Exposition of 2 Thessalonians, Exposition · Chapter 2 · Verse 9, 10
VERS. 9, 10.
Euen him whoſe comming is after the working of Satan, with all power, and ſignes, and lying wonders,
And with all deceaueableneſſe of vnrighteouſneſſe in them that periſh, becauſe they receiued not the louelove of the Truth, that they might be ſaued.
WHat connexion this ſection hath with the former text, and what ſcope, is ſomewhat doubtfull? perhaps the Apoſtle anticipates what Gods childrens infirmitie, or Antichriſtians ſecuritie might obiect againſt what is foretold of his deſtruction. Ob. Antichriſt ſo fortified and ſupported to be deſtroyed? Sub. Yes, euen Antichriſt, notwithſtanding all the ſupplies he hath from hell and the ſtrong man armed there: when a ſtronger then hee commeth: AndyApoc. 18.8. ſtrong is the Lord that iudgeth him. 2 Elſe, which I rather thinke, the Apoſtle deſires to diſcouer him to Gods people in his very riſing, by the manner and meanes of his aduancement: that ſo hee might preuent their ſeducement, and make them more cautionate. Howeuer,
The ſumme of the text is this: A diſcouery of the aduancement of Antichriſt into his throne; ſet out by 1 the manner, foreign: 2 Meanes; power, ſignes, wonders. 3 Perſons, or ſubiects in which he preuailes, them that periſh.
Whoſe comming; that is, aduancement and firſt raiſing into his kingdome; foreign whither that foreign denote proportion onelyonly; or generally the meanes, which is after ſpecified, I leaue to the Reader farther to be examined: if proportion, this ſeemes the ſenſe; after the working of Sathan; that is, according to the rate and courſe which Satan holds, when he aduanceth; if the means, the generall onelyonly is firſt ſet downe, particulars are after ſpecified.
But hence we hauehave it fluent, that Poperie hath euer had a great friend of the Diuell; he is the firſt raiſer, maine ſupporter of that ſtate: thereto bends foreign, the beſt of ficacie, moſt actuous liuelyhood of his operation. To thezApoc. 9.11. Starre of that Church Satan deliuers the key of the bottomeleſſe pit; makes him the great Steward of his houſe. Ioſeph in Egypt neuer had more command, then in Hell this Antichriſt: fumes preſently are exhaled ſo thicke that they darken the Sunne it ſelfe; and in thoſe fumes, locuſts ſans number and monſtrous to vexe and torment the earth withall, that if the God of this world could nota2 Cor. 4.4. blinde the eyes of their minde; yet he might vex their Conſcience, and ſo traduce them to the ſide of Antichriſt Worthily did Rome forfeit her priuiledge to Latheran Churches, becauſe they vnderſtood it not to the full.bMat. 16.18. The Gates of Hell ſhall not preuaile against the Church: that once belonged to Rome while ſhe was faithfull: now is tranſlated to other Churches who better know to prize the prerogatiue. Shall not preuaile: ah fooles and blinde: vnworthy of ſuch fauour: yours, if any, is greater; ſhall not ſhake, nor moue againſt you: quietly you may paſſe to Hell, as Iſrael into Canaan, no Dogge, not Cerberus himſelfe wagging tongue againſt you. More then that; the Gates of Hell, that is, all the power and policie of the Diuell are ſworne yours, to aduance and ſupport you: happy Rome; miſerable Proteſtants, but that the Lord on high is mightier.
If that foreign denote proportion, ſemblable you ſhall finde the Popes aduancement to the courſe of Satan: by 1 Ignorance, the Prince of Darkneſſe: ſee alſo 2 Cor. 4. Num ſic Chriſtus. 2 Pompa ſaeculi. Apoc. 13.4.16. Non ſic Chriſtus. 1 Cor. 1.26, 27. 3 Bloudie c…ueltie. Apoc. 13.15. & 17.6. So notcPhil. 1 13, 14. Tertul. in Apol. Chriſt. Semen est ſanguis Chriſtianorum. 4 Humoring voluptuouſneſſe of ſenſuall nature. 2 Pet. 2.18, 19. Chriſt not ſo; But by the holy conuerſation of his children prepares aliens to conuerſion. 1 Pet. 2.12. & 3.1.
Vſe 1 How earneſt and faine is the Lord to worke and encreaſe in vsus deteſtation of Poperie:Apoc. 17. before he hath deſcribed the Sternſman, a man of ſinne, a childe of perdition: his faith and Religion a myſterie of Iniquitie: if this be too little, he here mindes vsus of the firſt founder and maine ſupporter of that ſtate, the diuell and Satanas: its good which the diuell hates: euill, that he fauours: Extremely, Helliſhly euill, which he ſo much fauours, as with all his might and maine to aduance and ſupport. The good Lord giuegive you eyes to ſee, hearts to conſider, that if any of you be entangled in the leaſt fauourable inclination to Poperie, yee may be reſcued out of the ſnare of the Diuell: if any yet not ſnared, hee may bee watchfull againſt the entanglement.
cEph. 6.11, 12.Put vponupon you the whole Armour of God: for in wraſtling with Poperie, you wraſtle not with fleſh and bloud, but with principalities and powers, &c.
