thee Isaiah 51.2 1. Objection I am but a woman the weaker Vessel and therefore my zeal can doe but little good Answer Yet thou mayest doe somewhat for God we reade in Scripture what great things God hath done by women Deborah and Iael two excellent women The one ruled with an Heroick Spirit the other killed Sisera a valiant Commander Iudges 4.4 5.22 The woman of Abel by her prudence saved the City 2 Samuel 20.16.22 Abigail by her wisedome preserved her husband and family from an imminent danger The Shunamite that great good woman stirred up her husband to entertain Elisha to the great benefit of her family and Hester was a means to save the Jewes from ruine God loveth to hang the greatest weights on the weakest wyres and to doe great things by weak Instruments that his Name may have all the Glory 3. Objection It is good to be discreet and wise in what we doe Answer Discretion doth not hinder but further our zeal it doth not diminish it but directs it and therefore they are not to be Opposed but Composed and made subservient to each other Prudence doth not abate our Diligence but guideth it in its work it teacheth us not to doe lesse but to doe better Thus there is an Harmony amongst the Graces and we may in no wise set them at variance amongst themselves Yet 't is the property of the men of the world to accuse Gods faithful ministers who tell them discreetly and zealously of their sins for rash heady men and such as want discretion Thus when Bishop Latimer reproved the sins of the Court they would accuse him for lack of discretion It rejoyceth me saith he when my Friend telleth me that they finde fault with my indiscretion for by likelyhood the Doctrine is true for if they could finde fault with my Doctrine they would not charge me with lack of discretion c. 4. Objection It is good to be moderate Vertue consisteth in a mean Answer Moderation in our own causes and quarrels doth well Phil. 4.5 But moderation and indifferency in Gods Cause is not moderation but luke-warmness and coldness which God abhorreth and if wicked men will not content themselves with moderation in pursuit of their lusts and Idols Ier. 8.2 but will spend their estates lavish Gold out of the bag upon them Isay 46.6 shall not we in an holy prodigality spend our selves and what we have from God for his honour 'T is true in Moral Vertues which are circa res medias the mean is best But Religion admits of no mediocrity e. g. our love to God and our hatred against sin can never be too intense Yea no Vertue in its formal Reason can be too much intended nor admit of an excess that man that saith he hath zeal enough had never any true zeal at all The Apostle saith its good to be zealous in a good thing and is not zeal then best in the best things and are there any things better then God his Truth Worship People Is it good to be earnest for a friend and is it not much better to be zealous for God The things we strive for are so Excellent that no zeal can be too much 'T is for a Kingdome for an Heavenly Kingdome 't is for Christ for grace and glory and if thou canst finde any thing in the world that better deserveth thy zeal let it have it 5. Objection The Apostle would have Timothy to be gentle 2 Timothy 2.24 Answer True for he was imployed amongst the Gentiles who were newly converted to the Faith and therefore must be wisely and gently handled such bruised Reeds must not be broken but when men are obstinate they must be rebuked with all authority Titus 2.15 6. Observation If we be thus zealous we may loose all Answer True and yet be no loosers neither The Martyrs lost all and yet were gainers God will make up your losses in a better kind Matth. 10.37 Let us do our duty and commit the success to God Many like Ammaziah could be content to do Gods Will but they are affraid of looseing some hundreds of Talents by it but the Prophets answer may satisfie us The Lord is able to give thee much more then that 2 Cor. 25.9 7. Observation I may bring paine and sorrow on my selfe by my forwardness Answer Thou mayest bring greater sorrow on thy selfe by thy backwardnesse 2. Wee see what pain men will endure to preserve a Natural life and shall we endure nothing for our spiritual life 3. God will assist thee and in the multitude of thy perplexities he will delight thy soul Psalm 94.19 8. Observation The world will thinke us mad and out of our wits if we thus oppose their sinfull counsels Answer This is no new thing Christ himself was called mad and they said that he had a Devil Mark 3.21 the Disciple is not above his Master But of this see more in 2 Tim. 3.9 9. Observation I am of a dull and heavy constitution and therefore it cannot be expected that I should be so hot as others Answer See how 't is with thee in other things art full of life spirit and activity for profits and pleasures and yet hast thou no mettle nor life for God and his worship certainly the fault is not in thy cold constitutiâ—n but in thy wretched corruption where thou lovest thou hast heat enough Let a man touch the coldest of you in your gains pleasures reputations and you have heat more then enough onely Gods honour lieth unregarded by you 2. Suppose thou art of a sad and heavy constitution yet Grace is above Nature it rayseth and rectifieth it 'T is like gold in the Mine which turneth every thing into the nature of it Hence the Spirit of Grace is compared to Oyle which is a Royal liquor and will be above all Now to quicken you take these Considerations and Motives 1. Consider this is no Arbitrary or indifferent thing but 't is that which God hath oft commanded That we should love him with all our strength i. zealously and sincerely Deut. 6.5 and do what we do with all our might Eccles. 9.10 Rom. 12.11 Striving and earnestly contending for the faith Iude. 3. The compound implieth an ardent and vehement defence of the Truth we must contend for it with our utmost strength Truth is a precious Jewel and heavenly Treasure which we must labour to preserve unto Posterity One grain of it is of more worth then all the world Malim ut pereat totus mundus quà m veritatis mica said Luther Little deviations from the Truth must not be suffered least they increase to greater as thin exhalations turn into thick clouds and little sparks make great fires God will not have his least commandments contemned Matth. 5.19 Hence Christ commands us not onely to destroy Vulpes sed Vul peculas even the litle Foxes that hurt his Vine Cant. 2.15 But we are not put to contend pro tricis
our own hearts and dwell at home Hence God not onely commands it Psal. 4.4 Zeph. 2. viz. Hag. 1.5.7 Isay 46.8 but he even beseecheth us to practice it Psalm 50.22 oh consider his dreadfull Judgements to prevent them and his pretious mercies to improve them 1 Sam. 12.24 this awed Iob 23.15 See the Excellency of Consideration Barlow on 2 Tim. 2.7 Baxter's Saints Rest. P. 4. p. 147.179 D. Sibbs's Beames of Light on Ier. 8.6 p. 103. Fenner on Hag. 1.5 17. High-minded The 17. Character of the last times is this men will be high-minded being puft up with pride and high conceits of themselves Insolent persons that pretend to great depth of knowledge yet preferre their lusts and pleasures before Christ such as make their own wills their Lawes and preferre their own idle opinions before the judgement of all the Churches of Christ in the world These are like empty bottles full of nothing but wind They are so highly conceited of themselves that they are even fanatick and mad again So much the word signifies Properly it signifies to puffe up and metaphorically it s taken for Pride So 1 Cor. 4.6.18 19. and 5.2 1 Tim. 3.6 and 6.4 This is a branch of the fourth Character before mentioned men shall be proud and they shall shew their pride by their High-mindednesse and lofty carriage Get Love and then you will be Humble and not swell with pride because of your Honours Riches Gifts or Graces Love is not puft up with such vain conceits 1 Cor. 13.4 'T is knowledge without love that puffes men up 1 Cor. 8.1 But I have spoken fully against Pride in the fourth Character I shall referre you thither for fuller satisfaction 18. Lovers of Pleasures more then Lovers of God This is the 18. sin which renders the last times so perilous men will be so voluptâ—ous that they will prefer their carnall and Temporary delights before Spirituall and eternall ones As the Gnosticks in those times did who were gâ—ven up to filthy lusts and placed their felicity in living deliciously and this is one speciall and signall note whereby we may know the Hereticks and Seducers of the last times they are men given 1. Not to spirituall delights in God and his Ordinances as the Saints are Psal. 16.11 and 65 4. and 84. 2. Nor onely to honest and lawfull delights which God allowes us in the liberall use of the creature Genes 49.20 Eccles. 2.1 but 3ly They will be given up to caâ—nall sensuall sinfull delights such as are agreeable to corrupt nature 1 Tim. 6.5 which consist in drunkennesse fornication riot and excesse They will be given up to loosenesse and licentiousnesse which is one Reason they have so many followers As Epicurus had more disciples then the rest of the Philosophers not because of any truth he publisht but because he invited men to pleasures and carnall delights to which our natures are very prone Such were those Libertines Iames 5.5 2 Pet. 2.13 Iude 4.18 19. peradventure they may give God some externall worship of Cap and Kâ—â—â—e but they keep their hearts and best rooms for their carnall Lusts and Pleasures Naturally all our hearts are full of this spirituall Adultery from the wombe we run from God after the vain delights which cannot satisfy Iames 4.4 Titus 3.3 How many love their Hawkes Hownds Horses c. more then Jesus Christ and are at more cost and pains to maintain them then they are in maintaining a Minister of the Gospel Many are so bewitcht with their Lusts and Pleasures that they do even sacrifice their Time Wit Wealth Lives Soules and all unto them They are even led by them 2 Pet. 2.10 as an Oxe to the slaughter Prov. 7.22 23. They make them their chiefest good and place their happinesse in them How many spend their precious time in Playing which they should spend in praying and in serving God in some vocation Those are dead whilest they live 1 Tim. 5.6 i. e. they are of no use in their places as Paul said of the wâ—dow that lives in pleasures though her body be alive yet her soul is dead So the voluptuous prodigall that spent all on harlots is said to be dead Luke 15.24 It argues a noble and a rised spirit when we can live above them We are now Kings sons and being born to more high and noble pleasures we should contemn these base and low things If we are Christs we must crucify our lusts Gal. 5.24 deny our selves keep under our bodies 1 Cor. 9.27 and enter in at the strait gate Matth. 7.13 To this end consider 1. That sensuall pleasures are the very poyson and bane of all grace in the soul they war against the peace and purity of it 1 Pet. 2.11 they blind the eye that it cannot attain to saving knowledge 2 Tim. 3.6 7. the love of pleasures eates out the love of God and goodnesse out of the soule There may be a form of godlinesse but there can be no power where pleasures are preferred before God Rom. 13.13 14. Ephes. 2.2 3. such make the râ—bellies their God whose end is destruction and woe Luke 6.25 Rom. 16.18 Philip. 3.19 Many would fain joyn God and their lusts together but they are contraries which do mutually expell each other Iames 4.4 1 Iohn 2.15 Sad it is to consider that those base impure delights should expell those pure and heavenly pleasures that those poor fading low things should be preferred before God who is an everlasting fountain of pure divine and spirituall joy That men should chuse rather to serve this worldly Laban who so oft changeth their wages rather then God who is better then his promise to his people 2. 'T is these sensuall pleasures which stop the eares against Gods call so that no Reason nor Religion can work on men These choak the good seed of the Word that it cannot grow Luke 8.14 let a Minister preach never so powerfully perswade never so convincingly yet if the heart be stopt and stuff'd with sensuall delights we do but preach to deaf men who have stopt their eares against Christs calls and invitations so that they cannot yea which is worse they will not come to him though he tender them life and salvation Luke 14.19 20. Iohn 5.40 those whose hearts were set on their Oxen Farmes Wives had no desire after Christ. Some make excuses but he that had married a wife was most peremptory He could not come Concupiscentiall lusts draw very strongly the wife draws more then five yoke of Oxen so strong are women that Solomon the wisest of men and Sampson the strongest were yet overcome by them The Italians have a Proverb that one haire of a woman will draw more then a hundâ—ed yoke of Oxen. We had need then to watch over our hearts in these lawfull delights least they should be stollen from Christ. Licitis perimus omnes We must be moderate in the use of them
