Church is not alwaye seene Ro. 11.4 1. Cor. 6.11 This is the inuisible Church that is known to God alone and is neuer certainely truely and for the whole reuealed to man For they by hypocrisie may seeme members of this Church which indeede are no partakers of it as appeareth by the example of Iudas And contrariwise they to mans iudgement may seeme not to be of this Church which yet in Gods appointment are the certaine members thereof as euidently was shewed in the example of Sainct Paule But the visible church that is discerned of man and by outward tokens is knowne to the world may in this manner be described It is the multitude of all them bee they fewe or many which being vpon the face of the earth and called by the word of the Gospel do protest to beleeue in our sauiour Christ looking for sanctification saluation by him worshipping him according to his word Mat. 28.19 Mar. 16.15 That it is the whole multitude of al beleeuers it is euident when Christ himselfe saith go ye preach the gospel to al creatures He excepteth none therefore the grace of God benefits of his church are not tyed to any one place as to Rome to Hierusalem to Constantinople or to any other place That the number of this church may be aswell small as great Christ himselfe teacheth saying My flocke is very smal Luk. 12 32 Mat. 18 20 And where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the middest of thē Hereby we may learne that the argument of multitude or great nūber is not alway strong For by it the doctrine of the prophets the doctrine of Christ and of his Apostles might bee reiected which vndoubtedly were but fewe in comparison of them that misliked and reproued it That this multitude must be called by the word of the Gospell S. Paule affirmeth Ro. 10. Faith saith he commeth by hearing and hearing by the word of god Ro. 10.17 And therefore did Christ sende his Apostles to preach the gospell that therby men might be brought to the beliefe of the Church 196 The Church may erre THe Church is cleane through the grace of God in Christ Iesu and yet by her owne nature and through the manifold infirmities of the flesh which she retayneth euen vntill this temporall death she hath neede to be washed and purged For the which cause the dayly prayeth Mat. 6.12 Forgeue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. And Sainct Iohn saith if wee saye wee haue not sinne we deceiue our selues 1. Io. 1.10 and there is no truth in vs. Wherfore being deliuered from this flesh we are made perfectly pure in the life to come free from all blemish But so long as the sainctes liue here on this earth clothed with their flesh they are subiect to many infirmities And therefore it is most certaine by this reason that the church both maye and doth erre◠although it cannot be moued Mat. 16.18 Io. 10.27 because she is grounded vpon the true rocke and soe long as she heareth and followeth the voyce of her true pastor shee erreth not 197 The name of the Church abused by Wolues THe false prophets and enimies of the truth do coulor and hide their hypocrisie vnder this goodlye name and title of the holy Apostolical and Catholicke Church wherewith they seeme gloriously to aduaunce set forward themselues as though that all their doctrines traditions and deuises of newe worship proceeded not from themselues but were established by the perpetuall consent of the Church and allowed by the sentence and interpretation of the best counsels learned fathers doctors and yet being rightly and truely examined it is nothing so Consent of the Church in deede to true and godly Preachers is not only a beautifull garment but also most necessarie that men may not faine and deuise doctrines opinions and phantasies of their owne heads but professe beleeue and teach the consent of the true Catholike Church in the doctrine that was first planted by god himself in Paradyse and after renewed and continued by the Patriarches and Prophets and so published into the whole worlde by Christ himselfe and his Apostles The summe whereof is breifly conteyned in articles of our faith teaching vs the inestimable goodnesse of Almightie God towarde vs aswell in making of the world as in redeeming mankinde by the incarnation and death of his sonne c. This faith and beleefe ought to be established and conserued by the consent of the Catholicke Church from the beginning But it is of all Christian hearts to be lamented that most wicked and rauening wolues vnder this title of the Churches cōsent do abuse the people of god bring into the church and maintaine strang worshipping of God and whatsoeuer they haue newly deuised without iust warrant of the holy scriptures and contrarye to the manifest doctrine of the Prophetes Apostles and auncient fathers of the primitiue church Yea and such they haue beene that haue most cruelly persecuted Gods good prophets and the doctrine that they haue taught For who persecuted Ieremy and the other Prophets Were they not those that sayde the Temple of the Lorde the Temple of the Lord Shall the truth departe from the Priestes Were it not they that stroke Micheas Ier. 7.4 Ier. 18.28 1. Kings 22 24. Ier. 32.3 caused Ieremy to be put in prison Who were they that put Christ to death and persecuted his Apostles Do not the Euangelistes and Acts of the Apostles declare Doth not christ giue his Desciples warning that it should be so These thinges sayeth he haue I spoken vnto you that you may not be offended Io. 16.1 They shall excommunicate you out of their Synagogues and all for my names sake 198 What ministers ought to be in the Church IT is required of al those that take vpon them the name of gods ministers that they haue a desire and zeale to bring men vnto God to follow the trace which God hath commanded al his to keepe that is that they winne the world vnto the obedience of him Secondly besides their good zeale they must also haue a certaintie of doctrin so as hee that speaketh may not take any thing vpō him nor passe his bounds 1. Tim. 4.16 1. Cor. 11.23 1. Co. 15.3 but from hande to hande deliuer the thing that is commanded him in such wise as Iesus Christ may always be heard and suffered to speake and all mouthes else be stopped sauing onely in way of hearkening that his doctrine may be knowen vnto vs. 199 The title of the ministerie and duty THe ministers of the worde are called by the holy Ghost the light of the worlde Mat. 5.13 Eze. 34.2 the salte of the earth They are called Pastors and Shepheardes they are called Husbandmen Guides Stewardes and Messengers besides manye other excellent titles giuen them in the holy scriptures 1.
