Selected quad for the lemma: order_n

Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
order_n church_n power_n word_n 4,109 5 4.3877 3 true
View all documents for the selected quad

Text snippets containing the quad

ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A09434 A godlie and learned exposition upon the whole epistle of Iude, containing threescore and sixe sermons preached in Cambridge by that reverend and faithfull man of God, Master William Perkins, and now at the request of his executors, published by Thomas Taylor, preacher of Gods word ; whereunto is prefixed a large analysis, containing the summe and order of the whole booke, according to the authors owne method, to which are further added, foure briefe tables to direct the reader ... Perkins, William, 1558-1602.; Taylor, Thomas. 1606 (1606) STC 19724.3; ESTC S100865 274,393 200

There are 6 snippets containing the selected quad. | View lemmatised text

Baptisme yea in it the very action of the Minister is a worship of God and doth confer grace ex opere operat● this was their old doctrine which now they colour with this addition If the partie be well and rightly disposed but besides the vse yea the lawfull and common vse there is by this ground required an holy vse of any thing to make it acceptable to God or rightly profitable to the doer himselfe Secondly their hallowing of Water Bels Palmes Ashes Spettle is a meere mockerie of God seeing they haue neither word nor promise from God that these creatures should thus be hallowed to preserue from euill bodie or soule Thirdly they erre in the foundation of religion diuer● waies euery which such error is blasphemie Fourthly that religion oppugneth the sanctification of Gods name in the vse of a lawfull oath teaching first that the Pope hath power to dispense with an oath Secondly that men may sweare by the Masse and so doing make it a God Thirdly euen the learned among them with one consent hold that a man may sweare ambiguously euen when he knoweth the thing to be otherwise The seuenth ground is Galath 5.14 The whole law is fulfilled in this one word Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe The meaning is not that we should loue our neighbour equally with our selues and with no lesse affection or degree of loue but that with the same cheerefulnes willingnes and truth of heart that we perform duties of loue to our selues ought wee also to reach them out vnto others The weight of this ground appeareth in that not onely Christ saith It is like the great Commandement but also in that it is the summe of the whole law for the first table must be practised in the second and the loue of God testified in loue to men The Aduersaries of this ground bee the Popish Church who thus expound it First loue thy self and then thy neighbour making the loue of our selues the foundation of the loue of others but sometime wee may loue our neighbour aboue our selues as Ionathan loued Dauid more than his own soule and Christ loued his enemies more than his owne life Secondly it teacheth that a man must not loue particularly his particular enemie nor salute him in particular but generally as if hee salute a whole companie together his enemie being there The eighth ground Exod. 20.12 Honour thy father and thy mother c. In the words two things are to be considered first an ordinance of God secondly the meanes to preserue it The ordinance is that all men must not be equall in degree but there must bee orders of men of whom some are to be in higher degree as superiours some in lower condition as inferiours the former are aboue others in regarde of power to command and to punish the latter are in subiection vnder others by whose discretion and will they are to be gouerned This ordinance is described Rom. 13.1 Let euery soule be subiect to the superiour power that is be content to be vnder others which are above him in power so here some must bee as fathers and mothers some must bee subiected vnto them The meanes to preserue this ordinance is the yeelding of honour vnto whom it belongeth which standeth in three things first in reuerence towards the persons of superiours Secondly in obedience to their iust commandements Thirdly in thankefulnes for their paines in gouerning thus is that golden sentence to be expounded Matth. 22. Giue vnto C●sar the things that are Caesars that is giue him reuerence obedience thankfulnes according to that Rom. 13.7 Giue feare vnto whom feare belongeth honour to whom honour tribute to whom tribute The weight of this ground is plaine because without it can be no practise of true religion for first by it stand the three things the Familie the Church and Common-wealth all which are maintained by gouernment and subiection wherefore the Lord set this Commandement the first of the second Table as whereupon he would found all humane societies Secondly gouernour● in any of these societies are the keepers of both Tables without whose helpe and authoritie Gods kingdome could haue no abiding on the earth Aduersaries of this Commandement are the Papists who weaken the authoritie of the Magistrate in exempting their Clergie from all