be despersed ouer the whole worlde yet not all nor many in comparison of the infidels but a verie fewe belong vnto it And therefore we are in the next place to see who are the members of it and of whom it doth consist The answere to this point we haue in the definition which saith that all who serue God in any part of the worlde are of the catholicke Church For as a king may deuide the whole worlde into his owne subiectes who liue within his dominions knowe obey and honour him and into forrenners who are without the compasse of his iurisdiction doe him no seruice make no account of him and in briefe haue no kinde of dealing with him so all men liuing in the worlde are eyther Gods subiectes and seruantes liuing within the compasse of the catholicke Church and as it is written Ephes. 2.12.19 Citizens with the faintes and of the houshold of God or else they are aliantes from the common wealth of Israell without the promise couenant or hope of saluation yea without God in the worlde But forsomuch as God is serued many waies in deede or in shewe onely sincerely or hypocritically purely or corruptly fully or after an imperfect manner in knowledge or in ignorance and after many other differences therefore we are to search out what manner of seruing God doth make a man to be a member of the catholicke Church wherunto we answere that the outward profession of the true seruice of God although ioyâ—ed with impotencie of performing any actual seruice yea with hypocrisie corruption imperfection errour and heresie will serue for this purpose and doth make a man a true member of the catholicke Church For the first difference some serue God actually by praying to God or praising him by hearing his word and obeying it or which is all in all by trusting fearing and louing God in heart namelie so many of the Church as haue comne to yeares of discretion but there are some who cannot serue God by any of these meanes or any other of the same kinde to witte infantes who by reason of the infirmitie of their age cannot heare or vnderstande and therefore can neither knowe nor beleeue God or serue him in any actuall manner Yet they may and doe by the helpe of others take vpon them and beare the true profession of the seruice of God by receiuing the sacrament of initiation or first entrance into the Church by the which meanes they become true members of the catholicke Church as well as men of ripe age The trueth heereof appeareth 1. Corin. 7.14 where the Apostle saith that the children of the Christians are holy meaning euen the yongest infantes as they are borne of faithfull parentes not that the faith of the parentes or the sacrament of the Church doth adde any inward and reall holinesse vnto them but onely giueth vnto them a holy profession or an outward profession of holinesse and of faith and also imputed righteousnesse and supposed holinesse if they belong to Gods election In like manner vnder the lawe all the young children of the Iewes especially after they had receiued the sacrament of circumcision were counted members of the Church and in the number of the holy people of God And therefore God complaineth of the Iewes offering their young ones in sacrifice to idols that they gaue his children to Moloch Ezec. 16.21 Thus much of those who become members of the Church by meere profession nowe we come to the actuall seruing of God the which where it is in sinceritie of hart and life perfourmed it maketh one a member of Christâ—s mysticall bodie much more theâ— of his Church here on earth But all the controuersie is of them in whome this actuall seruice is imperfect as it is first in hypocrites who want the inward seruice of the heart as also heretikes doe some part of the sinceritie of doctrine and dissolute men the seruice of outwarde life and ignorant idiotes the seruice of the minde and lastly as the dispersed members of the Church wante the publike worshippe of God The answere in generall is this that howsoeuer the imperfect seruice of hypocrites wicked men heretikes and idiotes be not acceptable in the sight of God yet it is sufficient to make them true members of the militant Church but we will come to the seuerall consideration of them And first of hypocrites by the which name we call those men in whome the outwarde seruice is perfect in that they both hold and professe the whole trueth of christian religion and also expresse the same in their liues both in worde and deede and yet doe not serue GOD in spiritte and trueth but are destitute of true faith and of all the rest of the effectuall graces of the sanctifying spiritte springing thereof This manner of seruing GOD is not pleasing but rather odious and abhominable to him Esay 1.14 and therefore it is not auailable for the saluation of any but rather maketh mens damnation the more iust yet it giueth vnto them the name of the members of the Church For it is confessed of all that hypocrites may be true ministers in a particular Church as Iudas was a true Apostle whereof it doth necessarelie followe that they are true members of the Church for the teachers and rulers of a Church are the chiefe members of it So that as in a common-wealth or kingdome they who haue freedome and interest in such bodies eyther by nature or fauour are counted true subiectes as long as they liue in outwarde obedience to lawes yea though they be knowen to beare in their heartes an vnnaturall and disloyall affection to their country or prince so it is in the Church with hypocrites destitute of the true faith and loue of God But howe can hypocrites be made true members of the Church which is the bodie of Christ seeing that they haue no coniunction with Christ who is the heade of the Church For the resoluing of this doubt we must consider both Christ the heade and the Church his bodie two diuerse waies for Christ as he is a sauiour is a heade to the mysticall bodie of the elect onely vnto whome he giueth by his spirite effectuall grace spirituall motion and eternall life In this respect hypocrites haue no more to doe with Christ or his Church then darknesse hath with light but heere we doe not meddle with the mysticall body of the Church Secondlie Christ is the kinge Lorde and ruler of his Church militant heere on earth in the which respect hee is a heade not onely to the faithfull but also to hypocrites to whom hee giueth spirituall graces ministeriall giftes and ecclesiasticall functions euen as he maketh the sunne to shine vppon the iust and the vniust first he communicateth to them the giftes of knowledge wisedome doctrine and exhortation of tongues of miracles and prophesie Ephesians 4.8 Where he like a victorious king triumphing ouer his enemies ascended into heauen and gaue
and of the iudgementes of God that by this meanes they may be driuen to Christ and euen compelled to imbrace the doctrine of the gospell For as the iron must first be made hote in the fire before it will receaue any newe foâ—me so must the hard heart be mollified in the furnace of the wrath of God before it will receaue the doctrine of faith and therefore it is needfull that there should by this meanes a way be made for the doctrine of the gospell for men must first be made to see their sinnes and the punishment of eternall death due vnto them before they can learne the vse and necessitie of Christ and of his righteousnesse For the phisition commeth not to whole men neyther doth the surgeon lay his plaisters but vpon wounded and brused members Thus did Iohn goe before Christ in the spirit of Elias to prepare the people for the Lord Luk. 1.17 and thus Christ prepared the young man Math. 19.21 and Peter the Iewes Actes 2.37 who when they were pricked in their heartes by hearing their sinnes they came to the Apostles saying men and brethren what shall we doe And Paul the men of Athens Act. 17.31 and lastly thus did God himselfe by a feareful earthquake prepare the iaylor Actes 16.30 and according to these exmples all other vnbeleeuers are to be conuerted by bringing them to a sight of their sinnes and a sense of the anger of GOD and that especially by mentioning and vrging those sinnes which are most hainous in their owne eyes and by the confession of all men which they can least excuse and whereof they are most ashamed Yea the doctrine of the lawe ought to goe before because it will more easelie be receaued and beleeued forsomuch as it is naturall to men