A Sovereign Antidote for Recovery of Souls, Part 1
A Sovereign ANTIDOTE, Or, A Precious MITHRIDATE: For Recovery of Souls twice dead in SIN, and buried in the Grave of Long Cuſtome, to the Life of Grace.
With hopeful Means (God bleſſing the ſame) to prevent that three-fold (and worſe than Aegyptian) Plague of the Heart; Drunkenneſs, Swearing, and Profaneneſs.
Wherein is a ſweet compoſition of Severity and Mercy: Of Indignation againſt Sin, of Compaſſion and Commiſeration to the Sinner; with ſuch Chriſtian moderation, as may argue Zeal without Malice; and a deſire to win Souls, no will to gall them.
By R. YOUNGE of Roxwell in Eſſex.
Imprimatur,
Ex Aed. Lamb. Feb. 5. 1663.
G. Stradling, S.T.P. Rev. in Chriſto Pat. D. Gilb. Archiep. Cant. à Sac. Domeſtic.
London, Printed by J. Hayes, and are to be ſold by Mrs. Crips in Popes-Head Alley, with 39 other Pieces compoſed by the ſame Author, 1664.
A Sinner reſcued from Satans ſubtilty and ſlavery.
SECTION I.
NOt to admoniſh our brother is to hate him, as the Holy Ghoſt witneſſeth, Lev. 19.17. But to ſcorn our brother ſhould admoniſh us, is more to hate our ſelves. That little which Croeſus learned of Solon, ſaved his life. And had Pilate taken that fair warning his wife gave him, it might have ſaved his ſoul; which once loſt, cannot be redeemed with ten thouſand worlds: no not with the enduring of ten thouſand thouſand years torments in Hell. Enough I ſuppoſe (together with a deſire of my Readers eternal welfare) to encourage me to ſpeak, others to hear. Wherefore let none in the leaſt be offended with what I ſhall deliver, or with me for it: For (not only the ſearcher of hearts, but) the world ſhall witneſs, that I fight not againſt you, but againſt your ſins; and you have no ſuch foes as your faults. And theſe are they I ſeek to ſubdue, and batter down before you: as well knowing, that unleſs they die, you cannot live.
Yea, if I make you ſmart, give me the more thanks, love me the better for it: Sharp reprehenſion is the healing of the ſoul; and love to the ſoul, is the ſoul of love▪ And let this ſerve for an Apologie, and if you pleaſe for a Protection.
Sect. 2. Conſidering the numberleſs number of thoſe that by profeſſing themſelves Proteſtants, diſcredit the Proteſtant Religion: Who becauſe they have been Chriſtened, as Simo… Magus was, received the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, like Judas; and for company go to Church alſo as Dogs do, are called Chriſtians, as we call the Heathen Images gods: yea▪ and (being blinded by the Prince of darkneſs, 2. Cor. 4.4.) think to be ſaved by Chriſt, though they take up Arms againſt him; and are no more like Chriſtians, then Michals Image of Goats-hair was like David: Who make the world only their god, and pleaſure or profit alone their Religion: Who are ſo graceleſs, that God is not in all their thoughts; except to blaſpheme him, and to ſpend his daies in the Devil's ſervice: Who being Chriſtians in name, will ſcoff at a Chriſtian indeed: Who honour the dead Saints in a cold profeſſion, while they worrey the living Saints in a cruel perſecution: Who ſo hate Holineſs, that they will hate a man for it; and ſay of good living, (as F…ſtus of great Learninq) It makes a man mad: whoſe hearts will riſe at the ſight of a good man, as ſome ſtomacks will riſe at the ſight of ſweet meats: Whoſe Religion is to oppoſe the power of Religion; and whoſe knowledge of the Truth, to know how to argue againſt the Truth: Who juſtifie the wicked, and condemn the juſt: who call Zeal, madneſs; and Religion, fooliſhneſs: Who love their ſins ſo much above their ſouls, that they will not only mock their Admoniſher, ſcoff at the means to be ſaved, and make themſelves merry with their own damnations; but even hate one to the death, for ſhewing them the way to eternal life: who will condemn all for Round-heads, that have more Religion then an Heathen, or knowledge of heavenly things, then a child in the womb hath of the things of this life; or conſcience, then an Atheiſt, or care of his ſoul, then a Beaſt, and are mockers of all that march not under the pay of the Devil: Who with Adam will become Satans bondſlaves for an Apple; and like Eſau, ſell their birthright of Grace here, and their Bleſſing of Glory hereafter for a meſs of pottage: Who prefer the pleaſing of their palates before the ſaving of their ſouls: who have not only