Of Domestical Duties, Treatise 1 · Section 17 – Section 26
§. 17. Of the relation betwixt Christ and the Church.
EPHES. 5. 23, 24.
23. Chriſt is the head of the Church: and he is the Sauiour of the body.
24. The Church is ſubiect vntounto Chriſt in eueryevery thing.
| BEhold here the mutuall relation betwixt | Chriſt, |
| the Church. |
Wherein note concerning Chriſt,
1. His preheminence ouer the Church, (he is her head.)
2. His goodneſſe to her, (he is her Sauiour.)
Note alſo concerning the Church,
1. Her prerogatiue, (ſhe is the body of Chriſt.)
2. Her dutie. In laying downe whereof there is noted,
1. Wherin it conſiſteth (The Church is ſubiect to Chriſt)
2. How farre it extendeth, (in eueryevery thing.)
The title Head, is giuen to Chriſt in two reſpects.
1. In regard of his tCol. 1. 18.dignitie and dominion ouer the Church.
2. In regard of the uEpheſ. 4. 15, 16.neere vnion betwixt him and the Church.
This vnion is more fully expreſſed afterwards, verſ. 30.
The dignitie of Chriſt is here principally intended: ſo as Chriſt is the higheſt in authoritie ouer the Church: the titles Doctr.d1 Cor. 8. 6.Lord, eMat. 23. 7, 8, 9.Father, Maſter, Doctor, fDeut. 18. 15.Prophet, gCol. 1. 18.Firſt-borne, with the like, being by a kinde of excellencie and proprietie attributed to him, proue as much.
The cauſes hereof are
1. The good pleaſure of God his Father.
2. The dignitie of his perſon being God-Man.
3. The merit of his ſacrifice whereby he hath redeemed and purchaſed his Church vntounto himſelfe.
4. The omnipotencie of his power whereby he is able to protect it.
5. The all-ſufficiencie of ſpirit, whereby he is able to giuegive to eueryevery member all needfull grace.
Till the Pope of Rome can ſhew ſo good reaſon for this 1 Vse.title (Supreme head of the whole Church) we will account him a blaſphemous vſurper thereof.
Object. He is not accounted an Imperiall head as Chriſt is, The diſtinction betwixt imperiall and miniſteriall head diſcuſſed.but only a Miniſteriall head.
Anſw.
1. This diſtinction is without all ground or warrant of Scripture.
2. It implieth plaine contradiction. For to be a miniſteriall head, is to be an head and a miniſter, which is all one as an head and a member in relation to the ſame thing.
3. Though in theſe two words (Imperiall, Miniſteriall) they may ſeeme to aduance Chriſt aboue the Pope, yet in their owne interpretation of theſe words they make the Pope equall Staplet. lib. 6. cap. 16. de princip. doct.to Chriſt, if not aduance him aboue Chriſt. For they ſay that Chriſt is an imperiall head to quicken the Church inwardly: and the Pope a miniſteriall head to gouerne it outwardly. Firſt let it be noted, how little congruitie this expoſition hath with the words expounded. Doth this word (imperiall) intimate a quickning vertue? Doth this word (miniſteriall) implie a gouerning power? Nay, is there not great incongruitie in this, that Chriſt ſhould be the Imperiall head, and yet the Pope an head to gouerne? Beſides, doth not this rend aſunder two of Chriſts offices, and leauing one to Chriſt, giuegive another to the Pope, and ſo make him equall with Chriſt? If the particular branches of this gouernment which is giuen by papiſts vntounto the Pope by vertue of his headſhip be obſerued, we ſhall finde that to be verified in him, which the Apoſtle hath foretold concerning Antichriſt, that as God he ſitteth in the temple of 2 Theſſ. 2. 4.God, ſhewing himſelfe that he is God. For they giuegive to him the keyes of heauen and hell, to ſhut or open the one or other as In Decretal.pleaſeth him: they giuegive him power to diſpenſe with Gods lawes, to coine articles of faith, to make lawes to binde mens conſciences directly and immediatly, to giuegive pardon for ſinne, to free ſubiects from allegeance to their Soueraignes, to canonize Saints, and what not? But to let theſe impious blaſpliemies paſſe, beſide that this prerogatiue of Chriſt (to be head of Eph. 1. 21, 22, 23the Church) is incommunicable (for thereby the Apoſtle proueth Chriſt to be aduanced farre aboue all principalitie, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name, &c.) Chriſt needeth not for the execution of his office therein any Vicar, or Deputie: for as head he filleth all in all things: and by his eternall ſpirit is he in heauen, earth, and eueryevery place where any of his members are, according to his *Mat. 18. 20. & 28. 20.promiſes made vntounto his Church.
