take heed of Covetousnesse take heed of Arrogancie take heed of Superciliousnesse To these I might adde many more I shall only hint unto you two or three which are very proper to the present times and present case 5. Take heed of renouncing Church-communion This Direction I shall hold forth with all respective tendernesse to those upon whom it may seem to intrench yet so as the truth of God may not be concealed or dissembled Take heed of forsaking Communion with the true Churches of Christ in his publike Ordinances This Saint Jude points at as an inlet unto this sin Jude verse 19. Having minded those to whom he writeth of what the Apostles had foretold how that in the last times there should be mockers such as Paul here calleth Blasphemers he presently addeth These be they who separate themselves {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} makers of Sects as the Geneva renders it or Separatists men dividing and separating themselves from the true Churches of Christ renouncing their Communion forsaking their Assemblies as the Author to the Hebrews describeth the like Apostates Heb. 10. 25. and so it may be casting off the publike Ordinances Such saith St. Jude are the Mockers the Blasphemers of the last times And is it not so amongst us at this day Who or what are the Blasphemers of the times Are they not for the most part such as separate themselves Grosse and rigid Separatists and Sectaries Mistake it not I do not say that all those who have thus separated themselves are such No God hath yet kept many of them and my prayer shall be yet he may keep them from this so great an evill But those who are such are they not for the most part of that number such as have separated themselves and that in a rigid and bitter way for of such I now speak renouncing Communion with the true Churches of Christ crying them down for Antichristian Churchâ—s false Churches no Churches Let it be seriously and impartially observed and I suppose this will be found to be the ordinary doore at which this desperate Evill hath entred and broke in upon the Church of God in this Nation And I dare not forbear to give you notice of it that upon this ground you may so much the rather beware of it 6. Take heed of usurping upon publike offices and administrations in the Church Being private persons take heed how you take up on you the office of publike teaching not being called not being sent how you usurp upon the Ministerial function You know the story of King Vzziah 2 Chron. 26. 16. 19. How that being as the Text saith strong and his heart lifted up not contented with his kingly dignity he would be usurping upon the Priests office thereupon he advanceth into the Temple the Holy place where it was not lawful for any but the Priest to enter and there he attempts to offer Incense which it was not lawfull for any but the Priest to do But what was the issue Why presently the Leprosie rose up in his forehead from beside the Incense-Altar The very ashes of the Altar as some conceive of it flew in his face and turned to a Leprosie And hath not the like hapned to many amongst us who have been guilty of the like usurpation They being strong in their own conceits and their hearts being lifted up in the apprehension of their own gifts and abilities and envying to the Ministers of God the appropriation of their Ministeriall functions they have taken upon them the office of publike teaching without any mission or Commission from God or man scorning to enter at Christs doore by the way of the Churches orderly Ordination But what hath been the issue Why God hath met with them in the like manner The ashes of the Altar have flown in their faces the Leprosie of Blasphemy hath risen up in their foreheads so as they have become of Orthodox Professors Hereticall Seducers indangering all that came within the breath of them with the contagion of their Doctrine Of this kinde were those Blasphemers which our Apostle here speaketh of Such as took upon them to be Teachers of others and for that purpose went about from place to place as some and too many circumforaneous teachers like Saint Judes Planets wandring stars Jude 19. do in all places at this day creeping into houses and by-corners to vent their Heretical and Blasphemous doctrines That you may be kept from the like evils take heed of the like unwarrantable presumption Mistake it not It is farre from my thoughts to discourage any in doing their duty Parents in instructing their children Masters their families or Christians in edifying one another in their holy faith in a private way whether it be by praying together conferring together or in helping one another in calling to minde what they heard in publike for all which they have the Apostles warrant to bear them out 1 Thes. â— 11. But for private persons to take upon them to teach in a publike and ordinary way without any mission from the Church this is the presumption which here I taxe and look upon as rendring men so obnoxious unto this spiritual judgment 7. To these I shall adde but one more would you be kept from this sin take heed of curiosity and inordinate affection of novelties in matters of Religion You know how fatall it proved to those men of Bethshemesh who dared to look into the Arke of God In seeing that they saw their last 1 Sam. 6. 