Anti-Socinianism, Dedication 4
To my once Beloved Charge, the Inhabitants of St nicholas at Wade, in the Iſle of Thannet.
Beloved,
IT is not unknown to you, that I voluntarily left a very loving people, and a more beneficial place, to come among you, and reſide with you, expecting (and not without reaſon) a more then ordinary ſucceſs of my poor labours, with a retaliation of affection from you: But through the malicious ſubtilty of ſome abroad, and the notorious hypocriſie of others at home, I have been ſtrangely fruſtrate in my expectation: Yet (I hope) there are among you ſome, who will give me cauſe to ſay, I have not laboured in vain. God (the Searcher of all hearts) ſhall witneſs for me, that I have not ceas'd to declare unto you, while I was with you, even the whole counſel of God, eſpecially by thoſe Doctrines which I conceived to be moſt needful and neceſſary for you: And being now departing from you, I commend this poor Piece as a laſting monument of my Affection to you; Therefore (I pray) accept this free will Offering with the ſame hand and heart it is tendered to you. I have not wrote any thing to the prejudice of the perſon of the Author of the D…alogue, whoſe Chriſtian Moderation in many things, is kn…wn to many; whoſe holy converſation may be a pattern to moſt; yet I am not willing that Truth ſhould ſuffer by the hand of any whatſoever, much leſs be wounded by thoſe that pretend to be her best friends, and make an eſcape in a croud, without any notice taken of it. I do not, cannot look to eſcape cenſures abroad, no more then St Paul did perils, and among the rest, eſpecially by falſe Brethren, who are poſſeſſed with ſuch a ſpirit of Pride and Bitterneſs, that ſcorning and reviling the works of others, how painful and elaborate ſoever, they think nothing well done, but what they do themſelves: Let me therefore (my good friends) find kindneſs and curteſie from you at home, lest it repent me, not that I undertook, and by Gods mercy finiſhed, but that ever I publiſhed theſe weak endeavours of mine. I have here unmasked Errour and Hereſie, that you may the better ſee them, and ſeeing, know them, and knowing, avoid them, when you ſhall meet them in what ever Paint or Dreſs of Piety and Purity they ſhall ſeek to ſhroud or ſhelter themſelves, ſo that you be not deceived by them.
I have made uſe of ſuch Authors in the managing of this high and holy buſineſs, as have gone before me, and were needful for me: They (I ſuppoſe) may paſs currant without any prejudice, or prejudicial cenſure: But my ſelf, and what is mine, do importune your favour, which, I preſume, will be the eaſier attained, in regard we both intend nothing but good unto you.
We are they (my friends) upon whom the very Ends of the World are come; in which, not only homo homini Lupus, one man is a Wolf to another, preying upon the Body, Name, and Eſtate; but homo homini Daemon, one man is a Divel to another, labouring to enſnare and betray the Souls, the precious Souls one of another. It is very neceſſary then that we take heed unto our ſelves, that we be not ſlightly carryed on to our own deſtruction. What caution the Apostle gave his Coloſſians, the ſame do I give to you; Let no man ſpoil you through Philoſophy and vain deceit: And further give me leave to ſay, let no man ſpoil you through Divinity and vain deceit: For no doubt, but the Serpent hath his poyſon in his head, as well as his tayl; and the Divel hath his baits as cunningly ſet on, and as covertly laid in the depths of Divinity, as in the ſhallows of Philoſophy: yea rather did he attempt to have ſpoyl'd the great Commander of Divines with the Theorems of Divinity, then with the Rudiments of Philoſophy; he can frame either, or both, according to the times, places, or perſons with whom he hath to deal, to ſerve his purpoſe, and make for his advantage.
Let us then conſider, what is, or ought to be the credit, countenance, and authority of him that writeth any thing in publike; not his Perſon, though it be Comly; nor his Deportment, though it be Demure; nor his Name, though it be Famous; nor his Learning, though it be Profound, nor his Language, though it be Pleaſing; nor his Stile, though it be Smooth. But rather the Spirit (if not only the Spirit) by which he is guided. For otherwiſe were he as grave and ancient as Melchiſedech, as wiſe and well learned as Solomon, as eloquent and well-ſpoken as Aaron, were he brought up at the feet of Gamaliel, or might he ſit in the Gates of the City for his Judgment and great ability, yet if in theſe the Spirit of Truth accompany him not, we are ſo far from receiving any good from him, that there is the more danger to be infected by him.
