maiestie i 1. Cor. 2.6 7 8 9. They containe the wisedome not of this world nor of the Princes of this world that come to nought but the wisedome of God which none of the Princes of this world knew but as it is written eye hath not seene nor eare heard neither haue entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that loue him They being of God k Matth. 11.27 none can know them but God and vnto whom God will reueale them For as amongst men none knowes the things of man saue the spirit of man which is in him l 1. Cor. 2.11 Euen so the things of God knowes no man but the Spirit of God For this first reason God must reueale them vnto vs by his Spirit m 1. Cor. 2.10 For the Spirit teacheth all things yea the deepe things of God The second reason is our incapacitie and insufficiencie for not onely haue we our eyes obscured and darkned with some certaine cloudes of ignorance but we haue them also so blinde that the Scripture calles vs n Ephes 5.8 darkenesse and plainely saith of vs and of the fairest and best things we haue by nature that o 1. Cor. 2.14 The naturall man receiueth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishnesse vnto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned VVhere the Spirit of God chargeth vs with two things o 1. Cor. 2.14 the priuation and want of all facultie aptnesse and abilitie to vnderstand and comprehend the things that are of God Secondly an euill and peruerse disposition and inclination for wee cannot only not comprehend the things of God but also we esteeme them foolishnes according to that which the Apostle saith p Rom. 8.7 The carnall minde is enmitie against God and therefore hee addes that q 1. Cor. 2.14 15 these things are spiritually discerned and that he which is spirituall iudgeth all things Dauid wrote that it was so when he prayed vnto God saying r Psal 119.18 Open thou mine eies that I may behold the wondrous things out of thy Law when Saint Peter confessed the Lord to Å¿ Matth. 16.16 be Christ the sonne of the liuing God The Lord presently taught him that it was so saying t Matth. 16.17 Blessed art thou Simon Bar-Iona for flesh and blood hath not reuealed it vnto thee but my Father which is in heauen The Apostle hath confirmed the same where he prayes God in his Epistles to giue his Spirit vnto them vnto whom hee writes that they may comprehend these things and assuring vs that u 1. Cor. 12.3 no man can say that Iesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost VI. But here is the question for they demaund Where is the Spirit In whom is the Spirit A question easie to bee resolued for as if one aske where the soule and life of man is a child would answere that it is in mans body and in euery part of the body though more sensibly and with more efficacy in one part of the body then in the other euen so when they demaund Where is the Spirit of Christ The childe of God will presently answere that it is in the body of Christ which is the Church vnited to Christ his head and in euery member of this body x Iohn 3.34 In Christ who is the head without measure in the other members with measure in some extraordinarily as in the Prophets and now ordinarie in all those that are come since in these a greater measure in those a lesser measure in some more in some lesse y Rom. 12.3 according as God hath dealt to euery man the measure of faith To doubt therefore if any one hath the Spirit of Christ in him is to doubt if he be a member of the body of Christ that is to say if he be a Christian for no man is a Christian but by the holy Spirit vniting him to Christ and inspiring him and quickning him that he liue to Christ CHAP. V. I. The words of Micah vnfitly and to no purpose alleaged cannot bee vnderstood by allegorie but of the Church in generall whose children are directed by the holy Spirit in the vnderstanding of the Scriptures II. Hee is an Heretick who obstinately defends a sense contrary to the Scriptures III. The argument whereby the Letter binds vs to depend and relie on the interpretation of the Fathers because Christ hath said nothing but that he hath heard of God his Father is impertinent and ridiculous IIII. In what consisteth our conformitie with Christ V. The argument retorted against the Author thereof VI. It is proued by the Scriptures and Fathers that wee are not to relie on the exposition of the Fathers WHen as therefore the Author saith in his Pastorall Letter that wee must not stand to our owne sense to know the sense of the Scripture Pag. 7. but follow the counsell of the Prophet Micah saying a Mica 4.2 Come and let vs go vp to the mountaine of the Lord and to the house of the God of Iacob and hee will teach vs of his waies and we will walke in his pathes Although that these words of Micah are to bee vnderstood literally of Sion and of the Citie of Ierusalem as it appeares by the words following For the Law shall goe forth of Zion and the word of the Lord from Ierusalem If by the mountaine of the Lord and the house of the God of Iacob hee vnderstands the Church of Christ Iesus it is most certaine that we ought to go and retire there to haue the sense meaning of the Scripture For there is the Scripture and there is the Spirit inspiring the whole Church in generall and euery true member of the same in particular according to the gift and wil of euery one When therfore the Scripture is read by a true member of Christ or is preached vnto him he hath the holy Spirit on his right hand and in his heart inspiring the true sense and meaning thereof and this inspiration is no other thing but that which S. Paul names b Ephes 1.18 the eyes of our vnderstanding enlightned to see comprehend the mysteries propounded in the Scriptures as it happened vnto Lydia c Acts 16.14 whose heart the Lord opened that she attended vnto the things which were spoken of Paul And it happens vnto all the Saints according to that which the Apostle saith d 1 Cor. 2.12 We haue receiued not the spirit of the world but the Spirit which is of God that we might know the things that are freely giuen to vs of God And S. Iohn writing to young babes young children young men and fathers e 1. John 2.20 Ye haue an vnction from the holy One and ye know all things The one and the other after their Maâ—â—er who hath decided this controuersie with this notable sentence No f Ioh.
of the imperfect worke on Saint Matthew o Chrysost in Matth. c. 3. hom 4. To be made righteous and worthy of heauen and therefore to bee washt in his bloud to be renewed and sanctified by his spirit which are the two significations of Baptisme IIII. If any among the liuing should haue beene cleane and pure from sinne The Virgin Marie the holy Virgin the mother of our Lord Iesus Christ ought to haue been of whom the holie Ghost witnesseth that p Luke 1.42 she is blessed among women and whom vntill the worlds ende q Luke 1 48. all generations shall call blessed Blessed certaine for hauing receiued that grace to be the mother of our Sauiour and not for being without sinne and exempted from the number of those which haue neede of a Sauiour for shee was conceiued in sinne according to the Lords sentence r John 3.6 That which is borne of flesh is flesh To be borne of flesh is to bee borne by generation according to the ordinarie course of nature whosoeuer is so borne is flesh Å¿ August de fide ad Pet. Diâ—conum c. 26. Account surely saith Saint Austin that he is borne in originall sinne subiect to impietie subiect vnto death and therefore the childe of wrath The reason is rendred by Saint Paul t Rom. 5.12 where he saith By one 〈◊〉 sinne entred into the world and death by sinne so death passed vpon all men for that all haue sinned And there is none exempted from this number but Iesus Christ u Chrysost de quinta feriâ— passionis hom 6. who alone knoweth not what is sinne alone doth not participat with our fault and did one nothing to sinne and death saith S. Chrysostome following Saint Paul the Apostle who attributes vnto Christ alone the prerogatiue to haue been x Heb. 7.26 holy harmelesse vndefiled separate from sinners because indeed he alone y Pet. diaconus ad Fulgentium is borne after a new manner of generation borne I say of man of the substance of a chosen virgin but not by man not by naturall generation but by the supernaturall operation of the Holy Ghost who of the substance of the virgin formerly sanctified by him did appropriate and fit a body to our Sauiour and inspired in the same a most pure and a most holy soule This new manner of generation and conception without spot hath caused that our Lord hath not felt the contagion of earthly corruption being hee alone a Dan. 2.45 who hath beene cut out of the mountaine without hands being the immediate worke of the hand of God which not appertaining to the holy Virgin conceiued and borne after the manner and common order of other men she hath had neede of Gods grace and mercie as other men haue she hath prayed forgiue vs our debts as well as other men and as a member of the Church shee hath beleeued for her selfe all the Articles of the beliefe and this Article among the rest I beleeue the remission of sinnes To be short seeing that she died as other men doe she was a sinner as other men are b 1. Cor. 15.56 for the sting of death that which giueth life and strength to death is sinne take away the sting from death and it is dead whosoeuer is without sinne as all of vs shall bee in the Kingdome of heauen may boldly defie death and vpbraide it with the Apostle c 1. Cor. 15.55 O death where is thy sting O graue where is thy victorie That is the reason why Christ could not haue died if God d 2. Cor. 5.21 had not made him to be sinne for vs that is to say if he had not imputed vnto him our sinne as to him who had constituted himselfe the pledge and suretie for sinners and their prayer vnto the very last farthing or mite I beleeue religiously that the Virgin hath been a lesse sinner then other men but I also beleeue that a woman-sinner she hath beene as well as other men because she her selfe hath taught me to beleeue it so I read her Song and I see her publishing with a loud voyce e Luke 1.47 that her spirit hath reioyced in God her Sauiour In God therefore who hath forgiuen her her sinnes for Christ is not otherwise a Sauiour f Mat. 1.21 Thou shalt call his name Iesus saith the Angell to Ioseph for he shall saue his people from their sinnes and shall not saue them otherwise as he himselfe protesteth saying g Mat. 9.13 I am not come to call the righteous but the sinners to repentance h Mat. 15.24 I am not sent but vnto