Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
scripture_n	able_a	salvation_n	word_n	2,196	5	4.1078	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A06810	Timothies taske: or a Christian sea-card guiding through the coastes of a peaceable conscience to a peace constant, and a crowne immortall. Wherein I. Pastors are put in minde of their double dutie, and how to discharge it. 1. Personall, as watchfull men. 2. Pastorall, as faithfull watchmen. II. True doctrine is advanced. III. Traditions discountenanced, & their rancour discovered. In two synodall assemblies at carliell, out of two seuerall, but sutable scriptures. This of I Timoth. 4.16. and that of Actes 20.28. Since concorporate, and couched with augmentation vnder their prime head: By Robert Mandevill, sometimes of Queenes Colledge in Oxford, and preacher of Gods word at Abbey-holme in Cumberland.	Mandevill, Robert, 1578-1618.; Vicars, Thomas, d. 1638.	1619 (1619)	STC 17245; ESTC S102562	61,931	80

the same things which he receiued from his mouth Had Timothie so ●iven a head that Paul beganne so soone after his departure to distrust his memorie could he so soone be carried away with errour or worldly cares who had dedicated his childhood to devotiō Might not Timothie his asseveration whom they well knew to haue beene taught by Paul and left to that end for some space amongst them might not the bare affirmatiō I say of his doctrine to be Apostolicall and suckt as it were from Pauls teat haue supplied the place of an Epistle to authorize his person stablish his doctrine as well for after as present times Certes the Apostle might haue spared his pen and paines if he had beene Iesuited in this point touching the authority of vnwritten traditions Did the Apostles Prophets and Euangelists all guided by one spirit propose to themselues the same end in writing that they had in preaching the message of life it is more then plaine that they did If mans perfection in this life and eternall saluation in the next was the marke whereat they aymed in both then why should some onely of things necessarie be registred and other of the same nature and like necessitie be exposed to neglect oblivion corruption discountenance of times the moathes which bred in the Apostles owne traditions and encumbred them vpon the absence of their persons Rash and inconsiderate actions are incident to mans weake improvident spirit the omniscient spirit of God doth nought in vaine nought but vpon deliberate grounds If then the wil and word of God could haue beene kept purer and more entire or alike entire and pure by tradition as writing why was it written Or if any part thereof my speech keeps still within compasse of things necessarie why not the whole Was God so forgetfull as when he had purchased and promised life to his Church not to prescribe the way to it Or so ignorant that man can devise a neerer better and safer meane to saue himselfe by than God hath done Was it out of good providence and discretion to omit things necessarie commend vnto vs matters of lesse importance Was it out of envy that he would not haue his minde fully knowne to man Or impotency that hee could not aswell haue revealed it wholy as by halfes Or out of exception that fi●●er pen-mē should record the rest then his Evangelists and Apostles were When or where doth God cancel that seale and call it the commission which alone was authenticall Wills he the end without the meanes or such a meane as warres with it selfe and disappoints of the end it should attaine Did Moses or any of the Prophets in the old Did the Evangelists or any of the Apostles in the new so mince the matter as some doe alter and add to the Testators minde allow or disallow as some presume what they thought meet Can God bee charged with such blasphemies or his actuaries and pen-men iustly challenged for such treacherie The law of the Lord is perfect May not this perfection be comparatiuely taken that a fuller clearer knowledge of God is had in the lesser booke of his law then in that larger volume of his creatures But the Prophet attributes such a perfection thereto as can imply no defect vnlesse the vigor and force of the cause bee inferiour to the vertue of the effect converting the soule Esay examines both faith and life of Priest and people by the law and testimonie If they speake not according to this word it is because being but blind leaders of the blind there is no light in them The Apostles preached no other things then those which the Prophets and Moses said should come The doctrine which Timothy is here charged to looke vnto and touching which hee was to charge others that they taught no other was not contrary but consonant to those Scriptures wherein Timothy was trained from his youth and those Scriptures were able to make him wise vnto salvation what may wee thinke of S Paul was not he a good Christian How doth he proue that and approue himselfe But this I confesse c. Act. 24. 