A Practical and Polemical Commentary Upon 2 Timothy 3-4, Part 1 · Subpart 3 · Section 1
10. Truce-breakers.
The words seem to be a Gradation. q. d. The last dayes will be very perilous,Aforeign, foedifragi, foedere nescii Beza, ab foreign privat. & foreign, foedus. Sicut cum suis pietatem non servant▪ ita cum externis amicitiae & foederum jura non incunt, vel inita violant. à Lapide. Aforeign, irreconcil…abiles, qui foedera non servant, jura pacis & amicitiae violant. Aretius. Hostes inconsoederabiles, qui nec legibus, nec pactu, sed affectibus, se regi permittunt. Espencaeus. for men will be irreligious towards God, rebellious to Parents, ingratefull to Befactours, and at last perfidious; so that it will be to no purpose to make any Compacts or Covenants with them: being once provoked, they become unappeasable, irreconcileable, violating the Lawes of Peace, and Friendship, to advance their own designes, and interests. If we take the word both wayes, the Character will suit with our times.
1. In the last dayes men will be implacable,So the Grecians call an irreconcileable warre, foreign, and unappeasable enemies foreign, irreconcileable, (So the Apostle useth the word, Rom. 1.32.) being once offended, they are hardly ever reconciled, their malice admits no Termes of Truce, much lesse of hearty reconcilement, like those Psal. 120.6, 7. They may peradventure out of policy say, they will forgive; I, but they will never forget; but Esau-like they onelyonly respite their malice, till a sit opportunity of revenge appear. Gen. 27.41. These are unlike to God, who is ready to forgive, and upon Reall Humiliation, easily appeased. 2. It argues a gracelesse frame of spirit, for as the experience of Gods love in pardoning, inclines us to an easie forgetfulnesse of wrongs; so doth the continued prosecution of a revengefull purpose, argue sufficiently, our little or no feeling of Gods pardoning mercy.
2, The word signifies not only Truce-breakers, (i. e.) such as break those Covenants,foreign, qui nulla pacta servant, nec promissis stant, nemini fideles, ne benefactori quidem ▪ Baldwin. which are made for cessation of Armes, which we call Truces. This exposition is too straite, for in the last times men shall attain to such a height of sin, that they shall not onelyonly be Truce-breakers but Covenant-breakers. In the last dayes men shall be so irreconcileable to the wayes of God, that they will not once bind themselves by Covenant to them: or if, for self-ends, they shall swallow up such a Covenant, yet they will be perfidious, and never keep it; They'l make no more of a Covenant, then a Monky doth of his Collar, which he can slip off and on at his pleasure. In the last dayes, men will not onelyonly be Sermon-proof, and Judgement-proof, but Covenant-proof; no bonds so strong, so sacred, but they can as easily break them, as Sampson did the bonds of the Philistines. 'Tis not Personal, Sacramental, or National Vowes that can keep the men of the last times, within the Circle of obedience: and therefore this also know, that in the last days, perilous times shall come; for men shall be Covenant-breakers both with Gad and man. That this is Englands sin, I wish it were not too apparent, to our great reproach in the world; This sin is written with the Claw of an Adamant, in a Table of remembrance before God and man, to all posterity. Have we not lifted up our hands to the most high, and vowed a Reformation? but behold a Deformation. We vowed an extirpation, and rooting up of Heresy, and false doctrine; yet many act as if they had taken a Covenant for their propagation. We vowed the setting up of Discipline and Government in the Church of God; yet it were to be wisht that some which have taken this Covenant, did not oppose it. We have vowed Uniformity; and behold a Multiformity. I hope there is none that thinks the Substance of this Covenant to be out of date; the matter of it is such, that we are bound all the dayes of our lives, zealously to observe it. I suppose every good man thinks himselfe bound to preserve the Purity of Religion, to extirpate Heresy and profanenesse, in his place and calling, not onelyonly till our enemies were subdued, but these are duties to be practised all our dayes. A well-grounded Covenant (and such was this) is a sure, firm, and irrevocable Act, 'tis Aeternitati sacrum, Mr. Caryll his Serm. on Neh. 9. Preacht at the taking of the Covenant.(saith a Reverend Divine) to endure for ever. Hence the Parliament ordered, that it should be taken by all men above 18. years of age, in the three Nations, and that it should be printed in a fair Letter, and hung up in a Table in the Church, for a perpetuall Memoriall. [See more in Mr. Gelaspy's Miscelanies, chap. 16. p. 201, 202, &c. and Mr. Rutherford against Pretended Liberty of Conscience. chap. 22.]
