Concerning the brasen serpent 2. Kin. 18 4. Ezechias is in that behalfe specially commended of the holy Ghost for that he brake it because after a sort it was worshipped of the people Now therefore with what face dare they alledge these examples to vphold their images set vp contrarie to the expresse commandement of God seeing especially there is so filthy an abuse of them vnto all kind of idolatrie Theoph. But what did the Cherubins and the brasen serpent signifie Math. Euerie Cherubin had foure wings with two they couered their face whereby was taught that the Angels them selues be so stricken with that brightnesse of the diuine Maiestie that they cannot endure it and so be coÌ„pelled to couer their faces with the other two wings they couered the mercie seate which was vpon the Arke to instruct vs that God is incomprehensible and therefore ought not to be represented by anie humaine likenesse Touching the brasen serpent God signified by it that all they whom that old serpent namely the deuill with whose poyson and that indeed deadly we are infected through sinne had bitten were healed so as by faith they do flie vnto Christs death For the brasen Serpent was a figure of Christ as the Lord himselfe teacheth in these words As Moses lifted Iohn 3. 14. vp the serpent in the wildernesse so must the Sonne of man bee lifted vp that who soeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue life euerlasting Theoph. The third obiection I am satisfied for the second obiection the third is behind wherin they alledge almost innumerable miracles which were wrought in fauour of the worshippers of Idols and for the punishment of such as despised them Matth. The answer Although I might most worthely reiect the greatest part of those miracles as false and fayned yet will I grant this that they may be all taken for miracles indeed But what can they build with them might not the Heathen boast the selfe same things of their Idols Valer. Mâ—… lib. 1. Cap. â— Let prophane histories bee read they will affoord infinite examples of those things neither indeede is it maruell For the deuill to the ende he might establish his owne false doctrine would therein followe God Theoph. How Matth. As God when hee meant to open his trueth vnto men sent foorth true Prophets and Apostles to preach it and furnished them with the power of the holy Ghost that they might confirme it by sundrie miracles So the deuill the father of lyes assayed the same thing when he would bring in Idolatrie and superstitioÌ„ into the world For he raised vp false Prophets and Apostles to preach it and put into them the power of working miracles for the confirmation of it Hereupon it is that Christ warneth vs diligently to take heede of Mat. 24. 24. false Prophets who saith he shall do great signes and miracles so as they shall deceiue if it might be the verie elect Whereunto also may be applied the saying of the Apostle speaking of Antechrist Whose coÌ„ming 2. Thes 2. 9. is by the working of Sathan with all power and signes and lying wonders Theoph. Why doth the Apostle call them lying wonders Matth. Not so much to note the falshood of them as to giue vs to vnderstand of the ende whereat those miracles do shoot And that is to confirme most false and lying doctrine such as are Idolatrie and superstitioÌ„ which are directly contrary vnto Gods word which indeed ought to be vnto vs in stead of a touchstone by the which to discerne true miracles from false that we be not deceiued by them Theoph. Thou thinkest therefore that all miracles which serue to confirme false doctrine are wrought by the deuill and therefore to be refused as lyes and done to deceiue Matth. I thinke so And for this cause doth the Lord warne vs by Moses if there arise in the middest of vs a Deut. 13. 1. 2. 3. Prophet that foresheweth things to come or sheweth anie other signes for this purpose to turne vs aside froÌ„ his worship that we do not heare such a Prophet for the Lord your God saith he proueth you to see whether you loue him with all your heart Theoph. But howe can the deuill haue the power to worke miracles which appertaineth onely to God Matth. The Lord looseth the bridle vnto him and giueth that power that he may auenge him selfe vpon those which despise and refuse his truth of whom Paule thus writeth Therefore will the Lord send them the 2. The. 2. 11 strength of delusion that they may beleeue lyes Theoph. Thou hast now satisfied me concerning the first part of this commaundement and those abuses haue bene discussed in it which are wont to be brought into the worship of God but chiefly the greatest amoÌ„g them namely Idolatrie It remaineth therfore that we The other part of the 2. commandement come to the other part to the end we may know what is to bee done in the outward seruice of God that is framed according to his owne will Matth. That is when a worship is giuen both agreeable to his nature and acceptable to his Maiestie Theop. What is that worship or adoration agreeable to the nature of God Math. Of spiritual worship It is taught of Christ himself Ioh. 4. 