Rev. 3. 10. To try the Faith and Patience and Constancie of those who are sound and will cleave unto God and unto his Truth This reason the Apostle giveth why there must be Heresies in the Church 1 Cor. 11. 19. There must be Heresies saith he among you that they which are approved may be made manifest And so we may say There must be Blasphemies God seeth it expedient to permit them and that to this end amongst others that they which are {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Sincere and constant unto God and his Truth may be made manifest to themselves and others This is one of Gods winnowing seasons wherein by this wind he severs the sound and weighty corne from the chaff showing who they are that are stable with him and who are otherwise Secondly as God permits this in justice and wisdome for these and other ends known to himself so Satan acts it This hath the Enemy done saith the Husbandman in the parable concerning the Tares which were grown up in his fild among his good corne Matth. 13. 28. These Tares are Schismaticks and Hereticks with their Heretical Doctrines which like Tares intoxicate the brains of men which will take them down Now these are of Satans sowing That {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} that envious man as he is there called envying to see Gods corne grow and flourish to see the prosperity of the Church and the flourishing of the Gospel he poysons the ground with this pernicious Tinetare This he doth to crosse and hinder Gods work in his Church Even as in the rebuilding of the Wals of Jerusalem he made use of those Samaritans pretended friends but reall adversaries to the Jews to hinder the work what they could Ezra 4. 1. c. Even so in this time of an intended Reformation he hath stirred up many such Heretical spirits to render all endeavours that way ineffectual Even as God once frustrated that designe for the building of Babel by dividing the languages of the builders so doth Satan now by a like practice seek to hinder the building of Jerusalem the Church of God amongst us by dividing the Hearts and Tongues and Pens of men that whilst some speak the language of Canaan of heaven holding forth the Orthodox truth of God others who pretend to be builders too should speak the language of Hell holding forth pernicious Errours Heretical Blasphemies 3. Again thus it cometh to passe through the remissenesse and negligence of those to whom the care of the Church is or should have been committed Whilst men slept saith the Parable the Enemy sowed Tares among the wheat Matth. 13. 25. whilst those who are or should be betrusted with the Church either fall asleep or are laid asleep so as they do not act so vigilantly and vigorously as they ought to do for the welfare and preservation thereof such Tares such evill Instruments creep in A truth lamentably experimented in this Nation at this day Where whilst the golden reynes of Ecclesiastical Government have been relaxed and let loose and the Civil sword otherways imployed so as Errors of an inferiour alloy have been connived at and de facto tolerated men as the nature of sin and errour is growing worse and worse through this Liberty have at the length arrived at this desperate height to speak Blasphemies write Blasphemies Print Blasphemies daring to pour out their Vials upon the Sun cast a dark foyle upon the clearest and most comfortable truths upon the whole Religion of God Fourthly again In men themselves we shall finde somewhat which disposeth them unto this great evill Men do not ordinarily become Blasphemers at the first Nemo repentè fit pessimus They climb to this height of wickednesse by certaine degrees and steps Some of which we shall meet with in the former part of this verse whereof the text is part Men shall be lovers of their own selves c. Mark how men come to be Blasphemers First they are Lovers of themselves seeking their own things their own honour credit preferment making self the end of all their actions And secondly they are Covetous accounting gaine to be godlinesse And thirdly they are vain-glorious arrogating much unto themselvs highly conceited of their own worth And fourthly they are proud supercilious despisers of others thinking meanly of others in comparison of themselves And being such no wonder now they come to be Blasphemers When Satan hath thus got them up to the top of the Pinacle now he casts them down having got them to the top of the Ladder now he turneth them off putting them upon such desperate wayes and courses unlesse mercie step in to their utter destruction Thus you see that it is so and why it is so That which now remaines is the Application Which I shall direct first Generally then Specially Generally to all Christians Specially to Timothies the Ministers of the Gospel 1. For all Christians Let not them in the first place be offended at such times such Persons So effended as to like the Church of God the Religion of God ever the worse for that A needfull Caveat this being a thing which men are very subject to It is not for nothing that our Saviour pronounceth a blessing upon them who shall not be offended at him Blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended at me Matth. 11. 6. This he foresaw the world would be subject to to take offence at him at his personal condition the meannesse of it and the sufferings attending it Herewith the Disciples themselves were offended So their Master foretold it would be with them Matth. 26. 31. All ye shall be offended because of me this night And accordingly it came to passe When they saw him apprehended carried away and used in that disgraceful manner they began to entertaine other thoughts of him then before they had done and fayled in the duty and respect which they ought unto him And as at his personal condition so at the condition of his Church This men are subject to be offended at as in regard of troubles and persecutions arising from without of which our Saviour speaketh in the Parable Matth. 13. 21. whereby the stony ground setting forth the Temporary Professor he giveth this character of him that however at the first he heareth and receiveth the word with joy yet when tribulation and persecution ariseth by and by he is offended So also in regard of those Pests of Hereticks and Blasphemers which are bred in the womb and nursed up in the bosome of the Church These are in themselves a great eye-sore a great offence But let them not be so to any of us Neither is there any reason they should be so This is no other then what the Spirit of God hath forewarned us that it should be And therefore forewarned us that we should not be offended when we see it come to passe For this end it was that our Saviour
