his Throne and Kingdome in the dispensation of his great and glorious purposes established before any time In which regard the Psalmist g Psal 78. 69. saith of the Land of Canaan That he founded it for his people the Iewes from euerlasting meaning in his eternall counsell and h Esay 45. 7. ESAY Since I disposed an euerlasting people the Church in the purpose and appointment of God eternally elected And when the Psalmist i Psal 103. 17. cryeth out The kindnesses of IEHOVAH are from euerlasting to euerlasting doth he not euidently point hereat But more cleerely to this purpose serueth that of Paul k Ephes 3. 11 commending the excellency of the Doctrine of the Gospell in the gathering together of the Churches of the Gentiles aswell as Iewes in that it was according to his euerlasting purpose As also l 1. Cor. 2. 7. in another place hee saith of the Wisedome of God lying hid in the Mystery of the Gospell that God had fore-ordayned it before the World And of Christ Peter m 1. Pet. 1. 20. saith that he was fore-appointed before the foundation of the World was layd The truth hereof not onely shineth forth in these and other great and high points of our Faith and namely of Election and Reprobation which come hereafter to be considered but reacheth farther and hath a place in all So n Psal 193. 15. 16. Dauid speaketh of his conception an ordinary course of nature When I was secretly framed and as it were curiously wrought and wouen together thine eyes did see my very lumpe what time they were fashioned yea euen then when none of them was extant that is from euerlasting And the saying of Iames o Acts 15. 18. hath no exception All the workes of God are knowne to him from Eternitie In this Argument I finde that the Prophet Esay from whom the Apostles p 2. Pet. 2. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Peter and Iude seeme q Iude verse 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to haue taken it delighteth himselfe much to set out the Eternitie of Gods Decrees by the Phrase of Long r 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 agoe In the two and twentieth Å¿ Esay 22. 5 8 11. Chapter Thou diddest looke in that day when the enemie did besiege you to the Armour of the Forrest House c. But ye looke â—â—ot to the Authour of it nor had respect to him that framed it long agoe Chap. 25. The t Esay 25. 1. counsels long agoe eternally decreed and in their time prophesied and made knowne to the Church are Faith and Truth And so himselfe doth in another u Esay 37. 26. place expound it to import as much as from all Eternitie Secondly The cause why all things are so decreed is not the knowledge or fore-knowledge of God but his absolute will and pleasure for causes resting onely in himselfe although vnknowne to vs yet most iust and holy Ephes 1. 11. Hee worketh all things after the counsell of his will Thirdly The generalitie in that hee hath decreed all things and all the meanes and circumstances of euery thing Acts 15. 18. All the workes of God are knowne to him that is purposed and decreed of him from Eternitie So that whatsoeuer experience sheweth or the Word of God confirmeth to come to passe in Heauen or in Earth or in the lowest Hell both the confounding of the wicked the Saluation of the Elect and the things that pertayne to the businesse and affaires of this life the same are all eternally decreed of God and that for his owne good pleasure onely the x Ephes 11. 1. Apostle bearing witnesse That hee worketh all things after the counsell of his will CHAP. III. Of Creation IN the Creation which is the second thing The workes of God are the execution of his purpose And are Creation and Prouidence Creation is his making all things wherein his Kingdome standeth I obserue fiue things which the Story of the Creation penned by Moses in the first and second Chapters of Genesis doth offer vnto vs. First The things which God made All things without exception and in saying all things it is manifest that we leaue nothing vncreated excepting onely him that did create them no not the Angels themselues the most glorious and super-excellent Creatures of God of whoÌ„ albeit Moses maketh no mention in expresse termes no more then of their fall specifying onely the visible workes of God in respect of the people to whom he wrote yet the Holy Ghost else-where concealeth not their Creation for when the Psalmist had exhorted the Angels and Host of Heauen the Sunne the Moone the Starres the Heauen of Heauens to prayse the Lord hee addeth a reason common to them all Let a Psal 148. 2 3 4 5. them prayse the Name of IEHOVAH for he commanded and they were created But most manifest is that of PAVL Col. 1. 16. By him were all things created which are in Heauen and vpon the Earth things visible and inuisible whether Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers By which words it is most certaine he vnderstands the Angels This all things you may not vnfitly deuide into b 1. Cor. 4. 9. reasonable Creatures Angels and Men and the World of them both whereto aptly serueth the place of the Colossians before and Moses in the very first words of his Story hath so deuided it In c Gen. 1. 12. the beginning God made Heauen and Earth that is both the vtmost compasse of this vniuersal World together with the Spirits and Angels that inhabit it and that Chaos or first lumpe and matter whereout the Earth and Heauen as we call Heauen and all heauenly and earthly bodies were made Moses therefore as Paul in that place maketh a most perfect diuision of all the whole frame of Gods Creation sundring it into two Heauen and Earth The Ayre it selfe the Sunne the Moone the Planets and whatsoeuer in that whole Chapter is spoken of seemeth to be comprehended vnder the name of Earth For so hee doth proceed resuming the latter member And touching the Earth it was vnshapen c. By Heauen is meant the place of blessed Spirits and the Angels inhabiters and dwellers in it All which appeareth further in the next Chapter Thus d Gen. 2. 1. were the Heauen and the Earth perfited and all the Host of them that is whatsoeuer is within the compasse of the highest Heauens vnto the very bottome and Center of the lowest Earth things visible and inuisible Angels or whatsoeuer else wherewith the Heauen and Earth are beautifully adorned The World of these two Creatures is either the vnseene World Heauen and Hell or the World visible and subiect to our eyes which Moses in one word termeth Earth But a better and more apt diuision to this purpose may bee made to say it is eyther the naturall place and World for these two Creatures Heauen for the one
God hath vsed that haue not spared to lay open their owne nakednesse and shame the nakednesse and shame of their Wiues Children Families Tribes of whom they came Seuenthly The end and drift of all which is to giue glorie vnto God and to beat downe and abase the pride of man A second sort of argument is from the authoritie of the Church which may moue and well perswade vs of them The third and last without which all the rest whether humane testimonies or other arguments are nothing is the testimony of the Spirit it selfe bearing witnesse of them Esay 59. 21. My Spirit that is in thee and my Word that I haue put in thy mouth Therefore Esay 54. 13. the faithfull are said to be such as are taught of God And PAVL saith The spirituall man discerneth all things 1. Cor. 2. 15. Therefore it is not the iudgement of the Church which maketh vs beleeue the Scriptures but the Church is the same to the testimony of the Spirit that the c Ioh. 4. 39 40 41 42. woman of Samaria was to the preaching of our Sauiour Christ because of whose words many of the Samaritans were brought to beleeue in Christ but when hee himselfe came and preached amongst them they tell her plainely Now wee beleeue no more because of thy speech for wee our selues haue heard and know that this is of a truth That Sauiour of the World That Christ So the iudgement of the Church may well bee a motiue at the first and also bring great stay and confirmation to a mind that is once inlightned but the maine strength of all dependeth vpon the testimonie of the Spirit Thirdly In the ministery of the Prophets Apostles so as they could not erre I obserue the qualitie of their doctrine thus deliuered by diuine inspiration First It was not subiect to error for howsoeuer they were men subiect to sinfull infirmitie and in part onely regenerate whose seruice it pleased God to vse for this purpose yet in the deliuery of the Doctrine they were so extraordinarily gouerned and inspired with his Spirit that they d Ioh. 16. 13. could by no meanes erre Secondly It is holy both the whole and euery part whereupon grow these speeches e 2. Pet. 1. 21. The holy men of God f 2. Pet. 3. 2. The holy Prophets g Eph. 3. 5. Reu. 18. 20. The holy Apostles h 2. Pet. 2. 22. The holy Commandements i Rom. 1. 2. The holy Scriptures whereas all other bookes and speeches of men are prophane further then they fetch some holinesse from hence Thirdly That both their Sermons and these Bookes written by the Spirit of Christ are of soueraigne authoritie in the Church of God and haue the sole pre-eminence for the deciding of all controuersies the iudging and discerning of all sayings and writings of men for vnto them the holy Ghost doth alwaies call vs k Esay 8. 20. To the Law and to the testimonie if they speake not according to this Word it is because there is no light in them And this is it which Christ vsed as the weapon to foile Satan Math. 4. So the Apostle Paul 1. Corin. 15. 3 4. maketh the Scriptures to giue credit to his doctrine I haue deliuered vnto you that which I haue receyued that Christ dyed for our sins according to the Scriptures and that he was buried and that he was raysed the third day according to the Scriptures c. The men likewise of Berhea Acts 17. 11. are commended for examining by the Scriptures the things which Paul taught Therefore our Sauiour l Iohn 5. 39. Christ referreth vs to the Scriptures as to the Touchstone of all truth Search the Scriptures and in m Matth. 22. 25 another place Yee erre not knowing the Scriptures For the authority of these Bookes is greater than the authoritie of the Church as the authoritie of God who cannot erre must needes be greater than the authority The Popish Doctrine which hangeth the authoritie of the Scriptures vpon the Church of men that may and doe erre Againe the Church hath her life and being from the Word inasmuch as faith which maketh a Church cannot bee without the Word So hath not the Word from the Church Thirdly It is aboue the authoritie of the Angels of heauen n Gal. 1. 8 9. who if they preach any other doctrine are to be held accursed How much more aboue the authoritie of the Church Fourthly Our Sauiour Christ attributeth this excellencie to his Word which men or Angels cannot challenge that in the latter Day it is That which shall iudge him that doth not receiue it Iohn 12. 48. But why then is the Church called the Pillar of Truth 1. Tim. 3. 15 Surely because the Truth of God dwelleth no where else and there is alwaies Truth sufficient to saluation Not that the Church eyther beareth and bringeth forth the Truth of God or is the chiefe and fundamentall ground to hold it vp for she her selfe hath another foundation to sticke vnto from whence shee fetcheth all her Truth which is the doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles o Eph. 2. 20. 1. Cor. 3. 11. Esay 28. 16. Christ himselfe beeing the head Corner-stone and is not the Mother but the Nurse of the Truth of God that cherisheth and preserueth the same and giueth testimonie thereof vnto the World To the true meaning of the Scriptures we are to reach by the Scriptures themselues the same Spirit that indited them suggesting and opening the sence vnto vs. So did the Leuites that taught the people Nehem. 8. 9. render the sense and giue the vnderstanding of it by the Scripture it selfe Our Sauiour also Matth. 4. beeing set vpon by Satan that clipped and wrested the Scriptures to serue his owne turne confuted his false glosses and expositions of it by the conference of other Scriptures The meanes we must vse for this purpose are these First we must come with a mind to profit and to bee made the better by them not to read them for knowledge onely or vaine ostentation much lesse to cauill at them Secondly Prayer is to bee vsed to God to open and enlighten our hearts that wee may see the wonderfull things that lye hid therein Thirdly We are to frequent the House of God and to giue diligent attendance vpon the Ministery and Preaching of the Word whereby the Doctrines deliuered in the Scriptures are beaten out and made familiar and plaine vnto vs the same being also the ordinarie meanes by which the holy Ghost doth vse to worke in our hearts all true and spirituall wisdome Fourthly the true sense and nature of the words euery one apart and the construction of them all together must be waighed Fiftly We must alwaies take the proper and naturall sense if the matter it selfe will beare it Sixtly The summe of the matter the scope and drift of the place the Arguments and their coherence the method
