cruel and painful torment They might as well deny the Sun-light at noon-day who deny this Truth To turn plain Scripture into Allegories is to turn substance into a shadow It cost Origen a self-mutilation for mutilating divine writings thus He was called Centaur for monstrous Opinions flowing from Allegorical strainings of Scripture Christs Manhood should be so precious to us as not to endure affronts put on it Therein God and man do most sweetly meet which will help weak faith in every time of need 3 Against both the parts of his humane nature his soul and Body many also fight Apollinarius denying him a human soul as if the Godhead had supplied the want thereof Eutyches destroyed both by his pretended swallowing of them up into the Divine Nature The Manichees and Valentinians allowed him but an aery phantastical Body running through the womb of Mary as through a Pipe Mahometans fain it to have passed through Maries Paps and by the smell of a Rose Divers Novelists are daily broaching strange conceits about it The Vbiquitarians give him a monstrous Body immense and filling all places the Papists as monstrously would have his Body to be distinctly in many places at once to be without quantity without extension without sensible accidents to be made a new daily at the Priests will to be broken and not broken by himself and by all their Priests c. Many such contradictions against Scripture and sence Reason and all Sciences they are forced to for their fictitious Transubstantiation sake All such Malignant vapours which infest many will be effectually dispelled by the right use of your spiritual confection Christ was and abides ever a perfect man consisting of Soul and Body both subsisting in his divine Person being united to the divine Nature therein It will shew you that his soul was sorrowful to death and was made sensible of all humane affections though without sin as clear Chrystal water moved without any mud It will teach you that his Body had flesh and bones after his Resurrection as before which a spirit hath not That the same Body did visibly ascend into Heaven before the Disciples eyes and shal return thence in the same manner That the Heavens must hold him till the Restauration of all things That the glorifying of his Body hath not could not have annihilated it or changed the substance though it hath bettered the qualities thereof It will help you to know the flesh of Christ spiritually though you learn to know him no more after the slesh carnally It will teach you that his bare flesh and the fleshly sence thereof profits nothing a Capernaitish soul being destitute of his Spirit but that it s his Spirit that quickens us giving Life to his flesh and to his Word that both may be Spirit and Life to us in a spiritual and lively improvement Christs manhood is that precious Golden Ring that sets forth the Jewel of his Godhead to us It s a curious Vail of his contriving that his glorious face may through it be beheld It s a Chrystal Glass of the Lords framing to reflect thereby his Image upon us Out of Christ God is a consuming fire but thereby he becomes a Reconciled Father If Christ were not man still there were no hopes for man if we know him not thus we know him not at all It s not a figment of our own divising but the man Christ Jesus that must be our Saviour He cannot be ours unless wholly ours 4. Against his Person appear Nestorius dividing it into two Persons Sabellius Arius all Antitrinarians denying his distinctly eternal Personality from the Father The Socinians and Notionists that fancy the distiction of persons in God to be but nominal according to various dispensations witness Hob's Leviathan among many other poisonous books so commonly scattered abroad TO queneh the force of these pernicious Errors your Counter poison will season your soul with the scriptural description of Emmanuel our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God with us It will prove him to be God-man having both Natures divine and humane subsisting in his person the Son of God the second Person of the divine Trinity by Hypostatical Union it will clear him to be the Brightness of his glorious Father and the express Image of his Person being that one Mediator between God and Man and therefore God-man that he might conquer by suffering and make his suffering infinite for vertue and value for satisfaction and acquisition It will shew you that there are three in Heaven the Father the Word and the Spirit and that those three are one That this Mystery is not against Reason though above it in its common shallow apprehension that the Son sends the Spirit Comforter from the Father and is therefore distinct from them both yet that he and the Father are one in Essence though distinct in person That Gods Reason is the Rule of ours being revealed to us in his divine monuments that we may assent to his Assertion though we cannot fathom the Explicitness thereof no more then Bruits can fathom our rational expressions That the Person of Christ coming out of the water must needs be distinct from that Person of the Spirit who came in the likeness of a Dove lighting on him at his Baptism and from the person of the Father whose voice from Heaven said This is my Beloved Son hear him Thus the Grace and Knowledge of Christ will teach you that he who thought it no Robbery to be equal wtth God being in the form of God substantially made himself of no Reputation that as God-man he might restore man to God in the gloryfiing of all divine Attributes Our Faith is not true if we do not own the true God truly as he holds forth himself in three distinct persons Those divine persons are not meer modes or manners of Attribution or Manifestation but real subsistences The Father is not the Son the Son is not the Spirit personally though they be one God essentially The person of the Son alone was incarnate not that of the Father he could not be Son not that of the Spirit there had been two Sons then The Word became flesh not the Father nor Spirit Divers Emblems are used to set forth this glorious Mysterie but Scripture-Language describes it best to a sober faith The Word Person is a Scripture Word very proper and significant They that deny this right use thereof make way for further denyal of Truth The Person of Christ is then to be owned by all that intend to be owned of him 5. Against Christs Spirit stirs first Macedonius denying him to be a divine Person distinct from the Father and Son Secondly All Antitrinitarians who oppose the distinction of divine Persons Thirdly The Greeke who deny the Procession of the Spirit from the Father through the Son Fourthly The several Blasphemers that vaunted
thereto The spawn of all Error is born and bred with them Mans dunghil heart is the fruitful womb of all such weeds Sin grows into strength by custom therein it s more radicated and setled in them As it rejects the bounds of divine and humane Laws so doth it carry the soul headlong into all by-paths of Errour and folly It endures neither Physick nor Physitian though never so choyce Such a heart is dry tinder to the Devil but wet to God Reason 2. The deceitfulness of Error helps much that way that seed of the Serpent resembles him in this as in all things else It disguises its foul face under many fair colours it goes still masked it baits every hook sutably to mans deceitfull heart Thence the Scripture speaks so much of Errors Methods and crafts devices and subtilties snares and wiles Arts and stratagems Juglings and deceits Reason 3. The Just hand of Heaven giving up such to blindness of mind and hardness of heart to be led away by sin and Satan because they received not the Truth in love but abused and corrupted it and themselves thereby they harden themselves sinfully then God hardens them judicially Vse 1. See the ground of so many errors among us because iniquity so abounds in these later dayes Love to Truth waxes so cold Most turn practical Antinomians of the worst sort as they reject both God and his Law he gives them up to the Law of sin and death Whence so many Bedlams of all humours and complexions So many turns from one sin to another Sin being justly punished by sin So many carnal hypocrites and proud Novices fall daily into the Devils condemnation 2. Admonition to Lawless men it should convince such of their folly and misery See what it s to break the Banks and to be left to a mans will Whether will ignus fatuus lead but to bogs and precipices Such are next step to vilest Errors ready to be drawn into the snare All ignorant negligent souls that slight and oppose the Law of God and man should be throughly humbled To shake off Christs bands is a Heathenish part when the Apostle speaks against the Law it s still against the abuse thereof and resting thereon For the Law is good used Lawfully 3. Examination What kind of Christians are we like to escape the snares of Error Are not we lawless but under the Law to Christ Do we own and study love and practise that Law for sanctification though not for merit Is it written upon our heart Is his Spirit put within us so as to cause us to walk in his Statutes that we may keep his Judgements and do them Hath Grace freed us from our sinful bondage Hath the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Jesus Christ made us free from the Law of sin and Death Superiours and inferiours should view themselves in this Glass of Truth Doth the principle of his Law within us quicken us still to the careful observance of the perfect Rule of his Law without us 4. Exhortation 1. To sinners Learn the Law of Christ see the need and use thereof Be willing to know the wretchedness of a lawless state It s sad to abide under the law of sin and Death To be the Devils slave and the drudge of sin Study the Beauty and sweetness the pleasure and profit of Gods Law Acquaint thy self with Christ and be at peace c. Receive I pray thee the Law from his mouth c. Thus are you invited