Iesus to himselfe and whereas the Apostle saith There is no other name given under heaven whereby to be saved hereby every man hath a name to save himselfe 2. That damnable Idol of the Masse wherein as they say Christ is offered by the Priest for the sinnes of the quicke and dead what is it else but an utter renouncing of Christs owne and onely oblation arguing it to be imperfect and an insufficient satisfaction For so the Apostle concludes against Leviticall Sacrifices Heb. 7.27 They were many because they were imperfect this is perfect therefore but one and once See chap. 9.26 3. Their unholy Order of Priesthood and sacrificing shavelings what else doth it but wage battel against the Priesthood of Christ which being after the Order of Melchizedeck is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and cannot passe from him to any other Heb. 7.23 24. There were many Priests because of their impotency but this man hath an everlasting Priesthood therefore needes no successour on earth nor had none as they had 4. The maine pillar of Popery which stands on the Popes headship over the Church how dishonourable is it to Christ who being every where present by his Spirit and grace is implied thereby to be absent and to stand in neede of a Vicar Besides it makes the deare Spouse of Christ a Monster having two heads being but one body Besides the infinite constitutions of this supposed head cleane contrary to the lawes and government of the one and onely lawfull head and King of his Church Iesus Christ. 5. Their Doctrine of unwritten Traditions which are pari pietatis affectu to be received with the written word how manifestly doth it dishonour the Propheticall office of Christ How could he be the onely true Prophet if hee left halfe the will of his Father unrevealed but lapt up in obscure Traditions How could he satisfie his Propheticall office if he deteined from his Church some Doctrine needful for her to know How was he faithfull in the house of God as a Sonne if he came behind Moses his servant who brought a perfect patterne from the Mount for the direction of the smallest things in the Tabernacle How did he teach us all things when he came as Ioh. 4.25 if the Church may still coyne new Articles of faith as Scotus Before the Lateran Councell Transubstantiation was no Article of faith it seemes our Saviour left something alone for the Councell of Trent and the Lateran Councell to determine and that the Samaritan was deceived 6. Their blasphemous prayers to Saints Angels and Relikes how pull they men from the Mediatour who is but One and dishonour his Intercession which now he makes for the Saints while they have one prayer to Christ they have twenty to the Virgin What can be more blasphemous and more derogatory to his power and glory than to joyne with him in the administration of his kingdome the Virgin Mary that hee must dispense justice but she mercy yea in the omnipotent worke of his mediation saluting her and praying unto her by the title of Mediatrix hominum Mediatresse of men nay giving her a power farre above him Iure matris impera Command him in the right of a mother Thus our mighty God and Saviour is become an underling to a poore creature These can be no sound Doctrines which so dishonour the Sonne of God and spoyle him of his royalties as the souldiers did spoile him of his garments to whom the Father hath given a name above all names that all tongues should confesse him and all knees bow unto him So much for the fourth Rule Fifthly that is the soundest Doctrine which most restraines corrupt nature and fleshly affections Tit. 2.11 12. The grace of God hath appeared teaching us to deny ungodlines and worldly lusts which is the maine intendment of the discovery of grace a maine fruit of the Gospell is the crucifying of the flesh with the lusts and a mortifying of our members upon earth which of all things a carnall man cannot brooke Therefore in all differences of Doctrines observe which of them presseth most precise obedience to Gods will which of them gives least toleration to the least offence of God which of them is most unpleasant and unsavoury to the nature of man which of them most boulsters and gives liberty to naturall inclination and you have tryed the truth from errour For example The whole Doctrine of Popery how pleasing is it to the nature of man seeing there is nothing in it but a naturall man may performe it without any speciall grace of regeneration which indeede is the chiefe cause why a great part of the world is taken with the love of it 1. What a deale of paines cuts it off in reading studying and meditating on the Scriptures while it teacheth that Ignorance is the mother of devotion and it is lost labour which is spent on the Scripture and while they burne the Scriptures as formerly wicked King Ahaz did or Antiochus or Maximinus calling them the Heretickes Bookes so as a man may truly say that the Papists hate the Bible as a theefe hates the gallowes This is farre