the lost sheepe of the house of Israel i Mat. 18.11 The Sonne of man is come to saue that which was lost for them alone hath he beene sent k Isai 61.1.2.3 Luke 4.18.19 to preach good tidings vnto the meeke and vnto the poore to bind vp the broken-hearted to proclaime libertie to the captiues and the opening of the prison to them that are bound to comfort all that mourne c. To them onely came he and them alone he calles vnto him l Mat. 11.28 Come vnto me all ye that labour and are heauie laden m Iohn 7.37 If any man thirst let him come vnto me n Mat. 9.12 that are sicke declaring that they that are whole and holy haue no neede of him wherefore either the Mother of our Sauiour was a sinner or our Lord and Sauiour was not her Sauiour and Redeemer and shee should haue sung for others and not for her selfe that the Lord o Luke 1.53.54 hath filled the hungry with good things and hath remembred his mercie which mercie she should neuer haue felt she should neuer haue thirsted after seeing shee should neuer haue felt the miserie of sinne nor the wrath of God the iust wages of sinne This is so cleare and apparent that it needeth not any longer and ampler proofe V. Notwithstanding if the consent of the Church can bee of some weight to make it the more credible it is the common and ordinarie voyce of the Church that p August cont Iulianum All humane flesh Christs flesh onely excepted is flâ—sh of sinne because that q Idem contra Pelagium lib. 2. c. 40. ex Ambrosio of man and of the woman that is to say of the coniunction of their bodies none is without sinne and he that is without sinne is ingendred and borne without this conception And so all the rest Origen Chrysostome Anselme Fulgentius Bernard and Peter Lombard the Master of the Schoolemen all which write that the holy Virgin was conceiued in sinne and borne in iniquitie as all other men are And from thence Saint Bernard drawes an argument to condemne the feast of the conception of the Virgin Marie then newly instituted and ordained saying that r Bernard ad Canonicos Lugdun epist 174. Quum ritus ecclesiae
1440. pag. 1441. said that he was a right Scripture man and would haue nothing but Scripture and his Chaplaine said he would haue nothing but his little pretie Gods Booke and is it not sufficient saith Master Hawkes for my saluation Yes saith he it is sufficient for our saluation but not for our instruction Master Hawkes answered God send me the saluation and you the instruction And surely it is sufficient not onely for our saluation but also for our instruction for if it sufficeth for saluation how can it bee insufficient for our instruction therefore the Apostle Saint Paul teacheth vs both the one and the other saluation and instruction by the Scriptures for first he saith d 2. Tim. 3.15 the holy Scriptures are able to make vs wise vnto saluation through faith which is in Christ Iesus Behold here the Scriptures are sufficient for our saluation and not onely for our saluation but also for our instruction for he saith able to make vs wise vnto saluation that is to instruct vs to saluation yea in the next verse he saith that the e vers 16.17 Scripture is profitable for instruction in righteousnesse that the man of God may be perfect Behold the Scriptures sufficient and profitable for our instruction and not onely profitable to the man of God to the Doctor the Minister and the learned but also profitable to the ignorant simple and vulgar sort for f Psal â—9 7 it maketh wise the simple and therefore the reading thereof appertaineth as wel vnto the ignorant and vnlearned as vnto the learned for if it appertaine but vnto the learned to reade the Scriptures it appertaineth then vnto none to reade them for no body is learned before he haue read them we reade not the word of God because we are learned but to become so And therefore the Papists doe wrong the people of God depriuing them of the reading of the Scripture lest say g Hosius in loc Com. they the Porters Coblers Bakers should be Prophets farre vnlike to Moses h Numb 11.29 who wisht that all the Lords people were Prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit vpon them but very like the Bâ—silidians whose steppes they follow who as i Jrenae lib. 1. cap. 23. Ephiph haeres 24 Irenaeus and Epiphanius write did hide their doctrines We are men said Basilides all the rest are hoggs and dogges * Matth. 7.6 Cast not therfore said he your pearles before swine nor giue that which is holy vnto doggs which was to confesse openly * Bernard in Cant. serm 65. At istud apertè faâ—eri est se non esse de ecclesia qui onmes qui de ecclesia sunt canes censet porcos that he himselfe was not of the Church calling all those that are of the Church swine and dogges Yea in hindering the people of God to enter into this sweete Paradise of holy Scripture they are like the Scribes and Pharisees their forefathers against whoÌ„ our Sauiour Christ pronounceth this woe k Matth. 23.13 Woe vnto you Scribes and Pharisies hypocrites for ye shut vp the kingdom of heauen against men for ye neither goe in your selues neither suffer yee them that are entring to goe in Besides as they haue detracted from the Scripture by their blasphemous reproches accusing it of insufficiencie and imperfection so haue they also added vnto it l Cicero orat 44. in Anton. Philip secunda Is Caesaris leges easque praeclares euertie For as Marcus Antonius did abolish the excellent Laws of Caesar m Testamentum irrituÌ„ fecit Ibid. and made void his Testament n Ibid. Acta Caesaris pacis causa confirmata 〈◊〉 à senatu quâ—â— quidem Caesar egisset non eâ— quae Caesarem egisse dixisset Antonius c. yea when the Senate had ratified the Actes of Casar hee added to Caesars Actes what hee listed and would haue it to stand as sure as if Caesar himselfe had enacted it So these haue indeuoured to abolish the Law of God to make void the Testament of our onely Caesar and Sauiour Christ and haue added to his Testament what they listed and will haue them to stand as sure as if Christ had enacted them yet they would make vs beleeue that they doe o Ibid. Et tu in Caesaris memoria diligens tu illum amas mortuum much in remembrance and honour of Christ and that they loue him for first they adde vnto the Canonicall books of the Scripture other books that are not Canonicall but Apocrypha because they finde in those bookes many things to serue their turnes for the maintaining of their heresies which they cannot shide at all in the Canon of the Scripture Secondly because this is not sufficient they adde their traditions and determinations yea their gospels wheras all addition of Gospels to the onely true Gospell is execrable Some as the begging Friers disciples of Saint Dominick and Saint Francis inuented and published forth a booke ful of horrible blasphemies which they named the Gospâ—ll of the holy Ghost or the euerlasting Gospell full of their own â—ables and abominable errors teaching that Christs Gospell was not to be compared vnto it and that the Gospell of Christ should bee preached but â—â—â—â—ie yeeres so they opposed the Gospell of their holy Ghost to the true Gospell of the holy Ghost their eternall Gospell 〈◊〉 that Gospell which is called p 〈◊〉 14.6 the euerlasting Gospell to be prâ—â—ched vnto them that dwellâ—â— the earth and to euery Nâ—â—ion and kindred and tonguâ— and â—â—ple and that euen unto the ende of the world whâ—â—â—â— their gospell was of the Deuill that impure spirit was not an euerlasting Gospel but was soon refuted by Guiliâ—â—â—â—â— de â—â—â—ctâ— Amâ—re condemned by the Pope secretly burnt Others call the Determination of the Church the Gospell some â—â—â—â—taining that the Popes Decrâ—â—all Episties are to bee counted among the Canonicall books and made equall with the Scripture Some making their humane ordinances equall with the Scripture in authoritie Others pâ—â—â—eâ—â—ing them before it and maintaining that the authoritie of Ecclesâ—â—sticall tradition hath more force and â—fficâ—cie to assure â—ur faith in all câ—â—â—trouersies then the Scripture Thus the heretiâ—â—es in q Irenae lib. 3. cap. 2. Non pâ—ssiâ— ex hijs iâ—â—euiri veritâ—â— qui â—esciâ—â—â— traditianeÌ„ Nâ—â—â—â—im per literas tra 〈◊〉 sed per 〈◊〉 vocem Ireâ—â—â—â—s time maintained that the truth could not be found in the Scripture by such as were ignorant of tradition and the great mysteries of faith were noâ— by the Apostles committed to his Disciples but by word of mouth and not by writing r Epiph. heres 48 August haeres 26 Moutanâ—â— confessed that he admitted all the Scripture yet hee seined ouer and besides that the Comforter was come to perfect that which was but begunne and so did adde vnto the doctrine of the old and new Testament cerâ—aine other obseruations of his
not answere They would none of my Counsell therefore shall they eate of the fruit of their owne way r Psal 107.11 Because they contemned the Counsell of the most High therefore he brought downe their hears with labour they fell downe * Bernard super Cant. serm 65. Euangelium appellasti ad Euangelium ibis and there was none to helpe Counsels therefore not obserued haue punishment Lastly they appeale vnto the Scripture for their pretended Euangelicall Counsels vnto the Scripture they shall goe which is not for them but against them for that of Saint Paul 1. Cor 7. is not Counsell but his aduice and iudgement and his iudgement is a Commandement yea admit it were a Counsell it is a Counsell of the holy Ghost and therefore a Commandement and it is maruell that they alleage Saint Paul as a Counseller of Euangelicall Counsels seeing that Antonius makes him but a Teacher of Faith and of the Law as wee haue seene And Christs Counsels to the young man Matth. 