into this land in the Apostles times according to that in Rom. 10.18 Tertullian Tertull. aduers Iud. ca. 7. saith Britannorum inaccessa Romanis loca Christo vero subdita c. That the Britans euen in such places as Romaines had not accesse vnto they were subdued to Christ That S. Paul after his first captiuitie at Rome should come into these partes Theodoret writeth Theod. l. 9. de cur Graec. affect Niceph. l. 2. ca. 4. Nicephorus affirmeth that Simon Zelotes came into Britaine And Iohn Bale from auncient Gildas our writer and from others affirmeth that Ioseph of Arimathia was sent into Britain by Philip the Apostle after the dispersion from the Galles this to be about the yeere of our Lord 63. Yea that Iames with some others did repaire to and preach in Ireland Vincentius Vinc. 8. c. 7. writeth But more of this I haue written in my Antidoton Who came first hither with the Gospell it skilleth not sure we are it came here for we find it here and the Brownists against his owne soule must confesse it except they will tell vs that them selues haue receaued the Gospell vpon Sea or in some foraigne country Obiection But this proueth no way an orderly plantation of the Church to haue bin here Ans Yes forsooth except you wil haue a companie of beleeuers dwelling together in the Faith as the Church first did lodge in a myles compasse by Welles now tearmed Glascon-bury to liue without rule without forme of true gouernment If they liued at first like Libertines which no sober spirit can think then we must greatly lament that none of the Brownists were then with them for instructing them in discipline Obiection Let it be what soeuer it was yet we find not true discipline now Ans Some of you haue also said that neither we haue the Gospell but if some of you vpon better aduise do graunt we haue the Gospell for the substance I think ye had best graunt also discipline for the substance that is such externall gouernment as for the substance at least doth stand for the Gospell for Christ And that the Gospell shall so soundly be preached and gouernment so faithfully executed of any Churches in these last times as was at first none of wit can beleeue because our Sauior and the Apostles do fore-tell the contrarie Math. 24 37 38 39 Luk. 17 22 23. Math. My Antidoton openeth that point at large 13 24 c. 1. Tim. 4 1 c. 2. Tim. 3 1 c. Reuel 13 11 c. 2. Thess 2 3 c. and yet no reason nor warrant of running out of the Catholike wheat-field or Church vnder a pretext of Replantation but rather to keepe within and as we can and may to labour for Reformation But where they say You want Christs gouernment and in the roume thereof you haue Antichristes and therfore we seperate I more particularly answer First after Peters confession in Math. 16 our Sauior doth not promise that outward Church-gouernment shall preuaile for euer against Hell-gates and themselues graunt it hath not but only A true being of the Church by reason of the Rock wheron it should be builded Secondly let them marke that Peter maketh no confession of Church discipline for as yet he had not learned that but of Christ Iesus to be as verilie the Son of God vnseen of flesh and blood as he was man well seen of flesh blood Who beeing the Christ or Messiah did verily carry with it that there was no other by whom Saluation was wholie or in part to be effected And the knowledge beliefe and apprehension of this not exteriour discipline is the essential foundation of the Church Which who so holdeth in the vnitie of the Catholike Church they are to be held of this Catholike Citie and not because of imperfections to be seuered from because Iehouah is Shammah There Thirdly let them consider that as outward Church gouernment is not the mark or badge euer of true Christians for in the Brownists iudgement many of the Anabaptists haue that and we know that Iesabel with her spiritual children Balaams sectaries the faction of beastly Nicolaitans c. Reuel 2. 3. they were in the Asian Churches rightly established and possessed of right gouernment but yet bearing the badge of Antichrist so neither is humane regiment a marke euer of false Christians For if Christ his gouernment externall it can not cause all vnder it to be vnto vs true visible Christians much lesse can humane regiment or Antichrists outward gouernment cause all vnder it to be of vs reputed Antichristes Seeing Anti-christes gouernment can not haue more vice in it then there is vertue in Christes Fourthly they know not what Antichrists marke is for if euery good thing be not the marke of a true Christian for Arrius Nestorius yea euery Heretike holdeth some good thinges so neither can euery bad thing be the badge of Antichrist for then euery man should be Antichristian seing euery man at least somtimes hath some bad thing visible in him As Antichrist is opposed to Christ so in nothing so much as in the verie foundation of Religion â—â—r which the Apostle S. Paul tearmeth him Anti-keimenos 2. Thess 2.4 the Layer of an opposite foundation And in very troth as it is the verie essentiall truth of