Thirty-One Select Sermons, Sermon collection · Sermon 9
GRACE ABUSED.
At a Faſt for abuſed Liberty, Febr. 28th.
JUDE 4.
Turning the Grace of God into wantonneſs, &c.
THE word propounded for this daies humiliation is, that we may take ſhame to our ſelves before God, for that horrible abuſe of that Goſpel liberty which God hath given us, which is the fruit of the Prayers, the Tears, and the Blood of the ancient Saints of God amongſt us: Rara quiſquam circa bona ſua ſatis cautus; it's a very rare thing for men to walk worthily under Mercies that they have earneſtly deſired, when they are enjoyed.
There are two things that moſt men deſire, and they are, Power and Liberty; and when they have attained them, I may ſay they are unto men, as they deſcribe waters, ſuis terminis difficilè continentur. They are eaſily apt to run over in what veſſels ſoever you put them in. I can my ſelf remember, when Arminianiſm did firſt invade this Nation, how much the old Puritans (for that was then the term of reproach) were affected with it; how the Miniſters preached againſt it, and writ againſt it, and the Saints faſted, and prayed againſt it, as that which they looked upon as the inlet of Popery; for if you will receive it firſt in its doctrine, the ſame perſons will quickly begin to ſet it up in its worſhip alſo: And it was ſo much layd to heart by the godly Patriots of the Nation, that I have been aſſured from good hands, that they drew up an Act of Parliament to be paſt againſt it in the Parliament at Oxford, which they did intend to have ſtood upon, and by an Act of the Civil Authority to have ſuppreſt it, had not the Parliament been in a ſudden, & in an untimely manner broken up; and yet now we can cry out againſt Popery, and yet maintain with open face the Doctrines of Popery, and that under the notion or name of the greateſt liberty that can be, and I can remember alſo that in the Biſhops time, when the people of God could not have liberty to meet without danger, or the name of a Conventicle, though it croſs Tertullians notion; for he ſaith, cum boni coeunt, non eſt factio dicenda ſed curia, &c. and in danger of a High Commiſſion: How would the people of God have rejoyced at the Liberty that now they may enjoy? and how ſad it is to ſee how they are neglected by ſome, and ſtrangely prophaned by others they cannot be liberi unleſs they be Sacrile…i, as Auguſtin againſt the Pelagians, &c. And this being the work of the day, to humble our ſoules for the…e corrupt opinions, and abhominable practiſes, that under the notion and conceit of abuſed Liberty, are broken forth amongſt us; that which the Lord requires of us, is this, That we ſhould not only cry out againſt it as many of us doe, but have our hearts ſeriouſly affected with it, and deſire the ſame for our Governours alſo, that do injoyn this Faſt, that they may be humbled for that, for which they do enjoyn upon us a day of Humiliation; for every new Faſt is a new obligation both to them, and to us; againſt this evil; not onelyonly to ſpeak againſt it, and pray againſt it, but alſo to endeavour to reform it in our places, to the utmoſt of our power; for there is not any thing that is a greater provocation unto God, then a cloak of Religious duties drawn over any corrupt intention: Of a Jezebels Faſt, and a Phariſees long Prayers; the one to ſhed innocent blood, and the other to devoure the eſtate of an innocent perſon; and both are an abhomination to the Lord. And this being that wch is appointed for the humiliation of this day to help you therein, and to adminiſter ſomthing unto your thoughts, I have made choice of this Scripture now read unto you.
The grand exhortation in this Epiſtle, is ſet down ver. 3. Contend earneſtly for the faith once given unto the Saints. The thing that you muſt ſtrive for, is the Faith, the Doctrin of Faith, the Doctrin of the Goſpel, which ye cannot keep without contention; foreign, the word ſignifies, pro viribus, it is to ſtrive with all their might; or (as ſome render the word) it's to ſtrive one after another, in your places, and ſucceſſive Generations; in ſuper certare; or certamen repet…re: It's not enough to ſtrive once, and to aſſert the Truths, but ye muſt do it again, and again, after one another, as often as the Truth of God is oppoſed
And he gives the reaſon of this exhortation.
Firſt, becauſe it is a depoſitum, that the Lord hath in mercy delivered unto the Saints, Rom. 3.2.which the Lord requires them to keep: You are but Stewards of it, it is committed unto you, that you ſhould tranſmit it unto poſterity.
