a blinde and dumbe devill By convincing the scribes and pharisees of the irremissible sin By promising the signe of the prophet Jonas By teaching the people in parables By sending forth his Apostles two and two By feeding five thousand men with five loaves and two fishes By walking upon the sea to his disciples By reproving the traditions of the pharisees By healing the daughter of the Canaanitish woman By healing him that was deaf and had an impediment in his speech By feeding foure thousand with seven loaves and a few little fishes By reproving the pharisees and sadduces By reprehending his disciples By healing the blinde man It became him who humbled himselfe and was made man for the redemption of all mankinde to do all these things And thus following herein my learned author late right Reverend Diocesan in his learned Theanthropicon our sacred history doth put an end to the third year after his Baptism which was the two and thirtieth year of his age The first occurrence of the next year is that Jesus with his disciples came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi not into Caesarea Philippi it selfe S. Mar. 8.27 S. Luc. 9.18 S. Mat. 16 13 Christ interrogateth his disciples but into the townes of Cesarea Philippi as St. Mark saith and in the way having prayed alone he asked his disciples saying Whom do men say that I the son of man am This question was propounded to them by the way as they went not out of ignorance as if he had not known what it was that the people said of him nor out of curiosity as if he were delighted to hear the rumours of the vulgar concerning himselfe but docendi gratiâ because he meant to teach and instruct them more perfectly He did not aske whom the Pharisees and Scribes did say him to be that was publickly and notoriously known for in the blindeness of their own minds and in the hardness of their hearts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith Saint Epiphanius They knew not his Godhead and they supposed that he was no other but a meer man Lib. Anchor cap. 27. They knew nothing of his wonderfull conception which was by the holy Ghost nor of his wonderfull birth which was of a pure virgin nor of his speciall priviledge which was that he was without all sin nor of the hypostaticall union whereby the word was made flesh not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh but by taking of the manhood into God They did therefore notoriously defame him S. Joh 8.44 S. Joh. 10.20 said that he was a Samaritan and that he had a devill That he had a devill and was mad And because he came eating and drinking S. Mat. 11.19 they said Behold a man gluttonous and a wine-bibber a friend to publicans and sinners They undervalued all his miracles and look what they saw and knew to be done by the divine power and vertue of the holy Ghost they affirmed of the devill S. Mar. 3.22 saying He hath Beelzebub and by the prince of devills casteth he out devills Therefore he did not ask what they said him to be but whom do men the people the vulgar say that I the Son of man am The opinion of the people concerning Christ They told him according to the common opinion of the people of the Jewes in those dayes whereby it was believed that the souls of the defunct according to the merits of each person did commigrate into other bodies that some said that he was Saint John the Baptist some Elias others Jeremias or one of the prophets that is to say of the old Prophets and that he was such by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for that the soul of Saint John the Baptist Elias or Jeremias or of one of the Prophets was transmigrated into him and that this was the vulgar errour concerning him Whereupon he demanded of them saying But whom say ye that I am Simon Peter the mouth of the Apostles replyeth both for himselfe and for all the rest Thou art Christ Saint Peters confession the son of the living God He pronounceth him blessed for his faiths-sake whereby he so believed affirming that this his answer was by divine revelation For flesh and blood saith he hath not revealed it unto thee but my Father which is in heaven And then admonisheth him of the retribution for his confession sake Thou art Peter and upon this rock will I build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it Promising also unto him the keyes of the kingdome of heaven to the end that whatsoever he should binde on earth should be bound in heaven and whatsoever he should loose upon earth should be loosed in heaven His prerogative 1st He confers upon him this prerogative That he is Peter that is to say a stone for the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the greek signifieth a stone And it was his prerogative that he was made a stone not by conversion of his nature into stone but by the gift of grace by his faith by his function For in this was Christ as good as his word and performeth that promise which he made when first he was presented to him by his brother Saint Andrew Thou art Simon the son of Jona S. Joh. 1.42 thou shalt be called Cephas which is by interpretation a stone And he did reserve the confirmation of his promise till Saint Peter had made this good confession The Church of God which is the whole number of those whom God hath elected to eternall life The Church compared to a materiall temple S. Mat. 21.13 1 Pet. 5.2 is often in the Scriptures resembled to a materiall temple and in particular to the temple of Hierusalem So that like as that temple was called an house the house of prayer in like manner is this called an house a spirituall house for distinction sake The materiall house was built of stones laid one upon another the spirituall house is likewise said