The Abuse of Gods Grace, Chapter 5 · Section 14
SECT. 14.
5. THe error of abuſive Interpretation of Scripture, hath ſadly 14. Abuſive Interpretations of Seriptures hath produced the abuſe of graceproduced looſe Monſters in Religion: The Devil, the Arch-Antiſcripturiſt, well knoweth, that the Scriptures rightly underſtood and uſed, are the down-fall of his Kingdom: If he cannot baniſh the faith of its Divine Authority out of the world, he doth what he can to hinder it's efficacy: Among ſundry ways he uſeth to make void the benefit of it, this is one to deprave the ſenſe: If he can make Gods word ſpeak his own interpretation he hath his end, a dark minde, a looſe heart, and a debauched life: By turning the pure and genuine meaning of the Scripture, into ſtrange and adulterate, he hath a double ſucceſs; firſt the obedience of his own will, and then the colour and Patronage of Gods word, to make his cheats ſacred and unſuſpected: He hath Scripture on his ſide to conſecrate and facilitate his wickedneſs, and his Scholars of ſad deluſion, wreſt it to their own deſtruction, 2 Pet. 3. 16. Is it not made a Sanctuary for Popery, Heriſie, Hypocriſie, Cruelty, Worldlineſs, yea, groſs Prophaneneſs? O high diſhonor to the Holy Ghoſt, who revealed to holy Men, who wrote and publiſhed the Scriptures, that ſpurious, idolatrous, ſilthy ſenſes ſhould be laid at the chaſte doors of Gods holy word! O eminent peril to immortal ſouls! When bold Ignorance, carnal Affections, Luſts and Intereſts give the ſenſe of the Word! The ſad iſſue is, The word of life is turned into a word of death: The true Light of Divine Knowledge is dimm'd or blown out: Sincere Milk is turned into deceitful Poyſon: The Chryſtal Waters of the Sanctuary, are bemired, from holy turned into impure: The Helliſh Archer endeavors to out-ſhoot God in his own Bow, and by the leave and licence of abuſed Scripture, he lures brain-ſhot erring Chriſtians, into the ways of ſin and death. To open this, wherein abuſive ſenſe of Scripture doth advantage a looſe Faith and a wanton Life, as in Church Hiſtory, in all Ages ſince the Apoſtles, and in the preſent Age, would be fitter for a Book then a Section. I ſhall inſtance in ſome Sect-Maſters, or ſides of corrupt Gloſſers and abuſers of the ſacred Text. Where were your underſtandings, O Arians! who could not ſee the plain God-head of Jeſus Chriſt, in that you read him equal with the Father, without any robbery to his Glory, Phil. 2. 6. and that by him were made all things that were made, John 1. 3. Did ever meer Creature make all things? What though he ſaid my Father is greater then I, John 14. Could you not diſtinguiſh, he was ſo as Chriſt was Man, or as Mediator, but not ſimply as the Eternal Son of God: Theſe wanton wits, that by wreſting the word, have denyed Chriſts God-head, the Mediator of Grace, and ſo poſſibility of Grace, have (as Hiſtory Records) been abuſive enemies of the Goſpel of grace, and moſt bloody Perſecutors of Orthodox and gracious Chriſtians. So what high diſhonor to God, the Law, the Goſpel, Chriſtian Liberty and Profeſſion, have the Antinomian party publiſhed to the World, who have made theſe Scriptures, Ye are not under the Law, but Grace, Rom. 6. 14. The Law is not made for a righteous man, 1 Tim. 1. 9. and ſuch places, to ſpeak that it never intended a diſcharge from obligation to the Laws direction and obedience; as an erring Preacher of this way, alledging this Text, Wherefore, my Brethren, ye are become dead to the Law by the Body of Chriſt, Rom. 7. 4. roundly ſaid, Believers are not onelyonly free from the Minatory and Promiſſory, but Mandatory part of the Law. A groſs Opinion, which as it blots out the Ten Commandments out of the Canon, ſo it opens a door to all diſſolute Converſation.