13 39 and iustifieth him in the sight of God both in couering his euill deedes and in making his good deedes acceptable to God clyming vp to heauen and there wrastling with GOD and his iudgement for righteousnesse for saluation and for euerlasting life Workes and charitie followe faith and are exercised here vpon the earth and glorieth onely before men but not before God in shewing foorth obedience both to God and to man Further then this our good woorkes doe not reach nor haue any thing to doe in the iudgement of God touching saluation I speak of our good works as S. Paul speaketh Rom. 7. Ro. 7.18 as they be ours and imperfect For else if our works coulde be perfect according to the perfection of the lawe Leu. 18.5 and as Christ wrought them in the perfection of the flesh that is if wee could performe them without any transgression so might wee liue in them but seeing the weakenesse of our flesh cannot attaine thereto it followeth that all glory of iustifying is taken frō works and transferred vnto faith 169 The meaning of being iustified by Faith IF Abraham had beleeued no more but that there was a God in heauen that would not haue serued to haue iustified him for the Heathen do beleeue so much Againe if Abraham had beleeued that god was iudg of the worlde that woulde not also haue serued his turne But when as God saide vnto him I am thy exceeding great rewarde Ge. 15.1 17.7 and I will be thy God and the God of thy seede after thee and moreouer in thee shall all Nations of the earth bee blessed by accepting such promises wherein GOD acquainted himselfe with him and witnessed to him that he tooke him for one of his housholde and as his owne childe and became his Father Abraham was iustified by accepting that promise For assoone as God offered him his goodnesse and grace he beleeued the word and receaued it and then was hee full sure of his saluation To bee iustified therefore by fayth is not a confused opinion of beleeuing that there is a GOD but a holding of him for our Father and Sauiour and that because he sheweth himselfe to be so by his woorde and also giueth vs a good pledge and earnest penny of it in our Lord Iesus Christ insomuch that there he sheweth himselfe to be ioined and vnited with vs and that although wee bee wretched creatures and haue nothing in vs but all mischife Eph. 2.3 yet he faileth not to take vs for his owne and to admit vs into his fauour the reason whereof is because our Lorde Iesus Christ is the meane betwixt him and vs Therfore when we haue that promise and rest wholly vppon it and doubt not but that God doeth and will shewe himselfe gratious to vs vnto the end and therewithall call vpon him and resorte onelye vnto him giuing ouer this worlde and continuing in the hope of the heauenly life then be we sure that wee haue faith and are iustified and that was the manner of our Father Abrahams beleeuing and without that let vs assure our selues that there is no Christianitie at all in vs. For as S. Paule sayth vntill wee knowe what the Gospell is Ro. 10.14 we cannot call God our Father Wee cannot call vppon God except sayth he we knewe him and beleeued in him And howe is it possible for vs to knowe him till he be reuealed vnto vs Therefore faith must needes go before Ro. 10.17 And whereof commeth faith Faith commeth by hearing sayth S. Paule wherefore we must be trayned in the gospell or else we can haue no faith 170 Of free iustification by faith without workes WHen we say that we be iustified by faith it is not ment that there is any worthinesse or desert in our faith as who should say that god were bound to vs and therefore receued vs for it but that because God hath shewed himselfe mercifull towardes vs and promised to be our sauiour we being first bereft of al trust in our vertues do come vnto him by faith knowing wel that if bee cōsider vs in our selus he must neds curse abhorre vs Esay 2.3 seing then that faith bringeth not any thing on mans behalfe but receueth all thinges of Gods meere and free goodnesse there is no questioning what worthinesse there is in vs. For faith not onely helpeth vs to the attainment of our saluation but also bringeth vs all perfection If GOD haue respect to our workes woe will bee vnto vs. Therefore hee muste bee faine to turne away his countenance from the considering of our personnes and to receaue vs alonely in our Lord Iesus Christ or else in his looking vppon vs to marke nothing but our miseries that he may be moued and prouoked to mercy So then GOD hath a double respect in iustifiing vs. The one is that he beholdeth our miseries for inasmuch as he seeth vs so plunged in all confusion he is moued to pitie Againe to the intent he may no more be against vs which are sinners he must be fain to look vpon our Lord Iesus Christ and vpon his righteousnesse that the same may do away all our offences 171 Of Freewill AS concerning Freewill as it may peraduenture in some case bee admitted that men without the grace may doe some outwarde functions of the Law and keepe some outward obseruaunces or traditions so as touching thinges spirituall and pertayning to saluation ◠Cor 3.5 the strength of man being not regenerate by grace is so infirme and weake that he canne performe nothing neither in doing well nor willing well Who after he be regenerate by grace may woorke and doe well but yet in such sorte that still remaineth notwithstanding a great imperfection of flesh and a perpetuall resisting between the fleshe and the spirit From this truth of doctrine the Church of Roome doeth degenerate which holdeth and affirmeth that men without grace may performe the obedience of the Lawe and prepare them selues to receaue grace by working so that these works may be meritorious and e congruo obtaine grace But as for the infirmity which stil remaineth in nature that they nothing regard nor once speake of 172 The doctrine of freewill is an arrogant doctrine THe vnderstanding and Freewil of man not being regenerated is so fowly blotted and defaced in him by his firste transgression so wrapped in sinne and wickednesse that euen by nature he is caried head long vnto all manner of euill so as he is made very vnfitte and vnapt to goodnesse And then what libertie or freewil can be attributed to such a mā Saint Paule saith The wisedom 〈◊〉 the flesh is enemy to God Ro. 8.7 For it is not subiect to the Law of God neither in deede can be But whosoeuer is borne anewe by grace through the operation of the holye Ghoste of him is this saying of Christ to be vnderstood Io. 8.34 36. whosoeuer committeth
