that promise The seed of the woman shall breake the Serpents head Gen. 3.15 belongeth to Christ and to all his members But they haue greater power against the reprobate therefore the Apostle saith Ephes 2.2 that the diuel doth finish his worke in the children of disobedience In what sense is Satan said 2. Cor. 11.14 to transforme himselfe into an Angell of light Not in regard of his substance but in regard of his counterfeting whereby with strange delusions appearances and superstitions he doth faine himselfe to be an Angell of light sent of God from heauen that so his counsels might be listened vnto Can they worke true miracles that is such as do agree with the very things themselues or onely counterfet Christ saith Mat. 24.24 There shall arise false christs and shal shew great signes and wonders And therefore sometimes they shew true signes that is such in truth as they seeme to be c Exod. 7.12 8.7 not by their owne power but vsing certaine hidden causes of nature and yet but lies because they are vsed to deceiue and to confirme a lie d Deut. 13.12 2. Thess 2.9 and indeed not worthy the name of miracles yet the most of them be meere illusions and deceits and legerdemaines like to those of Simon Magus Act. 8.9.10.11 For it is God alone that doth great wonders e Psal 72.18 136.4 to wit such as be done in truth and be wonders indeed whose cause is knowne to no mortall man and such as are done without deceit beyond the course of nature and without meanes and such as can by no meanes be effected by the course of nature and which are appointed especially to set foorth the glorie of God and to further mans saluation Wherefore doth God permit them 1. 2. Thes 2.10 That they who will not embrace the loue of the truth might beleeue lies 2. That the faith and patience of the elect might be proued Deut. 13.3 What be the effects and indeuors of wicked Angels What man is able to recken them all He is the enemie of God of Christ and of men and therefore doth take vnto himselfe the glorie of God whether it be by himselfe a Math. 4.9 or whether it be by his instruments to wit Antichrist and such men as challenge to themselues the honor of God b 2. Thes 2 4. He is the author of sinne for it sprang from him and he doth daily stirre vs vp to sinne that he might plunge vs with himselfe into the gulfe of eternall death c Ioh. 8.44 Heb. 2.14 he worketh effectually in the wicked d Eph. 2.2 2. Thes 2.9 he doth corrupt the word of God e Mat. 4.6 he soweth tares in the Lords field f Mat. 13.25 he raiseth vp heresies he prouoketh men to sundrie kinds of idolatrie he raiseth persecutions against the godly In commonweales he troubleth all with tumults and warres In the familie and priuatly he laboureth to trouble annoy and destroy particular men by sundrie meanes he vrgeth men to commit mischiefs and hainous sinnes He studieth as much as he can to hurt mens bodies he doth infect the elements and troubleth them for mans ruine and especially in this age wherin he knoweth the generall iudgement to approch he doth shew his rage more cruelly then euer before by lies and murthers and confoundeth heauen and earth together Do they take vnto them true bodies sometimes Sometimes they take vnto them counterfeit bodies as it is gathered out of the storie of the Witch who raised vp a spirit in stead of true Samuel g 1. Sam. 28.12 And sometimes true bodies as may be gathered out of the former Treatise touching good Angels For if good Angels haue taken vnto them true bodies there is no doubt but euill Angels are able also by Gods permission to take vnto them true bodies and appeare in them and speake to men and performe actions like vnto mens actions Whether are euill spirits besides that inward torment of mind wherewith they are tormented for euer punished also with that bodily fire of hell Christ saith plainely Mat. 25.41 that he will say to the wicked Depart ye cursed into euerlasting fire which is prepared for the diuell and his Angels Out of which place it is concluded that euill Angels besides that torment of mind wherewith they are vexed are also tormented with that infernall fire as though they were bound vnto it no otherwise then the soule being bound to the bodie suffers of the bodie but we must iudge that to be done after a wonderfull but yet after a true manner as Augustine saith For what purpose did almightie God ordaine them 1. To the end that by meanes of their temptations the godly might be exercised in humilitie and patience and so their saluation might be furthered a 2. Cor. 12.7 2. That by them as it were certaine tormenters he might punish the wicked as well with spirituall as bodily punishments In one word that God might vse their boldnesse to the enlarging of his owne glorie Whether do some men truly collect out of the Col. 1.20 where it is said that God doth reconcile all things to himself thorough Christ both which are in earth as also which are in heauen that therefore the diuels and the damned shall one day be saued Rather most falsly For by this word all we must vnderstand the whole bodie of the Church which is as it were diuided into two parts namely those which are in heaven by whom are simply vnderstood the faithfull that died before the comming of Christ and into those which are in earth by whom are vnderstood those whom Christ found liuing at his first coming or those which followed and liued since his coming as also Eph. 1.10 What is the vse of the doctrine concerning diuels 1. That we might be confirmed in the faith touching good Angels the kingdome of heauen and the blessed spirits because seeing the effects of contraries is contrarie if there be diuels and euill Angels then certainely there be good Angels and if there be an hell then certainely there is a kingdome of heauen 2. That we should be so much the more affraid to offend God because as Peter saith 2.2.4 If God spared not the Angels when they sinned but cast them bound in chaines into hell assuredly he knoweth how to reserue the vnrighteous against the day of iudgement to be punished 3. That we might be so much the more watchfull and stand vpon our guard and therefore should fight euen as it were for life and death with our spirituall weapons but especially with continuall prayers vnto Christ against so many enemies and spirituall wickednesses and that we should put on the whole armor of God that is that complete spirituall armour which the Apostle prescribeth Eph. 6.11.13 and 1. Pet. 5.9 What comfort haue we in that battell That we haue Christ not onely a conqueror and triumpher ouer the powers of hell
should teach the way thereunto What is the vse of this Doctrine 1. The exaltation of Christ doth shewe that the Mediator was not onely a man but truely and essentially God that so our trust in him might bee the more stedfast 2. It lifteth vp our mindes to heauen and causeth vs to be there conuersant in minde and affection where our head is euen as now wee are in him out of this world 3. Wee see what wee also must hope for that are the members of Christ Both which vses the Apostle doth vnfolde Phil. 3.20.21 Our conuersation is in heauen from whence also wee looke for the Sauiour euen the Lord Iesus Christ who shall change our vile bodie that it may be fashioned like vnto his glorious body according to the mightie working whereby hee is able to subdue all things vnto himselfe· 4. Heb. 4.16 Let vs goe boldly vnto the throne of the grace of God seeing that Heb. 8.1 Wee haue such an high Priest that sitteth at the right hand of the throne of the maiestie in heauen What is contrarie to this Doctrine 1. Their errour who do call the personall vnion of the Diuine and humane nature the sitting at the right hand of God or do affirme that Christ then sat at the right hand of God when the two natures began to bee vnited or doe apply the personall vnion of the two natures for the expounding of his sitting at the right hād of his father for by that meanes they confound the Articles of our beliefe 2. The errour of the Vbiquitaries who doe cal the sitting at the right hand of God a measure of maiestie whereby they thinke the flesh of Christ was made omnipresent or to haue a beeing in all places at once which is to take away from Christ the trueth of his flesh 3. The errour of the Papists in their intercession and protection of Angels and Sainrs deceased as if these were our Patrons aduocates and Mediatours to procure grace for vs by their praiers and merits and to present our prayers to God contrarie to that that is saide 1. Tim. 2.5 There is one Mediatour betweene God and man the man Christ Iesus And contrarie to the commaundement of Christ Iohn 15.16 and 16.23 Whatsoeuer yee aske of the Father aske it in my name And to that Esay 63.16 Abraham is ignorant of vs and Israell knoweth vs not The nine and twentieth common place Of Faith Whence is Faith deriued THE Latine word Fides is deriued from fio to bee done because that is done that is spoken or promised by any man and sometimes it signifieth actiuely sometimes passiuely as in him that promiseth it signifieth to giue a mans faith or to keepe a mans faith in him that beleeueth the promise it signifieth to haue faith In Hebrewe it is called Emunah from the firmenesse and constancie of words and promises and is deriued from the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It was true from whence commeth Amen a word knowne to euery man Let it be true or firme or ratified The Grecians call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the third Praeterperfect tense Passiue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from whence commeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I am taught I am perswaded I assent and I doe plainely beleeue as Rom. 8.39 I am certainely perswaded that neither death nor life nor any thing else shall separate vs from the loue of God in Christ Iesus The verbe Actiue is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I perswade I teach as 1. Iohn 3.19 Wee shall before GOD assure or perswade our hearts The preterperfect tense meane is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I perswade my selfe As Romanes 2.19 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thou perswadest thy selfe that thou art a guide to the blinde And Phil. 1.6 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I am perswaded or I doe certainely knowe or beleeue this same thing that hee that hath begun this good vvorke vvill performe it vntill the day of Iesus Christ So that the word faith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth well answere his originall that it should bee a daughter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of a teacher or perswader Hence it is that Valla thinketh faith to bee rightly termed a perswasion or firme assent vnto a thing Hereof commeth the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to assent to beleeue to assure as in that of Phocylides 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is to say Beleeue not the common people for it is an inconstant rabble one while allowing another while disalowing this thing or that thing What differeth faith from opinion and knowledge That is said to bee opinion which inclyneth to one side not without feare or doubt of the trueth of the other side Knowledge ingendreth a firme assent Syllogismus scientificus but yet by the application of demonstration for demonstration is a Syllogisme which causeth knowledge But faith rests vpon authoritie and yeeldeth free assent vnto the word of God as it maketh for vs by the inspiration of Gods spirit and relyeth vpon the authoritie of GOD himselfe What are the significations of Faith in the Scripture They are diuers and those diuerse significations make diuerse kindes and sorts of faith 1. It signifieth fidelitie trueth and constancie in the keeping of promises and couenants Rom. 3.3 And so it is vsed in the cōmon verse of Sophocles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Faith dieth vnfaithfulnesse buddeth 2. It signifieth the Doctrine of faith or the Gospell which we do beleeue for the master of the Sentences in his third booke and 23. distinction learnedly saith That faith sometime is that wherwithall wee beleeue and sometimes that that wee doe beleeue Gal. 1.22 Hee which persecuted vs in times past now preacheth the faith which before he destroyed Tit. 1.13 Rebuke them sharply that they may be found in faith 3. The profession of religion whether it be true that is to say the zeale of religion Rom. 1.8 Your faith is published throughout the whole world that is to say your profession of the Christian faith is commended or whether it be onely a fained and outward profession Iam. 2.24 A man is iustified by workes and not by faith only And this faith is called a dead faith vneffectuall and hypocriticall a Math. 17 20. b Mat. 14 3◠4. It signifieth the bare knowledge of the benefit of Christ and the perswasion of the whole word of god as in the same place of Iam. 2.24 And so the Diuels beleeue and tremble Iames. 2.19 This is called an Historicall faith common both to the godly and the vngodly and therefore groweth onely from the light of nature from arguments which mans reason is able to comprehend without any peculier enlightning of the holy spirit 5. It signifieth a knowledge assent and perswasion of the grace of God but yet brickle and vnconstant as not taking roote in Christ as it is taught in the parable of the seed Luk. 8.13 But it is as a tree which being not
termes of faith and hope are taken one for the other b 1. Pet. 1.5 Rom. 8.24 And as Luther saith faith beholdeth the word of the matter hope looketh vnto the matter of the word Moreouer faith receiueth Charitie giueth and bestoweth Charitie is begotten of faith and not on the contrarie faith maketh vs the sonnes of God c Gal. 3.26 charitie trieth vs d 1. Ioh. 4.7 Iohn 13.35 whether we be the sonnes of God The obiect of faith is Christ offered in the Gospell with all his benefits the obiect of Charitie is God and our neighbour a Mat. 22 37 39 Furthermore faith endureth in this world and shall passe into a perfect knowledge in the other world but Charitie shall flourish most of all in the world to come 1. Cor. 13 13. The chiefe of those three vertues is Loue In respect of the vse namely toward our neighbour whereas the other two go no farther then the person of the beleeuer and hoper VVhat are the contraries of faith 1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Infidelitie the vnbeleefe of all infidels who say in their heart There is no God Psal 14.1 2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that difficultie to beleeue of the Christians which heare the word and doe not beleeue it and which conceiue a faith of God not according to the Scriptures but according to the imaginations of their owne hearts 3 Security of the flesh and contempt of Gods Iustice wherby sinnes are punished 4 The Iewes confidence in the flesh b Phil. 3.3 5 Presumption and confidence of our owne strength workes merits righteousnesse and worthines such as was in the pharisies Luke 18.11.12 6 Confidence and trust in the helpe of man c Esa 30.2 7 That Academicall distrust and doubting of God of the certaintie of Gods word of the grace of God or the forgiuenesse of sinnes that so that selling of workes of supererogation and suffrages for the dead may the more easily be retained 8 Desperation 9 The errrour of the Papists which say that faith is not onely of those things that are reuealed in the Scripture but likewise also of those that are deliuered by hand without writing Also that there is a beginning or bringing cause of all other vertues for the which we are iustified That there is a habite formed by Charitie vnto righteousnesse Moreouer that faith and doubting are not opposites and that wee can no otherwise determine of the fauour of God towards vs then by morall coniecture Besides what the Church beleeues that is the Catholicke truth That faith may remaine in the wicked and that therefore it doth not iustifie then which nothing can be said more slaunderous against sauing faith of which Christ saith Hee that beleeueth in him shall not perish but shall haue eternall life Iohn 6.40 Furthermore that faith is occupied onely in generall propositions as Hee that keepeth the commaundements shall enter into life And Hee that beleeueth and shall bee baptised shall be saued But not in these Particulars I shall enter into life I shall be saued or My sinnes are forgiuen mee For it were a vaine confidence for hope to applie those generall sentences vnto particulars and seueralles which yet may bee deceiued whereas Paule saith directly contrarie Rom. 5.5 Hope maketh not ashamed Lastly they account it impudencie or presumption to hope any thing without desert 10 The madnesse of certaine fanaticke persons who doe seuer the internall word as they call it from the ministration of the outward word And finally the madnesse of the Anabaptistes who dreame of the perfection of faith ⧠The thirtieth common place Of Repentance where of Regeneration From whence is Repentance deriued THE Latine word poenitentia is deriued from poena punishment because there is a kinde of punishment in those things which are shamefull or loathsome vnto vs. And therefore if we looke vnto the propertie of the Latine word it rather agreeth with contrition or sorrowes which are in our soules through the acknowledgement of our sinnes then it doth with conuersion vnto God In Hebrew it is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Teshuba conuersion or reuersion turning backe according to that Ier. 4.1 If thou wilt returne vnto me returne saith the Lord. By a metaphore borrowed from them that haue strayed out of their way and after long wandering doe returne vnto their first high way In Greeke it is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 properly afterwit of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth after the deed done to be wise to change our mind and purpose for the better to returne vnto a sound mind and so to grieue for the error by past as to amend it Whereupon some will haue it deriued from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 madnesse and folly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 afterwards as if it should be the correcting and amending of madnes and folly for alwaies with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is ioyned 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 soundnesse of mind And the matter it selfe well agreeth with both these interpretations the summe whereof is this That forsaking our selues we should turne vnto God and laying aside the foolishnesse of sinning we should put on a new minde and become wiser By another Greeke word it is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine poenitentia of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 after a thing done to be sorie grieued for which the Latines properly say poenitere So 2. Cor. 7.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signfyeth to take griefe for any thing that is done Although I made you sorie by a letter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I doe not repent though I did repent And Rom. 11.29 The giftes of God are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. Such as can neuer displease him seeing once they did please him Also it is taken in ill part as it is written of Iudas 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 grieuing not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 repenting 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he brought againe Math. 27.3 signifying sorrow and griefe wherewithall hee was swallowed vp For euerie man doth not repent that is sorrowfull and grieued but oftentimes falleth into a worse case then hee was before whereas 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the holy Scriptures is alwaies taken in good part and signifieth sauing amendment Notwithstanding the Latine interpreter hath translated both the Greeke words by the word Poenitentia How many waies is the terme of Repentance vsed Foure waies 1 Synecdochially 2 Generally for the whole turning and conuersion of man to God 3 Specially for Regeneration 4 For the outward profession of Repentance VVhat is repentance taken Synecdochically It is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the sting of sinne or the prick of conscience and it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a displeasing which the Greeke Diuines call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because it wounds the soule commonly we call it Contrition And they make it double or of two sorts Legall by the preaching of the Law whereby the sinner being wounded with the searing
