generall Councell directed by Gods Spirit the explanation of the will of God to which all and euery Christian is to agree and as good Saint Augustine e August lib. 1. de Baptis contra Donatist cap. 18. tearmed the sentence of a generall Councell to be the consent of the whole Church 2. Meanes But to passe forward lest this good gift of discerning spirits might bee or seeme to bee a delusion therefore a second meanes is added hereunto which is the written Word of God comprised in Canonicall Scriptures For this is a most sanctified soueraigne meanes thus ratified by the Prophet f Esay 8.20 To the law to the testimonie if they speake not according to this word it is because there is no light in them thus reckoned of by the Apostle g 1. Tim. 3.15.16.17 the holy Scriptures are able to make thee wise vnto saluation through faith which is in Christ Iesus for all Scripture is giuen by inspiration of God and is profitable see the vses thereof for doctrine to wit of truth for reproofe of error for correction of a bad life for instruction in righteousnesse vnto a good life that the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished vnto all good workes For the old and new Testament is as sayth h Basil de rectâ fide Basill the treasure of the Church the holy books of diuine Scriptures are as saith i Isidor Pelusiot lib. 1. Ep. â—69 Isidorus Pelusiota 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the very ladders by which we climbe vp to God because k August tom 4 lib. de bâ—no viduitat cap. 1. the holy Scripture hath fastned a rule vnto our doctrine lest we should presume to vnderstand more then it behooueth vs to vnderstand but that as he saith we may vnderstand according to sobrietie as God hath giuen to euery man the measure of faith therefore it is not my part to teach you any other thing but to expound vnto you the words of the Teacher and to dispute of those things as God hath giuen Ob. But here againe Doctor Stapleton is l Stapleton vbi supra carping against this meanes also granting what we say to be true yet adding three things first that the Word of God is not the Scripture only secondly that the common sort of the faithfull doth not vnderstand this Word of God so exactâ—y as that they can iudge of euery new doctrine by the same Word of God and in the causes and grounds thereof thirdly that the proportion of faith which ruleth against new doctrine is the now approued and receiued faith of the Church Sol. All which exceptions are but beggerly crauings of what will not be granted neither to him nor to any Papist now liuing in the world For the first point is most false and a flat derogation to the sufficiencie of the Canonicall Scriptures which only conteine the whole reuealed will and Word of God as besides the Scripture it selfe which m Deut. 4.2 Reuel 2â— 18 curseth those that adde thereunto and Fathers alleadged by n Morn in praefat de Eucharist Polan cap. 1. symboâ— Theolog. c. our side and yet not answered by any of their Wranglers euen o Aquin. 1. p. Aquinas and Catetane their owne great Rabbies haue plainely auouched hee saying that our faith relyeth vpon the reuelation made to the Apostles and Prophets who writ the Canonicall bookes but not vpon the reuelation if any be made to any other Doctors this p Caietan in 2. Tim. 3.16 expounding the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by diuine inspiration as the speciall difference betweene Gods written Word and all humane inuentions And the second point is no better being an vncharitable debasement of Gods children who may be as S. Paul was q 2. Cor. 11.6 rude in speech but not in knowledge For since Gods Spirit r Iohn 16.13 which is the Spirit of Truth leading into all truth may be in Amos as wel as Esay may be in vnlettered Idiots as well as in a learned Rabbie we cannot with any godly reason debar simple men from the knowledge of the Scriptures which are not the Å¿ Esay 13.12 sealed booke but t Habbac 2.1 written so plaine that a man may runne and read them And therefore albeit they cannot out of Scripture exactly decide like a learned Schooleman a point of Controuersie yet may they by Gods enlightning grace attaine to so much knowledge of godlinesse out of the reading and hearing of the holy Scriptures as may through Gods acceptance suffice for their saluation according to their measure as the Apostle exhorteth u Col. 3.16 Let the Word of God dwell in you plenteously For hereby saith x Hieronym in 3. Coloss Hierome is declared that Lay men must haue the Word of Christ not onely sufficiently but abundantly and so teach and warne themselues mutually But thirdly where he seemeth to tye the proportion of faith to the Church not to the tenor of the Scriptures I maruell how hee dare so swarue from the Scriptures which y Clem. Alex. lib. 6. Strom. August lib. 2. contra Cresconium Grammatic all the Fathers call The Ecclesiasticall Rule both of faith and manners For what is this analogie or proportion of faith but z Vid. Hyperium lib. 2. de Theol cap. 35. the true agreement which one part of the Scriptures hath with another to make vp one faith Fides a Tertull. lib. de praescript aduer hâ—r cap. 14. saith TERTVLLIAN in regula posita est Faith is placed vnder a rule to wit of Law and Gospell that it should not depend vpon Man but vpon God and that it should be made knowne by it owne onely principles which are the Bookes of Canonicall Scriptures the onely best and Authentique b Iohn 5.39 Witnesses of Iesus Christ the c Heb. 12.2 Authour and finisher of our faith As then the Law-giuer is the best Interpreter of himselfe so let God in the Scriptures haue the place both of Text and of glosse d Psal 51.4 Rom. 3.4 that he may be iustified in his sayings and cleere when he is iudged For e Irenaeus lib. 3 aduers haer c. 12. ostensiones quae sunt in Scripturis non possunt ostendi nisi ex ipsis Scripturis saith IRENIE Doctrines in Scriptures cannot be declared but out of the Scriptures Whereupon f Tertull. lib. de veland virginib cap. 3. Tertullian thus cutting off all customes or prescriptions which seeme vpon pretence of antiquitie to derogate from truth cryeth out Exurge Veritas Arise vp Truth quasi de patientiâ erumpe and breake forth out of thy patience nullam volo consuetudinem defendas I will not haue thee to maintaine any custome Ipsa Scripturas tuas interpretare quas consuetudo non nouit Doe thou interpret thy Scriptures which custome hath not knowne si enim nosset nunquaÌ„ esset for if it
