THE BRVISING OF THE SERPENTS Head A Sermon Preached at Pauls Crosse September 9. 1621. BY ROGER LEY Maister of Arts and Minister of Gods Word in Shoreditch GEN. 3.15 I will put enmity betweene thee and the Woman and betweene thy seede and her seede it shall bruise thy Head and thou shalt bruise his Heele LONDON Printed by Iohn Dawson for Nicholas Bourne and are to be sold at his shop at the Royall Exchange 1622. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL Mr. ROBERT DVCIE Alderman of London peace and saluation YOur eare hath beene partaker of that I nowe present to your eye In all things vsually one sense maketh way for the other and the second perfecteth the first for hearing doth render that but farre off which seeing giueth neerer hand A speaker is then happiest in his labour when words are permanent and fixed And that either in the heart and meditation of the hearer when the Spirit and finger of God by zeale and industrious labour printeth them there as so many engrauen letters or when to helpe memory they are exposed to publique view for sounds doe passe in the aire this hath the priuiledge of a constant continuance Sermons deliuered in that audience are principally for the gouernours of this Honourable Cittie Therefore I offer it to you by dedication as I did before in speaking vnto many Many were absent you a present hearer in the time of vacation when your place being Sheriffe required residence Moreouer being for a time a labourer in your Parish as smaller riuers vse not to breake out into seuerall Chanels if one be preserued full I let this come to you among the rest as with a greater confluence Small I terme this gift in respect of the Authour and his sufficience The words eminence which may be seene in plannesse and natiue simplicity is onely worth the reckoning God the great guide of this world hath giuen the smallest starres their influence And the milky circle in Heauen so it is called consisteth of those starres that are scarce discernable they are not for that excluded from the Firmament For although the great Philosopher supposed that circle to be lower and out of the Heauens yet the fictions of vnskilfull antiquity made it the way to Paradise and the caelestiall Court My desire is that the word being forcible in the meanest instrument may moue in the Orbe by this publique passage to direct on earth and yeeld the way to Heauen For this end I hold it better to commit the prosperous successe of it to him aboue that committed the deliuerance to me then to feare the vncertaine censures of a Criticke This being the intent of the Writer I desire the Readers true practise and entertainment may make it good Your vnfained well-willer in all obseruance and due respect ROGER LEY THE BRVISING OF THE Serpents Head At Pauls Crosse September 1621. LVKE 11.21 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace his goods are in peace 22. But when a stronger then he shall come vpon him and ouercome him he taketh from him all his Armour wherin he trusted and diuideth his spoiles 23. He that is not with me is against me and he that gathereth not with me scattereth IT is a fault grieuous and yet too common that good things are least esteemed but of all errours the basest is to misconster good actions and to depraue the shining worth of excellencie This as it is the basest so the last shift of men hardened against goodnesse for when the desart of others seemeth to touch and wound their insufficience then they cast blemishes vpon that which was feared to lay some blots vpon their vnworthinesse The story of our Sauiour affords vs an incomparable example He came to his owne and his owne receiued him not He came not among them empty handed without fauours nor led an vnprofitable life but all his workes were witnesses of his loue and all their wants and miseries euident declarers of an incomparable working Hauing now cast out a Deuill which made the people wonder the Pharisees swelling with enuie said he did it by the power of the chiefe Deuill so to disgrace the worke they could not hinder Against these men he directs his speech and sheweth in them their intollerable blasphemie a sinne against the holy Ghost neuer to haue pardon Our present History then setteth out a double conflict of Christ the King and Sauiour of the world against Satan the enemie of mankind the Deuill in the body and in the tongue in the body of a poore man possest in the tongue of the proud and rebellious Pharisees The one was a Deuill blind and dumbe the other a seeing and a slandering aduersary Because violence doth not make an enemie so dangerous as when craft conueyeth his enterprise by some secret vndermining the blind and dumbe man soone cured where the enemie shewed himselfe by force but these cauillers vnder whose lips lay hid the poyson of Asps were not so soone put to silence These Pharisees seemed holy men they called the chiefe Deuill Belzebub out of zeale and a deuout pretence in detestation of their ancestours idolatry who worshipped Baal and among seuerall kinds