qui alle gorica resurrectionem imaginando veram illam quae nobis promissa es solvunt Marlo in Cor. 15. 1. time His words are There are those who do wrest the resurrecion of the Body manifestly declared in Scriptures into an imaginary signification a resurrection from the death of ignorance to the life of truth Marcion Basilides Valentinus Apelles were poisoned with the same Error Marlorat noted also the same evil spirit surprized a sort of furious men possessed with Devils who called themselves Libertines who imagining an Allegorical Resurrection deny the true literal promised resurrection of the Body Satans grand design in overthrowing this great truth is a carnal voluptous dissolute life Let us eat and drink to morrow we shall die will be the counsel and practice of the flesh if the dead rise not 1 Cor. 15. 32. The genuine fruit of such a corrupt error is playing the wanton under yea against the light of nature and grace At what door any unstable licentious Christians of the present Age have suffered first the questioning then the slight assent to and lastly the positive denial of the bodily Resurrection to come in the care of good life goeth out Moreover The party of Perfectists under the pretensions of a compleat transcendent grace inherent in the regenerate having first abused the word of grace have eminently dishonoured regenerating grace That sweet grand truth whoever is born of God sinneth not Joh. 3. 9. That is either the sinne unto death or reigning sin as in the unregenerate is wrested as the support of a possible perfect innocence yea as the cover of any sinne not to be accounted sin if in the regenerate The Pelagians and Catharists abused this place so called because they seigned Beleevers in Libertinorum insana opinio qui persuadent omnem sensum peccati abjici endum quod hominum imperfectorum sit conscientiae motibus perturbari eos dicunt vere in ChrisÌ„to renatos a mortuis excitatos qui nullum peccati sensum amplius habent et existimant quicquid agant vel tentent placere fect Deo unde quum apudipsos adulteria facinora hujusmodi deprehenduntur ea ne quaquam insiciantur sed aiunt sibi non esse peccata quod ea pro peccatis non habeant sed illis ad pecca tum imputari praedicant quiper infirmita tem peccata esse existimant Marlor in 1 Cor. 9. 9. this life have an Angelical purity some Anabaptists have renewed this dream The same folly the Spirit of Error hath transmitted to the sottish Quakers All which depravers of the holy Text the same Apostle John that wrote it hath sufficiently confuted in these words If we say we have no sinne we decieve our selves and there is no truth in us How easie is it for ignorant loose stupid sinners to perswade themselves they are born of God And if nothing they doe is sinne with what bold security unbridled liberty and unconscionable insensibility will they give themselves up to the uncontrouled swing of their domineering Lusts How sadly hath the word of truth concerning Regeneration and Perfection been abused of old and present times The saying of Marlorat hath been transcribed in the erring braines and loose lives of some Monsters of Christian profession among us 'T is the mad opinion of Libertines who perswade said he that all sense of sin is to be cast off that it appertaines to imperfect men to be disturbed by the motions of conscience And therefore they say they are truly regenerate in Christ and raised from the dead who have no more sense of sin and think what sorever they do or hold pleaseth God When they are taken in Adultery and such kind of villanies they doe not deny them but say they are no sinnes to them because they do not account them so but they affirm they are onely imputed to them as sin who through their weakness think they are sins If this be weakness to account sin sin and to be troubled for it and it be Christian perfection not to think sin sin nor to have an awakened sensible conscience of sin I know not what wickedness is O sad and desperate delusion Here is the plain efficacy of Satan to miscall an admantine remorsless heart Chriperfection of life and healths activity Yet the of the Christian name dare call the stupidity of a dead and seared conscience Perfection If we right name and nature it let it bee called Perfection but of wickedness not holyness 'T is a character of sinners past grace They give themselves over to lasciviousnesse to work all uncleanness with greediness and that a licentious impenitent liberty may never meet with check again they are said to be past feeling the word imports past grieving Eph. 4. 19. There is some hope of recovery in a troubled conscience none a sorrowless Trouble of spirit for wickedness may stop a bold careere hel wards and beget thoughts of returning but he that gallops to destruction hath not an inward pang a sing a groan a tear in his way must infallibly perish Wel were it if this vile spirit of error had been in that hell of gross darknesse â—hence it came but the same impudent Diabolical looseness that Reformed Writers condemned and discovered long agoe a generation of false adulterate Christians have revived in our sad infamous and spotted times I mean the Ergtish Borborities impure Ranters whose toadish natures have suckt up that venome their loose fraternitie powred out in the time of Calvin Marlorat and others as Calvins Opuscula especially his judicious and Zealous Tract against Libertines and Marlorat in his New Testament Expositions But O you scandals of the English name and bolts of Christianity Heavens scorn and Hels triumph the highest form in Satans School that rant it out in most free and liberal allowances of your uncontroled Lusts that make not sins definition The transgression of Gods Law 1. loh. 3. 4. but a Thought an Opinion Nothing is sinne with you unless you think and account it so who have so much sinned against conscience that you have quite cast off the sensible conscience of sin if your debauched looseness hath not cast off the Eible and sâ—n-discovering books out of your hearts and hands and providence may lead you to the reading of this Section I beseech you fear tremble repent and know the holy Text of which your impure hearts unmotified lusts vile affections have given a depraved Exposition be no patron of but severe enemy against your monstrous impieties impurities and unrighteous dealings Wil you not be speechless in the arraignment of the Last Judgment when from a double Tribunal of Nature and Grace Reason and Religion Paganism and Christianty you will be infallibly condemned You will learn that Virtue is Virtue Vice Vice Grace is Grace and Sin is Som whether they be thought or beleeved so be or no a stupid conscience in a stupid hellish Liberty to sin is no Christian
