One-Hundred Forty-Five Sermons Upon John 17, Sermon 75
SERMON LXXV. Of the Truth of Scripture-Propheſies; And againſt Judiciall Astrologie and Witchcraft; Shewing the Vanity and Wickedneſse thereof, and of Seeking to them.
JOH. 17.12.
That the Scripture might be fullfilled.
I ſhall at this time conclude this Text which hath been ſo fruitful in ſpiritual matter, but before I come to make the laſt Obſervation let us Conſider,
In how many ſences the Scripture may be ſaid to be fulfilled, For there are divers waies of underſtanding this, and indeed there is ſcarce any thing more difficult in Religion, then to make an happy reconciliation of the places quoted in the New Teſtament with the Old; At the firſt view of many of thoſe allegations, you would think there were violent deflections of the Scripture to another ſence, then was intended, but we Chriſtians beleeve that the ſame Spirit which breathed on the Prophets, did alſo inſpire the holy Apoſtles for the right interpretation of them; Though therefore the Solution of every difficulty ſurpaſſe the ability of the moſt Learned Interpreter, yet we are to captivate our underſtandings to the Truth of the Scripture, and not the Scripture to our Underſtandings, and nothing will better facilitate a right Underſtanding of Scripture-allegations then to know that the Scripture may be ſaid to be fullfilled two waies,In how many ſences the Scripture may be ſaid to be fullfilled.
1. Properly. 2. Improperly, and by way of accomodation.
Properly, and that two waies, Either in a literall ſence or a myſticall ſence; A literall ſence either is ſimply ſo when it's a meer prediction of what is to come, and hath no Type for the preſent to be verified in, of this kinde or ſort are many Examples eſpecially, Iſa. 7.14. Behold, a Virgin ſhall conceive and bear a Son, Matth. 1.22. applied to Chriſt; This was onelyonly true of Chriſt and his Mother, not applicable to any elſe, for as for Muſculus and Grotius, who conceive that this was done in a Type, and that ſame Virgin in thoſe daies did marry and bear a Son, which was a Type of Chriſt is wholly improbable, and diminiſheth this glorious Myſtery of Chriſts Incarnation.
As for the ſecond kinde of fulfilling which is a compounded ſence of the Type and Antitype that is often; Thus theſe things which were fulfilled about the Paſchal Lamb, the braſen Serpent, about Jonah, Solomon, and David, were alſo applied to Chriſt as the Antitype; As alſo Hoſ. 11. that of bringing the people of Iſrael out of Egypt unto Chriſt, Though theſe places alſo may be ſaid to be fullfilled in a myſtical ſence, and in this manner the Scripture ſpeaking of Judas his perdition, Pſa. 41. and Pſa. 109. is to be underſtood, for David in thoſe Pſalms literally ſpeaks of his preſent enemies but typically and myſtically this was to be applied to Judas, An improper or accomodatitious application is, when the Scripture is ſaid to be fulfilled becauſe there falleth out ſomething like that, So Chriſt Mat. 15.7, 8. repeateth that to the hypocrites of his time, which the Prophet Iſa. 29 13. applieth to thoſe that lived in his time, viz. that they drew nigh him with their lips, but their hearts were farre from him; This explained obſerve,
Obſ.Doct. That it's a ſure Argument and Demonſtration of the Divinity of the Scripture, That it doth foretell things which long after do come to paſſe; Judas his perdition in the Text was propheſied of many hundred years before;The truth of Scripture-Propheſies. As God endowed men with ſuch illumination that they could tell what was done many years before they lived, as appeareth in Moſes his writing of the Hiſtory of the Creation, ſo it doth no leſſe wonderfully appear in a prediction of ſuch things as ſhall come hereafter, and therefore both the Old Teſtament and the New have two Books that are wonderfully prophetick of what ſhall befal the Church in after Ages; Daniel propheſied ſo in his time, and John did the like in his Revelations.
