before my text But the Pharisees and Lawyers reiected the counsell of God against themselues being not baptized of Iohn For that counsell of God there reiected is the wisdome that is here iustified There it finds Pharisees and Lawyers Separatists and Canonists States-men in their owne conceipts beyond all Subordination to withstand it here it is not destitute of dutyfull and intelligent children that will make good her proceedings Herod may consult with the wisemen and pretend as much devotion to Christ as they Pilate wash his hands when hee frees a murtherer condemnes an Innocent the Kings of the earth stand vp and the rulers take counsell together against the Lord and against his anoynted yet hee that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh them to scorne the Lord shall haue them in derision For there is no wisdome nor vnderstanding nor counsell against the most high Hester 6. Prov. 21.30 Zeresh his wife could tell Haman her husband that no policy could beare out a man that once began to fall before the seed of the Iewes who were then Gods vndoubted people And Gamaliels counsell was taken for good by the same Nation at the worst that howsoeuer mans proiects come to nought of themselues the designes of Gods wisdome shall neuer bee overthrowne Act. 5.38 but be accomplished in their due time 1. Pet. 5.6 5 Now those that be wise will ponder these things and they shall vnderstand the loving kindnes of the Lord Psal 107. Least they perish frō the right way Psal 2. through their owne imaginations Psal 5. O Lord our God great are thy wonderous workes Psal 40. which thou hast done like as be also thy thoughts which are to vs-ward and yet there is no man that ordereth them to thee Thy wisdome cryeth in the chiefe places of concurse and vttereth her voyce in the streets Prov. 1. but who hearkens after her she builds her a house Ib. 8. with stately pillars but who sues to be her tenant she provides her wine and victualls and furnisheth her table but who comes vpon her invitation Nay Sophistry goes so farre now adayes beyond this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of my text and wilynes beyond wisdome that for one disciple of true wisdome it may number a thousand St Paul after hee had in all wisdome brought his Colossians to Christ in whom are hidde the treasures of all wisdome and knowledge Coll. 2. Immediately therevpon schooles them to beware especially of 3. things which vnder a shew of wisdome might mislead them into all absurdityes the first is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so highly esteemed in these our trifling times consisting in inticing and winning words without the least purpose of sincerity or performance And this I say sayth the blessed Apostle least any man should beguile you by inticing words v. 4. The second is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 passed now vnder the habit of a reaching vnderstanding and deepe iudgment concerning which followeth in the 8. vers Beware least any man spoyle you through Philosophy and vayne deceits after the traditions of men after the rudiments of the world and not after Christ Men may vaunt themselues how they list of their abstruse speculations in concurring atom's and exemplary Idea's and pretty notions in the imaginary spaces without the Primum Mobile as some Iesuites yet continue to vent but wisdome will manifest in the end the emptines of such foperyes and how much better it is to be a good Christian then a great Philosopher though both may well stand together if they bee rightly ranked The 3. and most dangerous Abduction followes in the 18. vers in a voluntary humility afterward called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 will worship verse the last The Heathen haue yeelded Cyniques and the Mahumetans at this day want them not that put a great deale of wisdome in a Bedlem kind of garbe and fantasticke devotion But our Apostle tells vs in the words of truth and sobernesse Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility worshipping of Angels intruding into those things which he hath not seene For doth foolish man know how to please God better then God himselfe or doe Gods commandements want the patching or peecing out of the worlds Rudiments what a stirre and implacable siding 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath continued these many ages in Christianity about touch not tast not handle not and such like vnnecessary catches which are all to perish with the vsing as our Apostles tells vs And haue indeed a shew in will-worship and humility and neglecting the body not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh but are farre wide from that true wisdome which here we are in pursuit of 6 It was a wise obseruation of ancient Tertullian That where any thing is intended where it ought not to be Ita plerunque evenit vt cum aliquid vbi non oportet adhibetur illic vbi oportet negligitur De paenit it is neglected most commonly where it should be And it is a manifest signe of the nights approaching when the shadowes grow longer then the substance God ought to be worshipped of vs saith S. Augustine not as we hold fittest but as he commandeth Thou shalt doe not that which is right in thine owne eyes Deconsens Evangelist l. 1. c. 18. Deut. 12. but without addition or diminishing only addes the vulgar edition which I giue thee in charge For this is our wisdome and vnderstanding that shall extort from all at length this satisfying Approbation surely this is a wise and vnderstanding people But this wisdome hath beene ever held too triviall with the great witts of all ages Pharaoh will be pursuing the Israelites though he sinck himselfe and all his in the prosecution That Traytor Achitophel will vnking a man after Gods owne heart David though it cost him the making of himselfe a long letter in a halter Witty Lucian will jeere at Christians till doggs serue him as they did Iezabel And what shall weethinke of the Pagans violence in primitiue times and Iulian the Apostata's sly conveyances The Popes ioyning these both together in a most mysterious politique and plausible way haue they not all beene defeated by Luther and Calvin Iewell and such downe-right men and contemptible silly soules who were learned in nothing lesse then the Circumuenting wisdome of this world These men as 't is well knowne had no pompe to beare them out or inquisitions to back them or powder-plots to make way for them but the Apostles simple resolution Consider what we say and the Lord giue you vnderstanding in all things It was somewhat that made S. Paul to mind posterity 1. Cor. 1. That not many wisemen after the flesh nor many mighty nor many nobles yet some there are that are called to this businesse But God hath chosen the foolish things of this world to confound the wise and weake to take downe the mighty and things that are not V. 17. to
thou mightest euer haue stood in equall tearmes Adde to this the encroaching of the Papacy as much vpon the Prerogatiues of Commonwealths as the Liberties of the Church If the like could be objected to vs wee should be content to hearken Last of all wee were pressed in Popery to assent to their blaspheamous heresies Zanch. de relig cap. 24. Thes 16. and damnable Idolatry no man might bee safely silent or refraine in those actes which were most against his conscience Now these men cannot complaine of the like hard measure amongst vs. The refusall of conformity brings no man to the stake it stoppes onely in some courses some dangerous private Spirits D. Hall Decad 6. Epist 5 from wrangling about circumstances to vnite all against the common adversary that strikes at the foundation For who ever tooke discipline to bee more essentiall to the Church then Order in an Army or a Hedge to a Vineyard or Proportion to a Body or a Hemme to a Garment An Army Vineyard Body Garment may bee but perfect and well it cannot bee without these things Now a discipline they acknowledge amongst vs but not right Say it were so which they shall neuer bee able to proue wilt thou forsake thy house because the wall is mudde Or leaue thy Vineyard because the Hedge in some places is ruinous Doth a ghest invited to a banquet straight leaue the table in a sume for the misplacing of a trencher or napkin or because some dish is not serued in aright Divers moderate spirits there remaine among vs who perchance approue not all our ceremonies yet runne no to Amsterdam as holding such a remedy more * Nulla potest à schismaticis tanta fieri correptio id est emendatio quanta est schismatis pernicies Tertul. de Praescript cap. 60. 1. Ioh. 4.1 1. Cor. 14.32 dangerous then the cause The Disciples of Christ I am sure took wiser courses when the brethren had a controversie amongst them about legall Ceremonies Act. 15. the Apostles and Elders came together to consult that private spirits might bee tried and the spirits of the Prophets subiected to the Prophets Who if they giue no satisfaction as too oft it hath falne out in Popish Conventicles a faction crying downe the truth and the most the best no posting is prescribed to the Popes inerrability or separation allowed to the wronged parties but the Apostles rule is to be followed Philip. 3.16 First the ground must bee searched Vid. Parei Iren cap. 