workemanship is prescribed by God himselfe whose diuine wisedome knowing what was in man would not leaue any thing to his braine-sicke if not braine-lesse inuentions namely First the Arke or Shippe of Noah Secondly the Arke or Tabernacle of Moses Thirdly the Temple of Salomon First Touching the Arke of Noah it was prouided for the preseruation of Gods Family which was the Church in the posteritie of Noah by Gods appointment only vnforeseene by the Patriarch himselfe and vnthought of by the rest of the world which were iustly destinated to destruction yet the making of the Arke is in all things prescribed by Almighty God p Gen. 6. 14 15 16. the Timber of Pine Trees gopher the Rabbines pitching within and without the length the breadth and height the windowes doore and seuerall roomes how to bee framed and placed Secondly the Arke or Tabernacle of Moses is appointed of God who ordered the worke and furnished the workemen with meete giftes for performance thereof q Exod. 25. 10 c. 26. pertotum 31. 2. to 10. the matter the forme the instruments the bars the pinnes the couerings the Snuffers the Priests garments and euery thing set downe at large r Heb 8. 5. by God himselfe for the place of his dwelling among his people for howsoeuer hee filleth Heauen an Earth with his presence yet his speciall residence is in his Church which is said to be Å¿ Psal 132. 5. 13 14. his habitation where hee will dwell for euer and hath a delight therein to conuerse with men there is his mercy seate t 1. Kin. 6. 13. and thence he giueth his Oracles and manifesteth himselfe and his will vnto the Church and Moses is very diligent in â—e ample discription thereof â—nd whatsoeuer appertained to â—he seruice of God therein â—hich was brought by Dauid â—fter he was setled in his Kingâ—ome with great solemnitie â— first to the house of Obed-Edom u 2. Sam 6. who was mightily blessed by Gods presence there and afterwards to his owne house in the Citie of Dauid Thirdly when Salomon would build a Temple and instead of a wandring Arke w 1. King 5. 5. 6. 2. 3. would haue a setled Seate for Gods habitation and exercise of Religion x 8. 4. hee brought the Arke and placed it as a Sacrament of Gods presence in his Temple which was an other illustrious and last figure of the Church of God in building whereof what soeuer God himselfe prescribed was most precisely obserued both for the matter and forme thereof and with what magnificenses and curiositie it was performed how mystically euery part was framed to represent Christs Church and spirituall Temple by a King of Peace for a King of Peace and to direct to the Kingdome of Peace is at large to be read in the holy History which is the most warrantable rule for vs to proceede by to square out our Church gouernours and gouernment and all variation from it is an aberration from the truth which is the chiefe pillar of Religion in the house of God Vse 1 And thus wee haue found out the chiefe Master builder which is Christ I will build saith he and the same is also y 1 Cor. 3. 11. the foundation of the building z 10. 4. the Rock and a 1 Pet. 2. 6 c. Corner-stone as he b Hebr. 9. 14. was the Priest and oblation the c 10. 8 12. sacrificer and the sacrifice so hee is d Eph. 1. 22 23 the head of the Church which is his mysticall body and in him wee grow together and are ioyned to him to be the members of his body and with him to be made e 1 Cor. 3. 16. 6. 19. a liuing and holy Temple for the habitation of God through the Spirit Vse 2 This also doth teach vs the excellency of Christ aboue the Church which is built by him and on him as the chiefe foundation and hath f Apoc. 19. 13 to name the word of God and is g 1 Pet. 1. 25 Math. 24. 25. of euerlasting continuance and endureth for euer though Moses was a most excellent workeman in building the Typicall Tabernacle yet he was but a part of Gods house but Christ is the builder h Hebr. 3. 3. which hath more honour then the building and let the Spouse hearken obey the voice of her Bridegroome and then wee will obey her the Apostles required no greater obedience of the Churches then i 1 Cor. 11. 1. to follow them as they followed Christ Note 2 Build the Church is compared to a building the nature of which metaphor shall the morâ— plainely bee expounded by shewing what resemblance therâ— is betweene the Church of God and a house or building First the Metaphor of building denotateth vnto vs the order which ought to bee in the Church for edification thereof for it sufficeth not to heape vp stones and timber in a confused manner but to hew and square them out to compact them strongly togither and to frame it in comly order for the God of order and therefore the Apostle requireth of teachers k 2. Tim 2. 15. that they diuide the word of God aright for Gods vnder-builders are euer noted for skillfull worke-men indued with wisedome to pollish and perfect the workemanship which they vndertake as was liuely and figuratiuely represented in the builders of the of the materiall Tabernacle and Temple as namely l Exod. 31. 