being ingrafted in euerie mans minde since the first creation of man For although it were by the fall of Adam greatlie diminished obscured and peruerted yet there remaineth a confused and darke knowledge of good and euill of right and wrong and also of the rewarde belonging to obedience and the punishment of death due to sinne Rom. 1.32 the Gentiles knowe the lawe of God that they who committe sinne are worthy of death Yea of this knowledge commeth a conscience in infidels sometimes excusing them althoâ—gh falsely but for the most parte accusing them for their sinne before God So that this their knowledge of the lawe and conscience of sinne may easely be inlightned and stirred vppe by the preaching of the lawe whereas the doctrine of faith is contrarie to naturall reason and therefore harde to be perswaded Thus we see the first parte of the ministerie of the worde to wit that whereby infidels are to be prepared for the gospell This being done then the doctrine of christian religion is briefely and summarelie to be propunded euen as the Apostles did vse to preach Christ. The summe of whose sermons was this that saluation is to be had by faith in Iesus Christ the sonne of God and the redeemer of the world The trueth of this doctrine is to be proued by such testimonies as are of most force as the lawe and prophetes are with the Iewes out of the which we see that Christ and his Apostles doe continually proue that which they speake Likewise as touching the gentiles although the maine points of the gospell be contrarie to humane reason and therefore not to be grounded thereon yet we are not destitute of many helpes and euident argumentes drawen out of their owne poets philosophers prophetisses and oracles whereby the probabilitie trueth and necessitie of the gospell may be declared euen to the heathen The which who so desireth to know may see them in those bookes which are written for the demonstration of the trueth of christian religion both in the first ages of the Church as also in these latter times Especially the vanitie of that false and idolatrous worship is to be laid open vnto them that so they being as it were driuen from that may be constrained to seeke the true religion as hath beene declared Sect. 4. How men conuerted to the faith ought to be ordered SO many of them as can be wonne by this means to beleeue the trueth of the doctrine deliuered are vpon confession of their faith to haue baptisme administred vnto them to be a seale of their faith to themselues and a badge of their profession to others and so to be separated from the rest as those of whom the Church is to consist Yea although they doe not at the first expresse the power of religion in true repentance and a christian life yet if they doe beleeue that to be the true religion of GOD and be content to professe the same then are they to be accounted members of the Church So we reade Actes 8.16 that many of the Samaritanes were baptised and so receaued into the Church whenas none of them had receaued the holy ghost but onely beleeued in the name of Iesus as they were taught So the Eunuch was baptised Actes 8. vpon this confession I beleeue that Iesus Christ is the sonne of God For euen as they who labour in digging mettals out of the earth doe at the first â—ake for golde whatsoeuer doth glister and afterward purge the pure golde from the corrupt drosse and from all base mettall and as fishers take for fishe whatsoeuer commeth to the net but afterwarde separate the good from the bad Math. 13.47.48 so at the first the ministerie receaueth all that seeme to beleeue but in processe of time it separateth the hypocrite from the beleeuer and the wicked from the godly although not perfitly But before the administration of baptisme the summarie doctrine of it must be taught that so it may be receaued with greater fruite to wit that this sacrament was appointed by God himselfe as Iohn the first minister of it doth testifie Iohn 2.33 to be in his church a badge and common liueray of all his seruants whereby they are to professe his name and to be knowen from vnbeleeuers and also for their owne edification that by baptisme they may be confirmed in beleeuing the doctrine both of the law and of the gospell and further that it belongeth cheifly to the doctrine of the law in that by drowning vs in water it putteth vs in remembraunce of that eternall death whereunto we were subiect before as the Apostle teacheth Rom. 6.4 and that it is of the same nature and vse with circumcision the which did vnder the law both distinguishe the Iewes as gods people from all other nations as prophane and also set before the eies of the receauers eternall death as the other ordinarie sacrament of the passouer did eternall life for the one sacrament was of a bloudy signification wounding the body and so threatning death but the other graue the comfortable nourishment of life and so doe baptisme the Lords supper differ Lastly that both baptisme and circumcision although they
rites then she listeth her selfe so that these ecclesiasticall lawes made by the authority of the Church doe not stretch themselues vnto the substance of the gouernment of the Church as to the institution of any office beside those which are â—xpresly mentioned in the worde If it be obiected that Dauid did adde vnto the ceremoniall lawe the office of singers 1. Chro. 6.31 The answere is that he did this by himselfe and others as by prophets not by any ordinarie authoritie In the second place we are to see after what manner and by what rule these lawes are to be made We answere according to the word of God the square of all christian and spirituall actions not only in the ordering of the Church but also throughout the whole course of a christian mans life But seeing that they are not expresly mentioned in the worde howe doth it appeare that they ought to be framed according to this rule The answere is that the worde doth shewe what ought to be done in these thinges First by giuing general rules to guide vs as these That there ought to be nothing in these lawes vnlawfull or contrarie to the morall lawe of God nothing inconuenient offensiue or hurtfull to the Church nothing needlesse and superfluous yea that they ought to be so made as they may most tende to the glorie of God and the edification of the Church But these rules doe belong as wel to the particular actions of priuate men as to the publicke consultations of the Church so that they cannot be any certaine direction in this behalfe And therefore we must come to the second helpe which the scripture doth afforde vs for the making of these lawes to wit particular examples of the like cases which giue a greate lighte in these actions and are a sufficient warrant for vs to imitate the difference betwixt those cases and those which we haue in hande being wiselie obserued But neyther this second meanes is sufficient forsomuch as particular cases are so infinite and diuerse that there cannot alwaies be found like examples yea the differences of the exaÌ„ples being found do easely breede great controuersie doubt and erroure And therefore we must haue recourse to the third and last meanes which is that those humane lawes be made agreeable to the lawes of God and the ceremonies to the substance of Church-gouernment so as they may most fitly expresse and resemble the nature of the action But neither this third way doth alwaies serue for the finding out of the truth because it is hard to see the true nature oâ— the action where vnto the ceremonie is to be made conformable especially since the time wherein the gouernment of the Church hath been peruerted altered and almost wholly corrupted as also because that it is not alwaies easie to iudge a right of the generall rules and of the examples of the scripture and of those other pointes which we are nowe â—o consider Yet these are the meanes which God hath appointed for this purpose and which being diligently vsed will by the blessing of God lead vs to the truth Thus we see that the deuising of these lawes ought to be according to the worde of God and yet so that they are left arbitrarie to the Church not â—s if it were lawfull for them to doe what they lift in the least action of their priuate liues much lesse in the publick ordering of the Church For the word of God must be our rule according to the which all actions and lawes are to be squared and