Sermons on Three Chapters of Song of Songs, Sermon 24

Sermons on Three Chapters of Song of Songs · Sermon 24

p. 317THE XXIIII SERMON. Our helpe be in the name of God &c. It is written as followeth in the third Chapter of the Canticle of Canticles, the 2. and 3. verſes.

2 I will riſe therefore ſaide I, and will goe about the City, through the ſtreets, & through the greater places, & wil ſeek him whō my ſoul loueth: I ſought him, but I could not find him.

3 The watch which go about the city found me, & I ſaid, ſaw you him whō my ſoule loueth?

p. 3181 That the Lord ſuffereth not himſelf to be found incontinentlie of his, amidſt the confuſions and deſolations of the Church, is for no other cauſe, but to make himſelfe to be ſo much the more ardently and earneſtly ſought after.

2 It is neither to the greater number, nor vntounto that which is moſt commonlie receiued, that we are to keepe our ſelues, to find the true Church.

3 The certaine, infallible, and perpetuall mark of the true Church is the doctrine regiſtred by the Prophets and Apoſtles.

4 The truth continueth firme and ſtable in the true Catholike Church oppoſed vntounto the Hereticall: but it ſhineth not alwaies alike, nor is alike knowen.

5 The doctrine of the Apoſtles and the Catholique Church are vnſeparable, and is a teſtimony one vntounto the other.

6 The holy ſcripture ought to ſerue for text and interpretation.

7 The ſpirit of truth was neuer tyed, without any exception, vntounto the Leuiticall miniſterie.

8 Wherefore the ſpouſe went her way farther without ſtaying the watches anſwere.

9 The ſpirit of truth is not tyed to thē without exception who ſit in the chayre of the miniſterie of the goſpell.

10 The holy ſcriptures are in all times irreproueable Iudges of the true Chriſtian doctrine, as it appeareth by the teſtimony of Ieſus Chriſt himſelfe and his Apostles.

11 Bare perſonall ſucceſſion is not to be ſtoode on, though the outward forme bee therein obſerued.

12 This doctrine being well practiſed breedeth no confuſion in the Church.

13 The horrible diſorder brought in & confirmed in the Church by the Apoſtatical See of Rome, & that they are neither heretiques nor Schiſmatiques who hauehave ſeuered themſelues from it by extraordinarie meanes ſent of God.

14 The concluſion ſhewing how we ought to behaue our ſelues in this behalfe.

VPONUPON Thurſday laſt we learned how the ſpouſe awaked by the ſpirit of god, who formed in her an holy deſire of ſeeking him againe, ſeeing him not in the bed where ſhee ſlept, was not therefore cleane out of hart, but getting her ſelfe vp ſheweth, that becauſe ſhe found him not, her deſire of ſeeking after him was ſo much the more augmēted. And indeed as we ſaid the laſt daie, this is the means by which the Lorde not ſuffering himſelfe to bee alwaies found at the firſt, ſharpeneth the faith and hope, and fortifieth the patience of his, as we ſee it by infinit many of examples of the holy Scripture. So the people ſerued as a ſtraunger foure hundred yeares, p. 319in the land of Chanaan and of Aegypt, and fortie yeares in the deſert, and ſeuenty yeares in Babylon. So did Ioſeph endure much in priſon, and Dauid during his flight, ſaying in the 40. Pſal. I waited and waited for the Lord, and he heard me. According therefore vntounto theſe examples if in diuerſe difficulties and diſtreſſes touching our conſcience, either in perils or aduerſities, it ſeemeth, that the Lorde, as I maie ſo ſaie, flieth from vsus, let vsus runne couragiouſlie after him, vntill hee ſuffer himſelfe to bee taken of vsus. But who ſhall continue vntounto vsus this vigor and courage? He who for the louelove which he beareth vsus firſt, formeth in vsus the louelove whereby wee louelove him reciprocally, as the ſpouſe doth thriſe heere reiterate it: that is to ſaie, not fainedly as hypocrits do: nor ſo ſo, as they who are neither hot nor cold, nor ſeething, but luke-warme: and therefore are by and by vomited vp. Apoc. 3.16. whereas they who are violent and importune, catch the kingdome of heauen away by an holy importunity, Matth. 11.12. Luke. 18.2.

