Spiritual Refining, Religious treatise · Section 3 · Sermon 23
SERMON XXIII.
Declaring what deceipts men lye open to in judging thoſe things to be works of the Spirit, which indeed are not.
1 JOHN 4. 1.
Beloved, believe not every Spirit, but try the Spirits whether they be of God.
THe Apoſtle having aſſerted immediately before, in the verſe precedent of the former chapter, a true and ſure ſign of our ſtate of Grace, viz. The ſaving and ſanctifying operations of Gods Spirit, by which the Spirit diſcovers it ſelf, as the ſun doth it ſelf by its beams and heat, or as the rational ſoul manifeſts it ſelf by rational operations: He doth in this verſe regulate us in our proceeding about this ſign, advertiſing us not to be too credulous, or overhaſty in believing every thing that may ſeem to be of the Spirit. Where by the way you may ſee it's no good argument againſt the uſe and truth of ſigns, That men may be deluded, and think they have them, when they have them not: For the Apoſtle at the ſame time ſaith, We know that he abideth in us by the Spirit which he hath given us, and yet addeth, believe not every ſpirit, taking Spirit in both places Metonimically, the effects of the Spirit either real or pretended, for the efficient cauſe, the Spirit it ſelf: So that in the words you have a cautionary admonition, ſet down
Firſt, Negatively, Believe not every spirit: That is, every Doctrine or Doctor, pretending Revelations from the Spirit, and by conſequence not thy own heart, either in Doctrine, or Conſolation that may ſeem to be of the ſpirit: for although the words following argue ſpirit, to be meant of Doctrinal poſitions, yet the words going before in the former chapter, are to be underſtood of the operations and conſolations of Gods ſpirit; and therefore we may underſtand it univerſally of all the works of Gods Spirit, whether relating to Doctrinals or Practicals.
In the next place the duty is ſet down Poſitively, Try the Spirits, which is to be meant thus, by the word of God: for all tryal ſuppoſeth ſome rule by which the thing tryed is to be examined: and this duty is impoſed upon all believers, who though they have not a judgement of Deciſion, yet have of Diſcretion for their own ſelves.
In the Third place you have the reaſon of this Examination, Becauſe many falſe Prophets are gone out into the world; Many who ſhall boaſt of the Spirit, and ſay, It lodgeth with them: And that we may be the better guided in this Examination, he layeth down one rule as it concerneth Doctrine, verſe 2. Hereby we know the spirit of God, if it confeſſeth that Jeſus Chriſt is come into the fleſh: which may be underſtood either largely, as acknowledgeing all matters that pertain either to the perſon and office of Chriſt; ſo that although we may acknowledge Chriſts incarnation; yet if we deny his offices, we offend againſt this rule, and ſo have the Spirit of Antichriſtianiſm, as in Popery; or elſe more ſtrictly, for that determinate particular point of Chriſts incarnation; for though a man be heretical in other points, and ſo have the ſpirit of Antichrist, yet ſo far as it acknowledgeth this truth, it is of God. And thus Austin ſaid, Hereticks and Schiſmaticks are of the Church, ſo far as they hold any thing that is true and good: but wherein they are divided from truth, they are divided from the Church, and wherein they are united in truth, they are united to the Church.
Obſ. That a man may much delude, and deceive his own ſoul, about his spiritual estate, by judgeing thoſe things to come from the spirit of God, which indeed Obſ. There is much of ſelf-deceit in judgeing thoſe things to come from the ſpirit which do not. Introductory Explications. 1. There are ſuch comforts, &c. of the Spirit, in which a Believer cannot be deceived.do not.
We may think indeed we have revelations, raptures, ſpiritual conſolations from the Holy Ghoſt, when we are all the while in great deluſions: this point deſerveth many things introductory for Explication.
