commotion and is usually spoken of water when it is muddied and stirred It serveth here very fitly to expresse the nature of a sedition Quae omnes in se habet rerum turbas aut certè bonos viros perturbant as Aretius speaketh It was raised against St. Paul who endeavouring the reformation of the Church of Ephesus and labouring to overthrow their superstition was cried down by a company of illeterate Tradesmen Smiths and Tinkers as it s most likeliest by their profession who had gotten for their Captain one Demetrius a silver-Smith by his calling he with this ratlement being met together the most part of them not knowing wherefore ver 32. labour with might and main to suppresse St. Pauls doctrine by sedition From whose example we are taught this point of doctrine viz. It is an usuall thing in the Churches Reformation Doct. to meet with opposition Thus it hath been from the beginning no sooner was order taken for Gods worship and service but hatred and spight fell to the portion and lot of Religion the first man that offered the better sacrifice was y Gen. 4 4.8 slain the like hath been verified time after time even till this our age In the dayes of Moses there were certain z Exod. 7.11 Magicians sorcerers Men of corrupt minds reprobate concerning the faith as the a 2 Tim. 3.8 Apostle describes them who wickedly and maliciously resisted the truth of God withstood Moses and kept Pharaoh in his blindnesse by their jugling tricks St. Paul nameth two of the chief of them which he doth as b Sic Chryso Theodoret. Theophilact in 2 Tim. 3. some think either by inspiration or tradition because their names are not elsewhere found in Scripture or else which is most likeliest he had it from some private records kept amongst the Jews as in their Babylonian c Tract Menacoth cap. 9. Thalmud to this day we may read how Johanne and Mamre chief of the sorcerers of Egypt withstood Moses and mocked him thinking he did his miracles by sorceries as the Magicians did This is that which the Apostle speaks of d Galat. 4.29 as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the spirit even so it is now and so it was indeed For to omit those sundrie clamors and oppositions of gracelesse men which our Saviour Christ met withall when he began the reformation of the Church of the Jews sometimes from the Pharisees sometimes from the Sadduces sometimes from the Essens and so from divers others pernicious Sects that which Calvin speaks of this holy Apostle St. Paul is very remarkable for our purpose viz. e Calvin in Acts 17.5 that he could no where erect the kingdom of Christ without some conflict And though he were a man whose courses tended all to peace tempering himself in things indifferent to every mans infirmity yet meets with tumultuous contradictions so soon as any fruit of doctrine appeared there also arose persecution with it Read for instance at your leasure these places Act. 13.8.45.50 and chap. 14.19 and chap. 17.5 6 7. 2 Tim. 3.8 and chap. 4.14 15. Experience in later ages hath verified this truth in those manifold oppositions that Luther Calvin Zuinglius and others found who were notable reformers of the Church in their times and sweepers of many abuses and Popish errours What our times have and are likely to produce in this particular I intend not now to expresse my desire is rather to pray unto God to prevent it then to trouble your patience to hear it Some Reasons for it may be such as these Reas 1. Reason 1 Because reformation breeds dissimilitude and distance of manners dissimilitude of manners breeds alienation of affections there is nothing doth so condemne the lives of wicked men exemplarily as doth the prescribed rules and holy conversation of the godly like Pharaohs f Gen. 41.3 fat kine they make the lean seem more ill favoured And hence it is that they fall into rage and fury and savage behaviour not abiding such as are of a contrary temper with them no more then clay and iron can weild together Put fire to fire and water to water and there is no commotion but put water to fire and then you have a thundring coile Even so when riotous men and enemies of Gods Church meet there is shaking of hands drinking of healths the other pint and the other quart but let the righteous come amongst them and g Psal 141.5 smite them with reproof they will be ready to flie in his face Reas 2. Reas 2 Almightie God though he be able and might in an instant free his Church from opposition yea and so far preserve it as that h Matt. 16.18 the gates of hell shall never prevail nor fight against it yet he will have it so and that for these reasons 1. For the better clearing of the doctrine of the Church opposition of heresie makes men sharpen their wits the better to confute it the Mysterie of the Trinitie had never been so exactly handled by many of the Fathers in whole Tractates if the Church had not been opposed by divers damnable Heretiques as Arrius and Sabellius and others therefore as wormwood though bitter to the taste yet good to clear the eyes So opposition though no wayes pleasing yet may be profitable for the truth 2. For the greater manifestation of the graces that are in the children of the Church as their faith their obedience their love to the truth and such like these in time of opposition like starres in a dark night make a