A Practical and Polemical Commentary Upon 2 Timothy 3-4, Part 1 · Subpart 6
VERSE 6. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts.
IN these words the Apostle renders a double Reason why they should turn away from those wicked Formalists.
1. Because they were an impudent, insolent, fraudulent generation.
2. They were already extant, and had a being in the world to the corrupting and defiling of it, and therefore he saith not, they shall onelyonly hereafter creep into the Church, but they do already beginne to creep into mens houses, and there get Proselites to themselves. Here the Apostle begins to set forth the seducers of the last times in their proper colours, having before set down the sins which would be common both to the seducers and the seduced, now he descends (that we may the better know them, and avoyd them) to the particular marks and characters of these Impostors, whereof the first is impudency, they creep, yea (in a manner) they boldly invade mens houses,foreign. penetrantes domos. for their belly, private gain and advantage, like those, Titus 1.11. 2 Pet. 2.15. Iude 11. As Austine said of some in his time, they were afraid of being too modest. Et pudet non esse impudentes. Good men are modest and must be intreated to come into mens houses. Acts 16.15. the disciples in a meek and modest manner, come to the house where Christ was, and desire him to shew them the meaning of the Parable. Matth. 13.36. they did not interrupt him in his Preaching, (as our fanaticks in a vain-glorious, disorderly manner do) but they consult with him in private. But Impostors are brazen-faced, they intrude themselves, and come without sending for. Matth. 7.15. Neither do they come to feed, but they creep into mens houses like Ferrets and Weesels, (as the Syriack renders it) to prey upon the Family; and thus do Jesuits on the one hand, and Sectaries on the other,Irrepunt humiliter, blandè capiunt, molliter ligant, latenter occidunt. Leo, foreign penetro, & quasi per fallaciam irrepo; est verbum emphaticum quo Apostolus peritè expressit non solùm impudentiam & importunitatem singularem istorum, sed etiam fallaciam, insidias, & blanditias quibus isti erant pleni, & artificia varia quibus utebantur ad persuadendos errores suos, praesertim verò mulierculis tanquam sexui & vasculi infirmiori, magisque obnoxin deceptioni quàm viro. Chrysost. by flattery, fine words, counterfeit Sanctity and Humility, deceive the simple.
2. As they are impudent, so they are of a fraudulent, subtle, slye, insinuating temper; they vent not their errors openly (especialy, not at first) but they secretly and slily creep into private houses, and there they sell their wares, Iude 4. they privily bring in damnable Heresies, 2 Pet. 2.1. Gal. 2.4. Truth loveth the light, and seeks no cor…rs. Christ preacht openly in the Synagogues (he was no corner-creeping Preacher) Iohn 7.37. and 18.20. Prov. 1.20, 21. he commands his disciples to preach what he had told them in secret, upon the house top, (i. e.) publickly, plainly, freely, boldly. So did Paul when he disputed openly in the Market with whomsoever he met, and preached in the midst of Mars-hill. Acts 13.14. and 17.17, 22. and 26.26. though the Preachers and publishers of the truth be oft-times bound, yet the truth it selfe cannot be bound. Ephes. 6.19. Phil. 1.13. 2 Tim. 2.9. truth is bold and bare-faced,Veritas non quaerit angulos, abscondi erubescit. Tertul. Veritas quoad fieri potest palam est praedicanda, & audiente toto mund…. Rolloc. when Heresy hides it self, and hates the light. He that publisheth truth is interdianus sator (as Austin speaks) one that spreads his doctrine in the Day-light, when he that soweth Tares doth it secretly, whilst men sleep. Matth. 13.25. This Pestilence, like the corporall plagues, walks in darknesse. Psal. 91.6. such as do evill hate the light. Iohn 3.20, 21,
