faire and fast binding our selves to give them intertainement in their best demonstrations It pleaseth the Holy Ghost as farre as I can apprehend it to call the place of Majestie the Sanctuary in Gods House or the place where Gods Table or Altar standeth for this purpose I have produced both Beza a moderne Divine and Saint Chrysostome a more antient Writer and will now proceede to say more from Theodoret lib. 4. cap. 4. lib. 5.13 Zorrat Hist lib. cap. 25. Zozom lib. 2. cap. 28. from Eusebius in his Panegyrick Oration at the dedication of the Temple of Tyre from the Council of Laeodicia Can. 44. sixt Councill in Trullo Can. 69. Concil Arcl. Can. 15. Concil Constant 5. and 6. Can. 69 Saint Cypr. lib. 1. Epist 9. and from Saint Ignatius I shall leave my Reader to enlarge himselfe and onely set before his eyes what I have searched for my owne satisfaction I will beginne with Theodosius the Emperour and Saint Ambrose a Bishop the Emperour enters the Church at Millaine to act his solemne reverence and his first reverence is the prostration of his whole body using the words of the Psalme 119.25 adhesit 〈…〉 men c. my foule eâ—eaveth to the pavement in humility of soule and body hee kisseth the very dust and stones wherewith the Church was paved and powred forth his teares abundantly and preparing himselfe to receive the Sacrament which is enough to stricke dead the point in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with equall 〈◊〉 he went up the steppings of the Altar I may have 〈◊〉 amisse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 iâ— palatium in gonere Gods house in specâ—â— called Basilica but that 's not enough here for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the plurall number signifies the degrees or steppings to the Altar 〈…〉 5. when he came to the Royall stayâ—â—â— be wâ—â—â— againe as abundantly as when he first entred the Church Then according to his custome at Constantinople he went within the raile but S. Ambrose by a Deacon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hee taught him that places were to be distinguished in the Church 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that it was for Priests and not for Princes to come within the rayle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 come forth and communicate with thine owne ranke and remember in Gods House to hold the perfect paterne of the difference and distinction Purple makes Kings not Priests of a Prince and a Priest 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Princes robes and Priests ornaments are not alike so neither are their places At the Councill in Trullo Can. 69. Non licet ulli corum omnium qui in laicorum numero sunt ingredi intra sanctuâ— Altare nequaquam tamen ab eo prohibita potestate authoritate imperiali quandocunque volâ—er iâ—â—â—catori dona offerre ex antiquissima traditione It is not lawfull for any that be in the number of Laicks to enter within the raile of the holy Altar yet the Imperiall Majestie and Authoritie is not thereby prohibited ingresse when 〈…〉 he hath a will to offer any gifts to the Creatour by a most antient tradition for the most antient use of the Church was that lay Christians might have accesse to the Altar to present there their especiall devotions or receive Priestly absolution c. otherwise they were not to enter but receive the blessed Eucharist and place themselves without the raile as the Councill of Laodicia is expresse for women Saint Ignatius who lived in the Apostles dayes Epist ad Trallens Qui extra Altare est est 〈◊〉 qui five Episcopâ— presbiteâ—is Dioconis ali 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Qui est extra Altare ille pollutuâ— est 〈◊〉 est inâ—idels deterior He which is without the Altar is hee who does ought without the Bishop 〈◊〉 Deaconâ— and againe hee who is without the Altar he is polluted in conscience and worse than an Inâ—â—â—â—â—â— where he is said to be without the Altar not who may not come within the raile but who may not participate of the holy Table for so theÌ„ Church Canons exclude him and in such case are all our Conventicle keepers that both without and against lawfull Bishops and Priests walke their owne bywayes As Christ was knowne to his two disciples in breaking of bread so were the Primitive Priests knowne to their people by breaking the Sacramentall bread and it was held the symbole of Christian Communion to be partakers of the Altar and to receive from it the holy Sacraments Ignat. ad Tralleuss qui intra Altare est purus est igitur obedit Episcopâ— Presbyteris he who is within the Altar is pure therefore also he obeyeth the Bishop and Priests He is within the Altar that may receive the Sacrament and he onely may receive the Sacrament that is in obedience or due order subject to the Bishop and Priests Sine his Ecclesia electa non est non caetus sanctorum non congregatiâ— sanctorum without these there is no elect Church no observation of holy things no congregation of Saints ad Ephes Epist 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he that is not within the Altar is deprived of the Bread of God that is he that hath no Communion with his Pastor at the Altar is to be denied the Sacrament still the Altar hangs upon the Priest and fellowship with him proves fellowship with the other The Apostles Doctrine fellowship prayers and breaking of bread are all closely comprised together by this Father Epist ad Magn. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in faith and concord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 praesidente Episâ—â—pâ— Dei lotâ— the Bishop being president over them in the place of God the Bishop succeede the Apostles in plenarie power the Presbitere the seventie whom our Saviour adjoyned to his Apostles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that such a Senate might meete to consider of mattâ—â—â— of peace and truth Act. 15.6 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that all might 〈◊〉 in one place to pray 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 runne to the Temple of God as to one place of Majestie or one Altar and one Iesus Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are as one for the whole Church is Gods Palace especially the place of his Altar where the people are made partakers of Chist himselfe Temple must be taken away sayes Vedelius as a corruption contrary to those times that professed they had no Temples and so must Altars too for they professed against them and then nothing is left but Iesus Christ who must be found out of Temples and Altars too may be in the Desert and secret chambers where there is neither the Apostles Doctrine fellowship breaking of bread or prayers but a confused rabble without all order or observation of Gods Ordinances as hee hath appointed them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are acknowledged by Saint Iohn Rev. 14.17 18. in such a sense as they ought to be where God Angells and men meete and as the whole place may
Preachers of it and both these are so called from the object of their imployment and not from the author of their calling We must therefore finde out in the third place Evangelists by calling such as was Philip Acts 21.8 who being compared with the seventy Luke 10.1 seemes to be an example of that calling First they preached so did Philip. Secondly they wrought miracles so did Philip. Thirdly they went before Christ to make way for him and his Ministery so did Philip before the Apostles as will appeare Acts 8.5 and not onely hee but many more Ver. 4. which Christ had called before his death of the seventy the Apostles remayning at Ierusalem Verse 1. which followed Philip when they heard of his successe Verse 14. and ordained Pastours where he had begun the Gospel Verse 17. This immediate power to ordain Christ gave his Apostles and by ordinary Pastours they are succeeded and not by extraordinary and Timothy and Titus are examples so is Epaphras Colos 4.12 who was one of Colosse when he was at Rome for it is not following of the Apostles that makes men Evangelists or every absence that denies them to be Bishops In Colosse wee may conjecture that Epaphras was Bishop of that place and had Laodicea and Hierapolis adjoyned unto it Colos 4.13 Archippus may be counted for the Presbyter with the Bishop and Philemon in whose house he was the Deacon for Saint Paul stiles him in a manner as Ignatius did the Deacons in his time σÏνεÏγος fellow-labourer σÏνδουλος fellow-servant for such work together in their Masters businesse This order being observed the Apostles and Bishops continue the succession and without theÌ„ there is none in the Church In these two Iesus Christ immediatly communicates his power of the Keyes to the Church and none receive it ordinarily but from some one of them The Pope abuseth all Bishops to fetch them under his power The people prophane Gods ordinance when they appoint Pastours We must confine our selves to these two heads or else we misse Christs order and this is not my conjecture but the conceit of antiquitie and by modern Divines is brought against the Popes usurpation above Bishops Saint Cyprian in the Councell of Carthage hath these words neque quisquam nostrum Episcopum se esse Episcoporum constituit aut tyrannico terrore ad obsequendi necessitatem collegas suos adigit The Monarchie of one Bishop in the universall Church is a plain tyranny and so is a Presbytery in every Parish where there is no remedie as well against the popular as papall jurisdiction If the Pope infect the Church it must needs perish because there is no power above him so must the Parish for none can helpe it being so independent in it selfe and absolute from the command of all others both these take away all libertie of calling Councels and are uncontrouleable