1 2 3 4 5. 6. Bezaleel Aholiab m 1. King 7 9 13 14. Hiram and such like skilfull workmen Secondly as Salomons Temple was n Iohn 2 20 fortie and sixe yeares in building so o Ephes 4 11 12. the Church of God is not hastily raised vp but ariseth by degrees vnto perfection and as we say in a common Prouerbe Rome was not built in a day so hee that beleeueth must not make haste to thinke he is a true member of Gods Church by participation of Sacraments but by profiting and proceeding in the knowledge of the Word of God p 2. Pet 3. 18. There is a growing in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ and the Prophet Ezekiel in a Vision describeth the increasing of the graces of the Church q Ezek. 47 2. c. by a vision of waters which first came to the ancles then to the knees c. and Christ himselfe implyeth so much in the Parable of the Mustard-seed which being r Math. 13. 31. little at first groweth to a Tree wherein Birdes build their Neasts Thirdly as in a building the stones and timber must be hewen squared and made fit to ioyne not onely to the foundation but one to another so in Gods Church the members of Christs body are not onely required to be vnited with their Head but knit together in vnitie amongst themselues Å¿ Ioh. 13. 34 85 15. 12 17 1 Iohn 3. 23.
were held of Christ are not the misdeemings or misreports of enemies or persons euil affected either towards his person or Doctrine but such as had religious thoughts of him and esteemed him no lesse then a Prophet Doct. So as wee may see what a cloud of darknesse had ouerwhelmed all Iudea at that time till Christ shined as a light from aboue to illuminate their minds in the vnderstanding of their Prophesies which were read amongst them and that as malice had mufled the mouthes of many that they would not so the vaile of ignorance had blinded the more and better part that they could not see the Sunne which so clearely shined vnto them as at noone day Some wee know were enemies l Math. 26. 4. and fought to kill him some said m Iohn 8. 48. hee was a Samaritanâ— and had a Deuill some reproached him for a n Math. 11. 19. Glutton a drinkeâ— of wine and a friend vnto Publicans and sinners Yea the Rulerâ— of the people accused him for â— troubler of the State seditious and an enemy vnto Casar Some spake more blasphemously accounting him no better then a Coniurer or a Witch o Math. 12. 24. that cast out the weaker Deuils through Beelzchub the Prince of Deuils The Disciples I say spake not of these but of the better sort of people which thought and spake honourably of Christ and yet you see how these are diuided some of one opinion some of another and not one of a right iudgement Vse 1 To teach vs not to maruell if amongst Professors of any Religion there fall out many times differences in opinion neither ought it to be any cause to make Christians to doubt of or to depart from the truth It were exâ—reame folly to forsake the truth of God and our profession of Religion till all parties disagreeing were reconciled if Corâ—elius and other Disciples had so â—ayd and so stayed till all the Sects and Professors of the Iewish Religion had consented in all poynts they should haue stayed long enough irrelegious Vse 2 And therefore wee may safely reprooue and condemne the Neuters of our age whereof there are not a small number but the greatest part who because there are some differences amongst Professors doe thereby take occasion to professe no Religion at all and so become meerely Academicall Atheists especially our Popelings stumble much at this stone or rather at this straw and yet swallow greater Camels Obiect They challenge vs to be of diuers Sects and Opinions some Caluinists others Lutherans some Zwinglians and others Hughgonites yea they lay vnto our charge fayned disagreements without any difference except it be in this that euery one striueth to come furthest from their Popery and trumperies Sol. 1 But admit there were some differences of opinion amongst some of our Protestant professors was it not so in Christes time as heere wee see and in the Apostles time when one said p 1 Cor. 3. 4. hee held of Paul another of Cephas another of Apollos And yet they did not teach or hold any diuersities of doctrines q Gal. 2. 