Firſt, The ſpirit of God doth in and by the word, comfort, aſſure, or inſtruct the ſoul ſo certainly, that the true believer is not, or cannot be deceived. Therefore the Scripture calls it, The teſtimony of the ſpirit, and the ſealing of the spirit: and it would be horrid blaſphemy to make the ſpirit of Truth, the ſpirit of Falſhood: Hence Faith, which is the work of Gods ſpirit, is called foreign, and foreign, words that ſignifie a ſure and certain eſtabliſhment: we muſt not therefore with the Papiſt, who commendeth doubting for humility, prophanely make ſuch ſcoffing interrogations as theſe: one man thinketh he hath the ſpirit, another thinketh he hath the ſpirit, and yet anathematize one anothers ſpirit: therefore there is no certainty about our knowledge of having the ſpirit in us: For howſoever hypocrites may be deluded, and hereticks deceived about the ſpirit, yet thoſe that indeed partake of the Holy Ghoſt, they are not deceived. It is true, this evidence and perſwaſion cannot be made clear to another: and no wonder, for God giveth not this perſwaſion to aſſure others, but that heart in whom it is. Take we heed therefore, that becauſe there have been miſerable and ſad inſtances of horrible deluſions by men boaſting of Revelations, and ſpiritual raptures, that we fall not into Atheiſtical, or Sceptical thoughts about the true works of Gods ſpirit.
Secondly, Therefore to make you afraid herein, it is an high ſin to attribute thoſe 2. To call works of Spirit Diabolical deluſions is a great ſin.works which are done by the spirit of God, to impoſtures and diabolical deluſions. Although we are to Examine the ſpirits, whether they be of God, whether in our ſelves, or others: yet to make that coming from the Divel, which is indeed of God, is a ſin of the greateſt magnitude. Therefore take heed leaſt that which thou ſayeſt is hypocriſie, and diſſimulation in the Godly, be not indeed true Godlineſs in them, and ſo thou do deſpight to the ſpirit of Grace. It is a great diſpute, What is the ſin againſt the holy Ghost? Auſtin ſaid, Forte in omnibus Sanctis Scripturis nulla major quaeſtio, nulla difficilior invenitur, it may be there is no more difficult queſtion in all the Scripture: Yet Math. 12. 32. It ſeemeth to lie much in this, when a man doth wilfully, and maliciouſly attribute thoſe works that are done by Gods ſpirit, to the Divel, as they ſaid, Chriſt caſt out Divels, by the Prince of Divels. Hence Mark, 3. 30. giveth the reaſon why Chriſt ſpake of this ſin to the Phariſees, becauſe they ſaid, He hath an unclean ſpirit. It would be like boldneſs, ſaid Athanaſius, if we ſhould attribute the Creation of the world to Beelzebub. And howſoever Cajetan and Janſenius take the words Holy Ghost eſſentially, as if it were to be underſtood of blaſphemy againſt God, and ſo any of the Perſons, becauſe its ſpoken oppoſitely, and by way of diſtinction unto a ſin againſt the ſon of man, yet it is more ordinarily underſtood of the third Perſon, yet not as the third Perſon, but as it is his proper work to enlighten or ſanctifie. Therefore as we muſt take heed we do not embrace Diabolical deluſions for the ſpirits Operations, ſo alſo take heed of calling the ſpirits Operations, Diabolical Suggeſtions; and this eſpecially concerneth ſome of Gods own children, who will not take notice of the graces of Gods ſpirit in themſelves, but reject all as hypocriſy and falſhood: know that in this thou calleſt good evil, and light darkneſs: hence the Schoolmen make deſpair one part of the ſin againſt the Holy Ghoſt, becauſe unbelief doth immediately oppoſe the ſpirit of God comforting and ſanctifying of thee. Be therefore afraid how thou denieſt Gods work in thy ſoul, this is a greater ſin then thou thinkeſt of in doing ſo.
