The Revelation Revealed, Chapter 2 · Verse 14-15
Verſ. 14.15. But I have a few things againſt thee, becauſe thou haſt there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balack to caſt a ſtumbling block before the children of Iſrael, to eat things ſacrificed unto Idols, and to commit Fornication. So hast thou alſo them that maintain the Doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
The churches of Smyrna, and Laodicea, only of the whole ſeven, did paſs the approbation of the Spirit without any but prefixed, or annexed to them: The church of Pergamus had her commendable graces, of conſtancy in the faith, and profeſſion of the truth, in the worſt of times, and amongſt the vileſt people, even where the Seat of Satan was: Yet all in her is not well, or ſound, for Chriſt comes on with a but againſt her; But I have a few things againſt thee, becauſe, &c. Whence by the way, Obſerve,
Obſ. 1. That many Churches of Chriſt, and perſons, may ſuffer much for Chriſt, and the profeſsion of Chriſt, yet not ſound and right in all the truths of Chriſt.
Doubtleſs the church at Pergamus had and enjoyed but ſad and afflicting days, when Antipas Chriſt's faithful Martyr was ſlayn, for then ſhe denied not the faith, but held her profeſſion with much conſtancy. The church at Thyatira too, was commended for her faith and her patience, verſe 19. yet both theſe churches, notwithſtanding their fair profeſſion, they had much rottenneſs and unſoundneſs in the root; their Doctrines were not ſtrait that they had among them, there were thoſe in the one, held the doctrines of Balaam, and the doctrines of the Niolaitans; in the other, the doctrines of Jezabel, and her wicked practiſes; both moſt unſound both in doctrine and practiſe, yet both highly ſuffering for the Name of Chriſt. We ſee that the profeſſion of the Name of Chriſt amongſt the Gentiles, was ſufficient to bring ſuffering on the Diſciples, but ſuffering for that profeſſion was not ſufficient to make them ſound in all things. Some may prophecy in Chriſt's Name, and caſt out Divels in his Name, and ſuffer, and give their bodies to be burnt for his Name, and yet at the laſt day Chriſt may tell them he knew them not. He that will attain a comfortable Martyrdom for the profeſſion of the Faith of Chriſt, let him firſt ſee that his ends be right.
Firſt, That it be truly and really for Chriſt:
Secondly, That it be out of love to Chriſt and his truth.
Thirdly, That it tends wholly to the glory of God, and not at ſelf.
This is the true ſuffering that will attain to the crown of life.
But to proceed, Chriſt hath a charge againſt this church of Pergamus, and it is, Becauſe thou haſt there them that hold the Doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balack to caſt a ſtumbling block, or a ſtone of offence (in the Greek foreign) before the children of Iſrael.
Becauſe thou haſt, foreign, thou haſt, that is, thou keepeſt, holdeſt, and intendeſt to keep and hold; thou haſt theſe Balaamites not by accident, or chance, but by choyce; thou haſt them becauſe thou delighteſt in them, and wilt have it ſo: Thy habendum and tenendum go together, thou haſt them, and wilt not part with them, becauſe thou loveſt them; therefore thy ſin is the greater herein.
And what haſt thou? Thoſe that hold the doctrine of Balaam, &c. the doctrine of Balaam was, when he ſaw that God had bleſſed Jacob, and that there was no Inchantment againſt Iſrael; he curſedly adviſed Balack the Prince of the Midianites, to make a great Sacrifice to Baal Peor, and to invite the Iſraelites unto it: Now Baal Peor was the filthy, laſcivious Idol Priapus, as Godwin's Jewiſh Antiquities teſtifie; whoſe Feſtivals and Sacrifices were celebrated by both Sexes, in moſt ſhameleſs poſtures and manners: And therefore, Hoſ. 9.10. It is ſaid, they went to Baal Peor, and diſcovered themſelves to their ſhame, becauſe it made them ſhameleſs, and to diſcover their nakedneſs before that Idol. Now the curſed advice or doctrine of Balaam (for a man's doctrine is his advice or counſel) conſiſteth of two parts.
Firſt, To ſacrifice to Idols, and to participate at their curſed Altars, in eating of their idolothites, expreſly againſt the Law of God, and that of S. Paul, 1 Cor. 10.20, 28, Acts 15.29.
