The Excellency of Holy Courage in Evil Times, Chapter 26
CHAP 26.
Containing the ſecond Allegorical ſenſe of the words, viz. concerning Antichriſt. The wickedneſs of Sodom and Egypt, compared with the wickedneſs of Antichriſt. 1. Idolatry. 2. Cruelty. The bondage of Chriſtians under Antichriſt. 1. Outward, in Eſtates, and Lives, 2. Inward, a ſoul bondage. The baſeneſs of this ſhewed in ſeveral particulars, concerning Ceremonies worſe then Egyptian bondage. Faith muſt deliver us, Deliverance difficult in ſeveral particulars. The work of Faith in delivering people from this bondage, in 6. or 7. Conſiderations. Queſt, Whether men may not reject the yoke of Antichriſt upon other grounds beſides Faith? Anſw. In 10. Particulars.
THe ſecond Allegory, is the bondage under Antichriſt, and Faith doth carry alſo from that bondage, from that Egypt: The ſeat of Antichriſt, and the bondage that we are in under Antichriſt is called in Scripture, Egypt. 11. Rev. 8. and their dead bodies ſhal lie in the Streets of the great City, which ſpiritually is caled Sodom, and Egypt: But becauſe it is ſaid, where alſo our Lord was crucified: Therefore ſome of the Papiſts would have it meant of Jeruſalem: but he doth neither ſpeak of the thing, nor the place litterally, but it is ſpiritually Sodom, and ſpiritually Egypt: And ſo, where Chriſt is ſpiritually crucified, ſo that in a Metaphorical ſenſe, the cheif ſeat of Antichriſt is Sodom, and Egypt and ſpiritually Chriſt is crucified there, There is no place in which Chriſt is more crucified then in Rome, in regard of his members. Beſides if you wil ſpeak of Chriſts being crucified literally, it may be ſaid likewiſe of Rmoe, becauſe he was crucified by the Roman power, & Roman Authority: But by comparing this place with other places in Revelation, it muſt be meant, that in that place Rome is Sodom and Egypt: I might ſpend much time in making Compariſons between the moſt abominable wickedneſſes that were in Sodom and Egypt, and that are in that place.
Firſt, Antichriſt is like Egypt, in regard of the moſt groſs Idolatries, Of all places Egypt was counted the moſt groſs Idolatrous place. They did not only worſhip the Sun, Moon, & Stars, as other nations did, but Cats and Onions, and any baſe creatures: So the Papiſts worſhip ſtocks, and ſtones, and all kind of holy Reliques, even the haire that came from the taile of that beaſt that Chriſt rode on; and moſt baſe, vile things, that are too baſe to abuſe an Auditory to rehearſe.
Secondly, It is compared to Egypt in reſpect of the cruelty of the Church of Rome, None were ſo cruel and vild as Egypt: And ſo of all men thoſe that are under Antichriſt are more cruel, as if they were Meſſengers came from hell to ſhew the power of Malignant ſpirits: and therefore they are ſaid, to be drunken with blood, and ſo have their clothes died in ſcarlet with the blood of the Saints. Rev. 17.4.5.6. But the chiefe thing I aime at is to ſhew the bondage Chriſtians are in under antichriſt, & the work of faith in delivering from it.
The bondage under Antichriſt is,
1. Outward, in Eſtates and Lives.
2. Inward, a ſoul bondage.
1. An outward bondage, doth not he challenge power over Kings and Princes, and to free people from Loyalty to their Princes, that except there were a deluſion upon the hearts of the great ones upon Earth, It were unpoſſible for them to ſubmit unto that baſe bondage. Many crie out of the Godly that they are no good ſubjects, they do not love to be under government, but what do you think of Papiſts, that do teach for to free ſubjects from their loyalty: A Papiſt hath this expreſſion concerning Antichriſt, The Pope their head, He is the Sheppard, and the Kings and Princes are Dogs, and if Dogs will do their duty, they muſt be at their Maſters command, but if they will be lazey, and bite and not do as they ought, the ſheppard muſt remove them. And for their Eſtates: Its a woful eſtate that Countries are in, in regard of their eſtates. I read a ſpeech of Bonner, in a preface to the Treatiſe of Gardener; that the Pope had neere as much out of England yeerly, as the Revenues of the Crown came to. And it was the ſpeech of Innocent the fourth Pope of that name England was his pleaſant Garden and a wel that never was drawn dry and in England many things grew, & abounded and many things were to be had from it: So that the eſtates of men are in great bondage where Antichriſt prevails: as alſo, the lives, and liberties of men.
