receiue any thing from him And to speake the truth in one word he is all in all and without him we are nothing but vanitie Let vs conclude then that sithence he is our blisse whosoeuer is seperated from him doth abide in perpetuall curse That the Apostates being separated from Iesus Christ are also depriued of his spirite Chap. 9. THe miserie of the Apostates may easily be knowen by the former reasons hauing first of all forsaken God the Father and then the sonne to wit our Sauiour and Mediatour Iesus Christ It remaineth nowe to shew how for the confirmation of their miseries they are also destitute of the holy Ghost and by consequent depriued of the CoÌ„munication societie of the most blessed and holy Trinitie that is to say in a word of the whole Deitie so that to rule and gouerne them there remaineth onely vnto them the deuill the worlde their flesh and concupiscences But when we say that they are destitute of the holy Ghost we vnderstand that of the spirite of sanctification and regeneration which is giuen vnto the children of God to seale in their harts their adoption and as a pawne and pledge to assure them of the inheritance of the life which is promised and prepared in heauen for them for as concerning the spirit of prophesy gift of working miracles Numb 23. ver 7. 24 Num. 24.5 1. Sam. 19.23 Ioh. 11.51 Mat. 24.24 2. Thes 2.9 Ezech. 36.26 we knowe it hath bene giuen vnto Balaam and vnto Saule to Caiphas and to Iudas and also that it may be granted vnto false prophets and vnto Antichrist and to the reprobate to whom it pleased God to communicat the same But that spirit which is giuen vnto the children of God to change their stony harts into harts of flesh to sanctifie them to kindle in them a fire which stirreth them vp to all good workes not to seeke in them any other glorye then that which is of God no doubt the Apostates are destitute of such a spirite yea they neuer had it For as S. Ihon saith 1. Ioh. 4.13 Hereby know we that we dwel in him he in vs because he hath giuen vs of his spirite Seing then they haue not remained stedfast in Iesus Christ but voluntarily are departed from him may it not be therof inferred that the spirit of God was neuer coÌ„municated vnto them considering it is giueÌ„ only to streÌ„gthen a man against temptatioÌ„s to make him so firme resolute in his wil that he may perseuere in the faith vnto the end For it is called for this cause the spirit of strength and power from an high Esay 11.2 Luk. 24.49 Because that meÌ„ which otherwise by their nature are so weake feeble that the shaking of a leaf or the voice of a damosell will astonish them be by him made not only inuincible against al assaults but also victorious against the Deuill and all other their enemies which hath bene seene by experience in the Apostles and Martyrs who indued with this spirite haue by his force vanquished and made subiect the world vnto Iesus Christ haue ouercome not onely the threatnings the fury violence of tyrants but also the feare and horror of the fire of wild and sauage beastes and other cruell torments which were prepared for them by the enemies of the truth Moreouer to whome doth it appertaine to bestow the spirite of Iesus Christ Mat. 3.11 Ioh. 7.38 Who is he that doth baptize with the holy ghost and with fire Who promised it vnto all those who should beleeue in his name saying He that beleeueth in me as saith the Scripture out of his belly shall flowe riuers of water of life Nowe he spake this as the EuaÌ„gelist doth adde of the spirit which they that beleeue in him should receaue Now then if he giue it to those only which beleue in him how caÌ„ he impart it to those which blaspheme him who crucify him again Luk. 11. stap him vnder their feet Furthermore this spirit is coÌ„municated to those who are of the children Rom. 8. Gal. 4. of the houshold The Apostates then being no more of the house or family of God which they haue giuen ouer altogether how can they any more receaue this spirit which is the signe and gage of the adoption of his children seing that whosoeuer is filled with this spirite is the child of the light and walketh in the light not communicating in anye wise with the workes of darckenes but rather reproueth them according to the occasion offred vnto him and seeketh the assemblies of the faithfull whereunto he bringeth according to the measure of grace which he hath receaued either a Psalme a hymne or some spiritual song there in the midst of all the companye of the Saints to sing publikely with them the praises of God Considering then that the Apostates this day fly our assemblies that they desire in their harts that they were dispersed and seeing vnto this ende the vehementest of them all do employ their goods frieÌ„ds which they haue as in this country of Aniow the church of Anger 's Saumeur haue tried and finally that