him better than he was 2 Cor. 12.6 We should bewail the neglect of and aversenesse to this duty in all sorts even from young to old the most are more forward 1 To commit sin with others or to incourage others unto sin 2 To deny hide or excuse their sins even when they are taxed and reproved for them 3 Or to outface their faults and justifie them than to confesse them to others It is the property of sinners and the infirmity of Saints who are but as Infants in measure and sanctified but in part to palliate and cover their sins as much as they can This hath been their manner from the beginning or from sins entrance into the World See it in our first Parents Adam layed the blame of his sin upon Eve and Eve of her sin upon the Serpent Sarah covered her laughter with a lye she feared a reproof for what she had done Gen 18.15 but she was not afraid to deserve it by denying what she had done What a miserable sort of excuses will bee pleaded saith one when men are charged with sin for all are graven out of Adam Mr. Greenham I have read a Proverb that sin seweth it self a garment being ashamed to go naked that is excuses invented by Satan but made by men and women as the suit of fig-leaves were by Adam and Eve who were the first offenders but they cannot cover sins nakednesse nor keep it warm nor put any comliness upon it for the excuse of sin multiplies sin and makes addition thereunto Quest Why are men so backward to confesse sin Ans 1. Because confession of sin contains in it or brings shame and grief along with it for sin which sin cannot indure They are as smoak to the eyes Vinegar to the teeth bitter as Gall and wormwood to the taste of sin Sin hath so perverted the soul as to misplace shame in acknowledging offences which should be placed in offending 2 Confession is an Ejection of sin as it is said where sin is freely confessed it is fully cast out It layes an ingagement upon men not to commit sin again when they have confessed it but absolutely to hate it to part with it and put it away This neither Satan nor sin its brat can indure They hate putting away where they have gotten possession they desire to hold it Confession separates between sin and soul and makes a divorce 3 Because Confession is a bringing of sin that horrid Monster to light an open discovery of it in its shape and colours which are most ugly and deformed Now sin hates the light Joh. 3.20 and hates comming to the light and hates Confession which causeth it and hides it self in the bosome of the sinner Satan imploys all his pollicy and sin all its power and interest it hath in us to conceal it and to wave the confession of it Sin loves to wear a veil of secrecy or a vizzard of counterfeit piety or a Garment of excuses that the filth and shame of its nakednesse may not appear or to wrap it self like the Devil in Samuels mantle As false Prophets come to us in sheep cloathing so doth sin in the guise colour or shew of vertue to deceive us Object Sin is a filthy shamefull thing it becommeth Saints not once to name it as Fornication Vncleannesse Covetousnesse Ephes 5.3 why then should we confesse it Ans 1. Though sin bee filthy and abominable in it self yet the Confession of sin is clean and commendable 2 There is difference between naming and naming of sin scil 1 With delight in it boasting of it or indulgence to it This naming of sin is sin 2 Or with detestation of it and indignation at it and grief for it This naming of sin is good and gracious 3 To conceal sin but not to confesse it when there is occasion is sinfull modesty shamefull shamefastnesse to keep Satans counsell to hide and harbour a Theef or murderer in our bosomes that will rob our souls and cut our throats this argueth stubbornnesse of spirit and self-hardening against reproof Such a disposition is the high-way to destruction For he that covereth his sins Prov. 28.13 that is who will not confesse them no not when he is called thereunto shall not prosper and he that being often reproved hardeneth his neck refusing to confesse or to amend his fault shall suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy 4 A serious and religious confession of sin is a Remedy to cleanse and heal soul-maladies The first peece of amends for our sinning is to confesse our sins The hiding of sin is like the covering or skinning of a sore which will fester inwardly and break out dangerously What a restraint would this be to sin to take liberty to do nothing no not secretly which we would not take boldnesse to confesse even openly To Confesse sinne aright is an Herb of Grace which grows not in natures Garden when a man is condemned in himself through deep Conviction and sense of sinne hee will bee free to accuse himself before others when hee feels the bitternesse of sinne in his Soul he will cast it up as loathsome stuff though hee swallowed it down as a sweet morsel Many famous men as Austine Origen and others have been free to publish the Errors of their opinions to the world Why should we be unwilling to confesse the Errors of our manners Rom. 10.10 With the heart man believeth unto righteousnesse and with the mouth confession is made unto Salvation HEre is a double duty annexed to two principal parts of man 1 The Duty of the Heart that is faith and the effect thereof is Righteousnesse that is we are justified by faith apprehending the righteousness of Christ 2 The Duty of the Mouth that is confession and the consequent of it is Salvation Observe the order and Connexion of these two 1 The order the Heart goeth before the Tongue and Believing before Confessing 2 The Connexion of them as of the cause with the effect for Faith in the Heart is the Root or principle of confession with the Mouth both should go together as fire and flame as spring and stream as Tree and fruit Doctrine It is a Gospel-Duty to confesse with the Mouth as well as to beleeve with the Heart I desire to open four things 1 What this Confession is 2 When it should be made 3 Why 4 How 1 What it is This Confession is an open Profession of Christ What Confession is and his Gospel Truths and wayes and a pleading for the same 1 Of Christ of whole Christ 1 Of his Natures or divinity and humanity The woman of Canaan confessed Christ to bee Lord and the Son of David that is to bee both God and a Mat. 15.22 man John the Baptist confessed him to bee the Son of b Joh. 1.20 27 34. God the Eunuch did the like Act. 8.37 Peter confessed him to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Christ the son
with their Tongues as others do Passionate expressions are Imperfections and discoveries of infirmities even in the best If any offend not in word hee is a perfect man p Jam. 3.2 because his Tongue is ruled by reason not by Passion 2 2 Principle of Speech 1 Cor. 13.5 Vid. third principle of Speech Speak from Love not from envy hatred or malice For Love as it thinketh no evil so it speaketh no evil Love oiles the mouth softens the Tongue sweetens the words and makes the lips drop like an hony-comb when love rules the mouth the Law of kindnesse is in the Tongue Prov. 31.26 but hatred and malice never speak well and never do good by speaking The wrath of man whether it bee exprest by word or deed worketh not the righteousness of God saith q Jam. 1.20 James or what is right in Gods sight Words spoken in wrath or malice do no good Bee slow to wrath then you will bee slow to speak Jam. 1.19 When Paul perswades the Ephesians r Eph. 4.31 32 to lay aside clamour and evil-speaking he exhorts them to put away from them all bitternesse and wrath and anger with all malice as the Heart-rootes of Tongue-sinnes and to bee kind one to another tender hearted forgiving one another which are fruites of love and would cause them to speak well both of others and to others Good words in the mouth are grapes and figs which cannot bee gathered from the Thornes and Thistles of hatred malice and envy in the heart Kind words are the flowers and Cream of true love How well did love make Paul speak to the undeserving Corinthians who loved him lesse for