Commentary on 1 John, Commentary · Chapter 2 · Verse 18, 19, 20
1 JOHN. 2.18, 19, 20.
Little Children, it is the laſt time, and as ye have heard that Antichriſt ſhall come, even now are there many Antichriſts, whereby we know that it is the last time, &c.
SAint John writing to all ſorts of Chriſtians, Old, Young, and Children, he ſpeaks particularly to them all; to Young-men, and Old, he wrote, Verſ. 14, 15. Love not the world, but for Babes, he writes not to them about the love of the World, for they are not eaſily ſubject to it; but no age ſo flexible as young Children, ſo that if they be once ſet in a right way, and live under faithful Inſtructers, there is no great danger of them, therefore he writes to them here, to make them beware of falſe Teachers, and cleave to ſound Doctrin.
Firſt, now he deſcribes and ſets out theſe falſe Teachers.
1 By their coming in the laſt time, verſ. 18.
2 By their Apoſtacy, they went out from us.
3 By ſhewing the cauſe of it, they were never of us, verſ. 19.
Secondly, he gives them ſignes, whereby they may know them, and diſcern them, and that is from their Unction they have received, verſ. 20, 21.
Thirdly, He gives a mark of Antichriſt, he is a Lyer, who denieth Jeſus is the Chriſt is a lyer, &c. verſ. 22.
Fourthly, He layes down ſome means to help them.
1 By looking to their Doctrin, Keep cloſe to ſound Doctrin.
2 Cleave to your holy Unction, have a ſpeciall care to live righteouſly.
Verſ. 18. In this verſe he plays the Trumpeter, and warns the Church, Little Children, now is the laſt time, and look to it; there are many Antichriſts come.
Theſe words afford theſe Points.
1 Theſe times were the laſt times.
2 That the Church was then warned before-hand of Antichriſt.
3 That many Antichriſts were already come in that time.
4 That the Prophecy of the Antichriſt to come, was partly fulfilled in the Antichriſts that were then come.
5. Such is the condition of the laſt ages of the church, that the Church cannot be long without ſome Antichriſt, for ſo be makes the laſt Times reciprocal with Antichriſts; there are many Antichriſt, whereby we know that it is the laſt Time. For the firſt,
Doct. 1. The dayes under the New Teſtament are the laſt Times.
The times one thouſand ſix hundred years ſince have been called, foreign, the laſt ſeaſons, and this is no ſingular Phraſe of St. Johns, but common with other places of Scripture, 1 Pet. 4, 7. Acts 2.17. 1 Cor. 10, 11. as if he lookt at himſelf as living in the very laſt Age of the World, Heb. 9.26. Jam. 5.8, 9. Phil. 4.5.
It may be wondred that the Spirit and inditer of the Scripture, ſhould give out that theſe were the very laſt dayes, when there have been ſo many changes ſince, the ten perſecutions, the flouriſhing of the church under Conſtantine, and after it, a great miſt of Ignorance, and ſince the light of the Goſpel; how then did he call them the laſt times, ſince there have been ſo many changes ſince?
There is a double reaſon of this, in regard of the Apoſtles ſence and ſcope that they aimed at, for they did not mean that the laſt judgment ſhould preſently come, for whereas ſome Chriſtians began to grow ſlack in their callings, becauſe they thought it would be in vain, the laſt judgement being ſo near, he ſeriouſly diſwades them from ſuch ſuddain expectation of it, 2 Theſ. 2.1, 2, 3. ſo that though he had ſaid that day is at hand, yet he would not have them conceive, that it ſhould preſently come upon them, for firſt, there muſt be an Apoſtacy; therefore we ſee they were not deceived, or ſpake uncertainly.
1 Therefore they are called the laſt times, becauſe they are the laſt period of time, before the laſt Judgment.
The firſt period was from Adam to Moſes, 2450 years, Rom. 5.4. the ſecond period of time was from Moſet to Chriſt, Luk. 16.16. Mat. 11.13. for in the firſt age the Church was not national, nor any writings of the word, only they delivered the law and promiſes from Family to Family; many years after Moſes time, he collected a Nationall Church of the Jews, and excluded the nations by a partition wall of cetemonies which the Gentiles would not conform to, then did he give them the Law written, and this continued till Chriſts time.
The third Period of time, or third age, is from Chriſts time to the end of the World, Heb. 1.1. in theſe laſt dayes, &c. It is the laſt time of the Revelation of Gods Will, and we muſt expect no further Revelation to the end; for though the Church hath ſeen many differences, yet there is but one uniform Doctrin, that God hath ſet up for all that will be ſaved, Heb. 9.16, 17. now whilſt Chriſt lived, that is before he was crucified, he might change the forme of the Teſtament, but now there is no more opportunity of changing, he hath delivered his laſt will, which ſhall not be reverſed, if now there comes any and declares a new Doctrine, let him be accurſed, he is an Antichriſt.
2 The Apoſtle had ſome reſpect to their particular Eſtate, ſtirring them up to many duties on this ground, becauſe the end drew near, 1 Pet. 4. and this would not be an argument of patience, unleſſe be had ſome reſpect of their particular, Jam. 5.8, 9. Phil. 4, 5.
Q. In what ſence ſhall we underſtand that the coming of Chriſt was near in the Apoſtles times?
1 In oppoſition to former ages which were far off.
2 In Gods account a thouſand years are but as one day, 2 Pet, 3.8, 9. yet God will come ſo, that when the day of accompliſhment is come, he will not ſtay a day longer, for that were as much to him as a thouſand years.
3 Such is the Faith of many chriſtians, that what they ſee in a promiſe, it is as much as if it were preſently fulfilled, Joh. 8.36.
Ʋſe 1. If this time of the Goſpel, he the laſt time, then hence we may certainly conclude, that not ſo much time by much, ſhall paſſe from Chriſt to the end of the World, as was from Adam to Chriſt, for then how can they be called the laſt times? and if it were the laſt time then, what is it now?
Ʋſe 2. If theſe be the laſt dayes, we muſt not wonder if we meet with perilous times, for ſuch ſhould they be, 1 Tim. 3.1. now are the dreggs of the laſt times; wonder not therefore if you ſee haters, and ſcorners, in theſe laſt times; when men once grow aged, they grow cold and diſtempered, and if they have any ſpirit, it is a ſpirit of moroſity; ſuch is the ſpirit of theſe times, froward againſt good, teaſty and malignant, wonder not at it, theſe are the laſt times.
Ʋſe 3. If theſe be the laſt times, then how vain is it to deliver or expect any new kind of revelation; if any teach any other Doctrin than Chriſt hath already revealed, he is Antichriſt.
Ʋſe 4. Of exhortation, firſt, to patience, Jam. 5.7, 8. on this ground, for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. He exhorts to a double patience, to be patient in bearing evill, and patient in forbearing revenge; be patient a while, the Judge ſtands at the door that will right all.
Obj. This is a cold encouragement to patience, to ſay, The day of the Lord is at band, how long hath that been promiſed: and yet it is farre enough off?
A. When his Will is accompliſhed he will not ſtay a day, and get you but faith, and you ſhall look at it as preſent, ſo that you dare doe no injury, no more than if Chriſt were preſently to come.
3 There is another patience required on this ground, and that is, patience to expect the promiſes God hath made, we have need of patience for this end, Heb. 10.37. therefore, Heb. 11.1. he ſaith, Faith is the evidence of things not ſeen, faith ſees things afarre off, and ſo did all the Patriarchs.
2 It exhorts us to watchfulneſſe, 2 Pet. 4.7. and there is a double watchfulneſſe required.
1 Watchfulneſſe againſt falſe Teachers, that you may ſtand faſt againſt all Errours, be ſober minded, look narrowly to your wayes, the laſt times are perilous and dangerous.
2 Watch unto Prayer, that is, becauſe the times are the laſt times, and the dayes are perilous, watch unto Prayer; that is, watch every occaſion, that you may ſtand faſt in evill times, and walk ſafely in dangerous dayes, you will have need of Prayer, in regard of many perils, and evils in theſe dayes.
Doct. That the Church of God was fore-warned of Antichriſts aforehand.
Q. When, or by whom were they fore-warned?
A. Our Saviour forewarns them of Antichriſts, and falſe Teachers, Matth. 24.24, 25. unto which words Saint John ſeems to have reference; ſo alſo the Apoſtles were careful in fore-warning them, 2 Theſ. 2. from the third Verſe to the tenth, 1 Tim. 2.3, 4. 2 Pet. 2.2, 3. which was expreſly ſpoken of Rome, Rev. 18.13. ſo we ſee by the mouth of two or three witneſſes this truth was confirmed.
Reaſ. 1. To prevent the miſ-conceit that the people had, that the Day of the Lord was near at hand, and thereupon began to think it was no time to ſettle to their Callings, but to give themſelves to vigilancy and prayer, 2 Theſ. 2.1, 2, 3. to prevent this conceit, he tells them expreſly, Antichriſt muſt firſt come.
2 That they might be the better fore-armed againſt ſuch falſe Teachers, for there ſhould be damnable Heriſies, 2 Pet. 2.2. and not as points of curioſity only, but contra dogmata fidei, therefore that they might prepare themſelves againſt ſuch hereſies, Chriſt and his Apoſtles were carefull to fore-warn them, Mat. 24.24, 25. 2 Pet. 3.17, 18. unleſſe you be well eſtabliſhed in the truth, they will carry you away into errour.
3 That they might quicken the Paſtors of the Church to lay ſound foundations, that they might eſtabliſh them in ſound Doctrine, Acts 20.28, 29, 30.
Ʋſe 1. Shews the great faithfulneſſe of the great Shepheard of our Souls, Chriſt Jeſus in fore-telling himſelfe of Wolves coming, and ſtirring up his Apoſtles to doe the like.
Ʋſe 2. It may teach both chriſtian Miniſters and people to practiſe ſuch duties, for which end he writes theſe things, one main end is, to eſtabliſh them in ſound Doctrine, that ſo whatſoever falſe Teachers ſay, yet chriſtians may not be ſeduced, for if they gave warning ſo long before, much more, now we know this to be come to paſſe; therefore let not Women, or little Children excuſe themſelves, for God looks that you ſhould be ſo grounded in the truth, that no Seducers may carry you away.
Doct. 3 In the days when St. John wrote this Epiſtle, many Antichriſts were then come into the World.
1 Joh. 4.1, 2, 3. This is the firſt place that mentions Antichriſt expreſly.
foreign which ſignifies, firſt oppoſition, as foreign; ſecondly ſubſtitution, as foreign, pro conſul & foreign; thirdly, it ſignifies equality, foreign.
Now Antichriſtos includes all, as one that is oppoſite to Chriſt, ſo he is called foreign; ſecondly, he is foreign, that is, ſubſtitute or vicar of Chriſt, hence the beaſt that came out of the Sea, had the horn of a Lamb, as if he had the power of Chriſt; thirdly, he is Antichriſt, that is, one that carries himſelf as equal to Chriſt; therefore he diſpenſeth with thoſe laws, which no mortal may diſpence withall, as inceſtuous marriage, and he binds the conſciences of men, Jam. 4.20. now it is proper to the law of Chriſt to ſit in the conſcience, therefore he may well be called Antichriſt; but yet of theſe, he is properly called Antichriſt in the former ſenſe, that is, one that oppoſeth himſelf againſt God, and Chriſt, and all Emperors and Kings. Bellarmine excuſes the Pope from coming to the Nicene Council ſaying, indignum eſt caput membra ſequi. Secondly, leſt he ſhould ſit beneath the Emperor, which hee thought unmeet, therefore he may well be ſaid to exalt himſelf, foreign 2 Theſ. 2.4. above every Ceſar, and yet here is the miſery, that he carries himſelf as a Vicar of Chriſt, yet can oppoſe himſelf againſt Chriſt.
Q. But how were many Antichriſts then come?
A. In eccleſiaſtical Hiſtories, we ſhall find that St. John lived about an hundred years after Chriſt, and was born about the ſame time with Chriſt, now about the year 26 after Chriſt, Hiſtories report there was Simon Magus, who ſeemed to be the great power of God, and to be he that gave the Law in Mount Sinai.
2 He gave out that it was he that was crucified under Tiberius Ceſar, here was an Antichriſtian ſpirit, and I was, ſaith he, that Holy Ghoſt, that deſcended on the Apoſtles, ſo that he denyed both the Father and the Son: after him ſprang up Menander, that affirmed that it was he that died for the World, and that all that believed on him ſhould be ſaved. In thoſe times Ebion taught that Chriſt was but a meer man, and held circumciſion neceſſary, and in his time lived Cerinthus, who retained all the Judicall Law, and denyed Chriſt to be God, Act. 15.1. and he is held to be one of thoſe that held the World to be made by Angells, and he was the root of the error of the Chiliaſts, all theſe lived in Johns time.
Ʋſe 1 It ſhews us the marvelous enmity of that wicked one, that as ſoon as ever Chriſt had ſowed good ſeed, that evil one ſowed tares, this was the ſubtilty of that old Serpent to ſow errors, before the truth could take firm rooting.
Ʋſe 2. Hence we ſee the impudency of Hereſie, eſpecially, when oppoſition is ſet on fire of Hell, that ſuch monſtrous opinions ſhould be broached in St. Johns time that envied againſt them, and wrote againſt them; and therefore we muſt not wonder if Hereſies ſine pudore, broach themſelves in the Church, for even in St. Johns time a ſ…n of thunder that ſhook them down mightily, yet even againſt him were theſe Darts ſhot; it muſt therefore ſtir up Chriſtians to ground themſelves in the whole Counſel of God; do you think if ſuch Heretiques did not bluſh before St. John, they will bluſh before us?
Hence wee ſee the truth of God, is of more power than the ſpirit of Error, for though there were ſo many heads of Error, yet they all fell down before the Doctrine of St. John, ſo that this writing remained, when all they were loſt, magna eſt veritas & prevalebit, therefore ſuch is the power of truth, that it diſpells all Errors.
3 It confutes boaſting of Antiquity; every ancient thing is not true, for then theſe falſe Hereſies had been true, but yet there is Antiquity, which ſprings from the firſt inſtitution, and that is prevalent; there is a ſecondary antiquity, that is, Tares that are preſently ſowen after the good Seed, yet though they were ſowen the very ſame day, yet ſecondary antiquity will not juſtifie their Doctrin, but that which comes from the inſtitution by God.
Doct. In the coming of theſe many Antichriſts, that which was told aforehand of the coming of Antichriſt, is in ſome meaſure fulfilled.
For otherwiſe St. Johns diſcourſe would be ſomewhat impertinent, to what end doth he ſay, Ye have heard that Antichriſt ſhall come, and that Antichriſts are come already? And again, he doth argue from the laſt times to Antichriſt, and from Antichriſt to the laſt times, reciprocally, which reaſon were not of ſtrength, unleſſe it were grounded upon this point.
For proof, ſee 1 Joh. 4.3. 1 Tim. 4.1, 2.
Obj. Doth not the Apoſtle ſay, that Antichriſt ſhall not come untill there be a general Apoſtacy, and untill that which with-holds him be taken away? 2 Theſ. 2.3. what is that foreign which hindred him?
A. That foreign was not the Roman Empire, for that was not taken fully away many hundred years after, and it is ſtill not wholly taken away, but ſtands upon its two Leggs, the Emperor of Turkey and Germany, but the things which with-held him was indeed the Emperor himſelf, when the Emperor Conſtantine, removed from Rome to Conſtantinople, then the foreign was taken away, the luſtre of the Emperor, that Monarch of the World, and that Antichriſt could not ſtand together, but ſo ſoon as the Emperor was departed from Rome, Antichriſt began to be revealed, when as all the Biſhops of the Chriſtian World did meet together at the Council of Nice, the Biſhop of Rome (requeſted by Letter) came not, pretending indeed the weakneſſe of his body, and Old Age, but Bellarmin plainly tells us the reaſon: It was not meet, ſaith he, the Head ſhould follow the Members, the Members were rather to follow the Head, and if the Emperor were preſent, it was likely he would take his place above the Pope, which was not meet, the Pope being the Spiritual Head, therefore becauſe of this, and ſome other inconveniences, the Pope in his diſcretion thought it meet to abſent himſelf. At this time Antichriſt began to be revealed to the full, for though after that time ſome godly men were in that Seat, as Gregory the Great, and ſome others, yet the queſtion is not of the Perſon, but of the place.
Obj. But the Apoſtle ſaith, that Let muſt be firſt taken away which with-held Antichriſt; and St. John ſaith here, that many Antichriſts were come already, how can theſe two ſtand together?
A. Though the Antichriſt was not then revealed, yet the Myſtery of Iniquity did then work in many men, when St. John wrote this Epiſtle; and Saint Paul his ſecond Epiſtle to the Theſſalonians, for then men began to obſerve the Traditions of men, and the Laws of the Church muſt be as well kept as Gods Laws, againſt whom St. John wrote in his ſecond Epiſtle, verſ. 5, 6, 7. beſides, ſome then exalted themſelves above their Brethren, as you may ſee in his third Epiſtle, and ſo did put out their Brethren; this was the Spirit which made way for the Biſhop of Rome, exalting himſelf above other Biſhops, as the Emperor was above Kings and Princes: this Myſtery by degrees encreaſed, now as the King may be ſaid to come when he is yet in his Chamber, but ſome Parliament men go before, and the King follows ſoon after; ſo it is here, becauſe Antichriſt was not to come nakedly, but with Pomp, therefore way was made, and the Apoſtle wrote againſt the ſpirit of Antichriſt then working, though Antichriſt himſelf was not ſo fully revealed till afterwards, and ſo it is plain that which was ſpoken of Antichriſt is in ſome part fullfilled.
Ʋſe 1 Confutes a conceit of the Church of Rome, that cannot yet diſcern Antichriſt, but ſay, Antichriſt is ſome ſingular perſon.
But we ſay, Antichriſt is a ſtate that hath many fore-runners, and followers, and the Pope himſelf is one of them.
Obj. But the Article … ſignifies a certain ſingular perſon?
A. Somtimes it doth ſo, yet not always, for ſometimes it ſignifies a State, as we ſay, foreign the King made this Law; here we underſtand the Kings afore, or preſent, or them that ſhall come after, Mat. 13.3. foreign The Sower went forth, here it is not ſpoken of one ſingular Miniſter, Paul or Peter, but of every Miniſter of the Goſpel.
Obj. 2 Theſ. 2.8.
A. True, he ſhall continue till the coming of Chriſt, and ſhall be aboliſhed by the ſpirit of his mouth, and therefore it cannot be ſaid of one ſingular perſon, no man liveth ſuch an Age as is from the Council of Nice to the coming of Chriſt.
Ʋſe 2 Learn hence the near fellowſhip that is betwixt Antichriſt himſelf, and all that make way for him, as all Hereticks do, Simon Magus, Menander, Ebion, Pelagius, Arius, &c. they all wrought the coming in of Antichriſt, and though himſelf hath condemned many of thoſe Errors, yet he ſo corrupteth the lives of men, that Charity waxeth cold, and falſe Doctrins are received: ſome of thoſe Errors this Antichriſt ſtill holds, when the King himſelf comes, the people will give more room than for the Noble-men that went before; ſo when Antichriſt comes himſelf, the people moſt of all yeild to him, though formerly they had received many Errors; and therefore it muſt teach us, not to keep any error or ſuperſtition, for there is a ſtrong Combination betwixt Antichriſt and Hereſies, that wee cannot ſeperate one from another; though we uſe many ſtroaks at a Tree before it falls, yet every blow makes way for the fall of it; ſo every error makes way for Antichriſt, and corrupts the true Religion, and godlineſſe is not ſeen: when the Church was infected with many Errors, even then Antichriſt aroſe, the way was ready for him to corrupt all.
Doct. Such is the condition of theſe laſt times, that they cannot be long without an Antichriſt.
For the Apoſtle argues reciprocally from the laſt times to Antichriſt, and from Antichriſt to the laſt times, Antichriſt is come, therefore it is the laſt time, and it is the laſt time, therefore there muſt be Antichriſts, 1 Joh. 4.3. 2 Joh. 7. for his relation to the laſt times, 1 Tim. 4.1. in theſe latter times, the Spirit ſpeaks expreſly.
Q. What is the condition of the laſt times, that is ſo prepared for an Antichriſt?
A. This mutual reference proceeds;
1 From the ſtate of the times in the Apoſtles times, there was an itching ear after new Doctrine, inwardly loathing the truth, and affecting any new Doctrin they can hear, 2 Theſ. 2.10. 11, 12. 2 Tim. 4.3, 4. ſo that the radical cauſe of the ariſing of Antichriſt, is the itching humour of men after new Doctrin, therefore God would ſend ſuch as ſhould deceive, and if you ſurvey the whole Body of Popery, it conſiſts either of curious ſpeculations of the School-men, whereby they deceive Scholars, and the Secular Prieſts fill the common people with idle Fables, and ſo deceive the whole people.
2 From the abundance of knowledge that ſhall be revealed in the laſt times, as Iſa. 11.1. to 9. now where there is much knowledge, and emptineſſe of Grace, and Faith, there is a world of pride in ſuch, 1 Cor. 8.11. 2 Tim. 3.1. to 8. for want of faith with their knowledge, the time was fit to receive new Doctrins, 1 Tim 4.1, 2. men of knowledge, but no conſcience, and then no marvel if men entertain Errors, 1 Tim. 1.19. Hold faith and a good Conſcience, which ſome having put away, have erred from the faith; whilſt ſome have neglected to keep their Conſcience clean, their judgment is unſound; a corrupt Conſcience, a corrupt Judgement.
3 From the diſpoſition of men; and aptneſſe then to catch the greateſt cold, when their ſpirits have been moſt warmed and heated; no man ſo apt to take cold, as they who are very warm and hot; ſo in the days of the Apoſtles, they did not only fill them with Knowledge, but warmed the Church with Zeal, and Heat: zeal towards their Miniſters, zeal in their liberality, they loved not their own lives in reſpect of Chriſt, now their ſpirits being ſo warm, they are more ſubjeſh to get cold and diſtemper; every Chriſtian in particular finds it ſo; when he hath been moſt enlarged at the Word, or Prayer, ere long he will be more ſtraitned, there being a ſecret pride in the experience of Gods favour, and to reſt in our ſelves, thinking that we have ſufficient grace in our ſelves, when we ſee our need of Chriſt, we depend only on him, but when we are full, we depend on our ſelves, and ſo by ſitting looſe from Chriſt we get a great cold; we are cold in Prayer, Word, Sacrament; thus it is with the Church, when God ſheds his Spirit abundantly in the Church, they grow ſecure, and depend upon themſelves, thus we ſee, Joſh. 1.9, 10, 11. ſo that one would have thought that that generation would have been more zealous, yet none ſo Idolatrous till God quickned them by their enemies: ſo in the Apoſtles times, the Church was very forward and zealous, a few Generations after, their ſpirits were carried away with errors.
4 From the diſpoſition of Satan, he hath great rage becauſe the time is ſhort, Rev. 12.8. and we ſhall always finde that the Devil hath imitated God, if God have Sacrifices from his people, ſo the Devil from the Pagans; ſo if God ſet up a Chriſt, Sathan will have an Antichriſt ſet up, that may be, not only a ſubſtitute, but an enemy to Chriſt, that as God had won the world by Chriſt, ſo he would delude the world by Antichriſt.
5 From the wiſe and juſt dealing of God, if God reveal more means of knowledge, he will uſe many means of trial, he will have them winnowed, that ſo the good may remain as Wheat, the Chaffe may be blown away, if God give more Tallents, he will put them upon more employment and exexerciſe.
Ʋſe 1 To teach Chriſtians not to be offended, if they finde variety of ſeducing ſpirits in theſe days, a man would wonder in ſuch peaceable days, when Religion is maintained, there ſhould be ſo many opinions and agitations, how comes this about? you muſt know that God never diſpenced generally more knowledge ſince the revelation of Antichriſt than now; now where there is moſt knowledge, Sathan will be ſeducing and corrupting their wiſdom; where there is more wiſdome there is more curioſity and pride; ſo much knowledge, ſo much want of truth many times, and ſo putting off the truth, men run into ſeveral errors, and it is juſt with God, ſeeing they put away a good Conſcience, and would not give heed to ſound Doctrine, therefore God gave them up to follow lyes, 2 Theſ. 2. and their longing deſire and zeal in former times, will end in ſuch a cold, that there will be a defect of all warmth and heat, and whereſoever you ſee the truth not held in a good Conſcience; they run their faith on Rocks, ſome ſplit on a rock of Arminianiſm, ſome on a rock of Popery; ſo that it muſt needs be that in theſe laſt times many Antichriſts muſt be.
Ʋſe 2 Since many Antichriſts are, and will be in theſe laſt times, let us labour to be ſo eſtabliſhed in the truth, that however the times be, we may keep our faith and religion.
Q. How ſhall we be thus eſtabliſhed?
A. 1. Get contrary ſpirits to the former, give not up your ſelves to curioſity, and vain ſpeculations, if the Lord find you humble, he will teach you in his ways; if when you are warm and hot, you have a care that you get not cold, 1 Chron. 29.18. Pray to God to keep your hearts always in that frame, or at leaſt in ſuch a frame as may befit every days buſineſſe, and then whatſoever the times be, our hearts and judgements ſhall be eſtabliſhed in the truth, but unleſs God give you a good Conſcience with your knowledge, you will be ſoon perverted, and therefore I ſay, as Paul to the Epheſians, Epheſ. 2.12. continue in a firm love of the truth, as well as in the knowledge of it.