For if any be a hearer of the word and not a doer he is like vnto a man beholding his naturall face in a glasse 24. For hee beholdeth himselfe and goeth his way and straight way forgetteth what manner of man he was Iam. 1. 25. But who so looketh into the perfect law of libertie continueth therin he being not a forgetfull hearer but a doer of the worke this man shall be blessed in his deed 26. If any among you seeme to be religious and bridle not his tongue but deceiueth his owne heart this mans religion is vaine 27. Pure religion and vndefiled before God and the father is this to visit the fatherlesse and the widdowes in their affliction and to keepe himselfe vnspotted from the world Rom. 2. 13. Not the hearers of the law are iust before God but the doers of the law shall be iustified 21. Mat. 7. Not euery one that saith vnto me Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdome of heauen but hee that doth the will of my father which is in heauen 24. Whosoeuer heareth these sayings of mine and doth them I will liken him vnto a wise man which built his house vpon a rock 25. And the raine descended and the floods came and the winds blew and beate vpon that house and it fell not for it was founded vpon a rocke Math. 7. 26. And euery one that heareth these sayings of mine and doth them not shall be likened vnto a foolish man which built his house vpon the sand 27. And the raine descended and the floods came and the winds blew and beat vpon that house and it fell and great was the fall of that house 5. 16. Let your light so shine before mē that they may see your good works and glorifie your father which is in heauen 5. Peter 1. 5. Adde to your faith vertue to vertue knowledge 6. And to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience and to patience godlinesse 7. And to godlinesse brotherly kindnesse and to brotherly kindnes charitie 8. For if these things be in you and abound they make you that you shall neither be barren nor vnfruitfull in the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ 9. But he that lacketh these things is blind cannot see farre off and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sinnes 2. Pet. 1. 10. Wherefore the rather brethren giue diligence to make your calling and election sure for if ye do these things yee shall neuer fall 11. For so an entrance shall bee ministred vnto you abundantly into the euerlasting kingdome of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ Tit. 3. 8. This is a faithfull saying and these things I will that thou affirme constantly that they which haue beleeued in God might be carefull to maintaine good workes these things are good and profitable vnto men 14. Iam. 2. What doth it profit my brethren though a man say he hath faith and haue not works can faith saue him 15. If a brother or a sister be naked and destitute of dayly foode 16. And one of you say vnto them depart in peace bee you warmed and filled notwithstanding yee giue them not those things which are needfull for the body what doth it profit 17. Euen so faith if it haue not works is dead being alone Iames 2. 21. Was not Abraham our father iustified by works when hee had offered Isaac his sonne vpon the Altar 22. Seest thou how faith wrought with his works and by works was faith made perfect 23. And the Scripture was fullfilled which saith Abraham beleeued God and it was imputed to him for righteousnesse and he was called the friend of GOD. 24. Yee see then how that by workes a man is iustified and not by faith onely 26. For as the body without the spirit is dead so faith without works is dead also Iustification 19. NOw wee know Rom. 3. that what things soeuer the law saith it saith to them that are vnder the law that euery mouth may bee stopped and all the world may become guiltie before God 20. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shal no flesh bee iustified in his sight for by the law is the knowledge of sinne Rom. 3. 21. But now the righteousnesse of God without the law is manifested being witnessed by the law and the Prophets 22. Euen the righteousnesse of God which is by faith of Iesus Christ vnto all and vpon all them that beleeue for there is no difference 23. For all haue sinned and come short of the glory of God 24. Being iustified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Iesus Christ 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is iustified by faith without the deeds of the law 31. Do wee then make voyde the law through faith God forbid yea we establish the law 4 To him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace but of debt Rom. 4. 5. But to him that worketh not but beleeueth on him that iustifieth the vngodly his faith is counted for righteousnesse 13. The promise that he should be the heire of the world was not to Abraham or his seed thorough the law but thorough the righteousnesse of faith Rom. 4. 