vs but one onely intercessor Christ in heauen they seeke for none other intercessor there because they haue the same full and perfectlye in Christ But they which do not beleue nor acknowledge Christ for their only and perfect intercessor aduocat such infidels shall neuer be holpen with any prayers of Aungels or saincts if the case stoode so that they did praye for them 191 The Papists will haue Christ to bee in part a Sauiour THe Papistes would weaken the ground of our Faith by a number of corrupt doctrines As first that in part wee haue saluation and remission of sinnes by the merites of sainctes for thus they pray Graunte vs O Christ by the blood of Thomas which he shed for thee thither to go whither he is ascended And to Saint George they pray thus Let him saue vs from our sinnes that we may reste with the blessed in heauen And touching Saint Anne they say thus O God thou which wouldest S. Anne to become the mother of thy mother grāt we beseech thee that by the meritts of the mother and the daughter we may obteine the heauenly kingdome Here are three Sauiours besids Christ in like manner doe they acknowledge a thousand moe Secōdly they say we haue remission of sins and saluation in part by our owne merits and good doings For thus writeth one of their champions that the passion of Christ may be the 1. and principle cause of attayning grace and opening the waye to heauen but it is neuer the whole cause for the euer there goeth with Christ some merit of him that receyueth grace Furthermore what shall bee saide of pardons of Pilgrimages of Purgatory of holy water and a number of such like superstitious and false errors by which not without blasphemy they match transitory things and vain deuises of men with the bloud of Iesus Christ the sonne of God our sauiour the most excellēt price of our redemption expreslye contrarye to the holye Ghost thus writing by S. Peter 1. Pet. 1. i8 Ye are not redemed with trāsitory things as with golde or siluer but with the bloud of that immaculat lamb Christ Iesus 192 Contrariety betweene the religion of Christ and the Pope WHereas the doctrine of Christ is spirituall altogether consisting wholly in spirit and verity and requireth no outward thing to make a true Christian man but onelye baptisme which is the outward profession of Faithe and receiuing of the Lordes Supper If the religion of the Churche of Roome bee examined it will easily bee founde wholly to consiste in nothing else but altogether in outward and ceremoniall exercises as outward confession absolution at the priestes hande outward sacrifice of the masse buying of pardons purchasing of obites externe worshipping of Images and reliques pilgrimage to this place or that building of churches founding of monasteries outward workes of the law outward gestures garments coulors choyse of meates difference of times and places peculiar rites and obseruancies set prayers and number of prayers prescribed fasting of vigiles keeping of holy dayes comming to church hearing of seruice externe succession of Bishops externe forme and notes of the church c. soe that by this religion to make a true christian and a good catholicke there is no working of the holy Ghost almost required 193 Succession is nothing without the doctrine of the Apostles THe aduersaries of the truth to the intent they might proue themselues to be the true church they obiect the succession of Bishops for the space of many hundred yeares in the Apostolicall sea whereas their doctrine being compared with the doctrine of the Apostles by the diuersitie and contrarietie thereof will easilye appeare to be the doctrine neither of the Apostles nor of anye apostolicall men Succession in deede with continuaunce of Apostolicall doctrine ought to be of great authoritie but without it nothing The sonnes of Aaron had more allowable succession from Aaron then the Bishoppes of Rome haue from Peter and yet because they brought strange fire into the temple of God they were reiected and perished Leu. 10.1 Those which in the church of God doe imitate them and contemning the truth deliuered by God desire strange doctrines and bring into the church the instruction of humaine ordinances them doth Christ sharpely reproue in his Gospell saying Mat. 15.3 you cast away the cōmandements of God to establish your owne ordinance Annas and Caiphas had full succession from Aaron yet it were hard thereupon to conclude that they had the right of the true church christ and his apostles to be Scismatickes 194 Succession proueth nothing THey greatly erre which thinke that any thing may be proued by succession whilest they leaue out that which is of most force therein that is that if like as they haue succeeded in the place of godly men they haue also succeeded them in the spirite of Christ in doctrine in faith grauitye godlinesse humilitie and patience Mat. 23.2 The high priestes and prelates who in the time of Christ did sit on Moses chayre coulde haue deriued the petigree of their succession from thē selues euē to Aaron but because their life and doctrine did not agree with the life and doctrine of Aaron and other godly priestes their succession auayled nothing against Christ and his Apostles neither were Christe and his Apostles false teachers or disseuered from the true Church because they were not able to proue their succession as the Pharesies could For the word of God and the institution of Christ was sufficient for them Wherefore sith euen we also now haue on our side the words of God and the institution of Christ there is no succession of Bishops that can proue vs to bee out of the true Church The histories of Popes and other like Prelates which are written yea euen by their deare frendes and defenders do sufficiently testify that almost all of them haue obteined this dignitie and place by most filthy meanes by simony wicked artes violence murthers and trayterous conspiracies Wherfore if it would please them a little more narrowely to consider hereof they should finde by better aduise there were no iust cause to brag of their succession but rather to burye the same in silence seeing by it their euils and horrible filthines is so clearely detected But God hath done this to th' end the truth might be reuealed and the godly warned to gather them selues together vnder our head Christ and into his true church 195 The description of the inuisible Church and visible THe church sometime in the scripture is taken for the whole number of the elect of God that are and haue bene from the beginning of the world in all places and ages euen to this day And this is that Church which is the piller of truth This is that church that neuer can abide in error Mat. 16.18 This is that church that by imputation of Gods mercy is the immaculate and vndefiled spouse of Christ but this
CERTAINE FRVITFVLL INstructions and necessary doctrines meete to edify in the feare of God Faithfully gathered together by Iohn Frewen Minister of the word of God Whereunto is added a Table wherein the reader may easily find out the principall matters conteined in this booke 1. Pet. 4.10 Let euery man as he hath receaued the gift minister the same one to an other as good disposers of the manifold grace of God 1. Io. 4.1 c. Dearelie beloued beleeue not euery spirit but trye the spirits whether they are of God for many false Prophets are gone into the world AT LONDON Printed by Iohn Winder for Thomas Chard 1587. To the right worshipfull and his approued good freindes M. Tho. Couentry and M. Leonard Iefferis of Hill and Earles Crome within the county of Worcester and to the vertuous Gentlewomen their wiues I.F. wisheth earnest zeale to the glorious Gospel of Iesus Christ perseuerance and practise thereof vnto the end and in the end health in this life and in the life to come euerlasting ioy felicity through the same our only sauiour the sonne of God OVR Lord Iesus Christ right worshipfull and right deare in the Lord hauing no small experience of the malice and subtle practises of the enemy of our saluation I meane the diuell and knowing that he would leaue nothing vnattempted whereby his disciples might be seduced from the truth of his doctrine he carefully in his gospell geueth them this forwarning Mat. 7 1â— that they should take heed and bewarre of false Prophets which shoulde come to deceaue them and as rauening wolues to deuoure their soules The which warning was neuer more necessary