Much comfort and great confidence muſt this needs miniſter Vſe.to all ſuch as hauehave aſſurance that they are of this bodie: for hauing ſo mightie, ſo wiſe, ſo mercifull an head, an head ſo ſufficient eueryevery way, who can inſtruct, direct, guide, gouerne, protect, and helpe them in all their needs whatſoeuer, what need they feare? When we are aſſaulted by Satan, or any way ſet vponupon by any of his inſtruments, or are in any diſtreſſe or need, let vsus lift vp the eies of our faith higher then we can the eies of our bodie, and in heauen behold this our head, who is inuiſible, and we cannot but receiue from thence much comfort, and incouragement.
§. 18. Of the benefit of Chriſts headſhip.
The Goodneſſe of Chriſt is ſet downe in theſe words (and he is the Sauiour of the bodie) EueryEvery word almoſt hath his emphaſis.
1. The copulatiue particle (AND) ſheweth that
The goodneſſe which Chriſt doth for his Church, he doth becauſe foreign 1. Obſer.he is the head thereof.
O how happie a thing is it for the Church that it hath ſuch an head! an head that doth not tyrannize ouer it, nor trample it vnderunder foot: an head that doth not pole, or peele the Church: but procureth peace and ſafetie to it. When Naomi ſought to make a match betwixt Boaz and Ruth, that he might be her Ruth 3. 1.head, what ſaith ſhe? Shall I not ſeeke reſt for thee that it may be well with thee? It is therefore the office of an head to be a Sauiour, to procure reſt and proſperitie to the bodie whoſe head it is.
Happie were it for Kingdomes, Common-wealths, Cities, Churches, Families, wiues, and all that hauehave heads, if they were ſuch heads: that, becauſe they are heads, they would endeuour to be Sauiours.
§. 19. Of Chriſt a ſufficient Sauiour.
In laying forth the goodneſſe of Chriſt three things are noted.
1. The Kinde of goodneſſe, which is Saluation (the Sauiour)
2. The perſon that performeth it (he himſelfe.)
3. The parties for whom he performeth it (the body.)
1. The Greeke word tranſlated *foreign. Sotera inſtrip tum vidi Syracuſis. hoc quantum eſt? Ita magnum, vt Latino vno verbo exprimi non poſſit. Is eſt nimirum ſoter, qui ſalutem dedit. Cicer. in Ver. act 4.Sauiour is ſo emphaticall that other tongues can hardly finde a fit word to expreſſe the emphaſis thereof: it being attributed to Chriſt, implieth that
Chriſt is a moſt abſolute and perfect Sauiour, he is eueryevery way a ſufficient Sauiour: *Heb. 7. 25. foreign. Mat. 1. 21.able perfectly to ſaue euen to the very vttermoſt. He ſaueth Soule and Body: he ſaueth from all manner of miſerie: which is intimated by that particular from Doct.which he ſaueth, namely ſinne: he ſhall ſaue his people from their ſinnes. Sinne is the greateſt, and moſt grieuous euill; yea, the cauſe of all miſerie: they who are ſaued from it, are ſaued from all euill: for there is nothing hurtfull to man, but that which is cauſed by ſinne, or poiſoned by it.