in the Lords Name We are Embassadours for Christ c. Christ must do all the work in you and by you Come to him for all 2. To Saints improve your acquaintance Keep the Law of Christ that it may keep you Look to your fence and Rule all neglect here is very dangerous Error is soon let in before you be aware God will keep you in his wayes not in the Devils wayes If your compass be slighted you must needs rove If you attend not the Shepherds voyce how can you but wander Walk therefore circumspectly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 see to it improve the Law of Christ against all internal corruptions 2. Against all external temptations Bring all things to that Touch let nothing pass untried if any Notion come under a dress of new Light bring it to the Law and Testimony Satan comes often under a Scripture-Mask pretending conscience aâ—d pleading very fair He must be sifted over and over and his Vizard must be pulled off Christ dealt with him thus This Gloss on Scripture still spoils the Text either in the sense or application Doctrine 2. Error will endanger Christians stedfastness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The verb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is Emphatically to fall out as a man out of a window as Eutiches or as a member out of joynt THe word stedfastness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is Metaphorical denoting the settlement of the soul in allusion to the strong composure of natural and artificial things well grounded and fixed The soul is then setled when united to Christ by a lively faith on conjugal terms and harmoniously settled in his Body Mistical in the place and fitness of an orderly member The Christian thus as a living stone well cemented on Christ the Foundation is orderly Knit to the whole Building of his Church Political also Such a living Twig ingrafted into the stock of Jesse is thereby established in that Root of David to receive all its sap and strength from thence by abiding in Christ This is further set forth by all Politick frames and corporations Error is that grand evil that endangers such a stedfastness that disorders such a symmetrie and discomposes the whole by disordering the parts putting them out of their propâ—r seat 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their own station and stablishment It puts them out of Joint order and harmony According to the comport of that particular straying from the Truth more or less material the danger answerable appears more or less dreadful The sad experience of Gods people in all Ages of the Church both before and since Christ hath given to this day a woful Test thereof The poyson got into mens Brains doth easily slide into all inseriour parts and powers Fishes begin to stink in the Head Vain Notions soon breed vile affections such ill humours easily disperse into all the joynts to produce direful convulsions Christ gave warning of it so did his Apostles again and again who were as careful to warn all Christians that they might be kept stedfast in his wayes The sad Revolts of so many Apostates in all Ages who slighted Gods Word and followed Seducers practices stand on Record as Monuments of Salt to season the rest Reason 1. Error loosens the Christians Hold. The looser he is from Christ
vain Answ How knowest thou that Who hath told thee so Findest thou thy self excluded by Name No no such matter Secret things belongs to God revealed things to us Come and thou shalt know thou wast elected Exclude not thy self before he excludes thee Object But all are not saved Many do perish May not I be of them Ans What then Should it not quicken thy pace to Christ that thou maist be saved Dost thou not see how many as bad as thou canst be possibly have been welcom to him what thinkst thou of Mary of Paul of Manasseh Object But if I be a Reprobate I cannot be saved the labour is lost Answ Were thou a Reprobate thou wouldst not be so inquisitive after Christ and Heaven their heart never yields unfeignedly to Christ as thine seems to do Thou canst not be sure thou art such a one Yea thou maist quickly be sure thou art not such by coming to him But if thou refuse stil and harden thy heart thy case then will be very suspicious Object But is it possible that such a wretch as I should obtain mercy Answ Yea it s possible its probable it may be certain quickly if thy heart be but yielded to him Object But this is but A may be Answ A may be is sufficient Inducement to put thee on trial Remember the Leprous men about Samaria A may be saved them Mind the Syrian Ambassadors and the Jewish case If thou try not thou art certainly lost Object I have often tried but to little purpose Answ Thou didst not try aright blame thy self not God Is it not well worth the trial again Observe wherein thou missest to amend the fault Possibly thou wast too cold and formal too hasty and unmannerly too self-conceited and not throughly humbled Thou didst not know the worst of thy self Thou wentest in thy own strength Thou wast not wholly taken off from self and weaned from every creature The Lord hath been preparing of thee by all his put-offs to spur on thy desire pace Try once again come to better purpose Object Alas I cannot come my heart is dead and hard Answ That 's bad indeed but hath he not a quickning Spirit Is not his Word a word of Life Power and Salvation Hath not he promised a heart of flesh in taking away of the stony heart Is it not he that quickens the dead Is not he come to give Life to that world whom he cals his sheep and to give it them more abundantly Object I am not sure I am one of them Answ Neither art thou sure thou art none of them His sheep hear his voyce with attention and affection with submission and application dost thou not desire and delight dost thou not design and labour to do so Is not the hour come wherein such a dead Lazarus as thou shouldst hear the voyce of the Son of God and live Object But I have no free will of mine own to spiritual good Answ Thou hast a moral will capable of the means and doing thy duty though in a weak manner Bestir thy self therefore and whilst thou art making use of that Christs Renewing Grace thou maist meet with to spiritualize it and make it free from its sinful Bondage His Truth will make thee free Object But none comes to the Soâ—â— but such as the Father draws Answ Is not the Father drawing of thee now Are not his Ordinances Mercies and Offers strong cords of Love and the Bands of Man to fetch thee home Is not he drawing thee internally also by the motions of his Holy Spirit upon thy conscience Resist no longer burst not his Divine Tresses but yield and follow Object But I. Answ No more Buts against God and thine own Good thou must yield now Christ is resolved on it He will have thee home thou must come it s in vain to struggle All sufficient Grace will be all-efficient Dost thou not feel him turning of thy heart silencing thy doubts stirring in thy Bowels opening thine eyes and drawing thy will to embrace his own terms Are not these sure signes of his saving Grace Come on then come home to thy Christ Quest How shall I come that I may be welcom Answ 1. Come instantly without any delay demurs are dangerous This may be thy last moment of Life and his last word to thee Strike whilst th' Iron is hot come whilst there is hope Seek now the Lord whilst he may be found cast in thy mettle whilst hot into his mould Yield thy softned wax to the Seal of his Spirit His spirit will not alwayes strive with man 2. Come self denyingly not in thy strength but in his follow his effectual drawing from the sence of thine unability Let thy heart still say with the Spouse Draw me and we will run after thee Know still thy unworthiness and insufficiency laying thy self with recumbency upon his merits not on any thing else 3. Come self-resigningly on conjugal terms to be wholly given up to him Make no capitulations no Reservations of any sin of any creature though as dear to thee as thy right eye right hand or right foot Be content to be wholly his as he is content to be wholly thine Thy skil and power thy will and comforts thy time and credit thy soul and body thy Interest and friends must be wholly given up to him Nothing is his if all be not his a â—eart and a heart he cannot endure 4. Come sincerely and cordially without dissembling without base designs Come for his Person first out of Love to him not meerly to his goods Come chiefly to partake of himself and to enjoy him though he should seem to withold all things else Come to a Husband not to a Fair. Come for marriage not for a Bargain Chuse him for himself and all his goodness must needs be thine too 5. Come understandingly not in a blind manner Know what thou art about and be well advised Consult and reason the case to the full Cast up thy accounts what it may cost thee Canst thou be willing to live and die with him and for him View him throughly in all his Perfections and in all his Precepts too Be well acquainted with his marriage Covenant engaging to Duty by engaging Mercy He is a jealous God as he is Gracious 6. Come fiducially not distrusting him Study and apply this Promise of marriage so variously and so frequently expressed to thee That Promise is set out both absolutely and conditionally Suck those Breasts still and draw with comfort the water of life out of those saving Wels by the Bucket of faith let out by the cords of thine Affections when thou canst not find in thee the Condition required then press that word upon him and thy self which freely promises to give that Condition Do as David begging for a new heart from him that
