Free-Will or that Men may live as they list c. And as they are thus void of Judgement about the Doctrine and object of Faith so also about the Spirit grace and opperation of Faith How by the very evidence of the Spirit in the appearance of Grace manifested in the Blood and Sacrifice of Christ and fulnesse in him A man should be overcome to beleeve and therein receive remission of sinnes Peace with God and hope without encouragement from any works frames or quallifications of his own or use of humane reasonings or thoughts to help to faith Tit. 3.4,5,7 Ephes 2.8 Rom. 4.25 5.1 2 Joh. 3.5 How through the Spirit in this very beleeving a man should be brought to depend on Christ for subduing lusts and Satan for Sanctification preservation in grace The precious Promises and eternall life without his owne humane reasonings workings and self application of Promises Rom. 5.11 1 Joh. 2.24,25 Zach. 4.6,7 Gal. 5.5 1 Thess 5.24 How in this confident Beleeving the Spirit writes the Law of grace in the heart and by Discoverie of glorious Grace in Christ Takes off from earthy Excellencies Melts Humbles Renewes and Conformes to the likenesse of Christ and fills with spirituall motions and fruits leading into all Truth and unto all Services of Charity without a mans own helpfulnesse of him by workings after the Law of workes and yet with no contrariety to it Phil. 3.3,9 2 Cor. 3.3.18 Gal. 5.16.18,22,23 and 6.8 Joh. 16.13,14 Rom. 8.2.14 How by abiding in this Faith love shall work out all righteousnesse that law requireth in a free bringing it forth and the Beleever grow in Sanctification and fruitfulnesse without being undered to the Law of Workes to bring it forth Yet having Commandements as Servants to Order the exercise of Charity Rom. 13.10 2 Cor. 5.14 Gal. 5.13,18 Joh. 15.1.10 Of these things they are ignorant and of no Judgement whence they make use of Arguments and Reasons from frames and quallifications to make up Faith 2 Cor. 10.7.12.18 And turne aside to be Teachers and imposers of the Law for Sanctification 1 Tim. 1.5.6,7 That nothing be said of those higher and more mysterious Communications of Spirit through Faith in which the Beleever is brought to see within the Vaile To receive the heavenly Oracles To see unexpressible beauty and receive unutterable entercourses of Love c. 1 Cor. 2.9 Phil. 3.20 Cant. 1,2 c. The very uttering of the experiments whereof These Seducers are such Strangers to them that they count them follyes call them Sattannicall Delusions and Enthusiasmes and Distempered Frenzies Joh. 7.20 Act. 26.24 1 Cor. 2.14 And thus are they marked out To be of corrupt mindes and of no Judgement concerning the Faith 7. But they shall proceed no further Here is their period or full stop The extent of their Worke Both in what they shall doe and with whom they shall prevaile to seduce and leade them captive 1. The utmost of their Worke is but to trouble and convince of sinne To presse to Duties and helpe to such hopes as are still under question and in the Issue gender to bondage and Captive to the Judgement of the Seducers This is the utmost of their worke That they may be still admiring and relying on them also Gal. 4.17.22,31 5.8,12 Rom. 7.9 Phil. 3.1,2,7 But receipt of Spirit and freedome in Christ and experiment of fellowship with Christ is not received in their Ministration Gal. 3.1,5 5.1,3 2. The utmost of their prevailing is onely with those that are yet unstable in the Faith and lusting after approbation of men whence as those that are stable and stedfast are likened to men and called men 1 Cor. 16.13 So these unstable Ones that are turned aside are compared to Women and called Women And so the Apostle Intimates the Gallatians turning aside to be for want of the forme of CHRIST in them Gal. 4.19 And preferre faith they are such as are unlearned not taught of God as Isai 34.13,17 And Unstable in the Faith That pervert the Scriptures to their Destruction And such they are that fall from the Doctrine In which their stedfastnesse is and might be attained and are so carryed away with the errour of the wicked 2 Pet. 3.16,17,18 With none but such shall they prevaile They shall proceed no further 8. But their folly shall be manifest to all men as theirs also was Here is the last Issue of their businesse And that is when they still attempt as the Magicians Did to proceed to doe the same things that God by his servants doth Their folly appears 1. In their Attempting so to preach Gospel as to bring their seduced and Imbondaged from their bondage and into the Kingdome and Liberty of CHRIST There they fall short and turne aside to vaine Janglings Fables Genealogyes and strive about Words saying and affirming that they understand not and are in many things ever and anon unsaying againe 1 Tim. 1.6 4,7 6.4,5,20 2 Tim. 2.14,15 Wherein their folly becomes manifest 2. In their deasings with those who experimentally know and are established in the Faith they both faile of their purpose and their folly appeares to them