teach for hyre the Prophets for money as Marchants i Reuel 18.3 waxing rich through the abundance of her delicacies So proueable is the Beasts marke whereof yet lest some warie people should make a doubt Antichrist the better to cloake his Couetousnesse shall vse flat Coozenage in his false Miracles and lying Wonders His Cooznage knowne by his false Miracles as our k Mat. 24.24 Sauiour and his l 2. Thes 2.11 Reue. 13.13.14 Apostles foretold For since m 1. Cor. 12.22 Miracles are signes to them that beleeue not as is the gift of tongues therfore as Christ himselfe came and sent his Disciples to preach the Gospell n Heb. 2.4 God bearing witnesse thereunto with signes and wonders So Antichrist to gather the people vnto him like an Ape must imitate the Master and Ministers of the true Church of God in counterfeit signes which by o Bellar. lib. 3. de Pontif. ca. 15. Bellarmines owne confession are euery way lying Miracles in respect of all the causes as first of the end because they are only done p Mat 24.24 to deceiue if it were possible the very Elect whiles thereby they would if they could shew that Antichrist is God Messiah Secondly of the efficient which is onely the Deuill q Iohn 8 44. the Father of lyes after r 2. Thess 2.9 whose working is the comming of Antichrist Thirdly of the matter ficta non facta coozening tricks ſ Bell. vbi supra done in the sight of men but deluding the same saith Bellarmine out of Arethas Fourthly of the forme because they exceede not the strength of nature being onely performed by the secret eyther sympathie or antipathie of naturall things mirandè non miraculosè maruailously for that they are secret to the simple but yet not miraculously since that they are knowne to the Angels and may be perceiued by skilfull men in Philosophy and other learning And therefore what Antichrist cannot doe by his Fox-like fraud His crueltie forcible and fraudulent that same hee attempteth with Lyon-like force t Psal 10.9 like a Lyon in his denne vsing both force and fraud saith u Aug. in Ps 10 S. AVGVSTINE Force in his Gouernment and fraud in his Miracles that so he may fulfill the measure of the Deuils hatred in persecuting the Church first by the force of cruell Emperours and secondly by the fraud of cunning Heretikes For to say nothing of those phantasticall Warres of Antichrist which the x Bellar. cap. 16 Henriq §. 5. Viegas in 13. Apoc de Antichrist §. 10. Iesuites would out of the mis-interpreting of Daniel Ezechiel and Iohns Reuelation put vpon him to wage first against the three Kings of Aegypt Libia and Aethiopia secondly with the seuen Kings remayning and so to become the Monarch of the whole World Wee neede goe no further for testimonie of his crueltie then to the description of the y Reuel 17.7 Woman drunken with the bloud of the Saints and the bloud of the Martyrs of Iesus For to sucke vp this precious bloud of Gods redeemed Antichrist warreth not onely z Reuel 11.7 with the two Witnesses sent to preach in the great Citie which are not as the a Bell. ca. 6. Ribera Viegas in 11. Apoc. Papists all say Enoch and Elias since all the b Apud Pereriū in 5. Gen. 24. Fathers say that Enoch is not to be seene of men in this world and our Sauiour saith c Mat. 11.14 that Iohn Baptist was the Elias which was to come but rather as His d Iacob Rex in Praefat. in Apolog pa. 78.79 sacred Maiestie hath most certainely demonstrated either the two Testaments or the Witnesses preaching the Truth of those two Testaments but also with all those who will not worship the Image of the Beast For e Gal. 4.29 as he that was the sonne of the bond-woman persecuted him which was the sonne of the free-woman Euen so is it now seeing the faithfull must f Act. 14.22 through many temptations and afflictions enter into the Kingdome of God For the wicked thus raging are but g Esay 10.5 Gods Rod and the staffe in their hands is his indignation So that this may be our onely comfort in the middest or heate of all these troubles that as when a Father hath beaten his childe hee burneth the Rodde to still his childe so our most gracious God and louing Father hauing suffered for some short space the great Antichrist both in and against his Church for his Churches comfort and pleasure will destroy that Monster Antichrist as the h Reuel 16.17 lowd voyce out of the Temple of Heauen from the Throne at the powring out of the seuenth Violl shall say It is done And thus we see this vile Monster qualited both in Habits and in Acts. Now to finde out his forme at the full view The place of Antichrist is twofold Common and Proper wee must in the second place seeke where he sitteth and this by the guide of Scriptures may we finde out easily since Scripture sheweth the place of residence for wicked Antichrist to bee common and proper His Common place and both of them God knoweth too good for him For his common place wherein Gods Children may dwell as well as he is i 2. Thes 2.4 the Temple of God which all the Popish k Bella◠Vigne Henriq Viegas Eudam c. Writers that I haue seene vnderstand to be the Temple at Hierusalem but first without any Scripture at all since that great Citie vpon which they frame this conceit is not Hierusalem eyther heauenly or earthly not heauenly for that is called l Reuel 11.8 The holy Citie not earthly for that was not the place of Execution when m A. Nerone ad Licini. Vide Euseb lib. 3. hist cap. 6. lib. 4. cap. 6. Orosi lib. 7. cap. 9. Tyrants were to persecute the Saints it being made desolate all the time of those tryalls but is taken by all n Vid. August hom 8. in Apoco Marlaor c. the best Writers weighing all circumstances for the middest of the Church where Christ was crucifyed both in his Members by persecution and in Himselfe by the blasphemies of Antichrist Secondly against both Scriptures prophecying and the prooued euent those plainely foretelling that God will make Hierusalem desolate vntill o Dan. 9.27 the consummation and that determined shall bee powred vpon the desolate This is manifest by the Iewish hope of building the Temple so oftentimes frustrate especially p Russin lib. 1. hist cap. 38. Theodor. lib. 3. histor cap. 20. when Iulian the Apostata the more to despite the Christians did authorise them to build the Temple in the place where it was set before but then could not be founded by reason of Fire and Thunder and Earth-quake happening in the same place where they would haue layd the first
is Saint Bernard the worthy Abbot of Clarae-vallis who feared not to write m Ber. Epi. 125. thus vnto one GERARDVS DE LORITORIO The Beast in the Reuelation to which is giuen a mouth speaking Blasphemies and making Warre with the Saints possesseth PETERS Chaire as a Lyon readie to the prey And thus hath the Iurie giuen their verdict against which The supply against exception by a Decem tales if the Prisoner at the barre make exception by disliking of any of them as too too partiall and so worthily to be challenged we haue a Decem tales others void of exception readie vpon the call to appeare The first as amongst the Princes Fredericke Barbarossa Emperour who writing to the Cardinalls said n Albert. CraÌ„tzius in Metropoli lib. 7. cap. 53. that the authority of the Romane See had loosed the reines of boldnesse and replying vnto Hadrian the fourth protesteth o Hen. Mutius l. 18. rerum Germanic ex Chronâ—co HirsaugieÌ„s The second that hee would prouide for the peace of the Church since he seeth that the detestable beast of pride hath crept vp into Peters chaire and Lewes the Twelfth king of Fraunce who in the heroicall spirit of his most illustrious Progenitor Philip the faire p Naucler tom 2. Generat 44. Platina in Bonisac 8. the famous suppressour of that Raging Tyrant Boniface the eight caused q E Chron. Gal. apud Pet. Molin de Monarchiâ temporali Pontific Rom. ca. 15. his coyne of Gold to be stamped on the inside with these words Perdam nomen Babylonis I will destroy the name of Babylon meaning Rome the seate of Pope Iulius the second his deadly enemie and lastly our most Puissant Princes and Kings of England r Vide in horvitis Chron. Anglicana praecipuè Mat. Paris Roger. Houeden Holinshed Stow l. Fox in