a wanton loosenesse and daring licentiousnes in sin This being done in the times and places amongst the persons of Gospell light that owne the name of Christian The Doctrine will be hat In Gospell times the Grace of God hath such high abuse as to Doctrine be turned into wantonnesse In handling this sad truth I shall enquire into six things Method of handling the Doctrine 1. What are the kinds of Turning Gods Grace into wantonness 2. When it is Turned into Wantonness 3. Why it is Turned into wantonnesse 4. How great is the sin thereof and 5ly What is the Punishment God usually followes this sin withall 6ly and lastly What improvement we may make of it by some usefull Application CHAP. III. Shewing in how many ways or kinds the Grace of God may be Turned into Wantonnesse 1. PREDESTINATING grace is Turned 1. Predestinating grace is turned into wantonnesse into Wantonness It is a wrested Conclusion from this glorious principle God hath chosen me to life therefore though I live as I list I shall be saved A bastard inference and practise that this chast truth never begat The Contrary deduction flowes from the grace of Election As the Elect of God holy not loose Col. 3. 12. He hath chosen us to salvation through sanctification of the spirit 2. Thes 2. 13. through it as a part of our salvation execution of Gods decree ornament of the saving Gospell fitnes for eternall life not through the filthines of flesh and spirit as if wickedness were the way to happines and God had from Eternity designed an everlasting rest to the industrious services of the Devill He hath chosen us in him that we should be holy Ephes 1. 4. That Holynesse which lay hid in the womb of Gods eternal purpose is infallibly brought forth in time in all vessels of honour The Apostle inferred Sobriety Faith and Hope in the children of Gospel light from Gods appointments not a loose sleeping in sinne Let us be sober c. For God hath not appointed us to wrath but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Thes 5. 9. God hath not appointed us the Word nor put us or set or placed us in a state of avenging 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wrath but gracious salvation He puts us in this blessed estate by predestinating calling drawing regenerating and justifying not by a fearlesse carelesse living and dying in reigning sin Musculus well taxeth this abuse The contempt of Gods Non dicas nihil periâ—uli quomodocunque vivam contemptus gratiae Dei iram illius gravissimam reddit Muscul Absit ut peccem in gratiam et voluntatem dei ac peream potius accommodabo me gratiae illius ut salver Geram me sicut homini convenit non ethnico sed christiano Muscul Annon ejusmodi verba dementis Muscul grace incurrs his heaviest wrath Wherefore say not There is no danger however I live God hath put me into a state of salvation his positive decree is firme I cannot be damned I shall be saved Rather say Farre be it that I should sinne against Gods gracious purposes and perish rather I will a commodate my self unto his gracious will and be saved He hath designed me for this would have me be a Christian therefore I must live the gracious life of a Christian not the infamous of an Heathen Hoâ— irrationall and ungodly is the inference of wickednesse from Gods pure purposes If a sick patient should say under mortall diseases It matters not what I doe I will eat and drink and doe what I list my Physician hath not appointed me to death but recovery Would you not think him a mad man and self-destroyer O impure disputer against the holy purposes of God it will appeare to be thy folly and madnesse because God thou thinkest hath not appointed thee to Hell but Heaven to live as a vessel of wrath and yet hope to be saved when the direct way to the North leads to the South shalt thou goe to glory in the way of Gods reproach the contempt of Christ and thine own damnation Gods gracious promises and decrees tune with each other As he never promised so he never purposed eternall salvation to an unregenerate heart and a loose life His Predeterminations to a blessed end involve suitable meanes As he never intended man should live by poyson but by bread so it is absolutely distant from the thoughts of his heart that a man should live to God and with God for ever by an indulgence to the flesh in its lusts and affections sensualities and Vides nautaruÌ„ ministeri is opus fuisse ut divina promissio adimpleretur Granaten delights God appointed Paul and his company to escape shipwracke but it was by swimming on boards and broken peeces of the ship Act. 27. 24. Thus God hath appointed some to escape the wrath to come but it is by faith and mortification getting on the planck of repentance swimming through by the strength of Christ not drowning in the sea of the world God appointed Noah to salvation from the worlds deluge but it was by getting into the Arke A Loose heart and life is no accommodation to execution of predestinating grace but opposition The eternall Predestinatio Dei multis est Cauta standi nemini causa labendi Aug. de Predestinatione Sanctorum saving discriminating Counsels of God are to many the cause of their standing to noâ— chosen vessell the cause of their falling The doctrine of absolute and free election rightly understood powerfully revealed in the evidences of grace well used hinders no vessell of glory but helps him to heaven They that can without any Scripture warrant any choise worke of the spirit easily and presumptuously write their names in the book of life and as the Israelites wantonly played about their golden Idol so in a lascivious mirth are loose flesh-pleasers and feast their Corruptions will have a dreadfull demonstration after death in judgment and to eternitie that their names were written in the black book of death not the white of life The most holy and righteous Judge of the world will never say Come yee blessed eternally prepared by a free choise to an heavenly kingdome to those that lived and died in their indulged cursed natures and lives but to those select happy ones whose hearts were gloriously transformed and conversation really fashioned after the Gospell pattern O the sad confutation of them that build prophane libertinisme on this firme and pure foundation Predestinating grace their pretended interest in it and pleasing conceits of it will vanish like a golden dreame They will not rise as Elect but reprobate The Lord will say with hottest indignation against unreformed Carnall Gospellers Goe yee cursed workers of iniquitie Sect. 2. 2. SParing Grace is turned into Wantonnesse It was Gods 2 Sparing grace is turned into wantonnesse complaint of the house of Israel They despised my judgements and walked not in my statutes