of that heathenish idoll which had many names according to the places of worship Baalzebub whose name they now abhord And because all things require gouernment they supposed Belzebub the chiefe in hel seeing withall so many miracles performed by Christ they said he did combine with the chiefe Deuill and by that power cast them out This calumnie is confuted by sundry arguments First out of the seuenteenth verse Euery Kingdome deuided against it selfe is brought to desolation and a house deuided against it selfe cannot stand If Satan also be deuided against himselfe and Belzebub the chiefe ioyne with Christ against the lesse how could that gouernment in dure The second argument we haue verse 19. Their iudgment was partiall and with respect of persons for their children cast out Deuills and had no blame He meaneth the Iewish exorcists who had a power giuen them from aboue by calling vpon Gods name to cast out these vncleane spirits It is more then probable these Iewes did cast them out by vsing the name of Christ which then was become famous S. Iohn saith to our Sauiour Marke 9.38 Maister we saw one casting out Deuills in thy name and he followeth not vs. These then escaped the Iewish hatred but Christ did not therefore hee inferreth against them they shall be your iudges to condemne you that malice the cause of slander that the mother of falsehood haue cast vpon me this iniustimputation A thirâ— argument is in these words A strong man keepeth his house and goods vntill a stronger force him out and take possession in his place I doe this expelling him with my word therefore his power is subiect vnto mine and my miracle is true yee ought then to embrace my saying and to stand to my cause confirmed with such cleere testimony or to be scattered in
in the battell And when the children of God stood before his presence Satan was among them Iob. 1. But they suppose he cannot come thither any more since Christ ascended vpin person and to that purpose alledge the place Luke 19.18 I saw Satan as lightening fall from heauen and Reu. 12.9 Michael expeld the Dragon from thence with his Angels their place was no more found in heauen the old Serpent that deceiueth the world was cast out into the earth and his Angels with him and therefore S. Paul calleth him Prince of the power of the Aire because his ruling is confined within that space he can goe no higher These are a vouched with great probability But sure it is Christ shooke his Kingdome in the earth being borne and sent into the world to destroy his workes that the people which sate in darkenesse before might see great light and they be deliuered which sate in the region and shaddow of death As light which shines from heauen is diffused nothing in nature hauing a power to spread it selfe more suddenly illustrating the whole Hemisphere or halfe at once so did this Sonne of righteousnesse as was sayd Psal 19. Nothing was hid from the heat thereof but beyond the regions of Iury his Apostles carried it farre and wide into many Nations This was the stronger hand of this Conquerour that by a people scorned as for superstition by others and then torne by the Romanes being the weaker side he gaue lawes vnto the mighty and cast him out of the world then strongly possest and kept as his owne house in sinne and ignorance The Oracles were put downe after his incarnation where the deuill had long time giuen aduise and answeres Augustus Caesar inquiring at Delphes who should succeede him in the Empire had this for an answere Peucerus de Oraculis pag. 251. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. An Hebrew childe King of the Gods hath commanded me to leaue this house and returne to hell therefore henceforth forsake our Altars And hee is bound for a thousand yeares Reuel 20. Which we may take from the rising of Constantine vntill the raigne of Otoman or howsoeuer in that space Christ did greatly confound his Kingdome and set vp his owne The successe we haue seene our Sauiours victory to open it more fully note the person called the stronger Man and the meanes vsed to subdue him Christ is God equall with the Father his strength is in the World and beyond it euery way infinite God is Almighty this attribute is prefixed before other Articles in the beginning of the Creed for in whō wil any beleeue but one able and potent least his confidence deceiue him Might then maketh way to all beleefe and beleefe to all performances for Faith ouercommeth the world saith S. Iohn He is called the Lord of Hosts 1. Iohn 5.4 all power being his army Let men muster plot and labour neuer so much this power commandeth them and theirs the strength of this huge World is to him but as an arrow in the hand of a Gyant aimed and shot forth by his owne direction The spirituall powers are to minister and serue in their stations ready to attend and execute his precepts And if one Angell made such a slaughter in Senacheribs army in one night what was the power of him that sent him Diuine strength as it animateth faith so is it the ground of all religion