seruants of God and 8.2 Christ hath set mee free from the law of sinne and death The other whereby wee shall bee wholy redeemed into full and perfect libertie a Epb 1 14. And this is called the redemption of liberty that is freedome of libertie or of deliuerance And Rom. 8.21 The glorious libertie of the sonnes of God b Luk. 21.28 And the redemption of our bodies Rom. 8.23 Wee may tearme that onely begun this perfect For though wee be made free by the first kinde of liberty yet in some part we are held in some slauerie by the power of sinne so as wee cannot doe that we would c Gal. 5.17 And the seruitude of corruption yea euen death it selfe doth hold vs fettered in her chaines vntill that day of redemption d Eph. 4.30 when Christ shall by his power set vs free being redeemed by himselfe For wee are onely saued by hope Rom. 8.24 and 1. Iohn 3.2 Now are we the sonnes of God free indeed e Mat 5.17.25 but it hath not yet appeared what we shall be but wee knowe that when he shall appeare wee shall bee like vnto him euen as he is Like vnto this shall that our deliuerance be or the restauration of the creature not of the Angels or of euery particuler man but of the frame of the heauens and of the elements whereby it shal be deliuered from the bondage of corruption whereunto now it is subiect into the libertie of the glorie of the sonnes of god that is into that happy estate of incorruption which shal be made manifest when the sonnes of God shal be exalted into glorie For there shal be new heauens and a new earth 2. Pet. 3.13 f 2 pet 3.21 Ro. 8 19.20 21 now in this place we doe especially speake of the first kinde of libertie What is christian libertie It is a spirituall liberty whereby we that truely beleeue are freed and sett at libertie by the bloud of Christ from the slauery of sinne and the tiranny of the deuill 2 From the accusation burthen and curse of the lawe the weight of Gods anger Damnation and eternall death 3 And being indued with the spirit of adoption of libertie illumination we are deliuered from the vaile of the heart that is from the miserable blindenes of error and the bondage of darknesse which was brought vpon vs by Adams sinne lastly from the yoke of the ceremonies of the law of meates drink daies of apparrell of the bodie and from such necessary obseruing of dâ—fference in thinges indifferent and so from all humane traditions to the end that wee might willingly and cheerefully as well in soule as in body serue God in righteousnesse and holinesse all the daies of our life Rom. 4.12.13.14 a 1. Cor. 9.27 Gal 3.45 Tit. 2.11 12 VVhat is the cause of this libertie The chiefe efficient cause is god the meritorious is Christ alone the deliuerer as Ioh. 8.36 It is expressly said If the sonne make you free you shal be free indeed And. Gal. 5.1 stand fast in that libertie whereby christ hath made you free For he hath purchased this libertie for vs with his owne pretious bloud b Col. 1.14 1. Pet. 1.18 The cooperator is the holy Ghost 2. Cor. 3.17 where the spirit of the Lorde is there is libertie who is also both the earnest and witnesser of the same There be two instrumentall causes namely the trueth or the gospell wherein this libertie is propounded Ier. 34.15 Behold I preach libertie Iohn 8.32 yee shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free And faith whereby it is imbraced Rom. 5.2 By faith are we brought into this grace wherein we stand the subiect is euery one that beleeueth whether Grecian or Iew whether male or female whether bond or free 1. Cor. 7.22 c Gal. 3.28 The manner or forme of this spirituall liberty is not perceiued by the sence of man but it is wrought secretly whilest that the soules of the faithfull are besprinkled and washed in the bloude of the sonne of God and are reformed by the holy ghost and their consciences purified by faith from dead workes to serue the liuing god Heb. 9.14 By which meanes it commeth to passe that this liberty wheresoeuer it is hath these accidents or properties righteousnesse peace a good conscience and ioy in the holy ghost a Rom. 14.17 1. Ti. 3.3 And therefore Ioseph inioyeth this liberty although a slaue and bound in prison b Gen. 39 20.21 Daniell sitting amongst the lions c Dan. 6.17 23. Lazarus full of botches and boiles d Luk. 16.20 22. In what thinges doth it consist or how manie partes hath it or how manie degrees be there of this libertie Foure 1. The first is a deliuerance from sinne and death which is wrought by the remission of sinne that it be not imputed by the mortifieng of the flesh least it preuaile and by freeing vs from the second death according to the saying of Paule Rom. 8 1.2 there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ For the law of the spirit of life which is in Christ Iesus that is the spirit of Christ or the grace of regeneration hath freed me from the lawe the authority and force of sinne and death and therefore this is called the libertie of righteousnesse d Col 1 14 Heb. 9.15 and of life and the remission of sinnes e Eph. 1.7 and transgressionsg. the lawe of the spirit of life that is Christs holinesse inherent in Christe which is in Christ Iesus himselfe hath freed me from the lawe of sinne and of death How are we said to be freed from sinne seing it doth alwaies dwell in vs and. Iohn 1.8 If ye say we haue no sinne we deceiue our selues and the truth is not in vs We must distinguish betweene sinne raigning and sinn subdued Rom. 6 6. c. so also betweene the matter and the forme of sinne For we are freed from the raigning and dominion of sinne which dwelleth in vs also from the forme or the guilt of sinne whereupon is that 1. Iohn 3.6 we reade whosoeuer abideth in him sinneth not that is greedily with desire to obey it slavishly and without all resisting of it a that is to say he that is truly partaker of Christ doth not giue himselfe ouer to sinne Againe verse the. 9. euery one that is borne of god sinneth not that is he doth not sinne with full purpose And we do not deny that sinne is in the faithfull or dwelleth in them but that it raigneth not b Rom. 6 12 And touching the guilte Psal 32.1 Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiuen and whose sinnes are couered blessed is the man vnto whome the Lord imputeth no sinne But of sinne subdued and the matter of it Eccle. 7.20 it is written there is no man iust vpon earth which doth good and sinneth not VVhat is the vse ef this part
must beleeue in him alone Rom. 10.14 How shall they call on him in whom they doe not beleeue But wee doe not beleeue in Angels and holy men 5 Because the saints are read to haue called vpon none at any time besides God Wherefore the inuocation of Creatures is wicked and sacrilegious because it taketh away from God his glorie is established without faith in the word yea rather is contrarie to the same Which also Epiphanius doth stirre against Pag. 448. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say the old errour shall not rule ouer vs to forsake the liuing and to worship one fashioned of him VVhat need is there to poure forth our praiers vnto God when as he loueth vs knoweth already before hand what things we need what is expedient for vs neither hath need of an informer but rather hath decreed that he wil giue thē Esay 65.24 Mat. 6.32 1 Because as God hath appointed this order that he will nourish vs with meate and drinke although he could doe it without these meanes so it is his will that we should obtaine by prayers which proceed from faith the good things which belong both to our saluation and also to the sustaining of this life c Iam. 1 6. and Christ saith Luke 11.13 Your heauenly Father will giue the holy Ghost to them that desire him not to them that are idle 2 Because he will haue his owne right to be giuen to himselfe Petentibus non otiantibus and vs to be admonished from whence succour is to be sought from whom good things doe come vnto vs and to whom things receiued are to be ascribed and also what is our need 3 That he is the ouerseer of our matters as it is said Psal 34.15 The eies of the Lord are vpon the righteous and his eies are open to their crie and that as a most gentle father he will bestow vpon his beseeching children those things which they desire according to his will be neere vnto all that cal vpon his name in truth a Psal 145 18 4 That we may receiue his benefits with true thākfulnes of mind which by our praiers we do testify to happē vnto vs from his hand 5 That we may more earnestly miditat vpō the boūteousnes of god 6 Finally he wil haue our faith in petition expectation of his benefits to be exercised by feruent praier to be kindled our hart continually to be inflamed with a desire of seeking of louing of worshipping him Are we vnworthier or greater sinners then that we may presume to pray But we must set the commandement of God against our vnworthines and his promises and kinde allurings and also the most sweet name of a Father which he vouchsafeth to suggest vnto vs. Finally the righteousnes and intercession of the Mediatour against the sense of our sins for it is written Call vpon me in the day of trouble and Ioel. 2.32 Whosoeuer shall call vpon the name of the Lord shall be saued And Math. 7.7 Aske saith our maister and ye shall receiue knocke and it shall be opened vnto you Seeing there is none which ma◠present himselfe vnto God and come into his sight by whom is God to be inuocated of vs or who is our mediator with the heauenly Father By him who is giuen vnto vs of the father himselfe a Mediator Aduocate and Priest b 1 Tim. 2.5 1 Ioh. 2 1 Wherefore he himselfe saith Iohn 14.6 I am the way the truth and the life No man commeth vnto the Father but by me And vers 13. as also chap. 16.23 VVhatsoeuer ye aske the Father in my name he will giue it you In this regard God had appointed in the law that the priest alone going into the Sanctuarie a Exod. 28 9 39 7. 14. should beare vpon his shoulders the names of the Tribes of Israell and so many most precious stones before his breast but the people should stand a far off in the court and from thence should ioyne together praiers with the Priest And whereas Christ biddeth his Disciples flie to his intercession after he had ascended into heauen saying Iohn 16.26 A◠that day shall ye aske in my name he denieth not that God was appeased with the intercession from the beginning of the world but he doth rather commend vnto vs this benefit as now more cleare after the Ascension of Christ as the Apostle saith Hebr. 10.20 That a new way is prepared for vs into the most holy place Marke 10.47 Acts 7.59 Therfore Christ is to be inuocated by a double name 1 As God the author of all good things with the father and the holy ghost b. 2 being mediator intercessor that we may be heard by him Therfore he is called a priest for euer Psa 110.4 Ro. 8.34.3 Who is at the right hand of God maketh request for vs that it may be euidēt that he is a perpetual mediator not only of redemption but also of intercession Heb. 7.25 VVherefore he is able perfectly to saue them that come vnto God by him euer liuing to make intercession for them Not by any gesture or prayers as though being fallen downe at his fathers knees he did humbly pray for vs but both by the merit and vertue of his death and price of redemption which is alwaies fresh before God and vpon which the father looking doth heare those that be his and also by offering vnto him our praiers And this is that which is Zacharie 1. vers 12. The Angell is ready to pray fot the people of God and to offer the prayers of the Saints Apoc. 8.3 To wit that Angell which deliuered Iacob from all euill c Gen. 28.16 And which went before the tents of the Israelites in the wildernes brought them into the land of Canaan d Exod. 23 20 that is the Sonne of God Iesus Christ God and man the onely mediatour betweene God and men Wherefore not trusting in our owne worthines or merits we come into Gods presence not as the Pharisee e Luk. 18.11 Or as Agamemnon who thought that he should be heard for his sacrifice of a hundred beasts Chryses for his merits but by the protectiō of Christ alone And frō hence is to be sought a difference between a christian praier the prayer of al other men for faith alone in Christ doth make a difference between the inuocation of Christians of other men But must not we go vnto God by Saints as we goe to the king and the prince by Earles and Councellors This is a wretched excuse saith Ambrose for therefore do men go to the king by tribunes and Earles because the king likewise is a man and knoweth not to whom he ought to commit the commonwealth But to get any thing at the hands of god from whom nothing is hid there is no need of a helper but of a deuout mind And Christ vpon earth heard
that Math. 21.22 whatsoeuer ye shall aske if ye beleeue ye shall receiue it For it is wondrous how god is prouoked by our distrust if we craue of him pardon which wee doe not looke for And indeed faith doth stay 1. vpon the promise or power and truth of the promiser 2 vpon the fatherly affection of God in Christs merite which is infinite 6 Vnderstanding for praier without vnderstanding of the things and words no lesse then without affection is hipocriticall and without fruite a 1 Cor. 14 15.16 7 Vnanimitie and brotherly agreement and pardoning of offences that is remission of anger and of hatred of reuenge laying aside affection and forgetting of iniuries b. 1. Tim. 2 8 c Esay 43 25 for remission of anger and of the fault belongeth to God alone and mutuall reconciliation as Acts. 1.14 The apostles continued in praier 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is with one accord So Math. 5 23.24 the partie disagreeing the speech being fitted to the manner of that time is commaunded to goe from the altar and first to be reconciled to his brother before he offereth sacrifice to god vnanimes 8 Perseuerance if we be not wearied with praying if we giue not place to afflictions or euils as they doe which are quite out of heart d Luk 11 9 Luk. 18 2 21 36 Rom 12.12 Eph 6 18 1 Thesse 3 10 5.17 Act 6 4 Act 10 2 Habacuck 2 3. Though the lorde tarie waite for him for comming he will come and shall not stay Yet the former conditions are not so required with extreame rigour but that god here doth tolerate manie infirmities in those that be his and so that the godlie do lament and chastice themselues and by and by come to themselues striue and endeuour whither they doe not eftsoons reach doth forgiue them as is shewed by the examples of Dauid Psalm 39.13 Stay thine anger from me till before I goe hence and be not Psalm 80.5 How long wilt thou be angrie at the praier of thy seruant and of Ieremie lament 3.8 when I cry and shoute he shutteth out my prayer Which are the outward circumstances or Accidents of praier Fiue Time place Gesture speech fasting When must we pray Ephes 6.18 praying alwaies 1. Thess 3.10 night and day praying exceedingly Psal 119.62 For so great is our needinesse wee sinne so often we are pressed with so many perplexities so many temptations do insult ouer vs so great is the heape of Gods benefits vpon vs that there is cause inough for all men why they should continually grone and sigh vnto God craue his helpe and prosecute him with thanksgiuing and praises Notwithstanding the auntients had set howres of praying as the morning noone and euening not for superstition but for order sake But in the new testament their is no certaine prescript time but it dependeth vpon the qualitie of affections and causes of praying howbeit to vphold our weaknes and to stirre vp our dulnesse it is profitable that euery one of vs should appoint to himselfe houres of praying as it were ordinarie namely when we rise in the morning when we goe about worke when wee sit downe to meate when we are fed with gods blessings when we betake our selues to rest so that this obseruing of howres want superstition But especiallie we ought to pray and giue thankes as often as either sorrowfull or ioyfull thinges are offered to vs or to our brethren b Exod. 15 1 Iudg. 5 1 Psal 50.15 Ier. 6 14 But to haue publique praiers it is meete that a certaine time in euery church be appointed so that there may be prouision for the profit of all and all things may be done decently and in order 1. Cor. 14.40 VVhere must we pray God in times past to one nation had appointed one place namely the Tabernacle c Exod 25 8 40.2 in other places often afterwarde the Temple of Solomon d 1. Kings 6.4 because they were the figure and type of the onely mediator and appeaser of god Christ the true temple by whome alone god will here vs. But Christ the truth of the temple Dan. 6 10 Luk. 18.10 Acts. 8.27 by his comming tooke away the cerimonie of a holy place Therefore it is lawful for vs to pray in any place and yet arightly and orderly so that it be godly and religiously obserued Psal 103.22 praise the lord all ye his workes in all places of his dominion Iohn 4.21.23 not in this mountaine nor at Ierusalem but the true vvorshippers shall vvorship the Father in spirit and in truth 1. Tim. 2.8 The apostle will haue men to pray euerie where as need shall require whether in the temple or out of the temple lifting vp pure handes vnto god For not the qualitie of the place but rather the piety of the partie that prayeth doth sanctifie the prayer Esai 56.7 yet notwithstanding Christ allowed a publique place appointed for common prayers and holie assemblies when he saith Math. 18.20 vvhere tvvo or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the middest of them And in this respect he called the temple the house of praier Math. 21.13 And the Auncients from their lawfull use called them Oratories onely we must take heed least we account the temples to be the proper dwellings of God from whence he doth the neerer giue eare vnto vs or attribute vnto them I know not what secret sanctitie which may make the prayer more holy before god For this doth Esay reproue chap. 66.1 and god Acts. 6.48 But seeing we are the temples of God if we will call vpon God in his holy temple we must pray within our selues What is it therefore that the Lord saith Math. 6.6 But when thou prayest enter into thy chamber and when thou hast shut thy dore pray vnto thy father which is in secret He doth not simplie condemne publique prayers made in the assemblie of the Church but by an Hebrew catalepsis respectiuely comparatiuely by entring into the chamber the corrupt affection of hypocrites that is to say that vaine glorie which they dyd seeke in prayers whiles that goeing forth into a publike place they did pray in crosse waies in corners of streets in double paths and in places where three or fower waies meete where men are wont to come together rather seeking the great assemblies of men which might see them praying then a departing into some solitarie place And by that manner of speaking he teacheth that hypocrisie that ambition that vaine glorie that wandering of the minde of it selfe too slippery is to be excluded from all praier And that a solitarie place is to be sought which may so farre helpe vs that being farre from all kindes of cares tumults of men we may descend and throughly enter into our heart VVhat ought to be the gesture of him that praieth A diuerse gesture is not prescribed but yet is
