in the meane while wee looke to haue the fauour consent and patronage of princes and noble men If wee wante these then thinke wee that the kingdome of Christe is quite vndone Wee doe throughly weigh consider in our mindes what thinges the world doth denie vnto vs and what it doth promise but in the meane season we doe not marke vntill such time as wee bee often-times admonished by the spirite of God and his instrumentes what the Lorde our God doth howe that by our miseries he bringeth good things to passe wonderfullie howe that by the meanes of our enimies he doth good vnto vs to howe good and wholesome an intent he taketh from vs earthlie things that hee may put heauenlie and eternall thinges in place thereof Seeing that I doe seeme to my selfe not fully to vnderstand what other men do think of the fountayne and originall of these errors and imaginations I will boldlie by the good leaue of others professe that which I haue alwayes conferring our affaires with the rule prescribed by God thought to be most like to be the fountaine thereof The principall cause of all those miseries and sorrowes wherewith wee are vexed by the iust iudgement of God most iust most good is the weakenes of our faith which maketh vs to be vnable to ouercome this world and the thinges therein contayned namelie the riches glory and most of all the vaine pompe thereof But notwithstanding as the weakenes of faith maketh vs to stande in neede of comfort so the stedfastnes thereof maketh vs to abounde with true and manifolde consolation We doe not sufficiently ponder that which notwithstandinge wee haue alwayes in our mouth namely that in God wee liue wee be and mooue that wee are the worke of God that God hath a care ouer vs that the liuing and almighty God is hee which hath not onelie a great respect to all mankinde but also to the church and all the faithfull Therefore wee are afraide to offend Monarches wee are so afraide of the affliction and death of godlie princes of the mutable natures of men as if all iudgement and power were in their handes and not in the handes of God And although wee heare that Christe doth Psalm 10. 2. raygne in the middest of his enemies yet because all his workes are brought to passe amiddest contrarie meanes wee doe hardlie suffer our selues to bee perswaded that the truth and those which beare recorde of the same shall haue the vpper hande when it is resisted although the enimies thereof doe rage against it and goe about to ouerthrowe the same that the kingdome of Christe shall come and shall florish that the enimies of Christe shal be so quite taken away that some of them by their sodayne destruction some of them by that destruction which commeth vppon them in tract of time shal testifie that God is the iudge of the whole earth Wee heare also that the holie spirite is the best comforter that the minde and purpose of the Lord is knowen vnto him that he only is the meetest witnes to testifie vnto vs the mercifull good will of God towarde vs. But in the meane while we haue great respect vnto men and their counsels and promises as if we coulde be more safe vnder their protection then vnder the protection of that spirite which gouerneth all thinges What man is hee which doth so often and so greatlie reioyce that hee is made a member of the church a fellowe Citizen with the saintes one of Gods housholde as he ought and as the thankefulnes of a Christian doth require I will not now speake of those which are rotten members of the church Howe many of vs are there which do make so great accompt of our calling regeneration and iustification as wee ought so that wee haue alwayes neede to haue some godlie exhortation giuen vs by the godlie teachers wherein wee may be exhorted hereunto Wee quake and tremble when wee heare any mention made of death when as in the meane whyle we glorie that wee doe belieue the resurrection of the fleshe and euerlasting life To be briefe we can not away with this to bee baptised with the baptisme of Christe his afflictions and to drinke of the cuppe of his suffringes but wee can bee verie well content with this to sit on high in glorie on Christes righte hande and on his left in his kingdome and in that time which the Lord hath appointed for warrefare and afflictions to triumph and to leade a most happie life Hereunto is added another and that the greatest error that in the choyse of good euill being greatly deceyued wee thinke that the witnesses of the truth are vnhappie seeing that they are hated of the worlde and that those which lay waste the church and are the aduersaries of the truth are happie because they lye softe and fare daintâ—lie in kinges courtes freely persecuting the churches and the faithfull ministers thereof and are in the meane season accompted amongst the vnskilfull as pillars of the church Truely seeing that it is meete that the godlie doe with great faithfulnes and diligence endeuour them-selues to mitigate the sorrowes of the mindes of men wherewith they are afflicted as they would extinguish a great fire I will vse the same order in declaring the meanes whereby I endeuor to mitigate the same sorrowe which I haue suffered these fewe yeares for the afflictions of the church both publike and priuate then the which also I am persuaded that the paine which I shal suffer at the departure of my soule out of the prison of this my body shal be nothing greater which I see obserued in the canon of our faith I meane the Apostles creede First I consider the benefit of my creation and when I doe reioyce that I doe belieue through the grace which to mee giuen is in God the father almightie creator of heauen and earth I doe feele my selfe reape most pleÌ„tifull fruites of manifolde consolation For I vnderstand that God doth as yet worke and that through him we all doe liue mooue and bee that hee hath a care ouer vs that all the Iohn 5. 17 haires of my heade are numbred that man Act. 17. 28. doth prepare his heart but the aunswere of the tongue is of the lorde Therefore forasmuch as I am persuaded that prosperitie and aduersitie life and death the 1. Pet. 5. 7. Mat. 10. 30. Pro. 16. 1. benefit of friendes and iniuries of enimies are moderated ruled by God bearing with a quiet minde aduersitie and with a temperate and a thankefull mynde prosperitie I thinke I might say with Iob If wee haue receiued Iob. 2. 10. good thinges at the handes of the Lord why should wee not receiue euill things at his handes also For I am persuaded that as prosperitie so aduersitie also doth happen vnto mee by the mercifull determination of God and that to my great profit and I also thinke that these men doe