To open this Doctrine Conſider,
Firſt, That it is only Gods property to foreknow things to come;I. It is only Gods property to foreknow things to come We matter not thoſe wretched Socinians who deny any preſcience in God, becauſe they ſay this would enduce an abſolute neceſſity, and it would be as vain a thing to think to avoid what God doth foreknow as what he doth preordain; Therefore they take away one as well as the other, but this is impudently to contradict the Scripture which doth ſo often make preſcience a property belonging ſolely to God, obſerve that place Iſa. 41.21, 22, 23. ſhew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know ye are gods, and indeed he only can know future things that only knoweth the hearts of men, and that the Scripture attributeth to God only; Indeed the Prophets who were but men, yet they did foretell many things to come, but they were only miniſteriall in this, It was God that revealed theſe things to them, ſo that it was not they ſo much as God, and thus the Scripture revealeth things to come becauſe it's the word of him who knoweth all things, and it's the writing of ſuch who were immediatly inſpired by the holy Ghoſt; Now one reaſon why God muſt needs foreknow what is to come, is becauſe nothing can ever be without his decree predictive of it, and ſo becauſe God knoweth what he will do, therefore he knoweth what ſhall be; Therefore we need not with the Jeſuites run to a ſcientia media, whereby God knoweth all things they ſay from the infinity of his knowledge, comprehending the nature of things antecedently to his Decree, their actions abſolutely future or conditionally only, for his knowledge is founded upon his decree.
Secondly, Although God only doth originally and by his own property know things to come, yet the devils they may foretell ſome things;II. Yet the devil may foretell ſome things to come. Not that the devils can of themſelves foreknow any future caſuall thing, for they know not the hearts and free wils of men, yet ſome things they certainly foreknow, ſome things with great conjectures, certainly they know ſuch things which God revealeth to them, and employeth them in to bring about, for ſeeing even the very devils are Inſtruments of bringing about his vengeance, as appeareth by that, when God commanded the lying ſpirits to be in the mouth of the falſe Prophets, as alſo when they appeared before God as well as the Angels, Iob 1. Seeing (I ſay) God uſeth theſe as Inſtruments, no wonder if he make known unto them what Service they have to do, and therefore they can foretell things, yea, the Lord ſuffers falſe Prophets ſometimes to foretell things by way of judgement to a people, as is to be ſhewed, for not only to godly men but even to wicked men God hath ſometimes revealed things to come, as to Balaam, and thoſe Mat. 7. who ſaid, Have we not propheſied in thy Name? But beſides this revealed knowledge the devils may probably foretell things to come, partly as Auſtin well obſerveth, becauſe of their intellectual acuteneſſe, having ſuch extraordinary quickneſſe in theit underſtanding, and this added to their long life which they have had ever ſince their Creation, and partly becauſe of their agility whereby they can quickly move from one place to another, as it's related of Apollonius Thyancus, who being at Epheſus when Domitian was murthered at Rome, cried out, Be of good courage, for at this moment the Tyrant is killed. Hiſtorians write, that Poſts came afterwards that did confirm all thoſe things about Domitians Death; Now if this were ſo, then it was by the help of the devil, who could quickly move ſo far, as that Apollonius did many other things, and therefore is thought by ſome to be raiſed up by the devils to oppoſe Chriſt, and draw off from him by falſe Miracles.
III. Predictions of three ſorts.Thirdly, Conſider there may be predictions of three ſorts; divine, ſuch as are of God himſelf, or by Prophets inſpired by him, or diabolcicall predictions, which are by Gods juſt judgements ſuffered to be upon a people, and theſe are either by the devil, or by his Inſtrumenss, Witches, and Sorcerers, Aſtrologers, and other kinde of waies of Divination which are too common even amongſt Chriſtians, or humane and natural predictions, which are from natural cauſes to their natural effects; Thus the Aſtronomer may foretell the Eclipſes that ſhall be, The Phyſician can the effects of ſome Diſeaſes, and ſo the natural Philoſopher may, but not with ſuch certainty, foretell of drought or much rain, as our Saviour implieth, Mat. 16.20. but this is only probable, becauſe many particular cauſes may interpoſe and alter all their prognoſtiques: Thus alſo politick Predictions which wiſe men ſometimes can preſage about Commonwealths; Though thoſe are but Coniectures, as he ſaid, Bene qui conticet, hunc tu perhibeto vatem optimum.
