cause themselues to be enrolled and when first they muster vnder their captaines that there is no trouble no labour no citie no force that shall encounter with them which they are not able to foyle and ouerthrowe and yet neuerthelesse be discouraged and dismayed as soone as they come to any assault or skirmishe or els to any sore encounter wherein it behooueth them to bestirre themselues and shewe in deede their vertue and valour So they which neuer had assayed the enemies of Iesus Christ nor borne the bruntes and assaultes which the deuill the world the fleshe the Antichrist and all their troupes do raise against him and all those that follow him thought that the profession of the Gospell had bene but a play or sporte and vnder that hope entred into the Church of God But perceiuyng the euill intreatie whiche the children of God receiue in it at the handes of the world they continued not long in it without repenting and seeking the meanes by the which they might withdraw themselues from it Ioh. 6. with some honest cloake if it might be possible because they could be content to followe Iesus Christ as those who hoped to haue liued of free cost in his company and to finde alway the tables furnished but not as Simon of Cyren vpon coÌ„dicion to cary his crosse after him I appeale vnto your conscieÌ„ces O ye Apostates is not this the truth of it If the kitchin of the Huguenotes had bene as fatte as that of the Chanons Bishoppes Abbotes and Cardinalles of Papistry and the ReligioÌ„ which we follow as easie to the flesh as Antichristes you would doutlesse haue stayed with vs being yet at this day conuinced in your owne consciences at least if there remaine any at all in you that the â—ruth is on our side and that the seruice done vnto God in our Churches is wholy administred accordyng to the rules and ordinances which he himselfe hath left vs in his word and that contrariwise the Popes and all his adherents Religion is nothing els but meere trifles and toyes and vayne ceremonies which light headed men haue inuented and established in â—he Church of God of their owne braine Psal 119. wheÌ„ the candell of the word of God was extinguished and put out which ought euer to go beâ—ore vs as a light to lighten and guide vs in all â—hinges which we do to serue him for we can â—ot swerue neuer so litle from it but we shall â—umble by and by like silly blind men consiâ—eryng that the whole seruice of God to be â—ue and lawfull must be measured by obedience which can onely be grounded vpon his lawes and holy decrees 1. Sam. 15. For if we wil go about to do any thing which concerneth his seruice except that which he himselfe hath expressely prescribed he will say vnto vs that whiche is written in the Prophesie of Esay Esay 1.12 who required or sought these things at your handes Let the Apostates then giue glory vnto God and cease if they caÌ„ from blaspheming agaynst the spirite of God against the doctrine of the Gospell against the Church against Iesus Christ to conclude agaynst the truth and wisedome which they themselues haue iustified and approued when they were as yet in their right wittes and when as the deuill which is entred into their hartes with seueÌ„ other spirites worse then himselfe had not troubled their myndes as he hath done since they are departed from the house of God and let them accuse rather their owne foolish inconstancie whiche hath caused them to giue ouer the best side without all comparison and the surest the most honorable that can be chosen by reasonable meÌ„ namely God his side of whiche Dauid speaketh Psal 16.5 The Lord is the portion of mine inhetaunce and of my cuppe thou shalt maintayne my lotte the lynes are fallen vnto me in pleasant places yea I haue afayre heritage And moreouer I will prayse the Lord who hath giuen me counsayle my reynes also teache me in the â—ightes I haue set the Lord alwayes before me for he is at my right haÌ„d therfore I shal not slide And â—n another place yet I was alway with thee Psal 73.23 thou â—ast holdeÌ„ me by my right hand thou wilt guide me â—y thy counsail and afterward receiue me to glory What the wretchednesse of the Apostates is Chap. 3. BVt now let the Apostates stay themselues here a while to consider into what a â—eepe pit and gulfe of wretchednesse and miâ—eries they haue cast themselues into leauyng God who is the welspring and fountayne of â—ife alfelicitie Psal 36.8 in whom alone consisteth all â—he good that we caÌ„ euer desire looke or hope â—or and who alone by his aboundance is able â—o satisfie and content all our appetites and â—onely by the brightnesse of his countenance Psal 16. â—o make vs perfectly happy The happy and eâ—ernall life sayth S. Augustine coÌ„sisteth in that we liue with God and of God that is to say that he himselfe be the soule whiche doth animate and quickeÌ„ vs and the foode which doth â—ourish vs. O God sayd Dauid Psal 23. thou art my portion and all my good and in the 23. Psalme The Lorde is my shephearde I shall not want which is to say that we may handle more particularly that which he saith in generall into what danger so euer I fall thou shalt be my Sauiour in darknesse thou shalt be my light in warre thou shalt be my defender in sicknesse thou shalt be my Phisition in sorrowe and wearinesse of mynde thou shalt be my comforte in my feeblenesse thou shalt be my supporte in perplexitie thou shalt be my counsaile when I am gone astray thou shalt be my guide being fallen thou shalt take me vp agayne standing thou shalt maintayne me in pouertie thou shalt be my treasure in miserie thou shalt be my felicitie in payne thou shalt be my solace in sinne thy mercy shal be my iustice in iudgement thy grace shal be my absolution to coÌ„clude in death thy spirit shal be my life There is nothing then that can be waÌ„tyng vnto vs in God in whom are all thinges what didst thou thinke O thou most wretched creature when as thou forsookest him to yeld thy selfe ouer vnto Idols Psal 115.5 which cannot teach thee any thing being dumbe nor see thy miseries beyng blinde nor heare thy prayers beyng deafe Ier. 10. nor defend thee beyng vnable nor goe and come to succourthee Hab. 2. being notable to bestirre theÌ„selues at all doest thou not serue this day for an example to verifie the saying of the Prophet Psal 115.8 that those which serue and worshyp them are like vnto them hauing no more sence or vnderstanding then they haue for it is not needefull to alleadge any other argument to proue that thou art depriued of all iudgement then the onely exchange and permutation which thou hast made of god to
