the Unity of Substance They decreed That thenceforth the controversie should not once be remembred That the Church of God should no longer be troubled with the Interpretation thereof and that for two causes First Because the Scriptures of The Causes thereof God made no mention thereof Next Because the Interpretation thereof exceeded the sence and capacity of man for the Holy Scriptures testifie that no man was able to set forth the Generation of the Son in these words His Generation who shall be able to declare Isa 53. Much more is rehearsed as the Ground or Reason of their leaving Observations thereupon out that clause of one Substance about which such tumults and divisions had been raised so much blood spilt and torments exercised even Christian by Christian and other grievous sufferings already rehearsed which having wearied themselves with whether it were this or that in signification they will have it left out and no more remembred judging themselves as having erred from Scripture in the thing which had no such word and in medling with that or to give account of that which none can declare and so as intruding into things that are not revealed So the righteous Judgment of God comes at length to be made manifest after man having tired himself in his way of blood and mischief coming to be weary sees it time to give over and so judgeth and condemns himself wherein he had judged and destroyed another Photinus is put to dispute his Opinion the Bishops are present Photiâ—â—s put to dispute his Opinion Bisilius undertakes him He is foiled And banished by the command of the Emperor and at his request of Senators not a few Basilius undertakes him and gives him the foil so Photinus is banished This form of Faith was wrote in the Latin Tongue which afterwards The new Creed dislike because wrote in the Latin Tongue The Papers called in by threats misliking they called in the Papers and when they could not get them all in the Emperor by his Edicts threatned with punishments those who did it not but it could not avail Prevâ—il not Yet Osius Bishop of Corduba in Spain who was present at this Cap. 22. Osius Bishop of Corduba in Spain called from exile to this Council scourged for not consenting and wrack't till he did Council and summoned thither by the Emperor though an exile by reason of those called Arrians not consenting unto this Creed or the form of Faith agreed on at this Council had his sides scourged and his members put upon the Wrack and so constrained to consent thereunto which was thought to be the doings of the Emperor who caused him to be cited there and The causes wherefore force a perswasive Argument being there would have him subscribe it that the Acts of that Council might have the more force and credit A perswasive Arguments Magnentius having in the mean time taken Rome and put to Cap. â—7 Magnentius takes Rome puts many Senators to death and other people Is overthrown and runs away slayes his Mother his Brother made Cesar and himself Decennius another Brother hangs himself death many of the Senators and abundance of the common people Constantius abiding still at Sirmium sends a great power against him who at length overthrew him he was so close beset that he ran away alone to Lyons for the Engagement was in France where first of all he slew his Mother next his Brother whom he had created Caesar then he murdered himself not long after which Decennius another Brother of Magnentius hanged himself yet the Common Wealth was not in quiet but another Tyrant steps up to give him trouble that troubled the Earth because of the Conscience of men unto God Sylvanus by name who gave Silvanus another Tyrant arises in France He is soon disparch't The Jews in Diocesarea rise against the Romans Gallus overthrows them Levels the City with the ground Plots against Constantius He takes his head off and makes Julianus his Brother Cesar in his place He is sent into France Constantius falls to persecuting his troubles being fallen Summons a Council into Italy being removed to Rome Julius Bishop of Rome dies Liberius succeeds Cap. 28. Aetius and his Heresie comes forth The Reasons why he severed from Aâ—ius though an Arian His Heresie disquiet in France but he was soon dispatch't out of the way Then the Jews made a stir in the East those inhabiting Dtocaesarea in Palestina took Arms against the Romans and invaided the Neighbouring Regions whom Gallus discomfited and laid the City even with the ground Gallus also swelled in his mind against Constantius and plotted against him whose head Constantius caused to be taken off his shoulders and made Julianus the Brother of Gallus Caesar in his room whom he sent into France against as the Historian calls them the Barbarians Constantius being rid of these present mischiefs or troubles turns himself against the Church of God removing from Sirmium to Rome he calls a Council and requires several Bishops from the East to