19. and to the Church of Laodicea Reuel 3. were no Euangelicall Counsels for beâ—ides that that of Saint Matthew is called a Precept by Å¿ August in epist 89. quaest 4. Saint Austin and many moe yea a generall precept by Guilielâ—â—s de S. Amore and that a man may obserue that Counsel of giuing all to the poore and yet haue no reward and so no Counsell for t 1. Cor. 13.3 if a â—â—â—gine all to the poore and 〈◊〉 no lour iâ— proâ—ireth him nothing both of them are the Counsels of Christ God and Man and therefore Commandements both of them necessarie and not arbitiary both of them not obserued threaten punishment for the one was excluded out of the King dome of heaueÌ„ the others were spued out of Christs mouth for not obseruing his Counsell euen by the Papists confession We say therefore that these places will not serue their tuâ—â—e for their pretended Counsels and the distinction betweene the Precept of God and the Counsell of God is friuolous and improper according to their sense and meaning Indeede there may bee a verball and nominall distinction of the Counsels and precepts of God but there can be no reall distinction of them Precepts are Counsels and Counsels are Precepts at least particular precepts giuen to some in particular for some time and some circumstance for so Saint Austin with some of the Fathers yea and Schoolmen and Papists too call Counsels particular Precepts and therefore Pope Nicolas the sixth confesseth u Decret lib. 5. tit 12. cap. 3. Nonnulla Consilia Euangelica sub verbo prohibitione praecepti that there are some Euangelicall Counsels expressed vnder the terme and prohibition of Precepts But this point of Euangelicall Counsels with that of the Scripture is more largely handled in this first Volume of Iacobs Vow the basis and ground of the ensuing volumes the second beginning with the Treatise of Vowes which shal come forth God willing as soone as time and leisure will permit which first Volume I haue translated because I found the matter and subiect thereof learnedly handled and very necessarie not onely for those that are without but also for those that are among vs who may see in this Treatise as in a glasse the errors of the Church of Rome in the points of the Scripture and Euangelicall Counsels with the refutation thereof I alwaies liked that sentence of an ancient Father It is saith he an act of modesty not to aduance your owne inuentions but to declare that which you haue receiued of those that haue gone before you therefore I neuer made vow that I would not put my hand to any Translation or Paraphrase as Du Bartas did which he did not long obserue for he translated that roiall and diuine x The Lepanto Poâ—m of our dread Soueraigne as he himself confesseth in the Preface thereof but haue had a desire to translate this booke following therein the president and example of great men Diuines Knights Lords Ladies yea and Princes too that haue done the like The reason which hath moued mee deare Brethren to shroud this translation of mine vnder your names is because yee are both vnto mee brethren of race of place and of grace which containes more then can bee expressed and is enough yea more then enough to moue me to dedicate this booke vnto you and therefore as God hath ioyned you both together in one of the neerest societies that can be so haue I ioyned you both together in this Dedication For as y Hieron ad Chromat Non debet charta diuidere quos amor mutuns copulauit Hierome saith this paper must not separate you whom mutuall loue yea brotherhood hath combined together whose life loue and affection as Saint Ambrose speakes z Ambros in obit Fratris sui satyri indiuiduus spiritus indiuiduus affectus are vnseparated and vnseparable so that as you enioy a certaine communion among your selues so here you shall not haue a diuision Accept then this small present which though it bee but small proceedes from no small affection as a pledge of my vnfained and brotherly loue and giue to this stranger thus homely apparrelled in this English habit and speaking his English tongue yet somewhat fearefull to set foote in forren ground giue him your hand at his first entrance in token of welcome intertaine him courteously and conuerse with him familiarly so shall you finde in him both profit and pleasure Thus commending and recommending him to your kind acceptance and you in my prayers to God I beseech him to performe and finish that good work which he hath begun in you that so you may proceede on in faith and godlinesse making not your gaine godlinesse but godlinesse your gaine and laying vp for your selues treasures in heauen and that as you are here combined together in brotherhood by consanguinitie and in grace in faith and in loue vnfained one to another by one spirit so heires together of one promise here on earth so ye may at last as heires of God and ioynt heires with Christ possesse that spirituall and euerlasting inheritance in the Kingdome of heauen whose King is the Trinitie whose Law is charitie whose Measure is eternitie Amen London April 30. 1617. Your brother in all Christian duties to be commanded IOHN BVLTEEL THE AVTHOR TO THE READER WHen I first intended this worke I had no other purpose then to refute a certaine small Treatise of Cardinall Sourdis Archbishop of Bourdeaux which he intituled THE PASTORALL LETTER and directed it to all those of his Diocesse of Bourdeaux pretending to shew that parents haue no authority to hinder their children from following Euangelicall Counsels and children are not bound to aske their parents leaue therein that is to say that children may steale themselues away from their parents and may become Monkes not onely without their parents consent and will but also against it Whereof there was a notable example
ad me non est quâ— eas nisi per me Saint Austin to this purpose brings in Christ speaking after this manner Wilt thou walke I am the Way Wilt thou not be deceiued I am the Truth Wilt thou not die I am the Life thy Sauiour tells thee this thou hast no other where to goe then vnto me nor by no other then by me II. Now that we may the better goe vnto him who is the Life and by him who is the way and that going by him vnto him we stray not from him hee himselfe takes vs by the hand and leades vs with his two hands by the hand of his Spirit within and the hand of his holy Word without For euen as we must haue light without for the chasing away and dispelling of darkenesse and also light in our eyes and a cleere sight if we meane to trauell and soiourne in this valley of miserie and manage the â—hings of this life it being impossible that the most quicke eyed yea though he had the eyes of an Eagle can see in the dark vnlesse he be outwardly enlightned or that he that is blind and bereaued of his sight can see the fairest Sun-shine day euen so if we vndergo the way of life and mannage holy and celestiall things holily and to our saluation wee must bee enlightned without with the Lampe of Gods words as Dauid saith g Psal 119.105 Thy word is a lampe vnto my feete and a light vnto my path and enlightned within by the illumination of the holy Spirit of the which Saint Paul saith h Rom. 8.9 If any man haue not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his that is to say hee is not a Christian For to be a Christian is to be anointed of the holy Ghost in some measure as to be Christ is to be annointed of the holy Ghost without measure as it is written i Psalm 45.7 O God thy God hath anointed thee with the oyle of gladnes aboue thy fellowes And so the Apostle praies for the Ephesians and in their persons for vs all that k Eph. 1.17.18 The God of our Lord Iesus Christ the Father of glorie would giue vs the spirit of wisdom and reuelation in the knowledge of him to wit The eyes of our vnderstanding being enlightned that we may know what is the hope of his calling and what are the riches of the glory of his Inheritance in his Saints III. Now as touching the word which teacheth vs how God will bee serued of vs and how hee will reward saue and glorifie vs we hold that that word of God is comprehended in the holy writings of the Prophets Apostles and Euangelists For eueÌ„ as God in the beginning created the light which gaue light to the world some certaine dayes without Sun Moone or Starres l Gen. 1.3.14 and afterwards created the lights in the Firmament of heauen into the which he did infuse and shut vp that light which hath not since beene imparted vnto the world but by those two great Lights Euen so God in the beginning gouerned the celestiall world which is his Church and did enlighten it by his holy word one and simple without any Scripture but since he hath clothed and adorned her with the Scriptures hath lodgd and harboured her as it were in a faire Pauillion and Tabernacle in the diuine holy books which he himself hath composed by the hands of Moses the Prophets and Apostles m August de consens Euangelist li. 2. cap. vlt. who when they haue writteÌ„ the things that God hath shewed them related we must not say that he himself hath not written them for he hath commanded them to write as it were with his owne hands all that he would haue vs to reade both in his words and workes which they haue so faithfully and perfectly performed that wee may confidently affirme n Idem de doctrina Christi li. 2. ca. 9. In ijs quae apertè in scripturis posita sunt inueniuntur illa omnia quae continent fidem morésque viuendi that all things appertaining to faith and the rule of life are plainely expressed in the Scriptures Art thou an ideot and simple let not the depth and height of them affright thee o Psalm 19.7 The testimonie of the Lord is sure making wise the simple Art thou wise doe not despise them for p Prou. 1.5 A wise man will heare and will increase learning and a man of vnderstanding shall attaine vnto wise counsels Art thou pensiue and grieued with the feeling of thy sinnes and by the apprehension of Gods anger q Psal 19.8.9 The Law of God is perfect conuerting the soule the Statutes of the Lord are right reioycing the heart r Rom. 15.4 For whatsoeuer things were written aforetime were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might haue hope Art thou blind in Gods matters Å¿ Psal 19.8 The Commandement of the Lord is pure inlightning the eyes Art thou young and desirest thou to know the direct and ready way to vertue and godlinesse Doest thou aske the Lord with Dauid t Psal 119 9. Wherewithall shall a young man cleanse his way Dauid will answere thee in the name of thy God t Psal 119 9. by taking heed thereto according to thy word and will prooue vnto thee his answere by his owne example saying u Psalm 119.99.100 I haue more vnderstanding then all my Teachers for thy Testimonies are my meditation I vnderstand more then the Ancients because I keepe thy precepts Art thou desirous of the true wisdome which is to saluation and of the true profession which makes the Man of God the Euangelist the Preacher of Gods word and so with good reason euery Christian to abound in all spirituall gifts necessarie for thee in thy vocation in thy conuersation to leade and bring thee vnto faith in Christ and to instruct thee to liue according to Christ x 2. Tim. 3.15.16.17 The holy Scriptures are able to make thee wise vnto saluation through faith which is in Christ Iesus All Scripture is giuen by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine for reproofe for correction for instruction in righteousnesse that the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished vnto all good workes y 2. Cor. 5.2 Doest thou sigh and grone earnestly desiring to bee clothed vpon with thy house which is from heauen according to the example of the Saints z Iohn 5.39 Search the Scriptures saith he that is the Prince of life for in them ye thinke ye haue eternall life It is not an estimation of an humane opinion but a firme perswasion of diuine certaintie and true knowledge if the Spirit of truth that cannot lie do not deceiue vs when he saith that a Iohn 20.31 These things are written that ye might beleeue that Iesus is the Christ the son of God that beleeuing
