The Opening of Heaven Gates, Tract
An earneſt perſwaſion to a Worſhipfull Gentleman, and his good friend to continew conſtant in Chriſtian Religion, and to loath and deteſt the ſlights of Superſtitious Papiſtry. By the former Author, Arthur Dent.
ALthough the Bée, be not ſo eaſely caught in the gynnes of the Spider, as the poore Fly, or being once intangled, is not ſo eaſely poyſoned: yet common experience, doth make it a plaine caſe, that oftentimes ſhe is ouerthrowne therein, and compelled to yeald her-ſelfe a prey vntounto tiranny. But conſidering how eaſily our affections be caried away by corruption, to witte, faultineſſe, naturall to decline to the worſe part, it ſéemeth moſt wonderfull to me, that you being ſo néere a neighbour to hereſie, are yet vndrowned in the dreggs thereof more then vntaynted, to the daunger of your ouerthrow yet to come: for why? are not the beſt ſubiect to change? I meane the wiſeſt, to folly? and the holieſt to wickedneſſe? let the example of Salomon, wilneſſe the trueth in this caſe, who although he were the only parragon of the world, fel to idolatry, the moſt noyſome of peſtelences, and to all vncleaneneſſe of body. Doth not likewiſe the example of our firſt parent Adam, make it plaine, that our nature being at the beſt, is euen then moſt ſubiect, to take the wickeddeſt courſe? O wretched eſtate, what reckoning ſhall we make of our ſelues which ſéeming to ſtand, are euer falling, which outwardly carrying the countenance of ſecurity, hauehave at home, ſuch an enemy, as doth practiſe our continuall eſtraungement with God! and beſides this are inuironed with a world of vngodly allurements. But yet amids theſe daungers, twiſe, O Merciful God whoſe grace ſuperaboundeth ſin, whoſe mercy diſpenceth with all our faults, and whoſe holy ſpirit doth indue vsus with wiſedome, to deſtry the subtilt…s of Satan, with ſtrength to ſtand againſt them, yea and with conſtancy, to continew in his louelove, feare, and true worſhip. I appeale to your conſcience, whether the Lord hath dealte with you leſſe fatherly, then in ould time he did with Daniell in the Lyons denne, with Ieremy in the miry dungeon, or with Ionas, in the belly of the whale? they ſaw their daunger imminent, which did put them in mind to repaire to the Lord. But you I know, yea I know it to well (if it pleaſed GOD it ſhould be otherwiſe) hauehave continually layd before you the faireſt baytes of the world to betray you, where-vnderunder lurketh the perrill of perpetual damnation, and yet the Lord be prayſed, doe continew his true and faithfull ſeruant vnuanquiſhed. But to ſpeake more plainly, thus it is, by reaſon that the aduerſaries to all trueth, I meane the Papiſts, hauehave the colourable acceſſe vntounto you of friendſhippe, you are alwaies endaungered by ther wily perſwaſions to forſake your GOD. This truely hath béene often tould me, and I ſée no reaſon why I ſhould not beléeue it, conſidering that I know, how buſily they vſe to buzze in eueryevery diſh, where oportunity promiſeth the inſertion of their lothſome corruptions: But moſt chiefly; if they be on a ſure ground that their bodely danger is not thereby threatened, they are imp…bent to blaſpheame GOD and his holy Religion with all treaſons of their owne wicked inuentious: which thing although commonly and of cuſtome, it hath happened vntounto you by them, yet am I to reſtraine my ſelfe, to the anſwering of one particular, and principall attempte that was made againſt you, at your table, by certaine Gentlemen not long ſince, whoſe names though I partly know, yet I thinke not canuenient at this time to deliuer to common obloquy.
Theſe Gentlemen grounding all their religion vponupon hoarye hayres, which they call Ambaſſadors of experience, and vppon the graue viſors of their Fathers, which wée accompt the wiſeſt parts of them, hauing preferred. fancy before faith: and their owne humors before the honor of God, brought all the battery of their reaſons and arguments againſt the poore bulwarke of your onelyonly defence (being a man able to be ſeduced by the violence of perſwaſion, or at leaſt to hauehave bin driuen to ſilence that extreame refuge, had not God béene preſent with you in the reſeue of his own honor) ſaying was their not in thoſe daies, wherein our religion ſloriſhed, a goulden and plentifull world? was there not louelove and Charity? vnity of religion? the ſeruice of God eſtabliſhed by general counſells of holy doctors and fathers? how then ſhould not thoſe waies, be the beſt to ſerue God, which they obſerued, and hauehave left vnderunder the warrant of ſufficient authority to the memory of our preſent age? hauehave ſo many wiſe men bin deceued, ſo many learned men liued in folly and ignorance? hauehave ſo many Kings and Emperors ſlept in blindneſſe of hart and died in the darkeneſſe of hereſey? Nay hath all Chriſtendome wandred out of the way till now. &c. This thréedbare diſcourſe (which they drawe out to the whole length of a Carterope) is able to bewitch ſo many, as make reaſon their iools, euen as themſelues are bewitched by the wilineſſe of the deuill and their Pope: but let vsus ſuruey theſe waterleſſe clouds, and we ſhal …aſiely perceaue them as they be.
