The Happiness of the Church, Biblical commentary 15

The Happiness of the Church · Biblical commentary 15

p. 87THE FIRE OF CONTENTION OR The trouble that followes the Gospell.

Lvk. 12. 49.

I come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be alreadie kindled?

BEfore I run vponupon Diuision, (and yet Diuision is the subiect of my Text; and for methods sake I must vse some diuision in my discourse) I must let you vnderstand, what this Fire is that is sent; and how innocent our Sauiour is that sendeth it.

1. There may be Dessention betwixt the good and the good: and hereof is the Deuill the author. It is the Enemie that sowes those Tares. This is one of the abominations that the Lord abhorreth: aaProu. 6. 19.Prov 6:19A false witnes that speaketh lies, and him that soweth discord among brethren. God is neuer the immediate cause of that, which he abominates. bb1. Cor. 11. 161 Cor 11:16If any man seeme to be contentious, we hauehave no such custome, neither the Churches of God. To cleare Christ and his Gospell from causing this; the tenour of all Scriptures admonisheth vsus with Saint Peter. cc1. Pet. 3. 8.1 Pet 3:8Be ye all of one mind, hauing compassion one of another, louelove as brethren, be pitifull, be courteous.

Vnitie is the badge of Christianitie: wee are all the members of one bodie. dd1. Cor. 12.1 Cor 12The eye cannot say to the hands, p. 88I hauehave no need of you, &c. We are all stones of one building, therefore must not iarre one with another, least we ruine the whole house. Christ sayth, that a kingdome diuided cannot stand. The Souldiours would not diuide the vnseamed coate of Christ: farre bee it from vsus to rent his bodie. There are three grounds of louelove; vertue, pleasure, profite. Vertue all consent to be the surest and best. That then which is grounded on the best vertue, is the best vnitie: and this is Faith. LoueLove issuing from Faith is a bond able to tie God to man, man to God: and therefore man to man. This knot is tyed so fast, that the powers of hell cannot vndoe it. All other vnities, but the Communion of Saints may be broken.

There is no peace so indissoluble, as the peace of faith. So contrarily there is no Contention so violent and raging, as that is enflamed by erroneous Religion. eeLib. 2. Ep. 8.Cyprian writes of Nouatus, that he would not so much as allow his owne Father bread whiles hee liued, nor vouchsafe him buriall being dead: that he spurned his owne wife, and killed his owne childe within her bodie. O the vnmatchable crueltie, that some mens religion, (if I may so call it) hath embloudied them to! What treasons, conspiracies, massacres, did or durst euer shew their blacke faces in the light of the Sunne, like to those of Papists; all vizarded vnderunder pretended Religion? The Pope hath a Canon, called Nos sanctorum Predecessorum, &c. Wee obseruing the statutes of our holy Predecessors, doe absolue those that are bound by fidelity and oath to persons excommunicated from their oathes; and doe forbid them to keepe their fealtie towards them, Quousque ipsi ad satisfactionem veniant: till they come to yeeld satisfaction. What malicious stratagems against suspended Princes, hauehave not beene kindled from this fire? Against what nation hath not this Canon shot the furie? Yea the more to embolden subiects to such pernicious attempts, the Pope makes p. 89them beleeue that the very Apostles take their partes. For so it is manifest by the forme of Gregories sentence; that he commandeth S. Peter and S Paul, as if they were his bailifs errant, to execute the writtes of his pontificall and priuatiue authoritie.

Malice in humour is like fire in straw, quickly vp, and quickly out: but taking hold of conscience, like fire in steele; Quod tardè acquisiuit, diù retinet; what was long in getting, will be longer in keeping. Religion is the greatest enemie to religion; the false to the true. ffTertull.Fauos etiam vespae faciunt: waspes also make combes, though in stead of honey wee find gun-powder. Of dissension among professours of the Gospell, Christ is not authour: he neuer gaue fire to burne his Church. Yet he hath his hand in it gg1. Cor. 11. 19.1 Cor 11:19There must be heresies among you that they which are approued may be made manifest. He drawes good out of euill; and makes a good Shall of the euill must: so raising a vertue from a necessitie. From contentions begot by Sathan, hee so sweetly workes, that the profession of his but darkely glowing before, shall be made to shine brightly. In Q. Maries time, when persecution wrung the Church, Martyrdome gaue a manifest approbation of many (vnknowne) Saints. The vertues of diuers had bin lesse noted, if this fiery triall had not put them to it. Gods glory and power are more perspicuous, in strengthening his against their enemies, then if they had none. Christ came not to send this fire; yet hee wisely tempers it to our good.

2. There may be Dissention betwixt the wicked and the wicked; and hereof also is Satan authour. He sets his owne together by the eares, like cockes of the game to make him sport. Hereupon hee raised these great Heathen warres, that in them millions of soules might goe downe to people his lower kingdome. Hereupon hee drawes ruffian into the field against ruffian: and p. 90then laughes at their vainely spilt bloud. All the contentions, quarrels, whereby one euill neighbour vexeth another; all slaunders, scoldings, reproches, calumnies, are his owne damned fires. Thus sometimes the vngodly massacre the vngodly, oppressours deuoure oppressours. hhEsa. 19. 2.Isa 19:2I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians: and they shall fight euerie one against his brother, and euerie one against his neighbour; Citie against citie, and kingdome against kingdome. The Pharises against the Sadduces: the Turke against the Pope: the Transgressour against the transgressour. Couetousnes shall be against prodigalitie: basenes against pride: temeritie against dastardie. The drunkard spils the drunkard, the theefe robbes the theefe: Proditorisproditor: the Traytour shalbe betrayed, and the cosener shall be cheated. iiEsa. 9. 21.Isa 9:21They shall eate euerie man the flesh of his owne arme; Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh. It is vnpossible, that any true peace should be amongst the wicked, whiles they want the soalder that should glew them together, faith. Agreement in euill is not peace, but conspiracie. Wicked mens combining themselues may be a faction, no vnitie, no amitie: for they hauehave but metum & noxam conscientia prosoedere: terrour and guilt of conscience for their league. But some may question; doth not Satan in setting reprobates against reprobates, ouerthrow his owne kingdome? I answere.

1. The Deuill is politicke, and will not diuide his subiects, when by their holding together hee may diuide the Church. So the Pharises though they hate the Sadduces; and the Herodians that despise them both: Math. 22. 16. 23.Matt 22:16Matt 22:23shall all ioyne forces shake and take hands against Christ. Papists are enemies to Truth, Schismaticks to Peace; yet both the Church: which suffers, as her Sauiour did, in medio ini…orum, in the midst of aduersaries; not onelyonly to her now, but at other times also to themselues. Herod and P…te, were of enemies reconciled p. 91friends, that their vnited rancours might meete against Iesus. The Iewes and the Lystrians, so diuersely religion'd, the deuill can make agree, to stone Paul. Act. 14. 19.Acts 14:19Thus Satan holds them vnderunder colours and pay, whiles they can doe him any seruice: but when they can no longer vexe others, hee falls to vexing of them: and enrageth their thirst to one anothers bloud, when they hauehave done quaffing the bloud of the Saints.

2. The Deuill in raising seditions and tumults among his owne, intends not the destruction, but erection of his kingdome. Perhaps his forces on earth are weakned, but his Territories in hell are replenished: wherein he takes himselfe to raigne most surely. For Satan, during a mans life, knowes not certainely, whether he belongs to God, or to him. Predestination is too mysticall and secret a booke for his condemned eyes to looke into; and repentance hath often stepped in betwixt old age and death: frustrating the hopes of Satan. Therefore he hastens a wicked man, with what speed he can, to hell; for till he came within those smoakie gates, Satan is not sure of him; he may start out of his clutches. For this cause he precipitates witches with much suddennesse to their ends: whom, one would thinke, hee should let liue, that they might doe more mischiefe. No; such is his malicious policie, he would be sure of some: and rather take one soule in present, then hazard all on the vaine hope of more gaines.

3. There is a Dissention betweene the wicked and godly; nor yet is Christ the proper and immediate cause of this. For Rom. 12. If it be possible, as much as lieth Rom. 12. 18.Rom 12:18in you, liue peaceably with all men.