they haue no greater care at this day then to go the first to Masse to beare the taper in procession of their Idol to do penance vnto it because they had for a time forsaken it some amonge them haue with great charges reedified set vp againe the altars in their Temples Idols images which they theÌ„selues before in detestation of idolatry had broken downe and all to fitters And to be short seing I say that there is no superstition no impietie no worke of the deuil darknes in al papistry to which they feigne not themselues to cleaue is it possible that the spirit of God which calleth it self is a spirit of truth that is to say Ioh. 14.17 ful of singlenes of sinceritie of simplicitie and integritie should dwel with such hypocrites which with vs for a while haue frequented our sermons feigned themselues to haue loued and liked them now the Papists Infidels go to the Masse other idolatries which they approue by their presence couÌ„tenance Wisd 1. For it is written that the spirit of God abhorreth euery one that plaieth the masker and is disguised And who as we do the fashion of garments change yeare by yeare their faith their religion their customes And although they haue assaied the true religion that which God hath prescribed vnto vs by his worde neuertheles they could not buckle themselues vnto it nor hold it fast imitating in that the nature of the ChamelioÌ„ who as they say can represent change himself into al colors except white Now if the Scribes Pharises be so often accursed by Iesus Christ Mat. 23.13 for hauing bene hipocrits in one reâ—igion onely by how much more stronge reason are the Apostats
AN EXCELLENT AND LEARNED TREATISE OF APOSTASIE MADE BY the most reuerend and godly learned man M. Iohn de l'Espine Minister of the word of God in the Churche of Anger 's in the Dukedome of Anjou DIRECTED AGAINST THE Apostates in the Churches of France Written first in the French tongue by the author him selfe and now faithfully translated into English The contentes of the booke appeare in the page following ANCHORA SPEI * Imprinted at London by Thomas Vautrollier dwelling in the Black-friers neare Ludgate Anno. 1587. THE CONTENTES OF THE CHAPters following in this Treatise The Preface Chap. 1. That there is want of iudgement in the Apostates Chap. 2. What the wretchednes of the Apostates is Chap. 3. That God departeth from the Apostates Chap. 4. That the Apostates are euer pursued by the Iustice of God whiche suffereth them not to haue any rest in their consciences Chap. 5. That the Apostates are without God though they thinke and defend the contrary Chap. 6. That as the Apostates are without God so they are without Christ Chap. 7. That the Apostates being departed from Iesus Christ are miserable Chap. 8. That the Apostates being separated from Iesus Christ are also depriued of his spirite Chap. 9. That as the Apostates haue giueÌ„ ouer God which in the authour of life so also they do coÌ„teÌ„ne those meanes which they may vse to come vnto him Chap. 10. That the Apostates are depriued of the Sacraments as well as of the word Chap. 11. That the Apostates haue no faith Chap. 12. That the Apostates are without the Church Chap. 13. That it is a most dangerous thing for the delayers of time who knowe the true Churche not to adioyne themselues presently vnto it Chap. 14. What the causes are whiche hinder the delayers from comming to the Churche and how light and friuolous they are Chap. 15. TO THE RIGHT VVORSHIPFVLL MAISTER THOMAS RANDOLPH Esquire Maister and Comptrouller of her Maiesties Posts and one of the Chamberlaines of her Highnesse Exchequer THOMAS VAVTROLLIER Printer wisheth prosperitie in this life and the ioyes of the life to come OVR Sauiour Christe Right Worshipful and most Christian Gentleman setting forth the state of the kingdome of heauen by the parable of the seede Matth 13. teacheth that some felvpâ—n stony ground where it had not much earth and â—one it sprange vp because it had not depth of earth and when the Sunne rose vp it was parched and for lacke of rooting withered away which our Sauiour himselfe in the 20. verse of the same chapter expoundeth to be he who heareth the word and incontinently with ioy receiueth it yet hath he no roote in himselfe and dureth but a season for assoone as tribulation or persecution commeth because of the word by and by he is offended The trueth of which doctrine hath bene most euident in the Churche of God in all ages Gen. 18. Lot his wife will needes looke backe to filthy Sodome because it is a rich and a pleasant place and the olde sonnes of Israel rather then they will suffer a litle aduersitie as the people of God will returne into Egypt an accursed land so they may haue their Leekes their Garlike and Onions and many will rather returne to Caiphas and to the pallace of thâ— High Priest Heb. 13.13 then they will