Secondly, In mixing with the Midianitiſh women, a notion utterly forbidden to the Jewiſh Nation, not to meddle with in ſuch a way. So that though Balaam could not curſe Iſrael according to Balack's deſires being overmaſtered by God; yet it ſeems his heart went ſtill after the wages of unrighteouſneſs, as, 2 Pet. 2.15. teſtifies; that is, his deſires and heart was to take Balack's hire and reward to curſe Iſrael, if the Lord had not overmaſtered both his tongue and heart, and inſtead of curſing them, he was enforced to bleſs them; and ſeeing he could not pleaſure Balack according to his expectation and deſires, as a Prophet in his malediction, yet he was free, as a private Machavilian, or an Achitophel, to counſel Balack, that the readieſt way to bring the people of Iſrael at enmity with their God, was to bring them to Idolatry and Adultery; and ſo God that was their keeper and Saviour againſt all enchantments and curſings, would become their enemy, and deliver them up either to Balack's, or the Moabites hands, or ſmite them himſelf in wrath and judgment. And indeed Balaam's deſire and doctrine took effect, and was right unto its end; and accordingly they ſinned, and accordingly God was angry with them and ſmote of them with a Plague, twenty four thouſand, Num: 25.9. compare Numb. 31.16. to cap. 25.1, 2, &c. Now it ſeems the church at Pergamus had ſuch that held ſuch doctrines of Balaam, ſuch as pretended fair, as Balaam, and carried, it may be, a high profeſſion to Chriſtianity, yet laid ſuch a ſcandal or ſtumbling block before the church, as Balaam did to the children of Iſrael; that is, they held that it was lawful to eat of things ſacrificed to Idols, to participate of the Idolatrizing Sacrifices, and heatheniſh Feſtivals of the Panim Pergamites; as there was of the ſame conſort in the church of Corinth, 1 Cor. 10. who would needs participate in the Lord's Supper, and in the Idols ſacrifices, which was the ſervice of devils, v. 20, ſo pleaſant and ſweet was the old heatheniſh Idolatries to the new converted Chriſtians, that they would needs keep their old jovial Feaſts and Sacrifices to Jupiter, Bacchus, Venus, Adonis, Priapus, &c. together with the Euchariſtical Feaſt of the Supper of our Lord. And not only thus turn ſpiritual fornicators and adulterers, but alſo commit corporal whoredoms and fornications; for it was impoſſible that thoſe looſe Idol Feaſts could be celebrated without it: for the Feaſts and Sacrifices of Priapus, Venus, Bacchus, Adonis, &c. the more ſhame, and beſtiality, and laſciviouſneſs was diſcovered therein, the more they thought they pleaſed their God in their Sacrifices: And therefore doubtleſs it was in the exceſs, as all Hiſtorians that treat thereof do witneſs: And this is clear from the next verſe, for it comes in with a conjunction copulative, Even ſo haſt thou them that maintain the Doctrine of the Nicholaitans; a looſe, laſcivious, and idolizing doctrine, agreeing with that of Balaams, only differing in ſome myſterious notions, being a branch of the high flown Gnoſticks, who had peculiar expreſſions, and un-intelligible notions, proper to their ſect. I refer you to the precedent v. 6. concerning the Nicolaitans more at large.
This was the foreign, the ſtumbling block, the ſcandal and offence which ſome corrupt and unſound Chriſtians laid in the way of others in the church of Pergamus. This word ſtumbling block, is here taken up for the manner of men, in laying ſtones, blocks, or ſnares in the way, that make perſons fall or ſtumble thereat; and this word is uſed in Scriptures ſometimes actively, ſometimes paſſively: The Phariſes and Scribes were offended, and ſcandalized at the Doctrine and Miracles of Chriſt, Mat. 15.12. here was an offence taken, but none given. But an active ſcandal is, when a real offence is given, and a manifeſt ſtumbling-block is laid in the way, as Balack did to Iſrael; and when any open evil is committed, either contrary to Gods Law, or when our liberty is uſed in things indifferent, in an unſeaſonable time, to the offence of the weaker, whereby they are made the worſe, leſs godly and honeſt; this alſo is an active ſcandal, and a ſtumbling-block, Rom. 14. and to be avoyded of all knowing Chriſtians. The Notes that ariſe from this verſe thus explained, are,
Obſer. 1 That God hath a controverſie with all ſuch Churches, as hold and maintain pernitious unſound doctrines, and wicked practiſes.
This is that God hates in the Churches, and are ſo abominable to him, that God hath a charge againſt thoſe back-ſlidden churches for their erroneous doctrines and practiſes, and threatens them that he will come with the ſword of his mouth againſt them, and will remove their Candleſtick from among them, if they do not repent; which in few-ages after he exempted againſt them to the utmoſt. It is not church priviledges will exempt a people ſinning againſt God, from his deſolating judgments.
The people of Iſrael was God's peculiar own people, choſen out amongſt all the Nations of the world to know his Name; the holy people, Iſa. 62.12. Dan. 8.24. a people near unto God, and bleſſed above all. Deut. 7.6, 14. They were the people that had the holy Land, Temple, Ordinances, Divine worſhip, Oracles of God, the Prophets, his Tabernacle, and the moſt ſpecial preſence of God. Theſe were the glory of God, and as dear unto him as the apple of his eye. Zach. 2.8. Yet when this people fell to wicked practiſes, and rebelled againſt God, and caſt off his yoke, his wholeſome Laws and Doctrines; none of their church-priviledges could ſecure or protect them from the deſolation and judgments which came upon them: It is to ſmall purpoſe to ſay, when we ſin againſt God, we have Abraham to our Father; or cry, the Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord; it is neither birth, priviledge, nor church, will ſecure us from the judgments of God: For the Ax is laid unto the root, and the people that bringeth not forth fruit worthy of repentance, ſhall be… down, and cast into the fire. O then! ſeeing God will not ſpare his, own children, if they ſin and rebel againſt him, and ſeeing that Judgment muſt begin at the houſe of God, and if it begin firſt at us, what ſhall be the end of them that obey not the Goſpel of God? And if the righteous ſcarcely be ſaved, where ſhall the ungodly, and ſinner appear? 1 Pet. 4.17, 18.
