Twenty-Nine Lectures, Lecture 26
The ſixe and twentieth LECTVRE of the CHVRCH.
YOu may remember that 9. points were propounded to be ſpoken to concerning the Church,1. The ninth generall point concerning the Church, viz. the application of all that hath bin ſpoken to all viſible Churches in chriſtendome that I know of. whereof we hauehave already handled 8. of them: And now wee are to ſpeake of the ninth, and that is the application of all that which hath been ſpoken to all viſible Churches in Chriſtendome, that I knnow of; thoſe Congreagtions that profeſſe not Chriſtianity, we meddle not with: The Pagans that profeſſe heatheniſh Religion, no, Chriſtian; the Iewes that profeſſe the Law and not the Goſpell: the Turks that profeſſe that abominable Idoll Mahomet, and not the Sonne of God, Ieſus Chriſt, theſe wee hauehave here nothing to doe with; they are vtterly excluded from the outward name of a Church; as being aſſemblies quite of another kinde; they hauehave no Chriſt, not ſomuch as in outward profeſſion, and therefore are no Church at all: It is the Chriſtian aſſemblies, that is, thoſe that profeſſe the faith of Chriſt crucified, that wee are heere to ſpeake of; you ſhall vnderſtand that the Doctrine concerning the Church, whereof I hauehave ſpoken, hath been ſo plainely and fully deliuered, that if it be rightly vnderſtood, it will eaſily apply it ſelfe to all Chriſtian Churches in the cenſure of thoſe that are Religious & Iudicious: but yet becauſe diuers Chriſtian Churches are of diuers conditions, differing one from another, as well in time, as in place; and becauſe the chiefe reach of this whole diſcourſe, both in teacher & hearer is this, to ſee how we may iuſtifie our ſtanding in the preſent ſtate of this Church of England; therefore for your better direction, both to helpe your iudgement concerning other Churches, and to ſettle your reſolution,The generall diuiſion of all churches that hauehave beene, or are ſince our Sauiours time into Eaſterne and Weſtērne, and this according to their ſc…tuation. Secondly, according to their language and ſo ſome be greek and ſome latin Churches. touching the goodneſſe and ſoundneſſe of this Church that we liue in. I will endeauour (God willing) to make application of that which hath beene ſpoken, as to all Churches in generall: ſo more particularly to this Church of ours: The generall diuiſion, of all Churches that eyther are or hauehave beene ſince our Sauiours time, is two-fold: Firſt, according to their ſituation, and ſo ſome are Eaſterne, and the reſt Weſterne Churches: Secondly, according to their language, and ſo ſome are Greeke, and ſome Latin Churches. And becauſe the moſt famous of the Eaſterne Churches vſed the Greeke tongue, therefore vſually the Eaſterne, hauehave beene called the Greeke Churches: and on the other ſide moſt of the famous Weſterne Churches hauehave vſed the latin tongue, and hauehave therefore been called the latin Churches: The Eaſterne Churches hauehave the precedence both for time and order▪ and therefore we will ſpeake firſt of them; but becauſe ſome both Eaſterne and Weſtern Churches hauehave beene Hereticall and Schiſmaticall;VVhether Schiſmaticall or hereticall Churches may be accounted true viſible Churches. What a Schiſmatike church is. therefore this generall point offers it ſelfe by the way to be diſcuſſed, viz. Whether Schiſmaticall or Hereticall Churches may be accounted true viſible Churches; which generall being cleared, will giuegive great light to the right cenſuring of particular churches: Firſt, for Schiſmaticall Churches, that is, ſuch as embrace and profeſſe the common ſauing faith of the Catholike Church; but yet hauehave ſeparated themſelues from the outward communion of thoſe particular viſible Churches, that ſometimes they hauehave beene, and ſhould be members of; the cauſe of ſuch Schiſmes is ſometimes pride, diſcontent, weakeneſſe, wilfulneſſe, pretended zeale, a factious ſpirit; alwaies it is Satans inſtigation, and mans acceptation: whatſoeuer the cauſe be, and how great ſoeuer the Schiſme be, though they be iuſtly condemned as Schiſmaticall, in regard they are rent from the outward fellowſhip of ſuch viſible Congregations, as they belong vntounto, yet becauſe they hold correſpondency with the Catholike Church in matters of ſauing faith, and accordingly profeſſe the ſame, they cannot be denied to be true viſible Churches: Such were the Donatiſts of old, and ſuch are the Browniſts at this day: But you will ſay, Ob. Thus wee giuegive them great vantage, and cauſe of reioycing, for they vtterly deny vsus to be a true Church, and therefore wee accounting them to be ſuch, the ſtanders by may thinke it ſafer to be of their Church, then of our; theirs being confeſſed to be a true Church, euen by their enemies themſelues, and ours being not ſo confeſſed to be a true Church by them: I anſwer, Anſw. that they deny vsus to be a true Church, the greater is their ſinne, and it makes their Schiſme the more damnable; that we acknowledge them to be a true Church, and call them brethren, it is our ingenuouſneſſe and charity: and the ſtanders by, if they hauehave grace and Religion, ſhould rather ioyne with vsus, wee ſo louingly and charitably carrying our ſelues, like to Chriſt our head, euen to our reuiling aduerſaries, then with them that are ſo bitter & vncharitable cenſurers, and mercileſſe iudges of vsus; They know we beleeue in Chriſt Ieſus, and in him crucified, as our only Sauior, & they hauehave bin baptiſed in our Church into his name, and they doe not yeeld to be re-baptized, by which very practice of theirs, they acknowledge that