2 But wee muſt eſpecially conſider that which the ſpouſe ſaith in this place, namely, that ſhe diligētly ſought after her Bridegroome, by the open places, and went round about the Cittie and found him not. For contrariwiſe in the parable of the banquet, Luk. 14.21. the ſeruantes are commanded vponupon the refuſall which the greater ſort and the rich made, to go vntounto the open places & ſtreets of the City, to bring together thoſe which were poore & impotent, lame and blind. But this ſimilitude tendeth to another purpoſe then this of the ſpouſe, to wit, to ſhew vsus that they are no members of the Church, or (if they were before) leaue to bee, who make more reckoning of their woorldly eaſe and other their commodities and affaires of this world, then they doe of their conſcience: in whoſe places God doth often chuſe the poore and contemptible of the world, as it is ſaide in the Canticle of the bleſſed virgin, Luk. 1.52.53. We read alſo, Pro. 1.20. that Wiſedom maketh her voice to ring in the ſtreets and open places: but it is not ſaid that ſhe was harkned vntounto or receiued there: yea cōtrariwiſe, Wiſedome lamenteth and bewaileth the diſorders which doe there raigne. There is likewiſe ſpeach in the parable of the p. 320ſower of ſeed which fel in the waie, which becauſe it pearced not into, and entred the earth, it was incontinently eaten vp by the birds. Theſe two places maie ſerue vsus for the interpretation of this, in which we vnderſtand by the open places and the circuite of the Citty, that which is cōmonly receiued & beareth ſway among men. And to ſaie al in one word, it is that mask which is called at this daie by the name of the Catholique Church, not that Catholique Church which wee mention in our Creede, but that monſter which the efficacie of errour hath engendred by her, who hath bewitched the kinges and nations of the earth, as it hath beene before prophecied and foretold.

3 To anſwere therefore this matter, which is the laſt refuge of our aduerſaries, what is that the ſpouſe here ſaith, beeing ſo affrighted & hared, for that her Bridegrome is departed from her, while ſhe was aſleep in her bed? It is this, which I ſay & repeate againe, that ſhe thought, that he whom ſhe ſought, and ſo conſequently the truth, and her ſaluation, were to be found in the religion which was commonly receiued among the people. And what induced her to think ſo? The promiſes made vntounto that people and to no other, before the comming of the Bridegroome in fleſh, Act. 3.25. as at this daie, the Church, ſay they, cannot erre, hereupon to ground al their errours. Wherein then did this ſpouſe deceiue her ſelf? Euen with that which was aunſwered, Ier. 18.18. and preſuppoſing (as they woulde gladly make vsus to beleeue at this daie of Saint Peters ſteeple at Rome) that religion was nayled as it were with a tennepenie naile, vntounto Abrahams race, without diſtinguiſhing the true Iſraelites from the falſe, as Saint Iohn Baptiſt reproched them in his time: ſhee iudged of true religion according vntounto that which was brought in when ſhe was aſleepe, & of a long time receiued of great & ſmal, whereas ſhee ſhould hauehave ſought after that which was propoſed and commanded for a rule vntounto the people, that is to ſaie, in the lawe and in the teſtimony, as it is ſaid, Eſa. 8.20. For ſeeing that the true Church iudgeth not the the controuerſies of religion, but ſo farre as to referre her ſelfe wholy vntounto that which the Bridegroome hath thereof determined, p. 321by the mouth of his Prophets & Apoſtles, it followeth that it is neither vntounto that which is commonly receiued and maintained, nor vntounto the greater number that wee are to refer our ſelues to be reſolued, ſeeing that euen in the affairs of this world there bee more fooles then wiſemen, and more wicked men then good: but we muſt refer our ſelues vntounto the Bridegrome himſelf, who is iudge both of the one and of the other. Yea, but where ſhall a man finde him? Wee muſt not ſay, (ſaith the Apoſtle after Moſes) wee will aſcend vp into heauen to finde him there, or paſſe the Sea to ſeeke him. But the woorde is in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that is to ſaie, this word of faith which wee preach, Rom. 10.8. And this is it by which we muſt diſcerne the true Catholick Church from the falſe.

