the mysteries of the Gospell a naturall man with all his wisdome and wits perfection cannot comprehend how two natures should meet in one person how Christ which was the sonne of man should be also the Sonne of God how a Virgin should be a Mother and how a man must bee borne againe before he can enter into the Kingdome of God these Mysteries made the old Doctor in Israel Nicodemus to stagger in his reason and aske y Iohn 3. 9. How can these things bee This diuine Doctrine made the Philosophers Epicures and Stoickes disputing with Saint Paul at Athens to account him a babler and setter foorth of strange newes z Acts 17. 18 When hee spake to them of Iesus and the Resurrection The Doctrine of the Crosse of Christ was therefore a stumbling blocke to the Jewes and foolishnesse to the Grecians 1. Cor. 1. 21. for if hee were a man say they why doe yee worship him and if a God how could hee dye Yea the Capernaites hearing him to speak of the eating of his flesh a Iohn 6. 60. fell from him and went backe not knowing how these things could bee that he should giue them his flesh to eate and thereby they should haue eternall life but â—he words so carnally vnderstood of them were Spirit and Truth as they were deliuered by him which flesh and blood cannot comprehend and wherefore should this seeme vnreasonable which is supernaturall when wee see there are many things in the earth hard to finde out In many naturall things wee are at our wits end who knoweth the essence of his owne soule whence when and how he receiued it Salomon so singular in wisedome confesseth b Eccles 8. 17. that hee could not find out the workes that are wrought vnder the Sunne yea though hee liue many yeares and haue much experience yet hee cannot finde them out And to bee short the greatest Philosophers wearied themselues in studie and yet could not finde out the reason of many things euen in nature and before their eyes wherevpon the chiefest of them contented themselues to bee called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and modestly refused to be called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the louers of wisedome and not wise men Now if these men that spent all their studie and contemplation in the workes of Nature came farre short in the knowledge of them how much lesse can mans reason finde out the things that are of God and supernaturall No doubtlesse wee must herein seeke a guide to direct vs or else wee shall bee as blind in our ignorance as the Sodomites were in their lustes c Gene. 19. 11. groping after but not able to finde the doores of Lots house d Acts 8. 31. How can I vnderstand the Prophesies saith the Eunuch to Philip except I haue a guide And hauing thus prooued the first and negatiue part of the Proposition wee proceed to demonstrate and confirme the Affirmatiâ—e part Wherein wee will onely subscribe to that Assertion of the iust man Iob e Iob 3â— â— Iames 1. 17 2 Cor. 3. 5. Surely saith he there is a spirit in a man but the inspiration of the Almighty giueth vnderstanding Now before wee come to the Application it will not bee amisse to annexe two considerable circumstances the one concerning the impulsiue cause the other concerning the manner of this heauenly Reuelation which for the Readers capacitie shall bee plainly laid downe in two seuerall Questions and Answeres Quest 1 First if any man will demand what is the impulsiue cause that moueth God to bestow this speciall grace of heauenly knowledge vpoÌ„ some more then others Answ Wee can make no other answere but that it is the good pleasure of his will f Math. 13. 11. To you saith Christ to his Apostles it is giuen to know the secrets of the kingdome of heauen but to them it is not giuen Quest 2 But may some say By what meanes and in what manner doth God reueale these Mysteries of the Gospell vnto his children Answ This Reuelation of the will of God and the knowledge of Christ is not onely and alwayes by secret inspiration but as the Apostle witnesseth g Rom 10. 17 Faith ordinarily comes by hearing of the word of God h 1 Pet. 1. 23. which is the incorruptible seed of our Regeneration Now it is not meant that the Preaching of the Word hath this fruit and effect by any naturall power or vertue in the â—ound of the words but by the ordinance and blessing of God who vseth this as his ordinarie meanes for our conuersion vnto himselfe and as Saint Paul speaketh By the foolishnesse of preaching to saue them that beleeue Neither is God tyed by any necessitie to this outward meanes as though Faith and other graces could not bee wrought in any without that meanes but hee reserueth this glory vnto himselfe to deaâ—e which way hee please and in an extraordinary sort to conuert and saue some as first in the decayed estate of the Church when there wanteth a setled forme of Gouernment it pleaseth him sometimes to blesse the exercise of his Word though it bee but read and talked of as it is said i Iohn 4. 