couetousnes of the other whereupon hath entred this notorious transformation of the spiritual beutie of the Christian Church into a vanity and pomp not simply carnal and worldly but truely Epicurian how euer it be hidde and couered vnder the cloke of deuotion Heereby appeareth the more then desperat impudencie and shamelesnes of them who by their goodly legends so false sottish as nothing can bee more in lieu of keeping themselues vnto the history and doctrine contained in the second booke of Saint Luke called the Actes of the Apostles expreslie vttered to the pen by the holy Ghost haue not shamed to chaunge and transforme the holy Apostles of the Lord into builders of Churches deuisers of crosses forgers of holy water sprinckles c. And what shall say of that most grosse and enormous an impudent boldnes of forging of Saint Peters patrimonie Of that monster crowned with three crownes caried and adored vpon mens shoulders Of such store of glittering pomps shining in euery place which are so manie spoiles of such Kings and Princes as haue beene bewitched and sacrilegious robberies of such goods as were vowed to the spirituall mainteinance of the Church of the Lord As it was so long agoe foretold yea painted out by the holy Ghost in the Apocalypse so far as to name the place and the name of such a confusion And who hath so expounded it The auncient Greeks and Latins whom the Pope himselfe liketh of and alloweth What shall wee saie of the infinity of these goodly votaries of pouerty these honest wallet brethren these good fathers besotted with the verie stones and sumptuosities of their pallaces wherein they dwell What shal wee saie of these new locustes and west Indie Popiniayes already borne to be bred specially of these lees dregs of the filth and mud of the bottomles pit open profaners of the name of Iesus disnesting the other rauening birdes and cormorantes to lay their egs where they had builded and hauing within the compasse of these fewe yeares gotten to themselues more goods and built more goodly pallaces then the rest haue done in fiue hundred yeares before Which thing calleth to my remembrance that which the Philosophers saie That the Serpentes become Dragons by eating of other little Serpentes As for vs contenting our selues with our smalnesse let vs oppose vnto al this statelie Masquâ—raâ—a with which the world â—eeâ—eth itselfe the lodgings and cabbins of the ancient true Pastors there to seâ—ke after and to finde the true church and not in this glittering and profane riches in which the prince of this world raigneth Mat. 11.8 borrowing the name of the Church preferring on the contrariside with Moses the afflictions of the people of God and the reproch of Iesus Christ before all the treasures of Aegypt Heb 11.25 let vs I saie keepe our selues vnto him who is our king and so crowned with glory on high that yet in his poore members he is crowned with thornes Col. 1.24 and not vnto them who part with others the spoile of Iesus Christ 16 Moreouer although this worde which we haue turned Cabbins or Lodges bee taken sometimes in generall for euerie place of dwelling or abiding notwithstanding this woord of Sheepheards which is added hauing as I sayd a respect vnto the manner of liuing of Abraham Isaac and Iacob as also of Moses and Aaron in the wildernes as it is spoken Psalm 77.20 sheweth that wee must so take it as wee haue saide And herevpon we ought also to bee warned that as the sheepheards abid not stil in one place but had their portatiue tents and cabbines as we see how the ancient Patriarches dwelt with their flocks here and there the Church of God chaunging his place by this meanes together with them so we must also take heed how we tie the name of the church so to any place as to think that it neuer stirreth from any nation people citie or towne But wee must beare in mind the aduertisement of Christ who warneth vs that if a man tell vs heare is Christ or there is Christ wee beleeue him not And where is hee then there where saith he the bodie is yea the carcasse of the dead bodie in which is life there are the eagles Matth. 24.23 28. that is to say there where Iesus Christ no other is preached I mean the true Iesus christ in whose only death wee finde life and of whom the Apostle saide that he thought no other thing worthie of knoâ—ledge but Iesus Christ and him crucified 1. Cor. 2.2 and purely preached There must the eagles gather themselues together that is to say seeking to bee fedde with no other then with him crucified For there and no where els is the Church And where shal this true Iesus Christ be found In the cabbins and lodges of the sheepeheardes which are the writings of the Prophets and Apostles vpon which for this cause and for that they lay this only foundation which is Iesus Christ 1. Cor. 3.11 it is said that this Church is founded Eph. 2.20 Apoc. 2.14 Yea but reply our aduersaries if the question be of the interpretation of a