text answered the Germane Anabaptists which was onely truly and fully accomplished in and applyable to the Apostles and Primitive disciples as Saint Peter expounds it Acts 2.16 And now I come to the Practicall part of my discourse to apply and make Use of the point delivered and that for Information Exhortation And is corrupt doctrine like leaven 1. Use of Information 1 See then from hence a reason of the so speedy growth and sudden spreading of pernitious opinions damnable heresies and doctrines of Devils It is no news to see a little leaven sowre heat heave and disperse it self speedily through the whole lump of dough (g) ejusdemfarinae hominibus Chemn The least dram draught drop of deadly poyson spreades from stomach to veins arteries seiseth the vitals and soon dispatcheth a man So doth heresie poyson mens brains spirits and possesseth them with a spirituall phrensie and madnes and this contagious too infecting others which is no wonder in Divinity though it be in Physick mad-men smit not others If there were no other reason to suspect the upstart Sectarie and his new Divinity this might be one enough to stop his mouth that his doctrine conversation practice cannot be right good of God because they but touch and take every one ignorant athiest profane old young boyes wenches all from every quarter hang upon them follow them as proselytes and like tinder take fire at every spark of new pretended light walk in the light of your fire by the sparks that ye have kindled This shall ye have of mine hand ye shall lie down in sorrow Isa 50.11 Questionlesse it is erroneous doctrine hellish heresie that like ill weeds grows so fast It is unsound Divinity that is so soon believed received that Mushrome-like or as Jonah's gourd springs up in a night True grace saving knowledge lie warm at the heart sanctifie the spirit soul body the grain of Paradice lieth long under the clods and groweth but slowly what a while was our Saviour in hammering sundry divine truths into his disciples heads how dull and slow of heart were they to believe Be sure then that must needs be naught that is so soon learned embraced believed It is strange now to see but it would not have been believed some few years agoe as a thing possible in the Church of England that there should could be such an overflowing jaundice of unsound opinions brain-sick whimzies such an overspreading leprosie and gangrene of schisme heresie sects [h] ut sit ibidem deinceps impiorum ac turpium errorum lupanar ubiâ—erat ante castae incorruptae sacrarium veritatis Vincent Lirin c. 31 as now with sad hearts we every where see That a small contemptible handfull of corupt leaven one or two firebrand-factious sectaries in a country like Moses handfull of ashes from the furnace which sprinkled became a boyl breaking forth with blains upon man and beast Exod. 9.8.10 should spoil a whole countrey Church Kingdome and like an impetuous torrent carry all before them cum stabulis armenta [i] So that as holy Polycarpus of the buding heresies in his time each godly Christian might ought to look up to heaven and say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Good God unto what times hast thou reserved me that I should live to see this The cloud is broken and wets to the skin which was little in the rise but like a mans hand 1 Kin. 18.44.45 So did Arrianism overspread the face of the Primitive Church the whole world became Arrian So Pelagianism Donatism after that And at last Mahometism like an overflowing deluge soul-killing pestilence hath poysoned the Eastern as Popish leaven hath the Western Church Rev. 13.3 all the world wondred after the beast 2. Pet. 2.2 Many shall follow their pernitious wayes but they are unstable souls that are gulled and beguiled by mounte bank teachers Mr Edw. Antapol p. 211. Errours readily enertained truth may stand out of doors long enough quacsalving sectaries that vapour and brag of great things and disparage the grave learned experienced physician Children are taken with every toy rattle hobby-horse guegaw Idle people in a fayre flock after players throng about Ballad singers and so do simple ungrounded credulous Christians after leavening seducers 2. Use of exhortation 2 Is corrupt doctrine like to leaven Let us then do with this mysticall as the Jews at the Passeover did with materiall leaven * Physicum fermentum Par. Natural which being strictly and under severe penalty by God himself forbidden them Exod. 12.18.19 as Pharisaicall and Doctrinall Leaven is Vs in this Text with a most deep Charge and ingeminated Caveat by Christ himself who had a religious custome 1. General Inquirendi Exterminandi Execrandi fermenttum to search out cast out curse out leaven from their houses and habitations (k) Weemse Christian synagogue lib. 1. ca. 6. Scaliger Emendat temp in Prolegom 1 Inquisitio fermenti there was a searching after leaven throughout all the rooms of their houses even to the very mouse-holes (l) Buxtorf Synag Judaic cap. 12. p. 317. 320. on the fourteenth day from Sun-rising they began betimes till ten of the clock usque ad quartam horam post ortum solis 2 Exterminatio a purging out of leaven casting it away burning of it not so much as looking on it or naming it nor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bread lest they should stirre up in their children a desire to leavened bread to which custome Saint Paul is thought to allude Eph. 5.3 Let it not be once named among you and this ceremonie lasted from ten till twelve of the clock 3 Execratio fermenti a formall and solemne cursing of leaven thus Let all that leaven or whatsoever leavened thing is in my power whether it were seen of me or not seen whether clensed by me or not cleansed let all that be scattened destroyed and accounted as the dust of the earth (m) Buxtâ—rf Synag Judaic cap. 12. page 325. These were the Jewish religious ceremonies about leaven constantly performed by them at the Passeover now Christ our Passeover is sacrificed for us and we should therefore purge out the old leaven not of wicked manners only but of corrupt doctrine also 1 Cor. 5.7 from the first day we believe in Christ throughout the whole course of our life (n) Mr Wilson s Christian Dictionary in the word Leaven both every singular person should purge himself from evill doctrine and corrupt manners noted by old leaven and every congregation should excommunicate from among them men of scandalous behaviour But alas the pulse of our zeal beats not so high so strongly we may cry shame to our selves that in Gods and his Churches yea in ou rown souls cause we are so negligent and remisse did we ever make search after false teachers and hereticall leaven did we ever question those that teach otherwise then the truth of Christs Gospel and consent not to wholsome words even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the doctrine which
