A Practical and Polemical Commentary Upon 2 Timothy 3-4, Part 1 · Subpart 10
VERSE 9. But they shall proceed no further, for their folly shall be manifest to all m…n, as theirs also was, The Geneva thus, But they shall prevaile no longer, for their madnesse shall be evident unto all men, as theirs also was.
THe Apostle comes now to conclude this Period with a consolatory Epiphonema, and with this cordiall and comfortable promise he encourageth Timothy, and in him all the faithfull Ministers of the Gospel successively to the end of the world, against those discouragements which they should meet withall, from the Impostors and Seducers of the last times. That they may not be despondent, he assures them of the good issue and comfortable event of these trialls; to this end first he tells them, that God will put a bar to the proceedings of these false Teahers, and stop them in their Career, that they shall proceed no further, though their desire be still to do mischief, yet God by his Almighty power will so chain and restrain them that they shall proceed no further. Truth shall get the upper hand, and shall hinder their prevailing by the discovery of their folly and madnesse; so that albeit there may be a remnant left, yet the rout shall be broken, and the remainder shall moulder away daily more and more; and as the house of David grew stronger and stronger, so the house of Saul shall grow weaker and weaker.
Q…est. But how can this agree with verse 13. where the Apostle sayes that wicked men and Seducers shall grow w…rse and worse, deceiving and being deceived; yet here he saith, they shall proceed no further?
Answ. To omit those 4, or 5. frivolous conjectures confuted by Estius on the place.There is variety of senses, but no contrariety in the Scriptures. See my Schools-Guard. Rule 48. They shall proceed no further. viz. in esteem with men to seduce them thereby, although they shall increase in wickedness. Dutch Annot. I answer, when the Apostle sayes, evill men shall proceed no further, and their folly shall be made known to all; these are Hyperbolical speeches, and must not be taken simply as they are spoken, as if there should be no more seducing or seducers, or as if their folly should be made so manifest to all the world, that all should leave them, such an exposition would make the Apostle to contradict himself, and is directly contrary to the current of the Scripture. But the drift of the Apostle is this. viz. To animate the faithfull Ministers in their war against seducers, and that upon this account, because their labour shall not be in vain, but God will blesse it with successe against the enemies of his truth; yea by their Preaching, the fraud and falshood of those false Prophets should be so plainly discovered to the world, that their folly should be openly knowne, and many seeing the errour of their wayes shall leave them, though some should still be blinded and deluded by them; yet God will open the eyes of his Elect especially, that they shall see their delusions and shun them; in vain is the net laid in the sight of a bird. Prov. 1.17. and though God may suffer these deceivers for a time to prevaile, till they come ad foreign to their height, yet then they shall surely and suddenly come down, that Gods glory may be the more perspicuous in their greater downfalls, Now lest any should grow secure, and think that when they have supprest some deceivers, their work is done; the Apostle tells us, Verse 13. there will be seducers still, and some shall be seduced by them; therefore we had need to watch, for no sooner is one Heresie knockt down, but two are ready to arise in its stead. So that both these Verses are usefull, the one to comfort us, the other to Caution and Quicken us.
2. They shall proceed no further, viz. in their hypocritical, jugling practises, for they shall be all laid plain and naked to the world, so that he which runs may read them, which brings me to the second particular, viz. the Manner How, or the Meanes by which the Lord will effect their downfall, viz. by the manifestation of their folly, or madnesse rather (as some Translations accordiug to the Originall render it) for though the word signifie folly,foreign amentia, ab foreign priv. & foreign mens (i e.) sin… mente, amentes. Madness (i. e.) their foolish and false doctrine, or their Hypocrisy, and shew of holiness. Butch Annot. yet properly it signifies one that hath lost his mind and right wits, and is therefore rendred madnesse. Luke 6.11. but our Translation following the Vulgar Latine, renders it, folly. This their folly and madnesse, or foolish madnesse shall be discovered to their confusion, Gods usuall method is, first to make such Impostors naked, and then desolate. Rev. 17.16. First he discovers their juglings, and then he makes them abhorred. Hypocrites seldome passe undiscovered before they dye.Hypocrisis suâ sponte sese aliquando prodit, non potest per omnia sui esse dissimilis, deprehensa exploditur. Aretius. Though at first arising Hereticks may get applause (as Simon Magus who was counted for some great man) and may have many followers,Ea est erroris natura, omni licèt ex parte ad tempus invalescat, ad finem tamen non permanet, aliq andiu floret, ut ci…o dignoscitur. Espencaeus. so that they seem to carry all before them; yet such Meteors last not long, God discovers and discards them, so that their end is miserable and igdnominious. Ier. 28.15, 16. and 29.21, 22, 23, 31, 32.Valent sed non praevalent, promunt sed non opp…imunt, oppugnant, sed non expugnant, proficiunt sed non ultra. Estius. Though this Gangreene may creep, yet shall it not so spread as to corrupt the whole Church of God, they shall not be able to deceive Gods Elect, in whose hearts God hath written his Law, and against whom the gates of hell shall not prevaile.