tried For euen those things which are in theire own nature indifferent left to our own choise to doe or not to doe being generally considered yet whenas they come to be practised weighed with special circumstances so that the trueth doth appeare vnto vs then they are no more indifferent as before but either good or euill to be done or not to be done As in the foresaide instance at what time the worde of God shoulde be publickly preached is a thing indifferent whereof there is no commandement in the worde and therefore it is left to the Church to determine Yet if they appoint those times at which the people cannot conueniently come together then they do euen in this indifferent thing offend against the worde of God which commandeth that in all our actions both priuate and much more publick we do that which may make most for the glory of God and the ediâ—â—cation of our brethren and yet these lawes which are so made that they are onely inconuenient to the Church not simply vnlawfull although they cannot lawfully be made yet they may lawfully be obeyde For although it be not lawfull for any man to bring griefe or inconuenience to his brother yet it is lawfull to take and beare that inconuenience whenas it cannot conueniently be auoided Sect. 4. According to what rules ecclesiasticall humane laweâ— ought to be made THus we see that the scripture is the chiefe rule of these lawes in aduising whereof there must consideration be had of all circumstances whatsoeuer that as farre as may be they may agree withall and fight with none and especially of these First of the age or condition of the time wherein the Church is Secondly of the nature disposition and fashions of the people Thirdly of the state of that Church for which the lawes are to be made Fourthly of the condition of the ciuil estate of the kingdome or common-wealth wherein the Church is built And lastly of the lawes of other Churches We say that in making Church lawes besides the direction of the worde diuers other rules are necessarely to be obserued First the state of the time wherein we liue whether it be a time of knowledge wherein men do commonly knowe the will of GOD or a time of ignorance and blindnesse wherein the worde of GOD is rare as it was in the daies of Eli. 1. Samuell 3.1 Hereof due regarde is to be had that neither lesse nor more be exacted of the people by the lawes then the time present can afforde for priuate ignoraunces may be suddainly taken away but publick blindnesse cannot be fully amended but in progresse of time For some times the truth of GOD shineth clearely euen as the sunne at noone day which at other times is ouercast with cloudes and mistes of blindnesse and shineth more darkely euen as the sunne in the beginning of the day This hath been the state of the Church nowe these many ages wherein blindnesse and palpable darknesse brought in by antichrist hath ouershadowed the face of the whole earth but nowe by the mercy of GOD the trueth hath these many yeares and doth daily more and more appeare vnto vs insomuch that if we doe compare this present time with those dayes wherein it pleased God not many yeares past to reueale his will vnto vs we shall find a great difference of knowledge in the Church yea so great â—s that the
although in respect of the simple handling of the matter it be vnworthy to be accepted and red by the meanest yet no man can doubt or will deny but that the fitnesse of the argument is a probable excuse for this presumptuous dedication Lastly we desire thee good reader to vse christian moderation in suspending thy iudgement of vs till happely time make that manifest which now is doubtfull in regard of two opinions contained in these treatises the which will seeme somewhat strange to some and perhaps to thy selfe among the rest The one is that we enfraunchize the papist Arian al other heretickes professing the gospel of Christ into the catholicke Church by the which we meane nothing else but the whole Church militant here on earth from the which many doe vtterly reiect them as mere infidels and straungers from the couenant and commonwealth of Israel The other opinion is in that we giue to the christian magistrate especially in great and absolute Monarchies greater authoritie both in ciuill and ecclesiasticall causes then seemeth to stand with the good of the Church or the trueth of Gods word For the former we neede not trouble our selues with the defence of it any further then it is declared in the treatise it being held and professed by many sound diuines who are in euerie respect far more able to maintaine it Likewise for the other we haue nothing to say in this place saue onely that we are to desire thee not to attribute it to flattery rather then to a constant and setled perswasion the suspition whereof it is hard for him to auoyde who doth any thing whereby the power and authoritie of mightie men is maintained and enlarged and so their fauour as vsually it commeth to passe procured We doe indeed intend in publishing this treatise the good and peaceable estate of this kingdome and the maintaining of that powerfull and maiesticall authoritie whereunto it hath pleased God to make vs subiect Yea we doe earnestly desire of him that these treatises may haue that effect in al their hearts into whose handes they shal come that they if there be any such who doe nourish in their breastes any sinister affections or opinions in this behalf may be by meanes of them wonne to heartie loue to so gratious a prince loyall subiection to so lawfull and excellent a kinde of gouernment Yea that they who haue alreadie receaued these graces from God may encrease in them and perfourme all dueties which are needfull in regard eyther of the safetie or the maiestie of their prince more williâ—gly and chearefully then before as being perhaps resolued of some pointes â—hereof before they doubted And lastly that as touching the religion and worship of God professed in this land they who accounte vs no Church by whome we affirming their opinion to be such as might easely be shewed out of the word of God to be erroneous haue beene vehemently charged in the name of God to publish somewhat of the true nature and constitution of a Church for the manifesting of the trueth in that behalfe may be moued to thinke and acknowledge that God iâ— truely serued his word preached his sacramentes administred and his name called vpon in all the publicke assemblies throughout this land especially by considering the doctrine nature and state of a publicke Church the which kinde of Churches not being in vse in the daies of the Apostles and therfore not mentioned in their writiâ—gs seemeth strange to many This we confesse that we intend in this action and are perswaded that we may lawfully yea in some respectes ought necessarely to doe but we trust that God will neuer so giue vs vp to a senselesse minde as to doe any thing for the procuring of the fauour of men contrarie to the trueth of Gods word and the good of his Church He maketh an euill bargaine that throweth himselfe into the bottomlesse sea or rather into the burning furnace of Gods wrath in aduenture of mans fauour which is vncertaine and momentaniâ— sooner lost then gottâ—n in respect of true happinesse altogether vnprofitable But we trust good reader that this apologie might haue beene spared and that thou wilt take these simple treatises in good part as thou hast done the like heretofore Thus I commend thee as I earnestly desire to be commended by thee to the word and spirit of God to be led into all trueth and preserued without blame till the day of Christ. T. M. The Arguments of these treatises THE former treatise declareth the state of the kingdome of Israell the which we haue endeuoured to learne and set downe in plaine manner out of the scripture wherein there is nothing but truth especially out of the bookes of Samuell the Kings Chronicles wherein the first originall continuance and end yea the whole nâ—ture and condition of this gouernment is at large declared Where by the kingdome of Israell we doe not meane that apostaticall rebellious and idolatrous kingdome of the ten tribes vsually called the kingdome of Israell or the kingdome of Samaria but the kingdome of Iuda the which we call by the first ancient and right name of Israell because our purpose is to entreate of the state of it as it was at the first instituted