or seeke newe places to offer their sacrifices oblations in but to come and to staye them selues within the Court of the tabernacle or of the temple Iesus Christ woulde not despise this place But wee knowe that whatsoeuer corruption was there no faithfull man was inforced to cleaue or sticke to anye superstitious manner or custome which is not practised at this day in the Church of Rome For as all there is of superstition and manifest idolatrie so they will constraine and enforce the faithful by fire and sworde to consent thereto and to pollute and defile themselues therewith against their owne consciences and gods expresse forbidding Lastly to what point did Iesus Christ bring the Church of Ierusalem when the high Priestes Scribes and Pharisees shewed them selues great madde men not doing their duties towardes it did hee not take his vineyard from these husbandmē who did not giue him the fruites whiche belonged vnto him and committed the same vnto others that is to his Apostles and their successors to yelde him fruite in their seasons Euen so likewise hath the Lorde done therewith in the Popedome He hath not destroyed his Church but hath only chaunged the estate thereof taking it out of the hand and guiding of the Bishoppes and Popishe Priestes and placing it againe vnder the gouernement and charge of other guiders and leaders who can see more clerely and be of better trust as it is spoken in Saint Mathewe Matt. 22 4◠vnder the similitude or parable of the vineyarde To conclude if they aske what shall become then of our predecessors who died in the faith of the Romish Church are they condemned I aunswere that wee leaue the iudgement thereof vnto GOD for it belongeth not to vs to determine iudge of that which is hidden from vs which indeed passeth our knowledge and calling It is verie true Ioh. 3.18.36 that the holy scripture pronounceth that they which die without the faith of Christ are damned and we cannot but say amen and giue our consent to this Neither serueth it to any purpose to alledge ignoraunce and to say that it excuseth the sinner before GOD For the scripture is plaine and manifest therein Luk. 12.47.48 The seruaunt saith Iesus Christ that knew his masters will prepared not him selfe neither did according to his will shall be beaten with many strippes But he that knewe it not and yet did commit thinges worthie of stripes shall be beaten with fewe stripes Also Matt. 15.14 if the blinde leade the blind they shal fall both into the ditch Saint Paul saith also As many as haue sinned without the lawe Rom. 2.12 2. Thess 1.6 shall perishe also without the lawe and as many as haue sinned within the lawe shall bee iudged by the law And againe it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you and to you which are troubled rest and deliuerance with vs when the Lorde Iesus shall shewe himselfe from heauen with his mightie Angels in flaming fire rendering vengeance vnto them that do not know God and which obey not vnto the Gospell of our Lorde Iesus Christe which shall bee punished with euerlasting destruction c. These places doe openly inough declare what is the ende of those that die without faith although they bee ignorant for their ignorance can not excuse them nor serue them for a cloake or couering to absolue and set thē free from the iudgement of God for confirmation proofe wherof wee may alledge also and put downe that which is written in Leuiticus Leui. 4.2 touching the offering commaunded by God for the sinnes which were committed through ignorance Lo what wee haue to say for one point But to that which remaineth touching our fathers and predecessors God might well shewe mercie vpon them at the end of their dayes making himselfe knowne vnto them by the secrete vertue and power of his holy spirite and putting it into their harts to beleue in Iesus Christ his sonne that so they might be saued For God is almightie to saue his owne people yea without vsing any of these meanes which he is accustomed cōmonly ordinarily to vse to plant faith in vs and to ingraue it in our harts to our owne saluation And this is S. Cypriā his answere touching those that die in some false opinions Cypri lib. 2. epist 3. If some one of our predecessors saith hee either by ignorance or through simplicitie hath not kept and helde that which the Lord hath taught vs to doe by his example and authoritie the mercie of the Lord may pardon him But wee cannot helpe the same being admonished instructed by him Behold what S. Cyprian pronounceth herein It is true that hee speaketh properly touching the matter of the holy supper but nothing letteth but that wee may applie his speach generally to the matter of all the other articles of the faith The IX CHAP. Of the degrees of ministers in the Church where mention is made of the orders of the popish clergie and of the offices and dueties of true pastors Matt. 9.38 WE haue sene and heard heretofore that it apperteineth vnto the Lorde of the haruest to sende foorth workemen into his haruest For it belongeth not to any what giftes soeuer he hath receiued from the Lord to thrust himselfe into the worke of the ministerie vnlesse he be lawefully called thereto Ephes 4.11 Now the Apostle Saint Paul writing to the Ephesians sheweth vs what workemen the Lorde hath sent into his haruest that is to say Apostles prophetes Euangelistes Pastors and doctors Apostles Touching the Apostles they were chosen immediately from Christe and their office was to sowe and spreade the Gospell abroad throughout all the world neither had any one of them any limites or borders set thē or some certaine Churches appointed to them Matt. 28.19 Matt. 10.2 Gal. 2.8 but Christ would that in euery part or place where so euer they came they should do their message before all peoples and nations Such were the twelue named in the Gospell to whome Saint Paule was added who was specially appointed to beare the name of Christ among the Gentiles Nowe bicause this degree of Apostles was instituted and ordained by God for the establishing of Churches those Churches being planted and established this name of Apostle ought not any more to be vsed among the ministers as to be giuen and communicated to them And yet we read that sometime it is taken generally in the scripture for a Pastor and preacher of the Gospell As Epaphroditus is called the Apostle of the Philippians Philip. 