Sober Singularity OR An Antidote against Infection By the example of A MULTITUDE Being Practical Meditations On Exod. 23. vers 2. Wherein is opened the Influence of the practise of a Multitude to draw men to Sin the special cases wherein it concerns us to be most cautious Reasons why we must not follow them together with the Application of the whole And therein Besides the General improvement of the point an Instance given of Nineteen practises of the Multitude to be avoided Seven of their Grand Principles to be rejected Sundry Particulars concerning Peace and Unity and the Sanctification of the Lords day useful for these times By R. Stedman M. A. 1 Tim. 5.22 Be not Partaker of other mens sins Keep thy self pure Defensio communis furoris est furentium Multitudo M.F. Oct. LONDON Printed by for Thomas Parkurst at the Golden Bible on London-Bridg under the Gate 1668. A PREFACE To the READER AS the just measure of the truth of all Theological Assertions is to be taken from their consonancy to the word of God So the usefulness and profit of any undertaking of that nature is to be estimated by the seasonableness and subserviency thereof to the grand Designes of the Gospel In both which respects the following Treatise however attended with many imperfections may for the substance and scope of it make Appeal to the judgments of such as are really touched with the concernes of Religion and have their senses exercised to discern wherein it 's interest lieth and how the progress of it is retarded The great Intendments of the Gospel to the propagation and furtherance whereof all particular attempts should be subordinated are mostly reducible to three heads The illustration and magnifying of the Grace of God in the salvation of lost sinners The Exaltation and advancement of our Lord Jesus Christ the only Mediatour of the Covenant of Grace The vindication and promoting of real holiness and purity amongst the children of men And the drift and purport of the Tract ensuing more directly relates to the last of these To minister help in the following after Godliness and to remove out of the way the main impediments that hinder from an hearty closure therewith It is a point as clear as the Noon-day and cannot be denyed by such as own the Scriptures that a vigorous and cordial prosecution of holiness in the greatest strictness and heighth of it is of indispenseable necessity to the Beatifical vision and enjoyment of God Without which all professions of faith and love to God are but empty names and counterfeits indeed a meer mockery of the most High How shall any be induced to believe that a man doth unfeignedly embrace and love the principles by which he refuseth to steer his course Or that such divine truths have a real seat in his affections which are openly disavowed and contradicted in his conversation He that will give a solid testimony of his sincere respects to the doctrine of Christianity must do it by a demeanour answerable thereunto It is by upright and humble walking as in the sight of God that Religion must be adorned that it may attract the hearts of them that are without Hereby our profession must be justified both in the sight of men and to the approbation of our own consciences And in this way alone we can comfortably expect to be conducted with safety to the Kingdom of Heaven When the nature and excellency of holiness and the fear of the Lord are considered separately in themselves without reflection upon the quality of the persons pressed thereunto it may seem a needless task to spend much time or many words in defence of it Who would not fear thee O King of nations for unto thee it doth appertain Jer. 10.7 Who that has any spark of sound wisdom would not be found faithful in the covenant of God Who that hath an insight into the beauty of holiness would not admire and fall in love with it But such is the enmity radicated in mens hearts against the Lord and their perverse disputings against the purity of the wayes of God and their addictedness to conform unto this world that it is rather a wonder of free grace that any persons are prevailed upon to close effectually with the power of Godliness than that it should be confined within so narrow a compass as the experience of all ages too abundantly manifesteth it to be Besides it is a matter of no difficult observation to a thoughtful Christian who hath his eyes open and is in the least degree akin to the children of Issachar that had understanding of the times what have been the crafty machinations and methods of the Devil and his adherents in these late dayes to bring the strictness of Religion into contempt and to make it a reproach by casting loads of accusations upon the professours thereof that so Godliness may be wounded through their loynes and the spirits of men deterred and discouraged from the sedulous pursuance of it And what if the miscarriages and extravagancies of some who seemed to be eminent for piety have ministred too much occasion to them that lye at the catch to raise an evil report and to vent their slanderous revilings against the truth Yet it must needs appear to be but a very ridiculous piece of Logick to argue from the corruption of some to the condemnation of all As if all sorts of money were to be rejected in payment because some pieces are but brass silvered over especially seeing it is none other than what the spirit of God hath plainly intimated that there will be tares mingled with the wheat untill the harvest There will be hypocrites and dissemblers in outward fellowship with the Saints even unto the end However from hence ariseth a necessity of Pleas Apologies and vindications to wipe off the slurres and calumnies which men of profligate principles and seared consciences are wont to cast on the face of religion And a like necessity