20.3 Till the thousand yeeres should be fulfilled Who would now suffer himselfe to be swaied and caried away with this error should with good reason bee held and condemned for an heretick Doth not Stapleton tell vs y Staplet lib. â— de authorit Scripturae c. 2. §. 5. that Clement the Roman Tertullian Origen Irenaeus Chrysostome Theodoret Oecumenius Theophylact Ambrose Bernard were of opinion that the soules doe not enioy the vision of God before the day of iudgement Another adds to these z Senens lib. 6. annot 345. Iustine Martyr Lactance Victorinus Prudentius Arethas Iohn Pope of Rome Is not this an horrible errour VI. a Canus locorum Theolog. lib. 7. c. 1. num 1. §. Sancti namque Canus expounding S. Pauls words b Rom. 5.12 In whom all haue sinned saith that from these words All the Saints doe affirme with one consent that the Virgin Marie was conceiued in sinne Chrysostome Eusebius Remigius Ambrose Austin Bernard Bede Anselme Erardus Martyr Saint Antonie Doctor Bonaâ—enture Thomas of Aquin Vincentius Hugo de Sancto Victor why then doth not he himselfe follow this consent and opinion Let he himselfe say why Although no author hath contradicted it Infirmumest tamen ex omnium patrum consersu argumentum The argument notwithstanding taken from the consent of all the Fathers is weake and the contrarie opinion is more probably and holily held and maintained Of late then and newly haue they left and forsaken the vniuersall beleefe of all the Saints the space of 1400 yeeres and c Salmeron Iesuit in Rom. c. 5. disp si §. Deinde Salmeron the Iesuite tells vs that we must answere to this whole multitude that which one alleages and obiects that which is written of Gods word d Exod. 23.2 Exod. 23. Thou shalt not follow a multitude to doe euill neither shalt thou speake in a cause to decline after many to wrest iudgement Let this suffice for an answere to those that say we may not speake of the Scripture but onely as the holy Fathers expound it for if it were so we ought and should be Millinaries with many of the holy Fathers we should beleeue against all Scripture that the soules of the faithfull departed see not God vntill the vniuersall resurrection with the Fathers wee should race out of the catalogue of festiuall dayes that of the conception of the Virgin Marie the mother of Christ and hold with the Scripture that she was conceiued in sinne for so all the holy Fathers haue held VII The Romish Church should giue vnto the people the Eucharist vnder both kindes for so haue they beene instituted and giuen by the Master receiued and recommended by the Apostles celebrated by all the Fathers and of the whole Christian Church the space of 1400 yeeres wee ought to detest the new Fathers of Constance who haue presumed against Christs institution the doctrine of the Apostles the practice of the whole Church for so many ages to take away the cup to bereaue and depriue the Christians of the Sacrament of the bloud which the Sonne of God hath shed for them in the remission of their sinnes VIII To crie out alwaies the Fathers the Fathers to make great shew of the Fathers to relie on them to shelter themselues vnder the exposition of the Fathers and yet not follow the Fathers is to doe like e Matth. 26.49 Iudas which betraied Christ in speaking to him with great reuerence and kissing him or like the souldiers f Mat. 27.18.30 who hauing clothed our King and Sauiour Christ with a scarlet Robe and giuen him in his hand a Reede in stead of a Scepter they bowed their knees before him made a shew to adore him but forthwith did spit vpon him tooke the Reede and smote him on the head with it CHAP. VII I. What opinion wee are to haue and what iudgement to make of the Fathers in what and how farre they are to be beleeued II. The Author of the Pastorall Letter tyes and bindes the exposition of the Scriptures vnto the Pastors and Doctors hauing lawfull succession III. What is their authoritie charge and dutie IIII. They are not to bee heard vnlesse they speake according to the Scriptures V. Many vnder the Law and vnder the Gospell High-Priests Bishops and Popes hauing succession haue been Idolaters Hereticks Sorcerers VI. The obiection taken from the words of Malachie is contrary to the opponent I Doe not pretend to abate or diminish in any wise the authoritie of the Fathers I say that they haue been great men of God that they haue serued God and his Church in their time with great profit that their writings are of great vse and that by the reading of them a man may become wiser and holier And I hold for certaine that they are bound in the bundle of life and doe raigne in heauen with Christ Iesus their King for whose sake God hath been mercifull vnto them But when men make a buckler of their errors and when men say that we may not speake of the Scripture but as they are interpreted by them we are inforced to say the truth that first they all were men and not God secondly they were all disciples of the truth and not Author of the same all Interpreters of the law not Law-giuers all our fellow-Brethren and fellow-Seruants and not our Masters Thirdly that we ought to beleeue them in matters of fact or of things done in their time and that which they assuredly know when they speake of things not by heare-say but which themselues haue seene and knowne these certain things Fourthly that in matters of faith they are not to bee beleeued if they proue not their doctrine by the bookes of faith because as a Canus cent 3. sequent c. 4. Canus saith All the Saints those onely excepted who haue digested and committed vnto writing the Canonicall bookes haue spoken by human spirit and haue sometimes erred in things which appertaine to faith The reason is b 1. Cor. 13.9 They knew onely in part and prophesied in part c Gal. 5.17 The flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh in in them as well as in vs. The Apostles onely were priuiledged with an extraordinarie measure of the holy Ghost to leade them without any imperfection d Iohn 16.13 in all truth Fifthly that the Spirit of Christ Iesus is not dead with them but is as yet in his Church enlightning it in the truth and sanctifying her by the truth in so much as although there were no writings of the Fathers the people of God for all that should not leaue to know vnderstand the Scriptures to know the voyce of Christ and follow it Sixthly that the writings of the Fathers are as much or more obscure then the holy Scriptures if it might bee said without blasphemy that there were obscurenesse in those bookes which were dictated by him e Iohn 1.9 Who is the light
the Elders of the people assemble together against Iesus Christ and caused him to die by the hand of the wicked Saint Paul admonisheth the Pastors of Milet and of Ephesus y Acts 20.30 that from among themselues shall men arise speaking peruerse things to draw disciples after them Photinus Samosatenus Arrius Macedonius Nestorius Eutyches Marcelin the Pope who sacrificed to Idols Iohn 22. Pope who denied that the soules see God before the resurrection Pope Zepherinus a Montanist Pope Liberius an Arrian Pope Anastasius a Nestorian Pope Honorius a Monothelite Pope Siluester who gaue himselfe to the diuell to be made Pope Gregorie the seuenth a great Necromancer Iohn the 23 who denied life eternall and the resurrection All these had a vocation and succession as lawfull as any Pope or Bishop of that time and notwithstanding they were not to be heard of any because they al were hereticks VI. Yea but God hath said in Malachi z Malach. 2.7 The Priests lipps shall keepe knowledge and they shall seeke the Law at his mouth Hee hath said it indeede and hath said it either by promise to the Priests of the Law that it shall be alwaies so or by commandement to the Priests to obserue and keepe it so alwaies not by promise for he hath not alwaies determined nor done so 〈◊〉 that the same God and Lord adds vers 8. But ye are departed out of the way ye haue caused many to stumble at 〈◊〉 Law ye haue corrupted the 〈◊〉 of Leui saith the Lord of Hosts therefore haue I also made you contemptible and base before all the people And elsewhere God complaines of them a Esay 28.7 They 〈◊〉 in vision they stumble in iudgement b Ezech. 22.26 Sâ—phâ— 3.4 they haue violated my Law and haue prophâ—â—ed mine holy things they haue put no difference betweene the holy and prophant and because they did then as they doe now adaies crying to euery purpose c Ierem. 18.18 The Law shall not perish from the Priest nor counsell from the wise nor the Word from the Prophet God threatens them d Ezech. 7.26 that the Law shall perish from the Priests and Counsell from the Ancients It was therefore a commandement of that which the Priests should do and did not as nowadaies when and where God may say as anciently he said of the People and Priests of Israel e Ose 4.6 9. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge because thou hast 〈◊〉 knowledge I will also reiect thou thou shalt bee 〈◊〉 Priest to me seeing thou hast forgotten the Law of thy God I will also forgot thy children c. There shall be like People like Priest CHAP. VIII I. The Iudge of the sense and meaning of the Scripture is publick or priuat II. The publick and soueraigne Iudge is God alone III. His iudgement is perfectly giuen in the holy Scriptures IIII. It is not necessariâ— that the Iudge be present and visible V. The publike ministeriall Iudges are the Pastors VI. The priuate Iudges are all Christians VII They that forbid Christians to iudge of their writings are nor led by the Spirit of Christ TO conclude this point and to 〈◊〉 no scruple concerning this whole matter in the conscience of the Reader We say that the Iudge of the sense and meaning of the Scripture is either publick or priuate The publike Iudge is he who iudgeth publikely with a publike authoritie and declares what is true what is false good or bad what one ought to follow or eschew doe or not doe in matter of religion The publike Iudge is either Soueraigne or Ministeriall II. The Soueraigne Iudge is hee whose authoritie is in himselfe and towards vs sufficient irrefragable and so absolute that necessitie is laid vpon vs to yeeld and agree vnto without any doubting contradiction or appeale There is no such Iudge in heauen or in earth but one to wit God speaking to his Church in Christ Iesus by his holy Spirit There is but he alone which hath publike and absolute authoritie who gouernes swaies and commands ouer the consciences who can perswade binde and conuince them He hath giuen his iudgement and sentence and hath enregistred it in the sacred Scripture according to which he gouernes the consciences bowing bending them to the obedience of the same by his holy Spirit And indeed what other could be the Soueraigne Iudge of the sense of the Scripture but he who is the author of the scripture who can better interpret a mans words meaning then he which hath spoken them And who can better interpret the sense and meaning of the Law then the Law-giuer which hath made it who is so fit and apt for it as hee who being all wise and all holy cannot and being all good will not deceiue or beguile vs III. There is nothing more apparent then that his iudgement is contained in the holy Scriptures a 2. Tim. 3.16 All Scripture is giuen by inspiration of God it containes then the iudgement of the holy Ghost b 2. Tim. 3.15 They are able to make vs wise vnto saluation through faith which is in Christ Iesus And for this cause are we commanded to heare them c Luke 16.29 They haue saith Abraham touching the brethren of the rich man Moses and the Prophets let them heare them As they e Acts 17.29 of Berea are commended for that they sought in the same the iudgement of the holy Spirit concerning Saint Pauls doctrine the cause of all errors being that men doe not stick fast to it as Iesus Christ reprocheth and chargeth the Sadduces with telling them f Mark 12.24 Doe ye not therefore erre because ye know not the Scriptures nor the power of God And it being impossible that any can learne and bee perswaded or moued else-where to beleeue in Christ and amend his life Abraham hath so testified borne record to the naughtie rich man who required that Lazarus should be sent to his brethren g Luke 16.31 If saith hee they heare not Moses and the Prophets neither will they be perswaded though one rose from the dead Iesus Christ hath more euidently testified it vnto the Iewes speaking of the Scriptures and of himselfe If h Iob. 5.46.47 yee had beleeued Moses ye would haue beleeued me for he wrote of me but if ye beleeue not his writings how shall ye beleeue my words This hath been acknowledged and granted of all the Fathers i Ignat. epist ad Philadelph who refused to accept and admit of any records or euidences then those of Christ k Cyp. epist 63. who will heare none other but Christ l Ambr. de fide lib. 1. c. 4. Hieron in Psal 86. Optat. August Chrysost c. who in all their disputations against hereticks doe appeale vnto the iudgement of Christ speaking in the Scriptures except they had to doe with such as denied the Scriptures IIII. But if they obiect that the
Iudge must bee present and visible we answere that that is not necessarie How often doe Emperours decide controuersies new sprung in their Prouinces by the authoritie and Iurisdiction of the Soueraigne Court without budging from their place How often haue the Popes remaining in Rome or in Auignon ended the differences of Christians a great distance from them by their Decreâ—all Epistles and doe as yet make knowne their will vnto al the world by their Bulls without stirring from their seate The King whom God preserue and blesse with all temporall and spirituall blessings for his glory is the supreme and Soueraigne Iudge of all this Kingdome although he be visibly and corporally but in one place of the same at one time from the place where hee is hee signifies by his Proclamation what his pleasure is vnto the which all his subiects must yeeld and agree A King who is but a man hath such a power and shall not the King of Kings haue it a mortall man absent in body shall bee acknowledged of all his good subiects for supreme Iudge and his will declared in writing shall bee a Law vnto them and shall not the Lord Iesus God-Man and Man-God be accepted of for Soueraine Iudge nor his writings for lawes vnlesse he make and shew himselfe visible and present What impietie But God be thanked our Iudge conteined indeede in heauen in regard of his bodie Acts 3.21 is alwaies euery where with his Church in regard of his Deitie and God-head alwaies present in the same in common and generall and in euery member of the same in particular by his holy Spirit by his grace by his vertue by his counsell by his helpe and assistance by his conduct and guiding and by his holy and wholesome word so farre forth that hee saith m Matth. 28.20 Lâ—e I am with you alwaies euen vnto the end of the world for * Matth. 18.20 faith he where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them It is he then that iudgeth vs by his word which is his voice which all they that are his sheepe heare which they know and follow n Iohn 10.27 My sheepe heare my voice saith Christ and I know them and they follow me And doe not thinke that he speakes there onely of his sheepe of then or that time when he fed them with the foode and refection of his mouth he speakes of all those that shall be gathered together vnder his Sheepe-hooke vntill the ende of the world according to that he said before vers 16 Other sheepe haue I which are not of this fold them also I must bring and they shall heare my voice and there shall be one fold and one shepheard They that are not contented with this voice and heare it not they would not onely not heare our Lord Iesus although he should returne here in the flesh but also they would crucifie him againe as the Priests Scribes Pharisees and the Elders of the people did for if that so he should returne here on earth hee would say no other thing then that which he hath said alreadie and would not speake more plainely and perspicuously then he hath spoken in the holy Scriptures Therefore according as he hath commanded vs to call none our Doctor o Matth. 23.10 For one is our Doctor and Master euen Christ we will adhere and sticke fast vnto him alone and will say vnto him with Saint Peter and the other disciples Iohn 6.68 Lord to whom shall wee goâ— thou hast the words of eternall life and wee beleeue and are sure that thou art that Christ the Sonne of the liuing God V. The publike ministeriall Iudge is he which hath a publike and lawfull calling and authoritie from God to iudge not of the Scripture nor of the sense thereof for being immediatly from God the Law of the supreme Iudge and the most perfect rule of all godlinesse whereby all men are iudged and ruled it cannot be iudged of men by any meanes but of the doctrines of men the which he examines by the touchstone of the Scriptures and by them markes and considers if they are of God or no such are Pastors and Doctors considered apart in their Schooles and Churches and together in the Presbyterie Synods Councels Nationall and Occumenicall whose whole authoritie is limited by the holy Scriptures against and besides which they may not ordaine any thing Gal. 1.8 being to speake properly and fitly Clerks Truch-men Heralds Messengers and Ambassadours of God towards their brethren and not Iudges their iudgement being of seruice not of soueraigntie of direction not of authoritie compelling p Ephes 2.20 For we are built vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets and not vpon the hand of humane opinions Wherefore if Christ Iesus himselfe hath confirmed his doctrine by the Scriptures q Luk. 24.27 beginning at Moses and all the Prophets r Act. 15.16.17 If the Apostles assembled together in Ierusalem refuted by the Scripture the heresie of those which mingled the Law with the Gospell If Saint Paul Å¿ Act. 17.2.3 Act. 26.22 Act. 28.23 proued his Gospell by the writings of Moses and of the Prophets surely they that are not furnished with such authoritie are bound to iustifie their doctrine by the Scriptures without the which t Orig. in Hierem â—om 1. our sense meanings and interpretation are not faith In regard of which the Apostle saith that the Spirit of Prophets are subiect to the Prophets 1. Cor. 14.32 And u Gerson de exam doctri Consid 5. num 17. Gersâ—â— saith That we must giue more credit and beleeue soeuer a simple man not authorized excellently skilled in the Scriptures then the declaration of the Pope for it is certaine that we must soâ—â—er beleeue and rather giue credit vnto the Gospell then vnto the Pope x Panerm in cap. significat extra de electiâ— Panâ—rmus saith In matters which concerne our faith the saying of a prâ—â—ate man is to be preferred before the Popes saying if it be confirmed with the best reasons of the old and new Testament Another most excellently and euidently y Picus Mirand de fide â—rd cred Theâ—re 6. A simple peasant or swaine a childe an old woman are more credible and 〈◊〉 to her beleeued thou the grand Prelate or Pope and a thousand Bishops of these speake contrary and against the Gospell those for and according to the Gospell The reason is verie good the Gospell is of the Master and ought to bee receiued with all obedience of faith by whomsoeuer it is preached the Pope and the Bishops are but seruants in the Masters house where they haue no other charge then to serue the children of the house according to the will of the heauenly Father comprehended in the Scriptures otherwise they are no Pastors but Impostors VI. As the publike ministerial iudgement is without proportion and measure inferior to
