eminent Saints of his to err in some things that men may learn not to think of men above that which is meet but to give that great prerogative of infallibility to the God of truth alone who hath revealed his Truth in the holy Scriptures and therefore Christians should try all spirits and doctrines by this Rule bring them all to the Law and to the Testimony concluding that if they speak not according to this Rule it is because there is no light in them no light in their doctrine so far as it will not endure the trial of Scripture light yea the Apostle speaks very high in this case Though we or an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached let him be accursed If it were possible for a blessed Angel to preach false doctrine we must reject and cleave to the Scripture against all contradiction For answer to the Second Question In as much as Satan and the corrupt nature of man are the cause of Errours and Heresies What is the reason that many carnal persons both such as are of civil conversation and fair moral principles and also such as are loose and licentious yea openly profane are free from errours in such places and ages where when false doctrines abound whereas they are such in whom the corruption of nature raigneth and such as are held captive by Satan according to his will For answer to this I conceive First that some such persons being naturally quick of apprehension and judicious may be so clearly convinced of some truths that though many deny them and oppose them yet they will stand to them especially when there is liberty for all sides to hold and profess what they list and a man may stick to the Truth without loss and danger in such cases natural Conscience is a strong tye upon mens spirits to cause them not willfully to deny a known Truth Secondly Some may affect the reputation of constancy being loth to be noted for light vain and fickle persons and therefore in as much as it was their lot to be trained up from their childhood in the truth they will cleave to it howsoever others cast it off so long as they see they may do it with safety They account it a childish thing to hearken to every novelty and vain fancy as indeed it is and therefore not becoming their gravity It may be they would have been as obstinate in error had they happened to have been taught it in their youth as now they seem to be constant in the Truth Is not this apparent in divers at this day who stand firm in doctrinal truths and remain perversely stiffe in old Ceremonyes and superstitious observances which have no footing in the holy Scriptures because they have been trained up in both On the one side they were trained up under sound doctrine concerning the main points of faith On the other side they received some superstitious observances by tradition and therefore they will part with neither Thirdly I suppose Satan having possession of carnal persons another way doth not much tempâ— some of them to renounce the Truth and entertain errours because they are not such as are likely to do him any special service in promoting false doctrines Fourthly many carnal persons may be engaged to stand for the Truth against errors because some whom they respect or upon whom they depend or of whom they look for some advantage go that way Fifthly many carnal persons seem to be indifferent in matter of Religion They are serious and hearty about things that bring in profit in following their business or in pursuing their pleasures in satisfying their lusts they think it no great matter what men hold or profess in matter of doctrine When the Iews accused the Apostle Paul for teaching false doctrine saith Gallio the Roman deputy If it be a question of words and names and of your law look ye to it for I will be no judge of such matters See how slightly he speaks of matters of Religion as if they were but empty words whereas the Question between Paul and the Iews was one of the weigtiest that ever was in controversie scil Whether the Lord Jesus were the Christ And so Festus another Roman Governour relating Pauls Case to King Agrippa accused by the Iews said When the Accusers stood up they brought none accusation of such things as I supsed but had certain questions against him of their own superstition and of one Iesus which was dead whom Paul affirmed to be alive It seemeth he thought these things to be frivolous queries not worthy of the cognizance of so great a Magistrate as himself whereas the Râ—surrection of Christ from the dead which was in question between Paul and his adversaries was such a fundamental point as that mans salvation depended upon it Thus it seemeth many are kept from embracing errours because they hold it a matter of no great weight what men profess in point of Religion But let all that mind their salvation receive the love of the Truth and walk in it hating and shunning every false opinion and every false way out of sincere love to the Lord Jesus Christ and true zeal for his Glory So much of the Question or Objection CHAP. II. THe Answer is first by way of abhorrence or detestation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Let it not be or far be it from â—s which our translaturs render God Forbid I suppose because this English phrase is used in cases of like nature howsoever the Apostle by these words signified that he abhorred and detested such a consequence as to make void the Law by the doctrine of free justification through the righteousness of Christ applied by Faith Hence may be noted this point That gracious hearts do exceedingly abhor those opinions which corrupt or oppose the truth of God Heresies and false doctrines are odious to the godly 1. This may appear in many examples and first in the old Testament Moses did exceedingly abhorre the wicked counsel of Balaam whereby he taught the Midianites to deceivâ— the people of Israel so as to draw many of them from the worship of God to Idolatry and therefore saith he to the people arm some of your selves to the war and let them go against the Midianites and avenge the Lord of Midian which they did and slew the Males and five Kings of Midian and Balaam himself who gave this wicked counsel But Moses was not satisfied with this execution but was wroth with the officers of the Host and said unto them have ye saved all the women alive Behold these caused the Children of Israel through the counsel of Balaam to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord and then he commanded them to kill all except the women children which were Virgins And it seemeth that
cannot disprove and to discredit those teachers the light of whose doctrine they cannot resist And how ready are the weaker sort to be scared from the truth and alienated from those assemblies where it is taught by such shifts as these A bold face and a rolling tongue pouring out store of opprobrious language against the truth goes a great way with the simple What an out-cry was made by the Iews of Asia against Paul Men of Israel help This is the man that teacheth all men every where against the people and the Law and this place and farther brought Greeks also into the Temple and hath polluted this holy place And all the City was moved and the people ran together and they took Paul and drew him out of the Temple and went about to kill him How soon are the multitude stirred up and set in a rage by the meer clamours of those who outragiously exclaim against the truth and them that maintain it Men of Israel help as if all were like to be lost unless Paul and his doctrine were suppressed So when they that disputed with Stephen were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake Then they suborned men which said we have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God and they stirred up the people They were beaten from their arguments and then sought to over-bear him with false accusations and the ignorant people were ready to hearken to them First This may teach us not to think it strange if the Truth and those that profess it be evil spoken of in these times if things that are doubly false be objected against it and them Solomon saith There is no new thing under the Sun Certainly this is no new thing as ye have heard by divers examples out of Scripture it is a practice as antient as the Apostles dayes Paul and his Ministry did not escape these envenomed tongues Nay the Lord Christ himself together with his doctrine and works was thus traduced Why should it be expected that the servants should be above their Master or the truth in their mouths be more free from false reproaches than it was in his If ye hear such things in these dayes consider that the Divel doth but keep his old wont If the doctrine of free justification be slandered as licentious and tending to carnal liberty was it not so in Pauls time If the Ministers of the Gospel be called Antichristian Baals-Priests and the like by Hereticks and Sectaries it is no wonder the Divel seeth them to stand in his way and hinder his work I think it is easie to prove that there is a double falshood in this reproach For first they do not promote the interest and Kingdom of Antichrist either in regard of discipline doctrine or worship Not in regard of discipline they are far from seeking to bring men into subjection to him as the visible head of the Church or to exalt his authority above Kings and Princes and above the Laws of Christ. Nor in doctrine they teach not Popish opinions Nor in worship they are no Patrons of Idolatry and superstition But secondly They are so far from being Antichristians that I am perswaded that they are the greatest and most considerable opposites and adversaries to Antichrist that are in the world And therefore there is a double falshood in this charge And I think it very probable that the Jesuites were either the first instruments of Satan in broaching this reproach or else are very apt to promote it and set it on that by crying down the Ministers of the Gospel as Antichristian they may make way for Antichrist to get ground amongst us