The Nature of Apostasy, Chapter 9
CHAP. IX.
Apostasie into Profaneness and Sensuality of Life; the Causes and Occasions of it. Defects in Publick Teachers and Guides in Religion.
THat which yet remaineth to be considered under this Head of Backsliding from the Commands of the Gospel, and the Obedience required in them, is of a worse Kind, and of a more pernicious Consequence. And this is that open Apostasie into Profaneness and Sensuality of Life, which the Generality of them who are called Christians are in most places of the World visibly fallen into. If any be otherwise minded, if they suppose and judge that the Wayes and Walkings of the Generality of Churches and individual Christians, of whole Nations that profess themselves to be so, are such as the Gospel requireth and approveth of, they seem either to be ignorant of the true state of these things in the World, or to be highly injurious unto the Grace and Truth which came by Jesus Christ. To suppose that he by his Gospel giveth Countenance unto, or conniveth at, that Darkness, Profaneness, Sensuality, those bloody Contentions and Oppressions; in a word, all those filthy and noxious Lusts which at this day have overwhelmed the Christian World, doth what he can to render and represent it, not onelyonly useless, but extremely pernitious unto Mankind. For they do say therein, That by him and his Doctrine Countenance is given unto that Degeneracy in Wickedness, which Heathenisme would not allow, whereby the World is filled with Confusion, and in danger to be precipitated into Ruine. I shall therefore at present take it for granted, (with the highest Readiness to give up that Concession when any tolerable Evidence shall be given to the contrary,) that there is among and in the Churches whereunto the generality of Christians do reckon themselves to belong, a visible Apostasie from that Piety, Holiness and Righteousness, which the Gospel indispensably requireth in all the Disciples of Christ, and which the Primitive Christians did Earnestly follow and Eminently abound in. An Enquiry into the Means and Causes hereof, is that which now lyes before us. And that especial Instance which I shall alwayes regard, is the Church of Rome, which as it hath given the most eminent Example of Apostasie in this Kind of any Church in the World; so whatever of the same Nature befalleth others, it is sufficiently represented therein.
The immediate internal Causes, (which are, as the Rise and Original of all Sins, so of those wherein this Apostasie doth consist, because they are not peculiar hereunto, but equally respect all sins at all times,) belong not unto our present Enquiry. By these Causes I intend in general, the Depravation of Nature, the Power and Deceitfulness of Sin, Love of the World, the Profits, Honours and Pleasures of it, the Rage of the Flesh after the satisfaction of its sensual Lusts, with the Aversation of the Minds of Men from things Spiritual and Heavenly, as being alienated from the Life of God, through the Darkness and Ignorance that is in them. For, these and the like depraved Affections being excited and acted by the crafty Influences of Sathan, and inflamed with Temptations, do incline, induce and carry men into all manner of Wickedness with delight and greediness; Jam. 1. 14, 15. But whereas all these things in General respect equally all Times, Occasions, and Sins, and whereas it is the constant Work of the Ministers of the Gospel (those I mean, who understand their Employment, with the Account they must give of the Souls committed unto their Charge) to discover the Nature, detect the Deceit, and warn men of the Danger of these Principles and Occasions of Sin within them and without them; I shall not need particularly here to insist upon them. It is the more publick external Means and Causes which have produced, furthered and promoted the Apostasie complained of, that we shall take under Consideration.
