prodigall childe or like the Swine sed upon the huskes of empty speculations or upon the dung and drosse of grosse Errors and carnall doctrines and have rendred themselves of that evill complexion which the Apostle deciphereth in the first Epistle to Timothy the sixth chapter and the fourth and fifth verses Proud knowing nothing but doting about questions and strifes of words whereof commeth envy strife railings evill surmises perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the Truth supposing that gaine is godlinesse forgetting the wholesome advice of Saint Paul 2 Tim 2.14 Strive not about words to no profit but to the subverting of the hearers And that at the 16 verse of the same Chapter c. Shunne profane and vaine babling for they will encrease unto more ungodlinesse and their word will eate as doth a canker And that of the 22 and 23. verses Follow righteousnesse faith charity peace with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart but foolish and unlearned questions avoid knowing that they doe gender strifes Or else not minding that elegant and excellent rule of the same Apostle Rom. 12.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They have strained their weake and feeble wits out of joynt by reaching at the knowledge which was neither necessary for them nor comprehensible by them and if they have by chance more than skill perhaps light upon things in themselves true and wholsome yet in default of that growth and age and manly strength of Christianity which they should have arrived unto through the knowledge of the first principles as the spirit of God leadeth on Heb. 6.1 That food otherwise sound and healthfull yet for want of ability of digestion breeds ill humours and noxious qualities and pernicious diseases in them whilst they have refused to stand to that wise dispensation of the Authour to the Hebrews Chap. 5. verse 13 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For every one that useth milke is unskilfull in the word of righteousnesse for he is a babe but strong meat belongeth unto them that are of full age or to them that are perfect even those who by reason of use or habit have their senses exercised for the discerning of good and evill And so that is fulfilled in them which was spoken of the Gentiles by Saint Paul Rom. 1.21 22. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They became vaine in their ratiocinations and their foolish heart was darkened professing themselves to be wise they became fooles like weake and feeble eyes looking upon the Sunne or some glorious and splendid object above the passibility of the sense they have blinded themselves with too bold atttempts upon that light which they are not able to beare not considering that modestie and humility is the best gate to bring in knowledge into the soule and that there is scarce any more incurable bane unto agents and enterprises than the attempting of things that are above the strength of the undertakers From this it hath come to passe that this age of ours hath brought forth such monstrous and franticke opinions That the foolish and presumptuous seekers of our times have vented such mad and blasphemous questions like that which was once with great acutenesse and wisedome as the Author thereof seemed to thinke proposed to my selfe whether it were lawfull to desire God to forgive us our sinnes or no And indeed how can it bee otherwise but that many maladies both in judgement and affection and practice which is the child of these should proceed from such a miscarriage in dyet since it is of great consequence unto health not only that the food should be of good substance in it selfe but that it should be proper and fit for the nature and constitution of the body that receives it If all Parents should give unto their Infant children Beefe and Bacon instead of the breast and other such like sustenance which is apt for the weaknes of that age it were the ready way to the destrustion of mankind The blame of this mischiefe lyeth upon more than one sort of people The carelesnesse of Magistrates whose charge it is to see that things be rightly managed in the Church as well as to looke to the peace and government of the State and that should make that the principall worke of their Authority and wisdome The negligence of Ministers or which may be too probably suspected a vaine-glorious humour in them that affecteth nothing but that that bringeth honour applause unto themselves by the ostentation of their parts and gifts and hath taught too many of them to despise this and other prescribed duties of the Church and to looke upon it as a thing below their wisdome and excellency to have to do with children to descend to their weake capacities and to lead them on in that easie rode of instruction in the foundamentall points The intolerable improvidence of Parents and Masters of Families and their forgetfulnesse of that cure of soules which they have in this particular over their Families and of the great obligation that lies upon them for the performance of this duty to their Children