One-Hundred Forty-Five Sermons Upon John 17, Sermon 71
SERMON LXXI. Of the Son of Perdition.
JOH. 17.11.
But the Son of Perdition.
WE have not yet ſucked all the honey out of this honey-comb, Not obſerved all the practicall matter which is deducible from this ſad Inſtance, He may be a pillar of Salt to ſeaſon us; As the people ſtood ſtill gazing and amazed at Aſahell, wallowing in his bloud, ſo may we with fear and trembling behold this Son of Perdition: We may be admoniſhed not only by good Examples but bad, Judas his Perdition is a ſpiritual Anatomy-Lecture for us to look to our ſelves, and to take heed of ſuch Diſeaſes that may endanger us which did him.
The Third Obſervation ſhall be from the Conſideration of this Son of Perdition in the reſpective condition he was in; He is in the company of the Apoſtles, yet not truly of them, a Jay among the Doves, a Wolf amongſt the Sheep, yet though ſuch an one prove deceitfull, and an Apoſtate, we are not to condemn Chriſt and his Apoſtles, we are not to cenſure them as all of the ſame temper.
Obſ. That we are not to condemn the way of Religion and Religious perſons, Doct. We are not to condemn Religion and relisious perſons though ſome amongſt them prove ſcandalous.though ſome amongst them prove ſcandalous and deceitfull; Would it not have been horrible impiety to have broken out againſt all the Apoſtles and Chriſt himſelf ſaying, look what they are, It's as the Phariſees ſaid, a company of Impoſtors and Deceivers, They are all for their own ends, they are all covetous, and though they pretend Religion, yet they are bypocrites, and though they condemn the groſſe ſinnes of the world, yet in ſecret they can be as bad as any, would not ſuch a tongue ſhew that it was ſet on fire from hell, that ſhould belch out ſuch things; It's then of ſpecial conſequence to know, that we are not to love the ſtrictneſſe of Religion, the leſſe, nor are we to prejudice our ſelves againſt the way and perſons of Godly men▪ if ſometimes amongſt them there be ſuch who made the pretence of holineſſe a diſguiſe to act their wickedneſſe in: Think not the worſe of the Apoſtles, becauſe a Judas was amongſt them.
To bring this Truth home to your hearts, Conſider theſe things.
1. There was never any ſuch pure Society and company of holy men upon the Earth but there were alſo ſome Hypocrites and inſincere men mingled amongst them; Either wilfull convinced Hypocrites or elſe unſound men in the bottome, and therefore when a Temptation came they diſcovered what they were; It's in vain to look for ſuch a Church, wherein all the members of it ſhall be perfect and pure; In the Old Teſtament we reade of many eminent at leaſt for a while in the Church of God, but yet rotten at the Coar; Saul was in a remarkable manner choſen by God to temporal government, he pretends much zeal for Gods people and heartily himſelf to deſtroy the enemies of Iſrael, yea, the Spirit of propheſie came upon him, but it became a Proverb, Is Saul among the Prophets? We were not to condemn the Prophets, becauſe a deceitfull bloudy Saul was amongſt them: Among the good Kings in the Old Teſtament, David, Hezekiah, and Joſiah, We reade alſo of Jehu, who for outward appearance did many glorious things of Reformation; The Text ſaith, He did all things that were in Gods heart, yet for all that he was not with David, a man after Gods own heart: He was a Meteor, not a fixed Starre, he was a picture, not a living man in Religion, he was moved up and down as his carnal Intereſts did leade him; Again as there were the good Prophets, Iſaiah and Jeremiah with many others, ſo there were alſo the bad Prophets who came not in Gods Name, who propheſied peace, and ſowed pillows under wicked mens elbows, that they might ſinne the more ſecurely; Should a man therefore have cried out againſt all the Prophets that they were a deceitfull, ſelf-ſeeking generation, and that it was no matter what they ſaid, for they drave on their own deſigns, to be Lords over all, to obtain great things; Thus it was of old and in the New-Teſtament-diſpenſation though their outward profeſſion of the Truth was ſubject to many dangers, inſomuch that there was little encouragement to hypocrites we might juſtly think that (if ever) in thoſe primitive daies all ſhould have been upright, but there were even then Foxes amongſt the Sheep, John 2. Our Saviour would not truſt many that yet are ſaid to beleeve: Hence are theſe compariſons of the Church to the Floor, wherein is chuff as well as wheat: To the Field wherein are Tares as well as Wheat; To the Drag net wherein are bad Fiſh as well as good: Now will ye condemn a Field of Corn becauſe of ſome Weeds in it? Did not Paul complain that he was in danger of falſe Brethren, and that many came creeping in to ſpy out their liberty to have an occaſion to accuſe them; Did not Hymeneus and Philetus make ſhipwrack of all? Did not Alexander the Copper-Smith withſtand Paul, and do him much hurt? 2 Tim. 4.12. yet judicious Divines think that it was that Alexander mentioned in the Acts, who had almoſt loſt his life, in his forward appearance for the Goſpel, make account then of that which our Saviour ſaith, Mat. 18 7. It's impoſſible but that offences muſt come, there will be wofull ſcandals even in the Church of God, but let not this make thee revolt.