place of the Scripture drawen to a contrary sense to whom shall wee haue recourse to discerne the true sense from the false Certes againe to the cabbins of the sheepeheards and pastors the Church hauing none other true and certaine light then this written woorde whereunto we are sent backe not onely by the expresse commaundement of the Lord as we haue before saide but also by his own example who thus refuted and beat back againe the allegation of Sathan Mat. 4.7 as the weapons of the Apostles also were such and that against them who sate in the See of Ierusalem Act. 4.7 so far were they from aiding defending themselues with any vnwritten tradition or with any authoritie attributed vnto the See of Ierusalem seeing that was transformed into a denne of theeues Mat. 21.13 The like did the Iewes of Beroea found theÌ„selues in good case thereby Act. 17.11 the consent notwithstanding testimony of the true Church being not to bee reiected but greatly to bee esteemed of regarded which againe ought to be discerned from the false by the consent of their testimony with the Scriptures And this is it which all the ancient fathers lights of the olde Church haue declared protested must necessarily be doone in the reading of their writings 17 This then hath beene a very strange sleight and treachery of Satan to tie the spirite of trueth to the persons of Pastours and sheepheards without the examination of their doctrine by the scriptures nay which more is to subiect the scripture to their opinions and decrees as if the mason should order his plummet rule by the wall not frame the building to the rightnesse of his line and leuel We ought therefore to consider that the principal and chiefe stone Iesus Christ his doctrine haue beene from al times in
alwaies made stil wil make him the Iudge who shall iudge vs all by his holy word as touching their life ours wee confesse that as for vs wee haue but too great occasion to hang downe our heades as for them the heauen and the earth knoweth too well what their merites are 9 The spouse addeth that which is properly belonging vnto this matter saying that when shee found not her Bridegroome in this bed where shee sought him shee rose to seeke him whom shee so hartily loueth where euer he were Now to creepe into her bed and there to lie groueling and to rise are thinges cleane contrarie the one to the other and indeed it is not enough to condemne that which is ill but wee must like and approoue that which is good and practise it What is then to rise out of her bed It is to quit and forsake al thinges without exception togither with which we cannot enioy Iesus Christ that is to saie to renounce a mans selfe which is the A.B.C. of Christians Matth. 16.24 It is to put out one eye and to cut off one arme to enter rather one-eied maimed into the kingdom of this Bridegrome then hauing two eies two arms to be cast into hel fire Mat. 5.29.30 it is to leaue al things to folow after this Bridegrome according vnto the exāple of his true disciples Mat. 19.27 it is to follow the example of that thrise happy merchant who sold al that he had to buy the perle be found Mat. 13.46 it is to be ready in the banquetting hal and not to be hindered and kept thence either by farme or tillage or marriage Luk. 14.16 it is to to loue neither father nor mother nor country nor kindred so much or more then God Gen. 11.33 Deu. 33.9 and not to become a monk as some one of the auncient not so aduisedly said although the monkeries then were as far distant from those of our daies as the Moone is distant from the earth though they were euen then to say the truth in some poynt lunaticke and fantastical but to follow Iesus Christ that is to saie to stick vnto this Bridegroome in exercising euery man his lawfull calling in all honesty and holines To rise then out of bed is not simplie to chaunge our place but it is as I haue said to quitte and forsake all thinges which may let and hinder vs from that which concerneth the peace of our consciences so consequently our saluation to keepe on in the right waie if we be once in it and to find it out if we bee straied from it and that not onely to follow in general the vocation common vnto al Christians most excellently described among other places Phil. 2.1 but to the end that euery one in special folow his vocation as we haue an expresse commandement to that purpose 1. Cor. 7.20 and according vnto the example of Dauid who hauing this in particular charge to finde and assigne the place for the building of the Temple God punish me so and so saith he if euer I enter vnder the roofe of my house or ascend vp into my bed if I suffer mine eies to sleep or shut the lids of mine eies before I find out a place for the Eternal an habitation for the mighty one of Iacob Psal 132. 