ask how this can be consistent with Christs care of his Church that there should be an Universal Apostasy and decay of Christian Religion who hath promised The Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it Answ. That promise is made chiefly to the invisible Church or community of the Elect not to all the visible Societies of the Christians against whom the Devil can and hath prevailed and doth daily to the destruction of many Souls And we say not that the wholâ— visible Church did apostatize though all are faulty 2. Because some require the time when this Apostasy began to be particularly assigned and noted to them and by what persons these corruptions were first introduced or else deny that any such thing hath been But the Case is clear it began to work betimes only it wrought in a mystery but cannot we prove a man to be old unless we prove the first moment when his gray Hairs began to appear or his natural force to be abated Who can tell every step of the progress of the corâ—uption of the Jewish Church and why should the like be required of the Christian This Dunghil of corruption was not raised in one Age and suppose that in tract of time Authors be forgotten matters of Faith are not to be contradicted because of the defect of Hiâ—tory and yet Histories are not altogether wanting in the Case only in things that came in by degrees they are not necessary In the introducing of the general Apostasy some erred in the simplicity of their hearts as the people followed Absolom 2 Sam. 15.11 But shall we deny a thing to be done because we cannot speak the particular moments of time and circumstances of them when and how it was done Shall we say the pointer in the Dial passeth not because we do not see its motion Might not the Priests judge of a Leprosy though they knew not how it was contracted Iniquity mystical did by degrees prevail 3. Because some think if we should grant such an Apostasy it would interrupt the whole course of visible Christianity and so deprive the World of a Ministry and Ordinances till Christ send some new Nuncio's from Heaven or by miracle at least authorize a new Ministry that may be owned by the World and received by his people A vain conceit for though this Apostasy is foretold that it should come to pass yet it is also foretold that Christ will be with the Apostles and their Successors to the end of the World Math. 28.20 and prayed for all them that should believe in him through their word Ioh. 17.20 and though the Church was corrupted by degrees yet all this while it ceased not to be a Church nor the Officers thereof to be Christs Ministers when the Ten Tribes fell away yet God tiâ—l their dissolution continued the Spirit of Prophecy amongst them and in the Christian Church a Ministry though many had their calling from such who consented to the incroachments of Antichrist God had not so wholly cast off his people but that there was a Ministry and Ordinances their Ministry was a true Ministry and the Baptism a true Baptism to be owned in foro externo for these things remain whilst any thing of Christianity remaineth In a body mangled with wounds or all over grown with sores there is a life remaining and so some Functions and Offices of Life God called Idolatrous Israel his people and was not angry with them for circumcising their Children but for offering them to Moloch Ezek. 16.20 21. But of this in the next Verse where Antichrist is said to sit in the Church of God 2. The Revelation of Antichrist And that man of sin shall be revealed the Son of perdition where two things are notable 1. His rise and appearing 2. The names and titles given to him 1. His rise and appearing expressed in the word revealed that is that great and chief Antichrist upon that Apostasy or falling away shall be extant and shew himself to the World A thing is said to be revealed two ways Either when it is in being or when it is discovered both ways are proper here He shall publickly appear exercising a Tyranny in the World or cast off his Vail and shew himself in his Colours God by his Providence permitteth him to be and by the doctrine of the Gospel discovereth his impostures to all those who have no mind to be deceived 2. The names or titles given to him they are two 1. The man of sin wherein he is compared and likened to Antiochus 2. The Son of Perdition wherein he is compared and likened to Iudas For the first The Jews called Antiochus The man of sin 1 Macch. 2.48 They gave not the power to the Sinner in the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They gave not the Horn to the Sinner The Syriac Version hath it They suffered not the Horn of the Sinner to be lifted up and Verse 62. Fear not the words of the man of sin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 From the words of the man the Sinner be not afraid Now why did they call Antiochus the man of sin Because he sought to alter the Religion of the People and by cruelty to introduce a change of Worship and Idolatry and such Laws as he would set up now according to this pattern Antichrist is a man of sin that is either a man given up to all sin eminently a Sinner addicted unto sin and a Ring-leader of others unto sin either by fraud and violence or as he giveth incouragements and encitements to sin or as a special kind of Sinner an Usurper and Invader of the Empire of the Son of God So was Antiochus So was Antichrist Now how much open sin is practised allowed and maintained in the Papacy I list not now to rake into their own stories speak enough The Sodomy Blasphemy Incest Adulteries Sorceries Murders Treasons Parricides which they have authorised and countenanced Histories witness that hardly hath the World yielded a more abominable sort of men than have sate in that Chair of pestilence This I am sure of that a man can sin no where at so cheap a rate as in Popery where what by dividing their sins into mortal and venial and these expiated by a little pennance accompanied with a single Attrition and bare grief and trouble because of the punishment what by Faculties Pardons Licences Dispensations Indulgences sin is distinguished out of the Conscience But because he is called the man of sin here it cometh fitly to be inquired whether Antichrist be an individual person for that man of sin would seem to be some single person No he is put for a Society and succession of men that make up the head of the Apostate State As one Lyon figured the whole Kingdom of the Babylonians and one Bear the Kingdom of the Medes and Persians and one Leopard the Kingdom of the Graecians Dan. 7. and there the fourth Beast is the fourth Kingdom So one person that succession
Reign so many years the Pope is said to sit so long It 's his Sedes his Cathedral or Seat And again here he is said to sit as God that is as God Incarnate for Christ is the true and proper Lord of the Church None should Reign there but he And the name of this Man of sin is not Antitheos but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not one that directly invadeth the properties of the supreme God but of God Incarnate or Christ as Mediatour he sitteth negatively not as a Minister but positively as supreme Lord upon Earth whom all must adore and worship and Kings and Princes kiss his feet In short he usurpeth the Authority due to Christ. Now I shall prove that by a double argument 1. By usurping the Titles due to Christ. For he that will make bold with names will make bold with things as to be Sponsus Ecclesiae the Husband of the Church As Innocent called the Church Sponsam suam his Spouse Caput Ecclesiae the head of the Church which is proper to the Saviour of the body Supreme visible and universal head which only Christ is who hath promised to be with her to the end of the World and will be visible to those who do at length approach his Court in Heaven where his Seat is To be chief Pastor Christs own Title And when the chief Shepherd shall appear 1 Pet. 4.5 To be Pontifex Maximus The greatest High Priest Whereas Christ alone is called the High priest of our profession Heb. 3.1 and the great High Priest over the House of God Heb. 4.14 So his Vicar General upon Earth whereas the ancient Church attributed this to the Holy Ghost calling it Vicariam vim spiritus sancti he supplies his room and absence Now Titles including Power certainly they are not to be usurped without Warrant Therefore to call the Pope the chief and only Shepherd and the like It is to usurp His Authority to whom these things originally belong Secondly He doth usurp the thing implyed by the Titles the Authority over the Church which is only due to God Incarnate Supreme Authority may be considered either as to the claim right property and preheminence which belong to it or to the exercise 1. The claim and right pretended He sitteth as God in the Temple of God that is by vertue of his office there claimeth the same power that Christ had which is fourfold 1. An unlimited power over all things both in Heaven and Earth This was given to Christ Matth. 