being past feeling haue giuen themselues ouer vnto lasciuiousnesse to worke all vncleannesse with greedinesse This is the description of a man not regenerated and renewed of the Iew as well as of the Gentill of him that is vnder the Law as well as of him which is without the Law of the Christian who is in the Church as of the Infidell which is out of the Church II. g Isai 64.6 New we are all as an vncleane thing and all our righteousnesse are as filthie raggs This is the description of the regenerate and renewed the confession of the greatest Saints which say h Dan. 9.5 c. we haue sinned and committed iniquitie and haue done wickedly and haue rebelled 〈◊〉 by departing from thy precepts and front thy iudgements neither haue we hearkened vnto thy seruants the Prophets which spake in thy name O Lord righteousnesse belongeth vnto thee but vnto vs confusion of faâ—et to our Kings our Princet and our Fathers because wee haue trespassed against thee As the prayer of euery one is Forgiue wâ—â—â—â— trespasseâ— Those can doe no good they haue neither the will nor the power These say with Saint Paul i Rom. 7.18 To will is present with me but how to performe that which is good I findâ—â—â—t Therefore these also cannot keepe the Law in that perfection which it requires of men in this life they aime and make towards the perfection and doe aduance and draw neere vnto it more and more but they shall not attaine vnot it vntill that being vnclothed of this body of sinne which doth beset them they bee clothed vpon with their house which is from heauen and that will we proue by fiue arguments III. First the most regenerate and holy are not more renewed more holy then the holy Apostle who said of himselfe and of all the Saints k Rom. 8.23 We haue the first fruits of the Spirit The first fruites are as it were an handfull taken from the whole heape our sanctification therefore in this life is little in comparison of the full haruest which wee shall rape in the life to come for we are regenerated and renewed but in part successiuely and by degrees much of the old infirmitie remaining in vs and drawing vs to sinne with such vigor and force that the Apostle himselfe complaines saying l Rom. 7.21 I finde a law that when I would doe good euill is with me He had that from the originall malice which remained as yet in him and m August in Ioan trac 41. Minuitur in vita proficientium quod in vita consumitur perfectorum which diminisheth onely in the life of those which profit and goe on as it is fully consumed in the life of those which haue attained vnto perfection whence else-where he saith of himselfe n 2. Cor. 4.16 Though our outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed day by day Which words Saint Austin hath well peised and pondered and from whence he bath drawne this doctrine o Aug. de peccat merit lib. 2. c. 7. Prefectâ— qui de die in diem â—dbuc renouatur nondum totus est renouatus in quantum nondum est renouatus in tantum adbuc in ve tustate est He which is renewed day by day is not as yet wholly renewed and in as much as he is not altogether renewed so much is hee in his old nature And by consequent a child of this world euen as in so much as he is renewed he is the childe of God and such are all the regenerate of whom the Apostle saith that in them p Gal. 5.17 The flesh Insteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other so that yee cannot do the things that ye would The flesh is that which is not as yet renewed in the minde in the will in the affections as it appeares by this that the Apostle attributes to the flesh a certaine q Rom. 8.7 wisedome r Col. 2.18 reason and vnderstanding and placeth among the works of the flesh Å¿ Gal. 5.20.21 Idolatrie and the heresies that are conceiued and borne in the minde and exhorts vs t Ephes 4.23 to be renewed in the Spirit of our minde In which respect he saies of himself * Rom. 7.18 I know that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing vnderstanding by his flesh not his body for if he said vnto the Corinthians u 1. Cor. 6.19 Know ye not that your body is the Temple of the holy Ghost did hee not know that his was but this infirmitie or rather peruersitie which did as yet dwel in al the parts of his soule although it did not rule there was indeede mortified but not as yet dead The Spirit therefore is that which is renewed in the minde in the will in the affections and in all the parts of the soule and of the body The flesh is the old man the Spirit is the new man these two men are in euery true Christian they are both together at one time in one and the same subiect of the minde of the will of the affections in the minde and vnderstanding knowledge and ignorance of the same thing faith and vnbeleefe in the will confidence and distrust in the affections loue and hate c witnesse the father of the lunatick who confessed saying x Mark 9.24 I beleeue and thereupon presently prayde to Christ saying helpe thou mine vnbeliefe It is with the regenerate man Similitude 1 who is flesh and spirit as with a man raised vp from a long and grieuous maladie who makes a few turnes in his chamber but trailing his leggs after him and will stand vpright but it will be in leaning on his staffe hauing in him as yet by reason of the reliques of his sicknesse an vniuersall indisposition in all the parts of his body Or else it fareth with such a man Similitude 2 as with the aire in the dawning or breake of day which is not altogether cleare and light as it is at noone it is not partly light partly darke as the Moone is in the increase and waine but is in all her parts cleare and blacke obscure and enlightned Wee may also compare it vnto luke-warme water Similitude 3 which in all her parts is mixed with heate and cold Similitude 4 or vnto a liquor mingled with water and wine wherein is neither pure wine nor pure water but the whole is wine and water together euen vnto her most insensible parts although such a liquor will sauour somtimes more of water then of the wine and again somtimes more of wine then of water as the regenerate man in the beginning of his regeneration is more carnall then spirituall and in the progresse of the same is more spirituall then carnall These two men therefore doe fight in vs in lusting the one against the other the flesh lusteth two waies First it
will bee plaine Saint Peter said that it was not good for a man to marrie Christ refutes his saying by this syllogisme whosoeuer is such a one as that he is no Eunuch neither by nature nor by necessity nor by the gift of God that he be able to abstaine frō mariage with quietunes and with peace of conscience it is not good for such a one for the saluation of his soule to be without a wise but contrariwise it is expedient for him to marrie for there are but these three sorts of men that can commodiously liue out of the state of marriage but it is not giuen to all to be wiuelesse Now if it bee not expedient for them not to marry it is expedient for them to marrie and they ought and must marrie if they desire to bee saued Saint Paul who had in him Gods Spirit expounds the Lord◠words after this manner y 1. Cor. 7.8 I say to the vnmarried and widdowes It is good for them if they abide euen as I. This is that which our Sauiour saith He that is able to receiue it let him receiue it and that which our Apostle said in the verse going before z 1. Cor. 7.7.9 Euery man hath his proper gift of God one after this manner and another after that He adds But if they cannot containe let them marry for it is better to marrie then to burne This is that which our Sauiour saith All men cannot receiue this saying It is expedient and good for them that are such to marrie VI. This therefore is a precept and no counsell but because there are two sorts of precepts the one common to all as to loue God practise righteousnesse c. the other particular to some onely according to the gift and particular calling of God as to sell all that we haue and to giue it to the poore to follow Christ The ancient Doctors doe call a precept a commandement giuen to all and a Counsell a particular Commandement made particularly vnto some according to Gods gift and calling which also they call sometimes Precept So the ordinary glosse calls this our Lords exhortation a Glossa in Mat. 19. vers 10. Non omnes capiunt id est non omnes implere possunt praeceptum continentiae A precept of continenci◠So Saint Austin calls a Commandement the words of our Lord to the rich man Goe and sell that thou hast c. b August epist 89. quaest 4 cui dominus haec praecepit to whom saith he hath the Lord commanded these things and he repeates the same thing often in 89. Epistle the fourth question In like manner Saint Ierome c Hieron aduers Pelag. lib. 1. In qua praecipitur we must seeke the Euangelical perfection wherein this is commanded If thou wilt be perfect goe sell that thou hast c. It is an easie matter then to vnderstand Saint Austins words He distinguisheth betweene a precept and a counsell that is to say betweene precepts giuen to all and precepts giuen to some all they which will not keepe those shal be punished because they are directed and giuen vnto all but all they that do not these shall not be punished because they are not giuen to all but as concerning those to whō they are giuen how can they escape the iudgement of God if they doe not that which he commands which he counsels and requires them to doe and whereunto he exhorts them Let them call it what they wil that man which doth not the counsell of his God cannot be innocent nor guiltlesse as wee haue seene heretofore Moreouer Saint Austin puts among Counsels the abstinence from flesh and wine Chap. 11. §. 12. and how few are there among the orders of Friers that doe abstaine from flesh the Iesuites that are the most exact sect of them all doe they abstaine from it and is there any of them all that valew so much that greater glory that aureola in illâ parte that for it they would forgoe their wine d Psal 104.15 that maketh glad the heart of man let them tell me therefore if Christ hauing giuen this counsell with many others according to Saint Austin a counsell easier to be obserued then the rest they shall obtaine the greatest reward in doing the others and not intending to do this Lastly it appeares by this place that S. Augustine held that a Counsell is of things indifferent that is to say which are neither good nor bad but in as much as they are vsed well or ill to eate flesh and drink wine being a thing in it selfe wholly indifferent But Counsels saith c Bellar. de monach c. 8. §. vlt. Bellarmine are not things indifferent but acceptable to God and recommended by him which abstinence from flesh and wine is not because f Rom. 14.17 that the Kingdome of God is not meate and drinke but righteousnesse and peace and ioy in the holy Ghost It is therfore little to the purpose that they produce and alleage this place of Saint Austin which is not to the purpose VII But it is worse to the purpose that they tell vs that for a man to make himselfe an Eunuch for the kingdome of heauens sake is to abstaine from marriage thereby to merit a reward in heauen These good men would not bee debtors to God for God must needes remaine their debtor and must giue them alwaies some returne as hauing paid to God more then was due for the which hee is beholding to them Hirelings that would doe no seruice to God if they did not hope for a reward that keepe not the Commandements but to merit the reward of eternall life that keepe not the Counsels but to merit a greater glory in the life to come hirelings indeed who in doing seruice to God haue no other aime then themselues and if God giue them not the reward which they beleeue is due to them they will repent that they haue serued him and will blaspheme him before his face as vniust Not children who in seruing God haue no other scope nor ende then the glory of God who would bee contented to bee blotted out of his booke of life to be accursed and separated from Christ their deare Sauiour if it could bee possible if that could aduance his glory Hirelings worthy to be expelled out of the house of God as enemies of his grace who will reckon with God and binde him to giue them as a reward iustly due to them that which hee declares to be a free gift of his grace vnworthie that Christ should aduow and take them for his owne seeing that they depriue him of his glorie and attribute to themselues the reward which is not due which is not giuen but to his merit Let them not cry out The ancient Fathers The ancient Fathers The Ancient of dayes hath told me by Saint Paul more ancient then them all g Rom. 6.23 that the gift of God
