A doore of hope, also holy and loyall activity two treatises delivered in severall sermons, in Excester / by Iohn Bond ...

1. REPROOFE. [Application.] [Ʋse 1]

This doth command me to rebuke sharply divers sorts of Offenders against this rule, but especially these two; those that are Carelesse or Opposites in such a time.

1. The Carelesse, which scarcely take notice of such golden opportunities and seasons. As the bruit-beasts know no diffe∣rence betwixt working-dayes and the Sabbath, but only by their ease and rest: So there is a generation of bruitish people, who take little notice or regard of Warrs or Parliaments, but only so farre as may touch their present sensuall particulars, Acornes they can taste (like Swine) but as for Oakes (from whence they dropp) those Trees are too high for their crooked and stoo∣ping thoughts to contemplate. The state of Religion and the weale-publicke, are things which the greater number of people thinke least upon; but doe say that they must leave the former to Church-men, and the latter to Counsellours of State; just like those sottish Russians (the common-people of Muscovy) of whom it is said, that if you aske them but an ordinary que∣stion, touching their Religion or laws, the answer is, God and our great Duke, doe know all things, they can tell. Brethren, as I would not have meane men to go above their latchet (as they say) that is, to seeke to know above that which is meet for them, both in affairs of Church and Common-wealth: so I be∣leeve, that even private persons may sin greatly by too much ignorance of publike affaires, especially in these times, when as we hope the Carpenters are cutting off those hornes which have scattered Judah. Those two Disciples going to Emmaus, * 1.1 seemed to reprove our Saviour (not knowing him to be our Sa∣viour)

because he made himselfe ignorant of the great new af∣fairs which then had happened in Jerusalem. * 1.2 What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another as ye walke, &c. And Cleophas said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not knowne the things which are come to passe there in those dayes? * 1.3 He checks him for his ignorance of the publike affaires of the Church, and afterward relates unto him the newest newes that was going. But how many are there amongst us which are persons of quality and yet are grosely ig∣norant of the things which have come to passe here of late dayes? * 1.4 Thus every one careth for his owne things, but how few doe care for the things that are for God? To all such I conclude with the threatning of the Psalmist, * 1.5 Because they regard not the works of the Lord, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them and not build them up. That to the Carelesse.

2. Reproofe, to such as are active the quite contrary way.

If every true member ought to bestir, &c. in such a time, then what members may we account them, who are so farre from this that they doe the quite contrary. Bestirre themselves they doe, 'tis true, yea, and for a thing which they call a Church too, but indeed it is an Anti-church rather, a Diana of their owne making, the Priest he makes the Church, and that Church it makes the Priests againe: As the Romane Priests they make their breaden god, and that god doth fill both their panches and their purses. A Church in these mens definition, what is it else, but the greater number of such Clergy, as are most richly Bene∣ficed, yea though loose in life, and in opinion and practise, fo∣menting a bundle of politike heresies and dangerous formali∣ties? * 1.6 But Saint Pauls definition of a Church is farre different, he saith, The Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of Truth. A pillar (saith one) Non more Architectionico, not in the Masons language, to build upon as infallible and unerring; but More forensi, in the Lawyers phrase, that is, as the pillar or publike poste of a Guild-Hall or Market-house, upon which the Word and Sacraments are so held out, as we use to hang up a Proclamation to be read of all: But these mens Church is lit∣tle better then a signe-Poste with a ballet pasted against it. Brethren, we have had strange definitions of a Church of late

