Selected quad for the lemma: scripture_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
scripture_n	apostolical_a	church_n	tradition_n	4,989	5	9.5918	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A09434	A godlie and learned exposition upon the whole epistle of Iude, containing threescore and sixe sermons preached in Cambridge by that reverend and faithfull man of God, Master William Perkins, and now at the request of his executors, published by Thomas Taylor, preacher of Gods word ; whereunto is prefixed a large analysis, containing the summe and order of the whole booke, according to the authors owne method, to which are further added, foure briefe tables to direct the reader ...	Perkins, William, 1558-1602.; Taylor, Thomas.	1606 (1606)	STC 19724.3; ESTC S100865	274,393	200

that euer Christ appointed a Crucifixe to bee a signe of his presence or that God willeth their Images to bee signes of his presence Thirdly the Chaire of Estate is a signe only in the Kings absence for himselfe being present the ciuill worship is performed to himselfe but Christ is neuer absent from his Church and yet in his presence they set vp an Image to remember him by Thus that Church being an open Idolater must not bee ioyned with for she is not ioyned to Christ any longer but is a professed harlot neither i● it so indifferēt as some think to finde saluation there as well as by our Religion The fifth ground is Matth. 4.10 Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serue That this is a chiefe ground needes no proofe and therefore wee will consider first the meaning secondly the aduersaries against whom wee must contend To know the meaning the words going before will affoord vs some direction wherein Satan hauing moued Christ to fall downe and worship him with bodily worship only and requiring not the maine worship due to God but a little bowing of the bodie betokening that he was the disposer of the kingdomes of the world this Christ denieth him with this reason ratified by Scripture that it is a worship and seruice proper to God and to bee tendred to him onely Secondly the words themselues are to bee weighed By worship is properly signified bodily worship in a bodily gesture the meaning then is thou shalt with thy bodie adore the Lord for so it is sutable to Satans demaund The word serue signifieth all worship due to God both inward and outward Only This word appertaineth to both the members and so to the whole sentence for else there should bee no direct deniall of Satans temptation requiring onely the former and not the latter But some will say we may serue men lawfully how then is seruice proper to God only There be two kindes of worship religious and ciuill Religious is an action or actions of reuerence and subiection whereby a man doth acknowledge the Godhead it self or the properties thereof either in God himselfe truly or in the creature falsely These properties of God are first to bee an absolute Lord. Secondly to bee Almightie Thirdly to be present in al places at all times Fourthly to heare all men in all places at all times Fiftly to know all things past present and to come yea and the hearts of men Sixtly to be giuer of all good things and the preuenter of all euill Now any action of reuerence in signification of any of these properties is a religious worship the very intent of the minde in religious worship being to ascribe either Godhead or diuine properties to the thing worshipped Ciuill or politique worship is when men performe actions of reuerence and subiection to others as acknowledging them to bee preferred aboue themselues in gifts or authoritie Thus bowing of the bodie is sometime religious when it is done to God in acknowledging his properties and sometime ciuil performed to a man in respect of his eminency in gifts or gouernment But these words of Christ are meant only of the former and not of the latter which belongs vnto man This ground thus truly conceiued affoordeth vs these two maine points of Religion first that God is to be worshipped with religious worship Secondly that all religious worship is proper to God and due to him alone Now religious worship is two-fold first inward standing in two things faith and inward obedience Secondly outward when this inward worship is outwardly testified consisting of three principall parts first in preaching hearing and reading the word secondly in receiuing the two Sacraments thirdly in prayer and thanksgiuing publike and priuate The Aduersaries hereof are the Papists who pretend the Catholike Religion but indeed ouerthrow it in deprauing the outward worshippe of God wherein the inward is testified The first part whereof standing in the preaching hearing and reading of the word they depraue first by mingling the pure word of God with mans word and writings and authorising bookes Apocryphall as Canonicall Scripture Secondly by making vnwritten Traditions Apostolicall and Ecclesiasticall as they say of equall authoritie with the Scripture Thirdly in that they teach in their Catechismes that the worship of God doth stand in obeying the Commandements of the Church as wel as