the flintiest heart among you And surely such is the condition of many of your Brethren and Sisters at this day in this Nation who are thus tossed to and fro with divers and strange doctrines some of which are no better then Rocks and Quicksands desperate and damnable doctrines such as who ever imbraceth living and dying in the belief of them must needs split and perish upon them Now how should the consideration hereof affect the hearts of all those who truly loving God cannot but bear an hearty affection to their brethren so as to desire their everlasting welfare and happinesse But I shall not insist upon this either the further discovering of this Malady or the bewailing of it I shall rather come to that which more nearly concerneth your selves to prosecute that which I told you was my design in taking up of this Text Which is To Warn you you of this place of this Congregation To whom let me in the Name of God here hold forth a double Caveat First Be not you offended at these Secondly Be not you seduced by them Of these two severally Begin with the former 1. Be not you offended by these by what either you see or hear of in this kind so offended as to like Christ and his Religion ever the worse for them A blessed thing not to be thus offended Blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in me saith our Saviour Matth. 11. 6. This unstable soules are subject unto upon divers occasions like queasie stomachs which are ready to take distaste at every thing that displeaseth them But upon none sooner then this the instability and unsettlednesse of those that professe the faith of Christ when they shall see them carried about with divers and strange doctrines So much we may learn from St. Peter 2 Ep. 2. where speaking in the first verse of false Teachers such as should broach damnable Heresies and in the second verse of their followers which should not be few but many Many shall follow their pernicious wayes He subjoynes this to both By reason of whom the way of truth shall be evill spoken of The way of truth The true Christian Religion which shewes the true and onely way to true happinesse It should by this meanes be exposed to the Reproaches and Obloquies of the Adversaries of it And surely so is it with the Protestant Religion at this day which is professed and held forth as the true Religion of God in this Nation by reason of those divers and strange doctrines which are to be found in it some of them confessedly far worse then any that the Church of Rome is charged with and the strange unsettlednesse of the Professours of it who as if they had no sure bottome to stand upon are thus carried about with every wind By this meanes this way of truth is evil spoken of by the adversaries of it And that especially by our Adversaries of Rome who as they have ever been ready to cast this in the Protestants face their divisions so now questionlesse they rejoyce in them and triumph over them from hence concluding that surely this cannot be the way of Truth which hath so many windings and turnings and Crosse waies in it This cannot be the true Religion of God the Professours whereof are so far from that which God hath promised to his Church under the Gospel viz. Cor unum via una One Heart and one way Thus are others offended hereat But let not any of you be so offended No Reason why you should be so This being no other then what 1. Hath been It is no new thing No other then what hath been in all Ages of the Church even in the first and purest times of it Then were there such divers and strange doctrines set on foot and divers carried about with them And what wonder then to see the like acted over again in these dregs of time It is no other then what hath been 2. And secondly it is no other then what hath been foretold should be must be There must be Heresies saith the Apostle 1 Cor. 11. 19. And that as in all so specially in the latter times For which most clear and expresse is that of St. Paul who writing to Timothy informs him hereof 1 Tim. 4. 1. Now the Spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and Doctrines of Devils c. And again 2 Tim. 3. 1. This know also saith he that in the last dayes perilous times shall come For men shall be lovers of themselves Covetous boasters and so he goeth on shewing what a flood of evills should in the last times being as it were the lees and dregs the worst of times break in upon the Church spreading over the face of it and among other he reckoneth up this for one that there should be some who should creep into houses and lead captive silly women c. there should be many Seducers and many seduced by them Now wherefore is this so clearly foretold but to prevent that offence which any might be ready to take when they see these things come to passe This was our Saviours end in foretelling to his Disciples what harsh usage they should find in and from the world after his departure from them These things saith he have I spoken unto you that ye should not be offended Joh. 16. 1. And again These things have I told you that when the time shall come ye may remember that I told you of them v. 4. And to the very same end he elsewhere foretelleth in like manner of false Teachers that should come and the prevalencie of their seductions Matth. 24. 24. There shall arise false Christs and false Prophets and shall shew great signes and wonders insomuch that if it were possible they shall deceive the very Elect. So prevalent should they be in their seducements And wherefore doth he foretell this why to prevent that offence which any might be ready to take hereat when they should see it So it followeth Behold I have told you before v. 25. given you this warning that you might not be offended or troubled at it when you shall see so many errours held forth and so many giving heed to them And of such use let these and the like predictions be unto us Now that we see what was foretold to be come to passe being thus forewarned of it be not offended at it so as to like the true Religion of God ever the worse for it Here is the former of these Caveats Passe we to the second which my eye is principally upon Not being offended take heed in the second place of being seduced Be not ye carried away with divers and strange doctrines That was the Apostles admonition to his Hebrewes and let it now be mine to you Such doctrines there are abroad and many there are who are carried about with them Now taking
