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Herein Elias (if we diligently heed the story and time wherein he prophecied) who a little before thought that he had conuerted most of the Israelites, and now he thin∣keth that they haue vniuersally reuolted from true reli∣gion, wee are taught that the most excellent seruants of God haue their errours and infirmities, one while, they conceiue ouer-well of men, and another while ouer-ill. Act. 15. ver. 37.38.39.
1. Vse. If so rare and singuler men these many times erre and are deceiued, let no man presume too much of his owne knowledge, learning and iudgement, but walke humbly, and alwayes suspect his owne ignorance and weakenesse, and let him iudge rashly or ouer-hastily of no man, but reserue all secret iudement to God.
If none for the present ioyne with him in the open de∣fense of Gods worship,* 1.1 or if none such be knowne, yea if they should all forsake him, as all forsooke Paul when he was conuented before Nero, let them not bee discoura∣ged, but goe on boldly, trusting in God, and the good∣nesse of their cause,* 1.2 and God will assist, strengthen, deli∣uer, yea and glorifie them. God being on a mans side, who can be against him, nay he hath more with him, then against him; and other mens generall Apostacie, or start∣ing aside from their dutie and obedience, cannot possi∣bly depriue him of his crowne: for hee shall liue by his faith, and the more temptations, and discouragements, hee findeth to hinder him, the greater will be his praise, preferment and exaltation in the end.* 1.3 But what saith the answer (or oracle) of God to him. i. We must rather in this Apostacie of the Church attend what the Lord the God of trueth saieth, then rest vpon the coniecture of Elias: •• haue left or reserued to my selfe. i. I haue preserued from death and idolatry, 7000. men. i. a great number of men, women, and children, for seauen a set number, is put (here as in other places of Scripture) for one indefinite or vncertaine number: that haue not bowed their knees to the image of Baall. i. that haue not polluted themselues with idolatry, no not so much as in outward gesture and action. Euen so at this present time. i. in the time of the new Testament, there is a remnant, i. a small remainder of Iewes in comparison of those that perish, through the election of grace, i. whom God of his grace and fauour hath elected to euer-lasting life, and which shall be saued by faith in Christ.
Questions out of the 4. & 5. verses. Doth the Church of God neuer faile or cease to be vpon the earth?
An. No, for albeit many times and in many places the church ceaseth to be visible, conspicuous and glorious; yet the true Catholicke and inuisible Church, which con∣sisteth onely of the number of the Predestinate and Elect, euer was, is, and shall be; and shall alwayes remaine in the world in one place or other For first, it neuer failed when it was brought to the greatest extremities, but (at length) it hath alwayes lifted and put forth her head out of the darkenesse where-with it was oppressed. Secondly Christ his kingdome is eternall,* 1.4 and shall neuer end, but shall last and indure for euer, when other kingdomes shall bee ouerthrowne, destroyed and extinct. Thirdly, Gods couenant made with the Iewes and Gentiles, viz. that hee will be their God, and the God of their seed, is euer∣lasting and vnchangeable, therefore there must needs be some, in whom the couenant must bee ratified and ac∣complished. Lastly, Gods promises cannot lye, and his power can doe althings, and God doth nourish and pre∣serue the church by his word and prouidence, when im∣pietie and idolatry euery where preuaileth.
2. Que. Had God any church and people in the mid∣dest of the darkenesse of Poperie, when tyrants and false Teachers laboured, vtterly to roote it out?
An. Yes, as may especially appeare, Apoc. 12.16. where the woman the Church flying into the wildernesse. i. to pla∣ces vnknowne, to the aduersaries, had a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hun∣dreeh and three score dayes. i. they were nourished by or∣dinary meanes,* 1.5 by hearing some true things of their owne Teachers, and partly by learning true faith and doctrine of other better teachers, partly by reading the holy scriptures, and by meditating and musing of it by themselues, and by conferring with others.
Secondly, the Papists had some things that apper∣taine to the true Church, as Baptisme (albeit not alto∣gether purely administred) the Scriptures, the Apostles Creede, the Commandements, the Lords prayer, and a certaine ministerie.
Thirdly, in the ruinous state, darkenesse and Apostacie of a Church, the very reading and repeating of the word, yea, the very sound and report of it is (by Gods extraor∣dinary working) sufficient and effectuall to saue all those whom God will haue saued. Act. 11. v. 20. & 21. Iohn 4.28.29.40.41 42. Rom. 10 18.