yeers, some make it little different in structure from that of Rome, which resolves it selfe into a consistory of Cardinals and the Pope their Supreame and unerring Determiner. But blessed be God they have shewed lately by their unlawfull de∣crees that such a Church may erre. Let us examine that for∣mer definition of a Church a little further; if the greatest num∣ber of richest Clergy, and most dignified, doe make a Church, may we not say that Baals ••rophets and their adherents, * 1.7 were the Church of Israel in Elijahs time? Suppose those foure hun∣dred and fifty Prophets of Baal, and those other foure hundred Prophets of the Groves, suppose those 850. (all false Prophets) had met in Convocation, surely they were then both the most and greatest Clergy of Israel by farr, and would have carried any decree before them smoothly; but had not this bin a tite Church? One Orthodox Elijah weighed them all up, * 1.8 and did afterward destroy them all. Or suppose (once more) those o∣ther foure hundred flattering Prophets that perswaded King Ahab to goe up to warre against Ramoth Gilead, * 1.9 suppose that all those together with their little Pope over them (I meane) Zed••kiah the sonne of Chenaanah, * 1.10 that forward Prophet that made himselfe hornes of yron to push the Syrians to confusion. Sup∣pose (I say) all those to have decreed that warre, and to have given an Ecclesiasticall contribution towards it; was this the Church then, and had such a Canon bin binding under penalty of a box on the check? No, no, * 1.11 ye know that one honest Mi∣caiah that disswaded from the warre, was better then all that rabble so called a Church. And yet Brethren (to drive home this Reproofe) we have amongst us many hundreds of those which do bestir themselves to the uttermost even for such a Church.

1. One he preacheth for it (foolishly or falsly) I am sure con∣fusedly enough. The Church, the Church, ô the Church and the pillars therof goe to the ground, it is rent and torne on eve∣ry side, &c. And perhaps the quotient and truth of all this noy se is, that some Fox is caught in a ginne, some Woolfe or other is fast in a trap, where they are like to pay for all their old bloud∣sucking and woorying.

2. Another (of the faction) complaineth of strange procee∣dings,

and blesseth himselfe to heare of such turning of things upside downe in the Church. Q. And what is the cause of all his chattering too? A. Why surely the nest is found, the nest of Cormorants and Cockatrises, and so all their Eggs are likely to be blowne upon, or bruised to pieces. In a word, strange it is, but too true, that there are many amongst us, both of the Clergy and Laity, which spare not the uttermost labours and abilities of their hands, heads, hearts and tongues for an Anti-church, I had almost said an Antichrist in this Land. Let me say unto all this Tribe of transgressours as Joash to the men of his City, * 1.12 Will ye plead for Baal? will yee save him? he that will plead for him let him be put to death whilest it is yet morning: If he be a god let him plead for himselfe, because one hath cast downe his Altar. So say I, will ye plead for I dolatrous, unlaw∣full, innovating things, persons and acts? if the faction be in∣nocent let them plead for themselves, because their Priests, I∣mages and Altars, with all the rest of their trumpery, is like to be cast into the mire. Nay, higher yet, let all such sticklers know that they sinne directly against God, * 1.13 the King, and this truth of God in my Doctrine. For they helpe the ungodly and love them that hate the Lord: * 1.14 Therefore is their wrath upon them from before the Lord. They justifie the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousnesse of the righteous from him: * 1.15 therefore as fire devoureth the stubble and the flame consumeth the chaffe, so their root shall be rot tennesse, and their blossome shall goe up as dust, &c. In a word, ye opposites are guilty of two great sins in so doing.

1. Hainous and horrible Ingratitude for great and wonder∣full mercies, and Ingratum si dixeris, omnia dixeris.

2. Of Jewish and abhominable murmurings, instead of thanks ye returne repinings against the Lord, his choyce servants and your best friends. My prayer and wish is this, that the Lord would pardon, that the Law would punish, and that all good Christians and Loyall Subjects would complain of this rotten and totering faction.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Zech, 1.20, 21.
• * 1.2

  Lu. 14.17, 18.
• * 1.3

  ve••. 19, 20. &c.
• * 1.4

  Phil. 2.21.
• * 1.5

  Ps. 28.5.
• * 1.6

  1 Tim 3.15.
• * 1.7

  1 Kin. 18.19, 20
• * 1.8

  1 Kin. 18.40.
• * 1.9

  1 Kin. 22.6.
• * 1.10

  ver. 7.
• * 1.11

  ver. 24.
• * 1.12

  Judg. 6. v. 31.
• * 1.13

  2 Chro. 19.2.
• * 1.14

  Isa. 5. v. 23.
• * 1.15

  ver. 24.