church Sitting at the right hand of his father iudge of quick and dead c. Also that the holy ghost is called a sanctifier that is a person immediately lightning vs regenerating vniting vs to God comforting and confirming vs. OF THE CREATION OF THE WORLD 1 THe order in nature the minde of man the knowledge of principles civill discipline final causes the finite orderly chaine of causes do shew that it was created by some principall creating spirite 2 Yet because of the knowledge of God now obsâ—ured in men by sin for the continuall change of corruption and generation for the absurditie of imagining the creator to bee idle and for losse of the historie of the creation and originall of the world there is no truth certainety to be found concerning the creation of the worlde but in the doctrine of the church 3 Therefore the sacred scripture teacheth vs that al things begaÌ„ to be to haue bin created by the only true God the eternall father sonne and holy Ghost according to the eternall purpose and pleasure of this true and eternall God 4 But this eternall father created all thinges of nothing by his sonne and the holy Ghost most freely without any alteration or chaunge of himselfe or any labour so that all was verye good 5 The ende of the creation of the worlde vvas chiefly the glorie of God other ends subordinate vnto this are the manifestation and contemplation of Gods wisedome power and goodnesse in his workes his providence or preservation and perpetuall governing of all things especiallie the goodnesse bountie of God toward his church and to conclude that al other things might seruâ— for the life and safety of man 6. OF THE SAME 1 VVHatsoeuer is is either the creatour or his creature 2 All other things which haue begun to be besides this one onely eternall and trew God manifested in his church were created by the one trew God 3. In that beginning of time wherein it pleased God to haue it so 4. And that of the eternall father by the sonne and holy Ghost 5. By the most free purpose decree of Gods will 6. With out anie motion change or laboure of the creator 7. And that of nothinge 8. And so that al things were most excellent in their kind 9. Not that the creator might thereby be made better or more perfect 10. But that in the creation he might impart his goodnesse and ioy to reasonable creatures 11. And afterwardes preseruinge ruling and sustaining by his providence al thinges which he had created he might for ever be beneficiall vnto them especially to his church 12. And that being willing that other creatures should serue especially for mans vse and saftie 13. He might declare vnto them his wisedome goodnesse power and ioy 14. And being knowne by his workes â—ee might for euer be praised by reasoÌ„able creatures for his wisedome bountie power and ioy 7. OF THE ANGELS 1 IT is certaine that there are angells both good and bad 2. But both good and bad angelles are spirites that is incorporall substances not subiect to sense liuing intelligent excellent in strength and wisedome 3. Finite in nature and proprieties 4. Created by God of nothinge then when other things were created 5. In trew holinesse iustice and blessednesse 6. Wherin the good Angells are by the singular grace of the creator confirmed 7. That they may agnize and praise him for ever 8. And be Gods ministers to finish the saluatioÌ„ of the elect and represse and punish the euill 9. But the evill angells by their proper and free will aâ—d by their owne fault fell from God and are made enemies of God and the good angels and mankind 10. And therefore through hatred against God they force men to sinne practize their destruction 11. And these are immutable evill cast of from God into eternall punishment 12. But God suffered them to fall and saueth them being fallen that he may shewe his anger and iustice in their punishments and by them may punishe chastize and exercise the elect 9 OF GODS PROVIDENCE 1. Not onely the doctrine of the prophets and apostles but also the testimonies of God shininge in nature doe proue that the world is preserued gouerned by Gods prouidence As the order which is seene in the principall partes of nature the minde or soule governing the actions of men with her prouidence the lawe of nature giuen to men that it might be vnto them a rule of their life rewardes and punishments conscience the ordering of politique affaires heroick motions vertues the fore-tellinges of future eventes the ends whereunto things are ordained and lastely the verie nature of the most omnipoteÌ„t wise iust and excellent God 2. Gods prouideÌ„ce is the eternall counsell of God most free and immutable most wise iust according to which God bringeth to passe all good in all his creatures suffereth sin to be committed and directeth all both good and evill to his glory and the saluarion of the elect 3. This purpose or counsell in God is not onlie a knowledge or science in God but also the forcible decree and will of God wherby he hath determined from all eternitie both what he himselfe will doe what he will haue become of his workes whatsoeuer he hath decreed he also effecteth in fit time order 4. Good thinges are the substaunces of al things the properties faculties giuen vnto theÌ„ by God al motions mutatioÌ„s actioÌ„s events of al things as they are naturall motioÌ„s or obedience to Gods wil or benefites and blessinges of God or punnishments of the evill 5. That all these thinges are done by the powerfull will of God as manie most euident testimonies of scripture so also these reasons do confirme 1 Because of Gods omnipotencie nothing can be done in the worlde which God simplie wil not haue done And therfore what soever is done God must needes either simplie or in some sorte be willing that it should be done 2 Because a most wise governour such as God is suffereth nothing of al that is in his power to come to passe besides his will and purpose 3 Because he which is willing the ends of thinges should come to passe is also willing either simplie or in sorte that all thinges and events by which we compasse those ends should come to passe 4 Because Gods purposes decrees depend not on the actions of secoÌ„d causes 5 Because the immutable fore knowledge of God cannot be grouÌ„ded but on an immutable cause that is gods wil decree 6 Because God is the first cause of al naturall good things amongst which also are reckned the motioÌ„s of each thing 6 Wheras evill is of two sorts one of offence the other of punishment and that which is a punishment is an execution of iustice therfore good it ought likewise to be referred vnto Gods will as the principall cause thereof 7 But the evil of offence
famous and glorious over all the kingdomes of the earth for the many strange eventes and wonderful miracles shewed amongst them behould wee set this 〈◊〉 natioÌ„ now grown base coÌ„temptible troden vnder foot of the very out casts of the earth and in the very mid-day and noone-light of their prophecies so bestiâ—lly and blockisâ—ly blind that the consideratioÌ„ of this their example is able to moue and stir vp evil men I say not vnto laughter or indignation but rather to stâ—â—ke into their harts a dreadfull horror of the like iudgement Nowe that the contempt and neglect of sound doctrine touching God and our salvation is the cause of so great mischiefes miseries wee haue for testimony the voice of the prophets and of Christ himselfe Ioh. 3. 43. I am come in my Fathers name and yee receiue me not if another shall come in his owne name him will yee receiue I omit the rehearsall of other examples that one of the late most flowrishing and happy kingdome of England I will touch in a word not only because the example is exceedinge lamentable but because also there is none so very a childe in all this Auditory in vvhose time it chaunced not For of late yeares that kingdome and Countrey of Englande beeing endowed and beautified with the profession of the Gospel in the happy Reigne of King Edwarde the VI. the Churches and schooles of learning being nobly â—ounded honorably enriched religiously ordered the king himselfe though but 16. yeares of age yet so farre aboue the hope of his yeares indued with such singular piety â—dmirable learning and all Princely vertues that in all that glorious kingdome nothinge might seeme more glorious then the king and governour himselfe that kingdome of late yeares was inferiour in perfect happinesse to no nation of the earth But â—o on the suddaine through the vntimely decease of that most noble Edward a Prince of so great hope the Popish tyrannicall dominion reentered this kingdome and tooke ful possession thereof wasting and spoiling with imprisonments banishments fire and sword the most famous churches of that Realme taking some of the best renowned for learning and integrity of life without all respect either of age sexe or dignity and torturing them with fiery flames and other punishments of like barbarous cruelty and scattering and dispersing others towardes all partes and corners of the earth It is now the fifth yeere since this scourge these calamities haue leine heauy on this land and oppressed the same I rather acknowledge and bewaile our owne offences then take on me to censure the defaulteâ— of others Howbeit the report of English exiles is yet 〈◊〉 in mine eares wherin they much complained of and bewailed the ingratitude security loathing of the Gospell which had overtun their whole countrie And do we then seeme to regard our good estate we enioy more theÌ„ they I would we did When Pilate had mingled the bloud of the Galileans which he slewe with the sacrifices Vnles yee repent saith Christ yee shall all perish The tumultes and downe falles of Empires and kingdomes wherwith the church is shaken are open conuersant before our eies and threateÌ„ and menace vs some bitter scourge The Turkish cut throtes gape on vs ready to dâ—vâ—ur vs striuing by maiâ—e force to take Christ from amoÌ„g vs and by â—nâ—rusion to seate their profane Mahomeâ—â— stâ—ede of Christ in our churches of whome reporte goeth that they daily withdrawing Chritian youth vnto their bâ—asphemouâ— filthy Paganismâ— and sheading and suâ—king the bâ—oud of our aâ—â—es and kinsfolke threaten and attempt farther irruptions and inuasions on our boâ—ders That execrable sincke the Courte of Rome curseth and banneth vs crying out Away with vs that wee may be rooted out from of the earth heresies dâ—ily bud and blossome both within and without the Church and the erroures and corruptions of truth crept into the Church are beyond all number And verily nowe is that time when vnles the Lord reserue a â—eede vnto vs nought remaineth but that we should become as Sodom and Gomorrah O then let vs not be so iron harted let vs not be so bitter enemies of our owne soules that we regard not these Gods merciful visitations and threatnings of more sharper iudgements to ensue O let vs seeke the Lord while he may be found let every one take caâ—e of his owne salvation and beare in minde whatsoeuer thinges concerne the same so that if the frame of nature should on a suddaine be dissolved we may be ready cheerefully to meet the Lord in the aire this comming in glory These things which I haue hitherto spoken coÌ„cerne all in generall but more particularly vs that professe the studies of learning For it is the common consent of all that ever either founded or governed schooles or euer were conversant in them or would that others should frequent them that they who are here brought vp shoulde become not only more learned but better maÌ„nered also then other men Which trueth being so evident they describe a schoole to be A company appointed by GOD of such as teach and learne sciences meete necessarie for mankinde both touching God and other good things that the knowledge of God amoÌ„gst men be not cleane abolished that the Church be continued and preserued that manie may be made heares of life eternal that discipline be maintained and that men may enioie other honest commodities issuing out of the artes We therefore shoote wide and misse much of the mâ—â—ke we aiâ—e at vnlesse we holde it for certaine and true that our earnest and diligent endevour in these schooles and nuâ—ceâ—es of Christ Christianity must bee employed not so much for this ende that we may be the more fraught vvith humane and divine learning but rather that being beautified and adorned with all laudable behaviour towards men and holinesse to the Lord may be found acceptable in the sight of God and men And it is a truth apparaÌ„t in the Church that all the exhortations vnto civill vertues without the doctrine of piety is nought else but an estraying and swarâ—ing from God true godlinesse perfect iustice and assured salvation For the holy Ghost hath pronounced this sentence that whatsoever we doe not with intent thereby to glorifie GOD whatsoever vvee doe not in the name of CHRIST whatsoever is not of faith it is all even altogâ—ther sinne VVherefore vvere the doctrine of the Church secluded from our schooles we should not only not be able to teach or learne any thing that belongeth to true and entire vertue such as GOD requireth of vs But that small portion and remainder we haue should make vs of evill men worse and more impious and that indeed not by the increase thereof so much as by the decrease and defect of those spirituall and supernaturall qualities without which nothing is holy nothing wholsome vnto vs. And heere although the consent of men wise and iudicious may satisfie
