as he is a King As a man he serueth God by liuing faithfully but as a King he serueth him by ordaining with force conuenient Lawes commanding iust things and forbidding things contrarie and againe k August lib. 3. contr Cresâ—onium Grammaticum cap. 51. In this Kings as it is giuen them in charge from God serue God in this respect they are Kings if in their Kingdome they commaund good forbid euill not onely pertaining to humane societie but also belonging to diuine Religion Secondly of Isidore l Isidor Hispal lib. 3. de summo bono cap. 53. Hispalensis Princes of this world many times exercise the heights of godlinesse obtained within the Church that thereby they may strengthen Ecclesiasticall discipline and that what a Priest will not doe by speech of doctrine Autoritie may accomplish by terror of discipline And this I hold for caution sufficient in the right vnderstanding of the Regall title which is not giuen in flatterie but acknowledged in his right as next vnder Christ whose seruant he is that so notwithstanding this subordinate power of earthly Princes vnder Christ in the Church as it is visibly militant in this or that Kingdome Countrey of this world yet Christ may be all in all euen m Eccles 5.8 Of Consolation higher then those who are the highest So that thirdly from the fore-spoken-of doctrine we finde to our particular benefit vnspeakeable coÌ„solation because we depending vpon this Foundation this Teacher this Head this Master Christ Iesus shall neuer perish by a finall fall For we shall not fall finally being taught by him in his holy Word our n Psal 119.105 light and o Iohn 5.39 our life being ruled by him through his holy Spirit p 1. Iohn 3.9 his seed and our q Rom. 1.4 sanctifier his teaching his ruling stayeth vs in his Truth from damnable Errours r Iohn 17.17 his Word is that Truth Å¿ Iohn 16.13 his Spirit leadeth to it So that although we liue in this world as in a Labyrinth going euer on but neuer getting out by the blinding and winding wayes of wickednesse yet need we not feare the want of an issue since his Word as a threed will shew vs the way his Spirit our Comforter will strengthen our hearts to encounter the Minotaurus that killing his companion our trecherous flesh and discouering his path-way this wide and wild world we may put him to flight and say with the People returned out of captiuitie vnto his holy Church t Esay 26.1.2.3.4.5 We haue a strong Citie for u Psal 48.3 God is knowne in it saluation will God appoint for walles and bulwarks to cast out our enemies and to keepe vs in compasse Open yee the gates yee x Iohn 10.5 Porters of the Lords house who haue the key y Luke 11.52 of knowledge and whom he hath appointed to carry the z Esay 22.22 Reuel 3.7 key of Dauid for opening shutting for a Iohn 20.23 remitting and retaining sinne that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in through the b Reuel 22.14 gate into the Citie by grace to glory For thou Lord wilt keepe him in perfect peace whose minde is stayed on thee as on the rocke against which albeit c Matth. 7.25 all waues doe dash yet are they done away because he trusted in thee for the Lord neuer d Psal 37.40 faileth them that trust in him Therefore trust yee in the Lord for euer for in the Lord Iehouah who performes what he promiseth to be e Exod. 6.3 knowne by this Name is euerlasting strength As therefore we cannot finally fall so shall we not perish being set on that Foundation being holden of that Head For f 2. Tim. 2.19 the foundation of the Lord remaineth sure and hath this seale The Lord knoweth who are his Can we then be moued out of place by any storme being so well grounded Our vpper parts are safe too for our Head is g Phil. 3.20 aboue that we cannot be drowned in the middest of many waters being h Colos 2.19 knit vnto him by so many ioynts and bands If we be weake in our selues as we are all but flesh yet are we strong in him who first can so saue vs that i Iohn 10.27 none shall be able to take vs out of his hand who secondly will saue vs k Luk. 1.71.74 from the hand of all that hate vs that in peace we may serue him without feare who thirdly as he l Reuel 1.8 is Alpha by preuenting grace will also be Omega by his gift of perseuerance m Phil. 1.6 performing the good worke he hath begun in vs and bringing n Zâ—ch 4.7 Vid. Caluin ibid forth the head stone of his spirituall building in vs with shoutings of his gladsome o Luke 15.8 Angels for our conuersion crying Grace Grace vnto it For by p Ephes 1.8 grace we are saued and not of our selues his q 1. Cor. 15.10 grace is not in vaine in vs wee r Ephes 4 15. growing both so fast and so fully thereby into our head that we cannot be moued Å¿ Psal 30.7 God by his fauour hauing made our mountaine to stand so strong For first are our foes many Feare t 2. Reg. 6.16 not for they that be with vs are more then they that be with them u Rom. 8.31 God is on our side who can be against vs For secondly are our foes mightie Be of good comfort the Lyon x Gene. 49.9 couchant of the Tribe of Iuda who is our shield will y Matth. 