repair to Italy during which time Julius aforesaid died and Liberius came in his room About this time Aetius came forth who though he was counted an Arrian yet he severed himself from Arius because they admitted Arius into Communion who had so dissembled with the Emperor in signing and swearing the Nicene Creed as aforesaid The History saith He could not understand that there was an unbegotten birth or bow to imagine that the begotten could be eternal with the begetter Whereupon he was called the Atheist He is called the Atheist his followers Eunomians Observations upon the several Heresies of Aetius Arius and what they speak and those that went after him were afterwards called Eunomians So here are three things in which the Christians came principally to be divided The first The Faith so tearmed of one Substance Next The Opinion of Arius Then this of Aetius The first as I have said thinks of God according to a Natural Generation The second Judges that such a Natural Generation is not God The third That there is no God For if that were not the Son of God which Mary being overshadowed of the holy Ghost bore according to an eternal Generation then there is no God For of the Son he saith Thy Throne O God endures for ever the Scepter of thy Kingdom is a Scepter of Righteousness c. Heb. 18. But no God he is if that Holy Thing that was born of Mary was not God and if that Holy Thing that was born of Mary was not God then there is no God For the Lord said unto my Lord Sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool saith David Psalm 110. 1. And there be that are called gods whether in Heaven or in Earth as there be gods many and lords many but unto us there is but one God of whom are all things and we in him and one Lord
Scripture before the Church and acknowledges none but the Scripture the sole Interpreter of its self to the Conscience For if the Church be not sufficient to be implicitely believed as we hold it is not what can there else be named of more Authority than the Church but the Conscience than which God only is greater 1 John 3. 20. But if any man shall pretend saith he that the Scripture judges to his Conscience for other men he makes himself greater not only than the Church but also than the Scripture than the Consciences of other men A presumption saith he too high for any mortal since every true Christian is able to give a reason of his Faith hath the Word of God before him the promised Holy Spirit and the mind of Christ within him 1 Cor. 2. 16. A much better and safer guide of Conscience saith he which as far as concerns himself he may far more certainly know then any outward rule inposed on him by others whom he inwardly either knows not nor can know at least knows nothing of them more sure than this one thing That they cannot be his Judges in Religion 1 Cor. 2. 15. The Spiritual man judges all things but he himself is judged of no man chiefly for this cause do all true Protestants account the Pope Antichrist for that he assumes to himself this infallibility over both the Conscience and the Scripture sitting in the Temple of God as it were opposite to God and exalting himself over all that is called God or is worshipped 2 Thes 2. 4. That is to say not onely above all Judges and Magistrates who though they be called Godds are far beneath infallible but also above God himself by giving Law both to the Scripture to the Conscience and to the Spirit it self of God within us when as we find James 4. 12. There is one Law-giver who is able to save and to destroy who art thou that judgest another That Christ is the only Law-giver of his Church and that it is here meant in Religious matters no well-grounded Christian will deny Thus also St. Paul Rom. 14. 4. Who art thou that judgest the Servant of another to his own Lord he standeth or falleth but he shall stand for God is able to make him stand As therefore of one beyond expression bold and presumptuous both these Apostles demand Who art thou that presumest to impose other Law or Judgment in Religion than the only Law-giver and Judge Jesus Christ who can only save and can destroy gives to the Conscience And the forecited place to the Thessalonians by compared effects resolves us That be he or they who or where-ever they be or can be they are of far less Authority than the Church whom in these things as Protestants they receive not and yet no less Antichrist in this main point of Antichristianism no less Pope or Popedom than he at Rome if not much more by setting up Supream Interpreters of Scripture either those Doctors whom they follow or which is far worse themselves as a Civil Papacy assuming unaccountable Supremacy to themselves not in Civil only but Ecclesiastical Causes Seeing then that in matters of Religion as hath been proved none can judge or determine here on earth no not Church-Governors themselves against the Consciences of other Believers my inference is or rather not mine but our Saviour's own that in those cases they neither can command nor use restraint lest they run rashly on a pernitious consequence forwarned in that Parable Mat. 13. 