by Samuell and as it continued vnder Saule Dauid and Salomon in whose time it was called the kingdome of Israell But in the beginning of the raigne of Râ—boam it lost ten of the tribes and together the right name which vsually followeth the greater part For the which cause in the time following it was called the kingdome of Iuda for that the tribe of Iuda did not onely make the greatest part of it but also had the prerogatiue of the kingdome annexed vnto it The causes by the which we are moued to thinke the state of this kingdome most worthy to be carefully sought out and truely knowen are these because of all the kingdomes in the world this onely was instituted by God himselfe or at the least approued by him and also registred and fully described in the bookes of the scripture yea and first practised in the Church of God In the which respectes we cannot doubt but that the true and perfect knowledge of it doth greately belong to the Church and to all the members of it And yet we doe not speake of it as of the onely lawfull forme of gouernement and that which ought to be vsed of the Church in all places For there is no kinde of gouernment which may not lawfully bee established among Christians and as lawfully vsed amongest them as this Neyther as if all kingdomes shoulde be squared according to this rule from the which they may farre differ without any blame for the iudiciall lawes of the commonwealth or of the kingdome of Israel doe not belong to the Church Neyther yet doe we affirme this kingdome to be the most excellent and conuenient state and that which christians according to the example of
zealous of the law yea Paule by the counsell of the Church at Ierusalem did goe about to make the Iewes beleeue that he also did liue according to the law of Moses Act. 21.26 and therefore we must thinke that he warneth the Galathians that if nowe in so great light of the gospell which teacheth the abrogation of the ceremoniall lawe and after so much teaching and so many admonitions they did still remaine blinde and obstinate yea and did turne backe againe to the orâ—ers of the lawe that then it was an euident signe that they were as yet destitute of the true knowledge and obedience of the gospell For if this had beene the first time wherein they had beene taught Christ he woulde easelie haue winked at this greate errour of ioyning the lawe and the gospell togither Likewise as concerning that detestable heresie of Arianismâ— we may well thinke the authours spreaders beginners furtherers and maintainers of it to haue beene men destitute of the spirit of God and that this heresie is especially in these ages a fearefull signe of eternalll reprobation Yet we are not to thinke so hardlie of those who were corrupted with it â—fter that it had ouerspred the greatest part of the worlde and so were caried away with the multitude to euill although it were in that time also a fearefull token of a reprobate minde for as in a common infection of the aire we cannot iudge of the state of mens bodies by popular diseases and deathes whenas both strong and weake men are in the same case so neyther in the common raigning of anie heresie can we perfectly discerne the state of mens mindes and soules by that token forsomuch as God doth sauesome euen by pulling them out of the fire And therefore we are charitably to hope the best of them who liue in grieuous errours not of wilfull blindnesse but of simple ignorance and not to doubt but that ignorant heretikes beeing religious and zealous seruers of God are in farre bettâ—r state as touching their saluation then they who professing the sincere doctrine of the gospell doe in their prophane liues denie the power thereof But that heretikes are to be accounted members of the Church we shall haue occasion to declare when we come to the corrupt state of a Church So that to conclude this pointe we doe and that as we trust and are perswaded by the worde of GOD giue the name of members of the Church and of christians to all that doe in outwarde profession holde the foundation of religion The which although in effect it be the same both before and since the time of the Gospell yet it hath some difference in respect of the diuersitie of the times For before Christ was exhibited in the flesh this was the foundation of religion I put my whole trust and confidence for my happinesse in the Messias whome God hath promised to sende for the redemption and saluation of the people of the seede of Dauid This foundation did the Church of the Iewes professe when Christ came and therefore euery one of that people was a member of the Church howsoeuer they did togither holde grosser heresies then the papistes doe at this day But since the comming of Christ this is to holde the foundation of religion I beleeue Iesus the sonne of Mary to be the sonne of God the promised Messias the Lord and Sauiour of the worlde and that in him onely saluation is to be had as it is more briefely set downe by the Apostle 1. Cor. 3.11 Another foundation can no man lay but that which is laid to wit that Iesus is Christ. To the which doctrine all opinions and assertions which are contrary are pernicious heresies and such as bring certaine damnation 2. Peter 2.1 There were many false propheâ—s among the peopâ—e as there are falsâ— teachers amongâ— you which bring in damnable heresiâ—s to wit these denying the Lorde Iesuâ— who bought them these bring vpon themselues swift damnation that is may certainly be accounted for damned As for the heresies of those who doe confesse the lord Iesus as they are more waighty and doe nearer approach to the grand heresie of those who do not confesse the Lord Iesus so they are more dangerous yet of themselues not beeing ioyned with obstinate and wilfull blindnesse not so desperate Sect. 5. Of those who dissemble their profession BVT before we leaue this point this question may me moued whether as the outward profession of faith without the trueth thereof in heart so the inwarde faith of the heart without out ward profession be sufficient to make a man a true member of the catholicke Church We answere that where true faith is there necessarely is also some outward seruice of God and some confession of the mouth by praier or some other meanes which be it neuer so little is sufficient to make a man a member of the catholicke Church But as for open and publicke profession of our faith before men true faith being weake may be destitute thereof so we read Iohn 12.40 that many of the chiefe rulers beleeued in Christ but neither did nor durst professe him before men these are members of the catholicke Church which is in visible but not of any particular Church vnlesse they doe professe their faith before others beside themselues So that outward profession of the faith although it be secrete and priuate maketh a man a member of the catholicke Church and open profession maketh vs members of the visible Church But it may be obiected against this whole doctrine that if the outward profession of the gospell be sufficient to make a true member of the Church then the diuels which confessed Iesus to be the sonne of Godâ— are truely christians We answere that this confession was extorted from them by the power of God and sometimes came from the malice of their nature that so they might procure danger to Christ but they doe not by faith relie themselues on God in Christ for happinesse neither doe they professe themselues to be his seruantes and that they are to loue him and labour to glorifie him as all christians doe So then as many are members of the misticall bodie of Christ and of his Church which are not as yet members of his visible bodie which is the visible Church militant heere on earth they not beeing as yet called to the knowledge of the gospell so many are called to be members of the Church who are not chosen Sect. 6. Who are without the catholicke Church AND thus we see what manner of seruing God is ment in the definition the other wordes which follow haue their vse for in that we require the seruice of the true God we exclude all heathenish and pagan people from being members of the Church because as it is Rom. 1.23 they passing by the creator worship creatures as Gods And lastly we adde these wordes in Iesus Christ because there is no true seruing of God the