Obſerv. 2. That erroneous and corrupt Churches and Perſons, are very obſtinate and tenacious of their corrupt principles and practiſes.
The church of Pergamus had thoſe that held and maintained the Doctrines of Balaam and the Nicolaitans, they did it not underhand, & in ſecret, but openly and profeſſedly, as the Iſraelites did in the buſineſs of Baal Peor at the advice of Balaam when they committed Idolatry, and whoredom with the daughters of Moab, they did it not in a corner, but avowedly, profeſſedly, and ſhameleſly, as it is evident in Num. 25. from v. 1. to 6. And beholdone of the children of Iſrael came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitiſh woman, in the ſight of Moſes, & in the ſight of all the Congregation of the children of Iſrael, who were weeping before the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation. When Moſes, and the faithful amongſt the Iſraelites were mourning and weeping for the abominations of their brethren, then ſome of them were ſo bold and impudent, as to come before them, even in their faces, with their ſins in their hands, not aſhamed of them. Sober Chriſtians will think it ſtrange, that any profeſſed churches of Chriſt, or Chriſtians, ſhould openly, and profeſſedly, hold and maintain Doctrines & practiſes as bad as Balaam's and the Nicholaitans, and if not far worſe: And yet this carries as much truth with it, as any Hiſtorical relation in the World; and that too, maintained with as much pertinaciouſneſs, impudency, ſtrength of wit, and policy, as if it were the moſt virtuous or gracious principle in the whole word of God. What a doing, tugging, and patching of counſels there was, for the upholding of Idolatry and Image worſhip in the church of Rome for many ages? All were Anathematiz'd by her, that would not joyn in that falſe worſhip; and it is to this day maintained by them, in the face of the Sun, which is the great ſcandal and ſtumbling block to the Jews and Turks, to keep them off from the faith unto this day. O moſt ſad! that profeſſed chriſtians ſhould be the greateſt and moſt obſtinate Idolaters amongſt the Nations round about them: And this is not all, they have their adulteries too, and fornications, profeſſedly owned, avowed, and allowed; elſe what meaneth the publique Revenues that cometh into the Pope's Coffers from the Stews at Rome, and elſewhere, under his Juriſdiction, which were authorized and erected by Sixtus the fourth at Rome: And Pope Nicholas the firſt, that prohibited the Clergy Marriage, deprived a Prieſt of his benefice at Placentia, for having a wife and children; but the ſaid Prieſt, afterward proving the ſaid woman to be the wife of another man, and only his concubine, he was again reſtored. O abominable! and doctrine of devils! honorable Marriage forbidden, and Adultery, and Fornication, allowed and countenanced! And this is not a private opinion, or of ſome perſons in that harlot church; but it exceeds that of Pergamus: for they had but ſome amongſt them that held the doctrine of Balaam, but it is here more general; & as catholick as their church is, ſo catholick are thoſe their errors & wicked practiſes; for as far as the church of Rome's Juriſdiction reach esſo far the worſhip of Images, her Idolatries & adulteries reach alſo. But let us turn our eye from this great Scarlet Whore, and look a little, and reflect upon our own reformed churches at home, and ſee whether there is any thing there maintained and upheld as the Doctrines of Balaam and the Nicolaitans amongſt us: It is no evil to enquire, an enemy diſcovered is half vanquiſhed. I hope we have but few of the late generation of Baal's Prieſts left among us, of that prelatical party, that endeavour'd with might and main to bring in the doctrines of Balaam, and of their aboveſaid mother Jezabel, amongſt us. 