4.11 put to flight the z 1. Pet. 5.8 rampant roaring Lyon of hell yea a Rom. 16.20 the God of peace shall bruise Satan vnder your feete shortly For thirdly haue our foes fought long against vs Be not discouraged their time is the shorter our glory is the neerer and therefore b Reuel 12.12 they rage He that saueth vs seeth them c Psal 59.9 and laugheth them to scorne for d Act. 9.5 kicking so foolishly against the pricks Our teares are put into his bottles our troubles are registred in his booke of remembrance that they may be in fresh suite against our enemies for our comfort and encouragement who shall finde in the end e Rom. 8.23.24 a glorious libertie by the full redemption of our bodies from trouble by death and from death by the comming of Christ vnto Iudgement For here we f Heb. 13.14 haue no continuing Citie but looke for one to come whereinto since in g Reuel 21. â—7 no wise shall enter any thing that defileth he h 1. Iohn 3. â— that hath this hope in him to enter therein and be like him shall purifie himselfe euen as he is pure For this is that conformitie vnto our Master in Christian perfection of which we are now briefely to speake of in
teach for hyre the Prophets for money as Marchants i Reuel 18.3 waxing rich through the abundance of her delicacies So proueable is the Beasts marke whereof yet lest some warie people should make a doubt Antichrist the better to cloake his Couetousnesse shall vse flat Coozenage in his false Miracles and lying Wonders His Cooznage knowne by his false Miracles as our k Mat. 24.24 Sauiour and his l 2. Thes 2.11 Reue. 13.13.14 Apostles foretold For since m 1. Cor. 12.22 Miracles are signes to them that beleeue not as is the gift of tongues therfore as Christ himselfe came and sent his Disciples to preach the Gospell n Heb. 2.4 God bearing witnesse thereunto with signes and wonders So Antichrist to gather the people vnto him like an Ape must imitate the Master and Ministers of the true Church of God in counterfeit signes which by o Bellar. lib. 3. de Pontif. ca. 15. Bellarmines owne confession are euery way lying Miracles in respect of all the causes as first of the end because they are only done p Mat 24.24 to deceiue if it were possible the very Elect whiles thereby they would if they could shew that Antichrist is God Messiah Secondly of the efficient which is onely the Deuill q Iohn 8 44. the Father of lyes after r 2. Thess 2.9 whose working is the comming of Antichrist Thirdly of the matter ficta non facta coozening tricks ſ Bell. vbi supra done in the sight of men but deluding the same saith Bellarmine out of Arethas Fourthly of the forme because they exceede not the strength of nature being onely performed by the secret eyther sympathie or antipathie of naturall things mirandè non miraculosè maruailously for that they are secret to the simple but yet not miraculously since that they are knowne to the Angels and may be perceiued by skilfull men in Philosophy and other learning And therefore what Antichrist cannot doe by his Fox-like fraud His crueltie forcible and fraudulent that same hee attempteth with Lyon-like force t Psal 10.9 like a Lyon in his denne vsing both force and fraud saith u Aug. in Ps 10 S. AVGVSTINE Force in his Gouernment and fraud in his Miracles that so he may fulfill the measure of the Deuils hatred in persecuting the Church first by the force of cruell Emperours and secondly by the fraud of cunning Heretikes For to say nothing of those phantasticall Warres of Antichrist which the x Bellar. cap. 16 Henriq §. 5. Viegas in 13. Apoc de Antichrist §. 10. Iesuites would out of the mis-interpreting of Daniel Ezechiel and Iohns Reuelation put vpon him to wage first against the three Kings of Aegypt Libia and Aethiopia secondly with the seuen Kings remayning and so to become the Monarch of the whole World Wee neede goe no further for testimonie of his crueltie then to the description of the y Reuel 17.7 Woman drunken with the bloud of the Saints and the bloud of the Martyrs of Iesus For to sucke vp this precious bloud of Gods redeemed Antichrist warreth not onely z Reuel 11.7 with the two Witnesses sent to preach in the great Citie which are not as the a Bell. ca. 6. Ribera Viegas in 11. Apoc. Papists all say Enoch and Elias since all the b Apud Pereriū in 5. Gen. 24. Fathers say that Enoch is not to be seene of men in this world and our Sauiour saith c Mat. 11.14 that Iohn Baptist was the Elias which was to come but rather as His d Iacob Rex in Praefat. in Apolog pa. 78.79 sacred Maiestie hath most certainely demonstrated either the two Testaments or the Witnesses preaching the Truth of those two Testaments but