With all power, and ſignes, and lying wonders. The meanes of his aduancement: foreign, Caiatane expounds ſecular pompe: All power, that is, power of all ſorts, riches, honour, dominion, &c. that herein he may appeare foreign: an oppoſite to Chriſt, of whom the Prophet, Behold thy King commeth meekely, ſitting on an Aſſe, &c. And ſuch the pompe of Poperie. Read Bernard ad Eugenium.
But were it not foreign ſingular, why might wee not ſuppoſe it to ſignifie the ſame thing, with foreign and foreign? places of Scripture are many: ſee Heb. 2.4. 2 Cor. 12.12. & alibi: And yet that foreign, me thinkes is equiuolent: and compare Rom. 15.19. you may imagine here foreign: thus ye tead there foreign, in the power ſignes and wonders. Conceiue not, as idle Schoolemen and poſtillers, reall difference betwixt them, ſuch as to diuerſifie them into ſeuerall ſpecies: the thing is the ſame, the names onelyonly ſeuerall: powers, they are called by Metonymie of the efficient, becauſe they iſſue from power extraordinarie: Signes, for their vſe, becauſe they ſerued to ſignifie and ſeale vp the truth of doctrine to which they were applied: wonders, for their effect, becauſe they bred in the beholders maruell, ſometimes no leſſe then aſtoniſhing.
1. What is a miracle? 2. Can Antichriſt, can Satan worke it? Reſp. The name is ſometimes vſed largely, ſometimes ſtricktly, largely taken, it ſounds tofAuguſl. de vtilitat. Cred. ad Hanoratum. c. 16 Austin, any worke whatſoeuer hard and vnufuall, exceeding the expectation or ability of the beholder, and breeding him wonder▪ The Latine name extends it ſelfe to all ſuch vnuſuall accidents or acts; miraculum a mirando; becauſe, thorough ignorance of cauſes, beholders wonder. So to the ſimple, Eclipſe of the Sunne ſeemes an halfe miracle, ſuch wonder it breedes in him; which the Aſtronomer beholds and foretells without wonder.
Stricktly, they denote workes extraordinary running into the ſenſe, exceeding the ability of all ſecond cauſes: of theſe Thomas obſerues three kindes or degrees rather.
1. Some ſuch as by created virtue, ſuch as hee ſignifies vnderunder the name of nature, can neuer be produced; as to ſtop the Sunne in his courſe andgIoſh. 10.12, 13. make him ſtand ſtill; as vnderunder Ioſhuah, or to,hIſai 38.8. make him goe backe; the ſigne to Hezekiah.
2. Others, which nature can worke, but not in that order that they are wrought: as, that man or other Animals ſhould liue, ſee, heare, walke, as a worke of nature, but to liue after death, to ſee afteriIohn 9. blindneſſe, &c. this is a worke no leſſe then miraculous.
3. A third ſort, when what are vſuall workes of Nature, are produced without the principles and helpes of Nature, ſuppoſe when a feuer curable by Nature, is cured with the word or touch of our Sauiour, without any helpe of medicine, See Thom. Cont. Gent. lib. 3. cap. 101.102, &c.
2. Can Antichriſt, Satan, any creature worke a miracle? Reſp. Mira they may; miracula they cannot, if yee take them in ſtrickt ſenſe. 1. Its GodskPſal. 86. & 135 prerogatiue royall, Pſ. 72.18. 2. They are diuine Teſtimonies, Heb. 2.4.3. Signes of Apoſtles, 2 Cor. 12.12.4. Beleeue mee for the workes ſake, Ioh. 10.38 Reaſons Philoſophically Theologicall, See in Thomas; quâ ſupra.
3. What is then to be thought of theſe ſignes and wonders which Antichriſt workes by helpe of Satan? Reſp. What? But as Paul ſtiles them: that they are foreign: wonders of falſhood; not onelyonly in reſpect of their end, becauſe they tend to confirme errour; but in reſpect of their forme; wanting what ſhould conſtitute them in the eſſence and nature of miracles, properly ſo called. Sometimes the 1. Senſe is deceiued; as in thoſe wrought by Pharao his Magitians. 2. Sometimes the phantaſie deluded. 3. Sometimes,Auguſtin de Ciuitat. Dei. ſecret workes of nature offered to ſenſe of ignorant beholders: the Lampe in Ʋenus Temple burning ſo many yeeres, to Plinie was no other, but the ſtone Aſpheſtus ſet on fire. 4. Sometimes things actiue applyed to paſſiue, and ſo effects wonderfull produced. Philoſopher is none amongſt men, ſo exact as the diuell.
