The Worlds Resurrection, Section 6 – Section 11
And I am left alone.
Herein Elias (if we diligently heed the story and time wherein he prophecied) who a little before thought that he had conuerted most of the Israelites, and now he thinketh that they hauehave vniuersally reuolted from true religion, wee are taught that the most excellent seruants of God hauehave their errours and infirmities, one while, they conceiue ouer-well of men, and another while ouer-ill. Act. 15. ver. 37.38.39.
1. Vse. If so rare and singuler men these many times erre and are deceiued, let no man presume too much of his owne knowledge, learning and iudgement, but walke humbly, and alwayes suspect his owne ignorance and weakenesse, and let him iudge rashly or ouer-hastily of no man, but reserue all secret iudement to God.
If none for the present ioyne with him in the open defense of Gods worship,Rom. 14. v. 4. or if none such be knowne, yea if they should all forsake him, as all forsooke Paul when he was conuented before Nero, let them not bee discouraged, but goe on boldly, trusting in God, and the goodnesse of their cause,2. Kin. 6. v. 16. and God will assist, strengthen, deliuer, yea and glorifie them. God being on a mans side, who can be against him, nay he hath more with him, then against him; and other mens generall Apostacie, or starting aside from their dutie and obedience, cannot possibly depriue him of his crowne: for hee shall liue by his faith, and the more temptations, and discouragements, hee findeth to hinder him, the greater will be his praise, preferment and exaltation in the end. Paraph.But what saith the answer (or oracle) of God to him. i. We must rather in this Apostacie of the Church attend what the Lord the God of trueth saieth, then rest vponupon the coniecture of Elias: … hauehave left or reserued to my selfe. i. I hauehave preserued from death and idolatry, 7000. men. i. a great number of men, women, and children, for seauen a set number, is put (here as in other places of Scripture) for one indefinite or vncertaine number: that hauehave not bowed their knees to the image of Baall. i. that hauehave not polluted themselues with idolatry, no not so much as in outward gesture and action. Euen so at this present time. i. in the time of the new Testament, there is a remnant, i. a small remainder of Iewes in comparison of those that perish, through the election of grace, i. whom God of his grace and fauour hath elected to euer-lasting life, and which shall be saued by faith in Christ.
Questions out of the 4. & 5. verses. Doth the Church of God neuer faile or cease to be vponupon the earth?
An. No, for albeit many times and in many places the church ceaseth to be visible, conspicuous and glorious; yet the true Catholicke and inuisible Church, which consisteth onelyonly of the number of the Predestinate and Elect, euer was, is, and shall be; and shall alwayes remaine in the world in one place or other For first, it neuer failed when it was brought to the greatest extremities, but (at length) it hath alwayes lifted and put forth her head out of the darkenesse where-with it was oppressed. Secondly Christ his kingdome is eternall,Luke 1. v. 33. Dan. 7. v. 14. and shall neuer end, but shall last and indure for euer, when other kingdomes shall bee ouerthrowne, destroyed and extinct. Thirdly, Gods couenant made with the Iewes and Gentiles, viz. that hee will be their God, and the God of their seed, is euerlasting and vnchangeable, therefore there must needs be some, in whom the couenant must bee ratified and accomplished. Lastly, Gods promises cannot lye, and his power can doe althings, and God doth nourish and preserue the church by his word and prouidence, when impietie and idolatry eueryevery where preuaileth.
2. Que. Had God any church and people in the middest of the darkenesse of Poperie, when tyrants and false Teachers laboured, vtterly to roote it out?
An. Yes, as may especially appeare, Apoc. 12.16. where the woman the Church flying into the wildernesse. i. to places vnknowne, to the aduersaries, had a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundreeh and three score dayes. i. they were nourished by ordinary meanes,Apoc. 12 v. 7. by hearing some true things of their owne Teachers, and partly by learning true faith and doctrine of other better teachers, partly by reading the holy scriptures, and by meditating and musing of it by themselues, and by conferring with others.
Secondly, the Papists had some things that appertaine to the true Church, as Baptisme (albeit not altogether purely administred) the Scriptures, the Apostles Creede, the Commandements, the Lords prayer, and a certaine ministerie.
Thirdly, in the ruinous state, darkenesse and Apostacie of a Church, the very reading and repeating of the word, yea, the very sound and report of it is (by Gods extraordinary working) sufficient and effectuall to saue all those whom God will hauehave saued. Act. 11. v. 20. & 21. Iohn 4.28.29.40.41 42. Rom. 10 18.
Lastly, God hath his Church and seed, euen in Babylon, (albeit in faith and affection separated and disioyned from her) Apoc. 12.7. and these the Dragon maketh warre with; Likewise Apoc; 18.4. where Gods people are exhorted to come out of Babilon, &c. ergo, there were some elect, and some of Gods people there.
Quest. Therefore may not we perswade our selues that many of our Ancestors and fore-fathers were saued in the middest of Poperie?
An. Yes doubtlesse, as well as in the corrupt and Apostaticall time of Elias, for nothing hath in the Papacie befallen the Church which hath not befallen vntounto it in times past.