also with all those who will not worship the Image of the Beast For e Gal. 4.29 as he that was the sonne of the bond-woman persecuted him which was the sonne of the free-woman Euen so is it now seeing the faithfull must f Act. 14.22 through many temptations and afflictions enter into the Kingdome of God For the wicked thus raging are but g Esay 10.5 Gods Rod and the staffe in their hands is his indignation So that this may be our onely comfort in the middest or heate of all these troubles that as when a Father hath beaten his childe hee burneth the Rodde to still his childe so our most gracious God and louing Father hauing suffered for some short space the great Antichrist both in and against his Church for his Churches comfort and pleasure will destroy that Monster Antichrist as the h Reuel 16.17 lowd voyce out of the Temple of Heauen from the Throne at the powring out of the seuenth Violl shall say It is done And thus we see this vile Monster qualited both in Habits and in Acts. Now to finde out his forme at the full view The place of Antichrist is twofold Common and Proper wee must in the second place seeke where he sitteth and this by the guide of Scriptures may we finde out easily since Scripture sheweth the place of residence for wicked Antichrist to bee common and proper His Common place and both of them God knoweth too good for him For his common place wherein Gods Children may dwell as well as he is i 2. Thes 2.4 the Temple of God which all the Popish k Bella◠Vigne Henriq Viegas Eudam c. Writers that I haue seene vnderstand to be the Temple at Hierusalem but first without any Scripture at all since that great Citie vpon which they frame this conceit is not Hierusalem eyther heauenly or earthly not heauenly for that is called l Reuel 11.8 The holy Citie not earthly for that was not the place of Execution when m A. Nerone ad Licini. Vide Euseb lib. 3. hist cap. 6. lib. 4. cap. 6. Orosi lib. 7. cap. 9. Tyrants were to persecute the Saints it being made desolate all the time of those tryalls but is taken by all n Vid. August hom 8. in Apoco Marlaor c. the best Writers weighing all circumstances for the middest of the Church where Christ was crucifyed both in his Members by persecution and in Himselfe by the blasphemies of Antichrist Secondly against both Scriptures prophecying and the prooued euent those plainely foretelling that God will make Hierusalem desolate vntill o Dan. 9.27 the consummation and that determined shall bee powred vpon the desolate This is manifest by the Iewish hope of building the Temple so oftentimes frustrate especially p Russin lib. 1. hist cap. 38. Theodor. lib. 3. histor cap. 20. when Iulian the Apostata the more to despite the Christians did authorise them to build the Temple in the place where it was set before but then could not be founded by reason of Fire and Thunder and Earth-quake happening in the same place where they would haue layd the first
Synechdoche for all the knowne World by its habitation since euen through all the habitable World then knowne to Geographers the sound of the Gospell hath passed by z Rom. 10.18 the Apostles after their dispersion abroad from Hierusalem if we may relye vpon the report of a Euseb lib. 3. Eccles hist cap. 1 Nicephor lib. 2. per totum ancient and b Genebrard lib. 3 Chronolog Bisciola ad Anaâ—â— Christ 44. late Historians or truely and plainely for the whole World indeed which although it now doth not professe the faith of Christ scarce in c M. Edw. Brierwood in his Enquiries touching Languages and Religions cap. 14. the sixth part for it is neere the ending when faith will bee growne very scant vpon the earth yet might haue had and holden this word of faith long before this time d Luke â—8 8 since it is not ouer-clouded in e Hieronym in Math. 24. any part thereof with inuincible ignorance God being so kinde and mercifull to all men as to send them some light of Truth either by the works of Nature ordinary and extraordinary or by the word of grace preached f Vid. Witaker in resp ad 5. demonsh at Sanderi qu. 5. de Pontif. Rom. ca. 2 euen in China and in the Indians by those three who were called Thomas so much praysed and celebrated for their generall preaching of the Word throughout the World by that great learned man Mr. Doctor Stapleton in his Booke De tribus THOMAS Secondly Part. 2 wee answere vnto their latter part of the Minor that the name of the Romane Empire is yet remayning but the Kingdome is abolished and quite defaced since first there is not scarce one Acre of ground which properly and absolutely belongeth to the Emperour as hee is called Emperour of the Romanes because what he now hath in possession in Hungarie Bohemia Carinthia Silesia c. g Vid. Sleidan lib. 5. 