What through the acuity of vnderſtanding Naturall, and notices of nature receiued in Creation, reſerued ſince his fall; and what thorow obſeruation and experience of ſo many hundreds, ſome thouſands of yeeres ſince his firſt being; he is, to our wonder, skilfull in the whole courſe of nature; And by that skill produceth ſtrange and extraordinary effects. Not all preſtigious and illuſorie, but true in genere Rerum, things being ſuch as they are ſeene; yet falſe all genere miraculorū properly ſo called, for ſuch are works exceeding the order of whole Nature; or of Nature vniuerſally taken; beyond whoſe ability diuels, yea, good Angels aſcend not.
4 Had Romaniſts any aduancement into the Throne by this meanes? Reſp. Such, and ſo great, that by Bellarmine and others, its made note of the Church; Read him alſo in the queſtion of Antichriſt, what pretty tales he tells of Sylueſters Miracles curing Conſtantine of his Leproſie. Stories or Legends rather, are full of lying both wonders, and reports of wonders,, to confirme their worſhip of Reliques, prayer for the dead, Inuocation of Saints, Purgatorie, &c. Greateſt Controuerſiſts, when Scriptures, Fathers, Traditions faile, fly to miracles, for confirmation of doctrine. That chiefly is remarkeable in ſtorie; that about the time of Gregorie the great, what time Antichriſt grew towards cleareſt Reuelation and was now to be inſtalled and entituled Oecumenicall Biſhop; Miracles of all ſorts began to be multiplied. Read Gregories Dialogues, and what Paulus Diaconus and other, following fables, report of all ſorts of wonders, for confirmation of all ſorts of Popiſh errour and ſuperſtition. I will not denie but the things reported were, many of them, true in genere Rerum; I dare halfe ſweare, they were all falſe in genere Miraculorum, that were pretended wrought for confirmation of Poperie.
Whither and when the gift of Miracles ceaſed in the Church might here not impertinently be enquired: but the volume growes biggiſh.
Ʋſe 1 But ſure, me thinkes, they longed to hauehave their Biſhop knowne Antichriſt, their Church Antichriſtian, when this came into the number of Notes of the Church: Gloria Miraculorum: ſo was Antichriſt to be aduanced into his Throne, ſo the people to be beſotted who receiued his Character. Not but that Miracles, truely ſo called, are teſtimonies of Truth, vt ſupra. But that the maruels they brag of, are mira onelyonly, if true, not miracula. And many of them falſe lying reports, meere fables and no better. Such that of Syluesters curing Conſtantines Leproſie, in his miniſtring Baptiſme to him at Rome; when its well known, his Baptiſme was not at Rome; but by a little ſuperſtition deferred till the end of his life: fables a thouſand I could fill you withall of Miracles, and little leſſe then miraculous apparitions of Saints and Angels: for confirmation of purgatorie, prayer to Saints, for dead, and ſuch like Popiſh traſh. Thomas of Aquine is ſuppoſed to be gratulated by the bleſſed Virgin for his paines taken to cleare her birth from originall ſinne, with her owne voice from heauen, Bene de me ſcripſiſti Thoma. Saint Bernard deuout in ſuperſtition in veneration of her, was once ſaluted by her Image, miraculouſly giuing him the time of the day, Good morrow Bernard. But well conſidering what Dauid ſpeakes of Idoles, they hauehave mouthes and ſpeake not: he is bold to minde her, That her Ladiſhip had forgotten her ſelfe; for it was not permitted to women to ſpeake in the Church: ſexcenta ſunt huinſmodi.
Vſe 2 2 Contra iſtos mirabilarios, againſt theſe miracle-mongers Chriſt & his Prophets hauehave made vsus cautionate; while they minde vsus, they may teach truth lIohn 10.41.that doe no miracles; Iohn did no miracle; yet all hee ſpake of Chriſt was true: and they may bemSee Deut. 13. Mat. 24.24. Impoſtors who giuegive ſignes and wonders. The Diuell himſelfe cannot worke a miracle; his power, though great, yet is not infinite: yet ſuppoſe him to giuegive a ſigne and wonder, which I am not able ito diſcriminate from a true miracle: In weakneſſe perhaps might ſay, as Pharaoes Magitians, Digitus Dei est hic: yet if he miſled me from veritie of doctrine or life, taught me in Scripture, whither Diuell of Hell, ornGal 1 8. Angell of Heauen, I ſhould hold him accurſed. Spero, obſecro & vos, qui credente mundo ipſe non credit, magnum est ipſe prodigium. To doctrine taught in our Churches belongoHeb. 2 4. miracles of Chriſt and his Apoſtles.