his loving them Å¿ 2 Coâ— 12 14 15 more Neverthelesse Paul was ready to come to them and hee sought not theirs but them and he would very gladly spend and bee spent for them And to the ill-carrying Galatians who deserted him and the Gospel Gal. 1.6 and were foolish and t Cap. 3.1 bewitched yet what good language did he give u Gal. 4.12 them Brethren I beseech you bee as I am for I am as you are yee have not injured me at all and verse 19. my little children of whom I travel in birth again until Christ bee formed in you till you bee reduced from your wandrings to the truths and wayes of God again Thirdly Speak from Grace Third Principle of Speech not from wit or parts only for Grace in the lips of which I shall speak afterwards proceeds from grace in the heart Prov. 22.11 as from 1 Faith I beleeved said David therefore have I spoken Psal 116.10 wee beleeve saith Paul and therefore speak 2 Cor. 4.13 Unbelief sometimes shuts the mouth for this Zacharias was dumb because he beleeved not the Angels words Luk. 1.20 2 From Love as was shewed before O yee Corinthians saith Paul our mouth is open unto you scil in Expressions why so our heart is enlarged 2 Cor. 6.11 12. to wit in affection Queen Esthers love to her People the Jews made her open her mouth wide in requests both to God and the King to save their lives though shee hazarded her own thereby Esther 4.16 3 From zeal for Gods glory which provoked the Apostles to speak even when they were commanded silence Act. 4.20 wee cannot but speak said Peter and John the things which wee have seen and heard and Jeremy when hee resolved silence Jer. 20.9 Zeal for Gods house moved Christ to speak as well as to act my house is the house of Prayer but yee have made it a den of Theeves Luk. 19.46 Zeal for Gods Sabbath caused Nâ—hemiah to contend with the Nobles of Judah cap. 13.17 4 From a good Conscience which poureth grace into the lips The Answers of a good Conscience towards God or man are gracious words excellent speech as that of Paul before the Councill Act. 23.1 and before the Governour cap. 24.14 15 16. When Peter perswades to a constant readinesse to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you hee prescribes this as a means thereof having a good Conscience 1 Pet. 3.15 16. the answer of a good Conscience saveth us vers 21. 5 From sincerity This makes the lips to bee without deceit even a Lip of truth Prov. 12.19 Psal 17.1 else the words may bee smoother than butter and softer than oyl when warre is in the heart Psal 55.21 6 From purity for hee hath Grace in his lips that loveth purenesse of heart Prov. 22.11 A clean fountain sends forth clear streams 7 From the fear of God which over-aweth both heart and Tongue This is a Remedy against Tongue vanities In many words there are diverse vanities saith the Preacher but fear thou God Eccl. 5.7 8 From Experience Dr. Hall for to speak well without feeling is the next way to procure an habitual hypocrisy Good words should follow and flow from good affections not go before them That which doth not come from Grace in the heart cannot bee gracious in the mouth A gracelesse heart makes a lawlesse tongue When a Christian speaks from grace in the heart hee speaks as one that hath Authority as Christ did and not as the Scribes They had Authority to speak or read for they had Moses chair but their words wanted authority and efficacy weight and force in the hearts of their hearers Those words for the most part go to the hearts of the hearers and minister grace to them which come from the hearts of the speakers and from grace in them 2 Have respect to the matter Matter of Speech what you speak and therein to Two things scil Truth and Two things scil Goodnesse 1 1 Truth is Speech Have respect to truth which is twofold The first is an Agreement between the thing ye speak of and your words The second is an agreement between your Tongues and your Hearts The former is cald Logical truth and the latter Moral truth 1 Have respect to Logical Truth that is to speak as the thing is and no otherwise neither over nor short nor wide nor awry This is the law of Truth in the mouth of a Christian to speak of things just as they are and as the matter doth require so doth the Lord himself u Isa 45.19 I the Lord speak righteousness I declare things that are right God blamed Jobs friends w Job 42.7 for not speaking of him the thing that was right scil of his proceedings as they were as his servant Job had The contrary hereunto is a lye which is to speak otherwise than wee know the thing is or if wee know it not yet what we say is an untruth Now lying is an ungodly devilish and damnable practice ungodly because it makes us most unlike yea contrary to God for God is Truth and in him is no lye devilish because x Joh. 8.44 The Devil is a lyar the Father both of lyars and of
lyes and damnable for all lyars shall have their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death y Rev. 21.8 Wherefore put away lying saith the Apostle and speak every man truth with his neighbour z Ephes 4.25 2 2 Truth spoken from the heart Have respect to moral Truth which is an agreement between heart and Tongue that is to speak what yee think and as yee think and to think what ye speak For the Tongue is but the Interpreter of the mind to declare that all that and only that which the mind dictates A good correspondence between the Heart and the Tongue is the character of a Citizen of Sion a Psal 15.2 hee speaketh the truth in his heart that is with or from his heart hee speaks what hee thinks his heart and mouth do harmonize consent and concenter in the truth of his speech The contrary hereunto is guile deceit and Dissimulation when the heart and Tongue are divided and wee speak what we do not think or think as we do not speak so the heart and the Tongue do vary yea contradict and give one another the lye The wicked speak with a double heart saith David b Psal 12.2 speaking one thing and thinking another 1 Tim. 3.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A double heart makes a double and deceitfull Tongue But a man is not what he saith with his lips but what hee thinks in his heart As Solomon speaks of him that hath an evill eye c Prov. 23.6 7. as hee thinketh in his heart so is he◠eat and drink saith hee to thee but his heart is not with thee This veracity in the mouth is a fruit of sincerity or truth in the inward parts to speak what wee think and to think as wee speak which is a parcel of our conformity to Christ who did no sin neither was guile found in his d 1 Pet. 2.22 lips The wise man makes this the Character of one of the worst of men scil a hatefull hating man that hee dissembleth in his lips and layeth up deceit within him e Pro◠26.24 when hee speaketh fair or makes his voice gracious beleeve him not Ver. 25. for there are seven that is many abominations in his heart But though hee cover hatred in his heart Vers 26. with deceit in his mouth yet his wickednesse shall bee shewed before the whole Congregation God will give Dissemblers over to some great sin that they may bee publickly detected disgraced and detested of all Burning lips saith Solomon f Prov. 26 2◠and a wicked heart are like a potsheard covered with silver dross Burning lips that is in shew of affection or profession of love to others yet without reality as Ezekiels hearers who with their mouth shewed much love Ezek. 33.31 but their heart went after their covetousnesse And a wicked heart intending or wishing evill to others and rejoycing when evill befalls them are like a potsheard covered with silver drosse fair speaking lips upon a false foul-meaning heart are no better than drosse upon dirt silver gilt upon clay Whereas the Tongue of the Righteous is as choice silver Prov. 10.20 therefore his words are of great price but the heart of the Wicked is little worth and his words are of no value Dissemblers are like painted Sepulchers which appear beautifull outwardly but within are ful of rottennesse and uncleannesse So these have fair and flourishing words without