11. though Paul reprooued Peter to his face for dissimulation in his course of proceeding from true Religion How were the Doctours of the Primitiue Church diuided the East against the West about the matter of Leauened Bread and the celebration of Easter In euery Councell almost alteration of Decrees Creedes and Confessions and yet none of them erring in any materiall poynts of Faith but beggerly Traditions which the Romish Bishops chiefly contend for Sol. 2 But to bee short let the Papistes forbeare to complaine of our disagreements till they come to a better concord among themselues whereof they are witnesses which are any way acquainted with their Schoole-mens Disputes How doe the followers of Scotus and Thomas Aquinas differ about merit of Congruitie and Condignitie as also concerning Originall sinne in the Virgin Mary How differ the Canonistes and the Schoole-men about Auricular Confession these holding it to be the Ordinance of God they onely the Tradition of men How farre doth Pigghyus differ from Cajetan Thomas from Lumbart Scotus from Thomas Occam from Scotus Aliensis from Occam the Nominalls from the Realls What differences shall we finde amongst their Fryers and Monkes some placing holinesse in eating Fish others Hearbes some in a Linnen garment some in a Woollen some will bee of the Order of Preaching some of the disorder of Begging Fryers some Shod some Barefoot some White some Blacke some Gray Fryers What Orders of Augustines Dominicans Franciscans Carmelites and Iacobines Let them bethinke themselues how they differ in the matter of that high Mysterie of the Sacrament of the Altar as they call it some thinke the Body of Christ is naturally and really in the Sacrament others deny it some say it may bee eaten in the hoast by Ratts and Mice and therefore dispute what shall bee done with them when they are taken others are ashamed of that absurdity and as flatly deny it Thus if the Papistes duely considered the differences amongst vs they shall find them fewer in number and smaller in qualitie then are the differences amongst their owne Popish professors at this day I confesse there may bee and haue beene alwayes some differences in the purest Churches and the Lord will thereby haue vs tryed that the truth may be the better knowne Wheat and Darnell may grow both in one field and so may errours spring vp together with the Gospell Christ was the only signe of peace and concord yet when hee came amongst the Iewes there were diuersities of opinions concerning him for some said he was Iohn Baptist some Elias c. it followeth in the next verse Hee said vnto them But whom say ye that I am Verse 15. The Context was layd downe before from whence many profitable instructions arise to bee considered of as first the difference that Christ maketh and is generally to bee made of the diuersities of his Auditors and their distractions for whatsoeuer the vulgar and multitude spake of Christ hee stayeth not vpon them but conuerteth his speech to the Apostles which had beene alwayes conuersant with him and trained vp in the knowledge of the Scriptures and Prophesies and of them especially hee requireth a more setled Iudgement and solid Account of knowledge r Luke 12. 48 For vnto whomsoeuer much is giuen of him shall bee much required and to whom men commit much the more of him will they aske And though there bee many Gods and many Faiths in the world as then there was yet to vs there is but one true God and one Faith into which we are all baptized the Rule therefore is true and certaine Doct. That euery mans hope of Saluation consisteth in his owne implicit and not an others implicit Faith according to that of our Sauiour Å¿ Mark 9. 50. Haue Salt in your selues And as we may not thinke it safe or excusable for vs to
erre or to doe euill with a multitude so neither can that Popish paradox be any warrant vnto vs that we should beleeue as the Church beleeueth except wee know the grounds of the Churches Beleefe much lesse can a generall conceit of the common multitude which is commonly full of phantasie and errour rather then truth and iudgement settle vs in any peace of Conscience touching our hope and saluation in and by Christ Vse 1 The first vse serueth for reprehension I know it is an vsuall fault of most men that they had rather erre in a generall opinion which they haue phantasied then to seeke out what is the most certaine and constant truth which they should imbrace for their owne benefit health and saluation wee are most of vs therein too ready to imitate Peter which being required by Christ to testifie his louing him more then others as hee protested by doing more duty then others but he asketh t Iohn 21. 21. 22. What Iohn shal do And so many think they make a good Apology for themselues to maintaine their errours if they can auouch one Doctor or Authour or the generalitie of the people to hold such opinions But u Heb. 2. 4. the Just shall liue by his faith that is by his owne faith And the Exorcists were rightly disgraced by the Deuill which mocked their coniurations in the name of Iesus whom Paul preached w Acts. 19. 15. 16. the euill Spirit knew Iesus to bee the powerfull Sonne of God and Paul his faithfull Seruant and Minister but what was that to them which neither knew nor followed the Doctrine of Iesus and Paul hee easily preuayled against such professors and tare them in pieces vse 2 Wee should euer therefore heare this voyce of Christ sounding in our eares Whom say yee that I am This Peter himselfe obserueth and afterwards deliuered it as a Rule to others with which I will conclude the point x 1. Pet. 3. 