The True Catholic, Tract · Section 4 · Part 2 (2 of 3)
The figures and types of the Church may alſo teach vsus, which is the true Church. It is reported that Hercules his ſtature after his death was found out by the length of his foote: God hath made nothing in vaine: euen the verie ſhadowes of things may teach man wiſedome. Firſt therefore the Arke of Noah may be a figure of the Church. And God ſaid vntounto Noah: make thee an Arke of Pine trees. Gen. 6.14.And the arke is called in Hebrew Tabah, of Bauah which ſignifies to build, becauſe the Church of God muſt euer be in building. The building thereof (is not like to other buildings) it neuer hath an ende. As long as this world laſteth, it ſhall euer be in building. And therefore ſaint Paul ſaith, that Ieſus Chriſt hath giuen ſome to be Apoſtles, and ſome Prophets, and ſome Euangeliſts, and ſome Paſtors, Epheſ. 4.12.and teachers, for the gathering togither of the Saints, for the worke of the miniſterie, and for the building of the bodie of Chriſt, till we meete altogither in the vnitie of faith, and knowledge of the ſonne of God vntounto a perfect man, and vntounto the meaſure of the age of the fulnes of Chriſt. Neither without a myſterie doe the Grammarians call a word Tiba with Iod; becauſe no doubt this Arke of Gods Church muſt be builded with his word.
Gen. 6.14. Exod. 2.3.Secondly, this word Tabah, is but twiſe read in all the ſcripture. That is, the Arke that Noah was in and ſaued him: and the Arke that Moſes was in & ſaued him. For that is called alſo by the ſame name. And this may teach vsus the two Churches of the Iewiſh ſynagogue, which was but like a baſket made of twigges and bulruſhes, in compariſon of the Arke of Noah; that is, the Arke of Ieſus Chriſt;Eſ. 60.17. of which the Prophet Eſay prophecieth, that God promiſeth that for braſſe God will bring gold, and for yron, ſiluer. The Paſtors in Chriſts Church, in compariſon of the Prieſts in the Iewiſh ſynagogue, are as it were great Cedars of Libanus to ſmall twigs. Againe this (Tabah) is neuer found, but where water is: To ſignifie no doubt, that the Church of God (as well the ſynagogue, as the Church of Chriſt) ſhall be alwaies in this world afflicted. It ſhall euer bee on the water: It ſhall be like to Chriſtes ſhippe not onelyonly toſſed with waues, but alſo in daunger of drowning. Thirdly, it is called an Arke, and not a ſhip,Mat. 8.24. becauſe it muſt kéepe Iewels: or elſe it is none of Gods Church.Pſal. 1.3. Bleſſed is the man (ſaith Dauid) that hath not walked in the counſell of the vngodly, &c. but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and therein will he meditate day and night.
And in another Pſalme he ſaith. Thy words hauehave I laid vp: I hauehave hid them within my heart, leaſt I ſhould offend againſt thee. Pſal. 119.11.And it is ſaid of the bleſſed virgine Marie: that ſhe laide vp thoſe words ſhe heard of the ſhepheards within her heart. Luke 2.18.Such Arks both men and women, both Kings and Inferiours muſt Chriſts Church be. It muſt not be a ſhip to trafficke for gold, to ſeeke earthlie riches héere in this world. For no doubt as it were in a myſterie hereof, and to teach vsus this leſſon,1. King. 22.48.49. God brake the ſhips of good King Ioſaphat, which he ſent to Ophir for gold, who was as ſhould ſéeme a little couetous, and would not ſuffer the ſeruants of Ahaziah his friend, to go with his ſeruants. Couetouſnes will hauehave all her ſelfe: She cannot abide that anie ſhould hauehave any thing wth her.
And God commaunded Noah to make his Arke of Pine trees, Gen. 6.14.that is, of ſuch wood as would ſwimme aboue the water, as would not be rotten or corrupted. To teach all Chriſtians that as many as call vponupon the name of the Lord Ieſus, 2. Ti. 2.19. Epheſ. 4.1. Gal. 6.14. 1. Pet. 2.11.ſhould depart from iniquitie: And that they ſhould walke worthy of their calling: and that they ſhould be crucified to the world, and the world to them, that is, that they ſhould liue in the world like pilgrims, and ſwimme aboue the water like Pine trées; and not ſinke downe therein like Okes of Baſan; and not be drowned with the louelove and pleaſures thereof like worldlings. And thou ſhalt make neſts or cabbins in the Arke; That is, reſting places. Heere the Hebrew word is (Kinnam) which may fitly be deriued of Kanah which ſignifies to buy or purchaſe Gods Church is called Ieruſalem, Pſal. 51.18.122.2.3.6.a viſion of peace. It muſt hauehave neſts, reſting places in it: But they are purchaſed, they are bought. That great price of Ieſus Chriſt which he paid, not of gold or ſiluer, 1. Pet. 1.18.but of his own bloud, hath made theſe neſts, theſe reſting places. Now we being iuſtified by faith (ſaith ſaint Paul) we are at peace with God. Ro. 5 1.And then if we be at peace with God, what neede we feare all the warres, perſecutions, or enemies of all the world beſides; let the diuell, and all his, do what they can againſt vsus. We reſt our ſelues moſt ſecurely in the Kinnam, in this neſt or cabbin, purchaſed with ſuch a great price for vsus. And this neſt our Sauiour Chriſt himſelfe ſhewes vsus ſaying,Iohn. 14.1. let not your hearts be troubled, beleeue in God, beleeue in me. In my fathers houſe are manie reſting places, foreign, if it were not ſo, I would hauehave told you. I goe to prepare a place for you.
Gen. 6.14.And thou ſhalt pitch it from within the houſe, and from without, with pitch. This pitch, wherewith the hoords of the Arke were pitched, both from within & without, ſignifies chriſtian charity: We muſt louelove our God: we muſt louelove our family: we muſt louelove our neighbour. We muſt louelove all theſe within in heart, and without in worke. This pitching muſt be from within, and from without; it muſt procéed to others. Charitie is called an other mans good: It muſt not be all for it ſelfe, that is no charitie, that is ſelfe louelove, that is Sathans tarre which will not faſten or ioyne things togither; it is not Gods pitch. And here we may note, that pitch & not pinnes, or nailes muſt ioyne all the boords of Gods Church togither: we ſhould all be ioined togither through louelove, and not by force; not by compulſion; by word, and not by ſword. The pitch of charitie ſhould binde euerie true Chriſtian more, then anie bonde of parchment. But now this ioyning togither of pitch and of Chriſtian charitie is cleane gone: now men ſéeke and ſtudie how to ioyne men to them by nailes, by force, by authoritie, by obligations, by hard dealing, and not with louelove, not with charitie, not with courteſie. But ſuch ioyning is not Chriſtian like, it will neuer continue. Paper ioyned togither with pitch or glew, will ſooner rent, then be ſeuered: ſuch is the ioyning togither of charitie. Now euen in that holy league of mariage: they truſt more to parchment bonds, then to this bond of charitie: bonds of parchment muſt aſſigne women their dowries and portions after their huſbands deaths: they diſtruſt that bond of charitie; but in truth it is ſurer and ſtronger. For in truth, men will rather die then for ſake them whom they louelove: And what doe we doubt then of their goods? But the ioyning togither with nailes, and other things maie be eaſily ſeparated, and the things neuer the worſe: And ſuch are all the ioinings and counterfaited loues, which are made with force, and hard dealing, and authoritie, rather then by charitie.
And thus thou ſhalt make it, Verſe, 15.the length of the Arke ſhall be a hundreth cubits, and the breadth of it fiftie cubits, and the height of it thirtie cubits. Here is the portraiture of Chriſts church: it is longer, then it is either broad or high. Here are faith, charitie, and hope. The myſterie of faith is thrée hundreth cubits; it is verie deepe, it is vnſearchable.Eph. 3.18. And therefore Saint Paul praieth for his Epheſians, yt they may know what is the height, depth, length, and breadth: he meant no doubt of the croſſe of Chriſt, and of faith in him crucified. He had relation to ſome thing, and it maie fitly be applied vntounto this.
Secondly, charitie is fiftie cubits, hauing relation to the yéere of Iubile, which was euerie fiftith yeere: Leu. 25.11.wherein was forgiueneſſe of all debts, letting looſe of all that were in bondage, as well lands, as ſeruants, and a ioyfull and generall freedome and libertie proclaimed: euen their fields that yeere had alſo their Sabaoth. Such, naie farre greater ſhould be chriſtian charitie euerie yéere: that ſhadow is vaniſhed awaie, and the true ſun hath ſhined Ieſus Chriſt,Col. 2.14. and hath fréed vsus from the great debt of our ſins, that we did owe vntounto God, Heb. 2.14.and hath deliuered vsus out of the hands of that mightie and cruell tyrant Sathan, and hath freely giuen vsus the kingdome of heauen. Luc. 12.32.So that now in his kingdome euerie yéere, euerie thing ſhould reioice. No man conſidering what Ieſus Chriſt hath done for him, and remembring that he hath commanded vsus to louelove one another, Ioh. 13.34.as he hath loued vsus; ſhould now in anie matter deale hardly with his brother. Who will now denie him light trifles, either in giuing, or in forgiuing; who hath receiued ſuch great gifts, ſuch a great pardon? who now will not liberallie deale with this earth, that hath ſo freely receiued heauen?Mat. 18.24.28. Who will not forgiue a hundreth pence, that hath forgiuen him a hundreth talents? Who will not now lend freely, Luk. 6.35. 1. Cor. 4.7.euen hundreths if he be able, that hath lent him all that he hath? What haſt thou that thou haſt not receiued? Theſe cōſiderations, if we were not ſtony harted, ſhould make our Iubile eternall:Luk. 6.38. it ſhould make vsus giuegive, that we might hauehave giuen vsus againe. It ſhould make vsus forgiue, when as our debters being our brethren, be not able to paie vsus. Conſidering how we our ſelues one daie,Luk. 7.42. being bankerupts, and not able to pay any thing, muſt craue forgiueneſſe, not onelie of iniuries and blaſphemies againſt the maieſtie of God; but of debts, in not vſing well theſe talents we hauehave receiued at his hands.Luk. 16.1. Mat. 25.25.12.36. Luk. 18.9.14.11.
