41. 17. And yet in committing themselves to God and the word of his grace they should be directed to give to every one their due and not to neglect though they could not put such confidence in thâ—sâ— left behind but to consider their word and the end of their conversation 3. Wherefore the Apostle now especially commends and resigns them to God and the word of his grace to the end they should commit themselves unto and leave themselves with him This hath been signified in part before and is also intimated afterward in the verse yet I shall add somewhat further and say in general he doth commit them to him with instruction to them to commit themselves to God and leave themselves with him and the word of his grace 1. For his help Psal 10. 14. 2. For his preservation of them Psal 12. 7. as referring to the scope of the Apostle in the former verses 1. For his help of them and assistance to be graciously vouchsafed to them and expected by them and that both 1. Upon the account of his being taken away and so for our instruction when God removes faithful and eminent watchmen 2. And that they might feed the flock of God and so for believers edifying one another more generally 1. As with respect to his being taken away and so for instruction to us when God removes faithful and eminent watchmen in the midst of their dayes what I shall speak under this head will be of more direct respect to our selves to whom God hath been ordering such an occasion of mourning and lamentation and so let us now commit our selves to God as with respect to them so taken away and as with respect to our selves that yet are preserved in the Land of the living 1. As with respect to them so taken away let us betake our selves to God and to the word of his grace that we sorrow not for them as those that have no hope it is far better with them as is before said they sleep in Jesus and are delivered from those sorrows troubles and disquietments that here they were exposed to Hence the Prophet when he had been saying The righteous perisheth and merciful men are taken away adds from the evil and He shall enter into peace they shall rest in their beds c. as that which was proper to comfort the contrite one and his mourners Isa 57. 1 2. And though the Apostle John had given him in charge at first to write the things which he had seen and the things which are c. Rev. 1. 11 19. yet also he had a voice from heaven particularly and expresly commanding him to write that it might be preserved for and considered in the time to come blessed are the dead that dye in the Lord c. Rev. 14. 13. And so the Apostle on like account saith If we believe that Jesus dyed and rose again then them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him c. Wherefore comfort one another with these words 1 Thes 4. 14 18. And oh that the consolations of God may not be small with us on this account 2. As with respect to our selves who are yet preserved in the Land of the living let us on such an occasion commit and betake our selves to him for his gracious teaching us out of his Law what we see not by any light that is in us as of us or what we have forgotten or let slip that we may know wherefore he is ordering such great and heavy testimonies of displeasure that we may be contrite and humble our selves before him and be broken off from what he hath been reproving us for doubtless in acquainting our selves with him and the word of his grace and its instructions we may know wherefore he is thus pleading with us thereby he is teaching us what we see not that we might not be unwise but unstand what the will of the Lord is Job 34. 31 32. Prov. 6 24. In general it appears the cause of his so lifting up his hand amongst us is because of our great provocations of him for he who is the God of all grace doth not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men and much less doth he till he be highly provoked smiâ—e with such heavy stroaks as these are such judgments are of such a nature as in which he shews his people very hard things and gives them the wine of astonishment to drink especially when he smoaks against the prayers of his people Such as in which he begins to give to his Jerusalem the cup of his fury to drink yea the dregs of the cup wâ—ung out as Isa 51. 17 18. hereby threatning to take away his Kingdom from them therefore surely we may in the light of the Lord see that when he so judges us there hath been lewdness found in our filthiness so much they acknowledge and bewail when God's hand was turned against them Lam. 3. 