2.25 Act. 14.14 and Barnabas is named an Apostle Act. 14. Prophetes are distinguished into two sortes or orders Prophets Some were vnder the old Testament and in that time who being instructed and taught by a speciall reuelation from God did foretell things to come the other were in the newe Testament who in
and lawfull succession of the chaire or place is on our side For there the ordinarie Bishops haue receiued the Gospell and preach it so that we shall not neede to dispute of their vocation no more then for the calling of the Priestes which are at this present in the Romish Church called by the Pope but euen only of their doctrine CHAP. VI. That the Church hath bene alwayes from the beginning is now and shall be euen vnto the worlds end but that it ought not to be esteemed or acknowledged by the great number WE must not thinke that the Churche had her beginning where the Apostles began to preach the gospel throughout all the world at which time the disciples were first named Christians in Antiochia but that she began to be in the world euē from the verie time of our first parents Adam and Heuah For in them and by thē God began to be serued on the earth hauing blessed them and cōmended vnto thē his seruice and after their fall hauing preached vnto them repentance and assurance of victorie against the serpent through Iesus Christ his sonne But the world increasing the Church also was augmented seruing God For as S. Paul saith God created the world Act. 17.26 hath made of one bloud al men that they might seeke and serue him And he himselfe saith in Isaiah This people haue I formed for my selfe Isai 43.21 they shall rehearse and shewe foorth my praise GOD then created in the worlde and that from the beginning a Church thorough free adoption to this ende that his name might be duely praised by conuenient fit and meet witnesses for so excellent a worke For this cause also the Church is called the planting of the Lord that he might be glorified Isai 61.3 Isaiah 61.3 Moreouer this Church notwithstanding the sharpe and hard persecutions which it hath suffred hath not yet ceased alwayes to be as it is at this present and shal be vnto the worldes end For as Dauid saith The Lord hath chosen Sion Psa 132.13 c. that is to say the church and hath desired it for his seat it hath bene saith he my rest for euer Matt. 28.20 Iesus Christ also hath promised his disciples to be with them alwayes euen vnto the end of the world But chiefly Saint Paul hath declared and set out the perpetuitie and continuance of the Church when he assureth vs Ephes 3.21 that GOD shall be glorified in the Church through Iesus Christ throughout all generations for euer and euer They then are ouermuch past shame which limit the continuance of the Church to a certaine time as those of whome Saint Augustine speaketh August de ciuitat Dei lib. 18. ca. 54 who durst boldly affirme that the christian religion should not last but 365. yeares They likewise doe abuse and deceiue themselues which thinke that by the assaults which they giue vnto the Church they are able to beate it downe consume it wholy take it away out of the world for is it possible that God should be without a Church Psal 100.1 c. hath not he himselfe promised that his sonne shall raigne and beare rule for euer ouer all his enimies Verily the Church which is the spouse or wife of Christ is become or made so mightie and stronge through her husbande that being euen one bodie with him she is more forcible and mightie in her weakenesse then al the world in his pride and hautines But as we haue alreadie saide once heretofore we will hereafter speake more amplie and largely of the Churches force and power in persecutions To bee short amongest so manie and so diuerse chaunges of the kingdomes of this worlde God alwayes preserueth his Church and bringeth to passe that nothing in al the world is durable and perpetuall but she not that she is alwayes florishing or hath a continuance which followeth al by one threede that is commeth altogether but because that God not minding that his name shoulde be put out in the worlde doeth alwayes in his Church raise vp some of whome he is sincerely and purely serued Nowe when the question is to discerne the true Church from the false some there are that stay themselues vpō the multitude and great number But they are very farre from their right reckoning or account For GOD measureth not his Church by the number Matt. 18.20 He loueth his faithful people keepeth himselfe in the middest of them although they be a verie small number on the otherside he hateth those that doe dispise it and disdayneth them though the number of them be neuer so great And indeede on the side of the multitude and great number the false and bastardly Church is rather founde than the true and lawfull one And that it is so let vs first marke the places of scripture which withdrawe vs from the multitude and teache vs to stay and cleaue to the little flocke Exod. 23.2 Thou shalt not followe a multitude to doe euill neither agree in a controuersie to decline after many and to ouerthrowe the trueth Matth. 