Quest. How is the folly of these Heresiarchs said to be made known to all, when many are still mislead by them.
Answ. The word All is not here taken collectively, for all the world, for it lyes and will lye in blindnesse and wickednesse. But all must be taken distributively, for some of all sorts, as is frequent in Scripture, where by a Synecdoche generis, All is oft put for Many; and especially for all the Elect. So Rom. 5. All in the 18. verse. is called Many in the 19. So 2 Pet. 3.9. q. d. Many that before were abused and mislead, shall by the Light of the word so clearly see the folly and falshood of these Impostors, that they shall forsake them. And if any shall be so besotted as still to follow them, they shall sin against Light and conviction to their greater ruine.
3. He confirms the downfall of these Impostors by an Argument drawn à Pari, from the Example of those Magicians which opposed Moses in Egypt. q. d. As God discovered the Folly and Madnesse of Iannes and Iambres, in opposing Moses and Aaron, when the rod of Aaron devoured the rods of the Magicians (Exod. 7 12.) and when they could not make a louse, which is the smallest and basest of creatures (Exod. 8.18, 19.) this tended much to their confusion, and made the folly of those wise men evident to all men. Now as God confounded those Egyptian sorcerers of old before all the world, so he will confound those that oppose his truth and Ministers, that they shall prevaile no further.
1. Observe, That Hereticks and false Prophets are bounded and limited by God. They cannot hurt when, where, and whom they please, but whom God pleaseth; though the will of hurting and seducing be of man, yet God orders it to his praise. Revel. 7.3, As God set bounds to the Sea, saying, hitherto shall ye come but no further, and here shall thy proud waves be stayed. Iob 38.11. So he limits the malice and madnesse of men how far they shall prevaile; he onelyonly can stop these seas of errour, and bound these floods of false doctrine which are ready to overflow the face of the world. The flood of the Arrian Heresie had almost overflowed the whole world, but the Almighty bounded it; and though in this age it seem to return, and is ready to overflow the earth again, yet our comfort is, God hath set it bounds which it cannot passe.Progressus aliquos facient sed non diu. Grotius. Habet praescriptas metas impietas ad quas ubi impegerit, concidit. All Heresies have their foreign, their Non ultra, their limits which they cannot passe. Our comfort is, that both the deceivers and the deceived are ordered by the providence of God. Iob 12.16. he sets down the time when they shall begin, and limits them how long they shall continue, he orders how far men shall deceive, and to what height they shall come and prevaile, and when to stop them, that they may proceed no further: for as the maliciousnesse, so the deceivablenesse of men would know no bounds, if God did not bound it, but because he doth, therefore though they would, yet they shall proceed no further. No man can do good till God assist him, and no man shall do hurt when God will stop him. Rev. 20.3. These seducers in the Text had a mind to proceed further, their will was to oppose truth, and propagate errour in infinitum, without end; but they have now gone to the utmost of their line, they are come to their border and bound, they shall proceed no further, but it shall appear to all men that the doctrine which they stood for, was nothing else but a bundle of folly, and that the Doctrine which they withstood, was the truth and wisdom of God.