in their own wayes This cannot be of God to leave his Church desperate of meanes to helpe it Betweene both there is a middle way and that is to have the Churches power in the hands of many so that one may helpe another In the first Councell Acts 15. the Apostles as heads with the Elders meet in consultation determine what is best for the Churches in Antioch Syria and Cilicia V. 23 and wisely apply the remedie according to the disease for it seemes to some good Divines that the act involves no more then are mentioned in it and that Corinth and other Churches were not tyed by this Canon but might eat of meats sacrificed to Idols and onely were to use charitie and discretion at such times as it might offend the weake Apostles and Elders consider of the matter Verse 6. dispute and determine it and disperse abroad the Decree to be observed of those Churches that are specified in it A cleare and evident truth How the Apostles attempted to do nothing without consent It s a true rule that no one man makes Canons for all Churches there was never any Bishop save the Pope that challenged all power but as men most peaceably sought to governe after the divine Canon and approved Customs Councels of Gods Church No Bishop makes Lawes but takes as he ought the sole power to see them executed for if God trust them with his power to see it executed shall the Church distrust them with her Councels Bellarmine would help the Pope into his chaire by this poore shift Bishops are absolute in their Dioceses and have none above them therefore is the Pope so in all the World An Argument of an ill consequent and contrary to Christ and his Church To Christ Iesus to deprive him of his Monarchie and order of ruling who began with many and Ephes 4.11 makes mention of all his officers in the plurall number and in no ranke can wee thrust in one to be above al when the Apostles were above the 70 they were many and it is but a miserable begging of the question to bring in Saint Peter as the head of all the rest Wee finde that in a multitude yet well ordered and see in the extraordinary calling a number of Apostles above all the rest and in the ordinary we finde numbers of Doctors and teachers yet not confused as to set them all in one and the same indifferencie and equalitie of place dignitie for this would bring the Church to an anarchie for where there is no order there is just contestation that no man is bound to any obedience to another and whiles all strive to be equall the Church will never cease to quarrell I must therefore thinke the tyranny of one and all alike for what the Pope pleads to have none above him so all plead the same that they will have none above themselves To say none are above Bishops makes them equall and such an equalitie stands with the Churches peace and without it it will never be obtained or mayntained Vnus est Episcopatus cujus à singulis in solidum pars tenetur Cyprian de unitat Eccles Before I produce my testimonies for them three mayn objections would be cleered First From their election they may be chosen of others Secondly they may choose others to ordain with them or for them Thirdly they are the Churches invention Others may choose them Saint Ignat. Epist ad Philadel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It behoves you of Philadelphia as the Church of God to choose a Bishop and Saint Cyprian for all Priests Plebs maximè habet potestatem eligendi dignos sacerdotes vel indignos recusaudi Concil African apud Cyprian Epist 68. If the people may chuse Bishops and Priests their power is not so immediatly of God but the Church may intercede and act a part between God and them as it did Acts 1.23 6.3 13.2.3 Saint Ignatius will give us light and leading to answere sufficiently all these testimonies It behoves you of Philadelphia to choose a Bishop for the Church of Antioch in Syria ut
faithfull in all obedience to their Bishops as the chiefe of Pastours and the Presbyters 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Epist ad Trall as his consiliarii assessores english it as you will so you erre no more in your base account of Bishops What hath not Rome made offensive to vulgar eares the name of a Bishop Priest Altar Sacrifice and all Church-service is set at nought and wee abhorre to heare of veneiable antiquitie it s to small purpose to presse any thing upon them that have sworn to believe nothing but their own novelties and late inventions of discontented persons set on foot to trouble the peace and quiet of our Church which I beleeve holds in the most holy manner the Doctrine Fellowship Altar and Prayers expressed Acts 2.42 Storme not at the word Altar for breaking of bread cannot be without it in that sense which is so often inculcated in the Epistles of Saint Ignatius and think no man can be ignorant that will not wilfully blinde his eyes with prejudice to an Altar and rather make it any thing