pretence brought into the Church in Gregories dayes yet with expresse prohibition of worshipping them Afterward the second Synod of Nice enjoynes it though more modestly and respectively onely in regard of that which they represent But since the councell of Trent it 's risen to grosse Idolatry Neutrall Politicians who will be buying Truth out of our hands by formalizing and enervating the power of it till at last they leave us an heartlesse and saplesse Religion Among the Lawes of Solon there was one which thundred against such who in a civill uproare amongst the Citizens sit still as neutrall spectators It were happy for the Church if there were a more strict course taken against all lukewarme Machivillians who by their neutrality undermine Religion of this straine was Jeroboam that grand Politician who created to himselfe a State Religion out of Love to his Crowne he set up golden Calves he hindred the people from going to worship God at Jerusalem lest they should turne againe unto their Lord unto Rehoboam King of Judah Worldly wise men as they are time-servers so they are selfe-servers and whatsoever become of Christ and his truth selfe shall be advanced into the Throne such mens heads over-match their hearts their policy out-runneth their Religion when the glory of Christ and his Gospell come in competition with their selfe ends selfe shall first be gratifyed most unlike to Paul who Phil. 1. 20. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} stood as it were on up-to looking earnestly after the magnifying of Christ what-ever became of himselfe Whether in his life or in 〈◊〉 death I may produce three Reasons to fortify you against felling Truth to any Hucksters Truth is in it selfe a precious Jewell of most incomparable worth gained into the possession of the Churches not without much difficulty and therefore cannot without great disparagement to its excellency and to the zeale of others be alienated and chaffered away Gospell Truth at first cost the blood of Christ then watered with the blood of many Martyrs which made it throng up so plentifully It is observeable the Church hath beene seldome fully possessed of any Grand Truth without much debate without some bloody sufferings How deare did it cost Athanasius to justifie the Divinity of Christ against the Arians and shall we suffer any of that kindred to buy it againe out of our hands How couragiously did Augustine rescue the Doctrine of Grace from the Pelagians hands whom he cals the Enemies of Grace and shall we suffer it to be betrayed to their Brethren the Arminians How farre did Luther hazzard himselfe to advance Justification by Faith in Christ It is a grosse shame that sweete Truth should be lost in the language of any Innovators who will have workes to concurre in eodem genere cause to share equally with Faith in the very act of justifying Many of our ancient Worthies like Wisedomes Children Matth. 11. 19. set themselves to justifie Wisedome they have endevoured with much sweat and many teares yea with their dearest lives to settle the Churches Land-markes by evidence of Scripture Arguments and to bound the Truth by Decrees of Councels we must not prodigally dispossesse our selves of such a Treasure We reape the fruite of our Reformers zeale who bestirred themselves so much against Popish Altars and other Church usurpations for the purging of Religion in England God forbid that we should sell for trifles what they possessed us of with so much difficulty It concernes us rather to concurre with them yea to promote their beginnings with all our might that we may have such Churches such Officers such election and ordination such jurisdiction such exercise of Church power and all such administrations as are most agreeable to the Truth Truth is the Churches Talent committed to her trust and therefore must not be sold Trust being a strong obligation to fidelity Upon this ground the Apostle Jude ver. 3. Exhorts Christians to Contend earnestly for the Faith once delivered to the Saints You must never expect another edition of the Faith God reserved that solemne change from Jewish to Evangelicall worship for the Inauguration of his Sonne zealously strive for this Faith you have against all opposition In that knowne place so much abused by Papists 1 Tim. 3. 15. The Church of Ephesus this cannot be appropriated to the Church of Rome is the pillar and ground of Truth Not a pillar to uphold but to hold forth Truth not so much {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the seate of Truth every pure Church being a depository of Truth where it is to be found as the candle in the Candlesticke All the fonnes of Wisedome have a share in that of Paul to Timothy 1 Tim. 6. 