with the more ease and speed How easie were it to demonstrate that Ministers of the same order and the same judgement with those that now by foul-mouthed adversaries are branded for Antichristian have been principally instrumental under Christ to overthrow Popery and to prevent it for recovering its former strength For the eminent instruments in this work were Luther Melanchthon and Bucer and others of Germany Calvin Beza Iunius Chamier of France Zuinglius Oeâ—olampadius Bullinger Grinaeus of Switzerland Whitaker and Reinolds of England and divers others Besides the diligent and constant endeavours of Ministers in preaching clearing confirming the Truth and through the Lords blessing grounding and establishing the people in it against Popish errours and Antichristian corruptions As for Sectaries who are so liberal in bestowing such Titles upon the Ministers of the Gospel have they not occasionally at least given much advantage to Antichrist and as it were opened a back door at which to let him in again 1. By seeking to discredit the Ministers of the word and their Ministry 2. By drawing many people from the Ordinances and so preparing them to take such impressions as Satan and his instruments are ready to put upon them and if opportunity be to receive the mark of the Beast 3. By multiplying divisions and factions and setting up party against party and thereby taking a ready course to make Religion ridiculous in the eyes of worldly Politicians filling the minds of the simple with doubting and amazement as not knowing which way to take And 4. Hereupon ministring occasion to the Jesuites and Friers to perswade the people that there will be no certainty no end of divisions no remedy against sects and errours but by uniting themselves to one visible head the Pope and returning to the bosom of the Mother Church of Rome yea it is verily thought that many of the Popes Agents and Emissaries are now very active among us disguised under the appearance of Sectaries labouring to encrease contention among us for the designs of Antichrist I conceive it is very observable that those Sectaries which cry down the Preachers and Professours of the truth as Antichristian have usually come in the rear and a day after the fight as it were for when they that are sound in their principles have set upon the work of reformation and through the good hand of God some hopeful beginings have been made then have crept in Anabaptists and other Sectaries So in Germany Switzerland Geneva England I conceive the Divel finding that upon the breâ—king forth of light those old errours and corrupt customes will not be digested he then stirreth up some to pretend to reformation disguising himself that way that he may both hinder the work and blemish it This it seemeth was his practice about the time of Christs coming in the flesh to raise up false Christs and deceivers c. CHAP. IV. Rom. 3. 31. I Conceive it is clear that the Apostle in the two first Chapters of this Epistle speaketh of a threefold Law one of which was given to mankind in general both Gentiles and Israelites the other two were peculiarly delivered to the people of Israel The first of these scil that which was given to mankind in general is that which is called the Law
The Law of God Ratified By the GOSPEL of CHRIST OR THE HARMONY OF THE Doctrine of Faith WITH THE Law of Righteousness Wherein many of the Types and Rites of the Ceremonial Law are unfolded And the Moral Law adjusted a Rule of holy living to all though justified by Faith As it was delivered in several Sermons Preacht to the Parochial Congregation of Mayfield in Sussex by Mr. Mainard late Rector thereof publisht since his Death Col. 1. 27 28. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Cor. 3. 14. 18. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 London Printed for Francis Tyton at the Sign of the three Daggers in Fleet-street 1674. THE Epistle Dedicatory To Mrs. Elizabeth Baker Widow To Captain Iohn Baker and his Wife And to Mr. Iohn Baker and his Wife To Mr. Clement Read and to the rest of the Inhabitants of Mayfield in Sussex Auditors of these ensuing Sermons Much honoured and well-beloved in our Lord THe high Opinion he hath of you who desired me to dedicate these Sermons to you commands me to make good my compellation by bearing a particular respect to that worth and love for those Graces and Profession in you which were sufficient to determine the Publisher of these Sermons to the choice of you to be Countenancers of them now printed and exposed to publick View which you first heard from your own privater Pulpit The Publisher makes the Church somewhat a debtor but Mayfield very much a debtor to him for his care of your spiritual profit and advantage to which end these Discourses delivered in such plainness as becomes the truth and with such clearness as may capacitate any amongst you to read understand and gain by them are set before you That of your faithful Monitor now dead might be said as is in somewhat different sense said of Abel Being dead he yet speaketh Instruction unfolding that which many would else not discern Caution that you avoid what he knew was dangerous and might prove deadly And Exhortation perswading you to weighty instances of obedience and constancy If it be as doubtless it is a Truth that the Legal and Mosaick Rites were the Gospel vailed this piece deserveth your serious perusal for it takes the vail from off the face of Moses and doth with plainness and brevity explicate many of those divine Riddles and heavenly Hieroglyphicks on whose out-side too many of the Jews like unexperienced Children gazing on Pictures determin'd their eye inapprehensive of the import of them I would give you some account of the Subjects handled in this ensuing Treatise but it is publisht that your reading might inform you Nor will I doubt your readiness to view that with your eye which I believe much pleased your ear And I hope your desires to profit by it wish my Epistle brief that you may be taken up with the seasonableness and pertinency of the Subject A piece which I assure you doth very particularly express the temper of its Author who could have walked abroad as easily as most in a gorgeous dress of rich learning but he was as well versed in this part of self-denial and resolved to practice it as he was vers'd in Authors and knew how to use them He preacht it to you that you might understand it and his Son-in-law hath taken care it should be printed that you might read and remember it I wish that among the many eagerly snatcht occasions men take to publish their own Conceptions More would take this course and print for the use of particular places some of the choice and profitable Sermons of their own Ministers as soon as might be after their death when in all likelihood the mourning remembrance of their dead Minister will enhance the value of his living Sermons whilst the sense of their loss in the death of his person would increase the care of some at least that they lose not his Counsels Exhortations Reproofs and Comforts which by this means do survive him I know many are so obstinate in their Vnbelief and so unperswadable to Obedience they will not promise to believe or obey unless one arose from the dead to witness to the Promises and to require their Obedience God shew them mercy opening their blind eyes and perswading their hard hearts If there be any such among your Inhabitants of Mayfield and alas in so great a Parish there are too too many Behold here is that which of all courses seemeth to come nearest to such a condescension Though your Minister be not sent from the dead yet providence sends as it were from his Grave And if you will not obey Commands nor follow Counsels nor be warned by Cautions in his writings you would not be perswaded if he came from the dead But of you in particular I have no jealousie to whom this Epistle and the Book is dedicated Instead of perswading you to read it of which I am perswaded you are very forward of your selves I shall adventure and I hope with no more boldness than success to move you to bestow many of these Books among your poorer Neighbours who will gladly read Mr. Maynard's Book when perhaps they have as little mind to read other mens Works as they have knowledge of their persons Promote knowledge of Christ and saving Grace by the means which are most likely to do it hereby you shall through the blessing of the Lord turn many to righteousness and shine as the brightness of the Firmament for ever which is that great thing that with hope of success is for you all and for the rest of the Church-of God the prayer of From my Study in the house of the Right Honourable the Countess of Manchester at Waltham-Abbey April 3. 1674. Yours in our Common Lord both Servant to your Souls and Coheir of your Hopes H. Hurst The Contents of the several Chapters Chap. I. NO justification by works to Gentile or Iew transgressours of the Law and how yet the Iew had advantage by the Law which is not voided by doctrine of Faith Corrupt nature dispute perversely against the truths of God partly out of ignorance and mistakes Christ's righteousness the matter of our justification Prepossession of false opinions pervert the Scripture this ruin'd the Iews obstructed the Gospel among the Greeks Pride natural to us and opposite to the Gospel Love of sin of the world pervert truths of the Gospel the danger of this as rejecting the remedy or turning it to the increase of the disease Errors easily increas'd How Errors found in godly men while sometime the carnal are free from them Chap. II. Grace abhors the Perverting of truth So Moses Elijah c. St. Paul c. For hereby God is dishonoured the New Nature is thwarted Errors broken out are hardly limited easily overgrow the truth So the bulk of Popish Errors did So Arianisme did Errors divide the Church So the Errour of the Necessity of Circumcision the Errour about keeping Easter in Victor's time Pope's Supremacy now divides the Church Such
