worthily than ever before After Christ comes none The condition also of the times of the Gospel is such that they are called The last dayes Heb. 1.2 and after the last comes no time So that Faith shall never in respect of the matter delivered or manner of delivering receive a new edition for enlarging correcting or amending the former 3. Why doth the Apostle add this expression once to the delivery of faith It 's used as a most invinsible argument to prevail with these Christians to preserve the faith and themselves from the wicked and destructive errours and practices of seducers and so it 's a strong argument sever all wayes 1. It 's an argument from the possible nay sure succesfulness of the work of contending they being to contend for a faith that was once delivered that was alwayes to remain that should never be totally removed against which the power of hell should never prevail What souldier would not wilingly fight for the party that doth prevail and is ever sure to do so When 't is not a desperate battel but there is a certainty of success 2. It 's an argument ab honesto from the seemliness of it and that two wayes 1. It 's a faith once delivered and but once once delivered and unchangeably the same which their holy Predecessors Patriarks Prophets and Apostles embraced and defended and therefore to be preserved and maintained Who will not carefully preserve the inheritance which belonged to his ancestors God forbid saith Naboth that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee 1 Kings 21.3 If the antient land-markes be not to be removed much less the faith-markes A ring Pro. 22.28 a jewel which belonged to our father or predecessors of old how precious is it 2. It 's a faith once and so alwayes and perpetually to be delivered and therefore by preserving it to be left as a legacy to posterity to be laid up as a precious depositum or treasure for children and successours We should endeavour that the generation which is yet to come may also serve the same God and enjoy the same Christ and Gospel How desirable is it to put as it were a fallacy upon death by doing good and living when we are dead to derive Religion to Posterity to be like Civet of which the box savours when it is emptied of it 3. It 's an argument à periculoso it 's a faith once delivered i.e. without reiteration and alteration and therfore the errours of Seducers are not this Faith q. d. If you let it go for that pretended faith of these Seducers you part with a pearl for a pibble a rich Conveyance not of an earthly but an heavenly Inheritance like children for a gay The living child by the Seducers is taken away and the dead one laid in its room The faith is unchangeable and therefore the faith which Sectaries would fasten upon you is not faith but fiction Either this faith once delivered or none must be your faith Hence 't is that Paul tels the Galatians Gal. 1.7 That the other Gospel which Seducers had obtruded upon them was not another i.e. was none at all Now how impossible is it in this wildernesse to travell to Canaan without a guide a cloud a pillar How dangerous to walk in a dark place without a light and to follow a false a fools fire which leads unto bogs and precipices 1. Observ 1. The sin folly of those is evident who conceive they can live without and above this doctrine of faith If it be once and perpetually to be delivered it 's perpetually to be imbraced and we stand in perpetuall want of it This Manna must rain till we come to Canaan We must be fed with the spoon of the Ordinance while we are in this age of childhood as the Apostle cals it 1 Cor. 13. Certainly the way of Ordinance-forsakers is their folly not their strength but their weaknesse their sicknesse if ever they recover their health they will fall to their food A standing dispensation of faith is both promised and commanded Ephes 4.13 till we all meet in the unity of the faith and how that commanded dispensation of faith is consistent with a commendable despising thereof I understand not 2. Observ 2. The doctrine of faith is perfect What ever truth or doctrine is needful to life salvation is fully and perfectly delivered in it It needs not another delivery because it cannot be made more perfect The Law of the Lord is perfect Psal 19.7 converting the soul By the Law is meant all heavenly doctrine Rom. 10.18 And St. Paul accommodates that Psalm to the preaching of the Apostles The word is a perfect platform of righteousness The Gospel of salvation is Ghrists testament it contains therefore his whole will and must not be dis-anulled or changed The doctrine of faith is a Canon a rule and if a rule be not perfect 't is no rule It 's able to make us wise to salvation Gal. 6.16 2 Tim. 3.15 17. throughly furnished to every good work It 's propounded as a motive by Christ that the Jews should search the Scriptures because in them they thought to have life eternall John 5.39 