heard him teaching in other Churches or as falsely they might boast priuately imparting it as some secret to themselues how euer It s but the tricke of an Heretique to flye from verbum Scriptum to verbum Iraditum I meane where the doctrine is vrged as matter of necessary faith belike Apostles had forgotten the charge of their Master to i Mat. 10.27 publish on the house tops what they had heard in secret when they must whisper in secret the abstruser points of knowledge to the more perfect conceiling them from all notice of the vulgar Saint Austin makes mention of the Deuterosis Iudaeorum Cont. Aduers leg prophet lib. 2. cap. 11. which to them was a second Mishne equalled with Moses his written Deuteronomie Vnwritten traditions who doubts but pretended from Moses or some other great Prophet which they equalled with the Scriptures of the Law and Prophets Quid nostri The written word is but partialis Regula supplie it must haue from Tradition No nay for where else shall we finde Purgatorie Inuocation of Saints Adoration of Images Sacrament Reliques c. Thus I iudge 1 Euer since the Church had a word written she had in that written word a perfect rule of faith and practise perfect I meane protempore The quaere is vsuall all whither Articles of faith were increased in processe of time And is thus resolued they were not encreased noua addendo but implicita explicando Doth any doubt whether Moses related fully what was prescribed to Adam or Abraham to be beleeued 2 The Gospell which the Apostles preached they did afterwards by the will of God deliuer vs in their writings Irenaeus lib. 3. cap. 1. to be the foundation and pillar of faith perfectly and fully trow we Adoro Scripturae plenitudinem saith Tertullian Scriptum esse doâ—eat Hermogenis â—fficina Si non est Scriptum timeat vae illud k Vide Apoc. 22.18 In cap. 2. Aggaei adijcientibus vel detrahentibus destinatum Saint Hierome Quae absque autoritate testimonijs Scripturarum quasi traditione Apostolica sponte reperiunt at que confingunt percutit gladius Dei 3 Can we imagine the Apostles inserting in their writings paticulars many comparatiuely to those of necessary faith of no such consequence for knowledge would pretermit any thing concerning vs in the maine Credat Iudaeus Apella 4 But who can imagine their writings and Traditions are contrariant Ends of committing the word to writing see largely in Theophylact Kemnitius and others Ancient and Moderne and tell me how well this Phansie sorts with them Nor by Epistle as from vs. The third is letter Meanes he the former Epistle sent to this Church corrupted by audacious glosse of these false Teachers Rather some other forged by them and fathered vpon the Apostle why else in the close is the Apostle so carefull to Characterize his Epistles doubtlesse that the forgerie if any might thereby be discouered Such forgerie is no new thing in Heretiques and other Impostors Apostles yet suruiuing they published vnder their Names Euangelicall stories Ambrose on Luke mentions the counterfeit Gospels of Thomas Bartholomew Paul whose Authors he supposeth those many mentioned by Luke to haue attempted but without successe the narrations that concerned our Sauiour After-Times were not free from like Impostures But as any man gained to himselfe reputation of learning and sanctity in the Church so was his Name prefixed to the Pamphlets of seducing Teachers to gaine them Authoritie out of this shop came that booke of Hermes commonly stiled Pastor and those many counterfeit Fathers whose Authoritie is sacred amongst our Romanists Truth is scarcely any of the Fathers but their names haue bin made Panders to their superstition that where their indubitate writings steed them not counterfeit additions may procure them patronage What thinke you Is not the cause deplored which but by such base shifts cannot be supported Haue ye no written word for purgatorie prayer for the dead in all the indubitate Scriptures of Prophets Apostles but ye must flie to the Apocrypha Tradition apparitians of the dead c. for their foundation 'T will euer be true which Tertullian said of Heretiques they are Lucifugae Scripturarum I say as Basil Infidelitatis Argumentum fuerit Serm. de fidci Consessione lib. 3. cont lit petilian cap. 6. signum superbiae certissimum si quis eorum quae scripta sunt aliquid velit reijcere aut corum quae non scripta introducere as Saint Augustine Si quis siue de Christo siue de eius Ecclesia siue de quacunque aliâ re quae pertinet ad fidem vitamque nostram non dicam si nos sed quod Paulus adiecit si Angelus de Colo vobis annunciauerit preterquam quod in Scripturis legalibus Euangelicis accepistis Anathema sit But of the generall matter of the Caueat and Item against the meanes of seducement hitherto followes