Men are made to reuerence it and the end of all actions is to acknowledge and nothing is more distasted by the Almighty God then to see arrogant presumption or negligent obseruance admire strength any other way Weake creatures liue by it and the name of a creature hath it ingrauen as the proper stampe To vse the Prophets words shall the strong man glory in his strength or the wise man in his wisdome or the rich man in his wealth or any man in any thing seeing the earth is weake and the inhabitants therein hee beareth vp the Pillars of it Is any good expected Hope for it hence Is any enioyed Giue glory to the founder all is receiued from this fulnes Psalme 68. ver 34. Ascribe yee strength vnto God his excellencie is ouer Issrael and his strength is the Clouds Euery good thing is but a gift and giuing can onely make it prosper greatest hopes doe sometimes breake in the middest because the receiuers of fruit respect not the Tree whence they fall They looke at their owne beginnings and at their owne ends and their courses in the proceeding attend their owne desires And though this strength might say vnto the foole deale not so madly and to the vngodly set not vp your horne though promotion come neither from the East nor the West nor from the South a dull desire cannot look so high as heauen neither acknowledgeth any ruler but one who leadeth by common sense Hee will sleepe at a Sermon that can wake at the discourse of a commodity or a mishap can keepe from sleeping And sleight the strict aduise of Scripture when the words of a great man in politique respect make him double diligent Generally inbusinesse of moment though liuing being and moouing be from God who will not more cheerefully rely vpon friends and strong helpers then on Gods furtherance and promised assistance By this strength vnlikely matters haue come to passe most vsually great imaginations haue beene dissolued with a blast dying hopes haue beene reuiued from the graue all which proclaime an vnconquered and inscrutable power of the Lord in working not acknowledged by rash censurers but easily discerned by the iudgement of truth Euen when vngodlinesse is grownelofty it either falleth of it selfe or by the push of a like aduersary is cast vnder foot all strength we see wearing out and this force of Diuine power breaking downe the gate that will not open that howsoeuer the beginnings goe at last the stronger man will ouercome From hence let euery prosuming enemie bee danted though fortified in his wickednes Let euery wearied seruant be encouraged to passe euen through the valley of the shaddow of death and feare no euill Iob had complained and his vncomfortable friends made him sometimes bitter at last the Lord did challenge him to answere and cald him hither Iob 38.4 Where wast thou when I layd the foundations of the Earth when I shut vp the Sea with doores Hast thou commanded the morning since thy daies and caused the day spring to know his place Nabuchodonosor in the height of his arrogance boasted of his great Palace and building but for his labour had an ill reward he was made fellow with the beasts of the field Dan. 4.25 Till he knew the most High ruled in the Kingdome of men and gaue it to whom he would S. Peter seeing Christ vnder the burthen of our sinnes laying a side his honour and ready to be apprehended went out of the way to helpe him and wounded one of the high Priests seruants
the scribe and wise man hath no share in this busines rather shut out God saith he hath chosen the foolish things of the world to condemne the wise 1 Cor. 1.27 and the weake things of the world to confound the mighty And addeth the reason that no flesh might glory in his presence Heerein then consisteth the words glory that going the more vnlikely way to worke it speedeth and where it speedeth not confusion followes immediately Let any without partiality see by what meane beginnings against what heate of persecution the strength of the Lord subdued hell and planted religion by the first conuerting of the Gentiles with the Apostles and their followers it may turne the Atheist and raise the most dull and frozen spirits into admiration In reforming religion we haue seene the like if the first hopes failed the second haue sped and by no power or policy of the earth doth the Gospell inioy prosperity If any intent of persecution or crafty dealing could haue giuen it a deadly wound the face of it had not beene left to appeare before this time to make show â—or the voice of it to speake for it selfe This must teach vs to carry a constant hope let the strong man mooue and his instruments thunder out their threatnings and where they thunder least colour their close deuises to confound all in the end a vaine expectation must be the fruit of such confidence and their owne confusion finish vp their labour This rocke cannot remooue nor the stronger side fall though it suffer many foiles 1. Esdras 4.41 and some disaduantage Let our conclusion goe with the Apocry phall History Diuers were seuerally conceited where was the