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A67743 The cause and cure of ignorance, error, enmity, atheisme, prophanesse, &c., or, A most hopefull and speedy way to grace and salvation, by plucking up impediments by the roote reduced to explication, confirmation, application, tending to illumination, sanctification, devotion / by R. Younge ... Younge, Richard. 1648 (1648) Wing Y143; ESTC R16605 116,892 303

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name but they are devills indeed however they flatter themselves resembling the high Priests Scribes Pharisees who called themselves the Church while they went about to kill the head of the Church who the same night that Christ instituted the Sacrament and consulted how to save them did consult how they might destroy him yea let any indifferent stander by ●udge whether thou beest not bottomlessely ill who doest malice goodnesse in others who art displeased with us because we please God and murmurest like the Scribes and Pharisees at the same things whereat the Angels rejoyce for none but a Caine or a Devill in condition will envy because his owne workes are evill and his brothers good They are desperately wicked that cannot indure so much as the sight of godlinesse as he was fearefully idle that Seneca speaks of whose sides would ake to see another worke Neither couldest thou doe so if the Devill were not in thine heart And so much touching the third difference betweene the seed of the Serpent and the seed of the woman SECT 56 4 FOurthly as they hate and persecute the godly because they doe well so likewise because they fare well and are accepted before them As why was Caine wroth with his brother Abel and after slew him as affirmeth the holy Ghost but because The Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering but unto Cain and his offering he had no respect Gen. 4.4 5. Why did Esau hate Iacob and purpose to kill him but because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him Gen 27.41 Isaacs blessing bred Esaus hate Again Wherefore did the Philistines and Abimelek envy Isaac stop up his wells and banish him from them but because the Lord so abundantly blessed Isaac as appeares Gen. 26 12. to 18. Wherefore did Iosephs brethren hate him not being able to speake peaceably unto him and after sell him into AEgypt but because his father more favoured him and they feared he should reigne over them Gen. 37.4 If Ioseph be his fathers darling he is his brethrens eye-sore Wherefore did Saul persecute David and pursue after him from place to place to take away his life but because he was so praised and preferred of the people before himselfe and The Lord was with David and prospered him in every thing he tooke in hand 1 Sam. 18.12 13 28 29. Davids successe is Sauls vexation yea he findes not so much pleasure in his Kingdome as vexation in the prosperity of David And lastly for I passe by the elder brothers envy in the Parable against his younger brother when his father so royally entertained him at his return Luk. 15.28 which is meant of the Iewes envying the Gentiles conversion and many the like instances Why was Eliab wroth with his younger brother 1 Sam. 17.28 but because he should bee more exalted And I doubt me whether Davids brethren were more glad that Goliah was slaine or angry that hee was slaine by their brother for envy is sicke if her neighbour be well and the good mans honour is the envious mans torment as it fared between Haman Mordecai as hereafter the glory of Christ shall adde to these reprobates confusion when they are driven to confesse This is he whom we once had in derision SECT 57. BUt to apply what hath been collected out of the Word See whether these examples sute not with some and not a few in our times As First why doe a sort of Ministers none of the best I meane such as live ill and viciously or preach ill and unprofitably or both live ill and preach ill maligne hate and traduce yea promote against such as preach more faithfully and powerfully and live more holily and unblameably but because God honours their Ministery with the conversion of soules and their words are with such power that the people flocke after them as they were wont after Christ while in the meane time themselves are neglected and dis-esteemed being as they suppose far greater scholers for if a Minister preach profitably they will give it out hee is no scholer neither can they doe Satan a greater pleasure and their Sermons more elaborate for they will be as long in the conception and breeding of them as an Elephant is of her young which being borne onely amazeth the hearers and makes them at their wits end with admiration their owne bosomes will tell them that I speake truth Againe why doe these men inveigh and preach against preaching As what needs so much preaching say they and all stupified sensualists it was never a good world since so many Lectures were set up there was more love and charity and plaine-dealing among our fore-fathers they meane in time of Popery who were only 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 himselfe once in six weekes that hee might silence his Parishioners 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 