as some n Luke 18. 30. Marke 10. 30. other where the Scripture taketh it the life that shall bee hereafter but the world here restored in and through Christ euen from the first promise made in Paradise and fully to be perfected when God shall bee all in all for the world corrupted by the sin of ADAM that whereof all men naturally are members goeth vnder the name of the old world o 2. Pet. 3. 15. this wherein righteousnesse dwelleth of the new To note more expresly the quality of this new world a heauenly World I call it heauenly as the Scripture doth in diuers places opposing it to that which is terrene and earthly This is not saith p Iam. 3. 15. IAMES the wisdome that commeth from aboue but earthly naturall deuilish And the Apostle to the Colossians q Coloss 3. 1 2 5. Seeke the things which are aboue where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God minde the things which are aboue not which are vpon the earth Mortifie therefore your members which are on the earth Fornication Vncleannesse c So to the Philip. r Phil. 3. 19 20. Whose end is destruction which mind earthly things But our conuersation or if you will Free-burgesship is in Heauen Wherefore the Citie whereof we are thus Free Burgesses is called Å¿ Reu. 3. 12. The Citie of God t Reu. 21. â— 22. 19. The holy Citie u Reu. 3. 12. 21. 2. New Ierusalem which commeth downe from God out of Heauen x Gal. 4. 26. Ierusalem aboue which as it is there said is the mother of vs all The World therefore thus formed and fashioned anew by the power of Christs Spirit is An euerlasting World the Citizens and Free Burgesses y Esay 44. 7. An euerlasting people Christ the Prince z Esay 9. 6. Father of eternitie and the Kingdome it selfe an euerlasting Kingdome that shall not haue any end So saith DANIEL a Dan. 2. 44. It shall destroy and consume all other Kingdomes but it selfe shall stand for euer b Dan. 7. 14. His dominion is a perpetuall Dominion that cannot passe and his Kingdome a Kingdome that cannot bee destroyed And the Prophet MICA c Micab 4. 7. to the same purpose IEHOVAH shall raigne ouer them in Mount Sion from this time forth for euermore This is it which the d Luke 1. 33. Angel telleth MARIE Hee shall raigne ouer the house of IACOB for euer and of his Kingdome there shall bee no end For where it e 1. Cor. 15. 24. is said that this Kingdome must haue an end and that he shall deliuer it vp to God his Father Wee must vnderstand that the Kingdome of Christ is two wayes to be considered one as he ruleth and raigneth in the hearts of the faithfull and is the head of his Church which cannot haue any end for he must continue the Head of his Church for euer Wherefore the word which is commonly translated End may perhaps in that place rather signifie Perfection this Kingdome of his being so farre from hauing an end with the end and dissolution of the world that contrariwise it shineth and sheweth it selfe most when all his enemies shall be subdued vnder his feet that he may raigne glorious in his Saints who being then wholly led and gouerned by his Spirit shall not so much bee subiect to him as knit and vnited with him But the Kingdome of Christ is also taken for that gouernement which for the Churches sake and to bring men to faith and obedience of the Truth hee hath ouer all the world beside brideling and subduing Satan Sinne and all the enemies of our saluation which then shall cease when hauing finished the whole worke of our full and perfect Redemption he shall crowne with immortalitie those that are his Our Sauiour Christ comparing the Kingdome of weakely here by Faith and therefore by meanes of the Word ordinarily which is called the Kingdome of Grace Heauen to f Math. 13. 31. a graine of Mustard-seed which beeing at the first the least of all seedes becommeth verie great and to g Math. 11. 33. Leauen which at the first is in some part of the dough but in time spreadeth it selfe ouer the whole lumpe teacheth vs the order and manner of Gods proceedings in the things that haue beene handled The beginnings weake and tender all perfection reserued till wee come to heauen Whereupon this part of Christs Kingdome is distinguished into the Kingdome of Grace h Esay 59. 21. and the Kingdome of Glorie The Kingdome of Grace which is and standeth by faith and therefore by the Word the subiect of faith ordinarily that in the Church of beleeuers the Word and the Spirit doe alwaies goe together the Church neuer destitute of the Spirit the Spirit neuer separated from the Word As the Prophet ioyneth them by an euerlasting Couenant Esay 59. i Esay 59 21. This is my Couenant with them saith IEHOVAH My Spirit which is in thee and my Word which I haue put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy seedes seed from this time forth for euermore So vaine a thing it is whilst we liue Anabaptists and such like fanaticall spirits in this World to dreame of a Spirit without the Word The Spirit of Christ therefore working by Faith the worke it selfe must needs bee of the nature of Faith weake and imperfect as that is But in the Kingdome of Glorie comming to see perfectly hereafter by Sight and therfore immediately by Christs Spirit that is called the Kingdome of Glorie Christ all things shall bee wrought by the present beholding of him the vision of his face and the immediate working of his Spirit There shall then be i Reu. 21. 22 23. no Temple but the Lord God Almightie and the Lambe are the Temple for when the Faith whereby now we walke must cease then the preaching of the Word and the administring of the Sacraments shall also cease The k 1. Cor. 13. 9 10 Apostle telling vs that whether prophecying and interpretation of the Scriptures or speaking of strange Tongues which God in those beginnings of the Gospell graced his Church withall for the winning of men to the obedience of the Faith or knowledge and instruction of other being the ordinarie way whereby we attayne here to knowledge they shall cease and be abolished for when in God himselfe we shall behold all things then to no purpose shall these helpes serue which now we vse either to teach or to be taught Wherefore here is all and all manner of perfection l 1. Iohn 3. 2. When he shall be manifested saith IOHN wee shall bee like him for we shall see him as he is This so great a worke to make the World anew the by the power of his Resurrection Scripture commonly
in the end Death which is the separation of Soule and Body Yet in all this some Reliques of former Dâ—gnitie doe remaine namely in the Minde common Principles of Good and Euill sparkes of that light of Nature and some Seedes of Conscience which notwithstanding are wholly sinfull and doe but serue partly to keepe Men from breaking forth without all shame or regard of honestie partly to make them vnexcusable In the Body a kind of Maiestie in the whole Man a certaine Soueraigntie that keepeth in awe the brute Creatures The Creature here through the Fall of Man receineth an impaire of his first perfection So much of that which is in part The fulnesse of the Curse after Death is Damnation with the Deuill and his Angels In Soule presently till the Latter Day at what time God for that purpose raysing vp their Bodies the whole Man shall receiue the like Doome and Execution accordingly A miserable Change to such Men as then are liuing shall be instead of a Death and rising from it The Creature is then also subiect to an vtter abolition THE SECOND BOOKE OF DIVINITIE Of EMANVEL God and Man our Redeemer CHAP. 1. Of CHRIST THis is the summe of that Doctrine which we haue concerning GOD. The other followeth concerning Emanuel GOD with vs. Emanuel GOD with vs is in one Person the Sonne of GOD and very Man conceiued of a Virgin by the Holy GHOST Who is also CHRIST or Anointed called of his Father euer since the Fall of Adam to be a Mediatour betweene GOD and Man of a Couenant to saue through Faith in him that is by apprehending of the Couenant certaine few Men whom GOD his Father hath chosen from Eternitie and giuen vnto him to set forth in them the prayse of his Mercie This Couenant is called the Couenant of Grace And ratified by the Death of Him that made it hath also the Name of a Testament Being alwayes one and the same in substance it is neuerthelesse distinguished or distinctly to be considered in the Old and the New Testament The Old Testament was the Couenant through CHRIST to come The New Testament is the Couenant through CHRIST alreadie come IESVS the Sonne of Marie CHAP. II. Of the Priesthood of Christ OF the Office of Mediation there be two parts Priesthood and Kingdome Priesthood is in the things which he doth to God for those Elect. The parts are Oblation and Intercession Oblation is the offring vp of Himselfe for them It standeth in two things First the sanctifying of his Humane Nature in all Holinesse from the very first moment of his Conception for the worke of the Mediation Then in the performing of the most excellent measure of Obedience to the Law of God that can possibly fall vnto any Creature One principall part whereof are his Sufferings in taking vpon him our Sinnes and the whole Curse both that of this Life and the fulnesse of it due vnto them after Death All which he fully satisfied The Curse vpon vs here in the whole course of his Life the fulnesse of the Curse vpon the Crosse and Death by dying vnder the power whereof he lay three dayes in the Graue This Righteousnesse or Obedience being the Righteousnesse of Him who is both God and Man doth consequently merit a like supreme measure of Blessednesse euidently seene in the G 〈…〉 s that did follow his Sufferings and were in Soule or Bodie apart or ioyntly in them both In Soule hee went to Heauen presently after Death His Body hee rayled from the Dead glorious the third day at the daâ—â—ning of the Day In his whole Person Soule and Body ioyned together he ascended into Heauen the fortieth day after his Resurrection and there sitteth at the right hand of God that is to say imoyeth all Soueraigntie Power and Glory Hitherto of Oblation Intercession is the continuall presenting of his Merites to God his Father on the behalfe of those Elect. CHAP. III. Of Christs Gouernment of the World in generall SVch is the Priesthood of Christ his Kingdome followeth Kingdome is in the things which hee doth from God for those Elect. The Kingdome of Christ hath two parts One whereby hee gouerneth all the World according to their owne Nature since the Fall In the Angels perfect in Deuils and Men corrupted in the rest of the World peruerted CHAP. IIII. Of the Propheticall Office of Christ And of his Word THe other which is vnto his Church a Companie of Men culled out of the World This latter part contayneth his Propheticall Office and that which the Scripture by excellencie termeth the Kingdome Propheticall Office whereby hee hath a Church vnto himselfe by his Word and the Power of his Spirit The Word of Christ is his publishing of the Couenant of Grace Which of the Old Testament was called the Promise of the New is called the Gospel CHAP. V. Of the outward Church HIs Church is the outward Church or the Church of Gods Elect. Outward is of those that professe to beleeue in Him Seuerall Companies that assemble for the Exercises of the Word are so many Churches and Members of the Whole And in euery of these God hath alwayes some that are His indeed Their Children also are of the Church Vpon the outward Church Christ bestoweth Gifts both for the Churches common good and for a Man 's owne priuate For the common good are first things committed to the Churches keeping then Ministeries and Graces The things committed are his Word whereof wee haue spoken to be preached Sacraments to be administred and other holy Things Preaching is an Instruction of the Church by liuely Voice in the Word of Christ and that by Doctrine or Exhortation Doctrine in laying forth the Truth and confuting of contrarie Errors Exhortation to apply it also to all good vses of comforting denouncing stiâ—â—ing vp reprouing A Sacrament is a signe and seale of the Couenant either for our entrance or continuance in the Couenant The administration is to deliuer them with declaring Christs Institution and Prayer vnto God to make the same effectuall to the end for the which they were ordayned Which the Scripture calleth Blessing or Consecration It followeth to speake of Ministeries and Graces Ministeries are publike Functions in the Church specially for Preaching which includeth the dutie of offering the Churches Prayers and Administration of the Sacraments Among the Ministers of the Word some haue beene extraordinarily inspired of Christ to deliuer both by liuely Voyce and Writing so as they could not erre the whole Truth of Christ and had power to worke Miracles for the confirming of their Doctrine All other Ministeries are to fetch their Light from the Doctrine of those that were so inspired Graces are Gifts for the discharge of those publike Functions Gifts for a Man 's owne priuate are Knowledge of the Word of Christ and a Taste of the sweetnesse of it Which being the highest Step that it is possible for any Reprobate to ascend changeth after a
