ease c. then the rest of the world they had bin great things and such as we should bee thankfull for but when it is said that it is to obtaine the glory of our Lord Iesus Christ it passeth all the benefits that are in the world Whether by the glory of our Lord be meant the glory which he is in or which he hath purchased for vs I knowe not the doctrine which both senses minister is good that by him and with him we shall obtaine a kingdome and that as he hath trode all our enimies vnder his foot so wee shall conquer through him sin death and hell which we are assured shall be accomplished at his comming FINIS August lib. 2â— de Civit. Dei cap. 19. Sic Hieron in 2. Thess. 2. Rhem. in 2 Thess. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aug ep 19 ad Hieron Andrad defens fidei Trid lib. 2. Caietan in praeâ—aâ— Com. in lib. Mos. Conc. Trid. Sess. 5. câ—p 1. sub Piâ— 4. An D. 1562. 2. Thess. 2.3 Act. 13.10 Numb 16.29.30 Apoc. 12.4 Dan. 7.21 Apoc. 12.15 Dan. 11.36 * Antiochus Epiph. â—ren lib. 5. cap. 25. Hieron in Dan. cap. 11. Mat. 20.21 Mat. 19.28 2 Thess 2.3 a Hier. ad Algasi Quaest. 11. b inâ— Thess. 2. c Aug. lib. 20. de Civ Dei c. 19 d Chrysost. 13. Hom. in Th. 22 e Aug lib. 20. de Civ cap. 19. * Refugam vocat à Domino Deo f inâ— Thess. 2. g 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 h Cyril Catech. II 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 k Gloss. Ord. vel hoc dicit de spirituali imperio Romanae Ecclesiae vel discessione de fide l Aquin. in 2. Thess 2. Ideo dicendum est quod discessio à Rom. Imp. debet inrelligi non solum à tempora lised à spiritâ—â—ali scilicet à fide Catholica c. m Anselm in 2 Ep. Thess. c. 2. siue vt multitudo Ecclâ—siaruÌ„ discedant à PoÌ„tifice Raman sive multitudo hominum discedant à side n Lyrain 2 Thess. 2. o Rhem. in 2 Thess. 2.3 num 6. p â—2 Thess. 2.5 q â— Ier. 4.10 r Act. 4.28 s Rom. 8.28 t Paul 1. Tim. 41. Pet. 2. ep 3.1 2. 1. Ioh 2.18 u Apoc. 13.17 x Mat. 24. a Vide Occum in bunc loc Theâ—d Calvin b 2. Thess. 2.7 c Chrys. Occum in 2. thess 2 Hieron ad Algasi qu. 11. d Rhem. in 2. Thess. c. 2.2 e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 f Sand. Dem. 1. g Rhem. 2. Thes. 2.3 h 1. Ioh. 2.22 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i Rev. 13.18 k 1. Ioh 2.18 l Aug tract 6. in 1 Ep. Ioh. m 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. Thess. 27. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 n Occum in 2. Thess. 2. Chrys. in 2. Tb. 2 Hier in 2. Th. 2. Idem ad Algas Quaest. 11. o Dan 7.3.4 p Sand. Dem. q Aug lib 20. de Civ Dei c. 19 * Vide Whitak Reâ—p ad Sand. Dem p. 158. r Aug. vbi sup s Orig Hom. 30 in Mat. t Sannd Dem. 1. rat 7. Aliquid deest u Dan. 7.17 Dan. 8 10 21 x Dan. 7.5 a 2. Chr. 36.23 Ezra 1 3 Ezra 3.7 b Dan. 6.14 c Ezra 4.1 d Dan. 6.4.5 e Apoc. 17.9 f Sand. Dem. 4. g Ier 52.31 h Hos. 3 4. l Lam. 5.8 Lyra in 2. Thes. 2. A quo recesse rum quasi omnia Regna negantia ei subiiâ—i redditâ—onem tribuâ—i laÌ„ à multis annâ—s illud etiam Impeâ—ium caruit Imperaâ—ore pluribus annis Sand Dâ—m 17. Bellaâ— lib 3. de Rom Ponâ— c. 13 1. Cor. 3.16.17 cap. 6 19. 2 Cor. 6 16. 1. Pet. 2.5 Bellar de Pont. lib. 3. c. 14 Lactani de verasap l. 4 c. 13. Sand. Dem. 36. Gen 30.1.2 2. King 5 6 7. Iam. 4.12 2. Chr. 15.3 Mat 20.21 Extravag Iohan 22 c vnam Saâ—ctam de maioritate obedient Cap. omnis extra de poenit remiss Concil Trident. Sess. 22. cop 2. Canon 1.3 Psal. 68.11 Ier 31.19 1. Chr. 13.9.10 Is. 1.1.2 Ezek. 16.21 1. King 17.16 Cap cum inter Extravag Iob 22. tit 14. cap. 4 in fiâ—â— Apoc. 7.1 Bellar. lib 5 de Râ—m Pont cap. 6. 7. Sand. lib. 2. de visib Monar cap 4. Genebr Châ—on l. 4 ad An. 1578 1581. Cicarell in viâ— Gregorii 13. caus 23. cap. omnium Ex com Plutar. in Sylla Ioh. 16 4. Isay 49.24 Apoc. 14.12 Isay 11.4 Ier. 1.10 Pii Quinti Sententia Declarat cont Elizâ—b Dâ— Maiorit cap. vnam Sanctam Ier. 23.29 Lyrain Ierem. cap. 1. vt evellis i. evellendo denuncies traÌ„sfâ—rendos inde habitatores 2. Cor. 10.4 5 Luk. 10.18 Apoc. 13.3 2. Thess. 1.8 Rev. 6.10.11 Luk. 18.8 Act 18.14 15 16. Act. 2â— 18.19 Hilar. contra Auxent Terret exiliis carcaribus Ecclesiae Bucer De regno Christ. lib. 2. c 5. 2. King 4 24.25 c. 2. King 4 30. Gen 6.11.12 Polyd. Virg. Hist. Angl. lib. 1 p. 16. Gildas de Exâ—idio BritaÌ„niae Apoc. 13 3. Gen 20.11 Ep. Iud v. 7. 