but rotten filthy hearts within They are as one saith nought on both sides having a bad mouth and a worse heart Dissembling is but like painting of an old rotten poste or of a wrinkled deformed face with fair fresh colours To cover a rough heart with a smooth Tongue is but as one compares it like drawing a fair glove on a foul hand As wee should pray with David to bee delivered Psal 120.2 from lying lips and from a deceitfull Tongue so that God would keep our lips from lyes and our tongues from Deceits and from disagreement with our hearts Secondly 2 Goodness in Speech have respect in the matter of your speech to goodnesse 1 That it bee good and sound not evil and corrupt 2 Profitable and useful not vain and idle 1 Let your speech be good and sound good matter and good words To this end 1 Speak of God and his Attributes as David did h Psal 145.1 Vers 5. Vers 6. Vers 7. I will extol thee O God my King I will speak of the glorious honour of thy Majesty I will declare thy greatness men shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodnesse and shall sing of thy righteousness Vers 8. that the Lord is gracious and full of compassion slow to anger and of great mercy thy Saints shall talk of thy power Vers 11. my Tongue shall talk of thy Righteousnesse all the day long saith David Psal 71.24 speak of the word of God when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way when you lye down and when you rise up i Deut. 6.6.7 David resolved it k Psal 119.172 my Tongue shall speak of thy word God commanded Joshuah that this book of the Law should not depart out of his mouth l Josh 1.8 you ought to keep your Bibles not only in your houses hands or hearts but in your mouthes also to speak thereof Gods Word will furnish you fully with matter of good Discourse upon all occasions To this end hide Gods word in your hearts and they shall bee fitted in your lips and you shall never want good subjects to speak of nor direction to speak aright The mouth of the Righteous speaketh wisdome and his Tongue talketh of Judgement why so the Law of God is in his heart therefore none of his goings or sayings shall slide Psa 37.30 31. Speak of the works of God both creational and providential as David did m Psal 145.5 I will speak of thy wondrous works men shall speak of the might of thy terrible Acts and of his Kingdome which is over all Vers 6.12 and everlasting and of the glory of it Speak of Jesus Christ and his benefits a large subject able to fill the hearts and mouths of all men My heart is inditing a good subject saith David n Psal 45.1 I will speak of the things which I have made touching the King that is not only King Solomon his son but touching Jesus Christ the King of Saints of whom Solomon was but a type and my tongue is the pen of a ready writer free and swift to express the renowned excellencies and just praises of Christ 2 Speak prudent words wise counsel and righteous things as doth the mouth of the righteous Prov. 10.31 3 Speak your own experiences to others Gods gracious dealings with you as the Psalmist did p Psal 66.16 come and hear all yee that fear God and I will declare
of building his Church of a new frame or model under the Gospel the old Fabrick of the Jewish Church being then to be taken down about the time of Christs passion and the new to be set up after his assension according to his commission and direction given to his Apostles to that purpose Act. 1.2 3. beeing seen of them forty dayes after his Resurrection and speaking to them of the things pertaining to the Kingdome of God that is his Church hee first requires an account or confession of their Faith Whom say yee that I am Vers 15. Then Peter answered in the name of all the Apostles as our sound Orthodox Divines conceive Thou art Christ the Son of the living God Therefore Peter saith in John 6.69 not I only but wee Apostles beleeve and are sure that thou art that Christ the Son of the Living God and Christ replyed thou art Peter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is a stone in this spiritual building yea a pillar in the Church Gal. 2.9 and upon this rock 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 16.18 that is upon this confession made of mee to be the Christ or upon mee the rock as confessed I will build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it Hence we may collect two things 1 That a good confession of Faith in Christ should bee made and laid as a foundation at the gathering or constituting of Churches to build them upon which may bee effectual to keep them sound in the faith and free from errours and to ingage them to hold fast their principles and not to swarve from the same but to preserve the doctrin of Religion pure therein and to strengthen the whole building that is raised upon it 2 That those are the fittest stones for the building of a Church that can give the best account of their faith in Christ 2 At our Admission into a Church of Christ to which wee desire to joyn our selves and they require us to give an account of our faith and holinesse that wee are Saints and Beleevers This we should be free and ready to do 1 Because as to beleeve with the heart makes a man a member of the invisible Church so to confesse with the mouth or open profession of faith qualifies him to bee a member of a visible Church of Christ 2 This will give the Church knowledge of us and satisfaction in us yea move them to glorify God for us and to receive us in the Lord unto fellowship with them in all Christs Ordinances without which they may bee afraid of us as the Church of Jerusalem was of Paul when hee assaied to joyn himself to it until Barnabas had satisfied them concerning him Act. 9.26 27. 3 This seems to have been the practice of the Primitive Church as now it is of the reformed Churches The 3000 converted at Peters Sermon did not they confesse Christ Act. 2. or make a profession of their faith and of a change wrought in them Else how could the Apostles know that they gladly received the word to wit of faith repentance Vers 41. and obedience to the Gospel and distinguish them from all others and upon that account baptise them I am apt to think that those who beleeved at Ephesus confessed their Saviour as well as their sinnes and their Faith as well as their Repentance 4 What is done at the planting of a Church is proper and suitable to bee done in the augmentation of it that is confession of Faith whosoever would bee a Peter that is 1 Pet. 2.5 a lively stone fit to be laid in this building should be a confessour of Christ 2 When wee are called thereunto by a Magistrate or secular powers or brought before Rulers and Governours for Christs sake and examined about our Religion then wee ought to bear witnesse to Christ and his Truth as Christ and his Apostles did 1 Christ who witnessed a good confession before Pontius Pilate then President in Judea recorded in John 18.37 1 Tim. 6.1 when Pilate said unto him art thou a King Jesus answered Thou sayest that I am a King This is an Hebrew manner of confession aequivalent to an affirmation q. d. that thou sayest is true I am so indeed Christ did the like before the Council Luk. 22.70 when they all said art thou the Son of God and he said unto them ye say that I am q. d. I am what you say and before the High-Priest when hee asked him Art thou the Christ the Sonne of the blessed Mark 14.61 62 And Jesus said I am 2 The Apostles witnessed a good confession of Christ and of that main truth scil that Salvation is onely by Christ as Peter and John before the Council Act. 4.5 to 16. and cap. 5.27 to 33. and Steven Act. 6.12.15 and 7. chapter and Paul before Felix the Governour Act. 24.14 to 22. before King Agrippa Act. 26.2 c. especially 22 23. vers and before Festus 24 25 to 30. vers 2 When wee are called to it privately especially in three cases First When wee are asked by a single person who desires to bee informed by us and seeks not to lay a snare for us Bee ready always 1 Pet. 3.15 to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meeknesse and