The Pouring Out of the Seven Vials, Book 2
THE SECOND VIALL:
REVEL. 16.3.
And the ſecond Angel poured out his viall upon the Sea, and it became as the blood of a dead man, and every living ſoule died in the Sea.
THis Verſe deſcribes the pouring out of the Viall of the ſecond Angel: For the ſubject, He poures it on the Sea; and the effect was, the Sea became as the blood of a Dead man, and the effect of that, on the living ſoules in the Sea, they all dyed. The alluſion is, to a like plague upon Aegypt, in the 7. of Exod. 20 21. Where Moſes ſtrucke the River Nilus, and it was turned to blood, as heere The Sea became as the blood of a dead man; and all the fiſh in the Rivers dyed; that is, of all ſorts ſome.
Now for the meaning of this ſecond Viall. Firſt, for the Sea, What is heere meant by the Sea? And what by the Sea becomming blood, and as the blood of a dead man? And how is every living ſoule in this Sea, ſaid to dye by this means? The Sea cannot be meant the ordinary Sea of waters, for you cannot bring any judgement on that ſea, that can afflict Antichriſtians more then Chriſtians; if you ſhould corrupt all the Sea (as the Papiſts expound it, and yet they beleeve all theſe evils redound to Antichriſt.) What hurt will it be to Antichriſt more then to the Church of Chriſt? If all the fiſh in the ſea died, What would it hurt Antichriſt more then Chriſtian Nations? cannot Antichriſt be ſupplyed with other dainties on the ſhore, out of the Flocks and Heards, and out of the Fields and Woods, and out of the Ayre from the Fowles there, though he never had any Fiſh at his Table? That therefore cannot bee the meaning. But the ſea is the ſea of the Antichriſtian world, a diſtinct world from that heavenly ſtate wherein other Reformed Churches ſtand. The Sea, as you know, is the confluence of all the Rivers and Fountaines of waters; they all finally are gathered together into one place, and are called Sea. And truly the confluence & concourſe of all the ſprings of the Churches, they do meet together in one Religion, that is the common receptacle of all; All my freſh ſprings are in the Lord, Pſal. 87.7. In that Religion which the Church profeſſeth: And therefore Religion was reſembled in the 4 of the Revel. verſ. 6. By the ſea of Glaſſe like unto Chryſtall, that is, all the Ordinances of God they were ſo cleare, as that you n ight ſee Chriſts face in them as in a mirrour or glaſſe, 2 Cor. 3.18.
Wherein the ſtate of Religion in the New Teſtament differed from the ſtate of Religion in the old Teſtament, Where the Brazen ſea in Salomons Temple was indeed bright as braſſe, but thicke and not tranſparent, you could not ſee ſo clearly the blood of Chriſt in it; and yet there was a ſea of Waters: What to doe? In the 2 Chron. 4.2. to the end of the 6. verſe, which was for the Prieſts to waſh in. Now what is it that can cleanſe the Prieſts, but onelyonly the blood of the Lord Ieſus. Now that was reſembled by the water in the Brazen ſea. Therefore all the Ordinances of Chriſt, which did hold forth the blood of Chriſt, to the waſhing and purging of the Prieſts and people of God, that is the ſea. Now this ſea, as you heard in the 15. Chapter of the Revelation, the 2. verſe, In the Reformed Churches is a ſea of Glaſſe, though mingled with Fire; mingled with ſome contention, yet the face of Chriſt might be cleerely ſeene in it. But this ſea heere, that is, the Popiſh Religion, is the confluence of all their Ordinances, as they doe adminiſter the worſhip of God: And upon this ſea, upon this Religion, is the ſecond Viall poured. In the former Viall, Firſt, men ſtumbled at the lives of Papiſts, and therupon at the lives of them that led them, at their Prieſts covetouſneſſe, ignorance, and hipocriſie, they liked not their lives, though at firſt they ſtumbled not at their religion, but thought it was the fault of their lives; but ſoone after, they ſtumble at their Religion; ſo that the next Vial is poured on their Religion, the Ordinances themſelves, as they are diſpenced by them: the Viall is poured on them ſo farre as they differ from Reformed Churches. Then what? This being the ſea, how is this ſea come to be as bloud? That is this Religion of theirs is convinced, and diſcovered to be, not ſuch as holds forth the cleanſing blood of the Lord Ieſus, as the Sea in Salomons Temple did: and as the ſea of Glaſſe like unto Chriſtall did, but holds forth the blood of a dead man: A dead Chriſt, and dead Ordinances to any ſpirituall life. There is no life, no power, no ſavour of goodneſſe in it; as the blood of a dead man, which is not like the living blood of Chriſt, to cleanſe and purifie, and to give life; Whoſoever eats my fleſh; and drinks my bloud hath eternall life, John 6.54 But this is the blood not of the liveing God, but of a dead man, there is the beſt of it, and what is that? Fit to pollute and defile, fit to choake a man, but not to feed him; not to cleanſe and purge him. And every thing living in that ſea dyed: Every thing, That is every ſoule that had no other life, but what was bred and fed in that Religion; and had no other Chriſtian life but what he ſucked and derived from that Religion, they all periſhed everlaſtingly, this is the meaning of the words of the Text.
