fall away you shall stand like mount Sion that cannot be moved 3. (r) Rom. 16.18 2 Tim. 3.5 Mark them that cause divisions and avoid them saith St. Paul for they serve not our Lord Jesus Christ but their own bellies Whether they seek to divide you from the Christian verity by pernicious haeresies or from the unity of Christs church and people by peace disturbing schismes and seperations Mark them with a note of infamy as notoriously (s) 1 Tim. 6.3 4. proud basely self-seeking foolishly erring Truths enemies adversaries to Peace destroyers of Souls And do not only mark but also (t) 1 Tim. 6.5 avoid them after two or three admonitions shun and avoid their discourses and disputes which serve to no good purpose but as foiles to their pride rises to their slanders and when they are more publike as baits to deceive and delude poor souls being like Fencers challenges inventions to give the better advantages to Cut-purses to act their prizes And as for their persons avoyd them too O how zealously affected against Seducers were the Primitive (u) 2 Joh. 10 11. Christians John the Evangelist would not endure (w) Iraen l 3. c. 3. in the Bath at Ephesus with the haeretick Cerinthus nor Polycarpus would entertain communion with Marcion but defied him as the first begotten son of Satan So zealous were the Apostles and their disciples saith Irenaeus that they would not communicate with haereticks in word but were answerable to (x) Tit. 3.10 11. St. Pauls admonition Eschew him that is a Haeretick after the first and second admonition knowing that such a one is perverse and sinneth being condemned of his own conscience 4. Forsake not your faithfull Pastors (y) Heb. 3.17 but obey them that have the rule over you and submit your selves for they watch for your souls The fable is well known of the Wolves that offered to make a league with the Sheep conditionally that they would put away their dogs I need not make the application but this I am sure of That the Devil and Seducers who are his instruments make it one of their first and chiefest designes to alienate the hearts of people from their faithfull Guides which if they can once effect on the ruines of their reputation they use to lay the foundation of their own esteem Thus dealt the false Apostles with the Corinthians in the case of Paul (z) 2 Cor. 10.10 His bodily presence say they is weak and contemptible (a) 2 Cor. 11.6 11 12 13. That he was rude in speech did not love and esteem them as themselves profest they did and such like stuffe to foment and increase jealousies in their hearts as do our Seducers now adayes that they may make way for themselves in the peoples estimation 5. Despise not the (b) 1 Cor. 11.16 Churches of Christ especially in the Doctrine which they unanimously hold forth For is not the (c) 1 Tim. 3.15 Church the ground and (c) 1 Tim. 3.15 pillar of truth whereon God hangs forth to view that sound direction to the world which may guide their feet in the way of peace to the reaching of everlasting blisse 6. Forsake not the (d) Heb. 10.25 assembling of your selves together be not a stranger to the publike Congregations as the custome of some is who think Christ is not to be found except in a wildernesse or in a chamber (e) Mat. 24 26. but go not after them says he 7. Endeavour after a greater measure of mortification of corrupt passions and affections which (a) Si vis lumine claro cernere verum gaudia pelle pelle timorem spentque sugato nec dolor adsit nubila mens est vinctaque fraenis haec ubi regnāt Boet. l. 1. de consol philos metro 7. so cloud the mind that Truth cannot in its lustre appear unto it and makes the heart like those that are (b) Ecclus. c 27. Lunaticks full of changes from (c) 2 Tim. 3.13 bad to worser but never right never setled but full of motion (d) Camerar Hor. Succis par 1. c. 36. like a horse stung with wasps that runs capers and curvets to little purpose Corrupt passions and affections prevailing the soul is like to an (e) Prov. 25.28 unfenced city open to rapine and ruine by every enemy They are in a word such a complying party with whatever is evil that if Seducers can but find a way to parley with them and proffer them what is proportionable to their nature if they have but the art to sute their bait to those (f) 2 Pet. 2.18 19. Jude 16 17 c lusts or passions that have domination and rule within be it (g) 3 Joh. 9. ambition (h) Tit. 1.11 covetousnes feare or whatever it be That soul is easily made a prey of by these Haereticks Therefore if ever you would be safe be not content without the death of these 8. Grow in grace (i) 2 Pet. 1.5 6 7 8 11. Adde vertue to vertue as St. Peter presses that an abundant entrance may be administred to you into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ If you would not be led away with the error of the wicked saith the same Apostle (k) 2 Pet. 3.17 18. grow in grace for 't is that is only able to (l) Heb. 13.9 establish the heart against temptations and seducements (m) 1 Cor. 14 20. A silly child is easily cozened with copper instead of gold but as (n) Heb. 5.14 knowledge and discerning increases in him he is free from that delusion A (o) Eph. 4.14 weak body reels to and fro and every blast of wind is ready to throw him down but as strength grows he becomes more able daily to endure its strongest blasts so is it with the soule according to the measure of grace it is endowed with 't is able to resist and stand out against seducements Above all endeavour to increase Humility which is the (p) Jam. 4.6 womb of vertue (q) 1 Pet. 5 5. a sweet adornment and an excellent fence against this monster Haeresie which had some cherisht the Church had not been pestered with this evil nor had this plague of Error found such footing in this our Israel If any spark of this hellish fire at any time light on your souls dally not with it but be sure to call in help betimes to quench it there 's many a house hath been consumed to ashes by the inhabitants (r) Et neglecta solent incendia sumere viris Horat. 1. ep 19. Facilius est excludere perniciosa quà m regere non admittere quà m admissa moderari Sea l. 1. de ira c. 7. inadvertencie not heeding the first kindling of this mischief in their souls and others by an overweening opinion of their own ability to extinguish it at pleasure and perhaps some few out of an over-tendernesse of their
