in this world or else at the day of fearful account when they will be as glad to be rid of it again as ever Judas was of his thirty pieces he thought if he could get money he were made but when he had it he was never so ill in his life as then So was it with Achan Gehazi Ananias and Sapphira c. And for the time to come let 's beware lest any filthy lucre cleave to our fingers Note further That Lightly the Scripture speaks not of riches but with some checks If but two words one of them is to take off our mindes therefrom as uncertain riches deceiveable riches unrighteous Mammon It s hard for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven and here filthy lucre This is that we should not set our hearts too much on them whereunto we are very prone but taking heed of covetousness neither too greedily desire them nor be insatiable in our desires nor too sparing from our selves and families nor niggardly to good and holy duties nor having them to set too much by them or put our confidence in them or be too much cast down in the loss of them c. To this end 1. Consider That covetousness is idolatry and so a most hanious sin withdraws our heart from God is the root of all evil will make a man break any Covenant the bane of godliness a throne that choaks the seed of the Word 2. That our life stands not in them much less our happiness yea that they are changeable and which even Reprobates have in great abundance 3. Seek after the favor of God and assurance of Salvation and lay up a treasure in Heaven and this will stay your stomack for these things This hunger will starve the other hunger when we have assurance of Salvation it will stay us as a man that hath well broke his fast hath no great haste to his dinner Heaven will fill the heart the world cannot Obj. Why then are many Christians covetous Ans. It s not their goodness If they had more faith they would be less careful of the world but if these be so being assured of Heaven what would they be if they had no assurance thereof 4. We must follow our Calling diligently and cast our selves upon God believing his promise He will not fail us neither forsake us Obj. But the world is hard we must therefore follow it earnestly which if we should not do we should leave but little for our posterity Answ. If we have faith to depend upon God he will give us by our lawful and moderate seeking that blessing that shall be best and sufficient both for us and ours and shall continue longer with our Posterity then more gotten greedily Verse 3. Neither as being Lords over Gods heritage but being ensamples to the flock NOw followeth the third duty of the Minister namely to give good example of an holy life to his people where pride is forbidden they must not rigorously cruelly or over imperiously rule them speak we first of that which is prohibited then of that which is enjoyned That which is forbid Ministers is pride and lordly carriage of themselves whereunto a reason is annexed even because the people be Gods heritage and portion Neither as being Lords Here note 1. That Ministers must not exercise civil authority and temporal power over their people but use a spiritual rule over them by teaching them and denouncing the judgements of God against them that do evil and ruling them by the Word of God and by spiritual censures to correct the stubborn and disobedient Our Savior Christs our Masters kingdom was not of this world and so not ours He would not be a Judge or Divider between two at variance about their inheritance Magistrates must rule by the Sword and we by the Word they by the Temporal Sword we by the Spiritual we must teach the people exhort perswade and commend men to God and pray for them and if any be obstinate to admonish them more seriously and if they reform not to debar them from the Sacraments yea if they have committed any notorious sin and live without repentance to cast them out of the Church and deliver them up to Satan These be more weighty and fearful censures being rightly performed then any bodily punishment we must leave other things to the Magistrate whose power is of God to rule with the material Sword Thus did our Savior Christ onely once as he was the King of his Church and not as a Minister of the Gospel he whipt out the buyers and sellers out of the temple So the Apostles exercised no other but Spiritual authority except Peter by special and extraordinary direction on Ananias and Sapphira and Paul on Elimas the Sorcerer In those times God shewed extraordinary works and miracles for the confirmation of the Gospel which we need not now And this was not usual for then they could not have served Demetrius Tertullus with all their Enemies thus A Reason hereof may be this one calling is sufficient for one man As the Magistrate must not encroach upon the Ministers office as Uzza did either a private man to expound the Scripture and administer the Sacraments so must not Ministers on theirs The action of Phineas was extraordinary and so no fit president 1. This rebukes the notorious usurpation of the Pope of Rome who not onely challengeth to be the Head of the whole Church and to have Supremacy over the same but also Temporal Jurisdiction over Princes and Potentates to set up and cast down whom he pleaseth to set them together by the ears to impose Taxes on them to exempt their Subjects from their Allegiance c. But upon what ground doth he challenge this Supremacy from Peter whose Successor he alledgeth himself to be But he is quite fallen from the Faith and Doctrine of Peter and if he did succeed him aright yet could he have no such authority for Peter himself had no such thing neither do any places of Scripture used to this purpose prove any such thing much less had Peter and Civil Jurisdiction over Princes and People which the Pope also challengeth from him But of this heretofore onely let us know that our Christian King and all other Kings in their several Dominions are Supreme Governors and that the Pope hath no authority to meddle with them all that hold otherwise as all right Papists do are Traytors in heart at least and can be no good Subjects let 's pray that all other Kings may shake off his yoke both in Spiritual and Temporal things and stoop to Christs yoke And let us know that God hath given no Civil authority to Ministers to rule the people by what Princes in their savor may bestow upon them and what they may lawfully receive from them and enjoy and exercise I mean not now to discuss neither
