amain infesting the Church and assailing the truth almost in every part of it broaching and venting divers and strange doctrines some and many of which were so strange as it cannot but amaze and astonish any Christian head or heart to hear of them A Catalogue whereof is left to posterity by Epiphanius and Augustine and some other of the Ancients But I shall not trouble you with any more of them This being enough as to our present purpose that such doctrines were then abroad some of them come upon the stage already and others pressing after them Which latter also our Apostle Saint Paul if so be that he were the Penman of this Epistle which for the present I shall yield took notice of So much he telleth the Ephesian Elders at Miletum Acts 20. 29. I know saith he that after my departure from you shall grievous Wolves enter in among you What Wolves were these Why two sorts of them First bloody Persecutors whom he calls Wolves and grievous Wolves 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being like those Lupi vespertini the evening Wolves which the Prophet Ieremy speaketh of Ier. 5. 6. which should not spare the flock but make a prey of the poor Lambs of Christ sucking their blood Such Wolves there were many after Paul's departure his dissolution in that Neronian persecution and others following it But besides these there was another kind of Wolves whom Paul looked upon as no lesse dangerous if not more And those were white Wolves Wolves in sheeps cloathing So our Saviour describeth false Prophets Matth. 7. 15. Men who had fair and promising outsides specious apparances of a harmlesse innocency yea and pretenders it may be to a more then ordinary piety but inwardly saith he they are ravening wolves such whose design is to make a prey of the soules of men to destroy them by their false doctrines Now such also the Apostle took notice of that they should come after his departure So he tells them there more plainly in the verse following vers 30. Also of your own selves shall men arise speaking perverse things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 preaching false and heretical doctrines crosse to the truth and wrested contrary to the mind of God in the Scriptures that they may draw disciples after them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 draw and pluck them as members from the mystical Body so making a separation therein that they may gain a party to themselves and so be reputed singular and popular Such Paul foresaw would arise to the great indangering of the Church which as Grotius and others look upon it was made good in the forenamed Nicolaitans and Gnosticks Thus then in those first times there were such doctrines as the Apostle here speaketh of in the Text Divers and strange doctrines And in the second place these doctrines were then taking with some with divers So it seemeth was that doctrine of the false Apostles concerning the observation of the Ceremoniall Law with the Hebrews the Iewes who had been educated and brought up in it having sucked it in as it were with their mothers milk it was taking with them insomuch that they were already some of them carried away with it and others in danger of being so as the Caveat in the Text is conceived to import And not onely they but others also This was that which Paul took notice of in his Galatians charging it upon them not without a wonderment to himself Gal. 1. 6. I marvell saith he that ye are so soon removed from him that hath called you into the grace of Christ unto another Gospel So it was By the means of the false Apostles they were either already turned or turning Both which are looked upon as implyed in that word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which being of the Passive voice layeth the fault primarily upon those false teachers by whose means they were perverted Ye are turned And being of the present tense it imports what was in fieri doing if not done They were turning well nigh turned And from what and to what were they thus turned Why from him who hath called you into the grace of Iesus Christ from Paul and his Doctrine who by the preaching of the Gospel to them had called them to seek for Justification and salvation onely by faith in Christ. From this doctrine they were turned to another Gospel taught and brought to seek Iustification in another way at least in part by the observation of Mosaicall rites and Ceremonies Which Paul there calleth another Gospel Not that it was so in truth Well did he know that there was no other Gospel but one No other Name under heaven given among men whereby they must be saved as Peter elsewhere tells the Iews Act. 4. 12. no way or means of salvation appointed by God for lost mankind save onely through the merit and mediation of Iesus Christ. But in as much as it was a doctrine diverse from and a depravation of the true Gospel therefore he so calleth it as he explaineth himself in the verse following Which is not another Gospel but there be some that trouble you and would pervert the Gospel of Christ v. 7. Thus were they carried about And what he saw in them as done or doing he feared the like in his Corinthians So much he tells them 2 Cor. 11. 3. I fear sairh he lest by any means as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. This he also speaketh in reference to the doctrines of the false Apostles who made a medly of the Gospel mixing their own Philosophical speculations or Jewish Traditions or Ceremonial observances with it By which meanes they corrupted and adulterated that pure doctrine even as pure and precious liquors are imbased and corrupted by other mixtures And concerning this Corruption Paul's jealousie was that they were ready to swallow it down and so to be carried about with those divers and strange doctrines A thing that was no newes in those first and purest times This was that which our Saviour himself foretold a little before his death Matth. 24. 24. Where shewing what should come to passe before the destruction of Ierusalem among other things he saith There shall arise false Christs and false Prophets c. Insomuch that if it were possible they shall deceive the very Elect. Intimating that many should be seduced and deceived by them And the like Prophecy we meet withall in that forecited place of St. Peter 2 Pet. 2. where having in the first verse as you have heard foretold of false Teachers that should come in the next verse he sheweth what successe they should have And many shall follow their pernicious wayes ver 2. And what he there forerelleth St. Iude sheweth us how in his time it came to passe Having in the fourth verse of his Epistle in like manner described the false Teachers of his time in the sequel of the Epistle he sets
