thee Isaiah 51.2 1. Objection I am but a woman the weaker Vessel and therefore my zeal can doe but little good Answer Yet thou mayest doe somewhat for God we reade in Scripture what great things God hath done by women Deborah and Iael two excellent women The one ruled with an Heroick Spirit the other killed Sisera a valiant Commander Iudges 4.4 5.22 The woman of Abel by her prudence saved the City 2 Samuel 20.16.22 Abigail by her wisedome preserved her husband and family from an imminent danger The Shunamite that great good woman stirred up her husband to entertain Elisha to the great benefit of her family and Hester was a means to save the Jewes from ruine God loveth to hang the greatest weights on the weakest wyres and to doe great things by weak Instruments that his Name may have all the Glory 3. Objection It is good to be discreet and wise in what we doe Answer Discretion doth not hinder but further our zeal it doth not diminish it but directs it and therefore they are not to be Opposed but Composed and made subservient to each other Prudence doth not abate our Diligence but guideth it in its work it teacheth us not to doe lesse but to doe better Thus there is an Harmony amongst the Graces and we may in no wise set them at variance amongst themselves Yet 't is the property of the men of the world to accuse Gods faithful ministers who tell them discreetly and zealously of their sins for rash heady men and such as want discretion Thus when Bishop Latimer reproved the sins of the Court they would accuse him for lack of discretion It rejoyceth me saith he when my Friend telleth me that they finde fault with my indiscretion for by likelyhood the Doctrine is true for if they could finde fault with my Doctrine they would not charge me with lack of discretion c. 4. Objection It is good to be moderate Vertue consisteth in a mean Answer Moderation in our own causes and quarrels doth well Phil. 4.5 But moderation and indifferency in Gods Cause is not moderation but luke-warmness and coldness which God abhorreth and if wicked men will not content themselves with moderation in pursuit of their lusts and Idols Ier. 8.2 but will spend their estates lavish Gold out of the bag upon them Isay 46.6 shall not we in an holy prodigality spend our selves and what we have from God for his honour 'T is true in Moral Vertues which are circa res medias the mean is best But Religion admits of no mediocrity e. g. our love to God and our hatred against sin can never be too intense Yea no Vertue in its formal Reason can be too much intended nor admit of an excess that man that saith he hath zeal enough had never any true zeal at all The Apostle saith its good to be zealous in a good thing and is not zeal then best in the best things and are there any things better then God his Truth Worship People Is it good to be earnest for a friend and is it not much better to be zealous for God The things we strive for are so Excellent that no zeal can be too much 'T is for a Kingdome for an Heavenly Kingdome 't is for Christ for grace and glory and if thou canst finde any thing in the world that better deserveth thy zeal let it have it 5. Objection The Apostle would have Timothy to be gentle 2 Timothy 2.24 Answer True for he was imployed amongst the Gentiles who were newly converted to the Faith and therefore must be wisely and gently handled such bruised Reeds must not be broken but when men are obstinate they must be rebuked with all authority Titus 2.15 6. Observation If we be thus zealous we may loose all Answer True and yet be no loosers neither The Martyrs lost all and yet were gainers God will make up your losses in a better kind Matth. 10.37 Let us do our duty and commit the success to God Many like Ammaziah could be content to do Gods Will but they are affraid of looseing some hundreds of Talents by it but the Prophets answer may satisfie us The Lord is able to give thee much more then that 2 Cor. 25.9 7. Observation I may bring paine and sorrow on my selfe by my forwardness Answer Thou mayest bring greater sorrow on thy selfe by thy backwardnesse 2. Wee see what pain men will endure to preserve a Natural life and shall we endure nothing for our spiritual life 3. God will assist thee and in the multitude of thy perplexities he will delight thy soul Psalm 94.19 8. Observation The world will thinke us mad and out of our wits if we thus oppose their sinfull counsels Answer This is no new thing Christ himself was called mad and they said that he had a Devil Mark 3.21 the Disciple is not above his Master But of this see more in 2 Tim. 3.9 9. Observation I am of a dull and heavy constitution and therefore it cannot be expected that I should be so hot as others Answer See how 't is with thee in other things art full of life spirit and activity for profits and pleasures and yet hast thou no mettle nor life for God and his worship certainly the fault is not in thy cold constitutiâ—n but in thy wretched corruption where thou lovest thou hast heat enough Let a man touch the coldest of you in your gains pleasures reputations and you have heat more then enough onely Gods honour lieth unregarded by you 2. Suppose thou art of a sad and heavy constitution yet Grace is above Nature it rayseth and rectifieth it 'T is like gold in the Mine which turneth every thing into the nature of it Hence the Spirit of Grace is compared to Oyle which is a Royal liquor and will be above all Now to quicken you take these Considerations and Motives 1. Consider this is no Arbitrary or indifferent thing but 't is that which God hath oft commanded That we should love him with all our strength i. zealously and sincerely Deut. 6.5 and do what we do with all our might Eccles. 9.10 Rom. 12.11 Striving and earnestly contending for the faith Iude. 3. The compound implieth an ardent and vehement defence of the Truth we must contend for it with our utmost strength Truth is a precious Jewel and heavenly Treasure which we must labour to preserve unto Posterity One grain of it is of more worth then all the world Malim ut pereat totus mundus quà m veritatis mica said Luther Little deviations from the Truth must not be suffered least they increase to greater as thin exhalations turn into thick clouds and little sparks make great fires God will not have his least commandments contemned Matth. 5.19 Hence Christ commands us not onely to destroy Vulpes sed Vul peculas even the litle Foxes that hurt his Vine Cant. 2.15 But we are not put to contend pro tricis
Reprobates for 't is one thing to be Reprobate concerning the faith pro tempore at present and another thing to be a Reprobate Manasses Paul and those 1 Corinthians 6.11 were lewd enough for the time yet at last were called These that are now 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 reproveable and unapproved as the word signifies 2 Cor. 13.7 Heb. 6.8 1 Corinthians 9.27 yet in Gods due time they may be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 accepted and approved This must teach us to keep our judgements pure and our understandings clear for 't is our guide and if that mislead us we must needs fall into the ditch Corruption in judgement in some respects is worse then corruption in manners especially when the mind hath been enlightned with the knowledge of the truth for this is the root of those corrupt manners that are amongst us In the time of the Law the Leprosie in the head was of all other Leprosies the most dangerous and destructive the man that had it in his hand or feet was unclean but if it were in his head then he was to be pronounced utterly unclean Lev. 13.44 Hence the scripture gives so many caveats against errors and erroneous ones Deut 13.3 Philip. 3.2 Colos. 2.8 2 Pet. 3.17 Matthew 7.13 Beware of false Prophets the word implies a diligent study and singular care lest we be caught by such subtle adversaries Keep your judgements pure then the pure Word of God will delight you Micah 2.7 you will delight to come to the truth that your deeds may be discovered Iohn 3.21 Part not with a good conscience and a good conversation lest you make ship-wrack of the faith and a gap be opened in your breasts to all sinne and errour that the Lord knowes where you will rest it may be not till you come to the highth of sin and depth of misery Count therefore a corrupt judgement a sore plague and if God have given thee a sound judgement able to discern the truth and a mind ready to receive it and approve of it when 't is propounded this is not a common mercy but calls for speciall Thankfulness Psal. 16.7 Proverbs 28.5 1. Observe There have been false Teachers in all Ages to oppose the Truth and the Professors of it As Iannes and Iambres here oppose Moses a meek a learned a faithfull servant in all Gods House So there were four hundred and fifty fals Prophets against one zealous Elijah four hundred against good Michaiah 1 Kings 18.18 and 22.6.14 Hananiah against Ieremy Amaziah against Amos 7.10 false brethren against Paul Hymeneus Philetus and Alexander oppose him 1 Tim. 1.20 The Church shall never want enemies to war withall whilest the seed of the Serpent abides in the world As Pharaoh had his Magitians who hardned him in his sin and deluded him to his destruction so the World will ever have its false Prophets to blinde and harden them in sin to their ruine Thus in the Primitive times there was a Simon Magus Scribes Pharisees Sadduces Essens Herodians Nicolaitans Elymas Ebion Cerinthus the Gnosticks and many others 2 Peter 2.1 Thus when Luther began to reform thirty severall Sects arose to hinder the worke We should not therefore be despondent or discouraged as if some strange thing had happened to us but comforted rather in that we are made conformable to Christ the Prophets and Apostles Matthew 5.11 Luke 6.22.23 This was is and will be the condition of the Church Militant from her youth up she must looke to be plowed and persecuted by malicious men Psalm 129.2 3. Besides 't is the condition of Truth in this World to meet with opposition we can no sooner publish it but it's enemies appear Galathians 4.16 Truth brings hatred men cannot endure to have Vngues in Vlcerre they are unsound and would not be touched Truth is a Light which discovers the intents of mens hearts Hebrewes 4.12 and layes open the evill of mens wayes and this makes the wicked not simply to oppose but to rise in open rebellion against the Truth Iob 24.13 which reproves their deeds and exposeth them to the view of themselves and others Hence they have alwayes been esteemed the Pests and troublers of a Land that publish Truth as we may see throughout the Acts of the Apostles where we finde some disputing against the Truth Acts 6.9 others blaspheming Acts 13.45 some secretly undermining it and seeking to draw men from embracing it Acts 13.8 others openly rayling against it Acts 17.18 19. and 24.5 Some have opposed it out of ignorance and blind devotion as Paul before his conversion 1 Timothy 1.13 and some of the Jewes Acts 3.17 and 13.50 Others deliberately against conviction and out of malice have resisted the Truth as Alexander 2 Timothy 4.15 these are given up to a reprobate sense the Devil having blinded their eyes 2 Corinthians 4.4 Some oppose it for their gain and for their bellies Rom. 16.17 18. 1 Tim. 6.5 2 Pet. 2.3.15 16. Others from fleshly lusts 2 Peter 2.18 and 3.3 Others out of pride loving the preheminence 3. Iohn 9.10 1 Timothy 6.3 4. yet should not we distaste the Truth because of those oppositions which are made against it for however some prophanely scorn at the name of Truth and say with Pilate what is Truth Iohn 18.38 Yet wisedome is justified of her children and they that are of the Truth hear his voyce who came into the world to beare witnesse of the Truth They come with love and teachable hearts to it and so are made to know the Truth Iohn 8.52 Let not the great host of Truths enemies make us despair but know there are more with us then are with them 2 Chronicles 32.7 8. and the more they are that oppose the Truth the more illustrious will our conquest be If I must have an adversary let it be a wicked one and then be he never so potent he cannot stand long because God is against him Iob 27.7 Truth may be opprest but never conquered Praemi potest opprimi non potest yea oppositions advance and clear it Veritas impugnata magis elucet Bern. 2. Observe That as the Devill hath his Iannes and Iambres to oppose the Truth so God hath his Moses and Aaron to uphold it As the Devill hath his Domestick Chaplains so God hath his armed Champions and as the Devill raiseth up oppressors so God sends Saviours Obadiah 21. If he raise hornes to gore the Church God will raise Carpenters to saw off those hornes Zachary 1.19 20 21. The same day that Pelagius was born in Brittain the same day was Saint Augustine born in Africa that did confute him God hath an Athanasius to oppose Arrius Chrysostome against the Manichees Basil against Macedomus Prosper against the Massilians Salvian against the Libertines Fulgentius against Faustus Christ against the Pharisees Simon Peter against Simon Magus Paul against false Apostles Luther Calvin Beza c. against the
