The Dying Mans Testament to the Church of Scotland, Part 3 · Chapter 15
CHAP. XV. What is called-for from people who are desirous to keep themselves pure in such a time and case as the increasing of errours and seducers.
IT resteth now, that we speak something of a peoples duty, that are members of the Church where such delusions are vented: in speaking to which, we shall follow almost the same method as in the former.
1. Then, people would be affected upon the appearance of such an ill, as upon the news of sword, famine or pestilence; for then, as it were, the trumpet soundeth like that Angels proclamation, Rev. 8. 13. Wo, wo, wo to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the Angels that are to sound, when as yet all these Angels did principally forwarn of spirituall plagues, and particularly of delusions. This would make people wary and serious; this would curb vanity, mocking, laughing and puffing-up; this would make him that standeth, take heed lest he fall, if the judgement were considered as a thing coming from God, and evidencing Him to be angry, and to threaten: and without this, there is little ground to expect profiting by any other direction.
2. People would be seriously affected with the falling or hazard of the falling of any they hear of, as being touched with zeal for God, and sympathie with them, and for this cause, would humble themselves before God to deprecate that stroak and plague as they would do sword, famine or pestilence.
3. People would try in what tearms themselves are with God, and if things inwardly be in good case, if there be any guiltinesse procuring, or disposing for the same plague, such as little love to the truth, little study of the knowledge of the truth, little zeal against errour, or simpathy with infected Churches that are at a distance, laughing, it may be, at such things without any other use making thereof, little prayer for others, or exhorting or admonishing of them, (which is a mean for preventing of unstedfastnesse) little indeavour, according to mens places, to have others instructed, or to have faithfull▪ able, and godly Ministers for that end; but, it may be, on the contrary, much spiritual pride, self-conceitednesse, tenaciousnesse, and addictednesse to our own wills and opinions, prejudice at able and faithful Teachers, and readinesse to hear every thing, and every person. These, and such like, may be tried, and when found, ought to be mourned for, as causes of humiliation to them for their accession to such a plague.
4. They would endeavour the strengthening and confirming of themselves in the knowledge of necessary Truths, and would exercise themselves in the practice of uncontroverted Godlinesse, and, by all means, would eschew jangling debates in unnecessary things, knowing that that is a piece of the enemies subtility, once to engage, if it were but in the meanest thing; for, thereby he doth not only divert from more necessary things, and weareth away livelinesse, but doth dispose for greater things, as was formerly marked in his method of dealing: For, as in corrupt practices, men are not at first brought to an height of prophanity, but by degrees; So is it in corrupt doctrines: and therefore there is warinesse called-for here in debating or questioning the meanest Truth, if any Truth be mean.
5. If any thing be really doubted of, means would be used in a sober prudent way for attaining information, either by providing and reading of some fit Book, wherein often reasons are more deliberate and full, and may be more deliberately studied and digested than in a transient discourse; but in this, special respect would be had to a right choice, and for that cause the judgments of such as are sound and able to discern, would be followed in this; or, where God giveth occasion, it may be done in sober and christian conference with others of ability and integrity, especially with Ministers, who ought neither to decline, nor rashly misconstruct the same, but affectionatly and tenderly to welcom any such sober persons, lest they be provoked to consult with others, who may prove Physicians of no value. In this, people would not expresse their doubts in all companies at random, nor to, or before, such as may possibly more easily take up the doubt, and with more difficulty be brought off; when therefore such a doubt is to be moved, the party and the time would be deliberatly chosen, that men may be serious therein, and no doubt, would be moved for debate, but either such as the mover can himself loose, or in such company where he may expect to have it loosed.
6. People would endeavour exceedingly to have good esteem of their Ministers and Guides, and to be diligent and reverent observers of all Ordinances, especially at such a time; for, Ministers are Guides, Heb. 13. 17. And Ordinances are appointed to keep people from being staggered, Eph. 4. 11, 12, 13, 14. and it is to such that the Bride is directed, to wit, to keep near the shepherds tents, for being preserved from wandering, Song 1. 9. And the more that the devil driveth to bear-in prejudice at Ministers, and blast the Ordinances in their repute, the more are people to wrestle against that, and, in some respect, to be more blind and deaf to what may be seen and heard concerning Ministers faults, not so much for the Ministers respect, as their own good: Therefore the Apostle giveth this reason for his pressing of obedience and submission to Ministers, Heb. 13. 17. because the want of that, was not only prejudicial to the Minister, but unprofitable to themselves.
7. People would have an eye upon the way that faithfull and eminently godly men have gone to Heaven by, before them; This is to follow the foot-steps of the flock, Song. 1. 9. and the faith and patience of those that inherit the promises, Heb. 6. 12. and readily we will find such to be most sober and serious, and farthest at a distance from novelty, curiosity, or absurd opinions. And it's no little part of the boldnesse and impudency that often accompanieth new delusions, that they generally condemn the generation of Gods People, as if no way were to Heaven but by their vain inventions, this will be no little stick to a tender mind, at once to condemn the Religion and practice of such a cloud of witnesses.
8. They would be carefull when they hear others questioning things, or expressing their p…judice at Ministers, Ordinances, or established Truths, to endeavour the present stopping of the same, and not to foster any thing of that kind by moving new doubts, suspicions, or giving new grounds of jealousie against Ministers or others, but rather would gravely and wisely endeavour the removing of the same.
