not bee in houses Temples Cities but in prisons Mountaines Dennes Desarts and Caves of the earth But shee is alwayes safe for First if shee cannot be safe in the City shee shall bee safe in the wildernesse God provideth a safe place for her Secondly the purpose of God for the safety of the Church cannot bee altered or abrogated by all the enterprises of the enemies for his counsell must stand and therefore let Pharaoh slay all the infants beside Moses must bee preserved alive by his owne daughter in his owne bosome to be a Deliverer the onely thing hee would prevent Let Herod slay all the infants under two yeares old hee shall misse of him whom he seekes Thirdly Gods high account of his Church makes her alwayes safe as the signet on his hand as the Apple of his eye the Church is as the Lords wheat saith Augustine and shall be kept in the Lords Granary If Aegypt bee not a safe place for Moses he appoints him Midian to flie into If Iudea bee not safe for the childe he shall bee safe by a flight into Aegypt a wildernesse in comparison till the appointed time Athanasius who dyed in the yeare 390. speaking of those that were hid from the persecutions of those times said The childe was preserved whom Herod sought to destroy Fourthly Gods wisdome makes it healthfull for the Church sometime to bee hid that shee may alwayes bee safe for else the whole world would fall upon her all at once and utterly destroy her Which serves to remove the brag of the Papists concerning their Church and their brand and scandalous imputation against ours For their Church they prove it the true Church because they have had a perpetuall externall splendor and a continuall glorious visibility and a true noted and famous succession of Pastors and Professors since Christs Ascension till this day To which I answer two things 1. It is false that the Romish Church hath held a true succession either in doctrine or persons for two Reasons First because there is no part of Popery wherein it dissenteth from the Reformed Churches which is neare the age of Christ and his Apostles but came in by patches and pieces many hundred yeares after and some points very lately till the whole Antichristian Chaos and confused body was made up I might instance in their Latine Service Transubstantiation Communion in one kinde worshipping of Images prohibition of Ministers marriage and the patching together of the severall shredds of the Masse with a number of other new devises coÌ„fessed by themselves to stand onely by the Churches constitution and not by authority of the Scripture Secondly as that argues their doctrine not successive from the Apostles so they have no true personall succession from them For there was not a Papist in the world for the space of sixe hundred yeares after Christ nor any Father Councell or learned man in all those ages who held the same points of Popery as now these doe This hath Bishop Iewell unanswerably discovered in 27. points and Master Perkins in thirty nine in his learned Probleme against Iodoâ—us Coccius 2. Another thing I answer to their bragg is that if it were true as they say of such perpetuall glory and visibility then could they not more strongly conclude themselves a false Church seeing the true Church of Christ must flie into the wildernesse many hundred yeares from the fury of Antichrist unlesse they can make it appeare that a perpetuall glorious externall splendor a perpetuall visible head and the most domineering Monarchy in all the world comporteth with the abject desolate and retyred estate of the wildernesse a place full of annoyance wants obscurity and solitarinesse For their brand and challenge of our Church that wee cannot derive the pedigree of our religion beyond Luther nor shew where it was nor the names and persons of any that professed it To this I answer 1. with Tertullian Quod antiquissimum verissimum That which is indeed ancientest is of all other the truest and wee hold our religion from the ancient Patriarkes Prophets and Apostles therefore it is the true religion and hath a true succession in doctrine and consequently of persons suppose wee could not name them because it is the religion and faith of the woman in the wildernesse which sometimes Antichristian tyranny suffred her not openly to professe she flyeth into the wildernesse according to Gods Word to hold and preserve it to all succeeding ages Object But if you have so true a succession why doe not you name them Answ. This miserable shift of the Jesuites apparently argues the desperatenesse of their cause and is like a Crayfish which hath more picking than meat a very tricke and triviall inconsequence to call us from the cause whereof they are weary unto persons as if wee had no sounder arguments for the truth of GOD and verity of our religion then from mens testimony and succession We know that if we receive the testimony of men the testimony of God is greater and professe as the Samaritans to the woman We beleeve not our religion for any mans word or any womans or because any hee-Pope or shee-Pope saith it is so or contrary but because wee have heard Christ himselfe speaking in the Scriptures Wee take our religion as wee take gold not onely or chiefly by the sound but by the touchstone and ballance and we have learned in our Creed to beleeve the Catholike Church though wee see it not And because contraries make one another more perspicuous I would aske them whether wee may not beleeve that the Towre of Babel was built unlesse wee could name all the persons that brought Brick or Lime to it all the Masons all the labourers and workmen that were upon it or whether wee may not beleeve that a tree is growne unlesse wee know the person the name the particular time and houres of the planting sprowting and growing of it Doubtlesse if wee did not know when and by what degrees or by what persons and workmen their Romish Babel is built and reared yet wee see and must beleeve that it is built And suppose wee did not know which in most essentiall differences wee doe the persons nor the very period of the time when every branch of the tree of Antichristian heresie did begin to sprout and bud out yet our eyes see and we must beleevè that the tree is deepe rooted large spred and growne tall and thicke And were it not most absurd that matter of divine truth must not be beleeved unlesse wee can name all men that ever spake or beleeved it But to hold them to short and manifest reason I conclude in this forme Whatsoever Church hath a true succession of doctrine from Christ and his Apostles hath also a true and perpetuall succession of persons whether that succession bee visible and nominable or no But wee have true succession of doctrine from Christ