2. Observe here the difference that is between Truth and Falshood▪ The one hath its Non ultra, it suddenly riseth, comes to its height, and then vanisheth. 'Tis a plant which God hath not planted, and therefore is rooted up. Matth. 15.13. 'tis no sooner discovered, but 'tis explod…d by the people of God especially.Ficta non diu durant. Scbismatici non sunt longaevi. Luther Heresies are seldome Long-lived, such Meteors last not long, such Mushroms soon vanish; witnesse Becold, Knipperdolling, Phifer, &c. Though for a time they may deceive many, yet in a short time God discovers their Hypocrisie to their reproach. The Church is like a Lilly amongst Thornes. Cant. 2.2. Tyranny and Popery on one hand, and intestine Hereticks on the other. Yet God in his wisdom so orders them, that not onelyonly their wrath, but their rage shall turn to his praise, and the remainder of their rage he will restrain. Psal. 76.10. Every Heresie is like a cloud which for a little time darkens the Church,See Doctor Burges on that Text. 1641. Nov. 5. and then vanisheth. We may say of them as Athanasius said of Iulian, Nubecula est transibit citò. But truth though it meet with opposition at first, and hath few followers; yet increaseth and prevailes against all opposition. It hath its Plus ultra, 'Tis an Hebrew Proverb. Veritatem stabiles, mendacium debiles habere pedes.'tis perpetuall and endures for ever. The devices of men shall fall, but that which is of God shall stand. Acts 5.38, 39. Heaven and earth may fail, but not a jod or title of Gods word shall fail. This stands more firme then the Pillars of the earth, or the Poles of Heaven. There is nothing so perfect on earth but it hath an end; Wisdome, Beauty, Riches, Strength. David saw an end of such perfections. Psal. 119.96. onelyonly Gods word abides for ever. Isay 40.8. Matth. 24.35. Truth may be prest and opprest,Veritas premi potest, opprimi non potest. but never totally supprest, becanse it's built upon the word of God, which is an invincible rock. Eph. 2.20. Let not then the flood of Heresies which hath overflown the land, make us despondent or despaire, for as we have seen their rise and reigne, so we shall suddenly see their ruine. What's become of the Arrians, Donatis…s, Novatians, Pelagians? &c. though like a mighty flood they drowned all for a time, yet like a flood they were quickly dried up again. God is the same to the same sinners, he that brought down the Sects and Schismes of former ages, can and will in his due time bring down ours.
Quest. But when will it once be, we rather see an increase, then a decrease …f Sects and Heresies?
Answ. Yet in due time God will arise and will visit their sin upon them, and cast them out as an unprofitable branch.
Quest. But when is that fit time?
Answ. When the Church is lowest, and all seems to make against it, so that all its power is gone, then God appeares. Deut. 32.16. Gen. 22.14. Exod. 3.9. cum duplicantur lateres, venit Moses. God lets things come to extremity for his own greater glory. When Ashur cannot save us, but we are fatherless and helpless, then God loves to shew mercy. Hos. 14.3. Psal. 12.5. and 78.58. when we lye like dry bones in a helpless forlorn condition, then God comes and breaths upon us, and makes us live. Ezek. 37.11. to 15. when the earth languisheth. Isay 33.9, 10. Now, now, now will God arise. Exod. 14.13, 14. when Iob had lost all, and was poor even to a Proverb, then God appears and gives him double, makeing his latter end better then his beginning. Iob 42.12. when the Priest and the Levite passe by, then comes the good Samaritan with the Oyl of gladness. When father and mother forsake us, then God takes us up. There is a wheel in the midst of all these wheels, and when we think they go backward, God can make them go forward. Ezek. 1.16. and when 'tis night with us, he can make it light. Zach. 14.7. at even (when we expect nothing but darknesse) then it shall be light., Tis at mid-night (when he's least expected) that the bridegroom comes;Ludib…ia m…dicorum sunt curae Deo. when the Ship is sinking, and Lazarus stinks in his grave, and all men forsake Paul, then Christ appears. When we are in the greatest danger, then God is nearest to deliver. He's auxilium in angustiis praesentissimum. Psal. 46.1. when there is no visible means by which Iacob should arise, but he's low in Temporals and low in Spirituals, then God appears. Amos 2.5. God is never nearer to his people, then when they are in the greatest extremity. Though the world see it not, and sometimes his own people cannot discern his presence,Propè est cum procul abesse videtur. and therefore they cry, How long Lord wilt thou hide thy self! God was never nearer to Christ, then when he was on the Crosse. Nor to Ioseph and Peter, then when they were in prison. When trouble is near, God is never far off; hence the godly use this as an Argument, Be not far from us, for trouble is at hand.
