beleeue can neuer come to passe to the end to drawe men vnto themselues when it pleaseth God so to chasten and punish the contempt of his truth Now that the marks of the Church bee not alwaies bright-shining and cleare it is apparant and manifest not onely by the menaces and threats which the Lord hath made in this behalf both by the Prophets in infinite many places as Psal 44. and 79 80. throughout and Psal 89.39 Esay 28.14 else-where as also vnder the new couenant the Lord foretold the same expresly Mat. 24.24 and after him the Apostle Act. 20.29 and 2. Tim. 3.12 and 2. Thess 2.6 and 1. Ioh. 2.18 as it hath also beene confirmed by manie and sundry experiences in al times as before we haue declared This is then the state in which the poore Church is proposed vnto vs to be in the verse going before not knowing in a maner on which side to turne it selfe in such an vtter confusion 2 And therefore our duty is wel and narrowly to consider the aunswere made vnto the spouse by him himselfe who alone to speake properly speaketh in verity truth seeing it is he who is truth it selfe and who neuer forsaketh those who are his in their neede After a preface therefore first made to encourage and to comfort her calling her the fayrest among women hee aunswereth his spouse in this sense It is true indeede that thou art a poore wandring stray and therefore black and sunne-burnt but yet thou leauest not for all that to be fayr and beutifull in mine eye yea adorned with such a beuty as none besides thy selfe can vaunt and boast of This is the verie stile which the Lord himself vseth by his Prophets adding alwaies a consolation and comfort after his threats and iudgementes as is expreslie spoken and in the same sense by the Prophet Esaie saying Come my people enter into thy chambers and shutte the doores after thee and hide thy selfe a little while vntil my anger bee passed ouer Esay 26.20 the Church hauing said before vnto him in the eight verse ô Eternal we wait for thee in the way of thy iudgementes Nowe the foundation of this comfort and consolation consisteth in two pointes both of them grounded vpon the singular mercie of God The first is that the Lord neuer suffereth the ground Articles and points of true religion to be abolished in his Church though they be in diuers sorts both within and without disguised and bastardized and that sometimes this truth remaine but among a few as we see it came to passe in Israel in the time of Elias in Iuda in the time of the captiuity of Babylon in Ierusalem it selfe then when the Lord came in person The other point is that the Lord considereth not his Church simply according vnto his graces and blessings which shine in her which are sometimes most darke and obscure in the eies of men but respecteth her alwaies in the truth of his couenant and in him in whom shee is indeede not onely without spot or wrinckle Coloss 1.22 but which is more clothed with the perfect righteousnesse of the reconciler Phil. 3.9 3 Let vs therefore know that the church leaueth not to be a church though the true doctrine touching certaine articles bee therein debated yea though it bee touching the principall articles by some as the weaknesse of some and the wickednesse of others is great whereof the church of Corinth may be a witnesse in which the article of the resurrection was called by some into controuersie and the church of the Galathians so shaken that in respect of the greatest part of the members thereof it was vtterly reuolted as the Apostle himselfe witnesseth Gal. 1.6 who notwithstanding leaueth not to cal them churches of Iesus Christ which he also reformed restored according vnto that lessō which he taught others Rom. 14.1 And therefore these fantasticall Catharistes and Donatistes of olde and those of our time of the sect of the Anabaptists who seeke after such a church in this world as should haue no fault nor any thing amisse in it are vtterlie to bee reiected 4 But it is far an other thing to dispute and make a question of that which a man knoweth not with a will and desire to learne and know it and stubburnly to oppose a mans selfe against the truth and finally to maintaine and authorise a doctrine directly contrarie vnto the articles of our faith And thus is it at length come to passe in the Romish church at this day which for this cause doth no more deserue the name of a church then the kingdome of the ten tribes reuolting with Ieroboam the sonne of Nabath deserued the name of the people of God albeit there were for a long time some of Gods elect among those reuolters whom the Lorde according vnto his good pleasure did miraculously preserue vntill the daie of the vtter dissipation of them which shall befall this West Babylon in his time And therefore we protest that in the times of our fathers there was a Church that is to say a number of the children of God as it were secret and shut vp as may be proued by writinges from age to age that there were alwaies some who opposed themselues against those superstitions and idolatries which by little and litle gotte the vpper hand in this Babylon called three hundred yeares agoe by one of their owne Poets a Temple of heresie in the which the Lorde for this suffered not that Baptism should be vtterly taken away and abolished but not that this Sea or any affected thereunto being directlie opposed vnto the Church of God was at any time the Church We protest confesse farther that euen in our time in which it hath pleased God to display the banner of his truth there doe stil remaine some of the elect buried as it were in the middest of this Babylon who in respect of the eternal purpose and counsel of God appertain at this present vnto the true church but by little and little as it pleaseth God to drawe them out of this gulf are actually made the members of this true Church of which thing you to whom we speak and our selues who are by Gods mercie come forth thereof are good witnesses This is then the comfort and consolation whereof mention is made in this place and that which we must learne to answere them who so impudently and shameleslie begin our churches from those great personages the faithful seruants of God raysed vp of his great mercy and grace about seuentie yeares agoe not to build a new Church as they falsely cal it but to gather togither the poore seelie sheepe which were strayed among the wolues which the spouse calleth here false companions of Iesus Christ as wee haue aboue expounded the same the Bridegroome therefore passing farther addeth If thou knowest it not as if hee said is it possible my spouse that thou hast vtterly forgotten that which thou askest of
