The Axe at the Root of Professors Miscarriages, Chapter 1
Chap. I. The Miſcarriages oppoſite to the ſaving Knowledge of God: the apprehending Act of Faith.
1. VAin Curioſity. Beware not only of prying into the affairs of your Neighbour, Againſt vain Curioſity.which no way concern you; but of enquiring into Gods Secrets. God hath made known, enough for our Salvation; but ſome things he hath concealed from us, and they do not belong unto us. The ſecret things belong unto the Lord our God; Deut. 29.29.but thoſe things which are revealed, belong unto us, and to our children for ever. Have not you been gui…ty of not con…enting your ſelves with Gods Revelations? Have not you deſired and endeavoured to be wiſe above what is written? 1 Cor. 4.6.O the many curious and unprofitable queſtions, that have been framed about the Decrees of God, and the Works of Providence! We have not cryed with the Apoſtle, How unſearchable are his judgements, Rom. 11.33. Gen. 3.5, 6.and his wayes past finding out! Have not ſome of you been for new lights? The Serpent beguiled Eve hereby: the firſt ſin came in by an attempt to get forbidden knowledge. And what ſaith the Apoſtle? I fear, leſt by any means, as the Serpent beguiled Eve, 2 Cor. 11.3.through his ſubtilty, ſo your minds ſhould be corrupted from the ſimplicity, that is in Chriſt. Have not ſome had the ſame wild fancy, Gilespy's Miſcellan. Queſtions, p. 131.that the Weigelians had, That there is a time to come (which they call, Seculum Spiritus Sancii) in which God ſhall by his Spirit reveal much more knowledge and light, than was revealed by Chriſt and his Apoſtles in the Scriptures? Are not moſt of us ſtill too inquiſitive, When Christ will come in his glory, when Babylon ſhall fall, when the Witneſſes propheſying in ſackcloth and a…hes ſhall be at an end? Civil on Job. 28.21.Chriſts own Diſciples were not content with what Chriſt cold them ſhould be, but enquire, When it ſhould be? Chriſt doth indeed give them many ſigns of the deſtruction of Jeruſalem, and of the end of the World; but tells them, Mat. 24.2, 3.36. Mar. 13.32.Of that day and hour knows no man, no not the Angells of Heaven, no nor the Son of Man (as Man) but my Father only. This Curioſity was alſo reproved by Chriſt, immediately before his Aſcenſion, with, Acts 1.7.It is not for you to know the times or ſeaſons which the Father hath put into his own power: And the Apoſtle Paul tells the Theſſalonians, That ſuch knowledge was needleſs for them: But of the times and ſeaſons, 1 Theſ. ….1.Brethren, you have no need, that I write unto you. Even good men have ſometimes a ſtronger deſire to know the times, than to redeem the time. Hath not the knowledge of many lain in canvaſing fooliſh and unlearned queſtions, which the Apoſtle bids Timothy to avoid, 2 Tim. 2.23.becauſe they …end to ſtrife? O! take heed of this ſin for the future. It is a great Vanity. Cavil on Job 11.12.Man is vain (ſaith one) when he would be wiſe beyond his line, or in things above him, not in things about him, or ſit for him. Thoſe that pry into the ſecrets of Princes, may fear what Actaem met with; and thoſe that pry into the ſecrets of divine myſteries, what Pentheus met with. Bacon: Sapientia v… terum, Sect 10. Rom. 12.3. Pſa. 25.14. Cavil on Job, 28.21. Col. 3.18.It is a ſin that we are naturally prone too. Man naturally deſires (as the ſame Author well obſerves) forbidden wiſdome, and his deſire is ſeven times ſtronger after it, as it is forbidden, than as it is wiſdome. This is a ſin very provoking unto God: To pry into, dreana imperij, the myſteries of their government is ſo unto Princes. No wonder that God hath been a emſwning fire to us, ſeeing we have been ſo bold and daring Phaetons. Vain Curioſity is a preſumptuous tranſgreſſion: take heed of continuing guilty thereof any longer: for the future be wiſe unto ſobriety. Though the ſecret of the Lord be with thoſe that fear him, yet they, that fear him, will not, dare