reverence Now to give a reason of our hope what is it but to yield an account of our faith which wee are bound to do upon a private demand or when just occasion is given though but by a private person as Christ made confession of himself to the Samaritan woman and to a blind man Iohn 4.25 When shee made confession of the Messiah to Christ as 1 That he would come 2 That he was now upon comming 3 That when hee is come hee will tell us all things i. e. teach his Church more fully and perfectly though shee was a woman Trap in John 4.7 and a Samatan and a poor Tankerd-bearer a sinner one that lived in fornication yet Christ rejects her not but takes occasion from her Confession of the Messiah John 4.26 to confesse or make known himself to her to be the Christ or Messiah shee spake of Though he did not manifest himself so plainly to the Jews no not when they pressed him saying How long doest thou make us doubt John 10.24 if thou bee the Christ tell us plainly But hee would not in plain Termes tell them that hee was hee because hee knew their hearts that they asked not sincerely to beleeve in him but captiously to get advantage against him though hee told the woman because Christ knew shee was now a Convert and would bee a means of the conversion of others When the blind man asked Christ who was the Sonne of God that hee might beleeve in him though the Pharisees had excommunicated him for confessing Christ yet Christ confesseth himself to him and tells him
Text in the tendency and efficacy of it 1 As a way appointed us by God to walk in towards heaven 2 As a character property and practice of such as shall be saved 3 As a furtherance of salvation because it is a means or help of our perseverance in the faith Mat. 24.13 even unto the end and he that endureth to the end shall bee saved For if wee did not confesse Christ before men wee should deny him and so fall off from him and short of Heaven To hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering Heb. 10.23 is the way to die in faith and at death to receive the end of our faith even the salvation of our souls Then to confesse with the mouth is a businesse of great consequence and commodity which reacheth even to eternity for great shall bee our reward for it in heaven Reas 4. May bee drawn from others who may from the Confession wee make of Christ and his truth receive instruction or confirmation therein and incouragement to speak thereof boldly without fear The fourth thing is How this confession should bee made which shall be laid forth in seven particulars First Freely without compulsion Confession of Christ should bee a free wil-offering of our mouths as well as thanskgiving God loveth a cheerfull giver of Testimony to Christ as well as of Charity to men-God loveth not extorted confessions that are wrung from us by violence He would have them flow freely from us like water out of the fountain not to be forced from us like wine forth of the presse 2 Plainly and fully without obscurity or partiality without hiding or mincing the Truth Like John the Baptist when the Jews sent Priests and Levites to ask him who art thou hee confessed and denied not but confessed John 1.19 Vers 20 that is plainly openly expresly fully I am not the Christ But behold there commeth one after mee whose shooes I am not worthy to loose Act. 13.25 Hence our confession of Christ should grow and flow from Faith and experience as the Root and Fountain thereof 1 From our faith in Christ Confession in the Mouth as was noted before should proceed from faith in the heart Wee having the same spitit of Faith saith Paul as it is written 2 Cor. 4.13 I beleeved therefore have I spoken that I was David wee also be leeve Psal 116.10 and therefore speak We should shew our Faith by works in our lives and testifie it by confession in our mouthes for that is a fruit and sign of Faith We should say of Christ only what we know and beleeve else wee do but speak of Christ not confesse him If Christ live not in our hearts by Faith as one saith he will not dwell in our mouthes by confession Object Rom. 14.22 Doth not Paul say Hast thou Faith have it to thy self before God therefore we need not confess it before men Ans The Apostle there speaks not of a justifying Faith as he doth in my Text for that must be declared by confession but of a Faith or perswasion of Christian liberty in things indifferent as eating flesh and drinking Wine at that time this Faith a man may keep to himself or so shew and use it as hee shall not thereby offend his Brother 2 From our experience in some measure of Christ and his grace or of what we testifie This will provoke us to confesse Christ before men as it did Peter and John when they were commanded silence Wee cannot but speak the things which wee have seen and heard Act. 4.18 19 20. They that have experience of the sweetnesse and efficacy of Christs Word Truth and Wayes they must and will say all they can for the Truth and nothing at all against it as Paul speaks 2 Cor. 13.8 Hence Christ gave his Apostles experience or made them some way witnesses either by the ear or eye or hand of such things as hee required them to confesse or bear witnesse to for him before men as he did his Apostles John and the rest 1 John 1.1 Act. 26.16 and Paul at his conversion I have appeared unto thee for this purpose to make thee a Minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee Act. 22.14 As Ananias told Paul The God of our Fathers hath chosen thee that thou shouldest know his will and see that just one Ver. 15. and hear the voice of his mouth For thou shall be his witnesse unto all mâ—n of what thou hast seen and heard 3 Boldly without fear or shame 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Act. 13.6 eum 24.21 Paul cryed out in the Council to wit with a loud voice for the word signifieth an intension of clamour of the Hope and Resurrection of the dead I am called in question 〈◊〉 when wee open our mouthes to speak for God we should do it with undaunted and invincible courage with an Heroick spirit like Paul Act. 20.23.24 21.13 Phil. 1.20 not learing the faces of men In this business of Confession we should be bold as Lions and bid defiance to shame and count it a high dignation to confesse Christ and to suffer for Christ as the A pollâ—es did Act. 5.41 Boldnesse sets off the Confession of Christs witnesses with great grace and power to make them penetrate and to convince As it did the three Childrens profession of Faith in God before King Nebuchadnezzar Dan. 3.16 17 18. and their resolution not to bow to his golden Image for fear of his fiery furnace When the Council saw the boldnesse of Peter and John confessing Act 4.8 c. 13. Christ before them they marvelled and took knowledge of them Psal 119.46 that they had been with Jesus David resolved I will speak of thy Testimonyes even before Kings 2 Sam. 6.20 21 22. and will not be ashamed He owned his dancing before the Ark though Michal mocked him for it It was before the Lord c. that I did it and he resolved if this make mee vile I will yet be more vile than thus Fear and shame are great Impediments to the confession of Christ These made Peter deny his Master and Nicodemus to come to Christ by night Joh. 3.2 Joh. 12.42 And many among the chief Rulers who beleeved because of the Pharisees lest they should be put out of the Synagogue durst not confesse Christ Chap. 9.22 4 Constantly without giving over till we have finished our Testimony Rev. 11.7 as the two witnesses did untill which time the Beast had no power either to hinder them or to hurt them yea till we have finished our course as Paul kept the Faith in his mouth as well as in his heart till hee had finished his 2 Tim 4.7 When John fulfilled his course that is drew neer the period thereof he renewed his Testimony of Christ Remember