4. There is an Emnitie betwixt Grace and Wickednes; a continuall combate betweene sanctitie and sin: and this is the Fire that Christ came to send. Hee is to some a liuing stone, whereupon they are built to life: to others a stone of offence, whereat they stumble to p. 92death. Now because the locall seate of holines on earth is in the hearts of the Saints; of wickednes in the Deuill and his Iustruments: therefore it followes, that the euill will persecute the good, and the good may not partake of the vices of the bad. kk2. Cor. 6. 16.2 Cor 6:16What agreement hath the temple of God with Idols! Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the vncleane thing, and I will receiue you. Out of the Egypt of this world hath God called his Sonnes. We are forbidden all fellowship with the vnfruitfull workes of of darkenes; not altogether with the workers: ll1. Cor. 5. 10.1 Cor 5:10For then wee must needs goe out of the world. It is commanded Ierem 15. that the precious be separated from the vile: yet Ier. 15. 19.Jer 15:19so that they may returne to the good, though the good may not turne to them. It is good for the good to sunder themselues from the incorrigible wicked; as being the first stayre of the ladder that leaues the earth; and sets the first step of our iourney to heauen. God in his eternall decree separated the elect from the Reprobate: in his Vocation, he sequesters them from nature and sinne. When hee executes particular iudgement, hee takes Israell from the Tabernacles of Corah: when he will giuegive the generall, he will seuer the Sheepe from the Goates.

Christ then, who is the mmEsa. 9. 6.Isa 9:6Prince of Peace, causeth not quarrels betweene man and man, as they are creatures; but betwixt goodnesse and euill, as they are contrarie natures. That the sonnes of Beliall hate the sonnes of God, Christ is not the cause, but the occasion. For when the Gospell separates vsus from the world, the world then bends his malicious forces against vsus. So that Peace in sinne. Ver. 51. Christ came not to send; but Peace of conscience. Phil. 4. The peace of God, which passeth all vnderstanding, &c. Which because the wicked Phil. 4. 7.Phil 4:7will not embrace, therfore nnVer. 52. 53.Fiue in one house shall be diuided: the Father against the Sonne, and the S…nne against p. 93the Father, &c. The Gospell doth not otherwise worke this diuision, then the Law is sayd to ooRom. 7. 7.Rom 7:7make sinne; because it made sinne knowne. Or the Sunne is sayd to cause mothes, because it causeth their appearance. Let Paul continue a Pharise, and the Pharises will louelove him: conuert he to a Christian, and they will hate him. Whiles we liue after the world, we hauehave peace with the world, none with God: when we are turned to Christ, we hauehave peace with God, none with the world.

This ground laid, we will consider, for the better exposition of the words fiue circumstances.

The

Fire.

Fewell.

Kindlers.

Smoake.

Bellowes.

Wherein we shall find Christs willing, and the fires kindling. Who wils goodnesse to his chosen, which he is sure, will enrage the wicked to their persecution. The cause thus giuen, the fire is left to be kindled by others. For though Non sine Deo patimur, yet non a Deo petimur. The instruments of our afflictiō will be found vngodly; who, though they plead, we hauehave done the will of the Lord, shall goe to hell for their labour.

The Fire.

Is discord, debate, contention, anger, and hatred against the godly. EueryEvery man is composed of foure elementall humours, whereof one is Choler, resembled to Fire. In whom this Choler is most adust, & puissant, they are vsually most hote, furious, fiery. But I speake here of nature; for grace can alter nature, and purge this corruption. Regeneration is the best physicke to purge Choler. Many medicines hath Philosophie prescribed against this spirituall disease; but in vaine. The Philosophers seruant could scoffe his Maister: He inueighes p. 94against anger, writes volumes against it, & ipse mihi irascitur; and yet he is angry with me. OnelyOnly grace can (more then giuegive rules) giuegive power to master this madnesse. Fire and Contention hauehave some resemblances.

1. Debate is like Fire; for as that of all elements, so this of all passions, is most violent. The earth is huge, yet we walke quietly on it; it suffers our ploughes to rend vp the entrals of it; to teach vsus patience. The aire is copious, yet admits our respiration. The waters boystrous, yet sayle we vponupon them, against them. But Fire, especially getting the vpper hand, is vnmercifully raging: it left nothing behind, to witnesse the former happynes of Sodome. The worlds last destruction, shall be by aa2. Pet. 3. 12.2 Pet 3:12Fire: and God vseth that, of all elements, to expresse the very torments of hell; adding bbReu. 21. 8.Rev 21:8Brimstone to it. To this is the anger of God likened; ccHebr. 12. 29.Heb 12:29Our God is euen a consuming fire. So doth debate exceede all passions: flouds of correction, can quench the turbulent an fiery spitit which is ddIam. 3. 6.Jas 3:6set on fire of hell. OnelyOnly one extreame may driue out another; as we hold our burnt finger to the fire, by a new heat to extract the former. eeMath. 3. 11.Matt 3:11So the fire of grace onelyonly must draw out the Fire of debate; or send it to the euerlasting ffver. 12.fire to purge it.

2. Contention is like Fire; for both burne so long, as there is any exustible matter to contend against. Only herein it transcends fire: for fire begets not matter, but consumes it; debate begets matter, but not consumes it. For the wicked study cause of contention, as gg1. King 20. 3. 5. 7.1 Kgs 20:31 Kgs 20:51 Kgs 20:7Benhadad against Ahab 1. king 20. So when the Pope could find no iust exception against Fredericke the Emperour; he quarrell'd with him for holding the wrong stirrop; when the great Prelate should mount his palfrey; and thought he might easily mistake, for Emperours are not vsed to hold stirrops, yet hee was persecuted almost to excommunication, for it. It is wofull dwelling amongst debatefull men, whose soules p. 95hate peace: that are foreign, hhRom. 1. 3.Rom 1:3without naturall affection; which Paul makes a reprobates marke: striking all that stand in their way; and not ceasing to burne, till all matter cease to feede them. Salomon discribes such with a firie comparison. First. ver. 17. he cals him a Busi-body he passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him: Prou. 26.Prov 26he thrusts himselfe into impertinent busines; and is like one that taketh a dog by the eares; which hee can neither hold, nor well let goe. ver. 18. He notes his politicke villanie. As a mad-man, who casteth firebrands, arrowes, and death; and saith, Am I not insport? he scattereth abroad mortall mischiefes vnderunder the colour of iest. And ver. 20. lest the fire should goe out, hee administers fewell himselfe. Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out. ver. 21. when he hath kindled this flame, hee striues to spread and disperse it; and is as coales to burning coales, and wood to the fire. The words of a tale-bearer are wounds, and they goe downe into the innermost parts of the belly. They penetrate and cruciate the most tender and sensible places.

3. As a litle sparke growes to a great flame so a small debate often proues a great rent. aaIam. 3. 5.Jas 3:5Behold how great a matter a litle fire kindleth. The wind at first a small vapour, yet gets such strength in going, that it ouer-turnes trees and towers. bbEcclus. 28. 14.Sir 28:14A back-biting tongue hath pulled downe strong citties, and ouerthrowne the houses of great men. Warre is compared to fire. Numb. 21. A fire is gone out of Heshbon, and a flame from the citie of Sihon: it hath Numb. 21. 28.Num 21:28consumed Ar of Moab, and the Lords of the high places of Arnon. But contention runs like wild-fire; so furious a pace, that nothing but bloud can extinguish it.

4. As fire is prouerbially sayd to be an ill master, but a good seruant: so Anger where it is a Lord of rule is a Lord of mis-rule; but where it is subdued to reason, or rather sanctified to grace, it is a good seruant. That anger is holy, that is zealous for the glory of God.

This is Diuision; a raging fire: and able, whether it p. 96take hold of ciuilitie or religion, of Burse or Church, to ouerthrow the common good of both.

For ciuilitie, the breaking of relatiues, is the ruine of substantiues. We stand not of our selues, but vponupon reference. Want of iustice in magistrates, of instruction in gouernours, of obedience in subiects, of charitie in neighbours, destroyes the common wealth. Some gather thus much from the fift Commandement, by good consequence. Honour thy Father and thy Mother, that thy dayes may be long in the Land which the Lord thy God giueth thee. For if Princes rule well and subiects obey well; if masters command right, and seruants doe right: if Parents instruct children in the feare of God, and children obey parents in that feare; this happy harmonie shall preserue the land. If this relation, and reciprocall dutie be neglected, all runs to ruine: and the blessing of long life shall be with-drawne. For it is not fit they should hauehave long life, that rebell against those from whom they had, and by whom they hold their life.

Begin with the least ascendently. The ouerthrow of a house is Diuision. When the husband and wife draw not euenly in the yoke; when the one brings fire & the other hath no water to-quench it: when the children are refractarie, the seruants wasters; there must needes be a decay of this familie. Whereof consists a Citie, but of many housholds? If the particulars be ruinated, what will become of the generall? When the members are gone where is the Bodie? If the Magistrates are vniust, the people disobedient, if one profession quarrell with another, and denie mutualitie: the head refusing to giuegive guidance, the eyes their sight, the feete to walke, the hands to worke; the body of that Citie dissolues. The dissolution of cities and townes, must needs ruin the Kingdome. When the members fell out with the stomach, that it deuoured all, and tooke noe p. 97paines; hereon the eye would not see for it, nor the hand worke for it, nor the foote walke for it, &c. so the stomach wanting meate, the eyes, hands, feet, and all members faint and languish. Tributes & subsidies are but the dues and duties of the members to the Prince; who, as the stomach, returnes all to their welfare and benefite.