The first Occasion hereof in all Ages hath been given by, or taken from the publick Teachers, Guides or Leaders of the People in the Matter of Religion. I intend them of all sorts, however called, styled, or distinguished, into what Forms or Orders soever they are cast by themselves or others. And I name them so at large, because it is known how variously they are multiplyed, especially in the Church of Rome, where (as to these parts of the World,) this Apostasie began, and by which it is principally promoted, and that by all sorts of them. These at all times have and must have an especial Influence into the Holiness or Ʋnholiness of the People; yea, the Purity or Apostasie of the Church, as to outward Means, doth principally depend upon them, with the discharge of their Office and Duty. In many things they succeed into the Room of the Priests of Old, and frequently fall under the Command and Rebuke given unto them; Mal. 2. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9; O ye Priests, this Commandment is for you. If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give Glory unto my Name, saith the Lord of Hosts, I will even send a Curse upon you, and will curse your Blessings: Yea, I have cursed them already, because you do not lay it to heart. Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn Feasts, and one shall take you away with it. And ye shall know that I have sent this Commandment unto you, that my Covenant might be with Levi, saith the Lord of Hosts. My Covenant was with him of Life and Peace, and I gave them to him for the Fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my Name. The Law of Truth was in his mouth, and Iniquity was not found in his lips: He walked with me in Peace and Equity, and did turn many away from Iniquity. For the Priests lips should keep Knowledge, and they should seek the Law at his mouth: For he is the Messenger of the Lord of Hosts. But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the Law: Ye have corrupted the Covenant of Levi, saith the Lord of Hosts. Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the People, according as ye have not kept my wayes, but have been partial in the Law.
That holy, humble, laborious Ministry, which Christ first instituted in the Church, was the great Means of Converting Men unto Evangelical Obedience, and the Preserving of them therein. This, their Doctrine, their Spirit, their Example, their Manner and Course of Life, their Prayers, Preaching, and entire Endeavour tended unto, and were blessed and prospered of God unto that purpose; Then were the Lives of Christians a Transcript of the Truth of the Gospel. But through the Degeneracy of the following Ages, those who succeeded them became Troubled Fountains, polluting and corrupting all the Streams of Christian Religion. It is no uneasie thing to observe, in the Course of Ecclesiastical Records and Stories, how by various degrees the Leaders of the Church became corrupt, and did corrupt the People, giving them in themselves an Example of Strises, Divisions, Ambition, Worldly-mindedness; and by their Negligence in Discharge of their Duty depriving them of the Means of being made better, by the Power of the Doctrine, and Commands of the Gospel. Under the Old Testament the Priests and Prophets led the People into a double Apostasie. First into that of Superstition and Idolatry; Jer. 23. 15. And this continued prevailing among them, untill their Sin issued in a desolating Calamity. This was the Babylonish Captivity, wherein all their Idols were buried in the Land of Shinar; Zach. 5. 11. After the Return of the People from thence, when they would no more be inveigled into Idolatry, whereof God designed that Captivity for an effectual Cure, the same sort of Persons by Negligence, Ignorance, and their evil Example in Profaneness, turned them off from God and his Law. This was begun in the dayes of Malachi the last of the Prophets, and ended in the total Apostasie and Destruction of that Church and People. And when the whole came unto its last Issue in the Rejection of the Lord Christ the Son of God, the same sort of Persons, even the Guides and Teachers led and even forced the Body of the People into that great Rebellion and Impenitency therein, as is evidently declared in the Gospel. And it is to be feared that something of the like Nature hath fallen out among Christians also: The first Apostasie the Christian World fell into, was by Superstition and Idolatry, principally under the Conduct of the Church of Rome. And this (as it will alwayes be) was accompanyed with Wickedness of Life in all sorts of Persons. Many Churches and Nations being delivered from this Abomination, it is well if (by the same means) they are not falling into that of a worldly sensual prophane Conversation.
The Scripture is so full on this Subject, and the Nature of the thing it self is such, as seems to require a deep and thorough Consideration of it. But the Nature of my Design will not admit of Enlargements on any particular Head, for I intend onelyonly to point at the chief Springs and Occasions of this Evil; and accordingly this part of our Subject must be onelyonly briefly (as that preceding) treated on.
What was before asserted in general, namely, That the Well-being of the Church depends on the right discharge of the Office of the Ministry, will I suppose be acknowledged by all; and it is plainly declared by the Apostle; Ephes. 4. 12, 13, 14, 15. In proportion thereunto it will thrive or decay. The Nature of this Office, the Ends of its Institution, the Works and Duties of it, with the universal Experience of all Ages and Places, do evince this Observation beyond all Contradiction. If therefore those who undertake the Exercise of this Office do eminently and notoriously fail in the Performance and Discharge of the Duties thereof, especially if they do so generally, and in any long succession of time, it cannot be but that the People will be corrupt, and degenerate from the Rule of the Gospel. The Flocks will not be preserved where the Shepheards are negligent; and Fields will be over-run with Weeds, Thorns and Briars, if they be not duely tilled. I shall therefore in the First place call over some of those things which are indispensably required in and of the Ministers and Teachers of the Church, that it may be preserved in its Purity, and kept up unto its Duty in Evangelical Obedience. And I shall insist onelyonly on those which all men will acknowledge to be such Duties, or which none who own the Gospel can or dare deny so to be.
