Demonology and Theology, Chapter 11
CHAP. XI.
A PARALLEL of other particular ſins of the preſent times; with the propheſies of thoſe Texts afore named, of the laſt dayes, demonſtrating that theſe are the times forerunning Chriſts next appearance, according to the Propheſies of the Scriptures.
TIS further propheſied in the firſt Epiſtle to Timothy, Chap. 4. Verſ. 2.3.
Firſt, That in thoſe later times (Verſ. 1.) Men ſhal speake lyes in hypocriſie. Two evil qualities, to be Hypocrites, and to ſpeake lyes. Hypocrites doe alwayes make or doe lyes. Their ſeeming to be in Religion, what indeed they are not, is a lump of lyes. But the Text ſaith, they ſpeake lyes, or (neerer the Greek) Speakers of lyes. Tis much for men of no ſhew of Religion to ſpeake lyes; but for men that take upon them the Garbe of Religion, to ſpeake lyes, is worſe. And in the way here meant, is worſe yet; namely, under the pretence of having the ſpirit, and of revelations by the ſpirit to vent lying doctrines: Of which ſort of men this Age abounds; witneſſe your Seekers, Shakers, Familiſts, Ranters, Adamites, &c. whoſe horrid opinions and practiſes, tis better to bury in ſilence, then once to name, although they pretend for them, Revelations. Their damnable hypocriſie appeares; firſt, in that whiles they pretend much more of the spirit above other men, they are not at all ſpiritualized, but are ſenſuall, pleaſing their ſenſes; voluptuous in their converſation, in meats and drinks, and venerious luſts. Secondly, In that they pretend the ſpirit, yet deſert, if not deſpiſe the Word of God, which is the voice of the ſpirit, by which alone they come to know that they pretend to know; namely, That there is an holy ſpirit, and that there hath been an inſpiration into ſome men by that ſpirit, and that ſtill there is an infuſion of that ſpirit into ſome that are true Chriſtians. They will pretend to ſpeake truthes, yet forſake the Word dictated by the ſpirit; which is the rule of truth: Or elſe how ſhal it be diſcerned whether any ſpeake lyes, as tis in this Text; for other men that ſpeake contrary to them may as wel pretend the ſpirit and to ſpeake truth, as wel as they; unleſſe they wil ſay all men ſpeak truth. And then they advance all men to be as high ſpiritually as they pretend themſelves to be, and ſo overthrow all their owne glory.
Secondly, It is there Propheſied, that their conſciences are ſeared with an hot Iron; that is, they are hardened, and ſtupified, as a part of a mans fleſh is when ſeared. And that a mad kind of profeſſors of this Age have attained to this ſin and miſery alſo, is cleere by that mine and others eares have heard from their own mouths, profeſſing that they were wont to be troubled for every thing, every ſmall ſin, but now troubled at nothing, counting it their perfection. And have called exhortations to walke by the rules of the Goſpel, Legalities.
Thirdly, Forbidding to marry; which none more doe in effect then the Ranters, Adamites, &c. of theſe times. The Papiſts doe by retaile, forbidding ſome men, as their Prieſts; and others at ſome time; Viz. In Lent, &c. But the madd Profeſſors of theſe times, by whole ſale, thinking and practiſing that Women are common; they ſay, They are free, their spirits are free; namely to make their fleſh common: And ſay, that though they goe away and lye with others Husbands or Wives, yet they know no Man or Woman after the fleſh: Witneſſe ſome of their Confeſſions.
Fourthly, Commanding to abſtaine from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which beleeve, &c. Thus doe the Papiſts of theſe laſt times, forbid certaine meats at ſome times; thus doe the Jewiſh Chriſtians of theſe dayes; if not the Diggers too, forbidd ſome meats at all times: And our late wilde profeſſors of ſeverall Sects, are againſt receiving meats with thanksgiving; againſt praying or praiſing for their meat at Meales.