which in words they deny, namely, that wee are a true Church: for there can be no true baptiſme adminiſtred in and by a falſe Church; where there are true Sacraments, there is a true Church, as wee ſhall heare further hereafter:Hereticall Churches. Firſt, what they are, and when any particular man is to be reputed an Heretike. So much for Schiſmaticall Churches. In the ſecond place, wee come to Hereticall Churches, and they are ſuch as hold, and ſtiffely maintaine any materiall point in Religion, contrary to the common faith of the Catholike Church: a particular man is not to be reputed an Heretike, except hee ioyne with his error, obſtinacy, and that he wilfully perſiſt therein, againſt the admonitions and allegations of the Church; and ſo a Church is not to be reputed Hereticall, till they be obſtinate in their error; and this obſtinacy muſt be in all, or, at leaſt, in the chiefeſt & greateſt part of them, ſo that none of note amongſt them do teſtify their diſſent from them, nor oppoſe themſelues againſt their hereſie; but if any of note be found amongſt them, though but few that doe openly contradict the reſt, that Church, till ſeparation be made of the ſound from the vnſound, is rather in charity to be wel thought of, becauſe of the right beleeuers, then in zeale to be vtterly condemned as hereticall, becauſe of the miſ-beleeuers, though they be the greater part. Now Hereſies are of two ſorts:Hereſies of 2. ſorts: firſt, ſuch as ouerthrow the foundation. firſt, ſuch as directly ouerthrow the foundation: ſecondly, ſuch as affirme it in expreſſe words, but yet hold ſome croſſe poſitions, which by neceſſary conſequence doe ouerthrow it. That wee may the better vnderſtand this, wee muſt know what is the foundation,What this fundation is. and that is Ieſus Chriſt, God and man, the onelyonly Sauiour of the world, as hee is reuealed in the Scripture, for ſo the Scripture propounds it; Firſt that Ieſus Chriſt is the foundation; the Apoſtle ſaith, 1 Cor. 3.11. other foundation can no man lay, then that which is laide, which is Ieſus Chriſt: Secondly, Ieſus Chriſt God, the foundation, Mat. 16.16, 18. And Simon Peter anſwered, thou art Chriſt the Son of the liuing God. And I ſay vntounto thee, thou art Peter, and vponupon this Rocke will I build my Church; In both which places he is expreſly ſpoken of, as the foundation: Thirdly, Ieſus Chriſt man, the foundation, 1 Iohn 4.2. EueryEvery Spirit, that confeſſeth that Ieſus Chriſt is come in the fleſh, is of God. And there by implication he is ſpoken of, as the foundation too, for they that ſo beleeue, are of God, as who ſhould ſay, they are within the foundation; and contrarily, they that doe not ſo beleeue, are not of God, Verſ. 3. that is, are not within the foundation: Fourthly, Chriſt the only Sauiour of the world, the foundation, Acts 4.12. neither is there ſaluation in any other, for among men there is giuen none other name vnderunder heauen, whereby wee muſt be ſaued; And there he is ſpoken of expreſly, as the foundation, for looke in the 11. Verſe, and it is ſaid, hee is the ſtone caſt aſide of the Builders, and is become the head of the Corner. Laſtly, Chriſt the foundation, as hee is reuealed in the Scriptures, Coloſ. 2.7. rooted and built vp in him, and ſtabliſhed in the faith, as yee hauehave beene taught, that is, in the word, for this is as truely a part of the foundation, as any of the other; and therefore the Scriptures elſe-where, by a borrowed kinde of ſpeech, are called the foundation it ſelfe, Epheſ. 2.19. And are built vponupon the foundation of the Apoſtles and Prophets, &c. for it is not enough to Saluation, to beleeue the former of the definition, without this clauſe, as making a full and compleate deſcription of the foundation; to ſay that Ieſus Chriſt God and man, the onelyonly Sauiour of the world, is the foundation, is not enough; vnleſſe this be added to make it compleate, as hee is reuealed in the Scriptures; for they teach concerning him, his Nature, Offices, Birth, life, Death, and Reſurrection, &c: And therefore the Layers of this foundation make the Scriptures the rule or line that they worke by, they proued that which they taught by the Scriptures: So the Apoſtle Paul, Act 26.22, 23. witneſſing both to ſmall and great, ſaying none other thing, then that which the Prophets and Moſes did ſay, ſhould come, that Chriſt ſhould ſuffer, &c: And Act 28.23. he expounded and teſtified the kingdome of God, perſwading them concerning Ieſus, both out of the Law of Moſes, and out of the Prophets; And 1 Cor. 15.3.4. I deliuered vntounto you, firſt of all, that which I receiued, that is, how that Chriſt dyed for our ſinnes according to the Scriptures, &c: And ſo Apollos, Act 18.28. mightily conuinced the Iewes, and that publiquely, ſhewing by Scripture that Ieſus was Chriſt; ſtill the Builders made the Scriptures their rule and line whereby they taught; And this foundation in Scripture, is ſometimes ſet down in fewer words, as in the 1 Cor. 2.2. Ieſus Chriſt and him crucified: ſometimes in more words, as in the 1 Tim. 3.16. great is the myſtery of godlineſſe, God was manifeſted in the fleſh, iuſtified in the Spirit, ſeene of Angels. preached vntounto the Gentiles, beleeued on in the world, and receiued vp into Glory; But this is the ſubſtance of all, Ieſus Chriſt, God and man, the onelyonly Sauiour of the world, as hee is reuealed in the Scripture, the ſhorteſt is intended by the holy Ghoſt, and ſo it is to bee vnderſtood of vsus in this largeneſſe, and the largeſt is ſufficiently compriſed in this ſhortnes; And that this is the right foundation of the Church; firſt, appeares