forth their followers whom he calleth Clouds without water carried about of winds ver 11. and in the next verse Waves of the Sea and wandring stars thereby denoting Christians who were inconstant in their profession not like fixed stars which are regular in their Motion but like Planets or Comets wandring from one opinion or way to another being constant onely in inconstancy Thus were there some and not a few in those times those proto-primitive times who were thus carried about with divers and strange doctrines This is that which our Apostle saith of Hymeneus and Philetus in the place forecited 2 Tim. 2. 17 18. that by their pestilent doctrine in denying of the Resurrection they overthrew the faith of some So as there was then a just cause why he should here give out such an Admonition as this Be not carried about c. A useful and a needful Caveat then And no lesse in all the ages of the Church since In every of which still there have been some such doctrines held forth So it hath been so it is at this day that I shall not need to tell you and so it will be This Calvin looketh upon as a truth not obscurely hinted by the Apostle here in the Text that The Church in all ages must account to conflict and combate with divers and strange doctrines And if there be teachers of them it is not to be imagined but that there will be some Disciples some followers Q. But how cometh it so to be How cometh this to passe first that there should be such doctrines held forth and then that so many should be carried about with them To these two queries I shall return Answer severally A. 1. For the former Know we in the first place that this cometh to passe not without a providence and a special providence Herein as in all other things God hath a hand concurring therewith not barely by his Permission but as Melancton calleth it by his Effectual Permission most justly decreeing that they should be whence it is that the Apostle saith There must be Heresies 1 Cor. 11. 19. Must as by reason of Satans malice and Mans corruption so of Gods decree who having determined that they should be most wisely ordereth and disposeth of them when they are Which he doth for divers ends As 1. For the manifestation of his own power in maintaining his Truth and that against all opposition 2. For the honour of truth it self which by these conflicts with Errour is rendred more illustrious That house which standeth out all storms and tempests of wind and weather shewoth it self to have a good foundation 3. For the Probation and tryal of such as are sound in the faith There must also be Heresies saith the Apostle in the Text last named 1 Cor. 11. 19. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There must be also Not onely Schismes of which he had spoken in the verse foregoing divisions about matters of Order and Discipline but also Heresies Errours in doctrine and that fundamental Errours And wherefore must these be why that they which are approved may be made manifest Thus is Wheat differenced and distinguished from the Chasse Inanes paleae tempestate jactantur saith Cyprian Light empty Chaffe is whirled to and fro with the wind while the Wheat lyeth still in the floor Thus whilest empty and formal Professours who have taken up the profession of the truth either pro formâ for fashion sake or else for some by and sinister ends wanting the kernel and truth of grace are carried away those which are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 approved unto God sincere and sound-hearted Christians they are hereby made manifest as to themselves so to others Thus doth God by this means as Cyprian in the same place noteth make a kind of a previous separation separating the Chaffe from the Wheat before the day of Judgment 4. This God permits for the just condemnation of others and that both of Masters and Scholars of such as broach and preach such doctrines and such as believe them For the former of these expresse is that of St. Iude in the Text forecited Iude v. 4. There are certain men crept in unawares saith he who were before of old ordained to this condemnation This he speaketh of seducers false teachers whom God in his most just and righteous decree did from eternity preordain so far to leave them to their own natural corruption and malice as that they should dare to corrupt and falsifie his truth and thereby justly incur the sentence of condemnation and bring upon themselves swift destruction as the Apostle St. Peter saith of them 2 Pet. 2. 1. And for the latter that of St. Paul is no lesse expresse 2 Thess. 2. 1. where speaking of Antichristian errours that should come into the Church and should be prevalent with many he assigneth this as one end of Gods dispensation in permitting and sending them God shall send them strong delusion saith he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Efficaciam deceptionis the Efficacy of Errour or deceit that is such errours as should be effectuall for the deceiving of them so as they should believe a lye receive and imbrace those forged and false doctrines And wherefore this Why That they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousnesse ver 12. Thus hath God not onely an eye to but also a hand in these divers and strange doctrines which come abroad not onely with his prescience and permission but also by his most wife and just Ordination 2. This is Satans doing He it is that is the father of lyes When he speaketh a lye he speaketh of his own saith our Saviour pro ingenio suo according to his natural disposition so it is if ever Satan speak truth as sometimes he doth he borroweth it to make some advantage of it that he may the more easily deceive by it Lyes are his proper and natural off-spring For as that Text goeth on He is a lyar and the father of it So he is of all Lyes Among which false doctrines are none of the least And therefore deservedly called by that name 2 Thess. 2. 11. 1 Tim. 4. 2. He it is that was the first Preacher of divers and strange doctrines This he did in Paradise Where when God had preached to our first Parents this Doctrine that The day that they ate of the forbidden fruit they should certainly dye the death Gen. 2. 17. he soon after preacheth to them the clean contrary The Serpent said unto the woman Ye shall not surely dye Gen. 3. 3 4. And still this is his work He that was a lying spirit in the mouthes of Ahabs Prophets 2 King 22. 22. he is still the same in the hearts and mouthes of all false Prophets He is the seedsman that soweth these tares So the Parable in the Gospel sets it forth Mat. 13. 24. The
