14.29 Let the Prophets speak two or three and let the other judge Such as pretended to a gift of Prophesie which in those times was not rare they were to be heard by the Church but not presently believed but they must be tried by those who had the gift of discerning spirits the other true Prophets whether they had such a gift as they pretended to and whether that which was spoken by them were by the motion of the spirit of God or whether it were a fancie of their own brain a humane or Diabolical delusion Yea Generally all Teachers thus are all Teachers and all Doctrines to be tryed That Rule and direction of the Apostle is general 1 Thes 5.21 Proving all things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 All things All Teachers all Doctrines and opinions by whomsoever held forth This is one of the things for which those Beraeans are commended being called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 more noble then some other Christians Acts 17.11 for that when they heard the Apostle Saint Paul the great Doctor of the Gentiles the chief teacher of his time Preach they brought his Doctrine to the Test trying and examining whether those things which were spoken and delivered by him were so whether they were consonant and agreeable to the Doctrine of Moses and the Prophets that Doctrine which they had already received Now if true Apostles were thus to be tryed how much more false ones those who have nothing to prove them so but their word This Paul had He had the signes of an Apostle as he tels his Corinthians 2 Cor. 12.12 Among other those wonders and mighty deeds which he there speaketh of his miraculous works some of which are recorded in that Chapter foregoing Acts 16. for which no question he was then famous through the Churches and yet they try his Doctrine and for so doing are commended Especially suspitious ones How much more then are they to be tryed who have nothing but their word to gain credit to their calling and Doctrine As for their works it may be they are such as justly render them suspicious And being such great Reason that the Churches of Christ should be jealous of them and so try them before they trust them Great Reason for it I say considering the Danger first of then In being deceived 1. Reason 1 The danger of being deceived by false Teachers which are The danger of being deceived which credulous and simple souls are very subject to by such Teachers False Teachers which 1. Many for their Number Are many This is the Reason which Saint John giveth why he would have those to whom he writeth to make this Tryal 1 Joh. 4.1 a Text forecited Try the spirits c. why Because many false Prophets are gone out into the world Where there are many deceivers many cheaters many Trepanners as now they call some of that crue walking abroad men had need to try before they trust And such is the condition of the world in respect of false Teachers spiritual Trepanners However some ages are fuller of them then other yet in all ages there are many 2. Subtile for their nature And secondly as they are many for their number so they are very crafty and subtile for their nature It was Satans practise at the first when he went about to deceive the woman he made use of the Serpent speaking in and by that creature which as the Text saith was more subtile then any beast of the field Gen. 3.1 Such was and is that Creature being naturally smooth and gliding winding and insinuating and craftie c. And hereupon Satan who himself is called the old Serpent Revel 12.9 he maketh choice of that creature to convey his first Temptation and poisonous suggestion by And in a like way doth he deceive her posteritie still making use of Serpents subtile heads sharp wits smooth tongues insinuating spirits for the conveying of the poison of heretical and damnable doctrines by them So as simple souls being over-credulous as that their mother was they are apt to be deceived by them by their subtiltie of which the Apostle making use also of this allusion speaketh 2 Cor. 11.3 As also by their Innocencie Deceiving by their Lives which sometimes are seemingly pious Such was the Serpent at the first as all the other creatures were innocent and harmless And such false teachers oftimes seem to be very innocent in their lives exemplarie for their strictness Such were the Scribes and Pharisees in our Saviours time whited Sepulchres as he cals them Mat. 23.27 And such were those false prophets whom he describeth Mat. 7.15 they were such as came in sheepes cloathing seemingly most innocent creatures And such were those false Apostles whom Saint Paul giveth warning to his Colossians of very strict no question themselves in those observances which they taught and pressed upon others of which the Apostle saith that they had in them a shew of humilitie and neglecting of the bodie not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh Col. 2.23 They were very temperate very abstemious And such were divers of the same stamp