I said before so say I now againe if any man Preach any other Gospel unto you then that which you have received let him be accursed THe words are the Apostles censure past on all false Gospels and such Gospel preachers 't is short but sharpe they are and let them be accursed As for the occasion of the words and the Epistle you may understand Galatia was a newly planted-Church the light of the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ had lately broken in upon them in purity and with power the Apostles had so Preach'd it these Galatians had so received it It seemes it fell out with them as with most other Churches not onely in ours but the Apostles times where ever God had yet his Church there the Divell would have his Chappell Hee 'le have his Gospel and his Preachers too though both accursed There were some troublers perverters of this glorious Gospel of Christ crept in among them and as it seemed overthrew the faith of some I marvaile that you are so soon removed c. from him that called you into the Grace of Christ. to be removed from the sound profession of the Gospel which is the doctrine of the free and rich grace of God saving sinners by a Christ his righteousnesse his death v. 6. his blood his sacrifice is to be removed from God-Salvation-Grace to another Gospel any other doctrine of salvation beside that by the grace of Christ is another Gospel farre different from and directly contrary to that Gospel which God revealed and declared which is not another though the Divel and false Apostles may conspire to frame and devise another Gospel then the true Gospel revealing Salvation by the grace of Christ yet 't is no true Gospel there is but one Gospel there is not another Gospel beside that one which is indeed a Gospel brings glad tidings of salvation there 's not another Gospel to us there is but one God one salvation one Mediator one Faith one Gospel against such Gospels and Gospellers the Apostle opposes these two or three verses which I have read He tels them their troublers were the Perverters of the Gospell nay more then so these Perverters and their Doctrines were both accursed and so to be accounted by them whatever they might pretend themselves or theirs to be Might the Apostle say be sure there is no other Gospell no more to be revealed for Gospel truth â—hen what we have made known unto â—ou and what you have already receiâ—ed and entertained Talke not of new â—ight Revelations New-teachings this or that though we our selves or an Angel from heaven could you be infallibly perswaded he came from the throne of Glory c. yet beleeve him not there are no new Editions to be expected of the true Gospel No more additions or alterations to be past upon it Christ hath sealed it up with his own blood and revealed unto us fully clearly by his infallible and unerring spirit So we have Preached it so you have Received it I tell you there is no other Gospel though we or an Angel from heaven should Preach't c. Thus for the occasion and scope of this Text. I shall be very plain and briefe in what shall follow For observations take these 1. Obs Obs 1 It 's no new no strange thing to heare of new Gospels true Cospel perverters false Gospel-Preachers You shall heare of such in the purest Churches the Primitive Churches Churches planted even by the Apostles themselves Gos Pist Rom. 1. Cor. 15 John mett with such as denyed the Divinity of the Sonne of God Paul such as denyed the Imputative Righteousnes of Jesus Christ the Resnrrection of the Dead Some there were that told them the Resurrection was past already of whom was Hymaneus and Philetus 2. Tim. 2.16.17 c. It cannot be more strange now in our daies on whom the very ends of the world are come Our blessed Saviour for 1600 yeares agoe foretold us this read through the 24th Chap. of Matthew and there you 'le see that even in these dais there are to be false Christs false Prophets shall shew great signes and wonders and if it were possible deceive the very Elect they shall say loe here is Christ and loe there is Christ but beleeve them not take heed that no man deceive you Here 's a Prophecy of false Teachers even the grossest in these latter Ages of the World note first their Doctrine they hold new Christs and many Christs severall Christs loe here and loe there a Christ even as many Christs as men Secondly their growth their ptogresse to deceive even the very Elect. The Temptation it seemes must fal hard even upon the Elect of God not the grosser part only of the world but even the very Elect should be quite were it not Impossible to be deceived by them Such as belong to Election given to Christ taken into an everlasting Covenant with God it may go hard with them but because of their Election they shall not be finally deceived Thirdly Their power signes and wonders but for lying wonders we have enough of those Fourthly Take this Caution think not this strange when it comes to passe see I have told