of arguments and provocatives to quicken men to follow after righteousness and of answers to be returned to the carnal reasonings whereby they cavil against the truth and study to evade the convictions that are sometimes wrought upon their spirits If the Meditations here commended to thy candid and serious perusal may contribute assistance to this purpose that any of the Truths that are according to Godliness may be cleared up The prejudices and stumbling blocks removed out of the way of salvation such as are declining may be recalled and those that are sound in the faith further settled and established the Author hath attained his end and let all the glory be ascribed unto God To whom doth most deservedly appertain All honour and praise love submission and service in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages world without end Amen A TABLE OF THE CONTENTS SECT I. THE Connexion and explication of the Text. Pag. 2. Doct. In order to keep close to the Commandments of God and
God here Let us not fall out by the way for we are brethren 5. As to all other matters that are more abstruse and difficult and where in there is a great deal of variety in the interpretation of the Scripture even amongst sober Christians themselves In such cases unity and concord must be built upon the foundation of forbearance and mutual tenderness of believers one towards another If in order to peace and union in the Church the judgment of some that are in power be set up as the Standard unto which the consciences of the rest in the minutest affairs are to be reduced if peace and unity I say depend upon these ticklish terms it is likely never to be attained whilst the world endures As soon may you cut all men to the same stature as bring their judgments in all things to the same size But if we would follow after the things that make for peace and unity let us with all lowliness and meekness with long-suffering forbear one another in love Eph. 4.2 3. Shall not Christians forbear where the God of heaven is pleased to forbear Sould not we deal tenderly with such and give them the right hand of fellowship whom God doth tender as the apple of his eye Rom. 14.3 That is an excellent Rubrick for direction in the Saints Liturgy Philip. 3.15 16. Let us therefore as many as are perfect be thus minded And if in any thing ye be otherwise minded God shall reveal even this unto you Nevertheless whereto we have already attained let us walk by the same rule let us mind the same thing So much for the first use of the point by way of information SECT VII 2. For Exhortation IF God hath given us strict charg that we do not comply with a multitude in doing of evil let us then seriously ponder and weigh this lesson in our thoughts and endeavour to practise it in all the particulars of our conversations Take heed lest Satan pravail upon you through this wile and artifice of perswading you to that which is sinful because a multitude embrace it Take the example of Noah for imitation herein Gen. 6.9 Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations and Noah walked with God Mark it the generation wherein he lived was excessively corrupt and sinful it was egregiously profane and debauched wickedness as a deluge forerunner of the other had overspread the whole face of the earth And yet Noch was upright and kept close to the Lord thereby condemning the world of the ungodly Take the instance of Obadiah who dwelt in Ahabs family a man that sold himself to wickedness in the sight of the Lord that there was none like unto him He lived in dayes of such general Apostacy and Idolatry that Elijah thought there had been none left but himself who had any zeal for Jehovah and had not dealt falsely in his covenant And yet in such place and time Obadiah feared the Lord greatly 1 Kings 18.3 See the carriage of the Christians at Pergamus for incouragement herein They dwelt where the Devil had his seat where he was set upon the throne and had many servants and followers And yet they departed not from God they would not say a confederacy with them in sin They held fast the name of Christ and did not deny the faith though in dayes when persecution raged and reached unto the death Rev. 2.13 Hath God cast your lot in a wicked family amongst carnal relations in times of general atheism corruption and debauchery Labour as Obadiah to fear the Lord greatly do they entice thee to sin Walk not thou in the way with them refrain thy foot from their path Prov. 1.15 Do they violently and furiously rebel against the Lord and make a scoffe of godliness and oppose the professours of it Do you study to serve him the more eminently and to walk with God as Noah the more closely and strictly Let no man deceive you with vain words Let not their enticements prevail with you let not their presumptions embolden you to fin with them let not their reproaches cause you to desist from your course For because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience Be not ye therefore partakers with them Eph. 5.6 7. So keep your selves free from any sinful correspondency with the ungodly be they never so many that you may be blameless and harmless the sons of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation among whom ye shine as lights in the world Holding forth the word of life Philip. 