'Tis true, they endeavour'd to lay a ſtumbling block before the true Iſraelites of God in their travelling towards their celeſtial Canaan, they enticed and invited the faithful ones of this Nation to the Sacrifices of Baal Peor, and to commit Fornication with the Midianitiſh women; and many precious ones did ſtumble and fall thereby: but God gave them a day of ſorrow and repentance for it. Now their Idolatries and Adulteries conſiſted in their Altar worſhips; pompous gorgious Services, cringes, and congies at the croſs, Muſical church-ſervices, &c. all which are but part of the garment of the Scarlet whore; but alſo they commited Fornication with the daughters of Moab; that is, they mixed Intereſt and relation with Antichriſtians, and joyned counſels with Jeſuites, &c. and took up profeſſedly Romiſh principles and practiſes; As the doctrine of free-will, liberty of plays on the Lord's day, and conformity to all outward ceremonial rites and ſervices, on purpoſe to enſnare the conſcientious and godly, and to make them fall: And yet this was not all, but like true Balaamites, they taught Balack to lay a ſtumbling block before the children of Iſrael; that is, they incited and ſtirred up their Prince and Soveraign to do the very ſame, and to enact heavy and penal Laws againſt all Non-conformiſts, to their forms and falſe worſhips, and received from Balack their foe, the wages or hyre of unrighteouſneſs: It is not he that preaches the Goſpel and lives by the Goſpel, that receives the wages of Balaam, as ſome Fanatiques of theſe days would have it, but very ſutably it maybe applied to ſuch Prophets that will teach their Prince and Soveraign to ſet up and command a worſhip which hath none of Chriſt's ſtamp upon it, and to enforce it on the conſciences of the truly godly, on great penalties, thereby to inſnare them, and make them ſtumble, if they may: Theſe are true Balaamites indeed, and for this their Antichriſtian ſervice, they expect great revenues, encouragements, and honors, as wages due unto them, and this is the wages of unrighteouſneſs; 2 Pet 2.15. which Balaam loved. There is another ſort amongſt us, that hold profeſſedly the doctrine of the Nicholaitans and Balaam; that hold no difference betwoeen good and evil, and that good and evil conſiſts only in opinion, not in reality; and theſe are high flown Anti-Scripturiſts, and Antinomeſtical Atheiſts, and are not ſo much as to be converſed with as chriſtians, but to be looked on as aliens and ſtrangers to God, his Laws, and the Commonweale of Iſrael. The Lord open their eyes to ſee their madneſs and folly, if it be his bleſſed will.
Obſerv. 2. The true worſhip of God, and falſe, can never ſtand together.
Dagon and the Ark cannot be competitors under one Roof. Chriſt will not endure the doctrines of Balaam, Idolatries and Adulteries, to be practiſed in his churches; if his church will entertain ſuch doctrines and teachers, he will hate them for it, and he will no longer be their teacher, but will become their enemy, and come againſt them with the ſword of his mouth. We cannot ſerve two Maſters, Chriſt and Mammon at once, either we muſt love the one, and hate the other; For there is no fellowſhip between light and darkneſs, the one alwaies expels the other.
Obſerv. 3. That falſe Teachers (as Balaam) may carry a high and fair hand of profeſsion, and yet ſtill Balaamites in their hearts.
Balaam was a Prophet, and propheſied very clearly of Chriſt, Numb. 24. and carried a very fair hand in profeſſion, as to deſire the death of the righteous, and yet ſtill loved the wages of unrighteouſneſs: So many falſe Prophets of our days may profeſs fairly, and Propheſie many excellent things of Chriſt and his truth, and yet ſtill Balaamites in their hearts, loving the wages of unrighteouſneſs; willingly they would curſe the godly, & blaſt them it they could, but God providentially by his wiſdom hath overpowred them; yet though they know that there is no enchantment againſt Jacob, nor divination againſt Iſrael, they will teach Balack, as ſly Machiavilians, to lay ſnares to entrap the true Iſraelites of God, and make them fall; adviſing, as cunning Politicians, their Soveraign Authority to enact ſtrict Laws, for conformity unto their falſe and wil-worſhips, on purpoſe to make the conſcientious godly to ſtumble againſt the juſt authority of the Magiſtrate, and ſo to ſin and periſh. And hereby that honorable and juſt maintainance which Goſpel Miniſters may rightly receive and demand of their flocks, is become unto ſuch the wages of unrighteouſneſs.