20. O Timothy keepe that which is committed to thy Trust This made the primitive Worthies so conscientiously zealous in the cause of Truth and that not onely of many Truthes but even of formes of speeches of syllables yea of Letters The difference betwixt the Councell of Nice and Arius was but in a Letter whether {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} The controversie whereupon the Greeke and Latine Churches broke touching the proceeding of the Holy Ghost depended upon two prepositions {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} and {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} The monstrous heresie of Nestorius lay but in one poore letter {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} when he would not gratifie the Church therein as Cyrill desired him many Bishops rose up against him so religious were they that that they would not exchange a letter or syllable of the Faith wherewith their Saviour had betrusted them Selling Truth is the worst the most undoing Trade it sets to sale both Gods glory and your owne Salvation being it opens a doore to both extreames in Religion to Prophanenesse and to Superstition The Schoole of Christ is indeed a Schoole of affection and of action but first of knowledge we must have science before we shall make conscience of our wayes This makes the god of this world the Devill bestirre himselfe to blinde peoples mindes Lest the Light of the glorious Gospell of Christ should shine into them he well knew that darknesse of mind betrayes us to workes of darknesse When men walke in the darke They know not at what they stumble Prov. 4. 19. They will stumble at Christ himselfe at the strictnesse and purity of his wayes and soone plunge themselves into the grossest wickednesse In a Synod at London Anselme forbad Priests Marriage in England and in the next yeare were discovered a great company of Sodomites amongst them Such is the wofull fruit of selling Truth which would be a spur quickning to good and a bridle restraining from evill It is no wonder to find such treacherous practices amongst the Papists their erroneous doctrines open the sluces unto them Upon a sleight confession of sinne they may receive a cheape
slothfull but operative and busie desires Truth I would have yea Truth I must have els I am everlastingly undone Affectionate desires as they live and move in opinions so they produce actions inclining us to take pains for the obtaining of that we would possesse They adde wings to the soule making us to flie like busie Bees from flower to flower from ordinance to ordinance that we may sucke the sweetnesse of Truth which is sweeter then honey and the droppings of honey combs The purchase of Truth is carryed on by such an active disposition as the Spouse in the Canticles had to enjoy her Beloved I will rise now and goe about the streets and in the broad wayes I will seeke him whom my soule loveth Every buyer of truth must be willing with little Zacheus to get up into any Sycomare tree to take all Gospel advantages to gaine a sight of his Saviour to behold Christ who is Truth it selfe Truth is an hidden treasure Matth. 13. 44. sometimes hidden from us by the difficultie of Scripture wherein it is contained God thereby putting a value upon it and an edge upon our studies and prayers sometimes hidden by differences amongst learned men Law may be clouded by a multitude of booke Cases and Divinitie obscured by a multitude of Schoole utrums Many times truth is hidden by the scandalous lives of such as professe it Carnall spectators being much more quick-sighted to apprehend the deformity of Religious men then the beauty of Religion it selfe And too often hidden under great disgrace in the world being stiled Heresy Schisme Faction Yea Religion it selfe accounted the greatest Crime This Treasure lies often so deep you must be content to sweat in digging for it before you can obtaine it All they who would purchase Truth must not onely be like Merchant men seeking goodly Pearles Matth. 13. 45. but withall be able to discerne when they have found a pearle of great price vers. 46. to know whether it be a pearle or pibble that it is not drosse but gold bearing the stamp of truth There is much doubtlesse in that of the Apostle Paul Col. 4. 5. Walke in wisdome toward them that are without redeeming the time All good Merchants must be redeeming time improving all hints of doing good of enjoying Gods ordinances wherein you may trade for truth Observe the connexion walke wisely towards them that are without redeeming the time The Church was then under persecuting Governors and vexed with bad neighbours both enemies to the trade of truth yet you must be purchasing only wherein walke so wisely towards them without 1. That you violate not the peace and puritie of your owne conscience 2. That you deface not the stamp of Divinitie upon Authothoritie 3. That by a rigid austeritie you alienate not others from truth 4. Nor by a complying familiaritie with them in their sins harden them against the truth The Soule that thirsts after Truth having taken paines how according to the rules of godly providence it may be possessed of that it so dearely loves is now willing to conclude the bargaine by paying the price Solomon here mentions no price because he would have us buy it at any price Sometimes it may cost us credit and libertie as it did the Apostles Acts 5. 