easier than to call after knowledge and cry after understanding to seeke her as silver and to search as after treasures 2. How can there be devised a more easy faith and sooner got than confusedly to beleeve as the Church beleeves without any distinct knowledge or faith of their owne A faith got without all paines and of which we may well say It is worth nothing because it is had for nothing a faith wherein they never neede to looke to the essentiall markes and sound growth of it This is sooner done than to proove a mans owne selfe whether he be in the faith or no. 3. How doth it please nature to magnifie nature to deny it to be so corrupt and dead as it is but halfe dead as the man betweene Iericho and Ierusalem to tell it it hath good preparations and abilities of it selfe to conceive and practise much good and with a little helpe it can keepe the Law and come out of Gods debt What man wanting grace would not finde something in nature to bring before God to bring himselfe into request by For every naturall man is a Iusticiary Wheras our Rule saith that it is a new creation which is of nothing and a quickening where no life of grace was yea a death in sinnes and trespasses and not a recovery as out of a swoone 4. How pleasing is it to nature to be tolde and taught that no paines is required to keepe the heart nor to resist the first motions to evill which they say are not evill that some sinnes are veniall in their nature put away with a light sigh a knocke on the breast or an Ave Mary that a man may lie in sport or officiously for his advantage and if hee steale a small thing it is
that which is an effect of Gods mercy in Christ. 183 Perseverance of Saints set on 3 sure grounds 303 Perseverance is never divorced from true faith 3 reas 312 Perseverance most assaulted by Satan 314 Lets of it 5.324 Meanes 3.322 Meditations to stablish it 326. Motives to it 329. Examples 330 People must pray for their Ministers 3 reas 401 People neglecting to pray for their Ministers lay themselves under the guilt of many sins 5 instances 402 Perseverance of Saints all grounded on Gods faithfulnesse 351 Places choyse and safe to keepe good things in 4. 140 Popish doctrine leades men away from Christ 6 instances 101 Popery most pleasing to corrupt nature 6 instances 104 Popish doctrine a most desperate and uncomfortable doctrine and therefore false 5 instances 107 Pope a strange mysticall name unknowne to the learned Papists themselves 135 Power of Christ discernable in our effectuall calling by 4 signes 362 Preservatives against decay in the measure of graces 3. 29 Present at Idolatrous service unlawfull with pretence of keeping the heart to God 5 reasons 156 In all our prayers we must behold God a God of peace 177 Prayer a meanes of growth in holinesse in 4 things 212 Prayer for perseverance not in vaine for them that shall persevere 3 reas 306 Prayers of faith all grounded on Gods faithfulnesse 347 Prophecy what 40 Prophets not to be despised 49 Propound to our selves still an higher pitch and degree in grace 37 Prosperity of the wicked no true peace 4 differences 182 Profession of faith must all be grounded on Gods faithfulnesse 348 Q. To quench the Spirit more damnable than to want him 16 Questions Whether a doctrine backed with consent of ancient Fathers or the authority of Councels or other Antiquity may not be free from tryall 54 Whether any thing comming backed with example of great men or of the generall multitude or custome ofttimes be free from triall 55 Whether any thing comming with Caesars authority and superscription be exempted from triall 56 Who must try all things 57 How a man may know anothers calling 354 Whether a man called alwayes know his calling 359 R. Reason corrupt no right rule of tryall for 3 reasons 74 Recreations on the Sabbath of what kinde 119 Regenerate said to be blamelesse in 5 respects 196 199 Renovation in all the faculties 197 Renovation must be without as well as within 3 reas 278 The retentive faculty of the soule strengthened by 4 meanes 140 Rules of tryall whether the Spirit be quenched reduced to 5 heads 27 Rules in respect of our owne sinnes shewing the Spirit to be abated 5. 31 Rule of all tryalls what 58 Our Rule must be ever in our hand 88 Rules for tryall of all doctrines 6 132 Rules for holding good 6 90 Rules to keepe the affections unblameable many 257 S. Sanctification unsound wants 3 things which should make it hold out 382 Sanctification the description explained in 4 things 189 Sanctification of the Spirit why so called sundry reas 190 Sanctification in perpetuall motion 4 reas 191 Thorow sanctification in this life in 4 things 192 Full sanctification in the life to come in 4 things 193 Sanctification stockes up the roote of sinne civility onely cuts off some waste boughes 307 No Saint in earth none in heaven â—â—8 Saints have all the same Spirit for 4 reasons 6 Scriptures the rule of all tryalls 4 reasons 59 Scriptures afford us five safe rules concerning following our forefathers 78 Shew of evill in doctrines must be avoided 153 All shewes of evill must be shunned in practise and behaviour 154 Signes of the Spirits presence 6. 