couetousnes of the other whereupon hath entred this notorious transformation of the spiritual beutie of the Christian Church into a vanity and pomp not simply carnal and worldly but truely Epicurian how euer it be hidde and couered vnder the cloke of deuotion Heereby appeareth the more then desperat impudencie and shamelesnes of them who by their goodly legends so false sottish as nothing can bee more in lieu of keeping themselues vnto the history and doctrine contained in the second booke of Saint Luke called the Actes of the Apostles expreslie vttered to the pen by the holy Ghost haue not shamed to chaunge and transforme the holy Apostles of the Lord into builders of Churches deuisers of crosses forgers of holy water sprinckles c. And what shall say of that most grosse and enormous an impudent boldnes of forging of Saint Peters patrimonie Of that monster crowned with three crownes caried and adored vpon mens shoulders Of such store of glittering pomps shining in euery place which are so manie spoiles of such Kings and Princes as haue beene bewitched and sacrilegious robberies of such goods as were vowed to the spirituall mainteinance of the Church of the Lord As it was so long agoe foretold yea painted out by the holy Ghost in the Apocalypse so far as to name the place and the name of such a confusion And who hath so expounded it The auncient Greeks and Latins whom the Pope himselfe liketh of and alloweth What shall wee saie of the infinity of these goodly votaries of pouerty these honest wallet brethren these good fathers besotted with the verie stones and sumptuosities of their pallaces wherein they dwell What shal wee saie of these new locustes and west Indie Popiniayes already borne to be bred specially of these lees dregs of the filth and mud of the bottomles pit open profaners of the name of Iesus disnesting the other rauening birdes and cormorantes to lay their egs where they had builded and hauing within the compasse of these fewe yeares gotten to themselues more goods and built more goodly pallaces then the rest haue done in fiue hundred yeares before Which thing calleth to my remembrance that which the Philosophers saie That the Serpentes become Dragons by eating of other little Serpentes As for vs contenting our selues with our smalnesse let vs oppose vnto al this statelie Masquâ—raâ—a with which the world â—eeâ—eth itselfe the lodgings and cabbins of the ancient true Pastors there to seâ—ke after and to finde the true church and not in this glittering and profane riches in which the prince of this world raigneth Mat. 11.8 borrowing the name of the Church preferring on the contrariside with Moses the afflictions of the people of God and the reproch of Iesus Christ before all the treasures of Aegypt Heb 11.25 let vs I saie keepe our selues vnto him who is our king and so crowned with glory on high that yet in his poore members he is crowned with thornes Col. 1.24 and not vnto them who part with others the spoile of Iesus Christ 16 Moreouer although this worde which we haue turned Cabbins or Lodges bee taken sometimes in generall for euerie place of dwelling or abiding notwithstanding this woord of Sheepheards which is added hauing as I sayd a respect vnto the manner of liuing of Abraham Isaac and Iacob as also of Moses and Aaron in the wildernes as it is spoken Psalm 77.20 sheweth that wee must so take it as wee haue saide And herevpon we ought also to bee warned that as the sheepheards abid not stil in one place but had their portatiue tents and cabbines as we see how the ancient Patriarches dwelt with their flocks here and there the Church of God chaunging his place by this meanes together with them so we must also take heed how we tie the name of the church so to any place as to think that it neuer stirreth from any nation people citie or towne But wee must beare in mind the aduertisement of Christ who warneth vs that if a man tell vs heare is Christ or there is Christ wee beleeue him not And where is hee then there where saith he the bodie is yea the carcasse of the dead bodie in which is life there are the eagles Matth. 24.23 28. that is to say there where Iesus Christ no other is preached I mean the true Iesus christ in whose only death wee finde life and of whom the Apostle saide that he thought no other thing worthie of knoâ—ledge but Iesus Christ and him crucified 1. Cor. 2.2 and purely preached There must the eagles gather themselues together that is to say seeking to bee fedde with no other then with him crucified For there and no where els is the Church And where shal this true Iesus Christ be found In the cabbins and lodges of the sheepeheardes which are the writings of the Prophets and Apostles vpon which for this cause and for that they lay this only foundation which is Iesus Christ 1. Cor. 3.11 it is said that this Church is founded Eph. 2.20 Apoc. 2.14 Yea but reply our aduersaries if the question be of the interpretation of a place of the Scripture drawen to a contrary sense to whom shall wee haue recourse to discerne the true sense from the false Certes againe to the cabbins of the sheepeheards and pastors the Church hauing none other true and certaine light then this written woorde whereunto we are sent backe not onely by the expresse commaundement of the Lord as we haue before saide but also by his own example who thus refuted and beat back againe the allegation of Sathan Mat. 4.7 as the weapons of the Apostles also were such and that against them who sate in the See of Ierusalem Act. 4.7 so far were they from aiding defending themselues with any vnwritten tradition or with any authoritie attributed vnto the See of Ierusalem seeing that was transformed into a denne of theeues Mat. 21.13 The like did the Iewes of Beroea found theÌ„selues in good case thereby Act. 17.11 the consent notwithstanding testimony of the true Church being not to bee reiected but greatly to bee esteemed of regarded which againe ought to be discerned from the false by the consent of their testimony with the Scriptures And this is it which all the ancient fathers lights of the olde Church haue declared protested must necessarily be doone in the reading of their writings 17 This then hath beene a very strange sleight and treachery of Satan to tie the spirite of trueth to the persons of Pastours and sheepheards without the examination of their doctrine by the scriptures nay which more is to subiect the scripture to their opinions and decrees as if the mason should order his plummet rule by the wall not frame the building to the rightnesse of his line and leuel We ought therefore to consider that the principal and chiefe stone Iesus Christ his doctrine haue beene from al times in