is eternall life through Iesus Christ our Lord. The same ancient Fathers doe teach me that the merits of the faithfull are the mercies of God the merits of Christ to whom eternall life is giuen for a reward to the ende he giue vs it of pure grace But let vs consider a little neerer the wordes To make himselfe an Eunuch for the Kingdome of heauens sake say they is to merit heauen by single life Falsely for if it were so the vestall virgins among the Romans the Priests of Cybele grand necce to the false gods the Monks among the Turkes should merit eternall life Falsely againe seeing that heauen is replenished and filled with those which haue liued and died in the state of mariage Falsely againe againe seeing God promiseth nothing vnto Eunuchs but on condition h Isai 56.4 that they chuse the things that please him and take hold of his Couenant It is not therefore for their single life which makes theÌ„ nor more nor lesse acceptable vnto God i Act. 10.34 1. Tim. 4.8 who is no respecter of persons but for their godlines wherof the Apostle speaketh that bodily exercise profiteth little such is single life but godlinesse is profitable vnto al things hauing promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come VIII What is then to make himselfe an Eunuch for the Kingdome of heauens sake I haue already told it but because they will not beleeue me let others say what it is k Lyra in Mat. 19. vt liberiùs continentes vacent contemplationi diuinae Lyrinensis That the continent and chaste may apply and giue their minde more freely to diuine contemplation A man must not beleeue him vnlesse he proue it by Scripture and therefore he adds as it is written l 1. Cor. 7.32.33 Hee that is vnmaried careth for the things that belong to the Lord how he may please the Lord but hee that is married careth for the things that are of the world how hee may please his wife and he is diuidâ—d Ferus a Frier whose authoritie ought not to be small among the Friers and Monkes m Ferus in Mat. 19. vers 11. Doe not preferre thy selfe before another for thy continencie for it may bee that the marriage of another is more acceptable vnto God then thy chastitie for here thou hast expressely set downe before thee that all continencie is not acceptable vnto God For thou hast heere three sorts of chaste men of them that are Eunuches by nature Item of them that are made Eunuches of men whereunto it seemeth that we must adde those that liâ—e continently by constraint and against their will or which refraine themselues from it to bee praised of men Neutri autem Deo placent sed tantum bi qui propter regnum coelorum continent vt scilicet liberiùs Deo vacent ac curare possint quae Domini sunt None of these please God but they only that abstaine an refrain for the Kingdom of Heauens sake to the end they may more freely serue God and haue more care of the things that belong to the Lord. This is that wee say Continencie to him that hath that gift is more commodious for the seruice of God then marriage But hee that hath not that gift will serue God better being married then being vnmarried and burning But we will speake more largely of this matter hereafter IX Such hath been the exposition of this place vntil now all hauing vnderstood it as if Iesus Christ spake there of Eunuches that should make themselues Eunuches for the kingdome of heauens sake in the Church of Christ But I intreâ—â— the Reader to consider two things first that Christ speakes of that which is past not of that which is to come of that which happened among the Iewes not of that which should happen among Christians for he saith There be Eunuches 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which haue made themselues Eunuches for the kingdome of heauens sake and saith not that shall make themselues Eunuches Secondly that Saint Paul saith euidently n 1. Cor. 7.25 Concerning virgines I haue no commandement of the Lord. With what truth If God hath spoken thereof in Isaiah and the Lord Iesus in Saint Matthew It is will they say a Counsell but euery Counsell of God is a Commandement and if God had giuen this Counsell the Apostle would haue said I haue no Commandement but I haue a Counsell of the Lord according vnto that which he protests elsewhere saying o Act. 20.27 I haue not shanned to declare vnto you all the Counsell of God Now he saith manifestly p Ephiphan baeres 16. Quidam eorum cumse exercebant praescribebant sibi decennium aut octennium aut quadriennium virginitatis continentiae that it is his aduice an iudgement whereof the Lord had imparted nothing vnto men before him Wherefore it seemeth that these words concerning Eunuches containe neither a precept nor a Counsell of the Lord but that the Lord rehearseth there simply that which certaine Iewes did then and had done since the corruption of the state and of the religion among them For wee reade that the Pharisees which had introduced many superstitions in the Church and particularly the doctrine of merit when they did exercise themselues they prescribed vnto themselues tenne or eight or foure yeares of virginitie and continencie And then q Idom heres 15 they did carrie their phylacteries that is to say the fringes and borders of purple vpon their garments to the ende that they which saw them should take heede to touch them as being for the time sanctified and separated from the world and that did they imitating therein the Essenes r Ioseph de belle Iud. lib. 2. c. 7. that despised marriage The one and the other for the Kingdome of heauens sake that is to say thinking to merit by it eternall life whom our Lord reproues of rashnesse in that they sought the Kingdome of God by continencie which surpasseth the strength of man and is a gift of God which is giuen but to few All men saith Christ cannot receiue this saying saue they to whom it is giuen He that is able to receiue it let him receiue it That is to say No man can comprehend that which those men striue to doe saue they to whom it is giuen of God as when he saith t Mat. 13.9 Who hath eares to heare let him heare Which is as if hee should haue said No man hath eares to heare and vnderstand the holy mysteries saue he to whom it is giuen for so hee expounds it in the eleuenth verse It is giuen vnto you to know the mysteries of the kingdome of heauen but to them it is not giuen X. Let vs now retort the Argument against our aduersaries They tell vs that he which shall keepe the Counsels shall haue a greater glory and doe proue it by this Text. Let vs grant vnto them this for
certaine Scribe came and said vnto him Master I will follow thee whither soeuer thou goest and he refused him Hee that had been possessed with the Diuell and was deliuered by Christ i Mark 5.18.19 prayed him that hee might be with him but Iesus suffered him not But most commonly to follow Christ is to deny himselfe to take vp the crosse of Christ to rest in him with a true and liuely faith and depend on him in life and death This following is common to all commanded to all men k Mat. 16.24 Whosoeuer saith hee will come after mee let him deny himselfe and take vp his crosse and follow me The Lord would haue this young man to follow him specially in this manner and therefore wee haue said that these words were a commandement of faith for it is with the feete of faith that wee follow the Lord goe to the Lord and obey the Lord. There being therefore no other following of Christ then that which was corporall and of few persons which hath ceased and that which is spirituall common to all the faithfull which is perpetuall there is nothing in this text for the Monkes and Friers For to follow Christ is not to frame and apply himselfe vnto the iudgement and will of another as Bellarmine falsely saith but to frame himselfe vnto the will of Christ alone l Mat. 23.10 who is our only Doctor and teacher whom we must heare and our only patterne whom wee must imitate and our Lord whom wee must obey There is no more due vnto the others how holy soeuer they haue been then to S. Paul that saith m 1. Cor. 11.1 Be ye followers of me euen as I also am of Christ XV. The promise annexed to this commandement is And thou shalt haue treasure in heauen whence Bellarmine inferres that to giue all deserueth a singular and speciall reward This man turnes all the promises that God makes to them which obey him into salaries and wages due and iustly giuen to the merits of men as if the creature could merit of his Creator man which is but a little worme could make God beholding to him and could purchase to himselfe for a little money that glorie which eye hath not seene nor eare heard neither hath entred into the thought of man How much better n Ferus in Mat. c. 19. Ferus expounding this promise Admirable saith he is the goodnesse of God he might exact without any remuneration and damne the disobedient but behold he allures by promises and makes himselfe a debtor he who is debtor to none but vnto whom all creatures are indebted what other thing then can I say then that which Dauid saith o Psal 106.1 Praise yee the Lord O giue thankes vnto the Lord for he is good for his mercie â—ndureth for euer let Israel say he is good