use convincing Evidence in Explication and Application they all convince him and shew him his Condition 25. And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest and so falling down on his face he will worship God and report that God is in you of a truth 25. And this searching convincing Light will make them join with you in the reverent Worship of God and make them report that God is in your Church a a holy Assembly 26. How is it then brethren when ye come together every one of you hath a psalm hath a doctrine hath a tongue hath a revelation hath an interpretation Let all things be done to edifying 26. Therefore let all your Gâ—fts whether of Psalmody or Doctrine or Languages or Revelation or Interpretation be used to Edification which is the true End of Church-Assemblies And the End is your Directory in the use of all undetermined Accidents of the Means 27. If any man speak in an unknown tongue let it be by two or at the most by three and that by course and let one interpret 27. If you will use your Guift of Languages let it be done by no more than two or three one after another and let some interpret it to the Unlearned in the Church 28. But if there be no interpreter let him keep silence in the church and let him speak to himself and to God 28. That which only God and your selves understand let none but God and your selves hear and speak not that in the Church which they cannot understand 29. Let the prophets speak two or three and let the other judge 29. And the Prophets also must do all to Edification and therefore must speak no more than may edisie the Church which is but two or three at an Assembly the rest judging 30. If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by let the first hold his peace 30. If God immediately inspire another then to speak let the first give way to him by silence 31. For ye may all prophesie one by one that all may learn and all may be comforted 31. For all that are Prophets or are then prophetically inspired may prophesie in order that all in the Church may learn and be exhorted and comforted 32. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets 32. And whereas Men may pretend to be inspired of God and that to speak just at that time when it is not so as their own Understanding must judge of the edifying Season and Order so the Prophets that are Hearers having the Spirit of God are fit Judges whether it be that Spirit or a Delusion and Passion of their own that Order may be kept in the Assemblies at least as to the time 33. For God is not the author of confusion but of peace as in all churches of the saints 33. For pretended Inspirations and Mandates are not to be believed against Gods common Law to all the Churches which have a surer notification than a single Man can give us Bâ—t Gods common Law is against Confusion and for Peace and Order and therefore it is certain that Confusion is not of Divine Inspiration 34. Let your women keep silence in the churches for it is not permitted unto them to speak but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law 34. And it is one of the Rules of Order That Women be no Publick Teachers or Speakers in the Church God permitteth it not who hath commanded them Subjection by the Law 35. And if they will learn any thing let them ask their Husbands at home for it is a shame for women to speak in the church 35. Not but that they should learn but it must be with modesty asking their Husbands if they have such as are able to teach them as they ought else they have other private Helps It 's a shame to the Church and her for a Woman there to speak except in common singing Psalms or other Common Acts. 36. What came the word of God out from you or came it unto you only 36. I ask them that contradict this Did Gods Word come out from you or from intrusted Apostles Or did it come to you only that you contradict the Churches 37. If any man think himself to be a prophet or spiritual let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. 38. But if any man be ignorant let him be ignorant 37 38. If any be indeed a Prophet or Inspired and not pretendedly only he will confess that these Canons or Decisions are Gods own Commandments and not my Device But if Men will be obstinate in their Ignorance let them look to it 39. Wherefore brethren covet to prophesie and forbid not to speak with tongues 39. Prophecy for the Churches Edifying is to be coveted and Languages there not forbidden 40. Let all things be done decently and in order 40. That Sacred things be all done decently and not with uncomely negligence and orderly and not in confusion or as every Mans Fancy leads him this is a General Law of God according to which undetermined Modes and Circumstances must be regulated and done ANNOTATIONS I. IT 's a Doubt oft put How it could be that Gods Spirit should inspire Men with Tongues or Prophecy and yet not tell them when and how to use them But it 's not to be thought that he that was before without the Habit had the actual Use of them then suddenly inspired but that as the Learned so the Inspired had the habitual Knowledge of Tongues before they assembled and so for the actual Use and Time were to exercise their own Discretion II. The Description of the Church here oft named as meeting in one Place with their Officers and Guides tells us that then a Church of this Rank was not a Diocess of many hundred Assemblies which had all but one Bishop their Constitutive Head but that it was a Company associated for Personal Communion that usually met in one Place though Necessity might make them meet in many and tho some General Guides might take care of many such Churches III. The greater number of Prophets and Teachers c. that were here in one Assembly whose Exercises the Apostle was put to restrain doth fully confute Dr. Hammond's oft-repeated Opinion That in Scripture-times there is no Proof that there were any more Presbyters to one Church than one who was a Bishop and had Deacons under him and that for want of capable Persons But his Opinion inferreth That then a Church was no greater than could meet in one Place For one Bishop could not be at once in many And if no subject-Subject-Presbyters were made in Scripture-times it must be proved by what just Power they were after made even a sort of Pastors never made by the Apostles IV. The Arguments of the Apostle against the uninterrupted Use of Tongues not understood in the Church are so many cogent plain and vehement that I will
1. That Titus is not said to be settled in Crete as their fixed Bishop but left there in his Travels to settle fixed Bishops there The Scriptures tell us that Timothy Titus were Itinerant Evangelists that went about where Paul sent them to plant and settle Churches But the plain truth is that Apostles and such Evangelists as these where-ever they came had as great Authority as any meer Bishops and more and that they stayed in some Countrys longer than in others to settle the Churches and that the Churches after their Age thought it an honour to be their Charge and so called them their Bishops In which sense one Apostle might have twenty or forty Bishopricks as he planted and settled so many Churches But none of them were Bishops fixed and confined to one Church as those usually called Bishops then were so that to controvert whether Peter Paul Timothy Titus Luke c. were Bishops is a meer ignorant strife de nomine about the name while we are or easily may be agreed of the thing what work for those Churches they performed They were Bishops eminenter transient from Church to Church but he degradeth them that feigneth them affixed to any one as their sole and proper Flock 2. Note further That Titus ordaining Elders that is Bishops as Dr. Hammond noteth implieth the peoples consent for Titus had no forcing power 3. That Crete is said to have an hundred Cities in it being but a small Island and so must have an hundred Bishops if every City had one But doubtless Paul meaneth every City that had Christians in it enough to be a Church 4. That by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is meant any big Town such as our Corporations are and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 oppidatim is meant from Town to Town where there is matter for a Church And Paul never meant by this to confine Bishops to Cities and forbid them to Villages but he nameth Cities or Towns because then no other places had Christians enow for a Church 5. Dr. Hammond thinks that these Bishops then were only the single Pastors of single Congregations having no Sub-Presbyters but Deacons 6. The ordering of things wanting was not adding to their Faith and Religion or making them a Book of Canons but seeing them reduced to the obedient and orderly practice of that which the Apostles every where taught and settled 6. If any be blameless the husband of one wife having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly 6. Note If God bless not the Education of his own Children 1. The Church would doubt of his Fidelity or whether God will bless his greater undertaking 2. And his Family would be a scandal to Religion 7. For a Bishop must be blameless as the steward of God not self-willed not soon angry not given to wine no striker not given to filthy lucre 7. Note That the same man is called a Bishop here who was called an Elder v. 5. If then they were distinct Offices Paul neglected to describe one of them which is not credible when he describeth Deacons Deaconesses Dr. Hammond confesseth that there were in Scripture-times no subject-Subject-Presbyters save Bishops that were under the Apostolick Order but he thinks that Bishops had power from the Apostles to institute another Order of Presbyters under them afterwards But 1. Where is there any proof of that Must Church-Government cast out all Ministers who believe not such an unproved Assertion 2. It 's thus disproved Paul giveth Timothy and Titus sufficient Instructions what Officers to Ordain in the Church which Canons were to be a Guide to all after-Ages But Paul gave them no Instruction or Canon for the Instituting of any New Order between Bishops or Elders and Deacons Therefore it is not credible that any such power was then given to other Bishops which he gave not to Timothy and Titus But as to others who say that the Apostles and Evangelists were then the only Bishops I answer de re we confess that these had power to go about to gather and settle Churches and de nomine whether such may be called Bishops let them quarrel that have nothing else to do But besides them every Town or Church had then their own fixed Bishop one or more and Deacons If Diocesans or Metropolitans will be Successors of the Itinerant Apostles and Evangelists or General Bishops let them restore to every Church their particular proper Bishops and not make Pastors that have not the power of the Keys As for them that say Paul includeth both Orders under the same names Bishops and Presbyters I answer Paul useth not only the same name but the same description and so the Order or Office also must be the same and both Name and Thing the same 2. Bishops are God's Stewards entrusted to govern by his Law and not Lords of his Church or of their Faith 3. By self-willed is meant self-conceited proud men that must be pleased and have their own will and cannot become all things lawful to all men for their good but will silence and excommunicate and reproach those that are most careful to do God's will if they do but cross their Wills and Canons 4. Not soon angry rather an angry wrathful man The rest see on 1 Tim. 3. 8. But a lover of hospitality a lover of good men sober just holy temperate 8. But one that loveth to entertain men in his house a lover of goodness and good men of a sound and sober mind righteous holy as devoted to God continent and abstemious 9. Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers 9. Faithfully holding fast the word of Faith even that which we have preacht and taught from Christ that so he may be able to use sound doctrine both in Exhortation and in Confutation of Opposers 10. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers specially they of the circumcision 11. Whose mouths must be stopped who subvert whole houses teaching things which they ought not for filthy lucres sake 10 11. For there are many disorderly and unruly foolish vain talkers deceivers of mens Judgments specially those Jewish corrupt Christians before oft described Note That here it appeareth whom Paul meaneth in his Invectives in many Epistles even those mentioned Acts 15. that would have made Christianity but a Supplement to Moses Law and not Gnosticks only or chiefly Ebion and Cerinthus were of the worser degenerate sort of them and the Nicolaitans next 2 Note That Paul meaneth not stopping the Seducers mouths by force but by confutation by the word For Titus had no power of the Sword 3 Note That so great is the weakness and unstedfastness of many Christians that whole housholds may be subverted by the most gross deceivers If the Apostles Converts were such no wonder if ours be so 12 13. One of themselves even a prophet of their own said The Cretians are