15. Bee readie alwayes to giue an answere to euery man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you Text. Whom doe yee say that I am Obserue heere hee doth not say Quem creditis but quem dicitis Whom doe ye beleeue but Whom say ye that I am Not that faith is not required but that it is not sufficient to beleeue vnlesse they also confesse Christ and herein there is another Doctrine of Christ and of his Apostles commended vnto vs namely Doct. That what wee haue beleeued wee must also make confession thereof According to that of the Apostle y Rom. 10. 10. With the heart man beleeueth vnto righteousnesse anâ— with the mouth man confesseth vnto saluation Implying that the way to bee saued is to beleeue with the heart that we are saued onely by Christ and to confesse the same before the world Vse 1 The first vse serueth to crosse two contrary opinions and practises of some First of such which thinke it sufficient to keepe their consciences vnto themselues and dissemble both with God and man as hypocrites Neuters and Nulli fidians Secondly others as afterwards was exemplified in Peter himselfe z Math. 26. 22 33 34 70 7â— 74. who professed more loue and zeale to Christ then any other of his Disciples but in time of temptation his faint heart fayled him and hee fell more grieuously then any other of the Christian Professors and the offence was the greater because his Lord and Master had forewarned him and the rest of his Disciples and giuen them speciall precepts and cautions a Math. 10. 32 33. beware of denying or not confessing him before men lest hee should iustly deny them before his Father in heauen which yet not onely Nicodemus b Iohn 9. 22. 12. 42. and other faint-hearted Disciples did lest they should be excommunicated for the profession of Christ c Math. 26. 56. but Peter and all the rest forsooke him when hee went to his Passion and was conuented before the Rulers of the Iewes and Gentiles Vse 2 Hast thou faith then testifie thy faith by thy confession and for thy better direction note this distinction Confession of Christ is not onely Verball but Reall for to confesse him with thy mouth and to deny him in thy deeds is the worst deniall of all for it is a manifest abnegation of his power and goodnesse Our blessed Sauiour the paterne of all humilitie beeing sometimes demaunded to confesse of himselfe what hee was whether the Messias or the Prophet d Act. 3. 24. to whom all the Prophets from Samuel to that time gaue witnesse he chose rather to confesse and witnesse himselfe to bee Christ by his workes then by his words and therefore in the sight of such as were sent to inquire of him a Confession what he was he did many great works which no other but Christ could doe agreeably to the Prophesie of Isaiah e Isai 61. 1 c. Opening the eyes of the blinde the eares of the deafe the mouthes of the dumbe and raysing the dead f Math. 11. 2. 3 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Luc 7. 21. 22. Iohn â— 3. 6. and then concludeth that his workes testifie of him what he was and they that would not beleeue his wordes should yet beleeue him for his workes sake The testimony of the life is stronger then of the lippes and workes haue their eloquence in the silence of the tongue vse 3 Lastly seeing our Sauiour exacteth iustly an Account and Confession of the Apostles proficiencie what they had attained vnto aboue others in the knowledge of him it conuinceth the ignorance and backwardnesse of Seraphicall Doctors which not only professe to haue learned but to haue taught the sacred Theology concerning the Dignitie Authoritie and Offices of Christ when they shall find many of inferiour degrees of Learning onely professing themselues Schollers and Learners and not Masters and Teachers which yet in soundnesse of knowledge and practise of pietie shall out-strip and runne before these Church-Rabbins When g Iohn 3. 4 4. 5 10. Nicodemus a Doctor in Israel is palpably blind in the doctrine of Regeneration which the sinfull Canaanite Marie Magdalen and other silly women the followers of Christ h Iohn 7. 40. both knew and practised more then they i Act. 18. 25 26 yea Aquila and Priscilla which were Tent-makers and Mechanicks could instruct the eloquent Preacher Apollos to vnderstand more perfectly the Mysteries of Religion concerning Christ Now omitting many other obseruations which might bee drawne out of this Context and the reasons which mooued many not so freely to confesse Christ as they ought Let vs looke into that Confession which Peter in the name of the rest maketh who was not restrained with vulgar errour or feare as those which hauing k Act. 13. 27. the Prophets dayly read amongst them yet were blinded with wilfull ignorance in misapplying them or stumbled at that stone of Authoritie and Greatnesse of men that they
