and to turn them from Darkness unto Light and from the Power of Satan unto God that they may receive Forgiveness of Sins and Inheritance among them which are sanctified through Faith that is in me Acts 26. 17 18. Q. Doth this Light abide with every man all his Life time in order to save or only during the Day of his Visitation A. Yet a little while is the Light with you walk while ye have the Light lest Darkness come upon you John 1â— 35. Again He limiteth a certain Day saying in David to day after so long time as it is said To day if ye will here his Voice harden not your Hearts Heb. 4. 7. Q. How can it be proved that there is a day wherein People may know things concerning their Peace which afterwards may be hid from them A. And when he was come near he beheld the City and wept over it saying If thou hadst known even thou at least in this thy day the things which belong unto thy Peace but now they are hid from thine Eyes Luke 19. 41 42. Q. Is there any further Scripture-Proof of the Lord's Willingness to gather a People who would not and therefore were condemned A. O Jerusalem Jerusalem thou that killest the Prophets and stonest them which are sent unto thee How oft would I have gathered thy Children together even as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her Wings and ye would not Mat. 23. 37. Luke 13. 34. Then his Lord after that he had called him said unto him O thou Wicked Servant I forgave thee all the Debt because thou desiredst me shouldst not thou also have had Compassion on thy Fellow Servant even as I had Pitty on thee And his Lord was wroth and delivered him to the Tormentors till he should pay all that was due unto him Mat. 18. 32 33 34. Then Paul and Barnabas waâ—ed bold and said It was necessary that the Word of God should first have been spoaken to you but seeing ye put it from you and judge your selves unworthy of Everlasting Life â—o we turn to the Gentiles Acts 13. 46. Because I have called and ye refused I have stretched out my Hand and no man regarded But ye have set at nought all my Counsel and would none of my Reproof I also will laugh at your Calamity I will mock when your Fear cometh Prov. 1. 24 25 26. And at what Instant I shall speak concerning a Nation and concerning a Kingdom to build and to plant it If it do Evil in my Sight that it obey not my Voice then I will Repent of the Good wherewith I said I would benefit them Jer. 18. 9 10. Q. Doth God's Spirit strive then for a season and afterwardâ— forbear A. And the Lord said My Spirit shall not alwayes strive with man Gen. 6. 3. Q. May it then be resisted A. Ye Stiff-necked and Uncircumcised in Heart and Ears ye do alwayes Resist the holy Ghost as your Fathers did so do ye Act. 7. 51. For the Wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all Ungodliness and Unrighteousness of Men who hold the Truth in Unrighteousness Rom. 1. 18. Q. Hath God manifested to man that which may be known of himself A. That which may be known of God is manifest in them for God hath shewed it unto them Rom. 1. 19. Q. Is then this Light or Seed sown in the Hearts of Evil Men A. And he spake many things to them in Parables Behold a Sower went forth to sow when he sowed some Seeds fell by the Way side c. some fell among stony Places c. and some fell among Thorns c. Matth. 13 3 4 5 7. Q. Are these Places where the Seed is said 〈◊〉 have fallen understood of the Hearts of Men A. Hear ye therefore the Parable of thâ— Sower when any one heareth the Word oâ— the Kingdom and understandeth it not theâ— cometh the wicked One and catcheth awaâ— that which was sown in his Heart this is hâ— which receiv'd the Seed by the Way side c Mat. 13. 18 19. Q. Is this Seed small in its first Appearanceâ— A. The Kingdom of Heaven is like to a Grain of Mustard Seed which a man took and sowed in his Field which indeed is the least of all all Seeds Mat. 13. 31 32. Q. Forasmuch as many understand not this under the Notion and Appellation of Light or Seed it being quite another Dialect then the common though I must needs confess it is the very Language of the Scriptures Is a Saving Manifestation of the Spirit given unto all A. The Manifestation of the Spirit given to every man to profit withal 1 Cor. 12. 7. Q. Sure if it be to profit withal it must be in order to save for if it were not useful yea sufficient to save what Profit could it be of But in regard some speak of a Grace that is common and of a Grace that is saving is there such a Grace common unto all as brings Salvation A. The Grace of God that brings Salvation hath appeared to all men Tit. 2. 11. Q. That which brings Salvation must needs be saving What doth that Grace teach us A. Teaching us that denying Ungodliness and Worldly Lusts we should live Soberly Righteously Godlily in this present World Tit. 2. 11. Q. Certainly that which teacheth both Righteousness and Godliness must be sufficient for therein consisteth the whole Duty of Man What saith the Apostle else-where of this Instructor A. And now Brethren I commend you to God and to the Word of his Grace which is able to build you up and to give you an Inheritance among all those that are sanctified Acts 20. 