28.18 and the Pope as his Vicar challengeth it But where is the Plea and ground of the claim For one to set up himself as a Vice-God without Warrant is Rebellion against Christ. To set himself in his Throne without his leave surely none is fit to have this Authority that hath not his power to back and to administer and govern all things for the Churches good which power God would trust in the hands of no Creature 2. An Universal Headship and Supremacy over all the Churches of Christ. Now this supreme power over all Christians is the right of God Incarnate and whosoever challengeth it sits as God in the Temple of God and it is very derogatory to the comfort of the faithful that they should in all things depend upon one man as their supreme Pastor or else be excluded from the hope of Salvation Certainly this power as to matter of fact is impossible to be managed by any man considering the vast extent of the World and the variety of Governments and different Interests under which the people of God find shelter and protection and the multitude and diversity of those things which are comprized in such a Government And as to matter of right it iâ—â—acrilegious For Christ never instituted aâ—â— such Universal Vicar and Bishop It is a dignity too high for any Creature none is fit to be Universal Head of the Church but one that is God as well as Man 3. Absolute Authority so as to be above controul When a mortal man should pretend to be so absolute as to give no account of his actions that it shall not be lawful to be said to him what dost thou and all his Decrees must be received without Examination or Complaint this is such a Soveraignty as belongs to none but God Job 9.12 Behold he taketh away who will hinder him who can say unto him what dost thou Now this is in their Canon law that the Pope is to be judged by no man that though he should lead Millions of Souls into Hell none can say Domine cur ita facis 4. Infallibility and freedom from errour which is the property of God he neither is deceived nor can deceived Let God be true and every man a Lyar. Now that corrupt and fallible man should arrogate this to himself such an unerring in judgment is to usurp divine honour in matter of right and in matter of fact For the Pope to arrogate this is as great a contradiction to all sense and reason as if a man sick of the Plague or any other mortal Disease should say that he was immortal and in that part wherein the Disease was seated 2. As to the exercise there are two acts of supreme Authority 1. Legislation 2. Judgment 1. Legislation It is the peculiar and incommunicable property of Christ to be Lord and Lawgiver to the Church Isa. 33.22 The Lord is our Iudge The Lord is our Lawgiver the Lord is our King he will save us God alone hath such interest in his people as to prescribe supreme or universal Laws to them and we are his Subjects Jam. 4.12 There is one Lawgiver who is able to save and to destroy Now whosoever will make Laws that shall immediately bind the Conscience they invade Christs Soveraignty This is spiritual Tyranny and the worst sort of Tyranny to arrogate a power over the subjects of Christ and their Consciences as Lord of their faith He that taketh upon him to rescind and make void his Institutions and Ordinances and set his own in their place and give that reverence and honour to them which only belongeth to the Ordinances of Christ He is Antichrist whatever he be 2. As to Judgment It is an exercising an Authority no less than Divine So to take upon him to absolve man from his duty to God or the penalty which sin hath made his due The one is done by Dispensations the other by Indulgences And therefore whoever by Dispensations antiquates and dispenses with the Laws of God himself is thus guilty As dispensing with marrying the Brothers Wife Nay one of the Popes dispensed with one that took his own Sister to Wife I do not alledge this so much for the particulaâ— facts but to shew the power which they challenged to be inherent in themselves Bellarmine saith Christ hath given Peter and his Successors a power faciendi peccatum non peccatum to make a sin to be no sin and again If the Pope should
here for the Apostle conjureth them by all that is dear and sacred in their most holy Faith and upon this I will mainly spend the first part of this Discourse I shall prove it by these two choice pieces of Scripture which describe the Communion of the Church with Christ or the dispensations of Christ to the Church the one concerneth Gods internal the other his external Government the Canticles and Revelations The Book of Canticles is ended with this desire vote and wish Cant. 8.14 Make haste my beloved and be like a young Hart or Roe upon the Mountains of Spices the Brides last and great suit to the Bridegroom is make haste as to his coming in Glory to judge the World not that Christ is slack but the Churches affections are strong they that go a Whoring after the World neither desire his coming nor love his appearing but the Spouse would have all things hastened that he might return he cannot come soon enough to set the World to rights and compleat their Happiness it is that only that will perfect their Consolation and therefore would have the blessed and longed for meeting hastened In the other Book of the Revelations see how it is closed Rev. 22.20 Christ saith Surely I come quickly and the Church like a quick Echo saith Even so Come Lord Iesus come quickly it taketh the word out of Christs Mouth and presently improveth the Promise into a Prayer and so Christs Voice and the Churches Voice are Unisons the Acclamation of the Saints answereth to his Proclamation Christ saith I come as desiring to meet with us the Church answereth even so come as desiring his Fellowship and Company when once Faith apprehendeth the glorious coming of our Lord Jesus to Judgment Love presently desireth it as the most comfortable thing which we can ask of him that is the farewel suit of the Church to Christ if he will grant this all complaints and sorrow and sighing will be no more Now I shall give you Reasons why this is desired by all true Christians 1. In respect of him who is to come His Person that we may see him who is our great Lord and Saviour all that believed any thing of Christ desired to see him those that lived before his coming in the flesh Joâ—n 8.56 Your Father Abraham rejoiced to see my day and he saw it and was glad and the same affection possesseth us that live after his coming in the flesh we know him by hear-say we have heard much of him he wooeth us by a Proxy as Eliezer Abrahams Servant did Rebekah Now Christians would fain see him of whom they have heard and whom they loved and in whom they have believed 1 Pet. 1.8 Whom having not seen ye love and in whom though now you see him not yet believing ye rejoice with joy â—nspeakable and full of glory they do not see Christ but they have a taste of his goodness 1 Pet. 2.3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious They have felt his comforts and live by his Life all that is wanting is but ocular Vision that they may see him Face to Face therefore they long for his coming 2. The Excellency of Christ their head shall then be fully revealed therefore it is comfortable to his Saints to think of his second comeing it is called the Revelation of Christ 1 Pet. 1.13 Christ is now under a Vail retired within the Curtain of the Heavens the wicked often ask where is now your God and our own unbelieving hearts are apt to question the glory of his Person and the truth of his Promises when his most faithful Servants are under disgrace Christ is a glorious King but little of his Glory is seen in the World therefore they desire that he may appear in Glory and Royalty we pray that his Kingdom may come 2. The persons desiring there is somewhat in them to move them to it 1. The Spirit of Christ Rev. 22.17 The Spirit in the Bride saith come the Holy Ghost breadeth this desire in the Church nature saith it is good to be here but this is a disposition above nature the Flesh saith Depart but the Spirit saith Come the great work of the Spirit is to bring us and Christ together he cometh from the Father and the Son to bring us to the Father by the Son his business is to marry us to Christ the promise being past the Spouse longeth to see her beloved It is the Spirit kindleth a desire in us of his second coming when the Marriage that is now contracted shall be consummated when the Queen shall be brought unto the King in rayment of Needle-work and shall enter into the Palace with him there to abide for ever Well then though guilty Sinners would have Christ stay away still and if it might go by Voices the Carnal World would never give their Voice this way Even so come Lord Iesus come quickly no they are of the Devils mind Why art thou come to torment us before the time Mat. 8.29 Thieves and Malefactors if they might have the liberty to choose they would never look nor long for the day of Assizes but the Spirit in the Bride is another thing it giveth us other inclinations the