reputedly so shall be turned aside from the truth to the imbracing and holding forth of any errour as sometimes and not seldome they are whereof many Causes and Reasons might be assigned it is not to be wondered if those who being unlearned themselves have them in admiration that way and look upon them in Spirituals as Achitophel in his time was accounted for Politicks 2 Sam. 16. 23. as the Oracles of God be carried about with them after them Or secondly They may be Godly really yea and eminently such Now being so and being themselves seduced which the most holy men are subject to they become eminently instrumental in seducing of others upon whom their example hath a prevalent influence That was Peters case recorded by St. Paul Gal. 2. He being through fear of scandal fallen into a scandalous dissimulation Iudaizing with the Iewes for fear of displeasing them in the observation of some Legal Ceremonies which before being among the Gentiles he had seemed to renounce and disclaim by this meanes he drew many after him So the 13. verse there setteth it forth And the other Iewes dissembled likewise with him insomuch that Barnabas likewise was carried away with their dissimulation Of such prevalency oft-times are the examples of men eminent for piety and holinesse as Peter was that if they miscarry whether in Practice or Doctrine they draw many other well-meaning but unstable soules after them But I shall hold you no longer in this first Head Come we now to the second Head to take notice of somewhat in the Hearers and Receivers of these Doctrines And here again we shall meet with divers things which help forward this Seduction I shall onely instance in some of the most obvious 1. It may be they are Chaffe And so they may be upon a double account Either in regard of their Natural Levity or Spiritual Vanity 1. Chaffe in regard of Natural Levity Being by natural disposition weak of apprehension and so fickle and inconstant like Quicksilver which cannot be fixed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 like a man standing upon one leg wavering and unsteady unstable in all their wayes as Saint Iames hath it Iam. 1. 8. So they are even in matters of Civil concernment they are in and out to day of one mind to morrow of another easily turned this way or that way And being so in the matters of the world it is the lesse to be wondered at if they be so in the matters of God 2. Others who have no such defect in nature yet are Chaffe still and that in regard of spiritual vanity Having at the best but the empty husk of an outward Profession wanting the inward grain the truth and kernel of Grace This it is and onely this which establisheth men in the matters of God as the latter part of the Text will shew us It is good that the heart be established with Grace This is the ballast of the soul. Now what wonder is it to see unballasted vessels light Skiffs and Cock-boats to be tossed to and fro upon the waves a Metaphor to which the Apostle alludes Eph. 4. 14. Be not tossed to and fro 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or to see light and empty clouds Clouds without water which is St. Iude's Comparison verse 12. of his Epistle borrowed from St. Peter 2 Epist. 2. 17. carried about this way or that way which way soever the wind bloweth No more is it to see empty soules being wholly void and empty of true saving Grace to be carried about by divers and strange doctrines Here is a first supposal they may be Chaffe 2. If not so yet in the second place they may be Childron That we henceforth be no more Children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of Doctrine Eph. 4. 14. Children 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Such are many Christians Though they may have more then a bare empty profession they have some truth of Grace in them yet they are but Children So Paul looked upon some of his Corinthians when he wrote that Epistle to them 1 Cor. 3. 1. And I brethren saith he could not speak unto you as unto spiritual but as unto Carnal even as unto Babes in Christ. Such was their estate then They were such as had received the first-fruits of the Spirit and so were in measure Spiritual yet he calleth them Carnal which he doth Comparatively in as much as there was a great deal of Carnality yet in them much flesh and little Spirit And they were Babes in Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They were in Christ being engraffed into him by faith but they were Children Babes in Christ. So they were though not in respect of time they had been long enough in him to have grown up to some degree of Maturity yet in respect of Proficiency They were Babes in Christ that is in the knowledge faith and Mystery of Christ. And such at this day is the condition of many Christians Though it may be they are in Christ and have had a long standing in him being Ancient Professours yet they are but Babes Children Children in understanding as the Apostle explains it 1 Cor. 14. 20. Unskilful in the Word of Righteousnesse as those Babes are described Heb. 5. 