Now then it may be further demanded for clearing of this meaning, who is this Angell that poures out this viall of Gods wrath on this ſea? the ſea (you ſay) is Antichriſtian religion, for the firſt began with the earth; this goes up higher, and ſo higher, and higher, till it come to the throne, and till at length Babilon be fallen: So that all theſe plagues fall on the antichriſtian ſtate. But who is this Angell that poureth out this Viall? There be ſome conceive that they are they who met in the councell of Trent, and gathered all the ſtreames of Popiſh prieſts, and their doctrine, and practiſe, and ratified them all in that Councell; yea ſome thinke that Bellarmine hath done the Church of God good ſervice, in gathering the body of Controverſies, betweene proteſtants and popiſh Churches, and hath delivered them in ſo many volumes that you might have a whole ſea of antichriſtian doctrine, worſhip, and governement by him confirmed, though I doe not diſlike the notion, and it will fall into the true meaning, yet that holds not cloſe to the letter of the Text, for the Text makes all the Angels to be ſuch as come out of reformed Churches,*Rev. 15 5.6. the Temple open in heaven; members of reformed Churches, all cloathed in pure and white linnen, godly Chriſtians, righteous ſoules, and girded with golden girdles, ſtabliſhed in the truth of the Goſpell, therefore they cannot be the Biſhops, and Doctors of Rome, nor Bellarmine nor any of them that have held forth Popiſh Religion in a Popiſh Church; What then? Then it muſt bee other Miniſters and Profeſſors of reformed religion, who have diſcovered the religion of the antichriſtian ſtate to be as it is.
Obiect. You will ſay can they turne Popiſh Religion to bloud.
Anſw. The Doctors of Trent indeed have, Bellarmine makes it worſe by maintaining and confirming of it. True but can Miniſters of reformed Churches be ſaid to doe ſo. Marke they are ſayd to poure out a viall, not by making their religion worſe, but making it appeare as bad as it was; They being righteous men, they could not corrupt religion, but diſcover it, and make it appeare, that all the decrees of the councell of Trent, and of Bellarmine, and ſuch Popiſh writers; they diſcovered them to bee nothing but a ſea of corrupt doctrine, and worſhip: all the ſtreames that run in that ſea, are all polluted and filthy, that who ſo lives and dies in them, periſheth everlaſtingly. And ſuch were all thoſe worthy ſervants of Chriſt, that have written either againſt the Trident Councell, or againſt Bellarmine, that have convinced their Doctrine and worſhip to be all polluted and corrupted, and to be ſuch that if a man know and practiſe, and beleeve no better he cannot be ſaved, ſuch hath been Chenmitius, and Junius, Chamier, Whitaker, and Reignolds, Perkins, and Ames, and the reſt of the holy Saints of God, that have poured out this viall of Gods wrath, that is, that by their doctrine, and writings from the word have poured out ſuch cleare conviction, and refutation of their doctrine and worſhip, that to all that are not partiall, it appeares to be not the bloud of the Lord Ieſus, but of a dead man, and therfore who ever lives and dies, in that religion, hee cannot die better then a reprobate, nor live better then an hypocrite, this is the true meaning of the ſecond viall.
The firſt note that we may gather (I will not be long in it, nor Doct. in this place the matter requires it not, in ſome places it might.)
As upon the corruption of common Chriſtians followes the corruption of religion, ſo by the diſcovery of the corruptions of Chriſtians, or upon the diſcovery of the corruption of common Chriſtians, followes the diſcovery of corruption in Religion.