the particular errour As if the day of the Lord were at hand Is that an errour said not Peter the same l 1 Pet. 4.7 The end of all things draweth nigh And Paul the m 1 Cor. 10.11 ends of the world are come vpon vs. Resp 1 Some thus It s not farre off if ye compare the vtmost endurance with eternitie A n 2 Pet. 1.8 thousand yeares is as one day millions of yeares the perpetuitie of time scarce a point a moment in eternitie yet may it be farre off after the measure of Time 2 Comparatiuely night to the times foregoing Christs comming in the flesh not simply nigh 3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Appropinquat it draweth nigh that is Saint Peters tearme yet not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inslat not instantly to fall vpon the men then liuing as if they should not taste of death till they saw the Lord Christ comming in his glorie which seemes the conceit these meant to fasten on them 4 But why presume they to determine of times and seasons which God hath reserued in his own power nigh therefore so nigh What may we imagine Satans aime in venting such an errour in the Church seemingly so disaduantagious to his Kingdome The hearing of a Iudgement to come strikes Foelix with o Acts 24 25. trembling The terrible sound of the last trumpe which Hierome so continually sembled to himselfe Omnia tuta timco how did it make him feare where he was most secure Resp 1 Amongst libertines it occasions greater indulgence to the flesh as men willing to glut themselues with the pleasures of sinne because their time is but short Isai 22.12 2 Any errour in Gods children as an errour pleaseth the father of lies the seducer of the Brethren such especially as may tend to worke their perplexitie 3 The maine is this admit but one lye into Scriptures or Scripture doctrine August the Authoritie the truth of all fals to the ground The delay of Christs comming bred in those mockers p 2 Pet. 3.4 scoffing
be Authors of such ciuile defection 4 The sinne specified as cause of Antichrists raigne and cursed efficacie in delusion is not r 2 Thes 2.10 receiuing loue of the truth c. 5 I am deceiued if Scripture any where vse the tearme to signifie any other then a spirituall or Ecclesiasticall defection from God Heb. 3.12 Isai 1.5 From Faith 1 Tim. 4.1 From Religion Acts 21.21 We haue consent of best expositors amongst Romanists of Saint Austin better aduised Estius ad locum de Ciuitate dei lâ—b 20. cap. 19. Refugam vtique a Domino Deo The defection then is spirituall Concerning it see these particulars 1 What it is To Thomas it sounds retrocessionem a Deo a going backe or departure from God with whom we haue had some reall appearing or graduall coniunction to whom we haue performed or professed subiection Three things especially there are that knit vs vnto God and whereby we testifie subiection vnto him 1 Faith 2 Religion 3 Obedience 1. Persidia 2. Ab ordine 3 Inobedientiae Accordingly they make three sorts of Apostasie 1 From Faith 2 From Religion 3 From Obedience The tearmes I keepe willingly varying in explication 1 From Faith as when a man forsakes the true doctrine of Faith whereof hee hath bin informed and which he hath entertained into his iudgement and profession and fals to Paganisme Iudaisme Heresie See 1 Tim. 4.1 2 From Religion as when hee forsakes the worship of the true God and fals to worship Idols as Achaz or from the true manner of worshipping the true God as the tenne Tribes vnder Ieroboam 3 From Obedience as when a man fals from morall practise to viciousnesse of life whereof see Mat. 12.45 2 Pet. 2.21 of whether or whether of all the Apostle must be vnderstood if any inquire thus let him thinke they vsually goe together in what order some other occasion may fitlier manifest Though commonly Interpreters limit to Apostasie from Faith and puritie of Religion 3 Meanes the Apostle of some particular persons Churches Prouinces Resp Rather of an vniuersall Apostasie of the multitude and maior part of the Christian world for otherwise reuolt of particular persons and Churches was not strange in Å¿ 1 Iohn 2 19. Apostles times when that here spoken of is intended to be t 1 Tim. 4.1 notorious and something u 2 Tim. 3.1 2. remote from the notice and sight of the generation then liuing more nearly coasting * Luc. 18.8 vpon the time of Christs second comming And hitherto is Consent 4 But what 's this Faith and Religion from which the reuolt shall be Popish Expositors many interpret of the Romish Faith and Religion and of the Obedience supposed due to the Bishop of that See as to the Vicar of Christ Saint Peters successor Worshipt might he be Resp But shew vs I pray what Scripture hath tyed vs to the Faith and Religion of Rome as it is Romana Must we absurdly thinke the Church in