antiquitie of errour 2 The broad way leadeth to destruction and many there bee which goe in thereat Math. 7.13 3 Hierome saith They are not the sonnes of the Saints which possesse their places but which doe their workes And succession auaileth not where there is no succession of faith and doctrine neither is succession to be tied vnto one seate vnto one place or vnto one Church for God can raise vp Pastors diuers waies and in diuers places as shal seeme best to himself Moreouer they succeed the Apostles who being lawfully thereunto called doe discharge their dutie in the Church faithfully although not in a continuall succession from the Apostles Besides God is wont when the Church is in a desperate estate to raise vp ministers after an extraordinarie manner And Tertul. lib. de praescriptionibus saith that faith ought not to be tried by the persons but the persons by faith And Ambrose de poenit lib. 1. cap. 1. They haue not Peters inheritance which haue not the faith of Peter 4 Miracles are to be iudged by Doctrine not Doctrine by miracles also there are some to be throwen into hell which haue wrought miracles in Christ name Math. 7.23 5 Also the diuel hath a Church euen frō Cain to the worlds end 6 Neither is vnitie of it selfe a note of the Church except it be ioined with faith and true doctrine a Eph. 4.3 for as there is one Church of God so is there one Babylon of the diuels saith Augustine the godly also may in some points disagree b Act. 11 2 7 The Apostle 2. Thess 2.9 saith that Antichrist shall come by the effectuall working of Sathan and that God will send an effectuall working of errour to those that loue not the truth that they should beleeue lies 8 Doctrine is the onely witnesse of holinsse Euen Sathan can transforme himselfe into an Angell of light and true holinesse floweth from a true faith 2. Cor. 11.14 Act. 15.9 Although an Angell or a Saint come downe from heauen and bring not true Doctrine he is to be reiected Gal. 1.8 And that saying of Christ by their fruits ye shall know them Math 7.20 The fathers will not haue to be vnderstood of manners but of false opinions and false interpretations 9 But the gife of prophecying is not perpetuall in the Church for that place of Ioel cap. 2.18 Doth describe the state of the Church what it should be in the time of the Apostles and of the Primitiue Church onely Act. 2.17.18 And diuels also and false Prophets may foretell some things to come c 1. Sam. 18 19 Deut. 13.2 Num. 33 7 24.3 Ioh. 11.51 10 Temporall felicitie was rather woont to bee contrarie vnto the Church d 2 Tim. 3 12 11 True Doctrine is the cause that there is one holy Apostolicke and Catholicke Church 12 Christ shewed no signe of them but said said expresly My sheepe heare my voyce Iohn 10.27 Doth the Church cease to be a Church by reason of some blemish or fault in doctrine and administration of Sacraments No as long as it keepeth the foundation which is Christ or saluation by Christ and the truth in the chiefe especiall and principall articles of faith a 1. Cor. 3.11 12.13 And the errour which a few in the Church doe hold is not the errour of the whole Church b 1. Cor. 15 12 Is euerie one bound to ioyne himselfe to the assembly of that Church which hath those true notes He is bound to this or that congregation as farre foorth as lieth in him if it be knowne to him if he can to adioine himself therunto and to professe himselfe a member thereof indeed and finally to reuerence the holy communion of it and to loue and frequent the meeting together therof c psa 27.48 42.2.5 84.1 Esai 60.8 Heb. 10.25 35 39 1. Cor. 11 21 22. For such a meeting together is the Schoole of the holy Ghost wherein is taught the word of God which is the phisicke of the soule a cleare glasse wherein appeareth the face of God the Epistle of Almightie God to his Creature wherein he hath declared vnto vs his will The meanes whereby the way of saluation is knowne by which saluation is obtained faith is nourished and kept neyther is it sufficient to haue the Scripture at home and there to read it for when Paule Ephes 4.11 saith He gaue some to be Apostles some Pastors and some teachers c he saith not he left the Scripture that euerie one might read it priuately but hee ordained a ministerie whereby some certaine men might teach others true religion But from other companies of men wherein heresie or manifest idolatrie is publikely receiued and taught and the foundation and principall point of saluation is not maintained namely Iesus Christ a good man ought to separate himselfe as hee would flie from Babylon d Isa 48.20 Ier 51.6 45 Reu. 18.4 1 Ioh. 5.21 Iohn 10.5 1 Because the Apostle 1. Cor. 5.11 Forbiddeth vs to be consorted with fornicatours or idolatours or couetous persons with drunckards or raylers or extortioners so as that we must not so much as eate with them much lesse be partakers of their euill works 2 Because there is no fellowship betweene Christ and Beliall betweene light and darknes 2. Cor. 6.15.16.17 3 Because the promises of God and benefits of Christ doe belong to Gods Church onely chap. 7.1 and therefore without the Church there is no saluation But this is to be vnderstood of the Catholicke Church because that we may obtaine saluation it is necessarie that we be ioyned with Christ but the meaning is not that those which are out of this or that particuler Church cannot be saued For although we liue among Turkes yet are we the members of Christ and of the Catholicke Church if wee haue faith 4 The same is confirmed by the example of the godly fathers who sequestred themselues from the congregation euen of the Idolatrous Israelites ordained congregations peculiar to themselues where they might worship God purelie a Gen 12.7 13 18 26 25. c. 33 20 1 King 3.2 c. 18 24 2. King 4 38 Psa 16.4 Hereupon saith Nazianzen most sweetly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I seeke Noahs Arke that I may eschew the wofull destinies Can the Church erre from the truth or fall away there from If the Church be vniuersally and in that sort as we haue before said considered as the inuisible company of the Elect triumphant in heauen and militant on earth the Church triumphant surely without doubt cannot erre because she is vtterly freed from sinne and errour the Church Militant also in the Prophets and Apostles through a singuler priuiledge in doctrine erred not and as long as she cleaueth fast vnto Christ her Sauiour and Teacher by faith and is gouerned by his Spirit and as long as she heareth the Bridegroomes voyce and followeth the written word of God as a Lampe
shining in a darke place and obeyeth the chiefe rule of the holy spirit 2. Pet. 1.19 She can neuer erre in points absolutely necessarie vnto saluation or from the truth simply necessarie and that because truth dwelleth no where else in the world but in her onely For which cause so considered Paule calleth the Church The pillar and ground of truth namely in respect of other congregations who are buried in falshood 1. Tim. 3.15 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So then not simply but in some certaine manner and condition the Church erreth not in matters necessarie vnto saluation but in vnnecessarie things it may erre Iohn 16.13 The holy Ghost will teach you all truth that is all that is necessarie vnto saluation And in this sense Christ prayed for his Church that it might bee sanctified in the truth not that it might not erre in no point but that it might not erre in necessary points b Iohn 17 17 And surely the Church is to be heard according to that saying of Christ a Mat. 244 Luk. 10.16 He which heareth you heareth me but yet so that she heare Christ before she require that her selfe be heard of others But if the Church be not considered vniuersally or totally but particulerly or according to the members thereof surely it may doth come to passe that some particuler visible Churches yea many in number by not vnderstanding a right or by not firmely beleeuing those things which are prescribed by God may erre from the truth eyther in part while they fall into most grieuous errours or else vtterly may depart for euer And this I grant doth happen so much the rather if the bodies of particuler Churches be respected seuerally by reason of the weakenesse of mans disposition men consisting of flesh and bloud of whom it is said Rom. 3.4 Euerie man is a lier sinne also being still inherent in the Godly during this life and God likewise often giuing an efficacie to the Spirit of errour men so deseruing yet so as the Elect may not alwaies persist in errour but being better instructed may returne into the way againe a Mat. 24.24 Isay 42.19 The Lord saith Who is blinde but my seruant and deafe but my messenger whom I sent Dan. 9.12 Speaking of the Church of the people of God saith All Israell haue transgressed thy law 1. Cor. 13.9 We know in part and we prophesie in part The Prophet Dauid Psal 25.7 saith Remember not O Lord mine ignorance The Church of the Iewes erred and the Apostles themselues about the calling of the Gentiles Therefore was Peter warned that he should goe vnto Cornelius and doubt nothing b Act. 10.20 11.2 19. Peter himselfe erred concerning the obseruation of the ceremoniall law while he still beleeued some meats to be vncleane c Act. 10.14 15. he erred also in playing the hypocrite with some other Iewes d Gal 11 13. And againe the Iewish Church erred in being zealous for Moses lawe e Act. 21.20 So did the Church of the Galathians which receiued Circumcision And the Corinthians in the abuse of the Lords Supper and because there were schismes among them f Gal. 1 16 And the Church at Constantinople erred g 1. Cor. 11.18 therefore why might not the Church of Rome erre also For Paule saith that Antichrist shall shall sit in the Temple of God and shall accomplish the mysterie of iniquitie 2. Thes 2.4 In Lib. ad Solitariam vitā agentes And Liberius the Romane Bishop subscribed vnto Arrianisme as Athanasius witnesseth For that which Christ spake vnto Peter Luk 22.32 I haue praied for thee that thy faith should not faile .1 It belongeth onely vnto Peter who was to be assailed with a most perilous tentation in regard of the rest and not vnto his successours And he meaneth a iustifying faith of the heart not of the mouth not an historicall faith which holdeth onely a true opinion of Doctrine For if Christ requested this for al the Romane Bishops namely that they might not erre then hath he not obtained that which he asked for it is manifest that many Romane Bishops haue erred 2. Also that saying nothing appertaineth to the church of Rome but that happely we say that heerein it agreeth with Peter in that it hath denied Christ vnlesse it imitate Peters teares and repentance Neither is it a fitt reasoning from the faith of Peter which was a personall gift to the faith of the church of Rome Neither did Christ himselfe pray for the Apostles onely but for all them who through their wordes shall belieue on Christ Iohn 17 20. Although the Papists affirme The law shall not perish from the Priest nor councell from the wise nor the word from the Prophet Ier. 18.18 yet Ieremiah 7.4 heard the voice of the lord saying Trust not in lying wordes saying the Temple of the lord the Temple of the lord for this is the Nation which hath not heard the voice of their Lord nor receiued his discipline Zeph. 3.2 May the Godly by reason of some mens vices and euill manners seuer themselues from the outward congregation of those that professe the doctrine of Christ No vnlesse they be cast out of the greater part by force for the Prophets haue euer had amongst their auditours some euill ones yet haue they not departed from them And Christ suffered Iudas to the very vttermost in his owne company Math. 13.29 The goodman of the house doth not suffer the darnell or cockell to be pulled vp least it hurt the wheat and it is certaine that there will neuer be in this world so syncere and perfect a church but there may be found chaff and tares mingled with the wheat Verse 24.47 What are the conditions of the church 1 The crosse is a certaine marke or token by which the Lord will haue all those that are his to be marked that they may be conformeable to the Image of his sonne a Rom 8 28 2 Tim. 3 12 yet is it not a perpetuall marke of the church but is rather to be termed a condition thereof then a note or marke 2 That as long as it soiourneth in this world it hath some euill mingled among manie good and sincere men which thing Christ teacheth in the parables of the tares and the drag-net b Math. 13 24.47 3 That although it be clensed by the blood of Christ so that it is without spott or wrincle c Ephes 5 27 both by the imputation of Christs merit as also for the endeauour whereby it aspireth vnto that state yet is it still subiect to many vices and infirmities of the flesh remaining whereunto all the faithfull are apt and prone so that they haue need perpetually of this praier Forgiue vs our trespasses What Epithites are attributed to the church on earth 1 It is called by a metaphor and similitude the Mother of the faithfull Gal. 4.26 bicause the church bringeth forth sonnes vnto
seuered from the end of that signe or from the vertue and truth of it which he cals spirit as Rom. 2.27 But they that by the letter vnderstand the literall sense and by the name of the Spirit the allegoricall speake to no purpose But when it is attributed to the Creator himselfe how many waies is the word Spirit taken Two manner of wayes one way essentially otherwise personally And essentially either in common of the whole Trinitie Ioh. 4.24 God is a spirit or else specially for the diuine nature of Christ or for the power and efficacie of the truth in the humanitie assumed f Mat. 12.28 Ro. 1.4 Of his Sonne made of the seed of Dauid according to the flesh declared to be the Sonne of God according to the spirit of sanctification by the resurrection from the dead 1. Pet. 3.18 Put to death according to the flesh but quickened in the spirit in the which also he preached vnto the spirits that are in prison So Heb. 9.14 Christ by the eternall spirit offered vp himselfe without spot to God and 1. Tim. 3.16 he was iustified in the spirit But when is this word Spirit vsed personally When it is taken for the third person in deitie who together with the Father and the Sonne is the same in essence and deitie as Mat. 28.19 Go baptize all nations in the name of the Father of the Sonne and of the holy Spirit But why is the third Person called the Spirit Because he is that essentiall vertue and working being of the same substance together with the Father and the Sonne proceeding equally and as it were breathed from them both or else by a Metonymie of the effect or else because he breatheth where he listeth g Ioh. 3.8 or else because he stirreth vp spirituall motions in the hearts of the beleeuers and doth purifie their hearts and quicken them which also is shewed by this epithet Holy not sanctified but sanctifying or the sanctifier in way of excellencie as the Father is called the Creator the Sonne the Redeemer of his especiall operation in vs which is called Sanctification h 1. Pet. 1.2 Proue now that the holy Ghost is God I proue it 1. By the Phrases of Scripture 2. By the attributing of those properties belonging to God vnto him 3. By the workes or effects which agree to God alone 4. By that worship and honor which is performed vnto him by the faithfull 5. By that punishment which is inflicted vpon such as sinne against the holy Ghost Shew me those sentences of Scripture whereby you can proue that the holy Ghost is God Those words which the Prophets do affirme were spoken by the God of hoasts the Apostles do ascribe to the holy Ghost As that we reade Esa 6.9 Iehouah said vnto the Prophet Go and say to this people Heare and vnderstand not c the Apostle Act. 28.25 attributeth to the holy Ghost Againe Act. 5.3 Peter saith thus to Ananias How is it that he hath filled thine heart that thou shouldest lye vnto the holy Ghost and presently after Thou hast not lyed vnto men but vnto God But the Spirit is in plaine words called God and the temple is assigned vnto him which belongs to God alone c 1. Cor. 3.16.17 6.19 20 2. Cor. 6.16 and he is called Lord and God d 1. Cor. 12.4.5 Shew some testimonies wherein the proprieties which agree to God alone are attributed to the holy Ghost Gen. 1.2 It is said that the Spirit of God moued vpon the waters presently in the beginning of the creation therefore he is eternall a Heb. 9.14 He is said to be present euery where and of infinite greatnesse Psal 139.7 O Lord whither shall I flie from thy spirit Wisd 1.7 The spirit of the Lord filleth the world Whereupon Basill in his book intreating of the holy Ghost against those which denie him frameth this demonstration Euery creature hath a substance circumscribed The holy Ghost hath not a substance circumscribed Therefore he is not a creature and ergo he is a God He is said to be omniscient knowing all things Ioh. 15.13 That spirit shall leade you into all truth 1. Cor. 2.10 The spirit searcheth all things yea euen the deepe things of God And he is called Almightie b Esa 14.13 Proue the diuinitie of the holy Ghost by his workes The works which are onely proper to God alone are ascribed to him as the worke of creation conseruation viuification Iob 33.4 The Spirit of Iehouah hath created me and the Spirit of the Almighty hath quickened me Psal 33.6 By the word of the Lord were the heauens made and all the power of them by the spirit of his mouth He is said in like manner to dwell in the hearts of the faithfull as in a temple c Rom. 8.9 1. Cor. 3.6 Regeneration iustification sanctification d Ioh 3 6.8 1. Cor. 6.11 1. Cor. 3.16 truth grace and whatsoeuer good thing can be imagined 1. Cor. 12.4.5.11 One and the same Spirit diuideth all things How do you proue that he is God by that worship and honor which is giuen vnto him 1. Because faith and inuocation is attributed vnto him for we are baptized into the holy Ghost as well as into the Father and into the Sonne e Mat. 28.19 and as we call vpon the name of the Father and the Sonne euen so also on the holy Ghost 2. We confesse in the Creed that we beleeue in the holy Ghost 3. Because euen the Angels themselues called Seraphims do adore the holy Ghost f Esa 6 3 and the Apostles call vpon him g Act. 13.2.3 2. Cor. 13.13 Reu. 1.4 How do you proue by the punishment which is inflicted vpon them that sinne against the holy Ghost that he is God Because blasphemie against him is not remitted h Mat. 12.31 for Christ saith Mark 3.29 He that shall sinne or speake blasphemie against the holy Ghost shall neuer be forgiuen neither in this world nor in the world to come Now proue that the Spirit of God is a person subsisting in God really distinguished from the Father and the Sonne 1. Out of the Creed for whereas we say in the beginning I beleeue in God and presently adde 1. the Father 2. the Sonne 3. the holy Ghost as we confesse the holy Ghost to be God so also do we acknowledge the same to be the third person in the deitie not by degree but by order 2. In the baptisme of Iesus Christ the Fathers voice is heard from heauen Christ stands by who was baptized of Iohn Baptist and the holy Ghost descended in the forme of a Doue who sitteth vpon Christ i Mat. 3.16.17 But euen Christ himselfe Ioh. 14.16 distinguisheth the holy Ghost from himselfe and the Father when he saith Another comforter shall he giue vnto you he saith another in person not another thing in essence and 15.26 I will send you the Spirit euen the
