keep your ground the ground of Truth 1 Tim 3.15 For Nothing is more pernicious or dangerous in an Army then Ataxy and flinching or falling off from our Fellow-Souldiers or our places 3. Stand vigilantly and watchfully as Sentinels Be not secure but remember that of the Apostle Be sober 1 Pet. 5. 8 9. Be vigilant because your Adversary the Devil as a roaring Lyon walketh about seeking whom he may devour 1. Thus far the Exhortation proceeds viz. to the fourteenth verse 2. Then you have an enumeration of the several parts of this compleat Armour in the five next verses viz. Ver. 14 15 16 17 18. which are either 1. Defensive Or 2. Offensive 1. Defensive viz. 1. A Belt or Girdle 2. A Breast-plate 3. Shooes 4. A Shield and 5. An Helmet 2. Offensive viz. 1. A Sword 2. Prayer Both which may be styled both defensive of us and offensive to the Enemy Of these I shall speak particularly if God will hereafter at present I am upon the Exhortation This Exhortation in the three former Verses is briefly repeated sum'd up and Epitomized in this thirteenth Verse and doth in the main strength of it affords us this DOCT. The Best of Men well grounded in the Truth most Eminent in Grace Or 1. The Church of God in her best condition when very well eastblished and throughly instructed in the Truth c. 2. Had great need of christian strength and courage in the Lord. 3. And of a compleat spiritual armour 4. To avoid and withstand resist strenuously and over come victoriously 5. The Manifold wiles And. 6. Mighty oppositions and assaults 7. Of powerful adversaries and enemies that are against her on every side 8. Environing and invading her every way 1. Within 2. And without 9. And especially in the evil day of Tribulation and Temptation 10. And That she may be able to stand and hold her own ground Stand fast in the Faith and hold firm to the Truth and so to become and remain victorious in the end This general point doth contain the strength of the whole Exhortation and doth reach every particular of the Doctrine before named and the proof and reasons of this point will be appliable to each particular 1. The Church in her best condition when well instructed c. For then 1. When the Field was sown with wheat then came the envious man and sowed Tares Mat. 13.24 to 31. among the Wheat i.e. Not in the world abroad but in the Church of God Vt periret dominica messis 2. When the Churches were planted and well instructed by the Apostle St. Paul in Rome Corinth Galatia Ephesus Philippi c. 3. So also these seven famous Churches in Asia mentioned Rev. 2 3. Chap. how fast did Hereticks and Seducers start up and step in to trouble them and how doth he complain of them from time to time Rom. 16.17 18. 4. The like befel in Germany saith Zanchius in Epist p. 659. of which they had daily and woful experience 5. Is it not so in England now after 100. years establishment and instruction and upwards in K. Ed. 6. and Q. Elizabeths time what a multitude of Tares have been sown preached and printed and what a multitude of Errours Heresies and strange Opinions have sprung up and prospered in these sad times of Toleration Do but mark how apt this Field of the Church is to be sown and over-run with Tares For thus hath it befallen 1. Rome once so famous Rom. 1.7 8. for their Faith c. Is it not become Apostatical Antichristian and Damnable in their Doctrines 2. Those other Churches so much honoured with the other Epistles of our Apostle Corinth Galatia Ephesus Philippi Thessalonica c. Are they not a Den of Dragons the seat of the Turk 3. Those famous seven Churches of Asia brought to the liek pass which are so remembred Rev. 2. 3. Chap. 4. Germany once so sound in Doctrine is it not brought to Misery and Desolation almost upon the like account 5. England once the Glory of the Islands in the Earth for Religion c. what a Labyrinth and Confusion of Troubles Errours and evil Opinions do overflow Her and do threaten the like Ruine and Desolation to us 2. The Church in this Conflict had need to be strong and 1. Of a good courage and not to dread nor be dismayed 1. As David instructed Solomon his Son 1 Chron 22.13 2. As Moses yea and God himself instructed Joshua formerly Deut. 31.7 8. Joshua 1.6 7 9. Great atchievements must have great strength and courage to bring them to Accomplishment We are apt to be dismaid dicouraged and terrified at difficulties and had need therefore to rouze up our spirits the more as those Instructions both Affirmative and Negative to Joshua and to Solomon do import viz. To be strong and not to fear or be dismayed 2. Yet this strength and courage must be in the Lord and in the power of his Might As the Apostle speaks Phil 4.1.3 I can do all things through Christ c. And 1 John 5.4 5. This is the victory that overcometh the world even our Faith viz. whereby 1. We lay hold on Christ and apply his victory to us He hath overcome the world John 16.33 And given us victory 1 Cor. 15.57 And 2. Get strength from Him to