42 44. we have transgressed as a wife treacherously departs from her Husband we have gone a whoring from under our God and have rebelled viz. gone on and continued in our transgression against light and admonition rebelled against the light thou hast not pardoned thou hast covered with anger and persecuted us thou hast slain thou hast not pitied thou hast covered thy self with a cloud that our prayer should not pass thorow Not only did God shut out the Prophets prayer when he cryed and shouted even prayed very earnestly as ver 8. but he covered himself with a cloud that prayer should not pass thorow when they assembled together and there was some joint agreement of them in their praying as it may seem The reasons then of God's proceeding on in such judgments in removing such faithful instruments untimely and not withstanding his people have been crying and praying for sparing mercies yet he hath not given such gracious returns as they have begged for are as far as I am helped to understand 1. More generally because those that are hearers of the word are heaâ—â—râ— only receiving his grace in vain and not suffering it to have its efficacy upon them so as to redeem them from their iniquities and purifie them unto God a peculiar people zealous of good works this even provokes God to remove his servants from us when men are hearers of the word and not doers so much the Apostle signifies I know saith he that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith c. only let your conversation be as becometh the Gospel of Christ implying that the want of this would be the only cause of their being deprived of such a mercy Phil. 1. 25 27. So the Lord by the Prophet Ezekiel threatens that he would make them desolate of their glory and make them know that a Prophet had been among them by his removing him from them because they sate before him as his people and heard his words but they would not do
LIGHT IN DARKNESS OR A CONSIDERATION OF A Comfortable and Instructive Resignation OF THE Church of God By an Eminent and Faithful Watchman upon his Departure OCCASIONED By the sad loss of that Faithful and painful Labourer in the Lord Mr. Thomas Moor Junior By C. P. Look away from me I will weep bitterly labour not to comfort me because of the spoyling of the daughter of my people For it is a day of trouble and of treading down and of perplexity by the Lord God of hosts in the valley of Vision breaking down the Walls thereof c. Isa 22. 4 5. Rejoyce not against me O mine enemy When I fall I shall arise when I sit in darkness the Lord shall be a light unto me I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him until he plead my cause and execute judgment for me he shall bring me forth to the light and I shall behold his righteousness Then she that is mine enemy shall see it and shame shall cover her which said unto me Where is the Lord thy God c Mica 7. 8 9 10. London Printed in the Year 1669. To the Reader Christian Reader WHAT the occasion of the following Discourse is thou mayest see before viz. the death of one that laboured abundantly in the Work of the Lord yet not he but the grace of God that was with him whom the Lord in testimony of high displeasure to the survivers took away to himself in the midst of his dayes and Work and thereby hath occasioned and increased mourning and lamentation in the daughter of his Judah Oh! that while he is thus lifting up his hand we may see wherefore he is thus contending with us that we may turn to him that smiteth and seek the Lord of hosts lest his wrath further break forth as fire and devour and there be none to quench it He was one that was not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for he knew that it is the power of God to salvation to every one that believeth and therefore he determined to know nothing else in and unto all things save Jesus Christ and him crucified as he is evidently therein set before us and pourtrayed unto us and did not preach himself but Jesus Christ the Lord nor was his zeal exercised about indifferent things or lighter matters for he was well assured that the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink and so not dayes and times and places and gestures and circumstances and such things as perish with the using but righteousness and peace and joy in the holy Ghost and therefore did in these great things of God's Law serve Christ and so was acceptable to God and profitable to men he was even set for the defence and confirmation of the Gospel and that was to him the joy and rejoycing of his heart and he had all his confidence begun and strengthned from the kindness and love of God our Saviour to mankind and his feeding upon the flesh of Christ that was given for the life of the World and the grace of God therein commended by which Jesus Christ tasted death for every man and in the vertue of his blood is raised again in that same body in which he bare our sins on the Tree this was the beginning of his confidence and not some secret thing with him or peculiar manner of love to him the reason of his hope the answer of his good conscience towards God the foundation of his faith and hope the argument by which he was reconciled to God and strengthned to look for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life and where-through his heart was purified and principled to the unfeigned love of the brethren and to the love of all men yea of his enemies from hence his hearts desire and prayer to God for them was that they might be saved The love of Christ did constrain him to perswade men and pray them to be reconciled to God and receive his grace to purpose whether he were looked upon as one besides himself or as a sober man because he thus judged that if one died for all then were all dead and he died for all that they which live should not henceforth live to themselves but to him that died for them and rose again In preaching the word he was instant in season and out of season and was to that end that Christ might be magnified and