to be builded but the edification is not of naturall and inanimate 1 Cor. 12.26 1 Pet. 2.5 but of spirituall and living stones The naturall stones of the materiall temple were joyned and cimented one unto another that so the building might rise to perfection Eph. 2.21 and the spirituall stones are in like manner fitly framed together that the building might grow unto an holy temple of the Lord. The materiall temple had a strong foundation that foundation was a rock upon which were superstructed great and mighty stones to support the whole fabrick which stones might not improperly be called the foundation and were indeed a second foundation most necessary for so great a structure which afterwards was raised with costly and curious stones such as Solomon made ready 1 King 6.7 and brought thither or such as those stones which the disciples did marvell at in the temple S. Mar. 13.1 S. Mat. 24.1 saying Master see wha◠manner of stones
he calleth hell because it warreth all for hell and the devill is the prince of it Eph. 6.11 2 Cor. 10.4 The gates of hell therefore do signifie those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 those fortresses munitions and strong holds which the powers of hell do hold against the Church and from whence they assault it in all her members by force or fraud All which is meant by gates because the gates of castles and of strong holds are wont to have the best munition and to be most strongly fenced So that the gates of hell are not only heresies although heresies are of them as Saint Epiphanius lib. Anchor and Saint Augustine De symb ad Catechum do note but also persecutions in name in goods in liberty or in life and specially sins with all manner of evills which seek to subdue us to everlasting death As is well observed by Origen Saint Chrysostome Saint Gregory and others The gates of hell therefore may assault but they shall not prevail against the Church catholick utterly to extinguish it nor against any sound member of the same who is an homogeniall part of the whole rightly built and abiding upon the rock Psal 139.1 2 3 4. Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth may Israel now say Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth yet they have not prevailed against me The plowers plowed upon my back they made long furrowes The Lord is righteous he hath cut assunder the cords of the wicked And this is the first part of that retribution which the Apostle Saint Peter received from his Lord S. Mat. 16.18 upon his good confession Thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it A second part of his retribution was in expectance and to be made good in the future The keyes of the kingdom of heaven promised and given that was the keyes of the kingdome of heaven then to be given when he shall be risen from the dead and shall have fully accomplished the work of mans redemption Saint Peter for the present was not in capacity and Christ himselfe was not yet fully manifested to be the Saviour and redeemer of all mankinde That promise therefore must be performed in its season after his resurrection and he performes it the same day The same day at evening being the first day of the week when the doors were shut S. Joh 20.19 where the Disciples were assembled for fear of the Jewes came Jesus and stood in the middest and saith unto them Peace be unto you And when he had so said he shewed unto them his hands and his side Then were the Disciples glad when they saw the Lord. 20 Then said Jesus unto them again Peace be unto you As my Father sent me even so send I you And when he had said this he breathed on them 21 22 and saith unto them Receive ye the holy Ghost Whosesoever sins ye remit they are remitted unto them and whosesoever sins ye retain they are retained 23. The power of Christ to give the keyes of the kingdome of heaven is three-fold 1. The power of the Creator By what power Christ gave the keyes S. Joh. 1.3 Eph. 1.7 All things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made Heaven it self was his creature how shall he not dispose the work of his own hands 2ly The power of the Redeemer in whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace Is he the redeemer of that Church of his part whereof singeth the songs of victory in heaven and is called the triumphant Church part whereof lyeth in the camp of warfare upon earth and is called the militant Church and must not then the keyes be his to open the doors of heaven by himself and by his ministers unto whom he shall commit them 3ly He is the head of his Church Eph. 5.23 as the husband is the wives head Is that head of his Church the Lord of heaven and hath he not the keyes to open the doors of heaven to that mysticall body whereof he is the head To that little flock of his who are members of his body of his flesh and of his bones 30 The keyes of the kingdom of heaven were his to give and he gave them according to his word and promise he did not delay to give them but being risen from the dead he gave them the same day The kingdom of heaven in the scriptures is compared to a city therefore called the holy Hierusalem Reu. 21.10 12 having a great and high wall and twelve gates Man was a citizen of that city till he sinned but by sinne he lost his freedom there in as much as there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth neither whatsoever worketh abomination or maketh a lye 27 For his sinne he was banished this city and the gates fast lockt and shut against him He was cast out of Paradise and God placed cherubims and a flaming sword which turned every way to keep the way of the tree of life Gen. 3.24 So that there was found no way to return back into the city or into Paradise