Further, What infinite miſchief to the comforts of the Faith and hope of Chriſtians, and to the power of godlineſs, have that pernicious Sect of Allegoriſts done, as to the glorious Article of Chriſtian Faith, The …eſurrection of the Body Hymenaeus and Philetus, held the Reſurrection was paſt already, and overthrew the faith of ſome, 2 Tim. 2. 18. It is thought by ſome, they held no Reſurrection but of Baptiſmal Regeneration, in which there is riſing to a new life: The confounding and wreſting the Corporal into an Allegorical Reſurrection, was in Tertullians Sunt qui reſurrectionem mortuorum manife ſio annunciatam, in imaginariam ſignifictionem diſtorquent. Terful in lib. de Reſurrect. Hodie ſunt ſurioſt quidem … Daemonibus obſeſſi, qui ſe libertinos vocant, qui alle gorica reſurrectionem imaginando, veram illam quae nobis promiſſa eſ ſolvunt. Marlo. in Cor. 15. 1.time; His words are, There are thoſe, who do wreſt the reſurrecion of the Body, manifeſtly declared in Scriptures, into an imaginary ſignification, a reſurrection from the death of ignorance to the life of truth. Marcion, Baſilides, Valentinus, Apelles, were poiſoned with the ſame Error. Marlorat noted alſo; the ſame evil ſpirit ſurprized a ſort of furious men poſſeſſed with Devils, who called themſelves Libertines, who imagining an Allegorical Reſurrection, deny the true, literal, promiſed reſurrection of the Body. Satans grand deſign in overthrowing this great truth is a carnal, voluptous, diſſolute life. Let us eat and drink, to morrow we ſhall die, will be the counſel and practice of the fleſh, if the dead riſe not, 1 Cor. 15. 32. The genuine fruit of ſuch a corrupt error, is playing the wanton under, yea againſt the light of nature and grace. At what door any unſtable, licentious Chriſtians of the preſent Age, have ſuffered firſt the queſtioning, then the ſlight aſſent to, and laſtly, the poſitive denial of the bodily Reſurrection to come in, the care of good life goeth out. Moreover, The party of Perfectiſts, under the pretenſions of a compleat tranſcendent grace, inherent in the regenerate, having firſt abuſed the word of grace, have eminently diſhonoured regenerating grace. That ſweet & grand truth, whoever is born of God, ſinneth not, & Joh.
3. 9. That is, either the ſinne unto death, or reigning ſin as in the unregenerate, is wreſted as the ſupport of a poſſible perfect innocence, yea as the cover of any ſinne, not to be accounted ſin; if in the regenerate. The Pelagians and Cathariſts abuſed this place, ſo called, becauſe they ſeigned Beleevers in Libertinorum inſana opinio, qui perſuadent omnem ſenſum peccati abjici endum, quod hominum imperfectorum ſit conſcientiae motibus perturbari: & eos dicunt vere in Chris̄to renatos & a mortuis excitatos qui nullum peccati ſenſum amplius habent, et exiſtimant quicquid agant, vel tentent, placere fect Deo unde quum apudipſos adulteria & facinora hujuſmodi deprehenduntur, ea ne quaquam inſiciantur, ſed aiunt ſibi non eſſe peccata, quod ea pro peccatis non habeant: ſed illis ad pecca tum imputari praedicant quiper infirmita tem peccata eſſe exiſtimant. Marlor. in 1 Cor. 9. 9.this life have an Angelical purity: ſome Anabaptiſts have renewed this dream. The ſame folly the Spirit of Error hath tranſmitted to the ſottiſh Quakers. All which depravers of the holy Text, the ſame Apoſtle John that wrote it, hath ſufficiently confuted in theſe words, If we ſay we have no ſinne, we decieve our ſelves, and there is no truth in us. How eaſie is it for ignorant, looſe. ſtupid ſinners, to perſwade themſelves they are born of God? And if nothing they doe is ſinne, with what bold ſecurity, unbridled liberty, and unconſcionable inſenſibility, will they give themſelves up to the uncontrouled ſwing of their domineering Luſts? How ſadly hath the word of truth, concerning Regeneration and Perfection been abuſed, of old and preſent times. The ſaying of Marlorat hath been tranſcribed in the erring braines, and looſe lives of ſome Monſters of Chriſtian profeſſion among us. 