Dissention in religion doth no lesse hurt, doth more. It diuides a house. Here. Ver. 52. Fiue in one house shall be diuided: two against three, and three against two. And Math. 10. A mans foes shall be they of his owne household. Math. 10 36.Matt 10:36It diuidesa citie. How many cities hauehave beene destroyed by their owne mutinous distractions, whome forraigne inuasions could not subdue! It diuides a Kingdome; whereof Fraunce hath long beene a bleeding witnesse: neither hath England beene insensible.

Ac velut in magno populo, cùm saepe coorta est

Seditio, saeuit que animis ignobile vulgus:Virg.

Iám que faces & saxa volant, furor arma ministrat.

It ouerthrowes propinquitie: the mutuall succour of lending, borrowing, giuing, relieuing is lost. Yea it ouerturnes Nature it selfe, setting ccMath. 10. 35.Matt 10:35children at variance against their owne parents. There are three very neare; Superiour, equall, inferiour; Parent, wife, children: Ver. 37.yet we must separate from them, rather then from Iesus Christ. Yea it is enough to extirpate all; Regem, legem, gr…gem; Prince, law and people. No wonder then, if the busie deuill seekes so studiously to kindle this fire! Eccl. Hist.So Eusebius obserues; The subtle Serpent, when persecutions gaue the Church breathing space, began to vexe her with her owne diuisions.

The Fewell.

Whereon this fire workes, is the good Profession of the godly. So the rulers against ddDan. 6. 4.Dan 6:4Daniell in causa Dei sui: because of his Religion. Psal. 59. The mightie are p. 98Psal. 59. 3.Ps 59:3gathered against me, not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O Lord. They persecuted vsus, not because they find euill in vsus, but because they cannot find euill in vsus. They runne and prepare themselues against me, without my fault. Without fault? it is fault enough in their iudgement, because we serue the Lord. ee1. Pet. 4. 4.1 Pet 4:4They speake euill of vsus, because we runne not with them to the same excesse of riot. If we will not communicate with their vicious customes, we shall participate of their raging cruelties. Against Israel, yea because it is Israel, doe they consult: ffPsal. 83. 4.Ps 83:4Come let vsus cut off them from being a Nation: that the name of Israell may bee no more in remembrance. For this cause was the Babilonian fire kindled against those three seruants of God; and the same cause moued mysticall Babylon to burne our Martyrs in England. If they would hauehave turned to Idols and Images, the fire hadde beene put out. We would not, could not yeeld to their superstitions, therefore the Fire burned.

But that which is the occasion of euill, cannot be perfectly good. Indeed that simplie and of it selfe causeth euill, is euill it selfe. But that may be good, which indirectly and by consequence, in mans corrupt nature occasioneth it. The Gospell, and integritie of professing it, is not the efficient but accidentall cause; or rather properly no cause, but an occasion of this feud. The bright Sun, shining on mudde and filth, is said to cause stench: yet is not the Sun the true cause, but the former putrefaction of the subiect reflected on, when a corrupt vapour comes into the firie region, it is soone enflamed. Their rancorous filth had lyne quiet, as mucke in a dunghill, had not the Sun of the Gospell, shone on it, and stirred it, now howsoeuer the Gospell is not the direct cause of this, yet surely the occasion. For Athens is quiet enough till Paul comes: and till Christ is borne, Ierusalem is husht in peace. Many parishes sticke not to say, we had rest and securitie enough before: but p. 99now since preaching came in, and the Pulpets hauehave beene warmed, there is nothing but disturbation and vnquietnes. How else could this Text be true, that Christ came to send fire on the earth? The deluge of sinne was vniuersall, and the waters of iniquitie stood vntroubled, and all was a Mare mortuum: but when Christ puts fire to this water, no maruell if they wrastle. The deuill stirres not till God rowse him; as the wild boare sleepes till he bee hunted. Let darknesse couer mens impieties, and their slumber is vnmolested: produce them to the light and they cannot endure it. The vlcerous side full of dead flesh, feeles not till you touch the quicke. But let Elias tell Ahab of his Idolatries, Iohn Baptist Herod of his lusts; and then, Thou art mine enemie. The vngodly may pretend other causes, but this is the true one. The Pope refused to confirme an Archbishop Math. Paris.elect, when no insufficiencie could be found against him, onelyonly because of his age: not considering, that himselfe being older did manage a greater place. But if the Archbishop was able to trauell to Rome and backe againe to England, sure he was able to hauehave sate in the Chaire of Canturbury. Age was the exception; but the truth was the Archbishops honestie; that he carried not with him to Rome a golden bottle to quench the Popes thirsty soule: as many others d…d, who returned home with as much wit as they went forth, but not with so much money. Such was the Popes pretense against Reimundus the good Earle of Tholouse, that hee was an Hereticke: but when his iust purgation and iustifying of himselfe would not pacifie his vnmercifull Holinesse; Act. and. Mon. pag. 273.nor get peaceable possession of his owne lands: it was euident to all eyes, that the Popes desire was not so much to hauehave the Earle part from his Heresie, as from his Heritage. Persecutors plead castigation of errours, but they meane subersion of truth.

But great peace is prophecied to the Gospell. Esa. 11. p. 100The Wolfe shall dwell with the Lambe; and the Leopard lye Esa. 11. 6.Isa 11:6quietly by the kidde &c. And Mica…. 4. They shall beate their swords, into plowshares, and their speares into pr…ing Mic. 4. 3.Mic 4:3hookes: nation shall not lift vp a sword against nation, neither shall they learne warre any more. I answere, God will either restraine the furie of these sauage beasts, and turne Esaus threats into mildnes when hee meets Iacob. ggPsal. 2. 4.Ps 2:4Hee that sittes in heauen laughes at their combinings. Or many Tyrants shall be conuerted to the faith of Christ; subiecting their Crownes, and laying downe their Scepters at the feete of the Lambe. Or it may intend that outward vniuersall peace which was through all the world, when Christ was borne in the dayes of Augustus. But most specially that peace of conscience, and Communion which shall be among the Saints; who shall lay aside all querelous differences, and be made one by the bloud of Iesus.

But when the Gospell came to vsus in Queene Elizabeths dayes of so blessed memorie, we also had much peace. We had with Gloria in excelsis Deo, sung also Pax in terris. The iron gates of warre were shut vp; and the long tossed Arke of our Church had an Oliue branch of flourishing peace bestowed on it. The fury of an Aduersary was not knowne; but Righteousnes and peace kissed each other. Yet was not this peace without great Fires.

1. There was a great fire of Anabaptisme; a grosse, peruerse, and sottish sect, that hadde washed off their Font-water, as vncleane: and thought it not enough to run out of Babylon, vnlesse they ranne also out of themselues, out of their wittes. This combustion could not be well quenched; onelyonly we were happily rid of it by the shifting ground. For when the flames were suppressed in England, they burst out beyond Sea.

2. There was a great fire of Brownisme; an Ignis fatuus, fastning on abundance of crude and squalid matter, p. 101could not easily be extinguished. It was blowne vp with the Bellowes of pride; and because it might not hauehave the owne swinge, it fell to direct rayling. They say the Church of England may be their mother, but is none of Gods wife: why doe they not call her plaine Whore? For such is a mother that hath children; and no husband. But these the whiles are braue Sons, who care not to proue themselues bastards, that their mother may be noted for an Harlot. But the shame be their owne, Integritie hers; who hath not defiled her bed, though they hauehave shamed her wombe. But whiles they call her Saint Iohns Beast in the Reuelation; let them beware, least they proue themselues Saint Pauls Beast; to the Phil. chap. 3. ver. 2. Dogs. Surely God neuer will leaue peaceable spirits in England, to go dwell with railers at Amsterdam.

3. There was a raging fire of the Papists; who to mainetaine their spirituall fire of superstition, made vse of materiall fireto set a whole land in combustion. How vnspeakeable were their treasons agaynst that gratious Princesse: which yet if we gather vp into one volume, we shall find their last equalling all; which should hauehave beene a fire, a fire indeede; such a one as hell it selfe could onelyonly belch out. But blesse we our God, that with sweete showres of merciemercy rayned it out.

These fires hauehave beene kindled in a Land of peace, though many teares hauehave beene showred vponupon them, & earnest prayers sent vp to heauen, for their quenching. Yea, and will be still, so long as that crowne-shorn generation can transport their burning quils into England; and their great Antichrist, the Successor not of Peter, but of Romulus, sits on that fierie Chaire. So long as hee is suffered to tyranize ouer nations, to depose Kings, and dispose Kingdomes: who praies Peter and Pope Hildebrand in his second excommunication of Henry Emp.Paule, (as if they neuer had taught subiects to obey their Soueraignes) to eradicat and cast out an Emperour p. 102from his royaltie. Whereupon he conferred the Empire vponupon Rodolphus, with this blasphemous verse.