And with all deceiueableneſſe of vnrighteouſneſſe. The ſecond meanes of his aduancement; deceitfulneſſe, all kinds of falſhood and couſenage: foreign: take here to denote iniustitiam vniuerſalem: whither it be qualitas efficientis, or finis, is doubtfull: if efficientis, This the meaning; with all tricks of couſenage, impoſture, and legerdemaine, that wickedneſſe it ſelfe can deuiſe or exerciſe, faigning apparitions of Angels and Spirits: forging decrees of Councils, corrupting Fathers, ſembling, diſſembling pietie; ſwearing, forſwearing dummodo ob Rem; fawning flattering, bribing, threatning, forcing, vſing pro re nata ca: Time would faile mee to reckon vp all their foreign; their methods and Arts of couſenage and impoſture, whereby they hauehave raiſed and ſtill ſupport their ſtate: Achitoph…l, Machiauil, curſed Moamed himſelfe may ſeeme honeſt in policie, in compariſon of Romiſh Clergie. Be wiſe as Serpents, pleaſeth; be it as the old Serpent the Diuell. Innocent as Doues, as their practiſe ſhowes, deſerues the obiliske, the veru of their Index expurgatorius: by ſuch wicked policie hath Poperie aduanced it ſelfe.
If it denote the end, or iſſue of their deceitfulneſſe, this is the meaning; deceit leading to vnrighteouſneſſe; via vitae, the way tending to life; via Iuſti…iae, the way tending to righteouſneſſe: ſo foreign; the outpath leading to wickedneſſe, making the people as themſelues; iniurious to God, vniuſt to men, cruell to themſelues. Their doctrines diſſenting from our Churches, all ſuch 1 either in the matter: 2 or in their annexa and natiue ſequeles: as to any iudicious man ſeriouſly viewing them will appeare. Concording are the liues of their deluded ſectaries.
Ʋſe Lord, that it might worke in vsus ſo much pietie, as to deteſt it: ſo much wiſedome, as to diſcerne and flye from their impious, their wicked Religion: were not vicious nature too too ſenſuall and licentious, it could with no patience endure thought of Poperie: Is this the ſanctitie of doctrine, that encloſeth the Church to Rome? Robbing God of his honour, Chriſt of his Mediation, Princes of Soueraigntie, of life; Parents of Children for Religion: that teacheth violation of faith, though with oath plighted to Heretiques: tolerates, halfe ligitimates fornication; in ſome caſe Inceſtuous marriage, &c. The wiſedome from aboue is pIac. 3.17.pure, full of mercy and good fruits. The doctrine of Gods Grace teacheth to qTit. 2.11, 12.deny vngodlineſſe and worldly luſts: inſtructs to pietie, iustice, temperance: a Religion yee hauehave here, as a circle whoſe circumference is fraud; whoſe center, nothing but vnrighteouſneſſe: what may, if this will not, worke our abhorrence from it? If that may not preuaile, attend yet ſeriouſly what is ſubioyned.
In them that periſh: The ſubiect or perſons on whom it faſtens; ſuch as periſh: vnderſtand it excluſiuely, onelyonly ſuch as periſh. Periphraſis Reproborum, not infrequent in Scriptures: See 2 Cor. 2.15. & 2 Cor. 4.3. & alibi. So ſtiled becauſe their periſhing is certaine and ineuitable.rIude v. 4. foreign. And that doctrine is now entering execution; they being, as I may ſay, in the Act of periſhing.
It ſhould ſeeme then they are onelyonly caſtawayes, men deſtined to damnation, who are ſeduced by this Antichriſt: ſee Apoc. 13.8. & 14.9, 10, Reaſons are euident. 1 Their Errours of Iudgement are in the fundamentals of Faith: they hold not the head Col. 2.19. 1 Cor. 3.10, 11. 2 In Religion, againſt the heart and life of pure worſhip; abominable Idolatric. 3 The ſeduced moſtly vnreclaimable; ſo ſtrong is the deluſion ſent vponupon them. Apoc. 14.9, 10.
May we dare to ſay ſo of Papiſts? Reſp. Had we the foreign that becomes Gods Miniſters, wee ſhould dare, ſeeing therein we follow the ſpirit of God leading vsus, and putting the ſpeech into our mouthes: why ſtrengthen we the hands of the wicked that he cares not to returne, by promiſing him life? Ezech. 13.22.