39 That many of the Samaritans beleeued in Christ vpon conference with the woman which bare record of him Secondly we beleeue that God reueileth himselfe in good manner and measure vnto Infants that are not come to the yeares of discretion and explicit faith and also with such men as are borne deafe dumbe or naturall Ideots â—n whom yet the Spirit of God worketh secretly without this outward ordinary meanes of Preaching and hearing the Word yet the truth is and wee must acknowledge it that hee hath ordained the preaching of his Word to bee the ordinary meanes whereby he doth reueale the knowledge of his will vnto vs by which meanes Peter and the other Disciples of Christ attained vnto this knowledge aboue others being continually conuersant with him and hearing his word and seeing his great workes performed before their eyes Vse 1 First this teacheth vs that to attaine vnto the true faith and sauing knowledge of Iesus Christ is not so easie a matter as men commonly account it seeing it is wrought in vs by the Spirit of God and no maâ— hath it but by heauenly reuelation Vse 2 It teacheth vs also that when wee come to meditate on holy Mysteries we forsake our owne carnall Wisedome and Reason which flesh and blood prompteth vnto vs neither let vâ— measure Gods Secrets by our weake reasons rule which cannot reach vnto them but often may seeme absurd to our dull and carnall capacities Hence it is that many wise men and learned Clarkes as we call them runne into foule errours and Heresies not truely vnderstanding the Scriptures but resting vpon their owne blind reasons and carnall affections without these heauenly Reuelations of God Therefore the Apostle well aduiseth k That if any man will 1 Cor. 3.
nobis indeed but Iack-an-apes to a man what should we multiply profes in so plaine a matter to proue them k Math 7. 15. wolues in sheepes cloathing making hauocke of the flocke hauing l Gal. 1. 8. another Gospel than Paul or Peter taught and therefore accursed other Mediators besides Christ and aboue to command him and so much derogating and abasing the dignitie and authority of Christ m 1. Tim. 2. 5. Heb. 12. 24. 7 25. Iohn 10. 7 8 our sole Mediator Intercessor and Sauiour that plainely pointeth and painteth them out to be Antichrists Note All this while we dispute of the works of the vssible Church wherein notwithstanding may be Wheate and Chaffe Sheepe and Goates true Professours and Hypocrites but the inuisible Church hath her inuisible markes as Gods prescience and election n 2. Tim 2. 19. the Lord knoweth who are his faith in the heart o Acts 16. 14. all such shall be saued whose hearts the Lord opened to beleeue the Gospel regeneration and renewing by the holy Ghost vnto sanctimony righteousnes loue sobrietie and all vertues p Rom. 6. 5 6 8. 2. to 15. fashioned to the image of Christ and God which was defaced by Adams transgression and our owne actuall rebellion making vs dead in trespasses and sinnes but q Colloss 2. 22. 2. 13. â— 9. 10. Gal. â— 24 Ephes 2. 1. 2. 5. 12 by Christ through faith are renewed made new men new creatures aliue vnto God adopted Children of God receiuing the Spirit of God as the pledge of our adoption and inheritance of these we cannot iudge truely because Hypocrites haue a maruailous resemblance to the children of God r Math. 7. 21 Luke 13. 25 26 they prophesie worke Miracles heare Gods word fast pray professe build Synagogues and performe many outward resplendent good workes so as Salomon could not by any outward thinge discerne the Reprobate from the Elect f Eccles 9. 2. 3. it apeareth saith hee that it commeth alike to all to him that sacrificeth as to him that sacrificeth not t Mich. 6 7. Hypocrites sacrificed thousands of Rams and streames of Oyle yea they offered the fruite of their bodies for the sinne of their soules and the Pharises u Luk 18. 11. c. can boast of many good workes when yet w Math 21. 31 penitent Publicans Harlots and sinners goe into Heauen before them Saint Paul as touching the Law liued x Phil 3 5 6 vnblameably when as yet he was no member but a y 1. Tim 1. 13 Persecutor of the visible Church till hee was called and conuerted by the voice of Christ z Rom 2. 17. 25 c. 1. Cor 10. 1 â— 5. and hee reasoneth strongly against them which boast themselues to bee the Church and people of God because they haue the outward tokens and Testimonies of the Church a Gal. 4 22 23. 28 20 37. 9. Abrahams seede are the children of Promise but in Isaack not the carnall progeny which persecute the Children borne of the spirit b Rom. 2. 25 26 c. outwardly Iewes but in truth are not their circumcision for want of faith becommeth vncircumcition and the eating of the Pasouer with leauened hearts did polute it and brought the wrath of God vpon them as c Acts 8. 13. 18 to 23. Simon Magus was acursed after he had receiued the outward Sacrament of baptisme and was full of the gall of bitternesse hypocrisie and all iniquitie d 1. Iohn 2. 19. many are in the Church which are not of the Church as e Mat. 13. 27. Tares and Wheat f Cap. 25. 32 33. Goates and Sheepe g Cap. 13. 48. 49. Fish good and bad are drawne together into a visible Church out of the Sea of this world but the good shall be preserued and the reffuse cast away and reiected foolish Virgins h Matt. 25. 2. 3. 10 11 12 c. haue no entaince though they pretend to waite for the Bridegroomes comming but are not religiously prepared as the wise with oyle in their lampes i Mat. 13. 30. when the good wheate is gathered into the garner the chaffe shall be burned with vnquenchable fire so our blessed Sauiour as well in sundry pregnant parables as declaratiue and plaine propositions k Mat. 3. 9. 12. Iohn 8. 39. Gala. 3. 7 16. Cap. 4. 22. 28. Rom. 4. 13 14 would driue vs from this vaine confidence which the Iewes had in boasting they were Abrahams seede and rested vpon the carnall ceremonies of the Law and the materiall Temple and Tabernacle all which the blessed proto-Martyre Saint Steuen largely answereth and confuteth l Act. 7. 2. 44 48 by an history call relation shewing vnto the Iewes that the Temple Law and Ceremonies must giue place to Christ Vse 2 Hauing then so sure a word of Prophesie as the Gospell and holy Scriptures to guide vs let vs which professe Christ neither stagger with Thomas m Ioh. 20. 25. we see and feele such visible and sensible signes n Gal. 3 3 and hauing begun in the spirit seeke to end in the flesh for it is too apparant and palpable that the Romish Religion and markes of their Church are altogether outward and carnall and wholy tende to delight and delude the senses and leaue the soule without any spirituall edification let vs therefore o Ioh. 1. 