telleth vs that they are such as receiue not with high estimation and reuerence the word of the Lambe but make a religion and take delight in the word of the beast Vse 1 Now of this description we may make a double vse First for instruction and secondly for exhortation First it teacheth vs that they are most properly Antichristians who take delight in the whooredomes and idolatrie of the Church of Rome and of this they carry a double brande First their slighting of the word of God in the Scriptures as most of vs know For as the Pope doth vnyoke himselfe from it by the spirit of Prophesie as he is that Caiphas by the spirit of interpretation as he is the Church by the spirit of infallibilitie as he is Christs Vicar by pretended tradition as hee is the Churches Treasurer and by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. Thess 2. 8. the power of dispensation as he is that lawlesse person so his followers from him doe disgrace and discountenance the Scriptures that they may walke in darknesse without controule Are we not daily acquainted Pseudo-scriptu a late Popish booke so called with their pleading against the Scriptures with their deriding of vs for our coÌ„stant appeales vnto it Hence is it that they fill theÌ„selues with much durt to cast in our faces for the Scriptures sake Ob. First they tel vs that all heretikes run vnto the Scriptures As the Scribes and Pharises other Iewes against Christ So Ebion Corinthus Menander Arius heretikes of all times Sol. Why heretikes appeale to the Scriptures We answer that it is true that heretikes do take this course that for three causes First because their consciences haue tolde them that there hath beene some diuine thing in them aboue all writings whatsoeuer and therefore they thought that if they could shelter their conceits vnder the wings of the Scripture they were safe Secondly because they see that all the members of the Church whom the deuill doth seeke principally to annoy doe loue and make them their teacher comforter and counseller which they will Psal 119. more willingly heare then all the world Heretickes therefore being willing to propagate their errours will corrupt such friends as are most deare to the parties whom they would haue to imbrace them Thirdly because they haue beene thus farre acquainted with the doctrine of the Church that they know it maketh the Scriptures a spirituall iudge pronouncing vnder God as from liuing oracles what is necessary to be held and practised in all fundamentall matters of faith and obedience For these reasons I say haue heretickes runne vnto the Scriptures yet for all that as Christ obiected Scripture in truth against the Scribes Pharises and deuill who obiected it against him in hypocrisie euen so must we What though mine enemie say that he hath part in mine inheritance and that this and this peece of land is his shall I therefore begger my selfe and resigne it ouer vnto his spoile shall I not rather search out my euidences and cleere the truth of my right and the falshood of his claime by those meanes which the kingdome where I dwell will afford what though a Bastard say that he hath right of inheritance to my land shall I therefore renounce all my owne birth-right So though all the enemies of faith and bastards in the Church shall claime a right in our inheritance and portion of the Scriptures shall we therefore forsake all our liuelyhood comfort in them shall wee not rather labour by the benefit of those gifts which God hath giuen not to the Pope and his adherents but to the true Church of God to wit the gift of interpretation tongues wisedome knowledge prayer and the like to cleere the impostures of falshood and the glory of truth Ob. Yea but meane while you will say that the fancies and errors of wicked persons are not sufficiently condemned in the Scriptures Sol. Bee not too rash Is not diuelish temptation sufficiently condemned in the Scriptures because the Diuell doth tempt Christ from the Scriptures abused vniust or vncharitable Suites are sufficiently condemned by Law though wrangling persons will still pretend law to maintain them so are all Heresies sufficiently condeÌ„ned in Scriptures though Heretickes seeke to maintaine them by Scriptures abused Ob. You will say how then is it that they are not conuinced by them Sol. I answere two things first the Scripture is sufficient to conuince without which it cannot make perfect else Christ would 2. Tim. 3. 17. Math. 12. 3. Math. 22. Math 4. not haue vsed it to that end neither would the Pharisies nor Sadduces nor the Diuel be put to silence by that meanes Secondly many thousands haue binne conuinced by it to the rectifying of their iudgments And if some are obstinate shall wee say that it is not in the Scriptures power to conuince Noe rather t is Gods iustice Act. 7. 