This note followes upon the former words, compare this verſe with the ſecond trumpet, vponupon the ſounding of the ſecond trumpet, there was brought in corruption of religion, in the Imperiall Chriſtian world, as in the 8. Chapter of this booke, and the 7.8.9. ver. The firſt Angell ſounded, and there followed …aile and fire mingled with bloud, whereby all the green graſſe was burnt up, &c. The firſt Angell poured out fire and bloud, that is vncharitableneſſe, and contentiouſneſſe, and ſo corruption grew in the ſpirits of common Chriſtians, and what followed upon that? And thereupon the ſecond Angel founded, and there fell a great mountaine burning with fire, caſt into the ſea, on the contentiouſneſſe, and quarelling of common Chriſtians and their ambition. There grew contention, about primacy in Church Governours, and that ſo far corrupted the ſea (A mountaine of high preferm…nt being caſt into the ſea) that a third part of the ſea became bloud, here was a third part a great part of their religion, ſpecially that which concernes governement, became bloud, very noiſome, both their doctrine and governement: ſo that looke as on the corruption of the lives of Chriſtians, preſently religion grew corrupt, ſo on the diſcovery of corruption in common Chriſtians. In this ſecond viall follows the diſcovery of corruption in religion it ſelf, in this ſecond viall: and looke by what degrees, the trumpets ſounding, brought in corruption into the Church; by the ſame degrees, the vials bring forth the diſcovery of corruption in the Church the vials of Gods wrath diſcover corruption & pollution in Religion.
The reaſon of this point is taken from the powerfull efficacy Reaſon of all religion, to transforme the ſincere profeſſors of it, to the like nature with it ſelfe, looke what the religion is, ſuch is the ſpirit of all that are ſincere, and ſerious profeſſors of it, and therefore if there come in any corrupt doctrine, & corrupt religion, our Saviour tells us, by their fruits ye ſhall know them, for ſuch as their corruption is in judgement, ſuch will it bee in their lives, in Mat. 7.15. Beware of falſe prophets, &c. by their fruits you ſhall know them, a good tree cannot bring …orth evill fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good f…uit, and ſo it was with the Phariſees, though they were the ſtricteſt ſect of the Iewiſts Religion, Act. 16.5. Yet as they were corrupt in their lives, ſo their Religion was corrupt, and thoſe that were Proſelites to it. Mat. 23.15. They made them twofold more the children of hell then themſelves, 2 Tim. 3.13. Evill men and deceivers waxe worſe, and worſe, deceiving and being deceived; and the ground of that is this, the concurrence of the ſpirit of God with his owne word, and the concurrence of the ſpirit of Satan, with his ordinances and inſtructions, there is a ſpirit goes with both, that doth aſſimulate and tranſforme a powerfull profeſſor of ſincere Religion, to be ſincere in heart. And the Profeſſors of corrupt Religion to transforme them into the nature thereof: In the 59. of Eſay, verſe 21. My Spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, ſhall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy ſeed, nor out of the mouth of thy ſeeds ſeed, from henceforth and for ever. Gods ſpirit goes with his owne Ordinances, where ever they are rightly and ſincerely received, as alway by ſome they are, where ever they have free paſſage, they will have ſome good iſſue, and ſome perſons or other, on whom they will worke ſuch a change, in 2 Cor. 3 18. We all with open face beholding, as in a glaſſe, the glory of God are changed into the ſame image, from glory to glory, as by the ſpirit of the Lord. Conſequently if Antichriſt come with his deluſions, hee ſhall come with all the power of Satan, whoſe comming (ſaith the Apoſtle, 2 Theſſ. 2.9.10.) is after the working of Satan, and with all power of ſignes and lying wonders, with efficacie of deluſions; a ſigne theſe deluſions are not meerely Nationall, but effectuall, to transforme the heart like unto the minde, their will like unto their judgement, and their life like unto both, that you ſhall have the whole frame of their ſtate, ſuch as is their Religion: if the lives of Catholike Profeſſors be corrupt, an evident argument their Religion is corrupt, and if their Religion be corrupt, their lives cannot bee ſound, they that live by that Religion muſt needs be corrupt: ſo that upon the diſcovery of the corruptions of the lives of Catholikes, then men began to ſcruple their Religion; at firſt it was fairely interpreted of ſome Catholikes, that were reformed, and brought to the truth, they thought that all abuſes found in the Friars & Monks was but from the lives of men, their religion was better, their religion did not teach them ſo: and therfore thought ſtill, they might appeale to the Pope himſelf, as Luther did, they thought it was the ignorance of the Prieſts, that brought Pardons into the Countrey to ſell them, for groats and ſhillings; but this was but a charitable opinion, and in truth, the Prieſts the miniſters of that Religion, did but act the ſpirit of that Religion, the whole heart was ſicke, and the whole head and body mortally diſtempered.