Leaven corrupting the Childrens Bread OR Christs Caveat to beware of Sectaries and their dangerous Doctrines IN TWO SERMONS on Mark 8.15 The former preached in the Cathedrall Church of Lincoln at the Lecture on Wednesday October 1. 1645. The latter in another Auditorie By JOHN CLARKE B. D. and Pastor of the Church of Fiskerton neere Lincoln 2 Tim. 3.13 14. But evill men and seducers shall wax worse and worse deceiving and being deceived But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of c. 2 Tim. 4.3 4 5. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching eares And they shall turn away their eares from the truth and shall be turned unto fables But watch thou in all things Aug. ad Hieronym Resecandae sunt putridae carnes scabiosa ovis ab ovili repellenda est nè tota domus Massa pecora ardeant corrumpantur putrescant â—â—â—tereant Arrius in Alexandria una scintilla fuit sed quia non statim oppressus est totum orbem ejus flamma populata est LONDON Printed by John Macock for Luke Fawne and are to be sold at his shop at the sign of the Parrot in Pauls Church-yard 1646. The Epistle to the Reader Christian READER ALthough I be neither so obscure in the world as not to know or be known unto some great and good men too some Theophilus unto whom I might perhaps with acceptation dedicate and entitle the following sermons nor so badly beloved befriended that either my pains or person need fear slighting discountenance or contempt Yet I chuse rather at this time as one not ashamed or afraid in this particular to be counted Independent to let these plain sermons passe abroad withovt ambitious affecting wooing the patronage wearing the Liverie of any great name but onely thine Christian who art truly great and honourable yea of the blood royall partaker of the Divine nature whose father brother hope happinesse inheritance crown are all in heaven It is the truth of Iesus Christ which I preach and will I doubt not be entertained by such with due respect who know and follow Christs voice Every truth ought to be precious unto us What is truth if not this which issued out of the mouth of truth it self The sad experience we all have of the present distempers of our Church in regard of a perverse spirit of errour mingled among us tels us our need of being charged to take heed beware of Leaven Abundans cautela non nocet I and thou have lift up our hands unto the Lord the most high God the possessor of heaven and earth Gen. 14.22 and by the solemne nationall covenant stand â—ouâ—â— without respect of persons to endevour the extâ—ipatâ—on of poperie superstition heresy schism profanesse and whatsoever shall be found contrary to sound doctrine and the power of Godlinesse Who shall can disengage us of this Bond How ever in the preaching of these Sermons I pleased not some who with a shie discontented countenance a maligne disdainfull eye since have looked on me over me as the Dâ—vil looked over Lincoln according to our country 〈◊〉 Yet by men judicious godly orthodox what I preached 〈◊〉 â—â—en accepted accounted a word in season profitable 〈◊〉 through whose importunity now at last it is thâ—◠〈…〉 presented to thine eye If it may do any good to the common cause and bâ—â— bucket to quench the scare-fire an Antidote against the infection of the times I shall be glad 'T is not my purpose to exâ—â—â—â—â—tâ— I wish rather to heal the canker sore I desire to be faithfull to Christ and his peoples souls not to please men or for itch their itching eares to move planctum rather then plâ—â—sum to speak to their hearts not to feed their humourous fancies Plain dealing is a jewel yet they that use it die beggars I matter it no for if I yet pleased men I should not be the servant of Christ Gal. 1.10 The Lord stir up the spirit of every found truly good Christian to stand up as Gods witnesse and greatly to contend for the faith which waâ— oâ—â—e delivered to the Saints So prayeth Thy servant in his ministerie John Clark Leaven corrupting the childrens Bread OR Christs caveat to beware of Sectaries and their dangerous Doctrines MARK 8.15 And He charged them saying Take heed beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the leaven of Herod UPON occasion of the late miraculous feeeding of four thousand people with seven loaves as we finde in ver 6 7 8 9. of this present Chapter Our blessed Saviour whose manner usually was (a) Sican enim Joh. 6. Christus ex miraculo quinque panum occasionem sumpsit docendi de pane caelesti qui vitam assert mundo ita hic ex miraculo septem panum nuper edito eorum fermentatione occasionem sumit Apostolos instituendi de fermento Pharisaeorum Sadducaeorum quo illi sinceram doctrinam verbi divini quod est panis vitae corrumpunt Chemn Harm Evan. c. 82. to improve earthly sensible obvious objects to spirituall advantages draweth off the minds of his hearers raiseth up the hearts of his Disciples to more high and heavenly meditations minding them of another kinde of bread fore-warning them of another kind of leaven than was used and eaten ordinarily in their houses and set on their tables viz. False Doctrine (b) fermentum Pharisaeorum in doctrina consistit falsa Chemnit Harm cap. 61. fermentum Pharisaeorum Sadducaeorum non corporalem panem sed traditiones perversas haeretica significat dogmata R. Mont. poysonous positions soul-damning principles (c) impia Pharisaeorum doctrina fermento comparatur propter vim noxiam seducendi homines praecipitandi in exitium Paraeus in 1. ad Corinth cap. 5. v. 6. broached broken among the people dropped here and there and crumbled into the Bread of Life the Word of God by sundry pernicious Sectaries of those times Pharisees Sadduces for I take in them too as I am warranted from Mat. 16.6 and Herodians who did shamefully vitiate grossely corrupt the sincere (d) est hic sermo metaphoricus Chemn harm cap. 82. denotat id quo nativa rei puritas inficitur opponitur puro ac simplici Dei verbo genuine truth of the Word of God soul-bread with their erroneous glosses and traditions for so without all metaphor the Disciples understood That he bode them not beware of the Leaven of Bread (e) non ex panibus sed ex cordibus vult fermentum expurgari Paraeus ibid. but of the Doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadduces Mat. 16.12 2. Parts In the Words observe two particulars 1. A Duty charged on the Disciples 2. Reasons pressing it 1. Duty 1. The Duty charged upon them is this viz. Carefully to heed whatsoever Doctrines they might occasionally heare as a businesse
combined against the Lord Jesus Christ were his sworn and bitter and implacable enemies and never left dogging and baiting and persecuting of him till they had his blood and brought him to his grave 1. In Words they cal him the Carpenter Mark 6.5 a man gluttonous and a wine-bibber a friend of Publicans and sinners Math. 11.19 They said he was a Samaritane and had a Devill John 8.48 they called the master of the house Beelzebub Math. 10.25 that Deceiver Math. 27.63 mad John 10.20 with a deal of other foul language and opprobrious calumnies 2. In Deeds sometime underhand and by their emissaries they seek to undermine him and blow up his reputation among the people Sometimes they send and suborn some that may feign themselves just men to snittle and ensnare him in resolving a case of Conscience forsooth they send to catch him in his words Mark 12.13 Sometimes again they oppose him with captious questions thinking to make him odious as doing against the Law against Caesar against the ancient received Customes 2. Sometime with open violence they assault him seek to lay hands on him send officers and souldiers to take him bearing the world in hand that such tender conscienced Saints as they seemed so religious and mercifull men made up all of goodnesse (f) Chemn Harmon Evang. 