The Law of God Ratified by the Gospel of Christ, Chapter 2
CHAP. II.
THe Answer is, first by way of abhorrence or detestation foreign Let it not be, or far be it from …s; which our translaturs render, God Forbid: I suppose because this English phrase is used in cases of like nature; howsoever the Apostle by these words signified that he abhorred and detested such a consequence, as to make void the Law by the doctrine of free justification through the righteousness of Christ applied by Faith. Hence may be noted this point:2. Doct. Gracious hearts abhor opinions which oppose the truth of God.
That gracious hearts do exceedingly abhor those opinions which corrupt or oppose the truth of God. Heresies and false doctrines are odious to the godly.
1. This may appear in many examples, Proof. 1. From examples. Of M…ses.and first in the old Testament. Moses did exceedingly abhorre the wicked counsel of Balaam whereby he taught the Midianites to deceiv… the people of Israel, so as to draw many of them from the worship of God to Idolatry; and therefore saith he to the people,Num. 31. 3, 7, 8, 14, 15. arm some of your selves to the war, and let them go against the Midianites and avenge the Lord of Midian: which they did, and slew the Males, and five Kings of Midian, and Balaam himself, who gave this wicked counsel: But Moses was not satisfied with this execution, but was wroth with the officers of the Host, and said unto them, have ye saved all the women alive? Behold, these caused the Children of Israel through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord; and then he commanded them to kill all except the women children which were Virgins: And it seemeth that this was one of the last acts of Moses his life, for the Lord said unto him, ver. 1, 2.avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites, afterwards shalt thou be gathered unto thy people: of Elijah.it was a work fit for him to do when he was ready to leave the world. How odious were those Prophets of Baal, to that zealous Prophet Elijah! Saith he, take the Prophets of Baal, let not one of them escape: 1 King 18. 40.and they took them, and Elijah brought them down to the brook Chishon and slew them there. of Micaiah.Micaiah shewed his detestation of those lyes spoken by the false prophets, when he told the King,& Ch. 22. 23. now therefore behold the Lord hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy Prophets. The like may be shewed of the Prophet Ieremiah, of Ieremiah. Jer. 28. 15, 16. & 29. 21, 22. ver. 31, 32.how he abhorred the lyes of those false Prophets, Hananiah, Ahab, Zedekiah, and Shemajah, but I come to the Examples of the New Testament. And first to begin with Iohn Baptist, of Iohn Baptist. Mat. 3. 7.who came to prepare the way of the Lord, with what zeal did he detest the corruption of doctrine brought in by the Pharises and Sadduces? When he saw many of them come to his Baptisme, he said unto them, O generation of Vipers, & 15. 6, 7. of our blessed Lord.Who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? But above all, take the blessed Example of the Lord Jesus Christ, with what heavenly zeal did he manifest his detestation of the false doctrine taught by the Scribes and Pharises? Thus have ye made the Commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Mat. 16. 12.And he gave his Disciples this Caveat,Mat. 23. Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharises and of the Sadduces: which is meant of their corrupt doctrine. How sharply doth he reprove them, and how many woes doth he denounce against them?Joh. 10 8. He calleth such, Wolves, Theeves and Robbers. And the Apostles and servants of the Lord Jesus Christ, being led by the spirit of Christ▪ did abundantly discover how exceedingly they detested and abhorred Heresies and fals… doctrines.of St. Peter. 2 Pet. 2. The Apostle Peter inveigheth with much vehemency against false Teachers, & calleth their corrupt doctrines damnable heresies, whereby they denyed the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. He terms their ways pernicious, and shews how they make merchandise of souls. He calleth them pernicious, self-wil…ed, and such as are not afraid to speak evil of dignities, wells without water, speaking grea… swelling words of vanity: with divers other expressions.of St. Iude. Jud. 11. St. Iude agreeth with St. Peter, and among other passages, compareth false Teachers to Cain, Balaam, Core. The Apostle Iohn calleth them Antichrists, adversaries to Christ,1 Joh. 2. 19, & 4. 1. and false Prophets. They are called deceivers; yea, it is said, ver. 10, 11. If there come any unto you, 2 Joh. 7. 10, 11.and bring not thi… doctrine, receive him not into your house, neithe… bid him God speed, for he that biddeth him Go… speed is partaker of his evil deeds. In the Revelations written by St. Iohn, Rev. 2. 6.the Angel o… Minister of the Church at Ephesus is commended for hating the deeds of the Nicolaitans. & 14, 15, 16.Pergamus is threatned, because in that Church was found those that held the doctrine of Balaam, and of the Nicolaitans, and therefore tis added,ver. 20. Repent, or else I will com… unto thee quickly, and will fight against the… with the sword of my mouth. Thiatira is blamed for suffering the woman Iezabel which called her self a Prophetess to teach and seduce. A great part of this book declareth the wickedness of the Whore of Babylon, the Antichristian popish faction, the mischief they do, the Judgements of God hanging over them, and how odious their false doct…ines and false worship is to God and his people. The Apostle St. Paul as he laboured and wrote more than the rest,of St. Paul. Rom. 16. 17, 18 so he is very plentiful in declaring his detestation of false doctrines and false teachers: In his Epistle to the Romans, …he earnestly exhorteth the Saints, I beseech you Brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned, and avoid them: for they that are such serve not the Lord Iesus Christ but their own belly, and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. He speaketh of those that cause divisions contrary to …ound doctrine, not of those that oppose false doctrine and corrupt customes, whereupon sometimes divisions may follow through ob…tinacy of those that resist the truth. How largely doth he declare against that fundamental errour of them that denyed the resurrection:1 Cor. 15. 