23. speaking to that woman of Samaria he saith The houre commeth and now is when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirite and truth for the Father requireth euen such to worship him Now he opposeth or setteth spirituall worship which God requireth against carnall worship deuised by men which because it is answerable to their carnal and corrupt nature maruellously pleaseth themselues but doth most of all displease God that is a spirite Yea indeed no worship but spirituall is acceptable vnto him Theoph. Now it is to be seene wherein that adoration or spirituall worship standeth Mat. Sincere prayer is the chiefe part of it whether it be publiâ—e or priuate when our hearts be lift vp vnto God with a pure coÌ„science all things being taken away that may withdraw or estrange our mindes from him as images candles and such other inuentions of men falling downe vpon our knees our heads vncouered and hands lifted vp to heauen Theoph. Are not kneeling vncouering of the head lifting the hands vp to heauen carnall ceremonies Matth. No in no wise For we call them carnall ceremonies that were deuised by men and such as tye our mindes to these earthly things but these are both ordained of God and do bring forth farre diuers or vnlike effects For they call our mindes from these earthly and fraile things and do lift them vp to true pietie and spirituall meditation Theoph Is there nothing else required to worship God spiritually besides the things which thou hast reckened vp Mat. There is somwhat else required namely that we do heare his word receaue the Sacraments with humblenesse and reuerence of mind
word of God which is most certaine and vpon the truth whereof resteth all Christian doctrine The. What vnderstandest thou by the word of God Mat. The Canonicall books of the Bible whereunto for this cause is giuen the name of holy Scripture Theoph. How came it to passe that those Bookes were called the Bible Mat The Christians of the primitiue Church after they had gathered into one volume the bookes of the Prophets and Apostles by an excellency called that volume in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because those bookes farre passe others For truly the word of God in worthinesse and excellency goeth beyond all the words of men Theoph. But how maie it certainely be proued that the doctrine which is contained in those bookes is the word of God seeing that the Prophets and Apostles who it is certainely knowne were men were the authors and writers of them Mat. First of all indeed it is necessarie that the holy Ghost which spake by them nay whose instruments onely they were do engraue that faith in our hearts Then that assurance maie be confirmed by obseruing the speciall excellency which it is easie to perceiue in those writings as also the most holy effects which they worke in vs. Theoph. What excellency do you meane Mat. effect 1 First of all the maiesty of the Spirit of God which shineth in thē most euidently For euery where there appeare diuine and heauenlie things nothing earthlie and mortall or that agreeth with the corrupt affections of the flesh effect 2 Secondly the consent of all the parts among them selues for although they were written by diuerse writers in sundry places and at sundrie times yet there is no lesse agreement betweene them then if they had agreed together of the matter before effect 3 Finally the fulfilling of all the prophesies deliuered long before yet precisely accomplished each of them in their proper time Ier. 26. 12. Dan 9. 24. Hence it is that Dauid giueth thē most excellent commendation saying Psal 12. 6. The words of the Lord are pure words as the siluer is tried in a fornace of earth fined seauen fold I say nothing of their antiquitie and that not without a miracle they were preserued among so manie enemies which wold haue destroied them and among such cruell persecutions Theoph. But what holy effects do they worke in vs Mat. This generall we maie marke that the Church hath alwaies as it is at this day beene gathered together by the authoritie of the holy Scripture that is to saie a companie of men of diuers ages sexes and conditions which worshippeth God according to the instructions and doctrine of that Scripture a good part whereof in all ages hath sealed the same with their bloud But the speciall or particular effects are that they rauish the reader enforce him to the reuerēce of God no otherwise then as if God himself did speak Moreouer that by the reading of them our hearts are touched with an earnest feeling of our sinnes Last of all that they lift vp our minds aboue all heauens kindle within vs a desire of a better life cause vs that in comparison thereof we do easily despise all other things All which are not done by the writings of men notwithstanding they be artificiallie handled Therefore the Apostle to the Hebrues saith that the word of God is liuing mightie in operation and piercing more then anie two edged sword and that it doth reach euen Heb. 4. 12. to the diuiding asunder of the soule and the spirite of the ioynts and marrow Theoph. Verily these are most strong arguments to prooue the truth of Gods word But there bee some which say that all the authority of it dependeth vpon the Church Mat. They do as if one should say that the light of the sunne hangeth vpon the testimony of men For as the Sunne shall not cease to shine although all men be blind euen so the word of God shall neuer receiue losse whether it be allowed or dissalowed of men Moreouer how can it be that the authority of the word of God should depend vpon the allowance or consent of the Church seeing that the Church it selfe borroweth all her authoritie of the word as it were of her foundation for it is built vpon the foundation of Ephes 2. 