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wherein the agreement is and whereto wee haue already attained then followeth walking so farre by the same rule minding the same thing In which walk when wee come to the point of parting crosse waies must not bee taken or schismes raised but the perfect must forbeare the weaker and expect Gods good pleasure Ver. 15. who will reveale in due time as the Apostle there promiseth to those that are otherwise minded as much as concerneth his children to vnderstand Vi. Aug. Tom. 7. in Donatist sparsim per libros sex Thus Cyprian behaued himselfe in regard of the Donatists who though hee dissented from the Catholikes in the point of rebaptization yet hee forsooke not the vnity of those Churches which censur'd his opinion to associate himselfe to a company of Schismatickes Saint Augustine saith De Baptisme cont Donatist lib. 7. cap. 49. that God permitted him so to fall that his example might more benefit the Church in maintaining vnity then his Iudgement hurt it in defending the errour of rebaptizing heretikes 8 Thus he that bringeth light out of darknesse Aug. de vera Religione Tom. 1. cap. 6. maketh scandals the triall and triumph of his chosen Infidels hee proposeth to bee converted by them Heretikes to bee the touchstone of our doctrine Schismatiks to be the credit of our constancy Iewes to be the foyle of our beauty some must bee invited Jdem ibid. some excluded some left some led on by our even carriage so many taskes are laid vpon the few labourers who in the Lords great Harvest shall ever finde no lesse to suffer then doe both scowring them from idlenesse and ministring matter of conquest according to that of Saint Augustine Open enemies and false brethren benefit most commonly the Church by the providence of God Ibid. cap. 8. Non verum docendo quod nesciunt sed ad verum quaerendum carnales ad verum aperiendum spirituales Catholicos excitando Jt was Lucifer the Heretikes perversenesse that drewe S. Hierome vnto the stage the wickednesse of Iulian that brought Cyrill to write Arrius stirring that cleared the article of the Trinity by Great Athanasius Pelagius wilfulnesse that edged on Saint Augustine to sift and discouer so narrowly the fraylty of mans free will And to touch a little on our latter times were it not the Monkes absurdities that first set Luther a worke The Schoolemens mixtures and brabbles that occasioned Calvin Martyr and the rest of our Worthies more closely to sticke vnto the Text Seldome there threatneth a Goliah but a David ariseth or a false heart forsaketh his station but presently some one or other is ready in the gappe So our Harding yeelded vs a Iewell our Campian an Humfryes our Stapleton a Whitaker our Martin a Fulke our Hart a Raynolds to spare the modestie of the living who take the same courses And I make no doubt but that Socinus blaspheamies Arminius subtilties Vorstius nouelties Bertius quiddities shall rather bee an occasion of farther clearing then shaking the setled truth amongst vs as the clamours of the Vbiquitaries haue beene for the Sacrament Grace and Predestination in the reformed Churches of Germanie Courage courage therefore my deare Christian brethren wee see the ground whereon our lot is falne Whatsoever now happeneth hath beene foretold and fore-sampled and therefore should bee the lesse offensiue because so well foreknowne Our taske remaineth to gather with Christ Luk. 11.23 not scatter with the envious or separate with the male-content and when wee haue done our best yet somewhat may be objected that maketh against vs. The accusation of Ephesus and second member of my Text whereof I will endeuour to gather somewhat 9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by an vsuall Ellypsis for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I haue against thee In hunc locū vid. Bezam in in Mar. 6.19 de phrasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for I haue somewhat against thee or to accuse thee of as both Beza and Camerarius obserue Men may ouersee much or dissemble what they see or please themselues with the present or be misinformed by others but our Saviour deales more roundly soundly I haue saith he not a suspicion only but somewhat as before for Ephesus's commendation so here against her Sweet Iesus art thou become an accuser Wilt thou our onely advocate bee extreame to marke what is amisse Luk. 22.31.32 It 's Satans office to winnow thy prayer was wont
of the Church by the seede of the Word Of which two things are here intimated first their secret increase as the Morning deaw which is found vpon the grasse though no vapour or cloud appeares from whence it hath discended and secondly their multitude which as the morning drops in euery age more multiply then man can take notice of The Spirit of God therefore never ceaseth from the propagating Christs Church though men neglect their duties and all the world oppose it And here I might take occasion to discourse how the Church is sometimes invisible and yet ever fruitfull sometimes personated by Hypocrites and yet springing still as the Corne among the Weeds in persecution flourishing in exile from one place entertayned ever in another knowne still to bee by her members but onely knowne to God how many the members be But I perceiue the time hath prevented me The application of the whole is This is the day of Christs power wherein we are to tender our free-will offerings prayers praise thankesgiuing vnto the Lord of Hostes in the beauties of holinesse now he cometh downe vnto vs as our Prophet speaketh like the raine into a fleece of wooll even as the droppes that water the earth Let vs conclude therefore with the end of that same 27. Psalme Blessed bee the Lord our God even the God of Israel which only doth wondrous things And blessed bee the name of his Maiesty for ever and let all the earth be filled with his Maiesty Amen Amen THE FIRST FRVITS OF THE RESVRRECTION A SERMON PREACHED ON EASTER DAY AT St PETERS in the East in Oxford By IOHN PRIDEAVX Doctor of Divinity Regius Professor and Rector of Exeter Colledge OXFORD Imprinted by LEONARD LICHFIELD Anno Salutis 1636. THE FIRST FRVITS OF THE RESVRRECTION 1. COR. 15.20 But now Christ is risen from the dead and become the first fruits of them that slept THis day is this Scripture fulfilled in our eares B. and containeth the happiest tidings that ever was imparted to flesh and blood For fiducia Christianorum as Tertullian begins his booke de Resurrectione carnis is resurrectio mortuorum The chiefest string that Christians haue to their bow is their vndoubted perswasion that the dead shall rise againe This the truth saith he constraines vs to beleeue this truth is revealed in Gods Word this Revelation is no where exprest in shorter and plainer tearmes then in these words of the blessed Apostle which now I haue read vnto you I shall not need to wast time or suspend your patience with an over-logicall demonstration of the coherence with that which went before It may suffice by the way only to take notice of First the Apostles auditory Secondly his manner of proceeding His Auditors were the Corinthians great Critikes prone to factions and emulations standing much vpon their Philosophy and straines of subtilities whereby the Apostles plaine course of teaching was contemned as vulgar his person vnderualued his Followers esteemed weake and simple as his apology discouereth in the foure first chapters Besides this they had gotten a tricke to bolster out one another for what misdemeanour soever and to vndergoe rather the frowne of any forraine iurisdiction then quietly to haue matters composed among themselues chap. 5. and 6. And now could this chuse but draw on greater scandals as quarrelling about Virginity and marriage which should haue the preeminence chap. 7. Abuse of Christian liberty to the overthrow of their weaker brethren chap. 8. and 9. Irreverent behaviour both of men and women at Prayers Sermons and receiuing of the Sacraments chap. 10. and 11. Odious comparisons betweene Preachers and Linguists tongues and miracles miracles and other spirituall gifts as if any of these were our owne or if other vse then to edify one another from the beginning of the 12. to the end of the 14. chapter No marvaile then if in a Church so tainted some fell out of their presumptuous profanenesse to question also the Resurrection which how the Apostle here meets within this 15. chapter may be noted farther as a patterne for disputants in divinity to imitate For first hee comes not vpon them with Philosophicall Quiddities or apocryphall fragments to justify an article of such consequence Nay saith he I haue deliuered vnto you first of all that which I also haue receiued how that Iesus Christ died for our sinnes according to the Scriptures and that he was buried and that he rose againe the third day according to the Scriptures verse 3.4 The Scriptures therefore are the grounds foundation of Apostolike building And that according to the Scriptures all things came to passe hee bringeth in eye-witnesses verse 5.6 Cephas the Foreman and if his word would not bee taken an eleuen more of the same ranke to justify it And in case also that these should bee excepted against vpon a suspition of partiality there are ready fiue hundred brethren besides which all saw Christ at once after his Resurrection and divers were aliue at that time to witnesse it And least our Apostle might bee noted as too confident vpon heare-say last of all hee was seene of mee also saith hee as of one borne out of due time the last and the least but all comes to one for whether it be I or they so we preach and so yee beleeued But here the Corinthians might except admitting these proofes as strong for the Resurrection of Christ Doth it thereupon also follow that our bodies shall likewise bee raised Yes saith the blessed Apostle otherwise there were no avoiding of those prodigious absurdities preaching and faith should bee vaine the Apostles found false witnesses the liuing in their sinnes the dead perished Christians of all professions the most miserable Let a Scholler then gather the arguments and he shall finde the first fairely categoricall That which the Scripture hath expressedly delivered and so many eye-witnesses beyond exception are ready to avouch must needs bee true without contradiction and cannot bee denied without impiety But Scriptures and witnesses are cleare for Christs resurrection therefore that is an argument beyond all exception The second is Hypotheticall forcing a number of intolerable absurdities If Christians are not to rise againe by vertue of Christs Resurrection as Christ did then the Preaching of the Apostles is a foppery the faith of Christians vaine the forgiuenesse of their sinnes a fancy the hope of their dead a delusion their estate in this life beyond all others the most wretched but such inferences are no way to bee indured therefore it must be ever firmely held that not onely Christ rose againe but that Christians by vertue of his Resurrection are also to be raised Vncontroleable therefore is this minor proposition which the Apostle here assumeth But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the first fruits of them that slept I could not passe along this goodly Field of Corne B. without plucking some eares which were eminent aboue the rest for where may a man
strengthning him against his martyrdome being the first of the Apostles that was to suffer Acts 12. To the eleven Disciples vpon a mountaine in Galilee to make good that he had promised by the women Matt. 28. To more then fiue hundred brethren at once mentioned here by our Apostle And to all those last of all that were present at his ascention from the mount of Oliues Actes 1. To which eleuen Apparitions before his Ascension if wee ad that to Saint Paul Actes 9. it will make vp the full dozen or Iury to quit our cause and cast opposers But if apparitions should seeme to any too subiect to counterfeiting we haue a cloud of witnesses besides to confirme it From heauen of Angels Hee is risen hee is not here satisfie your owne eyes come see the place where the Lord lay Matth. 28. From women in earth who were vnlike in such a case to vent a gull because they scarce beleeued it themselues They haue taken away saith Mary Magdalen who little thought of his rising the Lord out of the sepulchre and I know not where they haue laid him Iohn 20. From the Disciples who had eyes enow vpon them to trippe them for fayling in the least circumstance whereupon they esteemed the first relation of the women Luke 24.11 as idle tales before experience had taught them that the Lord was risen indeed and had appeared to Simon Luk. 24.34 These things were so sifted so evident so manifest on all hands beyond exception that impudency it selfe might stand amazed not daring in any sort to disavow it It was made apparant to Iewes and Gentiles of both professions to Disciples and Souldiers Clergy and Laity to men and women both sexes were satisfied in the Evening and Morning no time excluded In the garden vpon the way in the Citty at the sea vpon a mountaine in Galiley vpon another overlooking Ierusalem within doore without no place ever shunned They could not bee deluded by heare-say for their eyes saw him a mist was not cast before their eyes for their eares heard him As neere as might be he came to their smelling Luke 20.22 if such a sence were fit to discerne in such a case for hee breathed vpon them they beheld him eate and drinke with them of such meate as was by miracle provided for them wherein tast might haue his portion in the discouery But more then all the rest he shewed them his hands and his side Luke 24.29 told them that a spirit could not haue flesh and bones as he had wished them to handle him caused Thomas to thrust his hand into the wound in his side for his owne and the fuller satisfaction of them all It were strange therefore that touching and handling the sense of seeling so often so freely by so many admitted to make experiment about it's proper obiect should in so maine a point bee deluded Out of all which promises you see the Apostles conclusion and the ground of our faith inferred in the very words as my text hath it Now is Christ risen from the dead which I haue laboured so fully to declare not so much to convince apposers as to confirme the weake beleeuers 7 For here I make no doubt B. but all good Christians will bee forward for application to themselues Some vpon the consideration of Satans absolute overthrow hells harrowing deaths swallowing vp in victory will follow the conquerours triumphs with their heartyest acclamations Others in a sort deiected with the meditation of his former passion will now cheere vp their thoughts in this glorious amends As the Israelites for their escape from Pharoah Deborah for the defeating of Sisera the Israelitish women for the overthrow of Golias expressed their exceeding joy in set songs and thankes-giuings Much more every one in this case should turne sacred Poets and make holy Anthems to their owne soules and consciences to celebrate the solemnity of this Festivity O what joy must it needs be to a good heart to recount that when the Devill and his complites had spit all their venome against the only meanes of our Redemption when they had as they supposed taken the Lion in a trappe deliuered him to the Iaylour Death if I may so speake without bayle and mainprise shackled him sure with bolts and seale for ever stirring to disturbe them againe That then the Lord awaked as one out of sleepe and like as a Giant refreshed with wine Psalme 7.5 He smote his enemies in the hinder parts put them to a perpetuall shame Then the huge Stone was rolled away the Seales broken the Guard frighted the whole plot spoyled What ayled thee O thou Earth that thou so trembledst and thou Stone that thou wast so driven backe yee Souldiers that yee fled like cowards and yee graues of the Saints that yee could not keepe in your dead It was the Lord that returned from the slaughter leading captivity captiue and now hauing drunke of the brooke in the way lifted vp his head to be Ruler in the midst of his enemies Long was it before his dearest Followers could bee possessed with this truth but hauing once the hynt how their hearts burned within them to impart it to others Mat. 28.8 Mary ranne to bring the Disciples word Peter and Iohn ranne to see whether it were truth or no. Ioh. 20.3 Luk. 24.33 The two Disciples could not rest in Emmaus howsoever like to be benighted but backe they must the same houre to Ierusalem to acquaint their fellowes what had befalne them in their walke Luk. 24.34 Their fellowes prevented them with the same newes before they could haue time to speake Amongst all which congregations no doubt but the blessed Virgin his mother bare the most affectionate part which notwithstanding is no where here mentioned to shew that this spirituall Iubile was beyond the taking notice of the neerest earthly relation No B. we need not faine the Suns dancing or Hermes vision or Paschasinus holy well that was filled of his owne accord every Easter day or the annuall rising as vpon this day of certaine bodies of Martyrs in the sands of Aegypt which some frivolously maintained to amplifie the glory of this Resurrection p. 3. q. 53. art X. Aquinas giueth fiue reasons of it The commendations of Gods Iustice which was to recompence so great humiliation with the like exaltation the strengthening of our faith the assurance of our hope the reforming of our liues the complement of our Salvation Hee might haue added for a sixt out of the blessed Apostle Hi mightily declaring himselfe to bee the Sonne of God Rom. 1. But all these are in a manner comprised in the part of my text that followeth being the effect and fruit of Christs Resurrection surrection which succeedeth now in this place to be likewise discussed 8. And become the first fruits of them that slept I cannot more fitly enter vpon this second part of my text then with the words of