and say he died for all and everie of these not onely in respect of the sufficiency of his sacrifice and satisfaction but also in regard of the efficacy of the same What meaneth this newe devise I pray That forsooth Christ by his death and bloudsheading hath truely and effectually deliuered from death purged from siâ— sanctified reconciled vnto God and restored vnto his grace and fauour by his death bloudsheading all and euerie single man yea even those who are not saved but haue beene eversince Caine are at this day and shall bee hereafter damned This is their abominable sottish opinioÌ„ on which they build an other as false and foolish that forsooth All the wicked as many as heretofore perished or at this day perish or hereafter shall perish they neyther perishâ—d ne perish nor shall perish for their sinnes wheras they are washed away by the bloud of Christ Iosus but for vnbeleife alone They who are not vtterly ignorant of this controversie and question wil easily grant that we here coine nothing of our own nor speake any thing with intent to slander reproach them But oh how horrible a sound is this in Christian eares These quaint and gay Procters of wicked imps mainetaine that all vngodly and filthie dogs before after the death of Christ are received into the grace favour of God We say first that this is a false diveâ—lish opinioÌ„ because it impugneth scripture which every where maketh open proclamation that the wicked and vngodly as long as they remaine destitute of faith and repentance are not in the grace and favour of God but are and continuallie remaine the children of wrath and eternal malediction neither are they delivered from sin and death but are held captiues and ensnared by the devill alreadie condemned and plagued with the heavy wrath of God Secondly we affirme that this their forgerie is most absurd vaine because it shamefully overthroweth both it selfe and maine principles of the Christian faith For let vs but propose vnto our selues this Thefis or assertion All meÌ„ without exception faithfull and vnfaithfull before and after the death of Christ are truelie vndoubtedly received into grace and favor with God by the bloud of Christ what trow yee will be the isâ—ue ensuing herevpon verily a huge heape of absurdities First original sin with the guilt thereof shall by this their position be vtterly taken away and it will proue in their opinion â—n open falshoode to say that all men are borne the children of wrath because in their iudgment all are borne in the favour and grace of God But herein the Scripture iointlie pronounceth on our side that we al are by nature the children of wrath Secondly all the children of Turkes Saracens Canibals who at excluded from the couenant Church of God shall heerby be borne in the grace and favour of God and by force of Consequence there shall be saluation without the Covenant of God and without his Church O those sauage and cruel monsters of our age who shame not to seate the infantes of Turkes Infidels borne without the church in the bosome and fauour of God nor dread to plucke vnmercifully the poore infants of Christians dieng befor Baptisme out of the bosome of God and plung them head-long into hell fire For who knoweth not that they so fondly bind the saluation of infants to the Sacrament of Baptisme that they expressely depriue them of euerlasting happines and violently hale them out of Gods grace fauour who die before Baptisme vnlesse they haue ben assoiled by the praiers either of their parents or freindes But if it be trew that by baptisme they are againe receiued into the fauour of God howe then wâ—l this peremptory disputer maintaine that long since all mankinde was accepted into the same Thirdly therefore this their straunge conceite bruseth and quasheth in pieces an other opinion of theirs concerning the infantes of the faith â—â—ll borne out of grace assailed by the Devill before Baptisme and damned Fourthly all the wicked which before the death of Christ fell into hel fire and were againe reconciled vnto God by the death of â—hrist restored into his grace and favour how if this your 〈◊〉 goeth for truth how then I say fel they theÌ„ce who were received into it being dead whereas they could no more offend through incredulity wherefore those vngodly persons shal either coÌ„tinue in Gods favour and be saved without faith or shal coÌ„trary to your position be cast headlong again froÌ„ theÌ„ce without your crime of incredulity Fiftlie Incredulity either shal go for no sinne or if it be a sinne then all sinnes shall not be purged by the death of Christ or if all be cleansed at least the sinne of incredulity shal be of more force and vertue then the death of Christ But to say either of these were erroneous impious For incredulity not only is it selfe a sin but the mother nurce also of al other offences cleaveth fast togither with other sins even to the regenerate howbeit it is purged forgiveÌ„ to theÌ„ by the bloud of Christ Sixtly it is a shameful grosse he to affirme that the wicked are daÌ„ned not for their vngodly sins but for their incredulity As if it were not registred recorded in Scripture Theeues covetous persons drunkards and such like shall not inherite the kingdome of God As if Christ in his final iudgement shal not say vnto theÌ„ depart into hell fire c And as if forsooth incredulity were not the chiefe of sins Nay we argue the cleaâ—e contrary that they are coÌ„deÌ„ned for sin because they are condeÌ„ned for incredulity For tell mee what sinne is more grievous and heâ—ous then incredulitie Heere our Apostata sporteth and toreth ouer childishly Incredulity saith he is not now considered as it is in it selfe a sin but only as it refuseth the meanes of saluation For what is it Sir to refuse the meaÌ„es of saluation Is not this a contempt of God Is it not a most detestable sinne offence verely incredulitie is therefore a sinne because it refuseth saluation with the meanes therof Seventhly this their monstrous opinion beareth the wicked in hande that howsoeuer the truth of the Church doctrine touching originall sinne the guilt of the wicked stande immoueable yet it is at no time inherent in them nor can truly be attributed vnto them For let vs take a Turkish infant or some barbarous ancient person who neuer heard one syllable of the death of Christ and therefore cannot be saide to haue despised it through incredulity now let these disputers tell vs at what time they wil account these to stand in the grace and favor of God to be reconciled vnto him iustified and sanctified whether in their mothers wombe or soone after their birth vvhether in their childhood or in their youth whether in their perfect age or in their old yeares lastlie whether in their life
and naturally he is so but because from God there is giuen vnto him infinite power maiestie glorie and all giftes of the holy Gost without measure But this accidentall bestowing of the deitie and all properties therof did not make Christ properly and naturally God but onely by divine grace or God improperly so called because he is not the naturall deitie of the worde but a certaine participation thereof with force and efficacie But therfore was it obiected by trew Christians against the Arrians that they ouerthrew the trew and eternall Deitie of Christ because they did not accoumpt him God by nature but onely by participation of dignitie and maiestie through grace Seeing therefore the Vbiquitaries only of equaling our Immanuel to God by participation of proprieties do take awaie his trewand eternall deity we do with good reason condemne and detest this doctrine of theirs as blasphemoâ—ie and hereticall This their owne wordes and sentences do witnesse as Brentius in Recognie Pag 20. Iacob Andr. Thes 20. disputation Tunigeus Item Thes 25 26. Et Apolog. Ingolstad 26. Where it is gathered that the opinion of the Vbiquitaries of the deitie of the man Christ is all one with that of the Arrians and Antitrinitaries that is that by all these he is accouÌ„pted not God by nature but onely by grace of participation a new temporarie created and adoptiue God Which if it be trew Christ shall not be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God maÌ„ but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Divine man such as also he is accouÌ„ted by the Vbiquitaries who at witnesseth Seruetus in his first booke De Trimitate say that God may coÌ„municate vnto man the fulnesse of his Deitie giue vnto him his Diuinitie maiestie power and glorie Which blasphemie being the same both we vtterly hate and detest Argum. 3. Nâ—storius taught that God which is the word vvas vnited vnto man onlie by participation of equalitie in maiestie honour power vertue and operation And that the difference of the wordes dwelling in man assumed by it and in other saintes consisteth in nothing but in the verie gifts and graces bestowed on man by God This also the Vbiquitaries teach because they say there is no differeÌ„ce betweene the dwelling of the Deitie in Peter and Christ except such as is taken from communicating the giftes and properties of the Deitie maintaining that in this respect the manhoode asâ—umed by Christ is God because the Worde doth nothing without it but al things by it And this is nothing els but to make the maÌ„ Christ to be God onlie by accident Wherfore the opinion of the Vbiquitaries is al one with that of the Nestorians Tertullianus 〈◊〉 de Trin. pag. 610. If Christ be oâ—lie â—â—an howe is hee present wheresoever hee is called vpon whereas to be present everie where is not the nature of man but of God By this sentence isâ— felled the Vbiquitie of the humane nature in Christ Obie But the vnion of the divine and humane nature in Christ is inseparable Therefore wheresoever his divine nature is there also is his humane nature Ans It is true that the vnion is inseparable for the worde neuer forsaketh the nature once assumed But the vvord is not so in the humane nature as a soule encloased in our bodies For wheresoever are our bodies there also needes must be our soules and the soule once without the bodie is not present with it But the word is not so in the man Christ but is so inseperably and personally in the humane nature that withall it is without the humane nature in all partes of the worlde by â—eâ—letion or filling everie place and in the godlie and Angels by speciall presence For the personal vnion of two natures overthroweth not the generall action of the presence of his maiestie nor hindereth the speciall action because the word is effectuall in the faithfull and regeneâ—ate RVLES AND AXIO MES OF CERTAINE CHEIFE POINTS of Christianitie Proposed by Vrsmus to be disputed on publiquelie partly in the Vniversitie of Heidelberg partlie in Collegio Sapientia OF THE DOCTRINE OF THE CHVRCH 1 THe doctrine of the church or Christian religion is a doctrine of Gods law and the Gospell of Christ perfect and incorrupt as it is deliuered in the bookes of the Prophets Apostles by which alone God leadeth men to eternall life 2. The whole doctrine of Christianitie is conteined in these two partes the lawe and the Gospell 3. The foundation of Christian religion is the Decalogue or ten commaundements and the articles of our faith rightly vnderstoode 4. Which is all one if we say the foundation is the doctrine of Gods nature and will 5. Paule also meaneth the same 1. Cor. 3. WheÌ„ that the foundation is Christ 6. The church must needes knowe difference between the doctrine delivered vnto it by God and that which is deliuered to it by religion of other nations 7 The first difference is that the gospell of Christ is only knowne in the church other sectes are altogither ignorant thereof All heretiques mainetaine errors either touching the son of Christ or concerning his office 8 The second that the church retaineth the whole doctrine of Gods law other sectes are ignorant of the first table of the lawe and in the second obserue only some parte touching externall discipline 9 The third that the church learneth the knowledge and worship of God out of his whole word and out of that alone neither taking ought from it nor adding to it as for other religions they doe not only cast away the greater parte of Gods truth but also vnto the final portioÌ„ of law which they retaine adde idolatrie granting and approving manie thinges repugnante to the second table of the decalogue 10 Even the trewest philosophie must be discerned from the doctrine of the church for trew philosophie comprizeth onely that parte of this doctrine which the second table commaundeth as for the whole entire loue of our neighbor of that it teacheth vs nothing framing to it selfe an idol insteede of the true God erreth much froÌ„ the trew worship of the trew God 2 OF HOLIE SCIPTVRE 1. The summe of holy scripture is conteined in the decalogue and creede 2. Which is also manifest because it is all conteined in the lawe and the Gospell 3. For what soeuer is there in conteined eyther it concerneth the nature or will or workes of God or the sinne of deuills and men 4. The wil of God coÌ„sisteth in precepts threats and promises 5. The workes of God are eyther his benefites as the creation preseruation and gouerninge of al things the collecting vphoulding his church by the mediation of his sonne oâ— his iudgments as the punnishments of offenders 6. Of all these we are taught either in the law or in the Gospell or in both 7. The same is plaine by the division of the whole scripture into the new olde Testament or couenant 8. For this word couenant doth
