the same place or like a Picture that growes not but is the same now that it was twenty yeares agoe Such barren trees are nigh to cursing Luke 13.9 and such unprofit able learners are left by God justly to the power of seducers as malefactors are to Jaylors This is the true cause of all those Errors and Sins amongst us Psal. 95.10 Ier. 9.3 Matth. 22.19 As for our selves let us enquire for the good way and when we have found it sit not still but be walking from knowledge to knowledge from grace to grace and from strength to strength till at last wee come to our Celestiall Sion 3. Since seducers are so ready to seduce women how carefull should that Sexe be to shunne conversing or disputing with them When Eve once fell to disputing and questioning the Truths of God the Devill soon overcame her and was too subtle for her Genes 3.1 do not therefore tempt the Lord by entertaining disputes with Serpentine disputants for though every one be bound to make an open and sincere profession of the truth yet to be able to defend it against a subtle adversary and to answer their Cavills is a gift that is given but to a few Let every one know his own strength and if he be wise keep within his onw bounds 4. Since women oft times are Satans Instruments by which he seduceth many take heed of women let not those Syrens enchant thee so as to leap into the depths of errours Consider how many of thy betters have fallen by them Adam at first the best man Solomon the wisest David one of the holiest and Sampson one of the strongest all deceived by women and at this day how many wise and seemingly holy men have been drawne aside to errors by their wives Stop then thy eares against these allurements and in this sense be as the deafe adder which stoppes his eare against the voyce of the Charmer charme he never so wisely Whosoever they be that seek to draw thee from thy God let thy heart and thy hand be against them Deuteron 13.6 8 9. VERSE 8. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses so did these also resist the Truth men of corrupt minds reprobate concerning the Faith THe Apostle proceeds in describing the false Prophets of the last times that we may the better know them he tells us they are such 1. As oppose the truth and the Preachers of it As Iannes and Iambres the worlds wise men withstood Moses so did these also resist the truth They do not onely catch at silly women but they strike at the Shepherd that so the flock may be scattered They oppose Moses and Aaron the messengers of God whom he sent to publish his truth to his people Yea they resist the very truth it self which is worse then to resist the persons that bring it The Series of the Speech seemed to require that the Apostle should have said as Iannes and Iambres resisted Moses so do these resist Vs but he alters his stile and sayes more Emphatically they resist the Truth implying that the opposition is not so much against the Preachers as against the truth they preach and by consequence against God who is the first Truth and at whose command they publish it Exod. 16.8 Neither is it a frigid infirm resistance but a violent vehement opposition springing from malice and rancour which makes them resist the truth 1. With their Lyes Tyranny and cruell Persecution 2. By Flatteries false Miracles and Sophistry they cunningly undermine the Truth Thus Iannes and Iambres do the same things by slight and art which Moses did in Reality another man would have much adoe to distinguish between the Serpents of Moses and those of the Magicians they were so like Exod. 7.11 Quest. Some may demand who this Jannes and Jambres were and how the Apostles came by their Names Answ. They were two of the chief Magicians and Egyptian Sorcerers who by the appointment of Pharaoh opposed Moses and Aaron in the Miracles which they wrought that they might obscure the glory of God and delude the people they working Miracles seemingly by sorcery and the help of the Devill which Moses did really by the power and finger of God 2. As for their Names they are not to be found in the Old Testament nor in the story to which the Apostle alludes Exod. 7.11 Neither is it probable that the Apostle came to the knowledge of them by Extraordinary Revelation as some imagine since the bare knowledge of the Names of these Magicians is of so little consequence and not necessary to salvation 3. They might be taken out of some ancient record of the Jewes then extant as divers other things mentioned in the New Testament were e. g. Moses his education in Egyptian Learning and his age of 40. yeares when he went to visit his Brethren Acts 7.22 these are not recorded in the Old Testament but are found in Midrash Rabbi Berischith So Iude 14. maketh mention of a prophesy of Enoch which yet is not extant in the Old Testament So Heb. 11.21 12.21 So that here is no ground for those Numberless number of old mouldy foolish superstitious Popish unwritten Traditions and that not onely in matters of Rite and History but of Faith and Manners also which tend to the perplexing but not to the quieting of the soul. 2. They are men of corrupt minds and judgements their understandings are so perverted and blinded with corrupt and sinful affections that they can neither apprehend nor