Moses so doe these also resist the Truth This is the manner of their working for accomplishing their businesse in which two things are observeable Viz. 1. That they resist the Truth That is the Gospel and the Truth of CHRIST in the Gospel yet rightly to understand this businesse wee must distinguish as the Apostle doth betweene the time in which the Apostle wrote and while they and their Labourers watched over the Churches while Anti-Christ could get no seat nor Authority so much as in the outward Court thereof In which time were yet some perrills by these Seducers more secretly creeping in v. 6. 2 Thes 2.7,8 1 Joh. 2.18,19 And the times of which the Apostle prophesyeth v. 1. chap. 4.3 In which through the Gentiles comming into the outward Court Antichrist should get a seat and Authority therein Rev. 11.1.2 2 Thes 2.4 And so the Seducers come more openly and boldly 2 Thess 2.10,11 being also more evill growing worse and worse 1 Tim. 3.13 and so the times more perrillous Vers 1. Chap. 4.3 In the Apostles times they did not denie the extent of the Ransome nor Justification freely by the grace of God in Christ by faith only to be received as the Pharisaicall Did but onely the so freely preaching the Gospel to All men before or having fellowship with them and they not yet undered to the observances of the Mosaicall Law And also denying Sanctification of Body and soul preservation in Grace Conformity to Christ Justification of uprightnesse to God and so growth to perfection to be had by Faith in Dependence on God in Christ for effecting it without being undered to the workes of the Law for that businesse 1 Thess 2.1 6. Gal. 2.9.20 and 3.1,2,3,4,5 2 Cor. 11.3,4,15 And in denying both these they denyed the Truth even the Gospell and Christ in the Gospel and so the power of godlinesse But in the more perrilous times prophecyed of They will proceed further many denying both these parts of truth which they confessed some denying Justification before God to be onely by grace received by Faith Affirming it to be by mans own workes together with Faith 1 Tim. 6.6,7 2 Tim. 4.3,4 Others denying the entent of the Ransome According to the plaine Affirmations of the Gospel And thereby shutting the doore of Repentance against most men and so teaching them to denie the Lord that bought them 2 Pet. 2.1,2 And both sort denying that Portion of the Spirit given with supernaturall light motion and power to teach and witnesse the things of Christ and worke his minde in the Beleevers which hee giveth since his comming in the Flesh 2 Pet. 1.19 3.17,18 1 Joh. 3.24 4.1,6 Jude 19. 2. That they resist the truth as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses First In their pride and high-mindednesse as the Magicians thought by Enchantment to doe as much as Moses by the Power of GOD so they presume by their fleshly Wisedome Knowledge to set forth the meaning of the Gospel and the wayes of God as much and as well as those that are through the word of Grace enlightened and taught of God and have the word of Grace and experiments of his goodnesse in their heart Joh. 11.12 Col. 2.18 Revel 9.1,2 Being ready to reply against the Teachers of the Truth as Zedekiah the sonne of Chenaanah 1 King 22.24 Which way went the Spirit of the Lord from me to speake unto thee Secondly By their subtilty and craft in use of their fleshly witt and skill As the Magicians when Moses used only the Word of the Lord and held forth his Rod They used sorceries and enchantments So when the Servants of God use nothing but Scripture and Scripture Interpretations and hold forth the Word of Life in and according to the plaine sayings of the Gospel These Seducers make use of humane and fleshly Wisedome and use the entising words of mans Wisedome 1 Cor. 2.1,4 And not allowing the Gospel to be delivered vnderstood and beleeved as it is in the still and plaine sayings thereof And ashamed with plaine and open face few so brazen-faced to denie and contradict the same To helpe all and colour their opposition and deceive their hearers They frame out of it here a Precept and there a Precept one unto another To teach and enjoyne and then adde here a line and there a line one upon another to comfort Isai 28.12,13 And having in their heart no Gospel that is full true and certaine to Preach plainly and positively as true before men beleeve That for the goodnesse and truth of it men might beleeve 1 Cor. 9.26 Nor liking it that others should