words 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 downe 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 applied but let conscience doe 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 good men while himselfe is neglected and disesteemed of both much more if hee belch out his spleene against the religious because they are praised and preferred before himselfe let him know that this could not be if hee were not full of the venome of the serpent Psal. 112.10 Pro. 14.30 SECT 58. SEcondly this may be applied to people of the looser sort As why doe their hearts rise against every holy man they see as some stomacks rise at sweet-meats Why doe all drunkards and vicious livers hate the religious and so belch out their enmity and spleene against them in raising and spreading of slanders as they doe but although partly to rescue themselves from contempt and procure a contrary esteeme 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 envy looke herselfe blinde And so much of the first Cause SECT
it was the Devills mind in her mouth his heart in her lips when tempted to eate the forbidden fruite Nor did David once dreame that it was Sathan which moved him to number the people 1 Chron. 21.1 Much lesse did Peter who so dearly loved Christ imagine that he was set on by Sathan to tempt his own Lord and Master with those affectionate words Master pity thy self for if Christ had pitied himselfe Peter and all the World had perished Yet hee was so which occasioned Christ to answer him get thee behind me Sathan Mat. 16.22 23. Whence we may argue that if Sathan can make the best and wisest of Gods children and servants who hate the very appearance of evill 1 Thess. 5.22 Iude 23. Eph. 5.27 2 Pet. 3.14 Iam. 1.27 have the eye of faith and the spirits direction and know the minde of Christ 1 Cor. 2.12 13 15 16. Iohn 10.14 above others to doe him such service unwittingly and besides their intention how much more can he prevaile with and make use of his owne servants and children that delight only in wickednesse and have not the least knowledge of or ability to discerne spirituall things 1 Cor. 2.14 2 Cor. 4.4 1 Tim. 4.2 But will you know how it comes to passe that you call evill good and good evill put darkenesse for light and light for darkenesse bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter that you justifie the wicked and take away the righteousnesse of the righteous from him Isai. 5.20.23 And so fight under Sathans banner against Gods people And yet take your selves to bee not Sathans but Gods servants I will shew you five maine Reasons of it I pray marke them First So long as you are in your naturall condition you have eyes and see not eares and heare not hearts and understand not spirituall things As Christ himselfe plainly affirmes Matth. 13.15 and his Apostle Acts 28.27 and before them both the Prophet Isay chap. 6.9.10 And the reason of that is you have a vaile or curtaine drawne over your hearts which is never taken away untill ye turne to the Lord by repentance at which time it is taken away as you may reade 2 Cor. 3.14 15 16. Rom. 12.2 1 Cor. 2.14 15 16. Secondly long custome and the commonnesse of this sinne hath taken away the sense of it 1 Tim. 4.2 Heb. 3.13 Yea quite turned it from a sin and that the greatest to a vertue As how many in this land for all they are Traytors to God and take up armes against all that worship him in spirit in truth would yet be counted and are so by the blind world not onely honest men but good Christians Whereas if it were not so common and in fashion they would be counted very Atheists and Devills and so they are accounted of all but them that are Atheists How many that scoffe at traduce and nick-name the conscionable Puritans and hate them even for the graces of Gods spirit which shine in them would yet be counted Religious men whereas if it were not so usuall and that custome had not bleered mens minds it would bee counted no better than open rebellion and blasphemy against God so it is counted by all but them that use it This sin is counted no sin and yet it is the most desperate sinne and does more hurt than all his fellowes Thirdly To helpe forward when God sends to you his Gospell thereby to cure and save you you will not be cured Jer. 51.9 Yea you so hate the light of the Gospell that you shun it all you can least your deeds should be reprooved John 3.19 10. Or else you stop your eares and shut your eyes least you should see with your eyes and heare with your eares and should understand with your hearts and should he converted and Christ should heale you as himselfe affirmes Matth. 13.15 And what is light to him that will shut his eyes against it Or reason to him that will stop his eares from hearing it Fourthly Here upon because you will not receive the truth in love that you might be saved for this cause God gives you up to strong delusions that you should beleeve a lye That all of you might be damned who beleeve not the the truth but take pleasure in unrighteousnesse They are the very words of the Holy ghost 2 Thess. 