20. the Apostles and Prophets Theoph. But they say that in this place it is not meant of the truth of the word in it selfe but of the meane whereby it is vnderstood and receiued of men Which they affirme to hang vppon the testimony and allowance of the Church To which purpose they alleadge this saying of a certaine Father I should not haue beleeued the Gospell if the authoritie of the Aug. contra epist fund Manich. Church did not moue me Mat. This sentence maketh not for them For this was the mind of that holy man that being a stranger from the faith he was moued by the authoritie of the Church to embrace the Gospell and that after by the working of the holy Ghost he was confirmed it that faith Which hee doth a little before declare in these words The Church first calleth vs to beleeue that which yet we are not able to see that being made strōger in faith we may come to vnderstand that which we beleeue not now men but God himselfe inwardly strengthening and lightning our mind Which thing I doubt not but it is true namely that the witnesse which the Church giueth to the word of God doth not a little moue vs to embrace it But then onely this is when our faith is beginning for when it is come to any age and we our selues by reading hearing of the word haue tasted of that truth then we beleeue not by the testimony of the Church but by that which the holie Ghost sealeth in our hearts In so much as if the Church should then teach vs a doctrin diuerse from that we would not giue our consents vnto it This shall be made plaine by the example of the Samaritanes Those hearing the report of the woman with whō the Lord had spokē that he was the Christ beleeued But after that themselues had heard him they said vnto the woman now wee beleeue not any Ioh. 4. 39. 42. more for thy saying for we haue heard him our selues and do know that this is indeede the Christ the Sauiour of the world Theoph. This example bringeth no small light to this doubt But hitherto sufficientlie of the truth and authoritie of the word of God now let vs in a few words consider what it doth containe Mat. It hath in it at large whatsoeuer concerneth the glorie of God for our good and saluation Theoph. By what meanes doth it teach vs to attaine saluation Mat. By the true knowledge of God and of Iesus Christ which it doth teach Teoph Let vs therefore first intreate of the knowledge of God and after we will speake of Christ in the proper place What do the
be made fit to receiue Christ and apply him with all his gifts vnto our selues The fourth part of the Apostles Creede which is concerning the Church Theoph. We haue expounded three partes of the Creed it remaineth that we come to the fourth which is of the Church Now there come two things to my minde whereunto I would haue thee to answer First 1 What the Church is and 2 Why thou saidest that by the working of the holy Ghost we are ioyned with it Mat. What the Church is The word Church signifieth a companie in this place it is taken for the companie of the faithfull chosen of God But although the Church be onely one which is the spouse and the misticall body of Christ yet it is wont to be considered in two respectes 1 As it is inuisible And 2 As it is visible Theoph. Of the inuisible Church What doest thou vnderstand by the name of the inuisible Church Mat. All the elect which may be deuided into three sortes 1 The first of them which already be receiued into heauen who for that cause are called the Triumphant Church because they haue ouercome all temptations and troubles they do enioy the heauenly glorie 2 The secōd is of thē which do yet liue in the earth 3 The third of them that are yet vnborne Now these three parts in that last day shall be gathered together into one body and then shall be a Church all together triumphant and glorious Theoph. Which is the visible Church Mat. Of the visible Church The companie of the faithfull gathered together in the name of Christ to be instructed and confirmed in his faith by the sincere preaching of the word as also by the vse of the Sacraments which are two most certaine marks wherwith God would marke her out and as it were set her forth to be seene that she might be knowne of all her children and they might be gathered vnto her Now this is that which is called the militāt Church because continually it warreth with the deuill the flesh and the world Theoph. Why will God haue all his children ioyne themselues to the visible Church Matth. That he may be worshipped of vs which is when we do consent together in calling vpon him and that he as a good house-holder may feede vs with his word the spirituall foode wherewith we may be dayly strengthened vntill he bring vs to the celestiall inheritance Theoph. What is the vse of this article Mat. It shall most easily be perceiued of thee if thou do but marke the testimonies of prayse and commendation wherewith Paule decketh the Church which indeede are answerable to diuers places of the Prophets Now they be three and those most excellent For he termeth her 1 The house of God 2 The pillar of truth 3 The mother of all the faithfull Theoph. We are to examine the reason of these titles giuen vnto her And first of all why doest thou call it the house of God Mat. That we may vnderstand that God dwelleth in his Church doth defend it and guide it by his holy spirite Euen as Christ himselfe sayth Where two or there be met together in my name there am I in the Mat. 18. 