Fifthly, Tis propheſied in the ſecond Epiſtle to Timothy, Chap. 3. Verſ. 2. That in the laſt dayes, men ſhall be lovers of themſelves, &c. What men? Anſwer, Men that are a kinde of Profeſſors: For ſo is the cloſe to all theſe vices, Verſ. 5. Having a forme of godlineſſe, but denying the power. The like of ſelfe-love was never ſeen, as in theſe dayes among men named Profeſſors: Every man minding himſelfe, ſhifting for himſelfe, prejudicing his neighbour, in Eſtate and reputation; all is his owne that any man can get, though with betraying others: and their religious diſcourſe is to calumniate, and condemne others unheard.
Sixthly, In the ſame, 2. Tim. 3.2. Tis propheſied, men ſhal be covetous. So likewiſe, 2 Pet. 2.3. This unhappy Age doth too much verifie this; and anſwer to the propheſie thereof, in that there have and doe now abound, not onelyonly unrighteous Plunderers of private mens Eſtates, but alſo Sycophants, State-cozeners, Cheaters of the Common-wealth, unfaithfull in their Accounts; beſides Bribe-takers, that ſel Juſtice, if not injuſtice for Money.
Seventhly, Tis propheſied there, and Verſ. 4. that men ſhall be Boaſters, proud, blaſphemers, heady, high-minded: Of ſuch this preſent evill Age ſwarmes. Out of pride they boaſt and that blaſphemouſly, that they are God (in expreſſe termes) aſſuming to themſelves the titles, and authoritative formes of ſpeech of God himſelfe: Of old, Adam would be as God, the Angells would be as God; the Heathen Emperours would be a kinde of God; but theſe ſay, They are the great God; and that the creature is God, and God is the creature; but with Oathes and blaſphemies vilifie the true God, as mine, and others eares can teſtifie: And to ſeale up their iniquities; what theſe high-minded, Super-luciferian proud ſpirits, doe as with the tongues of Devils belch out, they doe as headily ſtand in, being paſt all conviction, by way of Argument, but in ſtead thereof, as waters ſtopt, they ſwell up the more, and run over, beating downe all bancks and bounds of common civility, and humanity.
Eighthly, Tis propheſied in the ſame ſecond Verſe, that men ſhal be diſobedient to Parents: Parents in the fift Commandement ſignifie all Superiours. Sutably Peter propheſies of the ſame times, and the ſame kinde of men, 2 Ep. Ch. 2. V. 9, 10, 11. The Lord knoweth how to reſerve the unjuſt to the day of judgement to be puniſhed, but chiefly them that walke after the fleſh, in the luſt of uncleanneſſe, and deſpiſe government, being preſumptuous and ſelfe-will'd, they are not afrayd to ſpeak evill of Dignities; whereas the Angels greater in power durſt not. Jude, Verſ. 8, 9. Hath the ſame expreſſion, and the ſame argument from Angels, &c. Should ſeeme this ſin of deſpiſing Superiours is a moſt damnable ſin, and rife in thoſe that walke after the fleſh in the luſt of uncleanneſſe: No wonder, becauſe Dignities and Superiours, Magiſtrates and Miniſters, inſtruct againſt, and ſtrike againſt ſuch their vices. And by woefull experience I and others doe know that this evill Age abounds with ſuch; namely, with State-Levellers, and Church-Levellers: the former pulling downe civil powers (though the Ordinance of God, Rom. 13.) ſtriving to bring Government downe to a Popularity, parity, if not, Anarchie. Some of them profeſſing againſt Civill ſalutations of any man, by putting off of Hatts, or, &c. And that they know no relations, but of Fellow-creatures. And if the Scriptures be urged againſt them, they (if they deny them not) turne all into Allegories, formed by their owne phantaſies. The later, the Church-Levellers, oppoſing the Offices in the Miniſtry, of Paſtor and Teacher: and by a pretence of Propheſying, which they could never tell what it was in the Eſſentiall definition, they equally intereſt many talkative, but unfit Brethren unto the right or liberty of Teaching; and if they may teach (ſay they) they may alſo adminiſter the Seales: Eſpecially if (as ſome of them hold) there be no inſtituted ſolemne forme of adminiſtration, eſpecially of the Communion: OnelyOnly the Elements to be put before them, and every one to take them. We ſpeake what we know to our ſorrow, or elſe we ſhould not ſpeake it.