the Commandements of God themselues and are necessarily to be practised vnto saluation so they worship God in vain Mat. 15.9 Fourthly in that they allow no Bible to be ●uthenticall but onely the Latin translation of Iere●ie renouncing both the Hebrew and Greeke fountaines and ye● learned Papists confesse that their Latin text i● corrupted and that therefore the true sense is to bee fetched from the Popes determination and from Councels and no other sense to be admitted Fiftly in that they make Images Lay mens bookes and teachers and debarre the people of the Scriptures publikely and priuately in the vulgar tongue and suffer it only to be read by them and vnto them in the Latin tongue vnknowne vnto them The second part of outward worship standing in administration of Sacraments they likewise corrupt and abolish for howsoeuer Baptisme is preserued for the substance of it in the Romish Church which as a lanterne carrieth the light it retaineth not for it owne but for the hidden Churches sake within it yet haue they abolished the Lords Supper for the substance of it first of a Sacrament they haue made it● reall sacrifice Secondly they haue turned the Communion into a priuate Masse where the Priest alone receiueth all and the people nothing Thirdly although in a Sacrament the●e must bee a distinction between the signe and the thing signified yet they make none but ouerthrow all such signification of the signes by their transubstantiation Fourthly they haue turned the bodie of Christ into a breaden God which they carrie about in boxes and worship which is as vilde an idolatrie as euer was among the Heathen not inferiour to the worshipping of Cats and Buls as gods among the Egyptians Fiftly they haue added to Christs Institution fiue Sacraments viz. Penance Confirmation Orders Matrimonie and annoynting But indeede Baptisme is a Sacrament of Penance the Lords Supper of Confirmation and further are they deceiued in the other The third part of outward worship concerneth Prayer and thankesgiuing this they ouerthrow likewise first they mocke God in praying in an vnknowne tongue not knowing what they aske much lesse seriously addressing themselues vnto the dutie which euen earthly Kings would disdaine Secondly in prayer must bee brought sense of want and contrition of heart this they cannot bring who are taught that they merit by prayer Thirdly prayer must be made in particular faith but this they make presumption Fourthly they allow praying to creatures the mediation of Saints and so denie the very substance of prayer which is to make

him such princely gifts as it is said God gaue him another heart his heart was changed in regard of other gifts than formerly he had so when Dauid was annoynted King and when Samuel had powred the horne of oyle vpon his head it is said 1. Sam. 16.13 that the spirit of the Lord came vpon him which furnished him with gifts and graces both of regeneration and regiment also In like manner the Lord tooke of the spirit of Moses and put it on the seuenty Elders Numb 11.17 whereby they were furnished with gifts of gouernment and enabled to beare rule and iudge iustly as Moses was such titles therefore as these are not ascribed vnto them without iust cause Yea how can they be fitlier called than Glories seeing there is no greater glorie in earth than to supplie Gods roome and to bee enabled with gifts for the sufficient discharge of it Hence learne that it is lawfull for Princes to beare an outward pompe in diet buildings costly apparell and troopes of men for they are dignities and their dignitie being outward in regard of men they may maintaine it by outward pompe to procure more reuerence and awe of men thereunto So Agrippa and Bernice came with great pompe and entred into the common hall which pompe is not there discommended but rather approued as by the circumstances of the text appeareth Secondly Magistrates ought especially to honour God because he especially honoureth them this must they doe by discountenancing and punishing vice and by setting vp and maintaining true religion and vertue Thirdly being in Gods place they are to execute iustice without corruption or partialitie in the face and feare of God 2. Chro. 9.7 Seeing the iudgement is the Lords let the feare of God bee vpon you take heede and doe it Deut. 1.17 Ye shall haue no respect of persons in iudgement but shall heare the small as well as the great ye shall not feare the face of man for the iudgement is Gods and herein stands a great part of their glorie Fourthly we are in all lawfull things to yeeld free subiection and obedience vnto our Magistrates and gouernours euen as vnto God himselfe whose roome they are in which duty the child oweth also to his father the seruant to his Master because they also are set ouer them in Gods stead Fifthly hence also is it lawfull for vs to giue to Princes the titles of Maiestie and Grace because it hath pleased the holy Ghost to ascribe them vnto them and by their titles to commend their persons and places vnto vs yea and to furnish them with such gifts of Magistracie as that they become not onely naked titles but iust