Thirdly, The Divel is Gods Ape, and imitates him in all thoſe waies or worſhip that God hath appointed. Hence there hath been no true way of God at any time, but 3. The divel affects to imitate God in all his appointments.there hath alſo been a counterfeit way of Satan at that time. How wonderfully was Jeſus Chriſt demonſtrated to be the ſon of God by ſigns and miracles, yet our Saviour himſelf ſaid, There ſhould be many falſe Chriſts: ſo there are falſe Prophets, and falſe Apoſtles, all which did boaſt of the ſpirit, and that they had received doctrines from Chriſt: Some learned men ſay, The Hiſtory of Apollonius Thyaneus with his strange wonders, was writ on purpoſe to obſcure Chriſts wonderfull ſigns, Salm. Tract. 2. de virtute ſignorum Chriſti. 2 Theſ. 2. 2. The Apoſtle exhorteth the believers, Not to be ſhaken in minde about the day of Chriſts coming, neither ſaith he, By letter or word, as from us, nor by the spirit. Some there were that told the Church they had Revelations, and ſecret illuminations of Gods ſpirit about this: 2 Cor. 11. 13. There are falſe Apostle transforming themſelves into the Apoſtless of Chriſt; and no marvel, for Satan himſelf is transformed into an Angel of light. Thus whereſoever that Chriſt or the Spirit is in the Church of God, Satan hath his juglings and coſenings: and therefore as God is ſaid to have his foreign, deep things, ſo have they the depths of Satan alſo.
Fourthly, Theſe deluſions of Satan may be, and are as large as the works of Gods 4. Deluſions of Satan are as large as the works of the Spirit.spirit. The ſpirit of God, is the ſpirit of Truth, and leadeth into all Truth: Now Satan hath his deluſions about Doctrines: hence come all thoſe Hereſies in the Church of God: As Chriſt hath his Apoſtles, and Paſtors in his Church, To build up in the moſt holy Faith; ſo the Divel hath his falſe Apoſtles, and his Inſtruments of darkneſs. Again the ſpirit of God is our comforter, and joy is a proper fruit of the Holy Ghoſt: Now the Divel by deluſions and ſuggeſtions, can fill the heart with much conſolation: hence he is called an Angel of light. Now light in the Scripture, ſignifieth not onelyonly Truth, but joy and gladneſs: whence have thoſe joys and conſolations flown, which have been in thoſe that have been manifeſtly in Satans waies, but from Satan? Again the ſpirit of God doth perſwade, and imbolden the heart by believing againſt all diſcouragements whatſoever. Thus the Divel alſo doth imbolden, and harden a man in a falſe way, that he hath no fear at all. Hence the Divel is ſaid To fill Ananias his heart: that is, as learned De Deiu ſheweth by a parallel place out of Eccleſiaſtes, obfirmed and made his heart audaci…us: ſo that as in the Godly there is, foreign, ſo in deluded men there is foreign, Their Spirits and hearts are raiſed, and fitted for boldneſſe to any falſe way.
Laſtly, The spirit of God doth foretell things that are to come: And this is properly to Propheſie: and this the Prophets did; Agabus and others in the New Teſtament. Now the Divel alſo may uſe his inſtruments to foretel ſomething to come: not that of his own nature he can foretel things to come, for ſo it's Gods property; but by Revelation from God, God juſtly permitting this for to puniſh thoſe that ſhall be ſeduced: thus the Divel told Saul what ſhould befall him. And in the ſtory of the Anabaptiſts in Munſter, when a Law was made, That all the Citizens ſhould bring their goods into the common ſtock, there were maids that could tell certainly how much every man had hidden at home of his goods: Now this is like that of Ananias and Saphira: and this Revelation (very probably) was by the juſt judgement of God made to the Divel; for ſeeing the Divel is an inſtrument to execute Gods juſtice and wrath, what ſhould hinder him from knowing that which God on purpoſe imployeth him about for the judgement of others. Aemulantur divinitatem dum furantur divinationem. This is clearly confirmed, Deut. 13. 1, 2. Where a falſe Prophet is ſaid, To give a ſign or wonder, and the ſign or wonder is ſuppoſed to come to paſs: So that falſe Prophets may by Gods permiſſion and Revelation foretel ſome things to come: but mark the reaſon why God permits this, The Lord your God doth this to prove you. Oh therefore with what holineſs, humility, and circumſpection ought the children of God to walk in the midſt of ſuch Deluſions: In ſo much that it is called, foreign The efficacie of deceiving.