45. with Nathaniel seeke the Messiah and come to finde him by the guiding of Philip and the Apostles which inuite vs to come and see whom euen him of whom Moses and the Prophets did write Iesus of Nazareth and if hee make a question if any good come out of Nazareth or as the Pharises affirmed that p Ioh. 7. 41 42 out of Galile ariseth no Prophet yet the Scriptures expresse the contrary in both for q Mat. 2 23 Isay 9. 1 2 Luke 1. 26. he shall be called a Nazarite and not onely r Luke 4. 34. the Deuils acknowledge him a Nazarite but Pilate wrote the inscription of his crosse Å¿ Iohn 19. 19. Iesus of Nazareth the King of the Jewes to this Touchstone Christ himselfe directeth vs t Iohn 5. 35. search the Scriptures u Luk. 16. 29. Moses and the Prophets are left to keepe men out of Hell the place of torment and Peter sendeth vs w 2. Pet. 1. 19. to this sure word of prophesie and the beloued Apostle commendeth this assurance of saluation to the elect Lady x 2. Ioh. 9 10. to continue in the Doctrine of Christ without which they are without God that is are no Church at all nor members of Christ Vse 3 To draw then to a conclusion of these words I will build my Church these markes either of a Church or building wee require our aduersaries to shew in their Church which boast of faith and yet debarr the preaching and reading of the word of God
The Rocke of Religion CHRIST NOT PETER As it was deliuered in certaine Sermons vpon Math. 16. ver 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20. Summarily contracted out of that which was more largely handled in the Parish of S. Antholine by George Close the younger one of the Readers there Other foundation can no man lay then that is layd vvhich is Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 3. 11. LONDON Printed by A. Mathewes for Mathew Law 1624. TO THE RIGHT Worshipfull Sir Thomas Middleton Knight William Eyres Doctor of Physick and others the Parishioners and Christian minded Auditory of the Parish of St. Antholine Grace Peace and Saluation in our beloued and blessed Sauiour IESVS CHRIST RIGHT WORSHIPFVL AS the Beloued Apostle S. Iohn besides his generall Epistle to the whole Church directed his two particular to two seuerall Disciples a 2 Iohn ver 1 2. one a Noble worthy and Elect Lady and an other to a faithfull friend b 3 Ioh. ver 1. Gaius a man very hospitall saluted by Paul as his c Rom. 16. 23 Host and of the whole Church at Corinth whom hee had d 1 Cor. 1. 14 baptized and is dignified by Saint Luke to haue been e Acts 19. 29. Pauls companion in his trauels and iourney and was taken prisoner with him at Ephesus in the tumult raised against him both being great fauourer of the Ministers and louers of the Gospell the Euangelicall Apostle chiefely reioyced that they prospered and walked in the trueth and veritie of the Gospell so vnto the painfull Preachers of the Word ariseth great ioy to see the Faith and Loue of the people of God towards his Word and Ministers and prouoketh them to expresse a reciprocall loue to them in seeking to aduaunce the trueth of Religion whereunto they finde them so diligently and dutifully inclined Which consideration hath moued mee to publish these my poore Labours and to commend them to your Protection that haue heard and can best witnesse what hath beene sincerely laboured therein And though I feare not in these dangerous times the malicious scandals of Aduersaries which will by calumniations oppresse the Trueth but was pressed by the loue of some Friendes which are Louers of the Trueth not to suppresse what I had publiquely professed for the maintenance of the Trueth I was at last by their Christian perswasions induced to commit to the Presse these my poore endeauours wherein I haue laboured to expresse the trueth in a Question so much controuerted and oppugned by the Aduersaries of the Truth I confesse it was a double spurre vnto mee to incite mee to giue you contentation when I considered your good likings to haue this Doctrine in these troublesome times of our Churches oppugnation to bee publiquely professed and maintained in the face of Gods enemies which with their blustering breath would at one blast blow downe both our Church and Common wealth and would haue them wholy theirs or none at all Herein on the contrary part you haue in your good acceptations and aduancing this Doctrine greatly approoued your care and zeale to the seruice of God and his true Church as your loue and loyaltie to your King and Common wealth which by the opposite endeauours of our aduersaries are fearefully shot at My purpose and proceedings heerein haue not reached in any absolute manner to decide all the poynts of this our Controuersie and by all Authenticall Authors and ancient Fathers of the Primitiue church or moderne Writers to discusse this Question which many others of great learning and experience haue abundantly performed but onely in an ordinary Audience and vulgar Exercise to prooue out of the Canon of holy Scriptures how faithfully our Doctrines are thence deriued and drawne out for confirmation of what wee hold and confutation of whatsoeuer our Aduersaries haue dreamed to the contrary For this indeed is the Touch-stone of Trueth whereby all pure and counterfeit mettals are to be tryed and wherein as well the olde as the new Writers haue principally laboured to bring all Controuersies to bee discussed The whole current of the Scriptures haue no better nor almost any other ground for their confirmations or confutations in converting gainsayers to the Faith and conuincing Infidels and Heretiques The eloquence of Apollos was an ornament to the Doctor but the authoritie of the Scriptures was the Firmament of his Doctrine who is sayd to haue mightily and publiquely confuted the Iewes f Act. 18. 