The Papiſts at this day carry a high hand of profeſſion, and who higher then they? Who more coſtly in their ſervices and worſhips? Who more deſiring the death of the righteous, as then monaſtical lives, and Votaries of all ſorts teſtifie, then they? Yet who hath laid more ſtumbling blocks in the waies of chriſtians and the truth, then they, by their Balaamitiſh doctrines and practiſes? It is moſt uſual amongſt us to commend the days of our forefathers, as moſt imitable and religious, yet how ſad to conſider, when we find the very doctrines of Balaam left unto us from them, for though at preſent I have not numbred the thirty ſeventh year of my age, yet I well remember how riſe the doctrines of Balaam were practiſed here amongſt us, and that too, by imitation from our predeceſſors. We had our Floralia, our Feaſts and Sacrifices to the Goddeſs of Maia, which were carried on with a great and ſolemn vanity, with much Paganiſh cuſtoms exerciſed thereabout, mixed with a great deal of vanity, ſin, ſhame, and beſtiality; and this not only permitted, but maintained and defended by ungodly Balaamites, in oppoſition to the godly in their times: Yet the practiſe thereof in theſe parts was ſo vile, that the ſame perſons, the ſame day that they did eat of the body and blood of Chriſt in his Ordinance of the Supper, the ſame day were drunken, and filled with things offered unto Idols; I mean, in their heatheniſh ſports and vanities; but bleſſed be God that hath now, taught us otherwiſe. Yet though at preſent we make a fair profeſſion, yet ſtill we have ſome remainders of this doctrine of Balaam all England over, even in keeping our Wakes, our Revels, our Parochial Feſtivals a foot, wherein there is a great ſmatch of Antichriſtian Idolatrizing, and eating things offered to Idols, and luſting after the Midianitiſh women, and Fleſh pots, and Onyons of Egypt; in the obſervation of theſe and other Roman Feſtivals. If Feaſts or Feſtivals, be they never ſo piouſly inſtituted, as the 'foreign, or love-Feaſts amongſt the primitive chriſtians were, once come to be defiled, and to loſe their Primitive virgin inſtitution and ends, and to become Sacrifices to Bacchus, or Venus, or to any Idol whatſoever; they are to be diſanulled, abrogated, and laid aſide, as an unholy thing. The Lord deliver his churches and people from the politique Balaamites of theſe times, who will teach Balack to lay a ſtumbling block before the children of Iſrael; and the Lord give a diſcerning heart unto our Soveraign Magiſtrate to diſcover all ſuch that come unto him, and move or teach him to lay ſtumbling blocks or ſnares in the ways of the true Iſraelites of God; let ſuch have the wages of Balaam who have forſaken the right way, and are gone aſtray, following the way of Balaam the ſon of Beor, ſo let them receive the wages of unrighteouſneſs for their hire.
Obſerv. 4. That falſe Prophets and falſe Teachers, are ſtill ready to inſinuate with, and pleaſe the humors of the Princes of the people, in all their wicked deſignes.
Balaam was very ready and intenſe to anſwer Balack's curſed deſires againſt Iſrael, if the Lord had not prevented him: What elſemade Balaam, after he had the denial of God, that he ſhould not go to Balack, Numb. 22.12. to make another application to God to get permiſſion to go to Balack? And when he knew his errand, that it was to curſe Iſrael; how often did he tempt the Lord with Sacrifices, if poſſibly he could, to draw God to his deſigne? And though God did manifeſt his diſpleaſure to Balaam in his way, in the buſineſs he went about, by the Angel with the ſword, and made his Aſs miraculouſly to reprove him; yet neither miracle, croſs, providence, nor prohibition, ſhall hinder Balaam to ſerve Balack againſt the Iſraelites if he may. If once falſe Prophets perceive the humor of their Princes, they will be ſure to ſew pillows under their arm-holes; they will obſerve the humors of men, and apply themſelves to pleaſe anſwerably: Yet this is not all, they will, as Balaam, inſtruct Balack in wicked and curſed deſignes and practiſes, though they have commands enough to the contrary, and witneſſed ſufficiently from heaven againſt it; yet they will juſtle ſuch curſed and bloody plots into their Princes hearts that they never thought of, yea that are abhorrent to ſome of their natures; as it is witneſſed in the Hiſtory of Q. Mary, That her own natural diſpoſition was good and merciful, and only inſtigated and taught to perſecution againſt the Saints, by the wicked Balaamites, falſe Teachers, as Bonner, Fiſher, &c. It is obſerved by ſome that our late King Charles of England had never ſplit the Ship of the Commonweale againſt the Rock, had he not hearkned too much to the advice of the Balaamites about him, the Biſhops, & their corrupt party, who taught him to lay ſnares or ſtumblingblocks in the way of the true Iſraelites of God in this Nation; to wit, by the promotion and countenance of Romiſh Idolatries, and their Midianitiſh Fornications: But behold the wiſdom of God, they were both taken in their own ſnares, and laid in the duſt together: And ſo acording to that, Numb. 31.8. They ſlew the King of Midianitiſh … Princes; and Balaam alſo, the ſon of Beor they ſlew with the ſword. Beyond Seas it is a Proverb, No curſed deſign afoot, but a Prieſt has a finger in it: I could pray it were not in England; I could wiſh that they in our Iſrael had leſs of Achitophel or Machiavel in them, and more of the ſimplicity of he Goſpel of Chriſt in the room thereof.
Obſerv. 5. Falſe Prophets, as Balaam, lay their deſigns not only for the temporal deſtruction of the godly, but for the eternal alſo, if they may.
Balaams deſigne in his curſed counſel to Balak was, that the Iſraelites ſhould Idolatrize and adulterize, that the judgements of God might both reach their bodies and ſouls together. The divel and his agents deſire, that all may have no better portion then themſelves; they will not be contented with the deſtruction of Saints bodies, but will night and day, like roaring lyons, go about to ſeek to deſtroy them, and to cauſe them to loſe and forfeit their eternal ſtate of happineſs, if they could. It was this that made theſe churches of Aſia to loſe their candleſticks, and it will be always the Balaamitiſh doctrines and practiſes, that will cauſe God to remove his preſence of grace, power, and comfort, from one people to another, that is more ſound and fruitful; O therefore, ye churches of Chriſt, look to your doctrines and practiſes, that they be right and ſtraight to the rule of God's Word, ſo God will delight to dwell among you, and will make you the habitation of his glory, otherwiſe will leave your place deſolate and forſaken; though you be his people in profeſſion: If you turn to idols, falſe worſhips, and wicked practiſes, though Moſes and Eliah be among you (righteous ſouls!) they ſhall only ſave themſelves, but the wicked ſhall be cut off from the land of the living, which is reſerved as an inheritance for the pure and undefiled.