from whence man was expulsed But God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Him therefore did God give to open the gates of heaven which were shut and lock't by sinne and by the guilt thereof to bring in man and to open them to the faithfull S. Joh. 3.10 and to shut them against the unbelievers What keyes Christ had and what keys he gave to the Apostles Rev. 3.7 S. Mar. 2.7 S. Joh. 1.29 Who because he is the great King of this city he is said to have the key of David and openeth and no man shutteth and shutteth and no man openeth By a two-fold possession he is Lord of the keyes For 1ly As he is one God with the Father he hath the same keyes which the Father hath even the key of authority to forgive sinnes Who can forgive sins but God onely 2ly As he is the Son of the Father made man and by the merit of his death and passion is that very lambe of God which taketh away the sin of the world he hath the key of excellency and by a speciall prerogative doth open and shut the gates of heaven Neither of these keyes gave Christ to his Apostles the keyes which they had by his Donation were ministeriall keyes to the end that not by themselves but by the power of God and by the virtue of Christ his passion they might open and shut the gates of heaven These keyes as St. Chrysostome saith are the knowledge of the scriptures according to Tertullian the interpretation of the law and as Eusebius saith the
flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee S. Mat. 16.17 but my Father which is in heaven And I say also unto thee that thou art Peter And upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevaile against it 18 And I will give unto thee the keyes of the kingdome of heaven and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven whatsoever thou shall loose on earth 19. shall be loosed in heaven No doubt but the Apostles did highly rejoyce and were exceedingly glad to receive such a promise frâ—m Christ and began also to think of the performance of it The keyes to be transfer'd from the legall to the Evangelical priesthood and when and when it should be that such keyes with such power should be confer'd upon them But they must not expect the accomplishment till after his resurrection for till then he might not by divine dispensation transfer the keys of the kingdom of heaven with that power of binding and loosing from the legall to the Evangelicall priesthood Therefore saith St. Matthew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 From that time forth when he had first straightly charged them that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ least his passion should be hindred for had they known him to have been Jesus Christ indeed they would not have crucified him he began to shew unto his Disciples how that he must go to Hierusalem and suffer many things of the Elders 1 Cor. 2.8 and chiefe priests and Scribes and be killed and be raised again the third day As if he should say He foretelleth his passion death and resurrection when I I have been at Hierusalem and when I have suffered and when I shall be risen again from the dead upon the third day then will I make good my promise by giving unto you the keys of the kâ—ngdom of heaven At this all the Apostles being over-charged with sorrow and because he spoke it openly so that the people also too notice of his words Saint Peter the mouth of the Apostles the second time came unto him privately and began to rebuke him saying Be it far from thee Lord this shall not be unto thee At this he is offended reproves him sharply calleth him Satan commands him to get behinde him for that by giving him such counsell he savoured not the things that be of God but those that be of men For what if the counsell that Saint Peter gave proceeded from that love and affection that he did bear unto his Lord who knew also that he did love him yet by giving him such counsell which was against the determinate counsell and fore-knowledge of God for the redemption of all mankinde by his death upon the crosse he was Satan and an adversary who must get behinde him viz. cease to withstand the will of God by carnall counsell From thence therefore he taketh occasion to admonish his disciples and the people how to follow him in persecutions and to bear his cross S. Mat. 16 24 25 26 27 28. S. Mar. 8.34 35 36 37 38. S. Luc. 9.23 24 25 26 27. valuing their precious souls above their temporall lives or the whole world telling them also that there were some standing amongst them who should not taste of death till they should see the son of man comming in his kingdomâ— intimating thereby that glimpse of his glory vvhich he would shew unto some of them by his transfiguration if not rather the destruction of Hierusalem which Saint John lived to see And after six daies saith Saint Matthew and with him Saint Mark but Saint Luke About an eight daies after these sayings S. Mat. 17.1 S. Mar. 9.1 S. Luc. 9.28 That is to say six compleat daies after he had so said not accounting the day that he spake nor the day that he ascended into the mount The transfiguration of Christ but only the six intervening daies Jesus taketh Peter James and John his brother and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart supposed to be the mount Thabor a mountain in Galilee of which something hath been said before where also it is thought as hath been before observed that he preached that famous Sermon unto his Apostles before the multitude repeated by the Evangelist Saint Matthew cap. 5.6.7 And was transfigured before them But why these three and none but these I can give no reason but the speciall favour and familiarity which they had with their Lord above the rest and why