via sacra Abraham came out of Chaldea so must they out of their Sects before they come to these two things set downe in the Text. The Foundation The Rocke The Building The Church Verse 17. The Rocke imports first a foundation and the surest vpon which the rest of the grunsels are layd what this Rocke is poynts to the premises to that Rocke which Peter discouered before and layd hold on that rocke which flesh blood had not reuealed vnto him but the father in the 17. verse As thou art Peter which signfies a Rocke so vpon this Rocke which thou hast discouered Lib. 6. de Trinit Lib. 61 9. in Luc. Hom. 55. in Matth. Vlt. Tract in Ioh. Serm. 3. de verb. Retra 1.21 will I build my Church So saith Hillary Super hanc confessionis petram Ecclesiae aedificatio est So Ambrose Fundamentum Ecclesiae sides est So Chrysostome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vpon faith and confession So Augustine Super hanc petram quam confessus es edificabo Ecclesiam meam And in another place De verb. Dom. And in his Retractations he confesseth that he hath expounded it of Peter in some places recals it Christ the son of the liuing God is the ground besides which none other can bee layd Or that Christ is the sonne of the liuing God is the first ground of truth whereupon the Church is built vp in faith and knowledge of that rocke which is permanent wee say the first ground and principle of Christianity whereupon the rest of the gruncels and articles of Christian faith are layd and out of which the other are deriued The Logicians make a question which is the first principle in reason whether one or many but this is the first in faith and the very rocke of all Lue 17.6 In the 17. of Luke ver 6. The kingdome of God is compared to a seede The least of all seedes and to one graine of that seede for as our articles are not many so are they contained in one which is the first and that this is mole minimum but virtute maximum it is cleere for in it as a seede the rest are contained If then we be settled in our hearts There is a possibility of rest and a facility of beleeuing the rest that followes If that man Christ was the image of his father by whom all things were made he might easily preserue his mothers virginity and so be borne of a virgin If we beleeue that this man was true God then we may as easily beleeue that he was able to suffer the Iewes to crucifie kill bury his body and raise it vp againe by the power of his diuinity if Christ by whom all things were made of nothing bee able to gouerne then is he able to rectifie and restore all by the resurrection of the body to eternall life This was first reuealed by the Angell at his conception He shall be called the sonne of the most high Luc. 1.32 2. Installed the Head of the Church at his Baptisme This ground was first reuealed Mat. 3.17 not by an Angell but by his owne father Matth. 3.17 and when Iohn Baptist was to beare witnesse Ioh. 1.34 Ioh. 1.34 I saw and beare record that this is the sonne of God 3. When hee was about to goe out of the world at his transfiguration Mat. 17.5 This is my beloued sonne heare him This is the ground of all that the beloued Disciple makes so much of in his Epistle 1 Ioh. 4.15 1. Ioh. 4.15 Whosoeuer confesses that Iesus is the sonne of God in him dwelleth God and 1. Ioh. 5.5 Who is hee that ouercomes the world 1 Ioh. 5.5 but he that beleeueth that Iesus is the sonne of God he hath gotten heere this very seed and ground of all 4. Heere the rocke is reuealed to Peter from heauen expressed by Peters confession Therefore they that beleeued Christ did first lay holde on this Nathanael in the first of Iohn Ioh. 1.49 Rabbi thou art the sonne of God The Centurion at his death in the 27. of Matthew Mat. 27.54 Doubtlesse this is the sonne of God Therefore this is the first sparke of Christian faith that fals into the heart 5. Did Christ tell Peter this Rocke Let vs then see vpon what rocke Peter built for hee was a master-builder Looke the last Catholique Epistle the first Chapter 2 Pet. 1.14 and the foureteenth verse Seeing I know the time of my departure is at hand I must lay downe this my Tabernacle euen as our Lord Iesus Christ hath shewed me Verse 15. Verse 15. I will endeauour therefore alwaeyes that I may bee able to haue remembrance of these things after my departing How endeauour Verse 16. Verse 16 For wee follow not deceiueable fables with our eyes wee saw his Maiesty For verse 17. Verse 17. hee receiued honour and glory of his father when a voice came from him Verse 18. This is my beloued sonne in whom I am well pleased This voice we heard in the eighteenth when it came from heauen being with him in the holy Mount This hee confirmed