silly chapmen to take off the braid wares of corrupt errours Have no opininions taught you looseness Why doe you not shew you are Christians to purpose in doing illustrious singular things that the neighbours that study your lives and are strangers to your inward Faith and Love may say These are children of God indeed would I were in their condition It is not the language but the power of your Profession that will draw hearts after it How have you defaced your Adoption when your sinfull omissions of convincing duties and breakings forth of corruption sharpen the edge of bitter language and tempt to these words of reproach O these are the children of God in scorn denying you the honour because you have denyed God the glory and your selves the credit of your Adoption Let this lord your hearts for your unwatchful and dishonourable conversation and call for future caution Your publick sinnes make your Father hear ill in the world 2. Christians of strict profession that have onely childrens name not nature artificial not supernaturally natural not lively in externall exercises of Religion that put over impious designs and practises the too good cover of a pious name that are adorned painted Sepulchers unclean within that make not Religion the great expedient for blessed eternity but a fair net Quidam probitate ficta c viam sibi ad potentiā muniunt Lact. de vero cult l. 6. c. 6. to catch the world in That in your zealous devotions more hot in the mouth than heart call God frequently your Father and make it the pleasing Prologue and usher of many of your Petitions Confessions and Thanksgivings and yet have no filiall affections of love and feare shame and sorrow no pleasure in pleasing him no real godly sorrow for his dishonour That betray the weaknesse of your painted piety having no real fervencie of heart for the interest of Gods name but your own concernments That betray the whole body of your Religion is a dead carkass without the life and soul of it the quickning Spirit No wonder if you stink when the ill savour of your loathed pollutions intemperance incontinence unrighteousnesse unnaturall sins betray the power of Religion was but feigned never feared in the heart that could never disperse inward nor outward beloved and delighted in imperious sins O you that are strict in the exercises of piety and do but feign not really affect and pursue Christianity Gods most heavy and smarting blows will be at you without great repentance and singular reforming sinceritie Doe no longer mock God nor men Hypocrisie at length ends in Apostasie The feigned friends of Christ are real enemies O let not Religion holy Religion be wickedly blasphemed nor be your play and game but your serious businesse in good earnest and know when you dye as well may you expect a painted fire should warm you as a painted Religion comfort your self-accused and tempted departing soules Before I close this point I must warn the loose and scoffing generation that possibly may read this page to forbear their triumph Some may say The Author hath hit the mark and ecchoes with our thoughts we are glad he hath payd the Hypocrites out upon these Precisians they are all Hypocrites And are you glad indeed Where is your charity That would not rejoice in iniquity 1 Cor. 13. 6. What if your merry sarcasmes and satyricall invectives against the Hypocrites be an arrow justly shot against your selves Did you never read there are hypocritical mockers in feasts Psal 35. 16. The severe censurers of Hypocrisie had need be upright Are not you eminently grosly guilty of the crime you cry down If you will not believe it it is easie to prove it deny it if you can Do not you profess salvation only by Jesus Christ Do not you know except you be born again you cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven Joh. 3. 5. Is it not plain Scripture He that is in Christ is a new creature 2 Cor. 5. 17. They that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts Gal. 5. 24. Are you not commanded to redeem the time Ephes 5. 16. Are not livers in pleasures dead to God while they live 1 Tim. 5. 6. Must not he that abides in Christ walk as he walked 1 Joh. 2. 5. Now I beseech you that throw the dreadfull charge of Hypocrisie and it may be truly against some persons and yet care not though through the sides of Hypocrites yee wound the generation of Gods children are not you gross Hypocrites your selves You profess Christianity credit Gospel-revelation call Christ your Saviour dare not say you will not be ruled by his Laws expect salvation by him own his Ordinances and if asked the question before a Sacrament or on a sick bed by Ministers that please you will you follow the rules of the Gospel to fit you for heaven My charitie perswades me you would say yea God forbid but I should be ruled by Jesus Christ It is very easie then to conclude from your own concessions you are Professors now what is Hypocrisie but a constant contradiction to the profession of the power of godlinesse Is not yours such Be not angry with this home-speaking to your bosomes your consciences if you repent not will speak a thousand times more after death than a few pages Can your studious and ordinary giving up your selves to the lusts pomps and vanities of the world be interpreted a devoting or resignment of your persons up to Jesus Christ Are you born of the Spirit that shew no scripture proofs of your high heavenly birth the life of the Spirit the graces of the Spirit the leading of the Spirit that are not acquainted with the breathings of the Spirit at the throne of grace who never made your families houses of prayer Are you indeed new creatures Is it possible that the old oathes drunkennesse uncleannesse slighting and contemning the Word of God laughing at those truths you hear that should set you a trembling loathing of religious exercises living in the old affections and conversation should prove you were new creatures Can you beleeve Christ in you hath crucified the flesh with its affections and lusts which you pamper and keep alive Doe you redeem precious time all which should you live an hundred years abating the necessary and moderate attendances on the things of this life would call for all time in the numerous services of Religion conquests of Temptations subjection to the Gospel and preparation for Eternity Will you call your covetous costly passionate gaming in the afternoon till night yea sometimes from night till morning redeeming the time Is your sleeping till nine or ten a clock on the Lords day time Redemption Is your earthy frothy unedifying discourses one with another when you are commanded to provoke one another to love and good works Heb. 10. 28. To speak what may minister grace and soul advantage to the hearer Eph. 4. 29. Time improvements