'Tis the mad opinion of Libertines who perſwade (ſaid he) that all ſenſe of ſin is to be caſt off, that it appertaines to imperfect men to be diſturbed by the motions of conſcience: And therefore they ſay they are truly regenerate in Chriſt, and raiſed from the dead, who have no more ſenſe of ſin, and think what ſorever they do or hold pleaſeth God. When they are taken in Adultery, and ſuch kind of villanies, they doe not deny them, but ſay they are no ſinnes to them, becauſe they do not account them ſo but they affirm they are onelyonly imputed to them as ſin, who through their weakneſs think they are ſins. If this be weakneſs to account ſin ſin and to be troubled for it, and it be Chriſtian perfection not to think ſin ſin, nor to have an awakened ſenſible conſcience of ſin, I know not what wickedneſs is. O ſad, and deſperate deluſion! Here is the plain efficacy of Satan, to, miſcall an admantine, remorſleſs heart, Chriperfection of life and healths activity? Yet the of the Chriſtian name, dare call the ſtupidity of a dead and ſeared conſcience, Perfection. If we right name and nature it, let it bee called Perfection, but of wickedneſs, not holyneſs. 'Tis a character of ſinners paſt grace, They give themſelves over to laſciviouſneſſe. to work all uncleanneſs with greedineſs; and that a licentious impenitent liberty may never meet with check again, they are ſaid to be paſt feeling, the word imports, paſt grieving. Eph. 4. 19. There is ſome hope of recovery in a troubled conſcience, none a ſorrowleſs. Trouble of ſpirit for wickedneſs, may ſtop a bold careere hel- wards, and beget thoughts of returning, but he that gallops to deſtruction, hath not an inward pang, a ſing, a groan, a tear in his way, muſt infallibly periſh. Wel were it if this vile ſpirit of error had been in that hell of groſs darkneſſe …hence it came; but the ſame impudent Diabolical looſeneſs, that Reformed Writers condemned and diſcovered long. agoe, a generation of falſe adulterate Chriſtians have revived, in our ſad, infamous, and ſpotted times; I mean the Ergtiſh Borborities, impure Ranters, whoſe toadiſh natures have ſuckt up that venome their looſe fraternitie powred out in the time of Calvin, Marlorat, and others; as Calvins Opuſcula, eſpecially his judicious and Zealous Tract againſt Libertines; and Marlorat in his New Teſtament Expoſitions. But O you ſcandals of the Engliſh name, and bolts of Chriſtianity, Heavens ſcorn, and Hels triumph, the higheſt form in Satans School, that rant it out, in moſt free and liberal allowances of your uncontroled Luſts; that make not ſins definition The tranſgreſſion of Gods Law, 1. loh. 3. 4. but a Thought an Opinion! Nothing is ſinne with you, unleſs you think and account it ſo, who have ſo much ſinned againſt conſcience, that you have quite caſt off the ſenſible conſcience of ſin, if your debauched looſeneſs hath not caſt off the Eible and ſ…n-discovering books out of your hearts and hands, and providence may lead you to the reading of this Section, I beſeech you fear, tremble, repent, and know the holy Text of which your impure hearts, unmotified luſts, vile affections, have given a depraved Expoſition, be no patron of, but ſevere enemy againſt your monſtrous impieties, impurities and unrighteous dealings. Wil you not be ſpeechleſs in the arraignment of the Laſt Judgment, when from a double Tribunal of Nature and Grace, Reaſon and Religion, Paganiſm and Chriſtianty, you will be infallibly condemned; You will learn that Virtue is Virtue, Vice Vice, Grace is Grace, and Sin, is Som, whether they be thought or beleeved ſo be or no, & a ſtupid conſcience in a ſtupid helliſh Liberty to ſin, is no Chriſtian but Diabolical Perfection. Conſider from what ſtairs you have almoſt deſcēded into the bottomleſs pit. Have you not in ſpiritual pride deſpiſed the Miniſtry and Ordinances of Chriſt? Have you not been formal and dead under them, when you uſed them? Have you not often blunted by your ſtony, hearts, the home and wounding Arrows of informing reproving convictions? When you could not could your workes of darkneſſe with the divine light of truth; Have you not then to cover your old mans deeds, and quiet your often barking, yea ſometimes byting conſcience, called Gods lightdarkneſs, and Satans darkneſs light; Yea by a ſurer artifice to make you quite dead as to unquiet conviction? Have you not firſt given way to wicked ſcepticiſm, doubt almoſt every thing; and which is a further degree of ſoul-ruining deluſion, the difference between Turpe