The Sum of Certain Sermons, Title page – To the reader
THE SUMME OF CERTAIN SERMONS UPON Genes: 15. 6. VVherin Not only the DOCRINE of JUSTIFICATION by FAITH is Asserted and Cleared, And sundry Arguments for IUSTIFICATION before FAITH, discussed and Answered, But Also The nature and the meanes of Faith, with the Imputation of our sins to CHRIST, and of Christs Righteousness to us are briefely Explained and Confirmed. Preached at Dorchester in New-England by RICHARD MATHER Teacher to the Church there. And Now by him Published at the earnest request of sundry well-affected and Godly Christians.
Printed by Samuel Green at CAMBRIDG in New-England 1652.
THE Authors Preface to the Reader.
Christian Reader,
WHen these sermons were first preached in the ordinary course of my ministry on going forward on the book of Genesis, I had no thoughts at that time that they should ever have been f…rther published in this way that now tho… seest. But sundry Godly Christians & Brethren having heard them delivered in preaching, and thinking they might afterwards also bee usefull for the benefit of themselves and their familyes if they might enjoy them printed, which they did very much desire, they therefore came to mee with a serious & solemn request that I would further and fulfill their earnest desires in this thing. Against which motion though I alledged many objections, … they still continued to desire as formerly. Wherupon at the last, considering with my self that God who hath the hearts of all men in his hands might in mooving their hearts to such a desire have some farther …ntent ther… for his own glory and the good of some or other of his servants, then I at the first did apprehend, or could perceive, I therupon began to consider further of the motion: and having perused & revised some brief notes which I had by me, of those sermons, I imparted to them a Copye therof, yet with renuall of my former objections against printing, and proposing to their consideration whether it might not be best to satisfie themselves with that writte… copie, and to let the printing alone. But their desires continued as afore; and thence it commes to pass that the sermons are committed to publick view. Which I thus aquaint the Reader withall partly as some excuse for my self that I would publish such plain stuff as here is cont…ned, in such a knowing and Criticall time as this is; for the importunity of request hath compelled me thereto: and partly that if any sober and honested hearted christian receive any benefit here…y hee may know to whom he is indebted for the same, even chiefly to the Lord as the principall Author of all good, and then unto those godly Christians who have been the instruments of bringing these sermons to be publick, which had it not been through their importunity, had never seen the light in this way.
I deny not but sundry of the things here treated of, viz the grace of Faith, Justification by faith, and the Imputation of Christs Righteousness unto justification, are mayn and principall points of christian religion, and such as that the ignorance of them or erroneous apprehentiōs about them can not but be very perilous: in which respect it is the more needfull that the people of God should be established in the belief & love of the truth concerning such points as these are. And for this cause I the rather yeilded to publish what here thou seest, (being so importuned therunto as I have said) if I might by the blessing of Christ afford any little help to the end afore mentioned. And so much the rather, because Satan that enemy of all truth & father of lyes hath endevoured not only of old but of late also, to corrupt the mindes of many people touching these things. Heretofore and still amongst the popish sort he would perswade to an opinion of justification by works, and not by faith only. And now when the perniciousness of that Tenent begins to be more generally discerned, he labours to undermine the truth another way, instilling into the minds of some a conceit that they may be justified not only without their own works but also without the grace of faith. And because it would be too gross at the first to cry down all use of faith which the Spirit of God in the holy Scripture doth so abundantly urge & extoll, and that therfore such a conceit at the first would hardly take amongst them that have any acquaintance with the Scripture, therfore the crafty enemy allowes for the time that there may be some use of faith about this matter of justification, viz: to know or be assured by it of justification preceding, and that though we are justified indeed afore faith, yet wee did not know it afore, but now do know it by faith. A palpable perverting of the truth of God plainly and plenteously laid down in his word, especially in Pauls epistles wherin you shall never read of knowing by faith that we are justified without faith, or before faith: Such language is a stranger in Gods book, and amongst the oracles of God, and far discrepant from the form of wholsom words. wherin nothing is more frequent then that we are justified by faith. Now to turn this word, Wee are justified, into this meaning, wee know that we are justified, in which sence it will be hard to find it so much as once used in any place where justification by faith is spoken of, is a manifest metamorphosing of the words of the Holy one, and a wresting of the Scripture (I fear) unto mens own destruction: 2 Pet: 3. 16.