Secondly, it was but once given, and therefore you cannot expect, that if you part with it, the Lord will again beſtow it unto you: It's like the fire upon the Altar, that was at firſt kindled from heaven, and was there by the induſtry of the Prieſts to be kept alive, and was never to go out; it was but once given, it was Gods free Grace to beſtow it, and he doth expect that it ſhould be our care and work to preſerve it.
Thirdly, he doth preſs this from the danger of it, in regard that the enemies lye in wait, there are certain men crept in unawares, &c.
Firſt falſe Teachers; they doe not ruſh in, for then they would be obſerved, but they creep in ſecretly, and in an unobſerved manner, Rev. 13. A beaſt riſing out of the earth: There's a temporal power of the Pope; for he is repreſented under a double viſion, of two Beaſts.
Firſt, a Beaſt with ſeven heads, and ten horns, that is, he did claim a power over the ten Kings to depoſe them, and releaſe their ſubjects from obedience unto them; and this was a power that the ten Kings did give unto him, and this did ariſe out of the Sea, from the wars, and trouble, and commotions that were in the world: But there is another deſcription of the Pope, as he is the falſe Prophet, which relates unto the Eccleſiaſtical power, that he takes to himſelf; and ſo he hath two horns, one as a Lamb, an embleme of Meekneſſe and Innocency, and he ariſeth out of the earth, that is, ſtirpium more, as things doe grow out of the earth in a ſecret and unobſerved way.
Secondly, the thing that they trade in, is the Truths of God, and the ſouls of men; therefore contend earneſtly for the Faith; for when falſe Teachers come, it is the Faith that they do mainly aim at, and Satan is the grand deceiver in them.
And the Apoſtle comes alſo to a deſcription of the perſons with whom your contention was to be.
Firſt, they are deſcribed by the act of God upon them, what they are in Gods Predetermination.
Secondly, by the act of ſin within them, and what they are by their own corruptions.
Firſt, by the act of God upon them; they were of old ordained to deſtruction. The Greek word is, foreign, praeſcripti, they are preſcrib'd, fore-written, becauſe there is an act of God in revealing of them, that is paſſed upon them from all eternity. It is unto this damnation that they are appointed: And ſome read the words, foreign, ad hoc judicium; for to be given over into ſuch a way of ſinning, it's the greateſt ſpiritual judgement that can befall a man in this life, and doth flow from a ſentence and a decree paſſed upon him by God; for he that hath ordain'd men unto damnation, hath by a permiſſive (though not an effective will) appointed alſo the means by which he ſhall come unto that end, that ſo he is ordain'd to be damn'd.
Secondly, by the power of ſin within them: All ungodly men, pretend what they will, they have no fear of God in them, nor any reſpect unto God, they are men that are ſtrangers unto God, and live without him in the world, that's their generall deſcription; they are ungodly men that have no feare of God in their hearts, and that do whatſoever they do, without any reſpect unto God, though they are many times great pretenders, yet of them all it's ſaid, that their God is their beily, and all that they doe is for ſome low end; it's with no reſpect unto God.
Secondly, they are more particularly deſcrib'd.
Firſt, by their deſperate opinions; they turn the grace of God into wantonneſs.
Secondly, by their devilliſh converſations; They deny the Lord God, and the Lord Jeſus Chriſt: it's ſpoken in reſpect of their lives and wayes: 2 Tit. 1.16. They profeſs they know God, but in works they deny him, &c. And we ſhall ever find, that monſtrous opinions are ever accompanied with monſtrous corruptions.
It's the deſcription of theſe men according unto their wicked opinions that I am to ſpeak of at preſent, and there are in the words three things to be explain'd.
Firſt, what is meant by the Grace of God?
Secondly, what is meant by Wantonneſs?
Thirdly, what it is to turn this Grace into Wantonneſs? &c.
Firſt, what is meant by the Grace of God? As given unto us, Grace is taken two waies in Scripture, either for the Goſpel, the Word of his Grace, as it is called Acts 20.32. and ſo it is taken 2 Cor. 6.1. We as workers together with him, doe beſeech you not to receive the grace of God in vain. It's ſpoken of the Doctrine of the Goſpel, which the Lord had ſent amongſt them; and Tit. 2.11. The Grace of God that bringeth ſalvation hath appear'd to all men, &c. It's ſpoken of the Doctrin of the Goſpel, the Word of his grace.