Will Holinesse 1. Petition Kindnesse Truth Iustice Mercie Blessednesse Kingdome Power Glory Wisedome Infinitenesse singlenesse of Nature Eternitie Vnchangeablenesse 7. That there is but one God 26 Of the Persons in God 27 The distinction of Persons 31 The three Persons and one God 31 The incommunicable Properties whereby they are distinguished 34 The God-head of the Sonne 35 The God-head of the holy Ghost 53 CHAP. II. Of the Kingdome of God and the order of administration thereof 60 2. Petition Of the Decrees of God the eternitie cause generalitie of the same 61 CHAP. III. Of the Creation of all Things 64 The Matter and Manner 72 73 Sixe Dayes Worke. 74 The perfection of the Creature 75 The holinesse happinesse of the principall Creatures Angels Men. 75 Of the Law of Nature 77 CHAP. IIII. Of Gods Prouidence extending to all Persons and Actions 82 His free and absolute Dispensation 94 The ineuitable necessitie of the execution of his Counsels 101 The end both of Creation and Prouidence 109 CHAP. V. Of the Honour due to God That his Will be done 112 3. Petition Of the Morall Law that teacheth the Will of God or the Duties we owe vnto him 114 Fiue things which the Law of God generally requireth or which are to concurre in euery Dutie 1. To doe all that is commanded 114 2. To doe whatsoeuer we doe as vnto God 114 3. That there bean Integritie or right frame and disposition of all the powers of Nature both of the Soule and Body 115 4. To doe it with the whole strength of those Powers Sinceritie Zeale Watchfulnesse Diligence and Perseuerance 128 5. To doe euery thing with so much the greater strength as the Dutie doth more excell 139 The properties of the Morall Law 143 Rules for the vnderstanding of the Ten Commandements 145 The first Commandement Of Loue Reuerence Feare Beleefe Trust and Hope in God Of Patience and Humilitie Of Prayer and other Seruices 148 CHAP. VI. The second Commandement To worship God as he hath appointed Of Will-worship Idolatrie Superstition c. 159 CHAP. VII The third Commandement Of Reuerence in Gods Worship Preparation Attention Meditation Of Fasting and of a holy Feast 162 CHAP. VIII The fourth Commandement Of set times in Gods Seruice 168 Of the Sabbath day The Duties it requireth the day for it in the first Institution the Moralitie 169 CHAP. IX The fift Commandement Of Duties to Magistrates Ministers Parents Masters Husbands and from them againe 175 Of Duties to Equals 186 The due respect we are to haue to our selues 187 CHAP. X. The sixt Commandement Of the Duties of Mercie 188 Of Meekenes Gentlenes a peaceable disposition putting vp of Wrongs 191 Of Kindnesse Pittying and helping our Neighbor in Distresse forgiuing Offences ouercomming Euill with Good 194 CHAP. XI The seuenth Commandement Of Chastitie of holy Marriage Incest and Polygamie Of Contracts of Matrimonie of Vncleannesse Buggerie Adulterie Foâ—nication Rapt Of Modestie and Temperance 198 CHAP. XII The eight Commandement Of Iust dealing and the contrary Theft Oppression Extortion Vsurie c. 207 Of Frugalitie Liberalitie Hospitalitie 210 CHAP. XIII The ninth Commandement Of Prudence a righteous Sentence Slandering Hearing of Iales Flattering and Dissembling 212 Of Deceit in Bargayning Buying and Selling remouing Bounds fraudulent with-holding of Goods Gaming and other vnlawfull Trades 214 Of taking Things in the best part and the contraries euill Suspitions and sinister Censures 218 CHAP. XIIII The tenth Commandement Of Couetousnesse Selfe-loue Enuie c. CHAP. XV. Of the Couenant of Workes Of Life and Death 222 The Couenant of Workes seruing in this our corrupt estate not to iustifie but to leade vs vnto Christ CHAP. XVI Of the Fall of Angels and Men. The reason of their Fall The time when they fell 227 Speciall to the Fall of Angels Their Sinne what it was The number that fell Their Captaine and Ring-leader 228 Of the Deutâ—s damnation in Hell The Release which God doth sometimes giue them and why 230 Of their full damnation in the latter Day 232 Of the elect Angels that did not fall 232 CHAP. XVII Speciall to the Fall of Man Their Sinne what it was The Actors that had a hand in it 233 In Adam and Eue all Mankind did fall 236 Of the totall Corruption of Mans Nature 237 Of the Curses of this Life 243 Of the Remnâ—nts of Gods Image 249 Of the impayre of the Creature 252 Of Mans Damnation 252 Of the Abolition of the Creatures 255 THE CONTENTS OF THE Second Booke CHAP. I. OF Christ the end of the Law His Godhead Humane Nature Christ the end of the Law whom the 3. last Petitions doe respect the Vnion of them into one Person And why all this was necessarie Fol. 267 Of Christs Office of Mediation Of his Appointment and Calling thereunto when it began That it belongeth to whole Christ and is appropriate vnto him for whom he maketh Mediation and wherein his Mediation lyeth 278 Of Gods Couenant the End and Fruit The Substance or Foundation The Meanes or Condition The extent of the Couenant 283 The excellencie of the Couenant of Grace aboue the Couenant of Works Of the Old and the New Testament 307 Of Predestination both Election and Reprobation 283 Of the words Purpose Predestination Prescience or Fore-knowledge Of the number of Gods Elect the Cause the subordinate Meanes the Eternitie and Immutabilitie the end of Gods predestinate Decrees CHAP. II. Of the Priesthood of Christ His Calling thereunto The eternitie of it He our onely Priest 311 Of the sanctification of Christs humane Nature 312 Of Christs Righteousnesse or Obedience 314 Of his Suffrings In what nature and what things he suffred 315 Of Satisfaction How it was and when The fruit of it 322 Of Christs Resurrection Ascension Glorification 326 Of his Intercession 330 CHAP. III. Of the Kingdome of Christ His Calling and inuesting into it the fruit of it 332 Of his Gouernment of the World in generall The largenesse of his Power the qualitie of Administration the fruit of it 334 CHAP. IIII. Of Christs Propheticall Office 343 Of his Word The Author the Matter the Ministeriall Instruments the perfection of his Doctrine 345 Of the Promise and the Gospel 347 Of the outward Church The Condition of it to be subiect to error to be mingled of good and bad The priuiledge of the outward Church and of euery Member thereof 348 Of the Sacraments 360 Of Ministeries Preaching of the Word Publike Prayer Administration of the Sacraments 366 Of the Ministerie of Men inspired of a liuely Voice of the Scriptures the truth holinesse authoritie perfection of the same and of Miracles 368 Of Graces for the discharge of publike Functions 377 Of Knowledge 378 Of a Taste of the sweetnesse of Christ and of sinne against the Holy-Ghost 379 CHAP. V. Of the Church vnder the Law 387 Of the Church in the time of the Gospel of the Sacraments of the New Testament Baptisme and the
of holy Angels yea the Song of Moses the Seruant of GOD and of the Lambe that God onely is holy The righteousnesse of God is to be seene in foure chiefe Specially seen to vs in foure chiefe and principall vertues which in the Scripture you shall find for the most part to goe by couples or payres and principall vertues that haue respect vnto his reasonable creatures in the Scripture you shall finde them for the most part to goe by couples or payres The first couple is p 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The first couple are Kindnesse Truth kindnesse and truth specially to his Church Exod. 34. 6. IEHOVAH IEHOVAH c. aboundant in kindnesse and truth Psal 25. 10. All the paths of IEHOVAH are kindnesse and truth to them that keep his Couenant and his Testimonies Pro. 3. 3. Kindnesse and truth let them not forsake thee and againe q Prou 14. 22. Kindnesse in being ready to bestow all good things Kindnesse and truth shall be to them that imagine good Kindnesse is that whereby hee is ready to bestow all good things The kindnesse of God offereth it selfe to bee considered for the most part in these degrees First his long suffering whereby he is slow to wrath and goeth as it were with a leaden heele vnto punishment and neuer is a God r So the Iewish Rabbines in their language elegantly say that God neuer is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 till he can no longer bee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of vengeance till he can no longer be a God of patience So saith the Apostle Rom. 2. 4. That God sheweth forth the riches of his patience and long sufferance to this end that the kindnesse of God might lead vs to Repentance And Å¿ 1 Pet. 3. 20. Peter giueth as for a most cleere Looking-glasse to behold this long sufferance of God in both his long patience and wayting for of amendment in the dayes of Noe whilest the Arke was preparing an hundred and twenty yeeres and t 2 Pet. 3. 9. his forbearing to destroy the World Now to the end that none of his may perish but all come to Repentance Secondly His bounty and goodnesse giuing liberally all good things as the Psalmist saith u Psal 145 9. IEHOVAH is good to all and his kindnesse is ouer all his workes And againe x Psal 36. 7. Thou IEHOVAH preseruest men and beasts Thirdly and specially in his grace and fauour whereby he bestoweth all these things without respect of our worthinesse or vnworthinesse as our Sauiour Mat. 5. 45. teacheth vs to behold in the ordinary and daily course of things Hemâ—keth the Sunne to rise on the euill and the good and raigneth on the iust and the vniust Truth is the faithfull performance of whatsoeuer hee Truth faithfully to performe whatsoeuer he speaketh speaketh whether he promise good or threaten euill A vertue then the which none can more beseeme the Godhead for as the z Iohn 8. 44. Deuill is a Lyar from the beginning and the father of lyes so is God the Author of all Truth yea Truth it selfe and true for euermore True in his words and promises without subtilty or guile true in the accomplishment and performance without colouring or deceit He speaketh and it is promiseth and it commeth to passe threatneth and it taketh effect a Psal 89. 33 34. 35. I will not alter saith the Lord that which is proceeded out of my lips nor falsifie my faith b Titus 1. 2. Nay he cannot lye because hee c 2. Tim. 2. 13. cannot deny himselfe So naturall it is vnto himselfe to bee Truth it selfe Therefore he is called The d Psal 31. 6. God of Truth The e Esay 55. 16. God of Amen What is that else but such a God as is alwayes one and the same true in his words firme in his promises certaine in his performance Whereupon the f Rom. 3. 4. Apostle cryeth out Let God be true and all men lyars The other couple are g 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iustice and Mercy flowing from The other couple are Iustice and Mercy flowing from the former the former both specially seene in the sauing or destroying of men and Angels Psal 116. 