't is both work and wages and such imployment is our high preferment 'T is not onely For keeping but In keeping of Gods commandements that there is reward Iames 1.25 Godlinesse in the power of it is Gain great gain none like it This reward followes obedience freely as Punishment followes the disobedient though they neither desire nor seek it yet paena est finis operis etsi non est finis operantis Those that love the commands of God and sincerely obey them shall be certainly rewarded though they should not desire or seek it but in simplicity of heart run the wayes of God making this their aym that they may glorify him Now all these high commendations of the word should make us unfeignedly for to love it heartily to embrace it reverently to esteem it and fervently to desire it Excellency being the Object of desire Gods Word is like God himself full of Majesty full of Excellency It contains magnalia honorabilia Legis the great and honourable things of Gods Law Hos. 8.12 It is not an empty sound or a dead letter but full of Majesty Life and Power and therefore must be entertained by us with the greatest respect Looke what Reverence we give unto God the same is due to the Word of God See more of the Scriptures Excellency Master Robert Boltons Saints Guide p. 42.43 c. Master Trapps True Treasure Chapter 3. Sect. 2. Master Leighs Body of Divinity l. 1. c. 8. p. 81. 2. If the Scriptures be Gods Word then it will follow that they are a Perfect Rule and Canon for us to walke by The Canons and Rules of men are oft times harsh hard sottish superstitious and disquiet the Conscience aye but the Word of God commands nothing but what is sweet and easie pleasant and profitable to the soul that walks according to it Gal. 6.16 as many as walk according to this Rule or Canon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so Phil. 3.16 Peace and Mercy shall be their portion hence the books of Scripture are called Canonical because they are the rule and Canon by which we must walk hence 't is that the Lord sends us in our doubts not to a Light within us which is no better then darkness nor to unwritten Traditions without us which would soon deceive us but to the Law and to the Testimony Isay 8.19 20. not to witches or wizards not to the dead for the ease of the living but we must have recourse to the Law of God which is given us by him for our infallible direction and if any man speak either without or against the word it is because he hath no true Light of Grace or Understanding in him This God hath ordained as a Lampe for our Feete that we miscarry not amiddest those many By-paths that are in the World Let us then make use of it in the course of our Lives If a Carpenter have a Rule or Line if he tie it to his backe and never use it his Worke must needs be crooked So if we have Bibles and never reade them nor Meditate on them to practice them our Lives must needs be irregular They are then to be reproved who set up false Rules to walk by As 1. Antiquitie 2. Custome 3. Fathers 4. The Church 5. Reason 6. Vniversalitie 7. Enthusiasms All which you may see Succinctly and Learnedly confuted in Master Anthony Burgess his Fast Sermon on Mark 1.3 Preached before the House of Commons September 17. 1643. Page 3. to 19. where you have six properties of a Rule with many motives and directions to read the Scripture To these I shall adde an eighth sort viz. those that leave the Scriptures and make Providence the Rule of their wayes and walking because they have success and prosper in their wayes therefore they conclude that their wayes are good and God approves of them But if this were good Logick then thieves and sacrilegious persons might conclude that their actions were good because they have success for a time in their wickedness Like Dionysius who prospering in his sacriledge cried See hâ—w the Gods love Sacriledge Such must know that we may not accept the most signall Demonstrations of Providence against a Scripture Rule No alteration of times no success of Providence must make us goe against the Word of God See five Reasons against such in Master Lyfords Plain mans Senses exercised p. 29. to 37. and Master Anthony Burgess Spi. Refining 1 Part. Serm. 31. 9. Others make Conscience their Rule wherein Conscience is regula regulata non regula regulans It must be ruled by the Word and not rule the Word Conscience is onely a subordinate Rule and binds us no further then it receives information from the Word Many Sectaries cry their Conscience is against our Ministery Churches Ordinances and may not a Jew a Turke or Papist say as much that it is against his Conscience to joyn with us but who knows not that an erronious Conscience doth not bind else Iohn 16.2 Acts 26.9 might plead Conscience for persecuting the Church Thy duty is not to follow it but get thy judgement better informed that thou mayest leave it since the light of Conscience is but imperfect and may erre 3. If the Scripture be Gods Word then it must needs be the fittest Iudge both in matters of Doctrine and Practice Hence in all our doubts God sends us hither for direction Deuteronomy 12.32 and 28.58 and 31.9.10 Isay 8.20 and Christ sends us to the Scriptures to decide matters of Controversie Thus when a Controversie arose about the Resurrection Christ determines the Controversie by Scripture Matthew 22.29 ye erre not knowing the Scripture So Luke 10.26 and 16.29 Acts 16.22 2 Peter 1.19 The Word is the supreme â—udge in all matters of Religion Who is higher then God when his Word hath spoken it what exception shall we make or to whom shall we appeal Hence Christ himself submitted his Doctrine to the decision of the Scriptures Iohn 5.39 so did the Apostle Acts 28.23 The Church is Gods House his City his Spouse and He onely is her Lawyer Iames 4.12 See more Doctor Davenant de Iudice cultus cap. 4. p. 5. Doctor Prideaux Lect. 22. Revets Isagoge cap. 19.20 Lyford Plain mans sens Excerc Page 9.10 Gerherd Loc. Com. Tom. 1. Doctor Cheynel against Antitrinit c. 9. p. 291. D. Morton Apolog. p. 2. l. 5 Brochmand CC. Tom. 1. Controvers 1. Q. 19. Ames Bell. Enervat l. 1. c. 5. 4. If the Scripture of the Old and New Testament be a perfect Rule and the supream Judge then they are to be blamed who adde Apochryfal writings to it to perfect it whereas that which is perfect needs no such Additions yet the Papists have put them in the Canon though there be palpable lies in them E. G. Ecclesiasticus 1.14 that the fear of the Lord was created with the faithful in the womb so Ecclesiasticus 46.20 is false
and his company Numb 6.16 they thought to have levelled all but God levelled them they would destroy both Magistracy and Ministery but God destroyes them they made a rent in the Congregation and the Earth rent and devoured them all this is done for a memoriall to succeeding Ages that they take heed how they make rents in the Church of God verse 40. So Cain the first Separatist that we read of Gen. 4.16 he went from Gods presence i. e. from Gods Church and Ordinances and then he becomes a Vagabond He that would see more against this Sin let him peruse Mr. Perkâ—ns on Iude 19. Mr. Robert Bolton's Saints Guide p. 126. Mr. Pagits Arrow against Separation Mr. Rutherfords Plea for Presbytery p. 120. Mr. Bernard against Smith D. Hill's Fast Sermon 1644. on 2 Cor. 6.17 18. Mr. Blake on the Covenant chap. 31. p. 228. c. and on the Sacrament chap. 8. Sect. 3. p. 314. Camero Praelect de Ecclesia mihi p. 322. and above all Mr. Brinsly of Yarmouth His Arraignment of Separation A fourth Observation That the doctrine of the Millenaries is a meer fancy The Text is clear against it for it sayes expressely The last dayes shall be perilous times Many dream of peace and joy and I know not what golden glorious flourishing times wherein they shall be free from Sin and Sinners and live in this World without tentations and troubles But do not you deceive your selves with such vain conceits for I tell you saith the Apostle the last dayes shall be very perilous wherein all manner of Sins and Sinners shall abound men shall be Covetous Proud Blaspemers c. verse 23. Now whether shall we believe Paul or these