19. Of such dangerous consequence is it when men will be prying into Gods secrets will not be contented with what the Apostle confines Christians to Rom. 12. 3. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} to be wise or understand unto sobriety as those words are most properly rendred but they will be unlocking of Gods closet picking of his Cabinet Being surfeted with old and wholsome Truths they long for Novelties like those Athenians Acts 17. 19. who were very desirous to hear Paul doctrine meerly for the newnesse of it May we know what this new doctrine is whereof thou speakest Being glutted with plain and open truths they hunt altogether after unrevealed mysteries not fearing to plunge themselves over head and ears in those depths where the Elephant may swim nay where never any yet could finde a bottome If such adventurous spirits be drowned in a sea of Errors what wonder Plinie the younger was swallowed up of his Vesuvius that smoaking burning gulfe whilst he dared to approach too nigh to finde out the cause of that Eruption Nothing more dangerous then an overcurious disquisition and enquiry into the depths and hidden mysteries of God Herein he spake rightly who said of himself Mallem ignorare sine crimine quà m scire cum discrimine I had rather be ignorant of what I am not bound to know then to hazard my self in seeking to know it It had been well for Eve if she had never tasted
of the tree of knowledge of good and evill Some there have been who have dangerously miscarried by affecting too ambitiously to be of Natures privy counsel Prying too farre into those abdita naturae majestatis seeking to finde out the secret of natuâ—e they have lost themselves But more by prying into divine secrets over-curiously enquiring into those ever to be adored mysteries concerning the Trinity of Persons in the unity of the Godhead the manner of Christs Incarnation c. not suffering their faith to go a step farther then carnal reason could conduct and carry it Here hath been the rise of Arminian errours Socinian Blasphemies and the Blasphemies of many other heretical spirits at this day That you may be preserved from the like miscarriage take that other branch of the Apostles caveat in that place forenamed Rom. 12. 3. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Do not presume to understand above that which is meet for you to understand Non supra scriptum Not above that which is written 1 Cor. 4. 6. Content your selves with revealed truths And amongst them spend your zeale upon those which are most necessary most useful All truths are not of the same alloye or of the same weight Some more precious more ponderous then others Reserve your zeale for those which are of chiefest concernment fundamentall truths As for Problematicall truths Controversal and Questionable points which are agitated and discussed amongst men learned and pious and are not of nor near the foundation be not over eager about them in opposing and censuring those which are otherwise minded then your selves And as for Metaphysical speculations Platonical Ideaes and other like aiery empty notions leave them as whetstones to sharpen young wits withall Such stones are no bread for Christians affording no solid soul-nourishment and therefore not to be fed upon but declined So Paul prescribeth it by way of advice unto Timothy 1 Tim. 6. 20. where giving him a charge to keep that sacred depositum the doctrine of the Gospel which was committed to his trust as an Evangelist a minister of it to keep it himself to transmit it to posterity as he had received it pure and uncorrupted in the next words he directs him how he might the better do it Avoyd saith he prophane and vaine bablings and oppositions of science falsly so called Prophane and vaine bablings {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} vaine contests and disputes about things which are not revealed or are not worth the time which is lavished out upon them not tending to spiritual edification such as those fables and endlesse Genealogies which the same Apostle speaketh of chap. 1. verse 4. of the same Epistle which minister questions rather then edisying Such profane and vaine bablings here he willeth him to avoid With oppositions of science falsly so called {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Such oppositions and disputes as are made against sound doctrine by the adversaries of the truth who pretend to a greater measure of knowledge then others as those forenamed Gnosticks did whom the ancient Greek fathers conceive the Apostle there to point out as it were by name Such vaine and fruitlesse contests with proud adversaries Paul willeth Timothy there to avoid In the next words shewing him the danger of the contrary Which some saith he professing have erred from the faith Here is the danger of being addicted to such curious vaine and fruitlesse speculations and such endlesse disputes Hereby some have been others may be brought to desert the truth of God which formerly they have professed upon this ground take we heed of this affectation And among other things to mind you of that also by the way beware of holding up Arguments against the truth by opposing Reason or humane Authority or pretended Revelation against Scripture as the manner of some is This also will come within the compasse of these profane and vaine bablings of which this Apostle