that we may be deliuered from vnreasonable and wicked men THE second part of his direction followeth which is deprecation Wherein he requireth them to pray against a speciall euill that they were in danger of by meanes whereof the free passage of the Gospel was in danger to be greatly hindred and the glory thereof much defaced The deprecation is this that they may be deliuered from vnreasonable and wicked men The word translated vnreasonable is vnderstood of such as we call grosse shameles impudent peruers and peeuish men such as care not how grosse vile and absurd they shew themselues so they may compasse their owne wicked wils The word translated wicked by deriuation signifieth such as put good men to labour and trouble and thereby vse all meanes to vex and disquiet them which is indeed a speciall propertie of a wicked man and that principally which we call wickednes From such persons as these Paul desireth to be deliuered and to this end desires the prayers of this Church Whence let vs note these points following 1. That those which principally oppose the Gospell of Iesus Christ hindring the free passage thereof are shameles vile and absurd men such as care not what men thinke or speake of them so they may bring about their lewd desires men whose industry and labour is spent in bringing labour molestation and vexation vpon them that will not run forth with themselues into the same riot And the Gospell the more it sheweth it selfe the more will it discouer the shamelesnes grossenes and wickednes of them that are the enemies thereof So that they which before the publishing thereof haue had the name of modest wise discreet men shall the more they oppose against the same shew themselues the more absurd and wicked No modest no good man can be an enemie to the Gospell but such onely as nourish in them some grosse wickednes which the Gospell discouereth in regard whereof they hate the Gospell and all good meanes of the knowledge thereof And out of this hatred of the Gospell desire still to hide their sinnse the more they seeke to hide them the more they discouer them 2. There was neuer any time of the Gospell so happy as to be free from such lets and impediments euen in the primitiue times thereof when it was most purely and powerfully preached and shined in the fulnes of glory without the staines and blemishes of mans inventions yet were there impudent shameles and grosse men that opposed against it and hindred oftentimes the free passage thereof And therefore neuer let vs looke to see those happy dayes wherein the Gospell shall haue no let but shall haue a free course And further be the persons that cary the Gospell neuer so worthy of neuer so eminent gifts speaking with neuer such euidence and demonstration of truth yet all this will not suffice to get the Gospell a free passage But were all the Ministers of Christ of as worthy gifts as Peter and Paul yet should they finde faces that durst and would resist them and despise the Gospell brought by them Yea the worthier gifts that a Minister hath and the more Graces he commeth attended withall the more opposition shall he finde We should not therefore be dismayed when we meete with grosse and wicked men hauing the Apostles yea Christ himselfe for our companions therein But let vs learne by our owne prayers by the help of others to seeke to be freed from them And let vs assure our selues that there is great force in our prayers to that end both for owne and others deliuerances And when we see wicked and peruerse men preuaile against the Gospell let vs feare that we are defectiue in this dutie and let it stir vs vp the more vnto the same These are the weapons wherewith we are to fight for this libertie Thus are the flocke to fight for their Pastor And these are such weapons as cannot be taken from the seruants of Christ. And they are such wherewith they so wound the aduers party as they cannot saue themselues For all men haue not faith In these words he preuenteth a secret doubt that might arise in their mindes vpon the deprecation aforesaid For they might maruaile with themselues what should be the reason that any should be so peeuish and wicked as to molest them for bringing so acceptable a message as this especially they hauing such gifts and abiliments to make good the same vnto the heart and conscience of any reasonable man He therefore telleth them that Faith belongs not vnto all i. all haue not grace giuen them of God to beleeue and imbrace the Gospell and therefore that such will be sure to oppose themselues against the doctrine of it and with might and maine hinder the free course thereof For which cause he would haue them in this regard to pray for him and his fellow-labourers Whence we learne 1. That there are some sort of men to whom Faith doth not appertaine and by consequent Saluation whereof Faith is the euidence The Holy Ghosts phrase is more then our translation soundeth for Faith may appertaine to them that haue it not but it may more fully be translated Faith belongs not to all but it is a gift that God in mercy will bestow vpon some persons onely euen vpon those alone that he hath resolutely purposed to bestow heauen vpon and vpon no other Hence is it called the faith of the Elect. And in the Acts it is said that so many as were ordained to life euerlasting beleeued 1. The Vse hereof may be to stir vs vp to striue to know whether we be amongst the number of them vnto whom Faith appertaineth For till then we cannot know whither we be of the number of them that shall be saued 2. Hence it appeares that it is not in the power of any outward meanes whatsoeuer to beget faith in them vnto whom it belongs not If Paul himselfe should preach the Gospell neuer so sincerely and powerfully if he should confirme it with neuer such miracles yet were not this enough to beget faith in them It is the Lords owne immediate worke to bow and frame the heart vnto the word Otherwise the more powerfully it is preached and by the more miracles it is confirmed the more peeuish and wicked men shew themselues against it Else it could not be but all men that the Apostles preached vnto should haue faith if the outward meanes alone were sufficient Which sheweth the vaine conceits of them which thinke they may easily beleeue when they list themselues Whereas except the Lord giue the gift they should not beleeue though lying on their death-beds they should haue Peter and Paul preaching to them And what hope can men haue that God will bestow that gift vpon them at their death which when he offers them they despise in their life 3. It is a fearfull signe of a man that Faith belongs not vnto when he sheweth himself