10 Let all the elect therefore of God as many I meane as he hath created in a desire of finding him whē they are asleep in this peace of the false Church learne of this spouse to say truely and indeede that there is no commoditie nor appearance of ease shal stay me but I wil leaue them and get me out of my bed to finde him on whom my heart is settled and planted And let those who haue found him take heed how they set their mindes vpon temporall blessings though godlinesse haue the promise of them also 1. Timoth. 4.6 or to make their account that things once well ordered shall so continue stil in the Church or discern the true Church from the false by an outward shew of some great estate neuer so well vnderpropped in the opinion of men but take heede betimes vnto themselues that this Bridegroome in whom consisteth the true peace Matth. 12.29 neuer leaue them but that they continue stil members of that true Church of which it is saide That happy is the people whose God the eternal is Psalm 44.15 To the attaining whereof confessing before the Lorde our too continuall negligence vnthankefulnesse and rebellion we wil craue pardon and mercy at his handes as followeth Almighty God c. THE XXIIII SERMON Our helpe be in the name of God c. It is written as followeth in the third Chapter of the Canticle of Canticles the 2. and 3. verses 2 I will rise therefore saide I and will goe about the City through the streets through the greater places wil seek him whō my soul loueth I sought him but I could not find him 3 The watch which go about the city found me I said saw you him whō my soule loueth 1 That the Lord suffereth not himself to be found incontinentlie of his amidst the confusions and desolations of the Church is for no other cause but to make himselfe to be so much the more ardently and earnestly sought after 2 It is neither to the greater number nor vnto that which is most commonlie receiued that we are to keepe our selues to find the true Church 3 The certaine infallible and perpetuall mark of the true Church is the doctrine registred by the Prophets and Apostles 4 The truth continueth firme and stable in the true Catholike Church opposed vnto the Hereticall but it shineth not alwaies alike nor is alike knowen 5 The doctrine of the Apostles and the Catholique Church are vnseparable and is a testimony one vnto the other 6 The holy scripture ought to serue for text and interpretation 7 The spirit of truth was neuer tyed without any exception vnto the Leuiticall ministerie 8 Wherefore the spouse went her way farther without staying the watches answere 9 The spirit of truth is not tyed to thē without exception who sit in the chayre of the ministerie of the gospell 10 The holy scriptures are in all times irreproueable Iudges of the true Christian doctrine as it appeareth by the testimony of Iesus Christ himselfe and his Apostles 11 Bare personall succession is not to be stoode on though the outward forme bee therein obserued 12 This doctrine being well practised breedeth no confusion in the Church 13 The horrible disorder brought in confirmed in the Church by the Apostatical See of Rome that they are neither heretiques nor Schismatiques who haue seuered themselues from it by extraordinarie meanes sent of God 14 The conclusion shewing how we ought to behaue our selues in this behalfe VPON Thursday last we learned how the spouse awaked by the spirit of god who formed in her an holy desire of seeking him againe
As for the other kinde of the lawe concerning the outward diuine seruice the spirite of errour hath done the cleane contrary tending notwithstanding vnto the same end For hauing abolished the Lawe morall which should notwithstanding be perpetual he hath cleane contrarie found the meanes to establish the Lawe ceremonial knowing that Iesus Christ had imposed an end vnto it and this dessein of his hath he executed by a marueilous sleight which hath deceaued those of the better sort For if he would haue persuaded them that hee woulde set Iudaisme vp againe or retained Paganisme men would haue openly withstood him And therfore he obiected that the great simplicity of the outwarde seruice of God both in the ministerie of the word in the administration of the sacramentes would breede a contempt and therefore it would bee good to haue some petite matters beside not that this should be of the substance of the doctrin or of the sacraments but to make the thinges more commendable and men more attentiue and deuout This being once thought to be good by an efficacie of errour hee added that vsing withal some ceremonies of the Lawe not to Iudaize but to turne them vnto a a good vse doing the same soberly in certaine points like others without superstition or Idolatry would be a meane to winne the Iewes and the Idolaters the easier vnto the true religion Thence came holy-Water square-Caps Surplisses hoodes bald crownes chaunting of prick-song altars distinction of daies and of meates with the rest of the furniture of al that goodlie ceremonial seruice as if God had imposed an end vnto the legall ceremonies of which himselfe was the author