such as are unworthy to be Priests and we see apparantly that it descends by authority from above That the Priest be elected in the â—ight and presence of the people and be approved and thought worthy by publike judgement and testimonie 36 Wherefore seeing that the power and right of calling Ministers belongs unto the whole Church Neither let the Presbyterie alone nor the Magistracie alone nor the rest of the multitude alone usurp challenge to themselves this power 37 For what concerns all That must all have a care of 38 But let all things be done decently and in order 1. Cor. 14.40 39 The publike and solemne testification of this Mediate Vocation is the rite of Ordination by which in the sight of God and in the presence of the whole Church the person lawfully called is separated from the rest of the multitude to this charge and office and is commended unto God by prayers and hath a publike testimonie of his foregoing Vocation 40 We deny that Ordination is a Sacrament if the word be properly and strictly taken 41 For it wants the outward Element expressely instituted by Christ himself in the New Testament It wants also the promise of application and obsignation of grace proper to the Gospell 42 Before Ordination there goes diligent Examination of the party to be ordained by which enquirie is made concerning his confession learning aptnesse to teach and order of life 43 The Rule of this Examination is set down unto us 1. Tim. 3.2 c. Tit. 1.6 7 8 c. 44 In which places such vertues are required of him that hath committed unto him the office of teaching in the Church as are either Common to him with other true godly or else are Proper and peculiar unto him 45 The Common are these That he must be blamelesse the husband of one wife vigilant sâ—ber of good behaviour given to hospitalitie Not given to wine no striker not greedy of filthy lucre but patient not a bâ—awler not covetous c. 1. Tim. 3.2 3 4 c. Tit. 1.6 7 8 c. 46 Now the reason why the Apostle maketh mention of these common vertues is Because integritie of life is required of Ministers not onely for the same causes for which they are required of other private Christians but also in a peculiar name That their ministerie be not calumniated reproached and ill spoken of and so the fructification of the word be hindred 47 The Apostle requires that a Bishop be the husband of one wife to stop the mouthes of Heretikes which speak against their marrying shewing thereby that marriage is no impure thing but so honourable that it is no hindrance to a man from ascending up unto the Bishops chair Chrysost. in cap. 1. Tit. 48 Therefore the Ecclesiasticall Order or the Clergie are not by Gods law forbidden marriage 49 For the temperance or continencie which the Apostle requires in a Bishop Tit. 1.8 cannot be proved to be understood of the vow of Continencie or living unmarried untill it be first shewed that there is no temperance or continencie in the married life of the Godly Ecclesiasticus 26.22 Galat. 5.23 50 Neither doth the Apostle hereby hinder those from the ministerie who after they have buried one wife have lawfully married another 51 But he forbids those to be chosen unto the Ministerie who in any sort sinne so against the â—eventh commandment that they are not the husbands of one wife 52 As for example If they live in adulterie If at the same time they have more wives then one If putting away and divorcing from them a lawfull wife except it be in case of adulterie they marry another or choose unto themselves one that is divorced from another 53 Neither yet doth he prescribe marriage unto all Ministers of the Church as a thing absolutely necessarie but he leaves it as a thing arbitrarie either to marry or not to marry and makes married Ministers subject unto the laws of Matrimonie established by God 54 The Proper and peculiar vertues which the Apostle requires of the Ministers of the Church are these That they must be apt to teach 1. Tim. 3.2 That they be furnished and instructed with the gift to teach be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gain-sayers Tit. 1.9 55 So much concerning the lawfull vocation or calling unto the Ministerie Now follows the faithfull discharge of the same 56 By the faithfull discharge of the Ministerie we understand all duties of Ecclesiasticall ministration according to the Apostle 1. Cor. 4.1 Let a man so account of us as of the Ministers of Christ and the Stewards of the Mysteries of God and in the 2. verse Moreover it is required in Stewards that a man be found faithfull 57 Which faithfulnesse consists in this That the things of the Church wherewith the Minister is entrusted by God be ordered and administred according to the prescript will of God 58 The things of the Church either concern Doctrine or the Sacraments or Discipline 59 The Office then of a Minister is contained in these three things the lawfull administration of Doctrine the Sacraments and Discipline 60 The administration or discharge of the Ministers office as concerning Doctrine consisteth in the Confirmation of the Truth and the Refutation of Errours 61 The Rule both of Doctrine and Reproofe is the onely Word of God 2. Tim. 3.16 62 Unto Doctrine pertaineth the interpretation of the Holy Scripture and the applying of the same unto the use and benefit of the Church 63 In the