that he only knoweth But his speciall favourites he had in every degree He had many disciples multitudes of disciples but out of the whole number he made a more speciall choice of seventy that they might be more conversant with him than the rest S. Luc. 10.1 And them he sent two and two before his face into every city and place whither he himselfe would come There was a more speciall choice of twelve Apostles S. Mar. 3.14 that they should be with him and that he might send them forth to preach Of which twelve also he admitted three to a more intimate familiarity these were Saint Peter Saint James and Saint John his brother These only were permitted to be present when he went in S. Mar. 5.37 and raised up Jairus his daughter and these only he taketh with him into the mountain and was transfigured before them Not presently so soon as he had ascended but as he prayed or was praying He did not change the nature of his body but only the externall forme into a greater glory for his face did shine as the Sun and his raiment was white as the light white and glistering saith Saint Luke exceeding white as snow so as no fuller upon earth can white them saith Saint Mark. And so each Evangelist hath his owne expression It was for his disciples sake to whom he would shew a glimpse of his glory to the end that the humility of his passion might not offend them And it was for his servants Moses and Elias sake S. Mat. 17.4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13. S. Mar. 9.5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13. S. Luc. 9.32 33 34 35 36. whom he would entertain in robes of glory For Moses and Elias talked with him appearing in glory and speaking of his decease which he should accomplish at Hierusalem And so the other passages follow as they are set down by the Evangelists Of the motion made by Saint Peter as touching three tabernacles to be built there Of the Fathers testimony from heaven Of the disciples question concerning the comming of Elias and of Christ his answer thereunto And that first as he came down from the mountain he charged them to conceal the vision till after his resurrection which also they did questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean He abode with his three Apostles all night upon the mount and the next
word of God The matter of them is a double act Keyes of two sorts of knowledge and of execution from whence also the keyes are of two sorts the key of knowledge whereby the man of God doth judge rightly to whom the gates of heaven are to be opened and against whom they are to be shut like a wise door-keeper in the Lords temple well knowing whom to admit and whom to repell And the key of power whereby accordingly he putteth the matter in execution opening the doors of heaven to those that are worthy and shutting them against those that are unworthy This judgement of discerning the worthy from the unworthy had the Apostle Saint Peter Act. 8.23 for he perceived and affirmed Simon the Sorcerer to be in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity And therefore he did not open the gates of heaven unto him but shut him out Act. 10.48 How the keys are to be administred and bound him as an unclean thing But when Cornelius the Centurion had sent for him he found him worthy and therefore opened the gates of heaven unto him and baptized him The manner also how these keyes are to be administred is to be respected For the ministerial function is either common to the whole priesthood 1 Cor. 4.1 so far forth as all the priests are ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God And are by their function obliged to preach the word to administer the Sacraments of the Church 2 Tim. 4.2 to be instant in season out of season to reprove rebuke exhort with all long suffering and doctrine Or else it is peculiar to the Bishops and goverours of the Church who because they are ordained not only to administer in holy things but to bear rule in the Church of Christ S. Mat. 18.17 and to preside therefore the keyes are again to be distinguished For there is the key of Order which doth belong to the inward court of conscience and by the ministery of the Gospell doth immediately open and shut the gates of heaven and is the common key of every priest rightly and lawfully ordained to his office and function by imposition of sacred haâ—â—s of what degree or title soever he be by that authority which is delivered unto him to preach the Gospell and to administer the Sacraments And there is the key of jurisdiction whereby Ecclesiasticall censures as publick pennance for publick crimes admonitions suspensions excommunications and such like are enjoyned and inflicted which is not the common key of every priest but doth belong only to the Bishops and governours of the Church to whom it belongeth to bear rule and to preside as before is said Nor yet is this key adminâ—stred in the inner court of conscience but in the outward court of jurisdiction Neither doth it open and shut heaven gates immediately but before the militant Church And hence it is that the Apostle Saint Paul instructeth Timothy not only as a Priest how to administer his key of order in the inward court and to open and shut the gates of heaven immediately by administration of the Gospell but also as a Bishop how to administer his key of jurisdiction as a Bishop in the outward court and to open and shut heaven gates in the consistory and before the militant Church as is plainly to be seen 1 Tim. 5. But these keyes were not promised unto Saint Peter only and excusively as to the other Apostles but omnibus cum Petro quia Petrus pro omnibus loquutus est Apostolis To whom the keys were prom sed and given to all the