Before ſinne ſeazed on man he was moſt happie, free from all miſerie: and ſo ſhall he be after the contagion, guilt, puniſhment, dominion, and remainder of ſinne is remoued. But he that remaineth in the bondage of ſinne is in a moſt wofull plight. In that Chriſt ſaueth from ſinne, he ſaueth from the wrath of God, the curſe of the law, the venome of all outward croſſes, the tyranie of Satan, the ſting of Death, the power of the graue, the torments of hell, and what not?
The puritie of Chriſts nature, and excellencie of his perſon Reaſon.is it that maketh him ſo ſufficient a Sauiour: which reaſon the Apoſtle himſelfe noteth: for where he ſaith that Chriſt is able to ſaue to the vttermoſt, he addeth, for proofe thereof, that he Heb. 7. 25, 26.is Holy, harmleſſe, vndefiled, ſeparate from ſinners, and made higher then the heauens.
Great matter of reioycing, and of confidence doth this miniſter Vſes. Conſolation. Luk. 2. 10, 11. Luk 1. 47.vntounto vsus. When the Angell firſt brought this newes, To you is borne a Sauiour, he ſaith, Behold I bring you good tidings of great ioy. This made the Virgin Mary ſay, My ſpirit hath reioyced in God my Sauiour, and for this did Zacharias bleſſe God that redeemed his people, and raiſed vp an horne of ſaluation. Verſ. 68, 69.When the eies of old Simeon had ſeene this Saluation, he deſired no longer to liue, but ſaid, Lord now letteſt thou thy ſeruant Luk. 2. 29, 30.depart in peace.
They who beleeue in this Sauiour will be of like minde: and as they reioyce in him, ſo they will truſt vntounto him, and ſay with the Apoſtle, we are more then conquerors through him Rom. 8. 37.that loued vsus, &c.
This being ſo, to what end ſerueth the ſuppoſed treaſure of Refut.the Church, wherein are ſaid to be ſtored vp indulgences, pardons, merits, workes of ſupererogation, and I know not what traſh, to adde to the ſatisfaction of this Sauiour? either Chriſt is not a ſufficient Sauiour, or theſe are (to ſpeake the leaſt) vaine. But vaine they are: & an emptie, filthie, deteſtable treaſure that is, which God will deſtroy with all that truſt therein.
§. 20. Of Chriſt the only Sauiour.
This relatiue particle (*foreign. HEE) hath alſo his emphaſis; for as it pointeth out Chriſt the head of the Church, ſo it reſtraineth this great worke to him: it may thus be tranſlated, he himſelfe: that is, he in his owne perſon, he by himſelfe, he and none but he. So as to ſpeak properly,
Chriſt is the only Sauiour of men: in which reſpect he is Doct.called bLuk. 1. 69.the horne of ſaluation, yea c& 2. 30.Saluation it ſelfe: which titles are giuen to him by an excellency and propriety: and in the ſame reſpect the name dMat. 1. 21.Ieſus was giuen vntounto him.
Here by the way note the blaſphemous arrogancie of thoſe great ſectaries among the Papiſts, who ſtile themſelues Ieſuits: aſſuming that name which is proper to this great office of Ieſus Chriſt.
Obiect. Why is this name more blaſphemous, then the title Chriſtians?
Anſw. One of their owne religion doth thus reſolue that Obiection: We are called Chriſtians of Chriſt, not Ieſuits of Ieſus, becauſe we partake of the thing ſignified by the name Chriſt, that is anointing: for (as the Apoſtle ſaith) we all receiue of his fulneſſe. But he hath not communicated to vsus the thing ſignified by the name Ieſus; for it belongeth to him alone to ſaue, as ſaith the ſcripture, he ſhall ſaue his people: as if he ſhould ſay, he alone, and no other. A Chriſto dicimur Ieſuit a blaſphemous title.Chriſtiani, non autem à Ieſu Ieſuani, ſeu Ieſuitae: quia rem ſignatam nomine Chriſtus, ſcil. vnctionem nobis communicauit. Nam, ut ait Apoſtolus, omnes nos de plenitudine eius accepimus: ſed rem ſignificatam nomine Ieſus Why we may be called Chriſtians and not Ieſuits.non communicauit: nam ſaluare ipſi ſoli conuenit: ipſe enim (vt dicitur in ſcriptura) ſaluum faciet Chriſtus commune dignitatis eſt nomen. Ieſus proprium vocabulum ſaluatoris. Hier. in Mat. 16.populum ſuum: ac ſi diceret, ipſe ſolus, & non alius. Guil. Lindwood in Prouinc. ſiue Conſtitut. Angl. lib. de Conſuetud.