therefore what you have received Act. 13.25 Rev. 3.3 and heard and hold fast and speak out the same even to the end We should confess Christ with our Tongues while we are able to speak yea chuse to dye with a Testimony of Jesus in our mouthes of our Faith and Hope in him and love to him and for the Truth against Errors for the straight and holy wayes of God against all false and by-wayes Then we may boldly look God in the face and go triumphantly to Heaven We should confesse Christ in evil times when others deny him When Christ and his truths and wayes are opposed despised and persecuted and his servants for them Then to own Christ and to speak for him 2 Tim. 1.8 and for his and not to be afraid of his Crosse nor ashamed of his cause or Testimony will be kindly taken by Christ as Paul◠witnesse of him at Jerusalem and Rome and elsewhere was Rev. ◠1◠and the Church of Pergamos her not denying his Faith but holding fast his Name even in those dayes wherein Christs faithful Martyr Antipas was slain Rev. 3. ◠and in that place where Satan dwelt and had his Throne The Church of Philadelphia though she had but a little strength yet she kept Christs word and denyed not his Name though she had adversaries and because shee kept the word of Christs patience that is Vers 1◠with great patience she held and maintained the Truth of Christ and her profession of it Therefore Christ will keep her from the hour of Tentation which shall come upon all the World 5 Innocently without giving offence or occasion to any to speak evil of us while we are speaking good of Gods Name or for his Truths and wayes This was Pauls care Act. 24.20 and for this he challenged his enemies Let these same here say If they have found any evil doing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or thing amiss in mee while I stood before the Council scil to give Testimony of Christ the Scribes that were of the Pharisees part said Act. 23.9 we find no evill in this man To this end wee should give a reason of our hope or an account of our faith with meeknesse and fear 1 Pet. 3.15 1. With meeknesse from an humble lowly spirit without any shew or appearance first of pride ostentation or vain-glory or secondly of passion or bitternesse in us for the wrath of man as it worketh not so it testifieth not the righteousnesse of God it doth not at all adorn the Truths or wayes of God nor our profession or confessions of them which meeknesse of spirit doth 2 With fear of God of offending him while wee are confessing him of saying or doing any thing that may cause the way of Truth to bee evil spoken of for our sakes and reverence of men to give all due respect to them before whom wespeak Sixth Sincerely Out of Love and Zeal 1 Out of Love to Christ and his truth for what wee love wee will own or avouch openly Confession and commendation are fruits of love Love knows no shame in acknowledging and praising its beloved Lovers are the freest and largest Confessers and Commenders See it in the Spouse her Encomium of Christ her beloved from head to foot when the Daughters of Jerusalem asked her what is thy beloved more than another beloved Cant. 5.9 to the end when love to Christ and to his truth move us to confess him and it then we will speak liberally yea all that we can possibly for them whosoever saith nay thereto Love is strong as death and the love of Christ will constrain us to confesse Christ to death yea though wee die for it Hence John who was the best beloved and most loving Disciple gave special Testimony of Christ Joh. 19.35 and 21.24 Those that leave their first love grow loath and averse to confesse Christ 2 Out of Zeal for God for the glory of his name the credit of his cause the honour of his truth the propagation of his Gospell for the encouragement and comfort of Christs Friends for the conviction and obstruction of his enemies not to get praise to our selves nor to seek our own glory for love of praise is a great prejudice to the confession of Christ Joh. 12.42 43 Some among the chief Rulers did not confesse Christ for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God The Sanctuary fire of zeal kindled from heaven in our hearts will burn out that Lukewarmness Neutrality and indifferency of spirit which makes us to bee of Gallio's temper in the things of God carelesse of such matters what any say or do against the Name or truth wayes or Kingdome of Christ what errors heresies and blasphemies are broached dispersed or maintained This will also consume to ashes the Conceits of the Libertines and Familists who think it lawfull to dissemble their faith even before the Magistrate and of the Nicodemites of these dayes who count it sufficient to beleeve with the heart taking liberty to confesse what they list with their mouth Seventh and last Wee must confesse Christ patiently with a disposition and resolution to suffer for our Testimony if God call us to it because the confessing of Christ before men may cost us dear the losse of Liberty goods Friends yea life and all as it did the Apostles Mat. 10.37 38 39. and many other the faithfull witnesses of Christ Christ requires wee should bee willing to part with all upon that Account Confessing of Christ hath been a cause of suffering for Christ ever since Christs time Satan and his instruments have raised opposition and persecution against the profession of Faith as well as against the practice of piery and against the persons that have held forth the same even from Generation to Generation The Jews agreed that if any man did confesse Christ Joh. 9.22 Rev. 1.9 he should bee put out of the Synagogue John was banished into the Isle of Patmos for the word of God and for the Testimony hee gave of Jesus Christ When the Lamb had opened the fifth Seal Rev. 6.9 John saw under the Altar the souls of them that were slain under the Roman Emperours for the word of God and for the Testimony which they held Rev. 11.3 The two witnesses of Christ prophecy in Sack-cloath and when they have finished their Testimony Vers 7 they shall bee slain by the Beast to wit of Rome that is Anti-Christ and the inhabitants of the earth that is of the Malignant or Antichristian Church shall rejoyce thereat and make merry and as a congratulation of their riddance send gifts one to another This was the cause of the Dragons quarrel with a remnant of the Womans seed scil Rev. 12.17 they kept the Commandements of God and had the Testimony of Jesus Christ Rev. 20.4 John saw also the Souls of them that were beheaded for the witnesse of
things and an evil man out of the evil treasure scil of the heart bringeth forth evil things As out of the heart proceed u Mat. 15.19 evil thoughts so evil words what are words but motions of the heart and thoughts of the mind formed into a voyce or sound and made audible Hence such as the Heart is such is the Tongue such as the Thoughts and Affections are such are the words ordinarily For as the Tree is so is the fruit Mat. 7.17 18. Jam. 3.11 good or bad As the fountain is such are the waters sweet or bitter As the treasure is such is the stuff that is brought out of it whether precious or vile If the Heart be well governed the Tongue will be well guided because the Tongue is ruled by the Heart Be Masters of your passions and you shall easily bee Lords over your Tongues and govern them well your Tongues will obey you when you can command your affections But a disordered Heart makes an ill ordered Tongue They that govern their hearts ill cannot guide their tongues well An unruled spirit makes an unruly tongue they that do not take heed to their spirits what they think or how they are affected will not take heed to their Tongues what they say Heart-Renovation is the root of Tongue-Reformation begin at the Heart to amend the Tongue Pray God as David did vv Psal 51.10 to create a clean heart and renew a right spirit in you this will make you have a pure lip or language according to that promise x Zeph. 3.9 for then that is under the Gospell I will turn to the people a pure language or lip that they may all call upon the name of the Lord to serve him with one shoulder Reas 3. Because errors in the tongue proceed from disorders in the heart and from distemper in the spirit the disease is bred in the heart which breaks