Thirdly, the Arke was but thirtie cubits in height, to teach vsus humilitie. Our hope muſt be humble, we muſt not truſt in our ſelues: we muſt not bee prowd of our workes: we muſt not be prowd at all. Our hope muſt be but thirtie cubits hie; it muſt be limited in three, Mat. 28.19. Mat. 5.3.that is, in the Trinitie. It muſt not excéed that, Bleſſed are the poore in ſpirit (ſaith our Sauiour) It is the firſt bleſſedneſſe amongſt thoſe ſo manie beatitudes; as it were the roote and mother of all the reſt. To be prowd is like a poyſon, or venome, that marres all the reſt. As alſo there is no bleſſedneſſe ſo often repeated,Pſal. 2.12.4.6.5.12. as Bleſſed is the man that puts his truſt in the Lord.
Gen. 6.16.A window ſhalt thou make in the Arke, and in a cubit ſhalt thou finiſh it from aboue. The Arke of Gods Church is a lightſome houſe,Tſaher in Hebrew is a window, and Tſaharim is noone. and not a darke dungeon. It hath a window in it to giuegive it light. And the window is compared to the ſunneſhine at noone, to declare that all our knowledge in this life, although it be but ſmall in compariſon of that we ſhall hauehave hereafter;1. Cor. 13.12. yet it is moſt pure and cléere. Now we know as it were in a darke ſpeech, then we ſhall ſee face to face. And this window is but one,Ioh. 1.9. no doubt to ſignifie Ieſus Chriſt, who is the only window that giues light, and all other heauenly graces to his Church.
And the roofe of the Arke is finiſhed in a cubit: as ſome thinke, or elſe the eaues were round about the Arke a cubit in breadth, to put awaie raine from the window, and from the arke it ſelfe. This maie teach vsus mortification of the fleſh; If wee would iudge our ſelues, 1. Cor. 11.31.we ſhould not be iudged of the Lord. Faſting and prayer from a liuely faith, are that narrowe roofe, that repelles al ſtormes from Gods Church:1. King, 21.27. VnderUnder this narrow roofe Ahab, when God threatned him vengeance for his ſinnes; and Queene Heſter, Heſt. 4.16.when Haman like a mightie clowde and huge tempeſt did hang ouer her head and the heads of her people, did ſhrowd themſelues. So did Niniueh at the preaching of Ionas. Ionas 3.7.Wouldeſt thou eſcape the ſtormes then of Gods wrath? let the Roofe of thy houſe then be narrowe. Whoſoeuer thou art, iudge thy ſelfe, and God will not iudge thee: as S. Paul counſelleth all chriſtians.
And the doore of the Arke ſhalt thou ſet in the ſide thereof. Verſe, 16.Here is alſo Ieſus Chriſt deſcribed verie liuely vntounto vsus;Ioh. 10.9. who is the verie doore into the church; who ſuffered his verie ſide to be opened with a ſpeare for our ſakes, Ioh. 19.34.that we might hauehave an entrance into heauen. By this doore we enter boldlie into heauen, and appeare before the maieſtie of God. In this wide wound, as in the clift of a moſt ſafe rocke, Cant. 2.14.we hide our ſelues from all the perſecutions of the enemy. And this doore is but one: there are not manie doores into his houſe,Ioh. 10.9. Acts, 4.12. as our Sauiour himſelfe tels vsus; I am the doore. The ſame alſo Peter teſtifieth. There is but one way to ſaluation, and that is, Ieſus Chriſt: there is but one ſéede,Gal. 3.16. in whome all the nations of the world ſhall be bleſſed, and that is Ieſus Chriſt:Ioh. 3.14. there is but one brazen Serpent lift vp in the wilderneſſe, which cured al the Iſraelites from all the ſtingings of the Serpent whatſoeuer, and that is Ieſus Chriſt. Acts, 4.12.There is no other name vnderunder heauen giuen to men by which we muſt be ſaued, but onelyonly the name of Ieſus Chriſt. He is that one doore, that was made in the ſide of the Arke.
And thou ſhalt make it with the low, ſecond and third Roume. Verſe, 16. Ro. 12.6.13.1 1. Cor. 7.25. 1. Pet. 4.1.There are degrées in Gods church of manie eſtates and conditions, of Kings, and other inferiour magiſtrates, and ſubiects; of Byſhops, Paſtors and their flockes; of virgins, married folkes, and widowes: and therefore God commanded Noah to make hie roumes, and middle and lowe roumes in the arke: Euerie one of theſe hauehave their proper places in Gods Church. There are alſo in the church children which ſtand need of milke, 1. Cor. 3.1.2.there are alſo ſtrong men which can digeſt ſtronger food, which are doctors in chriſtianitie; Heb. 5.12.and ſome others to whom the rudiments and principles of chriſtian religion appertaine: and all theſe doe belong to Gods church.
Verſe, 17.And behold, I will bring a floud of water vponupon the earth to deſtroy all fleſh, wherein is the breath of life vnderunder heauen, and all that is in the earth ſhall periſh. But with thee will I ſtabliſh my couenant, and thou ſhalt go into the Arke, thou and thy ſonnes, and thy wife, and thy ſonnes wiues with thee. Here is the floud a ſigne and type of Gods wrath and iuſt iudgement, for ſinne. Here is the onelyonly means of ſaluation: Gods frée merciemercy. For it is ſaid before; That when as God ſaw that the wickedneſſe of man was great in the earth, and al the imaginations of the thoughts of his heart were onelyonly euill continually; and it repented the Lord that he had made man in the earth, Verſe. 5.and he was ſorie in his heart, &c. That Noah yet found grace in the eies of the Lord. Noah his ſaluation was the frée merciemercy of God, and his moſt gratious couenant. They onelyonly which doe obſerue his couenant, doe eſcape this his fierce wrath: as here appeareth. And this couenant Noah preached vntounto thoſe wicked men in his daies: but they would not beléeue him, but euerie one followed his owne wicked waies, and ſo in the end for lacke of faith were drowned.Mat. 5.7. Mar. 16.16. Luk. 6.37.38. Ioh. 16.27. The like couenants God hath made with vsus: let vsus reade them and marke them, and beléeue them, if we minde to eſcape this deluge of the wrath of God, leaſt we periſh with thoſe men in the daies of Noah. The obedience of Gods couenant is the only way of ſaluation: no deuiſe of man can ſaue els whatſoeuer.
Verſe, 21.And take thou with thee of all meate that is eaten, and thou ſhalt gather it to thee, that it may be meate for thee and them. God will not hauehave his pined; he will hauehave meate in his houſe: and therefore Ieſus Chriſt was borne alſo in Bethlehem, Mat. 2.1.which in the Hebrew ſignifies a houſe of bread. And Noah is commanded to gather to him all manner of meates. There are varietie of meates in Gods houſe.Exod. 12.9. There is the head of the lamb, the purtenance and the feete. Gen. 30.14. Pſal. 51.7. Prou. 31 6. Pſal. 75.8. 2. Tim. 2.15. Luk. 12.42.There are ſower lettice; there are mandrakes, which make fruitfull; there is purging Iſope; there is pretious balme. There is wine and ſtrong drinke, for the afflicted: there are dregs for the wicked. And here is required the wiſedome of all Gods miniſters. They muſt be ſtewards: they muſt not giuegive all meate at once; but euerie kinde of meate in his proper time. Neither all kindes of meat to euerie Chriſtian; but euerie condition or ſtate hath his proper food: euen as in Noah his Arke euerie kind of liuing creatures had alſo. The doctrine of Kings and Magiſtrates, is not to be ſet before the people;2. Ti. 2.15. nor the doctrine of the people to be taught the Magiſtrates; this were lacke of diſcretion: This were not rightly to deuide the word of God.
Noah therefore did according to all that God commaunded him: euen ſo did he. Here is the concluſion and ſumme of all:Verſ. 22. Noah did all according as God commaunded him. Euen in this materiall worke of making the Arke of wood and timber, he miſſed not an Inch of that length, bredth, or height, or of anie other thing, which God commaunded him: much more then in the ſpirituall building of the Church, the ſame is to be obſerued. The maiſter builders may not goe a haires bredth beyond the commaundement of God, Mat. 28.20. 1. Cor. 11.23. Gal. 1.6. 2. Pet. 1.16.though that which they doe, ſéeme in their owne eies neuer ſo conuenient, or profitable, or neceſſarie, or ſtately. They muſt learne this leſſon of Noah their good predeceſſor, and their Schoolemaſter: As God commannded, ſo did Noah according to all things: he adbed nothing of his owne. Again heereby it plainly appeareth, that the word is the rule and ſquare of the Church, by which it is to be builded and gouerned, and not the Church of the word; as the Papiſts would hauehave it: And that is,Pſal. 138.2.87.1. Eph. 2.20. to beare rule in the Church, and that the Church is not to rule it. By this alſo that great pillar, which the Papiſts doe obiect for the defence of the Church, fals to the ground. The Church (ſay they) is the pillar of truth: and therefore whatſoeuer the Church teacheth, muſt of neceſſitie be beléeued: The Church cannot erre. But they muſt marke here, that as the Church is called a pillar; 1. Ti, 3.15.ſo the word of God is alſo called truth. Thy law is the truth (ſaith Dauid) And therefore if ſhe keepe not the word of God,Pſal. 119.143. Gen. 19.26. ſhe may erre, ſhe may be a pillar of ſalt without it, as was Lots wife; but a piller of truth without it ſhe cannot be.