warfare against spiritual evils Doth your profiting in this Knowledge of Christ appear unto all in all occasions Vse 4. Be we stirred up to obey this divine Charge of growing in Grace and in the Knowledge of Christ Are not we all nearly concern'd therein Doth not our profit delight and credit challenge this from us Is not Gods Interest of greater moment to prevail with us Should not our Relations to others put as upon it Are not Christians spiritual Merchants Shall we not improve then such a precious Jewel Should not we still be trading with Christ in the great Commodities of Heaven Strong encouragements we have from all parts thereof if but duly weighed The Trade the Factor the Commodity the Venture and Gain are beyond compare Men improve their grounds and manage their state to the best advantage that they may live well Should not we then improve this stock and husband this portion upon better ground It is a field that will never fail the more we till it the more it will yield As Christ himself so the knowledg of him are richest Mines still full of Treasure springs of all good still inexhaustible The more you draw the more will follow it like the womans Oil that will never stop but for want of Vessels This improvement will improve all things else and without it nothing will do well This speak to dead and living 1. Death Christians should be excited that they may get Life else they cannot grow You must get the stock before you can trade Your heart must be renewed that it may be bettered Former directions will stand you in stead if duly minded and observed You must be convinced of your spiritual death to feel the need of the Prince of Life Seek then to him as blinde Bartimeus cry hard after him let him have no rest til he give you Life and Light at once He never yet rejected any soul that unfeignedly did attend on him If you wait long at Bethesdas pool it s for your good and he will be found in the best season if he put you off as he did that famous woman of Canaan it is but for trial and to quicken you If you cannot go send your heart and friends your Prayers and Tears to give him a call Be sure to observe what he saith to you in his Word and Providence as by his Spirit As you desire Life neglect no Means helping thereto Looking stil to him for his Blessing in all Retain no sin and slight no Duty Voluntarily give him your bad heart to mend it for you Feel your deadness that he may quicken you Know the worst of your self by inspection in his Glass that you may learn to know the best of Christ Beware especially of your darling Lusts your Dalilah corruptions whether sinful pleasure profit or Pride Know your wretchedness and emptiness your insufficiency and unworthiness that Christ may be your all for Wisdom and Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption 2. Living Christians must stir up themselves encrease this Life Rouz up the Grace of God that is within you Blow up those sparks and make it your work to grow stil in Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ Food and Exercise Physick and Diet Temperance and Vigilance will be found special Helps as for bodily so for spiritual improvement of Life There is an Instinct in every creature for self-preservation and increase which moves stil towards proper Objects in all due means 1. Look well to your food then of a spiritual Nature to shun what is evil and improve what is good You must therein mind the quantity and quality the order and season of Receving it for due concoction The Scripture Word will afford you still the living Bread and the living Water the flesh and Blood of Christ to feed on by Faith Its milk for Babes and strong meat for adult Christians Let it not be mixed nor adulterated by humane additions or detractions Hunger and thirst stil after the Word and Righteousness of Christ Take what suits your case and observe what Rules himself gives you Plain dressing thereof will be still best for your profiting Feel the need of it and long after it cry and seek hard for it make good use of it You must feed well that you may thrive well 2. See to your exercise that it may be moderate suitable and seasonable so will it be of singular help to discuss ill humours and to augment your native heat by fit distribution of food and Spirits In all the waies of God exercise your self unto Godliness as the Apostle did for himself directing Timothy and all others to the same Such an exercise hath the Promises of this Life and of that to come being still profitable for all things Beware of straying into the devils paths and training in his military Yard You must wrastle against sin and self against spiritual enemies of all sorts Your sinful body must be kept under that you may be nimble and swift in your Race The whole Armour of God is furbished to your hands that you may put it on and use it with success Be thus strong in his strength and in the power of his might that you may prevail in all your conflicts 3. Mind seasonable Physick which you will often find the need of to purge out your peccant humors that are increasing and putrifying still Your Growth will be stopt if these sinfull stoppages and putrid matters be not duly removed Advise therefore with the best Physician for Prescripts and Medicines sorted to your case Deal very freely and fully with him without dissembling and reservation Give him exact account of what you do know that you may be dealt throughly with for good observe his directions with puncutual care in receiving good and eschewing evil His Skill Power and Will are incomparable and unquestionable His blood and Grace by his Holy Spirit he mingles in his Word to destroy your sins and to save your soul If his Pils appear bitter to your taste they are the fitter to kill your corruptions Your eure is certain if you be but ruled under his preparing purging and dressing No disease ever proved shame to him trust him obey him and your case is safe 4. Keep a due Diet as he doth instruct who orders all things to his peoples good To abstain from evil is still as needfull as to be doing and receiving good Observe then what things are most offensive to your constitution that you may avoid the first beginnings and appearance thereof Some are more bent to pride others to Passion some to vanity others to wordliness some are more lazie others more wanton some grow more secure others more foolish Error will tempt you under various shapes putting on often the Garment of Light Ignorance and Pride
Latitude according to the variation of its aggravations As diseases do vary in their gradual recess from health being either simple or compound either more or less malignant hurtfull Thus Errors admit of many adjuncts which render them more or less sinful and injurious In every Error there is a sinfulness an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a defect of Truth privative a disposition to falshood positive As in every disease there is an evil deflection from the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or sound disposition of the body so in Error from that of the mind But this deflection is not alike in all but is cloathed with numerical differences and personal aggravations Some Errors are more and others less rooted Some are more single and others complicate Some are more submissively held and others more pertinaciously some are kept close others published some have more of the Will and Affections attending them others less some are more and others less pernicious some are more quiet others more turbulent As the malignity of infectious diseases admits of a great Latitude as the variety of venomous Creatures whether Plants Minerals or Sensitives is multipliciously diversified by the variations of their clime intentions of degrees c. some being cold as Hemlock others hot as Euphorbium some in the first or second others in the third or fourth degree some working more slowly others more quickly some by their Tail as the Scorpion some by their Teeth as the Viper and Rattle-snake some by their Tongue others by their Excrements some more sensibly as a mad Dog some more insensibly as the Asp So do Errors appear under variety of offensive qualities and adjuncts 5. The Cause of Error also as of every disease is multipliciously observable especially in a three-fold Division of Evident Antecedent and Continent 1. An Evident Cause among Physicians is much from Externals if not altogether whereby a Distemper is occasioned in the body So in mans soul this sickness of Error may be occasioned by external Causes as by infection ill company bad books various Temptations c. 2. An Antecedent Cause of sickness bodily is from some thing within whether vapor humor or Spirit distempering any part disabling it from its proper Action Thus the foregoing Cause of this spiritual disease lies in some flatuous humorous or spiritual evil that disorders the mind from its right discerning of the Truth causing it to deviate into the way of falshood Habitual Corruption within flowing from Adams first sin which is ours by Imputation attended with the want of original Righteousness and often called original sin because the womb of all sin in us is the chief cause from which all other evils flow that breed and increase these sad distempers This Corruption acts variously in the way of Pride and Self-seeking Security and Worldliness c. 3. The Continent Cause of a corporal distemper is that immediate thing which cherishes it being cherished from the remote cause whether corrupt blood wind water gravel c. So the continent Cause of Error is that peculiar Corruption whether Ignorance or Pride self-conceitedness or worldliness c. which sticks close to the mind to breed and cherish its several dyscrasies and distempers Thence such clouding of mens Iudgements and disorders in their Reasonings hence perverse Disputings of men that are reprobate concerning the Faith as Ambition and Pride carried Simon and Menander Nestorius and Macedonius away Discontent and Envy prevailed with Arrius Covetousness carried on Demetrius and his Comrads There is a Complication of such causes in most 6. The Effects of Error as of every corporal disease are likewise variously numerous according to the variations of its numerical Idea of its specifical