Christes is much to blame Contrariewise he that by flieng seeketh the glorie of God and not his owne coÌ„moditie offendeth not And therfore saith Augustine The seruant of God sinneth not though seeing the rage of tyrantes greedelie bent to destroie his soule he changeth his aboade if so be that he commend his flocke to the hie shepherde sitting in heauen and saueth himselfe for their aduantage by flight But this commandement seemeth to bee contrarie therevnto Feare yee not them which kil the bodie but are not able to kil the soule Now what is flight I praie you but a feare If therfore feare be forbiddeÌ„ flight also is forbidden I answerere when thou art in the hands of à Tyran thou must contemne death according to the coÌ„mandement of the Lord Feare not them which kill the bodie but if thou art out of his clawes thou oughtest to flie from the persecutor not so much to saue thy selfe as for thy sheepe sake prouided alwaies that thy flight be not à betraing of the sheepe For he maketh à tyrant that prouoketh and he that shunneth correcteth him And therefore this distinction of Augustine is to be had in mind When persecution is hoat the ministers of Christe are to flie if so be that either there is no congregation where they are or if there bee when there be ministers enough to fulfil the ministerie which haue not such cause to flie But when the people shal abide and all the ministers flie awaie what else doe they showe themselues but euen cursed hirelings without all care of the sheepe But if Tyrantes doe persecute without all respect all the ministers of the gospel spare the common people what is then to be done Hereunto
Xenocrates maie well be applied to hypocrites 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Faire handes he hath but a foule heart These because they are not enimies but citizens not haters but friendes not strangers but wil be counted of the householde of the Church they doe more easilie ouerthrowe the simpler sorte than doe open enimies For it is truelie saide A sase and à common waie to beguile is vnder the name of friendship Nowe what hurt hypocrites haue done to the Church the histories of al ages doe aboundantlie declare For seeing they fight with outwarde superstition and ceremonies wherewith the rude people are moste of all moued and because they cloake their supertion with fastinges long prayers almes deeds and fained sadnes of the face they set-vppon the doctrine of free iustification and woulde obscure the same with à certaine witch-craft as maie appeare in the sectes of al monkes But against this hypocrisie prudent simplicitie must be opposed which consisteth in the knowledg of the truth in y e loue of goodnes in doing righteousnes Then by teaching the visor is to bee taken from hypocrites that the woulfe which they do hide maie appeare filthines bee seene the subtilties detected and inwarde wickednes bee knowen that all maie learne howe that the kingdome of God doth consist not in outward rites not in ceremonies not in à sained showe but in the true godlines of minde Last of all the Epicures they also insult ouer the doctrine of the Church and persecute the same preferring pleasures riches and worldlie glorie before the will of God celestiall riches and the eternall glorie of the sainctes Theie obiecte the stumbling-block of the crosse of Christ theie obiect the smal number of those which vnfaignedlie doe beleeue the Gospell theie obiecte the glorie of the popishe kingdome theie obiecte the wisedome of the aduersaries and finalie theie obiect the heresies and schismes wherewithal the Church is rent-asunder But hee which rightlie hath learned Iesus Christ and which measureth the felicitie of man not with the falfe measure of humane wisedome but by the truth of the celestial doctrine and by y e euent or ende of each that is of the godlie of the wicked wil easilie contemne all their mockes and scoffes Of this euent you maie reade in the 37. and 73. Psalmes Nowe because the doctors of the Church doe encounter with these aduersaries whose engines are ouerthrown by spiritual weapons and they breake the force of their enimies theie are saide to go from victorie vnto victorie Moreouer of the doctrine whereof nowe we haue spoken à most sweete consolation is gathered whereby the ministers of the word maie stir-vp themselues in their conflict with the fore-mentioned enimies For first they will comforte them selues in this that the cause is not theirs but the Lords Secondlie that they come foorth vnto battel being armed not with carnall weapons but with spirituall Thirdlie that they haue present with them à king or capitane vnder whome theie fight euen Christ himselfe who is the vanquisher of the whole kingdome of darkenes Fourthlie they haue an eie vnto the vncorruptible crown of righteousnes proposed before them by Christe their chiefe capitane Last of all that the ende of the fight shall bee verie ioifull and pleasant wherein God himselfe wil shewe himselfe to their eies of which thing it followeth in the description CHAP. 6. 1. The finall cause of the victorie of Christ his souldiers 2. howe God is continualie present in his Church THAT GOD IN SION MAIE APPEARE THis sixt and last parte of the present description containeth the finall cause whie the souldiers of Christ haue got the victorie namelie that God maie be acknowledged to bee the defender and keeper of his Church according to the promise The gates of hel shal not ouercome it Hitherto belongeth that praier in the 115. Psalme Not vnto vs ô Lord not vnto vs but vnto thy Name giue the glorie for thie louing mercie and for thy trueths sake Wherfore shall the heathen saie Where is nowe their God As if he saide this blasphemie of men which denie the to haue care of thy Church represse giuing-out à testimonie of thy presence in the Church And although God doth testifie his presence in y e whole world by his prouidēce gouernāce preseruation of the nature of things yet by certaine peculiar waies hee showeth that hee is present in the Church and in euerie of the sainctes as by preseruing the ministerie of his worde and sacramentes by his dwelling in the sainctes through faith by inwarde comfort by his miraculous defending thē against the rage of diuels and wicked men Of this presence these places of holie scripture doe beare recorde When the Aegyptians shal heare it for thou broughtest this people by thy power frō among them Then they shal say to the inhabitāts of this land for they haue heard that thou Lorde art among this people and that thou Lorde arte seene face vnto face c. Againe Herebie ye shal knowe that the liuing God is among you Againe That all the worlde maie knowe that Israel hath à God Againe That all the gentiles maie vnderstande howe thou onelie art God in the vniuersal earth And againe Nowe therefore ô Lorde our God saue thou vs out of his hande that al the kingdomes of the earth maie know that thou onelie art the Lord. This presence of God in the Church hath à double ende proposed One whereof vnto the householde of the Church the other belongeth vnto strangers and prophane people And as touching the godlie or of the householde of faith this is the ende of God his presence in the Church namelie that the godlie maie be strengthened in faith that theie maie praise God vnder whose winges theie are secure that vnder the crosse theie maie cal vpon God who is present before them and that through patience theie maie looke for victorie ouer the diuel and the worlde Hence commeth that consolation of great faith The Lorde is with vs feare them not And as touching those which are without and prophane folkes this is the ende of God his presence in the Church that either they maie ioine themselues vnto the true Church by repentance hauing renounced all prophanenes and impietie or if they do not so that their owne consciences maie bee witnesses of their iust condemnation For it will come to passe at the length according to the saying of the Psalme that they shall be confounded and troubled for euer yea they shall bee put to shame and perishe that they maie know that thou which art called Iehouah art alone euen the most hie ouer all the earth And as it is in another Psalme Hee shall destroie thee for euer he shall take thee and plucke thee out of this tabernacle and roote thee out of the lande of the liuing The righteous also shall see it and
