Touchstone to Determine the True Catholic Faith, Part 49
All christians must take heede by the example of Lot, who (as Origen allegoriseth on verie finelie) after hee had escaped the fire, both of couetousnesse and lust in Sodome, and the brimstone of their stinking conuersation; who is called in Hebrew Lot, that is, most precious frankensence: yet after he had attained to the hill of perfection, from Soar, that is, a small citie, as he calleth it: begot of his two daughters Benammi the son of the people, which may resemble vaine glorie, and Moab, which is in Hebrewe, the father of them; which may resemble trust or confidence. Which two nations (the Moabits and the Amonites) were banished the congregation of Israell to the fourth generation. Let all christians though they be Lot, that is, excellēt in good works, beware of these two children, Ammon and Moab; that is, of vaine glorie and confidence: these two shall marre all their works: they are outlawes from Gods church.
To conclude, Iesus Christ is the heade of his church and of all his members, Ephe. 1.22as S. Paul calleth him: And as the heade beeing aboue the water, the bodie cannot drown; so we beléeue verilie, that our heade being in heauen, all the waues and troubles of afflictions, and of our sinnes whatsoeuer cannot drown anie one of his members.Ephe. 5.23.24 He is the spouse of his church, as S. Paul testifieth. And therefore, euen as no man will sue the wife at the lawe for anie debte; so we beleeue that in the manifold debts of our sinnes, which euen thousand thousands in number the best of vsus all doe owe to God, and in all sathans inditements, and in the accusations of our own consciences, Iesus Christ shall answere for vsus: Hee is our husband. As Dauid also beléeued when hee said, Thou shalt answere for me, Psal. 38.15 Rom. 8 33ô Lord my God: And as S. Paul saith, Who shall lay anie thing to the charge of Gods chosen? It is God that iustifieth, who shall condemne? It is Christ which is dead, yea or rather which is risen againe, which is also at the right hande of God, and makes requests for vsus. The accuser of our brethren nowe (saieth S. Iohn) is thrown down from heauen: Reu. 10.1…he dare not nowe there against Gods elect once shew his face, or open his mouth: Wee hauehave there such a mightie sauiour, such a louing husbande. What shall separate vsus from the louelove of Christ (saith S. Paul) shall tribulation or anguish, or persecution, or famine or nakednesse, or peril, or sword? as it is written, for thy sake are we killed all the day long, and are accounted as sheepe for the slaughter. Here is the state of all christians in this world. But what is their comfort in all these externall euils, nay in death it selfe? Neuerthelesse (saith the Apostle) in all these things we are more then conquerers, we conquer exceedingly through him that loued vsus. The louelove of our husband Iesus Christ, which wee beleeue hee hath towardes vsus, makes vsus conquerours in all these. This is that which S. Paul saith to the Philippians,Phil. 1.21 That Christ to his, bo… in life and in death is aduantage. Nay the Apostle is so certaine of this louelove of Iesus Christ, that hee saieth it more vehementlie, and addeth: I am certainlie perswaded, that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other creature can remoue it. If all these shoulde conspire together, or goe about to bring Gods elect out of his fauour by accusing them: yet all these were not able to separate vsus from the louelove of God, which is to vsus ward by the meanes of Iesus Christ. Iesus Christ is the most louing and constant husbande to his spouse that euer was. Iesus Christ is our garment: and therefore the Apostle saieth,Gal. 3.27 As many as are baptised, hauehave put on Iesus Christ. And therefore as a garment couers all the nakednesse, the botches and blemishes of the bodie: so wee beléeue, that Iesus Christ couers all the nakednesse, imperfections, vlcers, and blemishes of all his. And therefore Dauid saith, Blessed is the man, Psal. 32.1. 