be in an infinite distance So when a company or congregation of men consent in Apostolicall doctrine and allow this doctrine to be the guide of all businesses and matters of faith and manners here is a Church crowned and this crowne may be discerned by all neare and farre off Wherein the Crowne of the Church being a Crowne of starres differs and gets beyond the glory of all earthly crownes These may be seene on the heads of Princes neere hand but not farre off But this being a crowne of starres may be seene a farre off as the starres may And yet so surpassing glorious is the crowne of the Church that as a whole starre and the glory of it can never be seene with humane eye no more can the glory and crowne of the Church Whereof as in the starres that which we see of them is in no proportion to that which we see not nor yet can see 4 To note a difference betweene Christs carrying of the starres and the Churches carrying of them Hee beares them in his right hand chap. 2. 1. as their Lord their disposer and defender But she in the Crowne of her head as her chiefe ornament 1 The Apostles and ministers are as Starres in the Firmament of the Church Dan. 12. 3. and Rev. 1. 20. The reasons of this doctrine are foure 1 Starres are in high place the Apostles and Pastors are in highest place in the Church of the New Testament Ephes. 4. 11. above Cardinals Patriarches and Priors Popes and the greattitles of Antichristian offices unknowne to the Scripture 2 Starres are the brightest part of the firmament so are the Apostles and pastors of the Church the brightest parts and shine or should shine clearest in the heaven of the Church 3 Starres receive all their light from the Sunne so these have no light of their owne but receive all their light from Christ the Sunne of righteousnesse 1 Ioh. 1. 1 That which we have heard and seene c. 1 Cor. 11. 16. What I have received of the Lord. 4 Starres have not light imparted to them for themselves but to carry light unto others so the office of the Apostles and Pastors is to convey spirituall light to men on earth living in the darke night of ignorance and error Which they doe partly by the light of holy doctrine and partly by their lightsome and unblamable conversation Ministers being called starres must resemble starres 1 In humilitie Many things in starres teach it As First starres of great magnitude shew but small The Star shewes ten thousand times lesse then it is How is he like a Star that makes ostentation of all perhaps more then is in him Secondly they receive all from the Sunne so the Minister hath received all Thy gifts are the Lords Talents if thou hast received them why dost thou boast as if thou hadst not received them Thirdly in their most swift motion they seeme to move very slow So must the godly Minister in all his course be more active then seeming doing his duty reserving all the praise to God Fourthly the Starres the nearer the Sunne the lesse is their shine so the Minister who comes nearer to God then ordinary men the nearer he comes to God the more humble he ought to be as Iohn Baptist He must increase and I must decrease Why should the Starres pride themselves seeing the Sunne from whom they receive all was so humbled that being the Lord of all was yet servant of all This duty he specially commended to his followers Learne of me for I am humble and hath shewed us the way to be great in the house not ambitiously with Diotrephes seeking preheminence but to become the least and lowest is to become greatest 2 In stabilitie both in their direction and motion both in holy doctrine and conversation If the starres were not fixed in their orbes but erred and wandred up and downe uncertainly how could the passengers by sea or land be directed by them So if the Ministers be wandring starres as Jude 13. in their doctrine unstable as reeds and wavering with every blast and storme of times that their word is this yeare yea the next nay or suppose their doctrine be the same yet if in their life they walke crookedly and disorderly sorting with base and evil men in their evils and licenciously fashioning to the loose humours of men and times how can the passengers to heaven take direction from them With what certaintie and assurance can he strengthen others that himselfe is a wavering minded man unstable in all his waies 3 In fidelitie and stedfastnesse in their places The starres abide in the heavens and descend to the earth So the Minister above all other must have his conversation in heaven and shunne earthlinesse and covetousnesse as rocks For how can he lead men to heaven that himselfe cannot be gotten out of earth Many shooting starres there are that are alwaies gliding from place to place posting after benefits insatiably and when they have gotten them as little intend the office as some secular men such all the world sees the world is all they seeke So they may finger the fleece the glebe the tythe let the flocke starve and sinke to hell and so they and their money and their people perish together 4 In unitie and concord One star differs from another in glory in shining and in luster one much excels another in beauty and brightnesse some are of the first and second magnitude some of the fifth and sixth yet all agree one envies not another nor hinders another so the Ministers have diversities of gifts in this life and this makes them of divers judgements but yet ought not to be adverse in affection in action None of the greater or higher Starres are proud none envious none spitefull against another none study how to crosse anothers motion If they should runne one against another or crosse one anothers motion the world would fall to confusion Such tumults and confusions like a dreadfull earthquake have wee seene in the Churches by the dissentions and hatefull proceedings of these Starres one against another forgetting themselves to bee Starres Brethren Ministers or Christians Many such Starres were in the Apostles dayes that shined and preached Christ of envy against such as preach him of good will 5 In constancy and continuance in their office The Starres never deny their light to men nor are ever weary of their motion though infinitely swift Ministers must never deny their light but freely enlighten others never be weary of doing their duty never fall to idlenesse and lazinesse much lesse cast off their callings remembring the wo denounced on him that preacheth not or doth it negligently A lamentable thing that any preferment should choake a Preacher or that he should do lesse worke the more wages he receiveth No earthly occasion hinders the starres either motion or shining Motives
stead of the Sunne she put on and arrayed her selfe with purple and scarlet and set the Moone above her head affecting admiring and aspiring after earthly wealth and dignitie and in stead of twelve starres in her Crowne shee decked her crowne with gold and pearles and precious stones Then she became the harlot sitting on the scarlet coloured Beast and the mother of whordomes and abominatiōs of the whole earth Rev. 17. 3 4 5. They are deceived that suppose the glory of Christs true Church consisteth in scarlet and purple in gold and silver in pompe and externall honor in princely Lordship and Popedome Let the whore of Babylon decke her selfe with these enticing trickes But the spoule of Christ is knowne by her crowne of starres and that inward simple and native beauty and glory which useth to draw not the worlds admiration but contempt upon it Ver. 2. And she was with child and cryed travelling c. Now followeth the fourth propertie in the description of this woman namely her pregnācy and fruitfulnesse in travelling and bearing of children In the verse are two generall parts I. Her conception and carrying of her child in that she was with child ready to be delivered II. Her painefull travell and birth that she was pained and cryed to be delivered In the meaning are three questions to be resolved 1 What is meant by this conception and being with child of this woman An. It is no new or strange thing in the Scriptures to finde the Church compared to a woman with child Isa. 54. 