out in the mouth as Idleness of words proceeds from vanity of Thoughts froth in speech from some and fume of spirit Rashness of mouth from hastiness of spirit to be angry when Davids heart was hot within him with grief and indignation then spake hee too impatiently with his tongue z Psal 30.3 Anger in speech grows from anger in spirit Bitter words in the mouth spring up from a root of bitterness in the heart Falshood foolishness and guile in the mouth proceeds from folly and deceit in the heart a divided heart makes a double tongue Obscenity of speech flowes from uncleannesse of heart Roughnesse of speech from pride and churlishnesse of nature as in Rehoboam 1 King 12.13 and in Nabal 1 Sam. 25.10 11. Blasphemy in speech proceeds from backsliding and Rebellion in heart against God Despairing words come from distrust in heart towards God The second thing is Rules for the Government of the Tongue The first Rule Consider before you speak 1 Rule think what to say Let not your tongue run before your wit or before wisdome bid it go for the heart of the Righteous studieth to answer saith Solomon a Prov. 15.28 hee carrieth a paire of scales betwixt his lips as one saith to weigh his words in before hee utter them but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evilthings rashly and overflowingly without preconsideration or moderation a flood of words without a drop of discretion or Religion The study of questions Paul calls a doting or a disease b 1 Tim. 6.4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sick about questions but right answers are the study of the righteous He that answerech a matter before he hears it saith the wise man c Prov. 18.13 it is folly and shame unto him or hee that returneth a word before he heareth the whole matter and understands it well sheweth folly and procureth shame Be not rash with your mouth and let not your heart bee hasty to utter any thing before God no nor before men It is the Preachers counsel d Eccles 5.2 Prov. 6.2 lest you discover weaknesse or be ensnared with the words of your mouth Suffer not your mouth to cause your flesh or self to sin by rash vowes or extravagant superfluous words Be slow to speak saith James e Jam. 1.19 that is be deliberate and advised in your speeches For if the heart do not premeditate the Tongue will precipitate The Tongue of the wise is in his heart he considers what to say the heart of the fool is in his mouth hee speaks before hee thinks and saith he knows not what To bee overforward to speak is vain rashness and proud boldness there is more hope of a fool than of such Pro. 29.20 when David spake in his haste or precipitation as that hee was cut off from before Gods eyes f Psal 31.22 that All men are g Psal 116.11 lyars Samuel and all that had promised him the Kingdome hee spake not aright for the event confuted his words Before you speak you are Masters of your own minds and know what ye think but when ye have spoken others will be Masters of your words and make what construction of them they please nescit vox missa reverti when a word is once out it 's past recall The second Rule 2 Rule In speech have respect to five particulars 1 The Principle from which you speak 2 The Matter what you say 3 The Manner how you speak 4 The Season when 5 The End why 1 Have respect to the Principle from which you speak which should bee alway 1 Reason not Passion 2 Love not envy hatred or malice 3 Grace not wit or parts only 1 First Principle of speech Speak from Reason and Judgement as the former Rule directed you not from Passion For Passions as they blind reason so they mislead the Tongue which is ordinarily more commanded by Passion than regulated by Reason and more ready to serve the violence of Passion than to follow the Evidence and Dictate of Reason When Passion boils in the heart it makes the words like hot burning coales in the mouth it dips the tongue in Gall and imbitters the words When blind Passion leads the blind Tongue both fall into the Ditch of Transgression and without repentance into the pit of perdition Gods dear servants have sinned most with their Tongues when they have spoken in Passion as Moses h Psal 106.33 when hee was provoked in his spirit he spake unadvisedly with his lips and Job when he cursed his birthday i Job 3.2 3 c. and Jonah when hee told God to his face that hee did well to be angry even unto death m Jonah 4.9 When Davids heart was hot with Passion his Tongue was inflamed in expressions n Psal 39.3 Hence it is that Gods servants being subject to like Passions as others are as Elias that famous miracle-working man of God was o Jam. 5.17 they being sanctified but in part here are apt to offend sometimes
which must bee understood in a quallified sense to wit comparatively not absolutely as if free wholly from all sin which is an impossible attainment on this side the Grave either in being silent when he should speak which may at some Time bee a crying sinne or in speaking when hee should be silent which may be a loud sin The 144000 in whose mouth was found no guile were without fault before the Throne of God Rev. 14.5 Ps 16.9 30 12. 108.1 David counted his tongue his excellency and call'd it often his glory to shew forth the Majesty Glory Excellencies and praises of God 4 Excellent is the good use of the Tongue in respect of Imitation for wee should bee ensamples to others in word or speech as well as in spirit and in f 1 Tim. 4.12 Psal 45.1 conversation This is the way to Excell The Tongue is the pen of a ready Scribe to set Coppies of wise holy and profitable Speech for others to write after or to teach them how to speak as the Hand sets Copies to teach others how to write 5 In respect of Distinction for as speech specificates man and distinguisheth man from Beasts which have Tongues and speak not So the government of the Tongue sheweth the difference between 1 A wise man and a fool as Solomon states it throughout his Proverbs as Chap. 15.2.7 29.11 Eccl. 5.3 Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh Job 2.9 10 saith Job to his wife when shee said unto him Curse God and dye 2 Between a good man and an evil man O Generation of Vipers saith g Mat. 12.34 35 Christ how can yee being evil speak good things for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh c. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things c. This is the character of an evil man Psal 50.16 19. He giveth his mouth to evil 3 Between a man that is really religious and him that is but seemingly h Iames 1.26 so If any man among you seem to bee religious and bridleth not his Tongue this mans religion is vain want of Government over the tongue makes a man like a Brute as Horse and Mule in Mouth as well as in mind Ps 32 9. yea worse Reas 3. 3 The necessity From the necessity of Tongue-Government in respect 1 Of God 2 Of Religion 3 Of our selves and others 1 In respect of God that our Tongues may obey him God requires that service of them that they should bee set apart for him that holinesse to the Lord should bee written upon our Tongues as well as upon our hearts For God made with excellent skil and Christ redeemed with great price our Tongues for himself peculiarly and this word came out of Gods mouth in righteousness bound with a Solemn oath that unto me every knee shall bow every Tongue shall swear saith Isaiah 45.23 Rom. 14 1â— Every Tongue shall confesse to God saith Paul or that every Tongue should confesse that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the h Phil. 2 1â— Father God our Father requires all his Children should give him their Tongues as well as their hearts else the one will contradict the other God expects to be eminently glorified and well-pleased with our Tongues as a principal part of the body Therefore David i Psal 19 1â— prayed Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart bee acceptable in thy sight O Lord c. and Paul prayed for the k Rom. 15.5 6. Romans that they might with one mind and one mouth glorify God Paul was excellent and exemplary as a servant of Christ and as a Master of his Tongue herein Hee saith in 1 Thes 2.4 as we were allowed of God to bee put in Trust with the Gospel even so wee speak not as pleasing men but God which tryeth our hearts How needfull then is it to Rule the Tongue aright that God may have service and glory by it which is his end of it Without government the Tongue cannot bee made obedient to God no more than the horse can be to man without the bridle 2 In respect of Religion Tongue-Rule is needfull not only to adorn it but to approve the efficacy of it and our sincerity in it for if any man among you seem to be Religious and bridleth not his Tongue but deceiveth his own heart this mans Religion is vain saith the Apostle l Iames 1.26 James whatsoever conceit ye have of your selves or whatsoever yee pretend professe seem or boast to be for religion If you cannot govern your Tongues 1 You deceive your own hearts with a shew without substance thinking and seeming to be that you are not 2 Your Religion is vain because it wants power over the Tongue to refrain it from evil as lying swearing cursing reviling censuring scoffing detracting dissembling flattering obscenity and the like That is vain which wants what it ought to have and cannot effect what it ought to do nor attain its end That is a weak and uselesse Religion which hath not a powerful influence into mens mouths to bring their Tongues under government or into subjection to order a discipline 3 You cause Religion to bee evil spoken of which suffers much by the Tongue-miscariages of the professors of it If your speech bee not well ordered your Religion will bee little valued The Consequence of Tongueguidance being very great for the Tongue is the Primum mobile or first mover among the members which carrieth them all about with it and makes them go his way and follow his Trade whether it bee good or evil and corruption soon runnes out of the heart through the mouth which defiles the whole body for there is a speedy intercourse between the heart and the Tongue hence it is that a great part of Religion stands in the good government of the Tongue Pure Religion puts forth it self in a pure lip or Language Unbridlenesse of Tongue is usually the Hypocrites sin who is free to censure others for things wherein hee is faulty and guilty himself but farre from owning or acknowledging good in others from confessing or bewailing evils in themselves 3 In respect of our selves and of others for prevention of evil from both 1 The Government of the Tongue is necessary to prevent evil from our selves both of sin and of misery 1 The evil of sin want of government is the general cause why sinne abounds in familyes Cityes Countries in all places as also in the members of mans body why the eye is full of adultery the ear of vanity the hand of blood and the mouth of iniquity As when there was no King in Israel Iudges 17.6 every one did that which was right in his own eyes So when the Tongue hath no overseer or guide it speaks what it lists it multiplyeth sinne as fast as words yea sometimes faster wrapping up two or
give thanks to God 2 Because if wee confesse God and Christ and the Truth c. wee shall be confessed by both 1 By the Father hee will own and avouch us to bee his his people portion Jewels his Servants friends sons and that before Men and Devils 1 Before Men If wee testify for God he will give testimony of us as hee did of Abraham that he was the friend of God of Moses that hee was the meekest man upon earth of David that hee was a man after Gods own heart of Daniel that hee was a man of desires of Abel Heb. 11.4 5 that hee was righteous of Enoch that he pleased God Hence Gods servants have appealed unto God as their witnesse as Job Behold my witnesse is in heaven and my record is on high Iob 16.19 and as their examiner and judge as David did Ps 139.23 24 and 7.8 and 26.1 2. If wee plead for God God will plead for us against our enemies Numb 12.8 as hee did for Moses against Aaron and Miriam Wherefore then were yee not afraid to speak against my Servant Moses and for Job against his friends yee have not spoken of mee the thing that is right Iob 42.7 as my servant Job hath and as hee did for the faithful Psal 37.6 in Lament 3.58 O Lord thon hast pleaded the causes of my soul God will bring forth our righteousnesse to the light clear our innocency and judge our enemies 2 Yea before Devils as hee confessed Job Iob 1.8 and 2.4 The Lord said unto Satan hast thou considered my Servant Job that there is none like him in the earth a perfect and upright man one that feareth God and escheweth evil and stil he holdeth fast his integrity although thou movest mee against him to destroy him without cause 2 By the Sonne If wee confesse Christ Christ will retaliate and recompence confession with confession his of us with ours of him between which there is no proportion nor comparison Mat. 10.32 Luk. 12.8 for hee will confesse us before his Father and all the Angels of God and say These are my servants members Spouse people who did beleeve in mee with their heart and confesse mee with their mouths before men to bee their Saviour Lord and Master head and Husband that were not afraid of men in my cause nor ashamed of my crosse Whereas if wee deny Christ before men or his Truths or ways hee will also deny us before his Father which is in Heaven Matth. 10.33 and before the Angels of God Luk. 12.8 Whosoever shall bee ashamed of me Mark 8.38 and of my words saith Christ of him also shall the Sonne of man bee ashamed when he commeth in the glory of his Father with the holy Angels 3 Because If wee confesse God and Christ wee shall bee incouraged defended and honoured even here 1 Encouraged and strengthened by Christ to and in our Testimony as Paul was at Corinth to whom the Lord spake in the night by a Vision Acts 18.9 Bee not afraid but speak and hold not thy peace and at Jerusalem The night following after Paul had like to have been pulled in peeces for his confession before the Counciâ— the Lord stood by him Act. 23.10 11. and said Be of good chear Paul for as thou hast Testified of me at Jerusalem 2 Tim. 4.16 17 so must thou bear witnesse also at Rome And at Rome at Pauls first Apology all men forsook him none stood by him notwithstanding saith hee the Lord stood with mee and strengthened mee Rev. 11.5 6 10 God bears witnesse to the Testimony of his two witnesses by infusing great power both into them and into it 2 Wee shall bee defended and delivered from the assaults and designs of our enemies as God promised Paul at Corinth I am with thee Act. 18.9 10 and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee and at his Conversion when Christ tells him I will make thee a Minister and a witnesse Act. 26.16 and promiseth to deliver him from the people Chap. 23.10 11 20 21 and from the Gentiles unto whom he hath sent him v. 17. and performed to him both at Jerusalem where hee was rescued by the Captain from violence and saved from the Jews conspiracy lying in wait to kill him and at Rome where hee was delivered out of the mouth of the Lion 2 Tim. 4.17 that was Nere God hath a wing of special protection to spread over his witnesses And though the two witnesses bee slain for the Testimony of Jesus Rev. 11.11 yet after three days and an half the spirit of life from God shall enter into them and they shall stand upon their feet and great fear shall fall upon them that see them Hence some think that their killing and reviving are in respect of their prophetical life 3 If we honour God by confessing him he will honour us 1 With favour affection and respect from men Christs Confessors and Martyrs have been very highly esteemed dearly beloved 1 Pet. 4.14 and longed for and greatly rejoyced in for the Spirit of God and of glory rests upon them which makes them very amiable in the eyes of others When the Apostles gave witnesse of the Resurrection of Christ Act. 4.33 great grace that is favour and honour was upon them all Because the Church of Philadelphia kept Christs word that is in her mouth by confession Rev. 3.8 9 as well as in her heart by beleef and denied not his name Behold saith Christ I will make them of the Synagogue of Satan which say they are Jews and are not but do lye Behold I will make them to come and worship before thy feet not in way of Religious Adoration Pareus but of external reverence and to know that I have loved thee that is to reverence and honour her as one beloved of Christ When the two witnesses of Christ are revived Rev. 11.12 they shall hear a great voice from heaven saying to them Come up hither They shall bee received triumphantly with great joy and honour into the Church even to the Admiration of their Enemies when they are restored who have been silenced ejected imprisoned banished or the like for the Testimony of Jesus 2 With victory over Satan for the holy Martyrs and Confessors under the Roman persecutions overcame the Accuser of the Brethren as Christians do now by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their Testimony that is by the Testimony or Confession they gave to Jesus Christ and to the word of God Rev. 12.10 11. 