First, It is required of them that they keep pure and uncorrupted the Doctrine of the Gospel, especially that concerning the Holiness enjoyned in it, both as to its Nature, Causes, Motives and Ends. So of Old, the Priests lips were to preserve Knowledge, and the People were to seek the Law at his mouth. This was one main End for which the Lord Christ gave unto, and instituted the Office of the Ministry in the Church. Ephes. 4. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. And he gave some Apostles; and some Prophets; and some Evangelists; and some Pastors and Teachers: For the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the Ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ: Till we all come in the Ʋnity of the Faith, and of the Knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect Man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more Children, tossed to and fro, and carryed about with every wind of Doctrine, by the sleight of Men, and cunning craftiness whereby they lye in wait to deceive: But speaking the Truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ. The Preservation of the Truth, the Declaration, Vindication and Defence of it, so as the Members of the Church, the Disciples of Christ committed to their Charge, be neither through Weakness or Ignorance as Children, nor thorough the Delusions of Seducers turned off from it, or be unsettled in it, was one great End why the Lord Christ instituted this Office therein. And upon their Discharge of this Duty depends the Growth, the Obedience, the Edification and Salvation of the whole Body. And therefore doth the Apostle give this principally in Charge unto the Elders of the Church of Ephesus, in his solemn giving of it up unto their Care and Inspection, when he himself was no more to come among them; Act. 20. 28, 30. Take heed therefore unto your selves, and to all the Flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers, to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own Blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous Wolves enter in among you, not sparing the Flock. Also of your own selves shal men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. As he hath a regard unto other things, so in an especial manner to the Introduction of perverse and corrupt Opinions, contrary to the Truth wherein they had been instructed by him, which comprized the whole Counsel of God concerning their Faith and Obedience, with his own Worship; ver. 27. This they were to do, by their carefull, faithfull, diligent Declaration, Vindication and Defence of the Doctrine which they had received. Especially doth he press this upon his beloved Timothy. He being for a season fixed in the Ministry of the Church, he was chosen out by the Wisdom of the Holy Ghost to be a Pattern and Example in the Instructions given unto him, unto all Ministers of the Gospel in succeeding Generations. This Charge is expressely committed unto him; 1 Tim. 6. 13, 14. I give thee charge, in the sight of God who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good Confession; That thou keep this Commandment without spot, unrebukeable, till the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ; Ver. 20. O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding prophane and vain Bablings, and Oppositions of Science falsely so called. 2 Tim. 1. 13, 14. If we believe not, yet he abideth faithfull, he cannot deny himself. Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord, that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the Hearers. And what he was enjoyn'd in his own Person, that also he was directed to commit unto others with the same Charge, that the Truth of the Gospel might be preserved incorrupt in succeeding Generations, 2 Tim. 2. 1, 2. Thou therefore, my Son, be strong in the Grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things thou hast heard of me among many Witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. The vehemency of the Apostle in this Charge, and his pathetical Exhortations do sufficiently evince the Moment and Necessity of this Duty, as that without which the Church would not be continued to be the Ground and Pillar of Truth.
There are Three Repositories of Sacred Truth, or of the Truths of the Mystery of the Gospel; The Scripture, the Minds and Hearts of Believers, and the Ministry of the present Age. In the first God preserveth them by his Providence, in the second by his Spirit and Grace, in the last by way of an Ordinance or especial Institution for that End.