Sacrament of the bodie of Christ and therefore is the breade called the bodie of Christ by Metonymia hee which eateth this breade eateth the bodie of Christ sacramentallie To the end the yonger sort may vnderstand these thinges I say that the bodie of Christ is called his bodie sometimes properly sometimes metonymically As the bodie of Christ as it is called his bodie properly is giuen to be eaten of vs truly and spiritually so is it receyued of vs truely and spirituallie But the body of Christ as it is called the bodie metonymically that is the Lords bread if you respect the same as it is breade is eaten naturally and if you respecte it as it is the Sacrament of the bodie of Christ hee which eateth this bread eateth the bodie of Christ sacramentally But let it suffice to haue spoken thus much by the way For euen three wordes are sufficient in a good cause God graunt that all thinges may serue to his glorie and our instruction 45. Lect. Aprill 29. A declaration of the partes of the oracle concerning the censure of the religion and of life the Iewish people IF as Galene doeth thinke the Phisitions ought to behaue themselues in the cutting vp of the brayne as in a temple where the holy ceremonies are done decently orderly much more ought they which studie the holy Scriptures with great reuerence rightlie to cut in péeces and diuide the worde of trueth in the schoole of the holy Ghost Therefore I beséech the eternall GOD to sanctifie vs by his trueth and to giue vs grace so to enter into the secret corners of this oracle that we may thence gather and bring such thinges as may serue to the sanctifying of Gods holy name and our own saluation Moreouer if euery thing which is set in order be comelie as sayth Augustin then is the declaration of this oracle most comelie forasmuch as it is set in very good order Which we intend now to declare vsing a diuisiue instrument The partes of the Oracle are two in number a parable and an exhortation The partes of the argument wherein the Prophet proueth that the Iewes and their administratiō did displease God because they were vncleane are thus disposed 1 It contayneth an exordium concerning the persous which were their owne iudges verse 12. 2 The first probleme or harde question concerning thinges which did not sanctifie and the exposition thereof consisting vppon a denyall verse 13. 3 The seconde probleme concerning these thinges which make a man vncleane and an affirmatiue exposition thereof verse 14. 4 The applying of the former parabolicall problemes vnto the Prophets purpose Wherin he teacheth that both the people of the Iewes and also all their worshippe which they did to God so long as the Temple was vnbuilt was vncleane for this cause was not acceptable in the sight of God ver 15. And we see that in all these there is a preuenting of an obiection which is this As if our sacrifices Sacramentes holie dayes and all our ceremonies which God hath appointed coulde displease the Lord the Temple beeing yet not built so that for their sakes wee must needes builde the Temple least God doe not allowe of them The Prophete aunswereth that all these thinges were prophane and not acceptable in the sight of God because that neglecting the temple which God woulde haue builded they woulde rather purchase and demerite his fauour by their ceremonies The exhortation The other part of the oracle consisting vpon an exhortation vnto a more narrowe consideration of the life dependeth vpon the former part and may be thus deuided 1 First it containeth a rehearsall of the former life and of those euils whereunto it was subiect and of the principall causes thereof For it becometh the godly to profite vnder the fatherly correction and chasticement of God and hereunto doeth the remembraunce and consideration of euils that are past not a litle auaile That they were punished it appeareth in the 16. vers The cause why they were punished is set downe verse 18. The Lord sayth hee smote the Iewes and he reproueth them because they did not repent 2 Secondly it comprehendeth a promise of a blessing which God will send vppon the Iewes after they haue taken in hande the building of the Temple In this place we will note two circumstances the one concerning the time the other concerning the persons for the Prophete declareth who will blesse and whome hee will blesse verse 19. 20. All these thinges tende to this end that we may knowe that all those are accursed which buste themselues so in holy ciuill and housholde affaires that they haue no regarde of the glorie of God and the edifying of his Church and that they are blessed which doe so administer holie things and thinges appertayning to this life that before all thinges they giue vnto God the thinges which are his and bende all their might to the building vp of the Church Ver. 12. Thus sayeth the Lorde of hostes aske now the priestes the Lawe The meaning of these wordes is this Propounde vnto the priestes which professe that they are leaders of the blinde a light to those Rom. 2. 19. 