rest with Saint Peter because that like as Christ demanded of them all saying Whom say ye that I am even so by the revelation of the father Saint Peter answered for them all saying Thou art Christ the son of the living God Like as he demanded so was he answered as he was answered so did he promise as he promised so did he perform for between these four things a question an answer a promise and the performance there is mutuall reference Christ demanded of them all saying Whom say ye that I am They all answered by the mouth of Saint Peter as a jurie of sworn men giving up their verdict by their foreman Thou art Christ the son of the liâ—ing God Like as the tongue speaketh on the behalf of all the body 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Even so was Saint Peter the tongue of the Apostles and he alone made the answer for them all Christ therefore maketh his promise to all by replying to St. Peter only because only St. Peter had spoken for them all and given up their answer And finally as the truth it self what he had promised to all he performed to all For he gave them all his peace He breathed on them all the Holy Ghost S. Joh. 20.19 20 21 22 23 S. Mat. 28.19 20. S. Mar. 16.15 He gave them all the same power of remitting and of retaining sins that is to say the power of the keyes promised before He sendeth them all forth with one and the same commission to preach and to baptize all the world over And this is the doctrine of the catholique Fathers and was of the Bishops of Rome themselves in purer times for said Leo The jurisdiction of this power passed over unto all the Apostles Ser. de Apost And when Christ saith he said unto Peter I will give unto thee the keyes of the kingdome of heaven the right of this power passed over unto others and that which is commended in express termes unto one is intimated unto all and Christ said it unto Peter singularly because the form of Peter is propâ—sed to all the governors of the Church And so Pope Anacletus also The rest of the Apostles saith he together with the like fellowship received both honour and power Ad Epis Ital. Ep. 2. Saint Cyprian The other Apostles were the same thing that Peter was endowed wiâ—h the like or equall fellowship pari consortio both of honour and power Lib. de unit eccles And finally among many other St. Augustine who speaking of the keyes and of the power of binding and loosing saith plainly thus Hoc Petrus pro omnibus tanquam personam unitatis accepit This hath Peter received for all as it were the person of unity Ser. 10. The use of the keyes super Johan The use of the keyes was from the beginning of the world And God himself did then first administer them by his own authority by making unto Adam the original promise It succeeded in all ages before the resurrection of Christ Gen. 3.15 in that ministery which God gave unto his Church But Christ would abolish the old Testament and legall worship therefore must he transfer the keyes to another priest-hood And this was it which he promised St. Peter to do and performed it after his resurrection as before is said Blessed art thou Simon Bar-Jona for
he went not up sooner because he would not comply with the ambition and boldnesse of his kinsmen who did not yet believe in him but having sent them up first himselfe came after S. Joh. cap. 7. from v. 1. to 14. as is set forth by Saint John in his seventh chapter At this feast he taught openly in the temple though they sought to kill him and converted many The pharisees and chiefe priests sent officers to apprehend him whom they reprehend and revile because they had not brought him and also quarel Nichodemus for taking his part in the council S. Joh. 7.50 51 52. The woman absolved that was taken in adultery At this feast also he absolved the woman taken in adultery preached himselfe the light of the world justified his doctrine exhorting the believers to perseverance confoundeth his adversaries proving them neither to be free nor of Abraham nor of God but of the devill proving himselfe to be God greater and ancienter then Abraham S. Joh. 8.58 59. Wherefore when they would have stoned him he passed through the midst of them and so went his way Being departed out of the temple as he passed by with strange ceremonies shewing thereby that by his Baptisme A man cured that was born blinde which is the sacrament of illuminaâ—ion or faith he openeth the eyes of tâ—ose that are spiritually blinde he cured a man that was borne blinde when he had spit upon the ground made clay annointed his eyes and sent him to wash in the pool of Siloam S. Joh. 9.6 7. By the miracle it selfe the attestation of the party and of his parents both the neighbours and the pharisees are plainly convinced But the pharisees condemn him because he had wrought the miracle upon the sabbath day and after much altercation with the poor man they cast him out of the synagogue Christ findeth him telleth him who he is the man believeth and worshippeth v. 39 40 41. he foretelleth the gentiles to be illuminated through faith in his name and the Jewes to be blinded through unbeliefe And so proceedeth as it is 〈◊〉 the next chapter to declare both his office and person in a parable wherein he compareth Gods chosen to sheep and himselfe to a shepheard Christ the good shepheard admonishing them of three sorts of men who medle with the sheep The first is the shepheard who hath right unto the sheep careth for them and defendeth them against the wolfe with the hazard of his owne life The second is the hireling who though he come into the sheep-fold by the dore as the shepheard doth yet when the wolfe commeth he leaveth the sheep and fleeth and then the wolfe catcheth and scattereth