Now if this be the true Church, which hitherto vnderunder the type of Noahs Arke, I hauehave deſcribed: let vsus a little compare the Church of Rome to this, and ſée how they agrée togither: Who brags that ſhe is this Arke of Noah, and that whithout her there is no ſaluation. And firſt to beginne with the name, ſhe is not Tebah: She is not a building, ſhe hath not taught her children one to build another in the common and holy faith, as ſaint Iude counſelleth.Iud. ep. verſ. 2. Epheſ. 4.12. Her Paſtors hauehave not built the bodie of Chriſt, as ſaint Paul teacheth, they ſhould do. They hauehave accounted their chiefe office to be, to ſing maſſe: and not to preach the goſpell. And in her building, when ſhe did build, ſhe hath not builded Tebah, that is, the Arke, with the word of God,Ezech 13.10. Mar. 7.7. but with the clay and morter of man. Alſo ſhe teacheth and thinketh, that this worke of building is finiſhed alreadie. But ſaint Paul teacheth, that the word of God is able to builde further, Act. 20.32. Fer. in 1. c Act.and to giuegive an inheritance among all them that are ſanctified. And Ferus ſaith verie excellently; That if all the things which our Sauiour Ieſus did, ſhould be written; all the world could not containe the bookes which ſhould be written; Containe (ſaith he) that is vnderſtand. For if (ſaith he) the world cannot, nor all the men that euer ſhall be in the world containe: that is vnderſtand that which is written alreadie, being ſo ſmall in volume: how were it able to vnderſtand if all things that Ieſus did, were written? Ieſus our Sauiour his works were manie in number,Pſal 36.7. 1. Pet 3.18. and profound in myſteries, Gods word is a bottomleſſe pit, no man can euer come to the bottome of it. We muſt grow and may grow in the knowledge thereof daily: And therfore manie at this day are deceiued in this point. They wil beleeue no more they ſay, then the fathers beléeued: and that which they ſaw not, they will not ſée. But if God lift vp his cloud & giuegive light, true Iſrael muſt go forward in their pilgrimage. They may not ſay,Exod. 40.38 becauſe we hauehave ſtaied in this place thus long: therefore we will ſtay here ſtill.
Laſtly, the Church of Rome is not this Arke of God; ſhe kéepes not theſe Iewels of Gods word in her heart; ſhe as a ſhip rather,1. King. 22.48. ſhe ſailes with Iehoſaphat vnderunder pretence of religion for gold. She is wealthie. The Pope cannot now ſay as Peter ſaid: ſiluer and gold hauehave I none; or as Ferus notes on that place, I will hauehave none if I might hauehave it, the cuſtodie of greater Iewels and treaſures is committed vntounto me. Act. 4.6.She deuoures with the Phariſees vnderunder pretence of long prayers, Mat. 23.14.widowes houſes: cauſing the huſband to giuegive his houſe vnkindly, euen from his wife a poore deſolate widow, that they might pray for him. And thus they are become great landlords here vponupon earth: whereas Chriſt ſaith plainely, my kingdome is not of this world. Iohn. 1….36But they hauehave gotten Chriſt now by their praying, and maſſing, euen an earthlie kingdome here in this world.
The Arke was made of Pine trées that would neuer be rotten, and is the Church of Rome built of ſuch timber? Looke but a little into the liues of her Popes, and you ſhall ſée moſt euidently the contrarie. Their Popes hauehave béene notorious in all kind of wickednes: Some of them ſorcerers & coniurers, as aFaſcic. temporum. Homagium fecit Diabolo. An Do. 1004.Silueſter ſecundus: Some proud, who hauehave made & compelled Kings and Superiours to ſtoope vntounto them,bBaleus in vita Pontificum. as Adrianus quartus: Some enuious, who hauehave not onelyonly ouerthrowne the actes of al their predeceſſors, but euen vnburied their bodies againe, ascFaſcic. temp. An. Do. 904. Pontac. Bur. in Chron. An. Do. 1159. ex Platin…. Sergius tertius: Some ambitious, inſomuch that there hauehave béene three Popes at once, Faſciculus temporum, Anno Domini 1034. The pride of Alexander the third, Pontacus Burgedalenſis a Papiſt in his Chronicle reports thus: At his feete Fredericke the Emperour fel down deſiring the abſolution of his excommunication: And they ſay, that two dPontac. ibid.kings, Lewes king of France, & Henrie 2. king of England, did wait vponupon him a foot as yeomen of his ſtirtope, holding his horſe by the bridle on his right hand, and on his left, and to hauehave conducted him thorow the citie Totiacum, with great pomp. Of Pope Ioan the woman,Faſc. temp: An. Chriſti, 954. Faſciculus Temporū writes thus: This was called Ioan Engliſh by name, but by countrey was borne at Moguntia, and is reported to hauehave beene about this time. And ſhe was a woman that went in mans apparrell: And ſhe ſo greatly profited in the holy Scriptures, that there was none like to be compared with her: and ſhe was choſen Pope. But after being gotten with child, as ſhe went ſolemnlie in proceſſion, ſhe trauelled and died. And this ſeemes (ſaith he) to be the ſixt Pope, that hitherto had the name of holy father without the thing: and was plagued of God as the reſt were. And ſhe is not placed in the Catalogue of Biſhops. Some heere make a tale and ſay, that for this cauſe no German is choſen Pope, which is moſt certain that it is a lie. So that if this woman were no Pope, yet there were fiue Popes by his iudgement, that had the title of Holineſſe giuen them, which were wicked.
Of Bonifacius the eight the ſame Author writes thus:Anno Chriſti 1294 This Boniface in matters concerning the Popes courts, was moſt expert. And becauſe he had none that might be compared to him in wiſdome, he became ſo arrogant that he called himſelfe the Lord of the whole world, as well in temporall as in ſpiritual cauſes. And he did manie things very ſtately: who in the end vaniſhed away verie miſerably. And he gaue an example to all Prelates, not to be high minded, but being rather a patterne to their flocke, that they would deſire rather to be loued of their ſubiects, then to be feared of them. This is he of whom it is ſaid, that he entred as a Fox, liued as a Lion, and died as a Dog.
But not to make many words concerning this matter, which hath beene ſo largely and learnedly handled of others: I will but note the generall complaint which that author makes about that time,Faſcic. temp. Anno Chriſti. 874. wherein the Popes began to climbe vp into their chaire of pride, and into Antichriſts ſeat. Charitie (ſaith he) waxed verie cold about theſe times in all degrees, and hereſies for the moſt part now ceaſed. But ambition, couetouſnes & other vices, being now ſet at liberty, perſecuted the Chriſtian ſaith more, then anie hereſie. Then Adrianus tertius decreede that the Emperor ſhould in no wiſe meddle with the election of the Pope. 884.Héere we may ſée how Sathan after perſecutions were ended, perſecuted the Church a freſh with pride and ambition▪ And here the Popes pride began to ſprout and ſhew it ſelfe. A little after the ſame Author writes thus: Oh good Lord how is the gold waxen dimme! the glittering gold now is chaunged! what offences do we read to hauehave chaunced about this time, euen in the holy ſea Apoſtolike, which hitherto thou haſt preſerued with ſo great zeale. What contentions and emulations, ſects, enuies, ambitions, intruſions, perſecutions: Oh wicked time! wherein there was not one godlly man left, and truth was decaied from among the ſonnes of men. But after theſe times there were ſome holy popes, but not ſo in order, nor ſo many, as in the former times. And a little after: Theſe eight Biſhops following one after another, 904.did ſit but a ſhort time. I can ſay nothing worthie of commendation of them. For I found nothing but ſcandalous things of them, for the ſtrange contentions which were in the ſea Apoſtolike one againſt another, and all of them euerie one againſt another. &c. Theſe were not Pine trées, but elder trees, ſauoring not pleaſantly, euen as we may ſée, in the noſes of their friends.
But to come neerer to our daies: ſince their pride began, ſuch hath been alſo their manners. Paulus Iouius writes thus:Tom. 1. lib. 1. Hiſt. ſin. temp. The people of Rome being deuided into two parts, followed either the Colummans or the Vrſines. The Sabellians mightie both for the antiquitie of their family, and for the multitude of their petigree and valiant youths, tooke the Colummans part: and the Grapeſſians being Earles, both for nobilitie and power (as good as they) tooke the Vrſines part. On the Vrſine faction were famous then (who became afterward both at home and abroad notable ſouldiers) Ʋerginius and Nicholas Vrſinus: on the Columman faction, Proſper and Fabritius were famous, and Iacobus Comes, Antonelluſ que Sabellus. The Biſhops (of Rome) as either the times, or warres gaue occaſions, were euer enemies, and againſt the wealthy powers of both theſe, and they neuer ſtudied for any thing more, then to maintaine the one faction, and to nouriſh their quarels, that when both their powers were conſumed with mutuall ſlaughters and domages; they themſelues (hauing alſo extinguiſhed the remainders of them) might enioy their townes neere vntounto the Citie. This Iouius reports of the Biſhoppes of Rome: Here are peaceable and not couetous prelates (as they would make the world beleeue that they are) whom one of their owne friends reports, that they maintaine a faction in Rome, to the end to obtaine their townes and lordſhips, when as they had one killed another by their meanes. And after he writes: The Romans alſo either mindfull of their olde worſhip and auncient libertie, or els as they are troubleſome and fierce of nature, cannot with quiet minds endure the rule of Prieſts (meaning the Popes) becauſe many of them rule not with moderation, but couetouſly. He confeſſeth that Popes are couetous.