and may by them be made manifest to others and in due season shall be manifest to All Men. 1. Joh. 2.18,28 Isai 60.14 And thus as this place may be found opened by and agreeing with other places of Scripture are these Seducers discovered that they may be knowne Yet I know There is one exposition of the Word Houses here by which some would turne all aside Namely That by HOUSES are meant PRIVATE-HOUSES or mens Divelling Houses built of Timber and Clay Lime and stone c. Though I suppose they conceive these to have theire Denomination from the house houshold or Family Inhabiting in them else what meaneth that 1 Cor. 1.11 Them of the House of Cloe. And againe Though such Houses as they speake of have been are and may be Preached in yet consider I. What Divinity is in this Interpretation when the Apostle is treating of the House of GOD and the Doctrine and behaviour therein and of the evills of Seducers in the same to understand houses so grosly 1 Tim. 3.15 2 Tim. 2.3 II. What Christianity is in this Interpretation To lay down a sense so to condemne some as they therein condemne Christ Jesus and his Apostles and Disciples who as they Preached the Gospel in the Temple and Synagogue so they did Preach in mens houses also and from house to house Mat 9.10.17 12.46.48 Act. 5.42 20.20 Yea in their own houses Ioh. 1.39.43 Yea even hired houses III. Let this Interpretation be granted yet there is neither Wisedome nor Truth in their Application of it For first Reason would tell a man That these Seducers so carefull of their honour and safety would not commit Buglary in breaking into mens houses nor as Theeves creep in at the windows nor as silly ones come in secretly by the inletting of false
Anti-Christ 2 Thess 2.4,12 Colouring all this with confession of some part of Truth The more reddily to deceive and cast the aspercions of Hereticks and Seducers on true Beleevers even this deceitfull Serpent when he can no longer prevail in this way can then more secretly winde in himself into some under pretence of zealous Renouncing all these usurped Titles and Courts and grosse Superstitions Pressing on in the same pride To the same power and Lordlinesse in a more godly way Joh. 3.9,10 And so still cast the same aspertions on all that stoop not to acknowledge such Excellency and Authority in them as not to passe their limits * The name Bishops or Elders with their Office The Assemblies of Christians The Councells of Elders and Brethren and every godly Person of or among them are good and to be reverenced and no whit touched here Nor are Independants here countenanced God onely is Independant and in respect of Christ and submission among men I know none unlesse it be the Pope and such as hee and the Counsell of Trent and such as they As for true Churches whether wanting a Presbytry as those of Corinth or having a Congregationall Presbytry as those of Philippi or both that an Overseer over divers of them as in Ephesus and Creet I reverence them all but Satan to put any these names on wrong Persons is usuall Rev. 2.9 3.9 1 Cor. 11.3 c. So that wee still need to pray that prayer Tell me where thou feedest c. Cant. 1.7 And to observe that direction Matt. 7.15,16 Yee shall know them by their fruits c. Their Doctrine and the favor and end of their Doctrine 1 Cor. 12.1,12 And to keep that charge Beleeve not every Spirit but Try the Spirits c. 1 Joh. 4.1,2,6 And for that end To the Law To the Testimony c. Isa 8.19,20 Knowing that none can prove an Heresy by nor vent it in a plaine saying of Scripture but they must adde or diminish werest and Gloss to make a seeming Proof And wee having that help herein Joh. 10.4 1 Joh. 2.20,27,28 Let not mens easting an ill name on the Truth or any part thereof or on the Servants of it * This hath been an antient trick of the Devill and his servants Joh. 8.48 Act. 28.22 Nor their putting the name of Truth upon errour sway us But search the Scripture And this Scripture which hath been so often abused in your hearing some consideration whereof I have presented to you Try all things and keep that which is good And the Lord seasonably doscover who are Seducers and lead us into all Truth And Hee ever fill you with blessing according to the Prayer of his poor unworthy one and Yours in all Service of Love in CHRIST THO. MOORE A DISCOVERY OF SEDVCERS THAT CREEP INTO HOUSES A brief View of 2 Tim. 3.5,9 THe Apostle having forewarned that perillous Times would come and shewne a reason why they would be so perrillous Doth here discover one of the chiefest Perills that would ensue and that is of the Seducement of some from the faith and Love of Christ and Union and Fellowship with Beleevers And herein hee discovereth and setteth forth the Seducers By Shewing 1. Of what sort they are and to whom they belong Of this sort are they Which 2. Their way of Attempting their Businesse They Creep into Houses 3. Their worke which they doe they imbondage And lead Captive 4. In with whom their work prevailes Silly women laden with sinnes lead away with divers Lusts ever larning and never able to come to the Knowledge of the Truth 5. The manner of their working to Accomplish their businesse Now as James and Jambres withstood Moses So doe these also resist the Truth 6. The true Charracter of the Seducers Uncloaked Men of corrupt mindes Reprobate or of no judgement concerning the Faith 7. The extent of their work both in what and in whom They doe but trouble imbondage and captive they bring none to liberty and sound Peace and rest in Christ They lead captive none but such unstable ones They shall proceed no Further. 