he was a man as Paul there setteth him forth full of subtilty and mischief And such in their measure ordinarily are seducers false teachers They are as Solomon describeth the Harlot Prov. 7. 10. Subtile of heart Cunning and crafty and wily And by this means they come to seduce and deceive those that will hearken to them viz. by their Subtilty This is that which the Apostle taketh notice of as a principal Engine whereby these wheeles come to be turned about as we may collect from that intimation of his to his Ephesians in that Text to which I have had so frequent recourse Eph. 4. 14. where he giveth them this Caveat that they should not be carried about with every wind of Doctrine by the sleight of men and cunning craftinesse whereby they lye in wait to deceive Two words expressing for substance one and the same thing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The former of which is a Metaphor taken from Cheaters who by Cogging of dice and by sleight of hand cheat and cousin those whom they play with Even so do false Teachers by their sleight and cunning craftinesse deceive those which have to deal with them Which they do divers wayes Instance in some few of them First By their Sophismes fallacious Arguments These are the false Dice which these Cheaters play with Subtile and intrapping Arguments which they take out of divers boxes fetch from several Heads As 1. From Scripture which they make use of this way by wresting it Even as Davids Enemies made use of his words as he complaines Psal. 56. 5. Every day saith he they wrest my words perverting them and turning them to another sense then ever he meant when he uttered them so do false teachers being Gods Enemies make use of his Word This is that which St. Peter saith of some unlearned and unstable soules in his time they wrested some things in Paul's Epistles as they did also divers other Scriptures to their own destruction 2 Pet. 3. 16. This did they by mis-interpreting of them and drawing them violently from their true and genuine sense to a false one which they did to that end that they might thereby uphold their errours And truly such is the ordinary practice of Hereticks and false teachers they wrest the Scriptures 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 detorquent depravant writhe and wring them about turning them this way or that way as may best serve for their purpose Dealing by them as Chimists sometimes do with natural bodies which they as it were torture to extract that out of them which God and nature never put into them Or as cruel Tyrants sometimes deal by innocent persons whom they set and stretch upon the Rack and so make them speak that which they never thought After the like manner do false teachers use to deal by the Scriptures wresting them to draw a sense out of them which the Spirit of God never intended A practice common to all Hereticks save onely those Antiscripturians who will not acknowledge the Divine Authority of Sacred Writ 2. And as herein they make use of Scripture so also of Reason which it may be sometimes they oppose against Scripture or else make use of to vouch that sense which they put upon it So dealt those false teachers in the Primitive times Such use they made of their Philosophy Thereupon it was that Paul gave that Caveat to his Colossians Chap. 2. v. 8. Beware faith he lest any man spoyl you through Philosophy and vain deceit that is by such subtile and plausible Arguments as are drawn from the principles of Naturall Reason which however in it self it is useful yet when it is made the measure of spiritual mysteries this is a dangerous abuse of it Now it cometh to be no other but as he there calleth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a vain deceit And this deceit did those false teachers in those first times make great use of by such Arguments both opposing the doctrine of the Gospel and supporting their own errours And the like use do not a few make of it at this day In speciall the Socinians who make this the measure of their faith and the Touchstone to try all Evangelical truths by viz. humane Reason not allowing any thing to be believed how clearly soever in Scripture held forth but what that may apprehend and comprehend Upon which account it is that they desperately disclaim divers Articles of the Christian faith for which Scripture is expresse and which the Church of God in all ages of it hath looked upon as truths the belief whereof was necessary to salvation And by this means it is that they pervert the faith of some who have not learned to submit their carnal Reason to divine Revelation And in the third place sometimes they plead Custome Tradition So did the Scribes and Pharisees in maintenance of their superstitions That is the Argument which they use to our Saviour blaming his Disciples and him in them for not complying with them in some of their Ceremonial observances Mat. 15. 2. Why do thy disciples transgresse the traditions of the Elders Not observing such Customes and usages as they had received from their Ancestors and so had been of long continuance And this Argument the false Apostles in Paul's time made great use of Thereupon it is that he giveth the like Caveat to his Colossians concerning that as he doth concerning Philosophy putting them together in that forecited Caveat Col. 2. 8. Beware lest any man spoyl you through Philosophy and vain deceit after the Traditions of men This was one thing which they pleaded for their doctrines against the doctrine of the Apostles Tradition Custome Wherein they are followed by the Doctors of the Church of Rome who take up the like plea for many of their Errours pretending though most falsly as it hath been made out by divers Champions of the truth who have undertaken that cause against them Antiquity for them casting the odious imputation of Novelty upon all contrary Opinions and Practices Which is a taking Argument with many So was it with the Iewes who brought it in as an Article against Stephen that he should say that Iesus should change the Customes which Moses had delivered them Act. 6. 14. And the Disciples when Paul came to Ierusalem give him to take notice what a stumbling-blockit was in the way of the believing Jewes that he should teach those of that Nation to forsake Moses saying that they ought not to circumcise their children neither to walk after the Customes Act. 21. 21. So tenacious are many at this day of some Customes that they will prefer them even before either Scripture or Reason And these are some of those Arrowes wherewith false Teachers do oft-times pierce the hearts of men Sophistical Arguments fetched from Scripture Reason Custome To which for the further Confirmation of their Doctrines and gaining belief from the credulous multitude they sometimes adde
