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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A68236	The third booke of commentaries vpon the Apostles Creede contayning the blasphemous positions of Iesuites and other later Romanists, concerning the authoritie of their Church: manifestly prouing that whosoeuer yeelds such absolute beleefe vnto it as these men exact, doth beleeue it better then Gods word, his Sonne, his prophets, Euangelists, or Apostles, or rather truly beeleeues no part of their writings or any article in this Creede. Continued by Thomas Iackson B. of Diuinitie and fellow of Corpus Christi College in Oxford.; Commentaries upon the Apostles Creed. Book 3	Jackson, Thomas, 1579-1640.	1614 (1614)	STC 14315; ESTC S107489	337,354	346

his steed Peter the Scriptures tell vs was to follow Christ but as they pretend left Pope Linus in his place so hath euery Pope his successor since that time Yet these latter mightily faile in not nominating others whiles they themselues are liuing and visible stones as Christ without question did Saint Peter whiles conuersant with the faithfull in the flesh and Peter Linus in his lifetime 20. But howsoeuer they must of necessitie either make Peter Linus and their successors but one ioint permanent foundation and so the Popes should not bee builded vppon the foundation of the Prophets and the Apostles but rather Christs other Apostles vpon them vpon whom likewise all the faithfull since the Apostles time should be immediatly built Or if they doe not make Peter and the Popes one ioint vnseparable foundation they must admit as many seuerall foundations as Popes so as the euerlasting Rocke whereon the Church is built could not be truly said one and the same but by a perpetuall equiualency of alteration or succession as we say corruptible elements fire or water or candles remaine one and the same because as one part consumes another as good comes in the place This glorious aedifice as hath been obserued stands only by faith or firme adherence to the foundation and by the Aduersaries owne confession to disclaime the authority of the present Romish Church or Pope in points of faith is an heresie or Apostasie of the same nature as if a man had renounced Peter for his supreame head and this all one as if he had cut himselfe of from being a member of Christ Wherefore in respect of vs that are now to be edified the authority of this present Pope is equiuale ●t to Christs our adherence to the one in points of faith and manners must be such as it should haue been to the other had we liued in the dayes of his visible conuersation in the world Finally CHRIST Saint Peter and his successors in regiment of the Church militant here on earth differ by the Roman account no otherwise then Romulus Numa Ancus c. Romulus was first Founder of that kingdome but least other of kings of the same ranke and order he was onely his dignity after his departure was acknowledged greater in another world because as his people were made to beleeue be ascended aliue into heauen as a God Much better might the Romanist deriue his Psewdocatholique Romane faith from Romulus the first builder of that great City that sometimes ruleà ouer the Kings of the earth then from Christ who did erect a kingdome indeed but not of this world wherein none was to succeed him because he remaines Yeasterday to day the same for euer Whence the Prophet sayth this kingdome shall neuer be destroied or giuen to another people but shall breake and destroy all former kingdomes and it selfe stand for euer For any especially of that nation whose former kings had put this immortall King to death concerning the flesh to enstile themselues Rockes and foundation of this euerlasting Empire or absolute spirituall Monarchies in this place doth euidently shew they are the feete of that image most of which hath been as shall be broken to peeces by that stone cut without hands out of the Mountaine vntill it become like the chaffe of the summer flowers carried away with the winde and no place bee found for them or as the Apostle interprets the Prophet the Lord shall consume them with the spirit of his mouth and shall abolish them with the brightnesse of his comming 21. Would the Iesuite then know wherein he and his Latian Lord God must take after Saint Peter Me thinks their formal acknowledgement of that generall principle Christ manifested in the flesh made the headstone in the corner compared with their late mentioned Apostacy in seeking to lay another foundation was liuely resembled if not mystically prefigured by Saint Peter faith immediatly after his glorious confession eclipsed by interposition of such earthly conceits as perpetually darken their mindes For vpon our Sauiours declaration what bodily calamity what ignominy reproach should at Ierusalem shortly after befall the Rocke it selfe whereupon that Church against which hee had now sayd the gates of hell should neuer preuaile was founded Peter as Saint Mathew sayth tooke his Master aside and friendly checks him as if he had forgotten his former promise Maister be good to your selfe this shall not be vnto you As if he had sayd if the gates of hell shall not preuaile against your Church or vs your poore Disciples I hope you are able to priuiledge your owne person from such disgrace and scorne as