41. Sometimes it may cost us the losse of goods as it did those Christians Hebr. 10. 34. Yea sometimes life it self must be the price of Truth We must be content to follow that cloud of witnesses which appears in that little booke of Martyrs the 11th Chapter to the Hebrews we must write after that heroicall copie which our owne Worthies have set us who sacrificed their dearest lives to the crueltie of Bonners flames that they might possesse the Truth Truth is so precious a Jewell you must never expect to have the markets cheape The Devill at first laid siege against the Truths which were most Fundamentall that so he might have ruined all the buildings he would by the subtiltie of ancient Hereticks have huckstered up those Truths which concerned the Natures and Person of Christ this cost very deare before the foure first Councells could settle Truth against the Hereticks of those times Afterwards when Poperie invaded all the Offices of Christ such a dangerous gangreen is it undermining him as the Prophet as the Priest and as the King of his Church it cost no little blood in England and Germanie to vindicate the Doctrine of Divine worship and of the Holy Sacraments from such errors as opposed the Propheticall and Priestly Office of Christ That branch of Truth about Church Government and Discipline so much concerning the Kingly Office of Christ is of rich value if the Markets should rise we must drive on the bargaine what ever it cost No price too great for the obtaining such a Purchase to see our Deare Saviour advanced in all his Offices as the Churches Prophet without being beholden to unwritten traditions as the Priest of his Church without the satisfactions of any Meritmangers without any Purgatorie any Bridewell of the Popes making as the King of his Church above Miters above Canon-laws or any Church usurpations whatsoever After the discovery of the nature of this purchase and the price of Truth its fit to consider what Reasons may engage you all to trade herein which are divers according to the various reference Truth hath to things of high concernment Never expect to have the spirituall and eternall good of your owne immortall souls effectually promoted unlesse you buy and be possessed of Truth 1. The Word of Truth is the seed by which we are begotten againe Iam. 1. 18. Yea incorruptible Seed which liveth and abideth for ever 1 Peter 1. 23. untill the Truth hath delivered us what are we poore sinners but an heape of dry bones so many dead carkases rotting in the grave of corruption 2. It is the Milke by which new borne babes are nourished 1 Peter 2. 2. by this they grow in the habits in the degrees in the exercise of Grace Strangers to the Truth like the Prodigall live upon husks and lay out their money for that which is not bread Isa. 55. 2. 3. Naturally as the sonnes and daughters of Adam we are stained with many spots steeped in corruption polluted with filthinesse of flesh and spirit 2 Corinth 7. 1. Truth is the water by which we are cleansed Ioh. 15. 3. 4. When we goe groping up and downe in in the darke exposed to errors besieged with terrors Truth affoords us direction and consolation Psal. 119. 105. 5. Truth is the Armour by which you are defended against your spirituall Enemies and enabled for offensive warre Amongst the sixe peeces of our spirituall Armour three of these have speciall dependance upon the Truth You must have the girdle of Truth Ephes. 6. vers. 14. beshod with the preparation of the Gospell of peace vers. 15. and take the sword of the
and supporters of it set Truth at libertie Zachary 4. vers. 6. the great mountaine of opposition must be moved not by humane power and might but by the spirit of the Lord of Hoasts not only by his power but by his spirit because Church works must be carryed on in a way of enlightning and revealing the Truth Thus the wise providence of God wrought formerly when a Generall Councell though by many groaned after could not be obtained with the consent of the Clergy and Court of Rome to whom Reformation would be a certaine Ruine He stirred up divers Heroicall Worthies Waldus in France Wickliffe in England Luther in Germany Knoxe in Scotland to despise the light of Truth And Revel. 