32. Q. What is the Word of God A. The Word of God is quick and powerful and sharper then any Two-edged Sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of Soul and Spirit and of the Joynts and Marrow and is a Discerner of the Thooghts and Intents of the Heart Neither is there any Creature that is not manifest in his Sight but all things are naked and open to the Eyes of him with whom we have to do Heb. 4. 12 13. Q. Ought we to take heed to this Word A. We have also a More Sure Word of Prophecy whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a Light that shineth in a Dark Place until the Day dawn and the Day-Star arise in your Hearts 2 Pet. 1. 19. Q. I perceive the Scriptures are very clear both concerning the Vniversality Sufficiency of this Light Seed Grace and Word of God but is this Word nigh or afar off inward or outward A. Say not in thine Heart Who shall ascend into Heaven that is to bring Christ down from above or who shal descend into the Deep that is to bring up Christ again from the Dead But what saith it The Word is nigh in thy Mouth and in thy Heart that is the Word of Faith which we preach Rom. 10. 6 7 8. Q. That is clear
of one For by the exceding great and precious Promises that are given them they are made Partakers of the divine Nature Because for this Endprayed Christ that they all might be one as the Father is in him and he in the Father that they also might be one in them the Glory which he had gotten from the Father he gave them that they might be one even as the Father and he is one Christ in the Saints and the Father in Christ that they might be made perfect in one ARTICLE X. Concerning the Universal Love and Grace of God to all GOd so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have Everlasting Life And in this was manifested the Love of God towards us because that God sent his only begotten Son that we might live through him So that if any Man sin we have an Advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the Righteous and he is the Propitiation for our Sins and not for ours only but also for the Sins of the whole World For by the Grace of God he hath tasted Death for every Man And gave himself a Ransom for all to be testified in due Time Willing all Men to be saved and to come to the Knowledge of the Truth Not willing that any should perish but that all should come to Repentance For God sent not his Son into the World to condemn the World but that the World through him might be saved And Christ came a Light into the World that whosoever believeth in him should not abide in Darkness Therefore as by the Offence of one Judgment came upon all Men to Condemnation even so by the Righteousness of one the free Gift came upon all Men to Justification of Life ARTICLE XI Concerning the Light that enlighteneth every Man THe Gospel was preached to every Creature under Heaven Which Gospel is the Power of God unto Salvation to them that believe And if it be hid it is hid to them that are lost in whom the God of this World hath blinded the Minds of them which believe not lest the Light of the glorious Gospel of Christ should shine into them And this is the Condemnation that Light is come into the World and Men love Darkness rather then Light because their Deeds are Evil And this was the true Light which lightneth every Man that cometh into the World By which all things that are reproveable are made manifest for whatsoever maketh manifest is Light Every one that doth Evil hateth the Light neither cometh to the Light lest his Deeds should be reproved but he that doth Truth cometh to the Light that his Deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God And they that walk in the Light as Christ is in the Light have Fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth them from all Sin Therefore ought we to believe in the Light while we have the Light that we may be the Children of the Light Therefore to Day if we will hear his Voice let us not harden our Hearts For Christ wept over Jerusalem saying If thou hadst known even thou at least in this thy Day the Things which belong unto thy Peace but now they are hid from thine Eyes And he would often have gathered her Children as a Hen gathereth her Chickens but they would not for the stiff-necked and uncircumcised in Heart and Ears do alwayes resist the Holy Ghost And are of those that rebel against the Light Therefore God's Spirit will not alwayes strive with Man For the Wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all Ungodliness and Unrighteousness of Men who hold the Truth in Unrighteousness Because what is to be known of God is manifest in them for God hath shewed it unto them And a Manifestation of the Spirit is given to every Man to profit withall For the Grace of God that brings Salvation hath appeared to all Men teaching us that denying Ungodliness and Worldly Lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present World And this Word of his Grace is able to build up and give an Inheritance among all those that are sanctified For the Word of God is quick and powerful and sharper then any two-edged Sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of the Soul and Spirit and of the Joints and Marrow and is a Discerner of the Thoughts and Intents of the Heart This is that more sure Word of Prophecie whereunto we do well that we take heed as unto a Light that shineth in a dark Place until the Day dawn and the Day-Star arise in the Heart