nature of its descent gradations causes This spiritual sickness is a Tendency to further sin eternal Death as every bodily sickness is the beginning of corporal death The wages of sin is death sin deserves it it binds ever it leads to it it fits for it it begins it As much as there is of sinfulness so much is there of death attending it Corporal civil spiritual and Eternal Grace indeed doth restrain and limit it pardons and subdues it purges out gradually and at last exterminates all sin in Gods Elect yet it changes not the Nature or desert of sin though it chances the sinners nature and relation Providence limits and over-rules this sinfulness also in the Reprobate As the wise Physitian corrects his Opium in a Confection so doth God correct sin remaining in his Children As the same Physitian appoints fit means against infection to all indefinitely so doth our Soveraign Physician by shewing the dangerous effects of Error As the effects of Poisons are very various yet always sad so are sin and sorrrw inseparable Twins Error was set forth to the Life by that Leprosiy of the head which had a peculiar mark of Ignominy Infection and danger It s like to those poisonous Minerals and Vegetables which strike first ai the head and thence at all other parts It s a spiritual Plague which cannot but be mischievous still though not in all alike All sorts of men in all relations are made to feel the sad Consequents thereof It s a fruitfull womb a breeding dung hill a poisoned spring Lerna malorum It engages and leads insensibly to more evil notional and practical It disgraces God opposes his Truth distempers mens souls endangers their families blasts their Profession stains their Repute scandalizes many ensnares divers troubles Church and State and complies with Satan in his various designes by nursing of his brood This Age gives sad demonstations thereof As Cephalical diseases are on many accounts the most dangerous of all in the Body so are these heady distempers in the soul which are easily communicated to all the vital inferior parts The poison of some works in a stupifying way as Opium Henbane Hemlock c. others venom acts by an enraging quality as Elaterium Euphorbium Scammony The effect of some is more speedily mortal as in the Touches of a Basilisk and Asp of the Viper and rattle Snake if not very timely look'd to others are more slow and less dangerous as in the operations of various simples appears The Parallel of spiritual Poisons therewith is easily drawn by an observing Christian 7. The Symptoms or Signs of Error as of Corporal deseases are of divers sorts some more Common others more Proper 1. The common signs are such as attend divers distempers in a general way as enfeebling of the parts change of complexion Indiposition to action c. Thus Errors have their Common signs wherein many of them agree appearing much in their sad effects against Gods Honor and mans good though often under far Colors like that Indian Apple in the Western Islands which seems beautifull and yet is rank poison 2. There are proper Tokens and characteristical 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and notes of each
Enquiry personal and publike p. 96 Use 4. Counsel to prize and desire embrace and ensure keep and improve this choice Antidote against all evil specially p. 97 First Against Error opposing Christ 1. In his Deity p. 99 2. In his Humanity p. 100 3. In his Soul and Body p. 101 4. In his Person p. 102 5. In his Spirit p. 104 6. In his Office p. 105 7. In his Priesthood p. 107 8. In his Prophetical p. 108 9. In his Regal Function p. 110 10. In his Humiliation p. 111 11. In his Exaltation p. 114 12. In his Word p. 115 13. In his Ordinances p. 118 14. In his Sabbath p. 120 14. In his Laws p. 123 15. In his Covenant p. 124 17. In his Seals p. 126 18. In his Church p. 128 19. In his Electing Grace p. 130 20. In his Redeeming Grace p. 132 21. In his Renewing Grace p. 137 22. In his saving Grace p. 142 23. In his Magistracy p. 145 24. In his Ministry p. 148 25. In his Providence p. 153 Secondly Against Apostacy p. 157 A Soveraign Antidote against sinfull Errors The Epidemical Plague of the latter Dayes Extracted out of Divine Records the Dispensatory of Christianity 2 PET. 3. 17 18. 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 But grow in Grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ THIS Text affords a signal Prospective into our present State in conjunction with the Context whereto it points by the Particle therefore Yea Therefore Beloved seeing ye know these things before c. What things The Context tels us This Epistle was sent for a Soveraign Antidote against Error and Apostacy to the scattered believing Jews whereto Peter was eminently sent as Paul to the Gentiles Many of them had been converted Act. 2. Who returning home to their several Countries propagated the Gospel They suffered much there both of the Jews and Gentiles as the rest did in Judea which moved our Apostle to fortifie them to his best by his presence first and then in his absence witness these two Epistles James and Jude Paul and John furthered the same work which Peter in this second received a fresh Thus the people of God need still renewed supplies from the joint labors of all his servants Yet after all those believing Jews were much endangered by Satans designs which occasioned this latter Epistle The Light of Christ shines so brightly herein that it scatters all the mists of doubts which mistakes have raised in some about its being Canonical Three parts are therein observable the Prologue Discourse and Epilogue I. THE Prologue ushers in by an Apostolical Inscription and Salute an entrancee into the substantial discourse following by a Divine Insinuation into their mind and heart to hasten their Pace towards Christian Perfection II. The Discourse it self is brought in by way of Excitation warning and prophesie 1. He stirs them up to spiritual Improvement by the light and strength of many Arguments in the first Chapter Secondly He warns seriously against Seducers whom he describes at large in their Persons and Doctrines in their rise and Ruine in their acts and Methods in their Principles and Practises throughout the second Chapter wherein they are pourtrayed to the Life Here we have the skilfull Anatomy of Error exactly managed by the Divine hand of Christs Spirit guiding our Apostles Pen. Those Monsters of Darkness are here exposed to publique view by the light of God in all their parts and properties Those Misteries of Iniquity he rips up with his Incision knife and unbowels those Tragical designs of Hell disguised under the mask of Heaven The several Lineaments of that pernicious Brood he distinctly marks out that exact notice may be taken of them all Their various Characters his pensell limbs out with accuratness that such pests might never be mistaken He sets them forth 1. As unclean Beasts and filthy creatures that walk after the flesh in the lusts of uncleanness witness the Carpocratians and old Gnosticks the late Familists Ranters and Nicolaitans 2. As enemies to rule an order They despise Dominion and are not affraid to speak evil of Dignities 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 witness the German Anabaptists John of Leyden and Battenburgh Muncer and Knipperdoling with our quaking multitudes 3 As proud and audacious presumptuous are they witness those wretched followers of Nailor Fox c. as the Montanists and Manichees of old the Simonians and Minandrians the Marcionites and Ebionites 4. As Peremptorily selfish and arrogant in pleasing themselves witness our conceited Perfectionists in their Pharisaicall Monkish Holiness like the Cathari of old the Paracelsians and Behmenists since all revived in the Quakers 5. As notorious Railers and malicious Slanderers by mis-interpretations and mis-applications whereas the Angels themselves greater in Power aad might bring in no railing accusation against Rulers before God witness our Quakers and Notionists of all sorts like the Circumcellions and others of old 6. As brutishly wild Beasts that are made to be taken and destroyed speaking evil of the things they understand not who shall utterly perish in their own corruption receiving the reward of unrighteousness witness the Basilidians Valentinians Marcionists and such Gnosticks of old revived in the German and Brittish Ranters Familists Paracelsians Quakers 7. As debauched Libertines that account it pleasure to riot in the day time witness our Ranting-crue and the German Rabble of Munster in 1533 like the old Borborita 8. As cheating Impostors seducing those with whom they feast themselves Their methods and wiles discovered of old are refined and sublimed to the utmost in these days by Chymical arts 9. As Atheistical Villains like spots and blemishes sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you Thus the Hereticks of old brought the Heathens odium and and Taints upon the Christians as the Papists cast the reproach of all Sectaries on the reformed 10. As Spiritual Fornicators having eyes full of Adultery that cannot cease from sin beguiling unstable souls Thus former and latter Herericks have still been defiling Christs marriage-bed his Gospel-ordinancess by their corrupt Additions and detractions setting up of Altars against his Altar 11. As earthly minded wretches having an Heart exercised with covetous Practises witness our experience as theirs of old 12. As accursed Sensualists wofully revolting from the blessed Truth of God cursed Children such Apostates abound every where 13. As bewitching Seducers the egregious Disciples of Balaam and other false Prophets which have forsaken the right way and have gone astray following the way and loving the ways of unrighteousness 14. As desperate Hypocrites Balaam like stabling the very heart of the Lords Truth and cause under many plausible expressions and specious pretences 15. As infectious Bedlams whose madness like his will
