A Late Great Shipwreck of Faith, Sermon

A Late Great Shipwreck of Faith · Sermon

p. 1A late Great SHIPWRACK OF FAITH: Occaſioned by the VVrack of Conſcience.

1 TIM. 1.19.

Which (good Conſcience) ſome having put away concerning the Faith have made ſhipwrack.

AS the life of a Chriſtian man in generall,1. The coherence. (in regard of the miſeries of it,) So the life of a Man of God, a Miniſter in ſpeciall, is compared to a wayfare, to a warrefare, to a Seafare. To a wayfare, and ſo the Miniſter is called a Guide, Rom. 2.19. a Guide of the blinde: To a warrefare, and here he is called a Captaine, or Leader, Heb. 13.17. obey foreign your Leaders; To a Seafare, (in the metaphor of the text) and then he may be called the Pilot of the ſhip, the Church: 2 Tim. 2.5.2 Tim 2:5The Apoſtle makes uſe of two of theſe Metaphors in the former, and this preſent verſe, there he bids him, Warre a good warrefare, as a chief p. 2Commander, (according to the propheſies which went before upon him.) Here he bids him, as a Pilot, take heed of a Shipwrack, by the example of others, that have miſcarryed, and preſcribes the meanes for both, Holding faith and a good conſcience, &c.

2. The explication of the words to Faith, takenFor the explication of the words, we ſhall enquire,

1. What is meant here by Faith: Faith is taken either Objectively, for the Doctrine of Faith, quam credimus, which we do beleeve: or Subjectively, for the habit of Faith: and that 1.1. Objectively. 2. Subjectively for the habit. 1. Actively. 2. Paſſively for Fidelity. Actively, Quâ credimus Deo, whereby we beleeve in God. 2. Paſſively, Ob quam creditur nobis, for which others believe and truſt us, that is, Fidelity, or faithfulneſs; and ſo the word foreign is taken, Gal. 5.22. The fruits of the Spirit, are Love and Faith; where it is taken, not for juſtifying faith, but for fidelity and faithfulneſs to others. It is taken here in the firſt ſenſe, objectively for the Doctrine of Faith, or Truth of the Goſpel, as the parrallel place manifeſts, 2 Tim. 2.18.1 Tim. 6.21. Tit. 1.9. Faithful word.1 Tim 6:21Titus 1:9 ſpeaking of Hymeneus (one of the Apoſtates there) and Philetus, he ſayes, They have erred concerning the Truth, as here they are ſaid, To have made ſhipwrack concerning the Faith.

2. Good conſcience two wayes. 1. Of Tranquility. 2. Of Integrity.2. What is meant by good conſcience: Conſcience is nothing but a reflect Act of the ſoul upon it ſelf, applying Science or knowledge to a mans ſelf, and ſo approving or diſproving, accuſing or excuſing. The goodneſs of the conſcience is either the goodneſs of Tranquility, a peaceable conſcience, or the goodneſs of integrity, or ſincerity, a practical conſcience, walking according to its knowledge So Paul ſpeaks, Act. 23.1. I have in all good conſcience walked before God, which 1 Tim. 3.9. is called,Act. 24.16.Acts 24:16 a pure conſcience. And by our Saviour, in the Parable of the ſeed, its called a good and an honeſt heart, which is expreſſed, by a Religious and honeſt converſation. In this ſenſe, it is here taken.

3. Holding, or Having.3. What is meant by Holding; foreign, having is the word; but being of the Preſent Tenſe, it implies a continued Act, and ſo is well rendered, by Holding; firſt get it and have it, then hold it; yea more ſignificantly, Tit. 1.9. foreign, holding p. 3faſt the faithful word, according to doctrine, &c.

4. The next word is foreign, having put away; 4. Put away.which ſignifies an act, not of ignorance or infirmity, but knowingly and willingly, to refuſe or reject the dictates of conſcience; repellentes, repelling, or rejecting the verdict of it: The ſame word is uſed, Act. 7.27.Act. 13.46. Put it from you foreign.Acts 13:46 Of the man that quarrelled with Moſes, foreign, he thruſt him away. It imports a kind of violence offered to conſcience, by walking contrary to it.

5. The laſt word conſiderable is, foreign,5. Made ſhipwrack. have made ſhipwrack; a Metaphor taken (as I ſaid) from Mariners or Seafaring men, who when the Ship is broken or ſunk, loſe the Merchandize therein contained. So that Faith, or the Truth of the Goſpel is the Merchandize; a good Conſcience is the Ship. Faith is the Jewel, a good conſcience is the Cabinet; Faith is the Treaſure, a good conſcience is the Cheſt or Treaſury. If the Ship, Cabinet, Cheſt miſcarry, the Merchandize, Iewel, Treaſure cannot be ſafe.

The full ſenſe and ſum, is this,3. The ſum of words. If thou (O Timothy) wilt war a good warfare, or fulfill thy Seafare with comfort and commendation, Hold faſt Faith, that is, the Truth of the Goſpel, but eſpecially hold faſt a good conſcience which is the Ship or Cabinet; for that being loſt, or put away, the Faith will be loſt inevitably, as the ſad and lamentable example of ſome, Himeneus and Alexander doth manifeſt; who having put a good conſcience away concerning the Faith, have made Shipwrack.

The words being thus explained, hold out unto us,The Obſervation made good foreign, Chrſ. in locum. this obſervation, which I ſhall deliver in Chryſoſtomes words upon the place. A corrupt and a culpable life breeds a corrupt judgement; an unſound heart makes an unſound head: if a man put away a good conſcience, he will ſoon make Shipwrack of the Faith. As the conſcience cannot be good, unleſs the Faith be pure; ſo the Faith cannot be ſafe, unleſs the conſcience be good. Without knowledge the minde is not good, Prov. 19.2. A corrupt judgement, makes a corrupt life or conſcience; and a corrupt conſcience, will ſoon corrupt p. 4the Faith which was thus we ſhall make good.

1. From Scripture.1. By parallel places of Scripture, we have the like (in a leſſer degree) in this very Chapter, verſ. 5, 6, 7. The end of the commandment is Love, out of a pure heart, good conſcience, and faith unfained; foreign, which (pure heart, good conſcience, &c.) ſome having ſwerved from, have turned to vain janglings. The word foreign, is a Metaphor taken from Archers, who miſtake their aime, and ſo miſs the mark. The meaning is, ſome deſiring to be foreign, Doctors or teachers of the Law, not levelling or aiming at purity of heart, and a good conſcience, &c. they have begun to decline from the Truth, being turned to vain janglings. What is that? Fables, and endleſs or uſeleſs genealogies, which breeds queſtions rather then Godly edifying, which is by faith, verſ. 4. Theſe vain diſputations, as they take men off from practical Truths, ſo they do by little and little corrupt the truth. To the like purpoſe, the Apoſtle preſcribes this as a preſervative of the Faith, chap. 3.9. to his Deacons, Holding the myſtery of the Faith in a pure Conſcience. Pure faith, will not abide but in a pure conſcience, as the Doves a cleanly creature,foreign. will not abide but in a clean houſe. And on the contrary, ſee 1 Tim. 6.5. theſe two go together, Men of corrupt minds (that is conſcience) deſtitute or deprived of the truth. He had ſaid before, verſ. 3. If any man teach otherwiſe, and conſenteth not to the wholſome words of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and to the doctrine which is according to godlineſs. In the 4 and 5 verſes, he gives the reaſon of that corrupting the Faith: partly his pride, he is puffed up; partly his ignorance (acquired perhaps) he knoweth nothing, but dotes about queſtions, and partly, yea chiefly, He is a man of a corrupt mind; and therefore juſtly deprived of the knowledge of the truth. The very like expreſſion is in 2 Tim. 3.8. ſpeaking of ſeducers of themſelves and others, that lead captive ſimple women; he ſhewes the reaſon of both: They ſeduce others, whom? ſuch as have loſt, or never had a good conſcience, Simple women laden with ſins, and led about with divers luſts. They are themſelves ſeduced p. 5upon the ſame ground, men of corrupt mindes; then follows, reprobate concerning the faith, foreign, men that have loſt their judgement concerning the Truth of the Goſpel. And verſ. 13. he ſayes, Evil men and ſeducers wax worſe and worſe (not onelyonly in life, but alſo in judgement, for ſo it follows) deceiving and being deceived. 1 Tim. 6.5. Suppoſing that gain is godlineſs, through covetouſneſs1 Tim 6:5Firſt their life corrupts their judgement, and their judgement again corrupts their life. Its ſtrange to conſider how far a mans judgement may be corrupted by a bad conſcience and wicked converſation: Take but one place, Pſal. 14.1. The fool hath ſaid in his heart there is no God. How comes it to paſs that a man ſhould be ſo groſly corrupted in ſo clear a principle? The works of God proclaim a God, Rom. 1.19. That which may be known of God, &c. How come men to think there is no God? the reaſon follows: Corrupt are they and become abhominable in their doings, &c. This is rendred as a reaſon, why the Prophets and Prieſts corrupted the Law of God, Zeph. 3.4. Her Prophets are light and treacherous perſons; her Prieſts have polluted the Sanctuary, they have done violence to The Law. More might be added, but theſe may ſuffice for inſtances. We ſhall now manifeſt it further.