earth towards men Luk. 2.14 and his song or charge what is it Come vnto mee all yee that are heauy laden and oppressed and I will ease you Math. 11.28 And what is that of the Apostle Reioyce alwaies saith he and againe I say vnto you reioyce Philip. 4.4 And to the end we should not think that the crosse which is an inseparable companion of the gospell hindreth any whit at all this ioy In asmuch saith he by the mouth of Saint Peter as you are partakers of Christes sufferinges reioyce yee 1. Pet. 4.13 which lesson himselfe had learned of his maister Math. 5.12 12 Behold then the time whereof the Bridegroome heere speaketh beholde the songs of this turtle which calleth her mate vnto her which faileth not to answere her with the like as we see the examples thereof in the songes and Canticles of the Saintes whereunto the yong birdes also inuite vs knowing the time of their chast mating coupling for which cause we are to our great reproch that iustly sent back vnto them by the Prophet to learne our duty Ierem. 8.7 And let vs note that when wee speake of songs which ought to ring in the Church the question is not so much of the voice albeit the mouth must confesse that which the heart beleeueth Rom. 10.10 but the heart within and the mouth without must accord that we be not touched with that reproch This people honoreth mee with their lyps but their heart is far from me Esay 29.13 And in an other place what hast thou to do to recite my ordinaunces and to make mention of my Law within thy mouth Psal 50.16 And therefore the Prophet saith not onlie that we must praise God but that his praises are sitting vnto them who walke vprightly Psal 33.1 Secōdly the true faithful mā is composed altogether of mouthes and of tonges neither thinking nor saying nor doing anie thing nor in a word hauing ought in himselfe but that which declareth testifieth the glory of him whose newe creature hee is created for his glorie Ephe. 1.12 and 1. Cor. 10 13. otherwise wee know not what this spring-time meaneth For how euer it be the land of the Lord is of songs and thankesgiuings Psalm 118.15 13 And this is cause why the spouse addeth for other marks of the spring-time that the figg-tree hath yeelded foorth her yong figges that the vines are shooting out their young grapes to shew vs that in the Church of God grace is giuen vs not onelie to will which is as it were the flower but also to do which is the fruit to wit the effect of our will Philip. 2.13 Eph. 2.2 14 And let vs note that he speaketh of two kinds of fruit the most delicate that bee to shew vs the difference which is betweene the appearaunces of vertues ordinarilie called Morall vertues such as they are which a man may meet withall in them who are not regenerat in whom god doth in some sort represse that naturall wickednes which is in all whose woorkes notwithstanding are without either tast or sauour according vnto that which is saide that whatsoeuer is without faith is sinne Rom. 14.23 and that without Iesus Christ there is nothing which can please God vnto saluation and the works of the children of God gouerned by the spirit of regeneration Rom. 8.9 For which cause it is also saide that faith which is without workes is but a dead thing Iames. 2.26 15 Farther let vs note that he speaketh in this place of the Church not as of a ground planted altogither newe but as an ancient possessiō heritage which being for a time laid wast or fallow hath been husbanded anew and manured For as for the true Church of God shee shalbe alwaies found to be more old and auncient then the false seeing that truth is before lying and that which is sound and entire before that which is false and corrupted So was Adam created after the Image of God before he was deformed by sinne and after sinne was entred Adam and Eue beleeuing the promise of saluation for otherwise there should haue been no Church in the world the Church which is the citty of God had her beginning before the citty of Satan which began from Caine his But seeing that men haue time without mind accustomed to set foorth and commend themselues vnder the name of Antiquitie especially vnto them who are ignorant whose ignorance they abuse who liue by this abuse behold how it commeth to passe that they which will not suffer themselues to be better taught take often times that which is newe for olde and that which is olde for newe Such are they of whome Saint Peter speaketh who saide of that time when a man spake vnto them of the second comming of the sonne of God to iudge the world which wee yet wait for that al things were as they are now since the first fathers which thing is false saith hee For they should knowe that the world was not created in such sort in the beginning as now it is and that God hath already executed an horrible iudgement on the corruption thereof In this sort after the captiuitie they reproched Ieremie that he had marred all and that then and before he mealed with preaching vnto them they and their fathers found themselues in good case by calling vpon the Queene of heauen and burning incense vnto her Ierem 44.17 nay which more is when they heard Iesus Christ himselfe to speake they saide What kinde of new doctrine is this Mar. 1.27 But Iesus Christ answered them Search the scriptures for they speak of mee Ioh. 5.39 Now this Queen of heauen was the sunne as the phrase of the Hebrue toung doth import and in my time what other difference hath there been but this that by the Queen of heauen is ment not the sunne but the Virgin Mary as if there were a Queene mother in heauen For it is certaine that there is a Queen the spouse of this Bridegroome which is already partly in heauen and partlie yet languishing here on earth to wit the Church being coheire with Iesus Christ as shee is also called by this name of Queene Psal 45.10 but this is not because shee should be adored Not the whole church I say so farre is that the blessed virgin euer required or yet requireth that which is properly belonging vnto her sonne or that she allowed of to admit that shee coulde vnderstand them these titles ful of most horrible and most execrable blasphemy to be called a Mediatrix mother of mercy our life our hope hauing power to commaund her son And yet to find fault with al this were a point of greater impiety in the opiniō of them who call themselues chiefe Christians then if a man had denied God an hundred thousand times For behold say they there was neuer yet any since Christes time that called not vpon this Queene of heauen al the Saintes yea who gaue not credit