2 Cor. 11. 13, 14, 15. He calleth them corrupt teachers, false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the Apostles of Christ, Ministers of Satan, and imitating their Master, transforming themselves into the Ministers of righteousness, as he being the Prince of darkness transformeth himself into an Angel of light. How sharp and severe is he this way, in the Epistle to the Galatians, Gal. 1. 8, 9Though we, or an Angel from heaven, preach any other Gos…el unto you than that which ye have received, let him be accursed: As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other Gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. Yea, he spared not that great Apostle Peter, but withstood him to the face, and gave him a publick reproofe, because he did but warpe a little, and by withdrawing from the believing Gentils, for fear of offending the Iews, gave occasion to men to question the doctrine of free justific…t…on through the righteousness of Christ alone, and to think that circumcision and the ceremonies of the Law were necess…ry to justification.Gal. 3. 1. Again, saith he, O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you that y… should not obey the truth? shewing, that t… be led by …alse teachers, is to be befooled and bewitched. Corrupts teachers bewitch and make fools of their followers. Again, saith he,& 5. 12. I would they were even cut off that troubl… you. He calleth false teachers dogs, evil workers, Phil. 3. 2.the Concision; and sheweth that such are apt to beguile others with enticing words, and to spoil them through Philosophy and vain deceit, Col. 2. 4. 8, 18.after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ, intruding into those things which they have not seen, vainly puffed up by their fleshly minds. How notably doth he set forth Antichrist and his followers, speaking of a grand apostacy and general fal…ing away,2 Thes. 2. and calleth the head of it, the man of sin, the Son of per…ition, who opposeth and exalteth himself, &c. He calleth the mystery of Antichrist, the mystery of Iniquity. He calleth him that wicked one (foreign) signifying the lawless one, a term exactly agreeing to the Pope, who trampleth upon the laws of Christ at his pleasure, and exalteth his own Laws. He sheweth that his coming is after the working of Satan, with all power and signs, and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish,1 Tim. 1. 19. 20. &c. He sheweth that to fall into Heresie,1 Tim. 4. 1, 2. is to make shipwrack of faith,2 Tim. 2. 17. and that for this cause he delivered Himeneus and Alexander unto Satan.2 Tim. 3. 1. He sheweth that Heresies are doctrines of devils, and Lyes spoken in Hypocrisie; and foretelling the perillous times that should come in these last dayes, that men should be lovers of their own selves, &c. then he addeth, of this sort are they which creep into houses, ver. 6.and lead captive silly women, laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ever learning &c. He compareth them to Iannes and Iambres that withstood Moses, meaning I suppose, the Egyptian Sorcerers or Juglers: so do these also resist the truth, men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith; and afterwards he sheweth the miserable progress that they shall make, scil. from bad to worse; Evil men and Seducers shall wax worse and worse, ver. 13. & 43, 4.deceiving, and being deceived. Yea, he sheweth the folly of those that hearken to seducers. The time will come, when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears, and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, an… shall be turned unto fables. He calleth fals… teachers,Tit. 1. 10. 11. & 3. 10. 11. unruly and vain talkers and deceivers whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert who… houses, teaching things which they ought not for filthy lucre sake: And he giveth this charg… to Titus concerning such; a man that is a… Heretick after the first and second admonition reject, knowing that he that is such, is subverted and sinneth, being condemned of himself▪ It is conceived that the Epistle to the Hebrew was written by this Apostle,Heb. 13. 9. 10. and how largely doth he there confute the corrupt doctrine of them that maintained the necessary use … legal cremonies, and giveth this admonitio… Be not carried about with divers and strang… doctrines, and saith, We have an Altar where… they have have no right to eat, which serv… the Tabernacle; shewing they have no pa… in Christ, which obstinately prefer the sh… dows of the old Testament before Christ the… substance.
Secondly, to these Examples may be add… divers Arguments or Reasons, 2. Proof of the Doctr. by Argument.whereby it m… appear why Heresies, false doctrines, opinnions that oppose or corrupt the truths … Christ, are odious to the godly, and abho… red by them.
First, because the glory of God is exceedingly wronged by false doctrines and Heresies, 1. Reason from the glory of God wronged, &c.an… the grosser any such Heresies are, the more … God dishonoured by them. God the Fathe… is such as Christ witnesseth of him,Joh. 7. 28. he th… sent me is true, yea, he cannot lye. God the Son is Truth. God the holy Ghost is the spirit of Truth.Tit. 1. 2. Now what a high disho…our is it to the God of Truth,Joh. 14. 6. & ver. 17. when lyes are fathered npon him, and attributed to him? errours and false opinions in matters of Religion are taught, professed, received as Truths of God? What is this but to go about to derive darkness from light? lyes from the Fountain of Truth? The Apostle disputing against that great errour of them that denyed the Resurrection of the dead,1 Cor. 15. 15. bringeth this Argument amongst others, that Christ is risen, and the resurrection of the Head proveth the Resurrection of the Members; and sheweth that divers absurdities would follow, if the resurrection of Saints should be denyed, among the rest this, We are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God, that he raised up Christ, whom be raised not up, if so be the dead rise not. They that maintain any falshood in point of Religion as a Truth, they bear false witness of God, as much as in them lies, they make him a lyar, the Author of falshood: Which tendeth highly to the dishonour of his great and glorious name; and therefore all that are born of God, all that love the Lord Jesus in sincerity, abhor errours and Heresies.