then in these our daies For as there is nothing more pretious in this world then the blessed and heauenly doctrine of the word of GOD and as there are no persons more worthy to be accompâ—ed of then such to whom the Lorde doth geue the spirite of wisdome to open and impart this treasure vnto vs So on the other side there is nothing more daungerous and infectious to the children of God then corrupt false doctrine and no persons more to be hated and speedily auoyded then wicked and lying teachers whom Sathan thrusteth into the Church to blemishe that pretious pearle and means of our saluation Heare not saith God by Ieremy the woordes of the Prophets Ier. 23.16 that prophecy vnto you teach you vanity They speake the vision of their owne heart and not out of the mouth of the Lorde Verse 26. And againe howe long doe the Prophets delight to prophecy lyes euen prophecying the deceit of their owne heart Sathan himselfe the father and founder of al lying and false teaching vsed the same course in Paradice For when God had said vnto Adam Gen. 2.17 3.4 In what hower soeuer thou shalt eate of the fruite of this tree thou shalt dy the death the olde crafty serpent seeking to seduce man from God said nay you shall not die the death but you shal be like vnto God By which glose false interpretation of gods word he pulled them cleane from the obedience of Gods holy will and commaundement to their own vtter ouerthrow heauy iudgement By such like falsehood hee tempted Christ himselfe to make him conceaue ouer great confidence of the prouidence of God towardes him Mat. 4.6 Ps 91.11.12 It is written saith he that he will giue his Aungelles charge ouer thee and with their handes they shall lift thee vp least at any tyme thou shouldst dash thy foot against a stone By like craft of lying and by false sence peruerting the word of God he from time to time instructeth his Messengers and false Proph. to abuse deceaue the simple people of god that be not wel taught by his holy spirit how to withstand them The which false proph to the end they may be discouered and taken heed of it greatly behoueth all Christians that looke to be saued by the death of Christ to bewar whoÌ„ they beleue to haue recours to the rule touchstone of the holy scriptures which is the perfect directory wherby all truth of doctrin is examined wherby we may try and proue the spirits whether they bee of 1. Io. 4.1 2. Pe. 1.20 god For why the whole scripture as saint Paule saith is giuen by inspiration of God is profitable to teach to coÌ„uince to correct and to instruct in righteousnes that the man of God may be absolute being made perfect to al good works Search the scriptures saith our sauiour Christ for in them ye thinke to haue eternal life and they are these that testify of me Io. 5.39 Thy worde is a lantern vnto my feete sayeth the Prophet Ps 119 i05 Pro. 30.5 and a light vnto my paths Euery word of God is pure saith SalomoÌ„ he is a sheeld to those that trust in him We find not any thing in this world how pretious soeuer it bee that is worthy to haue the word of God compared vnto it for it surmounteth infinitely and beyond reason all things which are and may bee imagined to be excellent and pretious also there is nothing in this world how pretious soeuer it be but doth participat with earth and needeth to be purged cleÌ„sed froÌ„ his drosse superfluities before it caÌ„ be pure but the word of God is clean of it selfe neither hath nor caÌ„ haue any dros for it procedeth not froÌ„ a furnace but froÌ„ the mouth of God which neither caÌ„nor will bring forth any woorke but it shal be so perfect as it ought to bee and wherein nothing may bee amended Hee that is of God saith our sauiour heareth Gods word And again Io. 8.47 Io. 10.27 My sheepe heare my voice I know them they will follow me a stranger they will not follow Now if the aduersaries of the gospel I meane the Papistes would willingly as becommeth Christians submit themselues to this tryer of all truth of faith holinesse which is the worde of God If they would as Christes sheepe heare the voyce of their shephearde Then should they know that nothing is to be added or taken away from the word of God Deu. 4.2 31 Io. 20.51 Then would they say with S. Iohn so much is written that if we beleue we haue saluation by the name of Christ Then woulde they say with S. Paule that the scriptures can make vs wise to saluation 2. Tim. 3. Ambrose And then would they with Ambrose condeÌ„ne all newe doctrine which Christ hath not taught because Christ is life to all beleeuers But because they haue eares hear not eyes see not hearts and yet cannot vnderstand the truth nor find the way of saluation therefore they keepe the scripture in an vnknowen tongue from the coÌ„mon people make it little lesse theÌ„ heresy to haue it in their tongue therefore they so greatly disgrace discredite the Scriptures as vnsufficient
and passiō destroyed death also in the same victorye was disarmed and maymed 1. Cor. 15.56 For sinne is the sting of death when death had lost his sting was conquered in Christs resurrectiō frō death Sathan also lost his strēgth power which only rested vppon them which through sin were in daunger to death Ro. 6 1◠for the rewarde of sinne is death Finally because hel onely deuoureth those which through sinne and death are slaues vnto sathā it followeth that when the other three were by him so mightily vanquished hell also with all the daunger thereof was subdued and we deliuered from all their tirannie 16 The end of our redemption OVr Lorde Iesus Christe hath payed the price of our redemption and hath deliuered vs frō the captiuity of sinne sathan deathe and hell that we might walke before him in holinesse and righteousnesse al the dayes of our life Luc. 1.75 Ro. 6 3. Moreouer wee are baptised into the death of Christ and as we are pertakers of his death so should we be pertakers of his resurrection to the end that as Christe is risen from death so also wee shoulde rise from the death of sinne vnto the life of righteousnesse 1. Pet. 3.7 Rom. 8.17 Furthermore by the benefite of Christs passion we are made heires of God with him children of light And therefore wee should walk according to our calling haue no fellowship with the workes of darknesse neither passe our tyme in vaine delights but put on the lord Iesus Christe and not satisfie the lustes and desires of the fleshe Wee are also by profession citizens of heauen Eph. 2.19 and of the housholde of God our conuersation therefore shoulde bee in heauen with a manifeste declaration of the contempt of this miserable worlde and the transitory vanities in the same 17 Christ is the true shephearde OVr Lord Iesus Christ hath promised that if we hold him for our shepheard hee will not suffer the Diuel to haue any aduauntage of vs but he wil dispence the vertue and power of God his father whiche shall ouercome all hys enemies Io. 10.11 Eze. 34.23 Esa 40.11 and therefore we shal bee well defended if wee haue Iesus Christ to bee our captaine and guide For the which cause we must learne of him to bee Sheepe and to walke in his obedience and to cōmit our selues to his protection and that we may do so wee muste consider the frailtie that is in vs For when wee once know that we should quickly be ouercome of Sathan if we were not vpholden and maintained by a greater vertue it wil be as a spurre vnto vs to moue vs to haue our whole recourse vnto GOD and to call vppon him with alhumblenes carefulnes 18 Wee cannot merit Gods