Ciuill power of Magistracie in causes both iudiciall that is matters controuersall and criminall that is matters of trespasse although the Apostle saith Let euery soule be subiect Secondly that Church hath set vp a power to bring into order and subiection all the Kings vpon earth namely the power of the Pope who challengeth to himselfe to ouerrule yea and to depose at his pleasure Kings and Queenes who in their dominions are aboue al and only vnder God Thirdly that religion lesseneth the power of parents for in the Councel of Trent they establish first Mariages and Contracts made by children without consent of parents Secondly Vowes also made by children vnder age and without consent of parents are held lawful and not to be broken The ninth ground is Micha 6.8 He hath shewed thee O man what is good and what the Lord requireth of thee surely to do iustly to loue mercie to humble thy selfe and to walke with thy God The meaning Three vertues are here required first Iust d●aling secondly Mercie thirdly Humilitie Touching the first wee are commanded to do● iustly and this execution of iustice between man and man hath fiue substantiall parts First to giue honor to whom honor is due Secondly by thought word and deed to preserue the body and soule of our neighbour that is his life spirituall and temporall Thirdly his chastitie which is the honor of bodie and soule in single life and Matrimonie Fourthly his worldly estate Fiftly his good name This is the scope of all the Commandements of the second Table Now because the due execution of iustice must bee tempered with mercie therefore is mercie required of man in the second place which is a readinesse to relieue the miserie of the distressed And thirdly because iustice and mercie without godlinesse are but ciuil vertues we are in the last place commaunded to walke in humilitie with our God which containeth the summe of the first table and standeth in three things first wee must acknowledge our sinnes secondly intreate for pardon thirdly purpose not to offend God any more but endeuour to preuent sinne to come Concerning y● weight of this ground it appeareth in Micha 6.7 where the Lord testifieth himselfe to be more delighted with the practise of loue and mercie than with oblations of thousands of Rammes and tenne thousand riuers of oyle and elsewhere I will haue mercie and not sacrifice Yea Titus 2.12 This is made the end of the appearing of the grace of God that we should liue soberly in regard of our selues iustly in regard of others and godly in regard of God These vertues are so respected of God
person no vnrepentant sinner can be partaker of but onely the Church of the first borne as in Heb. the 12 whose names are written in the booke of life and who receiue daily spirituall increase for howsoeuer in the Catholike Church there be two sorts of men professing religion the one of them that do vnfainedly beleeue and are sanctified the other of them who make a shew of faith but indeede beleeue not but remaine in their sinnes of the former doth the Catholike Church consist and not of the latter who are no members s●t into the head of this body though they may seeme so to bee Secondly this confuteth the Romish Church who teach and hold that a reprobate may be a member of this Church Thirdly that none can bee the head of this Church and Catholique congregation but onely Christ for he only knoweth them who and where they be thorough the face of the whole earth not the Pope or any other creature hath any headship ouer this companie who are giuen and properly appertaine vnto the Sonne of God Fourthly that this Catholique Church is inuisible and cannot by the eie of flesh be discerned for what eye except of faith can see or discerne the depth of Gods election or whom he hath effectually called yea and who can infalliblie determine of the things that are within a man and therefore this is a matter of faith not of sense an Article of our beleefe not the obiect of our sight seeing faith is an euidence of thinges not seene which againe ouerthroweth that Romish doctrine which teacheth that the Catholike Church is visible and apparent vpon earth and so destroy that Article of our faith Fiftly that this Catholike Church being preserued by God the Father to life euerlasting cannot vtterly perish and bee dissolued all other congregations and particular Churches being mixed and the greatest part not predestinate may faile yet this cannot be ouercome Rom. 11.7 this election of God shall obtaine though the rest be hardened The gates of hell shall not preuaile against the faith of the Church because faithfull and true is hee that hath spoken and who will preserue in this Church a succession of wholsome and sound doctrine and heauen and earth shall be sooner dissolued than on iote of the same shall faile and perish But though that faile not the Church may fall from that and so faile That particular Churches and of them the most famous haue been ruined yea and fallen away and so may doe is euident by the Churches of Ephesus Corinth Galatia c. and no maruell seeing these consisted euer of mixed persons but the Catholique Church consisting