those things which from the Lord I haue giuen you in charge euen as now also you do Which petition of his hath some dependance vpon the former consolation For vpon that condition might they hope that God would stablish them and defend them from that euill one if they were carefull to do those things that the Apostles enioyned them Now what was it that the Apostle and his fellow labourers Syluanus and Timothy enioyned them but to obey the Gospell which contayneth precepts of Faith and Repentance from dead works 1. Therefore it is the dutie of Christian men if they will be sure of Gods protection assistance against Satan to do those things and to do them constantly that are taught them by the Apostles Euangelists in the Gospell yea that are taught them by their owne Ministers out of Gods word God as he is faithfull in himselfe so he stablisheth those that be such No other can hope for protection from him but are exposed vnarmed to the power of Satan To do the things enioyned by the Apostles of Christ is the onely meanes wherby we may blesse our selues from the power of the Deuill other courses are but mockeries of the Diuels owne deuising 2. It is the office of Ministers to hope the best of the piety and perseuerance of their people where they discerne any good thing in them That which also it is fit for them to make knowne to their flocke For by this meanes will the soules of the godly be the more incouraged to goe on in that good course that they are entred into And on the other side the peoples faith oft groweth faint when they perceiue that their Pastors hope waxeth faint of them 3. The confidence which they vse and ought to haue of the perseuerance in well-doing of others though neuer so godly hath not its ground in themselues but in God For it is of God not of our selues and our owne meere will that we do that that is acceptable vnto God The Apostle therefore trusteth in the Lord of them he trusteth not in them themselues Those then that the Lord hath decreed to stablish and defend from Satan those doth he enable by the power of his grace and the instinct of his Spirit to perseuere in such good works as by his Ministers they are enjoyned 4. Out of this certaine faith and assurance that God will thus stablish and defend them the godly ought not to grow retchles but to be the more diligent and carefull to yeeld obedience to the Ministerie of the Gospell Vers. 5. And the Lord guide your hearts to the loue of God and the waiting for of Christ. NOw that through Gods helpe they may constantly perseuer in the practise and performance of those things that by the Apostles were enjoyned them the Apostle wisheth vnto them the principall meanes whereby they may perseuer in Euangelicall obedience to the Ministerie to wit that their hearts may be directed by God to the loue of God and the patient expectation of Christ. By the LORD here seemeth to be vnderstood the Holy Ghost as by GOD God the Father And so haue we the three persons here distinctly set downe The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth by a right line to direct one to somewhat Now the Lord is said to direct the heart when he turneth it to some thing causing it to affect it and delight in it which before it was estranged from and abhorred The patient expectation of Christ is such an expectation of him as whereby expecting all benefit by him we are incouraged patiently to endure any thing for him Hence we gather 1. That these two things are principally necessarie vnto godly perseuerance such as was spoken of before the loue of God and the patient expectation of Christ. For the loue of some good thing past or present and the expectation of some future good are wont to make vs more cheerefull in the doing of our duties Vnlesse therefore a mans heart be inflamed with the loue of God whom in the Gospell he yeeldeth obedience vnto as also vnlesse he be possessed with an earnest expectation of Christ and a longing for him that so he may worke with much patience in hope of reward our Euangelicall obedience will soone wax faint But a heart inspired with these graces will stir vp the whole man to do euery thing commanded in the Gospell with all constancie And contrariwise where this constancie of obedience is not it is a signe that this loue of God and this expectation of Christ is wholy wanting in the hearts of such 2. That euen the hearts of the faithfull are in their owne nature estranged from the loue of God and the expectation of Christ insomuch that they would wholy swerue and wander from either were they caried by their owne proper motion which would rather cary them to an hatred of God and a despaire of Christ. 3. The heart is directed disposed and moued by God alone who directeth it as by a streight line to the loue of himselfe and to the expectation of Christ i. of eternall saluation in and by Christ. Would a Pastor therefore haue his people perseuere in well-doing according to the precepts of the Gospell Let him by earnest prayer intreat of God that he will be pleased to direct their hearts to the loue of himselfe and the expectation of his Christ. Vers. 6. We charge you brethren in the name of the Lord Iesus Christ. HEre beginneth the sixt part of this Epistle which containeth a Christian reprehension laid downe in forme of a denunciation And it is Generall vers 6 -11 Speciall vers 11 -16 In the generall denunciation come to bee considered 1. The manner 2. The matter In the manner he sheweth 1. With what affection 2. With what authoritie he vseth this denunciation 1. His affection appeares in the title of brethren which he oft repeateth in this short Epistle thereby teaching how necessarie it is for the edification of others that our brotherly loue towards them do oft appeare to them Neither can we hope that either our exhortations or admonitions much lesse our reprehensions should preuaile ought with others vnlesse they be heated with brotherly loue and appeare euidently to streame from a heart fraught with it Euill therfore performe they these offices whose admonitions and reprehensions are dipped in gall and vineger And yet alas such are the reproofes of most Christians nothing for the most part but purgations of their owne rancor and choler 2. His authoritie followeth He chargeth them in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ that is by that authoritie which he had from Christ. He giueth no charge in his owne name but in the name of Christ his and their Soueraigne Lord. Wherein we are taught that our denunciations and reprehensions if they be truly Christian ones must be grounded vpon the authoritie of Christ And Ministers ought to take heede that they presume not to reproue ought but what