vnto the Lord speaking as he doth at this time to vs by his Word and Ministers who ought not in that regard to bee lightly esteemed of you howsoever vnworthy in themselues for their Masters sake Hee speakes to vs in this point that notwithstanding hee often threaten and sometime strike yet place is left for mercy where it is sought accordingly Vse but Hezekiah's teares and prayers and he is the same God that will not only speake but giue comfortable signes of his favour which is the vpshot of my text and a signe that I shall not hold you long And he gaue him a signe Signes and miracles were frequent among the old Patriarchs Prophets and the Apostles with some of their successors in the Primitiue Church for the confirmation of their vocation faith and doctrine But the Gospell once fully receiued we are left to the text to arme our selues against Antichrist who comes with signes and miracles And not to rake vp old sores who knowes not of late the practices of Father Edmonds and Darrell with their complices to iustify Popery and Puritanisme by the casting out of Devils In which kinde of imposture some French Monkes were put of late to a hard exigent when Verrine the Devils discourse must be put in print to make good their exorcismes and superstitions But aboue all I marvaile why Bellarmine and Gretser should so strangely vpbraid our Church for the defect of miracles the first in these termes Haereticos non potuisse extorquere miracula neque à Deo neque à Diabolo ad confirmandam realem praesentiam in his 3. booke de Eucharistia and 8. Chap. The latter in the like Diabolum puduisse Lutheri doctrinam miraculis confirmare in his defence of the 2. Chap. of Bellarmines first Booke de verbo Dei Doe they take a pride that the Devill is so forward to advance their cause by miracles and so backward to doe vs any kindnesse If this be the issue wee shall rest content with such miracles as our Saviour and the Apostles wrought at the first propagating of the Gospell and when wee teach any new doctrine dissenting from this then to cast about for new miracles to confirme it But here a signe was necessary as Saint Augustine obserueth that of the two messages the Prophet brought to Hezekiah in shew contradictory he might bee assured on which to depend The signe that is here onely mentioned in the generall 2. Kings 20.11 is another-where particularly set downe to bee the going backe of the Sunne or at least the shadow ten degrees in King Ahaz Diall where no doubt can be among Interpreters whether it were done or no but of the manner how it might possibly bee accomplished Of the standing still of the Sunne some instances are given one was at the request of Father Mutius an Hermite who going to visit a sicke person was like to be benighted had not the Sunne halfe only aboue the Horizon for divers houres stayed his leasure till he came to his patient as 't is told vs in vitis Patrum lib. 1. cap. 16. Another is brought by Turpine in the life of Charles the Great the 28. Chap. for a more notable stay of the Sunne in one place for aboue three daies together to gratify that Emperour in the pursuite of his enemies A third is out of the first booke of Chron. 4. chap. 22. made good only by the vulgar Latine edition which readeth Et qui stare fecit solem This last much troubled Torniellus otherwise a diligent Historian so that he professeth ingeniously in his Annals that he knowes not what to make of it But the first Serrarius the Iesuite will scarce admit for a truth The second Baronius reiects for a lye and the third all may see depends on a false translation For whereas our English Doway Bibles render word for word out of the vulgar Latine And Hee that made the Sunne to stand The Originall hath nothing but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Septuagint 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our English all other that I haue seene And Iokim the proper name of a mā one of Iudah's posterity And therefore they must needs bee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Men of Lying as corruptly almost they render the very next words who would make that to signify the standing still of the Sunne Whence wee may obserue by the way what pure Text the Councell of Trent would put vpon vs for authenticall if we would take it in grosse And how palpably our peeuish Recusants in such cases are abused in depending on such men who care not with what huskes they feed them Once this is certaine that both Sunne and Moone stood still together for a whole daies space in Ioshua's time But here the Miracle seemes greater in going backe of the same tenne degrees especially as it is by most Interpreters expressed 10 For they suppose the Sun had then passed forward tenne degrees in the Diall before the miracle began so that two onely wanted for his setting Tenne then spent in the going backe to the point of his rising and tenne to returne to the point where it was first makes that one artificiall day aboue thirty houres whereas that of Ioshuah for ought we finde and of which the text saies there was never the like before or after could not be aboue 24. Now if the Sunne were here posted forth and backe in an instant as some would salue the matter how could the motion of the shadow in the Dyall be distinctly discerned And to put halfe degrees for whole as others would mend the reckoning the text will hardly beare To let passe then what explication here might arise from Copernicus mouing of the earth or Tycho Brahe's fixing of the Sunne as the center of motion to the rest of the Planets or Fracastorius multitude of Homocentricks take but the old receiued grounds either of eight Orbes with Aristotle or nine with Ptolemy or tenne with Alphonsus or now at the last of eleven with Maginus and Clavius not excluding their Excentricks Concentrickes Epicycles yea and Excentrepicycles which they make belonging vnto them to salue all appearances and a world of difficulties would follow if with this Sunnes retrogradation all the heavenly Orbes according to the same proportion moued not backward Besides the disordering of the Starres aspects distances one vnto the other those that take away all Orbes and leaue the starres to flye like birds in the ayre without the same miracle wrought likewise in all will not bee able to avoid To bee quitted therefore from this trouble Burgensis thinkes it safer with Abarbinel to affirme that the Sunne kept his course the heauens their order and the day his length but the shadow contrary to his nature was miraculously brought back With those accord Arias Montanus Bullinger and some others And their reasons are first Otherwise the miracle would haue beene as conspicuous in other Dyals as in that of Ahaz And the whole
God may haue the glory and Gods people the benefit For such purposes this and the like Chappels are built and consecrated not to be cages for idolatry or chanteries for superstition in an vnknowne tongue or theaters for will-worship to any Saints or Angells or conventicles for factions or Receptacles to vent our spleene or display our follies or shelters for our hypocrisie but for the perpetuall celebrating of Gods great Name who delighteth to dwell among those that dedicate themselues vnto him and serue him in truth and syncerity not as humane wisdome prescribeth but as he himselfe commandeth Grant therefore O most gracious God that our negligence in frequenting them or our pride in slighting them or our coldnesse in vsing them or prophanenesse in abusing them or our sacriledge in robbing them or our contentions in troubling thē or our errours in tainting thē or our barbarousnes in polluting them be not an hinderance to the fructifying of thy Word and Sacraments the propagating of thy Gospell and the hearing of our faithfull prayers and hearty devotions in them Let thine eyes bee alwaies open on this place to take notice in it of our wants thine Eares to receiue our supplications thy hands to relieue all our necessities Blesse him and his that founded it thy Reverend Servant that hath now consecrated it vs and all our successors in the continuall and happy injoying it through the merits and mediation of thy Sonne CHRIST IESUS To whom with thee the HOLY GHOST be all honour and glory both now and ever AMEN IOHN 6.14 Then these men when they had seene the miracle that IESVS did Said This is of a truth that Prophet that should come into the world MY Text sorts with the time wherein we celebrate the Advent of the Prophet which the people here proclaymed was come into the world and the course of the Gospells appointed to be yearely read on Sundaies in our Church Liturgie The 25. Sunday after Trinity is closed with the very same words of the comming of this Prophet The miracle of feeding fiue thousand men besides women and children in a desart place with fiue barly loues only and two little Fishes which drew from the people this acknowledgment of the comming of this Prophet is registred by the three other Evangelists Math. 14. Marke 6. Luke 9. with some little variation of some circumstances But this notable confession and profession of the multitude was reserued as it should seeme by the holy Ghost for that Evangelists relation who had discouered before from his Masters bosome Iohn 1.14 That the word was made flesh and dwelt among vs and we beheld his glory as the glory of the only begotten Sonne of the Father full of grace and truth In a dispute in the former Chapter with the Iewes of Ierusalem who tooke vpon them to be extraordinary zealous for their Sabbaths and Moses Law with what invincible arguments doth our Saviour make good That he was HEE that should come and that they were not to looke for any other Hee proues it by the testimony of his Father proclayming it from heauen in his Baptisme and his manifest joynt working with him He proues it by Iohn Baptist whom they held for a Prophet and to whom they