Secondly, it's put for the impreſs of this Word upon the heart; for it's the word writ in the heart; they are the habits of Grace in us, it is into this mould we are caſt, Rom 6.17. and it is by looking into this Glaſs that we are transformed, &c. 2 Cor. 3. laſt v. It's the Word ingrafted that doth change the man: Jam. 1.21.And ſo we are ſaid to receive from Chriſt Grace for Grace, Joh. 1.16. The unction in us being anſwerable to that of thoſe that are in Chriſt; and that gratia habitualis in us, anſwering that which was in Chriſts humane nature; for he had the ſame ſpirit… dwelling in him, and working habits in his humane nature, that we alſo have; but it's not this latter that is meant here; for the Devil himſelf cannot turn Grace into Wantonneſs though corruption will endeavour to m…ke advantage of Grace, but Faith it ſelf is the new creature, the devine nature, it's that which is born of God which cannot ſin, Joh. 1… And therefore it muſt here be meant of the Word of his Grace, the Doctrin of the Goſpel.
Secondly, what is m…ant by Wantonneſs? the word foreign, ſignifies a wanton, vam, licentious, and unruly diſpoſi…ion of heart: It is by Zanch. deſcribed to be effraenis quae…am peccandi libido: …eing paſt feeling they gave themſelves over unto laſciviouſn…ſs 1 Pet. 4.3. it's ſaid, Whilſt they were Gentiles they did walk in laſciviouſneſs, exceſs of wine, &c. It notes all manner of luſt and filthineſs, &c. Eph. 4.19.For all men doe not ſin with the ſame lewdneſs, nor with the ſame reſolution of ſpirit, that other men do, Ezek. 29.13. … cogita…o, conſilium, machinatio, &c. The more thought rulneſs that there is in ſinning, and upon the greater grounds mens luſts are bottom'd, with the more confidence, and fearleſneſs, and reſolution of ſpirit they do commit them; and this looſneſs of ſpirit and reſolution in any way of ſinning, without any check, or reluctancy of ſpirit, this is called Wantonneſs.
Thirdly, what is it to turn the Grace of God into Wantonneſs? The word is foreign, it ſignifies to tranſpoſe a thing, and put it out of its place; to turn away a thing or a perſon, and puts it out of its forformer condition, as Heb. 11.5. it's ſaid of Enoch, that the Lord tran ſlated him; put him out of his preſent earthly condition in which he was, and removed him out of his place to heaven, Gal. 1.6. Why are you ſo ſ…on carried away by another Goſpel? The falſe Teachers had tranſlated them, and put them from their ſtation, in which beleefe they ſtood before they removed them from it; and ſo when the doctrine of the Grace of God, that did teach men to deny ungodlineſs and worldly luſts, and was given to make the man of perfect unto every good work, when this grace is by the luſts of men perverted to a quite contrary end, this is to tranſlate the grace of God to another end, then that for which the Lord appointed it, when men do father their luſts upon the Word of God, and bear them up by it; and this has always been the cuſtom of a I fal…e Teachers; 2 Pet. 3.16. the word is, foreign, they doe put the Scripture upon the Rack, and bending them unto their own bow, they ſhall ſerve their turn which way ſoever their luſts work; there ſhall be found ſomething in Scripture that they can lay hold of for it: And when men doe make uſe of the Doctrines of the Goſpel to ſerve their own luſt, and do grow more looſe and licentious under them, this is to pervert the Goſpel of Grace unto an end for which it was never appointed; foreign. Juſtin M.
Hence there are two things to be obſerved.
Firſt, that there is a Wantonneſs that goes with corrupt Teachers; whereſoever they are, corrupt doctrines and wicked practiſes go together. There are no men that ſin with ſo much wantonneſs, that is, with ſo much licentiouſneſs, liberty and impudency, as corrupt Teachers do.
Secondly, they wil wreſt the Word of God, and of his grace unto this end, they wil ſtrengthen their luſts by the word, and ſo pervert it to an end unto which it was never appointed.
Doct.