means left to them to evade a most desperate and utter ruine Thus they having the repute of faire and conscientious Dealers could not want Customers who with too greedy a mind would receive and take upon trust their Errors But to close this There are many likewise who have not only ventured but suffered for Religion whereby they have growne in estimation with well-meaning pious people I might give many instances in the Primitive times hereof but I omit them take only an example of latter dayes Hist David George David George at first a citizen of Delph was cast into prison bored through the tongue for speaking against and withstanding Popish idolatry by which he came to be in high esteem with the godly yet afterward became one of the worst and most blasphemous Haereticks in any age of the Church I have read of asserting the Scriptures yea those of the Apostles were lame childish and ineffectuall for the understanding of the things of God that he was greater then Christ in the flesh c. But by reason of his sufferings for truth in former times he was in so great repute that he easily seduced many unstable souls to become of his Opinions Reas 2 2. There is much to be attributed to the way and manner of dispencing of these pernicious Errors (z) Eph. 4.14 They want not their guiles and arts to insnare poor souls They study the persons and wait their opportunity to deceive (a) Rom. 16.18 They use fair speeches to beguile the hearts of the simple professions of love and charity To be eyes to the blind feet to the lame guides to the erring Brother say they (b) Mat. 7.4 let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye The wolf layes the sheep when he seizeth on him upon his back gently as if he meant but only to ease him whereas indeed his purpose is to take his opportunity that he may devoure him So for all the sheeps cloathing yet are seducers inwardly but (c) Mat. 7.15 ravening wolves And because they conceive to lay open and rebuke the faults of others is no small means to conceal their own and render themselves unsuspected to those they deale with Therefore how do they curiously pry into the faults of others and like flesh flies passing over what 's sound and right light only on what 's sore and putrid in them (d) Flavian epist ad Leon. Pap. Eutyches confutes Nestorius that he might gain repute to himself and false opinion Neither want they vehemency and ejulation confidence boldnesse and resolution being men of a (e) 1 Tim. 4.1 seared conscience and brazen forehead that cannot blush To set their Errors home and to commend them the better to those they intend to make their disciples they practise the old trick of one of the prime persons of their order I mean Simon Magus who to gain the greater repute of himself and credit to his blasphemies perswaded the poor Samaritans (f) Act. 8.9 10. that he was somebody no lesse then the mighty power of God which testimony of his being too easily believed by those poor creatures gaind the attention respect of smal and great in that place to him After him (g) Jactabat sacram Scripturam se solum primum intelligece Vinc. Lyr. c. 42 Nestorius trod in his steps of pride boasting That he alone knew the meaning of the Scriptures and was the first that rightly understood them And this hath been from time to time the strain of these Seducers to cast out (h) 2 Pet. 1.18 Jude 26. swelling words of vanity whereby they gained on weak mindes sufficiently who use to judge of doctrines rather by the conceit they have of the person that vents them then by their conformity to the Word of truth So Eunomius likewise boasted That he knew God with the same knowledge wherewithall God knew himself They pretend to high (i) Col. 2.18 mysteries and depths being vainly puft up in their carnal minds intruding themselvs into things they understand not have answerably their canting language which may rather amaze their auditors and lead them into mists of darknesse and giddinesse then into the least true notion of heavenly truth They leave not here but that their Authority may be beyond all questioning (k) Euseb hist eccl l. 5. c. 25. They boast of the prescriptions of Apostles and the prime Pillars of Christianity So did the Haereticks of old and the Papists still to this day with great impudencie but scarce so much as any colour of truth except it be fetcht out of spurious writings and legends falsly attributed to those holy men and nothing agreeing with their genuine writings But because Divine testimony is of highest authority and most infallible therefore they will rather father blasphemously their Errors on the Spirit of truth then not gain belief (l) 2 Pet. 3.16 either wracking or wresting his Word to their purpose abusing the Scriptures or else they will boast if no warrant so much as seemingly probable can be found in His book for their unworthy assertions and practises that they have their direction from immediate Revelation and Inspiration as the Montanists of old and not long since John of Leyden and his followers at Munster for their abominable doctrine and lothsome courses 3. The matter they broach is no small cause and reason of their so much prevailing with multitudes For perhaps it is