justified 1 Cor. 4. 4. The Lord Christ his personall duty is beleevers perfect righteousness not their own sanctification 4. There will be no escaping the curse of the Law Christ crucified was made a curse for his people Galat. 3. 13. that they might not be accursed Their services and penalties are no deliverances from Gods curse which unremoved will flame in everlasting burnings All beleevers have infinite reason to say The Lord Jesus not their own Graces hath delivered them from the wrath to come 5. There will be no refuge against conscience stormes in a 1 Thes 1. 10. trusted-in righteousnesse of graces Bare inherent holynesse failing and polluted with corrupt mixtures cannot secure a tempted soul by the Laws arrests the accusing conscience and Satans indictments This subtle and potent pleader will drive assaulted Christians from the weak holds of their pettie performances yea bring them to the brink of despair untill they run to the Cross of Christ and get within the invincible and royal Fort Christs imputed Righteousnesse This is the Saints refuge against their sharpest temptations and conscience-stormes Heb. 9. 12 14. and 10. 2. 6. There will not be a sufficient Argument utterly to strip believers from all glorying in themselves about a perfect Righteousnesse Would our own bare obedience be a current title to glory beleevers might wantonly applaud themselves and dance about their high duties as the Israelites about their Golden Idol they might commend themselves and boast in heart for the glory of their holynesse their Prayers Tears Alms Mortification as they are too apt to do But when they know and beleeve the Lord 2 Cor. 5. 21. Christ is made Righteousness unto them there was not so much as a good thought either in them or from them contributed to the making of this glorious robe imputed righteousness now they are denyed all glorying in themselves As to their perfect legal obedience they onely glory in Jesus Christ He is of God made our righteousnesse that according as it is written he that gloryeth let him glory in the Lord 1 Cor. 2. 30 31. 7. There will be no sure title to eternal life The perfect and infinite righteousness of the God-man Jesus Christ is an equivalent intitling purchase to the Gospels infinite reward of the next life As God is just and a justifier of beleevers so he is just and will be their glorifier Rom. 3. 26. 2 Tim. 4. 8. Let these things be a warning to all those that would secure their hopes confidences and joyes of salvation from miscarrying to study that righteousnesse which will fully and equally answer the demands of infinite justice and as to a justified estate from the guilt of sin to account their imperfect obedience polluted defective yea as dung compared with the complere personal righteousnesse of Jesus Christ But alass this error is too common yea too much an error in reall Christians very ignorant of the mystery of an imputed Righteousnesse to lay either the whole or the greatest weight on a weak foundation The Philosophers spake much of virtue but their external shining virtues were headless virtues because they were without the knowledge and worship of the true God so were it possible that an unjustified person should eminently shine in all the graces of the Spirit and be voted the none-such of the Age in contempt of the world mortification and new obedience these graces would be headless graces Christ would profit him nothing in his choicest doings and sufferings while his active and passive obedience is nor a sinners infinite compleat and everlasting righteousnesse SECT 13. 13. GLoryfying grace in the hopes and confidences thereof is 13 Gloryfying grace is turned into Wantonness turned into wantonnesse It is called the grace of life 1 Pet. 3. 7. and eternal life is the gift of God Rom. 6. 23. The crown of Glory is a crown of Free Grace adorned with that most orient Pearl the imputed Righteousnesse of Christ and the Jewels of the graces of the Spirit in their most perfect splendour and exercise that stand with the full fruition of God It is Grace that rewards Grace with Glory It is Grace that beginneth increaseth and consummates Grace Now many hope for gloryfying grace who almost but hope for heaven Who that have most just cause to feare yet are afraid in the serious and sad dwelling thoughts of their condition they are in eminent danger of Hell Instead of the blessed hope or hope of blessednesse the regular and warrantable expectation of glorifying grace there is a common hope and a cursed hope of Satans suggestion and corruptions entertainment though men continue in their sinnes they shall have heaven at length This hope never purifyed the heart and life 1 Joh. 3. 3. but will prove to them that trust in it like the thin and weak webb to the spider be swept away with the besom of destruction An evill conscience Pessima spei contubernalis mala conscientia Granat is the most dangerous companion of Hope Because many hope to be saved in the way of ruin their diseases become incurable like foolish patients that conclude health from that which increaseth their disease and hastneth their death Carnal hopes might have been cured by conditionall despair that ever soules should be saved while false hopes are rested in An hope of life in the paths of death is destruction to the soul A despair of ever getting good by such an hope might make men looke out for better hopes and more saving securities There are doubtlesse many that will in the other world curse their irrationall unscripturall and groundlesse hopes of Heaven A Prince hopes to wear his Fathers Crown How doth he abuse his hopes by living like a scullion and consorting with beggars Dishonourable imployments are below Royal state Many hope to wear the white robes of glory Rev. 3. 4 5. and yet embrace dunghill lusts and courses live dishonourably and abusively under their high expectations These resemble the Lapwing accounted an Emblem of infelicity which feeds on dung though it weares a Coronet on its head In the common abused hope of glory Hope is put out of office the springs of Hope are not regarded the work of hope is not done the properties of Hope are not to be found 1. Hope is put out of office It hath the office of a setling Anchor in heaven in tempestuous and troublesome times But the vulgar hope though it pretend heaven for its hold casts Anchor only among the creatures of which is worse among the Devils staying and strengthning it self in their counsels and lusts It hath the office of a saving refuge against Afflictions Desertions Temptations Corruptions Heb. 6. 18. The carnal hope of glory hath no City of Refuge but below viz. Wits Riches Friends Honours c. It hath the office of purging water which makes inside and Job 31. 24. 1 John 3. 3. outside clean The false hope of heaven wallows Swine-like in