have such a Gospel and so preach it They are full of subtill Questions and surmizes of absurdities if the plaine sayings of the Cospel be understood in their own expressions and therefore devise them another meaning with their faire glosses Mat. 22,23.28 1 Tim. 1.6 2 Tim. 2.14.16 And thirdly with this their pride and cunning they counterfeit by their Teachings the doing of the same things that the servants of the Truth in their Ministration doe as convincing men of sinne making them to loath earthy pleasures bringing them to much fasting Prayer Zeal and many duties Rom. 10.3 1 Tim. 1.7 And so beguile and deceive many And lastly they get into and have Authority in great Mens and Princes Courts and by all seek to hinder People from acknowledging the power of God in the Gospel Act. 13.8 even as the Magicians did with Pharach and the Egyptians whence also these Seducers are compared too and called in the Scriptures Inchanters and Witches Isa 8.18,19,20 and those that are seduced by them are said to be bewitched Gal. 3.1 6. Men of corrupt mindes reprobate or of no Judgement concerning the Faith Here is the true and plaine Carracter of these Seducers however they cloak themselves in which two things are observable 1. They are of corrupt minds and that both in the conception and inclination thereof First In the conception of their minds They are corrupt in that I. They think that their Humane and Artificiall Knowledge Wisedome and Prudence in the livingnesse thereof is an help and handmaid meet to be Sanctified to help to finde out the Spirituall Knowledge of the Deep things of GOD that are in CHRIST to bestow on his Chosen contrary to the Testimony of the Holy Ghost That saith They are onely discerned by the enlightning and Revelation of the Spirit and that that other Wisedome and Knowledge shall be confounded and brought to naught before they can be rightly used for exâ—…ssion Matt. 11.25 16,17 21.16 1 Cor. 1.19,20,27 and 2. â— 9,14 II. They thinke the only necessary way for them to Prosper in their Ministration is to be Alive and have great esteeme in the hearts of such as heare them for great Learning Knowledge and Skill contrary to the Judgement and experiment of those taught of GOD who have Abased themselves in that respect and affirmed that when Death
Anti-Christ 2 Thess 2.4,12 Colouring all this with confession of some part of Truth The more reddily to deceive and cast the aspercions of Hereticks and Seducers on true Beleevers even this deceitfull Serpent when he can no longer prevail in this way can then more secretly winde in himself into some under pretence of zealous Renouncing all these usurped Titles and Courts and grosse Superstitions Pressing on in the same pride To the same power and Lordlinesse in a more godly way Joh. 3.9,10 And so still cast the same aspertions on all that stoop not to acknowledge such Excellency and Authority in them as not to passe their limits * The name Bishops or Elders with their Office The Assemblies of Christians The Councells of Elders and Brethren and every godly Person of or among them are good and to be reverenced and no whit touched here Nor are Independants here countenanced God onely is Independant and in respect of Christ and submission among men I know none unlesse it be the Pope and such as hee and the Counsell of Trent and such as they As for true Churches whether wanting a Presbytry as those of Corinth or having a Congregationall Presbytry as those of Philippi or both that an Overseer over divers of them as in Ephesus and Creet I reverence them all but Satan to put any these names on wrong Persons is usuall Rev. 2.9 3.9 1 Cor. 11.3 c. So that wee still need to pray that prayer Tell me where thou feedest c. Cant. 1.7 And to observe that direction Matt. 7.15,16 Yee shall know them by their fruits c. Their Doctrine and the favor and end of their Doctrine 1 Cor. 12.1,12 And to keep that charge Beleeve not every Spirit but Try the Spirits c. 1 Joh. 4.1,2,6 And for that end To the Law To the Testimony c. Isa 8.19,20 Knowing that none can prove an Heresy by nor vent it in a plaine saying of Scripture but they must adde or diminish werest and Gloss to make a seeming Proof And wee having that help herein Joh. 10.4 1 Joh. 2.20,27,28 Let not mens easting an ill name on the Truth or any part thereof or on the Servants of it * This hath been an antient trick of the Devill and his servants Joh. 8.48 Act. 28.22 Nor their putting the name