And though the only or ſpecial credit of him that writeth, be the Spirit by which he doth it; yet we muſt not believe every one that pretendeth he hath the Spirit. There are many falſe Prophets gone out into the world, and many times (ſuch are the unſeaſoned and unſavoury judgements of men) they are taken, though miſtaken, to have the Spirit of Truth, which indeed are but Spirits of Error: And again, they are eſteem'd as Spirits of Error, in whom the spirit of Truth doth reſide, and hath taken up his Habitation. We had need therefore be the more careful, to what and whom we do give heed, ſo as to follow, or be led by it; and how we judge, leſt we be judged for it. Now the very God of Truth, by his spirit, the spirit of Truth, guide us into all Truth, and keep us blameleſs therein, that we waver not our ſelves, nor give occaſion to others to reproach it, by our diſorderly walking in the Profeſſion of it; which is the earneſt Prayer, and hath been the careful endeavour of
May the 13. 1656. Your once well-wiſhing Paſtor, and your ever well-wiſhing friend N.C.
foreign Or a Cage of Unclean Birds. Containing the Authors Promoters, Propagators and chief Diſſeminators of this damnable Socinian, hereſie. Together with a brief deſcription of their Lives, and a true relation of their Deaths.
I Am perſwaded that it hath bin one of Satans greateſt deſigns either to br…ng Religion into ſcorn and contempt,Satans project to overthrow the practiſe and profeſſion of all true Religion. by proſtituting it to every baſe and unworthy enterpriſe: For there hath not bin any rebellion ſo horrid, nor any ſtratagem ſo hideous, which he hath not ſhrowded under the cloak and covert of Religion: Or elſe to confound it, by ſo great variety, every one pretending his own to be the trueſt, that men might not be able to diſcern truth from falſehood, a fond fain'd, and counterfeit religion; the reſult of ſome Enthuſiaſtick brain, from that which is commanded and commended to us in the Word of God.
Indeed variety in any thing diſtracts the mind,Variety though pl…aſing yet troubleſome, in Religion dangerous. and leaves it in a waving, and wavering condition, and …n a dubious trouble: inſomuch that it is then no hard matter to ſway the mind to either ſide: But among all diverſities that we meet with, none troubles us more, and puts us to more anxious perplexity, then thoſe that are in Religion. This ſtumbles the unſettled ſoul, that not knowing which way to take, without the danger of erring, ſticks to none: ſo dies he, ere he can ſet himſelf with any aſſurance or comfort about that, for which he was made to live; the ſervice of God, advancing his glory, and working not with fear and trembling his own ſalvation, and then the Devil rejoyceth, as having ſo far, as concerns this one poor ſoul, brought his deſign to a deſired iſſue. And for this purpoſe he hath ſelect and choſen inſtruments, The Devils white boyes.his own white boyes, ready preſt to raiſe up new, or to revive ſome old hereſies againſt the moſt abſolute and ſubstantial Articles of true Religion, about which at this time, and in theſe latter dayes, they are buſily employed. Who can reckon up (for I believe it would puzzle a good Arithmetician to number them) what and how many portentous opinions he hath foiſted into the World againſt God, his Nature, and Religion? What horrid errours concerning God, concerning Christ, concerning mans redemption, juſtification, ſalvation, and other articles of our faith, are ſpread abroad among men, and ſo handed from one to another, that they are continued and propagated even to admiration? Among the ancients, we may read that Irenaeus. Tertullian, Epiphanius, Philaſtrius, Auguſtine, Damaſcene, Leontius Byzantinus, with Harmenopolus, and divers others, have bin all occupied in confuting the ſeveral ſects and hereſies of their age; nor have we bin (by reaſon of the great encreaſe and groweth of hereſies …n our t…me, without our moderne heretick hunters, which have traced them out, and purſued them to the purpoſe. And yet for all this a man would be amazed at the multiplicity, and monſtrority of the blaſphemous Doctrine and diabolical ſuggeſtions, which are ſtill broached by theſe hereticks, to obſcure the bright face of Religion, and are delivered over for Doctrines of truth to their Diſciples; yea there hath not b n any th…ng deviſed, be it never ſo enormous and deteſtable, never ſo void of reaſon and Religion which hath not, by one heretick or other, bin caught up, publiſhed abroad maintained and defended, as ſome notable and tranſcendent truth.