1â— Signes of generall Apostacy among our selves 6 316 Silence of God must not animate sinners 4 reasons 85 Singlenesse of heart knowne by 3 signes 249 Similitude betweene calling effectuall and ineffectuall five instances 367 Sinnes of others great meanes to quench the Spirit 24 Small evills to be shunned for 4 reasons 156 167 Speech given men why 3 uses 294 Spirit what is meant by it in Scripture 1 Spirit the same in the godly and wicked but differently 7 Spirit subject to be quenched in the best 14 Spirit of God is holy both in his nature and operation 15 Spirit discerned to be quenched both in the 1. number 2. measure of graces 27 Spirit referred to man what it meaneth 193 Spirit how taken away from the Saints 4 wayes 307 Stage-playes ought not to be frequented 6 reasons 121 Successe no certaine rule for actions 85 T. Teachers no way disparaged by triall of their doctrines but the truth a gainer by it 70 Things to be tryed what 52 Theeves and robbers incessantly stealing good things from us 3 sorts 142 Three things in a mans selfe call on him for growth in holinesse 223 Thoughts how to be holily ordered 242 Thoughts to be watched and why 243 Time of a mans calling not alwayes knowne 3 reas 357 Tongue abused 5 wayes 295 Tongue to be ordered and watched for 4 reasons 298 Trialâ— whether the Spirit be quenched in regard of good motions 29 Whether in regard of good duties 4 rules 30 Triall of things what 52 Trialls of growth in holinesse 5. 16 Traditions unwritten rejected 4 reasons 61. â—01 Transubstantiation against the analogy of faith â—0 Truth not to be tryed by persons but persons by truth 54 True teachers not so assisted but that they may deceive and be deceived â—â— That is the true doctrine which giveth mos◠〈…〉 â—â—stances â—7 V. Vniversall election and redemption derogateth from Gods glory 99 Vsury condâ—mned 96 W. Well watching of the heart stands in 4 things 250 The will to be rightly ordered 4 rules 253 The will must determine with God and for God in every thing Instances 254 The will renewed knowne by many signes 255 The will of man why it must be well bended 3 reasons 256 Wicked men esteeme the godly unpeaceable because they will not lose their peace 188 Christian wisdome will avoid all beginnings and appearances of evill 151 Seeking to witches condemned by 6 reasons 118 Whole man sanctified throughout in 3 things 195 Word and Sacraments in their reverent use doe notably excite the Spirit in us 33 Word a meanes to increase holinesse 4 wayes 212 The word upholds us in our way 4 wayes 327 Our words must be faithfull 4 reasons 338 Working on the sabboth day condemned 7 reasons 119 Worst things must be most hated 260 GOod Reader among some smaller faults in printing which wee desire thy curtesie to passe by two are observed as changing the sence Page 268. line 28. reade those 4 lines thus All wise and 〈◊〉 walking is included under the affections of the feare of the â—ord 〈◊〉 the â—uties of the whole Law are all 〈◊〉 prized under 〈…〉 Love Page 319. liâ—e 3 〈…〉 highly 2 Tim. 2.25 Magnes amoris amor From my study Novemb. 17. the happy day of that admired Queene Elizabeth the worlds wonder the famous Mother of our
Scripture in the Church and speakes not as a man but as a Iudge 3. The word hereafter must judge all things Iohn 12.48 therefore it is meete that it should judge them here and try them 4. No man will deny but that the Oracle in the time of the Law was a most sufficient and certaine rule in all cases because it was the lively voice of God himselfe But the Scriptures are titled to be the Oracles of God Rom. 3.2 yea 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lively Oracles Acts 7.38 Because though they were not delivered by lively voice yet by immediate inspiration from God and must be as Oracles to us in all doubts as David made them the men of his counsell Bellarmine here objecteth and saith that the Scripture is a Rule indeede but a partiall one or rather a briefe Commonitory to be eeked partly by Tradition and partly by the help of the Church I answer 1. Wee are content to leave that honour with them to write and speake most basely of the Scripture to set up their owne Traditions But the very light of Nature is against them herein for the Philosopher himselfe maketh it the part of a wise Law-giver to conteine as much in the Law as is possible and leave as little as may be to the liberty of the Iudge Now shall Wisedome it selfe Christ himselfe who hath the fountaines and treasures of wisedome prescribe a law to his Church which must be imperfect unlesse it be eeked by Tradition and by the helpe of a supposed Iudge For the Iudge of the Church is not the Pope Christs pretended Vicar but Christ himselfe the Popes destroyer 2. The very writing of the Scripture was to this purpose that the hazard might be