the minde in chusing and therfore compreheÌ„deth both faculties that is to say of vnderstanding and will 3 Free-wil therfore is a facultie or power of willing or nilling chusing or refusing without constraint of its owne proper motion or aptnesse to either of both which the vnderstanding telleth is to be chosen or refused 4 Two things therfore there are which are coÌ„moÌ„ to that free wil which is in God that which is in reasonable creatures the first that they doe al things with deliberation and counsel or by helpe of the vnderstanding shewing the obiect the second that the will of its owne accord and naturall force without constraint willeth or nilleth that which the minde hath conceaved 5 But the differences betweene that freedome which is in God that which is in the creatures are three the first is in the vnderstaÌ„ding because God from al eternity doth most perfectly vnderstand and beholde all things neither can be ever be ignorant of any thing or any way erre in iudgment the second is in the will because Gods wil is ruled bowed or dependeth of no other cause theÌ„ of it selfe but the wils of Angels and men are in such sort the causes of their owne actions and motions that neverthelesse by the secret counsell of God and his power and efficacie ever and every-where present they are mooved to the choice or refusal of obiects either immediately by God or by instruments and meanes sometimes good sometimes bad such as it best pleaseth God to vse and it is impossible for them to do any thing without the eternall and immutable counsell of God The thirde is both in the vnderstanding and also in the wil because God as he knoweth all things immutably so also he hath decreed from everlasting willeth immutably all thinges which are done as they are good and permitteth them as they are sins but as in creatures the knowledg iudgmeÌ„t of things is mutable so also is their will 6 This liberty in meÌ„ is lost by sin but beginneth to be renued in ouâ— regeneratioÌ„ shal be perfectly restored in the life eternal So that the 4. divers estates of meÌ„ which are distinguished in time doe make 4. degrees therof 7 The first degree of liberty was in our nature before the fall wherein our will was fit to perfourme her whole obedience to Gods law yet not so confirmed but that being tempted by the divell vvith some shew of good it might fall from that obedience by its owne proper motion 8 Yet because the creatures perâ—isting in obedience cannot be but by confirmation from God mans will did yeeld vnto temptation in deed willingly but withal necessarily and being fallen into sinne lost that libertie vnto God which it had to make choise of evil or good and being turned from retained only liberty or freedome to evil 9 Therfore the second degree of liberty is least of al which is nature decaied but not as yet regenerat wherin though there be a wil fit to perform the external discipline of the law yet because it cannot so much as begin the internal spirituall obedience without which al external works eveÌ„ the best in shew are sin condeÌ„ned by God the wil leaveth not to chuse freely but yet it caÌ„ chuse nothing but sin because of inherent corruption and turning away from God 10 The third is in man renued but not as yet glorified in whom the will vseth her libertie freedome partly to wel doing partly to evil doing For because it is regenerate by the holy Ghost it is againe inclined to obey God but because this regeneration is not yet perfect there remaine yet some evil inclinatioÌ„s wherfore it begiÌ„neth indeed spiritual obedieÌ„ce pleasing god but caÌ„not perfit it in this life but then and so farre it doth well and persevereth in that which is good when as far as it is guided and gouerned by the holy Ghost 11. The fourth degree is the chiefest and most perfect in the life eternall or after our glorification wherin our will shall be able to vse her liberty onely to that which is good and not to choose that which is evill because of our perfect knowledge feruent loue of God thorow inclinatioÌ„ to righteousenesse and hatred of sinne and perpetuall direction of the holy Ghost 12. This doctrine of free will must needes bee retained in the church that so the cheifest most perfect libertie and immutabilitie effectinge all good in vs may be attributed onely to God as the first cause all excuse may be taken from sinners and to the end that being trewly humbled before God by knowledge of our miserie corruption we may of him alone craue the preseruation and perfiting of our saluation and being coÌ„victed by testimonies from God himselfe may the rather be mooued to faith and obedience to his worde 12. OF FAITH 1. This worde faith taken in his largest signification doth implie a certaine and sure knowledg by proofe of such witnesses as are thought vnlikly to deceaue 2. In the doctrine of the church there are foure sortes of faith mentioned an historicall a temporary a miraculous and a iustifying faith 3. Historicall faith is a knowledge perswaded of the truth of such thinges as are set downe by the Prophets and Apostles 4. Temporarie faith is a knowledg of the doctrine of the church together with ioy conceaued vpon knowledge of the truth or other true or seeming good things without applying the promise of grace to him that beleeueth and therefore without trew conuersion or final perseuerance 5. Miraculous faith or a faith wherby miracles are wrought is a sure knowledge by special revelation of Gods will of working some miracle at his request or prediction by whome it is to bee wrought 6. Iustifying faith is that knowledge wherby a man doth strongly perswade himselfe of the truth of all Gods word reuealed vnto him assuring himselfe that the promise of Gods grace through Christ pertaineth vnto him and in confidence of this fauour of God towardes him overcommeth all sorrowe and feare 7. For this confidence of iustifying faith is a motion of our will and heart composed of ioy in the certaintie of Gods present grace towards vs hope of future deliverance from all evill 8. There is therfore no faith but that which is grounded on the revealed will of God 9 The holy Ghost worketh all faith is vs either by the voice of heauenly doctrine or by immediate revelation 10. But wheras it is the wil of God ordinarily to kindle cherish confirme faith in vs by the doctrine of the church all are bound to hearken meditate theron 11. Many hypocrites in the church haue hade temporarie faith historicall faith and faith of miracles is common to the good and evill iustifying faith is in this life giuen onely to all these that are elected to eternall life 12. Iustifying faith doth alwaies comprehend in it historicall faith but is not alwaies
Sacraments testimonies or scales of Gods promise Luther will haue that promise to be of present iustificatioâ— Caluin of eternall election And least he should 〈◊〉 to say an vntruth he cites a place out of Calâ—â—n Antidor conciliâ— Sess 6. ca. 5. as if he should there say that infants are baptized not to the end they might be receiued into adoption of the sonnes of God but that vnto them the promise of life might be sealed vnto whome before by grace of predestination it pertained And out of the 7. Session and 8. Canon as if there hee should wright that the right end and vse of sacraments is this to ascertaine vs of the eternall adoâ—tion grace whereunto before the foundation of the world we were predestinated Thus farre the Iesuite but all impudently without shame For Caluin in neither place speaketh one â—ote of eternall electioÌ„ or the grace of predestination Only in the former this he saith Insants are for this reason baptized because they are heires of the promise For vnlesse the promise of life did before pertaine vnto theÌ„ that man should prophane baptisme whosoeuer did but minister it vnto them In the latter these are his wordes Allthough baptisme be the hand-wrighting of that mutuall obligation which is betweene God vs yet the especiall vse thereof is to assure vs of free remission of our sinnes and perpetuall grace of adoption But is this to deny that sacraments are seales of the promise of preseÌ„t iustification Is this to restraine sacraments onely to thinges past as namely to the grace of electioÌ„ But this is Bellarmines trust and fidelity in citing the wordes and sentences of the Fathers and our Doctors Such are his two whole volumes of disputations namely a rude rable of false quotatioÌ„s which if the learned shall vouchsafe in courtesie to examine they shall soone see this doubtie disputant left as as dry as a kexe But to the purpose That the sacraments are seales of our eternall election although I deny not but that in the lawfull vsing and worthy receiuing of them it is most true yet remember I not that Caluin hath any where thus written nay the Vbiquitaries of our daies slander Caluin Beza as maintainers of a cleane contrary error to witt that they vtterly deny the sacraments to be seales of our election which also is altogether false But the simple naked truth of Calvines doctrine is this Sacraments profite beeing vsed a righte and doe exhibit seale and confirmâ— grace vnto the worthy receiuer not in regard eyther of the worke wrought or the deserte of the worker but in respecte of the promise of God instituting or ordaininge them as also through the faith of the worthy receiuer And here by grace he vnderstandeth euen our saluation it selfe together with all the precedent causes meanes and consequentes thereof such as are our free election remission of sinnes regeneration sanctification and life eternall So that by the name of grace he coÌ„priseth both grace past and already giuen togither with that which is preseÌ„t and to come but especially that which is there in the sacramente exhibited and present For euen our election before the world was is sealed and and assured vnto vs by the sacraments not as it is from aleternities decreed by God or as a thing done heretofore and past but as the present and constante decree of God reuealed in the Gospell concerning our saluation in Christ and by the same sacramentes everlasting life is confirmed not as a future good but as already we haue takeÌ„ possession thereof by faith For confirmation of this truth I could produce an infinite number of testimonies out of Caluin his Christian institution but it shall suffice to refute the Iesuite by the couÌ„ter-poyson of his CouÌ„sels Can 7. on the sacraments Caluin saith thus God in the sacrameÌ„ts doth promise grace not only of election but also of iustification Can. 4. Sacramentes are seales of the Gospell And can it bee denied but that the Gospell is a promise of actuall present iustification by faith Can 8. In baptisme God washeth vs by the bloode of his son by his spirite doth regenerate vs. In the sacrament of the supper he feedeth vs with the body and blood of Christ Can 7. of baptisme this is a principall part of baptisme that is assureth us of free remission of all our sins what is this els but present sustification and these may serue to coÌ„vince the Iesuit of a militious slaÌ„der coÌ„cerning the seals of our electioÌ„ that Calvâ—â— vnderstandeth them not onely of things past But who seeth not his absurd collection that if the Sacraments may goe for seales of our eternall election that then they shall not be seales of present iustification Are not election iustification subordinate and consequents one of the other so farre are they from abolishing one the other that the contrary should rather be infered they are seales of our eternall election therefore of iustification present grace For iustification is so proper naturall an affecte of election that there can be had no certainty of the latter without assurance of the former For they who are iustified in Christ are also chosen to him before the foundation of the world Whome God hath prâ—destinated these also hath he called iustified and glorified Now then let the Iesuite with open mouth exclaÌ„e on Caluins opinion as false absurde dangerous and impious And why forsooth false Because saith he Caluin contrary to that which the Scripture teacheth restrayneth Sacraments only vnto the thinge past namely to the grace of election But this cauill is already refuted And why absurde Because saith he he reacheth that by the Sacraments the promises are sealed vnto our consciences yet that infantes are lawfully baptised which noyther haue vse of reason nor conscience But we haue already sufficiently proued that neyther infantes borne in the Church of beleeuing parentes are altogether voyde of reason oâ— faith if we respecte the promised grace although actually they haue neyther the faith nor reason which is in those of riper yeares nor that baptising of Children confirmation of their faith by Sacraments is therfore to be differred because they doe not beleeue seeing of the Sacramentes there are other endes purposes whereunto they are ordained But why pernicious and dangerous Because he teacheth that the children of the faithfull are borne iust and holy and hath perswaded many that the sacraments are not necessary vnto the receiving of the grace of Christ Whence it is come to passe that many contemne the said sacraments and in the meane while the soules of many infantes never purified by the saving vvaters of baptisme abide in perpetuall corruption And is it in deed pernicious to teach that the children of the faithfull are borne holy that is not straungers but heires of the covenaÌ„t according to that promise I will be thy God and the God of thy seede That
