mother of whoredomes hath this name written in her forehead A Mysterie 2. Thess 2.7 Apoc. 17.5 This apostacie of Rome held communion with the true Church still Hodiè effusum est venenum in ecclesiam and when prosperitie like poyson was powred out vpon the Church she tooke aduantage vpon the deadnesse of mens hearts to make her owne gaine and while men were either diuerted by other occasions or rocked asleepe in the cradles of ease profit pleasure honour or blinded with the outward splendor and glorie of her whorish and hypocriticall attire to sowe tares in stead of good wheat which yet was neuer so closely carried but that some faithfull men still obserued her and opposed her in euerie age as hath beene shewed by diuers Du Plessis his Mysterium iniquitatis White his Way who still lye vnsatisfied though her policie and tyrannie still did crush them to her power Oh therefore seeke not truth at Rome where you haue so good causes to doubt that the true head is not yea know of old that truth hath sought for succour in Cloysters and could finde none seeke it therefore at home where the true head Christ is calling vs from our dead sleepe of sinne Pauli Ferrij Schol. ortho Spec. pag. 102. giuing vnto vs the habit of faith for our sanctification the act of faith to receiue Iesus Christ for our iustification the spirit of adoption to seale vs vnto the day of our redemption Ob. Be not scarred with this bugbeare that we confesse that a Papist so liuing and so dying may be saued and therefore the truth is good enough amongst them Sol. For you must vnderstand it of those that are in the Antichristian state not of it and chained with ineuitable ignorance hauing the key of more distinct knowledge kept from them by tyrannie and policie and doe forsake their popish grounds as it is said that the Bishop of Chichester that then was would haue had Gardner to doe when hee did comfort him vpon his death-bed with Gods promises and with free iustification in the bloud of Christ Fox Martyrol To whom Gardner did answer What my Lord will you open that gap now then farewell altogether To me and such other you may speake it but open this window to the people then farewell altogether Thus likewise Bellarmine after his large discourse of that confidence which we may draw from our workes layeth downe this proposition as his last sanctuarie Propter incersitudâ—nem propâ—iae iustiâ—iae periâ—uâ—um manâ—s glorâ—â— tutissiâ—iâ— est siduciâ—m totam in sola Dei miscâ—i cordia et benâ—gnitate reponere that By reason of the incertaintie of our owne righteousnesse and the danger of vaineglorie it is most safe to put our whole trust and confidence in the mercie and bountie of God alone Now if Papists shall doe in truth and sinceritie of heart as these say renouncing the trappings of the whore of Rome though they die in the Popish Church they being chained in the fetters of Rome they may giue a good ground for the iudgement of charitie to worke vpon concerning their saluation with GOD. Neither be ye moued with this which they so often bellow out against vs That our truth was not knowne before Luther for though for many of our negatiues whereby we doe deny their false nouelties there was no vse of them though the Spirit of God foreseeing the mysterie of Antichrist left sufficient ground for them in the Scriptures yet we willingly disclaime all that cannot draw a longer pedigree than Poperie Thou art of yesterday saith the Pharisie to Christ Before Abraham was I am saith Christ to the Pharisies So may our truth say in respect of Luther It appeared more plentifully in his time not otherwise than a cleere morning after a darke and drowsie night no otherwise than faire weather after a tedious storme no otherwise than health after a lingring sicknesse And if it seemed to be new wee may thanke the Church of Rome for it which so preuailed with our improuident fathers through glorious titles and outward splendor and the mysterie of abhominations in the golden cup that their mother truth being iustled out of doores for a time was not at the last when she came againe scarce acknowledged of her owne children Let vs be wiser and acknowledge her though shee come naked and in rags remembring that true but fearefull saying 2. Thess 2.10 11 12. Because they receiue not the loue of the truth that they might be saued therefore God shall send them strong delusions that they should beleeue lies that all they might be damned which beleeued not the truth Thus haue I shewed you how you may know your selues to be of the true Church amongst vs Motiues that so your desires may pant after it As Dauid added two motiues to prouoke himselfe to hunger after the house of the Lord so shall I adde the same to further vs to desire to be and to be still of the true Church amongst vs. The first is the beautie of our Church 1 The beautie of our Church which doth stand in the beautie of that Religion which it doth professe I know that the Papists doe what they can to disgrace it and to make it appeare ougly in the sight of men Ps 45.13 yet though the Kings daughter be all glorious within and her best ornaments without are but needle-worke full of stitches and prickes though the whore do excell in her garish attire the modest and honest woman in which respect it cannot grieue vs that they obiect against vs as the heathens of old did against the lesse ancient Christians the want of glorie in our outward seruice and worship yet I say there are diuers things which make our religion beautifull aboue that which doth so much stand vpon outward feature and proportion First our religion cannot bee disgraced without lying She is a beautifull woman who standeth so for currant except to them who will say White is blacke or that shee painteth and borroweth complexion of Art or the like when it is nothing so so is it with our religion Yee know how often they charge vs and our religion with noueltie when yet we doe relye vpon the first truth to wit the Scriptures So likewise they doe make their blinded disciples beleeue that we hold God to be the author of sinne likewise that it is enough to haue onely faith that the Church failed many hundred yeeres till Luther and Caluine that all is very easie in Scriptures that God forceth vs against our wills without any respect of our consents that we allow no fasting but morall temperance and fasting from sin that we esteeme nothing of Christian workes towards saluation but condemne them as vncleane sinfull hypocriticall that God imputeth the righteousnesse of Christ to iustification though we be not iust as if the righteousnesse of Christ applied by faith did not cure as well as couer