2. But eſpecially, the thing which I will a little ſtick in, is the ſoul bondage, thus we have it in Rve. 18.13. The Merchandiſe was ſlaves, and ſouls of men. So that men that are under Antichriſt are ſlaves, and if there were but a true Heroicall ſpirit in men, they would not ſuffer themſelves to be under that ſlavery: though they ſeem to be the braveſt ſpirits, yet being under Antichriſt they are ſlaves: And the ſouls of men are his Merchandiſe: the ſouls of men are under bondage.
Firſt, This is a baſe ſubjection and ſlavery of the ſouls of men under Antichriſt, in that he takes upon him to make Articles of Faith: that they are bound in conſcience, upon paine of Damnation to beleive, whatſoever he ſhal ſay in his Chaire is infallible: what a baſe bondage is this? When as we know what moſt Abominable, Sodomitical, Horrible Monſters have been in that Chaire, and yet they ſhall be bound upon paine of damnation, to beleeve, whatſoever they ſay is infallible.
Secondly, Whatſoever his decrees are (though having no footing in the word) they are bound in conſcience to obey upon paine of damnation: So that if it were poſſible to obey all Gods Commandements, they may be damned for want of obedience, to ſome one of Antichriſts comands, which muſt needs be a miſerable bondage for any man to make a new command, that is not under the command of God, and to make damnation to be the puniſhment of diſobedience to it, then men are in danger of Damnation a hundred of waies more then for ſinning againſt Gods Law.
Thirdly, Thoſe that are under Antichriſt are under great bondage in being kept from the rule of life, from the Scriptures, Wherein the counſels of Gods will, concerning their Eternal Eſtate are revealed: Thoſe that are ſlaves are kept in dangers, and cannot have the priviledges of ſubjects, or of Children: So Antichriſt keeps all under him in the moſt baſe ſlavery, in depriving of them from this priviledg of Children, that they cannot know the mind of their Fathers, and the great things of God, that concerns their Eternal Eſtate; what man that knows any thing of thoſe great things concerning his Eternal Eſtate, would be under that ſlavery? And yet if ſo be we had continued under the bondage of Antichriſt, we muſt have been deprived of this.
Fourthly, If they hear any thing of the word, they are bound to take no other interpretation, but the Churches, the Preiſts give them, though it be never ſo groſs, now to bind mens Conſciencs to this, is a moſt abinable Bondage, And yet what vile Interpretations? If it is Blaſphemy for the Devil to ſay, he will aſcend and be like the higheſt, no leſs to make God deſcend to be like the Prince of darkneſs, to ſet the Kings ſtamp upon falſe coyne, Now to bind mens conſciences to their wicked interpretations of Scripture, this is a moſt abominable bondage.
5. This is a great bondage that no Ordinance can be adminiſtred but by the power of Antichriſt, and thoſe he ſhall give power unto; and this is a great bondage to the Church to be ſtinted in Gods Ordinances: They are the Churches priviledges, eſpecially that of Prayer the ſpirit of Prayer and Supplication, is one of the eſpecial Priviledges of the Church. Gal. 4.6. Becauſe you are ſons, God hath ſent forth the ſpirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father. There he ſpeakes of the liberty of Gods people as they are ſons, & they have the fruit of their ſon-ſhip: Now when as God doth give his ſpirit to his Church as part of their liberty; for them to be reſtrained in their liberty to pray juſt no more then the Pope ſhal appoint, and ſo to have no Ordinances but according to his power; what abominable bondage is this, and what heart that knows any true Chriſtian liberty, would be in ſuch a bondage.