onelie of a number elected and called though it also not being as yet without wrinkle may erre and faile in some smaller points yet being preserued by God to life cannot possibly faile in the maine and foundation This doctrine affordeth strong consolation to the elect of God both in regard of their frequent falles and infirmities whereby they might feare to cast themselues quite out of fauor as also in regard of the manifold assaultes and bickerings which in the world they doe and shall endure whereby they might seeme to the outward veiw to perish yet the truth is neither of both need so dismay them but that their faith and hope may still bee reuiued and strengthened seeing they are preserued to saluation Sixtly here are better notes of a true Church then the Papistes Antiquity Succession Multitude c. which can bee no notes Frst for Antiquitie in the beginning was a true Church but no Antiquitie Secondly succession failes for what men soeuer are called and sanctified are the Church Thirdly multitude no note for if there be a calling and sanctification of men there is a Church be there many or few But the true notes are the meanes of calling to the faith by the doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles and obedience thereunto proceeding forward in sanctification euen vntill death without which notes none can truly say they are of the Catholique Church By which we may know the Church of England to be the true visible Church of God called and sanctified in the truth Ioh. 8.31 Now to proceede wee are in the next place to intreate of the order which God obserueth in bringing men by degrees to life euerlasting And first of the calling mentioned which is a worke of God who of his meere fauour and grace calleth vile and miserable men out of the world and inuiteth them to life euerlasting to vnderstand which we must know that the calling of God is two fold The first is generall when God calles a whole Nation kingdome and countrie that is when hee offers them saluation in the meanes as when hee sends his word amongst them affordes them the Sacraments to seale the Couenant giue● leaue to approch him in prayer and all this in the Ministrie of men that man might call man yea when hee vouchsafeth priuate meanes farre inferior to the former yet often seruing for a generall calling a● is the reading of the Scriptures yea of mens writings and some time report● as in Rahab● example and the woman of Samaria by these meanes the Lord generally calleth men offering but often not giuing grace offered in great iudgement turning away from a froward people If God offer but giue not grace it is a deluding of men No for first a man was once able to receiue it secondly hereby hee maketh them without execuse whom he will destroy thirdly hereby he keepes the wicked in outward order Vse Considering to be called of God is the first step to life euerlasting and we in this Church of England are thus called it remaines that euery man should answere this calling How shall this be done Frame thy heart to answere God as Dauid did when God bad him seeke his face Thy face O Lord will I seeke see also Marke 9.23.24 of the father of the possessed child and Psal. 40.6.7 whē Dauids eare was pearced hee answered Lord I come this ought to be the Answer of our hartes to the Lords voice sounding in the Ministry The second calling is more speciall when grace is not only offered but giuen also by God thorough the effectuall working of his spirit in our hearts which is the beginning of grace in vs hee himselfe laying the first foundation of it by giuing power to receiue the word to mingle it with faith and bring forth the fruites of new obedience for the better conceiuing of the nature of it consider sixe pointes First the ground and foundation of it namely Gods eternall free election of vs vnto life euerlasting as 2. Tim. 1.9 when I say free I exclude not only whatsoeuer man can imagine within himselfe as vaine in procuring such good vnto himselfe as not of works saith Paul least any should boast but also placing the ground of all our good out of our selues in the counsell of God which the
multiplication of loue towards God and man yea towards our enemies seeing the more this is multiplied the happier is our estate yea and the condition of the Church vpon earth Vers. 3. Beloued when I gaue 〈◊〉 diligence to write vnto you of the common saluation it was needfull for me to write vnto you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once giuen vnto the Saints Here begins the second part of this Epistle which is the Exhortation reaching to the end of the 23. verse In this verse two things are contained First the causes which mooued the Apostle to write the Epistle Secondly the matter of his exhortation The causes of his writing are three First his loue noted in the word Beloued Secondly his readie and willing minde of himselfe noted in the word diligence which signifieth a carefull endeuour and studie to doe the Church good and it is enlarged by three arguments first in that he gaue all diligence and not some part onely to further the Church Secondly when hee could not speake to the