divisions occasioned by Preaching old forgotten truths but the fault in those that will not endure such doctrines Satans malice and some mens weakness So the inundation of Popish Superstitions broke in How much we should resent these things their danger Toleration of them discussed in the Objections for Errours answered Chap. III. Objections against truth many times are double falshoods this riseth from Ignorance Credulity malice and want of Arguments to confirm errours No strange or new thing that men erre and are slanderous Protestant Ministers are no promoters of Antichrist but his great Adversaries lessening them greatens Antichrists interest Seducing Sectaries expedite Antichrists affairs Satan hath still hindered reformation by such ways Chap. IV. A Threefold Law first given to the Gentiles with the Iews the other given only to the Iew. Law of nature and its use The Ceremonial cannot justifie nor the Moral yet neither made void by Faith Faith confirms the Ceremonial Law what this is 't is of God how long to last abus'd or not understood by many of the Iews who precisely observed Ceremonial cleanness palpably neglecting moral purity In what sense doctrine of Faith doth not abolish the Ceremonial Law The dispute between Iews and Samaritans and whence it arose when and how long continued Divine worship in spirit and truth not limited to any place Law Ceremonial a School-master to bring us to Christ full of deep mysteries and spiritual realities cleared by the Gospel These unfolded in explication of Circumcision seal of that promise I will be their God which contains all grace and comfort is made good to us in Christ the Covenant sealed by Circumcision the same that is sealed by Baptisme Passeover what its occasion the circumstances of it its meaning in each particular applied to Christ. Actual faith in Christ delivers from Curse of the Law should excite to thanfulness holiness exercise faith preparedness for our duties godly sorrow Feast of first Fruits when enjoyned excite to endeavour a rising to newness of life Chap. V. Few Creatures appointed for Sacrifices three sorts of Beasts two of Fowls all meek resembling Christ as we should Korban whence derived how apply'd to Christ through whom we are made nigh to God Burnt offering 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It s import to us the rites in offering it blindness of the Iews and to be pittied deep slaine of sin it is deadly to the sinner or his surety Christs Bloud precious shed that we should not live in sin The continual burnt-offering Christians should offer morning and evening as most likely the Iews did pray and praise God in their Houses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 its signification Imputation of sin to Christ speaks Gods love of Compassion to sinners sin base and shameful The blood of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sprinkled before the Lord on the Golden Altar the meaning hereof It s inward fat burned what meant some other rites in the offering it and their import 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what it was noted Christ and how a sufficient sacrifice therefore fit to be trusted in How the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 noteth the Christians sacrifice and apply'd Oyle used in the meat offering its purport with other rites of it explained Salt with all Sacrifices and its meaning The Covenant of Salt The drink offering wherein it consisted The Peace offering what and on what occasion meaneth whole Christian duty in general to be offered to God through Christ. Peace-offering might be male or female part of it to be burnt part for the Priest part for the offerer hence our Communion with God inferr'd How Sacrificers are partakers of the Altar Priests under the Law were sacred persons especially the High-Priest type of Christ whose is an eternal Priesthood The Garments of the High-Priest and their meaning viz. the holiness beauty and glory of Christ in general A more particular view of each part of the Garments their import and our instruction Ordinary Priests were in a sort types of Christians who are to be spiritual Priests and Sacrifices Ministers of the Gospel no where called Priests in the New Testament Tabernacle and Temple agreed in some differed in other particulars how each signified Christ to dwell with us in much humility and love we ought therefore to unite our selves to him estrange our selves from sin scandalous sins should not be cause of gladness in any who observe them in others Temple and Tabernacle signify'd each be liever Sin defiles the whole man the heart first the outward man next sin begins in the heart Altar made of Shittim wood the meaning covered with brass its purport the Godheadpreserving the humane nature under its sufferings Where the Altar was placed its meaning The Altar of incense its meaning The Ark what in it and their Import The mercy seat the Cherubims looking down towards the Ark. The fire used in Sacrifices its meaning Christs love to us undergoing such sufferings for us requireth love from us to him This fire came from Heaven never was to go out such should Christian zeal be Chap. VI. Sacred observances as restraint from unclean beasts so not in their own nature the meaning equalleth all mankind in their Original Gods Soveraignty in chusing Israel incomprehensible His infinite goodness calling the Gentiles who should be thankful and take heed of unbelief and all sin Our liberty to use all wholesome food Blood whether now forbidden Probably a Natural though secret reason why so many Creatures were forbidden to Israel Prohibition of eating blood Acts 15. explained Festivals Religious among the Iews noted our Christian joy What feasts these were At the time of the feast of Harvest Christ sent down the Spirit on his Apostles who were to gather in the Harvest of the Gentiles Feast of ingathering about our September the meaning of it well applyed in three or four particulars The feast of Trumpets the type of Preaching the Gospel and calling to faith and repentance who are deaf to this shall be astonied at the last Trumpets sound The various washings in use among the Iews well unfolded shew Christ the accomplishment of them and our Christian duty of dayly purging our selves in the fountain of his blood Chap. VII St. Pauls design to deliver to us the doctrine of justification by grace This clear'd by reducing all men under an examen The Gentile examined and cast by Law of nature transgressed The Iew examined and cast by the written Law moral transgressed There is a Law of nature this not nulled by Faith What this Law is in the particular description of it T is engraven on the heart given by Christ yet different from that he gives Believers who follow him It was a perfect rule before the fall it is yet of great use though much impaired The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that he was to be served and worshipped that he created all being himself eternal and omnipotent wise and good This Law declared what is good and what evil in some
oâ— Christs gloriouâ— appearing especially considering that the day of death was to them as the last day not that he did peremtorily determine any thing concerning the time which was unknown now compare this with what he writeth to the same Church in the next Epistle Now we beseech you Brethren by the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ and by our gathering together unto him that ye be not shaken in mind or be troubled neither by spirit or word nor by letter as from us as that the day of Christ is at hand Let no man deceive you by any means for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first and that man of sin be revealed the son of Perdition c. It seemeth some went about to deceive them under pretence of Revelation implied in the word Spirit some by word of Mouth as if the day of the Lord should come in that age and these might abuse those words of the Apostle in his former Epistle therefore he saith by Letter or Epistle as from us Now Satan might have this pollicy and set a certain day and that within a short time that when they saw it did not come to pass at the time foretold they might doubt of the thing it self whether ever it would come to pass but the Apostle shews them that there must be a great change before that day a general Apostacy or falling away and the revealing that man of sin the Son of perdition Secondly by drawing false inferences and conclusions from some places of Scripture So in the present Text from that â—ound doctrine of the Apostle concerning free justification of sinners through the righteousness of Christ without any respect at all to the works of the Law it seemeth some drew this inference or conclusion that the Law was made void and do not the Antinomians the very same â—t this day yea do not many among us harbour the same conceits in their minds as if it were enough only to pray to God to pardon their sins for Christ his sake as if they â—eed not labour after conformity to the Law â—n righteousness and holiness On the other â—â—de whereas Christ saith Except ye repent ye shall likewise perish Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God Follow Holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. From these and the like Scriptures some it seemeth draw false conclusions as if by repentance by holiness by prayers and other duties they might in part satisfie for their former sins and as if Repentance Regeneration Holiness were not only things accompanying justification and salvation but proper causes But ye must consider First that Christ his satisfaction and righteousness is the full perfect and only cause of â—ustification and pardon of sin and that no holiness no duties of the persons justified do help any thing at all towards their justification it is the Righteousness of Christ imputed to them which maketh up the whole matter of their Righteousness in the sight of God and covereth all their sins Secondly on the other side Regeneration Repentance Holiness are