The Nature of Apostasy, Title page – To the reader
The Nature of APOSTASIE From the Profession of the GOSPEL, AND THE Punishment of APOSTATES DECLARED, IN AN Exposition of Heb. 6.4, 5, 6.
WITH An Enquiry into the Causes and Reasons of the Decay of the Power of Religion in the World; or the present general Defection from the Truth, Holiness, and Worship of the GOSPEL.
ALSO, Of the Proneness of Churches and Persons of all sorts unto APOSTASIE.
With Remedies and Means of Prevention.
By John Owen, D. D.
John 5. 39.
Search the Scriptures.
London, Printed for N. Ponder at the Peacock in Chancery-Lane near Fleetstreet, 1676.
TO THE READERS.
SOME brief Account of the Occasion and design of the ensuing Discourse, I judg due unto the Reader, that upon a prospect of them, he may either proceed in its perusal, or desist as he shall see cause.
That the state of Religion is at this day deplorable in most parts of the Christian World, is acknowledged by all, who concern themselves in any thing that is so called. Yea the Enormities of some are come to that excess that others publickly complain of them, who without the Countenance of their more bold Provocations would themselves be judged no small part or cause of the Evils to be complained of. However this on all hands will as I suppose be agreed unto, that among the generality of professed Christians, the Glory and Power of Christianity are faded and almost utterly lost; though the Reasons and Causes thereof are not agreed upon. For however some few may please themselves, in supposing nothing to be wanting unto a good state of things in Religion, but only security in what they are and enjoy, yet the whole World is so evidently filled with the dreadful effects of the Lusts of men, and sad tokens of Divine Dispeasure, that all things from above and here below, proclaim the Degeneracy of our Religion in its profession, from its Pristine Beauty and Glory. Religion is the same that ever it was, only it suffers by them that make Profession of it. Whatever disadvantage it falls under in the World, they must at length answer for, in whose misbelief and practice it is corrupted. And no man can express a greater enmity unto, or malice against the Gospel, than he that should assert or maintain, that the Faith, Profession, Lives, Ways and Walkings of the generality of Christians are a just Representation of its Truth and Holiness. The description, which the Apostle gives of men in their principles, dispositions and actings, before there hath been any effectual influences on their minds and lives from the Light, Power, and Grace of the Gospel, is much more applicable unto them, than any thing that is spoken of the Disciples of Christ in the whole book of God. Foolish are they, & disobedient, deceived, serving divers Lusts and Pleasures, living in Malice and Envy, hateful and hating one another. The way, paths and footsteps of Gospel-Faith, Love, Meekness, Temperance, Selfdenyal, Benignity, Humility, Zeal and Contempt of the World, in the Honours, Profits and Pleasures of it, with readiness for the Cross, are all overgrown, and almost worn out amongst men, that they can hardly be discerned where they have been. But in their stead the works of the fllesh have made a broad and open Road that the multitude travel in; which though it may be right for a season in their own Eyes, yet is it the way to Hell, and goeth down to the Chambers of Death. For these works of the flesh are manifest in the World, not only in their nature what they are, but in their open perpetration and dismal effects; such are Adultery, Fornication, Uncleanness, Lasciviousness, Idolatry, Witchceraft, Hatred, Variance, Emulation, Strife, Seditions, Heresies, Envyings, Murders, Drunkeness, Revellings, and such-like, as they are reckoned up by the Apostle. How these things have spread themselves over the face of the Christian World among all sorts of persons, is manifest beyond all contradiction or pretence to the contrary. And that so it should come to pass in the later times is both expresly and frequently foretold in the Scripture, as in the ensuing discourse will be more fully declared.
Many indeed there are who are not given up in the course of their lives unto the open practice of such Abominations. And therefore in that grand Defection from the Truth and Holiness of the Gospel which is so provalent in the World, The Grace of God is greatly to be admired, even in the small remainders of Piety, Sobriety, and Modesty, and common Usefulness that are yet left among us. But those openly flagitious courses are not the only way whereby men may fall of from, and even renounce the Power Grace and Wisdon of our Lord Jesus Christ.