Mountebanks speak you fair and big distrust them the more beware of self conceitedness be not wise in your own eyes dread the smallest Beginnings of evil in opinion affection or converse The sums of this arsnick rats-bane and mercury will distemper you before you be aware Avoid the first step to avoid all the rest Beware of the brink if you fear the Precipice if you keep ill diet and feed on venom wonder not at your wasting and decayes Remember Ephesus who sadly miscarried by neglect of this care Make sure of Christ upon his own terms and keep close to him The noble Bereans shewed their Nobleness in trying daily the Doctrine of Paul by the Scripture-rule duly examined take heed what you hear and how you hear it so Christ directs you bring all things still to the Lords Touch-stone to his Rule and standard to his Ballance and Test to move you consider That Doct. 3. All Christians even the best need still warning to keep themselves from Error and Apostacy SAith the Text keep your selves well that you may be kept be very active that you may not suffer This voice answers the Hebrew Hithpael keep your selves with all delight and diligence let every power of soul and body be kept on the watch All Christians need this yea the very best They must take warning from every part Heaven and Earth do warn and must be hearkened to Christ warns in conscience by his Spirits motions in his Word and Providence by the same Spirit His motions are regular and harmonious still they are seasonable and proportionable He warns by friends and sometimes by foes in adversity and prosperiry Satans motions are irregular unseasonable and unproportionable They are unscriptural in the scope and substance though often disguised with Scripture expressions sadly perverted All do need warning though but few take it The best find most need and benefit thereof Peter warns the Christian Hebrews here though well grounded and settled in the Truth Warning never hurts it cannot but do good if it be well taken The best retain much sin and weakness still They cannot but feel their sinfull Reliques To prevent Relapses and remove much evil warning must be given The Physitians warnings are of singular use to all sorts of Patients None stands so fast but he still stands on slippery ground The world is a great Ice very dangerous The enemy is subtile and numerous vigilant and active We cannot but find many lurking fiends in our own bosoms our hearts are deceitfull and desperately wicked We stand no longer then we keep our hold God indeed keeps his unto Salvation and therefore bids them keep themselves He appoints the means as well as the end As he keeps them by his own power so must they keep close to him by faith They shall never fall totally nor finally but they may often fall partially and dreadfully If left to themselves they would kill themselves They must therefore be faithfully warned Objection But what needs all this if the Elects salvation be sure Answer 1. All are not elect that seem to be such many are called but few are chosen 2. Though Salvation be sure to the Elect yet must it be assured to them Warnings must be taken that they may obtain such an assurance They may have the Grace without the comfort All diligence is therefore required to make their Calling and Election sure 3. Though Salvation be sure to the Elect yet must it be wrought out by them with fear and trembling because its God that works in them both to will and to do of his good Pleasure He will be sought and found in every one of his waies that he may still meet them with a Blessing 4. Though Salvation be sure to the Elect yet because they are men mixed among men he deals with them by men after the manner of men Rational creatures must act rationally and so be acted with He changes not the substance but their qualities in renewing them They are so moved that they are enabled to move themselves in following him Though the Elect cannot perish utterly yet they may fall very sinfully Warnings well taken are effectual means to prevent much shame sorrow and loss God warns his children that they may be taught good manners Conditional Threats are intended to prevent the mischief treatned and are effectually blessed to Gods Elect. 6. The assurance of the Elect lies not in themselves as it flows not from themselves The Fathers Purpose and the Sons purchase the Spirits indwelling and the Covenant-Promises made by the Father in his Son through his Spirit to them are their efficacious Grounds In subserviency thereto all due means are therefore needed and blessed warnings among the rest God neither promises nor commands in vain His word is still sure as all ages have found Psal 93. 5. 7. There is a peculiar vertue attending the word and means of Grace to all Gods Elect in due time and order That quickning power raises a Lazarus leaving others dead destitute thereof That saving Grace of Heaven betters the good plants under every shoure when the weeds grow worse That discriminating Influence from the Sun of Righteousness makes the flowers fragrant though is occasions the dung-hill to stink Thereby is Gods word made a savour of Life to some whilst it proves a savour of death to others Who makes a man to differ from another What hath he that he hath not received Must not the prime and ultimate cause resolve into Gods Will Do not you else subject Gods Will to mans There can be surely but one Independant either God or man which is to be chosen let reason it self judge by scripture-Light Consect 1. SE the usefulness of a Gospel-Ministry Christs Officers are given especially to that end the Churches watch-men are called to this great work He sets them apart by an orderly call to be his Heraulds and Ambassadors his criers and publishers The Father sets them in the Son gives them to the Holy Ghost makes them overseers in the Lords flock They are especially charged to warn the unruly to prevent Error and Revolt Therefore did Christ receive and give so many royal Coronation-gifts upon his triumphant assention for the perfecting of the Saints c. that we hence forth migh be no more Children tossed too and fro with every wind of Doctrine by the craftiness of Seducers c. The best need warning Christs sheep must attend their Shepheards who are deputed to office by that grand Shepheard of their Souls Such must be set a part thereto from age to age as Timothy was charged by Paul to chuse and charge such who should be able to instruct others all indeed are bound in their several â—alces to instruct each other charitatively according to their abilities and opportunities But
are efficaciously moved to close with him and keep close to him by Matrimonial Reciprocations Thus doth the gracious knowledge of Christ Receive its first Being and progressive Operations from that Light of Life imparted to Gods people in this conjugal Union and Communion I will betroth thee unto me saith the God of Grace in Kindness and Mercy in Truth and Judgement and thou shalt know the Lord. Admirable sure in this divine Acquaintance that is thus twisted by the Lords own hand and embraced by a gracious hand Rare is that Jewel which is so curiously wrought for the Workmanship of the God of Heaven Therein do shine all divine Attributes in their Orient brightness at the wedding Feast of the King of Saints Is not this Life eternal thus to know the Father the only true God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent Doth not this Sun of Righteousness bring Healing under his Wings to all that fear his Name Is not he that Living that quickening Light that dispels all darkness and Death by his gracious Visits and Influxe Do not his amiable Aspects produce a joyful Spring of all Divine Graces in the New world by his glorious Light and efficacious Heat Doth he not Ravish with divine Embraces the New Creature with his All-searching Presence and his perfective Influence through all the Beams of his Transcedent communications Do not his Active Rayes cherish by all his renewed Motions the Principles of Life given to all his This Divine Sun never ecclipsed but once for the salvation of his though he seems often to be clouded in his alternative Access and Recess 3. The final cause of this gracious Knowledge adds very much to the choyiceness thereof We may consider it both as Supream and subordinate 1. THe supream Ultimate end of it is Gods Glory which is also the end of all things else which are all made for him This Relative Glory of God which was laid in the dust by mans Rebellion Christ undertook to repair which he performed fully giving satisfaction in Mans Nature and so glorifying all the divine Attributes Thus in the first building up of Zion as in the Restauration and preservation thereof he still appears in the Glory of all his Excellencies His Power and Wisdom his Greatness and Goodness his Mercy and Justice his Truth and Holiness shine Radiantly in every part of it Christ thereby read us our Lesson and writ a fair Copy for our Imitation that we may glorifie God by the knowledge of him in giving each of the Divine persons their proper honor 1. The Father for giving such a Son for such enemies and upon such terms All the honour of Christ redounds to his Father For the Son doth nothing but what he hath seen the Father do and speaks not of himself but the Father by him 2. The Son by our embracing and publishing desiring and esteeming the particulars of his Infinite Glory whereof he is so full that we have still cause to admire with all Saints the length and bredth the heighth and depth of it in the manifestation of all his Excellencies 3. The holy Ghost by whose special favour and Influence we are made partakers thereof He shall take of mine said Christ and impart it to you For all that the Father hath is mine What Infinite Condescension is it for that glorious Spirit to stoop thus to sinful Dust and Ashes to Reveal and apply the gracious Counsels of God in Christ Yea