1. Reioyce thou barren c. The Church of the Gentiles which before was barren but now hath more children then the married wife that is the Jewes who came of Sarah opposed to Agar The reason is because of the similitude and agreemēt between the bringing forth of children to God in grace and that to man in nature The resemblance stands especially in five things 1 As wee had two parents saith Augustine who begat us to death Adam and Eve so must wee have two parēts to beget us unto life Christ his Church and these two must be one flesh by the bond of marriage 2 As a woman becomes a mother by meanes of her marriage and company with her husband so doth the Church by her marriage and conjunction with Christ bring forth many Children to God For had she not beene the spouse of Christ and the Lambes wife she had beene for ever barren Sarah was a type of this bride Therefore as Sarah was of a barren wombe and unfit for conception but by the word and promise of God brought forth Isaac who was therefore called the sonne of the promise So the Church was of a fruitles and barren wombe and had never brought forth children to Christ were it not for the covenant and promise of God by which all the faithfull are formed in her wombe who are therefore also called children of the promise Rom 9. 8. The children of the promise are the seed 3 When Jesus Christ the father the second Adam and quickning spirit 1 Cor. 15. 45. soweth the seed of grace and spiritual generation partly externally by the preaching of the word which is called the immortall seed of Gods word that endures for ever which therefore carryeth life and quickning with it as being the power of God to salvation Rom. 1. 16 and partly in wardly by the Spirit of God a powerfull agent without whose mighty operation all would proove but a false conception The Church as a Mother receiveth conceiveth it in the wombe of faithfull and pure hearts So Mary pondred all things in her heart And Heb. 4. 2. the word must be mingled with faith or else it profiteth not to this conception 4 As a Woman having conceived brings not forth presently but keepeth her moneths and seasons appointed by God till her very houre come so the Church brings not children to God at her owne pleasure and will but when she hath gone out the full time moneths appointed by God for the new birth of every one of them which is finished by degrees and in due season this is in the text 5 As a mother come to the full moneths of birth bringeth her child into the light So doth the Church bring her children into the light by two meanes partly by profession of the doctrine of grace and partly by the practise of the gifts of grace Then doth she nurse her new-borne babes with the syncere milke of Gods word drawne out of her owne two breasts the Testaments of holy Scripture whereby they out-grow their infancy and come to their age in Christ. 2 Why is this woman said now to be with child and ready to be delivered What was she barren ever before this time An. No. For first she had beene very fruitfull before as ver 17. there is mention of the remnant of her seed Secondly all the sonnes and children of God in all ages were children of this woman Thirdly this vision being to be referred to the times after the Apostles before and about the times of the tyrannicall Heathen Emperors both Scriptures and stories record that there was a wonderfull increase of Christians almost all the world over so as the Tyrants were still kept in worke though they slew them by tenne thousands and hundred thousands Therefore wee must distinguish of the Churches travell This travell is either 1 Generall in the bringing forth of faithfull men to Christ in generall and this is not directly aymed at here Or 2 Speciall and particular of some speciall Childbirth which now she was payned for and cryed to the Lord with ardent prayers for and which was shortly to be borne and brought forth This seemes plaine in the fift verse For what she was with child with that she brought forth and that was a particular manchild of whom we will enquire in the place 3 Why she is said to cry in paine ready to be delivered An. For two reasons 1 To hold the resemblance For as God hath by his inevitable sentence for the sinne of man annexed sharpe sorrow to the birth of every Child Gen. 3. 16. In sorrow shalt thou conceive and bring forth so the text implyeth not a little sorrow in bearing and bringing forth children to God 2 For a more speciall reason in the text which in a word was this The Church being now in and under cruell persecutions and lamentable oppressions and being in her selfe as Woman weake and helplesse exposed to all tyranny and unjust vexation seeth the want of a protector and powerfull defender of the Christian faith and Christian people And therefore as earnestly desires by some of her owne Sonnes deliverance from those paines and oppressions as a woman in travell doth desire riddance from her paines and sorrowes 1. The Church of God is a fruitfull Mother daily bringing forth children to Jesus Christ. Psa. 87. 5. Of Sion shall be said
they shall more easily prevaile and deceive the more â—lilie and subtily they worke Open enemies are sooner prevented then secret and satan hath subdued more with his serpents wiles then his dragons force And when he cannot prevaile with his Lions pawe he puts on the foxes skinne and goes to worke with his wiles and subtilties Thirdly God will have his Church every way tryed and exercised to shake her out of securitie How was Israell tryed By Pharaohs policies to destroy them before his open force for 1 He laid heavy taskes on them to weaken them from generation 2 Cruelly oppressed them by taking away the straw and exacting the same tale of brick 3 Slaying and drowning the male children as fast as they were borne And after assayled them with all the power of his country How was David exercised and kept waking by Achitophels counsel which made him apply God by prayer to turne his counsell to folly How was Ioseph and Mary exercised by Herods subtiltie who pretended to worship Christ but intended to kill him First By this we may take notice of the dragons wiles and subtilties which are as many as his heads And because the knowledge of his plots and discovery of his devises is more then halfe the prevention of them wee will spend a little time in laying open some of his stratagems and secret traynes laid out of sight every way reaching to catch and circumvent us These are reduced to three heads as they concerne 1 Persons 2 Actions 3 Assaults First The dragons subtiltie concerning persons is in two things 1 In dissembling his own person 2. In taking advantage of ours First Although he be a dragon and devill and deadly enemie he commeth commonly as a friend and in the habit of a good counseller and though he be a prince of darkenesse he transformes himselfe into an Angell of light 2 Cor. 11. 14. that where he cannot force he may allure Satan well knowes how the Gibeonites closed and gate within the Israelites by dissembling their persons Joshu 9. 9 and so he gets in with us To Eve though he appeared in the shape of a serpent yet seemes to be more friendly to her then God could be God knowes ye shall be as Gods And he that came to Eve in the shape of a serpent appeares to Saul in the shape of a Prophet and Samuel himselfe could not speak better words nor truer in the event then this counterfeit 1 Sam. 28 He commeth to Christ in the person of a friend Master pitty thy selfe as if he had pitty on Christ who kindled and stirred all the dragons in the world against him to sting him to death And who can thinke but he is a friend of Christ who can preach him to be the Sonne of God Mar. 1. 