in after ages Among whom one Sect was known and distinguished by the name of Encratitae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vide Danaeum in August de Haeresibus cap. 15. so called from their extraordinarie continence and abstinence which was such as that they absteined not onely from unlawful lusts but also from Marriage and from eating any kinde of flesh as also wine not so much as allowing it in the Lords Supper in regard of the great abuse of the creature but using water instead of it yet holding forth foul and heretical Doctrines And such false Teachers often are as many Monkes and Fryars at this day eminent for strictness in their lives and conversations And as their Lives 4 By their doctrins some of which are sound and useful and their errours plausible so their Doctrines many of them it may be are true and Orthodox yea pious and very useful which they Preach and press making use of them as Coy-Ducks to bring in their Errors after them And for their Errors happily they are very plausible and taking specious at the first hearing having as the Apostle there saith Col. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a shew of wisdom yea of Pietie and Holiness Thus did these false Apostles spoken of by Saint Paul transform themselves into the Apostles of Christ the ministers of Satan transform themselves into the Ministers of righteousness 2 Col. 11.13 15. And thus do false Teachers sometimes transform themselves into true acting their parts putting on the habits and speaking with the tongues of the true servants the faithful Ministers of Christ Being as I said Innocent if not Exemplarie in their lives holding forth plausible Errors and those mixed with many sweet and precious truths which are like wine or some other pleasant liquor wherewith poison being mixed it is taken and swallowed down
Lyars saith Jeremy chapter 50.36 And such this Angel here found these false Apostles Lyars such as not onely spake that which was false in it self but spake it knowingly with a minde to deceive Such properly are Lyars Lyars properly who Not every one that speaketh an untruth which true and honest men may doe unawares unwittingly against their wills who thereupon do not deserve this brand to bee called Lyars But when any shall do it knowingly and willingly animo fallendi with a purpose to deceive So did these false Apostles here in the Text They said they were Apostles which they were not and which they knew they were not and they did it purposely to deceive the people thereby to insinuate themselves into their affections to gain respect to their persons and entertainment to their false doctrines which they held forth Lying a foul crime Obs A foul crime Such is Lying So the spirit of God looked upon it whilst it reckoneth those who are habitually and customarily such among that cursed crew those abominable ones Murtherers Whoremongers Sorcerers Idolaters and all Lyars so you have them put together Rev. 21.8 and 22.15 and the same doom passed upon them as upon the other viz. that they shall have their part in the Lake that burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death Which not to dwell upon it let it make all who hear it wary Aplication Take heed of it lest upon the tryal they should be found in this number Lyars in any kinde Diverse kindes of Lyars and Lying we meet with 〈◊〉 Scripture Three kinds of Lyes and Lying Three most observable 1. There is a Civil Lye such as is used too often in bargaining A civil Lye in Contracts and other affairs of this life which some distinguish into a Jocose and a serious Lye a merry and a very Lye a Lye in Jest and a Lye in earnest The latter of which they sub-divide into a Noxious and Officious Lye which last they give allowance to An officious Lye which is made in favour of others for their help or benefit But even this Lye however it hath a mask put upon the face of it carrying a shew of honesty and Charity An officious Lye not to be allowed because it is beneficiall to our neighbour without any wrong or detriment it may be to any yet indeed and in truth it is no more allowable then the former Being against the Commandment of God which forbiddeth a lie to be told in what cafe soever Surely if a man may not tell a lye or talk deceitfully for God which Job sharply reproves in his friends Job 13.7 much less then may he tell a Lye for his neighbour Truth is a precious this 〈◊〉 weighing down what ever can 〈◊〉 in the ballance against it Whereupon the Wise man forbiddeth to part with it upon any termes Buy the truth but sell it not Prov. 23.23 O take heed Christians that none of you who professe your selves to be of the truth as Saint John speaketh of sincere Christians 1 John 3.19 the true children of that God who is the God of truth the true disciples of Christ who stiles himself the Truth John 14.6 be found lyars in this kinde Knowing that you must be tryed though happily not by man here whom you may deceive yet by God hereafter who cannot