14. These words Paul spake When accused by Tertullus and other Iewes before whom Foelix a governour In what cause particular case The rule of right worship Who did suggest the words he vsed The spirit of God for such was the promise To what end and purpose were they vttered To proue the truth of his religion pietie and profession where of God was author antiquitie an ornament the Prophets witnesses and their records did containe the tenour which tenour is here made the touchstone of Gods truth and triall of his sinceritie Now either did Saint Paul faile in his proofe the spirit notwithstanding prompting him or God failed in performance of his promise or the Scriptures suffice to make a true and perfect Christian such as Paul was in this life and an inheritour of salvation as we doubt not but he now is in the next If it were otherwise the Apostle would never haue vndergone the burden of so bold an assertion as elsewhere he doth But though that we chosē by God to doe the worke of Evangelists to whom yet he restraines not his speech but goes further and ascends higher Or an Angel meaning no evill one as Satan when he doth transforme himselfe but an Angell from heaven pretending he were sent from God If an Angell from heaven preach c. And that no man thinke these words of execration to haue fallen from him vnawares or lesse advisedly he toucheth the same string againe saying as he said before and leauing his latter supposall as a thing not possible that such contradiction should come from heaven hee iterates thus If any man preach any other c. As holy men of God spake so they wrot by divine instigation For first the Scripture the writing surpasseth all other writings 2. The whole Scripture aswell the law which is the Gospell fore●told as the Gospell which is the law fulfilled is not a Rabbinicall fancie Anabaptistical revelation popish fiction or any other humane suggestion But thirdly inspiration giuen of God 4. The vse whereof is manifold as 1. to arme against errour in opinion which it improoueth 2. Corruption of life by correcting iniquitie to furnish with a contrarie abilitie of holding 3. That truth in iudgement which it teacheth 4. That righteousnesse of life wherein it instructeth Some admitting the vtility of the Scriptures gaine-say their sufficiencie but amongst other errours it refells this convincing the authors for gainesayers of Gods spirit and purpose seeing it is not meerely said to be profitable but so profitable as naught is wanting therein to make 5 absolute perhaps the people or laitie in whom so great ●urniture of knowledge is not required not those only but the Pastor too the man of God And if an Angell from

TIMOTHIES TASKE OR A CHRISTIAN SEA-CARD guiding through the coastes of a peaceable conscience to a peace constant and a Crowne immortall Wherein I. Pastors are put in minde of their double dutie and how to discharge it 1. Personall as watchfull men 2. Pastorall as faithfull watchmen II. True doctrine is advanced III. Traditions discountenanced their rancour discovered In two Synodoll assemblies at Carliell out of two seuerall but sutable Scriptures This of 1 Timoth. 4. 16. and that of Actes 20. 28. Since concorporate and couched with augmentation vnder their prime Head BY ROBERT MANDEVILL sometimes of Queenes Colledge in Oxford and Preacher of Gods word at Abbey-holme in Cumberland 2 TIM 4. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 AT OXFORD Printed by JOHN LICHFIELD and JAMES SHORT An. Dom. 1619. CELEBERRIMAE ACADEMIAE OXONIENSI MATRI SVAE AC PATRONAE AMORE DVCTVS NEC NON MORE IN PERPETVVM OBSERVANTIAE TESTIMONIVM OPVSCVLVM HOC DICAT CONSECRATQVE ROB. MAGNADEVILLA INSIGNISSIMO VIRO DD. GOODVVIN Aedis Christi Decano Academiae Oxoniensis Vicecancellario longè dignissimo QUod ego homo tibi forsitan ignotus ex antro nescio quo obscurus erepens Dignitatem Tuam in vestibulo statim hujusce operis Epistolio quodam ausim compellare hujus fiduciae afferenda est nonnulla excusatio ne temeritatis simul imprudentiae macula meritò me inustum iri quispiam existimet Duae autem sunt inter caeteras potissimae rationes quae me hoc tempore impulerunt ut lucubrationem hanc tuo nomini dicarem Tum quòd patrono opus haberet tum quòd talem patronum merebatur Patrono certè opus est cum ipse pater qui foetum hunc aleret foveret praematura morte absorptus sit De quo quid attinet singula quae noverim hîc infarcire quàm impensè opus Evangelistae peregerit fidelis Christi servus cùm veritatem propugnando tum contradicentes impugnando quantis ingenij artis gratiae dotibus ad miraculum fere excultus fuerit quàm in sermone potens in vita pius ut non modo sacrisiculos Missaticos superstitiosos id genus homulos gladio spiritus fuderit profligaverit verum etiam parochianos suos