There is a wantonneſs in corrupt Teachers; there is both wicked doctrines and wicked practiſes, for they both go together in the ſame men.
Firſt, this will appear by the deſcriptions every where given of them in the Scripture, they are deſcribed and placed in the higheſt rank of wicked men, Phil. 3.2.19. Degs they are; that is unclean creatures that return unto their vomit; and they are joyned with evil workers, their God is their belly, they meerly ſerve their own luſts in all that they do; and they do it with a great deal of impudencie, which is the higheſt pitch of ſinning, they glory in that which ſhould be looked upon as their ſhame: The Apoſtle had ſayd, 2 Peter 2.14.18,19. That there ſhould bee falſe Teachers amongſt them, that ſhould privily bring in damnable, (or deſtructive) Hereſies; and hee deſcribes the men, having eyes full of Adultery, and cannot ceaſe to ſin, having their hearts exerciſed with covetous practiſes, curſed children; and they allure through the luſts of the fleſh, and much wantonneſs: It is this that is the bait, for it is foreign: They do allure as with a bait, 2 Tim. 3.13. Evil men and deceivers grow worſe and worſe: There is no ſtay, when men once are deceived themſelves, and do become deceivers and ſeducers of others, the Lord doth commonly give them up in judgement unto all exceſſe of Riot, and they ſall to all manner of laſciviouſneſs, &c.
Secondly, it muſt needs be ſo, if wee conſider from whence doth Hereſie come. We have the riſe of it, Revel. 9.1,2. And I ſaw a Starre fall from Heaven unto the Earth, and to him was given the Key of the bottomleſſe pit, and hee op…ed the bottomleſs pit, and there aroſe a ſmoak out of the pit, &c. It's ſpoken of the Judgement of GOD poured out upon R…me, Anti-chriſtian in the Eaſterne part of the Empire. And the bottomleſſe pit is opened, and that by a Starre that. fell from Heaven: For Mahomet was at firſt a Chriſtian, and did proſeſſe the Chriſtian Religion, till at laſt meeting with Sergius, a wicked and corrupt Monk, they made up between them this fardle of Hereſies and Follies, by which they have deceived the world: Now this Star falling, opened the bottomleſſe pit: That is, it was the Inſtrument to let out the ſmoak thereof. And ſo the Armies of Mahomet are called, Re…el. 12.15. The Serpent caſt out of his mouth a flood after the woman; that's meant of the Arrian Hereſie. Now conſider what can come out of Hell: And what can come out as ſmoak out of the bottomleſſe pit, but it muſt needs be full of filthineſs and uncleanneſs; but hence it is that all falſe Doctrines come out of the mouth of the old Serpent, who is uncleanneſs it ſelf.
Thirdly, they are in Scripture re…embled unto the wickedeſt men that ever were, 2 Pet. 2.15. as Balaam, it's ſaid they followed the way of Balaam, who was himſelf a Witch, and one that would be eaſily hired to curſe the people of God for a reward, and they are Jannes and Jambres, 2 Tim. 3.8. who were two famous Egyptians of Aegypt. There are not a more wicked generation of men in the world, nor men given up to wantonneſs and looſneſs more then they.
Fourthly, no men are ſo induſtriouſly wicked as they are, and they will compaſſe Sea and Land to make a proſelite, and make him tenfold the child of hell when they have done, more then he was before: Revel. 9.10,18,19. They had tayles like to Scorpions; of theſe were the third part of men killed; that is, of the fire, and ſmoak, and brimſtone that came out of their mouths: For their power is in their mouths, and in their tayls: It's ſpoken of the Mahumetans, who as they did conquer, uſed their utmoſt power to promote their Religion, and the corrupt principles thereof by which they have wholly defiled even all the Eaſterne Chuches, they had the Heads of Lyons, but they had a ſt…ng in their tayle, whereſoever they came, they left a ſting behind them, and they did kill not onelyonly by their hands, but by the ſmoak that came out of their mouthes: Their power was not onelyonly in their mouthes, but in their tayles alſo; they did a greater miſchief by their corrupt Doctrines then they did by all their power and force of arms, and the men were in better condition that were killed by their hands, then they that ſurviving were deſtroyed hy their tayles.