directeth hir speech is exceeding rich passing bountifull and liberal hauing in his hand al the goods and blessings both of this life which is present and of that which is to come Yet this spouse desireth and demandeth nothing else but to be kissed and kissed againe with the mouth of hir beloued neither must we woonder at this familiar demand of hirs For the spouse which is the Church of God hath not receiued the spirite of feare by the condemnation of the Law Rom. 8.15 but the assurance of that holy hardines and boldnes which doth thrust vs forward euen to the throne of Grace Heb. 4.16 not for any opiniō of our selues but by an holy assurance groūded on him which is our peace Ephes 2.14 as his spirit beareth vs witnes in our hearts Gal. 4.6 yea so far as to verifie that which is said that the kingdome is euen as it were snatched caught away by violence Mat. 11.12 the lord himselfe yet suffering himselfe to be as it were ouercome in plaine wrastling by his Israel according as it is described Gen. 32. Now touching this kissing which is here spoken of wee haue to note that men by a certaine addresse and instinct of nature to declare their mutual loue amity one towards an other haue accustomably vsed certaine maners of outward actions hauing some agreeablenes with the same thing which they would witnes to be within them some after one fashion others after another As for example this custome of putting off the cappe and vailing bonnet this bending and bowing of the body this kissing in witnes of loue and reuerence one towards another by which outward gesture a man maketh himselfe inferiour to another to doe him curtesy The like is that of giuing the hand one to another to witnesse that a man is ready to make mutual deliuery of his hart and al that he hath But among all other gestures kissing hath I know not how the most euident expresse representatiō of that which is within For whereas the life consisteth in respiration and breathing and that our breathing is by the mouth kissing is a signe that a man is ready to communicate and as it were to infuse his own proper soul into his friend And this hath beene vsed to be doone aboue all others amongst the people of the East and especially among the people of God yea in the ancient Christian Church both East and West witnesse that of Saint Paul Rom. 16.16 and in many other his Epistles as also in Saint Peter 1. Pet. 5.14 which thing as touching the ceremony is yet obserued among the Monkes and in that which they cal the Pax in their great solemne masses in the popish Church where in the mean while notwithstanding the communion of the holy Supper to the preparation whereof this kissing was vsed as a testimony of all true concord and mutual charity is taken away and abolished But it is come to passe in this as in many other auncient and laudable customes which haue beene so villanously and filthily abused that it is a very hard thing to vse it holyly and sincerely for which cause also they may not be rashly lightly brought in vse again Howbeit notwithstanding this holy spouse in this place speaketh of an holy and sacred kinde of kissing and more chast a great deal without comparison than any kisse can be between any husband and wife the chastest that euer were or possibly can be vnderstanding by this kisse a most certain and most euident testimony of hir hoped coniunction with hir beloued 5 But wherefore will she be kissed with the mouth of hir husband seeing properly to speake there is no kissing but with the mouth Let vs note here first of all that hereby is shewen vs the ordinary meane by which God ioineth himselfe vnto his Church and his Church vnto him which is by the preaching of his word accōpanied with the vertue working of his holy spirit which woord of his is here vnderstoode by the woorde Mouth which is the instrument thereof insomuch that this word is called the power of God to saluation to euery one that beleeueth Rom. 1.16 and the incorruptible seede of the Church 1 Pet. 1.23 which is properly attributed vnto the holy ghost Ioh. 3.18 but this is not all For if we consider very nearly of the whole matter we shal finde that whereas the spouse neuer wanted this word without the which the church could be no church it is euident that in this place she demādeth some farther matter than this Therefore she seemeth here thus to say you haue saluted me hitherunto and as it were kissed me with letters messages but now I desire and craue the presence of your selfe in proper person otherwise I cannot bee satisfied or contented Although then the Lorde and Sauiour of the woorld hath from the beginning contracted himselfe with his Church in the persons of Adam and Eue of and from whom he would haue it to be drawen and descended and albeit he hath afterward renewed his fiansailes by other his promises reiterated with Abraham Isaack and Iacob as with the fathers of the beleeuing yet was this but a stipulation and contract of marriage by words of the future and although afterward the fiancer Christ himselfe did as it were represent himselfe in the ceremonial Lawe by which he approched more nearer vnto his fianced his Church did as it were espouse and marrie hir by words more plain and expresse yet was it done as saith the author of the Epistle to the Hebrues but after an imperfect maner Heb. 1.1 by shadowes the body and truth of which is Iesus Christ himselfe Colos 2.17 And this was sufficient to saluation for the auncient fathers by meanes of their faith insomuch that the place of the blessed is called the bosome of Abraham Luke 16.22 who saw the day of the Lord reioyced thereat Ioh. 5.56 yet neuerthelesse this did not altogither satisfy content them knowing that their hope respected that which was to be accomplished and fulfilled in his time namely then when the heire shoulde come himselfe in person into his vineyearde Mat. 21.38 And therefore our Lord Iesus Christ said Luk. 10 24. Many kings and prophets haue desired to see that which you haue seene and haue not seene it and to heare that which you heare haue not heard it The which thing is also witnessed by Saint Peter 1. Pet. 1.11 This is it then which the spouse in this place meaneth as if she should say O Lord my Sauiour my beloued I haue receiued commendations inough messages inough testimonies inough that thou wilt come in person and accomplish thy marriage but when when wil this blessed hour and time come in the which thou wilt ioyne thy selfe really vnto me with the chast holy kisses of thy own mouth For in very truth it may and ought to be well said that the sonne of God hath kissed vs yea more
