reason taken from the order of the words wherein he apprehends a kind of Gradation Men shall be lovers of themselves Covetous Boasters Proud {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Contemners of other men as he expounds the Word I not sparing God himself Blasphemers of him And if that be true which Epiphanius with great probability conjectures viz. that the Apostle here in this description aimes at those Hereticks which should spring up in the infancie of the Church as viz. Simon Menander Ebion Cerinthus Carpocrates and the Gnosticks we shall not need to mince the matter for such were they down-right Blasphemers in an Ecclesiastical sense Blasphemers of God And that the Apostle speaketh here if not of them yet of such as they it is rightly and clearly collected from the sixth and eighth verses of the chapter Where shewing who and what they were whom he spake of Of this sort saith he are they which creep into houses and lead captive silly women verse 6. plainly pointing out false teachers Hereticks who vented and scattered their false doctrines and heresies clancularly and closely in corners taking advantage upon the weaker sex as the devil at first did to make the first impression upon them as all Hereticks in all ages ever have done and at this day do And again vers. 8. As Jannes and Iambres withstood Moses so do these also resist the truth men of corrupt minds concerning the faith reprobate Such they were whom the Apostle here speaketh of Blasphemous Hereticks And being such we may well conceive this to be the sinne which here he chargeth upon them viz. Blasphemy in a restrained sense even Blasphemy against God Having thus found out the kind of evil here charged our next work must be yet a little more fully to open the nature of it Blasphemy in proper acceptation what it is I have already told you in the general It is any Injury offered to the name of God by word Or speaking evill of the name of God So the Lord complains of it Is 52. 5. My name continually every day is blasphemed To which text the Apostle relates Rom. 2. 24. The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles That is evil-spoken of Now for a more particular explication that we may dive a little into the bowels of this sinne let me briefly open unto you these two things First What is meant by the name of God And secondly How the name of God may be iujured by word evil-spoken of 1. For the former by the name of God we are to understand any thing whereby God Himself or his Will his Nature or his Mind are made known to us Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain Command 3. Now this is done many ways As by his Titles Attributes Works Word Religion Ordinances Image His Titles as Iehovah Elohim God Lord His Attributes or Properties as Power Goodnesse Mercy Truth His Works of Creation and Providence His Word which is his mind and will revealed in the Scriptures Religion the Doctrine and Practice of it His Ordinances Prayer the publick Ministry of the Word Sacraments Sabbaths His Image whether Essentiall as it was in Christ who is called the Image of the invisible God 1 Col. 15. the expresse Image of his person Heb. 1. 2. which is called the name of God Exod. 23. 21. My name is in him speaking of Christ Or Accidental as it is in men upon whom the name of God is called as it is upon Magistrates who are therefore called Gods Psal. 82. 1. 6. Exod. 22. 28. And upon Ministers who stand in the place of God as his Ambassadours acting in his name and bearing his name as it is said of Paul Acts 9. 15. And generally upon all the faithful people of God who bear the Image of their heavenly Father and are called by his name as we have it Deut. 28. 10. Jer. 14. 9 By these God maketh himself known unto us and therefore each may be called his name Quest 2 Now How may this name of God be said to be injured evill spoken of Answ. I answer in the general when men shall abuse any of these by word speak contumeliously of them This Contumely redounding unto God himself every word so spoken is Blasphemie As 1. When the Titles of God are abused whether by way of Incantation as those Jewish Exorcists called the name of Jesus over them which had evill spirits Acts 19. 13. or by way of Execration cursing the name of God or by his name which was the Blasphemie of the Israelitish womans son Levit. 24. 11. who blasphemed the name of the Lord and cursed or by way of Pejeration forswearing or by way of wicked swearing which Tremelius renders Blasphemia Blasphemy Levit. 5. 1. Secondly God is Blasphemed in his Attributes and that three wayes 1. When men shall deny that unto God which properly belongs unto him and is agreeable to his nature As when men shall deny him to be such a one as he hath revealed himself denying him to be Omnipresent Omniscient Omnipotent which last was the Blasphemie of Rabshakeh and the servants of the King of Assyria who bade defiance unto God in point of power as if he had not been able to deliver Ierusalem out of the hands of their Master 2 Kings 18. 