14. 9 10. being by wilfulnesse and resolution as it were imbowelled in that state of these the holy Ghost saith that they shall drinke of the wine of the wrath of God Secondly touching doctrine they are of three sorts some are the foundation and this is double Doctrines FundamentuÌ„â—â— Veritatis 2. Salutis 1. Cor. 3. 12. either the foundation of truth such are all doctrines which haue ground in the word of God ignorance of much of which may stand with saluation so that it bee not affected and they who know most doe not know all or else the foundation of saluation such are all doctrines which doe concerne the causes of our saluation and the necessary meanes of application It is the ignorance of these which doth breede perishing Other doctrines againe are vpon the foundation as the Apostle speaketh of building on the foundation gold siluer precious stones timber 1. Cor. 3. 12. hay or stubble that is varietie of doctrine which hath beene or is of worth and vse as these things whereto it is compared And of this as there hath beene much as gold and siluer in euery age of the Church so there hath beene much as hay and stubble by sophisticall speculations forged traditions humane inuentions and friuolous and fryarly interpretations of the holy Scriptures Such trash is to be swept away as dung out of the streetes that it might not defile our Pulpits but that the glory of the word of God might appeare if it were possible as out of the mouth of Iesus Christ or of his Apostles Other doctrines lastly are against the foundation and that not onely of truth but of health also Such are all those which draw from Iesus Christ and that honour which is due vnto him as the Sauiour of his people Such is the Papall Monarchy which blemishes Christs kingdome traditioÌ„s as the obiect of faith which blemisheth Christs prophesie merits adoration of the crosse and Images sacrifice of the Masse Inuocation of the Saints and Angels and all other idolatrizing points of Antichrist which blemish Christs Priesthood besides other faults To take pleasure in and to be giuen ouer obstinately to these things cannot stand with saluation Thirdly touching times they also must haue a double consideration First the times before the Times restoring of the Gospel when the holy citie was trod vnder foote and the state of the Church Apoc. 11. was despicable in the eyes of the world then as God gaue his people lesse so he required lesse at their hands Secondly the times after the restoring of the Gospel First the beast appeared that cursed Antichrist in his Pontificalibus then Apoc. 13. the Lambe stood vp vpon Mount Syon with his sealed ones then the euerlasting Gospel was preached Apoc. 14. and next when the Gospel is once restored Vers 6. woe to them that take delight in the Whore for they shall be tormented with fire and brimstone before the holy Angels and before the Lambe and the Vers 10 11. smoake of their torment shall ascend euermore and they shall haue no rest day nor night which worship the Beast and his Image Thus you haue now seene the danger of Poperie and how hard a matter it is to bring them that follow it into Christs Fould How many windings and turnings and how many distinctions to and fro must be vsed to bring them but into the iudgement of Charitie concerning Gods looking vpon them for good What therefore shall I now say Let me first lend a word to all in generall and next to my brethren of the Ministerie in particular To all I say suffer the word of exhortation both concerning our selues and others Vse 1 Concerning our selues seeing the followers of Antichrist shall be damned let not our soules enter into their secrets As the wicked man shall not meddle with the Christians ioy so let not the good man meddle with the Antichristians woe I know my brethren that this Conceit expressed in these generall tearmes That a Papist so liuing and so dying may be saued hath filled our hearts with worlds of indifferencie So that as the Arminians haue their middle knowledge as Scientia media Lect. Prid. pag. 23. 24. c. if there could be any cut betwixt a thing and nothing a being and no being so haue we had our indifferent conceits either of Protestancy or Popery as the world shall serue and the winde shall turne Hath their beene so much striuing vnto blood in vaine Haue so many martyrs lost the crownes of their martyrdomes when they haue layed downe their liues at the feete of the Pope and his image rather then to yeeld vnto the Romane abominations Haue so many glorious Dauids fought the battailes of God against that vncircumcised Philistime in vaine Haue so many Iohns and blessed preachers of the Gospel spent their time and strength in eating of the little booke and venting it againe to be as vials vppon Apoc. 10. the throne of the beast in vaine No No godly witnesses haue not writ in vaine victorious Kings haue not fought in vaine Constant martyrs haue not dyed in vaine They haue all striued as for life and death saluation and damnation Though saluation may be found in the Church as I haue said yet how hardly If it be an hard matter to finde it any where as in truth it is because the law is against it which were it not for the Mercy seate Christ Iesus would rise out of the Arke and accuse vs and because the creatures are against it which are abused by vs and doe call for vengeance and because euen we our selues are against it in our pronenesse vnto sin and delight in it then how hard and hard againe is it to find it in the stye of the beast and amongst the followers of Antichrist where there are so many killing poysons against it As therefore the Psalmist sung Wee is mee that I remaine in Psal 120. 