The Uſe is thus much, it muſt be a word of holy admonition and warning to all Profeſſors, Vſe 1 in this Countrey, and Church members, to all that profeſſe they came out of England for purity of Ordinances, to be very circumſpect, pure, and faithfull, and zealous in all their whole converſation: for beleeve it, you will finde this true, and remember it while you live, if you bee corrupt in New-England, if you be unfaithfull here, if you be worldly minded here, falſe of your words and promiſes here, injurious in your dealings here, beleeve it one of theſe two will unavoidably follow, either all England will judge your Reformation but a deluſion, and an invention of ſome of your Magiſtrates, or Elders, or otherwiſe looke at you, as not ſincere but counterfeit. This unavoidably you will finde true, you cannot poure forth a Viall of more wrath on Religion, as it is heere reformed and eſtabliſhed, through the bleſſing of God, you cannot load it with a heavier Viall of Gods wrath; then if heere you ſhall grow worldly and covetous, deceitfull and contentious, and unbrotherly. Are theſe your Church members, ſuch & ſuch things were done, but I hope it was not your Church Members, are we not all brethren? Doth our Eſtates lie much of them in Common? Well, what ever things may be, though Chriſtian love will paſſe by much; yet beleeve it, if men make no conſcience of their bargaines, but that they doe defraud others. If men make no conſcience of heavenly mindedneſſe of purity and zeale; and thinke it needs not, but reſt in meer formes of Church Ordinances, you will unavoydably, poure a Viall of Gods wrath, as much as in you lyes, on all the purity of Gods Ordinances, and judge you how diſhonourable it is to God and holy religion, and how blame-worthy it is in ſuch as are faulty herein, however you will anſwer this before the Lord at his comming? For you cannot avoide it, this will be the iſſue; either we are counterfeit Profeſſors of Reformation, or that our reformation is counterfeit, you ſay you came over for puritie of Ordinances: But in truth, you did but diſſemble, & however you thought, it was not in your hearts, the event proves the contrary; if you be not ſincere, but hollow Members of the Church, and corrupt livers, under the governement and worſhip of God heere eſtabliſhed and ordered, I ſay, you will force all whoſe eyes are on you, throughout the Chriſtian world to thinke, theſe are but the inventions of men; there is no truth, no true heartedneſſe in the Religion here eſtabliſhed: and for the Religion eſtabliſhed in England, what ever you talke of humane inventions, we know there is no ſuch unfaithful dealing, and hollow heartedneſſe, no ſuch bitterneſſe between Chriſtians. A Miniſters Preſence is amiable, and his feet beautifull, and where hee comes, it is not thought too homely to be regarded, of better then himſelfe, If Religion in our Native Countrey, of them that are ſincere, if it hold foorth more puritie there, beleeve it, it beares more evident witneſſe to the truth of God there, ſo much as is truth, then as we doe, that profeſſe greater ſimplicitie; theſe are but the names of things, but the reality is wanting, It is never to be forgotten, the Argument of the bleſſed Apoſtle, the Corinthians tooke offence at him (as they were humerous, though godly men) yet a generation of them were haughty by their great gifts, Paul ſaid he would come to Corinth, he promiſed to come, but he did not, and they thought he uſed lightneſſe; it was an eaſie thing with him to be Yea and Nay: What ſaith the Apoſtle? When I ſaid I would come, did I uſe lightneſſe, that with me there ſhould be Yea, and Nay? Nay, ſaith the Apoſtle, (I pray yon marke it, and I could wiſh, it were engraven on the tables of godly mens hearts) in the 2 Corinth. 1.18. as God is true, our word toward you was not Yea and Nay: How doth hee prove that? For the Sonne of God, Ieſus Chriſt, who was preached amongſt you, by us was not yea and nay, but in him was yea, and all the promiſes of God in him, are Yea and Amen. What is this to the purpoſe? If the Goſpel he preached be not yea and nay, then neither are his pr…miſes yea and nay: this is his intendment; elſe his inference is nothing.
I you will ſay, Miniſters and Apoſtles ought to be ſuch, but this that followes wraps in all profeſſours. Now hee which ſtabliſheth you with us in Chriſt (it is not Elders onelyonly) and he that anointed us is God, who anointeth with ſuch oile as falls on every member of his body? who hath alſo ſealed us, and given the earneſt of the ſpirit in our hearts, and makes us every way like himſelfe, therefore ſaith he, I call God to record that to ſpare you I came not yet to Corinth, otherwiſe as the Goſpell preached by him and Silvanus & Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea, no more was his promiſe; this is the ſpirit of Chriſtians, and Miniſters, and ſo of al that are eſtabliſhed together with their Miniſters, anointed, and ſealed and confirmed in grace with their Miniſters, and have received, the earneſt penny, to bind the bargaine of eternall ſalvation, to faithfull ſoules; So looke what a Chriſtian doth promiſe, he is bound by the earneſt penny of Gods Spirit, hee dares no more alter his words, to the diſcredit of his profeſſion, then the Spirit of God to lie.
So that conſider, if Profeſſors grow corrupt, Religion wil grow corrupt; and on the diſcovery of the corruption of common Chriſtians, corrupt religion will be diſcovered, elſe you will be diſcovered to be carnall profeſſors.