13. Such there are some and too many among us at this day who it may be have been old standers in the Churches Grove they have been long in Christ before many others as Paul saith of Andronicus and Iunia that they were in Christ before him Rom. 16. 7. and yet they are but Dwarfe-trees like the Adam Apple-tree Babes Children in understanding So the Apostle complaines of some of his Hebrewes Heb. 5. 12. When for the time ye ought to be Teachers ye have need that one teach you again which be the first Principles of the Oracles of God and are become such as have need of milk and not of strong meat Upon which account he calleth them Babes in the verse following verse 13. And truly thus fareth it with some at all times with many at this day They have been a long time Scholars in Christs School and have not wanted meanes of Instruction such as had not they been wanting to themselves and them in the improvement thereof they might have been in a degree 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Apostle there calleth them Heb. 5. 14. adulti of full age grown men in Christ. But through that neglect they still continue Babes Children such as have need to be Catechized and instructed in some of the principles of Christian Religion Thus it may be they have good Affections but weak Iudgments having but little knowledge lesse Experience And by this means they come to be unstable soules as St. Peter calleth them 2 Pet. 2. 14. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not well grounded And being so they are apt to be seduced by false Teachers So he there sheweth it where speaking of those impious and blasphemous seducers which were to
and sound in the main yet they may be drawn aside to the imbracing of some opinions and waies which were it not for some temporal advantage they expect to meet with in them and from them they would not look after Such a filme is this sometimes upon the eyes of those who are otherwise seeing and knowing enough that for the time it blindeth them Even as it is said of a Gift a Bribe Exod. 23. 8. A gift blindeth the wise the seeing as the Originall hath it dimming the eyes of Judgement and Conscience in those who are otherwise understanding and Judicious And perverteth the words of the righteous causing them neither to speak nor judge aright according to the evidence of truth given into them And truly it is to be feared such effect sometimes the hope of Gain may have upon some who are otherwise godly that it is like a Pearl in their eye dimming their sight for the present so as they do not see the Errour of those Opinions and wayes which are so promising to them And thus I have done also with the second of these Heads Passe we to the third To take notice of somewhat in the doctrines themselves which may cause or rather Occasion this seduction And here again I shall single forth three or four particulars 1. It may be they are such doctrines as do please and tickle the fancy through the Novelty and strangenesse of them They are such Doctrines as the Text speaketh of Divers and strange doctrines And strange it is to think how such doctrines do sometimes affect the Hearers of them having nothing else to commend them but onely their Novelty and strangenesse They are New and strange And Oh! how taking is this with many And that not onely with Children who are apt to be taken with novelties such things as they have not seen before be they never such toyes yet they are apt to part with things of far greater value for them But also with others persons who in respect of their years might and should be wiser What is it that induceth many I wish I might not say some Professours to follow every vain fashion in their apparel and hair c. though in themselves never so undecent and unbecoming as divers of the fashions at this day are but onely this they are divers and strange And what is it that induceth the impure Adulterer sometimes to forsake the wife of his youth being both for her person and Condition every waies amiable to imbrace the bosome of another no waies to be compared with her why onely this she is a stranger the strange woman as Solomon calleth the Harlot Prov. 5. 20. and often elsewhere And so for the abominable Sodomite to commit that horrid sin against nature but onely because it is as St. Iude calleth it v. 7. Strange flesh of another sex Thus is Corruption oft-times taken with divers and strange things upon no other account but this because they are so And truly so is it sometimes in matters of Religious concernment both Doctrines and Practices they are taking with some How so Because they are new New lights and new wayes such as the Church of God in former Ages hath not been acquainted with This it was that bred that itch in the Athenians eares that made them so earnestly desirous to hear what Paul's doctrine was because it was New and Strange May we know say they what this new doctrine whereof thou speakest is For thou bringest certain strange things to our eares We would know therefore what these things mean Act. 17. 19 20. This it was that moved them to become his Auditors because they would satisfie their own curiosities And in likelihood this it is which moveth some and not a few at this day to run after some Teachers and to listen after some doctrines Onely because they are new and strange So the Apostle foretold that it should be 2 Tim. 4. 3. The time will come saith he when they speaking of some Christians will not endure sound doctrine but after their own lusts shall heap unto themselves teachers having itching eares And what he foretold we may now see it verified The time is now come when some nay many will not endure sound doctrine Old truths with the Ministers that preach them these they cry down crying up new Teachers and New doctrines thereby shewing that they are infected with this Leprosie this Itch. 2. It may be they are such Doctrines as gratifie the flesh Such was that first divers and strange doctrine that was ever held forth in the world I mean that doctrine which was preached by Satan to our first Parents in Paradise it was a doctrine that gratified them by an indulgence of a greater liberty then God had allowed them And such were some of those doctrines which were held forth by some false Teachers in the Primitive times which were so taking with divers whereof St. Peter speaketh 2 Pet. 2. 18. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity saith he they allure through the lusts of the flesh through much wantonnesse those that were clean escaped from them who live in errour This did some false Teachers in those early times they held forth such doctrines as did gratifie the flesh under the name and notion of Christian liberty giving a Licence for some loose and licentious Practices as the verse following explains it While they promise them liberty c. so turning the grace of God into lasciviousnesse as St. Iude having an eye to that of Peter expresseth it Iude 4. And by this meanes they allured some who as St. Peter there describeth them were clean escaped from them who live in errour that is either true Converts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as most Copies have it qui verè effugerant as Beza translates it such as were really and truly converted Even such as it seemeth some of them were wrought upon by those doctrines being for a time dangerously shaken though not utterly overcome by those Temptations Or however such as had onely renounced Idolatry and made an outward profession of the Christian Religion withall walking answerably to that Profession without any just scandall Yet they were taken by these Anglers as the word there imports being the same with that which we met with before in the 14. verse of that Chapter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Inescant i. e. quas◠pisces hamo captant as Beza interpreteth it they take them as Fishes with a Hook and a Bait. And questionlesse in this very way have not a few of late times in this Nation been taken by divers of those false doctrines which have been spread abroad They being such doctrines as gratifie the flesh indulge men in a great deal of loosnesse and licentiousnesse under the pretence of Christian and Gospel-liberty giving allowance unto them in some unwarrantable practices which true Religion will not admit And by this bait it is that they are taken and
so carried away with those doctrines 3. It may be they are such doctrines as are consonant and agreeable to humane Reason Such were the doctrines of the false Apostles in Paul's time who made use of their Philosophy as I shewed you their Naturall Reason which they did both Pro and Con for their own doctrines against the doctrines of the Gospel pretending the one to be agreeable to Reason and the other contrary to it Which no question cannot but be a very prevaient Argument with such as the Apostle calleth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 2. 14. meer naturall men who have no other guide but the light of Reason to follow And hereupon it is that Satan that subtle and experienced Engineer hath made and at this day doth make so much use of this Engine for the battering and overthrowing of divers Articles of the Christian faith as viz. the doctrine of the Trinity the Incarnation of Christ the Creation of the World and the Resurrection of the Body all which being contrary to Philosophicall principles and so not to be comprehended by Reason upon that ground he disswadeth men from the belief of them And by the same means he seduceth and draweth them into dangerous yea into pernicious and damnable errours presenting them unto them as doctrines most consonant and agreeable to their Carnal Reason Such are the doctrines as of some other Sects amongst us so in special of that of all other in my eyes the most dangerous the Socinian which by this Engine seeks to undermine divers of the Principles of Christian Religion because they are not consonant and agreeable to their Reason though never so clearly held forth to the eye of faith in Scripture And upon this foundation it is that they erect and build their own divers and strange doctrines which presuming themselves to be great Masters of Reason with much confidence they hold forth to the seducing of some who are willing to hearken to them and to be deceived by them 4. To these adde one more which is as taking as any of the former if not more And that is It may be they are such doctrines as have in them a shew of piety Such were the doctrines which the false Apostles preached and pressed They were such things as the Apostle describeth them Col. 2. last as had indeed a shew of wisdome in will-worship and Humility and neglecting of the Body Such were divers of those Ceremonial observances which were so eagerly pressed by them upon Christians in those times They had a great shew of Piety and Humility in them being exercises of Mortification and Self-denyall which being rightly performed are services very acceptable to God Thus did they varnish over that superstitious Will-worship of theirs whereby it became very taking with such as were not aware of the hook hid under that bait And the like may be said of many of the doctrines of the Church of Rome at this day which pretend to extraordinary strictnesse and so carry a shew of singular piety and devotion with them whereby many well-meaning but unwary soules are bewitched and so carried away with them And surely that is the case of some and divers of those doctrines which walk abroad in this Nations at this day they have a shew of speciall and singular piety in them Some of them pretending to an high advancement of free Grace which in it self is a glorious doctrine Such is that Arminian