HaueHave not theſe wiſe men laid true religion in water and ſacrifized their zeale to reaſon, as if ſhe were ſome Goddeſſe? here is nothing but a plaine collection of reaſons, a… Carnall experiences, and ſhall we make them the platformes of holineſſe? is the wiſdome of man of ſo forcible a capacity, and the word of God …onuinced of ſo great debility, that in caſes of religion we ſhall g…und vponupon likelihoode o… mans immaginations? let vsus be wiſe, the Elder hath moſt pith of all the trees in the wood, but leſſe ſ…ength and goodneſſe then any other: the thunder a huge…, but a little ſtone and theſe men great choyſe of boaſ…gs, but ſmall verity, or vertue in their words.
…uſt not that building néeds be naught …e it neuer ſo faire, whoſe foundation is vtterly rotten; and muſt not that religion of neceſſity be worſe, whoſe principles God hath flattly forbidden? he calleth mans reaſon, a traterous enemy to GOD, ſaying, it neuer was nor ſhalbe ſubiect to his law: they honor it, as theIer. 11. 10. 14. true penny of their whole truſt: hée condemneth the preceptes of our forefathers, forbidding vsus to pray for them, which doe imbrace the ſame, becauſe they are Sepulchres full of rotten bones, cloudes with out water, and they them-ſelues hvpocrites, but they eſtéeme them no leſſe then loadeſmen to all piety and life euerlaſting.
Alaſſe why doe we feare their vnion in idolatry (for that is the vntay, that they reioyce in, and bragge of) more then we ſorrow for the diſhonor of our God? or why ſhould we be troubled with the long, and proſperous eſtate of Popiſh religion, more then be comforted in the newes and glad tidings of the Goſpell? doth not the Apoſtle tell vsus that before the diſſolution of the world, there ſhould befall a generall Apoſtacy, and departing from the faith of Chriſt? and that all this ſhould happen by one man, namely the man of2. The…. 2. 3. …. ſinne, and child of perdition? ſaying, that hee ſhould bee an aduerſary to all Godlineſſe, and exalt him-ſelfe aboue all that is called God? why then ſhould they go about to blears your eyes with the wonder of ſuch words, more then inſtruct them-ſelues in the prouidence of God, who hath prouided, and made vsus wary of ſuch a G…nerall departing? why ſay they too char…ge the cannons, decrées, and decretalls of their Popiſh fathers (ſéeing the Lord himſelfe pointeth out the Pope as with a finger, and dèciphereth … for Antichriſt, as plainely, …, to diſcouered in the ſecrets of … body, by the anatomy off another) more then yeald their owne due ſubiection to the ordinaunce …nd inſtitutions of their GOD▪ Nay why ſhould wee (whoſe eyes and eares the LORD hath opened for the entertainement of his trueth) lend them away to the view of motheaten nouelties, and to the ſound of ſuch falſe laromes as theſe, more then exerciſe them in their ſeuerall duties and offices? if they will not confeſſe that theſe and ſuch other teſtimonies of Gods holy word do reproue their man of Rome, together with them being his vncircumſiced generation of Antichriſt…anity, let vsus then apply them: the man of ſinne, (ſaith the Apeſtle) exalteth him-ſelfe aboue all that is called GOD, vaunting him-ſelfe inſolently in the temple of GOD, if (I ſay) they will not confeſſe this of their Pope, let them ſhew vsus what regard of obedience he hath reſerued to GOD ward, in making his booke, (I meane the holy Bible) the vaſſell of vile eſtamation, which he doth not onelyonly bury, in obliuion, by his owne deſpenſations … but in all contempt doth trample, and … vnderunder his féete: knowing notwithſtanding that it is the word and wiſdome of GOD: let them ſhew vsus to what prerogatiue their Pope hath yealded which proclameth himſelf ſo many degrées aboue Angells, or that denounceth him-ſelfe the ſpirituall head of the Church of Chriſt: Hath their Pope performed any couenant 'of league with the Lord, whoſe ſearunats and childeren he hath rent from the face of the earth canceling the date of their daies, with moe then a thouſand butcheries? doth the Pope yeald to the omnipotency of GOD, ſo much as he goeth about to make him-ſelfe GOD, and is not aſhamed to momiſe all the effects of Gods power? ſaying that he both can and may doe all that GOD can doe, to wit in the pardoning of ſinnes, in the ſauing of ſoules, in the tranſmutation of times, in the altering and abrogating of lawes, in the adminiſtration of ſpirituall giftes, to be ſhort in all other things whatſoeuer? nay he is not thus content, for more expreſly doth he mayntaine his quarrell againſt GOD, for by certain neceſſary, conceqences▪ …e proueth, that he is aboue the onelyonly GOD of heauen carth. O helliſh inſination! how haſt thou caryet poore ignorant ſoules to the ſlauery of this monſter? euen in the totall of there déeds and beliefe? what ſhould I article any longer againſt him, whome theſe few hauehave condemned to the pit of hell▪
But ſée the pollicy, whereby this ſubtile Serpent hath deluded vsus ſo long: the word of GOD, which ought to be the launtorne to our pathes,, hath her kept backe and led the frute of one whole thouſand yeares in the wilderneſſe of barkeneſſe (God knoweth to how great confuſion) and now braggeth in the antiquity of his owne naughtineſſe and miſchiefe.