feare and shall laugh at him saying Beholde the man that tooke not God for his strength but trusted vnto the multitude of his riches put his strēgth in his malice So y t no euil can be imagined either so plagie or so hurtful as through sinne to be separated from God to be turned from the euerlasting fountane of al goodnes vnto y e most noisome dunghil of al miseries from the most comfortable life vnto the most bitter death finalie from true happines vnto endles tormentes THE THIRD PART OF THIS PSALME CHAP. 1. 1. The partes of this third part 2. wherevpon true praier is to be grounded THE thirde part of the Psalme is à praier wherebie Dauid praieth that the Church maie be defended it is contained in the 8 9 10 and 11. verses and it consisteth of à proposition and of à confirmation of which as they stand we will entreate The eight verse O LORD GOD OF HOSTES HEAR◠MY PRAIER HEARKEN Ô GOD OF IAAKOB This proposition of y e praier is vpholdē with two reasons the former whereof goeth-before the other followeth the proposition For petitions are not wont to bee proponed simplie and nakedlie but most commonlie they are adorned with argumentes of persuasion often they are set out with epithetes applied to the thinge which is asked the more to moue The former reason is contained in these wordes O Lord God of hoastes and it is taken from the power of God as if hee saide Forsomuch as thou art that almightie Lorde of hoastes whome nothing can resiste but all thinges doe yeelde to thy gouernment it is à verie easie thing for you to maintaine and defende your Church against all manner enimies which it hath And therefore I beseech you showe foorth this your power in defending the Church against the furie both of the diuels and wicked men which partlie by snares and partlie in open feelde doe set-vppon your Church The latter reason whereby the petition is adorned and vpholden is this O God of Iaakob This reason is taken from the loue of GOD towarde the Church For when he mentioneth Iaakob hee hath à respecte vnto the promise made vnto Iaakob the Nephew of Abraham and to his seede that is to so manie as by the faith of the promise bee receaued into the familie of Iaakob that is into the Church And the promise made to Iaakob is founded in the blessed seede Iesus Christ therfore it is so much as if he had saide Heare my prayer for our Lord and mediators sake euen Iesus Christ. In all our praiers let vs haue à consideration of these two causes the former whereof teacheth how God is able to accomplish that which wee desire the other how that he wil that because of his fatherlie promise These two causes the Lorde ioineth-together in the forme of praier which he commendeth to his disciples when hee saith After this manner praie yee Our Father which art in heauen For when we saie Our father we signifie y e fatherly goodwil of God toward his sonnes that is toward al y e faithful And when we ad Which art in heauen we shew y e diuine maiestie power of God wherby he is able to do whatsoeuer he will For he will doe whatsoeuer he hath promised For the promise is voluntarie and free Furthermore of these two thinges are gathered The first is how theie alone can rightlie and effectuallie praie who haue the promise the seconde that the force of praier dependeth not vppon the dignitie of man but of the mercie of GOD which promiseth to heare all that through faith vppon the promise doe call vpon him Touching the Lorde of hoastes his fight his armies and triumphes looke our annotations vpon the first verse of this Psalme CHAP. 2. 1. The grounds of praiers 2. God heareth the faithful of what calling soeuer The ninth verse BEHOLD O GOD OVR PROTECTOR AND LOOKE-VPON THE FACE OF THINE ANNOINTED THe repetition of the praier is also adorned with two reasons the former whereof containeth both the aboue mentioned For it is taken both from the power and also from the willingnes of God For when he saith O our protector or shield he doth insinuate both the power whereby hee can and the willingnes wherebie God will assist And when hee addeth also Looke vpon the face of thine annointed He fetcheth his reason in like sorte from the vertue of the promise For when God annointed Dauid for king ouer his people hee promised withall to helpe him so often as through faith hee called vppon him And therefore in à certaine Psalme hee saith Thou preseruest me from trouble Saue thou mee that being saued I maie praise thy name Verie manie such like sentences are in the Psalmes Moreouer this reason is fitlie applied to euerie godlie man in his lawful vocation For as Dauid was called of God vnto the kingdome and therfore he craueth of God that he would defende his owne ordinance So euerie one that is called vnto anie function whether it be ciuill or ecclesiastical shoulde perswade himselfe that his calling is of God and therefore that God wil defende his owne ordinance heare such as call vppon him through faith This comfort they doe lacke which rush-vppon euerie function through fraude without lawful calling CHAP. 3. 1. What an honor it is to be of the true Church of God 2. Causes whie the wicked continewe in their securitie The tenth verse FOR ADAIE IN THY COVRTES IS BETTER THAN A THOVSANDE ELSWHERE I HAD RATHER TO BE OF NO REPVTATION IN THY HOVSE THAN TO DWELL IN THE TABERNACLES OF THE VNGODLIE THE reason of the last proposition Looke vpon the face of thine annointed that is grant that I who am made à king of you maie be restored to my kinglie dignitie And although in this mine exile I coulde get mee the fauor of the kinges my neighbors yea and dwell liue pleasantlie together with them yet more doe I esteeme the Church of God where the worde is preached and according to the word of God both praiers be made and sacrifices offered than the glorious palaces of kinges yea and so am I affected that I woulde chuse to haue the basest and vilest office in the Church of God than without the Church in the pallaces of wicked kinges which neither knowe nor call vppon the God of Israel to florishe with riches power honors and pleasure So that this place doeth teach what an honour it is to bee à citizen of the Church of God so that the most contemptible function in the Church is to bee desired before y e greatest glorie of worldlie kings princes which without the householde of God doe either serue idols or bee meere Atheistes knowing none other GOD besides their bellie But how came this affection in y e most holie king Dauid The reason of this affection is not seene with the eies of y e body but only with y e