28. prouing by the Scriptures That Iesus was the Christ I shall therefore intreat the Readers of this poore and plaine Discourse especially such as were the Auditors of those Lectures with the Bereans to examine the truth of the Doctrines according to the Marginall Quotations out of the Scriptures which to auoyde prolixitie I haue there set downe without such Amplifications as according to that time and due exigence of that Exercise I more at large opened and dilated And so commending you to the Word of Gods grace which is able to build you further with dayly and heartie Prayers to God for the increase of your Christian Faith in the knowledge of his will and loue of the Truth commit my selfe to the fauourable acceptance of religious and iudicious mindes passing by the carping obloquy of criticall Censurers Your Worships in the Lord GEO CLOSE Iun. The Rocke of Religion CHRIST Not PETER MATH 16. Vers 13 14 15 16 c. Now when Iesus came into the coasts of Cesarea Philippi he asked his disciples saying Whom do men say that I the Sonne of man am And they said Some say John Baptist and some Elias others Ieremias or one of the Prophets Hee said vnto them But whom say ye that I am Then Simon Peter answered and said Thou art the Christ the Sonne of the liuing God THis sacred Sripture compriseth summarily the Doctrine of the most Catholicke Religion contained in Peters Confession concerning the knowledge of Christ who is poynted out to be a Ephes 1. 22. the head and foundation of his Church and vs his members and therein is also shewed with what Keyes the Kingdome of Heauen is opened or shut vnto vs. More particularly this holy Historie relateth a Conference which our blessed Sauiour had with Peter and all the Apostles b Mark 8. 27. vpon the way as they trauelled towards Cesarea Philippi which somtime was called Pannaeas it is distinguished therby from an other Cesarea neere Joppe formerly called Straton which Herod the Great this Philips father builded fortified with a Castle in honour of Augustus Caesar by whom he was aduanced and surnamed it Cesarea This heere mentioned Philip the Tetrarch of Jturia imitating his fathers flattering example as well in honour of himselfe as the then Romane Emperour Tyberius builded and beautified and called it Cesarea Philippi afterwards it was againe inlarged by King Agrippa and by him called Neronia in honour of Nero. Doct. It is ancient and vsuall with worldly men to endeauour
carnall parents nor flesh and bloud had reuealed vnto him but his Father in heauen which is indeed a firme foundation to build the Church vpon which else might haue failed in Peters fall but was sure in Peters faith in Christ It is a firme foundation and a perfect assurance vnto vs of the continuance of Gods Church that the gates of Hell shall not preuaile against it whereas Satan preuailed much and often against Peters faithlessenes and purchased him a black name of f Math. 16. 23 Satan giuen by Christ vnto him when hee consulted with flesh and bloud in Diuine matters and was g Math. 14. 31. ready to sincke at the sight of a waue and to h Math. 26. 69 70. forsweare his Master at the breath of a silly Damsell so that as I shal shew more at large hereafter not vpon Peters constancie which was nothing but infirmitie but vpon his confession which had a firmitude of Faith in Christ was the Church to bee founded and Peter pronounced blessed if Peters blessednesse had beene built vpon himselfe and the Church founded vpon him it had bene a sandie foundation as wee see i Matt. 7. 26. 27. When the stormes arose the winds blewe and billowes beate vpon it it soone fell for want of sollid Faith but beleeuing confessing and doing the workes of God that is hearing beleeuing confessing and persisting in the doctrine of Christ hee is compared to a Rocke firme and vnmoueable as mount Zion k Psal 125. 1. 2. which standeth fast for euer because God is in the midst of her and knowne in her Palaces as a sure refuge against this Faith neither the infirmities of the flesh the tyrannies of the the world nor the gates of Hell shall be able to preuaile So that from this gracious promise of Christ the whole vniuersall Church as well at Ierusalem and Antioch as at Rome yea euery particular member hath his stablishment and consolation their assurances of deliuerance in all dangers and the certainetie of their saluation and this I conceiue to be the true and naturall Interpretation Context and Logicall resolution of these words Come wee now to the points of obseruation Blessed art thou Simon Bar-Iona Verse 17. Peter beleeueth and confesseth Christ and Christ therefore pronounceth him a blessed man Doct. Faith and the heauenly knowledge of Iesus Christ maketh a man truely blessed l Prou. 3. 13. Iohn 17. 3. Iohn 20. 31. Ihon 11. 25. Blessed is the man that findeth knowledge c. vse 1 This teacheth vs what is true and perfect blessednesse which all enquire after seeke for and dispute vpon which is not nor can be attained vnto in this life which is subiect to so many mutabilities and aduersities nor in any of the things of this world which are transitorie changeable as the world is no man can finde it in riches for the rich man perisheth and all his substance often doth m Iam. 5. 1 howle and wcepe for the miseries that come vpon him Salomon sawe them n Eccles 5. 12 reserued to the owners there of for their euill and they are as impediments and shakcles o Mat. 19. 22 23 to hinder vs in our race to Gods Kingdome p Marke 14. 19. they are full of deceitfulnesse to choake Gods word in vs and bring foorth many weeds of voluptuousnesse q Luke 16. 