28.4 4. These Impostors do not onely deceive these silly women but they bring them under the Devils yoke they make slaves and prisoners of them they bind them with the cords of error and then they lead them whither they please They deal with their Proselites as the Devil doth with witches he promiseth them liberty but brings them to prisons promiseth them pleasures yet gives them pain promiseth them Riches yet keeps them poor promiseth them life but gives them Death They ensnare them with their Pythanalogy and hold them as fast with their lyes and flatteries as a Jaylor doth his Prisoner which he keeps in bondage 2 Tim. 2. ult or the fisher his fish which hath swallowed his bait 2 Pet. 2.14.18 These Satanicall fishers of men put on the Visors of Piety and preach liberty pleasure ease as other fishers cozen sometimes the eye and sometimes the taste of the silly fish so these have variety of baits but none so catching as that of carnal liberty Hence they are said to bewitch men Gal. 3.1 to enchaunt and delude men Rev. 18.23 and make them drunk Revel 17.2 It will be our wisdom then to submit our selves to the word of God and from the heart to obey its commands so shall we know the truth and the truth will keep us free from the power of sin and error Iohn 8.32 the keeping of a good conscience is the way to keep faith and sound doctrine 1 Tim. 1.19 get the heart once establisht with Grace and then you will not be carried about with every wind of doctrine Heb. 13.9 get Gods fear once planted in your hearts and then you will never depart from him Ier. 32.40 VERSE 7. VVhich Women are ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth THe Apostle goeth on to shew what women they are which are brought into bondage by seducers viz. such as are unconstant unsetled and given to seek after novelties and curiosities they are not content with plain truth revealed in the Scripture they must have novum aut nihil some new light some new-found doctrine or else 't will not down with them this unsettles them and makes them run hither and thither after this and that man but all in vain They make a great adoe but to little purpose they are alwayes learning yet learn nothing which they should learn Now the Reason's of their Non-proficiency are 1. Either because they have no better Teachers they follow false Prophets and blinde Guides and when the blinde shall lead the blind no wonder if both fall into the ditch These may seem wise in their own eyes when in truth they know nothing because they know not the truth which is the foundation of all knowledge 2. They thrive not for want of a right disposition within They love their lusts better then the truth and this barres the heart against holy Learning Intus existens prohibet alienum When their judgements are blinded with lusts and their hearts hardened through sin how should such thrive 2 Tim. 4.3 3. Or else they seek not after sound and saving truth but all their enquiry is after some curious novelty they love to heare and learne nothing else in this point being true Athenians Acts 17.21 Well they may toyle and take a great deal of pains for some aery notions and empty speculations that they may come ad 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to some kind of knowledge but never ad 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word in the Text to such a knowledge as brings forth an acknowledgement of the truth in the power of it 4. Oft times they are meer Scepticks in Religion they are ready to question every thing but they believe nothing they have no foundation no resting place they lay out their mony but not for bread and therefore 't is no wonder if they spend their labour without being satisfied Error cannot satisfy the soul we must enquire for the good old way of truth and Holinesse if ever we would find rest for our souls Ier. 6.16 God who is the great Lord of all will have his commands obeyed not questioned He loves Currists and not Quaerists He prefers obedience before disputes We have disputed so long till we have almost disputed all Religion out of doores We should study rather to live well then dispute well therein lyes our happinesse Mat. 7.24.25 Iohn 13.17 The Spirit of God writes not Notions but Assertions in our hearts it establisheth them so with grace that the gates of hell cannot prevaile against it though such may by the violence of a tentation be moved yet are they like Mount Sion which can never be removed out of its place Heb. 10.23 and 13.9 Against Scepticks and Seekers See that excelent Tract of Mr. Gelaspy his Miscelanies cap. 10 11. yet how many delight in giddinesse and count it a bondage to fixe a belief affecting free-will in thinking as well as in acting And though the Sect of the Phylosophers of that kind be gone yet there remain certain discoursing wits which are of the same veines though there be not so much blood in them as was in those of the Ancients The Scepticisme and Affectation of Novelties is the great sin of England at this day As many are much taken with new Fashions so many are much taken with new Opinions new Doctrines new Teachers and new Expressions Yet the Apostle doth not blame these women simply for seeking after knowledge for the wiser sort of Heathens have commended that but he blames them for hunting after Novelties and vain speculations and in the meane time neglecting the sound and saving truths of the Gospel This is celeris cursus extra viam a swift running to destruction 'T is true all the godly are learners the knowledge of the truth is not Innata but acquisita not born with us but attained by means yet they are not ever learning they know the truth in which they firmly rest and from which they suffer not themselves to be moved and never till then have we profited in our learning when we are made so able to discern the truth as that we are satisfied with it and our consciences are at rest by it even in the saddest dangers Ephes. 4.13 14. 1 Thes. 1.5 6. 2 Pet. 1.12 2. I wish this were not the sin of silly men as well as of silly women to be alwayes learning yet never come to the knowledge of the truth how many are men in yeares yet children in understanding 1 Cor. 14.20 and when for the time they might have been Teachers they had need to be taught the elements of Religion Heb. 5.12 though the knowledge of the best in this life be imperfect and we are alwayes learners here yet we must strive forward toward perfection and not alwayes stick in the place of bringing forth Hos. 13.13 nor be like a horse in a mill still going round in
Reprobates for 't is one thing to be Reprobate concerning the faith pro tempore at present and another thing to be a Reprobate Manasses Paul and those 1 Corinthians 6.11 were lewd enough for the time yet at last were called These that are now 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 reproveable and unapproved as the word signifies 2 Cor. 13.7 Heb. 6.8 1 Corinthians 9.27 yet in Gods due time they may be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 accepted and approved This must teach us to keep our judgements pure and our understandings clear for 't is our guide and if that mislead us we must needs fall into the ditch Corruption in judgement in some respects is worse then corruption in manners especially when the mind hath been enlightned with the knowledge of the truth for this is the root of those corrupt manners that are amongst us In the time of the Law the Leprosie in the head was of all other Leprosies the most dangerous and destructive the man that had it in his hand or feet was unclean but if it were in his head then he was to be pronounced utterly unclean Lev. 13.44 Hence the scripture gives so many caveats against errors and erroneous ones Deut 13.3 Philip. 3.2 Colos. 2.8 2 Pet. 3.17 Matthew 7.13 Beware of false Prophets the word implies a diligent study and singular care lest we be caught by such subtle adversaries Keep your judgements pure then the pure Word of God will delight you Micah 2.7 you will delight to come to the truth that your deeds may be discovered Iohn 3.21 Part not with a good conscience and a good conversation lest you make ship-wrack of the faith and a gap be opened in your breasts to all sinne and errour that the Lord knowes where you will rest it may be not till you come to the highth of sin and depth of misery Count therefore a corrupt judgement a sore plague and if God have given thee a sound judgement able to discern the truth and a mind ready to receive it and approve of it when 't is propounded this is not a common mercy but calls for speciall Thankfulness Psal. 16.7 Proverbs 28.5 1. Observe There have been false Teachers in all Ages to oppose the Truth and the Professors of it As Iannes and Iambres here oppose Moses a meek a learned a faithfull servant in all Gods House So there were four hundred and fifty fals Prophets against one zealous Elijah four hundred against good Michaiah 1 Kings 18.18 and 22.6.14 Hananiah against Ieremy Amaziah against Amos 7.10 false brethren against Paul Hymeneus Philetus and Alexander oppose him 1 Tim. 1.20 The Church shall never want enemies to war withall whilest the seed of the Serpent abides in the world As Pharaoh had his Magitians who hardned him in his sin and deluded him to his destruction so the World will ever have its false Prophets to blinde and harden them in sin to their ruine Thus in the Primitive times there was a Simon Magus Scribes Pharisees Sadduces Essens Herodians Nicolaitans Elymas Ebion Cerinthus the Gnosticks and many others 2 Peter 2.1 Thus when Luther began to reform thirty severall Sects arose to hinder the worke We should not therefore be despondent or discouraged as if some strange thing had happened to us but comforted rather in that we are made conformable to Christ the Prophets and Apostles Matthew 5.11 Luke 6.22.23 This was is and will be the condition of the Church Militant from her youth up she must looke to be plowed and persecuted by malicious men Psalm 129.2 3. Besides 't is the condition of Truth in this World to meet with opposition we can no sooner publish it but it's enemies appear Galathians 4.16 Truth brings hatred men cannot endure to have Vngues in Vlcerre they are unsound and would not be touched Truth is a Light which discovers the intents of mens hearts Hebrewes 4.12 and layes open the evill of mens wayes and this makes the wicked not simply to oppose but to rise in open rebellion against the Truth Iob 24.13 which reproves their deeds and exposeth them to the view of themselves and others Hence they have alwayes been esteemed the Pests and troublers of a Land that publish Truth as we may see throughout the Acts of the Apostles where we finde some disputing against the Truth Acts 6.9 others blaspheming Acts 13.45 some secretly undermining it and seeking to draw men from embracing it Acts 13.8 others openly rayling against it Acts 17.18 19. and 24.5 Some have opposed it out of ignorance and blind devotion as Paul before his conversion 1 Timothy 1.13 and some of the Jewes Acts 3.17 and 13.50 Others deliberately against conviction and out of malice have resisted the Truth as Alexander 2 Timothy 4.15 these are given up to a reprobate sense the Devil having blinded their eyes 2 Corinthians 4.4 Some oppose it for their gain and for their bellies Rom. 16.17 18. 