thou shalt bruise his heele Quest What is meant here by Enmity Answ A bitter immoderate inveterate irreconciliable and endlesse hatred and division opposite to that amity and familiarity which formerly had been betweene the Woman and the Serpent Quest Betweene whom was this Enmity proclaimed Answ Betweene the Serpent and his seed on the one side and the Woman and her seed on the other Quest What is meant by the Serpent and his Seed Answ First by the Serpent we are to understand Satan who opened the Serpents mouth and caused it to speake with mans voice as the Lord by an Angell opened the mouth of Balaams Asse Numbers 22. Secondly By the Serpents seed is meant the whole generation of wicked men as all Interpreters conclude and other Scriptures make cleare calling them Serpents Generation of Vipers and Children of the Devill Matth. 23.33 John 8.44 1 John 3.10 Quest What is meant by the Woman and her Seed Answ By the woman is meant Eve by her seed we are to understand first and chiefly Christ the singular Seed who was so the Seed of the Woman as that he was not of the Man Gal. 4.4 being borne of a Virgin Isaiah 7.14 Secondly It imployeth all his members the Elect when once regenerate who are not onely Eves seed as she was the Mother of all living by nature but by faith also as else where they are called the seed or children of Abraham Gal. 3.29 Quest What occasioned the Lord to proclaime this enmity Answ Adams sinne in eating the forbidden fruit and Satans malice in moving and seducing him thereunto was the meritorious cause the originall of this discord is from Originall sin Quest What Instruction affords this Answ First That to be without reproaches and persecutions wee may rather wish then hope For what peace can we looke for betweene the Seed of the Woman and the Seed of the Serpent seeing God himselfe from the beginning hath set them at enmity Yea once to expect it were an effect of frenzy not of hope Secondly If the Lord hath put this enmity between us and the wicked here is comfort in suffering warrant in opposing Thirdly If the Seed of the Woman fight on Christs side and they have Gods Word for their warrant they are sure to have him assist them and prevent their enemies And is not that God we fight for able enough to vindicate all our wrongs Quest Doth that hatred and enmity continue to this day Answ Yes the words are set downe indefinitely without limitation and so signifie that it shall be perpetuall from the beginning of time to the end of all time When time saith one began this malice first began nor will it end but with the latest man it is an everlasting Act of Parliament like a Statute in Magna Charta Quest To proceed from Explication to Confirmation and so to Application How prove you That there hath beene in all ages past is now and ever shall bee betweene the wicked and the godly a perpetuall Warre enmity and strife according to the Lords Prediction or Proclamation Answ For proofe I could produce testimonies and examples innumerable there being scarce a page in the Bible which doth not expresse or imply somewhat touching this enmity Yea as if the Scriptures contained nothing else the Holy Ghost significantly calls them the Booke of the Battles of the Lord Numb 21.14 as Rupertus well observes But I will confine my selfe and onely mention three examples in every age 1. To begin with the first age Viz. the old World before the Flood We reade of this war enmity and strife betweene Caine and Abel 1 John 3.12 Between Lâ—mech and the holy Seed Gen. 4.23 24. and between those wicked Gyants which Moses speakes of and the sonnes of God Gen. 6.2 to 12. Yea those Gyants bade battle to Heaven as our Mythologists add to ver 4. 2. After the Flood before the Law betweene all the men of Sodome and righteous Let Gen. 19.4 9.11 2 Pet. 2.8 Betweene Hagar and Ishmael the Bondwoman and her sonne and Sarah and Isaac the Free-woman and her son Gen. 21.9 10. Gal. 4 29. And between Esau and Jacob first in the wombe the more plainely to shadow out this enmity Gen. 25.22 23. and after they were borne Gen. 27.41 3. After the Law before Christ betweene Doeg and the eighty five Priests which he slew with the edge of the sword 1 Sam. 22.18 19. Betweene Jezabell and all the Prophets of the Lord which she destroyed 1 Kings 18.13 14. And betweene the Heads in Israel in Micahs time and all that were good Micah 3.2 4. Since the Gospell in the time of Christ and his Apostles this enmity so manifested it selfe not onely in the Gentiles but in the Jewes Gods owne people who first moved those persecutions against Christ and his Members that having beheaded John Baptist his Harbinger and crucified himselfe the Lord of life we read that of all the Twelve none dyed a naturall death save onely Saint John and he also was banished by Domitian to Pathmos and at another time thrust into a Tun of seething oyle at Rome as Tertullian and Saint Hierom doe report See Acts 7.51 to 60. 