Scripture to sound nothing but the Church of Rome Faith and Religion denote the Faith and Religion of Rome Apagite 2 What when the Romish Church proues Apostaticall are we then tied to the Faith and Religion of Rome will you say its impossible for the x Mat. 16.18 promise and y prayer of Christ Resp The Church to which the promise is made is the Church Catholique of the Elect the Faith of Peter praied for is not fides quae Creditur but qua Creditur the gift of Faith in Peter and all Gods Children And that the Romish Church may proue Apostaticall doth not the Apostle more then intimate Rom. 11.20 Be not high minded but feare was no empty scarcrow an intimation rather of possibilitie and likelihood of their abiection z Luc. 22.32 if Papists themselues may be beleeued in the question of perseuerance Such Caueats to other of Gods people more then intimate their possible Apostasie at least as they generally apprehend them 3 What when the great Antichrist hath erected his Episcopall See vpon that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and hath begun to the Kings of the earth in the cup of damnable errours and doctrines of Diuels Are we then bound to adhaere to the Faith and Religion of Rome or shall it not be our wisedome to come out of that Babylon Apoc. 18.4 4 Their Apostasie de facto I spare to insist on Be pleased to compare the Doctrine of the Tridentine Counsell touching faith and worship with that extant in Pauls Epistle to the Romans thou wilt be ready to sweare the Citie that once was faithfull is now become an harlot that Bethel is become Beth-Auen As to the testimonies of fathers produced to euidence the prerogatiue of that Church read what that thrice reuerend Doctor Whitaker of blessed memorie hath fully answered this onely added 1 set apart you must the testimonies which Popes giue of themselues for what Court alloweth a mans owne Testimonie in his owne Cause 2 Beleeue not the Epistles Decretall to be theirs on whom they are fathered Bishops of those times were not so vnlettered so vntutored as in euerie page to doe Priscian violence Not so besotted as to send letters to the dead nor you must thinke so Propheticall as to alledge for testimonie the sayings of men yet vnborne As to other Fathers of Greeke and Latine Church they must be confessed to speake many things encomiastically of the Roman Church in their times cause they had then sufficient it being yet mostly orthodoxe Yet what seemes in their writings to sound as they would now haue the Bels to ring thinke and you shall not erre they spake rather from voluntarie reuerence then from opinion of necessary obligation Apostasie vnderstand from the Faith Catholique taught in Scriptures that is verbum fidei Religion what is in the written word prescribed All other thinke z Mat 15.9 vaine taught by the precepts of men When Paul said they should depart from the faith ment he from the faith of Rome or rather ment hee Rome as other Churches yea more then many should depart from faith Catholick See 1 Tim. 4.1.3 thou wilt think he pointed finger specially to Rome so sutable are their doctrines to those of Diuels there mentioned Lyâ—onus in 2 Thess 2. And thus doth Lyra expound this Text. Nisi venerit discessio primum Exponunt aliqui de discessione a Romano Imperio alij de discessu a Romana Ecclesià a quaiam diu est quòd recessit Graecia mihi videtur melius intelligendum de recessu a fide Catholicà 5. Is it past Resp Why doubt we haue we read Scriptures obserued the doctrine of Faith there taught the rule Matter Manner of worship there prescribed The whole world once groaned to see it selfe become Arian It might much more to haue seene it self become wholly Antichristian 6. When began it Where was it Who Authors of it Resp 1. Fond men must circumstances needs bee punctually showne else is it
Tim. 3.15 17 wise to saluation 2 to furnish the man of God the Minister to euery good worke of his calling 3 Wherefore wee are limited a Isai 8.20 to Law and Testimony 4 Wherefore also amongst fathers the Argument is of force It s not written therefore not matter of necessary faith or practise Scriptum doceat Hermogenis officina aut timeat vae illud c. Tertullian Adoro Scripturae plenitudinem In his quae apertè posita sunt in Scripturâ continentur ea omnia quae continent fidem moresque viuendi Austin alibi Credo quòd etiam hinc diuinorum Eloquiorum clarissima Authoritas esset si homo illud sine dispendio promissae salutis ignorare non posset Caetera vide supra Contents of Scripture you must vnderstand not onely what is expressed in so many letters and syllables but whatsoeuer may thence by manifest and necessary consequence be deduced sweetly b Lib. 5. de Theologid Nazianzen Quaedam sunt dicuntur in Scripturis quaedam verò sunt in