2.15 16. In managing this use of exhortation I shall speak something to you under these four heads 1. By way of particular exemplification or instance Wherein you should beware that you do not follow the multitude 2. By way of special direction what course you ought to take that ye be not intangled with their example 3. By way of motive or provocative to quicken you to a closure with that course and a diligent observing this counsel 4. By way of Retortion I shall shew you what use you should make of the example multitude seing you must not joyn in combination with them 1. By way of particular exemplification and instance Wherein we should beware that we be not led into sin by the example of the multitude For the better digesting whereof and that the truths I shall deliver may be more easily imprinted upon and firmly reteined in your thoughts and memories I will cast them into five rankes 1. The Ground of religion whereon it is bottomed 2. The matter of religion wherein it is placed 3. The method and order wherein it is prosecuted 4. The time and season when it is minded 5. Sundry particular duties wherein the multitude are prone to miscarry 1. As to the ground of religion whereon it is bottomed The generality of people are wont to take up the principles and mysteries of godliness wholly upon trust They build their faith upon the dictates and opinions of men they believe that Christ is the Saviour and accordingly call themselves his servants they acknowledg such and such ordinances ought to be attended upon and accordingly lend their bodily presence at them and the like But if you enquire into the ground and reason why they believe and embrace this way of religion and worship all they can truly say is because the Minister tells them it is so or their parents bred them up in this way They hold these things for truths for they are points which they have held ever since they can remember they were of this religion from their very childhood and infancy and were brought up in these performances But do you my brethren build your faith upon the infallible word of the Lord and get an insight into the everlasting gospel Search the scriptures daily and diligently and make use of the ministry of men to help you to get knowledg of the scriptures that your
belief may not rest upon the bare opinions of men but upon the mouth of the Lord. That you may be able to say not only I acknowledg these doctrines to be divine and practise this and the other duty because men have perswaded me But because I find them contained in the Law of the Lord and that they are agreeable to his mind and will and that herein by the ministry I have been instructed in that which God himself hath revealed and prescribed who is a God of truth and faithfulness upon whose living word I bottome my trust and confidence Thus did the noble Beraeans and therefore many of them were converted and savingly wrought upon They did not take matters upon trust no not from Paul and Silas but they would see whether they taught them faithfully what they received from above And mark the note of excellency or asterisk that is set by the Holy Ghost upon their heads and the blessed issue of their enquiry Acts 17.11 12. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica in that they received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the scriptures daily whether those things were so Therefore many of them believed Do not think it enough to receive information of truth but examine whether they are indeed of heavenly extraction Search the Scriptures Jo. 5.39 They are appointed of God to be the sure doctrinal foundation whereupon our faith is to be bottomed Eph. 2.20 Ye are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone That I may awaken you to heedfulness in this regard let me beseech you to study throughly these three following considerations 1. If your faith be not bottomed upon a divine testimony even upon the word of the Lord it can amount no higher than an humane faith It cannot be a divine faith which receives mattes wholly upon trust from the dictates of men For Sirs the nature of faith is not diversified by the quality of the principles and truths that are believed but by the grounds whereupon and the reasons why they are believed Then is it an humane faith when built upon humane testimony and then is it divine faith when the testimony is divine whereupon credence is given Else a man may receive spiritual and supernatural truths divine doctrines by a meer common faith an humane faith when he taketh them wholly upon trust from the credit of men If you would see the difference betwixt these two that text is full by way of illustration Jo. 4.39 40 41 42. And many of the Samaritans of that City believed on him for the saying of the woman which testified he told me all that ever I did And many moe believed because of his own word And said unto the woman Now we believe not because of thy saying for we have heard him our selves and know that this is indeed the Christ the Saviour of the world See also 1 Thes 2.13 2. If you do not search into the word and bottome your belief thereon you can never be stedfast and setled in the wayes of the Lord nor in any of the truths of religion You will be still in a wavering inconstant condition and in danger to be turned aside from the faith And the reason is apparent because the dictates of men are variable and inconstant One man may press upon you this as a point to be believed and another may possibly instruct you in the contrary as a truth Nay the same persons at different seasons may vent doctrines of a different nature To be laid in the ballance they are altogether lighter than vanity And therefore if you build your faith upon their opinions you must of necessity be left at great uncertainties But the word of the Lord is fixt and permanent alwayes consonant and agreeable unto it self There you may rest as upon a rock that can never be moved For every word of God is pure Prov. 30.5 The words of the Lord are pure words as silver tried in a furnace of earth purified seven times Psal 12.6 Men are subject to mistakes and errours but the word of the Lord will never deceive you that cannot be mistaken 3. Unless you try doctrines by the rule of the scriptures and bottom your faith upon the word of the