the Traditions of their Forefathers And whether they were such as concerned divine worship or civil manners they alwaies had a reverend esteeme of them imbracing them for their Antiquity It being accounted a great Heresie among the generalitie of men to question the Judgement of their Ancestours concerning any law or Custome approved of or exercised by them as if long continued use or allowance of any thing could make that lawful and good which in it selfe is unlawful and discommendable or that the Judgement of ancient men who lived in former Ages were not to be questioned by succeeding Generations This maketh men so loath to leave off nay even to reason or consider the lawfulnesse of the traditions of their Elders And hereupon it is that most men in the world can give no better an account and Reason of their pinciples upon which they ground their salvation and eternal welfare then this thus my Forefathers did thus they worshiped God and thus they beleeved and so will I. Are we wiser then our Forefathers did not they understand the Scriptures as wel as we were they not as learned as we are Here Satan taketh Advantage And to nourish Ignorance hereby in them he doth suggest many Arguments unto them to strengthen and confirme them in this rediculous Errour Whereas Reason will dictate this that no man ought to allow or approve of any thing implicitly Agreeable hereunto is that inconsiderate Custome among men to pin their opinions upon the Judgements of other men living in their owne Time whom they account learned and juditious The great Designe of Satan in all these things is to hinder men from searching into the Scriptures knowing that they are the onely light to guide us in this dark Age and Touchstone to try the Spirits in our selves and other men For take men off from this from the search of the Scriptures and it is an easie thing to impose any thing upon them as easie as to deceive a blinde man in the choice of Colours Satan having thus deluded any and brought them into this Snare how freely will they receive any colourable Interpretation of Scripture and how apt will they be to wrest and pervert the same according as he shall tempt them thereunto A second way by which Satan bringeth men to a misunderstanding of the Scriptures a perversion of them is by perswading them to consult with their own Reason in finding out the mind of God concerning spirtual things This Satan effecteth by taking Advantage of an Excellency which men suppose they see in natural Reason by which they think they are able to discern of spiritual Truths But can the Creature who hath all his knowledge conveyed unto him by sence know those things which the sences cannot reach unto How can the Eye discerne that which it hath not seen or the Eare that which it hath not heard or the heart that which never came into it Can Reason tell a man without divine Manifestation what God hath prepared for those that love and fear him these things Reason cannot informe us of neither can the spirit of a man know them but they must be revealed by the same Spirit which was in Jesus Christ By the Spirit which naturally is in us we are capable of knowing those things which belong to our Generation but no more And if a mans Spirit cannot know the things of other Creatures much lesse can it discern the things of God even those Mysteries which were determined by him before the world began For it is a certain Truth that the natural Man knoweth not the things of God 1 Cor. 2.9 10 11. And although the Scriptures are written in no other words then such with which we do usually speake one unto an other yet it is no easie thing to understand the minde of the holy Ghost therein Some words are allegorically others mystically others literally to be understood some all these waies Some expressions are typical others comparative and others prophetical some prophesies hold forth things past some things present and others things to come some all of these Yet there are some and too many such there are when they read a Text of Scripture will take upon them by the consideration of the very words to declare the meaning and purpose of the holy Ghost therein Hereby the world is filled with so many ill begotten opinions Others say look into that Light which is in you meaning the Light of Reason walke by that Light What need say they have men to looke into the Scriptures or to preach the word while they have a light within them When as alas the light of the natural man as Reason knowledge and the like as to the things of God is darknesse Ephes 5.8 untill the Lord by a supernatural worke of Grace do enlighten them and then they are said to be Light in the Lord or as the Apostle in an other place Ye are the