Practical Adversaries of Gods grace clearly opened to see the Insolencies Indignities and Injuries they do against it they could not but in a trembling conviction conclude these and these things are certain dishonors of grace Stains of holy Profession Inconsistencies with the new Creature Lust and Satans methods of Damnation and denials of the hope of Glory As when Paul said to Ananias God shall smite thee thou whited wall he had not said so had he known hee was the High Priest Act. 23. 3 5. â—o had the bold abusers of Gods Summus Lethargus quasi mors humanae conscientiae ignorantia voluntatis divinae grace strong and clear convincements the frame of their hearts and carriages of their lives were the high injuries of Grace eminent perils of destruction and demerits of the hottest room in Hell in the noon-light of such an acknowledgement they would feare and tremble to stumble upon their owne ruin SECT 2. 2. VVAnt of Faith to believe the signall danger of sinne this 2 Want of Faith to beleeve the danger of sin is a wrong to Grace Caecus assensus plane temerarius sine praeeunte notitia non potest induere rationem fidei Parkerus de Traduct peccat ad Deum Thesis 56. huge sin is the wrong of Grace It is no wonder that the evill which is not known is not believed nor declined Unbeliefe is the evill heart that departs from the living God It sets not to its seal that God is true in his promises nor threatnings believes not the abominable damnable nature of sinne and dallies with it As daring wantons who know that the cup that stands before them is of poyson yet beleeve it not but drink and burst or the plague is in the house they goe into believe it not are mortally infected and die And as the Egyptians beleeved not that the cattle and men that were found abroad one storming day should die adventured abroad and were slaine so dallying adventurers that beleeve not the mischief of their sinfull pleasures contempts of Christ and his Gospel they are dancing over the mouth of Hell by the sudden push of death are kickt into it The loose old world beleeved not the destruction Preached by Noah in the making of the Ark were not moved with his holy example and penitentiall instructions The Sonnes of God playd the wantons with the fair idolatrous daughters of men Gen. 6. 2. and were at length swept away with the flood Faith would make Libertines fear and tremble Unbelief is daring Minatur Deus negligitis minatur terrenus Judex contremiscitis The wrath of man is more feared than Gods When God saith one threatens eternal punishment ye neglect it when an earthly Judge threatens temporal ye tremble at it SECT 3. 3. WAnt of Heat Intention and Livelinesse in Religion If 3 The want of life in Religion causeth abuse of Grace God be not served in fervency of Spirit Lust will If Satan cannot keep from Religious exercise he tempts to Luke-warmnesse yea Key-coldnesse in the performance of them Instinctu Satanae faith one by Satans deading and flatting instinct a drowsie tyring in good things steals upon body and spirit Faint fighting is not wont to overcome nor faint service of God to mortisie Lust How feâ— are there in a Christian congregation superabounding in spiritual joy alwaies pleasant and merry in the Lord fervent in spirit day and night meditating in the Law of God lifting up pure hands in prayer follicitous observers and students of their own hearts zealous witnesses of holy affections to good works to whom Christian discipline is amiable Fasting sweet long Watching short the whole pietie of a regular conversation is a delitious feast yea doth exceed the sweetnesse of the Quorum brevis rara compunctio animalis conversatio sermo fine circumspectione oratio sine cordis intentione lectio sine edificatione Bern. Virga calcaribus indigentes hony and the hony comb Alass how many are there who in an impartial inquest will be found remisse in the studies of Holyness fainting under Christs easie yoak and light burden whose compunction is short and rare conversation naturall speech without circumspection prayer without intention of heart reading without edification good purpose without execution religious exercise without fervencie who in the waies of godliness want the whipp and spurs but in the too prone and nimble motions of dislolute looseness need curbing bridles Licentious courses are so strong and impetuous that the modest shame of uncomeliness the bridle of reason yea the fear of Hell can hardly restrain them No wonder if corruption be daring dissolute and potent when religious exercises are flat dead cold and feeble Wee blush not Sine debita attentione fervore spiritus Bern. said one to pray to God without due attention and fervour of spirit He that hath no sweet communion with God will seek it in the world and pleasing his inticing lusts When the minde is senceless in reading and meditation and affections are dull corruption will be lively 'T is sad to consider how many seemed to discover the fervour of a pious conversation in whom by degrees charity hath waxen cold and iniquity abounded and what appeared to be begun in the Spirit ends it is to be feared in the flesh Gal. 3. 3. Draw me and we will run after thee because of the savour of thine ointments Cant. 1. 3 4. Therefore there is need of Opus habeo trahi quia refriguit pauliâ—per in nobis ignis amoris tui Bernard drawing because the divine fire of the soules love for want of fewel to it and blowing of it by degrees abates ad cooles Drawing nigh the fire is for warmth and drawing nigh of God is for holy heat In near approaches to him the new creature is a zealous enemy to wanton looseness Cockering cooleness in the severe religious exercises of Mortification is the bane of Profession Adonijah was a very goodly man David his Father displeased him not at any time in saying why hast thou done so 1 King 1. 6. In the sist verse you sinde him a daring Rebel you may read in the Contents of the Chapter Adonijah Davids darling usurpeth the Kingdome Thus is it with every fair faced goodly lust The indulgent Christian is it too remisse in rebuking and chastizing it and it riseth up in arms against him Cockering Mothers cold in rebuking wanton sons teach them to be Libertines ost-times train them up for the Gallows and Hell so when the heart is remiss and cold for good and against evill Lust will have its reins and lawlesse liberty and ruin its servants SECT 4 4. WAnt of receiving the Truth in the Truth in the love of it is an Advantage 4. Want of receiving the truth in the love is an advantage to turn a Libertine to trun a Libertine The Apostle describes the Antichristian spirit that waxed wanton in taking pleasure in unrighteousnesse receiving