doctrine which it seemeth is of late crept into this place being brought in by some who creep into houses and so beguile unstable soules I mean the Doctrine of Universal Redemption with its Attendants as Errour seldome goeth alone which is cryed up as a doctrine highly advancing and magnifying the grace of God by this extending it to the Universality of Mankind far above that which confines it to a select number which yet is but a meer pretence For if all be alike Elected in Christ alike given to Christ and alike redeemed by Christ so as nothing is done or intended more for one then another where is then that speciall differencing and distinguishing Grace of God which is so admired by the Apostle in divers of his Epistles So as in truth this doctrine being rightly scanned is not an exaltation of Grace but a great derogation from it And divers other doctrines there are of like nature which have the like varnish set upon them As viz. the Antinomian tenents and some other which I shall not trouble you with the enumeration of Onely desiring you to take notice of this in the general as one special means of thus carrying about some and many well-meaning but unstable soules even the specious shew of pretended piety that is in some Doctrines And thus I have now through the good hand of my God leading me along dispatched the former of my tasks that which I intended by way of doctrinal Explication and Illustration Wherein I have shewed you what is meant by Divers and strange Doctrines and what by being carried about with those Doctrines Then that there have been and are such doctrines and that Christians are subject to be carried about with them Giving you the Grounds and Reasons of both That which now remains of this part of the Text is Application Where in the first place I might here make a stand and take a just and sad Lamentation pouring forth my soul in bemoaning the present state and condition of the Church of God in this Nation Wherein Lord what variety of strange doctrines are there to be found And how many every where carried about with them For Doctrines how divers and many of them how strange Surely Africa was never more fruitful in variety of Monsters then England is at this day in variety of Opinions divers of which are so monstrous so hideous as surely Hell it self affords none more Such as give us to hope that the Devil is now pouring out the very dregs of his poysonous Cup. But withall how many are there found to be intoxicated therewith Yea some who some yeares since were looked upon as stayed and sober Christians yet now we may see them reeling and staggering like drunken men to and fro carried this way and that way as not knowing how or where to stand Such is the Condition of this poor Nation at this day Insomuch that this disease of the Spiritual Vertigo is grown Epidemicall common in all places Look where we will almost how may we see wheeles turning about Chaffe whirled about Waves and Clouds driven about unstable soules carried about with the wind of divers and strange doctrines A matter of just and deep Lamentation And so let it be to every of us Should any of you while your selves stand safe upon the shoare see others though Strangers much more if friends tossed upon the waves among Rocks or Quick-sands ready to perish every moment I presume it could not but affect
17. of this Chapter whereof the Text is part Heb. 13. 17. And let me presse the same upon you Obey them that have the rule over you meaning thereby not Civil Magistrates as the Erastian Glosse would corrupt and darken that clear Text but Ecclesiastical Ministers and submit your selves for they watch for your soules as they that must give account that they may do it with joy that they may first do their work with joy going on chearfull in their Ministeriall service and secondly that they may give up their account with joy and not with grief Which if they do it will in the end prove a losse and grief to you as well as them So it there followeth For that is unprofitable for you It will be prejudiciall to you here and it will turn to a sad account to you an other day Which leadeth me to a second Argument Whilest you do this for our sake do it also for your own sake that you may not lose your work and your Reward So some Greek Copies who are therein followed by the Vulgar Latin and some other Translations our own also taking notice of it in the Margin read that forecited Text of St. Iohn 2 Ep. v. 8. Look to your selves that ye lose not those things which you have wrought or gained but that ye may receive a full reward Ye This Apostates do Falling from the truth believed and acknowledged they lose the things which they have wrought lose the reward of them so as all their profession shall not turn to any account to them For this expresse is that of the Lord by the Prophet Ezekiel Chap. 18. 24. repeated and inculcated Chap. 33. 12 13 18. When the righteous turneth away from his righteousnesse c. All his righteousnesse that he hath done shall not be mentioned c. So it is in doctrinall truths as well as Practical performances A professour turning aside from the way of truth to the imbracing of Errour thereby he blasteth all his former Profession loseth the fruit and benefit of his former Faith or seeming Holinesse And unlesse he look to it betimes may also lose that full Reward as the Apostle there calleth the reward of Eternal Life 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in as much as it is an abundant recompence for what ever any shall either do or suffer This Reward all Apostates are in danger to lose Not that all errours in doctrine no more then in practice are alike dangerous We know what the Apostle saith of those Teachers which build wood and hay and stubble upon the foundation 1 Cor. 3. 