35. compared with chap 19. 6. 2. When men shall attribute that unto God which is not agreeable to his nature fasten dishonourable attributes upon him taking up and venting of mean and low apprehensions concerning God as the Heathens of old and some Hereticks have done and Idolaters and blind ignorant persons daily do who misconceiving of God thinking him to be like nnto themselves as the Lord saith of the wicked man Psal. 50. 21. expresse those their misconceivings to the disparaging of the Majesty of the infinite God 3. When men shall attribute that unto the creature which is proper to the Creator whether unto themselves that is the Blasphemy which the Scribes censure Christ for though unjustly Mat. 9. 2 3. This man blasphemeth say they viz. in taking upon him to forgive sinnes which is a work proper unto God Or unto others as when men shall make Gods of men attributing divine properties or giving divine honour to them as the People to Herod Acts 12. 22. And the Lystrians to Paul and Barnabas Acts 14. 11 12 13. and as Court-parasites do sometimes to their Princes and Romish flatterers to their lord god the Pope as some of them have not spared to call him Each of these is Blasphemy Blasphemy against the Attributes of God Thirdly there is blasphemy against the works of God His works of Creation and Providence And thus again God may be blasphemed three ways 1. When men shall deny these works or either of them deny the works of Creation as those Philosophers who would have the world to be from Eternity coexistent with God himselfe Deny the work of Providence
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
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
Rev. 3. 10. To try the Faith and Patience and Constancie of those who are sound and will cleave unto God and unto his Truth This reason the Apostle giveth why there must be Heresies in the Church 1 Cor. 11. 19. There must be Heresies saith he among you that they which are approved may be made manifest And so we may say There must be Blasphemies God seeth it expedient to permit them and that to this end amongst others that they which are {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Sincere and constant unto God and his Truth may be made manifest to themselves and others This is one of Gods winnowing seasons wherein by this wind he severs the sound and weighty corne from the chaff showing who they are that are stable with him and who are otherwise Secondly as God permits this in justice and wisdome for these and other ends known to himself so Satan acts it This hath the Enemy done saith the Husbandman in the parable concerning the Tares which were grown up in his fild among his good corne Matth. 13. 28. These Tares are Schismaticks and Hereticks with their Heretical Doctrines which like Tares intoxicate the brains of men which will take them down Now these are of Satans sowing That {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} that envious man as he is there called envying to see Gods corne grow and flourish to see the prosperity of the Church and the flourishing of the Gospel he poysons the ground with this pernicious Tinetare This he doth to crosse and hinder Gods work in his Church Even as in the rebuilding of the Wals of Jerusalem he made use of those Samaritans pretended friends but reall adversaries to the Jews to hinder the work what they could Ezra 4. 1. c. Even so in this time of an intended Reformation he hath stirred up many such Heretical spirits to render all endeavours that way ineffectual Even as God once frustrated that designe for the building of Babel by dividing the languages of the builders so doth Satan now by a like practice seek to hinder the building of Jerusalem the Church of God amongst us by dividing the Hearts and Tongues and Pens of men that whilst some speak the language of Canaan of heaven holding forth the Orthodox truth of God others who pretend to be builders too should speak the language of Hell holding forth pernicious Errours Heretical Blasphemies 3. Again thus it cometh to passe through the remissenesse and negligence of those to whom the care of the Church is or should have been committed Whilst men slept saith the Parable the Enemy sowed Tares among the wheat Matth. 13. 