then an holy Table surely from fellow ship with Bishops he concludes his Altar as Saint Luke does breaking of bread from fellowship with the Apostles I would wish the separation of our times to take need lest to avoid Pope ry they part with puritie it selfe and do not so much find as forsake what they seek for if they take not ministerie from us they have none Then they can have no Baptism break no bread and where will they finde the marks and notes of their Church if they brand ours for none of Gods our Doctrine Fellowship Altar and Prayers will find footing when I feare they will faile in all if they opposeus in any May I conclude not be thought to flatter for I professe what I have said hath ever been my opinion that Bishops are by divine institution CHAP. VII The Cause and Cure of all our Contentions Vnitie in the Church is the path of peace which Papists and Sectaries disturbe in a contrary course The one misplacing the head the other the feet and both set them where they should not The Papists place their Popc where they should place all Bishops and Sectaries seeke that in the feet which is onely to be found in the head Saint Cyprian de unitate Eccles compares the universall power and jurisdiction of Bishops to an head which derives all the vertue to the bodie To a root which feeds and fils all the branches To a fountain from which flow all streams To the Sunne that sends forth all rayes and beames c. This head root fountain and Sun the Papists make their Pope all Bishops but members branches streames and beames of him Ab uno Episcopatu tanquam ab uno capite radice fonte sole oriuntur omnes Episcapi hujus Episcopatus a singulis in solidum pars tenetur A singulis in solidum every Bishop holds wholly for his part whatsoever is in the whole The head root fountain and Sun are similar and alike in all the members The same vertue is in one Bishop that is in all Bishops and the body being univocall hath but one essence in al the parts of it Order jurisdiction is the same and nothing heterogeneall but the Popes challenge to take all to himselfe and make Bishops stand to his courtesie for their calling and power as if all the Sea were in Tyber or the whole Sunne in the Romane Sphere the root in one branch and all the vertue of the head in one member Sectaries are as senslesse that take off the head to give life to the feet raise up the root that the branches may flourish Cut off the fountain that the streames may flow and remove the Sun out of its Orbe that they may enjoy the light These be our diseases whose causes and cure we are now to seeke out and hope it will helpe us to recover our misery I suppose I may reduce all the causes to two heads Envie and Ignorance Envie of the persons Ignorance of the calling of our Bishops Their persons and practices are so hated that Timothy and Titus must be unbishoped for their sakes We imagine corruptions in Bishops and cast such eyes of discontent upon them that we cannot abide to heare of their calling I am confident till that be established our contentions will never cease They are the words of holy Ignatius breathing with the sweet spirit that was in the beloved Disciple 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fly the division of unitie his arguments which are as medicines to cure the disease are foure Epist ad Philad First 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one faith to be beleeved of all Secondly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one predication of the same as an effectuall meanes Thirdly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one Eucharist to seale it wherein are many unities to perswade us from division First 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one flesh of our Lord Iesus Christ given for us Secondly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one bloud shed for us Thirdly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one bread visibly broken to us Fourthly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one cup distributed to us all Fiftly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one Altar or Table where we communicate The last argument is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one Bishop together with the Presbytery and Deacons This laft unitie being disturbed disturbes all the rest and because all the spite is against the Bishops wherein lyes the Churches unitie we will vindicate the truth thereof and prove plainly that Bishops as the best instruments derive all power and peace to the Church and that without them no unitie can possibly in all the rest be imagined or mayntained We will begin with the mayn text Eph. 4.11 12. There is a double calling for a threefold end First extraordinary in Apostles Prophets Evangelists Secondly ordinary in Pastors and Teachers Vpon these two hangs the perfection of the Saints work of the Ministery and edification of