thinketh together with the whole Scripture that no man can be iustified by the workes of the lawe forsomuch as man yeeldeth not pure perfect continual obedience therevnto is confirmed Nowe this being so to wit that no man can obserue perfectlie the comaundementes of God nor by the works of the lawe be iustified before God it maie be demaunded what maie be the vse of the law For we must of necessitie acknowledge that the lawe is not giuen-out in vaine Vnto this question we must make this answere Although by the workes of the lawe no man is iustified before God because no man is able to satisfie the same yet is there à diuers vse of the same which is to be considered according to the condition of the states of men I doe omitte the external and political vse which is to gouerne outward manners by discipline agreeing with the law because we now are in hande with that vse of the law which concerneth the conscience of man before the iudgemēt seate of God Therfore before iustificatiō regeneratiō this is the vse of the law in the cōscience of man namely to teach to accuse to condemne It teacheth both what is to be done and what is to be auoided of him that seketh life by the lawe It accuseth the transgressor it pronounceth him guiltie and condemneth and that to this ende that the sinner hauing confessed his wickednes and considered both the wrath of God and his owne miserie may sue for fauor which thing he is not able to attaine of the law by the strength of nature Whereby the law is to the wounded conscience an occasion of seeking Christ the Physition And hereof is the law called A Schoolemaster vnto Christ. Hitherto belongeth that of Paule to the Galathians The scripture hath concluded al vnder sinne that the promise by the faith of Iesus Christ should be giuen to them that beleeue This selfe same thing doeth the Lord teach in a parable of the debter where a certaine king doth of his seruaunt whom he knew was not able to paie his debt demaunde ten thousand talents due to him by the lawe which thing he did to the ende that the seruant confessing his pouertie might flie to the mercie of his Lord therby to obtaine a general discharge of the whole debt By this parable the vse of God his law in the consciences of men before free forgiuenes of the whole debt and iustification is depainted For as this debtor payeth nothing of his debt but is freely forgiuē so the law in the act of iustificatiō is vtterlie idle as y t which is neither the cause nor a parte of our righteousnes as it is wrought of vs. But after that man is iustified the spiritual vse of y e law is to prescribe those things which belong vnto a spiritual man or a rule of spiritual seruing of God And so the promises of the law be fulfilled in the faithful through Christ. These things beeing thus learned it is no hard thing to refel the arguments of them who contēd that by the wotkes of the law men are iustified before God Therfore when out of Moses they do obiect He that doth the commandements shal liue in them Therfore by the workes of the law man is iustified It is to be answered that the argument is vntrue For by the law it must be considered what the law in al respects or the iustice of God doth require not what mā is able to do that we may flie vnto y e mercie of God confessing our weakenes especialie seeing it is apparent that no man is able perfectlie to obserue the law Yet more forceablie they do vrge and they obiect vnto vs the saying of our Lord If thou wilt enter into life keepe the commaundementes Hereof theie conclude à condition of keeping the commaundementes of God and that by keeping thē men are are iustified yea saued But what the Lord ment by those words the parable which euen now we mencioned doth teach For as y e King there exacteth of his debter ten thousand talents and frankelie forgaue the whole det to him which had nothing to paie but flied vnto the mercie of his creditor So the the Lorde vnto the proude hypocrite doth saie If thou wilt enter into life keepe the commaundements to the ende that the hypocrite discending into himselfe might confesse his filthinesse and pouertie and so craue pardon which had he done he had heard with the sinful woman Thee sinnes are forgiuen thee We must therfore acknowledg how the obseruation of God his cōmaundements is pronounced both by Moses Christ himselfe to be the right most readie waie vnto life but the faulte is in our selues whie by that waie though it be verie direct we enter not into life For the condition cannot be perfourmed of vs as aboue it hath beene showen So that by the commaundementes the effect is not concluded because the condition is not obserued which is If thou doe the Lawe but the defect of al men rather that acknowledging our imperfectiō we maie flie vnto the mercie of God And this is the doctrine of Paul concerning the vse of the lawe before conuersion By the lawe saith he commeth the knowledge of sinne Yet this knowledge is not to the ende that we shoulde die in our sinnes but that we shoulde seeke Christ as Paul saith in another place He hath shut-vp al in vnbeleefe that he might haue mercie on al. Againe The scripture hath concluded al vnder sinne that the promise by the faith of Iesus Christ should be giuen to thē that beleeue And therefore the obseruation of the lawe is required to iustification that we maie confesse howe that we haue neither in our selues nor of our selues no righteousnesse at al and that through faith we shoulde flie together vnto Christe Who is in the ende of the lawe for righteousnesse to euerie one that beleeueth whereof we are nowe to speake CHAP. 4. 1. The second order of testimonies 2. That works and faith together doe not iustifie 3. True iustification what 4. The things required in à iustified man 5. The causes of mans iustification THe second sorte of testimonies of the holie scripture cōcerning y e iustificatiō of mā before God is euangelical wherin y e most cōforequitie according to the promise of grace is proposed to the penitent sinners namelie that Christ came into the worlde to saue sinners as the Lord himselfe doth saie I am come to cal sinners vnto repentance that is vnto conuersion and that according to the promises made vnto the fathers and commended vnto the Church of God by wonderful miracles But before I declare the iudgement of the true Church touching this matter I wil refel the opinion of them who with the Pharisees compounde Christian righteousnesse both of workes and faith as it were of causes and partes least by their preiudice our
and no man can hurt vs and when thou helpest vs in our labors we doe reape most plentifull fruite Wherefore vouchsafe to be with vs driue-awaie wicked spirits the enimies of thine ordinance let thine holie Angels be our watchmen and gouerne vs euermore with thie blessed spirite that euermore in this life and in the world to come we maie praise thee Amen Amen So be it So be it FINIS THE FIRST TAble comprehending special names of Men Women c. after the order of the Alphabet A Aaron his goate page 254. Abraham page 88. his bosome 101. his faith 418. his seede 309. a paterne of the true Church 107. Absalon 5. Achaâ— 195. Adam 88. Adonibezek 260 Adriel the Angel 87. Aegyptians 191. Aesclapia 192. Aesculapius his feast 192. Alcibiades 260. Amonites 195. Amnon 5. Anabaptistes 173. Antichrist his strength 216. his propertie 512. Antisthenes 381. Apollo 191. 192. his feast 192. his oracle 194. Architas the Tarentine 381 Aristodemus 194. Aristomenes sacrificed meÌ„ 194 Aristotle 382 his opinion concerning true happines confuted 383. Arrius 163. Atheist 98. Augustane confession 96. B Babylon 119. Bacchus his feast 192 men sacrificed thereat 193. Balaam 398. Barcozibaâ— 18. Belisarius 261. Ben-hinnon 195. Brazen-serpent 31. Britans sacrificers of men 194. C Caine 181. Cepio Seruilius 260. Ceres 192. her feastes 192. Christ Christ 10. 