The English Catechism Explained, Commentary · creed (3 of 4)

The English Catechism Explained · Commentary · creed (3 of 4)

p. 941 Duty. To keepe our bodies pure. 1 Cor. 6.19.1 Cor 6:19The duties of this faith are: firſt, to keepe our bodies holy and pure, as temples of the holy Ghoſt, and not to defile them by vncleanneſſe: for our bodies are his temples, as the Apoſtle teacheth. This therefore wee are to doe with all readines; as they to whoſe houſes the King vouchſafeth to come, or ſome great perſon, by whoſe comming they are like to be bettered in their eſtate, all their life after, they will not hauehave any noyſome or vncleane roome, but their very entrances, and courts ſhall be fit to giuegive contentment vntounto thoſe worthy gueſts: for Gods Spirit is the King of heauen, by his comming he makes vsus the members of Chriſt, but no dunghill p. 95is ſo loathſome as a body defiled by vncleanneſſe. The body by whoredome is taken from being the member of Chriſt, and made the member of an Harlot, 1. Cor: 6.1…the temple of the holy Ghoſt is made a ſtewes. Wherefore let this, and all ſmell hereof in thoughts incontinent, and ſpeeches filthy, be farre remoued, otherwiſe there is no faith in the holy Ghoſt. When Chriſt found in the Temple at Ieruſalem;Mark. 11.15.Mark 11:15 which was made but of ſtone, buyers, and ſellers, & mony changers, that made the houſe of God, but an houſe of merchandize, he waxed ſo angry, that he whipped them all out, and ouerthrew their tables: how much more then will hee diſdaine, and ſcourge thoſe, that make the Temple of the holy Ghoſt, this liuing Temple, not an houſe of merchandize, but a ſinke of filthines, and vncleannes? On the contrary ſide, when the materiall Arke was entertained into the houſe of Obed-Edom, 2. Sam: 6.21.the Lord bleſſed him, and all that he had, exceedingly: how much more then will he bleſſe vsus, if we entertaine more nearely into the houſe of our body, not an Ark made of Cedar wood, but the Lord hereof himſelfe, the holy Ghoſt, which is, when wee keepe our bodies holy.

2 Duty. To beleeue the Scriptures.The ſecond duty is, to beleeue without doubting, whatſoeuer is contained in the holy Scriptures: becauſe, that all were giuen by inſpiration of the Holy Ghoſt, and were ſet forth by holy men, not of any priuate motion, 1. Tim. 3.16 2. Pet. 1.21.1 Tim 3:162 Pet 1:21but as they were moued by the Holy Ghoſt. Now, we cannot then beleeue in the Holy Ghoſt, but we muſt alſo beleeue, whatſoeuer comes from him. We are therfore generally to beleeue the promiſes, the threatnings, the hiſtories here contained, to be true; the doctrines, precepts, and prohibitions to be of God, and neceſſarily to be obeyed: particularly we are to beleeue places myſticall, which paſſe humane reaſon, and places ſeemingly repugnant in themſelues, in the reconciling whereof, we cannot be ſo fully ſatisfied. Such things as be hiſtoricall, wee muſt not hold parabolicall, as Porphyrius did the booke of Iob, becauſe he could not conceiue, how ſo ſtrange an hiſtory ſhould be true. Such things as be more vnpleaſing, we muſt not hold to hauehave come from an euill God, and the more pleaſing and ſweet onelyonly from our good God, as the Manichees and Marcion p. 96did the old Teſtament, for which they reiected it, and receiued onelyonly the new. Such things as were written by men formerly ſcandalous, but after their conuerſion holy & vertuous, are not therefore to be reputed as vnworthy our beliefe as the Seueriani, and the Ebionites did all the Epiſtles of Paul. Such things as were written after, not concurring in all circumſtances with the former, are not to be reiected, as the Ebionites did all the Euangeliſts, but Mathew; and Cerinthus, all but Marke. And if there be any other, that hauehave done the like, they hauehave, in ſtead of beleeuing in, reſiſted the Holy Ghoſt, and are therefore to be abhorred. As for all ſuch as truely beleeue in the Holy Ghoſt, I may more confidently vſe the words of Paul vntounto Agrippa: Act. 26.27.Acts 26:27I know that they beleeue all the writings of the Prophets and Apoſtles, and whatſoeuer pen-men of the Scriptures.

3. Duty. To vſe our gifts to the honour of God.The third duty is, to vſe all our gifts to the honor of God, who is the holy Ghoſt, from whom we receiue them all, whether wit and learning whether agility and aptneſſe, whether courage, ſtrength, and magnanimtiy, or eloquence or diuers languages, or any other: for it is the Holy Spirit of God, that makes men able to the duties of their callings, as wee hauehave heard in the ſeuenty Iudges ioyned with Moſes, and in Aheliab, and Bezaliel, &c. and as the Apoſtle doth more then affirme, ſaying;1. Cor. 4.7.1 Cor 4:7 What haſt thou, that thou haſt not receiued? If then thou abuſe thy wit vntounto deceite, thy power to tyranny and oppreſſion, thy language to oſtentation, thy learning to pride, thine agility to cogging and cheating, thy magnanimity to ſtoutneſſe and ſtubbornneſſe againſt Gods Word, thy ſtrength to ſtrength of drinking Wine, and of powring in ſtrong drinke; what doſt thou elſe but turne the weapons, wherewith the Spirit hath armed thee againſt thine enemies, vponupon his very face: as if thou ſhouldeſt take the ſword by a friend offered vntounto thee in thy great neceſſitie, and ſeeke to ſheath it in his bowels. Let vsus therefore flye ſuch monſtrous ingratitude, and vſe our gifts according to his good pleaſure, let our learning, wit, and beſt cunning, be ſtrained to further our own, and the ſanctification of others: let our might, power, and courage, be bent for the ſtrengthening, and the encouragement p. 97of the feeble, and faint-hearted, let our agility and aptneſſe, be forced to a readineſſe, vponupon all occaſions of doing good.

4. Duty. To ſubmit our ſelues to Gods Spirit.The fourth duty is, to ſubmit our ſelues in all things, to the gouernment of Gods Spirit, and not to ſticke in our owne wayes, nor to follow the ſway of our owne natures: for whom ſhould wee rather followe and bee ruled by, then he, vponupon whom we place our confidence, whom we beleeue, to be the leader into all truth, and our Guide. For, if we follow our owne thoughts, they will deceiue vsus,2. Cor. 3.52 Cor 3:5 We cannot thinke a good thought▪ if what we imagine to be beſt, we ſhall fouly erre, for all the imaginations of mans heart are onelyonly euill continually. Gen. 6.5Gen 6:5Se what Gehazi gained, when he thought, by following his owne way,2. King. 52 Kgs 5 to get him geat riches, and in the heart, condemned his Maſter Eliſha, of folly and niceneſſe, who was led by Gods Spirit, in refuſing againe, for doing a miracle vponupon Naaman. 1. Sam. 151 Sam 15Looke vponupon the miſery, into which Saul the King brought himſelfe, when he thought to deale more wiſely, in the matter of the Amalekites, then Gods Spirit by Samuel directed him: for, he thought to pleaſe God well enough by ſacrifices, and to enrich himſelfe alſo, by that which God had appointed, to periſh by ſword and fire. And no leſſe fooliſh, was Achan, and Ananias, and Saphyra, to their ſmart, as their Hiſtories doe declare; and Salomon in taking many wiues, and contracting affinity with moſt Princes for the encreaſe of his power, and eſtabliſhing his peace. For,Ioſ. 7 Acts 5Josh 7Acts 5 Gehazi is thus made a loathſome Leper, Saul is turned out of his Kingdome, Achan and Ananias loſe their liues, and Salomon, almoſt ten Tribes of his poſterity. Let theſe examples therefore be warnings vntounto vsus, that we truſt not to our owne inuentions, but goe out after the Spirit, ſpeaking in the Word with Abraham, Heb. 11.8Heb 11:8though we our ſelues know not whither. Euen as ſilly Orphans, which know not how to buy and ſe…l, and to deale in this wily world themſelues, doe willingly ſubmit themſelues to ſome faithfull friend, that vndertakes this care for them.

p. 98Queſt. 33. Which is the ſecond part of your articles of faith, concerning the Church of God?

Anſw. The ſecond part is The holy Catholique Church, the Communion of Saints, the Forgiueneſſe of ſinnes, the Reſurrection of the body, and the life euerlaſting.

Queſt. 34. What learne you here to beleeue, concerning Gods Church?

Anſw. Foure things.

Queſt. 35. Which is the firſt?

Anſw. Firſt, I learne to beleeue, that God hath a Church, conſiſting of a certaine number of true beleeuers, of whom ſome be in Heauen, and ſome vponupon earth, and that I my ſelfe am a member of the ſame.

To beleeue in the holy Catholique Church.Explan. We are to prefix in our vnderſtanding? I beleeue, and ſo to confeſſe, I beleeue the holy Catholique Church &c. and not, I beleeue in, as we ſay of God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt. For the meaning of the words then, it is fully ſet downe in the anſwer, viz although I cannot ſee with the bodily eye, into the inuiſible Church of God, conſiſting onelyonly of true beleeuers, yet I doe by faith firmely hold, that (as there is an outward and viſible Church militant here vponupon earth, that is, a company of people outwardly called, by the ſincere preaching of the Word, and further marked out, by the right adminiſtration of the Sacraments amongſt them) ſo there is ſuch a Church, as is ſeene onelyonly by the eye of the Lord, inwardly called by the efficacy of the Spirit, part of which is already triumphant in Heauen, and part here ſtill in this world, the one ſort being the Saints and faithfull departed, the other faithfull men and women yet liuing: And becauſe I can no otherwiſe hauehave no comfort in al this, I beleeue to my further comfort, that I am a member of this inuiſible Church, and of the ſame body with the godly in heauen.

2. For the grounds of this, they are firſt to bee brought, which teſtifie, that God hath a Church. 2. That this Church is a viſible company called together, by the preaching of the Word, which is the Church before men. 3. That they yet p. 99onelyonly are the true Church before God, which are Beleeuers. 4. That no Church is to be beleeued in, that is, to be made the foundation of our faith; but onelyonly to be beleeued, that is, to be acknowledged, and to be cleaued vntounto, when it is found to be Gods Church, and to be obeyed in all things, wherein it obeyeth Ieſus Chriſt the head of all.