glorious lustre As in Queen Maries dayes when persecution wrung the Church Martyrdome gave a manifest approbation of many unknown Saints the vertues of divers had been lesse noted if this fiery triall had not put them to it 3. For the better prevention of securitie in the children of the Church that the more they are opposed the better they may be armed and the more subtile the enemies of the Church are to lay snares and gins for them the more circumspect they might be to prevent them As the Palm-tree the more weight is laid upon it so much the more it strives and heaves against it For these and such like respects when the Church in her reformation meets with opposition it fals out just as God would have it Reas 3. Wicked men Reas 3 who cannot abide that their opinions and doing should be i Ioh. 3.20 judged of others they labour to have it so and that for these reasons 1. Because true reformation many times lessens their estates now desire of gain amongst such men will quickly cause them to enter a wicked and ungodly combate Demetrius and the rest of the silver-Smiths perceiving by the means of St. Paul's preaching a diminution of their gains will withall therefore make head against it had they not been like to have suffered losse by the Apostles doctrine they
pollutions like beds of Eeles are so knotted together that no lesse then a clap of thunder can dissolue them To prevent Reformation we have great beasts and huge bulls of Bashan that will be pushing and goring sons of Anak who are strongly set to maintain their gainfull corruptions as here Demetrius his Temples of Diana insomuch that there is little hopes of amendment by a voluntarie relinquishing of them unlesse the Lord come with a mightie hand qualifying the Instruments appointed for this purpose as were the brethren of Gideon u Iuâ—g 8.18 each one resembling the son of a King making them strong and aâ—â—â—e like Davids Worthies w 1 Châ—â—n 26.30 31 32. men of valour to turn the wheele of Justice upon the back of the wicked and to smite them that shall oppose it as Sampson did the Philistines both x Iud. 15.18 hip and thigh Experience in the beginning of the reformation in the time of Henry the eight in the violent overthrow of the Abbies doth evidently demonstrate this truth unto us as also under the reigne of that gracious Instrument of Gods glory Edward the sixth in whose time the reformation was encumbred not onely with seditions of the Subjects and umults of the Commons but also with much hurrying and banding of the Nobilitie It was prophetically spoken by that reverend man Robert Gnosted sometime Bishop of Lincolne who lived in the reigne of Henry the third and died in the yeer of our Lord 1253. a man who as y Cambden Britan. ex Matt. Paris Anonym Chronograph Cambdâ—n describes him from the words of one then living was a terrible reprover of the Pope an adviser of his Prince an instructer of the Clergie a maintainer of scholers a Preacher to the people a diligent searcher into the Scriptures and a Mallet of the Romanists This man a little before his death complaining of the wicked courses that were held by the Romanists said the Church should never find any ease from the oppressive burthens laid upon her nor be delivered from the Aegyptiacall bondage she was holden in till her deliverance was wrought In ore gladii cruentandi in the mouth of the Sword all bathed in blood What crueltie and barbarisme these hellish monsters have of late executed and do yet upon our distressed brethren in Ireland is not unknown to most of us in this Kingdom and all to oppose the reformation I do not say that either we or they are of the number of those Saints mentioned in the Revelations which shall z Rev. 7.14 come out of great tribulation having their robes washed and made white in the blood of the Lambe Neither is it my interpretation but a Marlâ—r in Rev. c. 7.14 Marlorates who makes it a periphrasis of the last persecution of the Church by Antichrist which of all others will be the most grievousest to such as are minded to live godlily in Christ Jesus as the last assault of Pharaoh was to the departing Israelites and the last endeavour of nature is to the dying patient though b Veniuntenim omnibus aetatibus nec desinunt quamdiu durat hic mundus Aret. in Loc. others understand it of the persecution and affliction of every age which shall be from the time of Christ to the end of the world But this I am sure of and experience to the great detriment of forreine Nations hath made the truth of it knowne unto us that where Religion setteth an edge upon discontent there not onely mutinies heart-burnings and jealousies but also bloudy frayes and massacres are much to be feared In Rome when the fire tooke hold of the Temple of c ArdebaÌ„t sancti sceleratis ignibus ignes mysta est flammae flamma prophanapiae Ovid. fast lib. 6. Vesta and mingled it selfe with the sacred flame then was the greatest mischiefe done Even so where the wild fire of contention mixeth it selfe with the sacred fire of zeale and both burne within the bowels of the same Church it s verily thought that scarce a river of bloud will be able to quench this direfull flame But the Lord of his mercy in his good time quench these coales of contention that they may never come to smoother the flame of our zeale And this is the second thing which this point may make knowne unto us viz. That reformation is neither easily nor suddenly effected 3. To informe us of the difference betwixt the militant Church here on earth and the triumphant Church in heaven here it is subject to opposition on every side the covetous the superstitious the licentious daily assault it it is in a continuall warfare and therefore called the Church Militant the gates of hell oppose themselves against it i. not onely persecutions and speciall sinnes but all manner of evills sweet or sower faire or fowle of what condition sâ—ever as the e Origen in Math. tract 1. Chrysost cont Gent. Quod Christus est Deus Greg. in 5. Psal paenitent The opbilact in Matth. 