vs we are vnprofitable seruants Thus in these and many other points of their false doctrine they will make you beleeue that they haue expresse Scriptures as the Deuill when hee tempted Christ but watch and beleeue them not at their words or first appearance how diuine-like soeuer they appeare There was scarce euer heretike that did not make the like plea shew for himselfe Not as if the Scripture did truly serue euery heretikes turne for as there is but one sense of those Scriptures Sensus literalis est quem author precipuc intendit which we doe call the literall and is that which the Author of it to wit the Holy Ghost doth principally intend so the onely end is by that one sense to serue God and not the Deuill by schisme or heresie If therefore heretikes abuse it to their ends it proceeds from their infatuated iudgements and foolish opinâ—ons which makes the Scriptures to appeare to speake accordâ—ng to their phantasies as a distempered eye dealeth with colours and not from any incertainty that is in the good word of God which is preserued vnto vs for the comfort of our soules 2 Holinesse Secondly they will tell you that they haue great holinesse in their Church amongst them and that wee haue none but counterfeit stuffe that will not endure the triall But watch I pray you against this deceit and concerne these foure things distinctly First Holinesse is a great meanes to draw our affections yea though it be but in appearance The question being asked Luk. 5.1 2 c. why so great multitudes pressed vpon our blessed Sauiour The answer is this both by reason of the diuine sweetnesse of his words Iohn 7.46 Neuer man speaking as he spake euen by the witnesse of his enemies as also by reason of the holinesse of his waies of which they gaue testimonie that said He hath done all things well Mar. 7.37 And how the holinesse of others doth gaine vpon our hearts we see by daily experience yea though it be but fained As when Artimisia knew not how to conquer Latmum shee did it by performing religious seruice in a wood not farre from that Citie dedicated to Berecynthia the fained mother of the gods so wee know the multitudes in many places which the Pope hath drawne and conquered to himselfe by a vaile a Cowle a triple Crowne a Cardinalls Hat by a pompous solemnitie and rituall deuotion by Cloysters and titular Virgins together with many other the like toyes Secondly shew of holinesse may much deceiue vs except we sound into the truth of it We know that the scriptures doe imply that false prophets weare rough garments to deceiue that is Zach. 13.4 vntrimmed and vndressed skins in a carelesse manner as if their liues were as simple as Adams newly fallen Heb. 11.37 or as those that wandred vp and downe in sheepes skinnes and goats skins In which respect Christ saith Matth. 7.15 Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheepes clothing Therefore we ought to be wise and not beleeue euery one that comes with a shew of the neglect of the world mortification and holinesse Thirdly it is but an idle brag that holinesse doth dwell in the Romish and Popish apostacy There is indeed great shew of holinesse in their Temples Altars Priests Images Pilgrimages Shrines bare feet hard knees and the like for what will not an vnquiet conscience doe to haue but some hope of peace and comfort hereafter but doe but marke what true holinesse they who haue come out from amongst them haue learned from the doctrine of that Church The Lord Cobham who of old suffered for the truth Booke of Hiâ—t 〈◊〉 by Mâ—â—â—â— pag. 133. 1â—â— first weepingly cried out against the Popish Church saying Loe good people for breaking Gods lawes they neuer cursed me but for their owne lawes they most cruelly handle me and others Afterward in further discourse with Papists he did say I will say before God and man Before I knew the despised doctrine of that vertuous man Wickliffe who was a faithfull Preacher of the Gospell I neuer abstained froÌ„ sin but since I trust I haue done otherwise so much grace could I neuer finde in any of your glorious instructions saith he to them 〈…〉 pag. â—â—â— Againe that blessed Martyr Roger Holland made this free confession before Bonner My Lord I was of your blinde religion vntill the latter end of King Edwards reigne and hauing that libertie vnder your auricular confession I made no conscience to sinne but trusted in the Priests absolution and he for money did some penance for mee which money after I had giuen I cared no more what offence I had done than the Priest cared after hee had got my money whether he fasted with bread and water for me yea or no so I accounted lechery swearing and other vices no offence of danger as long as I could haue them absolued I so straightly saith hee to the Papists obserued your rules of religion that I would haue ashes vpon Ash-wednesday though I had vsed neuer so much wickednesse at night and albeit I could not of conscience eat flesh vpon Friday yet in swearing drinking or dicing all night long I made no conscience at all Thus was I brought vp and continued till now of late that God of his grace by the light of the Word called mee to repentance of my former Idolatry and wicked life Oh learne we but from these two examples of dying men what holinesse doth arise in the Popish Church euen from their very doctrine And truly what else can we expect but vnholinesse froÌ„ that doctrine which doth most teach that holinesse which is furthest from the heart and publish most the merit of those works which are of the outward man as pilgrimages gifts building of Churches Monasteries and the like Fourthly if we haue not more holinesse in our Church then they in theirs wee desire to haue no partakers They themselues confesse that there are vnholy persons enough amongst them as well as amongst vs for thus they stop our mouthes when we obiect the detestable powder-treason And for our doctrine though they haue laboured long and caught nothing except wee will giue them leaue to say that we hold that we doe not or in that sense which we doe not yet they cannot iustly charge vs if they say truly what wee teach to teach either against the Beleefe the Lords Prayer or ten Commandements which they themselues make the summes of Faith Hope and Charitie Wee would not for a thousand worlds teach that wee are able to keepe the commandements and to doe more than God requires or that we could merit as they doe lest we should be charged to nourish pride of heart We would not teach the least toleration of Priests concubines lest one should say with that blessed Martyr Holland Masons abstr of Mart. p. 358. I know some Priests very deuout that haue six or