of the tree of knowledge of good and evill Some there have been who have dangerously miscarried by affecting too ambitiously to be of Natures privy counsel Prying too farre into those abdita naturae majestatis seeking to finde out the secret of natuâ—e they have lost themselves But more by prying into divine secrets over-curiously enquiring into those ever to be adored mysteries concerning the Trinity of Persons in the unity of the Godhead the manner of Christs Incarnation c. not suffering their faith to go a step farther then carnal reason could conduct and carry it Here hath been the rise of Arminian errours Socinian Blasphemies and the Blasphemies of many other heretical spirits at this day That you may be preserved from the like miscarriage take that other branch of the Apostles caveat in that place forenamed Rom. 12. 3. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Do not presume to understand above that which is meet for you to understand Non supra scriptum Not above that which is written 1 Cor. 4. 6. Content your selves with revealed truths And amongst them spend your zeale upon those which are most necessary most useful All truths are not of the same alloye or of the same weight Some more precious more ponderous then others Reserve your zeale for those which are of chiefest concernment fundamentall truths As for Problematicall truths Controversal and Questionable points which are agitated and discussed amongst men learned and pious and are not of nor near the foundation be not over eager about them in opposing and censuring those which are otherwise minded then your selves And as for Metaphysical speculations Platonical Ideaes and other like aiery empty notions leave them as whetstones to sharpen young wits withall Such stones are no bread for Christians affording no solid soul-nourishment and therefore not to be fed upon but declined So Paul prescribeth it by way of advice unto Timothy 1 Tim. 6. 20. where giving him a charge to keep that sacred depositum the doctrine of the Gospel which was committed to his trust as an Evangelist a minister of it to keep it himself to transmit it to posterity as he had received it pure and uncorrupted in the next words he directs him how he might the better do it Avoyd saith he prophane and vaine bablings and oppositions of science falsly so called Prophane and vaine bablings {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} vaine contests and disputes about things which are not revealed or are not worth the time which is lavished out upon them not tending to spiritual edification such as those fables and endlesse Genealogies which the same Apostle speaketh of chap. 1. verse 4. of the same Epistle which minister questions rather then edisying Such profane and vaine bablings here he willeth him to avoid With oppositions of science falsly so called {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Such oppositions and disputes as are made against sound doctrine by the adversaries of the truth who pretend to a greater measure of knowledge then others as those forenamed Gnosticks did whom the ancient Greek fathers conceive the Apostle there to point out as it were by name Such vaine and fruitlesse contests with proud adversaries Paul willeth Timothy there to avoid In the next words shewing him the danger of the contrary Which some saith he professing have erred from the faith Here is the danger of being addicted to such curious vaine and fruitlesse speculations and such endlesse disputes Hereby some have been others may be brought to desert the truth of God which formerly they have professed upon this ground take we heed of this affectation And among other things to mind you of that also by the way beware of holding up Arguments against the truth by opposing Reason or humane Authority or pretended Revelation against Scripture as the manner of some is This also will come within the compasse of these profane and vaine bablings of which this Apostle tels us 2 Tim. â— 16. That they increase unto more ungodlines Such Errors as these do not stay where they begin but they breed Error upon Error proceeding from lesser to greater till at the length they arrive even at Blasphemy But I finde my Meditations running out beyond the limits I intended them when I took this Text in hand To contract my self as much as I may You see now what things are to be taken heed of that you may be preserved from this dreadfull evill My next work is to show you what is to be done Here I shall not multiply directions Take some which I conceive to be most proper 1. In the first place Labour for a distinct sound well grounded knowledge in the principles of Christian Religion For the most part Blasphemy is the fruit of Ignorance These men saith Saint Jude speaking of Blasphemers who speak evill of Dignities they speak evill of things which they know not Jude v. 10. And truly so do Blasphemers for the most part they speak evill of things which they know not So did Paul before his conversion he was a Blasphemer speaking evill of Christ and his Religion but he did it Ignorantly Certainly did men know God and his Religion they would not dare to open their mouths against them Had they known they would never have crucified the Lord of Glory saith Paul speaking of the Princes the Rulers of the earth 1 Cor. 2. 8. And so may we say of many Blasphemers did they but know God and his Truth they would not Crucifie them peirce them thorough as they do Labour for a wel-grounded knowledge of God and his Truth 2. Receive the love of the truth For the want of this it is that God giveth men up to strong delusions that they should beleeve lyes false doctrines Heresies and Blasphemous opinions because they receive not the love of the Truth 2 Thes. 2. 