But there will be theſe two events, either it will caſt aſperſion on you, and ſo they will ſay none are better; the ſpirit of the Country is deceitfull in their bargaines, there is no conſtancie in their words.
Or elſe that your Religion is corrupt, and this will alſo follow unavoidably, though your Religion bee of God, and the Lord himſelfe will beare witneſſe, it is of God, and according to the true patterne of the Word; yet if we in this generation ſhall defile it, by our unfaithfulneſſe, unſpiritualneſſe, unheavenlineſſe, and ungodlineſſe, this will be the iſſue; on the corruption of the lives of Profeſſors, followes corruption of Religion, and upon the diſcovery of the one, followes the diſcovery of the other.
That Religion, which by the bleſſing of God, and the power of his grace, is diſpenſed heere in ſimplicity, will bee corrupted in the very next generation; you will finde your Children after you (of whoſe ſtate you ought to have as much care, and I thinke, I may ſpeake it without inconveniency) more then of your owne: you may know the worſt of it for your ſelves, being neere the grave many of you: but verely, what will befall your Poſterity? They will degenerate out of meaſure, by the unfaithfulneſſe of your lives, and unrighteouſneſſe of our promiſes, they will fall to bee ſtarke nought in point of Doctrine, Worſhip, and Government, they will utterly degenerate from their Anceſtors, let but us bee polluted, and all the waters that come from us will be polluted, it cannot be ſweet water that runnes through a poyſonous earth, if the earth bee unſavoury, the Waters, and Deepes, and Rivers be poyſoned, what will the iſſue bee, all will bee corrupt: and therefore as you deſire to leave Religion with a bleſſing, leave it pure in the converſation of Brotherly love, and purity, and faithfulneſſe, and fruitfulneſſe, and heavenly mindedneſſe; that ſo as Religion always loves to lye cleane, as was a grave ſpeech of an ancient Saint, it will not lye naſty as a Swine, and a Dogge in a kennell, it muſt lye ſweet and cleane: if the hearts and waies of men be not pure and holy, you ſhall not alway have the Sea cleane, but Religion will grow to Apoſtacy, and that which is our glory, will be our confuſion.
It became as the blood of a dead man.
Doct. 2.
The faithful Miniſters, and Profeſſors of Reformed Religion, and Churches, by powring out the wrath of God on Popiſh Religion, have diſcovered it, not to hold forth the blood of the Lord Ieſus, but to bee as the blood of a dead man. That is the Sea, the Antichriſtian Sea, the confluence of all Ordinances in it, not to bee the blood of the Lord Ieſus, which is onelyonly able to purifie and to pacifie the Conſcience, no ſuch thing to be found in it. But a blood fit to quicken and give life, John 6.50.51. Hee that drinkes of my blood, ſhall live for ever: but they have diſcovered it to be the blood of a dead Man.
It was the ſpeech of Maſter Perkins often in his Sermons, and throughout his Writings (who was one that powred out this Viall) he would ſay to his hearers, Young Schollers: Popiſh Bookes in holding forth the blood of the Covenant, they hold it forth in a morall manner, but without the life and power of his death; hee expounds it thus: They will very evidently ſet forth the cruelty and treachery of Iudas, that betrayed him, and the Wordly-mindedneſſe, and Covetouſneſſe, and Ambition, of the High Prieſts, that bought and plotted his death; they will (ſaith hee) make bitter invectives againſt the prophaneſſe of the Iewes, that were ready to renounce him, Away with him, away with him, Crucifie him, and declaime agaiſt the timorouſneſſe of Pilate, and baſe-mindedneſſe, that could not deliver an Innocent; and declaime of the cruelty of the Souldiers, and magnifie the Innocencie of Chriſt Ieſus, and make the people many times to weepe, that Ieſus an Innocent man, had beene thus prophanely ſould and bought, and thus baſely condemned, and cruelly handly: All this might be done, and all but to ſhew forth the blood of an Innocent man. But to ſhew the need of Chriſts blood, and how they ſhould walke worthy of it, and how they ſhould obtaine it, it is the leaſt part of their diſcourſe, and indeed, no part at all: What is this but the blood of a dead Man, to raiſe up bitter deteſtations againſt the Iewes, and Souldiers, and Pilate, &c. But to raiſe it up to any powerfull effect in the hearts of Chriſtians, it is not their endeavour that are moſt devout.
