The Perfection of Justification, Postscript
A POST-SCRIPT TO THE READER.
WHen one made a motion, that a Law might be made, and ſome great puniſhment inflicted upon Paricides; another objected againſt him and ſaid, that ſuch a Law would be uſeleſſe; becauſe there were no Paricides in the Common-wealth; neither would there be any here after to be puniſhed by his Law. So ſome may ſuppoſe, that ſome paſſages in theſe Diſcourſes are needleſſe, which have their point directed againſt the faces of blaſpheming Familiſts and licentious Libertines; apprehending, that there are none ſuch amongst us for the preſent, and that there will not be any ſuch who may come up as from hell amongst us hereafter. And none will be ſo ready, to lay this charge upon mee, as thoſe that are of this number themſelves, and whoſe conſciences doe inwardly tell them, that they are the men who are here painted forth, and preſented to the world. Wherefore that thoſe who are unacquainted with them, may not be inſnared by them unawares, conceiving that there are none ſuch to deceive them; And that I may decline the hatred and reproaches which theſe enemies of the Lord may hope to bring upon mee for writing against them: I have collected and tranſlated ſome few paſſages of Mr. Calvins booke againſt the furious ſect of Libertines, wherein their opinions and practices are largely diſcovered, which may perſwade all men, that there are ſuch and may be ſuch, against whom I ſpeake, though they know them not, and may prevent the ſlanders of thoſe who are ſuch.
Chap. 1.
In ancient Hiſtories, wee doe never reade of any hereſie that was ſo dangerous, as the hereſie of the Libertines.
Chap. 2.
He proveth that they are thoſe of whom Peter ſpeaketh in the 2 Pet. 2.12.17, 18, 19▪ who ſhall allure men to error by their great ſwelling words; and thoſe ſpoken of in the 10. verſe of the Epiſtle of Jude. And doth affirme that he had never underſtood the things there ſpoken of, unleſſe he had ſeene them in thoſe men of his time. Concerning their ſwelling kinde of ſpeaking (tumidum dicendi genus) he hath theſe expreſſions. When thou ſhalt begin to heare them, thou wilt be ready to thinke, that they are ſnatched up in an extaſie above the clouds. For beſides this, that they alwayes ſpeake of the Spirit, their ſpeech is in ſuch a ſtrange idiome, that men when they firſt heare them doe ſtand ſtill aſtoniſhed in admiration of them.
He doth parallel them with ſome ancient Heretiques; and farther enlarging himſelfe concerning them, doth give us this account of their proceedings. At the firſt they rejected the Scriptures, and ſcoffed at all the Apoſtles, calling Paul a broken veſſell, Peter the denier of God, John a ſtupid young man, Matthew an uſurer. But afterwards when they perceived that all men abhorred them, they concluded that they were to act more cautiouſly and obſcurely. And then they pretended that they did not reject the Scripture, but changed it all into allegories, and wreſted it by ſtrange and unheard of interpretations: transforming an horſe into a man, and (as wee vulgarly ſpeake) feigning a cloud to be the horn of a Lantern. Of their ſubtlety which they make uſe of to deceive the ſimple, he afterwards thus ſpeaketh.
They doe not declare to men what is their judgement, but hold them in ſuſpence a long while, and lead them about, by ambages, whom they doe deſire to bring to their ſect, not revealing their ſecrets unto them, before they are ſo deluded and bewitched by them, that they ſee they can perſwade them to what they ſhall pleaſe, &c.
Whatſoever Chriſtians doe profeſſe concerning eternall life, and a ſurrection, to the… s a fable.
Chap. 4. He ſheweth the authors, and giveth his reaſon why he writeth againſt them.
Should I be ſilent, when I ſee theſe men ſ… abuſing the name of Chriſt, that pretending to be for Chriſt, and in his Name bring worſe abomination into the world, then ever was brought into it before?
Shall I ſpeake againſt Papiſts, and ſpare theſe, who are more pernicious enemies to God then they, and doe more overthrow the truth of God?
Chap. 5. Where he diſcovereth the followers of theſe deluders.
Some addicted to fooliſh curioſitie, doe apply their minds to vaine and ſuperfluous queſtions, when they ſhould rather follow things which are profitable, and for edification; and being not contented with the ſimplicitie of the Scripture, doe run to and fro in vaine and frivolous ſpeculations, either for the ſatisfying of their mad and wicked luſts, or for the perſwading of others, that they are more wittie then other men, and doe follow more ſublime matters.
Some are prophane, who being weary of the yoke of Chriſt, are willing that their conſciences ſhould be rocked into a ſleepe, that without any Religion they may ſerve the Devill.
Chap. 6.
He wiſheth men to take heed of pride, Rom. 12.3. and to reſt ſatisfied with the pure and ſimple truth of the Goſpel, in which are locked up the infinite treaſures of God.
Chap. 7. Of their idiome and manner of ſpeaking.
They uſe a peculiar manner of ſpeaking, which is not underſtood of any but thoſe of their own faction and fraternitie, &c.
I deny not but that they uſe common words, but they doe ſo deprave their ſignification, that it is difficult to finde out what they affirme, or what they deny.