For even of those, who will not run out into the same excess of riot with other men, the most are so ignorant of the Mysteries of the Gospel, so negligent or formal in divine Worship, so infected with Pride, Vanity and Love of the World, so regardless of the Glory of Christ, and Honour of the Gospel, that it is no easie thing to find Christian Religion in the midest of professed Christians, or the Power of Godliness among them who openly avow the Forme thereof.
By this means is Christianity brought into so great neglect in the World, that its great and subtle Adversarie seems encouraged to attempt the ruining of its very foundations, that the name of it should no more be had in remembrance. For whereever Religion is taken of from a solid consistency by its Power in the lives and minds of men, when it hath no other Tenure but an outward unenlivened Profession, and the secular interest of it Professors, it will not long abide the shock of that Opposition which it is continually exposed unto. And whilst things are in this state, those, who seem to have any concernment therein, are so ingaged in mutual charging one another with being Occasions thereof, mostly on such Principles of Difference in Judgment as have no considerable influence thereinto, as that a joynt endeavour after proper Remedies is utterly neglected.
And there is yet another Consideration rendring the present state of Christian Religion in the World yet more deplorable. The only Principle of Evangelical Obedience is sacred Truth, and our Faith therein. That alone is the Doctrine which is according to Godliness, and all acceptable Obedience unto God is the Obedience of Faith. Whatever men do or pretend unto in a way of Duty unto him, whereof the Truth of the Gospel is not the spring and measure, which is not guided and animated thereby, it is not what God at present requireth, nor what he will eternally reward. Wherefore although men may, and multitudes do, under a profession of that Truth live in open Rebellion against its Power; yet the wounds of Religion are not incurable, nor its stains indelible, whilst the proper Remedy is owned, & wants only due Application. But if this Truth it self be corrupted or deserted, if its most glorious Mysteries be abused or despised, and if its most important Doctrines be impeached of Error and False-hood, if the vain Imaginations and carnal Reasonings of the serpentine wits of men be substituted in their Room, or exalted above them, what hope is there of a Recovery? the breach will grow like the Sea, until there be none to heal it. If the fountaines of the Waters of the Sanctuary be poisoned in their first rising, they will not heal the Nations unto whom they come. Where the Doctrine of Truth is corrupted, the hearts of men will not be changed by it, nor their lives reformed.
How all this hath come to pass in the Apostacy of the Roman Church, and what Multitudes of professed Christians are carryed down the Stream of that Defection, is acknowledged among us who are called Protestants. How therein by various Degrees the corruption of the Doctrine of the Gospel gave Occasion unto the Depravation of mens manners on the one hand, and the Wickedness of mens lives on the other hand led the way unto and served to make necessary a further perverting of the Doctrine it self, until at length it is hard to determine, whether the multiplied Errors of that Church have made the Reintroduction of true Holiness and Evangelical Obedience, or the corrupt worldly Conversation of the generality of the members of its Communion, have rendred the Restauration of Truth more difficult & unpracticable in their present station, is in part declared in the ensuing discourses, and deserves yet a more particular and distinct enquiry into. In general certain it is, that as Error with Superstition on the one hand in the minds of the Teachers or Guides of the Church, and Sin with Conformity unto the ways manners & course of the present evil World in the Body of the People, were mutually assistant unto their joynt Introduction into the Profession and Lives of Christians; so having possessed themselves of the visible Church-state of many Nations, they are so interwoven in their interests, as to be mutually assistant to the exclusion of that Truth and Holiness which they have disposessed. And whereas moreover they have found out the pretence of Infallibility, stretched wide enough in their own apprehensions, to cover patronize and justify the most enormous Errors, and highest inconformity of Life unto the Gospel, all hopes of their recovery are utterly defeated, but what are placed on the Soveraign Grace and Almighty Power of God.