49. would not have persecuted Christ unlesse he had been an evill-doer or some notorious wicked man Mark 3.6 2. How do they undervalue his preaching seek to draw away his hearers buzze strange conceipts of him into their heads 3. Thus also they dealt with his Disciples Peter Iohn Iames Paul c. they revile them beat them imprison them kill them and all this to stop the way of 4. The Gospel and the Preaching of the glad tydings of salvation among the Gentiles how did they stomach and storm at and gainsay and persecute it how did they seek to leaven them and obtrude upon them circumcision keeping the Law c. thus perverting and poysoning the souls of Christs young converts with their contagious doctrine (g) So Paraeus observes in Gal. cap. 1 So you see there was good reason to charge his Disciples to take heed and beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees Sadduces and Herodians And here in the close of the Historicall of my Text I might perhaps not unseasonably shew you how this Charg and Caveat of our Saviours this Antidote here prescribed by the great Physitian of souls to his Disciples this Ephemeris primarily calculated for Iudaea and the Meridian of those Primitive-Church times yet may doth without much observable difference serve generally for great Britain and the Climate of our English Church and State as not in factu esse being long since done but in fieri now in doing and hence from the circumferentialls of the Text might draw home the lines to our own Center and make the paralell there being as much reason as much need that even Our people should be charged to take heed beware of the Leaven of seducing Sectaries now scattered into the Childrens the Churches bread as was for them For have not we now the like dangerous Leaveners Who (h) See M. Pagets Heresiographie Master Edwards Gangraena pa. 19.29 Deny the Scriptures to be the Word of God Affirme them to be unsufficient uncertain Written by the pen-mens own private Spirit Who say There is but one person in the Divine nature Iesus Christ is not very God Christs humane nature is defiled with original sin men may be saved without Christ 'T is no lesse then blasphemy for a child of God to ask pardon of sins The soul of man is mortall as the soul of a beast and dyeth with the body Many Christians in these dayes have more knowledg than the Apostles and should not tie themselves to their imperfections The Christian Magistrate hath no power at all to medle in matters of Religion Children are not bound to obey their parents if they be wicked The Lords prayer is but an idoll and that Our father hath sent more to hell than Pater noster ever did c. But I forbear to rake further into this kennell and shall leave the sad consideration hereof to your private thoughts and come now to 2. Part. The Doctrinall part of our Text in which these 4. Divine truths aphorisms or Documents are observable that 1. Corrupt Doctrine is like Leaven 2. Gods people must with all possible caution and circumspection preserve themselves from being corrupted seduced and poysoned with such Leaven 3. The best of Gods people Christs own family Disciples themselves need charging to take heed and beware of false doctrine 4. The greatnesse or seeming goodness of any mans person should not so captivate or bewitch the people of God that they should suffer themselves to be seduced catched or empoysoned by them To begin with the First Erroneous corrupt Doctine is like Leaven Math. 16.12 (i) Mâ—nâ—me obscurum est quin fermenti nomen Christus simplici puroque Dei verbo opponat utplurimum Scriptura hoc nomine quidvis adventitium designat quo nativa rei cujusque puritas inficitur In hoc autem loco haec inter se duo antitheta haud dubie respondent Simplex Dei veritas figmenta quae ex proprio sensu comminiscuntur homines Neque est quod elabi tentet quispiam Sopista negans de qualibet doctrina hoc debere intelligi quia non alia reperietur doctrina quae purae azymae doctrinae nomen sustineat quam quae a Deo profecta est Unde sequitur fermentum vocari quicquid aliunde mixturae provenit sicuti etiam Paulus docet adulterari fidem simulatque a Christi simplicitate abducimur 2 Cor. 11.2 3 4. Calvin in Math. 1â— 12 and that in sundry respects 1. In regard of the Commonnesse In Vse common Leaven was usually mingled with every batch every loafe of Jewish bread every family among them did all the year-long ordinarily bake and eat leavened bread unleavened was onely or for the most part used at the Passeover Now the common houshold-bread which they dayly ate was not more leavened than the doctrines those hereticall Masters of Israel usually taught the bread of life they brake was bread of death Mors in olla Leaven in every loaf rats-bane and rank poyson in every point As you may observe when our Saviour picks out small yet bane-full crumbs of their corrupt glosses from the pure Word of God on every occasion see Math. 5. c. 2. In regard of the Quantity Little Leaven is but little 2. Little a small piece of old sowre dough (k) si misceatur farinae quae decuplo vel trigecuplo amplius quoad quantitatem fermentum superat totam tamen massam penetrat infint Chemnit Harm cap. 61. which when 't is crumbled among the meal is hardly visible when 't is incorporated with the paste and kneaded up among the lump of dough scarcely
perceivable 1 Cor. 5 6. So erroneous doctrine is but little at the first Heretiques have tricks of cleanly conveyance can by scraps and piece-meal steal in here and there a bit now and then a crumb among other orthodox and unleavened truths They are cunning enough to mix and blend it not to let it fall all together on a lump lest it haply should be descryed which if it be Then 't is but a slip in judgement in utterance and delivery a private opinion of no great moment what great harme can it do in being vented (l) An vos viros tam sapientes ignorare convenit illud vulgo tritum ex pistrino sumptum proverbium modico fermenti fermentari totam massam Epitheton modicum tacitam includit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 si forte dixerint modicum hoc est Imo et modicum nocet Paraeus in 1. ad Corinth cap. 5. v. 6. Fermentum enim videtur res non magni momenti sed tamen intra conspersionem admissa totam massam acidam reddit Sic leviculum nullius momenti videtur esse hoc vel illud doctrinae addere Quodnam enim periculum ex additiuncula aliqua enasceretur sed corruptela etiam minima semel recepta serpit ut cancer Chemnit Harm c. p. 82. O ye beloved it leaveneth people draweth Disciples breeds a faction separates hearers into private conventicles and makes rents and schisms in the Church One is for Paul another for Apollos 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 1.13 A little pin may kill mortally Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth Jam. 3.5 3. Like 3. In regard of the Quality Like Leaven is like the dough is of the same grain of the same meal leavings of the same lump the scrapings up of the kneading trough very like it differeth but in age sowrenesse c. So is the corrupt leaven of heretical doctrine scraped up raked together 2 Pet. 3.6 out of the Scriptures but perverted wrested sophisticated adulterated sowred with rotten corrupt mis-interpretations and glosses so seemingly sound true probable Heb. 5.14 holy good that he had need of senses exercised that should discern the hidden poyson of the abominable opinions of hereticall leaveners (m) Seria praemâ—nit one utitur qua declarat Christus non esse cuivis datum discernere falsam doctrinam ab illa sibi caverâ— Bucer 4. In regard of the Spreading property 4. Spreadeth that is in Leaven for it speedily secretly suddenly unperceiveably diffuseth it selfe through the whole lump of dough (n) fermâ—nci nomine significatur id quod late serpit eâ— alia quoque ad se trahit Chemn Harm cap. 82. till all be leavened creepeth into every corner of the kneading trough so doth