sooner Christ cometh the better they can never be soon enough taken up to him nor he come to them 2. There are Graces planted in us Faith Hope and Love to move us earnestâ—y to desire his coming 1. Faith believeth Christ will be as good as his word I will come again if it were not so I would have told you John 14.2 And if Christ saith in a way of Promise I come the Church saith Amen in a way of Faith even so Comâ— If Christ had gone away in discontent and with a threat in his mouth Ye shall never see my face more we should altogether despair of seeing him again but he parted in Love and left a Promise with us which upholdeth the Hearts of Believers during his absence Would Christ deceive us and flatter us into a Fools Paradise What need that He can strike us dead in an instant if we do not please him and we have hitherto found him true in all things and will he fail us at last 2. Hope which is Faiths Handmaid it looketh for that which we do believe it is the immediate effect of the new Creature 1 Pet. 1.3 Begotten to a lively hope as soon as Grace is infused it discovereth it self by its tendency to its end and rest it came from Heaven and carrieth the Soul thither 3. Love is an affection of Union it desireth to be with the party loved Phil. 1.23 I desire to depart and to be with Christ therefore its Voice is Come Come he hath Communion with us in our Houses of Clay therefore we desire presence with him in his Palace of Glory his Voice now is very sweet when he saith Come unto me ye that are weary and heavy laden but much more will
those that shall meet together in the great Assembly and Congregation of the righteous that we are trained up in the Church of Christ which is the Seminary of Heaven that we are no more Strangers and Foreigners but Fellow Citizens with the Saints 3. Let us improve it many ways 1. To comfort us against the paucity of serious walkers and real Christians Alas now they are but like two or three Berryes upon the top of the uppermost bough here one and there another in some places thinner in others thicker as God hath service for them in appearance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A little Flock Luc. 12.32 But take all together they are a general Assembly that are redeemed out of every Kindred Tongue and Nation Rev. 5.9 Yea Rev. 7.9 A great multitude which none can number of all Kindreds Tongues People and Nations As few as we are and as despised as the interest of the godly is we shall not want Company in Heaven we see few going to Heaven but when we are gathered together we shall see that our everlasting Companions are many 2. To comfort us against the dâ—stance of Christian Friends we are often separated from the Society of good Christians whom we love dearly but we shall be gathered together in one Congregation The Saints are now scattered by Providence they live in divers Countries Towns Houses have little comfort of one another They live where they may be most useful as Stars do not shine in a Cluster but are dispersed throughout the Heaven and as they are the light of the Earth so they are the Salt of the Earth which is sprinkled here and there not laid in a heap sometimes by violence of men persecution and banishment sometimes by Death which parts Friends Perfectus est quem putas mortuum like people in a wrack got to shore before us Now what a comfort is it to be united to all Gods people which have been are or shall be to the end of the World and to meet in one Assembly Mat. 24.31 They shall gather together the elect from the four winds from one end of Heaven to another The Saints shall be gathered from all quarters of the Earth though they live in several places several times many we never saw in the flesh Christ will assemble them all bring them in unto one place 3. To comfort them under the degenerate and collapsed state of Christianity 1. The mixture of the wicked the good and bad are here mixed they live together in the same Kingdoms Cities Societies Visible Church Family Bed perhaps but then a perfect separation Zach. 14. Last There shall no more be the Canaanite in the House of the Lord of Hosts Rev. 21.27 Nothing that defileth shall enter there such a difference shall there be between the State of Gods Church in this World and the World to come here Tares are mingled with Wheat good Fish with bad in the Drag Net it is hard by Discipline to keep the sound from the infected 2. Discord the Saints are divided in Affection but then perfect Harmony they are all gathered together to Christ and have no signs and badges of distinction to herd apart 3. It 's Universal with all the Saints 4. Perpetual never to part more SERMON II. 2 Thess. 2.1 2. That ye be not soon shaken in mind or be troubled neither by spirit nor by word nor by letter as from us as that the day of Christ is at hand WE come now to the matter of the Apostles Caution which is in the second Verse That ye be not soon shaken in mind or be troubled neither by spirit nor by word nor by letter as from us as that the day of Christ is at hand In which words take notice 1. Of the error disproved that the day of Christ is at hand 2. The effect which this error might produce trouble and unsetledness of mind That ye be not soon shaken in mind or troubled 3. A removal of all the supposed Foundations of this error or the means which these Impostours used to intice them to embrace it Three are mentioned Spirit Word and Letter 1. Nor by Spirit that is pretence of spiritual Revelation be not soon shaken in mind by it 2. Nor by word some word of the Apostle which they pretended to have heard and that is another slight of deceivers some tradition or doctrine delivered by the Apostle by word of mouth 3. Nor by Letter as from us this may be understood 1. Either of some passage in the former Epistle for the Apostle saith there 1 Thess. 4.17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the Clouds to meet the Lord in the air and because he joins himself with them they thought he should survive until that day or else those warnings which the Apostle gives them 1 Thess. 5.1 2 3. Of the times and season I need not write unto them for your selves know perfectly that the day of the Lord cometh as a thief in the night c. Now these warnings they might abuse and this is one way by which men may be unsetled and unshaken i.e. by false glosses and interpretations of Scripture 2. Or rather the sence may be some spurious and counterfeit writings which was one means of deceit used in the Primitive Times supposititious or Apocryphal Legends wherein the Apostle might be said to write something as if Christ should come in that age wherein they lived Now to obviate this the Apostle is supposed to insert that passage Chap. 3.17 The Salutation of Paul with mine own hand which is the token in every Epistle so I write First From the Error disproved observe Doct. That the time of Christs coming to Judgment must be patiently expected not rashly defined or determined for this is the Error which the Apostle with such earnestness opposeth here But you will say is this such an error Do not the holy Apostles themselves say in effect the same as the Apostle Iames Chap. 5.8 The coming of the Lord draweth nigh and the Apostle Peter 1 Pet. 4.7 The end of all things is at hand Yea Paul himself 1 Cor. 10.11 These are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the World are come and Rom. 13.12 The night is far spent and the day is at hand where by night is meant the state of Ignorance Sin and Paganism before Conversion and by the day is meant the state of our full Regeneration and Illumination in eternal Glory when the corrupt World shall come to an end and all shadows shall fly away As if he had said the Mornings of the Resurrection is at hand the night is far spent not quite past and the day is at hand the night is not throughly gone nor the day wholly come yet he saith it is at hand What evil was in this Opinion that the Apostle should with such vehemency argue and reason against it Ans. There is some difference in the words