Firſt, that God hath a Church, is plaine,1. Proofe. That God hath a Church. from the often mentioning of the Church of God in the Scriptures. Great perſecution is ſaid to hauehave bin raiſed vp againſt the Church, in the Acts; and God is ſaid, to hauehave giuen ſome Apoſtles, &c. Acts 8 1 Epheſ 4.12 Reuel 2.3.Acts 8:1Eph 4:12Rev 2:3for the building vp of his Church. And in the Reuelation, there be ſeuen Epiſtles, directed to ſeuen ſeuerall Churches, one to the Church at Epheſus, another to the Church at Laodicea, &c. This is ſo generally acknowledged, that it ſhall not need to bee further inſiſted in. But that this Church is a viſible company called together, by the preaching of the Word, &c. The true mark of the Church.theſe being the principall markes and ſignes, by which it is knowne amongſt men, is ſomewhat contradicted, yea, exploded by the Romaniſts, and other ſignes of vniuerſality, antiquity, ſucceſſion of Biſhops, &c. ſubſtituted, and therefore, aliquantulum operoſiùs, (as this Commentary will beare) to deale herein. And firſt of all, the word Eccleſia, a Church, comming of foreign and foreign in Greeke, that is, to call out, giueth great light herein, the Church being according to the ſignification of this Word, a people called forth out of the reſt of the world, as the Apoſtle, not naming the Church at Rome, yet in effect calleth it, ſaying; To you which are at Rome, Rom. 1.7Rom 1:7called to bee Saints: now, if it bee a people called out of the world, the beſt note whereby to knowe it, muſt needes be the voyce calling, which if it be the Talmud of the Iewes, it is a Synagogue of Chriſts enemies, if the Alchoron of Mahomet, it is an aſſembly of Saracens; if the Word of God corrupted by falſe interpretations in matter of faith, it is a Sect of Heretiques: But, if it be the pure Word of God, purely and ſincerely preached, it is the Church of God. For, this hath euer beene a certaine note of Gods Church, and ſuch as cannot deceiue. Thus hath it beene noted to be in the family of Enoch, that walked with God, viz. by obedience to his voice;Proofes of the old Teſtament p. 100and of Noah, for hee did thus alſo walke with the Lord, and of Abraham, who went out at Gods Word from his Fathers houſe, and amongſt his poſterity, the Iewes, who at the Word of the Lord, followed Moſes and Aaron thorow the red Sea, thorow the wilderneſſe, and the numberleſſe turnings by which they were directed from the Land of Aegypt, vntounto Canaan. And ſtill vnderunder the new Teſtament, this was the infallible marke of Gods Church, firſt amongſt the Apoſtles, who were called out from others by the Word of God, to follow the Lord Chriſt, then amongſt other faithfull people, as they were added to the Church, they were called by the Word: witneſſe that great worke of conuerſion,Acts 2.41Acts 2:41 wrought by the Miniſtry of Peter at one Sermon, there were three thouſand, who, when they heard it, were ſeuered from the reſt of the World, and added vntounto the Church,Verſe 47. and it is immediatly further noted, that the Lord dayly added vntounto the Church ſuch as ſhould bee ſaued, viz. calling them, by the Sermons of his Apoſtles and Miniſters. To proceed from Hiſtory, to the Doctrine of holy Scripture. Doth not the Prophet Eſay teach the ſame thing?Eſay 8.20.Isa 8:20 when he ſaith, To the Law, and to the Teſtimony, if they ſpeake not according to this Word, it is becauſe they hauehave no truth in them, viz. When Seducers ſhall goe about to draw them to the ſeruice of Idols,Verſe 19. and to follow South-ſayers, and ſuch as hauehave the ſpirit of Diuination, as in the 19. verſe, they were ſtill inſeparably to ſticke to the Law of God, and not to follow them, which doe otherwiſe: and the marke whereby to know theſe is, that they ſpake not according to this word, then the marke of Gods people, muſt needs be this word purely ſpoken,2 Iohn 102 John 1:10 and taught amongſt them. Againe, S. Iohn ſaith; If there come any vntounto you, and bring not this doctrine, receiue him not to houſe, neither bid him God ſpeed; And in the verſe before, he twice nameth the doctrine of Chriſt;Verſe 9 Hee that continueth in the Doctrine of Chriſt, hath both the Father and the Sonne. So that, if Iohn bee made iudge of the Churches markes, the principall ſhall be the Word, the true doctrine taught there. Aand to the ſame effect ſpeaketh Saint Paul, Gal. 1.8Gal 1:8Though we, or an Angel from Heauen, preach otherwiſe vntounto you, then we hauehave preached, let him be accurſed, corrupt preaching is ſtill made the marke of Seducers, and then on the contrary ſide, ſincere Preaching cannot but bee p. 101the marke of Gods people. What ſhould I multiply more teſtimonies in this caſe? Chriſt himſelfe hath plainely taught the ſame with his Diſciples. For, to what elſe tend theſe words againſt the Phariſies; O hypocrites! Eſaias propheſied well of you, Math. 15 7. Verſe 9.Matt 15:7ſaying; In vaine doe they worſhip me, teaching for doctrines mens precepts: Doth he not co…demne the Phariſies, for their falſe doctrine, to be a falſe Church? and what is this elſe, but to iuſtifie this, as a certaine marke of the true Church, viz. true doctrine, and teaching out of Gods holy word? and what hath beene ſaid of the Word of God, the ſame is true alſo of the holy Sacraments, theſe rightly adminiſtred, are further certaine markes, of the true Church; for theſe are the ſeales of Gods word, the ſignes of his couenant, whereby he bindes himſelfe to be our God, and receiues vsus to be his people, and ſure pledges of his louelove towards vsus, which we really hauehave, till we come actually to be poſſeſſed of perfect holineſſe, and glory with Chriſt, in ſtead of which, theſe are here giuen vntounto vsus. The Sacraments of old, were Circumciſion, and the Paſſouer, the Baptiſme in the redd Sea, the water flowing out of the rocke, &c. which the Apoſtle reckoneth vp, as markes of the Iſraelites, where hee ſaith, that vntounto them pertaines the couenants,Rom. 9.4.Rom 9:4 the giuing of the Law, and the ſeruice of God, &c. And more particularly, when he would deſcribe the old Church viſible, and the true Church of the Iewes, for example to the Church that then was, hee ſets it foorth by theſe markes; They all eat of the ſame ſpirituall meat, 1. Cor. 10.2. Verſe 4. Verſe 2.1 Cor 10:2and dranke of the ſame ſpirituall drinke, for they dranke of the rocke that followed them. And againe, They were all baptized in the Cloud, and in the Sea vntounto Moſes. And in the Epiſtle to the Hebrewes, comparing the firſt Tabernacle with the ſecond, that is, the Church vnderunder the old Teſtament, with the Church vnderunder the new, he makes the markes of that Church: The Candle-ſticke, Heb. 9.3.4.Heb 9:3Heb 9:4the table, the Shew-bread, the golden pot with Manna, and Aarons rod, ſacrifices, &c. All Sacraments ſetting foorth Ieſus Chriſt. And more ſpecially, at the firſt ordaining of Circumciſion, & the Paſſe-ouer, this is by the Lord aſſigned to bee the ende of them, viz. to bee a ſigne and marke of his People. Of Circumciſion, hee ſaith to Abraham, This ſhall be a ſigne of my couenant vntounto thee, p. 102Gen. 17.11.Gen 17:11that is, whereby all that would might know him and his poſterity to bee Gods people: Likewiſe of the Paſſeouer; The blood ſhall bee a ſigne vponupon the poſt of the doore, Exod. 12.13.Exod 12:13by this Sacrament, the very Angell that came to deſtroy, ſhould know where Gods people dwelt, and it was a perpetuall ſigne till Chriſts comming,Verſe. 27. for their children many generations after, muſt bee ſtill continually inſtructed heerein. Now, vnderunder the new Teſtament,Proofes of the New Teſtament. Mar… 16.16.Mark 16:16 two others hauehave ſucceeded in the roome of theſe; Baptiſme, and the Supper of the Lord. Concerning Baptiſme, the Lord ſaith, Hee that beleeueth and is baptized, ſhall bee ſaued: Heere Baptiſme is made a marke of Beleeuers:1 Pet. 3 21.1 Pet 3:21 and S. Peter compareth Baptiſme with Noahs Arke, which was eaſie to be knowne from other buildings, by the floting alone vponupon the water, ſo is the Church by true Baptiſme; and alwayes ſo ſoone as any imbraced the Word, the firſt marke of the Church, they are exhorted to this ſecond, without delay, as the Iewes that were at Peters Sermon. When they were pricked in their hearts, and would know what they ſhould doe;Act 2.38.Acts 2:38 Bee baptized (ſaith hee) in the name of the Lord Ieſus for the remiſsion of ſinn…s And this was the next thing that the Eunuch proceeded vntounto, after he had receiued the word,Act. 8.Acts 8 What hi…ders me, (ſaith hee) from being baptized? It was the next thing done to Cornelius, to the Iaylour: and all others of whoſe conuerſion wee read in the holy Scriptures. It is true indeed, that aferwards ſome famous men did delay their baptiſme, vponupon ſome ſiniſter conceit, as is to be feared, that is, left by ſinning after Baptiſme, they ſhould for euer bee cut off from being Gods people,Theod: lib: 4. cap. 12. Athan. Ap…eg. ad Conſtantin. Socr. ib. 5. c. 6. Baſil exhort. ad baptiſmum. Naz. orat. in bap. Chriſoſt. hom. 1. in Act. Greg orat. de non differ. bapt. though ſome other reaſons hauehave beene alledged on their behalfe, as that Conſtantine the Great deferred his Baptiſme, that hee might receiue it at the riuer Iordan, where Chriſt was baptized, as ſaith Theodoret: and in the ſame delay did his ſonnes follow him: Conſtans, and Conſtantius, and Ʋalens, and Theodoſius, as hath Athanaſius, Theodoret, and Socrates. And this was ſo common, that there were Clini…i, and Grabatarii, ſo called, who deferred vntill their laſt ſickneſſe; but this was euer miſliked by the ſincere Fathers, who therefore did often inueigh heere againſt, as Baſilius, Nazianzen, Chryſoſtome, Gregory of Niſſen, &c. Laſtly, p. 103for the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, the Apoſtle makes it ſo certaine a marke of Gods Church, that when he would expreſſe the company of Gods people, of which they cannot be which partake of the table of Diuels, he ſaith;1 Cor. 10.11.1 Cor 10:11 Yee cannot partake of the Lords table, and of the table of Deuills, and cannot drinke the cup of the Lord, and the cup of Deuills: the reaſon is euident: for that the Lords table, is a marke or cognizance of Gods people; the Deuils table, of the Deuills: and not long after, ſpeaking of corrupt partaking of the Lords Supper, when men came together in heart-burnings and contentions, he ſaith;1 Cor. 11.16.1 Cor 11:16 Wee hauehave no ſuch cuſtome, nor yet the Church of God, as who ſhould ſay, that this is no mark of a true Church, which is noted,Verſe 23. not onelyonly by the creatures vſed in the Lords Supper, but by them rightly vſed, according to his appointment, as ſoon after he doth further alledge. And for this cauſe was it, that they met vntounto the Lords table eueryevery firſt day of the weeke, according to that of S. Paul; 1 Cor. 16.1 Cor 16EueryEvery firſt day of the weeke when yee are come together to break bread, &c. And this cuſtome laſted long, as Baſilius the great, and others doe teſtifie.Baſil. Epist. 21. And thus the true marks of the Church are manifeſt, without any ſuborning, or gloſing, or wreſting of ſacred writings But as for theſe of antiquity, viſibility, ſucceſſion, conſent, &c. if theſe ſhall paſſe for certaine and perpetuall markes, ſee what abſurdities will follow heerevpon.