of Truth upon errour sway us But search the Scripture And this Scripture which hath been so often abused in your hearing some consideration whereof I have presented to you Try all things and keep that which is good And the Lord seasonably doscover who are Seducers and lead us into all Truth And Hee ever fill you with blessing according to the Prayer of his poor unworthy one and Yours in all Service of Love in CHRIST THO. MOORE A DISCOVERY OF SEDVCERS THAT CREEP INTO HOUSES A brief View of 2 Tim. 3.5,9 THe Apostle having forewarned that perillous Times would come and shewne a reason why they would be so perrillous Doth here discover one of the chiefest Perills that would ensue and that is of the Seducement of some from the faith and Love of Christ and Union and Fellowship with Beleevers And herein hee discovereth and setteth forth the Seducers By Shewing 1. Of what sort they are and to whom they belong Of this sort are they Which 2. Their way of Attempting their Businesse They Creep into Houses 3. Their worke which they doe they imbondage And lead Captive 4. In with whom their work prevailes Silly women laden with sinnes lead away with divers Lusts ever larning and never able to come to the Knowledge of the Truth 5. The manner of their working to Accomplish their businesse Now as James and Jambres withstood Moses So doe these also resist the Truth 6. The true Charracter of the Seducers Uncloaked Men of corrupt mindes Reprobate or of no judgement concerning the Faith 7. The extent of their work both in what and in whom They doe but trouble imbondage and captive they bring none to liberty and sound Peace and rest in Christ They lead captive none but such unstable ones They shall proceed no Further. 8. The Issue of their businesse when they come to Attempt delivery from bondage and Tender freedome in Christ And when they deale with established beleevers Their folly shall be made manifest to all men as theirs also was 1. Of this sort are they Compare Mat. 23.14,25 with 2 Pet. 2.1 Joh. 5.7,8,9 and it confirms the same That is Such as are branded with divers of the former evills Covered over with a forme of Godlinesse a show of Love and Zeal and Devetion accompanied with much Praying Fasting Preaching Strict in outward Observation of Sabbath's and severe prosecution of circumstantiall things Rom. 10.2 Matt. 23.14.27 Luk. 18.11 But have not the Word of Reconciliation in their heart and the Spirit of grace therein writing the Epistle of Christ in their heart and so leading them in a Christ-like minde To move others to be reconciled to Christ as the Servants of Christ have Joh. 15.4,7 Rom. 8.2,14 2 Cor. 3.3,18 and 8.14,19 Of these they seem to bee with these they sometime are from among these they come but of them they are not 1 Joh. 2.19 But of the former sort to whom they belong and with whom they are and ought to be numbred Which 2. Creep into Houses This is their way they subtilly and secretly and by degrees creep or wind themselves into houses Two things are here to be rightly Understood First What is here meant by houses and Secondly what is meant or intimated in this Word Creep into First by houses is here meant Churches or Societyes of such as doe beleeve and make Profession of the Gospel For the Apostle was before directing Timothy about the Doctrine suitable to be in and to build up the House of God Chap. 2.1,20,26 Warning him of some that had departed from the Faith and overthrowne the Faith of some Chap 3.18 and of some to be recovered Vers 25 26. And here fore-warning of such-like Perills He to admonish Timothy minds him of his owne example Chap. 3.10,11 in Doctrine and life Now then of what houses are here meant is easie to discerne So Wisedome hath built her house Prov. 9.1 And whose house wee are Heb. 3.3.6 A spirituall house 1 Pet. 2.5 Now as this great house is one and called the Church of Christ 1 Cor. 12.28 So the particular Congregations societyes or Famillies are called Churches and here houses Gal. 1.2 Secondly By this word Creep is meant and intimated three things about their incomming to be Teachers in such Societies or Houses 1. Their want of Authority and comming in at the doore They have not the word of Grace put into their hearts by the Spirit of Christ and so have not been in the Heavenly Call chosen out of the Condition and fellowship of the world into union and fellowship with Christ and his Chosen ones and so have not the Spirit