16. Hieron Rabon Comm. in Matth. 16. Raynold conf cap. 7. divis 8. learned well observe But in heaven nor Satan nor any other enemy of the Church can enter there to assault it none of all these opposers come neare unto heaven nor covetous nor superstitions nor licentious the Church hath there no disturbance no nor yet noise unlesse it be the Songs of Saints and Angells and the shouts of prayses tuned forth in the sweet melody of Hallelajah which so many glorified voyces shall sing unto God there is nothing but tranquillitie and eternall peace and comfort within those blessed doores There our eyes shall not be dimmed with teares nor our soules surprised with feares nor our hearts dejected with sorrowes nor one eares disturbed with cryes nor our senses distracted with paine There are possessions without impeachment Kingdomes without cares length of yeares with strength of delights greatnesse of state without conscience of corruption love of all without jealousie of any there men shall be good and not persecuted truly religious and not opposed happie and not envied rich and not robbed Kings and not flattered Oh glorious Chuâ—ch triumphant who would be unwilling to be dissolved when it shall seeme good to the divine Providence that he may be translated thither where is freedome from all assaults and oppositions f 〈◊〉 August 〈…〉 Dei cap. 22. Clâ—â—mbrotus reading Platoes Booke de immutalitate animae cast himselfe downe from a Wall and so ended his dayes hoping thereby speedily to come to that blessed estate which is prepared for good men after this life But for all his hast his fact is rather to be lamented then imitated we may desire the fruition of this blessed happinesse in the Church triumphant but we must waite and stay Gods leisure for it possessing our selves with patience in the meane time under the manifold oppositions that wee are here likely to meete withall in the Church Militant And this is the third and
32.18 19. as Wine that had no vent or as naturall corruptions in carnall men become more sinfull when restrained by the commandement so love to the truth in Gods children should grow more fervent when the Devill and wicked men labour to oppose it And this is the third Use A fourth and last Vse 4 may be for Exhortation and so it may serve 1. To encourage us to stand fast in the times of opposition and to think never a whit the worse but rather the better of our profession accounting it an honour that wee are the true members of the Church of Christ though others who are contemptible doe cast contempt upon us for it Things of good esteeme are neither easily kept nor yet attained unto and were there not great worth in the sinceritie of our profession it would never meete with such opposition the Devill and wicked men would never so much band against it Shall wee then loose our hopes of so blessed a Covenant because there be so many enemies strive against it Shall wee betake our selves into the Wildernesse and there live a Monasticall Hereticall life alienating our selves from our worke and labour because wee are afraid of opposition Oh farre be it from us how unworthy shall wee shew our selves of so glorious a priviledge that will not stand to it and for it when the Devill and wicked men oppose it b Theodoret. Eccles lib. 4. c. 24. Theodoret reporteth in his Ecclesiasticall Storie that when Valens the Emperour with his Arrian heresie had bepestred the Christian world and struck a deepe wound in the white bosome of the Church by which meanes the flocke of Christ stood in great danger Aphraates a certaine Monk a holy man of that time contrary to his order came forth of his vowed and confining Monastery to succour the endangered truth and being asked by the Emperour who was offended at him what he did out of his Ceâ—lâ— I would saith he have kept it and did keepe it so long as Christs sheep were in peace but now that tempests doe come on and stormes bring them in danger I cannot be coop'd up and suffer them in hazard of ruine every stone is to be turned every means is to be sought to free them from this perill He further addes If I were Daughter to any man whatsoever and were confined by my Father to a Closet or some secret chamber and 〈◊〉 part of the house yet if my Fathers dwelling were on fire should I not be very carelesse if I would not then come forth to helpe to quench it or give direction for it So if now I should not helpe to teach true faith in Christ by comming out of my Monastery I should doe much amisse A resolution very fitting for these times wherein the affayres of the Church call us forth