Obſerv. 6. That whereſoever Idolatry is admitted into a church, looſeneſs and laſciviouſneſs preſently follows.
Errour is fruitful, and one brings forth another: Aſſoon as the church of Pergamus maintained the eating of things offered unto idols, which is the ſervice of divels, preſently they joyn hands with the obſcene ſect of the Nicolaitans: when the Iſraelites joyned to the ſacrifices of Baal Peor, Numb. 25. they became ſhameleſs, and preſently fell on the Midianitiſh women: in Ezek. 8.14. we ſhall read, that there were Jewiſh women weeping for Tammuz, that is, as ſome read it, Adonis, or an idol or image of Adonis, who was a great lover of Venus, and ſlain by a Boar, in whoſe memory there were celebrated yearly ſolemnities, in which were the weepings of women; or, as Junius has it, it was Oſyris, an Idol of the Egyptians and Phoenicians, in whoſe rites they forgot all bounds of modeſty, and diſcovered their nakedneſs to the Idol. So corrupt is falſe worſhip and idolatry, that it and filthineſs do uſually walk hand in hand together: in moſt part… … …he juriſdiction of Rome, but eſpecially Italy and Spain, …ein the greateſt and moſt notorious idolatries are committed and countenanced, there are the greateſt obſcenities both in words and actions; yea, and that commonly practiſed among them which is unnatural and Sodomitiſh, and not ſo much as to be named among chriſtians: ſo it was ſo here once within our memories with us, as ſoon as we had taſted the ſame grapes of Rome, luſt was ſoon promoted both in Court and Country.
Queſt. But if you here demand wherein lies the miſchievouſneſs and grievouſneſs of this ſin of Idolatry?
I anſwer, 1. All Idolaters, they forſake the true God.
2. They change the glory of the incorruptible God into the form of creeping things.
3. They thruſt out the Ordinances of God from their holy places, and at laſt God himſelf.
4. They ſlight God and his help in extremities, and call to their idols, that ſee not, hear not, nor underſtand, as the Papiſts do to S. Anthony, S. Francis, &c.
5. They become prodigal towards their idols; as the Adulterer thinks nothing too much for his harlot, ſo they nothing too much for their idolatrizing worſhip; witneſs the church of Rome.
6. They become unclean, and Nicolaitans, which thing God hates.
7. They become fools, infatuated, and delivered over to a reprobate ſenſe, whilſt they diſclaim the great, infinite, glorious, holy, and all-wiſe God; and in the room thereof, adore Batts, Oxen, Moles, Owls, &c. and that which is worſe, little pieces of dead wood, mettal, and the like, carved and framed by the hand of the workman: and this is the juſt hand of God upon all Idolaters, who receive not the truth in the love of it, and therefore God gives them over to ſtrange deluſions, and believe a lye.
Obſerv. 7. The laſt Note from theſe words ſhall be, That it is one of the difficultest undertakings of the Miniſtry of Chriſt, to take off or wean either new planted Churches or newly reformed ones, from their old falſe worſhips and practiſes.