1 Cor. 10.11 Psal 94.10 Hab. 2.12 Isay. 5.8 Iam 5 4. 2. Pet. 2.3 2. Cor. 7.31 Ps. 62.10 Gen. 30.30 1. Tim. 4.8 Psal. 46.7 Psal. 11.1 Psal. 24.1 Eph. 2.2 Gen. 25.5.6 1. Sam. 1.4.5 Deut. 21.17 Eph. 6.12 1. King 12.10 11 Mat 28.18 1. Cor. 14 3. Luk. 10 9.13 19. Mat. 11.4.5 Apoc. 13.13.14 Aug. lib. 20 de Civ Dei cap. 19 Aug. de Trinit cap. 7. 8. Ang. tractat 30 in Ioh. Hieron in Psal. 57. Cassiod in Psal. 57. 2. Thess. 2 1â— Rom. 1.18 Rom. 16 18. Apoc. 13.16 21 8. Luk. 4.6 Apoc. 13.13.14 Mat. 24.24 2. Thess. 2.10 Ioh. 1.11.12 Mat. 22.5 Aug. de Civit. Dei lib 20 19 Lyra in 2. Thes. 2 mittet 1. 〈◊〉 Aug. loc citat Iudicatiseducentur illis iudiciis Dei occulâ—è iustis iustâ— occultis Idem ibidem Deus facit iusto iudicio quod Satan iniquo malignoque consilio ibiâ— 2. Thess. 2.12 Mat. 12.39 Bern. Seâ—m 2 de advent Doâ— Brist Mot. â— Brist Mot. 6. Rhem. in Ioâ— 15. v. 24. Brist Mot. 5. fol. 22. Brist Mot. 6. fol. 31. Brist Mot. 5. fol. 20. Rhem. in Al 7.58 Pii 5 sentent Declarat cont Eiizab Regin Angl. Lyra in Dan 14 Et similiâ—er fit in Ecclesia max ima deceptiâ— populi in miraculis fictis à sacer dotibus vel ipsis adherentibus propter lucrum temporale Can. l. 11.6 Deut. 13.2.3 Brist Mot. 5. Apoc. 13.13 Exod. 8.7 Lactant. de Orig Error lib. 2 cap. 16. Lactant. de Iust. lib. 5 c. 3. Greg Turonensis lib. 10 c. 24. Hom. 49. in 24. Mat. in opere impers opud Chrysost. tom 2. p 1109. Gal. 1.8 Deut 13.1 2 3 Mat. 27 41.42 43. Apoc. 7.2 3. Apoc. 13 â— Mat. 24.24 Mat. 7.25 16.18 Ioh. 17.17 Brist Mot. 36. Dioscor lib. 9. c. 4. Plin. lib. 22. cap 15. Dioscor lib. 4. cap 205. lib. 8. cap. 3. Isa. 1.15 Isa. 58.4 1. Cor 69. Gen. 3.5.6 Gen. 3 22. Act. 26.9 10 1. Tim. 1.13 Act 16. Luk. 24 11 Ioh. 20.27 28 2. Sam. 12. Ps 51. Act 9. Mat. 26.75 Cypr. epist. 70. ad Ianuariâ—m Cypr. cp 73. ad Iubaian Euseb. l 7. c 3. Tertul. lib. 1. ad â—â—orem Iust. Mart. Dâ—alâ—cum Tryph. p. 239. Liaen l 5. c. 23. vide Hier. Catalog Papias Tertuâ— Chiliastâ— fait lib. 3. conâ— Marc. Lactant. de â—ivin praemio l. 7. cap. 23. Psal. 19.12 2. Cor. 12.7 2. Cor. 6.9 Eph. 5.5 Isai. 1.16 17. Ier. 4.14 Prov. 28 9. Prov. 28.13 Exod. 9.27 Numb â—3 10 Ps. 19.12 2. Thess. 1.8 Ioh. 17.3 1. Tim. 1.13 Act. 3.17.19 Ioh. 3 3. 1. Cor. 15.50 Ier. 44.16 17. Luk. 14.26 Iewel in his Reply Defence Câ—us 9 q. â— Nâ—mo Dâ—stinct 96 cap Duo Nunquam Dist. 40. cap. si Papa Magdeb. Cent. 5 cap. 10. Concil Carthag 6 cap. 3.4 Concil Aphrica cap 105. Cent. 6. cap. 7. cont Primatum Greg. Ep. lib 4 Ep 34. Gre l 6. Ep 30 Egâ— sidenter dico c. Dist. 99. cap. Primae Sedis sequeâ—t Conc. Trid. Sess. 13 cap 5. Paulin in vita Ambrosi Possidou in vitâ— August Apoc. 12.6 Rhem. in Apoci 12. Isai. 26.20 1. King 19 18 1. King 18 39 Isay. 49 31. Psal. 32 1. Act. 3.26 Cant. 5.7 1 Tim 1.13 Act. 17 23.30 Aâ—g ep 48. ad Vincentium Paulin. in vito Ambrosiâ— Isa. 1. â— Rom. 11.34 Ioh. 3.10 Iob. 13.7 1 King 22.23 Ezek. 149. Aug lib. 20 de Civ Dei cap. 19 Iuâ—â—o ipse â—â—dicio Qâ—is non iâ—â—a â—udicia divina contâ—emiscaâ—â—uibus agit Deus in coâ—dibus malorum hominum quicquid vult Mat 10 2â— Dan. 4.31.32 Rom. 8.28 2. Cor. 12 7â— Iob. 13.5 Mat. 12.44 45 2. Tim. 3.13 2 Sam. 24.14 Lam. 2.12 Exod. 12.30 Mat. 9.36 Act. 16.6.7 2 Tim. 2 26. Apoc 21.27 Apoc. 20.10 Rom 9.3 2. Thess. 2.16 Peâ—es de Trad. Duran Rat. Concil Trid. Act. 28.26.27 Apoc. 2 4. Hos. 13.12 Rom. 2. â— Iob. 14 17. Mat. 22 4. Act. 10.33 Mal 3.15 16. 2 King 4 42. 2. King 6.1 Nehem. 5.18 2. King 8 1â— 1 King 17.14 Psal 4 7. Gen. 29.20 Gen. 31 38. Prov 8 33. Gen. 45 24. Heb. 13.17 1. King 19 4. Apoc 13 16. Am. 3 1â— Apoc. 12.9 Apoc. 14.1 Ioh. 1.11 12. Ier. 9 23. 1. Cor. 1.31 2. Thess. 1.3 Mat. 16.17 Ioh 3.36 Gal. 1.13.14 2. Pet. 1.1 Act. 11 23. Act 13.48 Phil. 4.1 Act 1â— 45 Numb 11.26 27 28. Luk. 16.18 Mat. 23.15 Bellarm Tom. 1 pâ—aef ad Lâ—ct Mâ—â—t Nâ—var Consâ—l lib. 3. Cons. 1. Alleâ— Apol. pro Seminar cap. 2. 1. Ioh 4 19. Deut 7 7 8. â—eâ—t 9.4 5. â—â—h 1. â— 6 7. 2 7 2. Thâ—ss â— â—2 Eph. 1.4 Isai. 1.18 Rom. 8 38. Numb 23.19 Deut. 31.16.20 21. Rom. 9.11.12 Eph. 1.4 Rom 9.12 Rom. 8.35 Rom. 8.30 1. Pet. 1.22 1. Cor 6.11 1. Cor. 3.6 Isai. 55.10 Isai. 49 4. Ier. 6.29 Ioh. 1.12 Ioh. 3.16 Rom 10.2 Ioh. 17 17. Conc. Trid. Sess. 22. cap. 8. Luk 11.52 Bellar de verbo Dei lib. 2 c. 15 Rhâ—â—â— in praes 1. Cor. 41. Eph. 47. Iam. 1.21 Rom. 10.14 Bul. cont Anab. lib. 3. c. 4.5 6. lib. 1 cap. 3. â—ellar de Cler. lib. 1. cap. 13. Heb. 5 4. Rom. 10.14 Act. 20.28 1. Cor. 15.25.26 Rom. 8.37