1 Tim. 6.5 2 Pet. 2.3.15 16. Others from fleshly lusts 2 Peter 2.18 and 3.3 Others out of pride loving the preheminence 3. Iohn 9.10 1 Timothy 6.3 4. yet should not we distaste the Truth because of those oppositions which are made against it for however some prophanely scorn at the name of Truth and say with Pilate what is Truth Iohn 18.38 Yet wisedome is justified of her children and they that are of the Truth hear his voyce who came into the world to beare witnesse of the Truth They come with love and teachable hearts to it and so are made to know the Truth Iohn 8.52 Let not the great host of Truths enemies make us despair but know there are more with us then are with them 2 Chronicles 32.7 8. and the more they are that oppose the Truth the more illustrious will our conquest be If I must have an adversary let it be a wicked one and then be he never so potent he cannot stand long because God is against him Iob 27.7 Truth may be opprest but never conquered Praemi potest opprimi non potest yea oppositions advance and clear it Veritas impugnata magis elucet Bern. 2. Observe That as the Devill hath his Iannes and Iambres to oppose the Truth so God hath his Moses and Aaron to uphold it As the Devill hath his Domestick Chaplains so God hath his armed Champions and as the Devill raiseth up oppressors so God sends Saviours Obadiah 21. If he raise hornes to gore the Church God will raise Carpenters to saw off those hornes Zachary 1.19 20 21. The same day that Pelagius was born in Brittain the same day was Saint Augustine born in Africa that did confute him God hath an Athanasius to oppose Arrius Chrysostome against the Manichees Basil against Macedomus Prosper against the Massilians Salvian against the Libertines Fulgentius against Faustus Christ against the Pharisees Simon Peter against Simon Magus Paul against false Apostles Luther Calvin Beza c. against the
poysenous Tenents before he can be a compleat Anabaptist Even the Devil observes a method in seducing 1. He makes men Scepticks in Religion so that they Question every thing yet believe nothing 2. They become Schismatickes and make a rent in the Church 3. They become Hereticks overturning the very foundations of Religion First the Devil makes men unconscionable hearers of the Word Secondly Contemners of it Thirdly Haters of the Preachers of it Fourthly and at last they hate God himself that sends them Oh then stop sin and errour in the beginning it is much easier to keep them out then to cast them out Every act of sin is a wound to the soul it weakens it and leaves it more unable to withstand a temptation Besides God in justice oft punisheth one sin with another when men will not go forward nor profit by the means of grace they shall go backward growing worse and worse till they come to a reprobate sence and are past feeling that they may fill up the measure of their sin and Gods wrath may come upon them to the uttermost for their ingratitude and rebellion 1 Thess. 2.16 'T is a sad case when men are given up to be ruled by unruly lusts when like Tapsters and Drawers they must answer all comers If Pride call ready Sir If Pleasures call here Sir If Lust call anon anon Sir If Covetousnesse call I come Sir This is the miserable slavery of those who serve divers lusts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Seducentes Seducti Deceiving and being deceived In the words there seems to be an Hysterosis and Inversion of the Order for in the Order of Nature men first erre themselves before they lead others into error Or we may take the words thus whilest those notorious Impostors go about deceiving others by their Sophisms and shewes of Holiness the Devil by the just judgement of God deceives them They cozen others and the Devil cozens them leading them into far greater errors and so they shall be punisht on a double account 1. Because they erre themselves and resist the Truth 2. Because they have drawn others into error The Participle of the Present Tense notes their assiduity and constancy they make it their Trade to deceive others they are still Deceiving one or other with their smooth and flattering Language The Devil is an old Serpent he is a Serpent for subtlety and an old Serpent for his experience in seducing He finds by experience that those things which are taught by men take sooner then if he should personally appear himself In times of ignorance and Popery the Devil appeared more commonly and visibly but now in these dayes of light he acts more secretly and subtilly working on man by man As God loves to imploy good men for the conversion of others not that he needs the help of man but for the exercising of the graces of his servants and for the greater manifestation of his own Glory So the Devil who is Gods ape loves to deceive men by men He hath his Agents and Emissaries every where He hath Magitians for Pharaoh a Balaam for Balack a Witch at Endor for Saul false Prophets to delude Ahab c. The world abounds with Devils incarnate so that if ever that Caveat were seasonable 't is now Beware of men Matth. 10.17 and 24.4 the Devil oft deceives by a Father a Brother a Wife a Friend Watch against them and whosoever he be that would draw thee into sin or error looke upon them as the Devils instruments and say to them as Christ did to Peter Get thee behind me Satan As good men delight in converting others so wicked men delight in perverting others as those would not goe to Heaven alone so these would not goe to Hell alone and therefore they labour to make others twofold more the children of the Devil then themselves Of this sort are Jesuites on the one hand and Sectaries on the other either of which with their Flesh-pleasing doctrine will doe more mischief in pulling down then twenty faithful Ministers can build up again in many years Though the Heresies which these deceivers bring are damnable yet the Apostle tells us that Many will follow them 2 Peter 22. This Christ foretold that many false Prophets should arise and deceive many Matthew 24.11 so doth Antichrist 2 Thessalonians 2.10 2 Iohn 7. Revelations 13.14 and such there were in the Apostles time Titus 1.10 11. Now the Reason why deceivers deceive so many are these 1. In respect of the blindness of our minds in Spiritual things 1 Cor. 2.14 2. In respect of our Natural pronenesse to error by Reason of the Vanity of our minds which make us far more apt to believe lies then truth Isay 30.10 2 Timothy 4.3 4. 3. In respect of our instability in the wayes of God Seducers beguile unstable souls Ephesians 4.14 2 Peter 2.14 We are unstable as water which turns with every wind that which pleaseth us to day displeseth us to morrow 4. In respect of our sinful simplicity we are apt to give blinde Obedience suspecting no evill Romans 16.18 We are apt to follow our own carnal Reason against the Word of God 5. In respect of error it self It s easie and pleasant to flesh and bloud which makes such multitudes to follow it The way of Truth is strait and narrow with much adoe is it found but with the more difficulty practised He who treads this Track like Ionathan and his Armour bearer must climb the Hill when others swim down the stream This is the Reason why so many follow falshood rather then truth not because falshood is in its own Nature stronger then truth or Satans stratagems too strong for the Spirit of God but because these false flesh-pleasing doctrines agree with our corrupt Nature therefore 't is that men doe so readily embrace them 6. God in his just judgement gives up such as will not believe his Truth to the power of error and to the will of seducers Since they will be deceived they shall be deceived since they will not obey the true Prophets they shall be seduced by false ones 1 Kings 22.21 22. Ezekiel 13.23 2 Thessalonians 2.10.11.12 Let not then Ministers be discouraged when they see many fall off to these Impostors 't is no more then what hath been long since fore-told God sets them their bounds he limits the time how long the persons deceiving and whom they shall dececeive are ordered by his wisdom both the deceiver and the deceived are his Iob 12.16 Ezek. 14.9 2. The Magistrate should restrain such workers of Iniquity if those that had but a Leprosie upon their bodies must be shut up for fear of infecting others Leviticus 13.46 Surely these deceivers that have a worse Leprosie upon them should not be connived at as they be Such evil men will not long be evil alone they endanger the good as weeds do Corn or bad humours the
are but Truths twinnes Civil Truth is good but the least Evangelical Truth is of more worth then all the Civil Truths in the world that are meerly so 3. Naturally wee desire Liberty now Truth is the Parent of all true Liberty whether it bee Political or Personal so much Untruth so much Thraldome so much Truth so much Liberty Iohn 8.32 4. If you preserve the Truth it will preserve you in the hour of Temptation as Solomon sayes of wisdom Prov. 4.8 exalt her and she shall exalt you So keep the truth and it will keep you from falling as it did the Church of Philadelphia Rev. 3.10 so thou shalt stand as an impregnable rock when others fly as the Chaffe before the wind The Truth of God in judgement is one of the Eyes of the soul he that wants it is blind and cannot see afar off Now as a clear eye is a very great help for the discerning of a danger before it comes so a clear distinct knowledg of the truth is a very great help to us to discern a Temptation before it be upon us and to discover the Methods and Depths of Satan that he may not surprize us unawares 5. 'T is a great honour to a person or Nation to be the Conservators and Preservers of the Truths of God 'T is not only our Duty but our Glory This honour formerly belonged to the Jewes to them were committed the Oracles of God Rom. 3.2 and 9.4 God hath now entrusted us with this choyce Treasure the Lord help us to keep it pure both in Judgement and Practice lest it be taken from us Let us all in our places preserve it from violence with all our might There are many spiritual Cheaters abroad the greater will our honour be in maintaining Gods Truth against them all 'T was Shammahs honour one of Davids Worthies that he kept his ground and got a great victory when others â—led 2 Sam. 23.12 Say not I am but one and a weak one too but remember what great things the Lord did by Athanasius and Luther when they had all the world against them One man holding forth truth shall be too strong for all the world for truth unites us to God and God to us it ingageth God in our quarrel and so makes us invincible for if God be with us who can be against us so as to hurt us and destroy us Rom. 8.31 Bradford writing to his friends tells them never shall the enemy be able to burn the truth or prison and keep it in bonds us they may prison bind and burn but our Cause Religion and Doctrine they shall never be able to burn The story of the man in the Councill of Nice is well known where a Christian of no great Learning converted a Learned man whom all the Bishops with their skill and eloquence could not perswade so long as the matter went by words he opposed words with words but when instead of words power came out of the mouth of the speaker words could not withstand truth nor man stand out against God Many wonder why Ministers are so earnest and zealous in defending the truth why 't is a depâ—situm which God hath entrusted us withall and 't is well observed that it 's a greater sin to imbezill or alter that then any thing we have borrowed because this is committed to our justice but a depositum to our faithfullnesse the deposition doth rest upon us as trusty men Let Gods truth then be dearer to us then our dearest lives our lives will not be worth the enjoying if God take his truth from us let us beseech him rather to take our lives away rather then take the light of the Gospel away And hast been assured of If you read the words so The Observation will be this That Ministers should be assured of those things which they teach to others They should not only have a Head knowledge or an aery empty notionall speculative knowledge but an experimentall practical knowledge They must believe before they speak Psalme 116.10 that so they may speak from the heart to the heart and may bring