and not the Holy Ghost's seven Graces that is here meant is after manifested 2. Why they are called Seven some say is because seven goeth for a number of perfection whence the Seven Planets the seven days of the week c. But this is but mens conceit and no part of God's Word Nor can we prove hence that God hath set seven Angels above all the rest But all that we can know of it is that John being commanded to write to seven Churches numbereth the Guardian Angels accordingly from their Charges 3. This is no Prayer to these Angels but a notice that God's Mercies are communicated to those Churches by their Ministry and this message sent by them from Christ The naming of the seven Spirits before Christ is no preferring them as above him But Christ is after named becausse much more is to be said there of him together 5. Why seven Churches only are named men variously conjecture some say because they are spoken of prophetically as in their names seven states of the Universal Church or its notable parts to the end are signified But this being impossible to be proved is rather to pretend another Revelation than to expound this Others say that it being only the Pro-Consular Asia that John wrote to these seven being the Metropolitan City-Churches did comprehend all the rest as parts under them But 1. Tâ—is also is but a Humane Imagination without any proof 2. If they mean that these were then made Ecclesiastical Metropolis's it 's a fiction without and against Historical evidence which tells us of a far later date of Metropolitical Churches 3. If they mean that they were Metropolis's only in a Civil sense and that the Apostles in planting Churches there purposed or ordained that afterwards Church-Power should follow the Order of the Seats of Civil Power I answer 1. That this is a crude unproved Assertion and therefore of no authority or credit 2. And it 's known that it was four hundred years after that this was decreed by a Council as a new thing 3. And this was so far from being Apostolical that it confounded the Church setting in superiority the worst men that could but get into a Metropolis and putting all Bishops and Churches at present under the Power of the People and Prâ—sbyters oâ— one City which was a Metropolis and chose their own Bishop Yea Dr. Hammond thought that then no Bâ—sâ—op had any Presbyters under him and so there wâ—re nâ—ne but his People to chuse him for the Neighâ—â—ur â—ishops did not though they ordained him Yea it turneth Churches upside down at the will of every Emperour Heathen Infidel or Christian who can enfranchise or disfranchise Cities at his pleasure 4. And there is no proof that these seven were all and only the Civil Metropolitical Cities of Asia 3. Both these then being mens unproved Imaginations yea and unlikely it remaineth that these seven Churches were most eminent in Asia both for greatness and those tryals vertues and faults which Christ was pleased to note as the occasion of this message And if he see cause to send a message to seven it belongs not to us to ask him why he sendeth to no more 5. And from Jesus Christ who is the faithful witness and the first begotten of the dead and the prince of the Kings of the earth 5. Note 1. By faithful witness is meant the faithful and certain Messenger and revealer of Gods will to man 2. By first begotten is meant both the Greatest and most Excellent and the first in order and causality who Rising from the dead is the cause that we shall Rise 3. He is Prince of the Kings of the Earth not only as Greater than all Kings but as over them all in power by whom they reign and who dâ—th dispose of all Eph. 2.23 Matth. 28.19 Joh. 17.2 Joh. 13 3. Joh. 5.22 Eph. 1.21 Col. 1.15 16 17. Phil. 2.9 10 11. 5. Unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood 6. And hath made us Kings and priests unto God and his Father to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever Amen 5.6 To this Glorious Lord and Saviour who shewed his wonderful Love to us by his giving up himself a sacrifice for our sins that the Merit of his Blood might cleanse us from guilt and sin and justify us from it before God and who hath chosen and sanctified us and made us by his Grace a peculiar holy People to God dignified in our Relation to Christ as Kings in honour and brought us near to God like consâ—crated Priests to offer him our daily service acceptable through Christ To him I say shall be Glory and Dominion for ever in the acknowledgement whereof let all his Saints rejoice 7. Behold he cometh with clouds and every eye shall see him and they also which pierced him and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him even so Amen 7. I have oft before enquired whether this Coming of Christ be 1. his Coming by the Roman Armies to destroy Jerusalem 2. Or his setting up Christianity in the World and destroying Heathenism 3. Or his Coming at last in Glory The matter is true as to all the three But the text seemeth most strained by the first exposition and least by the last Every way he is dreadful to his enemies But every eye seeth him not the first way nor did the destroyed Jews acknowledge it to be by him 8. I am Alpha and Omega the beginning and the ending saith the Lord which is and which was and which is to come the Almighty 8. I am everlasting before all Worlds and without end and he who hath Power over all Note These words seem to be the words of Christ and not of God the Father And with the sixth verse which ascribeth to him everlasting Glory and dominion do seem plainly to speak the Godhead of Christ 9. I John who also am your brother and companion in tribulation and in the Kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ was in the isle that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ 9. I John who was your brother and companion undergo the like sufferings as you do in the same belief and subjection to Christ in his Kingdom and in Patient enduring for his sake was in the Isle of Patmos whiâ—her I was banished for my Testimony and preaching the faith of Christ 10. I was in the spirit on the Lords day and heard behind me a great voice as of a trumpet 10. I was there in a transporting rapture by the Spirit of God on the first day of the week called by the Church The Lords day observed in commemoration of his Resurrection And I heard a voice call to me as lowd as a trumpet Note 1. The vain cavâ—l of those that deny the Lords day here to mean the Christians day of holy worship even the first of the week I have fully confuted in
of new cloth put on a breach in an old worn garment will but make it wider and new wine put into old bottles will but break them and be spilt so if young Disciples should be put upon Religious exercises unsuitable to their condition and unseasonable it would do them hurt And that which would hurt them by reason of their incapacity is not to be put upon them N. What their bottles were then made of that would not hold new wine when they were old is uncertain But it s likely they were made of the skins of Goats or such creatures 18. While he spake these things to them behold there came a certain Ruler and worshipped him saying My daughter is even now dead but come and lay thy hand on her and she shall live 18. A Ruler of one of their lesser Judicatures or Consistories came c. N. This man did believe the power of Christ because he had experience of his success but whether he believed him to be the Christ is uncertain But it was notable faith to believe that he could raise the dead 19. And Jesus arose and followed him and so did his disciples 19. They were all desirous to go see whether he could raise the dead 20. And behold a woman which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years came behind him and touched the hem of his Garment 21. For she said within her self if I may but touch his Garment I shall be whole 22. And Jesus turned him about and when he saw her he said Daughter be of good comfort thy faith hath made thee whole And the woman was made whole from that hour Note A belief of Christs power was necessary to their receiving the effects of his power as a belief of his love and good will is needful to our receiving the special fruits of his Love and the belief of his wisdom and authority is needful to our obeying him and receiving his rewards 23 24. And when Jesus came into the rulers house and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise He said to them Give place for the maid is not dead but sleepeth And they laughed him to scorn 23 24. When he saw the Musick and stir that was made according to the custom about the dead he said Give place for the death of the Maid shall be but as a sleep from which I will presently awake her but they derided him seeing that she was dead indeed 25. But when the people were put forth he went in and took her by the hand and the maid arose 26. And the same thereof went abroad into all that land 25. Qu. Where was the Soul of this maid and Lazarus after death Answ When God will tell us we shall know 27. And when Jesus departed thence two blind men followed him crying and saying Thou son of David have mercy on us 28. And when he was come into the House the blind men came to him and Jesus saith to them Believe ye that I am able to do this they said to him Yea Lord. 29. Then touched he their eyes saying According to your faith be it unto you 30. And their eyes were opened 27. c. Note These believed Christ to be the Messiah tho its like they knew little of the nature of his Office Their Faith was their capacity of a cure 30 31. And Jesus straitly charged them saying See that no man know it But they when they were departed spread abroad his fame in all that Country 30 31. Note Christs command of silence was partly to give us an example of avoiding ostentaion and hypocrisie and to be content with the approbation of God alone 32. As they went out behold they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil 33. And when the devil was cast out the dumb spake and the multitudes marvelled saying It was never so seen in Israel 32 33. Note His dumbness was caused by the Devils possession And it 's like he was mad also 34. But the Pharisees said He casteth out devils through the Prince of the Devils 34. Note This was the blaspheming of the Holy Ghost what can convince men who when they see all this done will say The Devil doth it As if Power and Love and Government were the Devils work 2. This verse is out of some Copies but the same is in Matth. 12. The Devils it seems have one Monarch 35. And Jesus went about all the cities and villages teaching in the synagogues and preaching the Gospel of the kingdom and healing every sickness and every disease among the people 35. Note 1. The Gospel of the Kingdom is the glad news that the Kingdom of the Messiah was at hand and what it was 2. Had he separated from the Synagogue manner of worship they had not permitted him ordinarily to preach among them 3. Christ that taught us to know false Prophets by their hurtful fruits their malice cruelty persecuting and hurtfull doctrines doth accordingly justifie his own mission and doctrine by speaking and doing good all that he did being for mens own benefit healing and saving Souls and Bodies And the world will judge of mens pretences by their fruits when persecutors have done their worst 36. But when he saw the multitudes he was moved with compassion on them because they fainted and were scattered abroad as sheep having no shepherd 37. Then saith he to his disciples The harvest is plenteous but the labourers are few 38. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest that he will send forth labourers into his harvest 36. Note Christs Example teacheth Preachers to compassionate a willing multitude when they want sufficient teachers and to pray God to send forth more labourers when there are too few and not to give over labouring for them themselves without being utterly disabled tho men forbid them Some Parishes in London have about 70000 Souls some 60000 some 30000 and all the City and County and much more have but one Bishop or Pastor as some speak And the Curates or Preachers cannot be heard by above 3000 at once or thereabouts CHAP. X. 1. ANd when he called to him his twelve disciples he gave them power against unclean spirits to cast them out and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease 1. And as he bid them pray for more labourers accordingly he chose twelve and gave them power to Preach and to work Miracles and do good against Devils and Diseases to confirm their words 2. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these the first Simon who is called Peter and Andrew his brother James the son of Zebedee and John his brother 3. Philip and Bartholomew Thomas and Matthew the Publican James the son of Alpheus and Lebbeus sirnamed Thaddeus 4. Simon the Canaanite and Judas Iscariot who also betrayed him These twelve Jesus sent forth and commanded them saying Go not into the way of the Gentiles and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not 6.