this sitting betokeneth his governmēt in spiritual matters whē he shal vndertake to make laws constitutions at his own pleasure which is to depose Christ out of his kingdōe For although that the whole world be his kingdome yet the Church of God is so properly called for that he chiefly ruleth therein is obeyed and honored as the Lord and only Prince thereof Wherefore if any shall say the breath of my lippes shall bee a law and ordinance for the Church of God he is that Antichrist this is to fit It is said also to set out his pride that hee should shew himselfe as God not only he should say so but shew it and make it evidently manifestly knowne which is referred either to that which went before where it is said he should sit 1. take on him that which properly belongeth to God or to that which followeth whence it is said he should come in lying wonders c. Ierome although in some place he leaneth to their opinion cōcerning the revolt yet in his commentaries on this place if the work be his confesseth that it may indifferently be meant either of the declining from subiection of the Gentils or from the faith Augustine and Chrysostome they say that the Empire must be taken away first that afterwardes Antichrist may succeed yet ground they it not vpon these wordes but on those that follow And Augustine as we before noted saith that he shall be a runagate from God Chrysostome saith that there shal be such a revolt from God that scarse the best shall scape from being offended Ita vt offenderentur si possibile esset electi Fathers making for our interpretatiō Socrates setting down an epistle against Arius Ep. Alexandri Episc. Alexand. Animos hominum ad defectionem quae praenuncia quasi praecursor Antichristi est docere nituntur Cyril thus Now is the departure or Apostasie For men haue departed or are become Apostataes from the right faith Oecumenius on this place saith he meaneth a departing from God and the thing it selfe The common Glosse thus he saith this of the spirituall Empire of the Romane Church or of a departure from the faith Thomas Aquinas Therefore wee must hold that the departure from the Romane Empire ought to bee vnderstood not only from the temporall but spipituall state namely from the Catholike faith Anselmus saith al nations must depart from the Empire of Rome whether it bee that a multitude of Churches shall depart from the Bishop of Rome or that many men shall depart from the faith Lyra disputeth the matter concludeth that the Apostasie shall be generall Lastly the Rhemists themselues in their notes following say the same viz. It is very like that this great defection shall not be only from the Romane Empire but specially fom the Romane Church So that by Fathers our exposition is also confirmed witnesse of our adversaries our exposition is also confirmed Rhemists themselues our exposition is also confirmed Now follow in the Apostle these 5 things 1 Properties of the person who shall bee the ring leader in this defection 2 Time of his cumming 3 Overthrowe of him 4 Meanes to bring it to passe 5 Persons in whom this adversary shal work 1 For his properties it is said that he should be notable in 1 Wickednesse 2 Malice 3 Pride 2 The Time before the Apostle come to declare the time of this departing he interlaceth a note of remembrance Knowe you not that whē I was yet with you I told you these things wherby he noteth that the thing is worthy the noting For surely if these things had not beene foretold when seely soules should behold the Church so generally defaced it were no marvaile if they murmured with Ieremy and said wee haue beene deceaved and thou hast deceaved vs. Wherefore it pleased God for helpe of our infirmitie to foretell his Church of these things that when they come to passe they may beare them more patiently And knowing that they were before appointed in the determinate counsell of God wee may assure our selues that they must needs turne to his glory and so to the benefit of his Church that hath appointed them For this cause is it that the Apostles by preaching and writing so oft and diligently taught this point and that it is laid out in sundry places of the Apocalips and often signified by our Saviour The