But to returne to our matter, Saint Peter doth moſt plainly and fully proue the forenamed doctrine in theſe words ſpoken of Ieſus Chriſt, eAct. 4. 12.There is not ſaluation in any other: for there is none other name vnderunder heauen giuen among men whereby we muſt be ſaued. None is able, fReu. 5. 4, 5.none is worthy to worke ſo great 1. Vſe.a worke: he muſt doe it, or it can not be done. But gIſa. 63. 3.he is ſo See The whole Armour of God, Treat. 1. part 1 §. 5.able, and ſo worthy as he can doe it of himſelfe, and needeth none to aſſiſt him.
What a dotage is it to truſt to other Sauiours? Legions of Virum multi ſalutares dici poſſint non facile audendum eſt. Solus enim ipſe ſaluator corporis eſt. Aug. in Ioſ. lib. 6. quaeſt. 23.Sauiours hauehave Papiſts to whom they flie in their need. All the Angels in heauen, and all, whom at any time their Popes hauehave canonized for Saints (which are many millions) are made Sauiours by them. hIer. 2. 12, 13.Be aſtoniſhed, O ye heauens, at this: for they hauehave committed two euils: they hauehave forſaken Chriſt the fountaine of liuing waters, and hewed them out ciſternes, broken ciſterns that can hold no water.
Let vsus for our parts flie vntounto this Sauiour only, and wholly 2. Vſe.rely vponupon him, as we deſire to be ſaued. Thus ſhall we honour him by preferring him before all: yea by reiecting all but him: and thus ſhall we be ſure to bring helpe, eaſe and comfort to our owne ſoules.
§. 21. Of the Church the body of Chriſt.
The perſons who receiue any benefit by this Sauiour, are all compriſed vnderunder this metaphor the bodie: whereby the ſamething is meant that was meant before by the Church.
Church according to the notation of the Greeke word ſignifieth foreign. Eccleſia ex vocatione appellata eſt. Aug. in Epiſt. ad Rom.an aſſembly called together. It is in Scripture by a propriety attributed to them who are called to God.
This calling is twofold:
1. Outward, which is common to all that make profeſſion Mat. 20. 16.of the Goſpell: in this reſpect it is ſaid, many are called and few choſen.
2. Inward, which is proper to the elect, none but they, and all they in their time ſhall both outwardly be called by the word to a profeſſion of Chriſt, and alſo inwardly and effectually by the ſpirit to beleeue in Chriſt, and obey his Goſpell. This is ſtiled bHeb. 3. 1.an heauenly calling, which is c1 Cor. 1. 2.proper to the Saints. Theſe make that Church, whereof Chriſt is properly the head: and therefore in relation to that metaphor of an head, they are called the Bodie: and that in theſe reſpects;
1. They are vnderunder Chriſt, as a body vnderunder the head.
2. They receiue ſpirituall life and grace from Chriſt, as a body naturall receiueth ſenſe, and vigour from the head.
3. Chriſt gouerneth them, as an head the body.
4. They are ſubiect to Chriſt, as a body to the head.
§. 22. Of the extent of Chriſts goodneſſe to all his body.
This metaphor, by which the perſons that reape the benefit of Chriſts office are ſet forth, noteth two points.
1. All that are once incorporated into Chriſt ſhall be ſaued. The bodie compriſeth all the parts and members vnderunder it: not only armes, ſhoulders, breaſt, backe, and ſuch like: but alſo hands, fingers, feet, toes, and all. Chriſt their head being their Sauiour, who can doubt of their ſaluation?