20. which are in darkenes teachers of the vnlearned maisters of infants bycause they haue a forme of knowledge and trueth in the Lawe such questions as are not contrarie to their profession but are questions of the Lawe and such as are proper to their profession c. 1. In this place we will note that when as the corruptions of religion are to be redressed wée must first begin at those which are teachers in the Church and not at those which are learners For vnlesse the teachers be brought into the way of truth the blinde shall lead the blinde 2. And when as their errors are to be conuinced we must vse a religious kinde of zeale and wisedome that they themselues condemninge themselues may giue glory to God and yeelde to the trueth For if the teachers be conuinced of error and do suffer themselues to be brought backe againe into the way of trueth the hearers will be easelie brought to the same 3. It is the duety of those which are teachers in the Church to answeare discreatlie when any question is asked them concerning the Law according to that saying The lippes of the priestes shall keepe knowledge and they shal require the law at his mouth because he is the messenger of the Lord. Let vs also thinke that this is spoken to vs which are students in diuinitie and are bounde to giue an accompt of our faith when it is demaunded of vs and let vs get to our selues the most excellent knnwledge of heauenly thinges both by studdie and also by prayer There is a mery iest of Cicero extant which he vsed toward Pompilius who would seeme to be a Lawyer when as he was altogether ignorant of the lawe For being called to be a witnes in a matter he answered Cicero that he knewe
greatly erre which doe thinke that we reape no commoditie by aduersitie which is sent vnto vs by God And although I doe in heart bewayle the manifolde ruine of â—ens affaires empires the perturbations and laying waste of the church the exile of the godlie the successe of hypocrites which are wonte almost to worke the vtter destruction of the godlie yet notwithstanding as I doe acknowledge all these miseries to proceede from these miscre antes so nothing doubting but that God vseth these thinges to his glory and our triall I repeat that saying of Dauid I held my peace Psal 39. 10. and opened not my lippes because thou hast done it For it cannot bee that a godlie minde beholdinge firste of all the enormities and tumultes which are to bee founde in certaine churches and vniuersities the banishment of godlie ministers the subtiltie and successe of certaine hypocrites the delighte which they take in those which are of high degree and also those men which are of base estate then secondlie the wicked ioy which the papistes coÌ„ceiue of the calamities of the godlie beholding all these things most gladlie the vaine hope which they haue of the restoring of Antichristianisme can be at quiet vnlesse turning vnto God who maketh all thinges for him-selfe euen the wicked against the euill Pro. 16. 4. daie it say with Dauid Therefore I thought vppon this in knowing it but it was a griefe in my eyes vntill I entred into the Sanctuarie of God and vnderstoode the ende of these men Certainelie thou settest them in slipperie places thou throwest them downe headlong Furthermore whom shall wee Psal 73. 16. 17. 18. thanke for these harbouâ—oughes and hospitals of the godlie teachers learners which are in some prouinces of Europe but the lord our God to whom the Psalmist did sometime say Thou preparest a table in my sight before myne enimies thou annoyntest my head with oyle my cup Psalm 23. 5. runneth ouer Secondlie when I consider the benefit of my redemption I giue thankes to my Lorde Iesus Christe both God and man who was crucified and raised vp againe for our sakes who sitteth at the right hand of God the father almightie giueth giftes vnto men maketh intercession for vs and shal come out of the heauens at his time to iudge the quicke and the deade For I do know that he is present Mat. 28. 20. with vs and that he will be present with his church vntill the end of the world And forasmuch as he is true and the truth it selfe forasmuch as he is almightie almightines it selfe I am perswaded that he will not leaue Ioh. 14. 18. vs destitute but that hee will giue vs eternall life that we shall not perish for euer and that Ioh. 10. 28. no man is able to plucke vs out of his hands If wee were not made members of his body beinge made one body with him if Eph. 5. 30. wee were not fleshe of his fleshe and bone of his bones if wee had not bene planted with him and growen vp with him in the similitude Rom. 6. 5. of his death and resurrection If finallie that highe priest of ours Christe Iesus were not touched with the feeling of our infirmities then were there great reason why wee shoulde neither receiue anie comforte pleasure throughout our whole life by prosperity neither shoulde aduersity suffer anie hope of deliueraunce from so great miseries to remaine in vs. * For what doth it profit a man if hee winne the whole world and destroy Luke 9. 25. himselfe or loose him-selfe But we are assured in our heartes the spirite of Christe bearing witnes vnto our spirite that wee are one bodie with him that wee are ingrafted into him and that hee is throughlie touched with the feeling of our infirmities Therefore in him alone do we reioyce who is made vnto vs of God our wisedome righteousnes 1. Cor. 1. 30. sanctification and redemption * and we know assuredlie that we are more then conquerors through him who hath loued vs and that neither death nor life nor Angell nor principalitie nor power nor thinges present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor anie other thinge which is created is able to seperate vs from the loue of God which is in Rom. â— 37. 38. 39. Psalm 110. 