goe forth with Iesuâ— Christ out of the Campe bearing his reprocheâ— refusing vtterly to drinke of the cuppe of thâ— Sonne of God to weare his cognisance and arâ— ashamed of the choller of his order and wilâ— at no hand suffer any thing with Iesus Chrisâ— who hath suffered all thinges for them tâ— raigne and to be glorified for euer with himâ— And surely very miserable experience hereoâ— in these laste times may dailye be seene in thâ— Churches about vs as those of France and other places so many for the heate of persecution and least they shoulde beare the crosse of Christ haue and daily do returne to that spirituall Egypt and mystical Babylon the mother of all abhominations Among many reuolts and defections there hath bene none more fearefull and horrible then that most dreadful Apostasie which befell not long since on Saint Bartholomewes day in the Churches of Anjou so many falling away which neuer since returned to the sheepefolde of Christ which moued this excellent and godly learned man Maister I. de l'Espine Minister of the word of God in the Church of Anger 's to write this most excellent Treatise vnto them that they might remember from whence they be fallen that they may see howe they haue defiled the Temple of God and made sad his holy spirite and the holy Angels to be in sorowe and heauines beholding their fall in betraying the son of God and in sclandering the sufferings of his glorious Martyrs banished driuen from â—heir countries and houses depriued and forsaken of their fathers mothers wiues children parents friends cast into dungeons amonge Toades and Serpents bound and fettered with â—ll crueltie and outrage by hangmen and executioners mangled afflicted and tormented But alas these haue refused this so great an honour 1. Pet. 4. Rom. 8. as to communicate with the passions of Iesus Christ and to be made conformable vnto his image in suffering with him and for the profession of his moste glorious Gospell This godly and learned Treatise written by the Author in the Frenche tongue for the vse and benefite especially of his owne Church being deliuered and commended vnto me by a reuerend and learned man faithfully translated into English I thought it a meditation very necessary in these times for the Church of England also who although nowe God be praised she neede notto shrinke for any fiery triall yet she knoweth not how neare the Lord his visitation is Mat. 25. and our Sauiour teacheth his seruants continually to watche That I haue presumed to dedicate it vnto your Worshippe 〈◊〉 thinke fewe men will aske and no man ought to maruaile who knoweth your zealous and most Christian profession and the great duties wherein I stand bound to your Worship for your great fauour and assistance in my distresses and afflictions Onely I beseech you tâ— receiue it as a signification of my thankefulâ— mind in dutie towards your Worshippe The Lord giue you grace still to continue euen tâ— the ende to blesse you here with all increase of Worship and with all spirituall ioyes in heauenly things in his most blessed Sonne Christ Iesus London From my poore house in the Blacke-Friers this present 9. of May. 1587. Your Worships in all dutie THOMAS VAVTROLLIER Heb. 6.4 It is impossible that they whiche were once lightened and haue tasted of the heauenly gift and were made partakers of the holy Ghost and haue tasted of the good worde of God and of the powers of the world to come If they fall away should be renewed agayne by repentance seyng they crucifie agayne to them selues the sonne of God and make a mocke of him
to passe their destruction as likewise contrarily Rom. 8.28 all helpe to saluation to those that loue God and are loued of him againe and there is no creature which doth not by and by make a couenant with vs when we are once firmely knit and vnited vnto him Hosea 2.20 I will euen mary thee vnto me in faith fulnes sayth the Lorde and thou shalt knowe the Lorde And in that daye I will heare sayth the Lord I will euen heare the heauens and they shall heare the earth the earth shall heare the corne and the wine and the oyle and they shall heare Israell Whereby we may easily gather that all creatures draw neere vnto the children of god and do chearish them as soone as they see them come into fauour with God and contrarily that they slide backe and start aside from those who are bereaued of his grace For it is a generall rule which we ought euer to remember Leuit. 