auncient Fathers of the Church of a free Election preuenting our will and merits That this doctrine thwarteth crosseth the edification of preachers teachers and were it true yet is it not to be divulged and vttered in publicke because it may minister vnto some cause of despaire the hearts of ignorant men are by this kind of dispute set on mammeâ—ing because the Catholike faith may be taught and defended without it Fausius added vnto mans endevour the helpe of grace that for sooth graces mans endeuour yoaked together finish 〈◊〉 workes which remaine God by his worde worketh in us it will that which wee read or heare but to consâ—et or 〈◊〉 consent therevnto is so absolutely our owne that if weâ— will the master is to thwathput in execution if we 〈◊〉 we make the working of God to bee of no force or effect with vs. These and such like were the olde braine sicke sollies of the Pâ—lagians which I thinke no man so far to seeke in Christian religion that he conceiueth not howe this cursed wretch hath set them downe worde for worde as it were published for newe oracles Nevertheles I know his protestatioÌ„ wil be that hee hath hitherto neuer sucked at the noisome sinke of Pelagius heresies but in heart detesteth them But Puccius that newe vpstart Pelagian as vaine wauering an Apostata as Huber himselfe hath cleered the case Puccius who lately trampling the truth of the Gospell vnder his feete and betaking himselfe to the Iesuites hath so openly and shamfully set a broach againe and defended the Pelagian errours that very shame conscience with-helde the Iesuites of Prage from publishing in printe that monstrous booke of his He togither with his Haber our Apostata mainteineth all the former positions yet himselfe would not seeme no nor endure the name of a Pelagian Howbeit in most matters he is more apparant to be such a one For that which this our Apostata oftentimes feighneth he will doe yet for verie conscience dares no where performe he taketh on him to define predestination on this maner Predestination is an order foreseene and proposed by God vnto himselfe wherein he hath decreed from all eternitie what should befall euery particular person which he hath created partakers of Christ their Sauiour heires of an euerlasting heritage leauing to euery one free wâ—ll in this life to fall or not to fall from him as he shall make choise vnto himselfe when he 〈◊〉 possessed of the vse of reason For hâ—â— will was that 〈◊〉 many as forsooke not their â—reatâ—â— should be saued but they who persisted stedfast in their faith allegiaÌ„ce unto him manfully resisted the adversaries should be his approued and chosen not onely be saued to reigne also with Christ in his kingdome in life eternall Againe who for a time started aside fell frâ—â— him should be reformed purged by temporary punishments but they who make one vtter defect â—â—â—aâ—ely resist the secret working of his spirite should become reprobates inflexible Thus farre Pucciuâ— He farther maintaineth that as Christ is the Creatour so is he the Redeemer also of all men and every particular man that all are borne in the state of salvation and grace and by Consequent are blessed if they procure not theâ—r own destrâ—ction through infidelity and vnbeliefe that Eâ—â—â—tion and Grace are generall that Faith is a gift of God generall and common vnto all 〈◊〉 nay thaâ— it is natural that al men haue a pronenesse vnto prety that the difference of good and evil 〈◊〉 on earth ariseth from the good or evil vse of the knowledge of God that Reason in deciding controversies of Religion is sovereigne Emperesse 〈◊〉 that this doctrine wel agreeth with that doctrine of the Apostle Rom. 9. 10. 11. only it is repugnaâ— to S. Austeâ—s disputations and certaine Councel and Schoolemen who are wholy grouÌ„ded on the opinion of S. Austen He beseecheth the Iesâ—◠〈◊〉 amongst them especially Bellarmine that the cleaue sticke not over-much vnto the definitions interpretations of Austen the Schoolmen and that they no longer debar and defeate the worlde of this his notable course of interpreting and vnderstanding the Scriptures c. Now I demand of this our Apostata his purple Prelate of Tubinge whether they heere deâ—ery Puccâ—â—â— as a Pelagian or no I know wel they will answere that this is a dunghil of Pelagian draffe filth He are therefore yet a little farther this your vpstart gloser Puccius He hath prefixed before the 33. chapter of his booke this argument I will shew how the Divines of WitteÌ„â—erge Luthers successorsioin◠〈◊〉 opinion with vs but Beza and the rest of Calvnes complices persist in their headstrong wilfulnesse and corrupt divers textes of Scripture Afterward he breaketh out into your praises and applaudeth your good proceedings in Christian doctrine on this maner Whilest I was compâ—ling this tract I happened â—n the answere of Th. Beza Calvines successour to the Actes of the Conference held in Mountpelier published at Tubinge which Aunswere was printed at Geneva in the yeare of our Lord 1588 wherein I saw how desperately the Calvinists contende with Lutheran Divines both about other opinions and expressely in this touching PredestinatioÌ„ I perceived how miserably they mutinize within themselues who stray and wander without the 〈◊〉 and limits of the Church and succession of the Apostles Howbeit the zeale of truth wherewith I was inflamed caused me to reâ—oice whereas I sawe that the Divines of Wittenberge had laid aside a great parte of Luthers tyrannous crueltie and barbarous absurdity 〈◊〉 this pointe And that THEY CONSENT VVITH VS IN THE SVBSTANCE OF THE THING IT SELFE although they stagger and erre in the interpretatuâ— of the Scriptures and Sacramentes This Puccâ—us reporteth of our good neighbour Divines 〈◊〉 Wittenberge Out vpon this dolefull and lamenâ—table consent out vpon this shamefull â—oint coâ—spiracy Heere they will call heauen and earth to wiâ—nesse that this pertaineth not vnto theÌ„ that theâ— desire is to haue their opinions refuted by vs 〈◊〉 not long since that currish A postata wished for 〈◊〉 Champion on whom he might fasten his holden 〈◊〉 and purchase to himselfe a name by his glorioâ— conflict But let him knowe that no man isâ— mad as to enter combate with a selfe condemne desperate person In vaine he provoketh meâ— name notwithstanding in the meane space know that I haue not beene retchlesâ—e in defenâ— of the truth and arming my hearers against thâ— his doctrine whilest I haue at home ripped his ruderabble of detestable opinioÌ„s And in theâ— Treatise of the Vniversalitie of Redemption that faâ—mous personage D. IAMES KIMâ—DONCE the worthy Governour of our Vnâ—versitâ— whom in honour I heere name hath imployed himselfe debating the maine question resolving it very iudiciously in his publike Lâ—ctures Concerning the rest it were impertineâ— to chew a dry Colewott and harpe daily on one string
vs yet let GODS preceptes prevaile more with vs which commaunde vs research the Scriptures to giue attendance to reading to divide the worde aright c. Nowe whereas no man can without schoole learning and exercise either himselfe perceiue and discerne aright or expound and impart vnto others in any good order and perspicuity who is so purblinde that hee seeth not the neere affinity wherwith the study of Religion piety is linked with schoole learning Let vs therefore esteeme that to bee the exercise of greatest weight momeÌ„t in scholes which is a worke of greatest importaÌ„ce in the world with out long coÌ„tinual schole-exercise caÌ„not be performed by vs I mean the vnderstaÌ„ding expouÌ„ding of the writings of the Prophets Apostles And whereas we haue opportunity offered vs of searching out sitting the truth of doctrine in greater measure then other Countries and people of a truth if wee faile to vse the same wee giue the vvorld occasion to suspect our cold zeale in Religion our punishments for this our negligence and ignorance shall be the greater For God hath giuen vnto scholers especially the charge and care of preserving and advauncing this his trueth not for our owne sakes only but for the good of others also For other men with good reason expect instruction in the Scriptures and the interpretation of the word at their mouthes who for their learning are able to vnderstande diverse tongues and search the course of doctrine Whereas then â—eligion and Christianity is to be taught in schooles that children may wel conceiue it Catechisme is especially necessary For neither can this age learne any thing except it be taught 〈◊〉 briefe neither caÌ„ either the teachers or the learners handle aright and in good order the parts of any science whereof both of them haue not digested in minde some rude summe Both these are the cause why so often in Scriptures we read short briefes of Religion repeated as Repent and beleeue the Gospell He which beleeueth and is baptised shal be saued Fight a good fight keepe the faith and a good conscience c. And wheras it is said Col. 3 16. Let the word of God dwel in you plenteously in all wisdome the Apostles meaning is that wee must vse explications interpretations such as are sutable with the sentences and doctrine of the Prophets Apostles Neither is Catechisme any other theÌ„ a summary declaration of such sentences of Scripture Now whereas this litle examen we intende to propose vnto you is such and the Author thereof hath faithfully and with great dexterity comprised the chiefe grounds of Christianity in proper plaine tearmes it seemeth that it would bee very beneficial that in other churches ther should the like forme of Catechisme be extant prepare your selues to the speedy learning thereof suppose that these our simple writings are the swadling clouts wherein Christ as it were swathed will be found of vs. You see how many vrgent causes they are which they commend vnto you which they earnestly exhort you to embrace which I beseech you to carry in minde memory as they haue bin set downe vnto you The coÌ„mandement of God your own salvation your duty which you owe to posterity the good example of a reformed church your maner of life your age or years your friends desires hopes the imminent dangerous times the rewardes punishments we are to looke for at Gods hands But as our admonitions exhortations are necessary so without the secret motioÌ„ working of the holy spirit we know they litle availe Let vs therefore turne our selues looke towards God giue him harty thanks for this his inestimable benefite that it was his good pleasure to bring vs into the worlde in this sun-shine of the gospel let vs begge and craue to be taught governed by him OF THE INCARNATION OF THE WORD A confession made by the fathers of the Church of Antioch against Paulus Samosatenus Taken out of the Actes of the first Ephesâ—e Counâ—â—lâ— WE confesse that our Lord Iesus Christ begotten of his Father before all worldes but in the latter times conceiued by the holy Ghost of the virgin Mary according to the flesh is but one person of the godhead humane flesh subsisting Perfect God perfect man perfect God euen with the flesh but not accordinge to the flesh perfect man euen with the godhead but not according to the Godhead Wholy to be worshâ—pped euen with the flesh but not according to the flesh wholy worshiping even with the godâ—ead but not according to the godhead 〈…〉 euen with the bodie but not according to the body Wholy formed or endued with shape fashion euen with the divinity or godhead but not according to the Diuinitie or godhead Wholy coessenciall that is of oâ—e and the selfe same nature togeather with God even with the bodie but not according to the body as likewise he is not coessential to men according to his godhead but being in his godhead he is coesseÌ„tial to vs according to the 〈◊〉 For when we say that he is consubstantial or of the same nature togeather with the father according to the spirite we say not that he is conâ—ubstantial with men according to the same spirite And contrariewise when we preaâ—h that after the flesh he is coÌ„substantial to men we do not preach that according to the flesh he is coessential with god for like as he is not coesseÌ„tial with vs after the spirite for so he is coessential with God euen so is he not according to the flesh coessential to God but consubstantial with vs. But 〈◊〉 pronounce these thinges to be different and 〈◊〉 betweene themselues not to deuide that oâ—e vndeuided person but to shew a distinction betweene nature and properties of the word and the flesh which can neuer be confounded so we professe and reverence that vnitie which causeth this indiuisible vnion and composition Vigilius in his 4. booke against Eâ—â—tyches If the worde and flesh bee of one nature how commeth it to passe that the worde being every where the flesh also is not founde every where for what time it was heere on earth it was not then in heauen and now because it is in heaven even therefore it is not in earth so sure wee are that it is not in earth that even according to the flesh we verily expect that Christ shall come from heaveÌ„ whom according to the word we beleeue to be with vs alwaies here on earth Wherfore as your selues confesse either the word togither with the flesh is contained in some place or else the flesh togither with the word is in every place for one nature is not in it selfe capable of contrarieties But these two differ very far to bee contained in some place to be in every place and because the word is every where the flesh is not every where it appeareth that