Secondly (besides the reasons expressed in the answer to the former question) many of them kept and held the principles and foundations of faith, and so rightly enformed their children, seruants, and families therein, Apoc. 13.8.
Thirdly, there hauehave beene some that hauehave alwayes and openly, by preaching, writing, and disputation, opposed and set themselues against the corruption of error, Apoc. 11.3.4.5.6.11. & 12.Illyricus. and this is also manifest by Illyricus his catalogue of the witnesses of the truth.
Fourthly, many thousand children Baptised (and so holy) dyed in their infancie and child-hood, before they could be infected and poysoned with the pestilence of error,1. Cor. 7. v 14. and so were saued.
Fiftly, God pardoneth many faults and infirmities in his children, whose hearts and mindes are right with him. Mal. 3. v. 17.
Lastly, many of our Ancesto… (albeit transported with the common invndation of error) did before the end of this life, repent of their sin, and vtterly renounce and disclaime their owne merites and all confidence in them, and relied vponupon Christ onelie by true faith and so were saued.
Q. Why doth God sometimes suffer his Church to bee brought into such affliction, darkenes & extremities that the outward face of it cannot be seene and discerned?
A. For two causes, first, because the world & the wicked is,Heb 11.38. Math. 21. vers. 41. and 43 altogither vnworthy of the fellowship of Gods Saints and the ministery of the word, and therefore God hath most iustly depriued them of it.
Secondly, God for the preseruation of the Church will hauehave it sometimes to bee secret and vnknowne, for otherwise the world seeing it, would inuade and destroy it. Apoc. 12.6.
Q. Is it not lawfull, yea and sometimes expedient for a true and sound Christian, for the auoding of offence and the preseruation of his life, to dissemble his religion, and to goe to Masse and Idoll seruice?
A. No, for first it is not sufficient for vsus, to keepe our mindes free from assent vntounto, and from approbation of idolatry, but wee must keepe our bodies vndefiled also 2. Cor. 7.1.1 Cor. 6. v. 19 and 20 Secondly God created and Christ redeemed both soule and body, & therefore wilbe serued with both.
Thirdly, God requireth not only the beliefe of the heart, but also the confession of the mouth yea and the outward gesture and action also; Rom. 10.9. Luk. 9.26. otherwise wee play the Hypocrites and God will discouer and detest vsus.
Forthly, the offence that Idolaters conceiue, is by them taken and not by vsus giuen, and therefore we are not in this regard to respect them at all. Math. 15.12.13.14. And if we should communicate with them in their Idolatrous worship we should both harden them in their error and destroy, or (at least) weaken the faith of others; & touching preuention of danger, we must vse no vnlawful means to diuert it, but commit our selues and cause vntounto the power,Psal. 37. ver. 5 and 6. Mich. 7. v. 7. and 9. prouidence and goodnesse of the almighty, who will dispence and dispose of all things for our good and knoweth how to deliuer vsus.
Lastly in respect of maintenance of Gods glory our liues, yea, (if neede should require) our saluation should not be deare and pretious vntounto vsus. Apoc. 12.11. and it is giuen vntounto the true members of the Church (as a speciall priuiledge) not onelyonly to beleeue in Christ but also to suffer for him.Phil. 1. v. 9
I hauehave reserued vntounto my selfe.
It belongeth vntounto God only to preserue his church and children from Idolatry,Doctr. sinne and temptation, euen then when the greatest number perish Hosea 13.9.2. Pet. 2.9.Apoc. 3.10
Rea. The reason hereof is because it is not in the power and ability of any mortal man to saue himself, but it must proceed from the power and promise of God onelyonly.
Vse. It condemneth all conceite of our owne excellency and presumption, which wee see how God correcteth in his owne deare children, as in Dauid, Peter and others.
2 Vse. Secondly in all temptatious and dangers, we must depend onelyonly of Gods omnipotency, goodnesse and merciemercy, and by earnest praier and supplication craue assistance and strength from God who will denie vsus nothing tha… we aske in faith and in his Sonnes name▪ Luk. 11.13. Ioh. 15.16. Ioh. 5.14.
To my selfe 7000.
Hence we learne the perpetuitie and euerlasting continuance of the true Church of Christ vponupon the earth vntounto the worlds end Math. 28. vers. 19 and 20.Doctr. Ephe. 4. v. 11 and 12.13
It is not in the power and policy, might or malice of the diuil and all his instruments, whether tyrants or Seduce… and false Prophets, to roote it out and extinguish it. It is built vponupon Christ, Math. 10 v. 18 Psal. 25. ver. 1and the gates of hell cannot preuaile against it, it is the mount Syon, that shal neuer be remoued, and the ship tossed and turmoiled in the waters, billowes, tempests, and windes of this malignant world, and yet shal neuer sinke Math. 8. vers. 25. and 26.
Reason. For Gods couenant is an euerlasting couenant, his merciemercy endureth for euer, his truth shal neuer faile towards the Church,Isay 55. ver. 3 he is alwaies with them to the end of the world, & is both able and ready to helpe and releeue them in all dangers and difficulties.