2. As there have been ſuch unſound hypocrites alwaies in the Church, ſo it is the great endeavour of the devil to tempt and to ſet on thoſe that are moſt eminent to throw them in the mire, for hereby he will promote his own kingdome; The ſcandals and ſtumbling-blocks of men reputed of in the Church are the greateſt advantage to the devil, Luk. 22. Satan hath deſired to winnow you; As Goliah challenged the ſtouteſt Iſraelite thinking by vanquiſhing of him to diſmay all the reſt; Thus the devil if he can overcome an Apoſtle, a Diſciple, then all the reſt will eaſily yeeld; The devil deſired to winnow them more then all others; Not only the high places in temporal reſpects but even in the Church are ſlippery and dangerous; Thoſe that are lifted above others in Religion, in parts, in eſteem, they are more in danger then ten thouſand of other Chriſtians, for if they fall they draw more with them: If a tall Tree fall, it beats down all the ſhrubs under it; If a pillar of the houſe fall, it endangers all the buildings; It is noted of the devil that he uſed the Serpent at firſt to entice Eve, becauſe that was more ſubtle then any other Creature of the Field, and the devil ſtill takes the ſame way, The ſubtleleſt and moſt notable Inſtruments he ſtriveth to pervert them; Men of the beſt parts, the greateſt learning, the hotteſt zeal, It is ſuch as he looked after: Thus in Antiquity many of the Heretiques were of great Learning, plauſible Eloquence, ſubtle Inſinuations, ſpecious Piety, and thereby they did the more hurt; Therefore the more reputed thou art in the Church of God, know thy Condition to be the more dangerous; The devil will never give over till one way or other he make thee a Scandall; Let him that ſtandeth take heed leſt he fall.
3. Men may through their corruptions actively take an occaſion to ſpeak againſt the waies of Religion, or elſe there may be a paſſive occaſion adminiſtred to them, and we are greatly to diſtinguiſh between theſe two, Divines call it Scandalum acceptum, and Scandalum datum; There are a generation of men ſo deviliſh and malicious, that they will take an occaſion to condemn the way of Religion even for good things, for neceſſary duties, or at leaſt when they have no juſt occaſion: Thus our Saviour himſelf though never ſo holy, ſo humble, ſo godly in his doctrine and life, yet the Phariſees took all occaſion to calumniate him, They ſay he wrought by the devil, and called him a Friend to Publicans and Sinners; There are ſome wretched men that do what you can they will be prejudiced againſt the Truth and Godlineſſe, They will look upon all the waies of Chriſt as ſo many deceits and impoſtures, and this offence is called Scandalum Phariſeorum by the Caſuiſts; But then there is a Scandal given, or ſcandalum Puſillorum, when thoſe who appear for Religion do ſuch things as are indeed inconſiſtent with holineſſe, that can never be made good by the Scripture, and of ſuch it is that our Saviour ſaith, Wo be to him by whom offences come, Mat. 18.7. Whoſoever ſhall offend one of theſe little ones, it had been better a Millſtone were hung about his neck, and he thrown into the ſea; For although it be alſo a ſinne in any man to be prejudiced and alienated from Godlineſſe, becauſe of the ſinnes of thoſe that profeſſe it, neither will that be an excuſe to them, yet becauſe ſuch put a ſtumbling block in the way, therefore is the tranſgreſſion great: Diſtinguiſh then between ſuch as through their wilfull obſtinacy will be offended, and from ſuch who are ſo through weakneſſe and a reall occaſion given.
