Concerning Denial of Christ, Part 1
Rules in Confession are these.
1. It must be seasonable, it is a Rule in Divinity, the necessity of a meane is judged in relation to the end; suppose a mad-man or drunkard should hold forth a sword, and proffer to kill him that should confesse himselfe to be a Christian, here we are not to confesse, because neither glory to God, nor edification to our brother comes hereby; but when the glory of God and edification of our brethren shall be promoted hereby, then we are bound to confesse: see the practice hereof in Christ, when there were many false accusations brought against him, Mat. 26.62. he answered nothing but held his peace, but when v. 63. the high Priest adjures him by the living God that he would tell whether he were the Christ, the Son of God or not, though the profession of this truth was joyned with manifest hazard of his life, yet because it tended to the glory of God, and edification of his Disciples, he boldly profest it, and answered, v. 64. Thou hast said, that is, thou hast said what I am; and Mark sets forth cap. 14.62. more plainely, that Christ to this question answered, I am.
Many by confessing unseasonably of a truth not necessary, damnifie themselves and others; some weake Christians hereby expose themselves, and which is more, the cause of God to laughter, and themselves to the hatred of the world, and some of Gods people to persecution, Mark. 1.44, 45. Christ having healed a Leper, bad him say nothing of it to any man but to the Priest, but he blaz'd the matter so, that Christ could no more teach in the City, but was faine to go into desert places. A truth seasonably confest doth not by the hardship it exposes the Confessor to, hinder, but rather further the salvation of Gods people, see it in Paul, Phil. 1.12, 13. the Philippians no doubt supposed that Pauls imprisonment would have dishartned many, and so hindered the course of the Gospell, but Paul tells them othervvise, v. 12. but I would you should understand brethren, that the things which happened unto me, have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the Gospell, and he shewed how the Gospell hereby came to be furthered: First, my bonds for Christ are manifest in all the Palace, even in the Emperours Palace, Phil. 4.22. for there were Saints in Caesars houshold, next v. 14. many of the brethren in the Lord (who no doubt were formerly fearfull) waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the Word of God without feare.
OnelyOnly this I add, though the confession of Christ be not alwayes and every where necessary and seasonable, yet must we have alwaies an inward disposition to confesse Christ and his cause, with the losse of all that we have, but where or how farre this habituall disposition is to produce it selfe into act, where, when, how oft, after what manner, and how farre, it is hard to set a precise rule, but the generall rules of Gods glory, the edification of our brethren, the urgency of conscience, the voice of the Spirit, with an enlightned understanding, will much direct herein.
2. Our confession must be couragious, not faint-hearted: Peter and Iohn feared not a whole Councell, Acts 5.29. when the Councell had straitly commanded them that they should not teach in the name of Christ, yet they preached, and accused the Councell for slaying of the Sonne of God, v. 30. How bold was Ioseph, Mar. 15.33. the Text sayes, he went boldly and begged the body of Iesus, which was a cleere witnessing of Christ. Paul (2 Tim. 4.16.) though all men forsooke him at his first appearance before Nero, yet he stood to it, and God stood to him. Shadrach, Meshak and Abednego, Dan. 3.17. were not fearfull, but valiant in confessing the true God, against Nebuchadnezzars image set up in the plaine of Dura, notwithstanding threats of a fiery furnace. Reason, either the cause is Gods, or it is not: if it be not, why do we move in it? if it be, let us resist unto blood, Heb. 12.4. Famous was Luthers courage herein, saith he, That I may not speak boastingly, I stood at Lypsidge, disputing before a most dangerous company; I appeared at Augusta before most wicked enemies, though I had not obtained Letters promised for my security: I came to Wormes into the assembly of Caesar and all the Nobility of Germany, though I knew before the publike promise to be broken, and divers snares to be laid for me, yet had I then such a courage, that if I knew there were as many malos Genios, or Devills to shoot darts against me as there were tiles in the houses in Wormes, yet had I come thither, Ad Freder. Elector. & frratrem Iohan. p. 226. b. Cyprian Epist. 57. praises the Brethren for the confession of Christ unto banishment: they stood armed to the battell; he saith, they could not be overcome but they could die; and in this they were unconquered, that they feared not to die. Such a couragious answer was there in Dionysius and Faustus, and their companions, when the Governour Aemilianus had called them into the Councell, he spoke to them after this manner, viz. We have put the power of your own lives into your hands, if ye will turn your selves to that which is according to nature, and worship our gods, and altogether forget those gods which are against nature: Dionysius answered, You doe not all worship the same gods, but every one have gods according to their will, but we worship one God, the Maker of all things: the Governour askes againe what hinders, why you may not worship this God (if he be God) with other gods, to which Dionysius answered, we worship no other God but one, whereupon the Governour banished these servants of God into the parts of Lybia upon paine of death if they went not, Euseb. lib. 7. cap. 10.