And this is the Word of Faith which the Apostles preached which is nigh in the Mouth and in the Heart For God who commanded Light to shine out of Darkness hath shined in our Hearts to give the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ But we have this Treasure in earthen Vessels that the Excellency of the Power may be of God and not of us for the Kingdom of God cometh not by Observation but is within us ARTICLE XII Concerning Faith and Justification FAith is the Substance of things hoped for and the Evidence of things not seen VVithout which is is impossible to please God Therefore we are justified by Faith which worketh by Love For Faith without Works being dead is by Works made perfect By the Deeds of the Law there shall no Flesh be justified Nor yet by the Works of Righteousness which we have done but according to his Mercy we are saved by the VVashing of Regeneration and renewing of the holy Ghost For we are both washed sanctified and justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God ARTICLE XIII Concerning Good Works IF we live after the Flesh we shall dye but if we through the Spirit do mortifie the Deeds of the Body we shall live For they which believe in God must be careful to maintain Good Works For God will render to every Man according to his Deeds according to his righteous Judgment to them who by patient Continuance in well-doing seek for Glory Honour and Immortality Eternal Life For such are counted worthy of the Kingdom of God And cast not away their Confidence which hath great Recompence of Reward Blessed then are they that do his Commandments that they may have Right to the Tree of Life and may enter in through the Gates into the City ARTICLE XIV Concerning Perfection SIn shall not have Dominion over such as are not under the Law but under Grace For there is no Condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after
be testified in due time 1 Tim. 2. 1. 3 4 6. Q. What is the Apostle Peter's Testimony in this A. The Lord is not â—lack concerning his Promise as some men count Slackness but is Long-suffering to us-ward not willing that any should perish but that all should come to Repentance 2 Pet. 3. 9. Q. Are there any more Scripture-Passages that prove this thing A. Say unto them As I live saith the Lord God I have no Pleasure in the Death of the Wicked but that the Wicked turn from his VVay and live Ezek. 33. 11. The Lord is Gracious and full of Compassion slow to Anger and of great Mercy The Lord is good to all and his tender Mercies are over all his VVorks Plal. 145. 8 9. To wit That God was in Christ reconciling the VVorld unto himself 2 Cor. 5. 19. Q. Seeing then by these Scriptures it appears that the Love of God is held out to all that all might have been or may be saved by Christ What is to be judged of those who assert that God nor Christ never purposed Love nor Salvation to a great part of Mankind and that the Coming and Sufferings of Christ never were intended nor could be useful to their Justification but will and must be effectual for their Condemnation even according to God's Purpose who from their very Infancy to their Grave with-held from them all Means of Salvation What saith the Scripture to such A. For God sent not his Son into the World to condemn the World but that the World through him might be saved John 3. 17. I am come a Light into the World that whosoever believeth in me should not abide in Darkness And if any man hear my words and believe not I judge him not for I came not to judge the World but to save the World Joh. 12. 46 47. Q. From what Scripture then come these men to wrest an Opinion so contrary to Truth A. For the Children being not yet born neither having done any Good or Evil that the Purpose of God according to Election might stand it was said unto her The Elder shall serve the Younger as it is written Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated Rom. 9. 11 12 13. Q. I perceive in that Scripture it was only said before the Children were born The Elder shall serve the Younger These other words Jacob have I loved Esau have I hated are mention'd out of the Prophet Malachie who wrote them many hundred years after both were dead Doth not the Scripture mention any â—ther Cause of God's Hating Esau then meerly his Decree What saith the same Apostle elsewhere A. Left there be any Fornicator or Prophane Person as Esau who for one Morsel of Meat sold his Birth Right for ye know how that afterward when he would have inherited the Blessing he was rejected Heb. 12. 16 17. Q. But seeing that such allege that it is because of Adam's Sin that many even Children are damned Doth not the Scripture â—ver that the Death of Christ was as large to Heal as Adam's Sin could Condemn A. For if through the Offence of one many be dead much more the Grace of God and the Gift by Grace which is by one Man Jesus Christ. Therefore as by the Offence of one Judgment came upon all men to Condemnation even so by the Righteousness of one the free Gift came upon all men unto Justification of Life Rom. 5. 15 18. Q. That proves abundantly that Christ's Death is of sufficient Extent to make up any Hurt Adam's Sin brought upon Mankind What is then the Cause of Condemnation A. He that believeth on him is not Condemned but he that believeth not is condemned already because he hath not believed in the Name of the Only Begotten Son of God John 3. 