Christianos ne quid asperiùs dicam parùm probos negotia emporetica nundinationes solennes quas sine omni conscientiae scrupulo diebus Dominicis exercere solebant vniuersas die Saturni peragere prudenti zelo et suaui cumprimis eloquio fecerit coegerit Haec inquam multa alia de authore ipso quae sciens praetereo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quia illius laudes una non capit pagina quid attinet hic commemorare Illud unum adjiciam studia vigilias sermones quorum nunc gustum praebemus animum in divino opere planè indefessum conatusque illius admodum foelices quàm verè magnus vir f●erat liquidò demonstrare Nam vt Atticus ille orator appositè 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ejusmodi dubio procul terris invident 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ingrati populi peccata quae si conjectura non sum vanus effecerunt ut hic veluti Phoebus alter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 summo quasiaetatis ver●ice puncto meridionali positus Oceano immersus occideret Certe in scelere Iacob omne istud in peccatis domus Israel Cujus obitum heu nimis si Deo allter visum fuisset praematurum ut patria illius lugebat tota ita neillum lugeat sent●átve liber iste posthumus potes Tu vir clarissime pro singulari humanitate authoritate tua effectum dare Orphanus hic infans est fari vix potest quae sentiat inter spem curamque timores inter i● as modesti patris germanus partus in lucem prodire subverebatur Quare me rogatum habuit facundia balbutienti postulavit ut 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cuidam doctissimo pariter dignissimo eum velim commendare sub cujus tutela patrocinio tanquam sub Ajacis clypeo ab invidorum malevolorum quibus haec aeta● scatet morsibus tutus delitesceret Ego autē tam honestae petitioni quantum in me est obsecundare obni xè studens quòd ex philosophorū coryphaeo didicerim parentum praeceptorum beneficia aequis non posse rependi officijs quamvis to gatorum unus sim tantum non infimi subsellij oratorum longè pessimus verum enimvero cum Aristides ille mihi consulat moneatque 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 non potui meipsum temperare quin ad te ista scriberem peteremque ut in clientelam tuam hunc libellum qui talem omnino meretur patronum recipere non dedigneris qui tantum habes authoritatis ut possis tantum prudentiae ut no veris tantum denique humanitatis ut cupias studio sorū hominum conatibus patrocinari Idque feci eo lubentius quod gravislimus hic author dum in vivis esset Tibi totique literatorum cohorti numerosae satis nobilissimae quam Dignitas Tua non sine maxima laude moderatur tanquam amoris observantiae suae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ob vicariam quandam apud suos Brigantes illi ab Academia matre nostra concessam hanc opellam suam ipse etiam Academiae hujus florentissimae alumnus consecraverat Vale vir claris● scitóque me unum esse ex ijs qui pium affectum tuum in deum charitatē propensam in fratres merita in ecclesiam suspicit miratur In Coll Regin scribebam 8. Idus Julij anno reparatae salutis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 DCXIX Dignitatis tuae Observantissimus THO VICARS AD LECTOREM CArmina praefantur tali rarissima libro Haec praeter morem carminae Lector habes Defuncto praeter morem praestemus amorem Non est vulgaris credito talis amor Officium signare opus est laudarier ipsum Authorem aut opus hoc non opus esse scio C. R. R. AD MAGISTRVM ROBERTVM de magna villa Apostrophe MAgna sonas magna facis vir maxime rebus Quam benè conveniunt nomina saepè suis Terrae parva haec villa dedit sed non nisi parva Coeli villa potest praemia magna dare 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 T. V. M. A. C. R. O. S. TIMOTHIE HIS TASKE OR A CHRISTIAN SEA-CARD 1 TIMOTH 4. 16. Take heed vnto thy selfe and vnto learning continue therein c. THey are the wordes of a spirituall Father to his sonne in the faith Paul now aged to young Timothie whom hee instructs in things that concerne his function as a Teacher his conversation as a Christian. The former hee doth from the 6 to the 12 verse The latter from the 12 vnto the 16. In which hee coucheth and combines both Let no man now thinke admonition vnnecessarie not though he be the best of many For Timothie is heere exhorted to follow that which by the Apostles owne testimonie hee had followed constantly Let