51. to punish their obstinacy and to giue them ouer to perishing as those that resist the truth Ob. You will say how can the Scripture conuince them when it is not their Iudge Sol. I answeare It is their Law to rule guide their actions therefore it is their Iudge for Iudges are but ministers of the law It is the law which doth iudge of claymes titles inheritances trespasses and the like and the Iudges doe not make the iudgement of the Law but pronounce it And so the Ministery of Gods Church and people doth but pronounce the iudgment of the Scripture And if sometimes it doth pronounce amisse as it may do though it take neuer so good heed to the word of God in those things which are not necessarily beleiued vnto saluation it is not because the scripture doth not exactly iudge but because wee know in part and are not perfectly 1. Cor. 13 12. inlightned and so may misse of the right meaning in some things as the best Iudges in some cases may misse the right meaning of the law Thus haue I shewed you in some few particulars Papists belieue lies how the Papists sleight the truth and yet in vaine to pull vpon themselues the first badge of Antichristians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The second is their delighting in that Lie of Antichrist which is heere called Vnrighteousnes Antichrist is that great Theife who commeth Ioh. 10. not in by the doore into the folde looke therefore as a theife puts out the candle that so beeing deceiued he may deceiue others so doth Antichrist put out the light of the scriptures so much as he can that his wretched lies seducements may the more easily be settled vpon himselfe with his followers All false religions are lies but there is no religion in the world that I know which makes lying a part of their religion Pâ—ae fraudes pia mendacia but that of Rome They haue their Aequiuocation their godly deceites and lyes such as are made and told for the
the person if you aske me who are these miserable Antichristians I answere from The persons in danger the text Doct. They are such as beleeue not the truth but haue pleasure in vnrighteousnesse They are described here by Infidelity in respect of the word of God and by euil beleife in respect of the word of Antichrist Which descriptiō that you may conceiue consider the foure tearms of it First what is meant by the truth secondly what by not beleeuing the truth thirdly what is meant by vnrighteousnesse fourthly what by taking pleasure in vnrighteousnesse By truth you must vnderstand the doctrine of the Gospel contained in the Scriptures Thus Christ expounds Ioh. 17. 17. it sanctifie them with thy truth thy word is truth which word is so called in three respects First in respect of the vndeceiueable nature of it All other doctrines are either false or may be vaine or fruitlesse They are false if they oppose the religion of the Scriptures They may be vaine whether they be naturall or ciuill if they doe possesse vs and captiuate or peruert our vnderstanding for these haue their places if they doe prepare vs for higher Modò praeparent ac non detineant ingenium imployments and doe not imprison vs from God and his more sauing truth Secondly the word is truth in respect of the imployment which God hath giuen it in the Church to be a rule and square of all sauing truth As Moses must build according to the patterne so must we lay the ground of all sauing Heb. 8. 5. and wholesome truth according to the Scriptures Therefore when Christ meant to destroy by degrees and to deface the deformities of Antichrist he giues Iohn as a tipe of the Ministery of the Gospel Apoc. 10. 8 9. the little booke to eate which is the word of God Hee gaue him not the great Popish volumes of decretals which together with the spirit of prophesie in the Popes owne breasts doe make vp the word of Antichrist but the little volume of the holy Scripture which maketh vp most fully the word of the Lambe Lastly it is called truth in regard of the worke of it because it doth confound errour and worke sinceritie in iudgement heart tongue affections and the whole conuersation of those who without preiudice doe cleaue vnto it For though some thorough the iust iudgement of God are giuen ouer to the blindnesse of their minds and rebellion of their wills and so doe not submit vnto the word as those who resisted the holy Ghost yet so many as are ordained Acts. 7. 5◠Acts. 28. 23. 24. Act. 2. 47. vnto life and shall be saued are by this meanes at some times or other reclaimed from their false courses and added to the Church Thus you see what is meant by the truth now if you aske mee what is meant by not beleeuing the truth I answere the not receiuing of it into our heads and hearts For that which he called before ◠Thes 2. 10. the not receiuing the loue of the truth that they might be saued heere he calleth not beleeuing the truth Besides the power of beleeuing is called a Ioh. 1. 12. receiuing by Iohn when he saith that as many as receiued him to them he gaue a right to be the sons of God euen to them that beleeue in his name The contrary to this not beleeuing is expressed by three significant phrases namely sealing grafting hiding Esay saith Seale vp the Law among my Disciples Esa 8. 15. The fowles pecke the wheate in the stony ground but that which is sealed vp is not easily come by to be stolne away Iames saith receiue with meekenesse Iam 1. 21. the word which is graffed in you As the graft is receiued of the stocke into one body so the word must bee incorporated into vs and not to bee separated from vs but to our ruine The Psalmist Psal 119. 11. saith that I haue hid thy promise in my heart that I might not sinne against thee As blessed Mary kept Luk. 2. 19. 