receiue any thing from him And to speake the truth in one word he is all in all and without him we are nothing but vanitie Let vs conclude then that sithence he is our blisse whosoeuer is seperated from him doth abide in perpetuall curse That the Apostates being separated from Iesus Christ are also depriued of his spirite Chap. 9. THe miserie of the Apostates may easily be knowen by the former reasons hauing first of all forsaken God the Father and then the sonne to wit our Sauiour and Mediatour Iesus Christ It remaineth nowe to shew how for the confirmation of their miseries they are also destitute of the holy Ghost and by consequent depriued of the CoÌ„munication societie of the most blessed and holy Trinitie that is to say in a word of the whole Deitie so that to rule and gouerne them there remaineth onely vnto them the deuill the worlde their flesh and concupiscences But when we say that they are destitute of the holy Ghost we vnderstand that of the spirite of sanctification and regeneration which is giuen vnto the children of God to seale in their harts their adoption and as a pawne and pledge to assure them of the inheritance of the life which is promised and prepared in heauen for them for as concerning the spirit of prophesy gift of working miracles Numb 23. ver 7. 24 Num. 24.5 1. Sam. 19.23 Ioh. 11.51 Mat. 24.24 2. Thes 2.9 Ezech. 36.26 we knowe it hath bene giuen vnto Balaam and vnto Saule to Caiphas and to Iudas and also that it may be granted vnto false prophets and vnto Antichrist and to the reprobate to whom it pleased God to communicat the same But that spirit which is giuen vnto the children of God to change their stony harts into harts of flesh to sanctifie them to kindle in them a fire which stirreth them vp to all good workes not to seeke in them any other glorye then that which is of God no doubt the Apostates are destitute of such a spirite yea they neuer had it For as S. Ihon saith 1. Ioh. 4.13 Hereby know we that we dwel in him he in vs because he hath giuen vs of his spirite Seing then they haue not remained stedfast in Iesus Christ but voluntarily are departed from him may it not be therof inferred that the spirit of God was neuer coÌ„municated vnto them considering it is giueÌ„ only to streÌ„gthen a man against temptatioÌ„s to make him so firme resolute in his wil that he may perseuere in the faith vnto the end For it is called for this cause the spirit of strength and power from an high Esay 11.2 Luk. 24.49 Because that meÌ„ which otherwise by their nature are so weake feeble that the shaking of a leaf or the voice of a damosell will astonish them be by him made not only inuincible against al assaults but also victorious against the Deuill and all other their enemies which hath bene seene by experience in the Apostles and Martyrs who indued with this spirite haue by his force vanquished and made subiect the world vnto Iesus Christ haue ouercome not onely the threatnings the fury violence of tyrants but also the feare and horror of the fire of wild and sauage beastes and other cruell torments which were prepared for them by the enemies of the truth Moreouer to whome doth it appertaine to bestow the spirite of Iesus Christ Mat. 3.11 Ioh. 7.38 Who is he that doth baptize with the holy ghost and with fire Who promised it vnto all those who should beleeue in his name saying He that beleeueth in me as saith the Scripture out of his belly shall flowe riuers of water of life Nowe he spake this as the EuaÌ„gelist doth adde of the spirit which they that beleeue in him should receaue Now then if he giue it to those only which beleue in him how caÌ„ he impart it to those which blaspheme him who crucify him again Luk. 11. stap him vnder their feet Furthermore this spirit is coÌ„municated to those who are of the children Rom. 8. Gal. 4. of the houshold The Apostates then being no more of the house or family of God which they haue giuen ouer altogether how can they any more receaue this spirit which is the signe and gage of the adoption of his children seing that whosoeuer is filled with this spirite is the child of the light and walketh in the light not communicating in anye wise with the workes of darckenes but rather reproueth them according to the occasion offred vnto him and seeketh the assemblies of the faithfull whereunto he bringeth according to the measure of grace which he hath receaued either a Psalme a hymne or some spiritual song there in the midst of all the companye of the Saints to sing publikely with them the praises of God Considering then that the Apostates this day fly our assemblies that they desire in their harts that they were dispersed and seeing vnto this ende the vehementest of them all do employ their goods frieÌ„ds which they haue as in this country of Aniow the church of Anger 's Saumeur haue tried and finally that they haue no greater care at this day then to go the first to Masse to beare the taper in procession of their Idol to do penance vnto it because they had for a time forsaken it some amonge them haue with great charges reedified set vp againe the altars in their Temples Idols images which they theÌ„selues before in detestation of idolatry had broken downe and all to fitters And to be short seing I say that there is no superstition no impietie no worke of the deuil darknes in al papistry to which they feigne not themselues to cleaue is it possible that the spirit of God which calleth it self is a spirit of truth that is to say Ioh. 14.17 ful of singlenes of sinceritie of simplicitie and integritie should dwel with such hypocrites which with vs for a while haue frequented our sermons feigned themselues to haue loued and liked them now the Papists Infidels go to the Masse other idolatries which they approue by their presence couÌ„tenance Wisd 1. For it is written that the spirit of God abhorreth euery one that plaieth the masker and is disguised And who as we do the fashion of garments change yeare by yeare their faith their religion their customes And although they haue assaied the true religion that which God hath prescribed vnto vs by his worde neuertheles they could not buckle themselues vnto it nor hold it fast imitating in that the nature of the ChamelioÌ„ who as they say can represent change himself into al colors except white Now if the Scribes Pharises be so often accursed by Iesus Christ Mat. 23.13 for hauing bene hipocrits in one reâ—igion onely by how much more stronge reason are the Apostats