Dreamers that say Christ shall come from heaven and shall reign visibly and personally in Ierusalem a thousand yeares as an earthly Monarch in outward glory and and Pompe putting down all Monarchy and Empires Then shall the Church of the Iewes and Gentiles live without any Trouble or Enemy without Sin or Sorrow without Word Sacraments or any Ordinances They shall passe this thousand yeares in great worldly delights eating drinking building houses planting vineyards and eating the fruit of it Marrying wives getting children and enjoying all the lawful pleasures which all the creatures then Redeemed from their ancient slavery can afford In this earthly happiness shall the Church continue till the end of thousand yeares and then comes the day of Judgement Upon this point I find so many men so many opinions 't is a harder thing to find out certainly what they hold then 't is to conquer them Piscator saith The Martyrs shall rise a thousand yeares before others and shall reign with Christ in heaven Alsteed comes and he saith it shall be on Earth yet after the day of judgement Mr. Mede with his new light differs from all the rest affirming That this reign shall be in and during the day of Judgement which shall continue a thousand yeares Chimaera Chimaerâ—ssima a very fiction without foundation in the Word of God Thus these builders of Babel are divided and confounded amongst themselves The first opinion I find to be most generally received hy the Millenaries Indeed such carnal Doctrine suits well with such carnall Saints This is some of the new light of our times being nothing but an old errour broached by Cerinthus the Heretick in the first Century 1500. yeares agoe He was a loose Libertine and therefore he invented this loose Opinion to uphold his riotous practises S. Augustin opposed it It hath layen dead for a long time till some some Libertines and carnall Anabaptists of late have revived it and put a new gloss upon it The vanity of this opinion will appear by the arguments in my Chiliasto-Mastyx against Doctor Homes VERSE 2. For men shall be lovers of themselves Covetous Boasters Proud Blasphemers disobedient to Parents unthankfull unholy c. THe Apostle having told us verse 1. in General that the last dayes should be perilous he comes now to particulars verse 2 3 4 5. and sets forth in their proper colours the Sins and Sinners the Men and Manners of the last times I wish they were not a true Map of our times I may truly call these 19. sins Englands Locking-glasse wherein we may plainly see the true cause of all our miseries and what it is that hinders the work of Reformation and turnes away good things from us These are the 19. Weeds which deface Gods Garden the Church the good Lord root them out of all our hearts that our names may never be found in this black Bill and cursed Catalogue to be such as make evill times bad and bad times worse 'T is worth our noting that the Apostle doth not place the Perill and Hardnesse of the last times in any externall calamity or penall evills as Sword Plague Famine Persecution but in the prodigions sins and enormities of such as professe Religion Let the times be never so successfull and prosperous in other respects yet if Sin abound they are truly perilous and pernicious times for 't is Sin that sets God against us and the Creatures against us and conscience against us Sin is the Fundamental Meritorious cause of all our miseries and perills as appears Deut. 28.15 16 c. Sin is the evill of evills and brings all other evills with it Let the times be never so miserable and the Church lye under sad persecutions yet if they be not sinfull times they are not truly perilous times but rather purging and purifying times From the Connection of this verse with the former Observe That nothing is so perilous and pernicious so hard and heavy to a gracious soule as the Sins of the times he lives in This I have cleared in the opening of the last clause of the first verse As nothing is dearer to Gods people than Gods glory so nothing goeth nearer their hearts than Gods dishonour As Gods soul is said to be afflicted and his heart to be broken with the Idolatries and Apostasies of a back-sliding people Ezek. 6.9 so 't is a great grief and heart-breaking to the people of God to see their God dishonoured Hence Lots righteous soul is said to be vexed or tormented as the word signifieth with the abominations of the Sodomites 2 Pet. 2.7 8. The Mourners sigh and cry for all the abominations of the times they lived in Ezek. 9.4 Ieremy 13.17 weeps in secret for the sins of the people Davids eyes run down with rivers of teares becâ—â—se men forget Gods Law and his soul was grieved because of the Transgressors Psal. 11.9.53.136.158 Christ wept over Ierusalem because she knew not the day of her Visitation Luke 19.41 42. Paul is troubled at the Idolatry of the Athenians Acts 17.16 and weeps to consider the sad condition both of the Seducers and the Seduced Phil. 3.18 the two Witnesses mourn to see so many bewitcht with Antichrists delusions Revel 11.3 'T is true we ought
our Portion but we must have earthly pleasures to peece out our happinesse withall it s an infallible sign of such as love pleasures more then God 2. Be diligent in your callings then you will be out of the reach of many Tentations and be freed from many noysome lusts which pursue and pester idle persons 3. Shun the company of such as are given to pleasures for as a man can hardly escape free from Blacking and Meale that is familiar with Colliers and Milners so he can hardly escape the lusts and pleasures of the world that is familiar with voluptuous ones There is a secret poyson and infection in wicked society when men are mingled with them they learn their works Psal. 106.35 Many that have been good whilest they have been in good company as Iehoash which was good all the time that good Iehojada lived 2 Kings 12.2 yet when they have changed their company have changed their manners also Let the daily falls of others in this kind make you to feare VERSE 5. Having a Form of Godlinesse but denying the Power thereof from such turn away THis is the last but not the least sin of the last times That we may the better know and avoyd the Impostors of the last times the Apostle comes now to give us some speciall marks for the former 18. are common to the seducers and the seduced by which they may be known as 1. By their Hypocrisy they will be glozing Hypocrites who under pretence of piety will practice all manner of iniquity making religion a cloak and stale to cover all their villanies Such were the Gnosticks of old to whom some conceive the Apostle had an eye who were fleshly Libertines given up to sensuality and all manner of wickedness yet made a shew of Piety and pretended extraordinary holiness Such are the Papists now on the one hand and the sectaries on the other both pretend singular piety when their lives abound with all manner of iniquity These painted Sepulchers in all ages have been the greatest enemies to Reall Saints as you may see Cant. 1.6 Isay 66.5 Matth. 