25. Deut. 28. namely that the grace and loue of God is the ofspring of all benediction and that his wrath on the other side is the fountaine of all male diction so that without the one nothing is blessed and with the other all things are cursed What then can these wretched Apostates doe who eating drinking going comming whether they sit or stand whether they walke or lye still are euer musing in their bed at the table within and without the house before and behind them of the wrath of God with a firebrand in his hand ready to consume them If they will turne aside Amos. 5.19 they shall meete with a Lyon as sayth the Prophet if they will returne thinking to flee and saue themselues on the other part there will by and by a Beare start out before their eyes and if to assure themselues on all sides they will come to their house againe and leane their hand on the wall they shall finde in it a Serpent whiche will â—ite them which is as much to saye as that â—hey can neither finde hole nor secret corner wherein they may hide themselues from the wrath of God which is exceeding fearefull â—o all those to whome he sendeth it as the Apostle sayeth He. 10.31 That it is a fearefull thing to fall into the handes of the liuing God Which may euidently appeare by the examples propounded vnto vs in the Scriptures Gen. 4.14 as in Caine who hauing slayne his owne brother for religion and fled from the face of God that is to saye hauing giuen him ouer and the Churche which was gathered together in his fathers house neuer had afterward aâ—ye reste of conscience but as a man vexed with furie went heere and there like a vagabound and runnagate with a fire whiche did consume him and with an vnquietnes of minde whiche suffered him not to reste in anye place 1. Sam. 18.10 Saule likewise when the spirite of God had forsaken him and was departed from him did not the cuill spiriâ— foorth-with come vpon him and since thâ— tyme neuer ceased to torment him vntiâ— he had throwne him headlonge into despaire Iudas also after he had betrayed Iesus Christ Ioh. 13. and that the Deuill by reason 〈◊〉 his couetousnesse had once entered into his heart and had drawne him awaye from thâ— true Churche whiche was the companye oâ— Iesus Christ and his Apostles to reconcile himselfe vnto the Priestes and Pharisies and to make him to enter againe into their Sinagogue had he euer any quietnes in his soule after that did he euer thinke of any thinge but onely howe he might destroye himselfe hopyng though in vayne by this meanes to rid himselfe out of that fearefull griefe wherewith his conscience was vexed and tormented And they of whome mencion is made in the Prophetes Apoc. 6.16 cap. 9. and in the Reuelation of Saint Iohn who hauing receiued the badge cognisance of the beast and hauing dronke of the cup of hir whoredomes abhominations not hauing repented seing themselues in the ende ouerwhelmed with the iudgementes of God for hauing euer beene coupled with Antichrist will they not say to the mountaines fall on vs and to the earth open thy selfe deâ—our and swallowe vs vp quicke to the ende â—â—ey may escape by this meanes if it were posâ—â—le the great griefe and anguishe of minde â—herein they liue All which testifie plainely â—nto vs that the wicked who seperate themâ—elues from God and will exempt themselues â—â—om his obedience are so pursued by his iuâ—tice that they can neuer take any good rest â—â— their mindes Also the holy Scripture saith â—hat in whatsoeuer happy florishing estate they be whatsoeuer prosperitie they haue whatsoeuer riches or goodes they do possesse â—o whatsoeuer honours and dignities they are exalted and whatsoeuer delicacies and sweete pleasures they mioye yet notwithstanding they are neuer at rest nor at quiet in their mindes Esay 49. Psa 34.16 For as Dauid saith The face of the Lord is against them that do euill to cut of their remembrance from the earth And their conscience which waiteth continually on them as it were a Sargeat neuer ceaseth to threaten them and to set before their eyes continually the wrath of God and his arme which is alwaies stretched foorth to beat them downe And I pray you what other thing is hell eternal fire gehenna and the bottomlesse pit where the Deuill and the reprobate shall be condemned to remaine for euer then this horror and liuely apprehension and feeling of the wrath oâ— God which doth pearce and goeth cleanâ— through them Iam. 2.19 As Saint Iames saith that thâ— Deuils beleeue there is a God and tremble There is nothing that causeth the Angels in heauen to be contented and happie but onely the feeling of God his loue towardes them which they read and plainely see expressed in his face and in the earth likewise there is nothing that doth comfort the children of God and vpholde them in all their afflictions but his great and incomprehensible loue towardes them which they see vnfolded in his word in his sacramentes and in the whole order of the church and aboue all in the face and death of his sonne That is it which Dauid desired aboue all things sal 4.6 as it appeareth Many say who will shew vs any good But Lord lift vp the light of thy countenance vpon vs. Thou hast giuen me more ioy of hart then they haue had when their wheat and their wine did abounde I will lay me downe and also sleepe in peace for thou Lord only makest me dwell in safetie And contrariwise there was nothing that he grudged at so much nor that grieued him so sore as when he sawe the libertie taken away by the tyrannie and violence of Saule from resorting with the people of God vnto those places whereas he â—iscouered his face vnto them Psal 42.1 As the hart â—rayeth for the riuers of water so panteth my â—ule
