kept from it Theoph. What callest thou Ecclesiasticall discipline Matth. The order in the church instituted of God specially for two ends 1. Cor. 14 40 The first that the ministerie may be preserued that as Paule saith all things may bee done in the church decently and in order Also that sermons may be made and the sacraments administred vpon certaine daies at certaine houres and with due reuerence frequented and resorted vnto of such as haue ioyned themselues to the Christian church The other end is that the conuersation and doctrine of euerie one may bee looked into that such as haue giuen offences may be amended according to the degrees prescribed by Christ Yea if they be stubburne Matth. 18. to be at length excommunicated that is cut from the body of the Church that God himselfe bee not reproached and the flocke infected by their euill example Moreouer that if it be possible as Paule teacheth they may by that shame be called to repentaÌ„ce Theoph. Of whome ought that ecclesiasticall discipline to be ministred Mat. Of the Pastors of the Church whereunto are to be adioyned certaine Seniors or auncients for this end as necessitie shall require chosen of the Church Tâ—e summe of all Christian religion declared by a three-fold method or order Theoph. Thanks be to God from whom we haue receiued this benefit that we haue happily in my iudgement handled all the parts of Christian religion Now I would that thou shouldest draw the chiefe heades of it into a short summe before wee make an end of this our disputation Matth. That abridgement or breuiarie may be done in a triple or threefold method so as the first may bee profitable to the instruction of the godly the other to their comfort and the third to consist of both by making an opposition or contrariety of true religion with all other religions Theoph. Go to therefore declare the first Mat. The first epitome It shall declare the order of the whole booke which indeed may be brought to fiue heads or principall points the coniunction or ioyning together wherof sheweth what is the certainty and truth of euerie one of them and so of all Christian religion as it hath beene declared of vs. Theoph. Rehearse those chiefe points Matth. 1 The first entreateth of God 2 The second of man 3 The third of Christ 4 The fourth of Faith 5 The fift of the holy Ghost Theoph. It shal be so much the more easie to remember them because each of them may be applied to ech finger of the hand Declare them therefore to mee in order and shew mee the coherence and agreement which thou diddest attribute vnto them Mat. God First we must hold this principle that God seeing he is perfectly iust and perfectly merciful doth not onely shew his mercy but doth also declare his iustice Man This foundation being layd it followeth that man who oâ— his owne nature is a wretched sinner can not be saued from eternall death which he hath deserued except he haue some fit meane by the which the perfect iustice of God is satisfied But there cannot bee Christ found any other meane besides the merite of Christes death For by it the wrath of God being appeased there is a way made for vs vnto his mercy and therefore vnto eternall life But Christ shall profite vs nothing Faith except we be members of his body and so bee partakers of his benefites And both of these we obtaine by faith which indeede sheweth it selfe by good workes but namely by prayer Finally the holy Ghost The holy Ghost worketh this faith in the hearts of the godly by the preaching of the word confirmeth and keepeth it as well by that preaching as by the vse of the SacrameÌ„ts till at length he bring vs to euerlasting life Theoph. This is an excellent breuiary for in most few wordes and fit order it containeth the summe of ChristiaÌ„ doctrine to the instruction of the godly Now The second Epitome therefore let vs come to the other which thou saydest was profitable for the comfort of the faithfull Matth. That shal be set out in an order diuerse from the former but it may also be brought vnto fiue heads 1 The first is of repentance 2 The second of faith 3 The third of Christ 4 The fourth of God 5 The fift of eternall life And these also be ioyned together betweene themselues by a most neare baÌ„d for the confirmation of the saluation of the godly Matth. Shew me that band Mat. RepeÌ„tance First whosoeuer doth truly repent and that is easily perceiued when we serue God from the hart he hath faith But whosoeuer hath Faith is partaker of Faith Christ and his benefites And againe whosoeuer is partaker Christ of Christ and his benefites is iustified and made the child of God But whosoeuer is iustified and made God the child of God shall be deliuered from condeÌ„nation be partaker of eternall life Whereupon it followeth Eternal life that he which by good workes is assured of his repentance shall neuer perish but haue life euerlasting And those fiue staires or steps may be in stead of a ladder by the which we may clime eueÌ„ vp into the heauens to vnderstand certainely whether our names be written in the booke of life or not but the first onely is hard Theoph. Why so Mat. Because there is no little labour to be bestowed in the deniall of sinne that we may serue God from the heart but wheÌ„ a maÌ„ by the grace of God hath profited so farre there is very little labour behind From hence it is that sometimes the Scripture attributeth our saluation vnto workes namely to note vnto vs this order as wheÌ„ he saith Rom. 2. 