must settle 3. It teacheth us to search the Scripture laboring by all means that the Word of Christ may dwell in us plentifully that so we may be grounded If we hear God speaking in his Word we must sit down by it all mouthes must be stopt if not we must not be carried without it Again He alleageth the Old Testament as Christ and the other Apostles did for the Old was the same in substance with the New and of the same Authority Further In that he nameth not the place nor the Prophet it sheweth their skill and rebuketh our ignorance that have not the book of God clasped against us as in Popery but open if we can take our time for the place it self it s alleaged with some alteration of the words though not of the sence 1. He leaves out a word or two and takes that which fitteth his purpose 2. He turneth these words of the Prophet He that believeth shall not make haste into these He that believeth on him shall not be confounded The Prophet sets down the effect the Apostle the cause for unbelievers being ashamed it makes them run up and down in their misery for some other help seeing themselves disappointed and deceived The occasion of that promise there was to comfort the good in respect of the great threatnings against the bad and contemners namely that they should not be destroyed and cast off among the rest and that the wicked might not scorn them and think all Gods promises made to them fallen to the ground Behold This being a word to stir up attention implieth that What the Lord saith he doth He is true of his word the Almighty and who cannot be hindred He saith not Such a stone shall be laid but Behold I lay it whereby he confirms the good and puts them out of doubt who by reason of the threatnings were grown weak fearful and in doubt Here see our infidelity in Spiritual things especially if we see any things against us such was Zacharias So was not Abraham he looked not to carnal lets but rested on Gods Word had enough that God spake it so should we If we have any promise of Gods mouth we should be of good comfort and believe and not be dismaid at our sins and unworthiness Come unto me saith our Savior all ye that are weary and laden and I will refresh you c. What promise more comfortable and yet many seeing their sins and danger cannot be comforted and perswaded But we must give God the glory to believe him on his word and know that nothing can make him break promise or change his minde either any hinder him from performing what he hath promised I lay It s God that layes the Foundation of his Churches Salvation All the Men and Angels in the world cannot lay one stone in this building unto this Foundation Though God use the Ministery of his servants Men to this purpose yet its God that by his Spirit makes them fit and couples them hereto therefore much less could they lay this corner stone Paul saith he laid this Foundation By Preaching the same to the people not otherwise That Foundation which God had laid before the world and appointed to be Preached that he taught to the people and that was all he did If God gave Christ generally for his Church then for every humble soul that seeth his need of Christ and cometh with an heavy heart to him and desires him above all the world assuredly he will give him to such In Sion That hill in Jerusalem is put for the Church whereof it was a type and because the Gospel was first preached there Christ there revealed and from thence conveyed into all nations far and wide so that now by Gods mercy we have him no less preached unto us then the Jews had and have also our part in him as largely O unspeakable mercy A chief corner stone A chief stone a foundation stone This is the principal point in this first part of the Verse but of this on the fourth Verse where was shewed That he is not a stone as others be in the building but the foundation on which they are all built which sustains and holds them together there being no other foundation but he This the Papists overturn and that both in respect of his Kingly Prophetical and Priestly Office For his Kingly Office which is to rule over the consciences of his subjects by his Spirit and to have power to make Laws to binde their consciences they take it from him for with them the Pope may also make Laws of his to binde the conscience as much as any of Christs and doth and may repeal some of his at his pleasure For his Prophetical Office which is to be the onely Teacher of his Church and to reveal all his Fathers minde in the Books of the Prophets and Apostles this they take away by adding as if the Word were altogether imperfect unwritten Verities and mens Traditions which say they are of absolute necessity to be obeyed to Salvation For his Priestly they abolish both parts of it 1. His Sacrifice All sufficient and once offered on the Cross for all by their blasphemous Mass wherein they offer Christ daily as they say as a Propitiatory Sacrifice for the sins of the quick and the dead 2. His Intercession wherein they joyn many Saints with him What Salvation can there be for such le ts pray for and keep our selves far from them Elect Christ is chosen of God to the work of our Redemption and furnished for it therefore make we choyce of him for our portion wo to them that refuse him He that believeth on him shall not be confounded Hereby is meant a true particular justifying Faith Such as have this shall not be ashamed or seek at any time as confounded or deceived of sufficient help and Salvation therefore he shall never be put to make haste to seek any other The true Believer shall never be confounded but finde enough in Christ to satisfie him to the full to deliver him from all evil and make him partaker of all Happiness Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption and enough to make his minde peaceable and quiet and to stablish him against all that his own conscience or any yea the Devil himself can lay to his charge but he findes enough to answer all at large As Thou art a sinner and hast deserved Damnation and God is just R. I grant all but I have a surety able enough who hath born all Who shall lay any thing to the charge of Gods Elect It s God that justifieth c. His heart is fixed he believeth in the Lord In his life he hath that wherein he may quiet himself and never be to seek but may draw new life and grace from Christ to enable him to