7.13.14 Enter in at the straite Gate for it is the wide gate and broad way which leadeth to destruction many ther be which go in thereat because the gate is straite and the way narrowe that leadeth vnto life and fewe there be that find it Feare not litle flocke Luk. 12.32 for it is your fathers pleasure to giue you a kingdome Wee see by these places that the greatest number is not alwayes the best neyther the soundest and that the Church of God is founde rather amongest the small number then among the multitude Secondly let vs note the reasons following which are taken frō examples that we finde in the scripture touching this verie matter On which side was the Church Gene. 7.1 Heb. 11.7 when Noah alone with his litle familie which was not in all but eight persons followed the true religion God approuing him by his faith condemning all the rest of the worlde On which side was the Church 1. Kin. 19.10 when Elijah saide O Lord the children of Israel haue forsaken thy couenant they haue destroyed thine Altars and slaine thy prophets with the sworde and I am left altogether alone and yet they seeke my soule to take it away On which side was the Church when the foure hundred prophetes deceiued Ahab ◠King 22.8 and Michaiah being alone and contēned did yet notwithstanding resist them and speake the trueth On which side was the Church when Ieremiah was sent frō God to say Iere. 4.9 In that day the heart of the king shall perishe and the heart of the princes and of the priestes shall bee astonished Iere. 10.18 and the Prophetes shall wonder and that therefore the Prophetes resisted him layed crimes vnto his charge and imagined mischeife against him On which side was the Church when the chiefe Priestes and scribes
among the Apostles we must then say by the contrarie that the virgine Marie is the last and least of all women bicause in the first chapter of the Actes Act. 1.13.14 where also S. Peter is set the first in the catalogue or nūber she is set the last after others Which matter the Romish Catholikes will not at any hand say or affirme which if they should it would be found in deede a verie absurde thing Thirdly we read in many places that S. Peter is not named first And S. Paul in the second Chapter of his Epistle to the Galathians Gal. 2.9 placeth Iames before him Iames then by this reason should haue authoritie ouer Peter bicause he is named before him Besides in the Councel of Ierusalem the speach aduice of Iames which was had after that Peter had giuen his Act. 15.13 c. had such weight with it that all consented and agreed to his iudgement And thus much concerning the first point Let vs come to the other which concerneth the Pope who saith that he is Saint Peters successor and so by consequent the head of the Church First if it manifestly appeare by that which hath bene said heretofore that Saint Peter was neuer established head of the Church and that he neuer had any such preheminence and authoritie attributed vnto him by what title or right can or will the Pope who saith that he is his successor pretend at this day any such Lordship rule and authoritie Let vs also on the other side well marke this S. Peter died as they say vnder Nero and there succeeded him Lucius Cletus Clemens in the time of S. Iohn who liued vnder Domitian and euen vnto Traian his dayes Now if they of the Church of Rome will say that the Popes which succeeded S. Peter were the heads of the Church to whome all the rest of the Bishops ought to be subiect they must of necessitie be driuen to confesse that S. Iohn was subiect to Lucius to Cletus and to Clemens Moreouer if S. Peters successors be the heads of the Church Clemens who succeeded him in the third place as they say was so likewise But let vs heare what he him selfe saith in an Epistle which as some say he writ to Iames Bishop of Ierusalem Tom. 1. Concil pag. 135. col 2. The title or inscription is this Clemens to Iames the Lords brother Bishop of Bishops gouernour of the Church of Ierusalem and of all other Churches which by the prouidence of God are throughout all the world If Clemens were the vniuersall Bishop why did he spoyle him selfe of his owne titles to attribute ascribe and giue the same vnto Iames to whome they did not belong Furthermore who is he that hath lifted vp the Pope into this goodly degree of honor Is it Iesus Christ or his Apostles No in deede for we reade that Bonifacius the third of that name Bishop of Rome was by the Emperour Phocas ordained the first souereigne or chiefe of all Christendome and the Chuuch of Rome established head of all the Churches in the world this was about the yere of Christ sixe hundred and foure This Phocas as the historie writers rehearse and record was a traitor and an vnfaithful murderer of the Emperor Mauritius his master for as the said Mauritius at a certaine time shewed him self ouer seuere and rigorous against his souldiers they being giuen to debate and contention chose Phocas for Emperor who in Calcedonia immediately caused to be cut off the forenamed Mauritius his owne head his armes also and his three sonnes named Theodorus Tiberius and Constantine But he receiued his paiment and reward for it afterwards For hauing reigned eight yeares he was at the last slaine by the common people in the yeare of Christ 612. Behold and marke by whome the primacie of the Romish Church was established and the Romane Bishop made an vniuersall Bishop there being before not so much as any newes of it For as concerning a certaine Edict or decre which they alledge by which Constantine the great a Christian Emperor gaue vnto Siluester the Bishop of Rome about the yeare of Christ 317. spirituall domination and gouernement ouer all the Churches of the whole world also the iewels and kingly ornaments yea the Empire it selfe and