5. Meshech and dwell in the Tents of Kedar so may such as lodge with the beast iustly say with griefe of heart But as for vs that liue out of the smoake of the pit in the shining rayes of the Gospel let vs at the Glassie sea sing the song Apoc. 14. 2 3 4. of Moses and of the Lambe praysing Gods power as the Lord God Almightie and his goodnes as the King of Saints who hath deliuered vs from the yron furnace and begun to take vengeance of that man of sinne Vse 2 Secondly concerning others let vs make the same vse which Paul makes in this place that is thanke God when we can prooue by sanctification 2. Thess 2. 13 14. of spirit and faith of truth whereunto men are called by the Gospel to obtaine the glory of our Lord Iesus Christ that they are the elect of God so are not in this perishing estate by the works of Antichrist We are in a naturall bond as digged out of the same
THE DANGER OF POPERY OR A SERMON PREACHED at a Visitation at Ashford in Kent vpon 2. Thess 2. 12. Wherein the marks of Antichristianisme and signes of truth are opened and applied and the Question of the sauing and damning of those that follow Antichrist is explaned by the Scriptures By ROBERT ABBOTT Preacher of the Word of God at Cranebrooke in Kent APOC. 14. 10. The same shall drinke of the wine of the wrath of God LONDON Printed by I. L. for Philemon Stephens and Christopher Meredith and are to be sold at the Golden Lyon in Paules Church-yard 1625. TO THE REVEREND and Right VVorshipfull Doctor KINGS LEY Archdeacon of CANTERBVRY my louing friend ROBERT ABBOTT wisheth all increases of faithfulnesse in Gods Church heere and glory hereafter through Iesus CHRIST Right Worshipfull and Reuerend WHat you thankfully and louingly accepted when it was preached commeth you see in another forme crauing a second veiw Though what I intended could not all be spoken in the allotted time yet may it all be seene If you thinke it may be vsefull in this secure age for any of the Cleargy vnder you your countenancing of it may incourage others to reade it I doubt nothing of your loue either to mee or mine much lesse to the common good This poore Sermon will I hope be found to ayme at good because at God and against Antichrist It is true it might haue beene the worke of farre more able but not more willing Therefore as such a worke it is tendred vnto you from him who desires to continue to God a faithfull souldier against the Pope of Rome and to your worship A poore friend and fellow-helper in the worke of Christ Iesus ROBERT ABBOT The danger of Popery or a Sermon preached vpon 2. Thess 2. 12. That all they might be damned which beleeued not the truth but had pleasure in vnrighteousnesse THE Wise-man who as Salomon saith hath his eyes in his head may easily perceiue that in these words there is a fearefull danger when they say that all they might bee damned and a full description of those which are in danger when they say they are such who beleeue not the truth but had pleasure in vnrighteousnesse Concerning which it is impossible that either we should be profitable learners or speakers except we take a short veiw of the whole chapter without which we cannot aptly vnderstand this present text In the chapter therefore you may conceiue The chapter analysed with mee two points first a doctrine and secondly an vse The doctrine concernes Antichrist and commeth in thus There were seducers as it seemes in the Primitiue Church who would haue perswaded the Christians that the day of iudgement was at hand And hence afterwards grew that Atheisticall question in Peter where is the promise of his comming Now to 1. Pet. 3. 4. preuent the danger of them the Apostle giues an admonition forced vpon their hearts with a graue and powerfull charge that they would not Verse 1. be troubled with such a suggestion vpon what pretence soeuer For what he saith he giues a Verse 2. double reason the first drawne from the effect of that conceit it would deceiue them and the Verse 3. second from the proper reasons of that effect which are those things which must happen before Christs comming to iudgement and these are two The first is that Apostasie or leauing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 10. 20. our standing and by faith we stand and the Apostle expounds it when he saith that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith The 2. Tim. 4. 