doth offer vs the least wrong but Christ our Lord doth thereupon binde him by stronger bonds then if he were in fetters or stocks to be forth comming at the great day of Doome and then purposeth to be reuenged on him in the extremest manner euen with eternall destruction from the presence of his face except he truly and vnfainedly repent And is not this inough to content vs Are our hearts so full of rancor and spite that notwithstanding that we know and beleeue thus much yet we cannot be quiet in our mindes except we our selues also flie vpon him that hath wronged vs euilly intreating him in words and deeds Should it not rather pitie vs to consider that for our sake and for that he hath done to vs he should be in danger to be eternally damned in Hell Let this malice be far from all Christian hearts and that it may be far from ours let vs often meditate vpon this first end of Christs comming to iudgement VERS 10. When he shall come to be glorified in his Saints and to be made wonderfull in all them that beleeue IN these words are contained the second end of Christs comming to iudgement which is the glorifying of his Saints The violence of his rage and furie against the wicked doth not make him forget his grace loue to the godly but the more he shall in that day manifest his wrath and furie against the one the more shall his wonderfull grace and loue breake forth towards the other To be glorified in his Saints and to be made wonderfull in them that beleeue is in such a manner to glorifie them that all the world shall wonder and be astonished at that vnspeakable glory wherewith he will glorifie them and in their glory glorifie himselfe But what Will not Christ also be glorified and made wonderfull in the damnation of the wicked Yes out of all question the Lord shall reap wonderfull glory in the vengeance that he shall execute vpon them The wrath of Christ shall be a wonderfull wrath the torments and iudgements inflicted vpon them shall be wonderfull men will then wonder and be astonished with wondering that that God who in this life hath shewed himselfe so patient and gentle vnto sinners should be so exceedingly wroth with them the wicked themselues will wonder at his furie and happily at their owne gracelesse folly in despising the meanes of their owne Saluation the godly shall wonder at the most glorious iustice of God and magnifie him for the same yea the confusion of the wicked in this day shall be one part of that glory whereby the Lord will be made wonderfull in his owne Saints For for their sake the wrongs that they haue offered vnto them shall their iudgement be the heauier but there will be incomparable more cause of glorifying God and of wondring at the glory of his Maiestie in the Saluation of beleeuers for alas the wicked in that day shall haue but their deserts but this is the wonder of wonders that the Lord should bestow such infinite and exceeding glory vpon those that beleeue without the least merit on their part yea when on their owne part they haue deserued the same vengeance that is inflicted vpon the reprobate What a glory must this needs be vnto Christ How shall it fill the mouthes of all the Saints and Angels in heauen with the praises of this God How shall the Saints seeing their owne glory and the glory one of another wonder at their owne glory wonder at the glory one of another and wonder at the incomprehensible loue of God towards them therein How shall the Potentates and great Princes of the earth that haue despised and trampled vnder their feet in this world the poore seruants of Christ now wonder at their glory How shall all the Deuils and damned reprobates to their greater torment wonder and be amased thereat Oh how wonderfull shall the Lord be in this day to all the world in that glory which then he will bestow vpon his despised and contemned Seruants Howsoeuer then the Lord in this world doth glorifie himselfe by many meanes howsoeuer he is glorious and wonderfull not onely in the creation of the world but also in the generall particular gouernment thereof yet in this day he will exceed in glorifying himselfe in by that speciall glorie that he will then bestow vpon his seruants All his glory shal be their glory he will be made glorious wōderful by the reflectiō of that wonderful glory which in that day he wil bestow vpon them But what Persons are they that Christ will bee glorified and made wonderfull in Saints and beleeuers Saints and beleeuers are all one A man cannot be a Saint that is not a true beleeuer and he doth not truely beleeue who doth not so beleeue as that vpon the same he become a Saint A Saint then is he who euen in this life forsaketh his sins and endeuoureth to serue and please God according to his owne will reuealed in the Gospell To beleeue is in that effectuall manner to know and giue credit vnto the doctrine of the Gospell and the promises thereof as that we are willing to yeeld all obedience therein required to God for Christs sake To beleeue is it that makes a Saint To be a Saint manifesteth that a man beleeueth That beliefe is no beliefe that makes not a Saint That Saint is a Deuill that doth not beleeue Will any of vs then beloued be assured whether in that great day we shall be amongst the number of them that Christ will bee glorified in wee must examine our selues whether we be Saints and beleeuers whether we be beleeuing Saints and holy beleeuers doe we giue no credit to the Gospell Doe we wilfully disobey the same Doe we delight in prophanenesse and such like sinnes contrary to the doctrine of the Gospell Cannot the voice of Christ in the Gospel either by threatnings or promises restraine vs from vnholy and vn-saintlike courses from our prophanations of the Sabboth our blaspheming drunkennesse scurrilitie maliciousnesse c. Are we scorners and deriders of them that refraine from our ouer prophane courses Doe we despise and hate and persecute as much as lieth in vs the most effectuall meanes whereby men become Saints and beleeuers If we be such as it is to be feared that some of vs are little better then such the Deuils and damned wretches in hell haue asmuch cause as we to hope that Christ will be glorified and made wonderfull in them Neither can we so long as we remaine such expect that the Lord in this day should any otherwise be glorified and made wonderfull in vs then in the Deuill and all reprobate persons This doctrine being beleeued will be a meanes of much comfort to the afflicted and persecuted Saints of God It is a matter of great humiliation vnto them in such times of persecution to consider how the name of God is dishonoured and