26 to 31. Lest while ye gather up the Tares ye root up also the Wheat with them let both grow together until the Harvest and in the time of Harvest I will say to the Reapers Gather ye together Page 13. first the Tares c. Whereby he declares that this work neither his own Ministers nor any else can discerningly enough or judgingly perform without his own immediate direction in his own fit season and they ought till then not to attempt it which is further confirmed 2 Cor. 1. 14. Not that we have dominion over your Faith but are helpers of your joy If the Apostles had no dominion or constraining power over Faith or Conscience much less have ordinary Ministers 1 Pet. 5. 2 3. Feeding the Flock of God not by constraint c. neither as being Lords over Gods Heritage Much more I might have produced as to this Author even the whole Discourse wherein he fully convinces what in his Title page he asserts to wit That it is not lawful for any power on earth to compel in matters of Religion He is one who pretends to the Church of Christ but not by compulsion to Church-ship or matters of Religion as this his Treatise shews him Concerning God Doctor Ingelo produces Plotin as expressing him Doctor Ingelo See Tabu Bentivo Vâ—an under the respective Heads of this and that which follows to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Root of the Soul And Pithagoras 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Fountain of everlasting Nature Concerning a mans knowing of himself he saith He hath called the Governor of Tapinophorosine or Humility because the knowledge of ones self is the natural root of Humility Now what gives the knowledge of a mans self but that which searcheth the Heart And what is the natural root of Humility but the Fountain of everlasting Nature from which humility springs of whose fulness we have all received grace for grace saith the Apostle in whom the fulness of the God-head dwells bodily who saith Learn of me for I am lowly and meek And behold the King cometh meek riding on an Ass the Foal of an Ass who is the high and lofty One who inhabiteth Isa 57. 1â— Eternity whose Name is Holy who dwelleth in the high and holy Heavens in him also that is of an humble and contrite Spirit to revive the heart of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones whose Nature is Everlasting and who is the Spring thereof but he who is without beginning of dayes or end of life who is a Priest for ever after the Order of Melchisedeck as aforesaid from whom every thing that is like him springs Concerning Conscience he saith It is a natural Principle and what that Nature is I have already shewed not to be eradicated by any Act of man so it is Eternal for what man cannot eradicate is not of man a severe reprover and sharp Corrector of those bold sinners who offer violence to it by the Doctors leave if I may so say after the usual manner amongst men that which witnesseth in the Conscience is that which here is put under the notion of Conscience for there be whose very Consciences are defiled who have made shipwrack of Faith and a good Conscience whose Conscience is seared with a hot Iron and so whilst such it answereth not or not aright But that which witnesseth in Conscience which is the severe Reprover the sharp Corrector
the World and the Prince of it hath sought to pull down but hath not been able Naked Truth which is greater than all by its own force and virtue which is spiritual hath overcome and given all to do the same who have been led and guided by it that which subdues the spirits of men that which chains that binds the strong man armed and makes the Devils subject can certainly prevail to keep all that are guided by it in whom it lives and by whom they are preserved and kept The Lord the everlasting God neither fainteth nor is weary there is no searching out of his understanding The Power of God Christ Jesus by whom all things were made and preserved without which said he to Pilate nothing could be done unto him without doubt is able and will as he sees its most advantage to his Truth and the glory of his Name keep those in whom it lives who know the Rock that is higher than they the strong Tower the Name of the Lord to which the Righteous fly and are saved This may suffice to answer the Objection which happily may arise in some in point of safety should that be insisted on which looks to outward Arms the Truth had never been at this day had not the virtue and power thereof preserved and kept it self and all who have kept to it Wars and the Sword were not in the beginning in the beginning it was not so man was made in that or by it which made the Creation there was no variance Adam gave names to all the Creation the Creatures came to Noah by an instinct