these tteasures and are adiudged vnto eternal maledictioÌ„ everlasting death For thus saith he in the Gospell He that beleeueth not is coÌ„demned alreadie the wrath of God abideth on him And Paul testifieth If any man hath not the spirit of Christ the saÌ„e is not his which place of the apostle I suppose to be very pertineÌ„t to this preseÌ„t purpose For if the vnfaithfull beloÌ„g not vnto Christ neyther are they of Christ it may souÌ„dly be argued well coÌ„cluded by the logiciaÌ„s rule of Relatiues that Christ with his benefites pertaineth not vnto them and as they are not Christs so neither is Christ theirs For how I pray should Christ pertaine vnto theÌ„ whom one day at the last iudgement he shall pronounce before all the world aliants and strangers from him his benefites and his kingdome of whoÌ„ he shall testifie that he never knew them lastly whom he shall cast as being the cursed workers of iniquitie into hell fire Yea but saie you Christ died for the sinnes of all Therefore he rose againe for the iustification of all The answere herevnto is two-folde either of which is true and sóund First as often as the Gospell extendeth the fruit of Christs merites and benefites vnto all it must be vnderstood as saith Saint Ambrose of the whole number of the faithfull and elect For this is the vsuall and common voice found everie where throughout the whole course of the gospel He which beleeveth shall be saved and commeth not into iudgement He which beleeveth not shall be damned and is iudged already and the wrath of God abideth on him Wherefore the Gospell dispossesseth all vnbeleevers of Christs benefites not onlie by a flat exclusion but also by positiue vertue of that condition of faith and repentaunce by which he promiseth expresly or covertlie his benefits vnto meÌ„ which it appeareth is neuer found in the reprobate that is such as do persist and wil stil persist in their impietie Christ therefore is thus said to be dead for all that is for all the faithfull and elect for whom alone he also praied and in whom alone he findeth the end and fruit of his death But to extende the benefites of Christs death vnto infidels reprobates for whom he neuer praied whom he neuer knewe or tooke for his owne and on whom the wrath of God abideth for ever what els is this but against his expresse commaundement to giue holy thinges vnto dogges and cast pearles before swine This answere may be strongly maintained by the authoritie of holy scripture and testimonies of sound fathers and is much available vnto Christian consolatioÌ„ Howbeit there is an other answere no lesse true wherwith we may satisfie the most contentious wranglers that Christ died for all men absolutely and without exception to wit if you respect the sufficiencie of the merite and the price which he paied It is out of all doubt and controversie that the death of the Son of God is of such weight worth that it may serue to purge and cleanse the sinnes not of one world only but thousands of worlds if at least all mâ—â— would apprehend by faith this salue of sin But the question concerneth the efficacie and participation it selfe of the fruits which we mainely deny to be common to the beleeving and vnbelâ—â—â—ing or to be generally promised or given in the 〈…〉 and we hold it no sound doctrine to 〈…〉 in this respect Christ died alike for all 〈…〉 and reprobate But here some men possessed with an 〈…〉 as if the Church had not other controveâ—â—◠〈◊〉 â—nough spew out on vs their stinking 〈…〉 open mouth taking it grievously that 〈…〉 not those heavenly treasures and iewels equallie to the godly and vngodly to the faithful and vnfaithfull to the elect and reprobate to Christs members and the Divels vassals to the sheepe to the swine They make lowd out cries on vs for denying that Christ died for al. They say this our assertion is tainted with a more odious blasphemy then any of the Saracens Turkes and Pagans and that by it Christian Religion is cleane overthrowne It is not my purpose to encounter with these monsters of men only I must needs touch the slaÌ„der they fasten on vs. For what slaunder is there if this be none When we distinguish the worth of the merue from the efficacie and participating of the benefites and restraine according to Scripture and the iudgement of the soundest Fathers this participation to the whole number of the faithful alone gathered from amongst the Iews Gentiles do we then deny that Christ died for all But that the truth of this controversie may the more appeare and these busie heads if it be possible may by some satisfaction on our part be set at rest let vs in briefe set downe the force of our maine reasons whereon wee ground this our distinction And first the holy Scripture it selfe teacheth vs plainely this kinde of distinction and forceth vs therevnto For you shall finde it in scripture somtimes absolutely spoken that Christ tasted of death for all men that he gaue himselfe a ransome for al men that he is the recoÌ„ciliatioÌ„ for the sins of the whole world Againe you shal read that Christ praied not nor sanctified himselfe that is offered vp himselfe for the world but for the elect which were giuen him That hee laid downe his life for his sheepe that hee gaue his life for the ransome of many that by his knowledge he iustifieth many that hee shed his bloud for many that the world cannot receiue the holy spirit because it seeth him not neither knoweth him and because it hath not the spirite therefore it is not CHRISTS These places carry some shew of contrariety were it not that the former are vnderstood by vs of the sufficiency of satisfaction and the latter of the efficacie and working vertue thereof Furthermore other places occure which seeme to impart vnto the wicked the benefit of redemption as when Peter saith that they denie even the Lord which hath bought them that they were purged from their old sins And Paule also saith that they were sanctified with the blood of the TestameÌ„t al which the Scripture els where enforceth vs to interpret either of the vaine glorying of Hypocrites of their redemption and sanctification or els to vnderstand theÌ„ no otherwise then of the extent and sufficiencie of Christs satisfaction whereas it simply excludeth the vnfaithfull and vnrepentant from the benefit of Redemption and constantly avereth that they are yet held captiues in the snares of Devill that they are overswayed by him and carried headlong to worke wickednes that the wrath of God abide hon them he saith is abideth not it returneth as if it had at any time relinquished them lastly that Christ never knew them much lesse redeemed them Now if I were purposed to
my bodie doe signifie vnto vs not vvhere Christs body is neither what it is IN WITH or VNDER the bread but what the bread it selfe is and ought to be vnto the godly in this vse 2 The second Reason is because the body of Christ is a true instrumentall finite visible body after his ascension no longer present on the earth or every where but cōversant and remaining in heaven even vntil his last comming 3 The third Reason is because the sounder Fathers do teach that the body and bloud of Christ is in the bread wine not as in a caue orden but as in a mystery and by a mystery Chrysostome opers imperfecto Math. Homil 11. saith In holied and sanctified vessels is conteined not the true body of Christ but the mysterie of Christs body The third proposition III. The Signes and Things haue their coherence in the Lords Supper by a Sacramental vnion Now this vnion is of like quality with that vnion which is commō to the whole kinde of Sacraments otherwise it should not be a sacramentall vnion but by a title of distinction should be tearmed The vnion in the Lords Supper But in al the other Sacraments their is an vnion of Relation and respect to wit A mysticall signification of the Thinge signed by the Signe a sealing exhibiting receiving thereof after a lawful vse which is not without the faith and repentance of thē which approach vnto it to vse it The reason◠of the third proposition 1 The first is drawne from the nature of the whole kinde in this sort There is such an vnion in all Sacraments Therefore in the Supper also The Antecedent or former proposition of this argumēt is manifest out of the definition principal end of the Sacraments 2 The second is framed on this manner The bread is the body of Christ either in the truth of the thing as Augustine according to Prospers opinion speaketh or in a mysterie signifying it But it is not the body of Christ essentially 〈◊〉 the truth of the thing because there is no Transubstantiation Therefore it is the body of Christ in a mysterie so signifying 3 The third reason is because al the arguments by which the sacramentall speech in the wordes of the Supper is proved are hithervnto belonging For a sacramental vnion requireth sacramentall phrases and termes 4 The fourth is because we haue the testimonies of the Fathers that the bread is a signe figure and sacrament of the body of Christ no longer absent but present and yet present not in the outward and visible elements of bread and wine but in the worde ioyned with them present I say not to the mouth but to the heart not locally and in place but mystically and spiritually The obiection of Papists for their Transubstantiation drawne out of the words of the Supper This which Christ gaue and the Preist consecrateth is the body of Christ Therefore it is not bread The argument holdes from the rule of thinges different as if a man should say This is a man therfore it is not an Oxe Wee deny that this argument is framed as you say from the inducing of one speciall by the remouing of the contrarie of the same kinde because it is rather a faulty processe in argumentation frō the inducing of a sacramētal respect which is but an Accident to the displacing and deniall of the subiect substance such as this is if I should say This man is a Father Therefore he is not a man For so they argue This bread is the body of Christ therefore it is not bread There is therefore in this argument a Fallacie of Accident no lesse absurd the if you should thus conclude This thing is a table therefore it is not wood For although the body of Christ bee not the forme or Accident of bread◠yet the Relation and respect which the bread hath by vertue of the promise vnto the body of Christ is the forme of a Sacrament Whence it is a weake kind of reasoning to say A doue is the holy Ghost therefore it is no longer a doue Circumcision is the couenant of God therfore it is no longer Circumcision The cupp is the New Testament therfore it is no longer a cuppe The answere to all the testimonies of the Fathers which the Papists alleadge for the change of the signes is common that they are all to hee vnderstood of the Sacramentall not of an essentiall and reall mutat on which is apparant out of the consent of foundest Fathers in this point of the sacrament II. The second question Howe both the signes the heauenly things signified are exhibited or receiued in the Lords Supper This question is in controuersie betweene vs both with the Papists the Vbiquitaries because both of them are of opinion that the things being present in their signes or vnder the shewes of the signes are covertly and miraculously caried vp and downe in the hands of the ministers hādled by them and put into the mouthes of the Communicants We contrariwise teach that the thinges with their signes are both togither exhibited and receiued with their signes in the lawful vse of the Supper but in a diuers manner For the signes are handled by the Ministers and takē by the mouth of the Communicants But the things themselues are given by Christ our high Priest received by faith This point may in like sort with the former be expressed in three propositiōs two negatiue and one affirmatiue 1. The first proposition The things signified that is the bodie and bloude of Christ are neither handled nor reached out by the hand of the Ministers to be receaved corporallie in the signes The Reasons of this first proposition 1 The first reason is collected negatiuelie from the whole kinde of Sacraments thus In no Sacrament the Ministers handle or bestowe things spirituallie signified Therefore neither in the Lords Supper doe they handle the thing spiritually signified The Antecedent is proved both by an induction or instance in every Sacrament which is evident by the adversaries owne confession and also the proportion betweene the Sacrament and the worde Marc. 1. I am the voice crying c. Ioh. 1. I baptise with water he which cōmeth after me shall baptise with the holie Ghost and with fire 1. Cor. 3. 7. Neither he that watereth nor hee that planteth is anie thing but God which giveth the encrease Therefore it holdeth alike also in the Sacraments which are the visible word 2 The second reason is this The things signified are not corporally IN WITH or VNDER the signes as hath beene shewed Therefore they are not handled or distributed by the hand of the Minister 3 The third reason proceedeth thus The things signified in the Supper are spirituall which coupled with their signes are offered in the promise of grace But the promise of grace is not handled with hands c. 4 The fourth reason is the testimonies of Fathers as Chrysost