time of revealing is expounded by some of the revealing of Christ in iudgement but that which is repeated proveth the contrary That which lette◠some say is the Sonne others the holy Ghost some the preaching of the word But seeing it is said that that which letteth shall be taken out of the way which phrase signifieth a corruptiō which cānot agree to any of these things it appeareth that this interpretation cannot stand Wherefore their exposition seemeth to be the simplest which say that hereby is meant the state of the Empire of Rome for that when it should be remoued the kingdome of Antichrist the platforme whereof was already begun to be laid should shew itselfe And herein also our adversaries agree likewise with vs. The misterie of iniquitie which the Apostle saith began then to worke signifieth the corruption of doctrine which was laboured by heretickes which the rather is to bee noted for that it may appeare how fondly the Papists vrge that therfore the man of sinne must bee one singular man because the greeke article is set before the word which is the chiefest ground of Saunders demonstration to proue the Pope not to be Antichrist And it is vrged also by the Rhemists in their notes and as making much for them they haue taken the pains to set the greeke words in the margent But whē S. Iohn saith he that denieth is that Antichrist hee must if that bee true which they say meane but one but the same Apostle in his 2. epist. ver 7. saith that whosoever and affirmeth that there bee many such wherefore it cannot meane one Besides the Apostle here addeth the Article to the mystery which is meant of corruption of doctrine by many And againe so he that letteth which is not one particuler Emperour but the whole cōpany as the Papists themselues say wherefore the article proveth nothing Out of this text there are two points of doctrine to bee observed 1 The changeablenes whereto the visible Church is subiect 2 Secondly the person or state which cōmeth nearest to this description of Antichrist and wherevnto the properties here set downe do most properly belong This is a matter both of wit and importance 1 Here is wisdome let him that hath wit count the number 2 The Apostle not only whē he was present taught it them but by his Epistle putteth them in minde of it as a thing worthy the
much albeit in generality confessed yet remaines there a church Even as the Prophet in the person of God saith I haue brought vp rebellious children children they were yet rebellious And in the 16. of Ezech. he saith thou hast made my children to passe through the fire yet were they childreÌ„ of Adulterers So that they were not altogither dead though dead sicke and as a man in a consumption far wasted spent So that wheÌ„ we consider the general corruptioÌ„ they may be termed an adulterous seed And as we are to woÌ„der at the Lords severity who so greatly punished his church againe on the other side we are to praise and magnifie his mercy who in this great famine had kept some bread some water bread water but in a scant measure yet such as might serue for to saue the life of some as the oile in the cruse and the meale in the barrell a few were saved but being pulled as brands halfe burnt out of the fire So that the seat wherin Antichrist is to sit is not that of the Turke a professed enemy to religion but of Gods temple that therby he may the easilier deceiue work his strong illusions Besides to shew how hee challengeth the right and title of God wee might bring sufficient testimonies out of his owne laws Canons wherof some giue him the very name of God But seeing the modester sort of Papists are ashamed of such tearmes let it suffice to haue shewed that he is the person who taketh to him that which is proper to God not to giue childreÌ„ heale the sicke c. But to hold the winds from blowing who causeth that which God hath said to be doubted off and will haue his word to stand for a law which teacheth that it staÌ„deth vpon the necessity of salvation that every soule should be subiect to his authority Who honoureth the periury of Princes and their murthering of their innocent subiects with a holy-day and counteth the periury of subiects to their Princes a holy thing yea the slaughter of Princes by their subiects a thing meritorious worthy reward to speak the truth