therein mens good indeavoured and especially the profit of the houshold of faith pursued in journeying often in weariness and painfulness in watchings often c. Who was weak and he was not weak Who was offended and he burned not And in preaching Christ he did warn every man as he had opportunity and teach every man in all wisdom that he might present every man perfect in Christ Jesus Whereunto he did also labour striving according to his working which wrought in him mightily He hath fought the good fight he hath finished his course he hath kept the faith henceforth there is laid up for him a crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous judge shall give to him at that day and not to him only but also to all them that love his appearing Doubtless God in such strokes is signifying his great displeasedness with us in removing so untimely one so much framed to a like mindedness with himself in Christ whose heart was fixed to indeavour the good of all men especially of them that believe sutable to the mind of the living God who is the Saviour of all men especially of them that believe 1 Tim. 4. 10. As if he were hereby beginning to rise up out of his wonted place of mercy and to for sake us and wo will be to us when he depart eth from us Oh! that we may consider his work and the operation of his hands lest he destroy us and not build us up In this day suâ—ely the Lord God of hosts is calling to mourning and to weeping and to baldness and to girding with sackcloath Oh! that there may not be beheld among us joy and gladness slaying Oxen and killing sheep eating flesh and drinking wine But O daughter of Zion let tears run down like a River day and night give thy self no rest let not the apple of thine eyes cease Arise cry out in the night in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord lift up thine hands towards him He hath trodden under foot thy mighty men for this thou hast cause to weep that thou shouldst procure such testimonies of displeasure to thy self and that thine eye thine eye should run down with water because the Comforter that should relieve thy soul is far from thee Oh! that we may yet turn again to the Lord. We have still a Lord to turn to when the servants are removed the great shepherd to direct our eyes and hearts to when under-shepherds are taken away And to
know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thes 1. 7 8. Somewhat of this was typically injoyed by Solomon before he departed from the Lord according as God promised the Lord gave him rest on every side so that there was neither adversary nor evil occurrent 1 Chron. 22. 9. 1 King 5. 4. But behold a greater than Solomon is here There were then enemies in being but now there shall be no more a pricking bryar unto the house of Israel nor a grieving thorn c. Ezek. 28. 24. Psal 72. Violence shall no more be heard in the Land wasting nor destruction within thy borders but thou shalt câ—ll thy walls salvation c. and the dayes of thy mourning shall be ended he will then destroy them that have destroyed the earth and precious shall be the blood of his Saints for he will take vengeaence on those that have slain them and been enemies to them Isa 60. 12 20. 63. 1 4. with the assurance of this he strengthens the weak hands and feeble knees viz. that he their God wiâ—l come with vengeance God with a recompence for the Lord God of recompences will surely requite all the injuries done to his Saints he will come and save them Isa 35. 3 4. Jer. 50. 27 28. 51. 56. He will then bind their Kings in chains and their Nobles in fetters of iron and his people shall have an hand with him therein to execute upon them the vengeance written this honour have all his Saints Psal 149. 4 9. Those righteous ones that are taken away by death do enter into peace and are freâ—d from oppression but yet their blood is not avenged but they cry with a loud voice how long O Lord holy and true dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth for this they wait it was said unto them that they should rest yet for a little season c. Rev. 6. 9 11. but then he will thoroughly plead their cause shall not God avenge his own elect which cry unto him day and night I tell you he will avenge them speedily Luke 18. 7 8. vengeance is his and he will repay Rom. 12. 19. Rev. 11. 18. their eye shall then see their desire upon their enemies Psal 92. 11. 112. 8 10. in righteousness shall they then be established they shall be far from oppression for they shall not fear and from terror for it shall not come near them Isa 54 7 8 13 14. then he will compleatly and gloriously bless his people with peace and they shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace Psal 29. 11. 37. 11. 3. They when thus raised and freed from all evil shall be ever with the Lord in companionship with him the dead in Christ shall rise first then we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord 1 Thes 4. 15 17. he will then come and receive them to himself that where he is they may be also Joh. 14. 1 3. This is his will concerning them that those the father hath given unto him should be with him where he is Joh. 17. 14. The tabernacle of God even Jesus Christ in his personal body shall then be with them and he wiâ—l dwell with them Rev. 21. 