their meat in their breasts and not as birds do in their Beaks Knowing of whom thou hast learned them 1. Observe That gracious men are modest men The Apostle doth not boast of himself to Timothy nor proclaim his Learning gifts c. He onely tells him in brief Thou knowest of whom thou hast learnt them 2. Observe The excellency of the Teacher makes the Doctrine the more taking This we see even in Humane and Moral Learning the Platonick Doctrine grew famous because it was profest by Socrates and the Peripatetick by Aristotle The Schollars of Pythagoras did so confide in the Dictates of their Master that when any one askt them a Reason of what they held they would give no other answer but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ipse dixit our Master said so yet these were Heathens but when we have an aged holy Paul for our Master who was an Apostle of Christ the Pen-man of the Holy Ghost and guided more immediately by the Spirit of God then we must with constancy adhere to what they teach us and attend to their doctrine as if Christ himself taught us Gal. 4.14 for his Ambassadours they are and he that heareth them heareth him Young Timothies especially should hearken to the instructions of aged Pauls who have born the heat of the day and by experience can teach us the ways of God Years should be heard speak Iob 32.7 Young Ministers should suspect their own judgements when they vary from an Holy aged Calvin Beza and all the Churches of God As young Lawyers and Physitians observe the Principles and Practices of the serious and grave Professours of their way especially when grounded on Maxims and Rules of Art So should young Divines It ill becomes a young raw Physitian to contradict a whole Colledge of Physitians or a Puny Lawyer a Bench of Judges or a young Divine a whole Assembly of Divines 'T is the looseness of the times that makes young men so bold When Government is settled they will either change their note or be made ashamed of it VERSE 15. And that from a Childe thou hast known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through Faith which is in Christ Iesus THese words contain a third Argument by which the Apostle presseth Timothy to perseverance viz. because he knew the Scriptures not onely from his Childe-hood but even from his Infancy and from a suckling i. so soon as ever he was able to learn the Scriptures he was presently taught them 1. Observe Parents ought to instruct their Children betimes in the Word of God It s good seasoning the Vessel betimes with goodness Lois Timothies Grandmother and Eunice his Mother taught him as soon as he was capable the way of the Lord 2 Timothy 2.5 Timothies Father was a Greek and Gentile but his
give him for all those successes and deliverances which he hath given us will not this provoke him to repent of all the mercies he hath shewed us and to consume us after he hath done us good These are worse then Papists denying the Trinity Sacraments Old Testament and New Testament affirming that there is no word but only the word Christ so did the Swenckâ—feildians in Germany herein betraying their grosse ignorance that cannot distinguish between the word Christ and the word of Christ Colos. 3.16 so called because it hath Christ for its Authour Christ for its Object and Christ for its end between Christ the coessential and coeternall word of the Father Iohn 1.1 2. Heb. 1.3 the substantial word of God 1 Iohn 5.7 Rev. 19.13 and the expresse Image of his Father and the written word of God which is contained in the Old and New Testament and is called the written word of God Luke 8.11 12. and 11.28 Acts 4.31 and 6.2 7. and the Bible or Book as being the book of books i. e. the most excellent book in the world 2. As the Papists when they are Non-plust fly to Traditions so do these fly from Scripture to Revelations As the Jews have their Talmuds and the Turks their Alcorans so the Anabaptists have their vain Visions and etraordinary Revelations whereas the Scripture is a surer Guide then a Voyce from heaven 2 Pet. 1.19 for that may be more easily counterfeited Satan can with ease transform himself into an Angell of light See this more fully cleared by the Authours in the Margin 2. We have those that cry up a Light within them and extoll it above the word of God like false Tradesmen that preferre false Lights before the clearest Sun-shine He that takes the light of nature for his Guide hath but a blind deceitful Guide which will lead him into a thousand bogs and ditches of filth and errour The natural man cannot endure the light of Gods word Iob 21.14 Isay 6.10 and 30.10 2 Tim. 4.3 he raiseth cavils against it and hates the light that discovers him He 's dead in sin and cannot once discern the supernatural things of God 1 Cor. 2.14 hence he 's called not onely dark but darknesse it self in the Abstract Ephes. 5.8 and therefore great is the sin of those that tell men they have need of no other teacher but onely the light within them 1. This overthrowes all Scripture in vain did God bid us search the Sciptures if this natural light within us were sufficient to lead us to salvation 2. This is the way to make men Heathens and to set up a natural light instead of a supernaturall 3. This would overthrow the Ministery and all their gifts which Christ gives them for the edification of his Church Ephes. 4.11 4. This would overthrow the Magistracy for to what end are his Laws and sword if every man had a light within him sufficient to direct him thus if Aaron go down Moses cannot long endure Ministery and Magistracie usually fall together Numb 16.10 13. 5. Religion hath mysteries and depths in it which no natural man can fathome 1 Cor. 2.9 14. 6. The Scripture speaks onely to Saints when he saith Christ is in you the hope of glory Colos. 1.27 but to the world he 's a stumbing-block and rock of offence 7. Christ calls them slow of heart who believe not all that the Prophets have spoken it seems they were to look to the Scriptures without them and not onely to a light within them 8. The Beraeans are commended for searching the Scriptures Acts 17.11 and not for harkening to a light within them and we are commanded to try the Spirits by the Touchstone of Gods word and not by a light within us 3. Great is the sinne of the Socinians who make not the Scripture but Reason the Judge in matters of Religion and will believe no more in Religion then they can comprehend by Reason whereas we make not our Reason a Rule of faith added to the word but we use it as that light which God hath given us wherewith to search into the meaning of his word and by studious inquisition and observation to discover it and by good Reason out of the Text to convince others of its truth Reason raised and rectified is the candle of the Lord and good Prov. 20.27 so long as 't is subordinate to faith but when it goeth about to judge it then it quickly overthrowes all as we see in the Socinians who abound with such grosse Heresies that Divines Question whether we may call them Christians 4. Others boast of the Spirit in opposition to the Scripture these are certainly led by the spirit of the Devill Gods word and Spirit go together as you may see Prov. 1.23 Isay 59.21 Galatians 3.2 Gods Spirit teacheth us to try the spirit and doctrines of men by Scripture Isay 8.20 and if they speak not according to this word 't is not because they have New-light but no light in them Christ who was full of the Spirit of the Lord yet doth not go about to prove things by the Spirit within him but he sends men to the Scriptures as their Rule Iohn 5.39 and when he disputed with men and Devills he doth not appeal to the spirit or light within him but he cites Scripture without them against them for though Gods Spirit do enlighten the Saints on earth yet it is but in part this illumination is imperfect and mixt with much darknesse within them so that they have need also of a light without them which is the Scripture And if Timothy who was inlightned by the spirit in a more then ordinary measure he being an Evangelist yet must give himself to reading the Scriptures how much more have we need to read and study them who have not that measure of the spirit as he had And if the spirit were our Rule how many would be deluded with Satanical spirits but God hath given us a surer word of prophecy so that we must not trust onely to the Testimony of the spirit concerning it self but we must bring every spirit to the Trial and Touchstone of Gods word 1 Iohn 4.1 2 3. yea though they pretend to have the Spirit of God yet must it be tried by the word of God Object The Scriptures are for Novices and young beginners but after men are regenerate and grown up they must leave these external rudiments and be guided onely by the Spirit Answ. This is a most pernicious and dangerous opinion for take away the Scriptures and you take away the Rule both of good life and sound doctrine and so open a gap to all Heresie and profanenesse 2. Neither is the Scripture onely necessary for young beginners but also for the regenerate and most holy men as appeares by the Inscriptions of almost all the Epistles which are written even to the Saints themselves Rom. 1.7 8. 1 Cor. 1.2 and
Arch-bishop Or like Pope Pius the Third who was wont to say of himself that the higher he was raised the worse he was 2. It should be a matter of great lamentation to us when we consider the great Luke-warmness and want of zeal that is amongst us we may take up the Prophets complaint Ier. 9.3 there 's no man valiant for the truth If men can save themselves they care not what becomes of Gods Pauls or service Acts 18.14 There is indeed a great profession of Religion in the Land but where oh where 's the power most are become like Pharaoh King of Egypt who was nothing but a noise Jer. 46.17 Nothing but words he promised much but performed nothing So that our Nation hath lost it's former glory piety is now turned into an empty shew and those Ordinances which formerly converted many now seem to have lost their converting power S. Peter at one Sermon converted three thousand but we may preach three thousand Sermons before we can convert one After the world how furiously do men drive like Iohâ— as they would break their wheels in pieces they rise early and break their brains they pant aâ—ter the dust of the earth Amos 2.7 and run themselves out of breath in pursuit of wordly things Ahab is sick for Naboth's Vineyard and cannot sleep till he have it Men are as hot as fire for earth but as cold as ice for heaven So that 't is not now the Kingdom of Heaven that suffers violence but the Kingdoms of the Eearth suffer violence and the violent take them by force The voluptuous man follows his pleasures with all his might and gives his strength to women Prov. 31.3 with dangers and difficulties do they break through to obtain them and what great expenses to maintain their lusts Herod can part with half his Kingdom to please an harlot yet had no zeal for the Ministery but suffers Iohn to be beheaded whose life was more worth then his whole Kingdom The Ambitious man how active is he for promotion how doth he ride and run for a little prefermâ—nt â— cluster of honor is more esteemd by him then all the vintage of Piety Religion The envious man how full of siery indignation is he against his adversaries Iames 3.14 and 4.12 Galath 5.20 The superstitious man how zealous is he in his blind way how doth he compass Sea and Land to make a proselite what pilgrimages whipping cutting lancing selling estates and offering their very children unto Molech Ezek. 26.20 21. they can part with thousands of Rams and ten thousands of Rivers of oyl and give the fruit of their body for the sin of their souls Micah 6.7 The Israelits can freely part with their ornaments of gold and silver to make a golden Calf The Seducing Sectary the white Devil that under pretence of extraordinary sanctity practiseth all manner of iniquity how active is he to sow the Devils seed As the Devil their Master so these who are his Factors rage because their time 's but short Revel 12.12 The Devils themselves seem to be possest of far worse Devils and to act with greater fury then formerly The Sacrilegious-Church-robber when the zeal for