comforter from the Father And vnto him is attributed a voice k Act. 13.2 and his good pleasure l Act. 15.28 and free will m 2. Cor. 10.11 and a peculiar appearing in a bodily forme n Cap. 2.3 all which be the properties of a person truly subsisting And Ioh. 5.7 There be three which beare witnesse in heauen the Father the Word and the holy Ghost and these three are one What then is the holy Ghost He is the third Person of the Trinitie eternall coessentiall to the Father and proceeding from them both ioyntly and inseperably together with the Father and the Sonne the Creator and Conseruator of all things who is sent into the hearts of the elect to sanctifie them together with the Father and the Sonne equally to be worshipped As for his sending foorth it is in operation not in essence the which being vnmeasurable in that it is true God changeth not place neither is in a place but euery where as God Ga. 4.6 Proue that the holy Ghost proceedeth from the Father Ioh. 15.26 He that proceedeth from the Father and Mat. 10.20 It is not ye that speake but the spirit of your Father that speaketh in you Proue that the holy Ghost proceedeth from the Sonne Ioh. 14.26 and 15.26 he is said not onely to be sent and to be giuen of the Father but also of the Son and Ioh. 16.14 to receiue all things from Christ He shall receiue of me and declare all things vnto you Rom. 8.9 and Gal. 4.6 He is called the Spirit of the Son Moreouer Augustine saith that Christ gaue the holy Ghost by breathing him into them that he might shew that he proceedes euen from him a Joh. 20.22 Ob. 1. Christ saith that he proceedes from the Father therefore not from the Sonne Ans Christ doth not say that he proceedes onely from the Father therefore this proues nothing Ob. 2. If the holy Ghost be one he must haue but one beginning and so proceed from the Father alone Ans It followeth not seeing that breathing of the Father and the Sonne by which the holy Ghost proceedeth from the Father and the Sonne is onely one What then be the proprieties whereby the Persons are really distinguished amongst themselues Not to be begotten or the Paternitie or fatherhood is the incommunicable proprietie of the first Person of the Trinitie whereby it comes to passe that the Father is of no other but of himselfe not made not begotten but from all eternitie begetting the Sonne Now â—o be begotten or generation or the sonneship is that whereby the Sonne doth receiue and hath in himselfe all and his whole essence from the Father 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. Proceeding flowing or comming from being likewise taken passiuely whereby the holy Ghost from all eternitie doth receiue that self same and whole essence from the Father and the Son and hath it whole in himselfe Therefore the holy Ghost is said to proceed from the Father and the Sonne not when he is sent or powred foorth vpon the house of a Zach. 12.10 Dauid but in respect of his essence which from all eternitie he receiued communicated vnto him of the Father and the Sonne Is there then a difference betweene generation and proceeding There is but I saith August know it not neither am I able nor sufficient to distinguish them because that as generation so proceeding is altogether vnspeakable Yet this difference may be yeelded that as the same Augustine saith whatsoeuer is begotten doth also proceed but not of the contrarie whatsoeuer doth proceed is also begotten These proprieties by what other names are they called They are called the workes of the Trinitie within because they be effected within the very essence without all respect to creatures after an incomprehensible manner They are also called workes diuided or distinct and incommunicable For to be a Father agreeth onely to the Father to be a Sonne onely to the Sonne Proceeding onely to the holy Ghost What call you the workes of the Diuinitie without Which in respect of the creatures are done of the whole Trinitie or which the three persons ioyntly together effect in the works of creation and redemption And they are said to be vndiuided because they be common to the three Persons whence comes this rule The workes of the Trinitie without are vndiuided Gen. 1.26 Let vs make man after our owne image And Ioh. 5.17.19 What things the Father doth the same things in like manner the Sonne doth also but yet so as there is kept the proprietie of the Persons the order of doing and the difference b 1. Cor. 15.57 Rom. 11.36 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So the worke of incarnation being taken actiuely is a worke of the whole Trinitie in regard of the * accomplishing of it if you consider the effect although onely the Sonne be incarnate What names are giuen to the holy Ghost in the Scriptures He is called the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Comforter that is the Aduocate c Ioh. 14.16 15.26 16.7 not of Redemption nor of Mediation or of Reconciliation betweene God and men for Christ alone in this respect is Mediator but of comfort namely teaching vs to pray comforting the afflicted teaching the truth begetting those vnutterable gronings of which Paul speaketh Rom. 8.25.26 He is called the Spirit of truth a Joh. 14.26 because he teacheth the truth effectually Also the spirit of adoption b Gal. 4.6 because he sealeth vp the adoption of the sonnes of God in our hearts Also the Spirit of sanctification or the holy Ghost c Rom. 8.15 not so much in regard of his essence as for his effects d Rom. 1.4 What be the effects of the holy Ghost 1. In generall to quicken to sustaine to rule to gouerne in speciall to giue testimonie vnto Christ e Iohn 15.26 2. To leade the elect into all truth to regenerate f Iohn 16.13 the minds of the faithfull Tit. 3.4 He hath saued vs by the washing of the new birth and by the renewing of the holy Ghost which he worketh whilest that he illuminateth our minds with the true knowledge of Christ createth in vs faith in Christ by the hearing of the Gospell and by faith bringeth forth in vs newnes of life incorporateth vs into Christ g Eph. 3.5.16 and applieth Christ and the offices and treasures of Christ vnto vs. Also to seale vp vnto vs the promises of God Ephes 1.13 He is called the Seale the earnest of our saluation and the earnest of our inheritance 2. Cor. 1.22 because by his testimonie he doth establish confirme and seale vp in our hearts the assurance of our inheritance to come What â—e the Epithets which are ascribed to the same holy Ghost in the Scriptures 1. He is called the finger of God Luke 11.20 If I by the finger of God cast out diuels by whom do your children cast them out because
at their pleasure and the Princes of darknesse because they are the authors of all ignorance of God of blindnesse mischiefes vnhappinesse malice of all disorder trecherie crueltie c Ephes 2.2 Ephes 6.12 Col. 2.15 As for the name Lucifer it came from a false and friuolous exposition of that place Isaiah 14.12 which as may well appeare was in derision ironically giuen to the King of Babylon Whence do euill Angels take their beginning In respect of their nature and substance they are of God who did create them good of nothing and who doth still vphold them But in regard of the qualities brought vpon them they are of themselues as Christ witnesseth Ioh. 8.44 The diuel when he speaketh a lie speaketh of his owne that is of himselfe and continued not in the truth wherin he was created at the beginning but fel by his owne free wil and was a murderer from the beginning not in respect of Satan himselfe but of man that was made that is to say then when he first set vpon man whereupon we may gather that the Angels sinned before that Adam and Eue sinned What was the first sinne of the Angels Some thinke that it was pride according to that Eccles 10.15 Pride is the beginning of all sinne Others thinke it was enuie whereby Satan enuied that man was made after the image of God according to that Wisdom 2.24 By the diuels enuie death entered into the world But Christ shewes Ioh. 8.44 it was lying or the hatred of the truth that is of the euerlasting Gospell touching Christ who should take our flesh vpon him and of his grace which is needfull for all men to life eternall and of the nature of man which should be exalted aboue all Angels And therefore indeede it was the hatred they bore of Christs glorie and mans felicitie Also it was their apostacie and rebellion whereby Satan fell from God his maker and that very sinne which Christ calleth The sinne against the holy Ghost a Math. 12.31 1. Iohn 5.16 because he fell wittingly and willingly and of purpose from the truth and that also with hatred of that euerlasting truth whereof Christ speaketh I am the truth Ioh. 14.6 And to Pilate I am come into this world that I might beare witnesse to the truth Ioh. 18.31 The same is proved by the continuall practise of Satan euen from the beginning of the world to the end sowing lies and heresies either against the Deitie of Christ or against his humanitie or against his office And raising vp most cruell persecution against that truth of Christ Is there a great number of those Angels which fell from the truth Yes sure a great number and almost innumerable yet vncertaine to vs and not know howne many For 2. Pet. 2.4 and Iude 6. we reade that very many Angels fell at one time from the truth and therefore are cast into hell or the bottomlesse pit And Luk. 8.30 mention is made of a legion of diuels which possessed one man And Mat. 12.45 the vncleane spirit returning taketh with him seuen other spirits that is many other spirits worse then himselfe and more vncleane And Reu. 12.7 we reade that the dragon with his Angels fought against the woman and therefore there is no cause why we should sleepe secure and carelesse What punishment is inflicted vpon euill Angels Manifold 1. In that they are cast out of the heauens wherein the blessed be and wherein they were created into hell that is not only into that place vnder the earth ordained for the euerlâ—â—ting torments of the reprobate which Luk. 16.23 calleth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hell and chap. 8.31 the bottomlesse pit that is a gulph of a wonderfull depth but also into this ayre which compasseth the earth and into the region vnder the Moone as testifieth the Apostle Eph. 2.2 6.12 to exercise the patience of the godly and also to punish and to vexe the wicked for their impietie where also they being tyed with the chaines of darknesse are kept to the generall iudgement a 2. Pet. 2.4 Jud. 6. 2. In that their whole nature how great soeuer is wholy corrupted and defiled so as there is in it nothing at all sound and pure 3. Their will is so obstinate in sinne as they are not able no not to desire to repent of euill nor to be saued Which is by the iust iudgement of God who hath decreed that they which sinne against the holy Ghost that is they which wittingly and willingly and of set purpose sinne and renounce the knowne truth should neuer repent b Heb. 6 4. 10.26 1. Ioh. 3.8 1. Ioh. 3.8 The diuell sinneth euen from the beginning namely continually and obstinately 4. Their mind was darkened to wit being depriued both of the knowledge of all that truth as well of themselues as of God and of Christ which might stand them in any stead to life eternall As also of that created knowledge of those things wherin at the beginning they were created for which cause they are tearmed the princes of darknesse c Eph. 6.12 And yet not wholly because they excell yet in great knowledge of things concerning both God and men namely such as was naturall vnto them or they haue by nature partly by that naturall light which is left in them partly by obseruation partly by the effects of Gods power which come to passe in time By which means they knew Christ both to be the Sonne of God and also should be the Iudge of the world a Mat. 8.21 Act. 16.17 19. but yet without any affection towards him without any loue or affiance in him and to their greater terror and condemnation b Jam. 2.19 For which cause they are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Skilfull but more truly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because they do alwaies abuse that their knowledge to euill and neuer to good Can euill Angels foresee things to come and certainely foretell them To foresee and to foretell things to come so farre foorth as they are things to come and to know them before hand of themselues and by themselues and of their owne proper spirit they cannot for it is the peculiar worke of God alone for so it is said Esa 41.23 Tell vs what things shall come to passe and then we shall know that ye are gods But by the instinct of another or by reuelation from another and by the present causes by the experience and obseruation of things and by probable coniectures to foresee things to come it is granted vnto creatures So then by these meanes the wicked spirits may foretel things to come as namely such things as they haue learned to haue bene foretold in some place by some holy Prophet or such things whose natural causes they see to be present before their eyes or such things which they see now are disposed and like to come to passe or such things as themselues are purposed
onely not vnderstand those things which belong to true pietie but euen in things belonging to this life is blinde and oft is deceiued 2. That saying of Cicero That a man must aske of God good fortune but wisdome he must take from himselfe 3. Of the Pelagians that man by the proper strength of his nature without the grace of God can turne himselfe to God and by his pure naturall gifts can fulfill the Lawe 4. The errour of those Semipelagians who attribute our conuersion partly to Gods grace partly to the power of free will And that of the Schoolemen who say that a man by doing as much as lyes in his power deserues grace de congruc that free will worketh together with the grace of God and that in motions of the Spirit it is not taken away nor lost but onely weakned and that the will can prepare it selfe to grace 5. Of the fathers of the Counsell of Trent who affirme that the strength and faculties of the soule are indeede bound and entangled in the snares of sinnes so as a man cannot by his owne power winde himselfe out but yet that they are not put out nor extinct but only feeble as a sick man whose strength is impaired by some disease who is refreshed when the physitian commeth to him and layeth his hand vpon him or as a bird which hath abilitie and power to flye but beeing tyed by a thred can not exercise the vse of that facultie 6. That Position of the first vniuersall grace that the Lord openeth all mens eyes that they may see and their eares that they may heare if they will seeing it is required that they haue a power to will 7 The errour of the Enthusiastes who boast of visions speculations conference familiar speech with God inspiration without Gods word and doe imagine that men are compelled haled and pulled to their conuersion and vpon this false ground they contemning the word of God doe expect that drawing and forcing of the spirit The ninteenth common Place Of the Lawe From whence is the Latine name of Lawe to wit Lex taken EITHER of binding Lex a ligando because the Law bindeth those vpon whom it is imposed either to obedience or punishment or else a legendo of reading because Lawes were vsed to bee read publikely or ab eligendo chosing because it is a rule of things to be chosen or refused the Greeke word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to distribute because it giueth each man his right What significations hath the word Lawe 1. It is in generall vsed for all Doctrine which prescribeth any thing as in Hebrew it is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Torah of Iarah which signifieth to teach For which cause also the Gospell is called a law Esa 2.3 The Lavv is gone forth of Sion and the cōmandement of the Lord from Ierusalem So Ierem. 31.33 I vvill put my lavv in their invvard parts and in their hearts I vvill vvrite it And Rom. 3.20 The Gospell in that place is called the Law of Faith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by imitation that is a Doctrine which propoundeth saluation vpon this condition If thou beleeue 2. More specially the Law signifieth the Old Testament Rom. 3.19 Wee knovv that vvhatsoeuer the Lavv saith it saith it to them vvhich are vnder the Lavv. 3. When the Law is opposed to the Prophets it signifieth only the bookes of Moses and it is distinguished from the Prophets Psalms Luc. 24.22 Those things vvhich are vvritten in the book of Moses in the Prophets in the Psalmes And Rom. 3.21 The righteousnes of faith hath testimonie in the Law Prophets 4. When it is opposed to the Gospell it is taken for the Law the things thereto belonging as it is in the same Chapter ver 28. VVee are iustified by faith vvithout the workes of the Lavv. 5. When it is opposed to grace it signifieth the wrath of God and damnation and the rigour of Iustice as Rom. 6.14 VVe are not vnder the Lavv but vnder grace So Gal. 3.18 If yee be led by the Spirit yee are not vnder the Lavv. 6. Sometimes it is opposed to the trueth and then it signifieth the shadowes of the Lawe that is the Ceremonies of the Lawe As Iohn 1.17 The Lavve vvas giuen by Moses but grace and truth by Iesus Christ 7. When it is opposite to the time wherein Christ was giuen it signifieth the whole policie gouernment of Moses as Gal. 3.20 Before faith came vve vvere kept vnder the lavv As also it signifieth the ordinance of the Priesthoode Math. 11.13 The lavv and the Prophets prophecied vnto Iohn a Heb. 7 12 10.11 8. The Law is somtime by a Metonimie taken for rule authority soueraignty and commaund or that force which constraineth a man to any thing as when it is said The lavv of the spirit of life the lavv of Sinne and death b Rom. 8.2 the Lavv of the members c Rom. 7.23 But vvhat vnderstand you in this place by the vvord Lavv I vnderstand a law put into mēs hearts by God afterwards repeated by Moses which cōmandeth holy and iust things promiseth eternal life on this condition If thou shalt do all these things Again it threatneth a curse if a man faile but in the least of them d Iam. 2.10 Gal 3 10. What Epithets and titles be giuen to the Lavv in Scripture Diuers but in diuers respectes For when comparison is made betweene the Law and Gospell especially in the article of Iustification then Paule giueth the law such termes and appellations as seeme ignominious but this is by relation 1. By our fault not any fault in the Law For he calleth it a Schoole-maister a prison that shutteth vp a Gal 3.23.24 the yoake of bondage b Gal. 5 1 the povver or force of sinne c 1 Cor 15 56. the operation of vvrath and of death d Rom. 4.15 7.5 vveake and beggerly elements of the vvorld e Gal. 4.9 the ministerie of death and condemnation the killing letter f 2 Cor. 3 6 7.9 the hand vvriting vvhich is against vs g Col 2 14 the Testament vvhich begetteth vnto bondage h Gal. 4 24 But being considered by it self as a Doctrine published by god it is called a holie Lavve and a holy and good commaundement i. a vvord of life a cōmandement vvhich is vnto life i Rom. 7 12 Who is author of the Lavve k Act 7 58 l Rom. 7 10 God himself who in the beginning put it in the minds of men then in Mount Sinah he engraued it in tables of stone and gaue it Moses to be published m Exod 32 16 What ioynt causes Ministers vvere there in publishing the lavv 1. The Angels who were not the authors but messengers and witnesses imployed in the publication of the Lawe which was done by God
beleeuers 1. Cor. 3.16 6.19 but that they be suffered to rest as in a soft bed My flesh shall rest in hope saith the Prophet Psal 16.9 Is it needfull to bring againe into vse the Iewes fashion of embalming bodies No because vnto Christians to whom hath appeared the most cleere light of trueth their faith and beleefe of the resurrection ought to be more certaine then that it is expedient to confirme it by needlesse rites But concerning that which Christ saith Math. 26.10 to his Disciples of the womans deed she hath done a good worke in mee he doth not allow of this as an ordinarie worship but because of the cricumstance because by this signe he would testifie that the Sepulchre should be odoriferous and of sweet sauours Doth the buriall of Chrst belong to the state of the exinanition or of the exaltation of Christ To both for it was a part of his punishment and miserie when his bodie no lesse then a nother carkasse was cast into the earth Againe it was a part and beginning of his glorie in that he was honourably buried by the chiefe of the Iewes and the beginning of his victorie for so much as his bodie felt no corruption as it was foretold Psal 16.10 Act. 2.27 although it lay in the graue without life and without any embalming Whereupon it is said Esai 53.9 His graue was with the rich or it was glorious VVhat is opposite to this buriall The cosenage of these deceiuers who superstitiously and foolishly shew a linnen cloath to be worshipped in which the whole bodie is painted Which also they sottishly call Sudarium a napkin whereas according to the Iewes fashion the head alone was seuerally wound in a napkin or veile but the bodie was accustomed to be wrapped with linnens or bands Iohn 11.44 Then he that was dead came forth bound hand and foote with bands and his face was bound in a napkin 2 The superstition of the Papists who consecrate graues with frankincence holy water other trumperie which graues Christ himselfe sanctified they also thinke that the saluation of soules is furthered by superstitious rites of exequies candels procession with a crosse caried before funerall verses and songs doles of flesh bread wine money and other things by funerall suppers by white and blacke vestments and to conclude by Masses Their deuise also it is that the place of burial should be nere the Churches and in the Churches themselues neere the high Altar for superstition gains sake that they might exact tribute euē of the dead might make a gain of smoak iangling of bels sprinkling of water 3 Their pride who either build tombes which thing Esay long age accused in Sobna cha 22.15 17. also do hang vp their armes in them to be seene as though they still desired euen afterdeath to carie about with them the terror which men of war haue or else they are wrapped wound in costly cloathes to no purpose and with hinderance of their almes to the poore in which cloths they may make thēselues braue for the worms against those testimonies of scripture Iob. 1 21. Naked I came forth of my mothers womb and naked also shall I returne thither 1. Tim. 6.7 For we brought nothing into the world and it is certaine that we can carie nothing out 1. Cor 15.43 The bodie is sowen in dishonour it ariseth againe in glorie To this purpose is the saying of Ambrose in his Sermon To what purpose is the brauerie of Sepulchres they are rather losse vnto the liuing then any benefit vnto the dead 4 The immoderate mourning of some who shew themselues eyther to doubt of the saluation of the dead or to despaire of Gods helpe contrarie to the serious admonition of the Apostle 1. Thess 4.13 5 That fained imagination of the Gentiles who thought that those soules whose bodies lay vnburied did wander vp down in Virgil fondly writeth of Palinurus and other his partakers in shipwracke 6 Their crueltie who cast the bodies of the dead to wild beasts to be torne in peeces or through negligence defraud them of the honour of buriall or shew their crueltie vpon their bones or ashes 7 Those false Nicodemes who abuse the examples of Ioseph and Nicodemus to couer and cherish the cowardnesse of the flesh and are not bettered by them that they may shew the strength of their faith what time God requireth their endeuour The fiue and twentieth common Place Of Christs descending into hell VVas the article of Christs descending to hell alwaies ioyned with the rest of the Creed RVfinus vpon the Creed Lib de Resurrect carnis In symbolo Serm. 115. who is commonly reckoned amongst Cyprians works doth testifie that in times past it was not expressed in the Creed of the Roman Church and that it was not vsed neither in the Greeke Churches Notwithstanding Tertullian doth plainely confesse the descension of Christ into hell as also Athanasius Augustine and other of the Fathers Psal 16.10 Isai 53.8 Act. 2.24 Heb. 5.7 ephes 4.9 But it is especially confirmed by testimonies of Scripture a and the whole Church in all countries doth at this day with great consent acknowledge and confesse that article And Rufinus himselfe doth manifestly set downe this article and allow of it Neyther was it to be omitted seeing it is of great force to giue vs full assurance of our redemption and doth minister great comfort to the godly What doth the word Infernus which is commonly translated hell signifie in Scriptures 1 The graue and that properly b Gens 42.38 Psa 6.6 For in death there is no remembrance of thee in the graue who shall praise thee 2 That horrible place which is appointed for the punishment of the reprobate Num 16.30 It is written of Core and those of his conspiracie that they went downe aliue into hell Luke 10.15 And thou Capernaum which art exalted to heauen shalt be thrust downe to hell And Cap. 16.23 The rich man also died and was buried and being in hell in torments he lift vp his eyes and saw Abraham a farre off Lib. de anima cap. 35. and Lazarus in his bosome Tertullian By hell we vnderstand not an open hollow place neyther some sinke in the world lying open to heauen but a vast and deepe pit and a depth hid in the verie bowels of the earth This place the Greeks do call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth a darke place for the word is compounded of the priuatiue particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth to see because all things are there darke so as no light may be seene 3 The torments pains of hell that is the terror torments of the soule such as the damned feele in hell 1. Sam. 2.6 The Lord bringeth downe to the graue and raiseth vp c. and Psal 18.8 The sorrowes of the graue compassed me about Psal 16.3 VVhen the sorrowes of death