prevented which the truth were in if it should spread it selfe by report onely and passe from hand to hand by Tradition as formerly it had done 3. The state of the Church of the New Testament should by this account be worse than the Old the Patriarkes should have had a more perfect word than we for they were taught and ruled by immediate revelation and infallible voice and if we should hold truth as trailed through the corruptest ages of the world and the unfaithfull hands of men we should be farre behinde them and the Apostle was out when he said Wee have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Pet. 1.19 that is a surer word of the Prophets 4. He hath lost his reason that will deny but that the first and chiefe Truth must be the rule and measure of all the rest and hee hath lost all religion that will deny that of all Truths behoofefull for salvation the Scripture is the principall and first the perfection of which David avoucheth Psal. 19.7 The Law of the Lord is perfect and Paul 2 Tim. 3.15 It is able to make the man of God perfect to every good worke Out of all this exposition ariseth this point of Doctrine That every Christian is bound in whatsoever thing he is to doe or beleeve first to try it by the touch-stone of Gods word Acts 17.11 the men of Berea are commended for searching the Scriptures to see whether the things spoken by the Apostles were so or no. 1 Ioh. 4.1 Try the Spirits And the same Commandement is in the Law Deut. 13.2 to try the Prophets not by events but by Doctrine if it were agreeable to the word This is that warinesse commended so often by our Saviour Christ as Matth. 7.15 I beseech you brethren marke them diligently which cause division and offences contrary to the Doctrine which ye have received and avoid them And for practises herein see Lament 3.40 Let us search and try our wayes c. that yee may proove what is that good that acceptable will of God Proving what is acceptable to the Lord. Let every man proove his owne worke and then shall hee have rejoycing in himselfe alone and not in another And why 1. Because there shall alwayes be false Teachers in the Church who shall easily misleade us into errour if we try them not This is the Apostles argument 1 Ioh. 4.1 Try the Spirits Why For saith hee many false Prophets are gone out into the world We reade of a lying Spirit in the mouth of 400 Prophets and in the New Testament that false Apostles came as they had beene the Apostles of Christ for if the Divell can transforme himselfe into an Angel of light no marvell if his Ministers can doe so More particularly the word of God witnesseth 1. That they shall come under Satans standart in great troupes 2 Tim. 4.3 Heapes of Teachers So wee reade that in the first foure hundred yeares after Christ which was the prime of the Church there arose 88 severall kindes of false Teachers seducing from the faith and mightily prevailing against the Church 2. That they shall come armed with all arts to deceive first they shall pretend simplicity they shall come in sheepes cloathing but inwardly are ravening wolves that is come in the habit of true Teachers being indeed false Apostles and deceitfull Teachers If Elias and Iohn Baptist come in rough and hairy garments the false Prophets also will weare a rough garment to deceive Zech. 13.4 Secondly for their Doctrine they shall alledge Scripture as the Divell did to overthrow Christ They shall obtrude errour under pretence of deepe learning as the sect of the Nicholaitans called their heresie profound learning but by the holy Ghost called the depth of Satan Rev. 2.24 So the Popish Doctours at this day pretend all the Fathers to be on their side all Schoolemen all Antiquity and Mysticall Divinity shut up in secrets and vaults of darke and unwritten Traditions when indeede it is a very cave of darknesse and the depth of the Divell Thirdly for their Authority they shall pretend themselves to be some great men as Simon the Sorcerer said he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 8.9 Angelicall Doctours Seraphicall Doctors the onely men of Authority Christs Vicars Peters Successours great Cardinalls on whom are set all the pillars of the state of the Church Catholikes and Catholike Doctours and the like yea sometimes they come armed with great signes and lying wonders pretending mighty miracles as Simon Magus did Acts 8.10 But alas What miracles did Calvin and Luther shew Romish Priests abound in miracles they cure strange diseases and cast out Divells c. Which indeede God may suffer them to doe sometime by sorcery sometime by jugling and knavery for a plague upon the unthankfull world which cared not to receive the truth in love as was foretolde 2 Thess. 2.9 10. For this purpose God sent them strong delusions Fourthly for their behaviour they shall pretend great humility Col. 2.18 Oh they dare not goe to God but by Mediatours Saints and Angels they must use much bodily affliction in chastising and whipping themselves as Baals