withdrawing themselues from the church they are gone out of paradise wherein God sheweth his face Cant. 4. his glory Matt. 11. Ioh. 1. Esa 66. his magnificence and his great workes euery day and where he doth vnfold his great riches and blessings and the riche treasures of his deepe wisedome in the fulnes of his sonne to enter into hell where they finde nothing els but a fire to consume them and a worme that doth gnawe their heart and a torment and perpetuall disquietnes in their consciences without all hope to finde any remedye or any comfort or any refreshing in their miseries They are like vnto that poore wretched Caine Gen. ◠14 who was the firste Apostate in the worlde who hauing abandoned his fathers house and the Churche that did assemble it selfe therein and being by that meanes departed from before the face of the Lorde was all the rest of his life a vagabond and vnquiet in his minde not able to finde any resting place as also after him haue bene all his successors Cham Nimrod Ismael Esau Ieroboam with the tenne tribes that followed him the Sadduces Pharises Scribes and Priestes in the time of Iesus Christ and his Apostles and finally Simon Magus Ebion Chemnitus Carpocrates Marcion Valentinus Arrius Nestorius Eutiches and other Heretikes that came afterward who hauing seperated themselues from the Church of Iesus Christ haue met with a thousand miseries as also the two Princes and Heades of all the Apostates shall shortly doe that is to say Mahomet and the Pope with all their adherents 2. Thes 2.8 whom the Lord doth destroy euery day by litle and litle with the breath of his mouth vntill such time as he doth pronounce vnto them their last sentence and iudgement wherewith they shall be cast and banished into the pitte with the Dragon and his Angels that is to saye Apoc. 12.9 as Saint Iohn doth expound it that olde serpent called the deuill and Satan which deceiueth all the world For it is certaine that the great Captaine Michael who is the God of battailes and head of the army of the Lord after a long fight he will remaine victorious ouer all his enemies Apoc. 14.9.10 whome he will put vnder his feete to wit the Dragon the beast and all those that will worship him and receiue his marke on their foreheades or on their handes who shall drinke of the wine of the wrath of God yea of the pure wine which is powred into the cuppe of this wrathe and they shall be tormented in fire and brimstone before the holye Angels and before the Lambe And that great Babylon the mother of whoredomes and abhominations of the earth Apoc. 17.5 which beareth a name written in her foreheade a mysterye whiche is dronken with the blood of the Saintes and with the bloode of the Martyres of Iesus muste stumble and her fall must be so great that all the earth shal be astonied therat Apo. 14.8 For which cause all the children and seruantes of God are exhorted by a voyce comming from heauen to go out of her quickly Apoc. 18.4 that they be not partakers of her sinnes and consequently of her plagues What will then become of the Apostates who in steade of cōming and going from it Apoc. 18.2 doe returne vnto it thinking to be at more safety in Babilon which is as S. Ihon saieth the habitation of Deuills and the houlde of all foule spirites and a cage of euery vncleane and noysome birde then in the Church of God which is the holy city Heb. 12.22 and the celestiall Ierusalem where there is an innumerable companye of Angels set round about it for to keepe it and the fauour of God which is in the midst as a tower to fortifie strēghthen it on all sides may not one saye of them with the Prophet Psal 94.8 vnderstand ye vnwise among the people and ye fooles when will ye he wyse for ar they not wonderfully depriued of their senses that do preferre Bethauen before Bethel that is to say a house of impiety of errors and lyes of Idolatry of blasphemy of abhomination before the house of God of piety trueth and holynesse of prayers and thanks geuing and loue rather to returne againe into Egypt there to feede of Garlike and rotten Onions which they had left behind them then to be daintily fed with the Manna of heauen and with the foode of Angels Dauid desiring with griefe in banishment the dainties and great comforts he did receaue in the house of God then when he had libertie to frequent it with the rest of the people whereof he sawe himselfe depriued Psal 84.34 liuing