19 middest of them Theoph. Why is it called the pillar of truth Mat. Because by the ministerie thereof God preserueth and keepeth his truth in the world Theoph. What is that truth Mat. Christ himselfe when as he is acknowledged to be not onely verie God and verie man in one person but also a Sauiour Redeemer which is the most certaine truth and most profitable to the beleeuers for by it they attaine eternall life Which Christ himselfe affirmeth in these words I am the way the truth Iohn 14. 6. and the life Theoph. Therefore it followeth that this Church which we beleeue forasmuch as it is the pillar of truth cannot erre Mat. Indeed in those points which appertaine to the person and office of Christ it cannot erre but in some other parts of doctrine it may erre which falleth out not seldome Theoph. Why may it not erre in the things which cōcerne Christ as well as in others Mat. Because by the testimonie of Paule Christ is the only foundation of the Church which being takē 1. Cor. 3. 11. away it can no more stand then an house without a foundation Theoph. What if the Church erred in those things Mat. It should then not be a Church but rather the synagogue of Sathan seeing that it had ouerthrowne or puld downe Christ it owne true foundation Theoph. Of the foundatiō of the Church But Christ seemeth to haue appointed an other foundation of the Church beside himself namely Peter the Apostle to whom he sayd thou art Peter and vpon this rocke will I build my Church Mat. The name of rocke no way can or ought to be referred vnto Peter himselfe although the words seeme to beare it For Paule affirmeth that no other 1. Cor. 3. 11. foundation can be laid by any besides that that is layd which is Iesus Christ Moreouer how absurd a thing should it be that the Church which is inuisible should haue her foundation in a mortall man and that which more is one very weake so as not long after he denied Christ Verely it hath neede of a stronger foundation that it may bee able to stand against so many assaults wherewith it hath beene and still is set vpon by the deuill and the world euen from the beginning Theoph. Deliuer therefore the true sence of those words of Christ to Peter Math. Because Peter had confessed Christ to bee the sonne of the liuing God Christ answereth But I say that thou art Peter Now he is called by that name which Christ had before giuen vnto Symon because Math. 4. 18 10. 2. hee was a liuing stone in the building of the Church who acknowledged Christ to bee the sonne of God and therefore the chiefe stone in the Church When therefore he addeth Vpon this rocke I will build my church that is referred to that rock which Peter himselfe had confessed Austen agreeth with this interpretation Vpon Idm. tract 124. for he saith The church is built vppon the rocke whereof euen Peter had his name Therefore truely the Lord saith Vpon this rocke will I build my Church because Peter had said Thou art Christ the sonne of the liuing God Vpon this rocke therefore saith he which thou hast confessed will I build my church For the rock was Christ vpon the which foundation Peter himselfe was builded For no other foundation can any man lay but that which is already laid which is Christ Iesus These be the words of that father wherewith also agreeth that which Peter saieth when he exhorteth the faithfull that as liuing stones 1. Pet. 2. 5. they would be built vpon Christ that chiefe stone But he proueth this out of the testimonie of Esay Behold I put in Sion a chiefe
in vs to lead our liues in the obedience of God strengtheneth vs and finally giueth vs the gift of perseuerance to the end Cōfirmeth me against all temptations If at any time I fall it raiseth me vp by true repentance and promiseth to be with me with his grace euen vnto death The holy Catholicke Church I beleeue the Catholick Church gathered together by the power of the holy Ghost that is to say the company of the faithfull chosen of God which are scattered throughout the whole world of whose number I do certainly know my selfe to be one I beleeue that all we which are faithful are so vnited The cōmuniō of saints and ioyned with Christ our head that we are made partakers of his gifts that is of the merite of his death and the power of his resurrection The remission of sins Resurection of the body The life euerlasting Whereupon I am assured of the full forgiuenesse of my sinnes and of my glorious resurrection in the last day which the partaking of eternall life shall follow together with all the faithfull and elect with whom he shall for euer be praysed of me in the heauens Theoph. I haue verily heard of thee an excellent Paraphrasis or short exposition of the Apostles Creede such a one as doth not a little serue for edification But that thou mayst prouide for and helpe the memorie of the vnlearned draw all this into as short a summe as thou canst Mat. The summe of the Creede It cannot be made shorter then if thou say I put the whole hope of my saluatiō in one Iesus Christ crucified who being giuen vnto me by the mercie of the Father communicateth himselfe vnto me by the power of the holy Ghost to make me partaker of the merite of his death and also of eternall life Now this agreeth with that which the Apostle saith 1. Cor. 2. 