18. And with all Deceivableness of Unrighteousness in them that perish because they received not the Love of the Truth that they might be saved And for this Cause God shall send them strong Delusions that they should believe a Lye that they all might be damned who believe not the Truth but had Pleasure in Unrighteousness 2 Thess. 2. 10 11 12. Q. Seeing it is so of a Truth according to the Scripture's Testimony that God has purposed Love and Mercy to all in the Appearance of his Son Jesus Christ Is the Gospel or Glad-Tidings of this Salvation brought nigh unto all by which they are put into a Capacity of receiving the Grace and being saved by it A. If ye continue in the Faith grounded and setled and be not moved away from the Hope of the Gospel which ye have heard and which was preached to every Creature which is under Heaven whereof I Paul am made a Minister Col. 1. 23. Q. What is the Gospel A. I am not ashamed of the Gospel for it is the Power of God unto Salvation unto every one that believeth Rom. 1. 16. Q. Is this Gospel hid A If our Gospel be hid it is hid to them that are Lost in whom the God of this World hath blinded the Minds of them which believe not lest the Light of the Glorious Gospel of Christ should shine unto them 2 Cor. 4. 3 4. Q. Is this Light then come into the World and are not men condemned because they love it not and not because it is hid from them A. And this is the Condemnation that Light is come into the World and men love Darkness rather then Light Joh. 3. 19. Q. Why do they so A. Because their Deeds are Evil John 3. 19. Q. Is every man enlightened by this Light A. He was not that Light but was sent to bear witness of that Light that was the True Light which enlightneth every man that cometh into the World John 1. 8 9. Q. Doth this Light discover all things A. All things that are reproved are made manifest by the Light for whatsoever doth make manifest is Light Ephes. 5. 13. Q. Do Evil Men preach up this Light or mind it A. Every one that doth Evil hateth the Light neither cometh to the Light lest his Deeds should be reproved John 3. 20. They are of those that Rebel against the Light Job 24. 13. Q. Do Good Men love it and follow it A. He that doth Truth comes to the Light that his Deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God John 3. 21. Q. What Benefit doth redound to such as love the Light and walk in it A. If we walk in the Light as he is in the Light we have â—ellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all Sin 1 Joh. 1. 7. Q. Doth Christ command to take heed to the Light A. While ye have the Light believe in the Light that ye may be the Children of the Light Joh. 12. 36. Q. Were the Apostles commanded to turn People to the Light A. Delivering thee from the People and from the Gentiles unto whom now I send thee To open their Eyes
Benefits or Advantages that accrew to one and all Such then cannot honestly lay claim to justifie their Principles and practices from the Scriptures But I leave these Straglers in Religion and come again to the divers Sects To begin with these that are most numerous I think I need not say much to the Papists in this Case for they do not so much as pretend to prove all their Dogmaes by the Scriptures sith it is one of their chief Doctrines That Tradition may Authorize Doctrines without any Authority of Scripture Yea the Council of Constance hath made bold to command things to be believed Non obstante Scriptura i.e. Though the Scriptures say the contrary and indeed it were their great Folly to pretend to prove their Doctrines by Scripture seeing the Adoration of Saints and Images Purgatory and Prayer for the Dead the Precedency of the Bishop of Rome the Matter of Indulgencies with much more Stuff of that kind hath not the least Shadow of Scripture for it Among Protestants I know the Socinians are great Pretenders to the Scriptures and in Words as much exalt them as any other People And yet its strange to see how that not only in many things they are not agreeable to them but in some of their chief Principles quite contrary unto it as in their Denying the Divinity of Christ which is as expresly mentioned as any thing can be And the Word was God Joh. 1. As also in Denying his Being from the Beginning against the very Tenour of that of John 1. and divers other as at large is shown in the third Chapter of this Treatiâ—e Divers other things as to them might be mentioned but this may suffice to stop their Boasting in this Matter The Arminians are not more successful in their Denying the False Doctrine of Absolute Reprobation and in Asserting the Vniversal Extent of Christ's Death for all then they are short in not placing this Salvation in that Spiritual Light where with man is enlightned by Christ but wrongously asscribing a Part of that to the Natural Will and Capacity which is due alone to the Grace and Power of God by which the Work is both begun carried on and accomplished And herein they as well as both the Socinians and Pelagians though they do well in Condemning their Errors yet they miss in setting up another and not the Truth in place thereof and in that respect are justly reproved by such Scriptures as their Adversaries who otherwise are as