part not knowen in part most wickedly reiected by the principall and chiefe builders such I meane in name but not indeed and effect Psal 118.22 Which was first verified by the experience the Prophets had thereof Math. 23.37 And then in the person of Iesus Christ himselfe Act. 4.11 and foretolde should come to passe expresly in the Christian church Act. 20.29 as the euent hath since plainly shewed vnto the eie and still to this day proueth the same And yet notwithstanding there was appearance probability of holding our selues aswell in generall vnto that which was commonly receiued of this people whom God had onlie chosen from out of all the nations of the worlde as also in special of standing vnto the aduise and iudgement of the Priestes appointed by God ordinarie and soueraigne iudges Deut. 17.9 Besides there is no man which knoweth not the authority of the See of Ierusalem which was called the city of God And yet notwithstanding of whom is it I pray you that the Lord saith Let them alone they are blinde leaders of the blinde Matth. 15.14 and who excommunicated Iesus Christ and his disciples Ioh. 9.22 who constrained Pilate to crucifie him Mat. 27.20 who are those vncircumcised of heart who were the first which imbrewed their handes with the blood of the seruants of God Act. 7.52 There was then as I haue said before great appearaunce why wee should followe without exception the most part of the people of the Iewes and the Doctours of the law sitting in Moses chaire that is to say the successors of Moses by the ordinance appointment of God yet notwithstanding these were they who fell into the pitte together with those who folowed them Mat. 15.14 But in what place of the Scripture is it said that Rome shalbe the See of the catholick church That the Bishoppe of Rome may be iudged of no man but is the head chiefe of al That he hath the power to open heauen hell nay to do whatsoeuer him listeth without controlmeÌ„t other such vile filthy blasphemies impieties Iesus Christ hath indeede said that he wil be with vs vnto the end of the world but it is not saide that hee will keepe at Rome Nay contrariwise he hath forewarned vs by Saint Iohn his welbâ—â—â—uâ—â— disciple that it should be there where the great whorâ— should sit which should make dronke the Kiâ—gs and Princes of the worlde And wee see the same at this day yea which is a thing most strange to coÌ„sider of their ama 〈…〉 onelie of spirit herein the ancient fathers who â—â—â—y saw and wrote these things of this See could not take heed notwithstanding oâ— being deceiued therby and causing others to be deceiued 18 For conclusion therefore of this matter the Lord hath his sheepheards and cabbins which are the true testimonies of the truth vnto which wee must keepe our selues I meane the Prophets and Apostles whose doctrine is the touchstone to discerne the true successours of them from the false and by consequent the true spouse of Iesus Christ by whom the young Kids must keepe themselues to be wel fedde from the wicked harlot from whom they must flie that they perish not togither with her According therefore vnto this holy doctrine let vs beseech our Lord God to look in mercie vpon his poore Church troubled in such sort and laid so wast in so manie places that there appeareth neither waie nor path thereof that it wil please him to defend her and guide her vnto the true cabbins and lodges of the Pastors thwart so manie cruell and hideous desertes sith it hath pleased him in our time to raise and lift vp the banner of his holy Ministery that hee will oppose himselfe therefore against this Babylon and ouerthrow the Apostolical See thereof by the wind of his mouth giuing vnto his elect eies to see the light of his holy gospel aâ— deares to hear the voice of that true and certaine Pastor of Pastors the chiefe sheepeheard Iesus Christ and setting vppe againe his cabbins in the which his poor famished young Kids may be fed and pastured to his honour glorie And because wee for our owne part haue done our duty so little in seeking after and digesting this holy foode and pasture let vs cry him mercy and craue of him grace and mercie as followeth Almighty God c. THE ELEVENTH SERMON Our helpe be in the name of God c. It is written as followeth in the first Chapter of the Canticle of Canticles the ninth verse 9 My Loue I compare thee vnto my couple of horses of one of the coches of Pharao 1 The happie estate of the Church re-established opposed to her desolation for which reestablishment euerie one ought to labour 2 In whome the fault lyeth that the Church is not reformed 3 The maske of false general councels discouered 4 The duetie of true Pastors and christian princes touching these delaies with an aunswere vnto the slaunders raised against those who haue sought to discharge their duetie in this behalfe 5 A summarie recital of the great defects committed in our time in this point of reformation 6 The ground of this similitude taken from a couple of horses of one of the coches of Pharao 7 How deare and precious this woorde of Loue ought to be vnto the spouse 8 In what sense this spouse is compared to a couple of goodly great horses in a coch 9 The crosse is properlie the triumphal chariot which is here spoken of 10 The Gospell is then despised when men enioie it with greatest freedome 11 An exhortation to doe the contrarie 12 Why the spouse is not compared to one horse but to a couple 13 The false ioynt-couple opposed to this of the spouse 14 A reprehension of wild and dissolute liuers who cannot endure the chek being coupled and yoked vnder the yoke of the Lord. WEE haue learned before a good lesson by the aunswere of the Bridegroome namely touching the certaine and infallible markes of the true Church to which wee must order and keepe our selues for to obtain saluation and consequently the true and only meanes of reforming the church being for a time by the negligence of some of the Pastors and by the wickednesse of false Doctors and teachers brought into verie badde estate After which reformation wel and throughly practised the goodlie and triumphant condition of the Church sette on foote againe is heere in most excellent sort paynted out vnto vs which we are diligently and earnestly to consider of This is then a point which men still at this daie debate and dispute and not without great reason if wee doe but looke on the extreme desolation whereunto the greatest part of Christendom is brought at this day 2 But what Men dispute thereof not to find anie remedie for it but cleane contrarie to hinder such as endeuour a reformation For the false Pastors cannot abide that anie maÌ„ should touch this point because of