to Saints and Angels and turned into a theatrical Pomp and the Pageantry of empty Ceremonies which eclipse the Majesty and splendour of it and the Discipline of the Church into a temporal domination and all is carried in the World by sides and interests that Christianity looketh like another thing a design Calculated for the present World rather than a serious preparation for the World to come Then certainly there is an Apostasy and a defection from Christ however the corrupt manners of the Church be varnished over with the name of Christianity There is a degeneration questionless and that is Apostasy in a Mystery such as this is though not an open revolt from the Christ. But to make this more evident to you let us consider what the Kingdom of Christ is The Gospel Kingdom is a Kingdom of Light Life and Love Opposite to Light is ignorance and errour to Life a Religion that consists of shews dead rites and empty Ceremonies to Love uncharitableness malice and especially hatred of the power of Godliness now where these prevail eminently there is an opposite Kingdom set up to the Kingdom of Christ certainly a falling off from his Kingdom That is to say where in opposition to Light errour is taught and ignorance is counted the Mother of Devotion and people are restrained from the means of Knowledge as if the height of Christian Faith and Obedience did consist in an implicite believing what the Church believeth and where instead of Life men place their whole Religion on superficial Rites and Ceremonies and some trifling acts of seeming Devotion and exteriour Mortifications and instead of love to God and Souls all things are sacrificed to private Ambition and forcing Consciences with the highest penalties and persecutions to submit to their corruptions There is a manifest subversion of the interest of Christs Kingdom In short Gods witnesses were slain in that City which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt and our Lord was crucifyed Rev. 11.8 That City which answereth to Sodom for impurity to Egypt for Idolatry and to Ierusalem for persecution of the Saints there may you find the great Apostasy 5. This Apostasy from our Lords Authority and the interests of his Kingdom is some notable and discernable Apostasy and the Head and Patron thereof is Antichrist The defection is not of one or a few or many in divers Churches there have always been back-sliders from the Faith 1 Joh. 2.19 They went out from us but they were not of us and the Spirit of Antichrist wrought in the Apoâ—tles days 1 Joh. 2.18 As you have heard that Antichrist shall come even now there are many Antichrists and again 1 Ioh. 4.3 we are told of the Spirit of Antichrist and this is that spirit of Antichrist whereof you have heard that it should come and even now already is it in the World Then described to be afterwards Verse 5. a Worldly Spirit They are of the World and speak of the World and the World heareth them Though they profess Christianity Carnal Worldly Hypocrites which never Conquered the fleshly mind and interest have the Spiriâ— of Antichrist These obscure the light and obstruct the life and love of the Gospel They that wholly affect a life of pomp and ease in the Church Now this hath always been in all Ages The false Christians forget their hopes are built upon a Crucified Christ and are to be derived to them from a Glorified Christ in the other World Crucified in this World and Glorified in the next which indeed are the two considerations that keep Christianity pure and lively That all was purchased by a Crucified Christ and all is dispensed by a Glorified Christ and I wish you would oftner think of it But the great Apostasy is eminently found in some external visible Church where these corruptions are generally received and defended For the head of that Church is Antichrist where Doctrine is corrupted and the worship mingled with Idolatry and the Government an Usurpation and bent against the Holy Seed that desire to worship God in Spirit and in Truth there is this manifest revolt from and a Rebellion against God and Christ though they push with the Horns of the Lamb. That the Papists are a corrupt Sect of Christians is beyond dispute to any that will try their Religion by the Scriptures and that they are far more corrupt than the Protestants 〈◊〉 Reformed Churches will also soon appear by the comparison or a view of both Churches But whether they are so corrupt as to become the Seat of Antichrist is the matter under debate Therefore let any one consideâ— where the eminent Apostasy is to be found Who are they that invade Christs Authority by setting up an Universal Head over all Câ—ristians Who are they that establish the Doctrine of Daemons or revive the worship of a middle sort of Powers between God and mortal men 1 Tim. 4.1 who through Hypocrisy â—nvent so many lies to maintain it and when Christians should keep themselves from Idols 1 Ioh. 5.21 yet in defiance of this worship Angels and other Creatures Col. 2.18 Let nâ— man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of Angels c. and erect the Images of Saints commanding and compelling men to adore them and pray to them who are they that are not contented with the one only Mediatour 1 Tim. 2.5 For there is one God and one Mediatour between God and men the man Christ Iesus 1 Cor. 8.5 For though there be that are called Gods whether in Heaven or in Earth as there be Gods mâ—ny and Lords many But to us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things and we in him and one Lord Iesus Christ by whom are all things and we by him but set up other Mediâ—tours of Intercession Who are they that plead for Indulgences and the supererogatory saâ—â—sfactioâ—â— of the Saints as gathered into the Treasure of the Church and so profitable for the remission of sins and condemn them who think the contrary Who are they that keep Beliâ—vers from reading the Scriptures when they are so expresly injoined to do it Joh. 5.39 and Psal. 1.2 But his delight is in the Law of the Lord and in his Law doth he meditate day and night That deny one part of the Lorâ—s Supper to his Disciples notwithstanding his Institution to the contrary 1 Cor. 11.25 26. After the same manner also he took the Cup wheâ— he had supped saying This Cup is the New Testament in my blood This do ye as often as ye drink it in remembrance of me for as oft as ye eat this bread and drink this Cup ye do shew forth the Lords death till he come It were endless to instance in all I shall speak more of it in the following Verses 6. This Apostasy is not only forbidden but foretold as a thing that would certainly come to pass This consideration is necessary for divers reasons 1. Because the Papists
err in forbidding Vertues and commanding Vices the Church were bound to believe Vices to be good and Vertues to be evil which certainly is to set man in the place of God 2. As to Indulgences as to pretend to give Pardons for sin for so many years a thing that God himself never did to pardon the sin before it was committed that is to give a licence to sin So for the highest crimes to absolve men upon a little attrition or trouble about the sin to do all this and more than this as of right is to sit in the Church of God as God 2. And shewing himself that he is God that is meant not of what he professeth in words but what he doth in deed It is not said that he saith he is God but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he sheweth himself or sets forth himself as God the reason of the thing sheweth it 1. Antichrist gets power by seduction or the deceiveableness of unrighteousness therefore does not openly call himself the true and only God He is represented as a false Prophet that speaketh lies in Hypocrisy If one would openly and plainly profess himself to be God he might be a frantick Usurper but could not be a cunning Seducer and few would be so stupid and senseless as to be led by him 2. Antichrist whoever he be is to be a Christian by profession and to have a high and great charge among the visible Professors of Christianity He is a secret Adversary that groweth upon the Apostasie or degeneration of the Christian State Now such pretend observance and obedience to Christ and therefore he would not openly declare himself to be God and he sitteth in the Temple and Church of God as before And it is a mystery All which imply crafty conveyance and that he doth not openly assume the Godhead but slily and secretly which doth not mend the matter for the insinuating devouring unsuspected Enemy is the most perillous and pernicious as Ioab to Amasa and Iudas to Christ. 3. Antichrist is plainly a man now for a man to disanul all Religion and set up himself directly as God is improbable Nero Nebuchadnezzar Simon Magus would be adored as Gods they did not deny other Gods nor a greater God above them Therefore it is the arrogance of works is intended If Antichrist will shew himself as God certainly he will sweeten his Blasphemy with some Hypocrisy as that he is the Vicar and Vicegerent of God 4. His shewing himself as God is either accepting or doing such things which if they did rightly belong to him they would shew that he is God Two persons I find in Scripture charged for usurping divine honours The one Herod Agrippa who was smitten by an Angel for not giving God the glory when the people cryed the voice of God and not of man Acts 12.22 his fault was accepting what was ascribed by others The other is the Prince of Tyre Ezech. 18.2 Because thy heart is lifted up and thou hast said I am God I sit in the seat of God in the midst of the sea◠yet thou art a man and not God though thon set thy heart as the heart of God His fault was taking upon him as if he were God to accept divine honours to do those things which would make him equalize himself to our Lord Christ Blessed for ever so doth he shew himself that he is God 1. His accepting Antichrists Disciples who call him our Lord God the Pope Supremum numen in Terris a certain Deity upon Earth That the Pope hath the same Consistory with God and the same Tribunal with Christ That he is Lord of Heaven and Earth That from him there are no appeals to be made no not to God himself That the Pope may do all that God doth that he is the Husband of the Church and the foundation of Faith In the Council of Lateran Sess. 4. Alter Deus in Terra that the words of the Pope in Cathedra are for certainty of truth equal to the Scriptures that he can change the form of Sacraments delivered by Christ or Decree contrary to Scripture If any do object that these were the applauses of his Flatterers and claw-backs it is true they were so uttered but those flatteries of the Canonists and Jesuits do come to be received Doctrines among them And whereas divers Popes have directed special Commissions for perusal of the works of the learned with authority to expunge and purge out whatsoever is not Orthodoxal many better things have come under censure but these things stand still as being very pleasing to his Holinesses humility and so not to be altered Besides many of these things have been spoken to his face without rebuke Conc. Latt Sess. 2. He is called the High Priest and King that is to be adored by all and most like unto God Sess. 9. It is said the Aspect of thy Divine Majesty dazleth our Eyes and applyeth to him that of the 72. Psalm All the Kings of the Earth shall worship him and all Nations shall serve him Now to accept and approve of these flatterers is to shew himself that he is God 2. By doing such things as if he were God not by the usurpation of the formal name as arrogating to himself such things as belong to God his right and property to take upon himself to be Lord of Consciences to command what Faith is to be believed suppressing the true doctrine of Christ and setting up his own Inventions dispensing with Gods Laws taking upon him to pardon sins One Article for which Luther was condemned is this That it is not in the power of the Church or Pope to make new Articles of Faith another That the best penitence of all is the new life Qui facit Deos Divosque Deo major est The Pope doth Canonize Saints and his Decrees must be received as Oracles c. The Use is to give us a clear discovery where to find Antichrist every tittle of this is fulfilled in the Bishop of Rome that we need no longer be in doubt and say Is this he that should come or shall we look for another Who is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but he that opposeth himself to that humble state and frame wherein Christ left the Church and will be Prince of all Pastors and swear them to his obedience and hath made such troubles in the World to make himself acknowledged for Head and Chief Who is he that exalteth himself above all that is called God and is August in The World but he that takes upon him to deprive and depose Emperours Kings and Princes by his Excommunications Suspensions Interdictions and Decrees discharging Subjects of their Allegiance and Oaths and giving away their Kingdoms that doth Crown and Uncrown Emperours with his feet and tread upon them as one would do upon a Viper Who is he that sitteth as God in the Temple of God that is affecteth the honour due to our Lord Jesus Christ but
is the raiser and supporter of that Estate aâ—d he is the great Seducer Opposer and Adversary of the Gospel This will appear if you consider First the properties of the Devil how the Devil is set forth in Scripture and by what ways he promoteth his own Kingdom 1. By Ignorance for the Devils are called Eph. 6.12 The Rulers of the Darkness of this World and his Kingdom is called the Kingdom of Darkness Col. 1.13 the Princelike Authority and Government which by Gods permission he exerciseth in the World is over those who remain in a state of Darkness and Ignorance Well then necessarily the Devil must be a great Friend to Popery where Ignorance not only raigneth but is commended as the Mother of Devotion it is into the ignorant part of the World and the Church that the Devil hath brought in Errors in Doctrine Formality and Superstition in Worship and Tyranny and Usurpation in Government 2. The next thing ascribed to him is Error so it is said John 8.44 He abode not in the truth because there is no truth in him when he speaketh a lie he speaketh of his own for he is a Lyar and the Father of it He soon Apostatized from God and his way and ever since is an Enemy of all Truth and Goodness he turned from God and is a deceiver of others To our first Parents he called the Truth of God in Question and was the inventor and beginner of all Errors that have since fallen out in the World Well then where should his eminent Power and Residence be but in that Society of professed Christians where most errors and corruptions in Doctrine and Worship have been introduced where they teach men to pray to and for the Dead to adore the Bread and worship it with divine worship and to worship Images and to pray to God in a language which they understand not and maime the Lords Supper and profess they can live perfectly without sin and meritoriously and supererogate besides and lay up a Treasury of merits to redeem Souls from Purgatory c. There will be errors and mistakes in Religion while men are men but where there is a wilful opposing of evident Truths and an obstinate refusing of all healing means and men will abide in their Errors rather than acknowledge that they have erred surely they are governed by the influence of his Counsels who abode not in the Truth and seeketh what he can to hinder the prevalency of it in the World 3. That which is ascribed to Sathan is Idolatry Thiâ— was his first and great endeavour in the World to bring man to worship other Gods rather than the True or the True God by an Idol so he prevailed among the Heathens they thought their Images did represent their gods and that their gods dwelt in them as our Souls do in our Boâ—ies therefore the Psalmist saith All the gods of the Nations are Idols or Devils Ps. 96.5 and the Devil was the great Master and Contriver of this Idolatry therefore it is said Psal. 106.37 They sacrificed their Sons and Daughters unto Devils the service done to Idols or Images of mans devising is not done to God as men pretend who worship them but to Devils who are the Devisers Suggesters and enticers of men unto all sorts of unlawful worship and are in effect served and obeyed by a false Religion Deuter. 32.17 They sacrificed unto Devils not unto God 2 Cor. 10.20 The things which the Gentiles sacrificed they sacrificed unto Devils not unto God 2 Chron. 11.15 And he ordained him Priests for the high places and for the Devils and for the Calves which he had made they otherwise meant it Ieroboam intended it to the true God Iehovah but it was of the Devils Invention Now if the Devil can get such a party in the Church as â—hall not only set up but be mad upon Image-worship who can more serve his turn among professing Christians than they who have consented to and continued in idolatrous worship Surely then Sathan is concerned to befriend their Usurpations and uphold their Interests for what will more conduce to the ruine of Christianity or at least the â—ecay of the power thereof 4. That which is ascribed to Sathan is bloody Cruelty or seeking the destruction of Christs most faithful Servants for he is called a murderer from the beginning John 8.44 and Cain is said to be of that wicked one because he slew his Brother and wherefore slew he him because his own works were evil and his Brothers righteous 1 John 3.12 Enmity to the power of Godliness came from Sathan and wherever it is encouraged and notoriously practised they are a party of men governed and influenced by Sathan Now where shall we find this Character but in Antichrists Confederacy In the Prophecy of him Rev. 13.15 he caused as many as would noâ— worship the Image of the Beast to be kilâ—ed and again Rev. 17.5 The Woman whose name was Mystery was drunk with the blood of the Saints and with the blood of the Martyrs of Iesus and it hath been eminently fulfilled in the blood shed in Germany France and England and other Nations and all this to extinguish the light of and suppress the Reformation The World is no stranger to their bloody Persecutions Oh how many seeming Chrisâ—ians hath Sathan employed in these works of Cruelty When once he had seduced the Church to so many Errors and corrupted the Doctrine and worship of Christ he presently maketh the erroneous party his Instruments of as cruel and bloody Persecutions as were ever commenced by Infidels and Mahometans witness their murders upon so many thousands of the Waldenses and Albigenses whom they not only spoiled but slaughtered with all manner of hellish Cruelty Some of their own Bishops complained they could not find Lime and Stone to build Prisons for them nor defray the charges of their food The World was even amazed at their unheard of Cruelties smoaking and burning thousands of Men Women men and Children in Caves others at Stâ—kes and many ways butchered them proclaiming Croisados and preaching up the merit of Paradise to such bloody Cut-throats as had a mind to root them out driving multitudes to perish in snowy Mountains What Desolations they wrought in Bohemia what horrible Massacres in France what Fires they kindled in England and of late what Cruelties they exercised in Ireland Piedmont c. Histories will tell you and will tell all Generations to come what Principles Rome is acted by and how infatiable their thirst is for the blood of upright righteous men And after all this tell me who is he whose coming is after the working of Sathan and whether we have cause to be mamoured of Blood and Fires and Inquisitions 5. That which is ascribed to Sathan is that he is the God of this World 2 Cor. 4.4 and again the Prince of this World John 12.31 he playeth the God here the Riches Honours and wealth of this World are