M…rkes of the Church ſet downe by Romaniſts refuted.Firſt, t…e Church is only marked out vntounto the learned, and to ſuch as hauehave beene long exerciſed in Eccleſiaſticall hiſtories a long time, no ſimple perſon, or barbarous, can poſsibly come to the knowledge heereof; for how ſhould theſe know ſuch things, ſeeing that they depend vponupon hiſtory, large, and much different in regard of the variety of writers, ſome affirming, ſome denying, ſome reporting this way, ſome that, the ſame things. Now the Church hath euer beene marked ſo, as that, (ſuppoſing the admittance of the written word of God) it hath beene knowne to the ſimpleſt, though all writings of record made by man ſhould hauehave beene burnt. Secondly, the primitiue Church in the Apoſtles dayes, and their ſucceſſors muſt by this reckoning hauehave been without any certaine marke whereby to bee knowne, there being neither p. 106antiquity nor vniuerſality, nor ſucceſſion in thoſe times, and the like might bee ſaid of Abrahams time, and Moſes, and Aarons, &c. Thirdly, the Church of the Phariſees muſt hauehave beene the onelyonly true Church of God in Chriſts time: for they onelyonly could plead antiquity, &c. they onelyonly could alledge the conſent of their Elders, and ſucceſſion of high prieſts for many yeares. Whereas none of theſe abſurdities will follow, if wee acknowledge the Word and Sacraments, the markes of Gods Church, the ſimple may know it as well as the learned, it is a marke common to the Apoſtles times & theſe, the Phariſees, & all heretiques are ſoone detected. Again, ſay that no ſuch groſſe things would follow heer vponupon, where hauehave you any teſtimonies for antiquity, &c. to be marks of Gods Church? I am ſure that in the moſt worthy of credit, yee hauehave none at all: Whereas the Lord himſelfe giues plentifull teſtimony in his word to the other marks, & the name of this very Creed, is an ancient monument of the Fathers of the Churches conſent heerein, viz. their calling it Symbol…m a badge or cognizance, as who ſhould ſay, that the doctrine in this Symboll contained, is a certain marke in thē of whomſoeuer it is receiued of Gods Church. If any man ſhall yet ſtick, becauſe we doe not know who interpreteth the Scriptures truly, & receiues them according to the meaning of the holy Ghoſt, & ſo of the Sacraments. O let not this be any hindrance to our receiuing of the truth, becauſe moſt are ſo vnripe in their vnderſtanding: and ſo vnacquainted with Gods Spirit.Iam. 1.Jas 1 For if we aske more vnderſtāding to know this, the Lord will giuegive it vsus, if we aske his Spirit to direct vsus to his own meaning,Ioh. 14.John 14 he wil giuegive it alſo. Moreouer, we hauehave for helps this analogie or rule of faith to trie the truth by, wee hauehave the forme of baptiſme, and of adminiſtring the Lords Supper plainly ſet down; ſo that a diſcreet ordinary Chriſtian may be ſure, when they are rightly vſed, and when the faith is truely preached. We hauehave the burthenſome traditions of men plainely condemned,Math. 15. Gal. 3. Gal. 5 17. Rom. 3. Gal. 4.Matt 15Gal 3Gal 5:17Rom 3Gal 4 the louelove of Iewiſh of ſuperſtitious Ceremonies expreſſely cenſured, Idolaters, and Image worſhippers adiudged to the pit of Hell, workes in the caſe of iuſtification excluded, and grace magnified, him p. 107that ſeeketh to ſet vp himſelfe aboue Gods, that is Kings, and Emperours pronounced Antichriſt, outward things vilified,2. Tim. 3. Marc. 7. Ioh. 4.20. Math. 10.2 Tim 3Mark 7John 4:20Matt 10 and ſpirituall ſeruice commended, will-worſhips diſgraced, doers of works ſupererogatory pronounced vnprofitable ſeruants, perſecutors detected as woolues, &c. If this will not ſerue to reſolu vsus, but with Thomas we wil ſtil be doubtful, let vsus pray for ſome more ſpecial certificate, & the Lord ſure wil vouchſafe vsus his ſpeciall fauor, as he did Thomas, according to our infirmity. And let not weake Proteſtants be ſo vnſtable, as to be carried away herewith, when they hauehave begun in the ſpirit, to end in the fleſh, when they hauehave liued in the Church of God, by reuolting, to die out of the ſame. Many cauells more wold be met withal, about the promiſe of Chriſts building his Church, vponupon the Petra, a rock, of the conſtant remaining of this Church, of his being preſent here alwaies to the end of the world, to ſaue them from errour, and to leade them into all truth, of telling the Church in the caſe of offence, which they ſay muſt needs therfore euer be viſible: & on the contrary ſide of the noueltie of our Church, our vnlawfull miniſtry, & in detracting from the firſt reformers, &c. but I hauehave been too long already for this briefe treatiſe, and therfore will referre the reader to the learned writings of others, of this argument purpoſely, where hee ſhall finde them like chaffe blowne away, by the ſpirit of Gods truth: for that the rock, vponupon which the Church is built, is not Peter, 1. Cor. 3.11.1 Cor 3:11but Chriſt, for other foundation, then Chriſt can no man lay, S. Paul plainely teacheth: againe, his promiſe of the holy Ghoſt,Obiections anſwered. & of being preſent with his Church vntounto the worlds end, proueth nothing for any particular place, but for the perſons of true beleeuers, according to that, When two, or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midſt of them, and theſe ſhall not be ſuffered to fall, & lie in damnable hereſies, but be led by the Spirit into all truth: & laſtly his bidding: Tell the Church, proueth no more, but only, that where the true Church of God is formally gouerned by excommunications, and other cenſures for ſinne: there obſtinate, and otherwiſe incorrigible offendors, are to be complained of; & this diſcipline is to be exerciſed againſt them. For if it proueth the being of Gods true Church viſible alwaies, it muſt alſo proue it in al places, p. 106elſe when any perſon is thus grieued, how ſhall we come to the Church to complaine? and thus this rule ſhall remaine ſtill vnperfect. For our miniſtery and Church, it is ſufficiently iuſtifyed before, it much matters not, how lately the word began to be purely preached, and the Sacraments rightly adminiſtred, ſo that it now be ſo amongſt vsus, this maketh vsus a lawfull miniſtery, and the true Church of God, againſt which our aduerſaries may onelyonly barke; but not be able to vtter one word with reaſon: more ſpecially for our miniſtery, howſoeuer perhaps we might anſwere, that when an ordinary calling cannot be had, there is place for an extraordinary, yet we can truly maintaine that wee can deriue canonically our ordination from the ſucceſſors of the Apoſtles, as Maſter Maſon hath learnedly declared.

Proofe. Beleeuers onelyonly the true Church.Now it followeth to be proued, that they onelyonly are the true Church before God, who are beleeuers. And this appeareth plainly: firſt, for that many of the viſible Church are reprobates, and without part in Gods Kingdome, as our Sauiour Chriſt teacheth by many parables, both of the ſower that went forth to ſowe, ſome of his ſeede falling vponupon the thorny ground,Math. 13Matt 13 ſome vponupon ſtony, and ſome vponupon the high way, and ſo bringing forth no fruit: and in the parable of the drawnet,Math. 25.Matt 25 of the good corne, and the tares, of the Virgins, of the ſeruants with their talents, &c. all which tend to ſet forth the ſtate of Gods Church to be ſuch, as that therein there be many caſtawayes. Moreouer, hee teacheth the ſame plainely,Math. 7.21Matt 7:21 wherein he ſaith, They ſhall cry, Lord, Lord, open vntounto vsus, we hauehave propheſied in thy name, and, &c. and in another place, Thou haſt eaten and drunke in our ſtreetes, Luk. 13.25Luke 13:25and taught in our Synagogues, but I will ſay vntounto you, depart from me yee workers of iniquity. Which being ſo, it muſt needes follow, that all the viſible Church is not Gods true Church, but onelyonly the company of true beleeuers. Secondly, this is further manifeſt, becauſe faith onelyonly ſetteth vsus into Ieſus Chriſt, and maketh vsus members of his body,Eph 4.12.Eph 4:12 which onelyonly is the true Church: for to this effect ſpeaketh the Apoſtle: They were broken off by vnbeliefe, and thou ſta…deſt by faith. Rom. 11.20.Rom 11:20viz Ingrafted into the Oliue tree Ieſus Chriſt, out of whom the Iewes were broken by vnbeliefe. p. 107Faith onelyonly maketh vsus the children of Abraham, Gal. 3.Gal 3and heires by promiſe. Thirdly, the ſame appeareth from the deſcription of the true Church to the Epheſians: which hee calling them, and magnifying Gods mercy in calling them to this eſtate, he ſaith;Eph. 2.8Eph 2:8 By grace yee are ſaued through faith in Ieſus Chriſt and againe through him, yee are Citizens w…th the Saints, Verſ. 19.20.21.and of the houſehold of God, and are built vponupon the foundation of the Prophets and Apoſtles. Ieſus Chriſt himſelfe being the chiefe corner ſtone, in whom all the building coupled together, groweth to an holy Temple in the Lord. Here faith onelyonly is that, which makes vsus grow to this Temple, and to be thus neere vntounto the Lord. No man therefore can beleeue himſelfe to be a member of the true Church before God, by reaſon of any outward priuiledge, entring him into the viſible company of Gods people, vnleſſe he be inwardly before God, through ſauing faith made a member of the ſame. Fourthly,The Church to be beleeued, and not beleeued in. Jeron part: S. Epiſt: 41. Non dicimus credo in, ſed credo eccleſiam. that the Church is only to be beleeued, thas is, acknowledged, where it is found to be, and to be cleued vntounto: but not to be beleeued in, that is, to be made the foundation of our faith. This point, as it conſiſteth of ſeuerall members, ſo are they diſtinctly, and ſeuerally to be laid open. Firſt it is to be acknowledged, whereſoeuer it is found out by the markes before ſpoken of; thus the Church at Rome, was once famous all ouer the world; and Peter indeauoured much, after that he had once beene with Cornelius and the Gentiles;Rom. 1 8 Act 12.5.6Rom 1:8Acts 12:5Acts 12:6 to bring the Church of the Iewes to acknowledge them to bee the Church of God alſo: and indeed, how otherwiſe can I ſay, I beleeue the Church? Which is firmely to hold, and conſtantly to acknowledge it. Secondly, it is alſo to be cleaued vntounto; for when the Church began firſt to flouriſh vnderunder the Goſpell, it is ſaid,Act. 2Acts 2 that God added vntounto the Church daily ſuch as ſhould be ſaued, he prouided that they ſhould be ioyned vntounto the aſſemblies of his people, ſo that as Peter ſaide vntounto the Lord, whether ſhould we goe? thou haſt the wordes of eternall life: Ioh. 6.68John 6:68ſo ſaith eueryevery faithfull man and woman of his ſpouſe the Church. Eternall life is no where elſe to be obtained, all the creatures out of the Arke periſhed, ſo doe all that keepe out of the Church. The word preached therefore, is by all to be attended, the Sacraments p. 108are reuerently to be receiued, the aſſemblies of Gods people to be frequented.Cantic. 1.8.Song 1:8 Thus the Lord directeth all his to doe in that myſticall ſong: Get thee forth by the ſteppes of the flockes, and feede their Kids by the tents of the ſhepheards. Thirdly, it is not to bee made the foundation of our faith, becauſe ſo the ſpouſe ſhould be ſet in the roome of the husband Chriſt, and becauſe that ſo we might erre, and fall from true Chriſtianity, as any viſible Church may doe, and many hauehave done. For the firſt, it was before ſhewed, that there can be none other foundation: for the next it is manifeſt, that the Church of the Iewes did often times erre, and chiefly in crucifying the Lords Meſsiah. The Church of Galatia did erre ſo farre, that the Apoſtle profeſſeth himſelfe to bee afraid that hee had laboured in vaine amongſt them: hee was afraide alſo of the Church of Rome for the ſame errour, which maketh him ſo long in prouing iuſtification by faith without the workes of the Law.Reuel. 3.3.Rev 3:3 The Church of Sardis was ſo farre gone, that the Lord ſaith, it had onelyonly a name to be aliue, but was indeede dead, and the Church of Laodicea was ſpiritually miſerable, poore, blind and naked: and eccleſiaſticall hiſtory doth ſhew, that ſcarce any Church hath beene free, but at ſometime infected with hereſie, which though it was not in former times noted in the Church of Rome; yet I take it, it could not be farre from hereſie,Jerom: Damaſus. when the head thereof Liberius ſubſcribed vntounto Arianiſme and Honorius vntounto the errour of the Monothelites: when Marcellinus ſacrificed to Idols, and Silueſter the ſecond ſold himſelfe to the Diuell, and became a Coniurour, and Negromancer. But ſay it was free a long time, doth that proue, that it muſt needs be ſo euer, nay, rather it is likely, that as other Churches had their time of infection formerly, ſo the Romans turne came more lately. Againe, that the viſible Church may fall into hereſie is plaine, becauſe it hath ſometimes made decrees, and afterwards the contrary hereunto,Of the ſupremacy. Con: Nic, Can. 6. euen in matters of great moment. As about the ſupremacy of Biſhops: In the counſell of Nice it is decreed, that as the Biſhop of Alexandria had authority ouer all Egypt, Lybia, and Pentapolis, and the Roman Biſhop, had the like cuſtome for the Churches about him; ſo the Biſhop p. 109of Antioch, and of eueryevery other Prouince ſhould be ſupreame within his owne Dioceſſe. and the ſame thing is decreed in the Conſtantinopolitan Councell vnderunder Theodoſius the Emperour, and in many more, and in the ſixt African councell,Con. Conſtant. Can. 2 when the Biſhop of Rome laboured for the ſupremacy of all, he was diſcouered to falſifie the Councell of Nice for his purpoſe, by comparing the Copy which hee had ſent, with others, kept by the Patriarke of Conſtantinople, and of Alexandria, and ſo was reiected with diſgrace, both Zozimus, Boniface, Con. Affric 6and Silueſter, and it was decreed, that it ſhould not bee lawfull for any of Africa, or any other Prouince, hauing Metropolitanes of their own to appeale to the Biſhop of Rome. But firſt their owne Biſhops; and Metropolitane, ſhould hauehave the cauſe brought before them, then a prouinciall councell, and then a generall. And in the ſeuenth African all Prince-like ſupremacy is taken away from the higheſt Biſhop.Can. Affric. 7 Can. 6. Primae ſedis epiſcopus non appelletur Princeps ſacerdotum, aut ſummus Sacerdos, &c that is, the Biſhop of the firſt ſeat may not be called the Prince of Prieſts, or chiefe Prieſt or ſuch like: but onelyonly the Biſhop of the firſt ſeat. Hiſt: …ſagde: Cent▪ 6. cap. …. pag. 41.And according to theſe councels ſome Romane Biſhops themſelues hauehave affirmed. Iohn the third hath left written, that, none ought to be called chiefe Prieſt, or vniuerſall Biſhop. Clement the third Biſhop of Rome from Peter, (as they reckon) liuing in the dayes of John the Apoſtle wrote an Epiſtle vntounto vntounto him with this ſuperſcription.Clement: Epiſt. Johan. Clement to the Brother of the Lord, the Biſhop of Biſhops, gouernour of all the Churches of God, whereſoeuer the are founded by his prouidence: Now if the Apoſtle as longeſt liuer of them all, were chiefe gouernour of al, as he acknowledgeth, he denyeth his ſuperiority to any other in the world: that I may adde no more of the learned Fathers of the Church, that could not beare this high title in any, but the Antichriſt; as in Gregory the great, Biſhop of Rome, who affirmed,Gregor. Epist. lib. 4 Epiſt. 32.34.36.38.39. that the title of vniuerſall Biſhop agreed to none but either to Antichriſt, or to his forerunner, &c. But the Biſhop of Rome hath intruded vponupon this title in degenerating times: in the Roman councell called by Boniface the third, this thing was chiefely handled and decreed, that the Roman Biſhop ſhould be Pope, and Pontifex, that is chiefe Biſhop, p. 110and hauehave full power to call, and to diſſſolue Councels, and to ratifie, or aboliſh things decreed by Councel; through the fauour of wicked Phocas, Anno 606.who ſlew his maiſter Mauritius to obtaine the Empire, and being reproued by the Biſhop of Conſtantinople preferred his aduerſary the Biſhop of Rome in this manner, who had a long time gaped after it. And this his priuiledge was after confirmed by Pipin, who was made King of France, his maſter being depoſed, and did this to gratifie the Biſhop of Rome for this good office done vntounto him. But his authoritie ouer councels hath ſince againe beene reuerſed, and he made ſubiect vntounto them by the councell of Conſtance, and of Baſil.

