foot to subvert their Faith and expose the whole Christian Doctrine to contempt First The manner of obtestation falleth first under our consideration in which two things are mentioned 1. The coming of Christ. 2. Their gathering together unto him Obtestations are by those things which have great reverence and respect with us as most likely to prevail Now these two things are mentioned 1. As weighty 2 Tim. 4.1 I charge thee before God and the Lord Iesus Christ who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearance and his Kingdom 2. This was the Article mistaken and perverted as to one circumstance the Time but the thing is taken for granted as an unquestionable truth and the support of all their hopes 2 Thess. 1.10 When he shall come to be glorified in his Saints and admired in all them that believe 3. This was a famous Christian Doctrine with which the Apostles usually began in planting Religion in any place 1 Thess. 5.1 2 3. But of the times and the seasons ye have no reason that I write unto you for ye your selves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night c. 4. It was of precious account with them 2 Tim. 4.8 Henceforth is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness which the Lord the righteous Iudge shall give me at that day and not to me only but unto them also that love his appearing So that the obtestation implyeth both the certainty of their belief and also their dear account of this Article of Faith and therefore the sense is As you do assuredly expect him and love and look and long for this day that it may go well with you and Christ appear to your glory so be not troubled 1. Doct. That the coming of Christ to the judgment is a truth well known firmly believed and earnestly desired by all true Christians 2. Doct. That when Christ shall come all the Saints shall be gathered together unto him 1. Doct. That the coming of Christ to the judgment is a truth well known firmly believed and earnestly desired by all the Saints 1. That it is well known the Apostle produceth the testimony of Enoch Jude 14. Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his Saints David often mentioneth it as a thing delighted in by Believers therefore in a Poetical or rather Prophetical strain he calleth upon the Heavens Earâ—h Sea and Fields to rejoice before the Lord for he cometh for hâ— cometh to judge the Earth he shall judge the World with Righteousness and the people with his truth Psal. 96.13 and again Psal. 98.10 He calleth upon the Creatures to rejoice before the Lord for he cometh to judge the Earth with Righteousness shall he judge the World and the people with Equity passages whiâ—h relate not only to the Kingdom of the Messiah as it is exercised now in the World but also to his final act of judging till which time they are not fully verifyed Solomon bindeth â—he whole duty of man upon him by his consideration Eccles. 12.13 14. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter Fear God and keep his Commandements for this is the whole duty of man for God shall bring every work into Iudgment with every secret thing whether it be good or whether it be evil And the Apostles when they went abroad to Proselyte the World usually began with this point 2. That this is firmly believed by all true Christians This must needs be so because it is the grand inducement to all Piety and Godliness and none ever disbelieved it but those the interest of whose Lusts ingaged them to question it 2 Pet. 3.3 4 5. Knowing this first that there shall come in the last days scoffers walking after their own lusts and saying Where is the promise of his coming For since the Fathers fell asleep all things continue as they were from the beginning of the Creation For this they willingly are ignorant of c. willingly ignorant their interest puts them upon it rather than their Conscience because this Doctrine filleth them with unquiet thoughts that they cannot so securely follow their sinful practices till they blot out the fear of it or banish the thoughts of it out of their hearts but all that obey the teachings of grace take it for objective or subjective grace they firmly believe it Tit. 2.11 12 13. For the grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared to all men teaching us that denying ungodlâ—ness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present World looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearance of the great God and our Saviour Iesus Christ. The sound belief of it is not so much encountred with the doubts of the mind as the inclinations of their perverse hearts Now the seeming reasons of partial men are not to be heard especially as delivered in a scoffing malicious way and on the other side Godliness and Mortification standeth upon such evident reason as mans unquestionable duty that it needeth not to be maintained by a lie and manifest falshood Certainly they that deny it do not so much reason against this Article of our Christian Faith as scoff at it and it is to be imputed to the malignity of their tempers rather than the acuteness or sharpness of their reason that they do not believe it Many things which they urge are a manifest token of the contrary As the calamities of the good 2 Thess. 1.4 5. So that we glory in you for your Faith and Patience in all your Persecutions and tribulations that you endure which is a manifest token of the righteous Iudgment of God The perversion of Justice Eccles. 