Reaſ. The reaſon is firſt taken,
From their holding foorth, not indeed the true Chriſt: Whether you ſpeake of their Doctrine, Worſhip, or Governement, they doe not hold forth the true Chriſt. They hold forth Chriſt God and Man, that is true; ſo farre the goe with us, and hold that Chriſt dyed and roſe againe, as we doe, but when they come to ſpeake of the Offices of Chriſt, in which indeede, hee is ſavingly held forth to the people, there they bring in another Chriſt, and renounce him; For either take the true Chriſt, as the true Chriſt, or elſe none, for he will not divide ſtakes. Looke at all his Offices, (And I will give you but a touch of them) Take the Mediatourly Office of Chriſt; they will have other Mediators, of Reconciliation, and Interceſſion, beſides the Lord Ieſus. Doth not the Prieſt every Sacrament of the Lords Supper, offer a Propitiatory Sacrifice (if I may call it a Sacrament of the Lords Supper) this is conſtant with them.
Now this is to bring in other Chriſts for Reconciliation, beſides the Lord Jeſus, Whereas the Apoſtle in the 10 Chapter to the Hebrewes, the 14. Verſe, ſaith, By one offering, hee hath for ever perfected them that are ſanct…fied: and he profeſſeth, that onelyonly the Sacrifices of the Law were oft repeated, becauſe they could not make the commers thereunto perfect, Hebr. Chapter 10. verſ. 1. to the 14. verſe. So that to bring in any other Sacrifices, is abſolutely to renounce his Mediation and Reconciliation; and they are not aſhamed, I confeſſe, a man might ſtand and tremble, thoſe that are more devout and zealous Catholikes, they will not owne that Doctrine; but they will owne this, they are not aſhamed to entreat Chriſt by the Merit of the blood of Thomas, to give them a bleſſed Reſurrection; by the blood of Thomas, which for us hee did ſpend, make us to riſe whither hee did aſcend.
Now, if they put on Chriſtians the blood of Thomas, and give them to riſe by the blood of Thomas, there is another reconciliation joyned with the blood of the Lord Jeſus: and indeed, all Satisfactory Pennance, and Whippings, and Maſſes, what are they all but Copartners with Chriſt, in helping forward his fatisfaction, as if it were not ſufficient; other ſacrificers, and other ſacrifices, every Prieſt is a ſacrificer, and every new ſacrifice is to make attonement.
And ſo doe I ſay for his mediatourſhip of interceſſion, you know they ioyn ſaints, and angells, eſpecially the Virgin Mary as the mothers and fathers of grace, and pray the Lord to hear for their merits ſake, ſo that take the whole mediatourly office of Chriſt, for reconciliation, and interceſſion; you muſt have more Chriſts then one, and then he is of none effect, if he may not doe all in point of merit and fatisfaction: even all the righteouſneſſe that he hath taught us to doe, it is vnprofitable for ſuch ends, we may profit our brethren, and helpe our ſelves by his grace, for many ſpirituall good ends, but for ſatisfaction, for merit and the like it is to ſet up a New Chriſt, beſides the Lord Ieſus, thus is his prieſtly office evacuated. And ſo his Propheticall office, to bring in other ſcriptures, as the Apocrypha that he confirmes not, beſides ſcriptures, of unwritten tradition carried from h…nd to hand, and yet many great points of their Religion are built thereon, even all the corrupt doctrine which they deliver by tradition. For his Kingly office, you know they ſet up other Lords and Governors of the Church beſides him, I meane ſuch governours as neither are the Lords, nor ever were inſtituted by him, as the Pope, and Cardinals and Primats, and Metropolitans, and the whole rout of Popiſh Hierarchie from the Apparritor to the Pope, they are of his invention and appointment; and as they have other Lords ſo other lawes; the whole cannon Law is none of the ordinances of the Lord Ieſus, for the governement of his Church, much of it contrary to the word of God, and as they have other Lords and lawes, ſo they have other frames of C urches, Oecumenicall, Catholique Church, Metropolitan, Patria…c…all, Archipiſcopall, Epiſcopall, Dioceſan, which Chiſt never ordained in the New Teſtament, and they have brought Kingly or Monarchicall power into the Churches which Chriſt never gave them, and that not onelyonly to excommunication, but to dethrone Princes, and to ſubſtitute others in their roomes; and in one word, they are not aſhamed to ſay, it is lawfull for the Pope to diſpence with the Apoſtle Paul, and he doth diſpence with inceſtuous Marriages, and with abſolutions and notorious ſins, for ſuch ſummes of money, given for ſome religious, or rather ſuperſtitious uſe, and they will diſpence with oathes which God himſelfe will not, nor can, he will not ſuffer Ioſuahs oath, and the Princes with the Gibeonites to bee broken, becauſe it was the oath of God with them, therefore they muſt keepe it, ſo that here is not more then civill, but more then ſpirituall power, brought into the Church; ſo that well doth the holy Ghoſt ſay, here is not the bloud of Chriſt but the bloud of a dead man.
