Popery Anatomized, Conclusion
THE CONCLƲSION.
NOw, although we can expect nothing but either loſs of life, and all that is near and dear to us, or to looſe our ſouls eternally, if Popery prevail: yet how little concerned are we in theſe matters? How luke warm and indifferent are we in this age and generation, as to any Religion? How few are they that are ſtirred up to deal with God by prayer and ſupplication, for continuing of the Goſpel in purity with us, and to lay ſeriouſly to heart the abounding iniquity of theſe days, that may juſtly provoke the Lord to give us up to the tyranny of Antichriſt? It is true many apprehend no hazard from Antichriſt, and think that all the noyſe that is made of the prevalency of Popery, is without any real ground and cauſe: But let ſuch think what they pleaſe, yet really our hazard is not ſo little as is apprehended, if we conſider the diligence, activity, and vigilancy of Antichriſt upon the one hand, and the lightneſs, unſtability, lukewarmneſs, and Gallio-like temper of this generation, together with the dreadful evils whereby the Lord is provoked to remove the candleſtick, and give us up to ſtrong deluſions to believe lies, on the o her hand.
I. Firſt, I ſay, if we conſider the diligence and activity of Antichriſt; for is not Antichriſt as active and diligent as ever? Hath he not been ſtill endeavoring by all manner of way to get his deadly wound cured, and the Reformed Churches brought again under his ſubjection, and eſpecially Britain and Ireland, which he looks upon as his great eye-ſore? Therefore he hath erected for educating of the children of Scots and Engliſh Papiſts, a Colledge at Doway in Flanders, another at Rome, the third at Valladolit in old Caſtile, a fourth in Sevil in Spain, a fifth in S. Omers in Artois, a ſixth in Madrid in new Caſtile in Spain, a ſeventh in Lovain in Brabant, an eight in Liege in Luikland, a ninth in Ghent in Flanders. Now theſe that are educated in theſe Colledges (eſpecially at Rome) they are bound by oath to come over to Britain and Ireland for propagating of Popery; and accordingly ſome comes over to preach and ſay Maſs to Papiſts: Others comes over under the notion of gallants, and offers their ſervice to Noblemen, that ſo they may engyre themſelves into their favor, and know affairs. Others give out themſelves to be Seekers, Quakers, &c. and rail againſt the Miniſtery and ordinances, and diffuſe Popiſh doctrine: and in theſe imployments they uſe undefatigable diligence: They do not weary in their work: They are as active now as any time heretofore, walking and acting moſt politically and under ground: For their great work now a dayes is to deſtroy the Reformed Churches by under-hand dealing, and leger de main (as they call it) ſo that we ſhal not know nor ſee who hurts us, while we be utterly ruined. Adam Coutzens a Jeſuit of Mentz, a great Politician, wrote a great Book of Politicks, and in his 2. Book, chap. 18. he gives ſeveral rules to his fellow Jeſuits, for cheating a people of the Reformed Religion by ſlight of hand and leger de main.
1. The firſt is, To proceed as Muſicians do in tuning their instruments, who proceed gradually, ſtraining their ſtrings with a gentle hand, and ſetting them up by little and little. Or as Phyſicians do in curing diſeaſes, who abate noxious humors by degrees and pauſes. So Jeſuits will not diſcover all their doctrine at firſt, but bring in corruptions by degrees.
2. The ſecond is, To preſs the examples and practiſes of ſome eminent men, as a good mean to draw on the reſt. Thus they cry out ſuch a Noble-man, or great man, hath embraced the Roman Religion, why may you not do the like?
3. The third rule is, That Arch-hereticks, and ſuch as are Teachers of hereſie (meaning the zealous Miniſters, and others that propagat and defend the Reformed Religion) must be baniſhed the Commonwealth at once, if it may ſafely be done; but if not, by degrees. This way they followed in Bohemia, baniſhing the Miniſters by degrees, and their great hatred is ſtill againſt the Miniſtery.
4. His fourth rule is, That theſe that are adverſaries to true Religion (to wit, Popery) be put from their dignities, places and offices, and not truſted with power or publick employment. Hence Jeſuits inſinuat themſelves much, ordinarly on States-men, and theſe who have the diſpoſal of places of truſt, and uſe all means to keep zealous Proteſtants from truſt and power.
