telleth vs that they are such as receiue not with high estimation and reuerence the word of the Lambe but make a religion and take delight in the word of the beast Vse 1 Now of this description we may make a double vse First for instruction and secondly for exhortation First it teacheth vs that they are most properly Antichristians who take delight in the whooredomes and idolatrie of the Church of Rome and of this they carry a double brande First their slighting of the word of God in the Scriptures as most of vs know For as the Pope doth vnyoke himselfe from it by the spirit of Prophesie as he is that Caiphas by the spirit of interpretation as he is the Church by the spirit of infallibilitie as he is Christs Vicar by pretended tradition as hee is the Churches Treasurer and by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. Thess 2. 8. the power of dispensation as he is that lawlesse person so his followers from him doe disgrace and discountenance the Scriptures that they may walke in darknesse without controule Are we not daily acquainted Pseudo-scriptu a late Popish booke so called with their pleading against the Scriptures with their deriding of vs for our coÌ„stant appeales vnto it Hence is it that they fill theÌ„selues with much durt to cast in our faces for the Scriptures sake Ob. First they tel vs that all heretikes run vnto the Scriptures As the Scribes and Pharises other Iewes against Christ So Ebion Corinthus Menander Arius heretikes of all times Sol. Why heretikes appeale to the Scriptures We answer that it is true that heretikes do take this course that for three causes First because their consciences haue tolde them that there hath beene some diuine thing in them aboue all writings whatsoeuer and therefore they thought that if they could shelter their conceits vnder the wings of the Scripture they were safe Secondly because they see that all the members of the Church whom the deuill doth seeke principally to annoy doe loue and make them their teacher comforter and counseller which they will Psal 119. more willingly heare then all the world Heretickes therefore being willing to propagate their errours will corrupt such friends as are most deare to the parties whom they would haue to imbrace them Thirdly because they haue beene thus farre acquainted with the doctrine of the Church that they know it maketh the Scriptures a spirituall iudge pronouncing vnder God as from liuing oracles what is necessary to be held and practised in all fundamentall matters of faith and obedience For these reasons I say haue heretickes runne vnto the Scriptures yet for all that as Christ obiected Scripture in truth against the Scribes Pharises and deuill who obiected it against him in hypocrisie euen so must we What though mine enemie say that he hath part in mine inheritance and that this and this peece of land is his shall I therefore begger my selfe and resigne it ouer vnto his spoile shall I not rather search out my euidences and cleere the truth of my right and the falshood of his claime by those meanes which the kingdome where I dwell will afford what though a Bastard say that he hath right of inheritance to my land shall I therefore renounce all my owne birth-right So though all the enemies of faith and bastards in the Church shall claime a right in our inheritance and portion of the Scriptures shall we therefore forsake all our liuelyhood comfort in them shall wee not rather labour by the benefit of those gifts which God hath giuen not to the Pope and his adherents but to the true Church of God to wit the gift of interpretation tongues wisedome knowledge prayer and the like to cleere the impostures of falshood and the glory of truth Ob. Yea but meane while you will say that the fancies and errors of wicked persons are not sufficiently condemned in the Scriptures Sol. Bee not too rash Is not diuelish temptation sufficiently condemned in the Scriptures because the Diuell doth tempt Christ from the Scriptures abused vniust or vncharitable Suites are sufficiently condemned by Law though wrangling persons will still pretend law to maintain them so are all Heresies sufficiently condeÌ„ned in Scriptures though Heretickes seeke to maintaine them by Scriptures abused Ob. You will say how then is it that they are not conuinced by them Sol. I answere two things first the Scripture is sufficient to conuince without which it cannot make perfect else Christ would 2. Tim. 3. 17. Math. 12. 3. Math. 22. Math 4. not haue vsed it to that end neither would the Pharisies nor Sadduces nor the Diuel be put to silence by that meanes Secondly many thousands haue binne conuinced by it to the rectifying of their iudgments And if some are obstinate shall wee say that it is not in the Scriptures power to conuince Noe rather t is Gods iustice Act. 7. 