God forbid wee should now keep our selves within our Cloysters and be terrified with the spightfull looks of our daring adversaries He that would weare the wreath of Victory must not like a coward either absent himselfe or run out of the field though he see much bloud to be spilt before his eyes Israel had never gotten the promised Land of Canaan had they been afraid of the sonnes of Anak the more and the greater the oppesition is the stronger should our resolution be It s recorded of Saul that when c 1 Sam. 11.2 6 7. Naash the Ammonite came up and encamped against Jabesh-Gilead and there indenting with the people to enter into Covenant with them upon a base and deadly condition to the great disparagement of Israel It is said the Spirit of God came upon him when he heard those things and his anger was greatly enkindled insomuch that although the Ammonites were many in number great and terrible and the case desperate having but seven dayes respit yet so much the more strong was the Spirit of God in Saul and he tooke a yoake of Oxen and hewed them in pieces and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of Messengers saying to this purpose that even so should their Cattell be dealt withall whosoever would not follow him in this just quarrell It was valiantly done and like a worthy Captaine Such undaunted Spirits there have beene who in the Churches cause have stood it out against all oppositions our blessed Apostle St Paul when he came to Athens a place full of Idolls yea I may say of Devills in every corner were Temples set up for that purpose It is said that his Spirit was d Acts 17.16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Inâ—â—â—abatur Vulg. Irritabatur Aug. Erasm Tremell Beza stirred in him incited exasperated as the word will beare in so much that he was as it were without himselfe to see that horrible blasphemie against God and did he not here at Ephesus adventure himselfe in this uproare when he would have e Acts 19.30 entred in unto the people hazarding his owne life as well for the maintenance of that truth which was opposed as for the defence of his friends which were then surprized The like worthy resolution was in that holy man Martin Luther who having stirred up the whole world against him and perceiving little or no hopes but that the doctrine of the Gospell should have been stifled in the Cradle endeavoured the maintenance thereof against all opposition and hearing that the Divines of f Massaeus Chron. 20. p. 27 3. Lovaine and Cullen had burned many of his Bookes by the command of the Pope he openly burned the Popes Lawes Decretalls and Bulls saying I have done to them as they to me and so heroycall was his Spirit that he dared to professe that he would enter into that fore-warned Citie of g Fox Martyroll Anno. 1521. pag. 977. Wormes though there had beene as many Devills in their streets as Tyles on their houses to answer for himselfe before Charles the fifth of that name against Cekius and others Thus naturall it hath ever been to true Spirits that are guided by the Holy Ghost not to be daunted with perill nor to hang downe their heads for the opposition of the Devill But what speake I of the noble Champions of Christ the very Heathens were so undaunted in their Heathenish Religion that they feared no danger while they were about their superstitious rites As Numa Pompilius sometime King of the Romanes when newes was brought him of his enemies that they were at hand ready to surprise him put the Messenger off with this memorable Speech h Plutarch Apotheg in vita Numae What tell you mee of dangers or enemies doe yee not see that I am sacrificing to my God What a shame were it for us if the true Religion should not beger in us a more noble resolution for the maintenance of it against all opposition since we have God bound by promise to deliver us when wee faithfully crave his succour and assistance and since it is almost all one as Fulgertius
in his first Booke to Thrasimund King of the Vandalles affirmeth i Pene id esse fidem nolle asserere quam negare uno codemque silentia firmat errorem qui terrore seu tempore possessus silendo non astruit veritatem to deny the faith and not to stand for it and maintaine it because as he there reasoneth a man by one and the same silence strengthneth errour who through feare or negligence holding his peace affirmeth not the truth And thus of the first thing which this point may move us to considered in this use of Exhortation viz. to stand fast in the times of opposition 2. It may serve to stirre up every one to the best of his power to endeavour the furtherance of the Reformation A dutic belonging indeed 1. Principally and particularly unto those that are put in authoritie for this purpose who by their k Non quod natura sint Dej sed quod officium corum sit ordinatio div na Bern. in Joan. 10. office and Ob communitatem ipsis potentiam potestatem Zanch. de natu Deilib 1. cap. 12. communication of power are m Exod. 22.8.18 21.6 Psal 82.6 Acts 23.5 Gods upon earth into whose hands the God of heaven hath committed the n Rom. 13.4 sword of justice that it may be drawne out of the Icabberd to wound the o Psal 68.21 hairie scalpe of such persons as are the greatest enemies to the Church of Christ and who more then our sâ—ducing and seduced Papists the