none but they can intend against you So carnally did this great Apostle vpon ignorance conceit Christs spirituall promise as the papacy vpon habituall or affected error doth to this present day For one principall argument most vsuall in the mouthes and pennes of that great Heads chiefe disciples to proue the Romish the only Church vnto which that glorious promise was made or at least hath been perpetually performed is because no temporall or secular power hath euer beene able though many wicked Potentates Kings and Emperors such titles they giue to all their enemies haue attempted either to deface her externall pompe state and splendor or so to vse the Popes or Cardinalls or other of her principall and dearest children as the Iewes did our Sauiour Christ and his Disciples They are of the world and therefore speake they of the world and the world heareth them But could they vnto any child of God more plainly proue themselues heires to that checke giuen by our Sauiour to Saint Peter Goe behinde me Satans ye are an offence because ye vnderstand not the things that are of God but the things that are of men Could they more euidently demonstrate the Pope to be that man of sin that must be inducted to the Church of God by Satan 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the chiefe aduersary or accuser he himself bearing the name of aduersary likewise in his title 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a second foundation in shew subordinate in deede and consequence quite contrary to that which the Prophets and Apostles haue laide eternally priuiledged if wee may beleeue his followers from those spurnings of men from which the pretious stone of Syon was not exempted 22. To collect the summe of late Romanists comments vpon their Churches supposed fundamentall Charter Their confession of Christ come in the flesh and made head stone in the corner though conceiued in forme of words orthodoxal enough proues only this but disabundantly to all the world that the Pope their supreame head sits in the Temple of God whose circumference in respect of men who cannot search other mens hearts is defined by this confession Their attributing the title of Rocks or fun damentall supportance of that spirituall house vnto this head proclaimes vnto all the world that hee

they did plainely inioyne any necessitie of communicating vnder both kindes the former decree notwithstanding would manifestly inferre an vsurpation of Soueraigntie ●uer Gods word quite contrarie to the generall Analogie of faith reason and conscience by all which in cases doubtfull and for the speculatiue forme of truth disputable with eqall probabilitie affirmatiuely or negatiuely wee are taught to frame our choice when wee come to practise according to the difference of the matter or of consequences which may ensue more dreadfull one way then the other alwayes to preferre either a greater good before a lesse or a lesse euill before a greater though both equally probable Suppose then these two contradictorie propositions The deniall of the cup is a mutilation of Christs last will and testament the deniall of the cuppe is no mutilation of Christs last will and Testament were for their speculatiue probabilities in iust examination equipendent yet the doctrine of faith deliuered in Scripture reason and conscience without contradiction instruct vs that to alter abrogate or mutilate the sonne of Gods last will and testament is a most grieuous most horrible most dreadfull sinne but to permit the vse of the Chalice hath no suspition of any the least euill in it Had the Trent Fathers thus done they had done no worse then our Sauiour then his Apostles then the Primitiue Church by their owne confession did This excesse of euill without all hope of any the least compensatiue good to follow vpon the deniall should haue swaied them to that practise which was infinitely more safe as not accompanied with any possibilitie or shew of danger although the speculatiue probabilitie of anie diuine precept necessarily inioyning the vse of the cup had beene none Thus peremptorily to aduenture vpon consequences so fearefull whereto no contrarie feare could in reason impell nor hopes any way comparable allure them thus imperiously to depriue the whole Christian World of a good in their valuation testified by their humble supplications and frequent embassages to that Councell so inestimable without any other good possible to redound vnto the deniers saue onely vsurpation of Lordly Dominion ouer Christs heritage plainly euinceth that the Church is of farre greater authoritie with them then GOD Word either written in the Sacred Canon or their hearts then all his Lawes either ingrafted by nature or positiue and Supernaturall For 21 Admit this Church representatiue had beene fully perswaded in conscience rightly examined and immediatly ruled by Scripture that the former decree did not preiudice the institution vse or end of this Sacrament yet most Christians earnest desire of the Cuppe so publikely testified could not suffer them to sleep in ignorance of that great scandall the deniall of it needes must giue to most inferiour particular Churches Wherefore the rule of charitie that mooued the Father of the Gentiles to that serious protestation If meate offend my brother I will eate no flesh while