fauour IF wee stande in talke of acquiting our selues before God it is certaine that wee can finde nothing in our selues worthye suche a reconciliation or that maye come any thing neare it And therefore it standeth vs vppon to search our neede and want in Christ Iesus how by the price of his blood we are reconciled to God his father Io. 15.5 2 Cor. 3.5 and that wee haue free accesse giuen vnto vs so that we may boldelie and confidently call vppon him 19 Iesus Christ muste sanctifie our prayers SO often as the faithfull doe settle themselues to pray vnto GOD they muste knowe that all their prayers must be sanctified and consecrated by the blood of our Lord Iesus Christ For if in prayer wee doe not ground our selues vppon the grace of the onelye Mediatour that was giuen vs we must needes be in doubte and perplexitie all our prayers are polluted and vncleane There is no meane to sanctifie them and to make them stande good and stedfast before God vnlesse they bee watered by the bloud of Christ Iam. 1.6 Mat. 11 24 as the scripture also sheweth that if we pray not in Faith and certainty we shall neuer profitte any thing at all When we come vnto God we must be out of doubt that we pray as it were by his mouth and his wil must be a rule that can neuer deceaue vs He. 11.6 so that we may not swarue from it the least iott that may be neither to the right hand nor to the left For God will not be prayed vnto but after his owne will and not according to the fantastes of men 20 Christ the onelie mediator and why so called OVr Sauiour Christ is not onlie called a Mediatour in respect hereof that hee reconciled vs to God by his deathe at once But because hee appeareth now before the Maiestie of God to th' end that wee might be heard by his meanes 1. Tim. 2.5 For these are two thinges whiche cannot be sundred as namely the death and passion of the sonne of God and that he now maketh intercession for vs. Moreouer Iesus Christ is called the onely Mediatour not onelie because he now maketh intercession for vs but also because he suffered death for vs and therefore we cannot giue this office vnto the saincts but wee muste make them our redemers and so cast Christ cleane away the whiche is an horrible blasphemie 21 The Gospell a necessary witnesse of our saluation IT were to smal purpose that Iesus Christ had redemed vs from euerlasting death and had shed his blood to reconcile vs to God vnlesse wee were certified of this benefitte by meanes of the Gospell for it is faith that bringeth vs into possession of this saluation And although we finde it not but in the person of our Lorde Iesus we must needs come thither yet if we haue not this keye of faithe Iesus Christe shall bee as it were straunge vnto vs and all that he suffered will nothing at all profit vs as indeed it doth not thē belong vnto vs 22 Wee are called by the Gospell WHensoeuer the Gospel is preached wee haue to knowe and consider that it is to make vs pertakers of Iesus Christ that being ingrafted in him Heb. 2.11 wee mighte haue parte and portion in all his riches whatsoeuer he hath may be ours For seeing it hath pleased him once to become our brother we neede not doubt but in taking vppon him our poore wretched estate he hath made such an exchaunge with vs that we might be riche in him By the preaching of the Gospell God calleth vs vnto himself and it wil be neither in vaine nor lost labour if we come accordinglie 23 The perfection of Wisedome GOD hath giuen vs the perfection of wisedome in the holy scriptures and therefore no man shoulde geue himselfe to fables and foolish questions which are not profitable to edification but cleaue faste and content himselfe with the worde of God and with the trueth of doctrine conteyned in the same For the which cause wee are commaunded to try all thinges 1. Th. 5.21 and keepe that which is good For the Diuel cannot so culour his
be such After this rest ensueth the perpetuall reste of eternall felicitie whereof the Apostle maketh mention Heb. 4. and this is a spirituall and perpetuall Sabboth Secondly wee doe reste from those labors and actions which are commaunded by god and of themselues are not euill but may be done without sinne yet on the Sabboth day we absteine from them not that idlenesse is allowed of God but to the end we may the better attend vpon spirituall actions whiche God requireth This day is not holy of it selfe neither can we geue any holines to it and also all other daies are aswell as it the Lords daies But the meaning of the commaundement is that on the Saboth day these holy workes are to be done which are commāded to vs all by God as namly that first we confesse that it is god alone that sanctifieth vs and that we suffer him to worke his workes and pleasure in vs and that we our selues do not our owne works and pleasure or will Secondly that we godly associat or ioyne our selues to holy assēblies and sermons prayer and receuing of the sacraments 45 The spirituall Sabboth BY the worde Saboth is vnderstod spiritual rest that is to say ceasing from sinne or the leauing of our owne works and the execution or doing of the works of God of such as are by him commaunded vnto vs do appertaine to his worship and glorie This spirituall Saboth is begun in this life in thē that are conuerted and is finished in the life euerlasting and is tearmed a saboth or rest both because this is indeede a true rest from labors and miseries and our hallowing and dedicating vnto the worship of God and also because that in times paste it was signified by the ceremoniall Sabboth There remaineth as the holie Ghost witnesseth a rest to the people of God Heb. 4.9.10.11.12 Exo. 20.10 Vers 15. Eze. 20.13 22.8 For hee that is entred into his rest hath also ceased from his owne workes as God did from his Let vs studie therefore to enter into that rest c. In Exodus 31. The lord commaundeth him to be put to death which shall breake the Saboth Also in the Prophet Ezechiell when he cōplaineth of the corruptiō of the whole worship of God He saith that the saboth is broken of which straightnesse in requiring the keeping of the Saboth ther are euidently apparant two causes especially The one for that the neglecting of the ministery of the Church doth very easily corrupt and blot out the doctrine and worship of God the other for that by the straight requiring of the figuratiue Sabothe God would declare the greatnes and necessitie of the thing signified that is of the spirituall Sabboth 46 The Ceremonious vse of the Saboth The Saboth day had this ceremonious vse to cause at a set time the people to assemble together to heare the Law and to call on the name of the Lord to offer their sacrifices to do al that which should cōcerne spirituall order and pollicie But because this cannot be well and sufficiently vnderstood without some more plainer and more distinct handling therefore let vs first of all note that the Saboth day was a shadowe vnder the Law vntill the comming of Christ to signifie that God wil haue men rest themselues from their owne workes And that this is so Heb. 10.1 S. Paule hath also declared and likewise besids him we haue sufficient testimony in other places of the Scripture In his Epistle to the Colossians Col. 2.17 he hath these words in effect that we haue the substaunce and body of those thinges which were vnder the law we haue them saith he in Christ And therefore it was expedient that the auncient fathers should be exercised in this hope aswel by the sabboth day as by