51. to punish their obstinacy and to giue them ouer to perishing as those that resist the truth Ob. You will say how can the Scripture conuince them when it is not their Iudge Sol. I answeare It is their Law to rule guide their actions therefore it is their Iudge for Iudges are but ministers of the law It is the law which doth iudge of claymes titles inheritances trespasses and the like and the Iudges doe not make the iudgement of the Law but pronounce it And so the Ministery of Gods Church and people doth but pronounce the iudgment of the Scripture And if sometimes it doth pronounce amisse as it may do though it take neuer so good heed to the word of God in those things which are not necessarily beleiued vnto saluation it is not because the scripture doth not exactly iudge but because wee know in part and are not perfectly 1. Cor. 13 12. inlightned and so may misse of the right meaning in some things as the best Iudges in some cases may misse the right meaning of the law Thus haue I shewed you in some few particulars Papists belieue lies how the Papists sleight the truth and yet in vaine to pull vpon themselues the first badge of Antichristians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The second is their delighting in that Lie of Antichrist which is heere called Vnrighteousnes Antichrist is that great Theife who commeth Ioh. 10. not in by the doore into the folde looke therefore as a theife puts out the candle that so beeing deceiued he may deceiue others so doth Antichrist put out the light of the scriptures so much as he can that his wretched lies seducements may the more easily be settled vpon himselfe with his followers All false religions are lies but there is no religion in the world that I know which makes lying a part of their religion Pâ—ae fraudes pia mendacia but that of Rome They haue their Aequiuocation their godly deceites and lyes such as are made and told for the
the person if you aske me who are these miserable Antichristians I answere from The persons in danger the text Doct. They are such as beleeue not the truth but haue pleasure in vnrighteousnesse They are described here by Infidelity in respect of the word of God and by euil beleife in respect of the word of Antichrist Which descriptiō that you may conceiue consider the foure tearms of it First what is meant by the truth secondly what by not beleeuing the truth thirdly what is meant by vnrighteousnesse fourthly what by taking pleasure in vnrighteousnesse By truth you must vnderstand the doctrine of the Gospel contained in the Scriptures Thus Christ expounds Ioh. 17. 17. it sanctifie them with thy truth thy word is truth which word is so called in three respects First in respect of the vndeceiueable nature of it All other doctrines are either false or may be vaine or fruitlesse They are false if they oppose the religion of the Scriptures They may be vaine whether they be naturall or ciuill if they doe possesse vs and captiuate or peruert our vnderstanding for these haue their places if they doe prepare vs for higher Modò praeparent ac non detineant ingenium imployments and doe not imprison vs from God and his more sauing truth Secondly the word is truth in respect of the imployment which God hath giuen it in the Church to be a rule and square of all sauing truth As Moses must build according to the patterne so must we lay the ground of all sauing Heb. 8. 5. and wholesome truth according to the Scriptures Therefore when Christ meant to destroy by degrees and to deface the deformities of Antichrist he giues Iohn as a tipe of the Ministery of the Gospel Apoc. 10. 8 9. the little booke to eate which is the word of God Hee gaue him not the great Popish volumes of decretals which together with the spirit of prophesie in the Popes owne breasts doe make vp the word of Antichrist but the little volume of the holy Scripture which maketh vp most fully the word of the Lambe Lastly it is called truth in regard of the worke of it because it doth confound errour and worke sinceritie in iudgement heart tongue affections and the whole conuersation of those who without preiudice doe cleaue vnto it For though some thorough the iust iudgement of God are giuen ouer to the blindnesse of their minds and rebellion of their wills and so doe not submit vnto the word as those who resisted the holy Ghost yet so many as are ordained Acts. 7. 5◠Acts. 28. 23. 24. Act. 2. 47. vnto life and shall be saued are by this meanes at some times or other reclaimed from their false courses and added to the Church Thus you see what is meant by the truth now if you aske mee what is meant by not beleeuing the truth I answere the not receiuing of it into our heads and hearts For that which he called before ◠Thes 2. 10. the not receiuing the loue of the truth that they might be saued heere he calleth not beleeuing the truth Besides the power of beleeuing is called a Ioh. 1. 