2. When the enemy is most high and insolent when he begins to triumph,Nullum violentum diuturnum. See Mr. Strong's 31. Serm. Ier. 3.7. p. 44. and Ier. 39.7. p. 172. See the fall of the proud Antinomians in New England, in Mr. Wells his Preface to the History of the Antinomians in New-England. blaspheme and rage, his fall is near. Iob 20.5.22. Psal. 12.3, 4, 5. and 37. 1, 2. 8, 9, 10, 20, 35.36. and 94. 2, 3, 4, 5, 23. Rev. 20. 8, 9. Isay 29.7, 8. and 30.13. when Sennacherib began to blaspheme, God cuts him off, when none else could, or would do it. When all creature-comforts faile in point of Prudence and cannot advise, and in point of Power and cannot help, when Parliament upon Parliament is broken, and the floods of Heresie increase, then God appeares. Hereticks are grown to a great height of Pride, and Impudence, they doe not onelyonly Preach but Print their blasphemy;Fumus dum e… t…llit…r, … a signe their end is near. Smoak, the higher it …iseth, the sooner 'tis scattered, Psalm 68.1.2. As a beggar dreams he is a King and rich, but when he awaketh, he seeth it was but a delusion, so these may dream of Kingdomes, Honours, and a fif…h Monarchy, and reigning here a thousand years in carnal delights, but when God ariseth, they'l see these were but dreams. Fear not then the power and pomp of prosperous wicked men, Psalm 49.16. God hath a thousand wayes to cut them off, he can drown Pharaoh, hang Haman, smite Herod, and make Ierusalem a cup of poyson, a burthensome stone, a torch of …ire to consume all that oppose her, Zech. 12.2.3, 6. In patience therefore po…sesse your souls, for yet a little while, and he that shall come, will come. (i. e.) He will not delay his coming, but in due time, and in the …ittest season will deliver Is…ael from his enemies.
They shall fall
1. Irrecoverably.
2. Easily.
3. Suddenly.
4. Surely.
1. Ungodly men shall fall irrecoverably, they shall fall, and never rise up again, Proverbs 28.14. They shall be broken with a rod of Iron, and dasht in pieces like a Potters Vessel, Psalm 2.9. If a bar of Iron …all on earthen pot, it breaks it all to pieces, so as it cannot be sodered together again, as a pot of gold or silver may.
2. Easily with a word of his mouth, Psalm 44.4. God can speak them into confusion, and turn them into nothing. He beholds all Nations as a drop, they are purum nihil compared to him. He can with more ease destroy them, then we can crush a Moth in our windowes, or tread a worm under our feet. Those that will not bend to Christs Scepter, must be broken, Psal. 2.9. a bar of Iron, easily breaks an earthen pot.
3. Suddenly, in a moment, when they promise themselves victory and success, and cry Peace Peace, then comes sudden and swift destruction, Ps. 73.19. when they least think of judgement, then comes fear and sudden desolation, which like a whirlwind speedily, terribly, irresistably carries all before it, Prov. 1.27. How suddenly was Sisera slain by Abimelech by a piece of a milstone: Herod in the midst of his pomp by an Angel: and Senacheribs great Army of an hundred fourscore and five thousand men destroyed by one Angel in one night, 2 Kings 19.35.
4. Surely, they shall not escape, there's no flying when God persues, Amos 9.1, 2, 3, 4. If God be against us, all the Creatures are against us; 'tis not Heaven nor Hell, Sea or Land, Heighth nor depth that can shelter us from his wrath. Some God destroyes by the sword, such as escape the Sword, the Pestilence shall slay them; and such as escape the Pestilence, the Famine shall devour; and if any wicked man should escape punishment here, yet he is sure to be met withall in another world.