Gods house should eat him up such is his zeal that it eats up Gods house He devours Tythes Glebe all that he can lay hands on all 's Fish that comes to his Net he thinks all 's gain that he can get from the Minister These are Latrons not Patrous not Church-pillars but Church-peelers They should maintain the Ministery and they get Impropriations a very proper Term for their improper Tenure into their hands 'T is true de facto that the Tythes are sold but quo jure what power had they to sell that which was devoted to the immediate worship of God Had there been a sufficient maintenance left for the Ministery they might the better have taken the remaining superfluity But to take away a Ministers necessary maintenance and thereby to starve souls for scandalous means breeds scandalous Ministers is the ready way to bring a curse on such persons and all they possess 'T is a snare to devour holy things Prov. 20.25 They that take the Lords possessions into their possession shall perish like Oreb and Zeeb which lay like dung on the earth Psalm 83. There 's a curse attends such Thieves Belshazar drunk but once in the Vessels of the Temple and it cost him both his Kingdom and his life to boote There is no way in my opinion and experience to uphold the Ministry of England but by gaining Impropriations out of the hands of private persons and laying them to the Church to whom most properly they belong We see how Augmentations fly and fail and if we should be put to live on the Peoples benevolence it would soon prove a malevolence But of this I have spoken at large elsewhere Others are zealous but 't is for sin their tongues are set on fire of hell Their heads are alwayes plotting miscief they cannot sleep till they have done some evil Prov. 4.16 as a zealous good man sleeps not till he hath done some good Psal. 132.4 5 6. His house was no house and his rest no rest to him till he had finisht Gods work So the wicked man sleeps not till he have brought his wicked devices to pass and as the good man hath his awaking thoughts with God and goodness Psal. 139.18 So soon as ever I awake my thoughts and meditations are with God So the wicked man when he awakes he is still with sin his waking-thoughts in the night are to do mischief in the morning Micah 2.1 2. they hinder themselves from sleep that they may further themselves in sin the night is spent in plotting and contriving mischief and the day in accomplishing these plots Thus night day they follow the Trade of sin so are justly stiled workers of iniquity Now as to be zealous in goodness is the height of goodness so to be active in wickedness is the height of wickedness when men shall sell themselves to sin and work wickedness with greediness 1 Kings 21.20 and 2 Kings 17.17 Lastly others are zealous against zealous ones they cannot endure to see any better then themselves The Scribes and Pharisees will not go to Heaven themselves nor yet will they endure that others should go If Christ do but set his face towards Ierusalem the Samaritans will hate him While Paul was a Persecutor he met with no persecution but when he was converted and preached the Truth then he 's a pestilent follew and is mad In other Religions the more zealous a man is the more he is esteemed but amongst us the more zealous the more hated These hate their best friends for these zealous Elijahs are the Pillars of a Land the very Chariots and Horse-men of our Israel the strength and ammunition of the Land that by their prayers and tears keep off many a Judgement The wicked
and resolute we dis-hearten them in their attempts and dismay that great Belzebub the Prince of these Flies Let therefore this salt season all our services Christ calls for such Worshipps Matth. 22.37 38 39. Christianity is a work of activity we must ask seek knock strive wrastle run and work out our salvation with the greatest accuratness care and diligence Philip. 2.12 We must not rest content with the beginnings of grace but we must work it up and increase with the increasings of God Colos. 2.19 We must be filled with the Spirit and with the fire of zeal we must have fiery-heads and fiery-hearts fiery words and fiery works that what in us lyeth we may set the whole world on fire with the love of Christ. If we be to hear the Word we should be swift to hear and gladly embrace the opportunity flying as the clouds and flocking as the Doves to their windows When we come to the Sacrament we must earnestly desire it as Christ did Luke 22.15 With a desire have I desired to eat this Passover with you i. I have earnestly and heartily desired it Hezekiah kept the Passover with joy 2 Chron. 30. If we be called to Covenant with God we must do it with joy and with all our hearts as Asa and the people did 2 Chron. 15.12 15. If we be to Pray it must be fervent operative energetical praying Iames 5.16 We must strive in our prayers Rom. 15.30 and stir up our selves that we may lay hold on God Cant. 3.4 Isai. 27.5 and 647. That 's the way to have peace with him When we see a man angry those that are friends lay hold on him to prevent a danger so when we see God angry with his People we should compass God about like an Army one lay hold on him and another lay hold on him till he be pacified with his people But then we must be holy men else if a Rebel or Traitor should come to the Princes Chamber and lay hold on him it would be accounted Treason before we come to reason with God we must wash our selves and then come and welcome Isai. 1.16 17 18. We must get a spiritual induration and holy impudency let God do what he will with us let him oppose delay deny us yet we will not let him go till he bless us As Pharaoh had a cursed Induration and a plerophory of hardness so that no plagues could work on him so we should get a blessed induration and fulness of assurance resolving though God should crush and kill us yet that we will trust in him Iob 13.15 And when we find our spirits flat then cry because thou canst not cry and be in an agony because thou canst not be agonized Formality in duty is the bane of duty and Religion There 's little difference between a careless performance of duties and a total omission of them since men loose both wayes Let us then rouse up our selves remembring that the more zealous any are here the more glorious they shall be hereafter Let us all in our several callings be active for God Let Magistrates and Rulers rule for him as Nehemiah did Let them not bear the sword in vain nor tolerate such things as are intolerable There 's no Precept or President in the whole Book of God for any Toleration of one Error much less of all but promises that God will give us one heart and one way If Magistrates suffer Gods Name to be despised he 'l make them to be despised 1 Sam. 2.30 Ahab lost his life for not punishing blasphemous Benhadad with death 1 Kings 20.42 I Plead not for Cruelty but Iustice as Magistrates must be clement and merciful when occasion requires so they must be just sharp against incorrigible incurable offenders If Abishai out of love to David would have slain Shimâ—i who reviled him saying Why should this dead dog curse my Lord the King let me goe to take off his head 2 Sam. 16.9 and shall the Magistrate be silent when the King of Kings is blasphemed and reviled to his face if men will still bear with such yet God will not Objection If we punish them we shall loose a partie Answer Such a partie as I now speak against are better lost then found They cannot long prosper with them who ever hath them But by punishing such we shall make God our friend who hath promised to defend those that defend his Truth We have a notable instance in the City of Geneva which from the beginning of the Reformation to this day have punished Sectaries and Hereticks and yet God hath kept them safe and sound Many create to themselves needless fears 2. Governours of Families should be zealous against sin in all their Relations hate it in father mother wife children Asa punisheth his own mother for her idolatry 2 Chronicles 15.16 The Lord taketh notice what every man doth in his Family he observes who prayes who reads who supresseth sin in his Family who acts for him and who for themselves Mal. 3.16 Our zeal is the best thing we have and therefore to be given to God who is the best of beings But yet there is nothing that the world so much opposeth as zeal the Devil and his Agents can bear with any man save the zealous man The Hypocrite Formalist Civilian Temporizer c. All pass through the world with praise 'T is onely these Zelots that oppose the sins of the time which are counted the troublers of the places where they come though they be never so peaceable To discourage men from this course the world hath raised many Cavils 1. Objection I am but one and what good will my zeal doe Answer One zealous man may yea and hath done much good to a whole Land One Phinees by executing Justice turned away Gods wrath from all Israel Numbers 25.6 7 11. One faithful Hushai by his Counsel spoyled Achitophels policy 1 Samuel 17.14 One poor man saved a Citie Eccles. 9.15 and the Prayers of One righteous man availeth much Iames 5.16 When Gods judgements were falling on Ierusalem he sought but for a man that he might spare it Ieremiah 5.2 A carnal man dares not stir without company especially the company of great ones they enquire whether any of the Rulers and learned Pharisees have gone that way Iohn 7.47 Jades will not go unless some lead them the way and Cowards stand still to see who will go first but a gracious soul is content to fit alone Lam. 3.28 and go alone in the way to Heaven 1 Kings 19.10 He stayes not for company but if the cause be good rather then it shall fall he will endeavour to uphold it himself Hester will venture all for Gods people and if she must perish she will perish in this cause Let nothing discourage you if God have called thee to a good work and none will joyne with thee in it yet remember he that called thee alone will bless
the precedent Verses and so they contain in them a Reason of the Apostles solmemne Adjuration by which he stireth up Timothy to a careful discharge of his Duety in Preaching the word viz. in respect of the Apostacy of the last times when many would fall from the truth grow weary of sound Doctrine and follow fables where we have 1. The grounds of their Apostacy viz. their hatred of the Truth they will not endure sound Doctrine id est they will reject it and cast it behind their backs they hate and abhor it 'T is a Meiosis where less is spoken then is meant They look upon it as a grievous burden as Israel did upon the Doctrine and Visions of the Prophets Ieremiah 13.34.36 'T is not so much they cannot but they will not endure sound Doctrine they love their lusts above the Law and therefore they hate him that reproves in the gates They are so far from obeying it that they will not once hear it and so farre from loving it that they will not so much as Tolerate it Errours they can tolerate and superstition they can tolerate but the Truth they cannot bear By sound Doctrine is meant the pure Word of God which hath no Errour nor evil mixed with it but is sound in se and sound Effectivè It sheweth unto men their sinne which is the Souls sicknesse brings them to a Saviour and so makes the conscience sound and whole This is called Saving Doctrine and sound Wisedome Proverbs 2.7 and 3.21 and is opposed to Fables and Humane inventions by which the simplicity of the Gospel is corrupted 2. A second ground of their Apostasy is their delight in false Teachers they so doat on them that one or two will not content them they must have heaps of them They love their lusts and therefore they seek out for such Teachers as may not disquiet them Such as erre cannot rest but they must run from one Teacher to another they get heaps of such claw-backs to themselves i. They wittingly and willingly suffer themselves to be deluded by them The word sinifies 1. An earnest desire of getting such Teachers 2. It notes an indiscreet and confused gathering together of such a multitude of Teachers without wit or reason without any respect either to their life or learning as in an heap all is confused there is neither first nor last head nor tail but