excused themselues thereby saying l Iohn 7. 48. Doth any of the Rulers or of the Pharisees beleeue on him Or because they held him of poore parentage or degree m â—ohn 6. 42 Math. 13 55. Ioseph the Carpenters sonne n Iohn 7. 41. or was of a base countrey of Galilee whence is no mention made of any Prophet to arise and yet the Prophets figuratiuely poynt him out to bee a o Matt. 2. 23. Nazarite Peter not staying vpon any of these Pharisaicall phantasies or vulgar reasons confesseth plainely as hee had beene taught and both heard and seene the manifold and manifest Signes of his Messiahship Thou art saith hee the Sonne of the liuing God verse 16. This Confession is very excellent for Christ could not haue been a Sauiour nor Mediatour betweene God and man except hee had beene God and man the Sonne of God and the sonne of man as the Prophet fore-named him p Isai 7. 14 Immanu-el God with vs q 9. 6. and the Mightie God and as the Angell informed the blessed Virgin Mother that hee should be called r Math. 1. 23. Immanu-el Å¿ Luc. 1. 32. 35. and the Sonne of the most High and the Sonne of God This is not Blasphemie as the Iewish Rulers charged him and thought him therefore worthy of death t Math. 26. 64. 65. that being a man he made himselfe the Sonne of God and the Apostle truely auoucheth that therein u Phil 2. 6 7. Christ committed no robbery who being God by nature equall to his Father humbled himselfe to bee made man and thereby his manhood was exalted and hee became 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a man-God though the Popish error cannot hereby stand that the Virgin Mary was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a bearer or mother of his Godhead w Luc. 1. 35. Which was the worke of the holy Ghost Thus Peter confessing him to be Christ that is the Messiah the annoyted of God briefely implyeth and compriseth all his offices of King Priest and Prophet a King to conquer by his power and rule by his prouidence a Priest to offer sacrifice of attonement for the sinnes of the people and a Prophet to reueale the secret mysteries of God vnto vs x Psal 2. 6. 8. 24. 8. a King to subdue all his and our enemies Satan Sinne and Death y Hebr. 2. 17. a Priest yea an high Priest to reconcile vs to God and to mediate betwixt God and vs and a Prophet to teach Gods diuine doctrine which is a most holy reuelation not onely answerable vnto but excelling all the old prophesies which were foulded vp in much obscuritie in comparison of that great Light which hath shined vnto vs in the face of Doctor Fownes in his Trisagion Master Downeham in Modell of Diuinitie Christ Of which particular Offices because learned Professors of our Church haue amplyfied more at large I more lightly passe ouer onely a word or two of these words wherein is noted that speciall relation of Christ vnto God his Father The Sonne of the liuing God Vers 16. God is the Father of Christ as God by Generation being Father by nature vnto the second Person begetting him of his owne Substance before all time And heere let vs a little consider the wonderfulnesse of this generation manifested in three respects wherein this generation differs from all others First In all other generations the Father is first in being and before the Sonne but in this generation there is an equalitie of time for we haue an eternal Sonne of an eternall Father Obiect If any shall obiect that saying of the Psalmist z Psal 2. 7. Thou art my Sonne this day haue I begotten thee which may seeme to imply a begetting of the Son in Time Answ I answer this day implies the certainety of generation not the time when he was begotten which was from eternitie though manifested to the world in time 2. In this heauenly generation the Father doth communicate his whole nature and Essence vnto the Sonne and yet retaines the whole nature and Essence in himselfe which is a mystery very strange and admirable and differing from all other generations for in all earthly generations nature is diuided part being communicated to the sonne and part retained still in the Father Thirdly An earthly father hauing a locall body and circumscribed begets a sonne extra se foorth of himselfe but Almighty God being euery where and filling euery place begets a Sonne intra se within himselfe not without because there is no place without him And so much bee spoken concerning this so pregnant answer of Peter to the question of his Lord and Master which so summarily compriseth whatsoeuer is to be beleeued of Christ touching our saluation Let vs now insist vpon our Lord and Sauiours approbation of his Disciples confession and profession of him And Jesus answered and sayd to Verse 17. him Blessed art thou Simon the sonne of Ionas for flesh and blood hath not reueyled it vnto