12.1 to 5. Rom. 8.36 Iohn 21.18 19. Now all these besides many other of his Disciples suffered martyrdome meerely for professing the faith of Christ whereof some were stoned some crucified some beheaded some thrust thorow with Speares some burnt with fire with a multitude of other Beleevers for Ecclesiasticall History makes mention of two thousand which suffered the same day with Nicanor Acts and Monuments page 32. which makes Saint Pâ—ul cry out I thinke that God hath set forth us the last Apostles as men appointed to death 1 Corinâ—h 4.9 5. After the Apostles if we consider the residue of the ten Persecutions raysed by the Romans against the Christians which was for three hundred yeares till the comming of godly Constantine we find that there was such an innumerable company of innocent Christians put to death and tormented that Saint Hierome in his Epistle to Chromatius and Heâ—â—odorus saith There is no one day in the whole yeare unto which the number of five thousand Martyrs might not be ascribed except onely the first day of Ianuary who were put to the most exquisite deaths and torments that ever the wit or malice of men or Devils could invent to inflict we reade of no lesse then twenty nine severall deaths that they were put unto if no other be omitted 6. From the Primitive times and infancy of the Church hitherto the Turke and the Pope have acted their parts in shedding the blood of the Saints as well as the Jewes and Roman Emperours touching which for brevities sake I referre you to the Booke of Acts and Monuments Yet because a taste may please some I will insert what the Holy Ghost hath foretold in the Revelation touching the Pope who cals himselfe Christs Vicar and supreame Head of the Church the Angell
these men enveigh and preach against preaching As what needes so much preaching say they and all stupified sensualists it was never a good world since so many Lectures were set up their was more love and charity and plain dealing among our fore-fathers they mean in time of Popery who were onely verst in the Lords Prayer Creed and ten Commandments one Sermon well remembred and put in practise is better then ten yea quoth a Minister in the pulpit that preacht himself once in six weekes that he might silence his Parishoners who complained for want of their daily food you will finde this Sermon more then you will be able to practise this two months and no question spake out of feeling for he having lived already above five ages could never yet put those five wordes of his text into practise viz. Repent and beleeve the Gospel But the reason of this their murmuring is easie Carnall worldlings cry up practise to cry down knowledge as you may see by their own practise even as cunning Papists will extoll Saint Iames onely to disparage Saint Paul This point would be further applyed but let conscience do it for it is a sore that will not endure rubbing onely this if any man be vexed at his brother because he fares better and is better accepted because he is favoured and respected of God and goodmen while himself is neglected and dis-esteemed of both much more if he belch out his spleene against the religious because they are praised and preferred before himself let him know that this could not be if he were not full of the venome of the serpent Psal 112.10 Pro. 14.30 Secondly this may be applied to people of the looser sort As why do all drunkards and vicious livers hate the religious and so belch out their enmitie and spleen against them in raising and spreading of slanders as they doe but although partly to rescue themselves from contempt and procure a contrary esteem by putting a foule and ugly vizard upon vertue and decking up vice in a gorgeous and comely attire yet chiefly because they are precious in Gods sight his peculiar and chosen people out of all the world the children of God and members of Christ temples of the holy Ghost yea chiefly because they partake of the Divine Nature and are one with the Father and the Sonne Iohn 17.14 21 22. 2 Cor. 6.18 This is the eye-sore of our enemies and let envie look her selfe blinde And so much of the first Cause Quest What is the second Cause why ungodly men hate and persecute the religious Answ Their ignorance of God of Christ and the Scriptures Quest How is that proved Answ By Testimonies Examples Reason and our own Experience 1. First by Testimonies They shall hate and persecute you yea they shall excommunicate and kill you for my Names sake saith our Saviour to his Disciples because they have not known the Father nor me Iohn 16.2.3 15.21 And again they are an offence unto us because they understand not the things which are of God but the things which are of men Matth. 16.23 And are deceived because they know not the scriptures neither the power of God Matth. 