this mysticall leaven of false doctrine this scab of error like an universall leprosie (o) Arrianorum venenum non portiunculam quandam sed pene orbem totum contaminaverat Vinc Lir. cap. 6. over-spread and disperse it selfe over the whole Church and Kingdome from old to young from Minister to people from one Christian to another One scab'd sheep marreth the whole flock one rotten apple tainteth those that lie next unto it (p) uvaque contactu livorem ducit ab uva One pestilent fellow may breath death into a thousand And therefore Saint Paul warneth Timothy to shun prophane and vain bablings for they will increase to more ungodlynesse And their word will eat as doth a canker of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus who concerning the truth have erred 2 Tim. 2.16 17. When men have once forsaken the right way they wander in infinitum Thus we see many fall from schisme to heresie (q) Master Hooker eccles polit in the prefaci from being Separatists to Anabaptists Antinomians Arminians Socinians Libertines Atheists Seekers and so they may be all their dayes and yet shall never find that old and right way which for some toy they forsook formerly God penally giving them over to strong delusions and leaving them to a spirit of error Ye shall seek me and shall not find me Joh. 7.34 Ye shall seek me and shall dye in your sins Joh. 8.21 as Christ there telleth the Pharisees Uno absurdo dato mille sequuntur God knoweth where such men shall stop themselves nor we know not * Master Edwards Antapolog p. 295. some of them had gone far by this time of the day till they be over head and ears ingulfed from the puddle of heresie into the bottomlesse pit bank-less bound-less 5. In regard of the Effects Leaven 1. sowreth 2. heateth 3. swelleth 1 Sowreth 1. Leaven sowreth the whole lump 1 Cor. 5.6 a crumb of leaven mingled with the pure meal (r) fermentum hâ—nc vim habet ut si farinae mixtum fâ—erâ—tquod parvum videbatur crescat in majus ad saporem suum universam conspersionem trahat ita doctrina haeretica si vel modicam scintillam in tuum pectus jecerit in brevi ingens flâ—mma succrescit ut totam hominis possessionem ad se trahat Hieronym knod among the dough moulded up into the loafe leaveneth vitiateth altereth the first simple pure sweet nature of it makes it smell sowrely taste saltly savour rammish unpleasingly So doth this corrupt Leaven of erroneous doctrine (Å¿) humana commenta traditiones Evangelio Christi adminâ—tas id totum adulterare subveâ—tere fidem conscientias turbare Sicut enim modicum veneni totum cotpus inficit sic vel modicum de humanis commentis Evangelio gratiae aspersum totum corrumpit Paraeus in Galat. cap. 1. Lect. 8. adulterate and sowre the unleavened truth and pure Word of God and therefore was odious and abominable unto God who cannot endure humane mixtures (t) Quemadmodum in moneta regia qui aliquam partem de impressa imagine amputaverit totum numisma reddit addulterinum ita quisquis vel minimam particulam sanae fidei perverterit vid. Para. ibid. ex Chrysostom and sophistications Amos 4.5 expresly forbidden the Iewish Church in all their sacrifices Levit. 2.11 2. Heateth 2 Leaven heateth and thence in the three learned (u) Our English Leaven is from the leavings of the batch usually made up reserved as the other Hebr. word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 comes of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 reliquum esse to leave languages hath its denomination 1. fermentum a ferveo 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod fervendo crescat 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 calefactus fuit incaluit he was hot every house-wife that layeth Leaven (w) Mulierum erat opus panes coquere sicut ex historia Sarae patet Gen. 18.36 Plinius testatur Romae per annos ab urbe condita quingentos octoginta nullos pistores fuisse Chemit Harm cap. 61. knoweth this heating quality to be in Leaven and therefore they cover and keep warm their dough lest the bread should be sad No leaven
but heateth it is of an active fierie nature So doth the leaven of heresie heat enflame and enrage mens spirits sets Church Kingdome yea the whole Christian world in combustion and as Saint James saith of the tongue setteth on fire the course of nature and it is set on fire of hell Iam. 3.6 (x) profana Arrianorum novitas velut quaedam Bellona aut Furia non destitit universa miscere atque vexare privata ac publica sacra profanaque omnia Vinc. Lir. cap. 6. What heart-burnings doth it breed what jealousies suspitions bitter uncharitable censures doth it foment against (y) Master Hooker eccles polit in the preface all those that do not side and hold with them in all things they account them heathens publicans dogs devils They lowre brow-beat disdainfully frown and look sowrly upon them as Cain on Abel with a discontented and falne countenance like Richard Nevill the great Earle of Warwick who looked so terribly when he was moved that every wrinkle in his forehead was a grave for a Prince to be buried in How bitter are their speeches tongues like razors with what vinegar and gall do they write it would be tedious to particularize Who were more bitter persecutours of Christ then the Pharisees Paul himself while he was so breathed out threatnings and slaughter against the Church The Devil throweth in his gunpowder among their zeale sets all in combustion betwixt men of the same Church Kingdom Society Congregation Family Flesh that board and bed together so that even these lift up the heele the hand against each other Psal 41.9 (z) nec enim tantum affinitates cognationes amicitiae domus verum etiam urbes popull provincâ—ae nationes universum postremo Romanorum imperium funditus concussum emotum est Vinc. Lir. de Arrian cap. 6. Acti in exillium sacerdotes oppleta sanctis ergastula carceres metalla ibid. David from experience of some harsh usage from such kind of furious fellows prayeth to be delivered 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the hand of the injurious leavened man * Prufracte violenter agentis â—uaterf Ainsworth in Ps 71.4 of such we say in the proverb totus est in fermento such hot spurres fierie fierce spirited men are most hereticall zelots witnesse the Anabaptists in Germany of whose outragious violences villanies cruelties Historians (a) Joan. Sleidan de stat relig reipub lib. 6. Mr Philpot that godly Martyr saith the Anabaptists be an inordinate kind of men stirred up by the Devil to the destruction of the Gospel Mr. Fox Acts Mon. vol. 3. page 607. relate and the Jesuite-leaveners whom one witrily caleth in one word Bombardo-gladio-fun-hasti-flammi-loquentes Alsted poetic very incendiaries to all Churches states as the Gunpowder Treason and sundry other Machiavilian plots of the Popish leavened crew especially the yet freshly-bleeding bloody rebellion in Ireland in which so many thousand Protestant-English innocents have been mercilesly murthered testifie 3. Swelleth 3 Leaven swelleth puffeth up heaveth raiseth the dough and maketh the bread light so doth the leaven of heresie and false doctrine puffe up men with an overweening conceit of their own parts persons graces (b) ut enim fermentum â—â—â—tam conspersam inflat efficit ut se in altum attollat ita etiam falsa doctrina hominem in altitudinem extollit non tantum adversus homines sed etâ—â—m gratiam Dei inflat fiducia propriae justiciae Chemnit Harmâ—n cap. 61. as the pretious ones Saints on earth the excellent The proud Pharisees trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others