to giue authority not vnto the Apostles who neuer ordained nor practised such thinges naie contrariwise established and recommended the true and pure simplicity aswel of doctrine as of ecclesiastical gouernement but vnto them who shoulde come after them to cut and clip off al at their pleasure If anie man will denie this the sight thereof discouereth the fact if wee conferre their inuentions with Moses and with profane histories True it is that touching this point they want no allegations of certaine bookes forged at pleasure but so doltishlie written that a man need go no farther for proofe of such forgeries And thus you see how the spirit of error by a iust iudgement of God hath serued his turne with the holie Lawe of God for the destruction of men and al vnder the shadow of establishing of it and teaching the right vse thereof a thing most miraculous and wonderfull how men could become so brutish as not to suffer a man to touch their sore so far are they from seeking after or desiring to finde or receiue a remedy 12 But touching the law morall the abuse there of appeareth most straunge in this that there is no one speciall commandement which hath not beene more openly ouerturned in Christendome then euer it happened in the synagogue of the Iewes as the reprehension which the lawe-giuer himselfe maketh doth witnes of them from point to point in saint Mathew chap. 5.6.7 But the fault is yet more daungerous in that that the vse and scope there of is turned vpside downe Which thing hath beene so much handled by saint Paul especially in the epistle to the Romans and to the Galathians that it cannot be but an inexcusable reproch vnto them who call themselues Christians to dispute of this point any more In summe the law sheweth vs will we or nil we what we owe vnto God and neighbour and that no man neither dischargeth nor is able to discharge his debt in this behalfe being vtterly vndone and made vnpayable by the naturall corruption of mankinde which thing notwithstanding neither exempteth him out of debt nor from the penalty adioyned vnto the contract which is euerlasting death For to thinke that God renounceth his debt without entire paiment made is to transforme God into man This is then an inexcusable follie to seeke after the saluation of the soule by the obligation of death that is to say in the lawe morall which argueth our condemnation and which can vse no other language vnto vs then his tenor importeth And yet notwithstanding this is the foundation of the hope giuen of finding in a mans owne merits or those of an other whereof a man may furnishe himselfe for ready money vnto the distributer that which is found as we will anon declare in Iesus Christ alone hauing satisfied for vs in carying our sinnes vpon the tree 1. Pet. 2.24 and accomplished al righteousnes for vs Mat. 3.15 Gal. 3.13 and 4.4 and yet notwithstanding behold the matter behold the end and whole substance of the Church of Romes diuinity at this day touching our saluation 13 It remaineth to declare the falsification committed in the other part of the word of God which is our soueraign happinesse I mean the couenant of saluation in Iesus Christ alone promised vnto the Fathers and finally sent into the worlde namely into Iudea in proper person and after vnto all nations by the ministery of the Apostles and others sent hither and thither by them which is that which we call the Gospell Tit. 1.2.3 that is to say the good true healthfull newes But we will differ this point vnto an other time thāking in the meane time our good God and Father that it hath pleased him of his singular mercy and grace to haue opened our eies to knowe and detest such abuses desiring him to giue vs farther grace so to vse his truth that we witnesse by our good life and conuersation that his spirit hath not onely wrought in our vnderstanding but also formed our affections vnto his obedience that wee bee not the more inexcusable before him the more graces and blessings we haue receiued Amen And because we haue beene hitherunto so vnthankefull for so great a benefite let vs demaunde of him fauor mercy with heart with mouth as foloweth Almighty God c. THE XXXI SERMON Our help be in the name of God c. It is written as followeth in the third Chapter of the Canticle of Canticles the 11. verse 11 Daughters of Syon come forth contemplate the King Salomon with the Crowne with which his mother crowned him in the day of his espousailes and the gladnesse of his heart 1 How this King is degraded of all his degrees in the Apostaticall Church of Rome at this daie 2 First of his dignitie Royall 3 Secondly of his state Propheticall 4 Thirdly of his Priesthood 5 A false distinction betweene venial and mortall sinnes 6 An other false Doctrine touching the guilt of sinne the punishment of the sinnes committed before and after Baptisme 7 Howe our sanctification is by their Doctrine falsified 8 How the Intercession of one mediator alone is taken-awaie abolished 9 A conclusion of all this matter 10 Who the mother is who hath crowned this King 11 What the time of his fiansailes