2. Christe Iesus our Lord. * Christe raigneth hee raigneth in the middest of his enimies therefore shall his kingdome come vnto vs and the workes of the Mat. 6. 1. Ioh. 3. 8. deuill shal be loosed * Hee shall beate downe Satan vnder our feete and that shortly * Rom. 16. 20. Let vs not doubt but that hee shall shortly reuenge his glorie euen vpon those which in worde doe professe but in deede doe denie that Christe is come in the fleshe For the 1. Ioh. 4. 3. same Christe our Lorde shall confounde and ouerthrow this spirite of Antichrist with the breath of his mouth who is in deede made partaker of our fleshe and bloude but without sinne * Heb. 2. 14. All sorrowe departeth when wee haue once receiued Christe This is a true saying For if wee bee deade with him wee shall also liue 2. Tim. 2. 11. 12. with him If wee suffer with him wee shall also raigne with him * It is better for vs to Rom. 8. 29. bee made like vnto his image and denying Mat. 16. 24. our selues to take vppe the crosse and to followe such a guide which will leade vs vnto Act. 3. 15. to life finallie it is better for vs to suffer affliction with the people of God then to inioy Heb. 11. 25. the pleasures of sinne for a season * I proceede from the benefit of our redemption vnto the thirde thing which is sanctification If wee did in very deede trie that wee are profane and aliantes from God that wee are not onely borne in sinne and therein remayne during our whole lyfe but also that wee dye therein and by reason thereof are both in our lyfe and death abhominable in the sight of God then were wee most miserable hauing no hope and being quite destitute of God in the worlde and of all true coÌ„â—olation But it is good for vs that being segregated to bee Gods owne peculiar people proper to him-selfe God the father of mercy and of all consolation doth by his holy spirite sanctifie vs regenerate vs raise vs vp and comforte vs that hee will haue the same spirite to bee the pleadge and earnest of our inheritaunce vntill wee bee set at liberty to the praise of his glorie * Eph. 1. 14. The godly mindes doe perceaue that in this dauÌ„gerous and continuall warfare of the naturall life they haue neede of instruction exhortation consolation hope patience constancie and many moe giftes then these and they do alwaies freelie confesse with Ieremy Wee knowe O Lord that mans way is not his owne way neither is it in
that is through his grace by the redemption wroughte by Christe Iesus we cannot doubt of our vocation Rom. 8. 29. 30 and election gone before neither of our sanctification following after For whom God knewe before the same did hee also predestinate that they should bee made like vnto the image of his sonne that hee mighte bee the firste begotten amongst manie brethren * Rom. 8. 29. 30 And whom hee did predestinate them also hee called whom hee called them also hee iustified whom hee iustified them also he glorified Howsoeuer our outward man bee vexed with aduersities and manifolde miseries yet are wee in good case when as wee perceaue that God of his infinite goodnes hath wrought in vs an effectuall saith a working loue and suffering hope most sure testimonies 1. Thes 1. 3. 4. of our election and that hee will neuer forsake this his excellent worke but that hee will crowne pullish and fully finish the same The sixt benefit is the hope of resurrection eternall life We know that we are trāslated frō death to life we beleeue that Iesus Christ is the resurrection the life that we which 1. Ioh. 3. 14. beleeue in him shall liue although we die * Ioh. 11. 25. Therefore being sure that wee shall be made partakers of eternall life wee reioyce in tribulation knowing that tribulation worketh patience patience experience experience hope which maketh not ashamed because Rom. 5. 3. 4. 5. the loue of GOD is shed abroade in our hearts through the holie spirite which is giuen vnto vs. * And seeing that the thinges Rom. 5. 28. which wee nowe suffer are nothinge comparable to the glorie to come which shal be shewed in vs I thinke wee ought to suffer ouercome these thinges with a stoute courage For the time shall come when the Lord shall wipe away all teares from our eyes and shall giue vs these things to enioy which the eye hath not seene the care hath not heard neither haue they euer entred into the mind of man which God hath prepared for those which loue him vnfainedlie * 1. Cor. 2. 9. Isay 64. 4. I thinke I haue pointed out as it were with my finger the fountaines from whence the principall consolations doe spring wherevnto the rest which I shall annex hereunto oughte to bee referred Notwithstandinge I will briefely touch the subordinate places that the godlie mindes may see how excellentlie it was said of Paul the apostle Like as the suffrings of Christ doe abounde in vs so likewise our consolation aboundeth through Christ And let 2. Cor. 1. 5. them remember that I doe here chiefly intreat of the remedies of the consolations whereby the afflictions are cured which wee ought to suffer for Christs sake for the truths sake and for the churches sake Let this bee the seauenth place of consolation that the truth is inuincible This is a fatall thinge for the truth to haue the vpper hand when it is gainestoode And therefore whenas the sworne enimies thereof do endeuour with all their might and maine to oppresse the truth shee thrusteth forth her head shee showeth her-selfe she commeth abroade and triumpheth The truth cōmeth to light not onelie by the preaching of those which beare witnes with the truth but also it is made more manifest by the lyes of those which are enimies therevnto a verie marueilous matter yet is it most true Let the enimies of the heauenly and immoueably veritie be ashamed of their wrangling cogging and lying although the whole worlde subscribe vnto them and giue thē their consent On the contrary part let the witnesses of the trueth take a good courage to them For whie Bernard saith very well Veritas magis elucet impugnata The truth the more it is resisted the more clearely it shineth To speake the truth is voyde of daunger as saith Nazianzenus To resist the knowen truth doth exceede Idolatrie as Augustine saith very grauely The eight place is this that God by the meanes of his enimies doth good to those which are his Therefore must we not regard what they pretend what they respect but what God who is most wise and a friend to all mankinde doth in the meane season intend Let them curse vs yet shall the Lord blesse vs. Let them make insurrection against vs yet shal they be confounded and the seruants of God shal be Psal 109. 