3.16 17. And moreover I saw under the Sun the place of Iudgment that wickedness was there and the place of righteousness that iniquity was there I said in my heart God shall judge the righteous and the wicked for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work Things must be reviewed and judged over again A State Engine to serve Order and Government doth the benefit of mankind need a lie to promote it Doth carnal interest govern the World or Vertue If meer carnal Interest what a confusion would there be of all things Then men might commit all Villany take away mens lives and goods when it is their interest or they could do it safely and secretly without infringement of their interest Servants poison their Masters if they could do it without discovery and there were no sin in it men prey upon others if it be in the power of their hands and catch he that catch can without impunity would be the truest Wisdom Clear it is Vertue cannot be supported without the thoâ—ghts of a World to come and it is unreasonable to imagine that God would make a World which cannot be governed without falshood and deceit 3. That it is earnestly desired by all true Christians that is of chief respect
holiness and reconciliation with a God the Terminus à quo men are carnal ungodly 1. Carnal when man fell from God he fell to himself self interposed as the next Heir and that self was not the Soul but the Flesh many wrong their Souls but no man ever yet hated his own Flesh and therefore men would rule themselves and please themselves according to their fleshly appetite and fancy John 3.6 That which is born of the flesh is â—lesh and therefore love the Pleasures Honours and Profits of the World as the necessary provision to satisfy the desires of the Flesh And whosoever live thus they live in a carnal state as all do till grace renew them Rom. 8.5 but this carnal estate doth breâ—k forth and bewray it self in various ways of sinning Titus 3.3 For we our selves also were sometimes foolish disobedient deceived serving divers lusts and pleasures living in malice and envy hateful and hating one another All are not Fornicators Drunkards Persecutors nor live in the same way of sinnng but all are turned from God to the World and have a carnal mind which is emnity to God Rom. 8. 7. 2. The next word is ungodly men thus constituted live either in a denial of God Psalm 14.1 The fool hath said in his heart there is no God or a neglect of God Ephes. 2.12 Without God in the world without any acknowledgment or worship of him Psalm 9.17 The wicked shall be turned into Hell and all the Nations that forget God or if not deprived of all sense of a Deity they worship false Gods as those Acts 14.12 13. the men of Lycaonia that called Barnabas Iupiter and Paul Mercurius because he was the chief Speaker and would have sacrificed to them and the Apostle saith to the Galatians Gal. 4. 8. When ye knew not God ye did service to them which by nature are no Gods they worshipped plurality of false Gods And though the wise men of the Gentiles had some confused knowledge of the true God Rom. 1.19 20 21. yet they glorified him not as God but committed Idolatry by setting up a false medium of worship an Idol which begot a bruitish Conception of God in their mind so that a false Religion is so far from shewing a remedy of corrupt nature that it is a great part of the Disease it self 2. The Terminus ad quem into a state of Holiness and Reconciliation with God in whom alone man can be happy 1. For Holiness and Obedience to God the great design of the Christian Religion is to bring us back to God again 1. As we are carnal by the denial of fleshly and worldly lusts Tit. 2.12 The Grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts c. 1 Pet. 2.11 Dearly beloved I beseech you as Strangers and Pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the soul and Gal. 5.24 They that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts 2. As we are Ungodly to bring us to the Knowledge Love Worship and Obedience of the true God Acts 14.15 We pray you that ye should turn from these vanities to the living God that hath made Heaven and Earth and the Sea and all things therein and to seek after the Lord from whom we have life breath and all things Acts 17.25 26 28.1 Thess. 1.9 How ye turned from Idols to serve the living and true God 2. Reconciliation with God that we might have commerce with him for the present and live for ever with him hereafter 2 Cor. 5.19 God was in Christ reconciling the World unto himself not imputing their Trespasses unto them and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation 1 Pet. 1.18 Ye are not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vain conversations c. Heb. 7.25 He is able to save unto the uttermost all that come unto God through him That whereas before they were alienated from the life of God they might live in his love and in the expectation of being admitted into his blessed presence that they may see him as he is and be like him 1 Iohn 3.2 2. The way it took to obtain these ends how God may be satisfied man renewed and changed God pacified by the Sacrifice Merit and Intercession of Christ Jesus who came in our flesh and nature not only to acquaint us with the Will of God and the unseen things of another World but to suffer an accursed death for our sins therefore the mystery of Godliness is chiefly seen in God manifested in our flesh 1 Tim. 3.16 and man must be renewed and changed for our misery sheweth what is needful to our remedy and recovery that we