the Authour of sin not only of the action but also of the Ataxy Anomy Obliquity and Sinfulnesse of the Action Are there not some that accuse him of cruelty and unjustice in his Decrees 2. Are there not others that deny God in his Attributes with the Socinians and others that give out they are infallible and equall to God having no sin in them Thus Nailer Fox and the rest of that Heretical accursed blasphemous Quaking Crew Are there not such Ranters amongst us that by hellish cursing and swearing tear in pieces that great and dreadfull name of the Lord our God Are there not such amongst us as have reviled Jesus Christ and with the Arrians and Socinians make him a man whilest they publish to the world that themselves are Deified and become Gods they make themselves perfect and Christ imperfect Have we not those that speak basely of the sacred Scriptures Cry down Magistracy Rayle on the Ministery Revile Reall Saints Lastly is not Gods Name blasphemed and that in England by the loose lives and licentious Tenets even of Professors and this is one sad aggravation of the blasphemies of our time that many Professors are turned Blasphemers Those that have been nurst up in the bosome of the Church for 20 30 40. years and had a form of godlinesse and as in Charity we hoped some of them had the power of it yet now are turned blasphemous Apostates and have discovered their rottennesse by persecuting the Truth which sometimes they protest Had they been open enemies Turks and Tartars that had thus blasphemed it might have been easier born but lo these are the wounds wherevvith Christ vvas vvounded in the house of his seeming friends Zach. 13.6 they that eat of his bread and drink of his cup have lift up the heel against him Had he been thus blasphemed and derided in Egypt it had been no vvonder Hos. 7. ult but to be thus abused and abased in England vvhere the Gospel hath been preacht above 100. years for us vvhom the Lord hath made his darling Nation whom he hath loved and tendred above all the Nations in the world for vvhom he hath broken the Povver and Policy of mighty enemies and hath given such successe by Sea and Land that all the Nations round about us stand amazed for us after all these free and undeserved favours to blaspheme the God of our mercies and vvith the Beast to crop the tree that shelters us and bite the hand that feeds us is an Act of the highest ingratitude and basest rebellion in the world Deut. 32.6 Good turnes aggravate unkindnesses and our guilt is increased by our obligations Solomons Idolatry vvas far worse then that of his wives because he had better breeding and God had appeared twice unto him 1 Kings 11.9 As our Saviour said sometimes to the Jews Iohn 10.32 Many good works have I shewed you for which of these do ye stone me So may the Lord say to England O England I have been to thee a Rock and a Refuge a Sun and a Shield I have wrought wonders for thee in Church and State by Sea and Land for which of these favours dost thou blaspheme my Name deny my Word and overthrow the very Foundations of Religion hath the Lord been a barren wildernesse to us or what iniquity have we or our Fathers found in him that we should rebell against him Ier. 2.5 as the Apostle said sometimes to the Galatians am I become your enemy because I tell you the truth So is God our enemy because he hath given us his truth and all the tokens of his love what could he do more for England then he hath done if therefore instead of the grapes oâ— Faith and Obedience we bring forth the wild grapes of Heresy and disobedience what can we expect but to have our Vine-yard laid waste 2. A second Aggravation of our horrid blasphemies is this That they have broke forth since we have made a Covenant to the contrary and that in the most solemn manner that ever any Covenant was taken in this Land with hands lifted up to the most high God That we would extirpate Heresy Schisme and profanenesse and whatsoever shall be found contrary to sound Doctrine and the Power of Godlinesse But alas many of us act as if we had taken a Covenant to promote them 3. Instead of an extirpation of Schisme and Heresy there is too much connivence indulgence and toleration given them and that by some of them whose hands are at this day in Print set to the solemn League and Covenant Durst Hereticks and Blasphemers be so bold to Preach and Print as they do if they had not too indulgence from some in Authority Oh that they would no longer bear the sword in vain but as they are a Terrour to Drunkards Swearers Thieves and Vagabonds so the Lord make them a Terrour to those that are Drunk with Heresies and Blasphemies That Magistrate which hath power to punish such offenders and yet spares them becomes partaker with them Men post the punishment of such offenders one from another the Magistrate saith Let the Minister reprove it the Minister sayes Let the Hearers reform it and they say Let the offerder answer it Thus when the Sea breaks in all the Borderers contend whose right it is to mend the damme but whilest they strive much and do nothing the Sea hereby gets further in and drowns the Country The Application is easie 'T is long since observed that England hath golden Lawes but leaden executioners and that we yet want one Law viz. A Law to bind Magistrates to put all the rest of the Lawes in execution Vse Let us be deeply affected with the blasphemies and dishonours that are done unto our God in the land of our Nativity Let 's mourn for all the abominations and specially for the prodigious blasphemies which are found in the midst of us Let them deeply affect and afflict our hearts if we love God they will do so for Love is very tender of any wrong that is offered to the party beloved Thus Moses burnes with an holy zeal when he heard that one had blasphemed God he puts him in Ward and at last stones him to death Levit. 24.11 12. David hated such persons with a perfect hatred and counts them as his enemies Psal. 139 20 21 22. Hezekiah hearing of Rabsheka's blasphemies Rent his cloathes Isay 37.1 So did Paul and Barnabas Acts 14.14 when they heard the blasphemy of the Lystrians crying them up for Gods they rent their cloathes to expresse the rending of their hearts with grief and indignation at what they heard And wicked Iezabel's proclaiming a Fast upon the false accusation of Naboth for blasphemy 1 Kings 21.10 may teach us to be zealous against Reall blasphemy So the High Priest rending his clothes for conceited blasphemy Matth. 26.65 if every one of us should do so when we hear God and his Gospel blasphemed we should have more
28.4 4. These Impostors do not onely deceive these silly women but they bring them under the Devils yoke they make slaves and prisoners of them they bind them with the cords of error and then they lead them whither they please They deal with their Proselites as the Devil doth with witches he promiseth them liberty but brings them to prisons promiseth them pleasures yet gives them pain promiseth them Riches yet keeps them poor promiseth them life but gives them Death They ensnare them with their Pythanalogy and hold them as fast with their lyes and flatteries as a Jaylor doth his Prisoner which he keeps in bondage 2 Tim. 2. ult or the fisher his fish which hath swallowed his bait 2 Pet. 2.14.18 These Satanicall fishers of men put on the Visors of Piety and preach liberty pleasure ease as other fishers cozen sometimes the eye and sometimes the taste of the silly fish so these have variety of baits but none so catching as that of carnal liberty Hence they are said to bewitch men Gal. 3.1 to enchaunt and delude men Rev. 18.23 and make them drunk Revel 17.2 It will be our wisdom then to submit our selves to the word of God and from the heart to obey its commands so shall we know the truth and the truth will keep us free from the power of sin and error Iohn 8.32 the keeping of a good conscience is the way to keep faith and sound doctrine 1 Tim. 1.19 get the heart once establisht with Grace and then you will not be carried about with every wind of doctrine Heb. 13.9 get Gods fear once planted in your hearts and then you will never depart from him Ier. 32.40 VERSE 7. VVhich Women are ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth THe Apostle goeth on to shew what women they are which are brought into bondage by seducers viz. such as are unconstant unsetled and given to seek after novelties and curiosities they are not content with plain truth revealed in the Scripture they must have novum aut nihil some new light some new-found doctrine or else 't will not down with them this unsettles them and makes them run hither and thither after this and that man but all in vain They make a great adoe but to little purpose they are alwayes learning yet learn nothing which they should learn Now the Reason's of their Non-proficiency are 1. Either because they have no better Teachers they follow false Prophets and blinde Guides and when the blinde shall lead the blind no wonder if both fall into the ditch These may seem wise in their own eyes when in truth they know nothing because they know not the truth which is the foundation of all knowledge 2. They thrive not for want of a right disposition within They love their lusts better then the truth and this barres the heart against holy Learning Intus existens prohibet alienum When their judgements are blinded with lusts and their hearts hardened through sin how should such thrive 2 Tim. 4.3 3. Or else they seek not after sound and saving truth but all their enquiry is after some curious novelty they love to heare and learne nothing else in this point being true Athenians Acts 17.21 Well they may toyle and take a great deal of pains for some aery notions and empty speculations that they may come ad 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to some kind of knowledge but never ad 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word in the Text to such a knowledge as brings forth an acknowledgement of the truth in the power of it 4. Oft times they are meer Scepticks in Religion they are ready to question every thing but they believe nothing they have no foundation no resting place they lay out their mony but not for bread and therefore 't is no wonder if they spend their labour without being satisfied Error cannot satisfy the soul we must enquire for the good old way of truth and Holinesse if ever we would find rest for our souls Ier. 6.16 God who is the great Lord of all will have his commands obeyed not questioned He loves Currists and not Quaerists He prefers obedience before disputes We have disputed so long till we have almost disputed all Religion out of doores We should study rather to live well then dispute well therein lyes our happinesse Mat. 7.24.25 Iohn 13.17 The Spirit of God writes not Notions but Assertions in our hearts it establisheth them so with grace that the gates of hell cannot prevaile against it though such may by the violence of a tentation be moved yet are they like Mount Sion which can never be removed out of its place Heb. 10.23 and 13.9 Against Scepticks and Seekers See that excelent Tract of Mr. Gelaspy his Miscelanies cap. 10 11. yet how many delight in giddinesse and count it a bondage to fixe a belief affecting free-will in thinking as well as in acting And though the Sect of the Phylosophers of that kind be gone yet there remain certain discoursing wits which are of the same veines though there be not so much blood in them as was in those of the Ancients The Scepticisme and Affectation of Novelties is the great sin of England at this day As many are much taken with new Fashions so many are much taken with new Opinions new Doctrines new Teachers and new Expressions Yet the Apostle doth not blame these women simply for seeking after knowledge for the wiser sort of Heathens have commended that but he blames them for hunting after Novelties and vain speculations and in the meane time neglecting the sound and saving truths of the Gospel This is celeris cursus extra viam a swift running to destruction 'T is true all the godly are learners the knowledge of the truth is not Innata but acquisita not born with us but attained by means yet they are not ever learning they know the truth in which they firmly rest and from which they suffer not themselves to be moved and never till then have we profited in our learning when we are made so able to discern the truth as that we are satisfied with it and our consciences are at rest by it even in the saddest dangers Ephes. 4.13 14. 1 Thes. 1.5 6. 2 Pet. 1.12 2. I wish this were not the sin of silly men as well as of silly women to be alwayes learning yet never come to the knowledge of the truth how many are men in yeares yet children in understanding 1 Cor. 14.20 and when for the time they might have been Teachers they had need to be taught the elements of Religion Heb. 5.12 though the knowledge of the best in this life be imperfect and we are alwayes learners here yet we must strive forward toward perfection and not alwayes stick in the place of bringing forth Hos. 13.13 nor be like a horse in a mill still going round in
the same place or like a Picture that growes not but is the same now that it was twenty yeares agoe Such barren trees are nigh to cursing Luke 13.9 and such unprofit able learners are left by God justly to the power of seducers as malefactors are to Jaylors This is the true cause of all those Errors and Sins amongst us Psal. 95.10 Ier. 9.3 Matth. 22.19 As for our selves let us enquire for the good way and when we have found it sit not still but be walking from knowledge to knowledge from grace to grace and from strength to strength till at last wee come to our Celestiall Sion 3. Since seducers are so ready to seduce women how carefull should that Sexe be to shunne conversing or disputing with them When Eve once fell to disputing and questioning the Truths of God the Devill soon overcame her and was too subtle for her Genes 3.1 do not therefore tempt the Lord by entertaining disputes with Serpentine disputants for though every one be bound to make an open and sincere profession of the truth yet to be able to defend it against a subtle adversary and to answer their Cavills is a gift that is given but to a few Let every one know his own strength and if he be wise keep within his onw bounds 4. Since women oft times are Satans Instruments by which he seduceth many take heed of women let not those Syrens enchant thee so as to leap into the depths of errours Consider how many of thy betters have fallen by them Adam at first the best man Solomon the wisest David one of the holiest and Sampson one of the strongest all deceived by women and at this day how many wise and seemingly holy men have been drawne aside to errors by their wives Stop then thy eares against these allurements and in this sense be as the deafe adder which stoppes his eare against the voyce of the Charmer charme he never so wisely Whosoever they be that seek to draw thee from thy God let thy heart and thy hand be against them Deuteron 13.6 8 9. VERSE 8. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses so did these also resist the Truth men of corrupt minds reprobate concerning the Faith THe Apostle proceeds in describing the false Prophets of the last times that we may the better know them he tells us they are such 1. As oppose the truth and the Preachers of it As Iannes and Iambres the worlds wise men withstood Moses so did these also resist the truth They do not onely catch at silly women but they strike at the Shepherd that so the flock may be scattered They oppose Moses and Aaron the messengers of God whom he sent to publish his truth to his people Yea they resist the very truth it self which is worse then to resist the persons that bring it The Series of the Speech seemed to require that the Apostle should have said as Iannes and Iambres resisted Moses so do these resist Vs but he alters his stile and sayes more Emphatically they resist the Truth implying that the opposition is not so much against the Preachers as against the truth they preach and by consequence against God who is the first Truth and at whose command they publish it Exod. 16.8 Neither is it a frigid infirm resistance but a violent vehement opposition springing from malice and rancour which makes them resist the truth 1. With their Lyes Tyranny and cruell Persecution 2. By Flatteries false Miracles and Sophistry they cunningly undermine the Truth Thus Iannes and Iambres do the same things by slight and art which Moses did in Reality another man would have much adoe to distinguish between the Serpents of Moses and those of the Magicians they were so like Exod. 7.11 Quest. Some may demand who this Jannes and Jambres were and how the Apostles came by their Names Answ. They were two of the chief Magicians and Egyptian Sorcerers who by the appointment of Pharaoh opposed Moses and Aaron in the Miracles which they wrought that they might obscure the glory of God and delude the people they working Miracles seemingly by sorcery and the help of the Devill which Moses did really by the power and finger of God 2. As for their Names they are not to be found in the Old Testament nor in the story to which the Apostle alludes Exod. 7.11 Neither is it probable that the Apostle came to the knowledge of them by Extraordinary Revelation as some imagine since the bare knowledge of the Names of these Magicians is of so little consequence and not necessary to salvation 3. They might be taken out of some ancient record of the Jewes then extant as divers other things mentioned in the New Testament were e. g. Moses his education in Egyptian Learning and his age of 40. yeares when he went to visit his Brethren Acts 7.22 these are not recorded in the Old Testament but are found in Midrash Rabbi Berischith So Iude 14. maketh mention of a prophesy of Enoch which yet is not extant in the Old Testament So Heb. 11.21 12.21 So that here is no ground for those Numberless number of old mouldy foolish superstitious Popish unwritten Traditions and that not onely in matters of Rite and History but of Faith and Manners also which tend to the perplexing but not to the quieting of the soul. 2. They are men of corrupt minds and judgements their understandings are so perverted and blinded with corrupt and sinful affections that they can neither apprehend nor judge rightly of any thing according to the truth their minds go a whoring after lying vanities and then no wonder if they forsake their own mercies The Understanding is the Eye and guide of the Soul it s the noblest part of Man if it be corrupted the Man 's undone Psal. 14.3 3. See what followes concerning the faith reprobate This is the fruit of a corrupt mind they cannot receive nor perceive the truth they have lost all sound judgement in things pertaining to the faith they oppose the light which shines into their minds and with violence rush into sinne as the horse into the battle This brings Gods sore judgement on them so that he rejects and forsakes them and gives them up to a reprobate mind Ier. 6.30 Rom. 1.28 insomuch as they that would not receive the truth for the truths sake in love but unthankfully reject it now shall not receive it and as 't is their sin that their understanding is corrupt and they will not see So now it shall be their punishment that they shall not approve of the faith and thus they reject it still actively and are actually reprobate to every good work Titus 1.16 not knowing how to goe about any thing that is good Such corrupt Teachers we must shun and reject least we be corrupted by them so much the word implies saith Beza yet must we not cast off rashly all those as absolute
Pope and in these dayes of liberty God hath something to witness against Heresie Thus the Lord in his Wisedom hath so ordered it that there shall be not onely Schismes but Heresies to exercise the Gifts and Graces of his people and to discover the rottenness and filthyness of graceless ones that they who will not believe the Truth may be given up to the efficacy of errour This is some comfort and may help to uphold our spirits in this day of Iacobs trouble 3. Observe A corrupt head and a corrupt heart usually go together no sooner are mens minds corrupted but presently it follows they are Reprobate concerning the faith and if once men make shipwrack of faith they will soone part with a good Conscience too 1 Tim. 1.19 Corrupt Principles breed corrupt Practises and corrupt practises teach men to invent corrupt Principles When men grow lawless and profane then they turn Antinomians and deny the Law if Mortalists then they deny the resurrection if Libertines then they cry down the power of the Magistracy and cry up one Universal Toleration Hence when Christ had spoken of false Prophets he presently adds and iniquity shall abound Mâ—tthew 24. When people go a whoring from God then follows corporall whoredom Hos. 4.12 13. We see this experimentally true in our days How many before they were Sectaries were civilly just pious and in the judgement of charity were thought to be sincere Christians yet now are turned Anabaptists Socinians Libertines Proud Censorious Idle Atheisticall Unclean These lusts lay unmortified in their bosomes and now they rejoyce that they have a time of Liberty to vent them so that a corrupt life attends on corrupt Principles both as a Punishment and a just judgement of God upon men for resisting the truth and in the nature of the thing for as a foul moist head causeth distillations of corrupt matter upon the lungs so loose Principles dispose men to a loose conversation the doctrine of Godlinesse reproving their Ungodlinesse makes them cast it off as you may see in the Epistles of Peter and Iude who describing false Teachers and their false Doctrines presently adde their wicked lives their filthinesse covetousnesse licentiousnesse turning the Grace of God into wantonnesse Be sure then to keep your heads pure from errour if ever you would have your hearts and hands pure from sin 4. Observe That false Teachers are very dangerous persons they are not such meek innocent harmlesse persons as some imagine The Apostle here tells us that they are impudent fraudulent resisters of the truth men of corrupt Heads Hearts and Hands and what could he say more unlesse he should call them Devills and so he doth verse 3. in the last dayes men especially seducing men for all these 19. sins are appliable also to the false Teachers of the last times as appeares by the context verse 5 6. shall be slanderers or in plain English Devils and he here compares them to Iannes and Iambres two Egyptian Sorcerers who were Limbs of the Devill and verse 13. in expresse Terms he calls them Sorcerers evill men and Seducers the words in the Originall are evill men and Sorcerers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 incantatores praestigiatores besides their Heresies are called damnable and their ways pernicious 2 Pet. 2.1 and themselves are likened to Balaam the witch 2 Pet. 2.15 'T is true at first they make a shew of extraordinary Sanctity and Self-deniall the better to deceive the simple and thereupon they rayle on all the Churches of Christ amongst us as being mixt with wicked men yet after a little time these painted Sepulchers appeare in their proper colours and the vilenenesse of their lives and doctrine is made known to all The Anabaptists in Germany at their first arising pretended extraordinary Sanctity but in a short time their Villanies Murders Polygamies blasphemies Heresies Adulteries c. appeared to the world These are worse then the Sword or Plague men are afraid and fly from those but they are naturally prone to embrace these 2. Those hurt but the body these destroy the soule 3. God is glorified in his judgements but he is exceedingly dishonoured by seducers 4. By the sword and persecution the Church increaseth but by subtle Hereticks the Church diminisheth Hence Luther calls Hereticks Peccatorum poenam summam Dei indignationem Luther in Hos. 9. The greatest Plague and a sign of Gods indignation against a people And the Scripture calls them devouring Wolves who come to kill and drink the blood of souls Iohn 10.8 9 10. Matth. 7.15 such as make their disciples two-fold more the children of the Devil then themselves Mat. 23.15 Such as subvert whole houses Titus 1.11 whose word doth eat as a Gangrene 2 Tim. 2. which suddenly over-runs the Parts takes the Brain and if not quickly cured by cutting off the part infected kills the Patient Heresie is of a spreading Nature if it be not speedily and carefully supprest it runs from one man to another from one City to another and from one Kingdome to another Error begets error such fall from evil to worse Verse 13. Hence false doctrine is compared to a Leaven Mark 8.15 which secretly and suddenly diffuseth it selfe through the whole lump till all be leavened Sometimes seducers are compared to an overflowing flood which carries down all before it Revelations 12.15 and anon to Cheaters that beguile silly souls with their flesh-pleasing doctrine they catch freshly people Ephesians 4.14 and to dogs Philippians 3.2 beware of dogs i. beware of false Prophets who are like unto dogs Go not unarmed get a sword or a staffe to defend your selves against them If there were ten thousand mad dogs in the Land you would keep within doores or go armed and use all means to destroy them Now they resemble dogs in 14. particulars 1. A dog is a base contemptible creature hence the Scripture calls vile persons dogs 1 Samuel 17.43 1 Kings 8.13 Matthew 15.26 So such as go about to draw men from the Truth are vile men however they may have high conceits of themselves yet God esteems no more of them then we do of a dog and though he may throw them some off all and bones to picke as he doth to the blasphemous Turk that great Dog of a great part of the World yet his soul abhors both them and their services Isay 66.3 2. 'T is an unclean creature and might not be offered in sacrifice Deut. 23.18 So these being themselves unclean all they do is unclean Titus 1. ult 3. 'T is a libidinous impudent creature Hence unclean persons are called dogs Deut. 23.8 Revelations 22.15 without are dogs who are those Whoremasters are set in the front this made Abner say to Ishbosheth am I a dogs-head i. shamelesly libidinous that I should commit whoredom with my Fathers Concubines 2 Samuel 3.8 yet such unclean ignorant and impudennt Cynicks we have who though they want Arguments yet want
Now subtle seducers resemble Frxes in 10. particulars 1. The Fox is a very subtle creature so the Churches enemies are subtle Foxes Exod. 1.10 2 Sam. 15.4 Nehem. 6.2 to 10. if Tobiah and Sanballat cannot hinder the work by threatning and force then they put on the Fox skin and try what promises will do They are Wolves but in Sheeps cloathing the better to deceive Matth. 7.15 Dragons but with Lambs horns Revel 13.11 Vipers which hide their teeth in their gummes Matth. 3.8 They are like their father the Devill who is an old Fox having his Methods and Depths as he hath mille nocendi artes a thousand devices to do mischief withall so are these as full of all subtlety as the Devill can make them Acts 13.10 2. 'T is a wild creature and so are these wild unteachable untractable men Nomine tenus Christiani re bellua 3. It s a ravenous creature night and day he 's ravening for his prey he goes from fold to fold making foul spoyle where-ever he comes So these are active to do mischief they run from Parish to Parish making foul havock amongst the flock of Christ doing evill with both hands earnestly Micah 7.3 4. The Foxes skin and out-side is better then his flesh So these Hypocrites have a form and out-side and that 's all within they are full of guile and rapine 5. Foxes love to live in Deserts and Wildernesses where none may disturb them Lam. 5.18 So these delight in ignorant places where there is no light to discover them nor preachers to disturb them 't is the dark places of the earth that are habitations for such Psal. 74.20 6. The Fox is all for it selfe it flayes but never feeds the flock So these feed themselves but destroy the flock Ezek. 13.4 5. 7. 'T is a stinking creature ore ano foetet so these have rotten stinking hearts words and works and when they are dead their memoriall stinks and rots Prov. 10.7 8. It never goeth in a strait path but turns and winds in and out So these go not in the strait path of Gods commands but in the crooked paths of sin and errour Psal. 125.5 Prov. 2.15 Philip. 2.15 like Thieves they keep not the ordinary road but now they are in the way and anon they crosse it 9. When caught in a snare they look pitifully they seem to he gentle whilst in a chain but let them loose and they are Foxes still and none play such Rekes as the tame Fox that hath broke loose and is turned wild again So these when in prison or in distresse they 'l submit recant do any thing but no sooner are they at liberty but they play the Fox again worse then ever 10. It 's an hard thing to catch a Fox especially an old one Birds are caught with chaffe wild beastes in grinnes at annosa vulpes haud capitur laqueo but an old subtle Fox is not so easily caught if you pursue him he hath many holes and dens to hide himselfe in Matth. 8.19 if you lay for him at one hole he hath another to creep out at So these when convinced of their error yet will not be convinced but have their holds and distinctions and evasions to creep out at Now lay all these together Seducers are Sorcerers Thieves Wolves Cheaters Dogs Foxes and the point is clear That seducing Hereticks are very dangerous and may help to take off that plea which many Sectaries make for themselves viz. That those of their way are Holy temperate Religious men Answ. So have many Hereticks been seemingly but pull off the sheep-skin and you shall find a Wolfe under it Thus Arrius Pelagius Laelius and Faustus Socinus with Arminius were Satans messengers transformed into the Ministers of Christ. The Devill never deceives more dangerously then when he appeares like an Angell of light 2 Cor. 11.14 nor is he ever more a Devill then when he seems a Saint even those that came to apprehend our Saviour pretended holinesse and feined themselves to be just men Luke 20.20 The Donatists seemed pure in their own eyes yet held desperate Doctrines The Anabaptists in Germany pretended they were Saints yet at last proved to be fire-brands The glosse of Profession without sincerity will soon fade as we see in the Scribes and Pharises and in the Monks Nuns Hermites and many Sectaries of our time 'T is a sign men are unsound when they Trumpet out their own abilities Sanctity Sufferings Strictnesse that they may get the more followers Rom. 16.18 the Apostle there gives us two marks of false Prophets 1. They give out that they are the servants of Christ but saith the Apostle they serve not Christ but seek themselves 2. They have fine words and fair speeches to deceive the simple out of their mouth comes nothing but Gentlenesse Meeknesse Love Liberty Free-Grace that one would think that God and goodnesse were even confined to their lips This Sanctus Satanas this white Devill hath deluded many Many follow such as Asoloms followers did him in the simplicity of their hearts But if you will walk wisely and safely you must live by Rule not by Example To the Law and to the Testimony Isay 8.20 The Bereans judged of Pauls doctrine by comparing it with the Scripture and not by Pauls life Acts 17.11 Let mens lives be never so seemingly pious and Angelicall if they bring not purity of doctrine with it count them accursed Gal. 1.8 9. yet how many are carried away with the bare names of men chusing rather to erre with them then to speak truth with others Whereas we should not pinne our Faith on another mans sleeve because we know not whither he may carry it The best men are yet but men still and have too often their failings and observable imperfections They know but in part they believe but in part and they are sanctified but in part and therefore the best may erre and be deceived 1 Cor. 13.9 Peter an eminent zealous Apostle yet was not in all things imitable nor did he walk up to the truth of the Gospel but by his example which seemed a Law to others he compelled the Gentiles to be circumcised Gal. 2.11.13 14. and Christ called him Satan Matth. 16.23 Origen Tertullian Austin Apollinaris all learned men yet had their naevos and failings Let us therefore take heed how we have mens Persons Parts or Performances in too great admiration Love them we may but not Idolize them prize them for their gifts and graces but prize the truth above them all though they be never so great or good 'T is great folly to promise our selves more from the creature then ever we shall find in them 5. Observe That false Prophets may be known Hence the Lord gives us here so many Characters and Notes of them And since the land swarms with such I shall give you twenty marks by which you may know them and the better shun them 1. The