deserve to perish No man perisheth but for his own fault Hos. 13.9 O Israel thou hast â—â—stroyed thy self but in me is thy help Now they that will yield to the deceivableness of unrighteousness justly perish though there be deâ—eit in the Case yet there is unrighteousness in the Case also Fraudulent dealing should not so cozen us as apparent unrighteousness oâ— unfaithfulness â—o Christ should warn us 2. That they are in an actual state of perdition and unlâ—ss they come out of it are undone for ever The Apostles when they propounded Châ—istian Doctrine at first did use this term to distinguish impenitent unbelievers from those that received the Gospel as 1 Cor. 1.18 The preaching of the Cross is to them that perish foolishness but unto us that are saved the power of God So 2 Cor. 2.15 We are unto God a sweet savour of Christ in them that perish and in thâ—m that are saved So he distinguisheth them that receive the Faith and them that receive it not peâ—itent believers are those that are saved but impenitent unbelievers are those that perish that is are for the present during their infidelity and impenitency in an actual state of perdition So 2 Cor. 4.3 If our Gospel be hid it is hid to those that are lost that iâ— who are for the present in a lost condition We know not Gods secret decrees but those that refuse and oppose the only remedy to all appearance are lost men Now this he applyeâ—h to those that yield to Antichrist shewing them that though they are Christians yet they have no more benefit the Gospel than Infidels they receive not the truth these revolt from the owning of it upon carnal reasons And therefore it is foretold Rev. 14.9 10. If any man worship the Beast and his Image and receive his mark in his forehead and in his hand the same shall drink of the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the Cup of his indignation and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy Angels and the presence of the Lamb. That is all those that give up themselves as Servants and Souldiers to the Antichristian Estate and obstinately adhere to and promote that profession they shall taste of the Mediators vengeance which will be very sore and severe Luk. 19.27 These mine Enemies which would not that I should reign over them bring them forth and slay them before me Popery is the high way to damnation 3. It beareth this sense that they are fâ—â—e appointed to perish who are left to these delusions They are such as God hath past by and not chosen to life This is to be considered also for damnable errors take not effect on Gods Elect. Mat. 24.24 If it were possible they shall deceive the very elect The Elect cannot altogether be seduced and drawn away from Christ for God taketh them into his protection and guardeth them against the delusions of false Prophets that if they be for a time they shall not always be deceived So it is said Rev. 13.4 The Locusts shall hurt none of those that had the seal of God in their foreheads The delusions of Antichrist have only their full effect on those who are not elected and sealed upon the Hypocritical professors that live in the visible Church So it is said again Rev. 13.8 All that dwell upon the earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the Lambs book of life And again Rev. 17.8 And they that dwell on the earth shall wonder whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world The Elect are still excepted which is much for the comfort of the Godly who belong to Gods Election that he shall not prevail over them totally finally God hath chosen you to life Thirdly The reason of this doom because they received not the love of the truth that they might he saved By the truth is meant the Gospel the chief truth revealed in Gods word and the only means of Salvation Eph. 1. â— In whom also ye trusted after that ye heard the word of truth the Gospel of your Salvation This is the truth most profitable to lost Sinners receiving is put for entertaining or believing the words as Acts 8.14 When they heard that Samaria had received the word of God and Acts 11.1 That the Gentiles had received the word and elsewhere This reception must be with love Acts 2.41 As many as received the word gladly and Acts 17.11 They received the word with readiness of mind And this affection must produce its effect so as to convert them unto God Now this is denied of them who are seduced by Antichrist that they never had any true love to the truth nor minded it in order to their Salvation Now the business is whether the clause concerned only the Jews or can be applied to Christians The Jews clearly received not the love of the truth but did refuse Christ and his Salvation And herein the Papists glory of an advantage of turning off this Prophecy from themselves But the Apostle speaketh not of rejecting the truth but of not receiving the love of the truth which is not proper to the Jews but to false Christians The Jews Company rejected Christ and Antichrist was not sent to them for a punishment but wrath came upon them to the uttermost to the excision and cutting off their Nation But here is rendred the reason not of other Judgments but why men are Captives to Antichrist Therefore it is not so to be confined Doct. 1. The subjects of Antichrists power and seduction are those that perish 2. The great reason why God sent this Judgment on the Christian World is because they receieved not the love of the truth 1. Doct. That the subjects of Antichrists power and seduction are those that perish It is a dreadful argument we are upon yet necessary to be known for our caution however to be handled warily 1. It is certainly more meet for us to have a regard of our own estate than curiously to enquire what becometh of others The Apostle waveth judging them that are without 1 Cor. 5.12 I know he meaneth it of the censures of the Church which are not exercised upon Infidels but Christians but so far we may apply iâ— to this case that we should not rashly judge of the eternal state of other persons but rather of things wherein our selves are concerned If the enquiry were only matter of curiosity surely Christs rebuke would silence it What is that to thee Joh. 21.20 for Christ is ill pleased with curiosity about the state of other men but it is fit we should know our own duty and danger and to that end it must be discussed 2. That there is a great diffiâ—ulty of the Salvation of Papists so living and dying if not an utter impossibility Partly because though it should be supposed that they retain the foundation yet they build such Hay and stubble
scope not to spare â—he flesh but to save the Soul and to save the Soul with the loss of other things and that will make us true to Christ. But there are many foreign reasons for which men may sâ—ew some love to Religion As first Policy as Iehâ— took up Ionadab into the Chariot with him 2 Kings 10.15 there is his complement to him Ionadab was a good man and this honoured him before the people to see Iehu and Ionadab so well acquainted Sometimes respect to others upon whom we depeâ—d many seem to be good because they dare not displease others that have authority over them or an interest in them as Ioash was religious all the days of Iehoiada for he stood in awe of him 1 Chron. 24.2 Now such sorry Religion dependeth on foreign accidents The life of others or presence of others and therefore it cannot be durable whereas in presence or absence we should work out our Salvation with fear and trembling Phil. 2.12 otherwise men only keep within compass for a while but they have the root of sin within them still Or it may be novelty as our Lord telleth the Jews Iohn was a burning and shining light and ye were willing to rejoice in his light for a season Iohn was an eminent man for pureness of Doctrine and vigour of Zeal and the more corrupt sort of Jews Pharisees as well as others admired him for a while but they soon grew weary of him it was a fit of zeal for the present Lastly This love may be to the excellency of gifts bestowed upon some Minister or Instrument whom God raiseth up or some countenance of great men given to their Ministry may stir up some love and attendance on their Ministry and some respect is given for their sakes when men have no sound grace in their hearts There is a receiving of the word as the word of man and a receiving of the word as the word of God as the Apostle intimateth 1 Thess. 