And againe, writing of Alexander the ſixt, he writes thus: At this time Alexander the ſixt was Pope a Spaniard, Tom. 1. lib. 1. Hiſtor.who before was called Rodericus Burgia, who being of a prowd nature, and therefore both craftie and liberall, hauing manifeſtly corrupted ſome of the chiefe Cardinals at the time of the election with briberie, when as the better ſort, which would hauehave choſen the moſt worthy, had taken the repulſe, gat to be Pope. Thus we maie ſée how euen latter Popes were ambitious and craftie, as wel as the former.
And writing of Luther, hee writes thus:Tom. 2. lib. 20. Hiſtor. At the ſame time Charles the Emperor at Vangium neere to Rhemes, called a councell of the nobles of Germanie, for the report of the ſturs about religion, becauſe Martin Luther a Frier of Saxonie had ſpoken againſt the Popes authoritie. In that aſſembly Martin Luther had leaue giuen him, to ſhew the cauſes why he thought by the law of Chriſt, he might depart from the cenſure of the Pope. And hee yeelded this cauſe eſpecially, that certaine couetous embaſſadours ſent from the court of Rome, taught, that they ſelling the Popes pardons, could deliuer the ſoules which were burning in purgatorie. The Popes couetouſneſſe kindled Luther againſt him. Thus we maie ſée plainely, how the Church of Rome is not built of pine trées, but of rotten, earthlie, heauie and ſtinking wood of ambition, couetous, ſeditions, diueliſh, and moſt wicked prelates, euen as their owne hiſtories and friends doe teſtifie.2. Theſ. 2.3. That therefore the Pope maie be truely called that man of ſinne, in whoſe chaire ſo manie and ſo notorious ſinners hauehave ſitten: And therefore it is nothing like to the Arke of Noah, which was built of pine trées. The Church of Rome hath cels in her for the bodies, but no neſts for the ſoules of Chriſtians to reſt in. She troubles mens conſciences with her doubtfull doctrine of ſaluation; and therefore in this reſpect alſo ſhe is vnlike to the Arke of Noah.
Their Church alſo is farre vnlike the Arke of Noah in this reſpect: ſhe is higher then ſhe is long or broad. In the myſterie of their ſaluation, how ſhort was their knowledge in thoſe daies? yea and in their charitie (whereof they bragge ſo much) towards the ſoules of their brethren? No pennie, no pater noſter, was a common prouerb, and true then: no man reprooued the ſinne of his brother.Exod. 10.23. They liued as in the darkeneſſe of Egypt for the lacke of the light of knowledge of the lawe of the Lord: no man ſawe his brother: no man reprooued his brother: as all chriſtians ought to doe as they are commanded, Heb. 10.24. But their height was hautie, ſhe retched vp euen to heauen; and tooke vponupon her euen more then the ſonne of God did, to diſpence with the law of God, to truſt in the works of her owne deuiſing, and to promiſe pardon of ſinnes for them, euen like the prowd Phariſées.
She lacked a window in her, ſhe was like a dungeon without anie light.Pſal. 1.2. She teacheth not her children to meditate in the law of God day and night, Col. 3.16.and that the worde of Chriſt ſhould dwell plenteouſly in their houſes. Her light is not midday, like the light of the Arke, but midnight. Her Linſie Wolſie tranſlation of the newe teſtament into Engliſh, which ſhee giues ſome leaue to reade, is but a light in a corner (whereas S. Paul excepts none) it lightens not the whole houſe: it is but the light of a Ruſh; it is not the light of a torch. Pſal. 119.105. The doore in her, was not in the ſide, but on her toppe: by the Pope, all entred into heauen for the moſt part in her. She had diuerſities of manſions in her, as the Arke had; but ſhée did diſorder them, that ſhould hauehave béen placed in them. She placed her Prelates and Cleargie in the higheſt roumes: Rom. 13.…and Princes and Magiſtrates in the inferiour roumes.
The onlie true meanes of ſaluation, the couenants of God, ſhe hath not taught the people with Noah: naie ſhe hath apparantly broken the couenant, in denying the cuppe to the laytie (which Chriſt cals the new couenant) and therefore belongs to all: as though they had not béen in the couenant; or if they were,1. Cor. 11.25. to exclude them. That bleſſing our Sauiour pronounceth to all good Paſtors; Bleſſed is that ſeruant, Luk. 12.42.whom his maiſter when he commeth, ſhall finde giuing meate to his family in due ſeaſon; She hath quite taken awaie: ſhe hath not fedde Gods flocke, as Noah did in the Arke; but ſhe hath pined them.Matt. 4.4. For man liueth not by bread only (ſaith our Sauiour) but by euerie word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. But her paſtors hauehave not giuen meate to the Lords familie in due ſeaſon: nay they hauehave not giuen them anie meate at all. They hauehave fedde their bodies with bread, as though man had liued with bread onlie (as Sathan then did ſéeme to inſtruct our Sauiour, and would hauehave the world beléeue ſtill) and not their ſoules with Gods word, which foode was the more neceſſarie. Amos 8.11.And to conclude, the Church of Rome is not built in all points, according as God hath commanded. How manie points of doctrine hath ſhe in her, which are not grounded vponupon anie promiſe; or commandement of God? her inuocation of Angels and Saints departed; her Latine prayers; her worſhipping of Images, prooue this. Therefore being ſo farre vnlike, ſhee doth falſly bragge, that ſhee is the Arke of Noah, as hereby euerie one maie ſee.
Iericho alſo is a figure of the world, and of Satans Citie; as the name thereof in Hebrew, deriued from the Moone which is called Iarak, prooues: which neuer continues in one ſtate; but is euer ſtil either increaſing or decreaſing.Ioſuah 6.34. The compaſſing alſo thereof 7. daies about with the Arke of God, and the ſeuenth day 7. times, plainly declares the ſame. So after Chriſts aſcenſion, ſeuen Angels blew their trumpets: Reu. 8.6.and in the daies of the ſeuenth Angell, when he ſhall begin to blowe, the myſterie ſhall be finiſhed, there ſhall be no more time: the walles of Iericho ſhall fall downe. And ſurely the daie we liue in now, is the ſeuenth daie. At this daie, Iericho is compaſſed about with the Arke of God, euen ſeuen times, as much as in all the daies before. The plentifull preaching of the Goſpell; by men ſpeaking and writing more then euer before in anie age, plainly prooue this. The ſunne now ariſing, all the birds of heauen begin to ſing: whereas before the cockes onelyonly did ſing. Surely this generall knowledge of God in the world, and the profeſſion of his goſpell, euen of ſome wicked Kites, and couetous cormorants and Rauens, declares that the riſing of the true ſunne Ieſus Chriſt is not farre off. And as Iericho reſembles the worlde; ſo no doubt the houſe of Rahab the harlot reſembles the Church. God will hauehave a houſe in Iericho,Pſal. 87.4. Mat. 8.24. he will hauehave a ſhippe on the raging ſea of this world. And firſt her name Rahab; which ſignifies a ſtreete or enlarged, agrées with the calling of the Gentiles. The Church of God now is Rahab, that is, it is enlarged:Eſay, 54.2. now is that propheſie of Eſay fulfilled; ſtretch foorth thy cordes, and ſpare not, &c.
Secondly, her condition of life agrées with the Church. She was Zonah, Heb. 11.31.which ſignifies a vittailer, or rather as the Gréeke word foreign expounds it and reſtraines it, ſhe was a harlot: and ſo is the church before regeneration an Adultreſſe, Iam. 4.4. Eſay, 50.1. Ezech. 16.15. Ioſuah, 2.2.ſeparated from God; the Spouſe of Satan. Aſſoone as the men were come into her houſe, the king of Iericho had word, and perſecutes them by and by: So the Goſpell of Ieſus Chriſt & his true profeſſors ſhall be ſure to be perſecuted in this world.2. Tim. 3.12. They cannot be ſo ſecret in anie place but the king of Iericho, the prince of this world will heare of them, will ſpie them out.
And the woman tooke the men and made them go vp to the toppe of her houſe, and hid them in line of that tree, which ſhee had laid in order vponupon the roofe of her houſe. Here is a liuely Image of the true Church. She greatly honours, reuerences and makes much of Gods ſeruants and miniſters;Rom. 10.15. Gal. 4.15. ſhe exalts them, ſhe would euen pull out hir owne eies to giuegive them, to do them good withall, as the Galathians would hauehave done to Paul. And ſhe hides them in the line of that tree (Bepiſhbe Hagnets.) This line of that tree, no doubt, is a figure of the holy Scripture, which was to bee written in paper, which is made of linnen cloth. And in the line of that tree (meaning ſome notable and eſpeciall trée) no doubt ſignifies Ieſus Chriſt. He is that tree of life, Reuel. 22.2that whoſoeuer taſteth of ſhall liue foreuer, and he that ſhrowdes himſelfe vnderunder it, needes not to feare the perſecutions of the king of Iericho. In the line of this tree, the true Church hides her Miniſters, with this they are couered. They are mightie in the Scriptures with Apollo. In theſe they are ouer the head and eares,Acts. 18.24. as we ſay.
Againe, here we may learne how the true Church eſteemes of the Scriptures. She placeth the line of that tree vponupon the roofe of her houſe: She hath them in high eſtimation; according as Dauid ſaith in the Pſalme.Pſal. 138.2. O Lord thou haſt magnified thy name, and thy word is aboue all things. And ſhe had laid her line in order: 2. Ti. 2.15. Pſal 2.10.11. Ro. 13.1. Epheſ. 5.22.23.6.1. & 5So the true Church doth rightly deuide the word of God: She hath meat for kings & ſubiects; for men and wiues; for parents and children; for maiſters and ſeruants.