to bear with our Ignorance and unbelief contempt and neglect abuse and Affronts Nay more to dwell in such dunghils and Receptacles of all filthy Lusts What Infinite Mercy is that which carries on the work of Grace through all Opposition and keeps a weak spark alive in the midst of an Ocean What marvellous power is that which preserves a poor smoaking flax among so many storms 2. The subordinate and proxime End of it is mans Good both Personal and Relative 1. PErsonally our own Salvation purchased and manifested by the Author and Object of this knowledge is hereby assured and orderly confirmed to us in all the wayes and means of his appointment through his peculiar Blessing The perfect knowledge of him will compleat as the beginning thereof begins our Salvation Through the Knowledge of him are given to us all things pertaining to Life and Godliness As he came once in person so hath he from the beginning by his Spirit through the same communicated all saving good and will still do it That Bosom friend of his leads us thereby into his very heart there to behold and embrace the whole Platform of our Salvation in all the steps of it from Election to Glory that by walking therein steadily we may ascend to his Father and our Father his God and our God through the same Ladder even Christ whereby he comes down to us Christs Deity surpassing the highest Heavens infinitely is the Top and his Humanity fixed as it were on earth is a sure step for us The more careful we are to attain this End the more certainly shall we promote that further End God hath so wonderfully twisted our happiness and his honour that we advance the one by furthering the other One eye he allows us for the recompence of Reward that we may thereby effectually look through it to his Glory Is not this Knowledge a Jewel of Price which conveighs and assures all good to us The end of his Electing and predestinating us of his Blessing and saving of us is it not that we might be to the Glory of his Grace whereby he hath made us Accepted in the Beloved Christ himself desired Glory for that End that he might glorifie God This excellent Knowledge was never so dearly bought to be a meer pleasing of our selves and sin but to spiritualize us throughly in all the powers and parts of soul and Body that we may be holy and happy like unto him in the honouring and enjoying of him 2. Relatively the subordinate end thereof is the good of our Neighbour that speaking the Truth in Love we may grow up unto him in all things which is the Head even Christ He gave all the means of Knowledge and all Teachers ordinary and extraordinary for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of his Body God hath so contempered his gifts among the members of Christ and his Spirit doth so variously convey the same that the One cannot say to the other I have no need of thee He could in a moment and immediately from himself bring them to their full perfection But his infinite Wisdom hath thought it best that his Body should be joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies according to his several workings in the measure of every part to make an increase of it self in Love He loves not he allows not selffishness in
aright thou wouldst know thy self better and wouldst see thy new pretended Light to be but old darkness Thy pretence of Christs name will do thee little good whilst thou slightest his Word and Ways his Sabbath and Worship his Service and Saints Satan may cease troubling of thee and fill thee with false joyes but thy carnal Raptures will soon end in wo like the crackling of Thorns 2. The most gracious may find just cause from this very point to humble and judge themselves for the remaining of so much sin in them The most are totally guilty and the best in part of too much darkness and dulness selfishness and sinfulness against this precious Jewel That Christ is no better known unto thee after so much of his glorious discoveries what a shame is it that there is yet so little of Grace and so much of corruption in us should it not deeply humble us that we savour so much of self and so little of Christ Is it not matter of sad lamentation that Christ should be slighted and abused forgotten and forsaken in such a manner by his very Friends Is it not wofull The more precious Christ is unto us the more vile shall we be to our selves Saith not Christ to us as David his Type to his bosom friend that wretched Anitophel Is it not dreadfull to be abused by our nearest and dearest relations Hadst thou struck thy best friend in the dark on mistake how would it break thy heart 3. This Truth will afford a needfull Test for a due examination Hence may we trie our state personal and publique to frame a Prognostick of our hopes and fears In this ballance of the Sanctuary our case should be weighed Deceit is common and very dreadfull False Christs and false Prophets variously delude themselves and others too Bring then all to Gods Touch. 1. By the due review and application of all the former particulars do we know Christ thus in his person and office in his Progress and Purchase in his Relation and Influence Are we the subjects so wrought upon by him Are we thus acquainted with the cause and nature with the properties and effects of this gracious knowledge Are we not still in that unregenerate state of reigning Ignorance and neglect of formality and self justifying of profaness or notional delusions Is the spiritual Change yet wrought within us by the special hand of Christs renewing Spirit Our nature of it self is as bad as the worst Is it now savingly transformed in the Spirit of our mind How far is this change wrought in our selves and others mind it exactly by the standard of Truth 2. How this Change was wrought is as considerable What Method and Means did Gods Spirit use and in what manner did he prevail with us Were we effectually convinced by him of sin and Righteousness Were we made to see the worst of our selves that we might embrace the best of Christ Have we felt at the heart such a clear discovery of our emptiness and sinfulness of our Wretchedness and Unworthiness of our Insufficiency and nothingness as to be wholly weaned from self and carried out to him Have we duly observed the unability of all Creatures to afford us help Hath the sight and sense of our wofull state so opposite to God made Christ truly precious to our souls Are we more troubled at the pollution then at the punishment of sin Doth it grieve us to the very soul that we have grieved such a dear Saviour Have we beheld our state in the Glass of his Law and of his Gospel to make us sensible efficaciously both of our Malady and of his Remedy Hath he made his Word so to work on us as to break our hearts and melt them kindly Have we found that hammer and fire of his killing our sins and quickning our souls Hath he made us thereby cheerfully willing to give up all to him and prefer him above all Hath he blessed the means so effectually as to make us feel him in and through them all Hath he made every sin more bitter to our Taste then ever we found any sweetness therein Hath he knockâ—d us off from all other props that we might rest upon him alone 3. Consider also how this Change works now to clear this Inquiry with impartiality Doth his holy Spirit operate on us by this gracious knowledge as the Soul doth upon the Body through its variety of intermediate Spirits Observe it we may in the resemblance of that three-fold Life which mans soule doth communicate to its proper subject A vegetative a sensitive a rational Life is afforded thereby Doth Christ do so to us spiritually 1. A Vegetative Life is for Nutrition Augmentation and Propagation 1. FOR Nutrition whereto serve the several faculties attractive and retentive concoctive and expulsive Doth this knowledge of Christ act thus within us 1. Do we draw and attract spiritual nourishment to the supply of our renewed wants Do we suck his breasts as new born babs and desire that food that may sustain us to eternal Life Is it done in season and order in quantity and quality meet 2. Do we retain and keep the same with all diligence lest at any time we should let it slip Is it laid up in our hearts and industriously kept that it may keep us 3. Do we concoct and digest it well by spiritual fervour to be distributed unto every part Do we shun and abhor Crudities Cloyings and Oppressions that might hinder it 4. Do we expel all sinfull Excrements that continually do breed within us Do we loath detest and cast out duly all filthiness of flesh and Spirit and all superfluity of naughtiness from every part of us 2. For Augmentation Is our spiritual Life like the natural still upon increase spreading it self into every part that our growth may be proportional universal and perpetual Doth this knowledge dilate all faculties in Mind and Judgement Reason and Conscience Will and Affections 3. For Propagation Doth our spiritual Life as the natural labor still to beget in us and produce in others more fruits of the Spirit more issues of Grace to perpetuate this divine off-spring Is nothing more active and communicative Doth it diffuse its species round about as being the Issue and Image of him who is the chief and most communicative good 2. A sensitive Life is for Sense Motion and Appetite so it our spiritual Life Doth Christ do so to us spiritually 1. Doth he give us Sense external and internal as in Nature so in Grace 1. External Sense is five-fold by Sight and Hearing Smelling Taste and Touch. 1. DO we spiritually discern and delight in the Beauty of Christs divine holiness in all his perfections in all his Ordinances and in every Providence Do we thereby see all other things and reflect on
