Canterburys Doom, Branch 1 · Evidence 2 · Section 56 – Section 59
56. Paſſages expunged againſt Perſeverance in Grace.
IN Maſter Ward's Comentary on Mat. 24. 13. He that endured to the end, &c. this paſſage is raſed out, He that endures unto the end, &c. We may learn hence, that patience in perſecution and affliction, is not praiſe-vvorthy, except it be permanent and endure unto the end. How doth this appeare? Firſt, evidently by theſe places and proofes, Mat. 10. 22. Luke 21. In patience poſſeſſe your ſoules. Heb. 3. 6. & 6. 11. &c. unto the 15. and 12. 3. 12. and Jam, 5. 7. unto the 12. And ſecondly, becauſe vvithout this perſeverance vve ſhall have noreward. He vvho digges for Gold, muſt continue diging untill he come to the vein or oare, elſe he loſeth his labor. He vvho is upon a journey or race muſt continue therein untill he hath vvon his vvager, or reached his journies end. He vvho is fighting a Duel, muſt ſtand upon his guard and vvithſtand his antagoniſt, yea continue coragiouſly to oppoſe him, untill he have got the victory, othervviſe all he doth at firſt onſet is nothing. The Iſraelites vvent out of Egypt and yet never came to Canaan; and many begin vvell, vvho for vvant of perſeverance fall ſhort of their reward. What is here required of us? To labour to perſevere and abide rightly armed againſt all temptations and trials vvhatſoever, even unto the end. Hovv muſt vve doe this. Anſw. By theſe vvayes and means, to wit; Firſt, our ingreſſe into the liſts múſt be living and ſolid, and not ſleeping or dead; for otherwiſe vve can never endure to the end. Secondly, vve muſt not love but leave and relinquiſh the vvorld, 1 Iohn 2. 15. for otherwiſe vve ſhall never be able to hold out againſt the aſſaults of the vvorld. Thirdly, vve muſt be trained ſouldiers, and exerciſe our ſelves daily in the Lords liſts; that is, vve muſt frequently give our ſelves; 1. to meditation: 2. to the hearing of Gods vvord: 3. to the practice of piety: 4. to the oppoſing and reſiſting of iniquity, and all manner of vvickedneſſe: and 5. to the ſtrengthning and corroborating of our faith by the Word and Sacraments. Fourthly, vve muſt principally exerciſe our patience and labor that it may have its perfect vvorke in us. Who can be alwayes patient, or indure patient in perſecution and affliction unto the end? They can vvho have not placed their hope in this life or any thing therein, but live in Chriſt, and place all their hope and confidence in him, Coloſ. 3. 3. 4.
In the ſame Comentary on Mat. p. 277. writen copy, this whole diſcourſe is obliterated. The words in this place; The gates of hell ſhall never prevaile againſt it: ſer…e us as a ſtrong rocke to build perſeverance of grace and faith upon, both againſt the Papists, Pelagians, Socinians, and others: For here our Saviour plainly promiſeth, that againſt thoſe which build their faith upon this rock Chriſt, the gates of hell, and power of ſatan, ſhall never prevaile. To this Socinus (in tractatu, de loco; tu es Petrus) anſwers, That theſe words of Chriſts are not ſo to be underſtood, as though the Devill could not prevaile againſt any of the members of the true Church of Chriſt: but, that ſo long as they are the true members thereof, it is impoſſible that they ſhould be hardned by Satan or hell; that is, he promiſeth to the Church, ſo long as it remaines the Church of Chriſt, that the power of death ſhall not ſo prevaile againſt it, that it come into condemnation: but he doth not underſtand by the gates of hell, the craft, deceit and fraud of Satan, whereby he labours to ſeduce and enthrall ſome. Hereunto we anſwer; firſt, whatſoever is an adverſary to the building of the Church upon the Rock, or to the conſtant adhering of the Church unto Chriſt, that is underſtood by the prevailing gates of hell, (for in theſe words he removes the contrary of that which before he had laid downe; upon this Rock will I build my Church:) but the fraudulent and crafty temptations of Satan, which are effectuall or of force, to ſeduce or enthrall the faithfull are principall enemies to this building of the Church, and conſtant adhering unto Chriſt; and therefore theſe crafty and ſubtile tentations are underſtood by the gates of hell. Secondly, whatſoever comes out of the gates of hell, or hath its beginning from thence, that is here underſtood by this phraſe of the gates of hell; but the temptations of Satan are hatched in hell, and come from thence; therefore they are here ment by the gates of hell. Thirdly, if the condemnation of the faithfull onelyonly be underſtood here, by the gates of hell, then this promiſe may ſtand with the totall failing or falling away of the Church militant; (for then he ſhould promiſe nothing to the militant members of the Church, but onelyonly to the dead, who dye in faith:) but this is repugnant to the intention of Chriſt in this place, and to the interpretation of all Writers, and the opinion of all Chriſtians. Fourthly, Saint Peter himſelfe, unto whom our Saviour here ſpeakes, ſeems otherwiſe to interpret theſe words then Socinus doth, 1 Pet. 2, 7, 8. where the Apoſtle teacheth, that unbeleevers and diſobedient perſons, who ſtumble at Chriſt and are offended with him, doe belong unto thoſe gates, which doe impugne and aſſault that building which conſiſts of living ſtones, and is founded upon the corner ſtone and true rocke, Jeſus Chriſt. Fiftly, the proportion or analogy ought to be obſerved, which our Saviour here intimates and implyes, betwixt two Cities; the one of heaven, which hath her gates and keyes, verſe 19. and the other of hell; which by the gates of her plots, practiſes and provocations doe ſeek the ruine of the heavenly city. Now in this place our Saviour promiſeth (and would have us to beleeve it upon his word, that none of the plots, projects, aſſaults or batteries of the gates of hell ſhall prevaile againſt the heavenly City, the Church. And therefore ſeeing one City is oppoſed to the other, and the gates of the one to the gates of the other; and the one (viz. the Church) is conſidered in the ſtate and condition of her preſent building; it is very requiſite that the other ſhould reſpect her preſent impugning and aſſaulting of the other; and conſequently, the craft, deceit, and fraud of Satan, whereby he labors to ſeduce, enthrall and deceive the members of the Church.