8. The Issue of their businesse when they come to Attempt delivery from bondage and Tender freedome in Christ And when they deale with established beleevers Their folly shall be made manifest to all men as theirs also was 1. Of this sort are they Compare Mat. 23.14,25 with 2 Pet. 2.1 Joh. 5.7,8,9 and it confirms the same That is Such as are branded with divers of the former evills Covered over with a forme of Godlinesse a show of Love and Zeal and Devetion accompanied with much Praying Fasting Preaching Strict in outward Observation of Sabbath's and severe prosecution of circumstantiall things Rom. 10.2 Matt. 23.14.27 Luk. 18.11 But have not the Word of Reconciliation in their heart and the Spirit of grace therein writing the Epistle of Christ in their heart and so leading them in a Christ-like minde To move others to be reconciled to Christ as the Servants of Christ have Joh. 15.4,7 Rom. 8.2,14 2 Cor. 3.3,18 and 8.14,19 Of these they seem to bee with these they sometime are from among these they come but of them they are not 1 Joh. 2.19 But of the former sort to whom they belong and with whom they are and ought to be numbred Which 2. Creep into Houses This is their way they subtilly and secretly and by degrees creep or wind themselves into houses Two things are here to be rightly Understood First What is here meant by houses and Secondly what is meant or intimated in this Word Creep into First by houses is here meant Churches or Societyes of such as doe beleeve and make Profession of the Gospel For the Apostle was before directing Timothy about the Doctrine suitable to be in and to build up the House of God Chap. 2.1,20,26 Warning him of some that had departed from the Faith and overthrowne the Faith of some Chap 3.18 and of some to be recovered Vers 25 26. And here fore-warning of such-like Perills He to admonish Timothy minds him of his owne example Chap. 3.10,11 in Doctrine and life Now then of what houses are here meant is easie to discerne So Wisedome hath built her house Prov. 9.1 And whose house wee are Heb. 3.3.6 A spirituall house 1 Pet. 2.5 Now as this great house is one and called the Church of Christ 1 Cor. 12.28 So the particular Congregations societyes or Famillies are called Churches and here houses Gal. 1.2 Secondly By this word Creep is meant and intimated three things about their incomming to be Teachers in such Societies or Houses 1. Their want of Authority and comming in at the doore They have not the word of Grace put into their hearts by the Spirit of Christ and so have not been in the Heavenly Call chosen out of the Condition and fellowship of the world into union and fellowship with Christ and his Chosen ones and so have not the Spirit
of Christ to move and lead them forth in that Christ-like mind and Charity as all his servants whom hee sendeth have 2 Cor. 3.2,3,18 4.6 5.14.18,19,20 1 Joh. 1.1,2,3 As the will Appointment of the Father Heb. 10.1,10 is that Door by which JESUS CHRIST himself entered for Jesus Christ himself is the DOOR of the Fathers Will and Appointment by which all Acceptable entrance in to God or the house of God is Joh. 10.2.7.9 14.6 And this spirituall making knowne of the Father and Christ so as thereby to draw out of the World and bring into Christ and then giving in the word into the heart enabling with the heart to beleeve unto Righteousnesse and with the mouth to make confession unto salvation in CHRIST his opening of or putting in any by the Doore Joh. 17.38,8 Rom. 3.10 To such he hath given Commission to declare the Gospel and for such Hee hath prayed for their Sanctification Preservation and prosperous blessing in their Ministration of the Gospel and he hath given his Commission and prayed for such blessing in Ministration for none but such as these none that yet remaine in the Condition of and fellowship with the world Joh. 17.9,14,18,20,21,23 And therefore such as are not thus fitted warranted and led by Christ that they may say as Paul 2 Cor. 5.14,18,18,19,20 They have no commission from Christ nor doe they come into the house by the Door But run without his sending and clime up or creepe in some other way Though they be called Prophets Jerem. 