Lord you do not give glory to God in believing Unless you take it upon his word and receive it as proceeding out of his mouth you do not give unto God the honour of believing the truth If you receive the matters of religion only upon the dictates of men you rob God of his glory and give it unto them For this is a special part of our worship of God and one of the peculiar prerogatives which he doth challeng unto himself that we give up our judgments absolutely unto his guidance and yield perfect credence unto his word Jo. 4.20.21 Our father 's worshipped in this mountain and ye say that Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship Jesus saith unto her Woman believe me c. q. d. You are apt to pin your faith upon the sleeves of your fathers whereas this is one of the glorious Royaltie * Magnus Dei cultus fides Magna in Deum blasphemia incredulitas which appertain unto me who am the Christ to have the absolute command of your faith you must try the doctrines and practises of your fathers and all the opinions of men are to be estimated according to their consonancy unto my word As in performance of duty we should be careful to give unto God the glory of his Sovereign authority which is when we do the work of the Lord because it is commanded to be done by him So in our assent to the truths of the Gospel we should give unto God the glory of his truth and faithfulness which is when we believe what is spoken of the Lord because we know the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it It is said of Abraham Rom. 4.20 He staggered not at the promise through unbelief but was strong in faith giving glory to God Why Sirs this is the way to give glory to God when we set to our seals to the doctrines of godliness because they proceed from the God of heaven believing the things which are written by the Prophets and Apostles those faithful Amanuenses of the Spirit of God who spake as they were moved by the holy Ghost 2. Take heed of being corrupted by the example of the multitude in respect of the matter and substance of Religion wherein it is placed and whereunto they confine it For commonly people are wont to be too narrow and short upon this account Q. Wherein do the multitude for the most part place their Religion Ans I shall instance only in sive things 1. The generality of people place the whole of their Religion In the reforming and ordering their lives and actions But they seldom or never think of the necessity of sanctifying their
end were they left Why to this very end that he might try his people whether they would cleave unto him with full purpose of heart or not So God could gather his Saints together and destroy the wicked from amongst them But he leaves them scattered up and down in the midst of the ungodly and surrounded with them on every side to this very purpose That he may try them whether they will fear and serve him or be conformed to the wicked amongst whom they dwell And therefore it is worth your observing by the way That there are three sorts of providential dispensations whereby God doth especially set his people upon the trial 1. By permitting errors and heresies to be vented amongst them By suffering men to vent their own corrupt notions instead of divine truths and to set up their own superstitious inventions in the place of Christs Ordinances These are a great trouble and perplexity upon the spirits of the godly and perhaps sometimes they are apt to wonder that the Lord doth not take more care of his own worship and institutions but suffereth them to be defiled with humane devices and sinful mixtures Why Sirs God is jealous of his truth and worship but he suffers these errors and corruptions for a time that Professors may be tried concerning the soundness of their profession whether they will be blown aside by every wind of doctrine and be carried by every specious pretence to follow the fancies of men or will hold fast the truth and simplicity of the Gospel 1 Cor. 11.19 For there must be also heresies among you that they which are approved may be made manifest among you 2. God doth put his people upon the trial by letting forth the rage of unreasonable men against them and by exercising them under hardships and difficulties upon the score of Religion For times of suffering for righteousness sake are discriminating seasons The boystrous wind of persecution will drive away the chaff and the wheat only will abide And therefore such dispensations are called trials because Gods end therein is that his people may be proved He doth not give them into the hands of his adversaries as if he did not regard their welfare or sought their ruin or delighted in their afflictions and sorrow but his intent is to try them 1 Pet. 4.12 Beloved think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you as if some strange thing happened unto you Jam. 1.2 3. My brethren count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations knowing this that the trying of your faith worketh patience 3. The Lord doth put his servants upon the trial by dispersing them amongst the ungodly and fixing their habitations in the midst of sinners For God hath appointed before the bounds of mens dwellings here as well as their eternal condition hereafter Act. 17.26 And he could gather his people into a body together But he hath scattered them up and down here a person and there a family and the wicked are one very side and it is done to this end that they may be proved whether they will go down the stream with the multitude or walk in the narrow way of holiness and the fear of God And would not you be found faithful upon trial Take the resolution of David as a pattern Psal 17.3 4. Thou hast proved mine heart thou hast visited me in the night thou hast tryed me and shalt find nothing