6. He takes upon him power of abſolving and binding, keeping men under the guilt of ſin, and looſing of them from it when he pleaſes. from this power over mens conſciences, is commited all manner of villanie
7. Another Bondage which is greater then all, is that he keeps men under the rigor and curſe of the Law by keeping men off from Chriſt, and teaching the doctrin of juſtification to be by the works of the Law, he keeps them under the bondage of the law, and under the rigour and curſe of the Law, and ſo keeps al that are under him from that precious liberty that Chriſt hath purchaſed by his blood to deliver us from the Law: And this is a greater burden then the other, this is a damnable bondage that doth indanger eternal deſtruction; the other is not ſo dangerous.
8. He takes away al Chriſtian liberty in regard of the uſe of the Creature, reſtraining the uſe of the Creature, and Time, and Place.
9. The ninth is the bondage of human Ceremonies; we know that is a heavy bondage: The bondage of the Ceremonies of the Law was great. And the Apoſtle ſaid Acts, 15.10. It was a Yoke, that neither they nor their Fathers could beare. But the yoak of the Papiſts is a great deale heavier. If we were to chuſe to to be under al the Ceremonies of the Law, which the Jews were under, which the Apoſtle ſaid was a yoak that we nor our Fathers were able to beare, or to be under the Ceremonies of the Papiſts, if we did chooſe according to wiſdom, we ſhould rather chuſe to be under al the Ceremonies of the Jews: Yet if we read the 4. of Gal. we ſhal ſee it was a great priviledg to be delivered from them. And if we were under the power of any to appoint religious Ceremonies in the Church. We have no benefit by the purchaſe of Chriſt to deliver us from the Ceremonial Law, for it is a great deale better and eaſier to be under the Ceremonies of the Law then to have any man appoint Ceremonies; in ſeveral reſpects.
1. Becauſe the Ceremony of the Law was by divine inſtitution: but when man appoints Ceremonies they are but human, and any man had rather yield and be under the power of Gods appointing Ceremonies, then be under the power of men: You had rather be under Princes then under meane Officers; ſo you had better be under the power of God, then under the power of man; yet in the 2. Col. they are called Beggerly rudiments.
2. There is a great deale of doubt and ſcruple about the Ceremonies of men: Suppoſe that upon ſome diſtinctions we may yield to human Ceremonies, yet it is not without doubt and ſcruple, but under the Law there was no doubt nor ſcruple, and we had better be under a hundred where there is no ſcruple, then under one where there is doubts and ſcruples.
3. Againe, Thoſe Ceremonies were typicall, and the preſence of God might be with them, and a ſpirituall efficacie might be expected; but as for the Ceremonies of men, there can be no ſuch thing expected with them, and therefore it is apparent that the Jews under the Ceremonies of the Law were in a better condition, then the Chriſtians ſhould be in now, if they were under the power of any to appoint Ceremonies, and therefore to be under the power of thoſe that do appoint Ceremonies, that is a miſerable bondage.
10. Again another bondage that they are in is, that they are urged to the waies of Idolatry, and ſin by violence, without regarding the weakneſs of any, or ſeeking to inform any, not regarding that place, Ezek. 34.4. When God complaines, they did Rule his people with Cruelty: And if any be weak and deſire to be informed they jeer at them, and ſay a priſon, or a fire, or a fagot, ſhall inform them. Theſe and many other things might be named, to ſhew the moſt abominable and vilde bondage that thoſe are in that are under Antichriſt; but put both together the outward and the inward bondage, to be under thoſe that are of ſuch baſe and vile ſpirits this is mightily againſt the ſpirit of an ingenious man: And for a Church of God, a thouſand Congregations, to be under the power of a baſe, filthy abominable, Whoremaſter, that is known to be ſo, to be troubled by him when he pleaſe, what a moſt horrible bondage is this? And ſo for any Congregation to be, in which there may be thouſands of Souls, to be under the power of a Tapſter, or Hoſtler, or any baſe fellow, this is a mighty bondage: As now ſuppoſe a rich man die, and he hath a Kinſman, though never ſo vile and baſe, then his land coming to him he hath the Advowzen of the place, then may be he ſends two or three hundred miles for a Preiſt, may be one like himſelf, and though he be never ſuch a blaſphe men, and baſe fellow and ſwearer, then they not knowing of him, and ſo having