and yet he bragged that he had the Gospel The Donatists did carry the signe of Christ against Christ Aug. Epist 61 did bragge of the Gospel against the Gospel The old Emperours of Rome after their cōquests of cities had the mappes of those cities caried about in their triūphs the Papists after the ouerthrow of Christes Church vse in their triumph the name of the Church the Churche but they haue as much right to the name of the Church Dan. 5. as the Babylonians had to the holy vessels of the temple of Ierusalem after the ouerthrow of the City Ierusalem 9 The visible Church consisteth of good and badde BEfore Christ shal be gathered all nations Mat. 25. ver 32. and he shall separate them one from another as a shepheard separateth the sheepe from the goates c. If the sheepe shal not be seuered from the goates before the day of iudgement it is manifest that the badde and good are mingled together in the visible Church vntil that time The visible Churche is compared to a net Mat. 13. Mat. 3. 2. Tim. 2. wherein there are good and badde fishes to a floare wherein there is wheate and chaffe to a fielde wherein there is both wheate and tares to a greate house wherein there are vessels of golde and siluer and vessels of wood and earth Mat. 25. and to ten virgins whereof fiue were wise and fiue foolish In external assemblies the badde are mingled with the good so it was in Salomons Temple at the marriage feast Mat. 22. Gen. 4. Gen. 9. Gen. 16. Mat. 26. 2. Pet. 2 Cain sacrificed as well as Abel C ham was in the Arke as well as Iaphet Agar was in Abrahams house as well as Sara Iudas was in Christes company as well as Peter And euill Angels were in heauen till they were cast our from thence When we see any which seemed to vs goodly members sometimes of the Church to become enemies to Gods religion and the verye murrayne of the Church we may not be discouraged 2. Tim. 2. For we must remember that the Church is a great house and that if they had been of vs they should haue continued with vs 1. Iohn 2. that many wolues are within the visible Church and lastly that mens sinnes as fire couered with Ashes are hidden for a time but afterward appeare in their colours So did the sinnes of Cain Iudas Cham Saul Demas many others Question Why wil almighty GOD haue his Church consist of good and badde Answeare Aug. Epist 205. That the good may be exercised and tried as gold in the fornace that Gods loue may appere more notably which for a very little wheate spareth for a time great store of cares The Sodomites were spared because of Lot Gen. 19. Acts 27. the Egyptians because of Ioseph they which were in the ship because of Paule Obiection The Churche is the Communion of Saints therefore it hath not both good and badde in it Answere The meaning is not that all whiche are assēbled in the Church are truly sanctified but rather that there is no true communion no true holinesse but in the Church calling it as we commonly vse by the best part 10 The particuler Churches are mixt of the elect and reprobate but they are not called Gods Churches but for the elects sake The visible Churche for the electes sake is called the house of God 1. Tim. chap. 3. ver 15.1 the piller ground of truth this cannot be giuen properly to reprobates hipocrits For to be an hipocrite piller of trueth cannot stand together The Church is the spouse of Christ onely for the elects sake Ephe. chap. 5 ver 30. For wee are members of his body of his flesh of his bones By which words of the Apostle as the straight and neere knot betweene Christ the bridegroome the Church his spouse doth notably appeare so it were strange dealing to shut the reprobates hipocrites within that compasse I confesse that Christ is said to be the propitiation for the sinnes of the whole world 1. Iohn 2. but he is so called because of the wheate that is Aug. Epist 4 8 Gods elect which is dispersed throughout the whole world A heape of wheat though it haue chaffe amōgst it is not called a heape of chaffe but a heape of Corne because it is a heape by reason of the Corne. A tunne of wine though it haue lees in it is called not a tunne of lees but a tunne of wine because it is a tunne by reason of the wine No man did euer call that the fielde Mat. 13. wherein the tares appeared with the wheat a field of tares but a field of wheate because it was sowen with wheate In like sort the visible Church though it consist of good and badde is and must be called Gods Church because of the elect When we say that the vyne yeeldeth wyne for the vse of man we meane not the dead and withered but the fruitful braunches of the vine In like case whatsoeuer is spoken of the church is so to be referred to the visible Church that it belonges to the elect onely not to the reprobates and Hypocrites 11 The externall estate of Gods Churche is subiect to many chaunges in the world therefore Gods Churche is not alike visible at all times