6. Commentar is by right of inheritance from his most illustrious Progenitors of Austria and Hungaria yee and the free Cities in Germanie are not subiect to the Emperours absolutely but according to certaine conditions and couenants expressed and contayned in their seuerall Charters h Vid. Onuphr lib. 3. Rom. Antiquitat qui est de Jmper Romano most of them being situated without the Ancient Pale of the Romane Empire vnder which they continued but a small time being the last conquered and the first recouered Secondly there is not now a Romane Emperour by our Aduersaries owne report for till the Pope i Aurea bulla Caroli Quarti cap. 2. crowne him who is by the seuen Princes Electors chosen and called King of the Romanes they might more truely say of the Germanes they k Clementin li. 2. tit 9. de Iuram lib. 1. Câ—rem Rom. Eccles §. 5. cap. 1. â—ellar lib. 3. de translat Iâ—â—erâ— ca. â— 3 c. account him no Emperour Now since CHARLES the Fifth the Pope hath not set the Crowne Imperiall vpon any mans head neither is it likely that either hee will or shall since there is a barre betweene Germanie and Rome which is not passable by the Emperours Forces euen the power of the Venetians and the King of Spayne in Italie who with the great Duke of Tuscia and other petty Potentates haue vsurped vpon the Rights of the Empire so long a time that they l Iuxta leges Imperiales ss de diuers tâ—mâ—or possess l. 3. longae Cod. lib. 7. tit 31. l. 1. may now prescribe against the right owner Wherefore the wise Bononians m Apud Cornel. Agripp in historâ—aÌ„ de duptici Caesaris Coronat cap. 5. might very well ominate by the breach of that Bridge vpon which Charles the Fifth entred into the great Church there vnto his coronation that not any man euer after should be crowned for Emperour yea and Lypsius n J. Lipsius in praefat lib. de magnitudine Rom. Imperij might very truely hold that all what remaines of the Romane Empire standeth onely vnder the Pope whose Imperiall both Seate and Senate is at Rome So that their former doubt opposed against our Demonstration is so throughly cleered that we may notwithstanding their wrangling allegations of the Gospell not published throughout the World and the present state of the Germane Empire well conclude the Pope to bee that great Antichrist § XXVI The latter exception against our demonstration But now the later scruple is of greater difficultie and indeede very much preiudiciall to our assertion since it is as some thinke contrarie to the iudgement of some of our best and deepest Protestant Diuines such as o Zanchius lib. 2. Miscellan Zanchius and others who deny the Pope to bee that great Antichrist described in Scripture Our answere yet I must needs say againe that since these great and good men be worthy of all true and most reuerent respect for their profound learning and sincere life they are not to be brought forth as opposites to that truth which p Luther lâ—b de Captiuit Babylon Caluin lib 4. Iustit cap. 7.15 Hâ—shâ—sius lib. de sâ—xcentis Papistorum error ca. 23 others of as great learning and sound iudgement haue deliuered out of the most sacred Scriptures especially for that they deliuer nothing against vs demonstratiuely but vpon meere probabilities as q Zanch. vbi supra in Confessione themselues confesse while they professe plainely that this is their opinion concerning Antichrist to wit 1. That the Pope is Antichrist and his Kingdome Antichristian 2. That this hindreth not but that there may come in the end of the world some one notorious Antichrist who may doe Miracles and other such great things as are probably collected from the Scriptures and firmely asserted by the ancient Fathers A graue and good sentence agreeable to the Truth if we respect the matter howsoeuer in the manner of the reuealing of this Antichrist they seeme to runne into Popish Tents onely vpon a peaceable minde and zealous affection towards some of the Ancient Fathers especially for the Greekes r Damascen li. 4. Orthodox sid cap. 27. DAMASCENE and for the Latines Å¿ August lib. 20 de Ciuitate Dei per totum AVGVSTINE who liuing before the sixe hundredth yeere after Christ defined this matter onely vpon coniectures according to that tradition which is recorded in t Hyppolyt Orat de consummat saec Antichristo tom 2. Biblioth sanct Patrum Hyppolitus his Oration concerning Antichrist an Author most iustly u Sixtus Senens lib. 4. Bibli suspected to be counterfeited and yet if hee were true he is no sound warrant for vs to build our faith vpon concerning Antichrist For although the authoritie of ancient Fathers bee of great force in the litterall exposition of the Scriptures out of which wee haue most fully declared the former question What is that great Antichrist yet haue