caſt off Religion, that ſhould make them good men; but reaſon alſo, that ſhould make them men: Who waſte vertues faſter then riches, and riches faſter then any vertues can get them: Who do nothing elſe but ſin, and make others ſin too: who ſpend their time and patrimonies in Riot, and upon Dice, Drab, Drunkenneſs: who place all their felicity in a Tavern or Brothel houſe, where Harlots and Sycophants rifle their Eſtates, and then ſend them to rob: Who will borrow of every one, but never intend to ſatisfie any one: Who glory in their ſhame, and are aſhamed of that which ſhould and would be their glory: Who deſire not the reputation of honeſty, but of good fellowſhip: Who in ſtead of quenching their thirſt, drown their ſenſes; and had rather leave their wits, then the wine behind them: who place their Paradiſe in their throats, Heaven in their guts: and make their belly their god: Who pour their Patrimonies down their throats, and throw the houſe ſo long out at windows, that at length their houſe throws them out of doors: Who think every one exorbitant that walk not after their Rule: Who will traduce all whom they cannot ſeduce; even condemning with their tongues, what they commend in their conſciences: Who as they have no reaſon, ſo they will hear none: Who are not more blind to their own faults, then quick-ſighted in other mens: Who being diſpleaſed with others, will flie in their Makers face, and tear their Saviours Name in pieces with oathes and execrations, as being worſe then any mad dog that flies in his Maſters face that keeps him: Who ſwear and curſe even out of cuſtom, as Currs bark; yea, they have ſo ſworn away all grace, that they count it a grace to ſwear; and being reproved for ſwearing, they will ſwear that they ſwore not.
Sect. 3. Or perhaps they are covetous Cormorants, greedy Gripers, miſerly Muck-worms; all whoſe reaches are at riches: Who make gold their god, and commodity the ſtern of their conſciences: Who hold every thing lawful, if it be gainful: Who prefer a little baſe pelf before God, and their own ſalvation; and who being fatted with Gods bleſſings, do ſpurn at his precepts: Who like men ſleeping in a Boat, are carried down the ſtream of this World, untill they arrive at their Graveſ-end [Death] without once waking to bethink themſelves whither they are a going [to Heaven or Hell.]
Or Ignorant and Formal Hypocrites: who do as they ſee others do, without either conſcience of ſin, or guidance of reaſon: Who do what is morally good, more for fear of the Law, then for love of the Goſpel: Who fear the Magiſtrate more then they fear God or the Devil; regard more the blaſts of mens breath, then the fire of Gods wrath; will tremble more at the thought of a Bailiff, or a Priſon, then of Satan, or Hell, and everlaſting perdition: Who will ſay, they love God and Chriſt, yet hate all that any way reſemble him; are ſlint unto God, wax to Satan; have their ears alwayes open to the Tempter, ſhut to their Maker and Redeemer; will chuſe rather to diſobey God, then diſpleaſe great Ones; fear more the Worlds ſcorns, then His anger; and rather than abridge themſelves of their pleaſure, will incur the diſpleaſure of God: Who will do what God forbids, yet confidently hope to eſcape what He threatens: Who will do the Devils works onelyonly, and yet look for Chriſts wages; expect that Heaven will meet them at their laſt hour, when all their life long they have galloped in the beaten Road towards Hell: Who expect to have Chriſt their Redeemer and Advocate, vvhen their Conſciences tell them, that they ſeldom remember him, but to blaſpheme him; and more often name him in their oaths and curſes, than in their prayers: vvho vvill perſecute honeſt and Orthodox Chriſtians; and ſay, they mean baſe and diſſembling hypocrites: Who think they do God good ſervice in killing his ſervant…, Joh. 16.2. Who vvill boaſt of a ſtrong faith, and yet fall ſhort of the Devils in believing, Jam. 2.19. who turn the grace of God into wantonneſs; as if a condemned perſon▪ ſhould head his Drum of Rebellion with his pardon; reſolving to be evil, becauſe God is good: Who will not believe what is written, till they feel vvhat is written, and vvhom nothing vvill con…ute, but fire and brimſtone: vvho think their villany is unſeen, becauſe it is unpuniſhed; and therefore live like Beaſts, becau…e they think they ſhall die like Beaſts.