no man despise youth in a Minister if it bee authorized with competent gifts for wisdome is the gray haires and an vndefiled life is the old age This Scripture doth branch it selfe into two parts 1. An advice or exhortation Take heed c. 2. A motiue or inducement inforcing the same For in so doing c. In the exhortation each word riseth into a head One doth opus imponere enjoyne a taske of attention or Christian watchfulnesse and that sollicite with a care circumspection Cave Take heed or attend An other points at the immediate obiect whereat this watch must begin and that ordinate orderly and answereable to the rule of Charitie which begins at home Cave tibi take heed to thy selfe The third doth onus apponere annexe a further charge of feeding others inferred by a necessary particle of connexion doctrinae and to learning The last toucheth the omission or intermission of this duty he must neither tyre nor retyre but manly march on and stoutly hold out to the last gaspe Permane in istis continue therein Thus Timothie is stirred vp and set on his way as Elias was foure times by the spirit First to a diligent warynesse and wary diligence lest while the husbandman sleepes the enemie come sowe tares amongst the wheate 2. To an eminent and more then ordinarie sanctitie of life for sedes prima and vitaima the best place and basest life sort not well together 3. To the care of a pastorall cure whereof Paul saith Quis idoneus ad haec who is fit for these things 4. To perseuerance in the good begun for he beginnes ill that goes not on therefore hauing put thy hand to the plough looke not backe behinde thee stands a pillar of salt The first thing is the care which Timothie must take or the watch he is to set The word imports in the originall a bent of mind an intention of will ioyn'd with a care and contention of the whole man that his workes warre not with his wordes and his deedes disgrace not his doctrine whence this collection may be made That vigilancie or heedfulnesse is a necessarie companion to all such as seriouslie commence a spirituall course chieflie to Pastors and Superintendents as Timothie was A doctrine which wants not the commendation of a threefold commoditie 1. It is a gratious preseruatiue against sinne deceiuing vs. 2. It is an antidote against troubles and crosse occurrences lest they vnsettle vs. 3. It instils strength and pith into all other duties and parts of Gods worship without which they be either wholly omitted or but hoverly done by which they are quickned cheered and well ouerseene These three things in their order handled you haue my purpose in this first head First it preserues against the deceits of sinne Watch and pray to begin with Christs owne speech lest you enter into temptation What other is the drift of the Prophets demand directing the whole Church in one mans person wherewith shall a young man clense his way by taking heed thereto according to thy word this seede is rife and many wher 's ranke sowen yet growes reformation but thinne and rare because little or no heed is taken of the stonie thornie and high-way hearers How often is attention commanded and commended vnto vs by our Sauiour against intemperancy and worldly cares by Saint Peter that the life breake not out into licenciousnes By the Authour to the Hebrewes that the heart with the seuerall affections may from time to time be held in awe What was Pauls counsell to the Corinthians hee that stands let him take heed lest he fall either it was the Apostles purpose to bring men into a needlesse feare or too much heed cannot be had But good men haue fallen Patriarkes Prophets Apostles yea better once then th● best of men the Angels kept not their first estate This Apostle writing to the same people wills them to watch and hee puts on the Thessalonians in the former Epistle lest they sleepe as others doe who were rockt in a cradle of deepe securitie By immoderate sleepe the humours of mans bodie are so dissolued that naturall heate is thereby much abated and in time quenched So fareth it with the drowsie and slouthfull soule wherein wicked thoughts being bred and multiplyed quench the heate of holy affections and so separate man from God Christ doth checke his heauy-headed Apostles Math. 26. 40. And those foolish girles fore-shewing the time of their preparation leaue a caveat to all that they spend not these houres in idle adoes which God hath giuen to gaine their blisse Of vapours that arise from the stomacke or heart say Physitians of the body and ascend vp into the the braine proceedes sleepe so the vapours foaming and reaking out of the secure and carnall heart send a spirituall slumber ouer the whole man as the Physitian of our soule infallibly defines Math. 15. Against which the wise man giues this prescription Keepe thine heart with all diligence for from thence commeth life Whereunto adde that of Paul in the latter to Timothy and it will adde great strength vnto our ward Evigila t● i● omnibus watch thou saith he not in some few onely giuing way to other nor in many omitting some nor in most passing by the rest but in all watch thou in all things A hard saying who can heare it What action is heere excluded What occasion is not meant What place can bee exempt Or who are the persons for whose presence wee ought discontinue or breake