The Corruption of the Mind, Part 3
Uſe.
For the Uſe of this Doctrine, let me beſpeak you in the words of S. Peter, Epiſt. 2. Cap. 3. Verſ. penult. Take heed, lest being led away by the errour of the wicked, (or of lawleſſe men) ye fall from your own ſtedfaſtneſſe. This Caveat I might enforce upon you from divers Topicks or places; as namely, the dangerouſneſſe of this diſeaſe which ſeizes on the head, from whence (as ſaith the Greek Proverb) the fiſh doth firſt begin to be corrupted, as alſo from the eaſineſſe of being infected, and from the difficulty of the cure: but having ſpoke enough of the firſt of theſe, I will onelyonly uſe a few words concerning the two latter.
1 It's as eaſie to be infected, as it is for ſheep to catch the rot by feeding in rotten paſtures; and our experience ſhews us, that one that angles with ſuch baits, catches more fiſh in a week, than preaching of Chriſt, and the ſimplicity of him will catch in ſome yeers, for errour hath ſomething in us, as he that gave the reaſon for the faſter growth of weeds than ſweet herbs, ſaid that the ſoile was naturall mother to the one, and but ſtep-mother to the other.
2 There is no ſimplicity of truth, a multiplicity of errour; the ſtreight line between point and point can be but one; the oblique lines, many; therefore it is eaſie to hang upon one tenter-hook or other, that look ſo many and even contrary wayes.
3 Errour is many times more ſpecious to our ſhallow, proud, corrupt reaſon, than the truth of God, whoſe depths and myſteries cannot otherwiſe be anſwered, then with, Tu quis es?
4 The mint-maſters of errour do uſually faſhion their doctrines to fleſh-pleaſing, and man-pleaſing; ye ſhall not eaſily finde that falſe prophets did preach the burdens of the Lord, but rather as Peter obſerves, 2 Pet. 2. 19. they promiſe liberty, which is ſo taking a thing, that looking humanely, we may wonder that Chriſt preaching repentance, ſelf-deniall, the croſſe, ſhould gain any.
So much for the eaſineſs of being infected; then next a word for the difficulty of the cure.
1 The cure is difficult, becauſe men are hard to be convinced of the ſin and falſhood, if with zeal & open profeſſion they have maintained it; therefore they in the Council of Trent (as the hiſtory relates) would hardly be drawn to admit of any receſs from their former errours, ne viderentur erraſſe, leſt they might ſeem to have erred, and ſo weaken the credit of all they held before, as the crack made in Ice, uſeth to runne further, then where it is firſt made.
But if in puniſhment upon them that receive not the truth in love, God do give men up to efficacy of errour, or do otherwiſe recompence their errour, by delivering them up to vile affections and luſts, Rom. 1. 27. who ſhall then pull off that fearfull ſeal of God, that ſeals them up in ſtupidity, and under a reprobate minde.
2 Therein men are great lovers of their own fancies; Amat quiſque quod a ſe repertum eſt, no mother but loves her own babe.
3 A conceit that errors of minde are not ſin, as morall ſins are, but there are diſeaſes of the head, as well as ſeated in other parts.
And certainly, theſe capitall diſtempers do great prejudice to practicall holineſs, being like ſuckers that bear no fruit, but do divert and draw away the ſap from the fruit-bearing branches.
So much for the firſt part, the object of the fear, leſt the mindes of the Corinthians ſhould be corrupted from the ſimplicity of Chriſt: the ſecond part is the reſemblance of falſe teachers to the ſerpent, and this manner of beguiling Eve by ſubtilty, leſt as the ſerpent, &c.
From which words the Point is obvious.