Fiftly, the people of God have abhorr'd them as the wickedeſt men that ever were in the world, and therefore there is no ſort of ſinners that the Spirit of God hath ſo ſet himſelf, and the Spirit of his Saints ſo much againſt, as theſe; Tit. 3.10. A heretick reject, &c. And we are exhorted, to beware of falſe Teachers; for they come in Sheeps clothing, but they were ravening Wolves: By their fruits ye ſhall know them: They be thiſtles, and ye ſhal never gather grapes off them they are thorns, and therfore you ſhal never gather figs off them, 3 Joh. 10. We are charged not to receive them into our houſes, not communicate a word with them, not to bid them, God ſpeed: It was the title that John gave to Cerinthus, I know thee to be primogenitus Satanae, the firſt born of the devil: Hereticks are they that have received a double portion of this ſpirit.
Sixthly, they are ſuch ſort of ſinners as moſt immediately acted by the Devil, of any men in the world; they have the moſt immediate influences from Hell; and therefore Revel. 16.13,14. The unclean ſpirit came out of the mouth of the D…agon. They are ſent forth by his command, and they doe receive a commiſſion from him in another manner than any other ſinners doe, being as Officers employed under him: As it is in perſecution, it is the Devil that doth act perſecutors immediately, Revel. 2.10. The devil ſhall caſt ſome of you into priſon. So alſo it is in Hereſie, for it is a floud out of the mouth of the Serpent, Rev. 12.15. And it appears to bee a highway of wickedneſs, and that which brings all others with it, becauſe Satan did put more confidence in it, then by any other way to carry on his deſign; and when he was not able to uphold his power any longer in a way of perſecution, as he did in the firſt three hundred yeares, now he thinkes to repaire all by a way of Hereſie; for let Chriſt caſt the world into what ſhape he will, Satan applyes himſelf unto that ſhape, that ſo he may be the ruler of the darkneſs of it, &c. Now there being a great influence from Hell upon this; and Satan putting a greater confidence in it, it doth plainly ſhew, that there are more depths of wickedneſſe in this than in any other way of ſinning whatſoever, and it muſt needs be, if wee conſider with our ſelves theſe three things.
Firſt, the Underſtanding is the leading faculty, and therein are layd down the rules for the whole life. In the practical underſtanding that is the common treaſury of all the rules of practice, and according unto theſe a mans whole life is formed; corrupt but the principals of a man, and his whole life will quickly be corrupt; for no man is better than his principles, neither can he be: There's many a man would be better if he had higher principles; and therefore the Lord when he ſhews mercy to a man, and doth increaſe his Grace, he doth uſually raiſe his principles, and then as a mans light doth riſe, his Graces will increaſe; for it is claritas in intellectu parit, and every man will ſtrive to live up to his principles; a godly man doth, and he blaming himſelfe that he doth fall ſhort; and a wicked man ſhall daily be put upon it, and therefore many of them, they cannot be ſo wicked as their principles would lead them to; they ſee there is ſo much fleſh in them, that they cannot yet bring themſelves to be perſwaded, that there is no Reſurrection of the dead, nor no life after this life, no puniſhments nor rewards; but if the eye be darkneſſe, how great is that darkneſs? By the Eye is meant the Underſtanding, or the practical Judgement, which is the guide of a mans way, as the Eye in the body is, and if that be darkned in the principles of it, the whole body, the whole life muſt needs be full of darkneſſe; the blindneſſe in the Eye cauſeth a darkneſſe all the body over.
Secondly, it muſt needs be ſo, becauſe this takes away whatever ſhould reſtraine the luſts of men; for there is a ſea of corruption in the heart, Iſa. 57.20. As the raging Sea, onelyonly there are bounds ſet to it, and what is that but the light that God doth put into their conſciences; and men are overawed by it, they cannot be ſo wicked as they would; now if luſt can once by a corrupt Doctrine caſt off this bridle, what kind of evill can they be withheld from? What is it they dare not doe? Rev. 92. The Su…ne and he aire were darkned by the ſmoak, luce vintatis prerſus extinera. Neither in the Sunne, nor in the Aire is there any light, now all light being taken away that ſhould diſcover the way of death to a man, and there is an impulſe of luſt within, that puts the man upon acting: And whither will not that man run, that hath no principle within to reſtrain him? He will commit all iniquity with greedineſs.