Catholike church he gaue diligence to write Thirdly he writeth not of small matters but of things most weightie such as concern● their saluation against which seeing it might be obiected that he was not able to write of such a weightie matter hee therefore calles it common saluation to cut oft that surmise as also to shew that it is common to himselfe and the whole Church of which therefore hauing a share therein he is not ignorant The third cause in the word needfull a necessitie was laid vpon him in that he was called to bee an Apostle and so bound to further the saluation of the Catholike Church Out of these three motiues which caused the Apostle to write obserue First that euery Minister that would deliuer the word faithfully must haue three things to excite him thereto first loue towards the Church to which he is called Secondly a readie minde to further the saluation of their soules Thirdly the bond of his calling stirring him vp to faithfulnes and diligence All these three concurred in Paul first his loue appeared 2. Cor. 5.14 Secondly his readie minde was not wanting Philip. 2.17 Thirdly for his calling that vrged him see 1. Cor. 9.16 Note hence also that whosoeuer would heare the word or reade it to saluation must bring three things in his heart first a loue to the word deliuered This caused Dauid often to muse thereupon Psal. 119.97 Secondly a readie and diligent minde to receiue and reteine it this was in the Bereans Act. 17.11 and in the Galathians when they receiued Paul as an Angell of God Gal. 4.14 Thirdly a consideration of the great necessitie of hearing and reading the word Prou. 29.18 Where vision failes people perish Thirdly in this example of the Apostle all Pastors must learne diligence in all good meanes for the furtherance of the saluation of their flock for which cause they are called Watchmen because they are to watch ouer their soules Yea Sauiours Obadiah 21. to put them in minde that they are to bothe meanes of sauing men They had no● need then be entangled with many charges and other businesses Fourthly as the Apostle writeth of the common saluation of which he hath good experience so euery Minister must see that he haue experience in himselfe of that he teacheth others and haue a taste of that in his owne heart which he would haue others seasoned withall els his teaching shall be cold The second part of this verse is the exhortation the whole matter and substance may be reduced to three heads First that faith is a notable treasure which hath many enemies Secondly that the Saints are the keepers of it Thirdly that the office of euery member of the Catholike Church is to hold and maintaine this treasure For the first that faith is a treasure appeareth 2. Pet. 1.1 where it is called pretious faith 2. Cor. 4.7 a treasure in earthly vessels and by this that a fight is here inioyned against the enemies of it For the cleering of which consider two things first what it is Secondly who be the enemies of it against whom we must fight and them we shal ioyntly obserue with the seueral groūds of faith For the first this faith is nothing els but the holesome doctrine of the Gospel called by Paul to Titus 1.1 the truth according to godlines So 1. Tim. 4.1 this faith which many shall denie is opposed to the doctrine of Diuels Now for our more orderly proceeding wee must consider that this doctrine of faith admitteth a distinction which Paul himselfe maketh 1. Cor. 3.11.12 Some doctrines are of the foundation without which religion cannot stand such as are set downe Hebr. 6.1 Others pertaine to the foundation but are not of it as gold and siluer built vpon the foundation It shall not be amisse here to stand a while to set downe the holesome doctrine of saluation which is fundamentall reduced by the Apostle to two generall heads Faith and Loue. The wholesome doctrine of faith containes things needfull to be beleeued The wholesome doctrine of loue containes things necessarily to be practised And both these are expresly set downe in Scripture as wee shall s●ew in their order Grounds of doctrine to be beleeued First That all the doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles 〈◊〉 giuen by diuine inspiration 2. Tim. 3.16 All Scripture is giuen by diuine inspiration that is all the doctrine both for matter stile and words of Scripture is deliuered by the inspiration of the holy Ghost Hence it followeth that all Scripture is authenticall as hauing the authoritie from God yea and must be beleeued as if God from heauen should speake without disputation or calling any part of it into question This ground must first be laid If it be said the Scripture may be prooued by reason and by the generall consent of the Church Ans. That is vntrue for reason cannot settle the conscience to beleeue in any point But scripture telleth there is a God which reason prooueth Ans. Reason out of nature teacheth there is a God but by the word of God only I doe beleeue it inducements to faith may be brought out of nature but Gods word onely causeth true beliefe Secondly for the authoritie of the Church I beleeue not because the Church saith so but because the Scripture saith it and the Church I beleeue so farre as she consents with the word and speaketh out of it The aduersaries of this ground against whom we must fight First the Turkes and Turkish religion who denie scripture to bee giuen by inspiration and denie the bookes of the Prophets and Apostles and in stead of them stand to their Alcaran Secondly the Iewes who refuse the bookes of the new Testament Thirdly the Atheist who will beleeue nothing of all this Fourthly the painted aduersarie the Papist who vndermines this ground first saying that the Hebrew and Greeke text