and depth of Gods loue to vs in Christ and seeâ—ng there superabundant store of loue merit power to doe vs euerlasting good our hearts are ouercome to ecche out to God I come Lord I come and so the Father bestoweth the Sonne vpon vs and vs vpon him Vse Now men brethren and fathers hearken what securitanes can perswade themselues that they are of this Church though they hold their heads neuer so high amongst vs none none can doe it Are they that are corrupt and lie rotting in carnall wisedome and proud enmitie against God that goe a whoring after pleasures profits honours according to their seuerall dispositions are they I say cut off from the wilde oliue Are they whose soules were neuer filled with shame sorrow feare for sin and who neuer from a bleeding heart confessed their particular sinnes vnto God or from a melting soule begged pardon resoluing for euer after to be disposed as God shall please are they I say pared and made fit to grow into one bodie with the head Are they who neuer haue had experience of sin-sicke soules who doe neuer see by any comfortable adiudication their wants supplied in Christ who do not pant after him in such meanes as God hath appointed are they I say ingrafted into Christ No no when these things come to passe heauen and hell will be all one kingdome As you will be kind and louing people to your soules therfore apply these three particulars to your hearts and neuer thinke your selues to be of the true Church though you are in it till you find them in some measure wrought in you Gentlemen who are giuen to that studie know that there is an abatement of honour in Heraldrie to him that telleth a lie or is deuoted to the apron or committeth Idolatry to Bacchus And do we not thinke that God will clip the wings of those who thinke to fly aloft to this honour to be of the true Church and yet liue in sinne Yes write this for a truth that as sure as all are not Israel according to the spirit which are of Israel according to the flesh so surely none are vniuocall members of that Church wherof Christ is the head but those who find in themselues this totall alteration from their estate naturall to a feeling and comfortable estate in Christ Iesus But secondly you will now aske me what are those ligatures and ties whereby we are knit vnto Christ that wee may grow together with him For those are of the true Church who are knit vnto Christ by the true bands I answer therefore that they are the sauing and sauourie truths in the word of God This is that alone which makes our faith apt to conglutinate and glew vs to Christ Who is my mother saith Christ and who are my brethren Matth. 12.48 Who are those that are knit vnto me by the neerest bond They that heare the word of God and doe it that is Luke 8.21 they that receiue the truth of Gods word by faith and conforme themselues vnto it these are the men Antiquitie cannot knit vs vnto Christ for age is no crowne of honour except it be found in the wayes of righteousnesse Succession cannot doe it except together with it wee depart not from the true faith which was formerly holden Bonum et verum convertuntur Vnitie cannot doe it except it be good and nothing is good which is not true The bare titles of Catholike and Apostolike cannot doe it except together we forsake not the Catholike and Apostolike doctrine and truth Holinesse cannot doe it except it be holinesse agreeable to the truth without which there is none for Christ saith Sanctifie them by thy truth Ioh. 17. Thus you see that truth is that very glew and cyment in the hand of faith that must knit vs vnto our head Vse Oh therfore let vs striue and contend for the faith as Iude speaketh which was once giuen vnto the Saints Iude v. 3. If euer we stroue for it now is the time now more than euer because their destruction is neerer doth the Pope hound out as our Soueraign termeth it great swarmes of Iesuites to disgrace the Scriptures and to steale away the word of truth from vs. Blessed is he that holdeth fast in this fearefull time of temptation Apoc. 16.15 Behold I come as a theefe saith Christ blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments of holy truth and true holines lest he walke naked and men see his filthines Ob. It may be you will say That if truth knit vs to our head truth is at Rome Sol. I answer that it may be so for Antichrist ruffles as God in the temple of God 2. Thes 2.4 which hath the Scripture but the Church of Rome the Popes apostacie consisting of head and members vnited by the doctrine of Trent hath it not Ob. If you say that the truth was once at Rome Sol. I grant it but it doth not follow that therefore it should be there now A fuisse ad esse non sequitur Es 1.21 22. 1. Thess 1.8 the faithfull Citie may become a harlot and her wine may be mixed with water and Thessalonica from whom sounded out the word of the Lord in Macedonia and Achaia and whose faith which was towards God spread abroad in all quarters is now a cabine of vncleane Turkes yea and who knoweth not that a chaste virgin may in time become a stinking harlot Euen so is it with Rome Ob. If you aske mee When went the truth from Rome for some or other must needs obserue it Sol. I answer Is it not gone except I can shew the time An apple may be rotten though I cannot shew the time when it began because it began at the coare A man may be sicke vnto death though I cannot tell when his disease began to preuaile against him So the Church of Rome though by reason of her strength and that good temper shee was in while Martyrs possessed her seat she stood out long before she kept her bed because she was not heart-sicke at the first infecting of her blood in which respect haply her first lying downe cannot be obserued of euerie eye yet hee that hath but one eye may see that she is sicke vnto death by her sicke and powerlesse actions as her surfetting vpon temporall glory Laesae actiones laesas arguunt facultates her vomiting vp of the wholesome food of Gods word her desire not to be stirred from her old rotten couch her pettishnesse if we doe but touch her to trie whether sicke or sound and many the like symptomes not only of a declining but of a desperately consuming estate Ob. Yea but you will say That in other heresies the persons broaching and the time when is obserued Sol. I answer That it doth not therefore follow that this can be done in Poperie for it is a mysterie as the Apostle saith and as Iohn saith Great Babylon the