be not only pardoned but sanctified if ever we will be saved and glorified for till men have new and holy hearts they can never see God Hob. 12.14 Without holiness it is impossible to see God Mat. 5.8 Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God c. nor for the present love him and delight in him nor take him for their chief happiness As none but Christ can satisfie Justice and reconcile such a Rebel to God so none but Christs Spirit can sanctifie and renew our Souls that we may live in obedience to him 1 Cor. 6.11 Such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Iesus and by the spirit of our God This is the Mystery of Godliness 2. Now for the mystery of ungodliness or iniquity that is a quite opposite state but carried on plausibly and with seeming respect to the mystery which it opposeth To know it take these considerations 1. Where the â—â—rnal life is had in request and honour there certainly is the mystery of Iniquity to be found whatever pretences be put upon it Now the carnal life is there had in request and honour 1. Where all is referred to Worldly gain and profit and the whole frame of the Religion tendeth that way for certainly they are Enemies to the Cross of Christ whose God is their belly and who mind earthly things Phil. 3.19 Now Pardons Indulgences Purgatory Shrines of Saints what do they all tend unto but to make a merchandize of Religion It was an old by-word Omnia Romae venalia all things may be bought at Rome even Heaven and God himself c. And these things are used not only to open the peoples mouths in Prayer but their hands in Oblations and Offerings The Complexion of their Religion is but a gainful Trade But the Papal exactions and traffickings have been so much and so loudly insisted upon and the evil runneth out into so many branches that I shall forbear 2. Where temporal greatness is looked upon as the main prop of their Religion The Kings Daughter is glorious within rich in Gifts and Graces Psal. 45.13 and Psalm 93.5 Holiness becometh thy house O Lord for ever
XVIII SERMONS ON THE Second Chapter of the 2d Epistle TO THE THESSALONIANS CONTAINING The Description Rise Growth and Fall OF ANTICHRIST With divers Cautions and Arguments to establish Christians against the Apostacy of the Church of ROME Very necessary for these Times By that late Reverend and Learned Divine THOMAS MANTON D. D. LONDON Printed by I. D. for I. Robinson at the Golden Lion in St. Paul's Church-Yard and B. Aylmer at the Three Pigeons in Cornhil over against the Royal-Exchange 1679. Reader Doctor Thomas Manton was not so unknown to London nor is he so much forgotten as that his Name or Writings should need any of my Commendations But Booksellers expecting such an office I have gâ—eat reason to be willing to serve thee in serving the Memorial of such a Friend What he was I need not tell even strangers after the Character truly given of him by his Friend and mine in his Funeral Sermon How sound in Iudgment against extreams in the Controversies of these Times a great Lamenter of the scandalouâ— and dividing Mistakes of some Self-conceiteâ— Men How earnestly desirous of the heâ—ling of our present Breaches and not unacquainted wiâ—h the proper Means and Terms of which the Author of his Funeral Sermon and I had more than ordinary experience How hard and successful a Student he was and how frequent aâ—d laborious a Preacher and how highly anâ— deservedly esteemed All this and more is commonly here known The small distaste that some few had of him I took for part of his Honour who would not win Reputation with any by flattering them in their mistakes or unwarrantable ways He used not to serve God with that which cost him nothing nor was of their mind who cannot expect or extol God's Grace without denying those endeavours of Man to which his necessary Grace exciteth them He knew that without Christ we could do nothing and yet that by Christ's strengthening us we can do all things which God hath made necessary to be done by us He was not of their mind that thought it Derogatory to the Honour of Christ to praise his Works in the Souls or Lives of any of his Servants and that it is the honour of his Grace that his justified Ones are Graceless and that their Iudg should dishonour his own Righteousness if he make his Disciples more Righteous personally than Scribes and Pharisees and will say to them Well done good and faithful Servant Thou hast been faithful over a few things enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. He knew how to regard the Righteousness and Intercession of Christ with pardon of Sin and Divine Acceptance instead of Legal personal Perfection without denying either the necessity or assigned office of our Faith Repentance or Evangelical Sincerity in obeying Him that redeemed and justifieth us He knew the difference between a Man's being justified from the charge of being liable to Damnation as a Christless impenitent unbeliever and ungodly and being liable to Damnation for meer Sin as Sin against the Law of Innocency which required of us no less than Personal Perfect Perpetual Obedience He greatly lamented the wrong which the Truth and Church underwent from those that neither knew such differences nor had humility enough to suspect their judgments nor to forbear reviling those that had not as confused and unsound apprehensions and expressions as themselves But he hath finished his Course and is gone before us and hath left here a dark self-distracting World and a Church