not, meddle with, nor ſearch into his ſecrets. Take heed of breaking open of God, Cabinet, entring into his Counſels, prying into his Ark once more: beware of ſuffering your imagination to wax wanton, and run riot, yea mad about crotchets, and meer niceties any more: take heed of intruding (as the Apoſtle ſpeaks ſignificantly to this point) into things which you have not ſeen, yea, which cannot be ſeen, being vainly puft up by your fleſhly mind. There is (ſaith the ſame judicious Expoſitor fleſh in the underſtanding, as well as in the will and affections of man; and in the fleſh, there is pride, and it is pride, that makes men ſo buſie and bold; ſo boldly buſie, as (un-ask'd, yea forbidden) to intrude into ſuch things. Pſa. 131.1.O! ſay now with David, Lord, mine Feart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty, neither will I exerciſe my ſelf in great matters, or in things too high for me. Such are things not revealed: they are not only high things; but above the lawfulneſs of mans ſearch: Rom. 12.16. Rom. 11.33.they are tearmed not incomprehenſible; but rather foreign, things not to be enquired into. Who is able to open the Book? Rev. 5.3.Who, but the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah? The beſt of Gods Saints are ſo unfit to expound the contents of the Book, wherein the myſteries of Providence lye coucht, Genus quaſi ſacrileg… …emeritatis eſt, ut plus ſcire cupias, quam ſmatis. Salts.and inſolded, that they may not ſo much as untye the claſps. A bold enquiry here is not more irreverent, than full of danger. When men walk on ſleep places, they are ſubject to fall: ſo here, by medling with high things, an errour, yea hereſie, is quickly incurred.
2. Ignorance. I do not ſay, take heed of Neſcience, Againſt Ignorance.of not knowing thoſe things, which you are not bound to know, or have not means to know; in the former Section I have cautioned you againſt ſuch ſcience: But beware of Ignorance, of not knowing what you ought to know, and what you have means to know. Hath not this been your ſin? Hath not Jeſus Chriſt come in flaming fire againſt this ſin? O that it may be your ſin no more! What! Is it yet nothing to you, that your Souls ſhould remain as Lanthorns without Candles in them? Is it yet nothing to you, to want eye-ſight, to have blind Souls? Eph. 4.13. 2 Cor. 4.3, 4. Ga…dwins Evangelical Communicant. foreign q. foreign, Inarus, peritas. Leigh. crit. ſacr.to have the Goſpel ſtill hid from you, as ſo many loſt Souls, blinded by the god of this world? Have you no mind as yet to be freed from Satans ſlavery? Satan doth indeed ſometimes transform himſelf into an Angel of light; but he alwayes loves to dwell in a dark houſe, in an ignorant Soul: Though his Name be foreign, and he hath much knowledge himſelf, yet he hates and hinders knowledge in man: He knows, he hath none more faſt, than thoſe that ye in the dark Dungeon of Ignorance, bound in the chains of darkneſs. Is it nothing to you, to continue ſtill ſtark nargi…, without any goodneſs in your hearts? As the mind is, ſo is the man. Without knowledge, the heart is not good. Prov. 19.2.For any to ſay, Though I am ignorant, yet mine heart is good, is as if one ſhould ſay, Though I am blind, yet mine eyes are good. Thoſe that had the lepreſſe in the head, were to be judged unclean. Is it nothing to you, ſtill to remain uſeleſs unto others? Is it nothing to you, to be even in ſuch times as theſe, without an intereſt in God, ſtrangers from the life of God through ignorance, Eph. 4.18.ſo as none of Gods ofters of himſelf do yet prevail with you? Is it nothing to you, to continue prepared for ruine? Hoſ. 1.14.The people that underſtand not, ſhall not only ſtumble, but fall, i. e. … …ally periſh. O ye ignorant Profeſſions! Rev. 6.17.the great day of Gods wrath is coming, and how will ye be able to ſtand? O that you would yet know the things, that belong to your peace, Luc. 19.42.before they be hid from your eyes!