28. glad ioyfull Let them imagine euill against vs yet the Lord doth turne it to good for vs. Gen. 50. 20. The nynth place is drawen from the consideration of the light of the church If in this last age of the Church there were in the same no faithfull pastors and teachers at all neither any such as might fight in the fore front of the battle against such as are enimies vnto true Christians and set them-selues against Christ his merites and person then mighte wee singe that woefull songe Wee see not our Psal 74. 9. signes there is not any more a Prophet and there is none with vs that vnderstandeth any longer* But through Gods great goodnes there are those yet aliue whom the thing it selfe doth testifie to bee furnished of God with manie notable giftes of the holie ghost and to be raised vp to defend the puritie and sinceritie of the heauenlie doctrine and to refute vaine babling and false doctrine Therefore let vs not doubt but stedfastlie beleeue that God careth for vs and that hee is present with vs. For hee furnisheth his church with so great giftes not in vaine it is not for nothing that hee setteth captaines and vnder-captaines ouer his holie armie The tenth place is fet from the comparing of those together which doe resist the truth those which stand in defence of the truth Although the former sort of these men haue their fauourers and followers no lesse then th' other for there were not wanting in times past flatterers which did licke the spittle of Dyonisius the tyraunte and said that it was sweeter then the sweete wine yet notwithstanding it falleth out often-times that certaine of these men being wiser then their fellowes marking the filthie life of their Captaines and guides their vanitie delitiousnes scurrility vaine-glorie their desire of wordly goods and the fragilitie of those commodities where-vnto they doe leane giue place vnto the latter opinions which are wont to bee the better and sounder The best most valiant souldiers of Christ haue neede some-times to vse an holy and religious kinde of silence which not-withstanding may not bee preiudiciall vnto the confession and profession of the truth they haue alwaies neede to haue an inuincible cōstancie and then most of all whenas the furie and out-rage of their aduersaries is armed with the aide of the arme of flesh But a time there is whenas the Iayes hauing made an ende of chatteringe the Swannes doe with a merie noise and pleasant songe celebrate the victorie of the truth
Comparisons are odious yet what man is hee which being well in his wittes doth not see howe farre inferiour these Censurers are to the cleare windowes of the church the light bearers thereof which in their hands beare the cleare shining lighte of the truth whether hee looke into their godlines and humanitie or learning eloquence or finallie their deseruinges of the church and their most excellent monuments of godlie witte I will not speake of this that they which haue suffered and doe as yet suffer great aduersitie which haue preferred Christ farre before riches their countrie and all prefermentes are worthie to bee had in greater estimation then they which liue in the middest of all maner pleasures The eleuenth place is the consideration of the almightie power of God in rulinge and guidinge the course of thinges and seasons If at anie time wee see the affayres of the church not onelie afflicted but euen almost past all hope then let vs repeate that saying of Dauid And I said this is my destruction but Psalm 77. 10. the chaunges are in the right-hande of the Lorde For how often did God deliuer his sainctes miraculouslie Howe often did hee deliuer his people out of the middest of death At the red sea in the times of Iosaphat Ezechias the Machabees As the glorie of the three witnesses was the greater after that they came out of the fornace at Babylon vn-hurt of Daniell when he was brought out of the Lyons denne so shall the glorie of the whole church and of the sincere Teachers of the truth bee greater whenas they haue passed ouer their sharpe warfare The twelfth place is the hope of successe The sayinges of the prophets are well knowen wherein we finde the most sweete similitudes of the Palme-tree and of the Olyue-tree Not-withstandinge I shall bee as a greene Olyue-tree in the house of the Lord I hope in the goodnes of the Lord for euer and throughout all ages And againe The iust man shal florish as a Palme-tree as a Cedar in Lybanus shall hee prosper They which Psalm 25. 8. are planted in the house of the Lorde shall florish Psal 92. 12. 14. in the courtes of our God And againe They shall florish in their old-age they shal be fat and greene that I may declare that the Lord my rock is iust and that there is no iniquitie in him The thirtenth place containeth the examples of the saintes which haue beene since the world beganne and especiallie of that sainte of saintes Christ Iesus Seeing that hee by his crosse and afflictions is entred into the kingdome of his father all the elect haue bene are and shall be like vnto him let vs well remember that saying of his The seruant is not greater then his maister If they haue persecuted 1. Reg. 19. 