concomitants things accompanying justification and salvation and evidences of it So that although none can procure pardon of sin nor justification in the least degree by any graces or duties of their own yet none can have any â—ound hope that their sins are forgiven or their persons accepted of God as righteous without Repentance Regeneration and Holiness because none have their sins pardoned and their persons justified but such as receive Christ into their hearts by Faith Now Christ alwaies cometh by water and blood by his holy graces to wash and sanctifie the Soul as by his blood and merit to justifie and procure forgiveness of sin As the light of the fire giveth no heat and the heat of the fire giveth no light yet the heat and light are joyned together in the fire so righteousness imputed to the soul for justification and forgiveness of sin do not sanctifie and on the other side Repentance Regeneration holiness in Believers do not justifie yet they are joyned together and where one is there is the other and the latter is an evidence of the former I conceive it is a common case with many to mistake in this kind because they want judgement rightly to draw inferences from Scripture groâ—nds so the Anabaptists because they read of persons baptized when they made profession of faith and repentance hereupon they draw conclusions against Infant-baptisme whereas the case is not alike for those examples are of converted Jews or Heathens not of such as are born of Christian-parents whereas they should rather argue that because Infants born of Church-members under the old Testament were circumcised as Church-members by the Lord command therefore Infants born of Church-members under the new Testament are to be baptized as Church-members now Thirdly prejudicate opinions false conceits sutable to corrupt Nature and carnal reason forestalling the mind and being entertained aforehand make people very apt to deprave or deny the Truth when it is presented to them I conceive this was the cause why the Jews were so obstinate in rejecting Christ and his doctrine not receiving and obeying him as Christ because their carnal minds were forestalled with conceits of a Messias that should come in state as an earthly Prince and erect a glorious worldly Kingdom amongst them and this prejudice moved them to corrupt the Prophecies of the old Testament and to distaste the doctrines of the New they liked not to hear of a crucified Redeemer the doctrine of the Cross was to them a stumbling-block they did not close with a spiritual Kingdom of Christ attended with persecution yea Christ his Disciples were not free from this disease and therefore when Christ foretold his own sufferings Peter presumed to rebuke him and there was a contention among them for the chiefe place as if they expected great worldly honours and dignities by following Christ On the other side the Grecians were prepossessed with the rational principles of worldly wisdom and Philosophy and so despised the Gospel as foolishness though indeed there were such heights and depths of divine wisdom in the mysteries of the Gospel as never came into the head of the wisest men amongst them The carnal Israelites were forestalled with an opinion of their own righteousness and so rejected the doctrine of justification by the righteousness of Christ For they being ignorant of Gods righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God Ignorance and prejudice the fruit of ignorance caused them to disrelish the Truth of the Gospel Secondly the love of sin is a cause why men pervertor reject the Truths of the Gospel The Gospel and word of grac teacheth to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts c. This is distastful to a soul wherein sin raigneth The Gospel requireth Christians to
is a full fountain sufficient to send forth a multitude of these poysoned streams It is a fruitful wombe to conceive and bring forth abundantly ignorance mistaking the sense of Scripture drawing false conclusions from the word filling the mind with mists and clouds of prejudice against the Truth Love of sin Pride Corrupt and inordinate self-love excessive love of the world and outward things These and the like distempers of corrupt Nature What truths may they not corrupt or deny What errours and false opinions may they not breed and cherish Now when Satan the Father of Lyes either more immediately by himself or mediately by his instruments worketh upon corrupt nature then followes strong delusion or efficacy of error whereby people are brought to believe lyes tending to damnation Yea such is the power of Satan joyning with corrupt nature in the producing of false doctrines that one error begetteth many and one Seducer deceiveth many one blind guide draweth a multitude into the ditch with himself yea one Heresie may soon over-run a whole Country and spread suddenly from one Nation to another How soon did the Heresies of Arius overcome the world and how were the Kings and Kingdoms of the earth made drunk with the cup of the Whore of Babylon lying drenched and drowned in Popish errours Superstitions and Idolatries and like horns fastned to the head of the beast imploying their power to maintain the tyranny of Antichrist and to suppress and persecute the truth and them that were sincere and zealous in professing and promoting it And Thirdly upon the same ground we may see the cause of such wicked practices as are used to advance and establish errours Satan and mans corrupt nature joyn together in the breeding of them False doctrines have an hellish original and so are carried on by hellish means What juglings were used by the Arians to delude the Emperor Constantine to bring the Champions of the Truth especially Athanasius into disgrace and suspicion with him how importunate were they to obtain a toleration and to be received into Communion with the Church covering their wolvish natures under sheeps cloathing while they were weak and kept under but casting off the sheeps skin when once they grew numerous and strong and had Emperours for their turn and appearing in their own colours devouring the sheep of Christ making havock of the Church and exercising outragious persecution against them Much is related also of the fury and cruelty of the Circumcellions As for the Papists what Country in Europe almost hath not had experience more or less of their bloody butcheries how many thousands of Saints and Martyrs have they murdered with fire and sword and put to cruel torments in Italy Germany Spain France Netherlands England and Scotland Among the rest the barbarous Massacres acted upon the Protestants at Paris in France under pretence of friendship and a royal wedding and the like cruelty executed in other Cities of that Kingdome and the hellish Powder plot here in England are sufficient evidences by what spirit they are led and this latter is on the one side I conceive matter of perpetual infamy and reproach to the Whore of Babylon and on the other side an everlasting monument of the goodness of God and his watchful eye over his Church in discovering this work of darkness laughing to scorn the counsels of his Enemies and commanding deliverance for his people in this Land by which means the Gospel and ordinances of God are continued among us to this day But by these and the like examples it may appear that Satan and the corrupt nature of man closing together do both bring forth dangerous errours and contrive wicked means to maintain them Hence it is that they have dealt perfidiously with men to work their own ends having first dealt falsly with God in denying his Truth and as much as lyeth in them falsifying his word putting false constructions upon it and drawing false conclusions from it And therefore none ought to stumble at the multitude of errors and false opinions so as to question the Truth and certainty of Religion but rather so much the more to use means to be established in the Truth by searching the Scriptures with diligence earnestly praying to the Lord to open their understandings to lead them into all Truth and confirm them in it to frame their hearts to receive the love of the Truth and to keep them from being led away with the error of the wicked But some may question If Satan and corrupt nature are the cause of errours what is the reason then 1. That some of the godly are drawn into Error 2. What is the cause that many carnal persons and many notoriously wicked are free from Errours yea at such times and in such places where errours and sects abound For answer to the former I conceive First that many who have been of note for godliness were never sound they were but chaffe in the Lords floore aud so easily blown away with every wind of false Doctrine Saith the Apostle Iohn Little children it is the last time and as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come even now are there many Antichrists whereby we know that it is the last time These lesser Antâ—â—â—ists were forerunners of the great Antiâ—hrist but whence came these petty Antichrists even out of the bosome of the primitive apostolical Church for saith this Apostle They went out from us but they were not of us for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us but they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us If these that were in communion with the Church of Christ in those purest times were unsound at the best and afterwards discovered their unsoundness by departing from the faith and Church of Christ and becoming open enemies to the Truth have we not cause to think that many who in these days imbrace false opinions were never upright when they seemed most zealous for the Truth and wayes of God And therefore what need have all to search their hearts and while they seem to stand take heed least they fall by lâ—bouring to ground themselves upon the Lord Jesus Christ by faith unfeigned Secondly I doubt not but sincere Christians may fall into some lesser errors because they do but know in part There are degrees of ignorance in them and the remainders of corrupt nature which may darken their minds and expose them to the danger of erring partly through the weakness of their own judgements partly through the sleight of men and cunning craftiness whereby they lye in wait to deceive partly through the high esteem which they have of some men So it is thought that multitudes were carried away with Luthers Name and the eminency of his gifts and the great service done by him to the Church of Christ. Lastly I conceive that the Lord may in his wisdom suffer some