we shall do them good worthy thanks Let vs further learne not onely to esteeme well of our owne prayers for others but of the prayers of others for our selues let vs make no question but that we fare the better for the weakest prayers that proceed from a faithfull and good heart let their hands be deare and precious vnto vs that are lifted vp vnto God for vs. We dearly affect if we haue any good nature in vs those which in our necessities will speake a good word for vs to our Superiours vpon Earth how deare then should they be vnto vs that in our miserie speake vnto God in our behalfe Secondly let no man thinke himselfe too good to pray that continually for the poore distressed Saints of God Wert thou as good as Paul or Peter as great as Solomon or Dauid it will become thee to begg at the Throne of Gods grace for thy poore brethren yea the better thou art and the worthier in the eyes of God and man the better will this dutie become thee and the more fitting it will be for thee to performe the same For the more that a man is in grace and fauour with God the more he ought to be humbled with the sense of his brothers wants and should the more vse that interest which he hath with God for their releefe And as no man ought to thinke himselfe too good to pray for his brethren though he were as good as Paul himselfe so ought none how holy soeuer thinke themselues too good to be prayed for What a worthy Church was this How did Paul magnifie it yet it stood in neede of continuall prayers and Paul for their comfort tells them that he doth pray continually for them whereby he declareth that they desired the same yea Christians the better they are the more they see their owne wants and the neede of the prayers of others How often doth Paul himselfe beg the prayers of the poore Saints for himselfe See for this end Rom. 15.30 31. and the third Chap of this Epistle and the third verse of which matter I shall haue more fit occasion to intreat vpon that place Thirdly all Christians after the example of Paul in this place should in all their prayers be in a speciall manner mindfull of those Christians that are vnder the crosse whether by persecution or any other tribulations as this Church was at this instant Oh beloued we should euer carry them in our bowels and hearts and neuer come into Gods presence but we should haue them in our mouthes and commend their estate vnto God For no persons are in so great danger as they none feele the want of our prayers so much as they none reap so much fruit and comfort by our prayers as they Litle know we beloued how much good we may doe them by our prayers Though we cannot by our prayers pull downe visible and sensible vengeance vpon the heads of their persecutors though we cannot by meanes of them open the prison gates and shake off their fetters or turne the hearts of their enemies and them that molest them yet some blessing or other we may be assured to procure vnto them For either the Lord by this meanes will in his good time remoue the crosse or mitigate it or giue comfort in it or strength and patience to beare it or not suffer them to fall so greeuously vnder it or bestow some better grace vpon them then that which the crosse depriueth them of we may presume that some way or other they shall fare the better for our prayers and that they shall neuer returne vnto vs in vaine And therefore if there be any bowels of mercy and compassion in vs towards them that are in distresse it should moue vs euer to remember them vnto God neuer to go to God in prayer but to carry a minde with vs deeply possessed with their miseries that the Lord may see it and euen in pitie and compassion towards vs may shew some pitie to them as it is his nature so to doe Fourthly it is the dutie of Christians not onely to obserue a constant and perpetuall course in prayer daily but in those prayers not to remember our selues onely but our brethren also and in those prayers which we make we must not looke to receiue the grace either vpon our first asking or for once asking no though our prayers were neuer so faithfull and feruent and though we were neuer so great in Gods fauour but we must waite the Lords leisure and craue againe and againe yea continually for that grace which we desire either for our selues or others and neuer cease praying vntill we haue obtained it or that the Lord hath euidently declared that it is not his will to grant it vnto vs and though for many weekes and moneths and yeares togither we haue bin suiters vnto the Lord and giuen all attendance at the gate of his mercy though we haue daily renewed our suite and continually put the Lord in remembrance thereof though we haue others also were they Prophets and Apostles daily for many yeares togither suing for vs and yet we haue receiued no answer from God yet so long as God doth not flatly denie our request and doth not forbid vs to make the same let vs not thinke much to waite the Lords leisure but let vs still in hope daily renue our suits vnto him for in so doing we shall be sure in the end to be no loosers by waiting the good pleasure of God That our Lord would make you worthy this Calling Secondly for the further comfort of this Church he setteth downe the speciall matter and contents of his prayers containing 3 petitions The first petition according to the true meaning thereof is this That as the Lord had vouchsafed them this honourable Calling to be Christians and had giuen them grace euen to suffer for Christ and therein giuen them a pledge of their eternall glory with Christ so it would please the Lord to direct them and in that mannar to be present with them especially in these times of tryall and persecution that they may approue and shew themselues before God and men to be worthy Christians and that they may not in word or deed through frailtie and infirmitie doe any thing that may blemish and staine their profession or that may be vnbeseeming or vnworthy the name of Christians He doth not then so much intreat the Lord to free them from trouble and persecution and to deliuer them from their enemies as that they may acquit and behaue themselues worthily and valiantly as it becommeth the souldiers of Iesus Christ. A prayer very necessarie for such times and persons Our experience will serue to teach vs how many Christians in time of peace and prosperitie haue made a worthy and glorious profession which in time of persecution and troubles haue discouered much vnworthinesse yea many for a good time haue in the midst of many tryals shewed themselues