children of the Day and not of the night 1 Thess 5.5 that is ye are not now in a natural and unregenerate Condition but new-borne and enlightened by the Spirit of God By ascribing that unto Reason which onely is the worke of the Spirit they force the Creature to depend upon his owne strength they put him upon a worke which he is not able to do they cast their Eyes onely upon self-sufficiency and neglect a dependance upon God by Faith they lay the whole weight of the Duety of a Christian upon the performance of some outward things which consist chiefly in Touch not Taste not Handle not in perishing services and in the Doctrines and commandements of men by which they are deceived because there is in these things a shew of wisdome in voluntary Religion and humblenesse of minde and in not sparing the body Col. 2.21 22 23. Satan having caught any in this Net bringeth them hereby to a neglect of comparing Scripture with Scripture They often read the Word but they judge of it by their own Reason which Reason they call the Light which God hath given them And demand of them why they interpret Scripture thus or thus they will answer that their Reason telleth them so And so by not comparing Scripture with Scripture they remain not onely ignorant of the true meaning thereof but they fill the world with a multitude of heretical Notions perverting the Scriptures when and how they please Secondly hereby Satan maketh them to contemn all Interpretations of Scripture which their Reason will not allow of And if the Truths of God conteyned in the word be declared unto them they are so wedded to their own Judgements that they have neither Patience to hear them nor consider them Thirdly Hereby Satan seeketh to destroy their Faith causing them to remain in unbeliefe of those things which their Reason cannot approve of For if Faith come by hearing then they that stop their Eares against any thing but the dictates of their own carnal Reason must needs remain weak
Spiritual Pride they bitterly curse and speak against those whom they looke upon to be the Enemies of Christ and such as oppose and as they conceive persecute them Neither can they by reason hereof hear any brotherly admonition although never so lovingly and friendly urged but they fly out into Impatiency Indignation Censuring uncivil gestures and perhaps bitter Expressions against those who cannot Close with their Judgement or do oppose it A fourth way by which Satan doth deceive in these Times causing many to pervert and misunderstand the Scripture is by tempting them and drawing them to put allegorical and mystical as they call them Interpretations upon prophetical and Doctrinal Scriptures This work Satan effecteth by taking Advantage of the Excellency of humane learning in many men By which they do not onely scorne to deliver themselves in their discoursing preaching praying or writing according to Scripture Language but they will finde out quaint Expressions high Rapturs and Notions admired by many which must be called the Dictates of the holy Ghost and an excellent Spirit of Utterance which doth prove in a little Time as this Age hath experienced to be onely carnal and artificiall But they will not content themselves with the abuse of Scripture by unwarrantable words but the whole Scripture and every part thereof must be looked upon as an Allegorie and so they will make of it what they please Hereupon much Confusion hath arisen by reason of many vain disputations and the divulging of phantastical Notions Every one of these men making what they please of God Angels Resurrection heaven the word divine union Anoynting Law and Gospel And hereupon the late King Charles was made God the father the then Parliament God the Son and the Lawes the Holy Spirit in a Book intituled the Leaves of the Tree of Life With many other horrid Blasphemies We should take notice of those Scriptures which the holy Ghost doth take allegorically but we ought not to allegorize any Scripture which the holy Ghost would have us to vnderstand literally Again Satan causeth men to misunderstand the Scriptures by putting a Mist before their Eyes so that they cannot see afar off And this he doth effect by causing them to look no further then their present Dispensation For although they may there discern the Truth yet if they look no further they shall never see all the Truth They look upon all things in Scripture with a Spiritual Eye but see not that those things or many of them which are prophetical shall be really accomplished And hereupon some see no Resurrection but the rising to newnesse of Life no Coming of Christ but by his Spirit no Reign nor Kingdome of Christ but by his Spirit in the heart of his Saints No Canaan