11. They receive the truth into their Heads in a speculative way so as to be inlightned by it but not into their Hearts in an affective way to be warmed by it Let not us content our selves with the former of these Those Revolters whom the Author to the Hebrews speaks of were such as were once inlightned Heb. 6. 4. such as had received the knowledge of the truth cap. 10. v. 26. It is no newes for illuminated Doctours learned men to turne Apostates Hereticks Labour we to finde heat as well as light that with the knowledge of the truth we may have a love of the Truth This Love will be strong as death Cant. 8. 6. nothing shall conquer it 3. In the third place knowing and loving the Truth Walk in it This is the commendation which Saint John giveth of the children of that Elect Lady Joh. 2. v. 4. They walked in the truth This is the true Christians commendation not that he knoweth the Truth of talketh of it but that he walketh in it acknowledging th truth the Doctrine which is according to Godlinesse as our Apostle describeth the
reason taken from the order of the words wherein he apprehends a kind of Gradation Men shall be lovers of themselves Covetous Boasters Proud {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Contemners of other men as he expounds the Word I not sparing God himself Blasphemers of him And if that be true which Epiphanius with great probability conjectures viz. that the Apostle here in this description aimes at those Hereticks which should spring up in the infancie of the Church as viz. Simon Menander Ebion Cerinthus Carpocrates and the Gnosticks we shall not need to mince the matter for such were they down-right Blasphemers in an Ecclesiastical sense Blasphemers of God And that the Apostle speaketh here if not of them yet of such as they it is rightly and clearly collected from the sixth and eighth verses of the chapter Where shewing who and what they were whom he spake of Of this sort saith he are they which creep into houses and lead captive silly women verse 6. plainly pointing out false teachers Hereticks who vented and scattered their false doctrines and heresies clancularly and closely in corners taking advantage upon the weaker sex as the devil at first did to make the first impression upon them as all Hereticks in all ages ever have done and at this day do And again vers. 8. As Jannes and Iambres withstood Moses so do these also resist the truth men of corrupt minds concerning the faith reprobate Such they were whom the Apostle here speaketh of Blasphemous Hereticks And being such we may well conceive this to be the sinne which here he chargeth upon them viz. Blasphemy in a restrained sense even Blasphemy against God Having thus found out the kind of evil here charged our next work must be yet a little more fully to open the nature of it Blasphemy in proper acceptation what it is I have already told you in the general It is any Injury offered to the name of God by word Or speaking evill of the name of God So the Lord complains of it Is 52. 5. My name continually every day is blasphemed To which text the Apostle relates Rom. 2. 24. The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles That is evil-spoken of Now for a more particular explication that we may dive a little into the bowels of this sinne let me briefly open unto you these two things First What is meant by the name of God And secondly How the name of God may be iujured by word evil-spoken of 1. For the former by the name of God we are to understand any thing whereby God Himself or his Will his Nature or his Mind are made known to us Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain Command 3. Now this is done many ways As by his Titles Attributes Works Word Religion Ordinances Image His Titles as Iehovah Elohim God Lord His Attributes or Properties as Power Goodnesse Mercy Truth His Works of Creation and Providence His Word which is his mind and will revealed in the Scriptures Religion the Doctrine and Practice of it His Ordinances Prayer the publick Ministry of the Word Sacraments Sabbaths His Image whether Essentiall as it was in Christ who is called the Image of the invisible God 1 Col. 15. the expresse Image of his person Heb. 1. 2. which is called the name of God Exod. 23. 21. My name is in him speaking of Christ Or Accidental as it is in men upon whom the name of God is called as it is upon Magistrates who are therefore called Gods Psal. 82. 1. 6. Exod. 22. 28. And upon Ministers who stand in the place of God as his Ambassadours acting in his name and bearing his name as it is said of Paul Acts 9. 15. And generally upon all the faithful people of God who bear the Image of their heavenly Father and are called by his name as we have it Deut. 28. 10. Jer. 14. 9 By these God maketh himself known unto us and therefore each may be called his name Quest 2 Now How may this name of God be said to be injured evill spoken of Answ. I answer in the general when men shall abuse any of these by word speak contumeliously of them This Contumely redounding unto God himself every word so spoken is Blasphemie As 1. When the Titles of God are abused whether by way of Incantation as those Jewish Exorcists called the name of Jesus over them which had evill spirits Acts 19. 13. or by way of Execration cursing the name of God or by his name which was the Blasphemie of the Israelitish womans son Levit. 24. 11. who blasphemed the name of the Lord and cursed or by way of Pejeration forswearing or by way of wicked swearing which Tremelius renders Blasphemia Blasphemy Levit. 5. 1. Secondly God is Blasphemed in his Attributes and that three wayes 1. When men shall deny that unto God which properly belongs unto him and is agreeable to his nature As when men shall deny him to be such a one as he hath revealed himself denying him to be Omnipresent Omniscient Omnipotent which last was the Blasphemie of Rabshakeh and the servants of the King of Assyria who bade defiance unto God in point of power as if he had not been able to deliver Ierusalem out of the hands of their Master 2 Kings 18. 