the universall Church In the first wee have that calling which is of God and by God alone In the second that which is also of God but by man and here we must inquire by what men the Scripture resolves us by the Apostles and by no others and therfore Timothy and Titus could be no Evangelists for two reasons First because they were not called immediatly of God and by God but of God by man and Saint Paul witnesseth hee ordained Timothy 2. Tim. 1.6 and no question the same is to be said of Titus Secondly both these ordained others which was effected by no extraordinary persons before them since the Apostles The objection is that Timothy is bidden doe the work of an Evangelist and therefore is one of their number By this reason I must reckon also the foure Evangelists and reduce them to the same order and so confound Apostles and Evangelists A cleere distinction will remedie this confusion First some Evangelists were writers of the Gospel Secondly others
the same It may be so in his Word and Ordinances which I reverence but adore not because they are not God but of his name and himselfe I cannot so speake Esay 42.8 I am the Lord that is my name and my glory I will not give to another c. His name himselfe and his glory are alike and may be given to nothing lesse than himselfe I speak of the name Iesus not as given to some men by humane imposition but as given to our Redeemer by God with a command of his adoration and so I end my second argument Thirdly from the benefit which is ours wee never name our benefactors but with great reverence and respect Of all the names of God this is above all names to us for all other names containe God himselfe as hee is against us this only includes us and our salvation in it and therfore is given of God to us so to think of it and how can it be in our thoughts above all other names without reverence respect unto it Acts 4.12 as there is salvation in no other person so there is no other name to expresse it and therefore wee may well make our expressions of reverence at the mention of it Lastly from God himselfe made known unto us Exod 6.3 As hee reveals himselfe so are wee to worship him and as he does this by one name more than another so may we acknowledge it without offence Now of all names none more expressive of Gods goodnesse unto us than this name Iesus and therefore we esteeme it of all the names of God most precious and in which he is most delighted to be worshipped to confesse that Iesus is the Lord Phil. 2.11 is a glory to Christ but the text sayes it is to the glory of God the Father therfore no wrong done to one person when wee performe worship in the name of an other Shortly In Religion All dayes are alike one day is above another All places are alike one place is above another All names are alike one name is above another There is no contradiction nor opposition to Gods Word when all dayes are alike to make one day above another when all places are alike to preferre one place before another when all names are alike to advance one name before another Estimation begins the difference and where it puts none against God it may set up one for God Estimation must be grounded upon knowledge that we be not ignorant in our thoughts and all must be to the glory of him who hath purchased our liberty from the bondage of the one and granted us freedome in the other to make our choice of such circumstances as may advance and advantage our Religion Acts 16.3 Gal. 2.3 in Timothie and Titus teach us wisdome how to walke with the wise and yet to the wicked to give no place by subjection for an houre to prejudice the truth of the Gospel Emissaries and Spies in the Church must be avoided and it was Saint Peters great fault ὀυκ á½€Ïθοποδεῖν to give offence in seeking to avoid it and his feare to offend was his greatest offence and that which is most to be lamented 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his hypocrisie is the cause of others dissembling with him and Barnabas Saint Pauls companion is corrupted in this evill concord and the Apostle left alone to vindicate the truth of the Gospel Hee that went furthest in the Ceremony and circumstance of Religion is the strictest and stoutest to stand for the substance A good pattern for our dayes of peaceable proceedings in the Church Acts 21.21 Saint Paul is accused not to live after the Church customes advised to shew the accusation to be false to submit with foure men to purifie himselfe and be at the charges of shaving for a Nazarite and although he vowed not with the foure men yet hee had not avoided that vow Acts 18.18 and now readily to give satisfaction undergoes the whole counsell of his brethren and although the event proved not successefull yet was it sufficient to shew his care to be at the Churches command to the utmost not to offend any zealous of the Law especially beleeving and in whom there was hope to be reclaymed from