be deceived Whose judgement being according to truth as the Apostle speaketh Rom. 2.2 he will certainly then find out those that are Lyars 2. There is an Hypocritical lye An hypocritical lye A counrerfeit profession of Religion when men have onely that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that outward form of godliness as the Apostle calleth it 2 Tim. 3.5 When faith and repentance and other Graces are dissembled Of this lying speaketh Saint John 1 Epist 1.6 If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darknesse professe union and communion with God and Jesus Christ and yet go on in sinfull wayes and courses we lye Such lyars were Judas and Demas Ananias and Saphira Such were the Scribes and Pharisees whom our Saviour fitly compares to painted Tombs upon this account denouncing a woe against them Mat. 23.27 28. Woe unto you Scribes and Pharisees Hypocrites for ye are like unto whited sepulchres which indeed are beautiful outwardly but within are full of dead mens bones and all uncleannesse Even so ye outwardly appear righteous unto men but within ye are full of hypocrisie and iniquity And such are all Hypocrites who professe and appear to be what they are not having fair faces but foul hearts lyars all Now take heed again that none of you be found in this number knowing and remembring that there will come a day of Tryal Such shall that last day be when all must appear before the judgement seat of Christ to receive according to that which they have done in the body whether it bee good or evil as the Apostle tells us in the second Epistle to the Corinthians the fifth chapter verse 10. Now that day will bee a day of Revelation the Revelation of the righteous judgement of God as the same Apostle calls it in his Epistle to the Romanes chapter 2. verse 5. Then shall all maskes and disguizes bee pulled off and all shall appear to bee what in truth they were All standing naked before the Tribunal of Jesus Christ O take heed that none of you then bee found Lyars Which if you shall bee O what shame and confusion will then cover your faces Then must you look for no other but the Lyars portion to bee shut out with Dogs as the Text hath it in the Revelations chapter 22. verse 15. to have your part in that Lake that burneth with fire and brimstone Thirdly There is an Heretical Lye An heretical Lye a falshood in matter of Christian Doctrine when some Doctrine is held forth contrary to the Word Of this lye speaketh Saint John in his first Epistle chapter 2. verse 21. No lye is of the Truth calling the Teachers or maintainers thereof Lyars Who is a lyar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ so it followeth in verse 22. Now take heed also that none of you be found amongst these lyars These Lyars to bee avoided To which end avoid those that are so and found to bee so This will men do by those who are found to be Cheaters setting forth false wares to sale or minting of false and counterfeit Coyn not of the right stamp or mettal all will take heed of them no man will trust them And so deal you by False Teachers Many of which of late times have been Tryed by the Angels of the Churches the true and faithfull Ministers of Christ in this Nation whom as I said Christ hath made Tryers by Office and they have been found by them lyars so declared and proved by their Preaching and Writing no better then Cheaters holding forth false dangerous and pernitious Doctrines
without suspicion upon this Account then Teachers are to be tryed There being so many false Teachers and many of them so subtile great is the danger of being deceived 2. Reas 2 And secondly as great danger in being deceived The danger in being deceived by them As it is in drinking of poison there is great danger to the Body so there is in receiving and drinking in heretical doctrines which are no other but poison to the soul what the Psalmist Heresie the Poyson of Aspes and from him the Apostle saith of wicked men in general Psal 140.3 Rom. 3.13 It may well be applied to Heretical Teachers in particular The poison of aspes is under their lips The poison of the Aspe or viper is secretly instilled without any great sense or pain yet desperately mortal to the person that is bitten or stung by it who being thereby cast into a dead sleep he never waketh more And truely such is the nature of false and heretical doctrine it is secretly and insensibly instilled into the soul but oftentimes proves mortal to it casting the soul into a dead sleep from which it never wakes till it come in hell So desperate oftimes is the conditions of poor deluded souls Like as the Apostle saith of the Seducers 2 Tim. 3.13 so it proves often true in the seduced They wax worse and worse going on from one error to another from a lesser to a greater from Schisme to Heresie A truth sadly experimented in many instances in this Nation of late times How many seemingly and hopefully well meaning souls have there been who by hearkening to such Teachers false