14. For if they which are of the law be heires faith is made voyd and the promise made of none effect Rom. 5. 1. Being iustified by faith wee haue peace with God through our Lord Iesus Christ 2. By whom also wee haue accesse by faith into his grace wherin we stand and reioyce in hope of the glory of God 18. As by the offence of one iudgement came vpon all men to condemnation euē so by the righteousnesse of one the free gift came vpon all men vnto iustification of life 5. Titus 3. Not by workes of righteousnesse which wee haue done but according to his mercy hee saued vs by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the holy Ghost 6. Which he shed on vs abundantly through Iesus Christ our sauiour 7. That being iustified by his grace we should be made heires according to the hope of eternall life 8. Ephe. 2. By grace are yee saued through faith and that not of your selues it is the gift of God 9. Not of workes least any man should boast Galat. 5. 4. Christ is become of none effect vnto you whosoeuer of you are iustified by the law yee are fallen from grace 5. For we through the spirit waite for the hope of righteousnesse by faith 6. For in Iesus Christ neither circumcision auaileth any thing nor vncircumcision but faith which worketh by loue Luk. 17. 10. When ye shall haue done all those things which are commanded you say wee are vnprofitable seruants wee haue done that which was our dutie to doe 8. Phil. 3. I count all things but losse for the excellencie of the knowledge of Christ Iesus my Lord for whom I haue suffered the losse of all things and doe count them
THE TRVE CATHOLIKE Collected out of the Oracles and Psalteries of the holy Ghost for Instruction and Deuotion 1 TIM 2.4 God will haue all men to be saued and to come to the knowledge of the truth IOH. 14.17 The world cannot receiue the spirit of truth because it seeth him not neither knoweth him 1 COR. 2.10 The spirit searcheth all things yea the deepe things of God EPHES. 5.9 For the fruit of the spirit is in all goodnesse and righteousnesse and truth LONDON Printed for E. BLACKMORE 1628. THE PREFACE OF DOCTOR FRA. RIBERA 〈◊〉 In Coment in Amos Prophet touching the Excellency Dignity profit of finding the holy Scriptures THAT there is no studie either more Excellent more profitable or more worthy of Man then the studie of the holy Scriptures hee shall best know and iudge that applyeth himselfe wholy thereunto and shal perceiue that man to bee worthily called blessed Which meditateth in the law of God day and night Psal 1 2. I doe verily confesse that all the sacred bookes especially those of the Prophets are wrapped and incumbred with many difficulties by which as it were by certaine strict keepers of a most stately Temple The holy Ghost hath straitly prohibited the accesse and misteries vnto prophane and proud men and that it is rightly spoken of them which Socrates is reported to haue said when he hapned vpon Heraclitus bookes of nature That those things which hee vnderstood seemed excellent vnto him and that hee thought so also of them which hee vnderstood not but that it was needfull to haue an Interpreter to them No where can you see more euidently no where can it more appeare which is spoken in the old Greeke prouerbe Those things which are excellent are difficult Or that saying which passeth far neare from Hesiodus concerning vertue That it is scituate in a steepe and high place and that it hath a passage in the beginning hard and full of paine and labour But doubtlesse although the labour be great and continuall it doth sufficiently recompence with profit the paine with ease the earnest endeauour of the minde with rest For although they seeme to haue much hardnesse yet without doubt they haue farre more of true and perfect delight For how great a matter is it to bee led by a King into a wine-Cellar Cant. 2.4 For Charity to be rightly ordered How great a matter is it to sucke those brests better then wine sauoring sweetly with the best oyntments Cant. 1.2 To hold wisedome as the Apostle speaketh among those that bee perfect 1. Cor. 2.6 Yet not the wisedome of this world nor of the Princes of this world which come to nought but the wisedome of God in a misterie which none of the Princes of this world knew 7. 