The Joy of the English Church for the Coronation of Pious Prince James, Meditations on psalm · Part · Meditation 12
The 12. meditation.
To the testimonie of Israel] That is, at Ierusalem was the arke, which was called the testimonie of God, because in them were kept the two tables of stone, which were testimonies of Gods presence, Exod. 25. 16. 22. Beside before the Arke was placed the pot of Manna, Exod. 16. 34. and some good while after, Aarons rodde that budded, was also put before the testimonie, Num. 17. 10. So then these three monuments of Gods presence were with the Arke, the tabernacle of the testament, the golden potte of Manna, and Aarons rodde that budded, Hebr. 9. 4. The Arke thus furnished is called the testimonie, whereby God did testifie his presence to his Church.The testimonie and cognizance of the old church of Israel. The same also are the sure signes and markes of the Church of God now: the word of God represented by the tables of the law, the sacraments signified by the potte of Manna, and discipline by Aarons rodde. But all these are not of the like necessitie: for as the tables onelyonly were within the arke, the other before it, Exod. 25. 16. but the pot of Manna was there first placed, and last of all Aarons rodde: so the most essentiall note of the Church, is the word of God, the next the sacraments, the third is discipline, which so much concerneth not the beeing, as the well beeing, not the essence, but the magnificence, not the making, but the beautifying of the Church. Now that these are testimonies to the Church, the word and sacraments, as the arke was to Israel, it thus appeareth:
1. Saint Paul sheweth, that this was the preferment of the Iewes; to them were committed the oracles or words of God, rom. 3. 2. hereby were they knowne to be the people of God. Likewise els where he thus describeth the Church: Christ doth clense it by the washing of water through the word, Eph. 5. 26. These two thē, the word, and the sacraments, are the onelyonly meanes whereby the Church is cleansed, and so made a fit habitation for God.
2. Thus S. Paul reasoneth for his coū trimen, proouing them to be the Israelites, that is, the church of God, because to thē belonged the couenants, Rom. 9. 4.and the giuing of the lawe, and the seruice of God, foreign, which comprehendeth the ceremonies and sacraments of religion.
Thus the Apostle prooueth himselfe a member of the Church, because he was circumcised, &c. and as touching righteousnesse, which was by the lawe, he was vnreprooueable, Philip. 3. 6. He was both imitated by the sacraments and instituted in the doctrine of the lawe.
3. Like as the Lord threatneth to remooue his candlesticke from the Church of Ephesus, Reuel. 2. 5. that is the ministerie of the word: for as when the candle & candlesticke are taken away there is nothing but darkenesse in the house:The word and sacraments essentiall notes of the Church. so is it, when any place is depriued of the light of Gods word: These two then, the word of God rightly preached, and the sacraments duly administred, are as the breasts of the Church; and where these are not, there are not breasts, as the Church speaketh of the Gentiles not yet called: We hauehave a little sister, and shee hath no breasts, Cant. 8. 8. But the Church saith of her selfe, my breasts are like towers, v. 10. that is, where the word of God and sacraments are found in integritie, that Church hath goodly breasts indeede.
4. The reason is, because it is most like that God will bestow his best gifts vponupon his beloued Church: he will plant the vinyard with the best plants, Isa. 5. 2. But a more excellent gift can there not be, then to hauehave the word, the statutes and ordinā ces of Gods, as Moses saith: What nation is so great, that hath ordinances and lawes so righteous, as all this lawe which I set before you this day? Deut. 4. 8.
5. First then, where are they, whether papists, or other whatsoeuer, that say, there is no Church in England? hauehave we not the word of God, and the Sacraments? these are sufficient testimonies and euidences of Gods presence. To say, that these are not sufficient notes of Gods church, as the Papists affirme, is to speake ignorantly & falsely, for whereby was the auntient Church of Israel discerned, but by the law and statutes of God, and the true seruice of his name? and to denie that the Church of England hath either word or sacramēts, as some schismatickes doe, is to speake absurdly, and contrarie to their owne knowledge: for if that be Gods word which is contained in the olde and new testaments, and these the sacraments which Christ hath instituted; then hath the Church of England both, professing the first, and celebrating the second. We teach no doctrine but concluded out of the Scriptures, we receiue no sacraments, but those instituted by our Sauiour.
Concerning discipline,Of the discipline o… the Church. neither is the Church of England destitute of it altogether: for where the word of God and the sacraments are, it is not possible that all discipline should be exiled: I graunt, that the discipline of the English Church may be much amended, and I trust in time shall: many defects and wants are amongst vsus. We doe not conceale our imperfections, nor iustifie what is amisse;In the commination. as is extant in the booke of common praier in these wordes: vntill the said discipline may be restored (which thing is much to be wished.) But it followeth not, that where discipline is wanting, the Church is fading, and that the infirmitie of the one maketh a nullity of the other: The Church of the Iewes thus saith of the Church of the Gentiles: If shee be a wall, we will build vponupon her a siluer pallace, if shee be a doore we will keepe her in with bonds of cedar, Can. 8. 9. Shee calleth her sister, because shee had a wall, though not of siluer, and a doore, though not of cedar. And England, thankes be to God, is a famous and beutifull sister to all reformed Churches, though shee may hauehave some spots in externall matters.The 12. benefit, reformation of things amisse. But our trust is, that if it yet be not, her wall shall be made more costly, and siluerlike, and her doore of Cedar, when God will: In the meane time, what great thanks should we giuegive vntounto God, that hath not remooued the arke of his testimonie from vsus, as he did from Israel, when it was taken of the Philistims? 1. Sam. 4. nor taken away the candlesticke from vsus, as from Ephesus, Reuel. 2. 5. Yet by our sinnes we had deserued it, as much as either: but hath in his mercy raised vp a Dauid vntounto his church, to keepe and defend the arke in Ierusalē still.
Lastly, as these are testimonies and euidences to the whole Church, the word & Sacraments, so ought they to be to eueryevery true mēber of the Church, that eueryevery one also by his faithfull hearing of the word, and fruitfull receiuing of the Sacraments, may iudge himselfe a liuely member of Christs bodie, and grow vp thereby to the assurance of his calling: for as our Sauiour saith, My sheepe heare my voice, Ioh. 10. 16. He that heareth and beleeueth the voice of Christ our great sheapheard, is certainely one of his sheepe. By the fruite and effect of the word a man may discerne of himselfe, whether he be good or badde ground: for if the word fructifie in him, he is of the good kinde, but if he bring forth thornes and briars, he is a reprooued ground, neere vntounto cursing, whose ende is to be burned, as the Apostle saith, Heb. 6. 8. So Augustine to the same purpose: Quicquid loquimur in nomine Domini Dei imber est; videte qualis terrae sitis, In Psal. 98. in finequi peior est factus, ignem speres, pluviam non accuset, qui melior factus, …orreum speret pluuiam laudes: Whatsoeuer we say vntounto you in the name of the Lord, is the Lords raine, see you, what manner of ground yee be: if thereby ye become worse and bring forth thornes and brambles, feare the flames, blame not the showers. If ye are made better, and bring forth good fruit, hope for the …arne, and praise the raine.