12. Holding fast Christ and his saving Truths the Mystical and doctrinal foundations yet raise and build some unwarrantable superstructures upon them holding forth some doctrines that will not endure the Tryal of such he saith verse 15. that though their work be burnt as it shall be at that great day of tryal when all things shall be tryed as it were by fire and themselves suffer losse lose the praise of their labour which shall not be accepted or rewarded with God yet they themselves shall be saved though it be as by fire Though they escape narrowly as a man that escapes out of the fire naked where he hath lost both his goods and his Garments yet as to their persons they shall be saved God accepting the sincerity of their intentions as to the main will graciously over-look and pardon those infirmities and so receive them to mercy Now what he there saith of the Teachers of such doctrines we may apply to the followers of them So long as they hold fast the Foundation though they be through infirmity drawn aside into some Errours not fundamental they may as to their persons through the indulgent grace and mercy of God be saved Which we hope concerning many poor seduced foules in this Nation at this day Thus it is true all Errours are not alike dangerous in themselves But withall who knoweth what the Consequence of those more venial Errors may be when the wheel begins to turn going down the Hill who knoweth where it will stay Not unlesse it be accidentally stopped untill it come to the bottome And even so is it with poor seduced soules if once they begin to be carried about with divers and strange doctrines though of an inferiour concernment if they once begin to fall from their steadfastnesse who knoweth where they will rest whether before they come to the bottome of the Hill to the bottome of Hell or no I presume your own experience can furnish some of you with some instances of this kind Of some who beginning at the first with some smaller Errours as viz. withdrawing themselves from the publick Assemblies in processe of time by turning and turning from one Errour to another they have never left till they came to the very browe and brink of Hell even to the deriding and scorning of that Religion which before they professed to the defying of Ordinances publick and private to jear at heaven and Hell at the immortality of the soul and Resurrection of the Body as if they were no other but melancholy dreams and so brought even to the height or rather depth of downright Atheisme and profanenesse O let these examples be as booyes or Sea-marks unto you to warn you to take heed of coming near those shelves those quick-sands which they have thus made shipwrack upon As you love your selves your own precious soules take heed of being thus carried about with divers and strange doctrines Which if you shall suffer your selves to be unlesse Gods mercy be the greater in checking and stopping of you you are like to be undone by it So much the Apostle intimates to his Colossians in that Text forecited Col. 2. 8. Beware saith he lest any man spoyl you through Philosophy and vain deceit This he speaketh in reference to those false Teachers who by their false doctrines sought to make a prey of them So the word there used signifieth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ne sit qui vos depraedetur That no man make a prey of you Verbum militare saith Beza upon it A word taken from the Wars where Souldiers drive away as a prey the Cattel which they have taken or as our New Annotation hath it from such thieves or Pyrates as do not onely take and carry away the goods of those they rob but their persons also to make them their own or other mens slaves Thus do false Teachers deal by those that hearken to them By their false doctrines they carry them away for a prey making a spoyl of them spoyling them not only of their goods the things which they have wrought and gained as the Apostle there speaketh but even of their soules unlesse God in mercy step in to their rescue as much as in them lyeth giving them up as Captives unto Satan As our Saviour saith of the Scribes and Pharisees who were so zealous to instill their doctrines
into others to make proselytes they thereby made them twofold more the children of Hell then themselves Matth. 23. 15. Thus do false and Heretical Teachers by their false and damnable doctrines they beget Children of Hell bringing men under the power of Satan to be taken and led Captive by him As therefore you love your selves beware of such seducers such seductions that you be not thus carried about with such divers and strange doctrines And in the third place whilest herein you have respect to your Ministers and your selves have the like also to the Church of God This is a thing which all Christians who professe themselves members of that mysticall Bodie ought to have a special regard unto so as not to despise it nor yet to shame it 1. Not to despise it This is one thing which Paul chargeth upon some of his Corinthians that by their disorderly manner of administring and receiving of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper and Celebrating their Love-feasts before or after it uncertain whether they in so doing despised the Church of God 1 Cor. 11. 