into this land in the Apostles times according to that in Rom. 10.18 Tertullian Tertull. aduers Iud. ca. 7. saith Britannorum inaccessa Romanis loca Christo vero subdita c. That the Britans euen in such places as Romaines had not accesse vnto they were subdued to Christ That S. Paul after his first captiuitie at Rome should come into these partes Theodoret writeth Theod. l. 9. de cur Graec. affect Niceph. l. 2. ca. 4. Nicephorus affirmeth that Simon Zelotes came into Britaine And Iohn Bale from auncient Gildas our writer and from others affirmeth that Ioseph of Arimathia was sent into Britain by Philip the Apostle after the dispersion from the Galles this to be about the yeere of our Lord 63. Yea that Iames with some others did repaire to and preach in Ireland Vincentius Vinc. 8. c. 7. writeth But more of this I haue written in my Antidoton Who came first hither with the Gospell it skilleth not sure we are it came here for we find it here and the Brownists against his owne soule must confesse it except they will tell vs that them selues haue receaued the Gospell vpon Sea or in some foraigne country Obiection But this proueth no way an orderly plantation of the Church to haue bin here Ans Yes forsooth except you wil haue a companie of beleeuers dwelling together in the Faith as the Church first did lodge in a myles compasse by Welles now tearmed Glascon-bury to liue without rule without forme of true gouernment If they liued at first like Libertines which no sober spirit can think then we must greatly lament that none of the Brownists were then with them for instructing them in discipline Obiection Let it be what soeuer it was yet we find not true discipline now Ans Some of you haue also said that neither we haue the Gospell but if some of you vpon better aduise do graunt we haue the Gospell for the substance I think ye had best graunt also discipline for the substance that is such externall gouernment as for the substance at least doth stand for the Gospell for Christ And that the Gospell shall so soundly be preached and gouernment so faithfully executed of any Churches in these last times as was at first none of wit can beleeue because our Sauior and the Apostles do fore-tell the contrarie Math. 24 37 38 39 Luk. 17 22 23. Math. My Antidoton openeth that point at large 13 24 c. 1. Tim. 4 1 c. 2. Tim. 3 1 c. Reuel 13 11 c. 2. Thess 2 3 c. and yet no reason nor warrant of running out of the Catholike wheat-field or Church vnder a pretext of Replantation but rather to keepe within and as we can and may to labour for Reformation But where they say You want Christs gouernment and in the roume thereof you haue Antichristes and therfore we seperate I more particularly answer First after Peters confession in Math. 16 our Sauior doth not promise that outward Church-gouernment shall preuaile for euer against Hell-gates and themselues graunt it hath not but only A true being of the Church by reason of the Rock wheron it should be builded Secondly let them marke that Peter maketh no confession of Church discipline for as yet he had not learned that but of Christ Iesus to be as verilie the Son of God vnseen of flesh and blood as he was man well seen of flesh blood Who beeing the Christ or Messiah did verily carry with it that there was no other by whom Saluation was wholie or in part to be effected And the knowledge beliefe and apprehension of this not exteriour discipline is the essential foundation of the Church Which who so holdeth in the vnitie of the Catholike Church they are to be held of this Catholike Citie and not because of imperfections to be seuered from because Iehouah is Shammah There Thirdly let them consider that as outward Church gouernment is not the mark or badge euer of true Christians for in the Brownists iudgement many of the Anabaptists haue that and we know that Iesabel with her spiritual children Balaams sectaries the faction of beastly Nicolaitans c. Reuel 2. 3. they were in the Asian Churches rightly established and possessed of right gouernment but yet bearing the badge of Antichrist so neither is humane regiment a marke euer of false Christians For if Christ his gouernment externall it can not cause all vnder it to be vnto vs true visible Christians much lesse can humane regiment or Antichrists outward gouernment cause all vnder it to be of vs reputed Antichristes Seeing Anti-christes gouernment can not haue more vice in it then there is vertue in Christes Fourthly they know not what Antichrists marke is for if euery good thing be not the marke of a true Christian for Arrius Nestorius yea euery Heretike holdeth some good thinges so neither can euery bad thing be the badge of Antichrist for then euery man should be Antichristian seing euery man at least somtimes hath some bad thing visible in him As Antichrist is opposed to Christ so in nothing so much as in the verie foundation of Religion â—â—r which the Apostle S. Paul tearmeth him Anti-keimenos 2. Thess 2.4 the Layer of an opposite foundation And in very troth as it is the