Alaſſe is their any maruill, the world being once couered with the ſpirit of ſlumber, that it ſhould be ouer-taken, with the witchcraft of ſléepy deſeaſes: is it any thing, ſtrange, that men doe ſpew at religion, being made drunken with hereſie? or is it any wonder (the word of GOD being once brought into …rall contempt) that the infection …ry hath béene ſo common? gl… once the gorge of man with any foule …inion, and he will hardly be purged thereof: make him to beléeue the mortality of the ſoule, and hee will conſent with Protagoras that there is no GOD.
They will ſay that all this winde maketh … corne, and … are that wee doe belye their Pope and them; truely I cannot blame them, if they would vnfather him of ſuch hatefull blaſphemics: but let our ſelues be charged with the wrong we hauehave done them herein, and our liues ſtand, vponupon the ſlaunder, let his owne cannons be conuinced of all the euill that hauehave written them, and more then ten thouſand ſuch in exaſting of his name, and the Pope him-ſelfe bee condemned of madneſſe and frenſie, hauing as like a beaſt, as a bedlame, and as néere the quality of a bedlame, as the quantity of man, conſented vntounto them, with all pride and preſumption.
O good God, how mearuelous is it tobehould ſo many wiſe men, ſomuch deceaued, ſo many gray headed fathers ſo childiſh? ſo many tgnirant accoumpted wiſe? and ſo many infants allowed for men of graue and ripe iudgement? if they can ſay againſt vsus, where is the citty on the mountaine, the viſible Church? the catholicke and vniuerſall Church? they are learned enough: but they cannot preceaue that theſe are fained fiers, paynted out with fayre gloſſes, wherein is no warmeth, nor that they be Illuſions and ſhadowes without ſubſtance▪ Take theyr Church from the pontificall hill: take away theyr Pompe and brauery, or theyr generall conſents, and take away theyr life, Nay if this were all, it were well (if euill may bee well) But which is worſe▪ they muſt hauehave theyr Churches beautified with▪ Images, Feminine and Maſculine curiouſly carued, gallantly guilded, prodigally beſet with pretious ſtones, and moſt delicately adorned with great choyce of Iewels. They muſt hauehave theyr Roodloftes with flags and ſilken banners, with Croſſes, Roodes, and Saints, like a ſtorehouſe of ſuperſtition. They muſt hauehave theyr braue Altars, garniſhed with petty Gods, with well lifting Prelates, and other holy reliques: they muſt hauehave ſhauen crown'd Chaplens, ſtrangely attired, they muſt hauehave theyr Albes, with ſilke of all colours, they Mytres and Croſſyars, and what ſhould I ſay, they muſt hauehave holy bread, holy water, holy oile, holy aſhes, holy candles, an hundred holy orders, like hypocrites that beautifie the out-ſide beſides a thouſand other holy things.
Finally they may not want any thing that can pleaſe the eye, delight the eare or ſlatter the minde: And loe, yet do all theſe moſt plainly proue theyr Church the …y Church of Antichriſt: for where nothing is wanting that may allure the minde to luſt after vanity; or to ſtir the heart vntounto folly and wickedneſſe, this may be termed (by much better right) a Court for an Atheiſt, then a Church for a Chriſtian, for was Jeſus Chriſt ſo high ſet on a hill, that all the world did worſhip him, o… outwardly ſo glorious, ſo full of pompe and brauery, that they hauehave drawne from him ſuch an enſample of imitation? or were there ſo many of his church (which yet we doubt not was and is the true Church) that the ſame Church hath lined theyr mouthes with multitudes, with vniuerſalities, and vnities generall? Then is this true, Chriſt him-ſelfe was neuer borne in an an Derſtall, but in the Pallace of ſome Monarchy: then was not he a poore diſpiſed ſoule on the earth in worſe caſe then foxes & birds which hauehave holes & neſtesMath. 8. 20. to ſheild them from the wether, but ſome mighty prince of the world, ruling wt all maieſty & power: And then had Chriſt to imbrace his Doctrine not the Apoſtles, & a few other ſilly Diſciples, but the general conſent of all the Iewiſh Churches.