22. Or despise you the Church of God Which though some and not a few learned Expositors and that not without some good shew of Reason for it interpret of the place of the Churches meeting which by a usual Metonymie vulgarly is and inoffensively may be so called Ecclesia The Church which place they might be said to have despised in that they put no difference betwixt their own private houses and that which supposing it to be set apart for Religious services ought not without necessary cause to have been imployed to other Civill much lesse Uncivil uses as it seemeth their meetings were Yet others not inferiour to them to whom I professe my self rather to subscribe understand it rather of the Mystical Church the coetus fidelium the Company of believers either in that particular Congregation or elsewhere This Church they by this disorderly carriage of theirs seemed to sleight not regarding the Custome of other Churches nor yet hearkening to the Admonition of their own possibly seconded by some others as Pareus conceiveth of it And this the Apostle there calleth a despising of the Church of God Which he chargeth upon them as a thing most blame-worthy in them Shall I praise you for this I praise you not And so is it in whomsoever shall do the like in any kind Despise the Church of God! that Church whereof they are members and others of the true Churches of Christ. Which they do without regarding the lawful and laudable usages and Customes of those Churches do without any just ground and reason differ from them in matters of concernment Paul in the Chapter last named taxing another undecency in that Church of Corinth viz. their women some of them having their heads and faces unveiled uncovered in the publick Assemblies he presumes this to be Argument sufficient to silence those who ever they were that should appear whether in defence of it or contest about it If any man list to be contentious saith he we have no such Custome nor the Churches of God 1 Cor. 11. 16. And if this be an interpretative despising of the Church not to regard the Customes thereof much more may it be so construed to recede from the doctrine thereof and to run after divers and strange doctrines such as the true Church of God hath not owned but renounceth and disclaimeth Surely this is no other but a despising of the Church of God which who so standeth guilty of let him not look for praise from God or thanks from men 2. Not to shame it This do they who professing themselves to be children of this mother yet desert her doctrine suffering themselves to be thus carried about with such divers and strange doctrines This is no small blemish in the Churches face Even as it is in a field of Corn to see such a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such a medly in it as sometimes we do in barren soiles such an intermixture of divers and strange weeds and flowers as Cockle and Darnel Poppies and Mayeweed c. all growing among the Wheat this variety of heterogeneous plants what ever their colour be and how pleasing soever they may be in the eyes of Children yet it is no small eye-sore to the husbandman or blemish to the field it self whose best beauty is to be all of one colour And truly so is it in the Church of God where there ought to be but one Faith as the Apostle speaketh Eph. 4. 5. to have divers and strange doctrines put up and take rooting there much more if they come to flourish and spread this is no small eye-sore unto God nor blemish to it Which have you a regard unto that you may not in this way either despise or shame the Church of God In the fourth place having an eye to the Church of God have a regard also to the Religion of God therein professed To the Truth of God which is but one Veritas unica error multiplex Errour is various and may be infinite Truth is but one and that semper eadem ever the same being constant and immutable like unto him who is the Authour of it the God of truth who saith of himself I am the Lord I change not Mat. 3. 6. Now what a dishonour then is this to have the Professours of it so unlike unto it self the children so unlike the mother such Changelings so mutable so changeable As if they were of Pilates race who when Christ spake to him concerning the Truth he replyeth not without some Passion And what is Truth Joh. 13. 38. Truly such Scepticks in Religion are some and many at this day as if they were as some call themselves Seekers not knowing what Truth no not Gospel-truth is which if they did surely they would be more constant in adhering to it and owning of it Fifthly and lastly let me beg this for the sake of your Lord and ours even for Christ his sake His Disciples and followers you professe your selves to be And are you so then hear his voice and no others This will his sheep do My sheep hear my voice Joh. 10. 27. Those that are truly given unto Christ by the Election of God the Father to be made partakers of the merit and benefit of his Redemption to be justified and saved by and through him they will hearken unto him speaking in the Gospel And thus hearing him they will follow him and onely him not so any other A stranger will they not follow saith the fifth verse of that Chapter speaking of the same sheep of Christ but will flee from him For they know not the voice of strangers False Teachers such as teach divers and strange doctrines and in that respect fitly called strangers Christs sheep know not their voyce viz. with a knowledge of Approbation so as to hearken to them to follow them And O