Now for men to violate and vilify such an Oath as this, which for Matter, Persons, and other Circumstances, the like hath not been in any Age, or Oath we read of, in Sacred or Humane stories: is an high provocation, and shall not escape unpunished (as a Reverend Divine hath very well observed) but as they have been notorious in sin, Mr. Phil. Nye his Exhortation at the taking of the Covenant.so shall they be notorious for shame. Hence a Truce-breaker is here reckoned among the vilest of Christians, and a Covenant-breaker, is listed amongst the worst of Heathens. Rom. 1.32. God accounts this so far from service, and duty, that he looks upon it as horrible profanenesse and perjury,Vovens & non solvens, quid nisi pejero? Bern. The Heathen by the light of nature condemned perjury as worthy of death. what doth more provoke a man, then Treachery and perfidiousnesse? and what greater Treachery, then to break so solemn and sacred a Covenant? this provoked the Lord against Iudah. Hos. 6.7. but they like men have transgrest the Covenant, there (even there) have they dealt treacherously against me. There where they should have been most fast and faithfull, there they were most false and perfidious. What we barely promise, we ought to perform, but a Vow is a double and stronger bond, and so more carefully to be observed. Hence Gods hand hath been remarkable against Covenant-breakers in all ages.How Ladislaus was punisht for breaking Covenant with Amurath, who lists may see in Bucoltzers Chronol. in Anno mundi 5414, See six Reasons against Covenant-breaking, in Mr. Calamies Serm. on 2 Tim. 3, 3. p. 10. &c. Sauls posterity was plagued for their breach of Covenant with the Gibeonites. 2 Sam. 21.1, 1.6. So the Heathen that were Covenant-breakers, were given up to Reprobate sense. Rom. 1. Sampson breaking his Vow, had his eyes put out by the Philistines, and is made to grind. Iudg. 6.21. Absolon under pretence of a Vow seeks his Fathers life, but it cost him his own. 2 Sam. 15.17. King Zedekiah is punisht with death, for breaking Covenant with Nebuchadnezzar a Heathen, and an Idolater. Ezek. 17.15. to 22. 'tis a signall place,See more in Mr. Blake on the Covenant. Chapt. 21. and Mr. Clerks Mirrour. cap. 95. and worthy our serious meditation. So Ier. 34.18. to 22. God will send a sword on such to avenge the quarrell of his Covenant, Levit. 26.25. 'Tis reported of the Egyptians, that if any man did swear by the life of the King, and did not perform his Oath, that man was to dye without mercy; no gold, no silver, could redeem his life. We have sworne not by a King, but we have lifted up our hands to the King of Kings, and unlesse we mean to dye eternally, we must perform it. The Jewes have a Proverb, Non est poena super Israelem in qua non sit Vncia Vituli aurei. That was such a Transgression, that God remembred it every time he plagued them. So Non est poena super Angliam in qua non sit Vncia foederis. In every punishment there's somewhat of the Covenant in it.
I shall conclude with the words of some Reverend Divines, lamenting the Breach of the Covenant amongst us.The Cheshire Ministers in their Testimony against Heresies, &c. That so solemn a Covenant (say they) so gravely and piously penned, so dreadfully obliging the Conscience (in all sincerity and fidelity, to take and keep it) so ratified by authority of Parliament, ordering of it with instructions, exhortations, and satisfactions to scruples: that this Covenant should be by so many without any sense of Religion, both taken and broken, as if it were but a King at Chesse, set upon the board for a game, and so shut up in a bagge, when the game is done; this is that which may make us hang down our heads, and with heavie hearts say, as Ezra 9.6. O our God, we are ashamed to lift up our faults, &c. So they.