3. indeed now he dwells in their hearts by faith but faith is the evidence of things not seen but then they shall have a personal and-glorious injoyment of him according to that Zeph. 3. 14 17. Sing O daughter of Zion shout O Israel be glad and rejoyce with all the heart O daughter of Jerusalem the Lord hath taken away thy judgment he hath cast out thine enemy the King of Israel the Lord is in the midst of thee thou shalt not see evil any more the Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty he will save thee The name of the City from that day shall be The Lord is there Ezek. 48. 35. and then there will be a gathering together of the righteous as unto him so one unto and with another and his coming and their being gathered together unto him are put together 2 Thes 2. 1. Now in a spiriâ—ual and invisible consideration they meet together they are all one in Jesus Christ and all in heaven and earth are one family one house and instruction given to them here to indeavour to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace but yet they are severed and scattered as to personal society and so at a distance one from another and many of them unknown one to another yea some of them not owning one another to be of the same body whom yet Jesus Christ hath received they are now scattered and separated one from another Sometimes by contentions judgings and dâ—spisings one of another and this is matter of great lamentation and when they fall out they are hardly reconciled it being the work of Satan and his instruments to dig up evil and in their lips is a burning fire they are set on fire of hell and would set all on fire they sow strife and indeavour further to separate and make the breach wider by whispering and secretly fomenting jealousies and so are separating even chief friends Prov. 16. 27 28. Hâ—nce they are admonished to be angry and not sin not to let the Sun go down upon their wrath neither give place to the devil Eph. 4. 26 27. the devil is watching for such an advantage and therefore needful to be warned that we be slow to anger and quick from it seeing a brother offended is harder to be won than a strong City and their contentions are like the bars of a Castle Prov. 18. 19. How oft now are they separated in their affections and delightful fellowships through that sin that dwells in them and policy of Satan the weak envying and judging the strong and the strong instead of bearing the infirmities of the weak pleasing themselves and despising and setting at nought those that have not what they have Rom. 14. Act. 15. 39. But then the envy of Ephraim shall depart Ephraim that had less shall not envy Judah and Judah that was preferred before and lifted up above their brethren shall not vex Ephraim Isa 11. 13. with 1 Sam. 1. 6. Now also they are scattered by the wise and gracious disposition of the housholder the Son of man he sows them abroad in the field of the world for the good of the world that they might be instruments of his praise according to their capacity that men seeing their good works may glorifie their father which is in heaven and so that his way may be known on the earth his saving health among all Nations Mat. 13. 24 37. Psal 67. 1 2. But then his elect shall be gathered together from the four winds from one end
them yea though the Prophet was unto them as a very lovely sâ—ng of one that had a pleasant voice and they heard his words delightfully it seems yet they did them not Ezek. 33. 29 33. yea mens persisting in such iniquity will at last provoke him to lay them open to the wild beasts to devour them as here ver 29. the earth which drinking in the raâ—n that oft cometh upon it yet beareth bryars and thorns is rejected and nigh unto cursing c. namely it is rejected from that use it was set apart for and peculiar care that was toward it and pains used in it and about it Whereas it was set apart for a vineyard or garden and so dealt with in every respect and inclosed their still bearing bryars and thorns instead of herbs and fruit meet for him by whom they are dressed will provoke the Husbandman to take away the hedge thereof and break down the wall thereof and so reject it from that peculiar use it was intended for and nighness it was brought into and so it is nigh to cursing even now to be eaten up and trodden down yea it provokes God in judgment to forbear pruning or digging it and on his judgments to write their sin as they brought forth bryâ—rs and thorns as their sin so now by his taking away the hedge and forbearing to prune and dig them there should in judgment come up bryars and thorns and he will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it Heb. 6. 8. with Isa 5. 1 7. the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness and suffer it not to redeem them unto God from their sins and idols for this abiden in and yielded up to would make free from the dominion and service of sin and coâ—secrate and devote men unto God and make them servants of righteousness yea for this the wrath of God is so revealed that therefore God shall send men strong delusions that they should believe a lye c. because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved namely they received it not to that end they might receive it after a manner and many did and do receive it as good tydings as a right and true opinion are perswaded of the truth of it and plead for it against opposers and yet still they retain a lye in their right hand and are not washed hereby from the pollutions of the world into Jesus Christ and so how firmly soever they may credit it and how stiffly soever they may plead for it yet while they love darkness rather than light they are under condemnation and reckoned amongst such as believe not on the name of the Son of God and reputed as such as have not received the truth but as such as have pleasure in unrighteousness Rom. 1. 