The Heart of New England Rent, Chapter 2
CHAP. 2. Of the Signal Nature of the Quakers, and other falſe Teachers, ariſing, and prevailing among the people of God.
AS the Soveraigne Lord, and onelyonly wiſe God, is both the diſpoſer and interpreter: So hath he given unto his ſervants, to be diſcerners of the times. The Scriptures held forth many occurrents of providence Significative of the ſtate of religion, & of the reſpective condition of the profeſſion thereof: as alſo of Gods more remarkable adminiſtration unto his people, whether with relation unto his Predictions, permiſſive, or comminatory or both, Hence we read of ſignes of the times. Mat: 16.3. Of good times in the place cited. Of evill times, Mat: 24.33. This trueth, the Pſalmiſt mentions, as of acknowledg'd & notable moment in Iſrael. Pſal. 74.9. We ſee not our ſignes.
The not diſcerning herof, as it is a matter of blame: but how is it ye diſcern not this time? Luke. 12.56. So in the diſcerning thereof, is a matter of praiſe. And the Children of Iſſachar which were men which had underſtanding of the time, to know what Jſrael ought to do: The heads, of them were two hundred, and all their brethren were at their Commandement 1. Chron. 12.32. Conſortative unto the good, & awing unto the bad, was that ſeaſonable word of an Ancient, who when terror had ſurpriſed the hearts of thouſands by reaſon of that fearfull earth-quake, which in Julians time threw up the very foundation of the temple, then about to be reedified by the Apoſtate-Emperour; told them, that this amazing & ſtrange accident to them was but the accompliſhment of that prophecie. Verily I ſay unto you, there ſhall not be left here, one ſtone upon another that ſhall not be thrown down. Full of preſence of Spirit in a time of Calamity, was that ſpeech, where with Lupus a B…ſhop is reported to have greeted the enemy Attilas, then depopulating & laying waſt his countrey: I rejoyce (ſaith he) that you are come ſafe, whom I judge to be the ſcourge of the Lord, & of my God, ſent to chaſtiſe his people. The good man; howſoever others hearts might faile under their fears both of preſent …e, & of everlaſting burnings: looking at the King of the Hunnes, not as a weapon of deſtruction, according to his own deſire; but as a rod of correction, in the hand of God: and chooſing affliction, rather then iniquity, gathers meat out of the eater.
Falſe Teachers, and falſe Prophets are ſignal; i. e, they are ſignes, that the time is come, when God will inflict vindicative ſpiritual-juſtice; upon the non-receivers of the Trueth in the love of it.
They are executioners of ſpiritual juſtice, puniſhing the non-reception of the trueth: with deception by their lyes. They are inſtrumental executioners of Juſtice, to puniſh the non-reception of the trueth, diſpenſed by the Miniſters of Chriſt: with deception by, and reception of a ly, diſſeminated by the miniſters of Satan.
This ſolemn, and by reaſon to the iniquity of the times) both awfull, and ſeaſonable trueth: the Reader is deſired the rather to attend the proof of. A…a… beſides other ſinners, laden with the guilt of the eſcape of a blaſphemous Syrian; rejects the trueth in the mouth of Micaiah, the Lords Prophet, diſwading him from going againſt Ramoth-Gilead: This; God viſited, by giving him up to believe a ly in the mouth of the falſe Prophets; commiſſioned to perſwade him, to go to Ramoth-Gilead, unto his deſtruction.
1 Kings 22.19,-23.
I am come in my Fathers name, and ye receive me not: if another ſhall come in his own name, him ye will receive. John 5.43. The awfull trueth contained in this text, will be the better ſeen, by reſolving it into four propoſitions. 1. Chriſt came unto ſinners i. e. tendered himſelf to them, according to the Covenant of grace and that according to the appointment of the Father: an external unparallelled mercy. But laſt of all he ſent unto them his Son: ſaying, ſurely they will reverence my Son. 2. They received not the Son, though ſent unto them in the Fathers name. As the Goſpell is the great command; ſo the rejection of the Goſpel, is the great ſin.