6. Iohn 5. 29. God will giue to euery one according to his workes They shall come forth that haue done well to the resurrection of life Whereunto also that ought to bee referred which is sayd in another place Psa 119. 1 Blessed are they that walke in the Law of the Lord. Theoph. There is one doubt behind within me which seemeth to let that the godly caÌ„not be sure of their saluatioÌ„ namely because thereunto is required that they be sure of perseuerance continuing to the end without which Christ affirmeth that none caÌ„ be saued Neuerthelesse there be many found which in shew begin happily yea also haue long continued in the knowledge and confession of the truth who notwithstaÌ„ding do so fall from it that they neuer returne Matth. It is true indeed that perseuerance is necessary to saluation howbeit the Apostle affirmeth that Phil. 1. 6. he which hath begun the good worke in vs will perfect the same eueÌ„ vnto the day of Christ that is to the end of the battell And concerning them that fall away the words of the Apostle be manifest They went out from 1. Ioh. 1. 19. vs but they were not of vs
thou haue ended it when thou hast read it ouer once let it not be tedious vnto thee to read it ouer again again for thou shalt finde the second reading more fruitfull thē the first the third more fruitfull then the second so the oftener the better This is a great vanitie an euill sicknesse among mē that if they haue once seene the title of a booke and the authors name read two or three leaues it is cast at their heeles for euer after as if they had attained all that could be learned by it when they can name the title author of it Wherefore for this point marke the course manner of mē in the keeping and encreasing of their bodily strēgth though they eate their fill of this kinde of meate to day yet they come with great desire and fresh appetite to the same againe within a day or two yea oftentimes the same day otherwise it argueth either an extreme weakenesse or an intollerable daintinesse of the stomacke Here perhaps thou wilt aske what bookes beside the holy Bible I would commend vnto thee Wherein though I see some difficultie because it cannot be done without cōparisons which are coūted odious yet for thy good I wil not spare to shew my poore opiniō No one book of the like volume more fruitefull then Virell which is that no one mā that I haue seen hath set down the summe grounds of Christiā Religion more holily happily for the capacitie and edifying of all sortes thē this present author For this cause I specially recōmend him to thee as one by whō thou mayst specially profit if thou call vpō the name of God through Iesus Christ bind thy selfe to diligēce constancie remembring that as one dish of meate well chewed digested will cōfort nature more then diuers delicates that lye raw vndigested in the stomack so one booke often throughly read wil do thy soule more good then the superficiall fight and tast of a thousand And so I commend thee to the Lord who vouchsafe to giue thee wisedome in all thinges for his mercies sake Blacke Friers the 23. of Iuly Thine in the Lord Iesus STEPH EGERTON The argument and order of the three bookes of Christian Religion The first Booke DEclareth the fundamentall pointes of our saluation it standeth vpon four heads 1 1 The first intreateth of the knowledge of God who being perfectly iust and perfectly mercifull doth not onely shew mercie but doth also declare his iustice ibidem 2 The second of the knowledge of man who being a most miserable sinner is guiltie of eternall death before the iudgement seate of God 9 3 The third of the knowledge of Christ who hauing satisfied the most perfect iustice of God for vs openeth a way vnto his most perfect mercie that we may obtaine forgiuenesse of our sinnes 15 4 The fourth of faith whereby we are made one with Christ and so partakers of all his benefites and euen of euerlasting life 22 The scond Booke COntaineth the testimonies of our saluation and that standeth vpon two speciall pointes whereof 1 The first intreateth of good workes by the which faith lying hid in our hearts is manifested 78 2 The second of prayer which hath the first and chiefe place among good works to testifie and confirme our faith 188 The third Booke SEtteth before vs the outward meanes whereby God bringeth vs vnto saluation and it consisteth vpon foure principall points 219 1 The first entreateth of the ministerie of the word by the which the holy Ghost begetteth faith in our hearts keepeth it there and increaseth it ibidem 2 The second of the Sacramentes ordained of God to be as seales of the word to the ende we might with greater assurāce embrace the promises reuealed vnto vs in the word of Christ 140 3 The third of Baptisme whereby God testifieth that we are receiued of him into couenant while by it he communicateth Christ vnto vs together with his benefites 248 4 The fourth of the Lordes Supper by the which God witnesseth that his couenant is confirmed in vs by it making vs more and more partakers of Christ and his gifts 259 