51. the sayings of Iesus Christ in her heart so Dauid kept the promises of God by faith When the truth is not thus sealed vp and hid in our hearts by being taken into our nature that we may liue and die with it but the smoake of the bottomlesse pit is suffered Apo. 9 2. to darken our soules then are wee said not to beleeue the truth But what now is meant by vnrighteousnesse in this place Nothing but falshood For as sinne in generall is taken for false doctrine as when Christ Ioh. 8. 46. saith which of you can rebuke mee of sinne as we see by the opposition there but if I say the truth why doe ye not beleeue mee so vnrighteousnesse in particular in this place as we see by the opposition here not beleeuing the truth but hauing pleasure in vnrighteousnesse And falshood may be called vnrighteousnes both because it carryeth vs from the rule of righteousnesse which should informe our Quod efficit tale illud ipsū est magis tale vnderstanding and reforme our hearts and whole conuersation that we might haue an accepted righteousnesse as also because it is a fearefull cause of vnrighteousnesse The Romanes abusing the law of Nature and turning the truth of God into a lye Ro. 1. 24 25. were giuen vp in their hearts vnto lusts vncleannesse and other Gentiles as well as they hauing their cogitations darkened and hearts hardened for Eph. 4. 18 19 want of sauing truth gaue themselues vnto wantonnesse to worke all vncleannesse with greedinesse Thus you vnderstand vnrighteousnesse one thing more will cleere all and that is what may be meant by taking pleasure in it I answere the giuing of our hearts to the pleasing enticements of Antichrist as effeminate persons giue themselues to the pleasing enticements of harlots For there are three sorts of the followers of Antichrist Some that are simply seduced such are they who are said to dwell on the earth that is in the visible state and condition of the Church who were Apoc. 13. 14. deceiued by the signes and great wonders of the beast Some that are by feare and torture compelled such are those small and great rich and poore Apoc. 13. 16 17. bond and free whom he made to receiue his marke or else they should neither buy nor sell Some also there are that are carnally minded who liue in pleasure with the whoore of Babel such as are said to commit fornication with her and to be drunke with Apoc. 17. 2. the wine of her fornications and to waxe rich with the aboundance of her pleasures Of these doth the Apoc 18. 3. holy Apostle speake in this place Thus haue I as God hath inabled mee opened vnto you the words of the Apostle by which you may perceiue that the text driues at the description Who are Antichristians of Antichristians and
aduancement of religion and to stirre vp deuotion Hence doe they belie their aduersaries both in their liues doctrine deaths as we know in Luther Caluine Beza Rob. Coâ— cen quoâ—undam script et multi abi bishop King others Hence do they counterfeit false Fathers and purge the true ones to make them speake as they please Hence do they thrust thousand of lies vpon the poore people as the historie of Loreto where we read of Pope â—ulius hauing performed his deuotion in our Ladyes Hist of Lor lib. 2. cap. â—2 Chappels by hir protection was preserued from a Cannon shot which beat down his Consistory where he was yet hurt not his Fatherhood and of the Dalmatian Priest that man of Chap. 18. true simplicity and great deuotion who hauing his bowels plucked out of his body by the cruel Turkes because he would not abiure Christ tooke his guts in his hand if any will beleeue it and so went a iourney of many dayes to Loreto and there was cured They haue also their Legends both in Latine English and other Languages which haue binne and are of dayly vse to abuse the credulous people There we reade of the power of S. Patricks Prayer which made a sheepe bleate in the mans belly that had stole it There wee read of the noble knight who Lâ—genda au de S. Patr. pa. 37 Vbi supra de Annunciat pag. 38. See Beards â—tract from the Rom. Rel. D. Featly hiâ— append to Fish net pag. 30. 31 32. An old post Manuscrip could learn no other lesson than these two words Aue Maria but to make amends hee did retaine them with so great deuotion that when hee was dead and buried a Lilly sprung out of his tounge euery leaf whereof had Aue Maria stamped vpon it with golden letters to the amazement of the beholders I might tell you of a certaine heretick who was conuerted to the faith by seeing S. Anthonies Horse worship the Hoste that is the bread in the Sacrament and of S. Francis his Lambe which vsed to goe to the Masse kneele downe to the eleuation and of a little child that did start out of the Sacrament when one did cut it of an euill minde which after a goodly procession entered into the forme againe and so was deuoutly receiued of the paenitent offender I could fill you with such Romish lies to make you loath againe all which the poor people being seduced do suck in vnder the pretence of the spirit of infallibillity for Bellarmine tells Ample deâ—l of Christ doct chap 6. p. 124. vs that the Church of Rome is the holy Church and the Spouse of God and hath the holy Ghost for her Master and therefore there is no danger that shee should be deceiued or that shee should