5. The fifth rule is, To make the Protestant Religion odious, by laying load upon ſuch tenets as are moſt ſubject to harſhest conſtruction; and rendering the perſons of theſe that maintain them contemptible. Hence it is the great work of Papiſts to raiſe calumnies on our Religion, and the profeſſors thereof: for example, That we make God the Author of ſin; revive old condemned hereſies, &c. and they have raiſed a great heap of lies, reproches and calumnies upon our firſt Reformers, Luther, Calvin, &c.
6. His ſixth rule is, To foment the quarrels that are among Proteſtants, and ſtrengthen the party that is neareſt a complyance with Rome. So any difference that is among us, they caſt oyl to the fire, and play their own game thereby.
7. The ſeventh rule is, That all privat Conventicles, and publick meetings muſt be forbidden. This they did in Bohemia; for the Pope and his Cardinals had a conſultation what they ſhould do with the Bohemians and Germans? It was reſolved, that ſeeing their former ſtrong purges which they had uſed to expell heretical humors, had not proved effectual, they therefore reſolved to take a milder courſe; and in proſecution thereof, they uſed ſeveral ſtratagems; one whereof was, to prohibit all meetings of the Proteſtants.
8. His eight rule is, Severity of laws and puniſhments, to compel the obstinat unto duty, and yet the rigor of the law muſt be ſlowly drawn out, and not againſt all; but only ſuch as be moſt dangerous: For (ſaith he) although compulſory reformation will do no good to old ſtanders, yet it will render the younger ſort Catholicks.
9. The ninth and laſt rule is, That ſuch as are in authority, and have the publick management of Eccleſiastical affairs, do religiouſly practiſe and maintain integrity and purity of manners. From all which we may ſee that we may be in great hazard of being ruined by the policies of Prieſts and Jeſuits.
II. But, alace! although they be nothing abated in their activity and diligence to undo and ruine us; yet we are wonderfully abated of our zeal and hatred of them and their doctrine. Our predeceſſors had their zeal raiſed very high againſt them, and were very active and diligent in reſiſting and oppoſing them; but how indifferent and lukewarm are we in this generation? ſome of a Caſſandro-Grotian temper, that are for complying and uniting with them; others of Gallios temper, that is not much concerned in any Religion, if they can ſecure their own civil concernments: others are ignorant, light, unſtable, and unfixed in the principles of Religion; ſo there are but very few that have any ſenſe of the evil or danger of Popery upon their ſpirits.
III. But that which may moſt of all alarm us, is our hainous provocations and tranſgreſſions, whereby the Lord is dreadfully provoked to give up with us, and remove our candleſtick out of its place, and to give us up to the deluſions of Antichriſt; may we not tremble for fear of this, if we conſider what God hath done for us, and what requital we have given him.
God hath done many wonderful things for us in theſe lands, both of old and of late; for according to the promiſes made of old to his Son, That he would give the heathen for his inheritance, and the utmoſt parts of the earth for his poſſeſſion, & that the iſles ſhould wait for his law, was graciouſly pleaſed many hundred years ago, & early after the riſing of the Sun of righteouſneſs, to give light unto the Gentils, to pity our fore-fathers then mancipated to the ſervice of Idols, which were not God, and viſite them with the light of the glorious and bleſſed Goſpel; which he ſo bleſſed▪ that in a ſhort time both King, Nobility, and people embraced it, and the whole Nation became Chriſtians, and for ſundry generations the land was bleſſed and honored of God with many Profeſſors and Paſtors famous for learning, holineſs and piety; and for their pains and ſucceſs in the work of the Goſpel, both at home & abroad, until at laſt, with the reſt of moſt of the Chriſtian Churches in Europe, it was involved in the darkneſs of Popiſh ſuperſtition and idolatry; to which the greateſt part were in bondage for many years: but there was a remnant, who kept their garments pure, and did not receive the mark of the Beaſt. Likewiſe when the Lord with a high hand and a mighty ſtretched-out arm did diſcover (by his ſervant Luther, and other worthy inſtruments whom he raiſed up) the abominations of that Whoor, he was graciouſly pleaſed in the dayes of our fathers, to redeem us from that Antichriſtian tyranny, and ſuperſtition and idolatry, and again to cauſe the light of the Goſpel ſhine among us; which mauger many oppoſitions, he hath alwayes kept among us in purity to this day, expecting that we ſhould have brought forth