aside from the truth Let us then bring the Doctrines we hear to the touch-stone of Gods Word and not to reject them because publique neither applaud them meerly because private and so on the other hand Those that are so rigorous against private places what would they have done if they had lived in the dayes of Christ they would have rejected Christ and his Doctrine because he preached on a Mountaine and in a Ship and if they had lived in the dayes of the Apostles they would have done the like A faithfull Minister of Christ whether private or publick will endeavour to approve himself to God by holding forth such things as are consonant and agreeable to the Word of God Truth may be private when errour may be publick as in the dayes of Ahab when some of the Prophets were imprisoned and some put to death and Jezeebel had four hundred Prophets of Baal that fed daily at her table these at that time had the publick places and so in the dayes of Christ and his Apostles I proceed now to the second observation OB. That such persons usually effect their design on such as are either weak and ignorant not able to discern their corrupt and unsound Doctrine or such as are under the power of some base lust or lusts be they men or women for it may be understood of both sexes such being by the just judgment of God left to themselves and so they easily prevail on them Observe what Solomon telleth Prov. 14.15 The simple beleeveth every thing but the prudent looketh well to his goings What doth he mean in that but this A man that is simple and void of understanding you may make him beleeve any thing if you put a fair glosse and colour upon it but a man of understanding will lift and try and examine and see what grounds there are for the Doctrine that is delivered Of such deceivers the Apostle speaketh 2. Pet. 2.14 Now here 1. I shall shew you that they usually effect their designed on persons that are ignorant 2. That they also effect their design on those that are under the power of some lust or lusts that are in bondage to some base lusts 3. That God in his just judgment is pleased sometimes to give over such to be seduced 1. That their design is usually effected on those that are ignorant of Gods Word This you may see if you look into the Scripture Who were they among the Children of Israel that the false Prophets did so easily draw aside you may see they were any such that did not know the Lord. Jer. 5.3.4 5. Now how came this to pass They were led aside and seduced by those false Prophets that Jeremiah complaineth of that did deceive them and speaking smooth things to them did harden and confirm them in their evil wayes Again you may see how they were drawn in Jeroboams time to that grosse and abominable Idolatry they willingly walked after the Commandment Hos 5.11 Now what people were these the Prophet telleth us Hos 4.1 they were such as were without the knowledge of God where there is no knowledge of God in a Land people are easily crawn aside into the most pernicious errours And what was the reason that the Scribes and Pharisees had so many followers and so few followed Christ Why the people were ignorant of the Law and the Pharisees by their grosse and corrupt interpretations did deceive them They were a people that did not know the Law if they had known the Word of God Christ and the truths of Christ would have been very precious to them And what was the cause in this Nation in former dayes and with other Nations that remain under Ponery they are drawn aside to embrace the most-abominable errours to beleeve things that are so grossely corrupt It is because they are without the Word the Scriptures are locked up in an unknown language and people without the Word do beleeve any thing though never so grosse Do you think that absurd and abominable opinion of the Popish Masse would be received viz. That the Bread and Wine is the very Body and Blood of Christ Also that Crossing themselves with their Fingers is that which will defend them from evil and many the like foolish opinions if people were not ignorant of the Word of God 2. That which I am to shew you further is this That as ignorant persons are apt to be drawn aside to errours so likewise those that live under the power of some lust or lusts Consider that Jer. 5. The time that the Prophet Jeremiah speaketh of was a time of loosness and prophaneness They did whatsoever was good in their own eyes v 5. The great men had some knowledge of God but notwithstanding they had burst the yoke and broken the bonds they would not be under the power of Gods Word but would walk according to their own lusts pleasures Likewise that in Jer. 44.16 When the Word that Jere. had spoken in the name of the Lord crossed their lusts see how stubbornly they answer As for the VVord which thou hast spoken to us in the Name of the Lord we will not hearken to thee VVhen persons are under the power of any lust they are in a ready way to be seduced to any thing though never so corrupt VVhen men are in love with any sin and do wilfully retain any lust they are fit persons for seducers to work upon And usually such persons with whom the flesh and their own carnal interest prevailes have been drawn away from following the truth though they have lived some time under a profession of it and have had some knowledge of it I say such persons being