The Christians in Complete Armor, Religious treatise · Introduction 4 · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII. How Satan labours to corrupt the Chriſtians minde with errour.
THe ſecond ſort of ſpiritual ſinnes are ſuch as are not only acted in the ſpirit, but are converſant about ſpiritual objects proper to the ſoules nature that is a ſpirit, and not laid out in carnal paſſions of fleſhly luſts, in which the ſoul acts but as a Pander for the body, and partakes of their delights only by way of ſympathy; for as the ſoul feels the bodies pains no other way then by ſympathy, ſo neither doth it ſhare in the pleaſures of the fleſh by any proper taſte it hath of them, but only from its neer neighbourhood with the body doth ſympathize with its joy; but in ſpiritual wickedneſſes that corrupt the minde, here the ſoul moves in its own ſphere, with a delight proper to it ſelfe; and there are no leſſe of theſe then the other. There is hardly a fleſhly luſt, but hath ſome ſpiritual ſinne analogical to it, as they ſay there is no ſpecies of creatures on the land but may be pattern'd in the ſea: Thus the heart of man can produce ſpiritual ſinnes anſwering carnal luſts; for whoredom and uncleanneſſe of the fleſh, there is idolatry call'd in Scripture ſpiritual adultery, from which the ſeat of Antichriſt is call'd ſpiritual Sodom; for ſenſual drunkenneſſe, there is a drunkenneſſe of the minde intoxicating the judgement with errour, a drunkenneſſe of the heart in cares and feares; for carnal pride in beauty, riches, honour, there is a ſpiritual pride of gifts graces, &c. Now Satan in an eſpecial manner aſſaults the Chriſtian with ſuch as theſe; it would require a larger diſcourſe then I can allow to runne over the ſeveral kindes of them; I ſhall of many pick out two or three. As firſt, Satan labours to corrupt the mind with erroneous principles, he was at work at the very firſt plantation of the Goſpel, ſowing his darnel, aſſoon almoſt as Chriſt his wheate, which ſprung up in pernicious errours, even in the Apoſtles times, which made them take the weeding-hook into their hands, and in all their Epiſtles labour to countermine Satan in this deſign. Now Satan hath a double deſign in this his endeavour to corrupt the mindes of men, eſpecially Profeſſours, with errour.
SECT. I.
Firſt, he doth this in deſpite to God, againſt whom he cannot vent his malice at a higher rate then by corrupting his truth, which God hath ſo highly honoured, Pſal. 138.2. Thou haſt magnified thy Word above all thy Name. Every creature bears the Name of God, but in his Word and truth therein contained 'tis writ at length, and therefore he is more choice of this, then of all his other works; he cares not much what becomes of the world and all in it, ſo he keeps his Word, and ſaves his truth. Ere long we ſhall ſee the world on a light flame, the heavens and earth ſhall paſſe away, but the Word of the Lord endures for ever. When God will, he can make more ſuch worlds as this is, but he cannot make another truth, and therefore he will not loſe one iota thereof. Satan knowing this, ſets all his wits on work to deface this truth, and disfigure it by unſound doctrine. The Word is the glaſſe in which we ſee God, and ſeeing him are changed into his likeneſſe by his Spirit. If this glaſſe be crackt, then our conceptions we have of God will miſ-repeſent him unto us, whereas the Word in its native clearneſſe ſets him out in all his glory unto our eye.
Secondly, he endeavours to draw into this ſpiritual ſin of errour, as the moſt ſubtil and effectual means to weaken, if not deſtroy the power of godlineſſe in them. The Apoſtle joynes the Spirit of power and a ſound minde together, 2 Tim 1.7. Indeed the power of holineſſe in practice depends much on the foundneſſe of judgement. Godlineſſe is the childe of truth, and it muſt be nurſt, if we will have it thrive with no other milk then of its own mother. Therefore we are exhorted to deſire the ſincere milk of the Word, that we may grow, 1 Pet. 2.2. foreign, if this milk be but a little daſh't with errour, it is not ſo nutritive All errour, how innocent ſoever any may ſeem, (like the Ivy) draws away the ſtrength of the ſouls love from holineſſe. Hoſea tells us, Whoredom and wine take away the heart; now errour is ſpiritual adultery. Paul ſpeaks of his eſpouſing them to Chriſt; when a perſon receives an errour, he takes a ſtranger into Chriſts bed, and it is the nature of adulterous love to take away the wiſes heart from her true husband, that ſhe delights not in his company ſo much as of her adulterous lover: and do we not ſee it at this day fulfill'd? do not many ſhew more zeal in contending for one errour, then for many truths? how ſtrangely are the hearts of many taken off from the wayes of God, their love cool'd to the Ordinances and Meſſengers of Chriſt? and all this occaſioned by ſome corrupt principle got into their boſomes, which controuls Chriſt and his truth, as Hagar and her ſon did Sarah and her childe. Indeed Chriſt will never enjoy true conjugal love from the ſoule, till like Abraham he turns theſe out of doors. Errour is not ſo innocent a thing as many think it; it is as unwholeſome food to the body, that poiſons the ſpirits and ſurfeits the whole body, which ſeldom paſſeth away and not break out into ſores. As the knowledge of Chriſt carries a ſoule above the pollutions of the world, ſo errour entangles and betrayes it to thoſe luſts, whoſe hands it had eſcaped.
