Heresies of Socinianism which of late have been and still are too much abroad I know a late worthy Prelate and others to their immortal Praise have as it becomes them bestirred themselves for this Cause but in others there hath been a great Lukewarmness I say not to Write but to make use of the Authority which the Laws give them against such things Besides others in the (a) Anno 29. Caroli 2d in 1677. Act for taking away the Writ De haereticô comburendo 't is provided that nothing in that Act shall extend or be construed to take away or abridge the Jurisdiction of Pretestant Arch-Bishops or Bishops or any other Judges of Ecclesiastical Courts in Cases of Atheisme Blasphemy or Heresie and other damnable Doctrine and Opinions so that still they may prosecute the Of fenders This is still in Force and Unrepealed but certainly it hath not been made use of as it might and ought to have been I am afraid that those who in things of that nature have been so remiss would if they had by the late Act been allowed have been more severe about Formalities and Ceremonial things for thô Thanks be to God Persecution about indifferent things be ceased yet in many remains the persecuting Spirit and 't is often found that those who (b) Matth. 23.24 Swallow a Camel will strain at a Gnat. It is a great Mercy of God when he is pleased to raise up and send those who give Men warning of the Danger and of their Duty Such are the fore-runners of a Blessing as the Lord mentions it by a Prophet (c) Isai 62.6 I have set watchmen over thy walls O Jerusalem which shall never hold their peace day nor night These are the faithful Servants which never grow remiss or weary but are continually doing their Work standing upon their Guards giving warning where there is any danger or approach of an Enemy and how great must the Guilt be of those who when the Enemy is at the Gate and the (d) Isaia 56.10 Wolves amidst the Flock are as unconcerned as Dumb dogs and Idol Shepherds then in such a case even those who are not Christ's Ministers by way of Office ought to speak out for which out of that same place of the Prophet they have God's Warrant ye that make mention of the name of the Lord keep not silence When the Watchman doth not give warning then any Member of the Society may give it for the Publick Good And upon this occasion this is my Warrant and the ground of this Acting of mine Another kind of Sins which the Nation abounds in is call'd Sins of Age for every part of Man's life hath some Sins which that Age doth particularly incline him to And First The Sins of Youth as are Rashness chiefly Lust and Pleasures (e) Zech. 11.17 of Sin which heat of Blood in that Age draws them into These David could not forget but Repented of (c) Psal 25.7 and Prayed to God to forget and forgive Remember not the sins of my youth Ambition is one of the proper Sins of Men of ripe years and Covetousness of Old Age 't is very strange to see Men the nearer they draw to the journey's end the more sollicitous to be to make provision for it and God knows how many unlawful ways are by Men made use of to attain to their ends The Nation is full of them and thô we cannot tell all the Works of Darkness subservient to their evil Designs there is enough of it known to grieve the Heart of all that love God and hate Sin There are also Sins of Relations as are between Husband and Wife how many daily miscarriages are there of one of those Relations against the other Want of Union want of Love full of Wranglings Divisions Quarrels hard Usage and Abuses by one put upon the other And no wonder for God's Blessing goeth not along with the breakers of so Sacred a Bond as is Marriage of God's own immediate Institution at the very beginning of the World There hath been a mutual Contract a reciprocal Agreement a solemn Promise in the Presence of God and in the face of the Church but is the Husband Faithful to his Wife Is the Wife True to the Husband Far from that in too many Families the Husband to maintain his Whore or to satisfie his Drunkenness or some other Lusts doth almost starve his Wife and Children and too often an ill Wife to please her Vanity and others more than her Husband instead of looking to her Family and doing her self and others some good misspends her precious time with standing idle before her Looking-Glass Dressing Patching like Jezebel Painting and sometimes in gaudy Cloaths Gaming Gossiping and the like pernicious courses doth often Beggar her Husband Thus (d) Isai 3.16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24. the Daughters of Zion were haughty and walked with stretched out necks and wanton eyes walking and mincing as they went and making a tinkling with their feet But what doth God say to all this Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion and the lord will discover their secret parts in that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments and their cauls and their round tire like the Moon the chains and the bracelets and the mufflers the bonnets and ornaments