by the Prophets Verse 19. The sure word of the Prophets Though as a light in a darke place not so manifestly shining as afterwards And that he may confirme this confirming authority of the Prophets verse 20.21 hee sayes Verse 20.21 It was an inspiration from the holy Ghost and therefore Peter had beene ouerseene that if Christ had poynted to Peter in these words Super hanc petram if Peter poynted not the Church to the successors of Rome super hanc petram especially knowing of his departure taking his fare-well making his last Catholique Epistle he poynts onely to this rocke that Christ is the Sonne of God 6. That other master-builder so soone as euer the scales fell from his eyes Act. 9.20 straight-way hee preached Christ in the Synagogue That he was the sonne of God 7. The Eunuch receiued Baptisme and all exacted at his hands was the confession of this poynt Act. 8.37 I beleeue that Iesus Christ is the Sonne of God Did Philip teach him that he and his Queene of Aethiopia must goe after to Rome as before to Ierusalem I thinke hee troubled his head with no such points so still this is the first ground whereupon the rest are built and therefore no maruell though Sathan hath so malitiously from this day opposed this poynt From the beginning did the gates of hell oppose it Mat. 4.3 Mat 4 3. So soone as euer Sathan enters hee begins If thou be the Sonne of God At his death The houre and power of darknesse Math. 27. Mat 27 40. Sathan did then set his instruments against that Rocke If thou be the Sonne of God come downe from the Crosse and we will beleeue thee After the Ascension the most generall and pestilent heresie that euer was of Arrianisme opposed this ground Sathan well
knowes so long as the Church is firmely built vpon this the gates of hell shall not preuaile against it Now as the graine of mustard-seede groweth so must we proceede from faith to knowledge vnaduised they are that would haue vs prescribe a scantling of Faith and knowledge as if eyther more were needlesse or lesse damnable but God in wisedome thought it meet to prescribe no such certainety and that for two reasons 1 To stirre vp our sluggish nature To forget that is behind and endeauonr to that which is before Philip 3 13 It is perfectio viatoris the perfection of a traueller still to goe on what need we goe to Church I know the summe of all beleeue in Christ Iesus c. Such sluggards shall neuer grow rich in grace that good corne shall neuer prosper in their hearts because they are so ouer-growne with thornes and thistles 2 Because God would not limit his mercies As it pleaseth him to saue infants without any knowledge so also to saue some in all degrees of knowledge ioyning wisedome mercy in proportioning somthing to the Times ages wherein men liue some to the place where some to the capacities of the persons themselues God exacts not so much knowledge of the woman of Samaria as of Nicodemus Iohn the 3. Art thou a Doctor in Israell nor so much of them that dwell in the middest of Spaine as of them in the heart of England nor of those that liued in the time of superstition as of vs that are in the Sunshine of the Gospell It is a sure rule if wee hold the foundation sure and conforme our liues and affections thereafter the ignorance of other branches shall neuer condemne vs except it be wilfull or affected ignorance 1 Wilfull ignorance in such as eyther contemn or neglect the meanes of further knowledge or such as in doubtfull cases will venter without aduice and then say I meant no hurt 2 Affected ignorance when wee suffer our affections to blinde our vnderstanding Act 19 25. like Demetrius that perswaded the crafts-men not to heare the Apostles because they liued in a profitable trade But simple ignorance in a well meaning Christian is eyther passed ouer in mercy or more knowledge reuealed in time as the Prophet in the Psalms To him that ordereth his conuersation aright Psal 50. vlt will I show the saluation of God Cornelius Acts 10.4 Thy prayers and almes-deedes The two wings of deuotion flye vp to heauen together for as it is in supplication Forgiue vs as wee forgiue so in almes Giue vs as we giue them rather then Cornelius shal want knowledge for saluation God will send Peter from Ioppa If any man doubt let him begin with the feare of the Lord and practise those grounds he knowes well and then by degrees learne to goe on and build vpon them as in Hebr. 6.13 Hebr 6.1.3 beeing the doctrine of the beginning of Iesus Christ Let vs goe on and pray to God that we may lay the foundation safely and surely that in Faith and charity wee may be knit altogether in the body of Christ TRACT II. WEE haue in the former exercise found the