The Corruption of the Mind, Part 1 – Part 2
The People
Are exhorted to hold faſt this threefold ſimplicity of Chriſt in Doctrine worſhip, and converſation.
In Doctrine; All Scipture centers in, and looks to Chriſt, both Old Teſtament and New as the Cherubims to one another, and both to the mercy ſeat; he was then ſwathed up in types, he is now unvaled in a rich plainnes of the Goſpel, thoſe precious ſtones which God promiſes to build his Church, Iſa. 54. 13. Do all come but to this, All thy children ſhall be taught of God.
In worſhip, ſpirit and truth are better than Jeruſalem and this mountain, therefore be ſatisfied in ſimplicity of Goſpel-ſacraments, which as Dupleſſis obſervs, have been made by men, the port-gates of ſuperſtition and curioſity, becauſe the eye hath ſomewhat to do in them, as corruption began at the tree in Paradiſe, and came in by the eye.
In life, that your voice be not onelyonly ſmooth, and hands rough; for practical holineſs is the life of religion, elſe we may have golden heads, and feet of clay.
To conclude, let it be our joynt aime, the ſimplicity that is in Chriſt, and be not too indulgent to your ears, which hath ſometime been the vanity of hearers of thoſe Sermons at Pauls, coming hither for Jewels to hang in their ears, rather then for wholſom Bread.
Let not the tree of Knowledge be preferred before the tree of life, leſt when you come to die, you cry out with Craeſus, Solon, Solon, who had before time taught him of bleſſedneſs without regard.
There is ſuch multiplicity of opinions, that moſt men count it impoſſible to reduce the ſwarm into one hive, eſpecially becauſe men uſually lay ſo much weight, every man upon his own opinion, not conſidering that the kingdom of God conſiſts not in meat and drink, but righteouſneſs and peace and joy in the holy Ghoſt, Rom. 14. 17. Hence it is that one unchurches another, and unchriſts another, & ſolos credit habendos eſſe deos quos ipſe colit, as the Poet anciently leaves the queſtion about the bigneſs, diſtance, motion of the Sun, to Mathematicians, thou mayeſt have as much benefit by the Sun, as they that altercare about them.
Above all things lay not the foundation of your communion in the agreement one of another with you in all your private opinions, that's a principle that will divide the Church in ſemper diviſibilia, that makes the foundation of the houſe of the twig of a tree, not of the body.
And peradventure, as there are not two of a hundred of one face, ſo not of one opinion in all things extrinſecal, nay haply, ſaith a learned man, not Peter and Paul.
Certa ſunt in paucis, (ſaith Tertullian) fundamentals are few, they that make too many of them, make the fewer Chriſtians, if a man hold faſt the ſimplicity of Chriſt in Doctrine, worſhip, life; though not admitted into your fellowſhip, yet they will be in your Communion through Chriſt, whether you will or no.
Doct. 2d.
The Corruption of the mind is the cauſe of deviation, or receſs from the ſimplicity that is in Chriſt.
This Point gives occaſion to entreat of the cortuption of the minde; the word foreign ſometimes ſignifies plots, devices, 2 Cor. 2. 11 ordinarily the reaſonings, apprehenſion, judgement, the leading faculty of the ſoule, which is the ſubject and ſeat of this corruption.
This is not meant of natural corruption, which is a part of original ſin, for it is the corruption of Goſpel-truth formerly received, eſpecially doctrinall corruption: and therefore the Apoſtle having ſaid; Chriſt, the ſame yeſterday, to day and for ever; preſently adds, Be not carried away by divers and ſtrange Doctrines, Heb. 13. 9.
The Text affords me three things, for the oopening of this Point.