Courage is one principall property in a Souldier, we professe our selves Souldiers to fight under Christ his Banner, therefore for the confession of his Name we must not feare Devills, Prisons, Inquisitions, Burnings, Hangings, Rev. 2.10. feare none of these things which thou shalt suffer, the Devill shall cast some of you into prison, what is all our profession if we have not an intention couragiously to confesse Christ even unto death?
That thou mayest be couragious in confession, consider but these things, that though Satan endeavours to scare thee from duty, with proposing the sweetnesse of liberty, yet remember, that when they imprison thy body, they set thy soule free. Besides as with Ioseph, so with thee God will go into prison, Gen. 39.21. God can turne the Jailors heart to be mercifull to thee, Acts 16.33. but if not, imprisonment cannot sever from: Christ; is not the prison of hell and of a bad conscience the worst of prisons? Nec hoc vos consternet, &c. let not this cast you downe, that you are severed from the world, for if we would consider, that the world is rather a prison, we shall understand, that you are rather gone out of prison then into it, Tertul. lib. ad Martyr. cap. 2. a little after he saith, the world hath greater darknesse, which blinds the minds of men, heavier chaines which bind the soules of men, breaths out worse filthinesse then lusts of men, containes more guilty persons, to wit all mankind, then the prison doth: It's no difference where ye are in the world, who are without it, Ibid. Also cap. 3. doth not the spirit get more in the prison then the flesh loses? yea the flesh doth not lose the things which are just, which are supplied by the care of the Church, and by the love-feast of the Brethren.
But if only there be but a noise of dying for Christ and his Truth, Oh! how are persons startled! yet why shouldest thou be thus startled? thou makest an Idoll of thy life, if thou wilt not let it go when God calls for it, thy life of it selfe will depart from thee: how canst thou then better part with it then for God? die thou must, when, where, and how, thou canst not tell, other men part with their lives of necessity, do thou part with it as a Sacrifice: besides, is not all that thou hast at Gods Command? If he will call thee out of thy Countrey, thou must goe, though thou knowest not whither, Hebr. 11.8. if out of the world, thou must go, yea, and that way he will have thee, whether by burning, drowning. Besides is not the death of the Saints, though oft reproachfull, with men, yet precious in his sight, Psal. 116.15. and to conclude if thou beest faithfull in confession to death, thou shalt have a Crowne of life, Rev. 2.10. Imagine it were said to a man, that after he had suffered an houre of torment, he should have the happinesse of a Kingdome for an hundred yeares, what would he not suffer? if thou indurest death for confession of Christ, here's an eternall Crowne, Iames 1.12. Shall hope of victory and praise make a Souldier stand in the midst of guns and bullets, and shall not the crowne move us to stand? Shall Princes have their Martyrs, and States their Martyrs, and the Pope have his Martyrs, and Christ have none? what man goes to build an house, and considers not what it may cost?