and sound in the main yet they may be drawn aside to the imbracing of some opinions and waies which were it not for some temporal advantage they expect to meet with in them and from them they would not look after Such a filme is this sometimes upon the eyes of those who are otherwise seeing and knowing enough that for the time it blindeth them Even as it is said of a Gift a Bribe Exod. 23. 8. A gift blindeth the wise the seeing as the Originall hath it dimming the eyes of Judgement and Conscience in those who are otherwise understanding and Judicious And perverteth the words of the righteous causing them neither to speak nor judge aright according to the evidence of truth given into them And truly it is to be feared such effect sometimes the hope of Gain may have upon some who are otherwise godly that it is like a Pearl in their eye dimming their sight for the present so as they do not see the Errour of those Opinions and wayes which are so promising to them And thus I have done also with the second of these Heads Passe we to the third To take notice of somewhat in the doctrines themselves which may cause or rather Occasion this seduction And here again I shall single forth three or four particulars 1. It may be they are such doctrines as do please and tickle the fancy through the Novelty and strangenesse of them They are such Doctrines as the Text speaketh of Divers and strange doctrines And strange it is to think how such doctrines do sometimes affect the Hearers of them having nothing else to commend them but onely their Novelty and strangenesse They are New and strange And Oh! how taking is this with many And that not onely with Children who are apt to be taken with novelties such things as they have not seen before be they never such toyes yet they are apt to part with things of far greater value for them But also with others persons who in respect of their years might and should be wiser What is it that induceth many I wish I might not say some Professours to follow every vain fashion in their apparel and hair c. though in themselves never so undecent and unbecoming as divers of the fashions at this day are but onely this they are divers and strange And what is it that induceth the impure Adulterer sometimes to forsake the wife of his youth being both for her person and Condition every waies amiable to imbrace the bosome of another no waies to be compared with her why onely this she is a stranger the strange woman as Solomon calleth the Harlot Prov. 5. 20. and often elsewhere And so for the abominable Sodomite to commit that horrid sin against nature but onely because it is as St. Iude calleth it v. 7. Strange flesh of another sex Thus is Corruption oft-times taken with divers and strange things upon no other account but this because they are so And truly so is it sometimes in matters of Religious concernment both Doctrines and Practices they are taking with some How so Because they are new New lights and new wayes such as the Church of God in former Ages hath not been acquainted with This it was that bred that itch in the Athenians eares that made them so earnestly desirous to hear what Paul's doctrine was because it was New and Strange May we know say they what this new doctrine whereof thou speakest is For thou bringest certain strange things to our eares We would know therefore what these things mean Act. 17. 19 20. This it was that moved them to become his Auditors because they would satisfie their own curiosities And in likelihood this it is which moveth some and not a few at this day to run after some Teachers and to listen after some doctrines Onely because they are new and strange So the Apostle foretold that it should be 2 Tim. 4. 3. The time will come saith he when they speaking of some Christians will not endure sound doctrine but after their own lusts shall heap unto themselves teachers having itching eares And what he foretold we may now see it verified The time is now come when some nay many will not endure sound doctrine Old truths with the Ministers that preach them these they cry down crying up new Teachers and New doctrines thereby shewing that they are infected with this Leprosie this Itch. 2. It may be they are such Doctrines as gratifie the flesh Such was that first divers and strange doctrine that was ever held forth in the world I mean that doctrine which was preached by Satan to our first Parents in Paradise it was a doctrine that gratified them by an indulgence of a greater liberty then God had allowed them And such were some of those doctrines which were held forth by some false Teachers in the Primitive times which were so taking with divers whereof St. Peter speaketh 2 Pet. 2. 18. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity saith he they allure through the lusts of the flesh through much wantonnesse those that were clean escaped from them who live in errour This did some false Teachers in those early times they held forth such doctrines as did gratifie the flesh under the name and notion of Christian liberty giving a Licence for some loose and licentious Practices as the verse following explains it While they promise them liberty c. so turning the grace of God into lasciviousnesse as St. Iude having an eye to that of Peter expresseth it Iude 4. And by this meanes they allured some who as St. Peter there describeth them were clean escaped from them who live in errour that is either true Converts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as most Copies have it qui verè effugerant as Beza translates it such as were really and truly converted Even such as it seemeth some of them were wrought upon by those doctrines being for a time dangerously shaken though not utterly overcome by those Temptations Or however such as had onely renounced Idolatry and made an outward profession of the Christian Religion withall walking answerably to that Profession without any just scandall Yet they were taken by these Anglers as the word there imports being the same with that which we met with before in the 14. verse of that Chapter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Inescant i. e. quas◠pisces hamo captant as Beza interpreteth it they take them as Fishes with a Hook and a Bait. And questionlesse in this very way have not a few of late times in this Nation been taken by divers of those false doctrines which have been spread abroad They being such doctrines as gratifie the flesh indulge men in a great deal of loosnesse and licentiousnesse under the pretence of Christian and Gospel-liberty giving allowance unto them in some unwarrantable practices which true Religion will not admit And by this bait it is that they are taken and