Petra dedit Petro, Petrus diadem… Rodolpho.

All Kingdomes were to Peter giuen by Christ:

And Peter may dispose them as he list.

But as Cardinall Benno affirmes, that when this Hildebrand would needs solmnly excommunicate the Em perour, his Chayre burst in pieces, being but newly made of suff…cient tymber: so if it were throughly broken to fitters neuer (like Iericho) to be rebuilded then (and not till then) Princes may raigne in peace. From all this we may obserue.

1. That this fire was kindled in Christs time, and hath burned euer since. For if this rage stroke at the head, it will not fauour the members. If the sawcie Deuill durst meddle and incounter with the Captaine, he will not feare to set vponupon a meane souldiour. Remember, sayth Christ the word that I sayd vntounto you, The seruant is not greater then the Lord: if they hauehave persecuted Ioh. 15. 20.John 15:20me, they will also persecute you. We cannot expect that immunitie, which our Sauiour neuer found. In the securest and most quiet state of the Church we hauehave found this: that sedition hath trode on the heeles of peace; and persecution beene borne into the world, with the feete forward for hast.

2. That the godly must maintaine this fire; for there must be in them no deficiencie of fewell. They must hold fast integritie, though this be the matter whereuppon this fire workes. No peace must be had with them, that hauehave no peace with God: I deny not peace in ciuill affaires, but in conforming our manners to theirs. For righteousnesse must not yeeld to iniquitie: Christ must be borne, and being borne must raigne, though hhMath. 2. 3.Matt 2:3Herod rage, and the Deuill foame, and all Ierusalem be troubled at it. ii1. Sam. 5. 3.1 Sam 5:3Dagon must yeeld to the Arke, not the Arke to Dagon: the ten Tribes come to Iudah, p. 103not Iudah goe to them: Ishbosheth to Dauid, not Dauid to Ishbosheth.

The Gospell must be preached though hell breake out into opposition: and we must keepe faith & a good conscience, though persecutors print in our sides the markes of the Lord Iesus.

3. That the fruit of the Gospell is so farre from allowing carnall peace, that it giues Dissention. It hath euer beene the destinie of the Gospell to bring commotion, trouble, and warres; though no doctrine teacheth so much peace. Math. 10. I came not to Math. 10. 34.Matt 10:34s…nd peace, but a sword. Not that the Gospell of it selfe causeth warres; for it maketh peace betweene God and man, man and man, man and his inward soule: but it ouerturneth the tables of the money-changers, spoileth the Banke of vsurers, will not let Herod keepe his Herodias, barres Demetrius of his idolatrous shrines, puls the cup from the mouth of the drunkard, denounceth confusion to the oppressor, vnuizardeth painted hypocrisie, and discouers the vgly face of fraud to the world; therefore it hath enemies, euen to the effusion of bloud, and endeuourd extirpation of all that professe it. So that partly this proceeds from our owne corruption; that cannot endure the light, because our deedes are euill; and partly from the malice of Sathan, who by the growth of the Gospell looseth his Iurisdiction. For looke how much ground Christianitie gettes, that bloudie infernall Turke looseth. So that neither can the Deuill so vncontrollably lead men to quiet damnation; neither can the euill heart bee so securely euill. For the Gospell informes the vnderstanding, the vnderstanding tels the conscience, and the conscience will not spare to tell men their wickednesse. Though Gods hand forbeares to strike outwardly, the conscience smites inwardly; and the former vniust peace is broken by a new iust war. Men shall by this meanes know hell p. 104before they salute, it and discerne themselues in that broad way that leads to damnation. Safe they may be, they cannot be secure. Thus the Gospell begets all maner of enemies, forraine, ciuill, domesticall. Forraigne, the Deuill who now makes apparant his hornes, as if it were high time to bestirre himselfe. Hee sees, he cannot lead soules to his blacke kingdome in a twine-threed, as hee was wont without reluctancie: he must clap irons vponupon them, and bind them with his strongest tentations. Ciuill, the world which erst ticed vsus on, as a baite doth the fish, not knowing that there is a hooke so neere the iawes wee tooke it for a kind and familiar friend; but now it is descried and described for a very aduersary. Domesticall, thy owne bosome is disquieted, and thou must muster vp all the forces of thy soule, to take the Traytour that lurkes within thee, thy owne flesh. This is a neare and a deare enemie, yet we must fight against it, and that with a will to subdue it; denying our selues, and forsaking our delighted lusts and pleasures. The godly must be faine to sit, like the Nightingale, with a thorne against their brest. If they scape conflicts abroad, they are sure to hauehave them at home: and if forraigne and profest aduersaries should giuegive ouer their inuasions, yet this domesticall rebell, lust, must with great trouble be subdued. After which spirituall combate, our comfort is that in the end the victorie shall be ours. kkEcclus. 28. 22.Sir 28:22It shall not hauehave rule ouer them that feare God, neither shall they be burnt with the flames thereof. Hence we learne fiue vsefull lessons.

1. That we hauehave neede of Patience: seeing we know that the law of our Profession binds vsus to a warfare; and it is decreed vponupon that all that will liue godly in Christ, shall suffer persecution. When Fire, which was the God of the Chaldeans, had deuoured all the other wooden deitie, Canopis set vponupon him a Caldron full of p. 105water, whose bottome was full of holes artificially stopt with waxe: which when it felt the heat of that furious Idol, melted and gaue way to the water to fall downe vponupon it, and quench it. The water of our patience must onelyonly extinguish this Fire: nothing but our teares moderation and sufferance can abate it. But this patience hath no further latitude, then our proper respect: for in the cause of the Lord wee must must be iealous and zealous. llIeron. ad vigil.Meam iniuri…m patienter tuli, iniuriam contra Sponsam Christi ferre non potui. Our owne iniuries wee must bury in forgetfulnes, but wrongs to the Truth of God, and Gospell of Iesus Christ, we must striue to oppose and appease. Patience is intollerable, when the honour of God is in dangerous question. Otherwise we must consider, that by troubles God doth trie and exercise our patience. Ideo Deus misit in terram bonam separationem, vt mal…m rumperet coniunctionem. Therfore God sent on earth a good separation, that he might dissolue an euill coniunction.

2. That wee must not shrinke from our profession, though we know it to be the fewell that maintains this fire. Daniell leaues not his God, though he be shewed the Lyons; nor those three seruants their integritie and abomination of the Idoll, though the heat of the fire be septupled. Let the Pope spue out his execrations, interdictions, and maledictions (for his holie mouth is full of curses) yet keepe wee our faith: it is better to hauehave the Pope curse vsus, then God. His curse is but like Domitians thunder: if you giuegive care to the crackes and noyse, it seemes a terrible and hideous matter, but if you consider the causes and effects, it is a ridiculous iest. Reuolt not from the Gospell, from thy faith and innocencie, and though he curse, the Lord will blesse. Balaam could say; Quomodo maledicam ei, cui non maledixit Dominus? How shall I curse him, whom the Lord hath not cursed? Rash and headlong p. 106iudgement hurts not the person de quo temerè iudicatur, against whom it is denounced; but him that so indiscreetly iudgeth. Qui conantur per iram aliena coereere, gra uiora committunt. To correct other mens errors in anger, is to commit a greater error then theirs. Let not the thunders of malignant opposers disharten thy zeale mmHebr. 10. 38.Heb 10:38The iust shall liue by faith: but if any man draw backe, my soule shall hauehave no pleasure in him.

3. That we thinke not much of the troublous fires, that are thus sent to waite vponupon the Gospell. He that gaue vsus that blessed Couenant, meant not that wee should sticke at these conditions. It is enough to hauehave this Passeouer though we eate it with sower herbes: to enioy the Lillie, though among thornes. Let the Iewes fret and Deuils run mad; and many giuegive ground to these persecutions: yet say we with Peter. nnIoh. 6. 68.John 6:68Master, whether shall we goe from thee? thou hast the words of eternall life. He is vnworthy of Gods fauour, that cannot goe away contented with it, vnlesse he may also enioy the fauour of the world. It is enough to hauehave the promise of a Crowne, albeit we climbe to it by the Crosse. The ancient Christians vsed to hauehave Crucem Coronatam pictured, a Crosse with a Crowne on the top of it. Tolle crucem, si vis et babere coronam. Their Hieroglyphicke taught men to attaine the Crowne; by bearing the Crosse. Though the friends and factours of hell compasse vsus round, yet wee hauehave heauen within vsus, would we hauehave it within vsus, and without vsus too? that is only the priuiledge of glory. Cannot Paul endure the oo2. Cor. 12. 9.2 Cor 12:9thornes and buffets of Satan? Let him quiet his heart with Gods encouragement. My grace is sufficient for thee. It is enough to hauehave the ppPhil. 4. 7.Phil 4:7peace of God, which passeth all vnderstanding, though we lacke the (ill condition'd) peace of the world. Murmure not that the world denies her wanton solace…, to tickle thee with vaine pleasures: thou hast the qqRom. 14. 17.Rom 14:17ioy of the holy Ghost. God is thy p. 107portion. Though the lot fall short in earthly meanes, wealth and worship: yet he is well for a part, that hath God for his portion. Content thy selfe; this fire must goe with the Gospell; and thou art vnworthy of the immortall gold of grace, if thou wilt not endure it to be tryed in the Fire rr1. Pet. 1. 7.1 Pet 1:7Your faith is much more precious then gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire: and shall be found at last to praise, and honour, and glory, at the appearing of Iesus Christ.