far wrong as they bring against them in shewing the Depravity of man's VVill by Nature and his Incapacity to do any Good but as assisted by the Grace of God so to do On the other hand It s strange to observe how many Protestants the first Article of whose Confession of Faith is to assert the Scripture to be the Only Rule should deny the Universal Extent of Christ's Death contrary to the express words of Scripture which saith He tasted Death for for every man or the Universality of Grace and a sufficient Principle which the Scriptures assert in as many positive words as except we may suppose the Pen-men intended another thing then they spoke it was possible to do viz. A Manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal The Grace of God that brings Salvation hath appeared unto all men and many more be ore-mentioned The like may be said of their denying the Perfection of the Saints and asserting the Impossibility of any falling away from real Beginnings of true and saving Grace contrary to so many express Scriptures as are heretofore adduced in their proper Place But to give all that defire to be undeceived a more full Oportunity to observe serve how the Devil has abused many pretending to be wise in making them cloak with a Pretence of Scripture false and pernicious Doctrines I shall take a few of many Instances out of the Confession of Faith and Catechism made by the Divines at Westminster so called because the same is not only most universally received and believed by the People of Britain and Ireland but also containeth upon the Matter the Faith of the French Churches and of most others both in the Nether-Lands and else-where that it may appear what wild Consequences these Men have sought both contrary to the naked Import of the words and to all common Sense and Reason to cover some of their Erroneous Principles CHAP. XVIII A Short Examination of some of the Scripture-Proofs alledged by the Divines at Westminster to prove divers Articles in their Confession of Faith and Catechism IT is not in the least my Design in this Chapter to offer so large an Examination of any of their Articles as might be done nor yet of so many as are very obvious but only of two or three to give the Reader a Taste of them for Example's sake whereby as ex ungue Leonem he may judge of most of all the rest if he will be at the pains narrowâ—ly to look over and examine them I shall begin with the first Chapter Sect. 1. where they assert two things First That God has committed his Will now wholely to writing Secondly That the former Wayes of God's revealing his Will as by Immediate Revelation are now ceased The Scriptures they bring to prove are first Prov. 22. 19 20 21. Vers. 19. That thy Trust may be in the Lord I have made known to thee this day even to thee Vers. 20. Have not I written to thee Excellent Things in Counsels Knowledge Vers. 21. That I might make thee know the Certainty of the Words of Truth that thou mightest answer the Words of Truth to them that send unto thee Luke 1. 3 4. Vers. 3. It seemed good to me also having had perfect Vnderstanding of all things from the very first to write unto thee in Order most excellent Theophilus that thou mightest know the Certainty of those things wherein thou hast been instructed Rom. 15 4. For whatsoever things were written afore-time were written for our Learning that we through Patience and Comfort of the Scriptures might have Hope Mat. 4. 4 7 10. But he answered and said It is written Man shall not live by Bread alone but by every Word that proceedeth out of the Mouth of God 7. Jesus said unto him It is written again Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God 10. Then saith Jesus unto him Get thee hence Satan for it is written Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve Isa. 8. 19 20. 19. And when they shall say unto you Seek unto them that have Familiar Spirits and unto Wizards that peep and that mutter Should not a People seek unto their God for the Living to the Dead To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this Word it is because there is no Light in them But is it not matter of Admiration that men should be so beside themselve as to imagine these
and Noah walked with God Ger. 6. 9. And the Lord said unto Satan Hast thou considered my Servant Job that there is none like him in the Earth a Perfect and an Upright Man that feareth God and escheweth Evil Job 1. 8. There was in the dayes of Herod King of Judea a certain Priest named Zacharias of the Course of Abja and his Wife was of the Daughters of Aaron and her Name was Elizabeth and they were both Righteous before God walking in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blameless Luke 1. 1 2. Q. That proves sufficiently as to particular Persons But what doth the Scripture intimate of this nature even of considerable Numbers A. But God who is rich in Mercy for his great Love wherewith he hath loved us even when we were dead in Sins hath quickened us together with Christ and hath raised us up together and made us sit together in Heavenly Places in Christ Jesus Ephes. 2. 4 5 6. But ye are come unto Mount Sion and unto the City of the Living God the Heavenly Jerusalem and to an Innumerable Company of Angels to the General Assembly Church of the First-born which are written in Heaven to God the Judge of all and to the Spirits of Just Men made perfect Hebr. 12. 