Thirdly, Satan in drawing a ſoule into this ſpiritual ſin hath a deſigne to diſturb the peace of the Church, which is rent and ſhattered when this fire-ſhip comes among them. I hear (ſaith Paul) there are diviſions among you, and I partly beleeve it, for there muſt be hereſies, 1 Cor. 11.18, 19. implying that diviſions are the natural iſſue of hereſie. Errour cannot well agree with errour, except it be againſt the truth, then indeed (like Pilate and Herod) they are eaſily made friends, but when truth ſeems to be overcome, and the battel is over with that, then they fall out among themſelves, and therefore it is no wonder if it be ſo troubleſom a neighbour to truth. O Sirs, what a ſweet ſilence and peace was there among Chriſtians a dozen years ago; me thinks the looking back to thoſe bleſſed dayes in this reſpect, (though they had alſo another way their troubles, yet not ſo uncomfortable, becauſe that ſtorme united, this ſcatters the Saints ſpirits) is joyous to remember in what unity and love Chriſtians walk't, that the Perſecutors of thoſe times might have ſaid, as their Predeceſſours did of the Saints in primitive times, See how they love one another; but now alas they may jeere and ſay, See how they that loved ſo dearly are ready to pluck one anothers throats out.
SECT. II.
ƲſeThe application of this ſhall be only in a word of exhortation to all, eſpecially you who bear the Name of Chriſt by a more eminent Profeſſion of him. O beware of this ſoul-infection, this leproſie of the head. I hope you do not think it needleſſe, for 'tis the diſeaſe of the times. This plague is begun, yea, ſpreads apace; not a flock, a Congregation hardly that hath not this ſcab among them. Paul was a Preacher the beſt of us all may write after, and he preſſeth this home upon the Saints, yea, in the conſtant courſe of his preaching it made a piece of his Sermon, Acts 20.30, 31. he ſets us Preachers alſo on this work: Take heed to your ſelves, and to all the flock; for I know this, that after my departure ſhall grievous wolves enter; alſo of your own ſelves ſhall men ariſe ſpeaking perverſe things; therefore watch. And then he preſents his own example, that he hardly made a Sermon for ſeveral yeares, but this was part of it to warn every one night and day with teares. We need not propheſie what Impoſtors may come upon the ſtage, when we go off: There are too many at preſent above board of this gang, drawing diſciples after them. And if it be our duty to warn you of them, ſurely 'tis yours to watch, leſt you by any of them be led into temptation in this houre thereof, wherein Satan is let looſe in ſo great a meaſure to deceive the Nation. May you not as eaſily be ſowered with this leaven, as the diſciples whom Chriſt bids beware? Are you priviledged above thoſe famous Churches of Galatia and Corinth, many of which were bewitched with falſe teachers, and in a manner turned to another Goſpel? Is Satan grown Orthodox, or have his inſtruments loſt their cunning, who hunt for ſouls? In a word, is there not a ſympathy between thy corrupt heart and errour? Haſt thou not a diſpoſition, which like the fomes of the earth, makes it natural for theſe weeds to grow in thy ſoile. Seeſt thou not many proſtrated by this enemy, who ſate upon the mountain of their faith, and thought it ſhould never have been removed, ſurely they would have tooke it ill to have been told you are the men and women that will decry Sabbaths, which now ye count holy; you will turn Pelagians, who now defie the name; you will deſpiſe Prophecie it ſelf, who now ſeem ſo much to honour the Prophets; you will throw family-duties out of doors, who dare not now go out of doors, till you have prayed there. Yet theſe, and more then theſe are come to paſſe, and doth it hot behove thee (Chriſtian) to take heed leſt thou falleſt alſo? and that thou mayeſt not,
Firſt, make it thy chief care to get a through change of thy heart. If once the root of the matter be in thee, and thou beeſt bottom'd by a lively faith on Chriſt, thou art then ſafe, I do not ſay wholly free from all errour, but this I am ſure, free from ingulphing thy ſoule in damning errour. They went out from us, (ſaith Saint John) but they were not of us, for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us, 1 John 2.19 As if he had ſaid, they had ſome outward Profeſſion, and common work of the Spirit with us, which they have either loſt or carried over to the devils quarters, but they never had the unction of the ſanctifying Spirit. By this, verſe 20. he diſtinguiſheth them, and comforts the ſincere ones, who poſſibly might feare their own fall by their departure: But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 'Tis one thing to know a truth, and another thing to know it by unction. An hypocrite may do the former, the Saint only the latrer It is this unction which gives the ſoule the ſavour of the knowledge of Chriſt; thoſe are the fit prey for Impoſtors, who are enlightened, but not enlivened. O it's good to have the heart eſtabliſh't with grace, this as an anchor will keep us from being ſet a drift, and carried about with divers and ſtrange doctrines, as the Apoſtle teacheth us, Heb. 13.9.