Againe, I might ſhew the like in other the chiefe ſtreames, whereof their ſea conſists, that Faith which thay have, it is built on the Scripture, and the authority thereof they have from the Church, their faith is built on the Scripture, and the Scripture on the Church, and ſo the laſt reſolution of it, is but humane authority, and ſo that ſaith is no aſſurance, (for that they ſay were preſumption) but humane credulity, and ſo for juſtification and ſalvation, they will have it by merits, and for worſhip, worſhipping Saints and Angels, and in a ſtrange language, which common people vnderſtand not, an vnreaſonable ſervice, ſo that here is nothing but as the bloud of a dead man they want the vitalls of Chriſtianity.
Vſe For the Vſe of it.
It may ſerve to ſhew the weakneſſe of their imaginations that doe beleeve Popiſh and Proteſtant religion may be reconciled together, and Popiſh and Proteſtant Churches, may bee brought to bee one, were it not for hot ſpurred Ieſuits on the one ſide, and for hot ſpirited Proteſtants, Puritants, on the other ſide, if moderate ſpirits had things in hand, they have hoped to bring both ends together. Alas to bring heaven and earth together, goe your waies, poure out your vials on the earth, their ſea is but an earthly ſea, their ſunne is but an earthly ſun, and their rivers, and fountaines are but earthly, and yet all may be reconciled, the bloud of a dead man, and God, life, and death, heaven and hell, and all ſhall be reconciled.
Ʋſe 2.
It ſhewes what great reaſon we have everlaſtingly to ſtand out againſt all compromiſing with them, and all ſubjection to any thing that pertaines to that Religion, for they have ſacred truthes, as they beleeve, Father, Sonne, and Spirit, and that Chriſt is God and man, but otherwiſe, for the body of all their other Ordinances, they are ſuch, as in very truth, have not the blood of the Lord Ieſus in them, but are as the blood of a dead man, as they have them, and corrupt and pollute them.
Laſtly, Every living ſoule dyed in the Sea, why did none live on the earth, but were all dead in this Sea? All that live on the earth, all Catholikes, they live in that Religion, Ieſuits, Friats, Every living ſoule died in that Sea.
The laſt note then is.
Doct. 3.
A Popiſh Catholike that lives according to this Religion, and no better, he lives and dyes in a ſtate of Death and Damnation: For ſo ſaith the Text, Every living Soule in that Sea dyed, If he had no other life, then by that Religion, no other goodneſſe then that which he got from that Sea, living in thoſe waters, which they ſucked from that Religion, from the Ordinances there: if he have no more then that, he cannot come to a State of Salvation, he dies in that Sea.
The Reaſon of the point,
Is taken, Firſt, from the Grace held foorth in that Religion: Secondly, from their Faith. Thirdly, from their Repentance: and Fourthly, from thei… Obedience; they are all ſuch as are but dead: their very Grace holds foorth dead Workes; the Faith of a Catholike, is a dead Faith; their Repentance, is dead Repentance, their Obedience, is dead works, and that is all their Religion: and in theſe is the life of a Chriſtian, the life of Grace, the life of Faith, the uſe of Repentance, and the life of Obedience, if theſe be dead, what life is there? For the grace of God, By grace ye are ſaved, not of Workes, Epheſ. 2.8.9. Now they will not have it of Grace but of Workes, not of living Grace, but of Workes, that is the moſt generall opinion. Nor no redemption of Chriſtians, but common to all alike, Reprobates and true Chriſtians, and the difference ariſeth in vocation, and that is out of workes, out of merit of Congruity, and their Iuſtification is out of Merit of Workes, and Perſeverance in Grace, is out of Concurrence of Free will, and Glorification is from Merit of Condignity of Workes, and if all theſe be of workes, here is all the grace of God to ſeek, (what ſaith the Apoſtle?) If it be of Workes, it is not of Grace, Rom. 11.6. And verily, this is the beſt grace of Popiſh Religion: all their grace is of Workes, and then it is utterly evacuated.