23.34 Iohn 16.1 2. Acts 13.50 In these words the Apostle tels us 1. What these men have viz. A form of Godlinesse 2. What they want viz. the Power of it 3. How we must behave our selves towards them viz. we must shun their society from such turn away 1. For the first they have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a vain and empty shew of Faith and Holiness They are not men without the Pale of the Church such as Heathens and Jewes which are open enemies to the Gospel but they have a forme of Godliness an externall profession of Religion in Words Ceremonies and Gestures they make great shewes and put on the Vizard of piety like stage-players they act the part of a King but strip them of their robes and they are beggarly Rogues They have non 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not the true form and essence of Godliness which consists in an invvard change and doth denominate and give being to things but they have formality or an outvvard shevv and shadovv of Holiness Like Pictures and Images vvhich have an external shevv and shape of a man vvhose lineaments and proportion may be so dravvn to the life that there vvants nothing but life indeed to act them they vvill be great professors and look vvhat a sincere Christian hath in Substance that have these Formalists in Semblance they have no life no povver no principle of operation in them 2. They vvant the povver i. e. the truth of Godliness vvhich consists in true faith purifying the heart Act. 15.9 in love unfeigned to God our neighbour 1 Tim. 1.5 in the internal spiritual obedience of the heart worshipping God in Spirit and in Truth Iohn 4.24 'T is a professing of the truth in truth and walking in the power of it But alas where shall we find this The form indeed is frequent but where shall we find the power of grace the beauty of Holiness and the efficacy of the new creature do not most resist that inward vertue power of godliness by which the heart should be renewed the conversation rectified So that formality formality formality is the great sin of England at this day under which the land groans True the form profession of religion abounds but alas for the vain carnal covetous proud censorious sensuall walking of the professors of it The complaint is generall there is not that Mortification Self-deniall and Circumspect walking as formerly There 's more light but lesse life more shadow but lesse substance more profession but lesse sanctification then formerly There is more fasting praying preaching but where 's the Practice and Power of Religion as Isaack said to Abraham behold the wood but where 's the Lamb so behold the Duties but where oh where 's the life the power the truth of what is done The voyce is Iacobs voyce but the hands are the hands of Esau for they deny the power of Religion not only in their hearts but also in their works Titus 1.16 1 Tim. 5.8 they so live as if Godlinesse were but an aery notion and a matter of fashion without all force or efficacy The form of godlinesse is easie and cheap service and so hath many followers bodily exercise and a bare observation of the Letter of the Law is delightful even to Pharises but the life and power of Godliness is hard and haâ—sh to flesh and blood Matth. 7.13 Luke 13.24 1 Pet. 4.18 it teacheth high and hard Lessons such as Self-deniall Mortification resisting sin and Satan living by Faith Patience yea joyfulness in sufferings c. these spiritual Lessons are distastefull to carnal men and therefore few they be that goe this way The Text may be considered two wayes Relatively or absolutely 1. Relatively as it relates to the 18. sins before mentioned so this sin is the cloak to hide and cover them all men will be lovers of themselves but under a form of Godliness Hence Observe That a man may have a form of Godlinesse and yet live in all manner of wickednesse 'T is true the Power of Godliness cannot consist with the power of Ungodliness but the more the power of Godliness is lifted up in the soul the more the power of Ungodliness will be supprest as the house of David grows stronger and stronger so the house of Saul grows weaker and weaker But yet the form of Godliness may stand with the power of Ungodliness A man may be a glorious Professor in the highest form and yet a Puny in the form of Grace He may be a blazing Comet for profession and yet be a Devill incarnate in life and conversation The Scribes and Pharises were glorious Professors and yet but painted Sepulchers filled with pride and oppression even when they were murdering Christ they had a form of godlinesse Iohn 18.28 they
is one end why we came into the world viz. that we might bear witness to the truth Iohn 13.37 We are Gods salt and therefore must by our Prayer Preaching and Practice help to season men and keep them from rotting in sin and error One part of our work is to convince gain-sayers Titus 1.9 This others of abilities may do ex charitate but we ex officio We are the keepers of the Vineyard and must take care that the Foxes spoil not the tender Grapes We are Fathers and must see that the children have not a stone given them insteed of bread nor a Serpent instead of a fish Let the zeal of others quicken us How zealous was Elijah and Paul against the false Prophets of their times How zealous was Athanasius against the Arrians Austin against the Pelagians and the Donatists Luther Calvin Beza c. against Papists and Sectaries of all men it becomes not us to be silent and meal-mouthed when our Lord 's dishonoured 3. Let every one stand upon his guard Christ warned his own Disciples to beware of such Matthew 7.15 the best know but in part and Satan is so subtle that we may soon be deceived How quickly did the Galathians fall from the faith to justification by works in so much that the Apostle wonders they were so soon fallen to another Gospel Galathians 1.6 'T was Luthers complaint that an ignorant rayling sot could in a moment overthrow what we have been building many years Such is the cursed depravation of mans heart I shall therefore give you some preventing Physick against the pestilent attempt of seducers 1. Get your judgements rightly informed especially in the Principles and Fundamentals of Religion as Faith Repentance Justification Sanctification and new-Obedience Our greatest care should be about the greatest things of the Law Lay a good foundation else the building will totter When men are children in understanding then they are tossed to and fro with every winde of Doctrine Ephes. 4.14 Heresie is most strong where knowledge is most weak 'T is the weak flies which hang in the spiders web when the strong break thorough The simple are apt to believe every thing Proverbs 14.15 and like children swallow all that 's put into their mouths There are 7. things as a Reverend Divine hath well observed which are apt to be carried away by the Flood of Heâ—esies 1. Light things 2. Loose things 3. Weak things 4. Low things 5. Rotten things 6. Tottering things 7. Ventrous things How many erre for want of knowledge Psal. 95.10 Matth. 22.19 upon this account the Apostle would not have a Minister to be a novice 1 Tim. 3.6 The Devil deals with men as the Cow doth by the Lamb which first picks out the eyes and then devours it Or as the Philistims dealt by Sampson they first put out his eyes and then they make him grind like a slave Thus he dealt with Eve Gen. 3.4 5. First he deludes her judgement with ye shall not die and then he easily perswades her to eat of the forbidden fruit We should therefore be wise as Serpents that we be not deceived and innocent as Doves that we prove not deceivers Vt nulli nocuisse velis imitare columbam Serpentem ut possit nemo nocere tibi 2. Walke alwayes as in Gods eye have respect to all his commands be ready to obey in revelatis in revelandis whatsoever God shall discover to you to be his Will be not Nominall but Reall Christians rest not content with the form but get the Power of Godlinesse Hereticks are a mere scourge for Formalists and Hypocrites When men reject Gods call he gives them up to delusions Isay 66.4 and the lusts of their own hearts Psalm 81.11 12. Hosea 4.12 13. When men will not be schollars to truth they shall be masters of errors and teachers of lies well verst in the blackest and basest Art 'T is just with God that they who will not have Truth for their King should have falshood for their Tyrant being given up to the Efficacy of errour or to errour in the strength and power of it 2 Thes. 2.10 11. If Pharaoh will not believe the real Miracles of Moses he shall be deluded with the false ones of the Magitians If Ahab will not hearken to Micaiah a true Prophet he shall be deluded by lying spirits in the mouths of false ones and this is one end why the Lord suffers not onely Schismes but Heresies to abound viz. to discover mens hearts to themselves and others Deuterenomy 13.3 So long as the glasse is still no dregs appear but stir it and then they shew themselves Fire discovers the mettle and storms shew us which were rotten trees No man fully knows his own heart till a temptation comes If a man should have told our Apostles 1500. years agoe that they should have denied the Trinity Scripture Sacraments Ordinances c. they would have been ready to say as Hazael am I a Dog that I should do such things as these 3. Grow in Grace This is a special preservative against Apostacy 2 Peter 3.17 18. To this end sit down under a sound soul-searching Ministery God hath ordained this as a special means to establish us in the truth Ephes. 