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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A70537	The character of the true church In a sermon preach'd at the French church in the Savoy, upon these words, How goodly are they tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel, Numb. XXIV. v. 5. By A. D'Astor de Laussac, formerly a prior and an archdeacon of the church of Rome.	Dastor de Laussac, Antoine.	1700 (1700)	Wing L623C; ESTC R221680	22,752	35

ambition of the Ministry it violated its natural sense and so forc'd it to be establish an authority till then unknown When faith was in its purity the Scripture lodg'd the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven in the Hands of the whole Apostolical Colledge in whose name St Peter had answer'd Jesus Christ But when the faith was once corrupted then the Scripture was forc'd to allow none but Peter to be intrusted with them and such as flatter'd themselves to be his successors When faith was in its purity the Scripture deliver'd up the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven as a patent whereby they were impower'd to the preach the Gospel by which the gates of Heaven were open to believers and shut to unbelievers But when the same faith was once corrupted then the Scripture was made to signify by those keys the power not only of preaching the Gospel but even of interpreting it after an infallible manner and of filling up with their traditions what was deficient When faith was in its purity this power of binding and loosing was receiv'd by the Apostles as a lawful power to explain in Religion what was legal or illegal what good or what ill But after the Corruption of the faith this power of binding and loosing erected a tribunal where Christ's pretended Ministers investing themselves with the Power of remitting sins which is an essential attribute of God loos'd sinners by their Absolution or bound them by the refusal of the same Nay this power had different degrees of jurisdiction according to the different ministers in whom it was lodgged and being consider'd as in its center there was a tribunal set up whence proceeded Indulgences and Excommunications which bound Christians according as they were subject or rebellious to this new authority This authority this Supream degree of spiritual jurisdiction was none indeed of those truths Christianity most depended upon but it so much favour'd the spirit of ambition and power that laying aside the thoughts of Christ's having condemn'd it in the Apostolical Colledge they were easily seduc'd by this fair outside What endeavours were us'd in order to back with arguments from the Scripture the authority of the Ministry that was just set up But methinks this was placing the Ark before Dagon's Idol which fell before it This authority in judging arbitrarily and excommunicating all such as wou'd not subscribe to what the word of God had not determin'd this jurisdiction I say fell before the moderation of Christ that wou'd not condemn unbelievers because his business was not to judge but to save the world 〈◊〉 12. ●8 they have one that shall judge them said our Saviour making his word to be the sole judge of controversies This arbitrary power usurp'd over Consciences could not maintain itself when so plainly contradicted by the Scripture in the Apostles behaviour who had always refus'd it referring the faithful to the word of God The Idol fell before the Ark. The Scripture overthrows the authority the Ministry had assum'd but us Ministers being more cautious in this than the Philistins who did not send away the Ark till after the falling of the Idol the effects of their authority were felt before any cou'd examine into the nature of it the Shepherds Crook became a Scourge for all such as wou'd not condescend to their decrees Thus it was that the word of God lost by degrees the priviledge of being the Rule of our Faith 'T was by this means the authority of the Scripture became tributary to the ambition of the Ministry and if ancient Philosophers were given over to the lust of their hearts for having made the truth captive to injustice so God exercis'd the same punishment upon the Ministers of his Gospel they were given over to their own hearts desires for deviating from the rule Christ had set them by which they shou'd have preserv'd the purity of faith By this desire of the heart I don't mean the ignominious passions that punish'd the pride of those ancient Heathens No there is in mans heart a more refin'd and exalted desire he is still more fond of which is that he always had of being the Arbiter of his Religion 'T was to satisfy that desire that the Gentiles made themselves Gods For this the Jews made themselves a pleasing idea of the Messiah they expected 't was by this same desire which the Latin Ministry so blindly follow'd that they begun to edify their Church by the authority of Christ as Christ had edify'd his own by the Ministry of the Apostles Hence arose the worship of images conniv'd at till then as meer ornaments to Churches hence was renew'd the use of Apotheosis by that pompous way of canonizing of Saints