significations of the true honour which God hath graced them withall Vers. 9. Yet Michael the Archangell when he stroue against the Diuell and disputed about the bodie of Moses durst not blame him with cursed speaking but said The Lord rebuke thee IN this verse is laid downe another reason amplifying their sin of these seducers by a comparison from the greater to the lesse and thus it standeth Michael the Archangell durst not so much as raile on the Diuell himselfe much lesse may these vpon Magistrates who are Gods and consequently their sinne is hainous who dare open their mouthes to reuile Princes and Magistrates Here one question is mooued namely whence the Apostle had this historie of the disputation betweene Michael and the Diuell concerning the bodie of Moses seeing it is not to bee found in the Scriptures I answere the substance of it is in the Scripture although though not the circumstances For in Deut. 34.6 is said that the Lord buried Moses but no man knoweth of his sepulchre till this day There is the ground of the historie the other particular concerning the contention of the Archangell and the Diuell wi●h this manner of rebuking is not found in the old Testament Quest. Where then had he this Ans. Either from some booke then extant among the Iewes which is not now to bee found or else from some tradition which passed amōg the Iewes from hand to hand as many things did as that 2. Timot. 3.8 where the Apostle saith that Iannes and Iambres withstood Moses the historie of which is not found in the old Testament Hence the Papists conclude that the word written is not sufficient and perfect in and of it selfe vnlesse the vnwritten word be added vnto it that is that word which is giuen by tradition both which say they make a perfect word but neither is perfect or sufficient alone grounding their opinion hence that Iude alleageth an example out of a tradition which is not found in Scripture But that is an hereticall doctrine and vntrue seeing the perfection of a thing is not to bee measured by euery thing that is wanting vnto it but by the perfect end of it for perfection is taken from the end Whence I reason thus If the written word be perfect and sufficient to the end to which it is ordained it is euery way perfect But it is perfect and sufficient to that end namely to the glorie of God in working out perfectly the faith saluation of man and is in nothing wanting for the atchieuing of this end but sufficiently teacheth all things to be beleeued and done and giueth perfect direction concerning faith and manners Ioh. 20.31 These things are written that they might beleeue and beleeuing might haue life thorough his name Rom. 15.4 Whatsoeuer things are written are written for our learning that wee through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might haue hope and therefore the word written is euery way most sufficient and absolutely perfect and neede no addition or tradition to helpe forward this end Ob. This place is a tradition and not written and many other true traditions were neuer written besides that the Church may make traditions Ans. We grant many true traditions are not in Scripture but such they are as a man may be ignorant of and not preiudice his saluation Againe the Church hath a power and hath had priuiledge to make constitutions and lawes which were to be knowne and receiued but these are such as only concerne the orderly gouernment of the Church and are not necessarie to saluation Ob. But some traditions are necessarie to saluation which are not contained in the written word and they alleage two first in Rom. 12.6 that Gods word must be tried by the rule of faith and so also by the same rule expounded This rule of faith is nothing else by their exposition but a general consent in the hearts of all true Catholikes together with the Pope assenting with them which of necessitie wee must beleeue and yet say they it is not in the Scripture and therefore some things must of necessitie bee beleeued which are not in the Scripture Ans. The rule of faith is not such a crooked rule as they would thrust vpon the world by their wicked exposition but the right rule of faith

is the plaine word of God euery way absolutely directing in all points of faith and loue 2. Tim. ● 5 Paul wisheth Timothy to keepe the true patterne of wholesome words in faith and loue which is nothing else but the testimonie of Scripture in points of faith and loue comprised in the Decalogue and Apostles Creede The rule of faith therefore in expounding Scripture is Scripture it selfe The second thing necessarie by their doctrine to be beleeued not contained in Scripture is that the Canonical Scripture is Gods word which truth is absolutely necessarie to saluation to be beleeued but cannot otherwise bee knowne or beleeued but onely by the tradition of the Church Ans. As euery other Arte and Science hath certaine principles of truth to proue all other precepts by but themselues are to bee prooued by none so also hath Diuinity the chiefe of al other Sciences of which kinde this is one principle that Canonicall Scripture is Gods word which not granted