In the first Way they have been kept and shall be kept safe against all Oppositions of Hell and the World, unto the Consummation of all things. And if this way might fail, we acknowledge that the others would doe so also, whatever some pretend of their Traditions and others of their present Inspirations. And whilest this doth abide (as it shall alwayes doe,) the loss that may befall in the other wayes may be retrived. And so it hath been several times, when the Faith of the Church hath been recovered, and its Profession reformed by the Light and Knowledge derived afresh from the Scripture. This Fountain therefore of Truth shall never be dry, but men may alwayes draw sufficiently, yea abundantly from it, whilest they use the Means appointed thereunto. But yet this alone will not secure the publick Interest of Truth and Holiness. There must be other Means also of Communicating what is contained therein unto the Minds and Consciences of men. And the Scripture it self doth both appoint and require a Ministry unto this End. Secondly, There may be a Preservation of the Truth derived from the Scripture for a season in the Minds of Men and Hearts of private Believers. So was it in the dayes of Elijah, when in a destitution of all outward Ministry seven thousand were preserved in Faith and the Fear of God, not bowing the Knee unto Baal, 1 King. 19. 18. This the Holy Ghost is in especial manner promised and given unto them to to effect; Joh. 14. 16, 17, 26. Chap. 16. 13. 1 Joh. 2. 20, 21. For herein is the Promise accomplished, that they shall be all taught of God; Joh. 6. 45. which though it be not wholly without Means, yet it is such as doth not alwayes and in all things indispensably depend thereon, Heb. 8. 11. And unto this Work of the Spirit, preserving the Truth in the Minds and Hearts of true Believers, the Continuance of it in the World as to its Power and Profession under great and general Apostasies, is to be ascribed. So I no way doubt but that during and under the Papal Defection, there were great Numbers in whose Hearts and Minds the principal Truths of the Gospel were preserved inviolate, so as that by virtue of them they lived unto God and were accepted with him. But this way of the Preservation of the Truth is confined unto individual Persons, and as such onelyonly are they concerned therein. As unto publick Profession and the Benefits thereof, all Sacred Truth is committed unto the Ministry of the present Age, and on the due Discharge of their Office and Work it doth depend. The Imagination of the Church of Rome about keeping Sacred Truths in the hidden Cells of Tradition, or invisible phantastical Treasures, which requires neither Care nor Wisdom nor Honesty unto its Custody, but a meer pretence of Key to open it, was one Engine whereby both Truth and Holiness were driven out of the World.
These things are inseparable. Gospel-Truth is the onelyonly Root whereon Gospel-Holiness will grow. If any Worm corrode, or any other corrupting Accident befall it, the Fruit will quickly fade and decay. It is impossible to maintain the power of Godliness, where the Doctrine from whence it springs is unknown, corrupted or despised. And on the other side, where men are weary of Holiness, they will not long give Entertainment to the Truth. For as to their Desires and Affections, they will find it not onelyonly useless but troublesome. Hence the great Opposition which is made at this day against many important Truths of the Gospel, ariseth principally from the Dislike men have of the Holiness which they guide unto, and require.
Secondly, It is required of the same Persons, that they diligently instruct the People in the Knowledge of the whole Counsel of God, in the Mystery of the Gospel, the Doctrine of Truth, that they may know and doe the Will of God. And this are they to doe by all the Means and Wayes that God hath appointed, pressing it instantly, together with Instructions on their Souls and Consciences for its practice. The End why Evangelical Truth is committed unto their Care, is not that they may keep it to themselves, so locking up the Key of Knowledge, but that they may communicate it unto others and instruct them therein. And he who doth not desire and endeavour to communicate unto his Flock all things that are profitable for them, can have no Evidence in his own Mind that God hath called him to the Office of the Ministry. The Apostle proposing his own Example unto the Elders of the Church of Ephesus, affirms, That he had not shunned to declare unto them the whole Counsel of God; Act. 20. 27. And that he kept back nothing that was profitable unto them; ver. 20. Men begin to talk or write about Preaching on this or that Subject: Some (they say,) preach all about Christ and Grace, and Justification by the Imputation of Christs Righteousness; and the like: But They preach about Gods Attributes, Moral Duties, Obedience to Superiours, and things of that Nature. But whether this Fancy have more Folly or Malice in it, is not easie to determine. It is like those who make this Plea, do speak truely as to their own Concernment. They preach of the things they express exclusively unto the others which they meddle not with at all. For if they do teach them, then is the Opposition they fansie between those Wayes of Preaching altogether vain. But that others doe preach the things ascribed unto them with a Neglect of those other Doctrines which such Persons pretend to appropriate to themselves as their Province, is a fond Imagination; and to encrease the Vanity of it, the Distribution is made by some with a total Silence on all hands, both on their own which they extoll, and that of others which they condemn, of that which certainly ought to be the principal Subject of all Preaching, namely, Jesus Christ and him crucifyed. But the Truth is, he who knows not that it is his Duty to declare unto the People, not this or that part of it, but the whole Counsel of God, and who is not endowed with some measure of Wisdom, so as to discern what is usefull, profitable and seasonable unto his Hearers, according as their spiritual States and Occasions do require; knows not what it is to be a Minister of Christ or his Gospel, a faithfull Steward of the Mysteries of God, nor is meet to take that Office upon him. And there are three things which Ministers, Teachers, Leaders of the People are to attend unto in the Discharge of this principal part of their Office, in the Communication of the Knowledge of the Truth committed to them, unto others.