18. Joh. 8. 31 32. Rom. 6. 17 18. 2 Thes 2. 10 11. Joh. 3. 18 19. with 2 Thes 2. 10 12. Yea this receiving his grace in vain so provokes God as that he will hide his face and will not hear or take notice of their crying unto him so as to give gracious returns how fervant soever they seem to be therein yea though they fast and pray and seek him daily and delight to know his ways and take delight in approaching to God yet he will not hear So God himself by his Prophet in his answer to the demand of such signifies Wherefore have we fasted say they and thou seest not wherefore have we afflicted our soul and thou takest no knowledge Behold saith the Prophet the Lord's hand is not shortned that it cannot save neither his ear heavy that it cannot hear c. but your iniquities who thus seek him daily and fast and pray have made him hide his face from you that he will not hear Isa 58. 1 3. 59. 1 2. yea though men fast and mourn and weep and set apart extraordinary times for it and continue a long time in thus crying unto him yet their having hardned their hearts against his words and not being doers of them and in their waitings on him not making this the one thing principally sought for that they may turn from their iniquities and understand his truth this causeth him not to hear when they cry Zech. 7. 2 13. with Dan. 9. 13 14. yea when his people who have his name upon them love to wander and refrain not their feet it provokes him to be as a man astonied as a mighty man that cannot save and though they fast and cry yea and though his faithful servants pray for his mercy for them yet he will not hear Jer. 14. 7 9 10 12. with Chap. 15. 1. yea when men bless themselves in their hearts concluding they shall have peace though they walk in the imagination of their heart to add drunkenness to thirst and so abuse the goodness of God and turn his grace into wantonness continuing in sin because grace hath abounded this provokes God greatly to angry and causeth him to smoak even against the prayers of such Deut. 29. 19 20. with Psal 80. 4. And this is for admonition to us all that we walk while we have the light lest darkness come upon us c. even to believe in the light that we may be the children of the light born of it and walking in the light as God is in the light as he is in it reproving and discovering our vileness and sinfulness so to confess it as discovered and to lay apart all filthiness and super fluity of naughtiness and to receive with meekness his ingrafted word which is able to save the soul Joh. 12. 35 36. Jam. 1. 22 25. 2. More particularly the cause of God's taking away his faithful servants untimely and in anger to the survivers is because those to whom such have prophesied cannot indure sound doctrine but have been angry with and secretly at least haters of faithful reproofs and reprovers this is an iniquity which is very provoking to God when those that are hearers resolve not to give heed to their words in which they are faithfully admonishing of what is evil and shewing to them the bitter fruit of going on still in their trespasses and that whoso walketh in crooked paths shall know no peace Jer. 18. 15 18 23. This provokes God at some times to stop the mouths of his servants while he continues them in the Land of the living even mens hardning their hearts against warning and admonition For this cause God saith to the Prophet I will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth that thou shalt be dumb and shalt not be to them a reprover for they are a rebellious house Ezek. 2. 3. 7 26. and God hath more generally given instruction of this nature Rebuke not a scorner namely one that heareth not rebuke that loveth not one that reproveth him Prov. 9. 8. with
and that he is not raised from the dead in that same body in which he bare our sins on the Tree but call some light spirit or seed in every man the Christ in somedying in others rising c. These deny Jesus to be the Christ and so are Antichrists 1 Joh. 2. 22. and even call him accursed one who hath failed in the work appointed him to do and hath not redeemed us from the curse of the Law for if Christ be not raised from the dead in that same body in which he died for our sins according to the Scriptures and was buried then is our preaching vain saith the Apostle and your faith is also vain ye are yet in your sins 1 Cor. 15. 3 4 12 20. They speak indeed many times of a Christ but they deny or confess not him who is so indeed for he is one who shewed himself alive after his suffering by many infallible proofs and rose in that same body in which he was crucified though not in the weakness it was sometime in in that body which hath flesh and bones 1 Pet. 2. 