the fruits thereof. But, alace! was ever a people followed with ſo much mercy; and gave ſuch evil recompence and unanſwerable dealing to the Lords goodneſs, as we have done? Was ever more wickedneſs and prophanity among a people, then is among us? Is not many very ignorant of GOD, and the way of ſalvation holden out in the Goſpel, notwithſtanding of all the pains that have been taken on them? Hath not prophanity, like Jordan, overflowed all its banks? I know not if there be ſo much ſwearing, drinking, whooring, blaſphemy, revelling, &c. among Heathens, that never heard of the Goſpel, as is among us. And is there not an univerſal almoſt contempt and undervaluing of the Goſpel, and a deriding and mocking of Religion? Many are now grown ſo Atheiſtical, that they have caſten off all fear of GOD, Heaven, Hell, or regard of ſalvation, or damnation. Did GOD threaten to remove Epheſus candleſtick out of its place, becauſe of falling from her firſt love? And ought we not to tremble, leſt ours be removed? Did he threaten to ſpew Laodicea out of his mouth, becauſe of lukewarmneſs, and being neither cold nor hot; and can we conceive that he will ſpare us who are ſo univerſally lukewarm? Did GOD cut off the Jews, who were the natural branches, for their unfruitfulneſs, and other ſins: and ſuppoſe we that he will ſpare us? Is it enough to conſtitut a Reformed Proteſtant to caſt off the idolatry error and ſuperſtition of the Church of Rome, and not alſo to reform from the prophanity and wickedneſs that reigns in the world; and to uſe all endeavors to have our converſation according to the Goſpel? For the great end of the appearing of the grace of GOD in the Goſpel, is to teach us to deny all ungodlineſs and worldly luſts, and to live ſoberly, righteouſly, and godly, in this preſent life, &c.
The Magdeburg Century-Writers (in praefat. ad Cent. 5.) obſerve▪ that before Antichriſt came to his hight, and infected the Chriſtian world with his idolatry, theſe following iniquities reigned every where. Verbi Divini contemptus, &c. The contempt and depravation of the Word of the LORD: the inventing and defending of corruptions: the toleration and reverencing of ſeducers: the perſecution and oppreſſion of faithful Teachers: and finally, Epicuriſm and colluſion with the ungodly: upon which followed, as a deſerved puniſhment, the ſubstitution of humane traditions, in place of GODS Word: the giving liberty and rewards to impostors: the hindering the confeſſion of the truth: the giving over to a reprobat ſenſe, and to blindneſs; and being deceived by the efficacious illuſions of the Devil, which puniſhments were accompanied with idolatry, ſuperſtitious worſhip, Phanatick and more then Ethnick furies; alſo civil puniſhments and calamities on the Kingdoms and Common-wealths, in which theſe ſins did abound.
The Author of the Book, intituled, Conſideratio cauſarum Belli Bohemici, points out the abounding among them, of the ſubſequent ſins, as one main cauſe of the deſtruction of Bohemia by Antichriſt. The chief ſins (ſaith he, part. 2. pag. 24.) that abounded in Bohemia before its devaſtation, were (as the godly often confeſſed) ingratitude and unthankfulneſs for the Goſpel, and contempt of the Miniſtery, that they did not eſteem it as became: exceſs in meat and clothing, eſpecially in great perſons: oppreſſion of their ſubjects, and ſmal care of the poor: doing to their neighbor what they would not had them doing to them: remiſsneſs and ſlackneſs in diſcipline, and giving a licence to ſin: but eſpecially cold rifeneſs and lukewarmneſs, in reference to the intereſt of Christ, and defence and maintenance of the Goſpel.
Now if God was ſo provoked by theſe above-mentioned ſins, that he gave up almoſt all the Chriſtian world to the deluſions of Antichriſt, and removed his Candleſtick from Bohemia, which was ſuch a famous Church, and had witneſſed for the truth againſt Antichriſt for ſo long a time; may we not tremble, leſt he be provoked to give up with us? Is not the Word and Ordinances much contemned and deſpiſed among us? Have not many errors and corruptions ſprung up, and like a flood overſpred many places in theſe Lands? Was there ever more ingratitude, and unthankfulneſs for the Goſpel, and contempt of the Miniſtery among a people, then is among us? Is not gluttony, drunkenneſs, vanity of apparel and oppreſſion, turned Epidemick, among all ranks and degrees of perſons? Were ever any more coldrife and lukewarm in reference to the intereſts of Chriſt, then we are? Yea, we are guilty of many of theſe things, for which the Lord threatneth to depart, and to remove his Candleſtick, as will appear, if we a little conſider ſome of the ſpecial ſins that the Lord threatneth with his removeal.