2.10 11 12. of which see more Rom. 1.21 to 32. Fiftly and lastly Sathan the God of this World hath blinded your mindes that the light of the glorious Gospell of Christ which is the image of God should not shine unto you 2 Cor. 4.3 4. Ephes. 2.2 2 Thess. 2.9 10. 1 Tim. 4.2 For as Sathan is the Prince of darkenesse so hee rules in the darkenesse of the understanding dealing with wicked men as Faulkoners do with their Haukes who that they may carry them quietly and doe what they list unto them First blinde their eyes with a hood Neither could men else hear the Gospell day after day and yeare after yeare which is the strong arme of the Lord and the mighty power of God to salvation Rom. 1.16 and the sword of the spirit Ephe. 6.17 and like as a fire or an Hammer that breaketh even the rocke in peeces Ier. 23.29 30. And that irresistable Cannon shot that is mighty to beat downe all the strong holds of sinne and Sathan 2 Cor. 10.4 quick and powerfull And sharper then any two edged sword and peir●eth even to the dividing asunder of the soule and spirit and of the joynts and marrow and to the discerning of the very thoughts and secret intents of the heart Heb. 4.12 And stand it out even refusing the free offer of grace and salvation Neither could they other then hate sin love holinesse For besides that any wise man would rather be saved than damned Plato a very heathen could say that vertue if it be clearly seene moves great love and affection Yea if wee could descerne good from evill perfectly that subtile Serpent could deceive no longer And because hee cannot force men against their wills which leaves us without excuse for though that old Sheba blowes many an inticing blast to carry us away from our true allegiance to Christ Iesus our King yet the minde of man is not capable of a violation either from man or Sathan therefore he useth his utmost pollicy to perswade us And by desception of our reason whereby we mistake vertue for vice and vice for vertue hee cheefly prevailes For no vice could ever bee loved but for the seeming good which it makes shew of And Sathan is so cunning a Sophister and so dexterous a Retoritian in perswading that hee desires no more then to bee heard speake As what thinke you if that old Serpent and Sophister did so easily perswade Eve by himself and Adam by her to beleeve what hee spake though they had heard God himselfe say the contrary immediatly before what hope
conjectured that God would inable mee to discover and sound this depth of malice in Sathan his adherents which makes them so swel and rage against the godly And thereby so convince the one that they should not dare to pervert the straight wayes of the Lord by turning away the weake from the faith And so furnish the other with Armour of proof against their scornes that they might see there was no cause nor have the least thought or purpose of returning For the effecting whereof I have not beene sparing in either paines or prayer to God for divine a●sistance it being a subject that none as I conceive have hitherto handled which I found extended to me blessed bee his holy name beyond my expectation Indeed we may speake to the eare but God alone hath the key of the heart Acts 16.14 To whose blessing I leave the successe and its use to the world Humbly beseeching the Almighty that these lines may not rise up in judgement against those Hazaells that have read them and are never the better And so instead of curing their sinne prove a meanes to increase their torment R. Y. An Alphabeticall Table both for the Book and for the Advertisement A. ACtions our best actions abominable except they proceed from right ends and a heart sanctified Advertisement Aa Accuse wicked accuse the godly of many things but prove nothing Page 68 They will coyne matter to accuse us 70 They dazle mens eyes with false accusations 73 And have a great advantage therein of the godly 63 They have so hardened their hearts that we were as good admonish a stone Ad. Ee Adversities distinction of them 27 Agree impossible the good and bad should ever agree 132 Carnall men can agree with any so they be not religious 133 Though they differ in other things they will agree against the godly 133 Agreement in some points doth but advance hatred the more 136 Anthipathy a secret enmity and antipathy between the wicked and the godly 2 Look enmity All means ineffectuall for want of application Ad. A. B Want of application the cause of all impiety Ad. A. B.Z What chiefly concernes us wee apply to others Ad. A. Z The most prophane can apply the promises which belong only to such as suffer for well-doing Ad. D Hard to say whether their applying the promises or not applying the precepts and threats doth most occasion their finall impenitency Ad. E Assitance divine assistance in time of triall 192 Atheisme fruits of it wherewith the lands abounds Look unbeleef 23 Atheists on earth none in hell 214 Fire and brimstone shall confute all Atheists 219 The most grounded Atheisme hath a mixture of beleefe 215.217 Atheists would give all they have to bee sure there were no bell 216 Their convicted consciences shall be witnesses against their unbeleefe 218 None so confirmed in Atheisme but will feare in time of danger 211 At least on their death beds they confesse a God 212 