If I had not come, and ſpoken unto them they, had not had ſinn: but now they have no cloak for their ſin. John 15.22. 3. Upon the rejecting of the Doctrine of the great Teacher, there are teachers ſuppoſed to come in their own name. A famine of the word of trueth is a ſore judgment. Amos 8.11. But theſe teachers, are worſe then no teachers. Accurſed & ominous. 4. That thoſe who received not Chriſt, comming in his Fathers name, will receive teachers comming in their own name. No better Teacher, no ſuch teacher, no other teacher, then he was whom they refuſed.
Scarce any (if any) worſe teachers then thoſe whom they received. Tis not ſo ready to ſay, whether their unbelief or belief was more dreadfull. Wofull is their condition, when the teacher is accurſed Gal. 1.9. and the hearer bewitched Gal. 3.1.
And for this cauſe God ſhall ſend them ſtrong deluſions, that they ſhall believe a ly: that they all might be damned, who believed not the trueth, but had pleaſure in unrighteouſneſs 2 Theſ. 2.11, 12. See here the non-receivers of the trueth in the love of it, puniſhed both with a penal, and effectual miſſion of deceivers.
That this tremendous diſpenſation, may have the deeper impreſſion upon our hearts: we find the Vindictive hand of God upon the contempt of the Goſpel, mentioned thrice in one chapter: and that alſo, ſometime as a forerunner of the deſtruction of a nation. Mat: 24.5. For many ſhall come in my name, ſaying I am Chriſt. Falſe teachers ſhall come, and leſt any ſhould think their comming notwithſtanding, happily they ſhall not prevail: it is added, and ſhall deceive many. Again, verſe 11. Many falſe prophets ſhall ariſe. Forget not again what followeth, and ſhall deceive many. So verſe 24. For there ſhall ariſe falſe Chriſts, and falſe Prophets, and ſhall ſhew great ſignes & wonders: in ſo much; that if it were poſſible, they ſhould deceive the very Elect. Hereunto (if with ſome learned interpreters, we underſtand by the end mentioned Mat: 24. that famous period & deſtruction of the Nation of the Jewes) we may not unaptly annex that of the Apoſtle 1 John 2.18. in the judgment of ſome as atteſting unto Mat: 24.3, 6, 33, 34 Namely that theſe grand-deceivers were fore-runners of the then enſuing miſery of that nation. Little children, it is the laſt time, & as ye have heard that Antichriſt ſhall come, even now there are many Antichriſts, whereby we know that it is the laſt time.
The ſumm is; that the doctrines of Devils audaciouſly diſſeminated by numerous falſe teachers, pretending themſelves to be immediately ſent of God, are SIGNAL, or are ſignes of evill times, in four reſpects, i. e. They ſignifie four things
1. Greater light then Ordinary foregoing.
2. The non-reception of that light by many, in the love of it.
3. The Judicial giving up of many non-recivers of the Trueth in the love of it to believe their lyes.
4. Sometimes at leaſt, alſo a National Calamity impending: when the prementioned iniquities, are in Conjunction with other crying ſinns without Repentance.
Sinning againſt the Goſpel, is very ſinfull. The Goſpel is a conſtitution or effect tempered of the Grace of God, and the blood of Chriſt ingredients, neither of which are to be found in the Law. So much as the Goſpel excelleth the Law, ſo much is ſinning againſt the Goſpel aggravated compared with ſinning againſt the Law Sinning againſt the Goſpel is yet heightned by circumſtances: that it is given to us after the tranſgreſſion of the Law. Given to ſome tranſgreſſors, and not unto others. Of them to whom it is given, diſpenſed with greater light to ſome, then to others. What Nation gloryed in theſe priviledges above our own, our ſelves being witneſſes? From the kind of ſinning; If the non-reception of the trueth in the love of it, expoſeth unto this vindictive deception, according to what dreadfull degree ſhall they be counted obnoxious, who perſevere in ſcandals under the light?
Count it pleaſure to riot in the day time, yea fear not to commit that abomination in Iſrael, of turning the grace of God into wantonneſs.