Scripturis tametsi non dicuntur As that the father is vnbegotten is not expressed in so many syllables in Scripture yet is collected from what is written Thus informe your selues 1 Where generals are deliuered there are all particulars comprised in those generals intentionally deliuered because generals comprehend their particulars 2 Where principles and causes are deliuered there effects are also intended as being vertually contained in their principles 3 Where one equall is taught all of like reason is taught quia parium par ratio and where is par ratio there is par lex where is like reason there is like law So take contents of Scripture no instance of any point of necessary or but conuenient faith and practise can be giuen but what is deliuered in the written word As to this Scripture to children it will appeare to afford no Argument for their conclusion for what when it s yeelded they must hold fast not onely what Paul wrote in his Epistles but those things also which he taught them by liuely voice followes it thence that something of necessary faith taught in no Scripture Resp What if those other things taught by word were contained in other Scriptures then though as well written as not written in these Epistles yet no other thing then was written Act. 26.22 Testifying and saying nothing else but what Prophets and Moses spake should come to passe Else how Paul taught many things which he wrote not Resp Who doubts as other Apostles and Prophets but as Augustine what they taught and wrote not belonged rather ad vbertatem Cognitionis then ad Authoritatem Religionis Obiect But these of necessary obseruation Resp I yeeld it yet followes not the generall conclusion therefore something necessary not contained in any Scripture Pauls Epistles to Thessalonians are not all Pauls Epistles much lesse all Scripture There is Moses Prophets Euangelists and other holy men that wrote as they were c 2 Pet. 1.21 inspired by the holy Ghost in any of whose writings if Pauls dictates were contained it sufficeth to shew inualidity of the inference The paralogisme is too childish to deceiue wise men q.d. something of necessary faith was taught by Iames which is not contained in his Epistle as the Incarnation Passion Resurrection of our Sauiour Ergo No Scripture containes these necessary Articles of faith or Ergo something is of necessary faith which is not comprised in Iames his Epistle which who doubts and yet stands the conclusion firme Nothing is of necessary faith or practise but what is contained in Scriptures vniuersally taken we returne to Pauls purpose and heede his aduise as most necessary and anaileable to preuent seducement by Antichrist and other Heretiques to keepe vs close without sweruing to Propheticall and Apostolicall doctrine that is a a 2 Pet. 1.19 most sure word there while we hold vs we are safe compare 1 Tim. 6.3 4 20 21. 2 Timo. 1.13 14. and 3.14 15. Titus 3.9 Galat. 1.8 9. True but this doctrine was in part tradita onely not written Resp 1 Then was Irenaeus and other ancients deceiued whose sentence is that they worte the materials of what they preached and left them so to bee rule of faith 2 Yet who so could assure mee of any thing taught by Paul which hee wrote not I should not deny it greatest reuerence and credit Beatius est dare quà m accipere though I read not in Euangelicall storie yet I reuerence as Christs speach because Luke hath recorded it And that prophecie of Enoch mentioned by Saint Iude I doubt not to haue beene his prophecie But as to the Cardinals rules to trie Apostolicall traditions I finde them vncertaine For how will he assure mee That any the points betwixt vs controuersed and pretended to haue foundation vpon Apostolicall tradition were vniuerfally receiued by the whole Church When all ages haue afforded men most Orthodoxe that haue otherwise belieued and practised Once I am sure what they wrote is theirs what else they spake no authoritie can ascertaine me 3 The rule is certaine they deliuered nothing doctrinall to bee receiued that is contrariant to what they wrote for did not the same spirit guide their tongue that their pen What now When I finde direct or consequentiall repugnancie and contradiction twixt their pretended traditions and writings Must I thinke such traditions Apostolicall Heed what is deliuered by Apostles and Prophets sith vpon no certainetie thou canst be resolued except by their writings what they deliuer to be obserued there to hold thee fast without declining in all matter of faith and morall practise Vse 1 Lord that foretimes had beene so prouidently heedfull How doe I perswade my selfe Antichrist had beene yet to seeke his faith and religion Else so palpable in heresie and superstition as neuer to conuey his iniquitie in mysterie