concerning the Apostasie of the latter times he saith that For this cause viz. because men received not the love of the truth God shall send them strong delusions that they should believe a lye 2 Thess. 2. 11. Thus doth God justly punish those disrespects which men shew unto his truth when it is held forth unto them their not receiving and imbracing it with intire and cordial Affection and living up to it by giving them over to Satanical delusions to be captived and blinded by them that they should believe a Lye be carried about with dīvers and strange forged and false Doctrines Thus is this Actual turning an Evil thing And such in the second place is Habitual Instability When men have unsettled heads and hearts and so are subject to be turned and to be carried about in this manner This also is an evil a great Evil. So it will appear if we do but consider these two things First how it indisposeth a man to service and secondly how it exposeth him to danger Both which may fitly be illustrated from a Ship a Similitude which I have the more frequent recourse unto in regard that as it suiteth very well with the Subject in hand so it is familiar and well known to you A Ship being tender-sided and waltery is neither serviceable nor safe Not serviceable to the Owner not safe to the Passenger And truly such is the condition of an unstable soul. 1. It is unserviceable Unserviceable to God the Owner of it Being hereby indisposed unto his service whether to do or to suffer for him Both which require a stable head and a stable heart Where these are wanting it cannot be expected or hoped that a man should walk uprightly with God in a constant course of Obedience We see how it is with a man in drink so we speak sometimes and yet not improperly when the Body being surcharged with any inebriating liquor the soul which is the man the most noble part of him is drowned in it his head turning round what Indentures doth he make with his feet He cannot now walk right on but reeleth to and fro this way and that way as the Psalmist speaketh Psal. 107. 27. And truly so is it with an unsettled Christian having an unstable head and heart he hath also an unstable foot so as he cannot walk steadily with God He cannot do what our Apostle requires all Christians to do Heb. 12. 13. Make streight pathes or steps unto his feet This is that which St. Iames telleth us in that Text forecited Iam. 1. 8. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A double-minded man is unstable in all his wayes A man unsettled in his Principles Opinions Resolutions Purposes having as it were his soul divided in him which the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 properly signifieth Bianimis when the mind is divided betwixt two Objects that it knoweth not which to choose but is like a man standing in bivio that hath two wayes before him and knoweth not which to take he is unstable in all his wayes all his practices courses undertakings whether of Civill or Religious concernment And being so it cannot be expected than either God or Man should ever have any great service from such a one It was Iacobs prophetical prediction concerning his first-born son Reuben Gen. 49. 4. Unstable as water thou shalt not excel c. viz. in valour or any excellent atchievements And the like may be said of unstable Christians Being unstable as water which too many are subject to be moved and carried about with every wind of doctrine as the water is with every gale that bloweth upon it Let it never be expected that they should excell in doing any speciall service whether for God or for his Church Thus doth this Habituall instability indispose a man for service 2. It exposeth him to danger Even as it is with a Ship still I have recourse to the same similitude being tender-sided and waltery as it will not bear much sail so it is subject to be overset by every gust Even so is it with an unsettled Christian. As he is not capable of doing much service so he is in danger of being over-set by every Tentation to be carried about by fear or hope of gain and outward advantage or by the sleight and cunning craftinesse of subtile seducers which is a thing of very dangerous consequence making the condition of a man most hazardous and unsafe continually exposing him to the danger of no lesse then the sinking of his soul in eternal perdition But I promised brevity Thus is it as you see an evil thing to have the heart the soul of man unsettled especially as to matters of Religious concernment But on the other hand To have the heart established is a good thing That we have here expressed It is a good thing that the heart be established 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a good thing a singular good eminently good So it is being both Honestum Utile and Iucundum which are the three kinds of good an Honest good a Profitable good a Pleasurable good 1. An Honest good This is the good of the heart when it is like the good ground spoken of Luk. 8. which our Saviour verse 15. expounds to be the honest and good heart 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Now this it is which maketh it so to be when it is established and that with grace This is as good manure to a light soil which being layed on it and mingled with it maketh it good ground And so doth this a good Heart an honest Heart 2. It is a profitable good So is good ground to the Owner And so is a good heart that is thus established Now it bringeth forth fruits unto God fruits of New Obedience fruits of Holinesse and Righteousnesse and that both Plentifully and Constantly Which a heart not so established will not do Possibly by fits and starts an unsettled unstable Christian may do some good services in themselves acceptable unto God and profitable to others But he is not constant herein This is the fruit of this heart-establishment to make the Christian like Davids tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit in his season and whose leaf also doth not wither Psal. 1. 3. Constant both in profession and practice of Gods true Religion 3. It is a pleasurable a delightfull good So it is to the Christian himself The heart being in a good and constant temper it maketh both an equable pulse and a chearful countenance And so is it with the Christian when his heart his soul is settled and established in the matters of God this maketh him as Constant in his way so chearfull David having his heart fixed then he will sing and give praise Psal. 57. 7. An unsettled heart must needs be an uncomfortable heart Even as it is with a Traveller falling with divers wayes and being anxious and uncertain which to take now he