the good of the Church suffereth seducers in the Church both to exercise the faith and patience of his as also to preuent greater dangers which they might in their secure condition fall into Secondly hence wee see that such hypocrites as these be though they be in the Church yet are they not of it they are no members of that bodie as the Romish Church teacheth for they onely creepe into it The second fault that is laid to their charge is that they are intruders thrusting themselues into the office of teaching not being called thereto but creepe into the calling Whence wee note that it is most necessarie that those who are to teach publikely in the church should bee first called thereunto Reasons First besides the auoiding of this sinne of creeping into the Church it is the order that God hath set in the same that he that is to teach should first be sent Rom. 10.14 And No man taketh this honour that is lawfully to himselfe except he be called as Aaron was Secondly the Ministerie is Gods and not mans because the Minister standeth in Gods roome and speaketh in his name which he can neuer doe truly vnlesse God send him and depute him in his stead Thirdly the Minister must maintaine that which he teacheth vnto which he had neede as in all the parts of his calling of Gods speciall protection for the which hee must bee alwaies instant in prayer which hee can neuer be assured of if he be not perswaded of the truth of his calling Fourthly the people cannot heare with comfort and profit if they bee not perswaded that God hath called the teacher to instruct them Rom. 10.14 How can they heare c. This truth extendeth it selfe also to all other offices as well Ciuill as Ecclesiasticall all which are to bee welded and executed by men lawfully called vnto the same All entrance then into any office in Church or Common-wealth by money fauour of men or any vnlawful meanes is intrusion and such are not called of God but are to be ranged among these seducers who creepe into places and come not in by Gods call or approbation The second adiunct whereby the seducers are described is their estate before God being men of old ordained to this condemnation That is they were before all times locked enrolled or billed vnto condemnation euen as though their names had been set downe in a booke By condemnation is meant iudgement as the particle This doth plainly shew which maketh this the plaine meaning They were of old ordained to this iudgement in this life to trie to exercise and molest the Church of God and so consequently to procure vnto themselues at length their own iust condemnation In which words we are taught first that God keepeth his bookes of Registrie and records in which all things are set downe the persons behauiours and eternall estate of all men which bookes are of three sorts first the booke of his Prouidence containing all particulars of things past present and to come in which the Lord saw the members of Dauid when he was yet vnformed Psal. 139.16 In the same booke the number of the haires of our heads and the falling of sparrowes to the ground are recorded The second booke is of the last iudgement in which the persons and sinnes of all men al enrolled Dan. 7 9.10 The thrones were set vp the ancient of daies did sit thousand thousands ministred vnto him and ●enne thousand thousands stood before him the iudgement was set and the bookes opened Reu. 20.12 I saw all great and small stand before God and the bookes were opened and another booke was opened The third is the booke of life in which are written the names of those who are to be saued Phil. 4.3 Paul saith of Clement and other his fellowe labourers that their names were written in the booke of life Now by these books we may not grossely conceiue materiall bookes such as men note what they would remember in but the counsell election prouidence pleasure and knowledge of God wherein all these things are so certainly set downe as if any man should write them in a booke Out of which wee note two things first that in regard of God there is no chance neither any euent by it in regard of men indeed who know not the causes of things many chances may be but Gods prouidence and chance are contrarie he hauing all things written before him with their causes Secondly that nothing comes to passe without the decree of God no not the wicked actions of men Which God not onely foreseeth but decreeth for this Iude insinuateth saying they were ordained to this iudgement and euen that which is against the will of God commeth not to passe without his will God willing the being of that which he willeth not to effect and though hee esteeme not euill to be good yet hee accounteth it good that euill should be Further where hee saith ordained of old to this condemnation we learne that as God hath before all worlds decreed the electing of some to saluation so he hath decreed the refusall and reiecting of others to condemnation 1. Pet. 2.8 Many were disobedient vnto the which they were euen ordained 1. Thess. 