Luk. 18.9 They affect singularity in their opinions practises are not wil not be do not as other men * Marry in the night receive the Lords supper at night anoint the sick with oyl enter into a Church covenant people make Ministers baptize in rivers use the holy kisse bring in widdows hymnes The Apostolici wash one anothers feet have all things common preach on the house tops c. No doubt but ye are the people and wisdom shall die with you Job 12.2 As the Chinoys highly conceited of themselves (c) Helyn hist of China p. 687. that they use to say they themselves have two eyes the Europaeans one and the rest of the people not one so are even the low-form Proselytes of leavened sectaries puft up with their horn book learning knowledge puffeth up 1. Cor. 8.7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Tim. 6.4 vainly puft up by his fleshly mind Col. 2.18 Every novice is wiser then his teachers the spirit leadeth them into all truth they have abundance of revelations new lights see more know more then ordinary dull Christians yea then Ministers of the Reformed Churches hence they arrogantly take the chaire (d) In genere nullum animal magis est inflatum superbum quam sit haereticus Chemn expounding exercising in private resolving doubts wading into the deeps of Scripture prophesies mysteries alas poore pigmies thimbles full of dust yea saucily invade our pulpits in publick What say they must none preach but black coats And why not black coats I pray as well as gray coats and buffe coats and blue aprons I see no cause to be ashamed of a black coat the prophets and the prophets sonnes of old were known and distinguished by their habits (e) allusit Christus ad vestes ex quibus olim dignâ—schâ—â—tur prophetae Beza Not. Major in Math. 7.15 Neither know I any reason why that men that have been from their childhood trained up in the Schooles and Universities with great expence of time and meanes and principled in tongues and Arts besides many yeares study in the Scriptures with daily humble prayer to God for the right understanding of them and diligent searching out of ancient and modern expositors what is the meaning of the H. Ghost in them I see no reason I say but what talk I of reason to unreasonable men 2 Thess 3.2 why professed Scholars Graduates Divines Ministers Black coats should not be fitter to expound preach abler to dispense Sacred mysteries then quilibet etrivio every tailor tapster cobler baker and other mechanicks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 (f) hath not the God of oâ—der set several orders of men in his Church some Apostles some Prophets c. 1 Câ— 12.28 he gave some Apostles and sâ—â—â— Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers for the perfecting of the Salâ—te fâ—â— the work of the ministry Ephes 4.11 12. Their trades sure come not by revelation their novices must serve out an apprentiâ—â—ship ere they be masters of their art or fit to set up for themselves onely Divinity is soon learned easie to understand in an instant infused into every enthysiast for so they apply that of Joel 2.28 I will poure out my spirit upon all flesh and your sonnes and your daughters shall prophesie which when they can do we will believe them as Luther from that
in Scyllam sive in Charybdim incidentes fidei naufragium patiantur Chemnit Harm cap. 82. 3 In regard of the Doctrine it self 3 Their Doctrine is plausible which false teachers broach and deliver it stands us in hand to be very carefull for it is Probable plausible pleasing to corrupt nature and the itching humours of ungrounded unsanctified men (h) potest quidem Satanas suum fermentum melleâ dulcedine inficere Quid enim falsa doctrina suavius amabilius Chemnit Harm â—â—61 Thus was the leaven of Pharisaicall Sadducean and Herodian sectaries it took much with the common people Such is the leaven of our dayes it savoureth well to the common palate to have liberty of conscience none to controll them no covenant to bind no law to command or condemne c. Nothing but Christ Gospell Spirit revelations new light no tying of men to Duties of piety familie-prayer c. such they opprobriously nickname Duty-mongers formalists There needs no fixt time place persons for any publick ordinances of God for they are all taught of God able to preach pray minister a word in season need not must not be servants of men pay tribute to Caesar tithes or maintenance to an Antichristian ministerie let them labour with their hands as Saint Paul did that all things must be common (i) Sleidan lib. 3. that all men all creatures shall be saved at the last c. Is not this gallant Divinity must not such Doctrine as this needs take And have not we need to take heed and beware of such leaven The point thus proved by Scripture and Reason affordeth unto us a twofold Use of Exhortation Reproof 1. Use of Exhortation 1 For Exhortation And are these things so Why then Let all Christians take out this lesson which our Savior taught his disciples here and suffer not a company of cunning giddy self seeking sectaries to undo them believe not any seducing spirit Be not turned aside after another Gospel Gal. 1.7 Take not on trust what the leavening Pharisee delivereth out of Moses chaire receive nor any venemous tenet under the pleasing notion of Gospel and new light but prove all things 1 Thes 5.21 Search the Scriptures as those noble Beraeans Acts 17.11 Blind men swallow many a flie Look well about you therefore have your eyes in your head lest in any kind or degree you admit such How wary are you in taking money how advisedly exactly do you weigh gold refusing it not only when the mettall is base brasse and drossie but also when it wants the least grain of due weight 'T is a rule you have tell money after your father to turn every suspected penny you take especially when much bad money and copper coin is stirring abroad Believe me brethren there is not now so much bad silver in the world as there is bad doctrine Look to your selves that ye lose not those things which ye have gained 2. John 8. so some copies read the place that pretious depositum of sound truth and wholesom words Let not the Devil or his hereticall imps cheat you with their new counters though glistering and glorious you know the proverb All is not gold that glistereth Be henceforth no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of Doctrine by the sleight of men and cunning craftinesse whereby they lie in wait to deceive Eph. 4.14 All seducers say they are of Christ come from him preach in his name The Devill never comes to deceive in his own likenesse All fanaticall phrensies that ever have beene broached in Gods Church to this day do pretend to some degree of new light (k) Audias etenim quosdam ipsorum dicere venite o insipientes miseri qui vulgo Catholici vocitamini discite fidem veram quam praeter nos nullus intelligit quae multis ante saeculis latuit nuper vero revelata ostensa est sed discite furtim atque secretim delectabit enim vos Et item cum didiceritis latenter docete ne mundus audiat nec ecclesia sciat paucis namque concessum est tanti mysterij capere secretum Vinc. Livin cap. 26. though it be indeed mere darknesse ye therefore beloved seeing ye know these things before beware lest ye also being led away with the errour of the wicked fall from your own stedfastnesse 2 Pet. 3.17 2 This Doctrine of cautelous circumspection lest Christians be leavened perverted falleth foul upon 2. Vse of Reprehension to people sharply chides and reproveth 1 Foole-hardy adventurous