4 What is then, you will ſay, this Catholicke Church, in the which no where elſe, Ieſus Chriſt is found, & out of which there is no ſaluation? It is the aſſembly of all the true elect and faithfull, gathered out of al people and nations in vnitie of the Propheticall and Apoſtolicall doctrine conſidered in her generality, in which aſſemblie truely the light of the trueth can neuer be put out, albeit in the parts and members of the bodie diſtinctly & ſeuerally conſidered, there may be ſome defects, doubts, & ignorances, as the hiſtory of all times declareth the ſame. To this Church thus vniuerſally conſidered, is oppoſed the generality of all companies beſides, which are alſo called Chriſtian, and which keepe the marcke of Baptiſme, but hauehave forged vntounto themſelues a religion, according vntounto their owne luſt and fancy, whether they couer themſelues with the name & writings of the Prophets & Apoſtles il interpreted, or whether they inuent a doctrine altogether newe according vntounto their own pleaſure, for which cauſe ſuch a church is called hereticall, that is to ſay, grounded vponupon a doctrine which a man hath choſen and taken vntounto himſelfe, and which agreeth neither with that which is Catholicke, nor with it ſelfe, but is often times diuided into ſo many peeces as there are braines giuen vntounto their owne priuate and particular ſenſe, hauing all of them this in common, that they goe aſtray and wander from p. 322the Propheticall and Apoſtolicall truth. I knowe that all this is applied againſt vsus by the aduerſaries of our time, who for this cauſe cal our Church new, and giuegive vsus ſuch titles as like themſelues beſt, not perceiuing howe themſelues cut their owne throats calling their Church the Catholicke Church, except they can ſhew vsus that Rome and the whole world are all one: but the controuerſie would be ſoone ended if men would but harken vntounto reaſon. I ſaie therefore that accordingly as it pleaſeth God to ſhew his iudgements vponupon the vnthankefulnes of the world, or of his mercy to ſpare mankinde, the true Catholicke Church hath ſometimes ſhined foorth and appeared in her bewtie, but not alwaies aboue the falſe and heretical: the painted & diſguiſed ſtrumpet, counterfaiting the chaſt ſpouſe of Ieſus Chriſt ſo well, and diſplaying the beames of her outward bewtie ſo magnificently for the moſt part, that all both great and ſmall take her to be the true, & thereupon the poore ſpouſe, which is the true ſpouſe indeed, is forced to retire into the deſerts, vntill the time of indignation be paſt, Eſay. 26.20. Apo. 17.14. That this is ſo it cannot be denied, but that a man ſhalbe conuicted by the whole hiſtorie of the Church, and by that which wee ſee at this day with our eies. Thence I conclude that the multitude and the greateſt and apparant number is a moſt falſe marke of the true church: but without ſtanding either on few or more, we muſt keep vsus vntounto this infallible point, that the true Church and worthy of the name of Catholicke and vniuerſal is that, which maketh a true profeſſion of the doctrine preached & entirely regiſtred by the Apoſtles to be the onelyonly rule of trueth vntounto the whole company of the elect.

5 Theſe two names therefore of Apoſtolicall doctrine and Catholicke Church, are both of them ſo inſeparable & agree in ſuch ſort, that the true Church is by this true and eſſentiall marcke diſtinguiſhed from the falſe: & againe the true church beareth certaine marckes of the ſeede whence ſhee was conceiued, 1. Pet. 1.25.

6 And to the end that they reply not hereupon that the one p. 323and the other aſſembly may alleage the ſame text of the bible: I anſwere, firſt, that the falſe Church maketh no reckoning of keeping herſelfe wholly to the holy Scriptures: ſecondly, that the Scripture ought aſwel to be the commentarie as the Text, and that al interpretation of Scripture being referred vntounto the articles of faith, as vntounto a certaine and infallible rule to diſcern that which is true frō that which is falſe, as being the abridgement of the whole Scripture, it wil be alwaies eaſie not to be deceiued, except a man wil himſelfe. Thus you ſee what we are to think of the cōmunalty of the greater number, which cried in Chriſts time, away with him, away with him, crucifie him, which is oppoſed vntounto that which Ieſus Chriſt calleth litle flocke, Luk, 12.32. But let vsus ſee whether the ſpouſe hauehave any better direction.