3. Againſt Eryour.Errour. Take heed not only of not apprehending, but of miſ apprehending God, and the things of God. Hath not this been your …? Have not your apprehenſions concerning God been very erroneous? Have not ſome Profeſſors thought, That there is no God, nor Devil, nor Heaven, nor Hell, but what is within us; and that …n and grace were equally of God, and agrecable to his will? O! Be not alwayes deceived concerning the Providence of God, his Worſhip, his Miniſiry, his Houſe, his Diſcipline in his houſe, Brook's Satans wiles. Rom. 1.28.&c. Is it nothing to you, to be under the Gentiles heavy and dreadful Plague, to be given up to a reprobate mind, a mind void of judgement, a mind diſallowed, rejected, and abhorred of God; a mind that all have cauſe to be aſhamed of? 1 cor. 3 11, 12, 13, 14, 15.Is it nothing to you, to ſuffer loſs in Gods reſiuing fire? Is it nothing to you, ſtill to entertain that w…oriſh woman, that hath ca… down many, wounded many, yea ſlain many, many ſtrong men, many great men, many learned men, yea many Profeſſing men? 2 Theſ. 2.10, 11, 12.Is it nothing to you, to be ſtill in danger of Gods ſending upon you ſtrong deluſions, or (a… the Greek hath it, foreign) the efficacy of errour, that you ſhould believe a lye, the lye of lyes, viz., Popery, that you may be damned? Ah Souls! Can you ſeriouſly conſider theſe hints, and thoſe you have in the Goſpel-glaſs, chap. 9. and not dread, and ſtand upon your guard, againſt every Errour in Religion? True hatred is to the whole kind. It is ſad to frown on one Errour, and to ſmile on another. Gideon had ſeventy ſons, and but one baſtard, Judg: 8.13.and yet the baſtard deſtroyed all the rest. One turn may bring a man quite out of his way. Ah Lord! (ſaid one) this mercy I humbly beg, that thou would rather take me, and do any thing with me, than to give me up to thoſe ſad Errours, to which thouſands have married their Souls, and are in a way of periſhing eternally. Jam 1.16.O! Do not erre, my beloved Brethren. Take heed therefore of pride, of that proud Curioſity I have already cautioned you againſt. The meek, or humble (as the word ſignifieth) will he guide in judgement, the meek will he teach his way. Pſa. 25.9.The ſame Author tells of a man, who, ſeeing in a Viſion many ſnares of the Devil, ſpread upon the earth, ſate down muſing, and ſaid within himſelf, Who ſhall paſs through theſe? Whereunto he heard a voice anſwering, Humility ſhall paſs through them. To perſist wilfully in Errour is Diabolical. It were beſt, we never erred; next to that, that we amend our Errours. Take heed of being cententious againſt the truth, Rom. 2.….and diſ…bedient to the truth, when made known unto you: yea take heed of a voluntary ſluggiſhneſs, and an aſſected lazineſs, as to ſearching out of Truth, which cannot but expoſe a man to Errour; for Truth doth comm…dy keep ſo much State, 1 Tim. 6.10.as not to reveal her ſelf to any, but thoſe who ſtudiouſly ſeek her. Take heed alſo of Covetouſneſs. In a word, be careful to ſubdue all your inordinate affections; for they are of great force to ſway the Judgement.