89. The Lord of hosts whie 10. When and where borne 21 22. his mother who 22 his kinred 23 worshipped of the wisemen 23 offered-vp in the temple 24 carried into Aegypt 24 à Nazarite 25 figured by Aarons goate 254 by Samson 25 his disputation with Doctors 25 baptized 27 tempted 283 his preaching miracles 28 riding into the temple 29 betraied forsaken of his owne disciples 30 afflicted crucified 31 railed vpon nayled vnto the crosse 33 compared vnto the Paschal Lambe 35 his resurrection 38 his ascension 39 a Prophete a King and a Priest 44 his kingdome 50 a spiritual kingdome 51 his kingdome howe gouerned 42 his palace 52 his people 53 his office 51 60 his resurrection denied of the Iewes 45 his resurrection confirmed by manifolde testimonies 46 his benefites to vs ward 44 crimes laide against him 60 accused for saieng hee was the sonne of God 60 howe the way by doctrine 122 by merite 123 by example 124 the trueth 125 howe the life 126 the head of the Church 149 his Priesthoode 242 his sacrifice diuers 247 his intercession 249. 254 how an intercessor 249 when 301 our only mediator 302 nor a meere man 481 Christians they are Priests 344 and how 344 their works why sacrifices 350. Cimbrians 195. Cornelius 192. Critolaus 381 D Daniel 175. Dauid 146 his punishments 5. Delia 192. Diogenes 193. Diues 101. Doëg a figure of Iudas 30. E Eldad 169. Eleusinia 192. Epicurus 379 449 his opinion concerning true happinesse confuted 380. Erechtheus 194. Eumolphus 193. F Frenchmen 195. Sacrificerof men 195. G Gabriel the Angel 84 89. Gentiles called 39. Gentiles Gods 190. Gentiles holie-daies 193. Gentiles sacrifices 193 The Germans sacrificers of men 195. H Habel 181. Heracles 192. Hercules his feast 192. Herea 192. Hermea Pythea 192. Herod 261. Hortoth 85. I Ierusalem 119 what it signifieth 53. Iewes 16 reiected 43 whie reiected 55. 74 they denie the resurrection of Christ 45 they obiect thinges to Christ 45 60 their altars where and what 177. Iewish sacrifices 177 what 178 instituted of God 178 what they signified 186. Iezebel 260. Iob 146 his troubles 418. Iohn a fore-runner of Christ 27. Ioseph 175. Ioseph Benzara 18. Ioseph tried 418. Ioshua 121. Irençus opinion of traditions 166. Iudas 398 figured by Doeg 30. Iudas the Galilean 18. Iuno her feast 192. Iupiter his feast 192. L Lacedemonians 193. Lazarus 101 à fable of him 99. Luther his inuincible courage 397 why Luther forsooke the Pope 209 M Mahomet 89 his death 81 his fables 84 his lawes 83. Manasses 95. Manes 163. Marroth 85. Mars 193 men sacrificed vnto him 193. Martine Luther his inuincible courage 397. Medad 169. Melchizedek 222. Mercurie 19 his feast 192 〈◊〉 meÌ„ sacrificed therat 195. Mesa 195. Messiah The beleefe of Christians concerning y e Messiah 16 his office 51. 61 his pallace 52 his people 56 against his gouernment 49 against the time of his comming 47. Michael 12. Minerua her feast 192. Moloch the idol 195. Moses 88. 121. Muscouites 16. 195 somewhat inclined vnto religion 96. The Bible translated into the Muscouie toung 96. N Neptune his feast 192. Nestorjus 80. Noah 88. O Origen 160. P Pansia 192. Panathenea 192. Panthea 192. Pelagius 479. Peter 398. Pindarus his opinion concerning happines confuted 382. Pithia 192. Porphâ—rie 182. Posidonia 192. Praxithea 194. Proserpina 192. Protestantes their good workes 513. S Sabellius 163. Samson à figure of Christ 25. Saturne his sacrifices 154. Seraphiel 67. Sergius the Arrian 80. Seruilius 260. Simonides his opinion concerning happinesse confuted 382. Socrates his opinion concerning happinesse confuted 386. Staphilus 173. T Tesmophoria 192. Thamar 5. Turkes 16 their beginning 79 their multiplieng 81 their prophecies 77 their paradise 90 their strength 91 argumentes against the Turkes 92 consolation for the godlie against the Turkes 92. V Venus 191. FINIS The seconde Table containing a viewe of the special pointes comprehended in this Booke A. True Absolution what page 303. Abstinence from wine 84 from swines flesh 86. Adoption 502. Aduersitie what it worketh 338. Affliction incident vnto the true ministers of God his worde 408 sent vnto man iustlie of God 420 Christ his affliction 30. Ages of the world 48. The Ague taken for à god 191. Aldermens children sacrificed 194. Altars of the Iewes where and what 177. Angel Adriel 87 Gabriel 84 the warriers of Christ 11. Antiquitie 201. Arguments Againste the Turkes 92. of y e Iewes against Christ 45 of Papists to vpholde their Masse 222 that no man can fulfil the Law 483 Ascension of Christ. 39. Auctoritie to make ministers à note of the true Church 17â— Auricular confession confuted 303. B. Banishment The Church in banishmeÌ„t 119 and whie 174. Baptisme Of Christ 27. of Christians 106 à note of the true Church 171 whie but once receiued 334 what it signifieth 334. among the Papistes 229. The Pope à spiritual baud 103. Beliefe Beliefe of Christians concerning the messiah 16 beleuers whie saued 372 Benefite Benifites coÌ„ming by Christ 44 of the gospel 243. The bible translated into y e Muscouie tongue 96. Birth of Christ when 21 where 22. Blessednes of the Church in this life 463. Bosome of Abraham what 101. Brute beastes worshipped for Gods 191. Burnt sacrifice 181. Bishops 151. C. Calling of the Gentiles 39 of ministers 399. Canon Canon of the Masse 205. the abomination of the same 206. Captiues sacrificed 195. Cats worshipped for Gods 191. Children Children of aldermen and of noblemen sacrificed vnto Saturne 194 children sacrificed by their owne parents 194 195. Church The true Church what 105 gathered by God himselfe 105 figured by Abraham
what it signifieth who a member of the same 107 the vnitie thereof 108 gouerned by God himself 109 à smal flocke like an Iland in the sea 109 it hearkeneth vnto Gods word no obeieth Christ onelie 111 in it y e Lorde of hostes doth dwel the Temple of God 113 the glorie therof 114 how it differreth from other assemblies 114 the puritie thereof 115 the holie seruice in the same 116. 389 howe defiled 118 in banishment 119 174 it followeth Christ 121 preserued 125 the marks it hath 148 171 the triple state therof 149 who the heade of the same 149 kinds of men in the Church 150 kindes of ministers therin 150 the power it hath 152 who teachers in the same 170 when troubled 171 the perpetuitie thereof 391 the enimies which it hath 438 God present in the same 451 why 452. how blessed in this life 463. Comforts for the godlie in their troubles 451. Comlines in the Church 167. Commandements of God whether abrogated 318. neglected of Papistes 512. Communicating with Papists 233. CommunioÌ„ of the Papists 230. Comparison betweene the Paschal lambe Christ 35. Concupiscence 288. Condemnation what 477. Confession Augustane confession 96. Auricular coÌ„fession disproued 303 confession of y e faith whie necessary 356 Conscience The coÌ„science 99 108 how healed 335. Consecration 231. Consolation against the Turkes 94. Contemners of the Gospel how punished 323 371. ConteÌ„platioÌ„ what 144 402. Correction 160 how vsed 160. Couenant The couenaÌ„t betweene god and man 306 what it is 310 the partes of y e same 307 347. the foundation therof 307. how fulfilled 310 old and newe couenant 306. The creatures doe praise God and how 391. Crimes obiected against Christ 60. Crosse What it signifieth 408 the kinds therof 408 à note of y e true church 172 the waie vnto heauen 375. Curssings Who may cursse 162 who are to be cursed 102 who curssed of the Pope 164. Custome 201 289 224. Custome of sinning reproued 293. D. A day diuersly taken 48. Daie artificial 48. Daie natural 48. Death of Mahomet 81. Destinies 370. Difference betwene y e ministers and the ministerie 397 betweene the true church other asseÌ„blies 114 betweene y e old Testament the newe 319 betweene sinnes 389. Disciples of Christ forsake him 30. Discipline 159 the partes thereof 159. Disputation of Christ with the Doctors 25. The diuel tempteth Christ 28 the diuel an imitator of God his works 64. the Diuel inuentor of praying vnto saints 214 Diuels worshipped for gods 191 the Diuel can worke no miracles 69â— y e Diuel by nature false cruel 411 the Diuel his purpose 438. Diuersities of religion 104. Diuine miracles what 64. Christ the waie by doctrine 122. Dokimasie 417. Dronkennes 192 E. Elements worshipped for Gods 191. Ende Ende of man 128. 