Ninthly, Tis propheſied, Viz. in 2 Tim. 3.2. That in the laſt dayes men ſhall be unthankefull: This is proper to theſe dayes, wherein men almoſt of all ranks have been moſt ungratefull to them of whom they have received moſt favours. 'Twas a great ſpeech among the Greeks to ſay, Giftleſſe gifts; but we can ſay farr more in theſe dayes; namely, Hate-procuring gifts: Men that have been kinde to others, have procured nothing at laſt, but hate for their love; a ſorry exchange.
Tenthly, Ʋnholy: This naturally followes the other, Ingratum dixeris, & omnia dixeris; ſay a man's ingratefull and ſay he is any thing: And this is the idiom of all falſe ſorts and ſects of Profeſſors, and the ſure ſymptome that they are naught, in that they are unholy, impure, of a filthy converſe and converſation, turning liberty into licentiouſneſſe: Their Principles, their language, their practiſe unholy. And they are not unholy onelyonly with hypocriticall unholineſſe; but with prophane unholineſſe, of aothes, blaſphemies, &c. (uſing the forme of words of the Communion, in their toſſings of their Wine-cups) with Heatheniſh unholineſſe, and worſe, tranſgreſſing all rules of civility; and laſtly, with Atheiſticall unholineſſe, which is worſe then Diabolicall (the Devill being no Atheiſt, Jam. 2.19.) For whiles they ſay, God is all things, and all the Creatures are God (as they did 312. years after Chriſt, as appeares largely in Lactantius) they indeed make God as nothing. So that the Apoſtle puts this unholineſſe as a thing like the belly of the Trojan Horſe, or a Commonſhore, containing all vices.
Eleventhly, Tis propheſied, namely in that 2 Tim. 3.3, 4. That in the laſt dayes men ſhall be without naturall affection, truce-breakers, falſe accuſers, incontinent, fierce, deſpiſers of thoſe that are good, and Traytors. Theſe are naturally put together, vices are chained. Theſe in ſpeciall; and faſtened upon the myriades of Mal-profeſſors, the falſe Chriſtians of this woful Age: They doe, or have aſſumed the name of Profeſſors, or Chriſtians, but now being incontinent, not abſtaining, almoſt from any vice; and being fierce in their evil, they have loſt all naturall affection to their owne Kinne and Countrey, breaking all truces and compacts; brother betraying brother, the Son the Father, and many betraying their owne truſt, and ſo the reputation and Eſtates of others, and ofttimes their lives too; and on the contrary, hating all that are good; Papiſts againſt Proteſtants, and Malignants againſt true Profeſſors; as theſe late Warrs have abundantly verified.
Twelfthly, Lovers of pleaſures more then lovers of God; which is the complexion of falſe Profeſſors in theſe dayes; whoſe judgement and practice tend to wantonneſſe, ſetting aſide the love of God, as a feigned notion, making God indeed, to be nothing; affirming moſt blaſphemouſly, that their reaſon is God.
Thirteenthly, In Verſ. 6. Creep into Houſes, leading captive ſilly Women, laden with ſins, led away with diverſe luſts: This moſt ſadly ſuites to theſe pernicious times, as appeares by thoſe Ranting Prieſts, or Teachers, who in private Preach and practice Doctrines of Adulteries, and running away with other mens Wives.
Fourteenthly, In Verſ. 8. Reſiſting the truth as Jannes and Jambres did Moſes: Juſt ſo now, ſwarmes of thoſe that are unſound in the truth, make it their whole buſineſſe to bring the ſound conſcionable Miniſters of Chriſt into contempt, accounting it a great peice of Religion ſo to doe.