1. That they are to do it with all Care, Diligence and Sedulity. How vehement is our Apostle in his Charge to this purpose. 2 Tim. 4. 1, 2. I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his Appearing, and his Kingdom; Preach the Word, be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all Long-suffering and Doctrine. How ought these words to sound continually in the Ears of all Ministers who design to be Faithfull in the Discharge of their Duty? How ought the power of them to abide on their Hearts? Are they spoken alone unto Timothy? Or will the Souls of Men be preserved, edified, saved, now with less Pains, and at an easier Rate than formerly? It will appear at the last day, that others also have an Eternal Concernment herein.
2. That they labour with the utmost of their strength, even to Fatigation and Weariness. All the Names whereby their Office and their Work are expressed in the New Testament, do include this kind of Labour. As they are to give themselves unto the Ministry of the Word; Act. 6. 4. that is, wholly and entirely in their utmost Endeavours, continually unto this Work; so are they enjoyned foreign, to labour to the utmost of the strength they have, therein. 1 Tim. 5. 17. 1 Cor. 16. 16. 1 Thess. 5. 12. It is not Bodily Labour alone in the Dispensation of the Word (wherein there may be much Variety according unto the various Natural Dispositions or Tempers of men, and of acquired Gifts,) but that Earnestness and Intention of Spirit which will carry along with them the laborious pains of the whole Person, that I intend. The cold formal Pronunciation or Reading (as is the manner of some) a well-composed Oration doth not well express this Labouring in the Word and Doctrine.
3. That their whole Work and all their Endeavours therein be accompanyed with constant Prayer, that the Gospel in their Ministry may run and be glorified, that the Word may prosper in the Hearts and Lives of the People. So the Apostle affirms that they would give themselves continually unto Prayer and the Ministry of the Word; Act. 6. 4. That Ministration of the Word which is not accompanyed with continual Prayer for its Success, is not like to have any great Blessing goe along with it. As our Apostle calls God to witness of his frequent mention of them in his Prayers unto whom the Word was Preached, Rom. 1. 9, 10; so he desireth the Prayers of others also, that his Work and Labour in the Ministry might be prosperous and successefull, Eph. 6. 18. For a Minister to Preach the Word without constant Prayer for its success, is a likely Means to cherish and strengthen secret Atheisme in his own Heart, and very unlikely to work Holiness in the Lives of others.