John 20.31 Iren. lib. 3. c. 2. Cum ex Scripturis arguuntur haeretici in accusationcm convertuntur Scripturarum quia non possit ex his inveniri veritas ab his qui nesciunt traditionem non enim per literas traditam illam sed per vivam vocem c. Quod tibi creditum non à te inventum quod accepisti non excogitasti cum dicas novè non nova profectus sit fidei non permutatio Vinc. Lyr. These things are written saith John that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and that believing ye might have life in his name The Scripture accepts of no supplement from traditions Papists with all the Hereticks of old are necessitated to flie to traditions as the refuge of their heresies Though they can never with any shew of certainty prove that their traditions were received from Christ or his Apostles many whereof are known to be lately devised fables and all of them when received as a rule of faith are impious and oppose the perfection of the Scripture In vain do they worship God teaching for doctrine mens traditions Obser 3. Ministers have no liberty to deliver any new doctrine to their hearers They must neither add nor diminish Their doctrine is committed to them not invented by them They must preach what they have received not excogitated If they preach after a new manner yet they must not preach new things They must proceed in the faith not change it Timothy is commanded by Paul to keep that which is committed to his trust 1 Tim. 6.20 Ministers are Stewards not Masters of the mysteries of the Gospel They must proclaim not contrive lawes for the conscience Were they Angels from
godly with a love of complacency True Christians shall have a Benjamins portion of love Mark 10.21 it doth good especially to the houshold of faith Brotherly-love is set upon brethren Christ loved the young man a Pharisee by shewing loving respect toward him but he loved Lazarus a godly man with a dear intimate love John 11.3 5.11 the best men shall have the best love There 's a prudence also in the measure of expressing love so to love to day as we may love to morrow We sow not by the bushel but the handfull 8. It 's a mutual reciprocal love Hence 't is Joh. 13.34 Gal. 5.13 Col. 3.13 Gal. 6.2 Jam. 5.16 1 Thes 5.11 that there is so frequent mention of Loving one another giving and receiving benefits is by some compared to the Game at Tennis wherein the Ball is tossed from one to the other and if it falls it 's his forfeit who mist his stroke His disposition is very bad who if he will not provoke will not repay love where Affection there Gain is reciprocal The Pole sustains the Hop and the Hop adorns the Pole the Wall bears up the Roof and the Roof preserves the Wall from wet the wise directeth the strong and the strong protecteth the wise the zealous inflameth the moderate and the moderate tempers the zealous the rich supplyeth the poor and the poor worketh for the rich Love must have an eccho to resound and return 9. It 's a fervent burning love 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 q. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Puritie and fervencie of love are joyned together 1 Pet. 1.22 and 1 Pet. 4.8 Have fervent charitie among your selves It must be a love to the utmost not remiss and faint not a love of courtesie and civil correspondencie but of intireness and holy vehemencie such a love as was between Jonathan and David surpassing the love of women The fervencie of it must be so great as that it may burn and consume all intervening occasions of hatred and dislike by bearing with infirmities covering of sins construing mens meanings in the better part condescending to those of lower parts and places 1 King 18. like the fire that fell from Heaven upon Elijahs Sacrifice which lick'd up a trench full of water A love that overcomes the greatest difficulties for the good of others and triumphs over all opposition 10. It 's a constant and unwearied love 1 Phil. 9. Joh. 13.1 15.12 A love that must abound more and more A love that must be like that of Christs who loved his to the end Love is a debt alway to be owed and alway to be paid 't is a debt which the more we pay the more we have And which herein differs from all civil debts that it cannot be pardoned When we have well chosen our Love we should Love our choice and be true Scripture-friends to love at all times not fawning upon our friends when high and frowning upon them when low not looking upon them as Dyals onely when the Sun of success shines upon them we should love them most when they want us not when we want them most This for the explication of the third and last blessing which the Apostle requesteth for these Christians Love 2. The Observations follow 1. Love to God flows not from Nature Observ 1. 