Fifthly, As the Divel in a Church corrupted, and defiled with Idolatry and Superſtition, doth there prevail by humane Traditions, and Forms of will-worſhip, 5. The divel accomodates his deſigns to the corruptions, & alſo Reformations of a Church.whereby all ſpiritual worſhipping of God is wholly neglected: ſo in times of reformation, then he ſeduceth men in another Temptation, under the pretence of ſeting up the ſpirit, and its revelations, it crieth down the word of God, and all the ordinary Miniſterial Officers Chriſt hath appointed. The firſt worthy Reformers, and glorious inſtruments of God, found a bitter conflict herein; ſo that they were exerciſed not onelyonly with Formaliſts, and Traditionary Superſtitious Papiſts on one ſide, but men that pretended themſelves to be more enlightened, then the Reformers were, on the other ſide: hence they caled thoſe that did adhere to the ſcripture & would try revelations by it, Vocaliſtas & Literiſtas Let…eriſts & Vowalliſts, as men acquainted with the words and vowels of the ſcripture, having nothing of the ſpirit of God. And whereſoever in any Town the true Doctrine of the Goſpel brake forth to the diſplacing of Popery, preſently ſuch opinions, like Tares, came up among the good Wheat, whereby great diviſions were raiſed, and the Reformation made abominable, and odious to the world; as if that had been the Sun to give heat and warmth to thoſe Worms and Serpents to crawl out of the ground. Hence they inveighed againſt Luther, and ſaid, He had onelyonly promulged Carnale Evangelium, a carnal Gospel. And that the Proteſtant Doctors did onelyonly Carnalia ſapere, by them indeed aliquot fr…ndes de Antichriſtianiſmo ſucciſ…, ſ…d arborem & radices adhuc ſupereſſe. They burnt all books but the Bible, and ſaid, That happy time was come when all ſhould be taught of God. Many remarkable paſſages I might further relate but this may ſuffice to ſhew, That as the Divel in one time of the Church in the deformation of it, deceiveth by ſuperſtitious, pompous, and viſible worſhip; ſo at another time, in the reformation of it, doth he delude by revelations, and pretended high Teachings of the ſpirit of God, even above the Scripture.
Sixthly, That therefore we may not ſplit our ſelves upon inevitable Rocks, God hath left us his Word as a Rule, by which all revelations, and operations of his ſpirit 6. The word of God is the rule by which the workings of the Spirit are to be tried.are to be tryed. All the Scriptures are foreign by Divine inſpiration; and therefore the breathings of Gods ſpirit, are to be expected in this Garden: and thoſe commands of attending to the Scripture onelyonly, and to obſerve what is written, is a plain demonſtration that God hath tyed us to the Scriptures onelyonly: ſo that as the child in the womb liveth upon nouriſhment conveighed by the Navel cleaving to it, ſo doth the Church live onelyonly upon Chriſt by the Navel of the Scripture, through which all nouriſhment is conveighed: Hence the Apoſtles Doctrine, though inſpired by the Holy Ghoſt, Yet was examined by their hearers, whether agreeable to the Scriptures: And for this their zeal was commended: hence it is, That becauſe theſe erronious perſons could not prove all their dogmatical aſſertions by ſcripture, they accuſe the ſcripture as inſufficient and imperfect.
As the word of God is the Treaſure of all revealed truth, ſo God alſo implanted a Natural truth in our conſciences; ſo that the Spirit of God doth ſuggeſt nothing that is contrary either to revealed Truth, or implanted Truth, The Anabaptiſt inſtanced in by Spanhemius in his Hiſtory, pretended he had a revelation to kill his brother, which accordingly he did: this revelation could not be of God, becauſe againſt natural light, but of the Divel. Whatſoever is either againſt revealed, or implanted light in Men, cannot be thought to come from the Holy Ghoſt.