How then came it to paſſe, that he was put to ſuch a ſhame ful death? was … becauſe he was welbeloued of the multitude? if this be louelove, I know not what to make of hatred; but ſure I am, that few will conſent ſo to be beloued.
I would to God the Papiſt would looke wiſely vponupon his Church, and afterward tell vsus how farre it differeth from the Churches of the Phariſees, which reproueth, and condemneth our Sauiour CHRIST as a faiſe Prophet, and all his Doctrine, as new-found doctrine, and ſchiſmaticall, ſaying and ſwearing that theyrs was of antiquitie, obſerued of theyrfore-fathers, and hauing the warrant and conſent of the world, what ſay they at this day againſt vsus which do imbrace the ſelfe-ſame Doctrine, that was ſo condemned? Do not they ſay and ſweare that Martin Luther is the father of our religion? Do they not cal it a Sect, a Schiſme, an… Hereſie? Do they not cal vsus traytors to God & man, giuing vsus ſuch titles as they themſelues deſerue, and hauehave they not ſlaine whole thouſands in that quarrel. If we demand of thē whether y• Church of God were at any time comparable to the S…nagog…e of Iewes in re…ct of the multitude, which way wil they turn thē? if they anſwer that it was not, they condemne theyr owne reaſons of very much weaknes, which do go about to confirme tho authority of their Church by other marks then the Church of God euer had: If they anſwer that the church of Chriſt was alwaies the greateſt, they are already conuicted of as great fooliſhneſſe, for there-vppon would al this packet of vntruth luſtly depend, viz. That the Church of God, was drowned in the generall ouerflowing, when al the world was drown'd, and the church of ſatan ſaued in the Arke. That the church of God periſhed-among the Sodomites, and iuſt Lot, and his family, were y• church of the diuel: y• the Iewes, Scribes, & Phariſees, were the Church of Chriſt, and Chriſt him-ſelfe with the remnant of beléeuers the Church of Antichriſt: In concluſion that theyr Church is now the true Church becauſe of the multitude, and ours the falſe: we wil demand but one thing of thoſe multitude of men, which if they truly tell vsus and proue, they ſhall hauehave our hand and▪ our heart, wée will become as true to them as ſtéele, and conſent to any religion of theyr forefathers; which is, that they ſhew forth, at what time the eſtate of the world, was in ſo good caſe, that the beſt thinges did pleaſe the greateſt number, or when iniquity had not the moſt conſent of adherents (except at that time, when all were drown'd except eight perſons) Alaſſe theyr proofe is euen as farre to ſéeke, as heauen is diſtant from hell; God graunt therefore the condition ofRom. 10. 16 conſent, be no nearer vntounto vsus. For it is written broad is the way, that leadethMath. 7. 14. to perdition, and many walk therein, but narrow is the path to ſaluation,Rom. 9. 27. ſtraight is the gate. and few do enter therat. And further, though the childrē of Iſrael were as y• ſand of the ſea, yet ſhall but a remnant be ſaued; This is yet more plainly verified by Elias the Prophet who ſaw not one man frée from Idolatry, and the ſubiection of Belial, Rom 11. 13beſides himſelfe, in all the world, yet did he willingly (all regard of the multitude laid apart,) ſerue the Lord of heauen truly.
Wherefore, though our fore-fathers, ſerued thoſe Gods on the further ſide of Ioſua. 24. 13 Iudith. 8. 19 Ier. 11. 10.the flood, or the Gods of the Amorstes, or the gods of their owne handes: Let it amaze vsus no more then it did good Ioſua who ſaid (and let vsus alſo ſay with him) we and our houſes, will ſerue the God of heauen. And with Iudith, we will not follow the ſinnes of our fore-fathers which forſake their God, and worſhipped ſtrange gods.