Teachers have been so impoisoned with their Doctrines as that now they are swollen thereby so swollen with spiritual pride the worst of prides as that they refuse and scorn the advice of whatsoever soul-Physians the true Ministers of Christ so as unless God undertake them in a more then ordinary way there is little hope of their recovery Such and so great is the danger in being deceived by such Teachers So our first parent The serpents deceiving our first parent how dangerous to her and her posterity our great Grandmother Eve found it by sad experience Being deceived by Satan speaking in the Serpent she was in the transgression as the Apostle hath it 1 Tim. 2.14 Thereby she became guiltie of that first transgression which had not infinite mercy stept in had brought everlasting ruine upon her and all her Posteritie And how fatal hath this proved to many others their hearkning to Satan speaking in and by unsuspected instruments we know what happened to King Ahab whilest he hearkned to his false prophets following the Counsel which they gave him bidding him to go up to Ramoth Gilead and prosper an arrow strikes him between the joynts of his harness giving him a mortal wound as you have the storie 1 King 22.32 And what happened to his Body how often hath it happened unto the souls of many who by hearkening unto false teachers have met with some Errors some Heresie some dangerous and damnable Doctrine which hath been as an Arrow piercing their hearts giving them a deadly wound and upon this account again great Reason that Teachers should be tryed before they be trusted To these some other might be added Reas 3 Christians beleeving without trying make themselves the servants of men To receive and believe teachers upon their word to receive their Persons and believe their Doctrine without examination and tryal is to make men the servants of men which Christians ought not to be ye are bought with a price saith the Apostle be not ye the servants of men 1 Cor. 7.23 Christians being bought with a price redeemed with the precious blood of Jesus Christ as Saint Peter explaines it 1 Pet. 1.18 19. and so made his servants his freemen they are not to mancipate and inslave themselves to any other what ever specially to inslave their souls and consciences so as to suffer any man whatever to have the command over them This is that which Saint Paul so smartly reproves his Corinthians for 2 Cor. 11.20 Ye suffer if a man bring you into bondage This did the false Apostles their new teachers tyrannizing over their consciences by imposing upon them their Ceremonial observances And this they suffered submitted to though contrary to their Gospel libertie Such was their esteem of those new Teachers that they readily received their Doctrines and conformed to their injunctions though diverse from and contrarie to that which they had received But this Christians ought not to do Being Christs freemen they are not to inslave themselves to any so as to yield an absolute credence to their Doctrines and dictates This is an honour which is peculiar onely unto Jesus Christ who being an absolute Lord over his people justly challengeth their absolute dependance upon him and obedience to him so as to receive his word without Tryal Not so any other who be what they will yet are subject to miscarry Let God be true and every man a Lyar saith the Apostle Rom. 3.4 A Lyar and that both passively and actively subject to be deceived himself and so to deceive others Such are the best of men being left to themselves farther then as they are assisted and directed by the spirit of truth Onely Jefus Christ he is the truth as he saith of himself John 14.6 And being so he is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be believed on his word Not so any other whether Man or Angel Not that we have dominion over your Faith saith the Apostle 2 Cor. 1.24 They are not to be received but upon tryal They who said they were apostles were yet tryed by this angel of the Church who is here commended by his Lord and master for so doing I know thy works c. Thou hast tryed them which say they are apostles c. Thus have you the doctrinal confirmation Illustration That which remains is Application 1. Applic. Too great credulty taxed Where in the first place by way of reprehension I might take a just occasion to tax and censure the too great credulitie that is to be found among many Christians in this Nation at this day who if any come unto them pretending to gifts and calling they presently receive him hearken to him believe him giving intertainment to his person and doctrine not trying not examining the one or the other By which means they become guiltie of that which the Apostle cautions his Ephesians against Eph. 4.14 Children-like they are tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine yea some of them carried like as those swine were into which the devils entred of which the storie tels us that they ran violently down a steep place into the sea Mat. 8.32 into most pernicious dangerous and damnable errors And how should it be otherwise They who will trust without trial must make account at one time or other to be deceived