but the Kingdome of heaven Satan by bringing many into this Snare although he cannot destroy their Soules yet while they lye under this Cloud he doth trouble them with vain Disputations and contentious Arguings in defence of their present thoughts and Apprehensions of the Scriptures and keepeth them in darknesse and ignorance of many excellent and comfortable Truths But Lastly Satan doth draw many to misunderstand pervert the Scripturs by holding forth the mind of God in unwarrantable Expressions and words which Mans Wisdome teacheth Therefore the Apostle said If any consent not to the wholsom words of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Tim. 6.3 4 5. and to the Doctrine which is according to Godlinesse he is puffed up and knoweth nothing but doteth about Questions and strife of words whereof cometh Envy strife railing evil surmising and vain Disputation of men of corrupt minde and destitute of the Truth And assuredly there is much in that Exhortation of the Apostle unto Timothy 2 Tim. 1.13 keep the true Pattern of the wholsome words which thou hast heard of me in Faith and Love For When Satan hath brought any into this Snare when men will not read the Scriptures that they may be able to understand the language of the holy Ghost then he Satan sendeth them to buy their knowledge at the shop of humane learning and teacheth them this Principle that is That humanity is a helpe to Divinity that Grammer causeth men to write and speake of the things of God congruously that Logick inableth men to finde out the Truths of Divinitie and to reason the more â—blie that Philosophy directeth them to the reason and Cause of things and that by the force of Rhetorick men may more excellently utter and expresse themselves when they speake of Scriptural and divine Mysteries And hereupon they will tell you it was that Isaiah a learned man wrote a more excellent Stile then the rest of the Prophets and Paul who was bred at the feet of Gamaliel was more eloquent and delivered himselfe in better Language then the rest of the Apostles Being brought into this Snare they vilifie and reproach the Scriptures and say that they are darke obscure and imperfect in themselves and therefore it is necessary that men should look upon them by the Candle of humane learning Hereby Satan taketh them off from the study of the Scriptures and setteth them upon the Search of the Knotty schoole-men the contradictory Counsels nay hereby he directeth them to heathen Poets Ethnick Philosophers and fabulous Moralists to finde among their writings what the mind of God should be concerning this or that Scripture Hereupon the world hath been filled with many larg volums of vain and unprofitable Disputations and Controversies Hereby many have been a long time learning but never have come to the knowledge of the Truth And hereby many heresies have arisen and the Scriptures have been wrested into as many formes as there are Notions or varieties of opinions among men to the delusion of some but utter destruction and irreparable and irrecoverable Losse of others And thus much shall suffice to have been written concerning the first Snare which Satan doth lay to intrap and insnare many deluded and onely formal professors of Christianity and if it were possible to deceive the very Elect. For Satan knoweth if the foundation be taken away the building must of necessity fall if the Eye be put out the whole body must be darke and if he can deprive men of light they must walke in darknesse and stumble and fall The second Snare that Satan layeth for those that professe Christianity is by his seducements to cause them to give heed to Dreames and visions And this Satan doth by moving them to apply those Scriptures which promise that men shall Dreame Dreams to their present Generation When men in these Times will desire of the Lord those things which he hath declared shall not come to passe until after Ages it is just with him to give power unto Satan to delude such by Dreames and visions These things are not to be expected in and during the time of the Kingdome of Satan If the Lord denied S. to appear unto his people the