5.9 God hath not ordained you to wrath but to obtaine saluation through Christ shewing that some are ordained to wrath who are not to obtaine saluation through Christ. Rom. 9.22 God is compared to a potter framing vessels of honour and dishonour vessels of mercie and vessels of wrath In the same place I haue loued Iacob and hated Esau that is I haue decreed so to doe For the whole chapter speaketh of Gods counsel vnchangeable decree Ob. If this be so will some say then God dealeth iniustly that absolutely ordaineth some men to condemnation and perdition Ans. We must know that wee are creatures and may not presume to prescribe a law of iustice to the Creator whose will is iustice it selfe whatsoeuer we may conceiue and maketh the things willed good because it is willed and not willed because it is good Secondly though God refuse and reiect men yet hee doth it in most wise order and iust proceeding in these two degrees first hee vouchsafeth to some men the riches of his grace tending to life euerlasting which speciall abundant grace hee denieth to some other passing by them who being left of him vnto themselues fall into sinne Secondly for sin God decreeth iudgement and condemnation so as he doth not simply and absolutely ordaine his creature to hell but in regard of sinne not that sinne is a cause of the decree moouing him vnto it but that hee decreeth not condemnation without respect of sinne and relation vnto it which speech wee neede not feare to speake because the holie Ghost so speaketh Vse First if some men be passed by of God we must humble our selues vnder his mightie hand and with feare and trembling worke our saluation Roman 11.20
three things first the Magistracie hath a power in it selfe whereby the Ciuill Magistrate may commaund in his own name The Ministrie hath power onely to pronounce what God commandeth and that in his name Secondly the authoritie of the Ciuill Magistrate is in himselfe the authoritie of the Minister not in himselfe but in Christ so as the Ciuill Magistrate may command obedience to himselfe but the Minister commandeth it to God Thirdly the Ciuill gouernment hath an absolute power to compell and enforce the outward man but the Ministrie hath power only to counsell perswade exhort Secondly this power of the Sword is added to distinguish it from all priuate power as in Schooles families which haue a power of commanding but not of the Sword Lastly I adde for the common good of mankind Rom. 13.4 The Magistrate is the minister of God for thy wealth that is procuring the welfare of soule and body which standeth in two things first true Religion secondly ciuill iustice both which are by Magistracie maintained It may be here demanded 〈…〉 Church appeareth in that the 〈…〉 preparation and performance of the same 2. Chron. 35. and 〈…〉 here two differences in this authoritie must be marked First that ciuill 〈◊〉 doth not after the same 〈◊〉 order causes ecclesiasticall as 〈…〉 in ciuill causes is ord●●th all and 〈◊〉 all likewise but in ecclesiasticall it hath power to order all but not 〈◊〉 execute them The Magistrate indeed ordereth and prescribeth in all but the Minister is ●e that executeth in ecclesiasticall causes Secondly that ciuill authoritie hath power ouer all the things of men but not ouer the things of 〈◊〉 as the Wo●d and Sacrament● faith conscience the graces of God in 〈◊〉 Ci●ill power hath no rule ouer these concerning which Christ comm●nded to giue vnto God the things of God and vnto Caesar Caesars Secondly this authoritie extendeth it selfe to all persons as well Ecclesiasticall as Ciuill but so as it stretcheth onely vnto the 〈◊〉 man to the bodie life 〈◊〉 and outward things but not to the soule and conscience of which God is the onely Lord and gouernour 〈…〉 asked what are the kinds of this power I answere it is of three sort● first in one person man or woman which is a Monarchie secondly in moe when the gouernment is in a few states and 〈◊〉 thirdly in the bodie of the people which is a popular gouernment by one of these three is euery Common-wealth gouerned These are the Gouernment● despised by these seducers The second point followeth 〈◊〉 vpon what grounds they despised gouernment Ans. Their grounds may be knowne by the Heretikes of th●● time the Anabaptists who are giuen vp to the same 〈◊〉 and they 〈◊〉 be 〈◊〉 to these foure heads First subiection say they came in with sinne and therefore Christ hauing taken away sinne hath taken away subiection also The former part they prooue out of Gen. 1.26 Man in innocencie was to rule ouer the fish of the sea the fowles of heauen ouer the beasts the earth and all creeping things but not ouer man but after the fall Eue is put vnder subiection to Adam