Administration of the Sacraments we are to consider both the Object and the Manner 64 By the name of Object we understand that provident care of the Minister by which he is held to have regard and foresight unto whom the Sacraments are to be administred and who are to be kept backe from them 65 And this is the chiefest cause why private Confession and Absolution are still held in some Churches although there are not wanting many other reasons 66 By the name of the Manner is understood that all things are to be administred according to the prescript rule of Christ and as the Apostle saith decently and in order 1 Cor. 14.40 67 The Ecclesiasticall Discipline is exercised in correcting faults and passing Ecclesiasticall Judgement and Sentence 68 Faults are to be corrected according to the order degrees prescribed by Christ. Matt. 18.15 69 Let Private and Publike admonition and warning go before and if those will not serve the turne let the severe Administration of Ecclesiasticall Judgement and Sentence succeed in the place thereof which consisteth in Excommunication 70 Excommunication the latter part of the keyes is either that which is called the Lesser or else that which is called the Greater 71 The Lesser is that by which the Sinner is interdicted the participation of the Lords Supper for a time 72 The Greater is that by which Lawfull Knowledge going before the obstinate and contumacious sinner is
works were the life thereof but because that profession and boasting of Faith which hath not the testimonie of good works is no better then an image or karkeise altogether without life 73 Therefore works do testifie that there is true Faith as breathing doth testifie that there is Life but yet they are not the life of Faith 74 As good fruits do testifie that the tree is good but do not make constitute the tree to be good 75 Justly therefore is it reckoned amongst those causes for which good works are to be done that Faith and the Holy Spirit be not shaken off 76 For the Scripture witnesseth both by word and by example that those which through Faith in Christ are justified before God if they afterwards cherish make much of their sinnes contrarie to conscience they do both lose Faith and consequently also the grace of God righteousnesse the Holy Spirit and eternall life and also incurre eternall damnation unlesse by true repentance they return again unto God 77 Therefore let these admonitions of the Apostles alwaies sound in our eares and sink into our hearts Work out your salvation with fear and trembling Philip. 2.12 Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall 1. Cor. 10.12 Give diligence to make your calling and election sure 2. Pet. 1.10 Examine your selves whether you be in the Faith prove your own selves Know you not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be reprobates 2. Cor. 13.5 78 The Lord Jesus the authour of our Faith be also the finisher thereof Hebr. 12.2 To him be glorie for ever and ever Amen CHAP. XV. Wherein are contained Theologicall Aphorismes concerning GOOD WORKS That is Renovation of the man that is regenerate by Faith in Christ. 1 WIth Regeneration and Adoption by Faith in Christ is Renovation alwayes joyned as an inseparable companion 2 For even as a man by Carnall Generation is made partaker of Naturall Life after which do follow Naturall motions 3 So he that is borne againe of the Holy Spirit by Regeneration is made partaker of Life Spirituall after which doe also follow motions Spirituall 4 Neither Generation is without Life neither Life is without Motion 5 This inward Renovation is oftentimes denoted unto us by the name of Good Works and that by a figure which is called Synecdoche 6 For Renovation consists not onely in Outward good Works and actions transient but also and that more principally in the Inward renewing of the mind will and all the faculties of the Soule 7 From this Inward renewing flow forth Good actions and Outward good Works beare witnesse of it 8 But it pleased the Holy Ghost by the name of Good Works to describe Renovation and that for our sakes Because Outward good Works are better knowne unto us then Inward qualities of the minde and affections of the heart 9 Moreover All the praise of vertue consisteth in action Therefore we are renewed by the Holy Ghost within that the fruits of the Spirit may appeare without 10 And last of all By this meanes deceitfull Hypocrisie is excluded which is a counterfeit shew of inward pietie which indeed is none at all unles it be also demonstrated by good Works 11 As therefore Faith the Queen hath Contrition for her Vsher or Forerunner so she also hath Good Works for her waiting Maids or Followers 12 For Good Works do not goe before Justification or before a man be justified but they follow after Justification or when a man is justified It is the saying of S. Augustine cap. 14. de fid operibus 13 But Where Good Works appeare not without neither will I beleeve that there is Faith within It is the saying of John Husse 14 Neither is it any hard matter to assigne the cause of this neare Union and indissoluble knot which is between true Faith and Good Works 15 For this is the Nature of True Faith That it doth demonstrate it selfe by love and charitie 16 He that beleeveth is borne of God Ioh. 1.13 He will therefore resemble the nature of his Spirituall Father Now God is Love 1 Ioh. 4.8 And He that loveth not knoweth not God 17 Faith is an inward saving and efficacious knowledge of God How then can that chiefe good choose but be beloved if it be once truely knowne If any man love mee he will keepe my words Ioh. 14.23 He that hath my commandments saith our Saviour and keepeth them he it is that loveth mee 21. 