9. They would then be much and serious in the exercise of christian fellowship, observing or considering one another, provoking one another, and, as the word is, Heb. 10. 24. and 3. 12, 13. taking heed, lest there be amongst them an evil heart of unbelief, and lest any of them be hardened: but, exhort (saith he) one another daily, as the remedy of that. There is no time wherein christian fellowship is more calledfor, and wherein it may be more profitable, than at such a time, if it be rightly ordered and managed: I say, rightly ordered and managed; for, often the pretext of christian fellowship is abused to the hatching and propagating of the most absurd opinions, when people turn light and frothy, taking up their time with vain janglings and diverting from the main scope, to wit, edification. These things are indeed to be shunned, but christian fellowship is not to be disclaimed, but wisely to be ordered in respect of the persons with whom, and occasions upon which it is used, and, in respect of the matter and duties insisted on, which is to be the confirming of themselves in some truth, faithfull freedom in admonishing one another of what is wrong, serious endeavour to keep repentance, humility, self-denial, and the like graces, fresh; These and such like things are good and profitable to men, when gravely, singly, faithfully, tenderly and inoffensively followed.What is their duty in reference to the persons infected, and if they ought to refrain from their company.
In respect of persons infected, the peoples duty may be considered in these steps, 1. As they are to be affected with their fault, and to pray for their recovery. 2. As they have occasion, to testifie their dislike of their way▪ 3. Such as are noted or known to be instrumental in the carrying-on of novelties, ought by all means to be shunned. As, 1. their company and fellowship is to be avoided, Rom. 16. 17, 18. Men are to beware of them, Matth. 7. Philip. 3. 2. Secondly, They are not to receive such into their house, nor to give them a salutation, or bid them God-speed, 3 Epistle of Iohn, ver. 10. They are to have no company with them, 2 Thess. 3. 14. We conceive there is no duty that is more pressingly urged upon the People of God, both in the Old and New Testament, as may be clear by considering, not only the fore-cited places, but many other places of Scripture, especially that place, Prov. 19. 27. Cease, my son, to hear the instruction [that causeth] to erre from the words of knowledge. And there is this double reason for it, 1. There is nothing conduceth more to preserve those that are intire; For, it is hard to walk upon fire, and not be burnt, Prov. 7. 27, 28. and the experience of not a few confirmeth this; for, many had not declined, had they keeped distance even from the garments that were so defiled and infected; and it's a hearing of such instruction that causeth to erre from the way of understanding. 2. There is nothing more usefull to convince the persons infected, and to make them ashamed; which is another reason why the Lord doth command this. And we may adde, that there is nothing that doth more evidence respect to God, and reverencing of Him; and nothing that is more becoming a sinner, that is sensible that he hath corruption, than that he standeth in aw to come near a seen tentation; For, God is jealous, and will not abide mens hazarding of themselves to be carried a whoring from Him: and men are not free of corruption, and so readily are capable of what is corrupt. It may be that people do think that there is no ill and hazard in trying any thing, that so, proving all things, they may hold fast what is good; and also, that it may be Ministers fearing the diminishing of their own particular respect, that doth make them presse this, and that it proceedeth from their carnall passion; But such would consider,
1. If our blessed Lord Jesus, and His Apostles, did restrain people from any due liberty, when they expresly prohibit their companying with such, and hearing of such, especially where it is done purposely, usually and deliberatly. And, we suppose, that there is scarce a direction in reference to any particular in the Word more frequently, weightily, and peremptorily pressed than this, as the places alleaged do clear.
2. They … consider, if our blessed Lord Jesus, or the Apostles, had any fear of losing their respect, or of inability to maintain their point against any Seducers; yet do they presse this themselves, and command and charge other Ministers after them, to presse this also upon their hearers.
3. They would consider, if these (to wit, our blessed Lord and the Apostles) did foster carnal passion, whileas yet they so pressed the people, and did reprove the suffering of such to continue in fellowship; Yea also▪ they di… so practise it themselves, the Church-history recordeth, that the Apostle Iohn having entered a Bath, where the heretick Cerinthus was, he did immediatly in hast go out, professing fear to be ruined with him, if he should continue under the same roof.
4. They would consider, if the meaning of such places, as, Prove all things, Try the spirits, be such as necessitates folks to give hearing unto every novelty. For, 1. that is not possible, that every person should enquire and put to trial every errour and every opinion. 2. Th… people are not in capacity to do so. 3. This directly crosseth the letter and scope of the former precepts, which were given even then, when this command of proving all things, was given. It must be understood therefore, as agreeing therewith, and to point-out that no doctrine should be admitted without proof, upon the trust of any bearer, but ought to be tried, if it be the Word of God, as the Bereans did, Act. 17. but it doth not allow them positively to try every thing, especially how grosse soever it be, without trial, though it command them not to admit any thing without proof.
Further, a main part of the peoples duty is to concur in their places, for countenancing and adding weight unto the respective Sentences, and steps, which are called-for from Ministers in their stations: As, 1. to contribute what clearnesse they …an for the discovery and triall of such persons. To add their testimony to the truth, and thereby to make the means of conviction the more weighty to them. 3. By evidencing of their dislike of the persons obstinacy, and their acknowledgement of the justice and necessity of drawing forth further Sentences against them. 4. In shunning of their company, abstaining from familiarity, and otherwayes, to expresse their indignation against their way. 5. In carrying to them accordingly as they are Sentenced, that so they may ratifie the same, and in their place, endeavour the making of it weighty, and eff…ctuall upon the persons, that thereby, they being made ashamed, may the more readily be humbled, and turned therefrom. And people are by all means to shun such familiarity, especially with Excommunicate persons, as may lessen the weight of their Sentence, or mar their being ashamed, which indeed will make people guilty of despising the Ordinance of Christ, and obstructing the fruit thereof unto a brother, and also make themselves obnoxious to Censure, as being scandalous by so doing.