by a further Spirit and power then their own From these and such like things many conclude that their Dreames and visions are of the holy Ghost and therefore they ought to be the Rule and Ground of their Actions Prayers and Performances But if men did minde that which the Apostle prophesied of they would not be too forward to do so For Saint Paul did foreshew that in the latter Time some should depart from the Faith and give heed unto Spirits of Errours and Doctrines of Divils 1 Tim. 4.1 for this is Truth that whatsoever Spirit doth set men upon the doing of those things that are contrary unto the word of God we should not be guided by it Satan is very busie even among the best of the Saints and therefore they cannot be too watchful Wherefore I shall indeavour to try the Spirits that are in the world even the Spirits of Delusion comparing them with the commands of the Spirit of God The Spirit of God saith search the Scriptures Joh. 5.39 and compare Spiritual things with Spiritual 1 Cor. 2.13 but the Spirit of delusion saith Judge of Scripture by natural Reason which is the Light that God hath set up in you The Spirit of God saith no Scripture is of any private Interpretation 2. Pet. 1.20 the Spirit of Delusion saith you may make any Interpretation of Scripture either mystical prophetical literal or what you will The Spirit of God saith let every one esteem others better then themselves Phil. 2.3 the Spirit of Delusion saith I am more holy then such an one I am more instant in Duties then such The Spirit of God saith Judge nothing before the time untill the Lord come 1 Cor 4.5 the Spirit of Delusion saith this man is guilty of the Sin against the holy Ghost this man is falne from Grace this man is not to be prayed for this man is a hypocrite The holy Ghost saith blesse and Curse not Rom. 12.14 the Spirit of Delusion saith Curse such an one for he hath persecuted the Saints The Spirit of God Saith Let Prayers be made for all men 1 Tim. 2.1 the Spirit of Delusion saith we may Pray for those who are our Enemies but not for those who are the Enemies of Christ I could try these Spirits in many other Particulars but I will indeavour by the Scriptures to try the Spirits of those who say they Dreame Dreames and see visions of God but are false Dreamers 1. Such Dreamers say they doe Dreame in the Name of the Lord when they prophesie the vision of their owne heart Jer. 23.25 26. 2. By their Dreames they cause the People to forget the Name of the Lord. v. 27. they give more heed unto their Dreames then unto the Word of the Lord 3. These Prophets have sweet Tongues and say Thus saith the Lord and make the People to erre by their Lyes and their flatteries deceiving them v. 31.32 Jer. 29.8 4. They speake vain things and comfort in vain Zach. 10.2 and 5. These false Dreamers cause many to despise Government and speake Evil of them that are in Authority Jude 8. Having thus shewed how we should try the Spirits that are in the world I will declare how these Temptations cunning Practises of Satan may be prevented Therfore In the first place the Apostle doth exhort to Sobrietie Sobrietie doth not onely consist in the moderate use of Meat and drink but in beleeving Loving and trusting in the Lord. He is a sober Christian that continueth stedfast in the Faith that abideth in the commandements and trusteth in the Lord. 1 Thess 5 6 7 8. He is a Sober Christian that is indued with wisdom and Gravitie Tit. 1.8 not given to wantones and Levity He is a Sober Christion that wil not give confidence to the Dreams and delusions of men but doth trust on the Grace that is brought unto him by the Revelation of Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 1.13 that walketh by the Rule of the Word which was written by the Inspiration of the holy Ghost and Revelation of Jesus Christ He is a Sober Christian who is not carelesse or negligent but vigilant and instant in Prayer 1 Pet. 4 8. He is a Sober Christian that arrogateth not unto himselfe those Gifts which he hath not nor boasteth of those Gifts which he hath Rom. 12.3 He is a Sober Christian who liveth Righteously as towards men and godly as towards the Lord in this present world Tit. 2.12 So that this exhortation of the Apostle is very necessary for that in it is conteyned those Duties which hold forth stability and Constancy in our Resolutions Because that Satan taketh great advantage against those who are unstable minded 2 Pet. 2.14 not endued with Sobrietie Secondly the Apostle doth exhort to vigilancy or Watchfulnesse To watch over our hearts over others over the drawings out of our affections over our Zeale over our Principles over the world and over Satan To watch because the Coming of Christ is uncertain Mat. 24.42 43 44. To watch Rev. 3.3 least Satan take Advantage of our weaknesse in the Faith 1 Cor. 16.13 To watch over our Prayers continually Col. 4.2 To watch in all things 2 Tim. 4.5 And if a Christian ought to watch in all things even in the Least things much more over the malice Rage and Subtilty of Satan Thirdly that the Saints may avoid the Designes of Satan the Apostle exhorteth to prayer Prayer and watchfulnesse must alwayes go together Watch and Pray Mar. 13.33 Be ye Sober watching in Prayer 1 Pet. 4.7 Sober and Stedfast in our resolutions watchful