366. of mans miserie 262. of knowledge 404 of comlines in the Church 167 of Iewish sacrifices 183. Enimies of the Churche 438. Euangelistes differ not in substance of doctrin 57. Eucharistical sacrifice 185 what 236. 349 the kinds thereof 352. Examples 160 402 Christ howe the waie by example 1â—4 Excommunication 161 the ends thereof 161. F. Fables of Mahomet 84 concerning y e last iudgement 86 of Lazarus 99. Faith what 325 it onely saueth 325 the righteousnes thereof 330 it purifieth the heart and how 117 faith à remedie against wickednes 294 faith of Abraham 418 the effects of faith 473. The faithfull howe holie 108. Fal of man 367. Father of the Gods 191. Feare of God 137. Feare worshipped for à God 191 Perfect Felicitie what 128. 137. Feast of Aâ—sâ—â—lapius of Apollo of Bacchus of Ceres of Hercules of Iuno of Iupiter of Mercurie of Minerua of Neptune 192. Festiual daies 192. Figuratiue significations of the Iewish sacrifices 186. Filthines of sinne 412. Flesh howe taken in the scripture 144. Wil of the Flesh. 289. Fortitude of the spirite 396. Fruite of meditation 323. Fruite of Godlines 387. Fruite of vngodlines 388. G. Glorie what 466. Glorie of the Church 114. Goate of Aaron 254. A God there is 98 99. God â— fouÌ„tane how 433. God his quantitie 84. God howe present in the Church 451 God the gouernour of the Church 109. Howe the godlie thinke of sinne 413. Why y e godlie suffer martyrdome 424. Fruite of godlinesse 387. Gods of the Gentiles 190. The Gospel what 326. 466. Benefite of the Gospel 243. Gouernment of the Messiah spoken-against 49. Grace what 326. 466. Life of Grace 127. H Right hand of God what 40. True happinesse 365 what it is 392 howe it commeth 366 al men desire it 367 377. Happinesse what in the opinion of Aristotle 383 of Epicuruâ— â—79 380 of Pindarus 382 of Simonides 382 of Socrates 386 of worldlie wisemen 385. No perfect happinesse in this life 376. An harlot the Masse is 203 Significations of the word Hart 140. Harted men 140. Hart of man 138. Head of the Church 149. The waie vnto Heauen 369. Hearers of God his worde the souldiers of Christe 14. Hearers of Gods word why blessed 372. Heretikes who 162. How men are holie in this life 116. Holie daies of the gentiles howe spent 192. Honie 187 what is signifieth 188. Lord of hostes who 9 10. House of God and who dwel therein 389. Hypocrisie what 448. Hypocrites who 447. I Idol Moloch 195. Original of idolatrie 189. Idolatrie à punishment for disobeieng the Lorde 190 196. Idolatrous princes not to be obeied 430. Immortalitie of the soule 100. Incense 177. Ingratitude of man wheÌ„ce 287. Innocencie what 467. Good intents 200. Intercession 212. Christ his intercession for vs 249 294 diuers things to be considered therein 296. Christ howe an intercessor for vs 299 and when 301. Saincts cannot be intercessors for vs 213. Interpretation of scriptures 169. Innocation of Sanctes 111 inuented by the Diuel 214. A fable of the laste iudgement 86. At the last iudgement persect happinesse 376. God his iudgement in punishing sinne 414. Iuridicall power of the church 156. Iustification what 124 326 477 495 503 505. Our IustificatioÌ„ by Christ onelie oppugned 331. Thinges required in a lustified man 495. Causes of mans Iustification 503 K. Keies of heauen 153. they being rightly vsed are à note of the true Church 171. Kingdome of Christ what 50 à spirituall kingdome 51 how gouerned 42 how opened or shut 154. Knowledge 136 ende of knowledge 404 knowledge of y e tongues 401 knowledge of God his word required in a minister 400 howe attained 401 knowledge of Christ what 499. L. Worde Lawe howe taken in the scripture 314 the vse thereof 487 no man iustified thereby 489 the rigor of the same 523. Lawes of Mahomet 83. Lawes of Moses abrogated howe 38. Leauen 187 what is signifieth 188 Life of nature 127. Vertuous life what 144. Logique 401 444. Loue a badge of the true Church 172. Lytron 409. M. Magistrates howe to be obeied 430. Manna à figure of y e Lords Supper 30. Marks of y e true church 171
authoritie of Christ. Luk. 23 43. Mat. 22 32 Christ his preaching vnto the spirites in prison what is signifieth 1. Pet. 3 19 1. Pet. 1 9 Phil. 2 23. Eccle. 12 7. Heb. 12 9. Wisd. 3 1. Psa. 116 15 Act. 7 59. An obiectioÌ„ of Epicures Diuersities of religion Answere The true church whaâ— 1. God the gatherer of the true church Mar. 16 15 16. The meditatioÌ„s which baptisme doth offer Howe and when we are sanctified Abraham à paterne of the true Church Fruite gathered from the eâ—ymologie of the Church Who à member of the church Howe the faithful be holie No respect of persons before God Vnitie of the Church like vnto a pome-granate 2. God the gouernour the protector of the true Church The Church à smal flock in comparison yet vnmoueable Psa. 116 15 The church like an Iland in the sea 3. The true church harkeneth vnto the word of the Lorde Iohn 10 27 5. Matt. 4 10 Psal. 50 15 4. The true Church obeieth Christe onelie Mat. 23 8. Psal. 73 28 Psal. 73 37 To cleaue vnto the Lorde of hostes what Psal. 73 28 Rom. 10 10 1. Co. 10 14 5. In the true Church the Lord of hostes doth dwel The Church is the temple of God 1. Cor 3. 16. 17. The glorie of the Church Iohn 14 23 Difference betwene the true Church and other assemblies Psal. 87 3 The puritie of the Church Mat. 21 1â— 13. How we are holie and pure in this life The holie seruice of God in the Church Seruice of God what Isa. 23 13. Matt. 15 9. 1. Cor. 7 23. Colos. 2 20. 21. Tiâ—us 1 15. 16. Howe faith doth purifie the heart Act. 15 9. PunishmeÌ„t of such as defile the Church of God 1. Cor. 3 17. Howe and whereby the church is defiled 6. The true Church in this world is in exile and banishment neuer at rest Of the banished state of the church read more afterward chap. 20. of this 1 part Ierusalem Babylon Sundrie kindes of strangers Heb 13 14. Phil 3 21. Mat. 28 20 7 The true Church followeth her capitaine Iesus Christ. Iohn 14 6. How Christ is the wale by doctrine Iohn 1 18. 1. Cor. 1 30. 2. Pet. 1 21. Mat. 10 39 Luke 9 24. Howe Christ is the waie by merit Rom. 10 4. Rom. 5 19. Rom. 10 3. 4. Christ howe the waie by example Iohn 13 15. Io 13 24. Ioh. 15 12. Ioh. 8 12. Christ he the truth Iohn 1 17. Mat. 28 20 Mat. 16 18. Iohn 8 31. 38. 36. Howe Christ is the life Christ the life by regenerating vs Iohn 1 12. Iohn 3 8. Life of nature and grace 1. Cor. 7 3 Christ the life by sanctifieng vs. Rom. 61 3. The 〈◊〉 of the image of God in man 〈◊〉 Christ the life by glorifieng vs. Perfect feâ—â—citie what 1. Tim. 2 4. * Aboue cap. 3. Pag. 9. Maâ— 3 17. Societie with Christ. Vnhealthful societie of how manie sortes Healthful societie of how manie sortes Num. 24 6. 6. Psa. 119 14 24. 123. Psal. 42 1. 2. Word of god à liuing fountaine Isai. 12 2. 3. 4. Hart of man Gen. 8 21. Rom. 3 10. 11. 12. Ephe. 4 17. 18. Pro. 51 10. Psal. 2 11. Psal. 6 3. 4. Pro. 17 72. Diuers significations of the heart Harted men How the hart of man becommeth froward wicked Psal. 51 10. Iere. 4 4. Ephes. 4 22. 24. Ezek. 11 19 Meditation what Contemplation what Psal. 34 8. A virtuous life what Flesh how taken in the Scripture 1. Cor. 15 39 Gen. 61 13. Iohn 3 6. 1. Cor. 15 50 Iohn 8 15. Gal. 3 â—0 Psal. 146 3 4. 5. 1. Tim. 6 17 Iob. 19 25. Mat. 23 37 Markes of the true Church Triple state of the Church Christe the supreme head and ruler of the Church The Church what Two sortes of men in the Church Diuers kinds of ministers in the Church State of the ministerie in the primitiue Church Ephe. 4 11. Acts. 20 28. State of the clergie after the Apostles Office of Patriarches Popes vsurpers of autoritie in the Church of Christ. Porwer of the Church what 2. Cor. 10 8. Ordinarie power of the Church Mar. 16 15. 