something New such with which they have not had the least acquaintance before now naturally men have (m) 2 Tim. 4.5 itching eares are true (n) Act. 17.21 Athenians greedy of new things They are quickly weary of old Truths because they never saw their beauty nor tasted their sweetnesse by an intuitive knowledge for if they had they would have found such pleasure and profit in them as not to have been at all weary of them Truths beauty alwayes lasting as fresh as at her first appearance to us and alway springing gloriously in greenesse and pleasant fruits not capable of being slighted by the soul that knows her But what if as it fals out too often these new Truths prove but old Errors new varnisht over As in these giddy times wherein we live who would not almost give credit to that old Pythagorean fable of mens souls passing when they die into other bodies There are some do so much resemble Arrius Donatus the Gnosticks and other ancient Haereticks that were we not assured the same Power of darknesse that acted the former still living is vigorous in these also to the same ends and purposes or else we might suppose the souls of the former haereticks had taken up the bodies of the latter for their dwellings And many times I must needs confesse it is not so much new matter as a new dresse in new-found language and unintelligible words when they most boast of new Lights Doctrines which Paul * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
sorest opposites against her peace and verity Witnesse of old (g) 2 Tim. 4.10 Demas (h) 2 Tim. 2.17 Hymeneus and Philetus (i) 2 Tim. 1.15 Phygellus and Hermogenes Nicholas Ebion and Cerinthus Menander Saturninus with many others And in later time Muncer Swenkfeild Servetus David George Socinus and divers others What horrid exacerbations of mind have they raised which have grown to provoking language and have not rested there but proceeded to blowes yea blood witnesse that hot contest at Alexandria between the Arrians and the Orthodox where to use * Euseb in vita Constant lib. 3. cap. 4. Eusebius his words they fought together and kil'd each other like swarmes of gnats in the ayre How have they defiled her purity with lothsome pollutions in Doctrine and manners witnesse those filthy dreamers in St. (l) Iude 8. Judes time who defiled the flesh despised dominion and speak evill of dignities Those abominable beastly men whom no lesse title then (m) Some cald them Bort orites from their beastly life Gnostici would content as if they had been the only inhabitants of Goshen and all the world beside had been benighted in Egyptian darknesse And I beseech you how much in later times have our Germane Anabaptists or English Libertines in their assertions or lives faln short of their monstrous predecessors How have they like fumes out of the bottomlesse pit clouded her verity In the Church of (n) Gal. 3.1 and 5.7 c. Galatia was not the soule-saving Doctrine of Justification almost totally eclipsed and in the Church of Corinth (o) 1 Cor. 15. the article of the resurrectiō shrewdly shaken by these did not the wretched doctrine of Balaam the Nicholaitans passe with many for currant in p Rev. 2.14.20 Pergamus And was not the bright shining of truth offuscated by those in Thyatirus How did truth seem to have forsaken the Church in the dayes of Athanasius when the world to use Jeroms expression groaned to see it selfe become an Arrian when a whole (q) Socrates sch Eccles hist lib. 1. cap. 25. Synod of Arrians at Tyre condemn poor Athanasius for maintaining the eternall Diety of Christ How have these damnable errors when once they have got footing in the spirits of men turn'd them into beasts of prey cruell (r) Phil 3.2 dogs ravenous (s) Act. 20 29. wolves devouring lyons not resting satisfied where their power could reach and prevaile without the inflicting of the saddest cruelties and forest destructions they could invent upon the most Orthodox professors of truth We need to seek for proof of this no further than the (t) Socrat. hist Eccles lib. 2. cap. 22. Athanas Apolog. Victor de persecut Vandal lib. 3. Arrian haeresy how cruell and bloody were they to the servants of Christ exciting the Magistrate to exturpate them loading them with slanders banishing them from their Countries scourging and imprisoning them cutting out their tongues nay not satisfied without their precious lives Thus we see that whether wee look at these damnable errors in their own nature or in their subject in whom they reside they are truly by the Apostle in the Text stiled Destructions Secondly but fares the Common-wealth any better where these take place Have not these damnable errors destroyed its peace by tumultuous insurrections and horrid outrages what a terrible tempest was raised by (x) Aug. Epist 50. ad Bonif. Epist 68. ad Januar lib. 3. cont crescon Donatists and Circumcelliones men of the same humor with them and what outrages were committed by them who pretended to more piety than others but exprest the contrary by their rapines robberies and mischeivous courses Nor could they bee taken off till Honorius the (y) Paul diac lib. 14. Emperor was fain to send Dulcius with an army to suppresse them How have these errors many times subverted the very foundations of States while some of them in their own nature have been so directly opposite to the being or binding of Lawes to the authority of Magistrates as the Moniches of old the Munster faction of late that where they have taken place the ligaments of States have been so far as these have prevailed so miserably broken and left in so sad a confusion under a pretence of (z) Quidam ut imperium subvertant libertatem si subverterint ipsam aggredientur Corn. Tacit. liberty that had not their extirpation been the more speedy they had