gracious and mercifull vnto vs we should not for all that be glorified in CHRIST And thus much of the third part of this Epistle THE SECOND CHAPTER Vers. 1. We beseech you brethren by the comming of our Lord Iesus Christ and by our assembling vnto him 2. That yee be not suddainly moued from your minde nor troubled neither by spirit nor word nor by letter as from vs as though the day of the Lord were at hand 3. Let no man deceiue you by any meanes THE fourth part of this Epistle followeth which is a brotherly Admonition wherein we are to consider 1. The Forme 2. The Matter In the Forme the Apostle expresseth with what heart and affection he admonisheth them and therein is a worthy president vnto all Christians what louing hearts and feeling affections they ought to bring with them in admonishing one of another And first he stileth them as in the sense and feeling of that spirit by which he writ he esteemed them Brethren wherein he declareth not onely a speciall loue and affection to the cause but also to the persons of them he admonisheth For the persons of brethren where there is any nature or grace amongst them are deere one vnto another in regard of that naturall bond whereby they are mutually knit one to another So that in this very name of Brother which he giueth them there shineth a great loue and affection in the Apostle towards the persons of all in this Church And from this loue doth this Admonition flow And from the like Loue and Affection ought all Christian admonition to flow Wouldst thou effectually admonish an other thou canst neuer doe it vntill thou shew thy selfe a brother vnto him Thou must let him see that thine admonition streameth a brotherly affection and that that is the very ground and cause thereof so that if thou didst not esteeme and loue him as a brother thou wouldst not admonish him On the contrary side those admonitions that flow from gall and choler or from malice and hatred of the person admonished are no Christian admonitions neither can we expect any blessing on them but rather that the parties admonished should be the worse for them It is brotherly Admonition that Christ will blesse Neither is it possible for vs to admonish them brotherly whom we do no not esteeme and affect as brethren 2. In this Admonition he louingly entreateth and beseecheth them to take heede vnto themselues As he calleth them Brethren so he behaueth himselfe towards them as a Brother in the whole tenor of his Admonition For in meeke sweet and brotherly manner he prayeth and beseecheth them to beware and to take heede and doth not in an imperious and controlling manner require the same though he were their superiour wherein he sheweth a tender and compassionate heart esteeming their danger to erre as it were his owne hurt and their freedome from error as his owne good For when men of their owne meere motion do become suiters and suppliants vnto others though it be for others yet they declare therein that they themselues haue an interest in that good which they sue for The Apostle carieth not himselfe as wee often vse to do in our admonitions and warnings of others he biddeth them not in an insulting manner looke to themselues and take heed of such and such matters say they haue a faire warning thanke themselues if they do otherwise then they ought to do and looke not to be pitied of them but he beseecheth and intreateth them and therein professeth that it should do him much good if they would take warning and that it would be no small greife and sorrow of heart to him if they did not This spirit should all Christians bring vnto the admonishing of their Brethren especially the Ministers of Christ. And this is one reason why there is so litle fruit oft in our admonitions because we shew so litle loue and compassion in them Our admonitions for the most part are but purgations and euacuations of our spleane and malice and not any manifestation of our loue and compassion to the parties admonished as though their well-doing were an aduantage vnto vs and their ill-doing a damage vnto vs. Now further the Apostle doth not nakedly beseech them but he adjoyneth thereunto a double adiuration or obtestation wherein he declareth with what zeale and ardor of spirit he beseecheth them The Apostle then in this his Admonition heateth his Loue with zeale and moderateth his zeale with Loue he mingleth tempereth them both togither In the one he sheweth his desire of their good in the other his feare of their euill And therein he teacheth vs what affections we should bring with vs to the admonishing of our brethren a zealous Loue and a louing Zeale Loue without zeale is but folly Zeale without Loue is but furie and madnes But how do most of vs swarue in our passions when we come to admonish our brethren Sometime in our admonitions we shew neither loue nor zeale but admonish them in that manner as though we cared not whither they hearkned to vs or no. Sometime we shew loue but no zeale sometime hot zeale but no loue if that may be called zeale that is without loue But let vs neuer take vpon vs this office vntill we can temper these affections togither Besides in this feruencie of his Spirit he sheweth that they were in great danger to be seduced and that it was a dangerous matter for them to be seduced and led away with that error which he admonisheth them of And in them he sheweth the condition of all true Churches and Christians especially in the time of persecution and tryall that they are then in great danger through the powerfull and malicious worke of Satan to runne into error and it is then most dangerous for them to erre as by meanes whereof they giue speciall aduantage to Satan and to the enemies of the Gospell He adiureth them by the comming of Christ and by their assembling vnto him as if he should say you heard before what I said concerning Christs second comming and the wonderfull glory of all the faithfull that shall be in that day assembled vnto him As therefore you will looke and expect to be amongst the number of those and to haue your portion in that great glory and as you tender the saluation of your soules looke to your selues and take heede of that dangerous error that here I admonish you of Whence we obserue 1. That Christians must learne to place their speciall hope and comfort in the expectation of Christs comming otherwise this adiuration should haue litle force in it 2. That all Christians Ministers especially must be most carefull to warne and admonish their Christian brethren of such errors as may hazard or endanger any wayes their hope and expectation in that day 3. That Christians euen the best and those which haue giuen greatest testimonie and proofe of their faith shall bee in danger