Before the men ſlept, ſhe went vp vntounto them. Heerof we may learne the zeale the true Church hath of hearing the word of God. She makes no delay, ſhe goes vp to them preſently: She is deſirous to heare the doctrine of her ſaluation: She prefers this ioyfull newes before her ſléepe.
And ſhe ſaith to the men, Verſ. 9I know that God hath giuen you the land: for the feare of you is fallen vponupon vsus, &c. Here is the confeſſion of a true faith: and here is alſo firſt, the firſt propertie of a true faith; not to doubt, to know, to be aſſured: I know, ſaith ſhe, that you ſhall conquere this land: though as yet their wals ſtand, and there many & mightie kings (being linked togither in leagues) liued and flouriſhed: All theſe fleſhly arguments could not daunt her faith. I know (ſaith ſhe) you ſhall hauehave the victorie.
For we hauehave heard how the Lord dried vp the red ſea before you, when you came out of Egypt; and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites, which were beyond Iordan, Sehon and Og whom ye killed.
1. King. 10.1. Ro. 10.14.Here is the ground of faith: Faith commeth by hearing. She hearing the wonderfull works of God beléeued: to teach vsus the meanes to obtaine faith, by hearing alſo.
Now followes the confeſſion of her faith: Wee hauehave heard, and our heart is quite gone, and there is no courage left in any one of vsus againſt you. For your God is a God in deed, in heauen aboue and in the earth beneath.
Deut. 64. Mat. 28.18. Pſal 136.13.14.15.16.Firſt her faith is grounded on one God, and of his omnipotencie, that he alone is of all power in heauen and earth: he can drie vp the red ſea, he can deſtroy mightie kings, euen Sheon and Og kings of the Amorites.
And here alſo the true Church may learne in her iourney out of Egypt, with what enemies ſhe muſt encounter. For euerie true Iſraelite muſt now alſo come out of Egypt, euen as thoſe auncient Iſraelites did;Reu. 11.8. Pſ. 114.1. 1. Cor. 10.11. and the red ſea muſt be dried vp before him: and thoſe two kings of the Amorites conquered and ſubdued. And here firſt the red ſea in Hebrew is called the ſea of Ruſhes, or the ſea of conſumption or ending. And ſurely this world alſo for theſe two reſpectes may fitly be called the red ſea. Firſt it is a ſea, neuer quiet: but in it ſtill one waue of afflictions followes another. Secondly, it is a ſea of Ruſhes: There is nothing ſound in it: Though the honours, riches, and pleaſures thereof ſeeme great & gréene, & to flouriſh; yet they are but ruſhes, they are not ſound within, they are but vanitie. As that great king Salomon, who had experienced all theſe things, teacheth al men in his booke called the Preacher: All (ſaith he) is but vanitie. And if that were all it were well: but he addeth further,Eccleſ. 1.14. and vexation of ſpirit: This is worſe then the former; that ſuch vaine things ſhould vex a mans heart, ſhould trouble him; ſhould make him hurt his neighbour; nay euen offend his moſt gratious God. This world alſo is a conſumption,Ia. 5.4. 2. Ti. 4.10. 2. Sa. 20.10. a deſtruction to all that do louelove it. The louers of this world are enemies to God, and he that embraceth this world with Demas, it will in the end ſlay him, as Ioab did Amaſa traiterouſly and Iudaſly.
This Ruſhie ſea God dries vp, by the mightie operation of the holy ſpirit, to all his faithfull ſeruants,1. Cor. 7 31. 1. Pet. 2.11. before they enter into his land of Canaan. They deſpiſe the world, they vſe it as though they vſed it not. They account themſelues here, but as pilgrimes. And to this agréeth that which is ſaid in the Reuelation, when the firſt Angell blew his trumpet, there were haile and fire mingled with bloud caſt into the earth, Reu. 8.7and the third part of the trees were burnt, and all greene graſſe was burnt. This is not meant literally but ſpiritually. That is, that in all Gods children all worldly pompe and vanitie is now quite conſumed: The world is to them crucified, and they to the world. Gal. 6.14.The other two enemies, which alſo muſt be deſtroyed, are two kings, Sehon and Og kings of the Amorites. Whoſe names declare their natures: Sehon ſignifies in Hebrew a rooter vp, and Og ſignifies fine māchet. And they may fitly reſemble our fleſh and our ſpirit, our appetite and our ſenſes. Our ſenſes delight in vanitie: and therfore Dauid ſaith,Pſal. 119.37. Col. 3.5. Turne away mine eies leaſt they behold vanity. And our appetites or fleſhly deſires muſt be mortified, which are ye rooters vp of all vertue. This Sehon is king of Hesbon, which ſignifies Reaſon: & ſo in the carnall man is will and luſtes of the fleſh. And ſo alſo Og, that is, the fleſh, that delights in fine delicates, in manchet, is king of Baſan, that is, ouer the ſpirit of God, which is compared to oyle and fatnes: the which alſo Baſan ſignifies in Hebrew. Theſe two kings muſt be conquered of all Chriſtians, before they enter into the land of promiſe: and Hesbon, that is, reaſon, now muſt rule ouer Sehon, that is, affections. And Baſan, that is, Gods ſpirit, muſt rule ouer Og, that is,Num. 21.23. & 33. the pleaſures of the fleſh. And Sehon fightes with Iſrael in Laſha, that is, the field of ſaluation: & Og in Edrai, that is, on the mount of ſtrength. Mans carnall wiſedom thinkes it ſelfe able to ſaue, Pſal. 20.7. Pſal. 44 3. Reue. 7.10.and the fleſh thinks her arme of force: But Gods children muſt acknowledge another arme to be their ſtrength, euen the arme of the Lord; and their ſaluation alſo, not to be of themſelues, but of the Lord. And theſe are two kings of the Amorites, which ſignifies rebellious. Theſe two kings are in man, that do daily rebell againſt that onelyonly and great king God Almightie. And theſe two,Rom. 7.33. ſaint Paul called the law of his members: No doubt, for their kingly authoritie, which without Gods ſpirit they do challenge in vsus. And theſe two kings muſt be killed: nay, as the Hebrew word which Rahab vſeth, (Hekeramtem) ſignifieth, muſt be euen vowed to deſtructiō. Pſal. 119.106 1. Pet. 3.21And what doth this note elſe, but our baptiſme? Wherein euerie one vowes himſelfe a ſouldier againſt theſe kings.
And now ſweare vntounto me in the Lord, becauſe I hauehave ſhewed you merciemercy, Ioſ. 2.that you alſo will ſhew merciemercy vntounto my fathers houſe, and that you will giuegive me a ſigne of this truth. And you ſhall cauſe to liue my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my ſiſters, and all things that they hauehave, and ye ſhall deliuer our ſoules from death. Here is another marke of the true Church, all her doctrines muſt be foreign,1. Tim. 1.15 3.1 Mat. 5.18 6.2. as ſaint Paul termes them, muſt be faithfull ſayings: They muſt be verities, as our Sauiour often in the Goſpell confirmes all his with Amen, which ſignifies truly, and verily. And ſaint Paul ſaith: that all the promiſes of God in Chriſt are yea, 2. Cor. 1.20.and in him are Amen. They muſt bee ſo ſure, euen as though they were ratified with an oth.
Againe, ſweare to me by the Lord (ſaith ſhe) teaching vsus that all our lawfull othes muſt be made in the name of the Lord,Ier. 5.7 Pſal. 63.11.50.15. and not by anie creatures. And that this is a chiefe part of Gods honour, to be ſworne by in iudgement: as it is alſo to be called vponupon in trouble.
Againe, that you ſhall ſhew merciemercy to my fathers houſe. Here is the true meanes of Chriſtian ſaluation: By mercy we are all ſaued, Epiſt. Iud. 21euen as this Rahab and her fathers houſe was ſaued through merciemercy.Ro. 15.7. & 12.10 Here is alſo Chriſtian charitie: ſhe is not onelyonly carefull for her ſelfe, nor for her father and mother, but alſo for her brethren and ſiſters, and all that belongs to them. And that they ſhould quicken them, or cauſe them to liue. Here is ſpiritual regeneration,2. Cor. 5.14 Io. 3.3. Rom. 10.17 without ye miniſterie: all men are but dead men: The iuſt man liues by faith, and faith comes by hearing the word of God: and how can they heare without a Preacher? There is no life of grace and goodnes in man. They hauehave taſted of that bitter fruit, & of Eue their grandmothers apple, they hauehave died the death. And this is that which ſhe addes alſo ſaying: And you ſhall deliuer our ſoules from death.
And ſhe required alſo a ſigne of the truth. Heere is not onelyonly preaching the truth by words, but alſo by ſignes. And here are the Sacraments of Gods Church expreſſed:Rom. 4:1…; They are ſignes of the truth: they confirme that to the eie alſo, which the tongue preacheth to the eare.
And the men ſaid vntounto her: Our ſoule ſhall die for yours; if you ſhall not diſcloſe this our buſineſſe. And it ſhall come to paſſe, that when the Lord giues vsus this land; we will deale mercifully and truely with thee. Here is the chiefe duetie of all chriſtians, they muſt be faithfull to God and to their brethren, 1. Sam. 15.31 Mat. 26.25. Ioh. 1.47.they maie not be traitors like Achitophel, like Iudas: they muſt all be men of truth, like Nathaniel that true Iſraelite in whom was no deceit. Ioh. 1.47.They muſt not be hypocrites, that is, to ſhew a lambes face, and hauehave a lyons heart: to hauehave ſweet words in their mouthes, Pſal. 55.21.and ſwords in their hearts, as Dauid deſcribes the wicked.