Christians come to hear and know what may be said they may yield and charge their minds 19. Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice and Cyprus and Antioch preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only 19. Note The calling of the Gentiles was not yet well understand by them 20. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene which when they were come to Antioch spake unto the Grecians preaching the Lord Jesus 20. Note Whether by the Grecians be meant the Jews that speak Greek or Gentile Proselytes is doubtful 21. And the hand of the Lord was with them and a great number believed and turned unto the Lord. 21. God blessed their Ministry to the Conversion of a great number to Christianity 22. Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the Church which was in Jerusalem and they sent forth Barnabas that he should go as far as Antioch 22. To confirm them and carry on the work 23. Who when he came and had seen the grace of God was glad and exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. 24. For he was a good man and full of the holy Ghost and of faith and much people was added unto the Lord. 23. It rejoyced him to see what Gods Grace had done Note Every Goodman will be glad at the Conversion of Souls and the increase of the Church As Diabolists are grieved at it and fight against it 2. Young Converts need Counsel and Exhortation to be confirmed and persevere 3. Confirmation consisteth in a habitual fixed Resolution or full purpose to cleave to the Lord. 25. Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus for to seek Saul 26. And when he had found him he brought him unto Antioch And it came to pass that a whole year they assembled themselves with the Church and taught much people and the Disciples were called Christians first in Antioch 25. Barnabas having sought Saul and drawn him to Antioch for more publick service they two did for a whole year teach much People in the Church-Assembly which it seems was then but one And the Disciples were then first called Christians who before were called by Reprochers but Gallileans and Nazarites and since by Heresie and by hereticating reproaches are called by a multitude of dividing and disgraceful names 27. And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch 28. And there stood up one of them named Agabus and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world which came to pass in the days of Claudius Cesar 28. In divers Countrys especially in Judea should be a death 29. Then the Disciples every man according to his ability determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea 30. Which also they did and sent it to the Elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul 29 30. The Famine being most in Judea the Country being dry and poor and having frequent Famines and many Converts to shew the power of Love having sold their Possessions heretofore for common use the Christians of other Countrys sent them relief by Paul and Barnabas to the Elders of the Church to be justly distributed as there was need Note Whether by Elders here be meant the unordained Seniors of the People Or the Presbyters ordained as such Or as Dr. Hamond thought Diocesane Bishops who yet had never a Presbyter under them and therefore were the single Pastors of single Congregations is sufficiently elswhere considered CHAP. XII Now about that time Herod the King stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the Church 2. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword 3. And because he saw it pleased the Jews he proceeded further to take Peter also Then were the days of unleavened bread 1. Note 1. Kings bear the Image of Gods Dominion and have their power from him and not against him and above all men are bound to serve him to the utmost Therefore such Persecutors as Herod being the greatest Traytors against God no doubt have answerable punishment in Hell 2. James that was one who sought to be Chief was the Chief or first of all the Apostles in Martyrdom and drank of Christs Cup and was Baptized with his Baptism 3. To please wicked men this King murdered Saints and displeased God 4. The Holy days of unleavened bread or Easter are celebrated with the Murder of Chrst first and of James after This the Hypocrites holyness 4. And when he had apprehended him he put him in prison and delivered him to four quaternions of souldiers to keep him intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people 4 He set sixteen Soldiers to keep him that after the Passover he might Sacrifice him to the People 5. Peter therefore was kept in prison but prayer was made without ceasing of the Church unto God for him 5. The Church for so great a Minister in so great danger betook themselves to their great remedy even constant importunate Prayer to God 6. And when Herod would have brought him forth the same night Peter was sleeping between two souldiers bound with two chains and the keepers before the door kept the prison 6. Just when the Tyrant intended hi Execution c. Note Chains and Keepers are nothing to God 7. And behold the Angel of the Lord came upon him and a light shined in the prison and he smote Peter on the side and raised him up saying Arise up quickly And his chains fell off from his hands 7. Note O how Powerful are Gods invisible Agents in Comparison of Mortal worms 2. It was a gentle harmless stroak that the Angel gave him and such are Gods awakning stroaks 8. And the Angel said unto him Gird thy self and bind on thy sandals And so he did And he saith unto him Cast thy garment about thee and follow me 9. And he went out and followed him and wist not that it was true which was done by the Angel but thought he saw a vision 8. Note Implicite obedience by following Gods call even when we know not whither is acceptable and safe 10. When they were past the first and the second ward they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city which opened to them of his own accord and they went out and passed on through one street and forthwith the Angel departed from him 10. Note 1. Nothing can hold those that God will deliver 2. Angels are ministring Spirits for our good 11. And when Peter was come to himself he said Now I know of a surety that the Lord hath sent his Angel and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews 11. Note We seldom understand what God is doing for us in the beginning of our deliverances as we do at last 12. And when he had considered the thing he came to the house of
Congregation being but in one place at one time And so that there was no Bishop that governed Presbyters nor any Presbyters subject to Bishops but onely to Itinerant Apostles So that all that remaineth in controversie will be Who instituted this middle Order of Presbyters after Scripture times and Quo jure and How it 's proved that they had Power so to do 3. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you 4. Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy 3 4. Whenever I remember you it is with thankfulness to God and in all my Prayers for you I do it with joy 5. For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now 5. For the hearty Communion and Communication in and for the Gospel which you have exercised from the first day of your Conversion until now 6. Being confident of this very thing that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ 6. Not doubting but God who hath been the Author of this good Beginning will carry it on till you are presented perfect in the day of the coming of Christ 7. Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all because I have you in my heart in as much as both in my bonds and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel ye all are partakers of my grace 7. It is meet that I think this of you all for you have a great room in my Heart because in my Bonds and Sufferings and in all that we do for the defence and confirmation of the Gospel you have manifested the same Grace and by your Communication and Cooperation have your part in the Blessing and Reward of my Ministerial Grace and Labours 8. For God is my record how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ 8. For God is my Witness with what earnest Love I long for your Welfare even with that Love which Christ hath kindled in me for his own sake who loveth you 9. And this I pray that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment 9. And my Prayer for you is That you may increase and abound in holy Love to Christ and his Gospel and each other and in all spiritual Wisdom and discerning Judgment 10. That ye may approve things that are excellent that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ 10. That you may yet more grow up in the Approbation and Love of the excellent things of Christian Faith and Life and Hope and may be sound and sincere in Faith and Life without warping in Judgment or scandal in Practice till the Day of Judgment 11. Being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God 11. And that you may abound with all that Righteousness towards God and Man which is the true Fruit of Faith and of the Spirit by which you may praise and glorifie God 12. But I would ye should understand brethren that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel 12. I think meet to give you notice lest misinformation discourage you that my Imprisonment and Sâ—fferings have not hindered but furthered the Gospel 13. So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace and in all other places 13. For my Imprisonment for Christ hath but made me and consequently my Preaching to be known in the Court and Places of Judicature and abroad to others 14. And many of the brethren in the Lord waxing confident by my bonds are much more bold to speak the word without fear 14. And the Example of my Patience Boldness and Success in Suffering hath emboldned many of the Brethren confidently without fear to preach and profess the Gospel 15. Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife and some also of good will 16. The one preach Christ of contention not sincerely supposing to add affliction to my bonds 17. But the other of love knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel 15 16 17. There be some here at Rome and elsewhere that because I reprove them for Judaizing by obtruding the Law and Ceremonies of Moses on the Gentiles and such other Causes are quarrelsom with me and seek Defamation and while they preach Christ it is with the mixture of Spleen and Bitterness against me and in an envious striving and reproachful manner against me and such as I who conform not to their Ceremonious Impositions Thus some preach the same Christ that I do but contentiously and not in sincerity and love and meekness but to add to my Bonds the Affliction of Mens Contempt and Disaffection to turn the Hearts of People from me and my Ministry But there are others that preach in Christian Love and carry it with Kindness toward me knowing that I am called to propagate and defend Christs Gospel and that it 's it that I suffer for and not for my Fault and Errour as the other would persuade the People 18. What then notwithstanding every way whether in pretence or in truth Christ is preached and I therein do rejoyce yea and will rejoyce 18. But though some seek Preeminence and their own Honour and Interest and envy me and join too much self-seeking with the Preaching of the Gospel and do it not with the Love and Sincerity that they ought yet every way Christ is preached and I therein rejoice yea and will rejoice Note 1. That they mistake who think Paul speaketh of the Preachers of false Doctrine in any great Point for he would not rejoice in that It is but preaching with corrupt Passions and Purposes perhaps for little Differences in a splenetick manner contrary to Love and Peaceableness 2. Paul here entreth his professed Dissent both against Church-Tyranny that would forbid those to preach that cross them and their Opinions or interest and against those Separatists who cry down the Ministry of those that are faulty in tolerable things yea that cross them and their Way 19. For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ 19. For I doubt not but even this accumulating Affliction on me by envious Brethren with Heathen Persecutors shall through your Prayer and Christs Spirit all turn to good and but further my own and other Mens Salvation 20. According to my earnest expectation and my hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed but that with all boldness as always so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body whether it be by life or by death 20. For as it is my earnest expectation so it is my comfortable hope that whether it be by my Life or Death all that befalls my Body shall be to the honour of Christ and then I have my End 21. For to me to live is Christ and to