7 Shee ſaith then in ſumme that going ſo through the City ſhe was found by the watch, & ſhe asked thē, if they could tell her any tidings of this Bridegroom, and ſaith not what aunſwere ſhe had of them: but it appeareth ſufficiently by that which foloweth, either that they anſwered her nothing, or that without ſtaying their anſwere ſhe went her way farther. Now who are they, I pray you, of the watch, but thoſe who hauehave the charge of watching ouer the City of God? And is it not expreſly ſaid, that the lippes of the Prieſt, are the keepers of wiſedom, becauſe he is the meſſenger of god, Mal. 2.7. And vntounto whō did the Lord command his people to reſort to be reſolued in a caſe of difficulty touching the interpretation of the Law, but vntounto the Prieſts, Deut. 17.8. yea, to aunſwere vntounto it according vntounto the Law which they might not ad vntounto, nor diminiſh. Notwithſtāding we ſee here that the ſpouſe found her Bridegroome no more among theſe then in the open places & ſtreets of the city ▪ the reaſons this, that there is great difference, between conſidering of a charge ſuch as it is in it ſelfe, and conſidering of it as they diſcharge it, on whom it is impoſed. Moreouer albeit the Lord hath eſtabliſhed an order wherein hee declareth his bleſſing: yet notwithſtanding wee may not tie the holy Ghoſt entirely vntounto them, either who are called by an ordinary vocation, or vntounto p. 324them who hauehave the place thereof, becauſe that as the Lord in his merciemercy giueth true paſtours and teachers, for the gathering together of the ſaintes, and for the worke of the miniſterie, to the building of the body of Ieſus Chriſt, Eph. 3.12. ſo doth he alſo in his anger giuegive falſe Paſtors with ſtrong deluſion and the efficacie of the spirit of errour, 2. Theſſ. 2.11. puniſhing by that meanes the contempt of his holy woorde. As in that which concerneth the ſociety of men in this world, God giueth good princes and gouernours, 1. Timot. 2.2. and Pſal. 72. and on the other ſide he puniſheth and chaſtiſeth the people, taking his spirite from their princes and gouernours, Pſal. 76.13. this holy miniſtery notwithſtanding (conſidered in it ſelfe) remaining in that eſtate and forme in the which God eſtabliſhed it; as alſo the eſtate of Kings and of other Magiſtrates, although the tyrantes abuſe it, Eſai. 3.4. and 56.10. Oſee. 13.12. Ier. 23.11.14.15. Brieflie the whole Scripture is full of ſuch teſtimonies of Kinges and reproches of Prophetes and Prieſtes. And if wee come to the proofe heereof by experience, who were the greateſt aduerſaries of the true Prophetes, Ier. 26.7. who conſpired againſt God, prophaned the Lawe, couered and maintained the ſinnes and iniquities of Princes? Ezechiel ſaith they were the Prophets & Prieſts, Ezec. 22.25.26.28. Now let vsus take an account of the Prieſtes which built, and how many pullers downe and deſtroiers ſhal we find for one builder? In a word, by whom was the corner ſtone reiected? By them which are called builders, not that they were ſuch but they ſhould hauehave bin, Pſal. 118.22. Matth. 21.42. Who interdicted the Apoſtles the preaching of the goſpel, oppoſing themſelues directly againſt God? Act. 4.5. and 5.21. In ſumme the ſpouſe ſpeaketh heere of wicked husband-men of the vineyarde, who after they had killed the ſeruantes of the Lord, in the ende ſlewe the heire alſo.

8 Wee maie not maruell then that the ſpouſe found as little comforte by the watch, as ſhee did in the open places of the Cittie: beeing a thing moſt certaine and aſſured, that if the poore Church of God, hauing, amiddeſt theſe ſtraites of hers, p. 325loſt the ſight of her Bridegrome when ſhee looked ſo ill vntounto him, had referred her ſelfe to this goodlie watch to hauehave her reſolution of them, ſhee had but loſt her paines, this watch beeing ſet rather to turne aſide & to ſkare theſe poore affrighted ſheepe, then to bring them againe into the right way. God therefore himſelfe was aiding vntounto his ſpouſe in this, that ſhee paſſed farther, without ſtaying for an aunſwere from them, according vntounto that which the Lorde in his time ſpeaking of ſuch ſaith, Let them alone, for they are blinde leaders of the blind. For wee ſhall ſee afterwardes that ſhe was beaten of the watch.