I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress Concerning the works of men by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer This is all that I shall speak under the third general Head Touching the special cases that require most diligent circumspection lest we be drawn aside into sin by following the multitude SECT V. THe next Point to be handled is the demonstration or proof of the Doctrine The question is this Quest 4. What reasons may be produced against compliance with the multitude in sin which we may press upon our hearts in order to abate the edge of that inclination that is apt to be within us to follow their example Ans I shall reduce all that shall be delivered in answer to this Question unto four Heads The arguments may be drawn from four Topicks From 1. The spiritual estate wherein the multitude are 2. The concernment that lieth upon us to prove our own spiritual estate and condition 3. The duties that are incumbent on us in relation to the multitude which are altogether inconsistent with our compliance with them 4. The danger that will arise by following them 1. The first Argument is taken from the spiritual estate wherein most persons are and the way wherein they travel or the place whither they are going Why Sirs the greatest number of people are the children of the devil and lye in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity they go in the broad way that leads to hell and destruction So that if you will follow their example it must of necessity end in the ruine of your precious and immortal souls If you will travel towards heaven you must expect but few to bear you company and to be of your society and fellowship The multitude take another course and their journeying tends to another place even to the chambers of eternal death 1 Joh. 5.19 And we know that we are of God and the whole world lieth in wickedness The whole world that is the greatest part of the world the generality of people the denomination is given to the major part And will you follow them that lye in wickedness that are wholly drencht in sensuality and ungodliness Is their carriage a good pattern for imitation that are altogether dead in sin and even buried in it that lye in sin as in a dead sleep and are under the power and command of the prince of darkness This is the reason which our Saviour presseth Mat. 7.13 14. Enter ye in at the strait gâ—te for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there le which go in thereat Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life and few there be that find it It amounts to thus much as if Christ had said The whole world is divided into two companies or secieties and they take different courses some are travelling towards heaven but alas they are but an handful in comparison of the multitudes that flock together in the way to hell and damnation Do not you therefore consort with them but associate your selves with the little flock to whom the Father hath designed to give the Kingdom If your hearts hanker after consociation and fellowship with the multitude you will be sure to find them in the way to eternal perdition 2. Therefore you should take heed that you be not led by the multitude that you may evidence your selves to be the peculiar people of God such as are taken
be a good measure of resolvedness in the spirit to stand fast against the enticements and provocations of some particular sinners much more when a Christian is to walk in a contrariety to the most and hath a multitude to contest and encounter with Ezra 10.4 Be of good courage and do it Josh 1.7 Only be thou strong and very couragious that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded thee That 's the first deduction from the point 2. If a believer must not act after the pattern of the multitude then hence I gather that such as will approve themselves unto God and not deal falsly and unfaithfully in the covenant of God they must be men of singularity As they must walk regularly so they must walk singularly in a way by themselves in respect to abstinence from sin in regard of purity of heart and holiness of life and conversation They are not permitted a compliance with the greatest number of men in any indirect course As in respect to the grace of conversion and sanctification though the servants of God are in the world yet they are not of the world but gathered and cull'd and chosen out of it Jo. 15.19 Jo. 17.16 So must it be in relation to their practise also though they abide in the world yet they must not be conformed unto the world but keep themselves unspotted from the pollutions of it This is pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father Jam. 1.27 Some there are that plead against holiness and for the countenancing of their corruptions What would you have us to be singular Must we be more precise than others and take a course by our selves Why Sirs If you will be Christians in good earnest and follow the Lord fully it is the very thing which God requires and expects at your hands that you be men of singularity For the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself Ps 4.