of their fleshe if they be voide of faith which alone stayeth and vpholdeth vs in the midst of all winds stormes Mat. 16. tempests which â—ay happen vnto vs Furthermore froÌ„ whence â—an they haue hope for the remission of their sinnes and consequently righteousnes and life which do depend theron without faith Rom. 4. Which is the Isope that doeth sprinckle vs with the blood of the lambe to wash and clense vs from all our iniquities and by this meanes to preserue vs from the destroier from the wrath of God whereby otherwise we shoulde be deuoured and vtterly consumed Gal. 3. Finally sithens faith is the instrument and hande whereby we receiue all the graces and blessings of God and as it were salt whereby we and all our workes are seasoned to be pleasaunt in his tast We must conclude that without it we are accursed and abhominable before him Rom. 14. and that all our vertues whatsoeuer shewe or outward appearance they haue be nothing else but filth iniquitie and sinne And as the Princes liueries are the markes whereby their pages and other seruaunts are knowne so faith is the badge of the lambe which his family and houshold seruants doe beare in their foreheads Apoc. 7.4 thereby to be knowne and whosoeuer shall weare this cognisance he is fure that euen the Angels to whome it is permitted nowe in these last times to hurt the earth the sea and the trees can noâ— hurt him in any thing because he is set apartâ— to be safe from all dangers Apoc. 12. but vnto the feare full and vnbeleeuers vnto the Idolaters anâ— lyars as all Apostates are their part shall be in lake of burning fire and brimstone which is the second death Rom. 11.20 This ought well to conteine vs in our duties and to set oftentimes that before our eyes which the Apostle sayth as well of vs as of the Iewes to wit that through vnbeleefe they were broken of though they were braunches of the true oliue tree and that we stande by faith to the ende that we may not lift vp our selues through pride but liue in all feare and humilitie vnder the protection and mighty hand of our God That the Apostates are without the Church Chap. 13. HAuing shewed by al the chapters and discourses going before that the Apostates are without God without Mediator without law without faith without sacraments it doth followe thereof immediatly that they are also without the Church For 1. Tim. 2.5 as there is but one God one creator and redeemer of the worlde so there is but one people which he hath chosen and set a part to separate them from others Psal 74.2 and to adopt and reserue them for himselfe to sanctifie them make aneuerlasting couenant with them to rule gouerne theÌ„ by his word his spirit to defend them froÌ„ al their enemies Hos 2.19 euen from death of whom he will also be particularly knowen and called vpon serued and worshipped in spirit trueth This people gathered vnder one head Iohn 4.23 which is Iesus Christ by whose meanes they are ioyned vnto God Eph. 1.5.6 and entertained into his fauour for euer And ther is a double means to gather them into the same bodie with their heade Eph. 4. The one is externall to wit the publicke preaching of the gospell and the other internall namely the spirite of God who doth prepare the heartes of euery one to beleeue and keepe stedfastlye that which he hath heard perfeuere coÌ„staÌ„tly ther in vnto the ende To the which the Sacraments are adioyned as helpes to the ende They may staye and beare vp the weakenes of our faith when the temptations whereby it is assauâ—ted be stronge and vehement Rom. 9.8 Nowe since there is no people but this which is allyed with God and hath the promises of saluation and life Mat. 4.4 to whome Iesus Christ came to saue them from their sinnes Luk. 1. whose ransome he hath payed for whom he hath sacrificed and spilte his bloude that they might be of his flocke whom he hath acquited as touching the iustice of God for whome he hath prayed vnto his Father Ioh. 17. at whose iudgement he wil acknowledge them his owne flesh his bloud his bones his brethren inheritance which he hath purchased to himselfe there is none but they that hope for life What will then become of those poore Apostates who are laid opeÌ„ to the wrath of god no more nor lesse theÌ„ were those to the waters of the floode that were out of the arke company of Noah And in Sodome Gen 7.3 the kins men of Lot who would not accoÌ„pany him nor goe out with him Ge. 19.14 in Egypt those who were without the houses whose doores were not sprinkled with the bloud of the lambe Exo. 12.22 And in lerusalem those who had not bene marked in the forehead Ezech. 9.6 and who in the siedge of the Romanes would not retire to the other side of Iordan with those that saued theÌ„selues in Pella Histor tripartita For euery man deceiueth himselfe that hopeth to shune the wrath of God in any other place then in his house and in his holy mouÌ„taine Esay 26. By reason whereof Esay exhorteth the people of god to enter into his closet that is to say into the Church wherin he saieth is his home ordinary dwelling place ther to kepe theÌ„selues quiet and hidden for a short space vntill his indignation were passed ouer to which agreeth that which Dauid sayeth Psal 27.5 For in the tyme of trouble he shall hyde me in his tabernacle In the secret place of his pauilion shall he hide me set me vp vpon a rocke For the one and the other knew well inough that there is no place surer no fortresse better fortifyed and strengthned against all dangers then is his house though in outward appearance it seme to be destitute of walls and ditches rampartes platformes bulwarkes and other craftes and engines which fleshe could inuent to gard and defend her selfe from her enemies neuerthelesse the grace and fauour of God wherewith it is shrowded and enuironed on all sides is a greate deale more sure and stronger then all that as saieth Dauid Psal 125.2 The mountaines are about Ierusalem so is the lord about his people from henceforth for euer Psal 71.3 And in another place Thou art my rocke fortresse And in trueth when it doth waÌ„t it all other meanes be very weake vnsure As the prophet NahuÌ„ saith Nah. 3 12. Al thy stroÌ„g cities shal be like the figge trees with the first ripe figges for if they he shaken they fall into the mouth of the eater which we haue sene by experience in these laste dayes wherein we haue seene holdes that seemed to be inuincible brought vnder the power of the enemye in shorte time