1 The corruption of minde here feared, is of them that have received the virgin truth; a ſad thing that they that bloſſom ſo faire, ſhould be blaſted or cankered; it is not corruption of life he feares, but of minde; many are tainted in their intellectuals, that make a fair ſhew in morals; the Apoſtle propheſies of a time that will come, That men will not indure ſound doctrine (they will not imbrace, nay, they will not indure it) but will turn away their eares from the truth, and be turned to fables, 2 Tim. 4. 3.
2 This corruption of minde is to be feared, both by Miniſters for the flock, and alſo by parents and maſters, yet there are few, as wofull experience ſhews us; and therefore young men, and unballaſt are negligently ſuffered without bridle to ruſh into the infection, as if it was nothing to have the leproſie in the head, to make ſhip wrack of faith, to corrupt the ſimplicity of Chriſt to beare that fearfull brand, 2 Tim. 3. 8. men of corrupt mindes, reprobate concerning the faith, The light of the body (ſaith out Saviour) is the eye. If that be ſingle, the whole body is full of light; if evill, the page missing bed is full of darkneſs, the minde is the Pilot or Steerſ-man, and if we weigh truths at a falſe beame, we may take and miſtake the moſt deſperate errour for the moſt precious truth.
3 The firſt point or ſtep of receſs and of deviation from the ſimplicity of Chriſt, is the corruption of minde, how many ſtairs do men fall? how many floores high, untill they fall even into Atheiſme, from a zealous profeſſion? A reprobate mind is the puniſhment of a corrupt mind, Ro. 1. 28 They did not like to retein God in their knowledge, therefore God gave them over to a reprobate minde: therefore we had need to keep principles pure; for the cloud, that at firſt ſhowes, but like a mans hand may ſuddenly overſpread the whole heaven.
The cauſes of this corruption of minde, are theſe and ſuch like.
1 The minde being the upper region, is corrupted from the lower region, paſſions, luſts, intereſts by ends, do bribe the minde to be advocate for errour, and miſ-biaſſe the judgement; the ſtaffe that is ſtreight of it ſelf, ſeems crooked in the water, by refraction of the ſpecies, or duplicity of the medium; and we know that our eye or brain is diſtempered by ſuffuſions of choler, &c. from a foule ſtomack.
2 Ungroundedneſs in the truth, betrays the minde to deceit and errour; and empty barne is ſoon blown down; oh, that our people were ſo ungrounded in Catechiſtical doctrine, which is indeed the reaſon, that they are an eaſie prey to all kinde of Sectaries, and do cedere occupanti (as I may ſay) fall to the firſt occupant.
3 A meer notion, which is like light without heat, a winter-ſnow, a thing without ſenſe, and feeling of any powerfull operation, and work of truth upon the heart is but a ſlender guard from this corruption of the minde; a man without much adoe recedes from barren notions; he that feels the warmth and power is not eaſily changed; they did not receive the truth with love of the truth, and therefore God gave them up to efficacy of errour, 2 Theſſ. 2. 10.
4 A ſatiety or diſlike of ſaving doctrine: when novelty is preferred, becauſe it's new, and ancient truth, like an old Miniſter, now adayes is leſſe regarded; the ſtomack is crude and queaſie, and ſo reliſhes traſh better then wholſome food.
5 The letting looſe of wilde reaſon to diſpute out faith; reaſon is but a Dwarf, too low to behold Chriſt, except it climbe into the fig-tree, and go let ſober men be content with that which is ſo frequently ſaid, It's written.
6 Pride of knowledge is very dangerous; the ancient pride is this, and the Apoſtle thus expreſſes it, Eccleſ. 2. 18. being vainly pufft up in his fleſhly minde.
7 Unſuſpitious credulity of others eminent in appearance of holineſs, doth at unawares enwrap many well meaning men: The Novatians would not admit lapſed men to communion. The Donatiſts would not beare with mixture in their Churches as they pretended; both theſe ſorts of men did bear a plauſible ſhew of holineſſe in their opinions; but God doth not approve a holineſſe of mans making; for that which is indeed holineſſe muſt have upon it Gods ſuperſcription.