Now, as Covenant-breaking is a God-provoking sin, so Covenant-keeping is a Sacrifice most pleasing and acceptable to him; and the most compendious way to exalt a Nation, as we see in the times of Moses, and Ioshua, 24, 25, &c. Asa. 2 Chron. 15.12.15. Iosiah. 2 Kings 23.3. &c. Nehem. 9. when they brought their people into Covenant, they prospered presently. No sooner did England enter into Covenant, but from that very day did the Lord blesse us, and gave admirable successe to the Armies of his people. Hag. 2.18, 19. The Reason is, because then we engage God more especially in our cause; we bring him into the field with us, we put all we are, and have into his hand, we are not now our own people but the Lords people, the Lords Kingdome. The Lords Warre, the Lords Castles, the battle is not ours, but the Lords. So long as Creature opposeth Creature, they may make some resistance, but when the Creator comes against the Creature, Omnipotency against Impotency, and Wisdom against Folly; who then can stand? Isay 45.9. when people fall to Covenanting, then woe to Rebels. Ezek. 20.37. There's no way to preserve and establish a Nation like this; Hence Moses exhorts the people to give up themselves by Covenant to God, that so he might be their God, and establish them. Deut. 29.12, 13. So when Iehojada had brought the people into Covenant, then the Lord gave them rest. 2 Kings 11.17, 20. This is like a wall of brasse to a Kingdom, or rather like a wall of fire (as the Prophet speaks, Zach. 2.5. which none can scale) to defend us, and to offend our enemies. Now we have speciall interest in the Lord, so that all that he hath is ours; his Wisdome is ours to direct us, his Power to protect us, his Goodnesse to save us, &c. As a woman that's married to a man, partakes of all the Riches and Honours of her husband, and as Laban said to Iacob, Gen. 51.43. so may we say to the Lord, All that thou hast is mine. This appeares excellently. Psal. 132.2. where the Lord sweares to David, and David sweares, and by a Vow devotes himselfe to God, then followes blessings Temporall and Spirituall.
1. They shall have spiritual blessings, they shall have Gods speciall presence amongst them, God will dwell there. V. 13, 14. yea such is Gods great condescention) that he desires no better habitation then amongst his own people.
2. He will fill them with spirituall joy. V. 16. singing they shall sing (i. e.) they shall greatly, and they shall surely rejoyce.
3. He'l blesse their posterity. V. 11, 12.
4. He'l blesse their provision, and satisfy the poor in Zion with bread. V. 15. (i. e.) with all Temporall blessings need…ull for them.
5. Since the Priests of God are exposed to more danger then others, therefore he promiseth to them more speciall protection. V. 16.
6. He will subdue their enemies. V. 17, 18. and will make the horne (i. e.) the power and might of his people, to prosper and increase. So that this is the only prevailing way, viz. sincerely to give up our selves to God in Covenant; and till this be done, we are undone. 'Tis not Fasting,, Praying, Humiliation, unlesse we really covenant for Reformation of our selves and ours, we do but dodge with God and cannot look to prosper. Hence Ezra 10.1, 2, 3. tells the people they had sinned greatly, yet there was hope, but what must they do? why, make a Covenant, and all shall be well. V. 3. God must and will do great things for his people in Covenant, when they be in distresse. Psal. 105.8, 9, and 106.45. and 111.5. yet he remembred his Covenant, and saved them according to the multitude of his mercies; with a, notwithstanding their Rebellions against him. Hence 'tis, that Gods people in their distress so oft plead the Covenant to move the Lord to pity them. Exod. 32.13. have respect unto the Covenant. Psal. 74.20, 21.
Now that we may Covenant Rightly,
We mst do it
1. Judiciously,
2. Sincerely,
3. Unanimously.
4. Affectionately, with
Feare,
Love,
Joy.
1. Judiciously, in judgement, and Understanding, what we do, Nehem. 10.28. Ier. 4.2. such weighty matters must not be undertaken rashly, rudely, or unadvisedly, but with serious, grave, and mature deliberation.