4.10 Better have a biting Gospel said Bradford then a toothlesse Masse better it is to sit under the saddest shade of the true Vine even weeping then to frolick it under the greenest trees and most pleasant Oakes of Idolatry and Heresie We have been barren stocks in the Vineyard of the Lord we have been dead under lively Oracles like the Smiths Anvill we are the harder for beating on such is our corruption that we are the worse for preaching Isaiah 6.9.10 Now God in his just judgement punisheth sinne with sinne he punisheth such contempt of the Gospel with Heresie Witchcraft Apostacy c. 4. Try before you trust Tho your Minister be a Holy man yet ' try what he teacheth you will tell money and weigh gold after your father and shall we onely take Doctrines on trust Since there are not a few but many false Prophets gone forth into the world as Anabaptists Arrians Quakers c. it will be our wisedom to try all things weigh them in the ballance of the Sanctuary bring them to the touch-stone of Gods Word and what upon trial you finde to be sound and right hold it fast retain it against all adverse power whatsoever 1 Thessalonians 5.21 Prov. 23.23 buy the truth at any rate part with it at no rate Prov. 4.21 Luke 8.15 Rom. 12.9 2 Tim. 13.14 Heb. 2.1 and 10.3.3 Rev. 3.3.11 The world was never so full of Spirits as now There is the spirit of Errour the spirit of Fornication the spirit of Pride the spirit of Slumber the spirit of Giddinesse the spirit of Delusion c. Had not we then need to try the spirits 1 Iohn 4.1 Hath not God given us the
with which they must be baptized Matth. 20.22 23. The Church carrieth the Crosse with her where ever she goes She was at first founded in blood she flourisheth and increaseth by bloud and she euds in bloud This plainly appeares both in sacred and Ecclesiasticall History 1. In the Old Testament we read what sorrowes the Church endured by Egyptians Assyrians Cananites Moabites Ammonites Ammorites Perizites Hittits Hivits Samaritans Persians Philistines Elijah is persecuted by Iesabel 1 Kings 19. Micaiah is imprisoned 1 Kings 22. Zacharias stoned 2 Chron. 24.20 21 22. Amos 7.12 banisht Ieremy thice imprisoned Daniel cast into the Lions den and many tortures did the Saints then endure as may be seen Heb. 11.35 c. 2. In the New Testament what persecutions were raised 1. By the Jewes who crucified Christ killed the Prophets and Apostles stoned Stephen and scattered the Church Acts 8.1 2. 2. By the Gentiles and Pagans in those ten bloody persecutions under the Romane Emperours for 300. yeares after Christ under Nero Domitian Trajan Adrian Maximian Maxentius Valerian Decius Dioclesian c. 3. By the Arrians who banisht burnt and butchered the servants of Christ. 4. By the Turk how many thousands of Christs Lambs hath that ravenous wolfe worried and what devastations hath that wild Boare made in Christs Vine-yard 5. By Antichrist the Church hath longer and sharper trialls by that man of sin then by all the rest as appeares by the Martyrologies that are extant The time would faile to tell of the cruell and barbarous Massacres in France Ireland England Scotland Germany Savoy c. Rome-Antichristian hath been more cruell to the Saints then ever Rome-Pagan was Thus if we professe the Gospel in Power we must look to be hated of All. Luke 21.17 Matth. 10.22 not absolutely for some will embrace the Gospel and love us but of very many for so the particle all is oft used in Scripture q. d. Where ever you carry the Gospel you must expect opposition from some of all sorts Acts 4.27 as Princes Psal. 2.2 Prelates Acts 4.1 from friends and foes from strangers and kindred Matth. 10.21.34 c. 1 Thes. 2.14 15. 1. Sometimes the children of God fall out amongst themselves Thus many times we see children of the same family to scratch and teare one another Thus the Devill cast a bone of contention between Lot and Abraham Between Paul and Barnabas there was a sharp contention so that they departed from each other though God turned it to the spreading of his Church Acts 15.39 41. So Paul and Peter fell out Gal. 2.11 The best are but in part regenerate they have the root of Passion Pride Selfe-conceit and all sorts of sin within them there wants but a Temptation and then if God leave them to themselves they may fall it 's hard to say how far Asa though otherwise a good man yet in a rage imprisons the Prophet for telling him of his faults and oppresseth some of the people also 2 Chronicles 16.20 2. There are many secret enemies and false Brethren that pretend to Religion and are seemingly holy of such the Apostle complaines Acts 26.28 29 30. 1 Cor. 11.26 Gal. 2.4 'T was a Cain which offered sacrifice that persecuted Abel A circumcised Ismael that scofft at Isaack Answ. Iudas which preacht Christ that betrayed him The Scribes and Pharisees who pretended most to Religion were Christs deadly enemies he was crucified by such as stiled themselves Abrahams seed Hence the Church complaines Cant. 1.6 my mothers children were angry with me i. e. the seeming children of my mother or my mothers children by external profession These under pretence of Religion are the greatest enemies to Religion and under the name of the Church fight against it As the greatest hatred is usually between men of the same profession figulus figulo invidet so the greatest enemies to the Church are those vipers that lye in her own bowels you must look to be cast out by these seeming Brethren Isai 66.5 and to be counted as monsters and that in Israel Isay 8.18 if it be so now wonder not the world will be alwayes like it self envious and harsh towards the good 3. As for open enemies we have seen before how Gebal and Ammon and Amaleck Psal. 83.7 c. Papists Atheists and Infidels conspire her ruine Hence the Church is compared to a Lilly amongst Thornes Cant. 2.2 Tyranny on the one hand and Heâ—esie on the other As ignorant Tyrants so proud Hereticks are vexing Thornes in the sides of Gods Church This lilly is sorely rent and torne by them The one hurts the body these later the soule and so are the worse of the two The one is a Lion for violence Ieremy 4.7 the other is a Fox for fraudulence Cant. 2.15 'T is a miracle of mercy to consider how the Lilly subsists in the midst of so many briars and thornes How the Lords wheat growes in the midst of so many Tares How his Doves live in the midst of so many birds of prey and his Lambs in the midst of so many roaring Lions Were not the Almighty her defence those bands of ungodlinesse would soon destroy her 2. All that Will live godly a man may have many cold Velleities wishings and wouldings and yet be never molested by Satan but when men are set upon it and are absolutely resolved with Ioshua 24 15. that they Will serve the Lord and cleave to him with full purpose of heart Dan. 1.8 Acts 11.23 when mens hearts are thus fixt on God and his worship Psal. 57.6 they must certainly look for persecution 3. All that will Live if men would conceal their godlinesse in their breasts and not shew it in their lives they might pass on more quietly but when men make open profession of their godlinesse to the disgrace of profanenesse and by their holy lives convince them of their wickednesse this breeds persecution 4. All that will live Godly A man may live civilly and soberly amongst his neighboâ—rs pay every man his dues and so passe for a right honest man in the world and be praised not persecuted But let a man begin to be truly godly hating every false way and walking in the power of religion such a one shall certainly meet with persecution 5. All that will live godly in Christ Iesus q. d. All that resolve in the vertue strength and power of Christ to walk according to the Gospel of Christ must look for persesecution A man may have a form of godliness a shew and shadow of Piety and may escape troubles but if a man be really godly and walk in the power of Religion he must look for hatred and opposition 6. Here we have the inevitable and common lot of all the faithful viz. They shall suffer persecution 't is not peradventure they may but undoubtedly they shall The Devil and his agents will persecute and pursue them These Tygers connot endure such pleasant