go on in this spirtual warfare till we have fully overcome all Satans Temptations Rom. 16.20 The God of Peace shall bruise or tread down Satan under your feet saith St. Paul Even the Devil whom you are to resist stedfast in the Faith 1 Pet. 5.8 9. Ap. And thus by Faith you shall be Conquerors 1. Thus Christ in whom we believe is the principal Agent or Efficient And 2. Faith the instrumental cause of this victory For those Saints and Martys of old overcame Satan by the blood of the Lamb i.e. by the vertue thereof not by any worldly power or strength and by the word of their testimony i.e. by bearing witness to the Truth which is called The Testimony of Jesus Rev. 12.10 11 17. because Christ was the Object of their Confession Constancy and Martyrdome 1. Thus whilest others Goliah like strengthen themselves in the Arm of flesh 2. The strength of the Godly is in the Lord and in the power of his Might as Davids was in that great encounter with the Gyant 1 Sam. 17.4 5 6 7 42 45. Although with a Gyant of nine foot in height and so armed yet David the Youth remained the Conquerour over this mighty Monster so do the Saints over Satan by this assistance and the Church at the best state had need of strength c. So also 3. She hath need of compleat spiritual Armour Armour of Proof that will not fail nor deceive Her such is the Armour prescribed in the Text v. 14. to 19. Which also is 1. Defensive viz. 1. A Girdle 2. A Breast-plate 3. Shooes 4. Shield And 5. An Helmet 2. Offensive viz. 1. A Sword 2.
2. The Breakers down of the fence of this Vineyard and the wild beasts that devour this Vine 3. And the thief that enters this House For when either the Husbandman Vinedresser or House-keeper are asleep how soon may the Field the Vine or House be surprized and Tare-sown wasted or entred by an Enemy 2. Exhortation For how often are we exhorted hereunto to Vigilancy and Industry for the prevention of all Errours Heresies and dangerous opinious repugnant to the Truth Rom. 16.17 I beseech you mark them which cause Divisions and Offences contrary to the Doctrine which ye have learned and avoid them for they that are c. and so frequently in the Epistles And that charge of the Apostle at his Farewell is never to be forgotten Acts 20.28 to 33. Take heed to your selves and to all the flock c. And for instance 1. And how praise worthy were the primitive Churches that took such care by their great grave and general Councels to prevent the growing and overspreading of those Tares that began to spring in their Times Those four first general Gounsels especially at Nice against the Heresie of Arius and other Errours Anno 330. circiter 2. Constantinople against Macedonians who denied the Holy Spirit to be consubstantial with the Father and the Son An. 380. 3. Ephesus against Nestorius that held two persons in Christ Anno 431. 4. Chalcedon against Autyches and Dioscorus Bishop of Alexandria who blasphemously affirmed the two Natures in Christ to be confounded and become but one nature after the union of the humane with the divine nature Anno 451. To which four Councels the Reformed Churches do adhere 2. The like care did the Orthodox party take from time to time by Councels and Synodes General National and Provincial to crush if it might be Errour in the bud and prevent it of taking Root and growth 3. The like godly care have all the Reformed Churches of Christendome taken viz. 1. England 2. France 3. Helvetia 4. Bohemia 5. Belgia 6. Augusta and 7. Saxony in the harmony of their Confessions and in Articles of Religion as also by Counsels and Synodes National and Provincial 1. To preserve Union and Peace amongst the Churches 2. And to prevent Schism Faction and Divisions which are the very Nurseries of Errours and Heresies to the great disquiet and trouble and as much as in them is to the utter undoing and ruine of the Church and the overthrow of her Doctrine Peace Unity and Concord 1. Of the Rule upon which she is founded 2. Yea and of her Piety Unity Peace and Concord which are the Materials wherewith this House is raised and cemented fast together 3. Reproof How justly doth this third Use serve to reprove the faults of all those Leaders Teachers Doctors and Pastors of the Church especially that are negligent in this case and Gallio-like in another case Acts 28.17 1. Care not what Errours invade the Church and seduce the Children and Members of the same 2. Or hinder and not admit of such means whereby the maladies of a Church may be either prevented or cured so that they may sit at ease and enjoy Immunity and Liberty without controul And the first we shall take take to task for this fault are the I. Romanists or those of the Church of Rome statu quo in the state it now standeth and that for three things especially viz. 1. Separation 2. Vncertainty of or obstinacy in their Doctrine or Tenents as now it is with them 3. Their Independency and uncontrouableness admitting no means of redress The 1. Began or entred