certainly buried those people where they reigned in utter confusion and desolation Not only making them accessory to their own destruction whilst with their own hands they should effect their ruine but also ingaging him who is the God of order and truth to become their enemy and pour out the testimonies of his vengeance from heaven upon them Somtimes by a more immediate hand as (x) Paul Diac. lib. 15. Antioch a nurcery of heresies was first sore shaken and after with fire from heaven consumed Nichomedia a place where the Arrians were appointed to meet swallowed up of an earth-quake And frequently by the mediate hand of men who are his ax rod and staffe of his indignation whose spirits hee stirs up to take vengeance on his behalfe such in former times were Constantine the great who banisht Arrius (z) Socr. schol hist eccl l. 5. c. 10. Evagr. hist eccl l. 4. c. 11. Theodosius expeld all hereticks that were against the faith of one substance Justinian published sharp edicts and sorely punished hereticks with divers others And in later times Charles the fifth against the Westphalian crue also the Magistrates of Geneva burning Servetus for his Antitrinitarian heresie with many other examples of this Thus you have seen how destructive these damnable heresies are in societies Secondly but are they lesse pernitious to particular persons whether ringleaders or such as are perverted by them Certainly no but I may truly take up the words of the Prophet (a) Esay 59.5 They hatch Cockatrice egges and weave the spiders web hee that eateth of their egges dieth and that which is crushed breaketh forth into a viper In which place (b) Hieron in Epist ad Cypri Jerome thinks the Prophet Esay doth lively set forth the nature of heresies and the work of hereticks How is it often the destruction of their bodies whilst their erroneous mind puts them upon the asserting or practising that which either by too much excesse and riotous courses ruines nature as the * 2 Pet. 2.10 12 13 c. Libertines of former and later time Or else on the contrary by too much (c) Coloss 2.21 22. austerity and self-elected rigidity sink in time the Body and bring it to the dust of death But if none of these take place how often is the God of heaven so far provoked especially against the founders or principall abetters and maintainers of them that vengeance marks them with some eminent and notorious badge of Gods displeasure by
1 Tim. 6.20 counsels Timothy to shun and avoid So that we may truly say concerning many of their Ringleaders in our dayes as an Historian speaks of the Ligurians of old who dwelt amongst bogs and bushy places (p) Major erat aliquanto labor invenire quam vincere That it was a greater labour to find them out then to conquer them So these men they have such gypsie fustian Language in which they endeavour to lie hid and conceal their sense and meaning for fear that if they should come to the light it would quickly appear what adulterate stuffe they endeavour to obtrude for Gospel upon poor souls therefore it is their pretence That what they speak is (q) Desiderant ut iniquitas eorum sit mysticae religionis nomine palliata Anselm mystical rather to be received by an implicite faith and adored with admiration then pryed into by reason or examined by comparing it with the Law and Testimony to which (r) Esay 8.20 God sends his people Yet I must needs acknowledge also that many times there are some of this seduceing crue who run as much wild on the other hand endevouring to bring down Religion in the highest mysteries thereof to the scanning and judgement of humane reason (s) Credere aliquid esse verum quod ratio non potest apprehendere nec intellectus intelligere levitatis signum esse dicimus Averroes qui subinde christian is ogganiebat sic Socinus multi haeretici c. and what fals not within the approbation of this they reject as spurious Hence came the Antitrinitarian error the opinion of the death of souls the deniall of the bodies resurrection and the like (t) Patriarchas haereticorum Tertull. lib. cont Hermog Hence Tertullian rightly stiles the Philosophers the patriarchs or heads of haereticks And because they will not faile to overcome and prevaile with the people it is not the least part of their care and cunning to proportion their doctrine and shape their tenets to the peoples humour they prophesie (u) Esay 30.10 smooth things and (x) 2 Pet. 2.19 promise them liberty as (y) Euseb lib. 4 cap. 6. hist Eccl. Barchochebas did the inslaved Jewes or life and such immunity from death and evils (z) Just Mart. Apol. 2. pro Christ as Menander the haereticall sorcerer did to his disciples hereby they take with the people who cry them up for sweet Gospel Preachers their new light best agreeing with the carnall affections and earthly designs and resolutions of their fleshly auditors Lyes like candle-light best serving to set off the masques and mummeries of the world whereas the (a) Eph. 5.23 bright day-light of heavenly truth would mar all Yet because if they should discover themselves in a constaÌ„t divulging of new and strange opinions it might startle the people they deale with and make them more cautious how they give up their spirits to be leveaned by them therefore they have got this trick and slight to hold forth some known truths which managing to their own advantage they make the means to attract the belief of the people the easier to what they shall afterwards hold forth of their own unto them Somewhat (e) Strabo lib. 15. like the description of Ape-catching in the Indies The person that watches to take that creature first brings a bason or vessell of pure water which when the ape perceives the man being retired out of sight down comes hee and having gaz'd on himselfe and beheld his face in the water a while