Againe, for free-will, you may ſee the contrary decrees of councels before in the Treatiſe of mans corrupt eſtate; vnderunder the third queſtion. For the worſhipping of Images, it was the plaine decree of the Conſtantinopolitan councell vnderunder Conſtantine Copronymus wherein were 338.Hiſt. Magd. C…m. 8. cap. 9. pa 550. Of Images. Biſhops, that if any man ſhould preſume to make the Image of God the Father, or of Chriſt, or of any Saint, hee ſhould bee accurſed.

Hiſt. Mag. Cent. 8. cap. 9. p. 639.And about forty yeeres after, viz. Anno 794 vnderunder Charles the Great was a Councell held at Franckfort, wherein it was decreed, that, Jt ſhould be altogether eſtranged from the Chriſtian faith, and held agreeable to the ſuperſtition of the Heathen, to worſhip and adore Images. And with this, doth all antiquitie conſent. But contrariwiſe in the ſecond Nicene Councell, aſſembled by Irene, the Empreſſe of Conſtantinople, (who wickedly and vnnaturally, put out her owne ſonnes eyes, and draue him into baniſhment) it was decreed, that they ſhould bee worſhipped;Con. Trid. Seſ. 25 c. 2. and more lately, in the Councell of Trent order is taken, that the ſame Nicene decree, bee of all men followed. The like might be ſhewed of the calling of Councels anciently by Emperours; but now by Popes of ſupreame honour, which was wont to be giuen to Kings & Emperours, but now to Popes. Of Purgatory, the reall preſence in the Sacrament, the adoration of the Hoſt, workes meritorious & ſupererogatory, of Monkery, & infinit ceremonies of which nothing anciently, but now the world is full of decrees hereabout.

p. 111But theſe contradictions already obſerued may ſuffice, to ſhew, that the Roman Church it ſelfe is not free, but ſubiect to errour and hereſie, for contradictories cannot bee both truthes, therefore it muſt needes ſometime onelyonly hauehave beene in the truth, and ſometime againe carried away with hereſie. Laſtly, this further appeareth, from the conſideration of the manner, how things hauehave beene carried from time to time, in the Church, viz. ſometime according to the will of one Emperour, King, or Pope, and ſometime of ſome few, and that not ſincerely, but apparantly ſeeking themſelues, and oftentimes to ſatisfie their malicious mindes. I ſhould dwell too long here, if I ſhould enter into a particular exemplification of this: it is ſo plaine to all that read of their proceedings, as that it cannot be denied. Firſt, ſomething hath beene conceiued by an higher power, then a Councell called, and his minde being divulged, they feare to appeare, that be of a contrary opinion, or if they appeare, they are not admitted into the Councell, or through feare recanting, are receiued; & ſo it is proceeded to the matter propounded. Then a great ſhewe is made, of calling vponupon the Spirit of truth, for his aſſiſtance, but all is concluded, according as was before conceiued: and accordingly is taught in the Churches; and thus the people of God, vnderunder the pretext of Councels, is ſeduced. Which things being ſo, let the Reader iudge, whether the Church viſible may not eaſily erre: ſeeing the fountaine, from whence things there held doe proceed, is thus troubled and filthy. Againe, admit that freer councels, which repreſent the Church, bee called (which cannot be granted to hauehave beene in the Roman Church, certaine hundreds of yeeres laſt paſt) yet who be they that make vp councels? are they not men: that I may not ſay, men altogether intangled with voluptuous liuing, aſpiring after nothing but honours & filthy lucre for the moſt part? & what aſſurance, I pray you can we then hauehave that they cannot er? yea, what feare may we not iuſtly hauehave, that they hauehave altogether erred? For if one, or ſome may, what more priuiledge can they hauehave altogether?

Obict. 1 If it be ſaid, that this is a doctrine tending to Atheiſme, for, if the Church may erre, there is no certainety of truth to be had; p. 112if no certainty of truth to be had, then is there iuſt cauſe of ſuſpition giuen, that there is no certaine truth at all; and then ſaith the Atheiſt, all is fabulous. I anſwere, that this conſequence is moſt falſe: for though all the Churches viſible in the world, were in an error, yet there is certainty of truth to be had, viz in the holy Scriptures, to which Gods people taking heed may be ſaued from following Baal, 1. Kin. 19.18.1 Kgs 19:18with the ſeuen thouſands in Iſrael in Elijahs time, who complained of the common reuolt of all, but himſelfe alone, but was comforted with this, that the Lord had left vntounto him ſeuen thouſand, whoſe knees had not bowed to Baal, nor their mouthes kiſſed himſelfe. For thus taking heede vntounto the holy writings of the Prophets.2. Pet. 1.19.2 Pet 1:19 Saint Peter commends them of his time, calling it a ſure word, and a light ſhining in a darke place, and telling them, that they doe well: and Saint Paul would hauehave the Galatians not to regard the very Apoſtles, in compariſon of the Goſpell, which they had receiued, ſaying, If we our ſelues, Galat. 1.8.Gal 1:8or an Angell from Heauen, teach any other wiſe, let him be accurſed.

Obict. 2 The truth knowne, without the Pope Iudge.If it be ſaid further. All Heretiques doe paint ouer their hereſies, with allegations out of the Scriptures, how therefore ſhall we know them? Can eueryevery ſimple man, barely by the Scriptures, diſcouer their craft, and keepe himſelfe from their poyſon? they are rather thus in the way of being peruerted, to their ineuitable damnation,2. Pet. 3.16.2 Pet 3:16 as S. Peter teacheth; I anſwer, that this is a maruell, ſeeing S.1. Iohn 4.1. 1. Theſſal. 5.21.1 John 4:11 Thess 5:21 Iohn biddeth eueryevery man trie the Spirits, Whether they be of God, or no: and giueth a generall rule to know them by: and S. Paul ſaith, Try all things, and cleaue to that which is good: and the men of Beraea are commended,Acts 17.11.Acts 17:11 for ſearching the Scriptures, to finde, whether thoſe things were ſo, which were taught them by chiefe Pillers in the Church of God. What impudencie then is it, to count this the high way of errour? How did the people of God of olde,Eſay 8.20.Isa 8:20 that had none but the Law, and the Teſtimony, with the help of Gods Prieſts, to direct them? What? were thoſe of the Primitiue Church more ſlenderly appoynted, then we of theſe laſt times? Or is there any now ſuperiour to the very Apoſtles, who ſubmitted their teaching to the triall of this rule? Let the Romaniſts then be a …amed of this ſhamefull aduancing their Pope, as infallible Iudg of all poynts of religion: For this p. 113is indeede the way to Atheiſme, the way to all errour, when one Pope ſhall contradict another, or any ſhall fall into hereſie, as they hauehave done, and yet be held for infallible.

2. Cor. 8.2 Cor 8Our rule is more certaine, and neuer deceiueth; but when fickle-headed perſons will wreſt it to their owne wills, & not bring their conceipts into ſubiection to it, which is S. Peters meaning. For here holdeth the promiſe of Chriſt, concerning the Spirit, to leade vsus into all truth, viz. if with humble hearts (thinking that we know nothing, as we ought to know) we come to reade, and heare the word of God, and compare places more hard and obſcure, with plaine and eaſie places, praying heartily in the name of Chriſt to be directed aright) and no way belongeth to the Biſhop of Rome, as head of the Church, as his flatterers vainely pretend.