God then promiseth vnto men eternall life to draw them to their dutie and hee doth that as a Father whereas hee might compell them as a Iudge He promiseth them that which he owes them not to the end they giue and render that which they owe he giues them that which he promised them not for their merit but for his mercie sake He giues them I say a treasure in heauen this treasure is nothing else but eternall life which onely the rich man asked for which only the Lord promised and was it not enough and more then enough an exchange without proportion of earth for heauen of a treasure of durt and mud for a treasure of an vnspeakable price of the vanitie of riches for the eternall weight of a glorie exceedingly excellent This treasure signifies no other thing in the holy Scripture I will say vnto him that beleeueth otherwise and that seeketh eternall life in his oyle in his gold in his siluer and other corruptible things as S. Peter said vnto Simon Magus p Acts 8.20 Thy money perish with thee because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money XVI The rich man hearing that Christs words did import a condition without the which he could not obtaine life euerlasting discouers his hypocrisie and shewing that his money was dearer and more precious to him then his God and the treasure he possessed here on earth was better to him and more esteemed then that which was promised him in heauen goes away sorrowfull and giues Christ occasion to pronounces dreadfull sentence against him and against all rich men that set their hearts on riches and put their trust and confidence in them that they shall neuer enter into the kingdome of heauen q Mat. 19.27.28 Then answered Peter and said vnto him Behold wee haue forsaken all and followed thee what shall we haue therefore And Iesus said vnto them Verily I say vnto you that yee which haue followed me in the regeneration when the Sonne of man shall sit in the throne of his glorie ye shall also sit vpon twelue thrones iudging the twelue tribes of Israel r Bellar. de monach c. 9. §. 32. This is as much saith Bellarmine as if Peter had said Behold wee haue done that which this young man will not doe what wilt thou giue vs therefore Whereunto our Sauiour said not I will giue you nothing for I spake but to this young man and that not in earnest but only that he might not know that he lied He answered not so but said Verily I say vnto you c. This glosse spoiles the text and is contrarie to the truth For the Apostles sold not all they had and gaue not all to the poore for although they had left their ordinary vocation whereby they might haue got their liuing and had left the care of their domesticall businesse to follow Christs calling they renounced not for all that the possession the right and prerogatiue nor left the vse thereof when they were in those places The historie sheweth plainly that after Å¿ Mat. 9.10 Luk. 5.29 Matthew had followed Christ he made him a great feast in his owne house Yea Peter that said these things had yet his house as it is written t Mat. 8.14 When Iesus was come into Peters house he saw his wiues mother laid and sicke of a feuer Christ telling his disciples what should befall them at his death saith he not u Iohn 16.32 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in propria The houre commeth yea is now come that ye shall be all scattered euery man to his owne And being vpon the Crosse said vnto Iohn touching the Virgin x Iohn 19.27 Behold thy mother is it not said that from that hower that Disciple tooke her 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vnto his owne home They had therefore yet their houses and therfore Bellarmine imputes vnto them a lie in making them say Behold we haue done that which this young man will not doe For they had not sold all nor giuen all but it appeares by the last Chapter
esse in fide In mulieribus errorem significauit Saint Ambrose expounding the words of the Apostle to the Corinthians that were married I am iealous ouer you with godly iealousie for I haue espoused you to one husband that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ He writes that the Apostle requires that they be virgines in the faith He alleageth to this purpose these words of Saint Iohn and saith He signified the error in women because that error began by a woman as also he names the woman Iezabel because of Achabs wife who by a zeale shee bare towards Baal killed the Prophets of God vnderstanding the idolatrie whereby the manners and the truth of faith are corrupted and tainted Excludis ab hac gloria sanctos quia omnes Apostoli exceptis Ioâ—â—ne Paulâ— â—xoâ—es habuerunt For if you vnderstand by the women light women indeede and thinkest that they are called virgines because they haue kept their bodies vntoucht thou excludest the Saints from this glory because all the Apostles except Iohn and Paul haue had wiues and see if it be fâ—â—â—t to accuse the Apostle Saint Peter who is the first among the Apostles how much more among the rest Let vs heare Saint Austin or whosoeuer is Author of the Homilies vpon the Reuelation g Jn Apocal. homil 11. Virgines hoc lâ—co non solum corpore castos intelligimus sed maximè omnem ecclesiam quae fidem puram tenet nulla adulterina haereticorum mixtione pollutam c. We vnderstand saith he by virgins not onely those that are chaste of body but principally the whole Church that holds a pure faith As the Apostle saith I haue espoused you to one husband that I may present you as a chaste virgine to Christ not polluted and defiled by the adulterous companie of heretickes nor tied by a wretched perseuerance to her liues ende vnto the dangerous alluring and deadly pleasures of this world without the remedie of repentance They are then virgins not corporall but spirituall not that haue kept their bodie from the lawfull touching of women but that haue preserued their soules from the vnlawfull touching of heresies compared to whores in the Scripture which being stored with cunning pranckes assurements and flatterings and which a thousand inticements doe make the ill aduised to swarue from their right way So the Antichristian heresie is called h Reuel 17.1.2 the great whore with whom the Kings of the earth haue committed fornication According to that which Moses and the Prophets say so often of the Idolaters that goe a whoring after the false gods l Origen in Leuit hom 12. Simplicitas fideâ— virginitas appellata est c. And contrariwise Origen saith that the simplicitie of faith is called virginitie c. and that the soule by the singlenesse of faith and puritie of hir actions is held to be a virgin We oppose therefore these Fathers to the others and doe affirme that these hundred and fortie and foure thousand are either the elect among the Iewes or all the elect of the Iewes and of the Gentiles few in number in comparison of the reprobates which haue not defiled themselues by whoredome with dumbe idols but haue followed in all their actions the conduct and leading of the Lambe of God adhering vnto him by faith as now they walke with him by sight enioying continually his glorious presence according as he had redeemed them by his blood and sanctified and separated them from the rest of the world for this ende as the first fruites were separated from the whole heape that remained common The spouse speakes of these virgins when she saith vnto her Spouse k Cant. 1.3 Because of the sauour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment powred forth therefore doe the virgins loue thee Virgins surely not by vow of virginite and chastitie whereof there was no mention in Salomons time the parents thinking in that time that they did iniurie and wrong to their Virgins to their Families to their Tribe if they gaue not their daughters in marriage but virgins by spirituall chastitie and puritie as it hath been said CHAP. XX. I. The tenth obiection taken from examples II. The first example of the vestall virgins III. Impertinent and nothing to the purpose IIII. Saint Ambrose iudgement touching marriage V. And touching the vestall virgines VI. The second example of Iesus Christ who was neuer married VII Why Christ abstained from carnall matrimonie VIII Virginitie makes not virgines like vnto Christ IX The third example of the foure virgins daughters to Philip the Euangelist X. This example is false and impertinent XI The fourth example of virgines in Iustines and Cyprians time XII As much impertinent as the rest THere is no good worke in all the Scripture The tenth obiection but hath a commandement to doe it a promise to them that doe it and examples of Saints which haue done it Vowes are good workes say our aduersaries and Bellarmine and the Author of the Pastorall Letter haue laboured much to authorize them both by the Counsels of Christ as also by large promises made vnto the obseruers thereof But they haue turmoiled themselues in vaine and haue alleaged nothing that serues to their purpose They haue seene vanity and haue written lies Let vs see if they speake better to the purpose in the allegation of the examples of Saints that haue kept their Counsels II. The first example is that of the Vestall virgins or Nunnes of the Heathenish Romans Pag. 34. For so reade we in the Pastorall Letter The onely light of nature had taught the Heathens the price and value of this vertue and although few followed it yet all bad it in admiration witnesse Augustus the Emperour who gaue great rewards and prizes to virginitie Tit. Liui. 1. decad lib. 5. And Albinus seeing the Vestall virgins goe afoote commanded his wife and children to come downe from their chariot and made the virgins get vp in their place To this purpose the Author alleageth a long sentence of Saint Ambrose taking an argument from the honour that men gaue in time past vnto the Vestall virgins to the honour due to Christian virgins III. And in all that how many faults To say that the Heathen haue acknowledged by the light of Nature that virginitie was a vertue of great price and therewith to cal it an Euangelicall Counsell For if it be of the Gospell it is vnknowne by Nature the Gospell a Ephes 3.4.5 Rom. 16.25.26 being a mysterie which in other places was not made knowne vnto the sonnes of men as it is now reuealed vnto his holy Apostles and Prophets by the Spirit Flesh and bloud reuealeth nothing of the things of the Gospell how then could the Heathens that were nought but flesh bloud haue knowne the value of this virginitie the price and merit thereof the Aureolas that are reserued to it in heauen in illa parte