the World standeth that I may not offend my brother should in all equitie diuine or humane haue wrought these Prelats hearts to like profession If want of their spirituall drinke offend so many Congregations and such a multitude of our brethren we will rather not vse our lawfull authoritie acknowledged by all then vs●rp any that may be offensiue or suspicious vnto others though apparantly iust vnto our selues for they could not be more fully perswaded this decree was iust then Saint Paul was that all meates were lawfull to him 22 But may we thinke these Prelates had no scruple of conscience whether the very forme of this decree were not against our Sauiours expresse command bibite ex hoc omnes drinke yee all of this For mine owne part whiles I call to minde what else where I haue obserued that the Iewes were neuer so peremptorie in their despitefull censures of our Sauiours doctrine nor so outragiously bent against his person as when their hearts were touched in part with his myracles or in some degree illuminated with the truth he taught The Councels extraordinary forwardnesse to terrifie all controuenaries of this decree makes mee suspect they were toe conscious of their own shallow pretended proofes to elude Gods word whose light and perspicuitie in this point had exasperated their hardned hearts and weake-sighted faith to be so outragious in the very beginning of that session as if they had meant to sti●fle their consciences and choake the truth lest these happily might crosse their proceedings or controule their purposes if this cause should once haue come to sober and deliberate debatement For as theeues oftentimes seeke to auoid apprehension by crying loudest turne the theefe so these wolues hoped well to smother their guilt and preuent all notice taking of their impietie by their grieuous exclamations against others monstrous impious opinions in this point interdicting all vpon penaltie of the causes following ere they had determined ought to teach preach or belieue otherwise then they meant to determine 23 Yet though the Councell accurse all that holde communication vnder both kindes as a necessarie Doctrine it doth not absolutely inhibit all vse of the Chalice but leaues it free vnto their Lord the Pope to grant it vpon what Conditions he please either vnto priuate men or whole Nations vpon what conditions then may wee presume will it please his Holinesse for to grant it vpon any better then Satan tendered all the Kingdomes of the Earth vnto our Sauiour for this fained seruant of Christ a true Gehazi repining at his Lord and Masters simplicitie that could refuse so faire a profer made after Sathan in all hast saying in his heart I will surely take somewhat of him though my Master spared him and pretending a message in his name to whom all power was giuen in Heauen and in earth hath got an interest in the chiefe Kingdomes of the World disposing such as hee can best spare or worst manage to any potent Prince that will fall downe and worship him and his copartner the Prince of darkenesse who of late yeares haue almost shared the whole World betwixt them the one ruling ouer infidels the other ouer professed Christians And seeing the Pope because his pompe and dignitie must bee maintained by Worldly wealth and reuenewes dares not part with the proprietie of so many Kingdomes at once as Sathan who onely lookes for honour profered hee hath found out a tricke to supply his wants for purchasing like honour and worship by his office of keeping Saint Peters keyes if earthly Prouinces or Dominions faile him Gods Word his sonnes bloud and bodie all shall be set to sale at this price Fall downe and worship him For no man we may rest assured no Nation or Kingdome whom hee can hinder shall euer tast of the Lords Cup vnlesse they will first acknowledge lawfull authoritie in him to grant denie or dispose of it at his pleasure which is an homage wherewith the Deuill is more delighted then if wee

to erect the euerlasting kingdome foretolde by Daniel vnto whose and other prophesies he referres his enemies in that speech But if I by the spirit or as Saint Luke reades by the singer of God cast out Diuels then is the Kingdome of God come vnto you Yet were not all his miracles of this kind thus considered so effectuall to confirme the faithfull or so pregnant to condemne all vnbelieuers as the former rule of Moses For this cause after the former dispute ended he gaue his aduersaries such a signe as if it did follow would infallibly proue him to bee that great Prophet Moses there speakes of and consequently leaue them lyable to Gods heauy iudgement without excuse for not hearkning vnto him Of which hereafter 6 Here I may once for all conclude that the power of doing miracles was as effectuall to assure such as did them of saluation as sight of them done was to establish spectators in sauing faith But the power of casting Diuels out or doing greatest miracles was no infallible pledge of saluation to such as did them much lesse could the acknowledgement of this diuine power in them breede full assurance of true faith in others but onely serue as a meanes to cause them relie vpon the Law and Prophets as their onely rule and to taste and proue the bread of life proffered to them by our Sauiour which alone could ascertaine them by their names were