Rocke whereon wee may safely build vpon this Rocke must the maine grunsels bee laide such principles of Christianity and Articles of Faith as bee expressed in Scripture in the plainest places after compiled by the Church into a little body or short forme such as Irenaeus first sets downe as receiued of all churches about 178. which he testifies to be so vniformely professed in all Churches as if all Christians had but one soule and one mouth In Germany France East and West Europe and Asia and in all places of the world As there is but one Sun to euery nature so there is but one Faith to euery Christian hee that is most powerfull in speech can say no more and they that are most simple meane no lesse Tertullian expresseth another thing to the same effect Anno 210. after that the Fathers of the Nycen Counsell Anno 324. after that Athanasius made his Creede more fully designing the persons in Trinity against Arrius Anno 333. These ancient knowen verities being agreed vpon of all Churches long before these distractions Let vnstable mindes that finde their soules wauering in Religion giue attention 1 Cor. 9.22 for such I make inquirie as Paul 1. Corin. 9.22 Became all things to all men So we wil doubt with the doubtfull stand vpon indifferent ground looke on both sides with a single eye that we may the better discerne the true way of a Christian resolution Be wee sure then to hold the foundation and to build vpon these truths which all Churches in all ages haue agreed vpon Heere take we footing as vpon firme ground and looke a little about vs before we resolue where to light These parts of the Church within our view doe each of them becken vs to their side The Church of Rome bids vs returne to our olde mother as onely true Catholike The Brownist cries come to our congregation we are euen iump as it was in the Apostles time nay to ours sayes the Anabaptist Lo heere is Christ lo there It is the plea of euery Church But of all the Church of Rome cries loudest and if her challenge be true it stands vs in hand to listen to it for it concernes vs as much as euerlasting life is worth Extra Ecclesiam Romanam non est salus Without the Church of Rome is no saluation Yet she must pardon vs though we make a pause and do not presently make it an article of our Faith because wee finde it not in any of our ancient Creeds nor in any plaine text of Scripture in any translation theirs or ours what chymicall witts may extract thence wee will not now dispute A Catholicke Church wee finde but a Romish Catholike Church we find not That all Christians haue such necessary dependance vpon any place or person Rome or Bishop of Rome and vnder such a penalty of eternall damnation It seemes then this is the Rocke without which all other articles will not saue vs and yet the auncient Church hath forgotten to put it in any of her Creedes It is not in the Apostles Creede Irenaeus hath left it out of his Tertullian out of his the Nycene theirs Athanasius out of his And Peter out of his Catholicke Epistle 2 Pet. 1.13 when at the time of his departure out of this life hee tooke his last farwell of the Church First one Church we acknowledge built vpon Christ the sonne of God Eph. 4.4 fully described in the 4 of the Ephesians by one Body one Spirit one Lord one Faith one Baptisme one Father 1 One body because a Church is nothing else but a society of beleeuers called out of the rest of the world by the word of God and though it run as the Sea through many Countries and thence receiues many names like the seuen Churches of
Asia yet it is but one body 2 It followes One spirit that doth animate and informe the members of the same as the soule or spirit of a man knits vp the members into one body 3 This professeth One Lord Christ which makes it a Christian Church 4 Yet the very naming of Christ Iesus our Lord is not sufficient to proue a Christian Church vnlesse we embrace that Faith which Christ doth publish one Faith not in euery branch of diuinity that neuer was nor will be but the grundsels laid vpon the true foundation 5 Yet wee are but Catechumenists as it were in the Church porch till we be admitted by the doore of Baptisme 6 In which Baptisme we are made the Adopted Children of One Father vpon which the Apostle concludes one God and Father of all must needes make a Church Secondly this Church we beleeue to be Catholike that is vniuersall not because it is spread ouer the face of the vniuersall world but because it is not limited to any place or nation as the lewish Church was much lesse to the succession of any person but it is scattered and dispersed without bounds So as still it hath a power and disposition to bee more and more vniuersally