tels us 2 Tim. â— 16. That they increase unto more ungodlines Such Errors as these do not stay where they begin but they breed Error upon Error proceeding from lesser to greater till at the length they arrive even at Blasphemy But I finde my Meditations running out beyond the limits I intended them when I took this Text in hand To contract my self as much as I may You see now what things are to be taken heed of that you may be preserved from this dreadfull evill My next work is to show you what is to be done Here I shall not multiply directions Take some which I conceive to be most proper 1. In the first place Labour for a distinct sound well grounded knowledge in the principles of Christian Religion For the most part Blasphemy is the fruit of Ignorance These men saith Saint Jude speaking of Blasphemers who speak evill of Dignities they speak evill of things which they know not Jude v. 10. And truly so do Blasphemers for the most part they speak evill of things which they know not So did Paul before his conversion he was a Blasphemer speaking evill of Christ and his Religion but he did it Ignorantly Certainly did men know God and his Religion they would not dare to open their mouths against them Had they known they would never have crucified the Lord of Glory saith Paul speaking of the Princes the Rulers of the earth 1 Cor. 2. 8. And so may we say of many Blasphemers did they but know God and his Truth they would not Crucifie them peirce them thorough as they do Labour for a wel-grounded knowledge of God and his Truth 2. Receive the love of the truth For the want of this it is that God giveth men up to strong delusions that they should beleeve lyes false doctrines Heresies and Blasphemous opinions because they receive not the love of the Truth 2 Thes. 2. 11. They receive the truth into their Heads in a speculative way so as to be inlightned by it but not into their Hearts in an affective way to be warmed by it Let not us content our selves with the former of these Those Revolters whom the Author to the Hebrews speaks of were such as were once inlightned Heb. 6. 4. such as had received the knowledge of the truth cap. 10. v. 26. It is no newes for illuminated Doctours learned men to turne Apostates Hereticks Labour we to finde heat as well as light that with the knowledge of the truth we may have a love of the Truth This Love will be strong as death Cant. 8. 6. nothing shall conquer it 3. In the third place knowing and loving the Truth Walk in it This is the commendation which Saint John giveth of the children of that Elect Lady Joh. 2. v. 4. They walked in the truth This is the true Christians commendation not that he knoweth the Truth of talketh of it but that he walketh in it acknowledging th truth the Doctrine which is according to Godlinesse as our Apostle describeth the
doctrine of the Gospel 1 Tim. 6. 3. Tit. 1. 1. and that by reducing it to practice which is the truest acknowledgment leading a life befitting the profession of the truth in all uprightnesse and sincerity Thus knowing God let us glorifie him as God by walking before him in Truth not daring to do any thing against the Truth We can do nothing against the Truth but for the Truth saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 13. 8. Being thus sincere with God walking in the Truth we shall through his grace be kept from this great transgression 4. But in the fourth place walk humbly This is one of the things which the Lord requireth from his people that they walk humbly with their God Mic. 6. 8. O that every of us could but take out this lesson Surely the want of this it is that hath proved so baneful to many of our now seducing and seduced brethren They seemed to walk with God I but they did not walk humbly with him Their souls were lifted vp within them lifted up in the apprehension of their own graces gifts parts c. And therfore is it that God hath thus left them into the hands of this his messenger Satan thus to be buffeted by his Blasphemous tentations Let their fall be a Caveat to us Take we heed lest our hearts be exalted through the abundance of what ever spiritual priviledges we are made partakers of The story tels us of King Hezekiah when the Babylonian Ambassadours came to congratulate his recovery from that dangerous sicknesse Isa. 39. he in a vain glorious humour shewed them all his treasures that so the fame of his wealth and magnificence might be carried abroad to forraine Princes But what was the issue This vainglory proved fatal to his Kingdome betraying all those treasures into the hands of those Babylonians Thus dealeth God sometimes by his people when they will be proud of their spiritual treasures making ostentation of their gifts and graces God leaveth them into the hands of Satan to be made a prey of by him and for a time to be taken and carried captive by him at his will as our Apostle speaketh of some Apostates 2 Tim. 2 2 26. And therefore see that we walk humbly with God thinking meanly of our selves preferring others before our selves To these obvious directions I might adde many more St. Jude furnisheth me with three or four very proper in this case You shall finde them lying together in two verses in his Epistle Having in the 17. and 18. verses minded those to whom he writes of what our Apostle here warneth Timothy But beloved remember ye the words which were spoken before by the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ how that they told you there should be mockers in the last times Professors some of them should turn Blasphemers speaking evill of and mocking at the Truths and wayes of God which formerly themselves had professed and walked in In the 20. 