A Catholicon, Part 1 · Subpart 10
The tenth lecture.
Uers. 12. These are spottes in your feastes of charitie, &c. without all feare feeding thē selues.]
As before the Apostle amplified this part, in describing the corruptions of these hypocrites by examples, so nowe he doeth illustrate the same by diuers similitudes: by the first, in calling them spots in feasts, he setteth forth gluttonie; by the two next of drie cloudes and barren trees, their hypocrisie: comparing them to the foaming sea, he sheweth their vaine glorie: by the similitude of wandring starres, which are dimmed and darkened, their euerlasting miserie.
We see then that this is a sure note of a carnall professour that onelyonly seeketh his Doctr. 1.pleasure, to pamper and feed his bellie, and to liue delicately.
So S. Peter saith, they count it pleasure to liue deliciously for a season, spottes they are and blottes, in feasting with you, &c. 1. Pet. 2. 13. Of such also S. Paul speaketh, whose God is their bellie, whose glory is their shame, Phil. 3. 19. Such were those Israelites, which perished hauing the flesh yet within their teeth, Numb. 11. 33. Such were they in the prophet Amos time, that did eate the lambes of their flockes, and calues of the stall, and did drinke wine in bowles: but no man is sorrie for the affliction of Ioseph, Amos …. 6. that is, they did eate and drinke without all feare of God, or pitie to his poore afflicted members.
So then, like as a spotte or blemish in a comely face, so were they a disgrace to the charitable feasts of the Church, which were then vsed for the cherishing of brotherly louelove and releeuing of the poore. Like the fowles that did seaze vponupon Abrahams sacrifice▪ Gen. 15. 11. so these deuoure holy things, and pollute the holy feasts.
The reason is expressed by the Apostle, They make their bellies their Gods, &c. because they minde earthly things. Philip. 3. 19.
First, this note may fitly be applied against the Monkes idle Epicures life in Error 34. Monkes idle bellies.poperie, whose chiefe desire was to feede their bellies, furnish their tables, and fill their kitchins; as Erasmus wittily answered the Duke of Saxonie, asking his opinion of Luther, that he medled with two dangerous points, the Popes crowne, and the Monkes bellie.
Secondly we are taught, not to be giuen to a greedie appetite: for such an one, doth as the wise man saith, put a knife to his throat. Proverb. 23. 2. He that eateth and drinketh more then sufficeth, doth eate and drinke to his owne hurt both of bodie and soule. We should then behaue our selues at feasts, as in the presence of God: as it is said of Iethro Moses father in law, that he did eate before God, Exod. 18. 12. and the elders of Israel saw God and did eate and drinke; so let vsus so eat and drinke, that we may see God, that we be not made vnapt to praise him, and pray vntounto him.
Cloudes without water, corrupt trees, &c.] The word is foreign, pthinoporina: Doctr. 2.which signifieth trees of autumne decaying, when the fruit is gathered. By this then the Apostle setteth out their hypocrisie, that made a shewe of religion, as cloudes promise water, and trees fruit, and yet yeild none: so these promised to their sectaries great matters both for their doctrine and life, and yet performed neither.
Of such speaketh the Apostle, 2. Timoth. 3. 5, 6. Which hauehave a shew of godlinesse, yet denie the power thereof: of this sort are they, &c. which lead captiue simple women laden with sinnes, and ledde with diuers lusts.
Such were the Pharisies, Math. 23. 15. That compasse sea and land to make a Proselyte, and when he is made he is twofold more the child of hell then your selues: that is, there was neither true doctrine, nor holines of life to be found in their religion.
Very wel is the doctrine and life of such compared to the grasse in the house top, wherewith the mower cannot fill his hand, Psal. 129. 6. and as potsheards couered with siluer, Prou. 26. 23. such is the profession of hypocrites.
The reason hereof the Apostle sheweth, 2. Tim. 3. 5. before rehearsed. They denie the power of godlinesse, contenting thē selues onelyonly with the shew thereof: for remedie whereof, S. Peter biddeth vsus to sanctifie the Lord God in our hearts: that is, not to leaue, till we feele the power of religion within vsus.