1. Ignorance of God, and of the neceſſary truths of the Goſpel, is threatned with his removeal, Jer. 6.8. Be inſtructed, O Jeruſalem! lest my ſoul depart from thee, &c. Iſai. 27.11. It is a people of no underſtanding; therefore he that made them, will have no mercy on them: and he that formed them, will ſhow them no favor. Now for all the light of the Goſpel that hath ſhined among us theſe hundred years and above, the Word being line upon line, precept upon precept, &c. yet what groſs and palpable ignorance is every where to be found; the generality of people ignorant even of the fundamentals of Religion?
2. Barrenneſs and unfruitfulneſs under the Goſpel, is threatned with the removeal thereof, Iſai. 5.6 7. I looked for grapes, but behold wild grapes. And now go to, I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard; I will take away the hedge thereof, and it ſhal be eaten up: and breakdown the wall thereof, and it ſhal be troden down. And I will lay it waſte: it ſhal not be pruned, nor digged, &c. The fig tree that was three years fruitleſs, is commanded to be cut down, Luke 13.7. And the earth that drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth nothing but thorns and thiſtles, is rejected, and near unto curſing, Heb. 6.8. Now, was ever people more rained upon then we? And yet is there any that is more barren and unfruitful then we are? Are not the moſt part of us empty vines, that bring forth fruit to themſelves? How few are there that the grace of God that bringeth ſalvation, hath taught to deny all ungodlineſs and worldly luſts, and to live ſoberly, righteouſly and godly; to be crucified to the fleſh, with the luſts and affections thereof, to have their converſation in heaven?
3. Slighting, loathing and wearying of the precious things of God, and of his Ordinances, is a ſin, for which the Lord threatens to remove from a people, Amos 8.4.5.6.9 11.12. Hear this, O ye that ſwallow up the needy, &c. ſaying. When will the new Moon be gone that we may ſell corn: and the Sabbath, that we may ſet forth wheat, &c. Verſ. 9. I will cauſe the Sun to go down at noon, and darken the earth in the clear day. And I will turn your feaſts into mourning, and all your ſongs to lamentations, &c. And verſ. 11. I will ſend a famin in the land; not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the Word of the Lord. And they ſhal wander from ſea to ſea, and from the North even to the Eaſt; they ſhal run to and fro to ſeek the Word of the Lord, and ſhal not find it. Zech. 11.8. Their ſoul abhorred me: then ſaid I, I will not feed you; that that dieth, let it die. Now is not the wearying, deſpiſing, ſlighting and contemning of the Ordinances of Chriſt, ſo evident among us, that he that runs may read it?
4. A fourth ſin, for which the Lord threatens to give up with folk, is formality and lukewarmneſs; contenting themſelves with a form of godlineſs without the power thereof. 2. Theſſ. 2.10.11.12. Becauſe they received not the love of the truth, that they might be ſaved: and for this cauſe, God ſhal ſend them ſtrong deluſion, that they ſhould believe a lie, &c. And Laodicea is threatned for her lukewarmneſs, to be ſpewed out of Chriſts mouth, Rev 3.16. Now what age or generation could ever parallel this for formality and lukewarmneſs in the matters of God? And may we not be juſtly given up to the deluſions of Antichriſt?
5 A fifth ſin, is unbelief and diſobedience to the call of God in the Goſpel, Hoſea 9.17. My God will caſt them away, becauſe they did not hearken unto him: and they ſhal wander among the Nations. Was it not for this ſin, that the Lord upbraided thoſe Cities, wherein moſt of his mighty works were done, and threatens to bring deſolation on them? Matth. 11.21.22.23.24. Were not the Jews cut off for their unbelief? Rom. 11.20. And is there no ſad evidences and ſymptoms of this ſin every where? How few are they that have received Chriſt by faith, & is endeavoring Goſpel-obedience? And may we not fear leſt the judgement of Chorazin, Capernaum and Bethſaida be ours?