13 Math 6. 24. wee cannot serue God and Mammon So that voluptuousnesse carnall Pleasures pride of life Honour and earthly prosperitie can neither bring nor continue vs in any happy or blessed estate r Psal 49. 20. Man cannot abide in Honour saith the holy Prophet and it is in vaine for Saul to sinne against God Å¿ 1 Sam. 15. 30. and seeke to bee honoured of his people Nay the Morall vertues of the Heathens and vnbeleeuers cannot giue felicitie to the Stoicks nor all these accumulated with health of body Prudence and Fortitude of the minde can produce blessednesse to the Peripateticks Oh then the Knowledge Confession Profession and Imitation of Christ onely setteth vs in this happinesse of Peter by this Faith we are highly honoured aboue all earthly honour For t Galat. 3. 26. by Faith we are made the Sons of God u 1 Iohn 5. 1 4 Conquerors more then Alexander of all the kingdomes of the world and coheires with Christ of the kingdome of God in heauen Vse 2 As therefore we desire to bee blessed eternally so should wee labour to get this true Faith and sauing Knowledge of Iesus Christ without which wee are most wretched and miserable no meanes of happinesse but by Christ nor by Christ without faith on our part but when by faith wee are come vnto him then want we nothing which belongeth to true blessednesse in a word Faith is that Treasure and rich Pearle w Math. 13. 46. which a wise man would sell all his goods to buy and if any should desire to know how this pretious treasure is to bee gotten the next doctrine that commeth in order to be considered will direct him therein For flesh and blood hath not reuealed it vnto thee but my Father which is in Heauen Doct. Faith and the heauenly knowledge of Jesus Christ are the peculiar gifts of God and such as by Nature no man can attaine vnto In handling of which poynt we will first prooue the negatiue part which is that the naturall man cannot conceiue or apprehend the mysteries of Saluation by Christ And secondly it shall bee declared that God onely by his Spirit doth reueale them First concerning the first it is certaine that no man by his owne wit be it neuer so sharpe nor by his owne humane wisdome be it neuer so profound can conceiue beleeue or comprehend the Mysteries of the Gospell as witnesseth the Apostle The naturall man saith he x 1 Cor. 2. 14. perceiueth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishnesse vnto him neither can hee know them because they are spiritually discerned Heere by naturall man is not meant onely the carnall and sensuall man swinishly wallowing in vanities and pleasures but as the best Interpreters conceiue it euen a man considered with the whole compasse of the reasonable soules possibilitie a man indued with a sharpe wit a quicke apprehension a strong mind a piercing iudgement and faithfull memory inabled by Action Experience and Obseruation with such an vniuersall Wisdome that it may bee fitted for notable Offices of Societie and intercourse in politicke bodies I say all these and many more perfections may concurre vpon the soule and yet without supernaturall illumination remaineth starke blinde in the mysteries of saluation and cannot onely not perceiue the things of the Spirit of God but which is an horrible and fearefull curse euen esteeme them foolishnesse The most learned Rabbins of the Iewes the Scribes and Pharisies disputers of the Law were farthest from beleeuing in Christ neither could they vnderstand
18. seeme to bee wise in this world let him bee a foole that hee may bee made wise as if hee should say Let him bee a foole in himselfe that hee may bee made wise by Gods teaching and renouncing all reason that flesh and blood suggesteth let vs resort vnto God by humble Prayer and l Iames 1. 5. aske wisedome of him which giueth to all men liberally and reprocheth no man Let vs pray with Dauid m Psal 119. Lord teach vs thy Statutes for without this teaching by the Spirit all mans preaching and hearing is in vaine let the Preachers be what they will for learning eloquence and painfulnesse as prompt in the Lawe of God as n Ezra 7. 6. Ezra as mightie in the Scriptures as o 1 Cor. 13. 1. Paul as eloquent as p 1 Cor. 15. 10. Apollos as powerfull as q Acts 18. 24. Peter as holy in conuersation as r Luke 1. 6. Zacharie let the peo-people heare neuer so deuoutly with as much reuerence as Å¿ Mark 6. 20. Herod heard Iohn yet all auaileth not without the reuelation of God which teacheth wisedome secretly as the Prophet speaketh or though they heare aâ— t Acts 20. 7. Eutychus did Paul vntill midnight and the matter bee handled with such dexteritie that alâ— may wonder as u Luke 4. 22. they did in the Synagogue at the gracious wordes which proceeded out of the mouth of Christ yet if the Lord open not the heart as hee did of w Acts 16. 14. Lydia and send a dewe of blessing vpon the seed it were all lost labour for it cannot fructifie without his grace which is therefore called the x Ephes 1. 17. Spirit of wisedome and Reuelation and yet by the ministery of the word which is therefore called most aptly the y 2 Cor. 3. 6. ministration of the spirit let Paul plant and Apollos water z 1 Cor. 3 6. yet God only God giueth the encrease To conclude let not Ministers bee puffed vp with any high conceit of their giftes though neuer so transcendent in comparison of others for a 1 Cor. 4. 7. what hath any man which hee hath not receiued or what profiteth the sowing of the â—est seed in the best manner â—xcept the dâ—aw come downe â—rom heauen vpon it and also â—et the people surcease their faâ—tious admirations of their Teaâ—hers b 1 Co. 1. 12 13 to hold of Paul Peter â—nd Apollos but let all hold of Christ into whom wee are all â—aptized In a word c 1 Thess 5. 