Once falling on a wandering Starre (they call ſuch trauellers) who had forraged France, Italie, it ſeemes to ſeeke his Religion: I heard him thus bewray his inclination to Poperie: and his reaſon to preferre it in his choiſe, forſooth: that a man may be ſaued holding the faith and Religion of Rome, our ſelues confeſſe: That any can be ſaued in our hereſie, as they tearme it, Papiſts confidently denie. Thus were the anſwers: 1 That argueth not they had more veri…ie, but we more Charitie. 2. But who, Iudicious amongſt vsus, euer taught, that a Papiſt vniuerſally ioyning in the tridentine faith and religion can be ſaued? niſi fortè detur Regreſſus in viam. 1 They are pointed out ſuch whoſe Names are not written in the Lambs booke of life. 2 The lyes they beleeue, ſuch as damne, verſ. 11, 12. 3 And I demand; Are they Schiſmatiques onelyonly? or rather heretiques, or both? then why are we meale mouthed? why feare wee to ſay, liuing and dying Papiſts, they cannot be ſaued.
Yet in this peremptorineſſe its good to be aduiſed. 1 There are differences of Errours Papall; not all in the foundation: their opinion of Number and efficacie of Sacraments; of ſeuerall orders in the Angelicall and Eccleſiaſtique Hierarchie, &c. are all erroneous; yet not hereticall.
2 In modo tentionis, difference is obſeruable: in ſome, miſled with errour of Times, the aſſent is tremulous, not peremptorie, perhaps reſolution holden to change ſentence, when better reaſon ſhall ſway them: It may be alſo, care and endeauour of better information, with propenſe inclination to the aduerſe doctrine; of ſuch, for their propenſion to Truth in generall, my charitie is hopefull.
3 But there are who vniuerſally ioyne in all errours of faith and Religion taught in that Church; of ſuch, except God giuegive them Repentance, what lets to ſay? they are in remedileſſe perill of eternall damnation: ſee Apoc. 14▪ 9, 10, 11.
Ʋſe If louelove of trueth ſway vsus not: Oh yet let this terrour of the Lord preuaile with vsus. The noiſe of damnation is fearefull: except to men of reprobate mindes, dreadfull; more then that of Thunder. I beſeech you, as you tender your poore ſoules, bought with the pretious blood of Chriſt, made to bee immortall, called to enioy the glorious Deitie, beware, how in your hearts you turne backe to the Aegypt of Poperie, heare them not that ſay, ſaluation is to bee found in the Church of Rome; Chriſt is the Sauiour of his ſEph 5.23.body; are limmes of Antichriſt members of Chriſt?
Obiect. What then became of forefathers? What of ſo many nations yet vnderunder that bondage? Conclude wee all vnderunder remedileſſe perill of damnation?
Reſp. There is a kinde people, ſaith Auſtin, curious to know other mens liues, careleſſe to reforme their owne. Et Nos, charitably cautionate for others ſaluation; take heed, leaſt not prodigall of our owne. Ordinate charitie begins at home. How God deales with others in iuſtice, or merciemercy, humanitie may incline mee ſomething to enquire; howbeit wiſdome aduiſeth, to hauehave principall eye to my ſelfe.tHoſ. 4.15. Though thou Iſrael play the harlot, yet let not Iudah ſinne. And if others will ſerue Idoles, yet I am of Ioſhuahs minde, I and my houſe will ſerue the Lord. Ioſh. 24.15.
2 Quaero & ego: what became of Gentiles, nations all, except Iſrael, till times of new Teſtament? God uAct. 14.16.ſuffered them all to walke in their owne wayes; yet now admoniſheth all to turne from thoſe vanities, to ſerue the liuing and true God.
3 Yet, as no man ſaith of thoſe nations, particulars were all damned: ſome Proſelites were of Gentiles admitted into Iewiſh Church; others, I doubt not, many choſen veſſels of merciemercy: ſo in depth of Popiſh hereſie, were many in all times found, in maine foundations Orthodoxe, and oppoſite to the preuailing faction. On which foundation, though they built hay and ſtubble, yet with that loſſe, x1. Cor. 3 15.their ſoules were ſaued.
4 That alſo is remarkeable; Popiſh errours were not all from the beginning, in that height, whereto they are now growne; nor vrging to aſſent ſo ſtrict and peremptorie, as ſince the Trent Councill. Libertie there was in the maine, that concernes the heart of Faith and Religion, to opine; to diſſent from iudgement generally receiued; which libertie alſo many vſed; I doubt not, but with comfort to their ſoules.
5 Gods iudgements are ſometimes open, ſometimes ſecret, alwayes iuſt. 1yRom. 11.35. Who hath giuen him firſt? 2 That any of Adams poſteritie are ſaued, is of his, meere mercy; If others periſh, there is no iniuſtice. But that they periſhed, that liued and died in vaſſalage vntounto that Antichriſt, Saint Paul warrants me to aſſent.
Iuſtly, becauſe they receiued not the louelove of the truth. The ſinne noted as cauſe of their damnation: hath two branches. 1 Want of louelove to the truth of the Goſpel. 2 Reiecting that grace of God tendered to their ſoules. They receiued not the louelove of the truth.