other ceremonies but sith the thing is now giuen vs we ought not to stay our selues on these shadowes True it is that the Lawe is so abolished that yet we ought to keepe the substaunce and truth thereof and as for the shadowes and figures they are done away by the comming of Christ If one then demande howe the auncient fathers knew of this sence and meaning Moses hath made declaration hereof as it is sufficiently shewed in the booke of Exodus For God after he had published his lawe in the xx Chap. he reuealeth vnto Moses in the xxi Verse 13. chapter to what end it serueth and declareth that hee hath ordeined the Saboth day as a signe that the people of Israell shoulde bee sanctified by him Nowe when the scripture speaketh of our being sanctified vnto God it is to separate vs frō all that which is contrary to his worship and seruice But where shall a man finde such purity Wee knowe that we are of God saith S. Iohn the whole world lyeth in wickednesse 1. Io. 5.19 We need not go forth of our selfs to haue battel with God and his iustice because the wisedome of the flesh is enimie against him Rom. 8.7 When men loose the bridle to their thoughts and imaginations to their desires and lustes then make they open battaile with God And wee are not ignorant of the which is declared in Genes vi Verse 5. that the wickednes of man is great in the earth and all the imaginations and thoughts of his hart are only euill continually So then we may wel vnderstand that we cannot be sanctified before our God that is wee cannot serue him in holinesse and purenesse if we be not seperated from that vncleannesse and those defilements which are contrary hereunto and not hauing first abolished all that whiche is of our owne nature 47 The ende of the Saboth The saboth teaching vs our inward corruption stayeth not there neither is that the end of it but leadeth vs to vnderstand that seeing our owne waies bee all corrupted and defiled with sinne insomuch as the ceasing from sinne is no other thing then the ceasing from our owne waies and works it appeareth euidentlie that iustification and holinesse of life haue not their beginning from our selues but are the free and vndeserued graces and workes of God within vs. Which we are compelled to graunte in that we confesseour owne waies to be corrupted and that the ceasing frō sinne is as it was saide before the ceasing from our owne waies and workes For if as the truth is our owne waies be all corrupted and defiled with sinne if any good be in vs it must haue a beginning and spring otherwhere then from our selues Ex. 31.13 The saboth did signifie our newe birth in Christ to be the worke of God in vs as witnesseth the Lord himselfe Keep yee my saboth saieth hee for it is a signe betweene me and you in your generations Ez. 20.12 that you may know that I the Lord do sanctifie you For the deniall of their owne waies muste needes witnesse their worke of sanctification to proceede from the Lorde not of
themselues The same is witnessed in Ezechiell And in the Acts of the Apostles the couenaunt made with Abraham for blessing al nations in his seede is said to be performed in Christ in turning euery one of his from their iniquity Act 3.26 Vnto you saieth the holy Ghost hath God raised vppe his sonne Iesus and him hath he sent to blesse you in turning euery one of you from your iniquities The Iews had this speciall ceremonie of rest to exercise them in the doctrine and practise of mortification the trueth of which ceremony is fulfilled in Christ For by the power of his death it is brought to passe Rom. 6.8 that sinne dieth in his It was necessary they should be acquainted with this doctrine for the Lord hath no seruice of vs that he wil accept of if we learne not to renounce and deny our affections Neither can we go truely to the obedience of him but in the deniall of our selues 48 How wee ought to profite by the Saboth THe Saboth day ought to serue vs as it were for a tower to make vs moūt on high to view the workes of the Lord from a farre when we are neither hindered nor occupied with any thing but that wee may applie all our senses and all our whole vnderstāding to reknowledge the gracious giftes and benefites which he hath bestowed vpon vs. And when wee shall haue well practised this on the Saboth daye that is to say when we shall haue deepelie considered the works of God we shall verilie all the rest of our time be giuen hereunto and these meditations shall so fashion and adorne vs that the next day Ex. 20.8 Deu. 5.12 and all the rest of the weeke we shall be ledde to thanke our God when so before hande wee shall haue premeditated on his workes to make our profit therein But when the Saboth day is spent not only in vnlawful games pastimes ful of vanitie but in things with are altogether cōtrarie vnto God that men thinke they haue not celebrated the same except God therein be by many and sundrie waies offended when men vnhallowe in this sort this holy day which God hath instituted to leade vs vnto himselfe it is no marueile if wee become brutish and beastly in our doinges all the rest of the weeke Wherefore let vs know that it is not sufficient to come to church on the Saboth day to receaue some good doctrine and to call vpon the name of the Lord but we must digest those things which we heare and receaue apply al our senses to the better vnderstanding of those benefites which God bestoweth vpon vs Mat. 7.24 Luk. 11.28 Ia. 1.22 c. and that by this meanes we bee so formed and fashioned to the same that the Monday and all the rest of the weeke following coste vs nothing to come and aspire to our God and that wee neede but call to minde that which wee haue learned before at good leasure when our mindes be as it were vnwrapped from all those thinges which hinder vs to receiue the workes of God 49 Of the second table of the law AS the Lord in the fower commaundements of the first table doth perfectlie instruct vs in al the dueties that appertaine directly vnto his worship and seruice euen so in the second table he doth giue vs rules and precepts for the duties that we do owe vnto men The dueties vnto God do admonish vs that al our doings towardes men are nothing where Gods glorie doth not goe before As it is written by S. Iohn In this we know that we loue the children of God when we loue God and keepe his commaundements As like as our dealing with men is nothing when the true seruice of God 1. Io. 5.2 is either not knowne or not regarded so that seruice that is giuen vnto God is not accepted when our brethren are neglected of vs. And therefore our sauiour Christ chargeth vs that whē our neighbour hath any thing against vs we should not presume to offer anie gift vnto God before we be recōciled Mat. 5.23 24. So greatly doth the Lord esteeme of this louing conuersation with men that the holy Ghost maketh it the proofe of our blessed estate We know saith S. Iohn that we are translated from death to life 1. Io. 3.14 Ex. 20 12. Ier 19.3 Col. 3.20 because wee loue our brethren Concerning that which we do owe vnto men the honoring of father and mother hath the first place To honour our parents is to yeelde vnto them all obedience reuerence and gratefulnes Children saith S. Paule Eph. 6.1 obey your parents in all thinges for that is well pleasing vnto the Lord. And our Sauiour Christ Math. 15 so likewise Mark 7. doth declare out of this commaundement how children ought to behaue themselues towardes their parents By father and mother all those are