judge rightly of any thing according to the truth their minds go a whoring after lying vanities and then no wonder if they forsake their own mercies The Understanding is the Eye and guide of the Soul it s the noblest part of Man if it be corrupted the Man 's undone Psal. 14.3 3. See what followes concerning the faith reprobate This is the fruit of a corrupt mind they cannot receive nor perceive the truth they have lost all sound judgement in things pertaining to the faith they oppose the light which shines into their minds and with violence rush into sinne as the horse into the battle This brings Gods sore judgement on them so that he rejects and forsakes them and gives them up to a reprobate mind Ier. 6.30 Rom. 1.28 insomuch as they that would not receive the truth for the truths sake in love but unthankfully reject it now shall not receive it and as 't is their sin that their understanding is corrupt and they will not see So now it shall be their punishment that they shall not approve of the faith and thus they reject it still actively and are actually reprobate to every good work Titus 1.16 not knowing how to goe about any thing that is good Such corrupt Teachers we must shun and reject least we be corrupted by them so much the word implies saith Beza yet must we not cast off rashly all those as absolute
Reprobates for 't is one thing to be Reprobate concerning the faith pro tempore at present and another thing to be a Reprobate Manasses Paul and those 1 Corinthians 6.11 were lewd enough for the time yet at last were called These that are now 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 reproveable and unapproved as the word signifies 2 Cor. 13.7 Heb. 6.8 1 Corinthians 9.27 yet in Gods due time they may be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 accepted and approved This must teach us to keep our judgements pure and our understandings clear for 't is our guide and if that mislead us we must needs fall into the ditch Corruption in judgement in some respects is worse then corruption in manners especially when the mind hath been enlightned with the knowledge of the truth for this is the root of those corrupt manners that are amongst us In the time of the Law the Leprosie in the head was of all other Leprosies the most dangerous and destructive the man that had it in his hand or feet was unclean but if it were in his head then he was to be pronounced utterly unclean Lev. 13.44 Hence the scripture gives so many caveats against errors and erroneous ones Deut 13.3 Philip. 3.2 Colos. 2.8 2 Pet. 3.17 Matthew 7.13 Beware of false Prophets the word implies a diligent study and singular care lest we be caught by such subtle adversaries Keep your judgements pure then the pure Word of God will delight you Micah 2.7 you will delight to come to the truth that your deeds may be discovered Iohn 3.21 Part not with a good conscience and a good conversation lest you make ship-wrack of the faith and a gap be opened in your breasts to all sinne and errour that the Lord knowes where you will rest it may be not till you come to the highth of sin and depth of misery Count therefore a corrupt judgement a sore plague and if God have given thee a sound judgement able to discern the truth and a mind ready to receive it and approve of it when 't is propounded this is not a common mercy but calls for speciall Thankfulness Psal. 16.7 Proverbs 28.5 1. Observe There have been false Teachers in all Ages to oppose the Truth and the Professors of it As Iannes and Iambres here oppose Moses a meek a learned a faithfull servant in all Gods House So there were four hundred and fifty fals Prophets against one zealous Elijah four hundred against good Michaiah 1 Kings 18.18 and 22.6.14 Hananiah against Ieremy Amaziah against Amos 7.10 false brethren against Paul Hymeneus Philetus and Alexander oppose him 1 Tim. 1.20 The Church shall never want enemies to war withall whilest the seed of the Serpent abides in the world As Pharaoh had his Magitians who hardned him in his sin and deluded him to his destruction so the World will ever have its false Prophets to blinde and harden them in sin to their ruine Thus in the Primitive times there was a Simon Magus Scribes Pharisees Sadduces Essens Herodians Nicolaitans Elymas Ebion Cerinthus the Gnosticks and many others 2 Peter 2.1 Thus when Luther began to reform thirty severall Sects arose to hinder the worke We should not therefore be despondent or discouraged as if some strange thing had happened to us but comforted rather in that we are made conformable to Christ the Prophets and Apostles Matthew 5.11 Luke 6.22.23 This was is and will be the condition of the Church Militant from her youth up she must looke to be plowed and persecuted by malicious men Psalm 129.2 3. Besides 't is the condition of Truth in this World to meet with opposition we can no sooner publish it but it's enemies appear Galathians 4.16 Truth brings hatred men cannot endure to have Vngues in Vlcerre they are unsound and would not be touched Truth is a Light which discovers the intents of mens hearts Hebrewes 4.12 and layes open the evill of mens wayes and this makes the wicked not simply to oppose but to rise in open rebellion against the Truth Iob 24.13 which