Caution. Not that 'tis unlawfull in times of persecution, when publick preachings cannot be had, to preach in houses, for Christ and his Apostles oft preacht in houses and other places (as occasions served) in those times of persecution, when the Magistrates were Tyrants and enemies to the Gospel, then Christ preacht in a Mount. Matth. 5.1. and out of a ship. Matth. 13.2. and Paul preacht in a house. Acts 20.7, 8. and sometimes by a river side. Acts 16.13. yet this doth no whit countenance or justify those unwarrantable meetings in private houses, and that on the Lords day, where their prime work is to raile on Magistracy, Ministry, Sabbaths, Sacraments, Ordinances, &c. such meetings are unlawfull on any day, but abominable on the Lords day. To such 'tis dies Diabolicus non dies Dominicus, their sin is double. These are Conventicles (truly so called) and are the Nations shame. If such had lived in the days of Q. Mary, when the publick Ordinances were abolisht by a Law, they might have had some Plea for private meetings; but now in a time when the Gospell is so openly, fully and faitfully taught, to run from the publick solemnities where the word and Sacraments are dispensed by Ministers whom God himself hath sent; to follow silly, seducing, unsetled Speakers, who feed them with chaff instead of wheat, and Poyson instead of bread; this is a sin of the highest nature, and should be matter of great Lamentation to us all, yet this we may learn from these Factors of the Devill, if they will creep into houses to destroy mens souls; surely we may go to mens houses to preserve them from destruction. So did Paul. Acts 20.20. this is pure Religion, and pleasing to God. Iames 1.27.
3. These Impostors observe a Method in seducing.1. They set upon poor silly women, Incautus & mollis est hic sexus, in cautus quia omnia quae vid… & audit cum sapientia non considerat; mollis quia facile flectitur de bo…o adanalum. Chrysost. With fair speeches they draw the hearts of sickle minded women unto them, and lead them whither they will, as men do those that are taken in warre. Dutch Annot.who being the weaker sex, are sooner won over to their way, as being less able to withstand the shock of a temptation. As warriours go about a city, observing where the wall is woakest, lowest, & unguarded, and there they make their greatest assault. And as thieves set not upon strong, armed me…, but upon weak unarm'd ones, so seducers love not to set upon strong, grounded, judicious, discerning Christians, but 'tis the weak and ignorant which cannot discern their frauds, but like children are tossed to and fro with every mind of doctrine, that become their prey, Prov. 14.15. Rom. 16.18. Eph. 4.14. man is (or at leastwise should be) more strong and prudent to resist temptations, then women are.
2. They set upon women first, that they may the better win the husband, herein imitating their father the Devill who first deceived Eve, and then seduced Adam by Eve. Gen. 3.1.6.Per heras heros fal…unt. So the Jewes stirred up women to hinder men from salvation. Acts 13.50. and this is the practice of the Jesuits and other subtle seducers at this day; they labour to gain the wife, that can may win the husband. Indeed conjugal affections are very strong, and God would have it so. Prov. 5.19. what is it that a loving husband … almost deny the wife of his bosom, when he conceives she doth truly love him? what have not women drawn their husbands to? Solomons wives dr…w him to Idolatry; 1 Kings 11.3.13. the wife drew more then five yoke of O…en,When people be without understanding of God and his wayes, then even weak women come and set them on fire. Isay 27.11. Luke 14.19, 20. they steal away the heart, they blind the judgement, and so infatuate a man; that he is oft bufotted with them. Iudg. 16.17. They have daily commerce & intimate acquaintance with their husbands, and so have many opportunities to compasse their Ends. Now an infected person most easily spreads the infection to those with whom he continually conver…eth. This is one Reason why women are such dangerous and strong Seducers, as we see in Iesabel, who drew Ahab to such a height of wickednesse, that he became a Non-such for Villany, none like him in the earth. 1 Kings 21.25. Iehoram did wickedly, and one great Reason was, the daughter of Ahab was his wife. 2 Chron. 21.5, 6. So King Ahaziah did wickedly, why so? for his mother Athaliah counselled him so to do. 2 Chron. 22.3. yea even Adam in the state of innocency, yet was seduced by Eve. 1 Tim. 2.14. Solomon from wofull experience of his thousand wives and concubines tells us. Eccles. 7.28. that a man amongst a thousand he had found, but a woman amongst all those he had not found. q. d. I have found out the depths and subtleties of some men, but the subtleties of the harlot he could not find.