9 But let vsus ſee whether this doctrine, which we hauehave more neede of now then euer, extend it ſelfe vntounto the time of the newe couenant: for behold the poynt wherein Satan at this day employeth his whole forces, namely to perſuade men that neither can it nor may it euer happen, that they whom they cal the Church repreſentatiue (the titles whereof they afterwards either ſhorten or lengthen as pleaſe them, calling it ſometimes the Romane Church, ſometimes the Romane Catholique Church, & ſometimes the Catholique Apoſtolicall Romane Church, that this company I ſaie, either hath or can euer be ſo forſaken of God, that it may for the moſt part bee either it ſelfe apparantlie deceiued, or deceiue others. If a man aſke why, ſeeing this came notoriouſly to paſſe in the ancient Church, beholde their anſwere is ready. It was ſaide vntounto Saint Peter, I hauehave praied for thee that thy faith faile not. Now that Saint Peters faith were not at one time greatly ſhaken it cannot be denied. And therefore they muſt needes confeſſe, that if their repreſentatiue Church hauehave no more force then hee whom they of a notable abuſe take for their foundation, it may at leaſt for one time be ſo ſhaken, as to denie Ieſus Chriſt three times and that with an oth and execration. And I would to God the like had happened to them but thriſe. But to let this paſſe, what maner of concluſiō, I pray you, is this? The Lorde by a ſingular grace of his, raiſed vp and comforted his diſciple in ſuch ſort that hee acknowledged his fault without drowning himſelfe any farther therein, & which p. 326more is, hee vſed him afterward to encourage and ſtrengthen others, I pray you, what doth this appertaine vntounto the Citty of Rome, or vntounto the See afterwardes erected there? Saue that I confeſſe (and I ſay it after one of their principall Poets whoſe verſes themſelues yet print and ſing eueryevery day) that many ages ago this Papall See hauing put out and defaced the ancient Apoſtolique Church of Rome, is become The temple of hereſie in doctrine, and an other Sodome in manners. But what alleage they farther? Ieſus Chriſt ſaide thriſe vntounto Peter, feede my ſheepe. The Pope therefore, and that Church which acknowledgeth the Pope for their head cannot erre: no though he ſhould driue whole cartloades of ſoules vntounto hell, no man may ſay vntounto him, ſir what do you? O God, what impudent ſhameleſnes is this! As if Saint Peter, the See of Rome, and they who ſit in it were al one. Yet this I will wel confeſſe notwithſtanding, that ſince the time of many ages they who hauehave ſate in this See, and hauehave made a throne thereof and exalted it as much as lay in them, aboue that of God himſelfe (in that they attribute vntounto themſelues the power to diſpenſe with the Lawe of God, and the autoritie not to bee iudged of any man liuing, yea to hauehave power to commaund the Angels) that they, I ſay, are not fallen from the faith which they neuer had nor neuer cared after or tooke thought for: I let paſſe other allegations of theirs, which howe friuolous and fooliſh they bee the very little children are able to iudge. And what hath come to paſſe in this behalfe which was not expreſly foretold by Ieſus Chriſt and his Apoſtles, and found true by the experience of our time? Matt. 7.15. Luk. 21.8. Ioh. 5.43. Act. 20.30. Rom. 16.17. Philip. 3.2. and 2. Theſſ. 2.4. and 1. Tim. 4.1. and 6.3. and 2. Tim. 3.1. and 2. Pet. 2.1. and 3.16. and 1. Ioh. 2.18. Now if theſe ſo expreſſe predictions and prophecies ſuffice not, and that the whole eccleſiaſtical ſtorie cannot ſerue for ſufficient proofe, at leaſt let a man now open his eies and ſee the effectes thereof more apparant and great then great and mighty mountaines, I meane the effects thereof in all the ground articles of Chriſtian Catholique doctrine, that is to ſay, the doctrine which God hath deliuered vntounto his p. 327whole Church at the beginning, to remain and continue vntounto the end and conſummation thereof. For at the leaſt it appeareth by that we hauehave aboue ſaide, and followeth vponupon neceſſarie conſequence, that ſeeing they who ought to bee the eies of the flocke are ſubiect not onelyonly to be blinde, but leaders alſo of the blinde to fall both togither into the ditch, Matt. 15.14. and that they who ought to hauehave the key of knowledge, may keepe it back, & indeede hauehave often kept it back, not onelyonly not to enter in themſelues into the kingdome of heauen, but alſo to keepe others out, Luk. 11.52. it is an ouer manifeſt falſehoode to conclude, that without all manner of replie and gaineſaying, we muſt in matter of conſcience & relligion, hold our ſelues vntounto that which they, who call themſelues the ſucceeding Church of the Apoſtles, and eſpecially that goodly Apoſtle of Rome, who may be iudged of no man liuing, commaundeth vsus to beleeue.