due consideration of his fitness for that work that one Ceremonie Imposition of hands being by a Synecdoche put for the whole action of Ordination And so it hath been continued generally through the Churches of Christ unto this day Now then would we try a false teacher make trial of the calling which he pretends unto whether Extraordinarie or ordinarie Extraordinary Calling attended with Extraordinary Gifts 1. Extraordinarie Such a calling many since the Apostles times have layed claim to pretending an immediate call from God the like to that which the Apostles had of which kind there are not a few creeping abroad in the world at this day Now how shall they be tried why by their Gifts An Extraordinarie calling is attended with extraordinarie gifts So was the Apostles calling it was attended with the gift of tongues Illiterate men speaking the most learned Languages And with the gift of working miracles Thus Paul asserts vindicates the truth of his Apostleship 2 Cor. 12.12 Truely saith he speaking to his Corinthians among whom happily there were some that questioned his calling the signes of an Apostle were wrought among you in all patience in signes and wonders and mighty deeds miraculous works by which he might be certainly known to be no less an Apostle then any of the twelve So then shall any pretend to such a call an immediate and extraordinary calling make enquirie for their Gifts their Works This was the Jews enquirie concerning Christ when they saw him take upon him that authoritie which he did to alter customs of long continuance to reform and rectifie what the Sanhedrim the great Counsel and the rest of the Priests tolerated What signe shewest thou unto us say they seeing thou doest these things John 2.18 Hence they conclude surely he held himself to be a Prophet and thereupon they require him to give some signe of it to evidence that his extraordinary calling by some extraordinary works Thus were the Prophets of God ordinarily wont to evidence the truth of their calling The case of John Baptist ex traordinary Ordinarily I say though not alwayes For we read of John the Baptist to whom our Saviour giveth Testimonie that he was a Prophet yea more then a prophet Mat. 11.9 that is an excellent and extraordinary Prophet being the Herald of Christ as the next verse setteth him forth yet he wrought no miracles So saith that Text John 10.41 John did no miracle But thus ordinarily it was That John being a Prophet should not work miracles the Jewes looked upon it as an unwonted thing This the other prophets before him usually had done Yea and John himself however hee wrought no such miraculous works as casting out of devils raising the dead restoring sight to the blinde Yet he did that which was equivalent he foretold many things all which accordingly came to passe So the Jewes there take notice of it in the words following All things that John spake of this man of Christ were true the event verified all his predictions Now let those who pretend to the like vocation to an extraordinary calling to be the Messengers of God of Christ sent by him in an immediate way let them shew some such evidences extraordinary gifts Otherwise without any breach of charitie they may bee suspected nay concluded to be what these pretended Apostles here were found to be no other but Lyars This for the extraordinary calling 2. 2. Ordinary calling tryal For the Ordinary such as pretend to it let them be examined and tried by their qualification and separation 1 By due qualification 1. For their qualification whether they be indued with Ministerial abilities and gifts Thus it is those whom God calleth to an Office he furnisheth them with sutable abilities for the discharge of it Thus calling Saul to be King it is said He gave him another heart 1 Sam. 10.9 endowing him with heroical gifts and parts fit for the Government of his Kingdom And thus sending Moses to Pharaoh he promiseth to be with his mouth and to teach him what he should say to make him fluent and eloquent who naturally was slow and stammering as he there saith of himself Exod. 4.10 11. And Isay being called to be a Prophet hath his lips touched with a living coal from the Altar a figure of the gift of the Holy Ghost fitting him for that service Isay 6.7 And thus the Apostles though before as I said illiterate fishermen yet being called to that Office they were endued with gifts sutable thereunto And so is it with all ordinary Ministers and Teachers If called of God they are also gifted by him Though not all alike There being diversities of gifts as the Apostle tels us 1 Cor. 12.4 Diversities both for kinde and measure and that of Ministerial Gifts To one is given by the spirit the word of wisdom to another the word of knowledge by the same spirit as the eighth verse there