nothing to ſay againſt him, They cannot keep him from the place; Now that one though never ſo wild, ſhould have ſuch power, to appoint whom he will, any drunkard, Where maſter Prieſt over ſuch a Congregation, and they muſt depend upon him, to have the Ordinances of God adminiſtred by him this is a ſore bondage. Bondſlaves are fed meerly with Chaffe and brunn, ſo with what chaffe and husks are thoſe fed withal that are under Antichriſt: Many people are loath to ſubmit to the true government of Chriſt, to the true Miniſters of the Goſpel; if they tell them of any ſin they are guilty of, their hearts belk and ſwel, and they will not yeild, yet they will ſubmit to the officers of Antichrſt, and they wil rule over them and do with them what they will. As Saint Paul ſaies in 2 Cor. 11.20. For ye ſuffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devoure you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himſelf, if a man ſmite you on the face. Other falſe teachers you can ſuffer, But the true Apoſtles you cannot ſuffer them, if one come in his own name, you receive them, I come in my Fathers name, and you reject me ſaies Chriſt. John, 5.43. And ſo many complain of the Miniſters of God, they take ſo much upon them, & they wil not yield to that they ſay, but if you live under Popery you muſt live under every baſe preiſt, and what he ſaies you muſt believe as your Faith, & venture your ſouls upon it, without examining of it, and you muſt not manifeſt any rejection: So that is apparent men wil yeild to any things rather then to God, rather count the ſubjection to God bondage, then count the ſubjection to Antichriſt bondage, rather be ſervants to Antichrſt, then ſervants to God. I ſpeak this the rather, to ſee what cauſe we have to bleſs God for our deliverance from this: And that we may learn to know how to uſe our liberties.
This Bondage is worſe then the bondage of Egypt.
1. Becauſe it is ſoul bondage, and that was but upon the body, we do not read that Pharoah or the Egyptians did force them to Idolatry.
2. It was not ſo great bodily bondage, they did not deſtroy them, they laid heavy burdens upon them, but did not put them to death, as Antichriſt doth, if they wil not ſubmit unto them.
3. It was their miſery to be under that bondage but not their ſin: but it is a ſin to be under the bondage of Antichriſt, look how much difference there is between miſery and ſin, ſo much difference there is betwixt their bondage, and the bondage of Antichriſt.
4. They were Liable to the bondage of Egypt, but they were not liable to the plagues of Egypt: They were free from them, but thoſe that are under the bondage of Antichriſt are liable to the plagues that ſhall come upon Antichriſt.
But it muſt be faith that muſt deliver from this bondage, It is a difficult work, as it was a difficult thing to be delivered from Egypt, ſo it is a difficult thing (that cannot be done without faith) to be delivered from this.
1. Wee know moſt part of the Chriſtian world is educated, and the principles that are dropt into them from them are Antichriſtian principles.
2. Though it be a bondage, there is a great deale of outward pomp and Glory in their Idolatrous worſhip, that does much take ſenſual people, that doe live by ſence; they will not worſhip God in ſuch a meane way as others do, but there is a great deale of pompe and outward ſhew.
3. Though it be a bondage to the ſoul yet they give abundance of liberty to the fleſh, and though ſomtimes they ſuffer pennance, and put the fleſh to ſome hardſhip ſomtimes, yet thoſe that are rich may give way to their luſts, and live as they liſt, for they may quickly be freed with a little mony.
4. Beſides there are ſo many examples of great men, and learned men, and ſome that are Godly, that doe yeild to a great part of the yoaks, and their examples are mighty ingagements.
5. Beſides, If ſo be they begin to flinch, preſently there are ſuch violent afflictions and perſecutions; thundring out of excomunications, and loſs of eſtates, and ſo many dangers that men are in.
6. Beſides, It is hard, Becauſe in the other of Chriſts government there are but a few meane men, and to come and yeild to them this is hard to fleſh and blood, and there muſt be a great deal of ſelf deniall to yeild to the government of Chriſt, they count that the greateſt bondage, eſpecially conſidering there may be miſcarriages, & many Scandals amongſt thoſe that are Godly, & do profeſs the waies, and ordinances, and liberties of Chriſt, that except the heart be gracious there is a great deal of difficulty in ſubmitting to it, and people know not what to do but rather buckle under their bondage.