people that love to be nibling at every leavened loaf that will be sipling of every sugred cup though full of deadly poyson as K. John of the Monk of Swinshed his Wassail though it should cost them as it did him their life They will run a madding after mountebank teachers their mouth waters after bread of deceit because it is sweet though afterward the gravel stick in their teeth Pro. 20.17 Unsetled professors (l) cum quaeque novitas ebullit statim cernitur frumentorum gravitas et levitas palearum tunc sine magno molimine excutitur ab area quod nullo pondere intra aream tenebatur Vincent Lir. cap. 25. of the tribe of Gad as one wittily calleth them like rambling beasts though they have never so green and good pasture will over hedge and ditch into fresh grounds and like silly sheep love to feed on fresh lushious though rotting grasse Very weather-cocks every wind of Doctrine turns them unballasted ships every wave shakes them (m) Heu miseranda conditio quantis illi curarum aestibus quantis turbinibus exagitantur Nunc etenim qua ventus impulerit incitato errore rapiuntur nunc in semetipsos reversi tanquam contrarij fluctus reliduntur Vincent Lirin Ibid. They have a penny to bestow with every pedlar Assoon as they heare of a new merchant they will take up his wares on trust Alas poore soules are you such children such fools heedlesly and greedily to swallow any leavened morsell know you not that these scorpions have stings in their tail Rev. 9.10 and yet will you play on the hole of the aspe 'T is Solomons advise for the avoiding of drunkennesse Prov. 23.31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red when it giveth his colour in the cup when it moveth it self aright At the last it biteth like a serpent and stingeth like an adder Take heed of leavening seducers they have an intoxicating cup to pervert make giddy and poyson your souls Their wine is the poyson of dragons and the cruell venome of aspes Deut. 32.33 (n) Wine here signifieth the corrupt doctrine and heresies wherewith the Iews poysoned themselves their disciples poyson of dragons that is their doctrines and actions are venemous and deadly to soul and body as being doctrines of devils and the poyson of the old dragon Ainsw in loc 2. Magistr This also blameth the negligent and unregarding
Magistrate who by his place ought to defend the faith look to religion and be custos utriusque tabulae There be good lawes against vagrant rogues and fidlers players Gipseys and fortune-tellers that they be not suffered to wander abuse or deceive the Kings liege people 'T is pity mens souls are not as carefully provided for (o) tum ecclesiastici tum polititi ordinis Antistites toti in eo esse debent ut Diaboli fermentum expurgetur populus fidei suae commissus ab eo arceatur nisi aliquando loco panum propositionis Deo offerendorum Satanicas placentas olim in infernalibus prunis excoquendas reponere velint Chem. Harm Evangelic cap. 61. as dearly valued and as much tendered that there be no Searchers appointed for seducing Sectaries In times of a common plague the infected are shut up removed to the pesthouses not suffered to go abroad and infect others Should not the like care be had that schismatical leaveners be not suffered to meet in corners and private conventicles to the perverting and poysoning of mens souls ought not as watchfull an eye to be upon that pestilence of error that walketh in darknesse the destruction that wasteth at noon-day Psal 91.6 * Dominus te totamque familiam ab omni malo ac praesertim a Daemoniis meridianis istic obambulantibus custodiat Beza Epist 1. Andr. Duditio viz. from the Errors of Anabaptisme Brownism Antinomianism Toleration of sects and schisms under pretence of Liberty of Conscience Mr Edwards in Epist to his Anâ—apolog For like Absolom they spread their tent on the top of the house in the sight of all Israel they are not ashamed nor blush to preach on the house tops their places and times of meeting are known proclaimed come who come will Is this to root out heresie schisme or to keep the covenant of our God If the enemie should storm or steale into this garison what a bustling would there be how would every man take the alarum and stand to his armes how would they be censured and fined as malignants that should not so do no enemy so dangerous as Heresie no garison of that consequence as the soul which we are not to suffer to be fraudulently surprized by false teachers nor violently taken from us by the powers of hell There is no proportion or comparison between malignant cavaliers and seducing impostors that more dangerously set up the kingdome of darknesse and tyrannie of the Devil Why should there be any Gallio that careth not for any of these things Acts 18.17 Jeremie sadly complaineth of some great ones that were not valiant for the truth Jer. 9.3 Godly Magistrates have forced Antidotes on a distempered corrupted people compelled them to repair to publick ordinances 2 Chr. 15.13.33.16.34 32. brought them into the Bond of a nationall covenant What wonder is it if every wherry swim so swiftly into the bottomlesse abysse when they have so fair a wind so ful a tide when they are preferred advanced countenanced put into places of great trust command and profit and engrosse every gainfull office Mammon of unrighteousnes will not onely work with a Blaam but will biasse a better spirit then his was to seduce others and be seduced himself Every man would be of the winning hand would be of a thriving and gainfull trade no tradesman so custom'd or hath the like return as Sectaries that trade in merchandise of Souls But shall the Godly Magistrate freely suffer them to retail their deceitfull wares In free corporations they will not endure forreiners to set up by them and steal away their customers Market towns have a standard an assize for bread and beere c. Bread that will not hold out weight is to be given away it would do well to see the bread of life to have his true weight And to set a fine on their heads that make and sell that which is light naught unwholesom leavened The Publicans among the Jews sate at the receipt of custom (p) Luke 5.27 Luke 19.2 to see and compell the poore bleeding country to pay tribute unto Caesar taxes and assessements imposed and exacted for the use of the Roman state and our Saviour so far condescended to the necessities of those times that himself payd tribute-money such as was levied and assessed upon him Matth. 17.24.27 But he denounceth a dreadfull woe to the Scribes not because they payd tithe of mint and annise and cummin due by Gods law but that they omitted the weightier matters of the Law judgement mercie and faith these saith he ought ye to have done and not to leave the other undone Mat. 23.23 Magistrates and men in place should see God have his due as well as themselves have their due they should see that religion be not corrupted Gods word perverted the souls of people destroyed What serve mothers or nurses for but to look to their little ones and not let them eat dirt chalk coals in stead of bread spiders poyson in stead of sugar milk or wholsom nourishment I should think such an undutifull ungracious child not fit nor worthy to be suffered to live in a family that Ishmael like should mock the Isaacks Gen. 21.9 neither are such worthy to live in a Christian * illi certe nullo modo sinendi sunt vivere cum illorum temporalis vita aliis sit aeterna mors Zaâ—ch de Magistr Mr Cotton on Rev. 16. pouring out the seven Vials 3. page 16 17 21. 