politike gouernement ouer all the West parts it is a writing found and forged for and at their pleasure full of lyings also and falshoodes which may be easily proued by these reasons There are none of all the approued historiographers during certaine ages which make mention thereof after any sort as Eusebius Eutropius Ruffinus Socrates Theodoretus Beda Euagrius Paulus Diaconus Zonaras Nicephorus Orosius either other the like yea they which haue written the liues of the Emperours and Popes haue not any whit at all spoken thereof No more haue the auncient Doctours Athanasius Basilius Saint Ambrose Gregorie Nissenus Gregorius Nazianzenus Optatus Milenitanus Saint Augustine Chrysostome which is more the Bishops of Rome them selues haue not saide any thing thereof no not in Councels when they haue taken vpon them the care and charge to maintaine their primacie which would notwithstanding haue bene a good buckler and shield of defence for them If Constantine gaue to the Romane Bishop the primacie ouer Constantinople Antioch Alexandria Ierusalem and all other Churches what reason had he to suffer in the Councel of Nice whereat he him selfe was present that the contrarie should there be determined and concluded Concil Nic. Can. 6. habetur tom 1. Concil pag. 342. For in that Councel it was concluded that the Bishop of Rome should not be preferred before the Bishop of Alexandria or of Antioch or of Ierusalem If the foresaid Emperour ordained that the Bishop of Rome should be helde and taken for the head of all the Churches of the world wherefore then did Bonifacius demaund and seeke the same of Phocas whereas he should rather haue required to haue kept the same to himselfe and his successors which was long before graunted by Constantine to his predecessors With what conscience would Constantine giue vnto Siluester lordship and gouernment ouer the Churches and the Empire he him selfe being a Christian and therfore by cōsequent knowing very well that there was a distinction and difference betweene the office of the Pastors of the Church and the charge and duetie of Magistrates Eusebius euen as Eusebius witnesseth of him that he was accustomed to say that the Lorde had giuen and committed the inwarde charge of the Churche to the elders ministers but the outward to him If wee woulde consider Siluester with what conscience also coulde hee accepte the saide donation or gift the vse whereof as he well inough knewe Iesus Christ had forbidden him Luk. 22.25 Matt. 22.21 for hee was not ignorant of this sentence The kinges of the nations beare rule c. but it shall not bee so amongest you Also Giue vnto Caesar the thinges which are
is alwayes necessarie in the Church The fourth reason Iesus Christ hath giuen and established the ministers of the worde Ephe. 4.11 for the worke of the ministerie till wee all meete together in the vnitie of faith and knowledge of the son of God vnto a perfecte man and vnto the measure of the age of the fulnes of Christ that is to say till that Christ bee perfect in vs and haue in vs his ful grouth and increase But wee can not obtaine such perfection vnto the end of the world 2. Cor. 13.9.10 at what time God shall be all in all For as Saint Paul saith Wee knowe in part and we prophecie in parte But when that which is perfect is come then that which is in part shal be abolished Wherefore it followeth that Iesus Christ hath giuen and placed the ministers of the word for the worke of the ministerie vntill the ende of the worlde and then God shall be all in all These reasons are sufficient for this present to teach and proue that the holy ministerie is continually requisite and necessarie in the Church as indeede the Lorde hath for our good saluation established the same to abide in al ages therein applying and framing him selfe to our weaknes which is so great we being corrupted thorough sinne that without this means meet and agreeable to our nature we could not be well instructed in the pointes of our saluation For if God should speake vnto vs in his maiestie we could not at any hande away with or abide his presence as we may see it by those that when he was minded to publish and to giue his lawe the people thēselues being astonished Exod. 20.19 Deut. 5.28.29 with his greatnes maiestie said vnto Moses Talke thou with vs and we wil heare But let not the Lord talke with vs lest we dy And God accepting this their request saide vnto Moses I haue heard the wordes of the voice of this people which they haue spoken vnto thee they haue wel said al that they haue spokē Oh that there were such a heart in them to feare me and to keepe al my cōmandements alway that it might go well with them and with their children for euer Go say vnto thē returne into your tents but stand thou here with me and I wil tel thee all the cōmandements and the ordinances Deut. 5.30.31 and the lawes which thou shalt teach them that they may do them c. Wherefore God yelded vnto this people their request to wit that they might be taught by the ministerie of Moses And sithence that time it was yet his good pleasure to haue continued and that vnto the end this manner of instructing and teaching his Church by the ministerie of men which order men them selues did require and chose in so much that when God him selfe sent Iesus Christ his sonne Mark 1.38 Heb. 2.16 to preach the Gospell he appointed him to take vpon him not the nature of Angels but the seede of Abraham that he might be like vnto vs in all things yet without sinne And Christ him selfe ascending to heauen Act. 14.15 committed vnto his Apostles who were men as we the office charge to teach vs. And since that time this order hath continued and is common and ordinarie in the Church and can not be separated from the Church to wit that