nearer vnto vs now then hee was in Salomons time and that he is as it were painted out before our eies 4 And wee must note here that this prayer pertaineth not onely to euerie member of the Church in the feeblenesse of his spirit and wil but to the whole body of euerie Church yea of the whole Church Catholickly that is vniuersally considered so vexed and troubled as al auncient histories do witnesse both by heretiques in matter of doctrine and so defaced and disfigured with infinite scandales and offences in the discipline and gouernment thereof which thing should bee well considered both of them which seeke here belowe a perfection in euerie member of the Church as the Catharistes of old and in our time the Anabaptists and of them which forge vnto themselues an Idea of a Catholique Church which should be without spotte or wrinkle which they afterwarde apply to their phantasme of the Sea of Rome without any either scripture or reason And yet for all this the true Church leaueth not to be the receptacle gardien of the truth of God who neuer suffereth that this foundation should not remaine and abide firme and sure 5 But in saying Draw me we must withal take the cord in our hand by which we are craned vp and drawn vnto him for to speak thus in the meane time to refuse the meane which is presented vs to draw vs were but to mock God That which I call the corde is the preaching of the Gospell the ordinary instrument of the spirit of God to open our heart to the end to make it heedful and attentiue and to pearce our eares to hear to giue vs eies to see in a word to lead vs into al truth and to confirme and comfort vs vnto the ende and this is it in which the ordinarie exercise of all Christians consisteth It is but in vaine therefore for such as are ordinarie and common contemners of Gods word to say Draw mee For it is no more then if they should saie vnto God make me to liue without a soule make me to see without light 6 But to go on a man maie demaund why the spouse saith in the singular number Draw me and not Draw vs seeing that anon after she speaketh also of her companions And wee will run after thee Let vs therefore vnderstand that this spouse here representeth not one onlie person but the whole company assembly of the true faithful already instructed and bringing forth euerie day as a fruitful mother children vnto God which are here vnderstoode by the companions of this spouse Shee ment not therefore to forget her companie in speaking particularlie of her selfe but to shew by her owne example the rest of her traine what they ought to doe And thus must they doe which haue profited more then others in the Church of God they must bee instruments of grace towardes others and so take one another by the hand and ascend vp togither to this holy house of God whereunto we aspire Esay 2.3 which thing is principally required in the pastors and teachers which are sent to this effect and purpose The spouse therefore addeth ioyning her selfe with her companie And we wil runne after thee By which words is shewen vs the effect of that which she required when she desired to be drawne to wit to the end that she might not only march forward and go on with more courage but rather runne And this is opposed to that negligence and slownes which is in the greatest part of them which are of others most enabled and al for want of taking courage to themselues and making the graces of God to bee powerfull in them profiting from faith to faith from good to better as it is said Psal 84.7 without fainting and being weary in running well Heb. 12.12 Wherefore the Apostle exhorting vs and proposing himselfe for an example saith That we must forget those things which are behinde and follow hard after those things which are before and draw to the marke that is to the price of the high calling of God in Christ Iesus Philip. 3.13.14 the life of man being elsewhere compared vnto a race in the which saith he many do runne but one only receiueth the price namely he which runneth to the listes end seaseth vpō the price 1. Cor. 9.24 And if they be to be reprehēded which runne not swift enough they are much lesse to be excused which go not but pace by pace But what shal become of them who recoile and go backward in steede of going forward what shall become of them which not only draw back but flatly turne the back returning as swine vnto their mire and as dogges vnto their vomit 2. Pet. 2.22 7 And what may I say hereupon euen thus much in fewe words that albeit the Lord by a more then admirable continuing of his graces and singuler patience to inuite to drawe to summon vs vs I say of this Citty yea crying so loude and so shril that this voice of his hath beene hard in al corners and quarters of the world yet notwithstanding I dare not say that there are found