Fifteenthly, Tis propheſied in 2 Pet. 2. Verſ. 1. There ſhall be falſe Teachers among you, who privily ſhall bring in damnable Hereſies, even denying the Lord that bought them: Which is wofully fulfilled in theſe times; wherein thoſe that take upon them the notion of Teachers, and their followers (not to mention their innumerable other Hereſies) have affirmed, that Chriſt is a carnall or fleſhly thing: That thoſe that are growne Chriſtians may goe to God immediately without a Chriſt. Others goe higher; that Chriſt did not riſe againe. Others yet higher; Contemning him by the notion of the man dying at Jeruſalem. Thus firſt in their blaſphemous opinions, they deny the Lord Chriſt that bought them; that bought them, not onelyonly in the judgement of Charity, which is not the ful weight of the Apoſtles aggravation of their ſin; but alſo bought them, in laying downe a ſufficient price for all ſinners, and ſo for them; yea further, bought them in taking upon him the common nature of all men, bringing it neerer to him then the nature of Angels, Heb. 2. whereby he makes mankinde ſaveable (denying it to lapſed Angels.) Yea laſtly, bought them, in preaching to them in the Goſpel that he dyed for ſinners indefinitely, offering himſelfe and ſalvation by his blood unto them, beſeeching them to receive him by faith, and he will actually ſave them. Secondly, They deny him in their impious practiſes, (called A trampling of Chriſt, Heb. 10.29.) For Verſ. 3. Tis here ſayd, Through covetouſneſſe, they make merchandiſe of you. Verſ. 13. They count it pleaſure to ryot in the day time, and are ſpots and blemiſhes, while they feaſt with you. Verſ. 14. Having eyes full of adultery, that cannot ceaſe from ſin, beguiling unſtable ſoules; an heart exerciſed with covetous practiſes, &c. Are gon aſtray from the right way unto the way of Balaam, who loved the wages of unrighteouſneſſe, Verſ. 17. Wells without water, and Clouds carryed with a tempeſt, Verſ. 18. Speaking great ſwelling words of vanity, they allure through the luſts of the fleſh, through much wantonneſſe thoſe that were eſcaped from them who live in errour, Verſ. 19. Who promiſing them liberty, they themſelves are the ſervants of corruption. Verſ. 20. For if after they have eſcaped the pollutions of the World, THROUGH THE KNOVVLEDGE OF THE LORD AND SAVIOUR IESUS CHRIST, they are againe intangled therein and overcome, the later end is worſe with them then the beginning. O what a lively Iconiſme and Character is this of theſe times; limbing forth to the life, the hereticall impious perſons thereof, that deny Chriſt in practiſe alſo. Evill opinions will not be alone, without evill practiſes. If men teach errours and hereſies it muſt be for ſome advantage. They doe as in Verſ. 3. through covetouſneſſe make merchandiſe of their auditory. Their hearts being exerciſed, as tis in the fourteenth Verſe, with covetous practiſes, they vent wicked ſtrange Doctrines, and thereby as Verſ. 15. receive of their followers the wages of unrighteouſneſſe, as Balaam did of Balaak for comming to curſe and ſeduce the people of Iſrael. So they make merchandiſe of Profeſſors; ſelling their ſoules to ſin and Hell, for the gaine they receive by teaching ſuch Doctrines: And on the other ſide, if people will maintaine ſuch Impoſtors, for teaching ſuch their Doctrines, there muſt be ſomething in thoſe Doctrines that muſt exceedingly pleaſe that people. Now the two ingredients mentioned in this Chapter, and Preached in this Age by theſe Varlets, pleaſe unſound hearted Profeſſors exceeding wel; namely, Doctrines of adultery, of luſts of the fleſh, and of much wantonneſſe; and Doctrines of hereſie, that there is no need of a Chriſt, no need to labour or trouble themſelves with faith and repentance, and the rules of the Goſpell. Though they were once carryed on in a way of reformation, in and through the knowledge of Chriſt, yet now they may lay aſide Chriſt, and tis their LIBERTY ſo to doe; and their corruption of practice is their perfection, as they openly profeſſe it in theſe evill dayes; and though in the judgement of the Scriptures and of good men, they are as BRUTE BEASTS, and SPOTS, and BLEMISHES to the beauty of the Church; yet they count it pleaſure to ryot, in the day time of the Goſpel, and if need be of the naturall day; and ſporting themſelves in their laſcivious ways, though good men count them deceivings. But that, nor our eares, nor this place wil beare it, many horrid particulars might be here recited, of the practiſes of theſe times. They ſpeak great ſwellings (but are but) WORDS, and of vanity: Though they ſeeme to be Wells, yet not to hold the waters of life, Doctrines of godlineſſe; but onelyonly pitts to catch mens ſoules in. And though they ſeem to be high, they are but Clouds, and not ſet to raine and drop downe the Doctrines of truth; but empty Clouds carryed up and downe with the tempeſts of temptations, of motions of their luſts, and admiration of a freſh auditory, to adore them for their licentious and fleſh-pleaſing Doctrines.