senselesse and hard harted as to be rauished with the admiration of this so bottomlesse a gulfe of bounty and liberality and make al them dy for shame who are so wicked as to contemne such an exceeding grace what allurement soeuer were presented thē For what is there to bee compared with such a treasure most freely bestowed And what recompence is a man able to giue of his soule Mat. 16.26 Desire we any good thing from an high or from below Who shal giue it vs but he who is the Lord of high and low Wish wee for anie true commodity within or without Who shal giue it vs but he who made and preserueth the one and the other And howe shall hee refuse to giue it him vnto whom he hath giuen himselfe and that by a donation vtterly irreuocable So that when we demaund any of these blessings and receiue them not let vs know that this therefore hapneth because hee knoweth a great deale better then wee our selues what is for vs or because we do naughtily demand that which is good for vs or because it is good for vs to haue the denial for a time to sharpen and whet our appetite and desire Psal 40.1 for otherwise wee should alwaies finde this promise infallibly true Knock and it shal be opened vnto you aske it shal be giuen you But wee are to obserue and retaine one generall rule in this matter that is to saie that concerning temporall blessinges which haue not a special promise as Dauid had a special promise of the kingdome and therefore he specially craued it obtained it Psal 2.6 and .4.4 and elsewhere in manie places and Daniel after the 70. years accomplished and expired praied specially for the returne of the people Dan. 9.2 wee may not demaund them at Gods hands but with these clauses If it bee good if it bee expedient when and in such sort as it shall please thee but as for demaunding grace at his handes by the remission of all our sinnes bringing vnto him an heart truely humble and contrite wee may and ought to craue and demaund this with al holy assurance grounded vpon him Heb. 4.16 and Iam. 16. yea so far as to defie al our enemies according to the example of the Apostle Rom. 8.37 for saith he hee which hath not spared his owne sonne but giuen him for vs how wil hee not giue vs al thinges with him Let vs therefore hearken vnto this spouse or let vs be rather this spouse which saith My beloued is mine and I am his What shal Satā thē be able to do against vs seeing this Bridegroome together with all that hee hath is ours Why should our sinnes appal and astonish vs seeing he hath carried them vpon the wood of his crosse 1. Pet. 2.24 seeing hee is the Lamb that taketh awaie the sinnes of the world and that that which he hath suffered for vs is ours Shall the want of righteousnesse and the perfect accomplishment of all the Lawe of God which wee ought to perfourm daunt vs Why He hath accomplished the whole Law for vs and hee is ours with al his obedience Gal. 4.4 Rom. 5.19 Shal our natural corruptiō affright terrify vs Why He in whom it is fully entirely repaired for vs is ours with al his integrity holines Ro. 8.3 besides that this corruption beginneth already to die in vs so that wee bee no longer in subiection vnto it Rom. 7.18 Shal death hold vs stil chained fettered with his bands Why He who is the life he that hath ouercome death for vs by his owne death is ours What thing then is able to trouble our repose or abate our assurance 9 And to the end we should be the more certaine and assured it is not onely saide that this beloued is ours but also that we the beloued are his The donation therefore is mutual and reciprocall But alas what gift haue we brought him and presented him withall hauing nothing in vs but wickednes and corruption Yea verilie then when he took vs vnto himselfe with all our filthy defilementes not to defile himselfe with them but to blot and wash them out and in lieu of them to deck and adorne his spouse with that puritie and beutie whereof wee haue before spoken and shall hereafter be further occasioned to speake of Ezech. 16. To say the truth then wee haue giuen him nothing nor brought him any thing in respect of the first grace but haue doone nothing but receiued by the hand of faith which was freely giuen vs to receiue the other withall Ephe. 2.8 Philip. 1.29 But this former grace being receiued it hath beene accompanied with other giftes which we offer vp vnto him together with our owne persons Rom. 1.21 which hee most graciouslie accepteth of though he haue no profit thereby Psalm 16.2 Luk. 17.19 but according vnto his good pleasure onelie In a woord therefore who can giue any thing vnto him from whom alone whatsoeuer is good to be giuen commeth and proceedeth Rom. 11.35 Iam. 1.17 and if wee present him anie thing it commeth all from him We are therefore giuen vnto him because he hath giuen himselfe to vs hath bought vs with the price of himselfe 1. Pet. 1.18 not as if wee had bought and sold with him to pay him or giue him that which wee haue receiued of free gift And yet wee maie not come with emptie handes before the Lord seeing he giueth vs wherewith to make an offering Exod. 23.15 Will we then haue a part in this great inestimable treasure Let vs giue our selues vnto him and be his indeede and let vs not doe as those two whooring sisters of whom the same Prophet speaketh Ezech. 23. for if wee be al is marred and our later estate and condition wil be worse then the former 2. Pet. 2.2 This is the cause why it is added that this Bridegrome pastureth or feedeth that is to saie maketh his abode and taketh his pleasure with his spouse among the Lillies that is where vertue purity and syncerity is beeing meant by these Lillies the fruits of the spirite which the Apostle reckoneth vp Gal. 5.22 opposed vnto the stincking venimous and wicked plants growing vp in our harts vntil God plucke them vp by the rootes with which the whole world is so thick sowen 10 But some man will saie this Bridegroome was not yet come when this spouse spake thus but I aunswere that seeing faith cannot bee without him vnto whom it tendeth as vnto her onely end and scope and which also hath her foundation in him who giueth it formeth it in those who are his which is Iesus Christ true God and true man and not God onelie or man onely and againe seeing the Church cannot be without faith being the true and essential forme thereof if from the verie promise made vnto Adam Iesus Christ true god and true man were not in the Church then was there nether faith at al