Chap. 8.
They will ſometimes deny, what at another time they affirme, and doe transforme themſelves according to the will and pleaſure of their hearts, &c.
The art of diſſembling is one of the chiefe Chapters in their Divinitie.
They will conforme to all the ſuperſtitions of the Papiſts, pretending that a Chriſtian man hath libertie in all outward things. For the juſtifying of their lying and diſſembling, they make uſe of this place, that they muſt be as wiſe as ſerpents.
Chap. 9.
They account the Scriptures fables, yet they make uſe of ſuch places which they can wreſt to their ſenſe: Not that they beleeve them, but that they may trouble and unſettle ignorant people.
If any place of Scripture be brought againſt them, they ſay that wee ſtumble at the letter, whereas wee ſhould follow the quickning ſpirit.
Although they are more pernicious then the Papiſts, yet this principle is common to them both, that the Scripture is to be tranſformed into allegories, affecting a better and more perfect wiſdome then is contained in it.
Chap. 10.
They have the Spirit alwayes in their mouths, and can ſcarce ſpeak two little ſentences, without the repetition of it; perſwading men that they are ſpirituall, and altogether divine. By which meanes it is an eaſie thing for them to deceive the beſt of Saints, untill they come to underſtand, unto what their ſpirituality tendeth. And in the ſame chapter, he giveth a good direction for dealing with them. When they uſe a long ambages, or circuit of words, you are to break off their ſpeech, and to aske what they meane. And if they goe on to draw forth their tale with the ſame length, and circuit of words as their manner is, to darken their ſpeech, by turning, winding, and wreathing their words, as the Serpent doth his taile, they are to be brought forth to the light, as a thiefe and malefactor is brought out of his lurking-hole.
Chap. 11.
They affirme that there is but one Spirit of God, which is, and liveth in all creatures; deſtroying the ſouls of men, and the being and eſſence of Angels.
They affirme that Angels are nothing elſe but inſpirations and motions, not creatures who have any being.
Chap. 12.
They affirm that the Devill, world and ſin, is an imagination which is nothing.
They affirme that Devils are nothing but vain thoughts, which as dreams are to be bu…ried in forgetfulneſs.
They hold that ſin is nothing but an opination, conceit or fancie.
Chap. 13.
They hold that the Spirit doth all things not meaning what the Scripture doth when thus ſpeaketh of him, to wit, That all thing ſubſiſt in him, are governed by him, are ſubject his providence, and in their order are ſerviceable his will. But whatſoever is done in the work they maintaine it to be his worke, to the d…ſtroying of mans will as though hee were ſtone: and to the taking away the different betwen good and evill: ſo that nothing can … done ſinfully according to their judgment, b… cauſe God is the Author of all things. So Quintinus, when hee came into a place where o… was murthered; and being asked who did he preſently replied, I have done it. Are you ſaid the other ſuch a wicked wretch? and th… he anſwered; it is not I, but God: Thou h… done it, I have done it, God hath done it, &c…
Chap. 14.
They do not only confound earth and h… ven, but God and the Devill.
Chap. 15.
They hold that all things being done by … will, that nothing can diſpleaſe him, as though God were mutable, or did contradict himſelf, or were a diſſembler, if he ſhould be diſpleaſed with any thing, ſeeing all things according to them are done with his approbation.
They maintain that it is a fooliſh thing to be affraid, leſt we ſhould offend him, ſeeing we doe nothing good or evill, but he doth all things in us.
Chap. 16.
From the ſame principle, they conclude that men doe evill, who doe blame any man for doing any thing.
Chap. 17.
Though they would ſeem to be extollers of Chriſt with excellent words, yet they place our whole redemption in this, that Chriſt was only a type, image or patterne in whom wee may behold thoſe things done which the Scripture requireth to our ſalvation.
They imagine that every St is Jeſus Chriſt, and that which was done in him, is done in us. When Quintin was asked how he did, he uſually anſwered, How can Jeſus Chriſt be ſicke, &c.
They hold that it is blaſphemy for a man to be grieved or troubled for any thing.
Chap. 18.
They acknowledge with us that a man cannot be the Son of God, unleſſe he be born again. And at the firſt they ſeem to hold what we do, if wee looke onelyonly upon their words; and do… make uſe of Scripture-expreſſions to this purpoſe: But they hold that a man is regenerated when he ſeeth no difference between black and white, good and evill; for that ſay they is the ſin of Adam. So that if a man be grieved i… his ſpirit for doing any ſin, they uſe to ſay to him; O Adam thou ſtill ſeeſt ſomething. The old man is not yet crucified in thee (Pomi guſtum habes.) Thou haſt the taſt and relliſh … the apple in thy mouth ſtil, take heed that that mouthfull doe not choak you.
They hold that our redemption by Chriſt is the deſtruction of the conceits which me… have, by which they thinke that there is ſuch thing as ſin, &c. (Eu in quo conſtituunt benefi…cium redemptionis per Chriſtum factae: nempe qu… opinationem illam deſtruxit quae Adami culpâ … mundum ingreſſa erat, &c.) And for this reaſon, they maintain, that every regenerate ma… is without ſin in him.