4. Ʋnteachableneſs. Againſt Unteachableneſs.Take heed of unwillingneſs to get clear and right apprehenſions of God. Hath not this been your … Have not you been not only ignorant and erroneous, but unwilling to be inſtructed? Have not you been not only deſtitute of, Ali…d eſt ne….but oppoſite to, the ſaving knowledge of God? Light hath been offered; but have not you ſhut your eyes againſt it? And if ſome light hath broke in upon you, Rom. 1.19.you have not liked to retain God in your knowledge. Have you not wilfully rejected knowledge? and hath not God therefore rejected you? Hoſ. 4.6. See B…. on the place:Have not you ca… off the knowledge of God, wit… contempt, and deſpite, as the word ſignifyeth? Have not you caſt off the means of knowledge? And hath not God therefore took away the means of knowledge? Have not you thought, that you muſt buſie your heads about ſome other matters; and that you may do well enough without this knowledge, if you do but know how to trade, and to mannage your worldly buſineſſes? Have not you rejected the knowledge of that Truth eſpecially, that ſhould have brought you to the true worſhip of God, as thoſe Prieſts did the knowledge, that they muſt worſhip God at Jeruſalem, for fear of loſing their eſtates? Hath not God therefore, in an extraordinary manner, rejected you? So much is noted (thinks Tremellius) by the redundancy of a letter in the word for Gods rejecting, not found elſewhere in all the Scripture. Have not you even ſtudied to be ignorant of God? Ba…ough… on H…ſ. 4 1.Have not you therefore been for unteaching Prieſts, and humane inventions, in the worſhip of God, which kept out of the Land of Iſrael the knowledge of God? No wonder that God hath a controverſie with the Land, no wonder that God is contending with Engliſh Profeſſors in a way of judgement; no wonder if there be no peace in England, to him that goeth out, and cometh in, 2 chron. 15, 3.5.but great vexations upon all the Inhabitants, God vexing us with all adoerſity. So it was with Iſrael in the like caſe, Iſrael was without the true God, i. e. the true worſhip of God, and without a teaching …, and in thoſe times there was no peace, &c. No wonder …at God hath made us to ſee, …ſeeing we would not ſee: No wonder that God is departed from us, ſeeing we have ſaid, at leaſt in our hearts, Job … ſee B… on Job 22.….Depart, for we deſire not the knowledge of thy wayes. Your Ignorance hath much incented God againſt you; but your Ʋnteachableneſs much more. O! dequaint now thy ſelf with him. I beſeech you now, now that the hand of God is out againſt your ſelves, in ſome kind or other; now that the hand of God …. much heavier upon others; now dequaint your ſelves with him; now or never; now, or elſe he will not be at peace with you, and good will not come unto you. Let it not alwayes be ſaid. They know not, Pſa. …2.3.neither will they underſtand, they walk on in darkneſs. O! unto reading and hearing, add praying, that you may not only be Book-taught, but God-taught. You need not aſcend up into Heaven. to bring Chriſt down from above, nor to deſcend into the deep, Rom. 10.6.to bring, up Chriſt from the dead, that you may be acquainted with him; John 17.3.the Word is nigh you, which being read, heard, and prayed over, will give you that knowledge of God and Chriſt, which is life eternal.
5. Againſt reſting in a Form of Knowledge. Rom. 2.20. Map…, E…er, H…ſye, …cidas. Jam. 3: 17.Re…ing in a Form of Knowledge. The word ſignifieth the ſhew, the appearance, the Image of Knowledge. Hath not this been your ſin? Have not you affected the reputation of knowledg, more than the reality of knowledg? Hath not the Name been better eſteem'd by you, than the Thing? Have not you ſatisfied your ſelves with a dark and confuſed knowledge? Hath not your light been darkneſs? The wiſdome from above is pure, and therefore clear and diſtinct. Have not you ſatisfied your ſelves with a ſupleſs knowledge, 2 …without the favour, that is in ſaving knowledge? Knowledge in Scripture doth connote affection; It is tea…me… by the … men, …ap… …, or …and that, which carrieth not the heart and affections with it, deſerveth not the name of Knowledge; and therefore thoſe, that did not like and love God, are ſaid, not to