nothings else is meant by these words then that Christ did descend into the state of the dead and that hee was added to the number and companie of other the deade for whom he dyed according to Dauids saying Psalm 28.5.6 I am reckoned amongst them which goe downe into the graue And Psal 88. I am as a man without strength I am counted among thē that go downe into the pit Free among the deade like the slaine lying in the graue whom thou remembrest no more and they are cut off by thine hand Whereupon hee is said to bee raised againe not from the graue but from the dead which sense and opinion doth not much differ from the first of the former What is the fift The first is of them who allegorically or metaphorically by the descention of Christ vnderstand his great ignominie and extream humiliation whilest he laie in the graue vntill the third day after his death as if he had beene foyled and vanquished by death and the diuell at which time the diuel and the Pharises did as it were insult ouer him as though he were quite gone and no more remained Doe you approue of this then I doe not dislike it for it is agreeable to the type set forth in Dauid Psal 88.7 Thou hast laied me in the lowest graue in darknesse and in the deepe and it is agreeable to that place which is Ephes 4.10 in which as by ascending aboue all heauens the Apostle vnderstandeth his greatest exaltation so by his descending to the lowest parts of the earth or to hell hee vnderstandeth the greatest humiliation or debasing of Christ So Esa 14.15 Descending to hell is taken for extreame humiliation Thou saidest in thine heart I will ascend into heauen c. but thou shalt be brought downe to the graue to the sides of the pit And so may the place of Mathew 11.23 be expounded Thou O Capernaum which art lifted vp vnto heauen shalt be brought downe to hell What is the sixt It is theirs who say that by Christs descending to hel is signified those great torments of minde which Christ in his agony and vpon the crosse sustained of which we haue spoken in the Passion of Christ Is this exposition agreeable to trueth It is for it is agreeable to Scripture and proportionable to faith For Esa 53.5 saith that Christ was broken for our iniquities And Psal 18.6 The sorrowes of the graue haue compassed mee round about And Act. 2.24 Peter saith that he was entangled in the pangs of death the griefes which the curse and wrath of God procureth And Gal. 3.13 it is said He vvas made for vs a curse and that truly and without trope not in himselfe indeede but in as much as he was our suretie so that he truely felt our burden to bee laid vpon him And Heb. 5.7 the Apostle saieth that Christ was heard from his feare when he praied with teares and strong crying And that which is verie wonderfull is recorded of him that through vehemencie of his torment drops of bloud ran downe from his face and that he could not be comforted but by the sight of Angels Luk. 22.43 And in the end we see that Christ was cast downe so low that he was constrained to cry out when his anguish vrged him My God my God way hast thou forsaken me Mat. 27.46 By all which it may be gathered that hee wrestled and grapled not with a cōmon manner of death but with the forces of hell and the horror of eternall death But this seemeth to make against the exposition namelie that the torments of the minde are put after the griefes of the bodie in the creede This is done because the griefe of bodie first offereth it selfe to the senses but not so the torments of minde But it may be obiected Although they ought to be set after death and crucifying yet they should not haue beene mentioned after buriall Although the descending of Christ to hell was ended in death and in time did goe before the buriall of the body yet it is set after it in the order of the narration of the articles of our faith because it seemed good in one continued course of speach to describe whatsoeuer pertained to the debasing of his bodie and afterward to come to the suffering in soule But could God euer be angrie vvith his onlie and most beloued sonne Christ or forsake him Neuer but yet he so hid his fauour and help for a time that the humane nature of Christ did truely feele these distresses wherewith they are vrged who are cast away and forsaken of God And as Barnard saith Serm. 5. de verbis Esaiae It is a kinde of forsaking vvhen as in so great necessitie there vvas no shevving of povver no shevving of Maiestie Why vvas it needfull he should suffer these torments 1. Because when as all our sinnes were cast vpon him therefore it was fit that he should so feele the wrath of God against them as if he himselfe had committed the sinnes of all men 2. That for our sakes he might try and ouercome all manner of griefes and temptations and so the torments of death and of hell for our cause 3. That hee might aduance and carie vs vp to the ioyes of heauen being deliuered from the power of Hell VVhat profit redounded to vs by Christs descending into Hell 1. Victorie ouer the power of the diuell the horrour of death and the paines of Hell is obtained a Ose 13.14 2. Our enemies are tryumphed ouer Coloss 2.15 And he hath spoiled principalities and powers that is Sathan with his Angels b Ephes 6 12 hath made a shew of them openly and hath tryumphed ouer them in the same crosse 3. Hauing ouercome the sting of death he hath opened to all beleeuers the kingdom of heauen Therefore Hilarie saith lib. 2. de Trinitate The crosse death and hell are our life VVhat is the vse of Christs descending into hell 1. That wee should not now be afraid in death of those things which our prince hath swallowed vp 2. That looke how much more we see him humbled and abased for our cause so much the lesse wee should doubt either of the fathers loue towards vs or our redemption wrought by him and the exaltation wee shall hereafter receiue in Heauen What is opposite to this Doctrine 1. That fable of Purgatorie the paines whereof seing Christ did not vndergo nor suffer for ought we can read who notwithstanding suffered for vs all kinde of griefes a Isa 53.3 4 therefore it followeth that these are forged and counterfaite and to be feared of none who belieue For if it were as they say it should then follow that there are some griefes which Christ did not suffer for our sake 2. Of those Limbi which they haue in their owne inuentions appointed for the fathers vnder the Lawe and infants vnder the Gospell who haue beene depriued of the signe of Baptisme The sixe and twentieth common
Ghost such is the excellency of the Gospell 3 Of those things which are reported as spoken by God some are so indeed but some other are fained like vnto them by those that doe foolishly vnderstand the Scripture When therefore God doth directly affirme a thing we must simply beleeue him but when men speake we must not without all iudgement and enquirie beleeue euery thing bur rather trie all things and examin them according to the analogy of faith Rom. 12.6 and keepe that which is good now good and true are all one 1. Thes 5.21 What is the subiect of faith wherein it is The soule of a man and that both in the minde a knowledge or vnderstanding a luk 24.45 Ephes 4.23 and a iudgement and consent resting in the word and promise of God and likewise also in the will and heart an apprehension or embracing of the same Act. 16.14 The Lord opened the heart of Lydia that she should attend the things which Paule spake and Rom. 10.10 VVith the heart man beleeueth vnto righteousnesse VVhat is the subiect of faith to whom faith is giuen Not all for all men doe not heare the Gospell b act 17.30 neither doe all that heare it receiue it with a pure heart as it is in the parable of the sower Math. 13.3 Neither doe all obey the Gospell c Rom. 10.17 for the Prophet Esay 53.1 saith who hath beleeued our report Faith therfore belongeth not to all but onely to the elect d 2. Thes 3 2 Iohn 8.47 He that is of God heareth Gods word you therefore heare not because you are not of God and Act. 13.48 As manie as vvere ordained to eternall life beleeued 2. Tim. 1.1 Paule an Apostle of Iesus Christ according to the faith of the elect of God From whence wee gather that faith is vnto vs an vndoubted argument of our election And therefore the reprobate although they doe sometimes seeme and are said to beleeue in Christ as those Temporizers Luc. 8.13 Simon Magus Act. 8.13 yea are endued with a temporarie taste of hauenly gifts e Heb. 6.4 yet they haue not a liuely and sauing faith in as much as they haue not the spirit of adoptiō bestowed vpon them that so they might with open mouth and a full confidence crie Abba Father Gal. 4.6 But they haue onely an hypocriticall and temporarie faith Haue infants actuall faith No indeed not that fayth which commeth by hearing seeing to them the Gospell is not preached For it is playne that those little ones which beleeue Math. 18.6 Are so described by Christ not in respect of their age but of their small vnderstanding forasmuch as hee disputeth of them who may be offended in word or in deed which thing cannot befall vnto infants being as yet of no vnderstanding Although it must not be denied that they are gouerned by a certaine peculier prouidence of God and that there is a certaine seede of faith infused into the infants elected Is there one faith without forme and another formed So certaine schoolemen will haue it who call faith without forme such an assent whereby euerie man euen he that despiseth God doth receiue that which is deliuered out of the Scripture without any godly affection of the heart And they call faith formed when to that assent there is added a godly affection of the heart namely Charitie but this is but foolish For faith rather belongeth to the heart then to the braine Rom. 10.10 With the hart a man beleeueth vnto righteousnesse 2 Seeing faith proceedeth from the spirit of adoption it embraceth Christ not onely vnto righteousnesse but to sanctification also and a fountaine of liuing waters a Iohn 4 14 3 Charitie or the affection of Godlinesse doth no lesse accompanie faith then the light doth accompanie the Sunne And as Gregorie saith Looke how much wee beleeue so much we loue And therefore faith is not without forme neyther can be any way seuered from Godly affection vnlesse it be hypocriticall which is not to be called faith vnlesse it be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by aequiuocation and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by abusion but rather a shadow and likenesse of faith But seeing it is said Gal. 5.6 Faith working by Charitie is not Charitie the forms of faith No more then the bodie is the forme of the soule in that the soule worketh by the bodie And this is but fondly spoken inasmuch as one qualitie is not the forme of another qualitie And if it were yet Charitie doth not forme faith but on the contrarie fayth formeth Charitie for that Charitie is an effect of fayth For Charitie fetcheth his ofspring from faith and not on the contrarie faith from charitie 1. Tim. 1 5. Charitie out of a pure heart a good conscience and faith vnfained Now the cause is not said to be formed by the effect And therfore by that speech true liuely faith is distinguished from a dead counterfeit and barren faith by the marke and effect thereof namely that it is an effectuall working and fruitfull faith which bringeth forth good workes And faith Iames. 2.22 is not called perfect whereunto nothing is wanting for as long as Abraham liued he caried about him flesh and therfore stood in need of that prayer Lord increase my faith but it is said to be perfected by works as the first act is said by the Philosophers to be perfected by the second act namely because by working it doth shew and manifest it selfe which before it began to worke lay hid as if the goodnesse of a tree should be said to be perfected when it bringeth forth some excellent fruit For inasmuch as by the effectes we iudge of the cause therefore by the proportion of the effects the force of the cause doth seeme after a sort to be increased or diminished VVhat is the forme of iustifying faith Trust in the mercie of God through Christ or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a firme confidence and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a full perswasion of the grace of God the father towards vs whereby any man doth as it were with a full course striue toward the marke VVhich be the adiuncts or properties of faith 1 That it be certaine and without doubting 2 That it be continuall and neuer faile 3 That it be liuely effectuall and working How prooue you that certainty belongeth vnto faith 1 Iohn 3.2 The faithfull know themselues to be the sonnes of God but being rather confirmed in the perswasion of the truth of God by the holy Ghost then taught by any demonstration of reason 2 By the consideration of the truth of the promises and power of God For Psal 18.31 The word of the Lord is a tried shield to all that trust in him And Rom. 4.20 Abraham did not doubt of the promise of God through vnbeleefe but was strengthned in the faith and gaue glorie to God being fully assured that he which had promised was also able to doe it 3
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is alwaies atrributed to faith in the Scriptures which setteth before vs the goodnesse of God most manifestly without all manner of doubting Rom. 4 2◠so also is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ephes 3.12 By faith we haue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 boldnesse or freedome and entrance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with confidence by faith in him In briefe there is no man faithfull but he who being perswaded that God is fauourable vnto him is so assured of his saluation as that he doth boldly insult ouer the diuel and death after the example of Paule Rom. 8.38 I am perswaded saith he that neither death nor life nor Angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come can separate vs from the loue of God And vers 16. The spirit of God witnesseth with our spirits that we are the sonnes of God Is not then the faith of the Elect aslauted with anie vncertaintie vnquietnesse and distrust Yes surely for Dauid Psal 31.23 I said in my hast I am cast out of thy sight And neuer will it be so well with vs in the course of this present life that we shal be cured of this disease of distrust but rather shall be wholly replenished therewithall But this vncertaintie or vnquietnesse faith hath not of it selfe but from our infirmitie Againe we do not therefore say that the elect doe fall away from that sure confidence which they had conceiued of the mercie of God For this cause Dauid himselfe Psal 42.6 why art thou cast downe my Soule and vnquiet within me wait on God For faith truely gets the vpper hand that it may set it selfe against all manner of burdens and lift vp it selfe and neuer suffer the confidence of Gods mercie to be shaken from it And therefore Iob. 13. Though the Lord kill me yet will I trust in him And Psal 23.4 If I walke in the midst of the shadowe of death yet will I feare no euill for thou art with mee And therefore there is no hinderance but that the faithfull at one and the same time may be terrified casting their eyes vpon their owne vnworthines and vanitie and may also at the same time enioy most assured Comfort calling to minde the goodnes truth and power of God Cannot that faith faile As faith receiueth increase according to that Luk. 15.5 Lord increase our faith So it may also receiue decrease may suffer as it were a backsliding so as sometimes by the storms of diuers temptations it may be shaken obscured ouerwhelmed and waxe faint yea euen in the Saints like as reason in dronken men and infants is laid a sleepe and buried as in Dauid when he committed adulterie and in Peter when he thrice denied Christ but yet it is neuer quite shaken off or extinguished For the purpose of our election is sure and therefore it is necessarie that faith which followes election should haue the gift of perseuerance to accompanie it for the gift of God and fath is among them and the calling of GOD are without repentance Rom. 11.29 And Christ himselfe did pray vnto his father surely no lesse for the rest of the elect that their faith might neuer faile them then hee prayed for the faith of Peter Luc. 22.32 c Moreouer Paule Ephes 1.13.14 saith That we after we beleeued were sealed with the holy Spirit of promise and that this spirit is the earnest of our inheritance vntill the redemption of the possession purchased And Phil. 1.6 What good work God beginneth in his elect the same he will performe vntill the day of Iesus Christ And therfore how small and weake soeuer faith be in the elect yet because the spirit of God is a pledge and seale vnto them of their adoption the print thereof can neuer bee blotted out of their hearts Lastly seeing that the faith of the elect is opposed to temporarie faith it followeth therefore that it is perpetuall But shall not faith once haue an end In respect of the obiect namely Christ as he is offered in the word and sacraments faith shall vanish away at that time when we shall haue Christ present in heauen as the Apostle saith 1. Cor. 13.8.10 Prophecyings shall be abolished and knowledge shall vanish away when that which is perfect is come then that which is in part shal be abolished For there will be no vse of faith when those things are performed and indeede fully exhibited which wee doe in this life beleeue and hope shall be giuen vnto vs. But if wee speake absolutely of Christ without the integuments of the word and Sacraments then faith in him or if ye had rather so terme it the thing it selfe called by that name that is to say the knowledge and apprehension of Christ shall neuer cease but shall be most perfect in heauen not now any more by the ministerie of the word but by the beholding and contemplation of Christ himselfe The knowledge it selfe I say shall not be abolished nay it shall be perfected but the manner of knowing shall yeeld and giue place vnto the beholding of God himselfe For this is that which the Apostle called perfect 1. Cor. 13.10 After that which is perfect is come But is a faint faith in Christ a true faith Yea indeed For more and lesse doe not change the kindes of things and it is referred vnto one and the same Christ neyther doth it swarue form him and therefore as touching reconciliation with God Remission of sinnes and life eternall it obtaineth no lesse then the most strong faith though it do it not so strongly and with lesse fruit And therefore Esay 42.3 Christ will not breake the brused reed nor quench the smoaking flaxe That is to say those that are weake in faith he will mercifully aduise those that are staggering and wauering in faith he will confirme and strengthen and those that haue any sparke of the truth though it be as it were dying hee will cherish and maintayne Rom. 14.1.3 Him that is weake in the faith God hath receiued And 2. Cor. 12.9 The power of God is made perfect through weakenesse Which is the third adiunct of faith That it is liuely and effectuall in the elect Whence is it that it is called liuely and effectuall First from the affections secondly from the actions which it produceth in the beleeuers The affections are those which are stirred vp in the heart of the beleeuers by the apprehending of Christ with his benefits by faith 1 A liuely and assured feeling of Gods loue towards vs diffused in our hearts a Rom. 5.5 2 An assured hope and expectation of life eternall b Ibidem 3 A filiall loue and feare or reuerence whereby the faithfull doe endeuour to please God and doe verie carefully feare and beware to offend him also a loue of Christ and a delight in him For the loue of God is not of the essence and nature of faith but a