24. And who can preach the Apostles to be the servants of the living God Acta 16. 17. The poore lambes of Christs fold are never in greater danger then when the foxe preacheth Of all other a preaching dragon is the most dangerous who will winde us in by scripture and by that which is the onely preservative against sinne draw us into sinne As To abet coveteousnesse earthlinesse and worldlinesse and to binde a mans hands from doing good he will put thee in mind of that Scripture He that provides not for his family is worse then an Iufidell To harden and imbolden men in sinne he hath a plaine text Where sin aboundeth grace abounds much more To an ordinary Sabboth breaker he hath a comfortable text The Sabboth was made for man not man for the Sabboth To him that is not at leasure to repent yet he can preach upon that text At what time soever a sinner repenteth c. To strengthen the libertine and loose gospeller that hates nothing more then to be tyed to the rules of godlinesse he hath as direct scripture as may be Eccles. 2. 7. 18. Be not just over-much What can be more plaine against these nice and precise fellowes Beware also of a friendly dragon The Crokadile shedds teares but it is to shedd blood To an angry man the dragon as a great friend askes him why he will suffer himselfe to be troden under foote and tells him if he suffer this or this he shall never live in peace as if he wished his peace and prosperitie who never ceases to blow the bellowes of wrath and anger To a profane and carnall man What need you trouble your selfe with religion you have a charge and looke to the maine chance What is it for you to suffer your servants to let their time and work to runne to sermons as Pharaoh to Israel Ye are too idle And many are brought in mind that if their servants be religious they cannot possibly thrive Heathenish Civilists scarce so heathenish Romish dragons insinuate into their proselytes they lament the estate of their soules and perswade like very good counsellours to leave these heretikes and come to the catholike religion they can faine Crokadiles teares calling heaven and earth to witnesse that they respect nothing in the world but to promote the truth and save mens seduced soules And it is nothing but the Catholike faith that makes them venture their lives and fortunes and a great number more empty and windy words and â—ll to ensnare simple and unsetled persons Nay and which is a deeper plot of the dragon he can pretend peace friendship amitie mariages oaths and what not and all under pretence of peace and clcake of friendship that hee may slay and devour as France in that horrible Massacre 1572. had wofull experience Nay if need be hee can pretend religion and support of the Catholike cause when he is digging and undermining and laying barrels of powder and iron barres for the destruction of whole States and kingdomes Here are religious Dragons A foolish and silly woman shall the Church be to give any credit hereafter to the flatteries and fayre pretences of so often perfidious Dragons who salute to wound and never kisse but to kill Secondly He takes advantage of our owne persons setting upon us when we are weakest As First In our solitarinesse He overcame Eve when she was alone Cain set upon Abel when he had him alone in the field helplesse Dinab being alone in the field was set upon and foyled And when set Pâ—tiphers wife upon Ioseph but when they were alone in the house A Christian man must never sit alone if he have no company of men be sure of the company of God and his Angels and then he is never alone Secondly In our sorenesse as Simeon and Levi set on the Sichemites when they were sore and could not resist as in the terror of conscience distresse of minde If God lay on his little finger now satan layes his heavy loines Thou art an hypocrite a dissembler hast sinned the sinne against the holy Ghost And many he prevaileth with to speake in his
starres of heaven both in themselves in respect of divine and heavenly light and gifts of wisdome and knowledge especially of sanctitie and heavenly conversation as also in respect of the high regard and reverent respect which faithfull Pastors have amongst true beleevers for as they have the highest place in the Church of God so walking worthy their place they have the highest place in the hearts of beleevers Now these starres set by God in their orbs shining in so high place are said to be drawne downe and throwne to the earth 11. The second thing in the meaning is How the starres are said to be cast downe to the earth Ans. To fal froÌ„ heaven to earth here is not to be taken literally but it is in matter of religion to fall froÌ„ a heavenly profession and hope to carnall and earthly counsels and courses and then the Pastors are said to fall from heaven to earth when they fall backe in their 1. judgement 2. affection 3. practice and conversation 1 Then in judgement they fall and faile when the light that was in them is turned to darknesse when they turne away from divine and heavenly truth to errours lies mens fancies and traditions to doctrines of libertie to please carnall mindes and turne from substance to superstition 2. When in affection they change the love of the word into the love of the world they affect the winning of wealth and ease above the winning of soules in stead of minding divine studies to save themselves and others now they minde earthly things in stead of the love of Christ which they seemed to professe and expresse in feeding his I ambes now they are carried with selfe-love seeking and feeding themselves only here is a lamentable â—all of starres from heaven to earth 3. When in practice they exchange their godlines with gaine their piety and sanctimonie into earthlinesse covetousnesse and worldlinesse their conversation which seemed and should have beene in heaven into earthly fleshly and unfruitfull courses This is a woefull fall of the starres which have lost their station as pernicious to the Church and to theÌ„selves as if the starres in heaven should fall upon the earth III But how or by what meanes could the dragon cast downe such excellent men that shined by the light of holy doctrine and conversation as bright as the starres in the heavens Ans. By his taile by which word are there implied all those base artes wicked instruments meanes by which the dragon casts down the stars and these are three which the word most expresly implieth 1. By force and tyranny Dragons have more force in their tayles than in their jawes and therefore this is a figurative speech befitting the nature of a dragon when by the rage of persecution and bitter war and wrath by their fire and sword and cursed cruelty the dragon forces many of the Pastors who had shined and ought still to have done in their places to fal froÌ„ their shine froÌ„ their doctrine holy professioÌ„ holy conversatioÌ„ first to corrupt earthly doctrine then to corrupt and earthly life and behaviour such as other men of earthly mindes and professions have undertaken and expressed 2. By flattery and insinuations by which as by a dragons tayle the Pastors were beaten downe for as dogs do use to fawne and flatter their masters with their taile so the dragon not by open force onely but by secret fraud and insinuation assaileth the stars namely by many faire promises and sugred perswasions making offers of wealth and preferment favor and what else the world can bestow on her favorites by which meanes hee drew many ambitious pompous and câ—vetous teachers from their former study and care in propagating the truth and from their diligence and labour in advancing the salvation of men unto earthly studies and cares how to build their owne houses and feather their owne nests not caring that Gods house lay waste 3. By poyson and infection much poyson lieth in the taile of a serpent the dragon poysoned a great number more with heresie and poysoned opinions against the truth of Christian religion for which end he daily stirreth up heretikes and false apostles and false teachers who being furnished with all arts to deceive draw a number of the starres away from sound and heavenly truth into the apostasie of earthly and impious doctrines cleane contrary to the Scripture and to the person natures and offices of Jesus Christ. Thus the Prophet Isay 9. 