24. Joh. 2. 21. Act. 1. 3. Luke 24. 39. and evidenced that it was he himself that was alive after his resurrection by shewing to his Disciples his hands and his feet Luk. 24. 39 40. and his hands and his side namely his hands that were nailed to the Tree and his side that was pierced with a spear and saith to Thâ—mas reach hither thy finger and behold my hands and reach hither thy hand and thrust it into my side c. And these things are written that we might believe thaâ— Jesus the son of the Virgin Mary that had that name given unto him on the eighth day when he was ciâ—cumcised and was known by the name of Jesus of Nazareth by friends and enemies is the Christ the â—nointed one of God Joh. 20. 20 25 27 31. with Chap. 19. 34. and in that very body he ascended and offered it up to God according the will of God by the which will of God we are sanctified by the offering of the body of Jesus once for all even of that body which the Father prepared for him when he came into the world Heb. 10. 5 10. and hath in heaven a glorious body distinct from his body the Church which while here is vile Phil. 3. 20 21. and is there and from thence namâ—d himself unto Paul Jesus of Nazareth â—ct 2â— 8 and in that body of his flesh as distinct from his body the Church he doth and will present holy unblameable and unreproveble in his â—ight his body the Church even such as continue in the faith grounded and setled and are not moved away from the hope of the Gospel Col. 1. 22 24. and so he in that same body even the man Christ Jesus is the Mediator between God and men 1 Tim. 2. 5. and by this man God shall judge the world in righteousness whereof he hath given assurance unto all men in that he hath raised him from the dead Act. 17. 31. Mat. 16. 27. 19. 28 25. 31. 3. And so they are not of God who deny Jesus Christ to be or confess him not to be the only foundation of our faith and hope but call some purpose or decree of election respecting mens persons in a personal consideration the foundation There is no purpose of God which is the foundation and much less that which many plead for which is no purpose of his and which renders the Cross of Christ and the preaching of it a foolish and undesirable thing As wâ—ll as also they confess nâ—t Christ in their doctrines who direct men to look into themselves originally for some sign and witness of God's lovâ— before they can assure them Christ hath died for them and God loves them and if upon examination they find as they conceit some love to God before they know whether he hath loved them thâ—n they â—â—ll them they are in a good condition Christ hath died for them and God loves them and righteousness is prepared for them and so they have according to such doctrines the beginning of their confidence bottom matter of their faiâ—h in themselves in some frame change alteration love to God before they know God hath loved them which is not love herein not confessing Jesus Christ which is come in the flesh to be the foundation which he only is 1 Cor. 3. 11. 1 Joh. 4 9 10. And so such praise not Jesus Christ who confess him not to be the only High-Priest and Head of the Church but give that honour to another besides him or together with him and confess not the infinite excellency and abiding vertue of his one sacrifice of his own body offered by himself once for all but offer up a propitiatory sacrifice besides for the quick and the dead hereby counting the blood of the Covenant a common thing and like the blood â—f Bulls and Goats and his sacrifice like those offered by the Law which because they could not purge away sin were therefore continually offered Heb. 9. 12 14 25. 7. 27. 10. 1 14. or that confess him nor to be â—he only door of approach to God Joh. 10. 4 5 7 9 12. or the only bread of life Joh. 6. 35 51. or the only Mediator but multiply Mediators to themselves as Saints departed c. 1 Tim. 2. 5. to which we shall add no more now but that which the Apostle saith If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema Maâ—anatha 1 Cor. 16. 22. 2. But because many say Lord Lord and do make some right acknowledgment of Christ viz. that he was delivered to death and rose again and ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of God c. which is true and yet give not to him the praise due to his name nor lift him up and praise him as he worthily deserves therefore we have another rule of trial given us in 1 Joh. 4. 6. We are of God namely the Apostles in their word and doctrine he that knoweth God heareth us he that is not of God heareth not us that is he is not determined by ouâ— word in all his confessions he alwayes heareth not adhereth not to the words which the Apostles have spoken viz those which the Holy Ghost teacheth but rather speaks in the words which mans wisdom teacheth hereby know we the spirit of truth and the spirit of error By this word of God's grace we may mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which the believers have learned of Christ by his Apostles so as to avoid them Rom. 16. 17. to this râ—le we are often directed To the Law and to the testimonâ— if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them Isa 8. 20. If we saith the Apostle or an Angel from heaven preach any other Gospel unto you than what we have preached