hee begins to dab and wash himselfe therein which when hee hath done sufficiently hee gets up into the tree again which when the man perceives hee takes away the bason or vessell of water instead thereof conveying a vessell of bird-lime the poor ape suspecting nothing the heat prevailing over the waters refreshing coldnesse comes down from the tree again and fals to patting of himselfe about the face and head as before by which his eyes being clos'd with the bird-lime hee becomes a prey to his wily catcher So hath it been nay is at this present day with many seducers amongst us c. They know that their doctrine like adulterate coyne could not passe unlesse there were some mixture of the gold or silver of truth with their baser mettal of error therefore they gild over their more horrible opinions with Orthodox truths or at the least with such expressions as seem to ordinary capacities to be very innocent and little or nothing different from the minde of the Church of Christ when in truth they mean nothing lesse But (f) Gesner hist â—isâ— lib. 〈◊〉 Plin. lib. 9. cap. 29. as the fish called Calamarie or by some the Sea-clerk when hee is in danger to be taken casts forth an inky black substance in which concealing himself from the sight of the fisher in that night of darknesse he passes away undiscovered and evades the danger Even so do these Seducers escape the being discovered what they are by their dark expressions and ambiguous words which either are not understood or else in them they seem to many that they speak but the same things with us as Irenaeus says when indeed they mean nothing lesse then truth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iraen whereby it comes to passe that even as poyson given in honey enters the veines quickly and piercing the deeper kills the speedier and more surely so their desperate Errors being covered in the (g) Rom. 16.18 pleasing words of seeming and approved Verity are entertained into the Peoples mind with approbation and there received as the truth of God with greatest liking and held fast with so much obstinacie that as we see by sad experience (h) Gal. 4.6 they reckon them their sorest enemies that tell them the truth nay will rather perish than suffer these cords of death to be taken from them 4. The fault many times is much in the (i) Mat. 13 25 servants whom Christ hath imployed about his vineyard to take care that the seed of wholsome Truth be sown and every plant that is contrary thereunto of the envious mans planting according to the power wherewith he hath betrusted them eradicated and plucked up The Minister in his sphere by (k) 2 Tim. 4.2 c. frequent Preaching holding forth the whole truth of God cleerly (l) Tit. 1.9 confuting gainsayers solidly if after two or three admonitions they refuse to be gained (m) 2 Tim. 2.16 17. avoiding and shunning their perverse disputes and company warning others to beware of them (n) 2 Tim. 2.24 25 26. using all gentlenesse and patience to them that are seduced proving if God at any time will give them repentance that they may escape out of this snare of the devil And if all will not do but still this gangrene spreads and threatens ruine to the whole (n) 1 Tim. 1.20 Then ought they to exercise that dreadfull Censure of the Church
that neither this (o) 1 Cor. 5.6 7. leaven for want of casting out may soure the lump nor (p) Heb 12.15 this root of bitternesse so spread by being amongst the professors of verity as that many should be perverted thereby nor they be partakers of Seducers sins by an unrighteous silence of unjust with-holding that Ordinance of GOD which possibly may tend to the making even the seducer sensible of his crime by Gods blessing and concurrence but however it is like to put a stand to their madnesse make others (q) 1 Tim. 5.20 fear and be very cautious how either they receive their doctrine whom the Church of Christ declares deceivers or run their course which may bring them into the same condemnation with these their seducing guides But however the Ministers of Christ have discharged their duty and may have much peace and comfort therein whatever the event and issue thereof prove to be There is another servant whom Christ hath intrusted in this great businesse and that is the Magistrate Although there be (r) Stapleton in Relect. controv 2. quest 5. art 1. p. 253. Bellarm. l. 1. de R. P. cap. 7. Tannerus Becanus cum multis aliis some that would limit and restrain his power to secular affairs yet is this doctrine so little answerable either to the practise of most pious (s) 1 Chron. 23. 1 Chr. 31. 2 King 23. Vos estis episcopi in ecclesia ego extra ecclesiam seu templure episcopus à Deo sum constitutus Euseb Governours to the opinion of (t) Aug. epist 50. ad Bonif. ep 48 ad Vincent l. 3. cont Cresc gram c. 51. Leo epist 9. ad Theodos c. Antiquity or to (u) Deut. 17.18 cuÌ„ 2 King 11.12 1 Tim. 2.1 2. Rom. 13.1 c. Esa 49.23 Scripture verity that were not these men abundantly ignorant or exceedingly impudent they would never maintain an opinion so plainly opposite to truth as this is But alas here is the sad root of this misery That either the Ministers are (x) Isa 56.10 ignorant and unable to maintain the truth confute and stop the mouths of gainsayers or they are wicked and scandalous like (y) 1 Sam. 2.13 c. Elies soâ—â— whose prophane and ungodly courses lose all repute to the Truth making the things of God by those who measure truth by the lives and carriages of them that maintain it to be abandoned and abhorred If neither of these yet perhaps they are (z) Rev. 2.20 carelesse negligent inadvertent nothing heeding how Truth thrives or how Error spreads as if to them it were of very small or no concernment In point of benefit they are greedy dogs zealous enough for their