the Scripture except some holy Father grant vs a licence to doe it No as those blessed instruments who made vs acquainted with Gods voice in our mother tongue might reioyce more than hee that made the Harpe of Thales whereby he did appease the tumult of the Lacedemonians so we account it our ioy our reioycing that God speaks not vnto vs in an vnknowne language but that we can conferre with him as our fathers and mothers doe talke with vs when they either doe or should traine vs vp in the knowledge and seruice of God What shall we say then my brethren Surely as Peter said to CHRIST Whither shall we goe thou hast the words of eternall life so let vs say to the Church of God amongst vs To what Church shall we ioyne our selues seeing here are the words of eternall life If we grow surfetted and weary of so diuine a blessing let me in the feare of God vpbraid you as Themistocles did the Athenians who were sicke of him Are you weary of receiuing so many benefits from one man So Are you weary of receiuing so many comfortable blessings from one booke Well I say no more of this but pray to God to giue you vnderstanding in all things and intreat you all but to thinke vpon this one thing Bona à tergo formosissima that good things are best when they turne their backs and will most wound our soules in their losse when wee are driuen to say Had I wist The second thing wherein the full and sound direction in our Church for them that doe inquire doth stand is this that as we haue the word so we haue the assistance of the learned for the ministeriall declaration and application of this blessed rule Doth Gods carpenter who should square the Church of God by the rule of the word onely dwell at Rome Or hath any one there a commission from God to square out the faith and manners of a Church by his owne propheticall wisdome without direction from the once giuen written rule No surely as we know no such man by the glasse of Gods word so blessed be God wee finde good workmen at home God hath giuen the gift of tongues to our Church whereby she can present vs Gods holy word in our owne language and lest shee should be taxed of keeping the key of knowledge from others as also chiefly to shew her loue to God in executing her office shee hath done it already that Gods name may be great amongst vs and the meanest member of our Church may follow the direction of our blessed Sauiour Iohn 5.39 to search the Scriptures Act. 17.11 and the example of the Bereans to try whether those Texts which we alledge to proue our Doctrines be so or no. Beside the gift of tongues God hath giuen to our Church the gift of Interpretation We pray to God with Dauid Psal 119.18 Lord open mine eyes that I may see the wonders of thy Law We desire and endeuour in our practise to haue an equall respect vnto all Gods commandements Agant orando bene vâ—vâ—ndo ut â—ntelligant and because we cannot doe as we would we are full of that heroicall motion of Dauid Oh that my wayes were so direct that I might keepe thy statutes Psal 119.5 and all because God may not iustly keepe away the light of his word from vs. We yeeld vnto Gods whole truth so farre as we are come and can conceiue it lest God should deliuer vs ouer to beleeue lies We compare spirituall things with spirituall things one place of Scripture with another carrying the sense along according to the scope and circumstances of the place and neuer willingly varying without cleare testimonie from the word of God from the generally receiued sense of the true Church of God Though sometimes in respect of our persons we looke like priuate Elihu rebuking the Ancients Iob 32.6 1 King 22. and like priuate Micaiah defending the truth against many false Prophets yet we speake by the publike Spirit of God as the mouth of the Lord hath spoken in the Scriptures yea we are so carefull that the true sense should be giuen that we subiect the spirit of the Prophets to the Prophets and confidently resolue that whosoeuer shall plead a spirit expounding contrary to the Scriptures is not an administrer but a diminisher of Gods meaning Againe if any controuersie or difficultie doe arise can we say as the Pope that we are Iudges in our owne cases or that we are the Iudges of that which shall iudge vs in the day of Christ No we hate such partialitie such blasphemie We haue the Holy Ghost Act. 15.28 Iohn 16.8 Es 2.4 Psal 119.106 Iohn 12.48 Luke 16.29 who rebukes the world of iudgement and iudgeth amongst the nations and pronounceth righteous iudgements by the word which he hath spoken and speaketh so loud as we may heare him as the hearing heart knowes full well to satisfie vs in our doubts And because we are slow of heart and dull of hearing and must heare by the hearing of the eare to haue the truth of Gods word brought home vnto vs Act. 15.27 therefore as Iudas and Silas were sent to speake by mouth so haue we the ambassadors of God that are in Christs stead to publish and apply the sentence of the Holy Ghost Or if that be not enough as when there was great dissention betweene Paul and Barnabas and them of the circumcision there was a putting ouer to a Councell to determine that question Act. 15.2 so haue we lawfull Synods Councels and Assemblies and all this that the doore of faith may be opened vnto vs so long as they are built vpon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Ephes 2.20 Iesus Christ himselfe being the chiefe corner stone Oh blessed be the Father of lights and the God of all consolation who hath giuen vs this comfortable direction How miserable were we if we had not the word whereat wee might inquire And how much comfort should we want if we had not the ministerie of it to declare and apply it vnto vs As therefore it is with the heart of man though naturally it be heauy yet it is not carried downeward but with another naturall motion for the health of the whole bodie it is carried to and fro so though naturally we are carried after nouelties and are too too apt to follow the directions of our owne mindes yet by another naturall motion of grace let vs in our eager desires be carried after our Church where we haue such compleat direction for a godly and humble Christian soule Catâ—â—dra in calis habet qui corda moâ—â—t Thus haue I whetted your desires to pant after the type and the truth It is God that must moue your hearts vnto it To prouoke you therefore to pray vnto him to this end remember that as a white shield was anciently giuen to