over every enemy and earnest in Prayer to call for divine assistance If Satan doth tempt the Saints when they pray and God doth require that they pray according to his minde and will then it is their duty to try and weigh every Petition which they put up by the Word and not to desire any thing of the Lord but what the word doth allow of for the word is the Revelation of the minde and will of God The holy Ghost doth help the Saints to call for those things onely which are agreeable to the minde and will of God that is to his Word And if their hearts be drawn out to other things they are not to give heed unto the motions of their hearts Also in their Prayers the Saints should have respect not only to those things which God hath promised but to the Times Places and Persons to which they relate Otherwise the Lord may draw out their hearts as to the thing promised but Satan may tempt them to pray amisse as to circumstances A Fourth remedy to prevent the designes of Satan is to hold fast to the Faith resist Satan stedfast in the Faith 1 Pet. 5.9 saith the Apostle Peter So likewise St. Paul exhorteth Above all take the shield of Faith wherewith yee may quench the fiery Darts of the wicked Eph. 6.16 He that is Sober will not easily be tempted He that is
taken away and since that time there is neither Jew nor Gentile Circumcision nor uncircumsion but a new Creature Now the Gospel is tendered to all and so farre as the mercy of God doth extend which is to all so farre our mercy should reach Luke 6.35 36. Fourthly Satan would perswade the Saints that they are the litle Stone spoken of in Daniel which must break the great Image And because the Kingdome of Christ must be set up in the dayes of those Kings spoken of in Daniel therefore Satan would perswade them that before the comming of Christ they must oppose the Kingdomes of the world and powers thereof and so endeavours to stirr them up to insurrection and rebellion contrary to that in Daniel The Horne shall make Battel against the Saints and prevail until the ancient of dayes come and the time approached that the Saints possessed the Kingdome Dan. 7.21 22. So that until Christ come the Horne must prevaile and the Saints must not have a Kingdome and until Christ come to set up his Kingdome the little Stone or Kingdome must not break the Image in pieces Fifthly Satan telleth them that they must beare testimony against all ungodliness and that is truth but he would hereby stirre them up to beare their testimony in such a way that they may justly be esteemed to be railers revilers Incendiaries to rebellion disswaders of divers from their obedience to the Magistrate Whereas Michael when he strove against the Divel and disputed about the body of Moses durst not blame him with cursed speaking and hereby he stirreth them up to all bitternesse and uncharitablenesse and to look upon none as brethren but those who are of their own Judgements and opinion in all or most things and they whom they look upon otherwise they suppose are the enemies of Christ and therefore they ought not to pray for them Lastly Satan in these last times stirreth up the Saints to Judge of one another by their outward actings whether they be natural failings or such things as they do amisse by reason of the subtile frequent and powerful temptations of Satan And to this purpose there is a Text very much abused which is By their fruits you shall know them Math. 7.20 And indeed by the actions we may see what for the present is in the poor sinful and corrupt heart yet hereby we cannot Judge of any ones interest in Christ notwithstanding from this Scripture Satan doth tempt and provoke many very hardly and unchristianly to censure others nay not only to passe a Judgement on their actions wherein there may be a mistake by reason of misrepresentation misapprehension misunderstanding misinformation and the like but of their intents and purposes when none is able to judge of the sincerity of the heart but only the Lord nay of their spiritual condition when no man can tell whose name is written in the Book of life and whose not it being a secret which God hath reserved unto himselfe and to strengthen them in this unchristian practice Satan moveth them to Judge of others by the Letter of the Law and then they say they have a warrant for what they do As sometimes they Judge a man to be a backslider from his former professions and who can say he is not a backslider and then they censure him a Castaway alledging that in Luke He that putteth his hand to the Plough and looketh back is not fit for the Kingdome of God Luke 9.62 And sometimes they Judge a man of hypocrisie and then they look upon him as utterly lost alledging that in Job The