thee but my Father which is in heauen Verse 18. And I say also vnto thee That thou art Peter and vpon this Rock I wil build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not ouercome it c. These words I say containe Christes approbation of Peters Confession which was not so honourable for Christ to heare as it was blessed for Peter to speake who is therefore pronounced Blessed Peter for his blessed profession blessed Simon for hearing and obeying as the name importeth his blessed Master his blessed Gospell and no doubt he was a man of good note euen from his memorable Parents which the holy Gospell hath registred and Christ vouchsafeth to haue recorded Bar-Iona the Sonne of Iona or Ioanna which significantly importeth the Grace Gift or Mercy of the Lord as in truth it was Gods great grace gift and mercy to giue such religious Parents a sonne such a a Galat. 2. 9. pillar of Religion in the house of God and it is not without a Mystery that Christ doth thrise remember him at one time by that name b Iohn 21. 15. 16 17. Simon Bar-Iona the name of Simon was giuen him at his Circumcision and Bar-Iona for a name of distinction from others of that name as also to signifie that his Parents were of good note pedigree among the Iewes and the name Peter is peculiarly giuen vnto him by Christ c Iohn 1. 42. after he was called to be an Apostle Cephas and Peter signifying one thing d 1 Pet. 2. 5. a Stone or a Rocke alludeth vnto his confession of the chiefe Corner Stone and the Rocke whereupon the Church is builded e Isai 28. 16. Math. 21. 42. Psal 118. 22. which is Christ So not Peter but the faith of Peter and confession thereof concerning Christ procured him that blessing and blessed name of Peter à Petra of the Rocke which he confessed Not which his
nobis indeed but Iack-an-apes to a man what should we multiply profes in so plaine a matter to proue them k Math 7. 15. wolues in sheepes cloathing making hauocke of the flocke hauing l Gal. 1. 8. another Gospel than Paul or Peter taught and therefore accursed other Mediators besides Christ and aboue to command him and so much derogating and abasing the dignitie and authority of Christ m 1. Tim. 2. 5. Heb. 12. 24. 7 25. Iohn 10. 7 8 our sole Mediator Intercessor and Sauiour that plainely pointeth and painteth them out to be Antichrists Note All this while we dispute of the works of the vssible Church wherein notwithstanding may be Wheate and Chaffe Sheepe and Goates true Professours and Hypocrites but the inuisible Church hath her inuisible markes as Gods prescience and election n 2. Tim 2. 19. the Lord knoweth who are his faith in the heart o Acts 16. 14. all such shall be saued whose hearts the Lord opened to beleeue the Gospel regeneration and renewing by the holy Ghost vnto sanctimony righteousnes loue sobrietie and all vertues p Rom. 6. 5 6 8. 2. to 15. fashioned to the image of Christ and God which was defaced by Adams transgression and our owne actuall rebellion making vs dead in trespasses and sinnes but q Colloss 2. 22. 2. 13. â— 9. 10. Gal. â— 24 Ephes 2. 1. 2. 5. 12 by Christ through faith are renewed made new men new creatures aliue vnto God adopted Children of God receiuing the Spirit of God as the pledge of our adoption and inheritance of these we cannot iudge truely because Hypocrites haue a maruailous resemblance to the children of God r Math. 7. 21 Luke 13. 25 26 they prophesie worke Miracles heare Gods word fast pray professe build Synagogues and performe many outward resplendent good workes so as Salomon could not by any outward thinge discerne the Reprobate from the Elect f Eccles 9. 2. 3. it apeareth saith hee that it commeth alike to all to him that sacrificeth as to him that sacrificeth not t Mich. 6 7. Hypocrites sacrificed thousands of Rams and streames of Oyle yea they offered the fruite of their bodies for the sinne of their soules and the Pharises u Luk 18. 11. c. can boast of many good workes when yet w Math 21. 31 penitent Publicans Harlots and sinners goe into Heauen before them Saint Paul as touching the Law liued x Phil 3 5 6 vnblameably when as yet he was no member but a y 1. Tim 1. 13 Persecutor of the visible Church till hee was called and conuerted by the voice of Christ z Rom 2. 17. 25 c. 1. Cor 10. 1 â— 5. and hee reasoneth strongly against them which boast themselues to bee the Church and people of God because they haue the outward tokens and Testimonies of the Church a Gal. 4 22 23. 28 20 37. 9. Abrahams seede are the children of Promise but in Isaack not the carnall progeny which persecute the Children borne of the spirit b Rom. 2. 25 26 c. outwardly Iewes but in truth are not their circumcision for want of faith becommeth vncircumcition and the eating of the Pasouer with leauened hearts did polute it and brought the wrath of God vpon them as c Acts 8. 13. 