1. second is the reuelation of Antichrist and so comes in the doctrine concerning him Which doctrine is first propounded and secondly amplified It is propounded both by setting downe what he shall be and what he shall doe In respect of his estate naturall he shall be a Man in respect of his estate sinfull and cursed he shall be a man of sinne the sonne of perdition Now for what he shall doe both by opposition and ambition the text saith that he shall oppose and exalt himselfe as you may see Secondly the Apostle doth amplifie this doctrine Verse 4. both by the corrupting causes of Antichrist and by his furtherances and meanes of aduancement as also by the persons who shall giue him intertainment As for the corrupting causes they are three first the persons to whō hee should haue binne knowne that is the Thessalonians who remembred not what Paul had taught them concerning him Secondly the person Vers 5. Vers 6 7. Aetas Antichristi nascentis sub Benifacio 3. exultantis sub Adriano 7. regnantis sub Hildebrando triumphantis in Leone 10. Crak defens con Spal cap. 4. pag. 21. v. 8. Vers 9. Vers 10. which hindered his Reuelation that is hee which with-helde to wit the Romane Emperor who did decline as the Roman Papacy crept vp Thirdly the person hindering his progresse that is the Lord who shall consume him with the spirit of his mouth and abolish him with the brightnes of his comming Now for the meanes of Antichrists aduancement the Apostle sets them downe to bee these too which wee find to bee true in our owne experience when wee looke vpon the aduancement of Popery to wit signes and lying wonders in forged miracles and deceaueablenes of vnrighteousnes in guilded lies Lastly touching the persons who shall giue Antichrist intertainment they are described by their condicion they are saith the text in a perishing estate by the causes of it namely their owne sin they receiued not the loue of the truth gods iudgment who therefore sent them strong delusion and lastly they are descibed by the Issue of all that is damnation in this verse which is propounded Vers 1 2. vnto you So that this followes vppon those miserable Antichristians to be damned Antichrist is reuealed God fights against him The Summe of the chapter concerning Antichrist men willingly slight the truth the Diuell fights for him men beleeue lies and follow him and God damnes them This is the Summe Let not the following vse bee hungred after till the proper place of it For the present thinke with your selues that euery man is apt to harken after others danger and therefore if we heare Tunc tua res agitur of robbery or murther ye inquire who it was Seing then that in these works ye hear of danger of killing of bodies and soules and robbing them of god and happinesse diligently attend to two things 1. The persons in danger they who beleeue not the truth but haue pleasure in vnrighteousnesse 2. The danger of the persons that all they might be damned The order of the Apostle is I know by this meanes inuerted yet this I take to be the most proper naturall way of handling first to know a thing before we know the adiunct of it first to know a man before wee can know his danger Touching
ouer-clouding them with vncertaine tradition Secondly it carrieth vs away from God to the creatures as Hee-saints Shee-saints Maskes Images thorough which it is great difficultie to peirce to God by their muddy distinctions Thirdly it keepes their followers blinde so as they know not what they doe in their Latine seruice and Bellar. lib. 1. de Iustif cap. 7. fides melius per ignorantiā quam per notitiam definitur Eph. 4. 18. their faith is better defined by ignorance then knowledge Fourthly it giues libertie to many sinnes as ignorance whereby they are made strangers from the life of God Incest fornication periury rebellion and what not seeing they haue those who are subiect to the like passions who as Iudges of sinnes committed after Baptisme Bellar. ample declar cap. de paen pag. 210 can appoint penances satisfactory to God and pronounce absolute absolutions Secondly though Popery be not an Art of liuing well yet our religion whereby Christ is honoured by resting in him alone for saluation flying to these meanes of application which he hath appointed as the word faith Sacraments of Christ who alone hath power to set seales to the couenant of grace and prayer this religion I say wholly aymes at good life As the truth doth so it aymes Ioh 17. 17. at the sanctification of the heart not onely repressing the outward acts of sin by the contrary exercises of godlinesse and righteousnesse as the act of whooredome by continency the act of drunkennesse by sobrietie the acts of all sinnes by watchfulnesse fasting and prayer and the like and not onely strugling at the corruptions of the inferiour faculties and brutish powers of the soule but opposing the very enmity of the minde ignorance of the vnderstanding darknesse and varietie of thoughts stupiditie and fury of conscience rebellion of willes and if there be any other disorderlinesse as there is too much either in soule or body that doth exalt it selfe against God and his most holy and righteous law Ob. Yea but doe they not cry out that our religion giues liberty to sinne by our doctrine concerning Free-will Iustification Merits assurance of saluation perseuerance of the Saints and the like Sol. It is true they doe so but it is from false grounds For though we say that by nature we haue no free-will to good yet it is by our owne default and therefore we haue iust cause to be humbled for it and we are bound for reformation to giue attendance to the word and to waite as the poore Lazars at the poole of Bethesda for the descending of the Angell that wee ouer-slip not the acceptable time and the houre of saluation And this wee are able to doe being a matter of outward discipline and yet wee doe not When the Blessing is giuen wee are with Esau hunting in which respect wee may be iustly left in our sinne Againe though wee say that wee are not iustified by our workes yet they are the necessarie fruits of our sanctification and the necessarie way to saluation without which no man shall see the Lord. And though we abhorre the thoughts Heb. 12. 