of Christ to move and lead them forth in that Christ-like mind and Charity as all his servants whom hee sendeth have 2 Cor. 3.2,3,18 4.6 5.14.18,19,20 1 Joh. 1.1,2,3 As the will Appointment of the Father Heb. 10.1,10 is that Door by which JESUS CHRIST himself entered for Jesus Christ himself is the DOOR of the Fathers Will and Appointment by which all Acceptable entrance in to God or the house of God is Joh. 10.2.7.9 14.6 And this spirituall making knowne of the Father and Christ so as thereby to draw out of the World and bring into Christ and then giving in the word into the heart enabling with the heart to beleeve unto Righteousnesse and with the mouth to make confession unto salvation in CHRIST his opening of or putting in any by the Doore Joh. 17.38,8 Rom. 3.10 To such he hath given Commission to declare the Gospel and for such Hee hath prayed for their Sanctification Preservation and prosperous blessing in their Ministration of the Gospel and he hath given his Commission and prayed for such blessing in Ministration for none but such as these none that yet remaine in the Condition of and fellowship with the world Joh. 17.9,14,18,20,21,23 And therefore such as are not thus fitted warranted and led by Christ that they may say as Paul 2 Cor. 5.14,18,18,19,20 They have no commission from Christ nor doe they come into the house by the Door But run without his sending and clime up or creepe in some other way Though they be called Prophets Jerem. 23.14,21 Joh. 10.1 2. By creeping is also meant their subtilty in hiding their Doctrine and mindes with cloakes of guile till they be received And that is two wayes I. In hiding their grand opinion of slighting the Foundation and Corner-Stone The Vision of all and preferring some other Doctrine before it Isai 28.12.14,16 29,10,11,12 Psal 118.22 Act. 4.11,12 2 Cor. 2.17 and 4.2 II. In hiding their Intention and Issue that will follow on the receipt or their Teachings which is to unsettle and pervert them from the simplicity that is in Christ 2 Cor. 11.3,4 To bring them in some Bondage under the Law of works Gal. 1.6 4.21 To take off their Affections from spirituall Teachings and sincere Preachers of the Gospel and to gaine their Choice Affections to themselves and so to subdue them to their own Judgements that they might be Lords of their faith Gal. 4.17 All which till they be received they colour over and hide with good words and fayre speeches Rom. 16.17,18 Pretences of Zeal Love and Devotion Col. 2.18 2 Cor. 11.15 Promises of great Attainments and liberty 2 Pet. 2.19 2 Cor. 11.3 Pretences of Spirit and wresting words of Scripture and counterfeiting as if the sinceere Preachers of the Gospel said as they doe and had so written 2 Thes 2.2 And through this subtilty they winde and creep into houses or Societies of Beleevers III. By creeping is here meant and intimated also some neglect and over-sight in the Beleevers especially the Multitude of them who if they had dilligently heeded the foundation the savour and Teachings of that Unction they received from Christ and kept full estimate thereof They might have seen the Darknnesse and unlikenesse of the Teachings of these creepers thereto and so how there was no need thereof to them 1. Joh. 2.19,20,27 Gal. 3.1,2 Cor. 11.4 Gal. 2.4 Jude 4. And so had they consulted with Christ and resorted to their overseers while the Church of Beleevers had the Power of Choyse and the Choyse was of men taught of God The Church then as the woman cloathed with the Sunne c. Rev. 12.1 Such might have been kept out though in such time when the outward Court is left to the Gentiles and the man of fin gets his seat therein and gives forth his Lawes Then are the houses so weakned That these Seducers come in openly enough and the Witnesses Prophesie in Sackcloth And so the perill greater Rev. 11.2,3 And the Apostle doth not Prophecy That in a full and outward sense in those times they shall Creep but saith That of that sort there were in his owne time that did then creep For surely else they had not been then admitted in the outward Assemblies of Beleevers to be Teachers as in the evill times foretold they may Though into the more speciall fellowships of Beleeuers They are fain't still to use their Creeping 3. And lead Captive This is their businesse and the worke they doe and the effect of their Teachings After they are received and begin to be entertained and esteemed which they laboured for and then they begin to discover something