2.13 The receiving of the word as the word of man so it worketh only an humane passion a delight in the gifts of the Ministry used Ezech. 33.32 Thou art to them as a lovely Song of one that hath a pleasant voice Then there is a receiving it as the word of God and then we receive it with much assurance and joy in the Holy Ghost 1 Thess. 1.5 Our Gospel came to you not in word but in power â—nd much assurance and joy in the Holy Ghost Now if we do not receive the truth upon Gods recommendation and confirmation we do not love truth as truth our contest is not who hath most wit and parts but most grace 5. They do not receive the love of the truth when it doth not produce its solid effects which is a change of heart and life And they are not brought by the Gospel to a sincere repentance and conversion to God or receive the truth so as to live by it but whilst they have the names of Christians have the lives and hearts of Atheists and Infidels These were those that debauched Christianity and meritoriè and effectivè by their provocations and negligence brought this degeneracy into the Church and Judgment on the Christian World Certainly a man hateth that Religion which he doth profess when he will not live by it This perfidiousness and breach of Covenant was that which provoked God to permit these delusions in the Church The wordly sensual carnal Christians that hate that life which their Religion calleth for The Godly Christian and the Carnal Christian have the same Bible the same Creed the same Baptism yet they hate one another as if they were of different Religions and confound the distinction between the World and the Church because the World is in the Church And of sensual and godless men we must speak as Heathens as if they were without God they abhor that Religion which they do profess That is they abhor not the name but they abhor those that are faithful to it and serious in it who desire to know God in Christ and desire to love him and live to him It was that Christ taxed in the Pharisees they honoured the dead Saints and abhorred the living Matth. 23.29 30 31. Wo unto you Scribes and Pharisees Hypocrites because ye build the Tombs of the Prophets and garnish the Sepulchres of the righteous and say if we had been in the days of our Fathers we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the Prophets Wherefore ye be witnesses unto your selves that ye are the Children of them which killed the Prophets Christ hath not worse Enemies in the World than those that usurp his name and pretend to be his Officers and yet eat and drink with the drunken and beat their fellow Servants Matth. 24.49 Christ will disown such at the day of Judgment Matth. 7.22 23. Many will say unto me in that day Lord Lord have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out Devils and in thy name done many wonderful works and then will I profess unto them I never knew you Depart from me ye that work iniquity And such do most dishonour him in the World A righteous sober godly life is the best evidence of our love to the truth 2. How just this punishment is 1. Because God hath ever held this course on the Pagan World who kept not the natural knowledge of God he gave them up to vile affections Rom. 1.28 The Jews who rejected Christ Joh. 5.43 I am come in my Fathers name and ye receive me not another will come in his own name and him will ye receive When Christ cometh meerly for our benefit the unthankful World will not make him welcome but they will take worse in his room So towards Christians At first men would not receive the Gospel while it was pure and in its simplicity as taught by Christ and his Apostles and sealed by the blood of the Martyrs till it was backed by a Wordly Interest and coâ—rupted into a Wordly design and then they had it and all manner of superstitions together and with these strong delusions there came just damnation So still the pure Gospel is refused and God sendeth Popish Seducers as a just Judgment men only prize the light as it may serve their turn 2. The neglect and contempt of the truth is so hainous a sin that it deserveth the greatest punishment Heb. 2.3 How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation now it is revenged by these errâ—rs as a just judgment on the perverseness and unthankfulness of the World The duties of the Gospel being so unquestionable shew their perverseness The priviledges of the Gospel being so excellent their unthankfulness is more intolerable 1. Vse is to shew us what cause we have to fear a return of Popery Alas where is this love of the truth 1. Some are Gospel-glutted loath Manna a full-fed people must expect a Famine Amos 8.2
concerned all the rest of the World they were by them to be attested to others Matters of Fact can only be proved by credible Witnesses and this was the great Office put upon the Apostles Acts 1.8 21 22. and Acts 2.32 Acts 3.15 Acts 10.39 40 41. 2. As it is matter of Faith or the Doctrine built upon this Matter of Fact We cannot propeâ—ly be said to believe a thing but upon a report and testimony I may know a thing by sense or reason but I cannot believe it but as it is affirmed or brought to me by credible Testimony As we are said to see those things which we perceive by the Eye or the sense of Seeing and to know those things which we receive by Reason or sure Demonstration so we are said to believe those things which are brought to us by valuable Testimony Tradition and Report As for Instance if any one ask you Do you believe the Sun shineth at noon Day You will answer I do not believe it but see it So if any one ask you Do you believe that twice two make four and twice three make six You will say I do not believe it but know it because certain and evident Reason telleth me that two is the half of four and three of six and every whole consisteth of two halfs or moities But if he should ask you Do you believe that the Sun is bigger than the Earth You will say I believe it for though your Eye doth not discover it nor doth an ignorant Man know any certain demonstration of it yet having the authority of Learned Men who are competent Judges in the case you judg it a rash and foolish obstinacy not to believe it Apply it now to the Mysteries of Godliness revealed in the Gospel they cannot be seen with the Eye for they are invisible nor found out and comprehended by any humane understanding because they exceed the reach of Man's Reason and depend upon the Love and Arbitrary Will of God Iohn 3.16 yet you believe them because God hath revealed them to the Prophets and Apostles And God being Truth and Wisdom it self cannot deceive or be deceived and therefore you believe them with the certainty of Divine Faith and do no more doubt of them than you do of those things which you see with your Eyes and know and understand by a sure demonstration The sense of Seeing may be deceived and Humane Reason may erre but 't is impossible God should deceive or be deceived It oftentimes falleth out that Men do prefer the authority and report of a Man whom they judg to be Wise and Good before their own Sense and Reason As for Instance That Man who by his Eye judges the Sun to be less than the Earth yet doth not obstinately stand in his Opinion when he hears a knowing and skilful Philosopher assert the contrary Now If we receive the witness of Men the Witness of God is greater 1 John 5.9 And this Testimony of God is brought to us by his Authorized Messengers as the ground of Faith And what is that but Tradition We believe in God by hearing of him and we hear by a Preacher Rom. 10.14 Ordinary common Preachers give us notice but Christ and his Apostles give us assurance and by their Testimony and Tradition our Faith ultimately resolved into the veracity of God 2. That holding this Tradition is the great means of standing fast in the Faith of Chriâ—t and the Confession of his Name For in the Word of God delivered by Christ and his Apostles there is sure Direction to walk by and sure Promises to build upon For whatever they made known of Christ was not a Fable but a certain Truth for they had the Testimony of Sense 2 Pet. 1.16 17. 1 Iohn 1.2 3 4. and so could plead both the Authority of his Command and the certainty of his Promise and that with uncontroulable Evidence and without this relation there can be neither Faith nor Obedience nor sure expectation of Happiness For we cannot trust God for what he hath not Promised nor obey God in what he hath not Commanded nor in our Difficulties and Distresses expect Happiness from him without his Warrant and Assurance But by this Doctrine delivered to us we have all that belongeth to Faith Obedience and Happiness and beyond that the Creature can desiâ—e no more 1. There can be no Faith till we â—ave a sure Testimony of God's Revelation for Faith is a believing such things as God hath Revealed because he hath Revealed them 'T is not Faith but Fancy to believe such things as God hath never Revealed nâ—r is it trust and a regular confidence to thiâ—k that he will certainly give us what he hath never promised this were to lay us open to all manner of Delusion And therefore we are never upon sure and stable ground but by sticking so such a Tradition as may justly intitle it self to God 2. Nor Obedience for Obedience is a doing what God hath Commanded because he hath Commanded it The fundamental reason of Obedience is the sight of God's Will 1 Thess. 