1 John 4.7 God is not onely the Object but the Author of it From him for these Christians the Apostle desires it The Affection of Love is natural the Grace of Love is divine As Love is the motion of the will toward good ti 's in us by Nature but as it is the motion of the will toward such an object or as terminated upon God it is by Grace Love is one of the Graces to be put on Col. 3.14 Rom. 1.30 and we are no more born with it in us than with our clothes on us Wicked men are haters of God and that as the word signifieth with the greatest abhorrency 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 abhorreo unde Styx they so hate him as to desire he were not that so they might live without the limits of his Law the reach of his Justice God is onely by them look'd upon with fear Ps 139.21 2 Chro. 19.2 1 Joh. 3.13 Joh. 15.18.20 Rom. 8.7 as a Judge and whom men fear as hurtfull they hate and wish they were taken out of the way Mens hearts and Gods holiness are very opposite The carnal mind is enmity against God The very reason of it the best thing that is in Corrupt Nature even Lady-Reason her self is not an enemy onely but enmity and irreconcileable There is in it an Enmity against every truth preferring before it humane mixtures and Traditions and undervaluing Gods mercy and the way of obtaining it in his Sonne misjudging all his wayes as grievous and unprofitable accounting all his Servants base and contemptible An enmitie there is in Affection against his Word wishing every truth which crosseth its lust razed out of the Scripture quenching the motions of the Spirit refusing to hear his voice rejecting the councel of God against his people his Messengers hating them most that speak most of God either with the language of lip or life Enmity in conversation holding the truth in unrighteousness by wilful disobedience forsaking the waies of God to walk in those of Nature casting off his Yoke and refusing to be reformed And all this hatred is against God though man by it hurts not God but himself man being Gods enemy not by hurting his will but resisting it Non nocendo sed resistendo The consideration whereof should humble us for our folly and danger in hating so good and great a God It should also teach from whom to beg renewed inclinations Lord Whither should we go but to thee and how but by thee 2. Love is the best thing which we can bestow upon God Observ 2. 'T is our All And the All which the Apostle desires these Christians may return to God who had bestowed upon them mercy and peace Love from God is the top of our happiness and love to God the summe of our duty It 's that onely grace whereby we most neerly answer God in his own kind he commands corrects comforts directs pitties sustains c. in these we cannot resemble him but he loves us and in this respect we may and must answer returning love for love Love is the best thing that the best man did ever give his God Love is a gift in bestowing whereof hypocrites cannot joyn with the faithful there 's nothing else but they may give as abundantly as the most upright in heart they may give their tongue hand estate children nay life but Love with these or these in love they cannot give And the truth is not giving this they give to God in his esteem just nothing The best thing that an Hypocrite can bestow is his Life and yet Paul tels us That though
Christ Gal. 1.23 He now preacheth the faith which before he persecuted So 1 Tim. 4.16 Gal. 3.2 So here in this place of Jude Faith once delivered is to be understood of the faith of heavenly doctrine the word of faith which the Apostle saith God had delivered to them and they were to maintain against the opposite errours of seducers This holy doctrine being called faith 1. Because it is the instrument used by God to work faith The Spirit by the word perswading us to assent to the whole doctrine of the Gospel and to rest upon Christ in the promise for life In which respect faith is said to come by hearing Rom. 10.15 And the Gospel the power of God Rom. 1.16 c. to every one that believes The faith to be believed begets a faith believing 2. Because it is a most sure infallible faithfull word and deserves to be the object of our faith and belief The Author of it was the holy and true Rev. 3.7.14 Tit. 1.2 2 Pet. 1.2 the faithful and true Witnesse God who cannot lie The Instruments were infallibly guided by the immediate derection and assistance of the holy Ghost The Matter of it an everlasting truth the Law being a constant rule of righteousnesse the Gospel conteining promises which shall have their stability when heaven and earth shall passe away and of such certainty that if an angel from heaven should teach another doctrine he must be accursed It abounds also with prophesies predictions most exactly accomplished though after hundreds yea thousands of years The form of it which is its conformity with God himself sheweth that if God be faithfull Heb. 4.12 Psal 19.7 9. needs must his word be so its powerfull it searcheth the heart its pure and perfect true and faithfull and all this in conformity with the power omniscience purity perfection truth of God himself The end of it is to supply us with assured comfort Rom. 15.4 Observ 1. 