hath it so as one excelleth in Doctrine another in Application the former more properly the Doctors the latter the Pastors work as Diodate there expounds it Yet so as every one hath a ministerial gift fitting him for the work to which he is called The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withall saith the verse there foregoing verse 7. To every one that is called to any publick service in the Church there is some gift given whereby the Holy-Ghost sheweth it self in him rendring him in some kind useful and serviceble for the good and benefit of the comunity where there is no such gift to be found let not such a one be looked upon as a Minister of Christ sent by him Here is the first thing to be enquired for in a Teacher a Ministerial Qualification 2. 2 A warrantable separation The 2d is a warrantable separation a seting a part to the work Thus was Paul separated 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as he saith of himself Rom. 1.1 Paul a servant of Jesus Christ called to be an Apostle separated unto the gospel of God So he was Intentionally in Gods destination and appointment from his mothers womb as he tells his Galatians chap. 1.15 yea from Eternity in Godseverlasting Predestination designing him for the service but actually set a part thereunto by the command of the Holy-Ghost at what time he was sent to preach the gospel unto the Gentiles of which we read Act. 13.2 As they ministered unto the Lord and fasted the Holy Ghost said separate mee Barnabas and Saul unto the work whereunto I have called them Which in what way it was done the next verse declareth And when they had fasted and prayed Ordinarily done by Imposition of hands and layd their hands on them they sent them away Such was the manner of Primitive Ordination which the Church of God in after ages hath observed by fasting and prayer and Imposition of hands to set a part the Ministers of Christ unto the service of
the Church the work of the Gospel which office being thus conferred upon on them they were thenceforth to attend to it Setting them apart to the work of the Ministery to make it their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their work Having a ministery they were to wait on their ministring Rom. 12.7 thus it hath been and thus it should bee Not but that extraordinary cases admit of extraordinary courses In some cases how dispensed with Where there want fitting I mean Ministerial hands to be imposed that Ceremony may be omitted And necesitie requiring it some other service may be joyned with this Thus Paul saith that he upon such an account sometime laboured with his own hands exercised a Handicraft as he tells his Corinthians 1 Cor. 4.12 But in an ordinary course thus it should not bee The Ministers of Christ are to be set a part to the work of their Ministerie in a solemn manner And being thus set apart they are as I said to make it their worke which who so are not or doe not they give too just occasion for others to scruple and question the truth of their calling Services pro. to Ministers not to be undertaken by others Specially when any being not so called shall take upon them in an ordinary to way to intermeddle with such services as are properly and peculiarly Ministeral to dispence such Ordinances as are committed onely to them as viz. not onely to preach the Word but to administer the Sacraments which it seemeth some too many in these desolate times that I say not in this place adventure upon this too plainly sheweth and declareth them to be what they are such as say they are Apostles but are not pretenders to a calling which they have not And thus I have done with the first of these three heads wherein the Probation and Tryal of false teachers consisteth the first thing wherein and whereby they may and are to be tried their calling pass we to the second Tryal 2 The second thing is their Doctrine Their Doctrine This is the way which Saint John propoundeth for the trial of those false Teachers of his time 1 John 4.1 2. Trye the spirits saith he whether they be of God for many false prophets are gone out into the world But how should they try them why by their Doctrine So it followeth Hereby know ye the spirit of God every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God If their Doctrine be false they cannot be true False as to fundamentals the principles of Christian Religion denying perverting them This is that which St. Peter saith of those false teachers which he fortelleth should come into the Church 2 Pet. 2.1 There shall be false teachers among you who privilie shall bring in damnable Heresies 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heresies of destruction wicked opinions and Doctrines destructive to the souls of men Such Teachers who broach or hold forth such opinions are most properly called false-teachers who are to be tried by their Doctrine Quest. Q. How tried But the Question here runs on How shall their doctrine be tryed Answ A. By the