That there is also another Endeavour of the same kind, and for the same general end, namely to corrupt the Doctrine of the Gospel, though in another way, and unto another extreme, vigorously carried on in the World by the Socinians, and those who either absolutely or for the most part comply with them in their penitious ways, is no less known, nor ought to be much less bewailed. For this Endeavour also is attended with many Advantages to give it success. The Corruption of the Doctrine of the Gospel in the Roman Church, as it sprang out of the Ignorance, Darkness, Superstition and carnal Affections of the minds of men; so it is by the same means preserved. But although those things in those Ages and places, where they abounded, gave sufficient and effectuall Advantage to its gradual Introduction, and although the Principles of it be now so with the secular interests of the generality of mankind in most of the Nations of Europe, as to secure its station & possessions, yet in that Emancipation of Reason from under the bond of Superstition & Tradition, in that liberty of Rational Enquiry unto the true nature and causes of all things, in that refusal to captivate their understandings in Religion to the bare Authority of men no wiser than themselves, which all pretend unto at present, who dare venture on an ordinary converse in the World; it may seem marvellous how it should get ground, and enlarge its Teritories, unless it be among them, who are evidently bought off from themselves and from under the conduct of their own minds by some outward Advantages, which they look upon as a valuable consideration. The true Reasons hereof are enquired into in the ensuing discourse. But this new Attempt, despising the bafled Aids of Superstition and carnal Affections, which were in former Ages predominant and effectual, take shelter under a pretence of Reason, and the suitableness of what is proposed in it, unto the natural Light and understandings of men. Whatever there is or is not in this matter, of the Relation that is between Religion and Reason, yet this being grown through the encrease of Learning and Converse, with a decay of the true fear of God, the very Idol of this Age; whoever will prepare a sacrifice unto it, though it be of the most Holy Mysteries of the Gospel, he shall not fail of good entertainment and applause. And whoever shall refuse to cast incense on its Altar, shall be sure to be exploded, as one that professeth himself to be a fool, & even a Common enemy unto mankind. Tell men that there are some things in Religion that are above Reason, as it is finite and limited, and some things contrary unto it, as it is deprav'd an corrupted, and they will reply (what is true in it self but wofully abusd) that yet their Reason is the best, yea only means, which they have to judg of what is true or false. The Liberty of mens own Rational Faculties having got the great vogue in the World, (as indeed it is that which is most excellent therein of what is merely in and of it, it is fond to expect that it should not meet with a pernitious abuse, as every thing that hath any worth in it, hath always done, when advanced unto such a Reputation as might render it liable thereunto. For no man will ever adventure to pervail himself of that which others have no respect unto, or do despise. Herein then lies the advantage of this sort of men, the Socinians I mean & their adherents, in attempting to corrupt the Doctrine of the Gospel, & hereon depends all their success therein. First they get the advantage of the ground in general, by pretending to reduce all men unto right Reason as the just measure and standard of Truth. Put in any exceptions unto this proposal, endeavour to affix its bounds and proper measures, offer the consideration of Divine Revelation in its proper use and place, and you give away the cause among the many, who design at least to come in as common sharers in the Reputation that Reason hath got above all things in the World. By the confident use of this Artifice, and the most absurd application of this Principle unto things Infinite, and the most Holy mysteries of Divine Revelation; have this sort of men, otherwise for the most part as weak and insufficient in their reasonings, as their predecessors in the like attempts, got the Reputation of the most rational handlers of sacred things. And when, being harnessed with this Advantage, they proceed to the proposal of their opinions in particular, they have such an interest beforehand in the minds of men by nature, and have things so disposed and prepared for their Reception, that it is no wonder if oftimes they obtain success. For they are all of them designed unto one of those two Heads. First that there is no Reason why we should believe any thing that Reason cannot comprehend, so that we may safely conclude, that whatever is above our Reason is contrary unto it, and for what is so, it is destructive to the very natural Constitution of our Souls not to reject. And secondly that the mind of Man is in its present condition every way sufficient unto the whole of its duties both Intellectual and Moral, with respect unto God, and to answer whatever is required of us. Upon the matter they pretend only to undertake the patronage of humane Natúre, and the common Reason and Honesty of mankind, against those imputations of weakness depravations and corruption in things Spiritual; wherewith by some it is charged and defamed. And although it be contrary unto the universal experience of the whole World, yet might this design be allowed what commendation men please, so that the defence of Nature were not undertaken expresly against the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Redemption that is in his blood; and the whole Mysterie of the Gospel. But whereas it is a part of the Depravation of our Nature not to discover its own Depravations, and all those opinions are suited to give it Countenance against what it is not sensible of, and whereof it is not willing to own the charge, it is no wonder if with very many they receive a ready entertainment. And whereas they seem to interest men in that Reputation, which Reason in the things of God had obtained in the World, and thereby to countenance them in the còntempt of others as weak and irrational, things pleasing to the depraved minds of men, it is more than probable that they will make a pernitious progress in one degree or another. So doth the subtle Enemy of our Salvation make his advantage of the disposition, inclination and state of every Age and Season. Without his Interposition, Devotion of old might have been carried on without Superstition, & in this Age the use of Reason might be vindicated, without a rejection of the necessity of supernatural Illumination, and the great Truths of the Gospel. But the better any thing is, the more noysome it will be, when once he hath mixed his Poison with it.