pestilent disturbers of this Kingdome the sworne enemies of our Church and State the maine opposers of an hopefull Reformation How shall Israel enjoy the Land of Canaan in quiet if those cursed Cananites be not subdued What safetie can wee be in when such miscreants lurke in our dwelling When Priests and Jesuites shall be suffered to run from house to house and seduce whole families When neither Countrey nor Citie nor Court shall be free of such conspiratours who have not onely foveas but foventes their holes but friends and fautors to protect them But blessed be the God of Heaven who hath so furnished those Heroicall Spirits now at this present assembled in the Honourable Court of Parliament with p Eccles â— 9 stout hearts and undaunted q Exod. 18.21 courages that they feare not to execute Justice boldly upon the great and proudest offenders Goe on yee noble Worthies with the Spirit of fortitude well tempered zeale and godly constancy to brandish the sword of Justice and to run through as I may say the very heart of farre-spreading Popery Atheisme and all manner of Superstition to strike at the very roote of all those abominations which you are daily petitioned to redresse Not fearing the faces of men though their faces be as the faces of Lyons and their visages never so terrible What should hinder you in this course of reformation You have the prayers helpe and approbation of all good men the assured assistance of God himselfe the supreame Magistrate who will reward your care and crowne your diligence the Law Religion and Conscience is on your side You cannot want seconds while these take your part Proceed then as you have begun you blessed Instruments of this happie Reformation not onely severely to censure but utterly to suppresse the raging ranging and roaring sinnes both in Clergie and Laitie Let such be placed in Authoritie over either as may not onely by the dutie of their calling seeke earnestly the reformation of those things that are amisse but also may by their well ordered holy lives be Lanternes and spectacles of vertue and godlines patternes and presidents of well-doing grace and goodnesse to all others That the people by them as by a glasse even as the youth of Greece did by Epaminondas may learne to trim and adorne themselves with all vertuous ornaments This this will be the most hopefullest course to rectifie things that are depraved to unite things that are divided to set in order and reforme things which had need to be amended Besides greater love you cannot shew to the Church of Christ more loyaltie to your Prince more safetie to the State and Kingdome that it may continue in peace a greater encrease of joy and comfort unto your owne lives and livings your wives and children your pleasures and contentments than in taking the Romish Foxes and abandoning those Lyons-Whelpes which hitherto have been nursed in this Kingdome for our owne destruction proceeding according to your just Lawes and wholesome Statutes to confiscation of goods to imprisonment banishment or death it selfe according to the quantie of their offences for where lenitie will not recover nor smaller punishments worke any correction with them to move or remove them from their heresies and other corruptions no further clemency is there to be shewed since as Lypsius hath well observed r Ipsa clementia est in desperate malos non esse clementem Lyps lib. de unareli It is good demencie not to shew any clemencie unto those that are desperately evill And thus principally unto whom this duty belongeth viz. unto those that are put in authoritie for that purpose 2. More generally it belongs unto all every member of the Common-weal ought to endeavour it and that two manner of wayes viz. 1. Privatively 2. Positively 1. Privatively by avoiding all such things as may hinder it I will omitting many others onely name these three 1. Diversitie of Religions there is no greater impediment to a blessed Reformation then a gallamaphry of religion when everie man shall be suffered to worship God his own way Symmachus indeed the Oratour laboured by way of argument to procure a generall toleration of Religion and thought of no such inconvenience in it Å¿ Quia Deus immensum quiddam est infiâ—â—tum cujus natura profecte cognosci non potest equum eâ—go est ut diversa ratione colatur pro ut quisque aliquid de Deo percipit aut intelligat Epist Sym. Because God said he is immense and infinite and his nature cannot perfectly be known it is convenient he should be as diversly worshipped as every man shall conceive or understand But he was deceived and so was Thâ—mistius that laboured to perswade Valens the Emperour that God was well pleased with variety of Sects t Dum ita pluribus modis colitur c. Socrat. Ecclesi lib 4. ca. 27. because by this tolleration of divers Religions he is worshipped after divers manners And so the Papist that sometime would have perswaded our late Soveraigne James of happy memory the great King of Britaine that it was not onely lawfull and expedient but also honourable for him to permit the publike profession and practise of the Romish Religion within this Kingdom as Parsons Allen Bishop and others of that hereticall crew have endeavoured to maintain But who may not see their ayme in this which is not so much to get harbour for their own