profit (a) Isa 56.11 looking after that from every quarter but in point of duty they want heat (b) Rev. 3.15 the fire of zeal for Gods glory is not in them therefore they love their ease to sleep slumber and take their rest whereby they give not only an opportunity to the Evil one to sow his tares but to those tares to take root and prosper Or lastly They are magisteriall and proud testy and froward whereas they ought to be (c) Gal. 6.1 lowly and meek (d) 2 Tim. 2â— 24 25. gentle towards all apt to teach waiting with patience but this their course and carriage is no small means to alienate poor seduced souls from the truth making them believe that truth hath but small strength of reason and wisdome to support it and therefore stands in need of the weak and loathsome props of Pride and passion Thus verity is disgraced But many times the Minister may do his duty and yet by reason of the Magistrates miscarriage these Haeresies may flourish because perhaps they have conquered himself Now (e) Psal 11.3 if the foundations be removed what then can the righteous do O how sad was the Churches condition when Emperours Kings and Governours were infected with the Arrian haeresie when Arrianisme (e) Vincent Lyr. cont haeres like a hellish fury laid hold on the Throne it self the People imitating and conforming to their Princes judgement and manners were quickly and easily infected with it Or suppose they be not tainted themselves yet if they be irreligious and profane who make as slight of differences in Religion as * Act. 25.19 20. Festus did in the businesse of Paul Or timorous to displease of a low and inferior spirit slothfull to erract or execute according to the demerit of the Error or the Haeretick how can it from such be expected either that Truth should be righted or a stop put to the madnesse of people by them 5. This is too often occasioned through the various differences in Judgement about things not much material that are amongst different Ministers and Professors of Piety and Religion whereby they are so divided in affection and exasperated against each other that their bitter words and carriages too often discover that fire of hell which burns within though at the same time they agree in fundamentals and things that are absolutely necessary to eternall happinesse There are no few examples of this might be given in Primitive times * Euseb hist eccl l. 5 c. 21 c as about the time of Easter maintained with no small heat and such like petty differences breaking forth by degrees into horrid flames The like hath too much happened in the Church of Christ in latter times The Ministers and Professors of Religion not long since in this Island were like a goodly Mirrour all of one peece glorious in truth and piety by reason of the bright beams of the Sunne of Righteousnesse that Fountain of true light and holinesse shining on them But oh how are they broken all to shivers and who can expresse the sad consequents of their dissentions The Profane are detetred from looking towards Religion because they conceive it to be a thing of so great uncertainty that it will be impossible for them to attain to any assurance of what is truth seeing such persons of parts and piety cannot agree about it The weak contrary to the Apostles (f) Rom. 14.1 canon being received to doubtfull disputations or hearing so much of differences amongst those that are reckoned more then ordinary in Religion lie down in despondencie of spirit and are subjected to sad temptations of misbelief and error That which (g) Heb. 12.13 halts in stead of being healed is clean turn'd out of the way of truth The strong are grieved and the Devil laughs to see his work go forward his kingdom increase his tares so readily entertained by the means of those whom he lookt upon as his most mortall enemies 6. All the former causes of the growth of haeresie would not be effectually operative were it not that Peoples hearts are like a prepared soile ready to entertain these damnable errors Look into their minds they are filled with darknesse how then
destroying Errors with Truths (d) Act 19 27 c. 35. ornaments attributing to them as Numa and other deceivers to their Lawes the title of Divine oracles (e) Euseb eccl hist l. 4. c. 6. Depths of wisdome Rules of piety Saving truths High and mystical excellencies Thus did Saturninus and divers others He that would satisfie himself farther concerning these particulars may take a view of Porphyrie's railing books against the Christians or later horrid Pamphlets exceeding his in blasphemy as that De tribus Impostoribus mundi Popish railing libels Haeretical writings as that of Paul Best The Mad-mans Divinity and such like stuffe And thus briefly you see the truth of this second particular viz. The course usage Religion meets with at the hands of some in the world It is evil-spoken of or blasphemed But how comes this to pass Indeed it is mens basenesse and prophanesse so to do but yet there is seeming cause for it which the Text holds forth in those words By reason of whom i.e. of such as are seduced Which is the third and last Particular of this second generall Part. A main cause and root of wicked mens blaspheming or speaking evil of Religion is the following of Seducers by multitudes who pretend to Truth yet imbrace their pernicious wayes and errors Thus was in the Primitive times the people who bare the name of Christians yet being seduced profest such doctrine as could no way agree with the Christian verity and walked in an answerable practise to their erroneous tenets raised (f) Euseb l. 4. hist. eccl c. 7. no smal persecutions against the Church For when the profane atheistical spirits of the world took notice in those people either of their monstrous and absurd opinions as that of (g) Epophan