AN EXCELLENT AND LEARNED TREATISE OF APOSTASIE MADE BY the most reuerend and godly learned man M. Iohn de l'Espine Minister of the word of God in the Churche of Anger 's in the Dukedome of Anjou DIRECTED AGAINST THE Apostates in the Churches of France Written first in the French tongue by the author him selfe and now faithfully translated into English The contentes of the booke appeare in the page following ANCHORA SPEI * Imprinted at London by Thomas Vautrollier dwelling in the Black-friers neare Ludgate Anno. 1587. THE CONTENTES OF THE CHAPters following in this Treatise The Preface Chap. 1. That there is want of iudgement in the Apostates Chap. 2. What the wretchednes of the Apostates is Chap. 3. That God departeth from the Apostates Chap. 4. That the Apostates are euer pursued by the Iustice of God whiche suffereth them not to haue any rest in their consciences Chap. 5. That the Apostates are without God though they thinke and defend the contrary Chap. 6. That as the Apostates are without God so they are without Christ Chap. 7. That the Apostates being departed from Iesus Christ are miserable Chap. 8. That the Apostates being separated from Iesus Christ are also depriued of his spirite Chap. 9. That as the Apostates haue giueÌ„ ouer God which in the authour of life so also they do coÌ„teÌ„ne those meanes which they may vse to come vnto him Chap. 10. That the Apostates are depriued of the Sacraments as well as of the word Chap. 11. That the Apostates haue no faith Chap. 12. That the Apostates are without the Church Chap. 13. That it is a most dangerous thing for the delayers of time who knowe the true Churche not to adioyne themselues presently vnto it Chap. 14. What the causes are whiche hinder the delayers from comming to the Churche and how light and friuolous they are Chap. 15. TO THE RIGHT VVORSHIPFVLL MAISTER THOMAS RANDOLPH Esquire Maister and Comptrouller of her Maiesties Posts and one of the Chamberlaines of her Highnesse Exchequer THOMAS VAVTROLLIER Printer wisheth prosperitie in this life and the ioyes of the life to come OVR Sauiour Christe Right Worshipful and most Christian Gentleman setting forth the state of the kingdome of heauen by the parable of the seede Matth 13. teacheth that some felvpâ—n stony ground where it had not much earth and â—one it sprange vp because it had not depth of earth and when the Sunne rose vp it was parched and for lacke of rooting withered away which our Sauiour himselfe in the 20. verse of the same chapter expoundeth to be he who heareth the word and incontinently with ioy receiueth it yet hath he no roote in himselfe and dureth but a season for assoone as tribulation or persecution commeth because of the word by and by he is offended The trueth of which doctrine hath bene most euident in the Churche of God in all ages Gen. 18. Lot his wife will needes looke backe to filthy Sodome because it is a rich and a pleasant place and the olde sonnes of Israel rather then they will suffer a litle aduersitie as the people of God will returne into Egypt an accursed land so they may haue their Leekes their Garlike and Onions and many will rather returne to Caiphas and to the pallace of thâ— High Priest Heb. 13.13 then they will goe forth with Iesuâ— Christ out of the Campe bearing his reprocheâ— refusing vtterly to drinke of the cuppe of thâ— Sonne of God to weare his cognisance and arâ— ashamed of the choller of his order and wilâ— at no hand suffer any thing with Iesus Chrisâ— who hath suffered all thinges for them tâ— raigne and to be glorified for euer with himâ— And surely very miserable experience hereoâ— in these laste times may dailye be seene in thâ— Churches about vs as those of France and other places so many for the heate of persecution and least they shoulde beare the crosse of Christ haue and daily do returne to that spirituall Egypt and mystical Babylon the mother of all abhominations Among many reuolts and defections there hath bene none more fearefull and horrible then that most dreadful Apostasie which befell not long since on Saint Bartholomewes day in the Churches of Anjou so many falling away which neuer since returned to the sheepefolde of Christ which moued this excellent and godly learned man Maister I. de l'Espine Minister of the word of God in the Church of Anger 's to write this most excellent Treatise vnto them that they might remember from whence they be fallen that they may see howe they haue defiled the Temple of God and made sad his holy spirite and the holy Angels to be in sorowe and heauines beholding their fall in betraying the son of God and in sclandering the sufferings of his glorious Martyrs banished driuen from â—heir countries and houses depriued and forsaken of their fathers mothers wiues children parents friends cast into dungeons amonge Toades and Serpents bound and fettered with â—ll crueltie and outrage by hangmen and executioners mangled afflicted and tormented But alas these haue refused this so great an honour 1. Pet. 4. Rom. 8. as to communicate with the passions of Iesus Christ and to be made conformable vnto his image in suffering with him and for the profession of his moste glorious Gospell This godly and learned Treatise written by the Author in the Frenche tongue for the vse and benefite especially of his owne Church being deliuered and commended vnto me by a reuerend and learned man faithfully translated into English I thought it a meditation very necessary in these times for the Church of England also who although nowe God be praised she neede notto shrinke for any fiery triall yet she knoweth not how neare the Lord his visitation is Mat. 25. and our Sauiour teacheth his seruants continually to watche That I haue presumed to dedicate it vnto your Worshippe 〈◊〉 thinke fewe men will aske and no man ought to maruaile who knoweth your zealous and most Christian profession and the great duties wherein I stand bound to your Worship for your great fauour and assistance in my distresses and afflictions Onely I beseech you tâ— receiue it as a signification of my thankefulâ— mind in dutie towards your Worshippe The Lord giue you grace still to continue euen tâ— the ende to blesse you here with all increase of Worship and with all spirituall ioyes in heauenly things in his most blessed Sonne Christ Iesus London From my poore house in the Blacke-Friers this present 9. of May. 1587. Your Worships in all dutie THOMAS VAVTROLLIER Heb. 6.4 It is impossible that they whiche were once lightened and haue tasted of the heauenly gift and were made partakers of the holy Ghost and haue tasted of the good worde of God and of the powers of the world to come If they fall away should be renewed agayne by repentance seyng they crucifie agayne to them selues the sonne of God and make a mocke of him