Some of the new planted churches, as of Pergamus, Corinth, and other of the Gentiles, thought that they might ſtill participate of their former ſacrifices of divels, and their idolathites, and of Chriſt's Table alſo; but the Apoſtle Paul was very bitter againſt ſuch, in 1 Cor. 10.20, 21. and the Spirit here alſo falls foul upon them, and ſets a check upon the Pergamitiſh church for entertainment of ſuch doctrines: What ado had Paul alſo to take off the believing Jews from their circumciſion and Moſaical rites; they would needs have the obſervation of all the ceremonial Law, and paedagogy of Moſes joyned to Chriſt for juſtification, and ſo make Chriſt of none effect: no leſs then a full council of Apoſtles and Elders were ſufficient to remove this ſtumbling block out of the way, Acts 15. and what a difficult buſineſs it was in the firſt Reformation, to reform up fully, all the world knows; what uproars, commotions, and civil wars there were in K. Edward the ſixth's days, when the Maſs-book was but turned into Engliſh, as ſome of K. Edward's counſellors adviſed our Corniſh Rebels, who were then in Arms for their old Mumpſimus, and Popiſh worſhip? And ſurely Luther, nor Zuinglius, nor Calvin, could go on with a thorow Reformation in Germany, France, or other places, in reſpect of the unpreparedneſs, and unſutable ſtate and condition of the Nations among whom they begun the Reformation, being ſo long time ſetled and fixed upon their old lees, it was a very difficult work for them to go farther thorow with it, then was fit and competent for that generation, who always reſerved ſome reliques remains, and ſmacks of Popery, though the main works were beaten down; and therefore ſome heady people of thoſe times, that would not condeſcend in any thing, or have providential carriage towards the weaker and darker ſort of people, would reform things even to the height and full pitch of Reformation according to the primitive pattern; but the people of them ages being not able to bear it, it cauſed much trouble to the church and through intemperate zeal, much hinderance and obſtruction to the begun reformation, and advantage to the enemy: But ſince in many places and Nations of the reformed, this reformation hath made a further progreſs by ſome ſteps; yet ſtill amongſt moſt of the reformed, not only in this Nation, but elſewhere, there are ſome remains of the old falſe worſhip and practiſes, and a luſting after them; ſo ſtrong a deſire we have to the imitation of our predeceſſors practiſes, be they never ſo corrupt: yet bleſſed be God for that reformation we enjoy, and liberty to profeſs and practiſe the ordinances of God, according to the moſt undefiled and pureſt pattern that we judg agreeable to the Goſpel of Chriſt. What ſhall us deſire more on our own parts? Or, what greater bleſſing can we expect from God by the ſword of the Magiſtrate then to be protected, ſecured, and countenanced in the ways and worſhip of God according to a good conſcience? If the Miniſters and Churches will not reform in ſuch a day when publique Edicts are gone forth from Cyrus to ſet Iſrael free, I wonder when they will fall upon it? Do they expect the Magiſtrate to command and compel all unto the work? Alas, this is not the generation that all will be fit for ſuch a work in a whole Nation or Kingdom; no, never will there be ſuch a golden age, until Chriſt himſelf ſhall come with the fan in his hand, to purge his garner, and take the Kingdom unto himſelf. Is not the church a Lilly among thorns? If the whole Nation be the church, where are the thorns? Are they the other neighbour Nations about? Alas, they are Lillies too; churches (on that account) as well as you: Are they the gentle Nations, as, Turks, Perſians, Antichriſtians, and Popiſh Nations? As Italians, Spaniſh, French, &c? Alas they are no Thorns to you; the reformed Nations are in equal ballance to them, and as apt to hear them, as they you; But I confeſs you have thoſe chriſtian ſocieties and churches among you, that are as Lillies ſhining in graces among thoſe Thorns and unfruitful Nations; and to retard our reformation in church and ordinances, till all be ſquared and hewn fit for this work, or before the Magiſtrate compels all unto this work, is a vain expectation, ſeeing that there is ſo much of that old leven of our anceſtors, National Churches, National Officers, Birth priviledges and Ordinances on that account &c. ſtill remaining in the hearts of moſt amongſt us; that it will not only render the work of a full reformation in this generation, moſt difficult, but the attempt thereof rather dangerous and prejudicial, not only to the faithful in this Land, but generally to the cauſe of Chriſt, in all the reformed Nations round about us. Witneſs the intemperate zeale of many that lived in the days of the firſt reformation; who became a reproach and a ſhame in their irregular attempts about this work: Though they had good hearts, and deſired and aimed at good and juſt things; yet they proſecuted it not juſtly, for to denominate a good action or work. The thing it ſelf deſired and attempted, muſt not only be a good and honeſt thing in it ſelf, as a full reformation to God's word is; but it muſt have other honeſt circumſtances in it alſo.
1 The time when muſt be conſidered, in ſuch a time when God and a clear providence calls unto it.
2 The manner how muſt be conſidered, in a peaceable maner, it is to be endeavoured and promoted, as the work of the ſpirit of peace; not with wars, tumults, and rebellions againſt Magiſtrates, which is as the ſin of witchcraft: So that the beſt action may loſe its reward, and the atempters thereof ſuffer juſtly for the unjuſt proſecution thereof. It is a ſure rule to chriſtians, that they are to do no evil, that good may come thereof. We are not to ſin againſt the Laws of God, nor his Ordinance of Magiſtracy (unleſs caſes of inevitable neceſſity, where God will rather have mercy then Sacrifice) to promote any juſt end or good whatſoever; for we are bound to walk by the rule of God's commands and precepts, not of events and providences. Therefore all ye faithfull ones of this land, be wiſe and ſober in this your way of temptation, ſtop not the current of God's reformation by your precipitate and irregular actings, be you ſtill and you ſhall ſee the ſalvation of our God: You ſee the main hinderance of this full work amongſt us, even the old leven of falſe worſhips derived and left unto us from our anceſtors; God will remove this more and more by ſteps and degrees, and that more generally, and will enlarge the Tents of Jacob among us, if we provoke not God by our ſins towards him: But to expect a total reformation, never look for it until the day Star ſhall ariſe with an incomparable glory. In the interim, let us walk honeſtly, and ſoberly, like children of the Light, ſerving and fearing God, and honoring the King; and then God will make them unto us Nurſing Fathers, and Nurſing Mothers. And moſt happy and bleſſed are the people that have their portion and lot in ſuch a Land.