But whiles men thought to mend by adding to written prescripts and ouercredulously gaue way to titles Apostolicall withall grew wanton and luxuriant in glossing and inferring from the sacred text mixing withall their Philosophicall conceits and language ouer hyperbolicall vnwittingly they hatcht that Cockatrice egge whereout hath issued the Serpent of Papisme In euery age inclinations of doctrine are well obserued by the century-writers out of which rags of Fathers heedlesse opinions they haue patcht vs vp their Poperie Yet would God wee could by that harme learne caution I haue long obserued the c Apoe 11.3 two witnesses to Prophecie in sackcloth And learning of higher straine then what simplicitie of Scriptures affords to bee much affected by professed diuines Fathers who saue he that knowes them not but reuerenceth But it s strange when Saint Paul must be forced to accord with Saint Augustine else scarcely bee deemed Authentique Harsh when liberty is not permitted with reason and saluá reuerentia to dissent from their opinions Saint Augustine desired not to be so read nor did himselfe so read others Too too shamefull when
the present truth be glorie for euer Amen Let no man deceiue you by any meanes Deceiue 1. Seduce or out you of the way of truth or mislead you to errour Thinke it spoken to vs and a little more nearely concerning vs inasmuch as these are the last times wherein the Seducer of the Brethren and the false Prophet y Apoc. 12.12 knowing their time but short busily bestirre themselues that may bee one motiue 1 Through remaines of ignorance and loue of noueltie we are inclinable to errour more then to Truth 2 z Pro. 23.23 Truth is precious Errour dangerous 3 And if we a Heb. 10.26 27. sinne willingly after wee haue receiued the knowledge of the Truth what remaineth but fearefull expectation of vengeance and violent fire to deuoure There is 1 Temerarium 2 There is Erroneum 3 And there is Haereticum There is a graduall order betweene them 1 Temerarius they call opinions or auouchments published without sufficient euidence of Authoritâ—e or Reason to support them wherein though perhaps there may be Truth yet there is not euidence sufficient to conuince or to induce a wise man to beliefe or auouchment Exemp That there is an Hierarchie of Angels so ordered as the Pseud-Areopagite hath framed it perhaps is true yet of him that intrudes into what he hath not seene nor God reuealed may we not say as Paul b Col. 2.18 he is rashly puffed vp in his foolish minde That to euery man from his birth is assigned his Custos Angelus as Hierome and other learned opine perhaps is true yet he shall be rash who so peremptorily asserts it for where is the euidence 2 Erroneous addes to Temerarious apparent falsitie of opinion such as ouerthrowes no foundation razeth no Article Exemp that there are moe then two Sacraments of the New Testament whether three or fiue or seuen as opinions are varied is not hereticall to auouch yet aptly more then Temerarious no lesse then erroneous to thinke or affirme 3 Hereticall denotes notorious falsitie in matter of necessary faith especially when pertinacie appeares in the auouchment Exemp That Christ is a meere creature as Arius That there is no resurrection nor Angell nor Spirit as Sadduces auouched is not a simple errour but implies hereticall prauitie Rashnesse inclines to Errour Errour to Heresie No man by any meanes Sometimes 1 The man leads into errour 2 Sometimes the meanes or manner of conueiance 1 The man through realtie or opinion of learning or sanctitie or both Reuerence and authoritie of Peter was such in the Church that his fact seemed a Law wherefore Paul chargeth him to haue c Gal. 2.13.14 Exemplo non verbo Hier. constrained the Gentiles to be circumcised yea Barnabas himselfe is carried away with their dissimulation and with vs how many Errours are borne and carried with the bare names of men such as with whom their admirers will choose to erre rather then with others to thinke Truth Yet said Paul 1 the best know but d 1 Cor. 13.9 in part 2 are but in part sanctified 3 Suppose them to hold the foundation yet may they build e 1 Cor. 3.12.15 hay or stubble so that teacher and hearer may suffer detriment 2 The meanes three vsuall amongst false Teachers Paul mentioned 1 Reuelation 2 Tradition 3 Counterfeit Scriptures yet knowing meanes might be multiplied he enlargeth his Caution that nor these nor any of any sort should be giuen way vnto Amongst those other ye may number 1 Peruerting of Authentique Scriptures 2 Miracles 3 Apparition of the dead with the like The chiefe meanes now in vse amongst our Aduersaries whose Purgatorie Prayer for dead Inuocation of Saints departed c. haue no other ground then obscure passages of Scripture depraued or fained