35. compared with chap 19. 6. 2. When men shall attribute that unto God which is not agreeable to his nature fasten dishonourable attributes upon him taking up and venting of mean and low apprehensions concerning God as the Heathens of old and some Hereticks have done and Idolaters and blind ignorant persons daily do who misconceiving of God thinking him to be like nnto themselves as the Lord saith of the wicked man Psal. 50. 21. expresse those their misconceivings to the disparaging of the Majesty of the infinite God 3. When men shall attribute that unto the creature which is proper to the Creator whether unto themselves that is the Blasphemy which the Scribes censure Christ for though unjustly Mat. 9. 2 3. This man blasphemeth say they viz. in taking upon him to forgive sinnes which is a work proper unto God Or unto others as when men shall make Gods of men attributing divine properties or giving divine honour to them as the People to Herod Acts 12. 22. And the Lystrians to Paul and Barnabas Acts 14. 11 12 13. and as Court-parasites do sometimes to their Princes and Romish flatterers to their lord god the Pope as some of them have not spared to call him Each of these is Blasphemy Blasphemy against the Attributes of God Thirdly there is blasphemy against the works of God His works of Creation and Providence And thus again God may be blasphemed three ways 1. When men shall deny these works or either of them deny the works of Creation as those Philosophers who would have the world to be from Eternity coexistent with God himselfe Deny the work of Providence
those with their pestilent doctrines who would hearken to them Such were they of whom the Apostle here foretelleth they should be found guilty of this great Evill Men shall be Blasphemers So he foretold it and accordingly it hath come to passe Such there were not a few in Timothies time In the first Centurie in the Apostles times and soon after how many of this brood such as pretending to an outward profession of the Gospel yet were blasphemers in some kind or other Such were Hymeneus and Alexander and Philetus of whom our Apostle speaketh 1 Tim. 1. 20. 2 Tim. 2. 17. who amongst others {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} of whom is Hymeneus c. had put away Faith the Doctrine of Faith and a good conscience Erring concerning the faith In particular denying the Resurrection of the dead saying that it was past already Most probably maintaining their Error by open invectives against that Article of the Faith whereupon the Apostle chargeth them with Blasphemie for the cure of which he delivereth them up unto Satan by the censure of Excommunication 1 Tim. 1. 20. Of this sort were those in Saint Johns time of whom we finde mention Revel. 2. In the Church of Smyrna there were some which stood chargable with Blasphemie I know the Blasphemy of them which say they are Jewes and are not but are of the Synagogue of Satan saith the Spirit verse 9. Such a generation of men there were in that Church who said they were Jewes bragged of the truth of their Religion whilst they wanted both the inward power and outward evidences of it being in truth the Synagogue of Satan under his government and acted by him and as it is probable these slandered and reviled those which were not of their way inveighing against the truths of God and so became Blasphemers Such there were also in the Church of Pergamus some who held the Doctrine of Balaam ver. 14. Others that held the Doctrine of the Nicolaitans ver. 15. both heretically Blasphemers And such also was that woman Jezebel in the Church of Thyatira v. 20. who called her self a Prophetesse some noted wicked woman like unto that old Jezebel or of the same name with her or both who called her self a Prophetesse pretending it may be to Revelations or at least to a more then ordinary measure of the spirit and so took upon her to teach and instruct others and by that means being naught her self she taught others to be like her self seducing them both to corporal and spiritual fornication Adultery and Idolatry and that as is most probable under Religious pretences which may well be called Blasphemy To these Scripture instances we may adde those other which I mentioned before Blasphemers upon record in Ecclesiastical History in the first Century such was Simon-Magus the father of Hereticks of whom it is recorded that he gave out himself to be God and that it was he which gave the Law at Mount Sina unto Moses in the person of God the Father and appeared in the person of the Son in Tiberius his time and descended upon the Apostles in those cloven tongues of fire in the person of the Holy Ghost at the day of Pentecost and so required Divine honour to be given to him which accordingly it was at his coming to Rome where they who a little before had refused to acknowledge the Divinity of Christ now give divine honour to a seducing Sorcerer setting up his Image with this superscription Simoni deo sancto to Simon an holy God Out of his ashes sprung up Menander in many things like unto his master Simon but in absurdity of monstrous opinions far exceeding him And after him that payre of Hereticks Ebion and Cerinthus who denyed the Divinity of Christ The latter of which first broached the opinion of the grosser kinde of Chyliasts or Millenaries about the personall reigne of Christ upon earth viz. that after the Resurrection Christ should reigne upon earth for a thousand yeers during which time the subjects of this Kingdom should enjoy all kind of sensuall pleasures and carnal contentments About the same time or not long after sprung up that infamous Carpocrates from whom came that wicked generation of the Gnosticks A company of blasphemous Hereticks called by the name of Gnosticks because they pretended to a more then ordinary knowledge in dark and hidden mysteries whose opinions and doctrines were so detestable so abominable that I finde some blaming Epiphanius for leaving any record of them to posterity they being such as cannot but