Selected quad for the lemma: heaven_n
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A55395
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A seasonable apology for religion being the subject of two sermons lately delivered in an auditory in London / by Matthew Pool, minister of the Gospel in London.
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Poole, Matthew, 1624-1679.
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1673
(1673)
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Wing P2852; ESTC R36683
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40,512
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78
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exact survey of it My yoke saith our Saviour is easie and my burthen is light Mat. 11.30 and St. Iohn attests to the truth of it 1 Ioh. 5.3 His commandments are not grievous 'T is true Religion like the Arts and all excellent things is hard at first but afterwards use and exercise and the grace of God doth make it easie The difficulties also of Religion are mixt with great sweetness and followed with glorious rewards there is a gracious God to assist a pure and peaceable conscience to support and delight certain hope of eternal glory to invite whereas the sinners difficulties are quite of another nature and agravated with fearful circumstances oft times outward troubles upon him and a guilty conscience within him and an infernal pit opening its mouth to receive him he cannot live yet dare not dye This is the portion of the enemies of Religion 3. Differences amongst Professors of Religion If I would be religious say some men there are so many Religions among us one contradicting and condemning another that I know not what to believe nor which to chuse and therefore it s the wisest way to be of no Religion 1. Answ. The differences among Professors of Religion are neither so weighty nor so many as is pretended Ungodly men look upon them with a magnifying Glass their hatred of Religion makes them seem worse than in truth they are I shall not now meddle with any other Religion but our own I suppose the vanity and imposture of Popery is sufficiently evident to all intelligible persons whom lust or interest doth not blind and byass But as for the differences among Protestants which Papists and Atheists do so tragically aggravate if they come to be throughly scan'd the case will be found to be as sometimes you shall observe in a mist where a Bird or other Object at a distance will seem very great which when you come nearer dwindless into an inconsiderable bigness Protestants are all agreed in the vitals and fundamentals of Religion they have the same Articles of their Creed the same Rule of Faith and Life and Prayer If mens pride and passions were mortify'd it is apparent enough from the Confessions of Protestant Churches which is the only rational Standard to try them by the differences are more in appearance than in truth more in words than in things and generally more in circumstances than in substance so that a man may as well quarrel with humanity because one man differs from another in age stature quality c. as with Religion for the unessential differences of its Professors 2. Differences among Professors of Religion are an evident argument of the truth of it and I am perswaded this is one reason why God permits differences amongst Christians in lesser things that men might be more fully satisfied concerning the truth of those substantial Doctrines wherein all are agreed Certainly that great variety levity and wildness of many mens minds the vast difference of mens apprehensions educations inclinations affections and interests which are the principal causes of diversity of opinion doth give sufficient assurance to any considerate man of the truth of that Religion which forceth the unanimous assent of so many persons and them of such differing complexions And surely this is a strange and most perverse way of reasoning because a man is unsatisfied in some lesser matters wherein Christians differ to forsake those essential truths wherein all are agreed 'T is a sign the man is resolved to be quarrelsom and that his quarrel is with Religion 3. Differences in Religion are not so hard but that a prudent and pious man may find out the truth If a man diligently and humbly study the Word of God and heartily beg of God the spirit of direction and take advice from able and faithful Ministers whom God hath establisht in his Church for this end Mal. 2.7 For the Priests lips should keep knowledge and they should seek the Law at his mouth for he is the Messenger of the Lord of Hosts and conscionably practise what they already know and believe I dare confidently say that man shall either understand the right in cases of difference or else God will pardon his mistake And indeed this is the right use we should make of differences in Religion not to throw off all Religion for a man may upon the very same ground abandon his reason because of the differences and contradictions in mens reasonings one with another but to be the more inquisitive into the truth So did the Samaritan Convert Ioh. 4.19 20. Sir I perceive that thou art a Prophet our Fathers worshipped in this Mountain and you say that in Ierusalem men ought to worship She doth not infer that therefore she would worship no where according to the new Logick of atheistical or wanton Wits but she applies her self to Christ for direction concerning the true Worship 4. The fewness and meaness as also the folly and weakness of true Christians The great Wits say they the profound Philosophers the deep Statesmen the men of honour these contemn Religion which none but a few obscure â—ools embrace As Machiavel is said to have told the Confessor sent to him by the Duke of Florence when he was upon his sick Bed He dreamt that he was in Heaven and that there he saw many poor unlearned Monks and others of mean capacity and quality and that he had been in Hell and there saw many great Emperours renowned Generals wise Counsellors and famous Scholars and added that he was for the best company and so dismist him and this is really the choice that many others make 1. Answ. You are not surprizâ—d herein it was observed by Christ himself that the poor did receive the Gospel and the Aposâ—le confirms it by his experience 1 Cor. 1.6 Not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called and this was designed by God for wise and weighty ends partly to teach men contempt of worldly greatness which they are too apt to admire to convince men that he is no respecter of persons that he values no mans Titles partly to reduce things to a greater equality Luke 16.27 Son remember that thou in thy life time receivedst good things and Lazarus evil things but now he is comforted and thou art tormented God will not allow to any man two Heavens he therefore that hath his Heaven and happiness in this world may be the better contented if a more despicable person goes away with the happiness of the next world especially seeing he had his choice and that which he far preferred before it partly to demonstrate the truth and divine power of that Religion that could subdue the world by a few mean foolish and contemptible iâ—struments So that you see this objection confronts the wisdom of God and all his holy designs as also it strikes at the very person of our blessed Saviour who came into the world in the same despicable