By his Spirit he draws home his Elect from among the rest to a conjugal acquaintance with himself This gracious knowledge is to be improved for a singular Antidote against sinfull Errors It hath appeared to be so in all ages and will still be so upon solid grounds which divine Reason suggests to us Reason 1. Because it removes and prevents the causes thereof External and Internal The cause removed the Effect will cease 1. THE External Causes called evident among Physicians are all such as from without endanger men as ill Company Disorders Infection Wounds c. from Sin and Satan thus spiritually many external causes do still assault us which the knowledge of Christ prevents and removes A well grown Christian hath his senses exercised to discern aright between good and evil The spiritual man judges of all things comparing of them spiritually He is not easily caught into the snare but wisely foresees it and escapes He believes not every Spirit but tries them all by the Lords Touch-stone He is forewarned and forearmed still against Infectious Temptations of all sorts 2. Internal Causes are either Antecedent and remote or continent and proxime which are bred within by congestion and defluxion of several ill humors putrifying gradually and variously to the distempering of the several parts and of the whole also Thus sinfull Corruption doth spiritually disorder mens souls Spiritual Growth affords Christs own help to the purging out of such ill Humors Vapors and Spirits It kils the worms takes away stoppages cleanses the parts by all convenient helps internal and external It purges the whole and then the parts in a due Method using revulsions and derivations with all sort of evacuations So far as Grace is grown up within by the knowledge of Christ so far is corruption purged out gradually He that knows him purifies himself even as he is pure Christs own Physick dispenced daily in his Word and Providence is through his Spirit improved that way He that is born of God doth not so sin as he did before neither can he so sin either totally or finally because the seed of God abides in him As he finds corruption breeding afresh within it s his desire and design his delight and labor to crush the Cockatrice in the shell and suppress the first beginnings He hath a tender heart sensible of the first stirs of the least vain thoughts and keeps himself that the evâ—l one touch him not as before Reason 2. Because it corroborates and fortifies the noble parts and thereby all the rest against all internal Corruptions and outward Temptations Thus health and strength are procured and improved against the malignity of all spiritual distempers Corroboration is a singular help as in the bodies so in the Souls of men against all diseases Ill Humors do leave in the parts affected an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Discomposure which enfeebles it and by a ferment and a sickly Spawn makes it prone to new disorders Error and Sin work in the like manner upon mens souls striking chiefly at the Vitals and Chief The knowledge of Christ duly improved doth orderly eradicate and extirpate it by Communication of his divine strength to vivification of every Grace and Mortification of the old man in all its Members The more a soul lives in him and by him the more of his renewed Supports and supplies come in which compose the Christian into spiritual health rectifying every part All the faculties are secured and fortified thereby against Relapses and struglings of sin Such can do all things through Christ strengthning them The sense of their own insufficiency drives them still to his Al-sufficiency that his Grace may be sufficient for them and his Vertue perfected in weakness Reason 3. Because it derives still a specifick Vertue out of Christ himself whose Soveraign Property mingled with all due means of his appointing affords still a sure Preservative Physicians observe the specifick Vertue of natural Medicines simple and compound which renders the whole effectual towards bodily cures Such a signally peculiar force is found in the Lords choice Antidote dispensed to his Patients The knowledge of Christ duly improved fetches out of him that wonderfull Grace which he mingles with all the Medicines appointed for their good His Blood is that Aurum potabile and Panpharmacum that Catholicon and Elixer of Life which sanctifies all things effectually to his Peoples good The more any soul grows up into acquaintance with him the more use is made of that Soveraign Balm of Gilead flowing from the Physicians very heart The Pelican is said to cure his little ones with his own blood Christ to be sure makes this good to his His Grace is the Basis of every Dose of every Topick of every means appointed by him The strongest poison is quelled thereby the stoutest humors are subdued the sorest obstructions are removed and the worst Maladies cured by the same He healed all manner of diseases and sicknesses among the people in their bodies and souls in his progress on earth and he doth so still by his Spirit from heaven His Word and Ordinances are the proper means used by him for application thereof He employes his servants of the Magistracy and Ministry to observe his will in the right use thereof by all fit helps Spiritual and Civil His Providence points out the case to be dealt with all spiritual skil Our Antidote improved affords every Christian to manage all aright His special Blessing he affords in all according to Promise The Reason is good make good use of it Vse 1. Corollar 1. Hence may we view the Ground and Cure of our spiritual Distempers in all Relations 1. THE Ground is much from want of spiritual Growth in the best as from want of Life in most Were Christ known to better purpose both Church and State would not be so sickly But the most are ignorant of him and the best much too blame Thence so many diseases and sores in all Relations and Societies Every Person every Family finds cause to complain because the Lord Christ is so much slighted No wonder if the sickness increase and the venom spreads when such a Physician with his Antidote are so basely used Wise men easily see whence this evil comes and is aggravated Gross wilfull unbelief is the forest disease that aggravates the case making it desperate This was the case of Gods people of old in the wilderness and Canaan again and again They slighted Christ and his Messengers till they were grown beyond all Remedy It may give us warning 2. The Cure and Method of Relief is hence observable the Lord hath not left us yet remediless There is Balm in Gilead and a Physician there with Soveraign Vertue to cure
themselves to be the Holy Ghost as Simon Magus Montanus David George c. Fifthly All Enthusiasts who father their lies on Gods Spirit c. TO quell this wofull poison your Preservative will set your Judgement right by the Grace and Knowledge of Christs Spirit Thereby you will surely understand that the holy Spirit hath in Scripture ascribed to him the same Titles and Attributes the same divine worship and works which are ascribed to the Father and to the Son and therefore must needs be God blessed from ever and for ever That the working of all Scripture Miracles the penning of all those divine writings the wonderfull quickning of dead souls and bodies and the daily experience of all spiritual Christians do fully demonstrate it That therefore the fanatick illusions and delusions of Revelationists being so opposite to Gods Truth and Holiness must needs proceed from that lying Spirit who perswaded so many of Ahabs Prophets and still possesses the false Prophets of our days to speak and act against the Dictates of Christs Spirit The malicious opposing of the Truth confirmed so undeniably by the miraculous Operations of the Lord The Spirit hath therefore the most desperate aggravations even unto death attending the same because God the Father and Son both are thereby also desperately opposed 6. Against his Office and Function of Al-sufficient and only Mediator for his peoples Salvation move First All the former Hereticks in denying his Deity or Humanity his Parts and Person Secondly All such who mangle the said Function as the Socinians who deny the need and use of his satisfaction for sin Thirdly All such who divide his Mediation work ascribing part thereof to Saints and Angles as the Papists with fond distinctions Fourthly All such as put the said Mediation into the Virgin Mary's hand calling her Queen of Heaven entitling the Psalter to her placing her name instead of the Lords name in the said Psalter giving her Authority over Christ her Son in Heaven promising and expecting more from her often then from Christ as much at least and telling doctorally that God hath divided his Mercy and Justice giving her the Throne of Mercy and reserving himself the Throne of Justice c. as the said Papists Fifthly All such who pretending to sinless perfection and selfish Righteousness do frustrate and nullifie so far his Mediation as the Quakers and such monkish Pharisees To suppress the violence of this poisonous stuff the Grace and Knowledge of Christ improved will shew us clearly still the necessity of Christs satisfaction and Al suffiency of his Mediation that without the shedding of this blood there can be no remission of sin That No Righteousness but that of God-man could satisfie divine Justice That without satisfaction there could be no Reconciliation of God to man that without Imputation thereof to many there could be no discharge of mans Debt That no purchase could be made of eternal Life and divine favour but by that infinite Price paid by Emmanuel That without such purchase orderly applycable there could be no salvation for lost man That Christs mediation alone is Al-sufficient to all those purposes and needs no partners in any share thereof either for Impetration or application That to give the least part thereof to any meer Creature whether in Heaven or Earth can be no better then Idolatry That no Palliation or shifts by distinctions of Dulia Hyperdulia and Latria can cover this Blasphemy no more then Adams figs leaves could cover his nakedness That there cannot be on earth in any