doe or teach others to doe any thing that were against the Commandements of God Vnder this pretence what superstitious seducements Tria ignorantiae principia Inâ—er Philosophos coÌ„tra negâ—ntem principia inter medicos viâ—tus specifica Inter theologos ecclesia catholica Sr. Walt. Rayl Preface shall not be swallowed downe without examination If as the Philosopher cryeth out to those that would dispute it is a Principle so if the Papist can but alledge his Catholike Church it is sufficient to dampe all doubts and to worke entertainment to all lyes be they neuer so palpable and notorious Let them goe my brethren with these two badges of Antichristians to wit their sleighting the Truth of the Lambe and their beleeuing the word of the Beast Let vs pittie and pray for them that so many as are of the number of his sealed ones might be pulled out of these miserable snares and goe out of Babylon that they be not Apoc. 18. 4. partaker of her sinnes and so of her plagues Vse 2 But as for vs let vs in the second place be exhorted to entertaine and embrace the Truth that wee may prooue our selues not to be Antichristians It is the Truth alone in which the sufficiencie of our Soules is communicated vnto vs. The ancient Christians perceiuing that worldly men did place their sufficiencie in their wealth to signifie that that sufficiencie which commeth to vs by our riches commeth not from them but through Christ stamped vpon their Coyne a Cloud with this voice or Motto This is my beloued Math. 3. 17. Sonne in whom I am highly delighted So wee may stampe Christ vpon Truth as being that wherein wee haue fellowship with him who is our plentifull redemption and the sufficiencie of our bodies and soules by Truth But you will say how may we be assured that Quest How wee may know our religion to be the truth our religion is the truth that so we may receiue it to the comfort of our soules I answer there are three things which may settle a quiet and humble spirit First The foundation and ground-worke of our religion is that doctrine wholly and entirely which was preached by the Apostles as sufficient to conuert men to the faith and to make them fit to receiue the Sacrament of Baptisme Compare Act. 2. Act. 3. Acts 7. Acts 10. Act. 13 c. the Articles of our religion with the Sermons and Apologies of Peter and Paul and the rest of Gods seruants If it be so that their doctrine was sufficient to conuert Iewes and Gentiles and to bring them into couenant with God and our doctrine be wholly entirely one with theirs why should any that haue not the spirit of contention and contradiction doubt that our religion is not the truth Secondly our religion agreeth with the very nature of true religion which must be an holy art of liuing well There is no article of true religion Pet Geisteranus in actis Synod Dor. pag. 282. which driues not at this Though that foolish hereticke in the Synod of Dort could not see how the doctrine of three in one could further godlinesse yet Christ teacheth that euen that abstract article doth it for when he prayeth to his Father that as Hee and his Father are one so they Ioh 17. 21 22 23. may be one in them doth he not teach that the Vnitie in Trinitie doth further our vnitie in our selues and the mysticall body Now if true religion be tryed by this generall nature of it wee shall finde two things First that Popery which is a religion whereby Christ is professed to bee the Lambe of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world and men are baptized into the name of Christ but he is applyed by the false meanes of merit penall satisfactions masses and indulgences and we are made one in his body by a false and vsurping Prince in stead of Apostles Eph. 4 11 12. Prophets Euangelists Pastours and Teachers this Popery I say is not the art of liuing well For first it hides the rule of liuing well that is the certaine will of God in the Scriptures by
ouer-clouding them with vncertaine tradition Secondly it carrieth vs away from God to the creatures as Hee-saints Shee-saints Maskes Images thorough which it is great difficultie to peirce to God by their muddy distinctions Thirdly it keepes their followers blinde so as they know not what they doe in their Latine seruice and Bellar. lib. 1. de Iustif cap. 7. fides melius per ignorantiā quam per notitiam definitur Eph. 4. 18. their faith is better defined by ignorance then knowledge Fourthly it giues libertie to many sinnes as ignorance whereby they are made strangers from the life of God Incest fornication periury rebellion and what not seeing they haue those who are subiect to the like passions who as Iudges of sinnes committed after Baptisme Bellar. ample declar cap. de paen pag. 210 can appoint penances satisfactory to God and pronounce absolute absolutions Secondly though Popery be not an Art of liuing well yet our religion whereby Christ is honoured by resting in him alone for saluation flying to these meanes of application which he hath appointed as the word faith Sacraments of Christ who alone hath power to set seales to the couenant of grace and prayer this religion I say wholly aymes at good life As the truth doth so it aymes Ioh 17. 