plainely by the difference betweene Chriſtians, and profeſſors of other Religions; If a Gentile or Pagan diſpute with a Chriſtian, how happineſſe is to be attayned? We ſay, by Ieſus Chriſt; they will reiect him and ſay, there is no Chriſt, and de ride vsus, to thinke that he can make vsus happy: So let a Iew and a Chriſtian diſpute about happineſſe; we ſay, by the true Meſſiah, Ieſus Chriſt, as he is thus reuealed; They ſay, by the Meſſiah, but this Ieſus thus reuealed, ſay they, is not hee, looke into, Act 25, 13. to 19 the matter there in queſtion is this very foundation, Ieſus; and there is a Gentile Feſtus ſpeakes ſcornefully of him, & there are the Iewes denying him, and oppoſing againſt him, and there is Paul a Chriſtian, profeſſing and auouching him, and that no doubt, as hee was reuealed in the Scriptures, for that was alwayes his manner before. The like in effect we hauehave in the 1 Cor. 1.23.24. there the Iewe and the Gentile, and the Chriſtian, they all fight about the foundation, Chriſt, to the Iewes hee is a ſtumbling blocke, to the Grecians fooliſhneſſe, but to them, that are called, the power of God to ſaluation, ſaith the Apoſtle; So we ſee plainely; this is the foundation, Ieſus Chriſt, God and man, the onelyonly Sauiour of the world, as he is reuealed in the Scripture: The reſolution then is this,Reſol. thoſe hereticall aſſemblies,Thoſe that deny directly this foundation or any part thereof ceaſe to bee Chriſtians and are no more viſible Churcher. that directly deny this foundation or any part therof, ceaſe to be Chriſtians, & are no more viſible Churches; But thoſe that directly affirme the whole foundation and eueryevery part thereof, though they doe hould ſome erronious Poſitions, wherby they ouerthrow ſome part of the foundation by neceſſary conſequence, are yet to be held true viſible Churches. Marke the termes of the Reſolution, there be many by-wayes there is but one right way; It is eaſy to miſſe of the right way, hard to hit it; to deny directly any part of this foundation, is enought to make ſuch perſons no true viſible church; but to affirme one part,The Greeke Churches be here ſpoken of, and what weare to thinke of them 1. of the Greeke Churches generally diſperſe in moſt at the Eaſterne parts of the world, is not enough to make them a true, viſible Church; But they muſt affirme the whole and eueryevery part of the foundation.
Now then we are to ſpeake of the Churches according to their diuiſions; And firſt of the Greeke Churches they are generally diſperſt in moſt of the Eaſterne parts of the world; And to ſpeake plainely, God hath in ſome ſort euen a viſible Church diſperſed in eueryevery part of the world at this day. Thoſe that are moſt remote from vsus in the Eaſternely parts of the world, are comprehended vnderunder the name of Greeke, or Eaſterne Churches becauſe though neither their language bee Greeke, nor their ſcituation altogether Eaſternly; yet they hauehave receiued their faith, for the moſt part, from the Greeke Churches: There are Chriſtians amongſt the Eaſt Indians, there are ſome there, making publique profeſſion of the faith of Chriſt, as others doe of Iudaiſme and Mahometiſme, &c. whether they be the beginnings of faith, as being but lately planted amongſt them; or the remainders of faith, as being planted of old; I am not very certaine,Ortelius 100. Ortelius 97. 98. 108. nor is it much materiall; ſo long as they beleeue in Chriſt crucified, and profeſſe it ſo far as the Lord hath reuealed vntounto them, why may they not be acknowledged for true viſible Churches: In Ruſſia, there are many profeſſed Chriſtians, that are after the manner of the Greeke Church, they are full of Ignorance and ſuperſtitions; the Lord inlighten them, and purge them, yet profeſſing Chriſt crucified their onelyonly Sauiour; though by ſome conſequences, as mediation of Saints, they deny it, they are not to be denyed to be true viſible Churches; And ſo in Ethiopia, there are found great ſtore of Chriſtians, who though they bee circumciſed, and tainted with many groſſe errors, yet holding, the foundation, Chriſt crucified for their Saluation, may iuſtly bee acknowledged true Churches: And ſo in many other Eaſternly countries, as in Perſia and Aſſyria, there are many Churches of ſundry names, as the Iacobites, minorites, &c: but moſt of them are neſtorians, as being ſuſpected to hold with Neſtorius, that there are two perſons in Chriſt, which yet they hauehave quitted themſelues of; And they were onelyonly ſo called, becauſe they oppoſed moſt vehemently againſt the contrary error of Eutychus, who held confuſion of natures in Chriſt. In Armenia likewiſe are many Chriſtians, who are generally held to bee Eutychans, but they hauehave alſo cleared themſelues; but becauſe they oppoſed the Councell of Chalcedon, which condemned that hereſie: All theſe beleeue and profeſſe Chriſt crucified, and therefore howſoeuer all of them are either corrupt, perſecuted, ſcattered, or diſorderly; yet farre be it from vsus to deny them to be true Churches of God: let vsus eſteeme them as brethren, and magnifie the Lord for them, and let vsus pitty their defects, and reioyce at their graces; And let vsus intreate the Lord for them, as the Church in Cant, 8, 8. did ſometime for vsus; Let vsus pray to God to perfect the beginnings of ſome of thoſe Churches, to build vp the ruines of others, and to purge away the errors and corruptions of them all, that ſo if it be his bleſſed will, they may be glorious and flouriſhing Churches euen in the eyes of the world: And ſo much of theſe Churches that are generally called Greeke Churches.