The holy Hrophet receaued from the2 Tim. 3. 16, mouth or ſecret inſpiration of God all that doctrine y• they deliuered or taught: the Apoſtles proued their Doctrine out of Prophets: the godly of enſuing ages hauehave reſted vppon them; And ſhall wee alone be careleſſe, or accompt it ynough, if many men hauehave gon before vsus, contrary to the Prophets and Apoſtles? No, no, Al men hauehave ſinned from the firſt (except one) and ſhall doe to the laſt, yet it is nothing lawfull for vsus to follow their ſteps therein: Therefore although our forefathers were Idolaters, yet muſt wee learne to ſerue the Lord, And that wee may the better performe our duties in that behalfe, it behoueth vsus to be wiſe in the trying of ſpirits, leaſt we become clyents to our forefathers ſuperſtitions, or ſuperſtitious in our owne fancies, & ſo ignorantly neglect the precepts of our God.
Let vsus therfore looke vponupon the iniunctions of Popery, that we may be able to reprehend the Church of Rome, but let vsus call home theyr generall Councels, with the rabble of theyr decretals to the ſame Prophets and Apoſtles, And woe ſhal anon perceiue that we hauehave no cauſe to feare (theyr times out of mind) knowing that an euil cuſtom is no better then a commō peſtilence, which by how much the more is old and ancient, by ſo much the more it is rotten & ſtinking: nor yet their commō conſents, ſéeing the ſtate of gods childrē is oftētimes to be deſolate. And becauſe there is no hereſie but will challenge ſom maintenance out of Gods word, ſaying that theyr Church is the Church Apoſtolicall, which the Papiſt as boldly ſweareth & taketh vponupon him, as if nothing were good but his Maſſe, let them ſhew vsus the Prophets and Apoſtles for their Maſſes, Dirges, Trentals, praying to Saints, praying with brads, praying to help ſoules out of purgatory, worſhipping of Idols, Biſhopping of baptized children, kiſſing of Pares, Créeping to Croſſes, baptizing of bells, coniuring of water, coniuring of balme, coniuring of hearbes, buying of bulles and pardons, and auricular confeſſion; & the reſt of their ſacraments, paying of vaine vowes, going on pilgrimage, pace-eggs, manyples, licking of rotten bones, Auc-Maryes bleſſing with two fingers, annoynting, annoyling, abſoluing, knéeling knocking, whipping, crouching, kiſſing, croſſing, ſhauing, greaſing, and ten thouſand ſuch trickets moe. I appeale to the iudgement of the wiſe-harted, whether God abrogating the ceremonies of his own law, did purpoſe, that the Pope ſhould inſtitute and erect a new, of ſuch traditions as theſe.
If we hold them hard to the proofs of theſe and ſuch other, by the touchſtone, aforeſaid (namely y• word of God) theyr next leape, is longer then the paſſage betwéene Douer and Callice: for they croſſe the broad ſs as to vnwritten verities. But how colde theyr entertainment is there, we would not much feare to make thē-ſelues the Iudges, if ſhame & grace had not forſaken them. In déed wee know and confeſſe that more was ſpoken, then is written: And that whatſoeuer Chriſt & the Apoſtles preached, was the word of GOD were it written or not: But we know alſo that if more had bene neceſſary to ſaluation then is written, God would not ſuffer vsus to want it, leaſt with them we might happen to runne a whoring after our owne deuiſes: But aboue all, wee are moſt aſſured that the Spirit of God neuer was, nor will be contrary to it ſelfe: Therefore let vsus try how truly theyr berities vnwritten doe accord with the written word.
We finde in the Scripture, that wee ought to worſhip God alone, and not to make our ſelues any grauen Image; but is it poſſible that the Word vnwritten ſhould tollerate their prayers to ſaints? theyr ſacrificing to Idols, and theyr falling downe before blocks? In his word written, it is called the Doctrine of dinels to forbid matrimony to any man, and can it bee his word vnwritten that Miniſters ſhall neuer marry? it is his word written that all that depart this world in the Lord, do reſt from theyr labours: and is it alſo in the word vnwritten that they bee purged of many torments in the fire of Purgatory before they do reſt: it is playne by the word written, that wee hauehave no remiſſion of ſinne but in the blood of Chriſt, without whome we are dead and condemned to the bottome of hell: but is it as playne by his word vnwritten, that the Pope can ſaue? that who-ſoeuer ſhal die in a white fryers ſcapulary, ſhal be ſaued? or he that dyeth in a gray fryars frocke, ſhall neyther come in Purgatory, nor in hell? and aboue all is it his word vnwritten, that a man may get in ſ… heap of deſeruings (… ſuperrerogation) …s friendes? w… againſt the hea…
Is not this prepoſterous geare? who would thinke that theſe men ſtanding ſo much vppon the fouly▪ ſlippers of theyr wiſedom & gray heads would thus ouerſhoote them-ſelues: which ſo farre forth as in them lyeth, do make God a contemptible changeling: Religion more vncertain thē the Leſbian rule, & tye themſelues to the continuall ſlauery of theyr own deuice? & theyr maiſter the man of Rome? & yéelding theyr whole contemplation to the works of darkneſſe.