and Honeſtum, Moral Malice & Goodneſſe? Have you not by a curſed, indiſcriminating difference, jumbled Holyneſs and Wickedneſs together, and made nothing ſin, but what you thinks to be ſo? I cannot but tell you if all the Apoſtate Angells ſhould ſit in counſell, why would moſt aſcertayne the the damnation of the children of men, pluck up all religion, and righteouſneſs by the roots, destroy Churches and commonwealths, queſtionleſſe your opinion and practiſes, would be the Devils maſter-piece to doe it. O Remember whence you are fal'n and repent. Be convinced the Law is holy, Juſt and good. God hath foreign Iren. adverſus Hare. foreign Iren. Ibid.pure eyes. No evil can dwell with him. He hath no fellowſhip with the unfruitfull works of darkneſſe. Study the Ten commandements, read Mr. Dod and others. Know and beleeve the Rules of the Goſpel are ſtrict and ſevere againſt Libertines; and be ſure of it, your ſoul wounds are ſo deep and dangerous, that it muſt be an extraordinary repentance that muſt heal them. You that have wreſted the pure word of Gods grace, and followed ſeduced Chriſtians in the time of Ireneus, who held perfection, boldly aſfirmed, they knew more then Paul, Peter, or any other Apoſtle, and yet ranted it like you in this opinion and practiſe, they freely did all things they pleaſed, without any fear in any things. O trace the penitentiall ſteps of a ſeduced ſifter of your in error, the beantiful wife of a Deacon in Aſia, who being by an inchanting love-cup defiled in ſoul, and Proſtituted in body, by one Mark an unclean Magician, pretending to make the moſt rich and beſt apparell'd women Propheteſſes, was with much labour converted, from her irreligions, and impure error and practiſe by the Chriſtian brethren of that time, and ceaſed not to confeſſe with bitter teares and mourning the impure violation of her body and ſpirit from that wicked Magician. Your Apoſtacy from Chriſt, into the impure ſinke of corrupt opinion, and it may be anſverable practiſe, is very greivous, your return had need be eminent in conſtant mourning, bitter weeping, pure and ſtrict living. So I paſs from you to other Abuſers of the Scriptures, Chriſtian Profeſſion, and themſelves. The Apoſtle Peter hath an high expreſſion of a real Saint, the living Id eſt, quaſi Deiſicari, ut loquamur. Marl. Notandum cst naturae nomen hic non ſubſtantiam ſed qualitatem deſignate.picture of Chriſt. He is partaker of the divine nature, anhigh expreſſion Marlorat thinks not to be parallel'd in the Old be parallel'd in the O and New Teſtainment, it is as if we ſhould ſay the Saint were deified; Quaſi, as if, not that he is ſo. The holy Writer well expounds the word Nature doth not deſign ſubſtance but qualitie; or, as I heard judicious Maſter Whitaker, now with Chriſt, interpret, The divine nature is not the divine eſſence, but the divine reſemblance. The Manichees, a diſſolute Sect, dreamed wee are the offspring of Gods ſubſtance, and at length after death Hodie fanatici, nos in Dei naturam tranſire imaginattur.ſhall return into his Being our Original; ſo ſome fanatical men fancy, we ſhall paſs into the nature of God, and his divine nature ſhall ſwallow us up, abuſing as this Text of the Apoſtle Peter, ſo that of the Apoſtle Paul, 15. 28. God ſhall be all in all. Not that we are, or ſhall be, or can be parts of the divine eſſence, a blaſphemy againſt the ſimplicitie of God, which is incapſble of compoſition or diviſion, but becauſe being partakers of Quantum modulus noster feret.divine, created glory and immortallity, we ſhall be as it were one with God, in the light and life of a glorious eſtare, as much as veſſels of honour are capable of. Some looſe Libertines among us, the ſad monuments of Apoſtaſie from the Truth, have come near the brink, yea ſunk into this blaſphemous error. Moreover thoſe Texts which anſwerable to natural reaſon, give God as the firſt cauſe and being, an univerſal cauſalitie and efficiencie in the Acts of ſecond cauſes contirgent as wel natural & Rational, as of Senſe and Vegetation, as That in him we have being and motion: He workssall things according to the Counſell of his will Go doth all and the Creature doth nothing without him: From the wreſted truth of the divine concourſe to ſecondary acts, doubt