the flintiest heart among you And surely such is the condition of many of your Brethren and Sisters at this day in this Nation who are thus tossed to and fro with divers and strange doctrines some of which are no better then Rocks and Quicksands desperate and damnable doctrines such as who ever imbraceth living and dying in the belief of them must needs split and perish upon them Now how should the consideration hereof affect the hearts of all those who truly loving God cannot but bear an hearty affection to their brethren so as to desire their everlasting welfare and happinesse But I shall not insist upon this either the further discovering of this Malady or the bewailing of it I shall rather come to that which more nearly concerneth your selves to prosecute that which I told you was my design in taking up of this Text Which is To Warn you you of this place of this Congregation To whom let me in the Name of God here hold forth a double Caveat First Be not you offended at these Secondly Be not you seduced by them Of these two severally Begin with the former 1. Be not you offended by these by what either you see or hear of in this kind so offended as to like Christ and his Religion ever the worse for them A blessed thing not to be thus offended Blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in me saith our Saviour Matth. 11. 6. This unstable soules are subject unto upon divers occasions like queasie stomachs which are ready to take distaste at every thing that displeaseth them But upon none sooner then this the instability and unsettlednesse of those that professe the faith of Christ when they shall see them carried about with divers and strange doctrines So much we may learn from St. Peter 2 Ep. 2. where speaking in the first verse of false Teachers such as should broach damnable Heresies and in the second verse of their followers which should not be few but many Many shall follow their pernicious wayes He subjoynes this to both By reason of whom the way of truth shall be evill spoken of The way of truth The true Christian Religion which shewes the true and onely way to true happinesse It should by this meanes be exposed to the Reproaches and Obloquies of the Adversaries of it And surely so is it with the Protestant Religion at this day which is professed and held forth as the true Religion of God in this Nation by reason of those divers and strange doctrines which are to be found in it some of them confessedly far worse then any that the Church of Rome is charged with and the strange unsettlednesse of the Professours of it who as if they had no sure bottome to stand upon are thus carried about with every wind By this meanes this way of truth is evil spoken of by the adversaries of it And that especially by our Adversaries of Rome who as they have ever been ready to cast this in the Protestants face their divisions so now questionlesse they rejoyce in them and triumph over them from hence concluding that surely this cannot be the way of Truth which hath so many windings and turnings and Crosse waies in it This cannot be the true Religion of God the Professours whereof are so far from that which God hath promised to his Church under the Gospel viz. Cor unum via una One Heart and one way Thus are others offended hereat But let not any of you be so offended No Reason why you should be so This being no other then what 1. Hath been It is no new thing No other then what hath been in all Ages of the Church even in the first and purest times of it Then were there such divers and strange doctrines set on foot and divers carried about with them And what wonder then to see the like acted over again in these dregs of time It is no other then what hath been 2. And secondly it is no other then what hath been foretold should be must be There must be Heresies saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 11. 19. And that as in all so specially in the latter times For which most clear and expresse is that of St. Paul who writing to Timothy informs him hereof 1 Tim. 4. 1. Now the Spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and Doctrines of Devils c. And again 2 Tim. 3. 1. This know also saith he that in the last dayes perilous times shall come For men shall be lovers of themselves Covetous boasters and so he goeth on shewing what a flood of evills should in the last times being as it were the lees and dregs the worst of times break in upon the Church spreading over the face of it and among other he reckoneth up this for one that there should be some who should creep into houses and lead captive silly women c. there should be many Seducers and many seduced by them Now wherefore is this so clearly foretold but to prevent that offence which any might be ready to take when they see these things come to passe This was our Saviours end in foretelling to his Disciples what harsh usage they should find in and from the world after his departure from them These things saith he have I spoken unto you that ye should not be offended Joh. 16. 1. And again These things have I told you that when the time shall come ye may remember that I told you of them v. 4. And to the very same end he elsewhere foretelleth in like manner of false Teachers that should come and the prevalencie of their seductions Matth. 24. 24. There shall arise false Christs and false Prophets and shall shew great signes and wonders insomuch that if it were possible they shall deceive the very Elect. So prevalent should they be in their seducements And wherefore doth he foretell this why to prevent that offence which any might be ready to take hereat when they should see it So it followeth Behold I have told you before v. 25. given you this warning that you might not be offended or troubled at it when you shall see so many errours held forth and so many giving heed to them And of such use let these and the like predictions be unto us Now that we see what was foretold to be come to passe being thus forewarned of it be not offended at it so as to like the true Religion of God ever the worse for it Here is the former of these Caveats Passe we to the second which my eye is principally upon Not being offended take heed in the second place of being seduced Be not ye carried away with divers and strange doctrines That was the Apostles admonition to his Hebrewes and let it now be mine to you Such doctrines there are abroad and many there are who are carried about with them Now taking