First, this doctrine laieth open the hypocrisie of Papists, and nakednes of their religion: which hath no true substance of Error 35.comfort in it. For this I dare be bold to No true comfort in pope…i….say, that a reprobate may goe eueryevery iotte, foote by foote, as farre as is required of a Papist: and notwithstanding the goodly promises which they make of their religion, their followers remaine still in feare, doubt, and vncertentie of saluation, and many of them the children of hell, that they may truly say vntounto them, as Iob to his friends, Miserable comforters are ye, and physitians of no value, Iob 13. 4. Secondly we are taught, that professe the Gospel, that we be not as wells without water, or cloudes without raine, or trees without fruit, but that all, both pastour and people, doe adorne our holy profession with wholesome fruits, not ouerthrowing in practise, which we build by our profession, nor destroying by life, what we defend by learning.
v. 13. They are the raging waues of the sea, foaming out their owne shame, &c.] Here Doctr. 5.the Apostle toucheth their vaine glorie, that in their raging affections both ambitiously commend themselues, and malitiously despite others, which is but a reuealing of their owne shame.
So the Apostle saith, Their glorie is their shame. Phil. 3. 19. S. Peter saith, Speaking swelling wordes of vanitie, they beguile with wantonnes, &c. 2. Pet. 2. 18. Such an one was proud Diotrephes, that pratled against the Apostle with swelling words. Ioh. epist. 3. v. 10. Such were the swelling and malitious words of the false prophet Zidkiah, when he smote Micaiah vponupon the face, saying, When went the spirit of the Lord from me to speake vntounto thee? 1. king. 22. 24.
This similitude the Apostle taketh from the prophet Isai, 57. 20. The naked are like the raging sea, &c. whose waters cast vp myre and dirt: so these by the foame of their mouthes and wordes, doe cast vp the dirt of their hearts.
Our Sauiour Christ sheweth the reason, Math. 12. 34. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh: as their heart is wicked and corrupt, so are their words.
First then this note fitly agreeth to all Error 36.popish writers: for let a view be taken of their bookes; therein shall you finde cursing, rayling, proud boasting, presumptuous Papists rayl…rs.words, blasphemous speaches; so that their manner of style and writing doth easily bewray their enuious spirit wherewith they are pricked forward: they call vsus heretikes, reprobates, accursed, worse then turks, with such like opprobrious tearmes: as also, while they defend the grossest errours of poperie, as of the carnall presence, purgatorie, adoration of images, works of supererrogation, and such like, they foame out their owne shame.
Secondly, we are taught eueryevery man to gouerne his tongue: to refraine lying, slandering, swearing: for what doe these else, then bewray their filthie shame, neither shall escape vnpunished: as Psal. 52. 4. Thou louest all words that may destroy, so shall God destroy thee for euer: and therefore, Prou. 14. 3. it is said, that in the lippes of fooles is a rodde of pride: that is, his proud foolish tongue is a rod to whip himselfe.
As wandring starres, to whome is reserued the blacknes of darknes for euer:] That is, Doctr. 4.horrible and euerlasting darkenes. Here then the doctrine is, that they which doe erre themselues and mislead others as they delighted in darknes, so shall be punished with euerlasting darknes.
This the Apostle sheweth, thus alleadging out of the Psalme, Destruction and calamitie, are in their waies, the way of pease (or truth) they hauehave not knowne, Rom. 3. 17. They are ouerwhelmed with destruction, because they peruerted others with their errors.
Such was that great seducer Simon Magus, to whome S. Peter saith, Thy money perish with thee, &c. thou hast neither part nor fellowship in this busines, Act. 8. 21.
For like as wandring starres doe sometime loose their light, beeing ouershadowed of the funne: and as falling starres, are extinct like a torch quenched in waters, Reuel. 8. 10. so are false teachers compared: and they hauehave the key of the bottomlesse pit to open it to themselues and others. Reuel. 9. 1.
The reason is giuen by the Apostle, 1. Ioh. 1. 5. God is light, and in him is no darkenesse: therefore they which delight in error and darknesse, can hauehave no accesse vntounto God.
First we see the ende of all seducers and false teachers, whether Papists or others: the deuill that deceiued, and false prophets, shall be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone. Reuel. 20. 10.
Secondly, neither giuegive you eare to false and erroneous doctrines, to be as wandring starres to wander from one doctrine to an other to your owne confusion.