the Gospell which is the mark of a true Christian so it is the very fundamentall falshood of Antichrist for the which he is entitled Antichrist his members Antichrists The foundation false not hay stubble c. vpon a true foundation 1. Cor. 3.10 c. is the beastes marke differencing his people essentially from Christes Obiect But the Apostle saying Let euery man take heed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 how he builds not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what he builds it argueth he there speaketh of the manner of teaching not of the matter taught I answer He intendeth both maner and matter And that may be seen First by comparing the 2. chap. the 1. verse with that which foloweth there in this chapter for he compareth not only his plaine manner of teaching with humane Eloquence but also the plaine matter of the Gospell with the worlds wisdom which elswhere he tearmeth Coloss 2.8 Philosophie Secondly gold siluer c. hay stubble c. they cannot in any proprietie so much resemble manner as matter specially compared with Fire which is not appointed so much to trie the manner as the matter or thing it self Thirdly seeing Eloquence may stand with Christ the foundation first for that it is the gift of God 2. is sanctified to his people Exod. 4.10.11 Eccles. 12.9.10 Act. 18.24 1. Cor. 1.5 Lastly an hundred schollers may be called together for defining fully what is the Primitiue forme of Church-regiment and 3. of them though otherwise goodmen not be found in one iudgment for all things How vnwise therfore are these people that about the forme of discipline do rend
A description of new Jerushalem Being The substaunce of two Sermons deliuered at Paules Crosse Containing A briefe Discouery and Conuiction of certayne Doctrines held of Romanists and Brownists against the Catholike and Apostolike faith By Henoch Clapham Dan. 12.10 None of the wicked shall haue vnderstanding but the wise shall vnderstand Printed at London by Valentine Simmes 1601. To the Right Honorable Sir William Ryder knight Lord Major of the Ho. Citie of London BEing Right Honorable to send this litle Description of New Ierushalem vnto print though far from being done in print I pondred to whom I might with expediencie dedicate the same At last I set downe my rest on Him who was in the publique place where I preached then preeminent Who also heard both the Sermons and therewithall did both times with Ho. curtesie receaue the Preacher home to Table All this to your Ho. selfe And in verie troth I know not well to whom rather it appertaineth seeing besides the former respects the Lord hath made you next vnder her Maiestie chiefe Ouerseer in our Ho. Citie for cherishing vertuous acts and for pruning and cutting off all transgressions from the same Transgression is two fold either thâ—â— whereby Religion is abused or that which transcendeth Humain equitie God and Man are made one in Christ nor should Religion and Righteousnes be sundred though distinguished The first is by God his Ministers to be preached The second by Maiestrates to be proclaimed and the breach of both by their Sword to be punished What need of a sharpe sword and of a two edged word there is let the rank growth and impudent cariage of Impietie and Iniquitie testifie that Easie salues are for easie sores but Fistulaes must be bitten Gangrenes be pared off I need not signifie to your Lo. somuch what vnrighteousnes ouerflowes euery Court and Session rings that Alarum as what false coine in Religion daylie is dispersed by Romanists Brownists Anabaptists Arrians Familists and such like factions These that counterfait the Q. coine are punished accordingly But for adulterating clipping and flat changing of Christes coine the precious written-word stamped with Gods image how litle this is looked vnto how seldom and then also how slenderly corrected it is able to make the heart of Gods subiect to bleed As the sword and word are for procuring subiection vnto Maiestrates so much more be they ordained for causing obedience vnto God Duetie to earthly powers it should lead vs as by the hand to that duetie which we owe vnto the Prince of Princes Else while we liue to Man whose breath is in his nosthrils we dye to God whose breath doth kindle the fire of Tophet In lighting Ierushalems torch I therwith disclose false lights sleights wherby Babels marchants would vtter their painted wares Looke how I drew it at first for helping mine owne memorie so I sent it to the examination and so it was returned authorized to the presse And that falleth out to be the same that was preached for substance howsoeuer some other Accidents drew in some other particular discourses not so necessarie the presse Besides the two Sermons I haue adioyned a Brief of that I purposed then also to haue deliuered All I present and yet all that nothing to the sacred Texts desert As I could I haue done and so in all holie dutie I remaine Your Ho. obliged Henoch Clapham To al that wish Ierushalems prosperitie the grace of God be multiplied BEloued if euer now fasting