such intrude or are there permitted No more than you must forsake your own House and Family if he intrude You have right and command to be there tho he have no right 3. Nor doth it make all to be of equal power in Church Matters not bind any to go beyond his Power 1. Of Mans Capacity for Publick Church Communion the Pastors are Judges And if they be negligent it s their sin which will not allow Private Men to forsake the Publick Communion till the Church so far forsake God as to be forsaken by him 2. But Private Familiarity is in Private Mens Power where they may discountenance the Scandalous by withdrawing from them 7. For your selves know how ye ought to follow us for we behaved not our selves disorderly among you 8. Neither did we eat any mans bread for nought but wrought with labour and travel night and day that we might not be chargeable to any of you 7 8. You know what our Example was that ought to be imitated I did not live idly and look that the Church should maintain me nor basely hang on any or needlesly burden them nor take their Bread which I paid not for but while I taught you I laboured and toiled at my Trade that I might be chargeable to none of you 9. Not because we have not power but to make our selves an ensample unto you to follow us 9. My Ministerial Office and Labour made maintenance from you my due but Idleness I saw was a sin that had need of Example as well as Doctrine to subdue it 10. For even when we were with you this we commanded you that if any would not work neither should he eat 10. Note Poor Men that will not work when they can do forfeit the Bread of Charity from Men but Rich Men that live idly do by that sin forfeit their Food and more even their lives and Souls to God but Men may not therefore take it from them 11. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly working not at all but are busie-bodies 11. By disorderly Persons I specially mean such as I hear some among you are who live not in any profitable Trade and Labour but yet are busie but it s about circumstantial unnecessary or unprofitable by-matters Note That as Idleness is a base sin which equals Life and Death so unnecessary and unprofitable Labour is a mis-spending time and a forfeiture of Maintenance as well as Idleness and to make a Trade or Daily Employment of vain or unprofitable Business is but a Cloak of Deceit for an Idle Life The Sloathful and Vnprofitable Servants forfeit Wages Oh what a deal of Business to little purpose hath the World to answer for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not labouring but busily Trifling men will find that God gave them Life and Reason for greater things 12. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ that with quietness they work and eat their own bread 12. To live on the labours or cost of others through base indulging fleshly ease or unprofitable trifling is so great a sin that I do command you and exhort you by the authority of Christ and as you will obey him that you avoid it and that you quietly and willingly get your own living by some profitable labour and eat not other Mens Bread but your own and that not the Bread of Idleness 13 14. But ye brethren be not weary in well doing And if any man obey not our word by this epistle note that man and have no company with him that he may be ashamed 15. Yet count him not as an enemy but admonish him as a brother 13 14 15. If after all this the sloathful will not labour though you are not to cut him off from the Church as if it were for rejecting an Essential part of Christianity yet there is a Discipline to be used in the Church towards its Members Set a note of shame upon that Man by avoiding familiarity with him But yet take him not for an Enemy or Heathen buâ— an offending Christian and continue to call him to Repentance Note Qu. But what if it be a Son must the Parents deny him Food Ans If he be obstinate in an idle or unprofitable Life being able for a better 1. The Parents should mark him out to shame 2. And should so far stâ—aiten him in the Quality of his Food and Maintenance as may make his Sloth a penal Suffering to him and signifie their abhorrence of his Sin though they may not famish him to death 16. Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means The Lord be with you all 17. The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand which is the token in every epistle so I write 18. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all Amen 16 17 18. Note We may boldly trust him for our Peace and safety who will be called The Lord of Peace and by the Grace of Christ will be with us and give us Peace always and by all means Amen The First Epistle of PAUL the Apostle to TIMOTHY CHAP. I. 1. PAul an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ which is our hope 2. Unto Timothy my own son in the faith Grace mercy and peace from God our Faâ—her and Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 2. Note 1. Apostleship was by Gods Call and Command 2. Christ is the Believers Hope 3. It is meet to have some special endeared Love to those that are our Sons in the Faith converted by our Ministry 4. As the desire of Worldlings is to worldly Prosperity so the sum of all holy Christian desires is Grace Mercy and Peace from God the Father and from Christ 3. As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus when I went into Macedonia that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine 4. Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies which minister questions rather than godly edifying which is in faith so do 3 4. Note 1. Whether this imply that Timothy was Bishop of Ephesus is a Question of small moment to them that know what a Bishop then was A Bishop as Dr. Hammond maintaineth had then but one Congregation and no Subject-Presbyter under him He certainly had no Power of the Sword to force Men. He was onely a Guide to Voluntiers and Consenters and not to any against their wills It is certain that every Church had at least one such Bishop I think usually more And no doubt Ephesus had such either Timothy or others If it be Archbishops that are made the matter of this Doubt it 's certain that an Archbishop had no Power of the Sword nor was a Bishop to any but consenting Voluntiers and worked onely on Conscience and not immediately on Body or Purse And I believe that Timothy and Titus and the Apostles were so far Archbishops as that they had
as himself nor doth as he would be done by 21. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness and receive with meekness the engrafted word which is able to save your souls 21. Also cast away all filthiness out of your thoughts affections speech and practice and all excrementitious naughtiness or that superfluity which is but provision for the flesh to satisfie its lust and with humble tractable meekness receive God's Word not only opinionatively but as the graff is taken into the tree or your food when it is digested into blood flesh thus made an innaturalized Word and so received digested it will save your Souls 22. But be ye doers of the word and not hearers only deceiving your own selves 22. But to think that bare hearing the Word will save you is but self-deceit There must be inward practice by meditation and outward practice in true obedience 23. For if any be a hearer of the word and not a doer he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass 24. For he beholdeth himself and goeth his way and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was 23 24. An unprofitable custom of bare hearing and not doing is but like a man's looking his face in a glass who so goeth away and minds it no more or forgets it which neither feedeth nor cloatheth him nor cureth his diseases such are these customary dull Speculators 25. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty and continueth therein he being not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work this man shall be blessed in his deed 25. But he that well considereth the Covenant of Grace or the Gospel which is Christ's Law of Liberty or Liberation giving us deliverance from the Jewish Law and from sin and guilt and wrath and death and dwelleth in the study of it till it turn to spiritual life digested and ingraffed in him and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of that which is required to Salvation even sound Faith Repentance sincere Obedience and Patience this man shall be blessed in so doing Note 1. They grosly deny Christ to be King which say that he hath no Law 2. His Gospel Covenant hath Precepts Rewarding Promises and Penal Threats and therefore is a proper Law 3. It giveth pardon on condition of Faith and Repentance to be performed by Divine Grace and Salvation on condition of added Obedience and Perseverance and so is a Law of Liberty Christ is the Author of Eternal Salvation to all them that obey him 4. This doing his commands which is made his imposed condition is the necessary entitling qualification for blessedness Rev. 22.14 Blessed are they that do his Commandments that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in by the Gates into the City 26. If any man among you seem to be religious and bridleth not his tongue but deceiveth his own heart this mans religion is vain 26. If any man among you seem to others or himself to be religious and perhaps of a higher form than others and yet bridleth not his tongue from backbiting slandering or reproaching his Brethren to render them contemptible and unlovely and from speaking ill of men without either truth or a just call this man 's sinful practice doth shew that his Religion is but ineffectual and vain and doth but serve to deceive his own heart For that which doth not save men from sin will not save them from justice 27. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this to visit the fatherless and widdows in their affliction and to keep himself unspotted from the world 27. There is great contending among Christians whose way of Religious Worship is the purest and best pleasing to God That is the pure and undefiled Religion in God's sight who is our Father which is effectual to sound practical Charity and to a pure unspotted holy life even with true Love and Liberality to relieve those that are in distress and to keep heart and life clean from the love of the World and the temptations of wicked worldly men as seeking in hope for a better World CHAP. II. 1. MY brethren have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of glory with respect of persons 1. And you that profess to believe the Glory of our Lord Jesus Christ which the poorest Christians shall partake of equally with the rich and to which all worldly glory is but vanity must not now make a great difference in the Church between rich men and the poor by a worldly respect of persons for their riches 2. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring in goodly apparel and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment 3. And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing and and say unto him Sit thou here in a good place and say to the poor Stand thou there or sit here under my footstool 4. Are ye not then partial in your selves and are become judges of evil thoughts 2 3 4. If in your Church-Assemblies you inordinately shew respect to men for gay cloathing as rich and set light by men that by their garb seem poor do you not shew a carnal partiality by overvaluing wealth and a Judgment misguided by evil estimation Note 1. That this speaketh not against honouring Magistrates but Riches 2. Nor against a prudent respect to the Rich so far as by their wealth they may be engaged to do more good than others 3. And I think those mistake that rather expound this of meetings of Bishops for Judicature as Dr. Hammond than other Church-Assemblies For 1. If they mean any forcing Judicatures Christians had none such there being then no Christian Magistrates that had the power of the Sword 2. And if Bishops had been like our Diocesans and so distant they could not have travelled so far as such must do to keep up ordinary Judicatures without a total deserting their chief work for their Flocks 3. And as they truly were Congregational Bishops over no more than one of our Parishes their distance between City and City was too great for this without the like omissions 4. Christians having then no Judicial Power but as Arbitrators the Contenders chose what Arbitrators they thought best 5. Their Publick Church-Government was exercised in the same Assemblies which met for Worship which therefore are liker here to be mentioned with respect to their most usual business and not the rarer 6. It is the whole Church and not the Bishops only that is here admonished 7. It is too hard a censure for such men to use as are pleading for too much honour to Bishops to suppose them so early guilty of so much partiality and carnal respect to fine cloths and riches and so much Injustice in Judging as this Doctor 's Exposition doth suppose It 's liker to be the vulgars fault 5. Hearken my beloved brethren Hath not God