14. vers. 6. After the flying Angell having the everlasting Gospell to preach unto all that dwell on the earth then vers 8. there follows another Angell saying Babylon is fallen Doubtlesse the Pope must fall not only by the Sword of Princes but by the Sword of the Spirit 2 Thessalonians 2. vers. 8. That wicked One must be revealed and consumed with the Spirit of the Lords mouth If you would have the mystery of iniquitie unmasked see the Popes Triple Crowne tumble and the thicke mist of Popery vanish help forward the bright Sun-shine of Gods Word promote the libertie puritie and power of Truth You have had a discovery of some few sprigs growing upon this first Proposition let us in the Application gather the wholesome fruit which hangs upon them It is the good hand of God upon us when so many of our brethren in Ireland are still bleeding under their enemies crueltie that we are at libertie in this solemne Ordinance to plead with our God for mercie Oh that this day of Self-humbling might be to us in the use of it according to its nature a self-searching or soul-purging day My Commission is to hold forth the Glasse of Gods Truth before your eyes that you may may discover your spots and defects Let it be your worke to reade over your selves as well as your Bibles to speake and write retractations of your former errors and confessions of your miscarriages I wish we could all be Augustines herein The Lord knoweth what Volumes many of us might fill if we were but well studyed in our selves And together with the long Catalogue of all our other sins our neglect of Truth must come in as having a great influence into the rest for this we may blush and bleed yea rivers of teares are too little to bewaile this that in all our designes we have so little minded to purchase the Libertie the Puritie and Power of true Religion Adam and Eve began to make very bad markets to sell themselves and posteritie for the forbidden fruit Prophane Esau sold his Birth-right for a Messe of pottage Heb. 12. 16. How many with Absalom to humour their vain-glory will set the Peace of a Kingdome to sale How many with Haman to gratifie proud revenge will set a whole Church to sale Some with Iudas will set up their Saviour to sale for thirtie pieces Others with Diotrephes the first Cocke of the game that they may fill their sailes with Church-pompe and Church-power will set the Keyes of Church and Ordinances of Christ to sale Lay your hands upon your hearts To be purveyours for your lusts as the prophane Romanes 13. vers. 14. To be Merchants for the Pope as the superstitious Innovators To be Proctors for the Devill as Gospell-opposers what saith conscience Is this to buy the Truth Give me leave Honourable and beloved to come neerer you with three plaine Queres I study not alta but apta proferre Have you gotten your owne hearts possessed with the power of the Truth Hath Gods word a throne in your Consciences Colossians 3. 16. Let the word of God dwell richly in you If it dwell there First it must intrare then residere it must dwell and abide there exercising a soveraigntie over you ever drawing open into an humble familiaritie with it What fruitfull knowledge have you gotten in the mysterie of Doctrinall and Practicall Godlinesse They who know the Grace of God in Truth will bring forth fruit Colossians 1. vers. 6. Doth the Truth of your Religion appeare in your relations in the uniformitie of a Gospell conversation as Phil. 1. vers. 27. Aske your hearts whether in all your undertakings you move upon Religious grounds and for Religious ends God doth not onely number but weigh our actions and observes not onely what is done but why it is done The The word of Truth must be our judge therefore now let it be our Counsellor It is Philpots Glosse upon Iohn 12. vers. 48 The word that I have spoken shall judge him in the last day if the word shall judge us then much more ought it to be a judge of our doings now Have you set up Truth in your owne families It is most odious for a Minister of Christ to flatter to dawbe with untempered morter at any time but most abominable upon a Day of Humiliation You reckon your house your little Common-wealth by what law is it governed Doth the word of Truth the Scepter of righteousnesse beare sway there Whence then so much licentiousnesse tolerated in the servants so much dissolutenesse in the children so much oppression tyranny and too often other wickednesse in your selves and such distempers in family relations Psal. 101. vers. 2. David would walke in his house with a perfect heart Such as served him he would either finde them or make them Gods servants You would have others thinke your houses are Churches What thy house a Church to God and thou a covetous idolater Thy house a Church to God and thou an uncleane sonne of Belial What concord hath Christ with Belial what agreement hath the Temple of God with idols The argument is as strong for Magistrates as for Ministers 1 Tim. 3. 