Now I mean to proceed, and to touch briefly other points of doctrine contained in this portion of Scripture, which I have now in hand. In the second place therefore out of this commandment, Go out of her my people, I gather that the true Church of God is and hath been in the present Roman Church, as corn in the heap of chaff. Though Popery reigned and overspread the face of the earth for many hundred years; yet in the middest thereof, God reserved a people unto himself, that truly worshipped him: and to this effect the holy Ghost saith that the Dragon, which is the devil caused the woman, that is, the Church to fly into the wilderness, where he sought to destroy her but could not,1 and she still retains a remnant of her seed which kept the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Now this which I speak of the Church of Rome, can not be said in like manner of the congregations of Turks and other infidels, that the hidden Church of God is preserved among them; because there is no means of salvation at all: whereas the Church of Rome hath the Scriptures, though in a strange language; and baptism for the outward form: which helps God in all ages preserved, that his Elect might be gathered out of the middest of Babylon. This serves to stop the mouths of Papists, which demand of us, where our Church was fourscore years ago, before the days of Luther: whereby they would insinuate to the world, that our Church and religion is green or new: but they are answered out of this very text, that our Church hath ever been since the days of the Apostles, and that in the very midst of the papacy. It hath bin always a Church, and did not first begin to be in Luther's time: but only then began to show it self, as having bin hid by an universal Apostasy, for many hundred years together. Again we have here occasion to consider the dealing of God with his own church and people. He will not have them for external society to be mixed with their enemies, and that for special purpose: namely, to exercise the humility and ⟨p. 1012⟩patience of his few servants. When Elijah saw idolatry spread over all Israel, he went a part into the wilderness, and in grief desired to die. And David cried out: Woe is me that I am constrained to dwell in Mesheck, and to have my habitation in the tents of Kedar, Psal. 120.5.
Now I meane to proceede, and to touch briefly other points of doctrine contained in this portion of Scripture, which I haue now in hand. In the second place therefore out of this commaundement, Goe out of her my people, I gather that the true Church of God is and hath beene in the present Romane Church, as corne in the heape of chaffe. Though Poperie raigned and ouerspread the face of the earth for many hundred yeares; yet in the middest thereof, God reserued a people vnto himselfe, that truly worshipped him: and to this effect the holy Ghost saith that the Dragon, which is the deuill caused the woman, that is, the Church to flie into the wildernesse, where he sought to destroy her but could not,1 and shee still retaines a remnant of her seede which kept the commaundements of God, and haue the testimonie of Iesus Christ. Now this which I speake of the Church of Rome, can not be saide in like manner of the congregations of Turkes and other infidels, that the hidden Church of God is preserued among them; because there is no meanes of saluation at all: whereas the Church of Rome hath the Scriptures, though in a straunge language; and baptisme for the outward forme: which helpes God in all ages preserued, that his Elect might be gathered out of the middest of Babylon. This serues to stoppe the mouthes of Papists, which demaund of vs, where our Church was fourescore yeares agoe, before the daies of Luther: whereby they would insinuate to the world, that our Church and religion is greene or newe: but they are answered out of this very text, that our Church hath euer beene since the daies of the Apostles, and that in the very midst of the papacie. It hath bin alwaies a Church, and did not first begin to be in Luthers time: but onely then began to shew it selfe, as hauing bin hid by an vniuersall Apostasie, for many hundred yeares together. Againe we haue here occasion to consider the dealing of God with his owne church and people. He will not haue them for externall societie to be mixed with their enemies, and that for speciall purpose: namely, to exercise the humilitie and ⟨p. 1012⟩patience of his few seruants. When Elias saw idolatrie spred ouer all Israel, he went a part into the wildernes, and in griefe desired to die. And Dauid cried out: Woe is me that I am constrained to dwell in Mesheck, and to haue my habitation in the tents of Kedar, Psal. 120.5.
- 1Reu. 12. 17.