Genes 3. Ans. There bee two kindes of subiection the first Seruile the second Ciuill The former is the subiection of a slaue or vassall who is onely to seeke the proper good of his Lord and Master The latter whereby one man is subiect to another for the common good The former came in by sinne the latter was before sinne in innocencie Eue was subiect to Adam in innocencie thus the Apostle reasoneth 1. Tim. 2.12 Let the woman be subiect to the man for she was taken out of the man Againe in innocencie it was said Increase and multiplie and therefore in the light of nature is a plaine distinction betweene the father and sonne and an inequalitie The first place is misalleaged Genes ● 26 because it was spoken not of man alone but of all mankinde euen women as well as men who haue also dominion giuen ouer the vnreasonable creatures As for the second place Gen. 3.15 He shall rule and thou shalt be subiect It is not spoken because the ordinance of God simply considered in it selfe was not before the fall but because now the subiection was ioyned with feare griefe and sorrow which it wanted in innocencie for then it was a pleasure and this makes subiection a curse in some respect but is not so no not since the fall in it selfe considered Secondly they reason thus Euery beleeuer is in the kingdom of heauen euen in this life Now in heauen there is no King but God and therefore no beleeuer is to bee subiect to any but God and Christ. Ans. There bee two kindes of gouernments vpon earth one is spirituall and inward this is the kingdome of heauen and of Christ within man standing in peace of conscience and ioy in the holy Ghost in regard of which regiment of Christ there is no distinction of persons no difference of bond or free Master seruant father sonne but all are one in Christ. The other is a ciuill regiment wherein orders and distinctions of men must be maintained as some must bee Princes some subiects some fathers some children some Masters some seruants Whence it is that euery man susteines vpon him two persons and is to be considered first as a beleeuer and as a member of the kingdome of Christ thus is he equall to any beleeuer and any beleeuer equall to him Secondly as a member of the Common-wealth wherein he liueth thus he is either a superiour or inferiour Their reason were somewhat if euery beleeuer were onely in the kingdome of heauen but euery of them liuing here in earth is also a member of some Common-wealth Thirdly Ciuill gouernment is full of crueltie which hauing the power of the sword destroyeth the bodies and soules of offenders in not giuing them time of repentance and therefore is intolerable among Christians Ans. Moses and the Leuites by Gods commandement flew 3000. of the Israelites for worshipping their golden Calfe and neuer gaue them space to repent Secondly the malefactor that is not moued to repentance at the sentence of present death there is little hope that euer hee would repent after if hee had longer time Thirdly Gods wisedome and commaundement must take place of mans reason he commaundeth that the Malefactor should die and thereby that the euill be taken away better it is that one should bee destroied than an vnitie better that one bee remoued than a multitude by the contagion of his example infected Fourthly they plead liberty by some places and testimonies of Scripture Gal. 5.1 Stand fast in the libertie wherein Christ hath set you free Ans. The libertie which Christ hath procured vs is libertie of conscience freedome from the power of sin Satan death hell and condemnation and therefore spirituall but not from temporall and ciuill subiection Ob. Rom. 13.8 Owe nothing to any man but
Eph. 5.23 The Sauiour of his bodie that is his Church More plainly the persons that are to be saued by him are such as truly beleeue in him and testifie their faith by their conuersion vnto God and forsaking their sins For the euidence whereof consider two things First that it is most necessarie that the person that is to be saued should be thus qualified if hee bee of yeeres for with infants it is otherwise for ma●ke the order prescribed to be obserued in the Word and Sacraments in which God requireth in the first place repentance and faith and then afterwards maketh promise of saluation by Christ Luk. 24.47 That repentance and remission of sinnes should be preached in his name Repentance for sinne must goe before remission of sinne Acts 2.38 Repent and be baptized there is the first for remission of sinnes there is the second This is the rather to be obserued because many go preposterously to worke beginning there where God endeth comforting themselues in their Sauiour and in the promises of life by his meanes but let goe faith and repentance at least deferre them This is the cause of much wickednes and a false comfort not fetched from that order which is appointed by God Secondly those who bring the beginnings of faith and repentance if so be the beginning be true constant and still increasing to these Christ becommeth a Sauiour Matth. 9. Christ came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance that is those who acknowledge themselues to bee sinners confessing and forsaking their sinnes and not such as presume of their owne righteousnes Matth. 