5. If a man know not how to rule his owne house how shall hee take care of the Church of God How can you be good Reformers both of State and Church unlesse you be first Reformers of your selves and your owne Families Light is a great advantage to an house especially the light of Truth The Father of Lights is not pleased to dwell in a darke habitation such a corner is fitter for Satan the Prince of darknesse It was a very honourable report which Melancthon giveth of Prince Anhalt Cubiculum ejus erat Academia curia Templum His Bed-chamber was an Academie a Court a Temple The Lord gives you a share in this honour Let not your Chambers be Academies onely for the advanocment of learning or Courts for the daily dispatch of publique affaires but Temples for the worship of God and calling upon his name Give the people not onely Rules but examples of Reformation Let Religion be first advanced in you it will the sooner bee setled by you Have you imployed and improved
sword hath rid circuit for above twenty yeares in Germany many Candlestickes of Truth thence removed that Paradise almost turned into a Wildernesse Poore Ireland is in danger to lose that Religion they had with their estates and lives Preachers hanged Professors murdered Bibles burnt and all with prodigious cruelty and blasphemy c. Yet sinfull England like Gideons fleece dry in comparison when others sleeped in their owne blood Observe I beseech you like wise Factors the seasons to trade for the setling true Religion It is true we are now full of sad distractions blacke and bloody clouds beginne to gather yet may not Faith through them spy out the Sunne of righteousnesse shining graciously upon unworthy England As Hag. 2. 7. I will shake all Nations and the desire of all Nations shall come and I will fill this House with glory saith the Lord of Hosts Historians report that about the yeare 1517. when Leò the tenth was making some thirty Cardinals there was such a terrible tempest in the Church that shaked the Babe out of the Virgin Maries armes and the Keyes out of Saint Peters hands which they interpreted as ominous and indeed so it proved shortly after Luther arose who so much battered the Popes power The sword is already shaken out of our great Church-mens hand by Parliamentall power the keyes doe not hang so fast under their girdle as they did c. We dare not but hope these are engaging providences of God earnest-pennies of some great payment yet behinde Oh therefore know and redeeme your Opportunities to Trade for Truth Activity to pursue occasions and follow all advantages If you would be fully possessed of the knowledge of the Truth you must seeke for her as for Silver and search for her as for hid Treasure Prov. 2. 4. By a most unwearyed industry search every Mine Plato calleth Merchants Planets that wander from City to City You will never trade for Truth in good earnest till you expresse an inquisitive active disposition in the cause of Religion knocking at every doore plying every Mâ—â—ket where you may purchase any acquaintance with the Truth First Goe not onely to the shop of Nature or the Schoole of Philosophy The candle which Nature affordeth us is good but it will be burnt out before we come to our journeyes end Philosophy may seeke Truth Theology findeth it Religion doth possesse it Philosophy is not the field wherein the pearle of Truth lyeth but rather a hedge and ditch about the field to defend it from the invasion of subtill Disputants Secondly Neither must we seeke Truth onely in the decrees of Councells in the Traditions and testimonies of the Church Councells are like Rivers of water very profitable so long as they hold themselves within the compasse of the banckes but if they swell and overflow as too often they have done they prove very hurtfull to the field of the Church even to Truth it selfe The Councell of Constance commeth in with a non obstante against Christs institution with-holding the Cup from the Sacrament Our Faith and Truth was at first delivered to the Saints Jude ver. 3. And we hold it still per Ecclesiam though not propter Ecclesiam by the Ministery of the Church though not for the Authority of the Church John 4. 42. All they who are genuine children of the Church not onely by the Mothers side but by the Fathers also will not onely beleeve as the Church beleeveth but as their Heavenly Father teacheth them and because he teacheth them Thirdly But in searching out for the Truth goe to Christ himselfe who is Truth it selfe John 14. 6. Jesus saith unto him I am the Way the Truth and the Life Attend upon Christ in the use of his Word which is a Word of Truth Prov. 8. 