any rūners amongst vs but too many idle too many deaffe too many lame too many cold yea too many which draw back I speake it to my great regret griefe cōparing the time which I haue seen in the which there was so great zeale to the word of God that the pastors and teachers were not sufficient to furnish men therewith that not without goodly and great fruits both in respect of the good order obserued in the state publick in priuate families which did ring of Psalmes and praises of God one neighbour warned instructed another open scandals and offences were not hidden and dissembled the straungers forgate their othes and other their euil maners assoone as they entered but the gates of Geneua to be short in cōparison of the time wherein we now are men did not go but did run vnto God and God did blesse them withholding staying the furie rage of their greatest enemies during their greatest fiery zeal courage And now what Hardly doe we retaine the name of that of which before wee had the true substance and our fire is a fire of chaffe And therefore it is vnto vs that that reprehension made by the Apostle to the Galathians pertaineth that hauing begun in the spirit we end in the flesh Galat. 3.3 Euerie one is giuen vnto himselfe couetousnes and distrust haue possessed euerie mans hart there are no lawes which can bridle our pompes and superfluities in such a time when wee should bee rather clad in sackcloth and ashes as neither the gammings fornications and adulteries of some amongst vs. In a word in steed of going forward wee goe backeward euerie man doing so as if a man to runne would charge himselfe with a furred and heauie coate insteed of putting himselfe into his dublet yea into his shirt
house of God Cor. 14.4 but what is this order Euē that which the Lord of the house hath established by his Apostles Let vs then first of all keepe and obserue this and hold all that for disorder which shalbee farther added diminished or chaunged I meane in the substāce of doctrine so that whosoeuer opposeth himself against this disorder whensoeuer it slideth into the Church may not be iustly held for author of confusion but ought rather to bee praised harkned vnto as the setter vp againe reestablisher of that order which the sonne of God established in his house Secondly although the forme of outwarde order be obserued yet we may not tie the holy spirit to persons without exceptiō for those reasons which I haue proued because that in many those things wherein they offend goe not before but followe their vocation as the Apostle warneth vs 1. Tim. 5.24 in whom the Church findeth afterward that shee hath beene deceiued as all the auncient heretiques and the greatest part of them of our time may sufficiently witnes But we are to follow the rule which the Lord gaue and which he also confirmed by his owne example The Scribes and Pharisees saith he sit in Moses Chaire do yee that which they say but do not that which they doe that is to say so farre as according vnto the order of God established by the ministery of Moses they preach the truth in the Synagogues their hypocrisie and wicked life otherwise maie not hinder you from receiuing and practising that which they teach for the truth dependeth not on the person of him which teacheth either in doctrine or in the sacramentes But what saith Christ in an other place Matth. 16.6 Take heede of the leauen of the Pharisees and in an other place Let them alone they are blinde and leaders of the blinde Mat. 15.14 And indeed himself openly condemned their false interpretations of the Law Matth. 5.6 and Mark 7.8 and cared as little for their excommunications Ioh. 12.42.44 What are we to doe then in such a case Wee must saith the beloued disciple proue the spirits whether they be of God 1 Ioh. 4.1 and Saint Paul we must trie all thinges and keepe that which is good 1. Thess 5.21 vnto whō is this said Vnto euery Christian who wil not willingly and wittingly be deceiued as well young as olde men as wemen Gal. 3.28 12 Neither doth there ensue hereupon any disorder or confusion at all for it is an other thing not to suffer a mans selfe to bee deceiued and to take vpon him the office and charge of teaching in the Church pretending that all are Prophetes or Apostles or Doctors and teachers a thing vtterly false and intolerable as appeareth 1. Cor. 12.29 For the sonne of God himselfe in as much as he was the minister of God his father for the preaching of his wil vnto the nation of the Iewes Rom. 11.18 he thrust not himselfe in into this charge Heb. 5.5 Such is then the duty of euery faithfull man in all times and principally in such a time as there is a medlie made of al things and when the light is smothered and darkned neither to beleeue euerie thing vpon the credit of an other neither also to set vp a new religion vnto himselfe apart 13 But what shall we say of thē among whom there is not only no order but which is worse though al things be