Now hereſy …s variouſly deſcribed,Hereſy deſcribed. ſometimes more largly, ſometimes more ſtrictly; Rightly to define hereſy is, as I think, impoſſible, there being ſo many faces, as it were under one hood, all mak…ng for it, yet every one diſclaining it; or at leaſt, very difficult; ſo though Auguſtine, and yet in the firſt cap. to Honoratus he g…ves us his judgment concerning it, in his deſcription of an …eretick; which is, ſaith he, one, who for ſome temporal commodity or vain-glory and deſire of rule over the conſciences of others doth either fondly, beget or perverſly and obſtinately follow and maintain ſome ſtrange and falſe Doctrines.
But this is ſomwhat to full and large: That deſciption of St. Hierome is more ſtrict. Whoſoever underſtandeth and applyeth the Holy Scriptures for the maintenance of any Doctrine, otherwiſe then the ſenſe of the Spirit of God doth require or admit, by the ſpecial direction and inſpiration of whom it was firſt penned, not withſtanding he have the judgment of the Church in which he is, and of which he profeſſeth himſelf a member, on his ſide, yet as to be accounted an heretick eſpecially, if that Doctrine which he defends be known to be falſe and erroneous.
Papiſts miſtake it.The Papiſts do give us but an ill definition of hereſy, when they tell us, that he is an heretick who in matters of Faith goes againſt the tenure and practiſe of the Church of Rome. But we would teach them better, could they be won to learn of us, namely; that it is an errour which is ſtiffely maintained contrary to the Articles of the Faith, which are neceſſary to be held and defended by us. I call it an errour, not that every errour is a hereſy, though there can be no hereſy without errour; for errour perſiſted in, conſtitutes an hereſy. The word being ſimply conſidered in it ſelf hath no bad ſignification, how Uſe; The great Maſter of words doth alter and change them, is another matter, for according to the primitive uſe of it in the Schools, from whence it came into the Church, it did but ſerve to diſtinguiſh one ſort or Sect of Philoſophers from another; or to ſpeak more proper, it ſignified the Election or choiſe or ſome one Sect, being ſo diſtinguiſhed; in the buſineſs of Religion we now uſe it as an errour in matters of faith, as when it is contrary to ſome, or ſome one chief article of the faith, then it is properly called hereſy; when it ſets it ſelf in oppoſition to all the Articles of our belief, it is Apostaſie.
Hereſy and Sect neer related.Hereſy and Sect are ſo neer related, that in divers places, and by ſuch as know the ſignification of words, they are taken for one and the ſame thing, and the one tranſlated by the other; but yet we may conceive them to differ thus;Wherein they differ. Hereſy hath relation to Doctrine, Sect to men, or a Company of men ſeparating themſelves from others, and obſerving one and the ſame cuſtomes practiſed, and following the ſame opinion profeſsed among themſelves. So then, they are hereticks, who under the name and profeſsion of Chriſtian Religion, do wilfully hold ſome opinions contrary to the Christian verity, and the chief heads and foundations thereof. Infidels, they fight againſt the truth, But it is not under the banner of a Christian profeſſion, and therefore not ſo dangerous; Hereticks fight under her banner, and yet againſt her, they wound truth in her own coate. Thoſe are without, Turks, Jews and Gentiles, the Lord in due time bring them in; the other are within, too many in conſcience, the Lord in his good time drive them out; againſt both theſe muſt Christians, defend their Religion, and quit themſelves like men; againſt thoſe, that they openly cut it not off; againſt theſe, that they ſecretly root it not up. Theſe are many indeed,No hereſy more dangerous and deſperate then Socinianiſm. but none more dangerous and de…perate, as being farther gone from Christianiſm, and neerer to Gentiliſm, then this Sect of the Socinians whoſe Spſeudo-Divinity ariſeth from no other fountaine, then the abuſe of the principles of reaſon, the corrupting of the words and ſenſe of the Scriptures, and the pretence of Divine revelation; So that they firſt determine by the rule and judgment of their own reaſon, what is, and what is not to be bel…eved, and then they wreſt and wring the Scriptures to make them, if poſſible, ſpeak to their purpoſe; if any of theſe fail; then they fly to their laſt refuge, they have a revelat…on for it, and therefore it muſt needs be ſo, and cannot be otherwiſe, which being taken …or granted, what old hereſies may not be revived? what new ones invented and publiſhed for Doctrines of the Goſpel, needfull and neceſſary for all men to obſerve, and by all means be obedient to? But this muſt not be granted; For if our dim underſtanding ſhould ſearch into thoſe ſacred myſteries, which the Word of God doth publiſh to us, we ſhould certainly loſe our ſelves in their turnings and windings; there being in every one of them ſometh…ng to believe, above that reaſon, which leads us to the ſearch.Reaſon commands and ſhews the cauſes why; Religion bids and ſhews not wherefore. Reaſon gives us the Anatomy of things, and illuſtrates to us, with a great deal of plainneſs, all the wayes that ſhee takes, and all the buſineſs that ſhee undergoes, but her line is too ſhort, to reach the depths of Religion. Reaſon commands, and ſhews the cauſes thereof; Religion bids do a thing, without any enquiry, either why or wherefore; and therefore procures, and that juſtly, the greater reverence.