Martyrologio King Iohn King Edward the third King Henrie the eight King Edward the sixth blessed Queene Elizabeth all of them to their power renouncing the Pope as the very Antichrist but especially our most Gracious Soueraigne King Iames concerning whose most Å¿ Apolog. cum praef Medita in Apocalyps 20 Diuine Discourses of this argument well knowne to all the world yea and carped at by t Bell. Parsons Suarez Coquaeus Schioppius c. Popelings but not corrected admired at but not answered we may most truely take vp that prouerbe u Prou. 31.29 The fourth c Many haue done vertuously but thou surmountest them all Secondly amongst the Bishops x Nilus Thessalonic li. 2. de primatu Papae Nilus of Thessalonica pulling downe the Popish Primacie and y Apud Auent lib. 7 p. 573. Probus Tullenses shewing the Popes Legats to be Antichrists seruants and Honorius z Hono. Angustod dial de praedest et l. arbitrio Augustodunensis auouching the seate of the beast to be in the Pope and Cardinalls yea and all a CoÌ„cil Turonensi sub Lodouico 12. the Bishops of Fraunce in the dayes of Lewes the twelfth and of England in the Raigne of Henrie b Vid. Fox Mart. sub Hen. 8 Edwar. 6. The eight c. the eight and Edward the sixth renouncing the Pope Lastly amongst the Monks Henrie c Petrus CluniaceÌ„s l. 1. Ep. 1. 2 the Scholler of Petrus de Bruis calling Rome Sodome and Babylon and d Rob. Gallus l. de vaticinijs apud Posseuinum to 2. Apparatus Robertus Gallus a Dominican describing the Pope for Antichrist vnder the figure of a Serpent and e Guido Carmelâ—t Bern. de Luzenburg in Catalog haeres Bell. in ChroÌ„ ad annum 1191. Petrus Iohannis Bitterensis a Franciscan in his Postills vpon the Reuelation prouing the Pope to be that Antichrist to conclude if all this thicke cloud of witnesses will not cast him we can produce whole Churches as f Catalog test verit lib. 3. at Leodium whole Synods as those g Ap. AueÌ„ l. 7. c of Rome vnder Otho Fredericke and Lewes Bauarus and a great many such Councels holdeÌ„ in h Sub Philippo Pulchro Lodouico 12. France yea whole peoples in Countreys who euer reiected the bondage of this Antichrist as in England those faithfull ones whome i Fox Martyrolog â—ub Rich. 2. Henrie 5. they wickedly nickenamed for Lollords in France k Reinerius de Waldensiâ—us the Waldenses in Italie the l Naueler tom 2. Gen. 44. Fratricellians in Bohemia m Iacob Misnensis de aduent Antichr apud Catalogum test Ver. lib. 1â— the Melitzians all before Iohn Wickleffs time yea and in the Mountaines of Rhetia aboue Sauoy the n Ioh. Nicho's his Recantation Mornaeus de Mysterio Iniquitatis pa. 730. An exception against these truely answered faithfull Inhabitants of Vallis and Telina who had from their first conuersion to Christ alwayes their owne true Pastors neuer subiect to the bondage of Babylon and Antichrist Rome and the Pope But me thinks I heare some Papists except against all these voyces as giuen by their enemies and by Heretikes condemned by the Catholique Church But to these men I cannot make a better reply then such as that of o Reg. 18.13 Elijah vnto wicked Ahab proudly demaunding Art thou he that troubleth Israel when he said I haue not troubled Israel but thou and thy Fathers house in that yee haue forsaken the Commandements of the Lord and thou hast followed Baalim For none of these were otherwaies their enemies but as true men are to theeues neither did the Catholike Church their Mother at any time condemne them for Heretikes who mainteined no doctrine contrary to Scripture neither followed other discipline then at that time was vsed Indeed the Pope and his adherents in hatred of that truth which God reuealed by them to the world did enterprise to condemne them and persecute them with Fire and Faggot sword and desolation onely to fulfill the Prophecies giuen out concerning the crueltie of the wicked Antichrist But yet their cause is neuer the worse since the great side doth many times ouersway the better neither is the credit of their verdict thereby any whit impaired in the iudgement of the wisest and most godly since time hath brought that truth to light which in that Darke world yet these faithfull saw clearely Three specialties enforcing good Men vnto this sharpe censure of the Pope to bee that Antichrist and the Pope hath proued their words to be true by three sundry specialties of most liuely proofe which enforced not onely the forenamed witnesses but euen the Popes owne deare dearlings and best friends to confesse that Antichrist was euen then come and amongst them The first The first specialtie was his pride in vsurping vpon the secular power by the deposing of Princes first p Vid. Bellar. cap. 1. in Barklae Reuerend D. Roffensem Episc in Bellar. lib. 1. cap. 2. attempted by Pope Hildebrand Gregorie the
Gene. 16.12 Euery mans hand against her and hers against euery man and at home in contempt like degenerating IEHORAM k 2. Chron. 21.20 not being desired They were rich she poore they were famous she forlorne they were loued she lothed they were peaceable she peeuish they were bountifull she bloudie they wanne and kept what she spent and lost God in truth l 2. Chro. 15.2 forsaking her who forsooke him For as Nazianzen m Nazianz. orat 21. quae est de Athanasio speaketh to the prayse of IOVINIAN The Prince that giueth strength vnto Religion receiueth from Religion strength againe Wherefore now there is no reason why n Stapleton lib. 4. cap. 10. doctrinal princip Bristow 10. Motiue Kellison lib. 2. cap. 4. c. Ob. Papists should terme and call our Prince and his people Schismatikes and Apostates for departing from them who depart from Christ Sol. Since if the Pope be Antichrist as we before haue prooued at large we the true members of the Catholike Church of Christ in England by this our departure from the Romish Synagogue doe nothing else at all but what Scripture commandeth Reason perswadeth Ancient Fathers preached and some learned Papists doe allow The Scripture commandeth it both in the Olde and New Testament In the Olde both by the Law o Exod. 23.32 Thou shalt make no couenant with them meaning the Canaanites nor with their gods and by the p Hos 4.15 Prophet saying Though thou Israel play the Harlot yet let not Iudah sinne goe not vp to Gilgâ—l neither goe vp to Beth-auen In the New both by the q 2. Cor. 6.14 Apostle forbidding vs to bee vnequally yoked together with vnbeleeuers and by the voyce from Heauen crying r Reuel 18 4. Come out of her my people that ye be not partaker of her sinnes and that ye receiue not of her plagues For the Reason which perswadeth this departure is twofold first the infection of sinne which like a plague spreadeth as the Satyrist expressed it Å¿ Iuuenal Satyr 14. dedit hanc contagio labem Et dabit in plures sicut grex totus in agris Vnius scabiem cadit porrigine porci that is Infection gaue this spot and will giue it to more Like one scabd sheepe corrupting all And one swine mesling sore agreeing herein with the t 1. Cor. 5.6 blessed Apostle who therefore will haue vs to shunne bad companie because a little leuen leueneth the whole lumpe The second the infliction of like punishment vpon the like offenders as the u Rom. 6.23 wages of sinne is death to bee inflicted according to this true rule of Iustice which Bernard deliuered x Bernard Meditat cap. 4. Vna poena implicat