Discourse of Mental Errors, Part · Section 34
The Cure, or Remedy.
The Remedies and Preventatives in this Case, are such as follow:
Remedy I.
Consider, that hasty engagements in weighty and disputable matters, have cost many Souls dear.
As hasty Marriages have produced long and late repentance; so hath the clapping up of an hasty Match betwixt the Mind and Error. By entertaining strange persons, Men sometimes entertain Angels unaware; but by entertaining of strange Doctrines, many have entertained Devils unawares. 'Tis not safe to open the door of the Soul to let in strangers in the night; let them wait till a clear daylight of information shew you what they are.
Remedy II.
Weighty Actions require answerable Deliberations. It was the worthy saying of Augustus Caesar *Satis coleritèr fieri, quicquid commodè geritur., That's soon enough, that's well enough. There be many things to be considered, and throughly weighed, before a Man change his judgment, and embrace a new Doctrine or Opinion. Luther, in his Epistle to the Ministers of Norimberg, cites an excellent passage out of Basil *Multa anxiè considerare eum oportet, & multas noctes absumere insomnes, & cum multis lachrymis petere à Deo veritatis demonstrationem, qui se à fratribus separari vul…., He that is about to separate himself from the society of his Brethren, had need to consider many things even unto anxiety; to beg of God the demonstration of Truth with many tears, and to pass many solitary nights with waking eyes, before he attempt, or put such a matter in execution. By the vote of the whole rational World, Time and Consideration ought to be proportionate to the weight of an Undertakement.
Remedy III.
The only season Men have to weigh things judiciously and impartially, is before their affections be too far engaged, and their credit and reputation too much concerned.
Men are better able to weigh Doctrines and Opinions, whilst they are other mens, than when they have espoused them and made them their own. Before an Opinion be espoused,Perit omne judicium, cum res transit in affectum. the Affections do not blind and pervert the Judgment, as they do afterward. Selflove Love pulls down the balance at that end which is next us. If therefore by hasty resolution, you lose this only proper and advantagious season of deliberation, you are not like to find such another.
Remedy IV.
Trust not to the clearness of your own unassisted eyes, nor to the strength of your single reason; but consult in such cases, with others that are pious and judicious, especially your godly and faithful Ministers; and hearken to the Counsels they give you. Paul justly wondered that the Galatians were so soon removed; and well he might: For had they not a Paul to consult with, before they gave their consent to false Teachers? Or if he was at a distance from them about the work of the Lord in remote places, had they no godly and judicious Friends near them, whose Prayers and assistances they might call in, as Daniel did? Dan. 2. 17. Wo unto him that is alone in a time of temptation, except the Lord be with him by extraordinary assistance and direction.
Remedy V.
Lastly, Suspect that Opinion (as justly you may) for erroneous, that's too importunate and pressing upon you, and will not allow you due time of consideration, and means of information. That which is a truth to day, will be a truth to morrow: But that which looks like a truth to day, may be detected, and look like it self, an odious Error to morrow. And this is the reason of that post-haste that Satan and his Factors make to gain our present consent, lest a speedy detection frustrate the suit, and spoil the design. The Vses follow in Six Consectaries.
Consectary I.
From all that hath been said about Errors, we see in the first place, the great usefulness and plain necessity of an able, faithful, standing Ministry in the Church.
One special end of the Ministry, is the establishment of the peoples Souls against the Errors of the times, Eph. 4. 11, 14. He gave some Apostles, &c. that we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men, &c. Ministers are Shepherds, and without a Shepherd, how soon will the flock go astray? Moses was absent but a few days from the Israelites, and at his return found them all run into the snares of Idolatry. A Sheep is animal sequax, a creature that follows a Leader. One stragler may mislead a whole flock. A Minister's work is not only to feed, but to defend the flock. I am set (saith Paul) for the defence of the Gospel, Phil. 1. 17. An Orthodox and Faithful Minister, is a double blessing to the people; but wo to that people, whose Ministers, instead of securing them against Errors, do cause them to err, Isa. 9. 16. they are the Dogs of the Flock. Some in Scripture are called dumb dogs, who, instead of barking at the Thief, bite the Children: But faithful Ministers give warning of spiritual dangers. So did the worthy Ministers of London, Worcestershire, Devon, &c. in their Testimonies against Errors.
Consectary II.
This discourse shews us also how little quietness and peace the Church may expect, till a greater degree of light and unity be poured out upon it; what by persecutions from without it, and troubles from within, little tranquility is to be expected. 'Tis a Note of St. Bernards, that the Church hath sometimes had pacem à Paganis, sed rarò aut nunquam à filiis, peace sometimes from Pagan Persecutors, but seldom or never any peace from her own Children.