overswayed by their lusts have been turned aside from the truths which they formerly embraced into the most corrupt and abominable ways We have had experience of it in this our Nation when God was pleased to give us peace and plenty and all that our hearts could desire how many were there that lived under a Profession of Religion when Religion was in credit yet the World having the Mastery of their hearts how suddenly did those persons miscarry and turn aside some to one opinion and some to another And surely those who lie in wait to deceive observe the frame and temper of mens spirits and order their deceits accordingly 3. That God in his just judgment giveth such over to be deceived VVhen once men will indulge themselves in any way of sin when once they wilfully take up their resolutions that they will do so and so though it be expressely contrary to the VVord of God God is pleased to give such over to delusions 2 Thes 2.10 11. For this cause God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a Lie For what cause because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved Observe that he doth not say that they did not receive the truth but they received not the
in the things that God hath commanded Many are so zealous and intemperate that they will admit of no worship but this and look on Diseenters as factions and seditious that will not yeild unto them Again there is nothing that the nature of man is more apt to be carried aside in then to advance something of himself and to set up his own righteousness and there is no way so subtil as this to deceive poor souls who will say Loe this man is for good works for serving God Is not this a good man Friends it is a good thing to be found in works of righteousness but if you rest on works of righteousness as those that may render you acceptable to God thinking your selves to be justified by them in the sight of God there is nothing more dangerous it is a dreadfull thing for a man to establish his own righteousness it is more dangerous then all the Images in the world see what Christ saith to the Pharisees Mat. 21 30.31 Now what is the meaning of Christ in that Parable Christ setteth forth those Publicans and Harlots that walked directly against the commands of God to be those that said they would not They are commanded but they obstinately answer We will not Then he speaketh to the Jewes that professed obedience and submission to the Law of God Do you what I command you We will say they they had a profession and they thought to justifie themselves before God But Christ saith the Publicans and Harlots go into the Kingdome of God before you And why so because these were convinced as being open professed enemies against God and therefore could not establish their own righteousness when as the Jewes living under a profession contented themselves therewith and sought to advance their own righteousness and so submitted not to the righteousness which is of God So Luke 18.11 12. The Pharisee saith God I thank thee c. But the Publican stood afar off and smote on his breast and said The Lord be mercyfull to me a sinner c. I cannot say I have done this or that but this I say that without thy mercy I must perish for ever Oh it is dreadfull to rest on our own righteousness I could shew you many ways how greatly the sins of such are increased It utterly overthrows the great design of God It overthroweth the whole Gospel and all that Jesus Christ hath done and suffered for And therfore what a dreadfull thing is it when poor souls are carried away with vain pretences into such an errour Surely such are in a sad condition that are not able to discern truth from errour but are easily carried away with fair words by which deceivers beguile poor souls and make a merchandize of them Use 2. Let us see then the great wickedness of the Church of Rome that lock up the Scripture from people which is the key of knowledge You see clearely that they are ignorant persons for whom deceivers lay their baits and that the ignorant are most drawn away by seducers They fit and prepare people to be deceived that keep Gods Word from them What an abominable thing is that and how contrary to the Scriptures that ignorance is the mother of devotion It is directly contrary to the Scriptures We find that this is the complaint of God My people perish for want of knowledge Surely it is very grosse to keep people from the knowledge of the Scriptures and to perswade them to rest meerly on the words of their teachers And what is this but to ensnare them and keep them in bondage continually And what do they and how nearely do they follow these wretches that incourage people in their ignorance and discourage them from reading the Scripture talling them that they are to follow their own imployments that God expecteth not such at their hands but that which is required of them is to beleeve their Ministers But surely this was not spoken to the Ministers but to the people 1 Joh. 4.1 Beleeve not every spirit but try the spirits c. This should be on every ones spirit to labour after such a measure of knowledge that they may be able to try such things as are presented to them and not to receive those things which are contrary to the mind and will of God Use 3. What cause have we to bless God in this Nation that have had free liberty of Gods Word it hath not