Thirdly, There is a juſt judgment of God upon them in it, that they do diſhonour God in his Truths, God ſhould give them up, foreign, Rom. 1.26. to that luſt which ſhould bring that diſhonour upon them that ſhould make them vile and abominable, and hateful before men; Satan comes with the deceivableneſs of Unrighteouſneſs, becauſe they had pleaſure in Unrighteouſneſs: 2 Theſſ. 2.10.they were ſuch Doctrines as did in judgement draw out their luſts; for God doth many times in judgement ſend men Teachers according to their luſts: Micha.If any man will propheſie of Wine, and ſtrong Drink, he ſhall be a Prophet to this people: So the Lord doth fit them with Doctrines according to their luſts, that ſhall be a means to draw them forth, Ezek. 20. I gave them Statutes that were not good: It's ſpoken of the ſtatutes of Omri, and all their Idolatrous commands, which God gave them in judgement, and their luſts were drawn forth by them, and they periſhed in them: For there is a reciprocation between the head and the heart, and a conſtant communion. An evil heart commonly makes an evil head, and then an evil head doth very much add unto the ro…enneſs of the heart: And by this means Deceivers in Judgement grow worſe and worſe; 1 Tim. 1.9. Faith and a good Conſcience muſt be kept together; and there is no hope of keeping the one without the other; for a good Conſcience is the veſſel wherein Faith is preſerved, and if that be once ſplit, Faith (that is the lading) will ſuffer wrack; There muſt be a mutual preſervation of both, for they muſt be kept together, or they will ſurely be loſt together.
Doct. 2.
Men take ſpecial care that the Word of God ſhould be brought in to patronize their luſts. They will be wanton, but they would alſo wreſt and pervert the word of God the Father, and have that countenance it.
Firſt, Carnal Reaſon is luſts Councellor, and the ſtrong Holds of ſin lies therein; foreignIt is a great Pleader for ſin; Men ſought out Inventions, Eccleſ. 7.29. 2 Cor. 10.5. there is a great contribution that corrupt reaſon gives to luſt.
Secondly, But never ſo much as when it is from the Word of God, that being the rule of a mans actions; let luſt have ſomthing from it to ſatisfie it, and then the man ſins ſecurely; it's true that of Rom. 10.18. the Lord hath ſtretched forth the Expanſum of his Word, and many men (it may be) will not dare to ſin with freedom againſt the aſpects of it, &c. but if the Word do ſeem to countenance it, and they can catch at any thing, it ſhall ſuffice; They wroſt the Scriptures to their own damnation, 2 Pet. 3.16. The Divel himſelf will come with, It's written: and the falſe Prophets, with Thus ſaith the Lord, and then men can ſin ſecurely, and without fear, becauſe the Word doth juſtifie them, and bear them out; and therefore the firſt, the moſt continued hereſies that can never be ſtubb'd up, but there are fibrae of them do appear in all ages; as we ſee it in Arminianiſme, Pelagiſme; it is becauſe they have much Scripture that they can alledge to defend it; the greateſt plot that ever the Divel had: and ſo it is with Popery, they'l alledge the ſame Scriptures together with us.
Secondly, The bittereſt enemies that ever the Church of God had, have been thoſe that have owned the ſame Scriptures with themſelves; as the Samaritans and the Jews, and the Papiſts unto us; for hereby wickedneſs comes under the title of a Duty, John 16.2. They ſhall ſuppoſe that they do good ſervice: and Paul ſaith, I verily thought that I ought to do many things againſt the name of the Lord Jeſus; he did it in Duty, and did Sin conſcientiouſly as I may ſay, &c.
Ʋſe.