Their Relicks were expos'd upon their Altars their Indulgences were us'd to set off the solemnities design'd for them What strange alterations did Christ's Sacraments then receive Nay the very ceremonies the Apostles had us'd were erected into Sacraments and the Sacraments Christ had instituted were alter'd either in their substance or in their exterior part No longer was the Supper of the Lord a Sacrament of his body but his very individual body 'T was no longer a memorial of his passion but an expiatory Sacrifice 'T was no longer the use of the substance that was alter'd but the very substance it self 'T was no longer a deep veneration and respect due to the sacred sign of Christ's body but a real adoration render'd to the Sacrament as to Christ himself In a word Rome Christianiz'd had the same fate with Pagan Rome which lost that Religion their Ancestors profess'd by having adopted that of all those nations they had a mind to bring under their power Modern Rome had the misfortune to change the image of an incorruptible God into that of a corruptible man and a spiritual and divine worship into a carnal and superstitious one At the sight of so amazing a revolution that occasion'd such woful distractions in the Church I cannot forbear using the words of the Prophet Jeremiah bewailing the lamentable condition of Jerusalem Lam. 3. How is the Gold become dim How comes the doctrine of Christ formerly so pure and so bright in the golden age of the Church how comes it now to be wrapt up in the clouds of tradition How is the finest gold chang'd How is that Christian piety so lively so sublime of old become now so lukewarm and so despicable It formerly rais'd Christian hearts to Jesus Christ sitting at the right hand of the Father but now it makes them stoop to the worshipping of him in the Sacrament of his body which is but a means to convey his graces to us How comes it to pass that so pure a worship whereof the sole object was God and Christ as Mediator is now divided between God and the creatures How are the precious sons of Zion Ibid. comparable to fine gold esteem'd as earthen pitchers the work of the hands of the potter How comes it

THE Character of the True Church IN A SERMON Preach'd at the French Church in the Savoy Upon these Words How goodly are thy Tents O Jacob and thy Tabernacles O Israel Numb XXIV v. 5. By A. D'Astor de Laussac formerly a Prior and an Archdeacon of the Church of Rome LONDON Printed for Matt. Wotton at the Three Daggers in Fleetstreet and sold by A. Baldwin in Warwick-lame 1700. ADVERTISEMENT A Person who is deeply touch'd with the miseries which poor French Protestants suffer while there and more rigorously for but attempting to get away tho with the loss of their Estates was mightily pleas'd to find by reading the Original of this discourse that a Romish Priest of their Nation had been so far from acting in those Cruelties that he had quitted his Preferments to become of himself a Refugee being forc'd only by the power of Truth to yield at last to the Conviction of his Conscience which he owns he had long resisted and that in their chiefest Church the Savoy he had made a free and open Abjuration of all the errors of Popery giving very many weighty Reasons whereby he was mov'd to Renounce it which utter'd with concern by such a New Convert cou'd not but draw great attention and thereby as also by his example 〈…〉 ●…lent to work that 〈…〉 Faith which he 〈…〉 and confirm in hi●… 〈…〉 An earnest desire and hope of good effects by those motives if more known amongst us made the said Person wish they were in English This the Author hearing got the Sermon Translated and brought it to him by whose encouragement he has now Printed it for a second and more publick Abjuring of all Popish Superstitions with the methods still us'd in France and now more severely than ever to make Proselytes by Persecution England not many years ago was in manifest danger of the like and several large steps had hastily been made here to that end but the King of Kings suddenly overturn'd that confidence when at the highest and by his mighty hand the Religion of this Church and the Laws of this Kingdom were strangely rescu'd from the violence of Arbitrary Power and are now peaceably re-established which amazing mercies shou'd by this Nation with most hearty thankfulness be for ever remembred to the Glory of God and Honour of the King his Instrument in that Wonderful Revolution NUMB. XXIV 5. How goodly are thy Tents O Jacob and thy Tabernacles O Israel THese words spoke Balaam and bless'd Israel not so much in reference to any greatness or magnificence he saw in that people as by reason of some extraordinary and miraculous influence he felt within himself This false Prophet drawn away by the motion of his own heart which God suffer'd him to be led by follow'd the second Messengers of the King of Moab and tho he appear'd sensible of his fault when frighten'd by the Angel of the Lord yet all his ways and all the subtle contrivances of his hypocrisie easily perswade us that in order to prosecute the pressing instances of Balak and satisfie his own desire his real