5. IEHOVAH is gracious and iust and our God is mercifull Psal 14. 5 7 8. The memoriall of thine abundant goodnesse they shall powre out and thy Iustice they shall sing that IEHOVAH is gracious and mercifull c. Iustice is that whereby he rendreth to euery one according Iustice to render to euery one his due to his workes for else h Rom. 3. 6. as the Apostle reasoneth If there were vnrighteousnesse with God how could God iudge the World Therefore as a most righteous Iudge hee seuerely punisheth the workers of iniquitie and graciously recompenceth those that feare him with that free reward which he hath promised So saith i 1. Pet. 1. 7. Peter that without respect of persons hee iudgeth euery one according to his workes And k Ier. 51. 56 IEREMY The Lord that recompenceth shall surely recompence It is iust saith l 2. Thess 1. 6 7 PAVL with God to render trouble to them that trouble you and to you that are troubled rest with vs at the Comming of Iesus Christ And againe m Rom. 1. 8. The wrath of God reuealeth it selfe from Heauen against all vngodlinesse and vnrighteousnesse of men But of himselfe hee saith n 2. Tim. 4. 8. There is layd vp for mee a Crowne of righteousnesse which the Lord that righteous Iudge will render vnto mee in that Day And o 1. Iohn 1. 9. IOHN If we confsse our sinnes God is faithfull and iust to forgiue them because of his promise sake Mercy is that whereby hee helpeth out of misery Mercy in being ready to helpe in time of neede whomsoeuer it pleaseth him As hee saith to MOSES p Exod. 33. 19. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious and I will haue mercy on whom I will haue mercy And the q Lament 3. 22 Prophet in the Lamentations It is the wonderfull kindnesse of IEHOVAH that wee are not consumed for his mercies fayle not yea hee wayteth as the Prophet speaketh r Esay 30. 18. to shew mercy to vs being full of compassion in all our miseries and necessities Å¿ Psal 46. 2. A helpe in affliction very ready to be found as the Psalmist saith Thus he tempereth his mercy with his Iustice as it were water to allay the heate of his burning wrath A vertue that aboue all other he appropriateth to himselfe and taketh as it were most pleasure in Neyther doth hee so oft call himselfe a iust and righteous as hee doth a gracious and mercifull God Therefore beside his patience and long sufferance inuiting vs to Repentance hee doth humble himselfe as it were to mens infirmity vsing all the meanes and helpes whereby our coldnesse may bee quickned and
Testament In the New as all other Mysteries of God so this especially is more cleerely reuealed by that great Prophet which was to come into the World the High Priest and Apostle of our Profession y Mat. 3. 16 17 and 2. Pet. 1 17. Christ Iesus vpon whom in his first imitation to the worke of our Redemption being himselfe the Sonne one of these three Persons the other two shewed themselues from Heauen The Holy Ghost in his Gifts and Graces represented by the visible shape of a Doue the Father by his voyce from the Seate of Glory This is my Beloued Sonne in whom I am well pleased In his last farewell to his Disciples being to leaue the World and to goe vnto the Father hee left this Doctrine as a perpetuall Monument religiously to bee obserued of the Church to the end of the World willing to baptize all Nations z Mat. 28. 19. In the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost That as in other respects so in this it is most worthily said a Iohn 1. 18. No man hath seene God at any time The onely begotten Sonne who is in the bosome of the Father hee hath reuealed him With these two Testimonies I willingly content my selfe as most pregnant of all the rest And therefore I passe ouer diuers other that might bee alleaged to this purpose because these twaine may stand in stead of many Onely I will adde that golden testimony of his beloued Disciple b 1. Iohn 5. 7. There bee three that beare record in Heauen the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost It is cleere that to the earthly witnesse or testimony of men in the things which we feele and haue experience of within our selues Regeneration Righteousnesse Sanctification hee opposeth the heauenly Witnesse or Testimony of these persons greater in regard of the excellence of the witnesses but equall in the number whereby appeareth the cleere euidence of this place The third point is that these persons Tritheites who though they acknowledge the three Persons to bee euery one God indeede yet teach that they are not onely distinct but seuered and deuided haue euery one the whole God-head and Diuine nature and are all three that one onely true and euer-liuing God For both the Apostle c 1. Iohn 5. 7 9. there calleth them so expresly and the testimony of all three hee knitteth vp in one when he saith If wee receiue the testimony of men the testimony of God is greater Euen as Moses d Deut. 6. 4. also doth when from the multitude of the Persons hee calleth them to the vnity of the substance Therefore the Apostle Paul e Col. 2. 9. saith In him Christ the Sonne of GOD manifested in the flesh dwelleth all the fulnesse of the Godhead bodily that is personally which is to bee extended to all the other Persons For to whomsoeuer God communicates his nature he must needes communicate it wholly as hath beene said And this mystery how in that most simple and single essence of God there bee certaine substances or persons truly subsisting three in one and one in three differing but not deuided seuerall but not sundred many and yet the same all one for their nature all distinct for three persons is a secret of all secrets passing all reach and vnderstanding of man rather reuerently to be adored then too curiously to be searched into The fourth last point is the incommunicable properties whereby these persons are distinguished in theÌ„selues To the Sonne is proper to be begotten to the Holy Ghost to proceede the Father is of himselfe neyther begotten nor proceeding but which from all Eternity hath begotten his Sonne and hee and the Sonne together send forth the holy Spirit Of the Father wee shall not neede to speake But that the Sonnes proper subsistence is to be begotten as the name of Sonne importeth giuen vnto him of God Marke 3. 17. This is my well beloued Sonne and so called before hee tooke flesh Psal 2. 13. Kisse the Sonne lest hee be wroth But most cleerely in the f Pro. 30. 4. Prouerbs What is his Name or his Sonnes Name So the Scripture in many places sheweth Iohn 1. 18. The onely begotten Sonne which is in the bosome of the Father And a g Iohn 2. 14. little before Wee beheld his glory as the glory of the onely begotten of his Father The like wee say of the Holy Ghost who is sometimes called the Spirit of God sometimes the Spirit of Christ Rom. 8. 9 10. 11. But you are not in the flesh but in the spirit if so be the Spirit of God dwell in you but if one haue not the Spirit of Christ this man is not his But if the Spirit of him that raysed Iesus from the dead dwell in you he that raysed Christ from the dead will also quicken you by his Spirit dwelling in you Sometimes hee is said to bee sent from the Father or to proceed from the Father which is all one sometime to be sent from the Sonne Iohn 1. 5. 26 The error of the Greeke Churches who deny the Holy Ghosts proceeding from the Sonne But when the Comforter shall come whom I will send vnto you from the Father the Spirit of Truth which proceedeth from the Father As touching the God-head of Arius denyed Christ to be of the same nature with his Father but as it were a secondary god acknowledging hee was an excellent Creature created before the World by whom God created the World and saued Mankind and therefore as a God in office to bee adored not in essence The like of the Holy Ghost But since it is plaine that God made all things in six daies both the Sonne and the Spirit if they were creatures must haue beene comprehenced in that worke these three Persons Of the Father no man euer doubted But the God-head of the Sonne and Holy Ghost some Heretikes haue called in question wherefore to confirme our faith herein let vs take Arguments for them both For the God-head of the Sonne we haue these He is IAH IEHOVAH EHIEH that is to say being or perfection it selfe Psal 68. 19. Ascending on high thou leddest captiuity captiue and gauest gifts vnto men euen the Rebels thou dwelling there that is to say in Heauen leddest captiue O IAH God meaning Christ To whose Ascension the Apostle doth apply it Ephes 4. 8. EHIEH hee calleth himselfe manifestly Iohn 8. 58. Before ABRAHAM was made I am Not made but of my selfe and from my selfe without beginning for that iâ— the force of am elegantly opposed vnto made The name Iehouah is giuen him Genes 4. 1. h This interpretation floweth naturally from the Hebrew Text. Beside it there be two other which of all the rest seeme most probable One is Ieromes With or by â—ehouah that is by his goodnesse and blessing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But in that sence it should haue beene 〈◊〉
to the Church of Professors it standeth in an outward calling and gifts An outward calling when by his Word that is to say his publishing of the Couenant of Grace and people in bestowing vpon them his Word and the fruit it bringeth forth by the working of his Spirit for these three Prophet Word and Church haue a perpetuall relation one vnto another Wherefore in handling the Propheticall Office the Word of Christ is first to be spoken of and then his Church The Word of Christ is all the holy Doctrine that hee hath taught from the beginning concerning our saluation through him Wherein obserue First Christ is the matter and onely subiect and substance of the Word In that regard himselfe is called The g Iohn 1. 1. Word or h Reuel 19. 13. The Word of God Because of him and of him alone it is that there are in the Word so many glorious and excellent speeches and the Doctrine of the Gospell hath the name of the Word of Christ Col. 3. 16. So as it is not any naturall knowledge that this Doctrine teacheth but heauenly and supernaturall which was not in Adam before his fall though he were perfectly holy and endued with all manner of naturall vnderstanding Secondly He himselfe as he is the matter so he is the Authour of the Word In which respect the Scripture giueth these names vnto him First He is called Hamedabber or the Speaker and Interpreter of his Fathers Will Dan. 8. 13. To which place it may be the Apostle i Heb. 12. 25. hath some eye when hee saith Take heed yee reiect not him that speaketh or the Speaker meaning Christ Secondly A Doctor k Mat. 3. 10. or a Teacher Thirdly A l Deut. 18. 15. Acts 3. 22. Prophet the head and Lord of the Prophets Fourthly an m Heb. 3. 1. Apostle Fiftly The n Mal. 3. 1. Angell of the Couenant And that wee may know with what Graces our Sauiour Christ is furnished for o Col. 2. 3. so great a worke all the treasures of Knowledge and Vnderstanding are hidden in him yea he is Wisdome p 1. Cor. 1. 24. it selfe or q Luke 11. 49. the Wisdome of God and called as by a proper name r Dan. 8. 13. Palmonie that is one that hath all hidden things numbred before him or ready told and as we say at his fingers ends which as occasion doth serue he vttereth to his Church Wherefore here is the Touch-stone of all Truth and there is no truth concerning God and our Saluation in Christ but in the Word our Sauiour himselfe bearing record Iohn 17. 17. Thy word is Truth Touching the outward instruments which it hath pleased him to vse in the deliuerie of this Word sometimes he spake by his owne voyce from Heauen sometimes by the Ministerie of his holy Angels But specially this outward Ministerie is either his owne which hee executed personally himselfe when hee was vpon the Earth described Esay 42. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7. in regard whereof he is called a Minister ſ Rom. 15. 8. The Minister of Circumcision and a t Esay 42. 1. Seruant or it is of his Seruants from the beginning of the World of whom hee saith He u Luke 10 16. that heareth you heareth mee and hee that reiecteth you reiecteth me Of whose Ministeries and Functions we shall haue cause to speake hereafter Therefore Christs Office of a Teacher did not first begin when hee tooke our flesh vpon him for his Spirit it was that spake in the Prophets long before hee came into the World as the Apostle beareth record 1. Pet. 1. 