Holy Exact Obedient c. But continue thou Note Gods servants must continue constant in the Truth received They must not play fast and loose be off and on but they must be still the same like well-tuned Bells which have the same Note in foul weather as they have in fair Ioh. 1.21 we must hold fast the Truth 1 Thes. 5.21 abide in it and walk in it Rev. 3.3 1 Iohn 2.19.24 and 2.6 7 9. we must part with our lives rather then part with the Truth of God Revel 6.9 no frownes or flatteries must drive or draw us from it we must lose all rather then lose it Prov. 23.23 buy it at any rate sell it at no rate To this end consider 1. This Constancy is a note of Sincerity then are we Christs disciples indeed when we abide in the Truth Iohn 8.32 Iob 2.3 when no Storms nor Tempests can remove us from it but we stand like Mount Sion which never moves and like seasoned Timber never warps nor yields As that Divine Poet sweetly sings Onely a sweet and Vertuous soule Like seasoned Timber never gives But though the whole world turne to coale Then chiefly lives 2. All the promises of Heaven and Happinesse run only to such as are faithfull to the death Rev. 2.10 endure to the end Mat. 24.13 and continue in the faith Rom. 2.7 Matth. 10.22 Colos. 1.22 23. Heb. 3.6.14 See what a cluster of precious promises are made not to such as only begin well but to such as presevere and overcome their spiritual enemies faithfully fighting the battles of the Lord against sin and Satan Revel 2.7.10 11.17.26 27 28. and 3.5.12 and 22.7 He that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 still fighting by the power of Christ against the enemies of his salvation though he cannot overcome them so perfectly as Christ did by way of Equality yet if by way of conformity we resemble him we shall raign with him We must win the garland before we can wear it we must conquer before we can Triumph and strive before we can get the Crown 2 Tim. 2.5 we must run sincerely chearfully and constantly if ever we would obtain 1 Cor. 9.24 3. A damn◠1. Such loose all their labour let a man watch fast pray hear read run yet if he fall away all 's lost Ezek. 18.24 Gal. 3.3 4. 2 Iohn 8. Frustra agitur quod non peragitur as good never awhit as never the better 't is the end that crowns the work A man may go far yet for want of perseverance lose all Moses came to the fortieth year yet mist of going into Canaan A man may dig within a yard of a golden mine and yet for want of a little more pains misse of it 'T is said of King Henry the Eighth that if he had gone on as he began and as he had crakt the Popes crown so he had clean dispossest him of all as he had got the victory so if he had pursued it as 't was preacht before him and as he had unhorst the Pope and put him out of the Saddle so if he had also taken away the Trappings and Stirrups whereby the Prelates went to set him on horse-back againe he had cured all 2. Such bring an evill report and scandal on Religion they disparage the Lords Pastures as if there were no vertue sweetnesse excellency and life in them and therefore they forsake them 3. Satan will deal worse with such then with others he 'l lay more irons on you as the Jaylor doth on a fugitive prisoner He will seek to recover the time that he hath lost by making thee run more furiously in the wayes of sinne so that thy latter end will be worse then thy beginning 2 Pet. 2.22 4. God abhors thee Heb. 10.38 his soul will take no pleasure in thee i. e. he exceedingly hates thee 'T is a Meiosis if any man draw back flye from his colours and forsake God God will forsake him as he did backsliding Saul the Israelites Iudges 2.12 13. Ieremy 5.19 Zeph. 1.26 Spira and Lucian a Professor who after became a scoffer and persecutor and was tore in pieces by Dogs How sad then is the condition of those Seekers Shakers Quakers that are altogether unsetled and have no foundation that are still seeking for new-New-Apostles and New-Light i. e. for false Apostles and old Errors These Sceptical Atheists have a New Religion every week yea almost every day in the week 'T is said of the Northern Quakers I suppose the Southern are of the same temper that in a Moneths time they so changed their Principles that a man could not know them to be the same men but onely by their faces Lately they were for Episcopacy then for Presbytery now for Independency anon for Anabaptisme and then for any thing If this unconstancy and mutability in Religion had been a vertue then must we condemne the generation of Martyrs in all ages who chuse rather to sacrifice all they had then to part with any part of parcel of Gods truth As 't is said of Athanasius maluit mutare sedem quà m Syllabam He had rather lose his Episcopal Seat then part with a Syllable of Truth To what end are all those Precepts if this ficklenesse were lawful to stand fast in the faith to contend for it Coles 1.2.23 Philip 1.27 Iude 3. to beware of false Prophets Matth. 7.15 Gal. 1.6.8 not to be carried away with strange doctrines 1 Cor. 16.13 1 Tim. 6.13 14. As for those that have put their hands to Gods plough they must in no wise look back but break through all difficulties and discouragements Constans contraria spernit True grace breaks through all Iacob will have the blessing though he halt for it David will yet be more vile The woman of Canaan though Christ call her a dog yet can pick somewhat from that debasing term Let the wicked deride Gods people yea and kill them yet will they forget their God nor deal falsely in his Covenant Psal. 44.16 and 119.51 It was Iohn Baptists high Commendations that he was a rock not a reed shaken to and fro with the wind of every tentation Matth. 11.7 no fear nor favour could make him conceale the truth but with the hazard of his life he reproves Herod and Zachary and Elizabeth how constant were they not in talking but in walking the wayes of Gods commands Luke 1.5 6 7. They did not take a turn or two for pleasure but they walked on 2. They walked not in one or two but in all the Commandements of God 3. Though they were not without sin yet were they without blame no man could justly charge them 4. They did not onely beginne well but they persevered even to old age v. 7. when they were stricken in yeares 5. 'T was in a dangerous time when they did thus walk with God V. 5. 't was in the dayes of Herod a bloody Tyrant It 's a comely
are but Truths twinnes Civil Truth is good but the least Evangelical Truth is of more worth then all the Civil Truths in the world that are meerly so 3. Naturally wee desire Liberty now Truth is the Parent of all true Liberty whether it bee Political or Personal so much Untruth so much Thraldome so much Truth so much Liberty Iohn 8.32 4. If you preserve the Truth it will preserve you in the hour of Temptation as Solomon sayes of wisdom Prov. 4.8 exalt her and she shall exalt you So keep the truth and it will keep you from falling as it did the Church of Philadelphia Rev. 3.10 so thou shalt stand as an impregnable rock when others fly as the Chaffe before the wind The Truth of God in judgement is one of the Eyes of the soul he that wants it is blind and cannot see afar off Now as a clear eye is a very great help for the discerning of a danger before it comes so a clear distinct knowledg of the truth is a very great help to us to discern a Temptation before it be upon us and to discover the Methods and Depths of Satan that he may not surprize us unawares 5. 