Secondly, ply the work of mortification. Crucifie the fleſh daily. Hereſie though a ſpiritual ſinne, yet by the Apoſtle reckon'd among the deeds of the fleſh, Gal. 5.20. becauſe it is occaſioned by fleſhly motives, and nouriſht by carnal food and fuel. Never any turn'd Heretick, but fleſh was at the bottome, either they ſerv'd their belly, or a luſt of pride; 'twas the way to Court, or ſecur'd their eſtates, and ſaved their lives, as ſometimes the reward of truth is fire and fagot; ſome pad or other is in the ſtraw when leaſt ſeen, and therefore it's no wonder that hereſies ſhould end in the fleſh, which in a manner ſprang from it. The rheume in the head aſcends in fumes from the ſtomack, and returnes thither, or unto the lungs which at laſt fret and ulcerate: Carnal affections firſt ſend up their fumes to the underſtanding, clouding that, yea, bribing it to receive ſuch and ſuch principles for truths, which imbraced, fall down into the life corrupting that with the ulcer of profaneneſſe. So that, Chriſtian, if once thou canſt take off thy engagements to the fleſh, and become a free-man, ſo as not to give thy vote to gratifie thy carnal fears or hopes, thou wilt then be a ſure friend to truth.
Thirdly, waite conſcionably on the Miniſtery of the Word. Satan commonly ſtops the eare from hearing ſound Doctrine, before he opens it to embrace corrupt. This is the method of ſoules apoſtatizing from truth, 2 Tim. 4.3, 4. They ſhall turn their eares from the truth, and ſhall be turned unto fables. Satan like a cunning thief drawes the ſoul out of the road into ſome lane or corner, and there robs him of the truth. By rejecting of one Ordinance we deprive our ſelves of the bleſſing of all other: ſay not that thou prayeſt to be led into truth, he will not hear thy prayer if thou turneſt thine eare from hearing the law. He that loves his child, when he ſees him play the truant, will whip him to ſchool: If God loves a ſoul, he will bring him back to the Word with ſhame and ſorrow.
Fourthly, When thou heareſt any unuſual Doctrine, though never ſo pleaſing, make not up the match haſtily with it: have ſome better teſtimony of it before you open your heart to it. The Apoſtle indeed bids us entertain ſtrangers, for ſome have entertain'd Angels unawares, Heb. 13.3. but he would not have us carried about with strange Doctrine, verſ. 9. by this I am ſure ſome have entertained devils. I confeſſe. 'tis not enough to reject a doctrine, becauſe ſtrange to us, but ground we have to wait and enquire. Paul marvelled that the Galatians were ſo ſoon removed from him, who had called them unto the grace of Chriſt, unto another Goſpel; they might ſure have ſtayed till they had acquainted Paul with it, and asked his judgement; what, no ſooner an Impoſtour come into the countrey and open his pack, but buy all his ware at firſt ſight? O friends, were it not more wiſdom to pray ſuch new notions over and over again, to ſearch the Word and our hearts by it, yea, not to truſt our own hearts, but call in counſel from others. If your Miniſter have not ſuch credit with you, yet the moſt holy, humble and eſtabliſh't Chriſtians you can finde. Errour is like fiſh, which muſt be eaten new, or it will ſtink, When thoſe dangerous errours ſprung up firſt in New England, O how unſettled were many of the Churches? what an outis was made, as if ſome mine of gold had been diſcovered; but in a while, when thoſe errours came to their complexion, and it was perceived whither they were bound, to deſtroy Churches, Ordinances, and Power of Godlineſſe: then ſuch as feared God, who had ſtept aſide, returned back with ſhame and ſorrow.