quos vnus amor in crimine ligat the same punishment entangleth those together whom the same loue doth binde in the same kind of sinne as our English Prouerbe is Like sinne like smart And therefore well might the Ancient Fathers in their zeale for true puritie both in doctrine and life preach for this departure from hereticall association as to name but two for all the rest in the Greeke Church Ignatius thus exhorteth the Philadelphians y Ignat. Epist ad Philadelph Abstaine from all those hurtfull herbes which Christ Iesus hath not planted but that wild beast that reioyceth in mans bloud shed and amongst the Latines Hilarie z Hilar. li. contra Auxentium thus earnestly vrgeth against the Arrian AVXENTIVS One thing I warne you take heed of Antichrist for the loue of those wals meaning of the Church where Arrians taught doe wickedly hold you and yee doe wickedly yeeld reuerence to the Church of God in the houses and buildings badly yee imbrace the name of Peace vnder the colour of these things For euen the learned Papists themselues doe allow yea and vrge vnto their Pseudocatholikes a departure from Heresie and Heretikes as not to trouble you with the cautions of their a Tolet. lib. 1. Instr cap. 9. Iacobus à Graphâ—is p. 1. lib. 4. cap. 18. Azor. p. 1. lib. 8. cap. 11 curious Casuists concerning the auoyding of hereticall companie it is a point of purpose handled by diuers concerning the Fauourites and Defenders of Heretikes adiudged for Heretikes as by b Felisius in 8. p. cap. 18. Felisius c Henriq lib. 9. n. or theol cap. 15. §. 4. Henriquez d Viguer Instit cap. 10. §. 3. vers 2. Viguerius e Henr. Grauius in Annotat. super c. 20. August lib. contra Donatistas post Collat. Grauius and our owne good Countrimen f Stapleton in Or. de officio Pij viri aduers haereticos Stapleton and g Bristons Motiu Antihaeretic 23. Brisâ—ow who set all those earnest and heauie exhortations which they make for Recusancie vnto their Disciples vpon this only chiefest ground that wee must not haue any communion with Heretikes They grant the generall concerning the flying from the companie of Heretikes they would lay that in particular to our charge which we well proue vpon them only because they are in subiection vnder the Great Antichrist from whose heauie yoke our happie departure is throughly iustified by those fore-alleaged places of Scripture in the iudgement of Tertullian h Tertullian lib. de Coron Milit. cap. 13. Ob. who saith that wee Christians are remooued from dwelling in that Babylon mentioned in the Reuelation of Iohn albeit not as yet from the suggestion But our i Stapleton orat quam vocat Apolog. Recentior Ecclesiae Aduersaries here would presse vs with an hard obiection as they iudge of it drawne from our Ancestors and naturall Parents liuing in times before vnder the darknesse and slauerie of Antichrist as if either we must condemne those our forefathers vnto Hell with Infidels and Heretikes or approuing them condemne our selues Sol. But our k Mornaeus de Eccles cap. 10. answere to this their poore Dilemma is such as Cyprian vpon this like alleadged prescription gaue against the Aquarians l Cyprian Epist 63. If any of our fore-Elders eyther ignorantly or simply hath not obserued and holden this which God himselfe hath taught vs to doe by his owne Example and Mastership there may be pardon granted vnto his simplicitie by Gods indulgence but wee cannot be pardoned who are taught and instructed of God seeing our m Luke 12.49 Sauiour hath giuen sentence that the seruant who knoweth his Masters will and doth it not shall be beaten with many stripes For this charitable Iudgement we conceiue of our fore-Elders in that we doe not single out any vnto damnation but onely conclude vnder these or the very like generall and indefinite termes First that they might hold sure the foundation of true Religion albeit they erred much in matters of circumstance ceremonie or in some not so waightie or momentanie Doctrines of faith Secondly that they erred more vpon ignorance then obstinacie
it is said The third part of all other Heretikes § XXX EVen now there are many Antichrists The Exposition of the latter part concerning many Antichrists which are Heretikes whereby wee know that it is the last time As the name of Christ in Scripture is taken either particularly for the Messiah himselfe or generally for those who are either his Types forerunning as were all the Prophets Priests and Kings liuing vnder the Law of all whom it is x Psal 105.15 said Touch not mine Anointed or Deputies following being consecrated to his Seruice by the vnction of his Spirit the Church with all the faithfull therein contained being therefore called by the Name y 1. Cor. 12.12 of Christ so the poysonous name of Antichrist is vsed by the Holy Ghost either particularly for the great Fox himselfe as the Article expresseth in this Text before or generally for all his cubs together who either forerunne him as Types or shaddowes in the first sixe hundred yeeres after Christ or else succeed him as his Deputies or Lieutenants seeking to maintaine his standing in those particular visible Churches out of which he was eiected by the force of Gods Word as we find the word vsed in all those places where the name of Antichrist is put either in the plurall number as in my Text or in the singular number collectiuely for any one Seducer whatsoeuer he be as where Saint Iohn saith z Ioh. Ep. 2.7 He that is such an one is a Seducer and an Antichrist For as the Types and Deputies of Christ are so called not onely because of the outward anointing but also for the inward and true ministration of the Grace of Christ vnto them Who a Coloss 2.19 hold of the head whereof all the bodie furnished and knit together by ioynts and bands increaseth with the increasing of God because they b Coloss 2.9.10 are complete in him who is the head of all principalitie and power receiuing c Iohn 1.16 of his fulnesse grace for grace euen so the forerunners and followers of this wicked Beast which is the Great Antichrist carrie the name and marke of their Master not onely because of that outward opposition which they all make against Christ by seuerall wayes but also for that inbred communion betweene them by which the forerunners prepare the way for Antichrist through the secret transfusion of their Poyson into the Papall Sea which through the strength of stomake doth perfectly digest it and deliuer it to such Sectaries as depending wholly vpon that See through the vigour of their venome with the Pharises in the Gospell d Math. 23.15 compasse Sea and Land to make one of their profession whom being so made they stuffe him vp with stubbornenesse and line him through with all manner of lewdnesse to make him twofold more the childe of perdition then themselues So that Saint Iohn from the multitude of these men thus opposed to Christ doth most aptly demonstrate the approch of the last times vnder this true forme of argument When Antichrist shall come it is the last time But Antichrist is come Therefore it is the last time For the name of Antichrist hath the same signification in both the Premises noting thereby vnto vs a bodie of Heresie intirely consisting of an vnhappy head and many bad members forerunning or following the approch of their head by opposing themselues against Christ Iesus and his holy Congregation either in faith or manners euen as both Augustine and Aquinas with all the approoued Writers both of Papists and Protestants whom I could yet see or peruse expound this place whence now concerning Heresie The doctrines drawne from this Text thus expounded The former the verie soule of Antichrist we may learne these two most certaine Problemes the former that from the first comming of Christ in the flesh vntill his last comming to Iudgement in this last Age of the World there shall alwayes be Heresies crept into the Church of Christ Militant here vpon Earth The latter The latter that all those Heresies whatsoeuer they be shall alwayes haue some necessarie dependance vpon the Great Antichrist The former prooued The former point appeareth true first from the Scriptures in e Math. 13.30 the Parable of the tares which must grow amongst the wheate vntill the Haruest For God to f Rom. 9.22 shew his wrath and to make his power knowne suffereth with long patience the vessels of wrath prepared to destruction secondly from the strength of a double Reason the first of necessitie since Heresies are if not essentiall yet very proper markes of these last times wherein all things g 2. Tim. 3.13 grow worse and worse as well in faith as in manners the wicked deceiuing and being deceiued For h Luke 18.8 when the sonne of man shall come shall he find faith on the Earth The question implyeth this negatiue i 2. Thes 3.2 All men haue not faith And k Luke 17.28 as in the dayes when LOT came out of Sodome so shall it bee in the dayes of the Sonne of man then there were l Gene. 18.32 not tenne Righteous for whose sake the Citie might haue beene saued as now and hereafter there shall be scarce any that may be thought worthy m Mat. 24.12 Charitie cooling and Iniquitie abounding The second of vtilitie which the Apostle deliuereth when hee saith n 1. Cor. 11.19 There must be Heresies also among you that they which are approoued may be made manifest among you For it must o Math. 18.7 needs be that offences come but woe to that man by whom the offence commeth Because as in a Fornace the Gold is purged but the drosse consumed so God permitteth Heresies alwayes in the World that the faithfull by their tryall may bee truely purged when the wicked by their wilfull Apostasies shall bee knowne as Tertullian p Tertullian de praescript aduersus haeres cap. 1. therefore said very well Haereses ad hoc sunt vt fides habendo tentationem habeat etiam probationem that is Therefore are heresies that faith by them hauing a triall might receiue an approofe For turne yee thorow all the Histories Ecclesiasticall either written by the ancient Fathers and Orthodox Scribes the Churches Pen-men q Euseb lib. 10 histor Eccles Eusebius r Sozomen lib. 9 Sozomene Å¿ Socrates lib. 7 Socrates t Theodor. lib. 5. Theodorite u Prosper in appendice ad Chronolog Euse Prosper x Victor in historia Vandalica Victor y Euagrius lib. 6 Euagrius and z Alij vt Epipâ—an Schol. lib. 1 part hist. Nicephor lib. 18. other such or digested into Centuries for distinction of times by the a Magdeburg tom 10. Magdeburgenses b Baron tom 10 Baronius c Osiand Epitome pa. Centur. 16 Osiander d Bisciola Epitome Baron tom 3. Bisciola and e Alij vt Illyricus
need shall not want a Scribe well taught vnto the Kingdome of God for perfecting the Saints for the worke of the Ministerie and for the edifying of the bodie of Christ Because that some either planting PAVL or watering APOLLOS shall be sent from God into the World as into the Vineyard at euerie houre till the end of the day For haue there not beforetimes for the space of these sixteene hundred yeeres together many Prophets and Righteous men appeared in the World May not wee find by the delightfull perusall of the Stories Ecclesiasticall how good men were appointed from God either by an extraordinarie calling to reforme things amisse or in ordinarie function to preserue things well settled Surely if this present Generation wil harken neither to the piping nor to the mourning of their play-fellowes in the streets that is c Hieron Hilar Aquin. in Matth. 11. if so they will not attend either to the Gospell or to the Law that comforting this correcting in the preaching thereof then are they cleane without excuse then must they expect from the mightie hand of God most iust and seuere punishment for their so wilfull a Rebellion and resistance of Christs raigning ouer them Indeed the Haruest is great but the Labourers are few if we regard who are fit for these things Yet since one of a thousand may by casting out the draw-net gather very many of euery kinde as PETER wanne two thousand at once and since of those many but a few may be chosen as all the bidden guests had not on a wedding garment the Church may haue choice enough of faithfull Pastors if she seeke them â—hâ—re they may bee found in Naioth or Mount Ephraim in our blessed Vniuersities where the abundance of Godâ— Spirit most comfortably appeareth in the multitude of Prophets and the profitable variety of refined conceits in Prophets ChildreÌ„ some excelling in doctrine others in exhortation this man in the gift of tongues that man in discussing of doubts one in sweetnesse another in soundnesse and euery one in some degree indued with such graces as may iustly giue occasion to any carefull Christian of doubt and distraction in making a good choice of such a fit man of God as may faithfully dispose the secrets of God Yea and further as some may presently vpon the touch of the coale from the Altar in the zeale of Gods glory say with the Prophet Here am I send mee so other may offer their seruice vnseasonably being either young Schollers rather puffed vp in pride then furnished with fit learning or an ouer-worne Seniour superanited from paines and soaked so in ease that he cannot well endure the watchfull labours of a faithfull Pastour or lastly a Wolfe in a Sheepes clothing who in his Colledge might be like a young Serpent not hardened in sâ—ing and harmelesse onely by the most wholsome restraint of Collegiate discipline but comming abroad may appeare in his likenesse eyther of a politike-Popish Time-seruer or of a peeuish-pepusian disturber of the Churches peace And therefore the holy Ghost had good cause and great reason to lay downe plainely in sundry places of sacred Scriptures the readiest meanes and truest marks of Teachers and Guides those for finding these for tryall and both together for our direction who are first to search that we may finde and then to try what we haue found whether he be a seeing or a blinde Guide a Shepheard or a Wolfe For we must try all things and not beleeue till we haue tryed the spirits that are come into the world seeing as SALOMON d Prou. 14.15 obserued The simple beleeueth euery word but the prudent man looketh well to his goings as did good IEHOSHAPHAT in hearing AHABS prophets and the noble Beraeans in trying by the Scriptures the words of Saint PAVâ— A Christian dutie so absolutely necessary that I the least and meanest of all Christs seruants being called by Gods prouidence at the godly appointment of your good Lordship signified vnto me by my most faithfull friend M. THOMAS KYFFIN your Lordships Chapleine to preach at Welch-poole before your Lordship vpon the next Sabbath after your Lordships Visitation