couenant making vs partaken of his grace of the remission of al our sinneâ— by the perfect obedience which he yeelded in our name Phil. 1. euen to indure for vs the death of the crosse and to beare the curse which was inioyned by the law Gal. 3. to the end he might acquite vs. Considering then that Iesus Christ is the only mediator of the agreement and couenant which may be handled betweene God men and that the Apostates departing to Antichrist his side do separate themselues from him thence it may be inferred necessarily that they are without God being without Christ as Saint Paule shewed the Ephesians writing to them after this maner Ephe. 2.11 Remember that ye being in time past Gentils in the flesh and called vncircumcision of them which are called circumcision â—n the flesh made with handes that ye were I say â—t that time without Christ and were aliens from â—he common wealth of Israell and were strangers from the couenantes of promise and had no hope and were without God in the world If then these who had not as yet beene called by the preaching of the Gospell during the time of their â—gnorance and infidelity were reputed by the Apostle to be without God because they were without Christ howe much more by greater â—eason may we auouch the same of those who â—fter they haue bene illuminated and had tasted of the word of God and also beene made partakers of the Holy Ghost being willingly departed from the knowledge of the trueth which they had receiued haue trode the sonne of God vnder their feete and esteemed the blood of the couenaÌ„t wherby they were sanctified a thing prophane committed so horrible an iniury against the spirite of grace It must then be concluded that as the Apostates haue treacherously forsaken God so he for his parte hath iustly renounced them and giuen them ouer for a pray as sayth the Prophet Psal 81.12 I gaue them vp vnto the hardnes of their heart and they haue walked in their owne counsailes and also as sayeth the Apostle as they haue made 〈◊〉 account to acknowledge God Rom. 1.28 so God hath giuen them vp to a spirite voyde of all iudgement that they may commit things which are not seemely These are then the guides which these poore blinde men haue to lead and counsell them in their affaires Rom. 8. namely the concupiscence of their owne peruerse heartes a reason altogether dulled Ephe. 2. their vnbridled senses the wisedome of the fleshe which is nothing else but death and ouer and besides all that the Deuill who is the prince of darkenes and the spirit that doth worke in the children of disobedience being thus guided can they faile sone to stumble into the pit As the Apostates are without God so are they without Christ Chap. 7. VVE haue shewed in the chapiter going before that the Apostates are without God Let vs now shew that they are also without Christ without a Mediator which shall be very easie to do 1. Tim. 2.5 For as there is but one God as the Apostle sayth so there is but one Mediatour betweene God and men namely Iesus Christ Furthermore as Iesus Christ is a Mediator of the new couenant to reconcile the chosen to God the father make him to be their God as he is his and that with full assurance they may lay hold of him and call vpon him as their father Ioh. 17.2 so God doth giue them vnto his sonne to instruct and lead them to saluation and vnto the life to which they are ordeined So that it can not be but that he that hath the Eternall for his God hath also Iesus Christ for his Mediator and contrariwise he that is depriued of the one must be also bereaued of the other Moreouer following Antichrist making open profession of his religion as wel by workes as by wordes and bearing his name his badge his cognisance how can they appertaine to Iesus Christ seing he is a mortall enemy vnto him 2. Thes 2.8 Matt. 6.24 and Whome he shall consume with with the spirite of his mouth and shall abolishe with the brightnesse of his comming None sayd Iesus Christ can serue two masters Especially when their natures and dispositions be so farre different and disagreeing How then can it be possible to set at one Iesus Christ with the Pope Whose doctrine life manners counsels and ende are altogether contrary And if they can not be made to agree betwene themselues Matth. 12.30 how is it possible that one man should betake himselfe to them both Also He that is nor with Christ is against him he that gathereth not with him scattereth As he said himselfe to note his and causeth them to be knowne A man may then be knowne to be a Christian when he is vnited with his head vnseparably and that with him he doeth labour to gather that is to say to make the Church populous and to increase multiply the number of the citizens of the kingdome of God When as then there is any man seene who contrarily doth striue glory to employ all his meanes and power to hinder the establishing of the Church and who withdraweth all those he can fearing nothing more then to see it to take roote or hath greater despite then to see it to florishe and beare fruite may it not be sayd of him when he is so bent and animated against Iesus Christ that he is his enemy and a true member of Antichrist Sithens he fighteth with so great a courage to defende and maintaine him in that kingdome and possession which he hath partly by craft and hypocrisie and all such euill and wicked meanes partely by violence and too too great fauour which some vndiscreete princes haue borne him vsurped vpon the sonne of God whome he hath robbed of his glory and of all his prerogatiues and dignities striuing yet at this with his adherents to burye wholly the remeÌ„brance of his name Furthermore considering the case standeth so that by two markes those are knowen who do belonge to Iesus Christ Ioh. 18. namely when they are not of the world and be of the truth who will say that the Apostates appertaine vnto him who haue forsaken him and his company to returne to the world For Papistry whereto they haue retired 1. Ioh. 2.16 is nothing els but the world that is to say the lust of the flesh the lust of the eâ—es the pride of life And there is neither Realme nor Empire vpon the earth wherein sloth dainties pleasures whoredomes dissolutenes pride banqueting feasting ambition with all kind of vanities and excesse abound more then in the Romaine Court and in the pallaces of their Cardinals Archbishops Bishops Abbots and Priors neither wherein there are men more effeminate and corrupt then those who followe the Popish Court By reason whereof the heares of women are attributed vnto them