7. Beſides: It is a fruit of the curſe: not that all that are under that bondage are under the Eternal Curſe; But as all outward judgments are part of the curſe, ſo it is a part of the curſe to be under the bondage of Antichriſt, and not to labor to get from it. I do not ſay that al that are ſick and weak are curſed, but it is a part of the curſe; So men that are under that bondage, are under part of the curſe, that God wil give them over to beleeve Lyes: and though a man hath never ſo much Learning and underſtanding, yet if there be a curſe of God upon it, never talk of his learning and underſtanding, if his parts were a hundred times more, they could not help him: It is the work of Faith to deliver from it.
Queſt. What is the work of Faith in delivering people from this bondage.
Anſwer. There are theſe ſix or ſeven things, that delivers from this bondage under Antichriſt.
1. Faith diſcovers unto the ſoul the ſpiritualneſs of the government of Chriſt, and without that there cannot be a true deliverance from the bondage of Egypt.
2. Faith ſhews unto the Soul the fullneſs of the Adminiſtration of all Chriſts offices, of his Preiſtly, Prophetical call, and Kingly offices: Now until the ſoul underſtands this, it is never brought off from the government of Antichriſt to the government of Chriſt.
3. Faith ſhews the fulneſs and Glory that is in the world, which is the rule for ordering and guiding of us in al our waies.
4. Faith ſhews the neceſſity of a divine rule, for a ſpiritual efficacy, and that no humane invention can cauſe a ſpiritual efficacy: now the ſettling of this principle is never done but by Faith.
5. Another work of faith is to diſcover the beauty and glory that is in the Ordinances of Chriſt barely adminiſtred: no man but by the eye of Faith can ſee the true luſtre, and beauty, and glory, of a divine Ordinance, except there be ſome outward earthly excellency mingled with it: As I told you in the expoſition of that place in Hoſea, They made them Altars, God would have an Altar of Earth, and if they would have it of Stone, they muſt not lift up an inſtrument to hew it, and grave it, but it muſt be plaine. Now a carnal eye cannot ſee the beauty of Gods Ordinances, unleſs it have ſome outward excellency. It muſt be the eye of Faith, to diſcover the beauty of Chriſts Ordinances, in the naked beauty of them: And till that they are not willing to come from under the power of Antichriſt.
6. Faith diſcovers to the Soul the reality, and certainty of all the admirable and glorious promiſes that are in the Goſpel, made unto the true Church of God: Promiſes of the glorious preſence of God with his people; and promiſes of abundance of ſpiritual good, as it might ask half an hour to ſhew ſome excellent promiſes that are made to the Church, which a carnal Eie doth not ſee: But Faith diſcovers there is abundance of certainty and reality in them, and when by Faith they ſee them, this takes off, and enables them to go through any difficulties to be partakers of them.
7. Again, Faith does diſcover the fearful threats againſt thoſe that follow Antichriſt, and thoſe (Revel. 14.9, 10.) that do receive the mark of the Beaſt but in their hand ſecretly: they ſhall have their portion in the Lake that burns for ever, and ſhall be caſt out from the preſence of the Lord. They that read theſe threats make nothing of them; but when they read them by Faith then the ſoul trembles, and feares, till it comes from under that bondage, it hears a voice continually crying to it: Revel. 18.4. Come out from among them Oh my people, come out, leaſt being partaker of their ſin, you alſo be partakers of their Plagues: Now Faith by diſcovering theſe things brings the heart from under that Antichriſtian bondage.
Queſt. But may not men reject the yoake of Antichriſt upon other Grounds beſides Faith?
Anſw. Many times a ſpirit of contradiction may bring them from under the yoke of Antichriſt, though one good cannot be oppoſite to another good, yet one evil may be oppoſite to another evil, and many men may oppoſe the government of Antichriſt by that which is evil in them, but if it be not by the principle of Faith it is not right, and it may be upon other principles.