13. let all Gods people haue all Gods â—aithfull Ministers in singular â—euerence for their workes sake and d Gal. 2. 9. let the Ministers giue their â—ight hands of fellowship one to another to further Gods building and if wee see any fruit of our labours or ye reape comfort or good by our Ministery and husbandry let not the least part of Gods glory cleaue vnto vs but let all the honour praise be giuen to the Lord which so reuealeth his secrets vnto vs. And I say also vnto thee that Verse 18. thou art Peter This name Peter as was formerly noted in the context is deriued from Petra which signifieth a Rock and is giuen here to Simon for his faith and confession of Christ according to his promise e Iohn 1. 42. thou shalt be called Cephas or Peter Doct. Simon by beleeuing and apprehending Christ by faith is now become a Peter that is a liuing stone in the house of God as are all beleeuers founding their faith on the Rock or chiefe corner-stone Christ so Saint Peter himselfe hath taught vs saying f 1 Pet. 2. 4. 5. and yee comming vnto Christ as to a liuing stone are built as liuely stones a liuing Temple vnto God and as all flesh is called g Isai 40. 6. grasse in respect of the weakenesse and sudden vanishing thereof so Christ onely is the h Matt 7. 24. true Rocke i and 21. 42. and chiefe corner stone that abideth on a sure foundation vnmoueable for euer and all that beleeue in him are made conformable stones to be ioyned vnto â—im in this spirituall Temple â—hose building is of God Vse This teacheth vs the great difâ—erence of all men before and afâ—er conuersion to Christ and efâ—ectuall calling to the knowâ—edge of the Gospell which beâ—ng borne dust grasse and chaffe â—re after regeneration become â—olide stones such as can abide the hammer of affliction and be â—quared like vnto Christ the Prophet Isaiah many hundred yeares before foretold of these k Isai 62. 2. new names new creatures new heauens and new earth for the regenerate are but as a renewed earth from the old earth of Adams corruption So was it reuealed vnto Saint Iohn by him which is α and ω saying l Reu. 3. 12. him that ouercommeth will I make a pillar in the Temple of my God and he shall goe no more out and I will write vpon him the name of my God and I will write vpon him my new name God graunt vs thâ— new name this conuersion thâ— faith m Reu. 2. 17. and this white stone and it this new name which no mâ— knoweth but he that receiueth it And vpon this Rock I wâ— Verse 18. build my Church That is vpon this true confession whereby thou declarest thâ— selfe to beleeue that I am thâ— Christ the prophesied and promised Messiah the Son of man and the Sonne of the liuing God vpon this Rock this Stone thiâ— corner stone I will build my Church which teacheth vs Doct. That the Doctrine of faith iâ— the foundation of the Church The Church of God n Ephes â— 20 21. is built vpon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Iesus Christ himselfe being the chiefe Corner-stone in whom all the building coupled together groweth vnto an holy Temple in the Lord to this accordeth the testimony of Saint John o Reu. 21 14 describing in his celestiall vision the new Ierusalem and holy Citie in which the twelue Apostles are noted to bee the foundations of the Church which is vnderstood of their Doctrines and not of their persons for as they were men they dyed yet the Church fayled not for want of foundations and no other could any man lay than that which was layd by them and Christ himselfe he was the primary builder and foundation they secondary builders but vpon the same foundation and vpon him alone Note But here we must vnderstand that all profession of faith doth not conioyne vs to Christ in this building for though it bee an excellent thing to beleeue God to be to beleeue the vnitie of the God-head and Trinity of the persons to beleeue that his word is true and promises faithfull and the like yet if we beleeue not the Mediator-ship of Christ for vs and our saluation in and by him alone as Peter heere confesseth wee are not members vnited to
4. 7 12 21. He that loueth God must loue his brother also according to his commaundement and these two bee commonly if not alwayes conioyned as twinnes of one birth t Colloss 1. 4 Philem. 5 vers 1 Thes 1. 3. Faith towards God and Loue towards the Brethren 3. Text. My Church By Church here is vnderstood that Societie and communion of Saints u 1 Cor. 12. 11 12 27. which are knit together by faith in Christ and fellowship amongst themselues w Eph. 4. 12 13. by participation of Gods diuine Word and Sacraments which are the soule and sinewes of this body and are quickened by his Spirit x Deut. 14. 2. the voyce and word of God is the outward meanes whereby wee are called and gathered into an holy body y Exod. 19. 5 6. Rom. 4. 11. and we receiue the Sacraments as Seales of the grace and couenant betweene God and vs whereby he assureth vs z Deut. 26. 18 19. that hee will bee our God and we thereby bind our selues to be his people and to liue vnder his obedience and lawes a 1 Pet. 1. 15. Luke 1. 75. in holinesse and righteousnesse whereunto wee are called and Saint Paul writing to the Romanes doth not call them the Church but elegantly and significantly implyeth them to bee members of it when hee saith b Rom. 1. 6 7. They are the called of Iesus Christ and called to be Saints For that is The VVord and Sacraments are the infallible markes of the true Church the end of our vocation that we being chosen and called out of the world by the voice of Gods Word should bee an holy and precious people vnto him Ecclesia is therefore deriued from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to bee chosen or called out of one Societie into another out of the kingdome of darknesse into light out of the world into the seruice of God and are seperated vnto that end that we might no more serue sinne in the lustes of our former ignorance but by faith to serue Christ as our Head that hath called vs as also to serue one another as mutuall members of the same body so the faithfull of the Iewes and Gentiles being conuerted by the preaching of Peter and the other Apostles c Acts 13 14 2. 