verie essentiall truth of the Gospell which is the mark of a true Christian so it is the very fundamentall falshood of Antichrist for the which he is entitled Antichrist his members Antichrists The foundation false not hay stubble c. vpon a true foundation 1. Cor. 3.10 c. is the beastes marke differencing his people essentially from Christes Obiect But the Apostle saying Let euery man take heed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 how he builds not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what he builds it argueth he there speaketh of the manner of teaching not of the matter taught I answer He intendeth both maner and matter And that may be seen First by comparing the 2. chap. the 1. verse with that which foloweth there in this chapter for he compareth not only his plaine manner of teaching with humane Eloquence but also the plaine matter of the Gospell with the worlds wisdom which elswhere he tearmeth Coloss 2.8 Philosophie Secondly gold siluer c. hay stubble c. they cannot in any proprietie so much resemble manner as matter specially compared with Fire which is not appointed so much to trie the manner as the matter or thing it self Thirdly seeing Eloquence may stand with Christ the foundation first for that it is the gift of God 2. is sanctified to his people Exod. 4.10.11 Eccles. 12.9.10 Act. 18.24 1. Cor. 1.5 Lastly an hundred schollers may be called together for defining fully what is the Primitiue forme of Church-regiment and 3. of them though otherwise goodmen not be found in one iudgment for all things How vnwise therfore are these people that about the forme of discipline do rend
A description of new Jerushalem Being The substaunce of two Sermons deliuered at Paules Crosse Containing A briefe Discouery and Conuiction of certayne Doctrines held of Romanists and Brownists against the Catholike and Apostolike faith By Henoch Clapham Dan. 12.10 None of the wicked shall haue vnderstanding but the wise shall vnderstand Printed at London by Valentine Simmes 1601. To the Right Honorable Sir William Ryder knight Lord Major of the Ho. Citie of London BEing Right Honorable to send this litle Description of New Ierushalem vnto print though far from being done in print I pondred to whom I might with expediencie dedicate the same At last I set downe my rest on Him who was in the publique place where I preached then preeminent Who also heard both the Sermons and therewithall did both times with Ho. curtesie receaue the Preacher home to Table All this to your Ho. selfe And in verie troth I know not well to whom rather it appertaineth seeing besides the former respects the Lord hath made you next vnder her Maiestie chiefe Ouerseer in our Ho. Citie for cherishing vertuous acts and for pruning and cutting off all transgressions from the same Transgression is two fold either thâ—â— whereby Religion is abused or that which transcendeth Humain equitie God and Man are made one in Christ nor should Religion and Righteousnes be sundred though distinguished The first is by God his Ministers to be preached The second by Maiestrates to be proclaimed and the breach of both by their Sword to be punished What need of a sharpe sword and of a two edged word there is let the rank growth and impudent cariage of Impietie and Iniquitie testifie that Easie salues are for easie sores but Fistulaes must be bitten Gangrenes be pared off I need not signifie to your Lo. somuch what vnrighteousnes ouerflowes euery Court and Session rings that Alarum as what false coine in Religion daylie is dispersed by Romanists Brownists Anabaptists Arrians Familists and such like factions These that counterfait the Q. coine are punished accordingly But for adulterating clipping and flat changing of Christes coine the precious written-word stamped with Gods image how litle this is looked vnto how seldom and then also how slenderly corrected it is able to make the heart of Gods subiect to bleed As the sword and word are for procuring subiection vnto Maiestrates so much more be they ordained for causing obedience vnto God Duetie to earthly powers it should lead vs as by the hand to that duetie which we owe vnto the Prince of Princes Else while we liue to Man whose breath is in his nosthrils we dye to God whose breath doth kindle the fire of Tophet In lighting Ierushalems torch I therwith disclose false lights sleights wherby Babels marchants would vtter their painted wares Looke how I drew it at first for helping mine owne memorie so I sent it to the examination and so it was returned authorized to the presse And that falleth out to be the same that was preached for substance howsoeuer some other Accidents drew in some other particular discourses not so necessarie the presse Besides the two Sermons I haue adioyned a Brief of that I purposed then also to haue deliuered All I present and yet all that nothing to the sacred Texts desert As I could I haue done and so in all holie dutie I remaine Your Ho. obliged Henoch Clapham To al that wish Ierushalems prosperitie the grace