you be not deceived there will be if Christ be true false Christs and false Prophets and shall deceive and utterly deceive many though the Elect shall stand So you have in 2. Pet. 2. throughout and in the Epistle of Jude there shall be false Teachers even denying the Lord that bought them Damnable Heresie they bring upon themselves swift destruction read the Chapter and the 3. verse of Jude ungodly men denying the only Lord God and even our Lord Jesus Christ turning the grace of God into Lasciviousnesse as some of these say let us sin that grace may abound even as Sodom and Gomorrah and the Cities about them in like manner giving themselves over to Fornication and going after strange Flesh filthy Dreamers note that I have heard enough of them defile the flesh despise Dominion speak evill of Dignities c. these are spotts c. woe unto them Think it not strange if you meet with such now the Scripture is true they make it good you are forewarned their Gospel are cursed Gospels but of this anon 2. Obs Obs 2 From the Apostles Practise and his undertaking note this That it is the work of the Ministry of the true and everlasting Gospel of God in Christ as to Preach this Gospel to every Creature to take all opportunities for this and to lay out themselves in this so to defend this Gospel and to take all opportunities and to lay out their strength and to bestir themselves with might and maine in maintaining this true and opposing all false Gospels and perverters of the true You shall find this was the work of the true Prophets against the false the true Apostles against the false Apostles The Apostles themselves had as much to doe in preserving Churches as in
I had done Mr Coppe did againe and againe under most dreadfull execrations professe his assent and that particularly to the principall poynts which were delivered by mee Whether willingly or unwillingly truly and syncerely or faignedly and Reservedly though I suspect God is his judge and knowes his heart and will reckon unto him all those curses which he reckoned unto himselfe if he were not right in this If Mr Coppe be a reall friend to these truths and as they were delivered blessed be God that once a blasphemer is now a Gospell-preacher If Mr Coppe be still an enemy and like the Divell appears in All formes for his advantage the World shall know the most diabolicall Hippocrisies of such blasphemers There was one passage as eminent among all the rest dropt from him Let me be accursed said he and that with an Anathema maranatha if I deny any one of all those things which were delivered by him Should this fall to the ground no through Gods help it shall not 1. Truth shall triumph as well as conquer 2. It shall not loose one testimony which may to good effect proclaime its soveraignty and divinity The Gospell would not loose a testimony from ehe devils mouth to the divinity of this sonne of God whose cause we now take up This testimony is considerable whether free or forc't if free see here what Truth will doe it will at length prevaile if Mr Coppes Recantation be right and God have chang'd his heart these lines will not offend him If forc't then see what God can doe for truth let the World know that at such a time and such a place God over rul'd his tongue suppressed his rage and made him speake for truth 2. As this may serve to proclaime Gods truth so Mr Coppes conversion and true returne if such to waies of truth and let those know who have been formerly deceived by him what he now professes that ye also if God will may be informed convinced and converted 3. But if ye know Coppes mind in this and he prove a dissembler and a deceiver still I say I will not judge him I doe professe I doe suspect him then let these lines the pillars in that house the stones in those walls within which these things were first delivered rise up in judgement and beare witnesse against the wretch in the great day of the Lord Jesus and let his damnation which of a long time slumbreth not be proved from God as just and himselfe as inexcusable As for the notes on the principall passages of his Sermon they serve 1. To cleare the truth by me asserted and by Coppe in the former part of his discourse with execrations owned 2. To vindicate the Scriptures purity verity and harmony 3. To let the World know that Familists have double tongues and can sometimes use both at once for their advantage A Familist before a Committee at Redding could say Christ was not God and yet at Ildesly could say the fiery deity of Christ did mingle and mixe it selfe with our flesh and was in the center of our Soules burning and consuming c. and at the same time at Redding could call in all with I meant not so Mr Coppe said Christ was crucified at Jerusalem Cursed were the man that should deny it and that Christ was crucified at Sodom and at Aegypt and Cursed was he that should not say it what 's his meaning I cannot tell but let that passe 4. These notes doe likewise