Obict. 3 Of Points maintained by Papiſts from plaine Scriptures. Iam. 2.24.Jas 2:24If any man will further obiect, that this cannot yet make any Church, appeare to be a true Church to them that are without: For thus alſo the Roman Church will rather be iuſtified, for that many points there helde, different from vsus, are plainly ſet down, which without glozing, or paraphraſing, is not ſo in the Church of the Proteſtants. For example, Saint Iames hath taught plainly; We are not iuſtified by faith, without workes: It is not ſo of iuſtification by faith alone. Our Sauiour Chriſt hath ſayd plainly, This is my body: but not ſo of the ſigne of his body. Saint Paul hath ſayd; Worke out your ſaluation with feare and trembling. Saint Iames againe ſayth, If any be ſicke, let him be annointed in the name of the Lord Ieſus, &c: and expreſſe mention is made of traditions &c. I anſwer: It is good for the Roman Catholiques to deale heerein, but with ſome lighter poynts of their religion, for feare (if they ſhould proceed further, to their grand doctrines, of inuocation of Saints, of Image-worſhipping, of worſhipping the bread in the Sacrament, of withdrawing the Cup from the Laitie, of their Latine Seruice, and ridiculous ceremonies and works of Supererrogation, &c.) of being altogether grauelled heere. A man would not thinke, that they had the face, to bring their ſtubble to the Scriptures without bluſhing; for, if they hauehave one ſentence of Scripture, in words ſpeaking with them, we hauehave ten for the Proteſtants.

Exod. 20.4.Exod 20:4We hauehave an expreſſe command, forbidding Images, and their p. 114worſhip, and a further commentary hereupon made, by the Lord himſelfe;Deut. 4.5Deut 4:5 Take heede for you ſaw no image, in the day that the Lord ſpake vntounto you, Eſa. 63.16Isa 63:16&c. againſt inuocation of Saints, it is ſayd; Abraham knowes not of vsus, Jſaac is ignorant of vsus, and Angels and Saints hauehave refuſed this honour: againſt the Popes Supremacy: They that are great amongſt the Gentiles, hauehave dominion ouer them, but it ſhall not be ſo with you. Againſt the adoration of the Hoſte. They worſhipped the creature, Rom. 1Rom 1in ſtead of the Creator. Againſt the merit of Workes, We are vnprofitable ſeruants, wee hauehave done but our duty, when we hauehave done all. 2 Cor. 3.52 Cor 3:5Againſt free-will; We cannot thinke a good thought of our ſelues. With infinite places more, of which very children are not ignorant. For the places by them alledged, they are but meere ſhewes. Iames muſt be compared with Paul, who is more large in the poynt of Iuſtification, and ſo his meaning will appeare, that we are iuſtified, that is, declared to be iuſt before men by our attentiue and vnpartial workes, the reſt are eiuſd…m farinae, eaſie to be anſwered, as no Reader is ignorant. And therefore if the Scriptures be acknowledged the rule of truth, the Church will ſoone be made manifeſt euen to the vnconuerted.

Obict. 4 The Scriptures tranſlated, Gods Word.If it be further obiected, that plaine people cannot know, which be the Scriptures becauſe the languages, wherin they were firſt written, is hidden from them, now there be diuers tranſlations indeede, but much differing one from another, how then can they know the truth by the Scriptures?

I anſwer, This is a very ſilly ſhift indeed: for are not the Scriptures tranſlated, the very Scriptures of God, as well as the Originalls? If there be difference of tranſlations, it is no more, but as if the ſame hiſtory written in a ſtrange tongue ſhould be tolde in Engliſh by diuers, ſome expreſsing it after one manner, ſome after another. Now for this little difference in words, no man I ſuppoſe, will ſay, that no certainty can be had of the truth of the thing told, by ſuch as are vnskilfull of that tongue; but that he may the rather perceiue the truth, becauſe they all agree in the matter, which they interpret. Yet this is not the onelyonly thing, that bringeth them to the knowledge of the truth, but to the firſt beginning of knowledge. As the people of Samaria were brought firſt to beleeue in Chriſt by the report of the woman, with whom p. 115he had talked, but afterwards they profeſſed, that they did beleeue, not becauſe of her words,Iohn 4.42.John 4:42 but for that they had heard him themſelues: ſo they acknowledged the truth at the firſt, becauſe they finde it ſo written in tranſlations, but afterwards, becauſe they are certified by the Spirit, and their faith is not built vponupon men, as the Church of Rome doth ſlanderouſly alledge, thus pulling themſelues by the eare.

Obict. 5 The Familiſts and Browniſts.If it be ſtill further obiected, that this iuſtifieth thoſe inordinate heady perſons, the Browniſts, Anabaptiſts, Familiſts, &c. for that in ſimplicitie ſeeking for the truth in the Scriptures, they do find it to be the doctrine taught amongſt them, and cannot find ours to be ſo. I anſwer, that they doe fouly deceiue the world vnderunder the colour of ſimplicity, and religion: for that they ſeeke not the truth, but to bring the truth to the fauouring of their conceipts, as may eaſily appeare to ſuch, as ſhall obſerue their inſolent carriage and lewdneſſe, which they follow, vnderunder the pretence of conſcience. Moreouer, as Gamaliel well noted, vntounto the Councell gathered againſt the Apoſtles;Acts 5.38Acts 5:38 If this couſel or this worke be of men, it will come to nought, but if it be of God, yee cannot deſtroy it. So may it be ſayd of them, If they were of God, they ſhould at ſome time or other, hauehave flouriſhed; but in that their worke comes to nought, it is a ſigne, that it is of man. For they hauehave long troubled the world, and yet they are at this day almoſt none. As their fighting hath beene for ſhadowes, and about no ſubſtance, ſo hauehave theſe fantaſticall Enthuſiaſts themſelues, as ſhadowes vaniſhed away.

Obict. 6 Of Lutherans and Caluiniſts.Laſtly, if it be obiected, that yet it wil remaine doubtfull, notwithſtanding this rule of the holy Scriptures, whether the Lutherans, or Caluiniſts ſo called, be the true Church of God: becauſe they both propound vntounto themſelues, to find out the truth hereby: both are content thus to be brought to their triall, and both do almoſt flouriſh alike. I anſwer: That howſoeuer the Lutherans be grieuous enemies vntounto their brethren, eſpecially ſome more harſh and hot-ſpirited amongſt them, yet we doe thinke ſo well of them, in regard of the points, wherein we conſent together, as that wee hold them to be the true Church of God alſo. The onelyonly thing that miſleadeth them is, that they are addicted too much, Iurare in verba Magiſtri, that is, to ſticke to Luthers p. 116teaching, who no maruell, though he could not ſee to reforme all things himſelfe alone, and ſo were ouertaken with ſome ſmall errours. If they be not ſo charitably affected vntounto other reformed Churches, the Lord rectifie both their iudgements and affections in his good time.

1. Duty. To …r…quent the Word Preached.Now follow the duties of this faith. The firſt is, diligently to frequent the preaching of Gods word, and duely to read it: becauſe it is Gods voice, whereby he calleth vsus into the company of his people: it is that, whereby we muſt finde out his Church, it is that, by ſearching whereof we muſt finde eternall life,1 Peter 2.2.1 Pet 2:2 as ſaith our Sauiour. To this S. Peter exhorteth; As new-borne babes deſire the ſincere milke of the word; for this, the Bereans are commended, vntounto this all are by the Prophets and Apoſtles vrged, as hath beene already ſhewed. Other writings without this, are but as pits, that wil hold no water. Wherefore, as thou loueſt thine owne ſoule, ſuffer not thy mouth to be muſled by any maſsing Prieſt, or thine eyes to be turned herefrom, for feare of ſeeing, as …ue did that, which may turne to thy deſtruction: nay, looke warily into this word, pray heartily that thine eyes may be opened to ſee the truth, leſt by turning away, thou come to deſtruction, and know it not.

Ioh. 3.20.21John 3:20John 3:21He that is in the truth, ſeeketh not to hauehave the mouthes of all others ſtopped, but is willing to let eueryevery man ſpeake: and ſo it will appeare the better, that the truth is with him. If there be any then that cannot abide that others ſhould bee heard, but only themſelues; what ſhal we thinke of theſe men, but much more if they cannot abide their chiefe witneſſe of which they bragge, to be heard ſpeaking? Surely we will ſay their matter is naught, it cannot bee otherwiſe. And what ſhall we thinke then of the Romaniſts which ſtraightly tie their people from reading any Aduerſaries writings, yea from the holy Scriptures, the chiefe witneſſe of the truth: Their matter muſt needes be naught, and their workes euill, as our Sauiour teacheth: He that euill doeth hateth the light, neyther commeth to the light, l…aſt his deede ſhould be reprooued: but he that doth truth, commeth to the light that his deedes may be made manifeſt, that they are wrought according to God.

p. 1172 Duty, To cleaue conſtantly to the Proteſtant Church…esThe ſecond dutie, is to ſtick inſeparably to the Proteſtant Churches, as hauing the true and infallible markes of the Church of God, viz. the word purely taught, and the Sacraments rightly adminiſtred; and to account all the faire ſhews of the Church of Rome in the antiquity, vniuerſality, &c. but as the whiting of Sepulchres, which inwardly are full of rottenneſſe and dead mens bones. For trees often times ſeeme a farre off to be men, but come neerer and with better light, and they are ſoone diſcouered what they be: So the Church of Rome, which is but a trunk or dead tree in reſpect of the liuing Church of God, may ſeeme the Church by this diuine light; and if we be held thus a farre off: but come neerer, and bring the light of Gods holy word, and it will appeare as it is, there being no page almoſt in the Scriptures, but ſome way depraued by their falſe interpretations: none of the Sacraments, but ſo loaden with their ſuperſtitious ceremonies, as that there is ſcarce any appearance of their firſt inſtitution. Wherefore, whatſoeuer it ſhall coſt vsus, though all our ſubſtance and liues, yet let vsus remaine for euer ſeuered from the Church of Rome, and as Philip ſaid vntounto Nathaniel concerning the Meſsias, Come and ſee: Ioh. 1.40.John 1:40ſo let vsus come and ſee by the markes, the true Church of God, and hauing found it amongſt the Proteſtants, though ſome be ready to thinke and ſay with Nathaniel: Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? Let vsus lodge with it as the two Diſciples did with Ieſus, all our dayes.

3. Duty. To be inwardly called. Rom. 2.29.Rom 2:29The third duty is, not to reſt ſatisfied with an outward calling vntounto the true Church viſible, but to ſtudy, and ſtriue by attending vponupon Gods ordinances to be inwardly called, by being indued with a true faith, which is, to become a mēber of that, which is the only Church before God. For he is not a Iew that is one without & according to the letter; but he that is one within, whoſe circumciſion is of the heart:1 Cor. 9.27.1 Cor 9:27 all outward things will ſtand a man in no ſtead, God may ſtil notwithſtanding all theſe, be diſpleaſed with thee, and thou maiſt prooue a caſt-away, as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh by his own example. Doſt thou beleeue therefore in word, beleeue in heart, and in truth alſo? doſt thou make cleane the out-ſide, p. 118cleanſe the inſide alſo? doſt thou appeare to men to be a beleeuer, O prouide that thou maiſt appeare ſuch vntounto the all-ſeeing eye of God?