greatest strength found some gaue it to Princes some to women and to wine but truth obtaind it from the rest she spake for him that spake for her so went the iudgement of the King and the cry of others Magnaest veritas praeualet great is the truth and preuaileth And so much for the first meanes whereby the stronger man subdueth the power of his word The second is his word of prouidence the mighty voice in operation at whose command all things moue and obey in Heauen and Earth The rising of some and the falling of others and in a word the falling of a sparrow the cariage of great and small meete in this gouernment Solomon will haue vs know Eccles 3.14 What he purposeth shall stand to it can no man adde and from it can none diminish that we might feare before him But heere his footesteps are hardly perceiued The strong Man swaieth so much and the worlds behauiour appeareth so strange that his presence seemeth very remote his Maiesty to keepe retyred and withdrawne As in the former word of sauing health the victory stood doubtfull in the eyes of carnall apprehension the case is heere the very same Claudian guided by vncertaine rules sheweth how they gaue him a halting opinion betweene contraries so many Eclipses doth this light suffer such thrusting there is against God and godlines such preuailing of the bad and pride withall that he meruailed the God of all things should be in the earth and giue no more proofe of his strength and victory In these termes hee openeth his doubtfull meaning When I see the glorious frame of Heauen and Earth the bounds of the Sea Summer and Winter fitly disposed in their seasons the courses of day and night so orderly to succeede I thought God had giuen these lawes by singular wisdome and adorned his gifts with such distinction But when I saw such darkenes vpon the affaires of men the proud and vngodly flourishing and the innocent vnder foote rursus labefacta cadebat religio religion beganne to faile Though his owne plaine reason did ground him well in part Yet did a Heathenish minde thus plunge him in distraction There is but a haires breadth betweene the practise of many Christians and this mans opinion if the best waies be not prosperous they are forsaken and howsoeuer men haue a meaning the double dealing is to common See then on what ground it stands Many times the Lord will not shew his might his enemie gets the vpper hand impiety will domineere no way to crosse it where is then this victory mentioned in the Text It appeareth that this obiection may be forcible because Dauid or the Author of the 73. Psalme confessed that his feete were almost gone when he beheld the prosperity of vngodlinesse But going at last into the Sanctuary hee beheld the slippery place of such doubtfull felicity and found the glory to be but small which a moment can bring to desolation or ioy in a dreame that endeth with the night when one awaketh May it not rather amaze the enemie and confound vngodlines when prosperity shall be great that destruction may be answerable Nothing can match with his wisdome that knoweth how to giue way to folly that he may plucke downe the power of it being growne ripe and defeat such aduancement in the height Aristotle truly sheweth a great man may not at all times declare himselfe among inferiours it were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to wrestle among the weaker or dispute among the foolish 4. Ethic. 3. the world is too weake and base to receiue this strength of God in confounding the deuill If the Almighty should striue what place were left either for good or bad to finish their owne intentions or runne out their courses If his iustice did punish euery sinne who could indure it if he did reward euery vertue where were the patience of Saints of glorious in earth or their reward so great in heauen The world would too much ingrosse the loues of men if all things did runne smoothly as they would imagine See how vainely weake desires striue to fix a rest in the confines of this present State though such small occasion be giuen and the waies thereof fild with garboils and confusion Take one that liues in a troubled place suppose he be sicke and diseased in his body his friends leaue him or faile in their comforts and age hasten on the remembrance of his departure we shall often find the loue of life will make one so qualified to sticke in this mirie place and dote vppon these transitorie shaddowes For this cause the Lord sheweth his scourges rather then his benefits reseruing the beauty of absolute gouernment in the full lustre till another season yet here beginnes and layeth the foundation of his victory His workes although the beginning and the end cannot be of one forme want not to an indifferent beholder Satan and the malice of his instruments receiue many a grieuous foile the professors of his truth many encouragements and none shall want his ayd that duly craues it Helpe was promised to S. Paul when it seemed denied and he buffeted with Satans messenger This promisefaild not 1. Cor. 12.9 being a generall stay in hardest conflicts My grace is sufficient for thee