way to death and misery 2. Converting the erroneous sinner is the way to save him 3. One man may be said to save another much more a man himself by converting him without derogating from Christs Salvation but in subordination to it 4. Therefore all Christians but specially Ministers should be diligent and skilful to convert erroneous sinners and the erroneous patient and thankful for their help Note If it be the Gnosticks as Dr. H. saith that James here and Paul in his Epistles so greatly warn the Christians against alas too great a part of the Church Governours Bishops and their Clergys abroad on Earth seem turned very like these by him described Gnosticks 1. In being for Worldly interest Wealth and Pleasure 2. In being for Ceremonies 3. In joining with the Vngodly Enemies of Piety 4. In being Latitudinarians or Licentious against strictness and tenderness of Conscience and Adiaphorists in things not Adiaphorous 5. In being Persecutors And if base underling Gnosticks or Nicolaitans could so trouble the Churches then what a case must those Countrys be in where they are got into the Episcopal Chair and claim the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven to execute their Pride and Lusts over Princes and People of all sorts sure Borborites or Gnosticks are not the less such nor the less dangerous for being called Bishops and having Power Wealth and Interest The First Epistle General of the Apostle PETER CHAP. I. 1. PEter an apostle of Jesus Christ to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia and Bithynia 2. Elect according to the fore-knowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ grace unto you and peace be multiplied 1. Peter an Apostle not called the Universal Bishop or Head or Governour of the Church to the dispersed Jews through Pontus c. chosen by grace out of that unbelieving forlorn Nation according to Gods fore-knowledge and unsearchable Counsel to Sanctification by the Holy Ghost and to Obedience and to a State of Reconciliation and Justification by the Merit of the Blood of Christ applied Grace and Peace multiplied to you is my Prayer and Benediction 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 3. Bâ—essed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who out of his abundant mercy for the manifestation and Glory of it hath regenerated us to a living hope even a hope of Glorious Life procured notified and secured to us by the Resurrection of Christ from the dead 4. To an inheritance inccorruptible and undefiled that fadeth not away reserved in heaven for you 5. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time 4 5. Not to such a corruptible defiled fading Inheritance as Earth is to its lovers but to an Inheritance incorruptible undefiled and holy never fading reserved by the Divine Love and Decree and by the Possession Intercession and Promise of Christ for you who are true Believers and are kept by the power oâ— God through that Faith which he hath given you and you keep and exercise to Salvation which ere long will be gloriously revealed to your sight and possession the last time being not far off Note It is revealed already in the Gospel and wil be fully revealed to separated Souls But the full glorious revelation is when the whole Church is consummated 6. Wherein ye greatly rejoyce though now for a season if need be ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations 6. In the belief and hope of this glorious Inheritance you now live in great joy though for a little time when God seeth it needful for your good he let out upon you those trying sufferings which are heavy and grievous to the flesh 7. That the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth though it be tried with fire might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ 7. For as your Faith is a preciouser thing than gold and refined gold is the most precious gold so tryed Faith is the most precious Faith and the tryal of it a greater work than the trying and refining of gold by fire that so it may be found at the coming of Christ a qualification meet for your own praise honour and glory and in you also unto Christ's 8. Whom having not seen ye love in whom though now ye see him not yet believing ye rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory 8. Whom though you never saw in the flesh as we did that followed him yet you truly love and honour And though now you see him not in his glory nor his coming yet your effectual Faith doth so far serve instead of seeing him that you rejoyce by it with unspeakable triumphant joy in hope of that which you shall see 9. Receiving the end of your faith even the salvation of your souls 9. And shall shortly receive that great Salvation for which you have believed 10. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you 11. Searching what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signifie when it testified before-hand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow 10 11. Of this great Salvation and Kingdom of Christ Incarnate which is dated from his Resurrection and perfected at his next coming many Prophets foretold in their manner and degree and they enquired and diligently searched more explicitely to have known it and the time when it should be when the Spirit in them foretold that the Messiah must suffer and in general that glorious things should follow 12. Unto whom it was revealed that not unto themselves but unto us they did minister the things which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the holy Ghost sent down from heaven which things the angels desire to look into 12. And it was revealed to them that it was not to come to pass in their days and that it was not they but we that should see the Messiah and his special Kingdom and the things which since his Resurrection are now preached to you by us his Ministers with the Seal of the Holy Spirit sent down in a special abundance from Heaven to be the Witness of Christ and the Sanctifier of Souls a mystery so great and of so excellent importance that the Angels think it worthy their search 13. Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind be sober and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ 13. Wherefore as runners gird their cloaths to them that they trouble them not do you fortifie your minds
given more or less of Riches or any of his gifts to any one let him proportionably use them by free communication to them that need remembring that all you have is freely given you of God and that you are but his Stewards and receive it not for provision for your pride or fleshly lusts but for your Master's use of which you must give an account 11. If any man speak let him speak as the oracles of God if any man minister let him do it as of the ability which God giveth that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever Amen 11. Let your discourse be holy grave and true specially when you speak of Divine things Let your contribution and bounty to all good uses be proportioned to the estate and ability which God giveth you that God may be glorified in all you do by the exercise of your Faith in Christ c. 12. Beloved think it not strange concerning the feiry trial which is to try you as though some strange thing happened unto you 12. Note 1. Persecutions are for the tryal of our Sincerity and Strength and therefore our use of them is to come out approved and refined 2. No Christians should count them strange because Christ taught us to expect them and calls us to count our cost and forsake all And counting them strange sheweth that we came not to Christ on his terms of taking up the Cross and Self-denyal as we ought 13. But rejoice in as much as ye are partakers of Christs sufferings that when his glory shall be revealed ye may be glad also with exceeding joy 13. But instead of dejection let it be your joy that ye are now partakers of Christ's sufferings that you are conformed therein to him and suffer for him that so you may have assurance that you shall be glorified with him and meet him with exceeding joy at his great appearing 14. If ye be reproached for the Name of Christ happy are ye for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you on their part he is evil spoken of but on your part he is glorified 14. Your patient suffering reproach for Christ is a part and prognostick of your happiness And should they that believe this be impatient of their own good For the Spirit of God which is your glory and glorifieth him and proveth his Love to you is it that forâ—ifieth you And as he is dishonoured by their reproaches for which they will suffer so he is glorified by your fortitude and fidelity for which you shall be fully rewarded 15. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or as a thief or as an evil doer or as a busie-body in other mens matters 15. But sin is worse and more shameful than suffering and therefore be sure that you avoid guilt and that none of you suffer 1. As a murtherer or hurter of others 2. Or as a thief or defrauder of any 3. Or for any evil deed 4. Nor for playing the Bishop in other mens Charges or medling with other mens matters busily without a just call 16. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian let him not be ashamed but let him glorifie God on this behalf 16. But if any suffer patiently for Christ or for well doing take it not for a shame but for an honour and so behave your selves in it as to honour God who honoureth you 17. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God and if it first begin at us what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God 17. As it is said Ezek. 43.4 5. So now God being entring on a course of Judgment will begin with the correction and trying of his Children in which the Infidels will by execution increase their guilt And our sufferings now are a dreadful prognostick of theirs that follow in the end Note How little cause wicked men have to be glad of the Churches sufferings when it prognosticateth a far more heavy Judgment of themselves 18. And if the righteous scarcely be saved where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear 18. And if the righteous be saved though certainly yet by so much labour cost and suffering in this life O how will ungodly sinners stand in Judgment before a just condemning Judge 19. Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing as unto a faithful Creatour 19. Therefore let us see that if we suffer it be for matter and manner according to God's will and let our duty and well-doing be our care and so let us wholly commit our Souls to the keeping and Love of our faithful Creator and quietly trust him to preserve and save them CHAP. V. 1. THe elders which are among you I exhort who am also an elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed 2. Feed the flock of God which is among you taking the oversight thereof not by constraint but willingly not for filthy lucre but of a ready mind 1 2. The elder and wiser sort being usually made Pastors of the Churches I who am an Elder in Age and Apostleship and a Witness of Christ's Sufferings and on the Mount had a glimpse of the Glory which shall be fully revealed and communicated and have my right to it and part in its fore-tast do exhort and beseech them faithfully to over-see and feed and take care of all the Flock which is among you taking the Over-sight or Episcopacy of it not as a burthen unwillingly but willingly not for filthy Lucre because the Pastors have double Honour and Mainâ—â—nance but out of love to Christ and the Church with a ready chearfulness to undergo all the trouble and danger of it Note 1. The Office of true Bishops is to feed and guide the Flock that is among them What are they then that have the name and title of being sole Bishops over a thousand or many hundred or score of Flocks which are so far from being among them or being fed by them that the hundredth person never heard them teach or saw their faces 2. Though most Expositors apply 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not by constraint but willingly to the Bishop's willingness of his work yet Dr. Hammond applieth it to the Bishop's manner of guiding the Flock as not constraining them by force nor using violence in an active sense And whether these words prove it or not other Scriptures and the nature of the Case prove that Bishops have no power of Corporal Force but ruling by God's Word and that none but Volunteers are capable of Church-privileges and Communion and Pastoral Conduct 3. They that seek and take a Bishoprick for filthy Lucre of the Benefice Wealth and Worldly Honour are Intruders that come not in Christ's way And they that also cast out the use