of such as Christ will perfect but alas yet lamentably imperfect as their Errours Divisions Contentions and Scandals have these thirteen hundred Years too publickly declared Children of the Light we are while the World is in darkness but alas yet how dim and clouded with thousands it does not so much as convince them of their Ignorance nor maketh them humbly suspicious of an Erring Iudgment So that through the copulation of Pride and Ignorance few cry out so loud of Errour as the Erroneous or of Heresie as the Heretical or of Schism as the Schismatical And false conceptions are so common among Men that I think with almost all Mankind the number of false Apprehensions in comparison of the true ones is far greater than unhumbled Understandings will easily believe and yet while Mankind doth swarm with Errour those that least know their own cry down even the toleration of that which alas we cannot Cure And if a multitude of Errours must not be tolerated I know not the Person that must be tolerated And who then be they that shall be the avengers of other Mens mistakes Christ knew that none are so forward to reproach and so backward to bear with the Motes in Men's Eyes as they that have Beams in their own Among such what sort of Men on Earth hath more cried down Errour Heresie and Schism than the Papal Tribe Away with them Exterminate them Burn them hath long bin their cry their Laws and Practice little thinking how they are polluted with Errour Heresie and Schism themselves The revived attempts of this consuming Fiery Spirit hath made those that dispose of Doctor Manton's Papers takâ— these against Popery as now most seasonable And their plainness suited to common Capacities may make them to many more useful than more Argumentative Disputations They that would have such may see Errours that are unanswerable I should say unrefutable for I find that Men and Women too can answer any thing I confess my self not throughly studied in these Prophetical parts of the Scriptures and therefore none of the fittest to commend such Wâ—itings any further than they commend themselves But I am hasting after this my dear departed Brother to the World of Light where all Divine Mysteries are unvâ—iled and Life and Light and Love are perfected for which even at the Door I am though weak a Believing and desiring Expectant Rich. Baxter Iuly 8. 1679. An ADVERTISMENT To prevent false Copies that may be published in Dr. Manton's Name These are to give Notice that nothing is to be received as Genuine but what shall be Attested under the Hands of Dr. Bates or Mr. Baxter SERMON I. 2 Thess. 2.1 2. Now we beseech you Brethren by the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ and our gathering together unto him That you be not soon shaken in mind or be troubled neither by spirit nor by word nor by letter as from us that the day of Christ is at hand THE former Chapter was spent in a Consolation against troubles this in a caution against Error or to rectify their Judgments concerning the time of Christs second coming In these two first Verses we have the manner of proposal V. 1. the matter proposed V. 2. 1. The manner of proposal is very pathetical by way of Adjuration or Obtestation 2. The matter an Error had crept in among the Thessalonians concerning the speedy and immediate coming of Christ to Judgment while they were yet alive which error the Devil set on
In differences between God and Baal Christ and Antichrist few are valiant for the truth Ier. 9.3 And they bend their tongue like their bow for lies but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth for they proceed from evil to evil and they know not me saith the Lord. Contend earnestly Jude 3. It was needful for me to write unto you and to exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the Faith which was once delivered unto the Saints Again 2. There are many sensualists unclean and carnal Gospellers to these God oweth a Judgment Usually the Gospel is removed and given to a Nation that will bring forth the fruits thereof They that use the truth only or principally for their own turns hate to be reformed God will reckon with them Psal. 50.16 17. But unto the wicked God saith What hast thou to do to declare my Statutes or that thou shouldst take my Covenant into thy mouth seeing thou hatest instruction and castest my words behind thee 2. Vse shews you indeed that you love the Gospel Carentia remedii is a grievous misery or else Christ had not come as a great Blessing Neglectus remedii is a grievous sin to be lazy in a matter of such moment Those that never set their hearts to obey the truth Crassa negligentia dolus est There should be constant purpose endeavour striving and not cease striving till we in some measure prevail rejectio or contemptio remedii if we put away the word of God from us Acts 13.46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold and said it was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you but seeing ye puâ— it from you and judge your selves unworthy of everlasting life loe we turn to the Gentiles God will be gone if not from the Land from thy Soul This is the most hainous iniquity of all Heb. 10.28 29. He that despised Moses his Law died without mercy under two or three witnesses of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be thought worthy who hath trodden under foot the Son of God and hath counted the blood of the Covenant wherewith he was sanctified aâ— unholy thing and hath done despight unto the Spirit of grace So Esau's despising his Birthright Heb. 12.15 Lest there be any Fornicator or prophane person as Esau who for one morsel of meat sold his Birthright for ye know how that afterwards when he would have inherited the Blessing he was rejected for he found no place of repentance though he sought it carefully with â—ears SERMON IX 2 Thess. 