2. None but thoſe that are incorporated into Chriſt ſhall be ſaued. For this priuiledge is appropriated to the bodie.
The former point is clearely ſet forth by a reſemblance, which the Apoſtle maketh betwixt Adam and Chriſt, thus: As by the offence of one, iudgement came on all men to condemnation, Rom. 5. 18.euen ſo by the righteouſneſſe of one, the free gift came on all men vntounto iuſtification of life. Here are noted two roots, one is Adam, the other is Chriſt: both of them hauehave their number of branches, to all which they conuey that which is in them, as the root conueyeth the ſap that is in it, into all the branches that ſprout from it. The firſt root, which is Adam, conueyeth ſinne and death to all that come from him: and the other root, which is Chriſt, conueyeth grace and life to euerie one that is giuen to him: for ſaith he, All that the Father Ioh. 6. 37.giueth me, ſhall come to me: and him that commeth to me, I will in no wiſe caſt out: and a little after, he rendreth this reaſon, This is the Fathers will, that of all which he hath giuen me Verſ. 39.I ſhould loſe nothing, but ſhould raiſe it vp againe at the laſt day.
Obiect. Chriſt himſelfe maketh exception of one, where he ſaith, none is loſt but the ſonne of perdition.Ioh. 17. 12.
Anſw. That phraſe ſonne of perdition, ſheweth that Iudas was neuer of this body: for can we imagine that Chriſt is a Sauiour of a ſonne of perdition?
Obiect. Why is he then excepted?
Anſw. By reaſon of his office and calling he ſeemed to be of this body, and till he was made knowne, none could otherwiſe iudge of him, in which reſpect Saint Peter ſaith, he was Act. 1. 17.numbred with vsus.
2. Anſw. Chriſt there ſpeaketh in particular of the twelue Apoſtles, and to be an Apoſtle of Chriſt was in it ſelfe but an outward calling.
This is a point of admirable comfort to ſuch as hauehave aſſurance Vſe.of their incorporation into Chriſt, they may reſt vponupon the benefit of this office of Chriſt, that he is a Sauiour. We need not thinke of climing vp to heauen, and ſearching Gods records to ſee if our names be written in the booke of Life. Let vsus only make triall whether we be of this body or no. How we may know whethe we be of Chriſts body or no.For our helpe herein, know we that this metaphor of a body implieth two things.
1. A myſticall vnion with Chriſt.
2. A ſpirituall communion with the Saints.
1. By vertue of that vnion they who are of Chriſts body,
1. mEph. 4. 15, 16.Receiue grace, and life from him.
2. nIoh. 17. 6.Are guided and gouerned according to his will.
3. oJoh. 17. 10Seeke to honour him in all things they doe.
4. pGal. 3. 1. Pſal. 116. 136.Are offended and grieued when he is diſhonoured by others.
2. By reaſon of their communion with the Saints being fellow members,
1. q1 Ioh. 4. 11.They louelove the brethren.
2. rMat. 25. 40.They are ready to ſuccour ſuch as are in diſtreſſe.
3. ſEph. 4. 16.They will edifie one another.
4. t1 Cor. 12. 26.They retaine a mutuall ſympathy: reioycing, and mourning one with another.
§. 23. Of the reſtraint of the benefit of Chriſts headſhip to them only that are of his body.
That none but thoſe who are of Chriſts body, ſhall partake of the benefit of his office, is cleare by other like titles of reſtraint, as uMat. 1. 21.his people, and xIoh. 10. 15.his ſheepe: but eſpecially by denying to the world the benefit of his interceſſion. yIoh. 17. 9.I pray not for the world, ſaith he. In this reſpect this poſition (out of the Church no ſaluation) is without exception true: for the body is the true, Catholike, inuiſible Church: he that is not a member of this Church, but is out of it, hath not Chriſt to be his head Eccleſia corpus Chriſti eſt: vnde manifeſtum eſt, eum qui non eſt in membris Chriſti Chriſtianam ſalutem habere non poſſe. Aug. de Vnit. Ec l. c. 2.and Sauiour, whence then can he hauehave ſaluation?
