6. AVilliam Perkins. — His ' Works ' abound in confutations of popish errors, written with great intensity. He has one special treatise of rare merit, ' The Reformed Catholike ; or a Declaration shewing how neere we may come to the present Church of Rome in sundrie points of Religion ; and wherein we must for ever depart from them.' (Cambridge, 1597.)
(r) P. 380. — ' To say we worship not the image but God . . . so we may see in Arnobius.' Arnobius here referred to was one of the apologists of Christianity in the African chiirch during the third century. His ' Disputatiouum. Adversus Gentes Libri ' (ex Editione Fausti Sabsei, Rome, 1542), remains a still vital book. It has passed through many editions. Again and again the question of image-worship comes up in it.
(s) P. 381. — ' Rome to be Babylon.' Cf. Canon Wordsworth's conclusive little work, ' Babylon ; or the question considered, " Is the Church of Rome the Babylon of the Apocalypse ?" ' 12mo.
{t) P. 381. — ' Hedges of the commandments.' Cf. note e.
(m) p. 383. ' As a great man-pleaser,' &c. Sibbes places in his margin, ' A Scot- tish Regent, before his execution.' This must refer to the Earl of Morton, Regent of Scotland, beheaded in 1581, on a very doubtful charge of treason. It is difficult to explain Sibbes's use of 'man-pleaser,' in relation to Knox's illustrious friend. But ' man-pleaser ' was a favourite term of reproach with the Puritans, which John Squier, in his extraordinary introduction to his sermon from Luke xviii. 13, thus sarcastically notices, ' If my text should lead me to avouch the dignity and authority of the superiours in our clergy, I should not escape that brand, behold a time- servant and a man-pleaser ' (4to, 1637, page 2). Better example far he might have taken from his contemporary, Shakespeare. I refer to the famous saying of Wolsey, (Henry VIII. iii. 2)—
' 0 Cromwell, Cromwell !
Had I but serv'd my God with half the zeal I serv'd my king, he would not, in mine age, Have left me naked to mine enemies.'
(v) P. 383. — ' Were made gods . . , came ... to fearful ends.' This holds of nearly all the Caesars. For ample proof, consult Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, under the respective emperors, especially Caligula and Nero.
(w) P. 392. — ' " I have seen and observed him," some read the words, but very few.' Cf. authorities cited in note a.
(z) P. 393. — ' The same day was that noble victory and conquest in the north parts over the enemies.' The allusion is to the Battle of Pinkie, on September 10. 1547, between the English, under the Earl of Hertford, Protector, and the Scotch, when the latter were totally defeated. It was one of the most decisive victories, with least loss to the conquerors, of any in history. There fell scarcely two hundred of the English ; while, according to the lowest computation, above ten thousand Scots perished, besides fifteen hundred taken prisoners. 1547 (and according to Sibbes, 10th September) is usually reckoned as the ' completion ' of the English Reforma- tion, although the reformed religion was not established until the accession of Elizabeth, in 1558.
(y) P. 415. — ' Simile mater erroris.' This ia a principle which is very often stated, in various forms, in the writings of Bacon,
(z) P. 433. — • We shall not need a Philip's boy.' The allusion is to the (I sup- pose), apocryphal story of Philippus II., father of Alexander the Great, having a boy appointed for the purpose of reminding him, by a daily repetition of it, of his ' mor- tality.' So sensual and volatile a nature was very unlikely to do so wise a thing.
G.
THE GLORIOUS FEAST OF THE GOSPEL.
THE GLORIOUS FEAST OF THE GOSPEL.
NOTE.
' The Glorious Feast ' was published in a thin quarto in 1650. The title-page is given below.* For various mistakes in the pagination of the original edition, consult bibliographical ' List ' in our last volume. G.
* Title-page : — •
THE
GLORIOVS FEAST
OF THE
GOSPEL.
OK,
Christ's gracious Invitation and royall
Entertainment of Believers,
Wherein amongst other things these comfortable
Doctrines are spiritually handled :
•1. The Marriage Feast between Christ and his Church.
2. The vaile of Ignorance and Vnbeliefe removed.
3. Christ's Conquest over death.
4. The wiping away of teares from the faces of God's people.
5. The taking away of their Reproaches.
6. The precious Promises of God, and their certaine performance.
7. The Divine Authority of the Holy Scriptures.
8. The Duty and comfort of waiting itpon God.
Delivered in divers Sermons upon Isai. 25 Chap. 6, 7, 8, 9 Verses,
BY
The late Reverend, Learned and faithfull Minister of the Gospell,
Richard Sibbs, D.D. Master of Katharine-
Hall in Cambridge, and Preacher at Grayes-Inne, London.
Prov. 9. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Wisdome hath hiilded her house ; she hath hewen out her seven Pillars.
She hath killed her beasts ; she hath mingled her wine ; she hath also furnished her
Table. She hath sent forth her Maidens ; she cries, ^-c. who so is simple let him tume iri hither, .j-c. Cmne eate of my bread, and drink of my wine that I have mingled, ^c.