plainly their opinion and intention They then Lead Captive they withdraw from simple and unfained Faith and Confidence in Christ and rejoycing in him only 2 Cor. 11.3 Phil. 3.2,3 They pervert and Trouble the minds of those that were inclined to the right way Gal. 3.3,5 4.21 5.1,4,8 6.12 Prov. 9.15,16 And so entangle them with bondage under the law of Workes then they under them to their owne judgements exalting themselves as knowing high things and perswading their Disciples that in submission to them they shall attaine perfection in holinesse and great Liberty Gal. 4.17 2 Cor. 11.15 Gal. 3.1,5 2 Pet. 2.19 And so they lead them Captive This is their work and their businesse and the effect of their Teaching 4. Silly Women laden with sinnes lead away with divers Lusts over learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth Here the Apostle sets forth with whom these Seducers prevaile and who and what they are that are seduced by them and he sets them forth by divers Charracters meeting together on them Viz. If they are filly women so called not so much in respect of the sex as if all or only females as in respect of their weaknesse in not standing against the force of Assaults and suffering themselves to be overcome by such seemings and shaddowes to part with that wherein they had seen and tasted substance whether Male or Female All is one in reproof of their weaknesse they are called women For however in Nature and in Humane and Morall respects there is male and female and which grace destroyeth not but ordereth Ephe. 5. 6. Yet in receipt and enjoyment of the grace of God by union in Christ There is no difference between Male and Female Col. 3.10,11 So the like may be said in respect of folly weaknesse and losse by departing from Christ to another Doctrine Gal. 5.4 And so these seduced ones both Male and Female are called women because of their fillynesse Women not so able ordinarily to see and know the worth of a rare and rich Pearle and Jewell as men Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisedome and hee hath no heart Prov. 17.16 Besides the over-readinesse to beleeve every word without tryall Prov. 14.15 and herein their weakness as Ezek. 16. When
God had done so much for them And yet they were drawne away by vanity vers 13. How weake is thine heart saith the Lord seeing thou dost all these things The worke of an Imperious and Whorish woman yet were they both Male and Female And so when the mighty are taken away and babes and children rule the people Isai 19.16 Jer. 30,37 51.30 Isa 3.3,4 It is called Women ruling over you Vers 12. And so on the other side 1 Cor. 16.13 Watch yee stand fast in the Faith quit you like men be strong was spoken to all the Beleeving Corinthians Male and Female as heere for sillynesse and weaknesse in being turned from substance by others holding forth shaddows both Male and Female are called Women 2. They are laden with sinnes which cannot be understood of going on in divers open and known froms for that would not have stood with the forme of godlynesse in these Seducers who would scarce vovchsafe an open corverse with such especially in their Religious Discourse Nay they will fault others for such conversing with them Mat. 9.10,14 Joh. 7.48.49 But they are laden and oppressed and burthened with the risings and motions and Accusations of sinnes that by the strength they have from the Law Domineere in the Conscience That they are fearfull not able to look up beleevingly and take quiet in Christ 1 Cor. 15.56 Rom. 6.14 Though they have been lovingly envited thereto Matt. 11.28 And they have heard of the great love of God in the gift of his Sonne The salvation and Peace that he hath made and the life that is in him And that in beleeving they shall Receive Remission of sinnes and Eternall Life and been helped to beleeve and like this report yet to beleeve in him and quiet their hearts in him They dare not They cannot oh the secret thoughts of Worldlinesse uncleannesse wrath discontent yea Pride and Atheisme with some motions and Temptations thereunto Oh the hardnesse and Impenitence of heart The deadnesse too and wandrings in Prayer hearing the Word c. And till they be more humbled and purged and better quallifyed and enlarged They Dare not They cannot They will not beleeve in Christ And though in the Gospel it be testified to them That if they did so honour him in the word of grace or report of the Gospel They have heard