34. Blessed is the man that heaneth me watching daily at my gates Waiting at the posts of my doores If ever God ripen your Councells about a Synod we hope to receive the same direction from you that Constantine the Great gave the Councell of Nice Take the Resolution of things in question out of Divinely inspired writings Doe not onely bid us enquire what Reformation was in our Josiahs time King Edward the sixth nor what in our Deborahs dayes Queene Elizabeths though we must for ever blesse God for the light that appeared in those times Doe not onely put us upon inquiry what Ignatius said or what Cyprian did they must be very wise Children who know their Fathers faces and writings after so many of their adversaries scratches Rather bid us give you an account what Luke holdeth forth in his story of the Acts of the Apostles what Paul intimates in his Epistles that so divine Truth may triumph and we enjoy a Scripture Reformation In divine things we may attribute somewhat to antiquity yet in matters that concerne Church pompe and Church power we must be jealous how we trust the Ancient Fathers because good men they saw the mystery of iniquity but darkely and at a distance which wrought strongly not onely in corrupting Doctrine with errours but Divine Worship with Ceremonies and Church Government with tyrannicall usurpations Then and then onely is Truth like to triumph in Church-Assemblies when Gods Word is there advanced Cyrill saith in a Synod at Ephesus upon a high Throne in the Temple there lay Sanctum Evangelium the holy Gospell to shew that Christ was both present and president there Resolution to backe a publique Factors wise Activity This would make you willing to grapple with difficulties to expose your selves to troubles and hazzards and to be at any cost and charges that you may possesse your selves and the Kingdome of the true Religion Poore England hath long beene in a travelling condition felt many bitterpangs findeth now twins in her wombe Jacobs and Esaus wrastling for the birth-right high contestations betwixt Eliah and Baalls Priests now it is a day of trouble and astonishment Great things are come to the birth onely there wanteth strength to bring forth What will you resolve to lay out to possesse this dis-joynted Kingdome of the Truth Imagine the casting of the ballance the composing of all Church difference depended upon thee alone what wouldest thou contribute to purchase Truth Nazianzen put this price upon his Athenian learning wherein he was very famous that he had something of value to part withall for Christ Oh that you could say the same of your Honours and Estates reckoning this the goodnesse of all your good things that you are enabled to doe good with them in the cause of Christ and his Truth It was Heroicall zeale in Basill who for his constant and bold defending of the Truth against the Arian heresie being threatned death by Valens the Emperour answered {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Oh that I might dye for the truth I beseech you Noble Worthies by the many Petitions you have had from men by the solemne
Protestations you have made to God by his wonder-working Providence about you and by the dependance the Protestant cause abroad hath upon you stirre up your Resolution in the behalfe of Truth Would you have the name of this Parliament embalmed with everlasting perfume Improve your power for the true Religion Justifie our Magna Charta the grand Charter of Scripture truthes that doth entitle us to Salvation Confirme unto us our Petition of Right establish upon Pastors and Churches so much interest in the power and use of the Keyes as the Word of Truth doth allow them Maintaine amongst us a free course of trading for eternall happinesse set and keepe open those shops such Pulpits such mouthes as any Prelaticall usurpations have or would have shut up Secure to us not onely liberty of person and estate but also liberty of Conscience from Church tyranny that we be not pinched with ensnaring oathes clogged with multiplyed subscriptions or needlesse impositions which will rather increase then compose distractions Together with Priviledges of Parliament let us have Church-priviledges vindicated helpe us to purge out that old leaven whether of Doctrine of Disposition or Persons that we may have Sacraments more purely administred according to the rule of Truth let us be sure of this Militia inviolably setled the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God Ephes. 6. 17. Guard that Magazine wherein are laid up the weapons of our warfare that are mighty through God to the pulling downe of strong holds 2 Cor. 10. 4. So shall we be put into a good posture for Reformation Act undaunted resolution in the prosecution of these religious Designes then may you confidently expect Christs glorious and gracious presence amongst you Luther would assure you thereof Where the Word of Christ doth raigne saith he there are the eyes of Christ fixed on the holy Professors of Truth but where the Word of man reigneth although there were as many Popes as there be leaves in the wood and as many Cardâ—nals as graines of Corne c. As many Bishops as drops of water in the Sea and all of them glittering in Gold and Jewels Gemmati purpurati mulati asinati to maintaine their owne Lawes yet are Christs eyes turned away from them Truth though it must be bought yet it may not be sold The Wisedome of Scripture directs us to severall purchases Isai. 55. 