23.14,21 Joh. 10.1 2. By creeping is also meant their subtilty in hiding their Doctrine and mindes with cloakes of guile till they be received And that is two wayes I. In hiding their grand opinion of slighting the Foundation and Corner-Stone The Vision of all and preferring some other Doctrine before it Isai 28.12.14,16 29,10,11,12 Psal 118.22 Act. 4.11,12 2 Cor. 2.17 and 4.2 II. In hiding their Intention and Issue that will follow on the receipt or their Teachings which is to unsettle and pervert them from the simplicity that is in Christ 2 Cor. 11.3,4 To bring them in some Bondage under the Law of works Gal. 1.6 4.21 To take off their Affections from spirituall Teachings and sincere Preachers of the Gospel and to gaine their Choice Affections to themselves and so to subdue them to their own Judgements that they might be Lords of their faith Gal. 4.17 All which till they be received they colour over and hide with good words and fayre speeches Rom. 16.17,18 Pretences of Zeal Love and Devotion Col. 2.18 2 Cor. 11.15 Promises of great Attainments and liberty 2 Pet. 2.19 2 Cor. 11.3 Pretences of Spirit and wresting words of Scripture and counterfeiting as if the sinceere Preachers of the Gospel said as they doe and had so written 2 Thes 2.2 And through this subtilty they winde and creep into houses or Societies of Beleevers III. By creeping is here meant and intimated also some neglect and over-sight in the Beleevers especially the Multitude of them who if they had dilligently heeded the foundation the savour and Teachings of that Unction they received from Christ and kept full estimate thereof They might have seen the Darknnesse and unlikenesse of the Teachings of these creepers thereto and so how there was no need thereof to them 1. Joh. 2.19,20,27 Gal. 3.1,2 Cor. 11.4 Gal. 2.4 Jude 4. And so had they consulted with Christ and resorted to their overseers while the Church of Beleevers had the Power of Choyse and the Choyse was of men taught of God The Church then as the woman cloathed with the Sunne c. Rev. 12.1 Such might have been kept out though in such time when the outward Court is left to the Gentiles and the man of fin gets his seat therein and gives forth his Lawes Then are the houses so weakned That these Seducers come in openly enough and the Witnesses Prophesie in Sackcloth And so the perill greater Rev. 11.2,3 And the Apostle doth not Prophecy That in a full and outward sense in those times they shall Creep but saith That of that sort there were in his owne time that did then creep For surely else they had not been then admitted in the outward Assemblies of Beleevers to be Teachers as in the evill times foretold they may Though into the more speciall fellowships of Beleeuers They are fain't still to use their Creeping 3. And lead Captive This is their businesse and the worke they doe and the effect of their Teachings After they are received and begin to be entertained and esteemed which they laboured for and then they begin to discover something plainly their opinion and intention They then Lead Captive they withdraw from simple and unfained Faith and Confidence in Christ and rejoycing in him only 2 Cor. 11.3 Phil. 3.2,3 They pervert and Trouble the minds of those that were inclined to the right way Gal. 3.3,5 4.21 5.1,4,8 6.12 Prov. 9.15,16 And so entangle them with bondage under the law of Workes then they under them to their owne judgements exalting themselves as knowing high things and perswading their Disciples that in submission to them they shall attaine perfection in holinesse and great Liberty Gal. 4.17 2 Cor. 11.15 Gal. 3.1,5 2 Pet. 2.19 And so they lead them Captive This is their work and their businesse and the effect of their Teaching 4. Silly Women laden with sinnes lead away with divers Lusts over learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth Here the Apostle sets forth with whom these Seducers prevaile and who and what they are that are seduced by them and he sets them forth by divers Charracters meeting together on them Viz. If they are filly women so called not so much in respect of the sex as if all or only females as in respect of their weaknesse in not standing against the force of Assaults and suffering themselves to be overcome by such seemings and shaddowes to part with that wherein they had seen and tasted substance whether Male or Female All is one in reproof of their weaknesse they are called women For however in Nature and in Humane and Morall respects there is male and female and which grace destroyeth not but ordereth Ephe. 5. 6. Yet in receipt and enjoyment of the grace of God by union in Christ There is no difference between Male and Female Col. 3.10,11 So the like may be said in respect of folly weaknesse and losse by departing from Christ to another Doctrine Gal. 5.4 And so these seduced ones both Male and Female are called women because of their fillynesse Women not so able ordinarily to see and know the worth of a rare and rich Pearle and Jewell as men Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisedome and hee hath no heart Prov. 17.16 Besides the over-readinesse to beleeve every word without tryall Prov. 14.15 and herein their weakness as Ezek. 16. When