4. Duty, to know the fundamentall points.The fourth duty is to be wel acquainted with al doctrines of the foundation, and that by comparing things written heereupon with the fountaine, the word of God, and not to hang vponupon any mans ſleeue, leſt if he fall into the ditch, hee pull vsus alſo after him. For eueryevery viſible Church, as hath beene ſhewed, is ſubiect to erre: Let vsus therefore only follow the Church, as it followeth Chriſt Ieſus. Take heed that in reading or hearing,Rules of direction, to be kept from errour. thy mind be not foreſtalled with error: thinke nothing, conceiue nothing, know and reſolue vponupon nothing, vntill that thou findeſt it in the holy Scriptures. Whatſoeuer thou haſt learned hence, walke ſtill in humility, be not puffed vp aboue others. Pray heartily for the inſtruction of Gods Spirit, and with Dauid looke vp to the Lord, and ſay, Lord open mine eyes to ſee the wonders contained in thy Law. And laſtly, where the foundation is rightly layd, where the ſubſtance of religion is held, ſeparate not thy ſelfe for trifles, and by-matters: for as the Apoſtle ſaith of meats and drinks, that they neyther commend vsus, nor diſcommend vsus before God: ſo is it of all outward things, they may be inconueniences, but the greater is with Peter, to goe from the company of our fellow Diſciples: for this is a degree to the deniall of Chriſt himſelfe, with the Iſraelites, to goe vp to fight againſt the enemy,Numb 14.Num 14 without Moſes and the Arke, and ineuitably, to thruſt our ſelues vponupon horrible deſtruction.

Queſt. 35. Which is the ſecond thing, that you learne to beleeue, touching the Church?

Anſw. Secondly, I learne to beleeue, that Gods Church is holy, that is, ſanctified, and waſhed by water, and the holy Ghoſt, and ſuch as daily proceedeth in holineſſe, vntill it come at the laſt, to be preſented before God, without ſpot, or wrinkle of ſin.

Explan. This thing is ſpecially to be attended, as another notable marke of the Church of God, and leſt any occaſion of error be taken by them that ſeeke occaſion, the ſenſe is firſt carefully to be opened, which is, 1. That the inuiſible Church p. 119of God, viz all true beleeuers, are accepted for holy in Chriſt Ieſus, at the very firſt act of their conuerſion vntounto the true faith, though before they were moſt vncleane by ſin. 2. That they are all indued with actuall holineſſe, through the operation of the holy Ghoſt, viz. with a conſtant hatred, and ſtriuing againſt all ſinne, and with the louelove of vertue and grace, and with an earneſt ſtudy and care to grow herein. 3. That, as they which are recouering from any dangerous diſeaſe, that had brought them very low, grow eueryevery day ſtronger, vntill they hauehave recouered their perfect health and ſtrength, and as children grow vp in ſtature, and in the lineaments of their body; till they come to be perfect men: So doe true beleeuers grow in holineſſe, bringing forth daily more fruites hereof, vntill that at the laſt in death, all wickedneſſe be ſubdued, and they be in holineſſe perfected, and ſo without ſpot, or wrinkle preſented before the Father. 4. That eueryevery true viſible Church is holy alſo, viz. in regard of the beſt members thereof, though not in regard of the moſt, or greateſt therein. 5 That howſoeuer the corruption of manners aboundeth, yet the doctrine remaineth holy, and pure, reprouing theſe corruptions, and vrging to all holines of conuerſation.

For the grounds of holy Scripture ſetting forth all this.1. Proofe. Firſt, that through faith all true beleeuers are accepted for holy in Ieſus Chriſt at the very inſtant of their conuerſion: this appeareth plainely, becauſe that faith iuſtifieth, that is,Rom. 3.28.Rom 3:28 makes a man iuſt, and holy:Rom. 11.10. Gal. 3.17.Rom 11:10Gal 3:17 faith ingrafteth into Ieſus Chriſt and maketh vsus partakers of his holineſſe: faith maketh, that Chriſt dwelleth in our hearts. Againe, faith maketh vsus to be the Sonnes of God; for, to ſuch as beleeued in his name, Ioh. 1.12.John 1:12hee gaue power to be the ſonnes of God: it maketh vp the marriage betwixt Chriſt and vsus, that we become fleſh of his fleſh, Eph. 5.Eph 5and bone of his bone. And what more can be ſaid then, to proue the holineſſe of true beleeuers? will any man deny any thing in Chriſt to be holy? dare he ſay, that the ſonnes of God are not holy? can it enter into his thought, that the place where Chriſt dwelleth is not holy? The Father imbraceth his Prodigall ſonne at his very returne home vntounto him? the Maſter p. 120of the vineyard preferreth thoſe, that were called at the laſt houre of the day: our Sauiour Chriſt receiueth the penitent theefe into Paradiſe the very day of his conuerſion, ſhall wee not thinke then, that all theſe were holy, which was, not through any holineſſe of their owne, for they had done nothing, but through their faith in Chriſt, making his holines to be theirs?

2. Proofe.Secondly, that they are endued with actuall holineſſe, the Apoſtle intimateth, when he ſaith to the Romans, that they were called to bee Saints, and Saint Peter, when in praiſe of Gods Church,Rom. 17 1. Pet. 2.9. Eph. 2.9. 1. Ioh. 3.3.1 Pet 2:9Eph 2:91 John 3:3 he ſaith, Yee are a choſen generation, a royall Prieſthood, a… holy nation, &c And againe to the Epheſians, Yee are Citizens with the Saints and Saint Iohn ſaith, Hee that hath this hope, purgeth himſelfe, euen as he is pure, that hath called him. Moreouer, that all beleeuers are thus, is plaine, becauſe they hauehave one common calling to be Saints, whatſoeuer they ſhall plead at the laſt day, if this be wanting, if they bee workers of iniquity,Math 7.22.Matt 7:22 they ſhall be bidden: Depart yee workers of iniquity, I knowe you not: for this are the holy Apoſtles ſo diligent in ſtirring vp hereunto.Phil. 2.14 15Phil 2:14 Doe all things, &c. That yee may bee blameleſſe, … pure, and the Sonnes of God without rebuke. HaueHave your c…nuerſation honeſt among the Gentiles, that they which ſhall ſpeake eu…ll of you; as of euill doers, may by your good workes glorifie God: 1. P…. 2.12.and it is the plaine ſentence of the Scriptures. Without holineſſe no man ſhall ſee God: Laſtly, that this holineſſe is a conſtant hatred and ſtriuing againſt ſinne, and an vnfained louelove of vertue, and endeauouring thereafter; and not onelyonly an outward obſeruation of holy duties; nor yet on the contrary ſide, habituall righteouſneſſe, ſufficient to iuſtifie vsus before God. All this is alſo plainely taught, eſpecially by St. Paul in his owne example,Rom. 7.Rom 7 hee profeſſeth of himſelfe that he loued the good, and did ſtriue after it, and that he hated the euil, and eſchewed it, in ſuch words, as if hee would deſcribe a man panting in his ſtrife with moſt deadly enemies, and grieued that they ſhould any whit ouermaſter him, and therefore plucking vp his greateſt courage, and vniting all his forces againſt them. And the ſame affections againſt ſinne he ſheweth to hauehave beene in the Galatians, where hee ſaith: p. 121The fleſh fighteth againſt the ſpirit, and the ſpirit againſt the fleſh, Gal. 5.17Gal 5:17ſo that yee cannot doe thoſe things that you would: and exhorteth all men to the like, ſaying, Take vntounto you the whole armour of God, Eph. 6.13Eph 6:13that yee may be able to reſiſt, &c.

Eſa. 29.13Isa 29:13More particularly that the holineſſe of the faithfull is not onelyonly an outward obſeruation of holy duties; (as ſome peruert it) but this earneſt hearty endeauour againſt ſinne, appeareth, becauſe that this affected ſingular outward holines, (as being a meere Image to deceiue the beholders) is reiected, and the endeauour of the heart only (as the ſubſtance) is accepted. The Iewes of old had otherwiſe beene holy enough, when they drew ne…re vntounto the Lord, with their l…ppes, their hearts being farre away: and the Phariſees had beene the holieſt of all, for their faſtings, prayers, and almes: for their Sabbaths, and Synagogues, for their often waſhings,Math. 6. Eſa. 1.Matt 6Isa 1 and outward deuotion: but they are condemned for moſt vaine, their ſeruice is ſo diſtaſted that they are bidden to bring no more oblations, they are challenged for their incenſe, new moones, and ſolemne aſſemblies.Math. 7. C…ap. 6.Matt 7 For not the hearers of the word, but the doers are bleſſed, not the offerers vp of many prayers, but the ſecretly deuouted are rewarded, not the ſacrificers, but the mercifull doe the will of God the Father. Againe, that our holineſſe is not righteouſneſſe ſufficient to iuſtifie vsus before God, the Lord himſelfe affirmeth, when he ſaith, If yee hauehave done all tha… yee can, yee hauehave done but your duty, … are vnprofitable ſeruants; and S. Paul hath ſpent many of his writings purpoſely here about, viz. to ſhew, that all ſuch as ſeeke this way to be iuſtified ſhall ſurely miſſe of their marke, let them colour it ouer how they will, alleadging our vnion with Chriſt, ſo as that our actions are meritorious and perfect through him, I am ſure that none of the Apoſtles doe giuegive any limit vntounto this doctrine. Paul notwithſtanding his vnion, acknowledgeth the imperfections of the fleſh in him & S.Rom. 7.18. 1. Ioh. 1.8.Rom 7:181 John 1:8 Iames ſaith, in many things, we ſinne all, and S. Iohn, If we ſay that we hauehave no ſi…n… we deceiue our ſelues and the truth is … in vsus.

And if there be ſuch a mixture of ſinne with our holineſſe how can any member of Chriſt truſt at all to his owne righteouſneſſe: Can he iuſtifie himſelfe more then the very Apoſtles, p. 122and the excellent Chriſtians of their times: nay, let him take heede rather leſt by ſo doing he be condemned, ſeeing, that,1. Cor. 11.311 Cor 11:31 if we iudge our ſelues, we ſhall not be iudged, and not if we iuſtifie our ſelues.

Eph. 2.20Eph 2:20Againe, that the faithfull are euer growing in holines, vntill that they come to be perfected in death, and then ſhall be preſented without ſpot or wrinkle. Their growth is plainly taught in the Epiſtle to the Epheſians, where ſpeaking of Chriſt, it is ſaid. In whom all the building being coupled together groweth to an holy Temple in the Lord, that is, as any building which becommeth ſit for habitation, groweth nearer perfection eueryevery day, till at the laſt it be fully finiſhed; ſo doth the Church of God. Wherefore wee are often remembred hereof by Peter, 2 Pet. 3.18. 1. Pet. 2.2.2 Pet 3:181 Pet 2:2who ſaith, Growe in Grace, and in the knowledge of Ieſus Chriſt, and where he exhorteth, to deſire the ſincere milke of the Word that we may growe thereby: Eph. 4.24Eph 4:24and by Paul, ſaying, Be renued in the ſpirit of your minde, and put off the olde man, and put on the new, that is, put him off more, and become more holy, and righteous:Heb. 5.Heb 5 and againe, where he reproueth the Hebrews for their weakeneſſe euen then, when by reaſon of the time, they might hauehave beene ſtrong men in Chriſt; to omit the Lords vpbraidings of his Diſciples, for that hauing beene with him long, ſtill they vnderſtood not his parables, they were yet weake in faith, they had not yet growne in mortification of their fleſhlineſſe.Gal. 5.17Gal 5:17 Moreouer, that perfection is not attained till death, appeareth, becauſe whilſt we liue, we carry the fleſh about with vsus, by reaſon of which we cannot doe thoſe things we would: we are but like a bad writer, hauing his hand guided by a more skilfull maſter, & this ſcholler notwithſtāding is vnable to write a perfect faire hand, by reaſō of his owne vntowardnes: ſo the holieſt of Gods children is ſhort of perfection, by reaſon of the fleſhes weakenes, though they be guided by Gods Spirit.Phil. 3.9Phil 3:9 And this they are not aſhamed to confeſſe againſt themſelues, Both Paul, I ſtriue, ſaith he, after the marke, not as though I had already attained it, &. and Iames and Iohn, as hath bin already ſhewed. But in death all imperfections vaniſh away,Eph. 5.27Eph 5:27 then ſhall they be preſented without ſpot or wrinkle: for Chriſt therfore gaue himſelfe for his Church, that he might cleanſe and Sanctifie it, not hauing ſpot or wrinkle: then p. 123the Bride is in her perfect beauty, in a veſture of Gold of Ophir, with needle-works, all glorious: ſhe is then as a city,Pſal 4 5.Ps 4:5 the pauing of whoſe ſtreetes is of Gold,Reuel 21.Rev 21 the walls of pretious ſtones, all things moſt bright and ſhining: ſhee hath a ſiluer Pallace built vponupon her, if ſhe be a wall, if a doore, Cantic. 6:9.Song 6:9ſhee is encloſed with boards of Cedar, if ſhe be in any degree of true grace, ſhee is perfected, and made happy. There is not need of an imaginary purgatory fire to purge them, Chriſts blood alone hath done it, his merits hide all their blemiſhes, and through him they are accounted worthy to enter immediatly into Paradiſe, to receiue their peny of eternall glory,Math. 20.Matt 20 though they hauehave wrought but one houre of the day. If any perfection be aſcribed to any in this life, it is meant onelyonly of integrity, and vprightnes of heart, and not of perfect degree of holines, and abſolute fulfilling the law in all things.

