A commentarie vpon the most diuine Epistle of S. Paul to the Romanes Containing for matter, the degeneration of our nature by Adams Fall; and the restauration thereof, by the grace of Christ. Together with the perfection of faith, and the imbecillity of workes, in the cause of iustification of elect sinners before God. For forme and maner of handling, it hath the coherence and method, the summe and scope, the interpretations & doctrines the reasons and vses, of most texts. All which, are set downe very familiarly and compendiously, in forme of a dialogue, betweene Tlmotheus [sic] and Silas, by Thomas Wilson, one of the six preachers in the cathedrall church of Canterbury.

DIAL. II.

Verses 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23. Now I beseech you bre∣thren marke them which cause diuisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which you haue learned, and auoide them. 18. For they that are such, serue not the Lord Iesus, but their owne belles, and by good words and faire speeches, deceiue the hearts of the simple. 19. For your obedience is come abroad vnto all men: I am glad therefore on your behalfe, but yet I would haue you wise, to that which is good, and simple concerning that which is on ll. 20. And the God of peace shalltread Sathan vnder your feete shortly: The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ, be with you all Amen. 21. Timotheus my work-fellow, &c.

Tim.

HOw doth the Apostle proceede, and what things be contained in these verses?

Silas.

When he had mentioned and saluted diuers god∣ly

persons amongst them, whom hee would haue to set as examples to follow; now hee admonisheth them whome they are to eschue, namely hereticks and schismaticks, which by opinions rent themselues from the truth of doc∣trine, or in their wicked manners giue scandals. Touching these, hee would haue them marked and narrowly looked into, because they are not easily found out, and through negligence of ouerseers, they doe creepe into the flocke. Secondly, hee wisheth to auoide them, both by shunning priuately their company for feare of taking infection from them, and of hatdening them by our familiarity; and by shutting them (after once or twice admonitions, Titus 3. 10.) out of publike assemblies by excōmunication, (which is the sword of the Church, to strike and cut off rotten and pernicious members.) Also by casting them into banish∣ment, if they goe on to peruert others, which is the Magi∣strates care and part, verse 17. and in verse 18. To the end the Christians at Rome might the better consider and de∣cline such pests and Serpents, which at Corinth and Galatia had bia, and were like enough to be among the Romanes: also to wind in themselues to disturbe the peace, & destroy truth and vnity of the Church; (which Sathan in his mem∣bers most studiously endeuoureth) therefore hee giueth certaine notes whereby to know these seducing and scan∣dalous persons. The first is, they seeke to turne men from the true doctrine, (such as 'Paul in this Epistle, and other Apostles in their Sermons and writings taught) broaching opinions eyther ex diametro contrary, or at least besides, (para signifies both, as Rom. 1, 26.) that doctrine which is apostolical. The purity of the wholesome words of Christ is corrupted, when ought eyther other, or otherwise is brought in, eyther when truth by humane inuentions is a∣dulteiated, or false doctrine apparantly crossing the Scrip∣tures, is maintained, 1. Tim. 1. Gal. 1, 8, 9. This is then one signe of a deceiuer, to leade awry from ancient doc∣trine, receiued from the beginning by the ministry of Christ and his Apostles, Iohn 2, 20.

Another signe in verse 18. is their hypocrisie: howso∣euer they indeed ought to be, and in words doe pretend to be seruants of Christ, (hauing his name Iesus, Lord, &c. and the profession of him much in their mouths, as if they were the onely persons that tooke pleasure & care to please serue, and honour him, to defend his saith and religion) yet they doe nothing lesse, being enemies to his doctrine, and true seruants. Phil. 3, 18. and thinke they doe a meri∣torious acte to destroy true Christians, Mat. 10, 17, 18. Iohn 16, 2, 3. The third signe is their ende they aime at, which is to serue their belly; for filthy lucre they teach things which they ought not, 1. Tim. 6, 5. Titus 1, 11, 12. making their belly (not Iesus Christ) their God, Phil. 3. 18. And who would not be ashamed to haue them for tea∣chers who haue their belly for their God, coyning new & false opinions for temporall commodities sake?