7 8. See Mr. Edwards his Antap. p. 124. c. Edit 2. Mr. Cawdry against Independency And the Vindication of the Presbyterian Government by the Provinciall Assembly of London Nov. 2. 1649. Mr. Baily's Disswasive 1. P. Chapt. 9 10. p. 181. c. The Government of the the Church of Scotland V. the Preface c. Printed 1647. Spanhemeus his Epistle against Independency Rutherfords Plea for and His Divine Right of Presbyteries Mr. Marshals Serm. for Unity on Rom. 12.4 p. 24 25. calls Independency a great Schisme VERSE 9. But they shall proceed no further for their folly shall be manifest to all mâ—n as theirs also was The Geneva thus But they shall prevaile no longer for their madnesse shall be evident unto all men as theirs also was THe Apostle comes now to conclude this Period with a consolatory Epiphonema and with this cordiall and comfortable promise he encourageth Timothy and in him all the faithfull Ministers of the Gospel successively to the end of the world against those discouragements which they should meet withall from the Impostors and Seducers of the last times That they may not be despondent he assures them of the good issue and comfortable event of these trialls to this end first he tells them that God will put a bar to the proceedings of these false Teahers and stop them in their Career that they shall proceed no further though their desire be still to do mischief yet God by his Almighty power will so chain and restrain them that they shall proceed no further Truth shall get the upper hand and shall hinder their prevailing by the discovery of their folly and madnesse so that albeit there may be a remnant left yet the rout shall be broken and the remainder shall moulder away daily more and more and as the house of David grew stronger and stronger so the house of Saul shall grow weaker and weaker Qâ—est But how can this agree with verse 13. where the Apostle sayes that wicked men and Seducers shall grow wâ—rse and worse deceiving and being deceived yet here he saith they shall proceed no further Answ. To omit those 4 or 5. frivolous conjectures confuted by Estius on the place I answer when the Apostle sayes evill men shall proceed no further and their folly shall be made known to all these are Hyperbolical speeches and must not be taken simply as they are spoken as if there should be no more seducing or seducers or as if their folly should be made so manifest to all the world that all should leave them such an exposition would make the Apostle to contradict himself and is directly contrary to the current of the Scripture But the drift of the Apostle is this viz. To animate the faithfull Ministers in their war against seducers and that upon this account because their labour shall not be in vain but God will blesse it with successe against the enemies of his truth yea by their Preaching the fraud and falshood of those false Prophets should be so plainly discovered to the world that their folly should be openly knowne and many seeing the errour of their wayes shall leave them though some should still be blinded and deluded by them yet God will open the eyes of his Elect especially that they shall see their delusions and shun them in vain is the net laid in the sight of a bird Prov. 1.17 and though God may suffer these deceivers for a time to prevaile till they come ad 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to their height yet then they shall surely and suddenly come down that Gods glory may be the more perspicuous in their greater downfalls Now lest any should grow secure and think that when they have supprest some deceivers their work is done the Apostle tells us Verse 13. there will be seducers still and some shall be seduced by them therefore we had need to watch for no sooner is one Heresie knockt down but two are ready to arise in its stead So that both these Verses are usefull the one to comfort us the other to Caution and Quicken us 2. They shall proceed no further viz. in their hypocritical jugling practises for they shall be all laid plain and naked to the world so that he which runs may read them which brings me to the second particular viz. the Manner How or the Meanes by which the Lord will effect their downfall viz. by the manifestation of their folly or madnesse rather as some Translations accordiug to the Originall render it for though the word signifie folly yet properly it signifies one that hath lost his mind and right wits and is therefore rendred madnesse Luke 6.11 but our Translation following the Vulgar Latine renders it folly This their folly and madnesse or foolish madnesse shall be discovered to their confusion Gods usuall method is first to make such Impostors naked and then desolate Rev. 17.16 First he discovers their juglings and then he makes them abhorred Hypocrites seldome passe undiscovered before they dye Though at first arising Hereticks may get applause as Simon Magus who was counted for some great man and may have many followers so that they seem to carry all before them yet such Meteors last not long God discovers and discards them so that their end is miserable and igdnominious Ier. 28.15 16. and 29.21 22 23 31 32. Though this Gangreene may creep yet shall it not so spread as to corrupt the whole Church of God they shall not be able to deceive Gods Elect in whose hearts God hath written his Law and against whom the gates of hell shall not prevaile Quest. How is the folly of these Heresiarchs said to be made known to all when many are still mislead by them Answ. The word All is not here taken collectively for all the world for it lyes and will lye in blindnesse and wickednesse But all must be taken distributively for some of all sorts as is frequent in Scripture where by a Synecdoche generis All is oft put for Many and especially for all the Elect. So Rom. 5. All in the 18. verse is called Many in the 19. So 2 Pet. 3.9 q. d. Many that before were abused and mislead shall by the Light of the word so clearly see the folly and falshood of these Impostors that they shall forsake them And if any shall be so besotted as still to follow them they shall sin against Light and conviction to their greater ruine 3. He confirms the downfall of these Impostors by an Argument drawn à Pari from the Example of those Magicians which opposed Moses in Egypt q. d. As God discovered the Folly and Madnesse of Iannes and Iambres in opposing Moses and Aaron when the rod of Aaron devoured the rods of the Magicians Exod. 7 12. and when they could not make a louse which is the smallest and basest of creatures Exod. 8.18 19. this tended much to their confusion and made the folly of those
people using all means both by an holy inoffensive life and sound doctrine to win them to God this is our crown and rejoycing 2. Cor. 1.12 2. Take it for saving faith and so this Grace is very nessary for a Minister that he may constantly and couragiously go on with his work being hereby assured 1. Of Acceptation hereby assured 2. Protection hereby assured 3. Remuneration 1. Of acceptation both of his person and performances in Christ. Ephes. 1.6 2. Of protection in all his ways Christ holds his stars in his right hand which shews his special love and tender care over them Rev. 2.1 as we are exposed to greater tentation so we are under more special protection 3. Of Remuneration ánd reward Isay 49.4 5. though the Labans of the world change our wages ten times yet our reward is with the Lord. 5. Long-suffering Lenity and Long-suffering is a vertue which consists in moderating our anger and keeping us from revenge 't is needfull for all men but specially for Ministers who must not presently cast men off as reprobates and dogs but wait when God will give them repentance Hence the Apostle makes this one speciall Qualification of a Minister 2 Tim. 2.24 25. and 4.2 Rigour rather alienates wicked men from the truth and drives them further off instead of winning them but gentlenesse calmnesses and humility melts them and brings them into their right mind Now this Lenity and Long-suffering must be exercised towards all in generall 1. Thes. 5.14 but specially 1. Towards wicked men that are as yet unconverted there is a possibility of their conversion and therefore we must shew all meeknesse towards them remembring what we our selves sometimes were Titus 3. 2 3. 2 Tim. 2.25 26. 2. Towards those that are lapsed and fallen through infirmities Gal. 6.1 1. Thes. 5.14 3. Towards such as differ from us in opinion we must not presently cast off every one that saith not as we say but wait till God shall further enlighten them and discover the truth unto them Philippians 3.15 16. 4. Towards persecutors and open enemies of the truth We must bear and forbear even when many and great wrongs are done unto us Hence Christ prayed for those that crucified him and Steven for those that stoned him and Paul for such as persecuted him he was not enraged with anger against them nor did he raise tumults or seek revenge but he takes all quietly and resists opposers with a raise heroick yet calm spirit 1. This will make us like unto God who is slow to anger Exodus 34 6. and bears with much long-suffering the Vessels of wrath Rom. 2.4 and 9.22 we cannot be so wronged and abused every day as God is and if he beare with such we may well beare Our natures are very apt to revenge to give blow for blow and reproach for reproach but happy is that man which hath the command of himselfe in whom this vertue dwells How oft is it commanded and commended to us 2 Cor. 6.6 Gal. 5.22 Ephes. 4.2 Colos. 3.12 2. Consider we live not amongst Angels but amongst Devils incarnate amidst a forward perverse rebellious nation so that without Patience yea Long-suffering which is patience heightned and extended there is no quiet nor comfortable subsisting in the world Patience may enable us to endure the common and ordinary crosses and calamities of this life but there is need of Long-suffering to endure those great and grievous injuries which we must expect from malicious men yea and sharp trialls oft-times from God himself 5. Charity or Love Though in our ordinary speech we confound the words yet Love is the more proper and comprehensive word as including both the Affection and Habit of love as also the actions and duties of Love But charity is too narrow and oft notes but the effects of love in works of charity and mercy 2 Cor. 2.7 8. Heb. 6.10 A man may have much charity and yet no love he may give all his goods to the poor and his body to be burnt and yet want Love 1 Cor. 13.3 Hence the Geneva Translation and others render the word Love both in the Text and in 1 Cor. 13. ult So then we have here in Paul those three Theologicall Graces saith Aquinas of Faith Hope and Love for in Long-suffering and patient waiting saith he Hope is included By Love may here be meant Pauls Love both to God and man but especially it may seem to relate to his love towards men He loved all both good and bad friends and foes the one with a love of delight and complacency the other with a love of pity and compassion And 't is well observed by a Reverend Divine that we must love bad men but not bad manners and that 't is an act more of faith to love such then good men c. Good men love not to confine their Love but as the Sunne diffuseth its beames to all so good men wish well to all Revel 22. ult Grace be with you all This Grace is very requisite especially for a Minister Love is an active thing it will make us willing to spend our selves and be spent for Christ it will even constrain us to use our gifts for Gods glory and the good of men 2 Cor. 5.14 for as reward hath an attractive and punishment an impulsive so Love hath a compulsive faculty it 's a kind of omnipotent Affection it answers doubts removes feares lessens difficulties conquers tentations makes the Coward valiant the covetous prodigall the slothfull active so that then we begin to live when we begin to love Nothing workes kindely upon the heart but what comes from love the wheeles never move well till they be oyled with it Hence the Apostle would have all things done in Love 1 Cor. 13.16 out of love to our people we should labour to preserve their love by being helpfull hospitable courteous patient mercifull c. preferring their soules before our dues that they may see we seek not theirs but them not that we should betray the Rights of our places but claime them with all tendernesse and evidences of Love and Peace 7. Patience Q. d. Thou hast fully known my Patience in bearing and forbearing in a quiet and submissive way undergoing all those adversities afflictions and persecutions which I met with from an ungrateful World Our life here is surrounded with trials Internal and External so that without Patience we shall sink under the burthen This keepeth us in the Possession of our selves Luke 21 19. and enables us to bear injuries with a quiet moderation of mind God will try us Satan will sift us and the world molest us so that unlesse we be armed with Patience with All Patience and Long-suffering we can expect no joy Colossians 1.11 A little Patience will not doe for we have no little enemies to oppose us it must be All Patience and all strength This also is a