inferreth a destruction of all other diuine rules this is a truth therefore confirmed not a thing testified from some other but as a ground of it selfe Secondly in diuine matters saith goeth before knowledge which in humane things is cleane contrarie for if a man would know whether fire bee hot let him put his hand vnto it he shall haue experience of it and then he shall beleeue it but in diuine things first a man giueth credit and yeeldeth consent to the word and then hath experimentall knowledge for although faith hath his knowledge yet experimentall knowledge followeth faith Abraham beleeued aboue hope here faith went before knowledge Ioh. 7.27 If ye do the will of my Father yee shall know whether the doctrine bee of God nor no. Thus then we may conceiue it the tenour of the word of God is this Thus saith the Lord. If the question now be whether the Lord said thus or no I answere to beleeue the Church herein before God is sacriledge but herein we are first to yeeld assent vnto God and then after this experimentall knowledge will follow that Canonicall Scripture is the word of God Thirdly wee know that Scripture is Gods word by Scripture and not by the Church out of which being in humilitie taught and acquainted with the excellent matter of it and manner of writing the end the glorie of God and our owne saluation wee cannot but haue sufficient perswasion of the author of it and that it can proceede from none other but God himselfe Thus notwithstanding the allegations of the aduersaries the written word retaineth that perfection which needeth no tradition to strengthen or further it in that end to which it is appointed Now to the reason it selfe amplifying this sinne in this verse which containeth three points to be considered First the person that durst not raile Secondly the goodnes of his cause which was very iust and yet he durst not raile vpon the Diuell himselfe Thirdly the manner of his speech The Lord rebuke thee The person that durst not raile was Michael the Archangell whom some affirme to bee Christ himselfe others that he is some chiefe arch and principall Angel which opinion is more probable For first the Apostle speaketh of him as one in subiection and standing in awe not daring to breake the law of God for he durst not reuile the Diuell Secondly in 1. Thess. 4.16 The Lord Christ shall come to iudgement with the sound of a Trumpet and the voyce of an Archangell where is a plaine distinction betweene Christ who should come in the clowdes and the Archangell Thirdly Peter explaineth it speaking the same thing and saith The Angels giue not railing iudgement against them 2. Pet. 2.11 It is more probable then that by Michael was meant a principall Angell rather than Christ. Doctr. First from the person wee learne that there be distinctions and degrees of Angels there bee Angels and an Archangell Quest. Is there but one Archangell Ans. The Scripture speaking of Archangels vseth alwaies the singular number neuer mentioning more than one and where the Scripture resolueth not we are not to determine yet I condemne not those who haue probably held that there are more than one Secondly wee haue here an example of Angelicall meeknes and modestie Tit. 3.1 Put them in remembrance that they bee subiect to principalitie and speake euill of no man but shew all meeknes vnto all 〈◊〉 the contrarie practise of railing slandering and obtrecting is a propertie of the Diuell whence he hath his name Reu. 12.10 the Accuser of the brethren and the Aduersarie 2. Pet. 5 8. who is euer readie with one accusation or other to stand vp against euery man the malitious man whose malice caused him to stand vp against Iob and falsely accuse him of hypocrisie vnto Gods own face Let slanderers and backbiters of their brethren see hence whom they imitate and most liuely resemble Secondly consider the goodnesse of Michaels cause which was this It was the wil of God that Moses body should be buried in a secret place vnknown to any man to preuent and auoid al occasion of superstition and Idolatrie amōg the Iewes The Diuell on the contrarie would discouer it that so the Israelites might fall to Idolatrie before it herein the Archangell resisted him and stroue with him for the performance of the will of God and the maintenance of his true worship and yet in this good cause Michael durst not reuile the Diuel himselfe In this cause consider two things First the fight and contention betweene Michael and the Diuell Secondly the cause and occasion of it about Moses bodie In the former wee may obserue that there is a sharp and serious contention betweene good and bad Angels in which the good Angels labour to defend all that are in Christ against the rage and furie of the Diuell and his angels As Psal. 34.8 The Angels of the Lord pitch their tents round about those that feare him And on the contrarie the Diuell and wicked spirits cast about how to destroy the bodies and soules of men 1. Pet. 5. Our aduersarie the Diuell goeth about continually seeking whom he can deuoure This combat concerneth and is conuersant about either first the persons or secondly the societies of men The fight about the persons concerneth either infants or men of yeres First for infants the Diuell seeketh how to spoyle and destroy them especially those of elect and faithfull parents in regard of their weaknes and tendernes both of minde and bodie but the Angels of the Lord haue charge giuen thē to defend them against this malice of Satan As Psal. 91.12 They shall beare thee vp in their armes that is they shall bee as nurces to beare them in their armes preseruing them from danger Mat. 18.10 Despise not one of these little ones for their Angels alwaies behold the face of my father which is in heauen Secondly concerning men of yeeres the diuell and his angels striue to driue them out