if they looke not to themselues to be seduced and drawne into most pestilent and pernicious errors such as may take away all hope of and comfort in the comming of Christ. 4. That the serious meditation and consideration of Christs comming and the hope of our assembling vnto him is a speciall meanes to vphold and support all good Christians against such errors It is a speciall bond to binde vs vnto the truth The matter of the Admonition followeth which is this That whereas some secret enemies of the Gospell and of their saluation went about vnder diuers pretences to perswade them that the second comming of Christ should be in their dayes they would not in any case be disquieted and troubled in their mindes or suffer themselues to be deceiued by any such falshood what colors soeuer they should bring for the same Wherein the Apostle offreth to our consideration 1. The error it selfe wherewith seducers went about to corrupt their mindes 2. The pretences which they either did or might vse for the colouring of their error 3. Their intent in perswading togither with the effect and consequent that would follow vpon the entertaining thereof 4. The dutie of Christians in this case 1. The error is this that Christ would come to iudgement out of hand euen in their dayes An euident vntruth as the experience of many ages since hath discouered It ought to be an Article of our Faith to beleeue that Christ shall certainly come againe to iudge the world But it is a pernicious error to determine of this or that particular time of his comming any further then we haue cleare euidence out of the word In matters of Faith we ought not to be wise aboue that which is written And obserue we how busie Satan hath bin from the beginning to fill mens mindes with errors in religion He that durst be so bold to corrupt the doctrine of Faith in the Apostles time will be much more bold now And therefore we had neede to looke vpon what grounds we build our Faith 2. The pretences that either they did or might alledge are these Priuate Reuelation Apostolicall Tradition Writings of the Apostle wrested and misinterpreted These were the meanes whereby euen in the Apostles time the Mysterie of Iniquitie went about to corrupt infect and poyson the Church with errors and heresies And these they are by which they labour to seduce to this day 3. The intent of these seducers in perswading hereunto is not manifestly expressed And surely it may seeme at the first to be a godly error and that they could meane no hurt but good that taught it and that it could produce nothing but religious thoughts deeds in the receiuers thereof causing them the more carefully to prepare themselues that they might the more boldly hold vp their heads in that day And surely those Christians liue a most holy life that so liue to day as if they looked that Christ should come vnto iudgement to morrow And therefore it might seeme that the Diuell should rather be a looser then a sauer much lesse a gainer by this error· But the Apostles earnestnes doth plainly shew that the Diuell and those instruments which he vsed in perswading to this error had a pestilent intent and purpose therein and that it came from the mischieuous Spirit of Antichrist who was now working in a mysterie his owne greatnesse For though for a time the perswasion hereof might stir vp some to looke to their wayes and bridle their natures from many sinnes yet when at length they should perceiue that they feared in vaine and that their religious feares were vpon a wrong ground it would make them afterward breake forth into so much the more profanenesse yea and be a meanes to make them at length to beleeue that there shall be no such day at all and so would it proue a meanes also to open the mouths of profane mockers as it did indeed in those times 2. Pet. 3.4 and so by that meanes to weaken the credit and autoritie of the Scriptures wherein for this error there might seeme they being not rightly vnderstood some ground Let vs therefore beloued take heede of any error in Religion though it haue neuer such a shew For many times those errors in the euent proue most pestilent that carry most shew of piety Note we withall how Antichrist in the very egge hath endeuoured by all wayes to weaken the authoritie of the Scriptures 4. The dutie that the Apostle in this case requireth of them is twofold First that they be not distracted in minde shaken as it were beside their wits and troubled Wherein the Apostle intimateth 1. That it is Satans slight and policie oft by false and strange doctrines to distract and astonish the minds of men to disturbe and driue them in a manner out of their wits by that meanes not onely to make them vncapable of such holy and sound instruction as might stay them in the truth but to make them fit instruments for him further to worke vpon to possesse them with fond illusions and delusions at his pleasure That which we may obserue in the doctrine and practise of the Familists Anabaptists and other like Enthusiasts of our times as also in the courses of some of some of those in the Romish Church who vnder pretence of affecting a seuerer and austerer course of life then ordinarie haue so weakned their braines and confounded their imaginations that they haue afterward fallen into a number of strange fantasticall conceits which partly Satan taking his opportunitie hath suggested vnto them and partly their owne distemper hath of it selfe forged and fraught their heads with The second thing he here intimateth is this that men are vsually very prone to be distracted and perplexed with such strange and vnsound doctrines and with such groundles conceits And surely such indeed is our naturall corruption some remainders whereof abide in the best that the truth of God euidently taught out of the word oft affecteth vs but faintly when such friuolous conceits though hauing no truth in them or ground of them so strongly possesse vs that with many false feares they affright and amase vs and make vs in a manner beside our selues This corruption should we take notice of and striue and contend to the contrary that howsoeuer we labour to keepe our hearts tender and pliable for Gods Spirit and word to worke vpon yet we strengthen our mindes against such friuolous and false feares and terrors as Satan by his instruments and their strange fancies shall assay to possesse vs with The second dutie that the Apostle requireth of them is to take heede that no man by any meanes deceiue them Wherein the Apostle forewarneth them that by no manner of man or meanes they suffer themselues to be deluded on this wise That neither the persons of those that publish such points though they seeme to be neuer so holy and religious in their life or to be neuer so