holding Moses against Christ Would God this moderation were in our times and that people could discerne betweene circumstances and substence in true Religion Iude Verse 23. hate the garment spotted with the flesh is strangely taken by some and compared to a shadow when it includes a mayn substance as fire to devoure and out of which nothing can save but quicke pulling out Creepers into houses Verse 4. murmurers and complayners of their Governours are compared to a leprous infectious garment which we must flie as the Plague I see no such pestilence in a Surplesse as in these from which Good Lord deliver us and let every good man pull away his neighbour from pinning himselfe upon their sleeves that slily creepe into corners to seduce men from our Church and let all learne to lay this text more against an Hereticke and a Schismaticke than a Ceremonie of the Church for certainly the sense is more in that than in this 1. Thes 5.23 Abstain from all appearance of evill is another proofe against Ceremonies and yet it is cleere the Apostle means it of prophecie First we must not despise it if we mean not to quench the spirit Secondly prophecie must be tried Thirdly what is good must be held Fourthly that which is evill the very appearance of it must be avoided This is ill applied to Ceremonies for it is not the evill appearance of every thing we must abstain from for then we should hold nothing that is good especially the best things for commonly they most offend and finde sense an ill judge of them but here again as before take heed not onely of evill doctrines but their very appearance Or if any will have the words generall they must be applyed to that which is evill and that by a gradation Evill must be avoided not onely in the substance but the very circumstances wee must not admit the least of evils and therfore the thing must be evill that we avoid To say it may appeare so to be is not enough for what will not some with their wits work into ill apprehensions and make the people like bird-eyed-horses start at any thing Let men be solid and not superficiall Studie to be serious and not verball in setting false faces upon things I have done and must adde my conclusion from the Canticles and wish wee may see the times set forth in these words Cant. 7.1 How beautifull are thy goings with shooes O Princes daughter the joynts of thy thighes are like jewels the work of the hand of a cunning workman O God thou art the cunning workman and onely able to set our joynts like jewels and make our thighes stable and the very wheel-bones for so the word signifies in the articulation ready to holy motions and conversions to thy selfe and then I am sure wee shall have our feet shod and not walke barefoot upon these sharpe stones and scruples daily cast in amongst us Wee have thy Gospel of peace shooe our feet with the preparation of it Ephes 6.15 and put an end to these miserable wars amongst us Thou that givest us the fignes of thy presence preserve us in thy truth Let thy Ministers be clothed with holinesse and thy people rejoyce in thy salvation Let the blessed Angels pitch their tents about us and watch for us They are thine honorable attendants let them be from thee to us as our Corps-du-guarde Amen AMEN
by the Congregation of Israel in the Wildernesse have ever beene the description of a people gathered together before God to serve him and I conceive the old and new Testament in the accomodation thereof to have no other meaning and mystery though I know this is not made of it by many both Moderne and Ancient Divines In one Psalme Beasts are Emblems of the Campes and Companies both of the godly and ungodly Psal 68.10 the word is Caiath or Caiah which signifies the wild beasts Gen. 1.24 25. because in them is the greatest life and livelinesse and it is applied by David to Gods people in whom there ought to be in the service of God the greatest spirit and life It s likewise ve 30. given to sinners and the Chaldee translates it Armies of them and further 2 Sam. 23. it s put for the troopes of the Philistins 1 Chro 11.15 the word Machanes is used for it which every learned man knows to be a Campe or Leager Gen. 23.2 Jacob calls the place where the Angells met him Mahanaim two Hoasts or Campes for as Laban in the reare and Esau in the front came against Gods servant so his blessed Angells came for him and made two Campes to crosse them both In the song of songs it is concluded that the Shulamite should convert to God as it were a double Army tither of Iewes and Gentiles or as the children of the Iewes converted to their fathers and the disobedient to the wisdome of the just Can. 6.13 Luke 1.17 I may hold my resolution and take the foure Beasts for the congregation of the Gentiles or all people that come in and encampe about the throne of the Lambe and seates of his Ministers wee will consider their names number orders office and actions Names Beasts better as in Ezech. 