offend any chast eare to heare or eye to read Such as justly denominated them as Augustine tels us they were called Borboritae or Caenosi men polluted and wallowing in the mire of all speculative and practical filthinesse Such were there some and not a few in those Primitive and purest times of the Church And such there have been more or lesse in all ages of the Church since O that I might not say that some such there are to be found in this Kingdome in the Church at this day But alas how is this Prophecie of the Apostles fulfilled and made good amongst us in these last and worst of times In the last dayes c. mon shall be Blasphemers And is it not so Wherefore is it that we are met together this day but to bewaile the Blasphemies the hideous horrid prodigious Blasphemies which swarme almost in all places of this Nation at this day To go about to reckon them up would be a work as endlesse as fruitlesse Nay a work in attempting whereof I should deserve the like censure as the aforesaid Historian hath incurred there being some and not a few of them so horridly impious that it is not fit they should ever be so much as named among Christians Such as should I rehearse them I know they would make all your eares to tingle Not to speak here of the Blasphemies of many wicked and profane persons of whom we may say as the Spirit doth of that great Whore Revel. 17. 3. they are full of names of Blasphemie not sparing to peirce thorow to rend and teare the sacred name of God in peices by impious hellish Oaths and Imprecations Not regarding how contumeliously they speak of God of his works of his Religion Ordinances Officers Image Such a generation there is to be found amongst us true Malignants such as David describeth Psal. 73. 9. They set their mouth against the heavens and their tongue walketh through the earth they speak profanely of God and of his works of Providence Such is their pride that they speak of every thing at their own pleasure without any regard either to God or man Not unlike that Beast in the Revelation Rev. 13. 6. of whom it is said that he opened his mouth in Blasphemies against God to blaspheme his name and his Tabernacle and them that dwelt in heavenâ— So do they they spare not to open their mouths in
Blasphemiâ— against God against his Religion his Ordinances his Saints â—â—ch as serve God in holinesse and righteousnesse being fellow-Citizens of Heaven and of Gods houshold Thus being imbittered against the true Religion of God at least against the power and practise of it they care not how basely they speak of it and of those who hold it forth by a visible profession and practise not caring what opprobrious and disgraceful terms they cast upon them and all for their holinesse sake for the Image sake which they bear which as I have shewn you is no lesse then Blasphemy against God whose servants they are and whose cognizance they wear But to leave them The Blasphemie which we are this day principally to take notice of is the Blasphemy of those who say they are Jewes but are not such as pretend to Religion making an outward profession of it and yet are Blasphemers And are there not such to be found in this Nation that I say not in this place Professors and yet Blasphemers Men that professe to stand for God and for Christ and for his Religion pretending to more of God then others and yet Blaspheme all Would to God the charge did not lye so justly against some and many of this kinde Should we take a generall survey of some particulars what one Article of the Christian faith shall we finde which is not by some such either denied or perverted As for God himself though he be acknowledged in word yet how is he in truth denied by those who will not allow him to be a distinct Essence subsisting by himself Such is the Doctrine and language of some There is no God but what is within us As for that Orthodox distinction betwixt Essence and Person how is it exploded The very name of Trinity jeared at and the thing renounced The Deity of Christ the Son of God as also of the Holy Ghost and their equality whith the Father how is it professed against I might go on and shew you the like in many other of the Articles if not all As also touching the Scriptures which are made to be no other but a humane breath and that blowing as the wind contrary wayes containing in them many silly vaine grosse and contrary things the Prophets and Apostles therein poore men speaking according to the present tempers of their spirits it is their own language And so for the Ordinances of God that they are poore and low dispensations worthlesse uselesse at least to them All Religious duties in publike or private are but formes bodily exercises meerly legall And there may be as much of God seen and enjoyed in any servile labour as in the Ministery of the Word Prayer c. To these I might adde the opprobrious and disgraceful language that is poured out upon the servants of God and that not only his servants at large as all true Christians are who if they be not of their way are sure to hear ill enough what ever else they be but also his servants in Ordinarie the Ministers of the Gospel who are reproached and vilified and disgraced and that not for any personal miscarriages but with reference to their publike capacities as Ministers the very office it self being decryed as of no longer use in the Church of God But I finde this work already done to my hand by others who undertaking to give testimony of the Truth of Jesus Christ have posted up some of these Heretical Blasphemies in aeternam rei Infamiam presenting them to the view of the world to their eternal Infamie Thus Professours not a few are turned Blasphemers I some who at least in their owne apprehensions seemed to be of the highest forme I more such as have been or have taken upon them to be Teachers and Instructers of others So fully is Pauls Prophecie here fulfilled and accomplished amongst us never more and more desperate Blasphemers of this kinde to be found in any age in any Nation of the world then at this day in this Quest But how cometh it so to passe that this so ill so poysonous a weed should thus spring