Secondly, 2. Reason. Godly have an Antipathy to Heresies.There is a contrariety in the hearts of the godly, against errours and Heresies. They have in them a principle of opposition against false doctrine. A stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him,Joh. 10. 5. for they know not the voice of strangers. There is something within them which suiteth not with strange doctrine, but is averse from it. For,
1. They are begotten with the word of Truth▪ Of his own will begat he us with the word of Truth. 1. From the New birth.As they are new creatures,Jam. 1. 18. they have their original from the word of truth; it i… as it were one of the ingredients of their new nature, and so in that regard there is a natural antipathy and contrariety betwixt them and false doctrines.1 Joh. 3. 19. The Apostle Iohn saith o… the godly, we know that we are of the Truth They do as it were derive their new being from the Truth; and therefore errour and fals… doctrine is hateful and abominable in their sight.
2. They are the children of the God of Truth▪ they are united unto Jesus Christ who is ful… of grace and truth;2. They are Children of the God of truth▪ they are led by the spirit of Christ who is the spirit of truth: and therefore abhor and detest lyes spoken in Hypocrisie.
Thirdly, The godly have learned that errou… tend to the destruction of poor Souls, Reason 3. Errours destructive to Souls.and therefore Peter calleth them damnable Heresies Paul calleth them doctrines of Devils. It … said they eat like a canker or gangrene, whic… is such a malignant disease, that it require… the cutting off of a limb, otherwise the who… body is in danger to be destroyed. Now … people of God being tender and compassionate toward immortal Souls, How can the… chuse but abhor such deadly poyson when the… find it offered by Seducers, and readily swallowed down by the simple. Is it not strange that some would have protection and encouragement given to all false doctrines, and to those that spread and propagate them, and that under a pretence of tenderness? Is it not rather a high degree of cruelty, to protect any in destroying Souls, to give them full liberty to wander about with their Plague-sores running upon them, freely to spread their contagious and pestilent Errours to the infecting of thousands.
Fourthly,4. Reason. Spreading nature of Errors one errour begetteth many; one false principle may be the cursed root of many rotten branches, and a spring of many streams. How many gross absurdities (as the Apostle sheweth,) follow as conse…uents from that one grand errour of denying the Resurrection of the body; as that Christ is not risen, the preaching of the Gospel is vain, the faith of believers vain, and they still in their sins, under the guilt and power of them, and when they die they perish, and that they have hope only in this life, and so are of all men most miserable, because they expose themselves to the scorn and malice of the wicked in hope of a better life. And doth not experience shew how people, when once they depart from the truth, fall from errour to errour, and with giddy heads run about in a maze of vain delusions. Satan the Father of lyes having once seduced and gotten them into his circle, leadeth them from one bypath to another. Now how can a man be truly godly and not abhor false doctrines, which are such a fruitful spawn of a venemous Issue: Many flying serpents being hatched of one Cockatrice egg.
Fiftly,5. Reason. Errors apt to overtop Truth and how. Errours are apt to overgrow the Truth, as Tares and other weeds are ready to overcome the corn. And that 1. by corrupting one doctrine of the Gospel after another. And 2. by oppressing and persecuting the sincere professors and Preachers of the Truth. It seemeth the errours and corruptions of Popery were first winked at, being taken up by particular persons, not generally owned, then they became more general and overbore the truth, then they were armed with power, and so opposed and persecuted the sincere maintainers of the truth. The Arian Heresie at first was kept under, at length prevailed so as to raise most bloody persecutions against the Truth▪ The outrages of the Anabaptists, and sue… as pretended to Revelations; how notoriou… were they when once they got a head at Munster in Germany? But our age seemeth to exceed former times in this kind that errours and heresies among us have been armed almost at their first appearance. It would appear a strange Monster, if a child should b… born in armour: such a monster, if I mistake not, I have read of, born in Germany about the time of the late wars. Is it not prodigious to see armed monsters born amongst us, errours and heresies with swords by their sides, Pistolls, Muskets, Pikes …n their hands at their first coming into the world almost? Who knoweth the disma… events and mischief such things presage, if the Lord Christ who is the Truth, and whose name is the word of God, should for our unworthiness forbear to ride forth on his white horse conquering and to conquer? But what gracious heart doth not both abhor and tremble at those things that tend to the suppressing of the Truth, and rooting out of those that are of the Truth and for the Truth?
Sixthly,6. Reason. heresies spread speedily. Errours aud Heresies are apt to spread far and wide in a short time, from a person to a family, from the family to a Neighbourhood, then over a Province or Country, then over a Nation, then from Nation to Nation, and so over the world. Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth. The Arian Heresie being a little spark at first in Egypt, in a short time did spread over Asia and Africk, and took hold of divers parts of Europe; Job 1. 7.for the devil himself hath declared it, that his business is to go to and fro in the earth, and to walk up and down in it, and he is very swift in his motion, and active in his work, and who that hath any zeal for Christ doth not abhor such a growing evil, such a spreading mischief?
Seventhly,7. Reason. Errors withdraw Souls from the means of grace Errours and Heresies are apt to draw poor souls from the means of grace. They are deadly diseases, and withal, of such a cursed nature, that they take off the heart from the remedy. They cause people to withdraw from those assemblies where the truths of God are taught, and the unsoundness of such errours is laid open. And then it is as the Devil would have it, when he can so bewitch poor souls, as to make them drink down deadly poyson, and then refuse to take a purge, But as this is pleasing to Satan, so how grievous is it to them that tender the good of poor souls, to see them dangerously sick and altogether unwilling to be healed, or come near the means of the cure?