2. Observe, That false Prophets and Hereticks are fools and madmen. The word in the Original will bear both, and if false doctrine and heresie be folly and madness, then by an Argument ab abstracio ad concretum, false Teachers and Hereticks must needs be fools and mad-men, or mad-fools. However the blind world may admire such, and cry them up for Learned Wise-men; yet in Gods eye, and in the esteem of all such as are truely godly, they are no better then fools and mad-men that have lost their wits, and are besides themselves.
1. They are fools, for they forsake the Fountain of living waters, to go to broken Cisterns of mens inventio…s, which can yield them no refreshing in times of trouble. They prefer Chaff before Wheat, Ceremonies before Substance, Dross before Gold, Drunkenness before Light, and False-hood before Truth. They trade in sinne, and so are the worst of fools: of all fools none so vile as the sinful rebellious fool. Sinners and fools are Synonyma's in Scripture language, Proverbs 1.7. and 10.23. and 12.15. and 14.9. Titus 3.3. Hence 'tis that covetous worldling are called fooles, Luke 12.20. because they prefer Counters before Gold, Earth before Heaven, and Temporals before Eternals. Such a fool is the voluptuous man, who for a little momentany pleasure here, will run the hazard of Eternal pain, Proverbs 7.21.22, 23. and is not the Idolater a fool, who worships Gods of wood and stone, which follows lying vanities, and so forsakes his own mercies? Are not the persecutors of Gods people fooles, which heave at a burthensome stone that will recoil on them, and crush them to pieces? Zech. 12.2, 3. Hence 'tis that the wise counsellours of Pharaoh are called fools, Isay 19.11. God befools them in their plots against his people, Iob 12.17. and 5.12. So Atheists are called Fools, Psalm 141. and ungratefull persons who sin against the God of all their mercies are called fools▪ Deuteronomy 32.6. yea, when Gods own people for want of watchfulness fall into sin, its called foolishnesse, 2 Samuel 24.10. Psalm 38.5. None are truely wise but gracious men, that can part with all for Christ, Matthew 13.45. The world is apt to call and count such precise fools, 1 Cor. 4.10. but God calls them wise-men, Proverbs 17. Iob 28. ult. He is the wisest man,
Who takes the Shortest way.
Who takes the Safest way.
Who takes the Fairest way.
Now gracious men, 1. Take the shortest and the nearest way to Heaven, they tread the Path of Holiness, which is the direct way to Happiness. 'Tis said of Ahimaaz, that he ran the way of the plain and so outran Cushi, 2 Samuel 18.23. Hypocrites and wicked men go about in the crooked paths of sin, Psalm 125. ult. but the godly goe the way of the plain, and so out-run others.
Qui vadit planè, vadit sanè.
2. He's the wisest man who takes the safest and the surest way. The way of sinne is beset with many dangers, and can assure us of nothing, but misery and ruine. But the Path of Piety brings assured peace and comfort, Proverbs 11.18. To him that worketh righteousness shall be a sure reward, Actio una non denominat hominem.Isay 64.3. not to him that doth a righteous act or two, (which a wicked man may do) but he that works righteousness and and makes it his trade to be doing good, he shall have a sure and full reward.
3. He's the wisest man that takes the fairest way, now the way of Piety is a pure path, and leads to the God of Purity, Matthew 5.8. But the way of sin is a foul and loath some way, and therefore sin is called filthinesse in the Abstract, 1 Corinthians 7.…1. Iames 1.22. Lay aside all filthinesse (i.) all sin, which mars the glory and beauty of the Soul, and defaceth Gods Image in us.