intention was to curse Israel But no sooner does he think himself at liberty again and just ready to execute his pernicious design but he feels within himself an inward power that stops him a secret and incomprehensible motion which in an instant turns his heart in the behalf of Israel and forces him to cry out in spite of Balak nay and in spite of himself How goodly are thy Tents O Jacob and thy Tabernacles O Israel No doubt but you are beforehand with me in applying this accident to my present circumstance You have here before you a Minister of error and falshood who comes to joyn with you in the profession of a truth he has but too long withstood One who though engaged by his Birth Education and Ministry to persecute your holy Religion yet is now thoroughly convinc'd of his past blindness ready to turn into blessings the curses he formerly pronounc'd against you How shou'd I curse whom God has not curs'd 'T is not expected I shou'd pretend any way to extenuate or lessen my errors and mistakes I have I own it to my shame and confusion I have for many years stifled the saving impulses of Grace and at the very time it pleas'd Almighty God to enlighten me in his ways and to open my eyes to the purity of the Evangelical Doctrine I did but too long defer my conversion and was at a stand between God and the World God alone from whom nothing can be hid knows what struggles and agonies I underwent But at last his efficacious Grace triumph'd over the hardness of my heart He drew me over to him by the ties of meekness and gentleness I am the least of Christs Disciples unworthy to be call'd a Minister of the Gospel since I persecuted the Church of God but by the grace of God I am what I am Clouds of error and ignorance sentiments of flesh and blood prejudices of birth and education groundless shame which force so many to with-hold the truth in unrighteousness all your illusions are now dissipated you have given way to the bright and shining light of the Gospel which alone is able to enlighten our minds and to that victorious grace that can in a moment destroy all our ill habits and change the affections of our hearts Since then it has pleas'd God in his infinite compassion to open my eyes and loose my tongue since it has pleas'd him to put these words in my mouth why shou'd not I cry out with Balaam How goodly are thy tents O Jacob and thy tabernacles O Israel The following discourse being more particularly design'd for your edification than instruction I shall pass by the different acceptations these words may admit of I thought it therefore most proper to gather from thence the principal motives that prompted me to embrace the doctrine of the Reformed Churches by shewing that therein I find the distinguishing characters of the true Church of Christ I discover in your Communion the Church of Christ because 't is the authority of the word of God that has preserv'd in it the purity of the Faith This is the first character the second is that the purity of the Faith draws upon it the persecutions which the world doth exercise against it 'T is the Church of Christ since it goes by no other rule than that of his Gospel 'T is the Church of Christ since it suffers persecution for his name and for his truth These shall be the two heads of the discourse The Christian World is particularly divided into two different Communions they agree in many effential points of Religion but differ in the principle that occasioned their separation and gives each of them a particular Character The Church of Rome uses the Holy Scripture to attribute a supream Authority to its Ministry which makes it head not only to be as the oracle of God but the

other merit but that of his blood This is doubtless the Church of Christ since all is founded upon his word all is edify'd by his doctrine all is referr'd to his glory 'T is not so with the Church which Papal authority has set up which would needs force Christianity to follow it as the Church of Christ How many rules of faith how many acts of piety which have no solid foundation in Holy Writ That 's a building wherein Christ's hand appears much less than those of the builders since in it the authority of the Scripture gives way to that of the Ministry as if that were become the original source of Divine Revelation One wou'd think our Saviour who knew all things had a mind to prevent the errors whereinto men were like to fall by taking a Church of men's setting up insensibly upon Earth in the name of Christ for that which he had founded himself in the fulness of time and indeed he does prevent it by the precautions he takes in the establishment of the Apostolical Ministry which he associates to the building of his Church He chooses for Apostles men of the lowest rank of the people ignorant unlearned self-interested fearful in a word men who were no way proportionate to the work they were design'd for Why did he leave them in this state of infirmity till the coming down of the Holy Ghost but that the tryal of their weakness might make them sensible 't was Jesus Christ who acted in them at the very time they were building up his Church that