2. Sincerely; with all plainness and simplicity of spirit, without doubling, or dissembling, 2 Chron. 15, 12. Ier. 4.2. Thou shalt swear in truth (i. e.) Sincerely, without equivocation,Linguâ juravi, mentem injuratam, gero. Said that Hypocrite in the Orator. Cicero de Offic. l. 3. mentall reservations, or any base and sinister Ends, as to save your land from sequestration, to get in favour with some great ones, or to get an office, &c. for such kind of swearing, the land mournes; if we will swear, it must be in Righteousness, Ier. 4.2. (i. e.) Just and Righteous things. The subject or matter of a Covenant must be just and righteous things, such as are agreeable to the Word of God, and tend to his glory, as to serve, feare, obey him. Gen. 28.20. Take heed of putting what sense you please on the Covenant;Iuramentum sit Sacramentm Pietatis, non Vinculum iniquitatis. we may not take it with such limitations, and qualifications, as are against the Letter, scope, and drift of it. Such may deceive men, but God they cannot deceive. We should therefore have a Jealousy over our selves, and say as Iacob did in another case. Gen. 27.12. My Father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem as a deceiver to him, and I shall bring a Curse upon me, and not a blessing. If our hearts be not right with God, they will never be faithfull and stedfast in his Covenant. Psal. 78.37. Let your hearts chuse the things that please God, and then you will take hold on his Covenant. Isay 56.4. First give a bill of divorce to your Lusts, say to them, as to a menstruous clout, Get you hence. Isay 30.22. Hos. 14.8. Till our old Union with sin be broken, God will not match with us, no sober man will marry with a woman so long as her husband lives, but when her husband is dead, she's free. Rom. 7.2, 3.
3. Unanimously; God loves to see his people, from the highest to the lowest, to joyn themselves to him, like one man. Deut. 29.10, 11, 12. Zeph. 3.9. Ier. 50.5. Ezek. 37.17. 2 Chron. 15.12, 13.15. Nothing stronger then such Unity. Si erimus inseparabiles, erimus insuperab…les.
4. Affectionately.
1. With Fear; we must come to this duty with Reverence, and godly feare, considering that vast disproportion which is between God and our selves. We have not to do with men, but with the Almighty, and that in his Excellency and Greatnesse. So that as an holy fear must be an ingredient in all our services [Heb. 12.29, 19.] So especially we must bring it, when we come to swear by his Name, Deut. 6.13.
2. With Love; Get your Judgements convinced of the Excellency of a Covenant-condition, and what a high priviledge 'tis to have God for our God, this will make us in love with the Covenant, and Love is strong as death. Cant. 8.6, 7. There is nothing so ennobles us (what ever the Esaus of the world say to the contrary) as to be in Covenant with God. 'Twas a greater honour to Isaac to be in Covenant, then to be the Seed-Royall, and to have Princely issue. Gen. 17.20, 21. Esay may have Princely issue, but my Covenant shall be in Isaac. So Isay 43.4. This will make us remember our Covenants; what we love, we'l never forget. Psal. 119.16. if David love Gods Law, he'l never forget his word. 'Tis not the making, but the minding and keeping of a Covenant, which makes us happy, and we cannot keep it, unlesse we remember it. One reason why the Iewd woman forsakes the guide of her youth is, because she forgets the Covenant of her God. Prov. 2.17. Hence God so oft commands, that we forget not his Covenant. Deut. 4.23. 2 Chron. 16.15. and 29.18. The heart of man is exceeding prone to back-sliding, now a Covenant is a bond that binds us to God (happy those bonds which bind us to be holy.) It's like a hedge, to ba… us from going astray. It's a good answer to a Tempter; I have sworne, and I will perform it: How can I do such wickedness, and break my Covenant with my God?
3. With joy and chearfulness. We must not come with dead hearts to such lively work. As God loves a chearfull giver, so a chearfull Covenanter is prized by him. 2 Chron. 15.14, 15. Iudah, All Iudah, Rejoyced in the Covenant which they had sincerely made with God, to worship him onelyonly, in the purity of Religion. See the good issue, 1. The Lord was found of them. 2. He gave them rest round about, so that albeit they were encompassed with enemies, yet none did hurt them; and if it be matter of joy to come to the Ordinances, Isay 30.29. 2 Chron, 29. ult. and 30.13.21, 32.26. Psal. 122.1. much more should we rejoyce in this extraordinary high service. At marriages joy is seasonable, this is the soules marriage day. Hos. 2.19, 20. I will betroth or marry thee unto me. It's thrice repeated for certainty.
