A collection of texts of Scripture, with short notes upon them, and some other observations against the principal popish errors

CHAP. V.

That Multitude is a Mark of the Church. Bellarm. de Eccles. lib. 4. cap. 7.

THis doth not agree to the Church alone, nor yet always to it, nor to the purest part of it, in opposition to others. If we should go to the Poll, the Mahometans would outnumber the Chri∣stians. And the Professors of the True Doctrine are many times but few in comparison of the rest of the Church, and much more in comparison of the rest of the World. And therefore this is a very impro∣per Mark to distinguish and know the Church by in all Ages. As especially in the first Age, and in the Time of the Arians, and in the Reign of Antichrist.

So that to assert it for a Mark, agreeing to the Church Universal, is false.

Luke 12. 32. Fear not, little Flock, for it is your Father's good Pleasure to give you a Kingdom. The Church is called a little Flock; and Babylon, that is opposite to the Church, is called a great City, Rev. 16. 19.

Consider the Course or Series of the History of the Church. For after more than sixteen hundred Years after the Creation of the World, the Church was composed but of eight Persons that entred the Ark, Gen. 7. 13.

Near two thousand three hundred Years after the Creation of the World, the Church was composed but of seventy Persons, that went down into Egypt, Exod. 1. 5. and all these but of one Family. And though it was much encreased in Moses's Time, yet then it was still but one People, wandring in a Wil∣derness. It was confined to the Jewish People alone for many Ages, and to a few Proselytes that came into them.

And as to the Jewish People it self, and more than three thousand Years after the Creation of the World, besides the two Tribes that worshipped at Jerusalem, there were in the other ten but seven thou∣sand that had not bowed their knees to Baal. And these so little appearing, that the Prophet Elijah thought he himself had been left alone, 1 King. 19. 10. Of what side then was the Multitude? there were four hundred lying Prophets, and but one true one, 1 King. 22.

In our Saviour's Time, the whole Christian Church consisted of twelve Apostles, and seventy Disciples, and some few followers besides; which were not many, nor very constant in their Profession. John 6. 66, 67. For from that time many of his Disci∣ples went back, and walked no more with him. So

that our Saviour said also to the Twelve, Will ye al∣so go away? If the Apostles had followed some sort of Maxims, they had answered, Yes, Sir, we are going too, for the Multitude is not of thy side. A∣gain, Chap. 12. 37, 38. Though he had done so many Miracles before them, yet they believed not on him; That the saying of Isaias the Prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our Report? and to whom is the Arm of the Lord revealed? It seems then the Church was not made up of Multitude.

Mat. 27. 20. The chief Priests and Elders perswaded the multitude that they should ask Barrabas, and de∣stroy Jesus. To follow the multitude then, one should have cried against the Saviour of the World, Let him be crucified, vers. 22.

Acts 1. 15. In those days (after the Ascension of Christ) Peter stood up in the midst of the Disciples; and the number of the Names together were about one hundred and fifty. There was no great Assembly of Christians then in the World.

In After-Ages the Church indeed was much in∣creased; but yet at some times was so over-run with Errors, that the number of the Orthodox was inconsiderable in comparison of the Hereticks.

And it is prophesied, Rev. 13. 3, 4. that all the World would wonder after the Beast; and worship the Dragon which gave power unto the Beast: and they wor∣shipped the Beast, saying, Who is like unto the Beast? who is able to make War with him? Few Disciples follow Jesus Christ, but behold the whole World runneth after the Beast.

And, vers. 7, 8. It was given unto him to make War with the Saints, and to overcome them; and Power was given unto him over all Kindreds, and Tongues, and Nations. And all that dwell upon the Earth shall wor∣ship him, whose Names are not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb. How should all the Inhabitants of the

World worship the Beast, and yet Multitude be of the side of the Church?

So, Rev. 17. 1, 2. it is the great Whore that sit∣teth upon many Waters, (now, vers. 15. The Wa∣ters which thou sawest, where the Whore sitteth, are Peoples, and Multitudes, and Nations, and Tongues.) And the Kings of the Earth have committed Fornication with her, and the Inhabitants of the Earth have been drunk with the Wine of her Fornication. So that the great Whore commands Kings, and a multitude of Peoples, and Nations. This is that the Church of Rome vaunts of so much; but we shall think never the better of them for their Multitude, nor yet the worse of our selves though we were fewer than we are, having had such fair Warnings as to this Matter.

This is no sufficient Argument of their being the true Catholicks, for having the greatest number of Professors of their side, unless they likewise retain and profess the Catholick Faith, the same Christian Religion, which all good Christians in all Ages, and of all Nations, have ever constantly profess'd. And if we do this, we are true Catholicks, though we are the lesser number, if it be so. But upon Cal∣culation it has been judged, that the number of the Reformed is not much unequal to theirs. But no wise Man ever judged of the Truth of Religion, by the major Vote; which is an Argument to none but Fools. Exod. 23. 2. Thou shalt not follow a Multitude to do evil. But, if Multitude were always in the right, this had been a very improper and vain Caution.