been locked up to us Oh that we had wisdom rightly to improve this mercy that the Scripture might not be to us as a price put into the hands of fools Let us be diligent to read and meditate on the Word of God The Scripture saith Blessed are they that read the Word of this Prophecyâ— We fâ—â—d that all were commanded in the book of the law continually none was exempted not so much as the King himself And as we should read the Scripture so we should meditate on it that is the blessed man indeed that doth meditate on Gods Word day and night Also we should be instant in prayer that God would open our eyes to see the marvellous things of his law we should embrace all opportunities that God gives us to wait on him in his Ordinances that we might receive instruction and be built up in the faith It s sad to be in those places wherein we live that there should be such grosse ignorance and darkness in mens understandings And how just is it with God to give such over to be deceived that are of a dull and careless frame of spirit For the Lords sake consider seriously of it and put it to your own soules what opportunities have you omitted wherein you might have attended on Gods Ordinances How negligent have you been in reading Gods Word How justly might God give you over to the grossest delusions that have made so light of so precious a word wherein the wisdom of God the grace and love of God so eminently appears wherein there is such incouragement for poor ignorant souls and for those that find themselves in a state of misery and unbeleif to come in and beleeve And see what the Psalmist telleth us Ps 19.7 The law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul the testimony of the Lord is sure makeing wise the simple Should such fools be pittied that are fools willingly Now all that have Gods Word do make themselves fools in rejecting the means that God hath afforded to make them wise See what David saith Ps 119. Thy Word is a light to my waies and a lanthorn to my paths Consider that God hath promised to give to his people a heart that shall know him Who knoweth how God may in the use of his Ordinances set home by the power of his spirit a word that may soften a hard heart and humble a proud heart This is the character of Gods people that they are a wise understanding people If then we would be be of the number of
Gods people let us endeavour afterwisdom by the improvement of those means that God hath afforded unto us Use 4. Is it so that those that live under the power of lusts are the persons that are deceived by seducers Then consider what enemies they are to their own soules that do ensnare themselves under the power of any lust they betray themselves and lay themselves open to adversaries There is nothing so dangerous to a soul as that is that sets a soul in a ready way to be deeived and undone by those that ly in wait to beguile him We are apt to say of some special sins that our hearts are much set upon this is but a little one when if we did well consider and weigh all circumstances we should find that there is no sin little though there are som sins greater then other som yet no sin can be cal'd little Now observe those that make it their business to deceive mens souls do the frame of 〈◊〉 spirits and they know how to fit their baits to mens inclinations Deceivers are like fishers that have for their several sorts of Fishes their several baits when they have to do with men whose hearts are set on the world they know how to deal with them there and when they are lifted up with pride and ambition they know how to lay a bait to catch them there and when they see that their hearts are filled with the carnal pleasures of the world they know how to lay their baits accordingly And alas how many are there that have lived under a profession of religion and yet by giving their hearts an indulgence and toleration in some lusts they have betrayed their souls into the hands of their adversaries that ly in wait to deceive them And these subtile deceivers though they fall not on a man to beat him suddenly from that which he owneth yet they intangle his affections till his heart by degrees is taken off and he is ensnared by them and comes at length to embrace such abominable opinions which if they had been presented to him at the first he would have fled from them as from a Serpent The Lord graunt that every one of us may consider of it for if we regard iniquity in our hearts and prostitute our consciences to the pleasures of our lusts God may justly suffer us to be seduced wherefore let us make it our business to purge out every iniquity lest it be our ruine USE 5. Let us not wonder then that in such times as we live in there should be such declensions from the Ways of God When we see times in which all manner of looseness and prophaneness reigns and is not suppressed it is no wonder if those that lie in wait to deceive do prosper in their designes though I do not mean of such that are sometimes drawn aside and overcome by their lusts for God may suffer his precious ones to be led aside for a season but he restoreth them again but when I say such that are under the power of lust I mean of such that are ordinarily over-ruled by their lusts and of that which is the usual course by which corrupt persons prevail on such And indeed it is not strange that they prevail on