alwaies made stil wil make him the Iudge who shall iudge vs all by his holy word as touching their life ours wee confesse that as for vs wee haue but too great occasion to hang downe our heades as for them the heauen and the earth knoweth too well what their merites are 9 The spouse addeth that which is properly belonging vnto this matter saying that when shee found not her Bridegroome in this bed where shee sought him shee rose to seeke him whom shee so hartily loueth where euer he were Now to creepe into her bed and there to lie groueling and to rise are thinges cleane contrarie the one to the other and indeed it is not enough to condemne that which is ill but wee must like and approoue that which is good and practise it What is then to rise out of her bed It is to quit and forsake al thinges without exception togither with which we cannot enioy Iesus Christ that is to saie to renounce a mans selfe which is the A.B.C. of Christians Matth. 16.24 It is to put out one eye and to cut off one arme to enter rather one-eied maimed into the kingdom of this Bridegrome then hauing two eies two arms to be cast into hel fire Mat. 5.29.30 it is to leaue al things to folow after this Bridegrome according vnto the exāple of his true disciples Mat. 19.27 it is to follow the example of that thrise happy merchant who sold al that he had to buy the perle be found Mat. 13.46 it is to be ready in the banquetting hal and not to be hindered and kept thence either by farme or tillage or marriage Luk. 14.16 it is to to loue neither father nor mother nor country nor kindred so much or more then God Gen. 11.33 Deu. 33.9 and not to become a monk as some one of the auncient not so aduisedly said although the monkeries then were as far distant from those of our daies as the Moone is distant from the earth though they were euen then to say the truth in some poynt lunaticke and fantastical but to follow Iesus Christ that is to saie to stick vnto this Bridegroome in exercising euery man his lawfull calling in all honesty and holines To rise then out of bed is not simplie to chaunge our place but it is as I haue said to quitte and forsake all thinges which may let and hinder vs from that which concerneth the peace of our consciences so consequently our saluation to keepe on in the right waie if we be once in it and to find it out if we bee straied from it and that not onely to follow in general the vocation common vnto al Christians most excellently described among other places Phil. 2.1 but to the end that euery one in special folow his vocation as we haue an expresse commandement to that purpose 1. Cor. 7.20 and according vnto the example of Dauid who hauing this in particular charge to finde and assigne the place for the building of the Temple God punish me so and so saith he if euer I enter vnder the roofe of my house or ascend vp into my bed if I suffer mine eies to sleep or shut the lids of mine eies before I find out a place for the Eternal an habitation for the mighty one of Iacob Psal 132. 10 Let all the elect therefore of God as many I meane as he hath created in a desire of finding him whē they are asleep in this peace of the false Church learne of this spouse to say truely and indeede that there is no commoditie nor appearance of ease shal stay me but I wil leaue them and get me out of my bed to finde him on whom my heart is settled and planted And let those who haue found him take heed how they set their mindes vpon temporall blessings though godlinesse haue the promise of them also 1. Timoth. 4.6 or to make their account that things once well ordered shall so continue stil in the Church or discern the true Church from the false by an outward shew of some great estate neuer so well vnderpropped in the opinion of men but take heede betimes vnto themselues that this Bridegroome in whom consisteth the true peace Matth. 12.29 neuer leaue them but that they continue stil members of that true Church of which it is saide That happy is the people whose God the eternal is Psalm 44.15 To the attaining whereof confessing before the Lorde our too continuall negligence vnthankefulnesse and rebellion we wil craue pardon and mercy at his handes as followeth Almighty God c. THE XXIIII SERMON Our helpe be in the name of God c. It is written as followeth in the third Chapter of the Canticle of Canticles the 2. and 3. verses 2 I will rise therefore saide I and will goe about the City through the streets through the greater places wil seek him whō my soul loueth I sought him but I could not find him 3 The watch which go about the city found me I said saw you him whō my soule loueth 1 That the Lord suffereth not himself to be found incontinentlie of his amidst the confusions and desolations of the Church is for no other cause but to make himselfe to be so much the more ardently and earnestly sought after 2 It is neither to the greater number nor vnto that which is most commonlie receiued that we are to keepe our selues to find the true Church 3 The certaine infallible and perpetuall mark of the true Church is the doctrine registred by the Prophets and Apostles 4 The truth continueth firme and stable in the true Catholike Church opposed vnto the Hereticall but it shineth not alwaies alike nor is alike knowen 5 The doctrine of the Apostles and the Catholique Church are vnseparable and is a testimony one vnto the other 6 The holy scripture ought to serue for text and interpretation 7 The spirit of truth was neuer tyed without any exception vnto the Leuiticall ministerie 8 Wherefore the spouse went her way farther without staying the watches answere 9 The spirit of truth is not tyed to thē without exception who sit in the chayre of the ministerie of the gospell 10 The holy scriptures are in all times irreproueable Iudges of the true Christian doctrine as it appeareth by the testimony of Iesus Christ himselfe and his Apostles 11 Bare personall succession is not to be stoode on though the outward forme bee therein obserued 12 This doctrine being well practised breedeth no confusion in the Church 13 The horrible disorder brought in confirmed in the Church by the Apostatical See of Rome that they are neither heretiques nor Schismatiques who haue seuered themselues from it by extraordinarie meanes sent of God 14 The conclusion shewing how we ought to behaue our selues in this behalfe VPON Thursday last we learned how the spouse awaked by the spirit of god who formed in her an holy desire of seeking him againe