them The third are thieves and robbers who break into the sheep-fold and come to steal to kill and to destroy That he himselfe is the good shepheard who will lay downe his life for his sheep he will not lay it downe by constraint but voluntarily and at his owne pleasure will rise again That he will bring the gentiles also into his fold that so there may be one flock consisting both of Jewes and Gentiles under Him the good shepheard For which divine sayings of his a contention arose among the people S. Joh. 10.15 16 17 18 19 20 21. Parable of the labourers S. Mat. 20.10 11 12 13 14 15 16. Seventy disciples sent forth S. Luc. 10.8 9 10 11 12. some condemning some defending him During also the time of his abode there he proposed the parable of the labourers hired by the housholder to work in his vineyard for a penny a day shewing thereby that God is no mans debtor and to shew that the gentiles also who are called last shall be equall in reward with the Jewes who are his ancient people Likewise at that time he sent out his seventy disciples seventy two saith the vulgar latine and the Rhemists but the greek hath seventy to work miracles and to preach giving them ample instructions how to demean themselves as well towards those that should receive them as also towards those that would reject them These were Christs inferiour clergie for like as the Apostles were his higher clergie and did represent the superiour clergie who are the Bishops even so were the seventy disciples his inferiour clergie and did represent the inferiour clergy called Priests The one figured by the twelve wells of Elim the other by the threescore and ten palme trees there where the people of Israel in their peregrination a type of the Church militant encamped Exod. 15.27 but not without a further mystery He did then also state the question concerning the greatest commandement S. Mat. 20.36 37 38 39 40. Taught the lawyer how to attain eternall life and to take every one for his neighbour that needeth his mercy by the parable of that poor traveller that fell among the thieves S. Luc. 10.36 37. and the courteous Samaritan who shewed mercy on him With many other divine doctrins scatteringly set down by the blessed Evangelists who as they professed to writ either annals or diaries so was it sufficient for them to enform the Church concerning his doctrines and miracles as the holy Ghost gave them to write though they observe not the same order of time place or occasion in all things which they wrote And it was at Hierusalem the feast of the dedication and it was winter therefore he departed not out of Hierusalem till after that feast S Joh. 10.22 The feast of dedication 1 King 8.63 There were three solemn dedications of the temple the first was the dedication of Solomons temple in the month of September The second was the dedication of Zorobabels temple in the month of February 2 Chron. 7.10 Ezr. 6.15 16. 1. Mac. 4.56 57. The third was the dedication of the temple repurged and the Altar repaired by Judas Machabaeus after that it had been profaned by Antiochus in the month of November decreed to be solemnly kept from year to year by the space of eight daies It appears also by Josephus that there was a fourth dedication of the temple built and enlarged by Herod solemnly kept upon the day of his inauguration to the kingdome which Herod observed during his life S. Joh. 10.23 Solomons porch to conduplicate the publick joy upon that day Lib. 15. cap. 14. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomons porch Solomons porch is also called Atrium mundorum the Court of the clean because none might enter into it but they only that were clean according to the law neither might any heathen man be permitted to come in thither And I read that upon certain pillars of marble which stood before the entry thereinto it was ingraven in the Hebrew Greek Latine and the Idumaean languages that if a stranger should presume to go in thither he should be put to death And that Herod also caused to be hanged over the eastern gate by which they came
kingdome of his glory S. Mat. 19.28 judging the twelve tribes of Israel they feared also that Saint Peter should be prefer'd before them And I shall add that in respecâ—â—hat they did concern him by affinity they might peradventure think themselves more worthy then any other It was an ambitious petition therefore he told them plainly S. Mat. 20.22 23. S. Mar. 10.38 39 40. that they did ask they knew not what for could they drink of that cup that he should drink of could they be baptized with his Baptisme They said they could He told them they should and so they were for Saint James was slain with the sword and so was a blessed Martyr both in will and act Saint John was cast into a vessell of boyling oyle and though he did not die yet was he an holy Martyr in will though not in act When the ten heard his answer S. Mat. 20.24 25 26 27 28 S. Mar. 10.41 42 43 44 45 for they also had their ambitious thoughts they began to be much displeased at them but he doctrinateth them all with precepts of lowlynesse and humility Holding on his journey he approached Jericho a city pleasantly scituated in the tribe of Benjamin Concerning Hiericho and the blind man cured Deut. 34.3 distant from Jerusalem an hundreth and fifty stades saith Josephus the whole space betwixt both 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 desert and stony which desert is now called Quarentena It is called in the Scripture the city of palme trees because there were those excellent palmes which being trodden or pressed did send forth honey It was first destroyed by Josuah Jos 6.26 and a curse denounced by him against the rebuilder of it Which curse