18 to 23. Simon Magus was acursed after he had receiued the outward Sacrament of baptisme and was full of the gall of bitternesse hypocrisie and all iniquitie d 1. Iohn 2. 19. many are in the Church which are not of the Church as e Mat. 13. 27. Tares and Wheat f Cap. 25. 32 33. Goates and Sheepe g Cap. 13. 48. 49. Fish good and bad are drawne together into a visible Church out of the Sea of this world but the good shall be preserued and the reffuse cast away and reiected foolish Virgins h Matt. 25. 2. 3. 10 11 12 c. haue no entaince though they pretend to waite for the Bridegroomes comming but are not religiously prepared as the wise with oyle in their lampes i Mat. 13. 30. when the good wheate is gathered into the garner the chaffe shall be burned with vnquenchable fire so our blessed Sauiour as well in sundry pregnant parables as declaratiue and plaine propositions k Mat. 3. 9. 12. Iohn 8. 39. Gala. 3. 7 16. Cap. 4. 22. 28. Rom. 4. 13 14 would driue vs from this vaine confidence which the Iewes had in boasting they were Abrahams seede and rested vpon the carnall ceremonies of the Law and the materiall Temple and Tabernacle all which the blessed proto-Martyre Saint Steuen largely answereth and confuteth l Act. 7. 2. 44 48 by an history call relation shewing vnto the Iewes that the Temple Law and Ceremonies must giue place to Christ Vse 2 Hauing then so sure a word of Prophesie as the Gospell and holy Scriptures to guide vs let vs which professe Christ neither stagger with Thomas m Ioh. 20. 25. we see and feele such visible and sensible signes n Gal. 3 3 and hauing begun in the spirit seeke to end in the flesh for it is too apparant and palpable that the Romish Religion and markes of their Church are altogether outward and carnall and wholy tende to delight and delude the senses and leaue the soule without any spirituall edification let vs therefore o Ioh. 1. 45. with Nathaniel seeke the Messiah and come to finde him by the guiding of Philip and the Apostles which inuite vs to come and see whom euen him of whom Moses and the Prophets did write Iesus of Nazareth and if hee make a question if any good come out of Nazareth or as the Pharises affirmed that p Ioh. 7. 41 42 out of Galile ariseth no Prophet yet the Scriptures expresse the contrary in both for q Mat. 2 23 Isay 9. 1 2 Luke 1. 26. he shall be called a Nazarite and not onely r Luke 4. 34. the Deuils acknowledge him a Nazarite but Pilate wrote the inscription of his crosse Å¿ Iohn 19. 19. Iesus of Nazareth the King of the Jewes to this Touchstone Christ himselfe directeth vs t Iohn 5. 35. search the Scriptures u Luk. 16. 29. Moses and the Prophets are left to keepe men out of Hell the place of torment and Peter sendeth vs w 2. Pet. 1. 19. to this sure word of prophesie and the beloued Apostle commendeth this assurance of saluation to the elect Lady x 2. Ioh. 9 10. to continue in the Doctrine of Christ without which they are without God that is are no Church at all nor members of Christ Vse 3 To draw then to a conclusion of these words I will build my Church these markes either of a Church or building wee require our aduersaries to shew in their Church which boast of faith and yet debarr the preaching and reading of the word of God
the knowledge of our Lord Iesus Christ u 1 Cor. 3. 12. in whom only consisteth the whole strength of the building though weake wood and timber be built thereupon so as looking into our selues and the examples of Gods best beloued Children yea Peter himselfe after this promise how foulely they haue falne we may euer finde cause of feare and distrust but lifting vp our eyes vnto God the stablenesse of his counsels and certaintie of his promises we may rest safely in confidence of his word which hath said w Ios 1. 5. I will not leaue thee nor forsake thee x Iohn 5. 24. hee that beleeueth in him shall not perish for euer He it is that doth nourish the holy fire in vs and keepes vs vnto the end y Iohn 13. 1. for whom hee loueth he loueth euerlastingly z 1 Ioh. 3. 9. and the seede of God abideth in the elect that being borne of God they sinne not vnto condemnation a Rom. 8. 1. for there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus which walke not after the Flesh but after the Spirit Christ prayed for b Luke 22 31. Peter and he prayed also for vs c Ioh 17. 2. 12. 20 24. and for all that should beleeue in his name that none of his might be lost neither is any able to take them out of his Fathers hand which is stronger and greater then all and loueth vs in Christ as hee loued him before the foundations of the world were laid against these the gates of Hell cannot preuaile for they haue the Lords priuie Seale not seene nor knowne to men but d 2. Tim. 2. 