Alaſſe with what blind ſpirit are theſe poore ſoules vexed, that will hauehave theyr Pope and the Church of Rome againe exalted? that take away the playne Doctrine of faith, and iuſtification in Chriſt? and teach a fayth ſolted vppe in an Idle fancy? ſaying: that we muſt beléeue of Chriſt, as theyr Church beleeueth, becauſe theyr Church beléeueth, as they beléeue: But if we demand what they, or theyr Church doe beléeue, the next way for vsus to know, is euen to get looke: for doubtleſſe they know not, neyther can they tell vsus.
Truly howſoeuer they cotten y• matter with deuout countenances, or coragious bragges, with perſwaſions of the time paſt, or the ſcarcety or iniquity of the time preſent, or with the outward face or viſor of theyr charity, theyr eſtate is lamentable, it fareth with them euen as with butchers, that vſe to blow vp their fleſh that it may ſeeme bigger, they are grubling ſo much in the myre of theyr own deſart to the world: ward, that they forget or neglect all that true religion and ſeruice they owe vntounto God.
For note this well, where is that Papiſt in all the world, that will not ſooner bid vsus behold his charity towards his neighbour then his integrity in the worſhipping of God? So that charity béeing the vnderſeruant to religion, and a ſecond thing required, they make it the head-ſtone of the corner, and the foundation wher-vponupon they build all theyr righteouſneſſe vntounto ſaluation: Truly we dare not deny that in reſpect of the world (wereit not depraued) the Papiſt haſh ſom good matter in him, becauſe his déeds doe often times extend to the benefit of GODS Church: And euen in this (I write in the gréef of my conſcience wherin I call the Lord to witneſſe) ſhall they condemne many profeſſors in the day of viſitation, that are lewd ſpeakers, and lewd liuers altogether, yet I ſay alwayes that in this his only poynt, if fareth with him, as with the Cow hauing giuen a iolly meſſe of milke, that afterward, doth ſpill it with hir foot.
For to they beare vsus in hand that they hauehave many good workes, and that they are continuall workers, not becauſe they are ſo commanded of God, but rather becauſe, therby they will w…e out theyr ſaluation and purchaſe heauen.
Alaſſe it is a Crauen Cock that crowethCor. 13. 4. … no where but on his owne dunghill, We know that all the good works of the world, being done without louelove, are nothing worth; and that theyr ſuperrerogations being examined, and theyr greateſt workes of dignity next vntounto them, are found without louelove, mercy, pitty or compaſſion. But if it may bee accompted a déed of mercy, to giuegive rich Altar clothes, to the beutifying of Altars; a déed of louelove, to build Chappels and Chauntries, and a déed of pitty to go farre on knées, to giuegive great gifts to ſhrines, then are they paſſing full of louelove, mercy, pitty and compaſſion: otherwiſe they hauehave none at all, at leaſt that is acceptable. For they pitty the pouerty of lime and ſtones, & them they cloath.
They pitty a ſort of foule fat Prieſts infurr'd gov…nes, and them they decke with golden Copes, and ſupply in all other theyr vanities and Idleneſſe, as if it were a good déed to greaſe a fat hog in the tayle: But where is the louelove, and compaſſion of theyr poore brother all this while? I will ſay no more, let them that fare the better for theſe and ſuch other good workes, praiſe them: but yet Let them beware they ſinne not there in▪ like vntounto theſe are theyr Idols which executors vſe to giuegive after men be dead, that liberality is idle, hauing no good intent, and the reward rotten that is payd backe againe; which is, Lord hauehave mercy on the ſoule of this charitable dead man. O groſſe folly: where is the louelove that ſhould make this deed acceptable? if we ſhould ſpeake generally of al theyr works, they are euen droſſe and more ſhamefull vices then theſe, if more may bee, for I ſay, and yet not I, but the holy Ghoſt, if they be not done in louelove ſpringing out of the bowels of true fayth, they ſtink before y• face of God. Yea but they wil ſay they hauehave al louelove, mercy, pitty & compaſſiō. Yea but how can this be true. …. Let it be granted, y• they giuegive many gifts to the poore, that they hely to defend the widow, to harbour the fatherleſſe, to cloath the naked, to féed the hangry, &c. … … They do not theſe things … of the néedy, but to getto … ſhe …nſpeakable benefit of ſaiuation, this is louelove indeed