4. page 17. if any have a conscience to turn men from God he would have men have as much conscience to cut them off church especially not to be cockered countenanced that spit in their aged mothers face the church of England and call her Whore And thus much may suffice for the two first observations out of the Text. The end of the first SERMON The third followeth viz. Doct. 3 THe best of Gods people need charging to take heed and beware of false doctrine Even the Apostles themselves bred up and fed up in Christs own family are in danger of being leavened How doth Saint Paul feare lest the Corinthian Saints should by Satans subtilty be beguiled and their minds corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ 2 Cor. 11.3 How doth he in sundry places charge and adjure Timothy This charge I commit unto thee to hold faith and a good conscience which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwrack of whom is Hymeneus c. 1 Tim. 1.18.19.20 I charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels 1. Tim. 5.21 I give thee charge in the sight of God and before Christ that thou keep this commandment 1 Tim. 6.13 O (q) O exclamatio iffa praescientioe est pariter charitatis praevidebat enim futuros quos etiam praedolebat Errores Quis est hodie Timotheus nisi vel generaliter universa ecclesia vel specialiter totum corpus praepositorum qui integram divini
Herodians must be taken heed of Deut. 13.6 If thy brother son daughter wife friend which is as thine own soul entice thee 9 thou shalt surely kill him 10 because he sought to thrust thee away from following the Lord. Gal. 1.8.9 though We or an angel from heaven (p) etiamsi Petrus etiamsi Andreas etiamsi omnis Apostolorum chorus Evangelizet vobis aut angelus de caelo h. e. si fiat quod non potest fieri quisquis ille traditam semel fidem mutare tentaverit anathema fit Vinc. Lir. cap. 12. vid. cap. 13. Paulus meras flammas loquitur tamque vehementer ardet ut Muscul preach any other Gospel unto you then that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed And the Reasons are Reason 1 1 Because great men are not alwayes good men gracious and sanctified men The Pharisees Sadduces and Herodians were eminently great and greatly honoured among the Jews yet odious and vile sectaries very hypocrites and incarnate Devils none of the Rulers except Nicodemus believed savingly on Jesus Christ John 7.48 Unsanctified great ones like great trees in an orchard overdrop the smal and young and more fruitfull plants that they do not cannot thrive or prosper under them Like rank weeds they choak the profitable grain the great men are great hinderers and blocks in the way of piety Poyson is often tempered in golden cups then doth most harm to such as hoped for a wholesome refection not mortall infection from such precious and refined mettal Reason 2 2 Because good men the best men are yet but men still and have too often their failings faults errours (q) Venerabilis quondam memoriae Agrippinus Carthaginensis Episcopus primus omnium mortalium contra divinum canonem rebaptizandum esse censebat Quae praesumptio tantum mali invexit ut non solum haereticis omnibus formam sacrilegij vid. Vinc. Lir. cap 9. and observable imperfections They know 1. Cor. 13.9 but in part are good but in part There is a posse errare falli decipi a possibility of errour of deceiving and being deceived in the very best (r) Quicquid vero quamvis ille sanctus doctus quamvis episcopus quamvis confessor et martyr praeter omnes aut etiam contra omnes senserit id inter proprias et occultas privatas opiniunculas a communis publicae ac generalis sententiae auctoritate secretum sit ne cum summo aeternae salutis periculo juxta sacrilegam haereticorum et schismaticorum consuetudinem universalis dogmatis antiqua veritate dimissa unius hominis novitium sectemur errorem Vincent Lirin cap. 39. Peter himself was not in all things imitable nor walked uprightly according to the truth of the Gospel Gal. 2.14 so that Saint Paul withstood him to the face because he was to be blamed ver 11. get thee behind me Satan for thou savourest not the things that be of God but those that be of men Mat. 16.23 Never look for a moon without spots the best fruits have kernells cores stones parings the purest wheat hath chaffe bran Never yet was there among ministers or private Christians any so eminent in parts sound in graces orthodox in opinions regular in practises that durst challenge imitation or belief in all things and therefore Saint Paul modestly saith 1 Cor. 11.1 Be ye followers of me as I also am of Christ. Saint Augustine the soundest among the fathers could not did not justifie himself in all things even after his solemne rerractations and serious review of his own works some want failing errour did perhaps stick still by him Reason 3 3 Because the Devil can and often doth make use of great and good mens opinions judgements speeches doctrines manners practises to his own bad ends and devilish designes There is a tang of errour and imperfection in them that are the ablest gifted best graced saints the Devil can turn their wine into water make the gold dim Eccles 10.1 can corrupt a whole box of precious ointment with one dead and stinking flie that it shall become unwholesome loathsome Thus he hath used or rather abused the great learned Rabbies among the Jews to be perverters and poysoners of their nation till this day Some great men of place and parts in the Primitive Church were thus made use of by Satan (Å¿) So was blessed Cyprian by the cursed Donatists Vincent Lir. c. 11. ut etsi in errore concipiendo Origenis non fuit sensus ad errorem tamen persuadendum Origenis auctorita valere videatur Vinc. Lir. de Orig. cap. 23. to be leaders of a faction fathers of sects and heresies Luther that worthy instrument of God and heroick oppugner expugner of Papists Anabaptists and other erroneous sectaries yet is made in Consubstantiation and some other points by Satans policie authour and founder of the Lutherans (t) Mr Fox Acts Mon. vol. 2. p. 87. Vse 1 Therefore see and learn from hence the unsafenesse of too much affecting any man Instruct or addicting our selves to the opinions doctrines principles practises of the best teachers Take we heed how we have mens persons or parts or performances in too great admiration There will be something sometimes that may be said or done amisse Saint Paul himself would not glory but in his infirmities lest any man should think of him above that which he saw him to be 2 Cor. 12.5 6. 'T is a great folly for us to look for more in men to promise our selves more from creatures then we shall ever find in them 'T is not safe to pin our faith on any mans sleeve (u) Et profecto magna tentatio est cum ille quem tu prophetam quem prophetarum discipulum quem doctorem adsertorem veritatis putes quem summa veneratione amore comâ—lexus sis is subito latenter noxios subinducat errores quos nec cito deprehendere valeas dum antiqui magisterij duceris praejudicio nec facile damnare fas ducis dum magistri veteris impediris affectu Vinc. Lirin cap. 15. though they sit in Peters chair as the seducing Pharisees did in Moses's and arrogantly pretend to a more then Papal infallibility Leaven may be in their dough (1) infaelix ille Nestorius subito ex ove conversus in lupum gregem Christi lacerare coepisset cum eum hi ipsi qui rodebantur ex magna adhuc parte ovem crederent ideoque morsibus ejus magis paterent See and read the whole cap. 16. Vse 2 2. Hence then is deservedly taxed the indiscreet credulity of many plain meaning honestly minded Christians now a dayes that are too light of belief and so are unawares engaged and engulfed in errour from whence they cannot so easily extricate and deliver themselves When they heare of some affecting wel-gifted preacher (2) Photinus erat et ingenij viribus valens doctrinae opibus excellens eloquio praepotens sed bene quodcommissae ipsi