4. Ioh. 15. 20. mee they shall persecute you If they haue kept my sayinges they will also keepe yours I am not sayeth Elias the Prophet better then my fathers And truely it were a point of great impaciencie if they should refuse to suffer those things which they suffered whom those Captaines of ours doe freelie willingly acknowledge to haue bene both their superiors betters The fourtenth place is the fate and destinie of the church As it neuer triumphed but vnder the crosse so hath it often-times felt the discommodities which ciuill and longe peace doth bringe The church did florishe more and was more greatly encreased by the faithfull which were added there-vnto in the hot and vehement tenne yeares persecution moued by Dioclesian and Maximian Augg. then after-warde vnder Constantine the great his sonnes and vnder Valens whenas that most sacriligious and impious heresie of the Arrians did most violentlie rage against the very bowels of the church If any man doe looke into these times hee shall see that this thinge is true Doe not those churches most florish by reason of the light and sinceritie of doctrine and the zeale of the faithfull and doe not they enioy the most excellent teachers and pastors to whom it is geuen in Christe his busines not onelie to beleeue in him but also to suffer persecution for his sake Againe all men do see that those churches which do enioy ciuill peace and earthlie cōmodities are not occupied aboute the beating downe of Antichristianisme but about the resisting of peace-able men Our time alas for woe bringeth out too manie Minutij who if they were so wise as they ought to bee would knowe that they are to make warre not with Fabius but with Hanniball not of Carthage but of Rome The fiftenth place is verie excellent which is fet from the consideration of the workes of GOD which are miraculouslie brought to passe amiddest contrarie meanes God hath manie waies and meanes to bring thinges to passe both ordinarie and extraordinarie yet being all good and seruing to the accomplishing of his purpose and determination It seemed good to him of late yeares to scatter abroade certaine most florishinge Vniuersities Therefore wee see that men which did excell in witte learning eloquence and experience in great matters haue bene driuen away by certaine Drone-bees and haue bene dispersed as the Bees are scattered abroade with smoake But as in times past the dispersing abroade of the faithfull after the martyrdome of Stephen did greatlie profit the Samaritanes and others next adioyning vnto them when as manie being conuerted vnto Christ did cast awaie the heathenish Idotrie and Idolatrie vsed of the Samaritanes did ioyne them-selues vnto the true church so I hope in the Lord Iesus that it shall come to passe that thexile of these holie men both younge and olde shall greatlie serue to the spreading abroade of the truth the glorie of God and the restoring of the church Whenas in times past the Samaritanes were grieued at the restoring of Hierusalem and left nothinge vnassayed which might make to the hinderance thereof by the marueilous prouidence of God their intent fell out to the contrarie so that they were enforced against their will to further the same and also to beare the charges thereof at the commaundement of Darius the sonne of Histaspes And who is he that doth not see that euen at this time the mindes of the godlie learned are more more inflamed with the loue of the truth and with zeale to defend the same through that outragious obstinacie and vehemencie of their aduersaries most horribly defending their assertions so that the truth is farther broughte to the light thereby The sixtenth place that I maie of set purpose passe ouer manie other most comfortable places is the hope of the victorie and the ioyfull ende Truelie it is as certaine and sure that their Sophistrie and vaine-babling being refuted the truth shall haue the victorie as it is certaine that this world was created by GOD and is by him preserued And hereupon it is that the banner of the truth is often-times displaied to the great terror and astonishment
of these Sophisters but to the ioy of the godlie which is thereby increased Wee haue seene wyth our eyes these Sophisters pleading their euill cause with such feare and trembling that by the palenes of their countenaunce the trembling of their members their confused oration they them-selues did bewraie their subtiltie and hidden wounde of conscience Howe often hath this fallen out amongst them that they which suppose them-selues to be able to prescribe lawes vnto other men were not able to answere the spirit and wisedome of GOD which spake in the mouth of godlie yonge men The ministerie of Athanasius I confesse was full of calamitie and affliction yet was the same most fruitfull to the church and to him most glorious euen in the midst of his miseries And seeing that the ministerie of our pastors and teachers is such let vs in no case thinke that their labour shall be in vaine in the Lord. For they which do sowe the doctrine of the truth with manie teares shall in their time reape with ioy Psalm 126. 5. But I thought good right honorable to dedicate my Lectures vpon Haggeus the Prophet vnto your noble and most renowmed name that there might some publike testimonie of my dutie whereby I am bounde to your highnes be extant which I hope and am fully persuaded will bee well welcome vnto youre honour by reason of that confidence which I haue in your heroicall vertue Perhaps it is not for mee to take vpon me to set forth your highnesses desertes toward the commen-wealth of learninge for I thinke I oughte to leaue this charge to the Captaines and gouernours of the learned I will onlie testifie that which gratefulnes biddeth mee professe namelie that manie most excellent writers haue come to light by meanes of the Printers as it were begetting them againe and your highnes his cost and charges most liberallie bestowed there-vpon which other-wise wee should either not haue had at all or els wee should not haue enioyed them so finelie and trulie printed But another thing there is which most of all pleaseth vs which doe professe religion and causeth vs most of all to esteeme highlie of your honour Where as it behooueth princes and magistrates to bee mindefull of the commaundement of the Lord Ascribe vnto Psal 29. 