Math. 13.Matt 13For the holineſſe of Gods viſible Church, that this is in regard of the beſt, not of the greateſt therein, our Sauiour Chriſt maketh it plaine in his compariſons, comparing the Church vntounto ground, wherein corne is ſowne, ſome falling in the high-way, ſome vponupon thornie, ſome vponupon ſtony grounds, there being for all theſe but one good ground: and vntounto a field wherein is ſowne both good corne, and tares by the enemy, which grow vp together, &c. now all this ground thus ſowne, hath the name of corne ground, though the beſt of it onelyonly be corne. So is it with the Church, it is called holy by reaſon of the faithfull, not of the moſt or greateſt therein, which are tares, or thornes, and briars comming vp amongſt the corne. And this hath euer beene the eſtate of the Church,1 Cor 10.1 Cor 10 vnderunder the law. They were all baptized vntounto Moſes, and did all eate the ſame ſpirituall meat, and did all drinke of the ſame ſpirituall drinke, yet with many of them, was God diſpleaſed: and vnderunder the Goſpell, the Church of the Corinthians, was troubled with inceſtuous perſons, with branglers, and with drunkards, the Church of Gallatia with falſe teachers, and many ſo inclined vntounto them, that the Apoſtle feared, that he had ſpent his labor in vaine. The 7. Churches in Aſia, named in the begining of the Reuelation, had many bad members in them: and the ſame is true of all others before, and after them.

p. 124Math 5.Matt 5Laſtly, for the holineſſe of doctrine taught in the Church, this is ſo neceſſary, that whereſoeuer it is wanting, it is a certa…ne ſigne of a falſe Church, of a Strumpet of Satan, and no ſpouſe of Chriſt. Euen as ſalt, when it hath loſt his ſauour; or a light hidden vnderunder a buſhell, is no light, no ſalt, good for any vſe, but to be troden vnderunder foote of men: ſo is the goodlieſt Church corrupted in the ſubſtantialls of doctrine, it is no more worthy to be honored as Chriſts ſpouſe, but to be ſpurned, and trampled vnderunder foote, as his moſt treacherous enemy. The teaching of the true Church is Chriſt his owne teaching, according to that: He that heareth you, heareth me. Mat. 10. 1 Cor. 11.23. 1 Pet. 2.2. Deut. 13.Matt 101 Cor 11:231 Pet 2:2Deut 13And I hauehave receiued of the Lord, that which I hauehave deliuered vntounto you: And as new borne babes, deſire the ſincere milke of the word, not mixed, and corrupted with the poyſon of falſe doctrine. Yea, whatſoeuer ſignes be ſhewed, and wonders done, the company of thoſe, that teach Idolatry, or any grand error fighting againſt Chriſts kingdome, or vilifying his precious blood, and mediation, is to bee auoided, it is a ſure ſigne, that they are falſe Prophets, wicked teachers.

1 Duty. To ſeparate from the Church of Rome.For the duties of this faith. The firſt is to make vsus ſtill to be more ſeperated from the Church of Rome, for that ſhee ſheweth her ſelf in this to be a very ſtrumpet, a falſe Church. Witneſſe her teaching, that it is vnlawfull for Prieſts to marry, howſoeuer vnable to conteine, when as the Apoſtle calleth this the doctrine of Diuels forbidding to marry: Whence it commeth to paſſe,1 Tim. 4.3.1 Tim 4:3 that in ſtead of holy Prieſts, ſhe is full of filthy fornicators, and ſtandeth to the iuſtifying of thoſe abhominations, teaching that it is better for them to hauehave many whores, then one wife, that ſimple fornication is no more,Campeg. Comiti…s Auguſt. an. 30. Pi…bius. Ecci…. then aurē ſcalpere, …o ſcratch a mans eare, Wherefore without making any ſcruple, is whoredome publikly practiſed all ouer Italy, & infinite ſtewes are tolerated in Rome by the Pope, who taketh a yeerely penſion of 30000. crownes therefore, which they call, lactis cenſus. Pope Clement would hauehave women common vponupon this ground. By the order of nature, the vſe of all things ſhould be common.Conc. Toll. …. Ca…. 7. In a certaine councell vnderunder Pope Leo the firſt, it was decreed, that hee, which hath no wife, but a concubine in ſtead of a wife, p. 125ſhould not be expelled from the communion, if he were content only with the coniunction of one woman, or concubine. And vponupon this liberty giuen, it would offend all chaſt cares, to heare the reports of their filthines in Rome, made by ſuch as hauehave beene there. One ſaith,Elias Haſen muller Hiſt. Ordinis Jeſunici. cap. 10. that being at Rome hee ſaw Prelats, and Prieſts take with them openly from the Churches common whores, and carry them in their Coaches to their houſes, and gardens: and in the time of proceſſions, that honeſt Matrons durſt not come abroad for feare of them, laying in waite to take them. The ſame man further proteſteth,Cap. 7. that he can truely, & holyly teſtifie, that in Italy and Germany he found not fiue Prieſts amongſt an hundreth, which had conteined themſelues from the filthy company of whores. And why ſhould this ſeeme ſtrange; ſeeing the Popes themſelues hauehave beene ſo beaſtly?Baleur. Innocent the eight had ſixteene baſtards, Pius the fourth was ſo vile a lecher, as that in his old age hee tooke things to prouoke luſt, & ſo exceeded that he died in the boſome of his ſtrumpet, as his Epitaph doth witneſſe. Iohn 13. ſet vp publique ſtewes, and being reproued by the Cardinals he cut off the priuities of one, the noſe of another, the hand of another, &c. till at the laſt hee was ſlaine in the bed of adultery, by her husband, whom he thus abuſed. Who ſo liſteth may read more in Platina, and others writing of their liues.

But this may ſuffice, to make all true Chriſtians, in ſtead of louing, to loath the Roman Church; whoſe inerrable Head being ſuch, what ſhall we iudge of the tayle? If they ſhall ſay, that as great corruptions of manners are found amongſt the Proteſtants alſo, our Apologie is, that it is the enuious man, which hath done this, there is no ſuch corne ſowne in the field of our Church, but wholſome, and holy, we abhorre theſe as the diuels tares, and ſhame to defile our paper with writings patronizing theſe euills, as they doe: yea wee ſay with the Apoſtle, Abſit, God forbid, that ſuch abhominations ſhould raigne in the Church of God.

2. Duty. To ſtudy to far holy.The ſecond duty, is for eueryevery man to ſtudy to bee holy, an hater of ſinne, and a louer of vertue, to ſtriue againſt all falſe waies, and to endeauour after perfection of obedience, p. 126to walke in ſinceritie,Epheſ. 4Eph 4 and to baniſh Hypocriſie: ſeeing that all the true members of Gods Church are wont thus to doe. They are Saints, as hath beene ſaid, they put off the old man with the luſts, and put on the new. This we doe all acknowledge, when we confeſſe, I beleeue the holy Church, but alas, how few doe accordingly? how is holineſſe ſcorned? he that is not carried away with the ſtreame of common impieties, but is carefull to hauehave a good conſcience before God and man, ſhall be made a gazing ſtock and laughing ſtock. They ſay a yong Saint an old diuell, onelyonly good fellowes, that defile themſelues, with ſwilling, whoring, ſwearing and vanitie, they are the men moſt generally eſteemed in theſe miſerable daies. The Lord then hath but a poore Church euen in the middeſt of his true viſible Church, it is but a little flocke, vponupon which he will beſtow the kingdom. Wherefore let all ſuch as louelove this kingdome, beware this broade way,Heb. 11.14Heb 11:14 and ſtudy for true holineſſe, without which no man ſhall ſee God.

3. Duty. To renounce cōfidence in worksThe third duty is, to renounce all confidence in our owne workes, and whatſoeuer we can doe, and to ſeeke for iuſtification, only by the merits and obedience of the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, who is made vntounto vsus of God, 1 Cor. 1.301 Cor 1:30iuſtification and redemption. We muſt be holy, and exerciſed in holy and good workes, that we may be members of the holy Church: but farre be it from vsus, to relie vponupon our owne workes or holineſſe, for ſo wee may ſeeke after righteouſneſſe with the Iewes,Rom. 9Rom 9 but not attaine it. We muſt hauehave the long white robes of Chriſts righteouſneſſe to couer vsus, that we may be vnblameable, and without ſpot, before the Father, his blood waſheth the Church,Reuel. 6Rev 6 and ſanctifieth it, that it may be preſented without ſpot or wrinkle. Wherefore let not the ſtanders of Papiſts hinder vsus, from following this rule, though they falſly charge vsus with abrogating good workes, whileſt we ſeeke to be iuſtified before God, by the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt alone: for, in ſo doing, we may boldly ſay with the Apoſtle, We doe not diſanull the Law, but eſtabliſh the Law, ſeeing we teach the neceſſitie of holy and good workes.

4. Duty to be confident againſt Purgatory.The fourth duty is, to be confident againſt the feare of Purgatory fire (wherewith the Papiſts teach, that we al muſt be purged, p. 127before that we can enter into Heauen, and that the torment hereof, exceedeth the pangs of any ſuffering in this world) becauſe that by death the fleſh is aboliſhed in the faithfull, and perfect holineſſe is attained, as hath beene already ſhewed. That fire is but mans inuention, to ſcarre fooles and babes, and to cony-catch them of a great part of their ſubſtance. Our Purgatory fire, of which it is ſpoken in Saint Iames, and in ſundry other places of the Scripture, is affliction in this world, which is, as the fining pot for ſiluer and gold; all other Purgatories were vnknowne to the Prophets and Apoſtles, and to the Chriſtians of former times, and therefore no cauſe is there, why we ſhould feare them.

Queſt. 36. Which is the third thing, that you learne to beleeue, concerning the Church?

Anſw. Thirdly, J learne to beleeue, that Gods Church is Catholike, that is, conſiſting of perſons of all ſorts, ſcattered all ouer the world, and of all times and ages.

Eſa. 2. cap. 40, &c.Isa 2Explan. In this anſwer, is fully layd open the meaning of the word Catholique, being a Greeke word, it ſignifieth Ʋniuerſall, and the Church is here declared to be vniuerſall: Firſt, in regard of perſons belonging to the Church, viz. men and women, of all ſorts and conditions, high and low, rich and poore, bond and free, Princes and Subiects, noble and ignoble, the Lord taketh ſome out of all theſe eſtates and degrees into his kingdome: Secondly, in regard of places, the Church is diſperſed Eaſt, Weſt, North, and South, and not tyed to any certaine place, or places; neither to Ieruſalem, nor to Rome, neither to Graecia, nor to Barbaria, but whereſoeuer the word of God taketh effect, there is the Church alſo: Thirdly, in regard of time, the Church was from the beginning, is now and ſhall be, throughout all ages, and in the end of this world, be crowned with Eternity, as the head thereof Chriſt Ieſus is.