The vses hereof are manifold and most comfortable.
Math. 28. ver. 20.1 Vse. We must learne hence, neuer, (no not in the most dead, desperate and declining state of the Church) with Elias, rashly to condemne it: for if the most Eagle-eyed & sharpe-sighted Prophets hauehave beene deceiued herein, much more may wee, that are in so many respects so farre behind them and inferior to them.
2 Vse We must not bee daunted and disheartned, much lesse despaire of Gods Church and the preseruation of a seed and remnant, when the Godly are diminished, yea and sometimes non inuenti sunt, and the wicked braue it out, tyranize ouer the Church and are exceedingly multiplied; for many that seeme good are but hypocrites and dissemblers and the Godly themselues (albeit liuing amongst vsus) are not alway knowne vntounto vsus.1 King. 8. 4 et 15. It is proper to God onelyonly, to know the heart and to know his. 2. Tim. 2 19. and God in the corruptest estate of a Church that can bee immagined, reserueth a remnant to himselfe.
3 Vse In this case wee must walke by faith and not by sight, and iudge not by the outward apparence wherein the wisest and the best may be, and are oft deceiued, but iudge by the written word and where that determineth not, to suspend our opinion and reserue secret iudgement vntounto God, who wil further manifest the truth in his good time. Deut 15.15.
Which hauehave not bowed their knees to Baal.
Doctr.From the authoritie and force of this place, I obserue: That the Godly must not in the least things expresly forbidden, consent vntounto and communicate with Idolatry, no not in the outward gesture of kneeling, kissing, gazing, bodily presence. Daniel 3.15.16.17.18.
The first reason hereof is, because wee are to make a conscience of all Gods commandements and to abstaine from all appearance or foreign. 1. kinde of euill.1 Thess. 5. ve.
Secondly, they that carelesley assent and yeeld vntounto that which is apparently euill, are many times and may be drawen vntounto greater cuills and sinnes,A similitude. euen as he that walketh to neere the pit-brinke or riuers side, may sometimes fall in, and be drowned, especially if God (to punish his rashnesse and presumption) leaue him to himselfe as he left Aa…on, and Peter for the time.
Vse. Hereby the wisdome, zeale and practise of those Christians is highly commended, who choose rather to hide themselues in Den…es, Heb. 11 v. 30Caues, Mountaines, yea, and wander vp and downe in sheepe skinnes and in goates skinnes, being destitute, afflicted and tormented, then in Churches and the Groues of Idolatry to shew any countenance by any out-ward gesture or behauiour.
2 Vse. It condemneth the fearefulnesse, and hypocrisie of such who thinke it sufficient if they hauehave (as they say) faith in their hearts, and keepe their consciences to themselues, and so outwardly communicate with Idoll and false worship, but the commandement of God, the practise of Christ, the Prophets, Patriarkes, Apostles, Confessors, Martirs, and of all sincere Churches, is directly against it.
3 Vse. Thirdly we must bee so farre from condemning Gods blessed seruantes and martyrs for tendernes of consience and scrupulosity herein, that wee must our selues with ioynt harmony and consent of heart and bodie fly and shun all iust shew and appearance of Idolatry.
Euen so then at this present there is a remnant through the election of grace.
This verse conteyneth, the illustration and probation of Paules proposition touching the reiection of the Iewes: and the summe of the comparison is this. Euen as in the daies of Elias, all the children of Israell seemed to hauehave fallen away from the true worshippe of GOD to the adoration of Baal, and yet notwithstanding there were seauen thousand, (though vnknowne to Elias) that neuer bowed their knee to the Idoll; euen so at this time there is a reseruation of many elect amongst the Iewes, albeit the greater part of them (for the time) are cast away. From this application and comparison of the Apostle, this instruction and doctrine offereth it selfe to our consideration, viz. That God is alwaies true and like himselfe and neuer changeth his nature, couenant, promises Psalm. 89. vers. 33 and 38. Romanes 3, 4. 2. Samuel 7.28. And therefore it cannot bee that hee hath wholy reiected all the Iewes. For God is voide of all corruption and alteration in his essence, it can neuer faile but remaineth the same from et…rnity to eternity.
Secondly, he is constant and vnmoueable in his will, he keepeth all his decrees once made, and he neither changeth them nor hath any need so to do.
1. Vse. This serueth notably for our comfort and consolation in this life: for Gods decree of election is certaine, & the grace of God in his elect is perpetuall. Rom. 11.30. Ier. 31. ver. 31. Therefore we cannot miscarry.
2. Vse. Whereas God is alwaies like him and vnchangeable, we must learne hence to be constant, stedfast and vnchangeable in all duties of piety to God, of sobriety to our selues, and of charity and iustice towards all men: otherwise as it is a shrewd and fearefull signe of Bastardy when the child in nothing resembleth the parents, so it is a dangerous signe that wee bee none of the Lords, when we are so ticklish fickle and false in our duties and couenants both to God and men, herein nothing resembling the Maiesty of God.
V. 5. A remnant through the election of grace.
V. 6. And if it be of grace then it is no more of workes, or els were grace no more grace.