6. A ſixth ſin, for which the Lord threatens to remove the Candleſtick, is falling from our firſt love, Rev. 2.4 Now have we not declined, not only from the love and zeal which our fathers had; but alſo even from that love, zeal and diligence in duty that once we our ſelves had?
7. A ſeventh ſin, is ſtupidity and impenitency under all Gods diſpenſations, whether of mercy or judgement, Jer. 8.5.6 7. And is not this ſin ſo manifeſt, that he that runs may read it? Who is ſmiting on his thigh, and ſaying, What have I done? How few are noticing what God is contending for, or laying their iniquities to heart?
Several others might be inſtanced, but theſe may ſuffice to ſhow us what ground of fear we may have of Gods giving us up to the deluſions of Antichriſt: yea, is he not in a great meaſure departed from us? Hath he not ſore cracked, if not broken, the ſtaves of beauty and bands, our unity and authority? We are divided in his anger, and contempt is powred upon us. Is not the bleſſing of Ordinances much reſtrained? How few are converted and built up by the Goſpel? Yea, what deadneſs, decay and withering is upon all, even the Lords people? And how many are content to live without God, and ſuffer him to be gone?
Now lay all theſe together, and we will ſee that the ground of fear is greater then is apprehended by many: Therefore let us be laying the hazard of the Church, and of our ſelves and poſterity to heart, and let us be ſtirring up our ſelves to deal with the Lord by mourning and repentance, prayer and ſupplications, for the turning away of his wrath, and for the powring out of his vials upon Antichriſt. If ever there was a time wherein repentance and mourning for our ſins, and the ſins of the Land was called for, it is now: For are not our ſins very great? And is not the cry of them come up to heaven? And is not the Lord hearkning and hearing if any man will repent him … the evil of his doings, and ſay, What evil have I done For he is waiting to ſee what we will do, before he leave us altogether: For he hath in a great meaſure left us already. For are we not ſtricken with blindneſs, confuſion and aſtoniſhment, and trembling of heart? Is he not in a great meaſure departed from his Ordinances? For is not that light darkned, that life withered, that ſtrength abated, that preſence evaniſhed, that tenderneſs gone, theſe influences withholden, that ſometimes were wont to be felt in Ordinances? Yea, is not prayer reſtrained and love waxed exceeding cold, and hardneſs of heart grown univerſal, delight in God and in his Word, and in the exerciſes of godlineſs grown exceeding rare? Doth not God hide his f…ce from us, and anſwer us with terrible things in righteouſneſs? All which ſpeak, that the glory of the Lord is departed from the Temple to the threſhold. Let us therefore lay theſe things ſeriouſly to heart, and break up our fallow ground, and circumciſe our ſelves to the Lord, and take away the fore-skins of our hearts, leſt his fury break forth like fire and burn, that none can quench it, Jer. 4.3. For is he not crying, both by his Word and diſpenſations, Be inſtructed, O Jeruſalem! (O Britain!) leſt my ſoul depart from thee, leſt I make thee deſolat, a land not inhabited? Jer. 6 8. Repentance and Reformation is only the mean to prevent our ruine: therefore let us be dealing with him who is the Prince exalted, to give repentance and remiſſion of ſins, for the powring out of that ſpirit upon the land. O! if we were all about this work! then there might yet be hope in Iſrael concerning us. The Lord who is rich in mercy, grant us mercy, ſo as to be ſtirred up to true mourning and repentance, and to be laying more ſeriouſly to heart, the grounds of his contention. Amen.
FINIS.
Errata.
Page 1. line 7. for Churches, read Church, p. 9. r. Rev. 14.11. p. 33. l. 19. r. Arim. p. 37. l. 30. r. Bellarmins, p. 58. l. 32. r. Sacramentis, p. 92. l. 23. r. imports, p. 128. l. 5. r. naturis, p. 151. l. 9. r. is, p. 172. l. 18. r. books, p. 212. l. 9. r. The eleventh, p. 388. l. 7. r. if it be of works, p. 393. l. 32. r. one, p. 413. l. 33. r. Epheſ. p. 443 l. 6. r. ſo great, and l. 13. r. King, p. 481. l. 33. r. graveſt, p. 484. l. 10. r. perſecute, p. 489. l. 22. r. Proteſtants of integrity.
End of the text · John Welch, Popery Anatomized (1672)