21. ver. he subjoyns and layeth down some directions whereby Gods faithful people might be preserved from the like evill But ye beloved build your selves on your most holy faith c. In which two verses we may take notice of a fourfold direction each useful to our present purpose 1. Buildup your selves on your most holy faith Faith the Doctrine of Faith for of that the Apostle therespeaketh is the foundation on which Christians are laid and built Yee are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone saith Paul to his Ephesians Eph. 2. 20. that is upon the Doctrine of the Gospel the Doctrine of Faith and Holinesse contained in their writings Now being laid upon this foundation built upon this faith they are as living stones to build up themselves upon this faith Not seeking for any other foundation other foundation can no man lay saith the Apostle then that which is laid 1 Cor. 3. 11. not questioning the truth and soundnesse of this Gospel foundation they are with confidence and resolution to build upon it and to build up themselves on it endeavouring to advance themselves in their spiritual estate upon this foundation And this do you Brethren who would be preserved from the Apostacie of the times That foundation which you have been built upon that Doctrine of Faith and Holinesse which hath been preached unto you and received by you this is the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles and other foundation can no man lay then what hath been laid amongst you If any shall pretend to do it though it were an Angel from Heaven Pauls Anathema will light upon him Gal. 1. 8. And therefore build you your selves on this foundation with confidence and full assurance build upon this doctrine as the infallible truth of God adventuring your salvation laying the weight of your souls upon it As the stones of the building lay all their weight upon the foundation firmly and immovably resting upon it So do you rest upon that Doctrine which you have learned Not calling in question any of the Principles of your Religion any of the fundamental truths of the Gospel This Scepticisme questioning Principles of Christianity specially if they shall be arraigned at the bar of humane Reason it maketh way for Apostacie and in the end as experience hath made it good upon some for Atheisme And therefore in this sense Lay we not again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith towards God of the Doctrine of Baptismes and of laying on of hands and of the Resurrection of the dead and Eternall Judgment as the Apostle dehorts Heb. 6. 1 2. This do some at this day who call all these and alâ— other fundamentals of Christian Religion into question Let not us dare to do it But leaving the principles of the Doctrine of Christ leaving them as we found them immovable and unshaken taking the Principles of our Religion for indubitable and unquestionable truths let us go on to perfection in knowledge and practise so building up our selves on this our most holy faith going on forwards from faith to faith from one degree of faith and holinesse to another Not looking back as Lots wife did for which she is made exemplary to all Apostates being turned into a pillar of salt to season and preserve others but go on untill we come to the Mount of God untill we come to see what we have beleeved and shall receive the end of our Hope the salvation of our souls 2. The second direction followes Praying in the Holy Ghost This is one of the pieces of the Christian Panoplie of that compleat spiritual Armour which the Apostle willeth the Christian souldier to take up and make use of Ephes. 6. 18. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit This piece of Armour Paul himself made use of against those buffetings of Satan supposed to be Blasphemous temptations he betook himself to his prayers For this thing I besought the Lord
as Epicurus did and Aristotle is conceived to have done attributing the events of things either to the course of nature to Fate and Destiny or to Chance and Fortune 2. When men shall villifie speak disgracefully of the one or other of these works Of the work of Creation Momus like carping at Gods workmanship in any of his Creatures Of the work of Providence quarrelling with his dispensations finding fault with his ordering and disposing of the course of things as if it were not in Wisedome in Justice c. 3. When they shall attribute the works of God unto Satan as the malicious Jews who ascribed those miraculous works wrought by the divine power of Christ unto Beelzebub Mat. 12. 24. Thus is God blasphemed in his works Fourthly there is a Blasphemy against the Word of God the sacred Scriptures When men shall derogate from their Authority Sufficiencie Perfection Certainty Such is the Blasphemy of those who deny them to be the Word of God or speak contumeliously and disgracefully of them as a dead letter a Lesbian leaden Rule a nose of Wax Inkie Divinity which is the language of some of the Romanists and others Fifthly There is a Blasphemy against the Religion of God When men shall speak against it as the Jewes did against Pauls Doctrine Acts 13. 