them 'T is a great felicity not to be overcome by felicity and it argues strength of grace when we can carry low sayls in a high condition and like Pigeons when they fare best fear most The only way to have our mercies continued is to devote them to Gods praise he never repents of doing good to those who speak good of his name Now in the summer of prosperity let 's lay up something against the winter of adversity Iob 3.25 with the prudent man foresee the storm and arm for to meet it Prov. 22.3 and 27.12 As sure as now we live so sure a change will come which we should wait for and expect Iob 14.14 summer lasts not always the Sun doth not alwayes shine we should therefore in health prepare for sickness in Peace for war in life for death and in dayes of spiritual plenty prepare for scarcity laying up a good foundation against the time co come that we may obtain eternal life See Directions how to use prosperity in Scudders daily walking cap. 12. Chanon of Wisdom l. 2. c. 7. p. 313. Downams Guide to Godlinesse l. 3. c. 33. p. 343. VERSE 14. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of knowing of whom thou hast learned them WEE are now come to the third and last part of this Chapter in which the Apostle exhorts Timothy to constancy and perseverance in the truth which he had taught him q. d. 'T is true in these last dayes seducers shall arise who shall have successe for a time in their seducing drawing many into errors with them yet let not these things affright thee do not thou maligne malignants nor envy the successe of the erronious chuse none of their wayes but since thou hast a better Master and hast been taught better doctrine and that from a child be not despondent my son but constantly and couragiously keep the truth committed to thy charge as becomes a faithfull Pastor against all opposers and Impostors whatsoever Now since man is a Rational creature and so is better led by Reasons then forced by Rigour therefore the Apostle presseth his Exhortation to perseverance upon Timothy by Arguments drawn 1. From his Master and Teacher 2. From Timothy who was the Schollar 3. From the matter which he had been taught The first Argument is drawn from the Authority of the person from whom he had received the doctrine viz. from Paul who was an Apostle of Christ guided and inspired by his Spirit and had taught him nothing but what he had received from Christ and therefore his message was to be regarded as if Christ himself had spoken to him Gal. 4.14 Knowing of whom thou hast learnt them See how modestly and sparingly the Apostle speaks of himself and how unlike the language of the Sectaries of our times is Pauls language here 2. From the fidelity which is required in those to whom the truth of God is committed Since this heavenly doctrine was committed to him to be kept as a sacred Treasury and choyce depositum therefore he ought with all care and courage to preserve it For what things we are intrusted withall those things we must faithfully keep this even nature teacheth us But the Truths of God are committed to thee O Timohy to be faithfully kept and as occasion requires to be publisht to the world 1 Tim. 1.11 and 6.20 and 2.1.14 The words are diversly rendred our Translators render it And hast been assured of But Tindal Calvin Beza Aretius Espencaeus and the Vulgar Latin with others render it And have been committed to thee or with which thou hast been entrusted And the Originall seems to favour this last Translation for the words are not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quae credidisti which thou hast believed or been assured of but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quae tibi credita commissa sunt conservanda promulganda Keep the things which have been committed and commended to thy charge with all care and diligence that thou mayest be able to give a good account to him whose these truths are and who hath committed them to thy charge 3. From his long acquaintance with the Scripture by reason of his good education viz. from his childhood what we learn when young takes a deep Impression so that we cannot easily unlearn it but thou O Timothy hast learned the Scriptures from thy infancy and therefore it were a shame for thee who hast been taught so early the way of the Lord now to turn from it and forsake it Continue therefore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the things which thou hast learned I exhort thee to no new or hard thing all that I beg of thee is that thou wouldest keep the truth which hath already been taught theee for it would argue want of judgement and folly in thee now to forsake it 4. His last argument is drawne from the Excellency of the Scriptures V. 15 16 17. But continue thou 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But do thou abide keep thy station and maintain the doctrine which I have taught thee against all opposition whatsoever thou must certainly look to be put to it be therefore resolute and constant The Apostle lays a But in Timothies way to keep him from wandring q. d. what ever others do though they fall away more and more and grow worse and worse yet do thou continue stedfast in the truth thou hast received Hence Observe Whatever others do yet Gods faithful Ministers and servants must not depart from the truth Though Israel play the harlot yet Iudah must not sin Hos. 4.15 will ye also go away saith Christ. Iohn 6.67 though Temporaries may fall away yet it becomes not you who are my disciples indeed so to do Let others serve Idols if they please yet we must resolve that we and ours will serve the Lord. Iosh. 14.15 So did Noah Lot Ioseph Elijah Obadiah Nehemiah and the Church of Pergamus which held fast the truth even where Satan had his Throne Rev. 2.13 and the Saints in Nero's Court. Phil. 4.22 We must not follow a multitude to do evill Exod. 23.2 nor erre with others though they be never so good Ne cum Platone errandum est We must get an Holy not a fantastick singularity we are the Salt of the Earth and the Light of the World and must therefore do more then others Matth. 5.47 Christ expects more from us then he doth from Formalists Moralists and Hypocrites The righteous excells his wicked neighbour Prov. 12.26 We must not be like children tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine but like the righteous we must be an everlasting foundation Prov. 10.25 We must be singularly Pure Holy Humble Self-denying c. Men love to be singular in every thing save Piety they would be singularly Wise singularly Rich singular fine but oh that men would turn their singularity the right way and become singularly
are but Truths twinnes Civil Truth is good but the least Evangelical Truth is of more worth then all the Civil Truths in the world that are meerly so 3. Naturally wee desire Liberty now Truth is the Parent of all true Liberty whether it bee Political or Personal so much Untruth so much Thraldome so much Truth so much Liberty Iohn 8.32 4. If you preserve the Truth it will preserve you in the hour of Temptation as Solomon sayes of wisdom Prov. 4.8 exalt her and she shall exalt you So keep the truth and it will keep you from falling as it did the Church of Philadelphia Rev. 3.10 so thou shalt stand as an impregnable rock when others fly as the Chaffe before the wind The Truth of God in judgement is one of the Eyes of the soul he that wants it is blind and cannot see afar off Now as a clear eye is a very great help for the discerning of a danger before it comes so a clear distinct knowledg of the truth is a very great help to us to discern a Temptation before it be upon us and to discover the Methods and Depths of Satan that he may not surprize us unawares 5. 'T is a great honour to a person or Nation to be the Conservators and Preservers of the Truths of God 'T is not only our Duty but our Glory This honour formerly belonged to the Jewes to them were committed the Oracles of God Rom. 3.2 and 9.4 God hath now entrusted us with this choyce Treasure the Lord help us to keep it pure both in Judgement and Practice lest it be taken from us Let us all in our places preserve it from violence with all our might There are many spiritual Cheaters abroad the greater will our honour be in maintaining Gods Truth against them all 'T was Shammahs honour one of Davids Worthies that he kept his ground and got a great victory when others â—led 2 Sam. 23.12 Say not I am but one and a weak one too but remember what great things the Lord did by Athanasius and Luther when they had all the world against them One man holding forth truth shall be too strong for all the world for truth unites us to God and God to us it ingageth God in our quarrel and so makes us invincible for if God be with us who can be against us so as to hurt us and destroy us Rom. 8.31 Bradford writing to his friends tells them never shall the enemy be able to burn the truth or prison and keep it in bonds us they may prison bind and burn but our Cause Religion and Doctrine they shall never be able to burn The story of the man in the Councill of Nice is well known where a Christian of no great Learning converted a Learned man whom all the Bishops with their skill and eloquence could not perswade so long as the matter went by words he opposed words with words but when instead of words power came out of the mouth of the speaker words could not withstand truth nor man stand out against God Many wonder why Ministers are so earnest and zealous in defending the truth why 't is a depâ—situm which God hath entrusted us withall and 't is well observed that it 's a greater sin to imbezill or alter that then any thing we have borrowed because this is committed to our justice but a depositum to our faithfullnesse the deposition doth rest upon us as trusty men Let Gods truth then be dearer to us then our dearest lives our lives will not be worth the enjoying if God take his truth from us let us beseech him rather to take our lives away rather then take the light of the Gospel away And hast been assured of If you read the words so The Observation will be this That Ministers should be assured of those things which they teach to others They should not only have a Head knowledge or an aery empty notionall speculative knowledge but an experimentall practical knowledge They must believe before they speak Psalme 116.10 that so they may speak from the heart to the heart and may bring their meat in their breasts and not as birds do in their Beaks Knowing of whom thou hast learned them 1. Observe That gracious men are modest men The Apostle doth not boast of himself to Timothy nor proclaim his Learning gifts c. He onely tells him in brief Thou knowest of whom thou hast learnt them 2. Observe The excellency of the Teacher makes the Doctrine the more taking This we see even in Humane and Moral Learning the Platonick Doctrine grew famous because it was profest by Socrates and the Peripatetick by Aristotle The Schollars of Pythagoras did so confide in the Dictates of their Master that when any one askt them a Reason of what they held they would give no other answer but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ipse dixit our Master said so yet these were Heathens but when we have an aged holy Paul for our Master who was an Apostle of Christ the Pen-man of the Holy Ghost and guided more immediately by the Spirit of God then we must with constancy adhere to what they teach us and attend to their doctrine as if Christ himself taught us Gal. 4.14 for his Ambassadours they are and he that heareth them heareth him Young Timothies especially should hearken to the instructions of aged Pauls who have born the heat of the day and by experience can teach us the ways of God Years should be heard speak Iob 32.7 Young Ministers should suspect their own judgements when they vary from an Holy aged Calvin Beza and all the Churches of God As young Lawyers and Physitians observe the Principles and Practices of the serious and grave Professours of their way especially when grounded on Maxims and Rules of Art So should young Divines It ill becomes a young raw Physitian to contradict a whole Colledge of Physitians or a Puny Lawyer a Bench of Judges or a young Divine a whole Assembly of Divines 'T is the looseness of the times that makes young men so bold When Government is settled they will either change their note or be made ashamed of it VERSE 15. And that from a Childe thou hast known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through Faith which is in Christ Iesus THese words contain a third Argument by which the Apostle presseth Timothy to perseverance viz. because he knew the Scriptures not onely from his Childe-hood but even from his Infancy and from a suckling i. so soon as ever he was able to learn the Scriptures he was presently taught them 1. Observe Parents ought to instruct their Children betimes in the Word of God It s good seasoning the Vessel betimes with goodness Lois Timothies Grandmother and Eunice his Mother taught him as soon as he was capable the way of the Lord 2 Timothy 2.5 Timothies Father was a Greek and Gentile but his