3. The third property in confession is, that it must be plain,foreign, &c. But that we may not lie nor deceive those that examine us, gladly confessing Christ, we die, when we could do according to the saying, I swore with my tongue, but my heart swore not. Iustin. Matt. Apol. 2. p. 61. & not equivocall; I speak not of Logicall Equivocation, which is when a word hath two or more plaine significations, and the persecutor deceives himselfe, but of Jesuiticall Equivocation, which is when a man expresses one part of a proposition, and reserves another part in his mind; as if one should ask a Jesuit, whether he were a Priest, and he shall answer no, reserving this in his mind, he is no Priest of Jupiter: in confession of Christ, we must abandon such deceit, for even such deceit may befall men in Christ, as appeares Gal. 2.11. Peter when the Circumcision faction came to Antioch, he dissembled both his Doctrine and practise of eating with the Gentiles, which before and after he practised: if we be called before Councells, and Governours, let us answer in plain English, remember we have to deale with the searcher of hearts. When one Dionysius was commanded by the Governour Aemilianus that he should cease from professing himselfe to be a Christian, thinking that if he changed his Faith, others would change with him, Dionysius answered plainly, we ought to obey God rather then man, and openly professed that he worshipped him who is God alone, and no other; neither would he change his Judgement, nor at any time cease to be a Christian, Euseb. lib. 7. c. 10. When Peter and Iohn were asked this question by the Councell' Acts. 4.7. by what power or what name they had healed the lame man, they answered plainly, v. 10. Be it knowne unto you by the name of Jesus Christ, whom yee crucified, doth this man stand before you whole. Contrarily we see in this case, how the Parents of the blind man dissembled, the Pharises Joh. 9.19. asked how her sonne came to see, they answered v. 21. they knew not by what meanes he came to see; they knew well enough how he recovered his si…ht, but they durst not declare it; the reason is rendred v. 22. because they feared the Jewes, who agreed that if any man would confesse him, he should be put out of the Synagogue, but the blind man their son plainely confesses v. 30. 33. that Christ was of God, whereupon he was cast out of the Synagogue: what is and hath been more common in this age, then for men if brought before higher powers, to flam over things with a lie, or cheat, or trecherous subscription, either to what the higher powers or inferiour Courts required, so cunning and carefull is the flesh to save it selfe with the losse of conscience: where is the spirit of David? I will speak of thy testimonies before Kings and not be ashamed Psal. 119.46.
Famous was the plainnnesse of Cyprian herein, as it is set downe by Reinerus Bachofius Eehtius in his life, pag. 685. which he cites from Pontius Cyprian his Deacon, who writ his life and suffering. Galerius Maximus the Governour having sent for him, when he came to him he asked him, art thou Statius Cyprianus? Cyprian answered, I am. Galerius the Proconsul said, art thou he whom the Christians call their father? Cyprian answered I am; the Proconsul said, our Princes have commanded thee to worship the gods, Cyprian answered, I will not do it, the Proconsul repli'd, thou wouldst do better if thou woul…st provide for thy safety and not contemne the gods; Cyprian answered, Christ is my safety and power, whom I desire to serve for ever; the Proconsul said, I am sorry for thy life and would provide for thee; Cyprian replied, I desire no better thing provided for me then that worshipping my God, I may hasten to him with all earnestnesse of mind, because the sufferings of this life are not worthy of the glory that shall be revealed in us: Galerius the Proconsul being angry, said, thou hast a long time lived with a wicked mind, and hast gathered men of a wicked conspiracy unto thee, and hast showne thy selfe an enemie to the gods, and therefore thou shalt be an example to others, and in thy blood they shall learn instruction; then he gave sentence saying, let Statius Cyprianus refusing to sacrifice to the gods be beheaded, which sentence being after recited out of a table, was excecuted. We see in this worthy Saint, what a Chrstian plainnesse was manifested.