2. I determined to know nothing among you but Iesus Christ and him crucified Theoph. I am fully satisfied with this exposition of the Apostles Creede and it containeth many things which bring no small comfort to the hearers And I pray our good and heauenly Father to engraue them in our hearts by the working of the holy Ghost that so we may earnestly acknowledge stedfastly beleeue that immeasurable loue wherewith he loueth vs in Christ Iesus By whō he hath redeemed vs from euerlasting death and hath taken vs for his children that at length we may be heires of his kingdome Mat. But now night draweth on wherefore I would aduise that we put off the rest till to morow Farewell Theophilus Theoph. Fare thou well also Matthew The end of the first Booke THE SECOND BOOKE OF CHRISTIAN Religion wherein the testimonies of our saluation are declared CHAP. I. Of good workes by the which the faith that is hidden in our hearts is manifested that it may be seene and knowne Theophilus GOd saue thee most dearely beloued Matthew Mat. God saue thee also most louing Theophilus hast thou thought vpon the things which were handled of vs yesterday Theoph. Yea indeede most diligently in somuch as they occupied my mind in my sleepe wherof to make proofe if it be not troublesome to thee I will comprehend them in a short summe which shal be as an entrance for vs to the rest Mat. Thou shalt do me a very great pleasure Theoph. The summe of our speach yesterday may be referred to foure heads 1 The first whereof is of God distinct in three persons Who also by his prouidence gouerneth all things is most perfectly iust and most perfectly mercifull 2 The second is of man who being by his owne nature a most wretched sinner is guiltie of eternall death before the iudgement seate of God 3 The third is of Christ Iesus whose death is a most present remedie for vs against death 4 The fourth is of faith wherby that remedy is applied to vs for our saluation Now vnlesse I be deceiued order requireth that we speake of good works which do necessarily cleaue vnto faith be effectes of it Moreouer seeing in the first Chapter of the former booke it hath bene declared what manner one God is and in the third and fourth Chapters what a one he sheweth himselfe towards vs this one thing seemeth now to remaine that we vnderstand how we should carrie our selues toward him that is to say what works are to be done of vs that we may obey him and be acceptable to his Maiestie Mat. Thou hast verie well deliuered the summe of our yesterdayes talke I do also allow the order propounded by thee concerning good works This one thing remaineth that thou moue thy questions of thē in some easie method to the end that this place which of it selfe is somwhat intricate and doubtfull may be plainly and clearely handled of vs. Theoph. I haue no easier order then that which somtimes I learned of thee namely that all this discourse be brought vnto three heads 1 First what be the good works to be done of vs that we may please God 2 How those works may be performed of vs. 3 And thirdly to what end they must be done and what is the vse of them But in the former booke when we spake of regeneration we did sufficiently discusse that second point For we taught that man of himselfe could do no good thing and that God by his spirite wrought in vs both to will and to be able to do There are therefore behind the two other points to be examined of vs which will cause vs to deuide this Chapter into two parts if it so seeme good vnto thee The first part of this Chapter sheweth what good workes are to be done of vs. Theoph. Let vs therfore come to the first part namely what good works are to be done that we may obey God Matth. Before we go any further we are to call vpon him without whose guidance no good thing can be thought much lesse performed of vs. I do therefore pray our good God and heauenly Father to giue vs the spirite of wisedome and vnderstanding that the things which we shal speake of good works may agree with the truth so as they may tend to his glorie and the building vp of his Church Now Theophilus do I answer vnto thy question that we must do those good works to obey God which himselfe hath commanded in his owne Law Theoph. Why so Mat. For he hath plainly forbidden that any thing be added vnto it or taken from it and that any man should turne aside from it either to the right hand or Deut. 4. 2. Deut. 5. 32. to the left Theoph. What if men be so rash that they dare do it Mat. The Lord will not accept their foolish deuises for good works but will demand of them that which in former times he demanded of the Israelites Isay 1. 12. Who required these things at your hands Theoph. I confesse it to be a most