Now we come to ſpeake of thoſe which are more particularly and properly called Greeke Churches,Secondly the Greeke Churches which are more particularly and properly ſo called, and what we are to hold of them, deliuered in an obſeruation. Doct. lying in and about Greece; And theſe are more particularly to be ſpoken to; And therefore wee will handle them by way of obſeruation, which is this, namely; That the Greeke Churches euen as they ſtand at this day, though they liue vnderunder the miſerable ſlauery of the Turke, yet are to bee accounted true viſible Churches: we will take our patterne by that of Conſtantinople, where there is a Patriarke at this day, who hath anſwered the Obiections both of the Proteſtants and Papiſts to their Religion; Now there is a true Church, Firſt, becauſe they affirme the foundation and eueryevery part thereof: Secondly, their errors doe not directly ouerthrow the foundation, nor any part thereof: For the firſt, they hould ſo much of the right Catholique faith, as may iuſtly intitle them to the name of a true Church; The whole Creede that we profeſſe, they retaine alſo; In the interpretation of ſome points they differ ſomewhat from vsus, but in the maine ſubſtance they agree, holding the foundation firme and ſure, Chriſt Ieſus God and man, the onelyonly Sauiour of the world, &c. they renounce the head-ſhip of the Pope, and many other points of Popiſh Religion; They ſubmit themſelues to the direction of Scripture, though the interpretation thereof they would fetch moſt willingly from their predeceſſours, the Greeke fathers, of whom ſome being more ſound, others leſſe, their Religion is not ſo ſincere as it ſhould: Therefore the ſecond part of the proofe is, whether their errors be ſuch as directly ouerthrow the foundation, or any part thereof; They are tainted with the errors of free will, Interceſſion of Saints and Tranſubſtantiation, and ſome other Popiſh opinions, which yet they doe not maintaine altogether ſo obſtinately as the Romiſh church doth:The mayne error of the Greeke Churches. But their maine error is, their denying of the holy Ghoſt, to proceede from the Sonne, from the Father they acknowledge, and by the Sonne; but from the Sonne, this they expreſly deny; Now wee know that the Doctrine of the maieſtie of God himſelfe in his nature, and in his perſons, is a moſt profound and principall point in Religion, and very warily to be conſidered of, EueryEvery error therein being dangerous and fearefull, and neere to blaſphemy; And this very error, happly, if it be throughly ſifted, will be proued, to ouerthrow by conſequence the foundation; yet ſeeing firſt, it doth not directly ouerthrow any part of it, and ſeeing, ſecondly, wee heare they doe not eyther abſolutely oppoſe herein to the knowne truth, or omit the ſearch of Scripture for it, but profeſſe that vponupon playner euidence of Scripture, they will yeeld; And thirdly, ſeeing they hold the foundation and eueryevery part thereof in expreſſe words, we dare hardly charge them for hereticall Churches, much leſſe to bee no true viſible Churches at all; but that men liuing in thoſe Churches, beleeuing otherwiſe aright in Chriſt crucified, and repenting of their manifold errors and ignorances may be all ſaued vndoubtedly.