Doctrine and secondly to Manners and because both these are in danger in these last and perillous daies In which respect Iesus Christ saith Apoc. 16.15 Behold I come as a theefe Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments of faith and loue lest he walke naked and men see his filthinesse therefore we must watch for the health and securitie of them both First we must watch in respect of Doctrine that so we be not nuzled vp in falshood and errour There is a stabbing of our soules as well as a staruing of them and that is by false doctrine against which wee must watch For the pressing whereof I shall keepe the same course which I did in the former namely to shew you wherein it standeth and how we may be stirred vp to the practise of it If first you aske me wherein this watchfulnesse in doctrine standeth How wee must watch in doctrine Philip. 3.2 1 Thess 5.21 I answer It standeth in a holy care to obserue that rule of the Apostle to the Philippians Beware of dogs beware of euill workers beware of the concision And that to the Thessalonians Trie all things and keepe that which is good 1 Iohn 4.1 And that of Iohn Trie the spirits whether they are of God When we are thus vigilant and watchfull ouer that doctrine which is taught vnto vs as the men of Berea who as they receiued the Word with all readinesse so they searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so or no Act. 17.11 which were taught vnto them when wee are carefull not presently to admit of euery point that is shrowded vnder the authoritie of a Teacher 2 Cor. 1.24 Who hath not dominion ouer our faith when we are not sluggish to enquire and search into euery doctrine that is offered vnto vs but doe humbly resigne our selues vnto Gods teaching Psal 25.9 14. Psal 119.18 34 Iohn 7.17 doe pray that God would open our eyes that we may be taught doe striue to doe the will of God that wee may know of the doctrine whether it be of God or no and doe get a forme of doctrine or the doctrine of the beginning of Christ Hebr. 6.1 2. or the doctrine of Baptismes and laying on of hands or whatsoeuer else you will call the grounds of Religion laid downe by way of Catechismes and vse all other meanes appointed for the finding out of the truth then may wee be said to watch in doctrine If in the second place you shall aske me what may stir vs vp to be watchfull in doctrine Motiues to watch in doctrine I doe humbly offer vnto your considerations diuers motiues First by this meanes we shall discouer those drugges of falshood which by the deceit of euill workers are gilded ouer as if they were no other than Gods truth It is possible that the Deuill should transforme himselfe into an Angell of life and that falshood should bee so washed ouer with craftie distinctions and a seeming allowance of Scriptures and hore-headed antiquitie that it may be taken by the simple hearted for no lesse than truth Ye know that though God be the Ancient of daies yet the deuill hath beene from the beginning and that both truth and falsehood got into Paradise and that the deuill hath had a succession of his seruants as well as God of his Ministers and that it hath beene an old tricke of the deuill to them that rested in the Scriptures to alledge Scriptures Scult Delit. Euang cap. 30. pag. 109. as to Christ whether by mutilation or deprauation as some dispute it it is no matter That we may not be deceiued therefore and drinke the poison of Antichrist in stead of the wholesome liquor of Gods truth and that without suspicion it is necessarie that wee watch in respect of doctrine Secondly by this meanes we shall be brought to reuerence and obey our Pastors and Teachers I know that our aduersaries will tell vs that this watchfulnesse in doctrine is the next way to make the people which are as sheepe to be Iudges of their Pastors who are as shepherds which is as much as if wee should say that by setting a watch in the night-season to examine all passengers wee make them Iudges of Superiours who are many times stayed by them the folly whereof is apparent to the simple For though the people doe examine according to their charge yet they are so farre from passing iudgement otherwise than by the helpe of such meanes as God hath appointed by applying the rule of the Word to the Doctrine to be ruled that it breedeth vnspeakable respect when the people shall see that their Teachers teach them no other doctrine than that which is warranted by the word of God Thirdly to this end God hath giuen the gift of tongues and interpretation to the Church that we might haue translations whereby we might be enabled to doe it Euen as when a King doth will a Proclamation and cause it to be published he doth it to this end that his subiects may examine their actions sutable to that matter in hand and reforme or conforme accordingly So when God doth giue authoritie and power vnto men to publish his will in the Scriptures in our vulgar tongues he doth it vnto this end that we should examine our doctrines and deeds by it and know and liue accordingly Except therefore that we will not answer Gods end and expectation we must watch ouer Doctrine Fourthly this is one reason why the Apostles did confirme their doctrine by the Scriptures of the old Testament to wit not because they wanted authoritie to put what they deliuered vpon the word of God but because we might be drawne on and encouraged to see the consent of the Prophets and Apostles and to search with the men of Berea in the Scriptures for those doctrines which wee doe entertaine Fiftly and lastly we may be moued to watch ouer that doctrine which is deliuered vnto vs by considering what glorious meanes in appearance the aduersaries of the truth haue to gaine vpon our affections that they may infatuate our iudgements For doe but marke what vsually they plead first against vs and secondly for themselues Against vs what is more frequent in their mouthes and writings What the Papists plead for themselues Walsingh search into matters of Religion than to vrge these two things first that we haue no other doctrine opposite vnto them than that which hath beene taught vs by vicious deformers of religion such as Luther was who as they say besides his notorious wickednesse receiued by his owne confession some of his doctrines from the deuil secondly that as it seemes out of the guilt we haue in our consciences and suspicion of the badnesse of our cause we refuse disputations and other publike trials Oh what faire pretences are here if they were true to draw our hearts to hearken to their Antichristian doctrine But as we loue our
