The Axe at the Root of Professors Miscarriages, Chapter 6
Chap. VI. The miſcarriages oppoſite to confeſſion, the external Act of Faith in God.Againſt poſitive confeſſion without a call.
1. RAſh adventuring upon poſitive confeſſion without a Call from Heaven. Hath not this been the ſin of ſome? and have not all Profeſſors ſmarted for it? The Acute Author of Chriſt Confeſſed (who (as the Publiſher obſerves) hath cut by a thread in clearly and judiciouſly determing the preſent grand Caſes of the times) gives a three-fold Anſwer to this Queſtion, At what times are we priviledged from (and by conſequence not called unto) poſitive confeſſion of Chriſt? Chriſt confeſſed p. 65, 66.(1) When the engagements for ſelf-ſafety are not preponderated by, or in an equal poize with, thoſe for our Saviours glory, (2.) When the intereſt both of the confeſſion, and Confeſſor will be viſibly prejudiced. (3.) When the ends of confeſſing Chriſt cannot manifeſtly be promoted by it, or attained by us; But the glory of God will be viſibly rather hindred: the Goſpel harmed: and the good of ſouls hazarded. O! ſee that for the future you do not unneceſſarily pull ſufferings upon your ſelves for your confeſſion of your Faith. Allegs Vind. of Godl. p. 379.There is (as an eminent Confeſſor well obſerves) a ſuffering for our fault: there is a ſuffering for our Righteouſneſs without our fault: and there is a ſuffering for our Righteouſneſs through our fault. Run not your ſelves upon trouble when you need not, by unwary and imprudent managing and ordering your ſelves in the duties that confeſſion of Faith engageth you to. Be clear eſpecially in thoſe things, which may be coſtly: labour to ſee the Pillar of Fire, and the Cl…ud going before you. Take heed of giving any juſt occaſion to others to perſecute you, not onelyonly becauſe the event of ſo great a temptation is uncertain, but alſo l…ſt you be a cauſe that others by ſhedding your blood become greater ſinners then otherwiſe they would be.
2. Ʋnpreparedneſs openly to acknowledge ſaith in God, Againſt unreadineſs to confeſs openly, when called thereto. 1 Pet. 3.14, 15.when over he calls thereunto. What the Apoſtle ſaith concerning Hope, is true concerning Faith, Be ready alwayes to give a reaſon both of the faith that is before you, and of the faith that is within you: of the grace, as well as of the object of faith: your own acquaintance with God, believing of God, conſenting to have him for your God, and relying upon him. Though you are not bound (ſaith the grand Caſuiſt) to render an account alwayes, C. C. p. 64.yet you are bound alwayes to be ready; at leaſt with an habitual readineſs: though the outward action be not required at all times, yet the inward habitude is But alas I have not you been ſtrangers to an habitual inclination and diſpoſition to this duty? Have not you been without thoſe principles of ſelf-denyal and love to God, that Spirit of faith, patience, and pray…, that make ſouls ready for ſuch work. O that this may be your ſin no longer! Is not this one reaſon of the preſent Diſpenſations of Providence towards you, to ſtir you up by the Rod, that would not be ſtirred up by the Word to get to be ready, not only to be bound, but to die for Chriſt at Jeruſalem! The Apoſtle doth not ſay, I will be bound or I will die, Acts 21.13.but I am ready is be b…urd and to die. All backwardneſs is ſ…ding back, when our Saviour ſaith unto us, Take up thy Groſs and follow me.