of God be multiplied BEloued if euer now fasting and prayer is highly necessary as for the whole catholike Church so of our partes more specially for our owne particular Church a member of the vniuersall As I am not a little acquainted with forraine Churches their corruptions but the lesse contagious because they be in further part of the catholik body remoued from vs so not to dissemble our own alas alas hovv is our Sauiors speech fulfilled vpon vs Faith faithfully professed hard to bee found when vnder color of Reformation people feare not to complot Deformation euerie fantasticke spirite attempting what is good in his owne eyes and priuate iudgement as though there were no King in Israel no God in heauen For Charitie the most of vs haue exiled her Faith iustifieth alone say we t is true but adde with the Apostle That faith which worketh by Loue euen by Loue termed the Bond of Perfection and the Fulfilling of the Law for neuer shall that Tree bee approoued which bringeth not foorth good fruit Trees are not planted for liuing to themselues but for benefiting others also The diuel once sought to leade vs so to gaze on the merit of workes as nothing at all we should examine howe wee stood in the faith now he labors to cause vs so to admire Faith as wee should forget I had almost said forsweare good works Thus Satan is euer in extremities but the people of God must know that as GOD hath blessedly ioyned true faith and good workes togither so none can but by the instinct of Satan attempt to put them asunder If we so beleeue and so walke then God shall not be weary of doing vs good nor we haue occasion to feare the threates of Belial As all euilles are contagion so falshood in doctrine is Leauen for infecting many and a Canker for corroding like a viper For from whence proceede euill workes but from euill Beliefe false perswasion of God and his proceedings The late Romanistes will that their Pope may erre in Fact but not in Faith A blinde assertion for no erroneous fact but it proceeds from erroneous Faith As for example Peter denieth his maister a foule Fact From whence proceeded this but from a perswasion that it should be good for him then to do so The like may be said of any fact So that we may conclude rather A man may erre in faith yet not in fact for hee may stay to act his error but neuer erre in fact but first the diuell hath sowen errour in his faith And heereof it commeth that Romanists on the one hand Brownists Anabaptists Arrians c. on the other hand they besiege our Church with spirituall artillery euery Sect thinking they therein doe God very good seruice and their Fact passing commendable whereas alas such proceeding is but the fruite to thinke the best of errour in Faith corruption in iudgement It is then a duty of Gods Ministers specially owing to the people namely to hold out the word of trueth for enlightning the senses And because Illumination without Sanctification doth make a man but a Balaam an Iscariot a diuell herewith they are to pray much that GOD would sanctifie such light and knowledge to true obedience Amongest the residue of Gods Ministers I the least of many do labour in this worke daily Though I haue no particular flocke to attend on by peculiar calling yet am I called to the worke of Christ for ministration of worde and Sacrament to God his sheepe in this catholike sheepfold
themselues from the Catholike Citie of god Our Sauiour foretold that ther should be such schismatical spirites who in these confused times would crie Come into the desert come into the secret places Christ is here but therewith he saith to his sheepe Go not thither nor follow them Luk. 17.23 Thus much briefly touching the foundation of this new Citie Iehouah-Shammah This that followeth was not vttered as being preuented by the time THe foundation considered it now remayneth I speak of the Citizens that so brieflie as I can The Citizens are as the Citie is considered This Citie being the Church extended from the East to the West it must be considered either as existing of all Christians good and bad and so Heretikes Scismatikes Pharisaicall professors c. are all Citizens though bad Citizens Or else as it existeth only of such as are sanctified according to the end of their Election Ephes 1.4 who are verie deed the liuely members of Christ Iesus In the first consideration all are Citizens by reason they haue receaued the outward badge or cognizaunce of Christ and so by Baptisme haue giuen vp their names to Christ Who before they appeare euill are of vs to be deemed true Christians but appearing euill and not obaying the Churches voice for repentance they are to be denied all familiar communion specially in ecclesiasticall ordinances but not without some hope that God wil in time recouer them seeing the first excommunication is but for humbling the proud flesh that so the spirit may in the Lord his good day be saued 1. Cor. 5.4.5 As for the second excommunication tearmed Maran-atha 1. Cor. 16.22 it is seldom inflicted on any by the Church because such is their Apostacie from Christ as for the which the Church denieth afterwards to sacrifice or pray for them Heb. 6.1 2 3 4 5 6 compared with Heb. 10.26 1. Ioh. 5.6 and easily the Church dare not so iudge and leaue any soule vnto the Lord his comming to iudgement as the Syriake phrase Maran-atha importeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Máréa Dominus Dan. 2.47 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Atha Venit vt in Ezra 5.3 And that the Church is considered in such sence namely to consist of good and bad it is to be heeded first in her types as in Noahs Arke and Israels congregation as also in such of the New testaments scriptures Math. 3.12 and 13.24 c. and there in vers 47. c. and 24.40 41. 