Answer to a Popish Pamphlet Called the Touchstone of the Reformed Gospel, Part 2 · Subpart 8
8. THat the Church hath been hidden and inviſible.
FOr ſtating this queſtion aright, we ſay not that the Church profeſſing the Chriſtian name in common hath ben at anytime inviſible, but in it wee ſay that the true and ſincere profeſſours may be ſome times brought to that eſtate. as the 7000. were in Iſraell who bowed not to Baal, and as the ſound and perſecuted Orthodox Chriſtians were, by that prevalent faction of Arrians, who then uſurped the title of the onelyonly true Church, altho they were onelyonly but a prevailling faction therein.
But this Pamphleter contendeth for a conſtant and conſpicuous viſibilitie to all, of the Church of true and …ound profeſſours, like a Citie on a hill, &c. by theſe Texts following.
1. Math. 5. 14. Where our Saviour compareth his diſciples to a Citie on a hill, &c. To whom I anſwere ſhortly, that this is meaned of the Apoſtles, (who as their own Janſenius as alſo Maldonat expoundeth) were a light to the World, by their preaching and holie life, Therefore ſayeth Maldonat, That by theſe three ſimilituds of ſalt, a light, and a citie, our Saviour would declare one and the ſame thing, to wit, how farre beyond other common Christians his Apostles and their ſucceſſours ſhould eminentlie ſhyne in life and doctrine, and ſo doeth Chriſostome, Theophylact Lyra, Ferus, and Carthuſian expound this Text, and not of any conſtant & conſpicuous viſibilitie of the Church to all.
The ſecond place which he bringeth is Math. 18. 17. (tell the Church) to which I anſwere, that Origen, Chriſostom and Hilarie on this place ſhoweth, that a particulare Church, and the Rulers therof are meaned (as hath beene ſaid) which is indeed viſible to it owne members, ſpeciallie in tyme of peace, whereas in time of perſecution, the Rhemists themſelves on 2. Theſſ. 2. telleth us, That this is like to be the caſe of the Romā Church it ſelf under Antichriſt, that the faithfull ſhall lurke and hauehave their communion amongſt themſelves onlie in private, & ſo to have no conſpicuous viſibilitie to all, & whence it followeth that what may bee the caſe of the Church at one time, the ſame may be, or hath been the caſe of the Church at another.
The third place is 2. Cor. 4. 3. which ſayeth. If our Goſpell be hid, it is to them that are loſt. To which I anſwere, that there is no word heere of a Church or of perſons, but of the goſpell it ſelf, which being preached to any, if it be not believed, is ſaid to be hid from miſbelievers, as is ſaid in the words following, Whoſe minds the god of this world hath blinded, that they ſhould not belie…e, as the Lord threatneth Iſai 6. 9. which is the expoſition both of Aquinas, Cardinall Cajetan, and their Biſhope Catharinus, with their late Estius.
The laſt place which he bringes, is Iſai. 2. 2. where it is ſaid, That in the laſt days the mountain of the Lords houſe ſhall be eſtabliſhed in the top of the mountains, and exalted above the hills, and all nations ſhall flow unto it.
To which I anſwere, that this is a Prophecie onlie of the calling of the gentiles to the faith of the goſpell by the Miniſtrie of the Apoſtles, and ſhoweth how firmlie the Chriſtian Church ſhould be built, and bee of greater eminencie and amplitude beyond the jewiſh church, in reſpect alſo of univerſalitie, clearer light, and diſpenſation of grace▪ which is the expoſition of their owne Lyra, Procopius, Pintus, and Peruſin on this place. And not that they prove ther by a conſtant and conſpicuous viſibilitie of the Church to all.
As for the teſtimonies of Fathers which he adduceth, they nowiſe prove the point, the firſt whereof is Origens, ſaying, That the Church is full of light, which ſhoweth only that (as ſhee is deſcribed, Revel. 12. 1.) ſhee is glorious by the light of the trueth, which ſhee holdeth forth in profeſſion, and therefore he ſubjoyneth this reaſon, ſeing ſhee is the pillar and ground of truth (ſayeth hee.)
2 Hee bringeth a teſtimonie of Chriſostome, where it is ſaid, That it is eaſier for the ſunne to be extinguiſhed, then for the Church to be darkned, which teſtimonie receiveth the ſame anſwer with the former. For no more can the Church loſe the light of the trueth, than the ſunne can loſe his light, though ſomtimes he may be eclipſed, or by a thick miſt or cloudie day he may be unſeene to ſome.
3. Hee bringeth a teſtimonie out of Augustin, who ſayeth That hee is blind that ſeeth not ſo great a mountain. To which I anſwere, that hee ſpeaketh not there of a conſtant and conſpicuous viſibilitie of the true Church to all, and at all times, but onelie of the viſible condition of the Church which was at that time, diſputing againſt the Donatiſts who affirmed that the Church was no where but amongſt them in Africa: whereas on the contrarie, hee ſayeth that in Europe and elſwhere they may ſee famous and flowriſhing Chriſtian Churches, like to a mountaine that may bee ſeene, except they were blind, and yet wee knowe that a mountaine that may be ſeen to all that are not blind in a cleare day, may in a dark night time, or darke miſtie day be unſeene, till the ſunne riſe or a clearing of the miſt be. Therefore ſayeth the ſame Augustin (de unitate Eccleſiae. cap. 20. & in pſal. 10. and epiſt. 80 ad Heſychium) Some times the Church is not apparent when wicked perſecutors rage againſt her, & againe in his ſixth book of baptiſme againſt the Donatiſts, cap. 4. Somtimes like the Moone (ſayeth he) ſhee may bee ſo hid and obſcured, that (as in Elias time) the members therof ſhall not know one of another.