B. Beliefe unbeliefe a cause of persecuting us 202 Proved by testimonies ibid. By examples ib. By experience 204 Men think they believe but do not ib. Evidences of mens unbeliefe 205 A carnall heart flint to God wax to Satan 221 That most men believe not an hell proved undeniably 226 Did men believe the word or a judgement to come they durst not live as they doe 208.226 Carnall men believe the promises but neither the precepts nor threats 222 All men apt enough to presume upon Gods mercy 220. Ad. D All true believers the children of God 131 All unbelievers children of the divell ib. Sathan the God King and father of all unbelievers Ad. K Admonition to beware before it proves too late 230 All that hath or can be spoken will prove fruitlesse except Gods blessing doe accompany it Ad. Hh Bruising the head what is meant by it 32. And what by bruising the heele 33. Byble Gen. 3.15 an epitomy of it 35 C Causes of hatred and persecution eleven 127.239 Censure they censure our actions and misconsture our intentions 64 They passe over our good parts 69 Look murmuring To censure all for the faults of a few is only the part of a fool 148 But most are such fooles and beasts ib. If Christians we will imitate Christ if Gods servants we will doe what he commands Ad. H Christians if a tithe of them be Christians that are so called there are millions of Christians in hell 232 They combine together and lay divelish plots to destroy the godly 105 They will easily finde occasion 107 Our serving of God shall be ground sufficient 108 Or a Ministers saving of soules ibid. The manner of their consultations 106 Would we accompany them in evill their malice would cease 144 They condemne us that themselves may be justified 66. Look judging Means to confirm comfort and strengthen us against the worlds hatred 12 To consider before it prove too la●e 214 They will make an evill construction of whatsoever we doe or speake 6 Constancy such as feare God as immoveable as a rock 253. Looke profession They contemne the godly which is not for want of ignorance 56 Contempt of Religion makes many resolve against goodnesse 6 Contrariety a maine cause of hatred and persecution 130 They are contrary and differ 1. In their judgements touching Wisdome Happinesse Fortitude Sin Holinesse 138 2. In their passions and affections of Love Feare Anger Ioy c. 139 3. In their practice and this breeds many a quarrell 139 Sufficient hath been spoken to convince the most malicious Ad. B They give devilish counsell against us 72 Miserable condition of cowardly Christians 4 Christ and his crosse inseparable 10 They use to curse the godly 87 And those that least deserve the same 90 Curse us that they may discourage us ib. Though they curse yet God will blesse 91 How miserably cursers shall bee cursed 91 They that curse us would kill us if they durst 89 D. Of denying Christ a memorable example 5. Look profession Foule mouthed men and women are devills in Scripture phrase 83 Good men may differ in many things yet agree in the maine 157 A vast difference betweene another discipline and another doctrine 158 Discretion eats up devotion 156 Wicked men thinke they grace themselves by disgracing others 79 How fitly they are called dogs 81 E. An enmity or war proclaimed betweene the wicked and godly 15 The author proclayming ib. The Captaines and souldiers betweene whom 16 Severall uses of instruction 17 The certainty of this war 20 Foure lessons of instruction 21 The end why threefold 23 God the author without being the author of sin 24 Of which sundry reasons ibid. The same further cleared 26 Originall sin the originall of this discord 23 The time threefold 28 Vse of comfort 29 The manner of their venting it 30 The place threefold ibid. What will be the issue and who shall get victory 32 This war is perpetuall 28 It was before the flood 40 After the
suffer little but the lash of evill tongues but were wicked mens powers answerable to their wils and malice they would deliver us up to be afflicted put us out of the Synagogues excommunicate and kill us as our Saviour shewes Iohn 16.2.33 and Mat. 24.9 Yea their enmity and hatred would be so virulent and bitter that the brother would betray the brother to death the Father the Son and the Children would rise up against their Parents and cause them to dye the kinsman against the kinsman and the friend against the friend only for professing Christs name being religious as himselfe affirmes Math. 10.34 35 36. Luke 21.16.17 Neither is it strange for this was one of the endes of Christs comming into the World as appeares Mat. 10.34.35 where himselfe saith Think not that I am come to send Peace but the sword meaning between the seed of the Serpent the Seed of the Woman for I am come to set a man at variance against his Father the daughter-in-Law against the Mother-in-Law and a mans enemies shall be they of his owne houshold Luke 12.51 52 53. Neither want we precedents of this For by whom was upright Abel persecuted and slain but by his owne brother Caine Who scoffed at righteous Noah but his owne son Cham By whom was that vertuous and religious Lady Barbara put to death for imbracing the Christian Faith but by her owne Father Dioscorus Who made Serena the Empresse a Martyr for her faith in Christ but her owne Husband Dioclesian Who helped to burne Bradford but Bourne whose life he had formerly saved And lastly by whom was our Saviour Christ betrayed bu● by his owne Disciple Iudas SECT 21. 