16. Matr. 16 19. Keies of heauen what Matt. 28 18 Ioh. 20 21. 22. 23. Howe the kingdome of heauen is opened or shut 1. Cor. 4 1. 2. What it is to binde What is meant by loasing Iuridical power of the Church 1. The church hath power to alowe and to establish true religion Luk. 11 52. 2. The Church hath power to forbid false doctrine Matt. 7 15. Luke 12 1. Gal. 1 8. 9. Matt. 23 â— 3. Matt. 15 14 Luk. 10 16. 3. The Church hath power to vse discipline Discipline what Partes of discipline Direction Rule of gods word Lawes of Magistrats Examples of the virtuous Ioh. 13 15. Ephe. 5 1. 2 The best waie of teaching Praise of Origen Of correctioÌ„ another part of discipline PunishmeÌ„t twofold ExcoÌ„munication Ender of excommunication 1. Cor. 5 6. Curssinges Who to be curssed Heretikes who Titus 3 11. Gal. 1 8. 9. Titus 3 10 11. 2. Iohn 10. Whome the Pope doth cursse * Aboue cap. 15 pag. 149 Traditions 2. The. 2 15 Act. 15 28. 29. What the word tradition doth signifie 1. Cor. 15 3. 1. Cor. 11 23 Matt. 15 2. Three sorts of traditions Tradition of doctrine Tradition of diuine ceremonies Tradition of humane rites 2. Cor. 10. 8. 1. Co. 14 40 Endes of comelines in the Church Why order is to be obserued in the Church How manie things are to be auoided in the traditions of men Mark 7 9. * Chap. 24. of this first part Interpretation of the Scriptures Al the Leuites nor onelie the Leuites did not prophecie Num. 11 25 26. 27. 28. 29. Touching interpretation of the Scriptures three things to be noted * in the chapiter immediatelie going before page 157. 1. Iohn 4 1. What things interpreters doe vtter Notes and marks of the true church in the vpright state Luther in his booke intituled Dâ— Consiliis Rom. 8 17. Howe and wherein the Church is troubled 1. Pet. 5 3. Partes of the godlie when the Church is in trouble 1. Pet. 1 7. Gen 3 15. Against the Anabaptists Staphylus Mat. 13 47 48. Mat. 13 24 25. Ioseph Daniel Three children Dan 3 19. 20. Dan. 6 10. Rom. 18 10 Sacrifices of the Iewes Altars of the Iewes where and what Psal. 141 â— Praiers 1. The definition of the Iewes sacrifices Iewish sacrifices instituted of God Leuit. 9 24 1. Ki. 18. 38 1. Ch. 21 26 2 Chro. 7 1. Sacrifices of themselues did not pacifie GoÌ„d Psal. 51 16. Psa. 50 7. Iere. 7 22. Isaie 1 10. Isaie 1 11. 12. 13. Rom. 15 8. Psal. 50 16. Isaie 1 16. Gen. 4 4. 5. Psal. 51 17. 19. 2. Causes of the Iewish Sacrifices The fiâ—st cause of sacrifices Rom. 8 7. The second which is the material cause of sacrifices The thirde which is the formal cause of sacrifices The
vnto the Doctors of the Church for the withstanding of Satan and the gates of hel An euident example maie be seene in the Apostles whome Christ did send into the world to preach the Gospel For he sent euen rude men vnto the moste eloquent plaine fellowes vnto the subtile naked men vnto armed weake vnto the strong poore vnto mightie princes of the Empire and of other nations quiet vnto cruel persons yet theie ouer-came and spread-forth the kingdome of Christ in so much that in à verie smal time their sound went ouer the whole worlde But how came theie by such a courage Euen God gaue it them who alwaie worketh in the ministerie of the worde For beeing armed with the power of GOD theie entered battaile with the worlde And therefore Paul saith The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mightie through God to cast-downe holdes casting downe the imaginations and euerie high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God and bringing into captiuitie euerie thought to the obedience of Christ. The ministers of the Gospel armed with this courage do preuaile against the gates of hel For which cause theie are pronounced blessed by reason of the infallible hope which both theie haue themselues and shewe to others This courage GOD in al ages endueth his ministers withal This the Lord gaue vnto his disciples when he saith Receaue the holie Ghoste Whosoeuers sinnes ye remit theie are remitted and whosoeuers sinnes yee retaine theie be retained Therefore the holie Ghost is that fortitude wherebie the ministers of the worde are emboldened to oppose them-selues against the gates of hel This strength of God his spirite both maketh the mindes of teachers couragious and bringeth power to the worde wherebie it taketh effect in the harts of such as heare the Gospel Furthermore this fortitude of the spirite doth giue witnes that the doctrine of the Gospel is not forged but from God himselfe For it is à great miracle that the whole world and especialie that so mightie an Empire as the Romane was could not hinder those fewe disciples of the Lord but maugre their heads theie scattered the seede of the Gospel ouer the whole worlde Martine Luther à man of holie remembrance for the space of 45. yeares through this power of the spirite opposed him selfe against the whole Romane Empire and al the kingdome of Antichrist And although at the first Luther had no partakers against so mightie an aduersarie the chiefe whereof was the Duke of darkenes euen the diuel him-selfe yet so he preuailed that all the power of Satan and rabblement of Antichrist could not diminish so much as one haire of his head Such is the valiantnes wherwith the Lord armeth his ministers But what haue al the ministers of the Gospel the holie spirite Are not manie giuen partlie to ambition ah greefe partlie vnto other sinnes What hath the holie spirite to do with ambition and wickednes A difference must be set betweene the ministerie it selfe the ministers of the Gospel In the ministerie the holie Ghost is alwaie effectualie present For what the force wherbie we are nourished is in the bread y t is the holie Ghost in y e word wherby we ar moued to beleue born-anew For the heauenly Father hath so decreed y t the spirite of the Sonne shalbe present and work both with the word in the word Hence it is y e ministers of the new Testament are caled of the Apostle ministers not of the letter but of the spirite So manie therefore as resist the worde of the Gospel whosoeuer be he worthie or vnworthie preacheth the same resisteth the holie spirite For so great à matter dependeth not either vpon the worthines or vnworthinesse of ministers Iudas preached and Peter preached and both of them baptized but the word and the baptisme was Christs in which his spirite did worke Againe the question maie be aunswered that al preachers which teach the word rightlie haue the holie Ghost but not al alike For theie whose life aunswereth to the doctrine haue the spirite as both à teacher and à sanctifier But if the life agree not with the doctrine theie haue the holie spirite as à teacher but not as á sanctifier and that through their owne fault because stubburnelie theie resist the holie spirite That holie man of God Moses he had the holie spirite not onelie as à prophecier but also as à sanctifier too Because as his prophecies were most true so was his life most holie But Balaam had the spirite of prophecie and of teaching which vndoubtedlie was the holie Ghoste but he had not the spirite of sanctification For he was ambitious and couetous for the which his owne asse vpon whome he sate rebuked him Peter had the holie spirite both of teaching and of sanctification because his conuersation agreed with the puritie of doctrine But Iudas because he was not onelie couetous but à theefe too had the holie spirite as à teacher but not as à sanctifier Because he obeied the spirite of couetousnesse that is of Sathan