meer man a sinless perfection and if it could be had yet it could not satisfie for the evil past in the least That the best are but unprofitable Servants That the payment of a farthing due cannot satisfie a thousand pound debt in Arrears To signifie emphatically the due application and Imputation of Christs Righteousness unto Believers the Scripture cals him Jehovah-Tsidkenu the Lord our Righteousness repeating that name again in the great Promise of Restauration to be afforded to his Israel by vertue of that Righteousness made theirs whence Christs name is Synecdochically and Metonymically ascribed to the new Jerusalem To that import the Lord Jesus incorporates his name with a Christians Propriety into one New name framed by his own Spirit which Paul expresses by his being made unto us of God Righteousness and Redemption and our being made the Righteousness of God in in him as he was made sin for us who knew no sin which must needs be understood by way of Imputation there being no sin inherent in Christ 7. His Priesthood is opposed first By all the formerly named Errors Secondly by the Papists in making new Priests daily and a new propitiatory Sacrifice called incruentum to be offered by them for the living and dead Secondly In joining mans merits to his and thereby patching up a mongrel Righteousness for themselves and others Thirdly In pretended Works of supererogation which are imputed to others by way of Indulgence out of their Churches imaginary Treasure Fourthly In denying the Imputation of Christs Righteousness for the pardon and Justification of his Members Fifthly In giving to mans Righteousness dip'd in Christs blood a meriting value and vertue to satisfie and pacifie Gods Justice and to procure his Mercy Sixthly In making Christs Merits to be but the remote and mediate cause but mans Merits to be the immediate Proxime cause of the pardon Thirdly By such who sever his habitual and his active Obedience from his meriting Oblation given to God for his people and imputed to Believers reckoning only his passive Obedience to be so meritorious and imputative for the reconciling of Man to God Fourthly By Quakers and others who find no need of and little regard an high Priest in Heaven Against such mortal wounds the Balm of our Christian Gilead will afford healing vertue from the due review of his Grace and Knowledge We shall find thereby that Christ Jesus by his personal Righteousness by that one Oblation hath for ever perfected those that are sanctified once for all That a new order of Priests brings a new Law and nuls the former That it was an imperfect Priest and Sacrifice typically ceremonial that needed renewing That to give to a meer Man suppose a Masse-Priest the power of making and renewing a propitiatory Oblation at his Will upon his intent of consecrating is to set him in Christs room yea above Christ and to deny Christ come in the flesh by unavoidable Consequence The Oblation of Christ had not been compleat if it had not been active as well as passive and habitual as well as actual Heart-Obedience being the root and life of all other Redemption is indeed frequently ascribed to his blood and death but it s by a Synecdoche including the rest of his whole Obedience whereof his
will still cherish it self-conceit and folly will still be its Nurses Meddle not with pitch to avoid its filth Trie all things aright that you may suck no evil Advice from sure hands will preserve you much from the common Wo of this erring Age. Improve your own and others Experience confirmed to you by Scripture-Records 5. Forget not Temperance the Nurse of Vertue and the Ruin of vice Let your moderation appear to all men the Lord is an hand Sobriety in all things lawfull must attend abstinence from things unlawfull The supream Physician directs often to this both by his own mouth and his Servants Pen. Intemperance is the womb and breast of all sinfull evil that would weaken you You may soon surfeit with worldly Creatures if you be not singularly carefull that you may grow apace in the things of Christ be very moderate in all other things Nature is content with little and Grace with less where Inordinancy hath not burst the bounds Know well what becomes your Complexion and Condition that you may still cut your garment to your cloth and to your wearing He is rich indeed that hath learn't Contentment the choice Jewel which Christ alone gives Paul studied long and hard for the same being instructed in the School of Heaven Follow his steps to attain his End so shall you know how to want and abound Godliness with Content will be your great gain the Blessing of the Lord will make you so rich as to add no sorrow thereto Sixthly Be very watchfull this is Christs own Rule often inculcated to spur on our dulness We naturally are very drowzy much inclining to sloth and slumber In this sleepy age the wisest Virgins contract infection among the foolish They all slumber and sleep through their own default the Bridgroom tarrying for some longer space then some expected Watch and pray watch and be sober lest ye be surprized ere you be ware You are surrounded with mortal enemies very numerous cruel and cunning Look well to your Guards inward and outward your danger within is often greatest Redeem the time well walking circumspectly not as fools but as wise in these evil days Watch unto all good against every sin so shall you be ready for your Masters comming The lazy Servant shall see him with horror whom the diligent shall welcome with Joy The night of Ignorance Error and all sin is the season that requires this most Troubles of all sorts will attend the same if all due care be not rightly used Christ comes as a Thief unexpectedly both on the former and this latter world whilst robbing Spirits are catching abroad Blessed is he that watcheth and keeps his Garments If any of us be stripped by their Wiles we shall be found naked to our open shame Seducing Spirits do haunt every place with their cheating drugs and Mountebanck Tricks Look well to your selves and to all under you that ye be not poisoned by their Artifice They can cog the dice and shuffle their Cards with all nimbleness and secret methods The Prince of this world is still teaching them to abuse Scripture and corrupt its sense by wresting its words Watch therefore to improve the knowledge of Christ with more vigor zeal and diligence Be moved thereto by further viewing the following point as the Remedy against such Maladies Doctrine VI. Spiritual Growth is a Soveraign Antidote against Error and Apostacy This clearly appears from the respective Aspect of this Text upon the Context as is implyed in the particle But. ERror is a subtile and a strong Poison as doth appear from the former hints It blinds the Judgement and misleads the soul into Satans road of falshood and deceit Spiritual Errors are most dangerous in the great matters of our Salvation Scruples and doubts are more unsettled Error grows fixed and radicates it self In Circumstantials of Religion there is less danger among sober and humble Christians If this disease grow to greater height near the foundation and the noble parts t' will be worse still If once it strike at Fundamentals its intolerable not to be born with The venom thereof is set out in Scripture by the most poisonous Creatures that can be Minerals and Plants Vermin and Serpents do all come short in setting it forth The vilest Excrements and the worst disease cannot sufficiently express its deadliness It s the sad abstract of all kind of evil wherein sin and Sorrow do fully center All sorts even the best being subject thereto in different ways should be made carefull to provide against it As Countryes vary so do their poisons as bodies vary so do their diseases This poisonous disease doth likewise vary on divers accouts to be distinctly known towards a cure Apostacy and Revolt from God is a pernicious evil and the common Attendant of Error which still endangers a Christians stedfastness The word signifies a turning aside and setting mans back against the living God Every sin is Gods enemy and turning to sin is running from God In the first Adam we revolted all and corrupt nature is still bent to sin through the sinfull venom received from him Christ the second Adam came into the world to save his people from their sinfull death by a gracious Covenant published in the Gospel Some do embrace it but externally others cordially Satan is still attempting to turn every man from it by various Errors and Methods of his He prevails with-most to their undoing and gains too much credit with the best This Apostacy and turning from God is total or partial Total Apostacy raigns still in all the unregenerate that do shake off the good ways of Christ Partial Apostacy often distempers the Regenerate to a high degree though it never proves total nor final They turn as far from God as they turn aside into crooked ways being disturbed with the fumes of corruption and temptation They turn from one Truth and then from another by following Satan and his counterfeit Lights from one disease they contract another by the putrifying of their ill humors to more malignity These dreadfull evils need a Soveraign Antidote and a sutable Counterpoison that they may not turn all into confusion All Societies civil and spiritual are very much endangered thereby as well as mens souls Spiritual Growth is a choise Remedy fitted by the Lord for such a disease In every Country Providence affords some Preservative against all diseases and poisons that infest the same Wise Physitians know this very well though they make use of forraign drugs also ex abundanti God hath shewed no less care of the souls of men then of their bodies having sent his own Son to be the Saviour and Lord of his people He is held forth indefinitely to all that will hear and is peculiarly given to such whose heart is by special Grace renewed efficacioussy to the embracing of him