scriptures the Churches touch-stone To this the Answer is obvious it is so among Protestants Only by the word the written word the Scriptures This is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lydius Papis the Churches touch-stone whereby she is to try Doctrines and consequently teachers for this expresse is that known Text of the Prophet Isai Chap. 8. vers 20. to the law and to the testimony that is to Gods word the Scriptures which is his testimony testifying of him declaring his mind and will Hereunto must they repair who would not be deceived by false teachers bringing their Doctrines to this tonch-stone trying them by this If they speak not according to this word so it followeth it is because there is no light in them If they if any be they who they will never such pretenders to Illumination yet shall they speak otherwise then according to the word holding forth any doctrine that is not consonant and agreeable thereunto they are no other but Impostors this is an evident signe that their pretended light is no other but darkness This is that which Christians are to give heed to above what enter pretended Inspirations or Revelation When Dives in the parable begged it of father Abraham that he would send Lazarus to his fathers house that he might testifie unto his breethren what the state of the damned was what the torments of Hell were which were prepared for such as they were what saith he to him you have it Luk. 16.29 Abraham saith unto him they have Moses and the Prophets let them hear them intimating that the testimony of the word is to be preferred before all other testimonies They may be false but this is undoubtedly true Thy word is truth Joh. 17.17 And therefore to this let Christians repair bringing the Doctrines of their teachers to this test This was the Touchstone which those Noble Bereans made use of in trying of Pauls doctrine How ever looking upon him as a man sent of God they received the word from his mouth with readiness of minde yet they searched the Scriptures dayly whether those things were so Act. 17.11 whether consonant and agreeable to the written word Like course are Christians to take specially when they meet with new doctrines new to them they are now to lay them to this rule Thus doe tradesmen in trying of weights and measures they bring them to the standard If they finde them either more or lesse then that they look upon them as not warrantable And so is it with doctrines if not exactly consonant and agreeable to the written word which God hath left as a standard for his Church to try them by if either more or lesse if any addition to the word or substraction from it if contrary to it or diverse from it they are to bee looked upon as false and he that teacheth them as a false teacher Objection Object But it may be said Scriptures obscure to pri vate and unlearned Christians How shall private Christians thus try them It may be they are unlearned weak and simple and not so able to judge the scriptures about the sense whereof it is not alwayes agreed among learned men the greatest Clerks sometimes differing in the exposition of them And how then shall they bee able to judge of them so as to try doctrines by them Answ 1 Answ 1. To this it is answered 1. Fundamentals clearly held forth That as for fundamental truths necessary to be known and believed they are plainly held forth written as with a sun-beam So plainly set forth as that a weak eye may see them Obj. Object 1 How is it that all doe not see them But if so how then is it
that some who are quick sighted doe not How is it that some who are learned conceived diversly of them They cannot see what others suppose they doe As Papists and Socinians they cannot see those doctrines which others conceive to bee clearly held-forth in the word Ans Ans Not through any obscurity in the word But To this it may be answered this is not through any obscurity or darkness in the word But 1 It may be there is a beam in the eye There may be a beam in the eye which will not let it see what otherwise in it self is clear Such a beam there is in the Papists eye who being prejudiced against such such truths of God as their great Apostle the Pope will not give his allowance to to whom they have inslaved their judgements they cannot or rather will not see them though never so clearly held forth in the Word And so may it bee with some others who having the beam of some sinful lust or other in their eye which they are willing to part with they cannot see that which others doe because they are loath not willing to see it 2 Or secondly in looking upon the scriptures they make use of false lights False lights made use of not judging of it by its own light which they ought to do but by their own light Either by the light of fancy which is the Quakers light which he calls the Light within him Or by the light of Reason which is the Socinians light which whilest he is wholly guided by no wonder he cannot see what is above reason mysterious