Queſt. But how ſhall we know that we do forſake this bondage from Antichriſt by Faith.
Anſw. I will give you ſome notes to ſhew you who thoſe are that are delivered from this Egypt by Faith. And who thoſe are that ſeem to be delivered upon other grounds.
1. Thoſe that are delivered by Faith are thoſe that are wel grounded in the Doctrinal and maine points of Religion: Faith can never work off the ſoul from the Government and Ceremonies of Antichriſt, unleſs it be well grounded in the doctrine and principles of Religion if I ſee men crie out of Antichriſt, and of the Government of Antichriſt, and it appears that they have not a competent meaſure of knowledg in the grounds of Religion and Principles of Faith, they are to be ſuſpected: As many: come and examine them about Church Government, and they wil tell you a great deale (not but that Chriſtians ſhould labor to have knowledg in that) but come to examine them the Principles of Religion, and there they are ſilly and ignorant: if they be not grounded in them it appears it is not a work of Faith.
2. If it be a work of Faith, it is a work of much Humiliation, and Prayer; was there a time you were under the power and bondage of Antichriſt? how came you from under it? did God ſhew you the evil of it? and you ſought God in much Humiliation and prayer, for the taking off your hearts from it, and ſhewing you his good way and did you find your hearts comming off, was by that meanes, that is a good argument it was of Faith; but many their Conſciences tell them, it was not a work of Humiliation and Prayer that brought off their hearts, they are to be feared.
3. If it be a work of Faith it alwaies lets in light: as in the point of the government of Chriſt; many cry out againſt Antichriſtian government: and come and examine them about it, and they have no more light, no other arguments, nor further underſtanding then before but only a bitterneſs of ſpirit againſt it: If a man grow bitter againſt thoſe things which before he yeilded too, he had need have more light, but if they grow exceeding bitter againſt them and have no further light and underſtanding then before, it is an argument it is a diſtemper of heart, rather then any thing elſe. And therefore caſting off all at once is very ſuſpitious; where it is of Faith God lets in light by degrees. Its ſaid of Luther in his reformation, Firſt he ſaw the evil of one thing, and then the evil of another, and ſo by degrees ſaw the evil of all: And ſo thoſe that forſake the bondage of Antichriſt. By Faith, firſt God makes them ſuſpect their way, ſurely this is not the right way, there is ſome better way, and then they fall a praying and humbling of themſelves, and they fall examining, and ſo they come to ſee the evil of one thing, and then they examine another, and ſo light comes in by degrees, and then their hearts riſe againſt them, and if according to the meaſure of Light that you have, your hearts do come off, that is a good ſigne.
4. If you break from Antichriſt by Faith, it will make you a Separate from the world aswel as Separate from them: Many are Separates from any thing that hath but the leaſt dependancy upon Antichriſtian government but they conform themſelves to the world, that there appears no difference between them and the world, in their looſe courſes: that man that is a conformiſt to the world, is not a Non-Conformiſt to Antichriſt by Faith.
5. If Faith take you off from the bondage under Antichriſt it wil take you off from the bondage under any luſt. That man that hath not the power of Faith, to take him off from any Luſt, That man is not by Faith taken off from the bondage of Antichriſt. If Faith delivere from the bondage under Antichriſt, it will deliver from the bondage under Sin, and Sathan, and therefore though men do crie out of the bondage of Antichriſt never ſo much, and yet they go on under the bondage of any Luſt, it is not of Faith.
6. That Soul that is taken from under the power of Antichriſt by Faith, is ſubject to the power and goverment of Chriſt and the Word: If Faith takes from the one, it puts under the other: nothing but the Word can be the ground of Faith, and if Faith takes a Soul from under the bondage of Antichriſt, Such a Soul finds the Word comes with divine power, and majeſty upon the heart; and it laies a trembling heart under the power and majeſty of the Word, and it dares not goe from it, no not in no other thing. You plead for the Word in ſuch and ſuch things, but there are other things you do not yield to the power of the Word in, this is very ſuſpitious: Thoſe that by Faith are brought from the power of Antichriſt, their hearts are put mightily under the power of the Word, and they ly with trembling ſpirits before the majeſty and Authority of the word.