11. The forewitnessing Spirit of Christ that was in the Prophets declared the sufferings that should befall Christ and the glorie that was to follow And that which is in the Psalmes x Psal 95. 7. To day if ye will heare his voyce the Apostle y Heb. 3. 7. to the Hebrewes referreth to the voyce of Christ Thirdly I note the perfection of this Doctrine that Christ hath opened the whole will of his Father fully and perfectly in euery Age and neuer left his Church without a full and perfect direction of all things necessarie for their saluation for Moses saith z Deut. 30. 15. Behold I set before you this day life and death which hee could not haue said vnlesse there had beene a certaine direction to lead them vnto life And when hee chargeth a Deut. 4. 2. Not to adde to the words that he gaue them in Commandement nor to take from them doth it not prooue that the same was perfect Fourthly The subiect of the Word being Christ it is more particularly the Couenant made in him which by the Word is promulged and offered vnto all and his Spirit maketh effectuall to as many as receiuing the same by faith make themselues worthy of it The which Couenant being distinguished by the Old which being of the Old Testament was called The promise of the New The Gospell Testament and the New as before hath beene declared the publication of the Old Testament in and through Christ to come was called b Acts 13. 32. Gal. 3. 17. The Promise when hee was exhibited and come indeed that worthy and welcome Message was termed c Acts 13. 32. Marke 1. 1. The Gospell or good newes and glad tydings But it is the glory of Christs administration whether in his owne person when hee was among vs or by his and by the power of his Spirit Seruants that the outward dispensing of the Word is accompanied with an inward working of the Spirit of both which parts his Propheticall Office standeth herein differing from all other Ministers who onely preach the Word set d Mat. 3. 11. on the outward Element e 1. Cor. 3. 6. plant and water but the whole blessing doth come from him for he teaching openeth mens mindes e Luke 24. 45. that they may vnderstand the Scriptures and bestoweth other graces which the Word bringeth forth euen in the wicked by a generall working of his Spirit as we are taught by the f Mat. 13. 24. Parable of the Sower and haue g Marke 6. 20. Herod and the h Iohn 5. 35. Iewes for an example It followeth to speake of the Church That which we he draweth men to that Profession call Church signifieth in i 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Greeke a select companie gathered called culled picked out from other men In English it hath the name deriued from that which in Greeke signifieth k 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lord because they belong to Christ the Lord and are separate to his Seruice be it by an inward whereof commeth the word Church or as the Northerne pronounce Kirk or an outward separation But the outward Church is it which wee are to beginne withall which is in generall the whole number of men professing Christ Concerning which take these few
things First Grace is not vniuersall nor all doe not receiue it no not so much as the offer of Grace nor an outward calling Many l Mat. 20. 16. saith our Sauiour Christ are called he saith not all but many And so the m Mat. 22. 3 4 King which made a Marriage Dinner for his Sonne sent his Seruants to call not all but those that hee had called that is those whose names he had set downe in a Calender or Roll to bee his Ghests although of those also some n Ver. 11 12 13 were none of his Neither doth it hinder this which is said after o Ver. 9. Go into the high-wayes and bring in as many as ye shal find For the scope of the Parable sheweth that by those that were first bid are meant the Iewes into whose place came the Gentiles that before were alieus and strangers so that by calling of the Iewes onely at the first it is prooued that all men are not made partakers of the outward calling And this if wee had no word at all for it experience it selfe might teach vs for how many hath death ouer-taken in thier Cradles before they could bee called how many of riper yeeres doth darknesse couer that they neuer can see the Light Paul verily p Acts 14. 15. saying that in the ages passed God suffered all Nations to walke in their owne wayes sheweth how many Millions of soules haue perished that neuer heard of Christ But it is the glorie of Christs administration whether in his owne person when he was among vs or by his seruants that the outward dispensing of the Word is accompanied with an inward working of the Spirit of both which parts his Propheticall Office standeth herein differing from all other Ministers who onely preach the Word q Mat. 3. 11. set on the outward Element r 1. Cor. 3. 6. plant and water but the whole blessing doth come from him for he teaching ſ Luke 24. 45. openeth mens minds that they may vnderstand the Scriptures and bestoweth other graces which the Word bringeth forth not onely in his Children but euen in the wicked Secondly It is the instinct and motion of Gods Spirit that draweth a man to this Profession Gen. 9. 27. God perswade IAPHETH that hee may dwell in the Tents of SHEM for all the naturall Wisdome of the World is not able to leade vs by the hand to Christ nor to teach vs the knowledge of heauenly things I say not the sauing knowledge of Gods Elect but not so much as that outward knowledge and profession and those common graces which many of the Reprobates doe attayne vnto No man saith IESVS is the Lord but by the Spirit of God 1. Cor. 12. 3. that is the grace euen but outwardly to professe him is a worke of the Holy Ghost And so doth the Apostle there goe thorow the rest of the parts Gifts of knowledge Faculties and Ministeries All which he saith one and the same Spirit worketh And what need we much to labour herein when the very hiding of this sacred Doctrine so many yeeres from all the deepe and wise men of the Earth whilest the Iewes had it alone and at this day from so many famous Common-wealths and Kingdomes to whom wee are not superiour in Learning Wisdome or other Gifts shew that all the wit of the World cannot make vs so much as thinke one thought of Christ till God by his Spirit giue vs light And this which is the first and meanest of Gods fauours is yet a fauour not to bee contemned it being an excellent and a glorious thing to bee though but outwardly Professors of Christ for First Hereby they are seuered from Turkes Pagans and Heathen men and in name are become Christians for that title the t Acts 11. 26. Holy Ghost giueth to all Professors Secondly They are now receiued into the LORDS House and are said to bee within u 1. Cor. 5. 12 13 whereas all others What haue I to doe to iudge them that are without But those that are within doe you iudge But those that are without God will iudge that are not of the Church are said to bee without Thirdly Being members of the visible Church dwelling with and among them they are made partakers of many goodly graces and benefits which God powreth vpon his Church euen vpon the Reprobate and wicked for the Elects sake that are among them as the Psalmist saith that x Psal 29. 9. in his Temple hee vttereth all his Glorie The third thing is it sufficeth for the making of a Church if they bee Professors onely this being but a bare outward calling common to the Reprobate Fourthly They must bee Professors of Christ professing that in words the hauing whereof indeed maketh men truly Christians So the Apostle defineth it Ephes 1. 1. where in stead of naming the Church of Ephesus for to the outward Church he writeth hee vseth this Periphrasis to the Saints that are in Ephesus and to the faithfull in Christ Iesus and 1. Cor. 1. 2. To the Church of God which is in Corinth sanctified in Christ Iesus Saints by calling In regard whereof the same Apostle calleth Christ The foundation euen of the visible Church 1. Co. 3. 11. And this is the right Touchstone to examine al Churches by for what The Papists make three notes of the visible Church Antiquitie Vnitie Vniuersalitie most fondly and ridiculously when as all these are to bee found in the malignant Church in the most wicked assemblies societies Errors haue bin ancient as long as since the Apostles time for euen then the mystery of iniquitie began to worke 2. Thes 2. 7. 1. Iohn 5. 3. and then were there many Antichrists 1. Ioh. 2. 13 Theeues are as vnitie among themselues and so are the Deuils one with another else their Kingdome could not stand Mat 12 25. 26. And Reuel 17. 17. it is said that God put into their hearts with one consent to giue their Kingdome to the Beast As for Vniuersalitie that is so farre from being a certaine badge of the true Church that contrariwise Paul telleth vs when Antichrist shall be reuealed there must be a generall Apostasie and defection from the Truth 2. Thes 2. 3. And in the Reuel we reade that all the World went wōdring after the Beast worshipped the Beast and the Dragon that gaue him power Reu. 13. ◠4. Howbeit we say the Church of God is Catholike or Vniuersall but in a farre other sence then they meane by their vniuersalitie which they intend of a general spreading of itselfe without any great opposition to the contrarie in beautie and much brauerie and multitudes of men glittering and shining in the World whereas we say The true Church of Christ is Catholike or Vniuersall because it is not tyed to any one particular place or Countrie as sometimes among the Iewes it was but in euery Nation God hath those that
feare him and belong to his Election Not alwayes visible and to bee seene with the eye but members through faith of the true Catholike and inuisible Church of Christ The Papists which say the Church cannot erre Church soeuer in such sort professeth Christ as the members truely holding that they doe professe are thereby made members of the Mysticall Bodie of Christ the same what imperfections soeuer it haue beside and how vnsound soeuer it may bee in many parts yet it hath the heart and life of a Church otherwise it cannot bee said a Church For albeit the Church of God be not subiect to fundamentall errours that take away the life and being of a Church for then how could it bee any Church at all yet in other points not of manners onely but of Truth and Opinion it doth and may erre both particular Congregations the whole Church Vniuersall did not the whole Church of the Iewes erre And euen they that heard our Sauiour Christ so long when they dreamed of the Kingdome of the Messias to be an earthly y Acts 1. 15. Kingdome and that it should come in brauerie and ostentation And was it not the z Acts 10. 34. 11. 2. common errour of al the Church and of the Apostles themselues after his Ascension that they thought the Gentiles to be vncleane and that the Gospell pertayned not to them Fundamentall errours I call these two especially First When the Doctrine and Profession of the Gospell is corrupt in substance as the Papists doe corrupt it three manner of wayes First Denying Iustification by faith alone in the onely Merits of Christ and seeking to bee saued by their owne Merits or Righteousnesse for which cause the Apostle casteth off the Iewes Rom. 10. 3. and 11. 20. and threatneth asmuch to the Galatians Gal. 5. 2. If yee bee circumcised ioyning Circumcision or the workes of the Law together with Christ in the matter of Iustification Christ shall profit you nothing Secondly Denying the sole sufficient Sacrifice of Christ and setting vp in their blasphemous Masse a daily reall sacrifice of his bodie for the quick and the dead whereas Christs Sacrifice must either bee a perfect Sacrifice once for all neuer to be iterated nor repeated or else it is no Sacrifice at all as the Apostle teacheth at large in the Epistle to the Hebrewes Thirdly Denying the true and onely Head-ship of Christ by placing Antichrist in his roome which is a mayne and fundamentall Heresie not to hold fast the head Col. 2. 19. Secondly Idolatrie when the Worship of God is corrupted in the verie substance of it In which sort the old Church of the Iewes corrupting themselues a Exod. 32. 