Illyricus in his book of the way to understand the Scriptures. Tract. 1.
Matth. 10. 28. Fear ye not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the ⟨p. 126⟩soul: but rather fear him, which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29. Are not two Sparrows sold for a farthing, and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father? 30. Yea, and all the hairs of your head are numbered. 31. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many Sparrows.
It were easy to draw from hence many doctrines: partly of the confession of the faith: and partly concerning (Gods) providence.
*Doctrine 1. That it is needful for us publicly to profess the doctrine which we know, so often as there is need. 2. That we must make confession also with the hazard of goods and life. 3. That our life should be contemned in comparison of Christ and his trueth. 4. That eternal punishments to be suffered both in soul and body are prepared for those that are not afraid to deny Christ, and his trueth. 5. That God is intent and ready to govern us, that we might make our confession aright. 6. That the providence of ⟨p. 127⟩God is not only general, but also special, which is diligently occupied about all our smallest matters, yea even the hairs of our head.
*Redargution. 1. Those do err, who think it to be sufficient, if in heart they do embrace the faith and a right opinion concerning religion: and that it is at a mans choice in the mean season to grant or affirm any thing before men, as the condition of the place, time, and persons requireth; especially when the life seemeth to be in imminent danger to be lost. 2. The Epicures err, in that they deny the divine providence: because they think it too base for the Majesty of God to take care of humane affairs. 3. The Stoics do err, who imagine that all things are governed by the fate, (or an unresistable & violent necessity.) 4. They do err who make chance and fortune, without any wise ordination of the divine providence. 5. The Pelagians do err in giving more than is due to mans strength, as if it were put in mens power to embrace the faith at their pleasure, to continue constant in the same, and to confess ⟨p. 128⟩it to the end without fear. 6. They do err, who do lean more upon outward things and inconstant riches, than upon the power and goodness of God.
*Instruction. 1.
Illyricus in his booke of the way to vnderstand the Scriptures. Tract. 1.
Matth. 10. 28. Feare yee not them which kill the bodie, but are not able to kill the ⟨p. 126⟩soule: but rather feare him, which is able to destroy both soule and bodie in hell. 29. Are not two Sparrowes sold for a farthing, and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father? 30. Yea, and all the haires of your head are numbred. 31. Feare yee not therefore, yee are of more value than many Sparrowes.
It were easie to draw from hence many doctrines: partly of the confession of the faith: and partly concerning (Gods) prouidence.
*Doctrine 1. That it is needfull for vs publikely to professe the doctrine which we know, so often as there is need. 2. That wee must make confession also with the hazzard of goods and life. 3. That our life should bee contemned in comparison of Christ and his trueth. 4. That eternall punishments to be suffered both in soule and bodie are prepared for those that are not affraid to denie Christ, and his trueth. 5. That God is intent and readie to gouerne vs, that we might make our confession aright. 6. That the prouidence of ⟨p. 127⟩God is not onely generall, but also speciall, which is diligently occupied about all our smallest matters, yea euen the haires of our head.
*Redargution. 1. Those doe erre, who thinke it to bee sufficient, if in heart they doe embrace the faith and a right opinion concerning religion: and that it is at a mans choise in the meane season to graunt or affirme any thing before men, as the condition of the place, time, and persons requireth; especially when the life seemeth to be in imminent danger to be lost. 2. The Epicures erre, in that they denie the diuine prouidence: because they thinke it too base for the Maiestie of God to take care of humane affaires. 3. The Stoicks doe erre, who imagine that all things are gouerned by the fate, (or an vnresistable & violent necessitie.) 4. They doe erre who make chaunce and fortune, without any wise ordination of the diuine prouidence. 5. The Pelagians do erre in giuing more than is due to mans strength, as if it were put in mens power to embrace the faith at their pleasure, to continue constant in the same, and to confesse ⟨p. 128⟩it to the end without feare. 6. They doe erre, who doe leane more vpon outward things and inconstant riches, than vpon the power and goodnesse of God.
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