your fond deuises so to reape the fruite of your owne folly In the handling of these words I meane not to stand so much vpon possession of the body and of Christ the deliuerer but that the subiect may something sute with the eminence of this place and the full scope and latitude of the words rather shew a recouering of the soule a renewing of the world and a subduing of sinne by the Gospell For the consent of interpreters extend this saying to this as the full and perfect meaning expounding pounding it not merely of a bodily dispossession but of the whole proceeding of Christ in the strength of his Kingdome The words yeeld the same of necessity 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all his armour the entering his palace and diuiding his spoiles cannot limit this victory to a bodily deliuerance alone Nos quondam arma eius regnique militiam in â—â—s suum redegit saith S. Hilarie Christ hath taken vs who were once the Deuills armour and force of his Kingdome and brought vs vnder his owne power The whole world is the house of Belzebub so Erasmus And Caluin quicquid corporibus praestitit Christus ad animas referri voluit whatsoeuer Christ performed to the body he would haue the same referd vnto the soule It is plainly showne from the 24. Verse of this Chapter following the Text immediately He compareth the nation of the Iewes to a man possest as the Deuills house S. Mathew maketh it more plaine Christ did driue him out and clensed the house by his Gospell but because they entertained his words with scorne and neglected him the house was empty then commeth the vncleane spirit with seauen worse then himselfe who finding the house emptie swept and garnished he maketh it his habitation and the end thereof is worse then the beginning So dangerous a sinne is Apostacy and so truly did hee threaten that wicked generation being rebels against the truth for what decayed house or miserable ruine of any building can compare with those emptie Iewes that would not acknowledge their Lord And that which Esay the Prophet spake of the soule Cap. 53. verse 4. He tooke our infirmities and bare our sicknesses meaning sinne and the maladies of the mind S. Mathew chap. 8. verse 17. applieth to casting out of Deuills and curing of diseases For both are the worke of one Lord for one and the same end to make vs acknowledge him the onely redeemer As the battering of the walls of a Citty is but a preparatiue to handy strokes and the ouerthrow of the dwellers so the casting out of Satan from the body the case and outside of the soule is a signe of sauing power that cureth both soule and body and will expell the enemie from all his vsurped places Dauid reasoned from one good turne to another 1. Samuel 17.36 Thy seruant slue both the Lyon and the Beare and this vncircumcised Philistim shall be as one of them seeing he hath defied the armies of the liuing God Moreouer the Lord that deliuered me from the paw of the Lyon and the beare he will deliuer me out of the hand of this Philistim in like manner these words of Christ take occasion from the miracle to expresse his Soueraigne might in redeeming from the paw of hell and destruction Let vs therefore take the whole world for a haunted house We find it so Iob 1.7 I come saith he from going to and fro in the earth and from walking vp and downe in it The greatest strength of it his weapons and munition the greatest wit and policy of it if it be foolishnesse with God as the Apostle calls it it cannot but sauour of the wisdome of this Serpent 1. Cor. 3. If these places be the prime of our microcosme the head and glory of all our Iland they cannot but be assaulted And if the cry of vices be not vntrue the walking of some dangerous spirit may raise vp our suspition and complaint Whose puisance to shew whose dealing to discouer and to vncase his villanie that lurketh in our presence as in it selfe is profitable so more auailable when the power of heauen is showne that ouerthrowes it In the seeing of both we may doe as the world vsually doth take part with the stronger side To one we mustioyne no staying in the middest Christ saith so in the last of these verses He that is not with me is against me That God is strongger and his quarrell safer the beginning speaketh euidently Christ entreth into the strong mans Palace Ouercommeth him taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted and deuideth his spoiles I find then in this Text that which either is exprest or implyed in euery Sermon a Doctrine and a Vse the strength of our Sauiour affirmed and our obedient seruice enforced In the first of these a power of vsurpation and a power of iurisdiction In the vsurped power we find two parts the strong mans industry He is armed and keepeth his Palace and his security his goods are in peace The lawfull power hath two parts Christs victory But when a stronger then he shall come vppon him and ouercome him and his gaine he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted and deuideth his spoiles The next Verse is a reproofe of vnprofitable seruants which make no vse of this benefit Hee openeth in them two things a base negligence and a vaine confidence First the negligent stander by that is neither hot nor cold is cast out as distasted by his palate he that is not with me is against me Secondly his vaine hope Let him heape and build and frame his workes together all is to be blowne away with the breath of Gods displeasure hee that gathereth not with me scattereth Of these parts in order His industry when a strong man armed keepeth his Palace The beginning hauing dwelt longer vpon the sence of the words to free them from obscurity each part may be past ouer with better expedition These first words note vnto vs the power of our enemie called the strong Man and his diligence he is armed and keepeth his Palace Hard it is to match with one so well prouided Our Sauiour speaketh of him thus Now is the Prince of this world cast out Iohn 21.31 And to shew we might imagine something aboue the world and the reach of mortall powers because the greatest Potentate is but an arme of flesh he is called the God of the world 2. Cor. 4.4 In whom the God of this world hath blinded the eies of them that beleeue not Hee is called the Prince of the power of the aire Ephes 2.2 Sunt magnapars corum quae in imperijs geruntur fiunt saith Peucer In the busines of Kingdomes they haue a hand and a great stroke Insidiantur atrocius ijs qui ad gubernaculasedent saith the same Authour They assault them most dangerously who sit at the helme of gouernment and he addeth the reason that the disease hauing gotten and possest
mercy who suspendeth execution not suffering to proceede according to desert 2. Pet. 3.9 as S. Peter sheweth the Lord is not slack concerning his promise as some thinke But is long suffering towards vs not willing any should perish but that all should come to repentance These trialls may come vpon the good because in them some parcell of sinne remaineth Iobs body was not exempted from this tormentor but let wicked men be perswaded he ruleth them and their affaires perhaps they prosper and therefore beleeue it not it is a cold comfort when he vseth them for himselfe and delighteth in their prosperity In the minde he can darken the motions of vnderstanding dazle and possesse the fancie hinder the outward sences and delude them he can stirre vp the appetite and inflame the desires of them he tempteth and suppresse them againe as he thinketh good De operib Dei part 1. lib. 4. cap. 11. Onely as Zanchy saith who sheweth all these at large hee cannot remoue or turne the will God hath giuen a man his resolution free Because it is the hinge that moueth all about the wheele by which the actions are turned he may tempt and perswade he cannot command in the middest of violent assaults God hath left a man so much liberty I will end this point with a reason why the Lord doth grant him this strength The wofull cause is the sinne of man He tempted Eue in the shape of a Serpent by outward inuasion and vttered his meaning to Christ in that temptation by outward dealing For they were innocent and free from sinne he could take no footing in the inward affections but now an euill heart giues him an easie passage to enter and come in thereupon he is more powerfull and vnresistable As originall sinne doth giue him entrance euill practise doth further his dominion The breaking of Gods commandement is the cause that the reiecting of one ruler leading to peace and blessednes causeth subiection to the slauish labour of so vile a commander For this is Gods order first to giue a Law and afterwards to turne ouer him that stubburnly offendeth to this his executioner S. Paul sheweth this was the reason the Infidels did fall so fearefully Rom. 1.21 Because when they knew God they glorified him not as God neither were thankefull but became vaine in their imaginations their foolish heart was darkened Therefore God gaue them ouer to a reprobate minde and to do things not conuenient as the Apostle rehearseth The light of nature taught them better things then their liues did expresse Which knowledge is so great that by it way may be made for Diuine instruction Lactantius is bold to affirme so much of the knowledge of Infidels L. diu inst cap. 5 Quod si vel Orpheus vel hi nostri quae natura ducente senserunt in perpetuum defendissent eandem quam nos sequimur doctrinam comprehensa veritate tenuissent If Orpheus and such like had constantly maintaind those things which nature taught them they would at last haue come to the Doctrine which we doe follow This is the reason why the power of spirituall tyrannie is so great among the Heathen because they transgresse the rules of nature and their conscience Now wherefore hee should scourge the Church and preuaile so much there cannot but be greater reason For where a full hand powreth out benefits in abundance and grosse vnthankfulnes returneth backe to heauen from whence they flow God may then complaine as he did with Esay Esay 1.2 I