Psal 80. GOds Churche is sometimes compared to a flourishing vine whiche filled the land and whose boughes were like the goodly cedars and sometymes to a vyne destroyed by the wild bore Aug. Epist 4◠and eaten vp by the wild beasts of the field It is compared to the moone which appeares not alwayes alike vnto vs yet neither the moone is destitute of light from the sunn nor the Church of the light of gods spirit frō the sonne of righteousnes Christ Iesus In Enos tyme the face of the Churche was beautiful Gen. 4. Gen. 7. but afterward it was shut in Noes family as in an Arke In the kingdom of Dauid religion flourished 2. Sam. 6. the Church was very glorious but after his time there was a great Eclipse and Gods Church was vnder a blacke cloude In the time of the captiuity in Babylon Read Dan. Nehem. Ezra the estate of Gods Church was very miserable but after the captiuity was ended and the Iewes returned to Ierusalem vnder Zorobabel the City was buylt the Temple was repayred the true worshippe was restored and the Church of GOD was very faire in the eyes of the Israelites In what case was Gods Churche when the horne that is the Emperors of Rome made battel against the Saints Dan. chap. 7. ver 21. preuayled against them In the time of the Pharisies Sadduces c. Gods church was in a strange pickle but Christ at his comming raysed it as it were from death and put life into it and made it very beautiful Since that
Cor. 6. 1. Cor. 1. may bee said to be without spot because it is washed and purged by the blood of Christe and without wrinkle because it is clothed with the righteousnesse of Christe by the imputation of whose righteousnesse wee are at Gods handes both absolued and sanctified 24 The Church of Rome hath and may erre BEholde the bountifulnesse and seueritie of GOD towardes them Rom. cha 11. verse 22. whiche haue fallen seuerytye but towardes thee bountifulnes if thou continue in his bountifulnes or else thou also shalt be cut off If the Churche of Rome could not erre why should Paul write this Lib. 1. cont Marcionem Tertullian makes mention of alters dedicated to vnknowen gods which he calleth the Idolatrie of the Athenians and to vncertaine gods which he calleth the superstition of the Romanes Hormisda a Bishoppe of Rome in a writing of his to the Bishops of Spayne maketh this matter very cleare The sum of his wordes is this Dearely beloued let vs pray without ceasing that we may cleaue soundly vnto Christ and not forsake him least we be iustly forsakē of him If Saint Pauls doctrine in the Epistle to the Romaines be sounde whereof none that feare God doth make any question then the popishe Church whiche holdes many thinges disagreeing from that Epistle is not free from errour Let the questions of iustification election freewill obedience to the Magistrate be considered Besids their spoyling Christ of his priesthood and Gods people of the cup in the Lordes supper their transubstantiation a number of grosse absurdities which they hold are manifest demonstrations of the erring of the Popishe Church 25 They may not bee accompted Schismatikes which forsake the Church of Rome If any Church giue ouer the trueth of Gods religion wee must forsake that Church that we be not infected with that leprosie and yet wee may not be accompted Schismatikes for men are then Schismatikes when they depart from the true Church and doctrine not when they returne from errour to trueth He is a Schismatike whiche is the cause of schisme and not hee which beginneth the separation euen like as he whiche denieth the lawe is the cause of the processe and not he which first began The Protestantes haue not forsaken Siō but Babylon not Bethel but Bethauen they haue not erected Alter against Alter Aug. epi. 162. as Ieroboam and the Donatistes did but they haue cast the Alter of Damascus out of the Lordes house and haue restored the true worship of God 26 The Church must bee built vpon the word of God Ephe. chap. 2. verse 19.20 NOwe therefore yee are no more straungers and forreiners but Citizens with the Saintes and of the housholde of GOD and are built vpon the foundations of the Apostles and Prophetes Iesus Christe him selfe beeyng the chiefe corner stone c. If the doctrine of the Prophetes and Apostles be the foundation of the church howe can the Church stande if the doctrine be remoued and howe can the doctrine continue without sounde teachers and what hart canne they haue to teache when they want maintenance Shal they which bee noble mens and gentlemens gardiners huntsmen be bountifully prouided for of their Lordes and Maisters charge and shall not they which are fitte to attende vpon the Lords vine field garden orchard haue allowance of the churches charge If this soare be not looked vnto many students of diuinitie must of force betake them selues to some other course for men must liue and to go a begging is a point next the worse and a very