7. If it be Faith that takes off the Heart, ſuch a one is not content that he is taken from under the Antichriſtian government, unleſs he meetes with Chriſt in the Ordinances: he does not content it ſelf with the bare huskes, and to make all his Religion to conſiſt meerly in Church diſcipline, and Church conſtitution, and to think therefore, he hath Religion enough, becauſe he hath the Ordinances, and yet never finds any panting of Heart, after union and communion with Chriſt Jeſus in this way of Church Government, but goes on from year to year, mearly in the outward performances of Religion. I do not ſpeak againſt the thing it ſelf but to ſhew it is not of Faith, if men do not pant after union with Chriſt, if they be not ſenſible of the want of it, and do not labor for the enjoyment of it.
8. If it be Faith that brings thee from this way, certainly thou wilt grow more Spirituall: As thy heart will pant after Chriſt; ſo there wil be a Spiritualneſs of thy Soul in the waies of Chriſt, becauſe thou comeſt neerer to the rule: And this is the difference between Actions of Religion, and civil Actions; civil Actions that are done by civil rule have not alwaies ſucceſs, but a Spirituall Action that is done by the rule, that hath a Spirituall ſucceſs, though not an outward ſucceſs, it does make the heart ever more Spirituall: But for people though they be come from the yoake of Antichriſt, yet to be as dead as ever no more Spiritualneſs in their way then before, no more ſavour of Godlineſs in their ſociety and company then before: thoſe that knew them before can ſay; I knew them a great deale more ſpirituall and ſavoury in that which is good then they are now, This is a dangerous thing.
9. Againe, If it be out of Faith, ſuch a one will give all the glory unto God for his deliverance, and he wil walk humbly in his own eyes, and think, I was diſobedient, and wretched and ſhould have gone on in that way, but God by his grace and power hath come, and hath taken off my heart, and it does magnifie the grace of God; It doth not perke up it ſelf, and contemne others, to think I have got more wiſdom, and underſtanding then others, and ſo attribute it to his wit, and underſtanding; but it gives the glory to God, and inſtead of cenſuring others, he prays for them, and ſaies it is not all the arguments under Heaven can convince them, for I had arguments enough, but they were all as nothing, til it pleaſed God by his Grace to ſet them upon my heart, and ſo though they may ſee arguments as wel as I, they will not do: Therefore he pitties others and prays for them; and he hath a reverent reſpect to the Grace of others, though they be not in the ſame way that he is in, & he doth not preſently caſt them off ſaying, ſurely there is no Grace, and Godlineſs in them, this is a ſigne of a proud ſpirit; there are none that are gracious but know there was a time when they went on in that way, and yet they did not goe againſt their light, but were willing to underſtand Gods mind, and yet til God came in, their hearts were not taken off: and therefore they learn to have good thoughts of thoſe that are godly, though in other waies.
But eſpecially, if it were out of Faith that you were brought from this Antichriſtian Bondage, it will not leave in thee the Spirit of Antichriſt: many are far from being under Antichriſtian bondage, and yet have an Antichriſtian Spirit, a Spirit of pride, a domineering Spirit, a Crooked, Perverſe Spirit: and this is a great evil, that in the way of Chriſt, there ſhould be manifeſted an Antichriſtian Spirit: this ſhould be lamented with tears of blood. Now ſo much as an Antichriſtian ſpirit does rule in any, though they be from under his Goverment, ſo much it is to be ſuſpected, it was not the work of Faith, but ſomwhat elſe that took them off. We ſhould have the ſpirit of Chriſt, the ſpirit of Love, and Humillity, and gentleneſs, and peace, and as we would make it appear, we are taken off from the yoak of Antichriſt by Faith let us ſhew the Spirit of Chriſt, as Faith hath taken us off from Antichriſtian power, ſo we ſhould exerciſe Faith to go on in the waies of Chriſt, as beſeems thoſe that are delivered from Antichriſtian power.
FINIS.
End of the text · Jeremiah Burroughs, The Excellency of Holy Courage in Evil Times (1661)