prophet that sayes There is no peace to the wicked Ifa 57. 21. sayes also He that made them will shew no mercy to them Ifa 27. 11. SECT 12. 12. The Presumption of Interest in the Promises is a cause Sect. 12. presumption of Interest in the promises causeth abuse of Grace why Grace is abused as unreasonably do foolish Gospellers fancy a part in the great Charter of the City of God the gra cious covenant of promises as fools oâ— madmen imagine the Immunities and Priviledges of the City of London belong to them who were never Apprentices there nor in any other regular way got their Freedome This glorious Interest a part in the Promises too many vain walkers in the Christian name no less falsly then boldly do assume T is â—ith false Christians as Jewes those made this their vaunt and proofe That the Promises belonge dunto them Rom. 9. 4. And those at every turne after renewed dishonour to the Grace of God can shelter themselves in the Promises but where in the word is there a title of a promise made to the wrongings of Grace Hath the word of Promise made a soft bed for effeminate delicate lazy lustfull carnall security to sleep in the promise of life to unreturning sinners strengthens the hands of the wicked and is a lie Ezek 13. 22. The God of Truth never promised life ever threat neth death to the impenitent The Devill the flattering world the wicked promise themselves life in the wayes of Death The word doth note soure things will discover the wickednesse of their Presumption that impudent unmortified christians lazy convictions have a right to the promises 1. They have not while the Abuse of grace raignes in them a right to Christ therefore not to the promises Christ is the great gospel Promise the great moving Wheel by which all the Whee's of the promises move In him all the promises are â—ea and Amen 2 Cor 1. 20. To him they were made therefore he is called The covenant of the people Isa 42. 6. so then no part in Christ none in Promises no taking of the person of Christ no child of promise Now its evident that unreformed abusers of the grace of God Lusts-servers Flesh-pleasers have no part in Christ for they that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the Affections and Lusts Gal. 5. 24. and therefore as yet are strangers to the promises and children of Wrath under the curse every moment in danger of Hell the promises have not a good word for them The confidence of being armed with the promises will not keep such black markes as are carnall wantons shot free from the mortall charges of the Lawes threatnings 2. The promise is an holy promise ps 105. 42. Now an holy promise was never made to encourage and bolster up unholy hearts lives T is true immediatly before the sinners taking Christ the promise found him unholy but it doth not leave him so In the first moment of taking Christ and right to the promises an holy nature is infused and its impossible that such a one should infuse the Grace of God and make void the promise 3. The Spirit that seales the promise to the beleevers Soule in an holy spirit Eph. 4. 20. Now as the seal leaves its owne print on the Wax so the holy spirit seales the holinesse of the promises on the Soul Where the heart is still unholy the Devill seals his false promise the spirit seals not his true one the spirits applications of promises are purifying and fortifying 4. The use of the promise is the improovement of Grace not dishonour it is for Gods sake service not the sinners not barely to comfort but mainly to cleanse Having these promises let us Impii rapiunt in sui consolation em promissiones grutiae Luther in Gen. cleanse our selves 2Cor 7. 1. Lust and the devill saith having these promises we may boldly sin the promise will help in case of sin guilt and disquier Most true is that of Luther The wicked filch and take the promises of Grace to themselves for their carnall comfort SECT 13. 13. The presumption of a false Peace hath betrayed many to Sect. 13. The presumption of false peace causeth the abuse of grace the injury of Gods grace quiertnesse speakes no safety nor goodnesse of conscience the Dormant Lion when awakened will roare and tear the Prisoner is neither secure nor cleane because he sleeps in a cold and filthy dungeon though he be merry and loose in his restraint he is under the lash of the Law and neer the sentence of the Judge Though there be no true Peace to the wicked Isa 57. 21. Yet they please themselves with the Devills peace Luk. 11. 21. While God lets them alone and the Devill disturbs them not in meane while the old man upon presumption of Liberty of conscience shelters himself under the Tranquiliias ista tempestas wing of grace This security is not long lived though it be lasting t is not everlasting sins calms prove the worst storms a calm air hath ushered in sea storms Earthquakes the wind in the bowells of the Earth is silent and quiet for a time at length it breaks out roars and hurls Hills Feilds and Houses into a dark and ruinous Abyss Indulged pampered sin in the soul is silent and quiet for a time but at length it breaks out and roares in horror of conscience and hurles all false comforts into the dismall pit of despaire Although blood toucheth blood Hos 4. 2. And there be a contiguity a close addition of sin to sin drunkennesse be Pax mihi futura ad appectum i. e. ad studia cordis mei ambulabo Junius added to thirst yet many blesse themselves in the imaginations of their hearts and say they shall have peace Deut. 29. 19. yea walk according to the deluding Dictates of their hearts because they say so Had it not beene for Lust and the Devills peace the awakning terrors of the spirit of bondage might have driven many out of Hells way into Christ but because stupified consciences are peaceable they dare be filthy and abominable and this is the sad tragicall issue of the merry comicall Acts of sin in the stage of this life That ease which hath first tempted to sin ends in torment The ease of the simple shall slay them and the prosperity of fooles shall destroy them Prov. 1. 32. When they shall say peace and safety then sudden destruction cometh upon them as travell upon a woman with child and they shall not escape 1 Thes 5. 3. They shall say who shall the next verse 4. Tells us they who are in darknesse and do the workes of darknesse by the comfort and confidence of peace that the day of angry Justice overtakes as a Theife they shall say peace Ah sad peace worse then war the snare and trap-doore to fall into destruction Happy had it been for the filthy Peace-dreamers of bad hearts