Vſe 1 The Vſes of this point are theſe, firſt, it is matter of reproofe: And firſt, of the Papiſts, and that in two points; firſt, in that they preſuming the Church, of Rome to be the onelyonly true viſible Church affirme that no Church is a true viſible Church, but they that are ſubiect to the Pope, and hauehave him to bee their head; we ſee here that theſe are true Churches, and better then the Popiſh Church,The Greeke Churches better then the Popiſh-Church. and yet are farre from his Iuriſdiction; yea, they hate and defie it: ſo that their definition of a true viſible Church, is falſe, when they ſay, that there is no true Church, but that which is gathered vnderunder the head-ſhip of the Pope: whereas the Greeke Churches, as we ſee, are true Churches, and yet not gathered vnderunder that heade: It is true that in former times, A Patriarke of Conſtantinople did in ambition ſeeke the title of head or vniuerſall Biſhop; And the Pope of Rome at that time withſtood him; ſaying, that whoſoeuer tooke vponupon him that title, ſhould be the forerunner of Antichriſt; and it proued true, for not long after one that ſucceeded that Pope, tooke this title vponupon him, and was indeede Antichriſt; I ſay, that a Patriarke in ambition ſought it, but now he is brought low enough, his head is vnderunder the yoke of the Turke, the Aduerſary of Gods Church, who then thought to be the head of all Churches; But though he miſſed of that, the Church ſtill continued a true viſible Church, & is ſo to this day, and yet neuer acknowledged the Pope to be their head: Secondly,The Papiſts vnchatarible cenſuring the Greeke Churches anſwered. it meetes with them for their vncharitable cenſuring of theſe Churches, as no true Churches of God; They are both hereticall & Schiſmatical, ſay: they, what if they were ſo; yet ſtill they may be true Churches, as wee ſhewed before; For Hereſie as I will not preciſely condemne them; ſo neither can I altogether acquitte them; but as for Schiſme they are guilty of none;The Greeke Churches not gu…lty of Schiſme from Rome, But only they are rent from the Romiſh Church in particular; ſo that here is the quarrell; becauſe they doe not ſubmit their necks vnderunder the Popes yoke: And ſeeing they and eueryevery particular church is a body within itſelfe, as that of Rome; I ſee no reaſon that their eſtate ſhould be iudged Schiſmaticall,The Greeke Churches neuer ſubiect to the Romane Church. One note of the Church, as the Papiſts account it, is found in the Greeke Church viz: ſucceſſion of Biſhops. except they had departed when they had beene members of that Church; but they were neuer ſubiect to the Church of Rome. One thing there is found in theſe Greeke Churches, which the Papiſts take in their ſtate to bee a chiefe note of the Church, and that is Succeſſion of Biſhops, which is as currant in the Church of Conſtantinople, and Alexandria, as in Rome; euen from the Apoſtles times; Succeſſion in Rome is a certaine note, and marke of a true viſible Church, and there is as good Succeſſion in the Greeke Churches as at Rome, and yet they ſay, they are no Churches at all; eyther let them diſclaime this in the one, or acknowledge it in the other: I am perſwaded that the Lord hath preſerued this ſucceſſion in the Greeke Churches of purpoſe to abate the pride of the Romane Church, building ſo directly vponupon that allegation: It would elſe hauehave beene a farre more colourable plea to the naturall man: but they denying the force of the Vſe 2 reaſon in others, doe plainely anſwere themſelues.
The goodnes of God in perſeruing of his Churches ſeene in the Greeke Churches vnderunder the Turke The miſeries of the Greeke Church vnderunder the Turke in many particulars in regard of their perſecutions, in regard of the Religion of the Turks.The ſecond Vſe, teacheth vsus the great goodneſſe of God, and the care he hath in the preſeruation of his Church; theſe Greeke Churches, hauehave liued many a hundred yeeres vnderunder the gouernment and ſlauery of the Turke; that bought and ſould them and their children, and amongſt the Profeſſours of Mahomet, the fouleſt Idoll that the world affords; In regard of gouernment they liue vnderunder, what a heauy yoke is it? what a bloudy ſeruice? how many perſecutions, diſgraces, indignities, taxes, and oppreſſions, horrible wrongs, and miſerable ſlaueries, doe they vndergoe? They are bought, ſould, impriſoned and put to death; It cannot be ſpoken what ſlauery they liue in; And yet behould God hath vpheld his Church amongſt them all to this day: I dare ſay that Iſraels preſeruation vnderunder the bondage of Egypt, ſo many hundred yeeres, was not more miraculous, then this of theſe Chriſtians vnderunder the Turks. So likewiſe in regard of the Religion of thoſe that they are mixt with, it is an heauy yoke;The Religion of the Turks 1. a peſtilent Religion, directly oppoſite to Chriſt. They are mingled with the profeſſors of Mahomet, which is a moſt peſtilent Religion, & directly oppoſite to the Chriſtian faith, admitting no colour of Reconciliation, but if we beleeue in Chriſt, we muſt reiect Mahomet, and if we beleeue in Mahomet, we muſt reiect Chriſt: And yet the Lord, I ſay, hath ſhewed himſelfe a Ruler in the midſt of his ſoreſt enemies, preſeruing his faith and Church, euen whe…e Satans throne is,2. It ouerſpreadeth a great part of the knowne world. as he did the church of of Pergamus, Reu. 2.13. ſecondly, as it is a Peſtilent Religion, directly oppoſite to Chriſt, ſo conſider that it generally abounds and ſwarmes, ouerſpreading a great part of the knowne world; and yet in theſe places the Lord hath reſerued a remnant that ſticke cloſe vntounto him, and that follow not the ſway of the world; as he had 7000. in Iſrael in the daies of Elias that had not bowed their knees to Baall Rom. 11.4. ſo hee hath many thouſands among them, that hauehave not bowed the knee to Mahomet: Thirdly,3. It is a pleaſing Religion. conſider the pleaſingneſſe of that Religion of Mahomet, a great inchanter of nature, yet ſtill the Lord hath preſerued ſome, that choſe rather with Moſes, to ſuffer aduerſity with the children of God, then to inioy for a ſeaſon all the pleaſure that euer Mahomet could euer promiſe or beſtow vponupon them. Surely, we muſt needs acknowledge it to be a heauy iudgement of God, that ſuch flouriſhing Churches in Achaia, Macedonia, Corinth, Epheſus, &c. ſhould come to that miſerable ruine and deſolation, that Mahomet, For what it was that the Lord ſuffered ſuch famous Churches to come to ruine, applied to vsus.ſhould raigne amongſt them, ſo generally in Chriſts own Territories; and let vsus know that it was for their vnprofitablenes in the vſe of the Goſpell, and other meanes of grace, which God ſo freely offered them: and let vsus conſider of it and feare and labour to profit by the Goſpell, and pray to God that the like befall not vsus, for our vnprofitableneſſe. This, I ſay, is a great iudgement of God vponupon them; and yet withall, ſee how in wrath God remembers mercy, and in deſpight of Satan, Turke and Mahomet, and other inſtruments hee plucks out ſome, as firebrands out of the fire, to be profeſſors of his ſauing faith, and members of his Church, and the gates of hell ſhall not preuaile againſt them. And ſo much of the Greeke Churches, both improperly and properly ſo called.