4. That we esteeme not the worse of our Profession, but the better. It is no small comfort, that God thinkes thee worthy to suffer for his Name. This was the Apostles ioy (not that they were worthy, but) that ssAct. 5. 41.Acts 5:41they were counted worthy to suffer shame for Christ. He refused not to be our Sauiour for the shame he was put to: hee brooked a purple robe to couer his white innocencie; his face, which is worshipped by the Angels in heauen, to be spit on; his soule in the midst of all his vnutterable pangs, to be derided and iested at; some wagging their heads, others mouing their tongues to blasphemie: and if the maner of death could adde to his ignominie, hee suffered the most opprobrious: yet sayth Paul, for our sakes, ttHebr. 12. 2.Heb 12:2he endured the Crosse, and despised the shame; this, all this shame, that he might bring saluation to vsus, and vsus to saluation. And shall we be ashamed of his profession; that was not ashamed of our protection? If wee be, wee hauehave read his iudgement; Hee will be ashamed of vsus before his Father in Heauen. The King doth not cast away his Crowne, though it be the occasion of many treasons. Loose not thy hope and holde of a royall Inheritance, because this Title hath many enemies. Hee was neuer worthy to weare a wreath of victorie, that cowardlike ran out of the bloudie field. The vnthriftie soule is iustly starued, that will not reape and gather his corne, because there be thistles amongst it. He neuer knew p. 108how precious a mettall gold is, that will rather throw away his oare, then take paines at the fornace. It is pitie that euer the water of Baptisme was spilt vponupon his face, that forsakes the Standard of Christ, because hee hath many enemies. Israel had neuer gotten that promised Canaan, had they beene afraid of the sonnes of Anak. It is honour enough to be a Christian though others that are contemptible doe cast contempt vponupon it. Our Sauiour hath armed vsus with a sweet prediction. uuIoh. 16. 33.John 16:33These things hauehave I spoken vntounto you, that in mee you might hauehave peace: in the world you shall hauehave tribulation; but be of good cheare, I hauehave ouercome the world.

5. Seeing the fewell is our integritie; and this they specially strike at; let vsus more constantly hold together: confirming the Communion of Saints, which they would dissolue. Let vsus more strongly fortifie our vnitie, because they so fiercely assault it: and cling faithfully to our Head, from whom their sacrilegious hands would pull vsus, xxIoh. 6. 68.John 6:68Lord, whether shall we goe from thee? thou hast the words of eternall life. Where those words are found, woe be to vsus if we are not found. Multitudo inimicorum corroboret vnitatem a micorum. Let not brethren fight with themselues, whiles they hauehave enough forraine enemies. It is enough that foes strike vsus; let not vsus strike our friends. No nor yet part with our friends and Christs, because some aduersaries are scattered among them. What though the miscellane rabble of the prophane: as the Brownists terme them, be admitted among vsus: shall the lewdnes of these disanull Gods Couenant with his? Yes say they: this is their merciemercy: Gods is more. Hee still held Israel for his, when not many in Israel held him for theirs. The desert was a witnesse of their mutinous rebellion against Psal. 10. 6.Ps 10:6God and his Minister; yet the pillar of protection by day and night left them not. Moses was so farre from reiecting them, that he would not endure that God p. 109should reiect them, though for his owne aduantage. In all companies there will be euill intruders: Sathan among the Angelles, Saul among the Prophets, Iudas among the Apostles, Nicholas among the Deacons, Demas among Professors. Yet though Thiatira retaines a Iezebell, the good are commanded but yyReu. 2. 24.Rev 2:24to holde their owne.

But wee reserue the ceremonies of a superstitious Church: but we reserue no superstition in those ceremonies. We hauehave both abridged their number, and altered their nature. As it was a paines not amisse vndertaken of late, to reduce the feast of Christes natiuitie, as neare to the right Quando and period of time, as art and industrie could deuise: by taking vp the loose minutes which in tract of time, and multiplication of degrees, had drawne out a wider distance by certaine dayes, then was congruent to the first Calendar. So hath our Church so neare as shee could abridged the ranke superfluities, and excrescent corruptions, which the Traditionall ceremonies, and ceremoniall Traditions of Rome had brought in, (and thereby remooued her, from that neerenes to her Sauiour, which shee formerly enioyed) striuing to reduce her selfe concerning Ceremonies; for their number to paucitie, for their nature to puritie, for their vse to significancie.

Separate we not then from the Church, because the Church cannot separate from all imperfection. But keepe the Apostles rule. aaEph. 4. 15.Eph 4:15Follow the truth in louelove: not onelyonly the Truth, but the truth in louelove. Diuerse follow the truth, but not truely.

1. Some there are that embrace the truth, but not all the truth: those are Heretickes.

2. Some embrace the truth, but not in vnitie; and those are Separatists.

3. Others embrace the truth in vnitie and veritie, but not in heart: and those are hypocrites.

p. 110Therefore the Apostle so often vrgeth it: Be ye all of one minde: hauehave the same affection. As children of one house hauehave most vsually one and the same education: so all Gods children must be like affected to God, to Christ, to the Church, and one to another. To God in obedience and pietie, to Christ in faith and synceritie, to the Church in peace and vnitie, to their owne sinnes in hatred and enmitie, to one another in louelove and charitie. Employing the graces of God bestowed on vsus, to the edification and consolation of others: spending our selues, like torches, to giuegive others light. A Christian, though he be the freest man of all, yet he is seruant to all: to Christ for himselfe, to others for Christ: bbGal. 5. 13.Gal 5:13serue one another in louelove. Let this affection of vnitie be encreased by considering three inconueniences of dissension.

1. A great aduantage is giuen to the enemie. They boast the goodnes of others errours, whilst wee agree not in our truth. They take opportunity to shuffle in their counterfet coine, whiles wee consent not in our gold; I say not so much for the waight or purenes of sub stance, as for the fashion. Is it not a shame for the children of God to dissent, when the children of hell are at peace? It is a military principle; Tempt not an enemie, by giuing him the aduantage. What is this, but to harten their malignant opposition to assault vsus, when they spie in the Citie a Breach? Qui vnionem rumpit, vnitatem ruit: Hee that dissolues the vnion of parts, ouerthrowes the vnitie of the whole.

2. Sinne by this meanes steales vp: nor is there an aduantage giuen only to our aduersaries of Rome, but to our enemies of hell. Wickednes is a crafty theefe; which spying a towne on fire, and all hands labouring to quench it, takes his aduantage of booties; and what others redeeme, he steales. Whiles we are busie about this Fire, the deuils factors come abroad, like Nicholas p. 111Clarkes, and steale away soules. Whiles so many disagree about Christs descending into …ell, Sathan gathers many thether.

3 Our soules by this meanes often become …, & gather corruption for want of scowring them by repentance. Whiles we are carefull and curious about mint and cummin, Iustice and Pietie goe away neglected. We at once grow hote in contention, and cold in deuotion. The fire of the Altar goes out whiles this fire of sedition is fewelled. It was the comparison of a worthy Diuine. The meanes whereby the sheepheards take the Pelican, is to lay fire neere her nest: which she, in a foolish pitie to saue her young ones, offers to flap out with her wings, and so is burned her selfe. So many in a fond compassion to quench this fire, burne their owne wings, rather then help others. If our ashes could quench it, we should not grudge them: but since it encreaseth with part-takings, let vsus either quench it with our teares, or by our prayers moue God to put it out. Howsoeuer neglect wee not the estate of our owne soules; nor suffer our hearts ouer-growne with the rust of corruption, or mosse of securitie. So thou mayest be like the gold-finer that is all day purifying of mettals, till himselfe be reezed, smooted, and soiled all ouer. Take heede, thou mayest be so long about the fire, till thou be made blacke with the smoke.

We hauehave brought together the Fire, and the Fewell; now we must looke for Kindlers.