Sect. 4. Conſidering the ſwarms, legions, millions of theſe I ſay, and many the like, vvhichwhich I cannot ſtand to repeat. As alſo in reference to Levit. 19.17. Iſa. 58.1. I have deemed it no deſertleſs office, to ſay ſomething toward the ſaving of thoſe poor ignorant and impotent vvretches, that are neither able, nor vvilling to help themſelves. And indeed, what heart would it not make to bleed, that hath any Chriſtian blood in his veins, to ſee vvhat multitudes there are that go blind-fold to deſtruction; and no man offer to ſtop or check them before they arrive there, from vvhence there is no redemption, Matth. 7.13, 14. 1 John. 5.19. Rev. 20.8. and 13.16. Iſa. 10.22. Rom. 9.27. 2 Tim. 2.26. 2 Cor. 4.4. Eph. 2.1, to 4. Phil. 3.18. Joh… ▪ 8.44. and 1….30.
Yea, how ſhould it not make all, that are themſelves got out of Satans clutches, to plot, ſtudy, and contrive all they can, to draw others of their brethren after them.
We read that Andrew vvas no ſooner converted and become Chriſts Diſciple, but inſtantly he drew others after him to the ſame Faith, John 1.41. and the like of Philip, ver. …5. and of the woman of Samaria, John 4.28, to 41. and of Peter, Luk. 22 32. Act. 2.41. & chap. 3. & 4.4. and ſo of all the Apoſtles▪ Yea, Moſes ſo thirſted after the ſalvation of Iſrael, that rather than he vvould be ſaved without them, he deſired the Lord to b…ot h…m out of the Book of Life, Exod. 32.32. And Paul to this purpoſe ſaith, I could wiſh my ſelf to be ſeparated f…om Chriſt for my brethre…, that are my kinſmen according to the fleſh, meaning the Jew…, Rom. 9.3. And indeed all heavenly hearts are charitable. Neither are we of the communion of Saints, if we deſire not the bleſſedneſs of others, it being an inſeparable adjunct, or relative to grace; for none but a Cain vvill ſay, Am I my brothers keeper? Yea, vvhere the heart is thankful, and inflamed with the love of God, and our neighbour, this vvill be the principal aim: As by my ſins and bad example, I have drawn others from God: ſo now I will, all I can, draw others with my ſelf to God. Saul converted, will build up, as faſt as ever he plucked down, and preach as zealouſly as ever he perſecuted: and we are no whit thankful for our own ſalvation, if we do not look with charity and pity upon the groſs miſ-opinions and miſpr…ſions of our Brethren. And what though we cannot do what we would? yet we muſt labour to do what we can, to win others; not to merit by it, but to expreſs our thanks. Beſides it were very diſhonourable to Chriſt not to do ſo. Did you ever know that wicked men, thieves, drunkards, adulterers, perſecuters, falſe prophets, or the like, would be damned alone? no, they miſlead all they can, as deſiring to have companions. Yea, the Phariſees would take great pains, compaſs ſea and land, to make other▪ two-fold more the children of hell than themſelves, as our Saviour expreſly ſaith, Mat. 23.15. which may caſt a bluſh upon our cheeks, who are nothing ſo induſtrious to win ſouls to God. And what a ſhame is it, that our God ſhould not have as faithful ſervants, as he hath unfaithful enemies? that wickedmen ſhould be at more coſt and pains to pleaſe an …ll maſt…, then we can afford to pleaſe ſo good a God, ſo gracio…s, and ſo loving a … they labour ſo hard, for that vvhichwhich vvill but … be… damnation? … ſhall we think any pains too much for that whi…h will ad… to the we … our eternal glory and ſalvation?
Sect. 5. And what though their caſe be not onelyonly deſperate, but almo… hopeleſs? yet there is a mercy due even to them: and it is our duty to …ſe the means; leaving the iſſue to him vvho is able to quicken the d…ad, and to make even of ſtones children to Abraham? Witneſs Manaſses in the Old Teſtaſtament, and Paul in the New. Yea, I ſuppoſe, that this their ſad on … calls for our more than ordinary compaſſion. Since they have precious ſo…ls, that muſt everlaſtingly live in bliſs, or woe. And hence it is, that the A…gels are ſaid to rejoyce more at the conv…ſion of ſuch a ſinner, than for the building up of ninety and nine that are already converted, Luke 15.7. becauſe he to vvhom God hath given a new heart, and ſpiritual life, vvill be ſure to ſeek out for, and uſe the means of growing in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt. Whereas the former, are not onelyonly dead in ſin, but ſo buried in the grave of long custome, that they cannot ſtir the leaſt joynt; no, not ſo much as …eel their deadneſs, nor deſire life, but reſist all means tending thereunto. Inſomuch, that the converſion of ſuch an one is held by Divines a greater work, or miracle, than the creating of the whole World: For in every new creature are a number of miracles; A blind man is reſtored to ſight; a deaf man to hearing; a man poſseſt with many Devils, diſpoſseſt; yea, a dead man raiſed from the dead, and in every one a ſtone turned into fleſh: in all vvhichwhich God meets vvith nothing but oppoſition, which in the Creation he met not vvith.