not boldly to lay their ſpurious wickedneſſe at the doores of the holy God, as if Gods motions in the creature pure, and innocent, could juſtifie the irregularities and monſtrous exorbitances of ſinful men, when they know without Coaction, they with a willing ſpontaneity, vile affection, and evill cuſtome, doe mingle their corruptions with Gods innocent operations. Theſe wantons that ſhroud their ſinnes under the Apology and ſanctuary of Gods Agency in ſecond cauſes, will be one day without repentance, informed in a diſtinction to their everlaſting ſhame and puniſhment, That Gods working in vitious Actions, and theirs, are as different as light and darkneſs; His motion is Metaphyſically and naturally good, theirs morally evil. His moving the faculries of the ſoul, and members of the body, are pure, unblameable, and neceſſary upon the preſuppoſal of his being the firſt mover, intimately cooperating in every ſecond motion, as alſo upon the neceſſary reputation of his infinite purity and goodneſs, which cannot be the leaſt cauſative influence, in the leaſt evil diſpoſition or action, as formally evil, but it is they have blended divine pure activities with their own evil mixtures; as for example, It is Gods efficacious concourſe, that the hand with a ſword in it is ſtretched out, it is mans wickedneſs that hath made the motion murderous. Gods motions are ſtrait, looſe walkers motions are crooked. Gods actions are the fruit of his operative Providence, whereby being and moving is ſupported. Their actions are the impure reſults of depraved corruption. Laſt of all, among many reviſhers of the ſacred Text from its pure and chaſt meaning, in reference to the Abuſe of Grace, Mammoniſts with their filthy lucre, caſt dirt on the holy Word, and are cum Privilegio worldlings by Scripture licence and countenance. Two texts among others, are the ſtrong hold for their earthly minds: Parents lay up for their children, 2 Cor. 12. 14. And he that provides not for his own is worſe than an Inſidel, 1 Tim. 5. 8 …oth are true, but miſerably abuſed by uncompaſſionate, covetous hearts. The firſt of laying up for children, was never intended to ſwallow up laying out in works of Charity and Mercy. But what though Gods allowance, and Parents indulgence may lawfully make their children, the heirs in part of their Eſtates, will this excuſe their diſ-inheriting Chriſt in the neceſſitous poor? will this excuſe their rebelling againſt the Goſpel? Old & New Teſtament requities for liberal alms; giving nothing, or next to nothing, in no proportion to eſtates. Amongſt the ſayings of ancient & modern holy writers, yea the confeſſions of heathens, that might eaſily ſwel into a Book: Some ſayings out of Salvian, might make Scripture Worldlings to tremble, who profeſs their portion is in God, and give ſad grounds of Jealouſie, 'tis only in this life. When they thus Apologize, we know what Gods Juſtice demands, what ſacred truth requires, but we …rfeſs, we are bowed under the yoak of our fleſhly allience, we Dedimus cap… manus vincal… charitatis, c…ſſ… ſaenguint …es, & vicerunt devotionē rel…gionis jura pictatis. Salvian. contra Ava…iti…. Ʋi… excu…un… non excuſans.have given our captive hards to the chairs of our Parental affections: The voice of blood is lowder then that of faith, and the rights of nature have ſwallowed up the devotion of Religion. Something may be ſaid to cover, but not to cure the diſeaſe of worldlineſs, a ſhadow of excuſe, not excuſing, giving to the guilty a ſhew of deprecation, no ſecurity from the cry of guilt. O worldly I arent, whoſe all it is, to heap up eſtates for thy children, or the main of thy earthly travel and ſolace! The unhappieſt man in the World! Doeſt thou think how well others ſhall live after thee, and not how ill thou art like to die? Tell me, I pray thee, O miſer! O Infidel! when many are inriched with thy divided Patrimony, and greedy Purchaſes, have you ſo ill deſerved of your ſelf, as not to advantage your ſoul, by charity to ſtrangers? … de … es …am male meritus?Take this choice admonition, Let no man prefer his deareſt childe above his ſoul: Chriſtians are ſo to conſult the good of their Heirs in this life, as to accommodate themſelves in Eternity: Facilius eſt hic deeſſe quippiā, quam