Seventhly, As the operations of the spirit of God, are diſcovered by the rule of Truth, ſo alſo by the concomitants and effects of them: Which are two eſpecially, 7. Concomitants and effects difference the ſpirits workings from deluſions.holineſs of life, and humility.
If you examine the courſe of the falſe Prophets in the Old Teſtament, and of thoſe recorded in the New, their fruit was corruption in manners, and worſhip, encouraging thoſe that were ungodly in their evil ways: It was Michaiah onelyonly, not the other 400 Prophets that Ahab hated, becauſe he only faithfully reproved him for his ſin: ſo the Propheteſs ſuborned by Nehemiahs adverſaries, was to diſcourage him in the work of Reformation. Humility alſo will quickly manifeſt the ſpirit of God working in a man: Paul had a great rapture, even into the third heavens, but leaſt he ſhould be lifted up with the multitude of revelations, there was a thorn in the fleſh, and buffettings of Satan continually afflicting of him. The holy Ghoſt deſcended in the form of a Dove upon Chriſt, to ſhew how meek and humble the operations of it are in thoſe where it dwels.
Laſtly, Not onelyonly ſuggeſtions from Satan may delude us, as if coming from the 8. Strong motions and imaginations of our own hearts often deceive ns, by ſeeming to us the ſpirits workings. Why men are ſo confident in deluſions. 1. From the violence of falſe motions.Spirit, but alſo violent motions, and ſtrong imaginations of our own hearts; we may take them as coming from Gods Spirit, which flow onelyonly from the violence of our own ſpirits: Thus the falſe Prophets, they speak of themſelves, and according to the ſtrong inclinations of their own heart: ſo great a matter is it to difference that which is humane in us, from that which is divine. Now the reaſon, why in deluſions we are ſo confident, Is
Firſt, From the violence of all falſe motions, whether from our ſelves, or of Satan. They being foreign irregularities, do hurry the ſoul beyond all bounds and limits; ſo that the Divel worketh in mens ſouls, as he did on their bodies, with violent and ſudden alterations: and theſe muſt needs produce ſtrong paſſions and affections in us, of love, joy, or hope; whereas the ſpirit of God working conformably to the rule, is more ſedate, and orderly. Indeed the efficacy of Gods ſpirit is demonſtrated by that apparition of fiery …loven tongues, and by a mighty ruſhing …ind; but at another time appearing in the form of a Dove, demonſtrateth that it is ſuch fire and power, as alſo is conſiſtent with other graces of meekneſs and humility. Hence the people of God, who are partakers of the Holy Ghoſt, are alſo poſſeſſed with an holy fear and trembling in themſelves, whereas others are not ſo.
Secondly, Therefore are men confident in theſe, Becauſe they are admired by others, 2. From others admiring and following themand they draw a multitude of diſciples. Many times even godly men have been drawn aſide too much after thoſe, who have pretended to Revelations, and Extaſies. The Apoſtle ſpeaks 1 Cor. 2. 4. That he was among the Corinthians, not in enticing words of mans wiſdom, but in the demonſtration of the ſpirit. But how was that? becauſe his Doctrine was conſonant to Gods word, and it was companied with an efficacious power to raiſe up to all Godlines. Now falſe Apoſtles, that they may alſo be applauded, would gladly come in ſome demonſtration of the ſpirit; nothing ſo prevailing as ſuch reſemblances: It is known in Eccleſiaſtical ſtory, how fouly Tertullian was deluded by admiring of Montanus and Priſcilla as Prophets, contemning all others as meer natural men: It is ſaid of Swinkfeldius, who ſo much magnified Revelations, and debaſed Scripture, That Caput regulatum illi defuit, cor bonum non defuit, he had a good heart, though not a ſound head: ſo eaſily are good men tempted away, with that which ſeemeth to be more ſpiritual then ordinary.