him so far as he is lovely 4. But Rulers may be obliged to put to death some sinners but that must be more for love to Justice and the Common-wealth than hatred to the man though yet as he is bad some hatred is due to him 10. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light and there is none occasion of stumbling in him 11. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness and walketh in darkness and knoweth not whither he goeth because that darkness hath blinded his eyes 10 11. He that truly loveth his Brother as himself doth shew that he is indeed a knowing and true Christian And he will be free from the scandâ—lous mischiefs of Persecution Oppression and other Injuriousness which want of true Love doth cause in others But he that hateth abuseth persecuteth hurteth or destroyeth his Brother is but a dark self-deceiving Pretender to Christian Faith and Wisdom and knoweth not what he doth himself when he exerciseth his Wit or Power against his Brother for he is blind in sin 12. I write unto you little children because your sins are forgiven you for his Name 's sake 13. I write unto you fathers because ye have known him that is from the beginning I write unto you young men because you have overcome the wicked one 12 13. And this Command of Love and Obedience is such as all sorts of you must receive I urge it on you that are Children in Christ because being washed lately in Baptism and the Blood of Christ from your sins you should love much because much is forgiven you I urge it on you ancient Christians because you have long been taught to know this Commandment and to know the Love of God in Christ which doth enforce it I urge it on you that are strong Christians because you have conquered the Devil who is the Wicked One and the grand Enemy of Love 13 14. I write unto you little children because ye have known the Father I have written unto you fathers because ye have known him that is from the beginning I have written unto you young men because ye are strong and the word of God abideth in you and ye have overcome the wicked one 13 14. Again I say that you may not neglect it I urge this Commandment of Love and Obedience on all sorts among you On young Christians because to know God as he is Love and a Father to us is your chief Principle of Faith On you ancient Christians because it is your old Religion On you strong Christians because you that have most Strength and Victory over Satan must have most of this Grace of Love and Obedience 15. Love not the world neither the things that are in the world If any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him 15. And I must accordingly warn you against the Love that is contrary to this Divine Christian Love which is the carnal inordinate Love of this World and Worldly Interest and Things Avoid this with all possible care for in that measure that you thus love the World you are so far destitute of the Love of God else it would prevail against it 16. For all that is in the world the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world 16. For All that is the Bait of Sensuality in the World whether it be the pleasures of Appetite Lust and other Senses or the pleasing of a covetous lustful or vain Imagination by the Eyes or Preferment Dominion pompous Living and Pride of Life are none of them the way to Communion with God and Salvation but are the Worldly Interest and Temptation of the Flesh which turn men's hearts to the World from God 17. And the world passeth away and the lust thereof but he that doth the will of God abideth for ever 17. And the World and all its Pomp Plenty and Pleasure and the Fleshly Lusts that are pleased by it are hastily passing away while they seem enjoyed But the reward and the pleasure of those that do the will of God will have no end 18. Little children it is the last time and as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come even now are there many Antichrists whereby we know that it is the last time 18. I yet speak to you as Children liable to Deceit It is now the latter part of the Age of the World And as you have heard that Antichrist shall come so even now there are many false Teachers risen up who in several sorts and measures are Adversaries to Christ which shews us that indeed it is already the beginning of the last Age. Note Of the Controversie about Antichrist see the Notes on 2 Thes 2. there are four Opinions very commonly pleaded for and others by some few I. Most of the old Doctors and Christians that have left us their Thoughts took Antichrist to be a false pretending Christ that should rise up towards the end of the World little dreaming that the Pope was he much less that all the visible Christian Church was then in its most flourishing state Idolatrous and Antichristian as some hold By which it appeareth that it is a Point that Godly Men may be ignorant of for few now but the Papists are of this Opinion II. Others think that Mahomet is the great Antichrist as being that open Enemy of Christianity who by pretending hatred to Idolatry hath set up himself and won more of the World than all the Christian part of the Earth by far III. Most Protestants hold that the Pope is the Antichrist but they greatly disagree of the time when he began to be so Some say at the Churches Deliverance by Constantine which was three hundred and four years after the Birth of Christ Some say About Anno 604. when Phocas named Pope Boniface the Third Universal Bishop in the Empire And thence riseth a Doubt whether the same Claim made not John of Constantinople Antichrist before and so there â—e not two Antichrists And whether the like Ambition made not Cyril Theophilâ—s and other Patriarchs of Alexandria and divers other Bishops to be so many Antichrists Some say He began about Hildebrand's time when the Claim of Universal Head and Vice-Christ over all the World began with Power over Princes which was above a thousand Years after Christ And some few say He began about Innocent the Third when the General Council of the Lateran owned that Power with Transubstantiation and the Murder of Reformers as Hereticks The Reasons for the Opinion that the Pope is the Antichrist you may find in many Volumes and particularly Bishop G. Downame's IV. Others think that Antichrist was a false Christ who was to appear in the days of some of the Apostles or that Generation to seduce the Jews into Rebellion against the Romans to their destruction And they are very confident that John here meant no other than Christ himself meant in
friendly Converse the more comfortable 2. By Elect Sister here again some think he meaneth another Church but it cannot be proved The Third Epistle of JOHN 't is most likely the Apostle 1 THe elder unto the well beloved Gaius whom I love in the truth 2. Beloved I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health even as thy soul prospereth 1 2. My love to thee for the Truths sake which thou adherest to maketh me wish earnestly that as thy Soul prospereth so may thy Bodily Health for the service of God and thy Soul 3. For I rejoyced greatly when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee even as thou walkest in the truth 3. Note 1. Soul-Mercies are the greatest Mercies and matters of greatest joy for one another 2. Good Reports of our Brethren is a duty tending to the comfort of Ministers and Friends 4. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth 4. Note True Ministers rejoyce more for the welfare of men's Souls than in Preserments Wealth or Worldly Honour 5. Beloved thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren and to strangers 6. Which have born witness of thy charity before the church 5. It is well done of thee as a sincere Christian that thou shewest so much love and help both to the Brethren of the Church with thee and to Strangers in their Banishment and Travels Which divers have here testified before the Church to thy praise 6. Whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort thou shalt do well 7. Because that for his name's sake they went forth taking nothing of the Gentiles 6 7. And if thou further furnish and help them in their Travel it will be a laudable Christian Duty doing as to God's Servants who for Christ's Name sake went out of their Country to preach abroad or were persecuted out and took nothing of the Gentile Christians towards their Maintenance in their Travels 8. We therefore ought to receive such that we might be fellow-helpers to the truth 8. To entertain and further such is part of our duty for the propagating of the Gospel He that receiveth a Prophet in the name of a Prophet shall have a Prophet's reward 9. I wrote unto the church but Diotrephes who loveth to have the pre-eminence among them receiveth us not 9. I wrote for them to the Church my Testimonial and desire of their Reception but their Bishop Diotrephes who loveth to rule as pre-eminent among them receiveth nor us Jews or my Letters and Request to the Church for them 10. Wherefore if I come I will remember his deeds which he doth prating against us with malicious words and not content therewith neither doth he himself receive the brethren and forbiddeth them that would and casteth them out of the Church 10. Note 1. By remembring his deeds and words is meant sharp rebuking him before all at least 2. It 's like that this Diotrephes was Pastor or Bishop else he could not have cast such out of the Church At least he was some great man that usurpt that Power But sure no Lay-man did so early usurp the Keys 3. By this we see that the Pride of domineering Bishops began early to be Schismatical and divide the Church by Tyranny Yea it grew arrogant to oppose and reject the Beloved Apostle and maliciously to prate against him There is no Man or Cause so good but a malicious Bishop or other man may prate against it As there are few Mutinies dangerous in Armies unless headed by some Commanders so there are few Schisms much dangerous in the Church but those that are headed by Bishops or Clergy-men 4. It is uncertain whether it was to receive them to Communion or only to Hospitality that Diotrephes opposed But it 's like it was both because he cast out their receivers from Communion 5. It is not certain whether he did it on any difference of Opinion or occasional quarrel but it is most like it was that he was a Gentile Christian and too much despised the Jews as they censured and separated too much from the Gentiles Rom. 14. Gal. 2. Thus Separation on both sides soon began and even Peace-making Apostles could not be heard by the dividers 11. Beloved follow not that which is evil but that which is good He that doth good is of God but he that doth evil hath not seen God 11. Imitate not such proud hurtful uncharitable dividing Examples whatever it pretend to a hurtful uncharitable course is not of God such are not true Believers and know not God aright But it is doing good that must shew that we are of God By their fruit ye shall know them Note Clergy Roman Cruelty by Inquisitions Prisons Ejecting true Ministers c. shews that they are not of God though they pretend Power Order Unity Faith as if it were for God and Truth 12. Demetrius hath good report of all men and of the truth it self yea and we also bear record and ye know that our record is true 12. Both common report and his own good works and our true Witness commend Demetrius 13 14. I had many things to write but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee But I trust I shall shortly see thee and we shall speak face to face Peace be to thee Our friends salute thee Greet the friends by name 13 14. Note Kind Remembrances and Greetings are suitable to Christian Friendship The General Epistle of JUDE most probably the Apostle 1. JUDE the servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James to them that are sanctified by God the Father and preserved in Jesus Christ and called 2. Mercy unto you and peace and love be multiplied 1 2. Note Men being judged of according to their professioâ—â— all Christians are called sanctified persons 3. Beloved when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation it was needful for me to write unto you and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints 3. Note 1. The common Salvation signifieth but tâ—aâ— way to Salvation which all must go in that will be savâ—d God's high-way to Heaven Christ and his Gospel 2. The Apostles writing more against Hereticks and Jews than Heathens tells us that the Church hath more cause usually to defend the Truth against pretended Religious Zealots and Sects that are erroneous than against open Pagans who are not animated by so much blind Zeal against them therefore they know not the Churches case who fear none but pâ—ophane Enemies 3. Though Love and Meekness may be predominant in Christians earnest contending for the Faith against corrâ—pting Hereticks is oft a duty But if this be pretended for odious Censures Excommunications Persecutions or dividing Contentions against Christians of the same Faith for their differences about lesser things and for tolerable imperfections or for doubting of unnecessary Opinions Ceremonies