1. 2. the Lord yee mightie ascribe vnto the Lord glorie and strength Ascribe vnto the Lord the honour due vnto his name bowe your selues vnto the Lord in his holie sanctuarie * who is he that may not worthelie reioyce that your clemencie is indued with the true knowledge of the true God being purged from the leauen of mans inuentions which thinge the more is the pittie is at this day had in great estimation with some men I confesse that honour dignitie noble parentage riches the fauour of of mightie princes whom to please is counted a greate praise are excellent thinges There is also great accompt to bee made of the desertes of noble men towarde the commen wealth of learning of their liberality towatde those which are indued with vertue and true learning who doe encounter with manie great miseries But the honour of true religion ought to bee preferred farre before all these thinges which serueth greatlie both to enlarge the fame and also to edification Therefore as the good do with due reuerence reioyce that your honour is indued with the spirituall corporall gifts both of the bodie and of the minde and also with those temporall and externall goods which are the instruments of manie excellent vertues so doe they likewise praie that Christ Iesus that king of kinges Lord of Lords wil long preserue and keepe your renowmed highnes in florishing estate for the commen wealthes sake that it maie proceede to be a bountifull patron to the learned Let your clemencie fare well and happilie Written at Basill the first of March Your honours most bounden Iohn Iames Gryneus Anno Domini 1581. Certaine briefe notes vpon Haggeus by Iohn Iames Gryneus 1 Haggeus doth signifie in the Hebrewe tongue Pleasaunt and solemne We may read the historie of Haggeus not onely in this booke but also in Ezr. 5. ver 1. and in Iosephus de antiquit lib. 11. cap. 4. and else where 2 His fellowe and partner in the office of prophesying was Zacharias with whome he beganne to prophesie in the eightenth yeare after the retourne of the people of the Iewes from Babylon which was about the seconde yeare of Darius the sonne of Histaspes and in the yeare of the worlde 3444. after Funcius his Chronicle which wee doe followe yet so that this may be no whit preiudiciall to the iudgement of other men The state 1 Forasmuch as they are by all meanes infortunate and subiect to the curse who onelie seeke those thinges which are their owne and not those things which are Gods Let the godly first of all seeke the kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof for all these thinges which appertaine vnto the sustentation of this mortal life shal be added * Hereto Math. 6. 33. belong those sayinges Giue those thinges which are goddes vnto God * Whether therfore Mat. 22. 21. you eate or drinke or whatsoeuer you do do all to the glorie of God * That saying 1. Cor. 10. 13. also of the old Historiographer is wel knowē The things which are gods are to be prefered before things which are mens Certaine it is that all our housholde affaires pollitike affaires Schoole affaires and all other affaires whatsoeuer are full of vanitie and the curse if any man doe goe about the same and do neglect the worshippe of God 2 And as it becommeth vs to be carefull for the whole Church which is the temple of God so it behoueth euery one of vs to haue a Eph. 2. 20. 22. 22 1. Cor. 6. 19. Rom. 12. 1. 3. great care of his own edificatiō restoring * For we also are tēples of the Lord we must offer our bodies a liuely sacrifice to God * 3 The Iewes beeing brought backe agayne The argument from Babylon did builde their owne houses gorgeously and sought after their commoditie diligently neglecting in the meane season the restoring of the Temple and the administration of the true worshippe of God But they had the worde to cloke this their negligence withal namely that the time was not as yet come wherein the Lorde wold haue the Temple to be builded again * Hag. 1. 2. The Prophete most sharpely reprehendeth them and telleth them that this wicked negligence of theirs was the fountaine from which gods curse did flowe The principall pointes of doctrine which are to be obserued in both these Chapters 1 God shall restore his Church that it may be safe for euer 2 God when the fulnes of time is come shall be made manifest in the flesh 3 When as the gospel shal be preached to the Gentiles the heauens and the earth shall bee moued 4 Let the faithfull