judgments immutable in their goodness and is no Physitian to be prized but hâ— who cures all diseases Thirdly Religion hath washt her hands from all the guilt of mens miscarriages In all Courts or Councils those that enter their protests against unrighteous sentences are held innocent Now Religion hath entered its protest against all the disorders of its Disciples Religion has bound its yoke upon all of them What if some Religious men be seditious or rebellious against Magistrates Religion hath protested against it Rom. 13.1 Let every Soul be subject to the higher powers and if men forget their duty Religion commands to put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers to obey Magistrates Tit. 3.1 If persons professing godliness be perverse or stubborn Servants Religion hath declared against it Servants be subject to your Masters with all fear not only to the good and gentle but also to the froward 1 Pet. 2.18 And the like obligation Religion hath laid upon every relation Husbands must love their Wives as Christ loved his Church Ephes. 5. 25. And Wives must be in subjection to their own Husbands At their peril be it if they will dare to violate these sacred injunctions but if they do yet there is no reason Religion should bear the blame that hath laid its commands upon all its followers to carry themselves in every relation and condition with all care and sweetness It allows no mans unrighteous churlish morose un-neighbourly deportment But whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report if there be any virtue and if there be any praise we must think of these things Philip. 4.8 It commands that every one that names the name of Christ should depart from iniquity 2 Tim. 2.19 and charges Christians as they tender its honour to take heed to their actions Let as many Servants as are under the yoke of Christ count their own Masters worthy of all honour that the name of God and his Doctrine be not blasphemed 1 Tim 6.1 Religion disowns and disclaims those pretendeâ—s that act contrary to these rules yea and hath commanded us to disown them too Now we command you brethren in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ that you withdraw your selves from every brother that walketh disorderly 2 Thes. 3.6 I have written to you if any man that is called a brother be a fornicatour or covetous or an Idolatour or a railer or a drunkard with such an one no not to eat 1 Cor. 5.11 It forbids all irregularities under the highest penalties Neither fornicatours nor Idolaters nor adulterers c. shall inherit the Kingdom of God nay it severely punisheth all obliquities Christ hath ordained a strict discipline which if it were faithfully executed would effectually purge out all those persons for whose sakes Religion suffers There are also spiritual and most tremendous punishments which Religion doth inflict upon unsound professors by giving them up to a reprobate mind and seared conscience to damnable heresie and apostasie from Religion to Atheism and Popery of which we have â—requent instances Religion thus purging out its ill humours and abandoning its rotten members of whom we may say as St. Iohn does 1 Ep. Iohn 2.19 They went out from us but they were not of us for if â—hey had been of us they would no doubt hâ—ve contiâ—ued with us In a word Religion doth more to seâ—ure the world from all manner of injustice and â—ickedness than any thing else whatsoever For both binds the righteous laws of men upon the Conscience with the authority of God and it threatens the violators of them with severer punishments than Magistrates can inflict so that if Religion doth not restrain men nothing will 'T is sufficient that Religion hath don its part and therefore ought in all reason and justice to be excused I cannot but observe the gross unrighteousness of men that for some few lâ—te instances of Rebellion or Sedition amongst professors take occasion to condemn Religion whereas if they look into thâ— Histories of other Nations or of former ages in this they shall find twenty instances to one of the same sins in persons that never made any shew of Religion Nor hath Religion only given excellent rules to oblige Subjects to obedience to their Rulers and a patient suffering under them but also there have been divers remarkable instances of Christians practising this rule and quietly submitting to those penalties which probably by force they might have avoided and therefore it is a cleer evidence of mens malignant disposition against Religion that they take occasion to condemn it from the ill examples of some rather than to commend it from the good examples of others as the laws of Civility and Charity oblige them to do Caution or instruction First To the enemies of Religion Secondly To its Friends Thirdly To all First To the enemies of Religion Take heed of this sinful practice of speaking evil of Religion for any mens pretended or real miscarriages We live in times wherein mens mouths are open against Religion they are not contented to condemn the actions of Religious men but from thence both weakly and wickedly infer that all Religion is but a cheat and imposture and men are very apt to drink in such cursed suggestions and to follow such pernicious examples This therefore I caution you against Whoever thou art that dost so consider First Herein thou art the Devils friend thou dost his work and mayst expect his wages Religion is Gods great Instrument to dissolve the works of the Devil and no wonder if he labours to disparage it and make it ineffectual Whoever is the engine you may be sure the hand of Ioab is in this matter and 't is he that sets men upon this work hereby he hardens men against God and exâ—sperates God against men For be assured of it God is very tender of the honour of Religion and hâ— that toucheth that toucheth the apple of his eye Secondly Herein thou art thy own enemy when thou openest thy mouth against Relâ—gon upon any pretence whatsoever I may say as Solomon did concerning Adoniâ—h As the Lord liveâ— thou speâ—kest this against thine own head Possibly some professors of Religion have given thee occasion and thou art glad of it as wicked men usually are both at the sins and sufferingâ— of Gods people though none have less cause for it Mâ—t. 18.7 Woe to the World because of offenâ—es Thâ— blame of â—he offence will rest upon the head of him that is the cause of it but thâ— miâ—chief of it redounds â—o thâ— wicked world and most of all to them that take thâ— greâ—test pleasure in it Their laughter â—s but like that of one in a pâ—rensieâ— an indication of his disease and a presage of his death Consider I beseech you if ever you come to Heaven you must love Religion and imitate the