God doth teach vs by the ministerie of men as by his instruments which are most profitable Act. 8.27 c. familiar and easie to vs. The Eunuch of Candace Queene of the Ethiopians read in his chariot the holie scriptures and no doubt the Lorde could verie well haue instructed him in the mysteries of faith by the secrete vertue and power of his holie spirit but yet he delighted rather to haue it done by the ministerie of Phillip liked better therof Act. 10.1.2 c. Cornelius the Centurion to the end he might be more fully instructed in the knowledge of the Gospel was sent backe as it were from the Angell to Saint Peter He shall tell thee saith the Angel what thou oughtest to doe Yea Saint Paul him selfe although that the Lord had spoken vnto him with his owne mouth was yet notwithstanding sent backe as it were to Ananias Act. 9.3.4 c. that he might be instructed and receiue the holie Ghost and be baptised Wherefore they that doe cast from them or disallowe the ministerie of the Church hanging vpon and looking for Angelicall and diuine reuelations to instruct them doe not onely deceiue them selues but also violate and breake the order which GOD hath established in his Church for our saluation Now there remaineth to see and know howe much we ought to deferre and giue to the ministerie for if they be deceiued which despise it and do not their duetie in that behalfe which they ought they are deceiued also which attribute or giue ouer much vnto it Wherefore we say that we ought not to giue to it either more or lesse than that which belongeth thereto that as it is good reason that the authoritie and credite thereof should be reserued vnto it selfe safe and sound so we ought to take good heede of this that we pull not from God the honour which is due vnto him For this purpose and point we must diligently obserue and marke this distinction Sometimes man is compared with God when the minister is mentioned or spoken of and then it is saide that he is not able to doe any thing at all and that his labour or worke is altogether vnprofitable As whē Saint Paul saith 1. Cor. 3.7 Neither is he that planteth any thing neither is he that watereth but God that giueth the increase For what can man haue in himself if he would enter into this to part or diuide a matter betwene God him selfe we must therefore take heede of this not so much as once to thinke that the vertue and power of the holie Ghost should be tied and bound to the ministerie of men as though without it God could not worke in mens hearts euen as shall please him selfe as we see that they of the Romish church suppose and thinke as appeareth in this that they spare not to affirme that if a childe dye without baptisme administred by man it can not be saued on the other side that they which receiue the outward signes from the ministers handes receiue by and by the grace of God which is tied to these signes But God saith by his Prophetes That it belongeth to him Iere. 31.33 Ezech. 11.19 to write his lawe in mens harts to take away from them their stonie heartes Iere. 32.40 and to giue them heartes of flesh to renue within them a newe spirite to put his feare in their heartes Isai 43.25 that they should not depart from him Shortly That it is he alone to whome it belongeth to pardon sinnes Luk. 5.21 and to saue And we
is not at any time perfecte so long as shee trauelleth and fighteth in this worlde whiche maior I prooue thus First if the Church were without spot in this worlde in vaine hath our Sauiour Christe taught it alwayes to pray Matth. 6.12 forgiue vs our trespasses and sinnes But the Lorde Iesus hath not without good cause giuen vs such doctrine and instruction wherefore it followeth that the Church is not in this worlde without spotte yea rather that shee hath continuall neede alwayes for to praye vnto GOD that shee may bee more and more sanctified and obteyne the forgiuenesse of all her sinnes Secondly those which are with out spot and wrinckle haue nothing to doe with any washing because they haue no neede thereof But the faithfull although they be washed haue notwithstanding need yet of washing still as Iesus Christe himselfe declareth it vnto vs Iohn 13.10 when hee saith Hee that is washed needeth not saue to washe his feete For by the washing of the feete hee meaneth a continuall sanctification It followeth then that the faithful are not in this world without spot 1. Cor. 1.2 Thirdly Saint Paul ceaseth not to adorne and bewtifie the Corinthians with the title of the Church who notwithstanding greeuously abused the holy supper of the Lorde and had amongest them diuisions and partakinges which are not smal faultes yea indeede they were in doubte also touching the resurrectiō of the dead Also he nameth the assembly of the Galathians Galat. 1.2 the Church although that poore people were deceaued by false Prophetes and caried away to an other Gospell contrarie vnto that which hee had preached vnto them These places doe manifestly declare that the Church is neuer so pure and perfect in this world but that it hath always need to be more more purged sanctified which thing S. Paul sheweth yet more plainly openly whē he writeth vnto the Thessalonians For he calleth thē the Church 1. Thes 1.1 1. Thes 5.23 and yet he prayeth vnto God for them that he would sanctifie thē through out True it is that the Nouatians Donatistes and Anabaptistes who doe not agree with vs in this point are not without their replies For first they alledge vnto vs that which S. Paul writeth vnto the Ephesians Ephe. 5.25.26.27 That Iesus Christ gaue himselfe for his Church that he might sanctifie it and cleanse it that he might make it vnto himselfe a glorious Church not hauing spot or wrinckle but that it shoulde be holy without blame But wee