reproves their deeds and exposeth them to the view of themselves and others Hence they have alwayes been esteemed the Pests and troublers of a Land that publish Truth as we may see throughout the Acts of the Apostles where we finde some disputing against the Truth Acts 6.9 others blaspheming Acts 13.45 some secretly undermining it and seeking to draw men from embracing it Acts 13.8 others openly rayling against it Acts 17.18 19. and 24.5 Some have opposed it out of ignorance and blind devotion as Paul before his conversion 1 Timothy 1.13 and some of the Jewes Acts 3.17 and 13.50 Others deliberately against conviction and out of malice have resisted the Truth as Alexander 2 Timothy 4.15 these are given up to a reprobate sense the Devil having blinded their eyes 2 Corinthians 4.4 Some oppose it for their gain and for their bellies Rom. 16.17 18. 1 Tim. 6.5 2 Pet. 2.3.15 16. Others from fleshly lusts 2 Peter 2.18 and 3.3 Others out of pride loving the preheminence 3. Iohn 9.10 1 Timothy 6.3 4. yet should not we distaste the Truth because of those oppositions which are made against it for however some prophanely scorn at the name of Truth and say with Pilate what is Truth Iohn 18.38 Yet wisedome is justified of her children and they that are of the Truth hear his voyce who came into the world to beare witnesse of the Truth They come with love and teachable hearts to it and so are made to know the Truth Iohn 8.52 Let not the great host of Truths enemies make us despair but know there are more with us then are with them 2 Chronicles 32.7 8. and the more they are that oppose the Truth the more illustrious will our conquest be If I must have an adversary let it be a wicked one and then be he never so potent he cannot stand long because God is against him Iob 27.7 Truth may be opprest but never conquered Praemi potest opprimi non potest yea oppositions advance and clear it Veritas impugnata magis elucet Bern. 2. Observe That as the Devill hath his Iannes and Iambres to oppose the Truth so God hath his Moses and Aaron to uphold it As the Devill hath his Domestick Chaplains so God hath his armed Champions and as the Devill raiseth up oppressors so God sends Saviours Obadiah 21. If he raise hornes to gore the Church God will raise Carpenters to saw off those hornes Zachary 1.19 20 21. The same day that Pelagius was born in Brittain the same day was Saint Augustine born in Africa that did confute him God hath an Athanasius to oppose Arrius Chrysostome against the Manichees Basil against Macedomus Prosper against the Massilians Salvian against the Libertines Fulgentius against Faustus Christ against the Pharisees Simon Peter against Simon Magus Paul against false Apostles Luther Calvin Beza c. against the
is one end why we came into the world viz. that we might bear witness to the truth Iohn 13.37 We are Gods salt and therefore must by our Prayer Preaching and Practice help to season men and keep them from rotting in sin and error One part of our work is to convince gain-sayers Titus 1.9 This others of abilities may do ex charitate but we ex officio We are the keepers of the Vineyard and must take care that the Foxes spoil not the tender Grapes We are Fathers and must see that the children have not a stone given them insteed of bread nor a Serpent instead of a fish Let the zeal of others quicken us How zealous was Elijah and Paul against the false Prophets of their times How zealous was Athanasius against the Arrians Austin against the Pelagians and the Donatists Luther Calvin Beza c. against Papists and Sectaries of all men it becomes not us to be silent and meal-mouthed when our Lord 's dishonoured 3. Let every one stand upon his guard Christ warned his own Disciples to beware of such Matthew 7.15 the best know but in part and Satan is so subtle that we may soon be deceived How quickly did the Galathians fall from the faith to justification by works in so much that the Apostle wonders they were so soon fallen to another Gospel Galathians 1.6 'T was Luthers complaint that an ignorant rayling sot could in a moment overthrow what we have been building many years Such is the cursed depravation of mans heart I shall therefore give you some preventing Physick against the pestilent attempt of seducers 1. Get your judgements rightly informed especially in the Principles and Fundamentals of Religion as Faith Repentance Justification Sanctification and new-Obedience Our greatest care should be about the greatest things of the Law Lay a good foundation else the building will totter When men are children in understanding then they are tossed to and fro with every winde of Doctrine Ephes. 4.14 Heresie is most strong where knowledge is most weak 'T is the weak flies which hang in the spiders web when the strong break thorough The simple are apt to believe every thing Proverbs 14.15 and like children swallow all that 's put into their mouths There are 7. things as a Reverend Divine hath well observed which are apt to be carried away by the Flood of Heâ—esies 1. Light things 2. Loose things 3. Weak things 4. Low things 5. Rotten things 6. Tottering things 7. Ventrous things How many erre for want of knowledge Psal. 95.10 Matth. 