of the legs and the head bands and the tablets and the ear-rings and nose-jewels the changeable suits of apparel and the mantles and the pimples and the crisping pins the glasses and the fine linnen and the woods and the vails and it shall come to pass that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink and instead of a girdle there shall be a rent and instead of a well set hair baldnesi and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth and burning instead of beauty Many of those vanities our present times do not want which they seem to have borrowed of them so we may expect the like punishment Some of these vanities continued in the days of the Apostles therefore they would Reform it and give the Sex the example of Holy Women in the Old times for saith he (e) 1 Pet. 3.5 6. after this manner in the old time the hold women also who trusted in God adorned themselves being in subjection unto their own husbands and in the next verse he names what old time he meaneth namely of Abraham for he adds even as Sara obeyed Abraham calling him lord whose daughters ye are as long as ye do well and to instruct them well in this matter he tells first Negatively what this vain Apparel must not be whose adorning let it be not that outward one (f) v. 3. of plaiting the hair and of wearing of gold or of putting on of apparel Then Positively what kind it ought to be (g) v. 4. but let it be the hidden man of the heart in that
which adds an infinite value and merit to our blessed Saviours Actings and Sufferings is this that they were the Actings and Sufferings not of a meer Man but of a God thô not of the Godhead If he had been a bare Man the obligation had been much inferiour to what it is but the same Person was God as well as Man which makes all Transcendently more precious than otherwise it had been God the Father did for our sins deliver his only begotten to death and that only Son voluntarily gave himself for us O the exceeding riches of God's Grace in his kindness towards us The whole World can afford nothing to parallel with this indeed the examples of Abraham and Isaac were Types of but nothing to it for what a comparison can there be between Eternal Almighty and infinite God with a poor worm of the Earth but dust and ashes as he said of himself And what was Isaac Abrahams Son to the Lord Jesus God's Son For he is simply properly and absolutely such which fundamental Truth to be confirmed in I desire the Reader to take the following Scripture Evidences wherein he is so called for I will omit no occasion to assert it The first sort are immediately from Heaven upon this account the Angel Gabriel before our Saviout was conceived said of him to the Virgin he shall be called the Son of the Highest (a) Luke 1.32 v. 35. and the Son of God But at his Baptism in an Authentick way God the Father declared him such from Heaven when this voice came thence (b) Chap. 3.22 Thou art my beloved Son in thee I am well pleased It is spoken in the Second Person which applies what we read of Matt. 3.17 where 't is in the Third This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased Confirmed in the Transfiguration Chap. 17.5 Another kind of Evidences thô from Heaven were upon Earth John Baptist said of the Jesus (a) John 1.34 Chap. 5.33.34 c. and I saw and bare Record that this is the Son of God this Testimony our Lord thô he receives not testimony from man as he said yet to condescend to the Jews unbelief he appealed to but chiefly to his Father 's Nathaniess words are another Evidence (b) Chap. 1.49 Rabbi thou art the Son of God thou art the King of Israel Observe how the Title King of Israel absolutely taken is the same as God of Israel To this add Peter's Confession in his Name and of the other Apostles (c) Chap. 6 69. We believe and observe are sure that thou art that Christ the Son of the living God Our blessed Saviour whose right and prerogative is to bear Record of himself as he told the Jews for (d) Chap. 8.14 he knew whence he came and whither he went in several places as John 8.42 and 10. I said I am the Son of God Martha said (e) Chap. 11.27 I believe that thou art the Christ the Son of God The end of St John's writing his Gospel is (f) Chap. 20.31 (f) Acts 8.37 that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God Upon this Faith the Eunuch was Baptized by Philip. (g) Chap. 9.26 I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God And by this fundamental Truth Paul after his Conversion began to Preach the Gospel (h) Luke 4.41 that he Christ is the Son of God other places I omit these being sufficient to confirm this fundamental and essential Truth of the Gospel that Jesus is the Son of God in a true and proper Sense We might bring in a third sort of Evidence for not only Heaven and Earth but Hell also hath owned that Truth for (h) Luke 4.41 the Devils themselves cry'd out and said thou art Christ the Son of God The very Heathens said no less for the Centurion and they that were with him watching Jesus at his death said (i) Matt. 