A summe of all set downe in a triple or threefold method that we may the better know the order and coherence of euery point of Christian Religion as also the truth excellencie and profit of the same 259 THE FIRST BOOKE of Christian religion wherein the grounds of our saluation are handled Speakers Theophilus Mathew CHAP. I. Of the knowledge of God who being perfectly iust and perfectly mercifull doth neuer exercise his mercy but he doth also exercise his iustice Theophilus MOst dearely beloued brother I haue oftentimes desired to heare of you all the doctrine of Christian religion in exact order because once I heard you plainely and briefly discoursing of some points thereof wherein I was not a little satisfied Mathew As my good will hath not at anie time in anie thing ben wanting vnto you most louing Theophilus so I will with the more readie mind performe that which you desire when it shall be conuenient because the thing of it selfe is profitable and I trust it shal be to mine own edifying For this is proper to Christian doctrine that the oftner it is handled the more plentifully it setteth forward the force and working of it in the hearts of the faithfull Theoph. Go to then hast thou not now leysure to declare vnto me euery head of Christian religion in the order wherein I haue determined to aske thee I will cause them to be put in writing and so to be communicated with my brethren Mat. If I had not leysure there is not any businesse which I would not leaue to satisfie you in this behalfe for what is there wherein time can be better spent Theoph. Seeing therefore our disputation shall be of Christian religion I desire to be taught what is meant by the word Religion Mat. Before I answer I pray God our heauenly Father to be present with vs by his holy Spirite that we may neither thinke nor speake any thing which may not tend to the honor of his own name and to the edification of his whole Church The word Religion is deriued of a word that signifieth to binde And it is a spirituall bond by the which men in a certaine holy reconciliation are made one with God and are kept in his loue and feare that at length they may be partakers of his heauenly glory of the blessed life Which no Religion can do but that which is Christian that is to saie that which hath the foundation in Christ Theoph. Why so Mat. Because by Christ alone through faith we are reconciled vnto God and that freely and so are made one with God by a most neare bond that he may bee glorified of vs in this life and eternally in the heauēs Theoph. From whence haue we proofe of that Mat Out of the
that it was permitted to the Israelites for the hardnesse of their hearts that is to say as wel for their rudenesse as for their infirmitie Notwithstanding he sheweth That for the time to come it was not lawfull but for fornication Theoph. But it may be obiected that it is so farre of that the fathers of the Israelites church are excelled by vs in holinesse and sanctimonie of life that contrariwise there bee not a few of them found which did a great deale go beyond vs such as were Moses Elias Daniel c. Mat. When wee speake of the difference betweene the church of the Israelites and ours wee must not alledge some speciall gifts graunted to some speciall mē but it must be considered what was the whole body of that Church for therein standeth the difference Theoph. Declare the third difference Math. It is herein that euerlasting life was obscurely and darkely offered to the Israelites wrapped or folded vp in earthly promises For they were children as Paule speaketh whose age farre more esteemeth some smal things then those that be of the best value But now after we be come to age and are taught the Gospell by meanes whereof the benefite of eternall life is much more plainly made knowen vnto vs wee are in the verie right way ledde to the hope and meditation of it neither do wee stay in these earthly and fraile things And this was the cause why the Fathers vnder the Law esteemed this life more then we ought to esteeme it Theoph. Now remaineth the last difference Math. It is that whereof by the waie we made mention namely that the church vnder the law was as it were bounded with the borders of Iudea or shut vp within that countrey But now it is scattered throughout the whole world neither is it tied to any place Mat. 10. 5. For this cause Christ when he sent forth his disciples to preach the Gospell before his death in plaine wordes forbad them to go to the Gentiles but to the lost sheepe of the house of Israell But after his resurrection when hee had put an end to the ceremonies of the law hee biddeth his Apostles going into all the Mar. 16. 