father but in the sonne in whome onely he is well pleased And therefore the nation of the Iewes hauing reiected Christ is by that meanes reiected of God from being his people neyther are they to be accounted members of the Church although they serue God with neuer so great zeale Rom. 11. The same account we are to make of the Turkes Saracens Moores and all those nations which professe the religion of Mahomet the which we confesse doth retaine diuerse pointes of christianitie yea and that if it be well marked it wil be sound a close or mysticall Arianisme couering and glosing ouer many waightie pointes of faith with iudaicall types and poeticall fictions that it being by this meanes made darke and aenigmaticall might be more highly esteemed by blinde and ignorant men Whereas if it had beene set downe in a plaine and simple manner it woulde haue beene easely vndestood disputed of and in the ende altogether contemned Yet forsomuch as this religion doth not worship and honour Iesus Christ as the onely sonne of God and sauiour of the world as the first Arians therefore 〈◊〉 the professours of it cannot be accounted members of the Church but meere infidels separated from Christ and voyde of the hope of eternall saluation Sect. 7. Of the attributes of the catholicke Church THus we hauing the definition of the catholicke Church are further to consider the nature and state of it in certaine properties which are attributed vnto it Of the which this may be the first that out of the catholicke Church there is no saluation and therefore all the heathen all vnbeleeuing Iewes Turkes and generally all Infidels whatsoeuer doe liue and die to the iudgement and sight of man in the state of eternall damnation This the scripture witnesseth in many places as namely 2. Thes. 2.8 God in the last iudgement shall render vengeance to al that know not God and obey not the gospel of our Lorde Iesus Christ and yet this sentence of damnation which the scripture pronounceth on infidels is so to be vnderstoode as that we doe alwaies except the infinite power and mercy of God who both can as hath beene before touched doth in all partes of the world saue some and that by extraordinarie meanes vnknowen to vs where the ordinarie way is wanting The second attribute of the catholicke Church is this that it can neuer erre in the foundation of religion which is all one as if we did say the catholicke Church neuer ceaseth to be or with this there is continually in the worlde a number of men which serue the true God in Iesus Christ. The trueth of this appeareth by the storie of the Church in the holie scripture and in other bookes which shewe by whome and in what places God hath beene truelie worshipped in euery seuerall age And no maruaile for if the Church shoulde cease to be in the worlde then the world it selfe shoulde haue an ende which was created and doth continue chiefely for this ende to wit to be an habitation for the Church As we reade 1. Cor. 2.16 All thinges are yours euen the verie worlde that is all thinges doe serue as meanes for your good and for the working of your saluation In this sense the Apostle saith 1. Tim. 3.13 That the Church is the piller and firmament that is a most firme and sure piller of trueth to wit of the true religion and worshippe of God And yet the catholicke Church may erre in matters of religion yea euen in those pointes which are waightie and are neare about the foundation it selfe although it alwaies remaine sure and stedfast So it is manifest that the ignorances and errours of the Church which were from the beginning vntill the comming of Christ were both many and greate as hath beene noted before And howe greate errours haue preuailed throughout the whole Church in most of the ages since that time we who liue in this light of the gospell doe easelie and plainely see Yea we knowe that which the Apostle saith 1. Cor. 13. that while the faithfull are in this worlde they see knowe and prophecie but in part and cannot be wholly freed from errour till they see the Lorde perfectly and in him all thinges So we reade Leuit. 4.13 that there was a sacrifice appointed for the expiation of the generall errour of the whole people of the Iewes who then were the whole visible Church of God Thirdlie the catholicke Church doth continually encrease in number and doth consist of moe in the latter ages of the worlde then in the former For before the time of the lawe the Lord was knowen and worshipped onely of a fewe families or kindreds but afterwardes of a great populous nation but since the comming of Christ the Church â—oth enlarge her tentes and receiueth all the nations of the earth Likewise in the first ages of the gospell there was no nation country or citie no not any one towne or village which did generally receiue it but onely a fewe heere and there the rest remaining in infidelitie but in the ages following great nations generally yea infinite multitudes of people became christians Yea this number shall continually encrease vntill the fulnesse of the gentiles be come into the Church whereof the Apostle speaketh Rom. 11. and then shall the nation of the Iewes make a notable addition to this number The cause of this increase is for that God doth not reueale himselfe and his word all at once to the world but by degrees by little and little Where this may also profitably be noted that as the number of beleeuers so also their knowledge doth increase the word of God being much more plentifully reuealed in the latter times they being generally considered then it was in the former As touching the number we know that the visible Church by the which we may certainely gather the state of the catholicke Church was vntill the time of Moses contained within the compasse of one kindred till the comming of Christ in one nation but afterwarde it spred it selfe ouer the whole world Yea the latter times of the gospell shall daily more and more exceede the first in number of beleeuers because now both the ful number of the gentiles and also of the Iewish nation is to come into the Church And in like manner the latter times doe exceede the former in knowledge Fourthly the catholicke Church hath no heade or ruler heere on earth neyther any externall gouernment but is ordered by the spirituall gouernment of Christ who is the onely heade of it For the gouernment and rules prescribed by God to his Church haue place and are put in practise onely in particular Churches which are the members of the catholicke Church Fiftly the catholicke Church is inuisible for that it consisteth not onely of particular Churches which are visible but also of particular men which serue God yet so as that they are not knowen by
with the multitude there commeth in confusion and corruption And the ciuill power being in the person of the magistrate ioyned to the church doth often too much abridge the vse of christian liberty taking to it selfe as it may lawfully do full power in making those ecclesiasticall lawes which belong generally to all the churches within the compasse of it But in these churches the whole authoritie of establishing lawes orders and the appointing of rites and ceremonies is in the Church it selfe Lastly it is vsually obiected against these priuate Churches that they are the causes of tumults and ciuil dissensioÌ„ and so consequently do breâ—d the ruine of those common-wealthes and kingdoms wherâ—in they aâ—e tollâ—rated therefore that it is the part of wise rulers who tender the good and peaceable estate of the people not to suffâ—r them within their dominions to this we answere confessing that through the peruersnesse of our corrupt natures the which are 〈◊〉 inflamed with bitter enmitie against God and all gooâ—nesse it commeth often to passe that â—â—uersitie of religion doth stirre vp great debate in kingdomes cities and families for this cause the Church desired to be separated in place from the idolatours least thâ—y should exasperate their mindes against them Gen. 46.34 Exod. 8.26 yea Christ doth professe that this would follow the Gospell that the father should be at deadly variaunce with the sonne and the mother with the daughter and that a mans nearest friend shoulde for this cause become his cruell enimie Yea the bloudie and tragicaâ—l tumults which haue of late times risen and continued vpon this occasion in diuerse places do testifie the truth here of But yet we ought not therefore to banish the Church out of our dominions For it is better