necessarie effect of the same for seeing faith is a certaine taste perceiuing and supping downe as it were of that sweetenes which is in God 1. Pet. 2.3 If so be that ye haue tasted how bountifull the Lord is it followeth that the loue of God is an effect which proceedeth of that sweet apprehension and as it were taste of the goodnesse of God 4 Comfort peace of conscience in regard of the remission of sinnes Phil 1.25 Rom. 14.17 gladnesse and spirituall ioy proceeding from the same taste of the fauour of God 1. Pet. 1.8 Beleeuing in Christ ye reioyce with ioy vnspeakable and glorious 5 The sighes of the spirit not to be expressed Rom. 8.26 and that confidence that crieth Abba Father Gal. 4.6 6 Patience in aduersitie yea more a Rom 8.35.38 reioycing in afflictions 7 Contempt of the world 8 A spirituall assurance of the grace and friendshippe of God 9 An affection to our neighbour and that for Gods sake as namely Charitie and loue of our neighbour courtesie bountie gentlenesse and delight in the Saints Psal 16.3 To the Saints that are in the Earth and to the excellent all my delight is in them The actions that proceed from faith are those which break forth out of those inward affections as godlinesse iustice thanksgiuing prayer e Rom 8.15 10.14 confession that is to say a sincere and open f Rom. 10.9 2. Cor. 4.13 profession of Christ which is made with the mind tongue and life peace and concord with all men in the Lord weldoing towards all euen our enemies and so a new obedience for a good tree beareth good fruit g Mat 7.17 Lastly a good conscience a holy care faithfulnesse and diligence in our vocation and calling and a minde h Ro. 12.7.8 Phil. 4.11 rom 11.24 Gal. 2.20 contented with with his owne portion What be the effects and fruits of faith They are manifold For first it ingrafts vs into Christ i Ephs 17. and maketh Christ to dwell in the hearts of the faithfull and that they may be in him and may haue fellowship and communion with him 2 It makes vs the sonnes of God a Gal. 3 26 it obtaines remission of sinnes b Act. 10.43 it iustifyeth vs c Gen. 15.6 Abac. 2.4 Act. 13.39 Rom. 3. 5 Chapter it causeth vs not to be ashameth d Rom. 9.32 it giueth vs entrance to God e Eph. 3.12 it regenerateth our vnderstanding and our will and purifieth the f act 15.9 heart I saueth g Luk. 7.50 it obtaineth what it will of God h Mat. 8 13 1 Ioh. 5 14. now it willeth onely that that tendeth to the glorie of God it worketh all things Marke 9.23 All things are possible to them that beleeue It ouercommeth the world and Satan i 1. Ioh. 5.4 It renounceth Satan and his works in heart in word in life and in manners k Eph. 5.11 Finally it relyeth wholly vpon God and is delighted in his workes and commaundements night and day l Psal 1.2 Rom. 4 1â— And yet faith it selfe doth not performe all these things but he whom it apprehends namely Christ Iesus in whom we are able to doe all things that are necessarie vnto saluation Phil. 4.13 VVhat is the end of faith It is two-fold 1 In respect of our selues the saluation of our soules 1. Pet. 1.9 Receiuing the end of your faith euen the saluation of your soules And life eternall m Io. 3.15 16.18.36 20.31 Secondly in respect of God Gods glorie By what experiment is faith tried 1 Inwardly by the subtilties of the flesh and by certaine 〈◊〉 beings rising from thence in the mindes of men by reason of false Doctrines diuelish arts n Rom. 4.20 heresies the o Deut 13.1 contentions of the teachers in the Church treacherie of brethren impunitie of wickednesse p 1. Cor. 11.19 prosperitie of the wicked the q Ier. 12.1 Mal. 2.17 Psal 73.2.3 small number of beleeuers the deformitie and oppression of the Church the falling away of many from the faith tentations the delay of Gods promises the tokens of Gods wrath the scoffes of the mockers which aske where is the promise of his comming 2. Pet. 3.4 which things saith Augustine God permitteth that they which heare and see the same might be tried what faith they beare towards God 2 By the crosse as Gold is tried in the fire for patience vnder the crosse with calling vpon God and looking for deliuerance is as it were a triall of faith whether it be true or no r 〈◊〉 1.7 as we may see in Iob. Å¿ Iob. 23 19. Of this temptation Saint Iames speaketh Chap. 1. vers 12. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation for when he is tried he shall receiue the crowne of life What is the vse of faith There is verie great vse of it in the whole course of our liues for it is that one thing that is necessarie Luke 10.42 and Heb. 11.6 Without faith it is impossible to please God The vse of it therefore is to make vs in prosperitie not to be lifted vp in aduersitie not to cast downe our selues and in death to passe to life Are wee called faithfull of faith chiefely in regard of the working power of faith or passiuely in regard of our sufferance Although faith in the Scripture doe sometimes signifie constancie and truth in words deeds and couenant keeping and then is taken actiuely and in that sense they are also called faithfull which keepe their faith once plighted or doe faithfully performe their dutie as Luke 12.42 Who is a faithfull and wise steward And Luke 16.10 He that is faithfull in a little will also be faithfull in much And also passiuely they are called faithfull men that doe well deserue to be beleeued and so we vse to say a faithfull word and a faithfull man a 2. Tim. 2 â— 11. yet notwithstanding when the matter of Iustification is in hand men are called faithful passiuely who embrace by faith Christ the Sauiour as Ephe. 1.1 The faithfull in Christ Iesus and Act. 10.45 The faithfull which were of the Circumcision What things haue affinitie with faith Hope and Charitie which are also themselues the gift of the holy Ghost 1. Cor. 12. VVhat doe they differ from faith Faith is the knowledge and apprehension of Christ being exhibited after a sort present in the word SacrameÌ„ts hope is an expectation of Christ hereafter to be fully reuealed with all his benefits Or hope is the expectation of those things which faith beleeueth to be truly promised by God so faith beleeueth God to be true hope expecteth that he should alwaies cary himselfe so towards vs. Faith beleeueth that life eternall is giuen vnto vs hope expecteth till it be reuealed faith is the foundation where upon hope resteth hope nourisheth and sustâ—ineth faith and thereupon by reason of this communion and affinitie the
the Church hath borrowed the name of scandall to signifie layings in waite wherewith men are intrapped euen as beastes in the gins d Esa 8.14 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is properly when something in the way hindreth the feet whereupon a man lighting doth stumble deriued of the verbe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies to stumble Rom. 14.13 to put a stumbling block or scandall before his brother hence it is called the stone of stumbling e Rom. 9.32 33 1 Pet 2.8 For euill examples of sinnes are like vnto certaine stones on which men lighting do stumble yea doe fall downe flatt Whereupon is that 1. Cor. 10.12 he that standeth let him take heed least he fall And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 deriued of the verbe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth to hitte against a thing to disturb or break of it is the very offence it selfe or the dashing against any thing in latine they call offence when in the way there lies some stone or logge against which men as they walke doe stumble so as they hurte their feete or else fall downe headlong whereupon Leuit. 19.14 it is said put not a stumbling block before the blinde Now this word scandall is in the perdicament of relation wherby it comes to passe that it signifieth sometimes the matter that is to say the very obiect or impediment offending any man and sometimes the manner or forme that is the very offence it selfe VVhat is the scandall Whatsoeuer is the cause or occasion to any man of offence whether it be word deed or example or counsell whereby our neighbour is either grieued or troubled or offended so as he is either hindered in the streight course of saluation or turned out of the way or is induced to any errour or sin Rom. 14.15 1 Cor 8.9 or else is confirmed in some euill a How many are the kindes of Scandalls Bernard maketh twoo Inward and outward Inward is when the old man giueth offence to the new man touching which Mat. 5.20 If thy right eye offend thee plucke it out cast it from thee where by the ey hand and foot he vnderstandeth the lustes of the flesh or of the olde man which doe often annoy the new man all impediments although neuer so deare which hinder a man so as he cannot walke in the continuall obedience of the law of god Outward which cometh from without and giues any man the cause or the occasion of falle This externall scandall how many folde is it Threefold Actiue either giuen or afforded passiue or taken and mixt of them both VVhat is a scandal giuen Whose fault proceedeth from the author of the thing or action it selfe either when a man doth giue another an effectuall cause of falling or else some word or deede that is euill in it selfe because it is repugnant to the loue of God and our neighbour and therefore such a thing as of it owne nature and of it selfe doth either confirme the liberty of sinning in others or else either greiueth the godly or doth carie them into error sinn a Math. 18.6 7 whereof Christ speaketh to Peter Math. 16.23 Get thee behinde me Satan thou art an offence vnto me For though Christ himselfe did not stumble yet there was noe let in Peter but that Christ being astonished with thinking of the crosse should haue broken off the course of his calling and Peters speach in very deed did greeue him and might haue giuen an occasion of falling to the weake How manifold is a Scandall giuen Double by deuiding the subiect into the accidents priuate publick Priuate which may also be called Domestical whereby one or some few are offended as children seruants husbands wiues as when the child seruant Husband or wife see the parents Maisters wiues or husbands abstaine from the worship of God heare them sweare to doe any thing or to speake vnchastly whereby it presently commeth to passe that they are either greeued or else ready to imitate their examples Against which Christ speaketh whosoeuer shall offend one of these litle ones which beleeue in me it had beene good for him rather that a Milstone should be hanged about his necke and he should be cast into the sea Mark 9.4 Publick is whereby some whole multitude is offended or else that which giueth an occasion of falling to many weake ones as coueteous men doe whoremaisters drunkards and such like which by their bad manners offend the Church and doe cast both themselues many others headlong into ruine 2 A scandall giuen is distinguished by the distribution of it from the adiuncts or from the difference of the persons that cause it and hereby it comes to passe that one is farre more greuous and pernicious then another for that which is giuen by a person placed in some great dignity is more dangerous and his example hurteth more then that which is giuen by some priuate person or otherwaies obscure So the adultery of Dauid the king is more greeuous a. Sam. 12 12. c. then of some obscure Citizen and therefore a scandall is more seuerely punished both in regad of the person himselfe who doth disgrace that place into which he is exalted by god as also in respect of other men to whome he hath giuen a more effectuall cause of falling by his euill example So that scandall is most greuous which is giuen of the ministers of the Churches and the students of diuinity when they either by false doctrine or impure liuing giue occasion to many to speake ill of the gospell As the sinne of the sonnes of Helie is said to be exceeding greeuous in the sighte of the Lord a 1 Sam. 2 17 And they sinne more hainously which be in the communion of the Church then they which be without So the gouernour of a familie being a drunkard sinnes much more greuously then a seruant VVhat is the cause of offence giuen The remote cause is the iudgment of God 1. Against the wicked as was the scandall and impediment which the wise men of Egypt gaue vnto Pharoh b Exod 7 22 And the false prophets in whome was the lying spirit gaue to King Achab c 1. King 22 22 and the lying signes of Antichriste wherewith those which receiued not the loue of the truth were deceiuedd. a 2. Thess 9 10.11 2. The iudgment of God for the godly or the good of the elect whereof 1. Cor. 11.19 There must be deuisions that those which are approued that is whome experience hath shewed to be of faith vnfained and sincere pietie might be made manifest The nearest cause is Satan whoe moueth men to all euill The helping cause is the naughtinesse and corruption of mans nature false teachers the vnskillfullnesse pride coueteousnesse impatiency of teachers In respect of which causes Christ saith Math. 18.7 It must needs be that offences come that is by necessity not by
trouble the church or else by the multitude power and authority of the aduersaries of our doctrine and by the flourishing estate of the wicked and the prosperous successe of all thinges whereupon the prophet saith my feete were almost mooued because I burned with zeale as concerning the wicked beholding the prosperity of the vngodly Psal 73.2 VVhat remedy haue the weake against this Scandall If we call to minde the condition of the auncient Church and kingdome of Christ if we meditate vpon the heauenly doctrine and marke the ruine of the wicked and the blessed end of the godly this the Prophet teacheth vs in that same Psal v. 16. I mused saith he that I might vnderstand this but it was hard for me vntil I came into the sanctuarie of God considered their latter ende So Iob contemning the prosperity of wicked men in the middest of his afflictions burst forth into this speach Iob. 19.25 I know that my redeemer liueth and that I shall rise againe at the last day What is that offence taken which comes from the Diuell When men doe wretchedly abuse the faultes and sinnes of the saintes to encourage them to sinne as C ham the drunkenesse of his Father a Gen. 9.2 orhers the incest of Lot b Gen. 19.30 31. Dauids adulterie and murder c 2 Sam. 12 2.3 15 the periury of Peter d Math 26.72.74 Zacheus his extortion e Luk. 13.8 such like that they may without shame giue themselues to all kinde of wickednesse And it is well called Diabolicall of the quality and not of the subiect because it is vsed maliciously to the disgrace of the Fathers and the reproaching of God and therefore ought aboue all the rest to be taken heed of What is the third kinde of offence You may call it a mixt kinde of offence that is partly giuen partly taken to witt when a man doth vse his christian liberty vnseasonably or else when a man dallieth with the enimies of the truth yet this kinde of offence seemeth to be more like to that which is giuen then that which is taken For the auoiding wherof this rule is to be obserued we must doe nothing without faith and against charity Therefore Paul 1. Cor. 6.12 And. 10.23 saith All thinges are lawfull for me but all things are not expedient And the saying of Clement they which doe whatsoeuer is lawfull for them doe quickly come to doe that which is not lawfull VVhat is the end of offences The purpose of Satan who stirs vp scandalls is to draw men from the truth to stablish errors to corrupt good manners to waste the Church to increase his kingdome to hinder the glory of God to harden and to destroy men But the purpose of god who decreeth them is to proue his owne to manifest the reprobates that there might be made a manifest difference betweene the true worshippers of God and hypocrites a 1 Cor. 11.9 VVhat is the vse of this doctrine That our mindes being confirmed by the word of god against offences and our affections brought into order according to the direction of the law of god we might be sincere and without offence vnto the day of Christ full of the fruites of righteousnesse which are to the glory and praise of god thorow Christ Iesus VVhat thinges are contrarie to an offence giuen Honest examples speaches and deeds which inuite others to imitate them according to the commandemente Math. 5.16 let your light so shine before men that they seeing your good workes may glorify your father which is in heauen The fiue and thirtieth common place Of Prayer What meane you by the word Prayer NOT after the manner of Rhetoricians an order of speech throughly laboured by art which the Grecians call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but according to diuinitie a holy speech or talke with God not so much of the mouth as of the heart which also in other termes we call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to call vpon to request which is properly spoken of him who being in danger desireth the helpe of God with a crying out Hereupon by a Synecdoche it is taken for the whole worship of God b Acts 2 21. 1 Cor 1 2 2 tim 2 22 also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 prayer or intreating 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 suplication The Scripture also Allegorically or Metaphorically calleth it the calues fruit of the lips a sacrifice of praise incense and a sweet smel c Ose 14 3 Psal 116.17 141.2 Heb 13 15 Malach 1.11 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 VVhat is Prayer The Greecians doe thus define it Damasc 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Prayer is an ascending of the minde towards God and a request of things conuenient of him By a translation taken from burnt offerings vnto prayers Act. 10.4 Thy prayers and thy almes b Acts 2 21. 1 Cor 1 2 2 tim 2 22 are come vp into remembrance before God Or prayer is a holy meditation of things pertaining to the glorie of God and our safetie and an earnest wishing and desiring of the same proceeding from a filiall or sunnelike trust in God to the which for the most part thankesgiuing is wont to be added of holy men for benefits receiued from God Or it is an ardent affection mounting vp to God whereby we doe both aske and expect from God alone for Christs sake gifts spirituall and corporall according to his commaundement and promises and also do giue him thanks for gifts receiued Or it is an ardent earnest laying open of our hart before God wherby from faith in Christ we do either request or intreat for any thing or do giue thanks for benefits receiued whether this be done with words or without words as with grones fighs alone Wherby it is gathered that the ten commandements the Angels salutation the rehearsing of the Creed are no praiers because in these nothing is asked of God Though simple people vse those as prayers Of how many sorts is prayer Twofold in regard of circumstances Publicke or Solemn which is made in a publicke Ecclesiastical assemblie for the most part is wont to be vocal it is the 2 part of the ministery a 1 King 8.41 Esr 7 23 3.1 And Priuate which euery one do vse priuatly either at home or abroad in secret corners of the hart as Christ praieth in the mountain b Marke 6.46 Acts. 10.9 Peter in the vpper part of the house Izack in the field Daniel in the den Paul at the shore How many are the parts or kinds of prayer vel precamur vel deprecamur aliquid 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Paul 1. Ti. 2.1 doth reckō vp 4 which are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a deprecation whereby we desire the turning away of some euil which eyther troubleth vs alreadie or hangeth ouer our heads of the verb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is to aske to pray as Luk.