2. Tim. 2.20 with many of like nature And so are ordinarilie vnderstood of our Auncients That the church is also vnderstood of such as be really sanctified and borne anew through the immortall seede of God his word and the inward operation of his spirit it may appeare first from the end of Election and vocation which is vnto sanctification of the Spirit wherevppon they are called Saints or Holy-ones Rom. 1.7 and 16.2.15 1. Cor. 1.2 6.1 16.1.15 alibi saepe compared with Ephes 1.4 Iohn 15.3 17.17 Secondly by such expresse testimonie Ephes 5.25 26 27 Heb. 12.14 1. Cor. 6.19 1. Pet. 1.9 And of this sort of Citizens is that Ierushalem from heauen and that Tabernacle of God with men which S. Iohn seeth in Reuel 21.2.3 vnderstood so Rabanus ca. 8. de modo poenitentiae Bale hereon Beza in ser 20. of Chr. passion Tho. Aquin. on Galat. 4.26 of Auncient and moderne writers though somtime of the triumphant Church also Obiection Here is a citty wherein no vnclean thing enters but the best of God his people here haue vncleane things in them therefore here they cannot be the Citizens of this new Ierushalem Answer The Antecedent is true but the illation or consequent is false For they are sayd to be Cleane not simply but respectiuely that is in respect that they are alredy in the Lauer of regeneration cleansed so in part as in Christ their head it is considered Absolute and perfect And that in S. Iohn cittizeas there be imperfections it may appeare in 22. chap. verse 2. where hee sayth that the leaues of this citties wood the Tree of life Christ Iesus in his word and spirit they were to heale the Nations with Whereas the healing of vs in regarde of our spirituall sores it appertaineth in proprietie to this life besides that the Lord tearmeth things that are not as if they were because his Velle is Esse his present Wil is present Worke but vnto vs reuealed in time This holy people for if the first fruites be holy so is the whole lump and if the roote be holy so are the branches Ro. 11.16 for theyr sakes the wicked tares are spared Math. 13.29 yea the Sodomiticall worlde were it not for this righteous Lot should soon be consumed with fire brimston Wicked within wicked without they al fare the better for this little Citties sake and yet they can intreate it no better than Laban intreated Iaakob Sodom intreated Lot his good angels no better than Saul vnto Dauid While Iudahs Ierushalem stoode with her Temple and ceremonies then these Citizens for one gentle swallow makes not a summer were the seede of Iaakob or Israel pent vp within the typicall Canaan but now this new citties people are stretched from Sea to Sea from one ende of the world to an other consisting of all nations and kinreds and people and tongues Reuel 7.9 Sayd I of all tongues Yea not onely all sorts of people but all sortes of tongues are to stand before the Throne of Christ and prayse him Not onely the Hebrew the Greeke and Latin tongues wherein our Sauiours Inscription was written but all the tongues that were giuen vnto the apostles in Actes 2. ch whereby they were enabled to preach the doctrine of faith vnto all sortes of people Which were a sufficient confutation of the Romanists seruice in sole Latine compared with 1. Corin. 14.16 But because no instrument shal be lacking for cutting off that euill themselues now at last haue turned the new testament into English for euery Lay man to looke into as also haue made English Manuels of prayer besides their turning of Iesus his Psalter blasphemously so called into our language So great is the Truth and preuaileth Secondly these are that Ierushalem which is here tearmed Iehouah Shammah The Lord is there Where in this Citty in this people for they are the Habitation and Temple of the mighty God of Iaakob God riseth vp in them and they grow vp in God and so oh depth of wisdom mercie God and Man becommeth One. The diuell at first saide to Euah that in eating the forbidden fruit they should become AS GODS He meant As Diuels Blacke gods and yet hee spake truer than hee was aware For as the creature cannot become the Creator so we are not become really Gods but we through his free fauour that called Light out of Darknesse are become really As Gods not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Elohim but Gen. 3 5. 〈◊〉