off our watch But to whom speakes the Apostle this A man meerely If so then watch in some things had beene enough and scarcely allowable but Timothie was more a man of God To whom speakes the Apostle this a Christian if so then watch in most things had beene enough and hardly tollerable but Timothie was more a guide to such to whom speakes the Apostle this some Angell if so then watch in all things were charge enough A taske best fitting those pure spirits which most approximate God in dignitie To Timothie then a keeper and teacher of his brethren in him to vs in vs to others is this precept giuen Let vs first amend in ourselues the contrarie securitie and so commend this duty to others But they must be motiues of no small moment that fasten such strictnesse on vs or them Take heed saith our Saviour Christ watch and pray for you knowe not when the time is Be sober and watch faith S. Peter the reason followes for your adversarie the Divell as a roaringly on walketh about seeking whom he may devoure Satan is an enemie and such an enemie as admits neither truce nor attonement The houre of Christs comming is vncertaine as vncertaine as is the onset of the theefe is it not then high time to take heed either that Lyon devoure vs or

heaven much lesse Antichrist regreet wee ought not to be troubled thereat sithence the spirit of God doth not content himselfe with so plaine an affirmation thereof but to beat the absolutenesse and all sufficiency of Scripture into mens braines and breasts hee repeateth the thing againe more fully then before being made perfect or throughly furnished May not the matter for all this be yet minced and this perfectiō or through furniture meant of most good workes To all good workes required of mā to doe Haue the Scriptures God their author Afford they all things necessary to soundnesse of faith and sinceritie of life in their vse Is the end of their transmission to posteritie by writing to make mē absolute so absolute that there is no good worke wherewith God is pleased which hee requires in those whom he will saue but they instruct him in it and how to doe it Then wee are content that this errour of the Scriptures perfection should close our eyes desiring no other no safer conduct then they reveale to that celestiall Elysium Sedes vbi fata quietas ostendunt Where the rich man saw Abraham and Lazarus in his bosome Let all such as cannot be content with the Scriptures direction goe as farre as they can Non equidem invideo miror magis Beyond all perfection for the further they goe the fuller assurance of Gods favour they forfeit the more frequent feeling of that loue and kindnesse which is better then life it selfe they forgoe because they goe from God We seeke not we wish not to be wise or perfect aboue the folly and imperfection of that which is written that is for higher wisdome or perfection then that which leadeth to life it rightly so called life eternall Thy word saith David is a lanthorne vnto my feet a light vnto my path Ps. 119. 105. The light of the lanthorne descries the evill we are to decline By the guidance of this light we may bee led forward to the practise of all good What thought is there of mans heart which may not hence be established if doubtful subdued if headstrōg What words idle or evill are not here reproued and may not be reformed And wherewithall shall a young man in whom affections most rage and raigne clense his way What sorrow so great or maladie of minde which the tongue of the learned may not hence allay what infirmity bodily or affliction worldly may not mans spirit be taught hence to sustaine Here is the season of salt the force of fire the defence of armour the nourishment of meat the solace of marriage of spoiles the profit of victorie the pleasure of light the direction of musicke the delight the sweetnes of hony and the hony combe In heavinesse it cheares vs in wandrings recalls vs giuing health to our bones peace to our liues content to our soules The faithfullest coūseller strongest supporter best interpreter of strange evēts and heavenliest moderatour of crosse occurrents Further since the matter of our practise without the right maner of performance is but a carcase of religion without a quickning spirit the Scriptures make knowne vnto vs that mans deed in Gods matters is but a desire at most an endeavour which endeavour must bee thus conditioned 1. Sincere for he with whom we haue to doe requres truth in the inward parts 2. Serious or earnest for heaven is the hold which none surprise saue such as will take no nay 3. Setled or constant because he that is holy must bee holy still 4. Vniversall or entire for whosoever shall keepe the whole law and yet offend in one point he is guiltie of all Now what more sit rule or perfect square can be found to frame the Lords building by then that which laies the foundation