I graunt: but is it not the onelyonly louelove of them ſelure? For I lend or giuegive a man a hundred pounde, becauſe I would gaine a thouſand or a thouſand, becauſe I would gayne tenne thouſand, whome louelove I? my poore neighbour, hauing néed of mée? or my ſelfe? O blindneſſe, that ſeeth not theſe euills, nay twiſe O blindneſſe that doth not ſée, more then this! what is it to ſay that we are able to ſaue & iuſtifie our ſelues before the tribunall ſeat of God, but to reproue our moſt wiſe God of folly & doltiſhneſſe, in that without need, hee ſent Jeſus Chriſt his welbeloued Son, by ſo great torment, as he indured to deliuer vsus from the bondage of ſinne? And what is it elſe but to contemne the vnſpeakable louelove of our ſauior, who being a God ſo mighty, y• King of all Kings, and the only Prince of all worlds, diſdayned not to take vntounto him, the contemptible ſhape of a ſeruant, and to beare the burden or all our ſins, euen vntounto the death of the vile and ſhamefull croſſe, that hee might preſent vsus blameleſſe before his father. Which groſſe opinion ſo outragiouſly blaſphemous, ſome Papiſts at this …ay waxing halfe aſhamed of, and daring not ſo broadly to maintaine, will ſeeme to qualifie with a poore ſhift of deſkant. And becauſe very infants or fooles in this light of the goſpell (for which the Lord be prayſed) might otherwiſe point at them for their folly, they ar contct not to be priue Chriſt of his dignity altogether, and therefore doe attribute ſome part of iuſt fication to him, & the reſt to them-ſelues. Surely this is ſcarcely ſo good a recompence, as hauing cracked his crown, to giuegive him a plaſter: for except ſom inſufficiency were or might iuſtly be foūd in him, what madnes ſhould moue them to intrude themſelues into his office? But if theſe enter commoners with Chriſt, though they ſéeme to hauehave retayned a certaine blinde modeſty be heedfully examined, in truth they doe but practiſe to delude themſelues and vsus, hauing no mind to deale with Chriſt whot or cold.
For if we demaund of them for Gods eternall predeſtination, whereby he bringeth the elected and reprobate ſort to the…r appointed ends, they are at defiance with that doctrine: and euen in this hauehave they taken away all that part of iuſtification, that they aſcribed to Chriſt before, for why? If we be not ſafe conducted to heauen by the predeſtinate on of God in Jeſus Chriſt, if followeth that we are carryed thether by ſame deſert of our owne, or elſe that wee neuer come there at all, it were a ſtrong engine that ſhould hale them from this opinion, and yet is Chriſt heereby made altogether Jacke out of office. Let vsus not wonder at theſe men, ſo much as pray for them: let vsus not quarrel ſo much with them, as perſwade with them, nor laugh ſo muck at theyr folly & wickednes as lament theyr ignorance: for this is true, if they be right, we be wrong, if we be wrong, we are already ſold vnderunder ſin: contrary wiſe if we be right (whereof let vsus not doubt, becauſe the ſpirit of truth hath ſealed vsus vppe in the Prophets and Apoſtles) then are they wrong: if they be wrong, there is nothing more certayne then theyr iuſt damnation, vnleſſe they turne to God with hearty repentance (which God for his ſon ſake euen ſpéedily grant them) if it be his will.
And although they are not aſhamed to denounce againſt vsus, that we are Libertines and deſpiſers of good works, becauſe we preferre our fayth in free iuſtification: be it as farre from vsus to be troubled at thoſe falſe ſuggeſtions, as we are frée of that fault, we know & confeſſe, that Gods deareſt children, hauehave ſmal féeling of God without righteous doing: therefore wee profeſſe that if wee ſée no good workes in our hands, if we perceiue not that the preaching of the Goſpell hath mortified in our concupiſcence, and made vsus to hunger & thirſt after righteouſnes, we hauehave ſmal teſtimony of Gods election, we may talk til we are weary of our hope and faith in Chriſt, we may prattle till we ar hoarſe of the Goſpell and our profeſſion, and we may deſie the Pope and his accomplices to the bottome of hell. But except our ſelues louelove the righteouſneſſe of God, and we exerciſe the ſame, Satan doth féed vsus forth, with the ſtrength of illuſion: for Godlineſſe is not made of talke as bookes are of leaues nor as woods are of trées, but it is ſuch a holineſſe as doth clime, from vice to vertue, and from one vertue to another without ceaſing.