1. Epist. c. 2. v. 2 Psal. 32.7whose vnrighteousnesse is forgiuen, and whose sinnes are couered: And S. Iohn, Iesus Christ is the propitiation or couering for our sinnes. Iesus Christ is that onelie place of securitie to hide vsus in, from the wrath of God, whereof Dauid speakes. Hee is that mightie one, Psal. 89.19 Gen. 28.12on whome God alone hath laid helpe. Hee is that ladder, which Iacob sawe standing on earth, which reached to heauen: Hee is the onelyonly way to heauen. And as sure as by our ladders, wee may clime aloft:1. Cor. 4 8 so much more surelie we shall ascende euen to heauen by Iesus Christ. Hee is that true Paschall lamb which is slaine for vsus, whose bloud being sprinkled vponupon the postes of our houses, by faith: that is in our hearts and vnderstandings, by beléeuing, and in our mouthes by confessing: the destroier shall passe ouer vsus. To this agréeth that of S. Iohn:Io. 3.36. Hee that beleeueth in the sonne, hath euerlasting life; but hee that disobeieth him, shall neuer see life: but the wrath of God abideth vponupon him. If the bloud of the shadowe were of such force, to saue the sinnefull Israelites: what force shall wee thinke that the bloud of the true lambe it selfe Iesus Christ is?Pro. 30.1 Ithiel and Vcal, that is, God is with vsus, and we can do all things: As S. Paul saith, If God be with vsus, Rom. 8.31 Phil. 4.13who can be against vsus? And I can doe all thinges by Christ who strengthens me. Hee is that Isaac, that true ioie and laughter: Ioh. 8.56. Io. cap. 20. v. 6which ioy made Abraham laugh, seeing him but a farre off. He is that high Priest, after whose death euen the murtherer may returne home to his citie againe: and so may all Adams faithfull posteritie to Paradise. Hee is the true corke; for they write, that the corke it selfe cannot be drowned, nay if you binde any thing to it, it will not suffer it to be drowned; and it is a verie low tree: So humble and mightie is Iesus Christ, that neither by Sathan, hell or death, hee could be drowned himselfe; no nor as many as are ioyned to him, by a liuely faith, they also cannot be drowned. He is that horne of saluation, Luke 1.69.that hath deliuered vsus from the hands of our enemies, that we might now serue God without feare. The enemies of man are sathan, sinne, and death: Christ Iesus hath so mightilie deliuered vsus, that we néed not now feare anie of these. But all these things, if we beleeue, shall be done vntounto vsus. For so Christ said alwaies to those hee saued.Mark. 9.23. Mat. 9.28 Doest thou beleeue I canne doe this? And as thou beleeuest, so be it vntounto you. And euen so no doubt, hee speakes to vsus now: If we beléeue these things; all these things shall be done to vsus. No head so saueth the bodie from drowning: no husband so quits his wife from danger of lawe: no garment so perfectlie couers all the imperfectiōs of the body: no place kéepeth any so close from danger: no mightie man so assists and preserues: no ladder so certainlie lifteth vp, and causeth to ascende; no corke so assuredlie makes swim aloft; no high priest dying, did assure ye returne of the poore vanished murtherer; no Isaac or childe whatsoeuer, hath made anie father euer so merrie or ioifull: As Iesus Christ himselfe alone doth al these things for his. If they beléeue these things in their hearts firmelie and vnmooueablie; all the wisdome and power of heads, louelove all husbandes, couering of garments, hiding of places, helpes of men, Iewish passeouers, ladders, corkes, laughters of men whatsoeuer, are but shadowes in comparison of him. But if we beléeue not, none of these shall be done to vsus.
So that then these are the principall duties of the true church of God, and of all true christians, to build one another in their most holie faith, by the knowledge of the holie scriptures; to pray in the holie ghost with knowledge, with sighing and groning: to keepe themselues in the louelove of God; to be sure that God loueth thē, and to looke for the mercy of Iesus Christ to eternall life. But these workes the church of Rome hath neglected, therfore she is not the true church of Christ. Her schollers and followers could not build one another in the faith; because they knew not the scriptures: they praied not in the holie ghost, with knowledge and vnderstanding, but in latine: they kept not themselues in the louelove of God, they doubted of their saluation, they were not sure whether God loued them or not: And lastlie, they looked not for the merciemercy of Iesus Christ to saue them; they trusted in their workes; and manie of them had more workes then they needed, to sel to others. And doth this faith agrée with that faith S. Iude here teacheth? let all men iudge.