2. As the wicked are Fools, so they are Madm-men also. Now in Madness there are two things, viz. furor & amentia, false Prophets have both:See a wo…ld of Mad men in Master Adams Serm. on Eccles 9 3. p. 478, &c. And the Ca…ses, Signes, and Cure, of this Madness. See in Abrenethy his Treatise of Christian Physi…k, Printed 1615. First, their judgements are perverted, they have lost their wits, they are so bewitcht with delusions, that they cannot say, Is there not a lie in my right hand, Isay 44.20. Secondly, They carry the whole man with furie after them, none more violent in their persecutions, then such men are who have embraced, for doctrines, satanical delusions: Such are said to be Mad, Ier. 50.38. and 51.7. Hos. 9.7. the dayes of Visitation are come (i.) the time is at hand when God will visite the people for their sins; but how doth that appear? why the Prophet is a fool, and the spiritual man is mad; (i.) those false Prophets which fed them with vain hopes of golden times and glorious prosperity, they are but fools, and those spiritual guides which have missed you are no better then mad-men: and why is all this? why, 'tis for the mulitude of their iniquity, and their great hatred. q. d. God justly sends such false Prophets amongst those that will not believe his true ones, as a punishment of their iniquity, for hating the true Prophets and their Doctrine. This makes many to doate and distemper themselves about idle and frivolous questions which breed divisions in the Church of God. Those are said to be sick, or rather mad about questions (as some render the word,foreign insani…, Beza Deliret ut saepè solent aegroti. Grotius. (1 Tim. 6.4. the part affected is chiefly the imagination, the immediate seat of opinion. These have lost their wits till by repentance they return to them again, as the Prodigal is said to do, Luk. 15.17. foreign are of so near affinity; hence wickednesse is called the foolishnesse of madnesse,Sui compos effectus, fuit enim quasi extra se & mente captus; delirus & insanus sed vexatio dedit ei intellectum. A Lapide. Eccles. 7.25. and 1.17. and 3.12. and 9.3. and therefore these drunkards and whore masters that waste their estates and consume their Vitals; blast their reputation, and damn themselves for a litle liquor and lust, are Mad, and the time is at hand that they will curse themselves for so doing: yea, all wickednesse is madness. Causativè & effectivè, 'tis the cause of madness, which is a judgement attending upon sin, as the effect follows the cause, and the threed the needle; where sin and disobedience go before, there madnesse oft follows in this life, Deut. 28.28. but alwayes in the next, Matt. 8.12. So the persecutors of Gods people are called mad-men, Luke 6.11. 2 Pet. 2.12. and Paul said of himself that before his conversion he was exceeding mad against the people of God, Acts 26.11. and so were Davids enemies, Psal. 102.8.
The wicked are apt to reproach the godly, when they zealously oppose their sins and errors, with the Title of mad-men. 'Tis no new thing, thus they called the young Prophet, 2 King. 9.11. and thus they upbraided Ieremiah (29.26.) and Christ himself (who zealously contented against the sins of the time) is said to be mad, and to have a Devill, Mark 3.21. Iohn 10.20. the Disciple is not above his Master. When Paul was zealous in spreading the Gospel, Festus tells him that m…ch learning had made him mad, Acts 26.24. and not onelyonly Heathen Festus ▪ but even the Christian Corinthians call Paul a mad-man, to whom he mildly answers, if we are besides our selves it is unto God, 'tis out of a zeal to his Glory, and not our own, 2 Cor. 5.13. as St. Bernard said sometimes of the Virgin Mary, Domine propter Te, est extra se: and if this be to be mad, we must resolve to be madder in this kind, 2 Sam. 6.20. So that we see who are the real mad-men of the world, not such as follow Christ fully and faithfully, without turning to the right hand or the left; but such as give up themselves to sin and error.
1. As mad-men use to wound themselves and hurt others; so these wound their own souls with their sins, for every sin is a stab, and in their spiritual frenzy they labour by their sinnes and errors to wound and kill others.
As mad-men prefer strawes and feathers before things of greater value, so these prefer the Vanities of the world, before Jesus Christ.
3. As mad-men break their bonds which should keep them in; so these break the bonds of Christs Doctrine and Discipline, and will not have him to reign over them, Psalm 2.3. but they rush into sinne as the Horse doth into the battle fiercely and furiously without wit or reason, Ier. 8.6. 'Tis the nature of sin and error to distract such as embrace it: as we see by sad experience in our dayes, wherein many of the ancient Heresies which have been dead and buried, and lay rotting in the Grave of Oblivion for many hundreds of years, are now revived and raised up again, insomuch that many by reason of these ghostly and gastly apparitions, coming out of the bottomlesse pit of Hell, and walking so freely abroad without check or controul even at Noon-day, are even distracted and scared out of their wits.See more in Mr. Pierce ▪ the Sinner impleaded, &c. P. 2. Chap. 3 p. 285. We pitty the condition of mad-men, and if any of our friends have lost their wits, we lament their condition; but this spirituall madnesse is the most deplorable madnesse; the other is afflictive, but this is destructive: this is a great sinne, and the punishment of sinne.