The Weſtern churches, and firſt of thoſe that acknowledge the Pope their head, as the Church of Rome, and thoſe that hold with her, and what ma… be ſaid and held of her; deliuered in two obſeruations.Now wee come to the Weſterne and Latin Churches, which are generally of two ſorts, ſome acknowledging the Pope their head, as the Church of Rome it ſelfe and ſundry others that hold communion with that Church both in Doctrine, and in all or moſt of the corruptions thereof: others renouncing his headſhip, and refuſing to communicate in the deformities, corruptions, and abuſes of the church of Rome, being therefore called the reformed Churches; I ſhall not neede to ſpeake of the former in eueryevery particular; looke what is ſaid of the Church of Rome it ſelfe, the ſame may be applyed to all the reſt: as is the mother, ſo is the daughter, Ezech. 16.44. We will deliuer her ſtate in two obſeruation: Firſt, we will ſhew what may be ſaid in charity, and yet in truth and ſound iudgement, for the church of Rome: Secondly, what may be ſaid in zeale, and yet in truth too, and found iudgement, againſt it; For the firſt, the obſeruation is this.
The church of Rome, as now it ſtandeth, may in ſome ſenſe be reputed a true viſible Church.Doctr. 1 That the Church of Rome, euen as now it ſtands, may in ſome ſenſe be iuſtly reputed, and acknowledged a true viſible Church; conſider rightly of the Note: Firſt, wee doe not abſolutely ſay it is a true Church, but for ought wee ſee, it may in ſome ſenſe be iudged a true viſible Church: Secondly, wee ſay not a ſound Church; no, that wee flatly deny, as vntrue, but a true viſible Church: as a man, though hee be wounded, fainting, and dying, yet ſo long as there is any ſparke of life in him, hee is a true liuing man, not a falſe, though he be an vnſound and dying man:A differen…e betweene the papacy, or the pop…ſh …action and ſome better ſpirits amongſt them in regard of whom, the whole may be called a true Church. Thirdly, we make a difference betwixt the Papacy, or the Popiſh fact…on, and ſome better ſpirits, in that Church, which no doubt hauehave a righter beliefe, and walke with a righter foote in the profeſſion of the Goſpell, then the faction doth; and theſe being mingled together with the reſt, the whole may be called a …ue Church for their ſakes; as was in our Sauiors time, the Scribes and Phariſes were a faction in the Church, pretending Religion, and the true worſhip of God, and yet ſwaying all againſt the truth and ſincerity of it in their courſes: Mary, Simeon, Anna, Zachary, and Elizabeth and a few more, with whom our Sauiour ioyned, or rather they with him, as liuing member of Gods Church, and ſhould not the whole be rightly acknowledged to be a true Church becauſe of them? Doubtleſſe it may; and ſo the church of Rome may rightly be acknowledged to be a true Church, in reſpect of ſome better ſpirits that are mixed with them, and not in reſpect of the Papacy and Popiſh faction alone.
The reaſons to proue them a true Church, are theſe, firſt, Reaſ. 1 they hauehave beene a true Church of God, directly affirming eueryevery part of the foundation, and they doe not directly deny any part of it, yea,The popiſh church doth not directly deny any part of the fundation, but in outward ſhew of words affirme it. The church of Rome hath beene a true Church. in outward ſhew of words they expreſſely affirme it ſtill, and therefore may truely be acknowledged a true Church: That they hauehave beene a true Church of God, is plaine enough, Rom. 1.8. But yee will ſay, that is no ſound arguement that they are ſo ſtill? I anſwer, that yet this is to be conſidered; for it is a great matter that muſt make a congregation, that hath beene a true Church, to become a falſe one; and with more charity and louelove are ſuch to be cenſured that are in the ſtate of Apoſtacy, then other congregations, holding the ſame errors, that are but onelyonly comming on in the ſaith, and hauehave not yet beene throughly poſſeſt of the true being of a Church. The Church of Epheſus was fallen away from her firſt louelove, Reuel. 2.5. And the Church of Sardy had a name that ſhe loued, and yet was deade, Reu. 3 1. And yet God calls them true Churches ſtill; A Church in Apoſtacy, that is, falling, not vtterly fallen, is ſtill a true, though an vnſound and dying Church; hauing been a true Church, and not directly ouerthrowing the foundation, ſo long it may be ſtill intituled a true Church, well then, the church of Rome hauing bin a true church, it muſt appeare that they in outward ſhew, at leaſt, affirme the whole foundation, and eueryevery part thereof; but this they doe, they affirme the whole foundation, at leaſt in outward ſhew and ſound of words; they profeſſe the ſame Scriptures, and the ſame Creed that we do, yea, they profeſſe in words the very ſame foundation before ſpoken of, in the very ſame termes in effect; Looke into the Rhemiſts Teſtament, & you ſhall ſee that vponupon thoſe places, 1 Tim. 2.5. & 1 Iohn 1.7. they acknowledge Ieſus Chriſt to be the