It is alleaged nothing is vnchangeable but God and therefore grace is changeable Euery gift is changeable in it selfe so man in himselfe considered may fall away but God hath promised a second grace confirming the first by vertue whereof a man cannot fall away It will be further said that the child of God when he falleth into a grieuous sin as Dauid did is guiltie of death and therfore is not iustified and consequently falleth away When Dauid fell hee was guiltie of death but onely in regard of that sinne into which he was now fallen all his former sinnes being pardoned yea that sin also was pardoned though not actually to him before his repentance yet in Gods counsell so as that sinne being on Gods part pardoned he remaines still in the fauour of God But in time of persecution many fall away If any fall quite away they neuer had true faith which stands in three things 1. Knowledge 2. Assent 3. Apprehension of Christ. The two former they might haue but the third was wanting vnto them Againe those that fall off in persecution if they haue true faith they fall not wholy because the seed of God remaines in them nor finally because in time they shall returne vnto the Lord againe But this doctrine leades men to securitie No it leades a man from securitie vnto a new life and watchfulnes seeing grace is added vnto grace to keepe vs in the state of grace Vse First in that the gift of perseuerance is ioyned with true faith I gather that the doctrine of the Papists is not of God but a doctrine of diuels which teacheth that he which is chosen of God who hath true faith and is iustified may in regard of his present right fall away for how can that be if hee that be chosen be called sanctified and preserued vnto life Secondly it is false that a man trulie iustified may lose his grace seeing with iustification is ioyned preseruation neither that which teacheth that a true beleeuer may fall wholy though not finally is true Thirdly those also are deceiued who thinke that mans saluation is pinned vpon his owne sleeue and hangeth vpon his owne will for God would haue all saued Christ died for all the holy Ghost giues grace to all why then are some saued some not It is say they from their owne wil grace in some preuailes against flesh and they are saued but flesh against grace in the other who therfore are damned but this scripture shewes that to be but a deuice of man seeing whosoeuer are once elected are called sanctified and preserued to life and what malice is able to resist this will of God 2. Vse Note here the vnspeakeable goodnes of God in the worke of Regeneration in that he not only giues a new life but preserues it in vs. Adam once had this life of grace betrusted vnto him and had it in keeping but he quickly lost it from himselfe and his posteritie Now God hath restored this life againe to beleeuers but that they might be sure of it he will now keepe it for them himselfe And reserued vnto Christ that is to be presented and set before Christ and that partly in the day of death partly in the day of iudgement holie and without blame Ephes. 5.27 Whence note first beleeuers need not feare the day of death or iudgement nay rather they may reioice in it as the day of their redemption yea and of triumph What an honor was it for Pharaohs daughter to be presented to Salomon and Hester to become the spouse of A●asuerus much more glorie is it for the faithfull thus to stand before Christ at that day Secondly wee must all our life long prepare and fit our selues to be presented as pure spouses to our Bridegrome both these duties are laid downe Reuel 19.7 Be glad and reioyce for the marriage of the Lambe is come and his wife hath made her selfe readie This preparation stands in two things first we must betroth our soules to Christ this is done when God giues Christ and we receiue him by faith cleaue vnto him alone depend on him as the spouse vpon whom her soule loueth Secondly wee must beautifie our soules hauing giuen them to Christ this is done when the holie Ghost sanctifieth the same and we daily labour in the renewing of our owne hearts Thirdly we must hence be stirred vp to prayer for this gift of preseruation to life euerlasting reseruation to Christ hungring for grace after grace to bee strengthened in temptation especially in this last and declining age wherein the Gospell takes little place in our hearts Vers. 2. Mercie vnto you and peace and loue be multiplied In