22 23. And I Looked and lo a Lamb stood on the Mount Sion and with him an Hundred Forty and Four Thousand having his Father's Name written in their Fore-heads These are they which were not defiled with Women for they are Virgins These are they which follow the Lamb wheresoever he goeth These were redeemed from among men being the First Fruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their Mouth was found no Guile for they are without Fault before the Throne of God Rev. 14. 1 4. CHAP. VIII Concerning Perseverance Falling from GRACE Question IS it enough for a Believer to be sure that he hath once received true Grace or is there any further Certainty requisite A. Wherefore the rather Brethren give Diligence to make your Calling and Election sure for if ye do these things ye shall never fall 2 Pet. 1. 10. Q. May one that hath received true Grace have Ground to fear or suppose he can fall A. But I keep under my Body and bring it into Subjection lest that by any Means when I have preached to others I my self should become a Cast away 1 Cor. 9. 27. Q. That greatly contradicteth the Doctrine of such as say Once in â—race ever in Grace But doth the Apostle Paul express this only oâ—t of an Humble Esteem of himself or doth he judg or suppose the like of other Saints A. Take heed Brethren lest there be in any of you an Evil Heart of Unbelief in departing from the Living God But exhort one another daily while it is called to day lest any of you be hardened through the Deceitfulness of Sin Hebr. 4. 12 13. Let us labour therefore to enter into that Rest lest any man fall after the same Example of Unbelief Hebr. 4. 11. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened and have tasted of the Heavenly Gift and were made Partakers of the Holy Ghost and have tasted the Good Word of God and the Powers of the World to come if they shall fall away to renew them again unto Repentance seeing they crucifie to themselves the Son of God afresh and put him to an open Shame Hebr. 6. 4 5 6. Looking diligently lest any man fail of the Grace of God lest any Root of Bitterness springing up trouble you and thereby many be defiled Hebr. 12. 15. Q. Doth he speak this only by Supposition or doth he assert it not only Possible but Certain A. 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 Ears and they shall turn away their Ears from the Truth and shall be turned unto Fables 2 Tim. 4. 3. Q. Doth the Apostle even judge it necessary to guard such a one as his beloved Son Timothy against this Hazard A. This Charge I commit unto thee Son Timothy according to the Prophecies which went before on thee that thou by them might war the good Warfare Holding Faith in a good Conscience which some having put away concerning Faith have made Shipwrack 1 Tim. 1. 18 19. For the Love of Money is the Root of all Evil which while some coveted after they have erred from the Faith and pierced themselves through with many Sorrows 2 Tim. 4. 10. And their Word will eat as doth a Canker of whom is Hymeneus and Philetâ—â— who concerning the true Faith have erred saying That the Resurrection is past already and overthrown the Faith of some 2 Tim. 2. 17 18. Q. Doth the Apostle any where express his Fears of this as a thing that may happen to any number of People who once truly received the Faith of Christ A. Well because of Unbelief they were broaken off and thou standest by Faith be not High-minded but fear Rom. 11 20. Now the Spirit speaketh expresly that in the Latter times some shall depart from the Faith c. 1 Tim. 4. 1. For this Cause when I could no longer forbear I sent to know your Faith lest by some means the Tempter have tempted you and our Labour be in vain 1 Thess. 3. 5. Q. What is the Apostle Peter's Mind does he judge that such as have known the right Way may forsake it A. Cursed Children which have forsaken the Righteous Way and are gone astray following the Way of Balaam the Son of Bezâ—r who loved the Wages of Unrighteousness but was rebuked for his Iniquity the dumb Ass speaking with Man's Voice forbad the Madness of the Prophet These are Wells without Water Clouds that are carried with a Tempest to whom the Mist of Darkness is reserved forever For when they speak great swelling Words of Vanity they allure through the Lusts of the Flesh through much Wantonness those that were clean escaped from them who live in Error For if after they have escaped the Pollutions of the World through the Knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ they are again entangled therein and overcome the Latter-end is worse with them then the Beginning for it had been better for them not to have known the Way of Righteousness then after they have known it to turn from the holy Commandment delivered unto them But it is happened to them according to the true Proverb The Dog is turned to his Vomit again and the Sow that was washed to her wallowing in the Mire 2 Pet. 2. 14 15 18 20 21 22. Q. Gives he any Cautions to them that stand as supposing they may also fall A. Ye therefore Beloved seeing ye know these Things before beware lest ye also being led away with the Error of the Wicked fall from your own Stedfastness 2 Pet. 3. 17. Q. May a man be truly a Branch in Christ or