to haue the true worshippe of god with warre trouble and dissention then idolatrie with quietnesse So that we ought to say with Christ that seeing the Gospell is euen as a fierbrand in the world what shoulde be our desire but that it be preached for although for a time it breed trouble yet in the end it will be found the onely meanes of true quietnesse CHAP. VIIII Of a publick Church Sect. 1. Of the obiections which are made against publick churches THus much of a priuate Church Besides the which there is another kinde of a church namely when any whole citie countrie or nation doth generally professe the faith and so becommeth a Church consisting not of any smale or meane number but of great multitudes of people euen of whole nations As we see at this day that diueâ—s great kingdomes and common-wealthes haue receaued the gospell of Christ so that in them the church doth not lurke in any family or priuate corner or is in some few places but is openly publickly and generally set vp in all places by the authority of the ciuill rulers and the common consent of all men This we call a publick Câ—urch such as we see at this day most of al the cities commonwealthes countries and kingdomes in Euâ—ope to be Of the which one is distinguished from another by hauing a proper gouernment of the owne being ruled by the same humane lawes both ciuill and also ecclesiasticall But it may be here thought that these countries are no true churches but that there are churches in them and that not all the people generally but only some fewe of them separated from the rest are to be accounted the true churches of God and that for these reasons first because there was no such churches established by the apostles or recorded to haue bene in the first ages of the gospell Secondly for that although it be not impossible to God to conuert the harts of all men to embrace the gospell yet it is not agreable to his vsuall dealing so to blesse any nation as that all of them without exception should beleeue and become faithfull men Thirdly because of the great confusion and many fould corruptions which are vsually found in such Churches the which seldom or neuer can be brought to the right order of the Church of Christ. Lastly because they are not called to the profession of the faith by the ministerie of the word of God but are in a manner forced thereunto by the lawes edictes of princes and other rulers Whâ—reunto we answere that these things doe not hinder these whole cities or nations from being the true churches of God As touching the first we do confesse that there weâ—e no such publick and generall churches in the daies of the apostles neither in the ages following the cause whereof we may plainly see to be this That then was the â—ime of the infancie of the gospell in respect of the number of beleeuers it hauing been but lately published to the world but this is the time wherein the lord hath appointed that the fulnes of the gentiles should come in which is the conuersion of whole nations and many countries Yea the apostle witnesseth that the fulnes of the Iewes shal be then whenas that whole nation shal generally embrace christ as the sauiour of the world Rom. 11.26 To the second doubt we answere that all the people of any countrie may haue a general faith whereby they do knowe and professe that Iesus Christ is the sauiour of the world that their profâ—ssion hereof although it be not effectual to their saluation yea although it be meerly hypocritical they thinking no such thing yet it is sufficient to make them members of the visible chuâ—ch As touching the corruptioÌ„s which are in such churches we doe confesse that it is greater then either it is to be wished it were or then is in priuat churches where the nuÌ„ber of beleeuers is lesse and that they cannot so easely be brought to and kept in that holy order which christ hath appointed for his church and further that these publick churches so seldome attaine to any pure or perfect estate because in them the church and the common-wealth are so ioyned linked together the whole affaiâ—es and state of the Church depending on the ciuil estate that the manifold alterations wheruÌ„to al kingdoms coÌ„mon-wealthes are subiect do make many chaunges in the church Yet this doth not take from them either the being or the name of the church For it is no straunge thing that there should be greater confusion and moe corruptions in great multitudes of people then in small congregations For so we see euen in the first congregation of Câ—ristians which the Apostles themselues did gouerne that when the number of disciples did encrease then there was murmuring among them and so euen this priuate Church did tend to some confusion Act. 6.1 yea this thing hath long ago been obserued to haue been conâ—inually the state of the Church the which as long as it was in persecution did florish not in the number so much as in the time of peace but yet it was farre better ordered godlines loue and vertue did
that whenas there is a fault committed in the laying of the foundation of a house the whole building will for euer be the worse for it The first thing therefore to be done in planting a Church is to coÌ„uert infidels to the faith which is done ordinarily by the ministerie of the word of God deliuered plainely sincerely effectually as God hath appointed Notwithstanding which powerfull meanes the subduing of men to the Gospel is a hard matter yea it is much harder in these times then it was in the daies of the Apostles wherein the gospel was first preached For then the ministerie of the Apostles Euangelists and other preachers of the gospel was much more powerfull and effectuall then any ministerie of the worde is in these daies For they had not onely extraordinary measure of those gifts which do yet remaine in the Church for the building thereof as are the gifts of prophecie knowledge wisedome zeale and all other of that kind but they had also other most wonderfull gifts bestowed vpon them as the gifts of speaking in strange languages the gifts of discerning spirits healing the sicke working of miracles and such other which serued onely for this end to bring infidels to the profession of the faith 1. Cor. 14.22 not that true faith was ordinarely wrought by these meanes in men but onely a generall historicall and temporarie faith whereby they did beleeue the doctrine of the gospel to be the worde of God which beliefe being professed was then and is at all times sufficiâ—nt to make one a member of the visible Church heere vpon earth The which the Apostles did labour by their ministerie to bring to passe and did reioyce in it being effected although there did appeare in those beleeuers few or no signes of sauing faith which is a firme confidence in the â—ercy and loue of God in Christ effectâ—ally wrought in the hearâ— by the spirit of God arising of a certaine perswasion of the trueth of Gods worde whereof this generall faith is onely a resemblance shadowe and appearance And further for this purpose the giftes of miracles and such other did greatly auaile for they did so astonish and amaze men that they did euen wring out of them an approbation of the doctrine preached that it came from God and therfore was to be receiued Iohn 1.15 Act. 13.11 Thus did the Apostles plant Churches but they who since that time labour in this worke are destitute of this helpe yea also of another farre more effectuall to wit of the wonderfull and extraordinarie blessing of God vpon his Church who did then poure forth his spirit so straungely and so plentifully vpon men in conuerting their heartes to the obedience of the gospell as the like was not before hath not beene since neyther shall be at any time in the Church So that these helpes being wanting in these daies we cannot looke for the like successe in this worke to wit that the Church should haue such a suddaine and straunge encrease as it had in the beginning whenas many thousandes were at once added vnto it Act. 2.41 yet we are not to despaire of good successe forsomuch as the Lord hath not left his ministery destitute of sufficient power to conuert many men to the faith euen those who neuer heard of Christ before For although the extraordinarie callinges and giftes of the Apostles and Euangelistes be not now in the Church neyther to be looked for yet the force of them doth remaine still in that the very declaration