18 From hence the Apostle concludeth Hereby we do know that we know him if we keep his commandments 1. Ioh. 2.3 And again He that saith I know him and keepeth not his commandments is a Liar and the truth is not in him 4. 19 Faith is the spirituall Light of the Soule But if there be Light within it will shew forth the Rayes without Matth. 5.16 Let your Light so shine before men c. 20 By Faith Christ dwelleth in our hearts Ephes. 3.17 Where Christ is there is the Holy Spirit and where the Holy Spirit is there also are seene the Fruits of the Spirit 21 Our Faith is the victorie which overcometh the World 1 Ioh. 5.4 And What is the World The lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life 1. Ioh. 2.16 Where these are cherished made much of there the world is not yet overcome and therefore there is not true Faith 22 That Faith is saving and most true Which living is and conquering too 23 Our hearts are purified by Faith Act. 15.9 Therefore they which live in securitie and delight themselves in filthinesse and impuritie How can they have inward puritie of heart For Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh Matth. 12.14 24 These things were thus plainly to be expounded That we might not onely be freed from the Tridentine accusation as if we preached onely Confidence and Assurance remote from all pietie but also that all vain opinion and perswasion of Faith might be taken away from all sinners that live in securitie 25 We may make answer to them out of S. James 2.26 As the Body without the Spirit that is without breathing is dead So Faith without works is dead also 26 Neither onely doe Good Works proceed from Faith but to speak the truth there are no good works unles they proceed from Faith 27 Seeing therefore Faith hath respect unto the Word as unto its Correlate Therefore the Law of God or the ten commandments are the Rule of Good Works 28 Therefore superstition and will-worship pleaseth not God but those works onely which are done according to the Canon and rule of the morall Law comprehended and contained in the ten commandments 29 And we are to understand the Commandments according to the exposition of the Prophets of Christ and his Apostles 30 Moreover seeing that Faith doth not arise from any naturall power of free-will but is the Gift of the Holy Ghost Therefore â—rom what
contained Theologicall Aphorismes concerning the Sacrament of BAPTISME 1 BAptisme is the Porch or first Gate of Grace the Entrie into the Church the Key of the kingdome of heaven and the Investiture of Christianisme or the putting on the robe or liverie of Christianitie 2 And therefore being the first Sacrament of the New Testament it is for that cause called the Sacrament of Initiation 3 Baptisme generally taken signifieth any washing dipping or dying whether it be done by immersion â—ffusion or aspersion 4 It is taken Metaphorically in Scripture for the Crosse and calamities Matth. 20.23 for the visible and large effusion of the gifts of the Holy Ghost Acts 1.5 for the miraculous passing of the Israelites through the sea 1. Cor. 10.2 5 It is taken Synecdochically for the doctrine and indeed the whole ministerie of John the Protoâ—Baptist that is which first baptized Matth. 3.11 6 Specially and by way of Excellencie yea and by the common use of the Church it is taken for that solemne mysterie of Initiation to wit the first Sacrament of the New Testament 7 Which in respect of one of the Essentiall parts thereof is called Water John 3.5 In respect of its Essence The washing of water by the Word Ephes. 5.26 In respect of the Effect thereof The washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost Tit. 3.5 In respect of the Type thereof which wenâ— before Circumcision made without hands Coloss. 2.11 8 The Prime authour of Baptisme and therefore the Proper and Principall Cause is God 9 For God by his Prophets in the Old Testament did preach by Types and Prophecies concerning this saving Laver or washing of Baptisme 10 The Types are Noahs ark in the floud 1. Pet. 3.20 Circumcision Coloss. 2.11 The passing of the Israelites through the red sea 1. Cor. 10.2 Waters mixed with the bloud of the bird that was killed which cleansed the leprosie Levit. 14.6 7. The water of Expiation or Separation whereinto were strewed the ashes of the red heifer Numb 19.17 c. Divers washings ablutions and aspersions used by the Jews Heb. 9.10 The water of Jordan by which Naaman was cured of his leprosie 2. King 5.14 11 The Prophecies consist partly in proper words and partly in words Allegoricall THE Lord sitteth upon the floud Psal. 29.10 There is a river the streams whereof shall make glad the citie of God Psal. 46.5 The Gentiles shall bring thy sons in their armes Isai. 49.22 I will sprinkle clean water upon you and you shall be clean from all your filthinesse Ezech. 36.25 It shall come to passe that every thing that liveth which moveth whithersoever the rivers shall come shall live Ezech. 