knowledge of the truth nor with his truth who hath promised to leade his Church so long as it is so not by diuine vnction only as others say but by ordinarie meanes into all supernaturall truths Therefore as our blessed Sauiour put his doctrine vpon this triall From the beginning it was not so euen so doe we It is true that truth must stand though it haue no outward thing to commend it euen naked truth When therefore we appeale to the times before Veritati credimus non quia cana sed quia sana we doe it not as if Antiquitie could make a truth or as if we had no other cause to embrace it for the Deuill was froÌ„ the beginning though God was before him In which respect as Aristippus said to one who bragged of his swimming Art not thou ashamed to boast of that which euery sprat can doe so may we answer the great braggers of Antiquitie that they may be ashamed to boast of that which the Deuils may claime as well as they but we doe it as outwardly commending that which is already truth vnto vs. Now because our aduersaries tell vs that the truth we boast of hath not this badge but is of yesterday of Luthers and Caluins hatching I humbly beseech you but to inquire into three points First whether that which is new be alwaies to be reiected Vide Musc h. comm We cannot affirme it because it is not euill in it selfe and in it owne nature for who desires not a new house rather than an old and a new garment rather than one consumed with age I know there is difference betweene earthly and heauenly things but euen in these things newnesse in it selfe is not to be disallowed For Christ compares his doctrine to new wine Matth 9. and saith A new commandement giue I vnto you Ioh. 13. and giueth a new testament Luk. 22. whereof the cup in the Sacrament is a signe and seale It remaineth then that we doe distinguish of newnesse and finde out two kindes of it The first we may call cursed Noueltie when by intrusion of errour to those that are in the right way truth and goodnesse are iustled out of the way Deut. 32. as when the Iewes brought in new and strange gods which their fathers knew not the false Apostles another Gospell Gal. 1.6 and the like The second wee may call gracious newnesse when diuine truth is brought in to those that are in sinne and errour 1 Cor. 5. Thus those that are in the old leauen of sinne are prouoked to newnesse 2 Cor. 5. Eph. 4. Col. 3. Mar. 1.27 Act. 17.19 and our fathers who were in the old way of errour had the new doctrine of the Gospell preached vnto them Secondly put case that that which is new is alwaies reproueable Illud novum est quod antea nec fuit unquam nec visum est nec auditum hactenus sed jam primùm coepit in lucem emersit is the truth in our Church new No surely that did not then begin to be when the fresh preaching of it was renewed For it is that which the Patriarchs Prophets and Apostles haue taught and beleeued and from thence we fetch it We carry it along in that little flocke of all times who according to the measure of meanes which God vouchsafed haue kept their garments in the midst of Popish tyrannie and at the length after much corruption contracted through the want of watchfulnesse in a secure prosperous estate we present it vnto the Church againe in that blessed manner wherein we now enioy it As the Law of Moses was not new when it was published vnto Israel but the renewed law of nature and the Gospell was not new when it was preached by the Apostles but the renewed doctrine of faith so the truth of our Church was not new when it was published by Luther and Caluin and the other Worthies of God but the renewed truth which appeared more gloriously after the desperate sicknesse of errour in the Church vnder the more preuailing power of Antichrist If you shall here say that it did appeare new to the wise of that age I yeeld it did so to the wise men after the flesh but in the third place through whose default was that Surely through the default of our beguiled Fathers who being ouercome with glorious titles with outward splendor with the mysterie of the abhominations in the golden cup and with the custome of many yeeres which grew vpon them by degrees like rottennesse at the coare of a beautifull apple thought that our change brought in a noueltie Hence it came that the ancient Apostolique truth was not acknowledged of her children Euen as if a true mother should be banished from her house and returning after a long season should not be knowne of her owne children So truth being banished by that vnholy chaire and falshood admitted through the neglect of our improuident fathers was scarce confessed of them that were her children at her returne These three points being thus considered we say Act. 24.14 that after the way which they call heresie and noueltie we worship the Lord God of our fathers but that our truth and doctrine is noueltie wee leaue it vnto them that can to proue Especially considering that we take but his libertie who being vrged with what a Father thought Sed pater patrum Apostolus aliter sensit Mihi antiquitas Iesus Christus cui non obedire manifestus est irremissibilis interitus said But the Apostle the father of Fathers hath thought otherwise and resolue with another that Iesus Christ is our antiquitie whom not to obey is apparent and irremissible ruine Now for the second part of the charge that we walke not in the traces of our forefathers may it please your Worships to consider thus much First that we hearken to the voice of God in the Scriptures which doe blame Gods owne people for sticking too close vnto the examples of their fathers Iâ—r 44.16 17. Ezek. 20.18 19 30. where the word of God giues no warrant and doe threaten them who follow their fathers who haue forsaken the Lord and walked after other gods Ezek. 16.11 12 13. and doe charge them that they should not be as their fathers vnto whom the Prophets said Zach. 1.4 Turne from your euill waies but they would not heare Secondly we haue tender and child-like affections to our forefathers And therefore wee cheerefully imitate their manifest vertues we doe in reuerence to their persons burie their errors in obliuion of their doubtfull actions wee doe admit of the most fauourable construction the blemishes of their religion wee wash from their vnderstandings wills and affections with remembring their miserable times wherein the key of knowledge was kept from them and the blindnesse of their guides who kept them in darknesse that they might the better make their owne games and concerning their eternall estate with God we haue thoughts of comfort both because their