Thirdly, It is in like manner required of them, that (so far as Humane Frailty will permit,) they doe in their Persons, Wayes and Walkings, or Conversations, especially in the Discharge of all their Ministerial Duties, give a true Representation both of the Doctrine which they Preach, and of Him in whose Name they dispense it. What Meekness, Humility, Zeal for the Glory of God; what Moderation, Selfdenyal and Readiness for the Cross; what Mortification of corrupt Affections and inordinate Desires of Earthly things; what Contempt of the World; what Benignity, Condescension and Patience towards all men; what Evidences of Heavenly-mindedness are required hereunto, both the Scripture declares, and the Nature of the thing it self makes apparent. What can any men Rationally believe, but that they who Preach Christ and the Gospel unto them, do declare that they have no other Effect or Tendency but what in themselves they express and represent unto them? There is a secret Language in the Ministry of men, that what they are and doe, is that which the Doctrine they Preach doth require, which their Hearers do understand, and are apt to believe. The very Philosophers saw that so it would be with respect unto them who publickly taught Philosophy. To which purpose the words of Thernistius are remarkable. Orat. 1. foreign. Whatever Vices most men observe in such Persons, they will not attribute them unto their depraved Natures or inward Corruptions, but unto the Philosophy they profess. Hence it is enjoyned them, that in all things they shew themselves patterns of good Works. Tit. 2. 7. 2 Thess. 3. 9. Be thou (saith our Apostle unto his Timothy,) an Example unto Believers, in Word, in Conversation, in Charity, in Spirit, in Faith, in Purity, 1 Tim. 4. 12. This is the Dignity, Honour and Preferment that the Lord Christ calls his Ministers unto, namely, that they should in their own Persons represent his Graces and the Holiness of his Doctrine, unto others. Those who are otherwise minded, whose Designs and Affections look another way, will find themselves to fall under the Effects of a great Mistake. I do not reflect any thing upon what outward, secular, circumstantial Advantages men may have in this World: But I do say, whatever they have of that Kind, which doth not enable them the more effectually in their Course and Work to express the Meekness, Humility, Self-denyal, and Zeal of Christ, with the Holiness of the Doctrine they teach, or should so doe, it will not redound unto any great Account in the Kingdom of God.
Fourthly; It is also incumbent on them to attend with Diligence unto that Rule and Holy Discipline which the Lord Christ hath appointed for the Edification of the Church, and the Preservation of it in Purity, Holiness and Obedience. This indeed most pretend a Readiness to comply withall, as that which is condited unto their Appetite by an Appearance of Authority and Power, which seldom are unaccompanyed with other desireable Advantages. I shall onelyonly say, it will be well for them by whom they are Administred according to the mind of Christ; but, that more belongeth thereunto than is usually apprehended so to doe, I suppose few sober and intelligent Persons will deny.
That these things, yea and many others of the like Kind, with all those Duties which are subservient or any way necessary unto them, are required of all Ministers of the Gospel, Teachers, Guides, Rulers of the Church, and that constantly to be attended unto with Zeal to the Glory of God and Compassion for the Souls of Men, none (I suppose) who profess themselves Christians will in General deny. And if in these things the Life and Power of the Ministry (whereon the Purity and Holiness of the Church depend) do consist, where they are wanting it is Morally impossible but that the generality of the People will gradually degenerate into Ignorance, Profaneness, Immorality and Unholiness of every Kind.
There is nothing I could more desire, than that the present Defection from Evangelical Holiness which is so Visible in the World, might neither in whole nor in part be charged on a Defect in these things among this sort of men; yea that it might not be so unto Qualifications, Principles, and Actings directly contrary unto what is thus required. For if it be not so, there will be yet hopes of a Stay to be put unto its Progress, yea of an Healing and Recovery from it. But I shall a little enquire into that which offers it self unto the view of all, premising these two things. (1) That I do not intend the Ministry of any one Place, or Nation, or Age, or Time more than another, but shall speak Indefinitely unto what hath been and is in the Christian World. (2) That if indeed upon Trial none be found blame-worthy, none defective in these things, there is no Harm done, in that any are warned what to avoid. And,
1. Have they all kept the Truth and Doctrine and Mysteries of the Gospel, committed to the Ministers thereof? (1) Are there not many of this sort who are themselves wofully Ignorant of the Counsel of God revealed therein? Nay, are there not many who have neither Will nor Ability to search into the Mysteries of the Doctrine of Christ, and do therefore despise them? Can men keep in a way of Duty what they never had, nor ever used those Means for the attaining of it, without which it will not be so done? And is it not manifest what must needs be, and what really are the Effects and Fruits hereof? Do not hereon Multitudes perish for want of Knowledge, and continue in the wayes of Sin because they have none to teach them better, at least not to teach them on such Principles as are alone effectual unto their Conversion and Holiness? They must dye, they shall dye in their Sins, but the Blood of their Souls will be required at other hands. For all the Causes of Gospel-Holiness, all proper Motives unto it, all effectual Ways and Means of Attaining it are hid from them.