what it is And what meditation I pray you or contemplation can a man haue of that of which he knoweth nothing of which he is no whit bound to know any thing in speciall But prouided a man haue a good meaning and referre himselfe to the articles of their faith be it as be may and kneele himselfe down before a Crucifixe or sometimes seeke a great way for one when hee hath one hard by or be as ready to say an Aue Maria as a Pater noster for indeede the one in this case is as good as the other being as little vnderstood of him that saith it as it is heard of the Image before which he prayeth behold a merite by and by atchieued beholde the wrath of God very well appeazed And how so Is this to pray vnto God in spirite and truth Ioh. 4.24 to present our selues before him in faith without the which a man cannot please God Heb. 11.6 To beleue to be ignorant of a thing is this al one Is this this faith by which we stand 1. Cor. 16.13 by which we beate backe the fierie darts of our enemie Eph. 6.16 1. Pet. 3.9 in which we ought to continue grounded and stablished Coloss 1.23 Is this that doctrine which we must meditate day and night without inquiring after it or knowing it Psal 1.2 And if this be it how shall we be ready to yeeld a reason thereof according vnto the ordinance of the Apostle when we neuer knewe what it meant That is to say how can wee giue an account of that for which we neuer made either spent or receiued And who teacheth this lesson That doth saint Peter 1. Pet. 3.15 And how is he the true successor of saint Peter who not only knoweth ought himselfe but forbiddeth also and taketh from others the onely meane of executing that which S. Peter requireth Are not these sort of men rather those of whō Iesus Christ said that they neither enter into the kingdome of heauen themselues nor suffer others to enter thereinto Math. 23.13 in such sort that truely it may truely be saide that their graund Porter carrieth not without cause two keyes the one to shut vp Paradise as much as lyeth in him and the other to open hell vnto euery one that will goe thither But let vs leaue these preachers of wood and of stone dead and dumbe as they be which themselues will haue called the preachers of Idiots and let vs come vnto him whom they pretend to be personally and really this very king as bigge and as great as he was hanging on the Crosse And what doth he say Doth he teach Doth he exhort Doth hee reprooue Lesse a great deale then the other which seemeth to be that which he is not where as this nether is nor seemeth to be he in deed if we beleeue them themselues who make him and who are so shameles in their writinges as to call themselues the creators of their Creator hee is not there to preach but to be sacrificed offered not without exceeding mockery because that he which offereth him doth eate him and drinke him leauing nothing at al vnto him vnto whom hee saith that hee doth indeede and really offer him And yet this is the maine grounde chiefe point and summe of their diuine seruice and this is their owne language to lift vp God in respect of the actor the priest and to see God in respect of the looker on the people or at least to speake more pertinently which they say to lift vp Iesus Christ and to see Iesus Christ But they must shewe that which they doe both in wordes and in deede 12 But let vs get vs out of this mire and praise God that he hath pulled vs out of it And on the otherside let vs employ diligently all our minde throughly to knowe and as throughly to serue him who hath opened the eies of our minde our heart vnto this effect that wee fall not into greater reproofe then they who faile in this point either of ignorance or of superstition whereas the couetous contēplate nothing else with their minde and eies but their riches the fornicators are giuen vtterly ouer vnto their vncleannesse and wantonnesse hauing their eies full of adulteries and other infamous villanies the gluttons think on nothing else but their good-cheare the ambitious nothing but on their pompe and vanities and so on in the rest whereas al things which presents it selfe before our eies ought to drawe vs rather vnto that which all the worlde preacheth vnto vs namely to consider the wisedome power and infinit bountie of such a worke-man and to dedicate and consecrate vnto him both our soul and body in an acceptable sacrifice Rom. 12.1 It is not enough therefore to contemplate him but wee must acknowledge him for such a one as hee is which is the end and scope whereunto all this contemplation ought to be referred In a word we ought to confesse adore this King Salomon and that crowned And with what crown With that which his mother crowned him withall And when In the day of his fiansailes mirth Let vs therefore consider againe al these points directly 13 Wee knowe well enough what this woorde of king importeth namely a soueraigne power ouer his subiects ordered with reason And thus it is that it is taken in this place but yet with the differences which are between this king and al others which haue bin are or shalbe euer in the world All the other kinges therefore except this are in such sort soueraigne ouer their subiects that their countries are limited the time of their dominion bounded their power reacheth no farther then the body and goods and all this with a charge and condition to yeald an account one day to him on high who hath established them in their thrones heere belowe But this king to the knowing and contemplating of whom we are in this place inuited hath all power in heauen and in earth not onely because hee is god coeternal coessential with his father but also in asmuch as he is man vnto whom all gouernment is giuen ouer al creatures bee they high middle or lowe Math. 20.18 Ioh. 5.27.1 Cor. 15.27 Philip. 2.9 and that for all eternitie Luk. 1.33 Esay 9.6 And not onely ouer the bodies but ouer the soules also of his friends and true subiectes to defend them vnto the ende of the worlde Math. 28.20 And finally to make them really his coheires in the euerlasting kingdome Rom. 8.17 Heb. 2.10 And likewise ouer his enemies in the middest of whom hee raigneth Psal 110. Repressing them chastising destroying according as he knoweth to bee expedient for his glorie and for the saluation of his as the whole sacred historie doth witnes waiting for his full victorie and dominion which is promised him of the father 1. Cor. 15.28 It is therefore very true that this king in asmuch as he is God with his father hath altogether with