3. Women are apt to be over-credulous, and to take things upon trust, being led by affection more then judgement; because such a seeming good man holds so and so, therefore they conclude 'tis so.
4. Women are the weaker vessell, and so more prone to unconstancy, and mutability, and more easily seduced.
5. They have strong Affections. 2 Samuel 1.26. and so are more fierce and active in defence of their opinions: Hence they are usually the best, or the worst. We may say of them as 'tis said of Origen, Vbi benè nemo meliùs, ubi malè nemo pejus, or as 'tis said of Ieremies figges (Ier. 24.2, 3.) those that were good, were exceeding good; and those that were bad, were exceeding bad. Like the Tongue which is either the best, or the worst member. These are the Reasons why your Arch-Hereticks have frequently spread their Heresies by women, rather then by men. The Pharisees had their Gynaecea, Colledges or meetings of women,Jos…ph. Antiq. l. 2. Omnes Haereses ex Gynaeceis. the better to spread their Tenets. They set up some Iesabel to devoure the simple. Revel. 2.20. they insinuate themselves into some prime women, and get an Eudoxia, Iustina, or Constantia on their side, that they may the better prevaile with others▪ Saint Ierom observes, that Hereticks of old made use of female Instruments,In epist. ad C…esiphon. the better to deceive. Simon Magus had an Harlot called Helena, which helpt to spread his Heresies. Antiochenus the Father and Fa…tor of much filth, had many women following him. Marci…n being come to Rome, sent his trull thither before him, that shee might prepare the soyle for his seed. Apelles had his Philumen, V. Epiphan. Haeres. 48, 49.Montanus his Prisca and Maximilla, Arrius the Princes sister, Donatus his Lucillia, Elpidius his Agape, Priscillian his Galla, and our Iames Nailer hath his Minions, his Martha and his Hannah, V. Euseb. lib. 7. cap. 24.to vent his blasphemies, and generally all Arch-Hereticks have had some strumpet or other, by whom they spread the poyson of their Heresy. By Mistris Dier, and Mistris Hutchinson, how many monstrous and Heretical opinions were spread abroad?See Mr. Wells his History of New-England. Mulier est v…seus toxicatum quo diabolus aucupatur. Aug. wicked women are the Devils Limetwigs, with which many are ensnared to their own destruction.
2. These Seducers set not upon all woemen promiscuously, for some are prudent, solid, sincere, and have profest Christ, when learned Doctors have denied him, as in Queen Maries dayes. So Luke. 8.2, 3. the women support Christ with their substance, when Herod, Pilate, my Lord Annas and Arch-Bishop Caiphas crucified him. Lydia a good woman entertains the Apostles,See more in Mr. Bri…sly's Lookingglass for good women. p. 42. and Mr. Clerks Mirror. cap. 135. Edit. 3. when many men shut them out of doores. Acts 16.14, 15. The time would faile me to tell of Sarah, Ruth, Abigail, the Shunamite, the widow of Sarepta, the Queen of Sheba, Deborah, Bathsheba, Hester, Priscilla, Phaebe. Rom. 16.1, 2, 3,
6. We may not therefore condemn all for some, nor disparage the whole sexe for the miscarriages of a few; for 'tis not all women which these seducers set upon, but they subtilly observe which are most easily wrought upon, and these are, first such silly, simple women as are corrupted in their Intellectuals, Non dicit foreign mulieres; sed foreign m…lie…culas, ut de …s se loqui significet quae in genere mulierum leviores sun… & inconstantiores. Estius. [They are little, not in stature, but in knowlege.] foreign, cumulat…e peccatis (i. e.) magno peccatorum …ce…vo gravatas ac depressas.Estius.and so are fitted and disposed for such seducements. They catch not grave and truly pious matrons, but light women which prefer their lusts before Christ, 'tis the light chaffe, which is tossed with every wind, when the Massy wheat abides in the floore.