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 segregavit divisit signo aliquo excellenti separavit He hath put a remarkeable difference betwixt his own people and others in respect of his blessings upon them and therefore may justly expect that they should be singular in their carriage and demeanour towards him I would not be mistaken in this point and therefore must take liberty to distinguish of a threefold singularity There is a 1. Fantastical Singularity 2. Affected Singularity 3. Sober Singularity 1. There is a Fantastical singularity in respect of opinion When persons have odde crotchets and fancies of their own wherein they differ from serious and sober Christians in all ages and in the maintaining of which opinions they sometimes excessively pride themselves as if they had gotten some higher attainments than the rest This is an evil to which professours of godliness amongst us have been hugely addicted in these latter dayes When they have gotten some uncouth notion or expression by the end they espouse its interest and think they are some body more than ordinary in the matters of religion When they have entertained a peculiar fancy of their own contrary to the sentiments of all sober-minded believers hereof they will boast as of an higher degree of perfection This sort of singularity commonly proceeds from a mixture of pride and ignorance When persons have high conceits of themselves and in the mean time have little clear and distinct knowledg of the principles of godliness possibly they have some loose and broken insight into divine truths but do not understand the misteries of religion in their combination as they are connected and knit together In such case they are exceeding apt to run into these by-waies of their own The Apostle seemeth to reduce it unto these two heads viz. ignorance and self conceitedness 1 Tim. 6.3 4. If any man teach otherwise and consent not to wholesome words even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the doctrine which is according to godliness He is proud knowing nothing but doting about questions and strifes of words c. In reference hereunto the faith of believers is the common faith Tit. 1.4 Which was once delivered unto the Saints Jude 3. Upon this account we should labour to be of one judgment That with one mind and one mouth we may glorifie God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Rom. 15.5 6. We should be very cautious of espousing any singular notion without clear warrant from the word and consulting the apprehensions of godly ministers and serious Christians And for prevention of this singularity let every man study his own weakness and think soberly of himself least instead of Juno he embrace a cloud least in the place of a more spiritual and refined truth he fall into some dangerous and soul-destructive errour And the rather ought we in this case to give the more earnest heed because when weak Christians are inconsiderately caught in this snare it is a difficult thing to be delivered out of it They think it concerns them in point of honour and as they tender their reputation to justifie and maintain the notions which they have avowedly held and professed And this is a strong temptation to a setled continuance therein And therefore I say through the grace given unto me to every man that is among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think but to think soberly according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith Rom. 12.3 2. There is an affected singularity as to a mans outward garb and ornaments of the body as to civil salutations and courteous demeanour and the like When persons make it a part of their Religion to abstain from that decency of habit or gesture or civility of expression which is commonly used and delight in this regard to act in a mode by themselves And on the other hand when others place Religion in using such habits and gestures and the like fooleries which God hath not required This is that which renders Religion contemptible and ridiculous in the eyes of carnal people and makes them think it is nothing but a kind of niceness as to such toyes and trifles So the Pharisees of old neglected the power of godliness judgment mercy and faith and kept a great ado about washing of pots and cups and making broad their phylacteries and many other things which they had received to hold They left the commandments of God to follow the devices and imaginations of their own hearts Mar. 7.4 Col. 2.20 21 23. These things may have a shew of wisdom in will-worship at least in the fancies of some they appear to have it Here is a fair pretence of greater strictness than the rest whereas true wisdom consists in fearing the Lord and doing his commandments Psal 111.10 That wherein the Saints of God differ from the rest of men is in the hidden man of the heart in the unblameableness and holiness of the life from whence will flow
monstrous opinions under the protection and patronage of the Scriptures Sol. This is a trite objection much insisted on by them that are contentious and of an imposing spirit and are loath to be concluded and shut up in the exercise of their power within the limits and boundaries of the word of God And therefore deserves to be answered more largely than at present I can spare time to do All that I shall speak unto it which yet may sufficiently discover the vanity of this cavil I shall gather into five heads 1. There will be heresies maintained in the Church of Christ amongst people that call themselves his disciples and servants in all ages unto the end It is a matter that will fall out unavoidably and cannot be otherwise As there will be men of corrupt lives tares mingled with the wheat in the kingdom of the Son of man so there will be men of corrupt notions and doctrines that speak perverse things to draw away disciples after them 1 Cor. 11.19 For there must be also heresies among you that they which are approved may be made manifest among you Mark It must be there is a necessity of it Not a necessity of precept God is a God of truth he requires truth in the judgment as well as integrity in the heart he calls for soundness of mind as well as fervour of affection But in respect of the event there is a necessity it will certainly be so and the Lord hath excellent ends to accomplish thereby and therefore will suffer errors to be vented and spread abroad But there were false Prophets also among the people even as there shall be false teachers among you who privily shall