all 's mixt together so amongst these confused persons all 's confused there 's no Master and Schollars superior and inferior but all are levelled and equal like themselves hence they are said to heap to themselves Teachers The Disciples create their Doctors talis creatio fit ex nihilo they be not chosen and ordained in an orderly way but which is the height of baseness the lusts of their followers are their call One loves Antinomianism and he gets an heap of Antinomians to speak to him Another loves Quakerism and he gets an heap of Quakers to scratch his itch Thus according to mens corrupt humors they have their Teachers As the Lord complained of his people Ier. 2.28 According to the number of Cities thy are thy Gods O Iudah So according to the variety of mens lusts they get them Leaders They cannot endure to be bound to one faithful Pastor who watcheth over his Flock and preacheth solid Truths but they love such as will claw their itch and sing Placebo 3. A third cause of their Apostasy is that inmate malice and inbred concupiscence which is in the hearts of men They are lead by their peculiar lusts every one hath his dilectum delictum his darling sin one's for luxury and another for heresy c. Now according to these lusts they earnestly seek out for Teachers which may in no wise disquiet their lusts which are their Lords and which they love as their lives Rom. 1.4 Iude 16. The Vulgar renders the word Desires after their own desires they shall get Teachers But the word in the Original is Lusts which implies not a simple desire or sudden motion but a vehement ardent earnest desire pursuit of a thing 4. They have itching ears this is another reason why they seek out for false Teachers they love not such as deal plainly and faithfully with them they must have such as will claw their itch please their humors tickle their fancies with novelties and curiosities but they must in no wise touch their vices 2. Here is the issue and consequence of their contempt of the truth and the fruit of this mad Itch. viz. the loss of truth and following Fables They shall turn away their ears from the truth viz. of the Gospel which flatters no man they 'l reject sound doctrine which is sharp and curbs their lusts and turn to Fables which will gratifie them since they can find nothing in the word which may please their itching humor they will see what Fables and lying Legends will do but all in vain for as a man that hath his itch scratcht for present is pleased but after hath more pain then before so these after they have wearied themselves in pursuit of lying vanities at last lye down in greater sorrow These are marble to God and wax to the Devil the truth they cannot obey but they willingly obey unrighteousness This is the Devils method First he stops the ear against sound Doctrine and then he opens it to error Like a cruel Thief he draws the soul out of the right road into some wood by-lane or corner and there binds robs and rifles it Quest. What Fables doth the Apostle here mean Answ. 1. Some say Judaical Fables as Titus 1.14 1 Tim. 1.4 Where Fables and Genealogies are joyned together 2. Others conceive the Apostle Means the Fabulous Divinity of the Gnosticks made up of Judaism and Gentilism These are too narrow the words are to be taken more largely and generally for any Fables and erroneous Doctrine be it never so absurd or impious proceeding whether from Jews or Gentiles from Hereticks or Schismaticks they 'l prefer falshood before truth darkness before light and death before life The summe and substance of all is this q. d. O my son Timothy this exhortation and adjuration of mine in pressing thee to an earâ—â—â— and diligent preaching of the Word is not need less and vain for although thou hast now an opportunity of preaching yet the time will come yea is already begun when men will not away with sound doctrine but by reason of their lusts they will multiply to themselves variety of pleasing Teachers having itching ears which altogether affect Novelty of Doctrines and curious speculations insomuch that they will forsake the truth to follow Fables which will lead them to destruction Observations Observation 1. God not onely knoweth what Men do at present and what they have done but what they will do in time to come He tells Timothy here what will be done
sweet and pleasant things or nothing They forbid Gods messengers to preach to them unless they 'l preach smooth and pleasing things of peace prosperity and pleasure though they walk in a sinful path and have no right to them Isai. 30.9 10. They say to the seers see not and to the Prophets prophesy not to us right things speak unto us smooth things prophesie deceits They love such as preach the visions of their own brain and sow pillows under mens elbows dawbing with untempered mortar Ezek. 13.10 11. When Prophets prophesy falsly and people shall love the lyes and flatteries of such Impostors better then Gods truth what will the issue and end of such practices be but misery and destruction Ierem. 5.31 and 6.12 13 14. Micah 3.11 12. But as for sound men they love sound Doctrine they desire it Psal. 43.3 They come to it Iohn 3.21 and bless God for it 1 Sam. 25.32 33. Observation 5. In the last dayes there will be many false Teachers There will not be one or two but there will be heaps of them the world will swarm with them Men will have variety of lusts and those call for variety of Teachers to uphold them Good Men and specially good Ministers are rare they are one of a thousand Job 33.23 But wicked ones abound there is much dross but little gold much chaff but little wheat many weeds few good flowers If the Devil have any work to do he wants no Agents to effect it If Ahab will not hearken to Micajah a true Prophet the Devil hath four hundred false ones ready to delude him 1 Kings 22.6 21 22. If men once set open their doors they shall not want Deceivers When Prophets prophesie falsly and people love to have it so 't is just with God to send them Teachers according to their own desire that he who is Heretical may be Heretical still and he that is profane may be profane still When men sleight truth they shall have Teachers which shall be Gods Executioners to bind them and blind them and lead them into error As God punisht the contempt of light in former ages by giving men up to Antichrist to be deluded by Monks Friars Lyars because they received not the truth in love so now he punisheth formality and contempt of the Gospel by giving men up in the hands of Socinians and such like Seducers which shall feed them with fables instead of truth Such as go to their Assemblies may say of them as Dionysius Calderminus said of the Masse Eamus ad communem errorem Let 's go to the shop and sink of errors Let us get our hearts stablisht with grace and then we shall not be carried about with these strange Doctors and their various doctrines Heb. 13.9 6. Observe as all other parts of man so amongst the rest the ear hath it's diseases Since the fall we are â—razed in our intellectuals in our morals and diseased in eyes and ears hence we read of a deaf ear Isai. 6.9 10. Micah 7.16 Rom. 11.8 an uncircumcised ear Acts 7.51 a dull eare Heb. 5.11 and an itching ear which is all for vain new curious things In the last dayes men will be so delicate that they will not endure common truths nor plain and profitable preaching but their Itching ears must have Clawing speakers which will speak sweet and pleasing things And this is the reason why one false Teacher prevails more in an hour in a corner then a Preacher of Truth can do in many years 't is because he preacheth Placentia and vents such things as are sutable to corrupt Nature Salt is fitter for such then Oyl though it be more searching yet it is more soveraign This Itching-disease was never so common as in our dayes we can meet with few but they have scabs upon them one hath the seal of Arminianism another hath the botch of Socinianism One hath the itch of Anabaptism another hath the scurff of Antinominianism Some have the itch in their feet they run after fools and fables some in their eyes they wander after vanities and others in their ears harkning after novelty We read in Scripture of a twofold itch A penal itch afflictive itch upon the body Deut. 28.27 The Lord shall smite thee with the scab and with an incurable itch Now this is nothing comparatively for though it be irksom to the body yet it may be good for the soul however 't is a judgement by which God is honoured but the itch of sin is the evil of evils there 's no goodness in it 2. There is a sinful spiritual itch upon the soul which is sevenfold viz. an itch of 1. Novelty 2. Curiosity 3. Singularity 4. Popularity 5. Flattery 6. Disputing 7. Quarrrelling 1. There is an Athenian Itch when men are all for Noveltie They must have Novum aut nihil Ordinary Truths will not down with them they must have New-notions which are extraordinary They are surfeted with old and wholesom Truths they must now hear some New Doctrine Acts 17.19 Not that a modest humble inquiry after Truth is to be condemned as Novelty as the Papists condemn us for Novelists because we have forsaken their by-paths to walk in the good old way which leads to rest Ier. 6.16 But 't is no wonder that pious paths seem new to them to whom the Gospel it self is new 2. An Itch of Curiosity when men will be wise above what is written Rom. 12.3 1 Cor. 4.6 And love to pry into Gods secrets and scan the Mysteries of Religion by carnal reason God oft plagues such curiosity with a fall when pride is in the saddle a fall is on the croopâ—r this pride is the mother of heresy Yet how many pry so long into the secrets of nature till they are past grace and seek so long after the Philosophers stone till at last they find the Devil himself God is displeased with such 1 Sam. 6.19 'T is his prerogative royal to have something in several that he might be the more admired in his deep mysteries we should not therefore desire a reason of his wayes beyond his revealed will Deut. 29. ult Rom. 9.20 In this our safety is to â—it still Exod. 33.18 20. And with the Apostle to adore those depths and counsels which we cannot fathom Rom. 11.33 See more in Church his Treasury p. 149 c. Granatensis p. 436 c. Tactica 5. Cap. 4. Sect. 4. p. 50.51 3. An Itch of singularity how many in our dayes for fear of popularity run into singularity they grow weary of sound solid savory and approved doctrine hunting after some aery speculations delighting themselves in some Terrâ— incognita in some untrodden paths of Divinity till thy fall into a snare This was the disease of the School-men like Nimrod to get themselves a Name they builded Babels to their own confusion I wish this scabies scalpenda this skurvy itch had onely infected the Vulgar but alas