22.29 Luke 19.42 2. Secondly by Examples Reason This the Apostle confesseth to have been the cause of his persecuting the Church 1. Tim. 1.13 Who so soon as he was inlightned with the saving knowledge of the truth changed his note with his name and preached that faith which before he persecuted It s worth the noting how he was no sooner informed but he was reformed Now if we look upon him as Saul we shall see what we are by generation if we look upon him as Paul we shall see what we are or should be by regeneration Neither is it strange that the men of the world through ignorance should hate and persecute the members of Christ for upon the same ground they even crucified Christ himself Father forgive them saith he of his murtherers for they know not what they do And why have the kings of the earth in all ages banded themselves together against the Lord and against his Christ Psal 2.2 But because they knew him not John 15.21 For if the Princes of this world had known they would not have crucisied the Lord of glory as the holy Ghost speakes 1. Cor. 2.8 Yea if we consider it rightly we shall finde that ignorance is the cause of all sin Sin indeed at the first was the cause of ignorance but now ignorance is the cause of sin Swearing and lying and killing and stealing and whoring abound saith the Prophet because there is no knowledge of God in the land Hos 4.1.2 It is a people that do erre in their hearts saith God why because they have not known my wayes Psal 95.10 3. Thirdly Experience proves that none are so far transported with a mad superstitious zeal against the religious as the rude rabble who can yeeld no other reason or confession of their faith if they be asked than this that they are no puritanes or that they hate a Puritane from their soules when as the devill himself who hates the Puritane they meane most of any can make as good a confession of his faith as this For who are the greatest censurers and the violentest opposers of goodnesse are not the ignorant fry who have more rage then reason and the more sottish still the more insolent As reprove one of them for swearing or drunkennesse or uniust dealing or for prophaning the Lords day for Atheisme and the like you are sure to be branded with the odious title of Puritane yea you are factious and schismaticall if ye will not be drunk and every whit as lewd as they are It is worth a large smile to observe what a clamour the blundering rabble will make against the people of God if one in their company but mention the word Puritane or tell them how scrupulous precise such an one is O what a number of sharp and deadly arrows will each of them shoot both at the good and goodnesse maugre all admonition For each being stung with the Gad-flie of mis-governed zeal as Paul was before he knew Christ they presume to affirm with incredible impudence accompanied with invincible ignorance that there are not worse men in the world then the religious Wherein it is hard to say whether ignorance or malice do more abound whether it be more out of the strength of will or weaknesse of judgement It is the nature of ignorant and carnall men that walk after the flesh in the lusts of uncleannesse whom Saint Peter calls brute beasts led with sensuallity to speak evill of the things which they understand not 2 Pet. 2.12 Especially in judging acts of zeal and piety their opinion still lights upon the worst sense like them in the second of the Acts who mocked the Apostles when they were filled with the holy Ghost and hearing them speak languages which they understood not cried
like him in workes Wee are not like Christ except wee doe whatsoever God commands and suffer whatsoever hee inflicts Now we are naught at doing but when it comes to suffering we are gone it is the happinesse of these cold times that wee are not put to the hot fire for tryall of our faith and love if the Wheele should turne which the mercy of God forbid how many would turne from Christ rather than burne for him Alasse the greatest number are like Orbilius the Grammarian who not only forgot the Letters of his Booke but even his own name for they not only forget what is written in Christ's Gospell but they forget also that they are Christians and can be of any religion for a neede which shewes their hearts are truely of none True Gods seed is sowne but the Devils fruit comes up and like the Iewes we bring Christ Vinegar when hee thirsts for Wine But what a shame What a prodigie is this We are bound to praise GOD above any Nation whatsoever for what Nation under Heaven injoyes so much light or so many blessings as we above any Creature for all the creatures were ordained for our sakes and yet Heaven Earth and Sea all the Elements all the Creatures obey the Word of God only men for whom they were all made ingratefully rebell against it The which as it mightily aggravates our unthankfulnesse so when time comes it will gall our Consciences to death Yea when we shall consider that Christ hath removed so many evills from us and conferred so many good things upon us that they are beyond thought or imagination and that our recompence of his love hath been only to doe that which he hates and hate those whom he loves it will make us speechlesse like him in the Gospell who wanted his wedding Garment as neither expecting mercy or daring to aske it for know this that thy own conscience will once sting thee like an Adder to think what Christ hath given and what he would have forgiven thee if thou wouldst but have repented to thinke how often thou hast beene invited to Heaven how easily thou mightest have escaped hell how often Christ by his Embassadors offered thee remission of sins and the Kingdome of Heaven freely if thou wouldest but beleeve and repent and how easily thou mightest have obtained mercy in those dayes how neere thou wast many times to have repented and yet diddest suffer the Devill and the World to keepe thee still impenitent and how the day of mercy is then past