25. whilst those who are or should be betrusted with the Church either fall asleep or are laid asleep so as they do not act so vigilantly and vigorously as they ought to do for the welfare and preservation thereof such Tares such evill Instruments creep in A truth lamentably experimented in this Nation at this day Where whilst the golden reynes of Ecclesiastical Government have been relaxed and let loose and the Civil sword otherways imployed so as Errors of an inferiour alloy have been connived at and de facto tolerated men as the nature of sin and errour is growing worse and worse through this Liberty have at the length arrived at this desperate height to speak Blasphemies write Blasphemies Print Blasphemies daring to pour out their Vials upon the Sun cast a dark foyle upon the clearest and most comfortable truths upon the whole Religion of God Fourthly again In men themselves we shall finde somewhat which disposeth them unto this great evill Men do not ordinarily become Blasphemers at the first Nemo repentè fit pessimus They climb to this height of wickednesse by certaine degrees and steps Some of which we shall meet with in the former part of this verse whereof the text is part Men shall be lovers of their own selves c. Mark how men come to be Blasphemers First they are Lovers of themselves seeking their own things their own honour credit preferment making self the end of all their actions And secondly they are Covetous accounting gaine to be godlinesse And thirdly they are vain-glorious arrogating much unto themselvs highly conceited of their own worth And fourthly they are proud supercilious despisers of others thinking meanly of others in comparison of themselves And being such no wonder now they come to be Blasphemers When Satan hath thus got them up to the top of the Pinacle now he casts them down having got them to the top of the Ladder now he turneth them off putting them upon such desperate wayes and courses unlesse mercie step in to their utter destruction Thus you see that it is so and why it is so That which now remaines is the Application Which I shall direct first Generally then Specially Generally to all Christians Specially to Timothies the Ministers of the Gospel 1. For all Christians Let not them in the first place be offended at such times such Persons So effended as to like the Church of God the Religion of God ever the worse for that A needfull Caveat this being a thing which men are very subject to It is not for nothing that our Saviour pronounceth a blessing upon them who shall not be offended at him Blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended at me Matth. 11. 6. This he foresaw the world would be subject to to take offence at him at his personal condition the meannesse of it and the sufferings attending it Herewith the Disciples themselves were offended So their Master foretold it would be with them Matth. 26. 31. All ye shall be offended because of me this night And accordingly it came to passe When they saw him apprehended carried away and used in that disgraceful manner they began to entertaine other thoughts of him then before they had done and fayled in the duty and respect which they ought unto him And as at his personal condition so at the condition of his Church This men are subject to be offended at as in regard of troubles and persecutions arising from without of which our Saviour speaketh in the Parable Matth. 13. 21. whereby the stony ground setting forth the Temporary Professor he giveth this character of him that however at the first he heareth and receiveth the word with joy yet when tribulation and persecution ariseth by and by he is offended So also in regard of those Pests of Hereticks and Blasphemers which are bred in the womb and nursed up in the bosome of the Church These are in themselves a great eye-sore a great offence But let them not be so to any of us Neither is there any reason they should be so This is no other then what the Spirit of God hath forewarned us that it should be And therefore forewarned us that we should not be offended when we see it come to passe For this end it was that our Saviour
foretold his Disciples what times should follow after his departure from them These things have I spoken unto you saith he that yee should not be offended John 16. 1. And for the like cause did the Apostle here advertise Timothy of what manner of men the Church of God should be pestered and infested within succeeding times that neither he nor others might be offended at that Apostatizing generation so as to like the Gospel ever the worse for their sakes And this use let us make of this Premonition There is sprung up in the bosome of this Church within these late yeers such a generatio n of Apostates Heretical Blasphemers such and so many as scarce any age all things considered ever bred Professours turned Blasphemers Those who had lyen in the Churches bosome sucking the sincere milk of the word from her Breasts the Scriptures held forth the profession of Religion in an exemplary and more then ordinary way yet they are fallen off now speaking evill I cannot say of the things which they knew not for then as our Saviour said of the persecuting Jewes to whom he had preached John 15. 