of those wonderful miracles whereby the trueth of the gospell was confirmed at the first will to the ende of the worlde adde authoritie and giue successe to the preaching of the Gospell although they were much more effectuall in those who did beholde them with their eies Yea we haue some helpes which were not in the primitiue Church and for the supplie whereof those other were giuen to wit the consent of all ages since the first publishing of the Gospell wherein many haue not only professed the faith but also sealed that their profession with thâ—ir blood and that not any small number but euen whole nations haue professed and do confesse the gospel The which no doubt is a forcible argument and euen as a cloud of witnesses whereby he who is obstinate in infidelity may be eyther conuerted or confounded and put to silence Yea this generall embracing of the gospell by so many countries and nations is that fulnesse of the Gentiles the which the Lord hath appointed as a meanes whereby that obstinate and harde-hearted nation of the Iewes shall at the appointed time be conuerted And therefore it cannot but be effectuall with the rest of the Gentiles who are not so obstinate in infidelitie as the Iewes are But we are especially to relie vppon that force which the worde of God being plainely and sincerely deliuered hath in turning mens heartes vnto God which will neuer returne emptie but in some measure perfourme the thing for which it was sent Thus much in generall of the meanes of conuerting infidels now of the same in particular The ministerie of the worde which is heere to be vsed hath two partes the first is a preparatiue whereby infidels being of themselues altogether vnfit to heare and vnlike to beleeue the worde are in some measure prepared for this purpose the second is to teach them the doctrine of the gospell The preparing ministerie consisteth in two thinges The first is to purge their mindes from that false worship whereunto they are giuen The second is to conuince their consciences of sin For the first we caÌ„not hope that men being fully perswaded of the trueth of their owne religion and of the deitie power and goodnesse of those false Gods which they worship will imbrace any new and strange religion Thus did Elias 1. King 18.24 bring the people from idolatrie to the true worship of God And likewise Paul dealeth with the idolatrous men of Athens Act. 17.29 and with them of Lystra Act. 14.13 and yet there is great moderation and wisedome to be vsed in this pointe so that we doe not at the first speake so vilely and baselie of their religion as it doth deserue but rather tollerate them in their corruptions and withall instruct them in the trueth that â—o the other false worship may slippe out of their mindes as it were without violence they leauing it of their owne accord For otherwise if they see their Gods and religion wherein they haue beene brought vp and which they haue receaued from their ancestors to be blasphemed and euill spoken off there is greate danger least at the first we so alienate their mindes that they will not heare the worde preached but become vtter enemies vnto it So the towne clarke in the Apologie for Paule Actes 19.37 witnesseth that he in preaching the gospell had not blasphemed their goddesse Diana Secondlie they must be prepared by the ministerie of the law of sinne
doe cheifly teach the doctrine of the lawe yet that they doe also represent to our eyes and seale vppe to our consciences forgiuenesse of sinnes in that both of them doe take from vs the filthinesse of the fleshe Thus much of the doctrine of Baptisme the which is to be giuen so as that the body being dipped into the water the signification of it may be more euident and the force the greater in the eyes of those who see or receaue it Thus did Iohn baptist and therefore he chose our such places where there was much water Iohn 3.23 and this vse did remaine in some places in the ages following Those who are after this manner conuerted and baptised are with all diligence to be strengthned in the profession of the faith and to be edified therein as being most forcible witnesses of the trueth by whom they who remaine incredulous may be conuinced They are also in most earnest manner to be exhorted to constancie in their profession because their falling away would greatly hinder the building of the Church yea as soone as they haue attained vnto any measure of knowledge they are in like manner to be exhorted to lead a life which may be without scandall vnto those who doe not as yet beleeue and so without reproch vnto the gospell which they professe For the procuring whereof there is in the first planting of the Church great seueritie vsed both by God himselfe and also by his ministers against all such offences where by this worke may be hindered For whilest the Church is as it were in motion because at the first the truth of that profession is called into question the falling backe of one or any notorious offence doth wonderfully hinder the whole worke Therefore although many infirmities in knowledge and also in priuate conuersation were yea and ought to be gently delte withall till riper yeares yet those open offences whereby the building of the Church is hindred in respect either of those who are without or of those who are in the Church are seuerely to be punished Hither we are to referre those straunge iudgments which the Lorde executed vpon the wicked in establishing the lâ—gall gouernment by Moses as vppon Corath Dathan and Abiram Numbers 16.32 yea that seueritie in putting to death him that gathered sticks on the Saboath Numbers 15.36 yea also those fatherly corrections which the Lorde most seuerely layde vppon his owne seruants euen on Moses himselfe for doubting of his worde yea vppon the whole Church for murmuring and euen for the least offence So was Vzzath smitten 2. Sam. 6.7 that Dauid and the whole Church who then went about the repairing the enlarging and adorning of the worshippe of GOD might feare the Lorde So in building the temple at Ierusalem the least negligence of any of the people in furthering this worke had a fearefull curse annexed vnto it Nehem. 10.29 So were Ananias and Sapphira smitten with suddaine death Acts. 5. in so much that all both within and without the Church did feare the Lorde So Paule reiected Marke Acts. 15 38. for leauing them in that longe â—ourney which they made for the spreading of the gospell In this beginning it pleaseth GOD to giue great increase vnto his Church so that the preaching of the gospell is more effectuall in this infancy of the Church in conuerting many to the obedience of the faith then it is afterwardes Yea it is a greate signe that they who doe not yeelde obedience at the first wil be afterwards more and more hardned as the Apostle writeth 2. Cor. 4.3 If our gospell be yet hid it is hid to them that perish Yet the calling of the Lorde is not tied to any time and therâ—fore we are still to vse all good meanes that those who doe not at the first beleeue may be wonne at some other time 2. Timothy 2.25 for the effâ—cting whereof there may more forcible meanes be vsed nowe when as â—he trueth hath gotten some footing among them and is receaued of many the vanitie of their corrupt worshippe whatsoeuer it be is plainely to be declared and also their miserable and fearefull condition liuing in the same which at the first could not conueniently haue been done Yea further they are carefully by all meanes possible to be allured to loue the trueth by the good behauiour and honest conuersation of those who are called seeing them to be so woonderfully chaunged from ignorance to wisdome and vnderstanding from a corrupt and vicious course to a vertuous and godly life by their courteous and louing behauiour towardes them and generally by avoyding the offending them in all things as farre as may be The which meanes being diligently vsed we are not to doubt but that God will giue some good successe and blessing in the conuersion of many CHAP. V. Of ecclesiasticall gouernment so far forth as it is determined in the word of God Sect. 1. Of the lawes appointed by God for the gouerning of the church in generall SEing that we haue declared in some sorte what it is to prepare the matter for the building of a particular church we are nowe to goe on with the building of it and by ioyning these stones together in