The Abuse of Gods Grace, Chapter 1 – Chapter 3
CHAP I. Containing the coherence of the words.
THE Doctrine of the Goſpell, Coherencea Cabinet of precious Jewells, the word of Truth, Holineſſe, and Salvation, from its precious excellency calls for love and carefull cuſtodie. It fares with it as with rich treaſures, in hazard of loſſe and abuſe. The Apoſtle Jude had written to converted Chriſtians, the preſerved and called in Jeſus Chriſt, v. 1. about glorious eternall ſalvation common to the whole houſhold of faith, that v. 1:they would bee faithfull and zealous keepers of this ſacred depoſitum, the word of life, and not ſuffer the ſaving records of the Goſpell, to be wreſted from them, but contend earneſtly for the faith. v. 3. as men doe for their naturall and civill rights. Good reaſon they ſhould give proofe of their vigilant zeal, and ſtedfaſtneſſe v. 3.in the truth, for it was with them, as with a ſhip fraught with ſilver, ſilkes and other precious things, Their heavenly riches was in jeopardy of falſe fingers. Certaine men, rotten-hearted Profeſſors, of the Chriſtian name crept into their aſſemblies unawares, v. 4. ordained, or foreign, forewritten or deciphered, to ſo wicked a frame of heart and life, as would bring them under certain Condemnation; They were ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into laſciviouſneſſe, and denying the only Lord God, and our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt. As when cut-purſes creepe and crowd into aſſemblies, there is neede to looke to ones watch and money; ſo privy invaders and abuſers of the precious and ſwing reports of the Goſpell, call for heedfullnes. Turning the Grace of God &c.
The words are a part of the ſad deſcription of ſome antient Apoſtate Chriſtians, the ſectmaſters and Schollers in pernicious error and libertiniſme, no better then reall blaſphemers (though their tongues were gilt over with the golden language of Goſpell Grace) as if they would have the leave of God to doe the worke of the Devill, they palliated their ſin under grace, as if they would make their wickedneſſe ſacred, the holy Goſpell and the righteous bleſſed God patrons of licenciouſneſs; a ſad copy of defiance againſt the majeſtie of heaven, drawne of old by the firſt Arch deceiver, and Hypocriticall luſts, too skilfully, commonly, Simon docebat Turpitudinem, indifferenter utendi faeminis.and ſcandalouſly written-after by the wanton looſe Goſpellers of the preſent age. Theſe Seducers were the Nicolaitans, ſaith Illyricus, an unclean generation. Such was Simon who taught communitie of women, and the Gnoſtickes, who pretending to an eminent and ſuperlative meaſure of divine knowledge, yet were beaſtly wantons, uſing all uncleanneſſe as the fruit of Gods grace, and declaring that all holy and righteous courſes, were at an end by the preaching of the grace of God, were therefore called and accounted a dirty miry ſect. Theſe and ſuch as theſe turned the grace of God into wantonneſs.
CHAP. II. Containing the explanation of the words. Deduction of a doctrine, with the method of handling of it.
THREE words opened will give the cleare ſence of the Apoſtle in the Text. Turning, Grace, Laſciviouſneſs.
1. Turning. The word imports Tranſplacing, foreign. Turning.Tranſporting, taking things from their due ſituation to a wrong place, ſo Turning intends the tranſplacing and perverting of grace from the place God had ſet it, into the place luſt, and the Divell would ſet it: transferring it from Gods end to the ſinners, as if by a monſtrous diſplacing and deformed error of nature, the pure Chriſtall eye were ſet on the dirty feet, the Dungcart were followed and ſerved by Nobles in Scarlet, a cleane ſumptuous perfumed chamber, ſhould be debaſed unto the impure office of a veſſel wherein there is no pleaſure.
2. Grace. By it one underſtands the Law of Grace the whole foreign 2 GraceGoſpell ſtate. Another underſtands Chriſtian Religion, a Third the Doctrine of the Grace of God. We may alſo underſtand Gods love and the choiſe tokens of it, Chriſt, his Graces and Spirit. The word Grace comprehends all. Gods favour, his eſpeciall love tokens, his Goſpell the great Epiſtle to his beloved. All this grace by the concurrent wickednes of Satan and the fleſh is diſplaced, perverted and abuſed.
3. Laſciviouſnes. The word is tranſlated Vncleanneſſe. The 3 foreign Laſciviouſnes. foreign Apparet intelligi obſcenitatem in dictis et factis. Grot, Gerhard in loc. Suidas. Jun. Selege oppidum propter libidines infamoſſimume Lorinus foreign.Siriack interpreter hath rendred it Faetorem, Stench, or ſtinking. It is joyned with the word uncleanneſſe. The works of the fleſh are manifeſt. Vncleanneſſe Laſciviouſnes, Gal. 5. 19. Obſcene words and actions are underſtood, and by conſequence their impure fountain whence they flow, The word compriſeth all kind of obſcenitie and luſt: Some affirme the word foreign, is from foreign and foreign a Citie between Galatia and Cappadocia, from foreign that is an Intenſive Enlarging the ſence, and Selege a Towne moſt infamous for Luſt. The word alſo is tranſlated wantonneſs. Let us not walke in wantonneſſes. The terme is Plurall, Wantonneſſes. Rom. 13. 13. In it's full and comprehenſive meaning, it imports all looſe prophane abuſe in heart and life of Gods grace, and is extenſive to all licentiouſneſſe in ſin in all the filthines of fleſh and Spirit, from the higheſt to the loweſt unpurged defilement.
The ſumme is. Theſe monſters of men, unworthy the name of Chriſtians, the Reproach of the Goſpell, doe transfer the grace of God in his favour, ſpirit, graces, and doctrine of his bleſſed Goſpell, from the high end God intended it, of holynes and righteouſneſſe, into a wanton looſeneſſe, and daring licentiouſnes in ſin.
This being done in the times and places amongſt the perſons of Goſpell light that owne the name of Chriſtian. The Doctrine will be. hat,
In Goſpell times the Grace of God hath ſuch high abuſe as to Doctrine. be turned into wantonneſſe.
In handling this ſad truth I ſhall enquire into ſix things, Method of handling the Doctrine.1. What are the kinds of Turning Gods Grace into wantonneſs? 2. When it is Turned into Wantonneſs? 3. Why it is Turned into wantonneſſe? 4. How great is the ſin thereof? and 5ly What is the Puniſhment God uſually followes this ſin withall? 6ly and laſtly, What improvement we may make of it by ſome uſefull Application?