in a word howsoever by the Pope his adherents other things be pretended for all their doings yet in truth is it nothing that they regard or striue for but to hold him in his seate to ratifie his authority and vsurped government so that if reformatioÌ„ could stand with the Popes crowne the Monkes belâ—y the matter had been at an end long before this day The things which for our edification we may learne hence are these that seeing ambition filthy covetousnes were the two wings wherewith this Antichrist flew so high we are to beware seeing we make profession that we hate him least we loue favour the things for which he hath deserved this hate Wherefore let such take heed as to advance themselues make no conscience of the duty they owe to God least their punishment be like his whose sins they imitate And such as make marchaÌ„dise of the roomes and places in Gods church or his sanctuary Such as sold doâ—es and changed mony which was necessary for the sacrifices in the temple made it a den of theeues and what do they that buy and sell the places thereof they be their owne they say so of some of them I may say indeed as one said of Sylla that the Pretership was his indeed because he had paid well for it Concerning the properties of Antichrist the time of his appearing and the state which of al other commeth neerest here vnto as I haue received of the Lord so haue I delivered vnto you Now followeth his overthrow wherein the holy Ghost fetteth downe two things to be considered 1 The overthrow that God will consume him 2 The Meanes by the breath of his mouth 1 Consume abolish destroy If the Lord had given no notice before hand hereof when men had seene such an enemy rise even out of the church of God considering mans infirmity we must needs thinke that many would haue staggered enquired after the truth of his promises But for to avoid this danger he hath forewarned vs as he faith to his Disciples I haue told you before of these things that when the houre is come yee might remember that I told you them Besides if hee had spake of the power of Antichrist and not of his overthrow the children of God considering the mightines thereof might haue doubted how he should haue oppressed and haue said with them in Isay Shall the pray bee taken from the mighty or the iust captivitie delivered but now hearing the promise â—hey may in the midst of trouble cleaue to the Lord as it is in the Prophet and and this is the patience of Saints 2 The meanes whereby this should be wrought is the word of the Lord which is called the breath of his mouth It seemeth that here the Apostle alludeth to a place in Esay where it is prophecied of Christ that hee should smite the earth with the rod of his mouth and with breath of his lips should slay the wicked speaking of the first comming of Christ of the secret power of his word and as there he speaketh of the overthrow of one speciall enemie Here we are to marke the glorious testimony of the mighty power of the word of God to which purpose it is that in the prophesie of Ieremy it is attributed to the Minister and publisher thereof I haue set thee over the nations over kingdomes to plucke vp and to root out c. By which place Boniface 8. would proue his power over temporall Lords And hereby was Pius 5. moved to depose the Queenes Maiesty And Saunders in this case as also the Libeller against the execution of Iustice leaneth herevnto But who seeth not that Ieremy speaketh of the word of God in the mouth of the Prophet which in another place is said to be like fire and the people as stubble So Theodoret and Lyra also haue expounded it The weapons of our warfare are not carnall c having ready vengeance not only against men but against Satan meant by the name of principalities and therefore no marvell if against Antichrist Seeing Satan fell downe from heaven like lightning God will send his messengers to pull his wings and make him stand on his feet But because this beast hath many heads therefore should receiue indeed a deadly stroke yet should hee not quite bee destroyed till Christ come whom hee will destroy with the brightnesse of his comming Some expound so this phrase as though it were vsed by the Apostle to shewe how easily God can and will destroy him but the most plaine signification seemeth to be that by the brightnesse of his comming we meane his bright comming as it is said in the first chap. flame of fire for flaming fire The Apostle here alludeth to