10 Nay albeit we granted them that their originall & beginning were as Apoſtolicall, as it is Apoſtatical, Ieſus Chriſt who is the truth it ſelfe might wel hauehave made after Saint Iohn Baptiſt this concluſion for himſelfe abſolutelie, Ioh. 3.33. and yet he notwithſtanding ſuffered & commaunded alſo that his doctrine ſhould be examined by the ſcriptures, Ioh. 5.39. The Apoſtles alſo though their doctrine were vngainſayable (conſidering the meaſure of the ſpirite which they had) yet they came vnderunder this examen, Act. 17.11. and practiſed it themſelues, Act. 15. and recommended the ſame expreſly vntounto others. For it is by the doctrine of the Apoſtles expounded by it ſelfe, that wee muſt diſcerne the Apoſtolique Church, to which we are to ioyne our ſelues: from the falſe, which we muſt turn from and auoide: and therefore our aduerſaries could by no meanes better ſhewe by what ſpirit they are led, and that they are not ſucceſſors, but vſurpers & vniuſt poſſeſſors, ſince they refuſe this examen and tryal, vntounto which they hauehave beene and yet are eueryevery day called but in vaine, except they will bee both Iudges & parties, but it is thou ô eternall God who ſhalt iudge of all this matter in conuenient time.

11 Why then, wil ſome reply, what manner of Church wil p. 328this be if the prelates be not the Iudges of errors, and if other keepe them not to their ſentence and reſolution? Truly I confes that all things ought to be orderly done in the houſe of God, Cor. 14.4. but what is this order? Euē that which the Lord of the houſe hath eſtabliſhed by his Apoſtles. Let vsus then firſt of all keepe and obſerue this, and hold all that for diſorder which ſhalbee farther added, diminiſhed or chaunged: (I meane in the ſubſtāce of doctrine) ſo that whoſoeuer oppoſeth himſelf againſt this diſorder, whenſoeuer it ſlideth into the Church, may not be iuſtly held for author of confuſion, but ought rather to bee praiſed & harkned vntounto, as the ſetter vp againe & reeſtabliſher of that order, which the ſonne of God eſtabliſhed in his houſe. Secondly although the forme of outwarde order be obſerued, yet we may not tie the holy ſpirit to perſons without exceptiō, for thoſe reaſons which I hauehave proued, & becauſe that in many thoſe things wherein they offend goe not before but followe their vocation, as the Apoſtle warneth vsus, 1. Tim. 5.24. in whom the Church findeth afterward that ſhee hath beene deceiued, as all the auncient heretiques and the greateſt part of them of our time may ſufficiently witnes. But we are to follow the rule which the Lord gaue, and which he alſo confirmed by his owne example. The Scribes and Phariſees, ſaith he, ſit in Moſes Chaire, do yee that which they ſay, but do not that which they doe, that is to ſay, ſo farre as, according vntounto the order of God eſtabliſhed by the miniſtery of Moſes, they preach the truth in the Synagogues, their hypocriſie and wicked life otherwiſe, maie not hinder you from receiuing and practiſing that which they teach, for the truth dependeth not on the perſon of him which teacheth, either in doctrine or in the ſacramentes. But what ſaith Chriſt in an other place? Matth. 16.6. Take heede of the leauen of the Phariſees: and in an other place, Let them alone, they are blinde, and leaders of the blinde, Mat. 15.14. And indeed himſelf openly condemned their falſe interpretations of the Law: Matth. 5.6. and Mark. 7.8. and cared as little for their excommunications, Ioh. 12.42.44. What are we to doe then in ſuch a caſe? Wee muſt, ſaith the beloued diſciple, proue the spirits p. 329whether they be of God, 1 Ioh. 4.1. and Saint Paul, we muſt trie all thinges and keepe that which is good, 1. Theſſ. 5.21. & vntounto whō is this ſaid? VntoUnto eueryevery Chriſtian who wil not willingly and wittingly be deceiued, as well young as olde, men as wemen, Gal. 3.28.