this was one of the last acts of Moses his life for the Lord said unto him avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites afterwards shalt thou be gathered unto thy people it was a work fit for him to do when he was ready to leave the world How odious were those Prophets of Baal to that zealous Prophet Elijah Saith he take the Prophets of Baal let not one of them escape and they took them and Elijah brought them down to the brook Chishon and slew them there Micaiah shewed his detestation of those lyes spoken by the false prophets when he told the King now therefore behold the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy Prophets The like may be shewed of the Prophet Ieremiah how he abhorred the lyes of those false Prophets Hananiah Ahab Zedekiah and Shemajah but I come to the Examples of the New Testament And first to begin with Iohn Baptist who came to prepare the way of the Lord with what zeal did he detest the corruption of doctrine brought in by the Pharises and Sadduces When he saw many of them come to his Baptisme he said unto them O generation of Vipers Who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come But above all take the blessed Example of the Lord Jesus Christ with what heavenly zeal did he manifest his detestation of the false doctrine taught by the Scribes and Pharises Thus have ye made the Commandment of God of none effect by your tradition And he gave his Disciples this Caveat Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharises and of the Sadduces which is meant of their corrupt doctrine How sharply doth he reprove them and how many woes doth he denounce against them He calleth such Wolves Theeves and Robbers And the Apostles and servants of the Lord Jesus Christ being led by the spirit of Christ did abundantly discover how exceedingly they detested and abhorred Heresies and falsâ— doctrines The Apostle Peter inveigheth with much vehemency against false Teachers calleth their corrupt doctrines damnable heresies whereby they denyed the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction He terms their ways pernicious and shews how they make merchandise of souls He calleth them pernicious self-wilâ—ed and such as are not afraid to speak evil of dignities wells without water speaking greaâ— swelling words of vanity with divers other expressions St. Iude agreeth with St. Peter and among other passages compareth false Teachers to Cain Balaam Core The Apostle Iohn calleth them Antichrists adversaries to Christ and false Prophets They are called deceivers yea it is said ver 10 11. If there come any unto you and bring not thiâ— doctrine receive him not into your house neitheâ— bid him God speed for he that biddeth him Goâ— speed is partaker of his evil deeds In the Revelations written by St. Iohn the Angel oâ— Minister of the Church at Ephesus is commended for hating the deeds of the Nicolaitans Pergamus is threatned because in that Church was found those that held the doctrine of Balaam and of the Nicolaitans and therefore t is added Repent or else I will comâ— unto thee quickly and will fight against theâ— with the sword of my mouth Thiatira is blamed for suffering the woman Iezabel which called her self a Prophetess to teach and seduce A great part of this book declareth the wickedness of the Whore of Babylon the Antichristian popish faction the mischief they do the Judgements of God hanging over them and how odious their false doctâ—ines and false worship is to God and his people The Apostle St. Paul as he laboured and wrote more than the rest so he is very plentiful in declaring his detestation of false doctrines and false teachers In his Epistle to the Romans â—he earnestly exhorteth the Saints I beseech you Brethren mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned and avoid them for they that are such serve not the Lord Iesus Christ but their own belly and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple He speaketh of those that cause divisions contrary to â—ound doctrine not of those that oppose false doctrine and corrupt customes whereupon sometimes divisions may follow through obâ—tinacy of those that resist the truth How largely doth he declare against that fundamental errour of them that denyed the resurrection He calleth them corrupt teachers false apostles deceitful workers transforming themselves into the Apostles of Christ Ministers of Satan and imitating their Master transforming themselves into the Ministers of righteousness as he being the Prince of darkness transformeth himself into an Angel of light How sharp and severe is he this way in the Epistle to the Galatians Though we or an Angel from heaven preach any other Gosâ—el unto you than that which ye have received let him be accursed As we said before so say I now again if any man preach any other Gospel unto you than that ye have received let him be accursed Yea he spared not that great Apostle Peter but withstood him to the face and gave him a publick reproofe because he did but warpe a little and by withdrawing from the believing Gentils for fear of offending the Iews gave occasion to men to question the doctrine of free justificâ—tâ—on through the righteousness of Christ alone and to think that circumcision and the ceremonies of the Law were necessâ—ry to justification Again saith he O foolish Galatians who hath bewitched you that yâ— should not obey the truth shewing that tâ— be led by â—alse teachers is to be befooled and bewitched Corrupts teachers bewitch and make fools of their followers Again saith he I would they were even cut off that troublâ— you He calleth false teachers dogs evil workers the Concision and sheweth that such are apt to beguile others with enticing words and to spoil them through Philosophy and vain deceit after the tradition of men after the rudiments of the world and not after Christ intruding into those things which they have not seen vainly puffed up by their fleshly minds How notably doth he set forth Antichrist and his followers speaking of a grand apostacy and general falâ—ing away and calleth the head of it the man of sin the Son of perâ—ition who opposeth and exalteth himself c. He calleth the mystery of Antichrist the mystery of Iniquity He calleth him that wicked one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying the lawless one a term exactly agreeing to the Pope who trampleth upon the laws of Christ at his pleasure and exalteth his own Laws He sheweth that his coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish c. He sheweth that to fall into Heresie is to make shipwrack of faith
and that for this cause he delivered Himeneus and Alexander unto Satan He sheweth that Heresies are doctrines of devils and Lyes spoken in Hypocrisie and foretelling the perillous times that should come in these last dayes that men should be lovers of their own selves c. then he addeth of this sort are they which creep into houses and lead captive silly women laden with sins led away with divers lusts ever learning c. He compareth them to Iannes and Iambres that withstood Moses meaning I suppose the Egyptian Sorcerers or Juglers so do these also resist the truth men of corrupt minds reprobate concerning the faith and afterwards he sheweth the miserable progress that they shall make scil from bad to worse Evil men and Seducers shall wax worse and worse deceiving and being deceived Yea he sheweth the folly of those that hearken to seducers The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears and they shall turn away their ears from the truth anâ— shall be turned unto fables He calleth falsâ— teachers unruly and vain talkers and deceivers whose mouths must be stopped who subvert whoâ—â— houses teaching things which they ought not for filthy lucre sake And he giveth this chargâ— to Titus concerning such a man that is aâ— Heretick after the first and second admonition reject knowing that he that is such is subverted and sinneth being condemned of himself It is conceived that the Epistle to the Hebrew was written by this Apostle and how largely doth he there confute the corrupt doctrine of them that maintained the necessary use 〈◊〉 legal cremonies and giveth this admonitioâ— Be not carried about with divers and strangâ— doctrines and saith We have an Altar whereâ— they have have no right to eat which servâ— the Tabernacle shewing they have no paâ— in Christ which obstinately prefer the shâ—dows of the old Testament before Christ theâ— substance Secondly to these Examples may be addâ— divers Arguments or Reasons whereby it mâ—â— appear why Heresies false doctrines opinnions that oppose or corrupt the truths 〈◊〉 Christ are odious to the godly and abhoâ—red by them First because the glory of God is exceedingly wronged by false doctrines and Heresies anâ— the grosser any such Heresies are the more 〈◊〉 God dishonoured by them God the Fatheâ— is such as Christ witnesseth of him he thâ—â— sent me is true yea he cannot lye God the Son is Truth God the holy Ghost is the spirit of Truth Now what a high dishoâ—our is it to the God of Truth when lyes are fathered npon him and attributed to him errours and false opinions in matters of Religion are taught professed received as Truths of God What is this but to go about to derive darkness from light lyes from the Fountain of Truth The Apostle disputing against that great errour of them that denyed the Resurrection of the dead bringeth this Argument amongst others that Christ is risen and the resurrection of the