vnderstood who are the conueiers of any speciall goodnes of God vnto vs whom because he hath vouchsafed to be his meanes in conueying of the grace that we do enioy by him he cānot abide that they should be without honour at our handes 50 We must obey our Superiours GOd will proue our obedience and the loue we beare him whē he commandeth vs to walke in all equitie and vprightnes with our neighbours and that wee liue together in such loue and vnitie that anie one be not giuen vnto himselfe but that we communicate together and that euery one according to his abilitie to do well imploy and force himselfe thereunto This way God proueth vs to know whether we worshippe him vnfainedly and from our heart And this is the cause why our Lorde Iesus Christ saieth that the weightier matters of the lawe is iudgement Mat. 23.23 mercy fidelitie Therefore when we liue with men without hipocrisiy and dissimulation when wee are not geuen to our subtill sleightes nor malicious practises when wee studie to minister and to serue euery one in his commoditie when we maintaine right and resiste wrong as much as lyeth in vs wee then shall accomplish the chiefe and principall part of the lawe Not that the seruice of God ought in the meane time to be forgotten or that it is of lesse importaunce but because it is vnpossible that men acquite themselues in their duties towardes their neighbours except they be lead therevnto by the feare of God And although mention bee here expresselye made of father and mother yet there is no doubt but God meant to deliuer a generall doctrine Rom. 13.1 of hauing al superioritie in honour For if it had not touched any thing of the duetie we owe to other superiours as Princes Magistrates and those which haue the sword of Iustice if it had deliuered nothing concerning Masters it woulde haue seemed to haue bene vnperfect Therefore we must conclude that God hath commaunded that all they which are in honour and authority be honored and obeyed Neither ought we to
sometimes sorrye 1. Sam. 13 11. and that hee repenteth himselfe it is not as though GOD had anye such passions and affections of man But the holy Ghost applieth himself to our weaknesse because wee cannot comprehend God in his incomprehensible Maiesty 87 God hath his elect in all countries VVHereas it is saide that God will haue all men to be saued the meaning is not that God wil saue euery particuler man 1. Tim. 2.4 Ttt 2.11 but it is to be vnderstood of all countreyes and of all nations so that whereas in times past he chose but one certaine people to himselfe now he hath his elect in all places his mercy is shewed to all the world The promises which were giuen to the Iewes onely are now stretched vnto the Gentils which were separated from God Eph. 2.12 and cut of and banished from all hope of saluation 88 The foundation of God abideth sure WHen we see such turnings that they which seemed to be forwardes in religion do giue back and withdraw themselues from the kingdome of heauen 2. Tim. 2.19 yet for all that wee must not thinke that the Church is deminished And although the number of them whō we thought to be faithfull is by this meanes smaller yet let vs be assured that how soeuer the world go there is a sure foundation God will alwaye keepe his church and there shall alwayes bee some to call vpon him and to worshippe him Ps 72.5 and this may be sufficient for vs for asmuch as our saluation is so surely setled vpon the grace of our God in that it hath pleased him to choose vs before the world was made and so to account vs among the number of his children Ep. 1.4 89 We haue no power in our selues to serue God EXperience teacheth vs verye euidently that wee haue such imbecillitie and weakenes in our selues Ps 46.1.2 that we are not able to continue in the seruice of God vnlesse wee haue a greater strength then is to be founde in our mortal nature For such is our frailty that we are ready to fall at euery step and moreouer the deuil ceaseth not to assault vs daily which importeth that we could not bee able to resist him vnlesse wee had an higher vertue But God who seeth our imperfection doth not at any time bring vs out to combats but therwithall he giueth vs sufficient strength to withstand them 1. Cor. 10.13 and also our Lord Iesus Christ hath receiued al vertue power to fortify those that are his that they be not forsaken and yet notwithstanding we must prepare our selues to an inuincible courage if so bee that we will go on with our vocation and calling Mat. 28.18 but they especially that must lead the way to other I meane the ministers of the worde of God they haue neede of this heauenly helpe for Sathan wil more fiercely more dāgerously bende his assault towardes them then towards any other 90 God wil trie and proue our hartes WE muste not thinke to serue God at our ease and rest for he wil trie and proue what hartes we haue to employ our selues to his wil. And this is the cause why he letteth loose the bridle to the wicked granteth peace and rest to the naughtye persons Ps 44.21 and on the other side suffereth his children to bee molested by them and this is the matter that wee are so often exercised and tryed but we haue the remedy at hande for the scripture sheweth vs that the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ shal be cōmon vnto vs if so be 2. Tim. 2.1 we embrace it and cast it not away through our negligence 91 The word of God abideth for euer IF we will proue our faith and obedience towards god the truth of his word must thē raigne ouer vs 1. Pet. 1.23 we must frame our liues thereafter wee must know that it is an abiding and immortall truth not flitting nor changeable it is not a temporal doctrine to serue for a season but the mynde of God was that it should be of force in these dayes and vnto the ende of the world and that the world shoulde sooner perish and heauen and earth decaye then the authoritie of the law or of the prophets shoulde bee diminished Mat. 5.18 Luk. 16.17 2. Tim. 3.15 and therefore we must suffer our selues to bee gouerned by the holye scripture referring our selues thether without seeking wisedome in any other place 92 It is not sufficient onely to read the scripture THe scriptures are giuen vnto vs from aboue not to the ende wee might haue them onely in bookes and so laye them vp as our treasure as many men do neither yet are they giuen that we might simply and sleightly read them Mat. 7.21 Ro. 2.13 Ia. 1 22. as though it were sufficient to read either that by a superstitions opinion the reading of them might be in stead of worship and diuine seruice as the papistes doe and as the Iewes continuallye do on the Sabboth dayes but they are geuen to this ende that they might be read with diligence and with a minde desirous to finde out those things which belong to true knowledge and true godlines 93 The Scripture is profitable THere is nothing in the scriptures which may not serue to our learning and institution of our life there is no vaine or vnprofitable thing contained in the oracles of god and therfore we must profit in the reading of the scripture vnto pietie and holines of life 2. Tim. 3.16.17 What soeuer is set down therin we must labour to learne it for it were a reproch against the spirite of truth Io. 16.13 if wee shoulde thinke hee hath taught any thing which were not materiall for vs to know secondly whatsoeuer is taught in the scriptures let vs know that it tendeth to the encrease of godlines For hereunto specially do they serue Ro. 15.4 as namelye to erect the mindes of men being prepared vnto patience and strengthened by consolations vnto the hope of eternall life and to keepe them in the meditation thereof 94 The scripture is diuinely inspired THe scripture calleth no man but as is well agreeing either to his nature his affections or his maners It flattereth no man although it giue very honorable names and titles to the faithfull neither blameth it anye body but vpon iust cause For the scripture is diuinely inspired and endited by the holy Ghost which is a teacher of all trueth and a hater of lyes With feare and reuerence therfore with care and diligence wee shoulde reade the holy scriptures and heare the preaching of the Gospell for therin doth God open his mouth to giue vs wisedome Io. 4.24 And we must not imagine any carnall thing of God seeing hee is a spirite we must not resort to the preaching of his worde and to the publicke prayers slacklye or for customes sake or to auoyde the danger