Testament in his bloud Luke 22.20 Now doe but briefly collect these points together seeing without Christ we shall perish for euer because without Christ we haue no sauing right to our naturall ciuill gracious or glorious life because all sauing good comes vnto vs by couenant and Christ is the Couenant of his people therefore it is necessarie that we be in Christ Thirdly to conceiue this yet more fully I shall shew you how many waies we may be in Christ How many waies wee may be in Christ To speake then to this point we may be said to be in Christ three waies First by Ordination and appointment in Baptisme for God hath ordained Baptisme to be the outward signe and seale of our putting on Christ Gal. 3.27 and to be the outward meanes of our grafting with him to the similitude of his death and resurrection Rom. 6.5 For the laying on of water doth signifie and seale our buriall with Christ and the wiping of it off our resurrection which because it is conditionall in respect of the effectuall working of it to wit so farre forth as we shall when we grow to yeeres of discretion manifest our effectuall faith by making the right vse of Baptisâ—e that is keepe the couenant which we publikely enter with God in it Rom. 11.22 therefore it admiâ—teth of a cutting off and standeth or falleth as the condition is obserued Secondly we are in Christ by Acceptation for God doth account of vs as in him he being the prince of our saluation and that generall root and stocke which stands in the roome of the whole Church before God In which respect as the whole Church being the body of Christ is called Christ 1 Cor. 12.12 Beâ—ma in manud ling. lâ—at cap. 2. ex Keckerm so likewise and that not by the fond conceit of the vnlearned may Christ be signified by the name of the Church as well as other members when Paul saith The Church is the pillar and ground of truth 1 Tim. 3.15 As the first Adam was the generall root of mankind and stood in the nature and name of all mankinde before God and receiued and lost all the indowments of his nature both for himselfe and vs so also was it and is it with the second Adam he is the root and head that stands in the roome of all his Church to pay for them and purchase for them Thirdly we are in Christ by Contract and couenant not onely by outward contract which is outwardly and solemnly made in the face of the Church in Baptisme and renewed in the Lords Supper but by inward contract whereby God doth marrie vs vnto him for euer and whereby God being the God of vs and our posteritie after vs the Children of beleeuing parents are holy 1 Cor. 7.14 Hosea 2.19.20 Of this the Prophet speaketh in the name of Christ I will marrie thee vnto me in righteousnesse and in iudgement and mercie and in compassion I will euen marrie thee vnto me in faithfulnesse and thou shall know the Lord alluding it may be to the coniugall knowledge of man and wife and signifying that we shall haue spirituall communion with God and through the worke of the Spirit bring forth fruit vnto God Looke as therefore man and wife doe become one flesh and are concorporated either into other by vertue of that contract and couenant of God betwixt them made Prou. 2.17 and that actuall knowledge which they haue either of other so those that are thus giued vnto the Lord as the Apostle speaketh are one spirit and are so vnited vnto Christ 1 Cor. 6.27 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that there is a mutuall fellowship betwixt him and vs in three things First in Natures be being made partaker of the humane and we of the Diuine Nature Secondly in Goods 2 Pet. 1.4 he being made sinne for vs and wee the righteousnesse of God in him Thirdly in Estates 2 Cor. 5.21 Rom 6.5 â—â— l. 2.9 20. â—â—l 3 1. 〈◊〉 â—â— 6 we being grafted into the similitude of his death and hauing the old man crucified with him and being risen with Christ and fitting with Christ in heauenlâ— places and Christ suffering with vs and being honoured with vs as Christ saith He that heareth you heareth mee and hee that despiseth you despiseth me according to that of the Psalme Psalme Thine enemies haue reproched thee O Lord because they haue reproched the footsteps of thine anointed Thus haue I opened the first part of the doctrine of the Text namely the partie who is spoken of Hee that is in Christ. God stirre vp our hearts aboue all things to be thankfull for Christ through and with whom we haue this estate Wee can with some sense and feeling be thankfull vnto God for those mercies we receiue with our senses Oh that our hearts would be alike if not more inlarged for those which we receiue with our soules by faith To come now vnto the second point that is the predicate or that which is spoken of him that is in Christ A new câ—eature namely That he is a new creature consider with mee two points First What this new creature is Secondly Why hee that is in Christ is a new creature What it is For the first either wee may call it a new man 1 Pet. 3 4. which is called by Peter The hid man of the heart for the word creature is taken by Iesus Christ for man Marke 16.15 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as when he saith to his disciples Preach the Gospel to euery creature that is to men who by an excellencie are called creatures they being the most excellent of all the sublunary workes of Gods hands or wee may call it A new creation as the word seemeth to be vsed by Paul otherwhere Rom. â— 2◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when he saith The whole creation groaneth and this the rather because it is a difficult worke and farre aboue all created power yea it is more difficult than to create a world it hauing all cursed powers againsâ— it and therefore the Holy Ghost speaking of the creation of the world Psal 33.6 saith By the Word of the Lord were the heauens made Psal 8.3 and againe When I behold the heauens the worke of thy fingers Psal 102.25 and againe The heauens are the worke of thy hands as if the greatest strength that was put to that worke was but the power of a hand But speaking of the purchase and procurement of this new creation he saith Luke 1.51 He hath shewed strength with his arme Esay 9.6 and the gouernement is vpon his shoulder and againe A body hast thou prepared mee Hebr. Yea and he hath made his soule an offring for sinne Esay 53. as if his bodie and soule must be imployed in this worke whereby he would signifie the difficultie of this worke All which may easily teach vs