bring in damnable heresies even denying the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction 2 Pet. 2.1 See also 1 Tim. 4.1 2. Act. 20.30.31 This is no excuse unto the Authors and broachers of any cursed opinions But it is an useful lesson or document for the servants of God that they may be quickned to get their judgments principled with sound knowledge and to beware lest they be led aside from the way by the errors of the wicked and so fall from their own stedfastness That is pertinent on this account which our Saviour speaketh as to scandals in general Mat. 18.7 Wo unto the world because of offences For it must needs be that offences heresies come but wo to that man by whom the offence heresie cometh 2. The people of God have no just cause to think ever a jot the worse of Religion and godliness because of the heresies that sometimes abound in the Church of Christ It should rather confirm us in the belief of the truth of the Gospel Our Saviour having foretold us that thus it will be and we seeing it verified before our eyes As the Apostle exhorts the Thessalonians that no man might be moved by his afflictions For saith he your selves know that we were appointed thereunto 1 Thes 3.3 And v. 4. For verily when we were with you we told you before that we should suffer tribulation even as it came to pass and ye know So may I speak in the case of errors and heresies Let no man stumble or be offended at the wayes of Christ upon this account Let not your faith be weakened nor your progress in holiness retarded because of these corrupt opinions and heresies For your selves know that Christ by his Spirit hath foretold of these things that it must come to pass as it is in all ages And he hath therefore warned you of it before-hand lest you should be offended Joh. 16.1 2 3 4. 3. When we speak of unity in Christian fellowship and uniformity in the worship and service of God it must not be interpreted of union and combination with such as are hereticks It must not be taken as if it were meant that we must unite and go hand in hand with such persons Our Lord Christ hath left upon record sufficient directions in this case how to purge his Church of such vermine and to keep our selves free from the taint of their pollutions as well as in the case of those who are profane and disorderly in their conversations A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject Knowing that he that is such is subverted and sinneth being condemned of himself Tit. 3.10 11. From such withdraw thy self 1 Tim. 6.3 4 5. If there come any unto you and bring not this doctrine receive him not into your house neither bid him God speed 2 John 10. See also Gal. 1.9 Rom. 16.17 Rev. 2.2 20 24 25. 4. But then as to sound and sober Christians let this be observed That the principles of the doctrine of Christ which may be a sufficient ground for their uniting in the worship and service of God are plainly delivered in the Scriptures and to be clearly and easily deduced from thence They are wrote in legible characters that he that runs may read them And why should not those things which will declare a man a sound believer capacitate him for communion with believers These things are written plainly as with the Pen of a diamond and inculcated frequently that they may be apprenended by the meanest of the Saints Isa 45.19 I have not spoken in secret in a dark place of the earth The oracles of God are not delivered darkly and obscurely they are not folded and wrapt up in intricate and ambiguous sentences as the devils oracles the answers of false gods were wont to be delivered in caves and grotto's and corners under the ground The truths of God are set forth perspicuously They are all plain to him that understandeth and right to them that find knowledge Prov. 8.9 For this commandment which I command thee this day is not hidden neither is it far off It is not in heaven that thou shouldest say Who shall go up for us to heaven and bring it to us that we may hear it and do it Neither is it beyond the Sea that thou shouldest say Who shall go over the Sea for us and bring it unto us that we may hear it and do it But the word is very nigh unto thee in thy mouth and in thine heart that thou mayest do it Indeed prating fools as the holy Ghost calleth them will seek nodum in scirpo they will find matter to wrangle with the most undeniable principles But the foundation-truths of Christianity are fully proclaimed in the ears of all within the pale of the Church that will lend their ears attentively to the sound of the Gospel and will diligently study divine mysteries And the people of God are under precious promises of the Spirits instruction to guide them into the knowledge of all necessary points Joh. 16.13 1 Joh. 2.20 27. Psal 25.12 14. And why should not those who are under the conduct of the same truths in the way of holiness unto eternal life hereafter unamimously joyn together in the service of
whence we may conclude that these words of our Saviour are meant not of the Jewish but of the Christian sabbath wherein his own people were concerned Indeed sometimes we meet in the Acts of the Apostles with mention made of the seventh day sabbath The Apostles taking the advantage of that day to preach to the Jews in their Synagogues but we never find it mentioned after that meeting at Troas Act. 20.7 So that long before the time of their flight they wholly withdrew from the Jewes and kept their assemblies separated by themselves on the Lords day 3 It was an ordinary thing with our Saviour before his death and passion to instruct his disciples in many divine truths which they did not rightly understand till after his resurrection or ascension When the Holy Ghost was sent to that end to bring his words to their remembrance and to teach them the right meaning of