IV. How vain and wicked it is to go to Aſtrologers or Witches, or to be ſuch.Fourthly, Seeing that to foretell any thing to come be thus the property of God and of the Scripture, Then by this we ſee, That all thoſe who go to Astrologers or Witches to know things to come, and all thoſe that profeſſe judiciary Astrology, that will undertake to foretell not natural things but voluntary, ſuch as are meerly ſubject to mens will, Do not only undertake a vain raſh, and falſe thing, but that alſo which is very abominable and wicked; It's neceſſary to ſpeak to this, becauſe there are many people look more to the fullfilling of what ſuch Prognoſticks and Almanacks ſay, then to the Scripture, as if Saturn and Jupiter did reign, therefore the Earth muſt tremble, and not God reign; It would require a great Volume to ſpeak of this exactly, OnelyOnly briefly Conſider theſe things.Againſt Aſtrology and Witchcraft Conſider,
1. That it hath been the Devils way alwaies to diſturb the Church, and endeavour the damnation of many mens ſouls by making them credulous in theſe things; That as Chriſt hath ſet in his Church Paſtors and Teachers to inſtruct in the way to heaven: So the devil hath raiſed his Witches, his Sorcerers, his Soothſayers and Aſtrologers to ſeduce the world. Of old there were the Heretiques Priſcillianiſts, that did binde men to the Starres, and made the body of men to be compounded according to the Signs, yea, into this ſoul errour Aquila that famous Interpreter of the Scripture fell, for which he was caſt out of the Church of God; and Cardan roſe to that high Impiety, as to obſerve Chriſts Birth, and made his power to do the Miracles he did to flow from the influx of thoſe Starres that he was born under. Some have not been ſo wicked, yet others, as Petrus de Aliaco thought by the Stars there might have been prognoſticated the Birth of Chriſt; And Kepler contends, thoſe Wiſe men by the Rules of Aſtrological Art, might have preſaged not only an Event of ſome great moment but the Birth of ſome great Monarch; As if Chriſt were not born after an extraordinary and miraculous manner; That the Heavens have influence upon the bodies of men may not be denied, Though Pererins argueth againſt thoſe Coeleſtes influentias, as I remember; Hence a man poſſeſſed with the devil is called foreign lunatick, which ſome ſay was becauſe the devil took the occaſion, that at what time of the Moon humours did moſt abound, then to diſturb him, and no doubt but that the Heavens were made for glorious ends▪ but not to be Books to reveal what ſhall come to paſſe.
Therefore that you may reſt ſatisfied, That the Scripture only can infallibly tell what is to come to paſſe, and that it is a high wickedneſſe and preſumption to run to Witches, Sorcerers, or judiciall Aſtrologers, take theſe following Arguments.