haue nourished and brought vp children and they haue rebelled against me And except it were for the chosens sake for Gods glory and his seruice which must haue an abiding place how could a Church polluted with impiety expect any mercy or continuance Besides the deuils rage doth glorifie God the more by exercising the faithfull who against the streame of sinne keepe an euen course and a stedfast profession This for the reason of his progresse and strength In this Doctrine obserue yet a limitation These spirituall powers are not such absolute Lords to doe what they list among any no not among Infidels though they be powers of darknesse but onely so farre as God seeth fit in iust iudgement to execute his iust wrath God turned the hearts of the Aegyptians to his people to hasten them out of the land and furnished them with iewels for their iourney Christ was at that Counsell which gaue sentence for his owne death or else it could not haue gone forwards Well may Hosius alledge euen that for the defence of Counsels that the iudgement of the Church is not destitute of the holy Spirit For Caiphas the high Priest or Pope of the Iewes if we may so call him Iohn 11.50 spake by inspiration It is necessary that one die for the people and that the whole Nationperish not Therefore let vs conceiue his dominion very large and eminent 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Text names it a Hall or a Palace as if a Cottage or meane dwellings did not containe him his working is by permission hee is set on as a mastife and pulled off againe by Gods appointment and pleasure Otherwise his owne habitation is the the deepe as appeareth Luke 8.31 When the Legion was cast out of the man they made supplication to Christ not to send them into the deepe but giue them more imployment by allowing their entrance into the the heard of swine It is then euident hell is his dwelling except God imploy and suffer him So in the middest of his working a hand aboue restraineth him from prosecuting his malice with extreamities this is the worlds comfort his intents are limited And so much of the strong mans industry He is armed and keapeth his Palace the next part followeth His goods are in Peace which is his securitie I gather two obseruations from these words First none can deliuer himselfe from spirituall bondage 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his goods are in peace When wickednes hath got the vpper hand and temptation borne the sway vice groweth into a habite and custome is a second nature Hardly can one master it vpon euen ground but when these bonds doe fetter a wicked person and disarme him of his owne right he doth liue at anothers becke and how can he then make head againe to purpose or recouer himselfe by strong resistance The goods cannot shake of the possessor nor the house expell the master such are offendors in continuing euill led as slaues and dragd along as sheepe vnto the slaughter fallen into a pit whence they cannot come out or quit themselues againe Which should teach euery one not to yeeld at first least giuing the raines to his managing their falls grow fearefull and their dangers almost desperate yet for them thus hardened in vice because Diuinity giueth a salue for euery sore they must endeauour and distrust their owne power Now wrestling is able to shake off his yoake but
misdoubting conscience no testimonie against them can be greater Their feares are more then Panike moued by great occasion Gods word directed aright is like the firy tongues wherein the holy Ghost did sit vpon the Apostles which tongues were diuided being a fire to burne vp the hay and stubble of false tradition and like enough to make a diuision whereof they complaine so grieuously The spirit in them commeth like that mighty wind which fild the house wherein the assembly was gathered But as antiquity fained of Aeolus he kept the windes vnder huge Mountaines least all should be ouerturned And the great commander of heauen and earth deputed an inferiour Lord to rule them Regemque dedit qui saedere certâ— Et premere laxas sciret dare iussus habenas That King was appointed to stint their vnrulines so is the diuine word by a counterfeit shew of a diuine authoritie to be kept vnder and he below to play fast and loose expounding all after his owne law and counsell Thus the candle being put vnder a bushell as a darke night sometimes preuents a skirmish may keepe men from quarelsome protestations Vpon these termes their peace standeth and they are forced to hold with both hands least it ouergoe them Zanchie relateth a decree made in Italy Tom. 8. de scriptura Comment in cap. 1. ad Titum the Scripture is permitted to be read of the better sort onely with condition that they expound nothing but with the Church of Rome Claudius Espenceus one of their owne reports that an Italian Bishop told him that learned men in Italy were affraid to study the Scriptures least by them they might be drawne into heresie and they rather imployed their time vpon the Popes law bookes and the decretals