There is, 1 Knowledge. 2 Faith. 3 LoueLove of the truth. There may be knowledge, where is not faith; faith where is not louelove of the truth.
Thoſe reuolts werezHeb 6 4. enlightened: knew the way of truth. Saint Peter ads more: they were a2. Pet. 2.18.20.21.cleane eſcaped from them that are entangled in errour; hauing obteined ſanitie, and rectitude of iudgement in matter of faith.
More then that; ſome kindeb1. Tim. 1.19. & 4.1. of faith they aſpire vntounto; firme perſwaſion of the truth of Euangelicall doctrine. Yea, ſome perhaps retaine it, while they periſh.
Their maime is in their affection. 1 They louelove not the truth. 2 Yea reiect, not truth, but louelove of truth tendered to their ſoules. Thus I conceiue: the Lord ſending his word to the Church, not onelyonly tenders it to their eares; but enlightens the vnderſtanding of many worſt men, to know: preſents to the minde the amiable excellencie of the myſteries therein contained; ſhewes the goodnes brought home to the ſoule of eueryevery faithfull and obedient receiuer.cMic. 2.7. Are not my words good, to him that walketh vprightly? I aske your iudgement. The old way is the good way, therein you ſhall dIer. 6.16.finde reſt to your ſoules. TheeIoh. 8 32. truth ſhall make you free: thus doth the Lord wooe the affections, labouring to enamour them of his truth. Happie is hee who, asfGen. 9.27. Iaphet, is allured: he ſhall dwell in the tents of Shem. Iuſtly they periſh, who, againſt themſelues,gLuke 7 32. deſpiſe the counſell of God, andhAct. 13▪ 46. put from them ſo great ſaluation; they iudge themſelues vnworthy euerlaſting life.
But is knowledge or louelove of truth tendered to all periſhing vnderunder Antichriſt?
Reſp. And I demand, as Paul of Iewes,iRom. 10.18. hauehave they not heard? No doubt their ſound went out into all lands, and their words vntounto the ends of the world. 1 If the quere bee of them firſtly ſeduced by Antichriſt, they all were children of the Church. 2 As to ſucceeding generations, the ſeed of the wicked, walking in the ſteps of their fathers errour▪ and ſuperſtition, thus farre was tender made them of grace.
1 Faith explicite was required of rudeſt Laickes in depth of Poperie, Credendorum: ſo farre as the letter of the Creed might lead them. Faciendorum, preſcribed in the Decalogue. Petendorum, compriſed in the Lords prayer. Recipiendorum, tendered in the Sacraments. Beſides of what in ſolemne feſtiuities of Chriſts Natiuitie, Paſſion, Reſurrection, Aſcenſion, &c. Was repreſented to their memorie and meditation. And, if credit may bee giuen to Popiſh relation, Paſtors enioyned to explicate to the people, theſe heads of Chriſtian faith and religion. In which explications alſo, you may obſerue generals to bee moſtly Orthodoxe; particular gloſſes, inferences, or concealements, onelyonly erroneous.
Though God ſuffered them, as Gentiles, to walke in their owne wayes, neuertheleſſe hee left not himſelfe without witneſſe, in times of groſſeſt ignorance. Raiſing vp in all ages ſome from amongſt themſelues, to oppoſe corruptions of preuailing faction. Neither were theſe things done in a corner: but the whole Church was filled with the tumult; prouidence ſo diſpoſing, that the ſound of his truth might ring in the eares of beſotted people: Beſides ſuffering of Martires, whoſe bonds and paſſions were kPhil. 1.1….famous in the very Popes Palace, and in all places, that occaſion might be giuen to all of inquiring the cauſe.
3 And of late the mountaine of the Lord hath beene againe erected on the top of the mountaines; Churches famous many in all quarters founded;lAct. 24.14. Worſhipping God after that manner, which theſe call hereſie; yet teaching no other thing then Moſes, Prophets and Apoſtles hauehave ſpoken. And doubt you, but the people are bound thither to reſort? ſee famous example of thoſe in the ten tribes, whoſe hearts God touched, in the generall deprauation of religion vnderunder Ieroboam. 2. Chron. 11.14.16.
4 But for the people of our Churches, daily reuolting to Rome, how hath God long wooed them to entertaine into their louelove his pretious truth? and they would not: that they of all men moſt iuſtly periſh, ſo palpable is their reiection; I ſay not of truth only, but of louelove of truth tendered to their ſoules.