From the resurrection of bodies for there would be no neede of the rising againe of the bodies of the faithful if there were not a life whereunto they should rise Moreouer the articles concerning GOD of Christ of the Prouidence and of the Iustice of GOD of the soules Immortâ—â—â—â—e of the resurection of bodies of the last iudgement could not stand vnlesse this article of life eternall bee annexed vnto them 4 From the handwriting of God written in the soule of euery one for the soule it selfe often teacheth vs there remaineth a iudgment with the feare whereof they are vexed who liue wickedly and they are renued in hope who loue godlines 5 From an Argument tending to absurditie because if only in this life that is if we hope in Christ for this life sake onely so that our faith hath respect to nothing else beyond this life we were the most miserable of all men 1. Cor. 15.19 6 From the testimonies of Scripture Dan. 12.2 some shall awake vnto euerlasting life Math. 25.46 The iust shall goe vnto life eternall Iohn 10.28 I giue vnto my sheepe eternall life Hebr. 13.14 Here we haue no continuing Citie but we seeke one to come 1. Iohn 25. This is the peomise that he hath promised vs euen eternall life 7 From examples for Enoch beeing translated heere into and afterward Elias were as an earnest penie thereof a Gen. 7 24. Heb 11 8 2 Kings 2 11 So was Christ also ascending into the heauen whose pleasure is that where he himselfe is we should be with him likewise Iohn 14.3 and 17.24 8 This an article of our fath I beleeue that life euerlasting What are the Epithites whereby it is commended in Scripture 1 In commendation it is called the kingdome 1 of God 2 of the father 3 of heauen b Math. 7 21 2 Metaphorically Abrahams bosome c Luk. 16 22 by a Metaphor taken from the bosome of parents wo are said to haue and carie their little children in their bosome because the faithfull like deerely beloued children being recouered out of this miserable world are cherished and refreshed in the embracing of the father of all the faithfull and are safe and free from all the perilous stormes of this life And there is a place wherin Christ hath prepared vs a mansion as himselfe declareth Math. 8.11 Many shall come from the East and from the West shall sit downe with Abraham Isaack and Iacoh in the kingdome of heauen Augustine though where it should be Epist 99 ad Evodion confese Lib. 9 3 confesseth he knoweth not yet defineth it to bee an habitation of secret rest and affirmeth that therein liâ—â— the spirits of the blessed and there they enioy the gladsome presence of God 3 Analogically or by proportion Paradise or a place of delight and pleasantnesse e luk 23.43 by allusion to that garden planted in Eden of the situation whereof it is fond to dispute seeing it is manifest that the vniuersall earth was made waste by the Deluge 4 The house of the father a Ioh. 14.2 5 Metonymically the fulnesse of ioyes b Psal 16.11 6 The Lords ioy c Math. 25.21 7 The new holy and durable Ierusalem that shall be d Heb. 13.14 Reuel 21.10 8 An inheritance immortall and vndefiled and that withereth not reserued in heauen e 1. Pet. 1.4 9 The glorie of God because that eternall life consisteth in the communication of Gods glorie Rom. 3.23 All haue sinned and are destitute of the glorie of God 10 Our glorie for this is that alone wherein we may rest safely 1. Cor. 2.7 We speake the wisedome of God in a mysterie euen the hid wisedome which God had determined before the world vnto our glorie 11 Rest f 2. Thess 1.7 12 Refreshing g Act. 3.19 13 Peace h Luk. 1 79 14 So great happinesse as cannot be contained neither in the eies nor eares nor mind of any man i Psal 31 20 Isai 64 4. 1. Cor. 2.9 But why is it called eternall Because it shall neither be temporarie or determined in any certaine limits neither is it short vaine or subiect to any change as this our life is k Gen. 3 19 Ioh 14 5. and although it haue a beginning yet shall it neuer be taken away from them to whom it shall once be giuen l Math. 25 34 but shall last for euer without end What is life eternall It is a glorious estate wherein the elect being most perfectly ioyned vnto Christ their head after the Resurrection that shall be of the dead m Rom. 8 29 1 Câ—r 15.49 Phil. 3.21 Reve. 2 31 shall know God with his Angels in heauen after such a manner that we are not worthie yet to speake of and shall enioy his presence and praise him for euer hauing obtained the soueraigne good that Christ hath purchased for vs and shall be conformable vnto his likenes in bodie and soule as he is man Or it is the state of the blessed after this life wherein shall be a perpetuall acknowledgement of God perpetuall righteousnesse without sinne and death continuall ioy free from trouble griefe heauines and mourning n Ioh. 17.13 24 Isa 25 8. Reve 7.16 17 21.4 In a word eternall life shall be a certaine perfection of soules and bodies wherein there shall be nothing blame-worthie but according to the pleasure of God all things shall perfectly serue the will of Christ the Creator and Redeemer VVhat are the causes of euerlasting life The principall cause is God who of his mercie and free goodnes giueth and bestoweth it on vs through and for Christ our mediator a luk 12 32 Rom. 6 23. Eph. 1.5 2.5 luk 12.32 Iohn 6.40 This is the will of him that sent mee that euery man which seeth the sonne and beleeueth in him should haue euerlasting life and 1. Iohn 5.11 The meritorious very efficient cause is Christ onely Iohn 14.6 I am saith hee that way and that truth and that life The instrumentall offering and reuealing is the Gospell b Rom. 1.16 17 The instrumentall receiuing cavse is faith 1. Pet. 1.9 Receiuing the end of your faith euen the saluation of your soules The sealing cause is the holy Ghost c Eph. 1.13 14. but good workes and afflictions are not the cause of receiuing but the way of the kingdome saith Bernard And Act. 14.22 Through many tribulations must we enter into the kingdome of heauen Why is the gate called straite and the way narrow which leadeth vnto life Math 7.14 1 Because it was vtterly vnknowne and not to be found out by humane reason but Christ hath reuealed it vnto vs. 2 Because there is one onely passage vnto life through Christ not many 3 Because few enter in thereat if we compare them with the fashions of the world as the way of vertue compared to the waies of vices is narrow for that it hath but
the Ministerie of the Saints whereupon Ecclesiasticall callings began to be called Orders It is not meant that they did of their owne mindes call themselues and so began to serue in the Ministerie but that after they were lawfully called then they did willingly giue themselues to the Ministerie of the Saints whether by preaching or by helping What is lawfull calling That which is done by Right and Law that is which is done by such a one which hath power to cal to constitute another in a place and office as is the Lord of that place or he that hath right and power from him to make choyse But God alone is the Lord of his true Church b Isa 54.5 as also Christ alone is the head a 1. Cor. 11.1 Ep. 1 22 5 23 and redeemer or defender thereof Wherefore it belongs to God alone and to Christ to set Ministers ouer his Church And therefore they onely that are called of him are to be accounted lawfull but whosoeuer are not called of him are all vnlawfull How many sorts are there of lawfull calling Two The one Internall or secret which is done by the holy Ghost and of this euerie Minister ought to be priuie to himselfe before God that neither Ambition Auarice or any other sinfull desire but the syncere feare of God and endeauour to edifie his Church mooued him to enter into this Office offered vnto him The other Externall and solemne which belongs to publicke order which againe is twofold Mediate which is also called Ordinarie and Immediate which is termed Extraordinarie and Speciall Which is the Mediate or Ordinarie Calling Ordinarie is said to be two waies eyther properly and then it signifies that which is done by lawfull course and order and which hath his dependance of God or else * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 abusedly as that which consisteth in fashion vse and custome After the first maner therefore Ordinarie Calling is that which is administred of God by man that is whereby any man according to the order instituted of Christ after he hath beene exactly examined and approoued both for life and doctrine is chosen by the voyces of the godly whom God commaunds to be vsed herein after due inuocation of the name of God with all simplicitie and synceritie as it were by the voyce of the holy Ghost himselfe speaking by the mouth of the godly and also confirmed and ordained to exercise Ecclesiasticall Office in some certaine place and is accepted of the flock vnto which he is appointed and behaues himselfe in his place as it is prescribed in the word of God What manner of men are to be called and Elected Bishops or Pastors and also Doctors which are first of sound doctrine or sound in the faith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and which firmely hold that faithfull word which makes for doctrine that they may be able both to exhort with sound doctrine and also to conuince the gainesayers 2 Of irreprehensible life that is not notorious for any fault that may eyther diminish their authority or be a blot to their Ministerie thereby 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3 Which are meete and apt to teach and which haue knowledg rightly to deuide the word of Truth a 1. Tim. 3.2.3.4.6 Tit. 1.6.7.8 2 Tim. 2.15 Deacons also and Elders in like sorte who are not only adorned with holy life but also doe hold the Mysterie of faith and are furnished with wisedome necessarie for the execution of their office b Act. 6.5 1 Tim. 3.8 9 How or after what manner are they to be chosen With a religious feare which the faithfull in times past did testifie by laying aside all priuate affections with fasting and prayers in which they desired of God the Spirit of Councell and discretion c Act. 1.22 6.6 13 2.3 14.23 and with examination afore-hand of their life and doctrine Of whom ought they to be chosen Of the Bishop and gouernours of the Church 1 And first they ought to be examined not of all and singuler the inhabitants of the Church for the which he is to be prouided for the auoyding of confusion and ambition but of the Doctours and Pastours of the Church adioyning to witt both leaders of the flocke and also in all probabilitie of more graue iudgment in discerning of Doctrine And whereas in the beginning the whole congregation was called together and their voices also taken d Act 6 6 that was accidentall namely because that then was the order of Deacons first constituted in the Church and it was expedient that the cause thereof should be once ioyntly vnderstood of all and because that otherwise that murmuring of the Greekes against the Hebrewes could hardly haue beene pacified by any other course 2 They ought to be approued of the chiefe men which do excell others both in piety and in dignity in the Church as of the Magistrate if he bee godly Christian or an allower of the Christian Religion yet not excluding the consent of the people but giuing them power if they haue any reason to dissent to declare the causes of their lawfull refusall so that none be admitted to Ecclesiasticall functions without the priuity open notice giuen and the acceptance of the whole Church 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So Paul and Barnabas are said to haue appointed Elders in the Churches not according to their owne priuate pleasures but by aduisement of the people first by wholsome counsell and yet the people declaring their voices or consent by holding vp of their hands And when they had ordayned them Elders by voices or holding vp of hands in the Church saith Luk. Act. 14.23 And. 2. Cor. 8.19 Luke himselfe is said to haue beene chosen by voices of the Churches to be a fellow to S. Paul in his iourney a 1. Tim. 4.14 2. Tim. 1.6 And the laying on of handes by which the whole election is signified was not done of one but of many So vpon those seuen men whome we call the first deacons not one onely of the Apostles but all the Apostles laid their hands Act. 6 6. So the gouernours of the Church of Antioch laid their hands vpon Paul and Barnabas Act. 13.3 So not Paule alone but also the company of Elders laid their hands vpon Timothie And in this sence Tit. 1 5. For this cause saith he haue I left thee in Creta that thou mightest ordaine Elders in euery towne as I haue commaunded thee And. I. Tim. 5.22 Tripart Histor lib. 7. cap. 8 Lay hands sodainly on no man In the person of Timothie he admonisheth all Ecclesiasticall gouernours that they ordain only such as farr as lies in them which are fit for so great an office as neere as may be but yet alwaies making the Election with the consent of the Church So in the Election of Ambrose respect is had first of the people that desired him vnto whose iudgment the Emperour Valentinianus yelded as
vowes should be ratified especially seeing that many things might be redeemed not because they did altogether please God but least his holy name should be made a mocking stocke and the people should accustome themselues to an vngodly contempt therof if some deceiuer should without punishment deny that which hee had promised to God a Deut. 23 21.22 But as a solemne oath ought to be broken being made vnadvisedly concerning a thing vnlawfull although it be contrary to chatity according to that of Christ I will haue mercie and not sacrifice for there can be no bond where God doth abrogate that which man confirmeth c. A vow eyther vnlawfull which hath not beene made according to the rule of pietie and the prescript of Gods word or impossible is worthily supposed nothing worth according to the saying of Isidore In things ill promised reuoke thy faith In a foolish vow change thy purpose do not that which thou hast vnaduisedly vowed for it is a wicked promise which is fulfilled with wickednes neither ought a vow to be a bond of iniquitie as the Canonist saith Wherfore it is meet to imitate the exāple of Dauid who brake his vow rashly made cōcerning the destroying of al which did belong to Nabal b 1 Sam. 25 31 32 But when the scripture saith vow performe vnto the Lord your God Psal 76.11 the saying is to be vnderstood concerning godly vowes which haue those conditions which the manner of godly vowes doe require because it is a sinne to make void a promise through lightnes and inconstancie of mind Which are the things disagreeing to this doctrine 1 The vowes of the Heathen made to Idols to the gods falsely so called to winds also and to diuels 2 Of the Papists who will haue a vow to be a certain seruice not due vnto God yet they vow at their pleasure to Saints departed or to certain men which are no gods as they which set vp an Altar to Christopher or Barbara do commonly according to their vow take in hand pilgrimages to Saints or to the Sepulchre of the Lord. When the houre is now come wherin the true worshippers euery where without difference of places may worship Gtd in spirit truth Ioh. 4.23 And Paule saith 1. Tim. 2.8 I will that men pray euery where neither hath Christ tied the benefit of his merit to a certain place c Mat. 24.26 3 The vows of the Monks Masse Priests instituted without the commandement of God which do vnaduisedly vow both things contrarie to Gods will as monkerie it selfe and manie vngodly worshipings and other things which are not in their power to performe as when they promise vnto God perpetuall virginitie the gift whereof is not giuen to all a Ma. 19.11 1 Cor. 7.7 For the gift of continencie is a peculiar thing And truely they doe vowe against the sayings Increase and multiplie Gen. 2.28 To auoide fornication let euerie man haue his wife therefore he which cannot containe let him marie 1. Cor 7.9 And It is not good that the man should be alone Gen. 2.18 In like manner also they vowe abstinence in the whole course of their life or they forsake sleepe and necessarie helpes of life when as no gift can please God but that which he first hath bestowed and also those things which are ioyned with manifest iniurie of their neighbour as pouertie that they being idle bellies may be fed with other mens labours when as Paul saith otherwise He that will not worke let him not eate 2. Thess 3.10 Also Euangelical pouertie which is not a forsaking of goods but not to be couetous or not to trust in riches Besids they vow obedience to certaine men against the minde of the Apostle saying be not the seruants of men 1. Cor. 7.23 And do hinder the obedience due to Magistrates parents other dueties due to neighboures Their vocation being despised they seeke freedom from exercising publique affairs for which they were meet and to which man is borne 4. The dotings of the same Papists 1. That a monasticall life is Euangelicall perfection that it deserueth eternall life And that a vowe is a worke of Supererogation when as that saying If thou wilt be perfect goe and sell all that thou hast and giue it to the poore is not an vniuersall commaundement to all but singular to that young man boasting that he had kept the Law and if thou wilt be perfect is all one as sincere without hypocrisie b 19. Mat. 21 2. That a fact with a vowe is more meritorious then without a vowe which thing is to tread vnder feete the bloud of Christ 3. That Matrimony is dissolued by a vow which is to make the ordinance of God of none effect in respect of the commaundements of men c Math 15 6 4. That a vowe is a worke of councill and not of precept whenas no worke is accepted of God vnlesse it be comprehended in the lawe of God Moreouer that all vowes are to be kept without exception because it is written Thou shalt not bee slack to pay that which is gone out of thy mouth Deut. 23.21 Whenas lawfull things are to be vnderstood and those things which are allowed of GOD otherwise it had beene lawfull to kill sonnes and daughters to erect Altars vnto Idols to vowe a dog to be sacrificed and so to ouerturne the whole lawe 5 Contempt of the creatures of God which God commaundeth vs to vse with giuing of thankes Therefore greatly doe the Carthusians erre who do vow such perpetuall abstinencie from flesh that they may not giue it to them that are giuing vp the Ghost 6 The papisticall Sacrament of confirmation as they call it consisting of ointment and superstitious rehearsall of wordes 7 The arrogancie of the pope who dareth to imitate God in redeeming vowes because he cannot shew that he is created a iudge and he speaks of redemption without any warrant 8 The breaking of the common vowe made of euerie christian in Baptisme and also of the speciall lawfull vowe 9 The sentence of Hierome saying it is better to vowe then not to performe the vowe for contrariwise in euill vowes it is better not to performe The sixe and fortieth common place Of the Sacraments in generall where it is intreated of circumcision the paschall Lambe What doth this word sacrament signifie THis word Sacrament is deriued of a word that signifieth holy or consecrated because it was performed with the adding of an holy or solemne oathe as Festus saith And therefore signifieth a solemne oath or bond consecrated with an oath comming betweene and which was not taken but by some holie thing whereuppon we say to contend with another by an oath And Tullie saith that the soldiers were bound by a militarie oath because they were bound by an oath to performe faithfull seruice and obedience to the Emperour 2. It signifieth a wager made in iudgment or before
seauen times in Iordan k 2 King 5 10 the washing away of sinne or of the spirituall leprosie by the bloud of Christ l 1 Ioh. 1.7 7. The touching of Esaies mouth with a burning coale which one of the Seraphins had taken with the tongues from the Altar that the Prophet was to be purged with the signe of the holie Ghost and the word of the Lord must bee put in his mouthm. 8. Ezechiell eating the booke did foresignifie that the Oracles of God must bee hid in the bottome of our heartsn. As afterward the medicinable annointing yet not without a miracle by the Apostles and other Saints in the Primitiue Church for to heale the sick together with prayers vsed sometimes by faith o testifying the presence and healthfull working of the spirit whereby God doth heale vs. The p man borne blinde whose eyes Christ did annoint with clay and washing them in the poole of Siloah had his sight restored p signifying that the eyes of our minds are to be inlightned with the light of Christ And such like which because they were inioyned and granted to some fewe onely and for a time are rather to be called mysticall actions then Sacraments For in Sacraments the signe doth represent that which God doth in trueth offer and faith receiue But in types things to come or past alreadie are shadowed out and as it were painted out before our eyes in a table Wherein do Sacrifices and Sacraments both agree and differ 1. They have this common to them both that they are ordained of God and had a Symbolicall signification for the killing of a beast doth signifie that the nature of man is become like the nature of the beast through sin q Psal 49.10 21 and guiltie of death neither could be deliuered from death but by a sacrifice Againe the offering of the beast vpon the Altar signified that Christ the true Sacrifice should be offered vpon the alter of the Crosse for our sins 2. They differ also in the end or in the respect of the thing receiued of the thing giuen For the purpose of the Sacrament is not that we should offer any thing to God but that something be offered to vs and that we should receiue somthing from God But the intent of a Sacrifice is that wee should giue something to God or offer something according to his owne appointment Whereupon they are called oblations Further there were two kinds in the manner of Sacrificing a Heb. 5.18 5 1. Gifts They were oblations of things without life q Psal 49.10 21 as of fine flowre b Levit. 2 cakes first fruites tythes which must be distinguished from the oblations or consecrations of the firstborne wherof Exod 13.12 22.29 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. Oblations which were sacrifices of beasts which were slaine from among the heards as an oxe or a calfe from the flock of sheepe or of goates as a Ramme a Gote a Kid or else of birds as Turtles young Pigeons Sparrowes d Leuit. 1.3.14 Now although some of the legall Sacraments were in their kinde also externall sacrifices as the Paschall Lambe which by name is termed an Oblation Yet we may not iudge so of the Sacraments of the Christian Church because that only that most perfect sacrifice of Christ hath abrogated all externall Sacrifyces Againe Sacraments differ from sacrifices in the externall form or action for certaine sacrifices were burnt with fire either wholy and that either vpon the Altar as the holocaust or whole burnt offering or without the campe or citie e Leuit. 16.5 or else in part and were properly called Sacrifices whereof some part went to the Priests with the vse of fire added to note out the puritie of Christs Sacrifices and that eternall spirit by whom hee was offered to God f Heb. 9.14 As for those which were either eaten or imprinted and applyed to the bodie they were Sacraments so properly called Therefore an Altar was appointed to the Sacrifices but not for the Sacraments which are eaten at a table Whereupon the Apostle 1. Cor. 10.2 saith Ye cannot bee partakers of the table of the Lord and of the table of the Diuels Whereby it is apparant that altars were vnknowne to those antient Churches For that Heb. 13 10. we haue an Altar signifies not a materiall Altar but figuratiuely Christ Againe Sacrifices were some propitiatorie which were made either for the high Priests sin or the whole peoples or the Princes g Leuit. 4.13 22.27 or else for some fault h Exod. 28.41 et 29.1 Leuit. 8.2 1 Leuit. 3.1 et 7.11.6 And they were a type of the true propitiatorie and expiatorie sacrifice of Christ for our sins before God Some were for Consecration or perfection whereby the Priests were consecrated 1. Othersome were for thanksgiuing as the sacrifice of Peace-offerings or of health whose kinds were gratulatorie votarie voluntarie Therefore the Sacraments being lawfully vsed with prayers and thanksgiuing in some sort may bee called Sacrifices but Eucharisticall only that is for thanksgiuing not expiatorie or to satisfie for sin vnbloudie of which sort there remains none now to be offered because now there remaines no more remission of sins but that only sacrifice which is alreadie offered must be laid hold on by faith k Heb. 10.18 But yet the Apostle saith Heb. 13.15 that there be left vnto vs two kinds of Eucharisticall Sacrifices namely the one of praise or thanksgiuing the other of liberalitie or cōmunion wherwith God is well pleased as it were with the fruits of Christ dwelling in vs by faith To which hee addeth the Sacrificing of a mans selfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which in a borrowed speach he calleth a liuing Sacrifice holy acceptable to God and our reasonable that is spirituall worship l Rom. 12.1 As also the sacrifice of Martyrdome and Sacrifices of faith and of good workes and of preaching the Gospell m Phil. 2.17 4.18 1 pet 2.5 so farre as with the spirituall sword thereof men are sacrificed and consecrated vnto God n Rom. 15.16 And yet although in the holy workes of Christians as in giuing of almes and such like there is some outwarde thing yet they are called Sacrifices not by reason of that which is externall but for the inward affection of the minde and therefore they are not called externall but spirituall Sacrifices by meanes whereof all the faithfull are called Priests a 1 Pet. 2.5 Whether is Christ now to bee Sacrificed that his Sacrifice once made vpon the Crosse might be applied vnto vs No in no case 1. For the explication of the Sacrifice inferres the Sacrifice made before Now it is most contrarie that the same should bee both done alreadie and also should bee done hereafter 2. By the like reason Christ should take our flesh againe dye againe and rise againe that the fruit of his incarnation death and
