The Good Mans Grace, Conclusion
AN ADMONITORY Concluſion.
2. Tim. 2. 19.
LEt eueryevery one that nameth the Name of Chriſt, depart from iniquity. God will not heare ſuch as come in their ſinnes, Eſay. 1. Such as deſpiſe the Word of reproofe, and will not be reformed, Pro. 1. 24, 25, 28. Therefore if we looke that God ſhould heare our prayers, let vsus vnfainedly repent of ſinne, and depart from iniquity.
Firſt, from Atheiſme, which is the denying of a God, either ſecretly or openly.
We depart from this iniquity, when we renounce Atheiſme, and doe know, and acknowledge that there is a God. They that come to God, muſt beleeue that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently ſeeke him, Heb. 11. 6.
The ſecond is Gentiliſme, which is the acknowledging of many falſe gods, and the taking of them for God, which are no gods.
We depart from this iniquity, when we proteſt againſt Gentiliſme, and do know & acknowledge but onelyonly one God, and the ſame alſo the true and euerliuing God.
The third is Turciſme, which is the profeſſion of one God, euen that God which made Heauen and Earth, but not as he hath manifeſted himſelfe in his Word, nor acknowledging God in Chriſt.
We depart from this iniquity, when we deteſt this Turciſme, and when wee know and acknowledge God in Chriſt reconcyling the world, the Trinity in vnity, and the vnity in Trinity, as he hath made himſelfe manifeſt vntounto vsus in his holy Word.
The fourth is Iudaiſme, which is the ſeruing of the true God, after the ceremoniall law of Moſes, reiecting Chriſt the true Meſsiah already come, and vainely expecting another to come.
We depart from this iniquity, when we diſclaim ſaluation by the law, and doe know and acknowledge Ieſus Chriſt to be the true Meſsiah, by whom we looke to be ſaued, ſeruing God in ſpirit and truth, according to the doctrine of the Goſpell.
The fift is Will-worſhip, which is (vnderunder what ſhew and pretence ſoeuer) a volūtary worſhipping of God, in and by ſuch meanes, as man inuenteth, either againſt or without the warrant of Gods own reuealed will, in his written Word.
We depart from this iniquity, when wee forſake our owne wiſedome and wills in his worſhip, and doe know, and acknowledge how, wherein, and after what manner God hath commanded himſelfe to be worſhipped, & then do ſtrictly obſerue the ſame.
The ſixth is Hereſie, which is an obſtinate maintaining of any error, to the ouerthrowing of any fundamentall point of our Chriſtian profeſſion.
We depart from this iniquity, when wee willingly diſclaime our errors, when they be made knowne to vsus; and when we know and readily acknowledge the verity and truths of God, according to our meaſure of knowledge giuen vntounto vsus.
The ſeuenth is Schiſme, which is an vncharitable diſvnion, and an vnlawfull ſeparation from the true Church of Chriſt, or any true member of the ſame, forſaking the fellowſhip of the Saints wilfully in a factiouſneſſe of ſpirit making vnlawfull aſſemblies within and among themſelues.
We depart from this iniquity, when wee condemne ſuch an vnchriſtian diuiſion, and doe know and acknowledge the true congregations of Gods people, abyding with them, keeping among you the vnity of the ſpirit, in the bond of peace.
The eighth is Prophaneneſſe, which is to liue vnworthy the holy profeſſion of a Chriſtian, after the liberty of the fleſh; not reſpecting religion for the pleaſures, the profits, and honours of this preſent euill world; but in compariſon of theſe, valewing nothing of religion, being the children of Belial, children of diſobedience, and wrath. By whom Chriſtianity is ſtained, and God himſelfe greatly diſhonoured.
We depart from this iniquity, when we deny ourſelues, flie from the company of ſuch, hauing no fellowſhip with the vnfruitfull workes of darkeneſſe, but reprouing them rather, and endeuoring to liue godly, righteouſly and ſoberly in this preſent world, being zealous of good workes.
The ninth is Hypocriſie, which is the ſhadow onelyonly of piety, and ſhew of wel-doing before men, without any power or conſcience of religion before God in the heart, ſeruing the times, and making profeſſion of religion for aduantage.
We depart from this iniquity, when we hate this ſinne, and doe take dayly an examination of our hearts by a well informed iudgement, ſetting our ſelues before God, and making conſcience the Iudge of all our doings, ſo as wee dare appeale to the Alſeeing God of Heauen, concerning our vprightneſſe in that which outwardly we make ſhew of.
The tenth is Papiſme, which is mans ſuperſtitious inuention, a counterfet Chriſtianity, vnchriſtianly Iudaizing, and wickedly imitating the heatheniſh idolaters, teaching old hereſies, and the profeſſors thereof practiſing, by Machiauillian policies, all deceit, trechery, treaſon, and mercileſſe cruelties to vphold the ſame.
We depart from this iniquity of the bottonleſſe pit, when wee diſclaim that Antichriſt of Rome as the Head, & yt Romiſh Church, as now it ſtands, as the whore of Babylon, and being come out from her, ſhall zealouſly vphold and maintaine this truth, and faith which wee now ſtand in, vntounto the end, which God grant. Amen.
Thus we ſee theſe ten heads of iniquity (to which may be referred all other ſinnes) which wee muſt depart from, and all the particular branches thereof, if we euer draw neere vntounto God, with hope to be heard of him; for he is a God that hateth wickedneſſe: and if in our hearts wee delight in it, the Lord (as the Pſalmiſt ſpeaketh) will not regard vsus. And therefore vvhen vve come before our God let it be in vnfained repentance, faith and aſſurance of Gods merciemercy, to be accepted in Chriſt Ieſus, in vvhom our God is euer vvell pleaſed: to vvhom be Glory and Prayſe for euermore.
Amen.
FINIS.
End of the text · Richard Bernard, The Good Mans Grace (1621)