But do you think that Satan will rest here? It is rather to be seared, if this delusion takes place a while, this use of faith which is yet allowed, will be denyed also. For some are already come to this to deny that there are any gifts or graces at all in the hearts of justified persons. Which if it were true, then there is no faith in them: and if there be no faith, then it is not by faith that men do know their justification; for how can they know it by that which is not? And …o, as now they deny that men are justified by faith, so when & where this other delusion takes place, to deny all inherent graces, there men must hold that justification may not only be, but also be known without faith, or else not be known at all. A lamentable & dreadfull issue wherat Satan drives, and whereto this opinion tends, if God do not in mercy prevent.
And because this is a time, wherin not only these but many other unsound opinions, and some of them very pernicious are scattered abroad, therfore I hope the godly Reader will bear with me, if out of my unseyned desire of his salvation and of the honour of Jesus Christ and his truth, I shall here propound some sew helps for a christians preservation in the truth from the prevailing power of errour. And let not this be thought a needless bu…siness, nor let any that loveth his own salvation give way to that conceit to think there is no danger in opinions whatever a man shall hold: for though all opinions be not alike dangerous. yet there is none but it hath danger in it, especially if it touch the foundation, and so much the more danger by how much the less suspected. If it were not so, why doth the Holy Ghost so …ten exhort us & command us to beware of being seduced & beguiled with errours, and with them that teach them? Math. 7. 15. & 16. 6, 12. & 24. 4, 5. Mark 4. 24. & 12. 38. Eph. 4. 14. Phl. 3. 2. Col: 2. 8. Heb. 13. 9. 2 … 3. 7. …ude 3. … … …. 1, 2. 2 …ohn 7, 8, 10. In which places & many more we are bidden to beware of false Prophets, and of their doctrine, to take heed that no man deceive us, to take heed what we hear, and that we be not led away with the errour of the wicked and with every wind of doctrine, and fall from our owne stodfastness, that we contend for the faith, and not believe every spirit but try the spirits whether they are of God, and many such like.
All which warnings so frequent and so serious the Lord would not have given, but that he knowes erronious opinions are dangerous, and we in danger to be beguiled therwith, yea and to have our soules to be subverted by them as the Scripture speaketh. Acts 15. 24. For which cause also it is that Heresies are reckoned up amongst Adulterers, Idolatries, Murthers, Drunkenness, and other damning works of the flesh that exclude men out of heaven Gal. 5. 19, 20, 21. and are expressly called damnable Heresies, and the wayes therof pernicious wayes 2 Pet. 2. 1, 2. Where then are they that think it no great matter what opinions a man do hold, or what judgment he is of in matters of religion, and that no man should be much misliked for such matters which they call conscien…e, so long as he is not otherwise culpable in his conversatiō for scandal in practise, such as are murthers, whordoms, drunkenness, theevery & the like? which is as if one should say, there are some works of the flesh which exclude out of heaven, and subvert the soul, for which a man should not be misliked though he be known to walk in them, but may have the repute & reward of a right good and honest man notwithstanding.