Head proveth the Resurrection of the Members and sheweth that divers absurdities would follow if the resurrection of Saints should be denyed among the rest this We are found false witnesses of God because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ whom be raised not up if so be the dead rise not They that maintain any falshood in point of Religion as a Truth they bear false witness of God as much as in them lies they make him a lyar the Author of falshood Which tendeth highly to the dishonour of his great and glorious name and therefore all that are born of God all that love the Lord Jesus in sincerity abhor errours and Heresies Secondly There is a contrariety in the hearts of the godly against errours and Heresies They have in them a principle of opposition against false doctrine A stranger will they not follow but will flee from him for they know not the voice of strangers There is something within them which suiteth not with strange doctrine but is averse from it For 1. They are begotten with the word of Truth Of his own will begat he us with the word of Truth As they are new creatures they have their original from the word of truth it iâ— as it were one of the ingredients of their new nature and so in that regard there is a natural antipathy and contrariety betwixt them and false doctrines The Apostle Iohn saith oâ— the godly we know that we are of the Truth They do as it were derive their new being from the Truth and therefore errour and falsâ— doctrine is hateful and abominable in their sight 2. They are the children of the God of Truth they are united unto Jesus Christ who is fulâ— of grace and truth they are led by the spirit of Christ who is the spirit of truth and therefore abhor and detest lyes spoken in Hypocrisie Thirdly The godly have learned that errouâ— tend to the destruction of poor Souls and therefore Peter calleth them damnable Heresies Paul calleth them doctrines of Devils It 〈◊〉 said they eat like a canker or gangrene whicâ— is such a malignant disease that it requireâ—â— the cutting off of a limb otherwise the whoâ— body is in danger to be destroyed Now 〈◊〉 people of God being tender and compassionate toward immortal Souls How can theâ— chuse but abhor such deadly poyson when theâ— find it offered by Seducers and readily swallowed down by the simple Is it not strange that some would have protection and encouragement given to all false doctrines and to those that spread and propagate them and that under a pretence of tenderness Is it not rather a high degree of cruelty to protect any in destroying Souls to give them full liberty to wander about with their Plague-sores running upon them freely to spread their contagious and pestilent Errours to the infecting of thousands Fourthly one errour begetteth many one false principle may be the cursed root of many rotten branches and a spring of many streams How many gross absurdities as the Apostle sheweth follow as conseâ—uents from that one grand errour of denying the Resurrection of the body as that Christ is not risen the preaching of the Gospel is vain the faith of believers vain and they still in their sins under the guilt and power of them and when they die they perish and that they have hope only in this life and so are of all men most miserable because they expose themselves to the scorn and malice of the wicked in hope of a better life And doth not experience shew how people when once they depart from the truth fall from errour to errour and with giddy heads run about in a maze of vain delusions Satan the Father of lyes having once seduced and gotten them into his circle leadeth them from one by-path to another Now how can a man
be truly godly and not abhor false doctrines which are such a fruitful spawn of a venemous Issue Many flying serpents being hatched of one Cockatrice egg Fiftly Errours are apt to overgrow the Truth as Tares and other weeds are ready to overcome the corn And that 1. by corrupting one doctrine of the Gospel after another And 2. by oppressing and persecuting the sincere professors and Preachers of the Truth It seemeth the errours and corruptions of Popery were first winked at being taken up by particular persons not generally owned then they became more general and overbore the truth then they were armed with power and so opposed and persecuted the sincere maintainers of the truth The Arian Heresie at first was kept under at length prevailed so as to raise most bloody persecutions against the Truth The outrages of the Anabaptists and sueâ—â— as pretended to Revelations how notoriouâ— were they when once they got a head at Munster in Germany But our age seemeth to exceed former times in this kind that errours and heresies among us have been armed almost at their first appearance It would appear a strange Monster if a child should bâ— born in armour such a monster if I mistake not I have read of born in Germany about the time of the late wars Is it not prodigious to see armed monsters born amongst us errours and heresies with swords by their sides Pistolls Muskets Pikes â—n their hands at their first coming into the world almost Who knoweth the dismaâ— events and mischief such things presage if the Lord Christ who is the Truth and whose name is the word of God should for our unworthiness forbear to ride forth on his white horse conquering and to conquer But what gracious heart doth not both abhor and tremble at those things that tend to the suppressing of the Truth and rooting out of those that are of the Truth and for the Truth Sixthly Errours aud Heresies are apt to spread far and wide in a short time from a person to a family from the family to a Neighbourhood then over a Province or Country then over a Nation then from Nation to Nation and so over the world Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth The Arian Heresie being a little spark at first in Egypt in a short time did spread over Asia and Africk and took hold of divers parts of Europe for the devil himself hath declared it that his business is to go to and fro in the earth and to walk up and down in it and he is very swift in his motion and active in his work and who that hath any zeal for Christ doth not abhor such a growing evil such a spreading mischief Seventhly Errours and Heresies are apt to draw poor souls from the means of grace They are deadly diseases and withal of such a cursed nature that they take off the heart from the remedy They cause people to withdraw from those assemblies where the truths of God are taught and the unsoundness of such errours is laid open And then it is as the Devil would have it when he can so bewitch poor souls as to make them drink down deadly poyson and then refuse to take a purge But as this is pleasing to Satan so how grievous is it to them that tender the good of poor souls to see them dangerously sick and altogether unwilling to be healed or come near the means of the cure Eightly Heresies and false doctrines make woful rents and divisions in the Church The Church is one body under one head the Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostle speaking to the Church says now ye are the body of Christ and members in particular Christ is the head of the Church and he is the Saviour of the body and therefore the Apostle exceedingly presseth the members of the Church to endeavour to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace heaping up arguments of unity Saith he there is 1. one Body 2. one Spirit 3. one Hâ—pe 4. one Lord. 5. one Faith 6. one Baptisme 7. one God and Father of all Shall the members of one body fight each against other Is it not monstrous for them that should be quickned with one spirit to strive against each other as if they were acted by contrary spirits Shall they that 〈◊〉 called to one hope be at defiance among themâ—selves Can the Servants of one Lord beaâ— arms against each other and one party noâ— fight against the Lord himself by contending with their fellow Servants Shall those that are called to the profession of one faith embrace contrary beliefs Is it not odious to see those that were washed in one laver of Baptisme cast dirt upon each other or stain their hands yea their consciences with the blood of each other Is it not horrid to see the children of one heavenly Father or such as profess themselves to be so to hate and destroy their brethren Now how clearly doth Scripture witness how sadly doth experience prove that errours and heresies make woful rents and divisions In one of those places formerly mentioned saith the Apostle I beseech you Brethren mark them which cause diâ—visions and offences contrary to the doctrine which we have learned and avoid them by teaching contrary to sound doctrine dangerous divisions are caused and great offences given What a grievous rent was likely to have been made in the Primitive Church by them which would have perswaded the believing Gentiles that Circumcision was necessary to Salvation had not the Apostles and Elders meeting together in a Synod at Hierusalem carefully suppressed this errour at the first appearing of it It is said Paul aud Barnabas had no small dissention and disputation with them that taught this false doctrine In the Synod it self there was much disputing In the Epistle directed by the Synod to the Churches of the Gentiles it is said We have heard that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words subverting your Souls saying ye must be circumcised and keep the Law scil of Ceremonies to whom we gave no such Commandment And although this Errour was for the present much restrained yet how did it break out again afterward among the Galatians And therefore the Apostle calleth these false teachers the Concision instead of the Circumcision Cum ecclesiam conscinderent lacerarent seeing they did as it were cut and tear in pieces the Church of Christ with their false doctrine or as another saith he called them the Concision tum quod ecclesiam pravo dogmate scinderent tum quod simplciores a Christo abscinderent because by their corrupt opinion they did both cut asunder the unity of the Church and cut off the weaker sort from Christ. But if we should speak of the Rents that were in the Church by Errours and Heresies mentioned in the Ecclesiastical Histories it would amount to a large Volumn What a rent was like to be made in the