serve to vindicate the Spotles purity and holinesse of God from those black and hellish imputations of sins originall approbation liberally conferr'd upon his Holy pure spotlesse being nature word and will and power One told me a while since professedly that the Divell was God appearing in darknesse and distance Coppe himselfe told me too once in New-gate that light and darknesse was all one to God speaking upon this account of sin there 's something in the wind to use his own expressions in his Sermon and Recantation The Parliaments Act concerning Ranters hath done blest be God for it much good but occasionally as Gods laws provokes some to sin the more if not in one kind yet another 'thas made the Divell break out in another straine he loves not Newgate so well as to speake directly however he is resolved he will be known to be the same Collaterally but more of this anon Christian friends for your sakes I have done this the Lord blesse it I shall desire but one or two things from you and so conclude First I beseech you study and keepe to the true Gospell recorded in the Scriptures of truth preached by the God of truth in our natures and those that heard him and received it from him the Sonne of God hath with his own blood sealed it To it even to this Gospel have the Apostles and Martyrs in severall ages with their bloods witnessed 'T is that Gospell which never can though to the price of your bloods too be overvalued 'T is that Gospel which will maintain it selfe and maintaine you by which you must be saved and its accursed despisers and blaspheamers damned ô be tender of Gospel-truths and the God of Gospel truths you shall finde as tender of your comforts You see whither men run when they forsake the Gospel whether the Scriptures or Ordinances or most especially the Christ of the Gospel the Imputative righteousnesse of our Gospel-Christ it seemes I mistooke Mr Coppe when I spake against a Righteousnesse within us of our owne though of Gods working as the matter of our Acceptance or the Gospel righteousnesse refined Familists are for this in opposition to the imputed righteousnesse of Christ the grosser sort of them know none at all but that which bears conformity to hell to whom light and darknesse purity and uncleannesse God and Sathan make but one the Lord rebuke you I say you see whether they runne they seldome stop till they come to irreligion to Atheisme nay what shall I call it Hell it selfe where I leave them unlesse God shew mercy to them which I suspect will never be 2. Let Accursed Gospellers be accursed by you their Doctrines their Persons with their doctrines bid them not good speed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the ordinary salutation least you be partakers of their sinnes and of their judgements I mean their plagues of which a reprobate judgement to refuse the truth and entertaine the wrong is not the least Contend earnestly for the faith which was delivered to the Saints I must conclude the fulnesse of the blessing of the Gospell rest upon you In the Gospel-Christ I am yours to further your Gospel-Interest in what I may J. T Abingdon Octob. 3. 1651. A Sermon preached immediatly before M. Coppe came in to Preach at Burford Sept. 23. 1651. GALAT. 1. 8 9. Though we or an Angell from Heaven should preach any other Gospel unto you then that which we have Preached unto you let him be accursed as
I tell him That M. Coppe and his gospel are both accurst Will you know sayd M. Coppe what 's the gospel the gospel is the power of God An. If hee meane what Paul meant I grant it 3 his words seeme to mee to Confound the gospel and the power of God I put no meaning on M. Copps words am loath to misunderstand or represent him but for the peoples sake I write not now to quarle with M. Coppe but to informe the people as to this question How the Gospel is the power of God You must understand the gospel sometimes notes the matter contayned in the gospel Q. 1. An. as the person of Christ his righteousnes the way of salvation by him especiall in his Crucifixion death for sin In this sense I understand that the power of God unto salvation worketh in the person of Christ Rom. 1.17 and through his righteousnes applyed unto us by fayth unto salvation this is the way of salvation even the righteousnes of Christ c. which is preached in the gospel Gods power goes forth through this Christ and no way else unto salvation 2. ibid. The gospel notes the word the doctrine that holds out this salvation by Christ whether written or preacht 1 Cor. 1. so then understand though the doctrine the preaching of salvation through the crosse be a way despised by the world a Crucified Christ accounted a weake a Contemptible saviour the doctrine a foolish simple doctrine the preaching of this by men a weak foolish and Contemptible thing Yet Gods power works this way unto salvation A crucified Christ carryeh in him both the wisdome and power of God unto salvation 