rather than the spirite of God Moreouer as touching the spirite of teaching it is to be noted that as there is à twofolde calling by meanes and without meanes So there is à twofolde probation of the spirite of instruction For if the calling be with-out meanes y t is by God himselfe Iesus Christ and not by men after the ordinarie manner as was the calling of the Prophets and Apostles the spirite of instruction without al doubt is y e holie Ghost himselfe whose doctrine for y t he is true is also true firme and heauenlie without al mixture of errors it hath also heauenlie miracles wherebie the trueth of the doctrine is confirmed But if the calling be by meanes then are the spirites to be tried whether theie are of God and so farre-forth the holie spirite is to be acknowledged for the teacher as what is taught is agreeable to the worde receaued from the Prophetes from Christ and his Apostles Wherefore let him be accursed of vs y t preacheth another Gospel than y t which the Apostles through the cōmandement of Christ haue preached hath y e testimonie of y e Prophets So that in vaine is the holie spirite pretended when à defection is made from the voice of the Gospel CHAP. 2. 1. The special thinges required in à minister of the Gospel 2. Howe the knowledge of Gods word is attained 3. State of wicked ministers AND IN WHOSE HEART ARE THI◠WAIES THis second mēber of the description concerning the minde and studie of the ministers of the Gospel is referred vnto their knowledge of Gods worde vnto their feeling of the same in their heartes and vnto the direction or rule wherebie the preachers of the worde should gouerne the people committed to their charge Then first of al it is required of teachers in the Church
that theie knowe the celestial doctrine Which doctrine is for that cause tearmed the waie of the Lord because it is to man as à waie prepared of God to goe therebie from death vnto life and from the troubles of this world vnto blessed immortalitie Walke in my commandementes saith the Lorde by the Prophet Againe Blessed are theie which walke in the Lawe of the Lorde Moreouer the knowledge of this waie that is of heauenlie doctrine somtime is powred in by à secrete blast and inspiration from God without the labor and care of man as maie appeare in the Prophetes and Apostles Sometime it is gotten by the labor and paines of man Which labour hath two partes The first and principal whereof is burning and continual praier vnto God that he would direct vs in his trueth teach vs and lighten the eies of our minde For except the Lord build the house theie labour in vaine that builde it The other part is an earnest studie of God his worde and wil. Nowe that men be rightlie framed vnto that studie sixe thinges be necessarilie required of which breefelie we will speake The first is dailie reading of the scripture Which who so wil reade with profite must haue the knowledge both of those tongues wherin the scripture was at the first written without which neither the kinde of speech nor the phrazes can be vnderstoode and beside not onelie Logique to espie the order methode of the matter but the knowledge beside of other artes and especialie of that part of philosophie caled natural philosophie Paul commendeth this studie of continual reading vnto Timothie when he saith Giue attendance vnto reâ—ding The second is an obseruation and collection of the principal pointes of heauenlie doctrine without which the paines in reading is to smal purpose For as in al artes this care is necessarie to him that would be substantialie learned so litle shal he profite in the sacred Scripture which obserueth not the chiefe heads of religion neither bringeth al that he readeth vnto some special common place The thirde is à diligent regard vnto common axioms sentences which are as general rules ministring iudgement in doubtful causes as RhetoriciaÌ„s of general thesees which therefore theie call consultations do iudge of particulars and causes in controuersie Hitherto maketh obseruation of examples from which the determinations of matters in doubt are fetched oftentimes The fourth is à sure reteining of the premises in minde that when occasion serueth theie maie be drawen out of the treasurehouse of memorie The fift is contemplation wherebie as it were at the first sight of the minde we behold the whole course of the Scripture By this we compare thinges like and vnlike together by this we reconcile contrarie places and by this we seeke definitions diuisions distinctions interpretations of obscure places yea and make à constitution of the bodie of doctrine The sixt is tradition of elders This declareth what the holie fathers haue thought of euerie thing This tradition if it be confirmed by the worde of GOD is of authoritie and weight In which respecte wee faithfullie imbrace at this daie the Creede both of the Nicene councel of Athanasius of Ambrose and that which is caled the Apostles Creede because theie are euident groundes gathered out of God his worde But if the tradition be not proued out of the word of God then is it either contrarie to the worde and therefore we abhorre the same as the voice of the serpent that seduced Euah or it is beside the worde and we receaue it in respect of such as deliuered the same out vntil it be drawen into an euil conclusion by the enimies of true doctrine With this knowledge of the heauenlie doctrine there should be ioyned as in al men so especialie in the ministers of the Gospel á liuelie feeling in the heart without which knowledge doth not profite but hurt rather through the fault of man This liuelie sense proceedeth from faith and other motions agreeing to the Lawe of God which the holie spirite stirreth-vp in the heartes of beleeuers And this sense is called the path-waie of God because as God requireth the same so through it we approch and are ioined vnto God And therefore Paule requireth these two thinges namelie knowledge and feeling together wheÌ„ he thus writeth This I praie you that your loue maie abound yet more and more in knowledge and in al iudgement that ye maie discerne thinges that differ that ye maie be pure and without offence vntil the daie of Christ filled with the fruites of righteousnesse which are by Iesus Christ vnto the glorie and praise of God So that the end of knowledge is that we should iudge proue and approue those thinges which are the better and most profitable To feeling is subiect synceritie which is à good coÌ„science before God innocencie of life that we offend no man and plentie of fruits of the righteousnes of faith which proceede from the grace of Iesus Christ and tend vnto the laude praise of God If this liuelie sense with the knowledge of heauenlie doctrine be not in the teachers of the Churche nothing is more cursed in the whole worlde than theie are For when they reproue other meÌ„ for sinning theie condemne themselues when theie lift vp others with comfort theie ouer-throwe themselues when theie teach others themselues are confounded to be short whatsoeuer theie doe in the ministerie committed to their charge it is à testimonie to their owne damnation For theie are verie-like the makers of Noahs arke For as theie when the arke was builded wherin Noah and his familie was saued perished in the floud so these men shal perish in the floud of hel fire when such as gaue credite vnto the worde theie preached shal be saued Wherefore let both them which are in the ministerie and them also which purpose to enter into the same consider howe grieuous the punishment is that hangeth-ouer their heades if the feeling in the heart and their life answere not to their doctrine againe what great glorie is laide-vp for them if theie doe builde the Church of Christ with both hands namelie with doctrine and with example Of whiche glorie afterwarde we wil entreate Moreouer the teachers of the Churche ought to shewe the waie of the Lord to men that goe astraie For which cause theie are called the guides of the flocke in the Scriptures that going-before them both in learning and life theie maie both prepare the waie and animate others to followe them And therefore in the prophesie of Isaiah it is written Go-through goe-through the gates prepare you the waie for the people caste-vp caste-vp the waie and gather out the stones and set-vp à standerd for the people Let preachers therefore of the worde vnderstand that as theie ought to goe before other men both by example of