2.11 12. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should believe a lie That they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness WE have considered the sin of those seduced by Antichrist now the Judgment It is twofold 1. Delusion in this World verse 11. 2. Damnation in the next verse 12. 1. Delusion in this World where take notice of three things 1. The Author of it God shall send it 2. The degree or nature of the punishment strong delusion 3. The issue of it that they should believe a lie 2. Their punishment in the next World That they all might be damned who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness where take notice 1. Of the terribleness of it it is no less than everlasting damnation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. The Justice and Equity of it They believed not the truth but had pleasure in righteousness 1. I begin with their Judgment in this World For this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should believe a lie Doct. That by Gods just Judgment there is an infatuation upon the Followers and Abettors of Antichrist that they swallow the grossest errors to their own destruction To clear this I shall speak 1. To the Author 2. The degree or kind of the punishment 3. The effect and issue 1. As to the Author 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Here a difficulty ariseth For God is not and cannot be the Author of sin He that is essentially good cannot be the cause of evil And he that is Vltor peccati the avenger of sin cannot be Author peccati the Author of it If he should cause man to sin how will his punishment of it be just I Answ. As it is a sin God hath no hand in it but as it is a punishment of sin God hath to do in it To clear this to you consider 1. He that is the supreme Lord and Governour of his Creatures is also their Judge For Legislation and Judgment belong to the same Authority And therefore God is called sometimes our King and sometimes oâ—r Judge Gen. 18.25 Shall not the Iudge of all the earth do right Rom. 5.6 Is God unâ—ighteous how then shall he judge the World That is his Office and Prerogative 2. Gods way of judging for the present is either external or internal As for instance there are two acts of Judicature Reward and Punishment In rewarding Gods external Government is seen in dispensing outward Blessings to his people as the fruit of their obedience Micah 2.7 Do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly His promises speak good and as fulfilled do good yield protection maintenance and such a measure of outward prosperity as supporteth and maintaineth them during their service David owned Gods dealing with him in this sort Psal. 119.56 This I had because I kept thy Precepts So as to his internal Government in giving them peace of Conscience and Joy in the Holy Ghost Rom. 14.17 For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost Pro. 3.17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace These are the internal rewards of obedience And so also God often rewardeth grace with grace As Isa. 58.13 14. If thoâ— turn away thy foot from the Sabbath from doing thy pleasure on my holy day and call the Sabbath a delight the holy of the Lord honourable and shalt honour him not doing thy own ways nor finding thine own pleasure nor speaking thine own words Then shalt thou delight thy self in the Lord and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth and feed thee with the heritage of Iacob thy Father for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Psal. 31.24 Be of good Courage and he shall strengthen your heart all ye that hope in the Lord. Proficiency in the same grace is a reward of the several acts and exercise of it So in punishing sometimes he useth the way of external Government by the terribâ—e Judgments exercised upon men for the breach of his Law Rom. 1.18 For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness Heb. 2.2 Every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward
good Word and Work VVE come now to the Apostle's second Request for them and stablish you in every good Word and Work By every good Word is meant sound Doctrine by every good Work holiness of Life Doct. Establishment in Faith and Holiness is a needful Blessing and earnestly to be sought of God 1. What this Establishment is 2. How needful 3. Why it is to be sought of God I. What this Establishment is Answ. Confirmation in the Grace that we have received Now this Confirmation must be distinguished 1. With respect to the Power wherewith we are assisted there is Habitual Confirmation and Actual Confirmation 1. The Habitual Confirmation is when the habits of Grace are more setled and increased 1 Pet. 5.10 The God of all Grace Strengthen Stablish Settle you God hath effectually called and converted them and he beggeth the strengthning of the Grace which they had received Now thus we are established when Faith Love and Hope are increased in us for these are the Principles of all Spiritual Operations and when they have gotten good strength in us a Christian is more established 1. Faith is necessary for we stand by Faith Rom. 11.20 Because