1. The word of life is most worthy of assent and approbation No word so much challengeth belief as Gods it 's so true and worthy of belief that it 's called faith it self When in Scripture the object is called by the name of the habit or affection it notes that the object is very proper for that habit or affection to be exercised about Heaven is in Scripture called joy to shew it 's much to be rejoyced in and the Doctrine of salvation is called faith to shew that its most worthy of our faith Infidelity is a most inexcusable and incongruous sin in us Tit. 1.2 Heb. 6.18 Isa 53.1 when the faithfull and true God speaks unto us It 's impossible for God to lie and yet Who hath beleeved our report may be a complaint as ordinary as it is old How just is God to give those over to beleeve a lie who will not beleeve the truh How miserable is their folly who beleeve a lie and distrust faith it self 2. Observ 2. Deplorable is their estate who want the doctrine of salvation They have no footing for faith they have they hear nothing that they can beleeve Uncertainty of happiness is ever the portion of a people who are destitute of the Word He who wants this light knows not whither he goeth The Fancy of the Enthusiast the Reason of the Socinian the Traditions of the Papist the Oracles of the Heathens are all Foundations of sand death shakes and overturns them all 3. Observ 3. The true reason of the firmnesse and stedfastnesse of the Saints in their profession they lean upon a sure word Spiritus sanctus non est Scepticus ne◠opiniones in cordibus sed assertiones producit ipsâ vit â omni experientiâ certiores a more sure word than any revelation a word called even faith it self Greater is the certainty of Faith then that of Sense and Reason It 's not Opinion and Scepticism but Faith The holy Ghost is no Sceptick it works in us not opinions but assertions more sure than life it self and all experience The more weight and dependency we set upon the word so firm a foundation is it the stronger is the building None will distrust God but they who never tryed him 4. Our great end in attending upon the word should be the furthering of our faith The jewel of the Word should not hang in our ears but be lock'd up in a beleeving heart 'T is not meat on the table but in the stomack that nourisheth and not the Word preached but beleeved that saves us The Apostle having specified the thing which they were to maintain Faith he amplifieth it and that three wayes 1. Explicat 2. He saith it was delivered The word in the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here translated delivered signifieth to be given or delivered from one to another severall wayes in Scripture according to the circumstances of the place where and the matter about which 't is used Sometime it importeth a delivering craftily deceitfully or traiterously in which respect the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is often rendred to betray as Matth. 2.4.10 and Chap. 26 15 16 21 23 24 25. and Chap. 16.45 46 48. In some places it signifieth a delivering in a way of punishment and suffering As Mat. 4.12 Jesus heard that John was delivered up So Mat. 5.25 and 10.17.19.21 and 17.22 and Acts 7.42 c. In other places it signifieth a delivering in a way of committing something to ones trust to be carefully regarded and preserved as Mat. 11.27 and 25.14 20. and John 19.20 and 1 Pet. 2.23 And thus it frequently signifieth a delivering by way of information or relation of doctrines and duties from one to another to be kept and observed And that both from God first by the speech and afterward by the writing of holy men for the use of his Church as 1 Cor. 11.2 2 Thes 2.15 and 3.6 2 Pet. 2.21 and also from men who often deliver doctrines to others not written in the word Mat. 15.2 Mark 7.9.13 but invented by men In this sense the delivering here mentioned is to be taken namely for such an information or relation of Gods will as they to whom it is delivered are bound to preserve and keep as their treasure In which respect the delivering of this faith or doctrine of salvation comprehends first Gods bestowing it secondly Mans holding and keeping it 1. Gods bestowing it and in that is considerable 1. In what wayes and after what manner God delivered it 2. What need there was of this delivery of the faith by God 1. In what wayes God delivered the faith the Scripture tels us he hath delivered it either extraordinarily Num. 12.6.8 Heb. 1.1 as immediately by himselfe by Angels by a voice by a sensible apparition to men sometime when they were awake at other times when they were sleeping by dreams sometime only by inward inspiration Or ordinarily and so he delivers the doctrine of faith 1. To his