8. To be present at the distribution of heauenly treasures To behold the glory of God with open face Certainely the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the future glory which when wee well vnderstand the sacred bookes shall be reuealed in vs. But the men of our time are quicke and ready to other studies vnto these for the most part they are slow and do imagine that these are to bee left to idle men and such as tarrie at home or else vnto Preachers Whereby it happens that such as are vnfit for sermons though they haue leasure enough doe rather bestow their labour and endeauour in any other matter How much the holy Scriptures doe profit preachers I haue often said and how greatly they stand in neede of them which are excercised in Schoole disputations I could say and perchance will hereafter shew Now this I auouch that albeit these Scriptures bee most profitable to helpe others they iudge very ill who thinke they are to bee studied onely for other mens sakes For if we reade with great profit the bookes of the holy fathers and of other learned men which are called and are spirituall and by reading them doe finde our selues much bettered shall there bee any book so spirituall which may bee compared with those which the spirit of God it selfe by the choycest and wisest men hath deliuered vnto vs If the small brookes doe helpe and as it were satisfie what shall that great Riuer doe which Ezechiell saw Ezec. 47.1 issuing forth vnder the threshold of the Lords house which he could not goe through because the waters of that deepe riuer were risen so that they could not bee passed ouer And when I had returned 5. said he behold at the bank of the riuer were very many trees on either side 7. what are those many trees on either side the banke of the riuer but the ancient writers ioyned to the Law and the Prophets and the new writers who sitting together by the streames of the Euangelists and Apostles doe alwayes waxe greene as most beautifull trees and abound with pleasant fruite the riuer is the same because it is the same author of the Scriptures and the scope the same but the ages and times diuers which are resembled by both the bankes Of these trees and of these waters it is said and he shall be like a tree planted by the riuers of waters that bringeth forth his fruite in his season Psal 1.3 his leafe also shall not fall away and whatsoeuer be doth it shall prosper I was wont to maruaile with my selfe as often as I did reade in Saint Ierome that the study of the Scriptures had wonderfull power to change the minde of man to quench the desires of the flesh to procure the contempt of the world and briefly to gaine all kinde of vertue vntill I perceiued hee spake those things whereof hee had made triall in himselfe and that it is a wrong not to belieue him that hath experience Hee that beleeueth not let him first reade the Scripture not as though hee would interpret it to others but to be turned wholy to his owne profit let him meditate therein day and night he shall feele a stony heart to bee mollified a cold heart to be inflamed with heauenly fire for the words of the Lord are like fire â—er 23.29 and as a hammer that breaketh the rocke in peeces He shall perceiue the loue of the world to vanish away the desire of eternall good things to bee stirred vp in himselfe his minde filled with a certaine incredible delight which he that felt it cried out how sweete are thy words vnto my taste Psal 119.103 yea sweeter then hony to my mouth O wisdome guide of the heauenly life teacher of vertues bane of vices fountaine of light expeller of darkenesse what should wee nay what should the whole life of man be without thee Thou art the companion in labour thou art the comforter in aduersitie the ouerseere and guide in prosperitie the instructer of youth the foundation of manhood the most sweet rest of old age Come therefore let vs ascend vp
Congregation stone him 6. 2. Sam. 6. Vzzah put forth his hand to the Arke of God and tooke hold of it for the oxen shooke it 7. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Vzzah and God smote him there for his error and there he died by the Arke of God 19. 1. Sam. 6. And hee smote the men of Beth-shemesh because they had looked into the Arke of the Lord euē hee smote of the people threescore thousand and threescore and ten men 30. Math. 25. Cast ye the vnprofitable seruant into vtter darkenesse there shall bee weeping and gnashing of teeth Iam. 3. 2. In many things wee offend all 1. Iohn 1. 7. And the bloud of Iesus Christ cleanseth vs from all sinne Will. Gen. 6. 5. GOd saw that the wickednes of man was great in the earth and that euery imagination of the thoughts of his heart was onely euill continually 8. 21. The imagination of mans heart is euill from his youth 23. Ier. 10. O Lord I know that the way of man is not in himselfe it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps 18. 31. Thou hast chastised me and I was chastised as a bullocke vnaccustomed to the yoake turne thou me and I shall be turned thou art the Lord my God 24. Pro. 20. Mans goings are of the Lord how can a man then vnderstand his owne way 1. 16. The preparations of the heart of man and the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. 