and grow in this Garden of God And that in this weeding time in this time of pretended and by many really intended Reformation It will not be amisse a little to enquire into the causes and occasions of it Answ 1. For answer in the first place This God permitteth I do not say he is the Author of it That is one of the Blasphemies of the Times to make God the Author of sin and not of the Action only in and with which sin is but of the very Pravitie Ataxie Anomie Irregularity and sinfulnesse it self which is in it in which termes it is by some delivered but yet he permitteth it and that with an effectual Permission which he doth 1. In a way of Judgment punishing one sin with another Men have been ungrateful unfruitful unanswerable to times and means not walking worthy of the Gospel not prizing it but waxing wanton under it therefore hath God given them up after this manner This is the Reason which the Apostle giveth why the Gentiles were given up to such Moral and Practical wickednesse as they were Rom. 1. 21 24. Because when they knew God viz. by the light of nature they did not glorifie him as God give that honour and respect unto him which they could not but apprehend due to the Divine Majesty neither were thankeful for those common mercies which they received from his hand Therefore God gave them up unto uncleannesse c. so punishing the breach of the first table by giving them up to the violation of the second And for the like cause it is that God in his just judgment sometimes giveth up men to this height of speculative wickednesse to turne Heretical Blasphemers Because when they knew God by the light of the Word they did not glorifie him as God by serving him according to his will revealed therefore hath he thus given them up unto Satans delusions Whilst the Truth was held forth unto them they did not afford it an answerable reception So the Apostle renders the reason of it 2 Thes. 2 â—0 11. where speaking of Apostates who had made defection from the faiâ—h Because saith he they received not the love of the Truth that is saith Grotious they did not prize the love of God in holding forth his Truth the truth of the Gospel unto them or rather they did not entertaine that truth imbracing and laying it up in their hearts as they should have done Therefore God shall send them strong delusion that they should beleeve a lye Therefore he giveth men up to the imbracing of Heretical and soul-damning doctrines This God doth in a way of judgment to some 2 And secondly he doth it by way of Probation and Tryal unto others Surely for this end is this hour of temptation come upon the Church at this day to try them that dwell upon the earth
foretold his Disciples what times should follow after his departure from them These things have I spoken unto you saith he that yee should not be offended John 16. 1. And for the like cause did the Apostle here advertise Timothy of what manner of men the Church of God should be pestered and infested within succeeding times that neither he nor others might be offended at that Apostatizing generation so as to like the Gospel ever the worse for their sakes And this use let us make of this Premonition There is sprung up in the bosome of this Church within these late yeers such a generatio n of Apostates Heretical Blasphemers such and so many as scarce any age all things considered ever bred Professours turned Blasphemers Those who had lyen in the Churches bosome sucking the sincere milk of the word from her Breasts the Scriptures held forth the profession of Religion in an exemplary and more then ordinary way yet they are fallen off now speaking evill I cannot say of the things which they knew not for then as our Saviour said of the persecuting Jewes to whom he had preached John 15. 22. they had not had sin their sin had not been so great but of the things which they have known and approved speaking evil of the Truths of God which have been precious unto them speaking evill of the wayes of God wherein they have conscientiously walked it may be even jearing at some of the most fundamentall doctrines and practises of Christian Religion speaking evill of the Ordinances of God which have been to them heretofore the avowed power of God to their salvation Now they look upon them as poor low dispensations empty formalities things which are beneath them and no longer usefull to them Never such a scandal given never so much dirt cast upon the face of Religion by any generation of men in any place in any age of the world since it was called Christian Well yet let not us be offended at all this It was a good resolution in Peter had he not taken it up in his own strength Though all men shall be offended at thee speaking to his Master yet will I never be offended Matth. 26. 33. Every of us take up the like in the strength of Divine grace assisting Though many be though all should be offended at the Religion of God yet so will not we be Though never so many scandals be given by others yet they shall not be taken by us so taken as that we should in the least be distasted with the wayes and Truths of God As for Hereticks and Blasphemers such in all ages there have been and such there must be So saith Paul of the former There must be Heresies or Sects 1 Cor 11. 