as their great zeale in embracing and maintayning wil-worship did euidently demonstrate Thirdly that at the time of their death they of their owne meere good will for the settling of their troubled consciences in the sweet repose of the peace of God abiured renounced all those proud points of puffing vp Doctrine concerning the strength of mans free-will and the validitie of mans merit and the corporall presence of Christ in the Sacrament and the helpe of other mens Suffrages after death with other such like onely then resting and relying themselues vpon the sole merite of Iesus Christ as I could instance in very many of them but that I am eased of this labour by n Illyric Catal. test verit tom 1. soll Illyricus first gathering o S. Gowlart tom 3. art 4. Gowlartius well marshalling into their seuerall Ranks and Orders the witnesses of truth liuing and dying before the dayes of Martin Luther Yet can I not omit the most liuely obedience oâ— these two in their times reputed for great Men the former is S. Bernard who while he liued in the middest of darknesse about the yeere p Bellar. Chronolog of our Lord one thousand one hundred and fortie was a principall Patron of many Superstitions imposed to the simple vpon the pretence of meriting heauen which carnall conceit hee at the very point of death thus plainely confuted when hee humbly beseeched the hearty prayers of his Brother Arnaldus q Lib. 5. de vit S. Bernard cap. 2. in tom 2. Oper. Be carefull to strengthen by your prayers me the very heele calcaneum or lowest member of the body of Christ voyd of all merits that hee who lyeth in waite may not finde where to fasten his tooth and to inflict a wound the latter is Doctor r Fox Martyrolog pag. 1238. Redman a good man in his time and a great Scholler who albeit in his former dayes hee politikely tooke part with the Popish side yet vpon his death-bed hee freely renounced his former tenents concerning the Reall bodily presence and Purgatorie and Iustification by Works and such other like For so strong is Truth that although some Politikes may smother it in their life time yet at the houre of their death it will breake forth either vnto comfort vpon their true repentance as it well appeareth in the former good examples or else vnto condemnation through the torment of conscience arising vpon their retchlesse resistance made against a known truth whose strength is such as compelleth them in spite of their proud hearts to yeeld an assent to that veritie which before they wilfully oppugned against their conscience euen as we read of that proud Beast Å¿ Fox Martyrolog pag. 1623. Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester who vpon his death-bed hearing Doctor Day Bishop of Chichester speake of free Iustification in the bloud of Christ our Sauiour sayd What my Lord will you open that gappe now then farewell altogether To me and such others in my case you may speake it but open this window vnto the people then farewell altogether t Prou. 19.21 There are many deuices in a mans heart neuerthelesse the Counsell of the Lord it shall stand For God neuer wanted a Witnesse of his Truth but eyther a Friend to his owne saluation or an Enemie against his will confessed the same to his owne condemnation the Gospell being then as now and euer to some u 2. Cor. 2.16 the sauour of life vnto life to others the sauour of death vnto death How our fore-Fathers stood towards God in these darke dayes of Antichrist we are not to iudge peremptorily x Rom. 14.5 they standing or falling vnto their owne Masters But yet if they did as truely beleeue as they pithily penned their true confession of their faith in God the Father Sonne and holy Ghost if they did as heartily pray as they powerfully prepared themselues thereunto especially vpon their Death-bed according to the rules of comfort y In Manuali Catholicorum edit â— Guil. Crashaw in 16. Ann. Dom. 1611 ascribed to Anselmus and Iohn Gerson then surely we cannot but deeme so well of them as z Mal. 2.15 of shining lights in the middest of a crooked and peruerse Nation wherein they liued as a Gene. 12.14 Abraham in Aegypt b Gene. 19.6 LOT in Sodome c Psal 120.5 DAVID in Meshec the d 1. Reg. 19.13 seuen thousand in Israel and e Reuel 7.3 the sealed Saints in the middest of the earth from whom the Papists can haue no more allowance then the wicked f Ioh. 4.12 Samaritanes could finde from their pretended Father Iacob since if our fore-Fathers had seene but halfe so much of the Popish tyrannie superstition and abominations they would haue abhorred them with faire greater detestation then euer we haue yet done albeit we see them as openly manifested as the g Esay 3.7 The Conclusion applicatorie sinnes of Sodome And therefore now it is our onely duty to supply their defect in knowledge by a better zeale in practice for the rooting out and expulsion of Pope and Papists Generall to all if not out of our Country wherein they bee inuolued as Moths yet out of our conceits as men of a most massacring minde declared by their Powder-plot no way to bee pittied or approued of vs