8. FOr the time to come As this strife and enmity in the wicked against the Godly was early in its entrance taking its first being in the beginning of time and hath constantly continued hitherto so it will be long in continuance and endure to the end of time as the Scripture shewes Yea the last remnants of time are likely to have the most of it because as in them love shall wax cold Math. 24.12 so as love groweth cold contention groweth hot More expresly the Holy Ghost foretels That in the last dayes shall come such perilous times that all who will live godly shall suffer persecution and that toward the end of the World there shall be scoffers false accusers cursed speakers fierce despisers of them that be good such as shall turne the grace of God into wantonnesse and deny God the only Lord and our Lord Iesus Christ And being fleshly not having the Spirit they shall speak evill of the things which they know not And whatsoever things they know naturally as bruit beasts which are without reason in those things they shall corrupt themselves And that many shall follow their damnable wayes whereby the way of truth shall be evill spoken off And that as Iannes and Iambres withstood Moses so these also shall resist the truth being men of corrupt mindes reprobate concerning the Faith being before of old ordained to condemnation 2 Tim. 3.1 to 13. 2. Pet. 2.2 3.3 Iude 4.10 16 18 19. And so much of the continuance Now to wind up with a word of Application If it be so that all the Godly that have gone before us have been envyed hated traduced nick-named and persecuted by wicked men and all that come after us shall be let no particular member of the Church look to faire better then the whole body we see the Patriarchs went this way the Prophets this way the Apostles this way the Martyrs this way this way went all the Saints and servants of God and do we look for an easier way Yea if the dearest of Gods Children in former ages have suffered so much for Christ beene put to such cruell deaths and torments for keeping of a good conscience let us praise the Lord who hath dealt with us farre otherwise and pray for good Magistrates to whom next under God we owe the thanks Yea if our Fore-fathers so willingly underwent those fiery tryals let none for shame shrink-under the burthen of an aiery tryall only 2. If the brother persecute the brother the son the Father the Parent his Childe the Hnsband his Wife the Disciple his Lord thinke it not strange to be persecuted of any for lightly they which are not persecuted are persecutors themselves SECT 22. Quest. HAving proved the Continuance of this Enmity in all ages now tell us what be the Signes and Properties of it Ans. They are either Mentall Verball or Actuall The first whereof are inward and secret the two later outward and manifest Quest. What are the mentall properties which you call inward and secret Ans. They are foure in number It being their manor 1. To envy the good Estate of the Godly 2. To contemne the meane Estate of the Godly 3. To rejoyce at the evill Estate of the Godly 4. To hate them First it is 〈…〉 ner of wicked men out of Enmity to envy the vertuous and good estate of the godly For envy shall lead the Troope as Iudas lead the Souldiers and it may challenge the first place in the right-hand file as pride doth in the Popes Catalogue of the seaven deadly sinnes because it was the eldest and first borne sin that ever was in the Devill after he was cast out of Heaven and the first that ever he begate upon our nature after we were cast out of Paradice which makes St. Austin therefore call it as by a kind of excellency the Devills sin Thus Caine envied his brother Abel Gen. 4.5 Saul David 1 Sam. 18.28.29 and those unbeleeving Iewes Paul Acts 17.13 The wicked take as much delight to see the vertuous life of an holy man as sore eyes do to look upon the Sunne How contrary are good Angels and evill men The Angels rejoyce at that whereat these powte and stomack they are ready to cry and burst for Anger at that which makes musick in Heaven But why is it These Antipodes to vertue having lost all good themselves are vexed to see it in another a true note to know the Serpents Seed by for it is the Devils cognizance 1. Iohn 3.14 15. as Love is Christs Iohn 13.35 And as it is the very Lees of vice so it hath a punishment answerable for by a just judgement of God their owne malice turnes back into their owne bowels as it is Psalm 7.14 15 16. and slayeth them as the swords of Gideons enemies kild themselves Iudges 7.22 For that none might have cause to envy the envious man againe but all to pity him envy it selfe is a fire which consumes that fuell a Worme which gnaweth that gourd a viper which eats through those bowels a Moath which fretteth that garment wherein it is bred nourished and maintained it is the consuming of the flesh and rotting of the bones Prov. 14 30. And for hereafter if wicked men thus envy the