What ſhall I ſay to their Faith, it is no other but Hiſtoricall. As that all that is contained in the Word is true: and verely, the Devill beleeves as much, he knowes it to be true, and will tremble, Iames 2.19. And if that be the Devils faith, as Iames ſaith it is, then woe worth all Popiſh Faith; and that faith if you come to apply it, That it ſhall be a confidence on Chriſt to ſalvation, they looke at that as Hereticall preſumption; what hope is Vſe there, that by Faith ſuch ſhould ever be juſtified, or ſaved? And for repentance it is like their Faith; ſuch repentance as Iudas held forth: as great they require, Confeſſion, contrition, and ſatisfaction, he did it all; he was not a little broken with the ſence of his ſinne, and the horror of it: Hee makes confeſſion of it, I have ſinned in betraying the Innocent blood: he made ſatisfaction, he brought againe the 30. Pieces of ſilver, and throwes them downe; away with them, I have ſinned, in betraying the innocent blood, this is the beſt repentance they have: for any repentance that ſprings from the ſight of Gods favour, applyed to the faith of Gods people, this they will by no meanes heare tell of, and yet without faith applyed to the ſoule, by a promiſe, or word of grace, there is no life in repentance. They ſee him, whom they have pierced, and mourne for him; they ſee him pierced by them, and for them, and this mourning is Evangecall and ſaving.
For their obedience, they looke at it, as ſuch as is able to keepe the whole Law of God, and if they can doe that, they ſeeke life, then by Workes, not of Grace: and that Obedience that is able to keepe the whole law of God, is the Obedience of the Scribes and Phariſees, for they ſo taught: and therefore our Saviour tells his diſciples, Matth. 5.20. Except your righteouſneſſe exceedes the righteouſneſſe of the Scribes and Phariſees, yee cannot enter into the Kingdome of Heaven; Such obedience, as that a man is able to keepe the whole Law, and by that to merit, and doe no more then the Law requires, it is the obedience of Hereticall preſumption, not of confidence and affiance of Faith: that is, obedience of hereticall preſumption, that is able to keepe the whole law, and make ſatisfaction to the juſtice of Chriſt, and then Chriſt died in vaine, unleſſe hee died to make us Saviours of our ſelves, and that is as notorious as the former.
The Vſe of this point is.
Vſe 1.
To reprove a wicked practiſe of many Proteſtants that are not aſhamed, to ſow pillowes vnderunder the elbowes of Catholiques that make them beleeve, they may be ſaved in that religion, ſo they live honeſtly and well; Oh Brethren! doth not the Text expreſly ſay, every one that lived in that Sea, died, and died everlaſtingly; there is no living bloud of the Lord Ieſus there, there is no ſaving grace there, but workes all, and there is no lively faith there, but dead ſaith, no repentance, but hardneſſe of heart, or legall contrition at the vttermoſt, nor obedience, but ſuch as is too good for him to apply the Bloud of Chriſt unto, for it is able to keepe the whole Law, and make ſatisfaction for the breaches of the Law, or if their owne obedience bee not ſo perfect, they have ſome other ſaints, whoſe obedience may bee imputed unto them; ſo that though they abhorre Chriſts Righteouſneſſe, to be imputed to them, they have found out a way, that the righteouſneſſe of Saints may bee applyed, to make others righteous ſo that they put more honour upon the ſervants of Chriſt, (if ſome of them were the ſervants of Chriſt) then upon Chriſt: and ſay it were well their righteouſnes ſhould be imputed, but that Chriſts owne righteouſneſſe ſhould bee imputed, they looke at it as aputative righteouſneſſe, as they are not aſhamed to call it ſo, that ſee the deſperate danger of living and dying in that ſtate, in the Romiſh religion, in that Sea.
Ʋſe 2.
Secondly, Let me exhort all Chriſtians to hold ſtedfaſtly to the puritie of Religion, whether in our publicke Miniſtrations, or private converſations, let all ſavour and reake foorth the warme blood of the living Lord Ieſus, for there is the difference of our Religion from Popery: Their religion holds forth ſuch a Chriſt as leaves him and his blood, like the blood of a dead Man: The ſoule is dead for any true Grace, or Faith, or Repentance, or Obedience, or living Comfort; the heart is ſtill dead, no life of Gods favour, no life from the Word, no hope of Salvation, but all conjecturall, there is indeed the life of Papiſts, no live-blood of Chriſt Jeſus among them: But for Chriſtians, It is for us to live, as thoſe that are made partakers of the blood of ſprinkling, that ſpeaks better things then that of Abel, that doth pacifie, and purifie the Conſcience, and both worke effectually more and more, untill the ſoule bee eſtabliſhed in perfect peace, thou wilt keepe them in perfect peace, whoſe minde is ſtaid on thee, becauſe he truſteth in thee. I ſpeake of perfection that may be attained in our meaſure, in Eſay 26.3. So that be diligent to looke up to the Lord Chriſt, ſtill as out of Grace, to accept us, and by the grace of Faith to receive us, and ſo drawing the ſoule to lively repentance from dead works, and quickning and awakning us to lively obedience. In this lively eſtate, we may walke before him according to the good pleaſure of his will, to the praiſe of the glory of his Grace in Chriſt Ieſus.