and Servants by themselves and to send them at fit times to the Ministers for the bringing up of them in Religion and Piety that they may say with good Ioshua I and my house will serve the Lord whereby they become answerable unto God for the soules of their Children and Houshold whilst they take care indeed for their bodies and estates but reckon not at all what becometh of their soules whether they goe to heaven or to hell The miscarriage of Schoolmasters whose prime and most profitable businesse it should be at some set and convenient times frequently and orderly to initiate their Schollars and to leade them on in this way of Christian knowledge and to teach them Piety as well as other Learning That they may know Christ Jesus and him Crucified without which all other Rudiments will prove barren and fruitlesse yea even hurtfull unto them and will teach them only to be wise to do evill And lastly the stubbornesse of many children servants and others that stand in need of this instruction and for want of it incurre the danger of the damnation of their soules and yet will by no meanes submit thereunto Though invited and called upon accounting it their dishonour and an unnecessary slavery Oh how soone doe we grow too old and too wise to goe to Heaven The Lord grant that they may all seeke to reforme it That this so necessary and usefull an Ordinance may be restored into credit and practise againe amongst us The most ready way to recover the truth and unity of doctrine the firmenesse of faith the purity of worship and to reforme the abuses and miscarriages of life and conversation in this our lapsed and depraved Nation Yea although it is my hearty desire that the preaching of the word of God in the concionary way in doctrinall discourses Scripture-expositions declamatory exhortations unto vertue
chaire they are the very plagues and murraines of the faith or Christian Profession deceiving with their serpentine language Artificers of corrupting the truth vomiting out deadly poysons with their pâ—stiferous tongues whose word doth creepe like a canker whose touch doth infuse mortiferous venome into the breasts and hearts of all men And now we see how the devill acts over and over his old tricks among us in these daies But sure the song of the 4 Beasts and the 24 Elders Rev. 5. is not so to be understood as if thereby all men indifferently were to be admitted to the publique Office of Ministry in the Church because it is said there without distinction that Christ hath made us Kings and Priests unto God but it is rather in regard of that accesse which all true Christians have obtained by Christ Jesus unto the mercy-seate according to that of St Paul Rom. 5. ver 1 2. Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Iesus Christ by whom also we have accesse by faith into this grace wherein we stand Or that of Ephes 2.13 In Christ Iesus ye â—ho sometimes were farre off are made nigh by the bloud of Christ. And ver 18. Through him we have an accesse by one spirit unto the Father As it was the priviledge of Priests heretofore in the Jewish service to draw nigh to God in the Temple and also in regard of those spirituall Sacrifices which every true Christian may and doth offer up unto God in and by Christ 1 Pet. 2.9 Heb. 13.15 Unto this Priesthood we are consecrated not by the bloud of our brethren but by the bloud of Christ Rev. 1.5 Heb. 13.12 Not that the Spirit of God intended at all hereby to confound the callings in the Church or to give a generall Commission to all men that have insolency enough to presume upon their owne gifts to take upon them the publike office of instructing the people for why than did the Apostle aske that question 1 Cor. 12.29 Are all Prophets are all Apostles are all Teachers c. Or why doth the same Apostle give order unto Timothy and Titus solemnly to ordaine with imposition of hands 1 Tim. 5.21 and Tit. 1.5 Why doth he give them such severe rules and cautions for the managing of the power of Ordination That they should admit none but such as were rightly qualified 1 Tim. 5.22 Lay hands suddenly on no man neither be partakers of other mens sins and 1 Tim. 3.1 2. c. He sets down the Catalogue of those conditions which they were to looke for both in Ministers and Deacons and will have them bee proved before they be suffered to exercise that calling which were all in vain and to no purpose if notwithstanding all those rules it shall be still in the power of any to intrude themselves into the execution of those Sacred Functions it is not to be denied indeed but it is the duty of every Christian to make use of those occasions that God offereth to communicate that knowledge which they have unto others in private occasionall exhortations consolations and reproofes of sin and it is not only lawfull but requisite for Parents and Masters to instruct their Children and Servants in the knowne and certaine Principles of Christianity and in the duties that belong unto them according to those rules which are clearly set downe by the Church of God and the Scripture But it is a