19 the Lord knoweth his Vse 2 Secondly this Doctrine iustly impugneth that error of the Romanists holding opinion that the visible Church and the pretended successors of Peter cannot erre whereas the contrary is apparantly verified in the Scriptures that Peter himselfe did erre and therefore though it bee true that the inuisible Church that is the elect of GOD cannot erre finally yet the visible Church consisting both of good and bad may erre as appeareth through the whole History of the Bible and in the primatiue times particular Churches haue erred witnesse Corinth Galatia Philadelphia Pergamus c yea the Church of Rome it selfe whether wee regard the Head or the Body hath grieuously erred First as touching the Head Romish Bishops haue erred and diuers of them became Heretickes Scismaticks Antipopes Negromancers Sodomites and what not Marcellinus sacrificed to the Idols of the Gentiles Leberius was an Arrian Nicholas changed the decrees of Iohn the two and twentieth Gregory of Pelagius Innocentius of Gregory yea in those things which belong to faith Cardinall Ragusanus proueth that the Pope may erre and did in the great Schisme at Rome Cardinall Cusanus affirmeth the Pope may fall from the faith the Councell of Basill auoucheth that the priuiledge of not erring belongeth not to the Popes more then other Bishops Secondly and as for generall Councels which haue a more liuely representation of the whole Church and where the Bishops of Rome haue been present may yea they haue erred one repealed the Actes and Decrees of another and there can bee no correction without errour the Councell of Nice defended Images that of Constantinople was against them the third Councel of Carthage saith that he is Antichrist that calleth himselfe an vniuersall Bishop the Councell of Rome and Trent say and maintaine the contrary therefore except there be more Truths then one Councels may erre and the Pope may erre and consequently the whole visible Church may erre and the truth is e Isa 9 17. many hypocrites making a great shew of godlinesse haue fallen away from grace and the truth of the Gospell become Apostatates in faith and Satanists in conuersation and yet the Church standeth For f Rom 3. 4. Psal 116. 1â— Titus 1. 2. Hebr 6. 18. let God be true and all men lyers in his truth it standeth and Satan a lyer from the beginning cannot ouerthrow it g 2 Thess 2. 9. Antichrists deceiueable delusions and lying wonders cannot preuaile against it Verse 19. And I wil giue vnto thee the keyes of the kingdome of heauen and whatsoeuer thou shalt bind vpon earth shall be bound in heauen and whatsoeuer thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heauen Vpon such a sure and grounded confession of Peter proceedeth a twofold promise of Christ 1. as is formerly laid down that hereupon he will lay an vnmoueable foundation of his Church that the gates of hâ—ll should not bee able to preuaile against it 2. that he would for the gouernment thereof commit to his Apostles and Ministers the Spirituall keyes of the kingdome of heauen with a power to bind and loose in such manner as he would ratifie in heauen their proceedings in earth according to the tenure of his Commission wherby hee had so authorized them to execute his power in his Church In these wordes obserue two things First Datum The donation wherein consider 1. who is the giuer 2. to whom 3. what was giuen Secondly Applicaum The Application in these wordes whatsoeuer thou shalt bind on earth c. Doct. Concerning the first in as much as hee saith I will giue it teacheth vs That Christ is the giuer of the keyes who onely had this power from heauen as the heire of God the Messiah and Mediatour betwixt man and God who h Heb. 2. 3. Psal 8 6. 1 Cor. 15. 27. Iohn 17. 2. Phil. 2. 9 10. put all thinges in subiection vnder him in heauen and earth and so the Apostle affirmeth that Christ first receiued this power from God his Father to bee made the head of his Church and onely had right to giue and communicate such power vnto his Church thus Christ expresseth it in the Gospel i Math. 11. 27. 28. 18 19. All power saith he is giuen me in heauen and in earth and thereupon he groundeth his commission to send his Apostles into all the world this point is not onely verified by apparant and plentifull texts of holy Scriptures but euen our aduersaries in words not greatly contradict it howsoeuer in their practice and in effect they haue paralelled sundry of the Saints with him as the Turkes and Infidels haue wholly dethroned him and placed their false prophet and abominable idole Mahomet before him and aboue him but because they deny the principles of faith and religion wee will not contend nor spend much time in disputing with them but willingly acknowledge and subscribe to the Soueraignty and absolute power of Christ as disposer of all things in heauen and earth Vse And let the true Church and Spouse of Christ heare and obey his voyce and deriue her subordinate power from him alone which hee then promised and afterward gaue vnto her to execute for him for wee must note that he then instantly gaue not Note 1 but speaking in the future