25. I am sent to the lost sheepe of the house of Israel euen those who in their owne iudgement are lost who are in the mouth of the lion and in all mans iudgement lost Isai. 45.1 The well of water of life is promised to all those that thirst that is such as want water and long after the welsprings of it and wish after nothing so much Isai. 42.3 A bruised reede he will not breake the smoking flaxe he will not quench euen small beginnings of grace be they neuer so weake nor feeble so they be true he despiseth not Thus are the persons to bee qualified vnto whom Christ will become a Sauiour Now because all men are not thus disposed it followeth that redemption and the worke of saluation is not vniuersall Vse First the multitude of our people are iustly blamed as enemies of Christ for if they bee asked how they look to be saued they answere by their good seruing of God and their iust and honest dealing among men Now this their seruing of God is but to repeate ouer the Tenne Commandements the Creed and the Lords Prayer and their good dealing is but to deceiue no man or not to offer them open iniurie and here they stay themselues not all this while euer looking after Christ as men not standing in neede of him or of his righteousnesse but set vp themselues for their owne Sauiours and know not any other way to life then their owne which carrieth them from Christ. Secondly wee are taught to conceiue of Christ as of our Sauiour which wee shall doe if wee bee touched with the sense of our sinne and danger by it and with the neede wee haue of his most precious blood which will cause vs to prise it aboue the most precious things which the world can conteine When our hartes are thus affected then wee conceiue of him as we ought Thirdly wee must carrie our selues as persons saued alreadie by Christ for he is a Sauiour vnto vs euen in this life and our saluation is begun and is in part here This we doe when wee ioyne with the profession of faith a true conuersion vnto God Reasons hereof First because regeneration although it bee no cause yet it is a part of our saluation for by it a man is freed from the corruption of his sinne in part which whosoeuer looketh for remission of sinnes must atteine vnto Secondly whomsoeuer Christ saueth from hell he first saueth them from their sinnes he redeemeth men not only from deserued condemnation but also their vaine conuersation If thē thou wouldest know whether Christ hath saued thee from hell or no looke into thy selfe and trie whether his death hath wrought the death of sinne in thee or no for if thou art not turned from sin thou art not saued from hell Thirdly to whomsoeuer Christ is a Sauiour by merit to him he is a Sauiour by efficacie also for he is a Sauiour both these waies by the former he procureth pardon of sin by the latter hee turneth the heart of the sinner from sin vnto God this if it bee wanting there can be no true assurance of the other Lastly the saluation of a sinner standeth not in the fruition of riches honours wealth or deliuerance from the miseries of this life but properly in righteousnes and life eternall the recompēce of the same which fruite whosoeuer would reape he must sow the seedes thereof in righteousnesse and cease from hencefoorth to be the seruant of sinne The third generall point in this conclusion is the praise of Christ it selfe in the last verse Be glory and Maiestie and dominion and power both now and for euer Amen Which words cōtaine the forme of the praise of God and Christ where foure things are to be considered first what bee the things that are here ascribed to Christ and they be foure first Glorie by which wee are to vnderstand an infinit and incomprehensible excellēcie wherby Christ excelleth all things that euer were are or euer shall be Now as there be in God two things distinct first essence which is the Godhead it selfe simply considered Secondly person as Father Sonne holy Ghost so accordingly the glorie of God is two-fold first the glorie of essence secondly the glorie of person The glorie of essence is the Godhead it selfe or God himselfe who is glorie it selfe or the excellencie of the diuine attributes is the glorie of God Rom. 1.19 That which may be knowne of God is his wisedome glorie power iustice and mercie And vers 23. They turned the glorie of the incorruptible God c. Whatsoeuer therefore that may be knowne of God is a part of his glorie Exodus 33.19 Moses desireth the Lord that he would let him see his glorie the Lord answered him Thou canst not see my face and liue Where to see the face of God and his glorie is all one and so of all diuine attributes The glorie of the persons is distinct from the other as the persons themselues are by their personall proprieties as the Fathers glorie is to beget the Sonne the Sonnes glory is to be begotten of the Father the holy Ghosts is to proceed from them both Thus Heb. 1.3 Christ is called the brightnes of the glorie and the ingrauen forme of his Fathers person Ioh. 1.14 We saw the glorie thereof as the glorie of the onely