22. they had not had sin their sin had not been so great but of the things which they have known and approved speaking evil of the Truths of God which have been precious unto them speaking evill of the wayes of God wherein they have conscientiously walked it may be even jearing at some of the most fundamentall doctrines and practises of Christian Religion speaking evill of the Ordinances of God which have been to them heretofore the avowed power of God to their salvation Now they look upon them as poor low dispensations empty formalities things which are beneath them and no longer usefull to them Never such a scandal given never so much dirt cast upon the face of Religion by any generation of men in any place in any age of the world since it was called Christian Well yet let not us be offended at all this It was a good resolution in Peter had he not taken it up in his own strength Though all men shall be offended at thee speaking to his Master yet will I never be offended Matth. 26. 33. Every of us take up the like in the strength of Divine grace assisting Though many be though all should be offended at the Religion of God yet so will not we be Though never so many scandals be given by others yet they shall not be taken by us so taken as that we should in the least be distasted with the wayes and Truths of God As for Hereticks and Blasphemers such in all ages there have been and such there must be So saith Paul of the former There must be Heresies or Sects 1 Cor 11. 18. And so may we say of the latter There must be Rlasphemers amongst us God seeth it expedient to permit it for those forementioned ends and other ends known to himself Let not any of us then be scandalized by it offended at it 2. And as not offended at it so not disanimated disheartned by it A thing which Christians in this case are no lesse subject to then the former And indeed there may seeme to be a cause for it To see such a flood of waters cast out of the mouth of the red Dragon who but may fear the carrying away the woman by it To see such a deluge of Heresies and Blasphemies cast out of the mouth of Satan who but may fear the drowning of the Church the extinguishing of the light of the Gospel amongst us But let not all this disanimate It is one end wherefore Paul here giveth his Timothy warning of this desperate generation of men that he might not be out of heart discouraged by them as if the Gospels cause were desperate but rather to steele his spirit and to make him so much the more couragious for God and his Truth bearing up head against those Errors of the times as I shall have occasion to shew you hereafter And this use let us make of this advertisement Now that we see it come to passe according as the Apostle here foretold it let us not be disanimated by it The Husbandman when he goeth into his field in the spring time it may be there he espieth abundance of Weeds growing up amongst his corne and so much the more by how much he hath bestowed the more cost upon it by manuring it but this doth not put him out of heart He knoweth that they will all wither before the harvest Upon the like consideration let the Lords people those which wish well unto his Religion bear up their hearts and spirits in the midst of these perilous and amazing times In this spring time of desired Reformation there are abundance of evill weeds Heresies and Blasphemies that are sprung up in this Church of God threatning to eate out the good corne and for the present they are not only an eye-sore an offence but an annoyance hindring not a little the growth and flourishing of it I mean of the Church and Gospel But here is the comfort before the Harvest all these shall wither and the good corne the Truth of God shall get the upper hand Magna est veritas Great is the Truth of God and it shall prevaile against all the dreams and fancies of men The earth shall swallow up all these waters As it was with the waters which drowned the world in the dayes of Noah when they had done the work for which they were sent washed that sinfull generation from off the face of the earth then they return again to that Abysse that great deep from whence they came Gen. 7. 11. 8. 3. And so shall it be with this flood of Heresies and Blasphemies which is broke forth upon this Nation at this day when these have done the work for which they are permitted and sent viz. made manifest those which are approved they shall return again to that Abysse that great deep that bottomlesse pit the pit of Hell from whence they came And therefore for us let us in the mean time with Noah and his family keep close within the Arke within the Arke of the Church waiting for the abating and drying up of these waters not doubting but that God in his due time will finde an Ararat for his poor weather-beaten Church to rest upon Thus be not offended be not discouraged by what is come to passe amongst us 3. But yet in the third place do not over-look it slight it as not worth the taking notice of So do they seem to do which cry up the present times for such glorious times such happy and blessed times Now surely if blessed Paul were alive in these times he would not think them so In his judgment such times as these wherein Professors turn Blasphemers they are {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Difficult Grievous Perilous times Evill times And I cannot but wonder how any one that hath the eye
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