amonge the barbarous and idolatrous spake vnto God complaining Where be thine altars O Lorde of Hostes vers 10. my King and my God Blessed are they that dwell in thy house they will euer praise thee for a day in thy Courts is better then a thousand otherwhere I had rather be a doore-keeper in the house of my God then to dwell in the Tabernacles of wickednesse If the Prophet esteemeth them happy 1. Cor. 14. which may with all libertie frequent the house of God and therewith enioye the exhortations comforts prayers confessions and publike prayses which are songe to his Name Psal 42. and moreouer beholde his glorious face whiche doth shine in this notable order which is kept in these holye assemblies of the people doth he not repute contrariwise all those vnhappy who are excluded from the enioying of so great a good and especially when as they doe depriue themselues thereof and forsake it willingly Ge. 25 33. making no more accompt of it then Esau did of his birthright which he solde vnto his brother Iacob for a mease of pottage made of Lentils I dare saye that none of all the Apostates who haue left our Churches to returne to Papistrye and to their Masses that is to saye 2. Pet. 2 22 to their owne vomite as Dogs and to the wallowing in the myre as Swine did euer taste except it were with the tippe of the tongue onely the sweetenes of the pretious and exquisite meates wherewyth God doeth nourishe and feede his familye For if they had swallowed them kept and well digested them in their stomachs they woulde haue forgotten all the davnties of the worlde in which the children of God after they haue once with a good appetite eaten of the celestiall bread doo finde no more sauour Ioh. 6 67. When Iesus Christ demaunded of the Apostles whether they woulde follow the Apostates who beeinge offended at hys Sermon touching the eating of hys flesh and drinking of his bloud had gone backe from him and walked no more with him Saint Peter answering for all his fellowes sayd Maister to whome shall we go For thou hast the wordes o◠eternall life Shewing thereby the good will that hee and hys fellowes had neuer to forsake hys companie because of
rather of power of loue and of a sound mind How can they then that are destitute of this spirit assure thēselues in their consciences that they are Christians But I do maruel much howe these persons thinke that they may be of the church of Iesus Christ in the mean time be freed frō persecutiō seing Iesus Christ hath foretolde to all his disciples that in the worlde they should suffer affliction and that if he hath bene hated persecuted in the world Ioh. 15.20 Chap. 16. so shall they be also purposing to teach thē therby that iniuries persecutions can by no meanes be auoided of thē Wherefore Lactantius saith that it is the poesie of the true church 1. Tim. 13. to do good suffer euill in being the piller and the prop of truth Ioh. 8.44 as it were a witnes thereof considering that the truth is hath bene of al antiquity odious vnto the deuil who is the father of lies to all men who by nature are vaine liers but aboue all other to Princes great Lords who loue to be flattered Psal 39. 116. Is it possible that either the true ministers seruāts of God cā make a true profession of preaching thereof or his children beleue folow it not raising against thē by by the ioint hatred both of men and deuils So that the painters which woulde draw her haue giuen vnto her a sword in her hande which she thrusteth throgh the throte of him that beareth her 3. Esd 4. But that ought not to astonish vs for howsoeuer it stādeth she wil in the end remaine victorious ouer all her enemies And we are certaine that God who is the Father thereof will vphold all those that will freely embrace her wil destroy not only those who by hatred because they are possessed by the deuill do reiect fiercely resist it but also those who for feare lest they should incurre the hatred the euil wil of the world do loue rather to dissemble delay time with the enemies thē to ioyne thēselues to the companies of her friēds put themselues vnder her banner to defend her Ought we not to thinke that to preserue faith and other graces and vertues which God hath ingrafted in vs it is needefull that they should be practised And that without exercise they doe rust and become in tyme cankered as Iron in the ende come to nothing It is then for our profite that we shoulde haue enemies whiche make warre continually agaynst vs to exercise vs. For that maketh vs vigilant strong and ready as Sainte Paule sayth My power is made perfect through weakenes 2. Cor. 3.9 verye gladlye therefore will I reioyce rather in my infirmities that the power of Christ may dwell in me Wherefore I take pleasure in infirmities in reproches in necessities in persecutions in anguish for Christs sake for when I am weake then am I