1. Every thirsty soule is invited to Come and buy Waters Wine and Milke Seeke to Christ upon his termes for variety of sweet Soulemercies Rev. 3. 18. We are counselled to buy of Christ Gold tryed in the fire the pure graces of Gods Spirit and the purity of Ordinances Ephes. 5. 16. We must be redeeming the time not only taking opportunities of doing and receiving good when they are offered and seeking them when they are wanting but buying them at any price And indeed Christians should be Chapmen to buy rather then Salemen to sell We are commanded to buy that we may possesse the end of this possession is use what Spirituall commodities we have purchased we must Improve for God and our Soules but not alienate them from our selves There are three sorts of Hucksters will be ready to engrosse the Truth from you if you be willing to sell it Malignant persecutors are engrossing Huckesters who watch to interrupt the liberty of the Truth These even as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses resist the Truth men of corrupt mindes Reprobates concerning the Faith 2 Tim. 3. 8. And indeed therefore resist the Truth because their mindes are so corrupt Such the Apostle cals {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} absurd men 2 Thess. 3. 2. Men compact of meere incongruities solaecising in opinion speeches actions and whole life yea unreasonable men For all men have not Faith ver. 2. Religion is the highest Reason nothing more irrationall then irreligion From such spirits arose those conspiracies against the Apostle endevouring to scotch the Charriot-wheeles of Truth when they began first to move No sooner did Steven plead for Truth but some were suborned against him Act. 6. 11. No sooner did Saul beginne to Preach the Truth but opposers began to consult to kill him Act. 9. 23. Though not long before he had beene a busie Apparitor and Pursevant to Arrest the Saints and dragge them to their High-Commission Act. 9. 1. A strange and suddaine change in them as well as in him Origen saith of the Devils No greater torment to them then to see men addicted to the Scriptures The same temper of spirit appeares in the devils agents upon the killing of the witnesses Rev. 11. 10. They that dwelt upon the earth shall rejoyce over them and make merry and shall send gifts one to another because these two Prophets tormented them that dwell on the earth And therefore they will adventure peace of Conscience and hope of Heaven yea the whole stocke upon it that they may buy up Truth out of the Churches hands and sometimes malice rises to such an height that even in England the Bible must be burnt as strange Doctrine Seducing Heretickes whose endevour is to corrupt the purity of Truth The great Apostasy from the Faith 1 Tim. 4. 1. is brought about by giving heed to seducing spirits The Pope hath many Emissaries abroad who joyne with the Devill studying a method of Soule-deceiving and Truth-betraying Compare Ephe. 4. 14. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} with Ephes. 6. 11. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} you shall find the devill and deceivers artificially methodizing their snares to draw us from the Truth 2 Pet. 2. 1 False teachers have alwayes practised to bring in damnable heresies The beginnings of grosse errours may be modest yea the foulest Heresies may at first appeare with faire faces The Serpent creepes into the Paradise of the Church by degrees as 2 Cor. 11. 3. his plot is to corrupt peoples mindes From the simplicity that is in Christ First he will puzzle them with a question as he did Eve put a command of God a knowne Truth to be disputed then helpe them to mint some distinctions which are not alwayes so happy in Divinity as in Philosophy thereby to relieve and helpe in an error And here it may be observed though these men have the same designe with malignant persecutors to engrosse the Truth yet cunningly they will buy it up by parcels that they may be the lesse discerned They will trade first in names then in things first habituate us to call our Ministers Priests our Communion Tables Altars before they impose superstitious gestures This was the Rhemists straine of policy Let us keepe our old words and wee shall easily keepe our old Faith This graduall Huckstering up the purity of truth is most cleare in Image worship At first Images and pictures of Saints were used in private for Memory History or Ornament onely Afterwards with like colour of