3. Refuſing, Againſt delaying actually to confeſs, when called thereto.Refuſing, or delaying, actually to make an …p…n acknowledgment of Faith in God, wh…n thereby God will be moſt magnif…d, the Goſpel beſt maintained, and the good of ſouls beſt miniſtred to. Hath not this been the ſin of ſome of you? Have not you actually declined that confeſſion, which you have been called to make? Have not you deferd your teſtimony to another time? and have not you hereby driven God away from you? ſure I am this coſt many of the Martyrs, eſpecially in the Marian-Perſecution, very dear. They did not make open acknowledgment of their Faith in God, when God called them thereunto: and what was the Iſſue? God in reſpect of comfort left them, and they were under worſe torments, then their Perſecutors could have inflicted on them. When Jonah had a Commiſſion ſealed him to go to Nineveh with a Meſſage from God, he withdrew himſelf, and went another way; but God in the midſt of his ſecurity caſt him into the Whales belly; and when he was there, God withdrew from him, as if he meant never to own him more; inſomuch, that he ſaith, I am caſt out of thy preſence. Jona. 2.4.O that herein you would ſin no more! when ever God calls you thereto, do not defer to exhibit an open oral confeſſion of your Faith in God, no, See Chriſt confeſſed, qu. 7 prop. 7. p. 69. &c.not a moment longer, when God calls you thereto, do not defer to exhibit an open real confeſſion of your Faith in God in an active way, openly living up unto your Faith in God; or in a paſſive way, either by ſtaying to ſuffer, or by ſuffering in flying, as the forementioned ends will beſt be promoted. O! do not your Conſciences tell you, that if you had been more publick in your real confeſſions in an active way, you had ſuffered leſs, not only from God, but from men. Take heed of ſuffering any more upon this account.
4. Diſſembling in confeſſion. Againſt diſſembling in confeſſion C. G. p. 43.There is a time (ſaith our Caſuiſt) for tho ſuſpenſion of our confeſſion; but there is no time for ſimulation (properly ſo called) in our confeſſion. We may, yea muſt deal prudently, but not deceitfully Hath not this been your ſin? Hath not your converſation been in fleſhly wiſdom, and not in godly ſimplicity and ſincerity? Have not you at leaſt, at ſometimes gone about to caſt a vail of deceit before the eyes of men? Prov. 12.24. Iſa. 33.1.No wonder that ſuch deceitful ones are under tribute: no wonder that ſuch treacherous dealings are dealt treacherouſly with. Diſſemble I beſeech you no more, either in your oral or in your real confeſſions.
5. Denying Faith in God. Hath not this been your ſin? Againſt denying Faith in God.and hath not God therefore denyed you in this world? O! take heed of denying your Faith in God once more, leſt Jeſus Chriſt deny you in Heaven. O! Do not once more deny your Faith in God, either inwardly, or outwardly, either by word, Mat. 10.33.or work, whether explicitly, or implicitly. Even concealed & ſm…th…red (much more denyed) truths will one time or other ſet the Conſcience in a Flame. Jer. 20.9.When Jeremiah ſaid, I will not make mention of him, nor ſpeak any more in his name: What followeth? Then his word was in my breſt as a burning fire, V. Caril on Job 6.10.ſhut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, Let him not ſpare (ſaith J…b) for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One: q.d. If I had hid his word from men, God might juſtly hide his merci…s from me; or if I had concealed his words from others, God might now juſtly reveal his wrath againſt me.
6. Making ſhipwrack of Faith. Hath not this alſo been your ſin? Againſt making ſhipwrack of Faith. 1 Tim. 1.19. Rev. 2.5. Heb. 10.23. Veaning in the Farewel Sermons.Have not you renounced the confeſſion which you once made? And hath not God departed from you, not only for your departures from your faith in him, but for your departures from your profeſſion thereof? O! remember from whence you are fallen, and repent, and do your firſt works. What ſaith the Apoſtle? Let us hold faſt the profeſſion of our Faith without wavering, and what ever others do, let us, among whom, upon whom, in whom ſuch mighty things have been done by God, hold faſt our Faith: have we a mind to be without God again? had we rather return to be Satans, then continue to be the Lords? yea the profeſſion of our faith: faith without profeſſion, will do no more for us, then profeſſion without faith: and that without wavering: this is both a man-like and a Chriſtian act.
End of the text · Thomas Mall, The Axe at the Root of Professors Miscarriages (1668)