had sent to knowe and what could bee fuller then Iohn Baptists testimony He that comes after me is before mee And behold the Lambe of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world Hee proues it by the Scriptures their owne grounds and those he vrgeth them to search and see whether they did not testifie of him or no. Hee further addeth Moses to proue it in whom they trusted and if yee beleeued him saith he you would haue beleeued me for he wrote of me Last of all besides all this if an vnquestionable miracle might be more prevalent such a miracle they had also in the cure of the man at the poole of Bethesda who had layne there for remedy eight and thirty yeares But that will satisfie perverse praejudice and obdurate malice Professors of religigion for their owne glory and gaine will hardly be brought to yeeld though never so plainly convinced For how can yee beleeue saith our Saviour ver 44. which receaue honour one of another and seeke not the honour that commeth from God onely Chap. 12.43 That loue the praise of men more then the praise of God This was the rot that had then infected the Iewish Synagogue and happy had it beene for Christians if it had there stayed Let a miracle of our Saviours be never so important they wil persecute and seeke to slay him because hee did it on the Sabbath day Chap. 5. v. 16. One calumny or other they must needes finde out to set a colour vpon their owne proceedings cast aspersions vpon his actions and doctrine But must Christ then haue no Church because some of those chiefest Church-men were opposite to him It appeares here to bee otherwise Him whom those leaders forsake in pollicy the Inferiours in simplicity follow Math. 14. They follow him from the Townes and Villages striuing who should be the formost they follow him with their wiues and children little regarding the incumbrances They follow him into a desart place not thinking what wants and hazards they might meet with Mark 6. and this they finde at the hands of the bountifull Master they followed He compassionats them as Sheepe without a Sheapheard teaching them many things makes them a miraculous feast to send them away with content beyond all exception or expectation And then these men when they had seene the Miracle that JESVS did said This is of a truth that Prophet that should come into the World 2. The words then are an Acknowledgement of the multitude that the promised Prophet was come into the world and that IESVS who did that miracle was He. Wherein may it please you to take notice of these two Generals 1. Due observation Then those men when they had seene the miracle that Iesus did said 2. True inference This is of a truth that Prophet that should come into the world To inferre without precedent observation is rashnesse and to obserue and make nothing of it Idle speculation Many are very curious and censorious in the first who fall short in the latter and others are so precipitant in the latter that they conclude often times without the praemisses of the first The practice therefore of these simple people herein appeareth more rationall then the hastinesse of many greater Schollers These would see before they said would not lay of a truth before they were throughly assured that there could bee no falshood in it Which falleth vpon the first part the due observation and in that order as the Text leadeth commeth first to be discussed 3. Then these men when they had seene the miracle that Iesus did Said In this observation we may well take notice of 1. The Observers These men 2. The
the high Priest or knew him well and yet jeares at him or saw him not in the throng and so was mistaken or was in a strange place and therefore missed where to find him or thought it fit though hee knew all this vulpinare cum vulpibus saith A Lapide the Iesuite which may be rendred not amisse to play the Iesuite with his opposites or that which is worse of his fellow Lorinus he knew his person and place to be of little regard that had so tyrannically abused his place and person for this trenches deeper into dangerous and desperate approaches vpon Magistrates if their persons and place should be slighted because some actions of theirs perchance may be iustly excepted against That which Maldonate notes on the 34. v. of the 2. of Luke nescio an facilior hic locus fuisset si nemo eum exposuisset may be well here applyed to his fellowes this place out of doubt would haue beene clearer if no such comments had gone about to cleare it We must take therefore the text along with vs if we will not be misled by the commentators Now in this why should the Apostle frame an excuse where no offence had beene committed or giue direction for amendment where nothing was amisse before This kinde of deniall then in our English translation I wist not whereby 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the originall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Syriack which S. Paul then spake hath more pith in it then all the former intricate disputes for this signifies not I knew not absolutely as the Rhemists out of the vulgar render it but I considered not I heeded not The iniury offered made mee so over shoote my selfe that I tooke not sufficient notice how he was the high Priest and therefore in my hast termed him whited wall which terme I confesse might haue beene well spared not because it was false but because it was not fit nor consonant to that which is written I acknowledge therefore herein my oversight and will not stand to defend it Which exposition Erasmus with S. Cyprian in some sort justify Behold here a plaine hearted Nathaniel in whom there was neither gall nor guile pride nor pertinacy no sooner was he minded of his fault but presently he amendeth it There was no want of wit in him but will to maintaine what he had let fall neither was it a hard taske for him that had beene so throughly cured Act. 9.17 and catechised by the good Ananias to make good that this great Ananias was as bad as might be But he chose rather to confesse his owne then to aggravate others faults leauing an eminent patterne of holy ingenuity for all good Christians to follow 4 I Wist not brethren that hee was the high Priest For in that regard had he vsed me worse it was a fault in me to right my selfe in vnseemely termes Here wee fall then vpon a virtue which all the heathen Philosophers never tooke sufficient notice of but true Christians haue alwaies entertained vnder the title of singlenesse of heart and ingenious simplicity This excludeth all double dealing in all our actions by hypocrisy circumventions fraude cousenage shy insinuations forged pretences close whisperings sophisticall delations equivocating delusions crafty conveyances and the like The Schoolemen assigne it to truth Aq. 2.2 Q. 109. as an attendant to keepe it from over lashing or mincing according to that indicious oath administred to such as by law giue evidence they must speake the truth without refusall the whole truth without diminishing and nothing but the truth without additiō through favour feare or affection Notwithstanding all this in simplicity it selfe there may be doubling in ingenuity wit may sometimes proue wily or wanton There is a simplicity which the Scripture taxeth for want of due circumspection discretion In the streets gates chiefe places of concourse Prov. 1.21 Wisdome cries against it How long will yee simple ones loue simplicity that is never striue to better your knowledge in things that may doe you most good but suffer your selues to be abused in that which will ouerthrowe and shame you Through a casement a little after C. 7. the like simple youth is discouered void of vnderstanding passing to a light womans house as an Oxe to the slaughter or a foole to the stocks till a dart strike through his liuer Such Simplicians the Hebrewes terme 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a root which signifies to be won or carried every way without sense or reason Every flattering speech shall drawe them to doe any thing Every forged tale or miracle shall make them change their religion Every confident calumniation set them at oddes with their best friends But that simplicity which Scripture here approueth is true meaning in our thoughts plaine truth in our words faithfull dealing in our actions Religious constancy in our Professions an innocent and harmlesse intent even in those slipps of ours wherein we may be often overtaken This Abimelech finds his best plea before God when hee was threatned death for the rape of Sarah Gen. 20. v. 4. Gen. 20. Lord wilt thou slay also a righteous nation In simplicity of my heart and innocency of my hands haue I done this v. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a plaine vpright man is the chiefest title of honour giuen to Iacob Iob Gen. 25. and Iob the 1. David one of the same profession is a Suitor to the King of heauen for such mens pardon and preferment O Lord doe well saith he vnto them that are true of heart let not the simple goe away ashamed And what is the meaning of our Saviour when hee professeth that the kingdome of God belongeth vnto such as resemble best little children but that a simple harmelesnesse not plotting of purpose to doe a mischiefe but being offended is easie to be reconciled is a Qualification fit for those that shall haue accesse vnto our blessed Saviour and be his Favorites So the Corinthians which went for the wits of those daies Non cuivis homini c. our Apostle affronteth with this simplicity Our rejoycing saith he is this the testimonie of our conscience That in simplicity and godly syncerity 2. Cor. 1.12 not with fleshly wisedome but by the grace of God we haue had our conversation in the world more abundantly to you-ward And this is the same he here makes vse of Gamaliels scholler could not haue beene to seeke of evasions to put off or Apologies to defend what hee had done or spoken if he had thought it warrantable But hee preferres an ingenious acknowledgement before all Elenches and Sophismes to teach vs not to stand in a fault and adde impudency to errour or dishonesty but to take vp our selues at the least trip to prevent a fall more dangerous 5. This doctrine cannot bee harsh to any that desire not to be accounted wiser then our Apostle who hath closely couched together more practicall