know God. Have not you ſatisfied your ſelves without an experimental knowledge of God, of the exerciſe of his Power, Wiſdome, Goodneſs, Mercy, &c. for your eternal welfare, in working effectually upon your hearts, by his Word and Spirit? Have not you ſatisfied your ſelves with an unactive knowledge? To have notions according to Knowledge, Jer: 10: 14:and actions according to Ignorance, is to be bruitiſh in knowledge. Have not you ſet up your reſt, in ſuch acknowledge as is ſhort of making men live peaceably, humbly, obediently, and believingly, as ſaying knowledge doth? This Kind of knowledge, i.b.t a form of knowledge, without the truth, ſubstance, and reality of knowledge; as a form of godlineſs, 2 Tim: 3: 5: Verban ti… connotant affectum & effectam. Job 28: 28: Pſa: 111: 10:is the appearance o… godlineſs, without the payer of godlineſs. The knowledge of God doth note … barren nations concerning God, which do not render … better in ou… lives, or liker unto God. He knee no ſin. in Paul, is in Peter, He did no ſin. To depart from evil, is underſtanding. They ha…e a good underſtanding, that do his Commandements. Joſiah … ſtreet in performing his known duty, And was not this, to know me, Jer: 22, 16:ſaith the Lord? …ch as do not dwake to righteouſneſs, (the Greek is awake righteouſly) i. e. that do not give their minds and endeavours to righteouſneſs, they have not the knowledge of God. 1 Cor: 15: 31:Have not you …tisfied your ſelver, without knowing God in and through Chriſt? Here let it be minded, T: G…win's Chriſtier forth, p: 1 …that the Object of that Faith, that is required in the firſt Commandement, in all its acts, both direct and reflect, inward and outward, is God in Chriſt, or intereſt in God in and through Chriſt. The Deity, Father, Son, and Spirit, is the ultimate Object; but Jeſus Chriſt, God dwelling in fleſh, Eph: 2: 18: 1 Pet: 1: 21:is the more immediate Object thereof. Chriſt leads …s by the hand, and we are ſaid by Christ to believe on God, that our Faith might be in God. But have you ever had a real and intuitive ſight of Jeſus Chriſt in his glory, Sheph…a…d on the pa…able of the V…gins, p: 74, 75, 202, 203, 204:not only from report, nor only from his works, nor only from the bare letter of the Word, but from the Spirit? Have you ever beheld ſuch a glory in Chriſts perſon, as hath cauſed you to eſteem him in all his glory, as your preſent, greatest and enly good? 2 … 4: 6:Hath God ever given you the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jeſus Chriſt? If not, you muſt repent of your Knowledge under the notion of Ignorance; and be ſure, that for the future you be reſtleſs after a clear, distinct, ſavory, experimental, active Knowledge of God in Chriſt.
6. Not growing in Knowledge. Againſt not growing in Knowledge … 3, 4, 5.Is not ſaving knowledge a growing thing? Were not the riſings and increaſings of the waters of the Sanctuary a type thereof? But ala… have not the beſt ſet up their reſt in low attainments of ſaving knowledge? Have not ſome conceited themſelves taught by God immediately, by the Spirit, and needed not any of Gods medi…e teachings, by the miniſtry of man, or by the Scriptures? As for ſuch, whatever knowledge they pretend to, the truth is, they are altogether without the ſaving knowledge of God. As he (ſaith one) who thinks himſelf ſo good, that he cannot be better, was never ſo good as he ſhould be: So he that thinks he knows ſo much, as he can learn no more, 1 Cor: 8: 2:from the Scriptures and Mini…ry, know… nothing as he ought. As for thoſe, that have the beginnings of life eternal, John 17: 3:in the knowledge of God, and Jeſus Chriſt, certainly it hath been their great fault, that they have not made conſcience of growing in knowledge daily; both of getting the knowledge of more duties, and of more ſins; and more of the goodneſs of thoſe duties, and of the evil of thoſe ſins, which they knew already, as they ought How ſeldome have Sermons been attended for this very end? How ſeldome have Miniſters been conſulted with for this very end? Doth not your not growing in grace evidence, that you have not grown in knowledge? The Ap…ſtle puts both together; 2 Pet: 3: 18:Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt; to