that description of Christs comming which is there laid downe Till that time all enimies shall not be taken away Soules vnder the altar cry how long Lord holy and true dost thou not iudge and avenge our blood on theÌ„ that dwell on the earth And it was answered they should rest till the number of their brethren were fulfilled c. Hereto agreeth that of our Saviour when the sonne of man commeth shall he find faith on the earth Wherefore though Antichrist be not quite abolished wee must take that which God hath begun in good part knowing that our full deliverance and his everlasting overthrow shall bee wrought at Christs comming Here may we learne that when all strength in the world besides is laid together yet is it nothing of force to displace Satan vnlesse the word of God and preaching of his truth be adioined It is indeed a great blessing of God that Kings make good and wholsome lawes for the suppressing of Idolatry and promoting of Religion as it is a great plague either to haue no Iudges or to haue such as was Gallio who when Paule would haue answered the accusation of the Iewes told them that if it were a matter of wrong c. but if it bee a question of wordes and names and of your law c or as Festus Questions of superstition and of one Iesus Yet when all power wisdome and pollicie is laid together it appertaineth alone to God the lawgiver to change the harts The want of preaching of Gods law is the cause why so many soules among vs are not yet delivered from the power of Antichrist why after so long calling so few are willing to come why the Man of sinne is not overthrowne even because we haue fought against spirituall adversaries more with the weapons of man then of God We accuse Turke and Pope for enforcing men by violence bands and death to beleeue their religion yet wee rather practise mans meanes then the way God hath appointed to ingender faith in mens consciences Bucer hath said that Humane lawes may well make hypocrites but faithfull Christians the word of God alone maketh Which I would they had considered who haue stoared the Church of God with dry nurses The dragons stretch out their breasts and giue sucke to their young ones but these like the Ostrich which leaueth her egs are become carelesse and cruell hardned against their young as though they were not theirs When the Sonne of the Shunamite was dead no reason of her husband nor heat of harvest could hold her but she would to Carmel to the man of God Carmel was a place whereas the children of the Prophets vsed to meete to haue conference apart Elizeus sent his servant with his staffe as others wil haue their deputies but the woman lay at the feet of the Prophet would not rest till she had him to come himselfe with her If the people abroad knew the sicknes their soules are in for want of their Prophets so well as this woman felt the griefe for her sonne departed I doubt not but even though it were in the heat of harvest they would come to Carmel and lie at the feet of their Prophets and protest as shee did not to depart and leaue them It was as much as Elizeus himselfe could doe to bring life into the child SecoÌ„dly we may hence note that though vngodlines prosper for a while yet God will bring each worke to iudgement The Deluge Sodome Egypt may be proofes hereof How often hath this scepter of England changed The cause of those in Scripture is laid downe because all flesh had corrupted his way And Gildas writeth of our country that before these plagues came on it the corruption was so great that who so would keepe a good conscience must haue seperated himselfe as Enoch The like doth Mathew Paris write before the comming of the Danes when Poperie had the preheminence so that all men said great is Antichrist then came the destruction on them God even brought out of their bowels the meanes whereby that state was overthrowne Luther out of a cloyster Wolsey had leaue from Rome to pull downe the lesser houses H. 8. beginning where the Cardinall left proceeded to the greater till he left not one stone vpon another so that each man may take vp a proverbe against them thus hath the Lord done to theÌ„ because the feare of the Lord was not in