these words is laid downe the third point in the salutation namely the prayer vsually obserued in Apostolical salutations In which first he prayeth for three things mercie peace and loue Secondly that these may be multiplied that is continued and increased in and vpon them First of the multiplying of mercie The mercie of God towards the creature is taken in Scripture two waies generally and specially Gods general mercie is that wherby he is inclined to helpe the creature in miserie Luk. 6.36 Gods speciall mercie called riches of mercie whereby he will haue mercie on whom he will Rom. 9 15. is that by which is granted pardon of sinne and acceptance in Christ to life euerlasting and for this hee prayeth in this place Now because this speciall mercie cannot be multiplied in it selfe being infinite in God as himselfe is infinite therefore by mercie wee must vnderstand the fruites and effects thereof And for our better instruction herein three things are to be considered First that mercie is asked in the first place before peace and loue teaching vs that the mercie of God in Christ is to be sought for aboue al things in the world Psal. 4.6 Many say who will shew vs any good I but Lord lift th●● vp the light of thy countenance vpon vs. Psal. 119.77 Let thy tender mercie come vpon me that I may liue This is the foundation of all blessing Secondly note the persons for whom he thus prayeth To you that is as in the first verse to those who were called sanctified and reserued to Christ not for vnbeleeuers vnrepentant and Apostatates whence we learne first that a man iustified sanctified and made heire of life cannot merit any thing at Gods hands for merit and mercy cannot stand together he that still stands in need of mercie can neuer merit which doctrine must be maintained against the Romane Church which teacheth that a man may put his trust in the merit of his workes so he doe it soberly Secondly that men effectually called and sanctified because they still stand in neede of mercie must be in their owne eyes still vile and miserable Abraham being to speak to God tearmes himselfe dust and ashes Iacob acknowledged that he was lesse than the least mercie Iob

is corrupted so as wee may not build vpon it that thereby they might bring their Latin Bible into credit as most authentical and yet that they might make the sentence of their Church the rule of faith the most learned of al that Church hold that the Latin Bible is also corrupt so indeede they couertly renounce all scripture that the sentence of the Church may obtaine the chiefe stroke Secondly in teaching that the authoritie of the Church in regarde of vs is aboue the Scriptures because wee knowe not the sense thereof but by the Church Thus putting downe the true and principall ground of Scripture that they might more easily set vp their own dotages The second ground concerneth the sufficiencie of scripture and is this The Scripture of the Prophets and Apostles is a perfect rule of faith and manners It is of all things to be beleeued or done to saluation 2. Tim. 3.16 The Scripture is profitable to teach improue correct instruct in righteousnes to make the man of God absolute yea perfect in euery good worke If it make him perfect in al kind of teaching it is also able much more to make euery man perfect to all the duties of his calling Gal. 1.8 If an Angell should teach otherwise that is diuerse or besides though not contrary to that which is taught hee shall bee accursed many doctrines indeed of Artes and other things are diuers and besides it but the meaning is that no doctrine of saluation must be brought no not besides it therfore the bookes of the Prophets and Apostles containe a perfect rule Many things which cannot bee found in scripture may be supplied by tradition Ans. Traditions can neuer settle the conscience for though diuerse of them are found in the writings of the fathers yet they were subiect to error and so might and did erre in them Aduersaries of this ground to bee contended with First all men by nature Iob. 22.14 Who say to the Almightie Departe from vs for wee desire not the knowledge of thy waies yea our common Protestants who in iudgement acknowledge this rule yet in their life they leaue it and take the leaden rule of naturall reason sense sight and feeling and few there be that liue by faith Secondly the Romish Church for first they make the written word a thing ruled by setting vp another Rule saying that there are two kindes of Scripture The first is inward written in the heart of all Catholikes which is the vniuersall consent of the Church The second is outward written by the Prophets and Apostles an inken scripture say they and a dead letter without the former Whereas the cleane contrarie is true the true rule being the scripture of the Prophets and Apostles and the other in the heart in this life but an imperfect patterne drawne according to the former Secondly they ouerturne the ground in ioyning to the written word vnwrittē tra●●tions so making it but half a rule and indeed as good no rule but where are these traditions In the writings of Fathers they say But how