the same See Jo. 2.20 21 22. Jo. 12.16 Luk. 9.44 45. Luk. 24.44 45 46. Act. 11.15 16. This if well observed will take off the force of their objection who plead that Christs words must needs be meant of the Jewish Sabbath because say they his disciples undoubtedly so understood them This I acknowledg as probable that they took his speech as meant of the Jewish when yet our Saviour intended it of the Christian Sabbath It being usual with him to deliver many things unto them which they did not rightly understand till he was risen from the dead Probably this very business of the alteration of the Sabbath was one of the things which he had to say unto them but they could not then bear them Jo. 16.12 And one of those many things touching the kingdom of God which he taught them between his resurrection and ascension Acts 1.3 See the words of Bishop Andrews concerning this text in his Pattern of Catechistical doctrine upon the fourth commandment All ceremonies were ended in Christ but so was not the Sabbath for Mat. 24.20 Christ bids his disciples pray that their visitation be not on the Sabbath day So that there must needs be a Sabbath after Christs death Mr. Fennor in his treatise called the Spiritual mans Directory bringeth this in as a special argument for a Sabbath now in the dayes of the Gospel because as he expresseth it Christ speaking of those dayes when all the ceremonial law was dead and buried sheweth the Sabbath to stand still quoting for it this text Take the concurrent testimony of A. B. Usher Our Saviour Christ willing his followers that should live about 40. years after his ascension to pray that their flight might not be on the Sabbath day to the end they might not be hindred in the service of God doth thereby sufficiently declare that he held not this commandment in the account of a ceremony And lastly which may abundantly shew that it is not any novel interpretation Mr. Palmer and Mr. Cawdrey give this paraphrase upon the words As if Christ said unto his disciples the Jews have charged me as a breaker of the Sabbath but whatever disputes and reasonings you have heard betwixt me and them concerning that subject I would not have you to think that I am an enemy to the Sabbath or that I mean to put an end to that commandment For I tell you there shall still remain a Sabbath day to be observed to God for his worship In token whereof I admonish you to pray that your flight be not on that day The Second text I would touch upon is that prophecy of the Psalmist concerning the resurrection of Christ Psal 118.22 23 24. The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner This is the Lords doing it is marvellous in our eyes This is the day which the Lord hath made We will rejoyce and be glad in it From which words as I remember I have met with this close and formal argument The day wherein the stone which the builders refused became the head stone of the corner that is the day which in the times of the gospel the Lord hath made i. e. which he hath appointed and set apart solemnly to be observed in religious duties one of which special evangelical duties viz. praise and thanksgiving joy and gladness in the Lord is instanced in But the first day of the week or the day of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is that day wherein the stone which the builders refused became the head stone of the corner Therefore the first day of the week or the day of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the day which in the times of the Gospel the Lord hath made i. e. which he hath consecrated and set apart for the solemn attendance upon religious duties The major proposition lieth fair and clear in the text And the minor is bottomed upon the Apostle Peters comment upon the text which comment he * Acts 4.10 11. made by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost who speaketh of this Scripture as meant of the day of our Saviours resurrection from the dead I leave therefore the conclusion to be considered Wherein I have learned Dr. Ames his concurrent apprehensions Neque facile rejiciendum est quod ab antiquis quibusdam urgetur pro die Dominicâ ex Psal 118.24 Haec est dies quam fecit Jehova Eo enim loco agitur de resurrectione Christi Christo ipso interprete Mat. 21.41 The last Scripture I will name on this account is that of the Apostle to the Hebrews cap. 4.9 10. There remaineth therefore the keeping of a Sabbath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unto the people of God for he that is entered into his rest he also hath ceased from his works as God did from his own As if the Apostle had said will you fall off from attendance upon gospel ordinances and question the celebration of the Christian Sabbath that you may return to Judaism again Why let me tell you the Lords-day-sabbath which now remaineth when the other is abolished is of Gods own appointment and institution David prophecied concerning it for this is the day of rest which he spake of in the 95. Psalm And besides it is bottomed on a very equitable foundation For as when God had ended the work of creation which was peculiarly his work he ordained the seventh day Sabbath in commemoration thereof So hath Christ the mediatour finished the work of redemption and is entred into his rest as God entered into his and therefore hath appointed the Christian Sabbath for celebration of the work of mans redemption I must not dwell upon all the particulars that might be insisted for the clearing and vindication of this sense of the words from the manifold exceptions that are likely to be made against it Only let these few things be seriously weighed 1 That the Hebrews unto whom the Apostle writes this Epistle and with whom he dealeth in this place were declining apace from gospel administrations and ready to embrace again