2. They make a prey of such women as are corrupt in their Moralls, such as are laden with sinne, that are not onelyonly vitious, but loaded with Vices, and are almost overwhelmed with heapes of enormities. Their corrupt practises make way for corrupt principles.A mala conscientia ad fidei naufragium p…o…livis est gradus, peccata enim parant v…am s…ductioni. …quinas. God in his just judgement gives them up to vile affections, which blind the judgement, and so make them fit subjects for seducers to work upon. Who are they that Papists and Sectaries overcome? usually they are loose, ignorant, profane persons, who are better lost then found. None worship the beast but those ungodly ones, whose names are not written in the book of Life. Revel. 13.8. and as loose women; so effeminate, idle,O verae Phrygiae, nec enim Phryges! Vi…g. Aeneid. 9. proud men (whom the Poet wittily upbraids with the title of women) are a fit prey for these Harpyes. Iude 18. and therefore let women and weak Christians walk humbly, and not meddle with disputes above their capacity, lest God punish their pride and curiosity with a fall.
3. These silly women are acted and led not by one or two, but by variety of lusts. Their Lusts lead them by one arme, and Seducers lead them by the other, and God knowes whither these Leaders will lead them.Non ducuntur, sed aguntur, foreign, (i. e.) instar brutorum aguntur. Are…. They are so blinded and besotted, that they act more like bruit beasts, (as the word imports) then Christians. They are so taken with Novelty, Curiosity, Vain-glory, and Fleshly delights, that these Impostors with their Flesh-pleasing doctrines, lead them whither they please. By flattering and cunning delusions, by false perswasions and subtle artifices they sute themselves to their lusts, preaching pleasing things, and so draw many weak and wicked persons after them. These when their consciences begin to stirre, affect ease and deliverance, but not Repentance, they lay out their money but not for bread, and therefore they labour without being saisfied. Isay 55.2. they willingly embrace errour, because it best agrees with their corrupt consciences, and hate the truth because it disquiets them. True Prophets cannot flatter, they commend themselves in sincerity to the consciences of men; they have their sweets, and …an find out acceptable, desirable words (Eccles. 12.10.) but then they are ever joyned with boldnesse, to tell men of their faults. 'Tis for wicked men who forsake the Law, to praise the wicked. Proverbs 28.4.
4. These Impostors do not onelyonly deceive these silly women, but they bring them under the Devils yoke,foreign, vi & armis cattivum duco, & in servitutem abduco. they make slaves and prisoners of them, they bind them with the cords of error, and then they lead them whither they please. They deal with their Proselites, as the Devil doth with witches, he promiseth them liberty, but brings them to prisons; promiseth them pleasures, yet gives them pain; promiseth them Riches, yet keeps them poor;Tanquam servis bello captis, & mancipiis utentes. Soto. promiseth them life, but gives them Death. They ensnare them with their Pythanalogy, and hold them as fast with their lyes and flatteries, as a Jaylor doth his Prisoner which he keeps in bondage, 2 Tim. 2. ult. or the fisher his fish, which hath swallowed his bait. 2 Pet. 2.14.18. These Satanicall fishers of men put on the Visors of Piety, and preach liberty, pleasure,foreign, inescantes animas instabiles, non bene in fide & castitate f…rmatas & solidatas. Cyprian. ease (as other fishers cozen sometimes the eye, and sometimes the taste of the silly fish) so these have variety of baits, but none so catching as that of carnal liberty. Hence they are said to bewitch men, Gal. 3.1. to enchaunt and delude men. Rev. 18.23. and make them drunk. Revel. 17.2. It will be our wisdom then to submit our selves to the word of God, and from the heart to obey its commands, so shall we know the truth, and the truth will keep us free from the power of sin and error. Iohn 8.32. the keeping of a good conscience is the way to keep faith and sound doctrine.See Mr. Brinsly's Vertigo, an excellent Treatise on that Text. 1 Tim. 1.19. get the heart once establisht with Grace, and then you will not be carried about with every wind of doctrine. Heb. 13.9. get Gods fear once planted in your hearts, and then you will never depart from him. Ier. 32.40.