and to rise againe from the dead the third day and that repentance and remission of sinnes V. 44 should be preached in his name All things as he there told them after his resurrection must be fulfilled which were written of him in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets and in the Psalmes Would wee knowe then what we should hold in point of opinion or dutie concerning God or our neighbour our Apostle out of doubt fore-seeing the need of resolution prescribes it thus to the Romans Cap. 15.4 Whatsoeuer things were written afore-time were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might haue hope S. Peter was an eye witnesse as hee saies himselfe of our Saviours Maiestie in the Mount and there hee heard the father proclaime him to be his beloued sonne in whom he was well pleased Notwithstanding saith he wee haue a more sure word of prophecy 1 Pet. 1.19 wherevnto yee doe well that yee take heed as vnto a light that shineth in a darke place vntill the day dawne and the day-starre arise in your hearts Where he manifestly preferreth that which was written as saith S. Augustine before that which hee had seene with his owne eyes Certiorem dixit non meliorem non veriorem sermonem For exceptions might be taken by Infidels against the trāsfiguration as lyable to some suspicion of imposture which could haue no shew against that which was before so long time written 8. It would make a man wonder to obserue how farre those that pretend themselues to be S. Peters successours and S. Pauls schollers start back both from S. Peter and S. Paul in this behalfe But well they vnderstand that if this ground of scriptum est stand their Antichristian hierarchy and superstition must needs fall to the ground It was the mainest ayme therefore of the Councell of Trent before they ventered further vpon any controverted points to take order that no enemie should be left at their backe nor this scriptum est doe them any preiudice Remaine it should in shew for it was beyond any humane policie and Impudency to take it quite off the file but remaine it should with such clogges and qualifications that they might presse it when in shew it makes for them or quash it when it is mainly against them I will instance no further then in Bellarmines foure bookes De verbo Dei scripto non scripto which he contriued of purpose to justifie that Councell In the first of which because the receiued and vnquestioned Canon would make clearely as they all saw for the scriptum est of the Protestants the Apocrypha must be taken in to peece out the matter and goe for as good proofe as any Canonicall scriptum est whatsoeuer Secondly because some vantages might be taken from the faulty translation of the vulgar edition this edition in the next place with all it's faults must be as currant as the scriptum est of the Originall Nay according to the construing of most of their Schooles and Professours who are lesse practised in the tongues be preferred before it Thirdly least all this should fayle the Pope is brought in in his third booke as an infallible Iudge and interpreter where let the Text bee what it may the sense must bee had from his vnerrable Holinesse But what and there bee not any the least shew of any scriptum est whevpon any Interpretation may be grounded as they are driuen to confesse in diuers controversies betweene them and vs Will they then be content that our scriptumest shall carry it No by no meanes Then their Traditum est is pluckt out at the last cast in his fourth book where vnwritten Traditions must supply the defect of scriptum est And so follow them neuer so close they haue consulted of a starting hole And thus in this chiefest ground for setling Religion the Church of Rome you see assumes no lesse authority to it selfe then God himselfe If he giue vs a Canon or rule they will make Apocrypha of as firme validity as that If he afford vs the originall their dissenting translation shall bee no lesse authenticall then that And yet then when all the rest fayles the Popes infallibility with a Statuimus decernimus and an Anathema to him that in any sort withstands it shall bring in vnwritten traditions to decide all the controuersies For what their full meaning is in this behalfe Cardinal Bellarmine vpon occasion blurts out in his second booke de effectu Sacramentorum the 25. Chap. Si tollamus Authoritatem praesent is Ecclesiae praesent is Concilij Tridentini If we take away the authority saith he of this present Church of Rome that present Councill of Trent what then why then all the decrees of all former Councills hee adds tot a fides Christiana and all Christian religion may be call'd in question But what can S. Pauls or our Sauiours scriptum est stand Christians in stead if the Popes proscriptum est may so easily cancell it Is this sound stuffe thinke you to hold vp pietie in Church or policy in a Common-wealth Beloued wee must not quit our old grounds receaued from God to entertaine such new proiects devised by partiall men who are all for their owne ends though all end at length to their owne shame and confusion But though Israel play the harlot let not Iudah imitate her Let it be alwaies the infamie of the Babylonish strumpet to sow seditions countenance Rebellions blow the Coales in combustions make Saints of Traytours Traytours of such simple soules as shall be ruled by them But let vs in the meane time hold constantly close to that which is written as here our Apostle leads vs along 9. It is written thou shalt not speake evill of the Ruler of thy People 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There is a Sect of late Philosophers who hauing taken vpon them to vindicate Arts and sciences from Monkish duncery insist especially vpon these three rules out of Aristotle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The first they say is lex veritat is the law of truth and that must bee generall without exception The second Lex Iustitiae The law of Iustice and by that we may not fly out but keepe our selues to the point The third is Lex sapientiae The law of Wisdome this rangeth the truth and right of the former in their due places and order An intimation at least of all these we haue in this eminent position cited here by our Apostle Thou whosoeuer whether high or low rich or poore in favour or disgrace this is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a generall truth without exception Thou shalt not speake evill in publike or private of thine owne accord or exasperated this is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the point the Apostle was taken vpon Against the Ruler of thy people Prince or Priest Supreame or subordinate Magistrate this is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the rule of
be left in Hell not that hee was ever there but because hee was thereto liable if Christ had not interposed Would any man gather from the speech of God to Abimelech Behold thou art but a deadman Gen. 20. that it argued hee was dead indeed or rather that he deserued so to be and should surely looke for it if he proceeded to wrong faithfull Abraham in his wife Sarah Why then may it not stand by the same analogie David was not left to that dungeon into which Gods iustice through sinne would haue cast him if Christs descent had not freed him by a plenary and victorious satisfaction Christ then alone did the deed but David and all the faithfull both before and after receaue the benefit his sufferings were our Acquittings his death our life his descending into Hell our freedome from thence Of his soule therefore our Prophet speaketh principally but of his owne by a consequent 10. My soule Notwithstanding divers had rather hazard an Article of their Creed then acknowledge this for good And surely Beloued if we sayle in this proofe the rest will be sooner deluded And here I must professe with Musculus vpon these words of my Text In Ps 16. I am not ignorant how diversly learned men doe thinke It is so mewhat obsoure indeed saith he and subiect to many disputations But yet no godly man vpon such an occasion wil I trust resist or offer violence to the Apostles words Thou shalt not leaue my soule in Hell But desire rather God for the vnderstanding of it And in the meane time with a single faith cleaue to the