47.9 In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sinne and for uncleannesse Zechar. 13.1 A fountain shall come forth of the house of the Lord and shall water the valley of Shittim Joel 3.18 12 The same God it is which sent John to baptize or to baptize with water Joh. 1.33 From whence it is said That his Baptisme is from heaven Matth. 21.25 and the Pharisees refusing to be baptized of him are said to have rejected the counsel of God Luke 7.30 13 This divine Institution of Baptisme Christ after his death and resurrection did as it were renew by a solemne promulgation and command to continue the same throughout the whole world 14 Therefore the Baptisme of John was the same Sacrament with â—he Baptisme of Christ that is which Christ administred by his Apostles and doth at this day administer by the Ministers of the Church It had also the same efficacie neither was it necessarie that after the Baptisme of John the Baptisme of Christ should be received 15 The same Causes and the same Effects do argue that the Sacrament of Baptisme both Johns Christs was the same 16 Yet notwithstanding we do not deny but that with the Baptisme of the Apostles there was joyned also the visible effusion of the miraculous gifts of the Holy Ghost which was wanting to Johns Baptisme 17 Now God administers this Sacrament not Immediately but by the Ministers of the Church unto whom this doth Ordinarily belong as unto the Stewards of the mysteries of God 1. Cor. 4.1 18 Again Forasmuchas they are the Ministers of anothers good their vices do not take away the essence and benefit of Baptisme 19 And therefore even Hereticks themselves if they do observe the Substantialls of Baptisme they do administer true Baptisme 20 Which also we determine in that case when the Minister of the Church privately and secretly doth favour and cherish an heresie contrarie to the truth of Baptisme and the doctrine of the Church 21 But those which are baptized by Hereticks without the invocation of the Holy Trinitie and afterwards come unto us we pronounce that such are to be Baptized but we do not say Rebaptized For it is not to be beleeved that they were ever baptized whosoever were not baptized In the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost 22 The externall Element of Baptisme is water water naturall and elementarie 23 Whosoever therefore do either substitute and use in stead of water any other liquor or any other externall Element or else are of opinion that they may be substituted and used in the stead thereof They depart from Gods institution 24 But yet Baptisme is not simply water but the washing of Water by the Word Ephes. 5.26 25 Therefore neither Water without the Word nor the Word without the Water hath the nature force and vertue of Baptisme 26 That Word is the word both of Command and of Promise 27 For the Apostles are commanded to goe and teach all nations Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost Matth. 28.19 And there is a promise added That he that beleeveth and is Baptized shall be saved Mark 16.16 28 Therefore according to this word all the Holy Trinitie The Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost are present at Baptisme as at the Baptisme of Christ who is the Head of the Church Ephes. 1.22 29 The Father for his Sonne our Mediatours sake doth receive him that is Baptized into grace The Sonne by his owne bloud doth cleanse him from all his sinnes The Holy Ghost doth regenerate and renew him unto eternall life 30 And if all the most sacred and Holy Trinitie be present then also Christ God and Man is certainly present and by his bloud washeth him that is Baptized from all the filthinesse of his sinnes 31 From whence it is that the Ancients say and Luther repeats it That Baptisme is red with the bloud of Christ. August tract 11. in Joan. Bed in Psalm 80. 32 We must not therefore look upon the water of Baptisme according to the naturall properties and use that it hath in common life But we are to have an eye unto it as it is a Sacrament and means
former ages or whether they be at this day yet living 25 But it is necessarie that this consent be grounded on the Catholike writings of the Prophets and Apostles which are the onely foundation of the Church 26 It is called Apostolike in respect of the Doctrine of the Apostles because it began in the New Testament to be propagated by the Apostles which taught none other things then those which the Prophets and Moses did say should come Act. 26.22 And because it is yet at this day gathered together by the Doctrine of the Apostles sounding in the Scriptures 27 From whence it may be easily gathered what are the true Characters and signes of the True Church to wit The pure preaching of the Word the Lawfull administration of the Sacraments 28 For seeing that the Church is nothing else but a Companie of such as professe the true Doctrine of Christ publikely and use the Sacraments lawfully and there is no surer note of a thing theÌ„ its Forme Therefore we conclude that these and no other are the true proper and genuine Characters tokens and cognizances of the Church 29 If there be assigned any other as the Catholike name Antiquitie Duration Amplitude Succession of Bishops Temporall felicitie c. I say These are common to other Societies and Companies as well as to the Church neither are they of any force to prove a true Church unles they exactly agree and are joyned with the other notes before mentioned by us 30 Wherefore we thought good to note the words of Stapleton in relect princ fid Controv. 