45. They spake against those things which were spoken by Paul contradicting and blaspheming Or having imbraced the true Religion of God shall afterwards renounce it make defection from it whether through fear as Paul saith that by punishing and persecuting of Christians he made them to Blaspheme Acts 26. 11. viz. by abjuring or renouncing their Religion Or for any other respect Thus Hymeneus and Alexander are said to Blaspheme 1 Tim. 1. ult. viz. by making shipwrack of the Faith which they had professed and so speaking evill of it Sixthly Of the Ordinances of God when men shall speak disgracefully of them any of them as of the Ministery of the Word as they did who called Pauls preaching Babling Acts 17. 18. and the Grecians who accounted it foolishnesse 1 Cor. 1. Or of the Sacraments or Sabbaths as Jerusalems adversaries did of whom it is said They mocked at her Sabbaths Lam. 1. 7. Seventhly and lastly God may be said to be blasphemed in his Image And that not only in his Essential Image his Son Christ who is God equal with his Father and so what is done to the one by way of honour or dishonour redoundeth to the other as our Saviour himself tels the Jewes John 5. 23. but also to his accidental Image Thus God is blasphemed in speaking evill of the lawful Magistrate concerning whom the prohibition is Thou shalt not revile the Gods or Judges nor curse the Ruler of thy people Exod. 22 28. This also is Blasphemy Naboth hath blasphemed God and the King King 21. 10. They speak evil of Dignities saith the Apostle of some 2 Pet. 2. 10. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} blaspheme them So in reproaching and slandring the Ministers of Christ This also in Pauls language is Blasphemy Rom. 3. 8. 1 Cor. 4. 13. So again to speak evill of any of the Saints of God and that because they are such this also is Blasphemy 1 Pet 4. 4. They speak evill of you Blaspheme you Such are the reproaches and contumelies which are cast upon any for righteousnesse sake no lesse then Blasphemies striking at God through their sides in whom his Image is conspicuous All these wayes the name of God may be said to be blasphemed So as there are diverse kinds of blasphemies against God And as there are diverse kinds so there are diverse degrees There is a Blasphemy which is of Ignorance and there is a Malicious Blasphemy The former when men speak evill of what they know not speak evill of God of Christ of his Religion c. because they know no better Such was Pauls Blasphemy before his conversion I was a Blasphemer saith he But how so I did it ignorantly 1 Tim. 1. 13. The latter is when men having beene inlightned and having tasted of the heavenly gift and beene made partakers of the Holy Ghost c. as the Apostle describeth the qualification of an Apostate Heb. 6. 4 5. having received the knowledge of the truth as we have it Heb. 10. 26. shall afterwards fall away so as to speak evill of that way wherein before they walked to deride and mock it this our Saviour calleth Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost Matth 12. 31. viz. not against the person but against the work of the Holy Ghost against the work of Illumination and Conviction in the soule Of all kinds and degrees of Blasphemy this is most dreadful Blasphemie though it be of ignorance is a sin of a high nature So Paul looked upon it after his conversion reckoning up this as one of the sins which made him in his own apprehension the Chief of sinners 1 Tim. 1. 15. But malicious Blasphemy is inexpiable a sin and the only sin exempt from mercy All manner of sin and Blasphemy shall be forgiven but the Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men Matth. 12. 31. Thus have I with what brevity I could laid before you the nature kinds and degrees of this sin which the Apostle here foretelleth should in after times prove rife and common in the Church Men shall be Blasphemers speaking evill of the name of God and so wronging and dishonouring him in his Titles Properties Works Word Religion Ordinances Image Some in one kinde some in another Such he saith there should be in Timothies time and in after ages the Church should seldome want some or other of this kinde of men Quest But who or what were they of whom the Apostle here foretelleth that they should prove so desperately wicked Men shall be Blasphâ—mers But what men Answ. We answer The men here pointed at are 1. Generally Christians not such as were without Heathens or Jewes open and professed enemies to Christ and his Gospel but such as made an outward profession of Christianity and such as pretended themselves members of the Church So much we may collect from the fifth verse of the Chapter where the Apostle describeth those of whom he here speaks to be such as had {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} a forme of godlinesse a vizard of piety a formall profession of Faith and Holinesse though denying the power of it Such they were to be for the general Professors 2. More particularly not only Professors but Teachers Such as took upon them to teach and instruct others and were very active zealous and industrious in that way So the Apostle proceedeth in his description in the following verse 6. Of this sort are they which creep into houses c. Such as under a pretence and colour of propagating and promoting the Gospel went about venting their erroneous and heretical opinions and Blasphemies seeking to make Proselytes to gaine disciples corrupting