And ſhe let them downe by a coard thorow her window, becauſe her houſe was ioyning to the walles of the towne, and ſhe dwelt in the wall. This coard which let them downe and ſaued them, maie fitly reſemble the paſſion of Chriſt; as a part maie ſignifie the whole. He was bound for vsus with a coard, Mat. 27.21.when hee ſuffered his paſſion. As this coard ſaued them; ſo his paſſion ſaueth vsus. Againe, as that red coard let them downe: Phil. 2.5.6.ſo the bloudy paſſion of our Sauiour lets vsus downe: it makes vsus humble, while we remember what he hath done for vsus. What is it now,2. Cor. 5.14. that wee ought not to doe againe, for his ſake to our brethren?
Chriſt alſo is the true wall, Zach. 2.5. Eſay, 26.1.that defends vsus from our enemies. And her houſe was in the wall. So muſt all chriſtians dwell in Chriſt: that is,1. Ioh. 4.8. dwell in charitie (as S. Iohn expounds it) if they minde to dwell ſafely.
And ſhe ſaid vntounto them, Verſe, 16.flie vntounto the hill leaſt the purſuers meet with you, and hide you there three daies, till the purſuers be returned, and then returne your way. Here is alſo the ſtate of Chriſts church declared. While it remaines in this world, it ſhall bee perſecuted: it ſhall not hauehave an houres reſt;Mat. 4.2. but ſome or other will aſſault it. If Chriſt faſt, Sathan will aſſault him in the wilderneſſe: if he a little take his reſt in the ſhip, Matt. 8.24. Matt. 22.15.the ſea with her waues will go about to drown him: if he go on the land, the prowd Phariſees will lay awaite for him. Mat. 10.24.So the diſciple is not aboue his maiſter: Luk. 9.23.ſo euerie good chriſtian in all places euerie day ſhall hauehave his croſſe; ſhall hauehave his purſuers all the three daies, of the continuance of this world: in the daie of nature before the floud; as the hiſtories of Abel and Noah: Gen. 4 8.6.3. 2. Sam 15.1. Iob. 1.10. Acts, 8.1.in the daie of the lawe; as the hiſtories of Dauid and Iob: & in the day of grace; as the hiſtories of Chriſts church plainly prooue. And all theſe 3 daies all Gods children muſt hide them in that hill: that is, in Ieſus Chriſt. On this hill called Moriah (as all the Iewes with one conſent ſaith Munſter, Munſter in annot. in 22. cap. Gen.doe affirme) Abel and Cain offered their ſacrifices, and Abraham his ſonne Iſaac, and Dauid his ſacrifice alſo on the threſhing floore of Araunah: and on that hill Salomon built his temple. He is that womans ſeed that ſhould breake the Serpents head: Gen. 3 15. Gal. 3 10. Gen. 49 10.that one ſeed of Abraham wherein all nations ſhall be bleſſed that Meſſiah that ſhould come whom Iacob propheſied of, that was all their comforts.
And the men ſaid vntounto her, we will be free of the oath which thou haſt made vsus ſweare. Verſe, 18.Behold when we come into the land, thou ſhalt binde this coard of red threed in the window, whereby thou letteſt vsus down, and thou ſhalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy fathers houſhold home to thee. And whoſoeuer then doth go out of the doores of thy houſe into the ſtreets; his bloud ſhall be vponupon his head, and we will be guiltleſſe; but whoſoeuer ſhall be with thee in the houſe, his bloud ſhall be on our head, if any touch him. And if thou vtter this our buſineſſe, we will be quit of thine oath which thou haſt made vsus ſweare. Here is the preaching of the Goſpell that bringeth ſaluation.1. Cor. 11.26. Rom. 10.9. Gal. 2 20. 1 Pet. 4.2.3. Gal. 6.14. We muſt binde the red thréed in our windowes; that is, we muſt beleeue Ieſus Chriſts death and paſſion with our harts, and with our mouthes alſo confeſſe it, and in the windowes of all our ſenſes expreſſe it. We muſt be crucified to the world, and the world alſo muſt be crucified vntounto vsus. The honors, pleaſures, & riches of this world, muſt not be our delight: we muſt not ſet our hearts vponupon thē. Pſal. 62.10. 1. Theſ. 5.14. Heb. 10.25.We muſt bring our fathers and mothers, and brethren and ſiſters home vntounto this houſe. Euerie one muſt exhort his brother, we muſt exhort one another, as S. Paul commands. Againe,1. Pet. 3.21. Epheſ. 4.4. Ioſuah. 6.25. Rom. 16.17. we muſt bring them all into one houſe. There is but one Arke of Noah that ſaueth: but one houſe in all Iericho that ſhall eſcape: but one church of God wherein is ſaluation. And therfore we muſt beware of ſchiſmes in the Church: we muſt not be more cruell then the ſouldiers,Ioh. 19.24. which would not rent in pieces Chriſts coate without ſeame, but caſt lots for it.
He that departs out of this houſe into the ſtreete, Verſe, 19.his bloud ſhall be on his owne head. We muſt kéepe vsus within the limits of the Church; we muſt alſo follow her holie precepts, that we go not foorth into the ſtréetes. They which ſhall followe the world; which ſhall doe as the moſt part doe, Luk. 13.24. Rom. 12.2.ſhall be in danger of death.
But whoſoeuer ſhall continue within the houſe, Verſe, 19.ſhall be aſſuredly ſafe: his bloud, ſay they, be on our heads, if any touch him. The miniſters of the Goſpell to all faithfull and obedient hearers, ought and maie ſafely warrant them of their ſaluation; they maie euen venture ſoule for ſoule: they are ſo ſure thereof; they maie warrant their hearers. And they ought not now to doubt thereof, but to beleeue their preaching. And laſtly, we muſt beware of Apoſtaſie, of Reuolting from the faith, when perſecution comes for the Goſpell; or when Sathan ſhall with faire promiſes go about to make vsus forſake it, we maie not be turnecoats: we muſt be Peters, that is, ſtones, not reeds: 1. Pet. 2.5. Epheſ. 4.14.vnremoueable in the faith. Though the king of Iericho terrifie vsus, or our friends flatter vsus,Gal. 1 16. or reaſon and fleſh and bloud go about to perſwade vsus: yet we muſt not be ledde by anie of them. Wee muſt keepe the faith with Paul: 2. Tim. 4 7.wee muſt finiſh our race: we muſt not giuegive ouer (as they ſaie) in the plaine fielde.
And ſhee ſaid, according to your words ſo be it. Verſe, 21.And ſhee let them downe and they departed. And ſhee tied the red threed in her windowe. Here is, to conclude, the laſt, but not the leaſt marke of the true Church: according to your words ſo be it. So Marie the bleſſed virgin anſwered the Angell:Luk. 1.38. Behold the ſeruant of the Lord, be it vntounto me according to thy words. And after, when ſhe was purified according to the lawe: Luk. 2.22.23.24and ſhe preſented him to the Lord: as it is written in the lawe; and ſhe gaue an oblation, as it was commaunded in the lawe: So ſhould the Church of Chriſt do all according to the ſcripture. Gal. 1.8.But now let vsus conſider a little how vnlike Rahabs houſe the Church of Rome is.
Rahab placed the line of that trée, that is, the Scriptures of Ieſus Chriſt, in the roofe of her houſe. She makes greateſt account of them: but the Church of Rome doth not ſo;Concil. Trid. Seſſ. 3. ſhe makes equall all her traditions, and vnwritten verities with them. She couers and hides the ſpies of Ioſuah in them;2. Tim. 3.9. Acts, 20.32. 1. Pet. 5.2. Gen. 3.7. 2. Tim. 4.4. the miniſters of Ieſus Chriſt ſhould be cunning in the ſcriptures: but the Church of Rome hath not couered her paſtors with his holie line, but hath rather with hurds of her own, with Adams figge leaues, with rags of mans deuiſes, with the Maſter of the ſentences, and ſuch like. She doubts not of Gods word: ſhe knowes that Iericho ſhall be deſtroied; and that Iſrael ſhall be Lords thereof: The Church of Rome doth not teach her children this aſſurance, grounded vponupon Gods promiſes; neither in their ſaluations, neither in their prayers they make to God. She mingles the droſſe of mans frailtie,Iam. 1.6. with the pure gold of faith: and when as this colde water of doubtfulneſſe is ready enough of it ſelfe to créepe in at the riftes of our weake ſhippe: ſhe bids vsus not to ſtoppe it out; but let it hauehave frée paſſage.
Rom. 10.11. Deut. 6.4. Mat. 28.18. Deut. 10.20. Ier. 5.7. Sophon. 1.5.Her faith is grounded only vponupon God, that he is God alone, that hath all power in heauen and earth: and ſhe requires an oath of them in his name; as though this were a chiefe part of his honour. But the Church of Rome hath vſually ſworne by creatures, in her thicke and palpable darkneſſe; and her children as yet can hardly be drawne from it. She dwels in the wal; ſhe repoſeth all her truſt in Ieſus Chriſt: 1. Pet. 1.21.The Church of Rome dwels farre from this wall, repoſing part of her truſt and confidence in other things.
1. Cor. 11.26. Rom. 10.9.She hangs the purple coard in her window; ſhe is able with her mouth to confeſſe Ieſus Chriſt and him crucified: the Church of Rome for lacke of the knowledge of the ſcriptures,1. Cor. 11.26. is not able to ſhew foorth the Lords death. She brings her father, and mother, and brethren, and ſiſters home to her houſe: but the church of Rome doth not exhort one another, Heb. 10.24.for the thicke darknes that raigned therein no man did ſée his brother.