The Kindler.

Of this fire is principally Satan: it is hee that brings the fewell of good mens sanctitie, and the fire of euill mens iniquitie together; and so begets a great flame. This he doth performe either by his Instruments, or by himselfe. He is the great Bustuarie himselfe, and hath other deputed inflamers vnderunder him.

p. 112Sometimes immediately by himselfe. Reu. 12. That Reu. 12. 4.Rev 12:4great red Dragon, with seauen heads and ten hornes, and seauen Crownes on his heads: stands before the woman which was ready to be deliuered, for to deuoure her child so soone as it was borne. When he perceiued that the Great Light (Christ) was come into the world, by throwing downe his oracles of darknes, he begins to bustle and howsoeuer he speeds, he wil fight two or three bouts with him, in a monomachie or duell, person to person. He durst not trust this battell to an instrument, or fight by Attourney: Per alium desperat; quod etiam per se fieri dubitat.this fire he will kindle himselfe. As proud as he is, rather then he will hazard the escaping of a soule from his blacke kingdome, he will in his owne proper person take the paines, to hamper him with his strongest temptations.

Sometimes by his instrumentes, which are many thousands: for if we compare numbers: he hath more helpers on earth to kindle this fire, then Christ hath servants to put it out. Therfore he is called the God of this 2. Cor. 4. 4.2 Cor 4:4world: where sub nomine mundi are meant mundani, worldlings. Reu. 12. He is said to deceiue the whole world. Reu. 12. 9.Rev 12:9He labours to deceiue all that are in the world, but he doth deceiue all that are of the world. It was he that stirred vp couetousnes in the Sabeans, and couetousnes stirred vp their harts against Iob. He incenseth Haman, and Haman Ahashueroch against the Iewes. He prouoked Iudas, & almost all Iudah against Iesus. He kindleth malice in their harts that kindle these damnable fires: & shall burne in vnquenchable fire for his labour. It is he that prouoketh the Magistrate to tyrannie, the people to disobedience & trecherie, the learned to heresie, the simple to securitie, all to rebellion and impietie. Men litle thinke, whose instruments they are, & whose businesse they goe about, when they put their finger in this fire. It is the diuel, that puts slander in their tongues, malice in their hearts, & mischeefein their hands: wherby p. 113they labour either seducere or abducere, to corrupt mens soules, or to cut their throates. For Satans whole intent is to draw men a cultu Dei debito, ad cultu… suimet indebitum; from worshiping the God of light, to worship Rupert.him that is an Angell of darknes. Oh that men would consider what eternall fire is prepared for them, by whom this mysticall fire is kindled!

Now Sathan kindleth two sorts of fires; Generall, or speciall. And either of these is double. The generall are extended either to errour, or terrour.

1. He kindles the fire of open warre. He is the great generall of that armie. Psal. 2. that doe band themselues against the Lords annointed. The Dragon and his angels fight against Michael and his Angels: There is no fighting against Reu. 12.Rev 12the Saints, but vnderunder his colours. Hee was the captaine in that Parisiā massacre; the Pilot to that inuincible nauie: 88. He is the great master of the inquisition: the grand Cair of all confederacles abroad; the Machiauell of all conspiracies at home. There was no treason, but was first hammer'd in his forge & tooke the damned fire from his breath. The Pope hath bin his applauded Instrument many yeares, to kindle these belluine & Belial fires. Innumerableseditions of warres hauehave bin sent from the enginous studie of his holy brest to vexe Christian Emperours and kings: wherein continually the Pope gaue the battell, but the Lord gaue the victorie: and that where his vicar least intended it Hildebrand (Hell-brandrather) promised Rodolphus, whom he incensed against his liege-Emperour Henricus, assured conquest: but it seemes the Bishop had small power in heauen, whatsoeuer he pretended on earth: for Rodolphus his ouerthrow gaue Henricus direct proofe to the contrary. It appeares in a certaine letter of Benno to the Cardinals, that this Hildebrand preaching in the Pulpit did so promise and prophecie the death of Henricus, that he bid his auditors no more to take him for Pope, p. 114but to plucke him from the Altar: if the sayd Henry did not dye, or were not deiected from his kingdome, before the feast of Saint Peter then next ensuing. But the euent proued the Pope a lyer in the Pulpit; and therefore I hope tooke from him all impossibillitie of lying in Cathedra, Indeed he laboured tooth and na…le, by policie and sorcerie, by his friends and fiends to …ect this: innumerable were the plots of his treason. One among the rest is obseruable in the letter of the said Cardinall Benno. that he had hired a villaine, obseruing the place in the Church where th… Emperour vsed to pray, to cary vp to the roofe of the Church a great number and waight of stones; with purpose to let them fall downe on the Emperours head at his deuotion, and to knocke out his braines▪ but the traitour being busie to remoue a stone of an vnwonted hugenes to the place, the planke whereon he stood broke; downe they come both to the floore of the Church, & the stone (for it seemes his owne impietie made him the heauier to fall first to his center) fell on him, and quash'd him to peeces.

But what speake I of their particular treasons? a priuate treachery was but like the French Torney at Chalons. Parvum bellum; a litle warre: wee areto consider their great Fir…s, which they hauehave kindled in the Christion world: when the Princes would neuer hauehave broke mutuall peace had not the Deuill set on the Pope, and the Pope set on them to this eger contention. But lightly as Mars and money made them Popes; so Mars and Symonie held them rich Popes. And now through Sathans helpe they hauehave brought it about; that as at first no Pope might be chosen without the Emperour, so now no Emperour must bee chosen without the Pope. Both the swords are their claime; and they will hauehave them both, or they will lift them vp both against the deniers: and where the sword spirituall may not p. 151be admitted, they will make way for it with the sword temporall. It is fit, they say, that they should beare temporall rule, that follow neerest to God: but the Pope and his Clergie follow neerest to God: therefore are the fittest men to rule. It is answered, if God behere taken for that God, which S. Paul speakes of, the Belly: they follow nearest indeed. From the other and onelyonly Phil. 3. 19.Phil 3:19true God, they are farre enough. If they were not, they would vse onelyonly spirituall warre against the kingdome of Satan; and not meddle with temporall war against the kingdomes of Christian Princes. Plead what they can from the wrested Scriptures, and misunderstood Fathers; yet Frustra Apostolica authoritas pratenditur, vbi Apostolica Scriptura contemnitur: in vaine is Apostolique authoritie pretended, where Apostolicke Scripture is dispised, or peruerted. Non cripit mortalia, qui regna dat coelestia. That God warrants not the taking away of earthly kingdoms, that giues the kingdom of heauen.

2 The second generall fire he kindles, is error and Heresie; a burning riuer of poyson: that Cup of abomination, which he reacheth out to the world in the hand of that great Babilonian Whore. To maintaine this fire, he cals Councells, enacts lawes, teacheth many Parliaments the promulgation of bloudy Statutes: and wheras other lawes of Princes (tending to the ruine of iniquitie) are euer neglected, those that are made against Christians, hauehave beene most seuerely executed. And least the Deuill in this should appeare like himselfe, the Prince of death and darknes; heesits thundring in the Popes mouth like an Angell of light, and so directs him; that vnderunder In Dei nomine: Amen; he vnmercifully condemneth his brother. So that the vsurpation of a diuine dispensation, must burne the poore members of Christ at the fierie stakes. Now this fire he kindleth by two malicious courses.

1. By obscuring the light of the Gospell from mens p. 116eyes; and hartning their affection to darknes. So that the children of the night hauehave so doted vponupon Ignorance, that they hate and persecute all the meanes and messengers of illumination. Shine the Sunne neuer so bright, the Papists will see by nothing but Candlelight. Therefore it may be, they are permitted tapers, torches, and candles, to content their carnall deuotion; that they might not spiritually desire the Light of the glorious Gospell of Iesus Christ, who is the image of God. 2. Cor. 4. 4.2 Cor 4:4And if euer their caliginous minds spie the least glimmering of zeale, or feele a litle turning from their former impieties; the shrine, picture, or Image of some Saint hath the glory of their conuersion. A very blocke shall hauehave the praise, rather then God. But wee can hardly beleeue, they are conuerted from darknes to light, that fetch their illumination out of a stone. It is recorded, that at Amesbary, when Queene Alinor the wife of King Henry, 3. Lay there; a man Act. & Mon. pag. 355. ex. Chron. Rob. Amesburiensis.that fained himselfe to hauehave beene long blind, came to her, and told her that he had now his sight restored aagaine at the tombe of King Henry her deceased husband. The mother easily beleeued it; but her sonne Ed…rd the first knowing this man, that hee had beene euer a dissolute wretch and vile impostor, diswaded her from giuing faith to it: protesting that he knew so well the iustice of his Father; that if he were liuing, he would sooner pull out both the dissemblers eyes, then restore sight to any one of them. So certainely those Saints, to the vertue of whose dead bones these hypocrites attribute the glory of their conuersion and enlightening; would (if they were liuing) rather say these men had no eyes of grace at all, then that any light was giuen them out of their dead dusts, or painted resemblances. This is Sathans first proiect, to cast a thick cloud of inuincible ignorance, betweene mens eyes and the cleare Sunne.

p. 1172. By hindring all those that hauehave a commission to preach it. Zach. 3. He shewed me Ioshua the high Priest Zach. 3. 1.Zech 3:1standing before the Angell of the Lord; and Satan standing at his right hand to resist …m. A dore is opened, but there are many aduersaries: sayth …he Apostle. Will you heare the principall aduersarie? We would hauehave come vntounto you (euen 1. Thess. 2. 18.1 Thess 2:18I Paul) once and againe: but Satan hindered vsus. The good minister hath no aduersarie in his calling, but he is of the deuils raising. And herein he is either a wolfe or a foxe; effecting this either by open preuention, or secret peruersion.