Blasphemiâ— against God against his Religion his Ordinances his Saints â—â—ch as serve God in holinesse and righteousnesse being fellow-Citizens of Heaven and of Gods houshold Thus being imbittered against the true Religion of God at least against the power and practise of it they care not how basely they speak of it and of those who hold it forth by a visible profession and practise not caring what opprobrious and disgraceful terms they cast upon them and all for their holinesse sake for the Image sake which they bear which as I have shewn you is no lesse then Blasphemy against God whose servants they are and whose cognizance they wear But to leave them The Blasphemie which we are this day principally to take notice of is the Blasphemy of those who say they are Jewes but are not such as pretend to Religion making an outward profession of it and yet are Blasphemers And are there not such to be found in this Nation that I say not in this place Professors and yet Blasphemers Men that professe to stand for God and for Christ and for his Religion pretending to more of God then others and yet Blaspheme all Would to God the charge did not lye so justly against some and many of this kinde Should we take a generall survey of some particulars what one Article of the Christian faith shall we finde which is not by some such either denied or perverted As for God himself though he be acknowledged in word yet how is he in truth denied by those who will not allow him to be a distinct Essence subsisting by himself Such is the Doctrine and language of some There is no God but what is within us As for that Orthodox distinction betwixt Essence and Person how is it exploded The very name of Trinity jeared at and the thing renounced The Deity of Christ the Son of God as also of the Holy Ghost and their equality whith the Father how is it professed against I might go on and shew you the like in many other of the Articles if not all As also touching the Scriptures which are made to be no other but a humane breath and that blowing as the wind contrary wayes containing in them many silly vaine grosse and contrary things the Prophets and Apostles therein poore men speaking according to the present tempers of their spirits it is their own language And so for the Ordinances of God that they are poore and low dispensations worthlesse uselesse at least to them All Religious duties in publike or private are but formes bodily exercises meerly legall And there may be as much of God seen and enjoyed in any servile labour as in the Ministery of the Word Prayer c. To these I might adde the opprobrious and disgraceful language that is poured out upon the servants of God and that not only his servants at large as all true Christians are who if they be not of their way are sure to hear ill enough what ever else they be but also his servants in Ordinarie the Ministers of the Gospel who are reproached and vilified and disgraced and that not for any personal miscarriages but with reference to their publike capacities as Ministers the very office it self being decryed as of no longer use in the Church of God But I finde this work already done to my hand by others who undertaking to give testimony of the Truth of Jesus Christ have posted up some of these Heretical Blasphemies in aeternam rei Infamiam presenting them to the view of the world to their eternal Infamie Thus Professours not a few are turned Blasphemers I some who at least in their owne apprehensions seemed to be of the highest forme I more such as have been or have taken upon them to be Teachers and Instructers of others So fully is Pauls Prophecie here fulfilled and accomplished amongst us never more and more desperate Blasphemers of this kinde to be found in any age in any Nation of the world then at this day in this Quest But how cometh it so to passe that this so ill so poysonous a weed should thus spring and grow in this Garden of God And that in this weeding time in this time of pretended and by many really intended Reformation It will not be amisse a little to enquire into the causes and occasions of it Answ 1. For answer in the first place This God permitteth I do not say he is the Author of it That is one of the Blasphemies of the Times to make God the Author of sin and not of the Action only in and with which sin is but of the very Pravitie Ataxie Anomie Irregularity and sinfulnesse it self which is in it in which termes it is by some delivered but yet he permitteth it and that with an effectual Permission which he doth 1. In a way of Judgment punishing one sin with another Men have been ungrateful unfruitful unanswerable to times and means not walking worthy of the Gospel not prizing it but waxing wanton under it therefore hath God given them up after this manner This is the Reason which the Apostle giveth why the Gentiles were given up to such Moral and Practical wickednesse as they were Rom. 1. 