Word of Truth although he cannot clearely perceaue the Manner how it was performed For mine owne part though I ever tooke that of Basil for an especiall goodrule 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nothing is so proper to a Christian Bishop I may extend it to every good Christian as to be a peacemaker yet to balk an Article of our faith whē iust occasion leads a man to professe it in a fit Auditory were to neglect that Iniunction of the Apostle Be ready alwaies to giue an answere to every man that asketh you to giue a reason of the hope that is in you with meeknesse and feare 1. Pet. 3.15 and to lay open a gap to such scoffers as Bertius and the like that we conceale a certaine kinde of Crypticall divinity among our selues which we are loath the world should take notice of In this Point those that know the confused heap of Authors their differences will pardon me if I passe by more then I shall speake especially the time and place so confining me that I must not exceed the one or forget the other In a generality therefore among these that dissent concerning the article of the descension of our Saviour into Hell some discredit it as crept in from the margine into the Text Others reiect it Beza in Mat. 27. ver 52. as a kinde of a legendary Narration To strengthen the first suspicion no Confessions or Councells or Authors haue beene vnrifled by Lauater and Parker and others But few haue fallen into the Intemperancy of the latter besides Carlile Broughton who are rather to bee pittied then confuted S. Augustine is peremptory that vpon this ground of my text Ep. 99. who but an Infidel wil deny that Christ was in Hell And Calvin is cleare that the omitting of this article would sheere off Instit l. 2. c. 16. §. 8. a great deale of the fruit of our redemption Neither is it materiall that divers Churches for a long time had it not and some Confessions in Councills haue omitted it For if such an exception should passe for currant it would goe hard as wee all knowe with divers parts of Canonicall Scripture Rather the generall acceptance afterward of those that first wanted it argueth the Authority it brought with it to command their assent and Omissions are not denyals especially of that which is otherwise supplied Now to confound this Article with the former of his buriall as though this were a Repetition of that by way of explication were a strange kinde of Battologie as Calvin well obserueth for such a popular fumme of Divinity and an exposition that should exceed the Text in obscurity The Article standing therefore firme and distinct all the difficulty remaineth about the meaning of it some labouring earnestly for a tropicall sense others to haue the words as they lye in their natiue signification Vide Bell. de Christ l. 4. c. 6. Concerning the Trope there is further no small difference Some standing for a Metonymie expound this descent of the effect only and fruit of Christs death and passion which others in a metaphoricall sense transferre to the inward sorrowes and hellish anguish which in the garden and vpon the crosse hee endured So that the Text according to these mens conceits must be thus glossed He descended into hell that is either before his death hee sustained the horror of Gods wrath due to vs in Iustice for our sinnes or afterward the Effect of his passion was exhibited in Hell it selfe to the perpetuall terrour of the Divell and his complices Last of all those that stick to the letter haue fallen out about the propriety of the words One taking 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the graue and withholding for descending makes this to be the sense He descended that is he lay in bondage and was held captiue into Hell that is of death Vid. Lavat par 1. c. 8. in the graue Another trauels as farre as Macedon to confirme out of their Greek dialect in the Lords prayer this Interpretation to be proper Hee descended into Hell that is his soule retired or departed to the place of blessed spirits almost as much in effect as though he had said Hee ascended into heauen The greater part therefore haue pitched vpon a reall descent into Hell properly taken but betweene these also there is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a great gulfe fixed that keepeth them from concurring in opinion The Papists maintaine he descended to free the Fathers out of Limbo where they were formerly imprisoned as in a skirt or gate-house of Hell Others only acknowledge in it his spoiling of principalities and powers making a shew of them openly by triumphing ouer them as the Apostle himselfe speaketh Col. 2.15 Infinite it were to fift all particulars or to except against al fancies my purpose is rather to settle the wauering then to goe about to reduce every wilfull wanderer 11. And first it will bee granted on all sides that whatsoeuer sufferings required as due for our ransome were vndergone by our Saviour in this life and fully accomplished in his death Wherevpon the false fire of some is quite extinguished that Christ descended in soule to suffer as destitute at length of any fuell to mainetaine it Secondly none deny but that the anguish which our Saviour endured for our sakes was
thou suffer thine holy one to see corruption As our Saviours soule triumphed ouer the powers of darknesse so his flesh was to be free among the dead from the least taynt of corruption B. Bilson For his body and soule saith a Reverend writer were appointed to be superiour to al contrary powers that is the soule to hell the flesh to the graue and from both was Christ to rise as subduer of both That he might sit in his heauenly Throne as Lord over all not by promise onely as before but by proofe also as appeareth in his Resurrection Some would haue this to be only a repetition or reason of that which went before David was to be freed from the graue because Christ saw no corruption which sense howsoeuer it bee true in it this Text will not beare as proper Wee must repaire therefore to S. Peter in the second of the Acts and to S. Paul in the 13. and thence learne the right meaning Who both disproue the common errour which vnderstood it onely of David by this one sensible demonstration All the world might see by looking into Davids sepulcher that his body was turned to dust through corruption it could not therefore be said that hee was that holy one who was to see no corruption It must needs therefore be some other This could bee no other then the Messias whose Resurrection the third day before his body could be corrupted they had reason to bleeue seeing David had so distinctly foretold it Whence wee may plainely gather that all the Immunities that David here standeth vpon as his free-hold came to him but at the second hand This holy one then was Christ this priviledge not to see corruption was peculiar only to his sacred body All the faith full hold it of him in Capite when it is attributed to David it is no way to bee vnderstood or his person but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the fruit of his loynes as S. Peter speaketh Take therefore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which all our Translatours following Peter and the 72. render Holy one either for corpus sanctificatum as the Interlineary Glosse or for a Favorite whom it pleaseth God especially to grace as Beza or for one that being al-sufficiet in himself most bountifully dispenseth his fauours as Piscator It will come all to one that his body in the graue saw not that is felt not tried not endured not any corruption Corruption I meane of putrifaction or turning into dust not dissolution of soule and body as Athanasius well distinguished For where the Soule triumphed ouer powers of darknesse the body slept in the graue in expectation of its speedy returne which accomplished the third day there ensued vpon it immediatly this victorious Resurrection which our Prophet so much reioyceth here to fore-see we on this day doe thankfully celebrate 13. And now what belongeth to us Beloued but to let passe all vnnecessary trifles as what became of the bloud that was spilt on the ground at our Sauiours circumcision and the opening of his side at the crosse and seriously to fasten vpon that comfort which here is proposed vnto vs. O Lord saith S. Bernard I haue but two mytes my soule and my body with these I dare not trust my selfe and therefore I cast them into thy treasurie as knowing then they shall be in safe custody That which was proposed in a vision concerning IESVS the sonne of Iosedeck who by interpretation is the Iust one of the Lord in the 3d of Zachary is here fully accomplished according to S. Hieromes application on that place The filthy garments wherewith he was clothed for our sakes are taken from our Saviour And now he sheweth himselfe a King hath put on glorious apparell 2. Sam. 23. Among the Worthies of David we read of one Benaiah that went downe slew a Lion in a pit in the time of snow But this is but a cold Modell of that victory of the Lion of the Tribe of Iudah ouer that roaring and devouring Lion in the pit of Hell and the Graue There are none I suppose that heare me this day but are or after may be vexed with discontentments and feele a necessary decay of this earthly Tabernacle But alas beloued what remedy may serue vs in this world