and all men according to your works Note Judging is either Justifying or Condemning and Executing accordingly Our first Justification which maketh us Just and so Accounts us is not according to any works strictly so called unless you will call it a work believingly to Accept a free gift Nor is our Justification in Judgment according to the works of the Law of Innocency or of Moses or any that can be thought to make the Reward not of Grace but of Debt But it is according to our performing the Covenant of Christianity made by Christ the condition of Salvation 24. But unto you I say and to the rest in Thyatira as many as have not this doctrine and which have not known the depths of Satan as they speak I will put upon you none other burden 25. But that which ye have already hold fast till I come 24 25. Note Some Copies have And and some leave it out If it be you and the rest it must mean you Pastors and the faithful People And this would shew that it is not One but Many Pastors that is meant by the Angel But if And be left out then the sense is All you of the Church that are not polluted with this filthy Doctrine which the pretenders to Wisdom call Profound Knowledge but is indeed the Depths of Satan I will put on you no new Doctrine nor Burden but charge you to hold fast that Apostolick Doctrine which you have received and wait in fidelity for my coming who will reward you 26. And he that overcometh and keepeth my works unto the end to him will I give power over the nations 27. And he shall rule them with a rod of iron as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers even as I have received of my Father 26 27. This Promise is diveâ—sly expounded 1. Some think that it is not the same persons then living to whom it is made but those that in Constantine's time are found persevering shall then be advanced by him to honour and power Others think that it is to the same persons and meaneth buâ— that they shall be made Bishops and convert many Heathens But all the Church could not be made Bishops and Bishops then were the greatest Sufferers and converting is not ruling and dashing them in pieces with an Iron Rod. The Phrase is fetcht from Psal 2. Others think that it is meant of the Heavenly power of faithful separated Souls and that after death the Saints joyn with Angels â—s invisible Rulers of this World And others think that it is meant of a thousand years Reign on Earâ—h before the last Judgment And others think it is meant of the state after Judgment and that the Damned shall be as Slaves to the glorified Saints It is certain that it signifieth a triumphant glorious state in Heaven but the â—est is dark to us I think it meaneth that they shall partake of Christ's Royal Power subserviently in their degree by which they shall now triumph over the World in faith and in time be delivered from men's Tyrannny and at Death initially and at Judgment fully shall with Christ judge the World of wicked Men and Angels which is here called Ruling them And it is not improbable that the miserable damned ones will be in some sort trod down by Christ and his Saints but how we yet know not By the Morning-Star seemeth meant Christ and his Spirit to shine on them in Glory 29. He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches 29. Let none take themselves to be unconcerned in Christ's Message to his Churches for it is recorded for our common use and nearly concerneth us all CHAP. III. 1. ANd unto the angel of the church in Sardis write These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars I know thy works that thou hast a name that thou livest and art dead 1. To the Angel that is the Pastors and People of the Church in Sardis Thus saith he who is the Lord of Angels and Ministers Note Though the Spirits before were named before Christ it was not as preferring them before him for he is here said to have them as he hath the Pastors I know what thou art and dost and that thou art reputed by men to be an excellent Church but thou art declined to a cold and decayed state even like to death Note Profession and outward Splendor make Churches and persons applauded that wanting the life and power of the Religion they profess are next to dead 2. Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die for I have not found thy works perfect before God 2. Be awakned from thy Self-flattery and Coldness and revive and exercise that Good which yet thou hast that it may be strengthned for I find much Hypocrisie and Formality in thee and not that Soundness Seriousâ—ess and Zeal which God will require 3. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard and hold fast and repent If therefore thou shalt not watch I will come on thee as a thief and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee 3. Remember what Doctrine my Apostles taught thee and hold fast that and receive no other Repent of thy Back-sliding for if thou do not awake and watch in holy Preparation I will come upon thee with my Judgments as a Thief cometh on men asleep when thou art most fearless and dost least expect me 4. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments and they shall walk with me in white for they are worthy 4. Though the greater part of that Church be as dead in their declining some few there are yet in it who have kept their Innocency from Heresie Vice and Cowardly Shrinking and these shall have the honourable Reward of their Uprightness for they are worthy of it according to the Law of Grace which promiseth it to such alone Note Yet these few Names are not commanded to separate from the rest 5. He that overcometh the same shall be clothed in white raiment and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life but I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels 5. He that overcometh in this Life of Tryal shall be cloathed with the Glory which signifieth the Reward of Innocency and is the mark of Dignity and Honour for such then was White Raiment and I will own him openly before my Father and his Angels as one who is enrolled as a Denison of Heaven among the Elect of God Note If White Garments now be seemly for conquering Saints they are unmeet for them that are overcome by the World and the love of its Honour Wealth and Power and by fleshly Lusts 6. He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches 7. And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write These things saith he
heard and how shall they hear without a preacher and how shall they Preach unless they be sent And these expositors tell us not that Preachers shall be sent to the scattered Jews into all Turkish and Papists Lands to learn the Languages and convert them at once It is worth the Readers perusal c. 7. p. 217. how he justly derideth Bellarmine as supposing that Antichrist will put down Gods Worship in all the Earth telling him that he hath an hundred forty eight Thousand Thousand times five hundred fifty Thousand nine hundred and nine Miles to travel to do it and so much have Universal Popes and Councils to take charge of which will hardly be done in three years and a half And yet killing mens Souls is a less work than to make them alive It s doleful to think what Satan hath gained by corrupting the Church by wicked Bishops making that his Game when Pagan Power fell partly by tempting in Worldly wicked men by Wealth and Honour and partly by making Ungodly Princes the choosers of Bishops and Ungodly Patrons the choosers of Priests and when men ruled by Satan choose them Satan himself oft chooseth them Who by their wickedness Malignity and Persecuting the best men have tempted those Christians who most hate sin to call almost all the Church Antichristian and fly from it as worse than Pagan Rome and to lose much of their Love to all that are called by such abhorred names Had the Pastors of the Church bin all Holy Humble men of Love and not men of Wickedness and Blood their Power and Interest would have bin the Joy of Pious men But enough of that side II. On the other side they that say the contrary thus express their sense 1. The first Beast is the Roman Imperial and Military Power not as such but as the Grand Power of Idolatry first and next as the Captivator and Persecutor of the Christian Church of Jews and Gentiles 2. The Image of the Beast is both the Idol Statues Images and Altars of their Idol Gods and of themselves both which by their Laws were to be worshipped with Sacrifices and other acts of Idolatry 3. The second Beast is the Senate with all the Literate Idolaters and Flatterers Orators Philosophers Priests Poets Comedians Augurs c. as Learned defenders of Idolatry and reproâ—chers and Enemies of Christianity 4. The name of the Beast was the name of the Idol God whom they were to Worship and of the Idolized Emperours as called Divi and Dii and honoured by Altars and Sacrifices 5. The Mark was a Stigma or Badge then usually received by Servants and Souldiers and Votaries as an obliging mark of subjection 6. The number of the name was some abbreviating Letters part of the mark and here proved to be numeral though at this distance we cannot say what they were nor whether still the same 7. Receiving the mark is profest consent and usually by such a Badge 8. The Woman Whore was the City of Rome not meerly as a City or as Rome or as Rich or as Powerful but as Idolatrous and captivating the Church 9. The Witnesses were the Jew and Gentile Christian Teachers Prophets Miracle-workers and Martyrs that had the spirit as the first Christians had for signal Testimony to the Gospel Miracles long continuing in some degree These are their expositions Their Reasons they begin first of the Whore or the seat of the Beast which they say must needs be Pagan Rome 1. Because it was expresly said by the Angel who purposely explained it to be the great City which ruleth over the Kings of the Earth 1. Not a Church which is under Princes but properly a City 2. Not only pretenders to a Power of Church Keys but proper Rulers by Power of Armes 3. Not only over the Church oft called Heaven but over the Kings of the Earth noting those without 4. Not shall Rule but doth Rule as a visible note by which John might know the Whore This being so plain that only violence can obscure it may be say they a Key to all the rest 2. Ch. 17.2 The Kings of the Earth had at that time committed Fornication with her and the Inhabitants of the Earth were then drunken with the Wine of her Fornication else it could not be to John a notifying mark But the Papacy was not of many hundred years after in being 3. John was brought into the Wilderness to see it which was the then Persecuted State of the Church And it was to comfort him and that Church in hope of a near Deliverance for they were things that must shortly be done 4. Her name notifyeth her Babylon the great the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth Babylon captivating the Christians as old Babylon did the Jews the great as then being to whom the Papal Power was small The Mother or Nurse and Upholder of the most Abominable Idolatry and Wickedness not in the Church but of the Earth by Power and Learning upholding the Worship of Sun Moon Stars and Men of Jupiter Saturn Sol Mars Mercury Pallas Venus Neptune and numberless Idols by Paul called Devils and the wickedness of life described by Paul Rom. 1. Eph. 4.18 c. 5. The names of Blasphemy were hers reproaching Jews and Christians with scorn and ascribing Gods names and works to these their Idols and to Men. 6. The vast Riches and Luxury of her described punctually agree with Pagan Rome 7. She was then drunk with the Blood of Prophets and Martyrs which the Pope then was not The Angels undertaking to open the Mystery must not be thought rather to obscure it 8. She had been a Persecutor of both Jew and Gentile Christians who both gave God Thanks for her fall 9. The Whore sat on seven Mountains But so did not the Papal Civil Empire 10. The assistant Kings had not received Regal Power being but as Servants to the Beast and the Whore But Popish Kings are Kings indeed 11. They were unanimous in upholding the Whore But Popish Kingdoms long strove against the Papal Power 12. They fought against Christianity till they were conquered v. 14. But so did not many Popish Kingdomes 13. People multitudes and Nations more notifie Pagan Rome than Papal 14. C. 18. They were to reward her double as she had used them But so we must not do by Papists 15. The Kings of the Earth lament her fall But the more the Pope fall the more they rejoice except the House of Austria and a few more 16. Her fall cometh suddenly as in an hour but the Pope standeth yet after 150 years beginning to fall Moreover about the Beast they say 1. It is said he was and is not and yet is But the Papacy was not then nor is after it was not 2. The seven Heads of the Beast had the name of Blasphemy But if the heads were the seven species of Government the name of Papal Blasphemy was not on six of them at least but only of