1. All thoſe places of Scripture which forbid any reſort to them; Conſider that place Lev 19.26. Ye ſhall not uſe inchantment nor obſerve times, So Lev. 20 27. Deut. 10.11, 12, 13. Eſpecially take notice of that full and efficacious place, Iſa. 45.12, 13, 14. You ſee here by clear and plain Texts all ſuch predictions are an abomination to God, and if we ſhould urge beſide divine authority humane, this would be enough to confirm us, all the Fathers ſpeak with much vehemency againſt them, many Councels have condemned ſuch practiſes, yea, divers Heathens have condemned them, for the greateſt Aſtrologers, Ptolomy himſelf, as the Learned ſhew, acknowledgeth no certain Truth can be foretold by them, Tully wrote ſeveral Books de Divinatione, condemning ſuch Diviners, as lib. 2. de div. inſtancing that before a great Fight ſome Mice had gnawn the Buckler of a Souldier, the Soothſayer concluded, the War would be fatal and unlucky, as if (ſaith Tully) becauſe the mice did gnaw ſome Books which I had of Platoes de Repub. therefore I ſhould conclude that our Commonwealth ſhould be deſtroyed; The very Heathens abhorred ſuch Divinations, and we reade Act. 19.19. of many when converted brought their curious Books, and burnt them, which is not to be underſtood of meer witchery and Sorcery Books, but of thoſe that are given to vain and couſening Arts; Otherwiſe the holy Ghoſt would not have expreſſed thoſe wicked Books under ſo vile a Name as foreign As Authority doth condemn, ſo Reaſon, as we may reade at large in Pererius, Spanhemius, Zanchius, and others. For
1 If the Heavens were true and proper cauſes or neceſſary Signs, yet no man could prognoſtique certainly by them, becauſe no man knoweth the number of the Stars, nor the vertue and efficacy of them; The Scripture giveth it as peculiar to God, that he only knoweth the Stars, and cals them by their Names, but if any man could certainly divine by them, he muſt know both the number of the Stars, and their peculiar activity or influence, and the degree of that activity, without which they may groſly erre:
Again, If the Heavens be cauſes they are only Univerſal Cauſes, now from an Ʋniverſal indeterminate cauſe there cannot be any ſpecial particular effect foretold; For beſides Univerſal Cauſes, all particular interiour Cauſes, which are many and uncertain, muſt be known alſo.
Laſtly, This would bring a Contempt of God, and meer Athieſm into the world; The Scripture carrieth us out to God in all things, to his Wiſedome, to his Power, to his Juſtice, but theſe would binde us to the Planets, yea, by theſe means the Scripture alſo will be deſpiſed and laid aſide, ſo that all prophaneſſe will thereby be introduced, yea, and excuſes for all Vice will be pleaded how could they help it? Seeing they were born under ſuch a Starre, as Auſtin reports of an Aſtrologer handſomely reproved by his Servant, He had a Servant that ſtole from him, and this Aſtrologer his Maſter going to correct him, he cryeth out, I could not help it, I was born under Mercury (They ſay, thoſe born under that Planet are given to ſtealing;) Thus by his Maſters own principles and Rules of Art he convinced him.
Object. One Objection they much urge, is that they often foretold what is true.
To this it is anſwered, And many things have been as falſe and untrue, and if one thing fall out, it is more obſerved then if an hundred things prove otherwiſe, beſides when they foretell many things, it's hard if they cannot foretell ſome one thing, as a blinde man that ſhoots many arrows, may chance once to hit the mark.
But then 2. If ſuch things do come to paſſe, it's either by their expreſſe or virtuall compact with the devil; and if not ſo, as Auſtin well obſerveth it's from a juſt judgement of God to thee, that thou ſhouldſt have wherewith to ſtumble and fall, and undo thy ſelf, Deut. 13.1. Thus a wicked Prophet may foretell that which ſhall come to paſſe, and why? God doth thus to prove and try you.
Ʋſe, To abhor all commerce and reſort to ſuch perſons, to fly from them as from the devil; Thou breakeſt thy Baptiſmal Vow, if thou renounceſt not ſuch Diabolicall practiſes; Oh that going to ſuch men ſhould ever be owned by Chriſtians, by Proteſtants! Indeed Learned men obſerve, that ſuch deluſions have prevailed in Popiſh and Anabaptiſticall Spirits, but do not thou regard ſuch fopperies: How often (ſaid Tully) did I hear ſuch men promiſe Pompey and Caeſar, that they ſhould live long, die a peaceable death, and in honour, when yet the clean contrary fell out, and even▪ Lapide the Jeſuite on c. 19. of the Acts bewaileth, while he was at Rome how much they were given to this vanity, while the Aſtrologers would promiſe ſome long Life, others 2 Cardinalſhip, others the Popedome, and yet at laſt all miſerably deluded.
Ʋſe 2. To admire the Divinity of the Scripture in this particular, That it alone foretels of things to come, and it muſt be fulfilled, That ſpeaks of a day of Judgement, of an account to be given for every thing done in the fleſh, Beleeve this, and perſwade thy ſoul of it as really as if it were done already, when Dives was in hell, then he opened his eyes and ſaw where he was, but it was too late, and thus it will be with too many.