2. By Reaſons: How comes it to paſs,2. By Reaſons. that the corruption of the heart or life, hath ſuch influence to corrupt the head or judgement in the plain Truthes of the Goſpel? Take theſe.

1. Sinful luſts (allowed and lived in) hinder ſpiritual light and ſaving knowledge. Luſts are like ſcales upon the eyes,1. Sinful luſts hinder ſpiritual light. like a webb or cataract (as they call it) that covers the ſight of the eye of the ſoul: And therefore the Apoſtle makes repentance (which is the removal of thoſe luſts) the way to ſaving knowledge, 2 Tim. 2.25. If at any time God will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the Truth. It was well ſaid of a Divine of ours, that Repentance is the Miniſters beſt Comment upon his text, and the hearers beſt Comment upon the Sermon. So 2 Cor. 3.16. ſpeaking of the Jews, When their heart ſhall be turned to the Lord (by true repentance) the vail of ignorance and blindneſs) ſhall be p. 6taken away. Hence are thoſe promiſes of knowledge made to the Godly, Pſal. 25.14. The ſecret of the Lord, is with them that fear him, and he will ſhew them his Covenant: and before that, verſ. 9. The meek will he guide in judgement, and the meek will he teach his way. And verſe 12. What man is he that feareth the Lord? him ſhall he teach in the way that he ſhall chooſe. So Solomon, Eccleſ. 2.26. To him that is good in his ſight, God giveth wiſdom and knowledge. And our Saviour himſelf,See Joh. 8.31, 32.John 8:31John 8:32 Joh. 7.17. If any man will do his will, he ſhall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whither I ſpeak of my ſelf. If a man reſolve to hold the truth unrighteouſneſs, Rom. 1.18. 2 Tim. 2.6, 7.Rom 1:182 Tim 2:62 Tim 2:7not letting it break out in his practice, God will not do that man the honor to let him know the truth: we our ſelves would not impart our skill to ſuch Schollars, as we know, would not make uſe of it. It was (as Chryſoſtome well obſerves) a ſtrange thing, that David ſo wiſe a man,foreign Chryſ. Tom. 1. pag. 697. and a Prophet, ſhould go about to hide his ſin, not onelyonly from men, but prehaps from God too: He gives the reaſon of it, Though he was a Prophet, yet luſt had blinded his eyes, and darkned his underſtanding: That's the firſt.

2. They put out Natural and Artificial light.2. Sinful luſts, put out natural and artificial light. All ſin is of an infatuating and darkening nature, it either finds or makes men fools. It is not for nothing that ſinners are ſo often called fools, and ſin folly, by Solomon, and others; or that ſins are called by the name of ignorances, Heb. 9.4. foreign, the errors or ignorances of the people. They are mutual cauſes one of another; many (if not moſt) ſins are cauſed from ignorance, Father forgive them, they know not what they do, and much ignorance is procured from ſin. Nemo malus niſi ſtultus, enim ſaperet bonus eſſe mallet, Salv.If men were not fooliſh, they would never venture to ſin: and if ſome did not ſin ſo much, they ſhould be wiſer then they are: no man (ſayes Salvian) is evil but a fool, for if he were wiſe, he would be good. Sins are called darkneſs, and works of darkneſs, becauſe as they proceed from, ſo they end in darkneſs, inward darkneſs of the mind, and outter darkneſs of death and hell, without repentance. p. 7As the crude and cold darkneſs of the night thickens the clouds and thoſe clouds, thickned, increaſe the darkneſs of the night: So the ignorance of men, caſts them into lusts, and thoſe luſts blind their reaſon and judgement: See it in the Gentiles, Rom. 1.21, 22. Becauſe when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; they became vain in their imaginations, and their fooliſh heart was darkened, profeſſing themſelves to be wiſe, they became fools, Groſſe fools againſt the very light of nature, as appears in the next verſe. They changed the glory of God the incorruptible into an image made like corruptible man, and to birds and four footed beaſts and creeping things. So the Apoſtle of ſome others, Eph. 4.18. Having their underſtanding darkened: How? foreign; by the hardneſs of their hearts: An hard and callous humor grow over their eyes by cuſtomary ſinning, as it follows; Being paſt feeling, they gave themſelves over unto laſciviouſneſs, to work all uncleanneſs with greedineſs. Our own experience may afford us examples of this kind, too many; Men of excellent parts of Nature, Art, Learning, beſotted and befooled in their Judgements, and given over to as vile errors as luſts; well therefore called deceitful luſts, Eph. 4.2…. or luſts of deceit, becauſe they ſeduce and deceive their owners.

3. Sinful lusts, if they do not put out the light of reaſon,3. They corrupt Reaſon and turn it againſt the Truth. yet they corrupt and bribe it, and imploy the ſtrength of it to defend themſelves and oppoſe the truth. See that place 1 Tim. 6.4. If any man teach otherwiſe, and conſent not to wholeſome words, &c. He is puffed up and dotes (ſo we read it) the word is foreign he is ſick; and as ſick ſtomacks deſire unwholſome food, ſo a ſin-ſick ſoul, cannot endure ſound doctrine (as he ſpeaks of others, 2 Tim. 4.3.) but ſtudious how to plead for his own luſts and errors: So the Apoſtle adds, Whence cometh envy, ſtrife, &c. and foreign, perverſe diſputings and wranglings of men of corrupt minds: So corrupt that they eſteem gain to be godlineſs. How comes this to paſs? Why, they diſpute, and diſtinguiſh themſelves into theſe groſes opinions; p. 8So that luſts, not onelyonly corrupt reaſon, but turn the edge of it againſt the truth, to maintain gainful errors and practices; ſtudy new diſtinctions and new niceties, to qualifie the groſſeſt obſurdities. We could hardly believe this; did we not ſee it in experience. The Church of Rome, firſt plotted a Religion full of ſuperſtitious formalities, to uphold their own luſts, pride, ambition, covetouſneſs, voluptuouſneſs; and then ſet their beſt wits on work to maintain it, with nice diſtinctions, and Scholaſtical ſpeculations, deceiving their followers ſo long, that at laſt they deceived themſelves, and believed their own deluſions to be truths. So it hath been, I fear, with ſome of the Arminian and Socinian party; who the better to maintain their own luſts, have patronized with much ſubtilty thoſe Pleagian doctrines, of Ʋniverſal Redemption, Freewill, &c. And divers practices, formerly condemned by all Divines, or the moſt, as uſury, &c. are now ſtudied and upheld by ſoft diſtinctions and tender qualifications, &c.

4. They corrupt the Affections.4. Sinful luſts allowed, &c. corrupt the affections, and they corrupted, corrupt the judgement. All judgement (we uſe to ſay) is loſt, when the Affections are truſted with the Reſolutions of the caſe. From hence (the affections corrupted) proceeds: Firſt, a ſtrangeneſs to the light, He that evil does (and loves to do it) comes not to the light, leaſt his deeds ſhould be reproved, Joh. 3.20. or diſcovered to be evil: He that doth truth, cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifeſt, that they are wrought in God. Can a thief or deceiver love or like the light, that betrayes him? 2. Yea more then this, he loves darkneſs, verſ. 19. becauſe his deeds are evil. 3. But more then this, he not onelyonly grows ſtrange to the light and loves darkneſs, but hates the light, as our Saviour there ſpeaks. When Jehoſhaphat would needs enquire if there were never a Prophet of the Lord to conſult with; Yes (ſayes Ahab) there is a fellow, one Michaiah, but I hate him, for he never propheſies good to me, but evil: Ahab was reſolved upon his own project to go againſt Ramoth Gilead: and he fears honeſt Michiaah will croſs him in it; therefore p. 9he not onelyonly avoids, but hates him: So deal reſolved ſinners with the light of the word: firſt grow ſtrange to it, neglect to read or hear it, and after come to hate it. He that loves his luſts cannot love the word that reproves them; but leaſt the word ſhould correct him, he will correct, indeed corrupt the word. Hence comes it, that men Having itching ears after their own luſts, they get themſelves an heap of teachers, 2 Tim. 4.3.2 Tim 4:3ſuitable to their luſts, ſo the words may be read, If a man will propheſie of wine and ſtrong drink; he ſhall be a Prophet for the people, Mich. 2.11. That is, they being given to voluptuouſneſs, love and like, and ſeek out Prophets, good fellows like themſelves, that will indulge them in ſuch courſes: And they ſay to their teachers, as the meſſengers ſent for Michaiah ſaid to him,2 King. 22.13.2 Kgs 22:13 All the Prophets ſpeak good unto the King with one mouth; let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and ſpeak good. So theſe kind of men, enquire the judgement of their Miniſters concerning ſome doubtful practice, uſury, gaming, faſhions, &c. and they tell them, ſuch and ſuch allow it, I pray, let your word be as one of them: And mark the iſſue; If but one or a few men agree with them, they ſhall be believed againſt thouſands that condemne the practiſe. As Tertullian ſaid of the perſecutors of the Chriſtians, They believe accuſations which are not proved; nor do they deſire to try them, Credunt quae non probantur, nec quaerunt ne non probantur, Apol.leaſt they ſhould not be proved; So is it here, they eaſily believe what they would fain have to be true; and what they like not, they will hardly believe. This then is a fourth reaſon; Sinful luſts corrupt the Affections, and the Affections corrupt the judgement.

5. Sinful luſts, do ſtupifie, 5. They ſilence or ſtupifie the Conſcience by corrupting the truth.conſcience or ſilence the clamor of it, by corrupting the Truth. Hence you hear of ſome, That have made a Covenant with death, and with hell: are they at agreement? Iſa. 28.15. that is, have ſilenced their fears of death and hell, by ſome lying and falſe perſwaſions of peace, notwithſtanding their ſinful practiſes, as the Prophet intimates in the following words, For we have made lies our refuge, and under falſhood have we covered our ſelves. There is in ſinful practiſes a ſting of terror and horror of guilt, till p. 10this be either taken out by repentance and pardon, or at leaſt ſtupified and laid aſleep, the ſoul cannot quietly enjoy the pleaſure of ſinning. This cannot well be done, in a knowing Chriſtian but by corrupting the Faith. Reſolved they are, not to diſeaſe or diſquiet conſcience, by ſo much as queſtioning the lawfulneſs of their practiſe. As the Athenians having ſhamefully loſt Salamis, a Town of their juriſdiction, made a Law, that no man ſhould once name Salamis. Aquinas upon 1 Tim. 6. applies it to uſurers and ſuch like, Many unlawful things (ſayes he) are forbidden by ſound doctrine, which men are unwilling to forſake, and ſo they find out a new doctrine, where they may have ſome hope to be ſaved in theſe courſes. We need not go far for an inſtance, Hymeneus (one of the Apoſtates mentioned in the text) together with Philetus, corrupted the Faith in a prime Article of it, the Reſurrection of the dead, 2 Tim. 2.17, 18. Their word will eat as a canker: of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus, who concerning the truth have erred, ſaying, that the Reſurrection is paſt already: and overthrow the faith of ſome. What was the reaſon of this corrupting the Faith? I will give it you in the words of a judicious Interpreter upon the place, Becauſe they could not bear an accuſing conſcience, and the torment thereof, they undertake to defend their vices: and leaſt they ſhould be vexed with the terror of future judgement; they deny any providence, and perſwade themſelves, that theſe things are falſe, which the true Faith and Religion declare concerning the immortality of the ſoul, the Reſurrection of the body and the laſt judgement. If their practiſes will not agree with the word, they conſtrain the word to agree with their practiſe: That's a fifth Reaſon.

6. The Juſt judgement of God.6. Laſtly, It is the juſt judgement of God upon ſuch ſinners: when men, for the maintenance and allowance of their own luſts, will not ſee the light of truth, they ſhall not ſee it, That he (as Auſtin well) who knowing what is right , would not do it, at length ſhould come to be ignorant what is right; we have inſtances enough, both in Jews, Gentiles, and Chriſtians. In Jews, Pſal. 81.8, &c. Hear O my people, and I will teſtifie unto p. 11thee, if thou wilt hearken unto me, &c. But my people would not hearken unto my voice, and Iſrael would none of me, verſ. 11. What followed? So I gave them up to their own hearts luſts, and they walked in their own counſels: Let them follow their own Imaginations, corrupting the truth of God, by their corrupt lives and practiſes. In Gentiles, Rom. 1.18. The wrath of God is revealed from heaven, againſt all ungodlineſs and unrighteouſneſs of men, who hold the truth in unrighteouſneſs. How or wherein doth this wrath appear? See verſ. 21, 22. Becauſe that when they knew God, and glorified him not as God, &c. they became vain in their imaginations, and their fooliſh heart was darkened. And verſ. 24. God gave them up to uncleanneſs, through the lusts of their own heart, &c. even to moſt unnatural luſts, not fit to be named, verſ. 26, 27. And for this cauſe God gave them up to a reprobate minde, to do things which are not convenient, verſ. 28. In Chriſtians we have it threatned, 2 Theſſ. 2.10, 11. abundantly made good upon the followers of Antichriſt: of whom he ſayes, Whoſe coming is after the working of Satan, with all power and ſigns, and lying wonders: And with all deceiveableneſs of unrighteouſneſs, in them that periſh; becauſe they received not the love of the truth, that they might be ſaved. And for this cauſe God ſhall ſend them ſtrong deluſions that they ſhould believe a lie. That they all might be damned, who believed not the truth, but had pleaſure in unrighteouſneſs. And thus we have finiſhed the Doctrinal part of our diſcourſe, That a corrupt heart makes a corrupt head: An unſound heart makes an unſound judgement. Let us now proceed to the Application.5. Application Uſe 1. To ſhew the Depravation of our Nature.

1. Take notice of the miſerable and lamentable Depravation of our nature, ſince our firſt Father affected too much knowledge, to be like God, knowing good and evil. We are now our own worſt enemies; and our corruptions begins at our ſelves. It is a queſtion (yet no great queſtion) Whither Adams underſtanding, or his affections were firſt corrupted? This is certain, that both wayes now we are ſubject to corruption. Sometimes the head corrupts the heart, A corrupt judgement corrupts the affections: Without (ſound) knowledge, the minde p. 12is not good, Prov. 19.2. Sometimes the heart, affections, or conſcience, corrupt the judgement: As it is in nature, there is a mutual influx or influence of the head upon the ſtomack, by diſtillations of ill humors; and of the ſtomack upon the head, by aſcenſion of ill ſomes or vapors; and both wayes the health of the body is endangered: So is it in the ſoul, a corrupt head, or an ill principled judgement, corrupts the heart and life; evil doctrines (as evil words) corrupt good manners, like Gangrens, that eat and fret away the vitals of Religion, and the power of Godlineſs The Apoſtle was ſpeaking of ſome that were infected with this curſed principle, That there ſhould be no reſurrection. What influence would this doctrine have upon the heart and life? See verſ. 32. Let us eat and drink for to morrow we dye, and there an end of us and all; Be not deceived (ſayes he) evil communications (evil doctrinal principles) corrupt good manners. 1 Cor. 15.33.1 Cor 15:33The judgement thus corrupted, corrupts the heart and life. And contrarily, a corrupt heart or life, corrupts the head: ſome evil practiſes ſophiſticate the judgement, and both wayes the health and ſalvation of the ſoul is hazarded.

Uſe 2. To manifeſt the Reaſon of the prevalence of of errors at all times.2. We may ceaſe to wonder (for we ſee the reason) why ſeducers prevail ſo much upon people, and why the Church in all times, hath been peſtered with ſo much error, and falſe opinions. The hearts and lives of men corrupt their heads and judgements. Not to look too far back into the Primitive times, ſee it of latter dayes in the prevalence of Popery upon the world. The Apoſtle foretold it ſhould come to paſs in the laſt dayes, 1 Tim. 4.1. The ſpirit ſpeaketh evidently, that in the latter times, ſome ſhall depart from the faith, and ſhall give heed no errors and doctrines of divels, which ſpeak lies through hypocriſie. What's the occaſion of it? Having their conſciences ſeared with an hote iron. Their conſciences were ſcorched and ſeared with groſe ſins, and then they corrupted the faith to heal them whole again. So 2 Theſſ. 2.10. Becauſe they received not the love of the truth; therefore God ſent them ſtrong deluſion, that they ſhould believe a lye, verſ. 12. They believed not the truth. Why? becauſe they had pleaſure in unrighteouſneſs. p. 13We wondered, of late times, to ſee ſo many, not ſimple people onelyonly, but learned Clerks and Rabbies, to turn P…piſts, Arminians, Coſin-germanes of Papiſts: we needed not, if we had conſidered, that their hearts were gone to Rome before, and now their heads followed after. Were they well examined, many of them, it would be found, they firſt put away a good conſcience, before they made ſhipwrack of the Faith; their hearts betrayed their heads. Many of them were (its known they were) covetous, ambitious, voluptuous: and Popery hath baits of all ſorts to catch them; that great Harlot and mother of fornications, hath a golden cup, full of preferments, profits, pleaſures, and this made mens heads drunk and giddy, to embrace the groſſeſt errors & obſurdities for truths. Look upon theſe preſent times and ſee what defection from the Faith there is, and what ſad Apoſtacy from the old received Truths, is to be found amongſt us; and that not of the common ignorant multitude (though they are a daily pr…y to ſeducers) but of old profeſſors; who had not onelyonly knowledge in the word (as they thought) but alſo a form of godlineſs in the worſt times. Our Church of England (I mean the profeſſing party in it) ſeemed to me, not long ago, as a fair great looking glaſs, wherein was repreſented one onelyonly Image: a ſweet unanimity and uniformity in judgement and affections. But now (Oh pitty!) its like the ſame glaſs broken into many pieces, and every one preſenting a ſeveral Image, in ſo many ſects and factions almoſt as men: What may be the matter? Truely, I think mens hearts have betrayed their heads. They had a form, and but a form of Godlineſs, denying the power thereof, allowing themſelves in ſome open or ſecret corruption) and now juſtly delivered over to ſelf-pleaſing and ſelf-deceiving errors. Have you not ſeen in Summer time upon a tree, an Apple, or a Pear, red and yellow-ripe afore all its fellows? Come next morning, and you find it on the ground. What was the matter? Why, there was a worm (as opening you find) at the Core, which ſucking up all the moyſture, haſtaned the outward ripening; and drew away that very ſap, that ſhould have preſerved it on the tree. So is it with p. 14many profeſſors, that in outward ſhews outrun many times, ſincere and honeſt hearted Coriſtians; making a more glorious ſhew of knowledge and practiſe, then other of their neighbors (the ſtony ground brought forth fruit immediately, the good ground with patience) but there's a worme of ſome luſt within, that eats out the heart of Religion, hypocriſie haſtening on to ripeneſs of profeſſion, and then they fall off from the Faith to error. It were eaſie to inſtance, in almoſt all the preſent errors and heterodoxe opinions of the times; they are oftentimes entertained upon this very ground; becauſe they comply with and favor ſome open or ſecret luſt. The Apoſtle ſpeaking of ſome novel opinions of thoſe Primitive times (ſo early they began) calls them foreign profane, as well as vain bablings, 2 Tim. 2.16. and ſayes they grow to more ungodlineſs. Mark it, they ſuppoſe, and finde profane and ungodly hearts, and make them more profane and ungodly hearts that intertain them: Do we not ſee the open looſeneſs of many formerly profeſſing hypocrites; as the event diſcovers? Do we not wonder at ſuch and ſuch zealous profeſſors, turned not onelyonly erroneous in their judgements, but looſe and far more licentious in their lives ſince they fell to theſe new opinions? Take but ſome few inſtances, of taking opinions, which in their very nature, are ſuitable to ſome mens corruptions; I told you heretofore of Hymeneus and Philetus, who fell into a groſs error, Saying that the Reſurrection was paſt already, 2 Tim. 2.17, 18. And the doctrine took exceedingly, Whoſe words fretted like a Gangrene, and overturned and ſubverted the faith of ſome. And have not we the ſame errors revived, now of late, in ſome that deny the immortality of the ſoul,At the beginning of our troubles the firſt Pamphlet that appeared, was of the Mortality of the ſoul. and conſequently the Reſurrection of the body, and the laſt judgement? ſo did thoſe Saint Peter ſpeaks of; the falſe teachers he had ſpoken of, Chap. 2. they made a mock of the laſt judgement, 2 Pet. 3.3, 4. This firſt know, that in the laſt dayes ſhall come mockers, walking after their own luſts (mark that) ſaying, where is the promiſe of his coming? that is, to judgement. Willingly ignorant (ſayes he) of all thoſe grounds p. 15that evidence the truth thereof; willing eaſily to believe there ſhould be none, becauſe they could heartily wiſh there might be none. And is not this pleaſing doctrine, to men that walk after their own luſts? Again, That curſed and blaſphemous doctrine, That God is the Author of mens ſins; Not of thoſe actions alone, in and with which ſin is, but of the very pravity, ataxy, anomy, irregularity and ſinfulneſs it ſelf, pag. 36. Abfit. Abfit. Rom. 3.5 6. Pag. 37.Rom 3:5that its feared (though the Author be dead and the book burnt) lives in the heads and hearts of ſome, it not being then time to vent it, till a Tolleration of all Opinions be granted, and the times fitted to bear it: That opinion (I ſay) who are like to embrace it? Why, troubled ſouls (troubled with the horror of guilty conſciences, ſo for their comfort was it publiſhed) but troubled, not Evangelically ſure, they need no ſuch comforts, but Legally that would fain enjoy their luſts, but dare not unleſs their conſciences be ſtupified with ſome ſuch doctrine as this, That God hath more hand in mens ſinfulneſs then themſelves. Let me not multiply caſes, I will give you one inſtance of a luſts that troubles many, though in ſeveral wayes. Do you think the Scripture ſayes in vain, The ſpirit that is in us luſteth after liberty? Where doth the Scripture ſay ſo (you will ſay?) If it ſay ſo by conſequence, a fair deduction, I hope you will ſay, it ſays ſo. The Apoſtle hints ſo much, when he ſayes, Brethren, you are called unto liberty, only uſe not your liberty as an occaſion to the fleſh, Gal. 5.13. implying not onelyonly a poſſibility, but a proclivitie in men, to abuſe their liberty. Now I am much deceived, if this be not the common bait of moſt ſeducers of theſe times; and that which ſubverts the Faith of many, but through their own luſts. It was fore-propheſied by Saint Peter of old, to come to paſs in theſe laſt times, 2 Pet. 2.18, 19. He had ſaid in the beginning of the Chapter, verſ. 1. But there were falſe Prophets alſo among the people, even as there ſhall be falſe Teachers amongſt you, which privily bring in damnable hereſies, &c. How ſhall they convey their poiſon? See verſ. 18. In ſpeaking ſwelling words of vainity, they beguile them that were a little eſcaped from them which are wrapped in error: What's the bait? verſ. 19. promiſing them liberty (& are themſelves the ſervants of corruption) promiſing them liberty. But what betrayes them? much wantonneſs, through p. 16the luſts of the fleſh: which luſteth after Liberty. I pray conſider, if this be not the Lure, that allures moſt of our Sectaries at this day. The Antinomians preach Liberty from the Law, Liberty from ſin, Liberty from Repentance, from ſorrow for ſin, Liberty from puniſhment, or chaſtiſement for ſin, Liberty from Duties, from the Sabbath, &c. Is not this a fine Doctrine for looſe libertine conſciences? The Anabaptiſts preach Liberty from the power of the Magiſtrate (ſo ſome of them have, though others yet diſclaim it,) Liberty of propheſying or preaching, and adminiſtring Sacraments, to any ſuppoſed gifted brother; Liberty from Tythes, a taking doctrine, no queſtion, not like a Gangrene, but like wildfire. The Browniſt pleads for Liberty too, Liberty from Claſſes and Synods Eccleſiaſtical, Liberty for the people to Govern and Vote in the Government of the Church, and to have power and Authority in the keyes, in election, ordination, excommunication, &c. And how neer our Independent brethren of New and Old England come to them, in granting their people the key of Liberty, I would wiſh them to conſider; If all be true, which is reported, they find their peoples key of Liberty (in N. E.) hath almoſt devoured their Officers key of Authority, as Aarons Rod devoured all the reſt. But Liberty, deſire of Liberty in this and the like kind, is that, I fear, that wins them ſo many proſelytes. In a word, your Seekers (that have loſt their Religion, and God knows when they will finde it) and thoſe that are for Toleration of all Religions, Quakers, and the like, do they not find ſpeedy acceptance and entertainment amongſt looſe-profeſſing Chriſtians? we may now ceaſe to wonder: we have ſeen the reaſon, A corrupt life corrupts the judgement.

To conclude this ſecond Uſe; Who are they ordinarily, that are the prey of ſeducers? the Apoſtle hath told you often: either very ſimple, or very ſinful; either weak in judgement, or ſtrong in luſts and paſſions. I ſhall inſtance but two places: The firſt is that in 2 Tim. 3.6. Of this ſort are they that creep into houſes (their qualities are afore deſcribed) and lead captive, Whom? Firſt, ſilly ſimple women, foreign; women, or men p. 17as ſimple as women: people never very well principled in the grounds of Religion, alwayes learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth; and then follows their ſinfulneſs, laden with ſins and led about with divers luſts, pride and wantonneſs, ſcorn and bitterneſs, &c. The ſecond place is in the 4 Chap. of the ſame Epiſtle, verſ. 3, 4. The time will come (and now its come) when they will not ſuffer wholſome or ſound doctrine, but having itching ears, foreign, Emphatically.ſhall get them an heap of teachers. What makes their ears itch thus, after variety of new teachers? their own ſeveral lusts: after their luſts, their own luſts, ſhall they get them an heap of teachers: that is, as I hinted afore; Teachers ſuitable to their ſeveral luſts. And thus, I have done with the ſecond Uſe.

3. We may upon this ground, Uſe 3. A prognoſtick of more Apoſtatesmake a very probable prognoſtick concerning the ſtate and condition of many men and women, viz. thoſe who are looſe and corrupt in their lives, not yet taken with any of the New old errors, and blaſphemous notions of theſe times: They are in a fair and ready way to Apostaſie; to be made a prey to one ſeducer or other, who can moſt ſutably ſcratch their itching ears, and comply with their own proper luſt. An unſound heart, will make an unſound head. Theſe are the perillous times, the Apoſtles have forewarned of to come to paſs in the laſt dayes,2 Tim. 3.1. 1 Tim. 4.1.2 Tim 3:11 Tim 4:1 when many ſhall depart from the Faith. Theſe are diſcovering times if ever any were, as in the State, ſo in the Church. There muſt be hereſies, that theſe that are approved may be known. The men that ſhall be diſcovered, are largely deſcribed, 2 Tim. 3.1. Lovers of themſelves, covetous, boaſters proud &c. lovers of pleaſures more then lovers of God. Yet verſ. 5. Having a form (or figure) of godlineſs, but denying the power thereof. There are many already faln away to believe lies and ſtrong deluſions upon thoſe corrupt practiſes; and aſſure your ſelves you that are ſuch, will not be long after them, if God put not a ſtop to the ſeducers of the times: Let no man ſay, Am I a dogge, that I ſhould fall to ſuch groſs opinions, ſuch horrid blaſphemies, ſuch Ranting practiſes. Aſſure thy ſelf, thy corrupt heart, will eaſily corrupt thy head; If men be openly vitious, or ſecretly hypocritical, p. 18and withhold the truth in unrighteouſneſs, it is not more ordinary, 2 Theſſ. 2.11, 12.2 Thess 2:112 Thess 2:12then juſt with God, to give them up to believe a lie, that all they may be damned, that believed not the truth, but had pleaſure in unrighteouſneſs. And they that cannot endure ſound doctrine (the old wholeſome truths) becauſe it ſuites not with their luſts; 2 Tim. 4.3, 4.2 Tim 4:32 Tim 4:4it is juſt with God, that as they turn their ears from the truth; ſo, they ſhall be given unto fables. That any ſecret or open hypocrites are not yet ſeduced, they may thank the providence of God, that hath preſerved them from the opportunities of Temptations,Heb. 3.12.Heb 3:12 and not their own ſtrength. An evil heart of unbelief, will cauſe men to depart from the living God. Look to it, Chriſtians, that you be ſincere and keep a good conſcience, if not (theſe are winnowing and diſcovering times) you will ere long (I dare be your Prophet, you will ere long) make ſhipwrack of the faith. Avolent quantum volent paleae iſtae levis fidei, &c.Ile ſay no more of this but in Tertullians words, Let the chaff flye away as much as it will, the wheat will be the more in the floor of God, and we ſhall be the fitter for a Reformation.

Uſe 4. A caution to people, whom they truſt in matters of Religion. Mat. 7.16.Matt 7:164. This may ſerve for Caution, a fair warning to people to take heed whom they truſt in matters of Faith and Religion. Beloved (ſayes Saint John) 1 Joh. 4.1. believe not every ſpirit, but try the ſpirits whither they are of God, for many falſe ſpirits are gone out into the world. How ſhall we try them? By their fruits you ſhall know them. Take heed of crediting too much thoſe men, thoſe Teachers whom you ſee looſe and corrupt in their lives, and given over to Liberty, or rather licentiouſneſs: Its twenty to one, they are, or will be unſound in their Judgements, who are unſound in their practiſe, at leaſt in that particular, wherein they allow themſelves. Will any man ask the advice, or reſt upon, the Judgement of a Covetous man concerning Ʋſury? Or of a voluptuous man concerning Temperance and chaſtity? Or of a Libertine, concerning ſtrictneſs of converſation? &c. Nay, it is juſt with God, when Teachers are corrupted in their lives, in any one of thoſe, or the like luſts, to give them up to errors in judgement, to blind their own eyes, and ſo let them be blind leaders of the blind. Its true indeed, ſometimes falſe Prophets p. 19come in ſheeps clothing; the greateſt ſeducers and Hereticks, have been men viſible of very ſtrict lives, that its hard for people to diſcover them without very ſerious obſervation. Yet a diligent watchful eye may do much: The Scribes and Phariſees had a very devout and Saint-like profeſſion: But yet our Saviour, both diſcerned, and diſcovered them; by a more ſpiritual ſin (if I may ſo call it) that is, by their pride. They prayed, faſted, gave alms, devoutly, frequently charitably, but all to be ſeen of men: pride and popularity, was their luſt and corruption. And this was very viſible in the Ancient Hereticks; very proud, and ſcornful. Thus (they ſay) Auguſtine the Monke, that was ſent over into England, was diſcovered, by the advice of an holy Hermite, not to be a man of God. And this vice is viſible to half an eye, in many of our new Teachers, and many of their followers, they are a proud and ſcornful generation; undervaluing and trampling upon the reputation, of the moſt not onelyonly learned, but pious and Godly Miniſters of the former and preſent times: I ſay no more, By their fruits you ſhall know them. Take heed whom you truſt.

5. The laſt Uſe ſhall be for Exhortation to all,Uſe 5. Exhortation to all. both Miniſters and people, To be careful, to hearken to the Apoſtles charge to Timothy; To hold Faith and a good Conſcience together; and as we deſire or intend, not to make ſhipwrack of the Faith; ſo to ſee, that we keep a good Conſcience. As you tender the preſervation of the Jewel, look well to the Cabinet; the better heart, the better head. For the more profitable preſſing home of this Doctrine, give me leave to enlarge my ſelf a little. Firſt by a more particular d ſcovery of ſome ſpecial corrupti…ns, which experimentally Shipwrack the Faith. Secondly by urging ſome ſpecial motives, to people and Miniſters. Thirdly, by preſcribing ſome directions to preſerve from Apoſtacy.

1. The ſpecial corruptions, By diſcovering ſome ſpecial corruptions, as 1. Covetouſneſs.that moſt endanger the Faith to corrupt our Judgements, are theſe,

1. Covetouſneſs, nothing worſe to corrupt the Faith, then an heart exerciſed with covetouſneſs, as the Apoſtle Peter ſpeaks, and notes it for one of the vices of falſe Teachers, p. 202 Pet. 2.1, 3. Through covetouſneſs ſhall they with fained words make merchandize of you, with 14, 15. Which forſaking the right way have gone aſtray, following the way of Balaam which loved the wages of unrighteouſneſs. So Saint Paul expreſly, The love of money, is the root of all evil, which while ſome have luſted after, they have erred concerning the Faith, 1 T…m. 6.10. So he deſcribes thoſe Cretian ſeducers, Tit. 1.10, 11. There are many diſobedient and vain talkers and deceivers, which ſubvert whole houſes, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre ſake. And therefore he preſcribed this as one neceſſary qualification both of his Biſhop or Presbyter (for both are one, verſ. 5. with 7.) and alſo of his Deacon, that they be not given to filthy lucre, not covetous, 1 Tim. 2.3. to this end, that he may hold faſt the faithful word, Tit. 1.9. Implying that if he be ſuch, he would ſoon corrupt the Faith. The holding of the Faith may coſt him the loſs of all his eſtate. Will a covetous heart ſuffer that? The Prophet Jeremy ſaw the experience of this in his time, Jer. 6.13, 14. For from the leaſt of them, even unto the greateſt of them, every one is given to covetouſneſs, and from the Prophet to the Prieſt, every one dealeth falſly. Wherein? In the Faith, ſo it follows, They have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people ſlightly, ſaying, peace, peace, when there is no peace. And Saint Paul clears himſelf from corrupting the word of God, by coloured covetouſneſs (as elſewhere he calls it) 2 Cor. 2.17. We are not as many who corrupt the word of God (foreign, a Metaphor taken from Huckſters or Vintuers, who for lucres ſake, mingle water with their wine) but as of ſincerity, but as of God, in the ſight of God ſpeak we in Chriſt.

2. Ambition.2. Ambition, or deſire of Domination, is another corrupter of the Faith, eſpecially in corrupt times, when preferment cannot be had, but by complying with the errors of the times. We need not go far for inſtance, the Apoſtle in the 7 verſ. of this Chap. gives a reaſon why ſome had turned to vain janglings, foreign; Deſirous to be (reputed) Teachers, or Doctors of the Law, as ſome now of the Goſpel) underſtanding neither what they ſay, nor whereof they p. 21affirme. Such a kind of ambitious perſon, was Diotrophes 3 Ep. of Joh. verſ. 9. who withſtood the Apoſtles doctrine written to the Churches. Why? foreign, he loved the preheminence, he would be chief Biſhop himſelf. This was the occaſion of Arrius corrupting the Faith; his ambition to a Biſhoprick croſſed, and when his curſed Hereſie got head, and was countenanced by the Emperors, many turned Arrians, onelyonly becauſe they ſaw preferment went that way. Cryſoſtom obſerved it long ago,foreign, &c. Chryſ. in 1 Tim. 5. hom. 2.1 Tim 5 Hereſies grow out of the deſire of ruling, becauſe they loved not their brethren (ſayes he) for want of love, they envyed thoſe that were in honor, from envy aroſe ambition or deſire of Ruling, from thence they ſell into Hereſies. To this purpoſe is that of the Prophet Jeremy 5.31. The Prophets propheſie falſly, and the Prieſts bear rule by their means, &c.Tremel. in locum. That is (ſayes the learned Tranſlator) the Prieſts did Lord it over Gods inheritance, by the aid of ſome falſe Prophets, whom they allowed, and ſent abroad on purpoſe to procure them favour with the people. Why did they ſuffer the Truth to be ſo corrupted by the falſe Prophets? becauſe themſelves did bear Rule by their means. The Prieſts maintained them in their falſe doctrine, becauſe the Prophets maintained them in their falſe honor. Juſt as ſome Prelates did of late with us. To this head may be added, pride, popularity, Pride.and affection of ſingularity; pride is a great forerunner of falſe doctrine, pride goes before a fall, is true in this ſenſe, before Apoſtacy. The Apoſt…e therefore cautions, that his Biſhop or Elder, muſt not be a Novice, foreign, a new convert to the Faith, foreign.Leaſt being lifted up (with pride) he fall into (Apoſtaſie) the condemnation of the Divel, 1 Tim. 3.6. And one reaſon of heterodox doctrine, is declared to be pride, 1 Tim. 6.45. If any man teach otherwiſe, &c. He is proud, knowing nothing but doting about queſtions, &c. pride is his corruption; As pride of parts in many of our people, their (not very great) knowledge, utterance, expreſſion, gift of prayer, &c. puffs them up that they ſwell above their ſphear, and caſts them into many dangerous errors: So in many of our young Miniſters, pride of their learning, gifts, &c. The like doth that corruption of popularity, to be admired and applauded by the people,Popularity. by a p. 22multitude of followers, eſpecially if of the higheſt magnitude, rich, wiſe, noble, &c. The Apoſtle noted this long ago, Act. 20.30. Alſo of your own ſelves ſhall ariſe men, ſpeaking perverſe things, to draw diſciples after them. So did thoſe falſe Apoſtles teach and preach for Circumciſion and the Law, to be joyned with Chriſt; upon what ground? They deſire to have you circumciſed (as ſome now rebaptize) that they may glory in your fleſh, that is, that they have drawn many to be proſelytes, to their way and opinion; and have a multitude of followers. Oh, for a poor ſimple fellow, a Miller, a Weaver, &c. to be followed at heels with a troop of giddy diſciples; what a glory is this. Oh, to be pointed at, as the man. &c. The Miniſter is able to puffe up a young unballaſted ſpirit; and that's the way to be given over to, or held in error. Simon Magus did not ſo bewitch the people with ſorceries as the applauſes of the people did bewitch him to continue in his inchantments. He bewitched them, by giving it out, that himſelf was ſome great one, Act. 8.9. And they bewitched him with their applauſes, They all gave heed unto him from the leaſt to the greateſt, ſaying (mark that ſaying) This man is the great power of God. Singularity doth work the ſame effects, I mean deſire to be reputed ſingular; as many of our people (formerly of no great Religion) now Religion is come into faſhion, cannot content themſelves, to be wiſe to ſobriety, Singularity.to be ſoberly Religious: but they aſpire after ſingularity of opinions, new notions, new nothings indeed, and ſingularity of practiſe to be of the higheſt form of Religion, the Court Religion of the neweſt faſhion and dreſs So ſome of our preachers affect a ſingular way of preaching upon a common ſubject,2 Pet. 2.18.2 Pet 2:18 in an high, Meteorical, Metaphyſical ſtrain of notions and language, which (it may be) the Apoſtle calls foreign, great, bunchy, ſwelling words of vanity, to ſtupefie and amuſe their unlearned Auditors. This is, as God ſpeaks to Job, to darken councel by words without knowledge, Job 38 2. The excellency of a true Miniſter, is to make obſcure texts clear; theſe count it their excellency, to make clear texts obſcure. And who underſtand or admire them, except ignorant & unlearned young men and ſilly women? but learned, p. 23judicious, and ſubſtantial Chriſtians admire their vanity and folly. And what's the iſſue of all this pride and ſingularity? They many times ſtrain a truth ſo high,Rom. 16.18.Rom 16:18 that they break it into errors, and miſlead ſimple, but ſometimes well meaning people. Take heed of theſe.3. Voluptuouſneſs.

3. Voluptuouſneſs, deſire of pleaſure and eaſe, &c. That this is an Inlet of errors and aberration from the Faith, is intimated by the Apoſtle, 1 Tim. 4.1. Many ſhall depart from the faith, both Teachers and people. Why? not onelyonly becauſe in general they have ſeared naughty conſciences; but for this in ſpecial, They are lovers of pleaſures, more then lovers of God, 2 Tim. 3, 4.1 Tim. 3.3.1 Tim 3:3 Amongſt other qualfications of a Miniſters, the Apoſtle requires, that he be not foreign, given to wine, one that ſits at the wine (as the word imports) or tarries long at the wine, as the like phraſe is uſed, Prov. 23.30. and of his Deacons, verſ. 8. foreign, not given to much wine, one that takes more heed to fill his luſts with wine, then his head with knowledge, or his heart with holineſs. Why this required? That he may hold the myſtery of the Faith in a pure conſcience, verſ. 9. Becauſe wine is a mocker, Prov. 20.1. that is, a deceiver, and takes away the heart, that is, his wiſdom: If you will ſee how far, look Hoſ. 4.11, 12. Whoredome (another ſin of the voluptuous) and wine, and new wine takes away the heart; that is, the underderſtanding, to run into the groſſeſt and moſt unreaſonable Idolatry: My people ask counſel at their ſtocks, and their ſtaffe declareth unto them, for the ſpirit of whordome hath cauſed them to erre, and they have gone a whoring from under their God. That's a famous place to this purpoſe, Iſa 28.7. But alſo they have erred through wine, and through ſtrong drink are out of the way; the Prieſt and the Prophet have erred through ſtrong drink, they are ſwallowed up of wine; they are out of the way through ſtrong drink they erre in viſion, they ſtumble in judgement. See alſo Iſa. 56.10, 12. Her watchmen are blind, they are all ignorant, they are all dumbe dogs, they cannot bark, ſleeping, lying down, loving to ſlumber. Come ye (ſay they) I will fetch wine, and we will fill our ſelves with ſtrong drink, and to morrow ſhall be as this day, and much more abundant. I will p. 24conclude this with one place more, an inſtance of an idle, Nonreſident Prophet or Miniſter, Zech. 11.17. Wo to the idle ſhepherd (that hath eyes and ſees not, &c.) that leaves the flock: The unconſcionable Miniſter, that for his eaſe, pleaſure and idleneſs, neglects his Miniſtry and people. What ſhall be his puniſhment? The ſword ſhall he upon his arme, and upon his right eye; his arme ſhall be clean dryed up, and his right eye ſhall be utterly darkened. Experience of former times verifies this.

4. Timerouſneſs.4. Timer…uſneſs, and fearfulneſs, in corrupt and perſecuting times, often betrayes the judgement unto compliance at leaſt, with the errors of the times. There were ſome falſe Apoſtles, that preached for Circumciſion, and the obſervation of the Law of Moſes, together with the Goſpel: telling the people, that unleſs they were circumciſed, they could not be ſaved, Act. 15. This was a very groſs perverting and corrupting of the Goſpel of Chriſt. What was it that thus miſlead and ſeduced them? partly to pleaſe and comply with others of that way and opinion, but chiefly their fearfulneſs to ſuffer for the truth of the Goſpel. So the Apoſtle reſolves it, Gal. 6.12. foreign. As many as deſire to make a fair ſhew in the fleſh, (that is, to pleaſe and not offend the Jews, ſtrictly cleaving to their old Law and Religion) they conſtrain you to be circumciſed, onelyonly leaſt they ſhould ſuffer perſecution for the Croſs of Chriſt. The ſame did in part betray Peter and Barnabas into diſſimulation of the truth, that they did not foreign, keep the right path of the truth of the Goſpel, Gal. 2.14. the reaſon is given, verſ. 12. For before that certaine came from James, he (and Barnabas) did eat with the Gentiles, but when they were come, he withdrew and ſeparated himſelf, fearing (mark that fearing) them of the circumciſion. Fear of men wil betray mens judgements into error. How many in the Primitive times turned Arrians for fear of that perſecution under the Arrian Biſhops and Emperors? How many, in the Marian times, turned to be Papiſts for fear of perſecution? And in the later times. How many turned aſide to Arminian doctrine, and Popiſh ſuperſtitions, partly for favor and preferment, and partly for fear of the frowns and diſpleaſure of ſome in higher places. To ſhut up this, As any luſt allowed and lived in, with p. 25the loſs of a good conſcience, will corrupt the Judgement. So eſpecially theſe four inſtanced in covetouſneſs, ambition, voluptuouſneſs, Timerouſneſs: Againſt all which, let me leave this to your ſerious conſideration: It is the opinion and Judgement of many learned, judicious, and Godly Divines,Rev. 11.Rev 11 that the Witneſſes ſpoken of in the Revelation, are not yet, but are ſhortly to be ſlain; and that then, Antichriſt will once more (for a time prevail over the Reformed Churches, with the hotteſt perſecution that ever the Churches felt; which if it come to paſs (as God forbid, for we are not fitted for ſufferings) let all our looſe profeſſors and Proteſtants at large (who allow themſelves to live in their open or ſecret luſts) and all thoſe, who are covetous, ambitious, voluptuous, timerous in ſpecial, know that they will (without more grace from God) as ſurely turn Papiſts, as now they profeſs Proteſtant: Their hearts will betray their heads: Their wrack of conſcience now, will then ſhipwrack the Faith. That's the firſt.

2. In the ſecond place, I ſhall preſs home,2. The motive… the exhortation of the Apoſtle here, Hold faith and a good conſcience; in the words of Solomon, Prov. 4.23. Keep thy heart with all diligence, or as the original hath it, Above all keeping, keep thy heart, thy conſcience; Deer Chriſtians, let it be your greateſt ſtudy, not to keep your eſtates, honors, liberties, lives, but your hearts and conſciences: upon the reaſon implyed in the text, becauſe that's the onelyonly way to keep the Faith. I ſhall not go far for motives, having ſtore, in and about the text; onelyonly for methods ſake, I ſhall divide them into a double ſtream, betwixt you the people of God, and us Miniſters.

1. To the people of God (and indeed to all) above all keeping keeping your hearts and conſciences pure; 1. To all the people of God, by 4 things.I ſhall follow the Metaphor of the text; which ſpeaks of a Shipwrack: Here four particulars.

1. From the richneſs of the merchandize or Jewel, 1. The richneſs of the merchandize the Faith.wherewith your Ship, your conſcience, is loaden and betruſted; It is, the Faith, that is (as you heard) the Truth; the Truth of the Goſpel, the Faith once (and but once) delivered to the Saints, Jude verſ. 3 which he exhorts all,Prov. 23.23.Prov 23:23 earneſtly to contend for. To the ſame purpoſe, Solomon the wiſeſt of meer men, p. 26cryes, Buy the truth, but ſell it not. Buy it at any price (as he the pearl, Mat. 13.) but ſell it at no price; one ray of this Faith, this Truth, is more worth then all the world. See Prov. 3.13, 14 other merchandize cannot, but this will certainly make you for ever Happy: Hear what wiſdom it ſelf ſayes, Happy is the man that findeth wiſdom, and the man that getteth underſtanding; For the merchandize thereof, is better then the merchandize of ſilver, and the gain thereof, then fine gold. She is more precious then Rubies, and all the things thou canſt deſire, are not to be compared unto her. Length of dayes are in her right hand, in her left riches and honor; her wayes are wayes of plea…ntneſs, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her, and happy is every one, that retaineth her. How careful are your merchants of the meaneſt commodities, if but Corn or Coals, &c. to ſee them ſafe ſhipped in a good ſhip? much more, if loaden with precious merchandize, Silk and Velvets, Silver, and Gold, and precious ſtones: would any wiſe man truſt theſe in a rotten, leaking Ship? The application is eaſily made, Faith is this Jewel, your conſciences are the Ship; if you deſire to bring your Treaſure ſafe to land, have a care of the Ship your conſcience, that it be ſound and ſafe; If you put away a good conſcience, you muſt needs make ſhipwrack of the Faith, this incomparable Jewel. That's the firſt conſideration.

2. The Ship it ſelf, is next conſiderable. A good ſhip is long in making,2. The goodneſs of the ſhip a good conſcience. great pains and coſts in rearing and rigging of it, and the uſe and comfort of it in a long and hard Seafare, is of great concernment, as a bad one fills with great fears. A good conſcience (which is here compared to the Ship) is a thing long in making, and coſt much to make it good, The blood of Chriſt to purge it from dead works, to ſerve the living God, Heb. 9.14. much pains and labor to keep it good, Act. 24.16. Herein I exerciſe my ſelf, foreign, to have alwayes a conſcience void of offence toward God, and toward men. And for the uſe of it in this our Seafare, where we meet with ſtorms and pyrates, and ſhelves and rocks, &c. nothing more ſafe and comfortable then a good conſcience; good with the goodneſs of integrity, that will keep it good with the goodneſs of tranquility: p. 27A good conſcience is a continual feaſt, Prov. 15.15. And our Apoſtle who was (literally) in perils by Sea, as well as by land, 2 Cor. 11.26. and was often toſſed with the tempeſts of perſecution, from the knowledge of the goodneſs of his ſhip, could ſing in a ſtorm (as if he had been in Noahs Ark) This is our rejoycing, the Teſtimony of our conſcience, that in ſimplicity & godly ſincerity not with fleſhly wiſdom, we have had our converſation in the world, 2 Cor. 1.12. The Pſalmiſt ſings it out, Pſ. 119.165. Great is the peace which they have, who love thy law, and nothing ſhall offend them: or they ſhall have no ſtumbling blocks (as the original bears it) Nothing ſhall offend them, is a foreign, more is meant then ſpoken; they are much pleaſed, delighted, raviſhed with the peace of a good conſcience: But who would venture to Sea in a torn, crackt weather-beaten ſhip, having neither Sails, nor Anchor, nor ballaſt? There is no worſe hell on earth, then an ill conſcience, eſpecially in troublous and ſuffering times. Witneſs Judas, Spira, &c. It is reported of ſome that have run through all the Sects to the very Ranters, that they lye under the horrors of hell, roaring and crying, there is no mercy for them: I could wiſh they that firſt lead them out of the way might be ſenſible of this wrong. Have a care therefore of this Ship, that is of ſo great concernment.

3. The paſſenger or Pilot of the ſhip,3. The worth of the paſſenger the ſoul. is of ſpecial conſideration, to commend, yea command, the looking well to the Ship, who is either ſav'd or loſt with it; If the Ship and Merchandize miſcarry, the perſon in it, is in danger of periſhing with them: He that is careleſs of a good conſcience, doth not onelyonly looſe his Merchandize, the Faith, but himſelf alſo, even his own ſoul; That's a dreadful place, 2 Pet. 2.1, 3. Falſe teachers ſhall privily bring in damnable hereſies, denying the Lord that bought them (as ſome now do) and bring upon themſelves ſwift deſtruction. Whoſe judgement now of a long time lingreth not and their damnation ſlumbreth not. In the next verſe to my text, there are a couple of Apoſtates, Himeneus and Alexander delivered unto Satan, by a cenſure of excommunication, that they might learn not to blaſpheme. The Church for want of a ſettled government, hath not now this power, but God p. 28does it, immediately or mediately; mediately by ſome Inſtruments of Satan. It's reported, and by ſome confeſſed, that by ſorceries and potions, and ſuch like Satan hath really and actually had poſſeſſion of them; immediately God does it, by giving men up to their own luſts; which is worſe then if delivered into the actual poſſeſſion of Satan. That place ſpeaks the very terrors of hell, to men that have put away a good conſcience, 2 Theſſ. 2.10, 11, 12. Becauſe they received not the love of the truth, that they might be ſaved; for this cauſe God ſhall ſend them strong deluſion, that they ſhould believe a lye, that all they might be damned, who believed not the truth, but had pleaſure in unrighteouſneſs. Therefore for the paſſengers ſake, your own ſouls ſake, look well to the ſhip to keep a good conſcience, loſe one, and loſe both.

4. The ſad examples of ſhipwrack in others.4. The ſad and lamentable examples of ſhipwracks, that are before our eyes, and upon record; goodly ſhips and richly laden, that have miſcarryed in ſight of the Haven. Here are two in the next verſe, of whom is Himeneus and Alexander, and 2 Tim. 2. Philetus and Demas, cap. 4.10. anciently, and thouſands more upon our own ſhore, lye wreckt and broken to pieces: who have not onelyonly ſplit the ſhip, a good conſcience, but made ſhipwrack of the Faith, and are themſelves drowning in the Sea of perdition, if God be not the more merciful to them. Let theſe be as ſo many Seamarks to us all, to cry, Hold faith, and above all, if you will hold the Faith, get, and keep a good conſcience. But ſome concern

2. To the Miniſters of God.2. The Miniſters of God, who repreſent and ſucceed Timothy in his office, as Pilots of the Church. It concerns them above others, to hold Faith and a good conſcience together; eſpecially to hold the latter, if they intend to hold the former. I ſhall propound but theſe conſiderations, to perſwade to it, very briefly.

1. The heart is very deceitful.1. How eaſie a thing it is, for our hearts to deceive us, if not diligently examined and obſerved: we may ſtrongly believe we have a good conſcience when it is clean otherwiſe. Paul himſelf ſometimes was cheated by his own heart, I verily thought with my ſelf, that I ought to do many things, contrary p. 29to the Name of Jeſus of Nazareth, Act. 26.9. He thought it conſcience, but it was perſecution: His conſcience was miſlead to maintain his old way, with perſecution of the profeſſors of the Goſpel. There is a way (ſayes Solomon) that ſeems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the wayes of death, Prov. 16.25. There are many wayes, which may ſeem to us, to be the wayes of Chriſt, which are in a more general notion, the wayes of Antichriſt. There may be coloured covetouſneſs (as the Apoſtle calls it) or ſecret ambition, pride,1 Theſſ. 2.5.1 Thess 2:5 popularity at the heart, which may incline the judgement to ſome plauſible and advantageous errors of the times. Look well there to our conſciences, there may lodge in them ſome deceivable luſt, which may deceive our judgement into error. Mark how Paul ſearches and ſifts his heart: The teſtimony of our conſcience, that in ſimplicity, and godly ſincerity, not with fleſhly wiſdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our converſation in the world, and more abundantly to you wards, 2 Cor. 1.12. And again chap. 4.2. Having renounced the hidden things of diſhoneſty, not walking in craftineſs, nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifeſtation of the truth, commending our ſelves to every mans conſcience in the ſight of God. That's one.

2. The Apoſtle gives this charge to Timothy, 2. They by parts and place are able to do much good or hurt.not ſo much as a Chriſtian or private man, as a preacher of the Goſpel; his place and parts called for more vigilance, to get and keep a good conſcience. Great parts of learning and eminence of place (as a leader in warfare, or a Pilot in Seafare) if the heart be unſound, may enable men to do the more hurt, by propagating, by defending and colouring over errors with a ſhew of truth. The greateſt Hereticks have been very learned, ſubtile men; able to diſpute their errors, and ſo to ſubvert the Faith of others. So we noted above, That the Heterodox Teachers, were acute diſputers, 1 Tim. 6.4, 5. And elſewhere he ſayes, As Jannes and Jambres withſtood Moſes (by their inchantments, imitating the miracles of Moſes) ſo do theſe (ſeducers) reſiſt the truth, men of corupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith, 2 Tim. 3.8. Simon Magus by the opinion of his parts and greatneſs, drew multitudes of people after him, Act. 8.9, 10. p. 30Hence the Apoſtle gives that caution, Col. 2.8. Beware leaſt any man ſpoil you, through Philoſophy and vain deceit, after the traditions of men.

3. Th…y, if bad anderring, may carry many with them to hell.3. Miniſters of all others, had need to look to their hearts and heads, becauſe if they miſlead themſelves, they are able by their Authority and favour with the people) to miſlead many with them into hell. They are called Guides, Leaders, Pilots (as we ſaid at firſt) if thoſe miſcarry, they carry with them thouſands into deſtruction. The Scribes and Phariſees, made many proſelytes, making them two fold more the children of hell, then themſelves. Thoſe two men named after the text, Hymeneus and Alexander, as alſo Philetus, 2 Tim. 2.17, 18. who had made ſhipwrack of the Faith, Their word did eat like a canker, ſaying, that the reſurrection was paſt already and overthrew the faith of ſome. Thoſe Cretian ſeducers, ſubverted whole houſes, Tit. 1.11. The venerable eſteem of many ſeeming Saint like Hereticks of old, carryed many thouſands with them into Hereſie. And ſo they do now, their followers having their perſons in admiration for their ſeeming holineſs, have gone after them blindfold, as not thinking it poſſible, that ſuch pious men coul err, or lead others into errors. The leaders of my people cauſe them to err, and they that are lead of them are deſtroyed, was once a complaint, and may be our caution. The words are rendred by Tremelius, thus, Doctores populi mei, Iſa. 9.16.Isa 9:16ſunt ſeductores, The leaders of my people are ſeducers; But in the Original, the words are more emphatical, They that bleſs my people are ſeducers, See Iſa. 3.12.Isa 3:12and they that are bleſſed by them, are deſtroyed. They by their flatteries pronounced the people bleſſed in their erroneous and deſtroying wayes; notwithſtanding the threats of ruin to them, by the true Prophets of God; and when they thought themſelves bleſſed, in a bleſſed ſtate, they and their Prophets were ſwallowed up in a common deſtruction. Wo to the ſeduced, but tiwice and twenty times wo to the ſeducer; he that brings in damnable errors to deceive and deſtroy others, he brings upon himſelf ſwift deſtruction. His fire ſhall be ſo much hotter in hell, as he hath more diſciples after him, as ſo many faggots to incenſe the flame. Let Miniſters then look well to the Faith, to p. 31keep it ſound, and if they will keep and hold the Faith, above all keepings, keep a good conſcience.

3. A word of direction to all, and I have done;3. Directions to preſerve from this ſhipwrack. How we may preſerve our ſelves from the Apoſtaſie of the times, and prevent this common ſhipwrack of the Faith. There are (as hath been hinted) three things, that do betray men into error, in theſe times, ignorance, pride, and hypocriſie; the contrary to theſe, are the preſervatives of the Faith; knowledge, humility, ſincerity, of each a word, and but a word.

1. Sound and well grounded knowledge of the truth.1. A skillful Pilot, ſound knowledge. An ignorant and unskillful Pilot will eaſily endanger the ſhip. You heard before, who they are that are commonly the prey of ſeducers, unlearned and unſtable ſouls, ſayes Saint Peter, 2 Pet. 3.16. therefore unſtable, becauſe unlearned. They are children (ſays Paul) that are carryed away with every winde of doctrine, Eph. 4.14. and ſimple women, that are led captive by ſeducers, 2 Tim. 3.6. untaught, unprincipled people, never catechized in the fundamentals of Religion. Hence that of the Apoſtle, Col. 3.16. Let the word of Chriſt dwell in you richly, in all wiſdome, and Col. 2.2. He prayes for them, that their hearts may be comforted (or ſtrengthened) unto all riches of the full aſſurance of underſtanding, to the acknowledgement of the myſtery of God, and of the Father, and of Chriſt. A ſuperficial, notional knowledge, is eaſily ſhaken; it muſt be foreign, the full aſſurance of underſtanding, that comes to an acknowledgement of the Myſtery of God, not the hyſtory only; an ignorant ſoul among ſeducers, is like a ſhip at Sea, without a skilfull Pilote.

2. Knowledge alone, is not ſufficient, knowledge puffs up, 2. Store of Ballaſt, true humility.ſayes the Apoſtle, 1 Cor. 8.1. But there muſt be the Grace of Humility as ballaſt to poiſe the ſhip. It's pride (you heard) that carries men into error, pride of parts, of gifts, &c. God reſiſts the proud, but gives grace to the humble. The meek will he guid in judgement, the meek will he teach his way, Pſal. 25.9. It is not more ordinary then juſt with God, to give proud men over to their ſelf-deluſions. He delights to b…fool thoſe who are wiſe in their own eyes. They ſet their wiſdom againſt Gods, and he ſets his wiſdom againſt them, and blinds them with their own wiſdome. Whatever parts, or gifts or p. 32abilites men have, let them labor the more to be humble and lye low. He that in a bluſtring wind lyes on the ground, is ſafe, whereas he that ſets himſelf upon the houſe top, or on a pinnacle, is in danger to be blown down, and to break his neck. In a word, a man of much knowledge, without Humility, is like a ſhip at Sea with full ſails, but without ballaſt; every guſt of wind is ready to overturn it, or run it upon a rock.

3. A ſtronge Anchor, ſincerity.3. Sincerity is the chief, that ſecures all, unrighteouſneſs of heart (thats the good conſcience in the text) is like the Anchor to a ſhip, that ſtayes it in a ſtorm: So the Pſalmiſt prayed, Let uprightneſs and integrity preſerve me, Pſal. 25.21. the reaſon is added; for I wait on thee. When the truth is much obſcured by Hereticks, that he cannot ſee his way; there's a promiſe, Ʋnto the upright there ariſeth light in the darkneſs, Pſal. 112.4. God hath promiſed all bleſſings to the upright,See Pſal. 25.12 Him ſhall he teach in the way that he ſhall chooſe.Ps 25:12 they are his delight, Prov. 11.20. The high way of the upright, is to depart from evil, he that keepeth his way, preſerveth his ſoul, Prov. 16.17. He that walketh in his upuprightneſs, feareth the Lord: but he that is perverſe in his wayes, diſpiſeth him, Prov. 14.2. And how juſt is it with God, to deſpiſe that man that feareth not God, but is perverſe and hypocritical in his wayes: of all men, God hates an hypocrite, and will one time or other uncaſe him. Hence it is obſervable, that many weake Chriſtians, for knowledge, but ſincere and upright in heart, perſevere and outſtand all the errors of the times, when many of great knowledge, and learning and parts, but open or ſecret hypocrites, do Apoſtate from the truth. Above all then get a ſincere and upright heart, to walk up to your knowledge, that will keep both the Faith, and your ſelves. I ſhall allude to the Apoſtles words, 1 Cor. 13. verſ. ult. There are theſe three preſervatives of …he Faith, knowledge, humility, ſincerity, but the chiefeſt of theſe is ſincerity. This is that good conſcience, in the text, made good by ſound and ſaving knowledge much bettered by humility, and preſerved in both thoſe by ſincerity. Let it be it every one of our prayer, Oh let my heart be ſound in thy Statutes, that I be not aſhamed, Pſal. 119. verſ. 80. And Oh that my wayes were directed to keep thy Statutes: then ſhall! not be aſhamed, when I have reſpect unto all thy Commandements, verſ. 5, 6. And I ſhall conclude with my prayer too; Do good, O Lord, to thoſe that are good, and to them that are upright in their hearts. As for ſuch as turn aſide unto their crooked wayes, the Lord will lead them forth with the workers of iniquity, but peace ſhall be upon Iſrael. Amen.

FINIS.

End of the text · Daniel Cawdry, A Late Great Shipwreck of Faith (1655)