well and truly said to be Supreme Governor over all persons and in all Causes yea and Supreme head in a borrowed speech as the Husband is the Wives head not to make new Laws not agreeable to Gods Law but to be keepers of the two Tables of Gods Law and to rule according to them 1. This condemneth the monstrous pride and arrogancy of the Pope that challengeth and taketh upon him to be Supreme head over the Church and that he may set up and depose Princes he may Curse and Excommunicate and command to go to War at his pleasure and that he may exempt Subjects from their allegiance c. He is a Lyar Usurper and a Thief What hath he do in England who gave him his Authority He is a Minister if he be Saint Peters Successor and hath the Spiritual Sword to fight withal but he challengeth both Swords Temporal and Spiritual too too much in conscience for one man for one hand to hold and handle two Swords whereas each will take up the whole man But how came he by them especially by this Temporal Sword and civil Authority as to kill imprison and do what a King may do Oh Christ gave him the Spiritual Sword which is the greater therefore did give him the Civil which is the lesser A sound argument The King gives a Nobleman a great Office therefore hath given him one that is lesser Doth this follow Yea to maintain this his usurped Power they do so wofully abuse the Scriptures that it would grieve any heart as where Peter was bid Arise kill and eat Peter might kill Beasts therefore the Pope may kill men a goodly argument This would rather authorize the Pope to play the Cook then the King So Peters dealing with Ananias and Sapphira and Pauls with Elimas the Sorcerer are alledged but was their's with the Temporal Sword was it with force or violence was it not with the Word of God This makes nothing for his Civil Power Christ refused it when they would have made him a King and when he was desired to divide an Inheritance So these speeches of our Savior He that hath no Sword let him sell his Garment and buy one and when they said Lord here are two Swords he said unto them It is enough But hereby our Savior doth onely put them in minde of the danger of the ensuing times and that they should prepare themselves for troubles not that they should otherwise resist then with the Sword of the Spirit the Word of God for afterward when Peter used his material Sword against the Officers our Savior willed him to put up the same Whatsoever therefore the Pope or any for him can alledge we may safely take the Oath of Supremacy They that will not are not to be trusted for good Subjects 2. This condemneth the Clergy of Rome that exempt themselves from all Princes Authority whereas God hath said Let every soul be subject to the higher powers If they have souls they must be subject But how do they exempt themselves 1. As they say Jure Divino from that of Saint Paul He that is Spiritual judgeth all things yet he himself is judged of no man An horrible abuse of the place which ayms at no Civil Judgement but onely at judging by the Spirit of God of things Divine which a natural man cannot attain unto meaning that as a Natural man cannot judge of Spiritual things so none can judge of a Spiritual man but he that is indued with the same Spirit 2. By the Donation of Constantine but it s not in the power of Princes so to do They may exempt them from Tribute if they will as Pharoah took not the Priests Lands to gage for Corn but to exempt them from subjection they cannot This were to make themselves wiser then God who hath put them under their Authority yea the too much indulgence and favor of Emperors hath been the bane of the Church and helpt up the Pope into his stirrop Therefore its wisdom in them to hold their Authority which God hath given them Or unto Governors A King is but a man and cannot rule a Kingdom by himself and therefore must have others under him for the same purpose in War Generals Captains Lieutenants c. and in Peace Judges Justices Majors Baliffs Sheriffs Constables c. accordingly was Jethro's Counsel questionless by Gods direction accordingly was Gods own prescription and by him do they also rule Such did Jehoshophat set throughout all the Cities of his Land City by City These be the Princes eyes to see and hands to execute Judgement who therefore must be obeyed even the meanest of them This condemneth them that are afraid to commit Treason against the King but for other Magistrates they care not for them set light by them sometimes outface them An Officers gown hath been heretofore more feared then his person now so proud and insolent are youth grown in these lewd times that with the Judge in the Gospel they neither fear God nor man In Jobs time the wicked would flie from him when they saw him but now tell a company of drunkards in an Ale-house that the Constable comes what care they yea they will not onely sit still there but with vile speeches outface him This comes to pass partly through the coldness and remisness of Magistrates whereby they lose their authority which is Gods judgement on them and partly through the boldness of youth over in times past Let them look to it they resist not onely the King in the meanest Officer but even God and his Ordinance and shall receive to themselves judgement whom God will pursue though men connive at them Such contemners of Magistrates for the most part come to the gallows or such fearful ends As unto them that are sent by him This is in effect the same with the foregoing Reason There is a nature in us contrary to this subjection but we must submit our selves to them for they be sent of God both the highest and the lower ones The powers that be are ordained of God 1. This teacheth all sorts of Officers and Magistrates to be careful in the performance of their duties remembring that they are sent of God that they bear his Name and that he will call them to an account They that are faithful in this trust reposed on them shall receive a good reward as contrarily they that do his work negligently and are unfaithful shall hear this doleful sound O evil and unfaithful Servant c. take and binde him c. 2. It teacheth them to do their duties couragiously They have a sure back he that sets them on work is able to defend and maintain them 3. People must submit themselves to them they are sent of God if they do not thus they shall answer the same at their uttermost perils For the