38. to 42. Acts 5. 11 12 13 Became a Primitiu◠Church liued together in one place continued in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship in common prayers in breaking of Bread that is communicating Gods holy Sacraments and this Saint Luke calleth the Church saying d Acts 2. 41 There was daily added to the Church such as should be saued These markes of the Church are euidently and euery where described and set foorth in the Scriptures but the markes of the Romish Church are not there to be found First their pretended Antiquitie cannot warrant the later Nouelties of their Churches inuentions Secondly their Vniuersalitie is too straightly restrained and pinned vp within the limits of their Citie and Territories Thirdly their Visibilitie fayleth when it falleth out that Elijah cannot see any face of a Church but crieth out that e 1. Kin. 19 10. Rom. 11 ◠4. he is left alone when yet God had a great people knowne to himselfe howsoeuer inuisible to the Prophet Augustine that learned Father and worthy Disputer durst affirme against their Visibilitie of the Church Quod aliquando Ecclesia fuit in solo Abraham c. That sometimes the Church visible was onely in Abraham Noah Lot Elijah c. Fourthly and for that marke of Succession of Bishops no way grounded on the Scriptures is as hardly to bee prooued otherwise then as Annas and Caiphas were Aarons successors in a broken and interrupted disorder neither called nor practising Gods Religion as Aaron but Simonists Sectaries prophane hypocries mis-interpreters corrupters of Gods Word and bloody murderers as likewise haue succeeded in Peters pretended Chaire at Rome Sadducees Monothelites Heretikes Sodomites and such disordered Chaire-masters as poynteth them out rather to bee the succeessors of Simon Magus for their Simonies then of Simon Peter for his singlenesse and sinceritie Let the Romanistes then returne from their pontificall portlinesse to the paterne of Peters pietie let them surcease f 1 Pet. 5. 2 3. to rule as Lords ouer Gods heritage feed the flocke of Christ of a willing mind and not for filthy lucre that we may find and acknowledge some similitude of their succession in the Apostolicall Chaire when we shall finde the Word of God there sounding out and his Sacraments worthily and without humane additions duely administred otherwise if they misse these markes we shall be so farre from acknowledging their Sea of Rome to be the Catholike or Vniuersall Church that wee shall doubt whether they be any particular Church of Christ or members of that mysticall body whereof hee is the onely Head and their false Prophet that teacheth lyes shall be but the g Isai 9 15 taile as the Prophet Isaiah speaketh which being out of conformitie with the body is a deformity to the whole body striuing to be another head with Christ produceth a monstrous and mishapen body of the Church with two heads as indeed they carry like Ianus two faces vnder one hood a shewe of holinesse in their mouthes but hollownesse and hypocrisie in their hearts and the woe denounced against the Pharises and Hypocrites by Christ himselfe shall fall vpon them for their merited portion for they h Matt. 23. say and doe not lay heauy burthens on other mens shoulders but will not touch them with one of their fingers doe all things to be seene of men garnish their garments with representations of holinesse loue the chiefest seates in Synagogues and assemblies and will be called and accounted the only Rabbies Doctors and Fathers of the Church they take away the Key of knowledge and shut vp the Kingdome of Heauen neither entring themselues nor suffering those that would deuouring Widdowes houses vnder colour of long prayers blinde guides and leaders of the blind professing blind ignorance for the mother of their Deuotion straine at a gnat and swallow downe a Camel make more account of a fasting day or holy-day than to commit murther of Princes and grosse Idolatry painted Sepulchers which haue all thinges outwardly beautifull make cleane Cuppes and Pottes but inwardly are full of briberie excesse rottennesse and corruption garnishing the Tombes of the Apostles and Martyres and haue martyred many that would haue imitated the doctrine and doings of Christ and his Apostles by these Emblemes Christ hath already decyphered them by these Markes wee shall vndoubtedly know them to bee the successors of the Pharises and indeede if Peter now could see his pretended successors hee might say as once Almighty God in derision said of Adam after his transgression i Gen 2. 22. Behold how the man is become as one of vs or Simia quam similis turpissima bestia