businesse of an higher nature to undertake the publike administration of Doctrine in the Church and of the interpretation of the Scriptures unto which those inferiour workes of private instruction and admonition are subordinate and whereby they are to be guided The people of God in the time of the Law were to exercise the like duties to their Families and their Neighbours c. And yet the offices of the Priests and the Prophets were not thereby prohibited unto the common people but were still preserved proper and entire unto them otherwise the Spirit of God would not have said as he hath done in the 2. of Malachi v. 7. The Priests lips should preserve knowledge and they should seeke the Law at his mouth There is no scruple at all to be made but a Father or a Mother a Master or a Friend may apply some knowne or ordinary medicines unto the wounds or diseases of their friends or children or dependants or others but yet if every man should take upon him the practice of Physick or Chirurgery there would be more killed by Medicines than by Diseases in all likelihood If every Marriner or Passenger in a Ship should undertake the office of a Pilot there would need no storms nor tempests to make Shipwrackes The order and distinction of parts members and faculties is not onely the beauty but the preservative of organicall bodies and substances As we have many members in one body saith the Apostle Rom. 12.4 and all members have not the same of fice so we being many are one body in Christ and every one members one of another But yet the unity of the body doth neither confound the variety nor destroy the order of the severall parts and functions but the variety and order of the parts preserves both the unity and being of the whole Having then gifts differing according to the grace given unto us whether Prophecy let us prophecy according to the proportion of faith or Ministry let us waite on our Ministring or he that teacheth on teaching c. So the same Apostle 1 Cor. 12.14 The body is not one member but many and ver 17. If the whole body were an eye where were the hearing if the whole were hearing where were the smelling and if they were all but one member where were the body but now are they many members yet but one body It is the Apostles rule and sure it is a just one That they that preach the Gospell should live of the Gospell 1 Cor. 9.14 And that he that is taught in the word should communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things Gal. 6.6 That double honour should be given to the Elders that rule well especially to those that performe their duties industriously laboring in the Word and Doctrine 1 Tim. 5.17 And what the Apostle meanes he himselfe will tell you in the next verse for the Scripture saith thou shalt not muzzle the Oxe that treadeth out the corne and the labourer is worthy of his reward If there be no distinction between Clergy and Laity between Teachers Learners no bounds set about the Sacred Mount but that every one that will may breake in to the exercise of the office of a publike Teacher in the Church how should these rules of the Apostle be observed how should it be knowne who is to communicate and who to receive the benefit of that Communication Or at least how shall the people be able to maintaine all that will be ready to intrude into that businesse Or why
Master is dishonoured in these times You that are the Embassadours of peace be not afraid to proclaime war against those that are enemies unto Peace You that are the Factors of the God of heaven buy the Truth and sell it not buy it though you pay your owne bloud for it God will account it againe unto you He that will save his life shall lose it but he that will lose his life for my sake shall save it Sell it not no not for the greatest preferments not for freedome nor for life it selfe Oh let us nor be so vile as to keepe the doore whilst the devill and wicked men commit fornication together in the most horrid iniquities Let us not see the name of God dishonoured the Church of Christ demolished and ruinated the Lords Annointed abused imprisoned and trampled upon and sit still and say nothing as if we were not at all concerned in it or as if all were well because you enjoy your liberties your revenues whilst your Soveraigne is in bondage poverty and persecution me thinkes we should be even ashamed of our freedom almost whilst he suffers such strait imprisonment for us what shall I say to this I will say no more but wish that we may remember the curse of Eli and take heed of it I have told him saith God that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth not for the iniquity which he had done because his Sons made themselves vile and he restrained them not And yet Ely was not altogether wanting in the businesse he did reprove his sonnes after a manner but it was too gently for such sins he was too ceremonious and complementall with their iniquities 1 Sam. 2.24 Nay my Sons for it is no good report that I heare c. And yet this would not serve to free him from the judgement And shall we thinke to escape if