want not an aunswere also Saint Paul considereth the Church not in her selfe but in Iesus Christe her heade which shee taketh holde of by faith So shee is saide to bee without wrinckle and vnblameable by reason not of her owne righteousnesse but of Iesus Christes righteousnesse whereof shee is made partaker because it pleased God to impute and reckon the same vnto her for which cause also it is in an other place 1. Cor. 1.30 that Iesus Christe is made of God the father vnto vs wisedome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption Moreouer wee might say that Saint Paul speaketh of sanctification or holinesse promised and which is not yet fully accomplished as though he called saide the Church to bee without spot not that it is so here belowe on the earth but because that one day it shall so bee aboue in heauen Augu. lib. de nuptiis Concupise cap. 34. And after this sorte Saint Augustine vnderstandeth it Iesus Christ saith hee cleanseth his Church by the washing of Christians to make it vnto himselfe without spott or wrinckle not in this world but in the world to come They alledge moreouer that which Saint Iohn saith 1. Ioh. 3.6.9 whosoeuer is borne of God sinneth not Wherevnto I aunswere by a distinction Those that are borne of God that is to say the faithfull sinne not that is to say serue not sinne or rather sinne doth not raigne in them because they do withdraw themselues as much as they can or are inabled from sinne and with all their heart giue themselues to holinesse of life that they may glorifie God And in this sense Saint Iohn taketh it and speaketh it Againe they that are borne of God sinne that is to say can not liue so holily but that oftentimes they stumble and fall into sins For although they be sanctified yet for all that by reason of the reliques and remnauntes of nature corrupted which yet resteth and remaineth in them euery day they turne aside from the righte waye and sinne In this sense S. Iohn ment not that which he saith that whosoeuer is borne of God sinneth not for so he should speak against him selfe hauing before saide If we say we haue no sinne 1. Ioh. 1.8.10 wee deceiue our selues and trueth is not in vs yea wee make God a lyer and his worde is not in vs. So it is then that though there seeme to bee some contrarietie betweene these two to say that we are sinners and sainctes both together yet all agreeth together verie well for euerie man if we consider him in his owne nature according to which he is called the childe of wrath he is a sinner worthie of death and eternall damnation but if we consider him in Iesus Christ as a Christian and faythfull man hee is holy so that he sinneth not that is to say serueth not sinne and his imperfections are hidden and couered because that they are not imputed vnto him and moreouer the Lorde Iesus maketh him partaker of his righteousnesse And so being a sinner in respect of his owne nature he is notwithstanding reputed and accounted holy iust before God But that which we haue hitherto spoken toucheth or concerneth the members of the Church particularlie Wee may also well say touching the Church considered in her owne bodie that it shall neuer here be purged from al filthinesses because that so long as shee shall bee on earth there shall be in her wicked ones mingled with good ones Which thing Iesus Christ hath declared in the Gospell by two similitudes Matth. 13.24.25 c. In the first he saith that the kingdome of heauen that is to say the Church is like vnto a man which sowed good seede in his feeld but while men slept there came his enemie sowed tares amongest the wheate and went his way And when the blade was sprong vp and had brought foorth fruit then appeared the tares also Then came the seruauntes of the housholde and saide vnto him Master sowedst thou not c. and woulde presently haue gone and gathered them vp but the Lorde woulde not suffer them least while they went about to gather the tares they plucked vp also with them the wheate Therefore he willed that they might both growe together vntill the haruest and in the time of haruest the reapers shall gather the tares and binde them in sheaues to burne them but they shal gather the good
corne into the Lords barne Afterwards he expoundeth the saide similitude saying He that soweth the good seede is the sonne of man and the fielde is the world Matt. 13.37 c. the good seede are the children of the kingdome the tares are the children of the wicked and the enimie that soweth them is the diuell the haruest is the end of the world and the reapers be the angels As then saith he the tares are gathered and burned in the fire so shall it be in the end of the world The sonne of man shall send foorth his Angels and they shall gather out of his kingdome all things that offend and them which do iniquitie and shall cast them into a fornace of fire there shall be wayling gnashing of teeth Then shall the iust men shine as the sunne in the kingdome of their father In the second similitude he saith Matt. 13.47.48 That the kingdome of heauen is like vnto a drawe net cast into the sea that gathereth of all kinde of things which when it is full the fishers draw to land on the shoare and put the good by them selues into their vessels and cast the bad away And afterwardes he giueth the exposition thereof So shall it be saith he at the end of the world Matt. 13.49.50 The Angels shall goe foorth and seuer the wicked from amongest the iust and shall cast them into a fornace of fire where shall be wayling and gnashing of teeth By these two similitudes Iesus Christe verie plainely expresseth what shall be the visible state and condition of the Church so long as it shal be on earth that is to say that the wicked shal continually be mingled therein with the