strange Doctrines Touch we upon these severally by way of Explication beginning with the Affect or Malady it self Be not carried about 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith the Original which some Manuscripts as both Beza and Grotius take notice of it read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Be not carried away So the vulgar Latine therein following the Syriack renders it Nolite abduci Be not led or carried away Or be not transported beyond the truth and your selves Or Ne insanite as Grotius expounds it Do not dote be not frantick and mad So he observes the word to be used by the Seventy 1 Sam. 21. 13. where it is said of David that he feigned himself mad distracted frantick A sense which will very fitly suit with the Apostles meaning in the Text. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Be not distracted made frantick and mad with divers and strange doctrines So it is with some Errours some Heresies It is even a Madnesse to embrace them As it was in the doting Prophet Balaam who would still go on in his way in attempting to curse the people of God though expresly contrary to the mind of God untill such time as the brute and dumb creature reproved and convinced him this was in him no other but Madnesse So the Apostle St. Peter expresly termeth it 2 Pet. 2. 16. The dumb Asse saith he speaking with mans voice forbade the madnesse of the Prophet Even so fareth it with many Hereticks as of former ages so in the present times who have broached and maintained divers Opinions and Doctrines so clearly and expresly contrary to the revealed will of God in the Scriptures as that it can be accounted no other then Madnesse in them A plain evidence that they have been and are besides themselves This was that which Festus thought and said of Paul when he heard him preaching of such strange doctrine such as he had never heard of before He cryed out 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Paul thou art besides thy self Act. 26. 24. And truly what he spake ignorantly and falsely we may say it knowingly and justly of some Hereticks in this and former Ages when we hear of their strange monstrous and unheard of Doctrines so expressly contrary to the word of truth we may without any breach of Charity conclude they are besides themselves they are Mad. So was that old Heretick accounted in the ancient Church whom the Greeks alluding to his Persian name Manes as if he had Omen in Nomine called Manicheus which signifieth as Augustine interprets it a Madman or one pouring out of madnesse which they did in reference to his many strange and mad Opinions he being a very sink of Heresie in whom most of the Errours of former Ages from Christs time to his were concentred and met together And truly such there have been in the Ages after him almost in every age some whose opinions have been so wilde so monstrous that men cannot conceive that had they not been given up at least to a spirituall distraction and madnesse they would ever have imbraced them or hearkned to them And I wish I might not so truly speak it that some yea many such there are to be found at this day in this poor distracted Nation concerning whom I think it were the greatest piece of Charity that we can exercise towards them to passe this Censure upon them that they are besides themselves under a Spiritual if not Corporal distraction which if they were not they would never do as they do nor say as they say And indeed it is the nature of divers and strange doctrines if men will hearken to them to make them so to distract them to put them besides themselves even to make them mad A truth I think never more sadly verified then in and by the experience of this Age and Nation wherein we live wherein many of the Ancient Heresies which have been dead and buried and lyen rotting in the grave of oblivion for many hundreds of years are now revived and raised up again insomuch that many by reason of those ghostly and ghastly apparitions coming out of the bottomlesse-pit of hell and walking so freely abroad without check or controul even at noon-day are as I say even scared out of their wits plainly according to that sense of this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being distracted put besides themselves But I shall not fasten upon that reading of the word though as I said proper enough to the Apostles meaning in the Text. The generality of Copies read it as our Translation renders it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ne circumferimini Be not carried about Verbum Paulinum saith Pareus upon it A word used sometimes by the Apostle St. Paul So we find it in that Text which running Parallel with this will let some light into it viz. Ephes. 4. 14. That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ne circumferamur Not carried about And so the word here is most properly read as Beza rightly collects from the opposition betwixt this Verb and that other in the following clause Be not carried about but be established Where 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is opposed to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Establishment to Unsettlement So reading the word come we in the next place to enquire concerning the sense and meaning of it Be not carried about A Metaphorical expression very fitly setting forth the nature of this Malady the unsetlednesse of some Christians who hearkning to divers and strange doctrines are carried to and fro and carried about The Metaphor I find derived and fetched from divers heads Pareus writing upon the Text giveth me the choice of two 1. It may be taken from a Wheel which is turned round and carried about which it is either by its own motion or by the hand that moveth it A lively Embleme of Inconstancy and Unsettlednesse David imprecating the implacable Enemies of God and his Church maketh use of this expression O my God make them like a wheel Psal. 83. 13. A Wheel being set upon a declivity the side of a hill it is restlesse never leaving rolling and turning till it come to the Bottom And such a condition David there wisheth to those his and Gods enemies that they might have no rest or peace but as they were instruments of disquiet to others so they might have no quiet themselves but that being set in slippery places they might be cast down to destruction as elsewhere he speaketh Psal. 73. 18. still rolling downwards till they came to their own place the bottom of Hell And truly such is the condition of some poor unstable soules who are ready to follow every new doctrine and way they are like a wheel which turneth round which is the proper signification of the word in the Text So do they with the times and places wherein they live Being
