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1. KIngs 19.10. And Elias saide, I haue beene verie zea∣lous for the LORD of Hoasts: for the children of Israel haue forsa∣ken thy covenant, cast downe thine Altars, and slaine thy Prophets, and I, even I, onlie am left, and they seeke my life.
I aske then, If a visible multitude was a note here of the true Church in Israel? or the two tribes of Iudah being com∣pared with these ten, which of them was the greater multitude? or the whole twelue compared with the whole worlde beside, which of these were maniest? and consequentlie, by the note of multitude, who was the true Church?
Isai. 1.9. Except the Lord of Hoastes had left to vs a verie small remnant, wee should haue beene like Sodome, and like vnto Gomorrah.
Note then, That the true professours are called a verie small remnant: which is farre from being the greatest multi∣tude of men.
Ier. 3.14. I vvill take one of a Citie, and two of a Familie, and bring you to Sion.
Note then, That one of a Citie being the fewest that can bee, that the greater multitude is left vncalled to the trueth effectualie.
Mat. 7.13. Enter in at the strait gate, for vvide is the gate, and broad is the vvay that leadeth to de∣struction, and manie there bee vvho enter in thereat.
Note then, If few enter in at the strait gate, that leadeth to salvation; and manie at the wide gate, that leadeth to damna∣tion: then paucitie should bee rather a note of the true Church, than anie wise multitude; seeing Rev. 13. the whole World is saide to follow the beast.
Luke 12.32. Feare not, little Flocke, for it is your Fathers plea∣sure to giue to you a Kingdome.
Note then, If Christs Flocke bee little, then multitude is no good note to know the same thereby.
Examples of the paucitie of Gods true Church in the house of Abraham, compa∣red with the rest of the world, and of the true professours at Christs Passion, verefie this point.
THe multitude of Associates shall no wise show thee to bee a Catholicke, but an Hareticke (sayeth Ierome, dialog. contra Pelag. lib. 3.) Therefore where are they that define the Church by multi∣tudes, (sayeth Gregorie Nazienzen) and contemneth so the little Flocke of Christ? Oratione de seipso contra Arrianos.
THat time when the Church seemed to lurke (sayeth Gregorie of Valentia) being compared with by gone tymes,
it may bee found, that the Church was not with the multitude, &c. Greg. de Valen. analys. lib. 6. c. 4. §. probatio. 4.