man to marry before five and twenty nor a young woman till twenty My Reasons are 1. Because the married Condition requires people that have some experience in worldly Affaires and specially in Religion 1 Peter 3.7 the Apostle would have the Husband to be a man of Knowledge Now this Knowledge how to govern a Family wisely and religiously cannot be attained without a considerable time Adam was a Man of full Age and Eve a Woman not a Childe when God brought her to Adam Of all people that we read of in the Scripture Kings did use to marry soonest that so they might have Heires betimes yet we reade of few of the Kings of Israel that married before twenty 'T is not for Children and green-heads rashly to run upon such weighty undertakings they that marry in such haste shall repent by leisure 3. Mutability and unconstancy they be not settled nor stayed in their judgements 'T is the younger sort that usually are led away with errour Old Birds stayed Professours are not so soon caught with this Chaffe Hence the Apostle Exhorts young Timothy to continue in the Truth 1 Tim. 4 16. 4 Rashness Headiness and Revenge such were Rehoboams young Counsellours 1 Kings 12.6.10 Youth is voyd of judgement Prov. 7.7 and apt to fly in the face of a Reprover 5. A disesteeming and sleighting of old Age. They were young ones that mockt the Prophet 2 Kings 2.24 and despised Iob 30.1.12 'T will be our wisedome to fly these lusts betimes It s a comely sight to see mortified and self-denying young people They are subject to stronger Temptations and more violent Affections there is a greater propensity to sinne in youth and therefore the Obedience is the more excellent and acceptable when out of love to God we can break through all these Young persons have many suiters the World the Flesh the Devil all cry be mine be mine They all ly in wait for the flower of our dayes The Flesh casts baits the World digs pits and the Devil sees snares So that unless we be magnanimous and resolute we shall be foiled and overcome 6. A sixth sinne of Youth is Neglecting the seasons of Grace not knowing the day of their Visitation a sleighting the tenders and offers of Gods Grace unto them There is a time when the Lord cometh a wooing to the Soul and by the motions of his Spirit knocks at the doores of our Hearts for entertainment Revelations 3.20 The Devil doth his utmost to hinder the match and therefore he perswadeth young persons that they are too young to be godly and too young to deny themselves in point of pleasures and carnall delights he tells them they may believe and repent time enough hereafter when they are Old He dealeth with them as the Philosopher did with the young man that came to him desiring him to tell him when he should marry Oh said the Philosopher thou art too young not yet not yet at last he grew old and then he came to know when he should marry Not at all now said he The Application is easie 1. Let such consider that there are thousands and ten thousands now in Hell that thought to have repented Hereafter Many have an Intentionall but no solid Repentance they resolve to repent but they resolve not when and so delay till the day of Grace bee past 2. Consider it is not in our power to repent when we please God must give us the Grace 2 Timothy 2.25 they way of Man is not in himself It is God must turn us or we shall never be turned Iremiah 31.18 He must draw us or we shall never runne after him Canticles 1.4 Iohn 6.44 We must observe Gods time or we loose all 3. How dost thou know that thou shalt live till thou art old younger and better then thou are gone Shorter graves then thine may be seen 4. Suppose thou shouldest live till thou wert old yet thy heart may then be so hardened that thou canst not repent and because when God called thou wouldst not answer therefore thou shalt cry and shalt not be heard Prov. 1.24 Ier. 22.21 22. 5. If it were in our power yet we may in no wise deal so dis-ingeniously with our God as to give the Devil the Marrow of our Youth and reserve the dry bones of our old Age for God It is no wisedome to lay the greatest load on the weakest Horse Old Age though in it selfe it be a Blessing yet is accompanied with many troubles sicknesses and diseases they are the Dreggs the Lees the Winter of our dayes As all Rivers meet in the Sea so all diseases meet in Old Age Hence it is called the evil day Eccles. 12.3 4 5 c. then the Eyes grow dimme the Eares deafe the Hands tremble and the Leggs are feeble and the Memory failes 'T is a time of spending not of getting and such compulsive Repentance is seldome true They are cursed that offer the blinde and the lame in Sacrifice Malachi 1.8 ult and if the blinde and the lame were abhorred of Davids soul much more of Gods 2 Samuel 5.8 'T is the greatest Wisedome in the World for young persons to know the day of their Visitation and to improve the Seasons of Grace seeking the Lord while he may be found Isaiah 55.6 and opening when he knocketh 'T is good sayling whilest the Ship is sound the Pilot well the Marriners strong the Gale favourable and the Sea calme The onely way to finde the Lord when we seeke him is to seeke him in due time even Now 2 Corinthians 6.2 Behold Now is the acceptable Time Now he calleth all men every where to Repent See how the Holy Ghost prevents Objections I 'le repent hereafter No it must be now Acts 17.30 31. Object I am rich or I am poor I am a Iew or a Gentile and cannot repent Answ. He calls All men Object I dwell amongst ill neighbours Answ. He calls all men every where The time present is the only time the Time past is gone the time to come we have no assurance of the time present is our time Hence we are called upon so oft to obey whilest 't is to day Psal. 95.7 8. Heb. 3.15 and to return i. e. presently Isai 21.12 In all obligations say the Lawyers where no time is specified there the condition is presently to be performed So Ier. 13.15 16. Zech. 1.4 Zeph. 2.1 2. Now because we are naturally averse and backward to this special duty I shall give you 20. Considerations to Quicken you 1. Consider that this speedy repenting and turning to God in our youth is Comfortable because 't is a good evidence of the Truth of our Repentance as late Repentance is seldome true so speedy repentance is seldome false It 's a good sign we have made God our God indeed when with David we can seek him early Psal. 63.1 and with Zaccheus we make hast to receive him joyfully Luke 19.6 This
Arch-bishop Or like Pope Pius the Third who was wont to say of himself that the higher he was raised the worse he was 2. It should be a matter of great lamentation to us when we consider the great Luke-warmness and want of zeal that is amongst us we may take up the Prophets complaint Ier. 9.3 there 's no man valiant for the truth If men can save themselves they care not what becomes of Gods Pauls or service Acts 18.14 There is indeed a great profession of Religion in the Land but where oh where 's the power most are become like Pharaoh King of Egypt who was nothing but a noise Jer. 46.17 Nothing but words he promised much but performed nothing So that our Nation hath lost it's former glory piety is now turned into an empty shew and those Ordinances which formerly converted many now seem to have lost their converting power S. Peter at one Sermon converted three thousand but we may preach three thousand Sermons before we can convert one After the world how furiously do men drive like Iohâ— as they would break their wheels in pieces they rise early and break their brains they pant aâ—ter the dust of the earth Amos 2.7 and run themselves out of breath in pursuit of wordly things Ahab is sick for Naboth's Vineyard and cannot sleep till he have it Men are as hot as fire for earth but as cold as ice for heaven So that 't is not now the Kingdom of Heaven that suffers violence but the Kingdoms of the Eearth suffer violence and the violent take them by force The voluptuous man follows his pleasures with all his might and gives his strength to women Prov. 31.3 with dangers and difficulties do they break through to obtain them and what great expenses to maintain their lusts Herod can part with half his Kingdom to please an harlot yet had no zeal for the Ministery but suffers Iohn to be beheaded whose life was more worth then his whole Kingdom The Ambitious man how active is he for promotion how doth he ride and run for a little prefermâ—nt â— cluster of honor is more esteemd by him then all the vintage of Piety Religion The envious man how full of siery indignation is he against his adversaries Iames 3.14 and 4.12 Galath 5.20 The superstitious man how zealous is he in his blind way how doth he compass Sea and Land to make a proselite what pilgrimages whipping cutting lancing selling estates and offering their very children unto Molech Ezek. 26.20 21. they can part with thousands of Rams and ten thousands of Rivers of oyl and give the fruit of their body for the sin of their souls Micah 6.7 The Israelits can freely part with their ornaments of gold and silver to make a golden Calf The Seducing Sectary the white Devil that under pretence of extraordinary sanctity practiseth all manner of iniquity how active is he to sow the Devils seed As the Devil their Master so these who are his Factors rage because their time 's but short Revel 12.12 The Devils themselves seem to be possest of far worse Devils and to act with greater fury then formerly The Sacrilegious-Church-robber when the zeal for Gods house should eat him up such is his zeal that it eats up Gods house He devours Tythes Glebe all that he can lay hands on all 's Fish that comes to his Net he thinks all 's gain that he can get from the Minister These are Latrons not Patrous not Church-pillars but Church-peelers They should maintain the Ministery and they get Impropriations a very proper Term for their improper Tenure into their hands 'T is true de facto that the Tythes are sold but quo jure what power had they to sell that which was devoted to the immediate worship of God Had there been a sufficient maintenance left for the Ministery they might the better have taken the remaining superfluity But to take away a Ministers necessary maintenance and thereby to starve souls for scandalous means breeds scandalous Ministers is the ready way to bring a curse on such persons and all they possess 'T is a snare to devour holy things Prov. 20.25 They that take the Lords possessions into their possession shall perish like Oreb and Zeeb which lay like dung on the earth Psalm 83. There 's a curse attends such Thieves Belshazar drunk but once in the Vessels of the Temple and it cost him both his Kingdom and his life to boote There is no way in my opinion and experience to uphold the Ministry of England but by gaining Impropriations out of the hands of private persons and laying them to the Church to whom most properly they belong We see how Augmentations fly and fail and if we should be put to live on the Peoples benevolence it would soon prove a malevolence But of this I have spoken at large elsewhere Others are zealous but 't is for sin their tongues are set on fire of hell Their heads are alwayes plotting miscief they cannot sleep till they have done some evil Prov. 4.16 as a zealous good man sleeps not till he hath done some good Psal. 132.4 5 6. His house was no house and his rest no rest to him till he had finisht Gods work So the wicked man sleeps not till he have brought his wicked devices to pass and as the good man hath his awaking thoughts with God and goodness Psal. 139.18 So soon as ever I awake my thoughts and meditations are with God So the wicked man when he awakes he is still with sin his waking-thoughts in the night are to do mischief in the morning Micah 2.1 2. they hinder themselves from sleep that they may further themselves in sin the night is spent in plotting and contriving mischief and the day in accomplishing these plots Thus night day they follow the Trade of sin so are justly stiled workers of iniquity Now as to be zealous in goodness is the height of goodness so to be active in wickedness is the height of wickedness when men shall sell themselves to sin and work wickedness with greediness 1 Kings 21.20 and 2 Kings 17.17 Lastly others are zealous against zealous ones they cannot endure to see any better then themselves The Scribes and Pharisees will not go to Heaven themselves nor yet will they endure that others should go If Christ do but set his face towards Ierusalem the Samaritans will hate him While Paul was a Persecutor he met with no persecution but when he was converted and preached the Truth then he 's a pestilent follew and is mad In other Religions the more zealous a man is the more he is esteemed but amongst us the more zealous the more hated These hate their best friends for these zealous Elijahs are the Pillars of a Land the very Chariots and Horse-men of our Israel the strength and ammunition of the Land that by their prayers and tears keep off many a Judgement The wicked
and resolute we dis-hearten them in their attempts and dismay that great Belzebub the Prince of these Flies Let therefore this salt season all our services Christ calls for such Worshipps Matth. 22.37 38 39. Christianity is a work of activity we must ask seek knock strive wrastle run and work out our salvation with the greatest accuratness care and diligence Philip. 2.12 We must not rest content with the beginnings of grace but we must work it up and increase with the increasings of God Colos. 2.19 We must be filled with the Spirit and with the fire of zeal we must have fiery-heads and fiery-hearts fiery words and fiery works that what in us lyeth we may set the whole world on fire with the love of Christ. If we be to hear the Word we should be swift to hear and gladly embrace the opportunity flying as the clouds and flocking as the Doves to their windows When we come to the Sacrament we must earnestly desire it as Christ did Luke 22.15 With a desire have I desired to eat this Passover with you i. I have earnestly and heartily desired it Hezekiah kept the Passover with joy 2 Chron. 30. If we be called to Covenant with God we must do it with joy and with all our hearts as Asa and the people did 2 Chron. 