Ministers whom he hath appointed to be Stewards therof to the end of the world partly by qualifying them with gifts and Ministeriall Abilities and partly by appointing and setting them apart for the Ministry by those whom he hath authorized thereunto 2. To his people by the Ministry of his fore-mentioned servants who have instructed the faithfull sometime by preaching with a lively voice and afterward by committing the doctrine of faith to writing And Ministers shall to the end of the world be continued to deliver this doctrine of faith to the Church for their edification in holinesse And among those people to whom Ministers deliver this faith externally some there are to whom it is delivered also effectually by the internall revelation of the Spirit which so delivers this doctrine of faith to all the Elect that they themselves are delivered into it Rom. 6.17 their understandings being savingly enlightned to see that excellency in it which by the bare Ministry of it cannot be perceived and their wils perswaded to imbrace it as that rule of life according to which they will constantly walk 2. What need there was of the delivery of this faith 1. In regard of the Insufficiency of all other doctrines or prescriptions in the world to lead to life Only this doctrine delivered is the rule of faith and manners Peace internall and eternall is only afforded to them who walk according to this rule Gal. 6.11 God brings to glory only by guiding by these counsels All other lights are false are fools fires which lead to precipices and perdition This is the light which shines in a dark place 2 Pet. 1.20 to which who ever gives not heed can never find the way to heaven Learned Ethnicks never wrote of eternall happinesse in their Ethicks 1 Cor. 1.21 The world by wisdome knew not God 2. In regard of the totall insufficiency of man to find out this doctrine of himself The things delivered in this doctrine are mysteries supernaturall and depending on the meer will and dispensation of God The incarnation of the Son of God Col. 1.26 expiation of sin by his death justification by faith could never have entred into the mind of man unlesse God had revealed them They depend not upon any connexion of naturall causes Though there be a kind of naturall Theologie yet there 's no naturall Christianity Also the und erstanding of man is so obscured by the darknesse of sin that in spirituals it is purely blind The naturall man perceives not the things which are of God 1 Cor. 2.14 2. This delivering of faith comprehends the keeping and holding it by those to whom it was delivered This is done therefore 1. by Ministers 2. by every Christian 1. This duty is incumbent on Ministers who must keep the truth hold fast the faithfull word and be tenacious Tit. 1.9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 holding it as the word signifieth against a contrary hold with both their hands with all their strength Jer. 10.27 Amos 7.14 holding it in their understanding in their affections in their preaching and delivery in their life and practice not parting with it for fear or favour either to Sectaries or Politicians rather parting with their lives than their sword 2. The faith is kept by every Christian by persevering in the knowledge love and practice of it Every Saint must keep it in his head in his heart in his hand this he must do though for keeping the truth he lose his life 'T is not the having but the holding the truth Rev. 2.13 which is a Christians crown He who lets it go never had it truely and effectually in the love of it nor shall ever enjoy it in the recompence of it Of this more afterward 1. God was the Authour of the doctrine of life Observ 1. though by men yet from him hath it alwayes been delivered it 's his word and revelation The word of the Lord and thus saith the Lord is the Scripture stamp and superscription When the Patriarchs and Prophets preach'd it it was from him when holy men of old time wrote it it was from him though he hath spoken in divers manners yet 't was he that spake When the doctrine of life was committed to writing he commanded it He moved and inspired holy men to write 2 Pet. 1.21 2 Tim. 3.16 Exod. 17.14 chap. 34.27 Isai 8.1 chap. 30.8 Jer. 36.2 They were his Organs and Instruments of conveying his mind to the world The Spirit of the Lord saith David 2 Sam. 23.2 spake by me and his word was in my tongue And Acts 28.25 The Holy Ghost spake by Isaiah Quicquid Chri. stus de suis dictis ac factis nos scire voluit ipsis scribendum tanquam suis manibus imperavit Aug. l. 1. de cons Evang. c. 35. And 1 Pet. 1.11 The Spirit of Christ in the Prophets fore-told his sufferings These and the other holy men were the Scribes the Pens the Hands the Notaries of the Spirit They wrote not as men but as men of God when any book is called the Book of Moses the Psalms of David the Epistle of Paul it 's in respect of Ministry not of the principall cause 2. Great is the necessity of Scripture The doctrine