4. Such is the enmity of man to what is good, that he is glad to have any occaſion to blame the Truth with, whenas indeed they ſhould mourn and grieve to ſee any failings amongſt thoſe that are religious, they rather rejoyce in the diſcovery of ſuch, and they think this is a good reaſon for their Impiety; Why ſhould they▪ come out from the common waies of the world? Do not many of thoſe that are ſo forward do thus and thus? And therefore they hope they ſhall do as well as any other: The Apoſtle ſeeing this wicked diſpoſition in the world ſpeaks notably to the godly, 1 Pet. 3.16. To walk with ſuch a good Conſcience, that whereas the world will ſpeak againſt them as evil doers, they may be aſhamed; So 1 Pet. 2.12.
Theſe things premiſed, Let us conſider the unreaſonableneſſe and ſinfullneſſe of condemning Religion for ſome hypocrites therein:
For 1. Doſt thou not as well ſee many are ſincere and walk unblameably? Doth not thy own heart tell thee that thou haſt no juſt cauſe to ſpeak againſt them? Doſt thou not ſometimes wiſh thy Soul might do as well as theirs? Doſt thou not with Balaam wiſh thou mightſt die the Death of ſuch Righteous perſons? Shall not the Graces and holineſſe of Eleven Apoſtles more confirm thee then the wickedneſſe of one Judas offend thee? Conſider then how unreaſonable thou art that doſt only minde the weak places of the Wall, not …he ſtrong; Thou ſpeakeſt of many that for gain and ſecret luſts have fallen off from God, but how many thouſands of godly ſincere men can we tell thee of, who becauſe they feared God were neither terrified by threats, nor yet ſeduced by allurements to deny Chriſt; Though a Judas did betray him, yet …here are Millions of Martyrs who have valiantly died in the Confeſſion of him.
2. We are not to live by Examples but by Precepts, It's an Old Rule; We are to conſider what the Scripture requires and commands, If that enjoyn a life ſeparated and ſingular to the wickedneſſe of the world, If that bid thee run not into the ſame exceſſe of Riot with them, ſuch a ſtrict way and profeſſion thou art bound to follow; Though all that go before thee be hypocrites, and that go with thee; Though all the Apoſtles had been like Judas, yet Chriſts Truth had ſtill been to be embraced; Therefore not mens lives but the Scripture is to be ou… Rule: If all men prove Hypocrites or Apoſtates, yet we are bound to keep cloſe to the Word, Let God be true and every man a Lyar; It's true the life and converſation of others in ſincerity and uprightneſſe may be a great inducement to holineſs, therfore the Scripture often cals for a life of light and holineſſe, that others may be won thereby, but yet every one ought to have ſuch an inward aſſurance both of the Truth of God and his Grace upon his heart, that what Peter ſaid preſumptuouſly they are to acknowledge as a duty; Though all men ſhould forſake Chriſt, yet he would not; It's not upon men that we are to build either our faith or our godlineſſe, but though all men ſhould prove devils, and there were none in the world but one man that would own Chriſt, thou wert to joyn with him.
3. If we ſhould condemn Religion for the falſhood of ſome, we were to condemn all the waies of Religion, and all parties in the world, and ſo to turn direct Athieſts, for look upon all the ſeverall waies and parties that are in the world, Are there not ſome that are a reproach to them, that the wiſer and more ſober perſons in that way will not own? Wonder not then if the Apoſtle ſay of ſome, that they are ſpots in their Feaſts, Jude 12. And Rom. 2. that they are ſuch by whom the Name of God is blaſphemed among the Gentiles; This hath and will be; It is impoſſible (ſaith our Saviour) but there will be offences, viz, conſidering the corruptions and ſinfull inclinations of men, but if you will own no Religion wherein an Hypocrite may come in, you muſt do as Conſtantine bad the Novatian erect a Ladder, and go himſelf only into heaven; Even in heaven it ſelf there were (as we may ſay) Judaſſes, for what were thoſe Apoſtate Angels that did not abide in the Truth, but left their firſt habitation, but betraiers of all that glory and honour that was due to God: Know then that to throw away Religion becauſe of the hypocriſie of ſome few, is to run the broad way into Athieſm.