Which opinion of the little danger of opinions, as in it self it is very erronious, so it is one thing that makes way for other errours to be more readily entertained & persisted in, Satan having by this means perswaded the sonns and daughters of men to believe that errours have not much danger in them, & hence they are not much afraid of them. Wheras if they did stedfastly believe and seriously consider what the Scripture teacheth, how that by such things mens souls are subverted, and themselves in danger to be excluded out of Gods Kingdom, and to be destroyed, they would then be more caucious & considerate what doctrines they entertain, and the more afraid of perishing in errour: but through want of this consideration, corrupt and pernicious apprehentions do so greatly abound. Otherwise, how could it be that men should so easily be brought to deny the Sacred Trinity, the Godhead of Jesus Christ, the Imputation of his righteousness unto justification, the Divine authority of the holy Scriptures, the immortality of the soul, the morality of the Sabbath, so making all dayes alike, yea to deny not only the fourth Commandement, as Papists have done the second, but also to deny the whole Law of God to be any Rule of life to a believer, holding also that God sees no sin in his children, that sin hath God for the authour of it, that there is no Election, but an universal Redemption by Christ and free will in man, and that men regenerate and justified may fall away, that there are no Churches, ministry or Ordinances of any necessary use in these dayes to some Christians, but that men may attain to such attainmēts as to have no need therof, but may live without them or be above them. Not to mention any more of such like tenents which in these dayes do too much abound. Dreadfull things you may be sure if they be persisted in, and yet too many there be that do believe them and vent them, to the extream hazard of their own and others soules. And therfore that the godly christian may be the help of Christ be preserved from these & all other whether soul-destroying or soul-endangering doctrines, let him carefully make use of these few helps.
1 Let a man be sure that his profession of religion be in sincerity & truth, that he may not only have a form of godliness, but the truth and power of it, and then he shall surely be preserved from destroying errours. For though false teachers may deceive many, and shew signes & wonders for that end, yet it is not possible that they should finally deceive the Elect and chosen ones of God Math: 24. 24. or will the sheep of Christ harken to the voyce of a stranger, but will flee from him John 10. 5, 8. and that saying 1 Iohn 2. 29. they went out from us, but were not of us, and as it sheweth that Apostates in their best times were but hypocrites, so it also sheweth that they who are but hypocrites are like enough in the end to become Apostates.
2 Stabillity and settledness of mind & judgment in the truth is also a means to be preserved from being seduced. For it is children that are tossed too and fro & carryed about with every wind of doctrine Ephe. 4. 14. wheras if the heart be stablished with grace, a man shall not so easily be carryed about with divers and strange doctrines Heb: 13. 9. no, it is the ignorant and unstable that wr…st the Scriptu…s to their own destruction 2 Pet. 3. 16. When there comes a stream or flood of waters on the earth, trees and houses that are rooted and well grounded do stand firm, but what ever lyes loose is swept away: so the flood of errours may carry away loose and unsetled professors, but such as are rooted & grounded abide firm and stedfast.
And especially it is good to be well grounded in principles of Catechism; for these points are fundamentall, & therfore are called the foundation Heb: 6. 1, 2. And it is not often seen but that they who are led away with erroneous opinions, and vain and empty whimseys are very defective even in catechisticall points. The voice of errour is, who so is simple, let him come h…her Pro: 9. 16.
3 And as a means of both the former, it is very needfull and to be of an humble spirit, truely abased in the sight and sence of a mans own weakness, and sinfulness, and unworthyness; for such have a promise of being informed in the truth and wayes of God Ezek: 43 10, 11. and of direction & preservation Psal: 25. 9. Babes shall have truths of God revealed to them, which are hid from the wise and prudent Math: 11. 25. And the reason is, because humble souls are afraid of themselves, dare not trust to their own understanding and strength, but depend upon God & Christ to preserve and teach them in the truth. Wheras othe…s trusting on themselves are therfore neer unto a fall, even because they are proud, and selfconfident Pro. 16. 18. & 28. 14.