17. at the sanctification of the heart not onely repressing the outward acts of sin by the contrary exercises of godlinesse and righteousnesse as the act of whooredome by continency the act of drunkennesse by sobrietie the acts of all sinnes by watchfulnesse fasting and prayer and the like and not onely strugling at the corruptions of the inferiour faculties and brutish powers of the soule but opposing the very enmity of the minde ignorance of the vnderstanding darknesse and varietie of thoughts stupiditie and fury of conscience rebellion of willes and if there be any other disorderlinesse as there is too much either in soule or body that doth exalt it selfe against God and his most holy and righteous law Ob. Yea but doe they not cry out that our religion giues liberty to sinne by our doctrine concerning Free-will Iustification Merits assurance of saluation perseuerance of the Saints and the like Sol. It is true they doe so but it is from false grounds For though we say that by nature we haue no free-will to good yet it is by our owne default and therefore we haue iust cause to be humbled for it and we are bound for reformation to giue attendance to the word and to waite as the poore Lazars at the poole of Bethesda for the descending of the Angell that wee ouer-slip not the acceptable time and the houre of saluation And this wee are able to doe being a matter of outward discipline and yet wee doe not When the Blessing is giuen wee are with Esau hunting in which respect wee may be iustly left in our sinne Againe though wee say that wee are not iustified by our workes yet they are the necessarie fruits of our sanctification and the necessarie way to saluation without which no man shall see the Lord. And though we abhorre the thoughts Heb. 12. 14. of Merits in the notion of the Church of Rome yet wee say that wee cannot comfort our hearts without the presence of Good workes for other necessarie vses And how can the doctrine of Tit. 3. 14. assurance of saluation and perseuerance lead to sinne when wee cannot be assured but by holinesse nor perseuere but in the vse of the holy meanes of saluation Lastly as our Religion is a Doctrine of Veritie and Pietie so it giues most sound peace and comfort in the houre of death and day of affliction There is little or no certaintie or assurance in the principall acts of the Popish Religion as I shall shew in some particulars As first in resting vpon the Traditions of the Church Wee are sure that the Scripture is the Word of God wee haue the testimonie of men but the testimonie of God is greater for it is embraced by enemies as well as by friends and is confirmed by the Miracles of Christ and his Apostles but wee cannot be so assured of Traditions Secondly in drie Communions Wee are sure that Christ ordained two distinct signes and that God is pleased when wee doe what hee requires but wee cannot be assured that God is pleased with halfe Communions that is the Popish receiuing of the Bread without the Wine vnder pretence of Concomitancie no though wee were sure that Christ were corporally present because the Lords Supper is a seale and signe of our crucified Lord when his bodie and bloud were seuered as he saith This is my bodie Luk. 22. 19 20. which is giuen for you and This is my bloud which is shed for you Thirdly in the Popes Monarchicall headship Wee are sure that Christ is the head of the Church because it is his office and hee is of infinite power influence yea and present with Secundum esse personale vs by his diuine power and vertue But we cannot be assured that the Pope is the head of the Church no not in respect of outward administration Ephes 4. 11. 12. and gouernment because God hath not sanctified one man onely but many for the gathering of the Saints and edification of the body of Christ Though in respect of Christ the gouernment of the Church is Monarchicall yet in respect of Christs Bishops and Ministers it is Aristocraticall Fourthly in prayer in a tongue not vnderstood by the people Wee are sure that it is lawfull to pray in our mother tongue for euery Psas 250. tongue shall praise the Lord yea and the Papists will confesse it for euen they haue some prayers in vulgar tongues as their Manuel of godly prayers Iesus Psalter and the like But wee cannot be assured of Gods accepting seruice in an vnknowne tongue because though God vnderstand it yet the people cannot with vnderstanding say Amen 1 Cor. 14. 16. They may giue a fainte lazy hasty and ignorant Amen but not zelous Godw. Mos Aar pag 90 91. Ex. 20. 5. Leuit. 26. 1. Deut. 4. 15 19. 5 8. Es 40. Fiftly In adoration of Images We are sure that we may worship God without them without offence because God hath neuer commanded or required such pretended helpes yea and the Papists doe sometimes pray without them as in some of their priuate Orisons and in the time of Lent when they are couered But wee cannot be sure that such worship can please God because the Scripture is so punctuall against them and they are such snares to tye our deuotions below Sixtly in inuocation of Saints Wee are sure that we may call vpon God because he hath bidden Psal 50. vs and hath promised to heare and to helpe vs yea and the Papists themselues hold this lawfull But wee cannot be assured that calling vpon the Saints pleaseth eyther God or them or that they doe heare or can helpe