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COntrary to the expresse words of their own Bible, Mat. 5.14.15. Ye are the light of the world, a City that is set on a hill, cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light to all that are in the house. But the Catholick Church is such a light, such a candle, and such a
City built upon Christ, as upon 〈◊〉〈◊〉 mountain, therefore had not, nor ca•• be hidden, nor is invisible.
Mat. 18.17. Tell the Church, if 〈◊〉〈◊〉 neglected to hear thee: but if he neglect to hear the Church, let him be unto th•• as a heathen man, and a Publican. Bu•• it were a very hard case to be condem∣ned as a Heathen, for not telling, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hearing a Church, which hath so close∣ly lain hid, that no man could here see, feel, or understand it for a thou∣sand years.
2 Cor. 4.3. But if our Gospel be hia•• it is hid to them that are lost. Loe th•• censure of S. Paul upon all such as af∣firm that the Church, or her Gospel ca•• be hid.
Isai. 2.2. And it shall come to pas•• in the last days, that the mountain 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Lords house shall be established i•• the top of the mountains, and shall b•• exalted above the hills, and all nation shall flow unto it. In hundreds of place do the Prophesies mention this King∣dom of Christ, as Dan. 7.14. Mich•• 4.7. &c. Which should be all in vain
if this his kingdom could be invisible; for a Prophesie must be of things, which may be seen and perceived by our sen∣ses; otherwise every man might be a Prophet, and foretel of things to come, which if they should not come to passe, he might answer, that they had come to pass in very deed as he had prophesied, but that they were invisible to the world. Lo the visible absurdities of this invisible Church.
See more Psa. 27.8. Rom. 19.14. 1 Cor. 11.19. Psa. 19.3, 4. Isai 60.20. Act. 20.21. Isa. 61.9.
¶ The Fathers commonly affirmed the same. Origen. hom. 30. in Matth. The Church is full of light, even from the East to the West. S. Chrysostom. hom. 4. in. 6. of Isai. It is easier for the sun to be ex∣tinguished, then the Church to be darkned. S. Aug. tract. in John calls those blinde, that do not see so great a mountain. S. Cyp. de Ʋnitate Ecclesiae, to the same purpose.