Looke further therefore with our Prophet whosoever thou art that expectest true comfort and take these grounds with thee which shall never fayle thee Christs soule hath conquered and triumphed ouer the sorrowes of Hell that thou shouldest neuer be enthralled to them and his body hath shaken off the shackles of the graue that thine in its due time might enioy the same freedom Beloued we were al in worse case in regard of eternall death then Peter was in the 12. of the Acts bound with two chaines and lying betweene two souldiers with a guard before the prison dore surely to be executed the next day after But our Saviour comes in stead of the Angell and rayseth vs vp the chaines fall off the Iron gate which was held impregnable opened of its owne accord and the way of life which leadeth vnto the fulnesse of ioy is chalked out vnto vs. And are not our lots now falne vnto vs in a good ground and is not this a goodly heritage Let vs thanke the Lord therefore for giuing vs so often this effectuall warning and set him at our right hand and then we shall never be moued So leaning with good old Iacob vpon the top of our staues and giuing vp the last gaspe wee may confidently conclude with our Prophet in the end of Psal 4. I will lay me downe in peace take my rest for it is thou Lord only that through the victory of thy son over hel the graue makest me dwel safely Which God grant of his mercy we may constantly doe for his sonne Christ Iesus sake to whom with the Father the blessed spirit be all Honour and Glory now and evermore AMEN THE CHRISTIANS EXPECTATION A SERMON PREACHED AT THE COVRT BY IOHN PRIDEAVX Rector of Exceter Colledge His MAIESTIE'S Professor in Divinity in the Vniversity of OXFORD OXFORD Imprinted by LEONARD LICHFIELD Anno Salutis 1636. 2. PET. 3.13 Neverthelesse we according to his promise looke for new Heauens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousnesse 1 THe first word of my text Neverthelesse sends vs backe for the fuller meaning to some what that went before That was a serious caveat of our Apostle to beware of fiue sorts of people who would turne vs out of the good way the preaching of the Gospell had prescribed Those Cap. 2. Y. 1.2.3 in the beginning of the former chapter ye shall finde to be First false Prophets or teachers who privily shall bring in damnable Heresies denying the Lord that bought them And many shall follow their pernitious waies by reason of whom the way of truth shall be ill spoken of and through covetousnesse shall they with fained words make
in all holy conversation and godlinesse looking for and hasting to the comming of the day of God that wee may bee found in peace without spot and blamelesse Accompting that the long suffering of the Lord is salvation To which the Lord bring vs through his blessed Sonne CHRIST IESVS to whom with the Father and the holy Ghost bee all Honour and Glory both now and ever AMEN WISEDOMES IVSTIFICATION A SERMON PREACHED AT THE COVRT BY IOHN PRIDEAVX Rector of Exceter Colledge His MAIESTIE'S Professor in Divinity in the Vniversity of OXFORD OXFORD Imprinted by LEONARD LICHFIELD Anno Salutis 1636. LVC. 7.35 But wisedome is iustified of all her Children 1 THE words are our Saviours vttered vpon this occasion Iohn Baptist from his prison had sent messengers vnto him to knowe whether hee were the expected Messias V. 19. or that another was to be looked for This was done not so much as most Interpreters think to satisfie his owne doubting as to acquaint his Disciples with Christ and to turne them ouer to a better master They haue their quick but a reall dispatch Goe and tell Iohn what things yee haue seene and heard the Blinde see the Lame walke V. 22. the Leapers are cleansed the Deafe heare the Dead are raised to the poore the Gospell is preached and blessed is he whosoeuer shall not be offended in me And hence vpon the departure of these Messengers for in their presence it might haue sauored of some courtly insinuation hee takes further occasion to speake of the poore prisoner Iohn to the forgetfull and vncertaine multitude who ere-while had so admired and runne after flocked to his Baptisme What went yee out into the wildernesse to see a reed shaken with the winde I tell you hee was none of your wind-shaken reeds smooth without and hollow within thriuing better in the myre then in solid good ground winding and crouching every way as the gust sets him Was he costly in his diet or courtly in his apparell or ambitious to bee prefer'd Who retyr'd himselfe in the wildernesse to his single commons of Locusts and wild hony Having no better girdle then that of Leather to clasp his Camels course hairy Cassock about him But what went yee out to see a Prophet Yea I say vnto you much more then a Prophet And yet his roughnesse and my mildnesse his mourning my piping what good hath it wrought vpon you For Iohn truely came to you neither eating bread nor drinking wine ver 33. and yee say he hath a Divell The sonne of man is come eating and drinking in a more sociable manner and yee say Behold a gluttonous man and a wine bibber a friend of Publicans and sinners But notwithstanding all these hard and vndeserued censures of yours a wisedome in the end will be discouered that will shame all these lewd way ward calumniations This Wisedome will want no Advocates but shall bee in the issue Iustified These Advocats are no strangers or fee'd hirelings but of her owne breeding and informing her children These Children will not be distracted or set at variance among themselues but come in roundly together All to performe what belongs vnto them Howsoever therefore ignorant men mistake her the proud sleight her Politicians abuse her Prophane men snuffe at her and few or none of this world maintaine her with that respect as they ought yet tandem bona causa triumphat vpon a due hearing and examination she will be quitted to the shame and confusion of all her opposites For perverse and foolish oppositions that are plausible in the beginning in the end proue perilous and pernitious But wisedome is iustified of all her Children In the words are considerable 1 The connection in the particle But 2 A direction wherein it will bee requisite to knowe 1 What this wisdome is 2 How it may bee said to be Iustified 3 Of whom it is Iustified Of all her children Loe children and the fruit of the wombe saith the kingly Prophet are an heritage and a gift Psalm 127. that commeth from the Lord especially such children of wisedome or such wise children as my Text here treats of Like as the arrowes in the hand of the Giant so are such children alwaies in a readinesse to iustifie those that begate them Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them they shall not bee ashamed when they speake with their enemies in the gate which parallel's fully my Text. The Connection whereof by Gods assistance and your wonted patience comes first to bee onely touched on in the particle 2. KAI But Maldonate the bold Iesuite is much perplexed with the difficulty of this Text to say the truth as we finde it there is scarce one word in it that one way or other hath not bred a difference amongst Expositors The Originall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which we expresse by the Exceptiue But is rendred in the vulgar Latine Syriack Arabique and Munsters Hebrew translation in S. Matthew by the Copulatiue And which giues way to the sense that Castalion stands vpon and translates it accordingly Estque vel ita suis omnibus aliena est sapientia such a stranger is wisedome to her owne children Or as Luther hath it in the Dutch is condemned Lud. de Dieu made ashamed or put to silence by her owne children which some latter Critiques also allow But the words will not beare it without enforcing the sense And it is well knowne that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is oftentimes put for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Greeke and and for sed in the Easterne tongues as Beza and others note on this place And therefore here in reference to that which went before it intimates an opposition which casteth vs necessarily vpon this position That come which way we hold best either with Iohn's austerity or our Saviours mildnes no direction to truth and goodnesse shall want censurers and opposers Noah shall finde in his owne family and own breed a Cham that will scoffe at his nakednesse Lot hath his neighbours the Sodomites that will vex his righteous soule Isaac liues in the house with his halfe brother Ismael that will laugh at him before his tender mothers face And could Davids majestie or authority priviledge him from the like scandall with the flatterers were busie mockers Psal 35. that gnashed vpon him with their teeth They that sate in the gate spake against him and the drunkards in the Originall it is sitters vpon their Ale-benches made songs vpon him Iust as Moses was incountred with Iannes and Iambres and Balaam besides his domestike stirres to withstand his heauenly proceedings So Elias his fierie zeale met with a violent Iezabel that put him to his shifts And reverend Elish a shal not passe in peace by the vnnurtured boyes of Bethel but they will call him Bald-head What shall I speake of Ieremy of Amos of Zacharias the sonne of Barachias whose freedome in performing their