'T is a great honour to a person or Nation to be the Conservators and Preservers of the Truths of God 'T is not only our Duty but our Glory This honour formerly belonged to the Jewes to them were committed the Oracles of God Rom. 3.2 and 9.4 God hath now entrusted us with this choyce Treasure the Lord help us to keep it pure both in Judgement and Practice lest it be taken from us Let us all in our places preserve it from violence with all our might There are many spiritual Cheaters abroad the greater will our honour be in maintaining Gods Truth against them all 'T was Shammahs honour one of Davids Worthies that he kept his ground and got a great victory when others â—led 2 Sam. 23.12 Say not I am but one and a weak one too but remember what great things the Lord did by Athanasius and Luther when they had all the world against them One man holding forth truth shall be too strong for all the world for truth unites us to God and God to us it ingageth God in our quarrel and so makes us invincible for if God be with us who can be against us so as to hurt us and destroy us Rom. 8.31 Bradford writing to his friends tells them never shall the enemy be able to burn the truth or prison and keep it in bonds us they may prison bind and burn but our Cause Religion and Doctrine they shall never be able to burn The story of the man in the Councill of Nice is well known where a Christian of no great Learning converted a Learned man whom all the Bishops with their skill and eloquence could not perswade so long as the matter went by words he opposed words with words but when instead of words power came out of the mouth of the speaker words could not withstand truth nor man stand out against God Many wonder why Ministers are so earnest and zealous in defending the truth why 't is a depâ—situm which God hath entrusted us withall and 't is well observed that it 's a greater sin to imbezill or alter that then any thing we have borrowed because this is committed to our justice but a depositum to our faithfullnesse the deposition doth rest upon us as trusty men Let Gods truth then be dearer to us then our dearest lives our lives will not be worth the enjoying if God take his truth from us let us beseech him rather to take our lives away rather then take the light of the Gospel away And hast been assured of If you read the words so The Observation will be this That Ministers should be assured of those things which they teach to others They should not only have a Head knowledge or an aery empty notionall speculative knowledge but an experimentall practical knowledge They must believe before they speak Psalme 116.10 that so they may speak from the heart to the heart and may bring their meat in their breasts and not as birds do in their Beaks Knowing of whom thou hast learned them 1. Observe That gracious men are modest men The Apostle doth not boast of himself to Timothy nor proclaim his Learning gifts c. He onely tells him in brief Thou knowest of whom thou hast learnt them 2. Observe The excellency of the Teacher makes the Doctrine the more taking This we see even in Humane and Moral Learning the Platonick Doctrine grew famous because it was profest by Socrates and the Peripatetick by Aristotle The Schollars of Pythagoras did so confide in the Dictates of their Master that when any one askt them a Reason of what they held they would give no other answer but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ipse dixit our Master said so yet these were Heathens but when we have an aged holy Paul for our Master who was an Apostle of Christ the Pen-man of the Holy Ghost and guided more immediately by the Spirit of God then we must with constancy adhere to what they teach us and attend to their doctrine as if Christ himself taught us Gal. 4.14 for his Ambassadours they are and he that heareth them heareth him Young Timothies especially should hearken to the instructions of aged Pauls who have born the heat of the day and by experience can teach us the ways of God Years should be heard speak Iob 32.7 Young Ministers should suspect their own judgements when they vary from an Holy aged Calvin Beza and all the Churches of God As young Lawyers and Physitians observe the Principles and Practices of the serious and grave Professours of their way especially when grounded on Maxims and Rules of Art So should young Divines It ill becomes a young raw Physitian to contradict a whole Colledge of Physitians or a Puny Lawyer a Bench of Judges or a young Divine a whole Assembly of Divines 'T is the looseness of the times that makes young men so bold When Government is settled they will either change their note or be made ashamed of it VERSE 15. And that from a Childe thou hast known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through Faith which is in Christ Iesus THese words contain a third Argument by which the Apostle presseth Timothy to perseverance viz. because he knew the Scriptures not onely from his Childe-hood but even from his Infancy and from a suckling i. so soon as ever he was able to learn the Scriptures he was presently taught them 1. Observe Parents ought to instruct their Children betimes in the Word of God It s good seasoning the Vessel betimes with goodness Lois Timothies Grandmother and Eunice his Mother taught him as soon as he was capable the way of the Lord 2 Timothy 2.5 Timothies Father was a Greek and Gentile but his
not that strong imployment be excused See helps to strengthen Memory Manton on Iames 1.25 p. 204. Barlow on 2 Timothy 2.8 Baine on Revelations 2.4 p. 13. Fenner on Revelations 3.1 Rogers of Dedham on Love p. 3 4 c. Doctor Reynolds on the Passions p. 13 c. 3. Medit on the word Do not only taste it but eat it digest it concoct it for then it will nourish you Ier. 15.16 This made David to excel Ps. 119.99.100 'T was one of Luthers Masters by which he profited so much Meditation Tentation and Prayer This will make us know things experimentally we shall taste of hidden Manna we shall be constant and setled in Gods wayes This layeth open to us all our losses by sin the losse of Gods favour losse of Peace of conscience and losse of Reward and so imbitters sin to us By this we converse with God 't is our Mount Nebo out of which we may behold the heavenly Canaan Though our bodies be on earth yet by Meditation our soules may be in heaven Resolve then to spend one houre in 24. every day in this duty Satan will lay many rubs in your way for of all duties he cannot endure that we should reflect upon our wayes yet like another Sampson you must break all the cords of these Philistines the benefit Peace and comfort you will find by it will abundantly pay for all especially on the Sabbath day we must be much in this duty Rev. 1.10 As the rich man thinks it not sufficient that he hath Gold but he loves to think on 't to see it to count it soe should we not content our selves with a notionall knowledge of God and his works but by meditation we should recount and ponder the wayes and works of God that we may experimentally tell what God hath done for our soules See more for Meditat. Barlow on 2 Tim. 2.7 D. Holsworth's Ser. on Psal. 119.48 p. 321. Downams Guide to Godlinesse l. 5. c. 14. Mr. Stoughton Davids Love to the word p. 295. to 434. Mr. Ambrose his Medita cap. 7. Sect. 1. Mr. Baxter's Saints Rest. Part. 4. p. 147.179 to 203. Let us then with all Thankfulnesse acknowledge this mercy of mercies this gift of gifts what grosse Ignorance Profanenesse Superstition and Idolatry did overspread the world 500. yeares agoe for want of this light which we enjoy Oh what excellent Helps Expositors Treatises Practical and Polemical on all Parts of Divinity do we enjoy what would not our forefathers have given to have seen this day and yet we foolish ungrateful people know not our own mercies nor do we prize the things that concerne our everlasting Peace As ever we desire to prosper let us with all readinesse of mind receive the word none ever yet loâ—t by entertaining it it payeth for its entertainment where ever it comes 'T will return Mercy for Duty and brings with it a sure Reward Every line of it runs Wine Milk and Honey to the due observers of it We should therefore esteem it above our dearest lives When the Sanctum Sanctorum was taken saith Iosephus in the last destruction of Ierusalem the Jewes desired rather to dye then to live What crying yea what dying was there when the Ark was taken 1 Sam. 4.18 20 21 22. if the Lord will take his word away we should desire that he would take us