Eightly, Heresies and false doctrines make woful rents and divisions in the Church. 8. Reason. Errours devides the Church. 1 Cor. 12. 27. Eph. 5. 23. & 4. 3, 4, 5, 6.The Church is one body under one head, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostle speaking to the Church, says, now ye are the body of Christ and members in particular. Christ is the head of the Church, and he is the Saviour of the body; and therefore the Apostle exceedingly presseth the members of the Church to endeavour to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace: heaping up arguments of unity. Saith he, there is 1. one Body. 2. one Spirit. 3. one H…pe. 4. one Lord. 5. one Faith. 6. one Baptisme. 7. one God and Father of all. Shall the members of one body fight each against other? Is it not monstrous for them that should be quickned with one spirit to strive against each other, as if they were acted by contrary spirits? Shall they that … called to one hope be at defiance among them…selves? Can the Servants of one Lord bea… arms against each other, and one party no… fight against the Lord himself, by contending with their fellow Servants? Shall those that are called to the profession of one faith, embrace contrary beliefs? Is it not odious to see those that were washed in one laver of Baptisme cast dirt upon each other; or stain their hands, yea their consciences with the blood of each other? Is it not horrid to see the children of one heavenly Father, (or such as profess themselves to be so,) to hate and destroy their brethren. Now how clearly doth Scripture witness, how sadly doth experience prove, that errours and heresies make woful rents and divisions? In one of those places formerly mentioned,Rom. 16. 17. saith the Apostle, I beseech you Brethren mark them which cause di…visions and offences contrary to the doctrine which we have learned, and avoid them: by teaching contrary to sound doctrine, dangerous divisions are caused and great offences given. What a grievous rent was likely to have been made in the Primitive Church, by them which would have perswaded the believing Gentiles that Circumcision was necessary to Salvation, had not the Apostles and Elders, meeting together in a Synod at Hierusalem, carefully suppressed this errour at the first appearing of it? It is said Paul aud Barnabas had no small dissention and disputation with them that taught this false doctrine. In the Synod it self there was much disputing.Act. 15. 1, 2. In the Epistle directed by the Synod to the Churches of the Gentiles, it is said, We have heard that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, ver. 7, 24.subverting your Souls, saying ye must be circumcised, and keep the Law (scil. of Ceremonies,) to whom we gave no such Commandment. And although this Errour was for the present much restrained, yet how did it break out again afterward among the Galatians? And therefore the Apostle calleth these false teachers the Concision instead of the Circumcision, Cum ecclesiam conscinderent & lacerarent, seeing they did as it were cut and tear in pieces the Church of Christ with their false doctrine; or as another saith, he called them the Concision,Phil 3. 2. Beza. tum quod ecclesiam pravo dogmate scinderent, tum quod simplciores a Christo abscinderent, because by their corrupt opinion they did both cut asunder the unity of the Church, and cut off the weaker sort from Christ. But if we should speak of the Rents that were in the Church by Errours and Heresies mentioned in the Ecclesiastical Histories, it would amount to a large Volumn. What a rent was like to be made in the Churches by Victor Bishop of Rome, about the year 198, about a business of small moment, scil. the time of keeping Easter, inclining to excommunicate many famous Churches of Asia dissenting from him, had not some more moderate men, especially Irenaeus Bishop of Lions, restrained his rashness, though agreeing with him about the thing in controversie? What worse divisions were made by the abominable Heresie of the Maniche's in Iudea, Egypt, Greece, Thrace, Spain, and other places? But as the blasphemous Heresie of Arius was raised in a time when the Church was free from heathen persecutors, so what dismal Rents and divisions did it make in the Church, when there were Bishops against Bishops, Churches against Churches, Councels against Councels? So the Macedonians, Nestorians, Eutichians, Monothelites, and others, how sadly did they tear the Church in pieces? That false and proud tenent of the Papists, making the Pope the universal Bishop and head of the whole Church, what a breach hath it made between the Eastern and Western Churches for many hundred years? and what is the reason that there is no reconciliation made all this while between them and the Protestants, but because they remain so obstinate in their errours, Heresies, and Idolatries, against the manifest light of the holy Scriptures? The stiffeness of those that are called Lutherans in adhering to their corrupt opinions, hath made a miserable and lasting breach amongst the Protestant Churches. But though we should not look either far back or far off for examples in this kind, our own Land, and our present times, may afford us more then enough. Have we not breach upon breach, divisions and subdivisions, many rending themselves from our Churches, and then again making new rents among themselves; and yet when there is an opportunity, to act mischief against the truth and the Preachers and Professors of it, they can make truce with each other for a time, and conspire together to carry on wretched designs, as the Pharises and Sadduces, as also Herod and Pilate did against Christ. But here I think it needful to put in a caution or two.