21 24. Because when they knew God viz. by the light of nature they did not glorifie him as God give that honour and respect unto him which they could not but apprehend due to the Divine Majesty neither were thankeful for those common mercies which they received from his hand Therefore God gave them up unto uncleannesse c. so punishing the breach of the first table by giving them up to the violation of the second And for the like cause it is that God in his just judgment sometimes giveth up men to this height of speculative wickednesse to turne Heretical Blasphemers Because when they knew God by the light of the Word they did not glorifie him as God by serving him according to his will revealed therefore hath he thus given them up unto Satans delusions Whilst the Truth was held forth unto them they did not afford it an answerable reception So the Apostle renders the reason of it 2 Thes. 2 â—0 11. where speaking of Apostates who had made defection from the faiâ—h Because saith he they received not the love of the Truth that is saith Grotious they did not prize the love of God in holding forth his Truth the truth of the Gospel unto them or rather they did not entertaine that truth imbracing and laying it up in their hearts as they should have done Therefore God shall send them strong delusion that they should beleeve a lye Therefore he giveth men up to the imbracing of Heretical and soul-damning doctrines This God doth in a way of judgment to some 2 And secondly he doth it by way of Probation and Tryal unto others Surely for this end is this hour of temptation come upon the Church at this day to try them that dwell upon the earth
against those vices and errors of the times And in this way let this Premonition be useful to all the faithful Ministers of Christ Now that we see this prediction verified amongst us in so punctual a manner 1. Be not discouraged at it Truth is such times as these are discouraging times They are so to all Christians who desire to be found faithful with God But specially to the Ministers of Christ Paul would have Timothy here to know that there were {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} difficult and perilous times acoming Perilous specially to men of his Coat his Calling And such they are When Professours turn Apostatizing Blasphemers then let Timothies the Ministers of God look to themselves Then every Athanasius shall be a Satansius and what not they shall be loaded with slanderous imputations and obloquies to render them odious in the eyes of the world But let not this dismay or discourage A thing which the best of men in this case may be subject to We see it in Jeremy when he saw what entertainment his person and message found among many how The Word of the Lord was made a reproach unto him and a derision dayly how his doctrine was sleighted derided mocked at by such men as the Apostle here speaketh of Blasphemers what were his thoughts hereupon you may read them Jer. 20. 8 9. Then I said I will not make mention of him nor speak any more in his name Hereupon Jeremy what with fear and discontent he beginneth to take up a resolution of silencing himself of laying aside his calling Such discouragements in such times the Ministers of Christ are subject to But let them not give way to them Thus it hath been and thus it is here foretold that it should be And wherefore foretold but that the Ministers of God whom after a special manner it concerns might not be so offended at it as to be discoraged at it These things have I spoken unto you that you should not be offended saith our Saviour to his Disciples speaking of the evill times which were to come after his departure from them John 16. 1. And so this thing hath the spirit of God foretold that the Ministers of the Gospel being forewarned might also be forearmed against what ever disheartnings or discouragements 2. But on the other hand Awakened Excited animated to greater Vigilancy Constancy Courage 1. Vigilancy When Foxes and Wolves are abroad it is time for the Shepherds to look out And such are seducing Teachers Foxes O Israel thy Prophets are like the Foxes in the deserts saith the Prophet Ezekiel cap. â—3 4 Such are false Prophets seducing Teachers being as Paul saith of Elimas Acts 13. 10. full of all subtilty and craft And as Foxes so Wolves I know saith Paul to the Elders of Ephesus that after my departure grievous Wolves shall enter in amosg you not sparing the flock Acts 20. 29. meaning thereby Seducers false Teachers whom our Saviour describeth to be Wolves in Sheeps clothing Mat. 7. 15. And being such it standeth the Ministers of God his Shepherds as they are often stiled in hand to look out to them To them is that speech directed Cant. 2. 15. Take us the Foxes the little Foxes that spoyle the Vines It is the speech of Christ to his Ministers saith our new Annotations upon it exciting them to look out have an eye to false teachers who seduce weak Christians And Paul foretelling the Elders aforesaid what Wolves should break in upon the Church in the next words he gives them an Item bespeaking their vigilancy Therefore watch Act 20. 