in sinceritie reares vp the walls in fervency covers the whole by constancy and keeps it holy by entire obedience Their madnesse hereby appeares the more who accuse the scriptures of want and imperfection to the ende they may peice and patch them vp with their vnwritten verities indeed lying vanities traditions or rather as a compleat and a most acute diuine calls them contradictions Which first Preiudice yea frustrate Gods purpose in penning the Scriptures These things are written that your ioy may be full Againe these things c. Ioy is the companion and salvation the end of faith No ground of sollid peace true ioy can be wanting where fulnes therof is found to spring and the meane is not imperfect which begets a perfect faith nor doth that faith frustrate which brings salvation The Evangelist S. Luke wrote not of some only but all things which he had searched out perfectly yet no other then the Apostles were witnesses and Ministers of to Theophilus that he might knowe the certaintie of those things wherein he had beene instructed 1. Lukes diligence which was not perfunctorie 2. The successe that perfectly 3. The extent that all 4. Their authoritie that no other then the Apostles themselues delivered 5. The estate of the person to whom they were dedicated Theophilus who before had heard and been instructed in them 6. The state of the time wherein Theophilus lived hauing himselfe heard beene taught of the Apostles 7. The end of committing these things to writing which was to cōfirme him in the things he knew convince plainely 1. That not only that which the Apostles taught as necessary to salvatiō is writtē 2. But also that the writing of such things is more necessarie on our parts who heard not the Apostles preachings instructions as he did 3. And to beleeue and embrace nothing of things necessary as Apostolical which hath not scriptū est for the best warrant They falsifie such attributes as confirme the same Is not grace an infallible earnest of glorie By the word wee are brought and stablished in this happie state else why is it called the word of grace Seeke we more then life By the light of this Lanterne we are led thereto Else were it mis●earmed the word of life Desire we better things thē such as doe accompanie salvation it reveales the same and how to attaine them Else should the spirit delude the Church Need we more or other food then that which nourisheth to life and it eternall And if when we were enemies wee were reconciled to God by the death of his sonne much more being reconciled by the ministers of the word wee shall be saued by his life Either these titles are vntruths or the Scriptures containe all necessarie truth for reformatiō of life and sincerity of beleefe Admitting them we cānot beleeue the scriptures which purposely and peremptorily forbid all additions of men Ad thou not vnto his words least hee reproue thee thou be found a lyar which trade of lying and making of their owne if with the popish crew it were

not rise they could not sell so cheap as they doe nor so cause their volumes swell but Quid Romae faciant simentiri nesciant VVhat should they doe at Rome if they could not over-reach They load the spirit of God with blasphemous imputations of falshood cōtrariety The first because it averres so pregnantly the sufficiency of the scriptures The latter because many things are fathered thereon contrary to that which is revealed as adoring of images calling on Saints worshipping their breaden God massing communicating in one kinde with those which S. Paul calls the doctrine not of Divines but Divells They rase the old foundation and erect a new Canon The foundatiō personall is rased 1. In deifying adoring a man the man of sinne as the sonne of man 2. In doing no lesse to a peece of paist 3. In adoring the creatures with the spoiles of their maker They destroy the foundatiō doctrinall or erect a new Canon in being wise aboue that which is written We haue saith a Rhemish ringleader master builder of the Babilonish Synagogue another foūdation of Christian religion diverse from the Apostolicall and propheticall scriptures Therefore a new another rule They take the wall on Gods word The Coūcel of Trent embrace this trash of Apostolicall as they stile thē indeed Apostaticall traditions pari pietatis affectu reverentia with the like reverence pious affectiō that they doe the Scriptures He doth no lesse deserue to be counted an Ethnick who refuseth Ecclesiasticall traditions then hee that reiects the Gospel saith Stolla Papists in their Practise punishments out-run this opinion fortifying traditiō with fire sword whilst they trample Gods edicts vnder foot Eckius doth not obscurely intimate that mē must liue more according to the authoritie of the Church then after the Scripture The lawes rules of their irreligious orders are and haue been strictly kept