4. Observe, That God will overthrow false Teachers, by discovering their coverings, and making known their delusions to the World. As a disease discovered is half cured,Primus sanitatis gradus est novisse morbum. so an errour discoverd, is halfe conquered. Usually before God overthrows wicked men, he discovers their vilenesse first, that the Glory of his Justice may be the more apparent, and his people may come out from amongst them.
Thus, the preaching of the Word by Christ hath discovered Antichrist to the World, and hath brought him down, so as he can proceed no further, but his Kingdome dayly wasts and moulders away, 2 Thessalonians, 2.3.8.9. as he rose Gradually, so he consumes by Degrees, in Ireland, Scotland, France, Italy, &c. Ministers therefore should by their Praying, Preaching, Disputing, Printing, &c. pluck off the Vizard, and discover the deceits of those deceivers to the World. We should uncase those Foxes, get them out of their holes, overthrow their distinctions, make bare their absurdities,Vbi major est foreign ibi major est foreign. hypocrisie, folly & filth to all men. The plainer the better, a wise man desires to speak so as he may be understood, that his Auditours may be convinced of the Truth he pleads for, and the errour which he opposeth. Where the Gospel is plainly and powerfully preached, there Satans Kingdome suddenly falls, Luke 10.18. When the Sunne ariseth, the Clouds scatter, and where the Son of Righteousnesse is powerfully preached and published, Hereticks hide themselves, and dare not make that open sale of their Wares, as they doe in dark corners. Let us therefore pull off their Masks of Liberty, their sleeves of Sanctity, and their Trappings of Hypocrisie: Let us expose their errour, stript and naked in their own Natural deformity, and they will soon be exploded by all, so that they shall proceed no further.
5. Observe, As God confounded the Magitians of old, so he will confound the Juglers of our time in his due time. They shall not alwayes prosper that oppose the Truth,See Dr. Burges Serm. on Psal. 76.10. p. 50. &c. the time is at hand when their madnesse shall appear, and they shall proceed no further. As God hath brought down those which were of No Religion, so he will bring down those that are of All Religions. — Deus dabit his quoque finem. Babel must down as well as Babylon, and the making of them naked is a preparatory work to the making of them desolate,Deus erga similes similiter se gerit. V. Ienkins on Iude 14 Obs. 3. p. 204. fol. Qa…d convenit tali quà tali, convenit omni tali. Revelations 17.16. God is a just God, he's alwayes like himself; to the like sinners he sends the like punishments. He's Iehovah, he changeth not, but is the same yesterday, and to day, and the same for ever. So that as the promises made of old to believers must be applied by us, Ioshua 1.5. compared with Hebrewes 13.5. though the Promise was made to Ioshua, yet all the faithful must apply it to themselves, for that which belongs to one believer as a believer, belongs to every believer. What he promiseth to one, he promiseth to all which are in that condition; for though some may have more Grace, yet none have more merit. So on the contrary, the judgements of God denounced and executed on sinners of old, must be applyed by us against the sinners and seducers of our time; for whatsoever was written aforetime, was writen for our Learning, Romans 15.4. Gods judgements on Pharaoh for oppressing Gods people, must comfort us when we lie under the oppressions of Tyrants. Gods judgements on Corah, Dathan and Abiram, who usurped the Priests Office, and opposed Moses and Aaron, endeavouring to Level both Magistracy and Ministery, must comfort us who are troubled with the like or worse sinners. He that punisht blasphemers of old, will not suffer the blasphemers of our time to goe alwayes unpunisht. Let this therefore com…ort us, that as God confounded the Egyptian sorcerers of old, who opposed Moses; so in his due time he will confound those that oppose his Truth and Ministers, he will discover their madnesse unto all even as theirs also was, and then they shall proceed no further: for though they Rage, yet our comfort is the Lord Reignes, Psalm 97.1. 'Tis not said the Lord hath Reigned, that we know; nor the Lord will Reign, for that we believe; but the Lord even now in the midst of all these confusions, yet still Reigns. He destroyeth Destroyers, levels Levellers, and spoyles the Spoylers of his people. He is not onelyonly a Titular,See Mr. Clerks Mirrour, ult. Edit, cap. 112. but a Tutelar King, he Rules and commands all the Kingdoms of the World as pleaseth him, he pulls down one, and sets up another in the Throne, and none may say unto him, what dost thou? If the Devil Reigned, we should all be ruined; if the people Reigned, we should be confounded: but that which comforteth Gods people is this, that the Lord still Reigns in the midst of all his enemies: Hence the Church sings five or six Hallelu…ahs together, and all for joy that the Lord God Omnipotent Reigns, Revelations 19.1. to 7. Let us not then be despondent, because of the Devil, and his Agents, but remember he is but a Creature.