spread That 's the sence of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to Zacharies Prophesie That Ierusalem should be inhabited without walls Zach. 2.4 But for the Romane Church so famous in the Apostles time that Saint Paul in the first to the Romans doth glory so much in it Admit the memory of the Apostle Peter caused the Church to honour his successors and to giue the Patriarke of that Sea priority before all other Admit that Church hauing beene purged by fiery persecutions and crowned with Martyrdome vnder the Heathen Emperors was therefore more reuerenced of succeeding Churches in other ages Admit the seate of the Empire the renowne of the Cittie the excellent choice they made of wise and learned Bishops got them such credit amongst remote Churches that amidst their distractions which were amongest the Greekes many there were that would haue recourse to Rome as to arbitrators for aduice and iudgement What is all this to the saluation of my soule in these daies What warrant haue I to rent my selfe from this Church wherein by Gods prouidence I am borne and whereof I am borne againe a member Or what reason haue they to exact this new article at my hands whereof I finde no mention amongst the old I dispute not the point in this place onely let mee put the case of a lay mans resolution I am by Gods prouidence borne and Christned brought vp and Catechized in the Church of England The quaere is no more but this Whether I be bound in Conscience to become a Romish Catholique and to bee reconciled to the present Church of Rome as now it standeth in paine of eternall condemnation This is the very point that draweth so many from vs to whom I propound fiue Quaeries or demands which in the iudgement of indifferent men may seeme reasonable 1 First I demand some cleere euidence or firm ground to build vpon that this is my duety and vpon so great a penalty to thrust my selfe into such an action without sufficient warrant I should not onely condemne my selfe of rashnesse but incurre offence against God in the 14. to the Romanes Rom. 14.23 What euery Man doth doubtingly is sinne to him that doth it Quod dubitas ne feceris A greater matter is a greater sinne a greater then this cannot bee vnder the Sunne I desire therefore some cleere warrant for my resolution The first testimony that is offered is the Testimony of the Church that is of the Church of Rome for shee tels vs that shee alone is the true Catholike Church out of which there is no saluation whereupon it followes that such as will be saued must be reconciled to her This wee verily beleeue that the Church of Rome saith so and hath so said a long time 2 The next Quaere is then whether the Testimony of the Church of Rome in this case concerning her selfe be sufficient Go vp as high as they will so long as shee hath made this challenge I demand whether her testimony be sufficient I answer out of doubt it is not In the fifth of Iohn vers 31. If Christ should beare witnesse of himselfe Iob. 5.31 his witnesse were not true that is not sufficient Though after chap. 8.14 he professes that though hee should beare witnesse of himselfe yet his witnes were true because ver 16. I am not alone but I and the Father that sent me Take him single as in the first place by the way of concession that he wil deale with the Iewes vpon indifferent termes I hope then the testimony of Christ concerning himselfe was as sufficient in it selfe and to the Iewes as the testimony of the Church of Rome can be eyther in it selfe or vnto vs. Let it not therefore seeme vnreasonable if beside the testimony of the Church wee desire further euidence for heere she standeth for her selfe against all Churches in Christendome 3 Other testimony beside the Church and Scripture they pretend none for Traditions are referred to the Church and the Creeds to the Scripture To the Scripture then of necessity she must come in this point 4 Our next demand is whether it is expressely there or drawne out by Tract of consequent mentioned it is not neither in the originall nor in the vulgar nor in the Rhemish nor in any of their owne translations 5 If by consequent it bee extracted my next Quaere is whether I am bound vnder paine of damnation to beleeue euery poynt that may be drawne out of Scripture by consequence of arguments wee stumble not at immediate consequents as such as these The Trinity is not named in so many letters but the Scripture implieth euery person to be God in seuerall places and elsewhere auerreth that there is but one God this is easily put together But are wee to beleeue that which by long tract of consequent may be gathered Then none but great wits can be saued our weake