7. became no more the People of God and had their b Exod. 33. 3 7 11. Bill of Diuorce for it c Exod. 32. 30 31 32 33 34. till at Moses intercession vpon the publike Repentance of the people it pleased God to be reconciled to them And herein also the Papists doe offend as grieuously and more grossely then euer the Iewes did in worshipping of Images of Saints deceased and of their breaden god in that their Idolatrous Masse By all which it is euident that the Church of Rome is a corrupt and vnsound Church if a Church at all For touching the Sacraments and other holy things or rather the Prophanations of the same which are to bee found among them for in truth out of the Church there are not any Sacraments rightly administred they can no more make a true Church then the bare writing and setting to of a Seale can make a Deed without the parties deliuerie for God neuer deliuered his Sacraments to any out of his Church though they presume to take them and to set as it were his Scale to them And where the Apostle saith 2. Thes 2. 4. that Antichrist must sit in the Temple or Church of God hee meaneth that which once was the Church of God though now it bee not Like to the speech of our Sauiour Christ Mat. 24. 15. When you see the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place that is the place which once was holy whilest it was a figure of Christ and of his Church but so was it not when this which hee fore-telleth should come to passe But what are wee to doe in these cases Surely where the errour is dangerous and ouerthroweth the foundation wee are there to seuer our selues and to haue no fellowship with them as wee are taught in the case of erronious doctrine 1. Tim. 6. 3. If any man teach otherwise and consent not to the wholesome words of our Lord Iesus Christ and to the Doctrine which is according to Godlinesse he is puffed vp from such separate your selues Hee himselfe that taught this Lesson made no bones to practize it Acts 19. 9. When certaine men at Ephesus were hardened and disobeyed speaking euill of the way of God hee departed from them and separated the Disciples And the like he did at Rome Acts 28. 28. Of the other that is to say Idolatrie we haue a Commandement 2. Cor. 6. 14 15. 16 17. Bee not vnequally yoked with Infidels for what fellowship hath Righteousnesse with vnrighteousnesse or what communion hath light with darknesse or what concord hath Christ with BELIAL or what part hath the Beleeuer with the Infidell or what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols Wherefore come out from among them and separate your selues saith the Lord. So did the Priests and Leuites come to Iudah and Ierusalem to serue God when Ieroboam had set vp Idols in Israel 2. Chron. 11. 14. Worthily therefore in both these regards and by good warrant from the Word haue wee separated our selues from the Church of Rome as from a Strumpet and a Harlot not in any respect the true Spouse of Christ But for other blemishes or corruptions that onely stayne and disfigure the Church but strike not at the heart and roote there to make separation is a grieuous offence and the sinne of Schismatikes Fourthly Being but the Church of them that are called with an outward calling there are among them oftentimes many Hypocrites as the Apostle teacheth 1. Iohn 2. 1 19 They went out from vs but they were not of vs for if they had beene of vs they would haue abidden with vs. But this is to make it manifest that all are not of vs. Vpon all that hath beene said it followeth that the Church which now wee speake of is a Church visible I call it not visible as if the Church of GOD were alwayes to bee seene and knowne in the The errour of Poperie that would haue the Church of God to be alwayes visible in the World World for as the Moone is sometimes eclipsed sometimes at the full so the Church sometimes lifted vp aboue the Mountaines is other sometimes thrust into the Wildernesse c Reu. 12. 6. that no true Professors seeme to be remayning So 2.
to be preached Sacraments and other holy things to bee administred Here q Matth. 16. 19 therefore are the liuely notes and markes of a Church The Scripture stileth them by the name of the r Matth. 28. 19 20. keyes of the kingdome of Heauen The prime and principall is his Word whereof wee haue spoken already the Treasure of all heauenly Knowledge Å¿ Rom. 3. 2. This saith the Apostle to the Romans is the chiefe of those excellencies which the Iewes had aboue other men that vnto them were committed the Oracles of God Or as the t Hosh 8. 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Prophet speaketh the excellencies of the Law Wherefore Gods Word and Precepts Dauid doth many times call u Whereunto it seemeth Paul doth allude 1. Tim. 6. 20. 2. Tim. 1. 14 in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 things deposited In regard whereof the Church is said to bee x 1. Tim. 3. 15. the Pillar and Sâ—ate of Truth for the Truth of God is no where to be found but there It is Error Lies Superstition Deceit whatsoeuer coÌ„meth not from hence The Church onely is the golden Candle-sticke figured in the Law which holdeth vp the eternal Truth of God to giue light vnto all the World and there light is to be had when darkenesse couereth the whole face of the earth beside Preaching for the forme and manner of it is an Preaching is an instruction of the Church by liuely voice instruction by word of mouth opening and interpreting the Scriptures rendring the sense thereof drawing the doctrines that are to be gathered from them making vse and profit of it for the edification and building vp of our faith which the Apostle by a Metaphor from the Sacrifices of the Law calleth y 2. Tim. 2. 15. Cutting aright the Word of Truth It standeth not in the bare and naked reading of them And that you may see Nehe. 8. 8 9. where the people abiding in their standing the Leuites taught them the Law first reading it distinctly then rendring the sense by the Scripture it selfe So Luk. 4. 17 18 19 20 21. Our Sauiour comming into the Synagogue there was giuen him the Booke of the Prophet Esay which when he had vnfolded and read a portion of that Scripture he folded the Booke and gaue it againe to him that wayted and sate downe and the eyes of all in the Synagogue being fastened on him he began to say vnto them To day is this Scripture fulfilled in your eares And of this instruction by word of mouth it pleased God to make choyce rather than of reading for that it pierceth deeper into the heart and mind of man and more doth affect him and that through the blessing of God who vseth the zeale of the speaker for the quickning and putting of life into that which is spoken The argument matter or subiect must be of and concerning in the Word of Christ Christ by teaching our owne corruption and impotencie to fulfill the Law and therefore the necessitie wee haue to flye to him who is made vnto vs of God Righteousnesse Sanctification and Redemption that he that glorieth might glorie in the Lord. Wherein it differeth from the ministery of Moses or of the Law as the Apostle doth oppose them 2. Cor. 3. 6. Who also hath inabled vs to be Ministers of the new Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit So Rom. 1. 1 2 3 4. he sheweth He was called to be an Apostle and set apart to preach the Gospell of God concerning his Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord and Rom. 10. 8. This is that Word of faith that we preach In like sort it is said of Philip when he came downe vnto Samaria that he preached vnto them Christ Act. 8. 5. PETER also Act. 10. 43 44. declareth the sum of all that which he was charged of God to preach vnto the people to be this that by his Name should euerie one that beleeueth in him receiue forgiuenesse of sinnes * And that by Doctrine or Exhortation Doctrine in laying forth the Truth and confuting of contrary Errors Exhortation to apply it also to all good vses of comforting denouncing stirring vp reprouing The parts of this instruction of the Church are Doctrine and exhortation both comprehended Rom. 12. 7 8. Doctrine by laying forth the Truth and confuting of contrarie errours that so the puritie of faith may alwayes remayne sound and vncorrupt in the Church Exhortation which sharpeneth the Word and setteth an edge vpon it by applying the same and making vse of it as the necessitie of the people requireth And these two aptly answere to the two parts of the soule of man his minde or vnderstanding and his will and affections Both which by this meanes God prouideth for Sacraments or outward Signes and Seales of the Couenant A SacrameÌ„t is It hath the name Sacrament from the Militarie Oath that Souldiers tooke to doe faithful seruice to their Captaine for in like manner we in the Sacrament sweare our Allegeance to Christ and to fight vnder his Banner against the World the Flesh and the Deuill It is also called a Mysterie or hidden thing because beside the outward Signe there is somewhat inward and Spirituall In the definition of a Sacrament I obserue First They are outward and earthly things to bee seene and felt seruing for the helpe of our weaknesse which if wee were all Spirit we needed not Secondly They are Signes as it is said Gen. 17. 11. a Signe and Rom. 4. 11. The Signe of Circumcision PETER calleth them Types and Figures 1. Pet. 3. 21. Therefore they serue as badges to distinguish true Professors from Infidels and Heathen men and as Monuments to bring heauenly things to our remembrance So saith our Sauiour Christ Luke 19. 22. Doe this in remembrance of me And the Apostle to the z 1. Cor. 11. 26. Corinths As oft as yee eate this bread and drinke this Cup ye publish the Lords death till hee come Thirdly The end why God doth giue them is to be and Seale of the Couenant not Signes onely but Seales and Pledges for the perswasion of our hearts and to confirme and assure vnto vs those spirituall and heauenly things which alreadie wee haue and doe enioy that is to say Christ himselfe and consequently Iustification and Sanctification and withall Saluation through him as the Apostle teacheth Rom. 4. 11. After he receiued the Signe of Circumcision as a Seale of the Righteousnesse of the Faith which hee had when he was vncircumcised Acts 10. 47. Can any man keepe water away that these should not bee baptized which haue receiued the holy Ghost aswell as we From whence we gather a noble vse of the holy Sacraments proper to the faithfull for where the visible and outward Signe is common vnto all yet being to other but bare and naked Signes dead and fruitlesse Ceremonies that profit nothing because