But of ſuch deſpiſers of truth is compacted the body of the Romiſh Synagogue. Amongſt the many Centones of reuolters to Poperie, name mee the man who euer euidenced zeale for the maintenance, and propagation of the doctrine taught in our Churches; oppoſed not rather the proceedings; triumphed not in the diſgrace of the Goſpel, and made a mocke of the counſell of thoſe poore, that entertained it, and ſet their hearts to ſeeke after the Lord. I hauehave knowne many; ſome, a little familiarly. Amongſt all to me knowne, I cannot minde one, in whom I euer ſaw life or power of godlineſſe: but epicures, ſenſualiſts, vncleane, profane perſons; or if there bee almoſt any other worſe thing, contrary to wholeſome doctrine which is according to godlineſſe, men, not onelyonly themſelues practiſing ſuch things,mRom. 1.32. but pleaſing themſelues, and reioycing in them that doe them
Ʋſe And is not the motiue ſtrong, to embrace Poperie? their vaine vaunt of ſo many traduced to their partie, ſince his Maieſties entring the Kingdome? powerfull muſt that Doctrine needes bee, that in ſo few yeeres preuailes with ſo many thouſands. Reſp. 1 Yet Thomas could minde them, that in that of Moamed, is preualence no leſſe, through the fitting it hath had to voluptuouſneſſe of ſenſuall nature. 2 And whom, but ſenſualliſts, and carnall goſpellers, hauehave they preuailed withall? What one man (name him, if they can) heartily affected to our Religion, and truely louing it? Oh maruellous efficacie of Popiſh doctrine, traducing men from prophaneneſſe to ſuperſtition, from godleſſe contempt of pietie, to impious idolatrie, making their Proſelites nMat. 23.15.two-fold more the children of Hell: or rather: Oh iuſt iudgement of God, giuing ouer men notoRom. 1.28. regarding the knowledge of God, to a reprobate minde, men not receiuing the louelove of truth, to beliefe of lies, and pertinacious adhering to doctrines of Deuils.
2 But if therfore theſe periſh becauſe they receiued not the louelove of the truth, Lord, I thinke, what ſhall become of this faithleſſe and crooked generation? to whom the light of Gods truth hath ſo long and clearely ſhined, and yet pIohn 3.19.they louelove darkeneſſe rather then light. Euidences of the crime take theſe. 1 Their nauſeating the plentie of this Manna: ſo corne fed they profeſſe themſelues with this bread of life. How ioyed they in the tidings of the miſnoiſed inhibition of preaching? When, God knowes, purpoſe was neuer to inhibit plentie, but to regulate order and manner of preaching; that neitherqHeb. 5.13. babes might want their milke, and ſtrong men growing to the itch of eares, might be reſtrained to wholeſome Doctrine, eueryevery one taught, asrMarke 4 33. they are able to heare.
2 Indifferencie of moſt in their affection to the remoouall or retaining, careleſneſſe, whither Iehouah, or Baal were entertained for the God of Iſrael. Knowne vntounto God are all his wayes from the beginning; ſweetly doth prouidence ſway in the delinquencies of his children, guiding all to his owne beſt ends. But in the rumour of our entring league of amitie with a daughter of that Religion, how brake out Hypocriſie of many to diſcouery of it ſelfe: reſolution vttered, profeſſion made by many to change with the times, ſtudy in many, of honeſt mindes, to reconcile, as their ſtile was, the ſeeming differences twixt the two Religions. Rare the man that kept his reſolution with Ioſhuah: that vowed to ſuffer loſſe, I ſay not of life; but of the infamous goods of fortune, for the cauſe of the Goſpel.
3 It was Salomons aduiſe toſProu. 23.23. buy the truth, and not to ſell it: Iudes, totIud ver. 3. ſtriue for the faith once giuen to Saints: herein how defectiue were euen pillars of the Church, that though the taxe were opprobrious no leſſe then ſlanderous, to charge them as Ieremie Iewes, touIere 9.3. bend their tongues, as their bowes, for lies; yet willingly they may beare the blame, ofuIere. 9.3. not being more valiant for the cauſe of truth.
Cauſes of it theſe: 1 The little or no feeling of the power thereof, in their ſoules: had they*1. Pet. 2.1, 2, 3. taſted how ſweet the Lord is in his word, the hungrie infant would not more long for the milke, nor more hardly be drawne, in extremeſt hunger, from the breſt, then they from the ſincere milke of the word.
2 Conſcience not diſcharged of the guilt of ſinne, flies the arraignement. Affection beſotted of the pleaſures of ſinne, reiects what would withdraw them, though with aſſurance of beatitude, they louelove darkeneſſe, rather then light becauſe their xIohn 3.19.deedes are euill.
3 There is in the truth, as in yMat. 5.13.ſalt, holeſomeneſſe, but ioyned with tartneſſe: the two witneſſes zApoc. 11.10.vexe them that dwell vponupon the earth. No maruell if they ioy and ſolace themſelues in their diſgrace.