And laſtly, according to their words, ſo ſhe did; ſhee added nothing of her owne, when they were gone:Mat. 28.20. but the Church of Rome hath added manie things of her owne to the commandements of Ieſus Chriſt, which he commanded his Apoſtles to go and preach to all nations; and therfore in this point alſo, as in the former, ſhe is vnlike to Rahab.
Exod. 25.3.The Tabernacle alſo, which Moſes builded for the children of Iſrael, maie teach vsus as a ſhadow, which is the true bodie; and as a type, which is the true Church of Chriſt. It was moueable and caried on the Prieſts backs from place to place. Num. 4.15. Exod. 25.2.It was called the Tabernacle of the appointment, becauſe there God promiſed to anſwere them concerning all matters, and in no place elſe. Verſ. 9. & 40.It was made of the voluntarie offerings of the people. It was made according to the faſhion and forme that God ſhewed Moſes in the mount, according to all that I ſhall ſhew thee ſaith God, ſhall ye make the forme of the tabernacle, and the faſhion of all the inſtruments thereof. And to the building of this his tabernacle, God admitted as well haire of Goats as ſilke, as well yron and braſſe, as gold.
And here firſt the conſideration of this Tabernacle ouerthrowes the doctrine of the Roman Church:Exod. 25.3.4. who teacheth that the Church in this world ſhall be alwaies viſible, and that at no time ſhe ſhall looſe her glorie. And therefore they teach all men to beléeue the viſible Church; and then they ſhall be ſure of their ſaluation. But this Tabernacle, which the people of Iſrael had here in the wildernes, which was a figure of the militant Church of Chriſt; neuer reſted in one place; it was caried to and fro: and therefore it quite ouerthrowes that firme and vniforme ſtate of the Church, which the Church of Rome now teacheth. The Tabernacle was not only aſſaulted of enemies, but alſo the Arke of God was taken of the Philiſtines: 1. Sa. 4.11.No doubt an euident argument, how Antichriſt ſhould poſſeſſe the viſible Church of God in our daies. The Church is a Tabernacle, it is a Shippe: it neuer continues in one place, nor in one ſtate: and therefore they are vnwiſe,Mat 8.24. 1. Pet. 1.25. that will build their faith on the outward ſhew or name or place thereof. But we know Gods word endureth the ſame for euer. And therefore the more ſurer way is to builde our faith on it.
The Leuites and Prieſts caried onelyonly the Tabernacle of the appointment of the Lord: Num. 1.51. Ioſ. 3.3.but the Church of Rome hath admitted & allowed her Friers to carie it, and hath diſpenſed with their Prieſtes. Their Friers preached the couenants of God, and his appointments made with man: Their Prieſts were bound to ſay their ſeruice onelyonly.Granat. prolog. memor. Thus much Granatenſis confeſſeth: This duty (ſaith he) eſpecially belongs to the Prieſts and Miniſters of the Church, whom God hath commaunded that they ſhould inſtruct and teach men in his law. And therefore among other ornaments of the high Prieſt was his breaſtplate of iudgement which he bare on his breaſt; wherein was engrauen learning and truth; which two things God would hauehave in Aaron… heart, that from him, as from a fountaine, all other men might draw learning and truth. And after writing of the ignorance of the cleargie, he writes thus: But now wo is me, the pariſh Prieſts and other Curates thinke that they are bound to nothing elſe, but to miniſter the Sacraments, and to ſay their ſeruice in due time, and doing this in Hamlets and villages, or in ſome townes they thinke that they hauehave verie well diſcharged their dutie and office. Thus much Granatenſis ſaw and condemned.
Exod. 25.2.The Tabernacle was made of the voluntarie offerings of the people: The Church of Rome had vowes, no man might be a prieſt, vnleſſe he would vow chaſtitie. Here was a yoke of neceſſitie laid vponupon their necks:Verſ. 2. This voluntarie offering was quite taken away. In the Tabernacle they offered onelyonly to God: but they in thoſe daies offred to creatures. And euerie one contributed ſomthing towards this building, none was excluded: but the cleargie in the Popes kingdome tooke vponupon themſelues only the name of ye Church, and excluded the people. Laſtly, this Tabernacle was builded in all points, Exod. 26.30.according to that patterne which Moſes ſaw in the Mount: Therefore euen as in Noah his Arke; ſo in Moſes Tabernacle, and ſo in Chriſts Church alſo, all mans deuiſes and inuentions muſt ſurceaſe. But the Church of Rome admits the inuentions and deuiſes of man in her buildings: And therefore as ſhe is vnlike to Noah his Arke; ſo ſhe is alſo diſagreeing to Moſes Tabernacle. And God commanded alſo Moſes beſides this tabernacle,Exod. 25. ve. 10 to make an Ark of Shittim wood two cubits & an halfe long, & a cubit & an halfe broad. And thou ſhalt ouerlaie it with pure gold, within and without ſhalt thou ouerlaie it: And ſhalt make vponupon it a crowne of gold round about it. This Arke, as the Tabernacle, did repreſent the Iewiſh Synagogue: ſo may it repreſent the Church of Chriſt,Eſay. 60.17. Verſ. 11. of which as the Prophet Eſay prophecieth: I will giuegive thee for ſiluer, gold; and for yron, ſiluer. So heere it was all couered with Gold, both within and without: no doubt with the gold of God,1. Io. 4.8. 1 Cor. 16.14 Phil. 3.12 that is, with charitie: For God is charitie, ſaith ſaint Iohn; and let all things be done with charitie, ſaith S. Paul. The length of it (two cubits and an halfe) declares that our perfection in this life, is but imperfect. The crowne of gold round about it, ſignifies that, as ſaint Iohn and ſaint Peter teach,1. Pet 2.9. Reuel. 1.6. all Chriſtians now are Kings and Prieſts.
And thou ſhalt caſt foure rings of Gold for it, Verſ. 12.and put them in the foure corners thereof: that is, two rings ſhal be on the one ſide of it, and two rings on the other ſide thereof: And thou ſhalt make barres of Shittim wood, and couer them with gold. And thou ſhalt put the barres in the rings by the ſides of the Arke, to beare the Arke with them: the barres ſhall be in the rings of the Arke: they ſhal not be taken away from it. Theſe foure rings doe liuely paint out vntounto vsus,Io. 20.31. 1. Ti 3 15. Ephe. 4.11 the foure goſpels of our Sauiour Ieſus Chriſt, which are rings, which are perfect and abſolute, which are faſtened to the Arke; which ſhould neuer be parted from the Church And the two barres put thorow them, couered alſo with gold to carie the Ark, ſignifie Paſtors and Doctors which preach theſe goſpels, and carie and ſpread the Church (being guilded with this gold of charity) thorow the whole world. And theſe all muſt ſtudie the goſpell: they muſt not be taken from it.
So thou ſhalt put in the Arke the teſtimonie that I ſhall giuegive thee. The teſtimonie is the law of God: Verſ. 16. Pſal. 19.7 Pſal. 119.129 Io. 14.6 Heb. 8.1. Act. 20.31. Nehem. 8.2. Heb. 8.11.which is not onelyonly a rule of our life, but alſo a couenant and contract betweene God and his people. And this teſtimonie muſt be in the Church of God continually; this ſhe muſt witnes to great and ſmall: This contract or bagaine euerie one muſt know that will be ſaued.
And thou ſhalt make a merciemercy ſeat of pure golde, Verſ. 17.two cubites and an halfe long, and a cubit and an halfe broad. And thou ſhalt make two Cherubims of gold, of worke beaten out with the hammer. Verſ. 19.Thou ſhalt make them at the two ends of the merciemercy ſeat. And the one Cherub ſhalt thou make at the one end, and the other Cherub at the other end (of the matter) of the merciemercy ſeat ſhal ye make the Cherubims, on the two ends thereof. This propitiatory or couering,Luke. 22.1… Io. 13.1. this mercy ſeate ſignifies Ieſus Chriſt. He was pure gold: His onelyonly louelove towards man cauſed him to be incarnate, nay to die for vsus. This merciemercy ſeat is in length and breadth, as much as the Arke; to declare, that all the Arke ſtands need of this propitiation and couering. So that now, as Dauid witneſſeth,Pſal. 32. ver. 1. the bleſſednes of euerie man liuing conſiſteth herein, that his ſinnes are couered. And ſaint Iohn teacheth all Chriſtians the vſe of this propitiatorie or ſeat of merciemercy: If anie man ſinne, we hauehave an aduocate with the father Ieſus Chriſt the righteous, 1. Io. 2.2.and he is the propitiation of our ſinnes. But this propitiatorie is but a cubit and a halfe: it is limited,2. Cor. 6.2. Heb. 3.15. Ma. 25.12. Gen. 6.3. Io. 3.4. it is not infinite. Now is the accepted time (ſaith ſaint Paul) now is the day of ſaluation. He that comes not to day and heares his voice, but hardens his heart, if he come the next day, with the fooliſh virgins ſhall be excluded. The olde world had a hundreth and twentie yeeres to repent in, and Niniuie fortie daies.
Verſ. 20.And the Cherubims ſhall ſtretch their wings on hie, couering the merciemercy ſeat with their wings, and their faces one to another. To the merciemercy ſeat ward ſhall the faces of the Cherubims be. The Cherubims ſtretch out their wings ouer the merciemercy ſeate, and ſo ouer the whole arke, to teach vsus that all Angels attend vponupon Ieſus Chriſt: are his ſeruants, to defend his Church, as he himſelfe witneſſeth to Nathaniel: Io. 1.50.51.And Ieſus anſwered and ſaid vntounto him, becauſe I ſaid vntounto thee, I ſaw thee vnderunder the figge tree, beleeueſt thou? thou ſhalt ſee greater things thē theſe. And be ſaid to him, Verily, verily I ſay to you, hereafter ſhal ye ſee heauen open, & the Angels of God aſcending & deſcending vponupon the ſon of man: Cyril in 2. ca. Io Heb. 1.14. 1. Pet. 1.2.…. as Cyrill expounds it, at his commaundement aſcending & deſcending for the ſaluation of the faithful, as S. Paul alſo witneſſeth: Are they not al miniſtring ſpirits ſent forth to miniſter for their ſakes which ſhal be heirs of ſaluatiō? And they turne their faces to the merciemercy ſeate, becauſe as Peter ſaith, they which hauehave preached the goſpell by the holy ghoſt ſent downe from heauen, hauehave preached ſuch pretious things, as the Angels deſire to behold.