First,Caution 1. some are apt to lay the blame of these divisions upon those that maintain sound doctrine; either when they labour to revive the truth after it hath been kept under by old errours and corrupt customes, or to defend it against new heresies and attempts of Seducers. When men see them constant and inflexible, that they will not suffer themselves to be bowed and biassed according to the crooked fancies of those that are Seducers, or seduced, how ready are they to condemn them for Schismaticks, froward men, enemies of peace? But this is a dangerous mistake and a very great injury to them that stand for the truth, and to the truth it self. For,
1. The people and Ministers of Christ are bound to stand fast in the Truth against all opposition and contradiction: So the Apostle sheweth that one end why Christ ascending into Heaven gave gifts unto men,Eph. 4. 14. 15. Ministers and ministerial abilities, was, that we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the slight of men, and cunning craftiness whereby they lye in wait to deceive, Prov. 23. 23.but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, who is the head even Christ. Buy the Truth and sell it not. The peace of the Church is greatly to be esteemed and endeavoured, yet we must not sell the Truth to buy peace. Iude accounted it needful for him, to write unto the people of God, Jude 3. 4.and exhrrt them that thoy should earnesty contend for the faith (scil. the truth or doctrine of faith) which was once delivered unto the Saints; for (saith he) there are certain men crept in unawares, &c. The Apostle Paul gives a strict charge to Timothy, 2 Tim. 1. 13, 14, 15.hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me in faith, and Love which is in Christ Iesus. Hold it fast whatsoever means are used to wrest it from thee, that good thing which was committed to thee, keep by the holy Ghost which dwelleth in us. Then he addeth this, thou knowest that all they which are in Asia be carried away from me. I conceive the word all is not to be taken universally here for all absolutely, but indefinitely, for the generality of those in Asia the lesser; and therefore Timothy being left at Ephesus, a chiefe City of Asia was likely to meet with many Adversaries, and much contention, in holding fast the form of sound words; yet the Apostle would not dispense with him in this case, he must stick close to the Truth.Tit. 1. 9, 10, 11, 13. So he telleth Titus, that a Minister must hold fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and convince the gainsayers, for there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, especially they of the Circumcision, whose mouthes must be stopped, &c. And then he addeth, wherefore rebuke them sharply that they may be sound in the faith. Is it not very likely that contentions and divisions would follow hereupon?
Secondly, Therefore consider that when contentions and divisions follow upon the faithful preaching, professing, maintaining of the Truth, or the right administration of holy Ordinances, the fault is in those that will not indure sound doctrine, but take offence when none is given, either because their errours are confuted, or their sinful practices reproved. If divisions and contentions follow upon the publishing and asserting the Counsel of God; they are the cause of it who resist the Truth: for was not this the case of our Lord Jesus Christ himself and his Apostles? Many of the people when they heard Christ, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet: others said this is the Christ: Joh. 7. 41, 42, 43. & 10. 19, 20, 21.but some said shall Christ come out of Galilee, &c. so there was a division among the people because of him. There was a division therefore again among the Iews because of these sayings, and many of them said he hath a Devil, and is mad, Why hear ye him? Others said, these are not the words of him that hath a Devil; Can a Devil open the eyes of the blind? Yea,Mat. 10. 24, 25, 26. the Lord Christ forewarned his Disciples, Think not that I am come to send peace on the Earth, I am not come to send peace but a sword, or (as it is in Luke) division: For I am come to set a man at variance against his Father, and the Daughter against her Mother, Luk▪ 12. 51.and the Daughter in Law against the Mother in Law, and a mans foes shall be they of his own houshold. Christ is the Prince of peace, and his Gospel is the Gospel of peace, and the proper end of his coming in the flesh, and the great business that he undertook was to make peace between God and men, and so by consequent, between men and men, and this design took effect accordingly in those that savingly received Christ and his Gospel, and yeilded up their hearts to him; but divisions and stirs and contentions followed by accident, not from the Nature of the doctrine delivered by Christ and his Apostles, But 1. From the malice of Satan. 2. From the Corruption, Blindness, Perverseness of mens Spirits.
First,Divisions from Satans malice. Mans frowardness. From the malice of Satan, who looked upon the powerful preaching of Christ his Gospel, as an Engine of battery planted against his strong-holds. He being the Prince of darkness, extreamly hateth the Light; and therefore whereas he possessed all in peace before, when the light of the Gospel breaketh forth, he betaketh himself to his arms, standeth upon his guard, striveth to keep possession of the hearts and souls of men. Yea, he is not content to make a defensive War only, but rageth and laboureth to put out the light, stirreth up his instruments to oppose and persecute those that receive the love of the Truth, and give up their names and hearts to Christ.
Secondly, The Corruption of mans Nature, the blindness and perverseness of their spirits is a cause of the…e divisions and commotions. Their ignorance, errours, lusts, sinful courses are reproved by the word, yea, others receiving and obeying it, is a condemning of their unbelief, impenitency, disobedience; and therefore they are easily perswaded by Satan to oppose and persecute the Truth, and them that embrace it. So that it is from the malignity of their hearts that divisions follow. I may add yet a third cause,
Thirdly,Act. 14. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. And that is the weakness of some who for the main do embrace and love the Truth▪ but for want of more clear and solid judgements do differ and dissent in things of les… moment, whereupon follow estrangements, and too much alienation of affection, And a… Satan and the world took occasion to stir up contention and cause division, upon occasion of Christ his coming and preaching: so also upon the publishing of the Gospel by hi… Apostles, and by consequent, by other faithful Preachers of the Truth. Paul and Barnabas at Iconium, so spake, that a great multitude both of the Iews and also of the Greek… believed: Here was the proper effect o… Christs spirit working in the Gospel preached; it made peace between God and men, and united Iews and Gentiles together, who wer… odious to each other. Now see also the effect of Satans malice, and the perverseness o… unbelievers, in taking occasion hence to cause divisions, But the unbelieving Iews stirred u… the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the Brethren. It seemeth these mischievous persons then began to kindle the fire of contention in the breasts of ignorant persons, but it did not presently flame out. And therefore in the third verse we find that these faithful servants of Christ went on in their work without interruption: Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony to the word of his Grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands. But at length this fire of Hell that lay smothered under the ashes brake forth, the multitude of the City was divided, and part held with the Iews, and part with the Apostles, and an assault was made both of the Gentiles and Iews, People and Rulers, to use them despitefully and stone them, so that the Apostles fled and preached the Gospel elsewhere. Here it is as clear as the Sun, that the unbelievers and enemies of the Truth were the cause of this division. If we should trace the Apostle Paul in his travels from place to place, where shall we find a place free from divisions? not caused by his preaching, but following occasionally from his preaching, Satan and his Agents kindling the coals of contention. The Apostle could not bring men to Christ by his Ministry, but he must of necessity wrest them out of the power of Satan, and call them from the course of the world; and thereupon Satan and the world were enraged, and so contentions and divisions followed.