1 Openly he opposeth not onelyonly his Principalities infernall, but also Powers terrestriall against it. What preacher euer beganne to sing with a cleare brest, the songs of Sion; for many hundred yeares vnderunder the Popes reach: but instantly, Pope, Cardinals, Fryers, Deuils cursed him with belles and candles, and were readie to burne him in flames! Saeuit mundus, cùm oftenditur immundus. The world is mad, that his dominion and damnation should be spoken against.

2. Secretly he hinders the free preaching of the Gospell, by corrupting their hearts that are deputed to that office. And this he effecteth by infusion of these foure hellish ingredients: Heresie against truth: Schisme against peace: Popularitie against simplicitie; and couetice against Charitie.

1. He poysons some hearts with hereticall poynts of doctrine; which being lightly most pleasing to the flesh, are drunke with thirstie attention. Heresie is (thus defined) humanosensu electa, Scripturae sacrae contraria, palam docta, pertinaciter defensa: begot of mans braine, contrary to the holy Scriptures, openly taught, and peremptorily defended. By this, so farre as the flesh in man preuailes against the Spirit, Sathan preuailes against the truth. So that if they must needs hauehave any of the pure gold of Gods word, it shall be so sophisticated, p. 118adulterate, and mingled with the drosse of humane Traditions, that they shall not be able to perceiue or receiue it.

2. Those whom he cannot corrupt against truth, he incenseth against peace. Diuision shall accomplish that mischiefe, which errour failed in. Whom he cannot transport to Rome, he ferries ouer to Amsterdam. He will either keepe men on this side the truth, or send them beyond it. Errour on the right hand shall cast away soules, if errour on the left cannot. Some runne so farre from Babylon, that they will not keepe neere Ierusalem: as men that runne so eagerly from a Lyon, that they refuge themselues in the hole of a Serpent. The Schismaticke meets with the Romanist, in superstition another way. Thus Quibus nequit tollere veritatem, negat permittere vnitatem: It he cannot depriue vsus of truth, he will not permit vsus peace.

3. By perswading men to be temporisers, and to catch at the fauours of great men. Thus when a Preacher must measure his Sermon by his Lords humour, the truth of the Lord of Hoasts is smoothered. Against oppression he dares not speake, because it is his Lords fault: not against pride because it is his Ladies: not against ryot, because it is his young Masters: nor against drunkennesse because they fauour it whom his Great-one fauours. He must not meddle with those vlcers, which he sees to sticke on his Patrons conscience. That were the way to loose both present benefite, and future benefice; he dares not doe it. Whiles he is their seruile chaplaine, he must learne Turkie-worke; to make thrum'd cushions of flatterie for their elbowes. It seemes, it was not Gods businesse that such a one made himselfe Minister for; but his owne or worse. He hath three Masters: he serues his Lord, hee serues himselfe, hee serues the Deuill; which of these will pay him the best wages? Thus if Sathan can neither take away the truth, p. 119nor peace, yet he labours against simplicitie: that for feare of men, and hope of mens, they forbeare to speake against wickednes. What his kingdome looseth one way, it recouers another.

4. By infecting their hearts with couetousnesse, and extending their desires to an insatiable wealth. With this pill he poison'd Demas; and Iudas before him, and thousands after him. The Chaire of Rome is filled with this pestilence. England hath found it, though many Princes will not find it. When the reuenues of the Crowne amounted not to halfe the Popes yearly taxes. But we are well eased of that vnsupportable burden: Edward the 3. begun it, for he first made the Premunire against the Pope: and our succeeding Christian Princes hauehave quite throwne him out of the saddle. God did not make his law so long, but man might easily remember it; comprising it all in ten Commandements. But the Pope hath curtalled it, & made it far shorter; abridging the ten commandements into two words; Da pecuniam GiueGive money. And for this the whole law shall be dispensed with. Experience hath still proued, that money was the Apostolicall arguments of Rome. An Emperour paid for his absolution 120000. ounces of gold: a deare reckoning for those wares, that cost the Pope nothing.

In the raigne of Hen. 3. The Pope required the tenths of all the moueables in England, Ireland, & Wales: and Ex Math. Parisiens.because he feared, that such moneys could not be speedily enough collected, he sent ouer many vsurers into the land, which were then called Caursini: who would lend money to those of the Clergy that wanted, but on so vnreasonable extortion, that the debters were still beggar'd. So that what by his violent exaction, & subtle circumuention by his owne vsurers (for all they had was the Popes money) he desired onelyonly the tenth part, but he got away also the other 9. And indeed the Pope had reason to maintain vsury, for vsury maintained the p. 120Pope. Neither is this infection bounded vp with that Bishop, but dissipated among all his Clergie. Not so much as the very Mendicant Fryers, that professe wilfull pouertie, but hauehave a wilfull desire to be rich. They hauehave more holines in their hands, then in their hearts: their hands touch no money, their hearts couet it. But the great Belphegor somtimes giues them a purge. Wherupon said W. Swinderby; If the Pope may take from the Act. & Mon. pag. 454.Fryers to make them keepe Saint Frances rule; why may not the Emperour take from the Pope, to make him keepe Christs rule? But whosoeuer gets, the poore Laitie looseth all. There was a booke called Poenitentiarius Asini, The Asses Confessor; wherein is mentioned this Fable. The wolfe, the foxe, and the asse come to shrift together, to doe penance. The wolfe confesseth himselfe to the foxe, who easily absolueth him. The foxe doth the like to the wolfe, and receiueth the like fauour. After this the asse comes to confession, and his fault was, that being hungry he had taken out one straw from the sheafe of a Pilgrim to Rome; whereof he was heartily repentant. But this would not serue, the law was executed seuerely vponupon him, he was slaine and deuoured. By the wolfe is meant the Pope: by the foxe his Cardinals, Iesuites, Priestes: these quickly absolue one another, how haynous euer their offences were. But when the poore Asse, that's the Laitie, comes to shrift, though his offence be not the waight and worth of a straw; yet on his backe must the law be seuerely executed; and the holy Father the wolfe makes a great matter of it.

Immensum scelus est, iniuria quam peregrin…,

Fecesti, stramen surripiendo sibi.

O the insatiable gulfe of that Sea! God grant, that none of that infection euer come ouer amongst the ministers of the Gospell. There is nothing more absurd, then that those which teach others to seeke the kingdome p. 121of heauen, and to despise the world; should be found to embrace the world with the neglect of heauen.

These are the generall fires this malicious Incendiary kindles. There are also too particular and speciall, which he enflameth in priuate mens hearts: whereby he prepossesseth them with a preiudiciall dises…mation of the Gospell, for causes either direct, or oblique. Directly for it selfe, or obliquely and by consequence for priuate ends.

1. First he begets in a mans minde a dislike of the word for it selfe. This man esteemes preaching but follie: he sees no good it doth, to hauehave one pratling an houre or two in a Pulpit. He is a parishioner to two parishes: to the Congregation he liues with, Quoad corpus; to the Synagogue of Satan, Quoad animam. 1. 1. Cor. 1. 18.1 Cor 1:18Cor. 1. The preaching of the Crosse is to them that perish, foolishnes: but vntounto vsus which are saued it is the power of God. It is horrible when man, dust and ashes, meere follie; shall censure the Wisedome of God. Let them hauehave their wils, be it in their account follie; yet it pleaseth Ver. 21.God by the foolishnes of preaching to saue them that beleeue. And without this they must liue in errour, and die in terrour: hell fire will make them change their opinions.