of life could never without a scripturall delivery have been found out without it indeed this doctrine was between two and three thousand years preserved by the delivery of a lively voice but afterwards when their lives who were to deliver the word grew short men numerous memory frail the bounds of the Church inlarged corruptions frequent and therefore tradition an unfaithfull keeper of the purity of doctrine as appears by Tharah's Jos 24.3 Gen. 35.2 Apostoli quod primum praeconiaverunt postea per Dei voluntatem in Scripturis nobis tradi derunt fundamentum columnam fidei uostrae futurae Iren. lib. 3. adv haeres c. 1. and Abram's worshipping of other gods the idolatry in Jacob's family c. God appointed that the doctrine of life should be committed to writing and upon supposition of the will and pleasure of God whose wisdome hath now thought fit to give us no other rule and foundation of faith the written word is now necessary as the means of delivering faith to us Had not the faith therefore been delivered in Scriptures whence should it have been found how retained The written word is the cabbinet wherein lies the jewell of faith the starre which shews where the Babe lodgeth the light which discovers the beauty of salvation A Book of Apocalyps or Revelation of Christ 3. Strong is the engagement upon us to be thankfull for Gods discovering to us the doctrine of faith It was above the compasse of Reason and Nature ever to have found it out by their own inquiry Rom. 16.25 Ephes 1.9 Ephes 3.9 neither men nor Angels could have known it without divine revelation It was a mystery a great an hidden mystery which was
wild buls in a net they had rather be able to tear then willing to kiss the rod. Like chaffe they fly in the face of and not like the solid grain fall downe before him that fans them They accept not of the punishment of their iniquity 2 King 6.33 not wait for deliverance from their punishment they either faint under or rage against or take no notice of the hand of God when 't is lifted up against them 7. Not to honour God by regarding of his worship The ungodly call not upon the Lord. Psal 14.4 Only the godly man is made like a man to looke upward The other in their wants go to Baalzebub the god of Ekron or the witch of Endor to earthly and sinfull shifts rather howling through the sense of their wants then praying in the beleefe of receiving the blessings they desire In their obtaining of comforts Hab. 1.16 they sacrifice to their net and burn incense to their drags and are as sensuall in their enjoyments as unsubmissive in their wants They can neither pray when they are afflicted nor sing Psalms when they are merry instead of praying they dispair instead of singing Psalms they revell when they are in want they are as distrustfull as if God could never help them when they abound they are as secure as if God could never hurt them In a word they account not the holy duties of prayer Isai 56.7 Isai 58.13 hearing sacraments c. to be their priviledges but their drudgery They are not joyfull in the house of prayer the Sabboth is not a delight the word of the Lord is a burden and when they are in holy performances they are like a fish upon the dry land 2. Ungodlinesse consists in giving of the honour which is due to God to somthing else beside God And this ungodly men do two wayes 1. Inwardly in the soul will and affections Jer. 17.5 and the whole inner man as 1. when they place their trust and confidence upon somthing besides God and so place it in the room of God making flesh their arm and support Thus one ungodly man depends upon his wealth Job 31.24 making it his hope and confidence another upon his strength resting upon man Psal 20.7 Prov. 3.5 putting his trust in horses and chariots another upon his wit and policy which in a moment God is able to turn into foolishnesse They will not take the word of a man who hath once or twice deceived them but they will relie upon the broken creature which alway faileth fond expectation Jon. 2.8 Josh 62.9 Psal 62.8 and is no other then a lying vanity hereby not only disappointing themselves but dishonouring him who alone requireth and deserveth our trust and affiance 2. When they set that love and delight upon other things which is due to God who is to be loved with all the heart and soul and thus sundry there are who love their pleasures more than God whose belly is their God 2 Tim. 3.4 Phil. 3.19 Ephes 5.5 others there are whose gain is godlinesse and who are fitly therefore by the Apostle called idolaters That which a man most loves is his God Psal 62.10 Ungodly men set their hearts upon that which was made to set their feet upon with unbounded eagernesse they follow the world Moderation holds not the reins of their earthly industry in which they are not carried with the gentle gales of indifferency but the furious winds of violence They will be rich 1 Tim. 6.9 though they lose