When any man reprehendeth them for an… ſin, they make uſe of this proverb which the… have among them, That it is not they, but … aſſe. Although this be inconſiſtent with th… which they maintaine concerning the perfe… ſtate of a Chriſtian.
Chap. 19.
They ſtretch Chriſtian liberty to this, That they maintain all things are lawful to a man without any exception. They hold it lawfull for a man to bow his knee before an Idoll, to offer candles, to goe in pilgrimage to the temples of the Saints, to celebrate maſſe, and to feign that they doe conſent to all the abominations of the Papiſts, though they doe deride and laugh at them as fooles.
Chap. 20.
Paul admoniſheth Chriſtians, 1 Cor. 7.2. That they ſhould abide in that calling unto which they are called. Theſe wretched men doe pervert this ſpeech: that they may perſwade men, that every man ought to follow his naturall inclination, and ſo doe and live as he liſteth, or as it ſhall ſeeme good unto him in his owne eyes; From whence approving all unlawfull callings of Monkes and Fryers. When Quintin was preſent at the ſolemn Maſſe of a Cardinall, hee ſaid that he ſaw the glory of God. And by this pretext, they do not only approve all kind of callings which are repugnant to the truth of the holy Scripture, but thoſe which the Heathens condemned by the light of nature. Let the Pander, ſay they, follow his employment; let the thiefe ſteal boldly; for it is conſonant to reaſon, that every man ſhould follow his calling.
They allow men and women to joyn themſelves to whom they pleaſe; and that they call ſpirituall Matrimonie, and ſuch men and women, new ſpirituall, husbands and wives, &c.
Chap. 21.
They hold community to be the communion of Saints, when no man poſſeſſeth any thing as his owne: but when every one taketh that to himſelfe which he can lay hold on.
Chap. 22.
They laugh at all hopes which men have of a reſurrection, & ſay that men have that which they expect. If it be demanded, how they underſtand that: they ſay it is by believing his ſoule is an immortall Spirit alwaies living in heaven: and that Chriſt by his death hath done away opination, &c.
From Eccl. 12.7. they conclude, that the ſoule doth returne to the eſſence of God, and is joyned unto him, ſo that there remaineth but one Spirit.
Chap. 23.
They interpret that place, (Rom. 8.10. I Chriſt be in you, the body is dead becauſe of ſinne but the ſpirit is life becauſe of righteouſneſſe) afte… this manner; He juſtifieth us as we are the ſam… ſpirit. Calvin ſaith of Pocquius, who was on… of the heads of them, that there is no ſentenc… ſo excellent in Scripture, which hee doth no… wreſt and draw to his beaſtly affection.
They take the word ſpirit not as given by the grace of regeneration, but from that imagination, that God is in us, and doth all in us.
They ſpeake of the laſt reſurrection, as though it were now perfected and accompliſhed.
In his Epiſtle.
IT is uſuall with them as with all Libertines, to play with Scripture: to wreſt it according to their owne luſt, and to transforme it into allegories.
Quintin being caſt into priſon for en…iſing many modeſt women unto uncleanneſſe, uſed all fraud and guile to procure his freedome. For according to their Philoſophy, it is lawfull to diſſemble, lye, deceive, and to change themſelves into all formes and ſhapes, that they may deceive thoſe whom they call carnall. Hee denyed all that hee had ſaid or written, and affirmed that hee was a Roman-Catholique. And being deſired by the Monkes and Fryers, hee dehorted the people in publique, from reading of the Scripture, affirming that nothing was more pernicious than the reading of it.
It were eaſie to bring many quotations out of German Writers againſt theſe ſubtle underminers of the Goſpel. But ſome will thinke that I have ſpoken too much againſt them by the mouth of this witneſſe; and moſt will conclude, that what I have ſpoken is ſufficient; and thoſe who are acquainted with ſome deceivers and impoſtors amongſt us, will be ready to thinke that this godly Author did rather ſpeake prophetically of ſome men of our times then hiſtorically of thoſe of his owne. I ſhall therefore take liberty to put a period to this Booke, and ſhall deſire the bleſſing of God upon it, and the favourable Reader, Amen.
FINIS.
The Order of Chriſts remote, poore and deſpicable Churches in Wales, deſcribed by M. L. for the ſatisfaction of all miſ-informed Saints.
VVIth Chriſt our Lord we ſuppe.
And every Saint comes in:
That is deſirous with conſent,
For to partake therein.
No honeſt ſoul's kept out,
Their preſence we deſire:
No new engagement, no new bond,
Doe we at all require.
But welcome Saints, as Saints,
Of all we make but one:
Exhorting one another, more
To live to Chriſt alone.
Our bond is Chriſtian love,
Our bound our Maſters word:
In renting times our ſtudie is,
To walke with one accord.
If any Saint diſſent,
And Seperatiſt be:
He may ſee cauſe to blame himſelfe,
And ſo his Brethren free;
Theſe things we take in hand,
For troubles may be neare;
Take time and mercies while they are,
E're long they may be deare.
FINIS.