more accursed for hauing bene being at this day liars couÌ„terfaits in their religion both true and false Dauid sayth speaking to God Psal 5.6 Thou shalt destroy them that speake lies the Lord will abhor the bloody man deceitfull O good God that these poore soules could open their eies see the miserable estate vnto which they are brought at this present for being destitute of the spirit of God they are nothing els but flesh Gen. 5. Esay 40. that is to say a lumpe of sin filth corruption are bondslaues vnto Satan seruants vnto sin death For there is no liberty but only where the spirit of God is they can not any more vnderstand or conceiue the things that are of God which also they esteme as foolish 2. Cor. 1. 1. Cor. 1. because they cannot be vnderstood discerned but onely spiritually So being not any more illuminated nor lightned by the spirit of God they haue neither wil nor desire to search for their saluatioÌ„ no guide to find it out nor vnderstaÌ„ding to comprehend it but haue a spirit of sluÌ„ber as the Apostle saith Eies that they shuld not see Rom. 11.8 eares that they shuld not heare And are of the number of those of whom Dauid writeth Psal 63.23 Let their eies be blind that they se not make their loâ—nes alwates to treÌ„ble Moreouer of whom can they receiue coÌ„fort in their aduersities being not assisted with the spirit of God Who is the great comforter that Iesus Christ promised to his Apostles and to all the faithful to cheare Ioh. 14.16 coÌ„fort theÌ„ in their afflictoÌ„s to mitigate the sharpe bitter potions which they were to drinke in following him bearing his crosse after him Furthermore without this spirite what streÌ„gth haue they left to beare the harsh stroÌ„g teÌ„ptations wherwith meÌ„ are coÌ„tinually assalted both inwardly outwardly Is not this the crooke of our shepherd vnder whose coÌ„duct the shepe may be assured of their safety Finally is not he the fire water which can burne our concupiscences heat vs in the loue of God wash away our filth water our heartes to make them beare fruite 1. Cor. 3. quench the thirst that we haue of the grace of God and of the life eternall and to sanctifie vs and consecrate vs wholly to God to be his temples to inhabite eternally Psal 51.7 Is not this the Isope whereby we are so purged that we become as white as snowe and as wooll that commeth from the fuller It is he that doeth create in vs a hearte wholly pure and a newe life who doeth put of from vs the olde man that he may put on vs the newe who printeth in vs the image of God and maketh vs newe creatures who doth draw our hearts from the earth to lift them vp wholly vnto heauen who doth open our lips and fill our mouthes with the praises of God who guideth our steps in the pathes waies of righteousnes causeth vs not to go astray out of them We ought then to maruell if Dauid desired with so great affection that he woulde continue those things vnto him Psal 51.11 Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy spirit from me restore to me the ioy of thy saluation and strengthen me with thy free spirit For we can not haue a better schoolemaister to instruct vs nor a better counsellour to direct vs in all our affaires nor a better guide to lead vs safely in all our waies nor a better champion to defende vs nor to conclude a better or a more faithfull friende to sustaine and vpholde vs in aduersities least we should faint in them or be discomfited and hold vs short in prosperity least it shoulde cary vs away and make vs forget our dutie and also reprehende vs freely of all the faultes which we shall commit to cause vs to repent and to turne againe Seeing then the great commodities that doe redound vnto vs thereby when as we are once indued with the same ought we not carefully to take heede to retaine him still with vs Doing nothing that either may be greeuous vnto him or driue him away from vs For as soone as he departeth from vs Ephe. 4. the Deuill taketh place in vs to gouerne vs. 1. Sam. 15. Ioh. 13.27 Which we see euidently in the examples of Saule and Iudas and God knoweth howe they are handled that fall into the handes of such a squire who neuer ceaseth as sayth S. Augustine to gallop him on whom he is once gotten vp therough clouen rockes through bushes and through quagmires vntill such time as he hath cast him away headlong and spoiled him in all pointes which any man of iudgement may obserue in the Apostates who abiding with vs had yet some appearance and shewe of religion and vertue Matt. 7.15 and though they were hypocrites and wolues disguised in sheepes clothing yet they liued more continently in our Churches then they haue done since they forsooke them their malice being suppressed within their heartes partly because of the word of God which was preached vnto them and the exhortations which were made continually and partly by the example of many notable personages and vertuous people which they sawe among vs but especially by the discipline which we obserue and the punishmentes which are ordained for the offendors and for those who would liue dissolutely But when they had shaken of the yoke altogether and left the Church of Iesus Christ which is gouerned by his word by his spirit to returne to the Synagogue which is gouerned by the spirit of the Deuill and Antichrist Esay 59. Apoc. 9. 13. it hath not beene long but they haue shewed the exchange which they made and by what spirite they are nowe led for there is no vice that seemeth too abhominable vnto them there is neither shame feare nor religion that can hinder them from blaspheming seruing of Idoles deceiuing quaffing whoring committing all things without regard or shame to which the Deuill their lusts do lead theÌ„ I know some whose credit names at this time I spare who since their Apostasie are so out of frame that notwithstanding they be already very aged and euen vpoÌ„ the edge of their graue yet there is no law shame nor feare that can bridle their losenes licentiousnes which they grant to their flesh to seke take without any nay all pleasures wherein they doe iustifie our Churches as it hath beene said in which they were constrained whilest they abode in the to be more precise in their manners and conuersation then they are and to shew in them at least a greater appearaÌ„ce of vertue honesty then they haue done since they departed from them As the Apostates haue giuen ouer God which is the author of life so also they do contemne those meanes which they may