For what we know not we reverently admire; what we do know, in in ſome ſort, ſubject to the triumphs of the ſoul, becauſe ſhee hath made a diſcovery of it; beſides, this not knowing, makes us not able to judge; and ſo, for the preſent, have loſt the uſe of reaſon; and ſo are forced to cry out with St. Paul, as in an Holy Extaſie, O altitudo & profunditas! ſhould Reaſon be our purveyor in matters of Religion, we might quickly find we had a fat Reaſon, but I am ſure we ſhould have but a lean Religion. Beſides, I ſhould more then ſuſpect his knavery, that ſhould ſet the Scripture on the tenters to make it any wider, then the genuine ſenſe will admit, or ſhould ſuborne it to atteſt any deſperate opinions or heretical blaſphemies, which it utterly abhors. As for their pretended revelations, they are not to be regarded,Revelation meer pretences. for if they get it not by Hook, they ſhall never have it by Crook; if neither Reaſon can perſwade it, nor Religion laid down in the Scriptures, prove it, or allow it: pretended Revelation ſhall never obtain it at our hands, to believe their opinions ſo far, as to be guided and ordered by them; unleſſe we ſhall, by Gods permiſſion, be ſo much deprived of our underſtanding, as that we ſhall not be able to deſcern between the right hand and the left, in matters of Religion. Nor is there a plainer preſage of ruin and deſtruction, then when God ſo taketh away the underſtanding, that refuſing the true ſenſe of the Scriptures, and the good councel that by them is given, men betake themſelves to their own inventions and imaginations, or follow the brainleſſe advice of others, and thereby led aſide after ſeducing Spirits and Doctrines of Devils. When men are once at this point, we may ſay, that God is rearing of a ſcaffold, whereon to take ſome exemplary punishment of them.
If the ſtrict Justice of Almighty God,
Doth ſometimes draw the wicked to the rod,
It firſt bereaves them of their underſtanding,
Then blindeth them, that furious they may run then,
By ſteep down wayes devoied of ſtay or ſtanding,
Unto that death, which their lew'd courſes won them.
This appeareth plain by theſe men, whoſe head long courſes in their heretical wayes, brought them to finiſh their courſe with ignominie and reproach; For the manifeſtation of the juſt judgment of God, upon ſuch as forſake the known truth, and make it their whole employment to ſeduce others from the ſame. We will not trouble our ſelves with any of thoſe famous, or rather infamous hereticks of former ages, we have monſters enough neerer hand, and of our own times, to deal with, nor ſhall we encounter with all of them, but only ſuch as have bin the chief Ring-leaders of, and grand Factors for this hereſy of Socinianiſm, with which we have had to do in the former tract. In which diſcovery we ſhall obſerve the names, manners, places, where, and means by which they have diſperſed and ſpread abroad their deſperate and damnable opinions, together with a ſhort deſcription of the lives, and a ſad, yet t…ue relation of the deaths of many, yea the moſt of them; that the Reader may know what, and what manner of perſons they were, by whom this curſed hereſy was firſt invented, after propagated and promoted, that ſo he may be the leſſe moved by, or affected with thoſe ſly and ſubtill Doctrines, which they thruſt upon the conſciences of their diſciples, as abſolutely neceſſary, on all hands, and in all points to be believed, to ſalvation; the contrary whereunto being very prejudiciall, and ready at all times to bring unto eternal damnation.