the faithful enter into the Church, & are sanctified. Entrance into the Church by Baptisme.The timber wherof the arke is made, & the water bearing it vp, signified the Crosse of Christ & Baptisme. li. 12. de Baptis c. 41.For as Noe (saith S. Augustin) with his, was deliuered by the water and the wood, so the familie of Christ, by Baptisme signed with Christs Passion on the Crosse. Vertue of Sacraments commeth from Christs Passion.Likewise the squarnes of the timber which both sustayned the burden of al contained in the arke, and resisted the boystrous waues of the floud beating without, did signifie such men in the Church, as be constant and stand firmely in al sorts of tentations: Doctours and Pastours in the Church.especially godly and learned Doctours and Pastours, who by word and example vphold and confirme the faithful people in al afflictions within, and withstand & conuince al Heretikes and other Infidels that oppugne the Church without. Varietie of states and orders in the Church.Againe, the higher and lower roomes with the midle chambers and third lofts, and other distinctions of cabinets, and partitions, and al sorts of liuing creatures cleane and vncleane, receiued therin, did signifie the varieties of al states and functions, and diuersitie of manners and merits in the Church, in which are persons of al degrees, Clergie and Laitie, Potentates, Princes, subiects, Good and euil in the Church.good and euil. Perpetuitie of the Church.The most strong kind of glew called bitumen, signified the permanent or euerlasting stabilitie, and vnseparable connexion of the Church, by the grace and continual assistance of the Holie Ghost conseruing the same. Vnitie of the ChurchThe consummation of the arke in one cubit signified the vnitie of the same Church, which is one in al times and places. Neither would God Almightie haue manie arkes, for Noe and his sonnes or other creatures, nor manie chiefe Rulers (though he would that of them should come manie Nations) but one only arke, One chiefe Gouernour in the Church.
No salvation out of the Church.and one chiefe Gouernour therof, and that al without the same should corporally dye, to signifie that al which dye without the Church do perish, and are eternally damned. Ep. 57. ad Damasum.Wherupon S. Hierom, amongst other Fathers, sheweth that al within the Church, that communicate with the See Apostolike (wherin S. Damasus sate then Gouernour) are as those in the arke of Noe, and al Schismatikes, Heretikes and other Infidels are in like case with the rest of the world, that were drowned with the floud.
The end of the first age.