8.5 Hebr. 2.6 and to Magistrates I haue said Ye are Gods saith the Psalmist Psal. 82.6 This propertie notably in both these respects agreeth to the Pope Concerning the first nothing can be more euident whether you respect the Bishop of Romes claime or his practise He claimes to be in all Christian Dominions throughout the world yea and of the whole world to be the Supreme Head and Gouernour That Emperors and Kings are but his Vassals and Subiects that he hath authoritie to place them in their Thrones and to cast them out againe to absolue their Subiects from that loyaltie and alleageance that they owe and haue sworne to them that he is as the Sunne and the Emperor but as the Moone borrowing all light from him that he is as Gold and the Emperor as Lead that Emperors and Kings are but as Sawes and he as the Sawyer to moue them at his pleasure that the Emperor is but his Sword-bearer and his Creature and the Imperiall Maiestie as much vnder the Popes as the Creature vnder God Concerning practise hath hee not deposed Kings and Emperors hath he not made them kisse his toe hold his stirrop waite bare-foot at his Pallace-gate crowned Kings with his feete made them carry him on their shoulders c Againe he aduanceth himselfe aboue Angels and Diuels For he claimeth to be Lord of all in Heauen in Earth and in Hell One Pope in his Bull for the Iubilee commands the Angels in Heauen to take such soules out of Purgatorie as dye by the way and carry them instantly to Heauen And for his lifting vp of himselfe aboue God himselfe it is as plaine as any other matter It is nothing with him to be another God on Earth The Scriptures that are proper to God or Christ as Esai 60.12 28.16 Psal. 24.1 8.6 Ioh. 10.16 15.5 3.19 Apoc. 5.5 they apply vnto him and he like the proud Man of Sin admits of them Yea this is all too litle He is aboue God and that by his owne claime He can binde where God looseth and lose where he bindeth He can dispense with the Lawes of God with both the Olde and the New Testament His word is of more authoritie then Gods word is And to sinne against his Lawes is after a sort to sinne against the Holy Ghost Lastly this Man of Sinne is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not a wicked onely but a lawles person one that shaketh off all yoke like a sonne of Belial that liueth like an Outlaw that refuseth to be ruled by any law either diuine or humane But who more lawles then he that no law can hold either of God or man That will giue lawes to all but take none of any that not onely claimeth power to breake lawes as he listeth himselfe but can at his pleasure dispense so not with mans law alone but with Gods to that he can make Treasons Murthers and Massacres and the horriblest sins that Gods law condemnes acts pious and meritorious whereby men shall deserue heauen Yea who so lawlesse as he that not onely refuseth himselfe to be ruled by any law but exemteth all his shauelings his principall members from all subiection to lawes and ciuill jurisdiction though the ordinance of God that they may liue as they list in all loosenes and lewdnes without checke or controll And thus we haue shewed both who is the Head of the Apostasie foretold by the Apostle in this place and where both he and it are to be found Vers. 13. But we ought alwayes to giue thanks to God for you Brethren beloued of the Lord. HItherto of the Prophecie concerning the Universall Catholicke Apostasie of Christians from the true Faith and sincere worship of Iesus Christ as it was planted by the Apostles and of that Man of Sinne that next and immediately vnder the Diuell was to be supreme Head and Author thereof A burdensome Prophecie to all that feared God and such a one as could not but make their hearts heauy and possesse their soules with much feare and trembling And therefore the Apostle before he passeth vnto any other matter comforteth this Church he writes vnto and therein laboureth to remoue that feare sorrow which this Prophecie might cast them into In the Consolation 1. He propoundeth the maine argument and matter of their Comfort 2. He maketh speciall Vse thereof The matter or argument is set downe 1. Generally 2. More specially The Effect of the generall Proposition is expressed in the Title he giues vnto them O yee beloued of the Lord as if he had said O my Brethren though the condition of the Christian world shall be fearfull in regard of the power and tyrannie of that Man of Sinne yet you neede not to be dismayed thereat For the Lord loues you most deerely and tenderly and therefore will preserue and keep you from that fearfull Apostasie Whence we note 1. That the more that any Christian man or Church is beloued of the Lord the more afraid they are of this Apostasie and of that Man of Sin and the more they are humbled and grieued to consider the same and the more they shall feare it and desire to be armed and strengthned against it being conscious of their owne weaknes to withstand so great assaults and temptations as also the more they shall mourne and groane vnder the tyrannie and burden of it or of any part or parcell of it the more present will the Spirit of God be to yeeld comfort consolation and spirituall might and strength vnto them as here he is vnto this Church And further the more feelingly that a man shall be perswaded of the loue of God towards him the lesse cause he shall haue to be dismayed and faint-hearted in regard of this Apostasie Art thou one belou'd of the Lord Hadst thou a liuely sense thereof in thy soule Verily though by Prophecie it should be reuealed vnto thee that all thy frends and acquaintance the whole Towne and Realme where thou liuest the whole Kingdome wherein thou art a Subiect should reuolt from Christ to Antichrist yea though thine owne eyes should behold it though thou shouldest see all the faithfull Pastors and Ministers of Christ and amongst them those that haue bin the powerfull instruments of God to bring thee to the sense and loue of God to fall away from Iesus Christ and to receiue the marke and character of the Beast yet in the middest of so fearefull and so lamentable a spectacle thou shalt finde comfort and strength enough to support thee though thou stand alone against all the tempests and stormes that Satan and his Vicar-generall can raise against thee Would we therefore secure our selues against such tempests and brunts Let vs labour to be beloued of the Lord and to get vnto our selues all the signes and tokens thereof that we can For there is none safe from Antichrist but those whom God hides in his owne bowels And if once we feele our selues