That they might bee ſaued. Queſt. Had they beene ſaued, if they had admitted louelove of trueth? Reſp. Who doubts? vponupon that Hypotheſis. Tyre and Sidon had aMat. 11.21.23.repented, in caſe meanes of Capernaites had beene vouchſafed them.
Queſt. But could they receiue it? Reſp. Why are we curious? God puts not into any, auerſeneſſe from any goodneſſe. In the tender of grace and iniunction of duties, reſpects them as he firſt made them. Expects they ſhould render him the good diſpoſitions and abilities, and pliableneſſe to his inſtructions hee gaue in their firſt creation. Iuſtly, ſith hebEccleſ. 7.29. made them righteous at the firſt, and they hauehave ſought them many inuentions. Arminius too ſawcily forceth on God neceſſitie and obligation to reſtoring of abilities loſt by mans wilfulneſſe; too groſly denies abilitie to eueryevery thing enioyned, or to bee enioyned, giuen vntounto Adam. But why meddle we with thoſe intricacies.
Fluently we hauehave it from the Apoſtle, that louelove of truth is amongſt thoſe vertues which accompany ſaluation. Therefore Ieremie pleades it as part of his righteouſneſſe; claimes thereby intereſt to bleſſings conueyed in couenant of Grace. ThycIere. 15.16. words were found with mee, and I did eat them: and thy word was vntounto me the ioy and reioycing of my heart. See Iob 23.12. Pſal. 119.
And who ſo conſiders: 1dRom. 8.7. Enmitie of depraued nature againſt the Law of God: 2 That this louelove iſſues from thee1. Pet. 2.3. comforts our conſciences hauehave taſted; the power of it our ſoules hauehave experimentedf1. Cor. 10.5. in ſubduing the high thoughts to obedience of Chriſt, and the bleſſedgPſal. 19.7. change it hath wrought, eaſely acknowledgeth the gift ſupernaturall; farre aboue, what nature eleuated to her higheſt pitch, if ſubſiſting within boundes of nature, can poſſibly reach vntounto.
Ʋſe 1 Bleſt is the ſoule that feeles it; hee hath Heauen vponupon earth: thus diſcerne it, and reſt aſſured of thy gracious eſtate. 1 The rate its hMat. 13.46. Pſal. 119.72.valued at, is aboue that of Gold and Siluer. 2 The ſoule that taſts it,iPro. 2 4. ſearcheth for it as for Siluer; withall the might gets this vnderſtanding. 3kPſal. 84 & 42. Mournes for depriuall, as Rachel for her children. 4 Is in a meaſure ſatisfied, neuerlPſal. 84.2. 1. Pet. 2.2.3. ſated with the pleaſures of it. 5 AmRom. 10.15. beautie it ſees in the very feet of them that preach it; loues the ground they goe on. 6 Hates as Hell the adulteraters,nGal. 2.5. oppoſeth to eueryevery oppoſite of the trueth, and proceedings of it.
You that louelove your ſoules, faſten on them this louelove of truth. 1 If depth of learning, profound myſteries bee it that your mindes affect, loe here whato1 Pet. 1.12. Angels themſelues louelove to pry into, reioyce topEpheſ. 3.10. learne in the Church.
2 Pleaſing to the vnderſtanding is the knowledge of trueth. Verum is bonum intellectus, the halfe happineſſe and perfection of the vnderſtanding. Here ſee ſuch as no ſcience elſe reueales: God is he knowes, and reueales, his owne being, and manner of exiſtence. The true meanes of reconciling man to God; and what all the wits of the World in vaine turmoiled and puzled themſelues to finde out, the way and meane of true tranquillitie.
3 OhqPſal. 34.8. taſt and ſee how gracious the Lord is; experiment a while the power of this truth: What wonders will it worke in thy ſoule, may it there ſway? Thoſe turbulent foreign, paſſions of ſenſualitie, which wiſedome of morall heathens laboured vainely to captiuate to right reaſon, this ſhall r2 Cor. 10 5.ſubdue, the miſerable bondage vnderunder ſinne and Satan, whereunder who groanes not? ThisſIohn 8.32. & 17.9. truth ſhall free thee from.
4 And if foreign, true tranquillitie of minde,tPhil. 4.7. pacification of conſcience be that we long for, behold it publiſhed, conuyed, wrought by the Goſpel of peace, the word of faith, teacheth to vsus wherewith we u1. Iohn 3.19.may aſſure our hearts, in the very terrour of the laſt day.
5 And this is that *Rom. 1.16.power of God to ſaluation, the word of ſaluation, of life; Reuealing, working thexIohn 17.3. knowledge of God in Chriſt, leading to the beatificall viſion, the fruition of the glorious God-head. If theſe amiable fruites ſway vsus not, Oh yet let the terrour of the Lord mooue vsus, thus its ſpecified.