Eusebius lib. 8. cap. 3. sets forth the manner of those who strove in persecution under the Emperour Dioclesian, saying, one being brought to those wicked sacrifices, though he did not sacrifice, yet seeming as if he had sacrificed, he was sent freely away; another though he had not come neer (meaning to the altar) nor touched any impure thing, yet the Gentiles saying that he sacrificed, being silent he bore their reproach, and so broke away; Another cried out with a loud voice, that he did altogether refuse their sacrifices; another rejoycing in the wholsome name of Christ, cried out that he was a Christian; another affirmed for certaine, that he neither had sacrificed, neither would sacrifice hereafter: if the like times of triall should come, there would be, as plainnesse in some in their confession, so much deceit in others.
4 Let this confession be with meekenesse and feare, 1. Pet. 3.15. Be ready to give an answer to every one that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meeknesse and feare: Meekenesse to men, to all men, to the Persecu…ors, whether Magistrates, or others; a proud passionate cariage in the confessing o… any truth never gained any persecutor …o the faith, but many have been wrought upon by an humble meeke cariage; let there be also feare, both feare of God, that what we professe with our tongue, the searcher of hearts may testifie with us, and feare of men, having a respective humble cariage towards them. See this meeke cariage in Christ his confession, Ioh. 18.22. when a Souldier smote him with the palme of his hand while he was speaking, see how meekely Christ speaks, vers. 23. If I have spoken evill, beare witnesse of the evill; but if well, why smitest thou me. A proud tumultuous boysterous cariage, hinders the passage of the most glorious truth, though confest with much plainenesse: let there be meekenesse in opposition to pride and fury, meeknesse in opposition to revenge, after Christs example, when he was persecuted hee threatned not, 1 Pet. 2.23.
5. Let thy confession be with constancy, let times be favourable or adverse, yet still confesse the same truth. It was the brand of the stony ground hearers, that as soone as tribulation or persecution did arise because of the word, by and by they were offended, Mat. 13.21. Cyprian de lapsis, pag. 238 speaking of the Saints of those times saith. The beautifull troupe of the Souldiers of Christ is prese…t, who by a constant encounter have broken the turbulent cruelty of the pressing persecution, being prepared to the suffering of imprisonment, and armed to the enduring of death. Such a disposition was in Paul, Acts 21 13. I am content not onelyonly to be bound, but to dye for name of the Lord Iesus. Moreover Cyprian addes, Pag. 241. He may complaine of torments, who is overcome by torments; he may pretend excuse of griefe, who is overcome in griefe; such an one may intreat and say, I would truely strive valiently, and bei…g mindfull of my Sacramen…all bond, I tooke up the weap…ns of devotion and faith, but divers torments and long punishments overcome me, fighting in the encounter, but my mi…de stood fi…me, and my faith strong. Such were those Worthies, Hebr. 11.35. others were tortured not accepting deliverance that they might obtain a better resurrection; the meaning is, when they were upon the racks, the persecutors offered them deliverance if th…y would recant such a truth as they had begun to acknowledge, or if they would subscribe to such a… errour as they had began to protest against; but these Saints, though they felt the vehemency of their anguishes, and w…re s… sible of the benefit of present ease, yet would they not com… off from their tortures. W…at death, torment, and torture, ought we not to endure ra…her th…n sin deliberately against our consciences, in not co…fessi…g constanel; fie…y …n…ces, and Lyons denns o…ght not to be sh…d in this case; we cannot alledge a nec…ssity of sinning, when our religion calls for a nec…ssity of not sinning. If we …ne deliberatly against our consciences, u…lesse per…aps in ease of extreame tortures, may we not qu…stio… wh…h…r there be any uprightnesse in us. If this bee not the pitch of Gospel-obedience not to sinne against conscience, for the escaping of cross…s, or the ob…aining of enjoyments, I know not what is; If at every great lift, we may sin against our consciences to esape some great crosse, or obtaine som… great enjoyment, sure then it is nothing to be a Christian; and the commands of Christ of leav…ng all for him, seeme to be to no great purpose: Gods trayning up of Abraham, first to leave his Countrey, and then to sacrifice his son; his directing of Moses, first to leave the pleasures of Egypt, and then to suffer reproches and other afflictions with Gods people, his inuring of Paul to be in deaths often, in stripes, nakednesse and hunger, doe poi…t out to us, that we ought to do duty, of which confession is one of the principall, whatsoever become of us. It was well said of a moderne learned man. As he is not to be counted an Orthodox Professor that holds his Creed when none gainesayes, but doub…s, or recants, when the adversary opposes; so is he no Christian, but tainted with hypocrisie, that assents unto the goodnesse of divine precepts, w…les tentations are farre off, but dis-esteeme therein the choise, whiles they come in competition with sensuall pleasures, to which …le adde, or sensible torments.