strong Seneca sayth that vertue will fayle and fade away if she haue not an aduerfary who in exercising of her doth make her to florish Let not the delayers then alledge anye more either their persecutions or their infirmities to excuse themselues withall from entring into the Church for both the one and the other ought to driue them vnto it The crosse because it is an occasion to fight and fighting a meane to come vnto the glorye honour rest crowne happines and felicity whereunto they aspire and their infirmity to the end they may be strengthened for the church is the schoole wher al vertues are learned but especially magnanimity constancy which do stil accōpany faith to cause her to contemne death threateninges Mat. 16. dangers prosperity aduersity and all other frayle and corruptible thinges Is it possible that hearing so many excellent promises of God Psal 46. whereby he doth make vs certaine for euer of his presence and fauour and that he will neuer forsake vs either in fyre or water but wil keepe vs euer in our ingoinges and outgoinges whether soeuer we walke Esay 43.2 Psal 83. Psal 121. And after seing so many examples of those who being vpholden by the spirite of God in the church haue bene inuincible against all temptations and tormentes Heb. 11. is it possible but that we should be encouraged And although we were more fearful then heartes is it possible I say that following so many valiant captaines and champious we should not be vnder their conduct as bould as Lions Hasten you o ye delayers to enrowle your selues among the company of olde beatē souldiers that neuer fledd back for any assault whatsoeuer was made against them and who continually esteemed the glorye of God and of his trueth dearer then all the dainties of the worlde There be some also that feare to be expelled out of their owne countrye where they are had in honour and haue great offices and gorgeous houses where they their wiues and their children be at their ease and well prouyded of all those thinges they neede dare not commit themselues to the church lest that perfecution comming they be in daunger to loose all their commodities To aunswer particularly to all that which they obiect I saye first that the true countrey of a Christian man as saith S. Basill is the Church wherein he is borne a newe and where he hath his father Ioh. 3. his mother his bretheren and friendes his dwelling his goodes his inheritaunce And I say furthermore that it is the best happiest and most delightfull and pleasantest soiourning that is in all the world For it is the gard on which God hath plated which he himselfe hath tilled and wherein he taketh all his delight where the trees of righteousnes the blessed plantes of the house of God the tree of the knowledge of good and euill and the tree of lyfe which is alwayes greene are to be found besides there are the cleere riuers and springes of the water Cant. 4. of lyfe springinge to life eternall There are also the sweete flowers the smellinge of the lillye the roses the camphire the spikenarde the Lauender saffron calamus cynnamon with the trees bearing incense myrrhe aloes with all other chiefe spices Apoc. 21. And to conclude there is the golde and pretious stones the most rare and excellent that can be founde Esay 5. desired and wished for It is the vine of the Lorde which he hath adorned withall the greatest excellencies that can be wished to take his pleasure therein If then God do contente himselfe to dwell therein as in the stateliest pallace as in the gallantest garden of pleasure that he hathe shoulde not this dwelling like vs Moreouer is not our habitation in heauen Phil. 3. since we are heauenly plantes as Plato sayde and that we are risen with Iesus Christ Wherefore then haue we our heartes still in the earth to seeke the thinges that are beneath why doe we not
name done many great workes And then will I professe to them I neuer knew you depart from me ye that worke iniquity Let vs then conclude that the praiers which are made at home priuatly done by some particular man can not be acceptable vnto God if he be not a member of the Church and he can not be a member of the Church except he be vnited with the body the head For those that thus withdrawe them selues from the assemblies whatsoeuer exercise of religion they performe in their houses they make a sect by themselues and by consequent are excōmunicated The seconde is that a faithfull mā ought not to withdraw himselfe from frequenting of the assemblies which be made in the name of God by his people in certaine daies that are appointed wherin they are called together to sanctifie publikely his name for the reasons which followe First of all it is forbidden them Heb. 10.24 Let vs consider one an other sayeth the Apostle to prouoke vnto loue and to good workes not for saking the fellowship we haue