It were to be wished that the Defection from the Truth of the Gospel complained of, were confined unto the instances already mentioned, though in them the event be deplorable among multitudes of professed Christians. But the same in some measure and degree is come to pass among Protestants also. Men grow weary of the Truths which have been professed ever since the Reformation, yea of those in particular, which gave occasion thereunto, and without which it had never been attempted. For besides that many fall off unto those extremes of Error before insisted on, some on the one hand, and some on the other, the Reformed Religion is by not a few, so taken off from its old foundations, so unhinged from those Pillars of important Truths, which it did depend upon, and so sullied by a confused medly of Noysom Opinions, as that its loss in Reputation of Stability and Usefulness, seems almost irreparable. Hence are Divisions, Debates and Animosities multiplied about the principal Articles of our Religion, whereby those Tongues are divided and Hands ingaged in mutual intestine conflicts, which all united were few enough to preserve the Remainders of the Protestant Profession from the Artifices and Power of him, who doth not despair once more to impose his Yoke on the Neck of the whole Christian World. For nothing can more prepare the way of his success, than the shaking of the Doctrine of the Reformed Churches from that consistency, wherein for so long a time it stood firm and stable against all opposition.
But there is in this matter nothing absolutely new under the the Sun; no instance can be given of any Church or Nation in the World, which ever received the profession of the Gospel, that did not sooner or later either totally or in some considerable Degrees, fall off from the Doctrine which it reveles and the Obedience which it requireth. Men do but deceive themselves, who suppose that the Purity of Religion will be preserved in Confessions and Canons, whilst some make it their business to corrupt its Truth, and few or none make it their business to preserve its Power. And therefore at this day on one account or other the Defection is almost Catholick. For it is in vain for any to pretend that the present general visible Profession of Christianity, doth in any tolerable measure answer the Original Pattern of it in the Scripture, or the first Transcript thereof in the primitive Believers. And that, which in this degenerate state of things doth principally exercise the minds of considerate men, is, whether there ought to be an immediat Endeavour to reduce as many as will or can comply therewith, unto the original standard in Profession Obedience and Worships, or whether the present posture of things be not so far to be complyed withal, as to preserve therein the small Remainders of Religion among the Community of Christians who are not capable of such a Reduction. The difference, that is in the Judgments of men herein, is the ground of all those lesser Controversies and Opinions, which will be composed and have an end put unto them, when God shall graciously afford unto us all a fresh revival of Evangelical Faith, Love and Holiness, and, I fear, not before.
Upon some Considerations of this state of things in the World, and under fears, perhaps not altogether groundless, that a further progress will yet be made in this woful declension from the Power and Purity of Evangelical Truth, I set my self into a general Enquiry what might be the secret Causes, and Reasons whence it is that all sorts of Persons in all Ages have been so prone to apostatize from the sincere profession of the Gospel in Faith and Obedience, as Experience in the success of things manifests them to have been. And moreover an occasion was administred unto thoughts of that nature, from my engagement in the Exposition of the sixth Chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrēws, wherein the Apostle so eminently describes the nature of total Apostacy, with the end of Apostates in the righteous Judgment of God. For considering the greatness of that sin, and the Terror of the Lord with respect thereunto, and not knowing whereunto the daily advance of impiety, prophaneness and abominable lusts, with ignorance, Error, and superstition, might at length arrive; thoughtfulness of what might be required at the last day of my self, though cast in a mean and obscure condition in the World, did not a little exercise my mind. The Glory of God, the honour of Christ and the Gospel, the Eternal welfare of the Souls of men being eminently concerned, I knew not how he could have the least satisfaction in the Truth and Reality of his own Christianity, who was not greatly affected with, and did not really mourn for their suffering in this woful Apostasie. What I have attained unto in that kind, I have no Reason to declare; but hope I may say without the offence of any, that, as I verily believe, neither my Prayers nor Tears have been proportionable unto the Causes of them in this matter, so I can and will say that they have been real and sincere.