the Apostle by this Argument condemneth those that in the Congregation pray in a strange Language there being none for to interpret it For then saith he how shall hee that supplyeth the place of an vnlearned man say Amen at thy giuing of thankes forasmuch as he knoweth not what thou sayest To the Ministers also belongeth the Administration of and Administration of the Sacraments the Sacraments for in that they haue power to deale with the Word it selfe the dispensation of those holy things which are but Seales and Pledges of the Word of the promises made in Christ cannot be denied them the Sacraments being as it were a visible Word in which respect they are said to haue a t Exod. 4. 8. voyce wherefore our Sauiour Mat. 28. 19. coupleth them together Teach all Nations baptizing them c. The Ministers of the Word being some of them extraordinarily Among the Ministers of the Word some haue bin extraordinarily inspired of Christ raysed vp of God other comming in by the ordinary calling of the Church in those of the former sort wee are specially to consider the Ministerie of certaine select persons inspired of GOD to deliuer the truth of Christian Doctrine both by word and writing which were the Prophets of the Old Testament and the Apostles of the New Whereupon wee are said to bee u Ephes 2. 21. built vpon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Iesus Christ himselfe being the head corner stone And Peter x 2. Pet. 3. 1. stirreth vp those to whom hee writes to remember the words spoken before of the holy Prophets and the Commandement of vs saith hee the Apostles of the Lord and Sauiour So it is said Reuel 21. 14. The wall of the Citie new Ierusalem had twelue foundations and vpon them the twelue names of the twelue Apostles of the Lambe And in that sence Peter and the rest may well bee taken to bee that y Mat. 16. 18. Rocke vpon which Christ doth build his Church In this point of the Propheticall and Apostolicall Ministerie I obserue foure things First That they spake and wrote by Diuine Inspiration for Prophesie in times past saith the Apostle 2. Pet. 1. 21. came not by the will of man but as they were mooued by the holy Spirit did the holy men of God speake And Paul z 2. Tim. 3. 16. to TIMOTHIE All Scripture is inspired of God and is profitable to teach c. Secondly The manner how they deliuered this Doctrine to deliuer both by liuely voyce which was in two sorts by liuely voyce or writing The liuely voyce was euer in the Church from the beginning to the death of the Apostles All which time there was almost no Age wherein at the least some holy man of God was not extraordinarily stirred vp to deliuer the Doctrine of Truth from the immediate mouth of God although there were many times intermissions as the Historie doth shew And the Church complayneth in the a Psal 74. Psalmes yea this Doctrine was oftentimes corrupted and adulterated but by new Reuelations restored againe and kept in the first Integritie In limiting the liuely voyce to the time of the Apostles it must not so bee taken as if the liuely voyce of the Ministers of GOD did not continue still in the Church but that is of Pastors and Teachers who are and alwayes were to fetch their light from the direction of the Prophets and Apostles it is not of extraordinarie men inspired of the Holy Ghost as the Prophets and Apostles were The reason why a liuely voyce continuing so long as from the beginning of the World vntill the Apostles time should cease with their death doth appeare Heb. 1. 1 2. where it is said that God in many pieces and after diuers fashions of old spake to the Fathers by the Prophets but in these latter dayes he hath spoken vnto vs by the Sonne For so long as the Word was deliuered but by parcels and that there remayned something still behind more cleerely and manifestly to be reuealed which was till he spake fully and lastly by his Sonne so long a liuely voice was necessarie wherewith euery new Reuelation doth beginne but longer there can be no vse of it for that should plainly argue that the Reuelation of the Mysterie of Christ by Christ himselfe were not yet perfect By writing they did deliuer it in the Canonicall and writing Bookes of the Old and New Testament which by way of excellencie wee call the Scriptures or the written Word begunne by Moses and continued during all the time before-mentioned euen to the death of the Apostles Those Bookes are in the Old Testament Genesis c. In the New Matthew c. As for the Bookes commonly called Apocrypha wee acknowledge therin many profitable things contayned and good for morall instruction especially in Ecclesiasticus and in the Booke of Wisdome and some things also necessarie for the vnderstanding of the Storie of the Church yet because they carrie not the print of Gods Spirit which the spirituall man discerneth they are not equalled or matched with the Scriptures And because in many of them flat vntruths and contrarieties may be found and in one and the same Storie contradictions with the true Storie penned by the Holy Ghost and in most of them diuers things either friuolous and absurd or manifestly false and forged or Doctrines taught and commended which the Word of God condemneth we cannot without impiety lift them vp into the Chaire of Truth Beside They were neither written in the Hebrew nor receiued of the Iewes b Rom. 3. 2. 9. 4. to whom were committed all the Oracles of God vnder the Old Testament But that those which we call Canonicall Scriptures were inspired of God is to be proued by arguments and reasons taken from the Bookes themselues As first the Maiestie of the Word in so great simplicitie and so familiar and plaine a stile so piercing and effecting the conscience which all the eloquence of the world and lay it all together is not possibly able to doe although there lacke not also eloquence in the Word but heauenly and diuine Secondly The harmony and consent of so many persons writing at seuerall times in seuerall places and ages of seuerall arguments and matters all iumping and concurring in one as led by one and the same Spirit Thirdly The holinesse of the matter it selfe not sauouring of the world but leading vs by the hand out and from aboue the world Fourthly The prediction of future things many hundred yea thousand yeeres before they came to passe which all fell out accordingly Fiftly The secret and hidden things there discouered which no wisdome of the earth no wit of man was able to reach vnto Some few sparkes whereof stollen from hence haue cast such a light in the writings of Heathen men as hath made them to seeme diuine Sixtly The faithfull and sincere dealing of the Pen-men whom
and the order of the Text must be respected Seuenthly We must conferre it with other places of the Scriptures the darke and obscure ones with those that are more lightsome Eighthly We must alwaies hold the analogie or proportion of faith neuer framing any exposition to our selues that altereth or declineth from that The fourth and last qualitie is that in euerie age the the whole Truth of Christ whole Truth of God was deliuered by a liuely voyce as touching the substance of the Doctrine although in greater cleerenesse vpon the comming of Christ then euer it was before and lastly and perfectly wherein we are now to rest both for their substance manner of reuelation it is fully and absolutely comprehended in the Scriptures So as we shall not need to flye eyther to Visions and Reuelations Anabaptists Libertines that bring in Visions and Reuelations as if the Word of God were imperfect or to mens Traditions and Inuentions Papists that supply it by mens Traditions and Inuentions Vnwritten Verities Sentences of Fathers Canons of Councels c. to Vnwritten Verities Sentences of Fathers Canons of Councels c. for to helpe vs but all is to be had in the written Word for when our Sauiour saith p Iohn 5. 39. Yee erre not knowing the Scriptures hee manifestly teacheth that all Truth is to bee learnt from thence And the q 2. Tim. 3. 15 16 17. Apostle commendeth the Scriptures as being able to make vs wise vnto saluation for the whole Scripture saith he is inspired of God and is profitable vnto Doctrine vnto Reproofe vnto Correction vnto Instruction which is in Righteousnesse that the man of God may be perfect perfectly fitted to euery good worke Which foure things comprehending all that can bee necessarie seeing the Word of God is able thorowly to furnish a Minister withall who is to disclose the r Acts 20. 27. whole counsell of God vnto the people it must needs be able to informe a Common Christian vnto saluation Iohn ſ Iohn 20. 31. also giueth this testimonie of the Scriptures that they are written to the end that beleeuing wee might haue euerlasting life And the Booke of the Reuelation hee shutteth vp with this most earnest protestation If any man adde to the words of the Prophecie of this Booke God will adde vnto him the seuen plagues written in this Booke and if any man take away from the words of the Book of this Prophecie God will take away his part of the Tree of Life c. Reu. 22. 18 19. Which if it be true in that one Booke alone how much more shall it hold in all the Bookes of the Scripture set together Fourthly In the Ministerie of the Prophets and Apostles and had power to worke Miracles for the confirming of their doctrine I obserue that they had the power of working Wonders for the confirmation and sealing vp of their Doctrine being innobled of God with a rare and Heroicall Spirit for the working of mightie and powerfull things As first touching the Prophets what great and wonderfull matters God wrought by their hands the Stories euery-where doe testifie when Elias as it were a pettie God could fetch t 2. Kings 1. fire from Heauen by his Prayer u 1. Kings 17. 1 Iames 5. 17 18. shut vp Heauen that no raine should fall but at his word as the Minister of the Lord before whom he stood and by his Prayers open them againe when those that escaped from the hand of Iehu * 1. King 19. 17 Elisha could cause to dye when x Exod. 4. Moses with his staffe was able to turne the waters into bloud c. The Apostles also haue their Commission in this behalfe recorded Marke 16. 15. Goe into all the World and preach the Gospell c. and these Signes shall follow them that doe beleeue In my Name they shall cast out Deuils they shall speake with new tongues they shall destroy Serpents and if they drinke any deadly thing it shall not hurt them vpon the weake they shall lay their hands and they shall be well And this is it which the Apostle saith to the Hebrewes y Heb. 2. 4. that God himselfe gaue testimony to the preaching of the Apostles both by Signes and Wonders and many powers or powerfull things and distributions of the Holy Ghost Wherefore Miracles wherewith it pleased God to grace the extraordinarie Ministeries Heresies and Errors The Papists which make Miracles a note of their Church are 2. wayes faultie First The Miracles they so bragge and boast of are false and fayned Secondly They vse their Miracles such as they bee to a wrong end for aduancing of erronious and lying doctrines and to shake the truth of the Gospell for confirmation whereof all Miracles ought to serue In which case their pretended Miracles though they should be admitted true are of no worth Deut. 13. 1 2 3 4 5. for the Truth of God shineth of it selfe so bright that no Miracles to the contrarie are of force to obscure it But added for confirmation as they were by Christ and his Apostles and by the holy Prophets they make the same more glorious of the Prophets and Apostles are All other Ministeries are to fetch their light from the Doctrine of those that were so inspired long since ceased neither could they nowadayes serue to any vse the truth being long agoe aboundantly confirmed by Christ and his Apostles Lastly all other Ministeries in the Church are and alwayes were to fetch Graces are Gifts for the discharge of those publike Functions their light from the Doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles that were so inspired To the Ministerie CHRIST hath added Gifts Gifts z 1. Cor. 12. 7. for profit as the Apostle speaketh that is for the Churches common good which is another of those rich endowments and necessarily coupled with the former for the Largesse of Christ vnto his Church had not beene so bountifull in the seuerall sorts of Ministeries vnlesse he had withall bestowed vpon them graces and abilitie to discharge the same for the glorie of God and edification of his people by giuing them knowledge to teach the Doctrine of Christ out of the Scripture by laying forth the Truth soundly and confuting of contrarie errours Wisdome to apply it also to all good vses of comforting casting downe stirring vp reproouing which in one word we terme exhorting and other the like graces for these also we haue not from our selues but all a 2. Cor. 3. 5. our sufficiencie to be Ministers of Christ vnto other is from God The Apostle calleth these kind of Gifts by the name of b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Graces that make men apt and fit for the worke of the Ministerie 1. Cor. 12. 4. 5 6. Now there bee differences of Graces but the same Spirit and there bee differences of Ministeries but the same Lord. And there bee differences of
and of edification one towards another Destroy not for meates sake the worke of God All things indeed are cleane but it is ill for the man that eateth with offence It is good not to eate flesh nor to drinke wine nor to doe any thing whereby thy Brother stumbleth or is offended or made weake To set downe therefore the cautions that are to bee giuen heerein and how and in what cases wee are so to bridle our Christian libertie The first caution is that it bee in things which GOD hath once restrayned for no Law of God nor rule of Charitie bindeth to forbeare meates or drinkes or other things which neuer were vnlawfull by the Commandement of God but by the vaine superstition of men that being but to giue strength and countenance to the doctrine of Deuils with which name the Apostle brandeth them 1. Tim. 4. 1. Secondly It must bee but to beare with our weake Brethren and for awhile t Act. 15 28 29 till they may be better informed of the libertie they haue in Christ it must not bee to nourish or strengthen men in euill nor when it tendeth not to edification but destruction So did u Act. 16. 3. Paul circumcise Timothy not as the Sacrament that God had once ordayned but as a bare Ceremonie and thing indifferent which he had free power to vse for the edification of the Church till the abolishing of Ceremonies by the comming of Christ were better knowne But x Gal. 2. 4 5. Titus he would in no sort circumcise when he saw he could not doe it without betraying the Truth of the Gospell and giuing occasion to the aduersaries against him The second step of our Soueraigntie renewed is the and deliuerance from the bondage of Satan setting vs free from the bondage and slauerie of Satan vnder whom we were held before in thraldome in a continuall feare of death as the Apostle teacheth Heb. 2. 14. 15. that by death he might abolish him that hath the power of death that is to say the Deuil and might set free from his tyrannie and dominion as many as through feare of death were all their life long subiect vnto bondage This was the first promise made in Paradise y Gen. 3. 15. The seed of the woman Christ and in him and by his power all those that are his shall bruise the head of the Serpent The third last is a noble priuiledge and prerogatiue This also as a noble accesse added thereunto that the holy Angels themselues are made Ministers for our good to Gods children ouer aboue all that Adā had that the holy Angels themselues are made Ministers for our good whereof there bee many most glorious promises in the Word Psal 91. 11. Hee will giue his Angels charge ouer thee to keepe thee in all thy wayes A fauour principally meant to Christ the Head of the Church and after him to all the faithfull Generally the Apostle to the z Heb. 1. 14. Hebrewes saith They are ministring Spirits sent forth for their sakes that are to inherit saluation And in the Psalme a Psal 34. 9. The Angell of IEHOVAH pitcheth his Tents round about those that feare him Hereupon our Sauiour calleth them our b Mat. 18. 10. See you despise not one of these little ones for I say vnto you that their Angels in Heauen doe alwayes behold the face of my Father c. Angels for first thorowout the course of our life they watch ouer vs to keepe vs in all our wayes that no euill should come vnto vs as it followeth in that c Psal 91. 12 13 Psalme and as wee are taught not onely by the Example of d Dan. 1. 3. Daniel for whose sake God sent his Angell to stop the mouth of the Lyons that they should not hurt him And of Shadrach e Dan. 3. 28. Meshach and Abednego deliuered by an Angell from the fury of the flame which the prophane King himselfe was driuen to acknowledge and of diuers others whose liues are registred in the Scriptures but beside by the manifold experience that euery one of vs hath in our selues in so many so wonderfull and so strange escapes whereof no reason can be assigned but the Angels watchfull attendance and garding of vs. Secondly In the houre of death they are about vs readie at the last gaspe to receiue our Soule and by their Ministerie to conuey it vp to Heauen for when Lazarus dyed f Luke 16. 22. He was carryed saith our Sauiour Christ of the Angels into ABRAHAMS bosome The right whereby wee haue this is because being seruants vnto Christ who is the Head consequently they are to serue the faithfull which are his members The excellencie of their seruice the Scripture commendeth vnto vs by diuers arguments First By their nature qualified and made fit for it in that they are Spirits Secondly By their rule and soueraigntie being themselues called Thrones Dominions Principalities Gouernments Chiefe Princes c. And what a thing is it then to haue so great Princes attending on vs Thirdly By their power able to throw downe whatsoeuer doth withstand them Whereof among many other we haue a famous Example of one Angell that in one night slue one hundred fourescore and fiue thousand of the Assyrians Campe 2. Kings 19. 25. Fourthly By their Glorie to terrifie and amaze our Aduersaries as we reade in MATTHEW The g Mat. 28. 3 4. Angell of the Lord came downe from Heauen whose countenance was like lightening and his garment white as snow for feare of him the Keepers were smitten and became as dead men Fiftly By their Wisdome and Knowledge Sixtly By the place where they dwell being in Heauen and therefore haue all aduantages to doe vs good Seuenthly By the multitude and number of holy Angels which maketh not a little for the strengthening of our Faith for euen among men A h Eccles 4. 12. threefold cord is not easily broken When i Gen. 32. 1 2. Iacob went on his way to returne into his Countrey as God had commanded him the Angels of God met him euen a whole Armie and troope of Angels in so much as hee called the name of the place Machanaima a payre of Armies his owne and the Angels Armie So in k Luke 2. 13. Luke it is said that there was with the Shepherds a multitude of an heauenly Armie In the l Psal 68. 17. Psalmes They are named many thousands of Angels And to the m Heb. 12. 22. Hebrewes Myriades that is ten thousands of Angels n Dan. 7. 10. DANIEL also reckoneth a thousand thousand standing before the Ancient of dayes By this Argument o 2. Kings 6. 15 16 17. Elisha the man of God incourageth his Seruant when seeing the Companies and troopes of men that compassed the Citie and Horses and Chariots hee cryed out Alas Master what shall wee doe To whom ELISHA said Feare not for there
the Angels that fell the Apostle saith z 1. Cor. 5. 1. Know ye not that wee shall iudge the Angelâ— a Iude verse 6. The angels that kept not their first estate hee hath kept in euerlasting chaines vnder darknesse vnto the Iudgement of the great Day Secondly Who shal be the Iudge Euen Christ who Christ b Acts 10. 42. is appointed of God the Iudge of the liuing dead Christ Iesus I say God and Man appearing in his Man-hood visible to be seene in the flesh c Acts 17. 31. For hee hath set a Day saith PAVL wherein hee will iudge the World in Righteousnesse by the Man whom hee hath appointed The Father nor Holy Ghost shall not appeare Thirdly The comming of this Iudge Wherein I obserue comming to Iudgement foure circumstances First The place from whence hee shall come as wee reade This d Acts 1. 11. IESVS who is taken vp from you into Heauen shall so come from Heauen as yee haue beheld him going into Heauen e 2. Thess 1. 7. When the Lord IESVS CHRIST shall be reuealed from Heauen with his mightie Angels f 1. Thess 4. 5. The Lord himselfe with a showting shall come downe from Heauen Secondly The time of his comming the Day and houre whereof is vncertaine g Mat. 24. 36. Of that Day or houre saith hee knoweth no man no not the Angels of Heauen but my Father onely and as another h Marke 13. 32 Euangelist hath it nor the Sonne himselfe meaning as hee is the Mediatour of his Church and not as hee is God equall with his Father Thirdly As earthly Princes haue sundry States to goe before them in great brauerie and ostentation to giue warning of their comming and at length followeth the Prince with all his Nobles So this King of Kings sendeth before him certayne glorious signes and foretokens of his Comming before hee himselfe doe come These Signes you shall finde all recorded Mat. 24. of which Chapter so much thereof as appertayneth to this purpose it shall not bee amisse before wee goe further to make some short Analysis or resolution both for the excellencie of the matter and to cleere some difficulties in the passage for I know it is commonly taken that some of those tokens are immediately vpon his Comming and as it were at his setting forth whereas the truth is the very neerest of them is at the least some Age of yeeres before as appeareth Verse 33 34. To come therefore to the foure and twentieth of Matthew our Sauiour hauing finished the Signes of Ierusalems ouerthrow in the first 22. Verses of the Chapter beginneth in the 23. Verse to enter vpon those that were to fore-runne his Comming vnto Iudgement whereof hee mentioneth foure of all other the greatest and most memorable The first is the Kingdome of Poperie where see how hee painteth out the Romish Synagogue euen in her colours First It is a Church in shew and semblance else false christs and false prophets could not be spoken of but yet in truth it is no Church at all For if any man saith he shall say vnto you Lo heere is Christ or there beleeue it not Secondly They shall say Here is Christ and there is Christ. Notably verified in the Popish Masse which to make it appeare to all the World that they are of the number of these false prophets proclaymeth Christ to be really in the Sacraments Thirdly It is a persecuting Church So he saith Verse 29. Immediately after the affliction of those dayes Therein comprehending the whole Antichristian Tyrannie Fourthly Of this Church Antichrist is the head whose whole succession he termeth False christs and false prophets Not such false christs as hee speaketh of with another manner of style Verse 5. which should say I am Christ falsly belying his very Person but that great seducer and false prophet who vnder the Name of Christs Vicar and Peters Successour should iustle Christ out of his Chaire Fiftly The Armes Legges and Shoulders of it or the Tayle rather for the Sting and Poyson of these Scorpions is in their Tayle are a Rabble of false teachers False prophets as he termeth them Sixtly By these false teachers are wrought a multitude of false and fayned miracles Seuenthly The bodie is their Romish catholike apostaticall Church seduced by such false teachers and by those lying signes and miracles How maruellously doe these things iumpe with that which we finde recorded in the Epistle to the Thessalonians and by Iohn in the Reuelation They shall saith Christ heere worke great Signes and Wonders insomuch as they should deceiue if it were possible the very Elect. So saith i 2. Thess 2. 9 10 11. PAVL Whose comming shall be by the effectuall working of Satan with all power and signes and lying wonders and with all deceitfulnesse of iniquitie in them that perish c. Therefore God shall send them effectuall errours to beleeue lyes And in the k Reuel 13. 12 13 14. Reuelation he maketh the Earth and the Inhabitants thereof to worship the first Beast and worketh great signes insomuch as he maketh fire come downe from Heauen vnto the Earth before men and deceiueth the Inhabitants of the Earth by the signes which were giuen to him to doe These are the signes and wonders which the Papists so bragge of and make one speciall marke of their Church as Vniuersalitie that is their vniuersall Apostasie here also mentioned is another These seuen are in the 23. and 24. Verses Eighthly The errour and superstition of the times placing all Religion and Christianitie in the Wildernes among the Eremites or in their Monkish Cels and Cloysters Against which hee armeth vs with a double argument first l Verse 27. The Light saith he of the Gospell that he meaneth by the Comming of the Sonne of Man as it is taken much in the same sence 2. Thes 2. 8. is as the Lightening which flasheth from the East to the West and lighteneth all the World So doth the Gospell not the Desarts and Cloysters onely but in euery place He that feareth God and worketh Righteousnesse is accepted of him Againe as the m Verse 28. Eagles or with vs Crowes and Rauens flock vnto a Carcase wheresoeuer it may be found So doe the faithfull to Christ wheresoeuer hee n Gal. 2. 2. by the preaching of the Gospel is crucified before their eies And so ninthly and lastly deliuering a most certayne and infallible note of the true Church hee giueth a Bill of Diuorce to the Romish Synagogue that holdeth not Christ the Head nor Iustification by Faith alone in his bloud Thus haue wee in the whole a liuely description of the Romish Catholike Church which for the ROMANISTS better helpe may out of this place bee defined thus The Romish Catholike Church is a cruell persecuting Church whereof Christs Vicar falsly so named is the head multitude of false teachers and a whole World of mis-beleeuers