and prayer is highly necessary as for the whole catholike Church so of our partes more specially for our owne particular Church a member of the vniuersall As I am not a little acquainted with forraine Churches their corruptions but the lesse contagious because they be in further part of the catholik body remoued from vs so not to dissemble our own alas alas hovv is our Sauiors speech fulfilled vpon vs Faith faithfully professed hard to bee found when vnder color of Reformation people feare not to complot Deformation euerie fantasticke spirite attempting what is good in his owne eyes and priuate iudgement as though there were no King in Israel no God in heauen For Charitie the most of vs haue exiled her Faith iustifieth alone say we t is true but adde with the Apostle That faith which worketh by Loue euen by Loue termed the Bond of Perfection and the Fulfilling of the Law for neuer shall that Tree bee approoued which bringeth not foorth good fruit Trees are not planted for liuing to themselues but for benefiting others also The diuel once sought to leade vs so to gaze on the merit of workes as nothing at all we should examine howe wee stood in the faith now he labors to cause vs so to admire Faith as wee should forget I had almost said forsweare good works Thus Satan is euer in extremities but the people of God must know that as GOD hath blessedly ioyned true faith and good workes togither so none can but by the instinct of Satan attempt to put them asunder If we so beleeue and so walke then God shall not be weary of doing vs good nor we haue occasion to feare the threates of Belial As all euilles are contagion so falshood in doctrine is Leauen for infecting many and a Canker for corroding like a viper For from whence proceede euill workes but from euill Beliefe false perswasion of God and his proceedings The late Romanistes will that their Pope may erre in Fact but not in Faith A blinde assertion for no erroneous fact but it proceeds from erroneous Faith As for example Peter denieth his maister a foule Fact From whence proceeded this but from a perswasion that it should be good for him then to do so The like may be said of any fact So that we may conclude rather A man may erre in faith yet not in fact for hee may stay to act his error but neuer erre in fact but first the diuell hath sowen errour in his faith And heereof it commeth that Romanists on the one hand Brownists Anabaptists Arrians c. on the other hand they besiege our Church with spirituall artillery euery Sect thinking they therein doe God very good seruice and their Fact passing commendable whereas alas such proceeding is but the fruite to thinke the best of errour in Faith corruption in iudgement It is then a duty of Gods Ministers specially owing to the people namely to hold out the word of trueth for enlightning the senses And because Illumination without Sanctification doth make a man but a Balaam an Iscariot a diuell herewith they are to pray much that GOD would sanctifie such light and knowledge to true obedience Amongest the residue of Gods Ministers I the least of many do labour in this worke daily Though I haue no particular flocke to attend on by peculiar calling yet am I called to the worke of Christ for ministration of worde and Sacrament to God his sheepe in this catholike sheepfold
demaund of them first how it doth appeare in Deut. 12 that the Israëlites were tyed to examine whether all such places had been so dedicated from the verie foundation Secondly I would know of them how they know that all our Churches were founded by Romes Apostacie to that Idolatrous woorship Here they must make a religion of it to search after the ages of Churches and whether they were builded since Anti-christ was mounted Here I will help the Nouices Dioclesian destroyed the Temples Euseb l. 8. cap. 2. as Eusebius recordeth verie aged were these Churches and then the Gentiles vpbraided the Christians saith Orig. ad Celsum l. 4. Arnob. l. 2. Origen with their lacke of Temples as now they might well laugh vs to scorne if we would pull down our Churches for satisfaction of Brownists who neuer are like to build a Church destroyers somuch as in them is both of Churches materiall and spiritual The former losse by Dioclesian was recouered by the edict of Galerius Maximinus after the hand of God had been sharp vpon him as Euseb l. 8. c. 16. 