make shew of performing a Vow at Hebron Herod of worshipping Christ and of another Herod hearing Iohn gladly Prou. â— yea the Harlot her selfe hath made her peace offerings and payed her vowes and Christ doth so discouer the rich Gluttons wickednes that we may yet see the religion of his linage saying They haue Moses and the Prophets Lâ—ke 16. What wicked man doth not frame a religion to himselfe in appearance and shew to stop the mouth of his conscience and gloze with the world None shall bow lower than he none shall looke more sowre in the day of fasting and in all the kindes of superstition none shall more glister with deuotion in the view of men especially in the day of affliction and houre of death Thirdly in shew euen false religion may imitate the true Let God haue a Temple so hath the Deuill yea where God hath his Church the Deuill hath his Chapell and Synagogue Apoc. 2.12 as his Throne in Pergamus and Antichrist with his apostacie in the Temple of God 2 Thess 2.4 If God answer from betweene the Cherubims the Deuill will haue his oracles Let him haue his Priests the Deuil also will haue Arch-flamines and Flamines his Druids Sophists Sacrificers and the like The Deuill and his instruments haue still beene seene to be Gods apes to imitate him so farre as it hath been permitted vnto them in the great workes of his creation and prouidence Fourthly in shew false religion may not only imitate but outstrip the true If true religion haue golden Priests and woodden Chalices false religion will haue with woodden Priests golden Chalices Let true religion haue a sacrifice of beasts the false will haue a sacrifice of men If the true haue washings the false will haue abundance of washings and other ceremonies which shall goe vnder the name of the traditions of the Elders In which respect they who reade the exceptions of Atheists and Heathen against the true religion shall â—â—nde this to be one that it was farre behinde the heathenish religion in the beauty of their Temples array of their Priests gestures and significant representations in their deuotions Thus let vs carry with vs these foure meditations and conclude from them thus much that seeing the religion of hypocrites and wicked men may equall and false religion may imitate and outstrip the true religion in shewes therefore we must iudge righteous iudgement wee must not chuse religion according to appearance and shewes but striue to be of that which doth most approue it selfe to God What vse shall we make of this point now but this to learne to cleaue to that religion which we shall finde to be more in heart than in shew I know that we must not neglect such shewes as God hath appointed as praying preaching hearing reading bowing the knees lifting vp the hands and eyes together with a decent course and cariage in Gods whole seruice Of these we say as Christ to the Pharisies These ought yee to haue done Matth. 23.23 yet the sincere seruice and glory of the heart ought not to be left vndone the principall end of a good religion being to approue the heart vnto God Gods seruice doth chiefly consist in the holy exercise and vsage of the vnderstanding and affections of the heart according to Gods will What hypocrite cannot draw neere to God with the lips What carnall wretch cannot make a crucifix or other image to be a mouer of fleshly deuotion Objectum motivam vehiculum devotionis and as it were a popish chariot of desires to the persons whom they doe represent What Idiot whose vnderstanding is idle cannot giue God a knee and a knocke vpon the breast at the Popish Latine seruice and Masse of humane inuentions Alas for them whose religion is in shewes If the shew and outside of religion were ordained by God yâ—â— as it might sometimes be omitted without sinne as Circumcision and the Passeouer yea and the feast of Tabernacles for a thousand yeeres together Neh. 8.17 if my Chronologer deceiue me not euen so also may it be practised of vs without grace Oh therefore beleeue not neither trust in shewes but cleaue vnto that religion whose grace and glory doth stand in inward worship which cannot be omitted without sinne nor practised without grace We draw neere to God with our hearts we heare the word with faith feare loue and full assurance we pray in the Holy Ghost yea though wee vse the helpe of others yet we make such prayers our owne by a thorow applying them to our wants and graces when we sing Psalmes we make melodie to God in our hearts and when we doe receiue the Lords Supper we doe it in remembrance of Christ and shew forth his death till he come yea like true worshippers we are so farre from delighting in shewes that as God said of old They shall say no more The Arke of the couenant of the Lord Ier. 3.16 for it shall come no more to minde neither shall they remember it neither shall they visit it so doe we willingly forget all the typicall rites and ceremonies wherewith the Church of Rome did Iewishly and heathenishly abuse our forefathers and doe striue to build vp the hid man of the heart and to worship God in spirit and truth Ioh. 4. not neglecting such outward expressments as are warranted either by generall or particular rules and examples out of the holy word But as for garish shewes let children and babies delight in such rattles We account our selues to haue iust cause to suspect the religion of Rome which is all for shewes They know right well that euery man would be accounted godly and that the wickedest wretch and wisest politician of the world would faine goe to heauen To this end therefore as it may seeme namely to please the wise men of the world and desperate sinners who know by nature that they must frame a kinde of religion to procure Gods fauour they haue patched together as the secure times of the world and their preuailing faction would giue them leaue an outward seruice glorious in shew to stop the mouth of conscience for a time Their faith is resolued into a glorious and pompous Church for shew Their repentance stands only in contrition confession and satisfaction by visible penances which being performed in shew receiueth an absolute forgiuenesse of sinne They boast of their altars sacrifices washings and anointings they adorne their altars images priests and temples They haue their Iubilees processions pilgrimages to their ridiculous Ladies vigils trentals diriges and requiems and all for shew still They haue musicke and chaunting for the eare without the exercise either of vnderstanding or heart They haue golden and veluet silken and taffatie Images for the eye They haue Incense or other sweet perfumes for the nose They haue iuncates and banquets on their falsly called fasting daies for their pallates though they will not ordinarily eat