Sermone de Euch. 〈…〉 Thinke not wheÌ„ yee come to these mysteries that yee receiue the Lordes body at the hands of a maÌ„ that is to say the Minister with many other such like places II. The second proposition The things signified I meane the body and bloude of the Lord are not received WITH IN and VNDER the bread and wine by the mouth of the body Reasons of the second proposition 1 The first is because they are not bodily present with in and vnder the signes as hath beene shewed quest â— propos 2. 2 The secoÌ„d iâ— because they passe into the belly which is the receptacle appointed for bodily meates 1. Cor. 6. 13. For all which entereth in at the mouth goeth downe into the belly Mat. 13. 3. The third is because the promise wherin the things are offered is not receiued by the mouth III The third proposition The thinges signified suppose The lordes bodie and bloud are receiued spritually by faith 1 The first reason is deriued from the conditioÌ„ of the whole kinde because in SacrameÌ„ts the things signified are receiued by faith by which alone as we are iustified so we receiue all the benefites of the new Testament 2 The second is because the promise of grace is not apprehended but by faith Nowe the communion of the body and bloud of Christ is the promise of grace See Vrsin Volum 1. Pag. 103. The argument of a certeine famous Disputant framed in defence of the eatinge Christs body with our mouth Ob. To whatsoeuer instrument the eating of one thing in the Lords Supper appertaineth to the same the eating of the other ought to appertaine But the eating of one body that is the bread in the Lordes Supper appertaineth to the mouth Therefore the eating of the other which is Christs body appertaineth to the same Ans 1 The Maior is true in such meates as are naturally conioined of containe one the other of the which sort is a a Pye Now the bread and the body of Christ are not so ioined togither In these then it is false The Maior thus he proues Whosoeuer includeth in the same worde of eating both bread and wine the body blood of Christ affirmeth also that they are both receiued vvith the same instrument But Christ includeth both bread wine his body bloud in one the same worde of eating Therefore CHRIST affirmeth that they are both received with the same instrumeÌ„t of eating Ans 1. The proofe of the Maior faileth because an vniuersal affirmatiue should be concluded in Barbara 2 The Maior beggeth that which is in controversie and is denyed The falsenesse thereof appeareth Iohn the third where CHRIST includeth in the same worde of birth the spirit and the flesh and yet it followeth not that they both are borne after the same manner or by the same instrument 3 The Minor also is false For this worde of eating is referred to the hollyed breade not to the bodie but by way of consequence For it properly pertaineth vnto that which the Lord tooke in his handes and brake which was bread and not his body This reason is vvorthy the marking for that according to the Papistes and such as simplie mainetaine Consubstantiation the bodie of CHRIST is not there before the wordes of consecration as they call them are pronounced but beginneth to bee there in the very last instante of the pronouncing of these wordes This is my bodie But according to the Vbiquitaries which are as it were chymicall consubstantiators it is there indeede as in any other breade but it is not yet edible vntill after consecration CHRIST then commaunded not to eate that with our mouth in the breade which as yet was not in the breade or as yet was not edible Then againe he proues the Maior of his former syllogisme A word having but one signification is to be taken but in one But eating both of the breade and of the body of Christ hath but one signification viz. with the mouth It is then to bee taken in one signification of both Ans 1. Heere againe faileth the proofe of the Maior being an vniversall affirmatiue which should haue bin concluded in Barbara 2 The Minor is a begging of that which is in coÌ„troversie The third question Vnto whom these things are offered and of whâ—â— they are receiued Heereunto is there made aunswere in tvvo Propositions both being affirmatiue 1. Proposition The things signified are receiued by the faithful aloÌ„e 1 Reason Because only they that beleeue receiue the promises by faith 2 Reason Because they alone that beleeue haue the spirit of Christ from the which his life-giuing fleshe cannot be separated 3 Reason Because in them onely that beleeue Christ remaineth and they in Christ Eph. 3 17. 4 Reason Because they alone that beleeue receiue and haue life Ioh 3 6. 2. Proposition The vngodly comming without faith receiue the signes without the things themselues Looke the reasons as they are set downe in the Church pag 58â— Looke the obiections for the eating of the vngodâ—y Ibid. pag. 5â—2 A BRIEFE EXPLICATION OF the whole controversie concerning the Lordes supper betweene the Consubstantials and the true beleevers The chiefe pointes of this explication 1 What errors the Consubstantials impute vnto vs. 2 The arguments of the Consubstantials against our doctrine of the supper 3 The shifts of the Consubstantials including some of our obiections 4 Arguments against the presence and corporall eating of the body of Christ IN WITH and VNDER bread 5 The arguments wherby the opinion of the Vbiquitaries is refelled and the truth of sound doctrine confirmed The errors which the Consubstantials falsly impute vnto vs with their refutation Ob. IN the doctrine of of the Lordes Supper there are say the Consubstantials two extreams to be avoided for both every vertue every truth standeth betweene two extremes The one is of the Papistes the other of the Sacramentaries and on each side it seemes to be fourfould The errors of the Papistes are 1 Transsubstantiation 2 The worshippe of bread 3. The sacrifice of the masse 4. A maiming of the sacrameÌ„t Ans They set downe indeede the errors of the Papistes but they cannot refute them because their opinion agreeth more with the opinion of the Papists then ours doth For first although they teach not Transubstantiation yet they teach Consubstantiation whereof there is nothing delivered in the word of God 2 Whereas they teach the bodilie presence of Christ it must needs be that they also worship Christ in the bread whom they suppose to bee bodily present in vnder with and to the bread which is a thing no lesse idolatrous then if they worshipped the bread For wheresoever Christ is whether in a visible or invisible manner there he is to be worshipped 3 They establish the sacrifice of the Masse because as it hath bin already said whilest they are bound to worship Christ in the bread they are enforced to aske of
God forgiuenes of their sinnes for that Christs sake whome they beare in their handes which is nought els but the Popish oblation of Christ 4 They of force admit the mangling or abridging one part of the Sacrament For they reteine the foundation on which the Papistes builde this errour For wheras they hold a corporal presence of Christ in with vnder or to the bread they must necessarilie either withholde the cuppe from the Communicantes because in their doctrine and opinion the bloud of CHRIST is in his body or else they must separate CHRISTES bloud from his body then which nothing can be more absurd Wee offend not as they charge vs in the defect but keepe the meane For wee teach the spirituall presence and participation that is to say that all the faithfull which eate and drinke the breade and wine are truelie made partakers of Christ himselfe and al his benefites and so made one with him that they become flesh of his flesh bone of his bones But ther as it hath beene already demonstrated offende as doe the Papists in the excesse Yea but say they these are the errours of the Sacramentaries to say that Obiect 1. The Sacraments are only bare signes and tokens Ans We teach no such doctrine but we teach that the Thinges signified are exhibited and received togither with the Signes although not corporallie yet in such manner as fitteth Sacraments Obiect 2. CHRIST is present onlie according to his working Ans Neyther is this our doctrine but we teach that Christ is present and vnited vnto vs by the holy Ghost howsoever his body be farre remooued and absent from vs in like sorte as he is wholy coÌ„uersant with vs by his ministery although it be otherwise in respect of his other nature Obiect 3. In the Sacrament is only an imaginarie figuratiue and spirituall bodie of CHRIST not an essentiall bodie Aunsw Touching the imaginarie bodie obiected wee neuer made mention thereof but our whole doctrine is concerning the true flesh of CHRIST vvhich is presente vvith vs yea though hee remaine still in heaven Father we say that we receiue the bread and the body but both in their proper manner Ob. 4. The true body of Christ which hung on the crosse and the true bloud which was shed for vs is distributed but spiritually that it is receiued of them only which are worthy CoÌ„municants and the vnworthy receiue nothing but the bare signes to their iudgement and condeÌ„â—ation Ans This obiection is indeed the very doctrine we preach and therfore we grant the whole as being consonant and agreeable with the word of God the nature of the Sacramentes the Analogie of faith and the communion of the faithfull with Christ II. The arguments whereby the Consubstantials labor to 〈◊〉 â—hrow our doctrine touching the Lords Supper togither with their Confutation and Answeres Arg. 1. The words of Christs institution are plaine evident THIS is my bodie THIS is my bloud Auns The words they cite are swords to cut their owne throats For they say that 〈◊〉 vnder or with the bread Christs bodie is reallie receiued whereas Christ saith that the bread it selfe is his bodie Therfore they do the Church a double wrong One in that they thrust on her their owne words insteed of Christs Another in that they think her so blind that shee caÌ„not see the diversity of these two sayings The bread is in the bodie and The bread is the body Moreover they make Christ a lier For they deny that the bread is his body and say that his body is in the bread Let them looke what answere they wil make vnto Christ in the last day of iudgment concerning this despightfull and reproachfull blasphemy The Papists themselues rather reteine Christs words then our Consubstantials For they teach that the bread is so the body of Christ that for sooth it is chaÌ„ged into the body of Christ But these men keepe not the word but follow as they say the sence and meaning Wherefore wee must search diligeÌ„tly whether of vs â—s in the truth Our doctrine shall be proved in the end Repl. In the same place this expositioÌ„ is added which is given for you and which is shed for you Ans 1. Thuâ— to argue is to begge that which is in controversie For they take this as granted that the bread to properly tearmed the body which remaines yet to be proved Ans 2. We answere by retorting the argumeÌ„t thus That which we properlie call the bodie of Christ was given for vs But the bread was not giuen for vs. Ergo c. Auns 3. As the bread is the bodie broken so the breaking of the bread is the breaking of the body But the breaking of the bread is improperly and mysticallie the breaking of the bodie of Christ For the breaking of the body is the crucifying ther of Thâ—refore the bread brokeÌ„ is in a mystical sence the bodie broken Arg. 2. The second argument is drawne from the author Christ himselfe which is true Ans This argument takes that for a grouÌ„d which is in controuersie for they must proue that Christ said his body was in vnder or with the breade Nay one may speake figuratiuely yet plainely to Replie 1. He is omnipotent Ergo he can be everie where yea even in the bread Ans 1. Though he could make two contradictories at once true yet he will not 2. God cannot do thinges contradictorie because he is truth But to will thinges contradictorie is the part of a lier We do not therfore deny the truth and omnipotencie of God but their lyes nay we defeÌ„d it saying that God doth what he speaketh But they oppugne it by teachinge that in God are contrarie willes Repl. 2. Christes bodie hath manie prerogatiues wherby it differeth froÌ„ our bodies as namely that it was born of a virgin walked on the sea was at one time in the graue in bell and in paradise passed through dores shut Auns These examples are partly improper or vnlike partely false Vnlike 1 Because they may also be incident to treatures as walking on the water to Peter passinge through shut doores to spirites 2. Because they imploy a contradiction for when he is said to bee borne of a virgin he is not at the same time said not to bee borne of a Virgin But at once to be finite and infinite implieth acontradiction False 1 For he passed not through closed doores wheras they might yeeld and giue backe to him 2 For neyther did he passe through the dore of the sepulcher wheras that is said to haue ben opened by the Angell 3 For neyther was Christes body at one and the same instante in manie places which they seeme to haue taken from Augustin But he saide that his body was in the graue his soule in hel his Deity everie where Arg. 2. The third argument is taken from the circumstance of time thus No man Speaking seriously speaketh figuratiuely Christ appointing his