Iackson on the Attributes, pag. 74. but being he explaines this more fully, pag, 80. Ibid. Ile recite his words, saith he. Wee are then said to beleeve matters of our owne salvation, when we assent unto them as good, as necessary, and worthy to be embraced, not onelyonly while considered in themselves or in generall, or without such encumbrances as doe oftentimes terpose or hinder their practise; but even whilst they are actually compared with present losse of any sensuall good, or infliction of any transitory evill, which the world, the devil, or the flesh, can oppose to raise their price.
The point whereupon our Confession revolues, as the doore upon the hinges, or the Heavens upon the Pole, is this, that God upon no termes is to be left, but that the enjoyment of him is a greater good then all other goods, and the losse of him a greater evill then all other losses. I am the larger in in this property, not onelyonly beca…se there are many divine truths in our first apprehension …ssented unto as good, and therefore truely willed, whiles simply considered, which wee evidently refuse or nill, when we come to question about their price; but also because in peaceable times there are many principles which we embrace as absolute truths, which when we are called to suffer for, we first beginne to question, whether they be truths, and afte… a small consultment with flesh and blood, we conclude the Negative, that such things so formerly acknowledged for reall truths, are now no other then falsehoods and mistakes; and if the times whirle about again, persons they can re-assume their former principles but yesterday condemned, and they shall be absolute truths tomorrow, which is in effect to play fast and loose with the searcher of hearts.
Most certainely perswaded even the weakest must and ought alwayes to be, upon the highest termes of absolute necessity, to confesse the eternall truth of God, and not to be daunted for the opposition of man or devill, which how this can be in any uniformity in religion (unlesse the agreement be in very generalls) without the persecution of many such weake ones, seemes to me to be a mistery.
OnelyOnly we must distinguish betwixt Articles of our Faith and opinions; the former we must constantly so confesse, that we dare venture all we have in this present world upon them, the latter which is opinions or probabilities of which there are many deduced from Scripture, these we confesse sufficiently when being asked, we confesse our selves to hold such a thing as an opinion; but our judgement doth rather incline to this side, or the other, but yet not without some feare of the contrary.
It was well said of one, Burrowes heart divis. p. 176. ex Chilling. whose words are. If I did not find in my selfe a love and desire of all profitable truth; if I did not put away idlenesse, and prejudice, and worldly affections, and so examine to the bottom, all my opinions of divine matters, being prepared in mind to follow God, and God of only, which way soever he shall leade me; if I did not hope that I either do, or endeavour to do these things; certainly I should have littl… hope of obtaining salvation: to which I shall …dde, whatsoever truth God shall lead me unto, in such a mea…ure… flight, that I shall acknowledge it to be undoubtedly on… o… Gods truthes. If I have not an habit in my heart, to confesse it to the losse of limbe, liberty, and life, I can have no ground to believe, that either my faith, is a faith unto righteousnesse, or my hope, is a hope unto glory, seeing the Apostl… saith, Rom. 10.10. with the heart, man believeth unto righteousnesse, and with the tongue, Confession is made unto Salvation.