one God and father of all c. Paul Rom. 4. Doth declare that wee are iustified by the same meanes whereby Abraham was iustified namely by faith that the manner of the fathers election and our election is all one namely free and vnchaungeable 1 Cor. 10. The Apostle saith that the fathers did eat the same spirituall meat and drinke the same spirituall drinke which we eate and which wee drinke Which thing all the godlie and these which haue vnderstanding doe sée to bée vnderstoode of the substaunce and fruite of the Sacramentes and not of the sacramentall signes These and other such like sayings doe teach vs that there is but one Testament and one couenaunt of grace in substance and trueth 3 Notwithstanding the olde Testament the Newe doe so differ in the dispensation that the newe Testament doeth farre exceede the olde Math. 13. 17. Verily I say vnto you manie Prophetes and iust men haue desired to see the thinges which you see and haue not seene them and to heare the thinges which you heare and haue not hearde them Yet let vs knowe that these thinges are spoken respectiuely and not simplie For hee doeth not denie that the Fathers knewe the same kinde of doctrine but he preferreth the estate and cōdition of Christ his Church before the discipliue of the lawe as beeing better For after that Christ the light of the worlde beganne to teach there did so great light of the knowledge of God shine in the heartes of the faithfull that hee that was least in that newe estate of the church was greater in the kingdom of heauē then Iohn the baptist if you consider the plentifulnes of doctrine In the eight to the Hebrues vers 7. the apostle reasoneth thus If that former testament he meaneth the olde testament had bene such that there had beene nothing wanting therein then had there béene no place sought for the second But there hath béene a place sought for the newe couenant vers 8. 9. And that may be vnderstood of the worde and the sacramentes For séeing the same doctrine the same faith and the same Christ doth raigne in the Church of both testamentes the diuersity of dispensation consisteth in the letter administration and whether you respect the preaching of the word or the administration of the Sacraments and not in the spirite and trueth But some there bée which doe attribute vnto the Fathers the shadowes and vnto vs the trueth And to the end they may prooue this they alleadge the wordes of the Apostle Heb 10. 1. The lawe hauing a shadowe of good thinges to come and not the very expresse forme of thinges c. I answere First they falsely take that as spoken simply which is spoken respectiuely and by way of comparison touching the moste solemne yéerely sacrifice which was nowe abrogated when Christe was vpon the Altar of the Crosse Secondly if they attribute no more vnto the Fathers but the shadowes and doe spoyle them of the truth then surely they thinke y◠there was but small prouision made for their saluation and restoring For what shall wee thinke that any man can bee saued without the trueth Thirdly why doeth Paul attribute to vs Circumcision made without handes Col. 2. 11. and to the Fathers Baptisme and the spirituall meate and drinke 2. Cor. 1. 2 if the thing signified by the Sacrament be not common to the faithfull of both Testamentes For all men doe know that their signes and ours are not all one Lastlie what shall we say Augustine meant when hee did affirme that the Sacramentes of the Fathers and ours doe differ in the signes but are all one in substance But of these things we shall speake else where The latter part of the sixt verse Also my spirite shall stande in the middest of you feare not 4. Argument There is no cause why the taskemaisters and ouerseers of the Lordes worke shoulde bee discouraged with the feare of their enemies and the feeling of their owne infirmitie seeing that the spirite of God doeth stande in the middest of them The reason For the spirite of the Lorde is a spirite of wisedome and vnderstanding a spirit of counsell and strength a spirite of knowledge and feare of the Lorde But the holy spirite of the Esay 11. 2. Lorde will bee present with you Iewes whilest you are in building the Temple This minor proposition is grounded vppon his promise who is a God that cannot lie Wherefore you must goe forward stoutly in the holy worke and hope Tit. 1. 2. well of the successe My The same holy ghost is sometimes called the spirite of the Father sometimes the spirite of the sonne Whereby it is well proued that hee doeth procéede from the Father and the sonne as we shall hereafter declare Spirite Certayne taking the effectes for the cause doe thinke that it is to be vnderstood of the giftes of the holy Ghost But Christ vsing the same argument when hee was readie to goe to the Father promiseth his Disciples the holy Ghost which should be present with them and shoulde leade them into all truth Shall stande These wordes doe signifie presence and perpetuall helpe like as doeth that phrase To stande at any mans right hande Psalm 16. 8. In the middest of you Therefore the holy spirite is present by the presence of his grace with these onely to whome this thing was promised and giuen by the Father Of the holy spirite Aphor. 1. This worde Spirite Ruah Pneuma is sometime attributed to the creator sometime to the inuisible creatures This distinction is drawen from the cause and the effectes God is the cause and creator of all thinges The same is also a spirituall essence infinite eternall vncreated 2 When as the worde spirite is attributed to the creator it doth sometime signify the essence which is common to the thrée persons sometime the diuine nature of Iesus Christe sometime the person of the holy spirite according to these sayinges Iohn 4. 24. God is a spirite This may be vnderstoode of the same essence of God Rom. 1. 4. The Sonne of God being mightily declared according to the spirit of sanctification c. He setteth the spirite that is the Godheade of the worde against the flesh that is the humane nature which is in Christe Ephe 1. 13. You are sealed with that holy spirite of promise 3 The third person in the Godhead is the holy ghoste because hee is the essentiall power of God whereby all thinges are vpholden and the Church is sanctified The worde Spirite doeth signifie a worker and mouer not any qualitie in God 1. Cor. 12. 4. There are diuersities of giftes but one spirite ver 12. 4. For to one man is giuen the worde of wisedome by the spirit and to another the word of knowledge by the same spirite 4 The spirite is a substaunce or person distinguished from the father and the sonne by the note and marke of proceeding 1. Cor. 12. 11. But that one