vnderstanding is not able to fetch euery conclusion from the right ground Hence let vs make three degrees of diuine positions 1 Some are Articles as Christ the Sonne of God was crucified 2 Some as Conclusions as that children are capable of Baptisme but not of the Lords Supper 3 Some are taken as Opinions and problemes of Diuinitie As that Angels doe more solemnely attend in person at holy exercises That Saints shall haue some personall knowledge one of another Matt. 17. as Moses and Elias had in the mount Now as fixed starres seeme to twinckle because they are further remote and cannot so stedily be discerned by our weake eyes so our vnderstandings are more vnstable and our beleefe more vncertaine in points deduced by many sequels and farre fetcht consequents These bring narrow issue let vs see what degree
cleered to my conscience that I am bound to be reconciled to the church of Rome as now it stands vnder paine of eternall condemnation If therefore they faile in any of these demonstrations we must faile them These sixe Articles wee must passe before the maine point be concluded Let vs repeat them that we forget them not 1 We must beleeue certitudine fidei with the certainty of Faith 2 That Christ left his supremacie to Peter and to his successors onely 3 That Peter bequeathed it to one in one Church and not to diuers 4 That this one was the Bishop of Rome and no other 5 That this Pope that now is did succeede him in this Church 6 That hee and his Church doe continue succession of Faith and doctrine as well as in person and place Vntill these be all made cleere as an article of our Faith I hope they will giue vs leaue to serue and worship our God according to that Christian liberty which God hath giuen in a Church professing his Gospell TRACT III. REturne wee then to our first conclusion that for such gruncels as are immediately to be laid vpon the rocke that is matters of saluation and principles of Faith wee must receiue them vndoubtedly distinguish them from all other positions that are thrust vpon vs as necessary to be beleeued by the same degree of Faith And to receiue them vpon examination according to the authority of the propounder and according to that degree of euidence by which they are proued Hold on the foundation and let vs conforme our affections and liues and build further to perfection of grace as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and then as it is Psalm 50. and the last To him that ordereth his conuersation aright I will show the saluation of God TRACT IIII. GIue me leaue a little because I doe not much trouble you with questions to examine this point for their sakes that be vnstable or desire the same the rather because this is the very ground of their resolution and if this faile all failes That the supremacy was in Christ while hee liued vpon earth it is agreed but whether at his departure he conferred the same vpon Peter and in that degree which they challenge is the first maine point And for this they pitch vpon foure maine texts 1 Super hanc Petram Mat. 16.18 Matt. 10. verse 19. 2 Tibi Dabo claues That key of Dauid which Christ had which openeth when no man shutteth and soutteth when no man openeth 3 Pasce oues Ioh 21.15 Before it was promised there exhibited To be chiefe Pastor To feede the Lambs that is the Laity To feede the sheepe that is Rule and Gouerne the Clergie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yea the Apostles themselues if they be sheepe of Christ Peter must be their shepheard 4 I haue praied for thee Tu autem conuersus confirma fratres Luke 22.32 That is confirme the rest of the Apostles they were his brethren These 4 are like foure pillars whereupon Peters supremacy is built presently if Peter had it the Pope hath it but admit this yet we finde many doubts which must be cleered and many blocks which must be remoued before my conscience finde a cleere euidence to come ouer to them vnder such a penalty as eternall condemnation For my Text the point of difference is what Christ meant by the Rocke 1 Whether the Person of Peter as they affirme 2 Or the Faith of Christ which Peter professed Thou art the Sonne of God or Christ apprehended by that Faith Do them no wrong t' is agreed that Christ is the Primitiue foundation but the secondary foundation is Peters person not as a priuate person but as the head of the Church That it should be Peter not Christ or the Faith of Christ there are foure colours 1 Hanc by Grammer must be referred to that which is Tues Petrus c. 2 Because Petrus and Petra are all one in the tongue wherein Christ spake Cepbas therefore hee meant the same thing 3 Not aedifico nor aedificani but aedificabo As if