shall we know them to be scripture Because the Fathers say so But how shall wee know they say true Here must they flie to man whereof yet no man can assure vs. Thirdly in teaching that the true sense of scripture cannot be found without the Churches determination and so indeede make it no rule because a right rule both ruleth it selfe and is plaine to rule other things also The third ground is There is one true God By one I meane one in number not two 1. Cor. 8.6 To vs there is but one God that is to the Church to vs that looke to bee saued which is plaine by this reason for there can be but one infinite and if there were two or moe Gods there should be two or moe infinites which is impossible Aduersaries to this ground First the common Protestant who in iudgment holdeth one God yet in heart and life he setteth vp two or moe some riches some pleasure some one sinne or other for where a mans heart is there is his God Paul saith some make their bellie their God and that the Diuell is the God of the world Secondly the maine Enemie is the Popish Church which in word holdeth one God but diuers waies set vp diuers gods As first the Pope himselfe who by their reformed Canon law is to iudge all and to be iudged of none Who maketh himselfe a forgiuer of sinnes and that properly yea a maker of lawes to binde conscience aswell as Gods lawes which is horrible blasphemie Secondly the Virgin Mary whom they make a Goddesse as Christ a God as Christ a King so her a Queene as he a Lord so her a Ladie yea they set Christ below her whom they desire to commaund her sonne by the right of a mother yea and in some of their reformed Seruice bookes they trust in her for saluation Thirdly the Saints whom they pray vnto wherein they attribute vnto them the knowledge of the secrets of mens hearts and omnipresence for they must also be in all places which are things proper vnto God alone The fourth ground is that God is all sufficient in himselfe Gen. 17.1 I am all sufficient that is he hath in himselfe all perfection for first he taketh being from none but giueth being to all Secondly for substance he is a Spirit of perfect nature Thirdly euery way infinite in regard of time place attributes This may well be called a ground for whosoeuer placeth any want or imperfection in God denieth God and maketh him no God Aduersaries hereof First the common people who conceiue a God made all of mercie without his iustice Secondly the Papist who robbeth God of his perfection two waies first they attribute an imperfect iustice vnto him namely such a one as may be satisfied by mans satisfaction Secondly an imperfect mercie whereof our own merits must make a supplie teaching that indeed Christ must make vs iust but we must make our selues more iust and merit saluation The fifth ground is There be three in heauen the Father Sonne and holy Ghost and th●se three are one God 1. Ioh. 5.7 How can it be that three are one God Ans. It is a mysterie which the ancient Church answered thus They be three in person and one in substance so wee also say they be three in manner of subsisting but one in nature and Godhead Three they be distinguished in person the Father not being the Sonne nor the holy Ghost and so in the other persons 3. subsistences in one nature Ioh. 17.2 This is life euerlasting c. This is a groūd because wee must worship one God in three persons neither can wee aright thinke of God out of the Trinitie Aduersaries of this ground First Heretikes innumerable whose memorie is accursed as Arians of former and later times denying the Godhead of Christ. Secondly the Turke and Iew

was the seuenth from Adam Here two questions are to bee answered first whence had Iude this historie seeing it is no where recorded in the Scriptures and how knew he it to be Enochs I answere two waies first he either had it and learned it to bee his by some tradition which went from hand to hand or else written by some Iew or secondly he learned it out of some booke which went vnder Enochs name then extant in the daies of the Apostles though now lost it is certaine that one of these waies hee had it Hence the Papists gather that the Iewes had vnwritten traditions and consequently all their traditions are to be obserued Ans. We denie not all vnwritten traditions of which some are true and profitable but wee renounce and denie all those traditions which are made articles of faith rules of Gods worship necessarie to saluation for all such doctrines are written in the books of the Prophets and Apostles which containe perfect direction and rules concerning faith manners of which kind the Romane Church holdeth their traditions to be this is of another kind it being no article of faith nor necessary to saluation to knowe whether Enoch writ this prophecie or no. Againe from the second answere others who are no Papists conclude that some bookes of Canonicall Scripture are perished and lost But this is vntrue for then first the fidelitie of the Church which is the keeper of these Oracles should be called in question and secondly in the bookes Canonicall extant not one sentence or tittle no not the sense of any sentence