From the doctrine of free grace, drawing a licence to ſin, to take their fill of luſt: and that without the guilt of ſin, without the conſcience of ſin, yea with a pretended conſcience of obedience.
In a word, to feaſt the old man unto the higheſt, with the blood of Jeſus, and compleat the mystery of iniquity, by the myſtery of the Goſpel.
As the non-reception of the trueth of the Goſpel, is a fearfull ſin, ſo the fruit thereof is a fearfull evill. Their unbelief is fearfull: their belief is fearfull. Ʋnbelief of the trueth is iniquity: Belief of a ly, is both iniquity & folly. The trueth they unbelieve, is a trueth of the greateſt wiſdom. The ly which they believe is an object of the greateſt vanity. To believe the trueth, is a great mercy. 1 Cor. 7.25. At one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord, to be faithfull. To believe a deſtructively, is a great judgment. 2 Theſ. 2.11, 12. And for this cauſe God ſhall ſend them ſtrong deluſions, that they ſhould believe a ly, that they all might be damned, who believed not the truth. Not to believe Christ is to make him an Impoſtor: remarkable is divine juſtice, that the iſſue of ſuch unbelief, ſhould be the believing of Impoſtors. So legible is divine juſtice, in that they who forſake the way of ſalvation, ſhould chooſe the way of damnation: that the folly of that wiſdom may be manifeſt, whoſe wiſdom is to diſacknowledg the Wiſdom of God; and that the glory of that wiſdom may be ever adored, the contempt wherof, delivereth the contemners unto ſuch finall folly.
Theſe lying Spirits, with other like Pests, howſoever inconſiderable & deſpicable looked at as in themſelves: yet if looked at as meſſengers of Divine wrath, witneſſes of guilt, and impenitence inſtruments of penalty, and commiſſionated to do effectual execution, they are now repreſented under a formidable aſpect: and become objects of great terrour. God can plague Egypt with lice, and make locusts, wormes, & graſhoppers, a matter of horror unto Judah: though there remained but wounded men amongſt the Caldeans: yet ſhould they riſe up every man in his tent, & burne this Citty with fire. Alas tis ſin that armes juſtice, and diſarmes the ſinner. When there is a concurrence of delinquency and authority, the meanneſs of the executioner aggravates, not extenuates the anguiſh of the malefactor. What more formidable then a penall and vindictive-permiſſion, of a deluſion-deſtructive: Upon Gods willing the permiſſion of ſin, ſin falleth out infallibly. Upon this antecedent Adam when all mankind was conteined in that one man yet in innocency, is deceived & ſinneth away, not only the Image of God from his poſterity, but alſo ſinneth mankind into the guilt of eternal death. The woman which thou gaveſt to be with me, gave mee of the tree and I did eat. Upon a permiſſion penal-corrective, Peter falleth as ſhamefully before the temptation of a poor maid, as he engaged confidently. No merveil then if upon a permiſſion penal-vindictive foregoing, we read; and all that dwell upon the earth ſhall worſhip him, i. e. the Beaſt, whoſe names are not written in the book of the life of the Lamb, ſlain from the foundation of the world. And that Chriſt warneth us of the perill thereof, as ſuch which threatens to deceive if it were poſſible the very Elect. The ſtrength of falſe prophecy lay not in the argument of the ſpeaker, but in the affection of the hearer. My people love to have it ſo. Jer. 5.32. The conjunction of a Judicial diſpenſation, with a pleaſing error, & an itching ear, preſents a ſufficient reaſon why men otherwiſe rational, are intoxicated with doctrines moſt irreligious & irrational. Why the ſucceſs of falſe teachers (at times) hath been ſuch, as hath exceeded their own expectation Hence was the ground of that old ſaying of the Monk, inſulting over the peoples credulity, Si mundus vult decipi, decipiatur. If the world will be deceived, let it be deceived. When the Duke of Saxony affected with Muncer's crying out under the ſeverity of his tortures, ſaid unto him, truely Muncer you indure at preſent, but think alſo upon the ruine of ſo many poor people, which at this day by occaſion of your ſeduction, are ſlain. He anſwered after a laughing manner, they would ſo have it. Whether it were more wickedly done in Muncer that thus mocked, or it more juſtly befell the miſerable people thus to be mocked, the reader may conſider. Paraeus laments whileſt he reports of a Papist glorying over his countrey-men, that if the Pope ſhould ſo Command the Germans under pretence of the redemption of their ſouls, they would eat hay & graſs like Cattel. wo, be to Ahab when both God, the lying prophets, and himſelf, conſpirer ſpectively the ſame deception, unto his deſtruction.