Christ had built his Apostle vpon himselfe already But Peter is called Sathanas after and denied Christ ô but after the resurrection it is built vpon Peter and therefore Aedificabo 4 He would neuer haue said Tu es Petrus and then Inferred super hanc why does hee say with an asseueration Ego dico tibi These are prety colours to looke vpon at the first but these are not wadded they will not hold but shed if they be well handled What if we say with St. Augustine Aug. de ver Dom. Secū Mat. ser 13 Super hanc petram quam confessus es super hanc petram quam cognouisti dicens Tu es filius deiviui aedificato ecclesiam meam id est meipsum filium dei viui aedificabo ecclesiam meam Vpon this Rocke which thou hast acknowledged vpon this Rocke which thou hast known saying Thou art the sonne of the liuing God I will build my Church that is my selfe the sonne of the liuing God will I build my Church Is not this good grammer What if wee say with S. Ambrose Ambr. in 2. cap. ep Ephes v. 20 Super istam aedificabo Ecclesiam meam hoc est in hac catholicae fidei confessione fides ergo ecclesiae fundamentum est Vpon this Rocke will I build my Church that is in the confession of this Catholicke Faith therefore Faith is the foundation of the Church hath not Hanc a good reference to the premises What if I say with Hilary Vna haec est foelix fidei petra Hill de Trin 2.6 Petri ore confessa tu es filius Dei vini super hanc igitur confessionis petram Ecclesiae aedificatio est Haec fides Ecclesiae fundamentum est This alone is the most happy rocke of faith confessed by the mouth of Peter thou art the sonne of the liuing God vpon this rocke of confession is the building of the Church this faith is the foundation of the Church to the same purpose you finde Cyrill de Trinit 4. Cyrill Chrisost Beda Chrysost 55. hom sup Matth. Beda vpon Iohn the 21. These fathers will defend Grammer well enough for hanc but let vs adde one of their owne Lyra. gloss Interlin Cusanus gloss in Grat. Aliaco Lyra who they say for interpreting Scripture had not his match and the interlineall glosse Cusanus and the glosse vpon Gratian Petrus de Aliaco Chancellor of Paris though a Cardinall though he name Peter yet goes with vs. 2. It is all one word Cephas but Bellarmine and Augustine and the rest are deceiued because they did not vnderstand the Syriake tongue but the Euangelist distinguishes betwixt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To make a difference betwixt Peters faith and his person to distinguish the Rocke that he confessed from himselfe Bellarmines saies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is a stone and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
some zealous fury that he would breake the tables or doe some mischeefe to the written Law It stung the Serpent that Gods Law should be written in tables of stone to continue that from time to time it might discouer all falfe Oracles and keepe the verity of God entire from his vnwritten vanities 2. A great Benefit to haue the Law written 2 Magnum beneficium but greater fauour that Comments also of Moses and the Prophets together with their Prophesies and the Mysteries of saluation giuen by diuine inspiration should bee committed to writing that Christ in his person might confirme his Apostles as heere with So it is written and that the Apostles vpon the same testimony might preach the same Gospell to all nations beginning at Ierusalem 3. 3. Magna misericordia But of all mercies this the greatest that to Moses and the Prophets are added Christ and the Apostles that all things needefull to saluation bee now perfected exactly written admirably preserued sealed vp with a curse in the end of the booke to any that shall adde or diminish whether of the sect of Montanus or Seruetus or any fantasticke spirit of latter time that expects further Reuelation or whether they that make the traditions of men or the voice of a Counsell equiualent that is of equall infallibilitye with the Word written this is so absolute it selfe and of it selfe that Vincentius Lirinensis so approoued by our aduersaries doth auerre Solus sufficit ad omnia satis superque An absolute canon it is but for what for the mysteries of our saluation wrought by the death and perfected by the resurrection of Christ An absolute canon for prescript of all essentiall parts of Gods worship and the directing of our soules to euerlasting life for which It is written Ioh 20 21. But shall wee therefore from sufficiency of the written word require the proofe of all particulars without limitation Doubtlesse vnder this pretence we may go too farre Must yee haue a proofe out of Scripture that the plague is not infectious