12. receiuing by Iohn when he saith that as many as receiued him to them he gaue a right to be the sons of God euen to them that beleeue in his name The contrary to this not beleeuing is expressed by three significant phrases namely sealing grafting hiding Esay saith Seale vp the Law among my Disciples Esa 8. 15. The fowles pecke the wheate in the stony ground but that which is sealed vp is not easily come by to be stolne away Iames saith receiue with meekenesse Iam 1. 21. the word which is graffed in you As the graft is receiued of the stocke into one body so the word must bee incorporated into vs and not to bee separated from vs but to our ruine The Psalmist Psal 119. 11. saith that I haue hid thy promise in my heart that I might not sinne against thee As blessed Mary kept Luk. 2. 19. 51. the sayings of Iesus Christ in her heart so Dauid kept the promises of God by faith When the truth is not thus sealed vp and hid in our hearts by being taken into our nature that we may liue and die with it but the smoake of the bottomlesse pit is suffered Apo. 9 2. to darken our soules then are wee said not to beleeue the truth But what now is meant by vnrighteousnesse in this place Nothing but falshood For as sinne in generall is taken for false doctrine as when Christ Ioh. 8. 46. saith which of you can rebuke mee of sinne as we see by the opposition there but if I say the truth why doe ye not beleeue mee so vnrighteousnesse in particular in this place as we see by the opposition here not beleeuing the truth but hauing pleasure in vnrighteousnesse And falshood may be called vnrighteousnes both because it carryeth vs from the rule of righteousnesse which should informe our Quod efficit tale illud ipsū est magis tale vnderstanding and reforme our hearts and whole conuersation that we might haue an accepted righteousnesse as also because it is a fearefull cause of vnrighteousnesse The Romanes abusing the law of Nature and turning the truth of God into a lye Ro. 1. 24 25. were giuen vp in their hearts vnto lusts vncleannesse and other Gentiles as well as they hauing their cogitations darkened and hearts hardened for Eph. 4. 18 19 want of sauing truth gaue themselues vnto wantonnesse to worke all vncleannesse with greedinesse Thus you vnderstand vnrighteousnesse one thing more will cleere all and that is what may be meant by taking pleasure in it I answere the giuing of our hearts to the pleasing enticements of Antichrist as effeminate persons giue themselues to the pleasing enticements of harlots For there are three sorts of the followers of Antichrist Some that are simply seduced such are they who are said to dwell on the earth that is in the visible state and condition of the Church who were Apoc. 13. 14. deceiued by the signes and great wonders of the beast Some that are by feare and torture compelled such are those small and great rich and poore Apoc. 13. 16 17. bond and free whom he made to receiue his marke or else they should neither buy nor sell Some also there are that are carnally minded who liue in pleasure with the whoore of Babel such as are said to commit fornication with her and to be drunke with Apoc. 17. 2. the wine of her fornications and to waxe rich with the aboundance of her pleasures Of these doth the Apoc 18. 3. holy Apostle speake in this place Thus haue I as God hath inabled mee opened vnto you the words of the Apostle by which you may perceiue that the text driues at the description Who are Antichristians of Antichristians and
pit by descending from Adam we are in a ciuill bond as beeing members of the same Church and Common-wealth and we are of the same gracious bond as being members of the same body whereof Christ Iesus is the head All these ought to mooue vs to thanke our God when we see men flocke from Antichrist to the assemblies of the Saints as doues to their windowes and to exhort them to stand fast in that Christian course which they haue vndertaken by imbracing the doctrines of the Gospel deliuered 2. Thess 2. 15. vnto vs by what meanes soeuer and also by praying that they may be confirmed by beeing Ver. 19 17. comforted in the way of grace that all Gods people with ioyfull hearts may say Amen Amen Vse 3 Lastly I came to you my Fellow-Labourers in the word of the Lord seeing the danger of Popery is so great and it is so hard a matter to bring them that delight in it into Gods fould let vs obserue the exhortation of blessed Peter feed 1 Pet. 5. 2 3 4. the flocke of God which dependeth vpon you caring for it not by constraint but willingly not for filthy Lucre but of a ready minde not as though you were Lords ouer Gods Heritage but that ye may be examples of the flock If I should doe nothing but repeate these wordes it were plentifully sufficient But oh how hardly are we drawne vnto our duties Shall I not therefore presse it in particulars First then as pittying the miserie of Antichristrans let vs feed the flock of God by the word of God Euery thing is best fedde with that meate which is best sutable with the nature of it and so is Gods flock Therfore in the feare of God giue them the word of God Christ hath shed his blood for them is it not therefore pitty that Antichrist should defile or destroy them Therefore heare the word of the Lord yee Priests after Gods owne heart Preach Catechize and liue against the Pope of Rome First feed by preaching that is by speaking vnto men to edification exhortation and comfort 1 Cor. 14. 