A franciscan Fryer plainely said the Councell of Trent the Lutherans did preuaile vpon none so much as them which were exercised in the Scripture To shew what tyranny keepes their affaires in peace obserue one proofe insted of many Zanchie relateth it in his booke de Ecclesia One of the Regular Canons wrot a booke in which he prooueth the Pope may be called into question and censured by the Church the reason is because he is our brother and Christ saith If thy brother offend thee tell the Church That he is our brother hee prooueth for in saying the Lords prayer he calleth God father if then all be children in respect of God they must be brethren among themselues The booke for this fault was cald in an excommunication was sent out and the Authour had a checke yet was the argument so strong that none could answere it so well as one Courtier who wisht his holines neuer to say our Father so by not acknowledging a superiour with that Title he might put his greatnes out of question So strange a slauery is produced by this vsurped power that an eminence and prorogatiue must be claimed aboue the nature of man and the qualitie of a sinfull creature and a point of beleefe and conscience made not to mooue in it any question By ignorance then is the peace grounded and maintaind by tyranny not easie to be discernd whether more barbarous or ridiculous Well wereit if we could learne wit by their example that euery ignorant inuention did not forge out a new conceit against the present times Or that some crasie and misalledging braines soothed vp by an in bred curiositie did not so much sleight antiquitie and authoritie as not care what is generally established and hath bene vsed many ages in the Church euen in the purer time before corruption For vpon any dissention thoughts in a ceremonie or small ordinance we know what complaint the aduersarie raiseth Moreouer a small controuersie in a branch depends vpon a roote and adhereth to some question of great moment the same principles in disputation against an indifferent ceremonie if they should take place will ouerthrow whole frames of gouernment But to come to the last blow with our aduersaries Let truth be wayed in an euen ballance though quarrelers see not their owne blemishes so directly as they espy anothers peace is no such vniuersall blessing among them All of them or at least the more sober sort allow not the Iesuits practises and positions In free will and predestination the Dominicans the Iesuits consent not nor the Dominicans and Franciscans about the originall sinne of the Virgine Mary to omit the scruples of Thomas and Scotus with their followers in more subtile matters That of the Virgine Maries freedome from originall sinne was so hotly defended by both parties that the Councell of Trent durst not decide it for feare of a Schisme Where knowledge doth abound and men haue liberty to speake the corruption of many will abuse it Nec per se mala est eruditio sed plerumque gignit factiones dissidia saith Erasmus learning is not euill in it selfe but for the most part it ingendereth factions and diuision If knowledge then haue a freer passage for all sorts among vs their peace hath some aduantage Besides when a reformation is published all cannot haue one consent in clearing things of moment hid before and now come to more open light And if among so many that imbrace the reformed religion good and bad wise and foolish sober and curious had all consented it had beene a signe of false Doctrine rather then true for tares spring vp with wheate and God ioyneth some corrections with his blessings weeds may grow alone sometimes and heere our Sauiour speaketh of the deuill and maketh it one part of his strength His goods are in peace But see the face of former times did not some say at first I am of Pauls I am of Apollos and others of Cephas a new Doctrine came vp and ignorant people could not keepe a sober course in entertaining it As for the grossest deuisers among vs they are partly scattered and supprest but if we speake of setled Churches see worse then we haue had The Corinthians doubted of the resurrection The Galathians called for the ceremonies of the law so stiffly that S. Paul feared his labour had beene lost This one opinion of retaining ceremonies is called by Musculus perpetuum certamen an euerlasting contention of those times And the Apostles were enforced to call a generall Councell at Ierusalem to take it vp and yeelding to some infirmities for a time forbade eating of blood a thing in it selfe indifferent Reu. 2.6 Then came in Simon with his deuises and the sect of the Nicolaitans which God hated Ebion and Cerinthus denying the eternall God-head of Christ are supposed to haue giuen occasion to S. Iohn to write his Gospell All this while we find not among the Heathen any notorious breaches about the principles of their idolatry After this when Constantine had giuen peace to the Church and men might vse more liberty the Arrians their successors ouerflowed in such a number that it was sayd of Athanasius their