22.19 upon this account the Apostle would not have a Minister to be a novice 1 Tim. 3.6 The Devil deals with men as the Cow doth by the Lamb which first picks out the eyes and then devours it Or as the Philistims dealt by Sampson they first put out his eyes and then they make him grind like a slave Thus he dealt with Eve Gen. 3.4 5. First he deludes her judgement with ye shall not die and then he easily perswades her to eat of the forbidden fruit We should therefore be wise as Serpents that we be not deceived and innocent as Doves that we prove not deceivers Vt nulli nocuisse velis imitare columbam Serpentem ut possit nemo nocere tibi 2. Walke alwayes as in Gods eye have respect to all his commands be ready to obey in revelatis in revelandis whatsoever God shall discover to you to be his Will be not Nominall but Reall Christians rest not content with the form but get the Power of Godlinesse Hereticks are a mere scourge for Formalists and Hypocrites When men reject Gods call he gives them up to delusions Isay 66.4 and the lusts of their own hearts Psalm 81.11 12. Hosea 4.12 13. When men will not be schollars to truth they shall be masters of errors and teachers of lies well verst in the blackest and basest Art 'T is just with God that they who will not have Truth for their King should have falshood for their Tyrant being given up to the Efficacy of errour or to errour in the strength and power of it 2 Thes. 2.10 11. If Pharaoh will not believe the real Miracles of Moses he shall be deluded with the false ones of the Magitians If Ahab will not hearken to Micaiah a true Prophet he shall be deluded by lying spirits in the mouths of false ones and this is one end why the Lord suffers not onely Schismes but Heresies to abound viz. to discover mens hearts to themselves and others Deuterenomy 13.3 So long as the glasse is still no dregs appear but stir it and then they shew themselves Fire discovers the mettle and storms shew us which were rotten trees No man fully knows his own heart till a temptation comes If a man should have told our Apostles 1500. years agoe that they should have denied the Trinity Scripture Sacraments Ordinances c. they would have been ready to say as Hazael am I a Dog that I should do such things as these 3. Grow in Grace This is a special preservative against Apostacy 2 Peter 3.17 18. To this end sit down under a sound soul-searching Ministery God hath ordained this as a special means to establish us in the truth Ephes. 4.10 Better have a biting Gospel said Bradford then a toothlesse Masse better it is to sit under the saddest shade of the true Vine even weeping then to frolick it under the greenest trees and most pleasant Oakes of Idolatry and Heresie We have been barren stocks in the Vineyard of the Lord we have been dead under lively Oracles like the Smiths Anvill we are the harder for beating on such is our corruption that we are the worse for preaching Isaiah 6.9.10 Now God in his just judgement punisheth sinne with sinne he punisheth such contempt of the Gospel with Heresie Witchcraft Apostacy c. 4. Try before you trust Tho your Minister be a Holy man yet ' try what he teacheth you will tell money and weigh gold after your father and shall we onely take Doctrines on trust Since there are not a few but many false Prophets gone forth into the world as Anabaptists Arrians Quakers c. it will be our wisedom to try all things weigh them in the ballance of the Sanctuary bring them to the touch-stone of Gods Word and what upon trial you finde to be sound and right hold it fast retain it against all adverse power whatsoever 1 Thessalonians 5.21 Prov. 23.23 buy the truth at any rate part with it at no rate Prov. 4.21 Luke 8.15 Rom. 12.9 2 Tim. 13.14 Heb. 2.1 and 10.3.3 Rev. 3.3.11 The world was never so full of Spirits as now There is the spirit of Errour the spirit of Fornication the spirit of Pride the spirit of Slumber the spirit of Giddinesse the spirit of Delusion c. Had not we then need to try the spirits 1 Iohn 4.1 Hath not God given us the
were the Messiah Christ proves it out of Isay 35. 53. and 61. when others Questioned the Resurrection Christ confutes them out of Exodus 4. I am the God of Abraham Isaac and Iacob When a Question arose about Divorcements Christ hath recourse presently to the Old Testament and alledgeth those words Genesis 2. For this cause a man shall leave Father and Mother and they two not they twenty as the Polygamistical Anabaptists would have it shall be one flesh So when the Pharisees accused Christs Disciples for breach of the Sabbath Christ presently defends them with an Old Testament proof Matthew 12.3 compared with 1 Samuel 21.6 So when the Scribes and Pharisees taught for Doctrines the Precepts of men Christ confutes them out of Isay 29 13. When Christ would teach men to deal justly and to doe as they would be done by he proves it from the Law and the Prophets which comprehend the whole Old Testament Mat. 7.12 So did Paul Acts 26.22 and 28.23 he taught nothing but what was written in the Law and the Prophets So Ephesians 6.2 3. and Peter confirmed what he said out of the Old Testament 1 Peter 2.4 and 1.1 15. When Paul would fright men from murmuring he brings an Old Testament Example 1 Cor. 10.6.11 All these things are written for our Example So he proves