of the lawe as do the hypocrites the superstitious and Idolaters but to th' end we may receaue and learne wisedome of God through his grace and goodnesse whereby we knowing him maye walke in his feare 95 The scripture must be read with reuerence THe readers of the scriptures must be searchers and not corrupters wresters dreamers or superstitious murmurers For the Scriptures do not require anye searching but that which is godlye humble and desirous to knowe and embrace one trueth onelye otherwyse a man maye fynde some whiche reade the Scriptures but not to searche out Gods trueth but rather to hinder the same Euen soe Herode inquired out the trueth out of the scriptures concerninge the place where Christ should be borne Mat. 2.4 not to the end he might worship him but rather to destroy him Also the Pharesies said not to Nicodemus beholde what is writeÌ„ in the scripture coÌ„cerning christ but they said search looke for out of Gallilye riseth no Prophet So in like manner wicked and vngodlye Io. 7.52 men do search the scriptures to corrupt the same to their owne destruction 96 Faith in Christ IT is very necessarie for christians to know first wherof faith in christ doth come what wee must beleeue concerning Christ and in what faith in Christ is to be continued and confirmed Ro. 10.17 Faith the Apostle saith commeth by hearing and hearing by the word of God Secondly if so be faith commeth by hearing of the worde of the Lord and if it be our parte to abide in the same and that wee ought not to beleeue anye other thing then the verye same which is set before vs by the worde whereby wee conceaue faith and beleeuing in the which wee abide very foolish are they which at this day say they knowe not what to beleue and what not for if so be they were abiding in the word of the Lord they shoulde knowe what to beleeue but because they haue already applyed their eares and minde to humaine doctrine it commeth to passe that they being ignorant of Gods trueth are carried about with euery winde of doctrine the which is forbidden by the holy ghost Eph. 4.14 Thirdly this also is manifest in what christian fayth ought to bee maintained and confirmed Io. 8.31 when our sauiour Christ saith that they which continue in his worde are his true disciples So that we must abide in that from which wee haue conceaued our faith We are begotten by the worde of truth thorough faith Iam. 1.18 by the same we are strengthned and confirmed 97 Christ hath freed vs from the lawe OVr Lorde Iesus Christ was sent to redeeme them that were vnder the lawe that wee might receaue the adoption of sonnes Hee was moreouer our peace when hee shedde his bloud to wype out all our sinnes Gal. 4.5 to deliuer vs from all our debtes when he became a curse for vs and was become subiect to all reproch to couer all the faultes which we had committed And whereas God was our enemie as also we on our partes were enemies to him in Christ may wee beholde our agreement Eph. 2.14.15.16 and so likewise the attonement which was made and accomplished 98 There is no chaunge in God WHereas it pleased God to hide the witnesse of his Gospel for a season from the Gentilles and afterwarde to haue it preached throughout all the worlde and chuse such a fitte time for it as hee had determined in his secrete Counâ—â—â— we must not saye that he is chaungeable therefore Iam. 1.17 but wee must learne to worshippe and reuerence him in his prouidence with all humblenesse confessing that nothing proceedeth from him but most iustly and most wisely 1. Tim. 1.17 and that whatsoeuer hee hath once determined and whatsoeuer he doth cannot be controlled 99 The will of God must be our rule WE must not giue our selues too much to our lustes as by nature we are prouoked thereunto but alwayes wayte vpon God to see what his good will and pleasure is and with patience and quietnesse wayte for the same and although manie thinges fall not out as wee would haue them but wee thinke to our foolish reason that God shoulde haue doone other wise yet must we bridle our selues and shewe that obedience vnto God that his counsell may be a sufficient rule for vs 1. Ti. 2.7 remembring also that God hath his due time and it is not for vs to appoint him a time when hee shall doe what he hath to doe this authoritie and office of commaunding is not in our handes Act. 1.7 neither is it in vs to knowe the times and seasons which the father hath put in his power 100 Howe the way is opened for vs to pray AS often as the goodnesse of God is witnessed vnto vs and be promiseth vs his grace although we be wretched sinners As oft also as wee heare that our sinnes were forgiuen vs by the death and passion of our Lorde Iesus Christ and that then payement was made for all our debtes Col. 2.14 and the obligation that was against vs dispatched and rent in peeces and God made at one with vs. We haue the way opened vnto vs to pray vnto God as also the Lorde sayeth I will saye vnto them which were not my people Hos 2.23 thou art my people and they shall say thou art my God therefore so soone as our Lorde GOD maketh vs to taste his goodnesse and promiseth vs that euen as he sent once his onely sonne vnto vs so nowe he will accept vs in his name wee neede not doubt to come vnto him for it is asmuch as if he commaunded vs to praye and the one hangeth vppon the other 101 The drift of the Scripture THe whole course of the scripture teacheth vs especially and aboue all thinges that wee shoulde not doubt but assure our selues and vndoubtedly beleeue that God is mercifull louing and patient Iam. 1.6 that he is neither dissembler nor deceauer but that he is faithfull and true and keepeth his promise yea and hath performed that he promised in deliuering his onely begotten sonne to death for our sinnes Luk. 1.69 that euerye one that beleeueth in him might not perishe but haue euerlasting life Io. 3.16 Here we cannot doubt but GOD is pleased with vs that hee loueth vs in deede that the hatred and wrath is taken away Ro. 4.25 seeing hee suffered his sonne to die for vs wretched sinners 102 We are assured of the fauour of God GReat cause haue wee to yeelde most heartye thankes vnto our good God forasmuch as it hath pleased him to deliuer vs from this monstrous doctrine of doubting wherein we were noussed in the time of ignorance so that wee can nowe assure our selues that the holy ghost cryeth bringeth foorth in our harts groninges that cannot bee expressed Ro. 8.26 We are commanded in the gospell to beholde not our owne