Sixteenthly, Tis propheſied in 2 Pet. 3.3, 4. That in the laſt dayes there ſhall be Scoffers, walking after their owne luſts, and ſaying, Where is the promiſe of his comming, for ſince the Fathers fell aſleep all things continue as they were from the beginning of the Creation? Moſt exactly fulfilled in theſe dayes; thouſands of people alleadging the Scriptures (as theſe doe) for their licentiouſneſſe, but refuſe them where they are againſt them. They ſettle themſelves in a way of walking after their owne luſts, and then turne Scoffers and deſpiſers of the Doctrine of Heaven and Hell, and the immortality of the ſoule; as mine, and others eares in part can witneſſe.
Seventeethly, and laſtly, Tis propheſied in Jude, Verſ. 18, 19. That thoſe ſcoffers in the laſt times, walking after their owne ungodly luſts, ſhould ſeparate themſelves, but are ſenſuall, not having the ſpirit. A moſt high impudence; yet fulfilled in theſe times upon many. Theſe ſcoffers openly making local Heaven and Hell, and the reunion of ſoule and body after death, a meer fiction; they utterly make voyd the whole frame and Syſtem of the Scriptures, wherein we are taught the ſpirit, and doe receive the ſpirit, 2 Cor. 3. and yet wil pretend the ſpirit. They are foreign, meer vegetable, or animals, in compariſon of the ſpirit of grace; yea, live moſt ſenſually and contrarily to the operation of the ſpirit where it dwels, and yet pretend to have the ſpirit. They foreign, they ſeparate, ſegregate, or put a notion of diſtinction on themſelves in their owne opinion, that they have the ſpirit; that they are better then others that are more ſtrict, and yet the Apoſtle wil allow them to be but animals at the beſt; yea Bruit beaſts, as yee heard, 2 Pet. 2. as their lives teſtifie againſt them, in that they walke after their owne luſts, and not after the rules and ruleings of the ſpirit, as it acts in them that have indeed the holy ſpirit.
Thus yee have a ſhort ſurvey of the mighty maſſe of evils of the laſt dayes; yee have had alſo a parallel of thoſe ſinnes, and theſe preſent times we now live in. And not onelyonly here in theſe Nations we live in, but of other Nations beyond the Seas, eſpecially where peace and liberty have abounded after great troubles. Their rotten hearted men, their helliſh Books, and Writings, and ſo their damnable opinions and wayes of practice, have been tranſmitted hither, ſo that the whole Earth, the whole Chriſtian World is corrupted before the Lord.
What therefore can we expect, but that the Lord ſhould take up ſome ſuch reſolutions as he did, Gen. 6. immediately afore the Flood; to bring an univerſal deſtruction or deſolation upon the generality of them that are called Profeſſors or Chriſtians, called there the Sons of God.
And ſurely (a thing to be trembled at) God hath not been ſilent to tel as wel what ſhal be the judgement upon the ſins of the laſt times; as the ſins of the laſt times: And therefore if the ſins of the laſt times be ours, the judgements of the laſt times wil be ours, unleſſe ſome effectual courſe be taken: For Gods threatnings are conditional in the meaning, however expreſſed, as we ſee in the ſtory of Nineveh.
