An Antidote Against Heresy, Preface – Imprimatur
The Preface.
GOD never wrought miracle to convince Atheiſm, becauſe his ordinary works convince it: For the Inviſible things of him, even his eternal power and Godhead, are clearly ſeen and underſtood by the works of the Creation. Rom. 1.20. And indeed never any people was heard of ſo barbarous, but did acknowledg a God, and though otherwiſe, rude and voyd of all civility, yet did profeſs and practiſe ſome Religion. The very nature of man it ſelf ſo far abhors direct Atheiſm, that the Heathen made them Gods of wood and ſtone rather then have none at all, and gave Divine Honours, not to men only like themſelves, but even to baſe and vile creatures, rather then be without a Religion. The Devil then not able to root up this perſwaſion of a Deity, ſo deeply and ſtrongly faſtened in the hearts of all men by nature; from Atheiſm he turned to Heatheniſm, from denying to multiplying the heavenly Deity, and with a multitude of falſe Gods abuſed the world almoſt 4000. years. But When the fulneſs of time was come, God ſent his Son, a light to lighten the Gentiles, who with the beams of his glorious truth ſo ſcattered this univerſal fog of Paganiſm, that thoſe lying vanities were ſhortly diſcovered, mens conſciences convinced of their former groſs ignorance, and turned from dead Idols to ſerve the living God. And now this old Serpent is put to a new ſhift, which the Father of lies was not long to ſeek of, but driven from Heatheniſm, betakes himſelf to Hereſie, for the worſhip of falſe Gods, ſetting up falſe worſhips of the true God, wherein he multiplied ſo exceedingly, that now there are as many falſe worſhips, as before were falſe Gods. To trace this crooke… Serpent through all his turnings and windings, from the primitive times to this preſent, to obſerve the ſubtile ways and methods he hath uſed, to note by what ſteps and degrees he hath from time to time inſinuated himſelf into the very boſom of the Church, ſpreading this deadly poyſon over all its Members, and every point of Doctrine ſo, that the true Religion at this day lays gaſping and labouring for life, is a work too great for ſo ſmall a volum. The firſt Instrument he found fit for this purpoſe was Simon Magus, of whom we read Acts 8. how he bewitched the people of Samaria. This Sorcerer is the Father of all Hereticks, and his Hereſie the curſed womb, from whence ſprang that numerous brood, that now covers the face of the earth, and hath raiſed the devil a mighty Kingdom. At this day it is divided (though not againſt it ſelf) in two main provinces, the Mahumetan in the Eaſt, in the Weſt the Antichriſtian; of the one the Turk is Viceroy, of the other the Pope is Vicar: Ʋnder theſe two Generaliſſimoes all thoſe enemies of Chriſt are liſted, both the enemies of his Perſon, and the enemies of his Office; among whom, though there be a ſeeming difference, yet indeed there is a ſecret league; like Sampſons Foxes, their heads look contrary ways, yet they are all Foxes, and joyned together by the tails. Theſe are the Foxes that ſpoyl the Lords Vineyard, and do more hurt by ſecret fraud, then the wild Boar by open force. Baalam a falſe Prophet, did the Iſraelites more hurt then the Amorites with all their Armies: And that Heretick Arrius did the Chriſtian Church more hurt then the Savage Emperours did with all their Legions. No marvell then we are ſo often warned in holy Scripture to beware of theſe Seducers, and falſe teachers, becauſe they creep in unawares. Jude 4. They bring in their Hereſies privily, and inſinuate themſelves with fained words. 1 Pet. 2.1, 3. They have a form of godlineſs. 2 Tim. 3.5. And with their fair outſides get within us, ſurpriſe, and lead us captive. And therefore we had need be very wary, and never more need then now; for Seducers wax worſe and worſe, deceiving, and being deceived. 2 Tim. 4. They compaſs Sea and Land, they fill Town and Country; and not only creep into houſes, but up into high places, ſo bold they are grown. Now as Iannes and Iambres withſtood Moſes, ſo do theſe reſiſt the truth; men of corrupt minds, of no judgment concerning the Faith. 2 Tim. 3.8. But that they proceed no further, here are diſcovered their Errours, that being ſeen, they may be ſhun'd and avoided. And though here be not diſcovered all, which is almoſt impoſſible, yet here are, if I mistake not, the principal, whereunto the rest are but acceſſory. The end of this ſmall work is to furniſh the weaker ſort, with general anſwers out of Gods own Word to the Arguments of the Adverſaries, and with plain Reaſons, if not ſufficient to defeat the enemy, yet enough I hope to defend themſelves; that they may be provided for them, whenſoever they be encountred by them, leſt being unprepared, at unawares they be led away with the Errour of the wicked. 2 Pet. 3.17. Theſe are the firſt fruits of a larger harveſt, if it be accepted, being but a handful taken out of a heap.
Imprimatur
James Cranford. March 28. 1648.