Though the being of hereſies be a great evill, yet hereſies must be: as ſerving the counſell of God unto divine uſes. In reſpect of the world: in reſpect of the profeſſors of the truth, both hypocriticall, & ſincere: In reſpect of the world. Ma. 18.7. woe be to the world becauſe of offences. Open enemies of the trueth rejoyce in them, harden their hearts in impenitence by them: whereby theſe veſſels of wrath, fill up their meaſure, and fit themſelves for their juſt, & greater condemnation.
Concerning hypocriticall profeſſors, God hereby diſcovers them. They went out, that they might be made manifeſt, that they were not all of us. 1. John. 2.19. God in his own ſeaſon, many times detects unſound profeſſors, & Church members, in this life: to ſhew that whatever name they had in the Churches which they lived in, yet they were never unſeen to his alſeeing eye. 2. To make others afraid how they approach to his holy things in hypocriſy. Acts. 5.14. 3. To prevent others being deceived by them. When the ſtate of the republick is quiet, all the members ſeem to be wel-affected, & like minded to the ſtate: but as ſoon as Abſaloms trumpet ſounds, there quickly followeth a viſible ſeparation in Jſrael. Now David knoweth whoſe hearts are indeed with him, whoſe not. During the churches peace, all the members ſeem orthodox, but if a ſtrangers voice be heard, then the lovers of ſound doctrine & itching ears, fall into parties: & follow not the ſame Teacher.
As concerning ſincere profeſſors of the trueth: Teachers of falſe doctrine are unto them, as ſo many tempters or tryars. For the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart, & with all your ſoul. Deut. 13.3. Temptations of an high nature, trying to the utmoſt, if it were poſſible as we ſaid before, to deceive the very Elect. Tryalls greater then thoſe of perſecution, exile, ſpoyling of goods &c: Witneſs the ſad apoſtacy of too many, in this preſent aſſault of hetrodoxie, who quitted themſelves with reputation before men in the fore-named ſufferings. The ſame temptation managed under the notion of a Prophet, and as the word of God prevailed: which propoſed by King Jeroboam, with the proffer of half his houſe ſuper-added, was rejected: 1 King. 13.19, 8. Yet the demonſtration of their love to the Trueth is ſweeter then the probation therof is bitter.
Furthermore falſe Prophets, do not only prove our ſincerity between God and our ſelves: but alſo;1 Cor: 11.18. occaſionally make it known unto others. For there muſt be alſo hereſies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifeſt among you. The manifeſtation of their zeal for the Trueth, was evangellically provoked by the antiperiſtaſis, or oppoſition of error. Error & hereſie by accident conduce much, unto the furtherance of the trueth. Oppoſition occaſions light. Light proceeds unto confeſſion of the trueth. Confeſſion is a divine meanes of conqueſt. Oppoſition begets diſputation, that removes objections, and clears the trueth. Every article of religion triumphs upon a juſt inquiſition. Nothing prejudiceth verity more then the hiding, and ſmothering of it, by falſehood & ſophiſtry. The ſight of the trueth is the confuſion of the adverſary.
Trueth cleared after us queſtioning becometh out of question. Nothing more approved, then that which is approved upon tryal. The invading of that great and myſterious trueth, by A…titrinitarians: ended in the eſtabliſhment of the doctrine of the Trinity.
The faith concerning the Perſon of Chriſt, was advantaged by its conflict with Arrianiſm. The doctrine of free grace, hath been triumphantly confirmed, by its conteſts with Arminianiſm. The point of Church-governmen… much more underſtood by reaſon of its man fold controverſies, with Antagonists.