Churches by Victor Bishop of Rome about the year 198 about a business of small moment scil the time of keeping Easter inclining to excommunicate many famous Churches of Asia dissenting from him had not some more moderate men especially Irenaeus Bishop of Lions restrained his rashness though agreeing with him about the thing in controversie What worse divisions were made by the abominable Heresie of the Maniche's in Iudea Egypt Greece Thrace Spain and other places But as the blasphemous Heresie of Arius was raised in a time when the Church was free from heathen persecutors so what dismal Rents and divisions did it make in the Church when there were Bishops against Bishops Churches against Churches Councels against Councels So the Macedonians Nestorians Eutichians Monothelites and others how sadly did they tear the Church in pieces That false and proud tenent of the Papists making the Pope the universal Bishop and head of the whole Church what a breach hath it made between the Eastern and Western Churches for many hundred years and what is the reason that there is no reconciliation made all this while between them and the Protestants but because they remain so obstinate in their errours Heresies and Idolatries against the manifest light of the holy Scriptures The stiffeness of those that are called Lutherans in adhering to their corrupt opinions hath made a miserable and lasting breach amongst the Protestant Churches But though we should not look either far back or far off for examples in this kind our own Land and our present times may afford us more then enough Have we not breach upon breach divisions and subdivisions many rending themselves from our Churches and then again making new rents among themselves and yet when there is an opportunity to act mischief against the truth and the Preachers and Professors of it they can make truce with each other for a time and conspire together to carry on wretched designs as the Pharises and Sadduces as also Herod and Pilate did against Christ. But here I think it needful to put in a caution or two First some are apt to lay the blame of these divisions upon those that maintain sound doctrine either when they labour to revive the truth after it hath been kept under by old errours and corrupt customes or to defend it against new heresies and attempts of Seducers When men see them constant and inflexible that they will not suffer themselves to be bowed and biassed according to the crooked fancies of those that are Seducers or seduced how ready are they to condemn them for Schismaticks froward men enemies of peace But this is a dangerous mistake and a very great injury to them that stand for the truth and to the truth it self For 1. The people and Ministers of Christ are bound to stand fast in the Truth against all opposition and contradiction So the Apostle sheweth that one end why Christ ascending into Heaven gave gifts unto men Ministers and ministerial abilities was that we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the slight of men and cunning craftiness whereby they lye in wait to deceive but speaking the truth in love may grow up into him in all things who is the head even Christ. Buy the Truth and sell it not The peace of the Church is greatly to be esteemed and endeavoured yet we must not sell the Truth to buy peace Iude accounted it needful for him to write unto the people of God and exhrrt them that thoy should earnesty contend for the faith scil the truth or doctrine of faith which was once delivered unto the Saints for saith he there are certain men crept in unawares c. The Apostle Paul gives a strict charge to Timothy hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me in faith and Love which is in Christ Iesus Hold it fast whatsoever means are used to wrest it from thee that good thing which was committed to thee keep by the holy Ghost which dwelleth in us Then he addeth this thou knowest that all they which are in Asia be carried away from me I conceive the word all is not to be taken universally here for all absolutely but indefinitely for the generality of those in Asia the lesser and therefore Timothy being left at Ephesus a chiefe City of Asia was likely to meet with many Adversaries and much contention in holding fast the form of sound words yet the Apostle would not dispense with him in this case he must stick close to the Truth So he telleth Titus that a Minister must hold fast the faithful word as he hath been taught that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and convince the gainsayers for there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers especially they of the Circumcision whose mouthes must be stopped c. And then he addeth wherefore rebuke them sharply that they may be sound in the faith Is it not very likely that contentions and divisions would follow hereupon Secondly Therefore consider that when contentions and divisions follow upon the faithful preaching professing maintaining of the Truth or the right administration of holy Ordinances the fault is in those that will not indure sound doctrine but take offence when none is given either because their errours are confuted or their sinful practices reproved If divisions and contentions follow upon the publishing and asserting the Counsel of God they are the cause of it who resist the Truth for was not this the case of our Lord Jesus Christ himself and his Apostles Many of the people when they heard Christ said Of a truth this is the Prophet others said this is the Christ but some said shall Christ come out of Galilee c. so there was a division among the people because of him There was a division therefore again among the Iews because of these sayings and many of them said he hath a Devil and is mad Why hear ye him Others said these are not the words of him that hath a Devil Can a Devil open the eyes of the blind Yea the Lord Christ forewarned his Disciples Think not that I am come to send peace on the Earth I am not come to send peace but a sword or as it is in Luke division For I am come to set a man at variance against his Father and the Daughter against her Mother and the Daughter in Law against the Mother in Law and a mans foes shall be they of his own houshold Christ is the Prince of peace and his Gospel is the Gospel of peace and the proper end of his coming in the flesh and the great business that he undertook was to make peace between God and men and so by consequent between men and men and this design took effect accordingly in those that savingly received Christ and his Gospel and yeilded up their hearts to him but
like Locusts overspreading the earth devouring the fruits of it These came out of the smoak of the bottomless pit the smoak of errours and superstitions for when such doctrines passed for currant that men might be saved by observing vain humane traditions that there was a Treasure in the Church filled up with the merits of those that had an overplus besides what was needful for themselves and that they who were benefactors to the Monks should be partakers of their merits how mad was the world in building Monasteries and giving their Land and goods to the Friers devoting their children to that profession Yea it seemeth divers noble persons and some Kings and Queens turning Monks and Nuns And as the smoak of the pit did breed the Locusts so the Locusts encreased the smoak and made the mists of darkness greater and thicker multiplying errours and superstitions If this were one of those grievous woes whereof the Angel flying through the midst of Heaven gave warning to the world how should we be humbled and ashamed in respect of the great earthliness dulness senselesness of spirit that is among us yea too much in those that have some love to the Truth that this great and woful evil doth so abound with us and is so little laid to heart Should not the very thought of it startle us that such thick and dark vollies of smoak in our days should break out of the bottomless pit and cover so great a part of our Land darkning the Air and Sun eclipsing the Light of the truth and putting out the eyes of many and so many Locusts deceivers and deceived coming out of the smoak of errours This ought to be for a Lamentation But how many that profess themselves Christians set their hearts so much upon their own private concernments their business wealth ease and pleasure c. and those that have something of a publick spirit yet confine their serious thoughts to the external good of the Common-wealth that they little or nothing regard these destructive evils that are of a spiritual nature If Gallio his temper who when complaint was made to him about differences in Religion slighted them as words and names and cared for none of these things may be thought tolerably or at at least not much to be marvailed at in an Heathen yet doubtless it is shameful and odious in a Christian. What! a Christian and not moved that Christ who is the Truth is so highly dishonoured by lyes and falshood taught and received instead of Truths that multitudes of poor souls are in a ready way to be destroyed by damnable doctrines that errours beget errours and are likely to overgrow the Truth to spread far and wide that so many are both infected by them and alienated from the remedy shunning the publick Ordinances where sound doctrine is taught that such bleeding wounds and Rents are made in the Church Art thou a Christian and so one that pretendest to be begotten with the word of Truth and hast thou no such principle of contrariety planted in thee against errours and false doctrines as to make them bitter and grievous to thee Some may raile at those that are misled and others may make a sport of their folly but how small