Miracles or fond apparitions of the dead Against these and a thousand the like our Sauiour hath made vs cautionate limiting vs to f Luke 16.29 Moses and Prophets aduising to examine g Deut. 13.2 3. Miracles by Doctrine h Gal. 1.8 Anathematizing Angels introducing another Gospell As meanes auaileable to preuent seducement thinke of these 1 Store you withknowledge of Scriptures i Colos 3.16 let that word dwell plentifully in you you know who said k Mat. 22.29 yee erre not knowing the Scriptures 2 Beware of wanton curiositie l Deut 29 29. in searching beyond Reuelations m Rom 12 3. be wise to sobrietie 3 Make not Reason a Mistris to Faith shee is a good handmaid while a handmaid but Sarah made Hagar insolent 4 Let not knowledge n 1 Cor. 8 1. puffe thee for o 1 Cor. 4 7. who discriminates thee Thy Ignorance if thou couldst see it is more then thy Knowledge 5 Admit not least declining from the Scripture change not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yet 6 Adhere not to the letter against the true meaning of Scripture that 's not words but meaning 7 Flie errour in manners they make way to errours in iudgement yea p 2 Thes 2.11 12 to strong delusion 8 Bee not rash or headlong in resoluing beyond euidence Temerarious makes way to Erroneous 9 In dubijs resolue not without your guides There are at whose q Mal. 2.7 mouthes you must seeke the Law And of Pauls Caution hitherto followes the Confutation For that day shall not come except there bee a departure first and that man of sinne be reuealed c. 2. The Confutation of the errour from two necessary Antecedents of Christs comming 1. Generall Apostasie 2. Reuelation of Antichrist Thus in forme That day shall not come till after the great Apostasie and discouery of Antichrist Neither of these yet are nor shall be within the time limited by false Teachers Ergo the end not yet That day shall not come A supplement to the Text yet no condemned addition to the Word of God sith from scope and principall intention of the Apostle fluently inferred selfely forcing it selfe into the vnderstanding of the Reader De ciuit dei lib. 20. c. 19. Except there be a departure S. Austins rendring by Refuga as impertinent I pretermit though the trope be vsuall to say scelus pro scelesto 1. Apostasie in general signifies any defect or reuolt from him to whom we owe or haue performed subiection 2. Of what sort and from whom is this Apostasie Resp S. Hierome and other ancients many conceited it a ciuile defection from the Roman Empire Nisi inquit venerit discessio primum vt omnes Gentes quae Romano imperio subiacent recedant ab eis mox Nisi inquit Hieron Epist ad Algasiam quest 11. fuerit Romanum Imperium desolatum Antichristus precesserit non veniet Christus The sentence is true but the exposition impertinent For 1 stands or fals the Church with the Empire 2 Was this the sinne which God should punish by giuing the raines to Antichrist Defection from the Empire 3 Or were Christians to
Aristotle and Plato must not illustrate onely or explicate but affront Saint Paul Of all I most wonder how the Barbarisme of Schoolemen hath regained reputation of highest learning and their mysteries seene higher then those Paul f 2 Cor. 12.4 heard in the third heauen their Sectaries more learned then hee that as g Acts 18.24 Apollos is mightiest in Scriptures Mine errour if yet an errour I le confesse Much pretious time I haue spent in them led thereto by these reasons 1 The high esteeme I saw them in with men whose learning and sanctitie I could not but reuerence 2 Next their promise of enabling rationally to conceiue highest mysteries of Theologie at least to defend them as more rationall then their contradictories 3 I found them in Moralities exact and distinct farre aboue the ordinarie rate of our Diuines 4 Why should a Papist in Schoole language be a Barbarian to me as I to him in the language of Canaan 5 Competently I seemed enabled to discerne betwixt good and euill 6 Conuersed in them not vt transfuga but vt explorator especially willing to see the harmonie like that of harpe and harrow twixt themselues and Controuersists of this time 7 Yet euer with this minde to subiect them to highest censure making Scripture my gnomen and canon after which to exact them Herein what I haue erred Lord pardon mee but sure it was farre from me to make them Lords of my faith or of my reason Nouices and Neophites onely I monish to bewarre of their inchantments lest their mindes bee corrupted from the simplicitie of the Gospel 2 Cor. 11.3 As to the people the monition is this to beware of h 2 Tim. 4.3 itching after nouelties and turning their eares from wholesome doctrine Where will you finde it but in Scriptures What when they tell you of fabulous traditions pretensed reuelations