the foundation walles and other principall parts to giue vnto it the denomination and forme of a house for whenas a company of men are conuerted to the faith baptized there is the beginning or first foundation of a church but not a church vntill they ioyne together in some publike profession of the faith and the seruice of God For euen as when a great multitude of men are together in any place if they liue priuately euery one in his owne house not hauing any thing common or to doe one with another there is no common wealth because there wante magistrats lawes and orders to ioyne them together Againe as where there are many stones digged out of the grounde whereunto we resemble the conuersion of men to the faith and also hewed and wrought so that they haue lost their naturall rudenesse and now haue the forme of stones fit to be laide in a building which we may not vnfitlie cal the baptizing of those which doe beleeue if they lie asunder here and there there is no house till such time as they be laid fastened together â—n the iust compasse and forme of a house so it is in this case Men conuerted and baptized are indeede christians and members of the catholicke Church yet not of the visible Church neyther doe they make a particular Church vntill they ioyne together in some publicke seruice of God according to those lawes and orders which he hath appointed the which make these stones cleaue together Ephes. 2.11 in Christ all the building being coupled together groweth to be a holy temple in the Lord. Yea for the most part there was some space of time giuen to those who were conuerted to learne the orders and condition of a Church before
For so the building of the materiall temple was hindered by false prophets Nehe. 6. Yea none did so importunatly hinder or so spitefully entreate the true prophets of God as did the false prophets and the whole company of worldly carnal minded priestes Thus we se. 2. Chro. 18.23 that Zedekia did to Micha and Iere. 20.1 Pashur to Ieremie the priestes Scribes pharises to our sauiour Christ the false Apostles to Paule Such were those foolish vaine-glorious preachers at Corinth who swelling in a fond opinion and a foolish vse of humane wisdome did build vpon the good foundation of the sincere plaine and simple doctrine of the trueth hay stuble wood and such things as would be afterwards consumed with the fire that is would be found in examination to haue no substance of true religion These did seeme to build as well yea much more then the apostle but they were deceitfull workers and by this working did greatly hinder the true building of the church For if there were no builders all men that do professe the faith would seeke for some but these deceitfull builders perswade men that they are the true ministers of Christ and no maruail when as Sathan himselfe that foule and lothsome spirite doth transforme himselfe into an Angell of light and so they hinder them of faithfull and painfull teachers Lastly these hinderers may be knowen by their fruites as Christ teacheth vs Math. 7.15.16 euen by their dissolute liues the which they spend in seeking not the saluation of men and Gods glory but their owne pleasure ease commoditie yea riches and preferment Yea this their hypocrisie is to be detected least otherwise their purpose of hindering the Church do preuaile and that both by word when occasion serueth and also by the contrary sinceritie of the true builders Thus Christ dealeth with the Scribes and Pharisies Math. 23. and in many other places Sect. 9. Of an imperfect state of a Church WHenas the building of the Church is hindred by any meanes it commeth to passe that the state of it is imperfect corrupt or both For although in Christ the Church be perfect and pure yet she being in this worlde is often otherwise An imperfect state of a church is when as some part of the gouernment of the church is wanting as if the ministerie of the worde be wanting or if the ministers doe seldome and negligently preach the worde of GOD vnto the people Yet not the wantes that are in any fewe men but those which are generall and tollerated by the publick lawes or the common consent of the church make an imperfect state The imperfection is so much the more grieuous as the offices or functions of the offices which are wanting are more needfull in the church And therefore whenas there is no preaching ministerie in the Church the want is great and the case most lamentable because God hath ordained that his church should be built and his seruants saued by preaching the which being wanting the ordinary meanes of faith and of saluation is also wanting The want of any office is to be supplied by that which is nearest vnto it so did the leuites supplie the want of the priestes being by reason of their legall vncleannesse not meete to sacrifice 2. Châ—o 29.34 Yea that which is publickly wanting is priuately to be supplied what part of Gods worship or any thing belonging to it soeuer it be Yet we must not rest herein but carefully labour for a ful and perfect form of gouernment wherof how much is wanting so much of the meanes of our saluation is wanting And therefore we are heere to consider howe we may liue in an imperfect Church and how we ought to forsake it For the first we neede not doubt but that we may lawfully remaine in a Church the which wanteth some office or function appointed by God yea that our seruice wil be in some measure accepted of God who winketh at the infirmities and imperfections of his faithfull seruantes whether priuate or publicke Euen as he did at the passouer offered by Ezechias and the people wherein many thinges required by the law were wanting yea the Church seldome attaineth and keepeth so absolute perfect as that nothing is wanting in it Thus many of the Churches in the daies of the Apostles wanted some offices which were afterwardes supplied And in the ages following the troubles and persecutions of the Church made many wantes in it the which may be borne with these conditions First when as they are not so great but that notwithstanding them we haue the meanes of saluation edificarion Secondly if that the want be not wilfull but constrained and necessarie as when the Iewes intermitted the vse of circumcisioÌ„ in the wildernes Lastly if that we doe still aime at a perfect state coÌ„sidering that the other is neyther so auailable for the glory of God vnto whome we should not offer any lame blinde or maimed sacrifice or any imperfect seruice or yet so effectuall for our saluation For although a man may preserue his naturall life with bread and water yet he ought to desire the vse of other creatures seruing for his purpose that he may liue in strength and vigour of bodie and minde Sect. 10. Of a corrupt state of a Church specially of idolatrous worship A Corâ—upt state is whenas in steede of the true and sincere gouernment appointed by God a false gouernment contrary to the word of God hindeâ—â—ng the edification of the Church is publikely established or vsed or whenas some part of the gouerment is corrupted The causes of this estate are these first an imperfect state for the want of any part of the gouernment breedeth corruption For where there is no teaching there must needs be generall ignorance and many errours in iudgement where powerfull exhortation is not vsed there the graces of the spirit belonging to the practise of christianity are wanting and where the censures of the Church are not in force there dissolutenesse in the liues of men must needes preuaile The second cause is the reliques of the former false worship being not wholly abolished the which are like vnto a roote left in the earth and to a wound or sore the which being not wel clensed will fester and send forth much corruption Hence came that corruption of popery to wit from the reliques of Iudaisme and heathenisme and so that leauen hauing once infected the whole lumpe of the Church we knowe that although the substance of it be taken out yet the taste and sowernesse of it doth remaine in many places The kindes of a corrupt state are many as are the parts of the syncere gouernment For the first the ministry of the Church may be many waies out of order as if it be sufficient and destitute of giltes needful or if the manner of execution of it be corrupt as when it is turned into vaine ostentation and to an vnprofitable affection of learning reading wit