vnto it and embraceth it This Faith and Sanctification go hand in hand togither The motions of a sanctified spirit goe no further then the light of this truth and this eye of faith doth direct And what neede they feare to be seduced or drawne out of the way that haue such a Spirit to moue them such an eye and light and rule to direct them Vers. 14. Wherevnto he hath called you by our Gospell to obtaine the glory of our Lord Iesus Christ. THe outward meanes whereby the inward meanes were wrought was the Ministerie of the Apostles and Euangelists which he calleth their Gospell Whereby he declareth that whatsoeuer they ministred to the people it was the Gospell and therefore that we that are Ministers should tread in their steps and minister that onely to Gods people that we may avow to be Gospell By this Ministerie being nothing else but the Ministerie of the Gospell were they called saith the Apostle to sanctification and faith in the truth The Gospell then yea our Gospell .i. the Ministerie of the Gospell practised and instituted by the Apostles is Gods owne consecrated instrument whereby the Spirit worketh sanctification faith Thus doth the Lord honor his Ministerie So that they which are the despisers thereof neuer had any true faith or sanctification and therefore are a prey to Antichrist And surely who are they that he preuaileth against in our Kingdome Are they not manifest despisers of this ordinance For as for those that are called by the same vnto sanctification and faith they cannot but honor it as the blessed instrument of their conuersion and eternall saluation He sheweth further wherein the end of this their Ministerie consisted in calling of them to the obtaining of the glory of Christ. i. of that euerlasting glory and happines by Christ which Christ our Head himselfe in Heauen now enioyeth So that this is a notable meanes to debase the glory of Antichrist to fix our eyes on the glory that Christ hath purchased for vs and is entred into heauen to take seisen and possession of in our behalfe And surely one maine cause why a many are so carried away with the glittering shewes of Antichrists pompous estate is because they haue not their mindes set nor the eyes of their soules fixed on that wonderfull and vnutterable and inconceiuable glory that for all Christs faithfull followers is prepared in heauen All the glory of Antichrist would be vile in their eyes if they so did Vers. 15. Therefore Brethren stand fast and keepe the instructions which you haue bin taught either by word or by our Epistle THe Use and Application followeth As if he had said Seeing you haue so great matter of comfort Brethren stand fast c. Wherein we are to consider these 3. things 1. The dutie that he exhorteth them vnto 2. The ground of the dutie 3. The meanes of performing of the dutie The dutie is that they stand fast It is a metaphor borrowed from Souldiers who in brunt of battell gather their strength togither that they may not be ouerthrowne So he would haue them to do to gather togither all the strength they can that they may stand against the brunt and storme of Antichrist Whence we may learne 1. The beloued and elect of God shall bee powerfully and strongly assaulted by the Man of sinne and in great danger to fall into the Apostasie aforesaid if they looke not vnto themselues 2. That they must therefore gather all their force and strength togither to stand strongly to the defence of the true faith and religion that no tempests and stormes may remoue them from it 2. The ground of this dutie is implied in the word Therefore i. Seing that the Lord hath elected you c therefore stand fast The doctrine then of the certainty of our saluation and of our election is not a doctrine of securitie but it hath this nature in whomsoeuer it is found to stir vp men so much the more to stand to the truth So that the more that a man is assured of his saluation the more he will striue to keep the faith So that if he should see his name written in the booke of life yet would not this make him wax secure but so much the more carefull to please God and so much the more resolute against the enemies of God If a man should know that his body were in that case that he could not be slaine in battell howsoeuer he might be wounded maimed and hurt would that make him to yeeld himselfe to his enemies or to suffer them to wound and hurt him Would it not rather make him fight so much the more couragiously 3. The meanes follow of performing this dutie whereby they and all other may stand fast The first is that they hold fast or lay a sure hand as the word signifieth vpon the Apostles Traditions These Traditions are all such Ordinances of religion and diuine worship as were taught and established by the Apostles and Euangelists whether by word or by Epistle For vnto them whom the Apostles with their owne mouths preached their words were of equall authoritie with their writings But with vs to whom they neuer spake their writings onely are authenticall and not their words because we know not what they spake more then they writ 1. The dutiâ— then is this to lay hold with both hands on the doctrine of the Apostles and not to suffer any part or parcell thereof to be wrung forth of our hands 2. This shewes the meanes whereby Antichrist hath so much preuailed for that men haue not held fast the Apostles traditions but the Churches of Christ haue suffred now one Ordinance and then an other to be wrung out of their hands Vers. 16. Now the same Iesus Christ our Lord and our God euen the Father which hath loued vs and hath giuen vs euerlasting consolation and good hope through grace 17. Comfort your hearts and stablish you in euery word and good worke THe second meanes of standing fast is in the hand of God and it is twofold 1. Consolation of the heart Except the Lord from heauen send a comfortable and cheerefull heart that it be not daunted and terrified one shall hardly hold fast Whereas so long as the Lord comforteth the heart so long we shall vphold and maintaine the faith 2. God must also establish vs and confirme vs in euery word and good worke that we may so carry our selues in word and deed that we giue no aduantage to the aduersarie For if Antichrist can trip vs in either he will giue vs a dangerous blow The Apostle therefore concludeth this matter with a prayer to Iesus Christ and to God the Father stirring him thereunto by mention of that free fauour of his toward them whereby in Christ he hath loued them and giue them euerlasting consolation by putting them in good hope of eternall saluation through grace Thereby teaching vs that the maine ground of our assurance of future