whose main adversary is in his own bosom With what face can he fight against the beasts of the time who is himself a beast 3. The Matter is good 't is for Christ and his Kingdom for his truth and people and that against the basest enemies against sin and Satan and a world of wicked men There is nothing worth contending for in comparison of Gods truth and worship as we must contend for the obtaining of it so also for the preserving of it Iude 3. 'T was the great honour of Chamier that he strenuously fought the Lords battles against that man of sin and though many sons of the French Church had done worthily yet he excelled them all 4. The Manner of this fight must be good we must strive Lawfully if ever we would be crowned 2 Tim. 2.5 As those that strove for Masteries were not presently graced with Garlands unless they strove according to the Lawes prescribed though never so difficult and painful So unless we fight both for matter and manner both in preparation and execution according to the Rules prescribed in the Word we can never attain the Crown of Righteousness 5. The End must be good 't is that which crowns and denominates the work The end of all our working and warring must be to the Glory of God and the salvation of our own and others souls Else let the matter be never so good if the end be self all is lost as we see in Iehu and the Scribes and Pharisees Many fight but it is for their lusts and not for God Iames 4.1 As the heathen in their Agonies fought and run for the honour of Apollo Neptune or Iove but nothing for Iehovah 6. The Armour is good it is composed of the Graces of the Spirit which are compared to Gold Psalm 45.13 't is golden and compleat armour Ephesians 6.13 7. 'T is good in respect of the Issue 'T is victorious the gates of Hell connot prevail against it As Sin Satan Death Hell could not conquer Christ so they shall not be able to conquer the servants of Christ who are by faith ingrafted in him Hence Paul so confidently assureth himselfe of a Crowne of Righteousnesse 8. Our fellow-soldiers are good all the people of God throughout the world dayly fight this good fight against the enemies of their salvation yea the Saints in Heaven were all soldiers in the Church Militant before they came to the Church Triumphant 9. The Reward is good there is none like it It is no lesse then a Crown not of silver or Gold but of Eternal life The Glory of it is unspeakable Hence it is called hidden Mannah a Tree of Life c. Rev. 2.10.17.26 and 3.21 I have finisht my course Q. d. I Paul the aged have fought the good fight and have not onely begun but I have finisht my course Observe 'T is a great comfort to be an old soldier of Christ. Men cashire old decrepit men out of their camps but the older soldiers we are in Christs Church the better and the more acceptable to him 'T was Mnasons commendation that he was an old Disciple Acts 21.16 Paul was converted as the learned conjecture about 25. for he is caâ—led a young man when Stephen was stoned Acts 7.58 Now adolescency by Physitians and others is conceived to begin at 12. extend it self to 25. for when a man is come to his full stature he is called Adult now Paul lived 34. years after his conversion for he died in the thirteenth of Nero so that by this computation he was 61. when he suffered Martyrdome yet he was still the same even when he was Paul the aged as he stileth himselfe Philemon 9. as when he was young Old age is a Crown of Glory and Honourable in it self God commands us to honour such Leviticus 19.32 the Ancient and the Honourable are joyned together Isay 9.15 but then 't is most honourable when it is found in a way of Righteousness Proverbs 16.31 and if in any way of Righteousness then specially in the Ministery when it is fully and faithfully discharged An old Professor of the Truth who hath served God in his Generation deserveth respect and honours but an ancient zealous Minister of the Gospel who hath done and suffered much for Christ his white-head and silver-hairs call for double honour God oftentimes blesseth such with long life as some reward of their labours Psalm 91.16 Prov. 3.16 1. Such begin betimes to serve God and the sooner we come in to him the more honour and service we do him The Apostle mentioneth it to the praise of Andronicus and Iunia that they were in Christ before him i. they believed and were Christians before him Romans 16.7 This made Saint Austine lament that he was converted so late to Christ. 2. He is an old acquaintance of Christs to whom he more familiarly revealeth himself then to young Novices Genesis 18.17 Moses was but 40. dayes in the Mount with God and his face did shine what is 40. dayes to 40. years walking with God Such a one may do much with God for a person or Nation God delights in the prayers of his old servants such as Moses Samuel Noah Iob and Daniel c. 3. He is one that hath got the Art of serving God All Trades have a Mystery Religion hath its Mystery also young beginners are bunglers at it but old Christians are Naturalized and habituated to the holy duties of Mortification and self-denial 4. He is rich in experience a young beginner hath no experience of the deceâ—ts of sin and Satan it is the old soldier that can tell you of the Policies and stratagems in War Iob 12.12 't is with the ancient that there is wisedome and much experience A young man is happier that doth live well but an old man is happier that hath lived well he hath passed through those dangers and difficulties those temptations and Passions which young ones are sayling towards 5. He is a well-rooted firm resolved Christian. An old Disciple is like a Rocke when a young one is like a Reed tossed too and fro with every wind of Doctrine Ephesians 4.14 These adorn Religion in holding out to the last against the solicitations and allurements of sin and Satan They esteem Christs service the best service they are never weary of it though sometimes the flesh clogging them they may be weary in it and this is a great Argument of our sincerity when we are rooted trees of Righteousness fruitful and flourishing in old age Psalm 92.14 6. They shall have a greater reward As they have done more service in their Generations so they shall be recompenced answerably They have been instruments of winning many souls to Christ and so shall shine as the Stars for ever and ever Daniel 12.3 Childrens children are the crowne of old Age 't is true of Natural children Proverbs 17.6 But no children are so glorious and glistering a Crown
betray the son too 4. Here is the Reason of this Caution why he should shun the society of Alexander viz. because of his desperate condition he being one that openly and maliciously opposed the Truth of God and greatly withstood Pauls words Alexander the Copper-smith c. There is a great Controversie amongst Interpreters who this Alexander should be and it is conceived by the most judicious that it was that Alexander mentioned Acts 19.33 Who was a Jew and dwelt at Ephesus who was on Pauls side at the first and sought to appease the tumult stirred up at Ephesus against him where he had like to have lost his life for appearing on his side yet now he maketh shipwrack of the Faith and opposeth the People of God revileing and traducing them which the Apostle calleth blasphemeing 1 Timothy 2.20 The Copper-smith A man of a mean Condition one that got his living by his hammer and hard labour in an inferiour Calling He was sometime Pauls Disciple and profest the Truth but now the scales are turned and of a Professour he is become a persecutor Hath done me much evil The word which we render hath done in the Original signifieth to shew It is an Hebraism they put shewing for doing Psal. 4.6 Who will shew us any good .i. who will effect our desires in that kind so Psal. 60.3 thou hast shewed thy people hard things .i. thou hast caused them to see and endure hard things probably he might by his agents and friends stir up Nero against him as a seditious person a broacher of strange doctrine and and enemy to the Jewish religion which was then tolerated at Rome What this evil was he shewes in the next Verse He resisted our words and opposed the truth which Paul delivered The Lord reward him according to his works which he hath done and still endeavours to do against me and the truth of God which I profess He now delivers him up to the Justice of God who is a righteous Judge and will reward every man according to his works The Vulgar to mollify this Imprecation have put the word in the future Tense and so would make it a Prediction and not an Imprecation The Lord shall reward him but the word is Optative in the Original and implyes a heavy Imprecation The Apostle by a prophetical Spirit saw manifest signes of reprobation in this man and thereupon denounceth this curse against him Quest. But how doth this Imprecation agree with that Apostolical sweetness and mildness which was in the Apostle Answ. The Apostle spake not these words out of any private spleen but oâ—t of Prophetical zeal he desires the Lord to execute his justice on this incurable Apostate So that it was an Imprecation darted by a particular motion of the Holy Ghost and so not to be imitated by us who have not that extraordinary measure of the Spirit as Paul had Of whom be thou ware also Observe him and take heed of him for he goeth up and down stirring up the Jews against the Gospel q. d. The reason why I mention him at this time is that thou maist shun him as an excommunicate person and one delivered up to Satan Since then he is an incurable Apostate avoid him as the Pest and Poysener of humane Society For he hath greatly withstood our words much more will he withstand thine q. d. He hath not onely resisted us but which is worse he hath Violently and Vehemently resisted the truth which I have preached to the world The one is but a personal persecution against charity the other is a doctrinal offence against piety and so far more hainous Observations 1. Great Professors may become grievous Persecutors This Alexander was a noted Professor and within the pale of the Church else the Apostle could not have excommunicated him and cast him out of the Church if he had never been in and if he had not profest the faith he could not have made ship-wrack of it 1 Tim. 1.19 20. Yea this man was neer to Martyrdom as Calvin conceives yet now he turns a desperate opposer of the truth The best things when corrupted become the worst The most generous wine makes the sharpest vinegar and the finest flesh when putrified becomes most fulsom These Apostates know the state of the Church better then others and so are able to do it more mischief besides God in judgment gives them up to a reprobate sense and the Devil comes with seven worse spirits and re-enters which makes the latter end of these men worse then their beginning Nicholas a great professor and one of the seven Deacons yet at last fell into foul errours pleading for community of wives and the lawfulness of adultery hence came the Sect of the Nicolaitans Rev. 2.6 Iudas went far yet at last sells his Master Be not then offended when you see Professors turn Blaspemers and Preachers Persecutors it should grieve us but not discourage us It was so in the Apostles time it is so now and it will be so to the end of the world There will be some such Tares mixt with Gods wheat and a Iudas amongst the very Apostles We must look to be hooted at as signes and wonders as mad-men and Monsters and that in Israel Isay 8.18 Quest. But doth not this prove the Apostasy of the Saints since Alexander is said to make ship-wrack of the faith Answ. Not at all There is no arguing from the shadow to the substance from the Meteor to the fixed Star because Hypocrites temporary beleevers and carnal professors fall away therefore real Saints and such as are effectually called may fall away is a manifest Non Sequitur 2. Observation 2. It is lawful sometimes and in some cases to name men Alexander a malicious incorrigible enemy is named that every one may shun him But of this before in Verse 10. 3. Observation 3. The enemies of Gods people many times are sordid men Alexander a Smith a man of no learning of mean education by professing not a Gold-Smith nor a Silver-Smith but a Copper-Smith and by disposition an open enemy to the truth This contemptible man opposeth the Preaching and Practice of chosen vessels an eminently learned Paul Thus it pleaseth God to exercise and humble his choicest servants by vile and worthless men Iob complains of such Iob 19.10 and 30.1 David complains that the abjects and dregs of the people made head against him Psal. 35.15 16. So Acts 17.5 And this was prophesied longe since by Isay 3.5 that such disordered times should come that every boy should behave himself proudly against the Ancient and the base against the Honourable and men of worth It is a trouble to ingenious natures to be molested by such disingenuous ones who want common humanity To fall by the hand of an Achilles or some eminent person for Learning and Valour is some honour But to be vext by such How 's and