contempt of the Law and Gospel that we should securely fall into an Heathenish loose life that he might finde more abundant and effectual Arguments for our everlasting destructions O I beseech you reason more wisely and thus speak to your selves Though others contend about doctrine worship government Shall I rebell and contend against God Though christians are divided among themselves shall I divide from the profession and power of Christianity Because there is no visible Religious Unity among professed Christians shall I have no Unity with the invisible Church of Jesus Christ Because I cannot finde Peace in the Church shall I have no true peace of conscience nor peace with God Because Reconciliation as to serving God in one way with one shoulder and in points of Faith is fled away from the jarring Congregations of Christian people shall I live in an irreconciled Estate with an angry God When every day his wrath hangs over me and if I die without a Christ and true conversion I am damned for ever I could heartily wish and O that I could fervently pray for it that such sober and serious thoughts in order to the conversion and extraordinary repentance of the discontented dissolute ones of the times were the happy product of the observed Division and Debates of the dis-joynted age in and about the things of God and not a foolish senseless mad arguing into Libertinism and undoing of the precious soul 2. To the seducing triumphing Papists I shall next give a seasonable Hortative Do you fear and tremble in the sense of your high dishonors to the grace of God and Gospel of Christ Though you hope the Fires of divided Protestants will make way for the Prisons Chains Faggots Flames of your Spanish Inquisition though you see some wantons among us though you discern the want of that Scripture-charity Unity Peace and in some things Truth that should be among us Will this excuse you in the wanton dalliance of your Religion An Whore is wanton The Scripture stiles the Papal Antichrist A great Whore she is richly and gaudily attired in her pompous worship glorious out-side to take her Lovers The Church of Rome at Rome looks more like the Court of Rome then the Church of Rome â—er Temple-service is more like a Theater a Stagedelight then the sober chaste humble yet reverent worship of God she hath an inchanting bewitching Love-cup in her hand that hath intoxicated the greatest part of Christendom 'T is stiled a cup of Fornication she hath drunk an health to her spurious ill begot and bred children and whether their pledging of the Church-mens adulterated spiced Cup with flesh-pleasing will be health or death will infallibly appear in the other World O you Jesuitical observers of our Divisions that congratulate and bless your selves in your Union Have you no Divisions What mean your multiplyed Sides and Sects of Popery your party-coloured different Votaries in Error your Franciscans Dominicans Carmelites Capuchins Benedictins Are there no Jars in your Schools between Thomists Scotists Do all your Chairs and Pulpits sing Even Song If you say In many Rites and Points of Worship and Doctrine Laws of your Monasteries you differ but in the main your Trent Counsel your Traditional Religion you agree I say the same We Protestants have the same Essentials and Vitals of Religion though we differ in sundry superstructures as the Body is the same though it wear different Apparel the Bulk and â—ody of our Religion as to practicals and saving things is the same though it be cloathed with different Administrations But suppose you were perfectly United Are you not Brethren in Evil and Confederates in Error Unity in sin is but a more fortified Satanical combination Is the Harmony of Devils among themselves to to murther Bodies and Souls amiable and excusable Nor will the falshood dissoluteness and danger of your Religion finde Apology from your holding many Truths in which we concur with you for which the Churches of Christ never separated from you nor call you Papists we divide from you where you have divided from Christ his Evangelists and Apostles We rather believe you the Apostatical then Apostolical Church What is more frequent and â—loud in your mouthes then Hereticks Hereticks Schismaticks Schismaticks And what are you Monsieur de Croy hath proved That your Papal Unity is a Miscellany of Judaism Heathenism and ancient Hereâ—ies Are you not proved to be the greatest Schismaticks and Sect-masters in the World Do not you make Schisms from the worship Purity Piety of Primitive Apostolick times the great temptation of multiplyed offensive Rents among Protestants many tender consciences so much fearing the corrupt leaven of your Government Worship and Doctrine in a too timerous indiscreet and ignorant Jealousie never thinking they can go far enough from you so far have you gone from Christ till they have gone beyond truth and sobriety into some error and dissoluteness calling that Popery that is not You are pleased to confine true Christianity and Salvation within the Pale of your Roman Catholicism as if you were the onely vineyard and garden of God and all Protestants were a vast Common a desolate Wilderness but in the Pupper-Plays of your Religion your richly arrayed Sainted Idols your vail'd heads before them cringing bowing kneeling making vows unto them who are as senseless of your Devotion as the ignorant besotted Votaries are of the true nature of a Religious Vow and Invocation How do you and Idolatrous Heathens kiss each other Nor will the shuffling distinction of your Schools clear you from gross Idolatry You say your Religious Worship is not terminated in your Images 't is relative onely to carry your Devotion off from them to the Adoration of God and Christ Doth not this justifie the Israelites Idolatry when they said These are thy Gods O Israel which have brought thee up out of the Land of Aegypt Exod. 32. 8. Can we think they had so much forfeited sense and reason as to terminate this high Religious acknowledgement of Deliverance from Aegypt on an artificial senseless irrational weak Idol Surely they meant the living God represented by the Molten Calf Will not this distinction also colour Heathens palpable Idolatry Worship is not ultimate but mediate not terminative but relative so taught the Heathens in their Writings Their Religious worship did not stay and dwell in their Idols but they used them as a Chariot to carry their Devotion to their Gods represented by them How Summus Mariae Honor ipse est filius Christus Zwinglius de Casta Virgine Maia do you wantonly court the Virgin Mary to the sacrilegious dishonor of Christ her Lord and Saviour without her knowledge and thanks Her greatest honor is Christ her Son yet Lord How will she abor your senseless School Distinction at the great day of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The first you give to God the second to the Saints the third to her when you are told that in the new Testament