Second Caution.
The use of this may be,
First, 1. Use.To teach us more seriously to lay to heart and bewayle the great and lamentable inundation and overflowing of Errours and Heresies among us.Rev. 8. 13. Saith Iohn, I beheld and heard an Angel flying through the midst of Heaven, saying with a loud Voice, Woe, Woe, Woe to the inhabitants of the Earth by reason of the other voices of the Trumpet of the three Angels which are yet to sound. Before we may read of seven Angels with their seven Trumpets, now after four of them had sounded and sad consequents followed, here is a solemn preparation made against the sounding of the three last. It seemeth the reaso… is because the calamities following, should be more grievous than the former, and accordingly an Angel flying through the midst of Heaven denounceth three woes to the Inhabiters of the Earth. It is supposed this Angel was Gregory 1. Bishop of Rome, said to fly through the midst of Heaven, or the middle space between Heaven and Earth, because on the one side he came nearer the heavenly purity of doctrine and worship than his Successors; but was yet far below that heavenly purity of the primitive and Apostolical times, and so declining toward the earth according to the corrupt times wherein he lived: who by foretelling that the King of Pride was at hand, Antichrist was at hand with an army of Priests follow-him, gave warning of these woes approaching. Soon after this warning given, the fifth Angel sounded, which is the first of the three woe-bringing Trumpets, (as they may be called) and the first consequent following is thus expressed, And I saw a Star fall from Heaven unto the Earth, and to him was given the key of the bottomless Pit. Rev. 9. 1.It is conceived that this Star noteth out both the Pope in the West, and that false Prophet Mahomet in the East; who though they differed far from each other in their particular way of acting, yet they both promoted the main design of the Prince of darkness, and therefore may well be represented by one Star falling from Heaven, and said to have the Key of the bottomless Pit. They fell from Heaven, from the heavenly purity of the true Church often called Heaven in this Book. About three years after the death of Gregory, his Successor Boniface the third, received of Phocas the perfidious Emperor (who murdered his Master Mauritius the Emperor with his children) the Title of Universal Bishop, and so a vast power to work mischief in the Church, which accordingly was put in execution as it followeth, And he opened the bottomless-pit, and there arose a smoak out of the Pit as a smoak of a great furnace, and the Sun and the Air were darkned by reason of the smoak of the Pit: The smoak of errours and superstitions like a most loathsom fogg, came out of the bottomless pit darkning the light of the truth, and blinding the eyes of men, the efficacy of errour and strong delusion bewitching multitudes of poor souls. Besides this, out of the smoak came locusts upon the earth, huge multitudes of Monks and Fryers like Locusts overspreading the earth, devouring the fruits of it. These came out of the smoak of the bottomless pit, the smoak of errours and superstitions; for when such doctrines passed for currant, that men might be saved by observing vain humane traditions, that there was a Treasure in the Church filled up with the merits of those that had an overplus besides what was needful for themselves, and that they who were benefactors to the Monks should be partakers of their merits, how mad was the world in building Monasteries, and giving their Land and goods to the Friers, devoting their children to that profession? Yea, it seemeth divers noble persons, and some Kings and Queens turning Monks and Nuns. And as the smoak of the pit did breed the Locusts, so the Locusts encreased the smoak, and made the mists of darkness greater and thicker, multiplying errours and superstitions. If this were one of those grievous woes, whereof the Angel flying through the midst of Heaven gave warning to the world; how should we be humbled and ashamed in respect of the great earthliness, dulness, senselesness of spirit that is among us, yea too much in those that have some love to the Truth, that this great and woful evil doth so abound with us, and is so little laid to heart? Should not the very thought of it startle us, that such thick and dark vollies of smoak in our days, should break out of the bottomless pit, and cover so great a part of our Land, darkning the Air and Sun, eclipsing the Light of the truth, and putting out the eyes of many, and so many Locusts, deceivers, and deceived, coming out of the smoak of errours? This ought to be for a Lamentation. But how many that profess themselves Christians set their hearts so much upon their own private concernments, their business, wealth, ease, and pleasure, &c. and those that have something of a publick spirit, yet confine their serious thoughts to the external good of the Common-wealth, that they little or nothing regard these destructive evils that are of a spiritual nature. If Gallio his temper (who when complaint was made to him about differences in Religion, slighted them as words and names, and cared for none of these things) may be thought tolerably, or at at least, not much to be marvailed at in an Heathen, yet doubtless it is shameful and odious in a Christian. What! a Christian, and not moved that Christ who is the Truth is so highly dishonoured, by lyes and falshood taught and received instead of Truths; that multitudes of poor souls are in a ready way to be destroyed by damnable doctrines; that errours beget errours, and are likely to overgrow the Truth, to spread far and wide; that so many are both infected by them and alienated from the remedy, shunning the publick Ordinances where sound doctrine is taught; that such bleeding wounds and Rents are made in the Church. Art thou a Christian, and so one that pretendest to be begotten with the word of Truth, and hast thou no such principle of contrariety planted in thee against errours and false doctrines, as to make them bitter and grievous to thee? Some may raile at those that are misled, and others may make a sport of their folly; but how small is the number of those who like Christians mourn for them as dishonourable to Christ, pernicious to souls? How deeply was the holy Apostle affected with the obstinacy of the Iews in their errours, in preferring the ceremonies of the Law above Christ the Substance; and their own imaginary legal righteousness, above the perfect righteousness of Christ applied by faith. I say the truth in Christ. Rom. 9. 