15.12 15. If we be to Pray it must be fervent operative energetical praying Iames 5.16 We must strive in our prayers Rom. 15.30 and stir up our selves that we may lay hold on God Cant. 3.4 Isai. 27.5 and 647. That 's the way to have peace with him When we see a man angry those that are friends lay hold on him to prevent a danger so when we see God angry with his People we should compass God about like an Army one lay hold on him and another lay hold on him till he be pacified with his people But then we must be holy men else if a Rebel or Traitor should come to the Princes Chamber and lay hold on him it would be accounted Treason before we come to reason with God we must wash our selves and then come and welcome Isai. 1.16 17 18. We must get a spiritual induration and holy impudency let God do what he will with us let him oppose delay deny us yet we will not let him go till he bless us As Pharaoh had a cursed Induration and a plerophory of hardness so that no plagues could work on him so we should get a blessed induration and fulness of assurance resolving though God should crush and kill us yet that we will trust in him Iob 13.15 And when we find our spirits flat then cry because thou canst not cry and be in an agony because thou canst not be agonized Formality in duty is the bane of duty and Religion There 's little difference between a careless performance of duties and a total omission of them since men loose both wayes Let us then rouse up our selves remembring that the more zealous any are here the more glorious they shall be hereafter Let us all in our several callings be active for God Let Magistrates and Rulers rule for him as Nehemiah did Let them not bear the sword in vain nor tolerate such things as are intolerable There 's no Precept or President in the whole Book of God for any Toleration of one Error much less of all but promises that God will give us one heart and one way If Magistrates suffer Gods Name to be despised he 'l make them to be despised 1 Sam. 2.30 Ahab lost his life for not punishing blasphemous Benhadad with death 1 Kings 20.42 I Plead not for Cruelty but Iustice as Magistrates must be clement and merciful when occasion requires so they must be just sharp against incorrigible incurable offenders If Abishai out of love to David would have slain Shimâ—i who reviled him saying Why should this dead dog curse my Lord the King let me goe to take off his head 2 Sam. 16.9 and shall the Magistrate be silent when the King of Kings is blasphemed and reviled to his face if men will still bear with such yet God will not Objection If we punish them we shall loose a partie Answer Such a partie as I now speak against are better lost then found They cannot long prosper with them who ever hath them But by punishing such we shall make God our friend who hath promised to defend those that defend his Truth We have a notable instance in the City of Geneva which from the beginning of the Reformation to this day have punished Sectaries and Hereticks and yet God hath kept them safe and sound Many create to themselves needless fears 2. Governours of Families should be zealous against sin in all their Relations hate it in father mother wife children Asa punisheth his own mother for her idolatry 2 Chronicles 15.16 The Lord taketh notice what every man doth in his Family he observes who prayes who reads who supresseth sin in his Family who acts for him and who for themselves Mal. 3.16 Our zeal is the best thing we have and therefore to be given to God who is the best of beings But yet there is nothing that the world so much opposeth as zeal the Devil and his Agents can bear with any man save the zealous man The Hypocrite Formalist Civilian Temporizer c. All pass through the world with praise 'T is onely these Zelots that oppose the sins of the time which are counted the troublers of the places where they come though they be never so peaceable To discourage men from this course the world hath raised many Cavils 1. Objection I am but one and what good will my zeal doe Answer One zealous man may yea and hath done much good to a whole Land One Phinees by executing Justice turned away Gods wrath from all Israel Numbers 25.6 7 11. One faithful Hushai by his Counsel spoyled Achitophels policy 1 Samuel 17.14 One poor man saved a Citie Eccles. 9.15 and the Prayers of One righteous man availeth much Iames 5.16 When Gods judgements were falling on Ierusalem he sought but for a man that he might spare it Ieremiah 5.2 A carnal man dares not stir without company especially the company of great ones they enquire whether any of the Rulers and learned Pharisees have gone that way Iohn 7.47 Jades will not go unless some lead them the way and Cowards stand still to see who will go first but a gracious soul is content to fit alone Lam. 3.28 and go alone in the way to Heaven 1 Kings 19.10 He stayes not for company but if the cause be good rather then it shall fall he will endeavour to uphold it himself Hester will venture all for Gods people and if she must perish she will perish in this cause Let nothing discourage you if God have called thee to a good work and none will joyne with thee in it yet remember he that called thee alone will bless
the precedent Verses and so they contain in them a Reason of the Apostles solmemne Adjuration by which he stireth up Timothy to a careful discharge of his Duety in Preaching the word viz. in respect of the Apostacy of the last times when many would fall from the truth grow weary of sound Doctrine and follow fables where we have 1. The grounds of their Apostacy viz. their hatred of the Truth they will not endure sound Doctrine id est they will reject it and cast it behind their backs they hate and abhor it 'T is a Meiosis where less is spoken then is meant They look upon it as a grievous burden as Israel did upon the Doctrine and Visions of the Prophets Ieremiah 13.34.36 'T is not so much they cannot but they will not endure sound Doctrine they love their lusts above the Law and therefore they hate him that reproves in the gates They are so far from obeying it that they will not once hear it and so farre from loving it that they will not so much as Tolerate it Errours they can tolerate and superstition they can tolerate but the Truth they cannot bear By sound Doctrine is meant the pure Word of God which hath no Errour nor evil mixed with it but is sound in se and sound Effectivè It sheweth unto men their sinne which is the Souls sicknesse brings them to a Saviour and so makes the conscience sound and whole This is called Saving Doctrine and sound Wisedome Proverbs 2.7 and 3.21 and is opposed to Fables and Humane inventions by which the simplicity of the Gospel is corrupted 2. A second ground of their Apostasy is their delight in false Teachers they so doat on them that one or two will not content them they must have heaps of them They love their lusts and therefore they seek out for such Teachers as may not disquiet them Such as erre cannot rest but they must run from one Teacher to another they get heaps of such claw-backs to themselves i. They wittingly and willingly suffer themselves to be deluded by them The word sinifies 1. An earnest desire of getting such Teachers 2. It notes an indiscreet and confused gathering together of such a multitude of Teachers without wit or reason without any respect either to their life or learning as in an heap all is confused there is neither first nor last head nor tail but all 's mixt together so amongst these confused persons all 's confused there 's no Master and Schollars superior and inferior but all are levelled and equal like themselves hence they are said to heap to themselves Teachers The Disciples create their Doctors talis creatio fit ex nihilo they be not chosen and ordained in an orderly way but which is the height of baseness the lusts of their followers are their call One loves Antinomianism and he gets an heap of Antinomians to speak to him Another loves Quakerism and he gets an heap of Quakers to scratch his itch Thus according to mens corrupt humors they have their Teachers As the Lord complained of his people Ier. 2.28 According to the number of Cities thy are thy Gods O Iudah So according to the variety of mens lusts they get them Leaders They cannot endure to be bound to one faithful Pastor who watcheth over his Flock and preacheth solid Truths but they love such as will claw their itch and sing Placebo 3. A third cause of their Apostasy is that inmate malice and inbred concupiscence which is in the hearts of men They are lead by their peculiar lusts every one hath his dilectum delictum his darling sin one's for luxury and another for heresy c. Now according to these lusts they earnestly seek out for Teachers which may in no wise disquiet their lusts which are their Lords and which they love as their lives Rom. 1.4 Iude 16. The Vulgar renders the word Desires after their own desires they shall get Teachers But the word in the Original is Lusts which implies not a simple desire or sudden motion but a vehement ardent earnest desire pursuit of a thing 4. They have itching ears this is another reason why they seek out for false Teachers they love not such as deal plainly and faithfully with them they must have such as will claw their itch please their humors tickle their fancies with novelties and curiosities but they must in no wise touch their vices 2. Here is the issue and consequence of their contempt of the truth and the fruit of this mad Itch. viz. the loss of truth and following Fables They shall turn away their ears from the truth viz. of the Gospel which flatters no man they 'l reject sound doctrine which is sharp and curbs their lusts and turn to Fables which will gratifie them since they can find nothing in the word which may please their itching humor they will see what Fables and lying Legends will do but all in vain for as a man that hath his itch scratcht for present is pleased but after hath more pain then before so these after they have wearied themselves in pursuit of lying vanities at last lye down in greater sorrow These are marble to God and wax to the Devil the truth they cannot obey but they willingly obey unrighteousness This is the Devils method First he stops the ear against sound Doctrine and then he opens it to error Like a cruel Thief he draws the soul out of the right road into some wood by-lane or corner and there binds robs and rifles it Quest. What Fables doth the Apostle here mean Answ. 1. Some say Judaical Fables as Titus 1.14 1 Tim. 1.4 Where Fables and Genealogies are joyned together 2. Others conceive the Apostle Means the Fabulous Divinity of the Gnosticks made up of Judaism and Gentilism These are too narrow the words are to be taken more largely and generally for any Fables and erroneous Doctrine be it never so absurd or impious proceeding whether from Jews or Gentiles from Hereticks or Schismaticks they 'l prefer falshood before truth darkness before light and death before life The summe and substance of all is this q. d. O my son Timothy this exhortation and adjuration of mine in pressing thee to an earâ—â—â— and diligent preaching of the Word is not need less and vain for although thou hast now an opportunity of preaching yet the time will come yea is already begun when men will not away with sound doctrine but by reason of their lusts they will multiply to themselves variety of pleasing Teachers having itching ears which altogether affect Novelty of Doctrines and curious speculations insomuch that they will forsake the truth to follow Fables which will lead them to destruction Observations Observation 1. God not onely knoweth what Men do at present and what they have done but what they will do in time to come He tells Timothy here what will be done
whose main adversary is in his own bosom With what face can he fight against the beasts of the time who is himself a beast 3. The Matter is good 't is for Christ and his Kingdom for his truth and people and that against the basest enemies against sin and Satan and a world of wicked men There is nothing worth contending for in comparison of Gods truth and worship as we must contend for the obtaining of it so also for the preserving of it Iude 3. 'T was the great honour of Chamier that he strenuously fought the Lords battles against that man of sin and though many sons of the French Church had done worthily yet he excelled them all 4. The Manner of this fight must be good we must strive Lawfully if ever we would be crowned 2 Tim. 2.5 As those that strove for Masteries were not presently graced with Garlands unless they strove according to the Lawes prescribed though never so difficult and painful So unless we fight both for matter and manner both in preparation and execution according to the Rules prescribed in the Word we can never attain the Crown of Righteousness 5. The End must be good 't is that which crowns and denominates the work The end of all our working and warring must be to the Glory of God and the salvation of our own and others souls Else let the matter be never so good if the end be self all is lost as we see in Iehu and the Scribes and Pharisees Many fight but it is for their lusts and not for God Iames 4.1 As the heathen in their Agonies fought and run for the honour of Apollo Neptune or Iove but nothing for Iehovah 6. The Armour is good it is composed of the Graces of the Spirit which are compared to Gold Psalm 45.13 't is golden and compleat armour Ephesians 6.13 7. 'T is good in respect of the Issue 'T is victorious the gates of Hell connot prevail against it As Sin Satan Death Hell could not conquer Christ so they shall not be able to conquer the servants of Christ who are by faith ingrafted in him Hence Paul so confidently assureth himselfe of a Crowne of Righteousnesse 8. Our fellow-soldiers are good all the people of God throughout the world dayly fight this good fight against the enemies of their salvation yea the Saints in Heaven were all soldiers in the Church Militant before they came to the Church Triumphant 9. The Reward is good there is none like it It is no lesse then a Crown not of silver or Gold but of Eternal life The Glory of it is unspeakable Hence it is called hidden Mannah a Tree of Life c. Rev. 2.10.17.26 and 3.21 I have finisht my course Q. d. I Paul the aged have fought the good fight and have not onely begun but I have finisht my course Observe 'T is a great comfort to be an old soldier of Christ. Men cashire old decrepit men out of their camps but the older soldiers we are in Christs Church the better and the more acceptable to him 'T was Mnasons commendation that he was an old Disciple Acts 21.16 Paul was converted as the learned conjecture about 25. for he is caâ—led a young man when Stephen was stoned Acts 7.58 Now adolescency by Physitians and others is conceived to begin at 12. extend it self to 25. for when a man is come to his full stature he is called Adult now Paul lived 34. years after his conversion for he died in the thirteenth of Nero so that by this computation he was 61. when he suffered Martyrdome yet he was still the same even when he was Paul the aged as he stileth himselfe Philemon 9. as when he was young Old age is a Crown of Glory and Honourable in it self God commands us to honour such Leviticus 19.32 the Ancient and the Honourable are joyned together Isay 9.15 but then 't is most honourable when it is found in a way of Righteousness Proverbs 16.31 and if in any way of Righteousness then specially in the Ministery when it is fully and faithfully discharged An old Professor of the Truth who hath served God in his Generation deserveth respect and honours but an ancient zealous Minister of the Gospel who hath done and suffered much for Christ his white-head and silver-hairs call for double honour God oftentimes blesseth such with long life as some reward of their labours Psalm 91.16 Prov. 3.16 1. Such begin betimes to serve God and the sooner we come in to him the more honour and service we do him The Apostle mentioneth it to the praise of Andronicus and Iunia that they were in Christ before him i. they believed and were Christians before him Romans 16.7 This made Saint Austine lament that he was converted so late to Christ. 2. He is an old acquaintance of Christs to whom he more familiarly revealeth himself then to young Novices Genesis 18.17 Moses was but 40. dayes in the Mount with God and his face did shine what is 40. dayes to 40. years walking with God Such a one may do much with God for a person or Nation God delights in the prayers of his old servants such as Moses Samuel Noah Iob and Daniel c. 3. He is one that hath got the Art of serving God All Trades have a Mystery Religion hath its Mystery also young beginners are bunglers at it but old Christians are Naturalized and habituated to the holy duties of Mortification and self-denial 4. He is rich in experience a young beginner hath no experience of the deceâ—ts of sin and Satan it is the old soldier that can tell you of the Policies and stratagems in War Iob 12.12 't is with the ancient that there is wisedome and much experience A young man is happier that doth live well but an old man is happier that hath lived well he hath passed through those dangers and difficulties those temptations and Passions which young ones are sayling towards 5. He is a well-rooted firm resolved Christian. An old Disciple is like a Rocke when a young one is like a Reed tossed too and fro with every wind of Doctrine Ephesians 4.14 These adorn Religion in holding out to the last against the solicitations and allurements of sin and Satan They esteem Christs service the best service they are never weary of it though sometimes the flesh clogging them they may be weary in it and this is a great Argument of our sincerity when we are rooted trees of Righteousness fruitful and flourishing in old age Psalm 92.14 6. They shall have a greater reward As they have done more service in their Generations so they shall be recompenced answerably They have been instruments of winning many souls to Christ and so shall shine as the Stars for ever and ever Daniel 12.3 Childrens children are the crowne of old Age 't is true of Natural children Proverbs 17.6 But no children are so glorious and glistering a Crown