away for our lives will not be worth the enjoying if we cannot have the Tokens of Gods love and favour with them There is not a surer signe of a child of God then this sincere love to the sincere milk of Gods word 1 Pet. 2.2 Moses esteems it above all the learning of other Nations Deut. 4.6 David spends the whole 119. Psalm to shew his intimate affection to it He preferres it before Gold Solomon his son preferres it before Pearles Proverbs 3.15 Iob 23.12 preferres it before his food and Ieremy 15 16. makes it his joy In a word all the children of God have been great lovers of the word of God They look upon it as a Rich Mine of Heavenly Treasures and a store-house of all spiritual consolations The Bible is Promptuarium sacrum a common shop of medicines for the soule full of rich priviledges promises and large Legacies to the people of God 'T is a staffe and stay to the old an ornament and guide to the young Here you may read the Love which God bare to his children from all eternity and will continue to them when time shall be no more here are to be found the Leaves of the Tree of Life which God hath ordained for the healing of the Nations In a word here is a Hammar for Hereticks a Touchstone for doctrine a Rule for our lives a comforter counsellour to us in this house of our pilgrimage We should then read Gods word not only as our duty but as our priviledge singular happinesse Rejoycing that we have them to read the child delights to read his fathers Will and Testament that he may see what is bequeathed to him Denizons delight to read their Charters and to know their Priviledges The Malefactor acquitted delights to read his Pardon and the Prodigal that is received into favour delights to read the Affectionate Letters of his father to him If we be born of God we cannot but love the word of God And it is profitable c. Observe Such as meddle with Gods word must profit by it We abuse the word when we read or hear it onely for Speculation Novelty and Curiosity but not for Practice that we may know love and fear God and so be happy for ever God gave them for this end that we might profit by them Those Ministers then are to be blamed that play with Scripture and feed their people with the chaffe of aery Notions frivolous Questions Idle distinctions and foolish controversies seeking their own ends and praise and not the benefit of Gods people Let such remember that the Scripture was given to Profit us but not play withall 'T is said of Bernard that preaching one day Scholastically the learned thanked him but not the godly but when another day he preacht plainly the good people came blessing God for him and giving him many Thanks which some Schollars wondring at oh said he Heri Bernâ—rdum hodie Christum Yesterday I preacht Bernard but to day I preacht Christ. 'T is not Learning but Teaching not the wisdom of words but the evidence of the Spirit that is pleasing to the Saints For Doctrine for reproof c. Observe The word of God containes in it all things necessary to salvation what is there in the whole body of Religion but it may be referred to one of these Heads either Doctrine Reproof Correction or Instruction in Righteousnesse All things necessary to life eternal are here to be found Ezek. 20.11 Iohn 5.39 and 20.31 This will inform our Judgements reform our manners convince gainsayers and
respect to wicked ones Answ. 1. I hope all the Ministers in England are not wicked men yet you shew respect to none but cry down all 2. The Saints in Scripture have given Titles of respect even to wicked men Esau was a prophane man yet Iacob gives him the Title of Lord not Thou Esau but my Lord Esau. Gen. 32.4.18 So Paul to Festus most Noble Festus Acts 26.25 Daniel a Saint yet speaking to Nebuchadnezzar an Idolater calls him King of Kings Dan. 2.37 The Quakers boast of their Sanctity and Perfection when they are Sots not Saints so far from Sanctity that they have not common civility which plainly shews what Spirit leads them and what that light within them is May be Perfect This Text notably sets forth the Perfection of the Scripture The Papists themselves confesse that 't is one of the most pregnant Texts for this purpose in all the Bible Would you be made wise to salvation the Scriptures will make you so Would you inform reform convince confute comfort the Scripture will not only initiate and enter you but make you compleat and absolute as some render the word and that rightly in this kind without the Addition of any Humane Traditions unwritten Verities Revelations or New lights within them The Scripture will keep us in a right temper so that we shall be still the same neither exalted by prosperity nor despondent in adversity but like the righteous we shall be an everlasting foundation when others are tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine and run through all religions you shall be like Mount Sion which shall never be removed though it may by some violent earth-quake be moved The word of God is a perfect Rule both for doctrine and manners There is such an All-sufficiency in it that there is nothing to be done by a faithful Minister for the saving of his flock but here he may be furnisht with it and by consequence the people also for whose sake the Minister is thus accomplisht may be fully directed and furnisht also So that here are two strong Arguments to prove this Royalty and peculiar Excellency of the Scriptures viz. Its All-sufficiency and Perfection without the Addition of any New lights or Humane inventions The first Argument runs thus That which teacheth all necessary truthâ— confuteth all errors corrects all ill manners and instructs us in all good duties that must needs be a sufficient Rule for salvation This is so clear that even Cajetan on the place though a strong Papist yet cryeth out Ecce quo tendat utilitas divinae Scripturae ad perfectionem hominis Dei i. e. cujusvis fidelis tum quoad partem intellectivam tum quoad partem operativam ut sit perfectus ad omne bonum Cajetan in loc Now what sufficiency can be wanting where there is perfection 2. That which is able to make the Minister perfect in all the duties of his calling that is sufficient to make all others perfect in all good works But the word is able to make the Ministers of the Word perfect Ergo. Hence 't is that the Lord so oft sends us hither as to a Perfect Rule Isay 8.20 Luke 16.29 Colos. 3.16 Deut. 17.18 19 20. he that takes upon him to teach Gods people must speak ouely the Oracles of God 1 Peter 4 10. To prove the Scriptures perfection See Hildersham on Psal. 51. Lect. 77. See 24. Arguments in Sharpius his Curses Theolog. controvers 9. de Script mihi p. 53. Willets Synopsis controvers 1. Q. 7. p. 52. Polan Syntag l. 1. c. 46. Hommius disput 3. p. 8. D. Prideaux fasciâ—ul Q. 7. p. 45. Mr. Leighs Body of Divinity l. 1. c. 6. Mr. Trapps Treat cap. 3. Sect. 4. Away then with all those old mouldy Vnwritten Traditions which the Papists adde to the pefect word of God and thereby would blasphemously fasten imperfection on the Scripture they go about to deceive men as the Gibeonites did Ioshua 9.4 5 6. with old bottles old garments and old clouted shoes These offend against the expresse letter of the Scripture which tells us that the Law of the Lord is Perfect and able to make us wise to salvation and if God sent a leprosy on Vzziah for bringing in the Altar of Damascus and opposing it to the true Altar then let not those presumptuous men think to escape the curse of God for adding to his perfect word and if the Jewes might adde nothing to the Canon of the Old Testament much lesse may we adde any thing to the Old and New Testament and therefore the Holy Ghost concludes the whole Bible with a dreadfull commination against all such as shall adde any thing to his word Revelations 22.18 19. As the Harlot that came before Solomon would have the child divided so those divide the Rule between Gods word and their own Traditions but God hates such halting and halving in his worship and tells us that they worship him in vain who teach for doctrines the Precepts of men Matthew 15.9 God cannot endure such mixture he 'l have none to plow with the Oxe of his word and the Asse of mens inventions De Deo nil sine Deo he 'l owne nothing in his worship but what is agreeable to his word All mens inventions stink like Carrion in his nostrils Ier. 16.18 and he will secretly punish such as offer such strange fire Leviticus 10.1.2 These Humane Additions corrupt worship and torture the conscience so that no true peace is to be found in them Against Tradition see Peter Moulin his Tract against Tradit Whitak de script controvers 1. Q. 6. c. 1. Perkins 2 Vol. p. 511. D. Hall's Old Religion cap. 16. Mr. Bernard's Rhemes against Rome Proposit 8. p. 60. Sir Humph. Lynd's Via devia Sect. 7. p. 144. D. Davenant de Iudice norma cultùs cap. 6. Rivets Isagoge ad script c. 26. Walaeus loc com p. 148. Chameir loc com l. 1. c. 15. Polan Syntag. l. 1. c. 35. 