The fourth marke is from their arte and practise, which they vse when they will seduce; it is by faire and flattering speeches, whereby they steale away mens hearts, preten∣ding their good, when they meane it not, (as the Serpent circumaented Eue,) promising much, and performing no∣thing, speaking pleasing things (as if they would lay bol∣sters of doune vnder their elbowes, Ezokiel 13, 18.) and with sweete sugred words praising both the persons and doings of such as they would ensnare: like Phisitions who minister delectable things, so these sooth and smooth ouer mens faults, commending where they should condemae: and this is signified (as Origen thinketh) by sheepes cloa∣thing, Mat. 7, 15. As greedinesse for their bellies declares them to be rauenous wolues, & as the Crododile by shew of pitty and humanity doth beguile such as come neere him; so do these corrupters seeke nothing but to deceiue by their flatterings, like Iudas or Ioab, speaking sweete words that without suspition they might put out the sting of erronious doctrine; and this their cunning makes it so hard to discouer them, and so much the more needefull to marke and obserue them.

The last thing whereby they are heere noted, is the obiect whereupon these impostours doe worke, and it is vnwary and heedlesse people which neyther mistrust nor marke their malice. Widdowes whose houses they de∣uoure vnder pretence of prayers and blessings, such as Paul speaks of, silly women laden with sinne, 2. Tim. 3, 6. As Sathan set on Eue first, so his seruants attempt women which are lesse cautelous, yet vehement being once won, and powerfull perswaders of their husbands, to whome they are neere and deare.

Howsoeuer this description did agree with such as did Iudaize, yoaking Moses and the law, with Christ & grace in the cause of saluation, and doth also well fit other de∣ceiuers and hereticks, yet neuer did coate so fit a mans backe, as these markes, doe agree with popish Fryers, Monkes, Priests, and lesuites especially, as it is notori∣ously known to the whole world, how they boast of Iesus (of whom they haue their name Iesuites) but be nothing lesse then good Christians, attending lucre, decciuing simple folkes. Also consider heere that these markes of discerning, bee so many reasons to perswade declining from seducers: for who ought not abhorre and auoide such as do peruert the pure doctrine of Christ, and per∣swade vs to sorsake the fountaine of life, to goe to Ces∣ternes which holde no water? such as also bee hipocrites professing the seruice of Christ, & yet addicted wholy to voluptuousnesse and gaine, such as with goodly and glorious wordes doe bring asleepe vnheedfull persons, to the ende they may more securely make a prey of their goods and soules. Vpon which considerations, all Chri∣stians stand bound to obserue and auoide them.

Tim.

But are there no other reasons in our Text to perswade care and diligence in auoyding such?

Silas.

Yes, these three, one from the effects, they doe deceiue, verse 18. well may they promise life and salua∣tion, but death and damnation wil proue the crop which will bee reaped of such imposters: as the Serpent begui∣led

our first parents with hope, and great promises, so do these.

The second reason is from the facility of the Romanes, verse 19. whose ready listning and obeying true teachers beeing farre and wide deuulged and knowne to their praise, might haply imbolden false teachers to attempt the peruerting of them with expectation of like successe, for ouer much easinesse in yeelding, might giue false Pro phets hope to deceiue: thus Origen, and Peter Martyr af∣terwards, and Piscator after him doe collect the reason. Others thinke by praising their obedience hee encoura∣geth to constancy, to continue stedfast in the good way, and to take heede of receiuing contrary doctrine. To which purpose hee exhorts them to ioyne prudence and simplicity, to bee so simple as not to know howe to in∣uent corrupt doctrine, yet so wise and skilfull as to bee able to discerne a strangers voice from Christs voice, like good sheepe, Iohn 10, 4, 5. and true Prophets from liars; which discretion Paul prayed for to the Philippians, Ch. 1, verse 9, 10. and exhorts the Thessalonians vnto it, Chap. 5. verse 21. why it is needfull, see 1. Iohn 4, 1, 2. Reuel. 22. Ephe. 4, 14. Which admonisheth al with knowledge to ioyne iudgement, and reprooueth such as bee wise to the world, but lacke the wisedome of the worde.

The third reason is from assurance of victory, so they watch and obserue these euill workemen, which scatter graines of errors in the Lords fielde, and striue against their errors, they shall surely ouercome by the might and grace of God, verse 20. The God of peace will bruise Sa∣than vnder your feete, &c.