18. And so may we say of the latter There must be Rlasphemers amongst us God seeth it expedient to permit it for those forementioned ends and other ends known to himself Let not any of us then be scandalized by it offended at it 2. And as not offended at it so not disanimated disheartned by it A thing which Christians in this case are no lesse subject to then the former And indeed there may seeme to be a cause for it To see such a flood of waters cast out of the mouth of the red Dragon who but may fear the carrying away the woman by it To see such a deluge of Heresies and Blasphemies cast out of the mouth of Satan who but may fear the drowning of the Church the extinguishing of the light of the Gospel amongst us But let not all this disanimate It is one end wherefore Paul here giveth his Timothy warning of this desperate generation of men that he might not be out of heart discouraged by them as if the Gospels cause were desperate but rather to steele his spirit and to make him so much the more couragious for God and his Truth bearing up head against those Errors of the times as I shall have occasion to shew you hereafter And this use let us make of this advertisement Now that we see it come to passe according as the Apostle here foretold it let us not be disanimated by it The Husbandman when he goeth into his field in the spring time it may be there he espieth abundance of Weeds growing up amongst his corne and so much the more by how much he hath bestowed the more cost upon it by manuring it but this doth not put him out of heart He knoweth that they will all wither before the harvest Upon the like consideration let the Lords people those which wish well unto his Religion bear up their hearts and spirits in the midst of these perilous and amazing times In this spring time of desired Reformation there are abundance of evill weeds Heresies and Blasphemies that are sprung up in this Church of God threatning to eate out the good corne and for the present they are not only an eye-sore an offence but an annoyance hindring not a little the growth and flourishing of it I mean of the Church and Gospel But here is the comfort before the Harvest all these shall wither and the good corne the Truth of God shall get the upper hand Magna est veritas Great is the Truth of God and it shall prevaile against all the dreams and fancies of men The earth shall swallow up all these waters As it was with the waters which drowned the world in the dayes of Noah when they had done the work for which they were sent washed that sinfull generation from off the face of the earth then they return again to that Abysse that great deep from whence they came Gen. 7. 11. 8. 3. And so shall it be with this flood of Heresies and Blasphemies which is broke forth upon this Nation at this day when these have done the work for which they are permitted and sent viz. made manifest those which are approved they shall return again to that Abysse that great deep that bottomlesse pit the pit of Hell from whence they came And therefore for us let us in the mean time with Noah and his family keep close within the Arke within the Arke of the Church waiting for the abating and drying up of these waters not doubting but that God in his due time will finde an Ararat for his poor weather-beaten Church to rest upon Thus be not offended be not discouraged by what is come to passe amongst us 3. But yet in the third place do not over-look it slight it as not worth the taking notice of So do they seem to do which cry up the present times for such glorious times such happy and blessed times Now surely if blessed Paul were alive in these times he would not think them so In his judgment such times as these wherein Professors turn Blasphemers they are {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Difficult Grievous Perilous times Evill times And I cannot but wonder how any one that hath the eye
against those vices and errors of the times And in this way let this Premonition be useful to all the faithful Ministers of Christ Now that we see this prediction verified amongst us in so punctual a manner 1. Be not discouraged at it Truth is such times as these are discouraging times They are so to all Christians who desire to be found faithful with God But specially to the Ministers of Christ Paul would have Timothy here to know that there were {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} difficult and perilous times acoming Perilous specially to men of his Coat his Calling And such they are When Professours turn Apostatizing Blasphemers then let Timothies the Ministers of God look to themselves Then every Athanasius shall be a Satansius and what not they shall be loaded with slanderous imputations and obloquies to render them odious in the eyes of the world But let not this dismay or discourage A thing which the best of men in this case may be subject to We see it in Jeremy when he saw what entertainment his person and message found among many how The Word of the Lord was made a reproach unto him and a derision dayly how his doctrine was sleighted derided mocked at by such men as the Apostle here speaketh of Blasphemers what were his thoughts hereupon you may read them Jer. 20. 8 9. Then I said I will not make mention of him nor speak any more in his name Hereupon Jeremy what with fear and discontent he beginneth to take up a resolution of silencing himself of laying aside his calling Such discouragements in such times the Ministers of Christ are subject to But let them not give way to them Thus it hath been and thus it is here foretold that it should be And wherefore foretold but that the Ministers of God whom after a special manner it concerns might not be so offended at it as to be discoraged at it These things have I spoken unto you that you should not be offended saith our Saviour to his Disciples speaking of the evill times which were to come after his departure from them John 16. 1. And so this thing hath the spirit of God foretold that the Ministers of the Gospel being forewarned might also be forearmed against what ever disheartnings or discouragements 2. But on the other hand Awakened Excited animated to greater Vigilancy Constancy Courage 1. Vigilancy When Foxes and Wolves are abroad it is time for the Shepherds to look out And such are seducing Teachers Foxes O Israel thy Prophets are like the Foxes in the deserts saith the Prophet Ezekiel cap. â—3 4 Such are false Prophets seducing Teachers being as Paul saith of Elimas Acts 13. 10. full of all subtilty and craft And as Foxes so Wolves I know saith Paul to the Elders of Ephesus that after my departure grievous Wolves shall enter in amosg you not sparing the flock Acts 20. 29. meaning thereby Seducers false Teachers whom our Saviour describeth to be Wolves in Sheeps clothing Mat. 7. 15. And being such it standeth the Ministers of God his Shepherds as they are often stiled in hand to look out to them To them is that speech directed Cant. 2. 