and in some measure beleeved as to beleive and quiet their hearts in him and accept Christ for Remission of sinnes Righteousnesse Holinesse and life They should not only receive Remission of sinnes by the Spirits application of his blood but also purging and operations of Spirit that would humble renew sanctifie and confirme them to Christ Isa 28.12,16 30.15,16,18 Joh. 7.37,38,39 2 Cor. 3.3.18 Tit. 3.4,5 And that till they first beleeve in Him These things will never be rightly wrought in them Joh. 15.4,5 Yet they say They must have them first before they can beleeve And though in attention to the word of grace They have met with some sweet tastes and hints of ease and Refreshing encouraging to beleeve and divers examples of others as much laden as themselves in beleeving helped yet may they be complained of How long will it be ere they beleeve Numb 14.11 This their unbelief their great sinne that holds them under all their other sinnes is yet least complained of but the former is their burthen whence they are ever and anon in heavy Doubts and feares And these are apt for the Seducers with their forme of godlynesse and Precepts and law of works to work upon promising them great Freedome that waye and in meane season That their troubled condition is better then theirs that are so confident and that the Doubting faith is the best faith And so these so laden with sinne are most easily captived by them 3. Lead away with divers Lusts This is that which made them so weake and gives such an Advantage to the Seducers to captive them and that through which they are led away They have divers lusts They have a lust or desire that God would approve and speake Peace They would have Eternall Life though they doe not wholly submit to the way Mat. 19.16,27 Joh. 5.40 They also desire to be approved of such as have taught the Gospel to them And they desire to be approved of these Seducers because of their forme of godlinesse and zeal and pretence of strictnesse in duties whereby they fault all that are not as they Thus loving the praise of men and seeking Approbation from them and not singly that which comes from God alone This diversity of their Lusts stops them from beleeving in Christ And turnes them aside from those that speake only in his Name And apts them for Seducers that speak of themselves and so they are led away Joh. 5.4,44 7.46,53 12.42,43 4. They are ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth They are ever Learning oft hearing and questioning about the truth of the Gospel that sets forth Christ But they receive not the love of the Truth They accept it not that Christ in the Gospel offereth them That in letting goe other delights wayes and confidences casting themselves on him in beleeving they shall finde in him and receive through him pardon justification renewing sanctification c. which not Accepting they are in stead of beleeving still questioning and asking both of one and another of the Children of the Free-woman and of the Children of the Bond-woman And so abiding under the Accusation of sinne by the Law or if some ease yet lusting after Approbation on both sides They so entangle themselves That they are at no time able to come to the knowledge of the Truth and so fits themselves for delusions 2 Thess 2.10 1 Joh. 2.19,20,27,28 That in Jesus Christ there is a Redemption wrought and Life obtained and that onely through the freenesse of his grace in beleeving in Him Remission of sinnes and Justification is received and he righteousnesse to the Beleever some of them in some measure understand and rejoyce for Gal. 3.1.5 4.15 But that he is Sanctification to the Beleevers and hath taken on himself by Spirit to worke Salvation in them To purge renew sanctify and perfect all that concerneth them 1 Thess 5.24 Isai 26.12 Psal 138.8 And that in beleeving on him so as through the beliefe of his grace in the former They are united to him in Dependence on him for the latter They shall receive it and hee will effect it in due season Rom. 4.24,25 and 5.1,11 This full forme of CHRIST is not in them They are no whit experimented in this Knowledge nor so perswaded of the truth whence they are ready to receive the Doctrine of the Seducers to attaine this Sanctification by Workes and observances of the law of Workes Gal. 4.19 5.1,5,8 1.9 2 Cor. 11.15 And these weake unsetled ones are they with whom the Seducers prevaile 5. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood