Truths Victory Over Error, To the reader – Poems
TO THE HONEST HEARTED READER
THE two great Pillars upon which the kingdom of Satan is erected, and by which it is upheld, are Ignorance and Errour. And the two great Pillars which support the Kingdom of Christ, are Knowledge and Truth. Therefore our blessed Saviour resolving to subvert the kingdom of Satan among the Gentiles, tells the Apostle in his first Commission, that he was about to send him to open their eyes (namely their understanding) by the Preaching and Knowledge of the Gospel, and to turn them from darkness to light, from natural blindness and worldly ignorance, unto the right and true knowledge of GOD. This is the first step of our Manumission from that spiritual thraldom. The Understanding is the Guide, and Pilot of the whole man. It is that faculty which sits at the helme of the Soul. But as the most skilful Pilot may mistake his course in the dark, so may the Understanding when it wants the light of Knowledge. This is an accomplishment so desirable, that the Devil knew not a more alluring bate to tempt our first Parents in Paradise, Ye shall be as Gods (sayes he) knowing good and evil. When the Lord had refer'd it to Solomons option, what to choose, he choose Wisdom and Knowledge. When once the Devil understood, that by the Preaching of the Gospel, his kingdom was ruined, he invents two new stratagems to overthrow Religion, even in the infancy and beginning of it, to wit Persecution and Heresie. Open persecution began in Nero, a very imp and graff of the Devil. When this Hirricano, and many others of that kind were past, and when the Churches of Christ were once at rest, he sends in a Deluge of Arianism, which in a short time so prodigiously spread, and over-ran the Christian World, that it seemed to carry all before it, an assault, that did not strike at the uppermost boughs of Religion, but at the Root and Beeing of Christianity. But this second proved more sad than the first; for, where Persecution kills one thousand, Heresie kills ten thousand. The one is the Wild-Boar of the Forrest, the other is the little Fox, that eateth up the Grapes of the Lords Vineyard. The one kills the bodies of Men and Women, the other poisoneth the Souls of Christians.
In times of greater Light, as these and former times have been reputed to be, Satan comes not abroad usually to deceive with his gross forgeries, and cloven foot: for every one almost would discern his haltings, but with more mystical, yet strongdelusions, and invincible chains of darkness, wherewith he binds his captives the faster to the judgement of the great day. And therefore the Watch word given in the bright and shining times of the Apostles was to try the Spirits, and believe not every Spirit, and take heed of Spirits, who indeed were only fleshly and corrupt men yet called Spirits, because they pretended to have much of the Spirit, and their doctrine seemed only to advance the Spirit, the fitest and fairest cobwebs to deceive and inveigle the world in these discerning times, that possibly could be spun▪ out of the poysonful bowels of corrupt and fleshly men: for Heresie is a work of the flesh.
The times are now come, wherein by the refined mystical divinity of the old Moncks, all the ordinances of Christ in the New Testament are allegorized and spiritualized out of the world. They reject the outward word, because of an inward teaching. They reject the outward Baptism, because of the inward Baptism. They reject the Lords Supper, because of the spiritual bread from heaven the Lord Jesus. They abolish the outward Sabbath, because of a spiritual and inward Sabbath of rest in the bosome of Christ. This is very consistent with the observing the outward Sabbath. But they wickedly sever, and separat what GOD hath joyned together.
But as to what relates to the present Treatise, I am not ignorant, that many eminent and learned Divines, far beyond whatever I could profess, have beatten this path, and travelled round the world of Polemick Divinity. But their writings being so Voluminous and large, that he who desires to have a full sight at one look of the chief controversies, can no more have it, than a man from the Peak of Teneriff, can get a clear sight of the whole Globe of the Earth. Which things, though they be principally worth the knowing, nevertheless, for so much as their number, and variety are an impediment to themselves, and the multiplicity of matter, makes the mind abruptly flit from one thing to another. Therefore I have imitated Geographers, who after they have surveyed the whole Globe of the Earth, draw Universal descriptions thereof, and comprehend the the whole image of that great Terra-queous Body within a narrow circumference of a Card or Mapp. In so doing, I may perhaps contribute some what towards the satisfaction of some, who neither can nor are able, to trace the wearisome foot steps, of those eminent Divines, who have written fully.
This Treatise being Historical, none can expect, but I must have consulted others, and gleaned off their writtings what things were needful. I cannot here, as in writing Philosophy, or any such like Science, set up new Theorems, or Axioms, which have not been heard of before. This were to make a new Religion, a new System, and Body of Divinity, such as some giddy-headed Hereticks are thinking upon. I must confine my self to the good old way, and follow the heatten path-road, wherein men of sound principles have walked before me.
This Book is not designed for men of knowledge and learning, who are more conversant in such matters than I am, but for the unlearned and newbeginners, who need to be instructed with the sound principles of the true Protestant Religion.
I hope none will think I have done amiss in mentioning so many Religions, which had been better unnamed (some may think) than named. This might have some weight, if there were no more Religions in the world at this time, but one only, to wit, the true Protestant Religion. But seeing I cannot name so many here, as there are this day owned and professed in the Christian Church, I cannot be to blame.
This Book will be useful for understanding the Confession, and knowing the design of it. For how many read it, and commend it, that never knew the nature of it. Though there be a multiplicity of questions, and many in number, yet all of them to my best remembrance, are taken word by word out of the Confession. The answers are by Yes, or No. To which are subjoyned immediately the proofs of the Confession. These words which are often repeated, Well then, do not the Papists err, are nothing els but sure Conclusions drawn from two manifest propositions.
The design of this Treatise is good. The method is plain and easy. The order of the Questions, follow the order of the purposes in the Confession. The probations are such, as are made use of in the Confession, and by the Orthodox Divines, against the Adversaries. They are either the very words of the Scripture in Terminis, or such as by good and necessary consequence, are drawn from the Scripture. They pass reckoning for number. Let no man blame me for speaking somewhat for the Truth, because another man hath spoken better. If I have said little in defence if it, I am sure I have said nothing against it; as the Apostle says, We can do nothing against the truth, but for it. If I cannot please all men, I shall endeavour at least to please some. And if I can please none, I shall not displease my self. I hope my friends will censure favourably, if my enemies censure maliciously. I expect as many Adversaries of one sort, and of another upon my top, as a travelling man hath midges and wasps about his head in a warm summer evening. There are escapes in Authors, whose knowledge is far beyond any thing I can profess. No marvel then, if a malicious Critick, like a viper from the fire of contention fasten upon a mans hand. For the Author being intent upon all, cannot lay out his whole industry upon every line, which a snarling Cur will bark at. I shal take it as a favour to have Learned and Iudicious men to censure me. Reprove one (says Solomon) that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge. Some perhaps may look awry upon me, because I have medled with some ticklish Questions, and been too positive in my Iudgement. If any such Questions are, they have occur'd to me in the Road, which I could not pass by, without a Salutation. But as all of them have been weighed in the Ballance of the Sanctuary, so these likewise, which some may call ticklish. I durst not for a world have been positive, if I had not judged them consonant to Truth, Therefore let all men, whatever perswasions they be of, judge charitably: for I have said nothing upon the account of fead or favour, nor any thing which may cause division or offence. For they that are such serve not our Lord Iesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words, and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. Rom. 16. 18. But I wish all who profess themselves to own the true Protestant Religion, were owning the sound principles of the Confession, and were sutable and consequential to them in their opinions and practises, and had not given too just cause and occasion to others to reproach all honest hearted men, as being of seditions and disloyal principles.
It is probable, I may be less noticed by the common Adversaries, than by some who are so vain that they glory in injuring the Merit of a Book. For as a Gentleman of great Parts and Learning says well in his reflections upon one of his late pieces, the meanest Rogue may burn a City, or kill an Hero, whereas he could never have built the one, or equaled the other.
As the method is plain and easy, so is the stile. I use only the common and plain Arguments. Some perhaps might have expected a dilution, or answering of the Adversaries Reasons. It is hard to propose them to their Palate. They complain their arguments are enervate and clipped. Neither is it expedient to bring forth from the Devils Armory and Magazin his fiery darts. In confuting the Adversaries, I use no worse language than Do not they err. Sometimes I treat the Quakers with such language, as they use against others. Though they look like Lambs, yet gall them but a little, and you will find them express the Matulent and Teen of their heart. And as Cacus spouted fire against Hercules, who persued him as a Theif, so will they against all who persue them as Hereticks.
Anno 1662. I published a little Book intituled Tyrocinia Mathematica, for the use of my Schollars, and young Students, which was dedicated to that great Hero, John Duke of Lauderdail. Anno 1669, I had a large Book printed in Holland dedicated to the Earle of Winton. In the year 1672, a third was published, intituled the Hydrostaticks. Though some endeavoured to ruin the reputation of my Writings at home, yet they were not able to do it abroad. But least this peece may meet with the like welcome into the world, I shall beg liberty to cite one passage of a letter from a most intelligent Gentleman, in vindication of that Book intituled Ars Nova & Magna, against which so many flate contradictions were uttered, which the other two likewise met with.
Ostend, October 10. 1670. I must not forget to tell you a passage anent your late peece. When we were at Breda, we had occasion to see Collonel Lauther, who fell in regrating that Scots Spirits were not encouraged. And told he had seen a Book lately published by one Sinclar, whereof he had a great esteem, and that many others as well as he esteemed it highly. For example, he told of a Dutchman▪ who is one of the French Virtuosi, that said he had seen nothing on that subject comparable to it; and it was esteemed so in France. If you have any other thing to publish, I pray you hasten it, for it will not want acceptance. This testimony was homologate afterwards by that famous Virtuoso, and Mathematician, Christopher Sturmius, a German, in his Book intituled Collegium Curiosum▪ which some here have seen. He hath gone thorow the Book diligently, and gleaned the finest purposes in it, and sent them abroad, not as his own Inventions, but as mine, which he would never have done, if the Experiments had been all of them either Untruths and Lies, or not New, and unheard off. This testimony from a Stranger, vindicates sufficiently. The rest of my writings are likewise commended by Mr. Boile, Sir Frances Hales, Doct. Glanvil, and others, men of eminent skill and knowledge in such matters, as I treat of.
In going thorow this Book, you will find the Papists confuted upon threescore and fourteen several heads. The Quakers upon thirty and two. The Socinians upon fourty and seven. The Lutherians upon thirteen. The Antinomians upon as many. The Anabaptists upon thirty and two. The Arminians upon twenty and seven. The rest are confuted, some upon fewer; some upon more heads; and that only according to their chief and grand Errors. For a man to confute all and every one of their false and absurd Tenets, would be a task, like the cleanseing of Augeas King of Elis his Oxstall, which none but Hercules was able to do. Neither would it be worth the while, seeing by the confutation of those mentioned, you may the more easily confute the rest. If any be too curious to inquire, why the Author hath touched so many controversies in Religion, and yet hath medled nothing with the great controversie of the time. I answer, I had been both officious and impertinent to have touched matters, which lay not in my way. For in all the Confession, which is the onlie Road I walk in, there is not one Mum or Syllable of the one Government, or of the other.
The Book for Paper and Character may compare with many from abroad. The Printer a Person of special skill, hath done his dutie sufficientlie in correcting; so that I find it needless to prefix or subjoyn Errata Corrigenda. If there be any Literal faults, which the most skilful Author, and best of Printers cannot prevent, let the Reader impute them only to invincible necessity.
Our good Lord, whose Prerogative it is to teach, to profit, bless this little Book, that it may be to thee as a light shining in a dark place, untill the day dawn and the day star arise in thy heart, that thereby thou mayest grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
In Summarium hoc Theologieum, Tetrastichon.
Quisquis aves Sophiam Coelestem noscere paucis, Huc ades, hic breviter namque Libellus habet.
Aureus est certè firmat quia Dogmata sana Codice Divino, falsa refellititem,
Upon Truths victory over Error.
Doth thou desire this Treasure to be thine,
Of sacred Truths, and Oracles Divine.
A fiery Pillar radiantly bright:
Come: it will guide thee in the darkest night.
Through Seas, and Rocks, and Mountains, on each hand,
Through Wildernesses to Canaan's land.
By Holy Writ the Truth it verifies,
By Holy Writ confutes all Heresies.
Though short, yet clear, for both do well agree
To make thy path unerring unto thee.
As Ophirs Gold, which from Malacca came,
Made Solomon on Earth the richest Man.
So will this Book make rich thy heart and mind,
With Divine Wisdom, Knowledge of all kind.
Thee richer make than Croesus of great name,
Thee wiser make than Solon of great▪ fame.
Than all the seven wise Sages, Greeces Glory,
I do protest it's true, and is no Story.