Englands sickness, comparatively conferred with Israels Divided into two sermons, by ThoEnglands sicknes, comparatively conferred with Israels Diuided into two sermons, by Tho

Our particular Church of England, now fined from the dross of Rome, had a true substantial being before, but hath gotten a better being, by the repurgation wrought ⟨p. 31⟩by the Gospel, maintained of our Christian Princes, the true defenders of the faith of Christ. God had doubtless his Church among us before; for it is Catholic and universal: but his floor was full of chaff. The Papists demand where our Church was before Luther's time. We answer, it lay hid under a great bulk of chaff: and Mat. 3. since Christ vouchsafed to come with his fan to purge it of the chaff, it now shows it self with greater eminence, and is clearer both in show and substance. It was before a wedge of pure gold, but coming into the hands of impostors, was by their mixtures & sophistications, for gain and such sinister respects, augmented into a huge body and mass, retaining still an outward fair show and tincture of gold. They demand, where was the gold? demonstrate the place. I answer in that Mass. But for the extracting thereof, and purifying it from dross, God hath given us the true touchstone, his sacred Word, which can only manifest the true Church: and withal reverend Bishops, and worthy Ministers, that have been instruments to refine & purge it from the dross of superstitions, foul ceremonies, and juggling inventions.

Our particular Church of England, now fined from the drosse of Rome, had a true substantiall beeing before, but hath gotten a better being, by the repurgation wrought ⟨p. 31⟩by the Gospell, maintained of our Christian Princes, the true defenders of the faith of Christ. God had doubtlesse his Church among vs before; for it is Catholike and vniuersall: but his floore was full of chaffe. The Papists demand where our Church was before Luthers time. We answere, it lay hid vnder a great bulke of chaffe: and Mat. 3. since Christ vouchsafed to come with his fanne to purge it of the chaffe, it now shewes it selfe with greater eminence, and is clearer both in shew and substance. It was before a wedge of pure gold, but comming into the hands of impostors, was by their mixtures & sophistications, for gain and such sinister respects, augmented into a huge body and masse, retaining still an outward faire shew and tincture of golde. They demand, where was the golde? demonstrate the place. I answere in that Masse. But for the extracting therof, and purifying it from drosse, God hath giuen vs the true touchstone, his sacred Word, which can onely manifest the true Church: and withall reuerend Bishops, and worthy Ministers, that haue beene instruments to refine & purge it from the drosse of superstitions, foule ceremonies, and iugling inuentions.