Good ſir, this being true, we hauehave néed to looke about vsus, and eueryevery man hauehave an eſpeciall eye to Gods glory in the execution of our actions: and if we hauehave attained to ſome knowledge in the ſchoole of Chriſt; we ſée in the Goſpell, that he is condemned, that hideth his talent, aſwel as the other, that riotouſly waſted it, I pray you apply this to your ſelfe whom the Lord hath loued with long continewaunce of his goodneſſe, and you ſhall find out a right Chriſtian exploit euen in the man, that ſat next at your elbow. Set vponupon it, or if you hauehave begon giuegive it not ouer, for the winning of one ſoule to Chriſt is more acceptable in the ſight of GOD, then to offer the whole world for a ſacrifice; what though he be a man, the ſpirit of GOD is able to encounter him, if hee bee neuer ſo wyly or peruerſe in opinion. God who is able to rend the heart, and to pierce the marrow in the bones, is alwayes preſont in his owne worke.
What though hee happily may commaund your ſilence, your ſpirit muſt bee touched with his ſinnes, you may not ſuffer him to reſt in vncleanneſſe: for they that are of CHRIST are alwayes carefull to bring others to Chriſt-ward, but eſpecially thoſe that are ſo neare vntounto them, as hee is to you, you know that in proceſſe of time, the ſoft drop of raine doth break the hard flint, the ſilly worme doth throw downe the mighty oake, and the ſlow ſnayle doth attayne to the top of Mountaines. Therefore let nothing diſcon age you.
If this opinion be eſtabliſhed vponupon the preſcriptions of his forefathers, try him by the Prophets & Apoſtles, if the length and continuance of his religion doth ſéeme forceable toperſwade him. ſhew him the law, where God puniſhed y• tranſgreſſion of Iſrael with four hundred yeares blindneſſe; and no doubt hee that would puniſh the tranſgreſſion of that Law, the gaue by Angells, with ſo long ignorance, may as iuſtly perſwade him, that the ſame God can puniſh the contempt of his Goſpel, with a thouſand yeares blindneſſe; Nay proue vntounto him (I ſay) the generall apoſtacy wherof the Apoſtles hauehave told vsus, if he dare not ſubſcribe to the Goſpell, becauſe he may become an offence to his friendes, proue from thence, that he feareth his worldly friendes, more then hee loueth his heauenly God: if he ſhun the Goſpel becauſe of thoſe hereſtes, that dayly ſpring vp in the light therof, ſhew him that he neuer knew, or elſe hath forgotten the Scripture, which doth witneſſe: The Hereſies muſt needs be, that the faithful may1 Cor. 11. 19 be tryed, if his eies be preſixed vponupon profeſſors, that he can find many faults in theyr manners, let him look backe into him-ſelf, and he ſhall ſée that Papiſts and Proteſtants are very men, néeding the Phiſition: But if he find not ſo great corruption in him-ſelfe; Firſt let him take1 Cor. 10. 12 héed leaſt it fare with him, as with men that be ſicke, which when they thinke them-ſelues recouered & neareſt to health, ar euen then furtheſt from health and neareſt theyr end. But if there bee not indéed ſuch corruption in them (which is hard to be determined on eyther ſide, conſidering how partiall our nature is in it owne behalfe, and ready to ſla…ter it ſelfe) let him neuer impute this to the dignity of his religion, but to the goodneſſe of God the giuer of al good things. If he feare the Goſpell becauſe it is ill ſpoken off, Let him remember that ChriſtRom. 9. …. himſelf is a ſtumbling ſtone made for the fal of many: if he be affraid of corrupt trā ſlations, let him either correct, orſhew vsus y• cauſes of his miſliking, and he ſhall be ſatiſfied. Finally if he ſhall ſtumble at Jarre that is now ava…s among Diuines, let him without partiality, read the monuments of Popery, & he ſhal perceiue ten times more oddes among the Doctors thereof: For there is none of thē al (& almoſt as few of the old fathers) but ar ſo far wide one from another, yea and moſt of them from them-ſelues, that neyther Papiſts, nor Proteſtants doe want matter thereof to authorize and maintaine theyr religion, nor any heretique that hath bene ſince the firſt beginning of Papiſtry. Therfore you may proue vntounto him, that this fault ought not to be fathered on the word of God, which doth plainly and truly ſet forth all points of religion: But rather vponupon Sathan and his mallice, whoſe continuall practiſe hath béene, by al meanes and deuices poſſible, to diſcredit the religion of God: for ſuch Darnell did hee throw among the Apoſtles, as did ſet great diſſention betwéene Paul and Barnabas, andActs. 13. 29 Gal. 2. 1…. likewiſe made Paul and. Peter at open deſtance.
Al theſe things I leane to your continual meditation, and by you, to be imployed to the benefit of Gods Church, as your duty and occaſion ſhall requyre: And ſo beſéeching you not to neglect any other, that by your godly ſtudy, you can call to remembrance, wherby Gods truth may be maintayned, I doe humbly take my leaue.
FINIS. …
End of the text · Arthur Dent, The Opening of Heaven Gates (1610)