12 Neither doth there enſue hereupon any diſorder or confuſion at all, for it is an other thing not to ſuffer a mans ſelfe to bee deceiued, and to take vponupon him the office and charge of teaching in the Church, pretending that all are Prophetes or Apoſtles, or Doctors and teachers, a thing vtterly falſe and intolerable: as appeareth, 1. Cor. 12.29. For the ſonne of God himſelfe, in as much as he was the miniſter of God his father, for the preaching of his wil vntounto the nation of the Iewes, Rom. 11.18. he thruſt not himſelfe in into this charge, Heb. 5.5. Such is then the duty of eueryevery faithfull man in all times, and principally in ſuch a time as there is a medlie made of al things, and when the light is ſmothered and darkned, neither to beleeue euerie thing vponupon the credit of an other, neither alſo to ſet vp a new religion vntounto himſelfe apart.

13 But what ſhall we ſay of thē, among whom there is not only no order, but (which is worſe) though al things be turned vp-ſide-down, notwithſtanding with a deſperate impudencie they attribute all this while vntounto thēſelues the precious name of the catholicke church? Among whom the vocations ordained by the ſonne of God, for the ſeruice of his houſe, are al of them mowled vponupon the Image of the beaſt, the auncient Romane Empire? Where to bee called, is nothing elſe but to hauehave poſted beſt and to be firſt in dated? Where there remaine nothing ſaue the ſimple & bare names of charges and vocations of the holie & ſacred miniſtery? Where the entrance into the houſe of god (I mean the ſcripture in which he hath placed his truth) is interdicted & forbidden the people? Where the houſe of praier is not only turned into an harbor of them who make marchandiſe of ſouls, but is changed into a ſhop of al falſhood and Idolatrie, yea of more abominable Idolatry then all the Idols of the Paynims and heathen? Where Ieſus Chriſt is changed p. 330into a dead and ſenſeleſſe thing, which hath neither head nor feete, naie which cannot keepe himſelfe from the talantes of theeues, nor the teeth of rattes and of miſe, and which periſheth of himſelfe if he bee not the ſooner deuoured? In ſuch a caſe, ſhould the poore famiſhed ſheepe, I pray you, goe vntounto the wolues and ſaie, cut our throates and deuoure vsus? Shoulde the conſciences of men goe vntounto them to bee reſolued, who maintaine themſelues by deuouring of them quick and dead? Should they to purge & cleanſe themſelues, ſhoue themſelues farther and farther into ſuch dirty myrie places? Should men expect and waite vntill the hogges reſolue themſelues to liue neetely and cleanely, or vntil the whore-maiſters and whores take order for the ſtewes? Naie contrariwiſe the whole church warneth & enioyneth vsus, as touching doctrine, to take heed of falſe Prophets, & to flie not only Idolaters but Idols alſo, 1. Ioh. 5.21. So did the Leuites and the Prieſts, retire themſelues out of the kingdome of Iſrael, when al thinges were there in vtter ouerthrow and confuſion. There continued notwithſtanding an aſſemblie of Prophets which communicated not at al with the Baalims, nor with ſuch as aſſembled themſelues there, 2. Chr. 11.14. & 2. King. 4.38.42. And the Lord himſelfe ſaith, Let them alone, they are blind, leaders of the blind. Matth. 15.14. but ſaie our aduerſaries, hee went vntounto Ieruſalem, hee came into the Temple as others did, yea into the Synagogues alſo. I graunt, but I aunſwere that firſt there was but one Ieruſalem, where the publique outward ſeruice was adminiſtred according vntounto the word of God: the prieſthood was yet on foote: Moſes & the Prophetes were al of them in the Synagogues: and albeit the doctrine was mingled with much leauē, yet the true dowe remained ſtill notwithſtanding, and the ceremoniall ſeruice continued in his entire eſtate. Secondly it was to driue out of the Temple with the whip the buyers and ſellers whome hee found in the Temple, crying out ful loude and ful ſhrill againſt the leauen of the Phariſees, Sadduces, Herodians and others, as likewiſe hee did in the Synagogues. But if the Temple had beene brought to that paſſe, as it was at that time when the p. 331aultar was made in al pointes like vntounto that which Achas the king ſent from Damaſcus, 2. King. 16.11. and 2. Chronic. 28.23. who wil perſuade vsus he would hauehave entred in thither to communicate there with them? And when he was demaunded by what authority he did theſe thinges, did he alleage vntounto them Cayphas or the great counſel of Ieruſalem? Nothing leſſe, for this had bin nothing elſe but to make ſatan iudge of the truth. But he ſaith, Search the ſcriptures, Ioh. 5.39. credit the teſtimonie of Iohn, or ſhew wherin it is falſe, Mat. 21.25. which thing we hauehave done and counſailed others to doe at this day, not to erect and ſet vp aultar againſt aultar, as they falſly ſlaunder vsus: but to ſet vp the aultar of the Lord, that is his holy miniſtery againſt the aultar of Damaſcus: for the perfourmance whereof the Lord hauing aided with his grace many princes and potentates, to follow the example of that good and holy king Ezechias, the Lord hauing likewiſe raiſed vp in our time Eliaſſes and Eliſeuſſes, what ſhould they elſe do but ſeparate themſelues from ſuch pollutions, and betake themſelues vnderunder couert, who are not among the phariſaical leauen ſimply, but in the faire midſt of the confuſion of Babylon, as this name was giuen the City of Rome in Saint Peters time if we wil beleeue the auncient expoſitors, on that of Saint Peter, 1. Pet. 5.13. and which name manie of the ancients after Saint Iohn hauehave moſt clearely applied vntounto the Church of Rome in their time? For I pray you, if the Prophetical ſcriptures were ſufficient in the time of Ieſus Chriſt, to make him throughly to be known, and to cauſe al contrary doctrine to fal and vaniſh away, the Apoſtolical writinges and ſcriptures hauehave they empayred and diminiſhed this clearnes, or hauehave they not rather bin as the ſun riſing, after day break? If the Baptiſme of Iohn which was nothing elſe but the daies morning, was ſufficient to direct them whom Chriſt ſent back thither, Mat. 21.25. and Act. 19.30. ought we now to ſeek any other text or gloſſe, then ſo authentick a teſtimonie, ſealed by ſo manie miracles, and ſo faithfully regiſtred in thoſe writinges which wee call the newe Teſtament?