hint to us, that in proportion to our ſpiritual growth in knowledge, is our growth in grace. Is not your neglect of growing in knowledge, evident in your decayes in knowledge; not ſeeing ſo much evil in ſin, eſpecially ſuch and ſuch particular ſins; nor ſo much good in duty, eſpecially ſuch and ſuch particular duties; nor ſo much beauty in truth, eſpecially ſuch and ſuch particular truths; no… ſo much deformity in errour, eſpecially ſuch and ſuch particular errours, as formerly. No wonder that God deals with us, as he hath threatned to deal with them, that know him not. No wonder if God ſeem to reſolve, that this generation of Engliſh Profeſſors, ſhall not enter into the promiſed Canaan; They were thoſe that had not known Gods wayes, to whom the Lord ſwore, that they ſhould not enter into his reſt. To prevent this, let us all be ſti…'d up, to conform more and more to Jeſus Chriſt, who grew in wiſdome, …as well as in ſtature. Let us write after Paul's copy, Phil: 3: 12, 13, 14:Not as though I had already attained, or were already perfect, but I follow after, if that I may apprehend, that for which alſo I am apprehended of Chriſt Jeſus: Brethren, I count not my ſelf to have apprehended; but this one thing I do, forgetting thoſe things which are behind, and reaching forth to thoſe things that are before, I preſs toward the mark, &c. Would you have God take away all your talents? Take heed then of neglecting to increaſe them. Then ſhall yee know, if yee follow on to know the Lord. The path of the juſt is as the ſhining Light, Hoſ. 6.3. Prov. 4.18.that ſhineth more and more, till it be perfect Day. He (ſaith one) that hath the leaſt ſaving acquaintance with God, hath enough to make him thankful; but he that hath the moſt, hath not enough to make him idle.
7. Neglecting to make uſe of Knowledge. Againſt not making uſe of knowledge.Hath not this been your ſin? Hath not the habit of knowledge layn dead in your Souls? Hath it not been an uſeleſs and an unprofitable thing, both as to your ſelves, and others? O that it may be your ſin no more! Be not ſatisfied with having Lights, or Lamps, Luc. 12.35.but Let your Lights be burning, or ſhining. Make uſe of your knowledge, for the heating of your affections, for the ſtirring up deſires after God, love to God, delight in God, hatred of ſin, fear of offending God, &c. As the Spouſe, He is altogether lovely: Cant. 5.16.This is my Beloved. Let the knowledge of wiſdome be unto your Souls, as Honey, that is good, and the Honey-comb, Prov. 24.13, 14which is ſweet unto the taſt. Make uſe of your knowledge for the guiding of your thoughts words and actions. Let wiſdome guide you in every ſtep you take. Prov. 6.3….Ask of your knowledge continually, what ſaith the Rule? what doth the Word of God require? Make uſe of your knowledge in bearing witneſs to truth, for which you came into this World. John 18.36.When you come to appear for an oppoſed truth, let not your knowledge be to ſeek. Make uſe of your knowledge for the preſerving of your Souls from theoretical and practical miſcariages. Seeing yee know, &c. beware leſt yee alſo be led away with the errour of the wicked. If you will make uſe of your knowledge, 2 Pet. 3.16: Prov. 2.11, 12, 16.you have Gods promiſe for preſervation from ſnares in judgment, and defilements in practice. The Devil ſhall not undermine you by policy, no… overcome you by power. Make uſe of your knowledge for the good of others. One great end of knowledge is to communicate knowledge. And indeed (as one well obſerves) to know for our own and others good is the only good knowledge. To reject the directions of knowledge, as well as the means of knowledge is to reject knowledge. Bur. on Hof. 4.6And hath not God therefore rejected you? Is not God reckoning with his wicked, becauſe ſlothful ſervants, for letting their Talents lie un-improved? Yea, is not this a greater judgment than any outward judgments you are under? Is it not an evidence of a Souls being under a ſpirit of ſlumber, to have no more uſe of its knowledge, Iſa. …9.10.then one aſleep hath? Not to uſe is all one as not to have knowledge. He that hath not, i.e. that doth not make uſe of what he hath, ſhall have what he hath, or ſeems to have, taken away from him.