47. 2. This perfection of the Scripture should stirre up our love to it as imperfect things are slighted by us so compleat and perfect things are highly esteemed by all the sons of wisdome No book to be compared to this for perfection and therefore no book should be so loved read studied and prized by us Here 's nothing vain or superfluous but all things full of life and spirit what ever good the soul can desire 't is here to be had Here is Food for the hungery Water for the thirsty Wine for the wearied Bread for the weak Rayment for the naked Gold for the poor Eyesalve for the blind and Physick for the sick If thy heart be dead this will quicken thee if hard this will soften it if dull revive it In all our Temptations this is a Davids Harp that helpeth to still them Acts 15.31 we should therefore with joy draw water out of these Wells of Salvation
and death is but a long sleep till the Resurrection Iohn 11.11 Acts 13.36 Let Atheists and Epicurean worldlings who have their portion onely in this life fear death because it puts an end to all their pleasures and hopes Iob 11. ult Hence Lewis the Eleventh King of France a bloody persecutor commanded his servants in the time of his sickness that they should never once name that bitter word death in his eares But Christ hath died to free his people from this slavish fear of death Heb. 2.15 by his death he hath sweetned our death unto us and changed the nature of it and hath made that which was sometimes a curse now to be a blessing of a foe he hath made it a friend of a poyson a medicine and of a punishment an advancement He lay in the grave to sweeten and season our graves for us so that now our flesh may rest in hope Psal. 16.9 Proverbs 14.32 Observation 4. 4. The soul of man is immortal Death is not an Annihilation but a Migration of the soul from the body for a time As soon as ever the soul departeth from the body it is presently in blisse Revelations 14.13 they are not onely blest at the day of judgement but also in the intermission The soul doth not sleep or perish but the souls of the Saints go to a better place and to better company viz. to Christ and to the spirits of just men made perfect Iosiah was gathred to his father in peace 1. to the spirits of his fathers who enjoyed peace for in respect of his Body he was slain in battle The soul never dieth but subsisteth still even when it goeth out of the body it returneth to God that gave it Eccles. 12.7 Hence Paul desires to be dissolved why so that he might be with Christ Philippians 1.23 and desires to be loosed from the body that he might be present with the Lord 2 Cor. 5.8 Christ telleth the thief on the Crosse this day shalt thou be with me in Paradice Luke 23.43 Steven when stoned cries Lord Iesus receive my spirit Acts 7.59 Christ hath prepared immortal mansions for it Iohn 14.2 and what should mortal souls do in â—mmortal dwellings and why is the Devil so serviceable why doth he make Covenants and Compacts with wicked men for their souls yea and why doth he offer the world in exchange for a soul if it be but a mortal perishing thing To what end are all those promises of Eternal life which are made to those that deny themselves if in this life onely they had hope Then all the Threatnings of Eternal death and all those sorrowes which the Scripture affirmeth shall light on the wicked would be false for here they have mirth ease and pleasure and if they had no punishment hereafter where were the Truth of Gods threatnings and where his Justice The Scripture is clear that the pleasures of good men and the pains of bad men are eternall then it must needs follow that the souls of men which are the Subjects of these pains and pleasures cannot be mortal But here our Mortalists Object 1. Objection If the soul of man be ex Traduce as some affirme then it is mortall for Omne generabile est corruptibile Answer The soul cometh not ex Traduce by Propagation from our Parents as the souls of Beasts which come è potentia materiae but the soul is created and infused by God and not propagated as appeareth Gen. 2 7. Eccles. 12.7 Zach. 12.1 See Doctor Reynolds on the Passions cap. 32. p. 392. Piscator his Annot. on Gen. 2.7 Baronius de Origine animae Exercit. 2. art 3. 2. Objection The dead are said to sleep and to perish Psalm 6.5 and 104.29 Isay 38.18 and 57.1 Job 14.7.10 Answer This is spoken in respect of their bodies not of their souls The dead do not praise thee saith David viz. not in the land of the living on earth but in Heaven they sing Hallelujahs Rev. 5.9 A tree when it is cut down may sprout again saith Iob but man dieth and giveth up the Ghost and where is he This will not help the sleepy Sadduces of our times for tho Physically and by the course of Nature man cannot revive again yet Hyperphysically and by a supernatural Almighty power he shall arise So that Where is is to be restrained to where is he in the world look for him in City or Countrey at home or abroad he 's not to be found Man gives up the Ghost and where is he with all his riches honours plots and purposes 3. Objection Eccles. 3.19.20 21. As the beast dieth so dieth man they have all one breath Answer 1. Solomon here as oft elsewhere in this Booke doth bring in the Atheist deriding the immortality of the soul he speaketh the opinion of other men and not his own Solomons own judgement you may see Eccles. 12.7 2. Take it in the Letter and then Solomon speaketh not of the soul of man but of animal and vital breath which is common to both he speaketh of mans mere natural condition else in respect of mans future condition his body shall rise again and come to judgement So that here is no comparison between the soul of man and that of beasts but between the death of the one and of the other q. d. both are liable to death pains and diseases 4. Objection Matth. 8.22 and 10.28 Ephes. 2.1 The soul is said to die Answer The soul is not said to die in respect of Existence and being but relatively in respect of Gods grace and favour 'T is a separation of the soul from God who is the fountain of life and is a living death and a ceasing not to be but to be happy 5. Objection 1 Tim. 1.17 and 6.16 God onely is said to have immortality How then are mens souls immortal Answer The answer is easie Immortality is twofold 1. Essential Absolute Natural and Independant and so God onely is immortal à parte antè from all Eternity he 's the onely Author and continuer of it 2. Derivative and by Donation communicated to man and so our souls are immortal and our bodies though subject to corruption yet by Divine Ordination shall be immortal after the Resurrection Wo then to those Atheistical Mortalists and Libertines which have sinned away conscience and have led loose lives and now are fallen to loose opinions Open but this gap and farewell Lawes Civility Religion and all that is good Grant but this and farewell all noble actions and all spiritual comforts then Christ died the Apostles laboured and the Martyrs suffered in vain If this Doctrine were true then all our Faith our Hope our Praying Preaching Fasting self-denial mortification sowing in tears and spiritual combats would be in vain and we should be in a worse condition then the beasts that perish If this were true then why did Abraham forsake all Ioseph forbeare his Mistress Moses refuse the pleasures of Pharaohs