It is known how brutishly Ignorant the Generality of their Priests are in the Papacy; neither, for the most part, do the Rulers of that Church require any more of them, than that they have skill enough to read and manage their publick Offices of Devotion. Neither is it much otherwise in the Greek Church in any of the Branches of it, whereby whole Nations, under a publick Profession of Christianity, are thorough stupid Ignorance degenerated into a prophane Course of Life, no less vile than that of the Heathens. It is well if it be not so in some measure in other places also. But the Truth is, the Ignorance of many who take upon them the Office of the Ministry, and their unconscionable Idleness when they have so done, is the great Occasion of the Continuance of Prophaneness and Ʋngodliness among the People. And if the Preaching of the Gospel be the onelyonly Sovereign effectual Means appointed by God for the Change of Mens Natures, and the Reformation of their Lives, (a Denyal whereof includes a Renunciation of Christianity,) it is a vain Expectation that either of them will be wrought in such a way as to restore the Beauty and Glory of Religion in the World, unless Provision be made for an able Ministry to instruct the Body of the People through all their Distributions in Knowledge and Understanding.
2. It is the Duty of this sort of Persons unto the same End, to preserve the Truth pure and uncorrupted. Unless this be done carefully and effectually, Holiness will not be maintained or preserved in the World. And it is evident how many of them have acquitted themselves herein, as hath been in part declared in the foregoing Account of Apostasie from the Doctrine and Truth of the Gospel. By them it hath been, principally, debased, corrupted, perverted, and continueth yet so to be. Neither is there at this day scarce any one Doctrine that should really promote Evangelical Obedience, which is free from being despised or depraved by some of them. But this is not that which we now speak unto, it hath been done already. Our present Enquiry is after that Love and Care of, that Zeal for the Truth, which are eminently required of them. Do they pray and labour, and plead with God and Man for its Preservation, as that wherein their principal Interest doth lye? Or do many esteem of it any further but as their outward Advantages are secured by it? A Fault there is in this matter, and it is not without the especial Guilt of some that the World is come to such an Indifferency about the principal Truths of the Gospel, that from thence men slip into Atheisme every day.
3. Neither are these Defects supplyed by Diligence in their Work; Yea the want thereof is of all other Evils in this Kind most evident. No words are sufficient to express the sloth and negligence, the coldness and carelesness that are found amongst many in the Discharge of their Duty, as to the Instruction of others, and the Application of the Word of God to the Hearts and Consciences of Men. I shall not mention particular Instances, that none may be offended. The Matter it self is evident, and the Effects of it manifest. It may seem to some desireable that such things should be concealed; but whilest by reason hereof the Souls of Multitudes are in danger of Eternal Ruine every day, those who are sensible of their Misery may be allowed to complain. How few therefore do diligently and industriously lay out themselves and their Strength in the Ministry with Zeal for the Glory of God, and Compassion unto the Souls of Men? How few do take heed to themselves and to the Flocks, do watch and pray, and press their Message on the Consciences of their Hearers? Alas! it is but little of saving Truth that many know in the Notions of it, less they care to communicate unto others, because they know it not in its power. Will the Souls of Men be brought into the Obedience of Faith; will the power and interest of Sin and the World in them be cast down and destroyed; will Gospel-Obedience be preserved in the Lives of Men by such weak and Languid Endeavours as many satisfie themselves withall? If it be so, Conversion unto God, and the Fruits of Holiness, must be looked on as most easie things, and the Ministry it self to be of little use in the World. Certainly, there is another Representation of these things in the Scripture; And notwithstanding the Growth of some Opinions that would render the whole work of Christianity so easie and facile as to be accommodated unto a negligent Ministry, yet the Event thereof is openly pernicious. Wherefore, we need not fear to say, that coldness, lukewarmness, sloth and negligence, especially when accompanyed with Ignorance and spiritual Darkness about the principal Mysteries of the Gospel, with an Inconcernment of Mind and Affections in the Importance, End and Design of their Work, among them who are looked on as the publick Teachers of the Church at any Time, or in any Place, keeps open a wide Door for the Lusts of men to pour forth themselves into that Deluge of Apostasie from the Power of Godliness, which the World is even overwhelmed withall.