long after fell upon the head of Hiel the Bethelite as we read in the book of Kings 1 Kin. 1634 As he came nigh to that city he gave sight to a certain blinde man as Saint Luke saith who sat by the way side begging And as he departed thence S. Luc. 18.35 he restored two blinde men to their sight who also sat by the way side as Saint Matthew saith S. Mat. 20.30 S. Mar. 10.46 one of which was Bartimeus the son of Timeus named by Saint Mark for that it seemes he was well knowne in the city and it is likely had fallen from some good estate not only to be blinde but also to be a beggar So do I reconcile the place with Saint Augustine De cons Evang. lib. 2. cap. 62. Utrumque factum sed non utrumque ab utroque dictum He did both though both the Evangelists do not say both And Jesus entred and passed through Iericho S. Luc. 19.1 The history of Zacheus therefore he made no stay there and as he went forwards upon the vvay a certain man named Zacheus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a chief publican or farmour of the tribute money having a great desire to see him and because he could not for the preasse and vvas little of stature he ran before and climbed up into a sycamor tree that so he might take a vievv of him from thence When he came to the place he call'd him dovvn v. 2 3 4 5 6. and told him that he vvould dine at his house that day He came dovvn hastily and entertained him joyfully He did not therefore dvvell in Iericho but either in the road or neer unto it vvhither he might easily go vvith some small diversion At this the people murmured saying that he vvas gone in to be a guest with a sinner for such they accounted the publicans vvhom they hated mortally But Zacheus vvho vvas rich as the text observeth vvould no longer be unjust but he vvould break off his sins by righteousnesse and his iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor it vvas the counsell vvhich the prophet Daniel gave to Nebuchadnezzar Dan. 4.27 therefore vvithout delay he makes a present restitution as well for unknown as for known injuries For unknowne injuries which peradventure he had committed in exacting of tribute he gave the halfe of his goods to the poor and for known wrongs if any man could accuse him he tenders a fourefold restitution that is a perfect restitution according to the law That day salvation came unto his house that day was he made a son of Abraham and of his spirituall seed Christ also defendeth his going in thither from the end of his mission v. 7 8 9 10. The son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost And because they were nigh unto Hierusalem and the people that went with him thought that he would presently declare himselfe to be Messiah and erect the throne of a temporall kingdome in that place The parable of the pounds he put forth the parable of the pounds shewing thereby what he will do at his second comming as well to the servants as also to those his spitefull citizens the Jewes who would not that he should raigne over them from v. to v. 27. For he is that noble man who by his ascention must go into heaven to receive the kingdome and will return again in his bodily presence when he shall come to Judgment Bethany was a village or towne distant from Hierusalem about fifteen furlongs Bethany The history of Lazarus raised from the dead which is almost two miles towards the south-east In that place dwelt Mary Martha and Lazaâ—us their brother which Mary probably was Saint Mary Magdalen who being born at Magdala a city scituated upon the west side of the Galilean sea about fifty and two miles from Jerusalem was from the place of her nativity and former habitation called Magdalen She is particularly described to be that Mary which annoynted the Lord with oyntment and wiped his feet with her hair And we finde that Christ was three times anoynted 1st In the house of Simon the Pharisee at what time she came behinde him as he sat at meat brought an alabaster box of oyntment and did wash his feet with tears and wiped them with the hairs of her head S. Luc. 7.37 38. and kissed them and annoynted them with the oyntment 2ly In her owne house at Bethany six daies before the passeover as he sat at supper at what time she took a pound of oyntment of spiknard very costly annointed his feet and wiped them with her hair S. Joh. 12.3 3ly In the house of Simon the leper who dwelt also at Bethany two daies before the passeover at what time she brought an alabaster box of oyntment of spikenard very precious brake the box and powred the oyntment on his head S. Mar. 14.3 Now Lazarus the brother of this Mary was sick she understanding where Jesus was gave him notice of it by some messenger which she sent not requiring him to come nor yet to speak the word that he might be healed but only to plead unto him his love S. Joh. 11.1 2 3 4 5. Lord behold
by signification office and use By nature and substance they were bread and wine still by signification office and use they were his body and his blood Now put all the words together and consider them in the complex This is my body this my blood they make indeed a proposition but not according to the rules of logick the praedication is not orderly for so much as the body and blood is no predicable neither the genus species differentia proprium or accidens of the bread and wine Neither is it an identicall praedication as when we say bread is bread wine is wine What is it then It is a figurative or sacramentall proposition For the thing which is affirmed is affirmed figuratively and sacramentally figuratively that is to say metonymically whereby the name of the thing is affirmed of the signe a figure frequently used in the scripture Christ our passeover