vnfit occupation for a learned student in diuinitie The Gospell and spirite of life Iren. lib. 3. cap. 1.11 is the foundation and piller of the Church They which wil build Gods Churche without the foundation of the word build with vntempered morter for Gods word is the life of the Church Obiection The Church was before the worde of God therefore it is not built vpon the word of God Answere The argument followes not I confesse that Gods Church in the beginning as for example Adam Abel Enos Noe Sē Abraham and many other of Gods children was before Gods word was put in writing but Gods church was not before Gods word For if the Church be an assemblie of the faithful the mē cānot be called faithful wtout faith that faith cannot consist without the woorde of God it is a necessarie consequent that Gods woorde was before Gods Church Gene. 4. Heb. 11. Abell sacrificed vnto almightie God by faith Therefore Gods expresse woorde was his direction for faith hath relation to no other thing The difference of cleane and vncleane beasts is mentioned in Genesis before the flood Gece 7. but this difference could not bee vnderstanded but by the voyce of almightie God Noe after his comming out of the Arke offered a burnt offering this sacrifice of Noe pleased God therefore it is a good consequent that Noe had Gods worde to direct him for no wilworshippe did euer please God Obiection 1. Tim. 3. verse 15. The Church is the piller and grounde of trueth therefore the worde is not the foundation of the Church Answere It followes not and the Church is therefore called the piller and grounde of the trueth because amongst men it vpholdeth and retayneth Gods trueth 17 The Church is knowne by the worde of God SEarch the Scriptures Iohn chap. 5. ver 39. they testifie of mee saith Christ We knowe Christ by the Scriptures therefore we knowe the Church by the Scriptures This consequent is very good and is framed thus by Augustine In the Scriptures wee haue learned Christ Epist 166. saith Augustine in the Scriptures we haue learned the Church And a little after where we haue knowne Christ meaning in the scriptures there we haue knowen the Church which sentence he repeateth very often in that epistle The Donatists said that Christs church remained only in Africke Epist 166. but Augustine telles them that their warrant is not taken out of the lawe or the Prophete or the Psalme or the Apostle or Euangelist but out of their owne heartes and cauils of their progenitors by which words it is euident that the Churche is knowne and must be shewed by the worde of God We seeke the Church in the holy scriptures Aug. devnita Eccle. cap. 2. Epist 48. and in the same scriptures we doe manifestly knowe the Church 28 Iesus Christ alone is the foundation of his Church OTher foundation can no man laye then that which is laid 1. Cor. 3. ver 11. which is Iesus Christ Thus saith the Lord God behold I wil lay in Sion a stone Esai 28. ver 16 1. Pet. chap. 2 verse 6. a tried stone a precious corner stone a sure foundation that is Iesus Christ so doth the Apostle Peter expounde it Yee are built vpon the foundation of the Apostles Prophetes Ephe. chap. 2. ver 20. Iesus Christ himself being
Christ alone is the foundation of his Church 29 What the catholike Church is 30 The catholike Church is not visible ⧠A Godlie Treatise of the Church 1 What the visible Church is why it is called vniuersall THe visible church is the cōpany of those which make profession to serue the true God in Christ This visible Church is called vniuersal because it is tyed not to any certaine place persōs or time but is dispersed through the whole worlde and shall so continue vntill the ende of the worlde 2 Without the Church there is no saluation that is to say vnlesse we be of the assembly of Gods children we cannot be saued BEhold darknes shall couer the earth and grosse darkenesse the people but the Lord shall arise vpon thee his glorie shall be seene vpon thee Isa cha 60. ver 2. By whiche wordes it is manifest that onely the Church is partaker of the light of Gods spirit and of the brightnes of his fauour In Mount Sion and in Ierusalem that is to say in the Church shal be deliuerance Ioel chap. 2. ver 32. Therefore without the Church there is no saluation The Lorde added to the Churche from day to day suche as shoulde be saued Actes chap. 2. ver 47. Therefore without the Churche there is no saluation Christ and his Church are most surely linked together for Christ is the bridegroome and the Church is the spouse Ephe. chap. 5. ver 25.29.30 Howe then can any be with Christ which is not with his spouse that is to say in Christes Church Cyp. lib. 2. Epist 8. He cannot haue God to be his father which hath not the Churche to be is mother Cyp. de vnitate Eccle. The Church is called the mother of the faithful because she nourishes them alwayes by the word of truth Noe and his familie had perished in the flood if they had not continued in the Arke Gen. chap. 7. ver 21.22.23 The brāch which is cut from the vine cannot but wither A mās arme which is cut frō his body is quickly without life They whiche are without Gods Church are voyd of Gods spirit whatsoeuer visard of holinesse they put on amongst men Augustine is flat for this Epistle 50. and 152 So is Lactantius lib. 4. chap. 14. 