whose vtter subuersion and ruine they seeke as the h Psal 137.6 children of Edom cryed against Hierusalem Downe with it downe with it euen to the ground For is it not a Law made against the worshippers of any strange god that i Deut. 13.8.9 we must not consent to them neyther let our eyes pitie them Is it not a practice ratified by DAVID k Psal 139.21 to hate them that hate God as if they were our enemies And is it not the Rule of Christs Gospell l Math. 12.30 that he who is not with vs is against vs and he that gathereth not with Christ scattereth Experience doth teach vs that as Nettles doe not sting vs but vpon a light touch onely so euils increase not but vpon forbearance according to that axiome giuen by S. AMBROSE m Ambros Ser. 8. in Psal 119. Facilitas veniae incentiuum tribuit delinquenti Easinesse of pardoning giueth encouragement to Offenders So that seeing it is most certaine that n Prou. 20.8 a King and so any other Magistrate that ruleth vnder him sitting vpon the Throne of Iustice chaseth away all euill with his eyes because as he o Psal 101.8 is carefull to cut off from the Citie of God the workers of iniquitie so the wicked in the p Prou. 28.1 guiltinesse of their consciences will slye from the face of good Iustice which as the q Prou. 25.23 Northren winde the raine so scattereth abroad the backbiting tongue and since vpon the bad behauiour of these wicked wights many good and wholsome Lawes to restraine their pride and represse their
Maiestie as d Euseb in orat de laudibus Constantini Eusebius did of Constantine the Great that whereas he alone is impugned by all false gods he alone of all Princes may most deseruedly be reputed the sonne of the true God who said by his Prophet e 1. Sam. 2.30 Them that honour mee I will honour and them that despise me shall be lightly esteemed Of Supplication 2. Of Supplication or most humble and dayly Praier that God in his great mercy towards vs his poore people would most firmely corroborate and strengthen the Arme of His most puissant Maiestie against all enemies whatsoeuer for the timely destruction of the wicked of the Land that he may with f Psal 101.10 holy Dauid cut off all wicked doers from the City of the Lord. For saith Salomon g Prou. 25.5.6 Take away the drosse from the siluer and there shall come foorth a vessell for the Finer take away the wicked from before the King and his Throne shall be established with righteousnesse because as Lampridius h Aelius Lampridius in Alexandro Seuero deliuereth of the Common-wealth it is safer if the Prince be euill rather then that his friends be euill For he is but one and may bee reclaymed by good aduice whereas they are but as so many Waspes or Vipers that not onely may hurt the head but infect the whole body And therefore i Apud Euripidem in Scirone one said well That it was a good duty to punish badde liuers for that as k Apud Stobaeum Ser. 44. Isaeus thought thereby is prohibited all iniurie from others Of Obedience and due obseruance of that most wholsome counsell which S. Paul l Rom. 16.17 gaue the Romanes 3. Of Obedience saying Marke them which cause diuisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which yee haue learned and auoyd them For that marking 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sheweth sharpenesse of wit this auoyding 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 prooueth vprightnesse of will and both of them most behoofefull in dispatch of these duties seeing Heresie lyeth secret like Snakes in greene grasse very hardly to be discerned by bleared eyes or dull pates and Heretikes are craftie like their Master the Deuill able to seduce and withdraw the most constant from their settled true course if they doe not beware First therfore as the Foxes m Plutarch de solertia animaliuÌ„ of Thrace by Plutarchs report doe not runne or passe ouer any Ice whereof that Countrey hath plenty in Winter before they haue layd their eares thereunto to finde either the water vnderneath running or the bottome soundly frozen so we in this wary wisedome of Foxes as of n Math. 10.16 Serpents are not to imbrace any doctrine deliuered vnto vs by any man whosoeuer before wee haue well tryed the soundnesse thereof both in matter and forme whether it be o 1. Cor. 3.13 as Gold Siluer and precious Stone or as Timber Hay and Stubble For the p Ioh 32.3 eare tryeth words as the mouth tasteth meate Secondly as by sensuall memory the Beast will shunne the pit into which he hath either formerly â—alne to his hurt or is likely to fall in by the very like danger so we men by reason and Christians by grace must carefully eschew those whom we haue found Heretikes or any way resembling them and that euen both in conceit and company as S. Iohn q Ioh. Ep. 2.10 gaue counsell saying If there come any vnto you and bring not this doctrine receiue him not into your house neither bid him God speede First bid him not God speede by any inward approbation either of his learning or of his life of his learning for Quid me melior si non iustior said r Plutarch in Apopâ—thegmatis Lacoricis Agesilaus of the King of Persia What is he better then I if he be not more iust then I am And so may wee enquire of any mans learning let him bee neuer so great a Doctor what is he better learned then another man if hee be not more orthodox He surely in my iudgement is the best Scholler that is first Å¿ Esay 54.13 6. Iohn 45. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 taught of God and then t 1. Tim. 3.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 apt to teach other what himselfe had well learned as therefore the Apostles although u Act. 4.13 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vnlettered men yet were better seene in all x Luke 21.15 true learning then any of the Iewish Rabbines and so was y Epiphan haer 64. Methodius before Origen Malchion z Euseb lib. 7. histor Eccle. c. 23 the Priest before the Bishoppe Paulus Samosatenus onely for that they held and maintayned what God taught them out of the holy Scriptures For as there a Origen homil 3. in Leuiticum was no Gold either put in or bestowed vpon the Tabernacle which was not weighed with the shekell of the Sanctuarie so no kind of Learning is fit to build vp the Church of Christ but that which being weighed in the ballance of Gods Word is found to be Orthodoxe by true agreement with the proportion of Faith since b 1. Cor. 8.2 Knowledge puffeth vp and c Act. 26.25 much Learning will make a man mad if it be not found in the words of truth and sobernesse as therefore Iustine Martyr d Iustin Martyr in Exhortat ad Gentes accounted those to be the Teachers of our Religion who taught vs not according to their owne humane opinion but only from the gift giuen vnto them from aboue by God Of his life for Heretikes cannot bee honest men because they haue forsaken the ground of Honestie which is Truth as Gregory said e Gregor lib. 18. moral cap. 2. well Profectò ab aequitate discrepat quicquid à veritate discordat Truely that doth disagree from equitie which differeth from veritie Beware saith f Math. 7.16 our Sauiour of the rauening Wolues in the Sheepes clothing And therefore secondly receiue him not into your house for any priuate conuersement at all lest when hee is warmely setled he fill the house with Heresie as Aesops g Aesop de rustica serpente Snake is said to doe with hissing and so prooue no better then the base h Iudg. 17.8 18.6 Leuite did to rich Micah first a flattering Seducer and then a false Traytour as I feare me many Noble and Worshipfull Houses in England find by wofull experience in their too kind and bountifull entertainment of Iesuites or Seminarie Priests of Schismatikes or other Sectaries For as the Greeke Poet i Theognis said well 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Thou shalt learne good things from the best With bad thy soule to death is prest Haue k Ephes 5.11 then no fellowship with the vnfruitfull workes of darknesse but rather reprooue them For your wits by the Scriptures are
errour shee must bring her Kids that is as q Tres Patres Theodorit Psellus Nysse Grego Barnardâ—s Beza Mâ—rcer Guiliel Thomson c. all interpret her vncleane thoughts and inordinate affections besides the Shepheards Tents that is to that order which the Church by her Ministers will prescribe For this is the fruit of spirituall communication that as knowledge ascendeth so loue descendeth when Superiours most tenderly respect their Inferiours to guide them in the way and Inferiours by obedience grow vp in true knowledge as good ground by sweete dewes are cherished for growth For r Prou. 15.31 the eare that heareth the reproofe of life shall abide amongst the wise And thus we haue the fiue seuerall meanes for tryall of Guides which notwithstanding the carping Cauils of Stapleton and others are as an hedge on euery side set double to keepe vs within the ring and compasse of sauing Truth against all Errours broched by men of a reprobate minde whom as we may fully try by these meanes so shall we plainely know by their proper markes For the markes by which we know them The second Answere of the Markes are the fruits which come from them as our Sauiour forewarned Å¿ Matth. 7.16 Yee shall know them by their fruites These bring forth fruits though bad and blasted like the t Esay 5.4 Vine which brought wilde grapes and the bad tree yeelding only corrupt fruite for of u Luke 6.45 thornes men doe not gather figges nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes saith our Sauiour alluding to that common prouerbe thus expressed by Theognis x Theognis in Epicis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Non etenim è scilla Rosa nascitur aut hyacinthus Ad semen nata respondent saith y Senec. Ep. 87. Seneca Euery seede hath his owne bodie saith the z 1. Cor. 15.38 Apostle Wickednesse proceedeth from the wicked saith a 1. Sam. 24.14 Dauid So that from a blinde guide we cannot expect any curious conceit or profitable performance of necessary duties that which they bring forth as the best fruite they haue by which they may be knowne from other men being bad and base most vile and villanous whether we respect their doctrine or their life For b Vid. praecipuè Aquinat in Catena Marlaoratum Maldonat Tossanum Piscatorem Stellam in Luc. all learned men whom I haue seene vpon the Gospells thinke these two to be the fruits marks by which good Ministers are knowne from the bad and their thoughts are grounded vpon good reason since both Doctrine is tearmed the c Esay 57.17 fruite of lips which God createth to good mens peace as he said d Socâ—ates apud Diog. Laertium Loquere vt videam Speake that I may know what is in thee for e Meander in Senarijs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a mans fashions are known by his speech and life or actions are if they be good called f Philip. 1.11 fruits of righteousnesse as sinnes are called g Gal. 5.20 fruits of the flâ—sh Now then first for the doctrine of bad Ministers 1. Marke it is knowne to be wicked by its both vnheard-of newnesse inbred naughtinesse The newnesse of their doctrine is found out by the late sowing thereof for when h Math. 13.25 the good Husbandman had sowne his good seed then came the enuious man by night as i Iohn 3.20 he that doth euill hateth the light and sowed the tares In omnibus veritas imaginem antecedit postremò similitudo sequitur saith k Tertull. de praescript aduers haer cap. 29. Tertullian that is In all things truth goeth before the image thereof afterward followeth the resemblance For praecedunt Creatoris bonâ— sayeth l Petrus Chrysologus Ser. 96. Chrysologus the Creatours good things goe before mala Diaboli post sequuntur the bad things of the Deuill follow after vt malum quod est ex Diaboli sit accidens non natura that the euill which is of the Deuill may be an accident and no substance The naughtinesse of the same wil be euidently perceiued by these seuerall contents since as Theodorite m Theodorit lib. 3. haer fab in praefat well obserued out of his owne great experience Impia execranda dogmata per se sufficiunt ad suum patrem ostendendum impious and cursed doctrines are sufficient of themselues to shew their father who is the Deuill whiles they breathe belch out either blasphemies against God as in n Vid. Epiphan lib. 1. Panarij Atheisme Graecisme Iudaisme and heresies about the Trinitie and Christs Incarnation or iniuries against men as Turkes by o Vid. Alcoran Azoar 8. Knoll Turk hist. Mahomets doctrine maintaine murders and reuenge or impuritie and vncleanenesse in themselues as Casa p Sleidan Comment lib. 21. the Popes Legate in Venice and B. of Beneuentum most wickedly commended vile Sodomitrie verifying hereby the words of the q Tit. 1.15 16. Apostle Vnto the pure all things are pure but vnto them that are defiled and vnbeleeuing is nothing pure but euen their mind conscience is defiled they professe that they know God but in workes they denie him being abominable and disobedient and vnto euery good worke reprobate Therefore sayth St. Augustine r August lib 12 de Gen. ad tit cap. 14. It is no great matter then to discerne him that is a malignant spirit when he shall come or bring vs to those things which are against good manners or the rule of faith for then he is easily discerned of many But to passe from this note of Doctrine their life is to be looked to 2. Marke which will be found quickly to be most wicked and altogether dissonant or disagreeing to the profession of a good Christian by their habit and their acts Their habit by our Sauiour Å¿ Matth. 7.16 is noted to bee two-fold first outward secondly inward The outward habit is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sheepes clothing which is to be taken or vnderstood two waies First historically for the vsuall garment of the true Prophets who were wont to weare t Zach. 13.4 a garment of haire such as u 2 Reg 1.8 Elijah and other Prophets vsed x Pet. Martyr in 2. Reg. 1. to expresse their repentance and sorrow for sinne whose fashion false prophets tooke vpon them that thereby they might the more easily deceiue simple people albeit some good men did well finde them out as Herodes y Gell. lib. 9. c. 2 of Athens discouered that counterfet Philosopher when he said Video barbam pallium Philosophum nondum video I see a heard and a cloake but as yet I see not a Philosopher For z Phaedrus lib. 1 fab Aesop fab 11 as the Asse in the Lyons skinne by braying monstrously feared all other beasts but the Lyon who knowing him mocked him therefore So Virtutis expers verbis jactans gloriam