Object. But after all this an Objection may be riſen. The church of Pergamus had thoſe among them that held and maintained the doctrines of Balaam and the Nicolaitans, and practiſed ſpiritual and corporal adulteries; ſo held the church of Corinth. Thyatira had the doctrines of Jezabel, Galathia the Jewiſh doctrine of circumciſion, and many other great corruptions were among thoſe primitive churches; as, drunkenneſs, denying the reſurrection, inceſt, eating things offered unto Idols, and the obſcenity of the Nicolaitans: Yet theſe are ſtill called the churches of Chriſt, his ſeven candleſticks, his faithful ones, called and elect. And are not then our Parochial churches, our National churches, as truly churches of Chriſt as thoſe were? And are they not as ſound in doctrine and practiſes, as thoſe firſt primitive chriſtians and churches were, and ſo deſerve the Name of churches of Chriſt, faithful, elect and called as well as they?
1 I Anſwer, We are to look unto the firſt inſtitution of all churches; if they are gathered and planted by the Miniſtry of the Goſpel and Spirit, they are truly churches of Chriſt, elect and called; though in proceſs of time, the envious one ſowed plentifully among the good Wheat, his Tares and Darnel, as among thoſe of Corinth, Pergamus and others in the Primitive time; yet I believe Chriſt had but a few things againſt theirs, in reſpect what he has againſt ours; they were but corrupt in part, ours all leprous; they loſt but ſome members, we the very vitals: For I much queſtion, whether our National churches were of this Goſpel ſtructure, as thoſe primitive churches were at the firſt, ſeeing we read in Hiſtory of their civill inſtitution and beginning being ſo divided or ordained by the politique Laws of the Nation: Yet withall I ſay, we had the ſincere faith of Chriſt here preach'd amongſt us preſently after, if not in the very Apoſtles days, by Joſeph of Arimathea, as Hiſtorians teſtifie; this good ſeed was almoſt loſt among us, but again revived by the providence of God in after ages, but held captive and low under the Tyranny of Antichriſtian darkneſs, yet doubtleſs God had here and elſwhere his inviſible church and elect ones. Our ſucceſſion to the Apoſtles is by cleaving to their doctrines, and ſo we own a ſucceſſion from them, but not a viſible ſucceſſion of churches, for ſo we have ſayled under the Antichriſts raign and tyranny over us: and to plead that our parochial Societies are churches of Chriſt, is but at beſt to plead that our Hundreds or Counties are churchdiviſions, Presbyteries, or Eccleſiaſtique Juriſdictions, alſo being of the ſame civil inſtitution with the former. But ſome write that Dionyſius Pope of Rome was the firſt divider and inſtitutor of Pariſhes about Anno 267. and brought into England by Honorius Biſhop of Canterbury, as learned Maſter Selden in his Book de Decimis teſtifies.
2 I Anſwer, If our churches were right in their firſt inſtitution gathered by the word and ſpirit, we have as really loſt the very being of our churches under Antichriſt's raign, as the churches of Corinth, Pergamus, Epheſus, Smyrna, &c. under the Saracenical tyranny and Mahometaniſm: And therefore there is as great need to call our churches out of Babylon, and to reſtore them from Antichriſtianiſme, as Pergamus &c. of the miſerable captivated Aſian churches from Turciſm, and Mahometaniſm; unleſs we grant, that the whore of Babylon had the keeping and was the preſerver of the Ordinances of the true Spouſe, and had the power of the Keys committed unto her: And therefore the authority that many churches pretend unto by ſucceſſion of churches, is but a ſorry one, and at the beſt, but Antichriſtian and Popiſh.
Laſtly, I Anſwer, That it is not corruptions in a church do nullifie a church, though very high, if right and ſound in the root, and hold faſt the faith. This gives the very being to a church; and ſo I ſay, that many of our National churches, having now renonunced their inſtitutions and calls from Antichriſt, and being called to the fellowſhip of the faith by the miniſtry of the word and ſpirit, are become Spouſes of Chriſt, called, and faithful, though mixed with many corruptions, and unſound Doctrines and practiſes, as Pergamus, Corinth, and others were; yet for their Doctrine of Faith and Sacraments amongſt them, are to be accounted as golden candleſticks of the Lord, churches of Chriſt, holy, and ſanctified: But ſtill obſerve this, that the church of Smyrna, the more pure and undefiled one, hath the greater praiſe, greater manifeſtation of love, grace, comfort, and glory on her, then any of the others the more unſound ones; though they be Siſters, yet this is the only one of her Mother; though all the reſt be Daughters yet this is the Roſe of Sharon, and the Lilly of the Valleys; though the reſt are Chriſt's Vineyards too, yet this is the Garden incloſed, where he takes his delight at Noon. And thus much hereon ſhall ſuffice.