Though judgements are threatned in the ſame places of Scripture where we had the ſins forepropheſied. (2 Tim. 3.1. Thoſe laſt impious times, ſhal be perilous times. And 2 Pet. 2. Verſ 1. & 8. they ſhal bring upon themſelves ſwift deſtruction, whoſe judgement now of along time lingereth not, and their damation ſlumbereth not. 2 Pet. 3.10. The day of the Lord will come as a theefe in the night, in the which the Heavens ſhal paſſe away with a great noyſe, and the elements ſhall melt with fervent heat, the Earth alſo, and the works that are therein ſhall be burnt up:) Yet in the ſame Scriptures are directions for eſcape to them that repent and beleeve and pray. For the Apoſtle there tels us, Verſ. 11. Seeing all theſe things ſhall be diſſolved, what manner of perſons ought we to be in all holy Converſation, and Godlineſſe. And what then? What ſhall this availe againſt an epidemical diſeaſe of ſin, and a general ruine upon the Earth? The Apoſtle anſwers both there, and Chap. 2. That the deſtruction ſhal be to the wicked, not to the godly; his words there in 2 Pet. 3. Verſ. 13. are, Nevertheleſſe we according to his promiſe, expect new Heavens, and a new Earth, wherein dwells righteouſneſſe. And in 2 Pet. 2.4, 5. &c. to Ver. 10. his words and comforts are, That God kept the obedient Angels, though the ſinning Angels he caſt downe to Hell. And though he ſpared not the old World, yet he ſaved Noah the Preacher of righteouſneſſe, &c. And albeit hee turned the Cities of Sodom and Gomorah into aſhes, yet he delivered juſt Lot, &c. And upon, or from all, the Apoſtle draws an univerſal cloſe of comfort, that the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, though he puniſh the ungodly.
You ſee then it ſhal not be in vaine for the little flock of the godly to humble and pray, when an univerſal ſtorme is comming. If there had been but ten righteous in Sodom, it had been ſpared. One wiſe Woman in Abel delivered the City. And Jer. 5.1. to the ſame purpoſe. So Ezek. 9.4. Mal. 3.16, 17. And the Prophet ſpeaks in general, Iſa. 3.10. Say to the righteous it ſhall be well with them.
Therefore, whereas the prophane Hereticks, adulterous ſwearers, blaſphemers, Atheiſts, Papiſts, deboſht men, have been eaten up by the late Warrs, by thouſands, and a kinde of religi…s irreligious ſwarme and ſpawne of Hereticks, adulterers, ſwearers, blaſphemers, Atheiſts, and all ſinning miſcreants, are riſen up in their ſtead, whoſe ſins are worſe, becauſe ſinned upor pretended principles ſo to doe, and may ſo doe, and therefore the cry of their ſins greater, let us that feare the Lord indeed, cry mightily to the Lord, that through the blood of Chriſt, that cryes better things then the blood of Abel, we may outcry their ſins: Their ſins are ſtil extant and inſolent, new Warrs threatned; tis no time for true Chriſtians to be ſecure. So ſhal the Cataſtrophe be to us as to the Iſraelites going to Warr with Canaan; if the Achans be puniſhed and the godly Iſraelites humbled, Canaanites (though once their Brethren, yet worſhipping God according to the inventions of men, and not accepting Peace, according to Gods rule when offered) are overthrowne, and the Iſraelites poſſeſſe their Land. This is more conſiderable becauſe Joſhua is made a type of Chriſt, and called Jeſus, and the reſt in Canaan a type of our reſt in a glorious eſtate on Earth, Hebr. 4. (weigh the Chapter, and the Original they that can, and they ſhall finde it ſo.) And what is ſayd in that firſt of Joſhua, and in a particular caſe of that Warr, Verſ. 5. Is by the ſame Epiſtle to the Hebrews, Chap. 13. applyed to all beleevers, in all caſes: And that which is ſpoken in that firſt of Joſhua, that all the ground …he Iſraelites ſhall tread on ſhould be theirs, is promiſed to all beleevers according to Dan. 2. Dan. 7. &c. in Revel. 20.
Amen.
End of the text · Nathanael Homes, Demonology and Theology (1650)