2. He's a chained Creature, Iude 6. Revelations 2.10. under the perfect subjection of this great King.
3. He's a conquered Creature, Christ hath conquered him for thee, and he hath promised to conquer him in thee, Romans 16.20.
4. He's a cursed Creature, he was cursed in Paradise, and is under the everlasting curse of God,
5. At the last day thou shalt sit in judement on him, 1 Corinthians, 6.3.
Secondly, What though the Devils Agents are many and mighty, yet there is a Wiser and a Mightier then they, who hath set them their bounds which they cannot passe. I have read a Story of a company of men that were at Sea in a great storm, and all being ready to be drowned, and crying out, there was a little boy, and he was laughing and said, Why are you thus troubled, my Father is Pilate of the ship; and he will have a care that the ship do not miscarry. So when we consider though the Church like a ship in a storm be ready to sink, yet that God is the Pilot of the ship and governs all in wisedome, for the good of his people, this may quiet us in the midst of all our Trials.
Object. If God thus limit wicked men and rule over them, how comes it to pass that he suffers wicked men to Tyrannize over his people, as they doe?
Answer, We must not condemn Gods wayes, because we cannot understand the Reason of what he doth. There are mysteries in Gods Kingdome, as in all Kingdoms there are secrets of State not fit for all to know. 'Tis as easie for a man to rake up all the Sea in a Cockle shell, as to know the Reason of Gods actions in his Eternal Counsel: we must not condemn what we cannot comprehend, for God is infinitely wise and knoweth how to bring light out of darkness, and order out of confusion.
2. He's infinitely just, though his wayes be secret and full of darkness to us, yet they are alwayes just. When clouds and darkness are round about him, then righteousness and judgement are the Habitation of his Throne, Ps…l. 97.7. He can make a medicine of the poysenous oppositions of wicked men, their …alice shall be as Horse-leeches to suck out the bad blood; as a File to take off the rust, as rubbish to cleanse the vessel and wash away the filth, and as a Touch-stone to try the Graces of his Children. And though his Providences seem to cross his Promises, yet wait the Conclusion, and you shall see and say he hath done all things well. We see in a Clock though the wheels run cross and contrary one to another, yet they all conduce to the going of the Clock. Iosephs imprisonment is the way to his preferment, and Iona's drowning was the means to …ave him from drowning. We must not judge of Gods Actions before they be formed and finisht. If a man should come to an Embroyderers shop and behold his work when 'tis half made, it would look ill favouredly, but saith he, stay till it be all done, and you will commend it. When a man puts silver into the Furnace, when 'tis taken out first 'tis all black, b…t stay till it's finisht and furbisht, and then it's beautiful. The Lord hath been doing a great work in England for many years past, his wayes have been in the clouds, and where we are yet, whether at the borders of Canaan, or going into the Wilderness again, we cannot tell: it will be our wisedome by Prayer and Patience to wait on the Lord, and then in the conclusion we shall see that all things shall work together for good unto Gods people, Rom. 8.28.