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DE CORPORE POLITICO.

commission of the apostles (Matth. x. 7): "Go preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand." And Paul preaching amongst the Jews, (Acts, xviii. 5), did but testify unto the Jews, that "Jesus was the Christ." And the heathens took notice of Christians no otherwise, but by this name, that they believed "Jesus to be a king," crying out, (Acts, xvii. 6, 7): "These are they that have subverted the state of the world, and here they are, whom Jason hath received. And these all do against the decrees of Caesar, saying, that there is another king, one Jesus." And this was the sum of their predictions, the sum of the confessions of them that believed, as well men as devils. This was the title of his cross, "Jesus of Nazareth, king of the Jews"; this the occasion of the crown of thorns, sceptre of reed, and a man to carry his cross; this was the subject of the "Hosannas"; and this was the title, by which our Saviour, commanding to take another man's goods, bade them say, "The Lord hath need"; and by this title he purged the temple of the profane market kept there. Nor did the apostles themselves believe any more than that "Jesus was the Messiah," nor understand so much; for they understood the Messiah to be no more than a temporal king, till after our Saviour's resurrection. Furthermore, this point, that "Christ is the Messiah," is particularly set forth for "fundamental" by that word, or some other equivalent thereunto in divers places. Upon the confession of Peter (Matth. xvi. 16): "Thou art the Christ, the son of the living God," our Saviour (verse 18) saith, "Upon this rock will I build my church." This point therefore is the whole foundation of Christ's church. St. Paul saith, (Rom. xv. 20): "I so enforced myself to preach the Gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should have built upon another man's foundation." St. Paul, (1 Cor. iii. 10) when he had reprehended the Corinthians for their sects, and curious doctrines and questions, he distinguisheth between

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