4 It is needfull for to keep a good conscience by walking in obedience to the truth and will of God, so far as a man doth know already: for to such there is a promise that they shall know what doctrine is of God and what is otherwise John 7. 17. Wheras they that take pleasure in unrighteousness are in danger to be given up to believe lyes, and so to be damned 2 Thes. 2. 11, 12. and therfore it is said, the wise shall understand, but none of the wicked shall understand Dan: 12. 10. As there are few errours in opinion b…t they bring forth sins in practise, so sins in practise will bring errour in principles, through the judgment of the Lord upon men for those their sinns. They that were led captive of errours were … with divers lust… 2 Tim: 3. 6, 7. men that will not do what they know, it is just if they be left in blindness and not know what to do. When a master gives light to his servants and they do no good therewith, but abuse it to cards, dice, drinking, drunkenness &c: it is just if he come and take away the light from them, and so they be left in darkness. In like sort it is a righteous thing with God to plague the poluted lives & consciences of men with giving them up to the darkness & delusions of errour. Oh let all them tremble at this, that have much knowledg in their heads, but little power of grace in their hearts to walk accordingly, but by the power of unmortified lusts are so carryed away as to sin wickedly against the light of their own knowledg & consciēce in one kind or in another; for besides the great wrath and many stripes that such may expect in another world, they may also fear that the Lord may leave them to some pernicious errour or other even in this life, and thereby their damnation be the more dreadfull. A pure conscience is a good cask or vessell wherin to preserve and keep the mystery of faith. 1 Tim: 3. 9.
5 It was desire of noveltie that overthrew our first parents, Gen. 3. for they were well if they could have been so content; but having an itching desire to know more then God saw meet for them hence they were overthrown. And men that have itching ears, … apt to be turned from the truth and to be turned unto fables 2 Tim: 4. 3, 4. It argues an ill stomack, and a weak & unhealthfull constitution of body, when a man can not disgest good and wholsom food without curious sauce. In like sort it is an ill sign of a distempered soul, when the good old way of the doctrine of faith, and repentance, and the like, is not savory to a mans spirit, but he must have new notions, and quaint & unquoth matter, or else it will not go down. Therfore beware of curiosity. The old way is the good way, let a man seek that and walk in it, and he shall find rest for his soul. Jer: 6. 16.
6 Let a man beware of his company. He that delights to walk & talk with them that have the plague, it is no marvell if he catch infection. Therfore we are bidden to shun the society of corrupt & erroneous persons, to avoid them, and have no familiarity of converse with them. Rom: 16. 17. 2 Joh. 10. and to cease to hear the instruction that causeth to erre from the words of knowledg Pro. 19. 27. we…k christians should not be admitted to doubtfull disputations, least they be staggered Rom: 14. 1. and therfore they must not go to them of their own accord: and the reason is plain, viz: because we must avoid temptations as much as lyes in us, and therfore not lead our selves into temptation, for then it may be just with God to leave us to our selves. And therfore it is not safe, especially for weak christians, to be familiarly conversant with corrupt persōs, or corrupt books, which do frequently come abroad in these dayes.
7 Lastly, It is specially usefull in this case to keep close to the Scriptures, and to the means appointed of God for our right understanding of the Scriptures. Therfore we are bidden, Go to the Law & to the Testimony Isai 8. 20. as on the contrary, the ignorance of the Scriptures is noted in the Sadducees as a mayn cause of their errour, 22. 29. If a mans adversary & enemy can perswade him to throw away his weapons, he may then conceive hope of prevailing against him with more ease: and therfore it is no wonder if Satan in these dayes do breed questions against the Divine authority and necessary & profitable use of the Scriptures as heretofore he was wont to do amongst the Papists, for he knowes it will bee for his advantage against poor souls, if he can by any meanes perswade them to lay aside the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God, Ephe. 6. 17. but he that loves his soul must be more wise, then to harken to the counsel of Satan herin.
And for means for the right understanding of the Scripture, one is, the Church of God, and holy cōmunion therewith, another is the Officers & ministers of Christ therin. In respect of the former it is said that the Law should go forth of S…on, and the word of the Lord from Ierusalem, Isai 2. 3. that is to say, from the church. And there it was, even in the Sanctuary that the Psalmist came to understand that which otherwise was too hard & painfull for him Psal. 73. 16, 17. For which cause it is that he that hath an ear to hear, must hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches Rev: 2. And even to the Angels themselves much of the manifold wisdom of God is made known by the church Ephe. 3. 10. If therfore a man hang loose from the love of Church-society, and the cōmunion of saints therin, it is no marvell if such an one be drawn away with errours, becaus the Curch is the pillar & ground of truth 1 Tim: 3. 15. The Apostle exhorting not to forsake the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some was, presently addeth what a dangerous thing it is to sinn willfully after wee have received the knowledg of the truth, that is, to becom Apostates, Heb: 10. 25, 26. intimating therby that where there is the former, there men are in danger of the latter, that is to say, where the hearts of men draw back from Church-society, there they are in danger of Apostacy.