14. of Merits in the notion of the Church of Rome yet wee say that wee cannot comfort our hearts without the presence of Good workes for other necessarie vses And how can the doctrine of Tit. 3. 14. assurance of saluation and perseuerance lead to sinne when wee cannot be assured but by holinesse nor perseuere but in the vse of the holy meanes of saluation Lastly as our Religion is a Doctrine of Veritie and Pietie so it giues most sound peace and comfort in the houre of death and day of affliction There is little or no certaintie or assurance in the principall acts of the Popish Religion as I shall shew in some particulars As first in resting vpon the Traditions of the Church Wee are sure that the Scripture is the Word of God wee haue the testimonie of men but the testimonie of God is greater for it is embraced by enemies as well as by friends and is confirmed by the Miracles of Christ and his Apostles but wee cannot be so assured of Traditions Secondly in drie Communions Wee are sure that Christ ordained two distinct signes and that God is pleased when wee doe what hee requires but wee cannot be assured that God is pleased with halfe Communions that is the Popish receiuing of the Bread without the Wine vnder pretence of Concomitancie no though wee were sure that Christ were corporally present because the Lords Supper is a seale and signe of our crucified Lord when his bodie and bloud were seuered as he saith This is my bodie Luk. 22. 19 20. which is giuen for you and This is my bloud which is shed for you Thirdly in the Popes Monarchicall headship Wee are sure that Christ is the head of the Church because it is his office and hee is of infinite power influence yea and present with Secundum esse personale vs by his diuine power and vertue But we cannot be assured that the Pope is the head of the Church no not in respect of outward administration Ephes 4. 11. 12. and gouernment because God hath not sanctified one man onely but many for the gathering of the Saints and edification of the body of Christ Though in respect of Christ the gouernment of the Church is Monarchicall yet in respect of Christs Bishops and Ministers it is Aristocraticall Fourthly in prayer in a tongue not vnderstood by the people Wee are sure that it is lawfull to pray in our mother tongue for euery Psas 250. tongue shall praise the Lord yea and the Papists will confesse it for euen they haue some prayers in vulgar tongues as their Manuel of godly prayers Iesus Psalter and the like But wee cannot be assured of Gods accepting seruice in an vnknowne tongue because though God vnderstand it yet the people cannot with vnderstanding say Amen 1 Cor. 14. 16. They may giue a fainte lazy hasty and ignorant Amen but not zelous Godw. Mos Aar pag 90 91. Ex. 20. 5. Leuit. 26. 1. Deut. 4. 15 19. 5 8. Es 40. Fiftly In adoration of Images We are sure that we may worship God without them without offence because God hath neuer commanded or required such pretended helpes yea and the Papists doe sometimes pray without them as in some of their priuate Orisons and in the time of Lent when they are couered But wee cannot be sure that such worship can please God because the Scripture is so punctuall against them and they are such snares to tye our deuotions below Sixtly in inuocation of Saints Wee are sure that we may call vpon God because he hath bidden Psal 50. vs and hath promised to heare and to helpe vs yea and the Papists themselues hold this lawfull But wee cannot be assured that calling vpon the Saints pleaseth eyther God or them or that they doe heare or can helpe
pit by descending from Adam we are in a ciuill bond as beeing members of the same Church and Common-wealth and we are of the same gracious bond as being members of the same body whereof Christ Iesus is the head All these ought to mooue vs to thanke our God when we see men flocke from Antichrist to the assemblies of the Saints as doues to their windowes and to exhort them to stand fast in that Christian course which they haue vndertaken by imbracing the doctrines of the Gospel deliuered 2. Thess 2. 15. vnto vs by what meanes soeuer and also by praying that they may be confirmed by beeing Ver. 19 17. comforted in the way of grace that all Gods people with ioyfull hearts may say Amen Amen Vse 3 Lastly I came to you my Fellow-Labourers in the word of the Lord seeing the danger of Popery is so great and it is so hard a matter to bring them that delight in it into Gods fould let vs obserue the exhortation of blessed Peter feed 1 Pet. 5. 