1, 2, 3.I lye not, my Conscience also bearing me witness in the holy Ghost, that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart: for I could wish that I my self were accursed from Christ for my Brethren, my kinsmen, according to the flesh. How passionately did he express himself to the Galatians, Gal. 4. 19.who had once embraced the pure doctrine of the Gospel, but afterwards suffered themselves to be so deluded by seducers, as to seek justification by the Law, My little children of whom I travel in birth again until Christ be formed in you. He felt such sorrow, such fear, such strong and compassionate workings of heart towards them, as were answerable to the pangs of a woman in child-bearing. Saith the Psalmist, I beheld the transgressours and was grieved, Psal. 119. 158.because they kept not thy word: This I conceive doth plainly concern both transgressions in practice and in doctrine or belief. Both these forts of transgressiours are guilty of not keeping Gods word. They that live in a course of sin, they keep the word in their judgement and profession, but keep it not in their lives and actions. They that go on in errours keep not the word so much as in judgment and profession. Besides, how can a man forsake any truth of God which he hath once received, but he must ipso facto, in that very act transgress in point of practise? He transgresseth that precept, Prov. 23, buy the truth and sell it not: that of the Apostle, be no more children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, &c. and that, hold fast the form of sound words, &c. Now the Psalmist beheld those with a mournful eye, I beheld the transgressours and was grieved, &c. Is it not a sign of a graceless heart to behold transgressours without grief? If we moan not for these things out of spiritual respects; the Lord may justly make us mourn for those outward evils that they may bring upon us. The Divel as he is the Father of lyes, so he is a murderer. Spiritus mendax est homicida; and they that are led by a lying spirit, if they can establish their facton and party so as to grow confident of their power, may soon discover a murtherous spirit; and then those that are lukewarm and indifferent in matters of Religion, may feel their fury as well as they that are most zealous.
Secondly,Vse 2. This truth may shame those who plead for a toleration of all sorts of errours, Hereticks, Seducers, false prophets. It seemeth the Apostle Paul accounted them intolerable, when he pronounced them accursed, and wished them cut off.
But such pretend Christian charity, 1. Obj.meekness mercy. I answer, 1. Will they boast of more love than Paul had, 1. Plea for tolerating all &c. Answered.who could have wished himself accursed that Israel might have been saved? Will they pretend to more meekness than Moses, who was very meek above all the men which were upon the face of the earth? and yet ye heard how he acted against Balaam and the Midianites, …um. 6. 12. 3. Ex. 22. 28, 29.and we find also that he caused three thousand to be slain for Idolatry. If men will approve themselves to be of such a spirit as Paul and Moses, let them shew meekness and love in …earing and forgiving private and personal injuries offered to themselves: and on the other side, manifest true zeal for the Truth and glory of Christ. 2. Charity and mercy is to be shewed to souls, 2. Answer.especially that they may not be poysoned with damnable heresies. Is it not gross hypocrisie to pretend much tenderness towards deceivers, and to have no bowels of compassion towards poor weak creatures whose simplicity is abused, and whose souls are daily insnared by their mischievous subtilties. Is this become a point of charity, to desire that ravening wolves may have free liberty, without check or controul, to make havock of the flock of Christ?3. Answ. 3. I say that charity is to be shewed to Hereticks not by suffering them to add sin to sin, and to give them protection and encouragement in acting mischief, but by restraining them from their sin: Ministers and private Christians doing their parts in discouraging their errrours, praying for them, &c. Magistrates using their power to curb them.Answ. 4. 4. I grant a difference is to be made; as the Apostle Iude, having spoken very sharply against Hereticks towards the end of the Epistle saith,Jud. 22, 23. Of some have compassion, making a difference and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire. Some may err in less matters, and out of simplicity, and carry themselves humbly and modestly, not troubling the peace of the Church: such are to be tenderly dealt with as Brethren, while they shew themselves willing to be informed. Some may agree with the Church in all main and most substantial points, and differ in things that seem not clearly laid down in Scripture: these if they do not proudly and obstinately reject the truth, I suppose ought to have much moderation shewed towards them. Again there is a great difference between the simple and weak that are misled, and those that are cunning seducers and deceivers of others. More severity is to be used towards seducers, than those that are misled by them: Yet even these are to be heard and means used to convince them out of the Scriptures, to be admonished exhorted, patience and long suffering to be exercised toward them. If after all such means used, they remain obstinate, neither forsaking their errours, nor ceasing to draw others from the truth: How can it suit either with zeal for Christ, or love to souls, to suffer them to go on?
It may be Objected that the weapons of this2. Obj. warfare are spiritual, and therefore no other are to be used. I answer, that Ministers weapons are spiritual; but they according to their calling, may call upon the Magistrate to use other weapons against those that despise spiritual weapons, as against drunken… Adultery Murder, &c.
Some it may be will say that many Magi…es are not able to judge of the truth or falshood of Doctrines.3. Obj. Answ. I answer, it is the duty of Christians in general to labour that the word of God may dwell in them richly in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. This is required of Christians whether private persons or Magistrates.Col. 3. 16. 25. 2. If some false doctrines be so artificially painted over, and have such fair colours put upon them, that it's hard to discover their falshood: a godly Magistrate may have the assistance of such as are more exercised in this kind than himself.