Pagan Blasphemy Therefore it was Pagan Rome or its Empire that they headed 3. The seven Pagan sorts of Government were not seven Heads of the Papacy or Roman Church therefore the Papacy or Roman Church was not the Beast For they were the Heads of the Beast And the wounding of one of the Heads shews that all the seven were Heads of one and the same Beast 4. Who is able to make War with the Beast tells us that it was by Arms that he stood and not by mere Hypocrisy and deceit That was the part of the second Beast and not of the first 5. It is all that dwell on the Earth without that Church that worship him But those that dwell in heaven and the Tabernacle and name of Christ he Blasphemeth v. 5.6.7 6. They worship the Dragon for giving Power to the Beast But by the Dragon the Text saith is meant the Devil and it is those Devils that Pagans thought did prosper Rome that is Mars Jupiter Apollo c But Papist worship not these for setting up the Pope 7. The Dwellers on the Earth worshipped the first Beast whose deadly wound was healed c. 13.12 But it was not the Pope nor the Papal Rome or Church whose deadly wound was healed in the Judgment of all them that says the very erecting of the Papacy was the healing of that Wound For it was not wounded as a head before it was in being And if it was Pagan Rome or Idolatry that the Papacy healed then the healed and not the healing party was the first Beast 8. It s contrary to divers express Texts that the first and second Beast are the same Therefore they that make the Pope the second must acknowledge another to be the first 9. The number of a man received cannot be found of Papal Rome 10. All that receive the mark and name of the Beast are without conversion to be tormented for ever But we cannot say so of all that own the Papacy Education and converse and prejudice against Protestants for their divisions maketh may think verily that the Papal Church is the best for its unity and antiquity and extent and duration c When we read the Writings of such Men as Bernard Gerson Kempis Gerhard Zutphaniâ—nsis Thaulerus Sales c. And the lives of such as Ph. Nerius de Renti Boromeus c. Yea the Writings of such as Bonaventure and divers Schoolmen we find so much of truth and holiness in them that forbids that Judgment Further that it is Pagan Rome that is the Whore and its Empire as Idolatrous and captivating that is the first Beast and not the Papacy they argue thus If it be Papal Rome it is either the City as building and place or it is the Policie 1. Not the place called the City for it is good as such 2. Not the Place as related to the Policie For 1. The material City of Pagan Rome was as much defiled as that of Papal Rome and yet continued 2. Else when the Pope dwells elsewhere the relation would follow him For above 100 years much of Italy it self placed the Supremacy in the Patriarcks of Aquileia Rome may fall and the Papacy stand It hath been oft taken and sack't and long possest by Goths and others Even Charles 5. By Charles of Burbon sack't it 2. If in the Policie either 1. As related to Rome 2. Or as elsewhere placed And what is that Policie that is the formal constitution of the first Beast 1. It iâ— not Empire as such for all Power is of God and was to be obeyed in Heathens Else all Emperours would be such Beasts or as they say Antichrists 2. It is not Empire meerly as Roman For then both the Heathen Emperours would have been the Beast or Antichrists without respect to their sin And Constantine Valentinian Jovian Theodosii Marcian c. the great blessings of the Church would have been Antichrists or the beast Or at least those good Emperors that abode at Rome 3. It is not Empire meerly as found in a person of bad Qualities and Life For then every wicked Emperour and King would be the Beast or their Antichrist and a Pope that were not personally vicious would be none 4. It is not every Emperor or King that is an Usurper or invader For then many Emperours would be the Beast 5. It is not every one that is Ambitious and stâ—iveth to be highest and above all others For then there would be a great many Antichrists in the World 6. It is not every one that in Church Power would be highest for then James and John would have bin Antichrists and so would many Bishops of Constantinople and Alexandria if not many in most other lands among the several parties of Christians 7. It is not every one that pretendeth to and Usurpeth a sort of Power that God never giveth For so do many Imposers of most parties 8. It is not every one that joineth Civil and Ecclesiastical Power in one person For so did Melchizedeck and so did Cyril and other Alexandrian Bishops and those of Constantinople and what Episcopal Countrys have not such If you say that this is a Kin to Antichristianity or preparatory I say our question is not What is a Kin or preparatory but what is it that formally constituteth it 9. It is not every one that is a Persecutor for so alas have been too many in most times and places nor is it all that promote heresie or Blasphemy by Persecution For so did Valens and many Arrian Kings and Councils Gensericus Hunnericus Theodoricus Odoacer c. 10. It is not all that were Idolaters in any degree for so is now four sixth parts of the World Much less all inward Heart-idolaters as are all that are Covetous and love the World better than God and obey man against him Nor is it all that give Saints or Angels undue or sinful Veneration for so John twice offered prostration to the Angel At least so did the Council of Nice to the Images of Saints and especially the Virgin Mary And so did many of the Eastern Emperours and Tharasius drew in almost all the Eastern Bishops yea many were faulty long before Popery came in 11. It is not the being of any of these at Rome that constituteth the Beast or Antichrist which would not do it elsewhere For Theodorick Odoacer and other Arrians Blasphemers of Christ and Persecutors in Rome were not the Beast or Antichrist It must therefore say these men be somewhat differing from all these which we can find in Pagan Rome but not in Papal If the same thing will make the Pope and all Papists to be the beast that would not make another such there must be some special reason for it 12. Lastly say they it must be remembred that it is confest to be Civil Power and not Ecclesiastical that constituteth the first Beast and Rome is his Seat Now 1. The Empire was not setled at Rome but at Constantinople when Christianity
deceive Christ that he shall not know his Flock it men miscall them To own Christ and the Gospel and to murder Thousands or Millions in his Name as if he took it for acceptable Service is incomparably a more aggravated crime than the most bloody Pagan Persecution was Obj. These were Hereticks and deserved death Ans 1. And were they worse than Heathen Idolaters and Infidels and must three or four parts of the World be put to death Obj. But they were Baptized and so are Revolters Ans 1. And do they revolt to worse than Paganism 2. Is Infant Baptism of so dismal consequence as that the Papâ—sts may murther all that revolt from it Is not this the way to make Antipâ—â—o baptists or Antibaptists and keep Men from Christianity But oportet Mendacem esse Memorem Why then do your Historians charge them to have been against Infant-Baptism Did you murder none till they were Baptized 2. But what was their Heresie how can we know better than by your bloody Laws against them The General Council 4. at the Latâ—rane under Innoc. 3. â—â—â—s us it was denying Transubstantiation and disobeying the Pope And all Temporal Lords are to swear to extermâ—â—atâ— all such and all others that they wâ—ll call Hereticks on pain of Excommunication deposition and damnation So that all that renounced not their senses were Hereticks and all such to be destroyed or exterminated and Subjects â—bsâ—lved from their Allâ—gâ—â—nce to Temporal Lords 〈◊〉 will not execute it and many other grievous penalties are adâ—â—â— And seeing General Councils are the Rules of the Religion of the through Papist be not â—â—nvâ—y with them that call both your Pope and Council and Church Antichristian who thus exceeded Dioclesian and Max. Herculius in their work Obj. But how then can you hold that the whole Visible Church was never the Seat or Society of Antichrist in any one age Ans Very well Christ was Christ the head of his Church as visible and invisible in every age 1. Three or four parts of the Christian World were then and are now from under the Pope this very bloody Council saith c. 4. That the Greeks rejected the Roman Pope and so far abhorred the Latines that if Latine Priests did but celebrate at their Altars their Greeks judged them defiled and would not use them again till they had washed them yea they rebaptized those whom the Latine Priests baptized And they once a year Excommunicated the Popes long and they owned not Transubstantiation And they with the Abassines Armenians and all such others were three or four times more than the Papists 2. And who may not easily know that a Pope and such a Council called General are not the Western Visible Church real or representative It s not unlike that forty to one might be against them King John's Embassador was one of the consenters who then was in contest against Stephen Langton Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and to conquer his own Lords and Kingdom gave his Kingdom to the Pope and took it as from him And if such a King had the choice of Bishops they would no more represent the Church there than he and his Court represented the Kingdom when he gave it away and fought against it and those Bishops that the Pope chose did as little represent it being more the Messengers of his will than of the Churches And how few Bishops were in such Councils besides those that the Pope made or consented to When he and the Emperours Henry's were in War the Emperors Bishops condemned the Popes and the Popes Bishops condemned the Emperors and these Servants of two Men in power were not the representers of the Church The multitude of lower quiet Bishops Pastors and People were the Visible Chuâ—ch more than England was a Visible Kingdom distinct from King John's Court for the Pope was but an Usurping head which that King then was not Obj. Then you make two Visible Churches in Europe Ans Yes Christ had one diffused over the World and the Pope made another by Usurpation and Rebellion which was Regnum in Regno as any Rebel might do that could get strength to set up a party in power to call him King in some part of a Kingdom Such an Antichristianity as this I make no doubt but the Papacy did become guilty of and none that owneth it as such and receiveth their mark can be Innocent but are condemned by plainer Evidence than dark Prophecies but I will not therefore say the same of all from An. 304. Or any other that lived before this contracted guilt though too many at Rome and other Countreys prepared the way nor yet of all called Papists who own not the crimes and Characters of such men and much less of all the Visible Church in any one age And least of all of all the Visible Church since 3â—4 or thereabouts The World hath already seen a great deal of publick Sin and Misery in and by the Empires of Pâ—gans Mohâ—metans and Christians conquering and being conquered turning and overturning Thousands and hundred Thousands murdered c. more than I can find mentioned in Daniel or the Revelations In this Judgement I am in Pain and Languishing waiting for my Change and Hope of a World where all is expounded and all Wickedness Malignity and Divisions shut out and Holiness Love and Concord perfected and all perfectly pleased in pleasing God And as I can easily bear the reproach of those that accuse me foâ— no better understanding the Revelations and of all that accuse me of being either too little against Popery and Antichrist or too much being shortly to be above the ignorant obloquy of all extreams so Readers I earnestly advise you that you never take Faction for Religion nor lying or betraying truth for its defence Let them prove that Popes have not been Antichrists that can It 's none of my work But if you are never so sure that it is he indeed pull him not down by calling Truth Duty or things lawful Antichristian nor by telling men that all Protestants are Idolaters or Antichristian if they forsake not the Communion of all our Parochial Protestant Churches and of all other Reformed Churches that are as bad as they that the Papists may re-enter into them as deserted Garrisons and find no resistance Nor by telling the World that all our Laws against Popish Recusancy do punish them for not doing an unlawful thing which all Protestants should refuse as well as they This is no likelier a way to pull down Antichrist than Racking and Tearing the Reformed Churches by unlawful Snares and silencing the Faithfulest Ministers of Christ But above all begin not the Papal Antichristianity with the beginning of the Christians deliverance by Constantine nor too soon nor feign it to be Universal Read such Books as Jewel Rivet Blondel Pet. Moulin Dalleus c. If you are Schollars which prove the Novelty of Popery and the confident offer of the present Bishop of Lincoln Dr. Barlow no stranger to Antiquity or Books that he will recant and turn to them Let them prove by any full and concluding reason that any Christian Church in the World acknowledged or the Church of Rome her self assumed and publickly pleaded for such a Papal Supremacy as now they pretend to for 1000 years after our Blessed Saviour and for my own part I will confess and retract my error Let them prove by any such concluding reason that any Church in the World Eastern or Western Greek or Latine did acknowledge what now the Pope and his party so earnestly and vainly contend for the Popes Infallibility and his Supremacy over all general Councils for 1500 years after our Blessed Saviour and for my part I will retract what I have here affirmed and be what I hope I never shall be their Proselyte London 1684. Nov. 12. Natali Authoris Aetat Suae 70. RICHARD BAXTER FINIS 〈…〉