Ea est erroris vis ut sisti nequeat sed abyssus abyssum invocat Calvin See Mr. Edwards Gangreen 1 2 3. Parts and Mr. Bayly Disswasion 1. and 2. Part. Magis magisque fient inverecundi 1. Quâ—stiâ—nes inferent 2. Ipsa eveâ—tent Christianismi fundamenta Gâ—otius Schisma proles superbiae malè perseverando fit Haeresis mater Haereseos Peccatum quod paenitentia non delevit ipso suo pondere mox ad aliud trahit Gregor Elegans Polyptoton 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 iâ—signis impostor eâ—â—â— nebalo ver sutur Arâ—tius See my Schools Guard Rule 56. Per dulces sermones bâ—andâ—â—â—quenâ—â—as simplicâ—â—m corda seducuâ—â— Plus ad destruendum â—alebit unus nebulo quà m decem fidi doctores ad aedificandâ—m quamlibet strenuè laborent Calvin See Caryll ser on Rev. 2.2.3 p. 33. to 50. Qui non vetat peccare cum potest jubet Sen. Babylon Infeliciter felix surgens cadet Sion Feliciter infelix cadens surget Mundanâ prosperitate florentes in malitia sua ultrò procedunt See Downams Warfare 2. P. l. 1. c. 5. See eight Seasons in which Satan Assaults the Soul Robinson Lect. 2. in Ephes. â— 13. p. 20. Res adversae Spiritus contrahunt cogitationes componunt in â—nosmetipsos nos revocant ac necessitate quadam quasâ— flagello nos ad Virtutem compellunt Picolomin Ethic. c. 45. Nos qui corrumpimur prosperis corrigimur adversis quos intemperantes pax longa fecit turbatio facit esse modestos Salvian See Mr. Strong on that Text in his 31. Serm. p. 313. The Sedentary life is most subject to diseases standing waters gather filth hence God keeps his in exercise Quos amat Deus bos indurat recognoscit exercet Seneca Men are seldome religious in prosperity Rarae fumant felicibus arae See Harsnet on Repentance p. 448. c. Quatuor numerantur matres quae pravos pariunt filios Prosperitas quae parit superbiam veritas odium securitas periculum familiaritas contemptum Rich Iacob forgets to pay what poor Iacob had promised Magnae felicitatis est à felicitate non vinci Clâ—mang Secundis rebus ea mala oriuntur in moribus quae saevientibus pejora sunt hostibus Hinc Scipio noluit aemulam Romani Imperii Carthaginem dirui August de Civit. Dei l. 1. c. 30. * Ludicra ipsa agi jam non possunt prae egestate temporis miseria ideò non aguntur Salvian Nihil infelicius felicitate peccantium quâ paenalis nutritur impunitas mala voluntas velut hostis interior roboratur August ep 5. Sibbs's Cordials on 1 Pet. 4.17 p. 227 228. Dives est donec evigilet Aug. Dona scabelli non dona Throni See Mr. â—oltons Discourse of True Hâ—ppiness p. 50 51. Fortuna prospera per se est bona ex eventu mala adversa veâ—ò per se est mala ex eventu bona Picolomin Ethic. c. 54. Magni pectoris est inter secunda moderatio Seneca Prov. 3.9 10. Sperat infestis metuit secundis Alteram sortem benè praeparatum pectus Horat. l. 2. Ode 10. Per antithesin hortatur ut in iis quae ab ipso didicit perseveret q. d. utcunque grassetur impietas ulterius perrumpat tu tamen perge Calvin Facilius ducimur quà m trahimur 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quae tibi concredita sunt Beza Estius Syriac Arabic 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mihi concreditur So the word is used Rom 3.2 the Oracles of God were committed to the Jewes as a depositum which they were to keep with all faithfulness for posterity Permane in iâ—s quae quasi cum lacte suxisti à Lapide V. D. Sibs Concio ad Clerum in 2 Tim. 1.14 Tanta est bâ—noâ—rum raritas ut penè unus esse videatur Salvian * See Mr. Gurnall on Ephes. 6.10 p 7. Mr. Rob. Bolton's Saints Guide p. 128. Perseverantia ista non ad tempus neque ad longum tempus sed ad finem usque efficit discipulum Christi Rolloc Herberts Poems p. 80. Non incipienti non fugienti sed vincenti dabitur Deus nummum nec fractum nec falsum recipiet Bern. Fox Martyrol pag. 675. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 prae metu socordia se subducet See Mr. Strong 's 31. Serm. on 2 Chron. 15.2 p. 231. Hi in veteri novam quaerunt semitam * Sceptica â—heologia exit in Atheismum qui enim de omnibus dabitat nihil tandem credere incipit Altingius See Irreligion of the Northern Quakeâ—s p. 25 26. See Gelaspy Miscol l. 2. c. 11. and Strong Ser. 31. on Heb. 12.14 p. 52. See more Exampâ—es of Constancy Mr. Clerks Mirrour c. 30. p. 104. Quid est Papa quid mundusâ— quid princeps mundi ut propter cum veritatem Evangelii pro qua Christus est mortuus negem Valeat qui valet pereat qui perit ego sic sentiam Deo propitio semper Luther in Psal. 16. * See the necessity of Resolution Robinson on Ephes. 6.15 Lect. 16. and Gournall on Ephes. 6.10 p. 4. c. Simâ—nds his Serm. on 1 Chron. 28.10 Preacht 1641. Frustrà nititur qui non innititur in te stas non stas Aug. V. Robinson on Ephes. 6.13 Lect. 5. and 7. Creditum fuisse doctrinam Timotheo ad 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 valet plus enim quiddam est commiâ—ti instar depositi quà m simplicier tradi Calvin Depositum vâ—cat sacram doctâ—inam Evangelii quia res est alterius i. e. Christi pastoribus fida ejus custâ—dia incumbit Gâ—otius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 super certare notat ingens aâ—â—e continuum certandi resistendi hostilus studium á Lapide in locâ—m ubi pluâ—a * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tenacem mordicus retinentem à Lapide See ten Reasons why we should defend the Truth in Mr. Ant. â—urgess on Iohn 17.12 Lect. 58. Raffin Histor. l. 2. c. 3. Nulla fides sanctior fide depositi ideoque insames sunt apud omnes gentes qut depâ—situm abnegant Grotius Certitudo fidei est maxima certitudo Scotus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ab inâ—antia i. cum adhuc esses 〈◊〉 Piscat 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 puer recens natus In hoc verbo nonnulla Hypeâ—bole sub esse videtur Estiâ—s Gremium huic maternum prima suit Schola Sacrarum literarum Espens Synagog Iudaic c. 3. Naar Naâ—r i. Puer Puer quae geminatio valdè pusillum atque tenellum Infantem esse doceâ— qualis est trimus qui jam incipit cibis uti pro lacte Sanctius â— Robinsons Observat 16. p. 533. â—athshebam Sol monem à teneris annis haec docuisse blanda Lemuelis appellatio quales matribus erga liberos adhuc tenellos usitatae sunt ostendit Cartwright Children are mentioned three times in the Decalogue to shew that God would have his Lambs regarded Iohn 21.15 Sugant Infanfantes quoad fieri potest unà cum lacte Pietatem Lirguam Canaan vel à teneris
Preaching in Master Hildersham on Psalm 51. Lect. 8.9 Page 136. and 707. Hookers Souls Preparation Page 94. and Atersol on Numbers Page 1080. Vide Tract Danaei De amicitia Christo. Page 208. Fol. Clerkes Mirrour Chap. 56. Alsteeds Ethickes Lib. 21. Chap. 25. Page 13.12 Aristot. Rhet. Lib. 2. Chap. 4. Weemse 1 Volume Page 2. Lib. 2. Chap. 2. Page 103. Herles Policy Lib. 2. Chap. 16. See this point fully cleared by Mr. Ant. Burgess on Iohn 17.12 Ser. 7â— and Attersol on Philem. 24. p. 484. Gataker Ser. 2 P. in folio p. 323. See Mr. Chishulls Serm on Acts 26.28 Multi ad solidam eruditionem pervenissent nisi se pervenisse jam putâssent See 7 more Preservatives against Apostasy in D. Sibbs his Cordials Serm. 10. pag. 185. See more Examples in Mr. Clerks Mirror cap. 6. edit 3. Amor tuus Deus tuus A calore ad frigus transitus est periculosus V. Dyke on Conscience c. 9. p. 145. c. V. Attersoll on Philem. 24. pag. 488. Say as Luther in another case Contemptus est à me mundanus favor furor Nihil in Mundo gloriosum praeter animum gloriam mundi aspernantem ad eam quae Coelestis est remis velisque votis factis contendentem Doctor Arrowsmith Tactica S. Lib. 1. Cap. 4. S. 6. Inveni partum spes fortuna Valete Nil mihi nobiscum ludite nunc alios Nunquam erit magnus cui mundus est magnus Cui Christus incipit dulcescere huic necesse est amarescere mundum Bern. Ecce turbatur mundus amatur quid si tranquillus esset Formoso quomodo haereâ—es qui sic amplecteris foedum Flores ejus quomâ—do Colligeres qui à spinis non revocas animum Aug. Serm. 245. Vide Burroughs Moses Choice Chapter 25.26 27. * See Doctor Preston Iudas Repentance p. 3. to 8. * Mandavit moriens Agesilaus ne ullam sui corporis fingendi aut aliâ imitatione pararent imaginem si quid enim à me praeclarè factum id monumentum mihi erit Sin minùs ne omnes quidem statua opera Hominum illiberialium Plutarch Morbi complicati sunt perioulosissimi Ingentia beneficia ingentia vitias ingentia supplicia Quod efficit tale illud est magis tale Quantò major facilitas non peccandi tantò majus peccatum Vbi sublimior est praerogativa ibi major est culpa Salvian de Gub. Dei l. 4. per totum Magnates sunt magneâ—es Omne peccatum est Deicidium See Mr. Burroughs Sin the Evil of Evils The School-men make 15. Aggravations of sin Aggravat ordo locus mora causa scientia tempus Lucta pusilla modus culpae genus status altus Conditio numerus aetas scandala sexus Sunt minoris scandali sed majoris culpae Dyke Deceit of the Heart chap. 13. With Torments and Threatnings he compelled them to deny Christ yea even to curse him as was the manner of the Heathen in persecuting the Christians Dutch Annot. Insanissimus fui Papista Luth. August Confess l. 2. c. 4.6 7. V. Boltons little Treatise of Humil. pag. 28. See Mr. Fords Treatise of the Spirit of Bondage See more Aggravations of sin in D. Bolton on 2 Sam. 24.10 folio Ser. 1. p. 27. to 31. Mr. Ant. Burgess Spâ— Refining 2 Part. on Psal. 19.13 Ser. 7.25.30 D. Goodwins Aggravations of sin Mr. Strong 31. Serm. p. 434. c. Quantum terrae sol percurrit proprios emittens radios tantum hic beatus solicitudinem curam habebat Chrysost. Mâ—â—us naturalis velocior est in fine quà m in principio Aristot. l. 2. de coelo See Attersol on Philemon 24. p. 467. An Prtrus fuerit Romae sub judice lis est Simonem Romae nemo fuisse negat Hence it is that Christ sent not his Messengers single but by pairs and that for eight Reasons V. Adams on 2 Pet. 3.15 p. 1441. Ollae amicitia Proverb Observ. Such as are fearful and faint-hearted at first may after become Valiant and Couragious for the truth as Nicodemus Ioseph of Arimathea c. See more Attersol on Philemon 14 P 478. to 484. Byfield on Colos. 4.10 Malus corvus malum ovum niger corvus niger pullus Prov. Cum intereà non satageret idem pater qualis crescerem tibi aut quam castus essem dummodo essem disertus vel potiùs desertus à cultura tua Deus Aug. Confes. l. 2 c. 3. See Childs Portion Preface Bonum nomen bonum omen See more Taylor on Tit. 3.12 p. 726. Deficiente lumine oriuntur tenebrae Arist. The word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 penula t is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thecalignea nor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 indumentum Sacerdotis This variety of Opinions came from the mistaking and false Printing of the Original word as you may see in Beza in locum and Master Leighs Crit. 5. Penula idem quod Pallium ad frigus pluviam arcendam à Lap. Pallium quo multum usi sunt tan quam simplici acâ—facili Christiani olim Scultet * Litera sacrae sunt liber sacerdotalis Ambrose Major fuit cura Caesari libellorum quà m purpurae Per 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 intelliguntur schedae pelliceae in quibus Paulus quae dam seitu dignae ad juvandam memoriam annotaverat umde de iis singulariter solicitus dicit maximè membranas Gerhard in Locum Penula quasi pendula a long hanging cloak saith Minshaw Amat Deus disciplinam perversae autem falsa innocentia est laxare habenas peccatis Valdè pernitiosè filium sentiet patris lenitatem ut justè posteà Dei sentiat severitatem idque non solus sed cum dissoluto patre suo Ob. fortè negligit malus filius monitae patris Sol. Tu imple perâ—onam tuam Deus deie de illo exiget fuam Aug. in Psalm 50. This may fitly be applyed to Spirituall Fathers Vide paupertatem tanti Apostoli qui rem tantillam tam longè relictam inter damna censuerit Grotius O supellectilem Apostolicam Penulam non purpuram Libellos non cabellos quaerit Espencaeus Si transeuntes videas Dominos esse castrorum non Patres Monasteriorum Provinciarum Principes non animorum Rectores Bern. ad Guliel Abbatem Fateor insitam esse in nobis Corporis nostri Charitatem fateor nos hujus gerere tutelam non nego indulgendum illi serviendum nego Hujus nos nimius amor timoribus inquietat sollicitudinibus onerat contumeliis objicit Honestum ei vile est cui corpus nimium c. est Charum Seneca Epist. 14.2 6. to 6.6 Ubi Plura O dulce otium honestumque ac omni penè negotio pulchrius secum tantùm cum libellis loqui Pliny Epist. Lib. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 faber ararius ◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mala multa mihi ostendit Vulg. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ostendo demonstro Est Votum non Vaticinium It is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