30. When any Popish Heretike vses the name of the Church as an argument to draw vs from the written word we must aunsweare that hee is not ioyned to the Church which is seuered from the Gospell and that whosoeuer setteth vp a Church without the word buildes not a Church but a Hoggescote Question If there be no saluation without the Church what shall become of thē whiche haue not heard of Christ Answere They cannot pretend ignorance for the great booke of the heauens wherein Gods glorie is written in capital letters is opened wide vnto them Psal 19. vers 1. I graunt that the condemnation of such shall not be so grieuous as theirs which haue hearde the Gospell and contemned it notwithstanding they which haue not heard of Christ shall not bee saued seeing they haue in themselues sufficient matter of condemnation I meane first originall sinne and then manye actuall sinnes whiche flow from originall sinne as riuers doe from the spring head Question If there be no saluation without the Church in what case are they which are iustlie excommunicated that is to saye are cut off from the assemblie of the faithfull Answeare They are in a dangerous case for if it be a grieuous thing to bee cast out of a wel ordered common wealth it is more grieuous to bee cast out of the Churche which is Gods common wealth If Dauid when hee was shut from holy meetinges not for any fault of his but by the tyranny of his enimies lamēted his owne case very bitterly preferred the estate of the sparrowe and swallowe before his owne how would Dauid haue byn grieued if he had bin iustly barred from the Lordes tabernacles Psal 84. ver 1.2.3 Besides they which are iustly excommunicated are deliuered to Sathan that is to say are aliēts from Christes kingdom are vnder the power authority of Sathā so were the incestuous Corinthiā 1. Cor. 5. Theod. lib. 5. cap. 18. Theodosius the Emperour vntill they were reconciled to Gods Church The captiuitie of the Israelites was great vnder Pharao in Egypt vnder Nabuchodonozor and Balthasar in Babylon but the captiuitie vnder Sathan goes beyond it for whatsoeuer is bound in earth is bound in heauen Mat. cap. 18 ver 18. The Popes excommunication against our noble Queene and her best subiectes hath not so much groūd in Gods book to stand vpon as the Iewes excommunicatiō had when they cast Christ and his Apostles out of their Synagogues Question If the Popes excommunicatiō against our gracious soueraigne Q. Elizabeth were lawful whether might the subiects of Englande deny their obedience to her Maiestie and depose her from her kingdome Answeare They might not my reasons are these Tiberius was a wicked Emperor yet Christ and Peter payde him tribute Math. chap. 17. ver 24.27 1. Pet. chap. 2 ver 13. Nero Domitian were persecutours of Gods Churche yet the Apostles other godly men obeyed them The Emperour Iulian was a wicked Apostata but the auncient Christians obeyed him Euseb lib. 3. cap. 20. Sozom. lib. 5. cap. 4. Theodosius the Emperour was excommunicated by Ambrose the Bishop of Mediolanū but Ambrose obeyed him euen during the time of his excommunication Theodor lib. 5. cap. 18. If these Emperors were obeyed shall not our gracious soueraigne though she were iustly excommunicated bee duetifully obeyed of her subiectes 2. Thessal 3. ver 15. Are wee commaunded to accompt another whiche is iustly excommunicated not as an enimie but as a brother and shall we not performe the like to our noble prince if she were iustly excommunicated and sure I am that those men are very farre frō performing this duetie to her Maiestie which denie their lawfull obedience vnto her Besides what warrant had Pius the first Gregorie the 13 to discharge the subiectes of England of their allegiance if it bee saide that Saint Peters keyes are warrant inough Platina in Greg. 7. and that Gregorie the 7. had no better when he dealt against Henrie the Emperour nor Gregorie the second Innocentius the fourth Paschalis the 2. when they dealt against the Emperours Leo Fridericus and Henrie the 4. nor Pope Zacharie and Martyn the 4. when they dealt against Childericke the king of Fraunce and Peter the king of Arragonia I aunsweare that Peters keyes though the Pope had good right to thē serue not to giue entrance into or to shut out of earthly kingdomes for they are the keyes of the kingdome of heauen Math. chap. 16. ver 19. And who knowes not that the kingdome of heauen that is to say eternall life is a thing farre differēt from the kingdome of the world Lastly excommunication which is a notable