5. It is not only ſinful but very dangerous to thy own ſoul when thou art prejudiced or leaveſt the true way upon ſuch grounds; Thou doſt not hurt them, but thou wrongeſt thy own ſoul; Thoſe Diſciples Joh. 6. that took offence at Chriſts Preaching they did not deſpiſe Chriſt ſo much as they damned their ſouls, for ſaith Peter then, whither ſhall we go, for thou haſt Eternal Life? So then for thee to take up prejudices and objections againſt Chriſts way, becauſe of ſome mens miſcarriages, is to be a ſelf-murderer, wilt thou deſtroy thy own ſoul? and throw thy ſelf into one extremity becauſe others may in another way undo themſelves; Oh know it is an heavy judgement upon thee when thou meeteſt with ſtumbling-blocks▪ Thoſe whom God loveth he giveth a better heart unto them; Chriſt himſelf Luk. 1. 1 Pet. 2.7. To thoſe that beleeve is indeed precious, but a stone of ſtumbling, and a Rock of offence unto thoſe that do not beleeve; Oh then be afraid leſt this be the beginning of Gods judgement upon thee to be ſo prejudiced and offended by miſ repreſentations, that thou ſhalt never have an heart to love God and his way; Think not to do them a deſpight, thou art the greateſt Enemy to thy own ſoul.
6. If any under the pretence of Religion do act their iniquities quarrell not at Religion it ſelf, for that condemneth ſuch waies; Neither do thoſe that fear God own ſuch for their members, yea, where Gods Order is put in practiſe they caſt ſuch from them as a diſhonour to God and a reproach to that holy calling whereby we are called; If Achan do ſecretly ſteal a wedge of gold, when Joſhua comes to know it, he ſhall be troubled that troubled Iſrael, and glory ſhall be given to God, 1 Cor. 5. They are commanded to caſt out from amongſt them that wicked perſon, and if any walk diſorderly, 2 Theſ. 3.14. Note that man, and have no communion with him, that he may be aſhamed; Such are a burthen, a grief to thoſe that are truly godly; David can even weep Rivers of tears becauſe of ſuch; That place is obſervable, Joh. 13.21. Chriſt was troubled in Spirit, and teſtified, and ſaid, One of you ſhall betray me; Judas was a trouble and a grief to Chriſts Spirit, think not then that the truly godly own ſuch, any more then Job did the …res upon his body, or the Iſraelites did the Jebuſites that were thorns and goads in their ſide.
Laſtly, Religion it ſelf is the more to be prized, for this ſheweth the authority and command it hath over mens Conſciences, that none do ordinarily commit hainous treſpaſſes, but they are willing to put the vail of Religion upon them, certainly this is ſo farre from diſparaging that it rather advanceth Piety, as being that which hath an univerſall Command every where, men cannot commit iniquity before they blinde their eyes with ſome religious arguments; The Phariſees made account they did all for the glory of God; But you will ſay, how cometh it about that any prove thus ſcandalous in the way of Religion? Is not the way of it as comfortable and as bleſſed as it did at firſt promiſe? Hath any thing that Chriſt ſaid for our encouragement to follow him proved falſe? Hath he deceived any? ſo that they could ſay, The Land of Canaan was not better then their old Egypt; No, in no wiſe, only This is one great cauſe of mens miſcarriage, They take not up Religion at firſt upon pure and ſincere motives; It's not from a renewed and regenerated principle within, and therefore it being not from a good and ſure foundation, no wonder if at laſt all fall to the ground; Our Saviour ſpake often to this Point, as being indeed the ſumme of all; What is that which perſwadeth thee, and prevaileth with thee to follow Chriſt? Is it from an heavenly principle to an heavenly End? Go on, and God will be with thee; But if ſome other carnal or inſincere motive put thee on, know that when the temptation comes thou wilt prove an offence, Painting will melt away when it comes near the fire; The un-rooted Tree will fall to the ground when the Windes ſhall ſhake it mightily.