covenant of works If Freemen by profession are as willing and industious flaves by dispoâ—tion and practise as if they had heard of the author of Liberty the infinite price of Libeâ—ty the bounds of Liberty the peace of Liberty the purity of Liberty the designe of Liberty which was to imprison chain up and chastise felonyous Traytors Rebells evill thoughts carnal reâ—sonings perverse desires inordinate â—ffections dissolute courses not to give them the least allowance latitude and affection What honour can this be to Christian liberty when as huge multitudes of Libertines manage it Hell is broken loose under the favour of it whose intendment was to open heaven in a free practise of piety and pardon of be vailed failings in a free assiâ—anâ—e by the spirit of Libertine to endeavour to do every part of â—ods will and a free acceptance of imperfect yet sincere service Carnal worldly Liberty saith indulge your â—enius feast your senses deny your sensitive appetite in nothing the pleasures of this life are the chiefest good be not a slave to straight laced mopish melancholly rules exercises and society but true Christian Liberty sayes use no unlawfull delights you deny your self in lawful be not under the power of Creature sweetest allowances it counts that part of life most sweet freedome that in the zeal pursuit and affection of spirituall delights can be contented without and mortified to â—eihâ—y unnecessary delights he words of Tertul. are weighty Delicatus es O Christiane si in saeculo voluptatem concuâ—iscis c. Quid jucundius quam Deâ— Patris reconciliatis quam veritatis revelatio quam errorum recognitio c. Quae majorvoluptas quam fast idium voluptatis c. Hae voluptates haec spec tacula Christianorum Tertull De spectaculis pag. 592. Thou art delicate O Christian if thou seekest worldly pleasureâ— yea a fool if thou accountest this pleasure what is more pleasant then Reconciliation with God then acknowledgment of errors then pardon of sin past What is greater pleasure then the loathing of pleasure the contempt of the whole world then true liberty then an upright conscience then a life of contentment then living above the fear of death these are the pleasures these are the spectacles the rare sights of Christians Indeed an holy authority over sensuall delights a vacation and attendance to and pursuance of spiritual pleasures do speak the only Free-man in the World T is rare to find that mighty Apostolicall spirit among professed Christians not to be under the power of any thing they use not specular delights with Liberty but slavery not being possessors of them so much as possessed by them not to help but hinder the spiritual Race not to sharpen but dul the edge of holy Devotion Meditation and delight in God not as Ladders of scension to him but as Leaden Plummers to pul down the soule from him SECT 3. 3. COnsideration The credit of the Gospel how doth the 3. The credit of the Gospel should ingage us to beware of abusing the grace of God Schoole boy honour his Master when hee is a thriving Grammarian the Pupill his Tutor when he is a rare proficient in the Liberal arts and the Beleever his great Teacher Christ when in the Gospel Schoole he is come to high attainments in the deep and holy practical mysteries of Faith T is said of Demetrius He had a good report of the truth 3 Epist Joh. v. 12. The gospel of Salvation the highest word of truth gives a good Report of its strict Professors when it is so powerfull over them as to make them stand in awe of its Lust-curbing-requiries when its spiritual weapons are mighty through God to bring every thought to the obedience of Christ to hush the peevish insurrections of discontented imaginations to curb loose inward filthy motions to purge out their defilements to bewaile inward pollutions to watch them and beat them down in holy indignation and chastity of Spirit as they rise up and importune with their flattering insinuations to Rebellion and draâ—ing aside from God When the Gospel is thus the power of God to holy strictnesse it speaks wel of itsreligious observers so taking is its Majesty in the minds and mouthes of loose wicked men â—ho commend strict Gospellers yea wish sometimes they were in their case It speakes wel of fellow conscientious Christians who are glad to see their fellow Travellers in the Road of Christianity making hast to their eternal inheritance their fathers house It speaks wel in the joyous observance of the holy Angels who rejoyce in the Teares Prayers Strict services of the penitent it wil speak wel in the Lord Christ who wil be admired in careful and conscionable Bellevers at the great day 2 Thessal 1. 10. Who have not put off themselves and others with the words but shined forth the power of the Gospel in holy humble heavenly close walking with God and living up according to the measure of Grace to its injunctions SECT 4. 4. COnsideration The strict and heavenly call of Christians they are called from the Creature to Christ from The strict high and heavenly call of Christians should keep us from abusing the grace of God dissolutenesse to regular life from lying vanities to the blessed realities of Eternity from the delights of sense to those of faith from a portion in this life to an inestimable one in God from the filthiness of the flesh and spirit to the clean paths of holiness from the cursed impure life of Devils to the holy Angels conversation Great spirits called to Court dignities and delights have ordinarily an answerablenesse of spirit to their secular greatnesse Christians are called to be the high Courtiers of the Heavenly Court their very call if seriously weighed is a mighty motive to strictnesse God hath not called us unto uncleaness but unto holinesse 1 Thes 4. 7. When God called us we were unclean lived in uncleannesse but noâ— saith Musculus He hath called us that of profane and unclean we might be holy As if Perinde ac siquis vocetur ad halneum Et puer qui mittitur ad ludum literariuÌ„ Et qui vocat ad se medicuÌ„ c. Musculus one be called to a Bath he is not called to abide in his impure distempers but to purge them out As if a boy be called to school he is not sent thither for barbarous rudenesse bâ—t to get learning Or as he that sends for the Physitian doth not call for him for siâ—kness but health to remove not to retain his disease Such is the condition of our calling in Jesus Christ to accommodate our selves to the will of God and not to wander from the scope of our calling hence the Apostle mentions Christians call as argumentative of a strict life and regular conformity to the Gospels precepts SECT 5. 5. COnsideration A lively sense of the Excellency of grace 5. A lively sense of the excellency of grace is a