turned vp-side-down notwithstanding with a desperate impudencie they attribute all this while vnto thēselues the precious name of the catholicke church Among whom the vocations ordained by the sonne of God for the seruice of his house are al of them mowled vpon the Image of the beast the auncient Romane Empire Where to bee called is nothing else but to haue posted best and to be first in dated Where there remaine nothing saue the simple bare names of charges and vocations of the holie sacred ministery Where the entrance into the house of god I mean the scripture in which he hath placed his truth is interdicted forbidden the people Where the house of praier is not only turned into an harbor of them who make marchandise of souls but is changed into a shop of al falshood and Idolatrie yea of more abominable Idolatry then all the Idols of the Paynims and heathen Where Iesus Christ is changed into a dead and senselesse thing which hath neither head nor feete naie which cannot keepe himselfe from the talantes of theeues nor the teeth of rattes and of mise and which perisheth of himselfe if he bee not the sooner deuoured In such a case should the poore famished sheepe I pray you goe vnto the wolues and saie cut our throates and deuoure vs Shoulde the consciences of men goe vnto them to bee resolued who maintaine themselues by deuouring of them quick and dead Should they to purge cleanse themselues shoue themselues farther and farther into such dirty myrie places Should men expect and waite vntill the hogges resolue themselues to liue neetely and cleanely or vntil the whore-maisters and whores take order for the stewes Naie contrariwise the whole church warneth enioyneth vs as touching doctrine to take heed of false Prophets to flie not only Idolaters but Idols also 1. Ioh. 5.21 So did the Leuites and the Priests retire themselues out of the kingdome of Israel when al thinges were there in vtter ouerthrow and confusion There continued notwithstanding an assemblie of Prophets which communicated not at al with the Baalims nor with such as assembled themselues there 2. Chr. 11.14 2. King 4.38.42 And the Lord himselfe saith Let them alone they are blind leaders of the blind Matth. 15.14 but saie our aduersaries hee went vnto Ierusalem hee came into the Temple as others did yea into the Synagogues also I graunt but I aunswere that first there was but one Ierusalem where the publique outward seruice was administred according vnto the word of God the priesthood was yet on foote Moses the Prophetes were al of them in the Synagogues and albeit the doctrine was mingled with much leauē yet the true dowe remained still notwithstanding and the ceremoniall seruice continued in his entire estate Secondly it was to driue out of the Temple with the whip the buyers and sellers whome hee found in the Temple crying out ful loude and ful shrill against the leauen of the Pharisees Sadduces Herodians and others as likewise hee did in the Synagogues But if the Temple had beene brought to that passe as it was at that time when the aultar was made in al pointes like vnto that which Achas the king sent from Damascus 2. King 16.11 and 2. Chronic. 28.23 who wil persuade vs he would haue entred in thither to communicate there with them And when he was demaunded by what authority he did these thinges did he alleage vnto them Cayphas or the great counsel of Ierusalem Nothing lesse for this had bin nothing else but
the aboue named scriptures and writings of the Prophets and Apostles vnto whom wee are no lesse forbidden to adde then to change and diminish seeing they containe the whole Counsell of God touching our saluation Ioh. 15.15 and Act. 20.27 And to the end no man reply that al was not written which the Apostles taught let vs answere this lie first with that which is said 2. Tim. 2.17 where Saint Paul requireth nothing besides the scripture to make the man of God perfect complete Secondly let these goodly vnwritten doctrines and verities forsooth be compared with the scriptures and the day wil condemne this darckenesse Thirdly alwaies and as often as there are diuerse interpretations found of one and the same place let vs know that this commeth to passe partly because euerie one hath not one and the same measure of vnderstanding and partly because the scripture is so plentifull in all trueth that of one and from one only place a man may drawe diuerse expositions which may be al of them notwithstanding conformable vnto the trueth of edification euerie of which may as occasiō serueth be profitable But whē the interpretations are so repugnant that it must needs be that one or more of them be false then if we conferre other places therewith so expound Scripture by Scripture as Iesus Christ teacheth vs by his own example Mat. 4.6.7 as the ancient Councels haue doone hauing by this only most true and most assured means conuinced al sorts of false allegations of heretickes if withal we refer the