those places Now as Iude teacheth vs that Sodome is left for an example to vs. And Paul 1. Cor. 10. speaketh of the Iewes so are these also for vs he that chastiseth the nations shall not he punish Many mighty are the sinnes of our land Oppression how many haue built them goodly houses whereof the first stone lieth in blood many ioine house to house field to field till there be no place that they may be placed by theÌ„selues in the midst of the earth ever labouring about such things as make vs vnwilling to die But the cry of the poore goeth vp and the damnation of these men sleepeth not We haue seene Popery shaken and I am perswaded that there be many here which shall see Gods iudgements on these vngodly men which shall be such that it shall make each eaâ—e that heareth it to tingle There be three things saith one that gape after our death our friends for our goods the worms for our body and the divell for our soule And there be three that follow our goods to the beere our friends to the Divell the wormes to the graue Wherefore seeing the fashion of the world passeth away let vs not set our hearts on the things thereof yet so that Iacobs rule be not forgotten of vs. When shall I looke to mine owne house this so that it be still ioined with godlinesse which hath the promise both of this life and of that which is to come And then God being in the midst of vs we shall not bee moved though nations rage and kingdomes be moved for the Lord of hosts shal be with vs the God of Iacob shall bee our refuge Remember David who in his affliction was counselled by his friends to vse humane and fleshly means to follow pollicy and wisdome of man the Prophet answereth I trust in God how say you then to my soule get thee as a bird to that hill I trust in God saith hee c. A lesson for vs to learne when wee bee perswaded of a change of trouble or danger flesh and blood biddeth vs fly to that hill Vse these vnlawfull meanes this is the only way to escape get to this hill But if that spirit be in vs that was in Dauid we will answer I trust in God how dare yee then say to my soule fly as a bird to this hill These words such alluremeÌ„ts of flesh blood caÌ„not availe with that soule
held vnder the thraldome of Satan to see heaven shut against them hell gaping to receiue theÌ„ their eternall damnation already prepared for them And such is the heavy iudgement of God against all contemners of his word whereof we haue proofe in all ages And expresly in the Iews to whom the promises were made among whom Christ preached lived and wrought his miracles who because they refused this holy one reviled crucified him wished that his blood might be on their heads for this cause the wrath of God came vpon them even vnto the vttermost It had bin a small matter if only they had bin in the promise of grace of salvatioÌ„ made to their fathers but this punishment passeth all To omit the East churches whose candlesticks are removed in whom Mahomet the enemy of God sitteth keepeth them in most miserable servitude we may see how in the West churches also God hath punished this sin For having at first for the doctrine of Christ brought in the doctrine of man they proceeded farther and set vp one man to vphold it and so holding on they buried Gods word in ignoraÌ„ce led away the poore people to dumbe and senslesse creatures In the midst of these thicke mists it pleased God to open his light in sundry places as in this country of ours to send salvation among vs which many haue refused and some of them fled from it but consider how the iudgment of God hath fallen on theÌ„ into what grosse absurdities haue they run and how like foolish builders they made that which should be the foundation the roofe or rather indeed haue left it no place in the building that is setting aside Gods word haue made for the ground of their faith religion mens traditions mens doctrines devises So that the Divines of Spaine and Portugall which haue not heard of the truth as these men haue done haue thought and written farre more of the truth and soundnes of the original of the dignity sufficiencie of the scripture And where the Divines of Lovan haue cleared the fathers from forgeries singled out the counterfaits our men haue stuffed their Testament with such ware I know not who saith as Stapleton doth that the