1 Cor. 1. ult Gods wisdome and Gods power too shine in it unto Salvation no way so wise no way so powerfull because God appointeth it and God works with it to a full salvation 2 The gospel preached the Greeks count it foolishnes and Jews weakness but Instrumentaly is the wisdom and the power of God God makes use of the foolishnes and the weakness of preaching to save those that beleve and so Christ Crucified in himself and in his gospel preached is both the wisdom of God and the power of God unto salvation Let none despise this gospel then I am not ashamed of this gospel Rom. 1.16 there might be more said let this suffice I will be briefe and God willing clear Gods power working in us holds not out so fully this gospel to us but as if this very power were the very gospel and wee were to look for no other gospel I say the Gospel is the Gospel though Gods power be not actually put forth to the Application of this Gospel unto salvation 〈…〉 the word is a good word and an heart-gladding word though thousands to whom the gospel comes feel not this power The gospel is the power of God instrumentall I meane the word and the word preached is the instrument the power of God his being put forth with strength efficient is the working the principall working cause of this salvation you must distinguish between the toole which is used and the force the hand putteth forth with this toole or instrument strictly the toole is not your hand or the working virtue in your hand Some men love to darken words without knowledge meerely that people may not know where to find their meaning others would abuse the Scripture but they dare not speake plainly 't were a grosse thing for a Familist especially new converted to say the glad tidings of Salvation by Christ contained in the Scripture is not the gospel if he say you understand not the Gospel it 's the power of God he has his designe though we cannot take him If Mr Coppe mean the gospel is the unlimited Almightinesse of God with a mighty power carrying him out to sin sweare blaspheme He be bold to tell him hee 's worse then the divell I say not this is his meaning but if that be his meaning my words are plaine and need no explanation So much for that M. Coppe said there was much spoken after others If I spake after Christ after the Apostle after the faythfull witnessers to gospel truth I speak as I desire it seems t was no new gospel but it harmonized with Christ prophets and Evangelist I would not speake after mine own spirit nor after any but after Christ and as they speak after Christ I tell you friends our accursed gospellers love not the old way of God and Christ in scriptures ye must have something new like Afrike and that makes them such monsters I told you other gospels then the old gospel preacht after Christ and Paul for patternes are cursed Gospels my soule abhorres them For other triviall things I let them passe As to the matter I beseech you ponder well these words As to the matter by me delivered Mr Coppe spake two waies 1. By way of Assent and Confirmation 2. By way of Glosse and Opposition I say not an opposition of contrariety and contradiction I have something to say to both these First Let these lines make known that Mr Coppe againe and againe with dreadfull curses execrations profest his assent in full words to severall the maine passages in mine exhortation should I repeat the particulars I should transcribe the whole I have therefore let the whole lye open to publike view that the world may see if Mr Coppe be right what through Gods grace he is brought to see If otherwise what by Gods power he was made to say I intend it not to reproach him but let the world receive this testimony from him to these gospel truths 1. The divinity 2. The humanity 3. The mediation 4. The undertaking 5. The righteousnesse of Christ 6. The resurrection of the dead with severall others delivered by him particularly in this forme Let me be accursed if I deny that Jesus Christ is the Sonne of God Let me be accursed if I deny the Righteousnesse of Jesus Christ Let me be accursed if I deny the Resurrection of the body c. At length to summe up all as 't was noted in the Epistle Let me be accursed with an Anathema Maranatha if I deny any one of all those things that were delivered by him What I have to say upon the account of these assertions of divine truth under execrations is briefely this I most gratefully accept these asseverations from Mr Coppe I heartily thank him for them upon the account of truth that he would so freely so pathetically professe his assent unto it if he were ingenious I will not yet question it Christ and truth will thank him too 2. Upon mine own account I thanke him that he would take so much paines as to repeate it even in mine own words and to confirme it as he did with execrations I professe I had no particular prejudice against his person as such in my discourse I thank him he exprest no more against mine