is the number of those who like Christians mourn for them as dishonourable to Christ pernicious to souls How deeply was the holy Apostle affected with the obstinacy of the Iews in their errours in preferring the ceremonies of the Law above Christ the Substance and their own imaginary legal righteousness above the perfect righteousness of Christ applied by faith I say the truth in Christ. I lye not my Conscience also bearing me witness in the holy Ghost that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart for I could wish that I my self were accursed from Christ for my Brethren my kinsmen according to the flesh How passionately did he express himself to the Galatians who had once embraced the pure doctrine of the Gospel but afterwards suffered themselves to be so deluded by seducers as to seek justification by the Law My little children of whom I travel in birth again until Christ be formed in you He felt such sorrow such fear such strong and compassionate workings of heart towards them as were answerable to the pangs of a woman in child-bearing Saith the Psalmist I beheld the transgressours and was grieved because they kept not thy word This I conceive doth plainly concern both transgressions in practice and in doctrine or belief Both these forts of transgressiours are guilty of not keeping Gods word They that live in a course of sin they keep the word in their judgement and profession but keep it not in their lives and actions They that go on in errours keep not the word so much as in judgment and profession Besides how can a man forsake any truth of God which he hath once received but he must ipso facto in that very act transgress in point of practise He transgresseth that precept Prov. 23 buy the truth and sell it not that of the Apostle be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine c. and that hold fast the form of sound words c. Now the Psalmist beheld those with a mournful eye I beheld the transgressours and was grieved c. Is it not a sign of a graceless heart to behold transgressours without grief If we moan not for these things out of spiritual respects the Lord may justly make us mourn for those outward evils that they may bring upon us The Divel as he is the Father of lyes so he is a murderer Spiritus mendax est homicida and they that are led by a lying spirit if they can establish their facton and party so as to grow confident of their power may soon discover a murtherous spirit and then those that are lukewarm and indifferent in matters of Religion may feel their fury as well as they that are most zealous Secondly This truth may shame those who plead for a toleration of all sorts of errours Hereticks Seducers false prophets It seemeth the Apostle Paul accounted them intolerable when he pronounced them accursed and wished them cut off But such pretend Christian charity meekness mercy I answer 1. Will they boast of more love than Paul had who could have wished himself accursed that Israel might have been saved Will they pretend to more meekness than Moses who was very meek above all the men which were upon the face of the earth and yet ye heard how he acted against Balaam and the Midianites and we find also that he caused three thousand to be slain for Idolatry If men will approve themselves to be of such a spirit as Paul and Moses let them shew meekness and love in â—earing and forgiving private and personal injuries offered to themselves and on the other side manifest true zeal for the Truth and
Capital punishments as Fines Banishment Imprisonment But for Blasphemers I know not what authority under Heaven hath power to dispense with that Law so expressely delivered by the God of Heaven He that blasphemeth the name of the Lord he shall surely be put to death Seventhly Some I believe think they have a Protection for Hereticks to preserve them from the hand of justice in that Parable of the Tares where the Housholder would not have the Tares rooted up lest the Wheat should be plucked up with them but would have both grow together until the Harvest I answer 1. I see not how this can exempt Hereticks from punishment more than perjured persons Theeves Traitours Rebels Adulterers Murderers or other Malefactours For what are Tares but all sorts of persons that are not Wheat to be gathered into the Barn And therefore in the exposition of the Parable the Tares are declared to signifie all things that offend and them that do Iniquity And therefore I conceive these Servants are not the Magistrates who are not forbidden but commanded to use their power for a Terrour to evil works but the Angels whom the Lord will not have to pluck up all the Tares before the Harvest day scil the end of the world And in the exposition of the Parable I find nothing either restraining civil Magistrates or Church Officers in proceeding against notorious and scandalous offenders 2. Parables are not to be pressed and urged in every particular circumstance but the Scope is to be considered And I conceive the Scope and design of this Parable is to shew that there shall be a mixture of good and bad in the world until the last day when the separation shall be made And therefore in the third place How earnest should we be in praying to the Lord to preserve our selves and others from being led away with the errour of the wicked to reduce those that are led aside to open their eyes and humble their hearts that they may acknowledge their failings and return to the Truth to frustrate the subtil devices and mischievous attempts of deceivers to fill the Magistrates with a spirit of wisdom zeal and courage to improve their authority for the Lord Jesus Christ in putting a restraint upon the enemies of his Name and Truth to stir up in them bowels of compassion towards poor souls who are dayly in danger to be insnared and bewitched by them Besides all the other mischiefs done by false Teachers I conceive this one were enough to stir up all that truly fear God to desire their restraint that they draw many poor creatures from publick ordinances from the ordinary means of knowledge grace and salvation And how can they do the Divel a more acceptable service or open a readier way for Popery Profaneness Atheisme and all manner of wickedness to break in upon us So much of the Apostles Answer by way of abhorrence or detestation CHAP. III. NOw followeth the other part of his Answer by way of Negation oâ— Denyal Concerning which I grant it to be an Affirmation in respect of the form of the words if they be considered as a sentence by themselves but consider this clause as an Answer to the former Question or Objection and so it is a Denial and more than a Denial in regard of the matter of it it is a Denial with advantage The Question or Objection is Do we make void the Law throâ—gh Faith implying that the doctrine delivered by the Apostle concerning justification by faith doth make void the Law that is that by maintaining this doctrine that they who receive Christ by a lively faith applying his righteousness obedience and satisfaction to themselves and relying wholly upon him for justification and salvation are accepted of God as truly righteous without any consideration at all of any works of theirs done in obedience to the Law that they hereby do make void the Law or take away the use and authority of it This the Apostle doth most strongly deny by affirming the contrary yea we establish the Law If he had said no more but this we do not make void the Law through Faith it had been a denial of that which was objected But to add strength to his denyal he affirms the contrary that the doctrine of justification by faith is so far from making void the Law that it confirmeth and establisheth the Law So that the Apostle shews that there was a double falshood in this Objection For if the doctrine objected against had neither made void the Law nor established it it had been false to say it did make void the the Law but to say it made void the Law when it was so far from making it void that it did establish it was a double falshood Again it seemeth the objection was made both against the doctrine and them that taught it Do we make void the Law through Faith scil the Apostle and other Gospel-preachers And the Answer cleareth both Yea we establish the Law The doctrine which we preach and we in preaching this doctrine are so far from making void the Law that both our doctrine and we in teaching it do establish the Law Hence may be noted this Point That such things have been Objected against the Truth and them that stand for the truth as are doubly false I conceive there is an Objection implied in the speech of our Lord Christ Think not that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophets I am not come to destroy but to fulfill It seemeth some either did Object or were inclined to object against the Son of God that he came to destroy the Law and the Prophets Now he shews that there was a double falshood in this surmize for 1. He did not come to destroy them 2. He came to fulfill them in such an exact and perfect manner and measure as the best of men that ever came before him were never able to do So when he had cast the Divel out of a dumb man that was possessed so that the dumb spake and the multitude marveiled saying it was never so seen in Israel the Pharisees said he casteth out Devils through the Prince of Devils There was a double falshood in this envious and Blasphemous cavil They accused him as a confederate of the Devil who both by his doctrine and works made it appear that he came to destroy the works of the Devil The Lord Christ having said I am the light of the world he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life The Pharisees said unto him Thou bearest record of thy self thy record is not true This was doubly false for he is the truth it self and neither did nor could speak any untruth So when the Lord Jesus had opened the eyes of one that was born blind on the Sabbath day Some of the Pharisees said This man is not of God because he keepeth not the