CommunioÌ„ is an vnion with Christ and an enioying of all his benefites by faith To this belongeth the similitude of the Body and the Members of the Vine the Branches which hath no reference to any corporall eating This communion both was is common to all the godly from the beginning of the world to the end therof But they could not eate it bodily That wee may growe in him of whome the whole body is coupled He that cleaueth to the Lord is one spirit with him And wee are all baptised by one Spirit into one bodie But this wee knowe that wee dwell in him and he in vs in that he hath given vs of his Spirite This vnion then is that communion which is by the holy Ghost and therefore spirituall For breade caÌ„not be this communion but only by a figuratiue speech called Metonymie 2 GVILTY OF THE BODY He that is guiltie of the body of Christ eateth it They that receiue veworthily are guiltie of the body of Christ Therefore they eate it corporally For spiritually they can not for if they should so care they were not guiltie Ans I doe deny the Maior For he is guilty of the bodie of Christ who by his sins crucifieth it and despiseth the benefite of Christ Now vnto this guâ—lte there is no neede of anie bodily eating but not to receiue Christ by faith when he is offered vnto vs. So the iniurie offered vnto the Arke is said to be offered vnto the Lord. 3 Nor discerning the bodie of the Lord. They that discerne not the bodie of the Lorde eat it The guiltie discerne it not Therefore they eate it Ans We grant if the Maior be taken sacrameÌ„tally viz. of that bread which is named Christs bodie it is true if properly it is false For not to discernâ— is not to yeeld honor therevnto due to contemne him and not to receiueth thing signified So Heb. 10. ver 29 they are said to treade vnder feete the Son of God and to account the bloud of the covenant an vnholy thing which contemne him Arg. 5. Drawne from the testimonies of the Fathers and godlie antiquitie in the vncorrupt Church Ans The sayings of the Fathers are to be taken Sacrament allie or of the spirituall Communion They saie often that the bodie and bloud of our Lord is giuen vnto vs with the bread wine If theÌ„ they allowe of Corporall presence they allowe also of the Papistes Concomitancie or the separation of the blouds from the bodie 1. Augustine saith Thou receiuest that in the bread which hange on the Crosse that in the cuppe which waâ—shed from Christ his side Ans In the bread as in a signe that is togither with the Signe thou receivest the thing signified WheÌ„ we receiue the bread we are sure that we haue Christ 2 Cyrillon Iohn saith By a naturall participatioÌ„ 〈…〉 spiritually but also corporally not only according to the spirite but also according to the flesh corporally and essentiallie Auns Cyrill speaketh not of the manner of eating but of the thing eaten he sheweth that we are made partakers not only of the spirit but also of the humane nature of Christ Now he meaneth the spirituall communion 1 Vpon it he citeth the places of Ioh 6. 54. 1. Cor. 6. 15. where there is no mention made of any corporall eating 2 He speaketh of the presence of Christ not in the bread but in vs. 3 He proveth this abiding of Christ by the vse of the supper not by the corporall eating of it 4 He so describeth it as that he faith it shall endure in the life eternall 5 He speaketh of that CoÌ„munion which is proper to the Saints now that is spirituall For else it should also happen to the wicked III. The Shiftes of thâ— Consubstantials in eluding some not al for there are more obiected against thâ—â—â— of â—ur obiections 1 We doe not meane say they a naturall and 〈◊〉 eating Ans We obiect not this against them but only we aske whether Christ be eateÌ„ bodilie either after a grosse or subâ—â—e manner How so ever they answere there is too much idolatrie in their opinion For Christ refuting the Capernaites distinguisheth not the eating of himselfe into a grosse subtile manner but he simply saith that his body cannot be taken with a bodily mouth For hee saith that he shall ascend and that the words which he speaketh are spirit and life Ob. 2. We mainetaine not the vbiquitie For thereof is not one word mentioned Ans Here is to be noted the disagreement of ouâ— adversaries about Vbiquitie Neither is there one word mentioned to this purpose that the body of Christ is at once in many places For it is a properly belonging only to his divine nature to be 〈◊〉 once in many places Moreouer vpon this opinioÌ„ of theirs followeth the Vbiquitie for hee which at once is all in divers places must needs be infinite therefore necessarilie everie where Ob 3. We doe not destroy the article of Christs ascension Aunsw But they stumble at it For whilest they avouch that as often as the Lordes Supper is celebrated CHRIST is eaten corporally they must needes say that hee remayneth invisibly vpon earth whereas indeede hee is saide to haue left the worlde to haue ascended from an inferior to a superiour place there to remaine in heaven vntill he come to iudgment or that he descendeth from heauen as often as the Lordes supper is celebrated This is allready refuted How then is he in the breade Obiect 4. Wee take not awaie the doctrine of the proprieties of his humane nature Ans Yes quite awaie For they will haue his humane nature to be such as is neither seene felt nor circumscribed Repl. But Christ layde a side these infirmities and reserued his naturall proprieties Ans Nay these are his naturall proprieties which being taken awaie the truth of his humane nature is also taken awaye Augustine take away the space dimension of bodies and they wil be no where Obiect 5. We do not abolish the doctrine of communicating proprieties Aunsw Yes they doe For they applie the properties of the divine nature which are attributed to the whole person in coÌ„crete vnto both natures I will be with you vnto the end of the worlde this they take as spokeÌ„ of both natures Which is as much as if saying Christ was circuÌ„cised I should thus vnderstand it Christ was circumcised both in his godhead and also in the flesh Repli This onelie wee adde that those articles concerne not this place Ans By this reason all sectes might shift of all testimonies of scripture But by their leaue they concerne this place for two reasons 1 Because They are wrighten of the body of Christ But the body of Christ concerneth the Lordes supper Ergo these articles also concerne this place For they teach vs how Christes body is to be eaten 2. Because no one article of faith is contrarie to an other but everie one is
a rule by which we must interpret an other so the doctrine of iustification pertaineth to this because in the Lords Supper must no other righteousenesse be sought then by the bloud of Christ Obiect Wee must not sette downe the manner howe Ans Here is a double errour 1. When they say we must not define or set downe the manner and so they contradict scripture which defineth it teacheth vs that it is spirituall that the vnion with Christ is made in faith by the holy Ghost 2. Themselues set downe the manner as appeareth manyfestely by their wrightings Obiect 7. It is trewe that Durandus sayth Wee heare the wordes perceaue the motion beleeue the presence and knowe not the manner Ans 2. This neither helpeth you nor hurteth vs because Durandus was a Papist Aunsw Wee may graunt this saying so it bee rightly vnderstoode VVee heare the worde this is my bodie not that in the breade wee doe with our mouthes feede on the bodie of Christ We perceiue the motion that is that the breade entereth into our mouth not the body of Christ We know not the manner that is perfectly namely how the holy Ghost is everie where all in Christ and in all the god he and how he doth vnite vs in Christ We beleeue the presence but such a presence as is the eating and as is the vnion of the members and the head Ob. 8. This 〈…〉 that the bodie and bloud of Christ is given vnto 〈◊〉 cruelie substantiallie and 〈…〉 Ans We grant that wee eate the true bodie of 〈◊〉 then the whole disputation is to no purpose 1 Because they coufesse that we are made partakers of the true bodie of Christ and that we 〈◊〉 of the manner which also we grant 2 Because the reasons oâ— refutations which they bring are or no moment 4 ARGVMENTS WHEREBY IT IS proved that the bodie of Christ is present neither IN nor VNDER nor TO the bread of the Lords supper nor is corporally eaten IN it VNDER it WITH it c. 1. BEcause he tooke on him very nature of maÌ„ Besides we cannot eate him otherwise then did his disciples in the first supper 2 Hee did truely ascende from earth into heaven 3 Such is the eating of him as is his aboad with vs 4 Al the godlie of the Old and new Testament haue the same aboad with Christ 5 Christ alone can offer himselfe to his Father Nowe in the vse of the Lordes supper wee must needs craue of God remission of sins If therefore he be present with the bread wee must desire this of him so we offer bread In the new testameÌ„t it is not lawful to direct our praiers to any one certaine place 6 Those good gifts which are promised only to the godly are spiritual To these and others aboue cited may be added the consent of Fathers as Ambrose Athanasius Augustine Basill Baâ—e Bertraâ—s Chrysostome Clemens Alexandrâ—â—â— the Nicene Counsell Cyprian Cyrill Dionysius Gelasius Gregorie the Greate Gregorie Nazâ—â—zen He sâ—chius Hierom Hilarie Irenaeus Iustin Leo Macarius Origâ—n Procoplus Gaza Tertullian Theodoret c 5. Arguments whereby the opinion of the Vbiquitaries is refeâ—â—ed and the truth of the right doctrine confirmed Arg. The Marcionâ—â—es and Manichees fained that Christ had no true solid humane bodie but onlie an imaginarie or seeming bodie so that he did only seeme to haue flesh bones whereas indeed he had none And that the verie incarnation and al motions and operations of Christ did only appeare in shew wheras indeed there was no such thing But this opinion of Vbiquitie and real communication of proprieties revoketh from hell that phantastique dotage of Marcion and Manes Wherefore this also as the Manâ—cheaâ— heresie is to be condemned banished from Gods Church vnto the very deepest pit of hell The Minor is thus proued The Vbiquitaries beleeue and teach that all properties of the Deity were at the instant of conception really transfused from the Deity of the Worde into the humane nature assumed by Christ Hence follow these absurdities 1 Christ shall not be truelie borne of the Virgin if according to the nature of his humanity hee were truely essentiallie without his mothers wombe before he were borne and after his birth were according to his humane nature as truely and substantiallie in his mothers wombe as before 2 In his humane nature Christ was not truly weak and subiect to passions if then also he were partaker of divine maiestie and omnipotencie 3 He was not truely dead if in the verie instant of death both in soule and bodie he were essentially everie where present with his Deity For his soule everie-where-present with his everie-where-present bodie could not reallie bee separated by distance of place and therefore his body could not die but imaginarily 4 He did not truelie ascend into heaveÌ„ but we must say it was onlie an imaginarie and phantastique shew if in bodie he were there substaÌ„tially before he ascended thither after he ascended nevertheles he remaine in the earth nay in the very bodies of the faithfull by substantiall presence of the same bodie as truely as before if these things did indeed so fall out it will follow that the same bodie of Christ was at once weake and yet omnipotent base and glorious able to suffer and vnable dead and living limited and vnlimited which to saie were blasphemie To avoide these prodigious and impious absurdities they tell vs that Ob. Christ in respect of his bodie was in deed limited weake passible mortall in the time of his humiliation because he did empty himselfe would not before his resurrection shew forth that maiestie which hee imparted to his bodie Ans They doe ill to interpret this emptying of concealing all his glorie and maiestie for the time wherein he tooke our nature vpon him whereas indeed it is to be vnderstood of the divine nature of the worde as it vouchsafed to take vpon it the shape of a servant that is the Masse of our nature and would become man Besides it would followe that Christ did even then shew forth the power maiestie communicated to his flesh when he was truely subiect to infirmitie and circumscribed by his body as which weeping he raized Lazarus and beeing taken by the Iewes healed Malchus which was wounded by Peter But what is it to fetch backe the Marcionites from hell or in the greatest mystery of religion to speak blasphemie if this be not Argum. 2 This is the blasphemie of Samosâ—teâ—â—â— Airtus and the late Antitrinitaries that the man Christ is not properlie and naturally God but only by accidentall participation of the Divine proprieties maiestie honor power and vertue In like manner conceaue the Vbiquitaries of the deitie of the man Châ—ist deâ—ining the personal vnion by this only coÌ„municating of proprieties wherby the flesh of Christ is made omnipotent present in every place So that the same man is and is called God not because properly