5. Iohn 15. I am the vine ye are the branches he that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth foorth much fruit for without me ye can do nothing Psal 32. 8. I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way that thou shalt goe I will guide thee with mine eye Hosea 13. 9. O Israel thou hast destroyed thy selfe but in me is thine helpe Iohn 6. 44. No man can come to mee except the father which hath sent me draw him 2. Cor. 3. 5. We are not sufficient of our selues to thinke any thing as of our selues for our sufficiency is of God 13. Philip. 2. It is God which worketh in you both to will and to doe of his good pleasure 17. Iames 1. Euery good gift and euery perfect gift is from aboue and cōmeth downe from the father of lights with whom is no variablenesse neither shadow of turning 18. Of his owne will begate hee vs with the word of truth that wee should bee a kinde of first fruits of his creatures 15. Ye ought to say Iames 4. if the Lord will we shall liue and doe this or that Acts 18 21. I will returne againe vnto you if God will 1. Cor. 4. 19. I will come vnto you shortly if the Lord will Heb. 6. 3. This will wee doe if God permit Ezech. 36. 26. A new heart will I giue you and a new spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will giue you an heart of flesh 17. And I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walke in my statutes and ye shall keepe my iudgements and doe them 45. Luke 24. Then opened hee their vnderstanding that they might vnderstand the Scriptures 12. Iohn 1. As many as receiued him to them gaue he power to become the sonnes of God euen to them that beleeue on his name 13. Which were borne not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God Hipocrisie 8. Iames 4. CLeanse your hands ye sinners and purifie your hearts ye double minded Luke 12. 1. Beware ye of the leauen of the Pharises which is hypocrisie Pro. 30. 12. There is a generation that are pure in their owne eyes and yet is not washed from their filthinesse Iob 36. 13. The hypocrites in heart heape vp wrath Isay 58 2. They seeke mee dayly and delight to know my wayes as a nation that did righteousnesse and forsook not the ordinance of their God they aske of mee the ordinances of Iustice they take delight in aproaching to God 5. Mat. 23. But all their workes they doe for to be seene of men 23. Woe vnto you Scribes and Pharises Hypocrites for yee pay tythe of mynt and annise and cūmyne and haue omitted the weightier matters of the law iudgement mercy and faith these ought yee to haue done and not to leaue the other vndone 27. Ye are like to whited sepulchers which indeede appeare beautifull outward but are within full of dead mens bones and of vncleanenesse 28. Euen so yee also outwardly appeare righteous vnto men but within ye are full of hypocrisie and iniquitie Luk. 11. 39. Yee Pharisees doe make cleane the outside of the cup and platter but your inward part is full of rauening and wickednesse Mat. 23. 26. Cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter that the outside of them may bee cleane also Luk. 11. 40. Ye fooles did not he which made that which is without make that which is within also 41. Rather giue almes of such things as you haue behold all things are cleane vnto you Riches 1. Eccles 6. THere is an euill which I haue seene vnder the Sunne and it is common among men 2. A man to whom God hath giuen riches wealth and honour so that hee wanteth nothing for his soule of all that hee desireth yet God giueth him not power to eate thereof but a stranger eateth it this is vanitie and it is an euill disease 1. Tim. 6. 17. Charge them that bee rich in this world that they bee not high minded nor trust in vncertaine riches but in the liuing God who giueth vs richly all things to enioy 18. That they doe good that they bee rich in good works ready to distribute willing to communicate 19. Laying vp in store for themselues a good foundation against the time to come that they may lay hold on eternall life Iames 5. 1. Goe to now ye rich men weepe and howle for your miseries that shal come vpon you 2. Your riches are corrupted and your garments moth-eaten 3. Your gold and siluer is cankred and the rust of them shall be a witnesse against you and shall eate your flesh as it were fire yee haue heaped vp treasure together for the last dayes 24 Woe vnto you that are rich Luke 6. for ye haue receiued your consolation 19. Mar. 4. The cares of this world and the deceitfullnesse of riches and the lusts of other things entring in choake the word and it becommeth vnfruitfull Luk. 16. 13. Yee cannot serue God and Mammon 1 Tim 6. 6. Godlinesse with contentment is great gaine Psal 62. 10. If riches increase set not your heart vpon them 1 Tim. 6. 7. For we brought nothing into this world and it