There is in this promise, an allusion to the promise in Paradice, made to our first parents, of the womans Seede to bruise the Serpents head, Gen. 3. which implyeth such a conquest and ouerthrow of Satan, as hee should neuer recouer himselfe. As Ioshua set his feete on the neckes of the fiue Kings, and destroyed them. This hath bin alrea∣dy in the head Christ perfectly fulfilled, and shall bee in

his members, who must encounter awhile with Satan and his instruments: but so they behaue themselues valiant∣ly, and place all their affiance in God, it shall quickelie come to passe, that Sathan (howsoeuer he may seeme to prevaile) yet euen when one would thinke hee should ouerrun all, then shall he take the foyle. For God who is with his Church, is stronger then the enemies which do fight against it: and the peace of his Church is so deare vnto him, as none that make diuision, shall bee able to stand before him. All which, hath matter of exhortati∣on to quicken vs, vnto all vigilancy in prayer, and good endeauours to withstand the assaults of the diuel, taking great heed of security, ease, and spirituall sloathfulnesse, least we be surprized on a sudden.

And heete is also a matter of consolation, that we faint not whatsoeuer combates and encounters with heretiks, Scismatickes, or otherwise happen, yet still to holde vp our head, and take heart to vs, vnder the ayde and helpe of God and his grace, seeing the victory will be ours. If we hold out but a little while, we shall vanquish, & that very shortly euen in this life, whereof wee haue sundrie examples; and not onely at the day of iudgement when our victory will be consummate. A maruailous comforte that Gods Ministers and children striue against errours, sins, and schismes, with certain hope of hauing the vpper hand. Which as it must beate downe despaire, and driue away fearfull sluggishnesse, so it keepeth from presump∣tion, to consider that not by our owne strength, not by our owne arme, or bow, or shielde, but it is the strength of God that giues vs the victory, And therefore not to vs Lord, not to vs, but to thy name be rendred the glory.

Vpon these reasons, we in England, and other reformed Churches in Europe, may iustisie our separation from the Papists, whom we haue left and are diuided from: but first because they left the Apostle doctrins, and diuided them selues from the faith and religion of Christ, to embrace nouell errors, and diabolicall superstitions, contrarie to

the receiued doctrine from the beginning; by whose hi∣pocrisie and flatery, if we haue not suffered our selues to be deceiued to the perdition of our soules, but continue stil to fight against the, vnder the assistance of the strong God, with vndoubted trust of an happie yssue (so wee marke and auoide them) therein we haue done but duty, obeying the commaundement of the great God, who bids vs to come out of Babylon, and decline such as wold with their subtle speeches and inuentions beguile vs (& wriggle as a Snake whose head is off) with hope to reign in these Churches, as sometimes they did. Well they may surprize with their craftines, some heedlesignorant per∣sons, and vnstable, but in vaine they looke to subiugate the wise and discreete Christians, vnder whose feet God shall rather treade them, and Sathan that great Dragon their Captaine, vnder whose banner they fight. For that kingdome must be destroyed, which doth make warre a∣gainst the kingdome of Christ, who is that stone cut out of the Mountaine without hands, which shall breake in peeces all other regiments which rise vp against it, Da. 2.

Tim.

What doth the Apostle performe from the verse 20. vntill verse 24?

Silas.

As before hee reckoneth vp such as at Rome hee would haue saluted: so now hee sendeth Salutations to the Romanes from other which were with Paul, as from Timothy, of whom reade Phil 2, 19, 20, 21, 22. and Act. 16 1, 2. Also Lucius, of whom reade Acts 13, 1. and Iason, of whose courage and prudent zeale, reade Acts 17, 5. and Zopater of Berea, Pauls companion by sea, with Timotheus and Gayus of Derbe into Syria: reade Acts 20, 4. and Terti∣us Pauls Secretary, and Gayus his hoast baptized by him, 1 Cor. 1. 14 and Erastus Treasurer or conferrer vnto the Cittie of Corinth, a rich City and Quartus a word not of number or order, but the name of a man. By the consent of these, he would confirme the authority of his Epistle, and get the more credite; not for that it was in it selfe weake, but the better to warrant it to others.