we sit and say nothing whilest the most horrid iniquities ate acted and justified amongst us Adde unto these that great neglect under which this Church of ours doth so miserably groane and which is the great fountaine both of our corruptions and distractions and those other bloudy streams of sedition confusion and oppression in this Nation The laying aside of that most necessary kinde of instruction by Catechisme whereby the foundations of Christian Piety and Righteousnesse should be laid in the hearts of children and young disciples A method practised by the Apostles of our Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus who held it a duty in themselves and by their authenticall example have commended it unto the Church to administer first this milke unto children that they might thereby be prepared and fitted for the stronger meat of more perfect knowledge The want whereof hath proved most unhealthfull unto the Congregations Having proved that saying of Master Calvin too true that he hath in an Epistle of his unto the Protectour of England That without the use of a set-forme of Catechisme it is not possible for a Church to consist If any aske the question how it comes to passe that the building of Christian doctrine and practise is of so sinking and tottering a condition in these dayes And that the solid and true knowledge of God and Christ Jesus which is eternall life is turned into so many ayry and foolish fancies and imaginations with the people Or if any shall enquire from whence it proceeds that there are so many contentions and divisions such a multitude of foolish and mad conceits and apprehensions such devillish heresies and horrid blasphemies such ignorance of Christian duties and such generall counter-practise thereunto in this Kingdome If any shall expostulate why the light of Christianity is growne so dimme among us that there is such a blacke cloud that I say not an Eclipse of the Sun of divine and heavenly illumination That faith is so weake devotion and charity so cold zeale so intemperate and unguided our wisedome so earthly sensuall and devillish why obedience to God and the Magistrate so trampled on If any shall wonder as they justly and sadly may why under the bare name of a Christian profession which is a profession of mercy and meeknesse of righteousnesse and humility of purity and patience under the Crosse There walketh such horrid and more than Turkish and Heathenish cruelty and barbarousnesse why such injustice and fraudulency in our trades and dealings such intolerable haughtinesse of spirit such ambition spirituall pride and contempt of one another such Pharisaicall boasting such Epicurean luxury intemperance and uncleannesse such envy hatred murmuring and revengefulnesse Or if it shall be examined why all Religion is so much monopolized by the tongue and the eare and so little a share left unto the heart Why men are so sicke of a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or canine appetite So greedy after Sermons and yet so fruitlesse in the use of them why they devoure so much spirituall food and yet after all are like Pharaohs leane Kine leane and ill-favoured as before why such hypocriticall fasting such dull and uneffectuall praying c. One of the most generall answers that I know how to give unto these and all other pensive and mournfull quaeries that our evill and ruinous condition may prompt us unto is this That the people of the Land have not been catechised as they ought That they have not been instructed in the first grounds and principles of sacred Doctrine That they are thereby become destitute of the knowledge of God of his greatnesse of his goodnesse of their great and indissoluble obligations unto him as they are his creatures and his purchase of the holy Vow and Covenant that they have entred into in their Baptisme of the priviledges of a Christian and the duties that hang upon them Of the great necessity and comfort of obedience and holinesse Of the nature and meaning of the divine Lawes and the holy rules of Christianity Of the propriety and purity of divine worship Of the true characters of holy and Christian love Of the necessary matter and object of faith and of the inseparable connexion thereof with good workes and holinesse of life Of righteousnesse temperance and judgement to come Of the mysteries of the Trinity and Incarnation Of the Passion Resurrection and Ascension of Christ Of his Natures and his Offices Of the Spirit of God and his gifts and operations Of the Essence unity order and power of Gods Church Of the communion of Saints with Christ by faith as members of that body of which he is the Head and with one another by Christian charity in Christ and the operations thereof towards one another as fellow members of one another in him Of the glorious fruits of this holy fellowship and communion with Christ The pardon of sinne The Resurrection of the Body and everlasting life and salvation c. In stead whereof the foolish and unsteady curious impertinents and affectatours of science falsty so called have like the