15. saith The false prophet which teacheth lies is the taile calling him so in foure respects 1. For basenesse and contempt let them beare themselves aloft in conceit of their wit and learning and others admiration of them 2. For their base flattery and playing the parasites and sawning upon patrons and Princes as dogs on their masters with their tailes for a bone or a crust 3. For their inconstancy and mobility as a dogs taile wags and moves easily on this side and that so they in their doctrine and conversation are here there and buzzing every where for an advantage 4. Especially for their poysonfull and hurtfull disposition and effects for as venomous beasts hide their venome in their tailes by which on occasion they doe much hurt and mischiefe so false and corrupt teachers by eloquence sophistry and base shifts hide the poison of false and erronious doctrine by which they infect and taint the Church of God for which cause Isa 59. 5. false doctrine is compared to the egges of Aspes which if they bee eaten bring most present death and broken sendeth forth a Basiliske that is is most perniciòus both Autoribus to those that invent and devise them and also Auditoribus to those that receive and digest them it bringeth eternall destruction to both as certainly as if they should eate the egge of a Basiliske which is most deadly of all serpents slaying men onely with her sight and poysonfull vapours that sparkle out of her eyes In the times next after the Apostles at which the spirit of God here more expresly aymeth how the imperiall dragon bestirred himselfe and how many starres he drew down stories are not silent to relate 1. Infinite numbers by persecution as Euseb. lib. 8 cap. 3. when wicked Dioclesian commanded the Christians oratories to be demolished and laid even with the ground the Scriptures to be burnt the Bishops to bee cast in prison and compelled by torments to renounce Christianity and offer unto Idols many suffered death constantly Sed alij infiniti animis prae formidine perculsi facile post primum impetum prorsus tandem succubuerunt In the seventh persecution under Decius we read of Serapion and Nichomacus who through their tyranny renounced Christianity and Cyprian de lapsis lib. 2 cap. 8. mentioneth Enaâ—stus a Bishop in Aftrike and Nicostratus a Deacon who made shipwracke of faith and as starres fell for feare from heaven to earth 2. Many starres
world Romane or other hath priviledge to be alway so visible but way and doe disappeare and become invisible Ob. III. The Church is the kingdome of Christ but every kingdome comprehendeth a visible company ergo the Church is visible Sol. The Proposition we grant true of the Catholike Church else it is weake and false the Assumption is false standing upon the foote of an absurde comparison of a spirituall kingdome with a temporall True it is that every worldly kingdome standeth upon a visible company of members under one head and king but Gods kingdome is spirituall and invisible for who ever saw with the eye of flesh a spirituall kingdome which commeth not with observation Having cleared the doctrine propounded and freed it from Popish objections wee will make the first Use of it to answer the common usuall Question of our Adversaries viz. Where was your Church an hundred yeares agoe or before Luthers time Ans. 1. Our Church was never utterly extinct as Papists say nor without beeing since the world had beeing but was ever the same 1. In her selfe her inward glory was ever the same her inward graces the same the same Faith Hope Love Repentance the same ornaments but as a great Princesse in costly robes keeping her chamber and not comming abroad in the sight of others 2. Shee was the same to God ever deare to him and provided for by him for food and harbour all the time shee was hid from the world As the woman here 3. Shee was ever the same to Jesus Christ the same ship of Christ that ever she was and Christ in her present even when shee is covered with waves and holdeth her up onely undrounded in the tempest onely she was not 1. In the same state shee was hid amongst themselves as in a barren and wilde Antichristian wildernesse as a little wheate in a heape of Chaffe and as a little gold insensible amongst much drosse 2. Not the same to the eye of the world for the world was unworthy of her and although she shined in her selfe yet for the sins of the world she shined as a candle in a darke place II. As the Church was ever the same so was the true religion which wee professe before Luther 1. In the institution of it in paradise 2. In the promulgation of it by the preaching of Patriarks Prophets Apostles and their successors 3. In the profession of faithfull beleevers Martyrs and Confessors of it in all ages but the true religion being chased out of sight by the horrible idolatry and tyranny of Antichrist who had given to traditions and Antichristian pollutions wings to flie above the Scripture and trodden under foote the purity of holy religion God of his mercy raised up Luther whose holy paines preaching and writing was not a novation but a renovation not a planting of a new religion but a renewing replanting of the ancient and true religion not an institution but restitution of the truth of God not an introduction but reduction not inducing a novelty but reducing the true and holy religion of the Prophets and Apostles While wee are here below wee must make account of the wildernesse and wisely prepare for all estates and conditions for it is not the lot of the members of Christ still to enjoy such externall peace such free exercises of Gods Ordinances and such multitudes to joyne in the externall profession of Christ and his Gospell as wee by Gods special grace doe now enjoy and we may be forced to flie into the wildernesse ere we be aware let us looke upon Israel Gods own people in the wildernesse make â—ccount to follow theÌ„ in their passage through that terrible and dreadfull desart knowing that 1. A wildernes is a place unpeopled unfrequented and such is the state of the Church in respect of the small number of professors in comparison of the rest We must not therefore thinke worse of the truth and doctrine for theirfew either faithfull teachers or faithfull followers of it as neither must we esteem the better of the dolaters for their large and numerous multitudes that stand with them 2. The wildernesse is a place of temptation Israel tempted by God in the wildernesse tentatione probationis Israel tempted God in the wildernesse tentatione dubitationis Is God amongst us Satan tempted Israel in the wildernesse tentatione deceptionis we must therefore make