p. 33214 In a word therefore, in a time of ſuch horrible darknes, it is not vntounto theſe falſe leaders, that hee muſt ſeeke who will not be deceiued, but he muſt goe farther and ſeek, being deſtitute as it were of al ordinarie meanes, vntounto the Lord himſelfe, to bee nouriſhed as it were in a deſert. And this we are taught in the hiſtorie of Elias, who was nouriſhed all the time of the firſt yeare of droughts by a Rauen, 1. King. 17.4. and afterward by a poor Sydonian widdow. 1. King. 17.8. and who afterwards by the ſtrength of one meale walked fortie daies and fortie nights, 1. King. 19.8. By which example it is ſhewn vsus that the Lord in ſuch and ſo lamentable a time, nouriſheth thoſe who are his, though they be ſometimes ſo ſcattered here and there, that they cannot know one another, 1. King. 18.13. and 19.10.18. that is to ſaie, he nouriſheth his Church in that litle harbor of his vntill the time of his indignation be ouerpaſt, Eſaie. 26.20. when the ordinarie miniſter is cut off, as it came to paſſe in the time of our fathers in the Eaſt and Weſt Church, vntill ſuch time as it pleaſed the Lorde to awake his ſpouſe and to ſhew what difference there is between the vtter exterminatiō of Sodome, and the viſitation of Sion, Eſa. 1.9. pittying the ruines thereof, & building it vp againe, Pſ. 102.14. Which thing our time might hauehave taught vsus and doth yet teach vsus eueryevery day, to the end we acknowlege the great & wōderful miracles of God which hauehave hapned ſince within theſe 60. yeares onelie, and to pray vntounto him daie and night, to perfect this deliuerance of his people, for the louelove of his holy name, to whom be al honor and glory for euer. According vntounto this holy doctrin we wil demaund of him grace and mercy as followeth ſaying.

Almighty God, &c.