onelyonly Sauiour of the world; and therfore they may in ſome ſenſe be rightly acknowledged a true viſible Church; I grant that they come very neere the roote of faith, and ouerthrow the foundation almoſt to the very ground,The Papiſts by their Doctrine of iuſtification by workes muſt ouerthrow the foundation, they by this ouer throw Chriſt not directly, but by conſequence. Queſt. Anſw. It is not ſo great a ſin to deny Chriſt directly as by conſequence, yet hee that doth this, deſerueth to be cut off from Gods mercy. by the Doctrine of Iuſtification by workes, which error, if they would reclaime, few, or none of vsus would doubt, but that they are a true viſible Church, yet this ouerthrowes Chriſt, not directly, but by conſequence; by conſequence they doe, becauſe if mans merits iuſtifie, then Chriſts merits alone doe not iuſtifie vsus; but directly they doe not, for ſtill they beleeue in Chriſt their onelyonly Sauiour, and they ſay that it is Chriſts merits, that makes them merit: they are not ſo groſſe in this point as they were, yet ſtill they are groſſe enough, ouerthrowing the foundation by conſequence, yet ſtill by conſequence onelyonly, not directly, and therefore ſtill they may be reputed a true viſible Church: but ye will ſay, is it not as dangerous againſt a mans ſaluation, to deny Chriſt by Conſequence, as to deny him directly, to ſhut him out at the backedoore as at the foredore? I anſwer, It is not ſo great a ſinne, yet I ſay, hee that doth this, deſerues in Gods Iuſtice to be cut off from Chriſts mercy, as well as the other, eſpecially, if hee ſee the conſequent; but if hee ſee it not, it is not ſo foule a ſinne as to deny Chriſt directly; he that directly denies the foundation, whether hee ſee it or not, is in certaine ſtate of Damnation, but he that denies it by conſequence, and ſees it not, but yet doth firmely beleeue in Chriſt, ſo farre as he knowes, and is willing in reuerence and humility to learne more, and to obey better, and doth daily repent and beg mercy of God for his failings: the Lord doth ordinarily either inlighten ſuch an one, and ſo bring him to repent, or elſe doth forgiue him his ignorances, and ſo ſaue him: So that hee that denies Chriſt directly, is in certaine ſtate of damnation, vnleſſe he hauehave a part…cular repentance for that ſinne, but he that denies Chriſt by conſequence, if he confeſſe his ignorances and weakneſſe to God, and craue pardon of them, and labour for more knowledge, may be ſaued, though they hauehave not this particular repentance for that ſinne. And that this is the caſe of many thouſand poore ſimple ſoules, that heretofore hauehave beene, and now are contained in the beſome of the Church of Rome, no man of any bowells of charity can ſuſpect. So much for the firſt reaſon.
The ſecond reaſon is taken from the compariſon of Reaſ. 2 the Church of Rome,The Church of Rome compared with the Church of Iſrael, with other Churches in the ſame ſtate; compare her to the Church of Iſrael in Exod. 32.6. There they fell to Idolatrie, worſhipping the Calfe, and yet they were a true Church ſtill, and in Numb. 25.3, 9. compared with the 1 Cor. 3.8. we ſee that they ioined themſelues to Baalpeor, and committed fornication with the Moabites, thus they were very bad, and yet a true Church ſtill: Looke further into the time of Ieroboam, that ſet vp the Calues, and made all Iſrael to ſinne, ſo that God threatned to giuegive them vp, for the ſinne of Ieroboam, 1 King. 14.16. and ſo in Ahabs time, in the 1 Kings 16.30. Ahab the Sonne of Omri, did worſe in the ſight of the Lord, then all that were before him: and ſo a time was, when there was no paſſe-ouer in Iſrael for many yeeres:2. with the Church of the Iewes in our Sauiours times. and yet they were a true viſible Church ſtill: So likewiſe compare it with the eſtate of the Church of the Iewes in our Sauiours time, it was in the ſtate of Apoſtaſy, and yet a true Church, the Scribes and Phariſes retaining ſome notable truthes, were ſtill to be heard, Matth. 23.3. and yet their Leuen to be taken heed of, Matthew 16.6. ſo that though they had many corrruptions, yet they were a true viſible Church;With the Church of Galatia. The Church of Galatia retained circumciſion, whereby all profit and benefit by Chriſt is vtterly m de voide, that is, by conſequence: The Apoſtle ſaith, Galat. 5.2. that if we be circumciſed, Chriſt ſhall profit vsus nothing, and yet this was a true Church ſtill;Circumciſion doth as neerely by conſequence cut off from Chriſt, as iuſtification by workes. and I dare ſay, that circumciſion doth as neerely cut off from Chriſt, as Iuſtification by workes; by conſequence they do both ouerthrow the foundation: And ſo the Church of Sardis, that had but a name to liue and was dead, Reuel. 3.1. was yet a true Church: Now, if all theſe were true Churches that were thus corruped, why may not the Church of Rome, though it be Idolatrous, and hauehave many other foule corruptions,with the of Church Sardis. be, in ſome ſenſe, reputed a true viſible Reaſ. 3 Church.