Church hath authority to Canonize for scripture those that are not as the Canons of the Apostles the booke called the Pastor long since condemned for a notable forgery But this is Gods iudgement fallen vpon them for their refusall of Gods truth I will end with them having rehearsed that place which S. Paule did against the Iewes out of the Prophet Hearing ye shall heare shal not vnderstand c for the hart of this people is waxed sat Now let me speake to you of whom I hope better things I would to God I might hope so good that I might not haue occasion to say as the spirit of God faith to the Church of Eph. I haue somewhat against thee Hoseah saith The iniquity of Ephraim is bound vp Alluding to the manner of covetous men who having store of mony before hand are wont to bind it vp lay it by till it so fal out that they may purchase some gainefull thing thereby In which manner the iniquity of Ephraim is said to be bound vp as reserved and kept for some purpose After which maner also the Apostle speaketh of vngodly meÌ„ that they treasure vp to theÌ„selus wrath against the day of wrath I am afraid lest that our sins be bound kept togither for some purpose and sealed vp as Iob speaketh in a bag for some purchase Whereof I wish you in the feare of God to iudge The Lord hath prepared a great banquet the guests haue bin bidden all maner of fare hath bin appointed both for the weak strong yet haue the commers bin so thin as they are but as a cluster of grapes yea of the whole vine not so many as will make a cluster I could wish that some would make a table in his heart of such as he thinketh are effectually called I suppose he should finde the nuÌ„ber to be very few Cornelius when Peter was sent vnto him was ready with his friend before God to heare whatsoever was commanded him of God Are there many among vs like Cornelius which wait for the comming of Peter with their acquaintance and friends And are there many which come with such reverence before God Some there are that come but it is while their yearely dignitie lasteth Shew mee such housholders as bring their families and friendes to heare what God hath commanded to be told them and we will giue them the commendations which Cornelius had Thinke you that your wiues children and servants haue no soules or that they are given them only for this life insteed of salt to keep their bodies from putrifying Trowe you that the blessing of God can rest vpon that house wherein there is no one that feareth God or delighteth to heare his word You are like to bestow much in maintaining the liberties of your citie and I could wish you did so if it be your right but if you knewe what it were to bee free of the kingdome of heaven you would more earnestly labour for that freedome then for the other Follow the example of them that are mentioned Malach. 3. c. who when vngodly men set their hearts on wickednesse condemning the iustice of God Such as feared the Lord spake every one to his neighbour and there was a table of remembrance Otherwise vnlesse we reforme this falt wee are to feare least God will punish it in displeasure and leaue in this place a marke of remembrance for the contempt of his mercy To you my brethren of the Vniversitie I must say somwhat In the 2. King 4. it is said that when the famine was great in the land the children of the Prophets dwelt with Elizeus and hee appointed to make pottage for them it seemed that that was their ordinary fare for it is reported afterwardes that a good man brought Elizeus bread of the first fruits and twentie loaues of Barley and full eares of corne which the Prophet bestowed among his sonnes In the 6. Chapter mention is made of them againe that complaining of Elizeus that the roome where they were was too little for them they obtained leaue of him to goe to Iordan and take every man a beame and so make a place to dwell in Our commons are I confesse in many places very slender and short of that which our good Founders meant for vs which hath risen through the want of faithfull stewardes yet no where is it so scant as that wee are enforced to gather hearbes to make pottage or to feed on a few Barlâ—y loaues Their dwelling place was enlarged by themselues it is likely they were not very sumptuous for they were not able to beare the charges of an axe head which