them As I hinted to you out of Jeremiah concerning that gross Idolatry that was among the people it was no wonder that the Prophets prophesying lies should prevail on them for there was horrible prophaneness and wickedness amongst them when corrupt men shall frame such a Religion as shall suit with mens lusts it is not strange that such men should yield unto them whose hearts are set on their lusts It is not strange that Popery should so exceedingly prevail when they have framed such corrupt ways that men may go on cheerfully in the satisfaction of their lusts When men shall be told that some sins are no sins and some sins are venial and greater sins may be done away by enduring some corporal punishments which also it is in he Power of the Priest to mitigate and that if they die in their sins they may by enduring some punishment in Purgatory be purged from their sins and afterwards received to glory and that it is in the Popes Power to deliver them from these pains If these things be well considered we may not wonder that men are so easilâ— drawn aside to gross Popish superstitions Where Christ telleth us of false teachers he telleth us alsâ— that iniquity shall abound and the love of many shall wax old USE 6. This shouldâ—â—each us to watch our hearts aud to take especial notice of the corrupt inclinations Did we devise a way to entangle our selves and ensnare our own souls we could not find a readier way then to sollow the lustings of our own hearts When once the heart is set on evil it taketh offence at the truth espâ—cially at such truths that give a wound to its beloved sins Herod heard John Baptist gladly but when he toucheth him in his beloved sin he heareth him no more So there are many that make a Profession of Religion who when they come to be touched in their beloved sins cannot digest such plain dealing and by this means their affections do abate to Religion and at last they fall off and are willing to joyn in any way that may indulge them in their susts Therefore that word of Solomon is not unsuitable Keep thy heart with all diligence c. We must see that we do not allow our selves in any evil one sin bringeth in another and frequency of sinning causeth deadnesse of heart and deadnesse of heart taketh off the Sâ—â— from the Ordinances of God till by degrees it comâ—th to have bitternesse of spirit and deadly enmity against those that go on in the practice of those things that are allowable by the Word of God We have seen sad examples of this kind in these our days how many have been ensnared by the world rather then they would lose their honour and esteem with men they leave the honour that Christ hath tendered to them Let us not then be such enemiâ—s to our own souls USE 7 What cause have such that have been preserved from Apostacy and Seduction to acknowledge the in finite goodnesse of God unto them there is none of us but if we would make a diligent search into our own hearts our Consciences will tell us that since we have come to the knowledge of the truth we have sinned against our own light we have done those things which our Consciences have told us we should not have done how might God have suffered us to be deceived and carried aside to those ways that lead to eternal destruction It is sad to look abroad in the world and to see how many in these times have been carried aside from the Truths of God by that corrupt and abominable errour of Popish Merit to establish their own Righteousnesse and some have been carried aside to the same evil under the pretence of the improvement of their natural parts and abilities and have set up their own work and denied Christ How many have despised the Oâ—â—inances of God How many have fallen from their Profession to downright Atheism That it is not so with us is because God hath preserved us and watched over us how should this engage our hearts to that God that hath made his Word good to us in keeping us to himself by his mighty power through faith And again let us not wonder that many should be drawn to this opinion and that opinion but rather wonder that to this day we have not been so deceived If God should leave us and withdraw from any of us if God should say to any soul here go in thy own way and beleeve what thou wilt and embrace whatever thy heart is set upon what opinion is there Nay what damnable Heresy is there that we should not run into It is the Lord that keeps us or else we should have perished Oh what cause hath every soul that hath been kept in the truth to bless God that hath given them his spirit to lead them in the truth It is not our parts nor wisdom nor any thing in us that preserveth us from errour he that beguiled Adam in his innocency might easily beguile us that have so much darkness in our understandings impurity in our affections and perversness in our our wills Our soules bless the Lord and acknowledge that it is of his infinite grace and mercy to us that we have been preserved We have cause to say as the Psalmist did Not unto us but is to thy name be the praise this should be as a bond in our spirits to walk with God The goodness of God should have that effect on us as it had on Jacob when God appeared to him in Bethel it is said he lifted up his feet and went on his way So it should be with us it should make us lift up our feet and walk on in the waies of the Lord FINIS