Minister z Mark 16. 16. Hee that beleeueth and is baptized that is becommeth a true Professour of the Christian Faith shall bee saued but hee that beleeueth not shall bee damned and all the Moneys and Treasures of the earth cannot purchase any Indulgence or pardon for the redemption of his soule a Psal 49. 6 7 8 they must leaue that to God and let it alone for euer till they can present the Father with the blood of his Sonne b 1 Cor. 7. 23. which is the onely price of our Redemption the Treasure of the Church the Rocke of Religion and onely appertaining to the beleeuers which by a liuely faith apprehend his graces c Acts 15. 9. and haue their hearts purified and without it let vs know that it is impossible to bee d 1 Pet. 1. 9. saued or to e Hebr. 11. 6. please God Vse 4 Fourthly this serueth to strengthen the faith of the Minister and to encourage him to persist constant against all oppositions of the world being assured that as his calling and authoritie is from God as hath been formerly noted so hee hath a ratification of his Ministery in heauen Vse 5 Lastly the conscionable hearers may hence receiue assured consolation when they know that their saluation safetie and remission of sinnes preached vnto them by their Pastors is registred and ratified in Heauen Then hee charged his Disciples Verse 20. that they should tell no man that he was Iesus the Christ Thus farre wee haue disputed of the Apostles faith and knowledge of Christ in themselues which they had so well learned of their Lord and Master and was so well approoued of him aboue all other paradoxes and by opinions of the world Now in these wordes followeth a prohibition giuen vnto them for a conclusion of this Argument wherein our Sauiour imposeth a charge vpon his Apostles not to divulge him what hee was and what they knewe and had confessed him to bee namely Jesus the Christ or the Annoynted Messias whom the Iewes so long and earnestly expected Obiect 1 This seemeth a strange prohibition that Christ which in all ages from the Creation promised and prophesied to the world to bee the Redeemer of the lost sonnes of Adam f Luke 2. 32. A Light to bee reueâ—â—ed to the Gentiles and the glory of his people Israel Obiect 2 And so prooueth it to bee the g Ioh. 3. 19 20. Condemnation of the world that Light being come into the world men loued darkenesse more then light and especially reprooueth the Iewes and the lost sheepe of the house of Israel h Iohn 1. 11. that when he came among his own his owne receiued him not Obiect 3 And had so lately also approoued the Apostles confession of him aboue and beyond all other blind and ignorant Professions should now so shortly and strictly commaund that they should not make him knowne who and what hee was Obiect 4 And of all others these Apostles i Math. 10. 6 7. Mark 3. 13. were chosen to goe before and to preach him in all Cities whither hee himselfe would come to confirme by his powerfull Word and Workes what they should teach and publish of him Was not Iohn the Baptist his Harbenger purposely sent before to preach and publish him to bee that k Iohn 1. 7 8 9 29. light of the world and that Lambe of God which should take away the sinnes of the world How is it then I say that hee doth heere so precisely forbid them to preach and publish him to the world Sol. 1 This Question might well be answered by Salomon who saith l Prou. 25. 1. That the glory of God is to conceale a thing secret which if it iumpe not with Salomons meaning in that place nor Christes purpose in this yet by the way it is a true and necessary note of obseruation to vs that wee should not curiously search into Note Gods meanings and secret purposes in many of his workes and actions Sol. 2 Secondly that of John the Baptist well answereth the poynt m Ioh. 1. 6 22 23 25 â—6 Mark 9. 13. Math. 3. 3. Malac 4. 5. and 3. 1. Math 17. 12. Luke 7. 27 28. 1. 17. for if it seemed conuenient in the wisedome of God to reueale Christ vnto the Iewes by the Ministery of Iohn of whom they had euident Prophesies that hee should prepare the way to the Messias going immediately before him in the power and Spirit of Eliah Which John as well by his new Sacrament of Baptisme as apparant testimonies had both witnessed and poynted him out vnto them if they would haue beleeued him why should they expect other Preachers besides his owne great workes to publish and beare witnesse of him Shall God bee bound vnto men of peruerse mindes and wayward spirits to send them Prophets and Preachers such and at such times as themselues would require them If they will not receiue the testimonie of Iohn n Math. 11. 9. to 15. A Prophet and more than a Prophet greater than any had risen vp among the sonnes of men why shall Peter bee sent vnto them vpon the same Message and vpon what hope of better effect of his than Iohn Baptists preaching Sol. 3 Let Abrahams answere to the hellish Glutton suffice to answere them also o Luke 16. 29 31. If they would not beleeue Moses and the Prophets which God purposely ordained and sent vnto them by word writing and example neither will they receiue Christ if one should come from the dead to preach him as appeareth some of them had conceiued of John to be risen againe after they had done vnto him whatsoeuer they would and causelesly killed him Sol. 4 It is not amisse also which some affirme that our blessed Sauiour gaue this Commaundement of concealing him to bee the Messias and the Sonne of God thereby to giue an example and to teach humilitie vnto his Disciples who in all glorious workes hunted after the glory of the world which Christ euer shunned and taught his Disciples not to seeke after it p Iohn 6. 15. He would not bee made a King when the people thought him worthy for his great Miracles to bee created their King and when his brethren and kindred would haue him to doe his great workes at Ierusalem and at the time of their Solemne Feastes and great Assemblies q Iohn 7. 3 4 6 8 10. and tell him that no man that seeketh to bee famous but will frequent famous places Hee answeres them That it was not his time to seeke glory in the world though their time was alwayes attending on such purposes and though it bee true that Omnia benefacta in luce se collocari volunt All glorious actions and good deedes desire to bee seene in the open light yet it is as true that Nullum Virtuti Theatrum Conscientia maius est Vertue hath not a more stately Stage whereon to glorifie it selfe