4.3 1 Thess. 5.18 1 Pet. 2.15 To do what God never Commanded or not to do it upon that account but for other reasons is not Obedience and in difficult cases the Soul can never be held to its Duty till we are perswaded that so is God's Will concerning us Now to know his Will concerning us we are often bidden to search the Scripture but never bidden to consult with the Church to know what unwritten Traditions She hath in her keeping to instruct us in our Duty 3. No certain expectation of Happiness We are never safe till we know by what Rule Christ will judg us that is reward or punish Men at the last Day Now he will judg us according to the Gospel Rom. 2.16 1 Thess. 1.8 Obey the Gospel and you have a perfect Rule to guide you to Happiness but if you neglect this great Salvation or be unfaithful in the profession of it this Word condemneth you and God will ratifie the Sentence of it IV. Prop. That whilst the Apostles were in being there were two ways of delivering the Truth and that is by word of Mouth and Writing So in the Text Wâ—ether by Word or our Epistle The Apostles went up and down and preached Christ every where that needeth no Proof unless you would have me to produce the whole Book of the Acts of the Apostles But they did not Preach only but Write and both by the Instinct of the Holy Spirit who guided their Journeys and moved them to write Epistles For being often absent from Churâ—hes newly Planted and Heresies arising or some Contentions which could not be avoided among weak Christians God over-ruled these occasions for the profit of the Church in after Ages upon one occasion or another they saw a necessity to write 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jude ver 3. It was needful for me to write unto you As in
the Old Testament God himself delivered the Law with great Majesty and Terrour and afterwards caused the same to be written in Tables of Stone for the constant use of his People And the Prophets first uttered their Prophecies and then wrote unto them So the Apostles first preached Evangelical Doctrine and then consigned it to writing for the Use of all Ages And though all things delivered by them were not delivered in one Sermon or one Epistle yet by degrees the Canon of the New Testament was Constituted and made perfect by the Writings of the Evangelists and Apostles V. Prop. That now when they are long since gone to God and we cannot receive from them the Doctrine of Life by word of Mouth we must stick to the Scriptures or written Word 1. Because we are taught to do so by Christ and his Apostles Christ always appealeth to the Writings of the Old Testament both against Traditions which he condemneth Matth. 15.2 and against pretended Revelations Luke 16.31 If they hear not Moses and the Prophets neither will be persuaded to repent if one should come from the Dead And the Apostles still have recourse to this Proof Acts 26.22 Witnessing no other things than the Prophets and Moses did say should come to pass And when they pleaded they were Eye and Ear-witnesses and so their Testimony was valuable yet they say ye have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a surer Word of Prophecy whereunto ye shall do well to take heed 2 Pet. 1.19 Now how can we do better than to imitate these great Examples 2. Because those things were written for our sakes 1 John 1.4 These things write we unto you that your Ioy may be full The Apostles being to leave the World did know the slipperiness of Man's Memory and the danger of corrupting Christian Doctrine if there were not a sure authentick Record left therefore they wrote and so fully that nothing is wanting to compleat our Joy and Happiness 3. Because the Scriptures are perfect The perfection of Scripture is known by its End and intended Use which is to give us a knowledg of those things which concern our Faith Duty and Happiness 1. Our Faith in Christ. If there be enough written for that end we need not unwritten Traditions to compleat our Rule Now St. Iohn telleth us he might have written more things But these things are written that ye might believe in the Son of God and have Life through his Name John 20.30 31. Certainly nothing is wanting to beget a Faith in Christ The Object is sufficiently propounded the Warrant or Claim is laid down in the New Covenant and the encouragements to believe it are clear and strong What would Men have more So that here is a perfect Rule perfect in its kind and for its proper use 2. For our Duty That is sufficiently provided for The Apostle telleth us that the Grace of God take it objectively for the Grace of the Gospel or subjectively for Grace in our Hearts teacheth us If you mean Objective Grace it prescribeth directeth If Subjective Grace it persuadeth and exciteth what to do To live Soberly Righteously Godly in the present World Tit. 2.12 There are all the branches of Man's Duty enumerated Sobriety relateth to self-government Righteously to our carriage towards our Neighbour Godly to our Commerce and Communion with God What is there wanting that belongeth either to Worship or Justice or Personal Holiness Therefore certainly we need no other Rule for it layeth down whatsoever Men are bound to do in all Ages and places of the World and in whatsoever Circumstances God shall put them And so it is fit to be the Law of the Universal King and Law-giver yea it is so perfect that whatever other Way is set up it presently dasheth against those Notions that we have or should have of God his Service and Worship or it iâ—â—â—â—ngeth or perverteth the Liberty and Nature of Man 3. For our Happiness Thaâ— Doctrine and Institution which is able to make us wiâ—e unto Salvation is enough for us but so the holy Scriptures are said to do 2. Tim. 3.15 And that from a Child thou hast known the holâ— Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto Salvation through the Faith which is in Christ Iesus Nay afterwards Ver. 17. The Man of God is by them made perfect and throughly furnished to every good Work If the Scriptures do throughly direct Men to know God in Christ and save tâ—eir own Souls why should we look any further Now they do not only furnish every private Christian with this knowledg but the Man of God who is to Instruct others he needeth look no further but is furnished out of the Scripture with all things necessary to discharge his Office Therefore here we fix and rest we have a sufficient Rule and a full Record of all necessary Christian Doctrine Vse 1. The Use of all is Let us not seek another Rule than the Word of God Papists cry up unwritten Traditions to be received with equal respect and reverence as we receive the holy Scriptuâ—es But you Brethren stand fast holding the Apostolical Tradition You cannot have it by word of Mouth from them now therefore you must stick to what is Written or else you cannot preserve your selves from the Frauds and Impostures of Antichrist These Apostolical Writings have been received in all Ages and Times of the Church from the â—eginning and all Disputes among Christians have been tried by them None were allowed good or sincere Christians who doubted of the truth of them But because we have to do with a People that will sacrifice all to the honour and interest of their Church and knowing they are not able to stand before the Light of Scriptures have to the no little prejudice of the Christian Cause done all they can to weaken the Authority Sufficiency and Perspicuity of them that we mighâ— have no Religion without the Testimony and Recommendation of their Church therefore I shall resume the Matter and declare it afresh 1. Mankind lying in Darkness and in the shadow of Death it was necessary that one way or another God should reveal his Mind to them that we may have what belongeth to our Duty and Happiness for our chief good and last end Being altered by Sin we strangely mistake things and put Light for Darkness and Darkness for Light Good for Evil and Evil for Good weighing all things in the ballance of the Flesh which we seek to please We confound both the names and natures of Things and wander in a maze of a thousand Perplexities therefore God in pity to Mankind hath given us a sure direction in his Word which is a Lamp unto our Feet and a Light unto our Paths Psal. 119.105 Mark the words of Light and Lamps the use of a Lamp is by Night and in the Day we have the Light of the Sun whether it be Day or Night with us here we are taught how to carry our selves Mark