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