We read, Zech. 14. 7. the whole state of the Christian Church, from the primitive days, to the end of the World, set forth under the notion of one day, and that a strange day too, the light of it shall neither be clear nor dark, nor day nor night, but at evening time it shall be light; i. e. a day full of interchangeable and alternate providences. Sometimes persecutions, heresies and errors prevail, and these make that part of the day dark and gloomy; and then Truth and Peace break forth again, and clear up the day. Thus it hath been, and thus it will be until the evening of it, and at even-time it shall be light; then light and love shall get the ascendant of error and divisions. Most of our scuffles and contentions are for want of greater measures of both these.
Consectary III.
From the manifold Causes and Mischiefs of Errors before mentioned, we may also see what a choice mercy it is to be kept sound in judgment, stedfast and unmovable in the Truths and Ways of Christ. A sound and stedfast Christian is a blessing in his Generation, and a glory to his Profession. 'Twas an high Encomium of Athanasius, Sedem maluit mutare, quam syllabam: He would rather lose his Seat, than a syllable of God's Truth. Soundness of Judgment must needs be a choice Blessing; because the understanding is the foreign, that leading-faculty which directs the Will and Conscience of Man, and they his whole Life and Practice. How often and how earnestly doth Christ pray for his people, that they may be kept in the Truth? 'Tis true, Orthodoxy in its self is not sufficient to any man's Salvation; but the conjunction of an Orthodox head, with an honest sincere heart, does always constitute an excellent Christian, Phil. 1. 10. Happy is the man that hath an head so hearted, and an heart so headed.
Consectary IV.
By this discourse we may further discover one great and special cause and reason of the lamentable decay of the spirit and power of Religion, amongst the Professors of the present Age.
'Tis a complaint more just than common, That we do all fade as a leaf. And what may be the Cause? Nothing more probable than the wasting of our time and spirits in vain janglings and fruitless controversies, which the Apostle tells us, Heb. 13. 9. have not profited, i. e. they have greatly damnified and injured them that have been occupied therein. Many Controversies of these times grow up about Religion, as Suckers from the Root and Limbs of a Fruit-tree, which spend the vital Sap that should make it fruitful.
*Anglia 4. annis facta est colluvies, & lerna omnium errorum, & sectarum. Nulla à condito orbe provincia tam parvo spatio tot monstrosas haereses protulit atque haec. Honor. Reg. de Statu Eccles. Brittan. p. 1.'Tis a great and sad Observation made upon the state of England by some judicious persons, That after the greatest increase of Religion, both intensively in the power of it, and extensively in the number of Converts, what a remarkable decay it suffered both ways, when about the year Forty-four, Controversies and Disputations grew fervent among Professors. Since that time our strength and glory have very much abated.
Consectary V.
From this Discourse we may also gather, the true Grounds and Reasons of those frequent Persecutions which God lets in upon his Churches and People: These rank Weeds call for Snowy and Frosty Weather to subdue and kill them.
I know the enemies of God's People aim at something else: They strike at Profession, yea, at Religion it self; and according to their wicked intention, without timely Repentance, will their reward be. But whatever the intention of the Agents be, the issues of Persecution are upon this account greatly beneficial to the Church; the Wisdom of God makes them excellently useful, both to prevent and cure the mischiefs and dangers of Errors. If Enemies were not, Friends and Brethren would be injurious to each other. Persecution, if it kills not, yet at least it gives check to the rise and growth of Errors: And if it do not perfectly redintigrate and unite the hearts of Christians, yet to be sure it cools and allays their sinful heats; and that two ways: (1.) By cutting out for them far better and more necessary work. Now, instead of racking their Brains about unnecessary Controversies, they find it high time to be searching their hearts, and examining the foundations of their Faith and Hope, with respect to the other World. (2.) Moreover, such times and straights, discover the Sincerity, Zeal and Constancy of them we were jealous of, or prejudiced against before, because they followed not us.
Consectary VI.
Lastly, Let us learn hence, both the Duty and Necessity of Charity and mutual Forbearance; We have all our mistakes and errors one way or other, and therefore must maintain mutual Charity under dissents in judgment.
I do not say, but an erring Brother must be reduced if possible, and that by sharp rebukes too, if gentler essays be ineffectual, Tit. 1. 13. and the wounds of a Friend have more faithful love in them, than the kisses of an Enemy: And if God make us instrumental by that or any other method, to recover a Brother from the error of his way, he will have great cause, both to bless God, and thank the Instrument, who thereby saves a Soul from death, and hides a multitude of sins, Iam. 5. 20. 'Tis our Duty, if we meet an Enemy's Ox or Ass going astray, to bring him back again; Exod. 23. 4. much more the Soul of a Friend. Indeed, we must not make those Errors that are none, nor stretch every innocent expression to that purpose; nor yet be too hasty in medling with contention, till we cannot be both silent and innocent; and then whatever the expence be, Truth will repay it.