The Lord hath given you Liberty in many things, ſuch as we could not have expected that ever our eyes ſhould have ſeen done: Now let me exhort you, Do not turn this Grace of God into vantonneſs: Uſe not your Liberty as an occaſion …o the fleſh: Take heed of this way of ſinning above all other, to make the Word of the holy God a Patron of Luſt, abhor thoſe men above all other men, next the Divel, that are beſt skill'd in Scripture to this end, that they may juſtifie an evil way; Truly I ſhall ſay, better our old bondage or ſuffering again, if this be the uſe we make of it, if our new liberty be a liberty in ſinning: One diſputes for Free-will, and Univerſal Grace, and he hath Scripture for it; another he diſputes againſt the regulating power of the Law, and he hath Scripture; another againſt Prayers but when the Spirit moves him, and he hath Scripture, another againſt the Sabbath; and others for all manner of wickedneſs; for they ſay, we live in God: and others plead for ſwearing, for it's an Ordinance of God; Thou ſhall ſwear by his Name: and others plead for mixt multitudes in Ordinances, and they have Scripture; and others act for every ignorant and confident fellow to preach in our publike Congregations; for ſay they, the Scripture ſays, as every man hath received the gift, ſo let him miniſter, &c. whereas we know the publike miniſtery is an Office, and it is committed unto ſome, and not to all, 2 Cor. 5.17.
Conſider but theſe four things, and I have done.
Firſt, Is this the return you make for all the goodneſs of God towards you?
Conſider the evil of it; Firſt, hereby you do diſhonour God, in that which is higheſt to him, and which he has moſt exalted next to his Son; Pſalm 138.2. His Word is exalted above all his Name: Now to lay the Word of God aſide, and to count it as a ſtrange thing, Hoſ. 8.12. is a great evil; much more to turn it againſt the Lord, and gather rules from the Word, to juſtifie that which the Lord himſelf abhors.
Secondly, Hereby you do gratifie the Divel for that hath been his great Deſign: Firſt, when the Lord hath at any time powered out a higher meaſure of light, as in Luthers time, then roſe up abundance of hereſies, and ſo in the days immediately ſucceeding the Apoſtles, and when the Lord works any great changes tending to Reformation, for caſt Satan down in one kind, and he will riſe in another; as when Rome Pagan was caſt down; now there is a floud upon Rome Chriſtian, &c. and by degrees, to be at laſt gathered together into the See of Rome.
Thirdly, No men brings on themſelves greater deſtruction, then theſe men do, who turn the grace of God into wantonneſs, by bringing into the Church damnable hereſies; 2 Pet. 2.3. foreign, they are men ripe for deſtruction: and as I have told you, the Lord will make it eminently appear, that they are the greateſt enemies to his glory, and his Churches good; and therefore God reſerves them for worſe puniſhment then other wicked men ſhall have: God looks on them as men of Blood, Bloody men, that are drunk with the blood of ſouls; the ſons of perdition, men of ſin; 'tis an Hebraiſm that ſignifies an eminency in every one of thoſe kinds of ſin, that wicked men are guilty of; and it is not only reſerved for them hereafter, God will not ſtay till he gives puniſhments and rewards at the day of Judgement, as he will do to all men, both good and bad, but they ſhall receive an earneſt of damnation here in a ſpecial manner, as well as hereafter; God will exalt their damnation above other mens; Primogenitus Sathanae. Hereticks are the firſt born of the Divel, and they ſhall have a double portion with the Divel in his Inheritance.
Fourthly, This is a dangerous fore-runner of deſtruction to any Nation or Church: Truly if if you bear with the woman Jezabel, God will not bear with you, for he is tender of his Truths, and prizeth them above all the world; Heaven and Earth ſhall fail, before one tittle of that ſhall fall to the ground; Chriſt made that the great ſigne of the deſtruction of Jeruſalem, that it was neer, There ſhall ariſe falſe Chriſts, and falſe Prophets many; and ſo 1 John 2.18. There are many Antichrists, and hereby we know it, is: foreign: and its not ſpoken of the end of the world, but of the deſtruction of the Jewiſh ſtate; and it drew very neer upon this ground, becauſe many Antichriſts had turned the grace of God into wantonneſs, and made uſe of the Word of Chriſt, to the diſhonour of Chriſt, in opprobrium Chriſti: and it was the over-ſpreading of hereſie that did give the Saraſins footing in the Eaſtern Empire; and ſeeing they are willing to be deceived, the Lord let out that floud upon them; therefore, oh all you that fear God, that deſire to ſerve him as he has revealed himſelf in his Word; whoſe ſpirits God has drawn forth to prize the truth of the Goſpel; Take heed of falſe Teachers: Hold faſt the Faith that was once delivered to the Saints. For if damnable hereſies do creep in amongſt you. Conſider nothing threatens deſtruction ſo much as they do.