1.5 living creatures of the most vigorous nature Quatuor sunt superbi vel qui emineant in mundo Leo inter feras Bos inter Iumenta Aquila inter volucres Homo cui Deus supra omnes pulchritudinem largitus est ut omnibus imporaret Schindler pag. 266. d. Gods people should be as couragious as Lyons as patient in bearing their burdens as the Oxe is in labour and submitting to his masters yoke They should quit themselves as men in their best reason and rule and subdue their lusts to Gods Spirit They should like Eagles fore aloaft into the contemplation of divine things and be speedie in the dispatch of all their businesse their number is foure and that is from their quarters or campes as they lie East West North and South Their Catholicke concord and universall consent in all things is divinely described by Ezechiel Their faces and wings feete and soles of their feete wheeles and rings are nothing else but their unanimous consent in all things Their faces are foure and yet but one face in their aspect ver 10. Foure had the face of a man and the face of a Lyon c. They were not as foure hēads looking severall wayes but it seemes as one head fashioned to forme foure faces and all looking one way when they looked Southward they had all the face of a Man when they looked Eastward they had all the face of a Lyon when they looked Westward they had all the face of an Oxe and when they looked Northward they had all the face of an Eagle Vniversalitie and unitie in minde and motion is that which ought to be in Gods Saints Their wings had the hands of a man under them to shew that their high contemplations and foring into divine Mysteries was with humble and heartie readinesse to doe the things they understood Their wheeles did carry them on all sides in the same course and the rings did unite them as one in motion and they were full of eyes to direct them to the true end of all their actions furthermore these foure Beasts thus fashioned and formed to expresse the faith and fellowship of Gods people and their universalitie to looke to all Regions in their Religion and not Schismatically to professe one in a corner or command all to looke into some division or part the holy Catholike Church is most universall and binds us to all places where Iesus Christ hath sent his Gospell and this must also be added that the foure beasts are divided into twelve Tribes and the order of three is in them all To every beast three Tribes are allotted and then the whole number is twelve and this is a great mysterie and most certaine marke of a true Church in the Revelation Rev. 7. The tribes are sealed and two for Idolatry separated from the seale as Dan and Ephraim yet the number is made up and twelve tribes are sealed and in each tribe twelve thousand and twelve times twelve thousand is the number of Gods people Rev. 12.1 the crowne upon the head of the Church is 12. stars Rev. 22.12.14 Twelve gates twelve foundations on the gates are written the twelve tribes on the foundations the twelve Apostles and what is all this but a Church constant in the Doctrine and Fellowship of the Apostles Their order is strangely described Rev. 4.6 they are in the middest of the throne and round about it no circumference but every point of it rests upon the center It was Saint Pauls joy Col. 2.5 to see the order and faith of that Church faith plants a Church upon the foundation and that 's Christ order keepes all the members from confusion and placeth them as members in the body that all may serve for the good of the whole Their office is in their eyes and wings and it seemes the one is outward and the other inward Rev. 8. their wings and their workes are to be seene of men but their eyes that must guide therein be within and secret in themselves and must teach them that Gods Service must be with understanding God loves cheerefulnesse in our obedience and wisedome in all our workes their actions are to give glory unto God and not to rest night nor day in praises of his Name Castra Angelorum The last part is the invisible attendance of Angells and shewes the Majestie of God to be exceeding great Seaven Angells are before the Throne and these I take to be the Princes of Angells and the millions of the rest watch and ward and worship with us our gracious Saviour Our Church hath added Therefore with Angells and Archangells and with all the company of Heaven wee laud and magnifie thy glorious Name and evermore praysing thee and saying Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Hosts Heaven and Earth are full of thy glory Glory be to thee O Lord most high CHAP. VI. Contayning an exhortation to constancie in the Doctrine Fellowship Sacraments and Prayers of the Church Act. 2.42 HE that will not be an Heretick and denie the truth must continue stedfast in the Apostles doctrine he that wil not be a Schismatick depart from the Church must