16 world to preach the Gospell to euerie creature Behold what the differences be between the old and our Church Now these haue beene the cause that the bookes of the Bible which respect the state of the Church before Christ was borne had the name of the old Testament and those which were written after his resurrection are called the new Testament or the new couenant yet not that there be two couenants or two Testaments betwixt God and his Church for there is onely one which is diuersely considered Theoph. Let vs goe forward to the rest What is the reason that wee say I beleeue the Church and not I see the Church Mat. Although particular Churches be seen of vs yet because here is intreated of the vniuersall church which we cannot behold with the eyes of the bodie therefore wee doe not saie I see but I beleeue the Church I adde moreouer that the Church properly is no other but that companie of the elect For the hypocrites and reprobats which are mingled with the particular Churches are not members of the vniuersall Church I do annex furthermore for a larger declaration of these two arguments First 1 That it falleth out not seldome that by the persecutions of the enemies the Church is so scattered that it seemeth almost to be cleane put out Howbeit it is not so but onely for a time it is remoued from our fight euen as the wheat lieth hidden vnder the chaffe Which indeed came to passe in the dayes of Elias for 1. Reg. 19. 10. the Prophet complained that he aloue was left For he thought that all the people were fallen away from true Religion Notwithstanding the Lord answered There be remaining vnto me seuen thousand which haue not bowed their knee before Baal Therefore when the Church is hidden either in the whole or in the partes yet ought we not thereupon to ceasse to beleeue that it is For the Lord said by the Prophet that Israels seed Ier. 31. 36. should not faile as long as Sunne and Moone should bee in the heauens The same thing doth Christ confirme Mat. 16. 18. whē he saith that it shall neuer be that the gates of hell shall ouercome the Church that is to say that neither the Deuill nor his Angels shall euer bee able to bring to passe the finall or vtter destruction of the Church howsoeuer God sometimes so giue them the bridle that is to say such libertie that they bring vpon it great calamitie The Church therefore may most fitly be compared to that bush which Moses heretofore saw in the wildernesse Exod. 3. 2. which burnt in the fire and yet was not consumed Theoph. Howe doth the speech of the gates of Hell whereof Christ maketh mention agree with the practises deceipts and counsels of the deuill Mat. It is a similitude or likenesse taken from common wealths in the which in former times iudgement was vsed at the gates of their Citties where also the store of Armour munition for warre was kept Hereupon Iudg. 5. 8. it grew that cōmonly in ancient times the gates were taken for strength and counsell Theoph. Bring forth the other argument by the which thou mayst proue that the Catholike Church is to be beleeued Mat. It is drawne from this that although in it there haue alwayes bin manie elect seeing the word of God is neuer preached in vaine yet neuer the lesse all they that ioyne them selues to particular churches do not straight way belong to the vniuersall church that is to say are not by and by of the number of the faithfull and chosen For as saith Austen Hom. 45. vpon Iohn there bee many sheepe without the sheepfold of Christ which God in his time will call so there be many wolues in the verie Church whose hypocrisie the Lord in their time will discouer Therefore God onely knoweth who be his to vse the wordes of the Apostle And this is the cause why making 2. Tim. 2. mention of the inuisible Church I comprehēded vnder it the elect of God still liuing in the earth Theoph. But are the elect them selues being called of God and ioyned to the particular churches vncertaine of their saluation Mat. No not so For each of them may know their owne faith by the feeling put into them by the holie Ghost and anothers faith they cannot The word of beleeuing containeth all these things For it is as if thou saydest I beleeue that there is a certaine companie of the faithfull and elect in the Church which God defendeth in this world of whose number I certainely know that I am In the meane time Christian charitie requireth this that we iudge well of all those that haue ioyned thēselues to particular churches so long as they shew themselues
word of God which is most certaine and vpon the truth whereof resteth all Christian doctrine The. What vnderstandest thou by the word of God Mat. The Canonicall books of the Bible whereunto for this cause is giuen the name of holy Scripture Theoph. How came it to passe that those Bookes were called the Bible Mat The Christians of the primitiue Church after they had gathered into one volume the bookes of the Prophets and Apostles by an excellency called that volume in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because those bookes farre passe others For truly the word of God in worthinesse and excellency goeth beyond all the words of men Theoph. But how maie it certainely be proued that the doctrine which is contained in those bookes is the word of God seeing that the Prophets and Apostles who it is certainely knowne were men were the authors and writers of them Mat. First of all indeed it is necessarie that the holy Ghost which spake by them nay whose instruments onely they were do engraue that faith in our hearts Then that assurance maie be confirmed by obseruing the speciall excellency which it is easie to perceiue in those writings as also the most holy effects which they worke in vs. Theoph. What excellency do you meane Mat. effect 1 First of all the maiesty of the Spirit of God which shineth in thē most euidently For euery where there appeare diuine and heauenlie things nothing earthlie and mortall or that agreeth with the corrupt affections of the flesh effect 2 Secondly the consent of all the parts among them selues for although they were written by diuerse writers in sundry places and at sundrie times yet there is no lesse agreement betweene them then if they had agreed together of the matter before effect 3 Finally the fulfilling of all the prophesies deliuered long before yet precisely accomplished each of them in their proper time Ier. 26. 