The former point is not more comfortable to thoſe that hauehave aſſurance that they are members of this body, then this is terrible to thoſe that giuegive too great euidence they are no members thereof; as all they doe that hauehave not the ſpirit of Chriſt ruling in them, but rather rebell againſt him: and beare no louelove to the Saints, but rather hate them, and doe them all the ſpight they can.
§. 24. Of the Churches ſubiection to Chriſt.
EPHES. 5. 24.
The Church is ſubiect vntounto Chriſt in eueryevery thing.
THe duty which the Church in way of thankfulneſſe performeth to Chriſt her head for this great benefit, that he is her Sauiour, is Subiection: VnderUnder which word is compriſed all that obedience and duty, which in any kinde Chriſt requireth of the Church, in and by the word.
Queſt. Is it poſſible for that part of the Church which is here on earth, to yeeld ſuch obedience?
Anſw. It will faithfully endeuour to doe what it can: and that honeſt and vtmoſt endeuour Chriſt graciouſly accepteth for a perfect performance of all.
In that it is here taken for grant, that the Church is ſubiect to Chriſt; I may, as from a generall to particular, infer that
Whoſoeuer is of the true Catholike Church is ſubiect to Chriſt, and yeeldeth obedience to his word. We will runne after thee, Doctr.ſaith the Church to Chriſt. My ſheepe heare my voice and follow Cant. 1. 3.me, ſaith Chriſt of that flocke, which is his Church.Iohn 10. 27.
For Chriſt conueyeth his owne ſpirit into his myſticall body the Church, and into every member thereof: which ſpirit is Reaſon.much more operatiue, and liuely then the ſoule of man. If therefore mans ſoule quickning eueryevery part of the naturall body, make them ſubiect to the head, much more will the ſpirit of Chriſt bring the members of his myſticall body in ſubiection to himſelfe. If the ſpirit of him that raiſed vp Ieſus from the dead dwell in you, he that raiſed vp Chriſt from the dead, Rom. 8. 11.ſhall alſo quicken your mortall bodies, by the ſpirit that dwelleth in you.
Hereby let triall be made of particular viſible Churches and of particular perſons, whether they are in deed of this true Catholike Uſe. Triall of true Churches.Church or no. Thoſe viſible Churches which refuſe to be gouerned by Chriſts word, and are wholly gouerned by humane traditions, which riſe againſt Chriſt and play the adultereſſes by committing Idolatry, are not of this Catholike Church which is ſubiect to Chriſt. No more are Infidels that defie Chriſt, Heretiques that deny him, ignorant perſons that know not his will, profane perſons that deſpiſe him, wordlings that lightly eſteeme him, nor any that perſecute or ſcorne him in his members. By this we may ſee that many hauehave a name that they are of the Church, who in deed are not.
Obiect. Many ſuch perſons may belong to Gods election, and ſo be of that body whereof Chriſt is a Sauiour.
Anſw. Election in deed giueth them a title to Chriſt, but they cannot reape any benefit by that title till they hauehave a poſſeſſion of Chriſt by vertue of their ſpirituall vnion with him. Neither can they hauehave any aſſurance of their election, till they finde by the quickning vertue of the ſpirit, that they are vnited vntounto Chriſt. Wherefore ſo long as men remaine deſtitute of the Spirit of Chriſt, and are poſſeſſed with a contrary ſpirit, they may well be iudged for the preſent to be none of this body, nor to hauehave any part in Chriſt, their future eſtate being referred to him who only knoweth what it ſhall be.
§. 25. Of the extent of the Churches ſubiection.
The extent of the Churches ſubiection to Chriſt is without any reſtraint at all, in every thing. For there is nothing which Chriſt requireth of her, but ſhe may with a good conſcience, and muſt in obedience yeeld unto. Iuſt, and pure, and perfect are all his commandements, there is no error in any of them: no miſchiefe or inconuenience can follow vponupon the keeping of them. This extent being here taken for grant, I may further inferre that
They who are of the true Catholike Church will yeeld vniuerſall Doctr.obedience to Chriſt: they will obey him in all and eueryevery of his commandements. Dauid turned not aſide from any thing that 1 Kings 15. 5.the Lord commanded him. Ioſiah turned to the Lord with all his 2 Kings 23. 25. Luke 1. 6.heart according to all the law: and Zacharias, and Elizabeth, walked in all the commandements of God. All theſe were of this Church: and of their minde are all others that are of this Church.