15. Take us the Foxes the little Foxes that spoyle the Vines It is the speech of Christ to his Ministers saith our new Annotations upon it exciting them to look out have an eye to false teachers who seduce weak Christians And Paul foretelling the Elders aforesaid what Wolves should break in upon the Church in the next words he gives them an Item bespeaking their vigilancy Therefore watch Act 20. 31. The Ministers of Christ hearing of such dangerous instruments abroad should be so much the more vigilant over their flocks 2. And as vigilant over others so Constant in respect of themselves This is Pauls charge to Timothy in this chapter 2 Tim. 3. Having foretold him what times and persons were to come he giveth him his lesson v. 14. But continue thou saith he in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of And let all the Ministers of Christ take it home to themselves In the midst of what ever revolutions and turnings though the whole world should turn round yet let them stand like so many Centers not so far complying with any error of the times as to decline any way or Truth of God which they have beleeved professed held forth 3. And being constant in the Truth let them be so much the more zealous and couragious in defending it and opposing the Adversaries of it So far should this opposition be from damping their spirits as that it should by an antiperistasis make the fire of holy zeale to burn so much the more intensly within them Such effect it had in Paul when Elimas the Sorcerer a seducing Teacher withstood him seeking to turne the Deputy from the faith Act. 13. 8 9. See how Paul's spiritwas stirred within him Then Paul filled with the Holy Ghost set his eyes on him and said O full of all subtilty and all mischief thou child of the Devil c. with such a holy zeale did that good Polycarpe Saint Iohns disciple confront that Blasphemous Heretick Marcion who meeting him and demanding of him whether he knew him Yes saith he Agnosco te primogenitum Diaboli I know thee to be the first-born of the Devil So far should the Ministers of Christ be from being dismayed or terrified by these Adversaries that they should as Calvin speaks upon the Text Animos potius ad resistendum colligere rather gird up their loynes and gather up their spirits that so they may go out more couragiously in the strength of God against them This branch of the Application I might yet amplifie and inlarge by shewing you in what wayes and by what meanes the Ministers of God are to go out against such adversaries of the Truth as viz. by preaching against them writing against them confuting their Errors plucking off the Masks and Vizards and disguizes from their faces discovering their Impostures that so their folly being made manifest to all men they may proceed no farther as our Apostle hath it ver. 10. of this chapter But I have already expatiated far beyond the limits which I propounded to my selfe when I first took this subject in hand and therefore shall here conclude desiring God to make these Meditations as profitable as they are seasonable FINIS Psal. 1. 3. Prov. 25. 11. Ezek. 9. 4. 2 Tim. 2. 15. Prov. 31. 31. Sub extremis diebus comprehendit universum Christianae Ecclesiae statum Calv. ad locum Ita tamen ut maliâ—a de quâ loquitur subinde majores vires sumat cum tempore crescat usque ad extremum diem Hâ—rming ad loc. Cicero Eustathius Vide Bez. in Gr. Annot. in Mat. 9. 3. Aut quia est {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Aretus Problem loc. 109. de Blasphemiâ Hâc significatione peculiari usurpatur à sacris Scriptoribus nostris quomodo etiam apud Platonem bisponitur Beza Gr. Ann. in Mat. 9. 3. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} sunt hoc loco qui in Deum probra congerunt sed in genere maledici Vide Leigh Critic sacra ex Sculteto Blasphemi in Deum ejus doctrinam falsa impia de eo loquentes Claud. Espencaeus ad loc. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} in ipsum Deum maledici nam in hoc sensueminenâ—iore sumendam hic hanc vocem indicat ordo Grotius {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} contemptores aliorum Idem ad loc. Epiph. Haeresi 26. Vide Engl. new Annot. in 2 Tim. 9. 6. Q Vocem Blasphemiae Tremel Dicitur hic {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} non qui Deo maledicit sed qui quod Dei est sibi arrogat Groti ad loc. Opinio Epicuri Deum non curare res humanas quae videtur etiam Aristotelâ—s fuisse sententia Gro. in 1 Tim 6. 4. Isa. 37 23 24. August de Haeresi August de Haeres Simpsons History of the Church Cent 2. de Haeres See the Testimony of the truth of Jesus Christ by the Ministers of London Anno 1648. Mr. Bartlets Soveraigne Balsom in fine Reas. 1. Deus non est Author cujus est ultor Fulgent Comfort for Beleevers c. pag. 36 37. Reas. 2. Eng. New Annor Reas. 3. Reas. 4. Applic. Vse 1. Vse 2. Vse 3. Ainsworth in Levit 24 11. Propter talia delicta fames terrae motus pesses eveniunt Vide Alsted Theolog. Casaum cap. 15. Cas. 5. Vse 4. Quest Answ {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} ab a intensiva {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Sumo {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} ab {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} appareo quod quis enimere se caeteris mortalibus superiorem esse persuasum habeat Cui respondet Latinis Superbia q. super ire Leigh Critic Sacra {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} his Contemptores aliorum Grotius ad Text. Diodati ad loe Vide Grotium ad loc. Alsted Theol-Casuum cap. 15. Cas. 5. De Blasphemiâ Vide Alsted ibid. Jura Civilia praecisione linguae punierunt aliquando hoc peccatum c. Alii ut terribilior esset pâ—na jusserunt per occiput eximi linguam Aretius Loc. Com. 109. de Blasphemiâ Jura Canonica pessimo exemplo induxerunt mitigationem paenarum c. Dedit enim ista tantam Blasphemiarum segetem ut nihil srequentius sit inter Christianos quam impune nomen domini Blasphemare Aretius ibid. Vide M. Carill in Job 2. 9. Perkins in Galat. cap 3. v. 25 Alsted ubi supra Ireneus lib. 3. cap. 3. Euseb lib. 4. cap. 14. lib. 7. cap. 23 Vse 5. Vide New Annot. Eng. in 1 Cor. 5. 5. Applic. 2. Vseb l. c. 14.