of mans bodie to direct them in all their actions Furthermore is it possible that in the day without the light of the Sunne or in the night without a lanterne to make good choise of the pathes wherin we must walke or walke in them any longe tyme without stumbling Euē so our vnderstādings which be not onely blinde by nature but are euen darkenes it selfe can they any more thinke that which is good right if they be not guided by a light from aboue Psal 119.105 but now there is no other but the word of god as Dauid sayth Thy worde is a lanterne vnto my feete and a light vnto my path I haue sworne and I will performe it that I will kepe thy righteous iudgemēts And in an other place in the same Psalme vers 24. Thy testimonies are my delight and my consellers And in another place Open myne eyes vers 18. that I may see the wonders of thy Law It may be gathered by all these places going before many other like vnto thē that without the worde of God men are altogether miserable and that the life honour riches pleasures and all true felicity doe depend thereon and where it doth want there wanteth also with it all goodnes and all good hope and that is the reason why the Prophet doth so cōmend the reading meditatiō therof vnto the whole world Psal 1.2 Deut. 6.9 And that Moses exhorteth euery one to write and ingraue it in all the corners of their houses to the end it might continually be set before their eyes that they might euer haue a present memory therof feed their spirites therewith day night for the water the fire so necessary for the life of the bodye to maintaine and keepe it as is the worde of God for the spirituall life of our soules to preserue it Whosoeuer doth loue and follow it he is sure that God wil blesse him that within with out his house al things wil succeed happily vnto him Psal 119.165 as Dauid saith They that loue thy law shal haue great prosperity And in another place They shall walke in the light of thy countenance Psal 89.15 and in thy righteousnes shall they exalt themselues Cōsidering these things we should pray vnto God without ceasing for his grace that he would continue vnto vs so great a benefite say vnto him that which is written in Moses songe Psal 90.12 Teache vs to number our dayes that we may apply our hartes vnto wisedome returne O Lord how long be pacified toward thy seruants and bewaile the condition of the Apostates who hauing forsaken the Gospell the Churches Rom. 1.16 where it is preached that is to say the power of God which he hath ordained to saluation to euery one that beleeueth be without al doubt in the way of damnation in dāger of eternal death Psal 119.155 as Dauid saith Saluation is far from the wicked because they seeke not thy statutes For they decaue themselues if they thinke that they can obtaine it any where els but only in the church of god where it is purely preached Esa 2.2 Wherfore the Prophet Esay doth allure euery one to heare vnderstand Esa 2.2 It shall be in the last daies that the mountain of the house of the Lord shal be prepared in the tops of the moūtaines shal be exalted aboue the hils al nations shal flow vnto it many people shall go and say come let vs go vp to the mountaine of the Lord to the house of the God of Iacob and he will teach vs his waies and we will walke in his paths for the law shal go out of Sion the word of the Lorde from Ierusalem To be informed aright in the wil of God must be done in his church where he is worshiped in spirit truth called vpō purely And it must be by the mouth of his Prophets ministers which are ordained established in the same by him Mal. 2.7 to preach expound it As Malachy writeth That the Priests lips should keepe know ledge they should seeke the law at his mouth for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts Moreouer Eph. 4. Rom. 12. 1. Cor. 12. 1. Tim. 3. to whom are the true Prophets preachers sent Is it not to the Church of Iesus Christ the spirit of prophesie and interpretation Is it not vnto it which is the piller stay of the truth The Church is our mother the mouths of the good shepheards which are ordained therein to gouerne it be the pappes wherby she giueth sucke vnto her children who by faith take the brest draw and sucke the milke wherewith they do nourish and fat themselues so much especially if it be good milke and in great abundance that they become faire goodly maruelous beautifull But when the breastes come to be staied and dried vp as it chanceth in time of papistry where al their Pastors are at this present blind watchmen Esa 56.10 that haue no knowledge and dum dogs despitefull in mind which can not bark who desire and haue no other care but to liue and become fat and sleepe softly in this world and moreouer where the milke that is giuen to the children is all waterish and corrupt is it not necessarye that being so nourished they should become dry withered that in the ende they die with languishing for want of good toode The Apostates then that are gone out of the Church where they might if they would Psal 81.16 haue bene fed with fine wheate flower God would haue fed them with the fat of wheate and with the hony of the rocke would I haue sufficed thee to return to papistry as to an Egypt to be there fed with stinking garlicke and onions which are giuen there vnto them What can they looke for of such nourishment but in short space to die with languishing for they haue not any whit of the worde of God pure in the synagogues and conuenticles of Antichrist but onely some litle peeces or shreds which are drawen out here and there out of the foure Gospels the Epistles of the Apostles and most commonly il fitted to that purpose whereto they woulde haue them serue whereof neither the Pastors nor the sheepe can receaue any instruction or edification because the one and the other being equally ignorant neither vnderstande the tongue which is spoken nor the sence and mysteries which are conteined therin Considering that the secrets of the Lord are reuealed vnto those who haue them in honor and reuerence who by feare and humilitie are prepared to the vnderstanding of the same and not vnto those proud and arrogant Apostates which are at this present blasphemers of God contemners mockers of his worde and deadlye enemies of his Church which they would wish vtterly banished Psa 25.14 The secret