And thou ſhalt put the mercy ſeat aboue vponupon the Arke: and nothing elſe.Verſ. 21. The true Arke of God then muſt alone worſhip Ieſus Chriſt, and for his ſake hope for merciemercy at Gods hands only.
Verſ. 21. Exod. 16.34. Deut. 10.2.31.26. 1. King. 8.9. Heb. 9.4. Io. 6.33. Rom. 10.9.And in the Arke thou ſhalt put the teſtimonie I will giuegive thee. EueryEvery member of the true Church muſt hauehave thoſe thrée things, which after were put in the Arke, in his heart: that is, the law of God which was contained in the two tables: A Gomer of Mannah, that is, Ieſus Chriſts incarnation; for he is the true Mannah that came down from heauen: And Aarons rod that budded, that is, his death and reſurrection. So that he that hath all theſe in the cloſet of his heart, ſhall be ſaued: and is Gods Arke, and is no doubt a member of the true Church.
And there I wil declare my ſelfe vntounto thee, Verſe, 22.from aboue the merciemercy ſeate betweene the two Cherubims, which are vponupon the Arke of the teſtimonie, I will tell thee all things which I wil giuegive thee in commandement vntounto the children of Iſrael. From this merciemercy ſeat procéeds all Gods ſpéeches with vsus:Ioſuah. 7. Exod. 12.13. 2. Cor. 4.1. Lam 3.22. here he heares all our prayers. Of his merciemercy he paſſed ouer the houſes of the Iſraelites, when as he deſtroyed ye Egyptians. Of his merciemercy Paul became an Apoſtle. It is the Lords merciemercy (ſaith Ieremy) that we are not conſumed, becauſe his compaſſions faile not.
The table alſo, being couered all with gold, Verſe, 23. Leuit. 24.5.being placed in the Tabernacle, whereon the ſhew bread, or as it is called in the Hebrew, the bread of faces, was ſet: Verſe, 29.which loaues were changed euerie ſabbaoth: and the crowne of gold round about the table, and the inſtruments for the table, as diſhes, incenſe cups, and gobblets, and the pure incenſe that was put vponupon them: what doe all theſe ſignifie but the miniſterie & the preaching of the Goſpell? The crowne about the table ſignifies, how glorious the preaching of the Goſpell ſhall be.2. Cor. 3.7. If the miniſtration of death (ſaith S. Paul) written with letters, and engrauen in ſtone, was ſo glorious, that the children of Iſrael could not behold the face of Moſes, for the glorie of his countenance, which glorie is done away: how ſhall not the miniſtration of the Spirit be much more glorious. The word of God alſo, may fitly be called the bread of faces. For God himſelfe, ſéeth both his ſtewards that diſtribute this bread, and his ſeruants that receiue it. And at that great day of account, he ſhall pronounce that ſteward bleſſed, Luk. 12 4….that hath giuen meat to his family in due ſeaſon. And again, thoſe ſeruants which hauehave receiued much, of them ſhall much be required: Luk. 12.48. Eſa. 35.11.not a crum of this bread ſhall be loſt, not one word of God ſhall returne to him emptie: it ſhall be either the ſauour of life or of death. 2. Cor. 2.1….And this bread was renewed eueryevery ſabboth. Still bread was ſet vponupon the table, but new bread euerie Sabboth day: to teach faithfull Paſtors, that they ſhould euerie Sabbath day preach, and breake this bread of life to their flockes.Luk. 4.16. So we read of our Sauiour, that as his cuſtome was, he taught the people euerie ſabbath day: to leaue all faithfull Paſtors a patterne to follow. And theſe loaues were ſet in order ſix on one ſide, and ſixe on another; to teach vsus that ye word of God hath meat fit for al ſtates & conditions of men;Pſal. 2.10. Pſal. 82.2. Rom. 13.1. Iam. 5.13.7. Act. 2.42. Ioſ. 6.10. for all times and ſeaſons; for kings, and euen for meaneſt ſubiects; for the time of proſperitie and of affliction. The pure incenſe placed vponupon theſe loaues declares, that we muſt ioyne prayers with preaching, and that our prayers muſt bée grounded on Gods word. In the ouerthrow of Iericho the people ſhould ſhout, but when Ioſuah appointed them: ſo in their ſpirituall warfare, muſt all the ſouldiers of Ieſus Chriſt not ſhout, nor pray no otherwiſe then he appointeth. The frankinſence muſt be put vponupon the loaues, becauſe prayer and hearing the word preached muſt be ioyned together. He that turneth away his eares from hearing the law (ſaith Salomon) his prayers be abominable. Prou. 2….9.The diſhes alſo and Goblets, and cuppes, which were made as inſtruments for the table, declare the diuers ſtates and conditions of men, which ſhould be in Chriſts Church: and the diuerſities of their gifts. 1. Cor. 12.4. Matt. 12.4. 1. Pet. 2.5. Reu. 1.6. Exod. 26.31. Rom. 15.4.And that the Prieſts ſhould only eat of that bread ſignifies, that all Chriſtians ſhould bee Kings and Prieſts: and ſhould now be partakers of thoſe heauenly dainties. And this Table ſhould be placed toward the North: to teach vsus, that the Scriptures were written (as S. Paul witneſſeth) that through patience and comfort of the ſcriptures, we might hauehave hope They are the only table of refreſhing,Epheſ. 6.15. amongſt the cold and Northren blaſts of this life: We muſt bee ſhod with the ſhooes of the Goſpell againſt the manifold thornes and pricks which Satan here in this life ſtrewes in our wayes, and in our iourney to heauen.
Exod, 25.31.The golden Candleſticke which God commaunded Moſes to make hauing one foot and a ſhaft, beaten our with hammers, hauing on euerie ſide therof three brāches cōming out of it, & eueryevery branch hauing 3 bowles, like to an Almond vpō it, & one knop & one flower, declares vntounto vsus alſo the miniſtery in the Church of God;Act. 26.18. Luk. 12.42. whoſe office is aſwell to giuegive light and to teach all, as to giuegive meate and food; and therefore héere they are compared to the candleſtick. And as before there was but one table; ſo heere there is but one Candleſticke, to declare the vnitie that ſhould be among the miniſters and paſtors of Chriſts Church. They ſhould all be as one:1. Cor. 1.10. There ſhould be no ſects or ſchiſmes amōgſt them. They ſhould go out to battell againſt their enemies, as the Iſraelits did,Iud. 20.8. euen as one man. The foote of this Candleſticke is Ieſus Chriſt, who alone ſuſtaines vsus,Matth. 28.2… Reu. 1.13. who is ſaid to be among the golden Candleſtickes.
The ſhaft thereof is the Apoſtles: out of which procéede thrée branches on the right ſide, and thrée on the left ſide; to teach vsus, that as there were falſe Prophets in the law, as Peter teacheth,2. Pet. 2.1. ſo there ſhould be alſo in the Goſpell.
This Candleſticke ſhall hauehave aſwell left branches, as right branches, euerie branch ſhall hauehave thrée bowles like Almonds, and a flower, and an apple. The bowles like Almonds declare ye doctrine they muſt preach. They muſt preach the Goſpel, that is,Mark. 16.15. comfortable doctrine, and glad newes: And this is to be bowles like Almond nuts.Leuinus Lemnius de herb… biblicis cap. 4…. For the Almond is comfortable and reſtoratiue. They muſt alſo hauehave an apple and a flower. They muſt not hauehave only flouriſhing words, but good works; that they may ſay with Paul: Brethren be followers of me. And againe,Phil. 3.17.4.8. Furthermore brethren, whatſoeuer things are true, whatſoeuer things are honeſt, whatſoeuer things are iuſt, whatſoeuer things are pure, whatſoeuer things pertaine to louelove, whatſoeuer things are of good report; if there be any vertue, if there be any praiſe: think on theſe things, which ye hauehave both learned, and receiued, & heard and ſeene in me. Thoſe things do, and the God of peace ſhall bee with you. By this type, we may learne the neceſſitie of the miniſterie in the Church. Who would dwell in a houſe which lacked light? What ioy can I hauehave (ſaith Tobias) that ſit in darknes, Tob. 5.12.and ſee not the light of heauen? Such is the eſtate of all men without the preaching of the word.verſ. 38. The ſnuffers alſo and the veſſels to put the ſnuffes in, doe teach firſt, that miniſters muſt hauehave a care of their doctrine, that it be cleare and pure, grounded of the Scriptures:Matth. 15.…. that no dregges of mans traditions be mingled with it: God will hauehave all his torches burne cleare, Secondly, the veſſels wherein the ſnuffes were put, doe comfort thoſe which hauehave meaner gifts in the Church: Thoſe which cannot be Apoſtles, or great Doctors, muſt not diſcourage themſelues: God had in his Tabernacle as well veſſels to hold the ſnuffes of the torches, as the torches themſelues. Laſtly, this candleſtick muſt bee Mikshah, beaten with hammers, not melted; ſound, not hollow:2. Cor. 2.4. to teach all Gods Miniſters to beware of hypocriſie: They muſt not make merchādize of the word of God.