9. ch 10. Niceph. l. 7. c. 3. Eusebius and Nicephorus witnesse After this how bountifull Constantinus Magnus was this way th'ecclesiasticall hystories sufficiently vtter Nor was this of Constantine effected so late as 340. yeeres from our Sauiours incarnation Now let our Church-ruinors teach vs First when Antichrist had subdued our Westerne parts vnto him so that thence-forth all stood subiects to that Beast Secondly let them proue vnto vs that our Churches in such and such times of Antichrist they were builded at his commandement and by his members vnto his apostaticall woorship Sixtly admit that Antichrist and whosoeuer had reared vp and dedicated our Temples to idoles yet the creature recouered out of their handes it ceaseth not to be the good creature of God 1. Tim. 4.4 5 For the Apostle teacheth me that euery creature of God is good and nothing ought to bee refused if it be receiued with thankesgiuing and reason heereof he thus rendreth Because it is sanctified by the word and praier If no meat entring into me though once vncleane by the Lawe can now pollute the beleeuer much lesse can garments and houses that are creatures externall and outward The Apostle indeede saith that in not touching tasting handling such things as the Law once counted vncleane Coloss 2 it hath a shew of wisedome but in trueth no substance of wisedome And for that cause he calleth it no better then Ethelo-threskeia A will-worship whereas if we be risen with Christ then wee will vse our Christian liberty in the free vse of God his creatures not bring our selues backe into a Iudaicall bondage Iohn 4.20 21. c. Hereof the woman of Samaria coulde not be ignorant who by our Sauiour himselfe was taught that not in Iaakobs mountaine nor yet in Beniamins hilles was Gods worship or sacrifice to bee longer seated but the houre was comming and euen then was begunne for abolishing that forme of sacrifice as also the Place And hitherto Saint Paul had relation when hee writeth thus vnto Timothy 1. Tim. 2.8 I will therefore that the men pray euery where lifting vp pure hands without wrath or doubting Because foolish man hath dedicated Creatures to the patronage of this or that true or false Saint I must therfore abhorre the creature specially in ecclesiasticall or spirituall vsage By this crooked rule I may not preach nor pray in England because it was dedicated to Saint George nor in Wales because Dauid is there made patrone nor in Ireland by reason of Saint Patricke nor in Scotland bicause of Saint Andrew nor in Fraunce because of S. Denys nor in any countrey where Rome hath domineerd because all is dedicated to somewhat Nay I must in no one day of the yeare preach or pray because they haue to euery day giuen a Saint Thus if a man desire to runne himselfe into a labyrinth and endlesse Maze let him but leape into the Brownists and Anabaptists faction This shal suffice for manifestation of the former Doctrine namely That Christians are not to retayne the whole or any part of Moses Ceremoniall kingdome in the nature of Ceremony THE Second Sermon THe second generall doctrine That the newe Testaments kingdome once established it can neuer bee totally remooued that remaineth in the next place to be further cleered And that by the grace of God shall be done first by obseruing the difference betwixt vs and the Romanists we both holde the Church euer visible but they in one forme we in another secondly by examining the Arrians Anabaptists and Brownists allegations whereby they would haue the Church for very many yeares to haue no Face or visibilitie at all Touching the discrepance twixt Romanists and vs it lieth heerein they hold that the new Testaments church once generally planted the face thereof continueth euermore gloriously visible And to this end they alledge diuers places specially out of the prophets which doe inferre a large and glorious face of Christ and his kingdome here We of the other side doe teach that this new church howsoeuer in her first plantation by the Apostles it was both passing large and glorious yet in succeeding times it wained with the Moone shee lost much of her glory and of her outstretched visibilitie And to this purpose wee allege first the state of Israels church as a tipe and figure thereof secondly very many scriptures old new which can admit no other collection lastly we vrge experience it self First I. Type touching the Type or Figure we see the church of Israel going out with banners in the wildernes and finally seated in glorious Canaan by Ioshuah After his death al ranne out of order the vncircumcised had them long in subiection there was no king in Israel and euery man didde what was good in his owne eyes Then in Saul Dauid Solomons times we see the church by sundry steps mounted enlarged but in Rehoboams dayes wee see ten tribes schisme from the twoo that is from Iudah and Beniamin and that which was worse didde reare vp and woorshippe first calues in Dan and Bethel secondly Baalim with his abhominations Nor was the bodie of these tenne tribes at anie tyme recouered but finally in Hosheahs raigne carried away by the Assyrian armie Colonies of straungers beeing in their rowme transported vnto theyr Metropolitane Citie Samaria and them parts In the meane time the little kingdome of Iudah contayning also Beniamin it did not euer retayne the face of her orderly gouernement for sundrie of the Kinges brought Idolatrie in but by others agayne in some good sorte purged Yet finally such was the height of their sinne GOD left them to the boyling potte of the North euen to Nebuchadnetzar who spoyled their Cittie and Temple and departed the chiefe of the Royall seede vnto Babel Then for seuentie yeares did orderly sacrifice cease their Iudiciall pollicie giuen