there holden before could not thinke of any other better subiect then of this spirituall tryall which the Church thought fittest to bee taught to Gods people at that time by this Text of Scripture which I then expounded being a part of the Gospell appointed to be read in the Church that day For I thanke God for his mercy those my poore labours were by his onely blessing so well accepted first by your good Lordship secondly by my learned and most religious brethren of the Ministerie and lastly by all Gods people then hearing mee that vpon the earnest request of diuers godly Christians for the sight of my notes I haue I feare too boldly enterprised to publish them vnto the world somewhat enlarged in forme more then in matter as the iudicious then hearing but now reading will beare me witnesse Treasure hidden and sealed fountaines are vnprofitable said e Apud Epiphanium lib. de ponder mensuris PHILADELPHVS exhorting the Iewes to turne the Scriptures into other Languages and NERO f Sueton. in Neron could apologize his presumptuous piping by the Greeke Prouerbe There is no respect of secret Musicke For a candle must not be put vnder a bushell neither should the talent be hid g Horat. lib. 4. Od. 9. Paulùm sepultae distat inertiae celata virtus Onely now my feare is in the disproportion of my poore gift no manner of way worthy to be offered to your good Lordship whose dignitie requireth the liueliode of a learned tongue for the true expressement of that due thankefulnesse wherunto I stand for euer obliged by the strength and sweetnesse of your Lordships great fauours both generally declared by your Lordships good proofe of my poore endeuours and particularly demonstrated by your good Lordships late beneficence collating most freely vpon mee a further good meanes for my greater encouragement in liberall studies and the better maintayning of my comfortable charge For vnthankfulnesse is a great sinne and the least suspition thereof is a great griefe to a true honest man who will not be like a Cullinder letting all slip thorow reseruing nought for thankfulnesse which is a binding vertue vnto three good duties h Aquin. 22. q. 18. act 2. in c. first of acknowledgement for the receite secondly of readinesse in giuing of thanks and thirdly of recompence by an honest requitall according to his abilitie Yet since as SENECA i Lib. 5. de Beneficijs cap. 5. well determined it is no shame for inferiours to bee ouer-matched by their superiours in the entercourse of beneficence here is my comfort that your good Lordship according to that great measure of Gods Image in you will accept my willing minde according to that I haue For in the offering of Purification the poore womans Pigeons were as well accepted as the
he strongly purgeth by violent Physicke his sicke Patient so our Magistrates and Ministers Gods Superintendents vnto this charge are first to labour by all gentle meanes to winne these stray and wandring Wights in p Gal. 6.1 the Spirit of meeknesse since q Prou. 25.14 a soft tongue breaketh the bone as Saint Paul r 1. Cor. 4.21 wished to come to the Corinthians not with a Rod but in Loue. For it lighteneth before it thundreth God sent his Prophets before hee sent his Plagues and all to see if they would Å¿ Iere. 7.25 18.16 repent of their sinnes that hee might repent of his punishments But if they bee so stubborne that warning will not serue then draw out the Sword You good Men of the Sanedrin denounce by censure Ecclesiasticall and Yee Great Men of Millo strike home and wound t Psal 68.21 the hairie scalpe of euerie one that goeth on still in his trespasses For you must u Luke 14.14 compell them by force of Law to enter you being Gods Lieutenants on earth x Rom. 13.4 not to carrie the Sword for nought And therefore as Saint Augustine y August Ser. 33. de verb. do cap. 6. concludeth For is inueniatur necessitas nascitur intus volunt is Outwardly let them find a constraint and inwardly a good will or liking may grow in time For the Spirit z Iohn â— 8 bloweth where it listeth on a Act. â— 5 Saul the persecuter on b Euseb lib. Eccles hist 6. cap. 4. Basilides the tormentor on c Sleidan Comment lib. 21. Vergerius the confuter and so it may worke in those who are brought to the Church by compulsion that of d Esay 65.25 Lyons they may be Lambs of Cormorants be made Doues and of peruerse Papists by the preuenting and assisting grace of God become perfect Protestants willingly now renuing by true repeÌ„tance the couenant first made in their Baptisme to Christ who is their only Teacher and Master as it followeth to be declared now in the Instruction first vnto humilitie in the lowly seruant The third part § IIII. The Disciple is not aboue his Master c Theophylact. in 10. Matth. 24 Theophilact expounding this place vnderstandeth it prouerbially spoken of any Master and any scholler because so long as they are schollers they are inferiour to their Masters for when once they become better they are no more their schollars as f Apud Cic. lib. 9. Ep. sam Ep. 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 many schollers are better then their Masters But this interpretation is somewhat too generall because albeit it be true in euery Master and Scholler as they are so correlata yet the article here is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 declaring with an emphasis or vehemencie who properly is that Master to wit as g Beda in 6. Luc. Beda h Strab. in glâ—ss ordin Strabus i Stella in Luc. Stella and k Aquin. in Catena Marlaorat the whole streame of learned Interpreters haue deliuered Christ Iesus himselfe noted by the article 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For so he applieth it to himselfe when vpon this very speech he inferreth l Mat. 10.24.25 If they call the Master of the house Beelzebub how much shall they call them of the household Yea and he plainely auoucheth m Matth. 23.8 one is your Master euen Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—lle Doctor or ille Ductor that Teacher or that Leader of Israel far surpassing those who by a speciall commission from holy Iehoshaphat n 2. Chro. 17.6 taught the people and had the booke of the Law of the Lord with them and went about throughout all the Cities of Iudah and taught the people They were sent out by an earthly Potentate but he o Iohn 16.28 came downe from the King of Heauen They were directed by the booke of the Law but he was that onely true p Iames 4.12 Law-giuer himselfe they went throughout all the Cities of Iudah only but he preached the Gospell in all q Matth. 4.25 Palestina to wit in Gallie and Samaria as well as in Iudaea only to gather into one folde r Matth. 15.24 the lost sheepe of the house of Israel to whom he was sent So that his Disciples be they neuer so well furnished with grace and power either extraordinarie as were Å¿ Ephes 4.11 Apostles Prophets and Euangelists or ordinarie as Pastors Doctors and other good Christians had and stil from him may haue can neither be superiour nor equall vnto him who did but either send them as t 2 Cor. 5.20 Ambassadours in his stead or call them as lost u Luke 15.4 sheepe into his solde Wherefore hence wee learne a most certaine truth that Christ Iesus was is The Doctrine and euer shall be the sole supreme Teacher Leader Head and Master-builder of his holy Catholike Church and of all and euery member therein conteined For so Scripture Reason 1. Regula and Fathers doe demonstrate Scripture vnder these two heads of places as first where he is called the corner stone prophetically by Dauid saying x Psal 118.22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner For our Sauiour y Matth. 