The light thus vindicated, and illuſtrated by polemical labours, cannot be hid: but by the open profeſſion of the aſſertors ſh…neth forth unto the world. Witneſs the Apoſtle's Creed, (ſo called) with other eccleſiaſtical Creeds, whether proper, viz: ſuch as were ſet forth by ſingle perſons: or particular, viz: ſuch as were ſet forth by this or that Church: or general, viz: ſuch as were publiſhed by general Councils: namely the Nicene, Epheſine, and Chalcedon, penned partly for the better expoſition of the Apoſtle's, and partly that men might the better know how to avoid the hereſies of thoſe dayes. Witneſs the acts of orthodox Councels, down all along ſince theſe ancient times. Witneſs the Harmony of confeſſions of the reformed churches, throughout the chief proteſtant ſtates: in the Century laſt foregoing (concerning which Century, as it cannot be denyed, that no one for many hundred yeares together ſo abounded with errors: ſo muſt it alſo be acknowledged, that no one, throughout ſo long a tract of time, abounded more with confeſſions of the trueth), and all thoſe worthy labours, performed with a ſpirit as zealous for,Preface to the Harm. as the enemy was malignant againſt the faith. Let them therefore (ſaith the godly prefacer) leave off, in mocking to terme us confe…ſion…ſts, unleſs perhaps they look for this anſwer at our hands, that it is a farr more excellent thing to bear the name of confeſſing the Faith, then of denying the Trueth. Very notable, & memorable is Chriſts improvement of the various and erroneous conceptions of man concerning him, unto a diſtinct and famous confeſſion of him. Mat. 16.13.-16. As alſo of that opprobrious apoſtacy of many of his diſciples, unto a moſt confident profeſſion of him. John. 6.66,-69. Thus through the myſterious adminiſtrations of God, even apoſtacy it ſelfe from the trueth, occaſions a victorious teſtimony unto the trueth. Victorious both in reſpect of the Confeſſors, & Confeſſions: and they overcame by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of their Teſtimony Rev. 12.11. The Confeſſor dyeth, the Confeſſion liveth The Conflict of the Confeſſors ceaſeth, but the Teſtimony of the Confeſſors yet ſpeaketh, and conquering goeth on to conquer.
Though Dionyſius ſeeing the darkneſs which was upon the face of the earth, at the paſſion of Chriſt, feared a diſſolution of the univerſe: yet; Faith ſeeth that it is but an Eclipſe. The Sun of Righteouſneſs will ſhortly ſhine again. Whileſt you look upon the efficacy of error, with the eye of Reaſon, its motion ſeemes to proceed according to Satan's will: but whileſt you look upon it in the Scripture, you ſhall find its motions ordered exactly by, and ſubſervient unto Gods will. If you look upon the hour & power of darkneſs as a man, it repreſents it ſelf as the apparition of Satan looſe: but if you look upon it as a believer, you ſhall ſee Satan in a chaine. The firſt aſpect, preſents all formidable, as the product of Satans will: which conteining the extirpation of all good, with the introduction of all iniquity, confuſion, & miſery. (upon ſuppoſition it ſhould obtaine) what can be ſuperadded in the way of evill therunto? The ſecōd repreſents every thing beautiful in its time it being an impoſſibillity, that he; whoſe wayes to his end are paſt finding out, ſhould do any thing, in relation either to way, or end: incongruous, or indecent unto him, who is abſolute perfection it ſelf
Look upon the ſpirit of error in it ſelf, it is like the Lyon roaring upon Sampſon: look upon it in the Promiſe, 'tis as the Carkaſs of the Lyon: but behold there is a ſwarm of Bees, and honey in the carcaſs of the Lyon. In its own nature, it is a flood of waters caſt out of the mouth of the Serpent: In the promiſe, it is as the waters of Noah, unto the freinds & ſervants of the Trueth. When I thought to know this, it was too painfull for mee, untill I went into the ſanctuary of the Lord, then underſtood I their end. Pſal. 73.10, 17.