haeres 37. Aug. de haeres the Ophites who worshipped the Serpent that seduced Eve believing it was Christ and the (h) Epiph. haer 38. Aug. de haer Cainites who honoured Cain as their father (i) Euseb hist eccl l. 3. c. 26. Epiph. haeres 21 25. highly esteeming Esau Chore Dathan Abiran and Judas c. Their beastly tenets as that of the Nicholaitans concerning community of wives or of the Simonians concerning liberty to all licentiousnesse Which when they take notice how contrary and opposite to Justice Order Modesty such assertions are this makes them taxe Religion as the Devils product carrying souls headlong to eternall ruine Or else they look upon their inconstancy levity frequently shifting opinions and changing Sects (k) Mat. 11.7 like reeds shaken to and fro or empty (l) Jude 12. clouds carried hither and thither by every wind As (m) Socr. schol hist eccl l. 3 c. 11. Eccebolius the Sophist who in Constantines time was a Christian in Julians a Pagan after his death a Professor of Christianity again and hath this blurre left on him That he was constant in his unconstancie to his death How many such weather-cocks are there in the world who turn with every wind conforming themselves to the time not truth Well hereby worldly men charge Truth with fallibility and uncertainty Or else they take notice of their egregious Pride and Censoriousnesse (n) Hermogenes erat natura turbulentus c. Tertul. Jam. 3.17 morosity and selfishnesse stiling their own Conventicles the Elect of God the Spouse of Christ the only pure and undefiled one rejecting all others as polluted creatures Reprobates fuel for hell and the like as the (o) Euseb hist eccl l. 6. c. 42. Novatians of old 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who stiled themselves the Pure ones and divers other Haereticks both in former and later times I might instance in This makes them tax Religion with pride unmannerlinesse with self-seeking and uncharitablenesse c. And lastly Their divisions and differences that were amongst them which made Pagans take notice that (p) Amb. in 2 Tim. 2.20 there were many Sects and Factions amongst the Christians and hence conclude against the Religion it self as a thing breeding and nourishing divisions and distempers But give me leave to tell you their mistake may be taken notice of to arise from these two things Either first their not distinguishing between Truth and Haeresie as if they were one and the same seed producing the same fruit in all whom they possest Thus they speak evil of the things they (q) 2 Pet. 2.12 understand not as the Apostle speaks Or secondly Their not putting a difference between the Orthodox and Heterodox professors of Religion Which error in the (r) Euseb hist eccl l. 4. c 7. Primitive time was no smal occasion of slanders cast upon the Christians and of sad persecutions raised against them And hence it was that those Primitive fathers were so much put upon it to pen Pemonstrances Confessions of faith Apologies and Confutations of Haeretical tenets that they might vindicate Religion and cleer the Church of Christ from those calumnies and false aspersions that were occasioned by their words and courses who were seduced by heterodox opinions Vse And is not here new cause of mourning to hear Truth blasphemed This is that which sads the spirits of good men It is a day of trouble to them because a day of (s) Esa◠37 3. blasphemy And that too frequently procured by them who pretend to more light piety and religion then others do So that Christ may well take up those words in the (t) Zach. 13.6 Prophet I am wounded in the house of my friend for such they are in pretence though in reality enemies What pious spirit can chuse but grieve to see the Daughter of heaven reproached the Jewel betrusted with the Saints abused the generall and onely true Medicine of soules contemned the Mirrour of Heaven spet upon the Image of Gods mind most despitefully used To hear Innocency charged with guilt Simplicity with deceit Sincerity with falshood Antiquity with novelty Light called darknesse Divine called humane nay diabolical Who can abstain from tears What have we I beseech you to leave Posterity so precious as this Way of Truth If that be gone the (u) 1 Sam. 3. glory is departed from Israel and farewell all Have we received it from our ancestors in lustre and purity and is it not grievous to us that in our time it should be so mangled and defaced that our children after us except it be timely prevented will scarce be able to distinguish 'twixt it and Error Why did the valiant Martyrs shed their precious blood but to maintain this way of truth shall we lose and let it go at so cheap a rate and not mourne for it (w) Esa 36 22 37 1. The Jewes of old when they heard blasphemy used to rend their cloaths to testifie the inward rending of their hearts Can ours be whole when the foolish people so much defame Gods truth and blaspheme his (x) Psal 74.18 name Well this I am sure of That by