them The 2. Enlarges them And the 3. Confirms them and makes them obstinate and incorrigible in Erronr 1. They entred with Schismatical contentions Excommunication and Separation from the Eastern Churches about divers things in which they manifested great Pride and Arrogancy all tending to Schism and Division as the Celebration of Easter c. 2. In their progress they made a further Separation from the Truth in divers particulars which are evidently known and strenuously as well as voluminously refuted by many Worthies From all which Worthies they always separated and departed Ap. So that nevertheless they do charge the crime of Schism and Heresie upon the Reformed Churches yet the truth is that these never separated from them in what they were right when the Apostle left them till forced thereunto but only from their newly introduced Errors and Heresies which in porgress of time produced an incompatability of peace and Communion with Rome If they held to the orthodox faith and right Doctrine of the Antients they must proclaim no peace with Rome ☞ So as that the charge of Heresie and Schism fixed and charged by them upon us is clearly and really found upon themselves II. Touching the uncertainty of their Doctrine and Tenets and their obstinacy in the same it is evident and clear that when they once laid aside the Scriptures and made the Popes Decrees or Decretals of equal Authority with the Seriptures the word of God 1. Their Tenets are marvellously varied and altered 2. And they are still obvious to more variations and changes neither can they be otherwise whilest they do ascribe a power to the Pope to add at his pleasure to their unwritten Traditions which must as inviolably be observed as the commands of God and therefore it is no wonder that they do obstinately persist and continue in the same III. Touching their Independency it is clearly manifest that the Pope and the Clergy maintain themselves to be free from yea and above the controule of any Authority whether Civil or Ecclesiastical Ap. And therefore they did not only 1 Resist the pious and grave admonitions of the antient Fathers of the Eastern Churches and others of former times 2. But since they would never endure the tryal of an Oecumenick or general Councel though they have been often called upon to that end 3. Much less of any inferior Synode or other Councel or any part of the Reformed Churches in all their advertisements tending thereunto So that by this means they prevent all ways imaginable by which they may be reformed of the manifold Maladies and Errors that are crept in amongst them which now can no more be conceal'd than Gray hairs in the head and the oyl in the hand of a man Hos 7.9 2. The second sort of persons jnstly blame-worthy for preventing a Church of the means of recovery out of Errours and Heresies and hindering the Church of helps in that case are the antient Separatists of former times which are guilty of 1. Schism 2. Heresie And herein to let pass all those abominable Heresies of divers recorded by the Antients Epiphanus Augustinus Ambros c. I shall only look upon the two Sects of the fairest of them and that began with the greatest pretence of piety and zeal of Gods glory viz. 1. Novatians and 2. Donatists 1. Novatians took their name of their Leaders which were 1. Novatus A
we have heard 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arcana verba quae non licet homini loqui Arias Mont Secret or Unknown or unspeakable words which is not lawfull or possible for man to utter Not lawfull for us to say because our speech would be untrue and Christians must not utter and speak untruths Not possible for as Solomon makes enquiry after Women Prov. 31.10 So may we after men and say who can find a vertuous man so qualified with Grace and good works as is before specified Ans It is almost impossible to sinde such a man and therefore impossible to utter it 2 Cor. 12.4 So few are the Jobs and Nathaniels of our Times In the general we may say of this encreasing and abounding as the Poet of Astraea Terras Astraea reliquit These things in a manner have forsaken the Earth And instead of these How wanting are we in the good works towards God our selves and others as is above specified And how wicked are we in producing and abounding in the contrary growing worse worse and multiplying bad works and fruits daily I. To the first of these viz. How wanting we are in good works we may easily give a short but yet a very full account with Salomon Eccl. 1.15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight and that which is wanting cannot be numbered For as for that little measure of Grace we have and those few good Works which we do if we do but consider how crooked perverse tortuous or writhed they be from the straitnesse uprightness excellency which should be in them they are as nothing But if we consider how much Grace and how many good Works are wanting we may well say with a learned Interpreter