3. wherein as a brother to brethren let mee giue my aduice as one that hath obtained mercy Let vs labour to speake the word of God in the spirit of power and of a sound mind wee may 2 Tim. 2. 7. finde by wofull and daily experience how hard a matter it is to make poor people to vnderstand the word of God As therefore Mannah must descend from the clouds that the people may eat of it so must wee lay aside all cloudy speculations and descend to vulgar apprehension that the people to whom we intend good may take what is their owne and goe their way Let vs be as solid as wee can as the Apostle saith take heed to 1 Tim. 4. 13. 16. Prach plâ—a by S. Hier. reading and to doctrine but as in the building of the temple as it is wel obserued there was hewing in the mountaines but when it was set vp not an Ax or Sawe or Hammer in Ierusalem because it was to bee a â—ipe of the kingdome of peace so though we vse all sortes of wrighting and wrighters in our priuate studies yet let vs not muster and obtrude them in troopes for ostentation in the pulpit least as Asahels dead 2. Sam. 2. 23. body it make the people stand still and cause them to say as Ahimaaz of the death of Absolon 2. Sam. 18. I saw a tumult but I knew not what It is a true speach of a reuerend Diuine that learning neuer spoiles a good sermon but when it is communicated either with affected eloquence and vnusuall words or in such an abstruse manner of speaking as if wee meant to work admiration astonishment rather then edification wee may perhaps get the garlands of prayse and goodwill rom them that liue more in the eare than in the hearte but wee shall neuer procure the conuersion 1. Thess 2. 19. of soules which is the crowne and seale of our Apostleship or ministery 2. Cor. 3. To stirre vs vp therefore to preach and thus Motiues to preach think with mee as I often haue done of these foure motiues First that our people as wee also breake Gods commaundements euery day both in thought word and deed as euery child can say They breake them all in Adam by communion who in that one sinne violated the whole law of nature Yea since they were cut off from the old Adam graffed into Christ by faith they breake them by disposition and Ro. 5. 12. if they doe not fall into the outward acte noe thankes to themselues who are as prone vnto it as a chained fox to kill yong chickens but vnto our God who doth either restraine and bridle vs or renew and sanctifie vs to better imployments Secondly let vs consider that our people being Tit. 3. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thus in sinne and errour are like vnto mad-men For all the world cannot perswade them otherwise till God perswade Iaphet yea they Gen. 9. 27. will sometimes runne vpon death it selfe in the 1. Cor. 13. 3. maintenance of their fooleries yea and further they like madmen will raise great stirres vpon ridiculous matters For as the Robe of Caesar is sayd more to trouble Rome than his death and an apple to set all Greece on fire so the Church in Christs time was troubled about fasting in Mat. â— Act. 15. the Apostles time about stranguled and bloud in the next times about the celebration of Easter betweene the East and West Churches and after that about the rites of Baptisme to wit whether Heretickes could truely baptise and truely Euseb lib. 5. cap. 25. lib. 6 cap. 3. these trifles haue benne the fuel of contention from time to time that not only in the church but also among the people as if madnes and not matter did sway on all sides to the disturbing of the common peace Thirdly let vs consider that when our people are come to knowledge they know a great deale more then they can make vse of for their good Eccles 4. 8. As a couetous man hath no power to take comfort of his estate or as children fooles and impotent persons may haue great honours and reuenewes but know not how to vse them so ordinarily where the diligent hand is to disperse the good word of God there may be and is a rich treasure of precious knowledge in many of our people who know onely to know without further profit For there is great difference betwixt knowledge for vnderstanding and wisedome for practise as we see in those that knew the way of the Lord and iudgement of their God Ier. 5. 5. yet they altogether brake the yoke and burst the bonds And againe in those who said they were Ier. 8. 8 9. wise and that the Law of the Lord was with them yet they reiected the