of like nature Divers and strange Doctrines Such were those which Saint Iude speaketh of verse 4. of his Epistle Iude 4. There are certain men saith he speaking of false Teachers crept in unawares 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 subrepserunt subintroierunt they came in closely and covertly coming under-ground as Pioners do who sometimes enter a City by a Mine while the guard is standing upon the Walls So did they insinuate themselves into the Church coming both unlooked for and unsent Not expected or suspected by the Church nor yet sent by God but taking the Ministery upon them of their own heads as our New Annotation paraphraseth upon that word And so entring what did they why among other things they turned the grace of God into Lasciviousnesse and denyed the only Lord God and Saviour Iesus Christ. Both these they did and that as by their practice so by their Preaching Under a pretence of crying up Gospel-liberty and advancing the free grace of God in the pardoning of sin and justifying of sinners they set open a wide door to all kind of sensuality So turning Evangelical Liberty into Carnal Licentiousnesse And they denyed the onely Lord God and their Saviour Iesus Christ Such St. Peter had foretold of 2 Pet. 2. 1. But there were false Prophets among the people saith he meaning the people of Israel under the Old Testament even as there shall be false Teachers among you you Christians under the New who privily shall bring in damnable Heresies even denying the Lord that bought them And what he foretelleth St. Iude having an eye to that Prophecy as he hath almost throughout his whole Epistle unto that second Epistle of St. Peter the one being looked upon but as a kind of abstract and summary of the other shewes how even in his time it was come to passe Such false and Heretical Teachers then there were who denyed the Lord that bought them denyed the onely Lord God and their Saviour Iesus Christ denyed Christ to be God who having paid a price in it self sufficient for them and being their Master and Saviour by an outward profession they ought to have owned him But they denyed him And that as by their deeds so by their doctrines This among others did thnt Simon of whom we read Act. 8. who was in his time and still is famous or rather Infamous for three things his Sorcery his Simonie his Heresie His Sorcery for which he was admired by the people who cryed him up for little lesse then a God This man say they is the great power of God vers 10. and was afterwards called for distinctions sake by the name of Simon Magus Simon the Magician His Simonie in offering money to purchase the Holy Ghost the extraordinary and miraculous gifts of it from the Apostles vers 18. from whence it is that that Sin for such a sin still there is what ever the present Times think of it beareth his name being called Simonie And lastly his Heresie for which he is no lesse famous in Ecclesiastical then for those two other in Sacred story He being the Father of Hereticks as he is called the first Apostate under the Gospel who broached and maintained divers Blasphemies and damnable Opinions Among other denying the Trinity and denying any other Christ but himself affirming himself to be the true God as afterwards he was accounted at Rome where through the just Judgment of God giving them up to that strong delusion that they should believe a lye they who who in the dayes of Tiberius would not acknowledge the Divinity of Christ yet soon after in the dayes of Claudius erected a Statue to this Impostor with this blasphemous Inscription Simoni Deo Sancto To Simon the Holy God Thus did he bewitch the people as by his Sorcery so by his Heresie Wherein he being the Ring-leader wanted no followers Divers there were who within a few years after when he was gone off from the Stage stept up in his room owning most of his opinions and adding to them many other no lesse monstrous and absurd Such was Menander and Ebion and Cerinthus The last of which was that Heretick with whom St. Iohn is said to have refused to enter into the same Bath and who is the reputed Father the first Authour of the Millenary opinion concerning the temporal Kingdome of Christ upon earth after the Resurrection wherein his Subjects should live in the full enjoyment of all kind of carnal and sensual pleasures and contentments These and some other Hereticks and Heresies did the first age bring forth Among whom St. Paul taketh notice of two Hymeneus and Philetus by name who among other Errours as Errour seldome goeth alone denyed the Resurrection of the Body as Simon Magus is said to have done before them saying That the Resurrection was past already 2 Tim. 2. 17. acknowledging as is probable no other Resurrection but that of the Soul or of the Church in the Renovation the new state of it under the Gospel Besides these St. Iohn maketh mention of another Sect notorious in his time the Sect of the Nicolaitans so called from Nicolas one of the seven Deacons mentioned Act. 7. the reputed Father of them whether justly or no is a question This he doth once and again in that one Chapter Revel 2. First telling the Church of Ephesus to her deserved commendation that she hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans ver 6. then charging it upon the Church of Pergamus as no small blemish to her that she had them some of her Members which held the doctrine of the Nicolaitans ver 15 what that doctrine was Scripture is silent but Ecclesiastical Histories with one consent tell us it was the renouncing of a Conjugall propriety betwixt man and wife and so allowing a promiscuous community at which door brake in many other horrid enormities not fit to be named amongst Christians To them soon after succeeded that impure and infamous brood of the Gnosticks who were indeed the same Sect under a divers name calling themselves by that name Gnosticks from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth knowledge which they of that Sect pretended to above all others who had either gone before them or were contemporaries with them Such high thoughts had they of themselves as for the most part Hereticks are not wanting in that way and thereupon gave themselves that proud title Whereas in truth those other stiles were far more proper which as Augustine tells us were given them by others who called them Borboritae or Coenosi Men given over to wallow in the mire and filth of all kind of abominable uncleannesse Such was their practice and such was their Doctrine I might here yet go on and following the track of Ecclesiastical History shew you what a flood of like monstrous errours after these broke in upon the Church The Golden Age of the Apostles and Evangelists being spent then how did false Teachers croud in