12. Dan 9. 24. Hence it is that Dauid giueth thē most excellent commendation saying Psal 12. 6. The words of the Lord are pure words as the siluer is tried in a fornace of earth fined seauen fold I say nothing of their antiquitie and that not without a miracle they were preserued among so manie enemies which wold haue destroied them and among such cruell persecutions Theoph. But what holy effects do they worke in vs Mat. This generall we maie marke that the Church hath alwaies as it is at this day beene gathered together by the authoritie of the holy Scripture that is to saie a companie of men of diuers ages sexes and conditions which worshippeth God according to the instructions and doctrine of that Scripture a good part whereof in all ages hath sealed the same with their bloud But the speciall or particular effects are that they rauish the reader enforce him to the reuerēce of God no otherwise then as if God himself did speak Moreouer that by the reading of them our hearts are touched with an earnest feeling of our sinnes Last of all that they lift vp our minds aboue all heauens kindle within vs a desire of a better life cause vs that in comparison thereof we do easily despise all other things All which are not done by the writings of men notwithstanding they be artificiallie handled Therefore the Apostle to the Hebrues saith that the word of God is liuing mightie in operation and piercing more then anie two edged sword and that it doth reach euen Heb. 4. 12. to the diuiding asunder of the soule and the spirite of the ioynts and marrow Theoph. Verily these are most strong arguments to prooue the truth of Gods word But there bee some which say that all the authority of it dependeth vpon the Church Mat. They do as if one should say that the light of the sunne hangeth vpon the testimony of men For as the Sunne shall not cease to shine although all men be blind euen so the word of God shall neuer receiue losse whether it be allowed or dissalowed of men Moreouer how can it be that the authority of the word of God should depend vpon the allowance or consent of the Church seeing that the Church it selfe borroweth all her authoritie of the word as it were of her foundation for it is built vpon the foundation of Ephes 2. 20. the Apostles and Prophets Theoph. But they say that in this place it is not meant of the truth of the word in it selfe but of the meane whereby it is vnderstood and receiued of men Which they affirme to hang vppon the testimony and allowance of the Church To which purpose they alleadge this saying of a certaine Father I should not haue beleeued the Gospell if the authoritie of the Aug. contra epist fund Manich. Church did not moue me Mat. This sentence maketh not for them For this was the mind of that holy man that being a stranger from the faith he was moued by the authoritie of the Church to embrace the Gospell and that after by the working of the holy Ghost he was confirmed it that faith Which hee doth a little before declare in these words The Church first calleth vs to beleeue that which yet we are not able to see that being made strōger in faith we may come to vnderstand that which we beleeue not now men but God himselfe inwardly strengthening and lightning our mind Which thing I doubt not but it is true namely that the witnesse which the Church giueth to the word of God doth not a little moue vs to embrace it But then onely this is when our faith is beginning for when it is come to any age and we our selues by reading hearing of the word haue tasted of that truth then we beleeue not by the testimony of the Church but by that which the holie Ghost sealeth in our hearts In so much as if the Church should then teach vs a doctrin diuerse from that we would not giue our consents vnto it This shall be made plaine by the example of the Samaritanes Those hearing the report of the woman with whō the Lord had spokē that he was the Christ beleeued But after that themselues had heard him they said vnto the woman now wee beleeue not any Ioh. 4. 39. 42. more for thy saying for we haue heard him our selues and do know that this is indeede the Christ the Sauiour of the world Theoph. This example bringeth no small light to this doubt But hitherto sufficientlie of the truth and authoritie of the word of God now let vs in a few words consider what it doth containe Mat. It hath in it at large whatsoeuer concerneth the glorie of God for our good and saluation Theoph. By what meanes doth it teach vs to attaine saluation Mat. By the true knowledge of God and of Iesus Christ which it doth teach Teoph Let vs therefore first intreate of the knowledge of God and after we will speake of Christ in the proper place What do the