Circumcision the covenant 1 Cor. 5.7 Gen. 17.10 And as St. Paul saith concerning that rock which gave drink to the people of Israel in the wilderness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That rock was Christ and there is an emphasis in the article ille Christus 1 Cor. 10.4 that Christ Sacramentally for the thing which is affirmed is also assured and made good by that whereof it is affirmed whereby it comes to pass that the body and blood of Christ is verily and indeed taken and received of the faithfull in the Lords supper The words of the promise so considered do lead us to the great benefit procured to mankind by the merit of his body and blood so broken so poured out and that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the remission of sins Remission of sins therefore is the sweet fruit and effect of the death of Christ Remission of sinnes through the effusion of his blood and is an act of grace and mercy in God whereby he esteems of sinne as no sin or as not committed The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 remission is properly the sending of a thing back again to its right owner for remittere is retrò mittere to send back When God forgiveth sins he doth send them away like as the scape goat was sent away into the wilderness he doth return them as it were in full waight and measure to the proper owner which is the Devill The price The price of this grace on Christ his part was his precious body and blood given broken shed to merit and to procure it One drop of that redeeming blood according to the dignity and worthiness of the person had been sufficient to have redeemed a thousand worlds and yet no less price must be given then all that which he suffered in the humanity for the remission of sins When the Gentiles scoffed at that article of the Creed wherein the Church acknowledgeth to believe remission of sins and said that by this means the multitude of sinners would easily be augmented if remission of sinnes might freely be expected and so easily be obtained Arnobius answered Non emitur ista venia à nobis ut à vobis solet de vestris dijs sed magno constat nempe sanguine Christi proprium est numinis non emptitius sed gratutitas liberales habere peccatorum venias lib. 7. This remission ir not of our purchasing like as you are wont to purchase of your gods but the price was great even the blood of Christ and it is Gods propriety not to sell but freely and liberally to forgive sins The purchase therefore was on Christ his part and magno constat the price given for it was the greatest price that ever was to us it is a free grace without any price or merit on our parts Concerning which grace divers questions are to be demanded 1. To whom doth it belong to collate it Answer To God The grace and to his Ministers To God himself properly and authoritatively to his Ministers declaratively ministerially and by application I say first to God himself properly and authoritatively for to him it belongs to remit sins by his own authority Sins remitted by God authoritatively He against whom sins are committed to him it doth belong to forgive sins properly and by his own authority but this is God and none but God the breach of whose laws and commandments are properly sins for as much as the offence done to any man or to any other creature is no more but an offence or injury nay for as much as the breach of any mans commandment is no sin unless it imply with all the breach of the commandment of God Therefore to God and to none but God doth it belong to forgive sins properly and by his own authority This is clearly evinced by the Prophet David who although he had trespassed highly against Uriah in that he had defiled his wife and caused him to be done to death Psal 51.4 Ex. 34.6 7. Psal 32.5 Isa 43.25 Mich. 7.18 S. Mar. 2.7 yet he acknoweldgeth the sin to be against God and against him only Tibi soli peccavi against thee thee onely have I sinned And the whole scripture is clear in this point Who is a God like unto thee that pardoneth iniquity who can forgive sinnes but God onely 2ly I say that remission of sins doth belong to the ministers of God declaratively ministerially and by application for saith our Church in the Absolution He ha h given power and commandement to his ministers Sins remitted by the ministers declaratively to declare and pronounce to his people being penitent the absolution and remission of their sins For the ministers of the Church have the keyes of the kingdom of heaven by the donation of Christ whose right it was to transfer them from the legall to the Evangelicall priesthood which was first promised to St. Peter and with him to all the other Apostles quia Petrus pro omnibus loquutus est Apostolis S. Mat. 16.19 S. Mat. 18.18 because he made answer for them all Afterwards renewed to them all And finally performed to them all after his resurrection at what time he breathed on them the holy Ghost and said Whosesoever sins ye remit they are remitted unto them and whosesoever sins ye retain S. Joh. 20.23 they are retained But this power was not to dye with them but according to his own promise to remain with his Church to the end of the world S. Mat. 28.20 The meanes And consisteth in application of the meanes whereby God doth remit sinnes Which meanes are the word of God the Sacraments of the Church the relaxation of Ecclesiastical censures and prayer I find this no where better set forth then in the form of our generall absolution He pardoneth and absolveth not we pardon and absolve all them which truly repent and unfeignedly believe his holy Gospell In quo non est peccatum ipse venit auferre peccatum Nam si esset in illo peccatum auferendum esset illi