oves Christi cautae vigilantes quem antea quasi arietem gregis sequebantur eundem deinceps voluti lupum fugere coeperunt 3. Apollinaris ipse auditoribus suis magnos aestus magnas generavit angustias quippe cum eos huc ecclesiae traheret auctoritas huc magistri retraheret consuetudo nam quid illo praestantius acumine exercitatione doctrina quam multas ille haereses multis voluminibus opprefferit quot inimicos fidei confutaverit errores summis aedificatoribus ecclesiae par esse potuisset nisi prophana illa haereticae curiositatis libidine novum nescio quid invenisset quo cunctos labores suos velut cujusdam leprae admixtione faedaret ut doctrina ejus non tam aedificatio quam tentatio potius ecclesiastica diceretur Vinc. Lirin cap. 16. 4. Origenes in quo plura adeo praeclara adeo singularia adeo mira extiterunt ut inter initia habendam cunctis adsertionibus ejus fidem quivis facile judicaret Nam si vita si genus vel eruditio quid eo nobilius qui primum in ea domo natus est quae est illustrata martyrio Deinde pro Christo non solum patrâ— sed omni quoque facultate privatus tantum inter sanctae paupertatis profecit angustias ut pro nomine Dominicae confessionis saepius ut ferunt adfligeretur tanta etiam vis ingenii tam profundi tam acris tam elegantis eloquentiam vero quid memorem cujus fuit tam amoena tam lactea tam dulcis oratio ut mihi ex ore ipsius non tam verba quam mella quaedam fluxisse videantur Quanta apud omnes illius admiratio quanta gloria quanta gratia fuerit quis exequi valeat Quis non ad eum paulo religiosior ex ultimis mundi partibus advolavit Quis Christianorum non pene ut prophetam quis philosophorum non ut magistrum veneratus est se cum Origene errare malle quam cum aliis vera sentire tantae personae tanti doctoris tanti prophetae periculosa tentatio plurimos a fidei integritate deduceret Vinc. Lir. cap. 23. 5. Tertullianus ingenio acumine gravi vehementi cujus quot pene verba tot sententiae sunt quot sensus tot victoriae tamen hic idem hic Tortullianus exurgentes in ecclesia novellas Montani Furias insana illa insanarum mulierum novitii dogmatis somnia c. Vinc. Lir. cap. 24. read the chapt they will leaving their own minister whom God hath set over them perhaps one far more able sound truly zealous run after such because he can speak well seems an Apollos mighty in the Scriptures a man that can at least pretend holinesse heavenlinesse of life now this man though a sectarie seducer a corrupt leavener a mere mountebank and impostor shall be cried up followed admired idolized and all his doctrines though full of corrupt leaven shall be heedlesly and yet greedily swallowed Is this discreetly and Christianly done to take truths on trust but they are indeed falshood or to think that every good man hath a monopoly of all sound unerring ministeriall graces and accomplishments or so to magnifie yea Goddifie them that they receive and entertain them as the Galatians did Paul as an angell from heaven even as Jesus Christ himself Gal. 4.14 Beloved be these you so fancie so follow never so great leaned holy sanctified profitable teachers as you conceive yet still there may be a little crumb of some unespyed leaven of pride hypocrisie heresie some thing that is not very sound or wholesome Let them be what they are what they will be what they can be they are but men they may erre and deceive and be deceived 'T is God alone that cannot lie deceive any man or be deceived himself Vse 3 Last of all Let our blessed Saviours charge and warning here given to his Disciples men every way as good as wise as discerning as able as holy as the best of you can be let it I say sink into your eares pierce and settle into your hearts Take heed beware of the leaven of the Pharisees Beware of strange new and unsound opinions doctrines positions of the most plausible heart-moving preachers (w) quia jam grassatur passim nocentissimum fermentum imo plusquam lethale virus ad hanc omnium maxime necessariam cautionem totos suos sensus conferant Marlorat expos eccles Beware of fantasticall novelties though delivered defended by never so wise learned great grave honoured holy Seraphicall persons (x) ut omnes fere Catholici noverint fecum ecclesiae doctores recipere non cum Doctoribus ecclesiae fidem deserere debere Vinc. Lir. c. 23. Remember that Satan can transform himself into an angel of light and is then most a Devil when he seems a Saint Let not respect of persons sway with you (y) vult devitari rejici falsa dogmata quae a veritate abducunt absque omni personarum respectu sive sint Pharisaei hoc est doctissimi sive Sadducaei qui tam fere pontificatum administrabant sive Herodiani qui regali dignitate superbiebant Fides enim nostra non ex hominibus sed ex Deo ipsiusque verbo dependere debet Chemnit Harm c. 82. Say and resolve with your selves as once the great Philosopher Aristotle said of Plâ—to and Socrates in some case of dissent and difference in opinion Amicus Plato amicus Socrates sed magis amica Veritas that nothing but truth shall have force with you not such a teacher nor such a preacher nor such a powerfull perswasive heavenly man shall ever move or remove you Though they may be your good very good friends yet the truth is your best friend incomparably the best (z) Adnunciare ergo aliquid Christianis Catholicis praeter id quod acceperunt nunquam licuit nunquam licet nunquam licebit et anathemare eos qui adnuncient aliquid praeterquam quod semel acceptum est nunquam non oportuit nusquam non oportet nusquam non oportebit Clamet repetendo clamet omnibus semper ubique per literas suas clamet ille ille vas electionis ille magister gentium ille Apostolorum rubâ— ille terrarum praeco ille coelorum conscius ursi quis novum dogma adnunciaverit anathematizetur Et contra reclament ranae quaedam cyniphâ—s muscae moriturae quales sunt Pelagiani hoc Catholicis Nobis inquiunt autoribus nobis principibus nobis expositoribus damnate quae tenehatis tenete quae damnabatis rejicite antiquam fidem paterne instituta majorum deposita et recipite c. Vinc. Lir. cap. 14. in verb. Apost Gal. 1.8 9. The Devil is doubtlesse of great deep profound vast parts he hath learning knowledge even sacred though not saving above any yea all men he can likewise make shew of holinesse can personate an angel act to the life a seeming saint The Devil a monk would be so can his ministers and all deceitfull workers so could and did the Scribes and Pharisees appear glorious yet whited tombes so did those false teachers that seduced the Galatians they seemed to be somewhat desired to make a faire shew in the flesh were of chief note in the Church and yet rotten unsound in their doctrines preached another Gospel perverted the Gospel of Christ Such many such creep in among us who under pretence of preaching Christ preach down Christianity * Christianismum sub Christi nomine evertunt Paraeus in Galat. speaking of the Socinians Ye therefore beloved seeing ye know these things before beware lest ye also 2 Pet. 3.17 being led away with the errour of the wicked fall from your own stedfastnesse But grow in grace 18. and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to him be glory both now and for ever Amen FINJS