account of and fore cast temptation and arme our selves If we were as holy as our head Christ himselfe we shall be led forth to be tempted in the wildernesse 3. The wildernesse is a place of journey and so full of changes as Israel in the wildernesse had 42. stations and were ever in their journey we must not thinke this wildernesse our resting place but expect changes of places and conditions and as Christian Pilgrims be content with the toile of our travell being assured that 1. We have the Lord before us both in his presence and direction 2. As they we still journey toward Canaan as our aime 3. As they had their eyes and thoughts on their Canaan so wee settle our affections on heaven our Canaan and the things that lead and helpe us thither 4. The wildernesse was a place of warre and conflict in which Israel was beset with enemies round Canaanites Philistians Amalekites so wee must not make account of setled peace here but expect Amaleck and Ogg Sehon Gyants and tyrants Antichristian Amaleck Popish Philistims Romish Canaanites bold obdurate enemies who will disclame the house of God disgrace the religion of God revile and resist the servants of God for propounding the truth of God no expectation of truce or peace till we recover our Canaan 5. The wildernesse is a place full of annoyances wants and dangers the Israel of God must make account of wilde beasts fiery Serpents want of bread want of water and never expect any harvest in the wildernesse hence therefore we must learne 1. To arme our selves with faith patience and constancy without which wee must needs fall short of Canaan 2. Christian moderation that wee may know with Paul Philip 4. 11. to want to abound to be full to be empty 3. Never to thinke our selves well till we be hence where we are out of hope of any harvest but of sorrow and danger To comfort Gods people who are contemned despised and brought to a few having not onely the whole world against them but sometimes in the house of God where they expect most comfort are rated and scorned by those whom God hath enjoyned to speake peace to his people and to whet their tongues against vilde persons and bold sinners rather than harden and hearten them against the generation of them that seek God But hence all that feare God may be strengthened and encouraged yea contented to be brought into the wildernesse for 1. It is no new estate to the true Church but a condition with which she is anciently acquainted and all
carry us through fire and water through Pikes and perils through thicke and thin after it Thirdly sticke to the conscionable practice of the Word and then be sure thou canst not bee deceived hold to the rule of that for it cannot deceive thee the powerfull practice of it turneth a man from the power of Satan unto God V. Pray for the spirit of grace to performe his Office for thy establishing in grace Quest. What is his Office Answ. 1. He is that Anoynting which teacheth all things needfull 2. Hee is the Spirit of wisedome and counsell to resolve all doubts it is his voyce that saith behinde thee This is the way walke in it 3. He is the Spirit of courage and fortitude to dissolve the fears of flesh to arme us against tyrants enemies changes tryals and persecutions for the truth 4. He is the Comforter to sustaine us with assured comfort in our heavinesse and to cheare us in our wearinesse 5. Hee is the Perfecter of his owne worke for he leaveth no work imperfect which he beginneth for salvation Col. 1. 28. I strive to be perfect according to his mighty power that worketh in me VI. Add this to the former sticke to the Ministery but see that the Spirit be effectuall in that Ministery for 1. The Spirit worketh all those comforts by means of the Word 2. As the evill spirit is effectuall in such as perish by false doctrines and false perswasions so the Spirit of God is effectuall in the Saints especially in the preaching and perswasions of the word of truth 3. It is just that whosoever suffereth not the Spirit to be effectuall there shall finde the spirit of error effectuall in strong delusions If Ahab will not heare Gods Spirit in Micah hee shall fall by a spirit of errour in the mouthes of his false prophets Now to bee established by an effectuall Ministerie wee must observe two rules 1. Receive not every thing hand over head but search the Scriptures and trie the things that are delivered Iohn 5. 39. and the Bereans were commended for examining the doctrine of the Apostles themselves by the touchstone of the Prophets Acts 17. 11. But Papists would not have the Scripture in common mens hands because they distrust their doctrine 2. Having tryed all things resolve to hold all that is good and continue in the things learned from the Word which is an assured fence against deceivers 2 Tim. 3. â—4 We are further admonished to take notice of the markes and signes of a person that is seduced by the Serpent to the end we may avoid them One is in the dayes of light not to perceive the glorious light of the Gospell 2 Cor. 4. 3. If our Gospell be now hid it is hid to them that perish in whom the god of this world hath blinded their mindes that the light of the Gospell should not shine unto them Hee is a blinde man that seeth not the Sunne shining nor such objects as the Sunne discovereth so hee is blinded by Satan who cannot or will not see his estate to bee damnable and miserable but is alive and happy without repentance and conversion that by the same light cannot see that a sinne in himselfe which hee seeth so to bee in another that by the light cannot be convinced but that some sins are good and commodious as profitable lies and oathes some breach of the Sabbath some usury some idle company and perhaps esteeme it vertue or wisedome that by so cleare a light cannot be perswaded but that there is more ease and pleasure in following lusts and sinnes than in observing Gods law here is one led away and deceived of the serpent 2. Another mark of such a one is not to beleeve the truth but to esteeme the Word as a fable unworthy of our credit Eve was not seduced till her faith in the word was shaken Thou that beleevest not the promises as not expecting salvation by them that turnest away the thoughts from thinking earnestly of the threatnings and punishments due to thy sinnes that walkest in thine owne way and refusest the counsell of the word why seest thou not thy selfe seduced and led away by Sathan in great part already 3. A third marke of such a one is a departing from the doctrine of faith received from the religion and divine worship planted by the Prophets and Apostles and prescribed in the word of God a giving way and willing eares to Priests Jesuites and croaking locusts Eve should not have lent her eare to the serpent against the truth of God Hee easily seduceth those that are willing to bee seduced 4. The fourth marke is to withstand the power of grace and religion accounting the practise of holinesse a needlesse precisenesse esteeming the care of pleasing God to be hypocrisie zeale to be rashnesse and distemper Who seeth not but the dragon hath led these away at his will For what other way doth the Dragon himselfe walke in but in a perpetuall hatred of grace 5. The fift marke is noted wickednesse of life and living in lusts for the more wicked a man is the more subject hee is to be delivered up by God to be seduced and who be they that are given up to the efficacie of Antichrist but such as have pleasure in unrighteousnesse that is such as take felicity in sinne and rather then they will forsake it trample under foot all the hopes of the Gospell 2. Thess. 