I was not Ignorant of the Weakness and impertinency of all thoughts, that a Person of my mean condition in the World, disadvantaged by all imaginable circumstances that might prejudice the most sincere Endeavours, should attempt any thing with respect unto the Relief of Nations or National Churches, which yet are not without the verge of this fatal Evil. To mourn for them in secret, to labour in prayers and supplications for a more plentifull effusion of the Spirit of Christ upon them for their good, are things which although they may despise, yet God will accept in and from the meanest of them that call on his name in sincerity. Ʋnto whom other Oportunities and Advantages are granted, from them other things will be required. And it is no doubt a great account they have to give, who are admitted and esteemed as those whose Place and Duty it is, to stem the current of overflowing Impiety and Prophaneness, and effectually to apply the Sovereign Remedies of all those evils unto the Souls and Consciences of men. Sad will it be for them under whose hand this breach shall be, if they endeavour not to prevent it with their utmost diligence, and the open hazard of all their earthly concerns. A learned writer of the Church of England, affirms, That there were two, no small sins of noysome Hypocrisie, that he had espied among others; the one an opinion there can be no fit matter of Martyrdom in a State authorizing the true profession of that Religion which among many we like best, and left unto our selves would make choyce of. The other which in part feeds a perswasion that meer Errors in Doctrine or Opinion, are more pernitious than affected indulgence to lewd Practices, or continuance in sinfull courses, or open breaches of Gods Commandements: And after he had declared, that Ministers of the Gospel may deny Christ, or manifest their being ashamed of the Gospel, by not opposing his Word as they ought unto the Sins of men; he adds; that any Age since Christian Religion was first propagated, hath wanted store of Martyrs, is more to be attributed unto the Negligence, Ignorance and Hypocrisie, or want of Courage in Christ's Embassadors, or appointed Pastors, than unto the Sincerity, Mildness or Fidelity of the Flock, especially of the Bell-weathers or chief Ring-leaders; Jac. Tom. 1: B. 4: C. 4: with much more to the same purpose, which will deserve some mens considerations, before all things of this Nature be too late.
But there is a Duty of trading with a single Talent. And if there be a ready mind, it is accepted according to what a man hath, and not according to what he hath not. And this alone hath made me adventure the proposal of my thoughts about the Nature, Causes, and Occasions of the present Defection from the Gospel, and Decay of Holiness, with the means of Preservation from its Infection, and Prevention of its Prevalency in private Persons. For it is to no purpose to shut up all endeavours under Fruitless Complaints, nor yet to attempt an Opposition unto Effects whose Causes are not well known and considered. Wherefore the Investigation and Declaration of the Causes of this evil, is the principal subject of the ensuing discourses. And if I have attained but thus much, that Persons of more Ʋnderstanding and Abilities to find out the hidden Springs of the inundations of Sin and Errors in the Christian World, and who have more Advantages to improve their discoveries unto publick good, shall be hereby excited to undertake so necessary a Work and Duty, I shall esteem my self to have received a full reward.
There is one thing yet whereof I must advise those Readers which are pleased to concern themselves in any writings of mine. The publishing of this Exposition of some verses of the sixth Chapter of the Epistle unto the Hebrews, may have an appearance of my deserting that continued Exposition of the whole Epistle, which I had designed. But as I know not what I may attain unto, in the very near Approach of that Season, wherein I must lay down this Tabernacle, and the daily warning which through many infirmities I have thereof, so I am resolved whilst I live, to proceed in that work as God shall enable, and other present necessary duties will allow. And the Sole Reason added unto the seasonableness (as I supposed) of this discourse, why this part of the Exposition is singly proposed unto publick view, was, because the thoughts which arose thereon were drawn forth into such a length, as would have been too great a Digression from the context and design of the Apostle.