in the omission contempt of Gods commandemen●s The contempt of their idolatrous adulterous Masse the eating of a peece of flesh vpon a friday is more abhorred and rigorously intreated then the horrible guilt of Homicide theft avarice vncleanesse or cursing of parents Whither tends the pretended authority of the Church aboue the scriptures if not to prefer the darknesse of her traditions before the light of Davids Lanthorne To make Abanah and Pharpar rivers of the Italian Damascus more soveraigne then all the waters in Gods Israel VVhat other thing is meant by that blasphemous and vnchristian challenge provoking Protestants out of the weake and false castle of onely scriptures into the plaine field of Traditions Whereby more strength authority is giuen to tradition for confirmatiō of truth and confutation of heresie then to Scripture What speakes their immoderate praises of tradition those disgraceful reproaches cast on the Scriptures The Canon Law strikes it dead affirming the Apostolicall See of Rome to be respected with such reuerence that men rather desire to know the ancient institution of Christian Religion frō the Popes mouth then from the holy Scriptures and they onely enquire what is his pleasure and according to it they order their life and conversation wherein three grieuous crimes are combined with one breath Arrogancie defection and Antichristianisme It is pride intollerable for thē to ascribe or the Pope to assume an authority and power of enacting Lawes in Gods kingdome Plaine Apostacy to take heed to Popish fables commandements of men that turne away from the truth Vndoubted Antichristianisme to challenge hearing before Scriptures instead of searching them to enforce subscription to the Popes pleasures The Asse finding the Lions skin puts it on to domineere ouer other beasts but when his Master found him whether his long eares bewrayed him hapning to be seene or his braying betrayed him fortuning to be heard though he deceiued others yet him he could not gull The Italian beast hath cloathed himselfe with the Lions skin euen the skin of the Lion of the tribe of Iudah I meane the power and authority of God whereby he Lords it ouer all Fathers Councils Church Scriptures His Sycophants see and publish with applause but to such Masters in Gods Israel as examine his title by the touch-stone of truth his long eares which from farre suckes in such vniust aspersions his brayes brags of two swords his concealement putting of Gods Candle vnder a bushell that he might with lesse reluctation doe his feares in the darke his traducing of Scriptures for obscuritie and insufficiencie his impeaching of their authoritie his suiting of their sense to the complexion of times his changing of the very articles of faith founding of new his silencing of that breath in cases controversed which must cōsume him his preferring of chaffe to wheat of that which is worse then water to the wine of Gods Cellar his supercilious superlatiue stiles with other like bewray him to be the Asse the Antichrist who was to sit in the Temple of God as God 2. Thessal 2. 4. There is but one Law-giuer whose 1 allowance they lack whose 2 Lawes they disanull Could God more plainly reiect such seruice reproue such practice then he doth by that censure which yet they contemne In vaine they c. wherein our Saviour covertly proposing his will and word for the alone rule of all acceptable service and opposing mens precepts to that doctrine which is divine vtterly and vniuersally condemnes all such rules of his worship as are contrary to or besides the Scriptures And all works groūded vpon such rules as are not learned out of the word though for wisdome they make a shew as if they came frō Heauen for humility they seeme to proceed from a mortified mind for austerity do not spare the body yet take it vpon the word of an Apostle do they neither please God nor profit vs since they are things of no value Now Christ we know to be truth it selfe and Paul we acknowledge to haue lighted his torch at our Saviours lampe but who are these that presume to lay the cōmandements of God apart obserue the tradition of men 1. Such as are zealous in their profession so were they whose zeale notwithstanding the Apostle reproues because it was not vshred with knowledge 2. Such are ouerawed with a feare not priviledged spirituall feare whereof the Prophet speakes Psal. 25. but such as is taxed by another Prophet because taught by the precepts of men Isa. 29. 13. 3. Such as are wearied with pilgring pined with fasting clogged with imposts of voluntary service the Pharises did likewise furrow sea land fast often sting thēselues with thornes lye vpō planks beat their heads against wals till blood sprung yet never a whit more liked or allowed of God Math. 5. 20 who requires not mangled but mortified members Col. 3. 5. a liuing sacrifice