2. Others are wrought to hate it onelyonly for second and simister respects. The Masters of that Damosell Act. Act. 16. 19.Acts 16:1916. Possessed with a spirit of diuination, seeing the hope of their gaines gone, brought Paul and Silas to scourging; and neuer left them, till they saw them in prison. When Demetrius perceiued the ruine (not so much of the Ephesian Act. 19. 24.Acts 19:24Diana, as) of his owne Diana, gaine and commoditie in making of siluer shrines; he sets all Ephesus in a tumult. The losse of profite or pleasure by the Gospell, is ground enough of malice and madnesse against it. Cannot a tyrant be bloudie, cannot an oppressor p. 122depopulate, an vsurer make benefite of his money, a swearer braue with blasphemies, a drunkard keepe his tavern-session but the Pulpets must ring of it? Downe shall that Gospell come, if they can subiect it, that will not let them runne to hell vntroubled. Non turbant Evangelium, …um ab Evangelio non turbentur: let them alone, and they will let you alone. But if you fight against their sins with the sword of the Spirit, they will hauehave you by the eares, and salute you with the sword of death. You see the fires that the Deuill Kindleth. It is obiected.

1. Satan knowes that hee can do nothing but by the permission of God. Ans. Therefore not knowing Gods secret will, who are elect, who reprobate, hee laboures to destroy all. And if he perceiue, that God more especially loues any, hauehave at them to chuse. If he can but bruise their heeles, O hee thinkes hee hath wrought a great spight to God.

2. He knowes that though with his taile he can draw stars from heauen, discouer the hypocrisie of great Professors; yet he cannot wipe the name of one soule out of the booke of life, which the Lambe hath written there. Answ. It is the Devils nature to sinne against his owne knowledge. Contra scientiam peccabit, qui contra conscientiam peccavit.

3. He knowes, he shall receiue the greater damnation, and the more aggravated torments. And the Devill that deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire & brimstone, where the beast & the false prophet are, & shall be tormented Reu. 10. 20.Rev 10:20day & night, for ever & ever. Ans. He sins alwaies with purposed malice of heart, proudly against God, and blasphemously agaynst the holy Ghost: though he receiue the smart himselfe.

We perceiue now the Fire, the Fewell, and the Kindler; let vsus looke to The Smoke.

There goes lightly a Smoke before this Fire. Reu. 9. p. 122Reu. 9. 2.Rev 9:2He opened the bottomlesse pit, and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoake of a great fornace, and the Sunne and the ayre were darkened by reason of the smoake of the pit. And there came out of the smoke, Locusts vponupon the earth, When we see smoke wee conclude their is fire. Christ will not quench the smoking flaxe; for the smoke Gen. 19. 28.Gen 19:28without shewes a sparke of faith within. When Abraham saw the smoke of the countrey going vp as the smoake of a fornace. He knew that the fire was begun in Sodom. This smoke is the signe of persecution ensuing: and it is either Publique or Priuate Publique is two fold.

1. The threatning of Tyrants; this smoke came out Act. 9. 1.Acts 9:1of the mouth of Saul. Act. 9. And Saul yet breathing out threatnings. Such were the Romish vaunts of the Spanish ships: but God quenched that fire in water; and it was but a smoke. Hee that could forbid the fire to Dan. 3. 25.Dan 3:25burne, can also forbid the smoke to become a …. OnelyOnly the massacre at Paris was a fire without a smoke vnles it be smoke enough (as indeed it is) for Papists to liue among Protestants.

2. Securitie is a publique Smoke: when men cry Peace, peace; this is the smoake of warre. The carelesse liues of the old world and Sodom, were portentuous smoakes of their enkindled destruction. Our secure and deadharted conuersations are arguments of the like to vsus. God both auert that, and conuert vsus. We feast reuel, daunce, sin, and sing like swannes the prognostickes of our owne funerals. We are not circumspect to looke vp on those, which watch vsus with the keene eyes ofmalice our sleep… giues themhope & our selues danger. Neglect of defence hartens on a very coward enemie. Our comfort only is; He that keepeth Israel doth not slūber nor sleepe, Psal. 121. 4.Ps 121:4The priuate Smoke, particularly laid to a Christian, is a gentler & more soft tētation. But if this Smoke preuaile not, Satan coms with a fiery trial. Ifhe cannot peruert Io seph with his tempting mistres, a kind smoke: he will trie p. 124what a Iayle can doe. If the deuill can draw thee to his purpose with a twine threed, what needes he a Cable rope! If Sampson can be bound with greene withes, the Philistines need not seeke for iron chaines. But Sathan knows, that some will not, like Adam and Esau be wonne with trifles: that some will sticke to Christ whiles the weather is faire, and there is peace with the Gospell; yet in time of aaMath. 13. 21Matt 13:21persecution start away. When he comes with tempests and flouds, then the house not built on a rocke, bbMath. 7. 17.Matt 7:17fals. If our foundation be straw and stubble, we know this fire will consume it: but if gold, it shall rather purge and purifie it.

He will not goe about, that can passe the next way. If a soft puffe can turne thee from Christ, Sathan will spare his blustring tempests: if a smoake can doe it, the fire shall be forborne. If Io… could hauehave beene brought to his bow, with killing his cattell, seruants, children; perhaps his bodie had beene fauour'd. So that after gentle temptations looke for stormes; as thou wouldst after smoake fire. Inure thy heart therefore to vanquish the least, that thou mayst foile the greatest: let the former giuegive thee exercise against these latter; as with wooden Wasters men learne to play at the sharpe. Be thy confidence in him that euer enabled thee; and affie his promise, that will not suffer thee to be tempted aboue thy strength. OnelyOnly handle this weapon with more heedfull cunning: and when thou perceiuest the dallyings of the Deuill, play not with his baites. Corrupt not thy conscience with a little gaine, so shalt thou withstand more. Thinke the easiest tentations a Porcpose before a tempest, smoake before fire, signes and prodigies of a fearefull conflict to come.

There remaines nothing now to be considered but the Bellowes; that helpe to maintaine this fire.

The Bellowes

Are double; Passiue and Actiue. Some blow because p. 125they cannot, others because they will not auoid it.

1. The Passiue Bellowes are the godly; for they must hauehave no peace with wickednesse; No fellowship with the vnfruitfull workes of darkenesse. We must louelove their persons, Ephe. 5. 11.Eph 5:11and pray for them as Christ for his crucifiers. But if they will not be conuerted, if they cannot be suppressed, we may desire either their conuersion or confusion: as God willes none to perish as a creature, but as a sinfull creature; not of his owne making, but of their owne marring. So we must hate not virum, but vitium; reprouing and condemning euill works, both by our lips and liues; though our good conuersation be the passiue Bellowes to blow this fire.

2. The Actiue are the wicked; who doe profoundly hate the good, in regard of both their actions and their persons. To this their owne forwardnesse is helped by the deuils instigation. If thou blow the sparke it shall burne: if thou spitte vponupon it, it shall be quenched: and Ecclus. 28. 12.Sir 28:12both these come out of thy mouth.

But all men louelove good naturally. No, not all: for some hauehave not onelyonly extinguished the flames of religion, but euen the very sparkes of nature in their hearts.

But some wicked men hauehave loued the godly: True, but not for their actions, not for their persons, not of their owne natures. But 1. either because God snafles the horses and mules, and curbes the malicious rage of Tyrants. Or 2. conuerts them to the faith and obedience of his truth; as he tooke Saul from his raging crueltie, and made him readie to die for him, whose seruants he would hauehave killed: so turning a Wolfe into a Lambe. Or 3. els they louelove the good for some benefit by them: and therein they louelove not them, so much as themselues in them. So Ahashuerosh loued Hester for her beautie; Nebuchadnezz…, Daniel for his wisedome: …, Ioseph because his house prospered by him: and p. 126for this cause did the former Pharaoh affect him.

But otherwise with bloud-red eyes, and faces sparkling fire they behold vsus; as Haman did Mordecai. They plot like Machiauels, raile like Rabshace's, and conspire like Absolons. These are the Deuils Bellowes here, to blow quarrels among men: and shall be his bellowes in hell to blow the fire of their eternall torments. A man that is great both in wealth and wickednesse, cannot be without these bellowes, Intelligencers, Informers, Tale-bearers. Let these seditious spirits vnderstand their employment; they are the Deuils bellowes; and when their seruice is done, they shall be throwne into the fire.

I conclude▪ All this trouble and calamitie shall be but vponupon the earth: so sayth our Sauiour. I came to send fire on the earth: In heauen shall be no distraction to breake our peace. We should be too well affected to the world, if it had this priuiledge and exemption: but in vaine we seeke it, where it is not to be found. In heauen onelyonly we shall find it, in heauen onelyonly let vsus seeke it. Here we may hauehave desideriu… pacis, but there onelyonly pacem desiderij: here the desires of peace, there peace of our desires. Now then the Peace of God which passeth all vnderstanding, Phil. 4. 7.Phil 4:7keepe your harts and minds through Christ Iesus.

Amen.