1. Quaest. 4. Art 5. pag. 113. Even as saith he little children do distinguish a man from a beast by the externall lineaments of body and outward figure of a man because they are led onely by their sense And those which are of riper yeares and have the use of reason but yet are rude and unlearned do it by operations of life functions which are onely proper to a man as to speak like a man to walk like a man c. But they which are wise prudent whose judgement pierceth deeper do it by prudence and understanding and other endowments which are proper unto man after a farre more excellent manner 31 So the Church of Christ is by those that are wise and Spirituall such as are the Teachers and Pastors of the Church known by the sound Doâ—trine and the right use of the Sacraments But as for those which are unlearned weak and little in Faith who are not able to judge of the Doctrine it selfe considered in its causes principles and meanes as also those which are without Faith who know little or nothing of the Church they judge onely by the outward face and appearance and by the multitude of the people which beleeve and their Pastors 32 This Similitude or Comparison of Stapletons we thought worthy to be noted For from hence it may be concluded that our notes of the true Church are proper genuine well beseeming spirituall men but theirs are doubtfull and uncertaine 33 The outward shew and face of the Church shadowed ouâ— by lineaments we willingly grant unto them But as for the Soule thereof that must they leave unto us 34 Hither belongeth that which Bellarmine himself openly confesseth That by those notes and markes by him assigned it is not provâ—d evidently to be true That the Church of Rome is the true Church of God but yet it is made evidenâ—ly credible Libr. 4. de Eccl. cap. 3. Col. 210. 35 Furthermore seeing that the Gospell is not preached nor the Sacraments administred with like sinceritie in all particular Churches but the â—eaven of humane traditions and inventions is mixed with the pure masse of Gods Word Therefore in this respect and in this sense the Church is said to be more pure or more impure comparing one with another 36 So Christ would have the Scribes and Pharisees to be heard Sitting in Moses Chaire Matt. 23.2 that is delivering the Doctrine which Moses delivered according to the interpretation of Biel. 4. Sent. Dist. 1. Quaest. 4. Art 3. But withall he gives an Item to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees that is their false Doctrine Mat. 16.6 37 God can even by a corrupt Ministerie beget spirituall children unto himself Ezech. 16.20 38 The eares of the hearers are many times more pure then thâ— lips of the teachers 39 So the Popish Church is not a true and pure Church But yet in former ages under Poperie did God gather and even at this day still doth gather unto himself a Church 40 Our Churches are gone out of the Romish Babylon according to Gods command Jerem. 15.19 They have taken forth the precious from the vile They have accepted and do still professe and maintain the writings of the Prophets and Apostles and the Doctrine which is conformable and agreeable unto them separating them from the leaven of humane traditions 41 Can any one then deny that our Church is Apostolike Such as the doctrine is such is the Church The Doctrine is Apostolike And therefore our Church is also Apostolike 42 Let them therefore either convince us out of the writings of the Prophets and Apostles to have departed from the Doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles or let them not deny unto us the name of Catholike and Apostolike Church 43 And here we would have it accurately to be observed what the Acts of the Dyet at Ausburg Ann. 1530. do witnes How that the chiefest of our adversaries there confessed that the confession of our Faith could not be refuted out of Scripture 44 Hither will we adde out of S. Augustine Epist. 166. that In the Scriptures we have learned Christ in the Scriptures we have learned the Church· And why then do we not in them retaine both Christ and the Church 45 And againe we have another saying out of S. Augustine De unitat Eccl. Cap. 2. which makes against them Between us saith he and the Donatists the Romanists the question is Where the Church is What then shall we do Shall we seek it in our owne words or in the words of our Lord which is the Head of the Church In my judgement we ought rather to seek it in his words who is Truth it self and best knows his own body 46 And further we urge upon them that Exclusive particle of Saint Chrysostome Hom. 49. oper imperf in Matth. They which would know which is the true Church of Christ can know by no other means but Onely by the Scriptures 47 The word of God which this day is not extant but in the writings of the Prophets and Apostles is the seed the foundation and as it were the soul of the Church If the Church departeth from the tract thereof it departeth into errour and that so much the more grievous by how much the more remote and distant from the sinceritie of the word 48 From whence it may be easily gathered what we are to determine concerning that