The third Reaſen is drawne from the Confeſſion of many, euen of our beſt Diuines, as Luther, Caluin, Zanchey, Morney, and others that were moſt fierie and fierce againſt the Romiſh Church, hating their abominations with as perfect hatred and deteſtation as any, and yet they confeſt her to be a true Church, though a corrupt Church, though a dying Church, though her life hung but by a thred; this they hauehave confeſt of her: I alleadge this, not ſo much a Reaſon to prooue, but rather as a qualification to mitigate the odiouſneſſe of this Speech in the eares of many, which doe greatly reuerence the iudgement of theſe fathers; and yet cannot endure to heare that the name of a true Church ſhould be afforded to Rome.
Reaſ. 4 Laſtly, their Baptiſme is true Baptiſme, and therefore they are a true, though an vnſound viſible Church, for the trueneſſe of the Church, and of Chriſts Sacraments by them adminiſtred, do neceſſarily inferre each other, whereſoeuer there is a true Sacrament rightly adminiſtred for the ſubſtance of it,Baptiſme a true Sacrament in Rome and rightly adminiſtred there, for the ſubſtance of it. there is a true Church, But Baptiſme in the church of Rome is rightly adminiſtred for the ſubſtance of it, and therefore the church of Rome is a true church: The error of rebaptization of ſuch as hauehave beene baptiſed by Heretiques, did ariſe from the want of the due conſideration of the very like point in thoſe things. So much for the reaſon. Ʋſe 1
The Vſes are theſe; firſt then this teacheth vsus,Thoſe that were Baptiſed in the Church of Rome, were lawfully Baptiſed. Ob: 1. Anſw. that thoſe were lawfully baptiſed, that hauehave beene baptiſed in the Church of Rome, and that the Baptiſme wee receiued from them is lawfull Baptiſme. But ſome except and ſay, that they that are Baptized in the Church of Rome are baptiſed into their faith? I Anſwer, No, but they are Baptiſed into the Faith of the Trinity; And this is the ſingular wiſedome and mercy of God, to keepe them ſound in that, that is, for the ſubſtance of Baptiſme, though otherwiſe they are generally corrupt: But ye will ſay, It is intended by them into their faith?Ob. 2. Anſw. I Anſwer, firſt, that their intent is ſo, as being perſwaded their faith is the true Chriſtian Faith: And ſecondly, I Anſwer, the Miniſters intent makes not the Sacrament anſwerable to it; but it is Gods worke, and he makes it to a faithfull receiuer, effectuall to the Vſe. 2 right vſe that he hath ordained it vntounto.The ordinati- of our Miniſters from the Church of Rome, and yet a lawfull ordination.
Secondly, it iuſtifies our miniſtry againſt the Browniſts and the Papiſts, that ſay wee hauehave no true Ordination; we Anſwer, that we had our ordination from the Church of Rome at the firſt, and that being a true viſible Church, therefore we hauehave a lawfull Miniſtery. Vſe. 3
Thirdly,The queſtion where the Church was before Luthers time anſwered. this may ſerue for ſatisfaction to that queſtion, which the Papiſts aske vsus, where was your Church before Luthers time, did he erect a new church? No, he erected no new church, but by his Miniſtry brought many faithfull out of their impure and vnſound Church,The inconuenience preuented by acknowledging that the Church of Rome may be accounted a true Church. into a more ſound and pure Church, not onelyonly, for matters of ceremonies (for then he had beene a Schiſmatique to ſeparate from them) but for matters of ſubſtance, ſo that this point well conſidered, preuents a number of inconueniences which wee ſhould runne into, if wee ſhould fall into that heate of zeale as to deny them to bee a true viſible Church.
Vſe 4 Fourthly, this may comfort vsus in reſpect of our fathers, that hauehave liued in the Popiſh Church;What to thinke of our fathers that liued in the Popiſh Church. what ſhall we thinke of them, that they liued in no true viſible Church, and therefore could not be ſaued? far bee it from vsus, no, we are perſwaded that they liued in a true Church, and that many of them where ſound in thoſe times and now ſaued; they attained not to that high ſtraine of Iuſtification by workes; I would faine know whether they did not doe that they did ignorantly; or whether they did challenge or diſclaime their merits on their death beds? many at the point of death diſclaime their merits now, though that point now is more ſtiffly defended by the Popiſh faction then euer it was, much more did they doe it then. Now to diſclaime all their owne merits at their death, is not that both repentance of former errors, if any in that kinde, and faith in Chriſt alone too? If any beleeue in Chriſt crucified in truth of heart though hee hold but by the hemme of his garment, ſhall he periſh? Surely, no.
Vſe 5 Laſtly, this teacheth vsus, to vſe charity towards them of the Popiſh Church in cenſuring of their eſtate, we are not rigourouſly and raſhly to call for fire from heauen vponupon them,They of the Popiſh Chu…ch are to …e …ud…ed rather miſ-beleeuers then vnbeleeuers. as the Diſciples would hauehave Chriſt hauehave done, on the Samaritanes; No, yee know not what Spirit ye are of, ſaith our Sauiour; wee muſt not raſhly Iudge them to bee vnbeleeuers, but rather miſ-beleeuers. And ſo much for that point, what in charity, and yet in truth, maybe ſaid for that Church.