signifie that in scripture we are taught that GOD promiseth or performeth vnto menne either before or since the manifestation of Christ in the flesh and what he requireth againe of them and for what cause 9. Which also the scripture intendeth professing to teach Christ 10. For whatsoeuer is therin deliuered eyther it pertayneth to the trew knowledge of Christs person or his office 11. The differences betweene the doctrine delivered in scripture and the religions of other sectes are these First in the doctrine of the trew church is taught the whole Gospell of Christ but other religions either knowe it not at all or to their owne errours ioyne some part thereof whose vse they neyther know nor conceaue 12. Secondly in the doctrine of the Prophets Apostles is delivered the whole lawe of God that rightely vnderstoode other religions cutt of the cheife points therof namely the trew knowledge and worship of God or the first table of the commaundements and the internall and spirituall obedience of the second table retaininge onelie a parte therof namelie the precepts of Disciplines or externall and civill duties towardes men 13. But though even they also doe boast and glorie of the trew God and his worship yet doe they erre from him for 3 causes First because naturall testimonies are not sufficient to the knowledge of the trew God Secondly because vnto theÌ„ men ioyne many errors of their owne Thirâ—ly because for want of the light of Gods worde they vnderstaÌ„d not even those thinges which in word they truely professe but corrupt them with an evill interpretation 14. Either they commaund onely so much touching affâ—ections and inclinations disagreeing with the secoÌ„d table as may serue to bridle them which is but a parte of this doctrine or they doe accuse and condemne all or els they doe not so much accuse and condemne them as doth the doctrine of the church 15. Other sectes admit approue some things against the externall obedience of the second table God by his iust iudgment giuing them over into a reprobate sense 16 We pronouÌ„ce the doctrine of holy scripture to be true not for the authority of the church but because we know it was delivered vnto vs by God 17 That it is from God we know by testimonie of the holy Ghost in the hearts of the godly by our deliuerance from sinne and death whereof this only religion doth assure vs by the puritie integritie of the lawe which is founde onely in the church by the prophecies and the fulfilling therof by miracles proper only to the church by the antiquitie of this late vpstarte newnesse of others by the consent and agreement of everie parte in this doctrine and the disagreement in others by the hatred of Satan and all the wicked against this doctrine by the miraculouse preseruation defence therof against the Diuell and the worlde by the punnishmentes inflicted vpon the enemies therof by the constancie of martyrs and confessors who had sure comforte euen in death by their holy life by whom it was deliuered and spread abroade 18. No opinion of God or his will and worship must be receaued which is not set downe in scripture we must so faâ— giue credit to other doctors of the church as they confirme their doctrine out of the prophets and apostles 19. This is not only proued by testimonie of holie scripture whereby we are commaunded in cases of religion to depende on it alone but also by the nature definition of faith and the worship of God both which must needes be grounded on Gods worde also by the perfectioÌ„ of this propheticall apostolicall doctrine and by the diverse callings of Prophets apostles other doctors teachers of the church 3. OF THE CERTAINETIE AND AVTHORITIE OF HOLIE SCRIPTVRE 1. It is certaine that onely this doctrine of religion which is coÌ„teined in the bookes of the prophets apostles is deliuered by God himselfe doth not only nor principally relye vpon the authoritie of the church but most especially vpon the testimonie of God the scripture it selfe 2. The first and principall argument wherby this authoritie of holy scripture is established amoÌ„gst vs is the witnesse of Gods holy spirit in the hearts of the faithfull 3. This witnes as it is peculiar to the godly so it only causeth vs in true faith to embrace the doctrine of the prophets apostles all the rest may be vnderstood even of them which are not regenerate and do indeed conuince or forceablie perswade vs of the truth of this doctrine but except we haue also this witnesse of the spirite they can neuer moue our mindes to embrace and giue credit to them 4. The seconde argument is because this doctrine only sheweth men the causes of evill deliuerrance from sinne death agreeing with the perfect iustice and goodnes of God and also satisfying our consciences 5 The third because only the doctrine of the prophets and Apostles retaineth Gods law entire pure but all other Religions frame vnto theÌ„selues Gods and their worship without any authoritie from God and approue many things contrary to the law naturally knowne vnto vs. 6 The fourth because history and experience doth witnesse that the eveÌ„t hath answered those predictions which haue beene heere and there set downe in scripture 7 The fift is the miracles added to this doctrine 8 The sixt antiquity because this religion vvaâ— the first and hath continued the same from the beginning of the world vntill this day 9 The seventh the consent and agreement of all parts of this doctrine betweene themselues which is not in other religions 10 The eighth is the hatred of Satan and all the wicked against this doctrine 11 The ninth is Gods preservation and defence of this doctrine against all his enemies 12 The tenth the punishment of such enemies as persecute or corrupt this doctrine 13 The eleventh the constancy of Martyrs and confessors Tertullian The bloud of Martyrs is the seed of the church The Martyrs of the church differ from othersâ— in multitude 2 in alacrity cheerefulnesse in vndergoing dangers death it selfe 3 the defenders of wicked doctrine suffer when they are convicted of errors but the godlie are by tyrannicall force carried awaie to punishment 14 The twelfth their holinesse of life by whom it was delivered and spread abroad farre exceeding the vertues of heathen men and such as followed other religions 15 Seeing therefore this only doctrine of religion is true and Divine no opinion can binde our consciences to beliefe or obedience which is not established by testimonies of holy scripture rightly vnderstood but no opinion disagreeing therewithall is to be so much as receiued OF GOD AND THE TRVE KNOWledge of him 1 MAn being destitute of the true knowledge of God is most vnhappy 2 It is no true knowledge of God which agreeeth not with Gods own opening of himselfe nor is ioined with true loue and feare of God 3
ioyned with faith of miracles as also faith of miracles hath euer historicall or temporarie faith ioyned with it but not alwaies iustifying faith 13. Faith even in the most godly sorte of men is imperfect in this life and feeble yet whosoever feeleth in his hearte a serious purpose to beleeue and wrastling with doubt he may must surely perswade himselfe that hee hath trewe faith 14. Trewfaith once kindled in the hearte though in some sorte it often faint and be obscured yet it is neuer wholy extinguished 15. But after this life it is changed into a more full and certaine knowledge of God heauenly thinges namely a present feellinge and experience of happinesse with God which knowledge the scripture nameth a knowledge by seeinge face to face 16. Faith which is only historicall causeth desparation and heauinesse of Gods iudgment though accidentally 17 Temporarie faith causeth a certaine ioy but not pacifying our consciences because not proceeding of a true cause and worketh in vs confession and some shew of good workes but only for a time 18 Faith of miracles obtaineth those miracles whereof it is from God 19 Wee obtaine righteousnes before God and participation of Christ and all his benefits onely by that faith which applyeth to euerie particular man the promises of grace 20 True conversion and beginning of new obedience according to al the commandements as it cannot goe before this faith so it cannot but accompanie it OF THE OFFICE AND PERSON OF Christ the onely Mediator Disputed by D. Zach. Vrsine in the Vniversitie of Heidelberge for his degree of Doctorship an 1562. The Proeme WHereas God hath not only appointed in his church a ministerie of his word and coÌ„maÌ„ded approved this vocatioÌ„ to the office of teaching which is practised in the church but also hath coÌ„meÌ„ded this most high daÌ„gerous functioÌ„ of all others that are performed by men to those which haue both the knowledge of heauenlie doctrine and also indifferent abilitie to deliuer the same and by innocencie of life giue vnto the hearers examples of that which they teach and doth by the mouth of S. Paule pronounce them guiltie of others offence which place or consent to them that place in this order men vnfit that is such as by life or evill doctrine giue offence to the church 2 Tim. 5. Lay not thy handes rashly one anie be not partaker of others offences these things I say being so it is without doubt necessary that such as in churches or schooles shall vndertake parte of this labour of teaching bee first heard by such as can iudg of the truth of doctrine and willinglie submit themselues to the triall censure of men I therefore although in coÌ„fidence of mine owne worthinesse I may so little presume to present my selfe to this publique view of learned men and young students that I bring neither learning nor experience nor iudgment nor anie thing at all to plead in my behalfe for the patient presence and attention of the learned besides great trembling and earnest entreatie of Gods assistance and your fauour yet seeing they who haue ben some times coÌ„uersant in scholes should not draw back from triall and seeing it is a part of ingenuity faithful dealing not to conceale eueÌ„ a mans owne weaknes I haue thought it fit both for discharg of my duty my further learning not peremptorily to withstand their commaund whose pleasure it is that I should come into this place But because the custome and purpose of these disputations is to determine vpon some principal pointes of Christianity I haue determined at this time to repeate discusse that argument of scripture which is touching the office and person of one onlie mediatour betweene God and man eveÌ„ Christ Iesus our Lord both because it compriseth a short grounde and summe of Christianity as also because ever our forreine and hom-bread contentions do most concerne this point I purpose therefore after my manner to recite as breifely and plainly as I can the sence and meaning of some propositions togeather which reasons and testimonies taken out of holy scripture 1. Position After man by sin was separated from God the most absolute and perfect a iustice of God would not suffer him to be reconciled vnto God except some b very man borne of that mankind which had sinned yet himselfe free c from al spot of sin had endured sufficient punishment for mans sins and perfourmed the full obedience of Gods law a. Gen. 2. 17. In the daie that thou eatest therof thou shalt die the death Deut. 27. 26. Cursed be he that coÌ„tinueth not in all the wordes of this lawe to doe them Mat. 5. 26. Thou shalt not come out thence till thou hast paide the vtmost farthinge Rom. 8 3. God sending his own sonne coÌ„deÌ„ned sinne in the flesh that we c. b. Rom. 5. 12. 15. As by one man sin entered into the worlde c. Cor. 15. 21. For since by man came death by man also came the resurrectioÌ„ of the dead 1. Tim. 25. Heb. 2. 14. 15. 16. Aug. de verâ— relig That nature was to bee assumed which was to be delivered c. 2. Cor. 5. 21. He made him which knew no sin for vs c. Heb. 7. 26. For such an high Priest it became vs to haue which is holy innocent vndefiled c. II. But the merit of no persoÌ„ which was not God could be equall to the sin of all man-kind much lesse greater then it d. Act. 20. 28. God hath purchased his church with his owne bloud Rom. 18. 3. When it was impossible to the law in as much as it was weake because of the flesh God c. III. Such a person also as had beene only a creature could not haue ben able to endure the weight of Gods anger against the sins of maÌ„kind and to deliver himselfe out of it e. Psal 30. Lord of thou marke what is doâ—e amisse who shall be able to endure it Deut. 4. 24. The Lorde thy God is a consuming fire IV. Moreouer it stood him vpon by his desert intercession to obteine by his power to restore vnto vs that righteousenesse life which we had lost to free vs from sin death to defend saue vs vntill we were perfectly restored f. f. 1. Cor. 15. 21. By man came the resurrection of the dead Ioh. 10. 28. I giue vnto my sheepe eternall life Ioh. 6. 39. 15. 26. Mat. 11. 27. Eph. 4 8. 9. 1â— Heb. 7. 26. 1. Cor 15. 22. 23. V Lastly it is necessarie that all which should bee saued being engraffed into the body of this mediator should be borne caried by him for ever g. g. Eph. 3. 17. That Christ by faith may dwell in our hearts Io. 15. 4. Abide in me Iâ—n you As the braÌ„ch caÌ„not beare fruit in it selfe except it abide in the vine so neither can you except ye abide in me Rom. 8. 9. He that