of unbelief they were broken off but thou standest by Faith We do not only live by it but stand by it and are kept by it 1 Pet. 1.5 Who are kept by the Power of God through Faith unto Salvation He is strong that is strong in Faith as Abraham was that believeth the Gospel and can venture his All upon it and trust himself in God's hands whatever befalleth him Luke 22.32 I have prayed for thee that thy Faith fail not That was the Grace likely to be assaulted and would most keep him had he bin persuaded that Jesus was the Son of God would he have denied him with Oaths and Execrations 2. Love is strong We are told Cant. 8.6 That Love is as strong as Death many Waters cannot quench it If a man would give all the substance of his House it would utterly be contemned It will not be bribed or quenched Our Backsliding cometh from losing our complacency in or desire of God There is an averseness from Sin and zeal against it as long as we have a sense of our Obligations to God and a value and esteem of his Grace in Christ then we continue in delightful obedience to him and level and direct our actions to his Glory 3. Hope is necessary to stablish the Soul on the promise of Eternal Life For this is the sure and stedfast Anchor of the Soul Heb. 6.19 Which Hope we have as an Anchor of the Soul both sure and stedfast If Hope be strong and lively present things do not greatly move us 2. Actual Establishment when these Habits are fortified and quickned by the actual Influence of God As God doth establish by these habitual Principles so by the actual motions of his Spirit for otherwise neither the stability of our Resolutions nor of Gracious Habits will support us Not stability of Resolutions Psal. 73.2 As for me my Feet were almost gone my steps had well nigh slipt Not Habits Rev. 3.2 Be watchful and strengthen those things which remain that are ready to die It is true God ordinarily worketh most strongly with strongest Graces because their Hearts are most prepared yet sometimes weak Christians have gone through great Temptations when strong ones have failed Rev. 3.8 Thou hast a little strength and hast kept my Word and hast not denied my Name Sometimes the strong Christian stumbleth and falleth when the weak standeth God may in an instant confirm a weak Person in some particular Temptation by his free Assistance but ordinarily concurreth with the strongest Grace Thus with respect to the Power wherewith we are assisted 2. With respect to the Object or Matter about which it is conversant stablished in every good Word and Work stability in the Doctrine of Faith and Practice of Godliness 1. In the Doctrine of Faith It is a great advantage in the Spiritual Life to have a sound Judgment Some Men are never well grounded in the Truth and in the nature and reasons of that Religion which they do profess and then are always left to a wandering uncertainty because they resolve not upon Evidence as Men ordinarily abide not in the place to which they are driven by a Tempest or the current of the Tides rather than by aim and choice though they take shelter there for the present 1 Thess. 5.21 Prove all things hold fast that which is good Certainly Religion in the general must be taken up by Choice and not by Chance not because we know no other but because we know no better As Jer. 6.16 Stand ye in the Ways and see and ask for the old Paths where is the good Way and walk therein And the same is true of particular Opinions and Controversies about Religion till we have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 our own stedfastness 2 Pet. 3.17 We stand by the stedfastness of others when we profess the Truth meerly because of Company and when the Chain â—s broken we all fall to pieces Now we ought to be well settled left we appear to the World with a various Face which breedeth Atheism in others and Shame to our selves It is possible in particular things future Light may disprove present Practice but then we must be able to give a very sufficient account of it Luther when he was charged with Apostacy Consitetuâ— se esse Apostatam sed beatum sanctum qui sidem Diabolo datam non servavit While we cry up Constancy we must not cherish stubborn Prejudice which shuts the Door upon Truth However to avoid the opinion of Lightness before Religious Persons profess any thing their warrant need to be very clear both for the World's sake and their own that they may not make needless Troubles and afterwards change their Mind to the scandalizing of others And their own sake 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 James 1.8 A double-minded Man is unstable in all his ways And we had need to take care to be right because every error hath an influence upon the Heart and Practice Upon the Heart as it weakeneth Faith and Love and Practice Some Opinions have no malignity in themselves yet the profession of them may divide the Church and make us by Contentions Enemies of the growth and progress of Christ's Kingdom Now if we would be established in the Truth we must see what Influence every Truth hath upon the new Nature either as it worketh towards God by Faith to keep up our respects to him or Men by Love as it furthereth our Duties to them A Man will not easily let go Truth that is wont to turn it into Practice and to live as he believeth Once more we need to be established in the present Truth it is no zeal to fight with Ghosts and antiquated Errors but take God's part in our time but usually the Orthodoxy of the World is an Age too