2 3 4. the flocke of God which dependeth vpon you caring for it not by constraint but willingly not for filthy Lucre but of a ready minde not as though you were Lords ouer Gods Heritage but that ye may be examples of the flock If I should doe nothing but repeate these wordes it were plentifully sufficient But oh how hardly are we drawne vnto our duties Shall I not therefore presse it in particulars First then as pittying the miserie of Antichristrans let vs feed the flock of God by the word of God Euery thing is best fedde with that meate which is best sutable with the nature of it and so is Gods flock Therfore in the feare of God giue them the word of God Christ hath shed his blood for them is it not therefore pitty that Antichrist should defile or destroy them Therefore heare the word of the Lord yee Priests after Gods owne heart Preach Catechize and liue against the Pope of Rome First feed by preaching that is by speaking vnto men to edification exhortation and comfort 1 Cor. 14. 3. wherein as a brother to brethren let mee giue my aduice as one that hath obtained mercy Let vs labour to speake the word of God in the spirit of power and of a sound mind wee may 2 Tim. 2. 7. finde by wofull and daily experience how hard a matter it is to make poor people to vnderstand the word of God As therefore Mannah must descend from the clouds that the people may eat of it so must wee lay aside all cloudy speculations and descend to vulgar apprehension that the people to whom we intend good may take what is their owne and goe their way Let vs be as solid as wee can as the Apostle saith take heed to 1 Tim. 4. 13. 16. Prach plâ—a by S. Hier. reading and to doctrine but as in the building of the temple as it is wel obserued there was hewing in the mountaines but when it was set vp not an Ax or Sawe or Hammer in Ierusalem because it was to bee a â—ipe of the kingdome of peace so though we vse all sortes of wrighting and wrighters in our priuate studies yet let vs not muster and obtrude them in troopes for ostentation in the pulpit least as Asahels dead 2. Sam. 2. 23. body it make the people stand still and cause them to say as Ahimaaz of the death of Absolon 2. Sam. 18. I saw a tumult but I knew not what It is a true speach of a reuerend Diuine that learning neuer spoiles a good sermon but when it is communicated either with affected eloquence and vnusuall words or in such an abstruse manner of speaking as if wee meant to work admiration astonishment rather then edification wee may perhaps get the garlands of prayse and goodwill rom them that liue more in the eare than in the hearte but wee shall neuer procure the conuersion 1. Thess 2. 19. of soules which is the crowne and seale of our Apostleship or ministery 2. Cor. 3. To stirre vs vp therefore to preach and thus Motiues to preach think with mee as I often haue done of these foure motiues First that our people as wee also breake Gods commaundements euery day both in thought word and deed as euery child can say They breake them all in Adam by communion who in that one sinne violated the whole law of nature Yea since they were cut off from the old Adam graffed into Christ by faith they breake them by disposition and Ro. 5. 12. if they doe not fall into the outward acte noe thankes to themselues who are as prone vnto it as a chained fox to kill yong chickens but vnto our God who doth either restraine and bridle vs or renew and sanctifie vs to better imployments Secondly let vs consider that our people being Tit. 3. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thus in sinne and errour are like vnto mad-men For all the world cannot perswade them otherwise till God perswade Iaphet yea they Gen. 9. 27. will sometimes runne vpon death it selfe in the 1. Cor. 13. 3. maintenance of their fooleries yea and further they like madmen will raise great stirres vpon ridiculous matters For as the Robe of Caesar is sayd more to trouble Rome than his death and an apple to set all Greece on fire so the Church in Christs time was troubled about fasting in Mat. â— Act. 15. the Apostles time about stranguled and bloud in the next times about the celebration of Easter betweene the East and West Churches and after that about the rites of Baptisme to wit whether Heretickes could truely baptise and truely Euseb lib. 5. cap. 25. lib. 6 cap. 3. these trifles haue benne the fuel of contention from time to time that not only in the church but also among the people as if madnes and not matter did sway on all sides to the disturbing of the common peace Thirdly let vs consider that when our people are come to knowledge they know a great deale more then they can make vse of for their good Eccles 4. 8. As a couetous man hath no power to take comfort of his estate or as children fooles and impotent persons may haue great honours and reuenewes but know not how to vse them so ordinarily where the diligent hand is to disperse the good word of God there may be and is a rich treasure of precious knowledge in many of our people who know onely to know without further profit For there is great difference betwixt knowledge for vnderstanding and wisedome for practise as we see in those that knew the way of the Lord and iudgement of their God Ier. 5. 5. yet they altogether brake the yoke and burst the bonds And againe in those who said they were Ier. 8. 8 9. wise and that the Law of the Lord was with them yet they reiected the