Laſtly, Therefore are men ſo confident in theſe things, Becauſe to many theſe deluſions come by way of a judgement for abuſing former light, and not receiving the 3. It is inflicted upon many as a judgement.truth in the love of it. Thoſe four hundred falſe Prophets in Ahabs time, are thought by the learned to be true Prophets at firſt, and ſuch as were in the company and Colledge of the other Prophets; but abuſing that gift to the pleaſing of men, and ſeeking themſelves, they were juſtly by God delivered up to ſuch a falſe way. And that they were hardened in this deceitfull way, appeareth by Zedekiahs impudence, 1 King. 12. 24. When he ſtrook Michaiah upon the cheek, ſaying, which way went the spirit from me to thee? Thus if there be Revelations among the Papiſts, as they bragg of them, What is the fruit of them, but to confirm them more in believing of a lye? And where ſpiritual judgements are, they make ſecure, and full of ſelf-flattery.
Now the reaſons why we are not to rely on theſe, areReaſons for non-reliance upon theſe motions. 1. They are not marks of a Church.
Firſt, Becauſe that cannot be the mark of a Godly man, which is not the note of a Church. Now although Bellarmine make Lumen Propheticum, Prophetical light a mark of the true Church, and would prove that we are not the true Church, becauſe we have no Prophets, or Revelations amongſt us, as they have: yet the Orthodox do reply, that even falſe Prophets may have prophetical illuſtrations, as is before quoted, Deut. 13. 1. and certainly Balaam was a wicked man, yet for all that, he had a ſpiritual Revelation from God. Yea, and Caiaphas, one of the worſt of men, yet it is ſaid he propheſied, becauſe he was high Prieſt that year: Therefore though thou hadſt predictions, divers Raptures, and extatical illuminations, yet theſe are no ſure mark of thy good condition: and ſeeing men unſanctified, may by the Holy Ghoſt work wonderfull things, is it ſuch a ſtrange thing if they may alſo have ſeveral raptures?
Secondly, Neither may theſe be regarded, Becauſe ſuch pretended illuminations, 2. They are conſiſtent with the works of unrighteouſneſs.are conſiſtent with the works of ungodlineſs, and injuſtice, as appeareth Math. 7. Thoſe that propheſied in Chriſts name, were yet workers of iniquity. Spanh…imius out of Sleidan hath ſeveral inſtances like wiſe to confirm it, In his ſhort hiſtory of the Anabaptiſts. Therefore the ſureſt diſcovery of Gods ſpirit in us, is not by any pretended Revelations, raptures, or ſecret conference with God, but by holineſs, humilitie, and a converſation juſtifiable by Scripture-rules: Therefore what the Apoſtle ſaid of all outward ceremonial worſhip, Bodily exerciſe profiteth little, and oppoſeth it to godlineſs; ſo we may ſay, This ſoul exerciſe profiteth little, and oppoſe it to godlineſs: but godlineſs is profitable to all things.
Uſe of inſtruction, to direct us between two rocks: Take heed of being found in the number of thoſe that ſcoff at the Spirit, and the workings thereof, condemning Uſe. Take heed of ſcoffing at the workings of the Spirit.all the godly for Enthuſiaſts and Illuminiſts. This is the rode of prophane and ſuperſtitious men, that cannot abide the very word of the Spirit. This is to go far on in the way to the ſin againſt the Holy Ghoſt: and then on the other ſide take heed of a contrary error, that under the pretence of Revelations, thou deſpiſe the Scriptures, the Miniſtry, and the Ordinances. If Satan cannot ſeduce thee the former way, then he ſets upon thee in the latter way. We might out of Eccleſiaſtical hiſtory, give you large inſtances of the ſad ruins that have come upon many, being thus carried away: though upon ſome God had mercy, and recovered them out of ſuch deluſions. Be not therefore credulous; be afraid leſt God ſhould leave thee; take great counſel and advice, that thou mayſt not be ſeduced.