of the Church that I need say no more against it 5. Observation 5. We may love one friend more then another Timothy was Pauls beloved Son in the Faith 1 Timothy 1.2 He was one whom he had taught and seasoned he knew Pauls manner and course of life he was one that Paul durst trust with his secrets and so more fit to come to him and to serve him Christ himself when he was upon Earth and as he was man and lived amongst men as man he was more familiar with some then others and loved them more choicely Christ loved all good men but Lazarus Mary and Martha he loved more peculiarly Iohn 11.5 Christ loved all his Disciples Iohn 13.1 But he loved Iohn more especially and therefore he is called by way of Eminency and special propriety That Disciple whom Iesus loved Iohn 13.23 and 21.7.10 To him Christ revealeth his secrets he telleth him who shall betray him and after revealeth the Revelation to him As Iohn excelled in Purity meeknesse sweet disposition and love to Christ. So Christ loved him accordingly Parents doe so they have a more tender affection to one childe then another and friends doe so and we doe so True we may not contemne any no not the weakest where we see but aliquid Christi any glimpse of Christs Image we must love it but where we see most of Christ we may lawfully love most According to the divers measures of Grace so may the measures of our love be proportioned hence we reade of love and singular love 1 Thessalonians 5.13 and though Pauls care were for all the Churches yet was his love more aboundant to that at Corinth 2 Cor. 11.28 and 2.4 VERSE 10. For Demas hath forsaken me having loved this present World and is departed to Thessalonica Crescens to Galatia Titus to Dalmatia HEre we have the reason why he would have Timothy come so speedily to him 1. Because some had forsaken him as Demas Others were dispersed and gone or sent by Paul to other places to preach the Gospel as Crescens to Galatia a Region of the lesser Asia where the Jewes were dispersed 1 Peter 1.1 to these Paul writeth an Epistle blameing them for their Apostacy Thither Crescens one of Pauls Disciples and Companions goeth not out of any love to this present world as Demas did but to preach the Gospel Titus went to Dalmatia Paul had two Disciples which he loved as sons viz. Timothy and this Titus the one he left at Ephesus and this at Crete Titus 1.4 5. Pauls dear affection to him appeareth by that famous Epistle written to him Dalmatia was a Region of Illyricum where Paul is said to spread the Gospel Romans 15.19 A great Question here ariseth Whether Demas did well or ill in forsakeing Paul and whether he were a good man or an Hypocrite Answer Interpreters here are much divided some and those of the better sort goe about to excuse Demas and say that his love to all the world was onely an ordinate moderate love and care of the world 2. Others say his Apostacy was not total but partial and that although he loved the World more then was meet and thereupon left Paul in his troubles and went to Thessalonica a famous City of Macedonia Either that he might get out of danger or that he might Marchandize there for there was great traffick yet say they he repented of his fall and returned to Paul as they would gather from Colossians 4.14 Philem. 24. Though he did for fear forsake him yet at last say they he returned 3. The Arminians to defend that uncomfortable Doctrine of the Saints Apostacy would fain make Demas a Real Saint and his Apostasie to be Total But they must seek out for better grounds for Demas in all probability was an Hypocrite who had no rooted Faith but went out from Gods people because he was never truely of them 1 Iohn 2.19 he was a Meteor that blazed for a time and presently vanished like Ionathan that marched well till he met with honey 2. I answer that the salutations mentioned in Colossians and Pilemon were written before this Epistle to Timothy which the Apostle writ in his second bonds at Rome as the context and whole scope of this Chapter which is of more weight with me then a thousand Authours sheweth especially Verse 6.7 8.16.17 So that it is gratis dictum said but not proved that those Epistles were written after this 3. It is said he forsooke Paul now he was in trouble and had most need of help he knew he could not side with Faul but he must run many hazards in life and estate and therefore he resolved to sleep in a whole skin and to save one he leaveth him chusing rather to follow his worldly occasions and to provide for his own ease profit pleasure then to suffer affliction with the people of God Hence he is said to embrace this present world every word hath its weight 1. He did not lightly glance at the world but he embraceth it with delight and contentment as his summum bonum and chiefest delight and therefore preferreth it before Christ He set his affections on it saith Grotius like the thorny ground where the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choak the Word so that it becometh unfruitful Matth. 13.22 2. The World id est the things of this world by a Metonymy of the Subject such as riches pleasures ease safetie and carnal delights 3. This present world which is Transitory is opposed to Heaven and the world to come which shall have no end Titus 2.12 We have seen before Verse 8. that the Saints loved the coming of Christ but Demas is all for present profit he loved this present world he desired to have good dayes here and to live a quiet life without persecution or trouble Now such love of the world is enmity against God Iames 4.4 and a signe of a carnall man 2 Iohn 2 15. Hence 't is that the Scripture maketh the love of the world and the love of God diametrally opposite the one to the other Is departed to Thessalonica Where he became an Idolatrous Priest say some others say that he turned Heretick denying the Deity of Christ. See whither Apostates fall when God forsaketh them and whither the inordinate love of the world leadeth men However away he goeth to Thessalonica where he might be far enough from danger where he might more securely enjoy the world Observations 1. T is lawful in some Cases to name men The Apostle to make others fear Apostasie names this back-slider So verse 14. He nameth Alexander who was a malicions inveterate enemy to the Truth yet this must be done with a great deal of Caution it must not be used but when the person is an open incorrigible impenitent and gross offender in this case Paul nameth Hymenaus and Alexander and excommunicateth them for their blasphemy and
betray the son too 4. Here is the Reason of this Caution why he should shun the society of Alexander viz. because of his desperate condition he being one that openly and maliciously opposed the Truth of God and greatly withstood Pauls words Alexander the Copper-smith c. There is a great Controversie amongst Interpreters who this Alexander should be and it is conceived by the most judicious that it was that Alexander mentioned Acts 19.33 Who was a Jew and dwelt at Ephesus who was on Pauls side at the first and sought to appease the tumult stirred up at Ephesus against him where he had like to have lost his life for appearing on his side yet now he maketh shipwrack of the Faith and opposeth the People of God revileing and traducing them which the Apostle calleth blasphemeing 1 Timothy 2.20 The Copper-smith A man of a mean Condition one that got his living by his hammer and hard labour in an inferiour Calling He was sometime Pauls Disciple and profest the Truth but now the scales are turned and of a Professour he is become a persecutor Hath done me much evil The word which we render hath done in the Original signifieth to shew It is an Hebraism they put shewing for doing Psal. 4.6 Who will shew us any good .i. who will effect our desires in that kind so Psal. 60.3 thou hast shewed thy people hard things .i. thou hast caused them to see and endure hard things probably he might by his agents and friends stir up Nero against him as a seditious person a broacher of strange doctrine and and enemy to the Jewish religion which was then tolerated at Rome What this evil was he shewes in the next Verse He resisted our words and opposed the truth which Paul delivered The Lord reward him according to his works which he hath done and still endeavours to do against me and the truth of God which I profess He now delivers him up to the Justice of God who is a righteous Judge and will reward every man according to his works The Vulgar to mollify this Imprecation have put the word in the future Tense and so would make it a Prediction and not an Imprecation The Lord shall reward him but the word is Optative in the Original and implyes a heavy Imprecation The Apostle by a prophetical Spirit saw manifest signes of reprobation in this man and thereupon denounceth this curse against him Quest. But how doth this Imprecation agree with that Apostolical sweetness and mildness which was in the Apostle Answ. The Apostle spake not these words out of any private spleen but oâ—t of Prophetical zeal he desires the Lord to execute his justice on this incurable Apostate So that it was an Imprecation darted by a particular motion of the Holy Ghost and so not to be imitated by us who have not that extraordinary measure of the Spirit as Paul had Of whom be thou ware also Observe him and take heed of him for he goeth up and down stirring up the Jews against the Gospel q. d. The reason why I mention him at this time is that thou maist shun him as an excommunicate person and one delivered up to Satan Since then he is an incurable Apostate avoid him as the Pest and Poysener of humane Society For he hath greatly withstood our words much more will he withstand thine q. d. He hath not onely resisted us but which is worse he hath Violently and Vehemently resisted the truth which I have preached to the world The one is but a personal persecution against charity the other is a doctrinal offence against piety and so far more hainous Observations 1. Great Professors may become grievous Persecutors This Alexander was a noted Professor and within the pale of the Church else the Apostle could not have excommunicated him and cast him out of the Church if he had never been in and if he had not profest the faith he could not have made ship-wrack of it 1 Tim. 1.19 20. Yea this man was neer to Martyrdom as Calvin conceives yet now he turns a desperate opposer of the truth The best things when corrupted become the worst The most generous wine makes the sharpest vinegar and the finest flesh when putrified becomes most fulsom These Apostates know the state of the Church better then others and so are able to do it more mischief besides God in judgment gives them up to a reprobate sense and the Devil comes with seven worse spirits and re-enters which makes the latter end of these men worse then their beginning Nicholas a great professor and one of the seven Deacons yet at last fell into foul errours pleading for community of wives and the lawfulness of adultery hence came the Sect of the Nicolaitans Rev. 2.6 Iudas went far yet at last sells his Master Be not then offended when you see Professors turn Blaspemers and Preachers Persecutors it should grieve us but not discourage us It was so in the Apostles time it is so now and it will be so to the end of the world There will be some such Tares mixt with Gods wheat and a Iudas amongst the very Apostles We must look to be hooted at as signes and wonders as mad-men and Monsters and that in Israel Isay 8.18 Quest. But doth not this prove the Apostasy of the Saints since Alexander is said to make ship-wrack of the faith Answ. Not at all There is no arguing from the shadow to the substance from the Meteor to the fixed Star because Hypocrites temporary beleevers and carnal professors fall away therefore real Saints and such as are effectually called may fall away is a manifest Non Sequitur 2. Observation 2. It is lawful sometimes and in some cases to name men Alexander a malicious incorrigible enemy is named that every one may shun him But of this before in Verse 10. 3. Observation 3. The enemies of Gods people many times are sordid men Alexander a Smith a man of no learning of mean education by professing not a Gold-Smith nor a Silver-Smith but a Copper-Smith and by disposition an open enemy to the truth This contemptible man opposeth the Preaching and Practice of chosen vessels an eminently learned Paul Thus it pleaseth God to exercise and humble his choicest servants by vile and worthless men Iob complains of such Iob 19.10 and 30.1 David complains that the abjects and dregs of the people made head against him Psal. 35.15 16. So Acts 17.5 And this was prophesied longe since by Isay 3.5 that such disordered times should come that every boy should behave himself proudly against the Ancient and the base against the Honourable and men of worth It is a trouble to ingenious natures to be molested by such disingenuous ones who want common humanity To fall by the hand of an Achilles or some eminent person for Learning and Valour is some honour But to be vext by such How 's and