31. The Ministers of Christ hearing of such dangerous instruments abroad should be so much the more vigilant over their flocks 2. And as vigilant over others so Constant in respect of themselves This is Pauls charge to Timothy in this chapter 2 Tim. 3. Having foretold him what times and persons were to come he giveth him his lesson v. 14. But continue thou saith he in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of And let all the Ministers of Christ take it home to themselves In the midst of what ever revolutions and turnings though the whole world should turn round yet let them stand like so many Centers not so far complying with any error of the times as to decline any way or Truth of God which they have beleeved professed held forth 3. And being constant in the Truth let them be so much the more zealous and couragious in defending it and opposing the Adversaries of it So far should this opposition be from damping their spirits as that it should by an antiperistasis make the fire of holy zeale to burn so much the more intensly within them Such effect it had in Paul when Elimas the Sorcerer a seducing Teacher withstood him seeking to turne the Deputy from the faith Act. 13. 8 9. See how Paul's spiritwas stirred within him Then Paul filled with the Holy Ghost set his eyes on him and said O full of all subtilty and all mischief thou child of the Devil c. with such a holy zeale did that good Polycarpe Saint Iohns disciple confront that Blasphemous Heretick Marcion who meeting him and demanding of him whether he knew him Yes saith he Agnosco te primogenitum Diaboli I know thee to be the first-born of the Devil So far should the Ministers of Christ be from being dismayed or terrified by these Adversaries that they should as Calvin speaks upon the Text Animos potius ad resistendum colligere rather gird up their loynes and gather up their spirits that so they may go out more couragiously in the strength of God against them This branch of the Application I might yet amplifie and inlarge by shewing you in what wayes and by what meanes the Ministers of God are to go out against such adversaries of the Truth as viz. by preaching against them writing against them confuting their Errors plucking off the Masks and Vizards and disguizes from their faces discovering their Impostures that so their folly being made manifest to all men they may proceed no farther as our Apostle hath it ver. 10. of this chapter But I have already expatiated far beyond the limits which I propounded to my selfe when I first took this subject in hand and therefore shall here conclude desiring God to make these Meditations as profitable as they are seasonable FINIS Psal. 1. 3. Prov. 25. 11. Ezek. 9. 4. 2 Tim. 2. 15. Prov. 31. 31. Sub extremis diebus comprehendit universum Christianae Ecclesiae statum Calv. ad locum Ita tamen ut maliâ—a de quâ loquitur subinde majores vires sumat cum tempore crescat usque ad extremum diem Hâ—rming ad loc. Cicero Eustathius Vide Bez. in Gr. Annot. in Mat. 9. 3. Aut quia est {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Aretus Problem loc. 109. de Blasphemiâ Hâc significatione peculiari usurpatur à sacris Scriptoribus nostris quomodo etiam apud Platonem bisponitur Beza Gr. Ann. in Mat. 9. 3. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} sunt hoc loco qui in Deum probra congerunt sed in genere maledici Vide Leigh Critic sacra ex Sculteto Blasphemi in Deum ejus doctrinam falsa impia de eo loquentes Claud. Espencaeus ad loc. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} in ipsum Deum maledici nam in hoc sensueminenâ—iore sumendam hic hanc vocem indicat ordo Grotius {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} contemptores aliorum Idem ad loc. Epiph. Haeresi 26. Vide Engl. new Annot. in 2 Tim. 9. 6. Q Vocem Blasphemiae Tremel Dicitur hic {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} non qui Deo maledicit sed qui quod Dei est sibi arrogat Groti ad loc. Opinio Epicuri Deum non curare res humanas quae videtur etiam Aristotelâ—s fuisse sententia Gro. in 1 Tim 6. 4. Isa. 37 23 24. August de Haeresi August de Haeres Simpsons History of the Church Cent 2. de Haeres See the Testimony of the truth of Jesus Christ by the Ministers of London Anno 1648. Mr. Bartlets Soveraigne Balsom in fine Reas. 1. Deus non est Author cujus est ultor Fulgent Comfort for Beleevers c. pag. 36 37. Reas. 2. Eng. New Annor Reas. 3. Reas. 4. Applic. Vse 1. Vse 2. Vse 3. Ainsworth in Levit 24 11. Propter talia delicta fames terrae motus pesses eveniunt Vide Alsted Theolog. Casaum cap. 15. Cas. 5. Vse 4. Quest Answ {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} ab a intensiva {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Sumo {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} ab {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} appareo quod quis enimere se caeteris mortalibus superiorem esse persuasum habeat Cui respondet Latinis Superbia q. super ire Leigh Critic Sacra {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} his Contemptores aliorum Grotius ad Text. Diodati ad loe Vide Grotium ad loc. Alsted Theol-Casuum cap. 15. Cas. 5. De Blasphemiâ Vide Alsted ibid. Jura Civilia praecisione linguae punierunt aliquando hoc peccatum c. Alii ut terribilior esset pâ—na jusserunt per occiput eximi linguam Aretius Loc. Com. 109. de Blasphemiâ Jura Canonica pessimo exemplo induxerunt mitigationem paenarum c. Dedit enim ista tantam Blasphemiarum segetem ut nihil srequentius sit inter Christianos quam impune nomen domini Blasphemare Aretius ibid. Vide M. Carill in Job 2. 9. Perkins in Galat. cap 3. v. 25 Alsted ubi supra Ireneus lib. 3. cap. 3. Euseb lib. 4. cap. 14. lib. 7. cap. 23 Vse 5. Vide New Annot. Eng. in 1 Cor. 5. 5. Applic. 2. Vseb l. c. 14.