so they might not arrogate to themselves the success of it tho their hands were employ'd in the Structure Why was our Saviour pleased to particularize the failings and infirmities of his Apostles but as a precaution to posterity which might have attributed to them the glory of having edifyed his Church His wisdom having discover'd to them their natural insufficiency leaves no room in them for presumption by shewing them they had no vertue but what came from above it characterizes the Church of God by Christ's hand alone that built it I am not ignorant how that the Evangelical Ministry must last to the end of the world how Christ promis'd his Apostles he wou'd be always with them and how this promise is to be fulfill'd in the Succession of the Ministry But divine wisdom uses the same caution in the succession as in the establishment thereof What character does he give to the succession of the Ministry no other than the succession of his doctrine I send you as my Father has sent me Go and teach all nations Mat. 28 baptizing them in the name of the Father of the Son and of the Holy Ghost teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo I am with you always even unto the end of the World These last words include a promise made to the Ministry and a condition imposed in order to partake of the promise teaching them as I have commanded you that 's the condition on which he promises to be with them They are sent by Christ as Christ was by the Father Christ sent by his Heavenly Father makes the truth of his mission appear by the transcendency of his miracles which are so many proofs of his Divinity by the apparition of the Holy Ghost that declares him to men for the beloved Son of God But he does not impose the necessity of believing his Doctrine otherwise than as it is conformable to the Father that sent him Whence proceeds this admirable conduct But from this reason that the Evangelical Ministry was to be excercis'd by men the gifts of the Holy Ghost were to longer to accompany the Ministry than was requisite to establish the Faith after that the Church was to be directed by the Holy Ghost Jesus Christ was to be with the Ministry but after an invisible manner If the visible succession of the Ministry had been a sufficient proof of its mission then some hypocrite or other sitting in the Apostolical Chair might have pretended to have acted by the spirit of God when there was no such thing The faithful might have been impos'd upon unless Christ had promis'd his Apostles to be with them setting them this Law withal to teach as he had commanded them and unless he had charactariz'd the ministry by the succession of his doctrine so that every ministry that teaches not what the Apostles have taught or that sets for a rule of saith another thing than they taught is not look'd upon as the Apostolical Ministry Boast he never so much of having succeeded St. Peter unless he have the succession of the Doctrine he has no right to it he must not impose The truth Christian Religion obliges us to believe came to us from the Father by the Son from the Son of God by the Holy Ghost from the Holy Ghost by the Apostles by their Successors Now to know whether they be the true Successors of the Apostles is but to examine whether the truth they profess the Religion they propose flow from the primitive Spring How goodly are the tents O Jacob How great must our happiness be who live in the bosom of a Church which holds it for an axiom of faith to be conformable to God's Holy Word which is so happy as to be directed by a Ministry that may without controversy say the Religion we preach comes not from our selves we are not the Authors of it 't is the very same the Apostles left us in the Gospel the Apostles receiv'd from the Holy Ghost the Holy Ghost deriv'd it from the bosom of the word incarnate the word incarnate from the bosom of the Heavenly Father Thus by the Authority of the word of God is the succession and purity of Faith preserv'd in the Christian World Such is the necessity of this grand principle that no sooner came the Church to forget it but it fell into a most deplorable condition Look back into those all at once happy and unhappy days when Peace succeeding that persecution which the Church had so long groan'd under corrupted Christianity which all the subtilty of Hereticks and cruelty of Tyrants were not able to oppress The Church became great in wealth and dignity but at the same time small in virtue the salt of the earth vanisht away all fell into corruption Both Pastors and Flock had much at the same time a general disgust for heavenly things the sacred fire of the Altar went out by degrees whilst no other burnt thereon but that of Lust and Ambition The Children of Eli made it their main business to encrease the rights and advantages of Priesthood the Church of a Heavenly Kingdom became a Temporal Reign the Apostolical Chair became a Throne whereon the Apostles Successors were not ashamed to exact those Divine Honours the Apostles themselves had rejected and the Holy Scripture the authority whereof had till then govern'd the Church became itself Captive to the