parentibus in futuro: & multo eſt levior praeſens tenuitas quam aeterna paupertas, ib.'Tis better that children ſhould want ſomething here, then Parients all hereafter: Preſent mean eſtate, is better then eternal poverty: Better that Heirs want a large Patrimony, then the Teſtators their ſalvation; yea, they to whom Inheritances are left, if they have any piety, bowels, mercy to them that leave them, ſhould be glad of their pious liberality leſt they periſh. Hearken hide-bound heart-bound Parents, that have the judgement of withered hands upon you, to the words of Chriſt, He that loves Sonor Daughter more then me, is not worthy of me, Matth. 10. 37. Have ye baniſhed ſelf-love from your ſelves? ſoul love, is true ſelf-love: O unbelief! O perverſeneſs! 'Tis a vulgar ſaying, Charity begins at home: This is a new kinde of Monſter, to conſult the well-fare of any one but ones ſelf: Behold, thou art to goe, O man of matchleſs miſery, to a ſacred tryal, to that trembling and intolerable Judgement, where onelyonly a good Conſcience, an innocent Life, & works of Mercy, will refreſh thee: Where a liberal minde, a fruitful repentance, and copious alms will befriend thee. What if immoderate ſcraping together for thine bei…s, ſhut Heaven againſt thee, Mens larga, Paenitentia fructuoſa, Eleemo ſynae copioſae.and open hell to receive thee; Will the memory of thine heirs vaſt and voluptuous Eſtate, eaſe thy Bed of flames? Will the thoughts of their delitious tables, even to glut and wantonneſs, afford thee a crum of mercy, a drop of water to cool & abate thy torturing pangs? Hadſt thou not been better by a Bill of Exchange to have ſent a great part of thine Eſtate in works of mercy into the other world?
As to the other refuge of Tenacious, covetouſneſſe, he that provides not for his own houſe is worſe then an Infidell, how is this Text made to ſpeak on the Miſers ſide? and how far from his Protection? The mind of the Spirit and the Apoſtle in thoſe words, was not to countenance a confined uſe of chriſtians eſtates within the Pale of their own families, but to taxe and caution againſt the Aboliſhment of naturall affections, and neceſſary proviſions in careleſſe family-guides, under the Pretenſions of piety. This inhumanity to ones own fleſh and bloud ſets profeſſed chriſtians Sunt foreign.below Heatheniſh Infidells, who are by the guide of Nature, propenſe to love their own: Of kin to this, is that Popiſh Inhumanity, which is cryed up for ſuperlative Piety, if any leave their wife, children, and aged Parents, or go a Pilgrimage to Jeruſalem, or cloyſter up themſelves in a Monaſtery. The Catabaptiſts, as Marlorat noted, were beſotted with the ſame madneſſe, for leaving their wives and children; as aſtoniſhed witleſſe fanatick men, they run up and down, To propagate (as they fancied) the Dominions of Chriſt. The ſame wild courſe, the brainſick Ita ſe pomeria Chriſti propagaturos dixerant. Marloin 1 Tim. 5.beſotted Quakers take in theſe dayes, leaving their deareſt Relations, in tedious journyes, where Satan called the ſpirit is pleaſed to ſend them, whom the Holy Spirit calls worſe then Infidells for undoing their families to propagate the light within them, from County to County, ſuch as theſe as oppoſe Religion to the neceſſary proviſions of this life, are here intended. But Non ita claudenda eſt res familiaris, ut eam benignitas aperire non poſſet, neque ita referanda ut pateat omnibus, Cicero 2. Offic.what ſpeak thoſe words for worldly Chriſtians of the other extream? Are not they worſe then Infidells, whoſe improved naturall reaſon and moralities, have made them liberall to the poore and needy? Have not theſe denyed the Faith of Scripture, that abundantly commands charitable diſtribution? yea the True faith in God, that is ever fruitfull in the compaſſionate works of Almagiving? Thus too many with Scripture leave as they thinke are Bad Stewards of their Wealth, let the large waters of creature mercies, run out almoſt only in the channells of their own Families, are not the bleſſed ciſterns to convey them into wanting houſes.
Trace all the kinds of abuſing Gods Grace to their proper Oirginalls, and it will be experimented, the wreſting of ſome Scriptures or others, hath been the cauſe of looſe hearts and wanton lives.