Ibidem p. 201. Chriſt is Never (the Licenſer makes it ſemetimes) abſent from his children; and then blots out this enſuing clauſe; For he loves them unto the end, Joh. 13. 1, yea, promiſeth to be with them unto the end, Mat. 28. 20. yea, dwels in them by his ſpirit, 1 Cor. 3. 16. & … Cor. 6. 16. but yet he ſeemes ſometimes to be abſent. And pa. 57. Profeſſors are odious unto the world, and derided, ſcoffed and taunted at by the world; but the comfort is, that they are dear unto God, and precious in the ſight of Chriſt, who will acknowledge them to be his, when he doth deny and utterly diſclaime thoſe their mockers and deſpiſers. And thus the Lord hath particular conſolations for all particular ſorts of his ſervants: And 12. lines after; They ſtand or fall to their owne Maſter; yea, they ſhall ſtand, and none (neither ſinne or Satan) ſhall be able to plucke them out of Chriſt's hand, John 10. 18.
57. Paſſages purged out againſt the Popiſh Pyx and Tranſubstantiation.
IN Maſter Ward's Comentary on Matth. page 341. there is this deletion. Que. Who may be ment there, or to whom may theſe words be fitly applyed? Anſw. Theſe words of our Saviours doe neerly touch the Papiſts, for they can point with their fingers, and ſay, here is Chriſt, and there is Chriſt: Behold, in this Pyx are three Chriſts, in that five, in that ſeuen, in that more; therefore it is likely that Chriſt giveth us this ſpeciall watch-word, and ſuch others, Beleeve them not.
Queſt. What doth our Saviour forewarne us of here?
Anſw. We have in this verſe a charge from Chriſt, that if thoſe Impoſtors, the Papiſts, ſhould ſay unto us of him; behold, he is in ſecret places or cloſets, we ſhould not beleeve it; and this is moſt appliable unto them who tell us; that Chriſt is to be found in a Pyx, and think that they have him in ſafe cuſtody, under lock and key.
59. Paſſages deleted againſt Prayer to Saints; Popiſh Prayers; the Merit of Prayer; praying firſt for spirituall things; and praying towards the Eaſt.
In Doctor Clerks Sermons page 140. l. 12. after yea, and then, the Licenſer hath expunged this following ſentence: The Papiſts are foulely befoold, who have prayed ſo long to Saints, being but damned ſpirits, and all in hell.
Ibid. page 219. l. 6. after that word mostly, this is deleted: Frayers, Papiſts ſay Saints pray; they want naught themſelves, but pray for us; they there fore pray to them; proofe from Scripture they preſſe but very poore; faine to fetch instance from hell: Dives prayed for his brethren: Bellarmine's reaſon, worthy a Cardinals hat, Happily.
In Maſter Wards Comentary on Matthew page 82. this is gelded out: When a Papiſt prayeth to any Saint in heaven; for ſometimes they pray to thoſe, who in all probability are in hell, as Thomas Becket, Hildebrand, and divers cheating impostors.
Ibip. page 164. 161. 168. 169. this is deleted: Let thoſe therefore who call upon the name of the Lord, depart from all iniquity, and let them labour to abound in all vertues, both morall and theologicall, that ſo our profeſſion may be praiſed both of prophane and civill men.
Thirdly, the Papiſts have Rimes, which muſt be ſaid over three or four times every day; certainly with a little paines a man might make a good Parret, a good Papiſt, for he might be taught all this; therefore they were forced to cry much and long.
The Papiſts ſay, prayer is a Meritorious work, as hath been elſewhere ſhewed; Againſt which, we urge this place thus; we muſt not pray as the heathen did, for they thought to be heard for the merit of their long prayers: therefore it becommeth not Chriſtians to pray with any opinion to be heard. Anſw. 2. Spirituall graces are to be demanded before temporall good. Thirdly, we have no true right unto temporall things, nor proper intereſt in them, nor any true warrant to beg them, untill we be converted; and therefore temporall things are not firſt to be deſired: Our Saviour teacheth onelyonly thoſe to pray for temporall bleſſings, that can call God father, as we ſee in the preface of the Lords Prayer, which we cannot doe aright untill we be converted.
Ibidem page 341. this is deleted; Object. It is controverted betwixt us and the Papiſts, concerning the formes of Churches; and Bellarmine affirmes, that they ſhould be built Eaſt and Weſt, that ſo when we pray therein, our faces might be turned towards the Eaſt: and for the prooſe hereof, he produceth this place; Ab oriente venturus ereditur ad judicium; It is beleeved that Chriſt will come unto judgement from the Eaſt, therefore we ought to pray towards the Eaſt.
Anſw. Firſt, creditur, it is beleeved (ſaith he) namely, by thoſe who can beleeve what they liſt, though never ſo abſurd, &c. See page 299.