Fourtbly, 4. Obj. Answ.it may be said, that conscience ought not to be compelled. I answer, I am fully of that judgement, and therefore I conceive none ought by any violent courses to be enforced to profess any doctrine contrary to their own consciences, though their judgements be never so erroneous. But when any cannot be content to err alone, but are restless and active in corrupting others, and will not forbear though often admonished; in such a case, to remedy so great a mischief, either by banishment or imprisonment of the offenders, is no violence to their Consciences, but a just punishment upon the outward man. It may be they will say, They are bound in conscience to teach others the same things which they believe themselves. I answer, Then I conceive the Magistrate should think himself bound in conscience to stop them in their course, and if nothing else will do it, to shut them up as he would do one, who having the Pestilence, offereth to thrust himself into throngs of people to infect them.
Fifthly, Obj. 5.Some it seemeth have found out a strange conceit, that the examples of those godly Kings of Iudah in punishing Idolaters, is no rule for Christian Magistrates now; because they were tyes of Christ,Luk. 1. 32, 33. who is called the Son of David according to the flesh, and of whom it is said, the Lord God shall give unto him the Throne of his Father David, and he shall raign over the house of Iacob for ever.Answ. I answer, 1. If this reason were of any force, it would as well take away from the Magistrate all power of punishing other offences as well as this, or at least take away this proof. 2. As the reason is frivolous, so we find that others are commended in Scripture that were not of the family of David nor types of Christ. To pass by that execution of Moses and the Israelites upon Balaam and the Midianites, for seducing the people,1 King. 18. 40. Observe the act of Elijah, in slaying the Prophets of Baal. Some may say Elijah was a Prophet. I answer, This execution was no Prophetical act, but an act of Magistracy, for which in this extraordinary case, Elijah was Authorized immediately by the Lord himself, to whom all power and authority belongs. But how clear is th… in the case of Iehu King of the ten Tribe… who though he was not upright, yet because he destroyed Baal out of Israel, brake down his Image and house,2 King 16. 24, 25, &c. 30. and made it a draugh…-house, slew the Worshippers of Baal, and the Idolatrous family of Ahab, he was both commended and rewarded by the Lord, in so much that the Kingdom was settled upon him and his to the fourth Generation.
Sixthly, Obj. 6. Answ.Some may say Christians should be very tender of shedding of blood. I answer, 1. I am clearly of the same mind, and I wish some of our Laws were mittigated, and some other punishment were laid upon some offences, which among us are made Capital. But what shall we say to such that can be content to see men loose their lives for sheep-stealing and horse-stealing, and yet cry out upon it as an high degree of cruelty, if Blasphemers, and those that draw others from the Ordinances of God into damnable Heresies, should be put to death? Have we not had such among us, who have been very tender hearted Patrons of Hereticks, not only sparing their lives, but countenancing and preferring them; and yet when any out of principles of Conscience have opposed their usurped power, their feet have been swift to shed blood. 2. I conceive Magistrates in restraining Heresies ought to be very wary in taking away life. I wish, 1. They would take them from all publick Offices of trust and power. 2. Discountenance them. 3. Suppress their Meetings. And if any be obstinate and refractory, there be other wayes to curb them besides Capital punishments; as Fines, Banishment, Imprisonment. But for Blasphemers, I know not what authority under Heaven, hath power to dispense with that Law so expressely delivered by the God of Heaven,Lev. 24. 16. He that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, he shall surely be put to death.
Seventhly, Ob. 7. out of Mat. 13▪ 22, 30.Some I believe think they have a Protection for Hereticks, to preserve them from the hand of justice, in that Parable of the Tares, where the Housholder would not have the Tares rooted up, lest the Wheat should be plucked up with them, but would have both grow together until the Harvest. I answer,Answ. 1. I see not how this can exempt Hereticks from punishment, more than perjured persons, Theeves, Traitours, Rebels, Adulterers, Murderers, or other Malefactours, For what are Tares but all sorts of persons, that are not Wheat to be gathered into the Barn. And therefore in the exposition of the Parable,v. 41. the Tares are declared to signifie all things that offend, and them that do Iniquity. And therefore I conceive these Servants are not the Magistrates, who are not forbidden, but commanded to use their power for a Terrour to evil works: but the Angels whom the Lord will not have to pluck up all the Tares before the Harvest day, scil. the end of the world. And in the exposition of the Parable I find nothing either restraining civil Magistrates, or Church Officers, in proceeding against notorious and scandalous offenders. 2. Parables are not to be pressed and urged in every particular circumstance: but the Scope is to be considered. And I conceive the Scope and design of this Parable is to shew that there shall be a mixture of good and bad in the world until the last day, when the separation shall be made. And therefore in the third place, How earnest should we be in praying to the Lord, Vse 3.to preserve our selves and others from being led away with the errour of the wicked, to reduce those that are led aside, to open their eyes, and humble their hearts, that they may acknowledge their failings, and return to the Truth, to frustrate the subtil devices and mischievous attempts of deceivers, to fill the Magistrates with a spirit of wisdom, zeal, and courage to improve their authority for the Lord Jesus Christ, in putting a restraint upon the enemies of his Name and Truth, to stir up in them bowels of compassion towards poor souls, who are dayly in danger to be insnared and bewitched by them. Besides all the other mischiefs done by false Teachers, I conceive this one were enough to stir up all that truly fear God, to desire their restraint, that they draw many poor creatures from publick ordinances, from the ordinary means of knowledge, grace, and salvation: And how can they do the Divel a more acceptable service, or open a readier way for Popery, Profaneness, Atheisme, and all manner of wickedness to break in upon us?
So much of the Apostles Answer by way of abhorrence or detestation.