3 Yea God will honour us with mutual inhabitation which implyes intimate communion and the continuation thereof between him and us 1 Joh. 4.15 for whosoever shall confesse that Jesus is the Sonne of God God dwelleth in him and he in God Fourthly Because if we confesse Christ aright we shall be saved Confession is unto salvation saith Paul in the
and watchfulnesse to keep us in constant dependence upon Christ for Remission Reconciliation and strength against corruption and for the mortification of it and to keep us in continual conflict or war with sin and in use of the whole Armour of God Second Argument Absolute Perfection was proper to Christ is peculiar to Heaven 1 It was proper to Christ as he was man whilst hee was upon earth to bee perfectly holy and free from sin to have a fulnesse of grace in the greatest extension for kind and excellency for degree Hee knew no sin saith Paul 2 Cor. 5.21 hee did no sin saith Peter Heb. 4.1 â—â— neither was guile found in his mouth 1 Pet. 2.22 2 And Perfection is peculiar to Heaven and to the triumphant state of Gods elect reserved there for them There only is grace made perfect in all degrees and the will of God is done perfectly There alone wee come to our full age and full growth Eph. 4.13 Vnto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ There that which is perfect is fully come and which was imperfect is wholy done away 1 Cor. 13.10 There the Spirits of just men are made perfect Heb. 12.23 Heaven is a high holy privileged place where no unclean thing can ever come There is no Tempter nor Tentation neither Sin nor Satan To hold Perfection in this life is to confound and jumble Heaven and Earth together or the state Militant with the Triumphant state of the Saints which are distinct in time and place in order measure and concomitants Third Argument Those that plead their Perfection here and say they have no sin discover much sin in their spirits speech and carriage as ignorance errour spirituall pride passion uncharitablenesse Bitternesse Censuring and condemning others vilifying them by opprobrious terms malicious cavils and railing Accusations Rude uncivil behaviour Besides some of these deluded perfectists hold many dangerous yea blasphemous opinions as their scandalous Pamphlets which better deserve to be burnt than to be read do publish to the world They place Religion in trivial matters not worth the naming and other things which I take no delight to rip up or relate Are these things and the like the properties or concomitants of perfection Do they become such persons as say they have no sin Do not their own mouthes condemn them Are not these and such like the Generation who are pure in their own eyes Proâ— 30 12 who fancy themselves to be righteous yet they are not washed from their filthiness But because they embraced not the love of the Truth God hath given them over to strong delusions to beleeve the lyes of their own seduced hearts and are indeed infatuated They think they have light enough within them therefore they reject Gods Word from being a lamp to their feet and a light unto their path I would gladly see the face of that man who can truly say I finde no darkness in my mind no guile nor perversness in my spirit no disorder in my affections no aversness to good nor proneness to evil that cansay I finde all that is within me sweetly tuned to the obedience of the Gospel without any jarre of corruption Fourth Argument This opinion of perfection in this Life shakes the Fundamentals of Religion and wounds the vitals of Christianity and over-throws the Gospel For it takes away the need and use of Christs satisfaction of Faith Repentance of Ordinances and of Christian watchfulness They that say they have no sin have no need of Christs bloud to cleanse them from sin nor of Christ himself to save them from sin No need of faith to beleeve in Christ for imputed righteousness to justifie them if they have a righteousness of their own which is perfect No need of Repentance if they be righteous and without sin for Christ came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance nor of Ordinances as the Word Sacraments Prayer c. that they may grow thereby if they be perfect already or so good as they cannot be better What need have they to keep watch against sin that have no enemy that are free from sin How soon and easily may they bee surprised by Satan and drawn into sin that do not take heed to their spirits and ways lest they should be led into tentation and fall into transgression Security lets them in but fear and vigilance keeps them out Blessed is the man that feareth alway He that thinks he hath no sin makes himself a prey to Satan Let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall Is not this opinion of dangerous consequence both in respect of the Truth and of the Persons that hold it Besides they that hold it condemn the Generation of the righteous as workers of iniquity who are not of their way The tree is known by its fruits so are persons and opinions discovered by the fruits and effects of them Fifth Argument In every place of Scripture where perfection is spoken of in reference to the Saints here something either goeth before or followeth after which expresseth or implies their imperfection and clears the sense of those places as meaning perfection of parts or growth or uprightness or the like but not perfction of degrees to be without sin in this life Be yee perfect saith Christ to his Disciples Matth. 5.48 in chap. 6.12 he teacheth them to pray for pardon of sin every day as oft and as long as they need daily bread that is as long as they live surely then his meaning is not that they or wee may bee perfectly perfect here but that we should strive after perfection and repent of and begge pardon of our sins to which we are subject every day even during life Let as many as be perfect be thus minded saith Paul Phil. 3.15 How is that as Paul was vers 12. to think our selves imperfect or that we have not already attained scil to our full measure in Christ yet Paul though hee was not fully perfect propounds himself to the Philippians as a pattern for their imitation If any offend not in word the same is a perfect man Jam. 3.2 he means no absolute perfection or exemption from sin for hee had said before In many things we sin all We speak wisdom among them that are perfect saith Paul 1 Cor. 2.6 Who are they Such as Paul exhorts 2 Cor. 7.1 joyntly with himself to cleanse themselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit therefore they were not perfectly pure and to be perfecting holiness in the fear of God that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by degrees therefore they were not perfect already or at once He that is born of God sinneth not 1 Joh. 3.9 but hear what the same Apostle saith in chap. 1.8 10. If we say wee have no sin we deceive our selves c. Therefore the former text must not bee understood of a Saints not sinning at