of the hope of men which doeth depende of it which Iesus Christ our sole onely mediator hath done and suffered for vs. 1. Tim. 2.5 What then can these poore wretches finde there that can serue either to the glory and seruice of God or to their owne saluation I did not stand to prooue that which I said of it because there are whole treatises thereof wherein the impieties horrible blasphemies wherof it is full are touched particularly and so well by the grace of God laid open that there is not this day any childe in our Churches who is not already resolued readily to giue an answer thereof and to satisfie all those who will be content with reason That the Apostates haue no faith Chap. 12. LEt vs passe on further come to the faith which is the chiefest instrument that God doth vse to our saluatioÌ„ Rom. 10. which is waÌ„ting in the Apostats as wel as the other two aboue named for considering the word of the Gospel which is the word of the promise 2. Cor. 4. is called theword of faith becaus it is the seed therof without which it can not be brought forth seing that the spirit of God is called the spirit of faith because he is the author thereof as wel as of other vertues 1. Pet. 1. how can the Apostates be faithfull being destitute of the spirite of God who is the husbandman that watereth the heart as it were a peece of ground to receiue faith of the word which is the seed that is sown to bring it forth if they think that true faith consisteth only in the approbation of the truth of the scriptures they deceiue themselues and haue no more faith then the Deuils or Simon Magus of whome it is written Acts. 8.9 that he beleued and was baptized though in deede he had onely a shew and an appearance of faith For the true faith is in the hart Rom. 10.10 as the Apostle sayth With the hart man beleeueth vnto righteousnes with the mouth man confesseth to saluation And is as well knowen by her effects as by the circumstances which do accompany her whereof the one is a good conscience 1. Tim. 1. and the feare of God without which it can not stand for the mercy and grace of God which faith setteth before it selfe in his promises and wherupon she resteth as vpon her true ground is promised onely to those who walke aright before his face and who feare to offende and disobey him as the Prophet sayth Psal 103. verse 17. The louing kindnes of the Lorde endureth for euer and euer vpon them that feare him and his righteousnes vpon childrens children vnto them that keepe his couenant and thinke vpon his commandements to do them Furthermore in another place he sayth Psal 119.1 Blessed are those that are vpright in their waies and walke in the lawe of the Lord blessed are they that keepe his testimonies Psal 73.1 and seeke him with their whole heart Also in another place Yet God is good to Israell euen to the pure in hart Now I would willingly knowe whether the conscience of the Apostates can be good hauing left God and broken so villanously the allegiance which they had an hundred and an hundred times openly and solemnly sworne vnto him infringed the holy couenant which they had made with him stamped with their feete the pretious blood of Iesus Christ which had beene spilt to ratifie the same reiecting his word and the admonitions and reproofs that could possibly be made vnto them in his name blaspheming this day the trueth and religion which they haue followed a thousande thousande waies and afterwarde seruing Idoles without any ende and omitting no kinde of superstition whereto they do not adioine themselues making the cruellest war that they can to all good persons only for this cause that they are purposed to be more loial towards God and more constant in his seruice then they haue bene applying them selues vnto those whome they knowe to be weake to seduce them and cause them to stumble like themselues Finally making open profession of all impieties blasphemies sacrileges and abhominations of Antichrist being altogether resolued as they themselues say to â—liue and die in that estate I aske whether these resolutions be not of such persons as are altogether lost impenitent and desperat And who can not looke for any thing els at Gods hands but his wrath and terrible iudgement with a heat of fire which shal deuour them and all his aduersaries And if they yet haue any conscience which is not altogether seared with an hot iron I appeale vnto themselues whether it serue for any thing els theÌ„ in stead of an apparitor or tormentor or Deuill to vexe greeue theÌ„ day night not suffering them to take any rest at all which thing the good conscience doth not but comforteth resolueth the man that hath it in all his affaires and suffreth him not to become pale or wanne in his aduersities yea though it shoulde chaunce that the world were dissipated and the heauen shoulde flye here and there in shiuers and peeces yet woulde it maintaine him constant stable and vnmoueable in all these tumults For as the Apostle sayeth Rom. 2.15 As it is good or euill so it doeth accuse or excuse vs and as he whom it acquitteth can not giue ouer when it is good 〈◊〉 when as it is euill and doth accuse vs none can stande or abide before it The Apostates theâ— hauing an ill conscience can not haue a good faith and so being not good it is not any longer faith 1. Tim. 1. Ephe. 4.5 For there is but one true faith aâ— there is but one true God and one onely true Church And being without faith howe can they liue Seeing the iust liueth only by faith Abac. 2. How can they be in the fauour of God seeing without faith it is impossible to please him Heb. 11.6 How can they be iust seeing without faith no righteousnesse can be approued before God Rom. 3. What place can they haue in the kingdome of God Ioh. 3.3 Seeing none is admitted vnto it that is not borne anew and none can be borne anew but by faith which doeth purifie our heartes Act. 10. and make vs newe creatures Moreouer what good workes or good fruites can they bring foorth without faith Eph. 2. Which doth ingraft vs into Iesus Christ that we may be well able to beare fruite howe can they defende themselues from the Deuill 1. Pet. 5.18 who walketh about as a roaring lyon to espye howe he may ouertake vs without our armor that is to say without faith which is the onely target wherewith we couer â—ur selues that we may auoide the shot of his â—iery dartes What stedfastnes or ioy can they â—aue in temptations when they are assaulted either of prosperitie or aduesitie of the world â—r