Lastly, God hath his Church and seed, euen in Baby∣lon, (albeit in faith and affection separated and disioy∣ned from her) Apoc. 12.7. and these the Dragon maketh warre with; Likewise Apoc; 18.4. where Gods people are exhorted to come out of Babilon, &c. ergo, there were some elect, and some of Gods people there.
Quest. Therefore may not we perswade our selues that many of our Ancestors and fore-fathers were saued in the middest of Poperie?
An. Yes doubtlesse, as well as in the corrupt and Apo∣staticall time of Elias, for nothing hath in the Papacie befallen the Church which hath not befallen vnto it in times past.
Secondly (besides the reasons expressed in the answer to the former question) many of them kept and held the principles and foundations of faith, and so rightly en∣formed their children, seruants, and families therein, Apoc. 13.8.
Thirdly, there haue beene some that haue alwayes and openly, by preaching, writing, and disputation, opposed and set themselues against the corruption of error, Apoc. 11.3.4.5.6.11. & 12.* 1.6 and this is also manifest by Illyri∣cus his catalogue of the witnesses of the truth.
Fourthly, many thousand children Baptised (and so holy) dyed in their infancie and child-hood, before they could be infected and poysoned with the pestilence of error,* 1.7 and so were saued.
Fiftly, God pardoneth many faults and infirmities in his children, whose hearts and mindes are right with him. Mal. 3. v. 17.
Lastly, many of our Ancesto•••• (albeit transported with
the common invndation of error) did before the end of this life, repent of their sin, and vtterly renounce and dis∣claime their owne merites and all confidence in them, and relied vpon Christ onelie by true faith and so were saued.
Q. Why doth God sometimes suffer his Church to bee brought into such affliction, darkenes & extremities that the outward face of it cannot be seene and discerned?
A. For two causes, first, because the world & the wicked is,* 1.8 altogither vnworthy of the fellowship of Gods Saints and the ministery of the word, and therefore God hath most iustly depriued them of it.
Secondly, God for the preseruation of the Church will haue it sometimes to bee secret and vnknowne, for otherwise the world seeing it, would inuade and destroy it. Apoc. 12.6.
Q. Is it not lawfull, yea and sometimes expedient for a true and sound Christian, for the auoding of offence and the preseruation of his life, to dissemble his religion, and to goe to Masse and Idoll seruice?
A. No, for first it is not sufficient for vs, to keepe our mindes free from assent vnto, and from approbation of idolatry, but wee must keepe our bodies vndefiled also 2. Cor. 7.1.* 1.9 Secondly God created and Christ redeemed both soule and body, & therefore wilbe serued with both.
Thirdly, God requireth not only the beliefe of the heart, but also the confession of the mouth yea and the outward gesture and action also; Rom. 10.9. Luk. 9.26. otherwise wee play the Hypocrites and God will discouer and de∣test vs.
Forthly, the offence that Idolaters conceiue, is by them taken and not by vs giuen, and therefore we are not in this regard to respect them at all. Math. 15.12.13.14. And if we should communicate with them in their Idola∣trous worship we should both harden them in their er∣ror and destroy, or (at least) weaken the faith of others; & touching preuention of danger, we must vse no vnlawful means to diuert it, but commit our selues and cause vnto
the power,* 1.10 prouidence and goodnesse of the almighty, who will dispence and dispose of all things for our good and knoweth how to deliuer vs.
Lastly in respect of maintenance of Gods glory our liues, yea, (if neede should require) our saluation should not be deare and pretious vnto vs. Apoc. 12.11. and it is giuen vnto the true members of the Church (as a speciall priuiledge) not onely to beleeue in Christ but also to suffer for him.* 1.11
Rom. 14. v. 4.
2. Kin. 6. v. 16.
Paraph.
Luke 1. v. 33. Dan. 7. v. 14.
Apoc. 12 v. 7.
Illyricus.
1. Cor. 7. v 14.
Heb 11.38. Math. 21. vers. 41. and 43
1 Cor. 6. v. 19 and 20
Psal. 37. ver. 5 and 6. Mich. 7. v. 7. and 9.
Phil. 1. v. 9