21.42 applieth it vnto himselfe to the iust conuiction of the contemning Iewes and St. Peter z Act. 4.11 feared not to vrge it beâ—ore the Elders in the Councell as the only pregnant place to proue Iesus to be Christ becauâ—e the a Esaâ— 11.10 Rom. 15.12 Gentileâ— as the Iewes shall â—rust in him being as S. Paul saith built vpon b Eph. 2.21.22 the foundation of the Apostles and the Prophets Iesus Christ himselfe bring the chiefe Corner sâ—one in whom all the building fiâ—ly framed together groweth vnto an holy Temple in the Lord. Secondly where he is intitulâ—d the c Ephes 1.22 Head ouer all things to the Church the d Ephes 5.23 Head of the Church as the man is of the wiâ—e For hereby is signified a full preeminence in regard both of honour since as the head is the chiefest part of the body naturall so is Christ the Head e Coloss 1.18 of the body the Church euen the beginning the first borne from the dead that in all things hee might haue the preeminence and of helpe which hee comfortably affordeth vnto al the other members of this his mysticall body whatsoeuer they be by due ministration of spirituall grace according to their seuerall necessities that in him they may be full and want nothing as all the f Colos 2.9.10 fulnesse of the Godhead dwelleth in him bodily and we are complete in him who is the Head of all principalitie and power For whatsoeuer saith g Ambros in Col. 2. Ambrose any thinketh great in any man he shall finde more in Christ because all haue from him as members from the head yet is he alwayes
Decret apud Binnium tom 1. Eusebius because Christi vice Legatione sunguntur in Ecclesiâ In stead of Christ they execute an Ambassage in the Church For it is Augustine his double Rule k August in 〈…〉 Omnis Antistes â—sâ—â—hristi Viâ—ius Euery Bishop is Christs Vicar and l Idem 〈◊〉 q. 106. Homo Impertum Dei habens quasi Vicarius Dei est Man hauing Gods Dominion is as Gods Vicar How can the Pope then be Christs Vicar when Christ hath not made him so neither doth hee behaue himselfe as a Vicar or Vicegerent but as a Lord-Royal when yet his own Law is That m Ioâ— 22 Extrauag Con. lib. 3 tit 2. cap. 5. ad init the Vicar of Christ should coÌ„forme himselfe to the acts of Christ For thirdly is hee not entituled Caput Ecclesiae The Head of the Church Is not this Christs Free-hold whereupon he so vsurpeth And yet how can hee be a Vicar of Christ and the Head of the Church For as that Titular Patriarch of Antioch spake in the Councell of Basill n Joh. Patriar Antioch in append Concil apud Binnium tom 3. pa. 2. Caput esse denotat praeeminentiam quam Minister non habet supra Dominam To be Head noteth a preeminence which the Seruant hath not aboue his Mistresse Ob. Yes say they o Rhemists in 1. Eph. §. 5. Hee may bee a Ministeriall Head as the Pope is to the Militant Church here on earth Well be it so Sol. But I demand what Scripture teacheth this For no place is yet to our knowledge brought by any of them for ground of this distinctioÌ„ But to deale kindly with them who so disgrace their Sauiour by magnifying their Pope admit this yet then the Pope hath not to doe with the Church Triumphant being only the Ministeriall Head of the Militant Church neither yet can euery Pope bee a true Head thereof since some Popes are damned creatures in Hell euen p Watsons Quodlibets q. Sixtus Quintus by Bellarmines iudgement and Landus with others of that Ranke whom q Vid. Baron Annal. ad Ann. 900. c. Baronius and r Platina in Lando c. Platina haue censured either for Monsters or obscure Villaines But if they were neuer so good men I maruell how the Church shall liue when the Pope is dead Shall it walke hop-headlesse Poore Church either the Pope is not thine Head vpon whom thy life dependeth as the life of the members is from the Head or else thou maist make a great many Resurrections vpon the enstalling of euery new Pope yea and must be sometimes like the triple-headed Cerberus Absit dicto blasphemia vpon any Schisme Answere these doubts yee Papists or your Pope is no Head of the Militant Church But fourthly the Pope is Sponsus Ecclesiae The Bridegroome of the Church if hee bee not the Head Nay then hee must bee the Head as the Å¿ Ephes 5.23 Husband is the Head of the Wife But who durst call the Pope the Bridegroome to the Church which by Saint t 2. Cor. 11.2 PAVL is espoused and presented to one Husband euen Christ who as the Baptist saith u Iohn 3.29 is the Bridegroome because hee hath the Bride whom hee x Hos 2.19 married vnto himselfe for euer Surely neither Scripture nor Councell nor Father euer gaue this Title to the Pope till a thousand two hundred and fortie yeeres after CHRIST when the Dogge had his day in the very power and houre of darkenesse I meane when Antichrist ruffled in the Councell assembled at y Bellar. reporteth it out of the Sext. tit de Elect. caâ— Vbi periculum Where yet I cannot finde any such word in their new Edition Gregorian Lyons where this Title Sponsus Ecclesiae was giuen to the Pope farre contrarie to Saint Bernards minde who told z Bernard Ep. 237. Pope EVGENIVS that since he was the Bridegroomes friend hee should make no challenge vnto the Bride vnlesse it be to dye for her sake For that were to make the Church an Harlot if She should be espoused to any other since Christ euer liueth because the a Rom. 7.3 Woman which hath an Husband is bound by the Law vnto her Husband so long as he liueth Ob. But may not an Husband haue a Deputie in his absence Sol. To what purpose To beget Children of her Then b Gene. 39.9 Ioseph might without sinne haue layne with his Mistresse But shee was exempted from vnder his hand as the Church is from vnder the power of any Pope Priest or Potentate in respect of her coniunction in Marriage which is only with Christ as she truly professeth c Canâ— 7.10 I am my Beloueds and his desire is towards mee Ob. Where then the Cardinall doth not thinke it absurd in spirituall matters that one spouse should belong to many howsoeuer it is grosse in Temporall causes Sol. Let him know that as Man and Wife are by Marrriage d Gene. 2.23 one flesh so Christ and his Church are by spirituall coniunction e 1. Cor. 12.12 one body of which if the Pope bee not a member he is but a damned creature for f Cybrian lib. de Vuit Ecclesiae out of the Church is no Saluation and if hee be a member then is he not Sponsus the Bridegroome or Head but one ouer whom the Spouse hath a power euen to be his Mistresse because hee is but her Husbands Vicar or Deputie or Steward not to rule ouer her but for her benefit to dispence their seuerall portions vnto her seruants as Thomas g Apud Aenâ—um Syluium lib. 1. de gest Concil Basil ens de Corsellis did learnedly argue this Case before the Fathers in the Councell of Basill Yet fifthly and lastly hee is called and must carrie it cleerely to be so Episcopus vniuersalis The vniuersall Bishop albeit no Scripture euer gaue him or any other Bishop such a name nay nor yet any Father of the Primitiue Church saue h Theodo diac Ischyrion diac Athanas presb in Actione 3. Concil Chalcedonensis three priuate men in the Councell of Chalcedon who intituled Leo the first vniuersall Archbishop or vniuersall Patriarch but if we may beleeue the report of Gregory i Gregor ad Mauritium lib. 4. Ep. 32. Although this name of vniuersall Bishop was in honour of Saint PETER offered by that Councell to the Bishop of Rome yet none of his Predecessours euer tooke it vnto him or gaue consent to vse it For indeede Gregorie himselfe did k Gregor Ep. 36.38.39 lib. 4. Registri many times inueigh against Iohn the Patriarch of Constantinople for vsurping this name of vniuersall Bishop as a name too high for any man and therfore a proud blasphemous and sacrilegious Title for a Minister of Christ Yea and Gratian l Gratian. dist 99. Can 3.4 from the Councell of Afrike and from the following Decree of