miracles and apparitions of Angels and men deceased Shall any mislead you from the written doctrine Gal. 1.8 9. Deut. 13.1 2 3. Luke 16.31 Oh fooles and blind 1 Here is i 2 Pet. 1.19 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whereon your soules may build 2 Here is k Rom. 14.4 comfort solid and what affords l Ier. 6.16 rest to the soule 3 m P Psal 119 9. Isai 8. Direction perfect for guiding the whole life what else seeke we Yet how wild and wanton are our heares growne Hee is no body now that tels what Peter and Paul Moses and Prophets haue spoken Who so can bring to their Athenian eares things strange and vnheard off though neuer so impertinent who so will walke in the Spirit and lye falsely hee shall bee a Prophet for this people So gat Antichrist footing amongst our forefathers and if euer by a postliminium he recouer his possession amongst vs by this meanes it will bee Hold fast the traditions you haue extant in Apostles and Prophets writings before them Poperie falles as Dagon before the Arke VERS 16 17. Now our Lord Iesus Christ himselfe and God euen our Father who hath loued vs and hath giuen vs euerlasting consolation and good hope through grace Comfort your hearts and stablish you in euery good word and worke THE second part of the prescript for preuention of seducement prayer vnto God The carriage seemes to present it as a voluntarie act of Pauls loue on behalfe of this people The intention bends it farther to the forme of a prescript and is so to bee apprehended in as much as Paul on this occasion falles to his deuotion In his example hee prescribes what is most conuenient for them to procure their establishment Certainely it is a principall amongst our compleate Armour auailing to our standing in the euill day n Ephes 6.18 Praying alwayes with all manner prayers and supplications in the Spirit watching thereunto with all perseuerance as if it gaue life and strength to the whole of our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 See Luke 17.1 2.5 Psal 51.12 1 Not onely the first infusion of grace is of God but to euery act and exercise of grace receiued is necessarie nouum auxilium 2 The giuer of grace the same is the perfecter confirmer stablisher of it 1 Pet. 5.10 1 Cor. 1.8 3 What feathers are we left to our selues when the least blast of temptation takes vs 1 Chron. 35.31 Mat. 26.74 Gal. 1.6 4 When we would doe good euill is most present with vs. Rom. 7.21 5 Not onely Iehoshuah but we all haue Satan standing at our right hand to resist vs Zach. 3.1 The Lord rebuke him had need bee our prayer ver 2. else whither fall we Luke 22.32 Vse It much ioyed mee amids the wauing and wauering of our winde shaken vulgus to heare the protestations and vowed resolutions of my people rather to die for Christ then to denie him Howbeit mee thought I wanted the eleuation and ascent of the minde vnto God Oh my deere brethren first thinke of the little o Rom. 7.18 hold fast goodnesse hath in our nature the no nourishment more then God is pleased to supply Secondly weigh how Adam and p Iude 6. Angels greater in power and dignitie fell left to themselues Thirdly consider how the q Mat. 26.74 Rocke of faith failed of an egregious presumer becomming a frequent denier of his Master Fourthly how soone g Galat. 1.6 Galatians were transported to another Gospel Fiftly minde who said it s a blessed thing to ſ Pro. 28.14 feare alwayes our owne infirmitie Sixtly how soone Dauid t Psal 30.6 7. was troubled when hee but fancied hee should neuer be moued Pray rather as Dauid hold thou mee vp and I shall bee safe and Lord u Psal 51.12 stablish mee with thy free spirit Humble deuotion preuailes rather then proud presumption See 2 Corinth 12. To it God giues answere my grace is sufficient for thee and * 2 Cor. 12.9 I will perfect my power in weakenesse To the rest thus let him that thinkes hee stands of all men take heede least hee fall 1 Cor. 10.12 Particulars obserueable in the prayer are first the persons to whom it s directed Secondly the grounds of assurance for audience Thirdly the blessings prayed for 1 Persons the Lord Iesus Christ and God our Father In Athanasius his time the inference was found Christ is prayed vnto as the Father therefore God equall with the father With good leaue of Papists it may passe current if to him as donour of grace the prayer be preferred 1 His stile is x Rom. 9.5 God ouer all blessed for euer 2 His properties the fame with those of the Father y Apoc. 2.23 ommiscience searching the heart and reines omnipotencie infinite wisedome c 3 Workes the same z Iohn 13. creation a Heb 12 3. sustentation b Iohn 5.17 gouernement of the creature Hold the conclusion firme against Arians 1 It assures thee of the c Heb. 9.14 1 Iohn 17. all sufficient value of the price