their souls their God and are drowned in perdition 3. When they bestow that fear upon the creature which is only due to God Isai 8.13 when man not God is their fear and their dread If outward troubles or troublers approach Isai 7.2 they shake like the trees of the wood if man threaten a prison they tremble more than when God threateneth hell Isai 51.12 13. fearing him more that can kill the body than him who can throw both body and soul into hell whence it is that they are insnared by the unlawfull commands of Superiours willingly walking after the commandement Hos 5.11 Prov. 25.26 and falling down before the wicked become like a troubled fountain and a corrupt spring serving instead of the Lord the times 2. Outwardly ungodly men give the honour to the creature which is due to God and that they do by outward religious worship Rom. 1.25 Psal 95.6 when they worship and serve the creature more than the Creatour who is God blessed for evermore before whom religiously we must only kneel and bow down Mat. 4.10 How unlike are ungodly men to him who was God and man Christ refused to bow to the divel not only because he was a divel but a creature denying to him not only inward devotion but outward reverence And how unlike to the three godly men who tell the King Dan. 3.18 Isai 40.18.25 Isai 44.19 commanding them to bow to his image that they will not serve his gods What do they but make a lie when they make an image of an uncircumscriptible infinite God and shew themselves as blockish as the block they worship which is no better than that which even now they burnt Poor is their pretence who to exempt themselves from this ungodlinesse plead though they present their bodies at religious worship yet they preserve their souls for God for why could not Christ for a whole world with all his wisdome find out such a piece of policy and make not body and soul one man that must have but one God one worship Are not our bodies the Lords as well as our souls or can she be accounted a chaste spouse which gives the use of her body to a stranger upon pretence of keeping her heart to her husband 3. Ungodlinesse consists in the giving of honour to God after a false and an undue manner As 1. When it 's given unwarrantably and not according to his revealed will When tradition and humane invention put the Scripture out of place This is to worship God in vain 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 15.9 Nothing is more counterfeited and disfigured than religion Men through naturall unsubmissivenesse to the purity and simplicity of Scripture-commands through love of their own conceits novelty carnality are prone to make many golden calves People like the Lacedemonians who were wont to dresse their gods after the fashion of the City love to dresse their devotions after their own humours being zealous but not according to knowledge and like bats converting the humour of their eyes to make their wings large These give not God that reasonable service for the performance whereof Rom. 12.1 they must produce a word a Scripture-reason Mans work is to keep Lawes not either to be or make a Law for himselfe or others 2. Honour is given to God after an undue manner when 't is not given him obediently when
Christ deserves rather to be esteemed holy than any dayes of mans ordaining It should be accounted both a good day and an high day having such an Instituter The Ordinances of Christ should be preferr'd before humane traditions No Institutions but his shall stand nor should religiously be esteemed I fear Luk. 19.27 that the great and bloody Controversies which so long Christ hath had with England are about some Ordinances of his which yet we will not take up and some Traditions of our own which in stead thereof we will keep up What is become of those men and of their wisdom Sapientes sapienter in infernum descendunt whose wise work it was heretofore to invent and impose their own Innovations for Christs Institutions The Servants and Messengers of Christ should be more loved and honoured than the servants of any earthly Potentate They are the servants of God We should love as he loves It 's more honourable to be a servant of God than a King over men Our delight should be in those excellent ones who bear the image Psal 16.2 and wear the badg of Christ The feet of his Ambassadors should be beautifull whether we regard their Master Rom. 10.15 or their Message Lastly his Word should be preferred before any other writings Col. 3.16 Let the word of Christ dwell in us plentifully Let it be taken in not stand at the doors or lodg only in our books or on our shelves let it dwell there not be turn'd out again Let it dwell plentifully in all that is within us Understanding Will Affections Memorie and plentifully in all that is of it in its Threatnings Commands Promises It is the word of God who hath strength to back it In a word Take heed of opposing this great God