27.54 truly this was the Son of God A Truth which no Christian no Child of God will deny after so many clear Proofs This short digression I have been put upon after the perusal of a most damnable Socinian Pamphlet of two whole Sheets which is fallen into my hands since this was under the Press it hath two Titles the first A Dialogue by way of Questions and Answers concerning the Deity The last A brief but clear Confutation of the Doctrine of the Trinity stuffed with the quintessence of diabolical and most abominable Impieties and Blasphemies usual with that sort of Men with Texts of Scripture wrested and misapplied with several impertinent Objections which again and again have been (a) See Gailhard against the blasphemous Socinian Heresy answered and exploded That wicked Spirit is restless neither Authority of Scripture true Reason nor Acts of Parliament are able to quiet them but they will vent their venom spiritual ignorance and the gall of bitterness which is in them against the most Holy Trinity and the Persons of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Foolish and crackt Men may be pitied but when the humour turns into Rage and Fury then mad Men should be Chained up to prevent their doing others mischief How often in this last part doth that hellish Instrument prophane and take God's Name in vain with saying good God when he spits in his Face and curses him in his heart But how much reason have we to cry out good God that such horrid Blasphemies which make Christians hair stand on end should come abroad and the Author go unpunished Poor England within thy Bowels thou hast the two most cursed things that are or can be and the most abominable to God Blasphemy and Idolatry wrapt up in Socinianism and Popery The one denies the Lord that bought them to be God as he is the other every day Crucifies him and with attributing to the Creature that which belongs only to the Creator namely Divine worship and to forgive Sins hath matched and concentered Blasphemy with Idolatry that Society under the notion of probability doth admit of any thô never so abominable Doctrine and under pretence of directing the Intention receives all execrable practices yet this is known seen and suffered but thô Men do God will not But as punishment is tied to the tail of Sin God in his due time will make us smart for it Are we thus rescued from Popery when by a detestable tolleration or winking at against the Laws of God of the Land and the Rules of true Policy we are more than overgrown with it I wish God doth not lay it to the charge of the Government is it possible for Protestants to forget the cruel Canons of the Councils of Lateran and of Constance and the Congregation in Rome for the Propagation of their Faith and the Extirpation of Hereticks or can England forget bloody Mary's Reign the barbarous Irish Masfacre which is still a bleeding and what of late James would have been at
an Epidemical Sin again (c) v. 20. who call evil good and good evil that put darkness for light and light for darkness bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter that are wise in their own Eyes and prudent in their own sight which justifie the wicked for Reward and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him Doth not every thing here reach some of us But in the same Chapter the Prophet adds the Harp and the Viol the Tabret and Pipe and Wine are in their Feasts but mark what follows as a mighty aggravation but they regard not the work of the Lord neither consider the operation of his hands an effect whereof is therefore my People are gone into Captivity But that which is worse and damnable therefore Hell hath enlarged her self and opened her mouth without measure If it were but the Grave it were enough to terrifie Men from such things and in v. 24 25.26 we read of further Judgments very terrible with a therefore to shew they are the fruits of their Sins which should make us all fear and tremble They are God's own Words to the same People to us as well as to Israel (d) Jer. 5.22 Fear ye not me saith the Lord will ye not tremble at my Presence If ye do not I will make you before I have done For all these Judgments which ye feel my anger is not turned away but my hand is stretched out still Not long before his death (a) Josh 24. Joshua gathered the People to put them in mind of what God had done for them to represent unto them their Duty and gave them a strict charge about it in a remarkable circumstance (b) v. 26.27 he took a great Stone and set it up there and said behold this Stone shall be a Witness unto us for it hath heard all the words of the Lord. God uever wanteth Witnesses and rather than fail the very Stones shall speak However he often is pleased to make use of weak Instruments whose Testimony is not to be rejected when they speak in his Name and out of his own Word As for me who am come to an Age wherein I have little to hope for desire or fear from Men and tho' I had I would always Fear God rather than Men therefore being instructed by some experience which my God hath given me of his gracious and wise Providence do now upon this nice and important conjuncture give in my Evidence for God and a serious warning to all Sinners in the Land I begin with and speak to my self first as the chief of Sinners then to King Parliaments Judges Magistrates Clergymen and others of all Conditions Ages Relations and Professions whatsoever as at the last and terrible day we shall answer to God every one within our respective Stations as much as in us lieth to encourage and promote Piety and Virtue to discountenance punish and suppress Error and Vice and let every one begin with himself in his own Person or else I denounce God's terrible and infallible Judgments upon you and upon me and these lines of mine shall upon occasion if we neglect our Duty be Evidences against you and against me this is neither time nor thing to flatter or to dally with for (a) Num. 16.46 there is wrath gone out from the Lord the plague is begun therefore hear that faithful Servant of God Moses as speaking to you (b) Deut. 30.35 see I have this day set before thee life and death good and evil light and darkness Heaven and Hell Christ and Sin chuse well and be wise unto Salvation I have brought and laid a looking Glass before all wherein every one may see himself therefore make a right use of it as much as I could I made what I said to reach all I hope none that is good will take ill what I write as for the bad and impenitent I neither intend nor care to please them truth doth offend some who thereupon harden themselves others are better for hearing it and mend these will thank God for the occasion he affords them to learn by being told to the other in Pauls words I say (c) Gal. 4.16 am I therefore become your Enemy because I tell you the truth but know I will not betray it for any Man's sake Our Sins are many great and frequent and God's hand is lifred up against us therefore let every one Prince and Subject High and Low Rich and Poor Man and Woman Young and Old mend and repent and in his place do his duty or else (d) Amos 4.12 prepare to meet thy God O Israel If not in the way of Repentance in that of his Judgments which I am afraid are hanging over our heads at least we have cause to think so therefore hear ye the sound of the Trumpet and know the meaning of it learn and be wise for thereby God doth invite us all to repent and to mind his work and Service which is Honourable Glorious and Profitable But if blowing the Trumpet in Sion cannot do with but be neglected by Men then (a) Joel 3.16 the Lord also shall roare out of Sion nay hath already roared and if (b) Amos 3.8 the Lion hath roared who will not fear 'T is a terrible voice which denounceth Judgments and thundereth Threatnings and if yet by this Men will not be awaked from their Sins then at that (c) Joel 2.31 great and very terrible day of the Lord at last they shall come out of their Graves to suffer the punishment due to their impenitence and unbelief when (c) 1 Thess 4.16 the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout with the voice of the Archangel and with the Trumpet of God May the great God our most gracious Father be pleased to prevent us with Temporal blessings to continue with Spiritual and to end with Eternal by the merits and mediation of his only begotten Son our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ through the powerful working of the Holy Ghost in one most simple and undivided Godhead three Persons Co-essential in Nature Co-eternal in Time and Co-equal in Power to whom be by every Creature rendred as most due all Honour Glory Power Majesty and Dominion now and for evermore Amen FINIS Some Books Printed for D. Brown at the Black Swan and Bible without Temple-Bar FOur Tracts 1. A shore Discourse about Divorce and its Causes Fornication and Adultery 2. A Charge to Judges Juries and Witnesses concerning Oaths 3. About Infant Baptism 4. A Letter to a Lady who hath forsaken the Protestant Religion for the Romish The 2. Edition Free Thoughts in Defence of a Future State as discoverable by natural Reason and stript of all Superstitious appendages Demonstrating against the nominal Deists that the consideration of Future Advantages is a just motive to Virtue of Future loss and misery a powerful and becoming restraint of Vice With occasional Remarks on a Book Intituled an enquiry concerning Virtue and a Refutation of the revived Hylyzoicism of Democritus and Leucippus A compleat History or Survey of all the dispensations and methods of Religion from the beginning of the World to the consummation of all things as represented in the Old and New Testament shewing the several Reasons and Designs of those different Administrations and the wisdom and goodnes of God in the Government of his Church through all the Ages of it in which also the Opinion of Dr. Spencer concerning the Jewish Rights and Sacrifices is examined and the certainty of the Christian Religion demonstrated the Cavils of the Deists c. By John Edwards C. D.