good and that in such sorte as the tares are amongest the good wheate in the fieldes and as euill fishes are mingled with the good in the sea whereof followeth that which we haue saide before in the third Chapter to wit that all they which are in the Church are not for al that of the Church And indeede experience hath in all ages shewed the same vnto vs and maketh vs to behold the same as yet euē euery day Cain was the first that defiled the Church of GOD Gene. 4.3 c. although he offered sacrifices in outward shewe as his iust brother Abel did Noah preached vnto those of his time and continuing his exercise a long season some thinke sixe score yeares hardly would his owne housholde beleeue his worde Gene. 7.1 c. so that GOD destroying all the worlde by the floud onely eight persons of the foresaide Noahs housholde were reserued by the meane of the Arke And euen yet of those eight persons with whom GOD had made a newe couenaunt touching the establishing againe of his Churche Ham Gene. 9.22 in his time verie manifestly declared his hypocrisie Matt. 27.3 c. Act. 1.16.17 c. Reue. 2 6. Amongest the twelue Apostles Iudas is found a traitor and vnfaithfull Amongest the seuen Deacons one Nicholas was an heretike at the least if that be true that this Nicholas was one of the seuen Deacons as Clemens Clemens strom lib. 3. Euseb hist eccles lib. 3. cap. 29. Alexandrinus and Eusebius certainely affirme it S. Iohn speaking of Antichristes wherewith the Church was in his time troubled and tormented saith 1. Ioh. 2.19 They went out from vs but they were not of vs for if they had bene of vs they would haue continued with vs. And what at this day Howe many hypocrites and great mungrell mastifes are found at this day in the outward Church and are suffered therein Certainely there are verie many which are acknowledged and allowed for members of the Church of whome GOD who beholdeth all mens heartes doth in the meane season iudge otherwise Wherefore the Church euen in this respect is not at any time in the world without wrinkle The fourth point which we must note here is that our sanctification is not performed or wrought all at one time but there are three degrees or steppes thereof to the end that it may be perfect The first degree is during this life when that our Lorde Iesus Christ giueth vs his holy spirite thereby to resist and withstande the world the diuell sinne and our owne flesh to the end that we may loue good thinges and hate euill Herevnto may be applyed that which Saint Paule speaketh of him selfe Rom. 7.22.23 c. writing vnto the Romanes in the seuenth Chapter verse 22.23 The second is after this life when the soule enioieth the presence of Iesus Christ giuing it selfe vnto all holinesse but our other part that is the bodie resting it selfe in the dust without being able to applie it selfe vnto any thing to sanctifie the name of God by The thirde shall be after the last iudgement when being perfectly ioyned with Iesus Christe our head we shall beholde God euen as he is who shall all in all and that after such manner and sorte as Saint Paule saith 1. Cor. 1.30 that Christe is made of God vnto vs wisedome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption Therefore when that our Lord Iesus Christ shall so worke in vs that there shal be no spot Philip. 3.21 1. Ioh. 3.2 but that our verie bodyes shal be fashioned like vnto his glorious bodye and we shall be like vnto him then truely shall our sanctification be accomplished and made perfect which nowe is but as it were begunne in vs. CHAP. XII Whether the Church may erre or no. THis question to wit whether the Church can erre hath bene diuers times tossed and handled for the opening vnfolding whereof we must first striue to knowe after what maner or in what sense the word Church is here to be taken I meane whether we must vnderstand this of the Catholike and vniuersall Church or else of the particular Churches But the controuersie is not in my iudgement of the Catholike Church for we all agree herein that she can not erre as touching faith And indeede howe should she erre seeing that following Iesus Christ her head and her husband she walketh not in darkenesse but in the light of life On the other side it is impossible that all faithfull people vniuersally euen from the first vnto the last should fall into errour for there haue bene alwayes some preserued through the goodnesse and grace of GOD by whome trueth it selfe through other mens naughtinesse brought as it were to nothing or at the least destituted and forsaken hath yet notwithstanding bene restored to her former force and is yet still maintained and preserued Wherefore this question is touching a particular Church Touching which it seemeth good vnto vs in the first place to heare the iudgement and reasons of the Romish Catholikes vpon this that they affirme that the Church so taken can not erre following herein the Nouatians Donatistes and other heretikes And afterwardes we will shewe foorth and put downe our aduise and reasons