I know this is Greek to a Senſualiſt, that hath onelyonly the Fleſh for his Tutor vvhence it vvill not be amiſs to ſhew, how it fares vvith the parties vvith vvhom I am, to encounter; Drunkards, Blaſphemers, and Prophane perſons.
Sect. 6. Even ſuch is the power of ſin, that it made God become man, Angels become Devils, and men become beaſts. For each man by nature, every one, vvhoſe heart is not changed by the Loadstone of the Goſpel, is a very beaſt in condition, as Jeremy affirms, Jer. 10.14. and St. Peter, 2 Pet. 2.12. But that's not all; for vvhen the cuſtom of ſin, hath ſo brawned mens hearts, ſeared their conſciences, and blinded their minds, that they can ſwear and curſe as familiarly as Dogs bark: When the juſt and true God, hath for their rebellious wickedneſs in rejecting him, and deſpiſing all good means of being bettered, given them up to their own hearts luſts, and to Satan the God of this world, to be taught and governed by him: even as a juſt Judg, having paſſed ſentence upon ſome hainous Malefactor, gives him up to the Jaylor, or Executioner: (as you may ſee by ſundry places, 2 Theſ. 2.10, 11, 12. 1 Kings 22.20, 21, 22. 2 Tim. 2.26. Epheſ. 2.2. Joh. 13.2. Acts 5.3. 1 Chron. 21.1. Gen. 3.1, to 6. Rev. 2.10.3.15. Joh. 8.44. & 12.31. & 14.30. 2 Cor. 4.4.) Then they become ſo devilized, that as Paul being guided by the good Spirit of God could ſay, I live not, but Chriſt lives in me, Gal. 2.20. So may they ſay, we live not, but the Devil lives in us. For he is not only their Father, Gen. 3.15. Joh. 8.44. But their God, 2 Cor. 4.4. And their Prince, Joh. 14.30. And works in them his pleaſure, Epheſ. 2.2. 2 Tim. 2.26. So that they are ready and willing to ſay or do, what he will have them: as you may plainly read, Joh. 13.2. Acts 5.3. & 12.1, 2, to 12. 1 Chro. 21.1. Gen. 3.1, to 6. Rev. 2.10.
True, theſe poor ſimple ſouls know none of all this: as thoſe four hundred of Ahabs Prophets, in whom this evil Spirit ſpake, did not know that Satan ſpake by them, 1 King. 22.22. Neither did Judas know when he eat the ſop, that Satan entred into him, and put it into his heart to betray Chriſt, Joh. 13.2. Nor do Magiſtrates when they caſt the ſervants of God into priſon, once imagine that the Devil makes them his Jaylors, but he doth ſo. They are his Inſtruments, but he is the Principal Author; as is plain by Rev. 2.10. Neither did Ananias and Saphira once think, that Satan had filled their hearts, or put that lye into their mouths, for which they were ſtrook dead, Acts 5. yet the Holy Ghoſt tells us plainly, that he did ſo, Verſ. 3. Nor Eve in Paradiſe, had not the leaſt ſuſpition, that it was Satan that ſpake to her, by the Serpent: Nor Adam, that it was the Devils mind in her mouth, his heart in her lips, when tempted to eat the forbidden fruit. Nor did David once dream, that it was Satan, who moved him to number the people, 1 Chron. 21.1. Much leſs did Peter, who ſo loved Chriſt, imagine that he was ſet on by Satan, to tempt his own Lord and Maſter with thoſe affectionate words, Maſter pity thy ſelf: For if Chriſt had pitied himſelf, Peter and all the world had periſhed. Yet it was ſo, which occaſioned Chriſt to anſwer him, Get thee behind me Satan, Mat. 16.22, 23.
Much leſs do Drunkards, Blaſphemers, and prophane perſons know, that it is not they, but the Devil in them, when they ſcoff at Religion and holineſs; when they tear Heaven with their blaſphemies, and bandy the dreadful Name of God in their impure and poluted mouths, by their bloudy Oaths and Execrations.
Theſe things premiſed, I come to deal with the parties firſt mentioned, with whom my buſineſs lies: and they are Drunkards, Blaſphemers, and profane perſons, who ſwarm ſo in all places. And to theſe, their faithful and impartial Monitor preſents a few Conſiderations. I'le begin with Drunkards; O that they would mind what I ſhall ſay, but ſo much as it concerns them!