Justification by Faith out of the Old Testament by Abrahams being justified by Faith Rom. 4. He proves the maintenance of Ministers to be due from the Law 1 Cor. 9.7 8. All this proves that the Old Testament is not abrogated 3. The Word of the Lord endures for ever not a Jod or tittle of it shall pass away till all be fulfilled Matthew 5.18 But the writings of Moses and the Prophets are the Word of God Hence they are called His Statutes his Testimonies his Law and his Commandements and in our doubts we must to the Law and Testimony as our Rule Isay 8.20 and Peter tells us 2 Peter 1.19 that we have a more sure word of Prophesie speaking of the Old Testament whereunto ye do well to take heed as to a light shining in a dark place and if they do well that take it for their Rule and Guide then they do ill that reject it to follow some Ignis fatuus some New-light of their own inventing 4. He that denieth the Old Testament when it crosseth his Lusts will when a Tempation comes deny the New Testament also for the Pen-men of the Old Testament were inspired with the same Holy Spirit of Truth as were the Penmen of the New There is but one Spirit 2 Corinthians 4.13 and it cannot speak Truth in Paul and falshood in Moses but the same Holy Spirit which spake by Peter Paul Iohn c. Spake also by Moses Isay David Ieremy Luke 1.70 Hebrewes 1.1 2 Peter 1.21 Question one and you will quickly question all Question Moses and you will question Matthew Question Matthew and you will question Paul till at last with the Quakers you have cast off all For what is the Old Testament but the New obscure And what is the New Testament but the Old made plain both have an eye to Christ they being saved in the Old Testament by believing that Christ would come and we in the New by believing that Christ is come So that deny one and you will quickly deny both 5 The Anabaptists themselves who cry out most against Old Testament proofs yet are as ready as any to borrow proofs from thence when they think it may make for their advantage Thus the Anabaptists in Germany that cried down the Old Testament yet went about to justifie their rising against their Superiours from the Example of the Israelites rising against Pharaoh and when we demand what grounds they have to preach without a call they can then cite Numbers 11.25 2 Chronicles 17.7 Ioel 2.28 I hope they will allow us the same Liberty which they take themselves and when we cite Old Testament proofs against Tolerations and for punishing blasphemers with death they will not be offended 6. How shall we be able to convince a Jew that Christ is the true Messias It must be out of the Old Testament for the New he wil not believe Now that Christ is already come according to the Promises and Prophesies of him is as cleare as the Sunne by Old Testament proofes 1. He came into the World at the time foretold Daniel 9.24 after seventy weaks i. fourty nine years the Messiah shall come therefore the Messiah is now for from that time till now is two thousand yeares and more as appears by History 2. The place of his Birth was foretod Micah 5.2 and accordingly Christ was born at Bethlem Matthew 2.6 3. 'T was prophesied that he should be meeke and lowly not a glorious earthly King that should come with fire and sword to subdue Kingdomes Isay 42.2 Zech. 9.9 accordingly he was so Matt. 11.28 4. 'T was prophesied that he should be crucified Psalm 21. Isay 53. and he was so Matthew 26.3 'T was prophesied that he should rise again Psalm 16. and he did so Matthew 28. and Gods judgements on the Jewes to this day who desired his blood might be on them and their children and it is so for at this day they are a cursed scattered contemptible people This Argument convinced a Jew fourscore yeares agoe in England Thus we see the necessity of the Old Testament in this respect See more Reasons in Master Rowles Confession of Faith p. 30.31 c. An Answer to the Anabaptisticall cavils against the Old Testament Objection If the Old Testament be not abrogated then we are still bound to Circumcision Sacrifice and other Legal Rites Answer It doth not follow for though these Jewish Ceremonies are now abolisht yet it may be useful to know them though we are not bound to the Practice of them 1. That we may see what the Jewish Paedagogy was and how God ruled his Church then 2. That we may be thankful to God who hath set us in a better condition and eased of all those tiresome journeyes and costly sacrifices Now what fallacious arguing is this because the Types and Sacrifices of the Old Testament are abolisht Ergo all the Old Testament is abolisht Every freshman can tell them à parte ad totum non valet Argumentum E. g. Some compounded Anabaptists are notorious Heretickes shall we therefore conclude that all are so All that they can gather is this That since the Ceremonial Law is ceast Ergo something in the Old Testament is ceast This no man denies but under this pretence to cast off all the Old Testament wherein are so many excellent instructions tending to Faith and good Life is most unjust and ungodly dealing and this may serve in Answer to that Socinian Argument from Heb. 8.13 and 7.18 where the Old Covenant is said to vanish Answer The Apostle speaks not there of the Doctrine of Moses and the