whole vnto the correspondencie of the articles of our faith which we call our Creede the summary abridgement of euery fundamentall point of Christian doctrine religion there is no man can bee deceiued no not the simplest Idiots of all except they will needs deceiue themselues I mean if so be they bring with them a docible and teacheable mind and a desire to bee taught in all humility according vnto that which is said of the writtē word of God Ps 119.8 Esa 55.1 And thus you see how folowing the exāple of the true Spouse that is searching Iesus Christ in his owne home we shal find him neuer be deceiued 4 But what is it to find him if a man seaze not on him And what is it to seaze on him if a man hold him not fast to enioie him Verily no more to purpose then if a mā should find good meat and not touch it or put it in his mouth and not swallow it or swallow it and not digest it And alas howe many such guestes are there in the woorlde For to let passe those who vouchsafe not to come vnto this banquet and those also who not only enter not them selues into it but hinder also others from entering in and that by all manner not onlie craftines but violence also letting I say these goe who are without let vs speake of them who enter in who see heare him who is both the banquet and the banquet maker I mean our Lord Iesus Christ yet notwithstanding do neither sit downe nor vouchsafe to eat nay not so much as to open their mouthes to chew the morsels already cut prouided for thē How manie contēners mockers are there How many that swallow the meate downe but are fedde neuer a whit with it therefore grow nothing at al in this inward mā shewing by the course of their whole life that they as yet haue not any sense or feeling of the spirit of him in whō all true Christians do liue as he also liueth in them Ga. 2.20 Behold the ruine of Israel Iuda which we yet see to continu before our eies behold what hath caused the Candlestickes of the Churches of Asia to be remoued according vnto the threatning contained in the Apocalyps and which in the end brought in the deluge of Mahomet of his cōpanion vpon the foure ends quarters of the world We see it with our eies who taketh it to hart Who thinketh on that which the Apostle foretelleth of the fulnesse of vs the Gentils Ro. 11.15 in such sort that it wil happē vnto vs as in the daies of Noe Mat. 24.37 Let vs look vnto our selues my brethren that we be not found asleepe Lu. 12.37 much-lesse cast out of the banquet into outwarde darkenesse Matth. 21.22 finally cast forth of the temple of God as filth and doung 5 But wee must yet better examine all the woordes of this so true and faithfull a spouse I found him saith shee whom my soule loueth yea because he made himselfe to be found and for that the true loue of the Bridegroome serued for a guide to direct this spouse whom himselfe loued first 6 I seazed or laid hold on him And with what arm Verily with that of faith for this is the only vessell to receiue him in this is the onely hande to take hold of him Rom. 9.30 But this faith must be firme stedfast to holde him without letting of him goe otherwise this is not that true faith which is the gift of god properly belonging vnto the elect irreuocable Rom. 12.29 but an opinion which vanisheth away with the first wind that bloweth which maketh vs in some sort to tast the good gift of god not to swallow it down digest it Heb. 6.5 Mat. 13.21 7 And howe is this faith and by it Iesus Christ continued mantained in vs The spouse declareth vs in one word whē she saith that she brought this Bridegrome into the house nay into the secret chamber of her mother which conceiued her Now to vnderstād this matter the better we must note that the Church is diuersly considered somteimes as being ioined vnited together making one mystical body with her head so that sometimes it is called Iesus christ himself altogether whole entire 1. Cor. 12.12 as if without her he should be an head without a body Ephes 1.23 and in this sense she hath no Mother but one heauenly father alone Somtimes she is also considered in her generality without any respect of times or places notwithstanding distinguished from Iesus Christ in which consideration she hath also no Mother but one heauenly Father alone together with a brother Bridegrome sometimes also she is considered with distinction diuersity of time for which respect S. Paul saith he hath begotten the Church of the Galathians calleth himself the father of the Corinthians in regard of his ministery Gal. 4.19 1. Cor. 4.15 In which sense a man may say that the Church of Ierusalē not that of Rome hath brought forth al the churches the word of god which is the incorruptible seed 1. Pet. 1.23 proceeding and comming from her Esa 2.3 According vnto this sense also is it that this spouse which is but one perpetual in her generality is according as the one engendreth the other vnto the Lord distinguished into an ancient church vnder