not humane to be preserved in the Ark. The first use of Arms was found in Cain who killed his Brother because of Religion the enmity entered with transgression the strange Nature which knew not that in which all things were made which sought the destruction of that which was made that which is come to redeem from transgression redeems from the consequence or that which followed by reason of transgression as well as transgression removes the enmity casts it out which having entered into the Creation seeks to destroy it which is the Devil and brings where man was in the beginning where one Spirit that by which all things were made which is tender to that it hath made which is the Harmony or Union where no Jar is lives and rules and hitherto things must all come again And as that in and by which all things were made comes to live as it comes to live works to this out of the contrary and that which will be in the end must be in the beginning and a beginning it must have and some must begin it and who should or can do this but those in whom this is so come to live that in the particular hath so far overcome that this it can do which is to be an example or a leader to the rest till iniquity being overcome and that which destroyes the Creation being cast out the Earth enjoy her Sabbaths again and the oppressor ceaseth out of the Land Happy is that people who are in such a case saith the Psalmist Psal 144. 15. in a thing of another nature Yea happy are the people whose God is the Lord. He gave his back to the smiter and his cheeks to them that plucketh off the hair and hid not his face from shame and spitting Isa 50. 6. The same is now where and as he is witnessed and his Dominion is an everlasting dominion and his Kingdom that which shall not pass away All that were led by his Spirit in all Generations pertook of his mind in this and thereby overcame the Lord sustained them so that they fainted not That which fights with the Sword must subdue the Spirit or it cannot overcome the body in which the Spirit is if the Spirit be overcome without the Sword bound or chained up is it not the same yea is it not better and there is a way to this and the man sees and hath proved it so who knows the Wisdom and the Power of God So let all men be satisfied in this thing the Doctrine that I preach is not new it was in the beginning and is in measure in some again and will be in the end The Prophets have prophesied so the Lord of Life in his humiliation witnessed it to be so so did the Prophets and Apostles so have all his Witnesses to this day and so now it is witnessed and will be till all hath an end and till time is no more The Witnesses of Jesus though men of War otherwise laid down to this The Roman Captains and Souldiers when it came to this laid down their Sword-Girdles as aforesaid and imbraced death as Christians I am a Christian and so suffered so have the Christians in succeeding Ages Why should I fill the World with reports of what Histories have said of this matter any further The ground hath been shewn wherein War stands and the reason and ground of the alteration and wherein that stands which gives it I hope no considerate man by this time will look strange upon this Position but having duly weighed things will see the rise of the one and of the other Arms and that which subdues them and so will be more gentled at least to the contrary Principle if not convinced of it which they may be in due season for which cause this is written at least that the ground on which we stand as to these things may be understood or that we may give a reason thereof to this and Generations to come and not appear as Monsters which the opposites to us would make in this thing who are no otherwise therein then on the ground aforesaid which he that thinks he can overthrow let him manifest himself therein So far at this time is it with me to write of this thing and so I shall proceed THE Fourth General Head Concerning the Changeable Priesthood The fourth and last Head is the Changeable Priesthood the Rise and Original of that and of the contrary to which I shall speak and then I shall end as to these Heads or Particulars THE Changeable Pristhood had its Date with the Nation of the Jews it was Figurative and ended in him who changed the Priesthood who is a Priest for ever after the Order of Melchisedeck without beginning of dayes or end of life whom the Changeable Priesthood signified For Christ is not entred into the Holy Places made with hands which are the figures of the True but into Heaven it self now to appear in the presence of God for us Nor yet that he should offer up himself often as the high Priest entred into the holy Place every year with blood of others for then must be often have suffered since the foundation of the World but now once in the end of the World hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself And as it is appointed for men once to die but