2. 12. Who be they that are or may be noted at this day carryed away into the delusion of popery and are a prey to Jesuites Priests and deceivers but such as must have liberty and indulgence to live in some sin or other first they resolve upon a beastly life and then fall to such a deluding doctrine as may skinne over the gall of their consciences Of many such Apostates wee may say it were pitty they should professe any other religion then popery for no other would befit the wickednesse of their lives so well 6 The last marke is when sinne is revenged with sinne with hardnesse of heart with brawne of conscience deadnesse of spirit dedolency impenitencie This man is fearefully left by God and seised on by the dragon when neither Law nor Gospell neither piping nor mourning prevailes with him Instance whereof we see in many Apostates and temporizers who having made some shewes of goodnesse in themselves and good affections to others falling to the world and selfe-seeking have slacked in their love to the truth and that sinne revenged with hatred and persecuting of goodnesse and that sinne further revenged with hardnesse of heart and a dead conscience not suffering them to looke either behinde them or before them till they have outrunne themselves in so fearfull violence against the grace of God as commonly godlinesse meets not with such enemies any where as those that once made shew of it And as the dragon most desirously assaulteth these so Gods revenge sheweth it selfe most
his holds I. In his owne person preaching most divine and effectuall doctrine with such authority and power as never man spake so For Michael carryeth a two edged sword in his mouth so sharpe as that it pearceth and cutteth Leviathan in peeces And this doctrine was confirmed partly with a most holy and innocent life so as when the dragon came he found nothing in him Iohn 14. 30 no power no right no matter to fasten any temptation upon being pure from all sinne both in nature and act partly with most powerfull miracles evidences of his divine person because they were performed by his owne power and such as the dragon could neither resist falsifie or imitate II. In the persons of his servants whether Prophets Apostles or Pastors When the Disciples were sent out into Judea to preach they returned to Christ rejoycing because the devils were subdued and Christ said he saw Satan fall downe like lightning Luke 10. 18. How suddenly the sound of the Gospell was carried into all nations by the Apostles and the world conquered unto Christ appeareth in the Epistles of Paul Then went downe Paganisme Idolatry Atheisme and the walls of hellish Iericho were soone throwne downe by the sound of these rammes-hornes And at this day how doe the faithfull Pastors hold forth the shining light of truth to destroy and cast out heretikes and the numberlesse droves of false teachers and seducers out of the Church for as the devils were not able to withstand one word of Christs mouth in his flesh and infirmity so the same word is no lesse powerfull in the mouths of his Ministers with whom himselfe is present to the end of the world 4. He comes with a powerfull Spirit a Spirit of fortitude and unresistable strength by which as hee upholds the whole frame of the world in the estate of nature so also the whole frame of the Church and the whole state of grace in the world renewed and called out of the world This Spirit is not powerfull onely in the Head to foyle the dragon but in every member also who cast him out and tread him under their feet Rom. 16. 20. 5. He comes with a powerfull arme of justice to revenge and confound all enmities spirituall and corporall this our Ioshua hath set his feet on the neckes of five Kings at once and daily casteth out the dragon by the miserable destruction of tyrants and enemies Neroes Domitians Dioclesians Trajans Valences c. and at last shall make all his enemies his footstoole Now seeing onely the power of Jesus Christ can cast out the dragon let us make much of the presence of Christ and rejoyce in it Magicians have devised many wayes of casting out devils as Amulets Words Characters but all diabolicall Papists have devised holy-bread holy-water salt herbes lights Crosses the word Jesus or some part of the Gospell to charme or exâ—rcise devils of the same diabolicall invention and intention with the former but Christ is present with no such sorceries neither doe they cast downe the dragon but hold him up Satan is not cast out by Beelzebub except by compact and collusion but the Lord hath appointed the holy Ministerie and in it hath promised his presence and in that hee commeth to cast out Satan the way to keep Satan downe is to embrace and rejoyce in an holy and powerfull Ministery This is the hammer of heresies the sword against his temptations the touchstone of errour the whetstone of grace the rule of prayer and a whole armory against all the enterprises of the dragon He that findes the power of the Ministery casting downe the dragons power in his owne soule will sticke to it as to the arme of God nothing shall be of power to plucke him from it being the power of God and the wisedome of God Every man saith hee will cleave to Christ and the power of Christ for he onely can foile the dragon but renouncing the Ministery thou renouncest Christ who hath said Hee that receiveth you receiveth mee and hee that refuseth you refuseth mee Luke 10. 16. Againe note hence the reason why the powerfull preaching of Gods Word is so generally resisted in the world namely because all wicked men whatever they professe are friends with the dragon and chuse to be under his power as for the power of Christ they renounce it and say plainly We will not have this man to rule over us nor endure his yoakes as for example 1. Why doth Satan so oppose the true preaching of the Word but because hee feeles the power of Christ in it haÌ„mering downe his kingdome of darknesse hee stormes not at frothy and foolish preaching onely faithfull Preachers beare the burden of his rage Christ and his Apostles and all faithfull Pastors he opposeth he slandereth because Christ is powerfull in them against his Kingdome and not in others 2. What is the cause that Antichrist cannot indure the Scriptures but disgraceth them with vile terms or that he doth preferre fables and devises of men before them shut them up and imprison them in Cloysters and unknown tongues punish the reading of them in the Mother-tongue with death c but because being an enemie to the power of Christ hee findes it the weapon which hath wounded him and must slay him and the rod that Christuseth to smite him downe no winde can so blast herbes as this breath of Christ blasteth him The Arke cannot stand up but Dagon goeth downe Christ and Antichrist cannot stand together 3. Why doe the Idolatrous countries of Spaine Italy France and the rest sticke so fast to the support of Antichrist and keepe life in him and cast him not out as other Countries have done but because Christ is not come among them they resist his power and the rod of his power they suffer not the breath of Christs mouth the preaching of the Word among them and where doe Papists increase at home but in rude and untaught countries where Christ is not come in the power of his Word 4. Why doe our Papists both Recusants and Church Papists most resist and disgrace painfull and diligent Preachers these cannot be indured preach damnation are authors of faction enemies to authoritie c. but the very reason is because these comming in the power of Christ are the greatest enemies of Antichrist their good father and friend for if there bee idle or corrupt Preachers they like well because they know these are speciall friends to their friend for if the Spirit of Christ breath not in him who stands in the roome of a Minister Antichrist may and doth stand in full state and strength for all him 5. Why doe many formall Protestants that say they wil be saved by Christ so directly and manifestly resist the power of Christ to salvation and doe the dragon so good service as none more as First by spurning against wholesome doctrine and turning the backe contemptuously and professedly on the house of GOD This