Hypocrites hope shall perish Job 8.13 Not considering that by the workes of the Law no flesh shall be justified and if the Lord should Judge them that thus Judge others by the letter of the Law their condition would be very sad Not considering that they whom they Judge may belong unto Christ for ought they know not considering that Christ is tender of the temptations of his Saints and that he might be so he was in all things tempted in like sort not considering that although the unjust of whom Peter speaketh 2 Pet. 2.9 10. shall be reserved unto the day of Judgement yet the godly shall be delivered out of temptation Therefore Brethren we should not Judge one another by the letter of the Law but by the rule of the Gospel of Jesus Christ which biddeth us to Judg no man neither our Brethren nor those who are without For we are not under the Law but under grace Thus Satan by these fallacies and delusions and such like doth breake in sadly among the Saints and those who professe Religion in these last Times And now having discovered many Subtilties of Satan and the way by which they may be perceived and by mercy prevented I will lay down some particulars as a Rule for the Saints to walk by in the Last Times which indeed is their Generation worke They must continue in the things which are conteined in the Scriptures 2 Tim. 3.14 to 17. they must be diligent and peaceable without spot and blamelesse and grow in Grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 3.3 14 18. they should edifie themselves in their most holy Faith they should pray in the holy Ghost they should keep themselves in the Love of God looking for the mercies of Jesus Christ and have compassion of some in putting difference Jude 18. to 22. watching and preparing themseves for the Coming of Jesus Christ Math. 25.1 to 14 They must love their Enemies blesse them that Curse them and do good to them that hate them praying for them that despitefully use them and persecute them Math. 5.43 to 48. They should blesse and Curse not Being defrauded they should intreate 1 Cor. 4.12 13. They should not revile the Gods nor Curse the Rulers of the People Exod. 22.28 They should shew out a good Conversation by their works with meeknesse and wisdom Jam. 3.8 to 18. They should not speake evil of their brethren nor Judge them Jam. 4.11 12. Rom. 14.4 10 13. Math. 7.1 2. Joh. 8.15 12 47. They should Judge nothing before the time until the Lord Come 1 Cor. 14. 15. and as they ought not to Judge their brethren so they should not Judge those that are without 1 Cor. 4.12 13. They should forgive their Enemies Math. 6.14 15. They should not be tossed and carried too and fro with Every winde of Doctrine but speake the Truth in Love Eph. 4.14 15. They should pray for all men for Kings and all that are in Authority according to the Rule of the Apostle 1 Tim. 2.1 2 3. If any man teach otherwise and consent not to wholsom words even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the Doctrine which is according to Godlinesse he is proud knowing nothing 1 Tim. 6.3 4. whosoever abideth not in the Doctrine of Christ hath not God and if any come and bring not this Doctrine receive him not neither bid him God speed 2. Job 10.11 for there are some that pervert the Gospel of Christ but if any though an Angel from heaven Preach any other Gospel then what Christ and the Apostles have preached let him be accursed Gal. 3.7 8. Neither beloved friends be ye too credulous of all those things which you heare spoken by the most precious Saints untill you try them by the Scriptures For Satan hath not onely Power to enter into the Saints before their conversion Mar. 16.9 but hath great power to tempt them after the Lord hath called them Math. 16.23 and over those who are only seeming Professors although they may be indued with many excellent gifts of the Spirit he hath Power even to tempt them to their utter Destruction Act. 5.3 Yet here is the Comfort of the Elect that there is a time appointed in which Satan shall be troden underfeet Rom. 16.20 and until then notwithstanding Satan doth endeavour to winnow them like wheate they shall be preserved by the Intercession of the Lord Jesus Luk. 22.31 32. It is a difficult thing to know the depths of Satan Rev. 2.24 for he taketh Advantage not onely against the sins of the Saints but of their best Gifts As of their zeale knowledge desires after God and of their very Prayers but especially of their coldnesse of Love and want of Charity 2 Cor. 2.1 to 12. Therefore Brethren often consider and endeavour to the utmost to practise the Apostles Rule and Exhortation Be sober and watch for your Adversary the Divil as a roaring Lyon goeth about seeking whom he may devour FINIS