vnto the last day Psal 34.20 He wil keep the remembrance of vs for euer that it may not be any maner of way fading away or darkened Hee will keepe our bodies to the very bones thereof Iob. 19.25 against the day of the resurrection of al fleshe and will at the last crowne vs with eternal life which he himselfe hath purchased for vs by his owne blood O death then 1. Cor. 15.55 where is thy sting O graue where is thy victory Certainely wee haue very much wherewith to comforte our selues by the consideration of these thinges and when wee heare that Iesus Christe saith vnto vs Luke 9.23 If any man wil come after mee let him denie him selfe and take vp his crosse daily and followe me We ought to learne howe and after what sorte it behoueth vs to beare afflictions For first by these wordes Let him take vp his crosse Iesus Christe meaneth that wee shoulde willingly bowe downe our shoulders vnder the burthen of the crosse and shoulde subiect our selues with a free hearte and courage to beare the same yea that wee shoulde bee glad and reioyce if in this respect and behalfe we could yeeld and perfourme any seruice to God Acts. 5.41 Rom. 5. 3. according to the example of the Apostles and the doctrine which they taught Secondly when hee addeth dayly hee declareth that wee are neuer at the ende of our striuing vntill wee depart out of this worlde and therefore this is our continuall exercise that when wee shall haue indured and suffered sundrie persecutions wee shoulde prepare and dispose our selues to suffer them againe and other new beside them knowing as we haue ere while alleadged That he which shall continue to the end shal be saued .. Mat. 10.22 Wherefore they abuse and deceiue them selues who thinke that they haue rightly and duely discharged their duetie if they haue stoode fast in the time of one persecution or of two for it is not with the first flight that we flie to the ioyes of Paradise and Iesus Christe commaundeth vs not any thing here which he himselfe hath not first of all shewed vs the way thereto seeing that he was not only vnder the crosse but that al his life was no other thing then a perpetuall combate and striuing against afflictions 2. Corin. 11.14 c. And Saint Paul although hee might haue set out his labours his perils his prisonings his beatings his shipwrackes and an infinite number of other afflictions notwithstanding he saide yet That hee was altogether ready to suffer not onely to bee bounde and put in pryson but also willingly Actes 20.23 24. and without any grief to dye for Christes cause O how great is this honour to giue vp our life for the name of God They that are in the wages or souldiership of som eathly Prince make no great difficultie to forsake their owne parents and their goods that they may go to his seruice yea it troubleth them not muche to hazarde and giue vp their owne liues to mainteine his quarrell and cause which very often is vniust wicked And shall we which haue such a Prince as Iesus Christe the sonne of God is who died for vs poore and miserable sinners shall wee I say doubt to leaue all thinges yea to aduenture and yeelde vp our owne liues to maintain his cause his quarrel which is so iust and vpright specially seeing hee hath power to render and giue the same againe vnto vs afterwards Moreouer the meditation of the glory to come as wee haue already touched the same ought to strengthen and incourage vs in the middest of afflictions as we see Saint Paule fully resolued and settled himselfe thereupon when hee saide to the Corinthians 2. Cor. 4. 17.18 Our light affliction which is but for a moment causeth vnto vs a farre most excellent and an eternall weight of glory While wee looke not on the thinges which are seene but on the thinges which are not seene For the things which are seene are temporall but the thinges which are not seene 2. Tim. 2.11 12. are eternall And to Timothie It is a true saying If we be dead with Christ we shall allso liue with him if we suffer with him we shal also reigne with him Do we think to haue the crowne of glory without hauing first fought as our great Captaine did Do wee thinke to reigne with the Prince of life on high in heauē without hauing first suffered and borne troubles with him in this worlde If men take the earth from vs let vs looke vp to heauen Actes 7.55.56 which is open for vs as it was to Saint Steeuen If they put vs to death let vs looke to Iesus Christe who is our life who also dyed and rose againe Rom. 14.8.9 to the ende that if wee dye wee shoulde dye vnto him that afterwardes wee may bee raysed vp in glory as hee was Phill. 3.21 If our abiect and base body bee despised and dishonoured let vs looke to the glorious body of our Lorde Iesus Christe like vnto which our bodies shal be made in the last day To bee short if wee weepe and waile in this wonderfull heape and sea of miseries 2. Cor. 5.1 being in this worlde strangers pilgrimes passengers let vs remember that when wee shall once come to our celestiall and heauenly Citie which wee nowe waite and hope for then wee shall reioyce with a ioy which cannot bee comprehended and that with God himselfe and the holy angels Prophets Apostles and Martyres Reuela 21.4 For the Lord wil wipe away all teares frō our eies and there shal be no more death neither sorow neither crying neither shall there be any more paine Then shall wee feele the fruite of the crosse and tribulation whiche wee haue indured and suffered in this worlde Then shal we knovv hovv much vve be blessed Reue. 21.4 that haue suffered for Iesus Christe and haue made our robes vvhite in the blood of the Lambe 1. Iohn 3.2 1. Cor. 13.12 Then shal vve behold God euen as hee is and shal knovv him perfectly as he knoweth vs and wee shal liue and reigne with him for euer The Apostle in the Epistle to the Hebrewes doeth by this meditatiō incourage the faithfull when he said vnto thē Ye haue bin partakers of the aflictions of my hāds Hebr. 10.34.35 suffered with ioy the spoiling of your goods knowing in your selues how that yee haue in heauen a better and induring substance Cast not away therefore your confidence which hath great recompence and rewarde But shall wee now thinke or suppose that wee loose our life when we shall haue abandoned forsaken and as it were giuen vp the same vnto tyrants for gods cause and matters Mat. 5.12 Shall wee iudge that wee die vpon imagination and as it were foolishe and insensible madde people as in deede the worlde supposeth seeing Iesus Christe hath promised