So was it with the Church under the Old Testament, as God by the Prophets complains in an hundred places. Can any man be so stupid as to imagine, that the Ordinary Discharge of the Priestly Office in the Church of Rome, in saying their Offices at Canonical Hours, hearing of Confessions, and giving Absolutions, without the least Dram of labouring in Word and Doctrine, is a Means to keep up the power of Christian Religion, or is not an Effectual Means to drench Mankind in Sin and Security? Neither doth the calling of things by other Names, change their Natures. Wherever there is the same Neglect of the true Work of the Ministry, in the matter of it, or manner of its Performance, the same Event will ensue thereon. And it will be no where more fatal than where Men love to have it so, and despise whatever is spoken to the contrary, so as that it shall be esteemed a Crime for any one to be dissatisfied with the soul-ruining Sloth and Negligence of this sort of Men.
4. Moreover, whereas great Relief in all these Cases might be taken from an holy exemplary Conversation and walking, among them in whom it is required as an Ordinance of God for the Direction and Encouragement of the People, it is manifest in the World, and sufficiently taken notice of, that many of them in their own Persons are openly ambitious, insatiably covetous, proud, sensual, haters of them that are Good, Companions of the worst of men, evidencing the depraved habits of their Minds in all signal Instances of Vice and Folly. He that shall consider what was the state, what were the Lives of the Apostles and first Preachers of the Gospel, with those who succeeded them for some Ages following, not meerly as to their outward Condition of Straights and Poverty, (which as it will be pleaded, was occasioned by the state of things then in the World,) but as to that Humility, Lowliness of Mind, Selfdenyal, Contempt of the World, Zeal for God, Purity of Life, which they prescribed unto others, and gave an Exemplification of in themselves; and then take a view of that universal Contradiction unto them and their Wayes which the Lives and Course of very many in the World do at this day openly expresse, he must conclude, that either all those things were needless in them as to the publick Interests of Christianity, or that they are unspeakably endammaged by those of some at present.
Wherefore it cannot with any Modesty be denyed, but that by Reason of these and the like Miscarriages in the spiritual Guides of the People, that the Generality of Christians have been either led, or suffered insensibly to fall into the present Apostasie. When God shall be pleased to give unto the People who are called by his Name, in a more abundant manner Pastors after his own Heart, to feed them with Knowledge and Ʋnderstanding, when he shall revive and increase an holy, humble, zealous, self-denying, powerfull Ministry, by a more plentifull Effusion of his Spirit from above, then and not untill then may we hope to see the pristine Glory and Beauty of our Religion restored unto its primitive State and Condition.
Those who do yet judge, that matters among the common Professors of Christianity as to the Obedience of Faith, are in as good a Posture as they were at any time formerly, or as they need to be, who have no other Desire or Interest in them, but onelyonly that they should not be better; may abide in their security without troubling themselves with these things. But for such as cannot but see that a Revolt or Defection from Gospel Obedience, is not onelyonly begun in the World, but carried unto that height that it is ready to issue in Idolatry or Atheisme, it is time for them to consider under whose hand this hath fallen out, and be stirred up to put a stop unto its progress, before it be too late. Nor is it to be expected or fansied that there will be a Recovery of the People from ungodliness and Prophaneness, or unto the holy Obedience the Gospel requireth, untill there be such a Change wrought in the Ministry, that the Word may be so dispensed, and such Examples given, as may be effectual unto that End. It is to cast the highest Contempt on the Office it self, to imagine that this Breach can be otherwise healed. For whereas this Declension is fallen out under the Conduct of the present Ministry and that of the fore-going Ages, it is not to be thought that it will be retrived under the same Conduct; and to suppose that it can be done any other Way, that the World of professed Christians shall be recovered unto holy Obedience by any other Means but the Ministerial Dispensation of the Word, is to render it a thing altogether useless. Here then must begin the Cure of that Lethargy in Sin that the World is fallen into, namely, in the Renovation of a powerfull Evangelical Ministry, or the due Discharge of that Office by them that are called thereunto, or possess the place of it, if ever it be effected unto any purpose in this World.