the hold or hanging upon the bowe it would have no such property but being cast forth and taking hold upon good ground being firmly fixed upon a sound bottom now it becometh useful in this way to this end And so is it with faith It is not faith it self either as it is an Habit or as it is an Act by any worth of its own that can establish the heart of man but onely as it is an Instrument laying hold upon Christ and so upon Gods free Grace through him In this way it is that it cometh to establish the heart So the Psalmist sets it forth in that Text forecited Psal. 112. 7 8. His heart is fixed saith he speaking of the righteous man Trusting in the Lord His heart is established viz. by his faith and Confidence resting upon Gods free grace and mercy in Christ as for the performance of that great promise of life and salvation by and through him so of all subordinate and inferiour promises But I shall not give any further way to enlargements You see that the Habit of Grace doth this and in what way it doth And what then remaines to draw to a Conclusion but that all of us seek after this Grace not resting our selves contented with the bare outward performance of any Duties or yet in a constant attendance upon Ordinances which some conceive here hinted by the Apostle in this word Meates understanding it of the Meates of the Sacrifices Alas these being outside things without the man they will not ballast the soul establish the Heart See we that our hearts be laid in with this Ballast of Grace Concerning which have an eye to two things first to the Quality then to the Quantity of it These are the two requisites in the ballasting of a Ship That which is used for that purpose must be some solid material some weighty substance And there must be a proportionable Quantity of it If either be wanting the work will not be done And thus for the establishing of the Heart 1. See that your Grace be true Grace solid and substantiall Grace that your Faith and Love be unfeigned 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without Hypocrisie which is Paul's Epithet 2 Cor. 6. 6. 1 Tim. 1. 5. 2. 1 5. that you believe with all your heart which is that which Philip requireth in the Eunuch before he would baptize him being both a man of yeares and an alien Act. 8. 37. sincerely and firmly that you love God and Iesus Christ in sincerity which who so doth not but out of Malice opposeth him Paul pronounceth an Anathema Maranatha upon him Let him be had in execration unto the death 1 Cor. 16. 22. That your soules be purified through the Spirit to the unfeigned love of the Brethren as St. Peter saith of the believers to whom he writeth 1 Pet. 1. 22. And the like I may say of other Graces See that there be truth sincerity in them that the Root of the matter may be found in you as Iob pleadeth that it was in him Iob 19. 28. True Piety true Grace 2. And being true for Quality then see to the Quantity of it It is not a small Quantity though it be of Lead that will ballast a Ship No more will every degree of Grace stablish the heart True it is it must not be denyed the least measure of Grace if true it is saving but not establishing This will require some proportionable Quantity And therefore rest not in the beginnings of Grace but still strive after a further measure Grow in Grace as the Apostle exhorts 2 Pet. 3. 18. As in knowledge the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ so in Faith and Love and all other Graces adding one Grace to another as the same Apostle exhorts 2 Pet. 1. 5. and one degree to another that so the Habit of Grace may be more confirmed in your hearts and shew it self by a vigorous acting in your lives and so may be more and more conspicuous and visible to your selves and others In this way and by this meanes this being an evidence of a Christians standing in the Grace of God the heart shall come to be quieted setled established Which blessing the God of all Grace out of his abundant Grace and Mercy in Christ Iesus vouchsafe to every soul of us Amen FINIS Ministers Watchmen Occasion of taking up this Text. Parts Caution Reason Part 1. Admonition or Caution wherein the Malady Cause of it 1. The Malady Sic etiam Chrysistomus Hom. 13. ad loc 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A madnesse to embrace some Opinions Manicheus insaniam sundens Vide August de Haeres contra Faustum Divers and strange Doctrines apt to distract those that hearken to them The Ordinary reading accepted Pareus ad Text. Beza Gr. Annot in loc Sense of the word expounded A Metaphor fetched from divers heads 1. From a Wheel Verbum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Metaphoram habet a Rotā quae continuo motu circumacta partes summas imas semper commutat et nunquam consistit vel à stipulis quas ventus hinc inde in gyrum versat Paereus in Text. A Wheel a lively Embleme of Inconstancy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heinsius ad Text. ex Hesichi◠The worst kind of wheeles temporizing Apostates Ecebolus infamous for turning with the Times Ecebolus Sophista ad mores Imperatorum mutabat Religionem Ar t ad Text. Prostratus ante Templum dicebat Calcate me sa em insipidum Aret. ibid. vide Socratis Histor. Eccl. 2. Chaffe Empty-soules like Chaffe 3. Waves of the Sea 4. Clouds of the Ayr. The Ground or Cause of this Malady A wind of Doctrine Pulchra metaphora dum omnes hominum doctrinas quibus ab Evangelii simplicitate distrahimur appellat ventos Calvin ad loc False and Heretical called divers and strange Doctrines 1. Divers Nec sibi nec veritati consentaneae Pareus in Text. 1. Alwaies differing from the Truth Cum veritas consistit in medio cujus est unitas c. Doctrina ergo fidei una est c. Aquin. Com. ad loc 2. And often from themselves 2. Strange 1. To the Scriptures 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysost ad loc 2. To the Church The Apostles Caveat to his Hebrewes Not to be carried about with such doctrines A useful Admonition at that time upon a double account 1. Such doctrines were then abroad The Ceremonial Law cryed up by false Teachers Gospel-Liberty turned into Carnal Licentiousnesse Christ denyed Simon Magus the Father of Hereticks Vide Augustin de Haeresib Heresies in the first age in the Apostles times Hymeneus and Philetus Augustin de Haeresib The Sect of the Nicolaitans The Gnosticks too like some in the present Times False Teachers foretold of 2. These false Doctrines were then taking with some Many seduced in the first and purest times A useful Caveat at all times Significat praeterea Apostolus Ecclesiae Dei semper fore certamen cum peregrinis doctrinis