Secondly, for the proofes of theſe things. Nothing is more common in the Scriptures, than that all people, and all nations, ſhall come and worſhip the Lord, ſhall ſee the ſaluation of God, and hauehave ioy, light, and gladneſſe, inſtead of ſorrow and heauineſſe. And this was typically repreſented in Noahs Arke, whereinto p. 128entred the creatures of all ſorts, foure footed beaſts and creeping things, feathered fowles, and all manner of cattle, both cleane and the vncleane: Now, the cleane of theſe, ſet foorth the Iewes;Act. 10.Acts 10 and the vncleane, the Gentiles, as was ſhewed vntounto Peter; the cleane, ſet foorth the righteous and godly; the vncleane, the lewd and wicked, as the Lord would hauehave the Iewes vnderſtand, when he forbad them to eate of the vncleane: the feathered fowles, and the more noble beaſts; great and noble perſons; the creeping things,Leuit. 11.Lev 11 the poore and needy; of all which, ſome were receiued into the Arke, and ſome are receiued into the Church; yea, the very vncleane wicked, when they repent.

Reuel. 7.Rev 7Moreouer, in the Booke of the Reuelation, as ſome were ſealed of eueryevery Tribe of Iſrael, Dan onelyonly excepted, becauſe of his Idolatry: ſo were ſome of all kindreds, nations, and tongues, which together made ſuch a multitude, as could not be told. And this vniuerſality of the Church, was noted to hauehave beene, euen whileſt the Temple ſtood: for, when the Holy Ghoſt did wonderfully giuegive vtterance to the Apoſtles, in all languages, ſome of all nations are ſaid to hauehave bene there,Acts 2.5.Acts 2:5 Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, and the Inhabitants of Meſopotamia, men of Cappadocia, Pontus, Aſia &c. men fearing God, which dwelt there for religions ſake. More particularly for perſons belonging to the Church, the Lord doth both inuite all, when he ſayth, Come vntounto mee, Matth 11. Marc 16.Matt 11Mark 16all yee that are weary and heauy loaden, and J will refreſh you: and, Goe preach the Word to eueryevery creature. And by his Apoſtle Paul ſaying;1 Tim. 2.1. Verſe 3. Verſe 4. 2 Pet 9.1 Tim 2:1 Let prayers, and ſupplications, and giuing of thankes be made for all men: For this is good and acceptable, in the ſight of God our Sauiour, who would that all men ſhould be ſaued, and come to the knowledge of the truth: and Peter ſaying; The Lord would hauehave no man to periſh, but all men come to repentance. Euen as he that inuiteth to a feaſt,Matth. 22.Matt 22 is willing that all the gueſts which are bidden, ſhould come & partake of his feaſt: onelyonly if worldly temptations hinder any, hee is wroth, and will deſtroy them, if they refuſe to come, becauſe of their profit,Luc. 3.Luke 3 their pleaſure, their ſecurity, &c. And the Lord doth receiue all ſuch as come vntounto him, whether they be Phariſees, Publicans, or common people, of what calling ſoeuer, bond or free, male or female, Iew, or Grecian, or Barbarian, of p. 129what eſtate, ſect, or ſex ſoeuer, prodigall children, loſt ſheep,Gal 3 28. Luc. 15. 1 Tim 1.12Gal 3:28Luke 151 Tim 1:12 notorious ſinners, perſecutors, and blaſphemers. Secondly, for places, Chriſt ſaith, That neither at Ieruſalem, nor at Iaacobs well, the Father ſhall be worſhipped, but eueryevery where, true worſhippers ſhould worſhip him in ſpirit and truth, that is,Iohn 4 20John 4:20 the Church ſhould not be tyed to this, or that place, but be vniuerſally in all places: and Peter ſayth, In eueryevery nation hee that feareth God, and worketh righteouſneſſe, is accepted with him. Acts 10 35Acts 10:35And not to multiply more Texts of Scripture, wee hauehave the places of Gods Church, euen in the Apoſtles times, particularly regiſtred.

At Ieruſalem, in Caeſarea, Paleſtina, in Tyre,Countries where the Goſpel hath beene receiued. Euſeb Jrenaeus Necephorus. Tertullian. Vincentius. Lyrinenſis, &c. and Ptolemais: in Antioch of Syria, in Tharſus of Cilicia, in Meſopotamia, Epheſus, and Smyrna: amongſt the Sardians, the Trallians, the Philadelphians, the Coloſſians: in Magneſia, Hierapolis, Pergamopolis, Troas: in Nicomedia, Phrygia, Myſia, Galatia, Ancyra: in Vicomanus, Pontus, Amaſtria, and Synope: amongſt the Parthians, Medes, Perſians, Hyrcans, Brachmans, Indians, Armenians, and Elamites: And in all the chiefe Countries of Africa, in Aegypt, Thebais, Marmarica, Cyrenaica, Numidia, Mauritania, Getulia, Lybia, Aethiopia: in Alexandria, Carthage, the Ilands Pathmos, Creet, Gortyna, and Meſſana a city of Sicily.

In Greece there were many famous Churches, amongſt the Athenians, the Corinthians, the Lacedaemonians: in Achaia amongſt the Philippians, and Theſſalonians: in Laryſſa, Thracia, Anchiolis, and Debeltis. In Illiricum, in Dalmatia, in Croatia, in Corinthia, Vindelicia, Rhetia, Noricus, Laureacus, by Danubius. In Maguntia, Treniris, amongſt the Tungrians, Agrippines, and Bardenickes. In Germany, Rome, Tirinus, Genua, and Derdona. In France, at Vienna, Lugdune, &c. and amongſt the Celts. In Spaine, at Compluto, and Tolledo; in Scotland, and England, amongſt the Sarmatians, Dacians, and Scythians, and other barbarous people.

For the times of the Church,The Church in al ages deſcending from Adam. no age hath euer beene without the Church of God, though ſometimes it hath beene amongſt a very few, and ſometimes inuiſible to the world.

p. 1301 King. 19.18.1 Kgs 19:18At the firſt it was in Adams family, when Abel was ſlaine, (that God might not want a Church) hee ſent Seth into the world. Afterwards it was in the Family of Noah, then of Abraham, Iſaac, Iaacob, and of the Patriarkes, and their poſterity, the Iewes, vntounto whom few of other nations ioyned themſelues, and ſo moſt were without the Church: and at the comming of the Goſpell, it was amongſt the Diſciples, and Followers of Chriſt, and afterwards in all Nations, as hath beene already ſhewed, of which, though many reuolted to Turciſme, and many were infected with the ſuperſtions of Popery, or rather oppreſſed with the tyranny of the Papacy, yet ſome fewe ſtill cleaued vntounto the truth, and in theſe laſt times, the light brake forth againe out of darkeneſſe, and the pure preaching of Gods Word out of infinite corruptions, by falſe interpretations, blind traditions, and affected wreſtings. The true Church was inuiſible, in Elias his time, who thought, that he was remaining himſelfe alone, vntill that the Lord had told him, that he had left ſeuen thouſands, that had not bowed their knees to Baal, and whoſe mouthes had not kiſſed him: which the Apoſtle applyeth alſo to his times, wherein the Iewes did ſo much oppoſe themſelues againſt the proceedings of the Goſpell, that they ſeemed to be all enemies to the truth; yet without doubt, he ſaith, that there is a remnant through the election of grace.Rom. 11.5.Rom 11:5

Luk. 24.21.Luke 24:21And the ſame was the ſtate of the Church, at the time of Chriſts apprehenſion and crucifying, all fled from him, one of the chiefe denied him, others plainely profeſſed their diſtruſt in him: and oftentimes ſince hath it beene brought to the ſame paſſe, through the tyranny of Perſecutors and Heretiques, and chiefely by the tyranny of the Roman Biſhops, who, as they were giuen ouer to corruptions, together with their Churches in Italy, by their proud affection of an vniuerſall Dominion ouer all other Churches: ſo they hauehave euer enforced the ſame corruptions vponupon others ſo ſtrongly, as that few durſt mutter againſt them, but ſome hauehave euer been endued with heroycall ſpirits to reſiſt, and ſpeake, and write againſt the ſame, by whoſe forwardneſſe wee may gather, that there were many more in ſecret, in all times, which groned p. 131vnderunder the burthen of popiſh ſuperſtitions, and that Luther, and Zwinglius, were not the firſt, (as they would beare the world in hand, as though before them there were neuer any diſſenting from the Church of Rome) but to lay down briefly what we finde in Eccleſiaſticall Hiſtories. After that the foundations of a new Church vnderunder the Goſpell, were laide by Chriſt and his Diſciples, the ſtormes and billowes of perſecution aroſe, and continued vnderunder the raigne of many Heathen Emperours, for the ſpace of three hundred yeeres and vpward: by all which, though it was brought vnderunder, and much hazarded of drowning, yet it was onelyonly drenched, and by the good Emperour Conſtantine the Great, repaired, and much refreſhed. Yet this was but a calme for a ſeaſon, for in his ſonnes times, Arianiſme was ſet abroach, & cauſed almoſt as great troubles, as in the time of Heatheniſme: the Orthodox, notwithſtanding, claue ſtill to the trueth, and manfully endured all the brunts of this long laſting ſtorme, though it was at times, more then two hundred yeeres.

After this, the Monothelits, and Neſtorian Heretiques lifted vp their heads, and hauing higher powers on their ſides, did not a litle by their perſecutions trouble the Church of God. After theſe things, about the yeere 800. the worſhipping of Images beganne to be ſet vp by a wicked Empreſſe, Irene of Conſtantinople, againſt which, Gregory oppoſed himſelfe, allowing the vſe of Images, but not the adoration, nor praying before them, and the Diuines vnderunder Charles the Great. But before this, the Church of Rome hauing aduanced it ſelfe by the meanes of Phocas (who of a common Souldiour, came to the Empire of Conſtantinople, by murdering his Maſter Mauritius, the lawfull Emperour, his wife and children) laboured much with ſuperſtitious ceremonies, and ſtroue to conforme all other Churches hereunto.

For this cauſe, anno 617. Columbanus and Gallus were ſent forth with the authority of the Roman Biſhop, to ſet vp their ceremonies in all places: but were in all likelyhood then preuented; for two Councels were hereupon aſſembled, the p. 132one in Bauaria, againſt the ceremonies of Columbanus and Gallus; Auentin. Annalium Batorum, lib. 3. Author vitae Euſtatij in 3. tom. operum Beda. Beda Vincentius Balaeus …oan. Mayer. Bed. …d. 3. c. 25. lib. 4. cap 4. Epiſcop. Lindiſfarnenſis.the other in Mariſcon, vnderunder King Lotharius, of both which the bare titles only remaine, the matter is ſuppreſſed, becauſe that would hauehave beene too great an euidence againſt them. Not long after Ardanus Biſhop of Northumberland vnderunder King Oſwaldus oppoſed himſelfe againſt the ſame, alledging, that the grieuous things of the law, the burthens of the Phariſees were not to bee propounded to the people. Anno. 670. Colmanus another Biſhop ſtoutly reſiſted the ſhauing of Prieſts, and other foooliſh ceremonies, that were vrged: but the King taking againſt him, he preuailed not, and therefore went from his Biſhopricke into Scotland, with thoſe that tooke part with him. The like reſiſtance had his Predeceſſour Fannanus made before.