In former times for that many beginners in religion came to the Church from the heathen and desired to be partakers of baptisme there were certain daies apointed for them namely Easter VVhitsonday which were therefore called the daies of baptisme and diuers other daies which customes by degree grew to this habit that because in their baptisme they had new garmeÌ„ts that such did alwaies appeare in new garments hence came the white shirt which Infants weare in baptisme not onely vnprofitably but superstitiously also But although there were a certaine day appointed for circumcision yet seeing we are not tyed to any certaine dayes neither infants nor they which are of more yeares they may be baptised at any time when the assemblies come together to the hearing of Gods word and publike prayers so it be done after Christ his institution holily comelily and orderly a 1 Cor. 14 40 least one day should seeme better than an other for the exercises of baptisme Galat 4.10 Ye obserue daies and monethes and times and yeares I feare least I haue taken paynes amongst you in vaine Is it lawfull to rebaptise If any man haue beene baptised onely in the name of GOD in generall not vnfolding the persons or omitting any one or by those heretickes who deliuer not the true doctrine touching the Trinitie as the Marcionites Arrians and such like if such a one should be againe rightly baptised seeing the forme of Christs baptisme was not obserued before heare should be no Ilteration of baptisme but he should be baptised with Christs true baptisme who had not beene baptised according to Christs institution as is decreed in the Nicene Councill chap. 19. But if baptisme haue beene rightly administred according to Christes institution it may not bee iterated first because there is no commaundement for the reiterating of it as there is of the Lords Supper As oft as yee shall receiue 1. Corinth 11.26 Neyther do wee read that it hath beene iterated Like as circumcision in times past was not to bee iterated in whose place Baptisme succeeded And wee must iudge and censuâ—â— of Sacramentes according to the word of GOD. But on the contrarie part it is said Ephes 4.5 One Lord One faith One Baptisme 2 Because the lawfull Inuocation of God being once performed in spirit and truth ought neuer after to be accounted frustrate 3 Because Baptisme is the Sacrament of regeneration it is sufficient to be once regenerated and ingraffed into the Church or Kingdome of God for euen as he which is once carnally borne cannot be borne againe so in like manner hee which is once spiritually borne of God cannot be borne againe Aug. As carnall generation is one In Ioh. Tract 11.12 Euen so spiritual regeneration is but one So on the contrarie part The Sacrament of the Supper is therefore ofteÌ„ to be repeated in which we are nourished with the flesh and bloud of Christ because sustenance is often to be vsed yea and those whom God hath once chosen and adopted for his children he neuer forsaketh for his giftes are without repentance Rom. 11.29 And whosoeuer is once truly giueÌ„ vnto Christ althogh he sometimes slip out of the way shall neuer be cast forth Iohn 6 37. And the vnfaithfulnesse of men cannot euacuate the faith of God Rom. 3.3 But as concerning Apostates which vniuersally fall from faith It is impossible that they which once had beene enlightened or baptised that is to say which after Cathechisme haue professed Christianitie annexed vnto the Church by Baptisme If they fall that is into a vniuersal Apostacy from Christ That they should be renued to repentance therefore the grace of renotion cannot be sealed againe in them by the Sacrament of baptisme Hebr. 6.4.6 as Damascen and other fathers gather from hence 4 Because the signification force vse and fruite of Baptisme is not for any certaine moment or for the time past onely but belongeth also vnto the time to come and contineweth for the whole life of the man baptised a Rom. 6.7 et seq For that which Paule saith Rom. 3.25 that Christ is made vnto vs a Propitiator for the forgiuenesse of sinnes that were before is not spoken exciusiuely but it signifyeth that he is giuen of the father to miserâ—ble sinners which wounded with the sting of Conscience sigâ— for the Phisitian not to them which seeke libertie through â—mpâ—nitie And euen as Dauid had no need of a new circumcision after his fall but onely of a remembrance thereof to worke repentance so there is no neede to repeat baptisme to them which haue fallen after baptisme but a remembrance thereof vnto an earnest repentance because the baptisme of repentance once receiued for the forgiuenesse of sinnes doth continue a perpetuall testimonie and pledge of the couenant made with God and of that perpetuall washing which we haue in the bloud of Christ b Mar. 1.4 Luk. 3.3 And therefore it is often to be called to minde that by it the confidence of the forgiuenesse of our sinnes may be confirmed more and more in our mindes for the truthe of the promise once made continueth for euer whosoeuer shall beleeue and is baptised shall be saued Christ will be readie to receiue vs with stretched out armes when we returne and so he vseth the future tence Did Ierom say well that after the shipwracke of mans nature two beards of saluation were giuen vnto men baptisme and the first being lost Repentance As Lawyers say The sayings of Authors must be vnderstood with a corne of salt So verie well this ambiguous saying may be vsed against the Nouatians that after Baptisme Repentance is left for them which sorrow for their sinnes So Iohn called backe the young man which which was made a Captaine of theeues ¶ Euseb hist Eccle. l 3. c. 32 So he stirreth the Churches of Asia to repentance Apoc. 2.5.16 a Et. 3.3.19 And Paule doth call backe the Galathians fallen after Baptisme to the grace of the promise of Baptisme b Gal 3.27 euen as he doth the Corinthians c 1 Cor. 12 13. But it is an absurd sentence if it should bee vndestood that the first Table that is to say Baptisme or the grace and forgiuenesse of sinnes receiued in Baptisme may bee vtterly lost as the Papists would haue it but by sufficient contrition Auricular confession and proper satisfaction it may bee obtayned againe for on the contrarie part the couenant of God is perpetuall and immutable Esa 54 8.10 and Osee 2.19 I will marrie thee vnto mee for euer Whereof baptisme once receiued is a testimonie Is the vse of externall baptisme free or indifferent so that it may be vsed or else may be omitted securely and without hazard of saluation or is it necessarie It is necessarie to the Church of Christ and the Infantes of Christians ought to be baptised but after a sort because of the commaundement of God whilest the libertie thereof is granted
together in act circumscribed and not circumscribed because these things are contradictorie But contrariwise we retort the argument drawne from omnipotencie God is omnipotent therfore he can bring to passe that we being in earth may partake of the true bodie of Christ being in heauen and therfore we do so though we are vpon earth and so need not a corporall Manducation Is it true which our aduersaries take for granted that Christ when he appeared to Paule in his iourney Act. 9.17 and stood by him in the Castle Act. 23.11 was in bodie both in heauen and on earth together No For it was a heauenly vision as it is said Act. 26.19 Which helpeth nothing the presence of the bodie of Christ in earth For Christ is said to haue talked with Paule not placed in earth but from heauen eyther without a corporall voyce the Lord powerfully imprinting into him the conceipt of speech or by a voyce framed from heauen which came to his cares like thunder And Act. 23.11 Noe man but seeth that it was a nocturnall vision which appeared not to his eyes but to his minde eyther in waking or dreaming But yet for some peculiar and extraordinarie apparitions wee must not depart from the vniuersall rule of faith whereby Christ is beleeued to possesse heauen in his bodie and there to remaine vntil the end of the world Yet notwithstanding we must not denie but that Christ in euerie moment is wheresoeuer and howsoeuer it pleaseth him according to his Maiesty not corporally but spiritually Is hee a manifest denier of the power of God which denieth that by his absolute power he doth bring to passe that the bodie continuing in his propertie may be in many places after another and diuers maner Hee is not yea rather because we denie that God can bring it to passe wee openly affirme the omnipotencie of God For seeing God is so ommipotent and effectuall that he is not contrarie to the truth he can in no manner of wise bring to passe that a thing may together be and not be that the same bodie may remaine in his propertie that is to retaine his dimensions and circumscripton and be the same bodie together and at one time present in many places and separated by a long space betweene Rightly therefore Cyrill Wilt thou grant also to another nature not diuine Book de Trin. 5 besides the diuine nature that it can fill all things and passe through all things and follow in all things No verily Is the contradiction taken away in the diuersitie of respects and of these names if it be said that the bodie of Christ in truth and verie deed is in heauen according to the naturall properties of a true bodie circumscriptiuely locally visibly and after a naturall manner and that it is by the power of God also in truth and in verie deed in many places or euerie where or in the supper but sacramentally inuisibly supernaturally illocally after a celestiall and miraculous manner and if it be said that the nature of Christ in the propertie of his nature is circumscribed and visible but in regard of the vnion vncircumscribed and inuisible In no wise because these distinctions or manners cannot bee prooued out of the scriptures Moreouer all such manners doe not alwaies excuse a contradiction as if one say that the bodie of Christ was dead according to the manner of death and at the same time was aliue according to the manner of life Finally contrarie modi or manners which doe destroy one another when they are put in doe not take away but confirme a contradiction But yet such a diuerse respect cannot bee graunted wherein one and the same thing may bee the same and bee not the same in trueth which is the first lie of the aduersaries neither is a manner to be feined which may take away the essence of a thing Wherefore seeing the bodie of Christ assumed is in act organical Physicall tempered together disposed and finite in his parts it cannot bee in act in many places by any meanes not Organicall vndisposed infinite or in manie planes although it bee adorned with vnspeakeable glorie because God is vnchangeably true neither will hee that an affirmation should be a negation against a principle vnmoueable Quodlibet est aut non est that is euery thing is or is not Whether as the eye hath not the force of seeing in it selfe but by reason of the vnion with the soule and receiueth it in the vnion so the flesh of Christ receiueth not those proper things in it selfe but hath them truely and really in that wonderfull vnion No because things vnlike and in kinde diuers are compared together For the eye is so ordained by nature that it is a naturall proper and necessarie instrument whereby the sensitiue life doth exercise and accomplish her facultie of seeing and without which it cannot bring forth this faculty into effect But the flesh of Christ is so ordained by nature that it is a naturall proper and necessarie instrument whereby the diuine nature alone may shewe forth his omni presence and inuisibilitie and so necessarie that without it the diuine nature in the Act it selfe cannot be omnipresent norinuisible Furthermore the flesh of Christ is not considered in it selfe or out of the vnion seeing that that flesh neither is nor hath beene nor euer shall be out of that vnion Moreouer one nature receiueth not any contrarie thing or diuers in it selfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is it selfe but it is a thing diuerse farre vnlike to be circumscribed in a place and to be euery where Otherwise wee should say that the humane nature of Christ hath a beginning in it selfe and hath not a beginning in the vnion that it is created in the proprietie of it owne nature and that it is not created in the vnion That it is lesse then the Angels in it owne nature but in the vnion equall to the father finally that it is dead in it selfe and not deade in the vnion or for the vnion or for the cause and respect of the vnion Must wee altogether abandon mans reason and the principles of Philosophie in those things which are affirmed concerning the body of Christ No so farre forth as mans reason beeing made spirituall after Regeneration beareth true witnesse to the creatures and affirmeth true principles concerning things proper to mans bodie For it is written Be yee not like a horse or like a mule which vnderstand not Psal 32.9 besides God is the author of all trueth in Logick Ethicks and Physicks Moreouer Christ after his resurrection appearing to the Disciples when hee would proue his owne bodie to be substantially present he reasoneth from his adioyned visibilitie and palpability and appealeth to the verie senses of the Disciples a Luk. 24.36 Like as from all the accidents of the bread of the Eucharist it is rightly gathered that it is the substance of bread by experiment of all the
For the ministers of the worde and teachers of the church 3 For friends brethren and the whole church c 1 Cor 1 2 one for another d Ier 42.2 20 1 Thess 5 15 Iam. 5 16 2 Cor 1 11 4 For enemies e Numb 16 22. Math 5 44 Acts. 7.60 5 For sinners and vnbeleeuers as Abraham for the Sodomites f Gen. 18 23.24 Lot also for zoar g Chap. 19 20 21 Moses for the people when they had most greuously sinned setting vp a calfe h Exod 32 11 so Samuell for Saul 1. Namely that of enemies he would make them friends that he would conuert them and frustrate their attempts 6 For the afflicted and sicke but for these whiles they liue with vs in this life i 1. Sam. 15 35 How must we pray for our enemies k Iam 5.13 15 2 Sam. 12 16. If they be aduersaries to a iust cause as to true doctrine wee must pray that god would maintaine his owne cause and either conuert them if they be curable or confound them if incurable if we haue wronged them we must aske them forgiuenesse and requite them if we neuer hurt them we must pray that they may become our ftiends or freed ftom the enemies both to a good cause and our person by Christs example we may pray for such as are curable and for vengence vpon the desperate For whom must we not pray 1 For the dead 1. because whatsoeuer is done without faith is sinne Rom. 14.23 But of that matter in the canonicall scriptures we haue neither commaundement nor example and therefore is not of faith For that which is reported of Iudas Machabeus 2. Machab. 12.40 sending to Ierusalem an offering for the slaine Iewes which had priuily taken thinges consecrate to the idols of the Iamnites it is not canonicall but Apocriphall and of suspected credit seeing that the author of the discourse doth craue pardon in the end of the booke which thing agreeth not to the scriptures inspired of god a 2 Tim. 3 16 nor to the writers which haue written as they were mooued by the holy ghost b 2 Pet. 2 21. and noe such sacrifice was commaunded of God to be done yea rather it was done against the law which did forbid sacrifices to be done for them who had polluted themselues with an excomunicate thing 2 Because such prayers are vnprofitable For whosoeuer doe departe from hence either they departe in faith and are blessed and therefore haue no neede of prayers or doe want faith and are damned c Ioh 3.18 36 1 Ioh. 5 16 1 Sam 16 1 and therefore cannot be holpen 2 Nor for the indurate enemies of God or them whome the lord as it were with the finger hath shewed vs to sinne against the holy ghost d but against them rather 1 That they may not make a proceeding but that they may be letted and stopped e 2 Sam. 15 31 Acts 4.29 which is a point of charity 2. That they may be cut of if with a deuilish furie they goe forward to resist god the Church the truth and are vncurable which thing belōgeth not to priuate reuēge but commeth of a singuler zeale of god So Dauid f Psal 5 10 Psal 59 5 Psal 14 13 psal 110.9 10.11 And Paul 2. Tim. 4 14. Alexander the Coppersmith hath done me much euil the lord rewarde him according to his workes So Moses against Korah Dathan and Abiram Num. 16.15 VVhat is the forme of inuocation Although there be many formes of praying as are the psalmes of Dauid and the prayers of other holy men both olde and new written well and profitablie by the spirit of Christ yet notwithstanding the shorte forme which God of his great goodnes prescribed vnto vs g Mat 6 9 Luk 9 11 2 which is called the Lords praier is to be preferred before all the rest both for the maiestie of the author the order of the things to be requested and also because it containeth in briefe all things which belong to the glorie of god and our good and what we may aske of the best god whatsoeuer is needfull to desire and what he will graciously bestowe vpon vs whereupon great fruite of comforte doth redound vnto vs because we who doe in a manner aske out of his mouth know to aske nothing absurd nothing vnmeete or vnseasonable vnto him Yet we are not tyed to euery word of this forme but it is lawfull to take no other matter of praiers and al the prayers of the faithfull ought to accord in respect of the sense to this most perfect and truly lawfull patterne but they which goe further doe add of there owne to the wisdome of God and doe despise his will and euer obtaine nothing seing that they pray without faith What are the conditions of prayer or the adiuncts and circumstances Some are inward proper and perpetuall but others are outward indifferent and changeable Which are inward 1 A minde well ordered that a man being about to pray may come with a minde voide of other cares and of fleshly wandering thoughts wherewith it may be caried about hither and thither or pressed downe from heauen towards the earth and with conuenient attention and reuerence towards the maiestie of that god to whose conference he doth goe a dan 9 3.4 5 Math 14 23 2 The sincerity of the heart or a pure heart b 2 Tim 2.22 of Daniell that he which is about to pray may lay aside all opinion of worthines and merit and may feele not feignedly but truly his owne want after the example of Iacob Gen. 32 10. I am lesse then the least of Gods mercies of Daniel Chap. 9.18 we doe not present our supplications before thee for our owne righteousnesse but for thy great tender mercies c. of Dauid Psal 14 32 Esay 64 6 and of the publcan d Luk. 18 13 I am not worthy to lift vp my eyes to heauen 3 A misliking and humiliation of a mans selfe that he may prostrate himselfe before God with an humble and free confession of his sinnes and requesting of pardon e Dan. 9 4.5 Psal 51.5 1. Ioh. 1.9 4 True repentance and a godly purpose Psal 26.6 I will wash mine handes in innocency O lord and compasse thine altar For god heareth not sinners f Ioh. 9.31 Psal 109 7 Esay 1.15 VVhen ye shall make many praiers I will not heare you because your handes are full of bloud g Rom. 10 14 Heb. 10.22 Iam. 1.6 1 Ioh. 5.14 Contrariwise If we shall aske any thing we shall receiue it of him because we keepe his commaundements 1. Iohn 5.22 And if any man be a worshiper of God and doth his will him heareth he Iohn 9.37 5 A stedfast trust of mercie and of the fauour of God for Christs sake and a sure hope of audience that he will liberallie and freely helpe them which aske according to