in any kinde If God the Father be offended Christ is our Advocate but if Christ be provoked who shall mediate Thus far of the description of the dignity of him whom they opposed Next we must shew How they opposed him or Wherein that Opposition did consist They Denyed him EXPLICATION Two things are here to be explained 1. How Christ may be said to be Denyed and particularly What Denyall of him is here to be understood 2. Wherein the sinfulnesse thereof shews it self 1. How Christ may be said to be denyed Denying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Denyall properly is verball respecteth our words and signifieth the contrary to affirmation Thus those envious Rulers spake concerning the notable miracle of healing the lame man Acts 4.16 that they cannot dis-affirm or deny it Mat. 26.70 Joh. 18.25 27. John 1.20 Thus Peter denyed openly before them all that he had been with Jesus Thus John denyed not who he was c. But improperly and figuratively denyall may be taken for such a renouncing or rejection of a thing as may likewise be express'd by the actions and in realitie And thus Moses is said to deny Heb. 11.24 or refuse to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter and so some are said to have a form of Godlinesse 2 Tim. 3.5 and to deny namely in their course and carriage the power thereof And Christ may be said to be denyed 1. Doctrinally and by our words 2. Really and by our works 1. Doctrinally and by our words And thus Christ hath been denyed 1. In his Person 2. In his Offices 1. In his Person and thus 1. the Jews deny his Person wholly or that he was the promised Messiah Act. 3.13 14. And the followers of Simon Magus taught as he himself had taught them that he was the Son of God Epiphan lib. 1. c. 21. Aug. de Hares cap. 1. Joseph l. 2. c. 12 Tertul. lib. de Haeres The like is reported of Menander Judas of Galilee and he who stiled himself Bencocab all which as credible Stories relate gave out that they were Christs and Messiahs the later whereof though he call'd himself Bencocab the son of a Star applying to himself that prophesie of the Star of Jacob was afterward by way of derision called Barcozba the son of a lie 2. Christ in respect of his person hath been denyed in either of his Natures In his Godhead by the Ebionites Cerinthians Arians Samosatenians and of late by Servetus and his followers In his Manhood by the Valentinians Marcionites Manichees Apollinarists and of late by some Anabaptists 3. The Person of Christ hath been denyed by those who opposed the hypostatical union of the two Natures and thus he was denyed by Nestorians Euticheans Sabellians the first dividing Christ into two persons The second confounding and mixing his two Natures The third mixing him with the person of the Father 2. In his Offices 1. Christ in his Prophetical Office is denyed by Papists who impose upon us a new Scripture 1. 1 Cor. 11.26 Hebr. 13.4 1 Tim. 4.3 By taking away from it in denying the Eucharistical Cup to the people meats also and marriage and which is worse in denying the food of life the reading of the holy Scriptures to the common people 2. Col. 3.16 By adding to it in bringing in a second place for punishment after this life the fained fire of purgatory by inventing five sacraments and introducing their own unwritten traditions which they equally esteem with and often prefer before the Scriptures and by making a Pope the infallible judge of the controversies of faith 2. In his Priestly office Christ is denyed 1. 1 Joh. 2.2 Mat. 20.18 Mar. 10.45 Heb. 10.12 14 2 Cor. 5.21 By Socinians who teach that he dyed not for us that is in our place and stead but only for our benefit and profit to shew us by his example the way which leads to salvation 2. By Papists who teaching that the Masse is a propitiatory sacrifice make the sacrifice of Christ imperfect and by joyning many other mediators and advocates with Christ deny him to be the One and Only Mediator They mingle the blood of Martyrs yea of traytors with the blood of Christ teach that images are to be worshipped Angels invoked relicks adored c. 3. In his Kingly office Christ is denyed by Papists who acknowledge the Pope the head of the Church and teach that all power is given to him in heaven and earth and that he can make lawes to bind the conscience and is universall Bishop c. In a word the eastern Turk denyes the person of Christ and the western his offices 2. Christ is denyed really and by our works And this denyall I conceive the Apostle here principally intends for had these seducers in word denyed Christ the Church would easily have espyed them In speech therefore they professed Christ but in their deeds they denyed him Tit. 1.16 Christ may be denyed by mens workes sundry ways 1. Heb. 10.29 By a malicious and dispitefull opposing Christ and his Gospel of the truth and benefit whereof the holy Ghost hath so evicted a person that he opposeth the