is lost how then should whole bookes come to be lost It is alleaged that the books of Salomon are most of them lost Answ. The bookes of Salomon which were lost were bookes of humanitie and Philosophie for hee writ of all beasts birds trees euen from the Cedar in Libanus to the hyssop vpon the wall the books of humane truth might faile but no part of Canonicall Scripture Ob. Mention is made in the Scripture of the bookes of the Chronicles of the Iewes or Kings of Iudah but these are perished Ans. They were politique histories as are the Chronicles of England or other Countries Ob. The bookes of Nathan Gad Idd● Shemaiah and other Prophets are perished Ans. All these as is though by the learned are contained in the bookes of the Kings Chronicles and Samuel Ob. This book of Enoch is lost Ans. First it is doubted whether it was a booke or no or went by a tradition Secondly if it was a booke it was no part of Scripture for Moses was the first penman of Scripture who liued long after Enoch The second question why doth the Apostle make choise of this testimonie of Enoch rather than some other Prophet Answ. Himselfe giueth two reasons First he was the seuenth from Adam it is therefore an ancient testimonie to be receiued and reuerenced for the antiquitie but withall it sheweth what is true antiquitie namely when a doctrine of religion can bee prooued from some Prophet or Apostle for this testimonie was a prophecie and therefore that antiquitie which the Church of Rome challengeth to her religion and doctrine is but counterfeit because they are not able to iustifie the maine pointes thereof from any Prophet or Apostle yea in these wherein they dissent from vs they cannot bring their proofe and descent from within the first hundred yeeres after Christ. It is then a vaine plea and false pretence of them to boast of the antiquitie of their religion The second reason is in the word prophecied for Enoch spoke not this of his owne head or motion but from God for no creature Angell or man can foretell things to come it being a prerogatiue properly belonging vnto God Ob. Yes but the learned Physition can truely foretell the death of the patient to come Ans. He doth not properly herein foretell a thing to come for the death of the partie is present in the signes and causes of it Ob. But the Diuell could foretell Sauls death 1. Sam. 28.19 To morow shalt thou be with me and thy sonnes Ans. The Diuell could not properly foretell it but might see it in the causes and signes Againe hee might speake so to Saule because God had made him an instrument for the execution of that iudgement and destruction so as God only properly foretelleth that which is simply to come and no man or Angell The second point is the testimonie it selfe Behold the Lord commeth c. In which obserue three points first the comming of the Lord secondly the iudgement of the Lord thirdly the cause of it in the 15. verse To giue iudgement against al men c. First of the party comming Behold the Lord commeth Where the Apostle speaketh in the time present which is put for the time to come which forme of speech sheweth the certaintie of Christs comming to iudgement who shall as certeinly come as if he were now alreadie comming Concerning which certaintie it may be demaunded first whence commeth this comming of Christ to be so certaine Ans. From the vnchangeable will of God which hath certainly decreed the same For he hath appointed a day in the which he will iudge the world in righteousnes And thus are all other the articles of our faith most certaine in that they are grounded on the vnchangeable will and word of God Secondly how or from whence may we know this will of God to be so certaine Ans. From the manner of propounding the doctrine of it wherein the euidence of the spirit plainly appeareth saying peremptorily the Lord commeth euidently expressing the certaintie as if it were now present And the same may be spoken of the whole scripture which in it selfe is most sure and certain because it is the most vnchangeable will of God but how do we know it so to be will some say I answere by the euidence of the spirit the authoritie puritie maiestie effect and ends of the doctrine it neede not seeke euidence elsewhere than from it selfe not from man or the Church it selfe The Romish Church confesseth it is of it selfe and in it selfe sufficiently certaine but not to me or thee except the Church say so but this is a false position The Scripture is certaine both in it selfe and vnto vs and we know it so to be though neuer a man would acknowledge it the heart seasoned with grace will make the mouth confesse it Secondly the Apostle speaking in this forme he commeth for he will come wee learne to set before our eyes the comming of the Lord Iesus to iudgement and to make account of euery present day as the day of his comming the Scriptures euery where commend watchfulnes vnto vs which is to do nothing else but to make reckoning continually of this day But some will say we cannot make account daily of it for we see it commeth not neither may we enquire into the time of it Answ. Although wee cannot exactly