1. 'Tis a spirituall Covenant or marriage; and so far more excellent then carnall marriage.
2. 'Tis perpetuall; not for a day, but for ever: when God loves once with a conjugall love, he loves for ever.
3. In righteousnesse and judgement; he'l cloath us with the wedding garment of Justification, and Sanctification.
4. Though we deserve no such favour, yet of his own free-loving-kindness and mercy, he will do it; and is not this matter of exceeding joy?
2. As for Covenants and compacts with men, there were never greater complaints of falsenes and prodigiousness;Per foedus hîc haud dubiè intelligit conventiones & pacta de rebus humanis facta; multi multa promittunt, at pauci promiss… praestant. Marloret. a man can scarce tell who to trust, or where to find a faithfull man. Righteousness is perisht from the earth, and faithfulness from the sons of men. A simple, just, plain-dealing man, is a black swan; if a man buy but a piece of land, he scapes well if he be not made to buy it a second, it may be a third, time. What lying, cosening, cheating, in buying, selling, bargaining? What falfe weights, false wares, false lights, false measures, in every place? Men sell deceit, to purchase Gods wrath. 1 Cor. 6.9. and 1 Thessal. 4.6. they take money not for wares, but for cosenage; such may boast of their profession, and call themselves Saints, but God accounts them worse then Scythians; they are an abomination, to him, Deut. 25.13, 14. Levit. 19.13. Some are first Tablemen, others second, but both miscarry; the one for his unrighteous Holinesse, the other for his unholy righteousnesse. Christ hath redeemed us, that we might serve him; not in Righteousnesse or Holinesse, but in Righteousnesse and Holinesse. Luke 1.75. such unrighteous men usually die beggers, treasures gained by such wicked Practises,See Gods Judgements on such. Clerks Mirrour. cap 35. and Mr. Rous his oyle of Scorp. Sect. 5. p. 237. folio. and Mr. Herle's Policy. l. 2. c. 14. profit not. Prov. 10.2, 3. Iob 20.15. Plain honesty is the best profit and policy. For though such gain but little at once, yet it gaines long, and keeps its custom; whereas he that couzeneth me once, shall not deceive me a second time; he loseth the custom that he had. It's a great ornament to Religion, when the Professors of it are just and righteous, when they pay every man his dues; restore what they borrow, slander no man, do violence to none, be diligent in their callings, faithfull in their trusts, keep their promises, be mercifull to the poor, and as much as in them lyes, have peace with all men. This is the way to stability, and safety here. Psal. 34.12, 13, 14. Isay 33.14, 15, 16. Ier. 22.15, 16. and happinesse for ever. Psal. 15.1. 'tis made a note of a Citizen of Heaven, that he doth not only walk uprightly towards God, but he worketh righteousnesse towards men. He doth not only know or talk of Righteousnesse, but he worketh Righteousnesse; he doth not onelyonly praise, but he practiseth it; and not only by fits and starts, for a day or two, but [operans justitiam] 'tis his Trade, he's daily at it, he allwayes observes that golden Rule, Matth. 7.12. Whatsoever ye would that men should do to him, even so to do to them: he observes an equall proportion in the things commuted, he will not ask twelve pence, for that which is worth but six pence, nor offer four pence for that which is worth but four groats. He desires that every man should live in his calling, and therefore observes an equall proportion both in his buying and selling. This therefore barres all these from Heaven, who Canonize themselves for Saints; yet walk directly contrary to the Rule of Sanctity, Psal. 15. they walk Hypocritically, work unrighteousness, speak untruths, back-bite their neighbour, countenance the vile, discountenance those that are really good, break their Covenant with God and man, and be great oppressours, and grind their brethren. Let such men professe what they please, all their Religion is vain.
[If any would see more for the Covenant, he may peruse Doctor Burges Serm. on Ierem. 50.5. Mr. Case on Leviticus 26.25. Ierom. 50.5. Master Mockets Serm. on Deuteronomy 29.9. Master Caryll, and Master Colemans Serm. at the taking of the Covenant. Master Shaw's Brittaines Rememb. on 2 Chron. 15.12. Master Ash on Psal. 76.11. Mr. Calamy 1643. on 2 Tim. 3.3.]