Infinita desiderantur in quibus pietas probitas versatur we are infinitely wanting both in Grace and good Works For our Graces how few are they and those few how defective if you should take a view of particulars Faith c. And gor our good works how defective are we to God in our Invocation of God whither by prayers or oaths c. or giving of thanks by approbation admiration and a right Estimation of his Works who doth consider these things confessing him vel voce vel Martyrio like them Joh. 12.42 in a right use observation of his holy Rites and Times his holy Word and Sacraments and Sabbaths Do we not rather run Byas and backward in those things then to perform them devoutly as we should To our selves how defective are we in the exercise of our Graces Vertues Parts and Abilities whatsoever they be We rather suffer them to Rust and become unprofitable like him Mat. 25.29 And to others how wanting are we in particulars named viz. In our Humanity Civility Christian charity with the happy fruits thereof viz. Liberality giving Counsel and Comfort Amity Sympathy and readinesse to do good In the exercise of that common Justice Righteousness and Equity which we do owe to all in all our Affaires Actions and Dealings both privately and publickly of all which we may say Where are they are they not lost And lastly In the restraint and moderation of our inordinate and unruly passions affections and motions of mind which do arise from pride anger evil concupiscence and unlawfull desires which are so apt to boyl up in our sinfull Souls to the prejudice of others yea and to our selves also whilst we feed cherish and pursue them Should we pursue these particulars as before-named it were an endlesse work to innumerate our Wants for that which is wanting cannot be numbred Eccles 1.15 2. Now for the second particular if we consider how wicked we be in producing and abounding in bad Works and Fruits we have reason to abhor our selves and to repent in dust and ashes Job 42.6 for how apt are we to produce the works of the flesh Gal. 5.19 adultery fornication c. the unfruitful works of darkness Eph. 5.11 dead works that have the Lineament but not the life of good Works or sins which expose us to death the works of the Devil which Christ came to destroy 1 John 3.8 So like are we to the barren Fig-tree in our emptiness Luke 13.6 Or to the bad Vine in our Fulnesse Esay 5.24 for our Fruits are degenerated Jer. 2.21 as Israel was into the nature of a strange Vine and producing wild grapes Esay 5. so that our Vine is as that of Sodom and our Fields as of Gomorrah Our grapes are of Gall and our Clusters bitter Our wine is the poyson of Dragons and the cruel venom of Asps Deut. 32.32 33. which may too fitly be applied to us yea we are very apt to produce such works as may fitly be compared to all sorts of vilest Fruits Such are our unsavoury fruits of luxury lust and uncleannesse bitter fruits of envy and strife James 3.14 Some distastfull fruit of anger and passion James 1.20 Insipid and indigested fruits of Gluttony Drunkennesse and fulnesse of Bread and all intemperance Cold destructive fruit of sloth and idleness in the love of God practise of good works Prov. 10.4 5 c. poverty shame and beggery are the cold fruits of a slothfull person Corrosive ill relish't fruit of cruelty covetousness and oppression which corrupt the tast of our Souls so that we cannot well rellish but disgust the tast of spiritual things Hard high-grown fruit of pride and disdain the Fruits of Mount Gilboa without Rain or dew of any divine Grace in them 2 Sam. 1.21 Such are proud persons Rotten worm-eaten fruit of vitious Manners which expose us to the dunghill or the Swines-trough Luke 15.15 16. and provoke the worm that shall never dye Esay 66.24 Mark 9.14 46 48. to live in us to torment and consume us for ever like them Revel 20.10 Ap. So forwardly are we to abound in such Fruits and Works as end in Destruction and so unapt to those good works to which we are created redeemed and sanctified and which have the Encouragements and Motives of the conscience of well-doing which is ever attended with abundant comfort in Life and Death and for ever as E contra The clearing of our Faith and implantation into Christ the acceptance of God before whom we must appear 2 Cor. 5.10 The eternal Reward promised to well-doing Mat. 25.21 23 34. This is a lamentation and shall be for a Lamentation Ezek. 19.14 Thus from this first Use of Lamentation for our being so wanting in good and abounding in bad Works 2. I proceed to the use of Reprehension which is To all such as are at so little cost and pains to get Grace and so little care to abound in good works whilst they are unwearied in the pursuit of other things and here we may justly blame men of several Ages 1 How many young Children the Infantry of the Church are rude and unruly as being never taught and instructed in the Principles of Religion the great fault of Parents Whereas young Timothy