among our selues as the maner of some is but let vs exhort one an other that so much the more because ye see that the day draweth neere For if we sinne willingly after we haue receiued knowledge of the truth there remaineth no more sacrifice for sinnes but a fearefull looking for of iudgement and violent fire which shall deuour the aduersaries And afterward when God commandeth euerye one so expresly to sanctifie the day of rest is it not to the end that the people may inore conueniently assemble themselues to heare the worde of God preached and by their confessions praises and publike praiers whiche they make together ioyne and vnite themselues still more and more in the one and selfe same faith and religion and waite for the performance of the promises which God hath made to be in the midst of such assemblies and to powre vpon them aboundantly his spirite his graces fauors and holy blessings as Dauid saith As the devv of Hermon vvhich falleth vpon the mountaine of Sion Psal 133.3 there the Lorde appointed the blessing life for euer And this is the reason why this good wise king esteemed so much these holy assemblies that there was nothing in the world more deare and pretious in his eyes then to be in the middest of them at the dayes wherein they were called together as it appeareth by an innumerable multitude of places in the Psalmes Psal 26.8 O Lord I haue loued the habitation of thy house the place vvhere thine honor dwelleth Psal 43.3 And in an other place Send thy light thy truth let thē lead me let them bring me to thy holy mountaine and thy tabernacles Againe other where Psal 138.1 I vvill praise thee vvith my vvhole heurt enen before the Gods vvill I praise thee I vvill vvorship tovvards thine holy temple praise thy name because of thy louing kindnes for thy truth And in many other places he sheweth the delight which he had to resort to the publike cōgregatiōs of the church the singular pleasure contentation of minde he receiued in them doth teach euery one by his example to seke after frequent thē because there is no better means to preserue nourish increase faith thē that to be edified in the knowledge feare of God in all true kind of godlines religion 1. Cor. 14. Ephes 4. as the Apostle teacheth the Corinthians the Ephesiās Moreouer those that abstaine frō thē do they not detest the church of God Iesus Christ who is euer in the middest of those that are gathered together in his name Doe they not make themselues vnworthy of the great blessings that God imparteth to them so aboundantly 1. Cor. 11. Matth. 18. as though they were heathen and publicās Do they not forsake the company of Iesus Christ of the Patriarchs prophets Apostles of al the elect children of God which are all members of the church Deut. 23. To go to the bastards the Ammonits the Moabits who by the ordināce of God were in old time banished from the tabernacle and from the couenant of God O wretched soules which do not knowe the dayes of their visitation who turne their backes to the sheepehearde when he seeketh them and shut the dore on him when he commeth to knocke But to come to the ende of this speech and treatise I say in a word that the delayers whatsoeuer faith they suppose or feigne themselues to haue They are indued with none at all for the true faith is alwayes ioyned with confession as the Apostle saith which ought to be publike and in the sight of men Rom. 10. Matth. 10. Matth. 5. for our light ought not to lye vnder the bushell but to be Set on high vpon a candlesticke to lighten all those that come into the house We ought to beare the badge of our Sauiour Iesus Christ in our foreheades Apoc. 7. which is the place most eminent and apparant in all our bodie we ought not to hide our scarfes nor to turne our coates nor feare to be knowne by our liuery to the souldiers of Iesus Christ He hath died for vs not secretly in an vnknowne corner or closed frō the knowledge of the world but in the open place of the sculles where they had wont to execute the guiltie and euil doers Iohn 19. and was lifted vp on high on the crosse betweene two theeues and hath dronke swallowed vp this shame ignominy in the middest of the world that we might be honoured before God What vilanous and detestable ingratitude then is in them which woulde dissemble that and conceale such an act to as all the trumpets in the world can not sufficiently sound and spread abroad He is not ashamed euen nowe that he is in his glory to acknowledge and auouch vs for his brethren and shall we be ashamed to confesse him to be our Sauiour God by his grace and perfect goodnes grant to the delayers to know and vnderstand betime the great fault which they commit by dissembling so long that they may by a true repentance speedily preuent the fearefull iudgement of God which hangeth ouer their heads if they hasten not So be it