For the ſpirit of Chriſt which is in them worketh a thorow Reaſon.reformation: euen as the fleſh leadeth a naturall man on to eueryevery ſinne, ſo the ſpirit of Chriſt ſtirreth him vp to eueryevery good duty. In which reſpect it is ſaid, that whoſoeuer is borne of God 1 John 3. 9.doth not commit ſinne.
Obiect. The beſt Saints in all ages hauehave tranſgreſſed in many Iam. 3. 2.things.
Anſw. Their ſinnes though grieuous, hauehave not wilfully in open rebellion againſt Chriſt beene committed, but they hauehave ſlipped from them partly through their owne weakneſſe, and partly through the violence of ſome temptation. So as that which the Apoſtle ſaith of himſelfe, may be applied to all that are of the body of Chriſt, That which I doe I allow not: Now then Rom. 7. 15. 17.is it no more I that doe it, but the ſinne that dwelleth in me.
This extent is a good proofe of the truth of ſubiection, for Vſe. Triall of integrity.herein lieth a maine difference betwixt the vpright, and the hypocrite; yea betwixt reſtraining and renewing grace. That reſtraining grace which is in many hypocrites ſtirreth them to doe many things which Chriſt commandeth, if at leaſt they croſſe not their honour, profit, eaſe, and the like. Herod that notorious hypocrite did many things. None that beareth the Mark. 6. 20.name of the Church, but will be ſubiect in ſomethings. But none but the vpright, who are indeed renewed by the ſanctifying ſpirit of Chriſt, will in all things make Chriſts will their rule, and in eueryevery thing hold cloſe to it, preferring it before their pleaſure, profit, preferment, or any other outward allurement. They who ſo doe, giuegive good euidence that they are of the body of Chriſt, and may reſt vponupon it, that Chriſt is their Sauiour.
§. 26. Of the ſumme of Husbands duties.
EPHES. 5. 25.
25. Husbands louelove your Wiues, euen as Chriſt alſo loued the Church, and gaue himſelfe for it.
FRom Wiues duties the Apoſtle proceedeth to preſſe Huſbands duties. And as he propounded to Wiues for a patterne, the example of the Church, ſo to Husbands he propoundeth the example of Chriſt: and *Uerſ. 28, 29.addeth thereunto the patterne of a mans ſelfe, in regard of that naturall affection which he beareth to his body. Thus he addeth patterne to patterne, Husbands duties moſt preſſed.and doth the more largely and earneſtly preſſe them, becauſe husbands hauing a more honourable place, their failing in duty is the more hainous, ſcandalous, and dangerous.
The Apoſtle reſtraineth the duties of Husbands to their *foreign.owne Wiues, as he did the duties of Wiues to their “foreign.owne Husbands. For though the ſame word be not here vſed which was before, yet a word of like emphaſis is vſed: and as good reaſon there is that our Engliſh tranſlators ſhould hauehave put in this particle (owne) in this verſe, as in the 22. verſe, for proofe whereof read 1 Cor. 7. 2. Where *foreign. See §. 82.theſe two words are vſed, and both of them tranſlated owne.
This I hauehave the rather noted, becauſe many who hold that a Wife muſt hauehave but one Husband, conceit that a Husband may hauehave more Wiues then one: which conceit this particle (owne) wipeth away. All the duties of an Husband are compriſed vnderunder this one word *See the reaſons hereof Treat. 4. §. 2.LoueLove. Wherein that an Husband might be the better directed, and whereto that he might be the rather prouoked, the forenamed example of Chriſt, and of his louelove to the Church, is very liuely ſet forth: firſt generally in theſe words, euen as Chriſt loued the Church: and then more particularly in the words following.