this morris-dance of Haereticks Gods truth is rendred in the opinion of carnal men as a thing of so much uncertainty vanity and deformity that those who otherwise would imbrace it are kept back like that Indian King from baptisme by beholding the Spaniards ungodly oppressing courses The weak are scandalized and laid open to temptations (y) Mat. 18.6 Mark 9.42 Luk. 17.2 but woe to them that offend those little ones that believe in Christ it were better for them that a milstone were hang'd about their necks and they were cast into the bottom of the sea The strong (z) 2 Sam. 2.23 like the army stand at a gaze as when Hasael lay dead before them and are retarded in stead of making progres to cleanse these (a) Pausan l. 5. Augean stables purge out this leven which else would leven the lump their righteous soules are vexed to see Religion made a coat for the Moon or a Shipmans hose to serve all turns and purposes The prophane are heartned against this way of truth and their mouths wide-opened in scorns scoms and reproches of it These things moved the blessed Apostle to that severe desire (b) Gal. 5.12 I would saith he they were cut off that trouble you And lastly God himself is provoked to wrath and indignation For if (c) Cedrâ—â— p. 168. Theodosius the Emperor was so much offended with the people of Antioch for abusing the Statue of his Empresse Placilla that he devoted the place to ruine and themselves to slavery what think you will become of those that abuse Religion then which there is not a more excellent Image of Himselfe in heaven or earth And is not here cause to mourn Vse 2 Are not you a people whom God hath hedged in from the large Common of the world for a part of his own Peculiar You are famous in your pious Progenitors who by their pleadings writings sufferings have stood like mighty bulwarks against Truths enemies Are you not renowned in your Atchievements glorious for Deliverances envied for Mercies And what shall all this set in a dark night of Error and render you infamous to Posterity Shall famous England become an Amsterdam of Mixtures an Island of Monsters Hath God done so much for you and will you so ill requite him in exposing his Truth to scorn Do you not know the charge of Papists against the Protestant truth because of Divisions and Errors we formerly have been able to retort this by bidding them look at home and must we now be silent Beloved were it some new and not an ordinary tryal that where (d) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Macar hom 17. Truth is the devil seeks to extinguish or at least ecclipse its glory by setting up Error to cloud it or at least to conflict with it and disturb Truths quiet possession were this I say some strange and uncouth thing it were the more tolerable to be ensnared by it But when 't is a thing so ordinary that lesse or more the Devils malice in every age of the Church hath been sufficiently discovered against the Truth nay God hath permitted such blasts and storms to arise for to put his people upon a stricter enquiry after truths confines and that the light chaffe and weighty wheat the chaste soule and unchaste fickle spirit may be (e) Deut. 13.3 distinguished discovered and difference put between them And now when it is a thing so common to be conquered by it what will it argue at the best but great inadvertencie and heedlesnes of spirit in you and render you unexcusable before Gods tribunal Therefore I beseech you (f) Eph. 6.10 be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might (g) 1 Cor. 16.13 Quit your selves like men (h) Jude 3. Contend earnestly for the faith alwayes remembring that speech of (i) Fraus malitia haereticorum vel dolenda est tanquam hominuÌ„ vel cavenda est quam haereticarum vel irridenda tanquaÌ„ imperitorum superborum Aug. cont Adric. Augustine The fraud and malice of haereticks is either to be bewailed because they are men or taken heed of and avoided because they are Haereticks or to be laught at because they are either unskilfull and foolish or else proud lofty but alwayes to be shunned and avoided as the means way of everlasting ruine Q. What may some say should we do that we may escape their Seducements A. 1. Get your minds furnished with saving wholsome fundamental principles of Religion out of Truths record the Word of God for unballased ships are soon oreset empty clouds whist to and fro by every blast chaffe carried hither and thither with every breath of wind and unfurnished unprincipled souls with heavenly truth are easily like children for want of knowledge seduced and plunged in error (k) Humana caecitas ad deum non dirigit viam nisi ipse lucernam legis ostendat c. Cyp. ser 5. de laps Col. 3.16 Therefore let the Word of Christ dwell plentifully in you in all knowledge and spirituall understanding What is a Goldsmith without his Touchstone or a Carpenter without his Rule or a Christian without the Word 2. Rest not in a bare literal knowledge without the sealing light of Gods spirit affecting your souls with a proportionable love and liking to what is discovered in his Word unto you for what we find not pleasure profit or some reall worth and benefit in we are easily inticed and prevailed with to let it go but if once heavenly truths unload their treasures of glory into our souls so that we find and feel their vertue and influence in our spirits beams of light enlightning (l) Psal 15.7 delighting and making glorious our minds (m) 1 Cor. 10.5 Subduing power throwing down Satans forts in our hearts (n) 2 Cor. 3. ult transforming grace changing the whole man into the Lords image Conscience comforted rectified sanctified in a word the soul (o) Eph. 3.19 filled with Gods fulnesse It begets so great an assurance in the spirit of Religious verity and so great an affection towards it because of its goodnesse that Seducers lose their labour and are fruitlesse in their endeavours to rob such souls of Truth because they know its reall worth and that there is nothing so good to them in exchange for which they should barter and let it go Only take care to grow and increase in this sweet (p) Col. 1.2.2 Experimentall knowledge and most inward acquaintance with the way of truth for (q) Nemo putet bonos posse de ecclesia discedere Triticum non rapit ventus nec arborem solida radice fundatam procella subvertit Inanes paleae tempestate jactantur invalidae arbores turbinis incursione evertuntur Cyp. tract 3. de simpl praelat thereby you shall find your selves established and strongly rooted in the same so that when others shall discover their levity and in time of temptation shall