or will yee not beleeue it shall wee exact a prescription out of the word of God How to build Churches for diuine seruice or How to shape decent garments for the Cleargie shall the Scripture define in particular each ceremony and circumstance any waies annexed or appertaining to externall Worship shall the Preacher looke for speciall direction out of Gods Book in what maner to branch his Text to order his speech to enforce the Argument for the best edifying of each particular auditory shall the people waite till we can giue expresse charge out of this Booke when to sit stand or kneele at diuine Seruice what euer is against the second Commandement I feare this is against the third for it takes Gods name in vaine and stands not with the Maiesty of that word written for matters of greater importance Vers 13. The Apostle being to reforme abuses concerning Praier and Prophesing in the Church of Corinth 1 Corin. 11. doth for some things referre himselfe to their owne discretion iudge in your selues is it comely doth not nature it selfe teach as if for decency in the Church common sence or the light of reason could say somewhat to which if you adde the general direction of Scripture may not the Church of Christ out of these grounds determine the particulars Nature it selfe teacheth that the most solemne act in euery kinde is most solemnely to bee performed and religion teacheth what act of religion is most solemne may not the Church then determine of particulars within the compasse of Generall rules of Scripture T was the sentence of that famous Oracle of Geneua in his comment vpon the same chapter vers the 2. where shewing the Apostle to speake de ijs quae pertinent ad ordinem politiam hee inferreth Scimus enim vnieuique ecclesiae liberum esse politiae formam inslituere sibi aptam vtilem quia Dominus nihil certi prescripserit wee know saith Caluin he makes no Quere vpon it for matters of Order we know that euery Church hath her liberty to institute a forme of gouernement fit and profitable for her selfe because the Lord hath prescribed no certaine thing Paul planteth hee left Apollos to water The Master builders haue set vp Gods house and haue left the fitting of the roomes by generall directions to the ouerseers of the building The eye of the handmaid waites vpon the hand of her mistresse not so simple as to be pointed to euery particular within compasse of discretion no shee hath beene better brought vp then so when shee was a childe shee was taught as a child but now she is stronger by the assistance of that spirit which leadeth her into all truth pray we to God for that spirit of truth and sobriety vpon his Church that shee may so carry her selfe in all her proceedings that still she haue an eye to God and his word till hee haue mercy vpon her and restore her to the Peace of Sion and so wee come vnto the worke So it is written 2 So it behoued Christ to suffer Christ is the Sonne of the liuing God The worke therefore most free not subiect to necessity necessary it is therefore that we in the first place distinguish of oportuit a necessity was of Christs suffering not imposed vpon him but assumed by him voluntarily a necessity not primatiue but by consequent not absolute but presupposing the ordinance of God which two kindes were distinguished by Christ at his Passion 1 In the fourteenth of Marke Mar. 14.36 Abba Father al things are possible to thee take away this Cup therefore no absolute necessity to drinke of it 2 In the 26. of Matthew Father if this Cup cannot passe but I must drinke of it thy will be done therefore a secondary necessity there was 1 Of the first in the 53. verse Thinkest thou that I cannot pray to my Father and he will giue me more then twelue Legions of Angels therefore not an absolute necessity to yeeld himselfe 2 Of the second in the 54. verse How then shall the Scripture be fulfilled which is the very consequent of this Text So it is written therefore So it behooued So God hath ordeined whose decree is vnchangeable so hath he reuealed his Ordinance by writing whereof one title shall not passe therefore So behoued Christ to suffer The reasons of this necessity will appeare in the consideration of the three points implied in this sentence 1 It behooued there should be a suffering 2 That Christ should suffer 3 That he should so suffer Sic oportuit Christum pati 1 The Law of God was broken by sinne which behooued vs to haue kept therefore it must be restored by iudgement the glory of God was obscured by sinne therefore it must be cleared by expiation The iustice of God was offended by sinne therefore it must bee satisfied by punishment The wrath of God was kindled by sinne therefore