written in the booke of life But to proceede by the former rule 7 If others by experiments answerable to it were knowne to bee true Prophets Christ likewise by his knowne supereminency in that which approued them was to be acknowledged for the Prince of Prophets Now if wee reuise the historie of the olde Testament how few Prophets shall wee finde endowed with the gift of miracles such as were did exercise their power rather among Idolaters then true professors So when Gods messengers were brought to as open competition with Baals Priests in the King of Israels as Moses had beene with the Enchanters in Pharaohs Court Elias makes his calling as cleare as the light by calling downe fire from heauen which Baals Priests attempting in most furious manner could not effect but Elias professed thus much before as Baals Priests no question had done so as the euent answering to his prediction not to the others did by Moses rule demonstrate him to be them not to be Prophets of the liuing God But when the like controuersie was to be tried betweene Zidkiah and his foure hundred complices on the one part and Michaiah on the other before king Ahab in whom Elias late miracles and later threates had wrought such a distast of Baal and such a liking of the truth in generall as hee would not consult either any professed seruant of the one or open oppugner of the other for his future successe Michaiah as was obserued before appeales to this law of Moses as most competent Iudge betweene such as iointly did embrace it If thou returne in peace the Lord hath not spoken by me as if he had said what Moses there doth hee hath not put his word in my mouth And hauing brought his controuersie to this triall he desires the people to contestate the issue thus ioyned and hee said hearken all yee people From this and many like cases ruled by the former expresse and pregnant law of Moses Ieremy pleades his warrant being born downe by the contradictions of Hananiah a professed Prophet of the Lord as hee was but of greater fauour in the Court because hee prophesied peace vnto the present state and good successe to the Proiects then on foot Euen the Propeth Ieremiah said So be it the Lord so doe the Lord confirme thy words which thou hast prophesied to restore the vessels of the Lords house and all that is carried Captiue from Babel into this place But heare thou now this word that I will speake in thine eares and in the eares of all the people The Prophets that haue beene before mee and before thee in times past prophesied against many Countries and against great kingdomes of warre and of plagues and of pestilence And the Prophet which prophesieth of peace when the word of the Prophet shall come to passe then shall the Prophet bee knowne that the Lord hath truly sent him Ezechiel likewise referres himselfe to the same triall amongst such as were professed hearers of the word in generall which they would not obey in particular And loe thou art vnto them as a iesting song of one that hath a pleasant voice and can sing well for they heare thy words and doe them not And when this commeth to passe for loe it will come then shall they know that a Prophet hath beene among them 8 From these debatements we may gather in what cases the former rule held for certaine First negatiuely it was vniuersally true for hee that prophesied any thing which came not to passe did sufficiently proue himselfe to bee no true Prophet but a counterfeit So did not euery prediction of what afterwardes came to passe necessarily argue it to haue beene from God Yet as the force and vertue of many things not such of themselues became euident from vicinity or irriation of their contraries so though God permitted some to foretell strange euents for triall of his peoples faith yet this power hee restrained when the controuersie came to a former triall then hee caused the true Prophets words to stand whiles the predictions of the false and the Princes bloud which relied vpon them fell to the ground like Dagon before the Arke So as the fulfilling of what the one and frustrating of what the other had said did sufficiently manifest the one had spoken of himselfe presumptuously the other what the Lord had put into his mouth Hence is the determination easie what meanes this people had to discern amongst true Prophets which was that Great one in all things like to Moses First if euents foretold did sufficiently testifie of his diuine spirit his owne witnesse of himselfe would bee authentike because a true Prophet could hardly lie or make himselfe greater then he was This is an argument which directly confutes such as acknowledge Christ to haue been a Prophet sincere in doctrine mighty in deedes and yet denie him to be the Prince of that profession the great mediator of the new Couenant both which hee often auouched Besides the quantity of that spirit whose sincere quality manifested him to bee a Prophet would notifie his excessiue Greatnesse in that ranke and order or more directly to the question 9 The great Prophet there spoken of was to be knowne by his similitude with Moses who was as the symbole or proportional meane betweene him and lesser Prophets Others in these few gifts wherein they resembled their father came farre short of him Christ in all farre exceeded him Others were all of Iacobs line raised vp by