doctrines to be apprehended by faith not comprehended by reason Now they who shall make use of no other light but this dim one no wonder if they cannot see what otherwise is clearly and plainly held-forth in the word 3 To which I might adde God in his just judgement blinding the eye God in his just judgement sometimes hideth that from the eyes of some which through an ordinary work of that spirit he revealeth unto others To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdome but to them it is not given Mat. 13.11 He hath blinded their eyes and hardened their heart that they should not see with their eyes nor understand with their heart John 12.40 This for fundamentals Answer 2 For other truths of God which are not so clear Private Christians to crave the help of others specially their Ministers here private Christians are to crave the help of others such as have more discerning spirits then themselves In special of the Ministers of Christ who are as I said Tryers by office specially their own Ministers To them in dubious cases they are to repair receiving the law from the mouthes Not that I would have them see with their eyes The people not to see with with their Ministers eyes So Romanists Some of them would have it who cry up their implicit faith willing and requiring private Christians to beleeve what the Pope and his Ministers beleeve allowing them no other judgment concerning the doctrines of their teachers Ad hoc quidem respondent ex mente D. Joha nis Omnes fideles probare spiritus num ex Deo sint dìun illis credunt qui spirituum havent discretionem Estius Com in loc So Estius tels us that some of them expound that forecited text of Saint John 1 Ep. 4.1 where he giveth that general direction to all to Try the spirits This say they are private persons to doe not by themselves but by others by those who have the spirit of discerning whom in this case they are to beleeve For as it is in the natural body the eye onely seeth though not onely for it self but for the whole Body So is it in the Church say they Here those that have the spirit of discerning the Pope and his Ministers they are to judge of Doctrines which they doe not onely for themselves but for others who by submitting to their judgements may be said to try the spirits viz. in and by them This Doctrine as Estius dares not avouch it wee renounce Not onely allowing but requiring what the Scripture doth that every one should see for himself with his own eyes The just shall live by his faith Hab. 2.4 not by the faith of his Minister or yet of the Church But though they may not see with their eyes Yet may make use of their light yet they may make use of their light As the wise men did of the Star to bring them to the place where Christ was Such use both may and ought private Christians to make of their Ministers who are as stars in the right hand of Christ Rev. 1. make use of their light their guidance their direction That so by the help thereof they may come to see that in the word which otherwise may be dark and obscure to them Thus then let Christians set upon the Tryal of Doctrines and so of their Teachers by them Directions in this Tryal 1 Seek humble and meek spirits Onely here that they may not miscarry let them first seek humble and meek spirits not thinking of themselves above that which they ought to think but thinking soberly as the Apostle requires them Rom. 12.3 Nor yet being of captious and quarrelling spirits seeking advantages against their Ministers So did the Prophet Jeremies familiars to him they watched for his haltings Ier. 20.10 And so dealt the Scribes and Tharisees by our Saviour as St. Luke tells us Luke 11. last They laid wait for him seeking to catch something out of his mouth that they might accuse him This is a thing which doth not become Christians who ought to be like unto their pattern Christ himself who bids them Learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart Mat. 11.29 And being such they may now expect that God will reveal himself and his truth to them I will dwell with him that is of an humble spirit saith the Lord Isa 57.15 being ready as to support and comfort so to teach and instruct them The meek will he guide in judgement and the meek will he teach his way Psal 25.9 2. Dir. 2 And being humble and meek Beware of mistakes let them also be tender and warie warie lest they mistake the Doctrines which they hear mistake either words or sense Both these wayes we finde our Saviour mistaken In his words by Peter and other his disciples John 21.22 where when Peter had propounded that curious enquirie concerning John And what shall this man do what should become of him our Saviour answereth him If I will that he tarry till I come what is that to thee Here they mistake him conceiving him to have spoken positively that John should not die which went for currant among the Brethren Yet as the Text hath it Jesus said not not unto him He shall not die but if I will that he tarry till I come what