and will never dawn againe For the same Devill that now shuts your eyes and labours to keepe you blinde during the presumption of your life will open them in the desperation that shall wait on you at death or in hell As it fared with the rich man who when he was in hell lift up his eyes to Heaven but never before Luke 16.23 Those scorching flames opened them to propose Sin shuts up mens eyes but punishment opens them But I hope I have said enough and that thou art convinc'd in thine own Conscience that hitherto thou hast beene a meere Atheist and that through Atheisme thou hast hated reviled and persecuted the godly If not truth is as much truth when it is not acknowledged as when it is Now if thou dost confidently and without peradventure beleeve what the Scripture speakes of God Heaven hell c. If thou beleevest the threatnings and precepts as well as the promises and if thou bearest any love to thine own soule Breake off thy sinnes by repentance and oppose the good no longer give no credit to the flesh or the Devill which prophesy prosperity to sinne but beleeve God and the Scripture which manifestly proves that every man shall bee judged according to his workes Revel 12.13 and 22 12. Make not Christ a boulster for sinne nor Gods mercy a warrant for thy continuing in an evill course Be not therefore evill because hee is good least like the foolish builder thou commest short of thy reconning for Christ came to destroy the works of the Devill John 3.3.8 9 10. And not to be a Patron of sinne and there is mercy with God that he might be feared not that he might be despised blasphemed c. Psal 130.4 Yea know this and write it in the Table booke of thy memory and on the table of thine heart that if God's bountifulnesse and long suffering towards thee does not leade thee to repentance it will double thy doome and increase the pile of thy torments for every day which does not abate of thy reckoning will increase it Qui numer at dotes numer at dren and thou by thy hardnesse and impenitencie shalt but treasure up unto thy selfe wrath against the day of wrath and the declaration of the just judgment of God Rom. 2.4 5 6. And so much of the third cause Qâ—est What other Causes are there why they thus hate and persecute us Answ Other maine Causes as they make them are these Eight 1. Speaking of Truth 1 Kings 12.8 17 23 24 26 27. Ier. 11.19 and 26.8 9 11. and 36 23 26. and 38.4 5 6. Amos 5.10 Mark 6.16 to 29. Acts 16 19. to 25. and 17.5 6 7 13. and 18 11 12 13 and 19 26. to 34. and 21 27 28 30 31. and 22 22 23. and 23 1 2 12 13 14. Gal 4.16 2. Misprision Acts 24.14 and 26 9 10 11 24. 1 Kings 18.17 18. Psal 14.1 Jer. 44.17 18 19. Wis 5.4 Mat. 7 14. and 13.55 56 57. and 28 15. Mar. 5.39 40. and 7.5 8 9. John 2.19 20 21. and 3 3 4. and 7.15 23 24. and 8.15 57 58 59. and 9.16 and 16 2. Acts 2.13 2 Thes 2.10.11 12. Rom. 8.5 6 7 8 1 Cor. 1.18 to 29. and 2.7 8 10 11 12 13 14 15 16. and 3.18 19 20. 2 Tim. 2.26 1 Pet. 2.7 8. Rev. 3.17 3. Example of the multitude Gen. 19 4. to 12. Num. 14.2.3 10. and 16.1 to 4. Mat. 27.20 25 27 39 49. Acts 19.24 to 30. 4. Separation Gen. 39.12 to 21. Psal 26.4 5. and 101.7 and 119 63 115. Prov. 5.8 and 23 20. Ier. 15.19 Wisd 2.16 Iohn 15.19 1 Cor. 5.11 2 Cor. 6.17 Ephes 5.7 2 Thes 3.6 14. 1 Pet. 4.4 Rev. 18.4 5. The preaching of some Ministers Ier. 5.31 and 8.11 and 23 13.14 15 16 17 21 22 26 27 31 32. Eze. 22.25 26 28. Mat 9.34 Mark 13.22 Ioh. 5.43 Act. 13.8 and 20 29 30. Rom. 16 17 18. 2 Cor. 2.17 and 11.13 14 15. 1 Tim. 4.1 2 3. 2 Tim. 3.8 2 Pet. 2. ch and 3.3 6. The scandalous lives of some professors Gen. 9.21 22. and 12 18 19. and 19.33 35 36. and 20.2 12 16. and 34 13 14 15 16 25 26. to 31. 1 Sam. 2.12 to 18. 2 Sam. 12 14. Mat. 7.15 and 18 7. and 23 3 14 23 24.25.27 and 26 14 15 16 70 72 74. and 27.5 7. Flocking after Sermons Ioh. 11.48 and 12 19 6 2. and Acts 13.45 Matth. 4.24 25. and 15 30. Mar. 3.10 and 8.1 and 10 1 2. Luke 5.15 and 6 17 18 19. 8. The finall cause is that they may have more company here in sin and hereafter in torment Psal 35.4 7 12 and 40.14 and 5.6 6. and 59 2 3. Matth. 23.13 15. Luke 11.52 Iohn 11.48 and 12 10.11 and 15.19 Act. 26.11 1 Pet. 4.4 Revel 12.17 and 13 15. But they are all so prolix and yet so unmeete to bee abbreviated that if I should handle them and make of all but one Volume they would so swell the heapè that not a few would be deprived of the whole He will buy a Manuall or Enchiridion that will not buy a Commentary and he will reade a Curranto that will not reade a Chronicle History Yea it may happen to meet with Patients so desperate that although they acknowledge it is of absolute necessity for them to be informed touching these things yet having Quesie stomacks if they see their Potion bigge aswell as bitter will resolve to suffer yea to dye rather than take it That will bee swallowed by morsells and easily digested which being taken all at once will not onely cloy but surfet Wherefore I will reserve the rest untill I see what returne this will make And the rather for that there are three Treatises already publisht of this very subject viz. Sinne stigmatized The Victory of Patience last Edition The mischiefe and misery of Scandalls The end of the first Part. Imprimatur Tho. Wykes