and his Apostles as by the Scripture wee are ready to cleare in all points and therefore wee have true succession of persons whether wee can name them or not By which reason wee bring them backe to the matter and cause whence they are willing to slide by bringing us unto persons 2. I answer If wee were not so able as by Gods grace we are to answer them calling for names this were not to bee laid to the charge of our religion but of theirs seeing the craft and tyrannie of their Antichristian Synagogue hath made our search more laborious For they have chased the Church into the wildernesse and forced her to hide her selfe out of sight and then aske us for all those names that fled into the wildernesse and lived and dyed there many hundred yeares since They burne the persons and records and then call us to account to shew them their murders They oppressed their persons as heretikes and suppressed their workes as hereticall and used all cruelty and craft to extinguish their names and memories for ever and now shamelesly they call upon us to put life into all those asnes whose blood their cruell hands have spilt upon the face of the whole earth And whereas the names which they call for are to bee had out of history themselves by falsification of all Antiquity and story and by shamelesse purging of all bookes from all truth which might make against them have made this taske more difficult and themselves not more insolent than fraudulent 3. I answer that there was never any age since Christ wherein our religion in what it is substantially contrary to Popery was not taught and professed must needs bee more ancient than the now Roman faith yea the only true Catholike faith from which theirs is a Catholike Apostasie This assertion they have proved abundantly 1. By Doctor White in his Way to the Church Digress 52. where hee hath cleared that from the yeare 600. before which there was no substantiall or fundamentall innovation received into the Church though some corruptions were creeping in before till the present age there was no halfe age wherein hee nameth not sundry the Teachers and Professors of our religion and resisters of the Papacie while it was in the shell Mee thinkes the Jesuites should answer something to those names before they call for more 2. The same is further cleared by one of themselves whose witnesse is the stronger because it was the testimony of an enemy and Inquisitor as is judiciously noted by that learned and worthy Bishop Doctor Vsher in his booke de statu Ecclesiae cap. 6. pag. 151. There were saith Reinerius the Inquisitor many sects of heretikes in times past but none ever were more pernicious to the Church of God than that of the Waldenses or pooremen of Lions for three causes 1. Because of the continuance of it sor some say it was from Sylvesters time and some say it was from the Apostles themselves 2. Because it was more generall for there is almost no land wherein it doth not spread and creepe 3. Because all other by some foule blasphemy against God make men abhorre them but this hath a great shew of piety for they live justly before men and beleeve all well concerning God and all the Articles which are contained in the Creed onely they blaspheme and hate the Roman Church and the multitude is easily drawne to beleeve them This is the testimony of a Popish Inquisitor Whence I inferre thus If these men held the whole body of religion now maintained in the Reformed Churches and the same positions against the Roman religion which wee doe as is undeniable by their Confessions Catechismes and Commentaries upon the grounds of religion manifest as else where so especially in that late and worthy booke intituled Luthers fore-runners or The history of Waldenses strangely reserved by God for these times the same also is apparent in the Articles objected against them by the Inquisitors set downe by Papists themselves and for which these godly Martyrs lost their lives by hundreds and thousands If they were so ancient as from the Apostles or Sylvester a circumstance not to bee contemned If they were of such just life and sound beliefe as the enemy reports them to bee If they were so many in number and so dispersed into all Countries and so assisted as none durst stop them for the multitude of their favorites If Reinerius himselfe say true that himselfe being often in the Inquisition and present at their examination found forty Churches in his walke infected with that sect and in one Parish of Cammach were ten open schooles of them If at one time were observed eight hundred thousand persons that made profession of the faith of the Waldenses I would now aske a Jesuite whether his fellow hath not named him persons enough in all ages of such as ever since Christ held and maintained and sealed with their blood our faith and religion And whether any credit is henceforth to bee given to his fellowes who say that our religion was never heard of in the world till Luther and was but sixe yeares old when King Edward the sixt dyed but every thing is nourished by that whereof it is bred and their religion being a compact of lies must bee upheld by lying whereof it is framed 4. I answer There was never any age since Christ in which the Popes Headship the maine pillar of Popery hath not beene resisted as hereticall and contrary to Orthodoxe religion The Jesuites have names enough in that learned booke of Doctor Crakenthorpe entitled Of the Popes temporall Monachy who as if hee had intended to prevent the Papists unreasonable demaund of names hath cleared by many names in every Century since Christ that the Popes temporall authority was resisted and by whom and that the sandy foundation of it namely the pretended donation of Constantine is but a fiction and a trick of a false finger by which Popery hath beene through outfacing supported a long time I need hold no Candle to this Torch onely I wish the Jesuites to answer those names before they call for more or else they must goe shorter by the head 5. There was never any age since Christ in which the Pope was not detected and proclaimed to bee Antichrist before his appearing implicitè and after it explicitè and expresly This I have ready to prove by names in al ages since Christ in way of cōfutation of a Jesuites booke sent to mee to review who impudently affirmeth that Luther was the first that called the Pope absolutely Antichrist 1. The Church is ever safe as the Arke on a world of waters Christ is the Pilot. 2. None can take her out of his hands Iohn 10. he is stronger than all 3. He knowes who are his and where and how to deliver them 4 Quod inimici in perniciem machinantur deus convertit in adjutorium feare not the tumults of