Martyrdome 421 kinds of martyrdome 421 profite of martyrdome 421 whie the godly suffer martyrdome 424. Martyrs who 421 423. Martyrs not to be worshipped 427 428. Masse The Masse 168 none indifferent thing 168 an harlot 203 the masse à sacrifice and à sacrament and howe 204 Canon of the Masse 205 the abomination thereof 206 whie it is abominable 207 not commanded of God 207 contrarie vnto the institution of Christ 208 the ground of purgatorie 216 the strength of Antichrist 216 with what argument maintained by papistes 222 the Popishe masse one thing their communion an other 230. Material cause of sacrifices 183. Christ our onelie mediator 302. Mediators betweene God and man 212 à Mediator whie needeful 486. Meditation what 144 fruit of holy Meditation 323 Meditation offered by baptisme 106. Men worshipped for Gods 191. Men by Aristomenes sacrificed 194 by the French men sacrificed 195 by Germans 195 sacrificed vnto Bacchus 193. vnto Maâ—s sacrificed 193 sacrificed vnto Saturn 194. Merchants 96. God his mercie whereunto compared 266 what it comprehendeth 390 his mercie in punishing sin 414. Christ y e way by merit 123. Merits of the sainctes the treasure of the Church 214. Ministerie of the Gospel 129 difference betweene the ministerie and the ministers 397. Ministers Kindes of Ministers in the Church 150 auctoritie to make ministers à note of y e true church 172 the the holie spirit howe in ministers 398 ministers howe called 399 knowledge of Gods word required in à Minister 400 state of wicked ministers 404 true ministers aboue al subiect vnto affliction 408 coÌ„forts for ministers in their troubles 450 ministers whie priests 361 and howe 362. Miracles Diuine miracles what and their effectes 64 whie wrought and whie not wroght in these daies 66 howe wrought 68 Miracles of Christ 28 howe to knowe false from true Miracles 67 diuelish Miraâ—les howe done 68 Miracles not wroght by the diuel 69. Miserie Miserie of man without Christ 258 cause of man his miserie 258 the degrees of mans Miserie 259 the ende of mans Miserie 262. The Moone worshipped for a God 191. Mount Zioâ— what 53. Musike why reteined in the Church 391. N Natural life 127. Natural philosophie 401. Nature of oile 345. Noblemens children sacrificed 194. O Obedience to the Lawe 373. Obedience to the Lawe a part of Christ his sacrifice 247. Obedience to Magistrates 430. Obseruation 402. Office of the Messiah 51 61. Office of the priest in the olde Lawe 186. Nature of Oile 345. Opinions of Christ 17. Oracle of Apollo 194. Order whie obserued in the Church 167. Ordinarie power of the Church 152. Organs why reteined in the Church 391. Original cause of idolatrie 189. Ouerseers 151. Oxen worshiped for Gods 191. P Paine followeth pleasure 380. Palenes worshipped for a God 191. Pallace of the Messiah 52. In the Papacie what good thinges 228. Papistes 16 they neglect the commandements of God for their owne traditions 512. Papistical seruice 2â—â— Papisticall good workes what 511 the causes of them 513. Papistical traditions diuers 511. Paradise of the Turkes 90. Parentes killed of their children in sacrifices 93 Parentes murtherers of their owne children in sacrifices 194 195. Partes of Christ his Priesthoode 242. Paschal Lambe compared to Christ. 35. The Passeouer whie instituted 26. Patience à sacrifice 359. Patriarchs 151. People of the Messiah 56. Perpetuitie of the Church 391. Persecution 441 à twofold persecution 467. Philosophie natural 401. Pleasure of y e bodie à vaine thing 380. Pomegranate 180. The Poore most readie to embrace the gospel 26. The Pope the keeper of Epicurns booke 100. Whom the Pope curseth 164 his punishing of transgressorâ— 168 205 The Pope a spiritual baude 203 whie forsaken of Luther 209 Popes vsurpers of auctoritie 151. The summe of Poperie 97. A Popish priest who 197. Popish priesthoode contrarie to the priesthoode of Christ 198 Popish baptisme 229. Power of the Church 152 156. Praier Praier 401 true praier what 456 à sacrifice 356 when accepted 301 302 signified by incense 197 publique Praier a note of the true Church 17â— Praise of God a sacrifice 355. Praise of God 390 wherein it consisteth 390 who praise God 390 howe the creatures praise God 391. Whether Preachers in the time of persecution may flie 441. Preachers be the souldiers of Christ. 12. Preaching of Christ. 2â— Preaching nccessarie 322. Preaching a note of y e true Church 171. Preaching to y e spirites 102. Presence of God in the Church 452. God whie present in the Church 451. Preseruation of y e Church 125. Priest The Priest his office in sacrificing 186 the necessitie of an hie Priest 237 his condition 239 Christians are priestes and howe 344 ministers are Priestes 361 ministers howe Priests 362 Priesthood of the new Testament 242. Popish Priesthood contrarie to the Priesthood of Christ 198. Princes idolatrous not to be obeied 430. Gift of prophecie not tied vnto any one calling of men 169. Prophecies of the Turkes 77. Propitiatorie sacrifice 235. 250. Prosperitie daungerous 338. Punishment Punishment of Dauid 5 of the vngodlie 118. 161. 190. 196. 323. 331. In deserued punishment what to be considered 411. God his iustice and mercie in punishing sinne 414. Purenesse in this life what 116. Purgatorie 216 à vane thing 221 grounded vppon the Masse 216. Puritie of the Church 115. Q Quantitie of God 84. R Reason of man is vane 370. Reiection of the Iewes 43 causes of the same 74. Religion 99. Diuersities of religion 104. Remission of sinnes whaâ— 496. Repentaunce a sacrifice 357. Resurrection of Christ 38. 45 confirmed by manie testimonies 46. Reward of sinne 162. Riches 146. Righteousnesse what 498. 500 à sacrifice 359. Righteousnesse of faith and workes oppugned 330 righteousnesse of workes oppugned 327 S True Sabboth what 62. Sacramentes howe manie 334. Sacrifice Sacrifices of the Iewes 177. 178 of the Gentiles 193 of Christians 235. Sacrifices of the Iewes of what kindes 185â— the causes of them 182. Sacrifices of Christians howe manie 247. Burnt Sacrifice 185. Sacrifice eucharistical 185 236. 349. kindes thereof 352. Sacrifice of good workes 349 of Obedience 247. of patience 359. of praier 356. of Praise 355. of propitiation 235. 250. of repentance 357. of righteousnesse 359. of the Masse 204. Sacrifices of them-selues please not God 178. In a sacrifice what to bee considered 251. Sacrifices of the olde Law howe offered 253. Captiues 195 children 194 195. men 193. 194. parentes Sacrificed 193. Salt 188. Saintes Saintes cannot be intercessors for vs 213. Saintes inuocated a seruice of the diuel 214. their worship why inuented 429. Sanctification how it commeth 106. Satietie not in this life 377. Seede of Abraham 309. Selfe hatred 290. Selfe loue 289. twofolde 290. Serpent of brasse 31. Serpents taken for GOD 191. Seruice of the Churche 116. What Seruice of Papistes maie be heard 228. Societie with CHRIST 131. Sophisters 443. howe to be resisted 444. Soules of the righteous where 376. they Sleepe not vntil the