one of Pride the other of Securitie of Pride when they thinke to doe Workes t Interim August vbi supra aboue commandement whereas the Law u Psal 19 8. of God is so perfect that if it x Esay 8.20 be not answerable to the Law what wee doe there is no light in vs yea y Matth. 15.9 we worship God in vaine teaching for Doctrines mens Precepts of Securitie when they would haue one so to depend vpon another as vpon his Mediatour when Scripture telleth them plainely That z Psal 49.7 no man can by any meanes redeeme his Brother or giue to God a ransome for him and that when we haue a Luke 17.10 done all that is commanded vs we must say Wee are vnprofitable seruants wee haue done that which was our dutie to doe Ob. For where b Cassander Consultat vbi supra some would cloke this blasphemie vnder the colour of the communion of Saints in which the weaker members are sustained by the stronger as ABRAHAMS c Gene. 20.7 Prayer healed ABIMELECHS Household and Hierusalem d 1. Reg. 15.4 was often saued for DAVIDS sake Sol. They vtterly mistake the question or wilfully abuse the simple ignorāt by casting this mist before their eyes which being cleered by the light of the Gospell may well perceiue their false colloguing if it be but in this since the communion of Saints betweene our selues consisteth not in ministring to others necessities out of our superfluities or Workes as they call them of supererogation but in the vse of graces giuen vs for the benefit of others those graces being only such as whereby one of vs may edifie another alreadie planted in the House of God and not meritorious to procure eternall life for others as they thinke instancing therefore most idly both in ABRAHAMS Prayers which profited ABIMELECHS House in bodie not in soule not by ABRAHAMS communication but vpon Gods only fauour and in DAVID whose merits were not the cause of sauing Hierusalem out of the hands of their bodily enemies but only Gods mercie remembring the Couenant made with DAVID before As therefore the wise e Matth. 25.5 Virgins could not spare any of their Oyle to the Foolish lest they should haue wanted for themselues so the best of GODS Saints cannot spare any whit of grace to others which themselues may haue neede of seeing that as Saint Augustine giueth the f August lib. 83. quaest q. 59. reason Euery man shall giue an account for himselfe neither is any man holpen by anothers testimonie with God to whom the secrets of the heart are manifest and scarsly is any man sufficient to himselfe that his owne conscience may beare witnesse with himselfe Howsoeuer it bee it is an Axiome in PETER t Lombard lib. 1. dist 48. cap. 6. LOMBARD Nullius passione redempti sumus nisi Christi Wee are redeemed by no mans suffering but by Christs But let these second sorts of proud Perfectists now passe for this present Thirdly Swenckfeldians Anabaptists and our English Separatists now soiourning at Amsterdam who u Vid Osiand f. in Enchir. 3. par cap. 6. q. 1. M. Barnards second Booke pag. 93. presume so very much of their owne perfection that they hold two grosse points concerning the visible parts of the Church Militant as first in generall That the true Church must be without Sinners or Hypocrites remayning therein the second in particular that their Churches or Assemblies are such But the falshood of the former is many wayes apparant in holy Scripture first by parable Sol. x Matth. 13.32.38 c. in the field sowne with tares the Draw-net bringing fish vp great and small good and bad in the y Math. 20.10 Kings guests at supper whereof one wanted a wedding garment and in a z 2. Tim. 2.20 great house contayning vessells not onely of gold and of siluer but of wood and of earth some to honour and some to dishonour For all these demonstrate that in a visible Church militant are not onely faithfull children but hypocriticall professors also Secondly by plaine termes as where the Prophet a Esay 29.14 said what our b Matth. 15.8 Sauiour seconded This people draweth nigh vnto me with their mouth and honoureth mee with their lips but their heart is farre from me these are Hypocrites and where the Apostle c Gal. 2.5 signified what we shall still find true that false brethren brought in vnawares came in priuily to spye out our libertie which wee haue in Christ Iesus that they might bring vs into bondage and these were glosing Heretikes for d 1. Cor. 11.19 there must be Heretikes amongst you that they which are approoued may be made manifest among you Thirdly by necessary consequence in reason for if the parts be not sound the body is not whole and intire the Church is the bodie whereof all true Professors are members But the best of these members are crazed by corruption as was Dauid e 2. Sam. 11.2 by Adulterie Peter by dissembling f Gal. 2.15 euen after the great descent of Gods Spirit and so the best men that haue in them flesh How then can the Church bee so intire as they would make it As the g Cantic 2.2 Lillie amongst the Thornes so is my loue amongst the daughters pricked and pained by manifold h Matth. 18.7 offences which must needs come while shee is in this world where the i Reuel 12.12 Ephes 2.2 Deuill so rageth and raigneth by open persecutions or secret seductions Fourthly by Histories of all times For in Adams House which was the first Church there was a k Gene. 4.1 Cain in Noahs a l Gene. 9.24 cursed Canaan in Abrahams a m Gene. 21.6 mocking Ismael in Isaacks a n Heb. 12.17 prophane Esau in Iacobs a o Gene 49.3.4.5 rude Reuben and Simeon and Leui brethren in euill but what should I instance further The Church of Israel in the best dayes thereof neuer wanted corruptions or corrupt caitifes as false prophets filthy priests wicked rulers and worse people if we may beleeue the good Prophets bitterly inueighing so many times against them Nay in the Church of Christ what Age wanted Heretikes or what faithfull company was euer void of Hypocrites The Apostles had a p Iohn 6.70 Iudas the seuen Deacons had a q Act. 6.2 Nicholas the Samaritanes a r Act. 8.21 Simon Magus but I neede goe no further since the continuall reformation which is to be sought for in all true Churches doth intimate corruptions therein to be hatched I know the Church is ſ Cantic 1.4 faire Ob. and t Ephes 5.26 made glorious without spot But first it is so by Christ not of it selfe Secondly this beautie is perfected in glory not in grace Sol. I know Ob. we are commanded to separate our selues u 2. Cor. 6.14 Ephes