And for the ministers of Christ in his church; as it was said of old that the Priests lipps should preserve knowledg, and they should seek the Law at his mouth, Mal. 2. 7. so in the new Testament Christ hath appointed Officers in his Church, as for other ends, so for this that wee may not be children, tossed to and fro, with every wind of doctrine, Ephe. 4. 11, 24. that is, that wee might not bee seduced with errours, and them that teach them. In which respect it is that the Eunuch confesseth he could not understand the Scriptures without some to guid him, Acts 8. 30, 31. The Disciples of Christ hearing of an opinion of the Scribes that Christ was not the Messiah, because of a seeming-strong objection that Elias must first come, if they had kept this objection to themselves, they might have been foyled or puzzled therewith: but they were more wise then so, they do not keep it close and only plod upon it amongst themselves, but very honestly bring it forth to their Master Christ Jesus, and so had resolution & satisfaction; Math: 17. 10, 11, 12, 13. A notable example and worthy of imitation: but when men have met with new notions & apprehentions, whether from books or otherwise, contrary to the doctrine which they have received, & shall keep them in hugger mugger, so that their officers must not know them; the ministers of Christ must not be aquainted with them, this is a ready way for the endangering of their souls exceedingly; Like stollen waters which are sweet, and bread eaten in secret which is pleasant, but the dead are there, and such ghuests are in the depth of Hell: Pro: 9. 17, 18.
Oh therfore let every soul that would be preserved from the infection of errour, carefully look to these things, and let him cry mightily to God through Iesus Christ for his grace and holy Spirit to preserve him in the truth, and to bless him in the use of these and …her good means for that end; and then he may with comfort expect that the Lord will preserve him from the evill way of errour and lyes, and will guide him in the truth & wayes of grace to his heavenly Kingdom through Iesus Christ; To whom …e all glory of service and a…nce for ever.
R. M.
TO The Christian Reader.
THE Iustification of a sinner before God, as it is the fruit of the Riches of his Grace: (Ephe: 1. 7.) So it is the Root of our peace with God: Rom: 5. 1. (which passeth understanding: Phil. 4. 7.) and of our joy in the Holy Ghost, which is unspeakable & glorious: 1 Pet: 1. 8. This is that gift of his Grace which filleth our hearts with admiration, to wonder at the abundant rich Mercy of the Lord in pardoning our many and mighty sinns (Micah 7. 18.) to wonder also at the deep demerit of our sinns which could not be expiated but by the precious blood yea and soul-sufferings of the great God our Saviour: Yea and to wonder likewise at our baseness, and filthines, and folly, that could live so long in so dangerous & desperate a course, provoking the most High to so great Anger, and our selves to the confusion of our own faces & souls.
Hence it is that every godly Treatise tending to the discovery of this grace is wont deeply to affect the hearts of such, as (through grace) have part in this common salvation. Amongst others of this kind (Good Reader) thou shalt find this little Treatise, to be like Maryes box of spikuard, which washing the paths of Christ towards us (as that did his feet) will be fit to perfume not only the whole house of God, with the odour of the oyntment of his Grace, but also thy soul with the oyl of gladnes, above what creature-comforts can afford. The manner of handling, thou shalt find to be soltd, and judicious, succinct and pithy, fit (by the blessing of Christ) to make wise unto salvation. The presence and blessing of Christ go with it, to refresh thy soul with the savour of his Oyntments:
In whom we rest, Studious of thine edification in his grace, and peace.
J. Cotton.
J. VVilson.
Boston 24. 5. 1652.